‘You’re going to see Joey Essex for who I really am,’ says, er, Joey Essex. The reality star who likes to refer to himself in the third person is about to compete in tough new ITV challenge show The Box, hosted by Gary Lineker. 

‘I’d like to say people will see the smart version of Joey Essex for the first time on this show,’ says the boyish 36-year-old, proud of the way he surprises his fellow contestants at times. Then he remembers it also goes the other way, and laughs. ‘But they will also see the not-smart version of Joey Essex, actually.’

The latter is the version who first became famous on The Only Way Is Essex 15 years ago. His name, surprisingly, is real and has nothing at all to do with the county where he lives. Joey Don Essex was born in Southwark, south London, in 1990, and his family moved north of the river to Chigwell, Essex, when he was a child. 

Since breaking through, Joey has appeared on almost every reality and quiz show going. He’s made a living out of being good-looking, cheeky, charming and apparently comically dim. Or, as Joey puts it, ‘My friends think I’m ridiculous. I’m just not that intelligent.’

And yet, this is a man who has launched his own clothing and fragrance ranges, lives in a huge house with a pool in Chigwell, and is reported to be worth more than £8million. Is it all an act? Even his family aren’t sure. ‘My own dad said to me a little while ago, “You do know how to tell the time, don’t you?” I said, “Dad, I genuinely don’t.” I swear on my life, I can’t.’

His campmates on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2013 famously tried to help him do something he’d failed to learn at school by drawing clock hands in the sand, but the problem persists. ‘If I had a watch on I could give it a go, but when the hands are wonky, there’s a bit of confusion.’

Lydia Bright, Lucy Mecklenburgh, Billie Faiers, Joey Essex, Lauren Goodger, Sam Faiers and Jessica Wright in the third series of The Only Way Is Essex

There’s a terrible, tragic reason why some aspects of his development were arrested at a young age, which he will talk about today. But like Jade Goody before him, this Essex boy has flipped the whole thing and turned a reputation for being daft to his advantage. 

Has he been playing a character all this time? ‘Kind of. I’m very different around my friends. I talk very fast. I’ve got a natural funniness. If someone calls action and the cameras are on, I know what people want to see,’ he says. ‘They want to be entertained. 

‘I wouldn’t say I’m a comedian because my jokes are terrible, but I use my innocent side. I play on being Joey Essex, because everyone knows me.’

His nine fellow contestants on The Box are surprised to realise Joey is fitter and sharper than they thought, though, starting with the former footballer and manager Graeme Souness. ‘Love Graeme. Legend,’ says Joey. ‘I think what he was trying to say is that when you meet me for who I really am, you can see that I’m actually quite normal, not the clown that people have seen for 15 years. 

‘I’ve got my strengths and weaknesses, just like everyone else. My strengths are that I can bring energy. I can make everyone feel confident, ready to do whatever we need to do next. I’m always up for a challenge.’

That’s tested to extremes in The Box, the contestants of which also include Dragons’ Den’s Sara Davies and John Bercow, former Speaker of the House of Commons. They are put inside yellow shipping containers, each the size of a telephone box, and taken to an unknown location, where they have to open the door and figure out the nature of the task they are facing. 

Some challenges are silly, like when they find themselves on a race course with an egg and spoon each, but no clue whether to run fast or far. ‘The games are mind-boggling,’ admits Joey. ‘They show how the brain works. Mine clearly wasn’t working the best that day, because I ran off set. I got so far I realised, eventually, that there was no cameraman, so I had to turn back.’

Some challenges are physical, some mental, some test their courage. ‘It’s a mix between SAS: Who Dares Wins, the jungle on I’m A Celebrity… and every reality show possible, I’d say, because I’ve done them all,’ says Joey, who has indeed appeared on everything from Splash! to Love Island – with one huge exception, which we’ll come to. ‘This is the maddest,’ he adds.

The trailer for The Box shows a shocked Joey at the top of a very high tower, hundreds of feet above the ground, yelling, ‘Oh my God, where am I?’ Today he says, ‘I’m getting sweaty talking about it. That was definitely the most fear I felt.’

