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Strictly Come Dancing reveals first look at glitzy launch show as hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe make their long-awaited debut and the celebs finally meet their pro partners

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Strictly Come Dancing's long-awaited return is just hours away, and fans have been given their first taster from the glitzy launch show

Strictly Come Dancing’s long-awaited return is just hours away, and fans have been given their first taster from the glitzy launch show.

The BBC hit is entering a new era with the arrival of new hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, five new professional dancers and a pivot to sign stars that will help bring the show into the social media age.

Snaps from the launch show Emma, Johannes and Josh arriving in the Strictly ballroom for the first time, while the professional dancers take to the floor for a sultry group number.

No doubt in disbelief that their huge presenting gig has arrived, one image also shows the new hosting trio sharing a group hug. 

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This year’s celebrity lineup will feature Love Island winner Dani Dyer, EastEnders‘ Lacey Turner, Gavin and Stacey star Melanie Walters, Australian singer Delta GoodremBig Brother host Will Best and Kim Kardashian‘s hair stylist Chris Appleton.

Also joining the celeb cast this year are actress Jaime Winstone, former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, Olympians Dame Sarah Storey and Tabby Stoecker, Love Island winner Cach Mercer, House of the Dragon star Bethany Antonia, Graeme ‘The Dogfather’ Hall, Emmerdale‘s Lawrence Robb and social media sensation John Nellis. 

Strictly Come Dancing’s long-awaited return is just hours away, and fans have been given their first taster from the glitzy launch show

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The BBC hit is entering a new era with the arrival of new hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe

The BBC hit is entering a new era with the arrival of new hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe

The launch will also feature a sizzling number introducing five new dancers: Lethabo Monametsi, Mark Karmalita, Maddie Ingoldsby, Aleksandra Isaeva and Cristian Priori

The launch will also feature a sizzling number introducing five new dancers: Lethabo Monametsi, Mark Karmalita, Maddie Ingoldsby, Aleksandra Isaeva and Cristian Priori

The launch will see the celebrities finally discover their professional partners, and they will take to the floor in the first live show on September 26. 

Josh was the first to confess on Thursday he is feeling the nerves ahead of the first show airing on Saturday night.

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He told The One Show hosts Alex Jones and Roman Kemp: ‘It’s nerve-wracking, we’ve been waiting for so long to do this. I’ve been living in a ball of fear. But since the launch I just want people to see it. Can we just show it now?’

The One Show presenters then tried to tease out of Johannes what his role will be on the show, which has so far remained somewhat of a mystery.

However, he kept the mystery to himself and coyly said: ‘What’s lovely, is that you won’t get to know on the launch. But I say tune in to find out. You have to, it’s fun!’.

They also discussed the dance that will take place in the first episode and consist of all of the couples switching partners. 

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Emma explained: ‘There’s much more movement, they’ve never done it before. There’s 3 groups of 5 and they’ll have their own dance. They are paired and it’s like speed dancing. They’re all learned a routine. The music will start, they will dance, and then they switch. And they do five or so seconds and then 30, and they switch.’

Josh added: ‘I think we should do it every week, it’s so entertaining!’

As ever the professional dancers will also take to the stage for a sultry performance

As ever the professional dancers will also take to the stage for a sultry performance

The pro lineup has been given a huge shake-up for the new series, after a string of dancers were asked from the show in a cast 'bloodbath'

The pro lineup has been given a huge shake-up for the new series, after a string of dancers were asked from the show in a cast ‘bloodbath’

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The launch will see the celebrities finally discover their professional partners, ahead of their first live performance on September 26

The launch will see the celebrities finally discover their professional partners, ahead of their first live performance on September 26

The way the stars find out their pro partners has been given a big switch-up this year, as they will discovering who they've been paired with during a dance

The way the stars find out their pro partners has been given a big switch-up this year, as they will discovering who they’ve been paired with during a dance

Reigning Strictly champion Karen Carney will also return to the dancefloor for a reprisal of her winning performance with partner Carlos Gu

Reigning Strictly champion Karen Carney will also return to the dancefloor for a reprisal of her winning performance with partner Carlos Gu

Johannes said after seeing how much work went into the routine he admitted he was glad to no longer be one of the professional dancers.

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He said: ‘I’m so glad I’ve changed roles, it’s a lot of work and it’s never been done before.’, before backtracking moments later.

Emma said she is constantly looking at Johannes when people are dancing to ‘check if he looks jealous’, as he admitted: ‘The fomo (fear of missing out) is real!’

The presenters will also dance in an ensemble routine, as Emma revealed she had been practicing at home with her husband Matt Willis. 

She said: ‘I like to be thorough, so JoJo had been teaching us, I was going around the supermarket with a trolley, I made Matt learn it with me. I sent it to JoJo to ask if it was right!’

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On Saturday, viewers will finally get to see this year’s pairings unveiled, as the celebrities discover which professional dancers they’ve been partnered with.

Already it has been reported that Neil Jones has once again missed out on a celebrity partner, and has been benched for the seventh time after being injured in rehearsals earlier this month.

