Social media algorithms are ‘normalising’ violence against women and girls, with one in three subjected to ‘shocking levels of abuse’ every day.

A new report from Refuge, the UK’s largest domestic abuse charity, and the End Violence Against Women Coalition reveals 36% of women experienced some form of violence online.

That number rises to 47% for women aged between 16 and 24.

A fifth of those said they encountered the same misogynistic content pumped into the manosphere ‘to maximise ad revenue’ most of or every time they logged on.

The online harms are having significant real-world consequences, with victims suffering anxiety or panic attacks and being driven from the platforms completely.

Most worryingly, 7% of women who experienced online violence said they felt suicidal – a figure which more than doubles (15%) among those aged 16 to 24.

Refuge CEO Gemma Sherrington said their findings ‘are reflective of a system that has continued to prioritise profits over safety, leaving women to pay the price’.

Jodie’s story

In January 2021, Jodie* opened an anonymous email directing her to images of herself which had been shared online, along with details identifying her and where she lived.

Weeks later she discovered explicit ‘deepfakes’ of her on an online forum.

Her ‘shock and desperation’ turned to ‘complete fear, anger and disbelief’ when she found out the perpetrator was her male best friend.

This Is Not Right

On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.

With the help of our partners at Women’s Aid, This Is Not Right aims to shine a light on the sheer scale of this national emergency.

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You can find more articles here, and if you want to share your story with us, you can send us an email at vaw@metro.co.uk.

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Among the women polled by Refuge and EVAW, one in 50 reported they had personally experienced an AI-generated or ‘deepfake’ intimate image of them being shared without their consent.

Nearly three quarters (72%) identified the perpetrator as male, with current or former partners and friends or relatives each responsible in roughly a fifth of cases.

The most commonly identified perpetrator (53%) was a stranger.

When Jodie went to the police to report the abuse, she was told there was ‘nothing they could do’.

She had to track down the images and videos herself, contacting the online forum and porn site directly to get the material taken down. 

‘Gathering the evidence was incredibly distressing and retraumatising. It felt as though the responsibility for proving the harm had been placed entirely on me,’ she told Metro.

After going through that process and collecting the evidence, Jodie was told the creation and sharing of sexually explicit deepfakes had not broken any laws, so her abuser could not be prosecuted. 

‘Despite the threats and risks we were facing, we did not have a liaison officer, and we were told that we were unable to access an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser because the abuse was not considered sexually motivated,’ Jodie said.

‘Survivors should not have to repeatedly explain, document and prove their abuse while navigating systems that do not understand the nature of online harms.‘Evidence gathering and reporting need to be trauma-informed, coordinated and designed around the safety of the person experiencing the abuse.

‘The burden should not fall on survivors to become experts in criminal investigations, technology and platform reporting while they are trying to recover.’

Jodie successfully campaigned with EVAW for the creation of non-consensual sexually explicit deepfakes to become a crime, which came into effect last year.
 
Despite this, the report shows that 66% of women surveyed continue to feel concerned about the role of AI technologies in enabling violence against women and girls.

Jodie said: ‘The risks extend beyond deepfake images. We are also seeing concerns around AI chatbots providing detailed guidance on stalking, simulating rape or abuse through roleplay, and reinforcing misogynistic ideas.

‘These are serious risks from systems that have been deployed without sufficient safeguards, oversight or meaningful consideration of the people who may be harmed.

‘There are also emerging risks from technologies such as smart glasses and other wearable devices, which could make covert image capture, surveillance and violations of consent easier.’

The report also shows that chillingly, 1 in 7 women who have experienced digital VAWG have left the platform altogether, as a direct result of the abuse.

Almost a quarter reduced commenting or posting on social media following violence.

‘My relationship with social media changed significantly,’ says Jodie. ‘I became much more conscious of what I shared. Something that had previously felt ordinary, such as posting a photo with work colleagues, or in my home, began to feel like a potential safety risk. 

‘I have had to think about how visible I want to be and whether participating online is worth the potential risk. That is an exhausting position to be put in.
‘Women and girls should not have to make themselves smaller or disappear to stay safe.’

Threats of sexual violence

Anybody can be a victim – young girls and older women, social media users with relatively few contacts and celebrities with followers numbering the thousands or millions.

Ashley James, the DJ, broadcaster and bestselling author of Bimbo, told Metro that online misogyny and abuse have followed her ever since she entered the public eye and gained a following in 2012.

