Mike Gordon, president of Liverpool’s principal owners Fenway Sports Group, added in a statement: “Richard joined us at the start of a period of change, embracing that responsibility by leading our football operations department and overseeing recruitment while also providing valuable support to our coaching staff.

Wands at the ready, Harry Potter fans, because HBO has shared an exciting new update from the wizarding world.

Yesterday, they announced who will be playing Dobby and Tom Riddle in the upcoming small-screen reboot of the magical franchise.
​
Am I Being Unreasonable? Star and Bafta winner Lenny Rush will be playing Dobby the House-Elf in the show’s second series, replacing Toby Jones, who voiced the character in the Harry Potter films.
​
Reacting to the news on Instagram, Lenny, 17, revealed how excited he was to be joining the show’s cast.
​
‘I am over the moon to be joining the magical world of HBO’s Harry Potter series as Dobby,’ he wrote.
​
‘Even littler me (a massive Harry Potter fan, as you can tell) wouldn’t believe it! Very excited to join this amazing franchise.’

Meanwhile, Billy Barratt, who starred in the recent superhero movie Kraven the Hunter and the excellent horror movie Bring Her Back, will be playing Tom Riddle.
​
Riddle is, of course, the dark lord Voldemort’s real name, although the wicked wizard doesn’t like it when people dare to call him Tom (what’s wrong with that name, Voldemort?).
​
Marking the announcement, the 19-year-old leaned into Riddle’s secretive nature, sharing a suitably coy post on Instagram which simply read: ‘Riddle me this…’

The pair aren’t the only new names joining the Wizarding World. Bonnie Hill will take over the role of Ginny Weasley from Gracie Cochrane.
​
Gracie will play Ginny in Season 1; however, she will not be returning for Season 2.
​
In a statement shared with People, Gracie and her family explained the reasons for making this ‘challenging decision,’ citing ‘unforeseen circumstances’.

‘Her time as part of the Harry Potter world has been truly wonderful, and she is deeply grateful to Lucy Bevan and the entire production team for creating such an unforgettable experience,’ the statement continued.
​
‘Gracie is very excited about the opportunities her future holds.’

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video

Advertisement

Earlier this week, HBO shared a new trailer for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which gave us our best look yet at the new cast and Hogwarts.
​
The show will star Dominic McLaughlin as the titular ‘Boy Who Lived’, as well as Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.
​
The new golden trio will be joined by an all-star cast, including Paapa Essiedu, John Lithgow, Janet McTeer and Nick Frost.
​
The series will debut at Christmas 2026 on HBO and will be available to stream exclusively on HBO Max in the UK & Ireland.

MORE: Rupert Grint returning to Harry Potter as Ron Weasley in Broadway show

Advertisement

MORE: Nicholas Hoult fans say damage is done despite him quitting Harry Potter: ‘Still icky’

MORE: Andrew Rannells: ‘My father died when I was 22 – it was a lot to process’

Comments


Add as preferred source

TV Newsletter

Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.

Advertisement

Similarly, reader Paul Isaacs, a dentist, believes that “squirting stuff between teeth isn’t that good at removing a sticky biofilm”.

“If we don’t clean between the teeth properly it’s a bit like only washing your left side in the shower,” he adds.

For Paul, it’s the technique that matters, not necessarily the technology. “Toothbrushes are a personal thing, you can do a great job with manual or electric, if you do it right.”

“Getting bits of peanut out from between the teeth is not effective cleaning when it comes to gum health, so water jets are second rate,” he says.

“The gold standard is mechanical cleaning, in basic terms if you don’t wrangle it off, the biofilm won’t shift.”

The readers tempted by Dyson

These readers, however, are more optimistic about this new technology and can see how it could become a sophisticated investment, remembering when the electric toothbrush was dismissed when it first launched.

As a Dyson enthusiast, reader Irena Stoynova, 41, from Farnham, was excited to hear about the launch of the CameraJet: “It’s because of the trust I have in the brand.”