Joey Essex with his family in Bermondsey when he was growing up. His mum died when she was 37

Joey Essex in the tough new ITV challenge show The Box, hosted by Gary Lineker

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Contestants of The Box are put inside yellow shipping containers, each the size of a telephone box, and taken to an unknown location, where they have to open the door and figure out the nature of the task they are facing

John Bercow, Jenny Ryan, Graeme Souness, Joey Essex, Danny Aarons, Ellie Taylor, Sara Davies, JB Gill, Shakira Khan and Ranvir Singh in The Box

But he was also afraid during a challenge in a classroom, competing to answer questions against real schoolkids, with Gary Lineker as the teacher. ‘That was weird. It didn’t go down well for me. Gary was saying, “OK, it’s not an act.” The kids were all cleverer than me, but I bring warmth. When they got asked afterwards who they liked, they shouted out, “Joey!” All these seven and eight-year-olds. Bless ’em. They were so smart.’ He seems sweetly thrilled they liked him. 

What were the questions? ‘Stuff you would be expected to know. There was history, geography, I’m just not wired up like that.’

So, how is he wired? It’s a question Joey’s parents and teachers asked when he was young. ‘I’m extremely dyslexic. I was the only student in my school to have a lady sitting next to me in all my classes, telling me what to do. I used to cry because I couldn’t do what I was being asked to do.’ 

That was already the case when his mother took him to an open day at his next school, at the age of ten. ‘Sadly, she then passed away. Three months later, I was turning up at school without a mum in my life.’

Tina Essex took her own life at the age of 37 after struggling with depression. ‘Back then, there was not really help you could get,’ Joey says. His teachers did try. ‘They asked, but I went like this…’ He turns his back. ‘I just didn’t want to talk about it. All my family members were men. Dad’s got two brothers. Mum had two brothers. Men don’t talk about their feelings and they don’t want to open up. 

‘Today, it could get touched on, but back then there was no such word as Mum. There was no Mum.’

He associated school with her loss. ‘I remember looking in the mirror and saying to myself, “Doesn’t matter, this school stuff. I’ll be just like my dad. I’ll be tough. I’ll be strong.”’ Joey had therapy while making the BBC documentary Joey Essex: Grief And Me in 2021 and is now an ambassador for Child Bereavement UK.  

‘I must say, West Hatch High School [in Chigwell] did look after me. They did as much as they possibly could back then. But that whole period of my life just was frozen.’

The only lesson he loved was drama, and he’s tried to revive his ambition to be an actor. ‘I went to acting school three years ago. I had to learn a scene from Jumanji and something from Romeo and Juliet… That was hard. They said they’d pass me and take me on… but I never went back. I thought, “It’s too much. I can’t do it.”’

It’s all the more remarkable, then, that he will soon make his acting debut in a short film written and directed by a friend of the family, Geoff Bell, who’s famous for playing hard men, such as in MobLand. The film is yet to be given a title or a release date but Joey’s pleased. ‘I’ve really shocked myself. I can’t believe what I’ve just done, it’s incredible.’

He looks bulked up today, in black shorts and a white T-shirt, his dark hair cut close. He’s been sparring at the gym run by his uncle Tony Sims, where boxers Anthony Joshua and Conor Benn have trained. 

Joey Essex with his ex-girlfriend Grace Jackson in the hideaway on Love Island in 2024

Joey asked for boxing training after seeing social media figures like Jake Paul earning good money from streamed fights

Joey punches Joao Barbosa (known as Numeiro) during a boxing match in Manchester last year

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Joey asked for help after seeing social media figures like Jake Paul earning good money from streamed fights. ‘He looked me in the eye and said, “If you’re gonna take this seriously, I’ll train you. If you don’t take it seriously, don’t bother coming back.”’

He beat Portuguese influencer Numeiro at Manchester’s AO Arena last year. ‘The idea was to have one fight, entertain and win, just to show I can do it. I ticked that box, massively.’ Now he’s got his eyes on more opponents, including – eventually – Tyson Fury’s brother. ‘Tommy Fury said in a recent post he reckons he’d do me easy. I don’t know about that.’