‘At that time, it was horrifically graphic sexual videos on Snapchat. Since them, it’s always [been] men reaching out with sexualised insults, comments about my appearance, threats and abuse,’ she said.

Recently, the threats have escalated to rape and are now being directed at her three-year-old daughter through DMs online.

‘I felt sick,’ she said of seeing those messages coming through.

‘When it comes to my children, I would die to protect them. Everything I speak about is for them, to hopefully make the world a better place.’

This harrowing message was not a one off. Since, Ashley has received multiple similar threats from different men. 

‘It’s devastation and guilt. Any kind of threat to them makes you feel like a failure as a parent,’ she said.

‘I frequently receive rape threats myself. The threat of sexual violence to myself and my daughter is 100% gendered.

‘I think often my content ends up on the wrong side of the algorithm, being pushed towards [people who support] the manosphere.’

Ashley says that despite all of this, she refuses to let ‘trolls’ drive her away from social media.

‘We shouldn’t have to choose between having a voice and being safe. No one should be bullied into silence,’ she said.

‘Misogyny didn’t start with social media, I just think social media has given it an algorithm and an audience, and kind of made it a business model. 

‘I’ll continue using my platform, because I don’t want my daughter to think that being a woman online means accepting sexual harassment, misogyny or graphic imagery as the price of participation.’

Real-life impact

Jodie said ‘the line between online and offline harm is continuing to collapse’, with the impact stretching ‘far beyond the internet’.

‘It affected my mental health, my sense of safety and my ability to trust people,’ she said.

‘I experienced PTSD symptoms linked to a previous assault, as well as depression, and needed weekly private therapy for months.

‘The abuse became something I had to carry into every part of my life, including my relationships, work and everyday interactions.’

The Dangerous by Design report shows that 40% of those who have experienced online VAWG experienced anxiety, while 15% of those between 16 and 24 reported feeling suicidal as a result. 

Dr Sophie Nightingale specialises in researching the psychological impacts of online VAWG, particularly image-based abuse.

‘We’re seeing this overlap between the online, and in-person physical threats of sexual violence. Whether these are threats people are going to carry out or not, this still impacts the victim,’ she said.

‘People will respond by withdrawing, feeling afraid and petrified to go out and leave their house.

‘It’s another way to oppress women, and keep them isolated.’

The psychologist explains that the risk of online VAWG leading to suicidal thoughts is particularly intensified by threats of sexual violence.

‘There can be these feelings of embarrassment, shame and guilt that should never actually be attributed to the victim.

‘You’re already scared because of the abuse itself, but then you also feel isolated, not knowing where to turn. 

‘Sometimes, people think that the only option is to end things, which can be heightened by the thought that because of the online element, the abuse will never go away. 

‘This is often the case with non-consensual sharing of intimate imagery, as it carries a digital footprint that people live in fear of. They question ‘When is it going to emerge again?”’

Dr Nightingale says growing threats to women online are part of a wider cultural regression.

‘At the moment, we are seeing the growth of misogynistic views and social, cultural norms,’ she said.

‘From a young age, children are growing up thinking this is normal behaviour, that it’s okay to do these things, and share an intimate image of a woman or girl without her consent, because that’s what people do and they get away with it.

‘If we don’t do something drastic soon to stop that, it’s going to snowball even further, and we’re going to take a huge step backwards in terms of women and girls’ rights.’

What needs to be done

The report shines light on how women are dealing with this widespread issue alone. 

One in five did not tell anyone about the abuse. Less than a third reported it to the platform where it occurred, meanwhile only 12% reported it to the police.

Over half of women who did report abuse to the platform itself were not satisfied by the handling of their report, demonstrating the urgency for tech companies to change their designs and approach.

Ms Sherrington said: ‘This report comes almost one year after Ofcom introduced its guidance for tech companies on how to tackle VAWG on online platforms.

‘Despite being a welcome step forward, Refuge has long-been clear that voluntary guidance lacks the force needed to address the shocking levels of abuse and violence faced by women and girls online every day.

‘Our report testifies to this, shining a light on the sheer scale of harm that women in this country are experiencing and the lack of confidence they have in tech companies, the criminal justice system, and policymakers to protect them.

‘These findings are reflective of a system that has continued to prioritise profits over safety, leaving women to pay the price. This cannot continue.

‘The government and Ofcom must go much further in holding tech companies legally responsible for combatting the normalisation of misogyny, holding perpetrators to account, and keeping all women and survivors safe.’

The report contains several recommendations, calling for the Online Safety Act to be updated, allowing Ofcom’s VAWG guidance to be upgraded to a legally enforceable code of practice. 