As the owner of a variety of Dyson products from the hair dryer, fan and purifier and vacuum cleaner, Irena has found their products to be “innovative, effective and reliable”.

“They are the best in class,” she adds. “I believe that if somebody is going to disrupt the market it is going to be Dyson.”

Bread is a staple in many Welsh kitchens, but it can go stale within days and end up in the bin. Hovis says one common storage habit can make it go dry faster — and a simple switch can keep it fresher for longer.

Bread is a staple found in millions of homes across the UK, yet it can deteriorate surprisingly quickly. Within just a few days, it can turn stale or even develop mould, which is understandably frustrating.

This often results in unnecessary food waste, with uneaten loaves being thrown away before they can be finished. There is, however, a straightforward way to keep your bread as fresh as possible for longer.

Simply changing how you store it can make a significant difference to its taste and texture.

Many people opt to keep their bread in the fridge, believing it is an effective way to preserve freshness. However, bread maker Hovis has cautioned against this approach.

The company stated: “Bread stales faster in the fridge due to a process called retrogradation. This occurs when starch molecules crystallise as the bread cools, drawing out moisture and leaving the texture dry and crumbly.

“While refrigeration does slow down mould growth, it significantly speeds up staling.”

Any bread displaying visible patches of mould should not be consumed. Attempting to cut away the affected area is not advised, as the mould’s roots can penetrate far deeper into the loaf than is visible to the naked eye.

How to store bread to make it last longer

Rather than reaching for the fridge, Hovis recommends returning to the trusted bread bin. It explained: “A classic choice for a reason. Bread Bins provide a cool, dry environment with just the right amount of air circulation to prevent excess moisture and mould growth.

“Stay on top of crumbs, though! We advise cleaning out your bread bin weekly so bread stays fresher for longer.”

It is also worth keeping shop-bought bread in its original packaging. Most loaves come with a sticker or plastic ties to lock in moisture and preserve freshness, or alternatively, a peg can be used to seal it shut.

Should the bag become damaged, transfer the bread to an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag.

Ensure your bread is kept at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. Store it away from heat sources or damp areas, as these conditions can accelerate spoilage.

Place your bread in a bag inside a cupboard or on the worktop, and within a bread bin.

How to freeze bread

Freezing is the best option if you wish to store your bread for an extended period. Hovis said: “Consider freezing half the loaf to keep it fresh longer and taking out individual slices as needed. Wrap it in foil or freezer-safe bags to prevent freezer burn.

“You can then thaw the slices at room temperature or pop them straight into the toaster. You can even make a sandwich using frozen bread, which will thaw by lunchtime, keeping it fresh and ready to eat.”

He was rushed to hospital from the scene

A person has tragically died after being found unresponsive near Piccadilly station. Officers were called out to London Road, near to Piccadilly Station Approach, at 6.50am this morning (September 5).

Greater Manchester Police says a male was taken to hospital after being found unresponsive, but he sadly later died. His age has not been confirmed.

A large cordon was in place on London Road this morning between Aytoun Street and Store Street. Officers had erected a blue forensic tent on one part of the pavement.

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

Forensics investigators attended the scene and were seen gathering photographic evidence. They appeared to focus on a blood-stained jacket and on the pavement at one point.

It has not yet known how this is connected to the person’s death. GMP says enquiries are at an early stage. The cordon has since been lifted.

Advertisement

A GMP spokesperson said: “Officers were called to reports of a male unresponsive on London Road at 6:50am this morning (5 September). The male was taken to hospital where he has since sadly passed away. Enquires remain ongoing.”

A private jet believed to be carrying US President Donald Trump‘s son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff has touched down in Moscow.

It comes after Trump said on Friday that the envoys were heading to Moscow and Kyiv in Washington’s latest bid to reach a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

US outlet Axios reported they would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday, and then President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Sunday. The Kremlin declined to comment.

