No services would be expected on two lines if the industrial action goes ahead, with sections of two others also affected – and while other lines will be operating, severe disruption should be anticipated across the entire TfL network.

TfL have advised commuters to complete their journeys across the capital before 9pm on both strike days, warning that in the early morning – before 6.30am – there will be a limited service “because services will start late and finish early”. They have also cautioned that the number of trains in operation will vary across the network.

The affects, in full, would be:

• No service on Circle Line
• No service on Piccadilly line
• No service between Baker Street and Aldgate on Metropolitan Line
• No service between White City and Liverpool Street on the Central Line
• Reduced services on Bakerloo Line, Jubilee Line, Northern Line, District Line, Hammersmith & City Line, Victoria Line, Waterloo & City

Gemma Aitchinson has spoke about the her sister’s killer, David Minto, being attacked while serving his sentence in HMP Wakefield

Fighting back tears, Gemma Aitchison endured the harrowing account of her sister’s murder in court. Then one devastating detail left her utterly shaken.

It wasn’t the horrific reality that her younger sister, Sasha Marsden, 16, had been raped and murdered just five months earlier in January 2013.

The teenager had been enticed to her death by hotel worker David Minto under the false pretence of a job interview at the Grafton House Hotel in Blackpool, Lancashire. Minto’s sick lie ended in Sasha being stabbed 58 times in the head, neck and face before her body was dumped in an alleyway.

But as the disturbing details of the case emerged at Preston Crown Court that July, a chilling revelation surfaced which brought Gemma to a standstill. For the very first time, she learned that in the hours after Sasha was killed, her own parents had unknowingly come face-to-face with her murderer – all while their daughter’s body lay just yards away.

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Speaking on episode two of the vodcast Key Witness: Aftermath, released today (May 28), Gemma, 40, a feminist activist from Bolton, Greater Manchester, said: “I didn’t find out about the confrontation until the trial.

“My mum went round to the hotel and knocked on – and spoke to David Minto – while he was in the midst of killing my sister.

“She didn’t know that at the time, of course. But what through my mind was how horrible for my mum. That must be awful for her to know.

“She was stood at the door with him and Sasha was in the house – who I imagine was desperate for her mum. But I can only imagine how she was feeling because she didn’t talk about stuff.”

Sasha met Minto through a mutual friend on a night out in Blackpool in 2012. A year later, he contacted the teen who was studying childcare at the time, asking if she was interested in a part time job as a cleaner at the hotel he was staying at, run by his girlfriend’s mother.

When she failed to return home on January 31, her frantic parents, Jayne and Gary Marsden, went straight to the hotel on Kirby Road – Sasha had said she was heading there – in search of answers.

Instead, they were met by Minto himself – who at first glance, seemed like a “good Samaritan.”

But they had no idea that man standing before them had coldly lied about Sasha’s whereabouts and in fact had already murdered their daughter – whose mutilated body was lying just yards away.

Recalling the investigation, Gemma said: “He [Minto] told so many lies.

“I didn’t really take on board all the different stories at the time.

“But I remember him claiming a three-foot by three-foot pool of blood that had soaked through three layers of carpet underlay was just a nosebleed.

“And he said he’d walked Sasha to meet her dad – even though CCTV proved that wasn’t true.”

Police quickly closed in, and on February 3, 2013, Minto was arrested and charged with Sasha’s murder.

Her blood was found on his clothes, throughout the hotel and on the kitchen knife used in the attack – which was bent at the tip.

He had inflicted devastating injuries before attempting to burn her body in an alleyway, where she was later found wrapped in carpet underlay and bin bags.

The wounds were so severe, Sasha had to be identified using DNA from her toothbrush.

Gemma said: “I learned during the trial that Minto was almost excited to show people what he’d done.

“He told neighbours there was a mannequin burning in the alley and invited them to come and look.

“He kept changing his story – by the time we got to court, we were probably on version four.

“I tried to see if there was any humanity in him – but there was nothing there.”

