Naomi Osaka honored ‘The Answer,’ NBA legend Allen Iverson, with her dramatic on-court ensemble at the US Open on Monday night in New York.

Before beating unseeded Russian Anastasia Zakharova 7-6 7-6 in the opening round, the trend-setting Osaka donned Iverson’s famed arm sleeves and headband as she walked onto center court at Arthur Ashe Stadium in a wide-tulle floor-length skirt and a sleeveless hoodie.

Interestingly, her grey sweatshirt included burnout newspaper clippings of her career exploits sewn into the tattered fabric. 

‘It’s my, I guess, my tribute to Iverson. I really like him a lot,’ Osaka said after the win. ‘I mean, Nike said basketball, so I said, ‘OK, you want basketball, I´ll give you basketball.”

The look was part of Nike’s effort to connect tennis with basketball for this year’s US Open. Earlier on Monday, Aryna Sabalenka sported a mesh jersey for her first-round win over Camila Osorio.

But Osaka happens to be a big fan of Iverson, the legendary Philadelphia 76ers point guard, whom she credits for setting trends both on and off the hardwood.

Facing unseeded Russian Anastasia Zakharova in the opening round, the trend-setting Osaka donned Iverson’s famed arm sleeves and headband

The 2001 NBA MVP, Iverson still has a cult following in basketball and fashion circles  

‘For me, he’s a trailblazer,’ Osaka said earlier in the week, while donning a t-shirt featuring an old issue of SLAM magazine with Iverson on the cover. ‘I think he’s also someone that I look up to a lot, because he’s done a lot in fashion. Whether it’s on purpose or not, he’s shifted the way that NBA players dress. I also think the whole conversation around clothes in sports, and also just expressing yourself through style, I feel like he’s someone that I look up to in that regard.’ 

Osaka said she has never met the basketball Hall of Famer, but said ‘hopefully he’ll see this,’ suggesting a future meeting could be arranged.

Fortunately, Iverson caught wind of Osaka and now he’s interesting in meeting. As the Georgetown product wrote on Instagram: ‘Wow, what a honor!! BIG FAN can’t wait to meet you.’

Designers Téla D’Amore and Ev Bravado were happy to use the 51-year-old point guard as inspiration.

‘The look references Allen Iverson, more specifically, his gray sweats and the nonconformist cadence with which he moved through the world as an athlete,’ they told Vogue. ‘Naomi and Law sent two images our way of Iverson wearing a headband—head only—and from there, we had roughly 30 hours to figure out the rest.’  

Osaka would exit the court several hours later after surviving a valiant comeback effort by the relentless Zakharova. 

Fortunately for Osaka, her serve was strong, as she finished with 11 aces to just three double faults. Howsever, she also finished with 30 unforced errors on the evening.

Now the four-time Grand Slam winner moves on to play Kateřina Siniaková in the second round on Wednesday in Queens.

Osaka acknowledges the crowd in Flushing, Queens before her first-round match 

Anastasia Zakharova, of Russia, returns the ball to Naomi Osaka during the first round

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Naomi Osaka did not get an easy first-round draw against Russian Anastasia Zakharova

The 28-year-old made a fashionable start to her tournament before the action began, with a number of staged photoshoots inside the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Locations included the media room, the player garden, and Arthur Ashe Stadium itself, with Osaka sporting a variety of different looks shared daily in the build-up to the start of the event’s main draw. 

Osaka even enlisted Zendaya‘s stylist Law Roach to assist with the creation of one of the outfits, posing up a storm in an archival Spring/Summer 2003 Dolce & Gabbana dress among the desks and monitors in the press workroom. 

On-court however, her outfits have been even more creative. 

The four-time Grand Slam champion kicked off this season’s majors series at the Australian Open, where she sported an outfit some fans perceived as a ‘jellyfish-inspired’ look. 

Osaka arrived at the Rod Laver Arena with a wide-brimmed hat with a white veil and parasol before warming up in a frilled jacket and dress that looked like tentacles.

