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NewsBeat

Strictly stars unite for TV Baftas 2026 despite major nominations snub

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Strictly stars unite for TV Baftas 2026 despite major nominations snub
The Bafta red carpet was full of Strictly Come Dancing stars this year – even if the winners’ room will not be (Picture: Getty)

The stars of Strictly Come Dancing were out in force to celebrate this year’s TV Baftas – despite not being nominated.

In a shocking turn of events, the glitzy BBC dance show was not recognised in any categories this time around.

This comes after Karen Carney and Carlos Gu’s triumph in the 2025 series, which also marked Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s final one as hosts, with an announcement of their replacements thought to be imminent.

Instead, The Graham Norton Show, Last One Laughing, Would I Lie To You?, and Michael McIntyre’s Big Show were nominated for the entertainment TV Bafta, shutting Strictly out entirely.

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Still, its professionals and former contestants donned their finest attire to walk the red carpet this weekend, without the added pressure of potentially having to make a speech.

Dianne Buswell was solo on the carpet, having welcomed her first child, Bowie, with real-life partner Joe Sugg just weeks ago.

Strictly pro Dianne Buswell beamed as she made her first red carpet appearance since giving birth just weeks ago (Picture: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Katya Jones walked with best pal Aimee Fuller, both in dramatic red numbers (Picture: Kate Green/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta)
Lewis Cope at the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises held at Royal Festival Hall on May 10, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Zak Hussein/Variety via Getty Images)
Actor Lewis Cope was one of the favourites last series on Strictly (Picture: Zak Hussein/Variety via Getty Images)

The flame-haired pro – who has been confirmed to return to the line-up in 2026 – looked gorgeous in a strapless black gown, with her vibrant locks styled in an up do.

She was joined by Katya Jones in a dramatic, deep red gown. The Russian choreographer was reportedly saved by Strictly bosses from the mass cull of professionals, which left Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuck, and Michelle Tsiakkas ‘devastated’ when their contracts were not renewed.

Meanwhile, contestant Lewis Cope, who wowed everyone with his skills last season, walked the carpet with his girlfriend.

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Noticeably absent was ex-host Tess, who has made her fair share of headlines this weekend after announcing she and Vernon Kay are divorcing after nearly 23 years of marriage.

Claudia, on the other hand, jetted back from the Scottish Highlands, where she’s been filming for season 2 of The Celebrity Traitors, which stars Miranda Hart, Maya Jama, James Blunt, Richard E Grant, and more.

Dame Mary Berry looked adorable in pink as she celebrated receiving the highest Bafta honour (Picture: John Phillips/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta)
Owen Cooper looked cool as ever following a huge year of major award wins (Picture: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
He posed with his Adolescence family, Stephen Graham and wife Hannah Walters (Picture: Kate Green/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta)

Back in Bafta land, Bake Off queen Dame Mary Berry looked delightful in a pastel pink ensemble with matching ballet pumps and a pear necklace.

The 91-year-old has been honoured with this year’s Bafta fellowship, the highest accolade that can be bestowed on a person to recognise their exceptional contributions.

Speaking to Roman Kemp on the red carpet, Dame Mary said sweetly: ‘You hear about actors and directors getting it, so as a cook, I feel very honoured. I’m immensely honoured to join those wonderful people who already won it; it’s amazing.’

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Other major names stepping out for one of the most prestigious nights in British television included the cast of Adolescence, which looks set to wrap up its headline-making year in glittering style, having been nominated in 11 categories, including for best limited drama.

The Netflix series propelled schoolboy Owen Cooper to unprecedented overnight stardom in 2025, thanks to his portrayal of 13-year-old Jamie Miller, who is arrested for the murder of a female classmate.

Diving into incel culture and sparking important conversations about online safety and manosphere culture – even in parliament – the four-parter completely rocked the TV landscape, both with moving performances from Cooper and co-stars Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, and Erin Doherty, and by shooting each ep in one continuous take.

‘Twas a big night for baby bumps, with pregnant TV presenter Laura Whitmore posing alongside husband Iain Stirling (Picture: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Scarlett Moffatt is also expecting her second child (Picture: Kate Green/Bafta/Getty Images for Bafta)
Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews recently announced their family was growing following a miscarriage last year (Picture: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

This afternoon, Owen posed proudly at the Baftas in a super cool jacket, with co-creator Stephen and his wife, Hannah, having pretty much taken him under their wing in the last 12 months.

Tonight was also a big one for baby bumps, as plenty made an appearance.

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Vogue Williams debuted hers, having confirmed she and Spencer Matthews are expecting their fourth child.

It’s been a tough year for the spouses, with Spencer telling Metro ahead of the London Marathon that they’d experienced ‘complications’, including a miscarriage.

Stronger than ever, they posed arm-in-arm at tonight’s bash, Spencer looking dapper in a black tux and Vogue wearing a contrasting white lace number, oozing elegance.

