The Channel 5 presenter was announced as leading the 2026 Carers UK Awards earlier this week, which seeks to “shine a spotlight” on the contribution of unpaid carers, but the decision was met with outrage on social media.

Campaigners had criticised the decision and said Vine should be replaced as he “attacks disabled people for clicks”.

Mike O’Brien, a campaigner for unpaid carers, said Carers UK had “chosen to stab us all in the back” by choosing Vine as the host.

“This man has made clear his hate for disabled people, the vulnerable and unpaid carers, yet you chose him to host the awards ceremony,” he wrote on Twitter/X.

“I sincerely hope you see the error of your ways and the anger you have caused within the unpaid carer community and change your minds about this awful decision.”

Following the backlash, Carers UK announced that Vine would no longer be hosting the event.

Jeremy Vine (Image: Channel 5/PA)

A spokesperson for Carers UK said: “Following discussions with Jeremy Vine, we’ve made the decision that he will no longer be hosting this year’s Carers UK Awards.

“Jeremy has been incredibly supportive of Carers UK including through his radio show, and we’re grateful for that support.

“But after listening carefully to our community over the past couple of days, we’ve agreed that the focus of the evening should stay entirely on celebrating carers and the individuals and organisations that support them, without the risk of other content becoming a distraction.”

Vine also took to Twitter/X to address the controversy.

“Because I host debates about welfare, benefits etc I see I was a controversial choice to be the (obviously unpaid) host of the prestigious @CarersUK awards so I’m very happy to stand aside and give someone else the honour of doing it,” the broadcaster said.

“I originally said yes to support a friend who watched her husband die in a long and painful process, and I didn’t want to let her down. I see her as a heroine.

“I’m not a campaigner, and guests on my shows know I have to be impartial, but I’m very much aware of the vital role unpaid carers play. I believe we’ve only ever covered them sympathetically.

“I wish @CarersUK well with their excellent event and will cheer the winners from a distance.”

Earlier this week, on August 16, Vine’s programme on Channel 5 ran a segment in response to Reform UK’s policy announcements on benefits, titled: “Reform right to call for cuts to disability benefits?”

Another Facebook video from August 18 had the caption: “Should benefits claimants clean the high street?”

Michael Corris, 56, was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving after Lewis Rimmer, 41, was injured in a crash outside Sainsbury’s in Bromley Cross on October 27, 2025.

Corris was also charged with drug driving in connection with the same incident and this week appeared for the first time before Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court.

A spokesperson for the courts and tribunal service confirmed that Corris did not enter a plea for the charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and pleaded not guilty to drug driving.

He is set to appear for a further hearing at the Crown Court next month.

The case was heard at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates Court (Image: Newsquest)

Corris was charged back in April this year, several weeks after Mr Rimmer came out of hospital on March 31.

Speaking at the time, Mr Rimmer’s wife, Sarah, said: “After 22 weeks in hospital we got daddy back.

“The journey isn’t over yet, but for now we are concentrating on us.”

Friend of Mr Rimmer’s, Andy Tonge, said: “Lewis is now back at home and adjusting to a more restricted way of life due to his current mobility challenges.

Lewis Rimmer, wife Sarah and their two daughters (Image: Public)

“He will require a very complex operation later this year on his right pelvis and hip to realign them, with the aim of improving the usability of his right side.

“The road ahead is still a long one, but he continues to surprise us all with his outlook and resilience.

“In the meantime, it has been great that we are able to see him more easily, including spending time together over the weekend watching the Masters golf and having a right laugh with a group of the lads.

“The staff at Preston and Salford hospitals also deserve particular recognition.

Lewis Rimmer, wife Sarah and their two daughters (Image: Public)

“While we appreciate this is their profession and what they love to do, the care and support they have shown has been exceptional – the NHS at its very best.”

Corris, of Turton Road, Bromley Cross, is next due to appear before Bolton Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on Friday, September 18.

