They are bomb shelters, and there are hundreds all over the city. Supposedly, they’re temporary, but two years after being installed, they feel increasingly permanent.
When the Kremlin launched its invasion of Ukraine four years ago, bomb shelters on home soil were definitely not part of the battle plans.
Nor were the barricades at Belgorod’s bus stops. Nor the anti-drone nets draped over its schools and shopping centre. Nor the now frequent blackouts and power cuts.
But by exporting war, Russia also brought it home, and Belgorod has been on the frontline of Ukraine’s retaliation.
We meet 80-year-old Lyudmila outside her apartment block on the outskirts of the city, a few hours after it has been hit by drones.
One crashed into her bedroom while she and her husband Vladimir were at home.
“It flew in through the window, hit the floor, exploded and then flew into the other room,” she tells us, still in shock.
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Image: Lydumila’s apartment building was hit by drones
As we’re looking up at the charred brickwork, an air raid siren sounds.
“Again,” Lydumila sighs, before showing us inside to take shelter.
When the siren stops, we make our way up to her apartment, where I’m hit by a smell of burning as soon as the door opens.
There are cracks in the walls and scorch marks on the floor. The furniture inside has already been removed by emergency crews because there’s nothing left to salvage.
The blast would almost certainly have killed the couple had they been in the same room.
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“We are so tired, you cannot even imagine,” she says.
“Lord, what did we do to deserve this? We lived in Ukraine, we were friends. And look at this, now we’re fighting each other.”
Image: An apartment building in Belgorod after it was hit by drones
But Belgorod isn’t like other Russian cities. The war can feel distant and detached in other parts of the country, but not here.
There is a constant threat of attack, as we find out first-hand.
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‘Lucky escape’
We are on our way to the town of Shebekino, five miles (8km) from the Ukrainian border, when suddenly there’s a loud bang.
“Stop!” one of the team yells. “Quick, get out!” Our vehicle has just been hit by a drone.
We jump out and race across the ice for cover behind the wall of a derelict factory.
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We don’t know where the drone came from. Our radar scanner didn’t show any threats.
Image: Sky News’ Ivor Bennett was forced to run after a drone hit the vehicle he was travelling in
We believe it was a “sleeper” drone that had been lying in wait for a potential target.
For some reason, its pilot, operating the machine remotely via an onboard camera, chose our car.
Laden with explosives, kamikaze drones are designed to detonate on impact.
This one didn’t. Instead, it lay smouldering in the road before the military arrived to take it away.
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It was a very lucky escape and a terrifyingly close illustration of the everyday dangers for people in the region.
Image: The drone failed to detonate on impact
‘Alone in our grief’
Like Moscow, Kyiv denies targeting civilians.
But as in Ukraine, civilians in Russia have been killed in the war too, albeit on a much smaller scale.
At least 440 people have died in the Belgorod region since the fighting began, according to the local authorities, compared to more than 15,000 the UN says have been killed in Ukraine.
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Liza’s mother, Viktoriya, died when Belgorod was shelled just over two years ago.
She had been out shopping with Liza, whose left leg was amputated after being hit by shrapnel. She was eight months old at the time.
Image: Liza’s mother died when Belgorod was shelled
“Those were very difficult days,” says her uncle Dmitri, who stayed with Liza in hospital for several months and adopted her.
“She and I were left alone in our grief.”
Dmitri was born in Belgorod, and that’s where his whole family lives, including his mother and grandmother. That’s why he’s stayed. But it means life is essentially on hold – spent largely indoors and under cover.
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“I wish there was peace, for children to live full lives,” he tells me.
“Our children know what Vampire strikes are, what drones are, what an FPV [first-person-view] is. A child this age doesn’t need to know this.
“There should be a childhood, and not this situation.”
Image: Liza’s left leg was amputated after she was hit by shrapnel
At an official level, Belgorod has embraced its role as a frontline city.
A local museum has put on a special exhibition called “Angels of Victory”, which honours Belgorod’s air defences.
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Visitors are shown the remnants of Ukrainian missiles and drones that have been shot down.
There’s no mention of why Belgorod has come under attack. No word on who started the war. The only message is that Russia is the victim.
It is the same with the bomb shelters. They’ve inspired a new line of souvenir keyrings. A sign of danger turned into a symbol of defiance.
‘Together until victory’
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There are many here who believe the narrative. At the local Communist Party offices, a group of elderly women are weaving camouflage nets that will be sent to Russian soldiers at the front.