Scarlett Moffatt is also pregnant, expecting her second baby with Scott Dobinson, to whom she got engaged in 2023.

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Danny and Dani Dyer were the ultimate dad-daughter duo (Picture: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Rachel Duffy opted for a demure blue ensemble – the total opposite of her Traitors cloak (Picture: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Speaking of Traitors, Celeb Traitors winner Alan Carr beamed alongside his TV pal Amanda Holden (Picture: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Frankie Bridge wins the award for the quirkiest neckline (Picture: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

The ex-Gogglebox star cradled her growing belly proudly, surely hoping for a calmer night at the Baftas than she had at the I’m A Celebrity South Africa final.

Rounding off the pregnancies we had TV presenter Laura Whitmore, who arrived with Love Island commentator husband Iain Stirling.

Other celebrities in attendance this year included Danny and Dani Dyer, Rick Astley, Alan Carr, Amanda Holden, Louis Theroux, and Aimee Lou Wood.

From across the pond came Severance star Adam Scott, while Steven Knight took a night off from working on the next James Bond movie to celebrate his nominated show A Thousand Blows.

Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Bafta chief executive Jane Millichip praised a ‘particularly strong year’ for television, expressing how ‘excited’ she was to hand out trophies to the winners.

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‘This is the last awards of the season for Bafta, and it pretty much closes the awards season itself, so it always feels really celebratory,’ she said following the Film Awards.

What It Feels Like For A Girl lead star Ellis Howard has been recognised in the memorable moment category (Picture: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Adam Scott of Severance made the trip from across the pond (Picture: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Recent Saturday Night Live UK host Aimee Lou Wood posed with fellow The White Lotus star Jason Isaacs (Picture: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Steven Knight was in high spirits, with his show A Thousand Blows nominated this year (Picture: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Greg Davies hosts this year’s ceremony, taking over from Alan Cumming (Picture: Scott Garfitt/Bafta via Getty Images)

She lauded recent television shows for their ‘really stand-out water cooler moments, adding: ‘Whether it’s comedy, entertainment, or drama: Adolescence, Celebrity Traitors, Amandaland, Last One Laughing.

‘They are all really powerful shows in their own right, and I think it’s an amazing platform for British talent.

‘(The awards are) not only recognising great work and excellence but also shine a light on that talent. Hopefully, it will inspire the talents of the future.’

Taskmaster comedian Greg Davies hosts this year’s broadcast, succeeding Alan Cumming.

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Watch the TV Baftas 2026 on the BBC from 7pm.

Bafta TV nominations 2026

Actor in a Comedy

Jim Howick in Here We Go

Jon Pointing in Big Boys

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Lenny Rush in Am I Being Unreasonable?

Mawaan Rizwan in Juice

Oliver Savell in Changing Ends

Steve Coogan in How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge)

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Actress in a Comedy

Diane Morgan in Mandy

Jennifer Saunders in Amandaland

Katherine Parkinson in Here We Go

Lucy Punch in Amandaland

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Philippa Dunne in Amandaland

Rosie Joes in Pushers

Children’s: Non-scripted

A Real Bug’s Life

BooSnoo!

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Deadly 60 Saving Sharks

World War Me: Sky Kids Investigates

Children’s: Scripted

Crongton

Horrible Science

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Shaun the Sheep

The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball

Current Affairs

Breaking Ranks: Inside Israel’s War (Exposure)

The Covid Contracts: Follow the Money

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Gaza: Doctors Under Attack

Undercover in the Police (Panorama)

Daytime

The Chase

Lorraine

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Richard Osman’s House of Games

Scam Interceptors

Drama Series

A Thousand Blows

Blue Lights

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Code of Silence

This City Is Ours

Entertainment

The Graham Norton Show

Last One Laughing

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Michael McIntyre’s Big Show

Would I Lie To You

Entertainment Performance

Amanda Holden and Alan Carr in Amanda & Alan’s Spanish Job

Bob Mortimer in Last One Laughing

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Claudia Winkleman in Celebrity Traitors

Lee Mack in The 1% Club

Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan in Rob & Romesh Vs

Romesh Ranganathan in Romesh: Can’t Knock the Hustle

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Factual Entertainment

The Assembly

Go Back Where You Came From

Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars

Race Across The World

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Factual Series

Bibaa & Nicole: Murder in the Park

Educating Yorkshire

See No Evil

The Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed

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International

The Bear

The Diplomat

Pluribus

Severance

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The Studio

The White Lotus

Leading Actor

Colin Firth in Lockerbie: A Search for Truth

Ellis Howard in What it Feels Like for a Girl

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James Nelson-Joyce in This City is Ours

Matt Smith in The Death of Bunny Munro

Stephen Graham in Adolescence

Taron Egerton in Smoke

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Leading Actress

Aimee Lou Wood in Film Club

Erin Doherty in A Thousand Blows

Jodie Whittaker in Toxic Town

Narges Rashidi in Prisoner 951

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Sheridan Smith in I Fought The Law

