Weather maps show snow could fall in Belfast, Manchester and Glasgow on Sunday, with the Met Office warning of unsettled wet and windy conditions across the UK over the Easter weekend.
Ethan Blackshaw Deputy Publishing Lead (Mirror) and Emma O’Neill Content Editor
21:29, 31 Mar 2026Updated 21:29, 31 Mar 2026
Advertisement
Meteorological projection charts indicate snowfall will arrive in certain regions of the UK during the prolonged Easter break.
The ECMWF weather model indicates some flurries will strike the extreme north of Scotland on Friday afternoon – though more extensive snow is likely later during the weekend.
The ECMWF charts for Sunday depict snow descending on Belfast, Manchester and Glasgow around noon, with intermittent wintry showers anticipated throughout northern England and Northern Ireland, while substantial snow blankets western areas of Scotland.
The Met Office has warned Brits to anticipate “unsettled” conditions throughout the Easter weekend, with an “increasing likelihood of wet and windy weather” for certain regions, reports the Mirror.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Steven Keates, said: “As we head into Good Friday and Easter Saturday, the weather is expected to turn more unsettled, with spells of rain at times, some of which could be heavy. This will be followed by sunny spells and showers, with the driest conditions likely towards the southeast of the UK.”
“It is also likely to become windy at times across all areas, particularly in exposed north-western locations. While there remains some uncertainty in the detail at this point in time, there is a strong signal for wet and windy conditions to continue into the Easter Weekend.” BBC meteorologists have also indicated that blustery and damp weather is expected.
Advertisement
The BBC prediction states: “Stronger winds could develop during the Easter weekend, with gales possible across parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland as a vigorously deepening low pressure circulation approaches.
“There’ll be some heavy rain, and it could also turn wet in Wales and the north and west of England as a frontal system edges across. Southern and eastern England may stay dry until late in the day or overnight.
“Sunday will be a chillier and showery day, with frequent and often wintry showers across northern and western Scotland. Sunny spells could be interrupted by sharp showers elsewhere. Southern and eastern England should see the fewest showers and the most sunshine.”
The closure of the waterway, which transports a fifth of the world’s oil supply, is rocking international markets and sending fuel costs skyrocketing.
Brits were already facing a financial squeeze before the conflict began at the end of February.
Advertisement
The latest Which? consumer insight tracker – recording from the month leading up to March 13 – found half of UK households are now making at least one adjustment, like selling their possessions or getting loans, to cover the cost of essentials on a daily basis.
The watchdog also found 67% of UK adults are now expecting the national economy to worsen over the next year.
However, the government has urged the public to carry on as usual while it puts “contingency plans” in place.
Keir Starmer also launched Labour’s local elections campaign on Monday by insisting his party understands “most people are concerned most of all about the cost of living”.
Advertisement
In a separate statement, the prime minister promised the public that they “have a government on their side, working with allies on de-escalation and bearing down on the cost of living.”
But, he admitted: “We must go further to bear down on costs, and that means pushing for de-escalation in the Middle East and a re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
“That is the best way we can bring down the cost of living for families and that is my focus.”
Here’s a quick look at the measures the government is introducing on Wednesday – and their effectiveness…
Advertisement
1. Increasing The National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage
The government will be increasing the National Living wage to £12.71.
That works out to a £900 increase for 2.4 million workers aged 21 and over.
More than 200,000 young workers – those aged between 18 to 20 – will also enjoy a hike of £1,500 per year as the National Minimum wage goes up to £10.85.
Advertisement
The director of the Living Wage Foundation, Katherine Chapman, said last November – when the change was announced – that this was “a really positive move’.
However, she claimed: “It will still fall short of the voluntary real Living Wage which is the only wage rate based solely on the cost of living.
“The real Living Wage is currently £13.45 in the UK with a higher rate of £14.80 in London.”
Chair of the Low Pay Commission, Philippa Stroud, also warned about the impact rising wages would have an businesses.
Advertisement
She said in November: “In our discussions this year with workers and employers alike, it has been clear that no one is having an easy time.”
2. Cutting Energy Bills
The energy regulator Ofgem has decided the energy price cap will be set at £1,641 per year between April 1 and June 30.