After a spate of heatwaves, it’s finally happening: the sides of my road are lined with crunchy autumn leaves, and the weather, finally, is turning a little cooler.

Just as the Great British Bake-Off is set to hit our screens again, plums, apples, and blackberries come into season. The nights are getting longer; turning your oven on feels more bearable as the sweltering heat dissipates.

That means one thing, home cooks: it’s almost time for Prime Baking Season.

If you’re looking for some inspo to get back into the kitchen, we’ve tried and tested plenty of recipes from culinary guru Mary Berry (why waste time with anyone but the best?).

Here are nine of our favourites:

By ALEX HAMMER, US MEDIA CORRESPONDENT

Updated: 04:57 BST, 22 August 2026

Johnny Depp could be set for a triumphant return to Hollywood after his turn as iconic miser Ebenezer Scrooge scored well during an early test screening, according to a new report.

Puck’s Matthew Belloni made the revelation on Friday. He cited an August 11 test screening of ‘Ebenezer’ attended by Paramount studio heads Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg in Paramus, New Jersey.

Sources also told Belloni, widely seen as Hollywood’s go-to source for insider information, that the ‘A Christmas Carol’ spinoff scored well overall.

But the ‘real interest’ revolved around Depp, 63, whose last major studio film role came as the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald in the Harry Potter-inspired ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.’

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The film was released in 2018. Legal battles with his ex-wife, Amber Heard, lost Depp the role in 2020. 

Pirates of the Caribbean showrunners distanced themselves from the star, at the time. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer revealed the actor was in talks to reprise that role at an event late last month.

All eyes were thus on Depp last week. ‘And much to the relief of the Paramount execs – and, to a certain extent, the rest of Hollywood – they loved him,’ Belloni wrote.

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Johnny Depp could be set for a triumphant return to Hollywood after his turn as iconic miser Ebenezer Scrooge scored well during an August 11 screening

Depp scored an 86 out of 100 as the Dickensian character, according to Belloni, when the accepted average for a male lead is around 67.

Depp also scored extremely well with women over 35 – a demo some suspected may have been less kind considering Heard, 40, alleged the actor physically and sexually abused her over the course of their relationship, Belloni noted.

Depp scored at least 90 percent in the demo, sources told the Puck founder, adding that he confirmed the numbers ‘with three sources.’ 

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‘In fact, talking to producers and studio execs over the past few weeks, the possibility of a Depp comeback is shaping up as a major narrative for the fall,’ he wrote.

A jury found that Heard defamed Depp on three counts with her claims, which were launched in a 2018 Washington Post opinion piece. The Edward Scissorhands star was subsequently awarded $10.35 million in damages. 

Ebenezer – headed by relatively small-time horror director Ti West – hits theaters in November. 

The movie boasts a roughly $40 million budget.  

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Depp, in-character and in-costume, appeared at Comic-Con in San Diego last month to plug the film.

Depp – seen in character last January – last appeared in a major studio film in 2018, as the main antagonist in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.’ The film was released in 2018. Legal battles with his ex-wife, Amber Heard, lost Depp the role in the now-trilogy in 2020

Belloni noted that the strategy, to some, came off as desperate, considering Depp’s situation.

‘Instead, it played exactly as Paramount hoped: This guy is about the characters, not the wine glasses he may or may not have thrown at his ex.’

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Belloni ended the update reiterating how ‘other studios are monitoring this situation closely.’

Ella Hendricken and Niamh and Alma Kinsella were travelling with the child to the airport for a holiday when the car they were in was struck by another vehicle driving the wrong way

A community was left “numb” after three sisters and a young boy were seriously injured in a horror crash in Ireland, a vigil of support for the family has heard.

Ella Hendricken and Niamh and Alma Kinsella were travelling with the child to the airport for a holiday when the car they were in was struck by another vehicle driving the wrong way down the M9 motorway in Kildare on Sunday morning.

They were all taken to hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Five teenagers in the other vehicle all died in the crash which has renewed focus on enforcement of laws against dangerous driving, the regulation of social media content, and the provision of State care to children.