Last month, Strictly became embroiled in a fresh ‘fix’ row as it’s claimed nine of the celebrities have past dance experience.

Throughout the years, the BBC dancing show has come under fire for signing up stars who have some form of dancing or performance history, and it appears that this year is no different if new reports are to go by.

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The Sun reported that with nine out of the 15 celebrities having past experience, 60 per cent of the cast will have an advantage over their fellow competitors.

Strictly has gone through a massive shakeup for its 24th series. The show’s long-time hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly made the shock announcement they were quitting during last year’s series, heralding the start of the overhaul.

After months of rumours as to who would replace them, it was finally announced in May that seasoned presenter Emma, comedian Josh and the show’s professional dancer Johannes had landed the coveted gig.

The show shakeup has also included a focus on social media stars, disappointing loyal fans of the BBC‘s flagship show, who have criticised the ‘weak’ line-up, claiming there aren’t enough ‘household names’.

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Insiders have revealed the broadcaster has a casting strategy as part of its overhaul and has been deliberate in its targeting of celebrities with big social media followings in a ploy to attract younger viewers to the show.

It has been suggested this is to follow a similar, hugely successful social media strategy employed by its US counterpart Dancing With The Stars

Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian’s hair stylist Chris Appleton might not be a household name, but he does boast a huge social media following with 4million fans on Instagram.

Sports YouTuber John Nellis has an even bigger fanbase, with 15.7million YouTube subscribers.

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Dancing With The Stars has used their celebrity contestants’ followings to their advantage, introducing a TikTok Night last year – an episode which saw the contestants perform viral dance routines, sparking an uptick in interaction from younger viewers.

The Dancing With The Stars TikTok account now has more than 5million followers, in comparison to Strictly’s 670,000.

And even before this year’s Strictly line-up was announced, the professional dancers fell victim to the same strategy. In recent months popular dancers Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk and Gorka Marquez have all been given the boot.

It’s understood pros with bigger online followings have been chosen over dancers who are not so TikTok friendly as the series tries desperately to attract a younger audience.

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One example appears to be axed Bychkova, who has 214,000 Insta followers, while Dianne Buswell, with 1.2million Instagram followers and 973,000 on TikTok, has kept her place in the line-up.

Meanwhile five new young pros have been recruited with ballroom champ Maddie Ingoldsby boasting 364,000 TikTok followers. 

Josh has been the first to confess on Thursday he is feeling the nerves ahead of the first show airing on Saturday night

Josh has been the first to confess on Thursday he is feeling the nerves ahead of the first show airing on Saturday night

The new hosts come as part of a huge shake-up to Strictly for its 24th series

The new hosts come as part of a huge shake-up to Strictly for its 24th series

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The judges, Craig Revel-Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke are also back as judges

The judges, Craig Revel-Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke are also back as judges

Strictly Come Dancing kicks off on Saturday, September 19th at 7:25pm on BBC One

Strictly Come Dancing kicks off on Saturday, September 19th at 7:25pm on BBC One

The trio of new hosts also have a strong online presence. Comedian Josh Widdicombe has more than half a million Instagram followers on his personal account whilst the Insta page for his hugely popular podcast Parenting Hell has 250,000.

Emma Willis has 2million Instagram followers and fan-favourite dancer Johannes Radebe, who will act as a co-presenter this year, has 458,000 followers.   

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The insider has explained that the BBC struggles to attract big-name celebrities these days, because the landscape has changed.

The source told The Sun: ‘Crucially the pipeline that used to feed these big shows has changed.

‘Boyband and girlband stars aren’t as prevalent any more and, once upon a time, getting someone from a soap or a big drama was a massive deal, but now even that has diminished somewhat.

‘Now, though, social media is continuing to boom and big stars from the world of TikTok, YouTube and Instagram are known to a vast section of society.’

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Strictly Come Dancing kicks off on Saturday, September 19th at 7:25pm on BBC One. 

STRICTLY COME DANCING 2026: MEET THE CONTESTANTS

LACEY TURNER 

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AGE: 38

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Playing Stacey Slater on BBC’s EastEnders 

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’m so excited and terrified at the same time but I’ve had so many friends do Strictly and I thought it was about time that I plunked up the courage and made my way onto that dance floor.’

DELTA GOODREM

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AGE: 41

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Played Nina Tucker in Neighbours and has released eight music albums

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’ve been incredibly honoured to perform on many different stages throughout my career – from tv, theatre, film sets, to touring my own shows around the world, there is however one stage I’ve never stepped onto and that is the ballroom floor!’

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CACH MERCER

AGE: 25

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Won Love Island 2025 and is a TikTok influencer

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WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I have grown up watching the show with my family and am so excited to now be part of the cast. Dancing is a huge passion of mine and I can’t wait to learn Ballroom and do the Foxtrot for the first time!’

DAME SARAH STOREY

AGE: 48

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BEST KNOWN FOR?: Britain’s most successful Paralympian 

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting.’

BETHANY ANTONIA 

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AGE: 28

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Plays Lady Baela Targaryen in House of the Dragon

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I have grown up watching Strictly, and I am so excited to take the challenge on and (hopefully!) learn a new skill.’

