Nick Miles, who played Jimmy King for 22 years, and Nicola Wheeler, his on-screen wife, Nicola King, spoke about filming Jimmy’s send-off.

The stars opened up on his death and the impact on his departure in interviews following Emmerdale’s National Television Awards win in the Continuing Drama category.

Emmerdale stars reflect on emotional exit of Jimmy King after 22 years

Speaking to Radio Times after the award win, Mr Miles said: “Not to talk about myself, but the clip they showed was my last ever Emmerdale, and so it’s just a lovely, lovely way to end my 22-year Emmerdale story.

“So I feel on top of the world right now.”

Jimmy died following a car crash after losing control of his vehicle and crashing straight into the wedding marquee for Joe Tate and Dawn Fletcher.

Mr Miles continued: “We cried.

“We cried a lot,” with Ms Wheeler agreeing.

She then said: “I’ll tell you what it was like to film.

“It’s a bit like in [the NTAs Winners Room].

“It was in 30-degree heat, but it was beautiful.

“The art team had done a fantastic job with the marquee, and it did look gorgeous, didn’t it?

“It was very technical with the dream sequence, and the other bits in the car were hot, sweaty, and smelt of cheese.”

Mr Miles continued: “They packed a real picnic because Jimmy was planning a picnic, so there was a picnic in the car, and the cheese just started to pack up its bags and start to walk out.

“Yeah, and it stank like it became a smellier version a bit.

“I’d gone nose blind, but Nicola was nearly sick when she threw the car window for the first time.”

The actors also reflected on their long working relationship and the 17-year marriage between their characters.

Ms Wheeler said: “We’ve been together 17 years in the show.

“We’ve known each other for Nick’s whole 22 years in the show because I was in it a little bit before him, so we were good friends beforehand, but our characters never really interacted until we got together in the back of a van, and that was it.

“That’s history.”

Ms Wheeler also teased that Mr Miles’ exit will be felt in coming Emmerdale episodes.

She said: “I think poor Nicola is going to be mourning the loss of Jimmy for a considerable amount of time.

“I know that there are rumours of romance and things like that, but I don’t think that’s on the cards yet.

“I think there’ll be friendships before romance.”

Emmerdale stars reveal new project together

In other Emmerdale news, two former stars have unveiled a new project after years of collaboration off-screen.

Matthew Wolfenden and Roxy Shahidi, who played David Metcalfe and Leyla Cavanagh on the long-running ITV soap,

Wolfenden, 46, left Emmerdale in 2023 after 17 years on the show, while Shahidi, 43, departed in February 2025 after playing Leyla on and off for 16 years.

Now, the duo has revealed they have spent the past nine years working together as writing partners.

The pair shared the news on Instagram, posting behind-the-scenes photos and a screenshot of their page on United Agents’ website.

Writing over the image, they said: “We’ve never shared the fact that for the last nine years we’ve been writing partners – it’s truly brought us so much joy.”

Their latest project is an original comedy drama, currently in development.

In a video clip, they teased a look at the pilot script, titled Washed Up.

The script opens with the Bruce Springsteen song Glory Days playing over the opening scene, which is set in 1999 at The Big Breakfast House.

The pair wrote on Instagram over the clip: “We’re loving working and laughing together and we’re so excited to be in development with our original comedy drama.”

They captioned the announcement: “Find people you can dream with, create with and, most importantly, laugh with.

“Then somehow work doesn’t feel quite so much like work.”

The comedy-drama isn’t their first venture outside Emmerdale.

Earlier in 2024, they launched a podcast called Celebrity Side Hustles, where they interview actors and TV personalities about their passion projects and businesses beyond acting.

What is your favourite TV soap to watch? Let us know in the comments.

A picturesque town near Cambridge has a thriving high street packed with independent shops, coffee houses and eateries – and it’s even earned itself national recognition

A beautiful market town just an hour from Cambridge, with cobbled lanes and honey-coloured townhouses, officially has the UK’s best independent high street. It’s well worth venturing to if you haven’t already, and there’s one specific area that shouldn’t be missed.

