The Southport killer’s parents bear considerable blame for the deadly mass stabbingattack, which could and should have been prevented, a damning inquiry has found.
A bombshell report from the Southport Inquiry found a string of missed chances to halt violence-obsessed teenager Axel Rudakubana before he unleashed his attack of “unparalleled cruelty” on a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop on 29 July 2024. The horrific stabbing claimed the lives of three children and left eight more girls and two adults wounded, sparking riots across the country.
Chairman Sir Adrian Fulford concluded that “this terrible event could have been – and should have been – prevented”. He said that “it is almost certain” that the tragedy would have been stopped if the killer’s family had shared the full extent of their concerns with authorities in late July 2024.
He also placed blame at the door of the multiple agencies that allowed Rudakubana to fall through the cracks, stating that the killer’s “trajectory towards grave violence was signposted repeatedly and unambiguously”.
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The prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and Shabana Mahmood, home secretary, agreed the report exposed “systemic failures” and vowed to make changes to protect the public.
In the damning 763 page report, Sir Adrian found:
A “fundamental failure” by any organisation to take responsibility for managing Rudakubana’s “grave risks”, adding that police missed two occasions to arrest him for carrying a knife
There were missed opportunities over many years to intervene by his parents and other agencies, warning some safeguards were “ineffective or inadequately used”, while others “failed outright”
Rudakubana’s “deeply problematic behaviour was too frequently excused on the basis of his perceived or diagnosed autism spectrum disorder”
The killer became “ever more fixated on extreme violence” after spending the majority of his waking hours “wholly unsupervised” online, where he viewed increasingly disturbing content
“Significant parental failures” hid crucial information from officials in the days leading up to the attack and allowed knives and weapons to be delivered to his home
(Left to right) Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar were murdered in the Southport attack (PA)
Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were murdered when Rudakubana, then 17, entered The Hart Space, armed with a knife in summer 2024. He also attempted to murder eight other children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, class instructor Leanne Lucas, and businessman John Hayes. The 19-year-old, who was simply referred to as “the perpetrator” or “AR” in hearings out of respect to victims and their families, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 52 years.
The inquiry, held over nine weeks at Liverpool Town Hall last year, heard from more than 100 witnesses, 67 who gave live evidence, about Rudakubana’s involvement with health services, social care and education, and the three referrals to anti-terror programme Prevent that were made, and closed, before he carried out the attack. Home secretary Yvette Cooper announced the inquiry in January 2025 after Rudakubana’s contact with these various bodies emerged.
In a statement delivered at Liverpool Town Hall as the report was published, Sir Adrian said: “I have no doubt that if appropriate procedures had been in place and if sensible steps had been taken by the agencies and AR’s parents, this dreadful event would not have happened. It could have been and it should have been prevented.”
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He continued: “AR’s trajectory towards grave violence was signposted repeatedly and unambiguously. Yet the systems and agencies responsible for safeguarding the public did not act with the cohesion, urgency or clarity required.”
Chairman Sir Adrian Fulford said the obligation was to provide answers to victims and their families (PA)
Commenting on the parent’s handling of the teenager, who he described as an “aggressive, near total recluse”, he added: “If the full extent of AR’s family’s concerns had been shared with authorities in late July 2024 – including on the day of the attack – it is almost certain this tragedy would have been prevented.”
Sir Adrian acknowledged Rudakubana had placed his parents in an “extremely difficult position”.
“Their life at home must have become little short of a nightmare, given, to use the words of his own father, AR had turned into a monster,” the chairman said.
However he found the couple, Alphonse Rudakubana and Laetitia Muzayire, had “created significant obstructions” to engagement with him by various agencies and failed to stand up to his behaviour and set boundaries, as well as failing to report a clear escalation in his risk.
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He said: “If AR’s parents had done what they morally ought to have done, AR would not have been at liberty to conduct the attack and it would not therefore have occurred.”
But, he said it should have been “obvious” to those in a position to act that Rudakubana was not being “effectively parented”.
Both Rudakubana’s parents, who moved to the UK from Rwanda, gave evidence to the inquiry from remote locations.
His mother told the hearing: “There are many things that Alphonse and I wish we had done differently, anything that might have prevented the horrific event of July 29 2024. (For) our failure, we are profoundly sorry.”