That’s a decrease of 6.6% compared to between January 1 and March 31, when the annual price cap was at £1,758.
Advertisement
However, the April-June cap was decided prior to the breakout of the Iran war.
The next cap, from July to September, will likely go up as a result of the conflict.
The government has suggested it may implement some targeted households for those most in need, rather than the universal support offered by Liz Truss’s government in 2022.
Advertisement
Jess Ralston, the head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said: “Bills going up again because of war thousands of miles away will be a tough pill to swallow for households still saddled with debt from last time.”
3. Freeze On Prescription Prices Extended
NHS prescription charges in England have been frozen at £9.90 per item for the 2026/27 financial year to help with financial pressures.
Prescriptions will still be free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Advertisement
However, the Prescription Charges Coalition’s Laura Cockram pointed out that people living with long-term conditions who are not exempt still feel the cost is too high.
She said: “No one should have to worry about affording the medication they need to stay well, so although a freeze on prescription charges is more welcome than an increase it’s not enough.
“Unlike in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, people in England with Parkinson’s and other long-term conditions still have to pay for the prescriptions they need to manage their health. The UK government must rethink.
“At the least, the government should review the prescription charge exemption list so people with long-term conditions like Parkinson’s, MS, asthma, HIV don’t have to pay an ill health tax.”
It’s money from the government which can be used for people struggling with a financial shock or unexpected finances. The fund will be focused on those who are in or close to poverty, disabled or in older households.
Anyone can apply for the fund for money towards their energy bills, food, clothing and furniture.
Advertisement
It will replace the Household Support Fund which has now ended.
It’s thought the government may pump extra cash into the fund if fuel and energy costs do rise in the summer.
Anti-hunger charity, the Trussell Trust, welcomed the news, calling it a “major milestone”.
“Effective crisis support is crucial to prevent people from falling into severe hardship, so they can still afford the essentials we all need,” the charity said.
Advertisement
However, it warned there is still work to do and “is not a substitute for the deeper reforms needed to the inadequate rates of social security which fail to protect people from going without the essential day to day”.
Hot cross buns are an Easter tradition, but this recipe has a savoury twist on the classic that beats any supermarket version
It feels as though New Year’s Day was only yesterday. In the blink of an eye, Easter is now just around the corner, even if the seasonal treats have been filling supermarket shelves for months.
Advertisement
I grew up in a household where traditional Easter fare, such as hot cross buns, never made an appearance. I have a sneaking suspicion this was down to neither of my parents being particularly fond of them… it must have been the mixed spice. I’m all for bucking the trend, and unusual flavours appear to be very much on the hot cross bun menu at supermarkets this year.
I stumbled across one particularly intriguing recipe, which swaps out the sweet flavourings of a hot cross bun for a savoury spin. Anyone tempted by cheese with their hot cross buns?
That’s right – triple cheese hot cross buns. As the years go by, I’ve certainly noticed my palate gravitating more towards savoury rather than sweet, and these really caught my eye.
Advertisement
If mixed spices, peel, or even fruit aren’t to your liking, this recipe harnesses a variety of cheeses to deliver bags of flavour. You’ll need a combination of grated cheeses alongside cubes of mature cheddar, reports the Express.
The recipe from Good Food featured in one of its magazines last year, and it’s taken me well over a year to finally give it a go. Even for the most inexperienced home baker, this recipe couldn’t be more straightforward. All it requires is just a touch of patience for proving.
The secret to ensuring the buns aren’t heavy once baked is getting the dough just right. During kneading – whether by hand or with a stand mixer – the dough needs to be soft and stretchy.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Overall, the dough requires a total of two hours and 15 minutes proving time, provided it takes that duration to double in volume. As I mentioned, patience is essential.
Advertisement
For the cheese selection, I went for a Sainsbury’s packet of ready-grated cheese containing mozzarella, cheddar, Double Gloucester and Red Leicester. That’s in addition to the diced mature cheddar. You can never have too much cheese.
