After calming her nerves with a blast of heavy metal music, Mia Brookes looked down a 50-metre drop and was faced with a choice. Did she try to marginally improve upon two previously solid jumps and have an approximately even chance of nudging herself back into a medal position in the snowboard big air?

Or did she go for broke and attempt to land the first backside 1620 (4½ rather than four rotations) trick in the history of her sport? 

Those who know Brookes were not surprised by her choice and, for a split second, it looked like she had delivered a jump that could challenge for gold let alone bronze. But then it became clear that she had over-rotated and, in just losing control, Britain’s hopes of a first medal of this winter Games had also gone.

The jump was registered as a DNI – meaning that it “did not improve” on her previous two efforts – and Great Britain had to endure a second fourth place of the day after Kirsty Muir had earlier also been edged out of a medal. As chef de mission Eve Muirhead waited at the bottom of the ramp, a delegation of Milan-Cortina organisers passed by with three increasingly elusive Olympic medals.

With the mixed curlers having earlier lost in the semi-final of their competition, the hopeful talk of three medals on a magic Monday in Italy had completely melted away. Agonising Monday instead. It is a considerable early blow to Team GB, whose projections of a record-breaking Winter Olympic medal haul had leaned heavily on the Livigno Snow Park, although it should be stressed that Muir, Brookes and the curlers do all have further podium chances.

Brookes had earlier delivered just exactly what was needed on her first jump; a solid landing following a 1440 trick that saw her complete four complete mid air spins and score 80.85. A single raised arm and then a hug with her waiting parents, Nigel and Vicky, underlined her relief.

It put her fourth after the first run and then, after a similarly sold backside 1260 had taken her to third on the second run with 78.85, she had the platform to attempt something audacious. Yet with snowboarders going in reverse order in the final round, Brookes could only watch as the New Zealander Zoi Sadowksi Synnott delivered an outstanding final score of 83 to nudge her out of the medals.

In a scenario that some will find frustratingly familiar, Emma Raducanu retired from her opening match in Doha after having her blood pressure checked by the doctor.

It was a surprise, in some ways, that Raducanu even took the court for this meeting with qualifier Camila Osorio. She had looked thoroughly exhausted while playing the final – her first in five years – in Cluj-Napoca on Saturday, and was then only able to take one day off between events.

Although Raducanu played some solid percentage tennis to claim the opening set – the first set she has ever won in three visits to Doha – her energy levels seemed to fall away as Osorio broke her serve midway through the second and then hung on to set up a decider.

Few would have backed Raducanu to come through a test of stamina, and indeed she dropped serve again immediately before being visited by the doctor. Although she returned to the court for one last Osorio service game, she was barely moving as a series of serves zipped past her, and then walked to the net to shake hands with the world No 80, with the scoreboard reading 2-6, 6-4, 2-0 in Osorio’s favour.

There is a second WTA 1000 event in the Middle East starting next week, in Dubai, so Raducanu presumably decided that she might as well get in position for that one, even if her prospects of a deep run in Doha were limited. On the upside, she has few rankings points to defend until Miami in mid-March, so she virtually has a free swing at the next couple of tournaments.

Raducanu’s ability to withstand the physical demands of week-to-week tennis remains a significant issue, and one that she has yet to find a solution to. Although she began last season with the highly rated fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura in her corner, he stepped away in the middle of the year. Her latest hire – physio-cum-fitness trainer Emma Stewart, who used to work for British Rowing – has not attended her two events since the Australian Open, but was reported to be arriving in Doha on Monday night, shortly after Raducanu’s exit.

As for the coaching vacancy left by the recent departure of Francis Roig, Raducanu’s hitting partner Alexis Canter appears to be filling in for the moment, although she has not yet made any comment about whether this arrangement will last through the next few hard-court tournaments: initially Dubai and then the so-called “sunshine double” of Indian Wells and Miami in the US.

Meanwhile, British No 2 Cameron Norrie continued his encouraging start to the season by defeating the Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut in Rotterdam. After snatching a long and draining first set, Norrie was then able to surge to a 7-6, 6-1 victory over the 37-year-old Bautista Agut. He will play Australia’s Christian O’Connell in the second round.

Chris Evans’ celebrity talk show, TFI Friday, is returning after over a decade off air and a controversial legacy.

The unfiltered chat show first launched in 1996 and found a home on Channel 4 for several years before being pulled from the air.

Aside from a brief revival in 2015, Chris hasn’t returned to the TFI Friday sofa until now, with the show making its comeback on Virgin Radio UK’s YouTube channel last Friday.