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Violence obsessed Rudakubana had become a ‘near-total recluse’ at his family home in Old School Close, Banks (PA Archive)
Sir Adrian said Rudakubana had “clearly revealed the extreme danger that he presented to others” more than four years before his attack, when he went his former school, the Range High School in Formby, armed with a kitchen knife and a hockey stick and attacked a student.
The inquiry chairman said the incident in December 2019, for which the teenager received a 10-month referral order, was a “watershed event” and should have led agencies to conclude he posed a “high risk of harm to others”.
The inquiry heard between 2019 and 2024, Rudakubana was referred to anti-terror programme Prevent three times, but the referrals were closed. He purchased a number of weapons, including three machetes, online as well as ingredients he used to make the poison ricin.
Sir Adrian said as time passed, interaction between Rudakubana and organisations became “at best, something of a token”.
The chairman recommended the second phase of the inquiry should consider appointing a single agency to monitor interventions for children presenting a high risk of serious harm. He also said it should consider abilities to restrict or monitor their access to the internet.
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The families of the survivors warned “this must not happen again” as they called for urgent steps to address 67 recommendations made in the report.
Nicola Ryan-Donnelly, of law firm Fletchers, represents the families of 22 of the wounded children.
“The physical and emotional scars inflicted on them are a daily reminder of something that we now know could and should have been prevented,” she said.
“They have bravely shared their stories with this inquiry, reliving the horror of that day, in the hope that things can be done, change can happen and that no other family will have to suffer as they have.
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“We ask that where recommendations have been made, those individuals and agencies to which they are addressed, take action now. Not tomorrow. This must not happen again.”
Nicola Brook, solicitor at Broudie Jackson Canter, representing the three adult survivors, said her clients were heroes who have suffered a “deluge of unjustified criticism on social media”, which she called to end.
“The report crystallises one of our key concerns throughout – that every organisation tried to shirk responsibility, and that there was a disturbing lack of leadership,” she added. “This is not the first time we have heard this at an inquiry.
“It is evident, time and time again, that there is a culture within government agencies to place their own reputations above their fundamental duty to protect society, and a failure to properly reflect on their conduct once presented with clear evidence that they failed on multiple occasions.”
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Axel Rudakubana during a preparatory hearing at Liverpool Crown Court (PA Media)
Prime minister Keir Starmer described the findings as “truly harrowing and profoundly disturbing” as he described the murders as “one of the darkest moments in our country’s history”.
Responding to the report, he added. “It sets out in stark detail the systemic failures over the five years that led to this terrible event, and the repeated missed opportunities that could have prevented it.
“While nothing will ever bring three little girls back, erase the trauma from those injured, or undo the lasting impact on those who witnessed such horror, I am determined to make the fundamental changes needed to keep the public safe.”
Home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, added: “Sir Adrian’s report is heartbreaking. It shows a systematic failure of the state to prevent a vile and sickening individual perpetrating this atrocity.”
Widespread rioting and civil unrest that erupted across the country following the murders has not been examined.
A second phase of the inquiry will be informed by the findings of phase one and is expected to focus on the risk posed by young people with a fixation, or obsession with, acts of extreme violence.
Mark Wynn, chief executive of Lancashire County Council, issued an apology and promised to implement the report’s recommendations in full.
“We are deeply sorry for the failures identified and for the part we played in the systemic shortcomings that preceded the attack in Southport,” he added.
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“We know that no words can ease the grief of the families who lost loved ones, or the pain of those who were injured and traumatised.
“Since 2019, we have made substantial changes to our safeguarding practice, and the chair’s findings will inform our continued improvement. We are committed to implementing all recommendations directed to us in full.”
Chief Constable Rob Carden, of Merseyside Police, said the force welcomes and acknowledges the findings. He paid tribute to families of Elsie, Bebe and Alice, adding: “It is incumbent on all the organisations referred to by the inquiry to act on the recommendations made to ensure everything possible is done to prevent this from happening again.”
‘Your kindness, love and support have been a great comfort to us.’
The family of popular Belfast barman Blake Greer expressed “their sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks” to everyone who reached out with sympathy and support following the death of their beloved son.
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Blake Greer passed away suddenly on April 11, bringing much sadness to his family, friends and colleagues. He was described as a “witty, kind and charismatic” young man who brought smiles to the faces of everyone that he met.
