BBC Breakfast star Charlie Stayt shared a heartbreaking story during Friday’s live show

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BBC Breakfast star Charlie Stayt shared some emotional news on Friday (February 13) as a guest was left in tears. During today’s show, Charlie and his co-star Naga Munchetty brought viewers up to speed with the day’s top stories from Britain and beyond.

They were supported by meteorologist Matt Taylor, who provided regular weather forecasts, whilst Mike Bushell and Peter Ruddick covered the sports news and Valentine’s Day content, respectively.

During the programme, Charlie disclosed that the Chair of the Commons Health Committee has urged the UK’s medicines regulator to reassess warnings surrounding drugs that may trigger impulsive behaviour as an adverse effect. Naga outlined: “A BBC investigation has found that for some patients, the drugs cause impulsive gambling or sexual behaviour.”

A pre-filmed report by BBC correspondent Noel Titheradge featured Freddie, whose father Bill died three years ago. Bill had been given medication for Parkinson’s disease, which resulted in devastating side effects, reports the Mirror.

READ MORE: BBC Breakfast star shares heartbreaking news after ‘deadly’ Manchester plotREAD MORE: BBC Breakfast host Charlie Stayt shares devastating news minutes into show

“He was an incredibly straight laced, risk averse person,” Freddie recalled. “He worked as a teacher his whole career and then, aged 54, retired early. He’d developed some symptoms around his movement and speech, and went on to medication shortly after.”

Bill received drugs designed to increase dopamine activity for treating Parkinson’s, yet his conduct began to alter dramatically. He started viewing pornography without discretion and driving recklessly, before proceeding to sell the family home – suddenly finding himself in financial difficulty.

Freddie revealed: “He said it’s invested. [I asked], ‘Okay, where?’ [He said it was] in Ghana. My heart just totally sank. These side effects of severe impulse control disorder, hypersexuality made dad the perfect victim for a romance scam.”

Nobody had alerted Freddie to the potential side effects, and when he discovered them in 2017, his father had already lost approximately £300,000. As he recalled the difficulties his father endured, Freddie became visibly emotional in heartbreaking footage.

“The money was of total insignificance to the pain of losing dad,” he said through tears, with reporter Noel encouraging Freddie to “take a minute”.

The journalist continued: “Our investigations heard from scores of families who say these impulsive behaviours have led to huge debts, the break up of families and even criminality. One man stole £600,000 to fund his impulsive behaviour. Another woman lost over £150,000 to gambling.”

Noel added: “Manufacturers of the drugs say they were extensively trialled, continue to be approved by regulators around the world, and side effects are clearly stated.” Three years following his father’s passing, Freddie says the impact will stay with him forever. He concluded: “It is a massive scandal. I dread to think how many people have been impacted.”

Elsewhere on today’s BBC Breakfast, Naga revealed that two men would be sentenced today after planning a “deadly” terrorist attack in Manchester. At the start of the show, the host announced: “Two men will be sentenced later for planning a gun attack on a mass gathering of Jewish people, which detectives say could have been one of the deadliest terror attacks in UK history.”

BBC Breakfast airs daily on BBC One at 6am

Images from the village of Hunton, between Bedale and Leyburn, taken on Thursday (February 12), show the white van part submerged in water.

The incident took place in the ford on Ratten Row, close to Leyburn Road and saw the vehicle tilted towards its side and caught in trees.

The vehicle in the ford in Hunton, North Yorkshire (Image: SUPPLIED)

It’s unknown when the incident took place, but the images show slight damage to the van, while no one can be seen inside or next to the vehicle.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that they didn’t attend the scene, with North Yorkshire Council saying that it was a matter for the emergency services.

The van in the ford in Hunton (Image: SUPPLIED)

On the North Yorkshire Council website, it says to “respect road closure signs and do not drive through flood water.”

It’s believed that the ford route wasn’t closed at the time of the incident, but emergency services in North Yorkshire have previously issued guidance about floodwater.