Nestled on the corner of Lincolnshire, an hour’s drive or train journey from Cambridge, and just 25 minutes from Peterborough, is the idyllic town of Stamford. Its stone-paved streets are flanked by grand honey-stone Georgian architecture that houses independent shops, trendy pubs and cosy coffee houses, with its enchanting scenes even drawing in film productions.

It’s easy to spend time exploring the compact town, with its timeless charm and pedestrian-friendly high street at its centre. But St Mary’s Street is what really stands out in Stamford, as it’s been crowned the UK’s best high street for independent shops and small businesses by American Express Shop Small.

St Mary’s Street was hailed for “delivering a unique experience for shoppers”, with its plethora of shops a treasure trove for locals and visitors. Some of its notable independent shops include Marcia May Shoes and the joyful toy store, Marcia May Mini, along with the pet shop, Ruff and Tumble, the sprawling Sinclairs for homeware, Murano Silver for jewellery, and the delightful gift store, You.

Also found along St Mary’s Street is the welcoming tapas bar JK’s Lounge Stamford for evening gatherings, the relaxed coffee shop Brew & Play, and the traditional yet charming café, Stamford Country Lounge, perfect for a cosy catch-up with friends or as a shopping retreat. While St Mary’s Street has been nationally recognised, it’s not the only spot in Stamford that contributes to its thriving independent scene.

There are plenty of other pretty streets brimming with delightful gems, from soy wax candles and ceramic vases to vintage furnishings and thoughtful gifts. The homeware boutique Nook is a particular favourite amongst locals and tourists, as is St Martin’s Antiques Centre, which stocks exquisite vintage pieces you’d struggle to find elsewhere.

While browsing its thriving high street, it’s hard not to wander into one of its beloved brunch spots, such as Fika on the main high street or the snug Scandimania Coffee House. The Cornish Bakery is another tempting spot, with an assortment of savoury and sweet treats, alongside the stylish Freckleface Coffee Co. on Red Lion Street, renowned for its golden croissants and pastel de nata.

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Its coffeehouses and cafés are just the start of Stamford’s culinary offerings, with the charming town packed with places to eat. Paten & Co., with its green facade, serves a sumptuous beef brisket as part of its Sunday lunch offering, complete with all the trimmings, while Tobie Norris goes one step further, inviting diners to share a whole chicken between two.

Alternatively, the King’s Head is celebrated for its mouth-watering burgers, including its gravy-dipping burger and burger crumpet for something a little different. The traditional pub, tucked away behind one of Stamford’s churches, also boasts an impressive selection of ales and beers, where you’ll easily feel like a local.

The Slanted Door is another firm favourite, serving small plates ideal for alfresco dining on the terrace during the warmer months, as well as a more refined experience in its elegant restaurant. Orbis Stamford is equally deserving of attention, with tapas dishes showcasing “flavours around the world”, while the Turkish restaurant Zada tempts diners with lamb koftas and charcoal-grilled chicken.

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Just a short walk from the town centre is Stamford’s most distinguished landmark, Burghley House. Celebrated as “one of the grandest houses of the 16th century”, the magnificent stately home welcomes visitors to explore its lavish interiors, meander through its stunning gardens, or simply enjoy the sweeping grounds free of charge.

Throughout the year, it hosts various events, including a food market, a classic Ibiza concert, horse trails, and a Christmas market. In addition, the grand Burghley House has become a highly sought-after location for film and television productions. Some of its credits include Pride & Prejudice, The Da Vinci Code, The Flash, the 2025 film Frankenstein, the hugely popular Netflix series The Crown, and an appearance on Top Gear.

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

First, she took her status as No1, and then Elena Rybakina dethroned Aryna Sabalenka as reigning US Open champion, dissecting the two-time winner in New York 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to win her third Grand Slam title.