In June at the French Open, Osaka was accused of not coming to Paris ‘to play tennis’ by her first-round opponent Laura Siegemund after arriving for her opening match in a flowing black skirt and corset made from her old Nike outfits before unveiling the shimmering gold dress, which the Japanese star said she thought looked like the Eiffel Tower at night. 

The black corset and skirt was designed by couturier Kevin Garmanier, who works with upcycled materials. The pleated black skirt was made using the inner layers of one of her jackets while her old tennis skirts and dresses were also cut up and reused. The outfit was then covered in hundreds of hand-applied crystals. 

‘I came here to play tennis, not to put on a fashion show,’ Siegemund had told TNT Sports. ‘And if others want to put on a fashion show, then they should go ahead and do it. That’s totally fine with me.’

Osaka made a fashionable run-up to the tournament with a series of photoshoots around the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre

Her second-round opponent Donna Vekic took a different view, calling for critics to ‘relax’. 

‘Some people take tennis way too seriously,’ she said. ‘Relax, it’s just an outfit. I think it’s good that she’s doing different things, expressing herself through fashion. 

‘Whether it’s good or bad, that’s a different thing, it’s fashion.’ 

At Wimbledon, Osaka played with the tournament’s strict all-white outfit by turning to Japanese designer Hana Yagi for a kimono-inspired look which referenced both Kill Bill star Lucy Liu, and kirigami, the Japanese art of paper-cutting. 

Osaka sported the custom white outfit, covered with embroidered cranes and cherry blossom, both enduring symbols of Japanese culture, with bell-shaped sleeves, an obi belt, and a trailing tulle skirt.

Osaka finished the outfit with a kanzashi hair ornament, historically worn by geisha, and Mikimoto jewellery from the famous Japanese luxury pearl brand. 

As Osaka progressed throughout the tournament, she subtly changed the styling of the outfit, opting to wear just the belt and trailing tiered skirt, or the jacket open instead of cinched at the waist. 

The Australian Open saw Osaka wear an outfit some fans compared to a jellyfish with its billowing veil

In Paris, the 28-year-old was inspired by local landmark the Eiffel Tour for Roland-Garros

Her opponent in the first round Laura Siegemund was critical of her choice, but received compliments from elsewhere in the draw

At Wimbledon, Osaka was able to get creative with the tournament’s strict dress code

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After defeating Aryna Sabalenka to book her spot in the quarter-finals however, Osaka changed her tune somewhat, saying that she felt inspired to ‘dial back’ her focus on outfits, and instead switch it to tennis. 

Discussing her photoshoots before the tournament, Osaka shared that she had been inspired by her own experiences spending time on-site late before the crowds pour in.

‘I feel like I’ve just been running around the grounds earlier in the morning just before, like, the crowds come in, and I feel like I’ve also just been exploring places that I’ve never been to before,’ Osaka shared. ‘And I always feel a little, like, am I allowed to be in here? But we keep getting by.

‘So I would say we just open doors and kind of like peek in. But also Seb (photographer Sebastian Arriagada) kind of led me into the media room. Yeah, thank you for letting me take photos in your workplace.

‘Honestly, like, nothing I do, I do it to make a statement. I think it just ends up being that way,’ she said of her eye-catching on-court looks. 

‘But I literally do the things that I love to do, and I feel like people relate to it, and I’m really glad and grateful for that, because I feel like the type of person I am, a lot of people can see themselves in me. I really, honestly, I love that about myself.’ 

Despite Ryan Thomas proposing in 2019, Lucy Mecklenburgh tells us any hopes of nailing down plans for their big day have fallen by the wayside for now.

“I think it’s become harder because we had kids before we got married,” says the mum of two. “So then your priorities change a little bit, and we actually fell pregnant with Roman the night we got engaged. Then that became a priority, then Lilah, and then we moved to Manchester, and it’s all been really full-on.”

Lucy, 35, does insist that getting hitched is still on the cards for her and former Corrie star Ryan, 42 – who she shares Roman, six, and Lilah, four, with. “We would love to one day,” she says.

