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Radio 2 is thrown into fresh turmoil as Masked Singer’s Joel Dommett turns down coveted slot amid rumours of a ‘toxic environment’

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Comedian Joel Dommett (pictured with wife Hannah Cooper) turned down Radio 2's prime Drivetime slot

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Radio 2 has been plunged into fresh chaos as bosses struggle to fill the Drivetime slot after Joel Dommett turned it down amid whispers of a toxic environment.

BBC chiefs offered the role to Dommett, who presents ITV‘s The Masked Singer, this month after Sara Cox was switched from it to the Breakfast Show following the sacking of Scott Mills over historic sex assault claims.

A source said: ‘It would have been a great opportunity for Joel but he must have heard how miserable and on edge staff are. It’s caused a nightmare as everyone had hopes pinned on him.’

Radio 2 was reportedly shocked that comedian Dommett, 41, who has been in I’m A Celebrity, did not ‘jump at the chance to join’.

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With a salary of £200,000, the job should have been a great chance for Dommett, who has two sons with model Hannah Cooper and has hosted Saturday night show The Masked Singer since 2020.

Since Ms Cox, 51, switched to the Breakfast Show in July, the weekday 4pm to 7pm Drivetime slot has been filled by guest presenters, including Dommett.

The station has been struggling since Ms Cox, who hosted Drivetime for seven years, replaced Mills, 53, on the Breakfast Show after he was fired over historic sex assault claims, for which he was never charged.

Insiders allege that actions by Radio 2 head Helen Thomas are part of the reason why the station has become an undesirable place to work.

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Comedian Joel Dommett (pictured with wife Hannah Cooper) turned down Radio 2’s prime Drivetime slot 

The station is reportedly in a crisis since multiple departures from big names including Zoe Ball (pictured), who left the BBC last year

The station is reportedly in a crisis since multiple departures from big names including Zoe Ball (pictured), who left the BBC last year 

Ms Thomas, who has held the post for six years, was one of the bosses responsible for Mills’s sacking, which allegedly infuriated many colleagues. 

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Staff, once loyal to Ms Thomas, are allegedly ‘on edge’ as her ‘fan base has waned’, said a source. ‘The devastating part is nobody knows where this is going to end.’

Radio 2 has seen some of its biggest stars join rival stations.

After 13 years, Chris Evans left the Breakfast Show for Virgin Radio in 2018, followed by Simon Mayo who quit Drivetime and later joined Greatest Hits Radio.

Graham Norton left his Saturday morning show in 2020 after a decade and headed for Virgin.

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Ken Bruce left after 30 years in 2023, taking his quiz PopMaster to Greatest Hits. Claudia Winkleman left five years after replacing Norton. 

Zoe Ball quit last year, with friends saying she did not always feel ‘supported’ by the BBC after her mother died in April 2024.

A BBC spokesman said: ‘We don’t recognise this as the reality of working at Radio 2. 

‘The station prides itself on being a supportive family, on and off air, and that culture comes from the top. We don’t comment on speculation around individual contracts.’

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Haxby Town Council urges residents to report ASB to police

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Haxby Town Council urges residents to report ASB to police

Haxby Town Council published a guide with a reminder to residents on its website on Monday, September 14 with a distinction given between anti-social behaviour and criminal offences.

A council spokesperson said it is working actively with North Yorkshire Police, ward councillors, the deputy mayor for policing, fire and crime for York and North Yorkshire, and the MP for York Outer Luke Charters to reduce incidences of crime and anti-social behaviour.


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Back in the Autumn last year Luke Charters was in Haxby filming a piece for Channel 4 about anti-social behaviour on the high street.

Mr Charters said at the time he’d been working hard to tackle the issue over the past year alongside Deputy Mayor Jo Coles and had been filming for a piece that aired on The Political Slot on Channel 4.

In May 2025, North Yorkshire Police identified Ethel Ward Playing Field in Haxby as one of the county’s anti-social behaviour hotspots but at the time said targeted enforcement had helped cut incidents significantly.

In a statement, a Haxby Town Council spokesperson said: “We receive police ASB reports every month and discuss these at every meeting.

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“Recently, the local police and PCSO attended one of our meetings and it is clear that there has been a spike in ASB nationally – and Haxby is not immune to this.

“However, we were pleased to hear that North Yorkshire Police are expecting an increase in newly-trained and recruited police officers, which should improve police presence and availability.”