‘I’m glad he didn’t die’

On July 26, 2013, Minto was jailed for life with a minimum term of 35 years. It meant he could be eligible for parole in 2048. But for Gemma, the sentence never felt like enough.

“I wasn’t particularly happy,” she said.

“I thought – he can come out, have children, live a life.

“Sasha was 16. She didn’t get that chance.

“It just felt really inappropriate.”

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While Gemma tries not to think about her sister’s killer, she recently learned he was himself attacked by another inmate at HMP Wakefield in October 2025.

His attacker admitted attempted murder in April this year.

Commenting on the news, Gemma said: “I read it on an article and I’m glad he’s experiencing as much fear as he put my sister through.

“He knows he’s not safe and I feel like he’s now living how teenage girls live – always looking over their shoulders.”

She added: “I’m glad he didn’t die, because I see it’s more of a punishment he’s living in fear.

“But most of the time, it’s mixed emotions.”

Since Sasha’s death, Gemma has channelled her grief into campaigning against sexual violence.

She founded the support group Yes Matters UK, while also pushing for compulsory PSHE lessons to better educate young people and support victims.

Her family has continued to campaign for tougher sentencing laws, and Gemma says she is “incredibly proud” of her sister Katie, whose efforts helped secure the introduction of Sasha’s Law, giving victims more time to challenge lenient prison sentences.

Her family has also battled for tougher sentencing laws, and Gemma is “incredibly proud” of her other sister, Katie’s, achievement of Sasha’s Law to give victims more time to challenge lenient prison terms.

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“Women are still seen as objects while men are seen as the subjects, so crime against them don’t matter as much,” Gemma said.

“That’s why my sister didn’t matter, Sarah Everard didn’t matter – you don’t ask a chair before you sit on it ‘can I have consent to sit on you? What are your hopes and dreams?’ – we don’t care about that.

“I’m doing work around pornography and its affects on young people that push these thoughts,” she added.

“I’ve promised to myself that if I ever see a girl or a woman who’s in danger, I’ll always step in.

“Sasha was an annoying teenage girl – like they all are and I’m saying that as an ex-teenage girl myself – who was starting her life.

“But it’s how society views teenage girls – and what we allow to happen to them – that’s why she died.”

Key Witness: Aftermath is a collaboration between social producers Creatorville and content agency SWNS. The weekly vodcast is released on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Each week, presenter and journalist Daisy sits down with the people closest to notorious crimes – across the UK and the world – to uncover details never revealed before.

Watch every episode of the vodcast here – www.youtube.com/@Key_Witness

Family and friends gathered on Friday afternoon to remember beloved Archie York at the Parish Ponds in Woolsington, a beauty spot that has now become a lasting tribute to him and a place to celebrate his legacy.

Archie was just seven years old when he lost his life in the horrific explosion in Violet Close, Benwell, in October 2024.

Archie York, who was killed in the Violet Close explosion in Newcastle in October 2024, pictured at the Parish Ponds in Woolsington. Photo: Katherine Errington. Free to reuse for all LDR partners.

The new ‘Forever 7’ trail has been designed to remember his love of the ponds, a place where the Yorks enjoyed countless family walks with their dogs, and encourage people to explore wildlife and spend precious time together.

His mum Katherine Errington, dad Robbie York, and younger brother Finley cut the ribbon on the trail in Newcastle on Friday and led dozens of community members on the first journey around it, including many of Archie’s classmates.

Katherine said the day had been an “extra special” celebration of Archie’s ninth birthday and that her son “would have loved it”.

Remembering his love of picking blackberries and feeding swans at the ponds, she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “He was all about making people happy and that is what he has done today, he has made everyone happy.

“People might think I just say this because I’m Archie’s mum, but I’m not. He was such a loving, happy boy and this walk, and his schoolfriends, have proved that. He would be over the moon with the turnout today.”

Archie York’s parents Katherine Errington and Robbie York, and younger brother Finley, opening the new ‘Forever 7’ trail at the Parish Ponds in Woolsington. Photo: LDRS. Free to reuse for all LDR partners.