But for now, she has another more pressing wedding to think about. She says, “My sister is getting married next summer, so the focus is on her at the moment. We went wedding dress shopping the other day. I’d love to do it too one day, but I’m trying to put my focus on her and enjoying the process for her first.”

Lucy and Ryan first fell for each other in 2017 after meeting on Channel 4 ’s Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls. But the couple made headlines earlier this year when Ryan confessed they sleep in separate bedrooms – and even watch TV apart.

But as Lucy explains, the night time arrangement ensures both can get some proper rest. “Ryan snores and sleep talks, and I need my sleep,” she says. “I have to sleep, especially with two young kids. It’s full-on, so I’d just turf him out to the spare room because I’d be like, ‘Shut up!’, and that kind of evolved.”

As for their TV-watching habits, she adds, “Of course, sometimes we sit in the same living room. But I like stuff like The Summer I Turned Pretty and Off Campus, which Ryan won’t watch. So he sits in the other room watching documentaries and things. That works for us.”

Ryan first shared the anecdote about their sleeping habits on At Home With The Thomas Bros, his podcast with brothers Adam and Scott. And Lucy says she learned very early on in her relationship that being with one of the siblings meant taking all three on.

“They are a very close family,” she says, adding that Adam’s wife Caroline once gave her some advice. “They’ve been together since they were about 16, so she’s been there for a long time. When I met her for the first time, she said, ‘When you get one Thomas, you get two free,’ and it’s so true.

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“They work together and that’s made them even closer. We’re a close family and all get on well. It’s lovely for the cousins to be so close.”

But when the three brothers are together, she says the noise level is off the scale. “When they’re all in the house together, I’m like, ‘I need earplugs’. They’re so loud,” she laughs.

Last year, Adam struggled during his time on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!. Lucy says she and Ryan were both on hand for support. “We were all there for him. Afterwards Adam put a lot of his energy into training, which I think is a really healthy thing to do after something traumatic.”

Although Lucy admits “occasionally” needing to tell Ryan off for oversharing on the podcast, she says, “Most of it is light-hearted. It’s relatable and funny. I mean, they do overshare for sure. But I think everyone’s craving that now, aren’t they? To be open and honest and talk about things they can relate to, and also just to have a bit of a laugh.”

Looking back on a busy summer with their children, Lucy says the holidays have been “chaos”. But she has teamed up with vegan brand Beyond Meat to launch a new campaign, Beyond Busy: September Reset, to help families eat healthily as a new school year gets underway.

“I like the idea of the short, under 30-minute meals,” says Lucy, who runs her own successful fitness brand.

Any shortcuts are welcome, since evenings at their house are hectic. “It’s getting the homework done, then me or Ryan will be in the kitchen trying to whip something up, and then it’s bath and bedtime,” she says. “As much as I’ve loved the summer holidays, I’m excited for more time to cook and to make a few changes.”

While she and her family don’t follow a solely plant-based diet, Lucy always tries to make sure they make sensible food choices. She says, “It’s nice to have easy options, and something tasty. I’m trying to add more plant-based things to our diet – whether that’s one or two evenings a week. The great thing about Beyond Meat is you’re not compromising on taste or health goals, because they’re delicious and protein-packed. I love the brand.”

Lucy is working with Beyond Meat on their Beyond Busy: September Reset campaign to inspire the UK to implement healthier eating habits

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A remarkable summer windows slams shut this evening, but there is plenty more to be done on Deadline Day as Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham. Julian Alvarez has been the Gunners’ dream signing for weeks, but Malick Fofana has emerged as an alternative option. Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus will both leave, for Saudi Arabia and Barcelona, respectively. Man Utd still need a new left-back, and are actively pursuing one in the final hours, but the clock is ticking on a late move.

Surrey Police investigations remain ongoing.

The force said in a statement earlier: “The M25 is currently closed both ways between J10, Wisley and J11, Chertsey due to a serious collision.