The council said its website advice is essentially provided as guidance for which incidents should be reported to 101, or in emergencies to make a 999 call.

The spokesperson added: “If incidents are not properly reported then we cannot expect a police response.

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“We actively encourage our residents to continue to report ASB incidents as this enables more police presence in the area. 

“Posting on social media and comments on press articles will not be captured by the police so residents need to ensure they report through the official channels to ensure long term action is successful.

“Police advise us to use the 101 phone number, as call wait times are much improved.”

The council said it, alongside Wigginton Parish Council, funds youth services through the Haxby and Wigginton Youth and Community Association, which provides youth workers at Oaken Grove Community Centre.

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This support aims to keep young people engaged and reduce incidents of ASB, the spokesperson said.

The council said it will continue working with police, bus services, and youth projects to address the problem.

Suggestions under consideration include improved street lighting, clearer sight lines, and the potential installation of CCTV cameras.

The council spokesperson added: “Separately, following ASB incidents earlier this year, we are also looking at ways to prevent vehicular access to the Ethel Ward Playing Field.

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“We are optimistic that newly refurbished courts will mean more people using the playing field more often; and this we hope will discourage isolated incidents of bad behaviour.”

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An expert A to Z guide to what’s in your laundry detergent

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An expert A to Z guide to what's in your laundry detergent

Builders

This is a catch-all term for chemicals that boost the cleaning efficiency of your detergents. Builders are used to soften water, which enhances the performance of your detergent. Sodium carbonate does this by raising the alkalinity of the water while silicates work to keep dirt off fabrics once it has been lifted and protect your washing machine against corrosion.

Capsules

Also known as pods or tabs, these are sachets containing liquid detergent. They’re quick and convenient because you don’t have to worry about dosing, but you can’t use them for pre-treating stains like you can with liquids. My top tip: place your pod at the back of the drum before you put the clothes in. This stops it from falling on the washing machine door and not mixing with the clothes. Some pods have sections that break down at different times in water, which helps to release ingredients like fabric softener at the right time in a wash cycle. If you live in a hard water area, you may need a double dose which can be costly.

Enzymes

Found in biological detergents, these are proteins that accelerate the breakdown of specific stain molecules. Just like how the enzymes in our bodies break down food, these chomp through tough stains including grease, sweat and blood. There are four classes of enzymes you might find on an ingredients list. Protease breaks down protein stains, such as blood, grass, egg and sweat; amylase is best for starchy stains, such as pasta or gravy; lipase handles fats and oils, including butter and cooking oil; while cellulase works on the cellulose fibres of fabric to prevent build-up on your clothes. Look for enzymes if you want to sanitise delicates without washing at high temperatures.

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Fragrance-free

You should only see this on the packaging when there are no added perfumes or chemicals to create a scent.

Gels

Gels are a thicker variant of laundry liquids. They tend to come in squeezable bottles for easy application. You can apply them directly to the stains to treat them before washing.

Liquids

Liquids are thinner and runnier than gels. They penetrate fibres quickly making them great for delicates, but they’re prone to spilling which wastes product.

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Running slowly for just ten minutes can help you think faster and feel happier, study finds

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A study suggests that just 10 minutes of very slow running may improve mood and brain function, even at a pace only slightly faster than walking (stock photo)

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If you want to think clearer and feel happier then try running very slowly for just ten minutes.

While previous research has shown cognitive benefits from moderate-intensity exercise, a study suggests that similar gains can be made even at a pace just above walking speed.

Researchers from the University of Tsukuba in Japan asked 24 healthy people with an average age in their early twenties to run on a treadmill for ten minutes at just 3km (two miles) to 6km (four miles) an hour.

This pace corresponds to a very light exercise intensity of only 35 per cent of peak oxygen uptake.

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The participants also did a resting control session with no exercise, to help compare the performance of their brain and examine brain activity.

Activity in their prefrontal cortex – an area associated with executive functions such as thinking, emotions and behaviour, as well as mood regulation – was measured using a device that tracks changes in oxygen-rich blood flow in the brain.

The study found that after the slow jogging, brain activity increased in the prefrontal regions.

Executive function was measured using the Stroop effect, the extra delay in your reaction time when you try to name the ink colour of a word that spells a different colour.

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A study suggests that just 10 minutes of very slow running may improve mood and brain function, even at a pace only slightly faster than walking (stock photo) 

For example, the word ‘red’ written in blue ink.