Joey’s fierce competitive spirit came out too much on Love Island in 2024. Some viewers thought he was petulant, even a bully. Joey says it was hard being the first celebrity into the villa, as all the girls wanted a date and all the boys were jealous. He paired up with one girl, ditched her when his ex-girlfriend Grace Jackson arrived, then went off with a third, Jessy Potts. After the show Joey and Jessy appeared together on This Morning and declared, ‘Love is in the air.’ Then they split up.

Does he have any regrets? ‘Not really. I don’t have regrets. I put myself in a difficult position. I’m not blaming anyone. I had a good time, personally. I made big headlines. It was good for them. Their viewing figures went through the roof.’

Is it hard to be in a relationship with Joey Essex? ‘If I met someone who didn’t know me, it would be easier. Most women I date know who I am, what I do and what I’m like.’ Is he ready to settle down? ‘I’d love to. I’d love to have children. That’s what I want next in life. But I don’t want to rush into that unless it’s right.’ Is he single? ‘I’m in a good place.’

The same can’t be said of Joey Essex Management Ltd, his company that reportedly collapsed last year with debts of £1.2million. Joey frowns when I mention it and turns to his manager Dave, who is with us. ‘What happened with that?’ he asks. Dave says: ‘I’m not qualified, it’s above my pay grade, but Joey’s only ever signed the paperwork he’s been advised to sign. One of his companies is being liquidated, isn’t it?’ Joey sighs and says, ‘Yeah.’

His home was on the market for £2.75million earlier this year, supposedly because he had moved to Dubai. ‘I did base myself there for a while, but just to prepare for the fight,’ he says. Is it still for sale? ‘Kind of. I wouldn’t sell it unless I was happy with what I got for it. I love that house. I worked so hard to get where I wanted to be, so even if someone offered me great money it would be a tough decision.’

Joey with Jessy Potts. After Love Island, Joey and Jessy appeared together on This Morning and declared, ‘Love is in the air.’ Then they split up

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Amy Willerton, a fellow campmate on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2013, tried to help Joey Essex tell the time by drawing clock hands in the sand, but he still struggles with this

Nobody can doubt he’s worked hard. Is he the king of reality shows? ‘I’d take the crown if you passed me one.’ Is there a show he wouldn’t do? ‘Strictly. It would take a lot for me to do it.’ Money? ‘That would have to be there, for sure. It’s a lot of work. I can train for three months, get in the ring and have a fight for 12 minutes, or I can do six months of dancing [for the same cash]. I’d rather fight.’

For now, though, his attention is on The Box rather than the boxing. ‘People are gonna fall in love with everything about this show,’ he says.

It remains to be seen whether he’s right, but Joey Essex is smart enough to know he has to stay on message. It’s why they hire him for everything. ‘This is primetime. People are going to be excited to get their Chinese takeaway, sit down and watch it.’

The Box launches on Saturday, September 5, with episode 2 airing on Sunday, September 6, on ITV1, ITVX, STV & STV Player.

Emergency services have responded to a serious incident at Big Church Festival in West Sussex, with multiple people reported injured. The site is said to be on lockdown, with people not allowed to get in or out, as ambulance crews and critical care paramedics attend the scene.

A UK festival was put on “lockdown” as “multiple people” were injured after a sign reportedly fell over. Emergency services were called to Big Church Festival in West Sussex just after 3.30pm today (Friday, August 28).

South East Coast Ambulance Service said six people were being treated by paramedics as the air ambulance was also spotted above the site. A news reporter from Premier Christian News told the outlet people were not allowed to get in the site after the incident, reports the Express.

They said: “We’ve been told that the site is on lockdown, with people not allowed to get in or out.”

A Big Church Festival spokesman said: “Big Church Festival 2026 has been paused following a serious incident on site, and no further programme will take place today. First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been directly impacted by the incident.

“We understand this will be deeply disappointing for the thousands who have joined us at the festival. We are working closely with the emergency services and relevant authorities. Further announcements will be made as more information becomes available.

“We are grateful for the understanding, patience, and prayers of our community at this time.”

South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed it attended the Wiston Park site. A spokesman said: “South East Coast Ambulance Service was called to reports of multiple people in need of medical attention at Wiston Park, Steyning shortly after 15.30hrs today (Friday, 28 August 2026).

