After thoroughly enjoying Amandaland season one, I was ready for round two, but the new episodes didn’t always work for me.

The new season drops us back into the eponymous Amanda’s (Lucy Punch) world as she desperately struggles to maintain her affluent lifestyle while living in a small apartment in South Harlsden (aka So-Ha!) with her two kids and a retail job (aka a collab).

As a spin-off, it has a brilliant premise and, seeing the Motherland star as a fish-out-of-water in season one, was an utter delight, as was the rich cast of supporting characters who were baffled at her self-centred and delusional perspective on life.

There was the will-they-won’t-they of Amanda and Mal (Samuel Anderson), Fi (Rochenda Sandall) and Della’s (Siobhan McSweeney) chaotic marriage, and Joanna Lumley’s reprisal of the inimitable Felicity.

And it created one of the best comedic moments on TV in recent years with Anne’s (Phillipa Dunne) perfectly executed R Kelly gag.

Season two doesn’t quite reach those heights, unfortunately. The ensemble cast leans too far into caricature (Fi and Della become almost difficult to watch), which takes away from how uniquely Amanda is disconnected from reality.

Having said that, Harriet Webb’s addition to the cast, as the no-nonsense new addition to the crew, helps to mitigate this problem, although I think their fresh dynamic is underused.

Elsewhere, the season fell foul to more forced gags and clunky joke-making than I would have liked, making for an awkward feel for a few of the scenes, especially early on. The season does seem to hit a stride as it goes along, however, with later episodes working better.

Another gripe I had is with how Anne’s character has been handled, with episode three hitting an especially low point. Without giving away too much, one subplot felt like a poor-taste Chat GPT advert that landed with a thud for me and almost made me switch off.

The saving grace of this season was, by far and away, Lucy’s stellar turn as Amanda, a role she has rarely put a foot wrong with since she first starred in Motherland.

In fact, the vast majority of moments during this season where I laughed out loud were down to her comedic timing and delivery of some cackle-worthy jokes. 

She pitches a loan to a bank in a truly bonkers way, delivers a classically egotistical presentation about her influencer brand, Senuous, and continues to deny that her full-time job at a kitchen store is her actual job.

She reaches a high point in episode four as she continues her quest to try to upscale her home. Almost single-handedly, her performance dragged me through the lower points of this season and just about made it a worthwhile watch. 

The 48-year-old actor manages to somehow put on both an insufferable performance, yet you are still somehow rooting for Amanda – it’s TV magic.

If the show trusts its audience to love these characters and the humour they effortlessly bring without trying to shoehorn contrived scenarios, all hope is not lost.

Normally, each episode is a sure bet, and I hope it can retain that magic for years to come.

If you love Amandaland, then the second season still has something to offer, but it’s entering wobbly territory from which I hope it returns.

Amandaland season two is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.

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Police, firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene on the A64 east bound near the York Designer Outlet shortly before 9.50pm on Tuesday (May 6).

No one was injured in the crash which happened close to the A19 turnoff, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said.

The fire service said four people were travelling in the car and were all out of the vehicle uninjured when the emergency services arrived.

A service spokesperson said the car is “believed to have skidded over onto its side”.

“On arrival crew confirmed four occupants in the car were all out on arrival and had no injuries,” they added.

“Paramedics on scene checked [the occupants of the car] over as a precaution. Incident was left in the hands of police. No service by fire crew required.”

Warren Roberts has now faced the consequences

A dad-of-two concealed £1,000-worth of cocaine in his own faeces after being clocked by police. A court heard yesterday (May 5) how drug dealer Warren Roberts had already been under investigation for suspected class A drug dealing.

But his criminal actions came crashing down after being caught outside a pub in Birkenhead, Merseyside, on January 29. The 29-year-old was later seen “messing around with his groin area”.

As he was searched, a “clump of feaces fell out”, including a ping pong ball containing 50 packages of cocaine. Roberts was previously detained on August 6, 2025, the Liverpool Echo reports.

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Officers on patrol in Birkenhead saw him carrying out a suspected drug deal at around 7.25pm. He was searched, and police found cash and a Nokia mobile phone containing messages they believed related to the supply of drugs.