The results showed that after slow jogging, participants had a shorter Stroop ‘interference’ time, suggesting faster brain processing skills.

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They also reported feeling happier. The researchers found that the vertical up-and-down movement of the head during slow running was associated with improvements in mood.

The authors wrote: ‘This discovery of the relationship between head acceleration and improved mood may be one of the underlying mechanisms through which very slow running promotes mental health.

‘To this end, these findings contribute to social wellbeing by encouraging people to keep physically and mentally active through very slow running.’

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Monster Season 5: What We Know, And Who It Could Be About

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Monster Season 5: What We Know, And Who It Could Be About

If you’re a fan of Ryan Murphy’s gruesome anthology series Monster, you’ve likely spent the last few days hooked its newest iteration, which focusses on the case of Lizzie Borden.

While the horror series was originally conceived as a limited series, after the success of Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Netflix renewed it as an anthology, which was followed by Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story in 2024, Monster: The Ed Gein Story in 2025 and the most recent incarnation, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, which debuted just this week.

For those who’ve already binge-watched The Lizzie Borden Story, and aren’t already disturbed and haunted enough, you might already be looking ahead to the future, and whether a fifth season could be on the cards.

Here’s everything we know so far about what’s next for the Monster franchise…

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Will Monster get a season 5 on Netflix?

A fifth outing for Netflix’s Monster anthology series has not yet been officially renewed.

However, it’s fair to say its showrunner seems keen on continuing to explore the dark world of true crime with more instalments to come.

Speaking to Variety in September 2025, Ryan Murphy revealed that he and his collaborators “have a ‘maybe one day’ file” consisting of ideas for future seasons, indicating the American Horror Story creator already has many more chilling stories of real-life murders still to explore.

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What has Ryan Murphy said about who Monster season 5 could be about?

Season four marks the first time that a female character has been at the centre of Monster

While Ryan hasn’t revealed exactly who he has in mind as the central character in season five of Monster, he has teased the type of person he has in mind.

Ryan admitted to Variety last year he had been considering making a series of the Netflix show about Luigi Mangione, the accused killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, although he acknowledged this was something he might have to revisit much later in the future.

“We know nothing about him,” he pointed out. “There was nothing to write — we didn’t have information yet. Maybe something will come out in the trial.”

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He’s also ruled out other potential ideas for future seasons of Monster

While the show’s creators haven’t revealed who a fifth season could centre on, Ryan Murphy has ruled out some famous names for true crime fans.

He told Variety last year that his intention with Monster is to “provoke questions” about broader social issues, through the lens of true crime.

For this reason, co-showrunner Ian Brennan has ruled out a series dedicated to John Wayne Gacy, claiming he feels there is “nothing redemptive” about the murderer.

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The team also feel the same way about the Golden State Killer and Original Night Stalker, Joseph James DeAngelo Jr.

Ian claimed: “The second the name comes up for us, every year, both of us go, No. There’s no pathos.”

Although there had been rumours that an upcoming series would revolve around Ted Bundy, Ryan said he was uninspired by the man who kidnapped and killed multiple women in the 1970s.

Ryan suggested: “When you look at those crimes, what are the themes there? It doesn’t ask you any questions about society. It feels too murderous — not interesting enough.”

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Charlie Hunnam and Ryan Murphy at the premiere of Monster: The Ed Gein Story last year
Charlie Hunnam and Ryan Murphy at the premiere of Monster: The Ed Gein Story last year

So, who could Monster season 5 be about?

For years, fans have speculated about who could be the focus of an upcoming anthology series.

One popular suggestion on the Netflix subreddit named Richard Ramirez as a potential story idea for season five, noting that his story has “societal commentary” that fits Ryan Murphy’s interests.

“The 1985 Los Angeles setting provides the perfect gritty, sun-drenched noir aesthetic. More importantly, Ramirez’s crimes happened right at the peak of the 1980s Satanic Panic,” the post said, suggesting that the series could also “explore how heavy metal culture, media sensationalism, and religious hysteria completely gripped and terrified the public”.

Another heavily “upvoted” Reddit comment mentioned Gerard Schaefer, the so-called Butcher of Blind Creek, and George Tiaffay, the Las Vegas firefighter sentenced for hiring a hitman to kill his wife, during a similar discussion.

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One idea that the fandom is in agreement would be a bad one is a season focussed on the Columbine tragedy.