Sian Brooke in Blue Lights

Limited Drama

Adolescence

I Fought The Law

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Trespasses

What It Feels Like For A Girl

Live Event Coverage

Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 on BBC One

Last Night of The Proms: Finale on BBC One

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VE Day 80: A Celebration to Remember on BBC One

News Coverage

BBC Newsnight: Grooming Survivors Speak

Channel 4 News: Israel-Iran: The Twelve Day War

Sky News: Gaza: Fight For Survival

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Reality

The Celebrity Traitors

The Jury: Murder Trial

Squid Game: The Challenge

Virgin Island

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Scripted Comedy

Amandaland

Big Boys

How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge)

Things You Should Have Done

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Short Form

Donkey

Hustle and Run

Rocket Fuel

Zoners

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Single Documentary

Grenfell: Uncovered

Louis Theroux: The Settlers

One Day in Southport

Unforgotten: The Bradford City Fire

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Soap

Casualty

Coronation Street

EastEnders

Specialist Factual

Belsen: What They Found

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Simon Schama: The Road to Auschwitz

Surviving Black Hawk Down

Vietnam: The War That Changed America

Sports Coverage

The 2025 Ryder Cup

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The FA Cup Final

UEFA Women’s Euro 2025

Wimbledon 2025

Supporting Actor

Ashley Walters in Adolescence

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Fehinti Balogun in Down Cemetery Road

Joshua McGuire in The Gold

Owen Cooper in Adolescence

Paddy Considine in MobLand

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Rafael Mathe in The Death of Bunny Munro

Supporting Actress

Aimee Lou Wood in The White Lotus

Christine Tremarco in Adolescence

Chyna McQueen in Get Millie Black

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Emilia Jones in Task

Erin Doherty in Adolescence

P&O Cruises Memorable Moment Award

Jamie snaps at the Psychologist in Adolescence

I didn’t make it, did I? in Big Boys

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The police are warned of an ambush to plot to silence a key witness in Blue Lights

Alan Carr wins The Celebrity Traitors

Bob Mortimer and Richard Ayoade’s speed date in Last One Laughing

Byron leaves for Brighton to start Uni, where she introduces herself as Paris in What It Feels Like For A Girl

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Eurovision fans fear UK is ‘serious contender for last place’ after performance reveal

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Eurovision fans fear UK is 'serious contender for last place' after performance reveal

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Eurovision fans are more worried than ever about how the UK will fare at this year’s contest after a clip of the artist’s performance was released.

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Look Mum No Computer – real name Sam Battle – is this year’s representative for the UK and is in Vienna, ready to take to the stage to battle (pun not intended) for the top spot against the other nations with the song, Eins, Zwei, Drei.

With the Grand Final taking place in a week, the general public has been provided with a first glimpse of what the live version of the techno-pop song will look like.

And the 37-year-old music artist is fully leaning into the electronic aesthetic with a set design of wirey-button machine and a group of dancers with furry computers for heads, with the ‘experimental’ singer executing a mad scientist look as he pulls various fake levers.

Of course, aside from a rare exception in 2022 when UK entrant Sam Ryder landed second place with Space Man, it has been decades since our little island has done well in the final rankings.

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The UK is all too used to being at the bottom of the lot. In 2025, girl group Remember Monday finished in 19th place out of 26 with 88 points from the professional jury and a brutal zero points from the public vote.

The performance hasn’t inspired hope in fans (Picture: Getty)

However, after seeing Look Mum No Computer’s offerings, viewers are worried this could be the worst year yet.

‘So the zero points streak continues…’ X user ka_morian0121 shared.

‘Great Britain receives NIL POINTS,’ M predicted.

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‘Safe to say, were not winning it this year,’ Joe shared.

‘This is a complete mess. Nil pwahhhhh,’ J declared.

‘Let’s get ready for last place again!’ S lamented. ‘Another year at the bottom of the leaderboard,’ Lily W echoed.

‘A serious contender… for the last place,’ Crashgrana brutally declared.

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Some have come to Look Mum No Computer’s defence, attempting to give it the benefit of the doubt.

‘I love the song. Was not keen on it [at] first but now I love it,’ StuartIbertson added.

‘Shame the “machines” look pretty fake and I did expect more from the UK. Still a unique and catchy song though, but I think it’s bottom five again for us,’ DougnutDoney wrote.

Look Mum No Computer
Others are trying to see the silver lining (Picture: BBC)

‘It does make you wonder why everything new gets so much negativity, whether it be songs, new programmes, anything!’ Debs reflected.

‘The UK actually did something interesting for their Eurovision entry,’ LDN48 posted.

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This is the first song in the contest’s 70-year-run where the UK song will not be sung entirely in English, already making it stand out. And it’s all about the mundanity of the nine-to-five.