“Ambulance crews, critical care paramedics and specialist response teams are currently on scene with six patients confirmed so far. We have no further information to share at this time but will provide updates as soon as possible.”

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “Emergency services are currently responding to an incident at an event near Steyning. It follows reports of a sign having fallen and injured a number of people at the site in Washington Road.

“Police were called at around 3.38pm and remain at the scene, assisting other emergency services, at this time.As a result, there is likely to be some traffic disruption in the local area, and we would urge the public to seek alternative routes if possible.

“We have no further information at this time, but will provide any updates as soon as we are in a position to do so.”

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Kenzie Carmichael, 16, died following an incident on the River Nith in Dumfires.

A teenager has died following an incident at a Scots river. Emergency services were called to the Boathouse on Nith Avenue in Dumfries after a report a boy collapsed near the River Nith.

Kenzie Carmichael, 16, from Dumfries was rescued from the water by emergency crews. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is understood Kenzie, nor anyone else in the area, had been playing within the River Nith.

Police Scotland are now appealing for help to establish the full circumstances of his death but have said they do not believe that the incident was suspicious.

Detective Inspector Scott Wilson said: “Kenzie’s family and friends are devastated and it’s vital we get them answers for how he died. We do not believe the circumstances of this incident are suspicious or that Kenzie, or anyone else present, had been playing within the river.

“I am appealing to anyone who was in the area of the Boathouse on Wednesday evening to contact us, no matter how insignificant you think your information may be, please do pass it on. It could be crucial in helping us establish the full circumstances of Kenzie’s death.”

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Officers are appealing for information following the death of a teenager in Dumfries.

“Around 7.35pm on Wednesday, August 26, police received a report a boy had collapsed near to the Boathouse, Nith Avenue.

“Emergency services attended and a 16-year-old boy was removed from the water and pronounced dead at the scene. He can be named as Kenzie Carmichael from Dumfries.

“A report has been submitted the Procurator Fiscal.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident 3297 of Wednesday, August 26.”

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The security sources say six international warships are now in the seas close to the Lutuf – two from Turkey and one each from Spain, Denmark, the US and India, something the BBC has not been able to independently verify.

“There is military equipment on the [hijacked] ship meant for Turkey’s operations in Somalia,” the Somali government official said, speaking on condition of anonymity, adding that the cargo included satellite equipment for a space station that Ankara is building north of the capital.

He alleged that Turkey had carried out the second drone strike that killed nine armed men on Sunday.

“The men who were killed were criminals and I don’t have sympathy for them,” he said, “but taking it to that level is escalating the situation even more.”

Turkey’s defence ministry has stated that its forces are providing “necessary support” to Somali authorities regarding the incident involving a hijacked vessel in Somali territorial waters, within the framework of their security agreement. But it stopped short of addressing the accusations that Turkey had carried out deadly drone strikes.

Publicly the government in Mogadishu has said only that it is aware of the operations against pirate groups and will take measures to address them.

Puntland authorities have been more outspoken.

Speaking to the BBC’s Somali Service, Deputy Minister of Security Abdirahman Yusuf said his administration had evidence that Turkey was responsible for the attacks, citing information about Turkish activity around the vessel and along the Puntland coast.

The BBC has not independently verified his allegations.

The security ministry also issued a statement expressing opposition to “bombings by international warships targeting civilians” that “undermined co-operation… in combatting piracy”, and demanded an immediate explanation for why they were carried out.

Puntland is wary of Turkey’s close military relationship with the Somali government, and the incidents risk further complicating a long-standing political dispute between the semi-autonomous region and Mogadishu that hinders a co-ordinated effort to fight piracy, analysts say.

There is not yet a full-blown resurgence. But without an end to the US-Iran war, or increased international efforts at deterrence, Somali piracy stands to continue raising the threat level in a crucial maritime space that is already dangerously squeezed.

Additional reporting by Mohamed Gabobe in Mogadishu and the BBC Somali Service

Thomasina Tobin, 51, was a member of the highly respected McArdle family from Castleblayney, but had been living and working in London for around 20 years

This is the Irish mum and businesswoman who tragically lost her life during a family holiday in Spain.