Roberts, of River View in New Ferry, Merseyside, was arrested. A later search of his address revealed “scales which had white powder on them, a further set of scales from the same room, a bag of wraps of white powder, and further cash”, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

In total, 14 separate packages of cocaine weighing 2.6g, with a value of £280, were found, along with £1,094.95. Roberts was released under investigation, but was booked a second time on January 29.

Prosecutor Paul Blasbery said: “On this occasion police were patrolling Charing Cross in Birkenhead at 6.50pm.” They noticed a gathering outside a nearby pub, with Roberts among them.

The prosecutor continued: “Police recognised Roberts, who then ran away. He was detained a short time later and appeared to be messing around with his groin area. Officers were aware he was concealing items.”

Roberts was taken to a police station to be searched. The court was told that, when he removed his boxer shorts, “a clump of faeces fell out”, inside of which there was a ping pong ball.

The ping pong ball continued 50 packages of cocaine weighing 8.76g, with a street value of £1,000. Mr Blasbery said Roberts had four convictions for five offences, including possession with intent to supply class B (cannabis) in August 2024, for which he was given a nine month sentence, suspended for 18 months.

Roberts pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to supply class A (cocaine). He also admitted breaching the terms of his suspended sentence.

Andrew McInnes, defending, said Roberts was “hopelessly addicted to cocaine”. He said: “It seems he failed every drug test. He explains it was simply impossible for him to get out of the spiral he found himself in.

“He’s 30 this year and perhaps surprisingly his first conviction was less than three years ago. Mental health had been an issue for him for many years. He began to use drugs in his late 20s as a mans of escaping his problems; initially cannabis and now cocaine. Hs life spiralled out of control.

“He is the father of two young children and he knows he can offer precious little support to these children until he cleans himself up. Clearly he has not been either a good partner or good father. Realistically he wants to clean himself up and be a good father to both of them. He says he has begin to free himself of the addiction. He’s taking steps to try to reduce his intake.”

Judge Andrew Menary sentenced Roberts to four years in prison and partially activated his suspended sentence, resulting in a total prison term of four years and three months. He said: “You’re 29 now. You have got a daughter than deserves better than this.

“I hope during your time in custody you will reflect seriously on the choices that have brought you before this court, and emerge determined to lead a different life. That choice will of course be yours to make.”

Shea McGreevy died following a jet ski accident on Lough Neagh last week

The funeral of Shea McGreevy, who died following a jet ski accident, will take place later this week.

Shea died following an incident involving a jet ski in Lough Neagh on Thursday, April 30, close to the Gawley’s Gate area. The emergency services had been called to the scene following reports of a man getting into difficulty in the water.

A father of one, he lives behind his parents, sister, daughter and partner. Shea’s funeral is due to take place on Friday, May 8, at John Gray & Co, Funeral Directors, Bangor, with his family asking for people to donate to Lough Neagh Rescue in his memory via a tribute page online.

A post on funeral times said: “30th April 2026 suddenly, as a result of a tragic accident. Dearly loved Son to Michael and Sonya, much loves Sister to Chloe, devoted Daddy to Harlow, treasured uncle to Ella. Shea will be loved and fondly remembered by his partner Stacey, the entire family circle and his friends. “A celebration of Shea’s Life will be held in John Gray & Co, Funeral Directors, Central Avenue, Bangor BT20 3AU on Friday 8th May at 10.30 am followed by committal to Clandeboye Cemetery. “Family flowers only, donations if desired may be made online to Lough Neagh Rescue via Shea’s MuchLoved tribute page at www.johngrayfuneraldirectors.com.

“Loved and remembered for ever.”

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There was good news for customers announced on Tuesday afternoon

Halifax has given a new update to customers and potential customers, but there’s a warning that the good news might not last.

It announced mortgage rate reductions of up to 0.25% on Tuesday, but brokers have said the cuts could be “short-lived” as SONIA swap rates, which are used to price fixed-rate mortgages, have risen sharply following renewed tensions in the Middle East. Halifax on Tuesday afternoon said it was making reductions of up to 0.25% on two, three and five-year fixed rate remortgage products and up to 0.24% on two and five-year fixed rate product transfer and further advance mortgages.