For Rybakina, victory adds lustre to the top spot, earned with a quarter-final win that felt incongruous. The Kazakh knew it, and stressed that she could not celebrate this mammoth achievement yet, not with the tournament ongoing. Now, she has put herself just one major away from the full set after wins in Melbourne and Wimbledon. She has also become the third woman this century to win both of the hard-court Slams in a single season.

The second was Sabalenka. She had hoped to make history herself, as the third woman in the Open era to ‘three-peat’, and become the undisputed Queen of New York. Instead, she stuttered, unable to consistently channel the ruthlessness which has defined her run over these two weeks, and was left in tears as she vowed to ‘do better’ next year.

Throughout the tournament, Sabalenka has stressed the importance of maintaining focus: tuning out the noise around concerns over her form, or whether she might hold on to her ranking, and channelling everything into her performance. But yesterday, she appeared to step onto court bubbling over, frustrated with the deficiencies in her performance even in the earliest stages of the match.

Sabalenka looked unsettled as the pair exchanged opening holds, the opposite of Rybakina’s picture of calm on the other side of the net. Rybakina normally makes the sport look effortless, but this was thrown into sharper relief by the quick unravelling of Sabalenka.

With every unforced error – 15 to Rybakina’s five – there seemed to be an expression, hands thrown up, head tipped back, frantic miming to her box, but rather than offer a release, Sabalenka only wound herself tighter. After the double fault that handed her opponent the first-set break, she was given a warning for smacking a ball away, but hitting was similarly frustrated in-play as Sabalenka looked for desperate winners she couldn’t make.

Aryna Sabalenka crashed her racquet into the court as the final set slipped away from her

Much has been made of the potency of Rybakina’s serve, but the Kazakh carried off the opener well below her lethal best, making only 27 per cent of her first serves. When she pulled them off, Sabalenka was flummoxed. But even when she didn’t, there was an accuracy to her second that continued to cause problems for her opponent.

Rybakina, by contrast, had the very measure of Sabalenka’s serve, and was capable of dragging out the Belarusian’s service games and bullying her into defence under-fire. The 27-year-old peppered her with four break points before the fifth finally told for 3-2.

Sabalenka stepped back onto court visibly more settled. There were fewer errors, and fewer admonishments. But there was no drop in Rybakina’s level, as she continued to play her game, and play it well. She chased Sabalenka to 5-4, and pulled off an enormous hold in the 10th game to deny her rival her first break point.

Rybakina wasn’t to hold on for long, however. The two rivals’ meetings often spill into three sets, and Sabalenka’s improved accuracy – and mood – swung the second set.

This was the fuel Rybakina needed to act more decisively in the third, and immediately, she was all over Sabalenka’s serve, looking for cracks in her game. The pair met at deuce three times before the 28-year-old could see out her opening hold, while Rybakina skipped through hers, hungry for the next attempt to break her opponent.

She would not have to wait long, with Sabalenka again the picture of fury as she crashed her racquet into the floor, sent spinning by a string of Rybakina’s forehand winners. Instead of a second code violation warning, the punishment instead was the break Rybakina snatched.

In the seventh game, 2-4 down, Rybakina reached break point again, with the gift of a double fault from across the net. Sabalenka bent down to her knees, tipped her head to her racquet, as if praying for composure. Instead, more faults, more errors, broken again. Sabalenka’s last effort was to give the court another thrashing with her racquet. She all but walked off as Rybakina sent down her championship-winning ace.

But the new champion will not have needed grace from her opponent. She has her trophy instead.

Heidi Klum surprised her son Henry with a flashy, red Ferrari F430 to mark his 21st birthday on Saturday.

The supermodel, 53, shared an Instagram video of the moment she presented the special gift to him and captured his surprised reaction.

In the clip, Klum was standing outside alongside the car, which costs upwards of six figures and averages around $200,000.

Henry’s stepfather Tom Kaulitz led Henry outside toward the surprise awaiting him. 

‘I can’t believe it is that time. You’ve been waiting for so many years,’ Klum says to Henry in the video.