The Greer family have issued a statement on social media via Charles Rourke & Sons Funeral Directors where they have thanked Blake’s friends, former colleagues and everyone who reached out to offer them sympathy and support following their beloved son’s sudden death.
It said: “The family of the late Blake Greer wish to express their sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks to all those who sympathised with them and supported them following the sudden loss of their beloved son Blake. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who called to our home and to the funeral home, to all who sent messages of sympathy, attended the funeral or helped us in any way.
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“Thank you to Blakes friends and colleagues who shared their stories and cherished memories of Blake. Your kindness, love and support have been a great comfort to us. “We extend our thanks to all our neighbours and friends from Cathedral View and Cathedral Park for their kindness at this difficult time. “To those who made a donation to CRY in memory of Blake. “We offer our heartfelt thanks to Rev Alan Burke for the most beautiful and very personal service of thanksgiving for Blake. “We extend our deep appreciation to the emergency services, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and the doctors and nurses of the Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Hospital Belfast for their exceptional care and compassion. “We would also like to thank Charles Rourke & Sons Funeral Directors, for their guidance, professionalism, and for the dignity and respect with which the funeral arrangements were carried out. “A special word of thanks to the Management and staff of the Northern Whig and Denvirs Hotel for their thoughtfulness and generosity at the most difficult time. Their kinds words and tributes to Blake were deeply touching. “As it would be impossible to thank everyone individually, please accept this acknowledgement as a token of our family’s deep appreciation and gratitude.”
“The police told me at the time he will get a new identity and he’ll go under the radar with nobody knowing who he is.”
The mum of murdered teen Paige Doherty has said her daughter’s killer will receive a new identity upon his release from prison.
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The 15-year-old was killed in a savage attack launched by John Leathem who left her with more than 140 wounds after she visited his takeaway in Clydebank on March 19, 2016. Letham, who pled guilty to murdering Paige, was originally sentenced to 27 years behind bars before his sentence was reduced to 23 years following an appeal.
Paige’s mother, Pamela Doherty, has now claimed police told her that the evil murderer would be given a fake ID if he was ever to be released, concealing his brutal crime for anyone who encounters him.
Speaking on the Jim King Podcast, Pamela said: “The police told me they were hopeful that he would receive one of the highest sentences for a child killer.
“If he is to ever get out, he will have to show remorse and admit why he did it.
“But the police told me at the time he will get a new identity and he’ll go under the radar with nobody knowing who he is.”
Paige failed to show up for her part-time job at a hair salon after having slept at friend’s house on March 19, 2016. A neighbouring shopkeeper to her killer’s Delicious Deli told cops Leathem had closed his shutters and kept them down for an hour or so that morning after Paige entered his store around 8.15am and didn’t leave.
Leathem even went into the nearby shop to buy bleach, gloves and bin bags. Pamela was later called by Leathem to reassure her that Paige hadn’t come into any harm in his shop before phoning her again the following day offering to supply rolls for the family during their search for Paige – but they refused his offer.
The schoolgirl’s body was discovered on March 21 in a woodlands off Great Western Road. Pamela was taken to the mortuary the next morning and saw Paige’s head tilted to one side – which she later learned that was to hide most of the dozens of stab wounds, cuts and slashes to her neck, face and head.
In March, we reported that Paige’s mum, Pamela, had challenged her daughter’s killer to meet her face to face, as she searched for answers on why he murdered her in a fit of violence.
She said: “I want him to face me, look me in the eye and tell me why he took my daughter’s life when she had so much ahead of her.”
Just four months after Paige’s death, Pamela set up the charity, Paige’s Promise, in her honour and she continues to support other families who had lost children in tragic circumstances.
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Police Scotland, SPS, SCTS and the Crown Office were approached for comment.
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Jo Platt, of Leigh and Atherton, has made a public statement asking the prime minister to announce a ‘clear and measured timetable for his resignation’.
The MP said that her call for resignation came from conversations with her constituents, who are ‘losing faith’ in labour and ‘demanding change’.
MP Platt then stated that the National Executive Committee should allow Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to stand for the position of Labour leader.
(Image: UK Parliament)
MP Platt said: “Last week’s local lection results sent a clear message. In Leigh and Atherton, and in communities across the country, voters are losing faith in our party and demanding change.
