Elaine retrained last year and is now a fully accredited intimacy coordinator for film and television. In the role, she provides support to cast and crew during pre-production, rehearsals and on-set filming of intimate scenes.

An actor has told how she vowed to follow her onscreen dreams and retrained as an intimacy coordinator to honour a promise made to a dying friend.

Elaine McKergow is best known for her role in the 2018 Netflix feature film Outlaw King, as well as for her extensive 16-year career in UK theatre.

Alongside acting, Elaine has worked in directing and drama teaching, and has appeared in BBC’s River City.

She also worked in hospitality to support herself.

However, Elaine retrained last year and is now a fully accredited intimacy coordinator for film and television. In the role, she provides support to cast and crew during pre-production, rehearsals and on-set filming of intimate scenes.

Elaine, 49, from Glasgow, said she decided to pursue her dream of working on screen as a final promise to her best friend, Lucie Randal, who died following a battle with cancer in June.

Elaine said: “Last year, one of my oldest and dearest friends, Lucie, passed away at the age of 47 from an aggressive cancer.

“I spent two weeks with her in hospice care. She made me promise that I would make a change because she knew I wasn’t fulfilled working in hospitality.

“She knew the path my life had taken and had seen the highs and lows. She reminded me that we don’t know what’s around the corner. We only get one life, and she encouraged me to stop waiting and pursue what really mattered to me.

“I thought, ‘Life is short.’ Intimacy coordination had been on my radar for a while. Hospitality paid the bills, but it wasn’t fulfilling me, and Lucie encouraged me to take the leap.

“I’ve absolutely no regrets. Every morning I wake up excited about what might happen next.”

Elaine studied acting and performance at Langside College before later landing a role in Outlaw King, which was filmed in Scotland.

However, the offer of a regular stint on River City was later shelved due to the pandemic.

Last year, Elaine applied for a course run by the Intimacy Professionals Association, founded by Amanda Blumenthal, one of the world’s leading intimacy coordinators.

Most recently, she worked as an intimacy coordinator on the new short-form horror drama Loch nam Madadh/Wolf Bay.

Filming wrapped earlier this month and the series is set to debut later this year on BBC iPlayer and the BBC ALBA YouTube channel.

She said: “The role feels like a privilege. People are trained to ride horses safely, use weapons safely and perform stunts safely.

“Yet for years there was no specialist support for actors performing intimate scenes, despite those often being the most vulnerable situations they face.

“For me, intimacy coordination is about creating an environment where actors feel safe enough to do their best work. When boundaries and consent are clearly discussed and agreed, creativity can flourish.

“The best performances happen when people feel secure. These conversations can be awkward for everyone, and having someone trained to facilitate them makes a huge difference.”

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Decades of “barbaric” attacks at the Yarm institution between the 1960s and 1990s have been the focus of Cleveland Police’s Operation Magnolia since it launched in 2014.  

A total of 938 victims have come forward to police and at least 21 suspects have been interviewed as part of the probe – but not one person has been convicted. 

Numerous victims of “daily brutality” at the “torture camp” say they feel “forgotten” by police, and fear they may never get justice as former officers die.

While the operation has previously been branded as “inadequate” by victims, police say survivors of abuse “remain at the very heart” of the work. 

And this week, senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Chatterton said it remains “fully committed” to improving communication with those who suffered behind bars.

HMP Kirklevington (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

It comes after concerns were raised by victims about how the force had communicated with them regarding the operation. 

DCI Chatterton said: “I can wholeheartedly understand the concerns, frustrations and questions around the length of time this investigation has taken. 

“This investigation remains active, and we continue to pursue all lines of enquiry and work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

“We have not lost sight of the fact that the length of time this investigation has taken is upsetting and frustrating for all those affected. 

HMP Kirklevington (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

“We remain fully committed to listening to victims and survivors and improving our communication with them. 

“We have clearly defined strategies to ensure that significant investigative updates are provided in a timely manner to each individual victim.

“There will always be support available for victims and survivors, and I encourage anyone affected to continue engaging with their appointed support services”.”

Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey previously said he “shares the concerns” of victims over the length of the investigation.

