Paul Thwaite, NatWest’s chief executive, said: “We have started the year with positive momentum, underpinned by healthy customer activity – growing all of our three businesses, expanding our capabilities to meet more of our customers’ needs and further improving productivity as we use AI at scale across the bank.”

Alison Hammond is reviving iconic gameshow Name That Tune and she says it will take some serious self control after ruling herself out of the Strictly Come Dancing top job

Alison Hammond has vowed to bring the noise when she presents the reboot of Name That Tune – but warned she may struggle to stay off the mic!

The legendary musical gameshow, hosted by Tom O’Connor and then Lionel Blair before it ended in 1987, is being revived by ITV and Alison jumped at the chance to join. It is expected to air on Saturday nights and could explain why the 51-year-old wasn’t in talks to host BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing.

It is the latest vintage ITV show being brought back with new hosts, including Bullseye with Freddie Flintoff and Wheel of Fortune, presented by Graham Norton. Name That Tune involved contestants trying to guess songs from clues and it is exected to get a very modern makeover with a big glitzy production and a dedicated band to play the tracks.

Alison has spoken about the opportunity and says she had to say yes having spent her childhood tuning in. She said: “As a massive music lover, my biggest challenge as a host will be trying not to grab the mic and start singing along when one of my all-time favourite tunes comes on! And trust me… that will take serious self control!

“I grew up absolutely loving the original show so being part of this now feels like a real full-circle moment. I cannot wait to get into the studio, put the contestants through their paces, and see who really knows their music.

“Let me tell you, being joined by the super-talented Name That Tune band, who’ll be belting out some of the biggest songs on the planet in their own unique, electric style… oh, it’s going to be next-level. Bigger, louder, and more feel-good than ever this is going to be EPIC!”

The much-loved presenter, who has also said no to the Traitors, ended speculation she was set for Strictly last month. Alison was a contestant on the BBC Saturday night favourite in 2014 and managed to reach 10th place alongside Aljaž Škorjanec. She had been heavily linked to take over the reins following last year’s shock departure of long-standing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

The BBC is yet to confirm who is due to take over the reins at the ballroom, or the names lined up to appear on Traitors with some big stars expected at the round table when filming starts in the next few weeks.

She told the Radio Times: “I’m so busy, that I’m not sure it [Strictly Come Dancing] is going to happen. It’s unrealistic. I’m so happy they considered me but, like Traitors, I can’t do it because everything clashes.”

“I would have loved to have done it, anybody that gets it, they’re going to land the perfect job. But I’m so happy with everything I’ve got. What would I drop, to do Strictly?”

We still don’t know who the new hosts will can and in their initial announcement, Claudia began with: “Hi, it’s Claud and Tess. There have been some rumblings, and we want you to hear this from us…” Tess added: “Yeah, we have news. After 21 wonderfully joyful years on Strictl,y we have decided the time is right to step aside and pass on the baton…”

“The very sparkly baton…” Claudia continued before she turned to Tess and said: “You’ve been here since the beginning…” Tess, who used to host the show with the late Bruce Forsyth, then replied: “2004 with Brucey – lovely Bruce.

“That’s over two decades ago and a lot of that time has been with you. It’s been a huge part of our lives, hasn’t it? Since our children were literally babes in arms and now they’re young adults and I think, genuinely we have cherished every second.”

Claudia added: “We have, we’re so lucky to have been part of this amazing show and we just want to thank the Strictly team because Strictly is the people who make it so thank you…” Tess agreed: “They are the very best team in television we’ve been so lucky.

“And the audience as well, they’ve been so wonderful. They’ve been with us for this entire journey of 21 years and we wouldn’t have a show without them and they’ve been just so loyal and supportive.”

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Britney Spears has been charged with drink and drug driving, weeks after being arrested in California and then checking into rehab.

The 44-year-old singer was charged with driving under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs on Thursday, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office said.

This comes after the chart-topper left rehab on Wednesday night, after voluntarily checking herself in in early April, following the incident.

Her case is due in court on May 4 but she may not have to appear in person, the Attorney’s Office said, as it is a misdemeanour charge so her attorney can appear on her behalf.

If the singer pleads guilty to reckless driving, she will receive 12-month probation during which she is required to complete a driving under the influence (DUI) class and pay state-mandated fines and fees.

This is because she has no prior DUI history, there was no crash or injury in her arrest, and she had a low blood alcohol level, according to the Attorney’s Office.

The Toxic singer was arrested in California on March 5 after she was seen driving ‘erratically’.

Police said Spears ‘showed signs of impairment and submitted to a series of field sobriety tests’ after being pulled over.