Trump told reporters that the two negotiators would seek to gauge whether progress towards peace was possible.

It comes as Zelensky announced today that Russia carried out ‘deliberate’ strikes on Ukrainian airports overnight in Kyiv and Boryspil.

‘Clearly, these Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to the discussions and preparations for the possibility of the U.S. side using an aircraft to travel to Ukraine and land at Kyiv Airport or Boryspil Airport,’ he wrote on X.

He added:  ‘We have taken note of this Russian move, and next week we will adjust our operation accordingly regarding Russian airspace, which has become dangerous because of our drones and missiles in the sky. 

‘Of course, there are and will be no threats to diplomacy from our side. Ukraine is interested in bringing peace closer. Russia will be held accountable for what it does.’

The Ukrainian president added that four people were killed and five others injured after a Russian strike in Kamianske, in the Dnipro region.

Peace efforts have stalled due to Washington’s war with Iran, while Moscow and Kyiv have intensified long-range attacks, driving up civilian casualties to levels not seen since the start of fighting.

‘I sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, two great negotiators. They’ve done a great job, and we sent them over to see whether or not we can get something done. And there may be a good chance that we’ll do it,’ Trump said.

‘They’re bringing with them a proposal to end the war,’ he said.

The US president would not say whether the plan involved Ukraine ceding territory as he has previously suggested, but added: ‘We have an idea for peace.’

It will be the first time that Trump’s businessman friend Witkoff and son-in-law Kushner have visited war-torn Kyiv since Trump returned to office last year with a pledge to resolve the conflict.

Witkoff and Kushner, who have been involved in negotiations for ceasefires in Gaza and Iran, have travelled repeatedly to Moscow in previous attempts at diplomacy.

Zelensky today shared footage of a Russian strike, saying they had targeted airports in Ukraine 

A Russian drone yesterday struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU security service in central Kyiv, with officials saying the attack directly targeted the office of its chief

The renewed push for peace comes as Russia and Ukraine continue to trade fire with long-range missile and drone attacks.

Just hours before Trump’s announcement, a Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU security service in central Kyiv, according to Zelensky.

The strike, which Zelensky said was aimed at the office of the agency’s acting chief, was the first on its headquarters since the start of the invasion.

Despite the unprecedented nature of the strike, the Ukrainian president proposed observing a ceasefire with Russia for the duration of the US envoys’ trip.

‘There will be no airstrikes on our part, and Russia must reciprocally ensure a ceasefire – without its own airstrikes – for the duration needed to conduct these talks,’ he said in his evening address.

Russia did not immediately comment on the proposal.

Hours later, Oleksandr Ganzha, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional military administration, said a Russian strike killed four people and wounded five in the southeastern city of Kamianske.

Zelensky had said on Wednesday that Russian airspace would be ‘completely unsafe’ and filled with Ukrainian drones as long as Moscow continued its war.

Witkoff and Kusher’s trip comes more than week after a rare visit to Moscow by CIA director John Ratcliffe, who warned Russia against any attack on NATO member states, according to US media.

Earlier this week, the United States welcomed the Russian finance minister at a G20 gathering in North Carolina.

On Wednesday, Putin smirked as he renewed his threats to target Britain – with the taunt that attacks UK factories were a ‘military secret’.

The attack came just two days after Vladimir Putin issued a fresh threat against Britain, refusing to rule out targeting UK military factories after London agreed to provide Ukraine with classified blueprints for long-range missiles

During an interview with Russian state media RT, the Kremlin dictator issued an ominous warning after the UK agreed to supply Ukraine with classified blueprints for long-range missiles last week.

When asked ‘Could British military industrial facilities located on British territory become military targets?’ Putin replied with a smirk: ‘That’s a secret, a military secret.’

He made clear any ‘British military facilities’ inside Ukraine were ‘absolutely’ a Russian target.

The Russian leader was speaking at a nighttime press conference in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, after attending the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) summit.