‘Oh my God! Jesus Christ. I don’t even know what to say,’ Henry could be heard saying after the luxury car was revealed to him.

The supermodel, 53, shared an Instagram video of the moment she presented the special gift to him and captured his surprised reaction. Henry walked out of their house and gasped when he saw the convertible on their driveway

Kaulitz was also heard in the birthday surprise video, explaining that he held up his end of the bargain after he and Henry made a video game bet many years earlier.

He said he purchased the Ferrari at a car show ‘last year’ and had been hiding the big purchase in their garage ‘the whole time’ leading up to Henry’s birthday. 

Klum noted how her husband ‘kept his promise’ to Henry. ‘Literally, it’s what? Seven years ago when you guys said that?’ 

Klum then shared a follow-up post and revealed the gift was related to when Henry was a teenager and made a bet with his stepfather Kaulitz. 

‘It’s happening on Christmas, and if I lose Mario Kart, then I can’t play video games for three months, and I have to do a painting of me driving,’ Henry said in the clip. ‘But if I win, then Tom has to give me a Ferrari when I’m 21.’ 

In addition to Henry, the television host is the mother of four children.

Her eldest child is 22-year-old daughter Leni, whose biological father is Flavio Briatore and she is the adopted daughter of Seal.

Klum also shares Johan, 19, and Lou, 16, with her ex-husband Seal.

In the clip, she was standing outside with the car, which costs upwards of six figures and averages around $200K

Kaulitz was also heard in the birthday surprise video, explaining that he held up his end of the bargain after he and Henry made video game bet many years earlier. He said he purchased the Ferrari at a car show ‘last year’ had been hiding the big purchase in their garage ‘the whole time’ leading up to Henry’s birthday

On the same day, Klum also shared an adorable throwback photo of her four children when they were young children. 

In the black-and-white snapshot, her children were wearing birthday hats and smiling at each other during a special moment. 

Klum wrote in her caption alongside the adorable picture of her kids and a slew of red heart emojis: ‘Henry WOW. Time flies. We love you sooooooo much. Happy 21 Birthday.’ 

She also shared Instagram Story posts, including a clip of Henry enjoying his ‘first legal drink.’ 

Henry appeared to be celebrating with his close family over dinner after his birthday surprise. 

Klum also reposted a clip from daughter Leni, who captured Henry blowing out the candles on his birthday cake. 

Klum celebrating her son’s 21st birthday comes shortly after the mother-son duo enjoyed a family getaway in St. Barts in early August. 

She also shared Instagram Story posts, including a clip of Henry enjoying his ‘first legal drink.’ Henry appeared to be celebrating with his close family over dinner after his birthday surprise

Klum also reposted a clip from daughter Leni, who captured Henry blowing out the candles on his birthday cake

In addition to Henry, the television host is the mother of four children. Her eldest child is 22-year-old daughter Leni, whose biological father is Flavio Briatore and she is the adopted daughter of Seal. Klum also shares Johan, 19, and Lou, 16, with her ex-husband Seal; pictured in April 2011

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Klum celebrating her son’s 21st birthday comes shortly after the mother-son duo enjoyed a family getaway in St. Barts in early August. The supermodel and her husband Kaulitz were celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary at the time and were joined by their eldest children, Leni and Henry; seen in May

The supermodel and her husband Kaulitz were celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary at the time and were joined by their eldest children, Leni and Henry. 

She is often joined by her kids, including Henry, on red carpets, and the mother-son duo opened up about their close bond at the American Music Awards in May 2025. 

He praised his parents for being an ‘inspiration’ to him.

‘Anything that I do, [my parents are] always so supportive,’ he told Daily Mail last year as his mom chimed in to share that she is proud of her son as well as ‘all of my kids.’ 

While speaking with People last year, Henry shared how his parents have inspired him to embrace his personal style. 

‘When I was growing up, I was always evolving with my style and just figuring out my own look or just how I feel in different clothing, but that evolved over time. 

