Judith Weelands, from Farsley in West Yorkshire, has been demonstrating outside a TUI branch after raising concerns about a £2,872 holiday to the Melia Dunas resort in Cape Verde.

TUI said it “thoroughly investigated” her complaints following her return from the trip and offered compensation, which it says was accepted in April.

‘Worst holiday in 55 years’

Mrs Weelands and her husband returned to the resort in January after previously visiting eight years ago.

She said: “We went to the Melia Dunas eight years ago and had the best holiday of a lifetime, so we decided to go back in January. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the worst holiday in 55 years.

Farsley resident Judith Weelands outside a TUI store during her ongoing protest. (Image: T&A)

“It was advertised as a five-star hotel and in our opinion it simply wasn’t five-star.”

She said concerns were raised with both hotel management and TUI representatives during the holiday.

Concerns over illness

Among the complaints raised by Mrs Weelands were concerns about illness among guests at the resort.

She said: “I caught the virus while we were there and it wasn’t just a normal upset stomach. It was horrendous, extremely painful and it lasted for the whole holiday and for around another two weeks after we got home.

“We had six friends on holiday with us and every single one of them ended up in bed with it.”

Mrs Weelands added that she was particularly concerned because her husband has existing health conditions.

TUI says complaint was investigated

A TUI UK&I spokesperson said: “We’re sorry to hear Ms Weelands was disappointed with parts of her holiday.

“Following her return, we thoroughly investigated the concerns she raised and offered compensation, which was accepted in April. The case was also independently reviewed through ABTA, who upheld our decision.

“We want every customer to have the best possible holiday experience and we are sorry that some aspects of Ms Weelands’ stay fell short of the high standards we aim to provide.”

Mrs Weelands, however, says the compensation offered did not adequately reflect the problems she experienced during the trip.

Complaints about standards

Mrs Weelands also criticised cleaning standards during the stay.

She said: “The cleaning was supposed to take place regularly, but there were times when it didn’t happen.

Farsley resident Judith Weelands outside a TUI store during her ongoing protest. (Image: T&A)

“It got to the point where I spent much of my holiday cleaning the room myself.”

Following the holiday, she pursued a complaint with TUI and said the company offered £290 compensation.

‘All I’ve ever wanted is to be treated fairly’

Despite the compensation offer and ABTA’s review, Mrs Weelands says she intends to continue protesting.

She said: “All I’ve ever wanted is to be treated fairly. We paid £2,872 for that holiday, even after discounts, and I don’t feel the compensation offered reflected what happened.

“The people of Leeds have been incredibly supportive. People stop to talk to me, take photographs and share my story because they believe customers should be treated properly.

“I’m quite happy to stand here for as long as it takes because I want people to know what happened to us and I don’t want anyone else to go through the same experience.”

Pregnant Anne Hathaway showed off her baby bump in a chic lilac gown at the Bvlgari exhibition in New York on Wednesday night. 

The 43-year-old looked sensational in a lilac £3,100 draped silk bustier gown by McQueen paired with a purple handbag and a bold red lip. 

Her billowing dress featured a balcony top with flowing silk material while she boosted her height with strappy gold sandals. 

In a nod to the host, Anne was dripping in jewels including a statement necklace with a vast amethyst pendant and a diamond chain. 

She cradled her bump as she left the event, where she was joined by fellow stars including Rachel Zoe, Chloe Wise, Kaytranada and Ivy Getty.

Corset-clad Dua Lipa and her husband Callum Turner looked as loved-up as ever as they headed into the bash while holding hands. 

The 43-year-old expectant mother looked sensational in a £3000 mauve strapless dress by McQueen paired with a purple handbag and a bold red lip

Her billowing dress featured a structured balcony top with flowing silk material while she boosted her height with strappy gold sandals

Anne’s outing comes after her fans dubbed her the ‘enemy of unemployment,’ after she announced her latest movie role after starring in five films this year. 