Archie’s classmates from Bridgewater Primary School helped shape the trail, with local artist Steve Pardue drawing inspiration from them in designing seven posts dotted around the route.

Each of the markers includes artwork highlighting different creatures and their incredible ‘superpowers’, inspired by Archie’s love of Marvel heroes.

They also carry messages about Archie himself, describing him as the “most helpful person I know”.

Katherine added: “This is a place where we can come as a family and remember him. We have such precious memories of him running around, laughing, exploring and just being the beautiful little boy that he was.

“It means so much to be able to share this space with others who loved Archie and want to remember him. He had so many friends, and it has been difficult for them to understand how he was taken from us so suddenly. Seeing their ideas included in the trail has been incredibly touching.”

The new ‘Forever 7’ trail at the Parish Ponds in Woolsington, created in memory of Violet Close explosion victim Archie York. Photo: LDRS. Free to reuse for all LDR partners.

George Pattison, chair of Woolsington Parish Council, said he hoped that the trail would help shape “a place that offers reflection, remembrance and quiet enjoyment for generations to come”.

He also issued a plea for everyone to play their part in looking after the area of natural beauty and respecting Archie’s legacy, after recent concerns that the site was being damaged by vandals setting fires and riding around on quad bikes.

He said: “We kindly ask that everyone respects this special area, allowing people the space to remember Archie, come together as families, or simply appreciate the beauty of the natural surroundings.”

The explosion which killed Archie and changed his family’s lives forever was caused by an illegal drugs lab that was being operated in the flat beneath their home. 

Katherine and Robbie have also worked with Newcastle City Council and other authorities to help expose the dangers of such cannabis shatter labs, in the hope of preventing another tragedy.

Council chief executive Pam Smith said: “People here in Newcastle, across the region and far beyond were deeply moved by Archie’s story and the unimaginable loss his family suffered. Today’s event is incredibly special as it creates a place to remember Archie in a positive, hopeful way, surrounded by those who loved him most.

“Archie’s Nature Trail is a beautiful reminder of a little boy who brought so much joy, and a testament to a family who has shown incredible courage in the face of devastating loss.”

The hall could be a nice place to visit on a hot day in the summer

Cambridgeshire is known as a county full of history with plenty of museums and historic homes to take a day trip to. Found hidden just outside of Peterborough, Elton Hall is described as an “extraordinary, romantic, part-Gothic” house.

The hall has been in the Proby family for over 400 years and is surrounded by “unspoilt landscaped parkland”. As the hall is still lived in, you can only visit Elton Hall and its gardens on certain days throughout the summer.

During the Second World War, the house was used as a convalescent home by the Red Cross to help soldiers with their rehabilitation. A lot of work had to be done to the house to help restore it in the decades following the war.

Elton Hall features a range of rooms you can visit on a guided tour where you will find “superb treasures” such as French furniture, a collection of paintings from Renaissance artists to more famous examples by Thomas Gainsborough, and several libraries.

While walking around the hall, you will see the Upper Octagon Room and Drawing Room, which are described as “the centrepiece of the house”. The Drawing Room was used as a library in the early 18th century and there are two small paintings that show visitors what it used to look like.

The hall features three libraries with two that are open to the public and contain a range of books from the 17th to 20th century. There is an “outstanding collection” of English bibles and prayer books including one owned by Henry VIII that was given to him by Katherine Parr.

After walking around the house, you might want to check out the gardens that won the Historic Houses Garden of the Year Judges’ Choice award in 2021. The garden has a range of features including a lily pond that has been planted with herbaceous perennials and small shrubs.

You can also visit the Flower Garden, which features a fountain and wisteria walk, or take a moment to appreciate the Orangery that was built to celebrate the Millennium. The Orangery is surrounded by a small garden that is planted with Mediterranean spices and oranges and lemons in terracotta pots.