The original run found itself subject to backlash in recent years after a resurfaced clip showed the DJ and presenter, 59, grilling Spice Girls icon Victoria Beckham over her weight shortly after she gave birth.

The shocking interaction happened in May 1999, just two months after the birth of Victoria and now-husband David Beckham’s eldest son, Brooklyn Beckham, was born.

Appearing on the show, Chris asked Victoria if her weight was ‘back to normal’ to which she said ‘yes’. He then pulled a weighing scale out from his desk, asking if they could ‘check’.

In July 2022, Victoria addressed the moment in a Vogue interview, reflecting: ‘He made me stand on the scales to be weighed. Can you imagine doing that nowadays.’

More widely, the series wasn’t without its controversies. One competition to win a car for their parents put two children head-to-head in a staring contest, which ended in tears and outcry from viewers.

As well as Victoria, the first run of the show also saw him interview guests such as Ewan McGregor, U2 and Saoirse Ronan, to name a few.

On Friday, February 6, the revamped version of the star-studded show, TFI Unplugged, launched almost 30 years after the very first episode. Oscar-nominated Sinners actor Delroy Lindo appeared on the episode.

Comedian Ross Noble and band James, fronted by Tim Booth, also made special appearances in the inaugural episode.

The TV and radio personality, also known for presenting the rebooted Top Gear, is hoping to stick around for a long time, as he shared on his own Virgin Radio breakfast show on Monday.

Returning alongside original executive producers, Clare Barton and Suzie Aplin, he reflected: ‘How much juice do we have left in the tank? Well, hang on a minute. 

‘When Rod Stewart came on TFI Friday he was only four years younger than I am now, so it’s all going to be fine.’

He shared: ‘Paul McCartney came on TFI again when he was just a few years younger than I am. Now he’s 83, Paul McCartney.

‘So listen, we’ve got plenty of road still to run here before we run out of road. That’s what I’m saying to myself.’

TFI Friday will land on Virgin UK Radio’s YouTube channel every Friday.

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Greater Manchester’s restaurant scene may have been hoping for some more Michelin Stars but were left disappointed

The Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland has unveiled its new stars for 2026. At its official ceremony held in Dublin this evening a total of 22 Michelin Stars and seven Green Michelin Stars were handed out to a variety of venues.

The ceremony, which marked the first time the awards were held in Ireland, saw all the new star ratings announced for the guide, which is considered to be the most prestigious of all the culinary honours.

Sadly for Greater Manchester there were no new stars awarded to the region. Despite picking up a new star for Skof last year, the 2026 edition saw the city and surrounding area leave the awards empty handed.

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Mana and Skof, Manchester’s only Michelin-starred restaurants, may have been hoping for a second star but were also left disappointed – however both have retained their Michelin Star. Restaurants that achieved two Michelin stars were Row on 5 in London and Bonheur by Matt Abé.

Mana was the first Manchester restaurant to receive a new star in 40 years when it landed its first in 2019. The last Greater Manchester restaurant to have a star before this was Juniper in Altrincham, which held it for 11 years until chef Paul Kitching left in 2009.

In 2025, Skof was awarded a Michelin Star – less than a year after opening in Manchester city centre. Presided over by former L’Enclume chef Tom Barnes, it first opened in May 2024 and quickly became one of the hottest tables in town with reservations booked out for months.

Despite no new stars, Greater Manchester is firmly on Michelin’s radar, as last week two venues in Greater Manchester received a Bib Gourmand. The Michelin Guide introduced the Bib Gourmand back in 1997, to acknowledge the restaurants and venues that serve high-quality food at great value across the country.

Erst in Ancoats and Cantaloupe in Stockport were both bestowed the honour. They joined The Sparrows in Cheetham Hill, Higher Ground on the edge of Chinatown and El Gato Negro who all have a Bib Gourmand too.

Elsewhere in proceedings for the night, Northern restaurants that shone out included Fifty Two at Rudding Park, Harrogate, and Joro in Oughtibridge, Sheffield, which both took home a Michelin Star. Beyond this, the majority of new stars were handed to restaurants in capital.

Tom Earnshaw took home Young Chef of the Year. The Executive Chef presides over Bohemia, the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Jersey. He cooked at Michelin-starred restaurants including Lancashire’s Moor Hall and Northcote in Lancashire, as well as the Sampling in Cumbria before first joining Bohemia as a sous chef in 2023.