Speaking about the song when it was first released in March, he said: ‘That is 123, in German, for people who aren’t aware.

‘It felt right to write a song that included a bunch of different European things – the whole thing is about going on holiday, and feeling I’m gonna have some pizza, maybe in Italy.

‘I’m tired of eating this [jam] roly poly, which I love eating for most of the year, but I just want a little bit of a break from it.’

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As proceedings kick off in Vienna, the contest is also preparing for controversy after several countries announced they were boycotting this year’s competition over Israel’s inclusion – including the Big Five nation, Spain.

Just this week, the Israeli broadcaster KAN was issued a formal warning for violating the competition rules over promotional videos of their entrant.

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If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

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Have your say on Stormont reform proposals

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Belfast Live

We want to hear your thoughts on whether Stormont should be reformed so that no single party can collapse the Executive

Earlier this week, the Alliance Party published their 18 point plan for political reform in Northern Ireland.

Among the proposals was a suggestion to reform the Northern Ireland Act so that the next-largest party can nominate a First or deputy First Minister if the first eligible party refuses to do so.

They also propose that the titles of First and deputy First Minister be equalised to reflect the joint nature of the office.

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Defending the party’s proposals to change how First Ministers are nominated and to expand the use of weighted majority voting, the party’s deputy leader, Eóin Tennyson, rejected suggestions that such reforms would undermine the Good Friday Agreement.

“In 1998, people were promised a stable power-sharing government that would deliver for them and improve people’s lives, and instead, what we’ve had over the past nearly three decades is Stormont being suspended for almost half of that time,” he said.

“Then, when it is up and running, it is beset by deadlock, by delay, by veto, and is vulnerable to vested interests and dark money. So this document is actually about renewing and re-energising Stormont to restore public confidence.

“We have been very clear with the UK and Irish governments that to argue for reform is not to undermine the Good Friday Agreement at all. It’s actually to recognise that if we fail to reform, then we are condemning its institutions either to death by 1000 collapses or death by a slow bleed of public confidence in their ability to deliver.”

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Alliance’s 18 proposals for political reform

  • Reform the Northern Ireland Act so the next largest party can nominate a First or deputy First Minister if the first eligible party refuses to do so.
  • Implement a weighted majority system (approximately two-thirds) to determine cross-community support for the election of the Speaker and other key decisions, rather than using parallel consent.
  • Restrict Executive cross-community votes and the Petition of Concern strictly to matters relating to national identity, the legacy of the Troubles, or the constitutional structures established under the Good Friday Agreement.
  • Put the ‘three meeting rule’ on a statutory footing so items cannot be blocked from the Executive agenda, and publish all Executive meeting agendas.
  • Scrap the ‘anti-democratic’ system of Assembly designations.
  • Change the First and deputy First Minister titles to ‘Joint First Ministers’ to reflect their equal status, and include these posts in the D’Hondt calculation along with every other Ministry.
  • Establish a statutory Commission in the long term, sponsored by the Executive and the UK and Irish governments, to design a plan for implementing a voluntary coalition in Stormont.
  • Conduct all cross-community votes on Ministerial sanctions on a weighted majority basis.
  • Empower the Standards Commissioner to recommend the level of sanction that should apply for breaches of the Ministerial Code, which would then be reviewed and verified by an independent lay panel.
  • Introduce an annual cap on donations from single private sources, applying to both individuals and companies, as well as foreign and domestic donors.
  • Lower the reporting threshold for political donations from £11,180 to £500.
  • Publish all donations to local political parties retroactively from 2014.
  • Support more rigorous donor checks as outlined in the UK Government’s Representation of the People Bill.
  • Provide better funding to the Electoral Commission, so it is equipped to investigate and sanction breaches of third-party campaigning rules.
  • Establish a Lobbying Register in the Assembly to ensure greater transparency around who is seeking to influence politics and how much money they are spending.
  • Implement a fairer electoral system for Westminster elections, preferably the multi-member Single Transferable Vote (STV) system already used for Assembly and Council elections in Northern Ireland.
  • Transition to a directly elected House of Lords using a Proportional Representation (PR) system to represent the 12 regions of the UK, and implement maximum term limits to avoid politicisation.
  • Convene a UK-wide constitutional convention to develop a fully codified UK constitution

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

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One person on board during plane crash in Co Down

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Belfast Live

Emergency services attended the scene on Sunday afternoon

One person was on board during a plane crash in Co Down.

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Police received a report of a light aircraft crash in the Saintfield Road area of Ballynahinch at around 2.50pm on Sunday, May 10.

Ambulance crews and firefighters were also called to the scene.

One person was on board at the time, with police confirming there are “no reports of any serious injuries” at this time.

A PSNI spokesperson added: “Air Accident Investigations Branch has been informed of the incident.”

