Morecambe and Wise are sadly no longer with us, but Jonty Stephens and Ian Ashpitel in Eric and Ern are as close to the real thing as you are ever likely to get.

It’s quite a surreal experience sitting in the audience watching all the classic routines of your childhood being brought to life in front of your eyes.

This show is the antidote to much of today’s comedy which appears to be driven by certain agendas or anger.

Morecambe and Wise served their apprenticeship in variety theatres across the country; their comedy was gentle, at time silly, occasionally surreal but guaranteed to make you laugh.

More than 50 years on those routines – in the hands of Messrs Stephens and Ashpitel – still have the power to leave you laughing out loud.

Eric and Ern is effectively a two-hour greatest hits show. It is gloriously old fashioned in one sense but it works with a modern audience. The success of this show is in the first place due to the quality of the original material but also in the way it has been lovingly crafted.

Jonty Stephens and Ian Ashpitel in Eric & Ern (Picture: Paul Coltas)

Jonty Stephens as Eric Morecambe is captivating; you cannot take your eyes off him. Goodness knows how many hours have gone into studying every mannerism, every glance but all that effort pays off in abundance. On that stage, he is Eric.

Through the live show you also come to fully appreciate the role Ernie Wise played in the partnership and Ian Ashpitel has him off to a tee. He’s the prefect foil for his on-stage partner.

The speed of the dialogue will surprise you, it rattles back and forth. Carefully scripted ad libs are dropped in with casual ease – alongside some genuine unscripted moments which threaten to derail proceedings but never quite do.

Read also ‘We’re not comedians, we’re actors’ Jonty Stephens and Ian Ashpitel on bringing Eric and Ern to the stage

Presented in the style of Morecambe and Wise’s TV shows, the audience is treated to a series of routines ranging from Eric’s interpretation of Shakespeare to him playing Greig’s piano concerto by Grieg the Andre Prévin sketch albeit without Andre Prévin and an orchestra).

You can sense the audience’s anticipation as certain catchlines or phrases approach. A fire engine siren sounding outside prompts the ‘he won’t sell many ice creams going that fast’ response which leads to a veritable roar from the audience, the majority of whom clearly grew up watching Morecambe and Wise.

But even if you have never heard or Eric and Ern, if you don’t laugh at what is being served up then you don’t have a sense of humour. The paper bag trick remains one of the great comedy moments of any era.

This is not some tribute show with the two stars doing a decent impression of Morecambe and Wise. It is much more subtle, much more nuanced and much more sophisticated than that.

Ian Ashpitel and Jonty Stephens in Eric and Ern (Picture: Paul Coltas)

You can tell it has been assembled with love. Stephens and Ashpitel respect Eric and Ern, they embody Eric and Ern. As with the original partnership, one would not be the same without the other.

Eric and Ern is a richly rewarding celebration of a comedy duo who were unique. In the hands of Jonty Stephens and Ian Ashpitel their legacy is in good hands.

Eric and Ern is at the Lowry until Saturday. Details from www.thelowry.com

The Galaxy A57 has a 6.7-inch screen, which is larger than what you get on Apple’s mid-range smartphone, the iPhone 17e.

Aside from the skinnier bezels, the biggest change this year is the increase in screen brightness. The A57’s screen is 58 per cent brighter, with Samsung bumping it up to 1,900 nits (the unit of brightness) versus last year’s 1,200 nits. This made a big difference in my demo session, with no impact on visibility underneath the bright overhead lights.

I wasn’t able to fully test the screen quality, but at first glance, it seems there’s a lot to like here. It’s a large screen that’s colourful and vibrant, and I can’t say I noticed much of a difference compared to the display on the much more expensive Galaxy S26.

There’s plenty of power

The important thing about buying a mid-range smartphone (apart from saving money) is that you hit the key specifications. That’s one thing the Galaxy A series has always been good at: it’s a cheaper Samsung handset, but it does much the same as the flagship model.

It’s powered by a less powerful chip than the Galaxy S26, but there’s a sizeable upgrade over the 2025 model, with a boost to gaming performance. It’s going to be better at playing mobile games, and it should be able to handle more power-hungry tasks, thanks to a better vapour chamber to keep the phone cool.

There’s a 5,000mAh battery, which is a fairly average capacity these days, although the charging speeds have been increased, with Samsung saying that it can charge to 60 per cent in just 30 minutes.