“If travelling to Heathrow Airport or Gatwick Airport, please check your travel time before you depart as your journey is likely to be impacted.”

John Healey used his first international meetings with counterparts at the G7 in North Carolina to build an international coalition to target covert Russian networks funding the war in Ukraine

John Healey has announced new actions to clamp down on Russia’s evasion of economic sanctions as he called on international allies to help “disrupt the financial networks fuelling Russia’s aggression”. The new Chancellor used his first international meetings with counterparts at the G7 in North Carolina to build an international coalition to target covert Russian networks funding the war in Ukraine. The primary action announced by Mr Healey targets the so-called “A7 network”, which the Foreign Office said was being used by Russia to evade existing restrictions and channel funds to fuel the conflict.

On Monday, the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Government issued the first ever nationwide alert against A7 to support the private sector in bearing down on sanctions evasion. According to the Government, the alert aims to disrupt Kremlin-backed networks who have sought to escape economic sanctions through a web of financial structures spanning multiple jurisdictions. It also aims to prevent Russian attempts to regain access to the UK’s financial systems.

It was also announced that Mr Healey would double the maximum fine available to the Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation from 50% to 100% of the value of a sanctions breach. “We are ramping up the economic pressure on Putin and leaving those aiding his illegal war with nowhere to hide,” Mr Healey said. “The UK and our allies must step up our international cooperation to expose sanctions evasion, and disrupt the financial networks fuelling Russia’s aggression. “Our commitment to stand with the Ukrainian people is unshakeable. We will bear down on those propping up Putin’s war as we push to secure a just and lasting peace.”

Rachael Herbert, director of the National Economic Crime Centre at the NCA, said: “The National Crime Agency and the National Economic Crime Centre are committed to targeting the nexus between organised crime and sanctions evasion. “Last year, our Operation Destabilise targeted and disrupted a major Russian-speaking professional money laundering network, making it harder for them to operate and degrading the threat they posed. “And through our close working with the financial sector in our public private partnership initiatives, as well as with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, this alert will continue to ensure the industry is aware of the mechanisms used to attempt to evade sanctions.”

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He urged a need to “step up international co-operation” to deal with a “number of challenges” including the Middle East, energy prices, cost of living and growth. “Britain faces these global pressures from a position of relative strength, the fastest growth in the G7 advanced nations in the first half of this year, the deficit being cut faster than in any other G7 country,” he said. “But no country can face these pressures alone. And these shocks are being felt worldwide. They’ve been felt in people’s pockets, in their weekly shops, filling up their cars. “And so I’m here to work with international partner nations to deepen our economic resilience, to deliver good growth and also to give families and businesses just a bit of breathing space.” Mr Healey held meetings with Canadian finance minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, US treasury secretary Scott Bessent and managing director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva, among others.

After a summer holidaying around Europe on their £16million yacht it was time for David Beckham to return to tend to his garden.  

The former footballer, 51, who has become a keen gardener at the family’s £12million Cotswolds home, made sure to impress his wife Victoria as he showed off his plums, garlic, onions and one extra special pumpkin. 

As Victoria filmed her husband as he showed off his wares, the former Spice Girl, 52, was left gobsmacked by a rather bizarrely shaped long pumpkin. 

Asking: ‘What is that David?’ he replied: ‘It is a pumpkin.

‘I have never seen a pumpkin that shape. I don’t even know what to say,’ added a shocked Victoria. 

David also made sure to show off his juicy plums in the innuendo-filled clip before collecting eggs from the chicken coop. 

The former footballer, 51, who has become a keen gardener at the family’s £12million Cotswolds home, showed off his plums, garlic, onions and one extra special pumpkin

Harvesting a large spring onion, Victoria teased: ‘Bit of an anticlimax maybe?’ 

‘You call that an anticlimax,’ replied David as Victoria joked: ‘Well it isn’t as big as the others.’ 

David hit back: ‘Have you ever seen the spring onions that you buy in the supermarket? This isn’t a supermarket spring onion.’