The vehicle in Hunton, North Yorkshire (Image: SUPPLIED)

“Never drive through deep floodwater, if it’s deeper than 10cm or it’s fast flowing, it is likely to stall your engine and could leave you stranded,” it says on North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s website.

It added: “If the water seems too deep for your vehicle or it is fast flowing, turn back and go around the flood by another road.

“It might take a little longer, but that’s better than finding yourself stranded.”

The fire service also advises drivers to do this:

1. Check if there is an alternative route you can take which doesn’t involve driving through any floodwater.
2. Check the water depth – anything deeper than 10cm is deep and isn’t advised to drive through.
3. Let oncoming vehicles pass first – they will create a bow wave that could flood your car
4. Drive slowly through – use first gear, 3 to 4 mph is fast enough.
5. Try to drive through the shallowest part of the road – this is usually the middle as the road cambers near the kerb.
6. Test your brakes when you are out of the water and when it is safe to do so.

The theft took place at a property on Abbotsford Road off Chorley Old Road, according to police.

It is believed to have taken place on January 31 at around 3.20am.

Anyone who has any information is asked to contact police.

Police are investigating a burglary at a house (Image: Google Maps)

A spokesperson for Bolton GMP said: “PC Livesey attended a burglary that happened on Abbotsford Road.

“Officers have attended and gathered some CCTV but need some extra help.

“If anyone knows of any information about a burglary that happened on January 31 at 3.24am, please submit an online submission or call 101 stating the crime reference CRI/06KK/0002760/26.”

An Arctic Maritime air mass is bringing colder conditions from the north of Scotland southwards with outbreaks of rain expected early on Friday, the Met Office said.

In Scotland, a yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been issued from 4pm on Thursday to midday on Friday.

The Met Office said snow showers and icy roads might lead to some travel disruption, with a potential for “some slips and falls” on icy surfaces.

(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)

The forecaster said by Friday morning there may be 1-2cm of snow low ground while on hills above 300 metres (984ft), accumulations of 2-5cm are possible, and up to 10cm “very locally”.

In northern England, a yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been issued from 7pm on Thursday until midday on Friday.

Outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow will likely lead to “icy surfaces and some travel disruption”, the Met Office said.

The weather is expected to stay cloudy and wet across the south on Friday, but is likely to clear later on in the day.

Forecaster Marco Petagna said: “We’ve got colder air starting to feed in from the north and that’s gradually going to push its way south across all parts for the next 24 hours or so.

“As the air sinks down from the north, we’re going to see outbreaks of rain, with some snow mainly on the hills, although across parts of Scotland, it’s quite low levels, as things turn a bit more showery tonight.

“Until midday tomorrow, there’s a couple of snow and ice warnings out for Scotland and Northern England.”

The forecaster said to be “wary” of ice and snow, with potential disruption to transport.

Mr Petagna said there will likely be “widespread frost” on Friday night, but added that Saturday will probably be “the best day we’ve seen for some time” with “a lot of sunshine across the UK”.

He said the temperatures will be “cooler than average” but this will be “offset by the sunshine”.

Two weeks ago, 12 miles from Twickenham, Scotland parked coaches on very English lawns.

In the stately surroundings of RGS Surrey Hills school in Dorking, a group of Under-16 and Under-18 prospects ran through drills under the eyes of staff from Scottish Rugby’s SQ (Scottish Qualified) programme.

The scheme is designed to establish connections with youngsters who, like Ashman, Rodd and many others, live and play outside of Scotland, but could one day represent its senior sides.

The SQ programme’s coaches, which include English-born former Scotland international Peter Walton, act on tip-offs from schools and clubs.

They also set up a recruiting station at high-level age-grade rugby events, inviting those with the ancestry and interest to scan a QR code and enter their details.

All countries work to maximise their talent pool.