Spears, who police said was alone in her black BMW 430i, was arrested for ‘driving under the influence of a combination of drugs and alcohol’ and taken to Ventura County Main Jail, northwest of Los Angeles.

A representative at the time said the ‘unfortunate incident’ was ‘completely inexcusable’, adding it would ideally be ‘the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life’.

They added: ‘Her boys are going to be spending time with her.

‘Her loved ones are going to come up with an overdue needed plan to set her up for success for wellbeing.’

She is now said to be ‘healthy and happy’ after leaving rehab, having been pictured for the first time since then in the passenger seat of a car in Calabasas, California.

A source told New York Post column Page Six: ‘[She is] doing really well … She’s healthy and happy and feeling very positive and excited to start afresh. Rehab was a great opportunity for her to ground herself.

‘She’s looking forward to a bright future.’

The publication reports Spears left rehab on Wednesday night and a second source added the singer is ‘continuing counselling remotely’.

In 2007, the Mississippi-born singer avoided a criminal hit-and-run trial by paying damages after photographers pictured Spears steering her car into another vehicle as she tried to park in a California car park, before walking away after assessing the damage to her own car.

Her arrest comes after she sold part of her rights to her back catalogue in February to music publisher Primary Wave for an unknown fee.

The purchase came after Spears’ 13-year conservatorship, which had control of her career decisions and finances, ended in 2021.

Most recently, Spears released a collaboration with Sir Elton John in 2022, and later collaborated with Black Eyed Peas member Will.i.am on a track titled Mind Your Business in 2023.

Spears’ decades-long career has seen her achieve six UK number one singles and eight UK top 10 albums, and she has also collaborated with stars such as Madonna, Rihanna, Iggy Azalea and Backstreet Boys.

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The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered American Airlines and United Airlines to reduce their scheduled flights at Chicago O’Hare International Airport to prevent delays and cancellations this summer

Airlines operating at the world’s busiest airport are being forced to slash their schedules to reduce operational chaos ahead of the summer months. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is reportedly compelling operators at Chicago O’Hare International Airport to trim their services in a bid to minimize disruption.

The move has led major carriers American Airlines and United Airlines to axe nearly 2,700 May flights between them. This follows an announcement from the FAA in April stating it would take “action to prevent endless delays [and] cancellations at Chicago O’Hare.”

The airport is keen to boost performance in 2026 after a difficult season last year. It is understood that fewer than 60% of arrivals and departures ran on time at O’Hare last summer, prompting the current push to streamline operations and ensure a more reliable schedule for travellers, reports Daily Star.

O’Hare airport is expected to handle almost 15% more flights on busy days this year compared to summer 2025, according to MSN. This raises the prospect of over-scheduling, with airlines instructed to reduce flights to ward off travel disruptions, reports the Mirror.

“We appreciate the airlines working together with us to reach a responsible level of operations that strengthens safety and delivers a more reliable travel experience for the American public,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.

Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium on week-on-week timetable alterations revealed that United and American combined have axed a total of 2,696 return flights at the airport in May. This works out at roughly 87 flights daily. While this is minimal against O’Hare’s total operations, it will still create some operational disruption for passengers.

American Airlines’ May figure has fallen by 787 return journeys from 32,410 to 31,623. The carrier has been forced to slash at least 10 rotations across 24 of its Chicago routes in May 2026.

United Airlines is responsible for the majority of these reductions, with 1,909 services having been scrapped. The carrier’s footprint at O’Hare will decline from 43,271 planned return flights to 41,362 in May.

Reports indicate that 53 routes have experienced 10 or more May departures removed from United Airlines’ O’Hare schedules.

Even United Airlines’ biggest US hubs haven’t escaped the reductions.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport have all witnessed 10 or more May cuts.

Drivers have been caught in congestion on the M25 snarling back for miles after a crash involving a van.

Traffic has ground to a halt on the M25 clockwise in Surrey after a crash during the morning rush hour.

Motorists are being held between junction J10 (Guildford) and J11 (Woking) after a collision.

Queues are stretching for six miles, causing delays of around 45 minutes, National Highways warned.

Footage from the scene appears to show at least one van on the central reservation with its front smashed in.

National Highways said: ‘Surrey Police are now on scene with traffic officers. There are currently delays of 45 minutes and 6 miles of congestion on the approach.’

There are also severe delays on the anticlockwise carriageway, with queues stretching back towards Heathrow Airport and J13.

Meanwhile, the early May bank holiday is expected to be the busiest on roads in 10 years – despite the sky-high petrol and diesel prices.

The UK’s motorways and A-roads are forecast to see around 19 million trips over the weekend, the motoring expert RAC predicts.