She revealed last week that she will appear alongside Tom Cruise in Days of Thunder 2, due in theaters summer 2028.

As the actress awaits her third child with husband Adam Shulman and maintains a fast-paced career, fans are wondering when the ubiquitous star finds time to rest. 

‘DOES ANNE EVER SLEEP?’ asked movie enthusiast Neemz, or @themovieposterguy, whose comment has over 35,000 likes.

Another follower jokingly called her ‘Anne Employed Hathaway,’ while another said ‘unemployment fears’ her.

Someone else lauded her jam-packed schedule, commenting: ‘I love a booked and busy woman.’

‘Her baby is already so well-traveled,’ quipped a fan, adding, ‘She’s everywhere.’

In a nod to the host, Anne was dripping in jewels including a statement necklace with a vast amethyst pendant and a diamond chain

Her billowing dress featured a structured balcony top with flowing silk material while she boosted her height with strappy gold sandals

Stylist to the stars Rachel Zoe looked elegant in silk

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Corset-clad Dua Lipa and her husband Callum Turner looked as loved-up as ever as they headed into the bash while holding hands

She revealed last week that she will appear alongside Tom Cruise in Days of Thunder 2, due in theaters summer 2028 

Another asked, ‘Is she the only actress available on earth? I mean… what is going on?’

Last week, Anne and Tom, 64, announced they will star in a sequel for the 1990 film Days of Thunder with a promotional photo and social media video. 

A snapshot featured the Hollywood vets leaning against a green and yellow race car at Daytona International Speedway.

They joined forces in a brief and lighthearted clip, in which the actress warmly greeted viewers with a ‘Hey!’ while leaning into the camera.

The duo then unveiled the parked vehicle, which had a decal reading: ‘Days of Thunder 2, summer 2028.’

‘Now what?’ Cruise asked Hathaway before she echoed, ‘Now what? Let’s make the movie!’

She rubbed her growing bump and added, ‘I’m gonna have this baby, and then we’re going to make this movie.’

Cruise approved, ‘That’s a good idea. You have the baby and then we’re gonna make the movie.’

Top White House advisers, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have privately warned President Donald Trump that the conflict with Iran could extend through the remainder of his presidency, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing U.S. officials.

The private warnings were delivered during internal strategy discussions held in the Oval Office and the Situation Room. During these confidential meetings, senior officials informed the president that Tehran could continue to resist U.S. pressure, potentially prolonging the conflict beyond Inauguration Day in January 2029.

According to details reported by the Journal, the assessment from key aides highlights concerns within the administration that Iranian resistance may not be easily broken, suggesting military engagement could become a defining foreign policy issue for Trump’s entire term in office.

These private warnings stand in sharp contrast to Trump’s own public remarks regarding the war. Speaking on Wednesday, the president offered a much shorter timeline for the conflict, telling reporters and the public he expected the fighting to end far sooner than his top advisers projected in private.

Specifically, the president said on Wednesday he expected the war to end “immediately after” the U.S. midterm elections in November. Trump argued that Iran was trying to influence the vote through its ongoing resistance, but asserted that the country would be unable to sustain its opposition much longer.

Trump also acknowledged that diplomatic talks remain a possibility for resolving the dispute, though he clarified that his administration did not prefer negotiations at this stage.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the Wall Street Journal report or the internal briefings provided by Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, and other advisers.

The Journal’s disclosures underscore a clear divergence between internal assessments and public messaging. While advisers in the Oval Office and the Situation Room cautioned that Tehran’s resistance could carry the conflict past Inauguration Day in January 2029, Trump’s public statements focused on a resolution tied closely to the November midterm elections.

In his public statements, Trump reiterated his belief that Iranian efforts to influence the elections would fail due to an inability to endure sustained U.S. pressure.