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Lancashire singer scores chart success with new dance anthem

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Lancashire singer scores chart success with new dance anthem

Tom Wills, 27, who grew up in Chorley and attended Southlands High School, has released ‘Laid’, a dance-pop and melodic house reinterpretation of James’ iconic 1993 track.

The single dropped on May 8 and has already begun climbing the UK iTunes Dance Chart within hours of release.

The track follows the success of Tom’s previous single, ‘Mid-Night Moves’, which reached four on the UK iTunes Dance Chart and 40 across all genres, while racking up more than 5,000 radio plays across the UK and Europe.

Produced by Preston-based Sholz-Y, winner of this year’s Dance Division/Label Radar competition, the new release transforms the original’s indie melancholy into a club-ready anthem, combining driving basslines, synth-led production and soaring vocals.

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For Tom, the song carries personal significance.

He first discovered ‘Laid’ as a child through a free CD included with a Sunday newspaper, playing it repeatedly alongside other James tracks.

Years later, seeing the band live at Lytham Festival reignited his connection to the song, this time with a deeper understanding of its themes.

Tom said: “As a kid, it was just a song I loved.

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“But growing up, especially as a queer artist, the lyrics took on a whole new meaning.

“It was ahead of its time in how it played with identity and gender. I wanted to bring that energy to today’s dancefloors.”

Now based in Manchester and signed to Swedish label The Dance Division, Tom has been building a name for himself at the intersection of commercial dance and pop.

His new track Laid is available to stream (Image: Tom Wills)

His performances have included Pride events and festivals across the UK, playing to audiences of up to 40,000.

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He is set to debut ‘Laid’ live at Pride in Trafford (HomoGrown) this month, marking another milestone in what he describes as a “rebuild” following the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I lost momentum during Covid, like so many artists,” he said.

“But coming back in 2025 and seeing the response to my music has been incredible. ‘Laid’ feels like the next step.”

With early radio support ranging from Manchester stations to international outlets and confirmed coverage from music publications including Plastic Magazine and Earmilk, the track is already gaining traction beyond the North West.

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Rooted in Manchester’s rich musical heritage, from indie to club culture, Tom reimagining of ‘Laid’ reflects both his upbringing and the city’s enduring influence on UK music.

He added: “Manchester shaped how I hear music.

“It’s always been about bringing people together on the dancefloor.”

‘Laid’ is available to stream now.

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Arsenal handed major injury blow amid Man City Premier League title race

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Manchester Evening News

Arsenal are in Premier League action as they take on West Ham United at the London Stadium, with Man City watching closely.

Arsenal defender Ben White sustained a knee injury during the opening period of the Premier League encounter with West Ham. The 28-year-old picked up the problem after a collision with Crysencio Summerville, and was forced to withdraw from the action.

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While being assessed by medical staff on the pitch, White indicated towards his left knee. The England international, who earned a call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan in March, appeared to be struggling as he hobbled off at the London Stadium.

The injury could be significant news for Manchester City as they keep a close eye on proceedings. City trail Arsenal by two points at the top of the Premier League table going into the Gunners’ clash at West Ham.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our City WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our City Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

Pep Guardiola’s side put more pressure on Arsenal thanks to their 3-0 win over Brentford on Saturday afternoon. It means that they could watch the game between West Ham and Arsenal with interest.

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With the scoreline at 0-0 in the first half, White picked up the injury. It forced Mikel Arteta into a reshuffle which saw influential midfielder Declan Rice moved to right-back.

If Arsenal fail to pick up all three points from the match, it puts the title race back in City’s hand with them having a game in hand over their rivals. City play that game on Wednesday night when they host Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium.

They finish their season with an away trip to Bournemouth and a home game against Aston Villa. Arsenal, meanwhile, host Burnley at the Emirates Stadium before travelling to take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on the final day.

Guardiola made his feelings clear on who he will be supporting at the London Stadium at the end of his press conference. After talking about the win over Brentford, he crossed his arms above his head and said: “Come on you Irons!”

Speaking about the title race, he said: “We are fighting with a team quite similar to Liverpool in the past, in the final of the Champions League without losing a game and have been top of the league almost all season,” he said.

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“It’s not in our hands now so it depends on them dropping points but all we can do is Wednesday win again, play the final of the FA Cup and go to Bournemouth – I’d say that is not the best one to go to – and Aston Villa. The calendar is demanding but it’s simple. It’s just two weeks and the season will be over.

“I love to be here again. Finish second again minimum so I love it. I didn’t enjoy last season and the moment to fight to qualify for the Champions League was difficult but the Carabao Cup is in our pocket, the FA Cup final at Wembley is the most beautiful day of the season and I love it.

“When you arrive and have the feeling that the job can be done, well done. When you arrive fighting against Arsenal, with many changes, seeing how they help each other in every training sessions, it is a joy.”