The report also demands safety by design, through the introduction of a Safety by Design code of practice.

EVAW’s interim director, Janaya Walker, said: ‘All women and girls deserve to live free from violence and abuse.

‘This report is a stark reminder of the ways in which online VAWG is a major feature of women’s everyday lives to devastating effect, particularly for young women.

‘The status quo is untenable and the government’s efforts to prevent VAWG needs to confront the business model of big tech, with a regulatory system which has the teeth to hold them to account.’

Earlier this year, Labour asked Ofcom to report on which social media companies are failing to implement measures to protect women and girls online.
Then-technology secretary Liz Kendall said companies ‘must go above and beyond’ to make their platforms safer.

She warned that the Government would be prepared to intervene if firms failed to use every tool at their disposal to protect women and girls from abuse and misogyny online.

‘This government has taken tough action to tackle intimate image abuse, deepfakes and the online harms women and girls face every day.

‘Now, tech companies must go above and beyond to use the tools readily available to them to make their platforms safer.’

As part of the Government’s VAWG online crackdown, cyberflashing was made a priority offence under the Online Safety Act earlier this year.

The change means that rather than reacting after such images have been received, platforms must take proactive steps to prevent such content appearing in the first place.

The Government also vowed to close legal loopholes which have allowed chatbots to create deepfake nude images and is planning further curbs on social media.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Right-wing activist Danny Tommo was arrested last night after filming himself apparently slashing the side of a dinghy with a rescue crew member still on board.

The 37-year-old, real name Daniel Thomas, was detained at a BP petrol station on suspicion of destroying ships or fixed platforms or endangering their safety.

Tommo was also arrested on suspicion of criminal damage; criminal damage with intent to endanger life; and conduct endangering ships, structures or individuals.

Video posted by Tommo on YouTube as well as his associate Tommy Robinson on X from an undisclosed location showed Tommo asking to ‘say goodbye to my kids’.

An officer then tells Tommo to ‘step out of the car’ and explains the arrest, while a woman off-camera is heard saying: ‘The cameras are on, let go of the phone.’

It comes after Tommo appeared to shout ‘traitors’ having used a knife to cut the side of the vessel that people smugglers had used to transport migrants in the Channel.

Tommo could be seen in footage on YouTube slashing and stabbing the dinghy after a crew member boarded to apparently take the vessel back to France on Tuesday.

Hundreds of activists then gathered in Gosport later that day after Tommo filmed himself going out to sea to try to intercept a dinghy carrying dozens of migrants.

Last night, officers arrested Tommo – and both he and Robinson posted a 55-second clip of the incident at about 10.30pm, which has since been viewed 350,000 times.

A police officer explains to Danny Tommo last night that he is being arrested

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The clip begins with Tommo – who is not on camera – saying: ‘Yeah okay, okay, if I could just speak to my kids quick, I’ll try and say goodbye to my kids before.’

An officer then tells him: ‘Step out of the car please sir, okay? At this moment in time we have information to suggest that you were involved in criminal damage.’

Tommo replies: ‘Yep, yep, can I just… give me my phone. I want my phone to be on, please.’ An unknown woman adds: ‘The cameras are on, let go of the phone.’

The officer continues: ‘At this point in time, you are under arrest – you do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence…’ Tommo then says: ‘I understand.’

The officer adds: ‘The information that I’ve been given is that you’ve been involved in criminal damage that has recklessly endangered someone’s life, okay?’

Tommo interjects, saying: ‘Can I just… yeah, I understand that…’ And the officer says: ‘I will get the full information for you in terms of times and date and everything…’

A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary spokesman said today: ‘A man has been arrested after a boat that had an emergency responder on board, was damaged in English Channel. We received a report of the incident on Tuesday evening.

‘Last night, a 37-year-old man, of no fixed abode, was arrested on suspicion of destroying ships or fixed platforms or endangering their safety under Section 11 of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990, criminal damage, criminal damage with intent to endanger life, and conduct endangering ships, structures or individuals under Section 58 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. He remains in custody at this time.’

In an update on X this morning, Robinson said: ‘Danny Tommo is currently sitting in the cells and facing serious charges. He needs our help, he needs your help. Danny rang me when the police were following him, saying “what do I do, what am I going to do?”

‘I know, because I’ve been in this situation, he’ll be scared, he’ll be worried, he’s going to be fearful, he’s going to be panicking about his kids and his missus, the mother of his kids.