“[The troops] are our protection, we are their protection. Together we are strong, together until victory,” Olga tells me, under the watchful gaze of Joseph Stalin, whose giant portrait hangs on the wall.
The women say they have been making the nets every single day since the war started, and promise to continue until it ends.
Image: Women weaving camouflage nets that will be sent to Russian soldiers at the front
“We have a lot of work to do,” Raisa says, as an image of another icon of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin, looms large behind her.
“We’re just glad that we’re so strong and not tired of anything. We just want peace and a real life.”
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While some have faith in Russia’s path, it is clear there is also frustration here.
And it seems to be growing, the harder life gets.
Galina, 73, has been living by candlelight for the past five days, following a Ukrainian strike on the local power grid.
But who does she criticise? The local authorities, for not fixing the problem when they said they would.
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“We understand the military situation, we understand, but you can’t understand lies,” she says.
Thousands in Ukraine have been living without heating and electricity for several weeks during the winter because of Russia’s targeting of energy infrastructure.
But now people here are experiencing that too, as temperatures outside hit -20C.
Tatyana has her hat and coat on as she shows us through the gloom into her apartment. She fears the blackouts will continue.
“It’s been going on for a very long time, and it’s like we’re just licking our wounds, unable to recover quickly,” she says.
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And that’s just it – no one knows when this will end.
Last year, NBA stars Russell Westbrook and Kemba Walker launched a startup, Eazewell, which aims to make funeral planning simpler and more streamlined, thanks in part to artificial intelligence (AI).
“We’re trying to take the weight off people’s shoulders as much as we can, and make this process so much easier for people,” Walker shared with CNBC.
And it seems the trend is growing.
The Washington Post reported on the “rise” of AI obituary writing tools, stating that funeral directors “are increasingly asking the relatives of the deceased whether they would prefer for AI to write the obituary”.
AI funerals are “uncomfortable [and] potentially dangerous”
According to Purves, “A funeral director’s job requires a blend of administrative and interpersonal skills and, above all, a desire to support people facing loss.
“Funeral directors deliver a unique service: guiding, supporting and actioning a family’s wishes, while also project managing and communicating with third parties such as churches, florists or celebrants.”
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And given that people using their service may be in varying states of emotional distress, Purve added, the “intuition and empathy of a funeral director is what makes – or breaks – the quality of service”.
In that light, he said, “Replacing thiscare with AI-powered services seems not only uncomfortable but also potentially dangerous. When dealing with people at their most vulnerable, entrustingtheiremotionalwellbeingwithartificialintelligenceseems profoundly misplaced”.
Some experts have cautioned against AI therapy chatbots, which Stanford researchers argue carry “risks” like bias and harmful responses to emotionally-charged prompts.
“Beyond the emotional cost, the potential proliferation of AI-driven funeral services also risk lowering professional standards,” Purves continued.
“If funeral homes feel pressuredtocompetewiththeirlow-cost,AI-counterparts,theymaybe compelled to cut corners: fewer staff, less time with families or reduced aftercare.
“Grievingfamiliescouldfind themselvesdealingwithimpersonal‘click-and-plan’interfacesinsteadof skilled professionals who understand cultural and religious nuances, and can anticipate emotional needs before they’re expressed.”
AI may have some place in funeral care, though
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According to Purves, this doesn’t mean AI has no place in funeral care.
“The rise inlivestreamingfuneralservices,forexample,hasbeenoverwhelmingly positive for the industry, as loved ones overseas can pay their respects without having to travel,” he stated.
“Equally, funeral directors often use advanced systems to plan and manage their operations, allowing firms to effectively coordinate arrangements and ensuring clients receive the support they need.”
The funeral director added that admin and paperwork capabilities could be useful, too, “provided it is used to enhance, not replace, the human service”.
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This could leave funeral directors with more time to care for the bereaved in person.
But, Purves ended, “The future of funeral care shouldn’t be about replacing compassion with convenience. It should be about protecting what makes us human in the first place.
“Because no matter how advanced technology becomes, there will always be one thing it can’t do: care.”
Luke Tryl, UK director of More in Common, stressed it was a “high stakes”, possibly “seismic” by-election as it would show whether Reform, with around 30 per cent of the vote, could win lots of seats as it seeks a Commons majority, if the Green surge is “real” or whether Labour’s woes may ease.