GRAEME ‘THE DOGFATHER’ HALL

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AGE: 59

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hosts Channel 5 series Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I have watched the show for years, so to be a part of it feels like a very exciting challenge, albeit more than a bit nerve-wracking!’

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TABBY STOECKER 

AGE: 25

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Olympic champion skeleton racer

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WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’ve had the wildest year of my life so far, so to be rounding it off with a childhood dream of dancing in the Strictly ballroom is surreal and I can’t wait to get stuck in!’

MELANIE WALTERS 

AGE: 64

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BEST KNOWN FOR?: Playing Gwen West in BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘Performing in Pantomime for the last 15 years, my Strictly ‘fix’ has always been watching in a dressing room rather than my front room.’

DANI DYER

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AGE: 30

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Winning Love Island and being the daughter of actor Danny Dyer

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September! I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one!’

CHRIS APPLETON

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AGE: 43

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hairdresser to the stars – including Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’m thrilled to be joining Strictly and coming home to the UK for this incredible experience. I’ve always believed that the best things happen when you take a chance and try something new.’

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WILL BEST

AGE: 41

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hosts Big Brother and previously TV

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WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I’ve been lucky to do lots of live telly before, but absolutely nothing like this. And I cannot wait!’

JAIME WINSTONE

AGE: 41

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BEST KNOWN FOR?: Starring in films such as Kidulthood and Tomb Raider

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I am no stranger to a dance floor, but the ballroom is a whole new world for me.’

SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS 

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AGE: 44

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Footballer who played for the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘Strictly is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I’m super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge!’

LAWRENCE ROBB

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AGE: 34

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Plays Mackenzie Boyd on ITV’s Emmerdale

WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I can’t quite believe that I am going to be getting my dancing shoes on this September on one of my favourite shows of all time!’

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JOHN NELLIS 

AGE: 33

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Face of a popular football-focused YouTube channel

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WHY STRICTLY?: ‘I can’t wait to meet everyone, learn a new skill and, hopefully, be much better at family parties by the end of it!’

 

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50/1 on Both Teams to Score in Millwall vs West Ham With Coral

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50/1 on Both Teams to Score in Millwall vs West Ham With Coral

One of the most anticipated fixtures of the Championship season takes place this weekend when Millwall welcome rivals West Ham to The Den and there’s a special Coral free bet offer to mark the occasion.

Coral have boosted the odds on both teams to score in Saturday’s game to 50/1, with the extra winnings paid out in free bets.

Find out how to claim the latest Coral welcome offer and get some betting tips for the highly anticipated London derby.

Coral Millwall vs West Ham welcome offer explained

Championship leaders West Ham have backed up their pre-season credentials as favourites for promotion, collecting 14 points from their first seven games.

In comparison, rivals Millwall are in 11th, with a stop-start season seeing the Lions win as many games as they have lost – three apiece. However, the form book goes out the window on derby day.

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Coral are giving new customers the opportunity to back both teams to score – currently 4/9 with the bookmakers – at enhanced odds of 50/1.

Bettors must place their bet before 12.30pm BST on Saturday, September 19, when Millwall vs West Ham kicks off.

How to claim Millwall vs West Ham free bets from Coral

Step 1: Register a new Coral account using one of the links on this page.

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Step 2: Make a first deposit of at least £10 using a debit card.

Step 3: Place a maximum of £1 on Both Teams To Score for Millwall vs West Ham before kick-off at 12.30pm on Saturday, September 19.

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Why foodies are flocking to Rose & Potter in Marske

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Why foodies are flocking to Rose & Potter in Marske

Ask residents where to find wine, sharing boards and good company, and many will point you to Rose & Potter in Marske.

The family-run wine bar, bistro and deli has earned a loyal following since opening in 2017, offering something a little different from the traditional restaurant experience.

Rose & Potter in Marske. (Image: Newsquest)

After finding inspiration at a Christmas market in Budapest, the owners created a welcoming venue built around quality food, carefully chosen drinks and a cosy atmosphere.

At a time when micro-bars were only just beginning to emerge, Rose & Potter carved out their own vision for the business.

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They chose a casual space where customers could enjoy exceptional produce in comfortable surroundings rather than formal dining.

Rose & Potter also runs the Cleveland Way Charcuterie brand, making its own cured meats from ethically sourced ingredients from the Cleveland Way and North Yorkshire before curing them in-house.

The Rose & Potter staple charcuterie board. (Image: Newsquest)

Customer favourites include the house charcuterie boards, as well as cheeseboards, seafood platters and hearty sharing boards loaded with artisan meats, cheeses and accompaniments.

For those looking for something lighter, the menu features Mediterranean mezze, Greek salads, baked Camembert, smoked mackerel pâté and locally made Scotch eggs, all designed to pair perfectly with a glass of wine.

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The Rose & Potter’s homemade hummus. (Image: Newsquest)

Made-to-order sandwiches, wraps and baked potatoes are also available at selected times, making the deli an all-day destination.

Wine is at the heart of the business, with carefully selected bottles from across Europe, including those from Spanish producer Cellar Espelt, thanks to a long-standing friendship with its UK importer.