Each bun undergoes a complete transformation in the oven. The moment I removed them from the oven, the recognisable aroma of every mouth-watering bakery wafted through the kitchen. To achieve a subtle shine, simply brush the tops of the buns while they’re warm with a mixture of milk and caster sugar.
For me, I’d serve these warm – or even toasted – with a liberal spread of butter. They’re like a thicker, softer take on cheese on toast.
I’d choose cheesy hot cross buns over a traditional hot cross bun any day. This recipe suits anyone who’s had their fill of chocolate Easter eggs and sugary snacks.
Might I suggest, cheese-flavoured hot cross buns surpass the original? Could they match up to supermarket versions..?
Triple Cheese Hot Cross Buns
Ingredients
500g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
7g fast action dried yeast
One tbsp caster sugar
75g salted butter, cut into cubes
300ml whole milk, warmed to room temperature
One egg
200g mixed cheeses (mix of cheddar, red Leicester and parmesan), grated
100g mature cheddar, cubed
One tsp dried mustard powder (optional)
Eight thyme spring, leaves picked (optional)
For the cross
For the glaze
Advertisement
Two tbsp milk
One tbsp caster sugar
Method
In a large bowl, combine the bread flour, yeast, sugar and one teaspoon of salt. Add the butter and rub it into the flour mixture until it resembles breadcrumbs.
Pour in the warm milk and egg, mixing until a soft dough forms.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for eight to ten minutes until smooth and elastic. Alternatively, use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook for five minutes.
Fold in the grated mixed cheeses and cubed cheddar, kneading until evenly incorporated throughout the dough. If you’re using mustard powder and thyme, work them in at this stage too.
Advertisement
Roll the dough into a ball and place it in a lightly oiled bowl. Drape a tea towel over the top and leave it to rise somewhere warm for an hour to an hour and a half, or until it has doubled in size.
Once risen, tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knock it back to remove any air pockets. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and shape each one into a bun.
Place them on a baking tray with a small gap between each. Drape a tea towel over the top and leave to prove for a further 45 minutes, or until nicely puffed up.
Preheat the oven to 190/170 (fan)/gas 5. In a small bowl, combine the plain flour with just enough water to create a thick paste.
Advertisement
Spoon into a piping bag (or a sandwich bag with the corner snipped off) and pipe a cross on top of each bun. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. While the buns are in the oven, prepare the glaze by warming the milk and sugar in a small pan until the sugar has dissolved. Put to one side.
When the buns emerge from the oven, promptly brush the glaze across the hot buns to create a shiny finish. Leave the buns to cool in the tin for roughly ten minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool down fully.
A Scottish man who is allegedly a high-ranking member of an international crime gang is set to be deported to Spain after being arrested in Bali.
Steven Lyons, 45, was taken into custody by immigration officers at Ngurah Rai International Airport on Saturday on arrival from Singapore. Untung Widiyatmoko, head of Interpol Indonesia, later confirmed his arrest.
He is wanted in the UK and Spain for alleged organised crime, drug trafficking and money laundering, as well as a murder that took place in Spain in 2024.
Lyons, who has been on Spain’s wanted list for about two years following a murder case there in 2024, will be extradited to Spain on Wednesday, Indonesian authorities have said.
Advertisement
A picture taken on Tuesday shows him in an orange prisoner’s suit as he’s escorted by two police officers in Bali’s capital of Denpasar.
Bali police chief Daniel Adityajaya said the arrest was part of a joint investigation involving Spanish and Scottish police.
Advertisement
He said the 45-year-old was alleged to be the leader of “a large-scale transnational criminal organisation involved in narcotics trafficking and money laundering”.
According to Widiyatmoko, Lyons is alleged to have led a crime ring that used shell companies for money laundering in Europe and the Middle East – including in Spain, Scotland, England, Dubai, Qatar, Bahrain and Turkey.
He said police in Scotland and Spain last week carried out raids in connection with Lyons’ case, resulting in multiple arrests with the help of Europol – a European Union law enforcement cooperation hub – and also Turkey, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.
Scottish media have reported that Lyons survived a 2006 shooting in Glasgow that killed his cousin and later moved to Spain before settling in Dubai.