The actress, who is 30, currently plays Bethany Platt in the ITV soap. It was during the first Coronavirus lockdown in 2020 that saw Lucy struggle with her mental health and, at the time, she struggled to see how she could move forward.
Lucy ended up getting admitted to The Priory, a hospital that specialises in treatment for mental health.
‘I was just at the absolute rock bottom that I’ve ever, ever felt. And I really, really, really struggled. I had a really bad batch of mental health towards the end of 2020 and I ended up being in The Priory for about five weeks because my mental health was so bad. I couldn’t see a way out of feeling how I was feeling.’
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Lucy plays Sarah Platt’s daughter Bethany in Corrie (Picture: ITV)
Lucy has two children with footballer Ryan Ledson (Picture: MCPIX/Shutterstock)
Continuing her chat on Johnny Seifert’s Secure the Insecurepodcast, Lucy explained that her family played a huge role in getting her some help.
‘I ended up having to go to hospital, and it was from that point that other people were involved – my mum and my sisters and people that I’d worked with before. It almost felt like other people, other factors, were telling me, “Right, you need some serious help now. It’s gone a bit too far”. I really didn’t want to do it. I didn’t want to go and I even remember getting there. I really, really did not want to go in.’
When Lucy first arrived at the centre, she felt as though she wasn’t ‘bad enough to be there’.
‘It almost felt like this just feels a bit alien and a bit strange, like, I don’t know why I’m here’, she said.
After a few weeks though, Lucy started to settle in.
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‘I got to grips with it. And actually after a week of being there, I liked it. I felt quite safe. I met quite a lot of people there who I sometimes still keep in contact with now.’
‘It took me a while to adjust’, Lucy added, revealing that she moved back in with her parents once she came out of the hospital.
Lucy returned to her role as Bethany in autumn 2025 after maternity leave (Picture: ITV)
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‘Coming out and being in the real world and just having to carry on felt strange. But I also had a really good support system around me.
‘Going and being with my mum and dad for a few weeks after, rather than just going back to my house, was a really nice thing – especially to have your tea cooked for you every night. And all my washing done as well.’
Life has changed a lot for Lucy since she went to The Priory.
‘It seems like a completely different life’, she noted, reflecting on the period.
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‘I feel like that was a totally different version of me. And I’ve been lucky enough to say that I did manage to get myself out of it, because I know for so many people that’s not the reality and you can stay on that level and it’s really hard to get out of feeling like that.’
Lucy and Ryan’s daughter Nancy was born in January 2025, two years on from the birth of their son (Picture: MCPIX/Shutterstock)
‘I just accepted that, that was a blip in my mental health and in my own journey. I do deserve to be happy and to be in the relationship that I’m in, and I deserve the job that I’ve had. I’ve worked really hard.
‘I don’t know if it was to do with being at The Priory for five weeks. I don’t know if it was that. But things just kind of stayed at a good level for me.’
The Republican hopes he can convince increasingly wary Americans that his policies have improved their lives while ensuring that the U.S. economy is stronger than many believe — and that they should vote for more of the same in November.
The balancing act of celebrating his whirlwind first year back in the White House while making a convincing case for his party in midterm races where he personally won’t be on the ballot is a tall order for any president. But it could prove especially delicate for Trump, given how happy he is to veer off script and ignore carefully crafted messaging.
A main theme will be that the country is booming with a rise in domestic manufacturing and new jobs, despite many Americans not feeling that way. “It’s going to be a long speech because we have so much to talk about,” said Trump, who promised a heavy dose of talk about the economy.
Jeff Shesol, a former speechwriter for Democratic President Bill Clinton, said Trump has typically used State of the Union addresses to offer more conventional tones than his usual bombast — but he’s still apt to exaggerate repeatedly.
“His job, for the sake of his party, is to show the silver lining,” Shesol said. “But if he’s going to insist that the silver lining is gold, no one’s buying it. And it will be a very difficult position on the campaign trail for Republicans to defend.”
Michael Waldman, Clinton’s former chief speechwriter, said second-term presidents “have a tough job because what they all want to say is, ‘Hey, look what a great job I’ve been doing — why don’t you love me?’”
His lack of messaging discipline has been on display after concerns about high costs of living helped propel Democratic wins around the country on Election Day last November. The White House subsequently promised that the president would travel the country nearly every week to reassure Americans he was taking affordability seriously. But Trump has spent more time blaming Democrats and scoffing at the notion that kitchen-table issues demand attention.