The full list of Michelin Stars for Great Britain & Ireland 2026:

One Star:

• Legado, Shoreditch, London
• The Pullman, Galway
• The Boat, Lichfield
• Fifty Two at Rudding Park, Harrogate
• 1887, Torridon, Scotland
• Tom Brown at The Capital, London
• Ugly Butterfly, Newquay
• Ambassadors Clubhouse, London
• Joro, Oughtibridge
• Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High, London
• Vraic, Vale, Guernsey
• Somssi by Jihun Kim, London
• The WIlderness, Birmingham
• Labombe by Trivet, London
• The Kerfield Arms, London
• Michael Caines at the Stafford, London
• Corenucopia, Chelsea
• Killiecrankie House, Pitlochry
• Mare, Brighton and Hove
• Forest Avenue, Dublin

Two Star:

• Row on 5, London
• Bonheur by Matt Abe, London

Three Star:No new awards for 2026

The little known Scottish landmark older than Stonehenge sits on a remote island reached by the world’s shortest commercial flight

An incredible Scottish landmark older than Stonehenge is one many Britons have never heard of. Stonehenge in Wiltshire is estimated to be between 4000 and 5000 years old and remains one of the country’s most visited historic attractions.

It is often considered Britain’s most famous ancient monument, yet it is only one of many prehistoric sites scattered across the country. According to historians, it is not even the oldest. One lesser known landmark that predates Stonehenge sits on a remote island that can be reached by taking the world’s shortest commercial flight, Express reports.

Many of the UK’s most isolated islands lie off the rugged coast of Scotland. One of these islands is home to what is believed to be the oldest preserved stone house in northern Europe. Despite its remote location, the site attracts visitors with a strong interest in Neolithic Britain. Local experts say it is at least 500 years older than Stonehenge.

The site is known as the Knap of Howar and is located on the island of Papa Westray in Orkney. Historians describe it as a Neolithic farmstead, with evidence showing it was occupied between 3800 BC and 2800 BC. This places it at almost 6000 years old.

Reaching the Knap of Howar involves travelling on the flight from Westray to Papa Westray, recognised as the world’s shortest scheduled commercial journey. While most air passengers are used to flights lasting hours, this trip takes just over a minute.

At the site, visitors can see rectangular stone buildings with thick walls and short doorways facing the sea. The larger structure is believed to have served as a workshop, while the smaller building is thought to have been used as a home.

Historians believe the roofs once had openings to allow smoke from indoor fires to escape, as there were no windows. Although the buildings would originally have stood further inland, thousands of years of coastal erosion have brought them close to the shoreline.

Much of the stone furniture inside the buildings remains intact, offering a rare insight into daily life during the Neolithic period. Archaeologists have uncovered a range of objects that shed light on the lives of the site’s early inhabitants.

These include distinctive stone tools such as grinders and borers, an antler and whalebone macehead, and animal remains that provide information about the diet of Scotland’s earliest farmers.

Historic Environment Scotland says the wider area has not yet been fully explored. This suggests the two visible buildings may once have formed part of a larger settlement yet to be uncovered.

Visitors frequently praise the site for its preservation and atmosphere. One TripAdvisor reviewer, who called it a “magical place”, said: “In addition to the wonderful Neolithic remains, which are enough reason to visit Papay, this is a beautiful place for a picnic, looking across to Westray.”

Another shared: “A day trip here (from Westray) is a must. To visit northern Europe’s oldest building and have it all to yourself. We got the boat from Westray and walked up and down the small island for the day. Hardly saw anyone else at all.”

A third wrote: “The dresser, fireplace, quernstone, sleeping areas and storeroom areas are all clearly visible. It is a short walk down from the farm. It is astonishing!

“You can feel the difference when you enter the rooms The ever present wind suddenly is no longer roaring in your ears, and you understand: The neolithic people who built this settlement, perhaps 500 years before Skara Brae on Mainland Orkney, probably were not much different from yourself.

“They would have wanted shelter, warmth, and places to store and organise their belongings and foodstuffs.”

Orkney is home to several other notable ancient sites, including the Ring of Brodgar, the Stones of Stenness and the Maeshowe tomb.

Team GB’s mixed doubles curling duo Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat suffered semi-final heartbreak at the Winter Olympics

Team GB’s mixed doubles curling pair Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat saw their medal dreams dashed in a devastating semi-final defeat at the Winter Olympics.

The British duo entered their semi-final clash with Sweden as strong contenders, having topped their round-robin group.

Their sole group stage defeat had come at the hands of the very same Swedish opposition.

However, Sweden proved to be their Achilles heel once more, as Great Britain succumbed to a comprehensive 9-3 defeat, extinguishing their hopes of securing gold or silver.

They now face either Italy in the bronze medal match as they aim for a consolation.

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This marks the second consecutive Winter Olympics where the pair have fallen short of reaching the gold medal match.