‘He’s going to be panicking about his family. He’s going to be panicking about the time he’s away, because Danny is their sole provider. So there’s lots of things going on here.’

Robinson said he told Tommo on the phone that he needed help from Canadian political activist Ezra Levant, who has previously supported his own legal battles.

The activist, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, added that he phoned Levant last night, who confirmed that he will help fund legal representation for Tommo.

Robinson also said: ‘Danny didn’t stab that boat for himself. It’s for every one of us. And he might have done it impulsively, it might have been a mistake what he’s done, but he’s been driven to that.

‘All these men are being driven to it by failures of government, by the mess they’ve created in our country.’

Danny Tommo could be seen in footage on YouTube slashing and stabbing the dinghy after a crew member boarded to apparently take the vessel back to France on Tuesday

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Tommo slices through one side of the empty dinghy seconds before a rescuer stepped on

The French rescue worker did not react after the activist slashed the dinghy with a knife 

Separately, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said last night that three people were charged after they gathered at the marina where they thought the boat’s passengers were due to arrive.

Six people were arrested by officers during the evening, the force said.

Shannon Dodds, 32, of Gosport, has been charged with two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker. She has been remanded in custody to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court today.

Sally Pearson, 31, also of Gosport, has been charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence. She has also been remanded in custody to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court today.

Toby Matthews, 33, from Gosport, has been charged with common assault of an emergency worker. He was bailed to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on November 9.

A 19-year-old man and a 36-year-old man from Salisbury, who were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass, have been bailed with conditions until December 22 while inquiries continue.

A 67-year-old man from Gosport was handed a Fixed Penalty Notice for driving without due care and attention.

He was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and has been bailed with conditions until December 22 while inquiries continue, the force added.

Some of the protesters in Gosport wore black clothing and face coverings, and chanted ‘send them back’, wrongly assuming the boat would be guided to the Hampshire coast.

In fact, it docked in Dover, Kent, at around 12.30am yesterday after 51 migrants on board reportedly refused help from a French ship and spent 33 hours at sea.

In a video published on X yesterday morning, Tommo branded the latest migrant arrivals a ‘sad day for the country’ but argued that pressure from protesters ‘worked in some respects’ because it stopped arrivals coming into Gosport.

The migrant dinghy left the Normandy coast on Monday and was shadowed by a French coastguard vessel, with authorities declaring the occupants had refused help as they were ‘determined to take all risks to reach the United Kingdom’.

British rescue boats were sent to collect the passengers on Tuesday, and the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency said they would be transferred to Border Security Command.

A Government spokesman said: ‘The Border Security Command works around the clock to protect our border and will continue to detain, check and process every small boat arrival.’

It had been expected that the migrants would be taken to Gosport, with local MP Dame Caroline Dinenage saying the Home Office had told her it was ‘increasingly likely that a small boat will need to be disembarked in the local area in the coming hours’.

Police officers in Gosport, Hampshire, on Tuesday night after hundreds of activists gathered

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Migrants heading to the UK yesterday morning in a dinghy from Hardelot in northern France 

But the vessel carrying the migrants headed east, later arriving in Dover where migrants were seen disembarking wearing orange life jackets and carrying personal belongings.

Around a dozen protesters were spotted in the area, with local police having blocked off a nearby road.

Routes used by small-boat people smugglers appear to be changing, and UK authorities are understood to have plans to deal with small-boat arrivals further west along the coast than Kent.

Earlier this month, a dinghy was met by lifeboats from the Isle of Wight having set off from the Cherbourg area, triggering protests in Portsmouth. It is thought to have made one of the longest journeys of any small boat in the Channel.

Similarly, departures from as far west in France as Normandy are rare.

Two other migrant boats have also managed to land undetected in the UK on Monday and Tuesday this week, the first time in a year that there have been unescorted landings and the only time since the start of 2023.

The thousands of migrants crossing the Channel are usually brought to shore by Border Security Command or RNLI boats.

A Home Office spokesman said 21 people who landed on Tuesday had been detained.

Education Secretary Lucy Powell said today that not every migrant boat can be intercepted.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Ms Powell branded the situation ‘not acceptable’ but insisted there was an ‘improving picture’.

Asked if the boats reaching the UK was embarrassing, the Cabinet minister responded: ‘[You] can’t stop everything all of the time.

‘Of course, it’s a concern. That’s why the Home Secretary has demanded and ordered this urgent review because this is not what we want to see. This is not acceptable.