Such gains don’t feel tangible to those without stock portfolios, however. There also are persistent fears that tariffs stoked higher prices, which could eventually hurt the economy and job creation. Economic growth slowed the last three months of last year.
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Waldman, now president of the Brennan Center for Justice, which advocates for democracy, civil liberties and fair elections, said previous presidents faced similar instances of “economic disquiet.”
That created a question of “how much do you sell vs. feeling the pain of the electorate,” he said.
Shesol noted that Trump has “always believed — going back to his real estate days — that he can sell anyone on anything.”
“He’s still doing that. But the problem is, you can’t tell somebody who has lost their job and can’t get a new one that things are going great,” Shesol said. “He can’t sell people on a reality that for them, and frankly for most Americans, does not exist.”
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It is potentially politically perilous ahead of November elections that could deliver congressional wins to Democrats, just as 2018’s “blue wave” created a strong check to his administration during his first term.
Several Democrats in Congress, meanwhile, plan to skip Tuesday’s speech in protest, instead attending a rally known as the “People’s State of the Union” on Washington’s National Mall.
Making any foreign policy feel relevant to Americans back home is never easy.
Jennifer Anju Grossman, a former speechwriter for Republican President George H.W. Bush and current CEO of the Atlas Society, which promotes the ideas of author and philosopher Ayn Rand, said Trump can make clear that Maduro’s socialist policies wrecked Venezuela’s economy to the point where one of the world’s richest oil countries struggled to meet its own energy needs.
Now, oil from that country will help lower American gas prices.
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Still, when it comes to overseas developments, she said, “I think it’s going to be a bit of a challenge to make clear why this is relevant to the domestic situation.”
TAPALPA, Mexico (AP) — Maria Dolores Aguirre’s family corner store has lived off tourism that has flowed into her charming cobblestoned town of Tapalpa, tucked away in the mountains of Jalisco state.
Now, the 50-year-old Aguirre worries that the bloodshed will deal a blow to her livelihood and change towns like hers. It is something many in the western Mexican state are grappling with, from its Pacific Ocean beaches to its capital Guadalajara that will host matches in June for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“It’s going to affect us. It’s collateral damage,” Aguirre said. “The government is going to have to have a lot of security. … The entire world just saw what happened and, of course, people are going to think twice about coming.”
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Fighting between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and Mexican security forces raged on in a number of states Monday, fueling fears among many like Aguirre that there will be more violence to come.
More than 70 people died in the attempt to capture Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes and its aftermath, authorities said Monday. Known as “El Mencho,” he was the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the fastest-growing criminal networks in Mexico, known for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the United States and staging brazen attacks against Mexican government officials.
The White House confirmed that the U.S. provided intelligence support to the operation to capture the cartel leader and applauded Mexico’s army for taking down a man who was one of the most wanted criminals in both countries. The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of “El Mencho.”
The death of Oseguera Cervantes came as Mexico’s government has stepped up its offensive against cartels in an effort to meet demands by U.S. President Donald Trump to crack down on criminal groups, threatening to impose more tariffs or take unilateral military action if the country does not show results.
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Mexico hoped the death of one of the world’s biggest fentanyl traffickers would ease that pressure, but many people were anxious as they waited to see the powerful cartel’s reaction.
Oseguera Cervantes died after a shootout with the Mexican military on Sunday. Mexican Defense Secretary Gen. Ricardo Trevilla said Monday that authorities had tracked one of his romantic partners to his hideout in Tapalpa. The cartel leader and two bodyguards fled into a wooded area where they were seriously wounded in a firefight. They were taken into custody and died on the way to Mexico City, Trevilla said.
In the aftermath, a sense of unease simmered in tourist towns.
The Pacific Ocean resort city of Puerto Vallarta also was hard hit by cartel reprisals, frightening tourists.
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Steve Perkins, 57, was visiting Puerto Vallarta with his wife Gayle and some friends. They were on their hotel room’s terrace when explosions and black smoke started appearing around the city Sunday morning.
Their return to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was delayed when their flight was canceled Monday and they were rebooked for March 1.
Perkins and his wife have been taking annual trips to Puerto Vallarta since 2012 and have always felt safe, until now. He said they don’t plan on returning to Mexico.
“There’s a lot of Americans trapped here,” Perkins said.