Elton Hall and Gardens can be found just outside of the village of Elton and is only an 18-minute drive away from Peterborough via the A605. There is a car park that is free for visitors to use.

Tickets to get into the garden cost £10 for adults with children aged 15 and under getting in for free. Access to the garden and hall costs £18 for adults with guided tours available.

Tickets for the hall’s open days can be bought from the Elton Hall website. Elton Hall and Gardens are open to the public on select days throughout May to August.

WWE fans are raving over one of the greatest matches of all time.

Clash In Italy is hours away, but anyone who tuned into AAA Noche De Los Grandes was treated to a genuine spectacle, which many are calling the best of the year.

The show is available to stream for free on YouTube, headlined by a deeply personal and rare Mask vs. Mask main event between the rival El Grande Americanos.

The alter ego originally started with Chad Gable as a comedy character, but an injury almost a year ago forced him onto the sidelines as Ludwig Kaiser took over.

Under the German’s portrayal, Americano became a genuine hero in Mexico, complete with parades in the streets and a huge mural in the build-up to this weekend.

AAA, which is led by WWE icon The Undertaker behind the scenes, turned the rivalry into the most bitter and intense in all of wrestling, and it came to a head on Saturday night with one of the Grande Americanos forced to unmask.

We won’t spoil the result here if you want to watch it back (keep scrolling for our assessment with spoilers), but safe to say fans were blown away.

Wrestling historian Dave Meltzer wrote: ‘If you haven’t watched the Chad Gable vs. Kaiser match, you really should stop whatever you are doing and watch it now. One of the great match presentations of all-time.’

And broadcaster Sam Roberts added: ‘This Grande v Grande match is everything, everything, great about wrestling.’

‘Thank you, El Grande Americano and ‘The Original’ El Grande Americano! You both just delivered the undisputed MATCH OF THE YEAR. #AAANocheDeLosGrandes Pure, unfiltered wrestling,’ wrote X user @mstottenham. ‘Easily one of the greatest matches I have EVER witnessed! 👑🔥🐐’

Others agreed, hailing the bout ‘the greatest thing WWE ever did this year,’ insisting that ‘nothing will top’ the ‘beautiful’ match.

Fan @donMario11 wrote: ‘Original El Grande vs. El Grande Americano in a Mask vs. Mask match at AAA’s Noche de Los Grandes 2026 show was amazing. Undertaker really is legit the best booker in WWE over this past year.’

And @LobCityGimmick raved: ‘We just witnessed the show of the year. Great things coming out of AAA now, more feuds to look forward to, more banger matches. The best is yet to come. I’m still at a loss for words wow what a match. It lived up to the hype. (sic)’

Who won Mask versus Mask between El Grande Americanos?

The dust has settled on one of the best WWE rivalries in recent years, and this match is deserving of all the hype.

When all was said and done, it was Ludwig Kaiser’s El Grande Americano who emerged victorious over Chad Gable’s Original El Grande Americano, to the delight of everyone in Mexico.

It can’t be overstated just how good everything was about this match, from the grandeur of the entrances, the roar of the crowd fully in the corner of the ‘real’ Americano, and their hatred for what the Original stood for.

Gwyneth Paltrow was among the stars labelled ‘disgraceful’ by Russell T Davies for dismissing the role of intimacy co-ordinators on set

TV writer Russell T Davies has hit out at “privileged” actors, including Gwyneth Paltrow, for suggesting that intimacy co-ordinators are an unnecessary presence during the filming of sex scenes.

Russell, whose acclaimed dramas include Channel 4’s Queer as Folk, It’s a Sin and the forthcoming Tip Toe, argued that high-profile stars claiming these on-set specialists were hampering creativity were simply mistaken.

Asserting that intimacy co-ordinators have become a vital component of many productions in the aftermath of the #MeToo movement, he said: “There’s been a rash recently of very famous actors saying you don’t need intimacy co-ordinators.”

Singling out Paltrow by name, he declared: “They are disgraceful human beings. They have so much power and so much privilege and they have no idea what it is like to be a jobbing actor with no power on a set. Shame on them.”