It also announced reductions of up to 0.05% on two, three and five-year Homemover and First Time Buyer fixed rates. However, the two-year SONIA swap was up 13.2bps on Tuesday, at 4.338%, while the five-year was up 13.6bps, at 4.313%.

In recent weeks, numerous lenders have announced chunky rate reductions, but Emma Jones, MD at Runcorn-based Whenthebanksaysno.co.uk, cautioned that this kind of jump in swap rates could see lenders reprice upwards in the days ahead.

She said: “Renewed tensions in the Middle East are sending swaps north again and mortgage rates could soon follow. If they carry on climbing, the rates that are here today could be gone tomorrow.”

Nouran Moustafa, practice principal and IFA at Roxton Wealth, described the increase in swap rates as “a real warning light for borrowers” and said “if Middle East tensions keep pushing oil, inflation expectations and swap rates higher, some of today’s cuts could disappear very quickly”.

She continued: “For borrowers, the message is simple: do not wait for a perfect rate that may never arrive. If your deal is ending in the next six months, review your options now, secure something and keep monitoring. A good adviser can switch you if a better rate appears before completion.”

Riz Malik, Independent Financial Adviser at Southend-on-Sea-based R3 Wealth, agreed: “With renewed instability in the Gulf, recent rate cuts may be short-lived.”

Rohit Kohli, director at Romsey-based The Mortgage Stop, described the current mortgage market as a rollercoaster and said some lenders are pulling rates with hardly any notice.

He warned on Tuesday: “Swap rates have moved up sharply today, and when funding costs rise, lenders that price heavily off swaps often respond quickly. We have already seen other lenders pull products at short notice today, including one with less than two hours’ warning.

“My advice to borrowers is simple: if the rate works for you today, do not delay. Get your documents ready, speak to a broker and secure the deal while it is available. You can always review later if pricing improves, but you cannot lock in a rate after it has been withdrawn.”

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David Stirling, Independent Financial Adviser at Belfast-based Mint Wealth, urged people to “think carefully before playing the waiting game”.

He added: “Any escalation could send rates back up as quickly as they came down. For any existing Halifax borrowers, a swift internal product transfer may well be worth more than sitting tight for a remortgage deal that could yet prove elusive. These can potentially be revised should rates drop.”

Mirroring Moustafa, Ken James, director at London-based Contractor Mortgage Services, said the cuts were “good news on the surface, but the market underneath is flashing warning lights, because while Halifax is cutting, the cost of funding mortgages is rising fast”.

He continued: “If swaps stay elevated, these rates won’t stick around but for those who can benefit from these cuts, the message is clear: ACT and don’t dilly-dally.”

There are lots of big decisions that come with choosing to have a baby – things like which cot should you get? How many babygros will you need? And, can you really name your child Asparagus?

Often, people will talk about the decision to try and time having a baby born at a particular time of year – like a September baby so they’ll be the oldest in the school year, or a summer baby, to avoid the expense of Christmas.

But now, some parents-to-be aren’t just thinking about what age their child will be when they’re sitting their SATs, they’re also thinking about determining their star sign.

Some keep astrology in mind believing their baby will grow up with personality traits that are reflected in their Zodiac sign, or will be more compatible with other family members because their signs work together.

This is an idea that Inbaal Honigman, 52, a psychic from Holmfirth in Yorkshire, fully understands – because all four of her children’s star signs were planned.

Though she was hoping for a full house of Pisces children, the one Capricorn fits right in. For Inbaal, the priority was avoiding Aries.

‘I wasn’t raised in an environment that was open to spiritual ideas, and when I was 20, I accidentally stumbled onto Tarot and loved it,’ she tells Metro.

‘Practising Tarot readings and learning the spiritual world fascinated me, and one of the most attractive parts in learning Tarot was how the different elements, earth air fire and water, responded to one another. Star sign compatibility has fascinated me ever since.’