Rose & Potter are known for their cocktails as well as their charcuterie boards. (Image: Newsquest)


The drinks menu also features a series of cocktails, pairing classics such as espresso martinis, margaritas and Aperol spritzes with house specials including a Marzipan Old Fashioned, African Martini and Nuts & Berries.

Walk-ins are welcome whenever space allows, whether customers are stopping by for a sharing platter and wine or enjoying a few cocktails with friends.

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Nearly a decade on, Rose & Potter continues to prioritise quality ingredients, ethical sourcing and warm hospitality, making it one of East Cleveland’s standout independent food and drink venues.

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Trump says he is banning CNN, Politico and MS NOW from White House

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Earl Spencer walking, wearing a navy suit and a purple tie.

US President Donald Trump has announced that he is “immediately” banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, the latest twist in his fraught relationship with media outlets.

In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump said that the outlets “constantly write or report fiction or lies” about his administration, although he provided no examples.

Trump later called it a “very simple ban”, but did not explain how it would work. It is unclear whether employees of those outlets would be prevented from entering the White House grounds.

CNN swiftly slammed the move as an “illegal assault” on American press freedoms. The move by Trump is likely to be met with legal challenges.

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Reporters from both Politico and CNN were still on the White House grounds shortly after the announcement was made.

A crew from CNN was also travelling with Vice-President JD Vance to and from an event in Iowa.

In a statement, the network called a potential ban illegal and said it “stands fully behind our White House team and their fair and accurate reporting.”

“We have a right under the US Constitution to do that reporting without hindrance or interference from the government,” the CNN statement said. “Should the ban which President Trump threatened go ahead, it would be an illegal assault on that fundamental and constitutionally-protected right.”

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The BBC has contacted Politico and MS NOW, formerly MSNBC, which have not released statements.

In his post Trump said: “Media outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report fiction and lies when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration or the United States of America. Other news outlets to follow.”

The post did not mention specific stories or reporting that led to the move.

Asked about the ban in the Oval Office, Trump said that there was “no reason” for the announcement being made on Friday afternoon.

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“It’s really just cumulative stories over the last few years,” he said. “You get sick of it.”

Trump added that there “may be others to join them”, but did not name any specific news outlets.

He also acknowledged that legal challenges may follow his announcement.

“I think it’s good to point it out, whether it survives or doesn’t,” he added. “To be honest with you, I don’t think that a court should allow fake news to be written day after day after day.”

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Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump and administration officials have repeatedly clashed with members of the White House press corps.

In February, the White House announced that it was taking control of the press pool which has access to Trump and had for more than a century been managed by the White House Correspondent’s Association.

The same month, the administration moved to bar Associated Press (AP) reporters and photographers from spaces where access is limited, such as the Oval Office or Air Force One, because of the outlet’s usage of the term “Gulf of Mexico” instead of “Gulf of America”.

The Associated Press swiftly filed a lawsuit and the case remains ongoing.

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The president often clashes with reporters in the Oval Office on Air Force One and during White House events, often referring to them as “fake news” and “rude”.

In his first term, Trump also banned CNN correspondent Jim Acosta from the White House, although they restored his credentials after CNN sued.

The announcement was immediately criticised by leading advocacy organisations for freedom of the press.

In a statement on Friday afternoon, the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University said that “with so many courts having ruled against him on exactly this point, you’d think President Trump would have learned this lesson by now”.

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“If President Trump means to expel these news organizations from the White House press pool, his action is doubly unconstitutional because the press pool is a ‘public forum’ under the First Amendment, which means the president can’t exclude journalists from it on the basis of their viewpoints,” the institute’s executive director, Jameel Jaffer, said.

A major group that provides legal services to the media – the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press – said it expects Trump’s ban to be quickly struck down by the courts because it is “flatly unconstitutional”.

“The First Amendment is clear that once the White House invites in some journalists, it can’t ban others because it doesn’t like their reporting,” said the group’s president Bruce Brown, calling the potential ban “textbook viewpoint discrimination.”

The Freedom of the Press Foundation also said it was illegal, adding: “It’s also hard to imagine a dumber move.”

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Trump “has been retaliating against the press for years, but it hasn’t helped him,” it said, saying “these outrageous attacks only demonstrate how scared he is of an informed public”.

Trump has pursued legal action against a number of US and international news outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and the BBC.

Some of the lawsuits have resulted in media organisations agreeing to pay multimillion dollar settlements. Trump’s lawsuit against the BBC is ongoing.

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Two Co Down men jailed for taking part in Ballymena race riot

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Belfast Live

One of the men was caught igniting a firework and shooting it in the direction of police

Two men from Co Down have been jailed for taking part in race-related disorder in Ballymena last summer.

Stephen Ritchie, 28, from Bangor was sentenced to 34 months – 12 months in custody and the remainder on licence – today at Antrim Crown Court after he was convicted of riot. Meanwhile, Joel Gordon, 21, and also from Bangor was sentenced to four years’ custody with half to be served on licence for riot.

Both men were identified as having participated in serious disorder in the area of Harryville Bridge and Bridge Street in Ballymena on June 11, 2025. There was a large crowd, which included Ritchie and Gordon, throwing bottles and masonry at police.

