By JAMES TOZER, NORTHERN CORRESPONDENT

Published: 16:52 BST, 22 September 2026 | Updated: 16:56 BST, 22 September 2026

As Microsoft confirms almost 300 new job losses across Xbox, the chances of Ninja Theory surviving the bloodbath have decreased dramatically.

Just as the rumours suggested, Microsoft has announced another new round of layoffs across all of its Xbox studios, with Rare and Halo being put under the control of Activision, and Bethesda taking responsibility for Obsidian Entertainment.

All of that will entail job cuts of various amounts, but at least the studios will continue in some fashion. British studio Ninja Theory may well not be so lucky though, as Microsoft has not been able to find a buyer for the company, which is best known for the likes of Heavenly Sword, Enslaved: Odyssey To The West, DmC: Devil May Cry, and Hellblade.

According to Microsoft, two separate attempts to sell off Ninja Theory have fallen through and they will now, ‘begin consultation with employees on a proposed closure while continuing to explore other paths forward.’ That leaves a sliver of hope that they could be saved but it doesn’t look good.

Although Hellblade has never been a big seller, a third entry in the series was recently announced, with analysts suggesting the early announcement, without a release date, was done specifically to make the company seem more desirable to potential buyers.

Ninja Theory was also thought to be an attractive purchase because of their high quality motion capture studio, but it may be that the asking price was too much.

There’s no indication of who was interested in buying them, or why the deals fell through, but Microsoft’s statement makes it sound like they’ve all but given up now.

This is all part of the big ‘reset’ of Xbox, initiated by new boss Asha Sharma, that will see 3,200 staff laid off before July 2027. 1,600 went this July, so with 268 losses today that still means 1,332 more people at Xbox are going to lose their jobs sooner rather than later.

The only positive to come from the mass layoffs is that studios Compulsion and Double Fine have successfully returned to being independent companies, although the latter, at least, has had to lay off staff itself, in order to keep going.

As part of today’s announcements, Undead Labs was also announced as having gone independent, having apparently secured a publishing deal with an unnamed party. It’s unclear if that means State Of Decay 3 will now be a multiformat release, but Microsoft is boasting that it will be a day one Game Pass title.

Meanwhile, the fate of Dishonored and Deathloop Arkane Studios, who are supposed to be working on Marvel’s Blade, remains uncertain. Since they’re based in France, they have stronger labour laws protecting them and Microsoft states only that ‘consultation’ is expected to ‘continue through the end of the year.’

It’s unclear what will result from that but the chances of them continuing on as before, without either being shut down or folded into another company (most likely Bethesda) seems remote.

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GBBO presenter Alison Hammond reportedly lost 11 stone over five years. She has described how a pre-diabetes diagnosis and advice from her late mother motivated changes to her diet and exercise routine

The Great British Bake Off fans are excited that the Channel 4 show is back tonight (September 22) for series 17. Nigella Lawson is joining the tent as a permanent judge, with a fresh group of amateur bakers preparing to put their skills to the test.

The chef and food writer succeeds Dame Prue Leith, whose nine-series stint ended when she stepped down earlier this year. Fans also have a brand-new spin-off show to look forward to alongside the main competition.

However, a familiar face that is returning is presenter Alison Hammond, who has co-hosted alongside Noel Fielding on GBBO for three years. Observant viewers may have noticed that the 51 year old This Morning star appears considerably slimmer these days, having dropped an impressive 11 stone over the past five years.

Here we examine Alison’s remarkable weight loss journey in detail – from her approach to her reasons.

Weight loss transformation

Alison has shed between 11 and 13.5 stone over a five-year period, reducing her weight from 28 stone at her peak to approximately 15–17 stone.

She accomplished this impressive transformation through sustainable lifestyle modifications, including dietary changes and regular personal training sessions, rather than turning to drastic measures or weight-loss medication.

Heartbreaking reason she lost weight

The popular TV presenter was motivated to begin her health transformation after receiving a concerning pre-diabetes diagnosis. Her late mother, Maria, who lived with type 2 diabetes, also urged Alison to address her weight shortly before she died in 2020.