Although Trump noted that diplomatic talks remain a theoretical option, his preference against negotiation leaves open the question of how the administration will handle a prolonged confrontation. For now, private warnings from White House officials suggest that the conflict with Iran may continue well beyond the midterms and through the remainder of Trump’s presidency.

In a statement, Mr Butler said he sincerely apologises for the failings in care that have been identified.

Stormont Health Minister Robbie Butler has issued an apology after a review prompted by concerns over the work of a former consultant neurologist revealed the “devastating impact” on his patients and their families.

The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) review was prompted over the work of Michael Watt, who has since been struck off.

The final report of the review found that a combination of poor diagnostic practice, inadequate communication, isolated clinical decision-making, weak multidisciplinary oversight and a lack of patient-centred care resulted in standards of care that frequently fell below expectations.

It concluded that in some cases harm was caused through delayed or misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, and failures in communication and support.

The review also found evidence of the “devastating impact of poor clinical practice on patients and their families”.

Publishing its final review on Thursday, the RQIA also paid tribute to the families involved, adding their testimonies provided evidence and understanding that clinical records alone could not offer.

It has said it has co-developed a patient safety culture framework for health and social care in Northern Ireland to “drive a positive patient and staff safety culture across the whole system”.

RQIA chairwoman Christine Collins also paid tribute to the patients affected and their families.

“I have no hesitation in saying that, in my view, the strong and clear focus now being placed on patient safety across the system is due to the courage and determination of patients and families to seek the truth and insist on change, so that others do not suffer as they have suffered,” she said.

“RQIA recognises that such family involvement comes at a personal cost. How painful it is to share the experience of losing a loved one, and how brave and public-spirited it is to do so.

“We can only thank all the families involved, and hope that this review, and the actions taken as a result, stand as a positive legacy.”

In a statement, Mr Butler said he sincerely apologises for the failings in care that have been identified.

“I want to acknowledge the loved ones whose lives are being remembered today. Their loss is deeply felt by their families, and it is right that we pause to remember them and the impact their deaths have had on those closest to them,” he said.

He described the report’s findings as “concerning”.

“Patient safety must always remain our fundamental priority,” he said.

“The findings in this report are deeply concerning and reinforce issues identified through an earlier phase of the review.

“I recognise the distress that this publication may cause, and on behalf of the wider Health and Social Care system (HSC), I sincerely apologise for the failings in care that have been identified.”

He continued: “This report provides an important opportunity to reflect on past failings and to strengthen patient safety across the HSC system.

“The findings reinforce the importance of openness, effective communication, multidisciplinary working, professional challenge and a culture in which concerns are listened to and acted upon.

“My Department remains committed to supporting initiatives that enhance patient safety, strengthen public confidence and help prevent similar failings from occurring in the future.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is sashaying away from the BBC after eight series – and while the show itself isn’t disappearing, some fans are deeply concerned about what its departure means for LGBTQ+ representation on British television.

The BBC has confirmed it will no longer broadcast future series of the hit competition after its current run, with Drag Race UK instead moving to production company World of Wonder’s streaming service, WOW Presents Plus.

Its spin-off UK vs The World will make the move too, while a new Drag Race UK All Stars series has already been announced for autumn 2027.

The decision means Drag Race UK does have a future, but it will no longer have the same freely accessible home that helped turn British queens into household names and brought drag into millions of living rooms.

That difference hasn’t been lost on former contestant Bimini, who shared an emotional response to the news.

‘Drag Race UK is leaving the BBC. I’m actually so sad about this,’ they wrote on X, reflecting on filming the second series more than six years ago.

‘I was skint, I had no clue what I was doing, and I was locked in a room with eleven of the most talented people I’ve ever met.’

Bimini credited the programme with transforming their life and career, but also highlighted its imporance beyond its impact on the lives of those who competed on it.

‘That show was on in living rooms where drag was not welcome, and it changed something in those living rooms,’ they wrote.

‘At a time when queer and trans people in this country are being legislated about and shouted about more than ever, that matters. It still does.’