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Gordon was also seen igniting a firework and shooting this in the direction of police. His image was included in the Op Exposure release and identified as having been involved in riot.

Detective Chief Inspector Michael O’Loan said: “In shameful scenes, there was large-scale disorder by people intent on causing harm. Damage was caused to roads, homes, cars and local business premises with people left fearing for their lives.

“Our officers came under attack and many left injured after petrol bombs, heavy masonry and fireworks were thrown at them.

“At the time, we assured the public that we will work tirelessly to restore calm and ensure that anyone who chooses to take part in this criminality is brought to justice.

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“Our dedicated investigation team has worked tirelessly to ensure that those involved are prosecuted – today’s sentencings are two of many over this disorder.

“We would also repeat our appeal to anyone who has been the victim of, or has any information on, any crime to contact police on 101, or 999 in an emergency. We can assure you that we will always act on concerns and information we receive.”

Alternatively, a report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form www.reporting.psni.police.uk/appeals Should you wish to make a report anonymously, you can do so by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

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a master of statecraft in an era short of great orators

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a master of statecraft in an era short of great orators

For the past decade, global diplomacy has been dictated by one man’s social media musings. Since Donald Trump first glided into the Trump Tower atrium on his golden escalator, he – and what he has to say – has been the story, throwing red meat to the media and shaping the affairs of the US and the wider world through reactions to his increasingly imperial pronouncements.

But the 47th US president has been off-key of late, and his outbursts on everything from tariffs to the war in Iran have sent his popularity tumbling, not least in Europe where just 8% of Italians have a positive view of him, 10% of Germans and 13% of us in the UK.

As Trump-fever has cooled, one man has stepped forward to fill the ethical void. The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, has taken a stand against his bothersome southern neighbour and, in so doing, has reoriented the free world’s moral compass.

Instead of looking to Washington DC for global leadership, global democracies are increasingly looking to the middle power man in Ottawa.

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Carney is a banker – or at least that was the world’s view of him until recently. He was governor of the Bank of Canada during the financial crisis of 2008, before leading the Bank of England from 2013-2020.

He only became a politician when elected leader of the Canadian Liberal Party in March 2025 and ensuring his mandate through a landslide national elecion win the following month. But he has quickly emerged as a voice of political reason against the continued waves of Trump tirades.

This week Carney addressed the European parliament following EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen’s support for a proposal for Canada to become the EU’s first “associate member”. Much like his speech in Davos in January, Carney noted the current “geopolitical rupture”.

And, much like that Davos speech, he was calm, eloquent and displayed rare intellectual insight over how that rupture might be overcome. At Davos, he emphasised the need for middle powers to step up to the plate. This week in Strasbourg, he added flesh to the bones, stressing how Canada and the EU had complementary strengths. He made the case for a deeper partnership based on cooperation, delivering seamless digital trade in many goods and services, underpinned by people-to-people ties including the free movement of young people.

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The Canadian PM laid out a vision where Canada and the EU were allied by “common values, our compatible systems and complementary strengths”. While it’s early days in the discussion of a Canada-EU relationship, it was a seductive pitch to “create a beacon for other democracies”.

Trump was not mentioned by name in the speech but was clearly listening and clearly riled. Amid a trade war with its northern neighbour, the US president heard Carney state that he did “not seek power to dominate others”, and was “not proposing a third bloc in order to become a great power rival – only with better manners”. The dig was pointed, the style was effortless.

Mark Carney with US president, Donald Trump, in the Oval Office in October 2025.
EPA/Shawn Thew

Carney’s team write great speeches, and the Harvard-educated economist with a doctorate from Oxford delivers them well. But one senses he’s much more than a good autocue reader. He dropped a couple of German rhetorical phrases into his Strasbourg speech and built a strong historical context, drawing on the ties that have bound Canada and Europe from the first world war onwards, creating a memorable picture of the seeds brought back to Canada from Vimy Ridge (where Canadian troops won a hard-fought battle in 1917 with heavy losses) and then replanted in France a century later.

While evocative historical links underpinned his sentiment, the vision for a brighter, shared future brought hope where Trump sows only disquiet. My academic colleague Katie McGettigan, speaking at a British Library event, summed up Carney astutely, calling him “the new moral centre”. And, to date, he has backed his rhetoric with action.

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This is far from an easy time for Canada. A trade war with its nearest neighbour and by far its largest trading partner is the last thing it needs. Clearly Carney recognises that an unbound Trump, surrounded by sycophants in his administration, is simply too capricious to engage with through the norms of rational diplomacy.

As Carney first stated in Davos, and emphasised this week, the best way to bolster against irrational imperialism is through collective power. The Canadian certainly polished his credentials as the emerging middle power leader.

On September 22, Trump will be centre stage once more as he addresses the UN general assembly. He may respond to Carney’s love letter to the Canadian-European relationship, but I’m not expecting much by way of deep intellect or sharp rhetorical flourishes.

Trump is no orator – and currently a long way from the moral centre. As at Vimy Ridge, Carney innately understands the value in holding the high ground.