While Ryan has previously touched on the trauma of school shootings in a controversial episode of American Horror Story, Reddit users are near-unanimous that this is a piece of American true crime history that should be left alone, especially given the backlash to Ryan Murphy’s handling of past cases, most notably Jeffrey Dahmer.

Monster could also return to a past case in the future, too

Nicholas Chavez and Cooper Koch on the set of Monster's second season
Nicholas Chavez and Cooper Koch on the set of Monster’s second season

Back in 2024, Ryan admitted he was interested in revisiting The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, after changes were made to their case once his show was already complete.

Speaking to Variety, Ryan claimed: “I think what I would be interested in doing, if Nicholas [Alexander Chavez] and Cooper [Koch] would agree to do it, is maybe one or two episodes that continue the story.”

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All four seasons of Monster are streaming now on Netflix

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Two killed in ‘massive’ Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow region, says Russia

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Plumes of smoke rise from fires at an oil refinery in Moscow after an overnight Ukrainian drone attack. Photo: 20 September 2026

At least two people have been killed and six injured in a “massive” overnight Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow region, Governor Andrei Vorobyev has said.

Vorobyev said 249 drones had been shot down, and he reported fires in several residential houses. A local warehouse was also ablaze. In the capital Moscow, an oil refinery was damaged, and flight restrictions were in place at two airports.

Earlier, a Ukraine official said seven people, including two children, were killed in Russian attacks in the Kyiv and Sumy regions on Saturday.

Russia and Ukraine have recently intensified their strikes, targeting energy-generating and transport facilities, as well as major logistics hubs.

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In a post on Telegram on Sunday, Vorobyev said a 44-year-old woman was killed in Sofyino after a drone hit a three-storey residential building. Another five people – including two children – were injured, he said.

In the Orekhovo-Zuevo district, an elderly man died after a private house was hit, the regional governor said.

Videos have emerged on social media purportedly showing explosions in the night skies in the Moscow region, and of a burning warehouse. The footage has not been verified by the BBC.

Meanwhile, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said a drone struck a building near one of the capital’s boulevards and a facility at an oil refinery was damaged.

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He said on social media that 450 drones heading for Moscow had been shot down in what he called an “unprecedented attack”.

Sheremetyevo – Moscow’s biggest airport – warned passengers about “temporary restrictions” in place, while at the capital’s Vnukovo airport all arrivals and departures were halted.

In Ukraine, a mother and her two small children, a boy and a girl, were killed in Saturday’s Russian attack in the city of Fastiv, Kyiv regional head Tymur Tkachenko said.

He added that several private houses were also damaged.

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In the north-eastern Sumy region, four people were killed when a Russian drone hit the car they were travelling in, top local official Oleh Hryhorov said.

Both Russia and Ukraine have continued to hit energy infrastructure targets in the past week, despite US President Donald Trump claiming on social media that the two sides had agreed not to.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

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ALEXANDRA SHULMAN’S NOTEBOOK: My mother’s spirit speaks, to say ‘hands off my jewels’!

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Ever since my mother¿s death in February, I¿ve been getting clear messages from her that she does not want me to wear her jewellery, writes Alexandra Shulman (pictured)

Ever since my mother’s death in February, I’ve been getting clear messages from her that she does not want me to wear her jewellery. 

It may not be the loving communication I was hoping to receive if her spirit’s watching over me but, even so, there is a certain comfort in the idea that she is still around.

None of the jewellery she left us had any financial value. Some of it I don’t remember her ever wearing but my siblings and I didn’t want to simply chuck it out. 

When we distributed it, I took a bracelet by designer Pippa Small strung with small unpolished gemstones, as well as the very plain watch my mother always wore. It has a slim black strap and a simple face of Roman numerals.

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Within weeks of my taking the watch, however, I lost it. Distraught, I searched everywhere, including in the recycling bins as they often turn out to be the repository of missing items. But it was nowhere to be found.

My trainer at the local gym told me his Iranian mother said a special prayer whenever anyone in the family lost things and it never failed. He would ask her to say it for the watch. All I had to do was to tie a knot into a piece of fabric and keep it knotted until the watch was found.

Three weeks later the watch did reappear down the side of a sofa. I put it back on my wrist, only for the front glass to fall out and the watch to stop working.

Similarly, the bracelet has broken twice – the first time was as I slept, so I woke to discover myself lying on the stones. Then, last week, after having it restrung, the chain snapped again with the gems scattering over the floor of a store I was in. Mama, I hear you!