Cleveland Police HQ in Hemlington (Image: Chris Booth)

Last month, The Northern Echo named one of the “barbaric” prison officers believed to have abused hundreds of children at the institution. 

Douglas Harrison – who died in 2019 – had been reported by 273 victims to police and was set to be charged with misconduct in a public office and numerous assaults days before his death. 

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Our thoughts remain with the friends and families of those affected. 

“Child abuse is abhorrent and we commend the bravery of victims who come forward. It would be inappropriate to comment further while a police investigation is ongoing.”

Anyone who suffered abuse at Kirklevington Detention Centre can report this to Cleveland Police. Victims can also contact Oakwood Solicitors for advice on legal claims.

Customers have reacted to the announcement saying they are ‘absolutely gutted’ to see it close

A “fabulous” high street bar and restaurant has announced that it is going to close. Three Lions Sports Bar and Restaurant, in March, will officially close at the end of July 2026.

Black Rock Grill and Smokehouse is the restaurant part of Three Lions Sports Bar and Restaurant, which is also closing. Three Lions said that the closure follows “several issues beyond [their] control” alongside “rising costs” that left them with “no other choice” but to close.

The restaurant and bar has a large beer garden with outdoor seating as well as two children’s play areas. It offers a range of smokehouse dishes including barbeque pork ribs and ‘the smokehouse burger’.

In a statement, Three Lions Sports Bar and Restaurant said: “Today we have some sad news. We are closing for good at the end of July.

“Due to several issues beyond our control and rising costs we have no other choice. Please come and see us before we close. Lastly, we just want to say thank you to all our amazing and loyal customers, we will never forget you.”

Since the announcement, the restaurant and bar have received more than 50 comments in response. One person wrote that they are “absolutely gutted” to hear of the news, saying they “love dining” at the restaurant.

Another customer wrote: “Devastated isn’t the word. Can’t believe we’re going to lose our favourite place to eat.”

The restaurant, Black Rock Grill and Smokehouse, has built a strong reputation during its time, with an average 4.8 stars out of five on Google. One customer wrote: “Absolutely brilliant, lovely service and being able to cook your steak exactly how you want it yourself on a red hot slab was great.”

Another guest described the food as “fabulous” adding that the staff are “friendly”. Additionally, someone else said they were “extremely pleased” with their experience, adding: “The food was excellent, the service we received was above and beyond. The servers were excellent, beyond expectation.”

Maura Higgins, who rose to fame on ITV2’s Love Island, will front a Disney+ reboot of the beloved series, which originally aired on ITV from 1985 to 2003.

The show was originally hosted by the late Cilla Black, and it was later revived by Channel 5 in 2017, with Paul O’Grady as presenter.

Blind Date to return to screens with Maura Higgins as host

A source told The Sun’s TV Biz: “Discussions are at an advanced stage, with the show’s producers convinced Maura’s the perfect choice for the job.”

The source highlighted Higgins’ background in dating entertainment and her growing international profile.

They said: “Not only did she shoot to fame on a TV dating contest, she is now an internationally famous face which is what a global service like Disney need for one of their shows.

“Maura also has an unquestionable glamour combined with cheeky charm which has echoes of Blind Date’s most famous host.”

News of the Disney+ reboot follows earlier reports that Higgins was in talks with the streaming giant about a presenting role.

A source previously told The Sun: “Maura is keeping her cards close to her chest but she couldn’t help but tell pals she’s reading scripts for Disney.

“Everyone – including Maura – is stunned at how well her career in the US is going. This is just the beginning.”

There has also been speculation that Higgins could appear as the next lead on The Bachelorette, after ABC reportedly put another contestant’s season on hold following legal concerns.

Despite her growing success, Higgins has spoken recently about wanting to move beyond her reality TV origins.

She told Cosmopolitan: “Obviously, I’ll always love Love Island because that’s where it all started. I wouldn’t be where I am without it.

“But I think it’s nice to venture away from that. I’ve been classed as an Islander for the last seven years.

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“You work so hard to try and get out of that box that you’re put in.

“It’s really difficult, and it takes a lot of work and perseverance.