Thomasina Tobin, née McArdle, originally from Co Monaghan, was discovered dead alongside her New Zealand husband Patrick near Valencia in the country’s east on Tuesday – with fears now mounting they perished in a freak accident.

The pair were found deceased in a hot tub, with sources indicating one line of enquiry suggests they may have suffered electrocution while in the hot tub – or succumbed to toxic fumes.

Mrs Tobin, 51, hailed from the esteemed McArdle family of Castleblayney, though she’d been residing and working in London for roughly two decades.

Her father is Tommy McArdle, a renowned playwright, actor and producer – who dedicated numerous years to directing RTÉ’s drama Glenroe, reports Belfast Live.

He’s celebrated for his collaborations with his brother John, himself a writer and actor.

The brothers also both represented Monaghan in football.

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Mrs Tobin held a degree from Trinity College Dublin and practised as a Chartered Surveyor.

Notable UK projects she contributed to included the Ritz and Shard building, both situated in London.

She and Mr Tobin, 48, had two teenage children who were accompanying them when the tragedy unfolded on Tuesday at approximately 4pm Irish time. The couple were discovered deceased at a hot tub in their rented holiday accommodation within Cap Blanc, an exclusive gated estate in Cullera.

The development’s properties boast Mediterranean Sea views, while Cap Blanc beach stretches 630 metres along the semi-urban coastline. Cullera, situated approximately 25 miles south of Valencia, has a population of around 25,000.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed to the Irish Mirror that it is aware of the incident and is providing consular support for one Irish citizen involved in the case.

Early reports suggested both Mr and Mrs Tobin were Irish nationals, however it was subsequently confirmed he was from New Zealand.

A departmental spokeswoman stated to the Irish Mirror: “The Department is aware of this case and is providing consular assistance in the case of the Irish citizen concerned.

“As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases.”

The pair’s two young children are understood to have raised the alarm with the property owner after discovering their parents’ bodies at the rented villa near Valencia at approximately 5pm local time on Tuesday.

Murder detectives from the local force initially examined the deaths, though Spanish authorities have since determined there were no indications of violence or suspicions of criminal activity.

Officers from Cullera Town Hall’s police force attended the scene alongside the Civil Guard, which has now assumed responsibility for the investigation. Three of Mrs Tobin’s relatives departed Monaghan on Tuesday evening, touching down in Valencia during the early hours of Wednesday morning.

They have since taken charge of caring for the couple’s children.

Spanish media outlets report that post-mortem examinations have been concluded, with foul play eliminated from enquiries, as investigators pursue the possibility that the deaths occurred accidentally.

According to these reports, one hypothesis under scrutiny suggests Mrs Tobin became trapped in the hot tub due to a mechanical malfunction, with her husband attempting a rescue – resulting in both suffering electrocution. Alternatively, the reports indicated they may have succumbed to toxic vapours emanating from the hot tub.

Residents of Castleblayney expressed profound dismay at the tragic deaths.

One man told us: “The McArdle family are well known and highly respected. It is a terrible tragedy. Everyone is devastated.”

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian security forces captured a suspected senior leader of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, the U.S. Southern Command announced on Friday, hailing the arrest as a result of stronger military cooperation between the historically close allies.

The capture on Thursday of Luis Saúl Pérez Nieto, who Colombian authorities described as having coordinated the gang’s weapons and drug-trafficking networks across the region, offers an early sign of how rapidly the two countries have intensified their joint efforts against organized crime under Colombia’s new conservative president, Abelardo de la Espriella.

An admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump, de la Espriella came to power earlier this month promising to crush his country’s powerful drug traffickers with help from Washington. His government has named Medellín, Colombia’s second-largest city, as the hub of Trump’s new regional anti-cartel alliance and welcomed joint operations with the U.S. military on Colombian soil in a sharp break from his progressive predecessor.

“Narco-terrorists have no safe haven in our hemisphere,” the U.S. Southern Command said in its statement on Friday announcing the capture of Pérez Nieto. “We stand united with our partners to dismantle these criminal networks and protect our homeland.”

Arrest in Colombia

Pérez Nieto, known by the aliases “Páez” and “Nairobi,” was captured in an operation that also involved the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Colombian police said, without elaborating.