There’s a triple camera on the back, which promises smoother transitions between lenses, but I didn’t get to test them to any great degree.

Is it really ‘Galaxy Awesome’?

Riley Cameron was just eight years old when he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) after a week of feeling unwell and several healthcare visits.

He died less than a week later in Leeds St James Hospital in July 2008.

Riley Cameron who died of acute myeloid leukaemia when he was just eight. Photo: Family

His mum, Rachel, described him as “a very loving and caring boy”, who loved cuddles, cars, and being a big brother to his sister Rianna.

After years of fundraising for Blood Cancer UK, raising almost £50,000, Rachel wanted to begin fundraising for childhood cancer-specific research.

In 2020, she set up The Riley Cameron Forget Me Not Fund at CCLG: The Children & Young People’s Cancer Association, to raise money for research into childhood AML.

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Rachel said: “I just want to help other families that are going through what is the scariest time of their lives. If I can help just a little bit, then that means the world to me.

“I know this is what Riley would do if he were still with us.”

Riley’s fund has now raised more than £30,000 and has been able to support CCLG in funding two new leukaemia research projects.

The projects will use cancer samples from VIVO biobank, which stores childhood cancer tumours and blood samples for use in research.

Riley with his dad Neil. Photo: Family

Rachel said: “These projects mean so much to me and my family – they are a huge step in the right direction to finding better treatments for AML.

“I feel very proud of the work that the researchers are doing, and it is an honour to be part of such an amazing charity.”

She hopes the research will give families going through a leukaemia diagnosis a more positive outlook for their child’s future.

The two new projects hope to support the development of better and safer treatments for AML and are being led by Dr Katrina Lappin, at Queen’s University Belfast, and Dr Sophie Kellaway, at the University of Nottingham.

Dr Kellaway’s research is exploring whether an asthma medicine, which is already used for children, could be repurposed into the first relapse specific treatment for AML.

She said: “At the moment, there are no specific treatments to stop AML growing back and treatment after a relapse is often incredibly difficult.

“We know that the asthma drug we are testing can stop the relapse-causing AML cells from growing – but we think it might also be able to get rid of them completely.”

Dr Kellaway said the drug has minimal side effects, which could be game-changing for children, as existing treatments often cause serious life-long health problems.

Dr Lappin’s research aims to develop a better way to test treatments for AML, with a focus on combinations of immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

She said: “By creating a more accurate and cost-effective way to test treatments, this research could help bring safer, more effective treatments to children faster.”

Dr Sarah Evans, CCLG’s head of research, said: “We are delighted to fund these two projects, made possible by our brilliant Special Named Fund families. Developing kinder, more effective treatments for cancers such as AML is one of our top priorities. Every child deserves not only a cure, but the chance to live a long, healthy and happy life after cancer.”

Professor Deborah Tweddle, director of VIVO Biobank, said: “We are once again delighted to work alongside CCLG in supporting these pilot studies and providing samples for these exciting research projects.”

Rachel thanked the fund’s ‘amazing’ and said she hopes to continue her fundraising to enable further innovative research.

To support The Riley Cameron Forget Me Not Fund, visit specialnamedfunds.cclg.org.uk/the-riley-cameron-forget-me-not-fund

The presenter shared helpful property buying advice including warning signs about electrical problems and damp issues

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A Homes Under the Hammer presenter has offered valuable advice for prospective property purchasers.

Martin Roberts featured on BBC‘s Morning Live on Wednesday (March 25) to discuss the forthcoming celebrity special of the beloved BBC programme, scheduled for Easter.

Hosts Helen Skelton and Rav Wilding were eager to extract any guidance the specialist could provide for viewers at home.

Martin revealed: “One of the big things is when people try and cover up stuff.

“So a simple one is sometimes you look at the electrical light switches and the sockets and they look relatively new but then you look at the fuse board and it’s a really ancient.”, reports the Mirror.

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“Sometimes they have old cartridge fuses and you think somebody’s trying to cover up the fact the electrics are really old.”

He added: “Sometimes you notice there’s a fresh smell of paint and you might think that’s a good thing but sometimes people try to cover up damp by covering up the mould with a fresh coat of emulsion.

“For a few days, or weeks perhaps, it will look okay but actually the point is the paint will never dry out because it’s still damp.

“If you just get that feeling that people are trying to just pull the wool over your eyes then that should set alarm bells ringing.”