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Back in Tapalpa, Aguirre worked next to her son from the small neighborhood shop her family has owned for 50 years. The 15-year-old’s classes were canceled due to the violence.
Aguirre said it was unclear who exactly was in control of the area surrounding her: the military or the cartel. The other question on her mind was if this was just a one-off, or if there was more violence to come.
“We don’t know if these people (cartel leaders) are permanently here or not,” she said. “If they really did kill this leader, it could be that they fight between each other to win control or see who will lead it.”
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AP writer Juan Lozano in Houston contributed to this report.
Champions League tonight: TV schedule, kick-off times and how to watch for free | Wales Online
Need to know
Four teams are set to book their place in the Champions League round of 16
Newcastle United are preparing for Champions League action(Image: GIORGI ARJEVANIDZE, AFP via Getty Images)
Everything you need to know about tonight’s Champions League games
The Champions League knockout play-off stage rolls on this week, with eight ties taking place across Tuesday and Wednesday. Here’s your guide to Tuesday’s matches.
Atlético Madrid welcome Club Brugge to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano for the opening Champions League fixture on Tuesday, 24 February, with kick-off scheduled for 5.45pm GMT. UK audiences can follow the early evening encounter live on TNT Sports 3.
The teams served up an entertaining 3-3 draw in last week’s first leg at the Jan Breydel Stadium. Though Atletico established the lead on three separate occasions, Club Brugge battled back each time, ensuring the aggregate scoreline remains level heading into the return fixture.
Bayer Leverkusen host Olympiacos at the BayArena with proceedings commencing at 8pm GMT. UK viewers can watch the match live on TNT Sports 2.
Leverkusen possess a commanding advantage following their 2-0 triumph in Greece during the opening leg. Having dominated proceedings last week, they’ll be strongly fancied to secure their passage to the Round of 16 this evening.
Inter Milan take on Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt at the San Siro with an 8pm GMT start time. Supporters can track the Italian club’s progress live on TNT Sports 1.
Bodo/Glimt pulled off a significant shock in the first leg, beating Inter 3-1 in the Arctic Circle. The Italian team now face a daunting task at their home ground to reverse the two-goal deficit.
Newcastle United welcome Qarabag to St. James’ Park for an 8pm GMT kick-off. The match has been chosen as the main event for UK broadcast on Amazon Prime Video and supporters can view this game for free on Prime Video by utilising Prime’s 30-day free trial for new subscribers.
The Magpies effectively sealed the tie last week with a resounding 6-1 victory in Azerbaijan. Thanks to that ruthless display, Newcastle go into the second leg boasting a substantial five-goal aggregate advantage.
Including goals under Darren Fletcher, who briefly took the reins following Ruben Amorim’s departure, the former RB Leipzig star has now scored six in his last seven appearances.
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Former United captain Neville now believes Sesko will be demanding a starting role when Palace visit Old Trafford on Sunday.
‘His celebration I think was a message to everybody,’ the former United star told The Gary Neville Podcast.
‘It was a message saying “get me in this damn team now. This is my start next time”. I think he will have been really disappointed having scored a wonderful goal against west ham not to be in the team today.’
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Sesko has turned into United’s super-sub (Picture: Getty)
He continued: ‘For Sesko now, I think on Sunday against Crystal Palace, he starts. And I haven’t always been convinced about him this season.
‘But what you have to do is move with what you see. United have struggled in the last couple of games against West Ham and Everton.
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‘He looks like he’s growing in his game and his body and his confidence is high so I think on Sunday Michael Carrick starts him. I think it would kill the lad if he didn’t start on Sunday.’
Neville believes Amad will make way for Sesko this weekend (Picture: Getty)
Carrick has made very few changes to his starting XI in his six games in charge with injuries for Patrick Dorgu and Lisandro Martinez enforcing the two he has made to date.
But Neville believes Sesko’s form will now prompt a reshuffle with Amad Diallo set to lose his place in the side as a result.
‘We will probably see Matheus Cunha on the left, Bryan Mbeumo on the right, Sesko up top and Bruno in behind,’ Neville said, looking ahead to Sunday’s game.
‘And I think Amad will just slip in behind for a game. Amad has been really good but Sesko has to start, he’s been scoring winners and equalisers, you have to put him in.
In this episode, host Tamara Kormornick speaks to child immunisation specialist Dr Helen Bedford, professor of Children’s Health at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. They discuss how serious this latest epidemic is, the different factors that have led to the latest measles outbreak, as well as reality test potential solutions like keeping non-vaccinated children out of school. Plus, Tamara also speaks to the Standard’s trainee journalist, Niva Yadav, about how parents in affected areas are coping with news of the outbreak.