His taunt was the latest increasingly brazen threat from Moscow to target British military and defence companies after the UK increased its support for Ukraine.

Russian foreign ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova warned last week that ‘any British military installations and equipment in Ukraine and beyond its borders’ could be attacked in retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on Russia using British weapons.

Yesterday, Trump insisted Putin is ‘not looking to attack Nato territory’ despite a suspected Russian drone attack on a German airport that sparked outrage across Europe. 

When questioned in the Oval Office on Friday about the incident, the US President said: ‘I speak to him. I know him very well. Putin’s not looking to attack Nato territory.’ 

The discovery of drones packed with explosives, including one found alongside a Ukrainian jet and another at a Nato logistics hub, has raised alarm across Europe. 

European security officials believe the incidents form part of Russia’s hybrid warfare campaign against countries that have supported Ukraine since Putin launched his full-scale invasion in 2022. 

It is understood US intelligence believed Russian secret services were likely behind the attack in August, having reportedly matched DNA found on the drone with a suspected Russian sabotage attack at the same airport two years ago. 

Trump’s refusal to condemn the Kremlin on Friday is likely to fuel new concerns over the US’s commitment to Nato. 

The village only has one pub

There are many unique and historic towns and villages in Cambridgeshire that each have their own history. Many people will know most of the places that form Cambridgeshire today, including major cities such as Cambridge and Peterborough and smaller villages and towns like Great Shelford and Whittlesey.

However, some places that form part of our county today once belonged to our neighbours. Cambridgeshire borders several different counties including Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire.

The village of Heydon was one of these areas that wasn’t once part of Cambridgeshire, but part of Essex. Heydon is an ancient village, with remains from the Roman times and Iron Age discovered there.

The village’s name is believed to mean ‘hay’ or ‘high valley’, due to it being a notably dry valley. Heydon was part of Essex for many years until it came under the county of Cambridgeshire in 1894.

The Local Government Act 1894 required rural districts and civil parishes not to cross administrative county boundaries. As a result, in order to align local government and district boundaries, Heydon became part of Cambridgeshire.

The village is described as “charming” and set within “picturesque countryside”. Heydon only has one pub – the King William IV.

It has been a “cornerstone of the Heydon community for generations”, according to the pub website. It offers freshly cooked meals, from pizzas to Sunday roasts. Its drink range has also been “carefully curated” by the pub owners, offering a range of real ales and wines.

Houses in Heydon are on the pricey side, as the average three-bedded semi-detached home costs between £635,000 to £660,000.

If you wanted a four-bed house, the price hikes up to £1.25 million. For a five to six-bedroom home, they cost between £1 million and £1.3 million.

Everyone is supposed to take the daily pill as we head into autumn

A pharmacist has issued a warning that millions could be missing the benefits of their vitamin D supplements by taking them incorrectly. The NHS advises everyone to take vitamin D daily from the end of September.

The majority of our vitamin D intake is derived from the interaction between our skin and sunlight – a process which is significantly hampered during the autumn and winter months when sunshine is scarce and we’re more likely to stay indoors or bundle up against the cold.

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in maintaining bone health, bolstering the immune system, supporting muscle function, promoting a positive mood, reducing inflammation, and ensuring heart health. However, if you’re not taking your supplements correctly, you could be throwing your money down the drain and jeopardising your wellbeing.

Jana Abelovska, Superintendent Pharmacist at Click Pharmacy, said: “The best way to get vitamin D is through your diet, supported by supplements like tablets, capsules, gummies or sprays that you use directly into your mouth. Vitamin D is fat soluble, which means that it is absorbed into the body along with fat – this means taking your vitamin D supplement with food that contains some healthy fats, such as nuts or yoghurt, will help your body absorb it much better.

“The recommended daily amount of vitamin D for adults aged between 19 and 70 is 15 mcg which is 600 IU or International Units, a unit used to measure vitamins. It’s really common to take vitamin D supplements, especially as many of us will not get enough vitamin D from sunlight or food alone. Dietary sources of vitamin D include oily fish, mushrooms and eggs, as well as some fortified foods like breakfast cereals and milk or plant-based milk alternatives.”