He was also keen to show off his bulb of garlic as he boasted: ‘Not being funny but that is an overachieving garlic.’

‘That is impressive. I love that for you,’ added Victoria.  

In the final video David found himself beaten by a carrot which refused to be uprooted. 

‘Use two hands,’ advised Victoria, as David gave her a cheeky look before she continued: ‘Do you want me to get help? Oh my god the suspense, the suspense is killing me.’

David and Victoria have returned to their Cotswolds home after spending Saturday at Reading Festival to watch their son Cruz perform. 

Harvesting a large spring onion, Victoria teased: ‘Bit of an anticlimax maybe?’ ‘You call that an anticlimax,’ replied David as Victoria joked: ‘Well it isn’t as big as the others’

David also made sure to show off his juicy plums in the innuendo-filled clip before collecting eggs from the chicken coop

He was also keen to show off his bulb of garlic as he boasted: ‘Not being funny but that is an overachieving garlic

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The youngest of the Beckham sons, 21, has had an incredible year touring the UK with his band and earlier this month they released their EP Wear & Tear. 

And his parents made sure to jet back from the Amalfi Coast to rainy Reading in time to watch their son play The Canopy stage at the renowned festival. 

Despite the torrential rain, the couple were undeterred as they watched intently from the side of the stage, Victoria still donning her shades. 

Cruz’s brother Romeo, sister Harper and his girlfriend Jackie Apostel were also watching as they beamed with pride. 

A concertgoer told the Daily Mail: ‘They are all there listening and supporting Cruz and Victoria has been embracing David affectionately while watching.’

Jackie also made sure to support the star as she took to her Instagram Story earlier in the day wearing a bright yellow T-shirt which read: ‘Cruz Beckham sang to me.’  

Cruz became the latest nepo baby to hit the festival stage with Liam Gallagher’s youngest son Gene, 25, performing with his band Villanelle the day prior. 

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin’s son Moses also played with his band People I’ve Met on Friday and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl’s daughter Violet is due to take to the stage on Sunday. 

Posting on his Instagram Story before his festival slot, Cruz shared a close up selfie as he penned: ‘Reading, I cannot wait.’ 

After Reading, Cruz and his band will be moving on to Leeds on Sunday, with a total of six shows planned to coincide with the release of the Wear & Tear EP.

The tracks are titled: Better Times, WANNABE, Seeing Red, Loneliest Boy and Wear & Tear.

Cruz, says the new EP, which he recorded with his band The Breakers, captures ‘a life lived’ – the good, the bad and all the ‘learning curves’ in between.

He added that he hopes the EP gets across the message that, despite people having different life experiences, they can still share emotions.

By LILY JOBSON, SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER

Published: 19:16 BST, 31 August 2026 | Updated: 03:47 BST, 1 September 2026

Love Is Blind UK stars have spilled all the unseen secrets you didn’t see in the pods during this year’s drama-packed season three.

Netflix fans watched 30 singletons date blindly in pods hoping to get engaged to their husband or wife in a bid to see if love really is blind.

The cast members shared that many more connections and proposals happen in the pods than what actually makes the final Netflix cut. 

The series followed just six of the 14 engaged couples as they honeymooned, lived together and walked down the aisle in a huge extravaganza.

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Hosts Emma Willis and her husband Matt reunited with the cast in Sunday’s finale episode to find out if those who said ‘I do’ stood the test of time.

Following the explosive reunion, Ciara and Chevanique have revealed what really went on behind-the-scenes throughout the process.

Love Is Blind UK stars have spilled all the unseen secrets you didn’t see in the pods during this year’s drama-packed season three (Ciara pictured)

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Following the explosive reunion, Ciara and Chevanique (pictured) have revealed what really went on behind-the-scenes throughout the process

Ciara, who married Ajay, was one of the first to fall in love within just two weeks of dating while Chevanique failed to find a suitor.

Reflecting on her ‘intense’ experience in an interview with the Daily Mail, Ciara revealed a lot of her dates weren’t aired.