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“Keir Starmer is an honourable man who las led with integrity and professionalism. I believe he entered politics for the right reasons – drive by despite to improve the lives of working people. I also recognise the difficult inheritance this government faced, and the important achievements it has delivered in office.
“But the reality is that progress is nit being felt quickly enough by the people we were elected to serve, and Labour heartlands are now collapsing in front of us.
“The message from the constituents is clear and consistent: they want change, including new leadership. As the MP for this constituency, it is my duty to be honest about what I am hearing from residents on the doorstep.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham (Image: Newsquest)
“As a movement we cannot progress under this leadership. That is why I am calling on the prime minister to announce a clear and measured timetable for his resignation, with an orderly transition of leadership to take place by September. This must not be a moment of chaos, but a moment of honesty, renewal, and democratic accountability.
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“I also believe the National Executive Committee should allow Andy Burnham to stand, so that members and supporters can have a genuine choice about the future direction of the Labour Party.
“This is not a call made lightly. But leadership means listening, even when the message is difficult to hear. The country wants change and hope, and our party must now show that it is capable of delivering it.”
Last week’s local elections saw Reform take nine council seats in Bolton, with Labour only winning two seats out of the 20 contested.
Several high-profile labour councillors lost their seats, including former council leader Nick Peel.
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Labout lost 1,460 council seats throughout the country, in areas such as Birmingham, Redditch, Hartlepool, Tameside, Hyndburn, and Cannock Chase.
In Wigan, the results were even more stark, with Reform winning 24 of the available 25 seats
With no leadership contest in sight, he has a degree of political space to bequeath a positive political legacy to his successor.
He could – although this would be inadvisable – maintain the status quo.
This would mean depending on UK Labour for cash, data and staff, as well as Scottish MPs being part of a wider group in the Commons.
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It would also mean continuing to take the political flak in Scotland for decisions made hundreds of miles away in London.
Scottish Labour’s chances of winning the Holyrood election in 2031 would be linked to a more favourable political climate emerging at Westminster.
This “fingers crossed” strategy would outsource the party’s chances in Scotland to a failing UK party.
The next Scottish Labour leader could produce the best manifesto ever written, but success would be determined by events outwith their control.
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Another option would be to seek greater autonomy from Labour south of the border.
But this has been tried before and voters make no distinction between Labour at Holyrood or Westminster.
A more credible option – if Scottish Labour wants to stand or fall on its own merits – may be to become an independent party, even with a new name.
This would involve becoming financially self-sufficient and having full control over policy and personnel.
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Scottish Labour would be a separate party at Westminster with their own whipping arrangement.
They could break sharply with UK Labour on welfare or oil and gas jobs without facing any consequences.
Lord Haughey, who has helped bankroll Labour for years, recently outed himself as a supporter of the plan.
He said: “I’ve said for years and years and years that maybe we should look at an independent Labour Party in Scotland.”
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Former party MP Brian Wilson, never an enthusiast for devolution, also wrote recently about a much looser arrangement between Scottish and UK Labour:
“This re-setting of the relationship would strengthen rather than weaken devolution because it would transcend the dividing line between what is reserved and what is devolved.
“It should be perfectly natural for Scottish Labour to take a different line from Westminster Labour on either side of that distinction, without childish charges of it being a “split”.”
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And Monica Lennon, who lost out at the Holyrood election, wrote in 2020:
“We either continue at the mercy of the UK party’s distant structures or we become a party in our own right.”
She added: “If we look like a pressure group within a UK party structure, we will continue to be rejected.”
Becoming a separate party could be followed by producing a policy platform that chimes with voters.
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Some Scottish Labour figures will inevitably counter that severing ties would be too difficult and result in the loss of shared resources.
But holding on to shared spreadsheets seems trivial compared to winning elections at Holyrood.
Twenty seven years of devolution have resulted in Scottish Labour collapsing from 56 MSPs to 17.
They have fallen from 908,346 constituency votes in 1999 to 440,708 last week.
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Sarwar will not lead his party into the next Holyrood election and will likely be gone by the end of the year.
He has racked up two defeats in a row and will be wondering if he has any sort of legacy.
Creating a party that will be given a hearing by voters would fit the bill.
The order is for the A666 to be shut between 8pm and not reopen until 6am.
The closures will be in place overnight for three weeks to allow resurfacing works to take place.