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Man charged after ‘Daniels hoods targeted’ and car ‘rammed into home’ amid gang war

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Daily Record

A 30-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection.

A man has been arrested and charged after senior members of the notorious Daniel crime clan family were targeted in Glasgow.

Police were called to a property on Curzon Street after receiving a report of men with weapons at 8.35am on Friday, August 21. Cops attended and there were no reports of any injuries.

Police have now confirmed a 30-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection. He is due to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court on Monday, September 21.

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The Record understands the incident took place after senior members of the rival Lyons gang instructed Ross McGill’s Tamo Junto (TMJ) to launch the revenge attacks after the slaying of Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan in the Costa Del Sol last year. Following the incident on Curzon Street, hoods are believed to have travelled to Honeywell Drive in Stepps.

The individuals targeted are understood to be Ronnie Daniel, 41, and Robert Daniel, 51. Sources told the Record the TMJ footsoldiers allegedly ripped into the first property in Glasgow’s Maryhill before trashing the home in their pursuit for Ronnie.

The TMJ gang are then alleged to have travelled to Stepps in an attempt to target Robert but he managed to flee the scene.

The same 30-year-old man is also understood to have been arrested and charged after a car was allegedly rammed into a house near Glasgow.

Emergency services raced Low Borland Way near Eaglesham, in East Renfrewshire, after the vehicle smashed into the property before fleeing the scene at 1.20pm on Friday, August 21. Crews attended and there were no injuries.

The 30-year-old is also due to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court on Monday, September 21, in connection with that incident.

Another man, aged 29, was previously arrested and charged in connection with the Eaglesham incident. He was due to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Monday, September 14.

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Images taken from the scene showed the plush two-storey property with a temporary fence erected around the front garden. The wall and front door were left visibly damaged by the impact, with brickwork moved out of place and a black scar above where the car had ploughed into the building.

Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr were shot and killed in a targeted execution at Monaghans Bar in Fuengirola on May 31 last year.

The double murder marked one of the most violent episodes during the gang war, which exploded in Scotland last year after crime kingpin Mark Richardson’s cronies ripped off Ross McGill with fake notes in a botched £500,000 cocaine deal. McGill, otherwise known as Mr Big – who is the former head of Rangers’ Union Bears – has been targeting the associates of Richardson ever since.

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The notorious Lyons crew became embroiled in the violence after feeding TMJ with information on how to target the Daniel family, who are long-term underworld allies to jailed Edinburgh crime boss Richardson. Violence reignited just weeks after Police Scotland claimed the gang war had come to an end.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 8.35am on Friday, 21 August, 2026, we received a report of men with weapons at a property in Curzon Street, Glasgow. There were no reports of any injuries.

“A 30-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection. He is due to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court on Monday, 21 September, 2026.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson also said: “A 30-year-old man was arrested and charged after a vehicle struck a property in Low Borland Way, Eaglesham on Friday, 21 August, 2026. There were no reports of any injuries. He is due to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court on Monday, 21 September, 2026.”

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Joe Tate goes seriously too far as new Emmerdale spoilers confirm what’s next | Soaps

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Joe Tate goes seriously too far as new Emmerdale spoilers confirm what's next | Soaps
Joe’s shocking revenge in Emmerdale confirmed (Picture: ITV / Metro)

Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) is on a brutal revenge mission in Emmerdale, swearing to make all those who had a role in Dawn Taylor’s (Olivia Bromley) tragic demise pay a costly price.

The Home Farm favourite has been consumed with grief in the wake of the death of his beloved Dawn, who perished earlier this month on the day that was meant to be the happiest of their lives.

Instead of spending time with his newborn baby at Hotten General, he has found himself determined to get revenge on all those he holds responsible for Dawn’s death.

Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontlze) an Kim Tate (Claire King) urged him to reconsider banning everyone – including Dawn’s children – from her funeral and tonight he ultimately relented.

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Or so everyone else thought. When alone with Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough), Joe asked for his help in seeking ‘retribution’.

What a cliffhanger, right? just wait until you find out what’s coming up. For a first look at what’s in store on Monday (September 21), you’ve come to the right place.

What happens next in Emmerdale? Spoilers for Monday, September 21 episode

The next episode sees a few select mourners arrive to pay tribute to Dawn on the day of her funeral. Graham, however, is nowhere to be seen – that is until he finally shows up.

What has he been up to?

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That remains to be seen but, given what Joe asked of him at the end of Friday’s visit to the village, it cannot be good.

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Joe attempts to deliver a eulogy but he struggles, with Kim stepping in to pay tribute to the woman she thought of as her own daughter. She promises to keep the family together but Joe, unable to cope, leaves the burial site.

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In subsequent scenes, Graham and Kim argue about Joe’s absence and wonder what the future of the Tates will actually look like in the wake of all this devastation.

Joe, meanwhile, is seen standing at a gravesite, swearing vengeance for Dawn’s death. But who is in the grave?

It’s Ruby Miligan (Beth Cordingly), who has been buried alive!

