There will be chances of thundery showers in Manchester throughout the week

Greater Manchester is expected to face a week of rain and potential thunderstorms in a sudden shift following the recent heatwave.

Forecasters have predicted ‘thundery showers’ and periods of heavy rain this coming week across the region, with the weather to take a sudden turn into Monday (June 1).

The Met Office said on Sunday that the thunderstorms and heavy downpours are due to hit much of the UK in a ‘big change’ in conditions after the end of the heatwave, which saw temperatures hit record-breaking levels.

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The change in conditions come after the UK baked earlier this week, with 35.1C measured in Kew Gardens, west London, and 32.9C recorded at Cardiff’s Bute Park, on Tuesday.

In Manchester, according to BBC Weather, there will be chances of ‘thundery showers’ every day from Monday to Thursday. Temperatures will still be mild, between 16C and 18C, but there will be periods of heavy rain and cloud.

From Monday (June 1), a band of rain will move in from the west, and will continue for much of the day. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday will then see the potential for thunderstorms, particularly in early evenings.

It comes after the Met Office said there was a ‘big change on the way’, with strengthening winds, rain and thunderstorms affecting much of the UK this coming week.

Rebecca Mitchell, senior operational meteorologist at the weather service, said: “Going into next week, there is a big change on the way. We’ve got spells of rain, possible thunderstorms, and some strengthening winds through much of the week.

“The other part of the story is the temperatures will be much lower compared to the week just gone. They’ll be around average for the time of year, which typically is around 17 to 19 degrees in the north and around 18 to 21 degrees in the south, so about 14 degrees lower in some places compared to the previous week.”

On Monday, heavy rain is expected to cross the whole country. Ms Mitchell added: “We’re not expecting too many impacts from this because it has been so dry recently for many places, and actually for some areas the rain will be welcome, I think, for gardeners, farmers, anyone hoping for some rain.

“And then, following that, into Tuesday, we’ve got some heavy showers and potential thunderstorms. The main areas likely to see some thunderstorms would be central and southern areas, so Northern Ireland, northern England, southern England, and Wales.”

Booze, a secluded settlement in Arkengarthdale in the Yorkshire Dales, is home to only a small number of households but has become well known because of its quirky name and isolated location.

Despite what many visitors first assume, the name has nothing to do with alcohol.

The hamlet’s name actually comes from the Old English words “boga” and “hus,” meaning “house by the curved hill,” referring to the landscape overlooking Slei Gill and Arkle Beck.

Perched above Langthwaite in upper Swaledale, Booze is reached only by a steep, narrow single-track road winding up the hillside.

Its remoteness became national news in 2008 when Royal Mail announced it would no longer deliver mail directly to the hamlet due to health and safety concerns over the road’s steep gradient and difficult access.

The decision meant residents were left facing a round trip of around an hour to collect their post from Richmond.

Postal deliveries were eventually restored after improvements were made to the road by North Yorkshire Council.

Though tiny today, Booze was once much larger.

The 1851 census recorded 41 houses in the hamlet, with many residents employed in farming and lead mining, industries that shaped much of Arkengarthdale during the 18th and 19th centuries.

The surrounding hills are still marked by the remains of old mining levels and spoil heaps linked to the area’s industrial past.

Local legend also tells of a mining disaster near Boldershaw, where miners reportedly blasted into an underground lake, flooding the workings and drowning dozens of men and pit ponies.

Although historians have questioned parts of the story, it remains one of the Dale’s best-known mining tales.

Today, Booze is better known for its peaceful scenery and unusual road sign than its industrial heritage.

Visitors travelling through Arkengarthdale often stop for photographs beside the village sign, while walkers and cyclists exploring the Yorkshire Dales pass through the hamlet on routes across the surrounding hills.

Ironically, despite the name, there is no pub in Booze itself.

The nearest place for a pint is the nearby Red Lion Inn in Langthwaite, which has become famous in its own right after appearing in the television series All Creatures Great and Small.