Today has been labelled the ‘Frantic Friday’ as 3.7 million people are set to hit the roads.

Saturday is expected to the busiest day of the entire weekend, with 4 million trips in the pipeline.

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Asda is recalling its Exceptional by Asda Beer Battered Cod Fishcakes because of the possible contamination, which makes them unsafe to eat.

A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) warned: “ASDA is recalling the above product.

“Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product.

Thursday 30 April – @asda recalls Exceptional by ASDA Beer Battered Cod Fishcakes because it may contain pieces of plastic or metal #FoodAlert https://t.co/qx80JZsVn2 pic.twitter.com/NKJ8APqwXR

— Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) April 30, 2026

“These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.

“If you have bought the above product do not eat it. Instead, return it to your nearest ASDA store for a full refund. For further information, please contact ASDA’s customer relations team on 0330 053 0111.”

The recalled fishcakes come in packs of 290g and have use by dates of May 1, May 2, May 3, May 4 and May 5.

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An Asda spokesman said: “We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused.

“If you have purchased Exceptional by ASDA Beer Battered Fishcakes with the above use by dates (no other use by dates are affected), please bring it back to your nearest store where you will be given a full refund.

“You do not need your receipt.”

Food Recalls Explained

What is a product recall?

If there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, then it might be ‘withdrawn’ (taken off the shelves) or ‘recalled’ (when customers are asked to return the product).

The FSA issues Product Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food.

In some cases, a ‘Food Alert for Action’ is issued.

This provides local authorities with details of specific actions to be taken on behalf of consumers.

My husband and I have date nights at Facing Heaven in Hackney. It’s a tiny gem of a place; great atmosphere, punk rock soundtrack and chef Julian’s mind-blowing mix of Sichuan, Haitian and American comfort food… Dan dan noodles, smacked cucumber, French toast. Chequerboard vinyl floor. Disco light.

Milly Alcock, the breakout star of House of the Dragon, has revealed the unconventional way she discovered she had landed the coveted role of Supergirl, following a vision from DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn. The 26-year-old Australian actor, who captivated audiences as the young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, was chosen for her “punk rock” energy, a quality Gunn specifically sought for the iconic superhero.

DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran recounted Gunn’s initial vision for the character, inspired directly by Alcock’s performance. “He goes, ‘you know the young girl from House of the Dragon? The young queen or princess? That’s how I picture it, like a young punk rock girl who is just totally badass and tough,’” Safran told The Associated Press. “I was like, yeah, that sounds fantastic, and we haven’t seen that before.”

Alcock, who had been working in her native Australia since her teenage years, found her world rapidly expanding. After submitting a self-tape for the secretive Supergirl project, she was summoned for her first-ever screen test. A 24-hour flight from Sydney to Atlanta later, she gave it her all. “I kind of had a feeling, I remember I like got back to my hotel room and I like sat down and I was like, ‘Oh, this is gonna, something’s gonna happen,’” Alcock said. “I just had like an intuition that like, this is going to be a very exciting challenge if it goes in my favour.”

Ten days later, the news arrived not via a phone call, but a text message from Gunn containing an article from the trade publication Deadline: “Supergirl’: New Woman Of Steel Is ‘House Of The Dragon’s’ Milly Alcock.” Her immediate reaction? “This is crazy, what have I done?” Just days after, she was back on that 24-hour flight to film her cameo in the upcoming Superman film.

Since then, things have not slowed down. Filming the Supergirl movie, set for release on 26 June, has been a marathon of stunts, action, and emotion, with the promotional tour proving equally relentless. Speaking to the AP earlier this month, Alcock had just arrived in Las Vegas from Kyoto, where she was filming another project, and, on just two hours of sleep, had to rally to hype Supergirl in front of thousands of cinema owners.

Safran believes the film offers a fresh perspective. “It’s a really original and unique take on a superhero movie,” he said. “I think it’s just a great movie for audiences. It’s not just for superhero fans.”

Despite her character being less widely known than her famous cousin, the response to Alcock’s brief appearance in Superman was overwhelmingly positive. “She’s in the Superman movie for, you know, 12 seconds, yet one of the things audiences wanted to see … more of was her,” Safran noted. “And Millie in real life, she’s just that girl … she is authentically a badass.”

Part of Supergirl’s intrigue lies in her stark contrast to the straight-laced Superman. Unlike her cousin, who was raised by loving parents on Earth, Kara witnessed the destruction of her home planet and the loss of everyone she knew, forcing her to fend for herself. Directed by Craig Gillespie, known for his films about complex young women like I, Tonya and Cruella, the film follows a jaded Kara on an intergalactic odyssey.