Advertisement
Last May, his brother and an associate were shot and killed in a suspected gangland shooting at a beachfront bar in Fuengirola, southern Spain.
Roberto De Zerbi will be the new Tottenham manager (Getty Images)
They are winless in their last 13 Premier League games, their longest run without a top-flight success in 91 years and endured an embarrassing 5-2 capitulation against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash before a futile second-leg success served as their only win under Tudor, who was a left-field appointment when he replaced Thomas Frank in February.
But the club has opted for ex-Brighton and Marseille coach De Zerbi, who left the Ligue 1 side in February. It was initially thought that the 46-year-old was only happy to join Spurs at the end of the season, once he knew their league status, but has had a change of heart and will become head coach immediately to try and steer them away from the drop. He has signed a long-term deal, with no relegation clause.
A Tottenham statement said: “We are pleased to announce the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as our new men’s head coach on a long-term contract, subject to work permit.”
In a statement accompanying Tottenham’s announcement, De Zerbi insisted he is committed to the club’s “ambition for the future”. The Italian lasted less than two seasons in his previous two spells at Brighton and Marseille, and he has been immediately thrown into a relegation battle.
Advertisement
“I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world,” said De Zerbi. “In all my discussions with the club’s leadership, their ambition for the future has been clear – to build a team capable of reaching great achievements, and to do that playing a style of football that excites and inspires our supporters. I am here because I believe in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to give everything to deliver it.
“Our short-term priority is to climb the Premier League table, which will be the complete focus until the final whistle of the last game of the season. I’m looking forward to getting out on the training pitch and working with these players to achieve that.”
De Zerbi developed a reputation for possession-based, attacking football while in charge of Benevento and Sassuolo in his homeland before a spell at Shakhtar Donetsk was cut short by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He joined Brighton and secured European football for the first time in the Seagulls’ history during his first season in charge – ultimately reaching the last 16 of the Europa League during the following campaign.
That success saw him linked with managerial vacancies at giants such as Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool and Bayern Munich but his relationship with Brighton hierarchy completely broke down, leading to a mutual parting of ways at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Advertisement
He then joined Marseille, finishing second in Ligue 1 in 2024-25 but leaving by mutual agreement in February 2026 after a Champions League exit in the league phase and a 5-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain domestically.
De Zerbi left Marseille in February (Getty Images)
When he was linked with the Spurs job, three Tottenham fan groups urged the club not to make the appointment, due to the Italian having backed controversial Marseille forward Mason Greenwood during his time in charge.
Ex-Manchester United attacker Greenwood was charged in October 2022 with one count of attempted rape, one count of controlling and coercive behaviour and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm over allegations relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online.
The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges in February 2023 owing to a “combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses” and due to “no realistic prospect of conviction”. Greenwood has since resumed his career and joined Marseille in 2024.
In November, De Zerbi described Greenwood as a “good guy” who had paid a “heavy price” and added: “It saddens me what happened in his life, because I know a totally different person than the one who was described.”
Advertisement
Mason Greenwood was defended by De Zerbi during his time in charge of Marseille (Getty Images)
Tottenham fan groups Proud Lilywhites, Spurs Reach and Women of the Lane all started a “No to De Zerbi” campaign due to the Greenwood association.
Proud Lilywhites said at the time: “We’ve seen the reports linking Roberto De Zerbi with the Tottenham job and honestly, it doesn’t sit right. As Proud Lilywhites, we care deeply about this club, not just what happens on the pitch, but what Tottenham stands for off it. This isn’t just about results or style of football. It’s about values, identity, and the kind of people we choose to represent us.”
In a statement following De Zerbi’s appointment, Proud Lilywhites said: “Whilst we disagree with the managerial choice, in terms of culture and competence, we will continue to support the players without pretending to be comfortable with the appointment.
“Staying silent is not the answer. But choosing when and where to be vocal matters. Managers come and go. Executives come and go. Players come and go. Fans remain. We are the constant in this club. We will continue to represent the views of our members to the club, alongside the other supporter associations. This is not noise or reaction. It is a considered position, and it is not going away.”