Colombian police accused Pérez Nieto of leading the expansion of Tren de Aragua in Peru while coordinating drug and arms trafficking across the continent, helping transform what began as a prison gang operating from Venezuela’s Tocorón penitentiary into a transnational criminal syndicate.

In 2023, Pérez Nieto escaped from that prison along with his close confidant, the gang’s leader, Héctor “Niño Guerrero” Guerrero Flores, Colombian police added. Guerrero Flores was killed in a U.S. military strike in a rare collaboration with Venezuela earlier this year.

The Trump administration last year designated Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization, part of its effort to treat Latin American cartels as national security threats rather than conventional criminal groups. However, Trump has at times overstated the gang’s connections in an effort to justify deporting Venezuelans, The Associated Press previously reported.

“Congratulations to President Abelardo de la Espriella and the Colombian National Police on the capture of Luis Páez Nieto, a senior Tren de Aragua leader,” DEA Administrator Terry Cole said.

Colombian and Peruvian authorities said the U.S. had requested Pérez Nieto’s arrest and extradition on charges of terrorism, money laundering, drug trafficking and criminal conspiracy. The Trump administration has not publicly detailed the case against him. The DEA did not respond to questions about the charges against Pérez Nieto in the U.S. or its role in the operation.

Increased cooperation at the Colombian-Ecuadorian border

Earlier this week, U.S. Southern Command chief Gen. Francis Donovan met Colombia’s defense minister and military leaders in the port city of Tumaco before traveling to Ecuador for regional security talks focused on the volatile border between the two countries, rife with drug smuggling, illegal mining and human trafficking.

Colombia and Ecuador are among the few regional governments that have agreed to allow joint operations with U.S. forces against criminal groups on their territory, part of the Trump administration’s efforts to extend its lethal campaign against suspected drug smuggling boats to land.

Chile celebrates Tren de Aragua extradition as security success

It comes as South American voters increasingly elect Trump-aligned conservative leaders who have called for far-reaching security crackdowns.

Among them is Chilean President José Antonio Kast, whose government has struggled to deliver on its sweeping promises to curb crime and carry out and mass deportations.

But on Friday, Chilean officials celebrated a victory as they announced the arrival of two alleged Tren de Aragua leaders extradited from the U.S. and Colombia to face charges in Chile related to the abduction and killing of former Venezuelan army Lt. Ronald Ojeda in 2024. The body of the Venezuelan dissident, who had sought political asylum in Chile, was found inside a suitcase buried beneath a cement slab in Santiago, the capital.

Chilean authorities have charged Rafael Enrique Gámez Salas, the alleged leader of Los Piratas, the main branch of Tren de Aragua in Chile, with kidnapping, extortion and criminal association, among other offenses.

The other suspect, Alfredo Camilo Carrillo Ortiz, alias “El Gocho,” was extradited from Colombia. Chilean prosecutors accuse him of helping plan and carry out the killing and running the informal settlement where Ojeda’s body was buried.

Chile’s undersecretary for public security, María del Pilar Giannini, called the extraditions “a concrete demonstration” of the Kast government’s crusade against organized crime. “We are going to pursue them to the very end,” she said.

U.S. officials praised Gámez’s extradition from California, where he was serving a federal prison sentence for illegally reentering the country. Attorney General Todd Blanche called it “evidence of the strong cooperation with our Chilean partners to combat transnational crime, dismantle foreign terrorist organizations like Tren de Aragua and hold members accountable for their heinous criminal acts.”

___

DeBre reported from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Big Church Festival was put on ‘lockdown’ after the sign fell and killed a man

A man has died with others seriously injured at a UK festival after a ‘serious incident’ put the event into ‘lockdown’.

Sussex Police said they were called to the Christian festival, Big Church Festival, at 3.38pm today after reports a large sign had fallen and ‘injured a number of people at the site’. A man, 41 and from Eastbourne, died at the scene, the force said in a statement tonight.

Detective Chief Superintendent Richard McDonagh said: “This is a tragic incident and our thoughts go out to the man’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

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“At least six other people were also injured during this incident and have been taken to hospital for treatment. I recognise the immense distress this will have caused people at the festival, and we are working with a number of partners as we seek to establish exactly what happened.