She said: ‘I experienced every emotion that you physically could and it’s just something you can’t explain to anyone, especially the pods like dating, starting off dating for 15 people. 

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‘Obviously behind a wall, building these intense, strong connection is all consuming because that’s all you’re doing all day, every day for two weeks.’

The Pilates instructor added: ‘There was a lot of mine and Ajay’s relationships that you just don’t see at all, especially in the pods.

‘It’s only [filmed] for 10 hours, you know. I mean, they can’t show everything. There was a really lovely moment where Ajay had actually planned for me to teach him Pilates. I was talking him through a class and that was very sweet.’

While power couple Emma and Matt are rarely seen in the episodes, Ciara and Chevanique revealed they are much more involved behind-the-scenes.

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Revealing the sweet words of advice Emma gave the girls’, Chevanique said: ‘When I spoke to Emma, she’d just say, ‘Be true to yourself’.

‘You know, she’s a fellow brummie girl, so she was like, “Just be you” I think we just all kind of followed that.’

Ciara, who married Ajay, was one of the first to fall in love within just two weeks of dating while Chevanique failed to find a suitor

Reflecting on her ‘intense’ experience in an interview with the Daily Mail, Ciara revealed a lot of her dates weren’t aired

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While power couple Emma and Matt are rarely seen in the episodes, Ciara and Chevanique revealed they are much more involved behind-the-scenes

Join the discussion

Do you think reality TV should show all the behind-the-scenes drama and secrets to viewers?

She added of Emma and Matt’s marriage: ‘They are so genuine as a couple, you can see that connection and they just told us to be open and honest.’

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Chevanique revealed only part of her journey in the pods were aired as she admitted Joshua wasn’t her only connection.

Chevanique said: ‘A lot of people are assuming that Joseph was my only connection. He wasn’t, he wasn’t even my number one connection. 

‘There was two people I was dating in the pods and Joseph being one of them and I walked away from one connection that I didn’t think suited me because the person wasn’t very genuine.

‘And I was still exploring my other connection and that ended how it was supposed to end.’

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A network of AI licence plate readers run by a private company called Flock is rapidly expanding across the US.

There are now about 130,000 across the country, mostly used by law enforcement agencies.

The expansion has led to privacy concerns and protests.

BBC Verify examines Flock’s system and the growing backlash against it – as Jake Horton reports.

Produced by Krystal Campos. Graphics by Leo Scutt-Richter.

Presenter Joel Dommett made the comments as the the programme is up for a prize at this year’s National Television Awards in a new category recognising the rise of the fly-on-the-wall celebrity-led shows.

The reality TV show follows Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson as runs his Diddly Squat Farm near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, while highlighting the daily challenges of British agriculture.

The programme’s fate will be decided at the awards ceremony on Tuesday, which will be broadcast live from The O2 in London and hosted by comedian Dommett for the sixth year.

In an interview with the Press Association, Dommett expressed his excitement for the upcoming event while discussing the many nominees and “amazing cultural moments” created on TV over the past year.

The 41-year-old said: “Television is everyone’s medium, it’s a beautiful thing that doesn’t just bring your family together but it brings the country together.

“It brings the world together in these amazing cultural moments where everyone is watching something in the country – Mr Bates vs The Post Office, The Traitors, I’m A Celebrity, which you have to watch because it’s what everyone’s talking about in the office.

“It feels really cool right now that those moments are still coming at us thick and fast.”

Dommett said it is “really exciting” to see the NTAs first all-female shortlist in the drama performance category, adding: “I feel like I’m rooting for all of them.

“There’s a really great bunch on there, and it feels long overdue to have a full female category.”

The broadcaster also praised industry peers Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly and said he was “rooting for them”, and hailed Clarkson’s Farm as “one of my favourite shows”.

The Gloucestershire-born star said: “I grew up on a farm, so I understand the slightly agricultural references and stuff – but the show also works for people who don’t.

“I just think it’s one of the best shows in telly, and the numbers speak for itself.