Standing in their way, though, is Jamaica, still reeling from the shock resignation of manager Steve McLaren. He hung up his coach’s whistle in November after overseeing a humiliating 2-0 defeat by Curacao, also missing out on automatic World Cup qualification. But the Reggae Boyz have been in fine form since replacing him with Rudolph Speid. They are unbeaten in five, most recently beating New Caledonia 1-0.
Stockton Council has announced this will affect various roads in Thornaby as part of a temporary traffic regulation order.
Starting from April 7, several roads will undergo temporary closures, as outlined in a drafted order available for viewing on the council’s website.
Provisions are also in place to introduce a one-way system on Baysdale Road, Thornaby, and temporarily revoke the prohibition of driving restrictions on Bassleton lane, Thornaby.
Advertisement
The order may continue in force for a maximum period of eighteen months.
Stockton Borough Council propose to make an Order under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the Highway Authority being satisfied that access to the said road should be prohibited because works are being or are proposed to be carried out on or near the road.
For more notices affecting YOUR area, visit our Public Notice Portal – Public Notices from The Northern Echo (publicnoticeportal.uk).
The police and emergency services will be informed of the closures prior to the works commencing.
Access for pedestrians and emergency services will be maintained through the works.
Bus services will be affected.
Advertisement
The restrictions and roads affected are specified in the draft Order and plans which can be viewed on the Council’s website (Traffic Orders).
The English singer-songwriter, 60, on learning to appreciate good fortune, the benefits of stoicism, and being a trucker in another life
My morning ritual is …
I get up, go out, take a long walk and maybe get a coffee and some scrambled eggs somewhere.
Advertisement
I feel optimistic about …
My life. As I get older, I’ve learned to appreciate just how lucky I’ve been. When I see things that are on the horizon for us, like the gigs we’re doing this year, I think “Oh, you jammy bastard!” I don’t want to ever forget how lucky I am.
What makes me angry …
Unkind people. Social media’s brought that to the fore. People are downright awful about other people. They’ve got no idea what that person’s life’s like, but they’re willing to jump in and say a snide remark for anybody in the world to hear. The world is a bit unkind at the moment.
Advertisement
Solutions every Saturday Uplift your inbox with our weekly newsletter. Positive News editors select the week’s top stories of progress, bringing you the essential briefing about what’s going right. Sign up
If I wasn’t a singer-songwriter, I’d have liked to have become …
A drummer. But I also really like driving long distances, so maybe a trucker in America would be cool. I’ve done some long drives in America, and the radio goes from country to rootsy country to cowboy country – it changes as you go.
The habit that has served me best in life …
Advertisement
Being aware enough to be able to appreciate things. Don’t get me wrong – I can be an arsehole and I can moan about the size of sandwiches backstage at a gig. But generally the world I’ve been lucky to be in is full of people who moan about everything. It comes with insecurity.
The habit I’ve successfully kicked …
I don’t eat anywhere near as many sweet things as I used to. I’m one of those people who will get a chocolate bar, snap a bit off, have an espresso, then I’m done. I don’t need to eat the chocolate bar. In my 30s and 40s, I would’ve wolfed it down. I just don’t have a sweet tooth for it anymore.
There’s something in rock music that’s primeval and gut-wrenching, and lifts you out of something
My sources of joy are …
Advertisement
Being with family friends. When you have the end of your life not that far down the road, you think “These are the moments…” One of my favourite things is to be on a beach on a holiday with friends and family, a little gang of you, the sun beginning to go down, and someone says “Anyone ready for a rosé?” I’m, like, “This is the best moment in life.”
When things get tough I …
Go for a walk and listen to music. There’s a band called Biffy Clyro and some of their music completely changes my mood. Foo Fighters do that, too. There’s something in rock music that’s primeval and gut-wrenching, and lifts you out of something.
The book I wish everyone would read …
Advertisement
The Road Less Travelled by M Scott Peck. It was a game-changer for me when I read it 30 years or more ago. It’s a therapy self-help book. I did quite a bit of therapy in my late 20s and into my 30s, and, along with having an actual therapist, this book made me think differently about things.