“We know there were thousands of people at the festival and we’re urging anyone with any information, or any relevant video footage, to please come forward. You can report it online or call 101, quoting Operation Igloo.”

A police spokesman added: “A section of the A283 was temporarily closed between Washington Roundabout and the B2135 Horsham Road, to allow emergency services to respond.

“Police and partners remain at the scene at this time, and we would urge the public to avoid the area wherever possible.

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“We thank you for your patience and understanding, and we will provide any further updates on this channel as soon as we are in a position to do so.

“The Health and Safety Executive and local authority have been informed. Big Church Festival has announced the event will be paused and no further programme will take place today.”

The festival began on Friday and had been set to run until Sunday. Big Church Festival said in an earlier post on Instagram: “We are very sorry to inform you that today’s show has been cancelled due to a serious incident.

“All day visitors must leave the site now. If you are camping with us, please return to your campsite and await further updates. Campers may leave the site if they wish to do so.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding. We will share further updates as soon as we can.”

In a later statement, the organisers added that their “thoughts and prayers are with those who have been directly impacted by the incident”.

“We understand this will be deeply disappointing for the thousands who have joined us at the festival,” a Big Church Festival spokesperson said.

“We are working closely with the emergency services and relevant authorities. Further announcements will be made as more information becomes available. We are grateful for the understanding, patience, and prayers of our community at this time.”

South East Coast Ambulance Service verified it attended the Wiston Park venue. A spokesman said: “South East Coast Ambulance Service was called to reports of multiple people in need of medical attention at Wiston Park, Steyning shortly after 15.30hrs today (Friday, 28 August 2026).

“Ambulance crews, critical care paramedics and specialist response teams are currently on scene with six patients confirmed so far. We have no further information to share at this time but will provide updates as soon as possible.”

Fridges and freezers require specialist dismantling due to the gases they contain, which can be harmful to the environment if not disposed of safely, but three of the UK’s 10 full-scale processing plants have closed in the last 12 months.

The three closures – due to a fire, bankruptcy and a change of use – have been compounded by this year’s heat waves, as the remaining plants cannot operate above 30 degrees Celsius.

Industry body the Environmental Services Association said this year’s closures had ended up “knocking out capacity suddenly” and executive director Jacob Hayler said:

“The result is that capacity is now constrained nationally until facilities can be brought back online or new capacity is permitted and developed.”

Fridges from the UK are now being exported to Europe to meet demand, with only one more UK processing plant due to open next year.

Funding for processing relies on the companies that make white goods, who must register with a compliance scheme and tell them how many tonnes of appliances they sell per year, then the scheme collects the same weight of material and coordinates disposal.

The recycling of white goods is handled by 15 producer compliance schemes, who coordinate the collection, recycling and disposal of units from the UK, increasingly via European processing plants.

The largest of these compliance schemes is not-for-profit Ecogenesys, which works with about 85 councils in the UK, and is supporting the development of new UK fridge processing infrastructure.

Ecogenesys chief executive Graeme Milne said European processing plants would provide a temporary stop-gap but the UK needed more processing capacity in the long-term, adding: “The UK fridge recycling sector has faced exceptional pressures this summer, but we expect the situation to begin to ease as the seasonal peak passes.”

John Redmayne, the managing director of another compliance scheme, the European Recycling Platform, said the UK is “facing a genuine capacity crunch” on recycling old fridges, adding the industry consensus “points to a six to twelve month recovery”.

The bottleneck in the disposal of white goods has led to fears of increased flytipping as the government starts a major crackdown on illegal waste dumps.

Country Land and Business Association president Gavin Lane said finding a flytipped fridge dumped in a field was “a farmer’s nightmare”.

“It can cause hours of disruption, stress, and clean-up bills running into the thousands,” he said, calling on the government to get the system working.

One of England’s 11 so-called illegal “super sites”, the Kidlington dump of about 22,000 tonnes of waste in Oxfordshire has been cleaned up this week – but at a cost of £6m to the public purse.

The government is now targeting organised crime gangs, who are behind hundreds of illegal dumps are operating across England, to seize assets bought with the proceeds of crime, as well as hiking fines from £300 to £5,000.