‘So they were just telling me like, “Whatever makes you feel good, whatever can make you feel powerful, make you feel like whoever you want to feel,”‘ he recalled. 

Starfish 48a, between Haughton and Great Burdon, on the eastern edge of Darlington, photographed by Northern Perspectives (Image: Northern Perspectives)

In the field around the bunker was an arrangement of steel tanks, pipes, troughs and grids which made various fuels – oil, paraffin or creosote – pour, trickle or spray onto a source of ignition at timed intervals.

The Second World War bombing decoy control shelter near Great Burdon in 2003 (Image: Unknown)

The plan was that when the German bombers came over the east coast, the Starfish – they were properly called Special Fire, or SF, sites – would be set off so that from the air, all the effects looked like a town on fire.

Presuming this to be the work of the pathfinders, the bombers would drop their loads onto the fire, thus saving the real town from a pounding.

This site was ready by August 1, 1941.

Darlington was protected by a second Starfish site at Eryholme.

There were 237 Starfish across the country which attracted 730 bombing raids.

The Second World War bombing decoy control shelter near Great Burdon in 2003 (Image: Unknown)

However, there is no evidence that either Darlington or Eryholme were ever deliberately ignited – although Eryholme did go up when it was struck by lightning.

Most Starfish were decommissioned in 1943 and farmers quickly reclaimed their land.

However, at least some of 48a survived the plough and, listed in 2003, is visible from the air, as this picture by our regular contributor, Northern Perspectives, shows.

Northern Perspectives is a Durham-based cameraman who uses the latest drone-based technology to shed new light on our beautiful, and historic, landscapes. To see more of his amazing work, including his aerial videos, search “Northern Perspectives” on Facebook.

Irish President Catherine Connolly said she “conveyed the strong view of the Irish people that the normalisation of war and genocide can never be accepted” in a meeting with Donald Trump.

In a statement following the meeting at Áras an Uachtaráin, Ms Connolly said: “As president of Ireland, I am very conscious that Ireland and the United States of America are bound by strong ties. This is a deep connection, built over centuries, which allows us to speak openly to one another.

“We are in a world facing the existential threat posed by war and climate change, both of which are inextricably interlinked.

“I conveyed the strong view of the Irish people that the normalisation of war and genocide can never be accepted.

“As a country which has suffered famine, colonisation and the violence of the Troubles, but also the importance of the long and challenging road to peace, I emphasised the unique insight which Irish people can bring to the resolution of conflict.

“I highlighted to President Trump the strong commitment which the Irish people have to international relations, to the importance of the United Nations, including the pride which Irish people feel in Ireland’s contribution to UN peacekeeping since 1958, and to the obligations contained within article 29 of our constitution towards the peaceful resolution of international disputes.

“I assured President Trump that the Irish people would strongly support all those who have the strength to build a shared peace in all those parts of the world currently suffering from such horrific war and violence.”

To mark the courtesy call, Ms Connolly gifted Mr Trump a St Brigid’s Cross, a copy of the book Navigatio Sancti Brendani – The Voyage of St Brendan and the collected poems of Michael Longley, including his sonnet Ceasefire.

This comforting butternut squash soup gets its rich texture without cream. The dairy-free recipe needs just three simple ingredients and is perfect for the cooler autumn months.

The evenings are becoming longer, daylight hours are decreasing, and the mercury is falling – all indicators that autumn has arrived. I adore everything about this season – the fresh atmosphere, pumpkin-scented candles, warm knitwear, and hearty meals.

It’s the time for casseroles, broths, and pastries, with root crops and squash becoming the stars of the show.

Butternut squash ranks among my top choices, and when pureed into a soup, it makes a scrumptious, satisfying evening meal, especially when served with crusty, buttered bread.

While there are numerous butternut squash recipes available, I found an easy variation that lets the squash’s sweet flavour be the hero.

Following some investigation, I discovered an easy, three-ingredient butternut squash broth that’s both dairy-free and plant-based.