‘I’m happy where I am. I wouldn’t want to change it,’ says Rick Astley
Advertisement
The big thing I’ve changed my mind about in life …
When I was young, I thought the rich and privileged lived a problem-free life. But no matter how you were brought up, everyone has problems.
What keeps me awake at night …
When I’ve had too much to eat and drink. There’s very little that’ll keep me awake, but I do wake up early in a morning if I’m working on a track I’m excited about and sneak off into the studio.
Advertisement
The thing that motivates me most of all …
The fear that it will all go away. It’s not a God-given thing to be where I am. 10 years ago, we weren’t playing arenas and we wouldn’t have three new albums to play from. It will go away, because that happens to everybody. But it’s about “When? How long can we hold on to it?”
I know when to talk to people and when to go ‘I’ll keep that one to myself’
My parents taught me …
My mum and dad worked hard and had a lot on their plates. They lost a son when they were very young, before I was born. They were very stoic. They taught me sometimes to keep hold of something yourself, maybe have a think about it, rather than telling everybody all the time, which is not always a good thing, but sometimes it is. I know when to talk to people and when to go “I’ll keep that one to myself. I’ll just let that one stew for a while before I want to talk to anybody about that.”
Advertisement
I have this theory that …
The world as we see it is only a sliver. I’m not a conspiracy nut but I do think that the world has been formatted in a way, like, we have a Prime Minister or President and they’re in charge. But I don’t think they’ve ever been in charge. Nowadays, they don’t run anything. We live in a world where you have to think about yourself and the way you live it because no one else is going to sort it out for you.
I’d like to tell my younger self …
To enjoy your 20s a bit more. I became a bit more introverted because of what happened to me – having that hit record and a few others. But I won’t wish it was different because I’m happy where I am. I wouldn’t want to change it.
Advertisement
Rick Astley is playing gigs across the UK for his Reflection tour from April 10-25. His autobiography, Never, is also out now in paperback (Pan, £10.99). See rickastley.co.uk.
Photography: Alex Lake
Be part of the solution
At Positive News, we’re not chasing clicks or profits for media moguls – we’re here to serve you and have a positive social impact. We can’t do this unless enough people like you choose to support our journalism.
Advertisement
Give once from just £1, or join 1,800+ others who contribute an average of £3 or more per month. Together, we can build a healthier form of media – one that focuses on solutions, progress and possibilities, and empowers people to create positive change.
England were beaten by Japan at Wembley as the team, without Harry Kane, lacked much of a spark with Thomas Tuchel yet to beat a team ranked inside the world’s top 20
21:55, 31 Mar 2026Updated 21:58, 31 Mar 2026
Advertisement
As Wembley send-offs go, this felt more like a tearful farewell.
The only blessing is that this time at least the World Cup is not just around the corner. Otherwise England would be in real trouble. Thomas Tuchel brought back most of England’s big guns and yet actually raised more questions than answers in a flat and disjointed performance.
It also served as a timely reminder that England without Harry Kane look pedestrian, blunt and toothless. Kane missed England’s final Wembley warm-up with a foot injury and they look a pale of their best without their talisman, leader and main goal threat.
There are 78 days between this game and England’s opening World Cup fixture against Croatia on June 17 and this will be a wake-up call and brutal reality check all rolled into one.
Advertisement
England have yet to beat a team in the top 20 under Tuchel and any thoughts that they might go onto rule the world this summer seem somewhat fanciful. Japan are ranked 19th, England are fourth but were given a proper schooling and they could not beat Uruguay last Friday and were beaten by Senegal last summer.
As soon as they have played anyone halfway decent they have come up short and, rather worryingly, Croatia are 11th in the FIFA rankings. The problem was that England simply tried to squeeze as many of their best players into the same line-up and yet it looked horribly unbalanced.
It showed that Phil Foden and Cole Palmer probably cannot play in the same starting XI and England ended up with a raft of No10s but none of them looked capable of playing like a real No9 let alone a false one. Foden started as the false nine but it was another night of frustration for the out-of-form Manchester City forward who was hooked before the hour.
Advertisement
Palmer was given licence to roam, Anthony Gordon was on the left while Morgan Rogers started centrally but then drifted to the right. But they all got lost in the mayhem.