“Now that I’m finally only just starting to distance myself, I’m like, Oh my god, it was all worth it.

“I feel like starting on Love Island is why everyone’s so invested in my love life and wants to know whether I’m single or dating.”

Would you like to see Blind Date return to screens? Let us know in the comments.

According to event organisers, accessing the location would require a 12-mile detour due to the road closure

A road closure has forced the cancellation of a community music event in a village just outside of Cambridgeshire. Ashdon Windmill’s ‘Music at the Mill’ event was scheduled for Sunday, June 14, to raise money for the historic community building.

Organisers of the event have since announced that it will no longer go ahead due to a road closure cutting off direct access to the windmill from the village. The event was scheduled to host a day of music at the windmill with artists performing throughout.

Organisers said: “We are deeply disappointed to cancel this event and apologise to everyone who was planning to join us. However, we are already working on alternative plans to bring the community together.”

With the road closure in force, accessing the windmill now requires a 12-mile detour through Saffron Walden, Little Walden, Hadstock, and Bartlow – adding a 30-minute round trip for visitors, according to the organisers. This has made it difficult for organisers, performers, and attendees to access the venue easily.

A spokesperson for Affinity Water said: “We’re sorry to hear that the Music at the Mill event has been cancelled. The works taking place in Ashdon are part of an essential programme to replace ageing water mains in the village. This will help improve the reliability of the water supply and reduce the likelihood of bursts and leaks in the future.

“Our current works on Churchill are scheduled to be completed by 2nd of July 2026. However, due to challenging ground conditions, our delivery partner has advised that a short extension may be required, potentially into early August. We will continue to closely monitor progress and share updates with the community should timings change.”

Despite the delays, organisers are planning to reschedule the music event to July. They also plan to combine it with another local event called the annual summer craft fair.

A trustee for the event said that the cancellation has been “very disappointing” as they will “lose out on some much needed funds”. The Ashdon Windmill was built in 1757 by William Haylock, a carpenter of Ashdon. Nowadays, the mill is owned by Ashdon Windmill Trust, a registered charity.

This National Trust site is considered to be one of the most romantic to visit

National Trust estates are some of the most beautiful places to visit. They are steeped in history, but they are also picturesque places to walk around.

Just over an hour’s drive from Cambridge is a National Trust site considered one of the most romantic in the UK. This is the Oxburgh Estate in Norfolk.

This brick manor house is surrounded by a tranquil moat, making it “hard not to fall in love” with the estate, according to the National Trust website. By those who visited, the estate has been described as a “fairytale” location.

Built by the Bedingfield family in 1482, the family experienced some dramatic times. Oxburgh’s past is a story of survival, as it fought through religious persecution, a Civil War, near-dereliction, and also threatened demolition.

There is much to discover on the estate, including the grand Oxburgh Hall. This medieval manor house is decorated with a Victorian gothic interior that reflects the romanticism of the hall.

Keeping with the Victorian theme, visitors can also explore the Victorian garden which includes a kitchen garden and orchard. There is also extensive parkland to wander around with wildflower meadows and a rare chalk river.

After a lengthy walk around the gorgeous parklands and historic manors, it may build up an appetite. No need to worry, as visitors can enjoy a bite to eat and something to drink at the Servants’ Hall tea room or Pantry Café.

People can also stop by the shop that sells garden essentials, food and drink, and homeware. For anyone wanting to visit Oxburgh, it costs £14 for adults over 18 and £7 for children aged between five and 18.

For a family ticket (two adults and up to three children) it costs £35, and for one adult and three children it costs £21. Under fives can enter for free.

Step inside and you’ll find yourself immersed in a world of cacti, tropical plants and koi carp

In the heart of Wythenshawe Park are a collection of greenhouses which appear rather unassuming from the outside. Yet pass through the doorway and you’ll find yourself transported to different worlds, from desert landscapes to the middle of the jungle.

This is Wythenshawe Horticultural Centre. Located only a few minutes’ walk away from the park’s car park, the centre is made up of a series of connected greenhouses which are home to a diverse range of plants, an aviary and fish ponds.