Weather experts have warned of a ‘big change’ with rain, thunderstorms and strong winds

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A “big change” is predicted this week as thunder and heavy rain is set to replace the recent heatwave. The UK was scorched earlier this week with temperatures up to a record 35.1C measured in Kew Gardens, west London.

However, there will be a massive drop in temperatures going forward, including 17C to 19C in the North. The South, meanwhile, could see around 18C to 21C.

Rebecca Mitchell, senior operational meteorologist at the weather service, said: “Going into next week, there is a big change on the way. We’ve got spells of rain, possible thunderstorms, and some strengthening winds through much of the week.

“The other part of the story is the temperatures will be much lower compared to the week just gone. They’ll be around average for the time of year, which typically is around 17 to 19 degrees in the north and around 18 to 21 degrees in the south, so about 14 degrees lower in some places compared to the previous week.”

On Monday, heavy rain is expected to cross the whole country, particularly in parts of Wales, Ms Mitchell said.

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“We’re not expecting too many impacts from this because it has been so dry recently for many places, and actually for some areas the rain will be welcome, I think, for gardeners, farmers, anyone hoping for some rain,” she said.

“And then, following that, into Tuesday, we’ve got some heavy showers and potential thunderstorms. The main areas likely to see some thunderstorms would be central and southern areas, so Northern Ireland, northern England, southern England, and Wales.”

For the rest of the week, much of the county will see “unsettled weather” along with some sunny spells and highs of low-20Cs, she said. The cooler conditions come after at least 14 people died during the heatwave after getting into difficulties in bodies of water, prompting emergency services to issue safety warnings.

On Sunday morning, South Yorkshire Police said a search remained ongoing at the River Don in Mexborough after the force had received reports that an 11-year-old boy had entered the water on Saturday evening but had not been seen getting out.

Officers were called to the scene at Ferry Boat Lane at 7.59pm on Saturday and emergency crews from the National Police Air Service, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Services also responded, police said.

The boy’s family had been informed and were being supported by specially trained officers. Thousands of people in Kent were without drinking water or experienced disruptions to their supply over the weekend as South East Water continued to grapple with issues following the hot weather.

On Sunday evening, the company said drinking water supplies had been restored for “most customers” across the county, including those in Whitstable and Herne Bay.

Some 4,058 customers may still be experiencing low pressure or intermittent supply in areas including Whistable, Coxheath and Loose, South East Water said. The company apologised for the disruption and said it was working to resolve the issues.

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The BBC’s Paris correspondent, James Waterhouse, described the French capital as “jubilant” on Sunday as he reported from the Champ de Mars where fans greeted the Paris St-Germain (PSG) players after their Champions League win.

But celebrations were tainted on Saturday, as thousands of police officers were deployed to curb unrest that disrupted public services and left 219 people injured.

Eight people were in a serious condition following clashes between football fans and police, France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said.

French authorities said that 780 people were arrested in Paris after clashes.

More on this story here.

Carl: If he doesn’t have us playing like crabs going side to side again for another season and understands that central midfielders don’t play right-back then he’ll be an improvement that’s for sure. It would be a gamble but his style of football at Bournemouth is much closer to what we loved under Jurgen Klopp than anything Slot could bring. A risk worth taking.

Mike: Very happy with the Iraola approach. His attitude and work-rate, and that of his teams, is a better fit for Liverpool and what we need to right the wrongs of this season.

Mez: No-brainer. He’s been the manager of the season.

Mark: I have always enjoyed how Bournemouth played under Iraola and feel a similar excitement to when we announced Klopp. Thanks, Arne, we will never forget the 20th title, but a change is needed.

Alex: Iraola would be a gamble. Do Liverpool have the squad for heavy metal football now? We’re in a bit of a mess with last year’s signings still to settle in and older players leaving. Luis Enrique would be my choice. He might be tempted to take on a new challenge after Paris St-Germain’s Champions League victory.