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Ever since my mother’s death in February, I’ve been getting clear messages from her that she does not want me to wear her jewellery, writes Alexandra Shulman (pictured)

Lost child is truly the stuff of nightmares 

A child that disappears one afternoon is every parent’s nightmare and nobody should have to suffer the utter misery, despair and hopelessness that the family of Noah Wood will be experiencing after his body was discovered in a local pond last week.

The degree of terror when a child vanishes is like nothing else. One minute they are in your sightline, the next, gone. It’s happened to all of us but, thankfully, in most cases they re-emerge safe.

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My own son Sam disappeared when he was five. We were visiting Rome and walking around St Peter’s Basilica near to closing time when I turned around to find him gone. 

The tourists were thinning out but the church was enormous and filled with hundreds of sculptures, papal tombs and a million places for a child to hide.

I kept thinking about how frightening it would be for him should he get locked in and, plagued by child-snatching fears, I ran wildly around, grabbing at guards and shouting to everyone that I had lost un piccolo ragazzo con i pantaloni rossi. Never have I been more terrified.

After about 20 minutes, somebody found him outside running happily around St Peter’s Square. He was chasing pigeons under the gaze of the 140 saints and martyrs who line the Colonnades. I was massively relieved, but also furious with him.

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Even though he was safe and only gone for a short time, the horror of his potential loss stayed with me for days. I can only imagine how it would have felt if it had turned out otherwise and my heart goes out to Noah’s family.

Reunion magic? It can’t Live Forever…

Conversely, one of the best evenings of my life was spent with that same child, now 31, watching Oasis at Wembley last year. It was an incredible concert and going with Sam was emotional in ways I still can’t analyse.

It was made more special because it was the first time Noel and Liam had played together since their split almost 15 years previously. Now, only a year later, they’ve announced dates for another tour. 

It can’t erode my memories of that evening but it does somehow undermine the uniqueness of that reunion tour, and the magic can’t possibly be repeated again.

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Pop doesn’t have to be political, just good

Will Oasis, like Ed Sheeran, be expected to reveal their views on Gaza when they perform?

Sheeran’s current US tour is in meltdown after his support act Macklemore used his platform on stage to publicise his ‘Free Palestine’ views.

It’s opened a whole can of worms over whether an artist like Sheeran is correct to stay publicly neutral. Personally, I would much rather he did and that we accept performers can keep their views to themselves.

Certainly, there are some I might admire for their opinion but, in general, I just want to go and see them play their incredible music.

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I’m not paying for hugely expensive concert tickets in order to hear them share their political views.

Even the tech bros suit up for the King

I found it oddly reassuring to see the respect the tech bros had for King Charles at his AI summit in Scotland last week. 

Usually geeks are the masters of dressing down – Sir Demis Hassabis, founder of Google DeepMind, is often in crew necks; Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, in leather jackets – but for the King, these men who control whether AI will kill off humanity, scrubbed up nicely, appearing in suits and ties.

How Jemima got her bridal gown so right

Jemima Goldsmith married multimillionaire financier Cameron O'Reilly last weekend wearing an almost completely transparent dress

Jemima Goldsmith married multimillionaire financier Cameron O’Reilly last weekend wearing an almost completely transparent dress 

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Jemima Goldsmith looked absolutely wonderful at her wedding last weekend to businessman Cameron O’Reilly. 

Walked down the aisle by her two handsome sons, she wore a beautiful white tiered Oscar de la Renta wedding dress which, at first glance, seemed very conventional. On second glance, however, it was clear it was almost completely transparent.

Jemima is perhaps the only woman I know who could get away with such a revealing outfit, managing, at 52, to look traditionally bridal and knock-out sexy without the slightest trace of tackiness. 

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Sophie started going bald at 16 – it took 12 years before she discovered the 60-second fix that made her feel like herself again

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Sophie Law 28, from Kent, is pictured after finding a solution for her hair loss

Sophie Law was at the salon when her hairdresser broke some unexpected news: she had a patch of hair missing.

At just 16 years old, she was horrified. ‘How had I never noticed this before?’ she asked herself.

After leaving the salon, she booked in with her GP, where a blood test revealed she had an underactive thyroid, which the doctor said was the likely cause of her hair loss.

But medication to stabilise her thyroid hormones didn’t make a difference. Her hair continued to shed. 

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She spent the following decade trying everything from density-boosting shampoos to cutting out gluten and even a red‑light therapy helmet, but nothing worked. 