Long before children were on the radar for Inbaal, she knew that star signs were important when it came to meeting a future partner, and she filtered through online dating profile matches hoping to find someone who was a compatible sign.

‘In 2005 I set up a dating profile, and one of my criteria was that they had to be Pisces or Sagittarius. Not only are they my favourite signs, but I thought they’d be my most compatible signs,’ she explains.

‘I’m a Pisces and would have loved someone my own sign, and I have my moon in Sagittarius, so I thought a Sagittarian would be compatible with my more adventurous, fun loving side. I met my husband, Sean, this way – he’s a Pisces with Sagittarius rising and we were a wonderful match.’

Two years later, Inbaal and Sean began trying for a baby – and although the child’s zodiac sign wasn’t her number one criteria, Inbaal still hoped that she would have a child whose sign was compatible with her own.

‘I struggled to conceive, so I’d have been happy with any baby. But, in one of my many conversations with friends and colleagues, a fellow psychic suggested that I send my husband a Father’s Day card from our unconceived baby. That was June 21 that year, which coincided with the Summer Solstice, a traditional day of conception, and I thought, if we conceived right now, it would be a Pisces. I loved the idea so much – a happy family of three happy Pisceans!

‘We did conceive and her due date was in Pisces.’

With her baby overdue, Inbaal was offered an induction – and, although she wanted to try and hold on without intervention, she also knew how important it was to her to have her Piscean baby.

‘I was offered two induction dates, one would be in Pisces and the other in Aries. Even though I wanted to wait for her to arrive naturally, my desire for a Pisces baby made me pick the earlier date,’ she says.

‘I was absolutely elated to get my Pisces baby, I was relieved, as I know Pisces so well and what makes them tick. I felt that I could be an amazing mum to this baby, there’s nothing about Pisces I didn’t know, and I was thrilled.’

Although she admits her husband has no idea which sign is associated with which dates, when it came to planning for further children, Inbaal says he supported her desire to have children with Piscean or Saggitarian zodiac signs.

But, even with careful planning, Inbaal’s pregnancies didn’t always result in the star signs for her babies that she’d hoped for. While her second child, born in 2012 was also a planned Pisces, her third pregnancy in 2015 hit complications and resulted in a Capricorn son – a sign that wasn’t on her wishlist.

‘Originally a twin pregnancy, the due date was in Capricorn season, which was never on my wishlist. If I’d delivered as a multiple, I’d have had a caesarean scheduled for Sagittarius, and I adored the idea of two Sagittarius babies together. Only one twin made it, and he’s a Capricorn, but he’s perfect. I’ve searched my soul for any signs of regret or sadness that he wasn’t Sagittarius, and there are none. He’s a gorgeous, smart and sassy child, and I wouldn’t change him for the world.’

Inbaal’s fourth child arrived in 2017 – another Pisces, born on the same day as their first child, who she jokes arrived ‘nice and Pisces, just the way I like them!’

While the reasoning behind this trend might be to get certain traits in your child that are synonymous with their star sign, Inbaal does admit that the plan isn’t foolproof – especially as only 5% of babies actually arrive on their due date – which could spell disaster if you’ve got your heart set on a flexible Gemini but end up with a stubborn Taurus.

‘Even if you get exactly what you asked for, you may not get what you want,’ she says.

‘I planned my Pisces babies specifically to avoid Aries babies. Some of my favourite people are Aries, but I didn’t think I’d be a great mum to a boisterous, overactive baby like an Aries.

‘I got my perfect Pisceans, but they do all have strong Aries placements in their charts, which means they’re all boisterous and overactive despite being Pisces.’

This article was originally published in June 2023.

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Two million airline seats have been cut from May schedules worldwide as soaring jet fuel prices, driven by the US-Iran war and Middle East conflict, spark mass flight cancellations including over 100 from Heathrow

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More than 100 flights have vanished from Heathrow Airport’s May timetable as jet fuel costs continue to surge during the US-Iran conflict.

Heathrow’s schedules have axed 111 flights over concerns that prolonged jet fuel supply issues could trigger additional cancellations throughout the summer months. British carriers were informed over the weekend that they may be given greater leeway to merge flights on busy routes should the need arise.