Ken: I want Liverpool to take a bit of time to get this appointment right. Sporting director Richard Hughes needs to redeem himself by doing everything he can to persuade Luis Enrique to swap Paris for Liverpool. If that fails, then Iraola would be an acceptable alternative given his body of work in the Premier League.

David: I’ve got nothing against Iraola but this seems like a backwards step for Liverpool. I’d want a manager who has a proven track record of winning trophies, not one who delivers mid-table positions at the end of the season.

Paul: Iraola would be a risk. Bournemouth, and Brighton and Brentford, just seem to be a brilliantly run clubs and that no matter who comes in they punch well above their weight. When supposedly top managers leave these clubs they don’t do as well as is expected of them and this could also be the case for Iraola. I think we need to try and get a more experienced coach who will immediately command the respect of the dressing room.

Redcar and Cleveland Council hoped to save £55,000 a year by issuing youngsters attending Guisborough’s Laurence Jackson School with bus passes to use a timetabled Arriva service instead of their usual bespoke arrangement with Skelton Coaches.

But concerns were raised over child safety and there potentially being insufficient capacity on the 65 service, which would have dropped youngsters in the town centre instead of at the school, a 15 minute walk away.

Council leader Alec Brown scotched the officer proposal after mounting opposition from those affected, pledging that any future changes would have to be agreed by the council’s cabinet.

Parents of pupils living in Lingdale, Boosbeck, Margrove Park and Charltons were sent letters by the council stating that from September they would be expected to use the 65 service, which runs between Lingdale and Middlesbrough.

Parent Kirsty Walton said youngsters would potentially have to stand if the service was crowded, or worse still be left behind and miss lessons if a bus was at maximum capacity with a wait of another hour for the next one.

She said: “This is our child’s nearest secondary school and school transport should be provided in a safe and suitable manner if the distance is beyond three miles, which it is. 

“A public bus service cannot guarantee pupil safety, seating availability, punctuality, or safeguarding standards.”

Another parent said: “The issue is capacity.

“This simply does not seem realistic, safe or reliable for the number of children expected to use the service.”

Lockwood ward councillor Steve Kay said parents had successfully fought the planned change and it was a “victory against bureaucracy”.

He said: “I just hope that the council will continue to see sense.  

“School transport is an underrated, yet vital service [and] our children deserve the best.”  

Cllr Kay said typically about 60 children a day were provided with transport by Skelton Coaches on the route in question.

He said the proposal to switch to Arriva was a “money saving exercise”, adding: “Children are more important than the council’s bank account.”

Cllr Brown said the proposal came about as a result of an annual operational review.

He said he feared a scenario, particularly during cold winter months, where youngsters missed the return bus home.

He said: “To be stuck there an hour in the dark and cold would be unacceptable.”

Cllr Brown added: “We [the council] care.

“They [the officers] said give it a go and we said no.”

The council previously conducted a review of school transport, investigating the potential for savings to be made by examining existing arrangements, having overspent in this area by more than £1.5m in 2024/25.

Cllr Brown said officers had done “amazingly well” in this respect.

The local authority commissions transport from private providers, where appropriate, such as coaches, mini buses and taxis, as well as funding bus passes and in some instances contributing towards parents’ petrol expenses.

SWIFTS are swirling overhead as, catching my breath in the Italian heat, I reach the sanctuary of Madonna della Costa, high on a hill above Sanremo, having navigated a hotch-potch of steep lanes.

My climb is rewarded with sweeping views across the town and of the shimmering Mediterranean beyond. Just an hour and a half by train from Nice, the year-round mild climate here has, since the 1800s, made this made this a popular destination for those seeking sun, sea and exceptional Ligurian cuisine.

‘La Pigna’ is the historic heart of this Italian Riviera resort, its name coming from the concentric arrangement of streets, resembling the scales of a pine cone.

Originally built to keep the locals safe and trap any invading pirates, intruders losing their way would soon find their route blocked inside its labyrinth of lanes.