By the time she was 23, she began to notice multiple bald patches when running her fingers through her hair. 

Eventually, aged 26, the Kent-based logistics manager was diagnosed with alopecia areata – the autoimmune condition that caused Jada Pinkett Smith to suddenly lose her hair.

Crucially, it cannot be cured.

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Sophie Law 28, from Kent, is pictured after finding a solution for her hair loss

Sophie is pictured before losing her hair
Sophie felt embarrassed about her bald patches caused by alopecia areata

Sophie is pictured before her hair loss (L) and when the alopecia areata took hold (R)

‘I used to cry about my hair loss every single day,’ says Sophie. 

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Some patients see success with medication like steroids that stop the immune system from attacking the hair follicles. 

Sophie, however, decided against it due to worries about side effects. 

Instead, she relied on a temporary hair-colour powder to fill in the areas where her bald patches were visible, but was constantly worried about it rubbing off. 

‘Every time I would leave the house, I would worry about the wind blowing my hair in the wrong direction,’ she says.

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‘I was hiding my hair loss from everyone around me. The only people who knew about it were my family. 

‘It consumed so much of my brain, and that then left very little space for me to actually be present in the moment and be happy.’

She considered clip-in hair extensions, but this was not an option as there was not enough hair for them to clip on to.

Then, earlier this year, she found a solution that finally restored her confidence: an £800 wig. 

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Ready-to-wear wigs, which can be made from human hair or artificial fibres, are popular options for people experiencing hair loss. 

Human hair wigs usually range between £200 and over £2,000 and can be styled with curling irons and straighteners, like normal hair. They need to be washed every seven to ten wears. 

Those made from artificial fibres are a more affordable option, usually costing between £50 and £300, and typically last four to six months with regular wear.

Sophie’s wig, which she purchased from Wig and Weaves by Hediye in Ashford, Kent, is made from human hair and features a transparent lace hairline that blends into the scalp.

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Sophie's hair loss is pictured
Sophie is pictured using a red¿light therapy helmet

To try and stop her hair falling out, Sophie tried everything from density-boosting shampoos to a red‑light therapy helmet

Sophie is pictured wearing her £800 human hair wig, which has restored her confidence

Sophie is pictured wearing her £800 human hair wig, which has restored her confidence

‘As soon as I put the wig on, I cried happy tears,’ says Sophie. 

‘It made me feel normal – and like my old self before I even had any hair loss.’

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Harley Street trichologist Marie Royce says she sees women every day whose confidence is destroyed by hair loss. 

Hair loss can knock a woman’s confidence far more than people realise,’ says Ms Royce, who is based at The Wimpole Clinic

‘I see women who are constantly checking mirrors, avoiding certain lighting or worrying that somebody is looking at their scalp. 

‘It becomes exhausting, because you are thinking about your hair all the time.

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‘There are medical treatments that can help, but that is not right for everyone, and neither is a transplant. 

‘Some women are not suitable candidates, some do not want surgery, and some simply want a solution that gives them an immediate cosmetic improvement.

‘A really good wig can be completely life-changing. It gives back density and coverage straight away, but more importantly, it can take away that constant anxiety.’

Sophie, who regularly speaks about her hair loss on TikTok, says her family have seen a major change in her personality.

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‘My hair is the best it’s ever looked and this has meant my confidence has increased so much,’ says Sophie

‘My mum and dad really struggled seeing me so upset with my hair loss,’ she says. 

‘They can see how much more confident I am now, which means they worry about me a lot less.’   

While she initially planned to wear the wig on special occasions, she now wears it every day.

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‘Given how good it makes me feel about myself, I wish I’d done it sooner,’ she says. 

‘My hair is the best it’s ever looked and my confidence has increased so much. 

‘Before, when I looked in the mirror, all I saw was my hair loss –  but now, if I’m feeling sad about it, I can just put on the wig and forget about it.

‘I don’t hide the fact that I wear a wig either; if someone compliments my hair, I will tell them it’s a wig.

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‘It felt so shameful and embarrassing when I first started considering wigs – but I’ve changed my mindset on this and I really hope we can start to change other people’s too.

‘Wearing a wig is the same as wearing hair extensions or makeup – you wear it because it makes you feel good about yourself – and it doesn’t need to be a dirty secret.’ 