Outside there are a series of gardens, a small orchard and fruit and vegetable patches. The centre is completely free to visit and is managed by Manchester Council and Blossom, a volunteer group which provides food-growing workshops and opportunities.

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Greenhouses aren’t that unusual in Greater Manchester parks and gardens, but it’s the size of Wythenshawe Horticultural Centre which really sets it apart. There are numerous rooms to explore, each one focusing on different plants with carefully designed paths taking visitors through the displays.

In one room it feels like you’re walking through the desert – complete with the heat to match with spikey cactuses reaching up to the ceiling and tiny succulents emerging from the gravel. Various pots hang from the ceiling, long green tendrils dangling from them.

In another room, visitors are transported to the heart of the jungle, surrounded by lush palms and tropical blooms, including bright orange bush lilies and glowing white canna lilies. There are small bridges which lead you over ornamental water features, allowing you to be immersed in a different world.

But the plants are not alone. In one of the greenhouses a large pond is home to numerous gold fish and majestic koi carp, swimming along with their mouths gaping at the water. A small aviary adds to the tropical feel.

There’s even a section which transports you back to a different age when dinosaurs roamed our plant. In the ancient plant areas you’ll find ‘living fossils’, such as Encephalartos natalensis, a giant cycad which dates back over 250 million years.

The centre feels like Kew Gardens in miniature. Granted, it doesn’t match the scale of the London attraction yet it offers you the same opportunity to reconnect with nature and marvel at the wonderful – and sometimes weird – plants we have on earth. All for free.

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There is a tenuous connection between the centre and Kew Gardens. The centre is home to the Darrah Cactus Collection. Born in Manchester in 1844, Charles Darrah was a lead manufacturer with a passion for plants and built a five-room glasshouse at his home in Heaton Mersey.

This became home to “one of the finest cactus and succulent collections in Britain, second only to Kew Gardens.” After his death in 1903, the collection was offered to Manchester City Council, and although reluctant at first, they were persuaded by a professor to keep it and a glasshouse was built in Alexandra Park, which opened in 1906.

It was a popular spot and accepted plant exchanges from across Europe, but it was damaged in a suffragette bombing in 1913. Luckily most of the plants were saved and a police guard was even deployed to guard it.

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As Manchester’s air quality declined and the glass house was no longer fit for purpose, the collection was moved to Wythenshawe Park where it remains to this day. The centre itself originally began life to provide plants for use by the council throughout the city, but when production stopped the greenhouses were converted into display houses, providing an educational and recreational opportunity for the people of Manchester.

Today the Horticultural Centre forms a small part of what Wythenshawe Park has to offer and it’s certainly one worth checking out.

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When the US and Israel launched their strikes on Iran on February 28 and Iran retaliated by targeting the Gulf Arab states, I was closely monitoring social media accounts from the region. I research Middle East politics, with a focus on the Gulf, and the social media platforms I use are full of people living in the region – including western migrants, or as they tend to style themselves, expats. To my surprise, from many of them I saw the same message: “It is safe and normal here.”

This was not a trivial claim – these messages were sent as the countries they live in came under attack. But the attitudes they exhibited reflect a broad strategy long cultivated by Gulf Arab regimes. This aims to instil in the people that opt to live there a sense of security, as well as aspiration for the lifestyle on offer and loyalty towards the country for making that lifestyle available.

More importantly, the expats’ reactions exposed the role that foreign residents and influencers have played in advancing a particular understanding of “normality”. Not only do they accept authoritarian rule in the Gulf, they have been pushing out messages about insecurity elsewhere.

To be clear, a lot of foreign workers did leave the Gulf, reportedly in the tens of thousands, when the conflict began. But even so, many of the initial reactions on social media, whether people stayed or opted to leave, projected this sense of security.

Part of the US security hub

These regimes have developed an image designed to attract global connectivity, foreign capital and flows of people and goods. The UAE, especially Dubai, has become a symbol of tax-free residency and luxury tourism. Qatar has established itself as reliable gas exporter and world-class mediator. Saudi Arabia has launched a sweeping reform project recasting national identity and the kingdom’s global role in championing “moderate Islam”, while Bahrain has worked early since independence to become a regional banking hub.