Four years ago in Beijing, they also missed out on a podium finish in the bronze medal contest – a result they’ll be desperate to overturn this time.

The pivotal moment came in the fifth end, when errors from both British curlers handed Sweden’s sibling duo Rasmus Wrana and Isabella Wrana a devastating five-point haul on their power play.

That swing pushed the Swedes into a commanding 8-3 advantage.

BBC Sport commentator Steve Cram observed at the time: “The Swedes are trying not to get ahead of themselves but this could be a match-winning moment.”

Sweden added another point in the seventh end to seal an insurmountable lead, prompting the customary handshakes with one end still to play.

BBC Sport’s Richard Winton, reporting from Cortina, added: “Bruce Mouat and Jen Dodds leave the arena looking disconsolate, and no wonder.

“They’ve been in this movie before, in Beijing four years ago, and had their heart broken in the bronze-medal match.”

Responding to the loss, Mouat told BBC Sport: “We’re really gutted.

“We’ve had such a good week and it was quite exciting for us to go into this game feeling the way we were feeling but to come out and not even play close to the way we wanted to is hard to put into words really. They were the better team today.”

Dodds has also revealed how they will look to bounce back for the bronze medal match, which will take place at 1.05pm on Tuesday. “We’ll probably speak to our coaches and speak things through and regroup for tomorrow,” she said.

“We don’t want this to affect our chances of a medal tomorrow so we’ll speak about the things that need to be spoken about and corrected and we’ll come out firing tomorrow.”

BBC’s Death in Paradise has been moved from its usual slot and fans are not happy

Fans of Death in Paradise expressed their frustration over the weekend after the BBC announced the popular crime drama would be bumped from its scheduled slot, with football coverage taking priority. The new season of the Caribbean crime drama kicked off on January 30, and ever since there has been a new episode every Friday.

The show has announced that this weekend there will be a major schedule change for the series, as it’s been bumped to make way for the FA Cup.

A statement on the show’s Instagram account informed followers: “Quick heads up: due to football, this week’s #DeathInParadise will be on BBC iPlayer this Friday, but it won’t be on BBC One until Monday night!”

The accompanying graphic confirmed that the third instalment of the current series would now broadcast on BBC One on Monday, February 16 at 9pm, whilst becoming available on iPlayer from 8.45pm on Friday, February 13. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter

Viewers were far from pleased with the schedule shake-up, questioning why the beloved programme should be sidelined for sport.

One disappointed fan commented: “Not fair to move DiP for the football – Mervin can’t watch football as he wasn’t allowed to install a satellite dish outside the shack!”.

Another protested: “No! Why can’t the football be moved?”

A third queried: “Does that mean we will get two episodes that week?”

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However, not all responses were negative, with some praising the current series.

One viewer remarked: “Just watched episode two, really enjoyed it. The team are pulling together nicely.”

Another commented: “It is very good,” whilst someone else declared: “Loving the new series.”

The 15th series launched with fresh episodes and exciting guest stars. The series continues on a weekly basis, with DI Mervin Wilson tackling fresh perplexing murder cases whilst navigating his complicated relationship with his estranged half-brother, Solomon, and integrating new team member Sergeant Mattie Fletcher.

However, the conclusion of series 14 left viewers worried about the fate of one particular character who seemed to be departing the programme.

Don Warrington, widely recognised for his portrayal of Commissioner Selwyn Patterson in the BBC detective drama since its launch in 2011, has now addressed speculation surrounding his future on the show.

In an exclusive conversation with Express.co.uk at the TV Choice Awards in London, the 74 year old actor was asked about his plans for remaining with Death in Paradise. He responded: “Well, that is the question, who can answer? Who really knows? Life is just always a surprise. I’ll just have to keep you guessing.”

Yet he became slightly more forthcoming, revealing that whilst the programme remains on air, he intends to continue in his role: “As long as the show is going, then I am happy to keep going.”

You can watch Death in Paradise on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

Stephen Jones and Gary Muldoon were arrested after an incident outside Frankland Prison in Durham.

They entered their guilty pleas during a short hearing at Teesside Crown Court on Monday (February 9) morning.

Judge Francis Laird KC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, said: “You have both pleaded guilty to serious offences and the overwhelming likelihood is that you will receive a prison sentence.

“However, I have been persuaded that there are matters that a pre-sentence report would assist in determining what that sentence is.”

Jones, 57, of St Marks Road, Liverpool, and 42-year-old Muldoon, of Helmsley Road, Liverpool, both pleaded guilty to trying to two charges of trying to convey prohibited items into Frankland Prison in Durham on November 27, 2024.

They were released on conditional bail until they are sentenced on Friday, March 20.