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Reform ‘did not do as well as I feared’ in Holyrood election, Sturgeon says

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Reform ‘did not do as well as I feared’ in Holyrood election, Sturgeon says

Ms Sturgeon said: “The problems of the country are real and big, but the idea that they are caused by immigrants is an absolute falsehood, fallacy, and it suits people like Nigel Farage to make people believe that, because actually the problems of the country are caused by people like him, the proponents of Brexit.”

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The email that arrived at 7pm – after months of silence from the council

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Manchester Evening News

‘She’s one of the most vulnerable children in society, all of these children are, and it’s just like nobody cares about them at all. They’re just a number on a piece of paper’

Trafford parents have been left worrying for months over where their kids will be learning in September after the council ran out of school places.

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Constant delays and a ‘stressful’ lack of communication from the town hall to families with children with special needs has compounded the issue, one mum said. Laura Ashton’s daughter Lucy, 6, will be moving from infant school to junior school in September.

Mrs Ashton, a nursery worker, said she expected to be told by the authority in January which setting Lucy had been allocated. The email finally came through at 7pm on Friday, May 1. It followed months of emails and exhaustion for the Sale family.

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Mrs Ashton, 41, said: “I’ve been told by the head of the EHCP (education, health and care plan) department, that there aren’t enough places for these children, and there’s a huge dilemma.

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“They must have had the foresight to know that this was going to happen. The fact that nothing has been done about it in the run-up to this period of time is absolutely atrocious.

“From January, [there has been] very few communications from the coordinator and the head of the EHC team, letting parents know what’s going on. No one heard anything.”

“I chased it up continually,” Mrs Ashton added. “I made it my mission. I would email every single week asking […] ‘where’s this correspondence? What’s going on?

“‘There’s a shortage of spaces. How are we going to school all these children?’ No response to that question.”

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By the end of March, the family still had no answers, with Mrs Ashton claiming there had been ‘no emails, no telephone calls, nothing’ from the council, ‘not even a ‘sorry, there’s been a delay’’. In April, the authority finally told parents it planned to create additional SEND places at two local schools – Moorlands and Broomwood – and these would be allocated in May.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has seen emails from council officers acknowledging the lack of correspondence with parents, saying ‘no communication is not good at all’ and admitting they ‘should have communicated something’. Officers added in an email in mid-April they had not wanted to ‘cause any unnecessary uncertainty or stress to families’ by ‘sending communication to parents when the situation [around the lack of school places was] not yet clear’.

However, Mrs Ashton argued the lack of information from the council does not reduce uncertainty but ‘amplifies it’. She added: “Being left without any update for months has caused far more stress than a transparent acknowledgement that decisions were still in progress ever would have.”

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The delays mean that families like the Ashtons now have just one term to prepare their children – many of whom will find change difficult – for the transitions.

Mrs Ashton said: “I don’t sleep. I’ve been constantly replaying emails and wondering where this correspondence is, why they can’t do their job properly, and worrying for Lucy’s future.

“She’s one of the most vulnerable children in society, all of these children are, and it’s just like nobody cares about them at all. They’re just a number on a piece of paper.”

She added: “It’s impacted Lucy because she’s well aware, so we will talk about the fact that her siblings are moving on to different settings, and she will ask constantly where she will be, what school uniform will she be wearing, will the lovely Karen still be making her school dinners.

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“We can’t even say ‘yes’ or ‘no’, so we can’t prepare her for anything. Impact wise, it’s just been absolutely awful.”

Even now that the family has been told where Lucy will be going in September, the struggle is not over. Lucy currently attends Wellfield Infants School, in Sale. However, the lack of places in the special needs groups means she will not be able to move up to Wellfield Junior with her friends in the school’s mainstream classes.

She has instead been allocated a place at Moorlands. This is despite, Mrs Ashton claims, Wellfield saying it could ‘perfectly’ meet Lucy’s needs. The family intends to appeal, but this again prolongs the uncertainty for Lucy.

Mrs Ashton said: “She has this lovely group of friends who she actually, for once in her life, belongs with, and they accept her for who she is. Now she’s going to be taken away from that, and she’s going to have to start that process all over again.

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“I think it’ll have a huge, huge impact on her socially, which again, will have a knock-on effect on her education and how she views life and school.”

“She’s an absolute dream of a child, she is lovely, she just likes to know what’s going on. She needs to know where she’s going to be. So the whole moving from infants is a massive thing for her anyway.”

A spokeswoman for Trafford council said: “While we are unable to comment on individual cases, we understand that not being allocated a first choice of school place can be disappointing and upsetting for families.

“As a Council we are committed to ensuring we have sufficient school places, and we have clear strategies and approaches for school place planning, including for children with special educational needs.

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“Part of our approach includes the creation and use of small specialist classes (SSCs) for children with SEND needs. This year Trafford took the decision to consult with all families of Year 2 children currently attending SSCs so that everyone would go through a full and fair process together, with the aim of confirming school places by the end of March 2026. This deadline needed to be extended as a result of some delays in the completion of some building works that were supporting the creation of additional SSC places. Once these works were completed, we were able to progress the allocation of school places.