“I’ll never forget when my mum was really ill in hospital,” Alison shared during a segment on This Morning. “She looked at me – she’s never commented on my weight my whole life-and she said, ‘Alison, don’t end up like me; try and sort out your weight.’”.

Methods she used to shed the pounds

Alison has been vocal about avoiding weight loss injections such as Ozempic or Wegovy, stating she preferred a more traditional approach.

The presenter focused on sensible eating habits. Rather than cutting out whole food groups, she embraced a “cutting back, not cutting out” approach.

She dramatically reduced her sugar intake and made portion control a priority.

She also kept up regular strength and personal training sessions. The broadcaster began working out up to four times each week with a personal trainer.

Rather than forcing herself through gruelling cardio sessions she loathed, she focused on achievable, short strength-training workouts and Reformer Pilates.

Alison also stressed lifestyle modifications over the bathroom scales. She emphasised that her biggest success was bringing her blood sugar back to normal levels and reversing her pre-diabetes, rather than hitting a specific number on the scales.

Boost to her online confidence

Followers have noticed that Alison now posts content with a renewed sense of self-assurance on Instagram. While she has always been cherished for her bubbly and captivating personality, her recent social media presence demonstrates a notable shift towards celebrating her strength, wellness accomplishments, and fashion sense.

The presenter’s posts have garnered tremendous praise from fans and celebrity friends alike, who say her refreshed look is “oozing confidence.”

Rather than hiding her health and fitness journey, Alison regularly posts videos of herself working up a sweat, lifting heavy weights, boxing, and taking part in Reformer Pilates sessions. She uses her platform to openly credit her personal trainers and wellness coaches for the profound impact they have had on her life.

Her social media feeds are equally packed with striking “glow-up” photographs. Her styling team consistently shares collections of images capturing her looking utterly radiant at red carpet events, dressed in towering heels and sophisticated gowns or sleek black mini-dresses that beautifully highlight her 11-to-13-stone transformation.

Mirror Political Editor Lizzy Buchan writes in from New York…

Andy Burnham is gearing up for his biggest test yet on the world stage – a prime time sit down with Donald Trump.

But the Prime Minister seemed relaxed and ready last night for his foray into the lions den with the US President.

On the plane from London last night, he endured a 40-minute grilling from journalists on everything from the US relationship to the Budget but still joked that he was disappointed no one had asked him about TV star’s Danny Dyer’s rant about him.

This trip is a marked contrast from the last time I watched a PM meet the mercurial US President.

Tensions were sky high when Keir Starmer travelled to meet Trump in the Oval Office last year.

The PM and his team were calm but steely, using all their time to prepare for every possible grenade the US President could lob their way. In the end, Starmer pulled off his charm offensive but the whole trip felt extremely high stakes.

Burnham is a different kind of politician. He seems to enjoy the job of PM in a way that Starmer never did, taking this sort of test in his stride.

He will be well prepared for whatever Trump throws at him – but his team seem quietly confident that he can charm Trump enough to get through it unscathed.

We’ll know soon enough if his strategy works.

One objection said transport links into the city are “insufficient”

A further 180 homes could be built in a Peterborough suburb but locals want the land to be used for a new railway station instead. Work is ongoing to build new homes in Hampton Woods, Peterborough.

O&H Properties Ltd has proposed to build the new homes on land south east of 2A Broadway in Yaxley, south of Peterborough and east of Hampton. It sits within the Hampton Woods village of the wider Hampton East Urban Extension, a large settlement providing thousands of new homes.

The wider Hampton community includes Hampton Hargate, Hampton Vale, Hampton Green, Hampton Beach, Hampton Water and more. Hampton Woods is the latest development area of the Peterborough suburb. An application for up to 180 homes is the latest proposal.

The new homes are proposed to be built across a 6.79 hectare site, with a village green including a play area, included in the plans. The applicants say it will act as a “central open space and destination within the development, helping to establish a strong sense of place”.