Airlines have slashed two million seats from May’s schedules as they reshape their operations in response to rocketing jet fuel costs stemming from the Middle East crisis, according to the Guardian.

Fuel prices have skyrocketed since the US-Iran war began over two months ago, following joint American and Israeli strikes on multiple Iranian targets. Iran hit back by attacking locations throughout the Middle East and shutting down the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping channel, which handles 20% of the world’s oil trade.

Roughly 13,000 fewer flights will take off globally in May following recent cuts, based on figures from aviation data firm Cirium.

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Part of the two million seat reduction has come through deploying smaller aircraft alongside outright cancellations.

The most significant reductions in flight numbers have occurred at Istanbul and Munich airports. Turkey’s national carrier and Germany’s Lufthansa have implemented massive cutbacks. Lufthansa has axed 20,000 short-haul services run by its CityLine division. Most short-haul airlines flying from the UK have secured strong hedging on jet fuel. This means they’re not bracing for instant cost hikes.

Low-cost operators EasyJet and Wizz Air have pledged to run their summer timetables in their entirety, despite strain on the unhedged element of their fuel expenses.

The sector reports no current supply problems, considering the typical six-week forward visibility, though international bodies have warned that Europe could face jet fuel shortages should the Middle East conflict continue disrupting supplies.

The UK government has indicated that extraordinary steps might be implemented ahead of time to prevent last-minute chaos for holidaymakers throughout the summer period. This includes merging timetables on routes where several flights to identical destinations operated on the same day.

Ministers added that where airlines haven’t shifted a substantial share of seats, flights could also be axed to avoid squandering fuel by operating near-empty aircraft.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has stated there were no “immediate supply issues”, though the government was “preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption at the departure gate this summer”.

Bishopton PRU, which looks after 67 children between 11 and 16 at risk of exclusion, was failing to provide an acceptable standard of education during an Ofsted inspection in January. 

Students at the Billingham school were found to experience “significant disruption to their learning” with a “narrow” curriculum leaving them “ill-prepared” for later life. 

Leaders also raised concerns about “insufficient support” from the Atomix Educational Trust, which runs the site, amid serious issues with attendance. 

Dr Sharon Dobson Waters, director of quality and curriculum at Atomix, said it welcomes the external support and said a number of improvements have been made over recent months. 

‘Urgent improvement’

While relationships between staff and pupils were positive, inconsistencies in management meant some students did not feel safe because of their peers’ behaviour. 

Some students were reluctant to come to school over fears of being bullied – and pupils do not get the support they need to boost attendance, despite staff working hard to try and help. 

Bishopton PRU does not have an “effective or rigorous approach” to overseeing pupils’ whereabouts and being assured of their safety.

Some pupils and parents have little confidence in the site’s ability to keep them safe, and the trust has not acted on requests from school leaders to make sure that the site is secure. 

Pupils do not achieve well, including the high proportion of pupils who have special educational needs (SEND) and/or disabilities. 

Many pupils have gaps in their prior learning when they join the school and are not supported well enough to catch up, meaning these gaps are widened. 

Systems to monitor and record what pupils know as they progress are weak. 

While leaders express “high ambition” for the curriculum, current staffing arrangements do not support the full delivery of it. 

Staff do not get the training they need to develop their subject knowledge and curriculum guidance for teachers is inconsistent. 

Despite this, when serious concerns are raised about a pupil, leaders “take appropriate action to check on their welfare” and record a “clear picture of actions to safeguard pupils”. 

‘Frequent absences’

Bishopton PRU has low rates of attendance, with strategies to improve this “not effective”.

In the 2024/25 year, the school had an overall absence percentage of 61.7 per cent – although this was up from 2023/24’s figure of 51.5 per cent.

Behaviour at the site has improved since the previous inspection, but inconsistencies in management remain. 

Rates of suspensions increased during the autumn term this year because leaders enforced tighter rules – but the reintegration process after doesn’t offer pupils “sufficient support to change their behaviour”. 