These state-building processes thrived under the security umbrella of US and other western military bases across the Middle East. Firmly embedded in the US sphere of influence, Gulf monarchies have benefited from precious diplomatic cover and access to global markets. Other regional regimes, meanwhile – notably Iran – were excluded. This was more often due to their hostility towards the US than for their brutal repression and disastrous governance at home.

By directing global attention to threats such as Iran, Gulf regimes forged a strong sense of domestic normality. But in recent years, a less reliable US regional policy has made the security arrangement increasingly uncertain, prompting Gulf regimes to explore alternatives. Without renouncing deeper engagement with the US, they welcomed cooperation with other powers outside the region, like China, as well as the possibility of closer relations with Israel and even a modus vivendi with Iran.

Despite ongoing rivalries, including within the regional forum, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), regional conflict de-escalation and management appeared to be the preferred means to continue insulating the Gulf normality. Yet the ongoing destruction in Gaza, closer US-Israeli alignment in the latter’s pursuit of regional dominance, and the ensuing pressure on Iran’s network of proxies has undermined this delicate balance.

Expats get political

The attack on Iran exposed foreign residents’ role in sustaining the image of “normality”. Until then, expats and influencers embodied this normality by displaying safe, privileged and apolitical lives.

I saw posts attempting to divert attention from the threat of war in the Gulf by people claiming to feel safer under missile attacks in Dubai and Doha than “after 9pm” in London or Manchester. Other posts preferred the prospect of missile attacks to being “bombed by 50% taxes”.

These sorts of comments tend to mimic narratives pushed by far-right movements in the west around crime, taxation and immigration.

A viral trend concentrated in the UAE but replicated across other Gulf countries featured influencers responding to the question “Aren’t you scared?” with imagery of members of the ruling families and messages such as: “No, because I know who protects us.” The UAE president’s much-publicised walk in Dubai Mall followed this paternalistic framing of security.

After the initial shock, many influencers returned to the old form of messaging, not posting about the war and focusing on showing their privileged “everyday” lives.

Controlling the message

It’s important to remember that Gulf Arab regimes possess robust censorship apparatuses and broad national security and anti-cybercrime laws that penalise content deemed to “cause panic” or “disturb public order”.

Authorities in Saudi Arabia were swift to remind residents that “photography serves the enemy”, banning unofficial sharing of damage caused by the war, while the UAE threatened severe sentences for people posting negative messages. There have been reports of people detained for posting the wrong content – more than 300 in Qatar alone. Heightened security concerns exposed western expats to coercive practices typically reserved to political dissidents.

Having invested efforts in insulating their domestic projects from external threats through seeking political accommodation with neighbours, including Iran, Gulf leaders may now pursue a different strategy. In fact, we’re already seeing some different approaches as various Gulf countries work out their own best approach to the changing situation in their region. Some, like Bahrain, remain hostile to Iran. Others, including Saudi Arabia, are more nuanced in their approach, looking overall to ensure security in the region.

But for regimes and expats alike, this is a time of reckoning for the parameters sustaining “normality” in the Gulf. Most certainly, the region will never be the same.

The application, submitted for the property on New Court Drive, sought permission to build a rear extension measuring approximately 2.8 metres in depth and 4.1 metres in width.

Planning officers recommended approval, concluding that the proposal would be in keeping with both the character of the existing property and the surrounding area.

A report prepared by the council noted that the extension would be constructed using materials matching the existing dwelling and would remain subordinate in scale and appearance.

Officers also highlighted that a number of similar extensions already exist in the neighbourhood.

The council assessed the impact on neighbouring properties and found the proposal would comply with guidance set out in its House Extensions Supplementary Planning Document.

It was determined that the development would not result in unacceptable overlooking, overshadowing or loss of outlook for nearby residents.

One representation was received during the consultation process, raising concerns about potential subsidence and the effect of the roof height on light reaching a neighbouring garden.

Planning officers said building control regulations would address construction matters and concluded that the extension would not cause undue overshadowing.

Permission was granted subject to standard conditions, including a requirement that external materials match the existing property.