The applicant said: “Hampton Woods is envisioned as a distinctive and accessible continuation of the wider Hampton community, shaped by its strong relationship with the surrounding landscape and natural features; framed by woodland, Beeby’s East Lake and green spaces.

“A landscape-led approach underpins the vision, with linear green and blue corridors, structural tree planting and active travel routes connecting homes, streets and public spaces. The village green forms the heart of the community, anchoring the neighbourhood and the intersecting green spaces.

“Together, contemporary buildings, streets, landscape, and infrastructure will create a sustainable, attractive, and well-connected village that fosters a strong sense of place, community pride and long-term resilience.”

Reacting to the plans, which were lodged in September, one local wrote: “A vast number of new homes are being built across the area, yet the transport links into the city remain insufficient, to say the least. The existing roads are often too narrow, heavily congested, and subject to frequent repairs, creating significant delays for residents.

“The available land should be considered for the development of a small local railway station, providing residents with a faster, more direct and reliable connection into the city centre. On particularly busy days, a journey by car can take around 30 minutes, contributing to increased traffic, pollution and stress for those travelling into the city.

“A local rail connection would not only reduce pressure on the roads but could also provide much better access for evening and weekend commuters. This would make it easier for people to visit and spend time in the city outside traditional working hours, potentially supporting local businesses and increasing revenue within the city centre.”

Another person said the proposal “erodes the essential physical separation and green buffer between Yaxley village and the expanding Peterborough/Hampton urban area”. They said that developing this site “reduces the open gap separating Yaxley from the council boundary, undermining local spatial strategy”.

Additionally, the formal objection said: “The proposed development permanently eliminates the opportunity for crucial rail infrastructure. Given the lack of local employment opportunities within Peterborough, residents must commute outside the city for work.

“Allocating this specific land for housing rather than a train station deprives the area of essential regional rail connectivity and forces hundreds of new residents into total car dependency, worsening congestion on Broadway and surrounding local routes.”

At the time of the fire neighbours reported hearing ‘loud bangs’ before emergency services found a body inside the campervan

A retired engineer died in a fire which sparked a police investigation, an inquest has found. Darren John Edwards, 60, was identified as the man whose body was found in a burnt out campervan following a serious fire near Porthcawl seafront last year.

Residents reported hearing “loud bangs” before emergency services found a body inside a campervan on Mackworth Road after the alarm was raised in the early hours of August 28, 2025. Forensic investigations were carried out at the scene, with South Wales Police initially treating the death as “unexplained”. Officers were unable to identify the body for some time.

An inquest has now concluded the death was an accident which is believed to have started with a gas camping stove. Mr Edwards had also consumed high levels of alcohol which likely impacted upon his alertness to the fire, an investigation found.

Pontypridd Coroner’s Court heard that Mr Edwards, a retired engineer from Newport, was living in the campervan at the the time of his death and spent much of his time visiting different locations in Wales.

In late August he had spent a number of nights sleeping in the vehicle in the Porthcawl area, the inquest heard.

Emergency services were called to what was described as a “fire incident” involving multiple vehicles in Mackworth Road. Once the fire was extinguished, emergency personnel found a deceased person inside one of the vehicles.

The road was cordoned off while investigations were carried out to determine the circumstances surrounding the fire.

The inquest was told the campervan was later identified as belonging to Mr Edwards and it was his body which was recovered from the campervan.

The origin of the fire was likely a gas camping stove, the inquest heard.

A post mortem examination identified that Mr Edwards died as a result of smoke inhalation. He had also consumed high levels of alcohol which the inquest heard likely impacted upon his alertness and response to the fire.

The medical cause of death was given as 1a, smoke inhalation, and 2, alcohol toxicity.

Area Coroner Patricia Morgan concluded that the death was an accident.

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Nigel Davies insists the Scarlets will fight for their future

Scarlets director of rugby Nigel Davies insists the uncertainty clouding the club’s future has galvanised his players but admits it has also placed greater responsibility on the club to achieve better results on the field this season.