Even though it’s dairy-free, the broth becomes wonderfully velvety thanks to coconut milk, a 75p supermarket essential.

It provides richness while avoiding excessive additional fat or energy. There’s a touch of coconut present in the flavour profile, though it remains understated.

If you dislike coconut, maybe try experimenting with an alternative creamy ingredient such as heavy cream.

The broth is straightforward to prepare. Oven-cooking the squash takes the most time but caramelises its sugars, creating a deep, flavourful foundation.

Butternut squash soup recipe

Ingredients

• One medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
• Two cups of vegetable broth
• Half a cup of full-fat canned coconut milk (the recipe suggests full-fat, but I used low-fat and it worked just as well)

Cupboard staples: One tbsp olive oil (for roasting), salt, and black pepper

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Toss the cubed squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then spread on a baking sheet. Roast for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown and tender at the edges.

2. Transfer the roasted squash to a pot over medium heat. Add two cups of broth and simmer gently for five minutes so the flavours meld.

3. Remove from the heat, add coconut milk (or heavy cream), and blend until smooth using an immersion or countertop blender.

4. Adjust the consistency with extra broth or water as needed, and season with more salt and pepper to taste.

For extra flavour, try adding half a teaspoon of ground ginger, nutmeg, or a pinch of chilli flakes.

If butternut squash is not to your liking, you might consider Spare Time reporter Nicola Roy’s curried lentil soup instead.

Nicola said the soup is “without a doubt one of the best flavours, and it’s so easy to make too”.

The dish generally requires very few ingredients, which are chopped and left to simmer before being puréed and served.

Incorporating curry paste into the recipe introduces a vibrant burst of flavour and spices, making the soup particularly comforting during the colder months. Find the recipe here.

The ex-wife of Britain’s most notorious prisoner has been banned from seeing her former beau because she ‘poses a risk to security and safety’. 

Standing at 4ft 11in, 73-year-old Irene Dunroe cannot see her ex-husband, Britain’s most notorious prisoner, Charles Bronson, because she is deemed to be a threat to security. 

Charles Bronson, also 73, is currently serving time behind bars at HMP Wakefield, also known as ‘Monster Mansion’. 

Irene and Bronson, also 73, married when they were teenagers in 1971. Bronson was jailed for the first time in 1974 for armed robbery and the pair divorced in 1975, but have remained close since. 

Irene has frequently made trips to see her ex-husband in prison during his many years behind bars. 

Bronson has spent a total of 52 years in prison serving consecutive sentences for crimes including violence, grievous bodily harm, hostage-taking and false imprisonment. Roughly 37 of those years have been spent in solitary confinement. 

Bronson is Britain’s most notorious prisoner and has served a total of 52 years behind bars for crimes including GBH, hostage-taking, and false imprisonment

But Irene, who works in an Ann Summers shop, said she received a letter from HMP Wakefield informing her that she could no longer see Bronson. 

She told the Sun: ‘What threat could I pose? That I’m going to batter them with a sex toy from work? It’s completely stupid. I am a pensioner who goes to visit him using my bus pass.’

She added: ‘I am part of his support network, which he really needs right now as he’s going for parole.

‘He is hopeful of getting it. He’s old now. He just wants a bit of peace.’ 

Irene said she would continue writing to him despite being taken off his visitor and call list, although she feared the letters would go missing. 

She also noted that his behaviour had changed since moving to HMP Wakefield, saying that he usually sang to her Frank Sinatra songs and ballads like When Will I See You Again, but he had become quieter. 

Irene added that she plans to challenge the ban. 

Bronson, who is legally known as Charles Salvador, was first jailed in 1974 at the age of 22 for armed robbery and wounding and has spent most of his life inside for a string of attacks on warders and prisoners across a number of British jails. 

Dunroe said her ex-husband ‘just wants a bit of peace’ and needs a support network ahead of his upcoming parole hearings

His latest prison debacle in July came after he was enraged by being served his favourite apple crumble – ‘without custard’. 