Graham stands with Joe in Emmerdale
Joe gets Graham to set in motion a revenge plot (picture: ITV)
Ruby is buried alive in a coffin in Emmerdale
A nightmare ensues for Ruby (Picture: ITV)

Will she make it out before time runs out?

Elsewhere, Kev (Chris Coghill) offers Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson) some advice, urging him to hold it together and marry Lewis (Bradley Riches).

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Kev reckons Vinny is talking about making things up to Lewis when he says he’s planning on ‘doing the right thing’ – but it turns out he intends to confess to what he’s done, seeking out Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler) to drop a bombshell on her.

Nicola confronts Vinny in the cafe in Emmerdale
Vinny comes clean (Picture: ITV)

Cain (Jeff Hordley), meanwhile, is taken aback when Moira (Natalie J Robb) thinks he withheld go cancer diagnosis from Sadie King (Patsy Kensit) because he was enjoying the attention. He clarifies the situation.

Emmerdale airs these scenes Monday, September 21 at 8pm on ITV1 or stream from 7am on ITVX or YouTube.

If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you.

Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage.

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BORIS JOHNSON: Cricket legend Imran Khan is rotting to death in a tiny jail cell in Pakistan. It’s time Britain used its influence to help free him

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It has been more than three years since Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan, was incarcerated in a tiny jail cell

In a small, dank, insect-infested cell in a Pakistani jail, a 73-year-old man is waiting to die. He is kept in solitary confinement for days on end. He cannot exercise properly, since the room measures only 6ft by 8ft, including the latrine.

There is no window, and sometimes the lights are switched off so he sits in blackness for days on end, waiting to be able to see again. For long periods he is given no access to books or newspapers, let alone visitors, with the result that he feels increasingly divorced from the outside world, and in fear of his mental stability.

It is now more than three years since he has been incarcerated in these conditions, enduring extreme heat in the summer and bitter cold in the winter. After shoddy and delayed medical treatment, he has lost 85 per cent of the sight in his right eye.

The conditions in which he is being kept have now been condemned three times, in the past two years, by the UN special rapporteur on torture. Amnesty International has voiced its concern, and – perhaps most importantly – so has the Supreme Court in Pakistan, which has ruled that the prisoner is being denied access to proper medical care.

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He is, of course, Imran Khan, the former prime minister from 2018 to 2022, and his suffering is now becoming a global scandal. Since leaving office he has been subjected to a barrage of politically motivated cases, designed to eradicate him permanently from public life.

These charges have been so blatantly without merit that they have mostly collapsed – all except one: an accusation that Imran Khan’s government steered some UK government cash towards a certain property developer, who then made a handsome donation to a university that had connections to Imran and his wife.

Even if these accusations were true in every particular – and Imran Khan is appealing his conviction – the Pakistani prosecutors have conceded that neither he nor his wife stood to benefit financially from the university donation.

Even if it is true that Imran has some sort of case to answer in the so-called Al-Qadir case (and it is far from clear to me that he does), he has done nothing to deserve the kind of mental and physical torture he is getting. Above all, he deserves to have his appeal heard speedily and by an independent court.

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It has been more than three years since Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan, was incarcerated in a tiny jail cell

Supporters welcome politician Sohail Afridi in Hyderabad, Pakistan, this month ahead of a planned protest demanding the release of the Tehreek-e-Insaf party's founder Imran Khan

Supporters welcome politician Sohail Afridi in Hyderabad, Pakistan, this month ahead of a planned protest demanding the release of the Tehreek-e-Insaf party’s founder Imran Khan

Instead he is being left literally to rot to death in jail. That is because this case was never about corruption, since he has been in fact one of the most open and transparent Pakistani politicians of modern times.

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This case – like all of the lawfare he has faced since leaving office – has been driven by the desire of the Pakistani military to get him off the scene. His mistake was to take democracy seriously, and to try to use his prerogatives as the elected representative of the people of Pakistan.

Under the constitution, he had the right to appoint the head of the military – but when he wished to exercise his discretion, in favour of his preferred candidate, it turned out that the generals had other ideas.

Imran Khan tried to change the way Pakistan works, and paid a price. That is essentially why he is in jail.

I should declare that I of course know Imran, and like him. He did some good things as prime minister of Pakistan – or tried to. He had great ideas on forestry and the environment. He understood the cardinal importance in that country of female literacy.

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Ask yourself why Pakistan is one of the few countries in the world with continued vast and unsustainable population growth – and the answer is obvious in the literacy figures. Apart from Afghanistan, Pakistan has just about the worst record in the entire world, with about 50 per cent of women still unable to read and write.

Imran understood that this was a disaster for his country, and tried to turn it round, with bonus payments designed to encourage girls to stay in school. He perhaps didn’t make as much progress as he would have liked – but that was mainly the fault of Covid, which kept everyone out of school, boys and girls alike.

He certainly wasn’t right about everything. I remember calling Imran the day after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and finding that he was far from totally solid in his condemnation of Moscow; but then you could say the same, I am afraid, of some other notable friends and allies of the UK.

Nor was he 100 per cent sound on the Taliban; but then it is a longstanding policy of the Pakistani government to support anyone in Kabul, no matter how ghastly and fundamentalist, provided they are not aligned with India.