This week the carriageway will be shut from 10pm until 6am up to and including Friday, according to signs placed at the slip road and National Highways.
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This will prohibit all traffic from going on to St Peters Way, northbound carriageway towards Bolton from Kearsley Roundabout to Topp Way, to allow the works to take place.
Alternative route is via Farnworth, Manchester Road, Bradshawgate, Manor Street, Bank Street, Bow Street, Bridge Street.
National Highways states: “Overall Scheme details: M61 northbound M61Nb Kearsley Spur to St Peters Way – carriageway for works on behalf of Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council.”
The popular bakery announced that it will be selling sausage rolls and other treats to holidaymakers jetting off from the Canary Islands airport.
Greggs previously operated shops abroad in Belgium in 2008, but said Tenerife was “the ideal location to test spreading our wings in an overseas setting”.
The company said the store in the international departures area will serve a range of bakes, rolls, sweet treats, and freshly-made sandwiches.
An artist’s impression of what the Greggs Tenerife South Airport branch will look like (Image: Greggs/PA Wire)
A Spanish Omelette Roll will be served for breakfast, along with freshly squeezed orange juice, prepared and bottled in-shop daily.
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The bakery chain says the seating area will have a capacity of up to 92 customers.
Tenerife South Airport receives around 13 million tourists every year.
Half of those come from and go to the UK.
Saying the location was the perfect way to round off a trip without breaking the bank, Greggs chief executive, Roisin Currie, said: “Tenerife South Airport is a hub for millions of UK and international passengers each year, making it the ideal location to test spreading our wings in an overseas setting.
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“It’s an exciting milestone for Greggs as we bring a slice of home to the Canaries, and we’re confident our great-value offering will resonate just as well under the Spanish sun as it does on the UK high street.”
Lagardere Travel Retail will work with Greggs to open the shop.
The business operates more than 5,000 stores in airports, railway stations, and other locations in over 50 countries worldwide.
Greggs planning to open 120 new bakeries in the UK in 2026
Sales growth was also supported by the expansion of its delivery business and an increase in evening trade.
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More recently, like-for-like sales across its managed shops grew by 1.6% over the first nine weeks of 2026, with total sales up 6.3% on the back of store openings.
This announcement came despite a fall in statutory pre-tax profits, which dropped by 17.9% to £167.4 million for the year to December 27, compared with a year earlier.
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Greggs shared that this was partly linked to the tough market backdrop and a “spell of particularly hot weather” which knocked high street footfall.
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It also told shareholders that total sales grew by 6.8% to £2.15 billion over the year, with like-for-like growth also buoyed by its continued store opening programme.
Will you plan to try out the Greggs store if you’re heading to Tenerife this year? Let us know in the comments.
Kirsty from Westhoughton and Zenub from Bolton are taking part in the final week of the heats, which leaves just 12 amateur cooks still with a chance of storming their way to MasterChef stardom.
It’s no easy journey as the first group of six are about to find out.
They must win over the judges and earn the right to wear a MasterChef apron. With the competition kicking up a gear, the contestants are battling for a place in the last quarter-final.
MasterChef (Image: BBC/Shine TV)
Q&A with Kirsty
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Kirsty is 41 and lives in Bolton with her wife Alison and their daughter.
How would you describe your style of cooking?
My style of cooking is classical but comforting with a bit of extra flair here and there. Just enough to make it interesting without messing with what makes a dish great in the first place. Big flavours and food that brings people together.
I’m a proud Northerner and I love cooking the classics – proper food, done right. Sunday roasts are a weekly occurrence in our house, no questions asked. For me, cooking is about getting people round the table and making sure everyone leaves full and happy. That’s what it’s all about and when I’m in my happy place.
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How did you get into cooking?
I got into cooking when I was really young, helping my Nanna Jean in the kitchen. Me and my two sisters used to have sleepovers at hers most Saturdays, and come Sunday, we all knew our job because Sunday dinner wasn’t making itself! In our family, a proper Sunday dinner happened every single week without fail. No excuses.
Nanna Jean ran a tight ship in that kitchen, and that’s where I learned the basics—how to bake, how to cook properly, and most importantly, how to make food that actually tastes good.
What is your earliest cooking memory?
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Those Sundays are my earliest cooking memories, and without doubt why I still love it now. It was never just about the food – it was about everyone being together, having a laugh, and sitting down to a proper meal.