“It’s not healthy to try and get more vitamin D from the sun by going without sun protection. Also, our bodies make vitamin D in response to UVB radiation from the sun, but most glass blocks UVB rays – meaning that even if you’re sitting indoors in a ray of sunlight, it won’t boost your levels of the vitamin. Don’t use a tanning bed to try and boost your vitamin D – it won’t work as they produce much more UVA radiation than UVB, and it will increase the risk of skin cancer.

“Don’t take too much vitamin D. Because it’s a fat-soluble vitamin, it can build up in your body more easily than other vitamins. Taking too much vitamin D long term can lead to hypercalcemia, an excess of calcium in the body, which can cause problems with your heart, kidneys and bones. 4,000 IU or 100 mcg is considered to be the upper limit of safe vitamin D supplementation.”

The new academic year is about to begin, meaning hundreds of thousands of students are headed to university for the first time, or returning after the summer break. 

Unless they are staying at home, they all need somewhere to live – and that presents a huge opportunity for private landlords. 

The constant churn of tenants and potential for wild parties mean renting to students isn’t for the faint-hearted. 

But landlords could be tempted by the fact student lets offer some of the best returns on the market, according to data from buy-to-let mortgage lender Paragon Bank.

Some are struggling to make the numbers stack up in the mainstream market amid higher mortgage rates, upkeep costs and service charges alongside more regulation and a less friendly tax regime.

While the average rental yields for typical buy-to-let rental investments are around 6 per cent, student rentals in some locations can yield over 9 per cent.

The yield is the percentage an investor can expect to make back on the purchase price of their property each year.

For example, a 5 per cent yield on a £200,000 property would amount to £10,000 per year in rental income, or £833.33 per month.

Where are student lets most lucrative? 

Paragon Bank has shared data with This is Money based on the properties it has provided mortgages on in popular student postcodes. 

It shows that Stoke-on-Trent offers landlords the strongest rental yields among the UK’s leading university locations.

The city, which serves the University of Staffordshire and nearby Keele University, recorded a student property yield of 9.42 per cent. This is based on average annual rental income of £14,222 and a typical property valuation of £150,982.

Plymouth ranked second, generating a typical yield of 9.27 per cent. Student properties in the city delivered average annual rental income of £35,224, against an average valuation of £379,881.

Cities with Russell Group universities also feature prominently in the top 15 rankings. 

Liverpool, Cardiff, Edinburgh, York, Leeds, Nottingham, Sheffield, Durham, Exeter and Southampton all appear among the 15 highest-yielding locations. 

Student landlords in Liverpool, home to the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores, can typically expect to achieve a yield of 8.86 per cent, based on annual rental income of £26,399 and an average property valuation of £297,951.

Cardiff student lets produce average returns of 8.27 per cent while Edinburgh follows closely at 8.23 per cent. York and Leeds each generated yields above 8 per cent. 

But property experts say the decision to invest in student property should not be taken lightly. 

‘Student property is a specialist market,’ said Louisa Sedgwick, managing director of Mortgages at Paragon Bank. 

‘Landlords need to understand local demand, the type and quality of accommodation students require and the responsibilities associated with managing shared homes.’ 

Chris Sykes, a mortgage adviser at MSP Financial Solutions says:

‘Although the headline rents are higher, student lets will often go through more wear and tear than a professionally let house of multiple occupancy.

‘I remember my own university days. My house that housed eight of us was always a mess – no matter how many cleaning schedules I pinned to the fridge. 

‘Students will have parties, they may cause noise complaints with neighbours, smoke residue inside a property is a frequent one too – so I’d imagine the insurance side of things is more expensive also.’

Sykes also says student landlords are nervous about the implications of the Renters Rights Act. 