‘But the overall picture is an improving picture. It is hard, difficult work that requires constant, constant effort by our border forces, our security services, police, our partnerships with France and other countries.

‘This is a mammoth and huge task, which is now starting to reap some dividends. But of course, you know where there are still issues arising, we must absolutely tackle them.’

French police are also investigating whether the death of a man found on a beach in northern France yesterday is linked to a Channel crossing.

Some 17,480 migrants have arrived after crossing the Channel by boat so far this year, including 5,011 since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister.

The total so far for 2026 is down 46 per cent on the same point last year.

“Last night, Wednesday, September 23, a 37-year-old man, of no fixed abode, was arrested on suspicion of destroying ships or fixed platforms or endangering their safety under Section 11 of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990, criminal damage, criminal damage with intent to endanger life, and conduct endangering ships, structures or individuals under Section 58 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

Manchester City star Antoine Semenyo has been forced to withdraw from the Ghana squad for their African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against the Ivory Coast and Gambia. Semenyo starred for City on Sunday, scoring twice as the Blues beat Sunderland 5-3.

Semenyo was awarded man of the match for his performance and admitted he was ‘battered and bruised’, following the victory. The forward has since withdrawn from Ghana’s squad for their upcoming clash with the Ivory Coast this evening. Explaining his absence, the country’s FA president Kurt Okraku. said that a decision was made not to risk Semenyo in this break.

“Antoine [Semenyo] and the coach spoke, and he told the coach, ‘If you need me, I will come down for the medical team to re-examine me,” Okraku recalled on Asempa FM, “but the truth is that my leg is swollen, and we need to treat it.

“As a leader, if you want to know your players, and in this particular case, we know the players and how honest they are when it comes to situations like this, you’d have to ask yourself whether you’d allow Antoine to continue with his recovery and be ready for Man City and for Ghana during the next window. Or have Antoine fly down to Ghana to undergo an MRI and then ask him to go back because he can’t play.

“His leg is swollen.” Currently, there is no indication as to how long Semenyo could be absent for. The winger has so far played every minute for City in the Premier League, and completed the full 90 minutes in the Community Shield. Semenyo was handed a rest for the 5-0 Carabao Cup win over Norwich.

Before the Manchester derby earlier this month, Maresca praised Semenyo’s impact in Jeremy Doku’s absence. “It’s much better to work with him than against, for sure, no doubt,” the City head coach said.

“Again, he’s giving us a lot in terms of on the ball and off the ball. If you see the first goal we scored at [Crystal] Palace away, it was his cross. The first goal we scored against Coventry was his assist.

“So he’s working very well. Again, not only on the ball, [but] also off the ball, he’s working. He’s helping the team a lot.”

City return to action on Sunday, October 11, when they visit Liverpool in the Premier League.

Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is in talks to return to boxing with plans for him to fight on the Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury card this December as part of a ‘double main event’ in Cardiff.

Joshua and Fury will finally meet in the ring with an official announcement expected this week or next. Cardiff’s Principality Stadium is set to host the Battle of Britain on 11 December.

The showdown is set to be broadcast on Netflix with it expected to be a late start time in the Welsh capital for UK fight fans to accommodate the US audience.

The streaming giant are pushing hard for another huge fight to be added to the bill with talks underway for 47-year-old Pacquiao to fight Shakur Stevenson in another generational scrap on the same night.

Boxing Scene report that fight is in the works with representatives for men in contact with the card’s Saudi Arabian backers, along with Netflix.

Pacquiao vs Stevenson was first discussed when Joshua vs Fury looked to be heading for New York’s Madison Square Garden – with Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn winning the battle to stage the fight on UK soil.

Despite the site change, Netflix are still eager to make Pacquiao vs Stevenson happen in Wales.

Eight-weight world champion Pacquiao retired from boxing following a punishing defeat to Yordenis Ugas in 2021.

After a four-year hiatus, he returned to the ring last summer at the age of 46 to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title in a bout that ended in a draw.

Earlier this year, Pacquiao signed a deal to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr in a rematch between the two ring legends.

Issues on Mayweather’s side however saw the original September postponed with no rescheduled date.

Stevenson, one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet, joined Zuffa Boxing earlier this year but is still to have his debut fight for the promotion.  

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What does it mean?

Vicky Myers, who is best known for playing DS Lisa Connor-Swain in Corrie, has been bowled over by the support

Coronation Street star Vicky Myers has said the support she receives is ‘never taken for granted’ as she was flooded with more following her latest major boost.