England are keen to ensure that Under-20 Rugby World Cup winner Junior Kpoku, who plays for Toulon and could become available to France, will go on to wear white at senior level.

South African-born centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg will soon be eligible for England on residence grounds after the Rugby Football Union successfully asked for a review of his tie to the Springboks.

But for nations with a smaller talent pool – Scotland has about 50,000 club players, compared to England’s 880,000 – there is a higher premium on making sure a particular promising youngster chooses to represent them.

What are the factors that come into a player’s decision?

First and foremost, there is national pride.

Ashman said that back in 2021, he explained “quite bluntly” to England’s coaches that he wanted to play for Scotland.

Sometimes, however, players can be torn between different parts of their identity.

Flanker Gary Graham, the son of former Scotland prop George Graham, grew up in Carlisle. He attended a training camp with England and, perhaps in an effort to wind up his father in a joint interview, told the Daily Mail in February 2018, external that he “feels more English than Scottish”.

Within a year later, having not played for England, he made his debut for Scotland, assuring fans that he has “always wanted to play for his country”.

The cast and creator of Netflix’s must-watch Irish comedy-thriller have teased what could happen in a second season of How to Get to Heaven From Belfast

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Warning – this article contains spoilers for How to Get to Heaven From Belfast

How to Get to Heaven From Belfast is a gripping and hilarious new crime caper from the creator of Derry Girls, Lisa McGee.

Released this Thursday (12th February), the eight-part series follows a trio of women who embark on a quest across Northern Ireland and the Republic to find out what really happened to their supposedly dead friend.

Throughout the series, Saoirse (played by Roisin Gallagher), Robyn (Sinéad Keenan), and Dara (Caoilfhionn Dunne) discover their school friend Greta (Natasha O’Keeffe) is actually alive and is attempting to erase her identity after committing a serious crime.

She eventually reunites with her husband, Owen (Emmett J. Scanlan), and daughter, Maria (Matilda Freeman), leaving fixers Booker (Bronagh Gallagher) and Feeney (Saoirse-Monica Jackson) to start a new organisation after discovering their boss is corrupt.

While most of the series’ loose ends seem to be tied up, the final moments of episode eight introduce a new case to solve when the girls recover a bag Greta had with her after an encounter with Conrad (Conor MacNeill) and a mysterious group in the woods.

READ MORE: How do you pronounce Caoilfhionn Dunne?READ MORE: How to Get to Heaven From Belfast ending explained

A potential second season will hopefully reveal what’s in the bag and, perhaps more importantly, who killed Conrad with a screwdriver to the neck.

In the meantime, creator McGee spoke exclusively to Reach about her plans for a second season, if Netflix gives it the greenlight.

“I know right now what’s in the bag,” she teased. “But I’m not saying I might not change my mind, which is why I left it so vague.

“I have a very clear idea of what it is, but if I think of something that works better or that might be more interesting when I start to write season two, I want to be able to change my mind.”

The first season finale also seemed to tease the possibility of Booker and Feeney returning and even recruiting Saoirse, Robyn and Dara into their new organisation. The duo were originally part of a secret society built to help women start over, until they discovered it was profiting from those they were meant to help.

After killing the other members with help from the midwife (Shauna Bray), Booker could return in season two with a fresh team, which McGee suggests could feature some more familiar faces.

The writer reveals she’s open to the idea of pulling in some favourites from her hit comedy series Derry Girls, adding: “The idea that that organisation is all from Derry really makes me laugh. It’s so stupid. And that they operate out of this hairdresser’s, it’s just ridiculous.

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“So, I’d like to add more people to the organisation. Everyone from Derry has been in Derry Girls, probably, but whether they’re from Derry Girls or not, yeah.”

As for the main trio, the three leads weren’t giving much away about their ideas for a second season, though actress Dunne had one hope for Dara at the top of her wishlist after viewers got a glimpse at her rather disastrous dating history.

“I would like Dara to maybe have the opportunity of love in season two,” she said.