A prayer vigil in solidarity with the injured women and boy was held on Friday evening in Saint Clare’s Church in Graiguecullen, Carlow near the Laois border.

Hundreds of well-wishers gathered for the vigil, which was also livestreamed, from 6.30pm.

A fundraiser for the affected family had received more than €675,000 in donations by the time of the gathering.

Father John Dunphy told the vigil: “We gather tonight, first of all, in prayer.

“And when a community comes together in prayer it gives great strength.”

Fr Dunphy said the hearts of the community had been “numb” since Sunday morning, but said “our hearts too went out to” the affected family.

“We prayed that they will recover. We knew it would be a long road back. Thankfully, they’re on that road and please God, they will make a full recovery.”

At the same service, Bishop Denis Nulty said that the community felt “shock” as well as “maybe fear and grief” as it gathered in “solidarity” and support for the the family.

He said they deserved the prayers offered, “particularly at a time when words fail and indeed when we feel helpless regarding what to do or where to turn to”, adding: “It’s good to be together”.

Speaking to those gathered, he said: “The thing about it is that they could be any one of us on the road from Carlow to catch an early morning flight from Dublin Airport.”

He said it was “only right that we gather and know how much this gathering will mean” to the affected family.

Bishop Nulty also thanked emergency personnel who arrived at the scene and medical staff who have cared for the family in the following days.

He then turned his attention to those who died in the other crash, while urging the public to be “careful” in social media posts about the incident.

“We also remember the the five boys in the car – that’s the Christian thing to do.

“They too have heartbroken parents, family, and friends.

“We pray for them this evening.”

Bishop Nulty said Christians were called on to be “hands and feet of Christ” but were additionally asked “to be careful of our language”.

He added: “Words can hurt, but they also have the power to heal.

“To be careful of our social media posting, what is posted cannot be unposted, to be careful of our commentary.”

The service included a prayer for healing which involved sharing the flame from one source candle in the church among smaller candles held by those gathered.

Funerals for two of the teenagers in the other car were held in Carlow and Athy, Co Kildare earlier on Friday while it was reported that there was also a gathering for mourners for a third boy in Limerick.

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Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside… especially when there’s a charming town nestled along the coast in easy reach of Cambridge, which is named ‘one of the best in the UK’

One of the UK’s ‘best seaside towns’ is less than two hours from Cambridge, with a wacky pier and Blue Flag beach.

During the summer months, there’s nothing quite like a trip to a seaside town for that quintessential day out, with stretches of golden coast and a high street packed with hidden gems. Even on those slightly more brisk days, there’s plenty of traditional seaside fun to be had, with classic piers, attractions and of course, the sought-after taste of fish and chips by the sea.

While we have to drive a little further to reap the benefits of coastal pastimes, it’s well worth it, and luckily for us, the Suffolk coast is well within reach of Cambridge. And there’s one town that has been highlighted as one of the finest to visit, and it’s remained delightfully unspoilt.

Nestled along the East Suffolk and two hours from Cambridge, is the classic seaside town of Southwold. Characterised by its colourful beach huts, award-winning Edwardian pier, working lighthouse and collection of independent businesses, Southwold was named as ‘one of the best seaside towns’ in the UK by Which? this year.

The consumer champion awarded the seaside town five stars for its pier, and four stars for its food and drink offerings, tourist attractions, scenery, shopping, and beach. With an overall score of 78%, Southwold ranked among the top 10 nationwide, just behind Aldeburgh in Suffolk.

Southwold Pier Beach has frequently been cited as one of the best in Britain, scooping the Blue Flag and Seaside Awards numerous occassions, including in 2026, owing to its clean, safe environment. The sweeping beach is a mixture of sand and shingle, while its promenade is lined with its colourful array of beach huts that only adds to its coastal charm.