The actress, from Stockport, is best known for playing DS Lisa Connor-Swain in the ITV soap, filmed in Salford, and first debuted in the role in 2021.

However, as fans know, it wasn’t until early 2024 that Corrie announced Vicky as one of its new regular cast members, and she hasn’t been far from the centre of the drama in Weatherfield ever since.

Click here to sign up for more Coronation Street updates in our newsletter

So it may come as no surprise that her various storylines of late have seen Vicky become a fan-favourite among those who follow the long-running show, and, therefore, resulted in her picking up two gongs at the Inside Soap Awards 2026, which were held in Manchester on Monday (September 21) night, the first time the awards have been held outside of London.

As well as Best Actress, Vicky also walked away with the Best Partnership prize for her and her co-star Alison King, who plays on-screen wife Carla Connor Swain. It comes after she walked away with the same two awards at last year’s ceremony.

Reflecting on her latest awards wins in a post on Instagram, shared on Wednesday (September 23), Vicky said: “About last night…THANK YOU! Thank you to @insidesoapmagazine for the nominations and for organising such a fantastic night. I am so proud to be a very small part of this iconic show’s history and my goodness, I do not take any of it for granted.

Heartfelt thanks to EVERYONE who voted for me in the Best Actress category and for Ali and I, for Best Partnership. You are the BEST, you really are, and I am so humbled yet full of gratitude.”

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She continued: “Your unwavering support is never taken for granted, not for one second! You wonderful lot made this happen and I am absolutely delighted, if not a little dewy-eyed. As you know, the results are solely based on viewers’ votes and that makes it even more special. Thanks again.

“Congratulations to @garpierce @justjude7 @jamescartywright @danielbrocklebank too. Happy 30th Birthday @insidesoapmagazine. Love and hugs.”

And it didn’t take long for her post to be flooded with comments. @editedbysoph said: “You deserve all the love and appreciation! You’re so talented, beautiful and kind – that really shines through. Congratulations once again! Love you!” @eileen.hlzw commented: “So proud and so deserved! You are amazing, beautiful and so so kind hearted. I’m so happy for you, you and Ali what you’ve achieved and built is absolutely extraordinary. Sending love.”

@allboutmyfavs wrote: “Huge congratulations, Vicky! Both awards are so incredibly well deserved! Two years in a row, how amazing!” @chantalkjl replied: “Congratulations Vicky, so well deserved. Hard work pays off.” @libbybostandji added: “Aww wonderful news Vicky! Couldn’t happen to a more deserving or lovely human! Well done lovely!”

Her soaps co-stars were also celebrating Vicky, with Corrie’s Junade Khan responding to the post: “So happy for you hun, so talented, well done hun,” while Jude Riordan commented: “Yes Vicky [heart emoji] and Ali for partnership.” Emmerdale’s Michelle Hardwick said: “Congratulations you lovely lot,” while EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal added: “Huge congratulations, my love.”

Novel Wines described itself as “the UK’s leading independent retailer of undiscovered wines”.

The company sourced bottles from craft winemakers in countries including Hungary, Croatia, and India, shipping to customers across the UK.

Novel Wines operated a physical store in Bath from 2019 until 2024, when it closed to focus on wholesale expansion and online sales, according to Harpers.

Novel Wines enters liquidation after 10 years

Despite these changes, Novel Wines has entered liquidation.

Richard Cole and Stephen Kenny of KBL Advisory Limited were appointed as joint administrators on September 18, according to The Gazette.

The company’s website is no longer operational, displaying only a holding message that reads: “Opening soon.

“Thanks for stopping by!

“We’re just making a few quick changes to the website so it’s much easier for you to shop for great wines.

“In the meantime please email us on hello@novelwines.co.uk and our team will be happy to help.”

When Newsquest contacted the listed email address, both respondents confirmed they had left the company.

Other UK companies that have closed or entered administration/liquidation in 2026

It has been a tough year for the UK high street, with several other retailers entering administration or liquidation and others announcing widespread store closures.

Major high street brands LK Bennett, Claire’s, and Quiz have been forced to close all their remaining stores after falling into administration.

UK fashion retailer Leading Labels is also set to close its remaining 15 stores after falling into liquidation in May.

Whitbread closed all its standalone UK restaurants earlier this month:

TG Jones and the British Heart Foundation will also be closing around 150 stores each across the UK.

Wynsors World of Shoes is shutting 17 stores across the UK, with closing down sales already underway at several affected branches.