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“Or even, just a chance to exorcise those demons from season one. At least try… she couldn’t possibly get it right. She’ll make an absolute mess of it.”

And Dunne’s co-star Keenan cheekily chimed in: “Dara needs a ride, basically.”

For now, the new Irish crime-comedy’s future is unclear, but hopefully it proves popular enough to warrant a continuation.

How to Get to Heaven From Belfast is available to stream on Netflix.

Martin Odegaard was spotted limping out of the Gtech Community Stadium after Arsenal’s draw with Brentford last night in what could be another major injury worry for Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners settled for a point after a pulsating Premier League clash with the Bees on Thursday night with the gap between them and Manchester City now standing at four points.

Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard were all injury doubts heading into the game with the Belgian claiming a place in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI.

Odegaard came on at half-time to replace the disappointing Eberechi Eze but was left in real discomfort after trying to prevent Keane Lewis-Potter’s equaliser after 71 minutes.

The Gunners captain appeared to hurt his knee in the incident, staying down as his Arsenal teammates regrouped. Odegaard limped off the pitch to receive treatment but was able to return and see out the game.

Odegaard had missed Arsenal’s last two games heading into the Brentford clash having picked up a minor issue in the 4-0 win over Leeds United.

The Mirror report the skipper was seen limping through the mixed zone after the game as he made his way to the team bus.

Arsenal take on Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup on Sunday, a game Odegaard may have been rested for anyway with Arteta changing his entire team in the previous round against Portsmouth.

But options in midfield are looking a little more limited. Ethan Nwaneri left the club to join Marseille on loan in January with Kai Havertz back on the injured list, not expected to return until the end of the month at the earliest.

Mikel Merino could miss the rest of the season having undergone foot surgery this week with Eze woefully out of form.

Following the Wigan game, Arsenal head to Wolves on Wednesday before a north London derby showdown with Tottenham a week on Sunday.

Odegaard has had a difficult season disrupted by injury this term. He has missed 13 games in total this season, forced off before half-time on three occasions in the early months of the season with a knee problem seeing him miss a month of action.

MORE: Which FA Cup games are on TV this wekeend? Full BBC, TNT Sports and discovery+ schedule

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The actress, who played Rovers Return icon Liz McDonald in the ITV soap, recently shared her breast cancer diagnosis

Coronation Street star Beverley Callard has issued a further update on her cancer diagnosis as she confirmed she’ll soon undergo an operation.

The actress, best known for having played Rovers Return icon Liz McDonald in the ITV soap, recently told how she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, but is in the “early stages” and will be going ahead with further treatment before returning to the screen.

The diagnosis came as she is joining the Irish soap opera Fair City as a new character named Lily, long-lost mother of existing character Gwen Connolly. She shared the news during an appearance on RTE’s Late Late Show last Friday (February 6) before returning to the UK.

On Sunday (February 8), Beverley took to social media to address her health after she was flooded with best wishes for her journey ahead. She said in a clip shared on X (formerly Twitter) that she was back home in Norfolk after travelling home with her husband and dog from Ireland.

Beverley went on to say: “I really want to say thank you so much to everyone for your wonderful messages. Everybody’s been truly fantastic. But I also want to say, I’m feeling really positive and I’m very strong. I begin hospital stuff and everything now I’m home. Everything begins this week. On Wednesday, they’re testing lymph nodes and lymph glands and all of that and I will keep everyone updated. I’m so appreciative of all the love that’s coming. Thank you.”

Following her appointment, she continued to keep her followers updated on her journey. On Wednesday (February 11), Beverley, 68, was seen in a video on social media in which she could be seen in the hospital as well as at home afterwards.

Noting that everything “seemed to go well”, the soap star said: “I’m back from the hospital, and it all seemed to go well. They tested lymph nodes and things, so I should know by Wednesday of next week about that. I have another appointment then, and then two days later, on the 20th, I have the operation.”