Martin has been a fixture of the Homes Under the Hammer team since its debut in 2003, assisting countless homeowners throughout his tenure.

Discussing the secret to the programme’s 23-year longevity, the former I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! contestant explained: “Well, it’s a combination. It’s aspirational, it’s inspirational and it’s also achievable.

“There are other shows which show incredible houses built on cliff tops but we look at two up, two down terraces and that’s one of the appeals.

“And of course, there’s all the other things, like the music and the silliness and fun we have.”

Morning Live airs weekdays at 9.30am and Home Under The Hammer airs weekdays at 11.15am on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

The Pitt season 2 is a must-watch for fans of medical dramas like ER

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Lovers of medical dramas are in for a delight as a successful US show is set to make its UK debut, coinciding with the launch of a new streaming giant.

The second series of The Pitt began airing in the US in January 2026, and it’s now set to premiere in the UK, along with the complete first series, as HBO Max launches on 26 March.

This procedural drama stars ER icon Noah Wyle as Dr Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, a senior attending physician at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Centre.

The series has garnered critical acclaim and has been lauded by the medical community for its accuracy.

Having won numerous awards, including five at the 77th Primetime Emmys, the show is anticipated to be a massive hit in the UK. Here’s everything you need to know about series two.

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How many episodes does The Pitt have?

The first series comprises 15 episodes, with each episode title reflecting the hour of the day, starting with ‘7am’.

Upon its US release, the first two episodes were broadcast simultaneously, with the remaining episodes aired weekly.

Series two also consists of 15 episodes, with the first 11 already aired in the US.

This time, the premiere included only one episode, with subsequent episodes released weekly.

When the series arrives in the UK, fans will have access to the entire first series all at once, with episodes from series two being released weekly from 26 March.

When are new episodes of The Pitt released?

For enthusiasts in the UK, new episodes will continue to be broadcast weekly on Thursdays, aligning with the US schedule.

Given that most of the second season has already premiered in the US, it might prove challenging for UK fans to dodge spoilers.

How to watch The Pitt in the UK

Get HBO Max free with Sky

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Sky is giving away free subscriptions to HBO Max with its Ultimate TV bundle, which also includes Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, Hayu, and around 135 channels at no extra cost.

To view The Pitt, audiences will require an HBO Max subscription, with plans for the streaming service commencing at £4.99 per month.

Subscriptions will be available from 26 March, coinciding with the platform’s launch.

The standard HBO Max tier, which excludes advertisements, is priced at £9.99 per month and includes full HD streaming on two devices along with 30 downloads.

The premium tier is set at £14.99 per month and offers 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Atmos and four concurrent streams.

The Pitt season 2 will air on a weekly basis on HBO Max

The Middleham Open Day takes place in one of Britain’s most celebrated racing towns, with nine leading training yards set to welcome guests from 9:30am on Good Friday, April 3.

Visitors will get the chance to meet unbeaten Classic contender Crown Relic and multiple Group 1 winner Fallen Angel, among other racing stars.

Dawn Goodfellow, chief executive of Racing Welfare, said: “Middleham Open Day is one of the most special days in our calendar.

“It gives people a genuine insight into life behind the stable doors, while celebrating the dedication, skill and community that define this town.

“The success of this year’s employee award winners shows just how strong that community is.”

Karl Burke’s Spigot Lodge will offer a close-up look at Crown Relic, Fallen Angel, and Royal Champion, who has earned nearly £2.4 million in prize money.

At Charlie Johnston Racing, visitors can watch horse swimming demonstrations from 9:45am, take part in a live Q&A, and meet horses such as Venetian Lace—entered in both the English and Irish Guineas—alongside Epsom Derby runner-up Lazy Griff.

The Middleham Marketplace opens at 9am with trade stands and a traditional hounds parade, before entertainment begins on Low Moor at 11:30am.

The afternoon activities include Retraining of Racehorses Showing classes, family-friendly events, and a parade from 1pm by Lady Buttons, the popular ‘Queen of the North’, in the main arena with owner Jennie.

The inter-yard Challenge starts at 2:15pm, followed by the Aiskew Equine and Pet Supplies Dog Show at 3pm.

The day also celebrates the people behind the sport, including recent winners of the 2026 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards from Middleham.