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Sweet Disposition Lyrics Revealed: The Misheard Line Millennial Fans Always Get Wrong

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Sweet Disposition Lyrics Revealed: The Misheard Line Millennial Fans Always Get Wrong

Until recently, I wasn’t really buying into the Millennial nostalgia. Now, as an ’89 baby, I land firmly in the middle of the era and definitely enjoyed my fair share of twee trends and chaotic nights out documented via a digital camera photo dump on Facebook.

I just found it all a bit… naff. Sorry. However, I don’t know if it’s age or the general state of the world but I am starting to come around to romanticising both my teen and early 20 years. We were the epitome of cringe-but-free and I’ll say it, I miss it.

This recent yearning for probably-not-simpler times has me scanning through the TikTok trend of ‘Millennial hopecore’ which is scattered with Stomp Clap music like Mumford and Sons, finger tattoos of moustaches and films such as 500 Days of Summer. A film that arguably has the most twee Millennial soundtrack.

Namely, Sweet Disposition by Australian duo The Temper Trap. LOVELY. I can’t tell you how many weddings I heard this at.

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However, according to the duo,. I have been singing key lyrics to the song wrong this whole time and you probably have, too.

The lyrics to Sweet Disposition that we are getting wrong

Joining in with the ‘Netflix Documentary’ trend on Instagram, The Temper Trap wrote: “Us preparing for the Netflix documentary on how the lyrics to Sweet Disposition aren’t ‘A dream, a laugh’”.

Of course, this isn’t my first rodeo with mishearing lyrics and there are some that I will never mentally correct because I prefer my distorted version. For this, though, “a dream, a laugh” really meets the vibe of the song.

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What they’re actually singing is “a dream, aloud”.

Which is very poetic but after almost 20 years since I first heard it, I’m just not sure I can readjust now.

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv shoots down Putin’s jet-powered Shaheds with new state-of-the-art interceptor drones

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv shoots down Putin’s jet-powered Shaheds with new state-of-the-art interceptor drones

Turkey sends offer to Ukraine and Russia to end Black Sea fighting

Turkey has sent an offer to Ukraine and Russia to end their fighting in the Black Sea and is awaiting their responses, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday.

He added that the priority was getting grain out from the region.

Speaking to broadcaster NTV, Fidan also said there were initiatives to end the war altogether, but that it seemed difficult to generate a lasting solution to the conflict at this stage.

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Alex Croft19 September 2026 19:00

Watch: Night strike on Odesa damages apartments in 19-storey residential building

Night strike on Odesa damages apartments in 19-storey residential building

Alex Croft19 September 2026 18:01

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Activists describe coercion to vote in Russian elections

Violeta Artemchuk, coordinator of the Donbas SOS human rights group who was among those who signed the statement, said members of local election commissions were going house to house, escorted by Russian troops and security agents, to force people to vote.

Moscow-appointed authorities exert pressure on residents, threatening those who work in the public sector with dismissal if they fail to vote and making pensions and other social payments conditional on participating, Artemchuk said.

“For instance, if a person with a disability or a pensioner relies on social assistance and does not take part in the ‘voting,’ they could be added to a list of individuals deemed ‘disloyal’ to the so-called authorities and subsequently deprived of their benefits or humanitarian assistance,” she said.

Volodymyr Fesenko, a political analyst with the Kyiv-based Penta Center, emphasised that “elections held at gunpoint are a farce”.

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“The very fact that voting takes place amid endless shelling and bombing reflects the Kremlin’s attitude toward the people and the electoral process in the occupied territories,” Fesenko told The Associated Press.

“It’s nothing short of a mockery. Any electoral procedures conducted by the Russian occupation authorities have nothing to do with democracy,” he said.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain19 September 2026 17:01

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Kyiv downs Russian jet-powered Shahed drones with new interceptor drone

Kyiv has attacked one of Russia’s jet-powered Shahed drones with a new interceptor drone, Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian president shared footage of the drone tracking down a Russian Shahed before exploding on impact, in what he said was a successful interception.

“There is a good result from the Security Service’s military counterintelligence in defending against jet-powered ‘shaheds’,” Mr Zelensky said.

“A new interceptor drone has been developed and has already been successfully deployed. Step by step, we are moving forward to give Ukraine greater protection,” he added.

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Kyiv has previously raised the alarm about the use of Moscow’s new jet-powered drones which can travel up to 600 kilometres per hour — triple the speed of the piston-powered Shaheds deployed in earlier stages of the conflict.