Britain’s most notorious prisoner staged a sit-down protest in an exercise yard at maximum-security HMP Wakefield, having defied repeated orders to leave.

Prison officers wearing riot gear were eventually called in and forced Bronson back into his cell in the jail’s segregation unit, the Daily Mail understands. 

The extraordinary impasse was said to have been triggered by events at dinner when Bronson was handed his favourite dessert – apple crumble, but without custard.

The missing accompaniment was said to have ‘infuriated’ the veteran inmate – who has spent more than half a century behind bars – prompting him to stage his protest the following day.

A source at the Category A prison – nicknamed Monster Mansion because of the calibre of criminals it holds – told the Daily Mail: ‘He was told more than once that exercise time was over and that he needed to come back inside, but he simply dug his heels in.

‘With Bronson, even something as small as a pudding can become a major security headache because officers cannot afford to assume he is bluffing.

‘The whole thing started because he got apple crumble without custard the night before.

‘He loves his food and saw it as another example of the prison not giving him what he believes he is entitled to, so he decided to make his point in the yard.

‘Once it became clear he was not moving, specially equipped officers had to be brought in to bring the incident to an end.’

It is understood that internal prison staff dealt with the incident, which happened in a yard linked to the Close Supervision Centre – a unit where Wakefield’s most violent and disruptive prisoners are held. The stand-off did not last long.

The source added: ‘Three teams comprised of three guards surrounded him. Bronson ran at the shield, looked to the sky and shouted, “This is for Reggie Kray”.’

Bronson, who was moved from HMP Long Lartin after attacking a prisoner, is effectively held in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day.

He is not permitted to associate with other prisoners, and must use the gym and shower facilities alone.

The Daily Mail contacted the Ministry of Justice for comment. 

By KEMI BADENOCH – LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

Published: 01:52 BST, 13 September 2026 | Updated: 02:20 BST, 13 September 2026

Andy Burnham has bottled it yet again. He hasn’t made a single significant decision on defence, on welfare or on oil and gas. All things he promised he would sort during his leadership coronation.

We had been told for weeks that the Prime Minister was set to approve the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields in the North Sea. Burnham’s army of government spinners had been busy briefing journalists that he was going to be ‘pragmatic’ on oil and gas, and do something that Keir Starmer had always avoided. It was understood that he’d announce the new drilling licences on Tuesday at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in Brighton. Rumours even beckoned a photo-op in Aberdeen.

But, as sure as night follows day, Andy Burnham has now delayed making a decision. And everyone knows why.

Labour is in a close fight with the Green Party to win the Holborn and St Pancras by-election at the start of October.

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In his final U-turn, Keir Starmer decided he didn’t want to stick around in Parliament with all the Labour MPs who had stabbed him in the back, so now he’s handed Burnham a tricky vote in a very Green Party-friendly area of London. And Burnham is spooked.

So the TUC speech is cancelled, the trip to Aberdeen shelved. And the uncertainty for thousands of oil and gas workers in Scotland and across Britain has returned.

The Conservatives approved the licences for Rosebank and Jackdaw when we were in government. The usual anti-growth, Left-wing, Net Zero obsessives launched a legal challenge that the Conservatives were fighting right up until Starmer entered No10.

He and his then climate secretary Ed Miliband began a lengthy consultation process, which delayed the approvals for a further two years.

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Pictured: Prime Minister Andy Burnham running in Warrington on September 11, 2026

Pictured: Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch at the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum on September 11, 2026

Now Andy Burnham, or ‘Continuity Keir’, has kicked the decision into the long grass once more.

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If he hadn’t bottled it, the gas from Jackdaw could be flowing directly into the grid, feeding some 1.4 million homes, by Christmas.

That would reduce our dependence on foreign gas imports this winter, secure vital jobs in our domestic oil and gas industry, and bring in tax revenues (estimated to be £1.4 billion by the end of this Parliament) that could be used to bring down energy bills.