Other retailers have been forced to close stores this year, including:

Several UK travel companies have ceased trading or entered administration in 2026:

Wayfairer Travel Limited has also suspended all services “until further notice” as it looks to appoint an administrator.

Meanwhile, four UK airlines have fallen into administration or liquidation:

UK delivery company Yodel is set to be phased out after being acquired by InPost.

It’s also been reported that Morrisons is looking to sell some of its in-store pharmacies as it continues to cut costs.

Meanwhile, iconic fashion brand Nasty Gal has shut down its website after being sold by Debenhams in a deal worth around £12 million (US$16 million).

It hasn’t all been bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Joules, Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.

Meanwhile, brands including Evans and Bodycare have returned to the UK high street this year after previously closing all their stores.

Have you used Novel Wines before? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.

Remember Rishi Sunak’s first meeting with Joe Biden, at the White House in June 2023?  

Of course you don’t. I wouldn’t be surprised if even Rishi Sunak doesn’t remember his first meeting with Joe Biden.

If he does, it might be because he was mistakenly addressed by Biden as Mr President, a few months after the president told a roomful of people celebrating Diwali that ‘Rashee Sanook’ had just become the British PM.   But the meeting itself? Dust in the wind.  

After all, it wasn’t always the case that such a weight of anticipation and fear hung over occasions like this. There wasn’t always a risk the president might launch into a rambling, caustic rant that derails the whole thing.

But in hindsight, I’m not sure the concerns ahead of Andy Burnham’s first in-person meeting with Donald Trump yesterday were justified.

With two high-profile exceptions – Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky in February 2025 and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa three months later – Donald Trump rarely flips out at a fellow world leader while they’re in the room.

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Even people like Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada and Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York, who ended up in their jobs partly because of their anti-Trump rhetoric, were treated with varying levels of respect.

So, it’s not a shock that the press conference with Burnham and Trump ended up being pretty civil – even if a few remarks generated their own news stories.

Acknowledging that means we can focus on the stuff beyond the superficial. Stuff like the speech Burnham gave at the UN shortly after the meeting, which provides some interesting insights into how Burnham tackles leading the country.

To show why, I’m going to compare him to another former PM, the last one to address the UN General Assembly: Sir Keir Starmer.

Two years ago, Starmer told the gathered dignitaries that he feared a ‘sense of fatalism has taken hold’ with chat about ‘an age of polarisation, impunity, instability’.

He said: ‘Our task is to say no. We won’t accept this slide into greater and greater conflict, instability and injustice. Instead, we will do all we can to change it.’

You could fairly describe the speech as ‘very Starmer’. It was a call for global cooperation for peace, centred on the application of international law.

One word he didn’t use was ‘Russia’. Burnham mentioned it ten times.

In contrast to Starmer, the new PM took a far more pugilistic tone, especially with the Kremlin. He told the diplomats that the UK ‘will be relentless in building up our hard power and deterrence’, adding: ‘True resilience depends on this military strength.’

It was a speech that seemed to demonstrate how the ‘slide into greater and greater conflict, instability and injustice’ that Starmer refused to accept is happening regardless.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned Russia is preparing ‘hybrid strikes’ against Nato countries that support Ukraine, while the Lithuanian PM Mindaugas Sinkevičius spoke about his country’s evacuation plans yesterday.

It’s at times like this that you feel like lying back, closing your eyes, and remembering that time Joe Biden called Rishi Sunak ‘Mr President’.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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Scroll through social media and you will soon encounter advice about living longer, from fasting plans and supplements to elaborate daily routines. Yet reaching an advanced age tells us little about how healthy or independent those later years will be.

Researchers often use the term healthspan for the years spent in good health, free from disability or chronic disease. In 2021, global life expectancy was 71.4 years, while healthy life expectancy was 61.9 years, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). That represents a gap of nine and a half years. A separate analysis estimated that this gap widened in 203 of 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2023.

The WHO takes a broader view of healthy ageing, focusing on the abilities that allow people to do what they value, such as undertaking daily tasks, maintaining relationships and contributing to society. This recognises that people can live well while managing a health condition. “Functional healthspan” describes how long someone maintains the capacities needed for independent living.

As we age, declining muscle strength and mass, reduced aerobic fitness and even “inflammaging” (or low-grade inflammation) become more prevalent. These changes vary considerably between people. Diet, physical activity and sleep can influence how well we age, although income, housing, healthcare and the wider environment also play important roles.

Why researchers study calorie restriction

One intensively studied approach to ageing is calorie restriction: reducing energy intake by about 20–40% while still obtaining enough essential nutrients.