Top performing services are awareded ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission
GP surgeries across Cambridgeshire are committed to delivering high-quality care to their patients. The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) assessments of healthcare providers in the country highlights the effectiveness and impact of provider’s care.
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The CQC’s quality ratings for health and social care services in England implement a four-tier rating system with the top performing services being awarded an outstanding grade. This means that the service is performing “exceptionally well”, according to CQC.
Inspectors look at five key aspects when evaluating a service. This includes the safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness, and the leadership of each surgery.
These ratings are publicly available on CQC’s website and help people to make informed choices on their healthcare provider and identify any areas that need improvement. Numerous surgeries across the county have achieved outstanding, and therefore establishing themselves as the best in Cambridgeshire.
The latest inspection at this surgery was in December 2021. It received an overall rating of outstanding and was also later reviewed in July 2023. Cambridge Assess Centre is a provider of specialist GP services and offers a range of services to patients that are homeless, at risk of homelessness or housed in sheltered accommodation.
Inspectors said: “There was an outstanding caring culture within the practice and we saw many examples. Staff treated all the patients as individuals and patients we spoke with confirmed this.”
Granta Medical Practices
London Road, Sawston, Cambridge
This practice was last inspected in October 2019 and achieved an overall outstanding rating. Granta Medical Practices later had a review in July 2023. Inspectors found that the services provided were ‘outstanding’ for families, children and young people as well as for people experiencing mental health and those whose circumstances may make them vulnerable.
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Inspectors said: “Patients were supported and tested with dignity and respect and were involved in partners in their care.”
Again, this was rated an overall outstanding in their latest inspection in January 2017. Acorn Surgery also later had a review in June 2019. Each key area was awarded outstanding except caring and safety where they were graded at good. Individual ratings for specific services were awarded outstanding including care for those with long term conditions, families children and younger people, and older people as well.
Inspectors said: “Feedback from patients about their care was consistently positive.”
Buckden and Little Paxton Surgeries earned an overall outstanding rating in their latest inspection in March 2016. It was later reviewed in July 2023. The surgery was graded outstanding for specific services including for those with long term conditions, working age people, and those experiencing poor mental health.
Inspectors said: “Patients said they found it easy to make an appointment with a named GP and that there was a continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.”
Ben Shephard has spoken about how he has changed over the years, with The Summit presenter opening up a little more about the dynamic within his marriage to Annie
Christopher Sharp Trendswatch Reporter
08:00, 24 Feb 2026
Presenter of ITV’s This MorningBen Shephard has said he is “ruthless” in sticking to one rule in his and wife Annie’s family life.
Ben, 51, made the admission after talking about how important his wife had been to him. Ben has been married to Annie for over 20 years and together they share two sons, Sam, 21, and Jack, 19.
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Speaking with The Big Issue about what he would tell his younger self, and what would surprise younger Ben about current Ben, The Masked Singer star said it would be how strict he is about dirty laundry.
He said: “Probably that my bed is made and I get really annoyed that my boys don’t put their pants in the wash basket.
“I was not a particularly tidy teenager and now my teenage boys would argue that I’m the most ruthless when it comes to keeping bedrooms tidy.
“So that would be quite a sea change. I think my final words for my younger self would be just put your washing in the basket and be nicer to your old man.”
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Before this, Ben said how much he values his life with his wife Annie. He said: “I am very aware that in my relationship, my wife is the most important person. I have learned more from her than anyone in my life.”
Ben has previously has talked lovingly about his partner in recent weeks, despite admitting they often live separate lives due to work commitments.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said that Annie, an interior designer, feels content while spending time alone.
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He explained: “Annie is much more solitary than me. She’s much happier in her own company. Half the time she’s like ‘I need a bit of space. Can you leave me alone for five seconds, please?’.”
However, Ben was quick to point out how Annie is the most important factor in their family and that they enjoy spending time together whenever they can.
He added: “We do live quite separate lives. I’m off working, she has her job, which is garden and interior design. If I’ve got spare time I want to do something physical.”
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Ben currently hosts The Summit, a new ITV show in which 14 contestants try to reach the top of a mountain on New Zealand’s South Island, with competitors aiming to win a share of a £200,000 prize.