Instead, we are going to continue to import expensive energy from places like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, a process that has a greater carbon footprint and is worse for the environment.

It is complete madness and does nothing to stop climate change. The plan is not working. I have a different one.

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A common-sense plan on energy that will help cut bills and improve the environment.

It starts with dropping meaningless targets like Net Zero 2050 and focusing on what works. 

That means drilling our own oil and gas, scrapping all levies and charges that have forced up energy bills, and unravelling the red tape and regulation strangling our domestic industry.

Energy security is national security; it’s economic security. Delaying the decision on Rosebank and Jackdaw puts all three at risk.

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On the day Andy Burnham won his by-election in Makerfield, Douglas Lumsden won a by-election in Aberdeen South for the Conservatives.

But where Burnham’s victory was about one man’s ambition, the Aberdeen South vote was about the tens of thousands of people employed in the UK oil and gas sector.

For their sakes, and for the sake of everyone who wants to see an end to deindustrialisation and sky-high energy bills, Burnham must get serious and approve the Rosebank and Jackdaw licences, and do it now.

A new service has been launched

Arachnophobes look away now. Spider season is upon us and experts at Checkatrade are warning that Brits should prepare for more encounters with our eight-legged residents this month.

To help anyone who’s scared of our creepy-crawly friends, instant home improvement booking service, Checkatrade Express, has launched a ’Spiders Out Squad’ (SOS) service. Consumers can book a local, vetted, tradesperson to handle the eight-legged eviction for them. Whether it’s the odd stray spider or a full-on takeover, there’s now a way to deal with it without lifting a finger or a shoe.

With the onset of autumn, adult male house spiders become increasingly active in their search for a mate. Giant house spiders can have a leg span of 10cm, while the cardinal spider, another house-dwelling species, can have a leg span of a whopping 12cm. For anyone of a nervous disposition, the idea of tangling with a palm-sized spider is unthinkable.

Why do spiders suddenly appear?

Late summer and early autumn are when adult male house spiders become much more active as they search for females. This wandering behaviour makes them far more visible to humans and increases the chances of them accidentally finding their way indoors. So while it may feel like Britain has suddenly been invaded by giant spiders, there may simply be more of them out and about where people can see them.

Professor Sara Goodacre, professor of evolutionary biology and genetics at the University of Nottingham, said: “September is naturally the time of year when house spiders become much more noticeable, but it’s not necessarily because there are suddenly more of them. Adult males are reaching maturity and setting out in search of a mate, which means they spend far more time wandering rather than remaining hidden in their webs.

“That wandering behaviour brings them into contact with people more often – and sometimes leads them indoors. We’re seeing more of the spiders that were already there, at the point in their lifecycle when they are most active and conspicuous, so it definitely makes sense that Britons are starting to see more and more of our creepy-crawly companions.”

Too scared to catch one?

While for some people, catching and releasing a house spider may be a fairly routine activity, for others, it is terrifying. More than a fifth of Brits (21%) suffer from arachnophobia (26% of women and 16% of men) according to YouGov figures.

And it’s no joke – leading to panic attacks, increasing pulse and breathing rate, sweats and shakes and feelings of dizziness and sickness.

Checkatrade-approved pest control expert, Rron Aliu, of The Pest Solutions, said: “September and the Autumn months can be a daunting time for anyone who isn’t a fan of spiders. While seeing a large spider running across the floor can certainly be alarming, it’s important to remember that this is normal seasonal behaviour.

“They typically come indoors looking for shelter, food or a mate, which is why this time of year makes them more noticeable. They’re not out to get us- and, as the saying goes, they are far more afraid of you than you are of them.

“Keeping rooms tidy and sealing gaps around doors and windows can help reduce the number that make their way inside. If you’re comfortable doing so, the kindest option is to catch the spider carefully and release it outside – reaching for the vacuum cleaner might be tempting, but they can survive and escape.

“But if the thought of getting anywhere near one fills you with dread, there’s absolutely no shame in calling for help.”