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You can object to some of the attitudes he struck, and to his teenage anti-Americanism, but nothing he said or did can conceivably justify the brutality with which the Pakistani generals are treating the former PM: banged up in foul conditions, with deteriorating health, no date for a new trial and no apparent hope of release.

Why are they doing it? Simple: they are scared of him. Imran Khan is one of the greatest cricketing heroes Pakistan – or the world – has ever produced. He led his country to its first ever test victories over both India and England, and in 1992, at the age of 39, he steered Pakistan to its first World Cup victory.

What the Pakistani generals fear is that if they let him out, his millions of fans in Pakistan will simply bear him aloft to a tumultuous victory in the next available election. That is why they are treating him with such cruelty – refusing even to allow his two sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, to have visas to visit him in jail.

The continued jailing of Imran Khan is a pathetic and unnecessary act of cowardice by Pakistan; and the UK government has been correspondingly abject in its protests.

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What the Pakistani generals fear is that if they let Khan out, his millions of fans in Pakistan will simply bear him aloft to a tumultuous victory in the next election, writes Boris Johnson

What the Pakistani generals fear is that if they let Khan out, his millions of fans in Pakistan will simply bear him aloft to a tumultuous victory in the next election, writes Boris Johnson

These two Khan boys have British passports. Imran Khan was himself educated at Royal Grammar School Worcester, read PPE at Keble and captained the Oxford Blues team before playing for Worcestershire and Surrey. He has millions of fans in this country, to say nothing of Pakistan, and yet the Foreign Office has barely raised a peep on his behalf.

Britain has longstanding, deep and in many cases familial ties with Pakistan. After three years of watching Imran in torment, it is time for us to stop pussy-footing around, use our leverage and call for his release.

The Pakistani generals, led by Asim Munir, are riding high. Field Marshal Munir has been the go-to man in the Iran negotiations. He is admired in the White House.

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The Field Marshal has nothing to fear from a 73-year-old man in poor health, and it would be the obvious and humane thing to let Imran out, and if necessary keep him under house arrest pending his appeal.

That, above all, would be in line with Pakistan’s own Supreme Court ruling.

At the moment I am afraid that it looks as though the Pakistanis are actively hoping that he will die in jail. That would be a serious stain on the country’s reputation.

Unlock that cell – and free Imran Khan.

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How long is Joao Pedro out for? Injured Chelsea star misses Brentford game | Football

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How long is Joao Pedro out for? Injured Chelsea star misses Brentford game | Football
Pedro’s injury ruled him out of Friday night’s game (Picture: Getty)

Joao Pedro was not in the matchday squad for Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Brentford due to a knee injury.

The Brazil international has enjoyed an electric start to the new season, scoring three and providing three assists in four appearances.

Pedro was absent from training this week, however, sparking injury concerns ahead of tonight’s game in west London having also withdrawn from the Brazil squad ahead of upcoming games.

Pedro was not named in Xabi Alonso’s squad tonight with Danny Welbeck leading the line in his absence.

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Alonso gave little away when discussing Pedro’s fitness this week but ESPN Brasil report he was examined by doctors on Tuesday, with the striker nursing a sprain of the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments during last Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Hull City.

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It has been recommended he takes three-and-a-half weeks to recover.

When will Joao Pedro return from injury?

While it ruled him out of Friday’s game, the timing does benefit Chelsea with an extended three-week international break now looming large.

Chelsea's Joao Pedro reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Brighton and Hove Albion in London, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Pedro has been in superb form this season (Picture: AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Based on the reported timeline, Pedro will be available when Chelsea return to action on 10 October.

Chelsea were also without Moises Caicedo and Reece James against Brentford.

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Caicedo is still to start a game this season, aggravating a muscle injury just 14 minutes after coming off the bench against Brighton in August.

James meanwhile was close to making the squad for the Brentford game but just missed out, according to his manager.

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‘He’s had a little injury in his hamstring,’ Alonso said of kick-off ahead of Friday’s game.

‘He tried and we waited until this morning. He tried to make it but he couldn’t now we have enough time to prepare for the next one. He was just short of recovering.’

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Emergency services called to vehicle in Whitby Harbour

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Emergency services called to vehicle in Whitby Harbour

Whitby RNLI, along with North Yorkshire Police, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and coastguard crew, were called to the area shortly before 12pm today (Friday, September 18).


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A RNLI spokesperson said its crews had launched its inshore lifeboat to provide medical assistance to the driver, who was then transferred into an ambulance.

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A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “We were called with a report from Whitby that a car at the Marina car park had entered the water, shortly before midday today, and was fully submerged.

“Our officers attended immediately, alongside other emergency services.

“It’s believed that the driver had suffered a medical episode. He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.”

A North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Whitby and Lythe [assisted] assisted the coastguard and police with reports of a person who had driven into the harbour and was submerged by water inside their vehicle.

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“The vehicle driver was rescued by a passerby prior to fire crews arrival.

“Crews administered immediate emergency care prior to the arrival of ambulance crews who took over the care of the driver on their arrival. The driver was taken to hospital via road ambulance.”

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