It emerged last year that the American actress, 53, had instructed the intimacy co-ordinator on her film Marty Supreme to “step back” while working alongside lead actor Timothée Chalamet, reports the Mirror.

She recounted how the production’s co-ordinator had enquired whether she felt comfortable with a particular move during one intimate scene. “I was like, ‘Girl, I’m from the era where you get naked, you get in bed, the camera’s on’,” she explained. “We said, ‘I think we’re good. You can step a little bit back’.”

And Gwyneth added: “I don’t know how it is for kids who are starting out, but, if someone is like, ‘OK, and then he’s going to put his hand here,’ I would feel, as an artist, very stifled by that.”

She has received support from the likes of Kim Basinger and Sean Bean, both of whom have voiced comparable grievances.

Kim, whose credits include the 1986 erotic thriller 9 1/2 Weeks alongside Mickey Rourke, insisted she wouldn’t have employed an intimacy coordinator on set even had they existed at the time.

“I can’t imagine having somebody come up to me and say, ‘Do you mind if they put their hand here?’ That’s just another person in the room. Either we work it out or we don’t,” she explained.

Following his appearance in Game of Thrones, Sean Bean stated he was no admirer of intimacy coordinators as they “spoil the spontaneity” of an intimate scene. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter

Yet numerous performers have expressed feeling considerably more at ease with intimate scenes being choreographed in the same manner as a stunt, while others have revealed they wished such specialists had existed when they first entered the industry.

Kate Winslet said in 2024: “I would have benefited from an intimacy coordinator every single time I had to do a love scene or be partially naked or even a kissing scene. It would have been nice to have had someone in my corner, because I always had to stand up for myself.”

Daisy Edgar-Jones, who appeared in the BBC’s acclaimed series Normal People in 2020 at the age of 22, said she believed it was appropriate that actors had “more protection” explaining: “Mentally, it’s a really vulnerable place to put yourself in. You need to feel like you have the control and agency in those moments so that you can feel relaxed and give a better performance.”

Russell’s forthcoming Channel 4 series Tip Toe features scenes of a sexual nature, predominantly involving residents of Manchester’s renowned Canal Street, where the production was shot.

Director Phil Collinson revealed he had come to appreciate the importance of intimacy co-ordinators through his and Russell’s previous critically-lauded series It’s a Sin, which explored the 1980s AIDS crisis. “I’d never done it before – it’s an incredible experience. Before that point, I was just left out there. It was like, go on, make this sexy. And then it’d be me and two actors all looking at each other and lots of people just with their arms folded.”

Tip Toe is an urban thriller examining the escalating hostility towards the LGBTQ community in recent times, featuring real-life friends Alan Cumming as bar proprietor Leo and David Morrissey as his neighbouring electrician, Clive.

Alan, 61, revealed that shooting the demanding storylines proved so exhausting that he lacked the stamina to go out afterwards. “I basically lived like a monk. I was like ‘ooh, months and months in Manchester, I’ll have such a good time’. But I hardly went out. I mean, that’s so unlike me – I just felt I needed to sort of have some time to myself. It was really a lot.”

David suggests his character might appear to be the antagonist, but Clive was multifaceted. “What Russell does brilliantly is he writes a character that is three-dimensional and complex – sometimes you feel for him and sometimes you can’t stand him.”

A major London Overground line is operating with severe delays as swarms of Arsenal fans descend on the capital.

The Gunners suffered a last-minute defeat to PSG last night as the French team emerged victorious on penalties.

But while Arsenal didn’t win the Champion’s League, legions of fans are still flocking to Islington, north London, to watch Arsenal’s Premier League Trophy Parade today.

Kicking off at 2pm, the parade will see the club’s men’s and women’s teams take to the streets around Holloway, Stoke Newington, Seven Sisters and Angel.

Footage taken in the area has shown swathes of fans take to the streets in red shirts.

How is London transport affected?

Fans are already on their way, causing severe delays across the Mildmay Line on the Overground.