Six-storey colourful facades are connected by supporting mid-air stone arches, so the whole structure doesn’t just come tumbling down. It was built between the 14th and 17th centuries to cope with an expanding population wanting to live within the heavily defended city walls. It’s like exploring a medieval New York, and my neck aches from looking up to marvel at the ingenuity of it all.

Just a short stroll away lies Via Giacomo Matteotti, Sanremo’s lively pedestrian boulevard – the heart of everyday life here. This is the main shopping street, and it’s also home to the Ariston Theatre, which has hosted an annual Song Festival in February since 1977 (if you’re a Eurovision fan, this could be the time to go, as the winning song becomes Italy’s next entry). I step inside the historic ‘Daphne’ boutique, a Pandora’s box of floral silk scarves and botanical perfumes, famously favoured by Grace Kelly. Inquiring about price is clearly not the thing to do here.

A few streets on, I happen across a delightful square where the town’s market is in full swing and the locals are haggling over everything from antiques and leather handbags to freshly caught squid.

La Pigna. Photo – Kay Frances

Choosing a café in front of the action, I order an espresso (having learned it’s a crime in Italy to have a cappuccino after breakfast) and try to blend in, though my shorts are giving my tourist identity away.

Watching the locals still wrapped up in their winter coats and mohair jumpers, I apply another layer of factor 50.

In Nice, where I landed a few days earlier, I blended in with the hordes of visitors; here, I’m standing out like a sore thumb – but in a good way. “The Ligurians dress for the seasons”, a friendly local tells me, not for the weather!”

I’ve come to Sanremo for a spring break to experience a taste of luxury on the Italian Riviera at the recently renovated 5-star Europa Palace Hotel – my stylish room has a balcony overlooking the Med. The building is one of Sanremo’s Belle Epoque luxury hotels from the 1800s.

Now with its contemporary spa and obligatory rooftop bar, the hotel is maxing out on its prime seafront location. The 30 million Euro renovation by the Lagorio family has kept the historic facades intact and is seen as one part of what is known as a Sanremo modern renaissance.

Now famous for its music festival and bustling flower market, the biggest in Italy, and known as ‘La Citta dei Fiori” – city of flowers – Sanremo was once the playground of the English aristocracy, Russian nobility, travelling artists, and stars of stage and screen. The city still boasts its iconic Belle Époque architecture and is now in the midst of a tourism revival, especially popular with the French who can hop over the border using the punctual (and very affordable) coastal rail line. But apart from the sea, sand, and history, it’s descriptions of the Ligurian cuisine that have lured me to this stretch of coastline.

La Pigna. Photo – Kay Frances

After my 6pm aperitivo on the hotel’s panoramic rooftop terrace (think contemporary architecture, modern furniture and an age-old olive tree), I join friends in the Rêve Bistrot. Entertained by local jazz musicians we challenge ourselves to whittle down our antipasti, primi, secondi, contorni, and dolce to just three courses. Chef Alessandro Schiavon’s menu choice is cruelly seductive, but the wine selection made easier by our charming sommelier (who, incidentally, also imparted the crash course on which coffee to order and when). A fresh white Vermentino gets my taste buds tingling, ready for the main event. Can I manage four courses I ponder?

I plump for cuttlefish and baby octopus stew, with panissa (a delicious Ligurian fried appetiser made with chickpea flour) and Swiss chard cream, skipping the first course to leave room for the main – fried calamari and prawns with seaweed and garlic mayonnaise – before moving my belt a notch to enjoy a decadent red wine pear ‘stroscia’ cake with zabaglione (a decadent regional variation on this classic Italian pudding made with whipped custard and sweet Moscato wine). Sleep comes easily as I drift off dreaming of the next day’s menu.

As well as being perfectly placed along the train line between France and Italy, there’s a scattering of pretty towns and villages to visit in the surrounding hills. Curious to see Monet’s bridge, which he painted after declaring it to be “a jewel of lightness”, we head to the small medieval village of Dolceacqua.