Calorie restriction can extend lifespan in organisms ranging from yeast to rodents, although its effects vary with species, genetics, sex, age and diet. Evidence in humans is less certain.

The largest long-term human trial of calorie restriction, the Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE), followed 218 healthy adults without obesity for two years. Participants assigned to calorie restriction reduced their intake by 12% on average. They experienced improvements in measures linked with cardiovascular and metabolic health, including blood pressure, insulin sensitivity and blood markers of inflammation. They also lost about 5.4kg of body fat and 2kg of lean mass, while bone mineral density fell slightly at the spine and hip.

Although the trial examined age-related biomarkers, it did not establish whether calorie restriction improves functional healthspan or extends human life. Sustaining even this degree of restriction can be difficult.

Researchers are also studying compounds that affect similar cellular processes that impact ageing without requiring people to eat substantially less. These are known as calorie-restriction mimetics (CRMs), and many are found in our foods.

CRMs may reduce signals associated with cell growth, encourage autophagy, through which cells recycle damaged components, or influence how cells sense energy, function metabolically and support mitochondria to produce energy. Much of this evidence comes from cells and animals, however, and influencing one cellular mechanism does not necessarily improve health or lifespan.

What have human studies found?

One CRM, spermidine, is a compound found in wheat germ, mushrooms, legumes and nuts. In an observational study of 23,894 US adults, higher estimated spermidine intake was associated with a lower risk of death during follow-up, both overall and from cardiovascular disease. However, this does not establish cause and effect. People who eat more spermidine-rich foods may have healthier diets overall, or differ in other ways that could help explain the findings.

A small three-month pilot trial involving 30 older adults initially suggested that spermidine might improve memory. However, a larger 12-month randomised trial involving 100 older adults with subjective cognitive decline found that a spermidine-rich supplement did not improve the trial’s main measure of memory compared with a placebo.

Other compounds proposed as calorie-restriction mimetics because they may produce some of the same cellular effects include resveratrol, found in grapes and berries; catechins, found in green tea and cocoa; and quercetin, found in onions and apples. In a study of 30 adults aged 65–80, resveratrol supplementation combined with exercise improved measures of muscle strength, power and resistance to fatigue. Older adults taking quercetin during six weeks of resistance training produced more force with their knee muscles, but did not improve physical tasks such as rising from a chair.

Although these studies highlight some healthspan benefits, both tested supplements (not wholefoods), and neither assessed whether proposed calorie-restriction mechanisms caused the changes.

Another possible CRM, urolithin A, is produced by our gut bacteria when they break down substances called ellagitannins found in foods including pomegranates and walnuts. In a trial of 66 adults aged 65–90, urolithin A supplementation improved muscle endurance and measures of mitochondrial health, but did not significantly improve the study’s main outcomes: six-minute walking distance and the muscles’ capacity to produce energy.

A separate industry-sponsored trial in middle-aged adults reported urolithin A improved muscle strength, aerobic fitness and walking speed, but not peak muscle power. These results highlight functional benefits, but do not show that eating pomegranates or walnuts will produce the same effects, or that urolithin A can directly extend healthspan.

What should people do now?

Research into these compounds may help scientists understand how cells respond to nutrients and ageing. Current findings do not justify trying to obtain large doses of individual compounds, particularly from supplements.

More reliable evidence concerns overall habits. A 2025 study that followed more than 105,000 adults for up to 30 years found that several healthy dietary patterns were associated with reaching older age free from major chronic disease and with good cognitive, physical and mental health. These diets generally included plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes and unsaturated fats (such as omega-3s). Sufficient high-quality protein is also important for maintaining muscle, particularly in combination with resistance exercise.

Physical activity remains central to preserving function. UK guidance recommends that older adults undertake activities that improve strength, balance and flexibility on at least two days each week, alongside regular aerobic activity.

Foods containing proposed calorie-restriction mimetics can form part of a varied, nourishing diet. Mediterranean diets typically emphasise vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains, nuts and olive oil. Traditional Okinawan diets have centred on sweet potatoes and other vegetables, alongside soy foods and small amounts of fish. Both have been associated with healthy ageing, although these associations do not show that individual CRM compounds are responsible for their benefits.

Research in humans has yet to show that these compounds reproduce the effects of calorie restriction or extend healthspan. For now, the strongest evidence for ageing well supports a varied, nutritious diet and purposeful physical activity, while the benefits of CRM nutrients continues to gather scientific interest.