There remains a cloud hanging over both the Scarlets and Ospreys this term, with the WRU having pitted both clubs against each other for the west licence as it looks to cut down to three professional clubs.

But Davies is adamant the Scarlets are in a strong position heading into the new campaign.

“It’s typical Welsh, isn’t it? You put us in the corner and we come out fighting,” he said.

“If I look at this with my business head and look at where the risks are, where the opportunities are, where the strengths and weaknesses are, I just look at the Scarlets and we have a completely unique facility.

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“Nobody else has got this facility.

“We’ve also got one of the strongest boards who are Scarlets to the core, rugby people, bright people who run their own businesses, who know what it takes, and they are 100% supportive of the Scarlets.

“I think the Scarlets are in a really strong position.”

While Davies admits on-field results are more important than ever this season he has urged people to look beyond the here and now.

They are the generation that grew up with online dating apps such as Tinder, Bumble and social media at their fingertips.

But despite all that, a study has revealed Gen Z is in a sex recession.

To understand how young adults are navigating sex, dating and relationships today, researchers surveyed 2,373 adults aged 18 to 29.

They found that this age group, which includes Gen Z, reported low levels of sexual activity – despite a moderate to high sex drive.

The survey said 29 per cent had zero partners in the last three months and 19 per cent had never had a partner at all.

One 25-year-old man told the researchers, who worked in collaboration with Playboy: ‘People my age are having less sex because they are meeting less people in person.’

Another added: ‘It’s hard to hook up with someone if you’re too scared to even talk to anyone.’ 

Instead, many said their intimacy needs are already being met – through social media and artificial intelligence (AI) companions.

TikTokers bts.mulli and karniel.g urge their fans not to lose their virginity

Lots of Gen Z said their intimacy needs are already being met, through social media and AI companions

The study, carried out by the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, revealed that many did not seem particularly distressed with the sex recession.

‘Only a minority report dissatisfaction with their sex lives, suggesting that sex may be less central to overall wellbeing than many assume,’ the team said.

‘Only 18 per cent are unsatisfied with their sex life.’

The researchers said the issue appears to be opportunity, not desire. 

‘Dating exhaustion, fear of rejection, financial strain and changing social norms may be making connection more difficult,’ they said.

‘For 43 per cent, financial concerns made it harder for them to date or maintain romantic relationships and, for 37 per cent, financial stress has negatively affected their sex life.’

Young adults are increasingly meeting intimacy needs in other ways, they explained.

‘Digital connection, online sexual experiences, friendships, and other forms of fulfilment may be reducing the pressure to pursue traditional romantic relationships,’ they added.

Around a quarter said online interactions – such as messaging, social media and AI companions – fulfil some of their intimacy needs. 

A similar amount said spending time on screens reduces their motivation to pursue real-life sexual connections.

A previous study found that nearly four in ten people aged 18 to 30 reported having no sexual partners during the last 12 months, up from 22 per cent a decade earlier 

‘Many participants told us that pornography, camming, AI companions, and other forms of digital intimacy fulfilled at least some of their emotional or sexual needs,’ the researchers said. 

‘At the same time, many described these experiences as easier, less emotionally demanding, and more accessible than pursuing intimacy with another person.’ 

Despite having less sex, the sex they have is not necessarily safer, the researchers warned.

Contraceptive use among Gen Z is often inconsistent, they said, and many have never been tested for STIs.

Only 35 per cent reported typically using condoms and approximately a third said they had never been tested for an STI.

‘Modern-day dating really is an absolute mess, not because Gen Z has stopped wanting love, sex, or connection, but because the journey from desire to intimacy has become more complicated than ever,’ the researchers concluded. 

It comes as some social media influencers, including TikTokers bts.mulli and karniel.g, urged their fans not to lose their virginity.

According to a separate study, Gen Z is also shunning alcohol in favour of a cup of tea.

Conducted by Twinings, the survey found that almost half (47 per cent) of Gen Z say tea has replaced alcohol as the thing they reach for before big moments. In contrast, just 25 per cent of Baby Boomers say the same thing.