Colourful square in Sanremo. Photo by Kay Frances

Hanging onto the heels of our local guide to avoid getting lost in its maze of medieval streets, and stopping by artisan makers of organic wines, soaps and perfumes, we reach the 12th-century castle and its keep, just as church bells ring out across the lush Nervia valley below.

Back at the winding seafront in Sanremo, there’s just time to build up an appetite for dinner. Taking bicycles from the hotel, we ride along the palm fringed coastline, a dedicated cycle route offering 33km of easy riding, passing beaches and pretty seaside villages. Lying directly in front of the Europa Palace Hotel, this promenade dates to the 19th century and owes its name to Maria Alexandrovna Romanova, wife of Tsar Alexander II of Russia. The story goes that during her stay in Sanremo in 1874, she was so captivated that she financed the planting of Washingtonia palms along the promenade and, in gratitude, Sanremo dedicated this stretch of coastline to the Empress.

Sanremo beach. Image – Kay Frances

After an afternoon’s cycling, a cinnamon and ginger body scrub in the hotel’s ‘Anemoi’ spa is the perfect tonic for any aching legs. Blissfully calm, it offers a Finnish sauna, a spacious Hamman, a generous indoor pool with waterfalls and underwater jets, plus an ice waterfall for the brave and a fully equipped gym. The tempting selection of spa treatments and scents; orange blossom, cedarwood and lemon and petitgrain, makes choosing a massage essential oil almost as tricky as choosing dinner (but not quite).

As if on cue, as aperitivo hour approaches, the spa quietly empties and we squeeze in a pre-dinner Aperol spritz on the rooftop terrace, whilst soaking up the last rays of sunshine. The deep blue Mediterranean stretches out before us, and the town’s Art deco casino begins to sparkle below. As the sun slips below the horizon, I return to the happy torture of choosing my next dish. Grilled octopus with Jerusalem artichokes instead of the rabbit, perhaps? A delicious Ligurian dilemma.

Europa Palace Hotel, Sanremo – www.europapalacesanremo.com

Since 2006, originally every two years but now annually since 2018, Soccer Aid has raised money in aid of UNICEF UK, through ticket sales and donations from the public.

From actors such as Tom Hiddleston, Owen Cooper and Danny Dyer to football legends Wayne Rooney and Jill Scott, there are plenty of huge names taking part.

Here is everything you need to know for this year’s match.

🏆 WE’RE BACK!
📆 Sunday, 31st May
🏟️ London Stadium
🎟️ https://t.co/DDfFFjyv9O

We can’t wait to celebrate 20 years of Soccer Aid for UNICEF with you! pic.twitter.com/7Y1bS2YXe6

— Soccer Aid (@socceraid) March 3, 2026

What are the Soccer Aid 2026 line-ups?

As with each year, the exhibition-style football match will once again be between England and the Soccer Aid World XI.

Each team is composed of celebrities and former professional players representing their countries, and is the only mixed-sex match officially sanctioned by The FA.

The England team is as follows:

Managers: Robbie Williams, Harry Redknapp and David Seaman

Legends: Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, Jill Scott, Jack Wilshere, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jade Moore, Joleon Lescott, Theo Walcott, Steph Houghton, Toni Duggan, Joe Hart

Celebrities: Tom Hiddleston, Paddy McGuinness, Owen Cooper, Danny Dyer, Damson Idris, Angryginge, Chloe Burrows, Jack Whitehall, Jordan North, Sam Thompson, Joe Marler, Olly Murs, Tom Grennan, GK Barry, Alex Brooker

The Soccer Aid World XI team is as follows:

Managers: Usain Bolt and Clarence Seedorf

Legends: Tim Cahill, Jordi Alba, Leonardo Bonucci, Lukas Podolski, Michael Essien, Dimitar Berbatov, Nemanja Matic, Ali Krieger, Edwin van der Sar, Jen Beattie. 