“As part of the national SEND reforms we are continuing to develop our approach to SEND provision within Trafford schools and SSCs are a vital part of that.”

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Retiree sick of cars ruining his lawn invents fence that can puncture tyres

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Daily Mirror

Kevin Pringle became increasingly furious after cars left ‘muddy trenches’ along his grass in the quiet cul-de-sac

An ex-prison officer has created an innocent-looking garden fence designed to stop nightmare parking – with tiny spikes hidden inside to deflate tyres. Kevin Pringle, 64, patented his own simple but effective product to keep cars from mounting and damaging grass verges after a series of terrible driving outside his home.

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He installed the fence, which costs around £40 for half a metre, on his front garden measuring four-foot-wide outside his semi-detached home. Kevin said he had been repeatedly relaying the ground with top soil and grass seed after cars left “muddy trenches” along his grass in the quiet cul-de-sac.

The fence has secret spikes which activate when a car hits and slowly deflate its tyres, acting the same way as a police-used stinger. The retiree said the barrier could be used by councils to stop illegal traveller encampments from setting up on grassland and cricket pitches – or by estates, schools and hotels.

Kevin, who lives in Milton Keynes, said: “The quality of driving and parking has without a doubt gotten worse in recent years. Section 34 of the Road Traffic Act says its an offence to drive anywhere other a designated carriageway but you see illegal parking everywhere.

“Because nothing is done about it, people don’t care and I don’t understand why they don’t realise the effect they’re having. When I searched for solutions, the only suggestion I found was to place big boulders around the edge.

“While this does deter vandals, since they know they’ll risk damaging their vehicle, it creates two new problems – it makes lawn care much harder and the boulders themselves are not very attractive.

“I became determined to find an answer that would both keep the verge tidy and make maintenance easier.”

READ MORE: Ryanair plane diversion leads to ‘no fly’ warningREAD MORE: Mum’s ‘intuition’ told her something was wrong after seeing photo of her daughter

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His picket-style Smart Fence, tried and tested outside Kevin’s own home, has secret spikes that activate when a car hits and slowly deflate its tyres. The former prison officer said he had been plagued by illegal parking tearing up his own lawn which led to his “lightbulb moment”.

He said: “When I first bought the house, the grass verge that goes to the road was in a bit of a mess.

“I cut the grass and trimmed the hedge. Once I’d made it neat and tidy, I found people were using it as an extension to the carriageway.

“I’d seen people parking on it, mounting it and using it as part of the turning space, leaving out the soil and leaving a muddy trench. I had to go out there multiple times with a topsoil and grass seed.”

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Kevin spent three years researching different designs as he wanted to make sure his fence was not susceptible to accidental damage such as “hurting little Johnny on his bicycle”.

While research how to make the spikes “disappear”, he realised they needed protecting. He explained: “The plastic fence covers the spikes and the only way to expose the spikes is with enough weight on top of them to break the plastic fencing.

“The plastic will break along the perforations exposing the fence supports which are hollow tubes with a chamfered top edge.

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“This means if an attempt is made to use a motor vehicle to vandalize a lawn or verge the driver will no longer be able to just drive away leaving the damage for the land owner to repair.

“Because you can lift the spikes and fence out of the ground, you can then cut the grass as only the base plate which is at ground level.”

Kevin believes his patented design would be significant in preventing unauthorised encampments and would love to see local authorities and councils put it into use.

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He pointed out his own council, Milton Keynes, had invested £250,000 over the last five years to protect sites with barriers such as concrete blocks or mounds of earth.

He said: “I read news articles almost daily about where this product could be used. Its use for stopping unauthorised encampments would be phenomenal – and it would be cheaper.”

Kevin had bought a Hyundai Getz on its last legs to test the fence’s ability to puncture tyres and hopes to see his prototype rolled out widely in future.

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He said his Smart Fence would protect homeowners from bad drivers absconding the scene and had sought advice around if the user could be held liable.

Kevin added: “If I try and jimmy your backdoor with a screwdriver and it breaks, you don’t have to pay me for damages.

“Tearing up a garden is criminal damage. If you’re committing criminal damage and you damage your tools such as a car, it is your responsibility.”

A Milton Keynes highways spokesperson said: “Under the law, items can’t be placed on public highway land without the proper authorisation.

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“Items may only be placed on the highway where the appropriate permissions have been granted and suitable safety measures are in place to protect all road users.”

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Roman’s ‘very pretty’ boho-style crochet summer top ‘goes with anything’

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Wales Online

‘Fabulous well-made top, feels and looks quality, true to size, appropriate for all ages’

Summer is just around the corner and fashion enthusiasts will be eagerly anticipating dusting off their warm-weather wardrobes. Of course, the notoriously unpredictable British climate means a versatile top that can be layered over a vest or camisole is an absolute must-have.