The Ofsted report also found the trust, formerly the Tees Valley Collaborative Trust,  was not meeting its statutory responsibilities for educating or safeguarding SEND pupils. 

Leaders do not ensure that learning is adapted well enough to support SEND pupils and there are significant weaknesses in the school’s approach with supporting them. 

Staff do not get the training they require so that they know how to adapt support when necessary and the overside of SEND pupils who attend education off site is poor. 

School and trust leaders were found to lack the strategic direction, capacity and oversight needed to secure rapid and necessary improvement. 

Leaders have raised concerns about insufficient support from the trust, while trustees and governors appear to be unaware of the scale of support that the school needs. 

Leaders assert that the school is improving but “overestimate” the success of their work to improve attendance. 

However, the school has a “coherent” PSHE curriculum that is approached by staff with sensitivity and care. It also is developing an appropriate careers provision. 

‘Continuing challenge’

Atomix Trust said pupils remain at the “very heart” of the school’s commitment to education, safeguarding, and care. 

Dr Waters said the trust welcomes external support and will “continue to work openly and collaboratively”. 

She said: “Bishopton is one of the largest pupil referral units in the region and it serves some of the most vulnerable children and families in our community, including many pupils who have experienced exclusion, trauma and disrupted education. 

“Supporting these young people back into learning is complex work that takes time, partnership and sustained effort.

“The recent inspection recognised improvements in staffing, curriculum and behaviour, but also highlighted the continuing challenge of attendance and school refusal. 

“These are not issues any school can solve in isolation. They require close working between schools, families and the local wider system that supports children. 

“There have been many new updates at Bishopton to meet the new Ofsted inspection framework and we continue to work closely with the Local Authority.

“Over recent months Bishopton has introduced new leadership structures, curriculum changes and community-based outreach, to re-engage pupils who are struggling to attend. 

“This work is still at an early stage, but the direction is clear: the focus is on keeping children safe, supporting families and helping pupils back into education.

“We encourage the community to support the school and its leadership through our open-door approach, and we want to reassure our pupils, families, staff and community that we will continue to take decisive, detailed action as part of our ongoing commitment to our number one priority – putting young people first.”

What happens to your will after a divorce?

Divorce is a major life event that often brings significant personal and financial changes.

While many people focus on property, finances, and arrangements for children during divorce proceedings, updating a will is often overlooked.

Understanding what happens to your will after divorce is important to ensure your estate remains consistent with your wishes.

Is your will valid after a divorce?

Your will generally remains valid after divorce, but the law changes how certain parts of it are treated once the divorce is finalised.

When the family court issues the Final Order, the law treats your former spouse as though they have died for the purposes of your will.

This means:

· Any gifts left to your former spouse or civil partner will usually fail

· Any appointment of your former spouse as an executor or trustee may no longer apply

This can create problems if your will is not reviewed, especially if your former spouse played a major role in your estate planning.

What happens before the final order?

These changes do not happen when separation begins or when divorce proceedings start. They usually only take effect once the Final Order is granted.

Until then, your existing will still applies fully. This means that if something happens before the divorce is legally completed, your spouse or civil partner may still inherit under your will.

This is particularly important for estranged spouses where the relationship has ended, but the legal divorce is still ongoing.

Why you should update your will

Even though your will may remain valid after divorce, failing to update it can lead to unintended consequences.

For example:

· Children or family members may not inherit as intended

· Your chosen executor or trustee may no longer be appropriate

· Part of your estate could fall under the rules of intestacy. The rules of intestacy apply where there is no valid will, or where part of your estate is not fully addressed. These rules follow a strict legal order, which may not reflect your wishes.

How AFG Law can assist

At AFG Law, our experienced private client team provides clear advice on wills and estate planning following divorce and separation.

We can assist with:

· Helping you understand whether your current will remains suitable

· Advising on how divorce affects your estate planning

· Preparing a new will that reflects your updated wishes

· Replacing a former spouse as executor or trustee

· Supporting wider planning, including Powers of Attorney and tax planning

Divorce is the right time to review your will.

Updating it now can help avoid complications later and give you peace of mind for the future.