Alex Croft19 September 2026 16:15

Ukraine urges other countries not to recognise the vote

Authorities in Kyiv have called the voting in those territories illegal and urged foreign governments and international organisations not to recognize the election.

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They warned Ukrainians that taking part in organising the vote could carry criminal liability.

A coalition of nine Ukrainian human rights groups called on residents of the Russia-held territories to stay away from the polls.

“We urge residents of the temporarily occupied territories, above all, to protect their lives and health and to look after their own safety,” the coalition said in a statement.

“Holding Russian elections in the temporarily occupied territories is an attempt to use the electoral process to legitimize the Russian occupation and the attempted annexation of Ukrainian territories.”

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European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand said the voting in Russian-held regions represented “another blatant violation of international law.

The European Union does not, and will never recognize either the holding of these, so-called elections, sham elections, in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine or their results.”

Maryam Zakir-Hussain19 September 2026 15:45

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In pictures: Russia’s parliamentary election

Pictures show people casting their ballot for Russia’s parliamentary election.

(AFP/Getty)
(AFP/Getty)
(AFP/Getty)

Maryam Zakir-Hussain19 September 2026 15:15

Putin’s war economy is under strain. One thing is keeping it afloat

Mounting defence expenditure is widening Russia’s budget deficit and increasing strain across its wartime economy, as business and consumer sentiment weakens and economic growth slows.

Economists note, however, that these difficulties do not point to an immediate financial meltdown or economic collapse. High global oil prices linked to the Iran war continue to shore up essential export revenues, allowing the state to fund its four-and-a-half-year-old invasion of Ukraine – for now.

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In addition, low unemployment rates and generous government spending in poorer regions are helping to suppress domestic discontent.

Maryam Zakir-Hussain19 September 2026 14:45

Russia unaware of possibility US might want to sign deals before Ukraine war ends, RIA reports

Russia is not aware of the possibility that Washington may want to sign deals with Moscow before the Ukraine conflict is over, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RIA state news agency on Saturday.

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The New York Times reported ⁠this week, citing two ​people close ⁠to the peace ‌talks, that the White House is now considering signing business ‌deals with Russia ‌before it stops fighting in Ukraine.

“I don’t know anything about such signals, and it would be strange to receive them, because we still hear exactly the opposite stance, namely, ‘Let’s agree on Ukraine and move forward, and everything else later,’” Ryabkov told RIA.

“Everything ‌else, as ⁠they say, will be ⁠attached. This also applies to economic ‌aspects, economic ​projects, too.”

Maryam Zakir-Hussain19 September 2026 14:15

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Watch: Putin casts vote as Russia three-day elections commence

Putin casts vote as Russia three-day elections commence

Maryam Zakir-Hussain19 September 2026 13:45

Russian election triggers row with Moldova over voting in separatist region

Russia’s parliamentary election has triggered a diplomatic row with Moldova over its objections to the Kremlin’s plan to open 15 polling stations for Russian nationals in the separatist Transdniestria Region.

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Moscow says 220,000 ⁠residents of pro-Russian Transdniestria, a sliver of land which broke away from Moldova in 1990 at the end of Soviet rule, hold Russian passports and are entitled to vote on Sunday ⁠in the election for the ​State ⁠Duma.

Transdniestria is not ⁠internationally recognised, not even by Moscow, though a Russian military contingent of ‌some 1,500 troops, ​which Russia sometimes describes as ‌peacekeepers, remains stationed there despite demands ​from Moldova for them to leave.

Moldova’s pro-Western government, which wants to join the European Union by 2030 and denounces the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, says Russians may vote only in a single polling station in the Russian embassy in the capital Chisinau.

It contests the 220,000 figure and opposes any polling station in Transdniestria, where it ‌has no control over procedures.

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Maryam Zakir-Hussain19 September 2026 13:12

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Diana’s brother says Harry and Meghan face ‘cancerous’ press

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Harry and Meghan split screen with Earl Spencer

Earl Spencer has told the BBC that there are similarities between the way his sister Diana, Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been treated by the press.

He said Princess Diana was “brought low” by press criticism of her and that it is a “pity” to see echoes of that in Harry and Meghan’s lives now.

He added that people should learn from Princess Diana’s example, and that for anyone being “destroyed daily” by the tabloid press, it must be a “cancerous influence” on their lives.

The full interview with Laura Kuenssberg, Princess Diana: My Sister’s Story, will be available on iPlayer from 16:00 and broadcast on BBC One at 18:30 BST on Sunday.

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