Alcock found an unexpected connection with her character. “Kara surprisingly reminded me a lot of myself, which I never thought I would get from playing like a superhero, from playing someone who isn’t human. There’s a lot humility in her and that kind of made me fall in love with her immediately,” Alcock explained. “Sometimes you can get swept up in what other people expect, and then you kind of lose your intrinsic you-ness. And that’s why people hire you in the first place, because of what you bring to something just innately being who you are.”

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Alcock, who didn’t grow up a big film fan, found acting to be a lifeline and an outlet for communicating feelings she struggled with in real life. Now living in London with a close-knit group of non-actor friends, she is adjusting to the intense visibility that comes with her new role.

“It’s been kind of disorientating,” she admitted. “I do this job because it gives me the ability to disappear. So then to like suddenly be so visible and so exposed is a very vulnerable experience. I’m just trying to learn how to deal with that relationship. But I mean, it’s exciting. Of course it’s exciting. But like anything exciting, it’s also terrifying.”

She recalled a conversation with David Corenswet on the Superman set, highlighting their differing perspectives on fame. “I remember him being like, ‘We’re gonna have action figures, isn’t that cool?’” she said. “And I was like, ‘That’s so weird. Why would someone have a toy of my face?’”

Hokum is a fun, self-aware title for a horror film when that genre can often be so easily dismissed as such. But this movie is ready to convince you otherwise.

You get your first jump scare less than five minutes in. It’s a warning that this movie enjoys employing that device. Is it original? No. But is it effective? Yes.

What is more original about this latest film from Oddity filmmaker Damian McCarthy is its decision to not take itself seriously without indulging in the cheap gags or bad acting that normally dominates comedy-horror blends.

This isn’t a splatter movie. In fact, Hokum manages to retain its supernatural chill throughout, even when you’re smirking over its dry jokes.

But make no mistake, there are some properly frightening moments, including a split-second in one scene that’s so beautifully simple yet traumatising that I doubt I’ll forget it.

Severance star Adam Scott is weirdly delightful as grumpy and troubled author Ohm Bauman who, while struggling with his latest book, decides to take a trip to rural Ireland to spread the ashes of his late parents.

He heads to the last place he knows they were happy, holing up in a faded hotel run by eccentric Irish staff.

The first unsettling – and rather baffling – sight he’s met with is the carcass of a goat that’s been shot dead for trying to climb on a car. ‘Shooing’ and spraying with a hose weren’t options, he’s told.

Ohm is invited to the hotel’s annual Hallowe’en party and, after ‘craic’ is explained to him in no uncertain terms, requests the room furthest away. He also refuses to sign a book. Later he describes someone to their face as an ‘oblivious charisma vacuum completely incapable of reading a room’. As you can tell, he’s a real ray of sunshine.

But things get weird when he meets local vagrant Jerry (a fantastic David Wilmot) in the woods, who offers him moonshine and confirms the goats are all high on a local supply of magic mushrooms. They’re naturally attracted to ‘shiny surfaces’ when clambering all over people’s vehicles.

He’s also been warned that a witch haunts the hotel’s honeymoon suite, which is never rented out, hidden behind a metal-gated lift to the top floor. Perhaps predictably, Ohm calls this ‘hokum’.

When hotel worker Fiona (Florence Ordesh) goes missing though, and Jerry is convinced he can find an answer in the honeymoon suite, Ohm finds himself sucked into a terrifying nightmare.

Cue plenty of creaking doors, jangling bells and glimpsed-at ghouls in the background, while Ohm also battles with being haunted by memories of his late mother, who we learn was shot.

Even here, Hokum retains its humour in an entertaining way, from the knowing faces of the room’s chintzy cherub ornaments to a ghost with no concept of personal space walking directly behind Ohm. As in, mirroring his every move like a shadow that’s glued to him. I left the screening with that image branded on my brain it was so creepy – and yet, I still laughed.

That’s the unique power of Hokum.

However, it runs out of steam with its main character trapped in the room and trying to survive. While it continues to keep you on edge, the threat of the lurking witch is stretched thinly over the rest of the film.

There’s some intriguing human drama that comes into play, including a couple of twists – one I guessed, one I didn’t – but in places it chips away at the twisted atmosphere McCarthy has so far conjured, as well as our suspension of disbelief.

And while the ending is neat enough, it left some of its foundations underexplained, a frustrating characteristic of horror (and a personal pet peeve).

Having said this, more horror films should aspire to be like Hokum: unafraid to showcase smart humour alongside genuinely unnerving elements.

Its cast, which also includes Peter Coonan, Will O’Connell and Michael Patric, are all universally superb as well, helping to elevate the experience Hokum offers above standard fare in the genre.

Hokum is in cinemas from today.

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