And, lo and behold, England’s best early opportunity came from a Palmer set-piece. Japan could not clear and England’s players queued up to try and get a shot in. But they were all blocked. All this effort, all this talent and all this planning. And you are relying on set-pieces. You could sense the frustration in the Wembley crowd.
Japan’s fans took up a huge chunk of the stadium because they sold out their allocation in a sell-out crowd. They helped create a real buzz and atmosphere – and they soon had even more to cheer about. It was Palmer who clumsily lost possession, robbed in midfield by Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma who spread the ball wide to Keito Nakamura.
Advertisement
Japan winger Nakamura had so much space in England’s right hand channel it was embarrassing and also talked to a lopsided, unbalanced and ill thought out formation.
Where was the right side? There was no-one manning the right wing and Ben White had gone AWOL at right back. This was a really bad night for White. Nakamura stormed forward, cut the ball back for Mitoma who was storming into the box and he steered a low shot – which got a nick off Nico O’Reilly – and flew into the bottom corner.
Elliot Anderson crashed a shot off the top of the crossbar as England tried unsuccessfully to find a way back into the game. But Tuchel’s men looked vulnerable in defence. Ayasa Ueda saw a shot deflected against the bar. Ritsu Doan saw another effort blocked by Jordan Pickford’s legs.
Advertisement
England went through a raft of changes and Marcus Rashford came on and made a difference again – but even he could not save Tuchel from defeat.
Join our new WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of MirrorFootballcontent. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The Banksy of Bricks, (well LEGO® ones anyway) – Hampshire’s very own ‘Bricksy’ has teamed up with local charity – Level Up Gosport and produced an exciting new Modern Heritage Trail featuring twenty six LEGO® inspired mosaics placed at key heritage locations in the High Street, the Pier, and Stoke Road areas of the town.
Death in Paradise is over once again with fans having to wait until December for its Christmas special.
20:25, 31 Mar 2026Updated 20:30, 31 Mar 2026
Advertisement
The BBC has confirmed it will broadcast not just one but two popular shows in Death in Paradise‘s slot this week.
Death in Paradise series 15 came to an end last week with DI Mervin Wilson (played by Don Gilet) getting acquainted with his cheeky niece Eloise Clarke (Avah Cotterell).
Viewers have since been questioning what will be shown instead in the beloved cosy crime drama’s time slot, with the BBC now revealing the return of two programmes.
This Friday (3 April) will see the comeback of long-running satirical news quiz Have I Got News For You, presented by actor and comedian Roy Wood Jr, at 9pm.
Advertisement
He will be accompanied by satirist and writer Armando Iannucci, journalist Anushka Asthana, as well as team captains journalist Ian Hislop and comedian Paul Merton.
Following Have I Got News For You at 9.30pm, which would typically be halfway through a fresh Death in Paradise episode, comes the debut of sitcom The Young Offenders series five.
The Irish comedy-drama chronicles the misadventures of teenagers Conor MacSweeney (Alex Murphy) and Jock O’Keeffee (Chris Walley) who become entangled in petty crimes and unexpected romances.
Advertisement
The Young Offenders, which is adapted from the 2016 film of the same name, was originally inspired by real-life events, following one of the largest cocaine seizures in Irish history in 2007.
A small vessel encountered difficulties off the coast of Cork and as two men attempted to stay afloat, a staggering 1.5 tonnes of cocaine was subsequently recovered from the sea.
Since its premiere in 2018, fans have been unable to resist lauding the sitcom, with some dubbing it “Irish comedy at its finest”.
Advertisement
One viewer remarked: “An absolute gem. I loved the film but this is far better.”
They added: “Give them both a watch you won’t regret it!”
Another labelled it as “utter genius” before stating: “The best Irish comedy since Father Ted. It’s a must see.”
Another individual commented: “Hard not to binge! Every episode had me in stitches.”
Advertisement
They continued: “I’m not usually one for comedy but this show is gold.”
While another enthusiast contributed: “Just brilliant! What else can be said, loved it.”
Have I Got News For You returns on Friday, April 3, at 9pm, and The Young Offenders season five premieres at 9.30pm on BBC One.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login