Meanwhile a number of tube and train stations will be closed or operating a limited service. 

• Highbury & Islington: the Victoria line will not stop at the station. London Overground services will operate exit only. The station will not be step-free.
• Holloway Road: closed.
• Canonbury: exit only.
• Finsbury Park: queues are expected, particularly after the parade. No Thameslink service through central London to Farringdon due to planned engineering works.
• Caledonian Road: may operate exit only or trains may not stop if it becomes overcrowded.
• Drayton Park: closed.
• Essex Road: closed.

All roads along the parade route, including side roads leading to the main route, will be closed.

The Met had expected a large turnout for today’s celebration, with more than 500 officers deployed to Islington today alongside specialist search and drone teams.

Commander Stuart Bell, leading the Met’s public order operation this weekend, said: ‘The parade is an opportunity for Arsenal supporters to celebrate, and we want everyone attending to enjoy the day safely.

‘There will be a police presence along the route throughout the event, supporting event organisers and stewarding operations. Officers will respond to incidents where necessary.

‘We expect the vast majority of those attending on Sunday to do so safely and responsibly.

‘However, anti-social behaviour, violence or any other type of criminality will not be tolerated. Officers will take action against anyone attempting to cause disruption or harm.’

What’s the big deal anyway?

Arsenal didn’t win yesterday’s Champions League final, so why all the fanfare?

Well, despite the defeat, the club still has to celebrate it’s Premier League victory – its first in 22 years.

The popular women’s team also won the Fifa Women’s Champions Cup earlier this season, so Arsenal have a few things to celebrate today.

Where will the parade go?

The parade will follow a loop roughly five miles long beginning and ending at the Emirates stadium.

From there, the buses will turn onto Holloway Road from Drayton Park, continuing east along Seven Sisters Road before heading down Blackstock Road, Mount Grove Road and Green Lanes.

Continuing south along Petherton Road, Beresford Road and Newington Green Road, the route then heads south along Essex Road before making a turn and heading north at Angel Tube station onto Upper Street.

Once it hits towards Highbury and Islington station the buses then make their way back onto Holloway Road before returning to the stadium.

MORE: Gabriel Magalhaes sends message to Arsenal fans after ‘painful’ penalty miss

MORE: Jamie Carragher identifies the two signings Arsenal must make this summer

MORE: The four signings Arsenal want to make after Champions League heartbreak

The BBC and Netflix crime drama has been praised by critics as “unbeatable” and “unlike anything else on TV” — and it has a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes

Devotees of British crime dramas will be thrilled to discover yet another outstanding thriller available to stream – and chances are it’s completely flown under your radar.

The series has earned extraordinary acclaim from critics and audiences in equal measure, placing it firmly alongside the likes of Line of Duty and Broadchurch, both widely regarded as the pinnacle of British crime television.

This underappreciated gem originally aired on BBC Two in October 2019, before reaching a broader global audience via Netflix in January 2020.

A joint venture between Netflix and the BBC, this crime drama has proven remarkably compelling for viewers across the world, and the widespread admiration it has received speaks volumes.

Giri/Haji, Japanese for ‘Duty/Shame’, is a bilingual production available on Netflix, written and created by Joe Barton, the talent behind Black Doves and The Lazarus Project, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Boasting an exceptional international cast that includes Takehiro Hira, Kelly Macdonald, Will Sharpe, Ysuke Kubozuka, Justin Long, Masahiro Motoki, Anna Sawai and Charlie Creed-Miles, this unmissable series spans both London and Tokyo, weaving dialogue in English and Japanese throughout.

The official synopsis reads: “Translating to Duty/Shame and set in both Tokyo and London, “Giri/Haji” is a thriller about a Tokyo detective named Kenzo Mori, scouring the London underworld to find his allegedly deceased brother, Yuto.

“Yuto was accused of brutally murdering the nephew of a yakuza member, which could lead to the onset of a gang war. Kenzo’s investigation into the disappearance lures him into dangerous elements of the corrupt underworld of London’s criminal circuit.”