At Roman, shoppers are clamouring for a layering piece that fits the bill perfectly. Customers report receiving ‘lots of compliments’ on the Ivory Crochet Tie Front V-Neck Tunic Top, and it’s not difficult to understand why.

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The Ivory Crochet Tie Front V-Neck Tunic Top is priced at £38, however those who enter the discount code SUN can secure a 10% reduction. This brings the cost down to a reasonable £34.20, and it also comes with complimentary express delivery.

Available in sizes 10 to 20, the crochet top is made from a lightweight knitted fabric. It showcases a flattering round neckline and full-length fluted sleeves that carry a 70s-inspired feel while remaining contemporary and firmly on-trend.

The top boasts a tunic silhouette and is complemented by tassels on the tie detail. Thanks to its adaptable design, the Ivory Crochet Tie Front V-Neck Tunic Top can be styled in a multitude of ways, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Roman’s boho-inspired summer top available for £34.20

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The top is perfect for throwing on top of a vest on cooler summer evenings

£38.00

£34.20

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The Ivory Crochet Tie Front V-Neck Tunic Top costs £38 but those who apply the discount code SUN can pick it up with a 10% saving. This brings the price down to a modest £34.20 and it comes with free express delivery too.

It pairs beautifully with white jeans or linen trousers for an effortlessly polished look, ideal for the office or weekend outings. While on holiday, team the piece with shorts or a floaty skirt for a laid-back coastal aesthetic.

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Meanwhile, Marks and Spencer’s Cotton Blend Crochet Look Collared Cardigan is priced at £30. It’s designed with a regular fit, featuring an attractive tie fastening at the v-shaped neckline and a ruffled trim that provides a polished finish.

Alternatively, Next’s Ecru Cotton Mesh Knit Lace-Up Polo Top is available for £49. A striking addition to your seasonal collection, it showcases a breathable mesh knit construction adorned with delightful faux shells scattered throughout the fabric.

The design is completed with a traditional collar and a nautical-inspired lace-up front featuring gold-tone eyelets, delivering a distinctive, artisanal aesthetic that’s ideal for summer layering. It’s also available in blue and pink.

Back at Roman, the Ivory Crochet Tie Front V-Neck Tunic Top has achieved an impressive overall star-rating of 4.9 out of five from 35 reviews. One delighted customer commented: “Love it. Perfect to cover up over a vest top on cooler evenings.”

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Another remarked: “Bought this crochet top for my holiday and to wear in the summer. Goes great with my white trousers and jeans. I’m a 14 and the size is accurate and fits perfectly. Very pleased with my purchase and for the good service I always get from Roman.

“Goes with anything,” a third noted.

“Fabulous well-made top, feels and looks quality. True to size, appropriate for all ages. I wore a small vest top under mine.”

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While the Ivory Crochet Tie Front V-Neck Tunic Top has received largely positive feedback, one customer deducted a star due to the colour differing from expectations.

The four-star review states: “Nice top but the colour wasn’t like the picture it was darker and didn’t suit me.”

It’s also worth noting that the top is constructed from 100% acrylic. Although this material offers warmth without bulk, it can be susceptible to static electricity and pilling, creating irritating bobbles that compromise the garment’s appearance over time.

Despite this, another customer was delighted with their recent Roman acquisition, commenting: “Got lots of compliments wearing this. Not as see through as you would imagine. Washes well though I did wash this in a delicates bag so it didn’t get caught on zips or buttons.”

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A separate five-star review states: “I absolutely love this top, it’s well made, comfortable and very pretty when on, I put it with silk wide leg pants for an evening, had loads of lovely compliments.”

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Man, 60, dies on M61 near Bolton as police issue appeal

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Man, 60, dies on M61 near Bolton as police issue appeal

Greater Manchester Police was called to reports of a concern for welfare on the M61 on May 8 just before 12pm, which further led to a collision with a vehicle between junction two at Linnyshaw and junction four at Over Hulton.

The force confirmed on Friday that a man had died and stated there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

The motorway was closed in both directions throughout the day after the incident.

Traffic on M61 (Image: NQ)

In a fresh appeal for witnesses, GMP has now revealed the man was aged 60 and that its serious collision investigation unit is keen to speak to anyone with CCTV footage, dashcam or mobile phone footage from the area around the time.

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The force said: “We were called to reports of a concern for welfare just before 12pm, which further led to a collision with a vehicle between junction two and four.

“One man, aged 60, sadly died at the scene. Our thoughts remain with his family and loved ones, who continue to be supported at this difficult time.

“No arrests have been made and there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding this incident.”

The serious collision investigation unit is appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.

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Anyone with information is asked to contact the police on 0161 856 4741, quoting log 1270 of 08/05/2026.

Information can also be shared using our ‘report tool’ or LiveChat function on the Greater Manchester Police website gmp.police.uk

Alternatively, witnesses can contact the independent charity – Crimestoppers – anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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