“It has also got this amazing, really important message that’s being delivered to the country to people who don’t necessarily understand that farming is in jeopardy, and in a really difficult position right now.”

Since launching the show, Clarkson has become a vocal supporter of farmers and even attended a protest in London against the Government’s move to introduce inheritance tax on farmland in November 2024.

Dommett told PA: “The weather this year has completely ruined crops for almost everyone, and that’s people’s livelihoods.

“Then you’ve got the fact the Government don’t help either.

“It’s just become this real storm of uncertainty for farmers, and I think it’s really difficult.

“I love that Jeremy’s bringing attention to that – it’s really cool.”

Others nominated include beloved naturalist Sir David Attenborough, who is competing against the likes of Ant and Dec in the TV presenter category.

Dommett said: “I always root for Ant and Dec, because I love them. But they are against David Attenborough this year – how is this going to turn out?”

He also said that despite hosting the NTAs five times, he still finds the experience “a bit daunting”, but added: “It’s such an interesting night to host. I love doing it, and I love doing live television.

“It’s really fun and feels really exciting to me.

“The fact that it’s voted for by the people at home makes it even more exciting.”

The NTAs will be broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX on September 8 from 8pm.

Prime minister Balendra Shah said the catastrophic floods that tore through northern Nepal along the Tibet border were driven by the climate crisis and demanded international action as the Himalayan country assessed damage.

Nepal officials said at least 939 bodies have been recovered, while almost 4,000 people, including 538 foreign nationals, remained missing as rescuers raced against time to find survivors on day seven of the operation.

“The flood in the Bhotekoshi river in Rasuwa was not an ordinary flood,” said Mr Shah in a late-night post on social media.

The rapper-turned-politician is facing his biggest challenge since being elected to power earlier this year, but has largely remained away from speaking to reporters and instead turned to social media for sharing updates.

“It was one of the region’s major disasters, triggered by an avalanche of snow and ice in the Himalayan region,” Mr Shah said.

He said the disaster indicated “the risks we face in the Himalayan region are increasing alongside climate change”.

It began with the collapse of part of a glacier in Tibet, which led a huge mass of ice and rock travelling rapidly into the valley below and striking the Lhende river, temporarily damming the water before the barrier gave way and released a powerful flood downstream.

The prime minister said Nepal should “strongly raise” with the international community the series of disasters it faced “as a result of climate change”.

Mr Shah, in a previous Facebook post, said the flood was an “unprecedented and devastating natural disaster” and it remained challenging to compile a complete assessment of the damage. “Despite the adverse weather, difficult terrain and continuing risks, we are moving forward with determination to save the lives of our citizens,” he added.

The Himalayan nation of less than 30 million people, has contributed little to the emissions driving global warming, yet it is bearing the brunt of a crisis fuelled by larger nations.

Steep Himalayan landscapes have always experienced landslides, avalanches and floods. However, scientists say, the climate crisis has aggravated weather events.

Glaciers across the Hindu Kush mountain systems are losing ice at an accelerating rate, while permafrost degradation, unstable slopes, glacial lakes and increasingly erratic rainfall raising the risks of floods, landslides and debris flows, according to reports by Kathmandu-based International Center for Integrated Mountain Development.

Nepal’s finance minister, Swarnim Wagle, said initial estimates suggest the country may need up to $5bn or $3.6bn to rebuild the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts near the Tibet border.

“We will require much less than what ​we needed for the 2015 earthquake. Loss and damage ​is being assessed,” he told Reuters, without elaborating on why the reconstruction bill was expected to be less than the $9bn spent after the ​2015 magnitude-7.8 ⁠quake, that killed 9,000 people.

Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure estimates that $124bn or £100bn worth of Nepal’s infrastructure is exposed to climate-driven disasters, creating the potential for hundreds of millions of dollars in losses each year.

A report by the coalition earlier this year found that Nepal’s average annual losses are nearly $760m or £561m from various disasters, while the country’s national disaster funds is only a fraction of this amount.