Stretching 190 metres from the Suffolk shore into the North Sea is the iconic Edwardian pier that is packed with entertainment, shops and eateries. It’s perhaps one of the most eccentric British piers, thanks to its wacky Under the Pier Show, which houses a ‘mad collection of homemade slot machines’.

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The interactive novelty machines, designed by inventor Tim Hunkin, are certainly a standout in Southwold, providing endless seaside fun. But that’s not all. The pier also has an arcade with all the timeless classics, the Boardwalk Restaurant serving up meals with a view, and the Clockhouse tearoom for a scone and cuppa.

When visitors can tear themselves away from the pier, there’s plenty more to explore in the seaside town, including the award-winning Adnams Brewery. Located next to the 31-metre lighthouse that stands strikingly in the middle of Southwold, the brewery was founded in 1872, but its brewing heritage dates back more than 670 years, so it’s undoubtedly the spot to grab a drink.

Elsewhere in the resort town, there’s a range of independent shops, cafes, hotels and pubs to explore, along with local fish shacks and seafood restaurants. The Little Fish & Chip Shop on East Street has often been hailed as a favourite by locals, thanks to its traditional beef-dripping frying, while Sole Bay Fish Company and Mrs T’s Fish & Chips are other highlights.

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Southwold is also home to the independent cinema, The Electric Picture Palace, which was built from an old stable and uniquely designed as an Edwardian theatre. Holidaymakers can attend one of their many film screenings, with just 70-seats for an intimate experience.

What might strike visitors to Southwold, and are a major part of its landscape, are the spacious village greens that lie in the heart of the town. The nine pristine lawns and large common were actually created by a roaring fire back in 1659, and instead of rebuilding every area, the town chose to retain them as open green spaces.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

Unite the Union said nearly 320 workers employed by Honeywell at sites in Billingham, Stockton and Clitheroe are being asked whether they support industrial action over changes to pension arrangements.

The dispute comes following the acquisition of Johnson Matthey Catalyst Technologies by US-based cooperation Honeywell in July.

According to Unite, workers were told during the takeover process that Honeywell’s pension provision would be “broadly comparable” to the scheme they were previously enrolled in.

However, the union claims that many employees will instead face a reduction of up to nine per cent in employer pension contributions following the takeover. However, this has not been confirmed by Honeywell.

Unite also claims that death-in-service benefits from Honeywell will be lower than with their previous employer.

The workers involved include chemical, mechanical and electrical engineers, chemical process operators, scientists and analysts.

Those voting on strike action work in catalyst production for the ammonia, methanol, oil and gas sectors – supplying products used by major industrial companies and energy projects.

Unite warned that industrial action of any kind could disrupt supplies to a number of high-profile operations, including BP’s H2Teesside project, Equinor and Linde’s H2H Saltend project, Shell’s hydrogen purification catalyst operations, and sustainable aviation fuel developments.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham accused Honeywell of misleading workers over their pension arrangements.

She said: “Honeywell is massively wealthy; retaining pension contributions at their original level will make no difference to the company. Unite will not tolerate these pension attacks.

“Honeywell’s UK workforce has their union’s total and unflinching backing.”

Unite regional officer Richard O’Brien claimed that Honeywell is risking creating supply issues for their customers just weeks after taking over the business.

Mr O’Brien said: “Honeywell’s clients will not be happy that it has been running its UK catalyst operations for less than two months and they are already facing major product shortages because it is going after workers’ hard-earned pension contributions.

“There is still time to avoid industrial action but that will require halting the pension attacks.”

The Northern Echo has contacted Honeywell for comment on Unite’s claims and the proposed changes to workers’ pension arrangements.

The workers are being balloted for strike until Wednesday, September 2.

Why do flies rub their legs together?

Flies don’t only clean their forelegs

All 20 clubs can boast to having a handful of players capable of taking a mean set-piece, whether that be a corner or a free-kick. There are the usual suspects at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United, Manchester City and Spurs, but also some new faces such as Christos Tzolis, Ryan Giles and Jack Rudoni.