Among them are Kieran Kourdache of Karl Burke Racing, who was named Rider/Racing Groom Award winner and Overall Employee of the Year; Freddie Wilks of Charlie Johnston Racing, who took the Newcomer Award; and Hayley Clements of Micky Hammond Racing, who received the Community Award.

All proceeds from the day support Racing Welfare, the industry’s only charity that helps racing workers and their families.

The charity offers confidential assistance with health, housing, finances, careers, and more.

Ms Goodfellow said: “Every ticket sold helps us continue to support racing’s people when they need it most.”

Tickets are on sale now at www.middlehamopenday.co.uk.

Yards open from 9:30am, with events on Low Moor beginning at 11:30am.

It helped that this was very much an informal show. There was a pleasingly homespun feel to things, with Blake remixing his songs live on stage, getting the beat wrong on the kick drum (and pausing to laugh), and spinning out the intros to various tracks into experimental, fascinatingly varied segues — all that, in between idly chatting to the audience, putting down his own guitar-playing skills and telling himself to “do his job.”

Diana Henry is the Telegraph’s much-loved cookery writer. She shares recipes each week, for everything from speedy family dinners to special menus that friends will remember for months. She is also a regular broadcaster on BBC Radio 4, and her journalism and recipe books, including Simple and How to Eat a Peach, are multi-award-winning. A mother of two sons, Diana can satisfy even the fussiest of eaters.   

40-year-old Tabitha Kay Willow, who may also be accompanied by a guide dog, has not been seen or heard from in weeks despite extensive enquiries.

Police are searching for a vulnerable woman who is missing from Thurso.

Tabitha Kay Willow, 40, was reported missing in February 2026, but was last confirmed to have been seen weeks earlier.

Despite extensive enquiries, officers have so far been unable to trace her, and say nobody known to them has been in touch with her since she was last sighted.

Tabitha, who also uses the name Mae Jenkins, is fully mobile and can walk unaided, although she sometimes uses a wheelchair. She may also be accompanied by a guide dog, though no description of the animal is available.

She is believed to speak with an English accent and has a distinctive tattoo of three bats on her right wrist.

Anyone who may have seen her, or who has information about her whereabouts, is urged to come forward. Even the smallest detail could prove crucial in helping trace her and ensure she is safe.

Information can be passed to police by calling 101, quoting incident reference PS-20260319-2375, or via the Police Scotland website.

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They called for a more robust change in the culture that leads to violence against women and girls

The city of Derry has been brought to a standstill after the murder of young mum-of-two Amy Doherty.

Amy, 28, was found injured in a house in the Summer Meadows Mews area of the city on Saturday morning, 21 March. She was taken to hospital where she later died.

Shockwaves have been sent through the city, and representatives have spoken out against the dangers that women face.

SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin said: “This is an unspeakable loss for the family and friends of Amy Doherty.

“From the outpouring of love following her death, it is clear how special she was and the positive impact she had on so many lives in our city.

“It is unimaginable that her two young children will now grow up without their mother.

“Our city is hurting following Amy’s death.

“The loss of a young woman in such circumstances has rightly made people angry and has once again brought into sharp focus our failure to deal with the scourge of violence against women and girls.

“We need to see a societal response to violence against women and girls, starting with conversations in our homes, schools and workplaces with family and friends.

“We also need proper investment in prevention, support for victims of abuse, and a justice system that supports victims rather than discouraging them from coming forward.

“The lives of Amy’s loved ones have been changed forever and we have a responsibility to confront these issues head on, challenge misogyny wherever it exists and work to eliminate violence against women and girls from our society so that no other family has to endure such a devastating loss.”

Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson has said there is shock and devastation across Derry.

She said: “There is widespread shock and devastation across the city to learn that police have launched a murder inquiry after a woman was found dead in the Summer Meadow Mews area of the city.

“Our heartfelt thoughts are with this woman’s loved ones as they face the unimaginable loss which this horrific crime has brought upon them.

“A young woman’s life was taken in the latest act of violence against women and girls and I appeal to anyone with information to bring it forward to the PSNI.

“The Executive’s Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls sets out how it aims to tackle this scourge in our society.

“But we must all do more to confront the causes and cultures behind this violence and to do everything possible to bring the harm and abuse of women to an end.”

A vigil has also been organised for Friday, March 27 at 7pm at the Guildhall to remember Amy and the lives of other women killed across Northern Ireland.

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