Despite this, the actress said: “I’m feeling really positive, but I also must say, there were dozens of ladies in there just the same as me, and they were all positive as well and upbeat, so we’re getting there and sticking together.”

Speaking in an interview with The Mail on Sunday, Beverley shared her positive outlook. She said: “I’m feeling fine, I’m feeling strong. I’m glad I’ve said it out publicly so it’s just out there for other thousands of women who are also going through it. But yes, I’m feeling really strong, a little bit scared because it seems a bit more real since I’m going back to hospital next week. But I’m really full of optimism.”

She went on: “The biggest thing of all is I cannot wait to come back to Fair City to all the actors and the crew because they’ve just been amazing and I love the treadmill of being in studio, and doing one scene after another. The writing has been amazing and I just can’t wait for more.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States will send the world’s largest aircraft carrier to the Middle East to back up another already there, a person familiar with the plans said Friday, putting more American firepower behind President Donald Trump’s efforts to coerce Iran into a deal over its nuclear program.

The USS Gerald R. Ford’s planned deployment to the Mideast comes after Trump only days earlier suggested another round of talks with the Iranians was at hand. Those negotiations didn’t materialize as one of Tehran’s top security officials visited Oman and Qatar this week and exchanged messages with the U.S. intermediaries.

Already, Gulf Arab nations have warned any attack could spiral into another regional conflict in a Mideast still reeling from the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Iranians are beginning to hold 40-day mourning ceremonies for the thousands killed in Tehran’s bloody crackdown on nationwide protests last month, adding to the internal pressure faced by the sanctions-battered Islamic Republic.

The Ford’s deployment, first reported by The New York Times, will put two carriers and their accompanying warships in the region. Already, the USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying guided-missile destroyers are in the Arabian Sea.

The person who spoke to The Associated Press on the deployment did so on condition of anonymity to discuss military movements.

Ford had been part of Venezuela strike force

It marks a quick turnaround for the Ford, which Trump sent from the Mediterranean Sea to the Caribbean last October as the administration build up a huge military presence in the lead-up to the surprise raid last month that captured then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

It also appears to be at odds with Trump’s national security strategy, which put an emphasis on the Western Hemisphere over other parts of the world.

Trump on Thursday warned Iran that failure to reach a deal with his administration would be “very traumatic.” Iran and the United States held indirect talks in Oman last week.

“I guess over the next month, something like that,” Trump said in response to a question about his timeline for striking a deal with Iran on its nuclear program. “It should happen quickly. They should agree very quickly.”

Trump told Axios earlier this week that he was considering sending a second carrier strike group to the Middle East.

Trump held lengthy talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and said he insisted to Israel’s leader that negotiations with Iran needed to continue. Netanyahu is urging the administration to press Tehran to scale back its ballistic missile program and end its support for militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah as part of any deal.

The USS Ford set out on deployment in late June 2025, which means the crew will have been deployed for eight months in two weeks time. While it is unclear how long the ship will remain in the Middle East, the move sets the crew up for an usually long deployment.

The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ford’s deployment comes as Iran mourns

Iran at home faces still-simmering anger over its wide-ranging suppression of all dissent in the Islamic Republic. That rage may intensify in the coming days as families of the dead begin marking the traditional 40-day mourning for the loved ones. Already, online videos have shown mourners gathering in different parts of the country, holding portraits of their dead.

One video purported to show mourners at a graveyard in Iran’s Razavi Khorasan province, home to Mashhad, on Thursday. There, with a large portable speaker, people sang the patriotic song “Ey Iran,” which dates to 1940s Iran under the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. While initially banned after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran’s theocratic government has played it to drum up support.

“Oh Iran, a land of full of jewels, your soil is full of art,” they sang. “May evil wishes be far from you. May you live eternal. Oh enemy, if you are a piece of granite, I am iron.”

___

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani contributed to this report.