What is your favourite ingredient to cook with and why?
It changes all the time to be fair, I’ll get obsessed with something for a few weeks and then move on, but if there’s one thing that’s in most of my cooking, it’s got to be garlic.
I absolutely love the stuff. The more, the better (within reason). It just makes everything taste better, great flavour, no fuss. If a recipe says one clove, I’m probably putting three in without even thinking about it. It’s just one of those ingredients I can’t cook without.
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Unless it’s a pudding… although, who knows, it could work?
Who would be your dream dinner party guest?
Honestly, if I could choose anyone, it would be my Nan. Just one more Sunday with her would mean everything. Sunday dinners were and still are such a big thing in our family, and she was at the heart of it all. Those are the moments that stuck with me and shaped how I cook today.
We light a candle for her every Sunday and have her at the top of the table. It’s our way of keeping her with us. I’d give anything to sit down with her again, have a proper Sunday dinner, and just be together like we used to. She was my biggest critic, and I’d always look for her approval after the first mouthful – either an approving nod… or a shake of the head followed by, “That’s not your best.”
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Why did you enter MasterChef this year?
I just felt like the time was right… maybe something in the stars. I’ve been talking about going on MasterChef for as long as I can remember, but there was always an excuse not to do it. Then we lost my Nan last year, and it really hit me that this is something I’d always promised her I’d do.
One of my friends kept reminding me that the deadline was coming up, so I finally stopped making excuses, took a bit of time out, filled in the application, and sent it off.
And then I was on the whirlwind journey! The fact I actually made it onto the show still doesn’t feel real.
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Do you have a dream of working in the food world? What is it?
My dream would be to have my own little wine and spirits shop, maybe with a deli vibe, but with a few tables so I could scratch my cooking itch! Nothing too fancy – just a cosy spot with great food, a really good glass of wine, and maybe a cocktail or two that end up stronger than planned. Basically, somewhere people pop in for one and accidentally stay all night.
Outside of cooking what are your passions?
I love socialising with friends and family, having people round, hosting get-togethers, and especially firing up the BBQ in the summer. There’s nothing better than a house full of people, good food on the go, and a few drinks flowing.
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In the summer months, you’ll usually find me playing rounders in the Bolton Ladies Rounders League. I’ve been with the same team since my teens and I absolutely love it – it’s a bit of fun, very competitive, and a great excuse to be out in the sun or rain!
Most of all, I love spending time with my wife and daughter, whether that’s a relaxed night in or a busy day together, it’s those moments that matter most.
Q&A with Zenub
Technology consultant, aged 33
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Zenub lives in Bolton with her parents and brother.
How would you describe your style of cooking?
My cooking style reflects my identity – I’m British-Pakistani, so you’ll find a lot of that reflected in my food.
Growing up, my dad cooked many European dishes (he lived in Europe for ten years), such as fresh bread on weekends, lemon cake, French-style salads, and lots of pasta. My mum’s style of cooking is deeply rooted in Pakistani culture and we enjoy a lot of hearty, fragrant delicious meals. My travels also heavily influence my cooking; I love buying fresh herbs and spices abroad and recreating those dishes at home.
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How did you get into cooking?
My mum, nan and aunts are my biggest cooking influences. My mum grew up on a farm, and our annual holiday visits to the farm in Pakistan instilled in me a love for fresh seasonal cooking. Everything was made from scratch; the wheat from the farm was used to make fresh bread in the tandoor oven in our garden, and the milk from our buffaloes was used to make butter and yogurt.
My nan and aunts only used what was in season, and we all loved that farm-to-table approach. Even now, although no one lives at the farm anymore, when I visit them, they still recreate that taste of home.
What is your favourite ingredient to cook with and why?
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Without a doubt, my favourite ingredient to cook with is chicken. It’s budget-friendly and accessible, incredibly versatile – there’s a cut for every dish and occasion and a fantastic protein source that absorbs flavours really well.
Who would be your dream dinner party guest?
Dream dinner party guest would be Nigella Lawson as she is my all-time favourite chef. Her cooking style is effortlessly chic; she makes cooking seem approachable and not at all daunting. Most of her dishes are simple, flavourful, and easy to make.
Why did you enter MasterChef this year?