Viewers were devastated when BBC Two and Netflix axed the series in September 2020, though not before it had made a significant impression on audiences worldwide.

Achieving a flawless 100% rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, Giri/Haji has garnered widespread critical acclaim.

One critic said: “There is simply nothing else like this anywhere on television,” while another, sharing this view, noted: “If you love gangster thrillers, Giri/Haji is unbeatable.”

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A third commentator added: “It’s complex but often deadpan funny, and then deeply serious about family matters. Visually startling (created by Joe Barton who also wrote for the series Humans), it’s like no thriller made in the past decade.”

Meanwhile, one critic posted: “[It] cross-pollinates genres – mixing cop show, yakuza thriller, love story, anime and hokey family melodrama, all spiked with bits of offbeat comedy. Giri/Haji is unlike anything else on TV.”

Another viewer said: “The resulting tangle is highly stylised (slipping into black and white, animation and at one point what I can only describe as slow-motion interpretative ballet) and unlike anything else I’ve watched on the BBC.”

Viewers were equally captivated by the British-Japanese collaboration, with one admirer saying: “This is by far one of the greatest shows I have ever seen. It’s artful, creative and existential in all the best ways possible. The fact it isn’t more widely known is a sad indictment on the current state of television.”

Another fan said: “Gripping from the first moment. Intelligent script, stunning cast, brilliantly crafted. Blends thrills and humour.”

Meanwhile, a third fan, describing the crime drama as ‘outstanding’, added: “Just an amazing show with both visual and verbal attributes that are mesmerizing and the duality of the show goes beyond the parallel locations but is intertwined to the depth of the characters. There are some scenes that just surpass anything that I have seen on TV in recent times if not ever. Just outstanding…”

Lamenting the programme’s cancellation, one disappointed viewer said: “This is a very classy, well acted, intelligent and witty show full of drama, action and twists. Things like this don’t come along that often, an absolute gem, please can we have another series?”

The MV Hondius is set to sail again and will take new passengers in just a few days’ time after completing a deep decontamination programme following a deadly hantavirus outbreak

A cruise ship which sparked a global health crisis after a deadly outbreak of hantavirus has been cleared to set sail again after a deep clean.

Three people died and another 10 were infected after the rat-borne virus spread through the MV Hondius earlier this month, sparking fears that human-to-human transmission could spread the illness across the world.

More than 170 passengers and crew were evacuated from the ship, including 30 British nationals. Yesterday the MV Hondius was cleared to sail again after authorities in Rotterdam, where it had docked, ruled it had been fully disinfected and said there were “no obstacles anymore” to it returning to sea. It was subjected to four key checks and a deep clean by workers in hazmat suits during its time in the Netherlands.

After arriving at Port of Rotterdam on May 18, the ship underwent a decontamination programme. A strict cleaning regime lasting several days required crews to wear PPE to ensure the vessel was thoroughly sanitised, and that the cleaners themselves would not require quarantine afterwards.

The 25 crew members and two medical staff who stayed on the ship from the Canary Islands to the Netherlands had to immediately enter quarantine upon arrival to monitor for the virus’s 42-day incubation period. Because hantaviruses are primarily spread by rodents, the ship also had to pass strict rodent inspection procedures to ensure there were no sources of the virus onboard.

Infection control experts and the public health agency in Rotterdam carried out a final inspection of the MV Hondius on May 29, which ruled the ship clean and that the decontamination process had been successful.

It comes after the World Health Organization’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the virus appeared to have been contained, telling reporters in an briefing on Friday: “The situation is stable for now. ^{We continue to remain vigilant and in close contact with all relevant governments… All passengers and crew remain in quarantine and under close monitoring to ensure they receive care if needed.”}

Oceanwide Expeditions, which operates the MV Hondius, expects to put the ship back into service as soon as June 13 for its next scheduled journey. This voyage would see it sail through the Arctic, including stops in Svalbard in Norway.