Under the new rules, all properties are now let on ‘periodic’ or rolling tenancies, which means landlords are not allowed to tie tenants in for a fixed term, such as one year. 

This means renters can end a tenancy whenever they like, as long as they give the landlord two months’ notice.

Like other renters, students have previously had to sign contracts for a whole year more – even though academic terms typically start in September or October and run until June.

Now, students could decide to exit a tenancy at the start of the summer, leaving landlords with an empty property for three months until the next year’s students arrive.

While the Act includes provisions to allow purpose-built student accommodation to be exempt from the switch to assured tenancies allowing them to stick with fixed contracts, landlords with ordinary flats or houses don’t have this advantage.

‘I know a number of my clients that have student let properties are nervous about the effects the renters rights act will have on the market,’ adds Sykes.

‘The rules are different for purpose-built student let properties and halls of residences but what investors will generally be looking at are houses, flats or houses in multiple occupation that can be let to students, but wouldn’t class as purpose built.’

Solid return: Student landlords in Liverpool, home to the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores, can typically expect to achieve a yield of 8.86%

Student standards are also much higher than they once were, according to Michael Zucker, chartered surveyor at north London estate agency Jeremy Leaf & Co.

‘Nowadays, students expect a high standard of accommodation including good Wifi, enough workspace in each room and a communal living and kitchen area with adequate facilities and storage for all occupants,’ says Zucker.

‘Basic student digs which were prevalent in the 20th century will no longer cut the mustard. Provision of en-suite shower rooms will enhance the rental value. 

‘Good accessibility to places of study is of course essential, while including bills for communal heating and hot water in the rent will avoid arguments.’

When it comes to mortgage lending, the situation is more complex as well, which typically means slightly higher rates and fees.

‘Due to the generally higher wear and tear, higher risk of damage, some lenders steer clear of any properties that would be let to students exclusively,’ says Sykes.

‘A mortgage for a student let isn’t much more complicated than a normal HMO mortgage, it’s just about choosing the right lender and making sure the property has the right licenses.’

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A group of chimpanzees that were once used for hepatitis B vaccine experiments in laboratories have received health checks at their new home in Liberia, in hopes of giving them a second chance at a normal life.

The West African chimpanzees received checks ranging from teeth cleaning to X-rays and pedicure at the Humane World for Animals’ Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge in central Liberia, Liliana Pacheco Ricote, director of the sanctuary, told The Associated Press.

More than 400 of the chimpanzees had been used by American researchers in Liberia in the hepatitis B vaccine experiments from the 1970s until early 2000s, Ricote said, many of them captured in the wild as infants.

Liberia has the second-highest number of chimpanzees in West Africa, after Guinea. The West African chimpanzees are classified as critically endangered species because of their rapidly declining numbers.

“They were used in very invasive research … (and) went through a lot of experiments and pain,” Ricote said.

Humane World for Animals said that in 2015, it assumed permanent responsibility for 60 of the chimpanzees that were remaining at the end of the research program. The chimps now mostly live at the sanctuary on a series of mangrove forest-covered islands.

The checks carried out under anesthetic gave the chimpanzees head-to-toe exams to assess their long-term health, detect any early signs of disease and tailor care plans for individuals as they age, Humane World for Animals said in a statement to the AP.

The tests included dental examination, the heart, lungs and nervous system as well as blood. They get booster vaccinations and fingernail trims, it said, adding that plans are in place to carry out the checks on the remaining ones.

“The health checks are a vital part of caring for these chimpanzees who have been through so much,” said Belen Perez Hernando, the sanctuary’s veterinarian.

The extent of the impact of the experiments on the chimps, whose average age is 30 to 35, is unclear, as findings from the assessments are yet to be concluded. However, “for those who were under experiments, you could still feel the hurt and the pain that they went through,” Ricote said.

“Seeing how much they hurt about what we’ve done, it gives me a lot of pleasure … to give them this second chance to live with dignity the life that they deserve,” she added.