Celebrities: Ethan Payne, Dermot Kennedy, Maisie Adam, Nicky Byrne, Chris O’Dowd, Richard Gadd, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Simon Neil, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Molly McCann, Tobi Brown/TBJZL, Big Zuu, Frankie Dettori, Nabhaan Rizwan

The ROW/World XI team narrowly leads the head-to-head, with eight wins to the England team’s six.

Last year’s match saw the World XI team win 5-4 at Old Trafford in Manchester.

This year, the match is being held at the London Stadium, which is the second time it has been played there.

When is Soccer Aid on?

Soccer Aid 2026 is free to watch in the UK and will be on ITV1 from 5pm tonight (May 31), with kick off at 6.30pm.

This year’s fundraising could help UNICEF create safe spaces in crises, deliver vital vaccinations and nutrition, support learning, and so much more to protect every child’s right to play. 

Will you be watching Soccer Aid this year? Let us know in the comments.

The five-part programme will follow Leo (Cumming), a bar owner in Manchester’s gay district of Canal Street.

He ends up getting embroiled in a feud with his long-standing neighbour Clive (played by David Morrissey).

The synopsis for Tip Toe reads: “Just as life should be settling down, the world around them is growing more tense.

“Words become weapons, opinions become radicalised, and gradually, two neighbours become deadly enemies in a tense, suburban thriller which challenges everything we consider to be safe.”

Tip Toe examines rising prejudice and hate crimes towards the LGBTQ+ community.

Speaking about the show, Russell T Davies shared: “I think it’s a crisis happening day after day – and it’s anyone.

“Everyone’s being weaponised against [each other].

“You could make a Jewish version of this drama, you could make a disabled version of this drama, women could make this drama.

“I see straight white men who could make this drama, feeling marginalised.

“It’s the temperature of the dialogue and the argument and the pitch of it – all driven by our phones – that’s alarming me greatly.”

Tip Toe full cast list for Channel 4 series

• Alan Cumming as Leo Struthers
• David Morrissey as Clive Goss
• Elizabeth Berrington as Stephanie Dale
• Pooky Quesnel as Marie Goss
• Jackson Connor as George Goss
• Paul Rhys as Melba
• Iz Hesketh as Zee Malone
• Andy Moss as Eddie
• Ania Marson as Bridget
• Joseph Evans as Saul Goss
• Gabriel Clark as Mikey Driscoll from Bolton
• Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo as Judy Khumalo
• Shakeel Kimotho as Hanna Ayomide
• Jolyon Benson as Frederic Hopper
• Kamil Borowski as Michal
• Dominic Holmes as Regime from Bolton
• Jackie Love as Miss Dixie
• Munya Mswaka as Kofi Musah
• Hamza Medley as Kabir Sharma
• Garon Akbar Clark as Vivaan Sharma
• Jake Waring as Alex Badderley

• Tyler Dobbs as Trent
• Imran Adams as Kwame Mbusi
• Steven Hillman as Tommo Brookes
• Jack Craig as Bradley Tuckshop Tucker
• Charles Humphreys as Olly
• George Kent as John
• Clare Calbraith as Maggie Sullivan
• Charlie Condou as Curtis Baxter
• Peter Caulfield as Dave
• Rae O’Brien as Lucille
• Stephen Bailey as Benny
• Callum Mardy as Robin Sparks
• Denise Welch as Diane Vazey
• Alex Williams as Rajesh
• Colin Connor as Connor Brady
• Hassan Maarfi as Hashim Habib
• Dale Monie as Craig Calloway
• Sophia Smith as Molly

Recommended reading:

When will Tip Toe be on TV?

Tip Toe’s first episode will air at 9pm on Sunday, May 31 on Channel 4, with the second episode following a day later in the same timeslot on Monday, June 1.

The remaining three episodes will air at 9pm on Sunday, June 7, Monday, June 8 and Tuesday, June 9.

Episodes will also be available to watch on Channel 4’s streaming service.

Will you be watching Tip Toe on Channel 4? Let us know in the comments.