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This opportunity has allowed me to explore my creativity and step outside my comfort zone! As a long-time fan, watching MasterChef has been one of my favourite pastimes, so the chance to contribute to a show I’ve followed for years has been an incredible and surreal experience.
Do you have a dream of working in the food world? What is it?
I’m a creative person and would love to share my recipes online. I’d also love to open a Pakistani inspired coffee shop serving small plates.
Outside of cooking what are your passions?
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Besides cooking, I love to travel, exploring new places, cultures, and cuisines. I try to take as many holidays abroad as possible. Any excuse to escape the rain!
Imran Bashir, 50, was found dead at his home in February
A man charged with murder has pleaded not guilty in court. Imran Bashir, 50, was found dead at this home in Gladstone Street, Peterborough on February 4.
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A murder investigation was launched into his death. Cambridgeshire Police charged Filippo Femminile, 31, of Ellindon in Bretton, with his murder.
Femminile has appeared at Cambridge Crown Court on Monday (May 11) for a plea and trial preparation hearing. The 31-year-old pleaded not guilty to murder.
A trial date has been set for Monday, September 7, at the same court. The trial is expected to last between two and three weeks.
Casemiro clarified his stance on leaving Manchester United earlier this month with the midfielder now discussing the 2026 World Cup
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro wants Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti to select Neymar in their World Cup squad to be the team’s game changer this summer.
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Neymar, 34, has not played for the national team since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee two-and-a-half years ago. The country’s all-time top scorer needed minor surgery on the same knee late last year and had another procedure during the last international break.
After leaving Al-Hilal almost 18 months ago, Neymar is back playing for his boyhood club Santos. He has now returned to form and fitness days before Ancelotti names his Brazil squad.
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Casemiro is convinced. He said during an appearance on the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube Channel: “My decision, yes, but (the) decision you need to (make) first is (tell him), ‘hey, Neymar, you don’t play every game.’
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“He plays every game. For me, it’s not perfect for him, I think he comes, and the game is not finished, the game is new, new. And (contributing) a special assist, a special goal is (the role) for him.”
Ferdinand added: “He could change the game,” and Casemiro agreed: “Yeah, change the game, and we don’t have this player in this moment, we don’t have, so, for me, in my opinion (yes), but it’s Ancelotti’s decision.”
Asked about the importance of his relationship with his former Real Madrid coach who reintroduced the United star to the international setup last year, Casemiro said: “I have good, very good feelings with him.
“He’s my friend, he’s my friend, I know what he likes, what he doesn’t like, I know everything, I’ve known Ancelotti for a long time, he’s (been) my friend for a long time, so I know sometimes I push here, I don’t push here, I know everything about Ancelotti.
“Ancelotti is in the top three in the world. In the last 15 years, he’s (been) the best. He’s the best, so Ancelotti is not just my manager, he’s my friend.”
Asked what makes the Italian special, Casemiro explained: “For me, the first thing is (that) he talks about what the players like to lose. You know? What the players like, and ‘I give you one thing, you give me this’, but it’s impossible to win with just a good manager, you need a good tactic, tactical.
“You need to know about this; it’s impossible to have just one good thing. For winning trophies, you need everything, but for me, the best thing is a very good manager, he understands the players.”
The 34-year-old told ESPN that there is no chance of him changing his mind and staying. Casemiro said: “I don’t think there’s a chance, there’s no chance, mostly because of what I said, you know? Go out the big door.
“I think it was four beautiful, wonderful years, and I am eternally grateful not only to the club, but to the fans, but I think I have to leave on good terms, I have to go out on top. “I will be an eternal United fan here in England, and I just have to thank all the love from the fans.”
Head to the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel to watch part 1 of the full interview live from 8am on Tuesday, 12th May.
Members of the British Army have parachuted onto the remote Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha to help a British national with suspected hantavirus.
Two paratroopers jumped in tandem with an intensive care nurse and a specialist doctor. Medical supplies were also delivered.
The patient left MV Hondius, the cruise ship hit by a deadly outbreak of the virus, in mid-April at Britain’s most remote inhabited overseas territory, where he lives.
Captain George Lacey, who jumped with the Pathfinders Platoon, based at Colchester Garrison, said high winds made it the mission “a particularly tricky one”.
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He said the team would be on the island for a few days awaiting recovery, because “sadly, you can’t parachute back off the island”.
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