They concluded: ‘Drag was here before the telly. It’ll be here after.’

Former contestant La Voix, who became a huge name in entertainment after her appearance on the show, wrote on Instagram: ‘I know the show will live on, on WOW presents uk, but it’s a loss to not have this represented on main terrestrial tv!

‘So, to everyone who has been part of the BBC Drag Race UK family — queens, crew, producers, judges and everyone behind the scenes — thank you for the memories, the opportunities and the friendships.’

The BBC has attributed the decision to its financial situation rather than the nature of the programme, as it works towards making £500million in savings.

A spokesperson told Metro: ‘As the BBC continues to navigate significant financial pressures and deliver the savings required of us, we have had to make some very difficult choices, none of which have been taken lightly. We can therefore confirm together with World of Wonder, that RuPaul’s Drag Race UK will be leaving the BBC and moving to WOW Presents Plus.

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‘The BBC is incredibly proud of all eleven series of this groundbreaking show and we would like to thank RuPaul, World of Wonder and everyone involved, both on and off screen. We are certain that viewers will enjoy the eighth series, which is currently airing on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three.’

Drag Race UK launched in 2019, bringing RuPaul’s wildly successful US format across the pond with a distinctly British spin.

RuPaul and Michelle Visage have judged contestants alongside Graham Norton and Alan Carr, while its eight series have introduced audiences to stars including Danny Beard, Tia Kofi, La Voix and Bimini.

At its peak, the programme reportedly averaged around 1.5million viewers per episode.

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For some fans, however, the news feels particularly significant because it comes in the same year the BBC axed I Kissed A Boy and I Kissed A Girl.

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The Dannii Minogue-fronted shows made history by putting gay and lesbian dating at the centre of a mainstream UK reality franchise, but the corporation confirmed earlier this year that they would end amid its funding challenges.

Now, three of the BBC’s most prominent LGBTQ+ entertainment shows have either ended or are leaving the broadcaster in 2026.

‘I Kissed a Boy / Girl AND Drag Race UK cancelled by the BBC in 2026 🙃,’ one person wrote on X. ‘Representation is soooo important and we are seeing less and less.’

Another said they found it ‘very upsetting’ to see the BBC cutting LGBTQ+ programming, while others questioned why Drag Race UK had been chosen given its apparent continued popularity.

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One viewer claimed it had been the BBC’s third most-streamed programme only last week, describing the decision as a ‘lack of vision’.

Others were more optimistic about the move to World of Wonder, particularly given one longstanding gripe with the British edition.

‘BBC couldn’t properly fund this show. And that small prize package??? The queens will do better without BBC,’ one fan argued.

‘Finally. Give the girls a proper cash prize,’ another joked.

There has been no announcement that the move will result in a bigger prize fund.

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The current eighth series, which launched in September, will continue to air normally on BBC Three and iPlayer, while existing episodes are expected to remain available after the switch.

World of Wonder, meanwhile, has promised a ‘new era’ for the franchise, with future Drag Race UK and UK vs The World series heading to WOW Presents Plus alongside the newly announced All Stars edition.

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The BBC has not suggested that its decision has anything to do with Drag Race UK’s LGBTQ+ content, and has explicitly cited the financial pressures it is under.

Still, for viewers who have watched I Kissed A Boy, I Kissed A Girl and now Drag Race UK disappear from the BBC’s future schedules in a matter of months, the optics have inevitably become part of the story.

As one fan put it, while sharing an emotional clip from Drag Race UK showing a father accepting his drag queen son: ‘This is why a show like this was so vital to so many queer individuals who found home in the show.’

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Drag Race UK may have found somewhere else to sashay to. For some fans, though, losing its place on public television is the part that hurts.

Metro has contacted the BBC for comment.

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Get plugged into the week’s must-watch shows, unmissable moments, and expert reviews with Metro TV Editor Sabrina Barr.

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