In first practice, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso rescued what could have been a high-speed crash at the harbour front chicane.

The rear flicked sideways as he went over the crest at the start of the braking point, and as he corrected, the car fishtailed, sending the front towards the barriers.

Although the incident broke the car’s front-wing endplate, Alonso kept it largely under control and out of the barriers as it slid wildly up the kerb on the outside of the circuit.

Aston Martin had a difficult time in the second session, Alonso ending up 20th fastest and team-mate Lance Stroll slowest of all, and 0.880secs off the Spanish veteran.

Alonso said: “It’s a little bit of everything. We are not happy with the front axle, losing a lot of front grip in the middle of the corners and we have this chronic understeer we cannot solve.

“Upshifts, downshifts, harvesting level into the corner in Monaco is crucial to be precise and confident into the corners and at the moment it is way too inconsistent the way the car downshifts and the speed you approach the corners. It is not easy to drive. We are not at the level yet.”

The 44-year-old also came up with the latest in a series of eye-catching lines to describe his unhappiness with the new cars introduced by this year’s rules, with their nominal 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power.

“This is the worst generation of cars I drove in Monaco,” he said. “The way you charge the engine with the braking and lifting off creates a lot of inconsistency into the engine braking, sometimes you have less, sometimes you have push, sometimes not.

“If the battery is full, you don’t recharge so you don’t have engine braking. It’s like pushing. It’s just the rules. Hybrid cars should not be racing. Simple as that.”

Damian Vayro was due to attend Peterlee Magistrates’ Court for a Sexual Risk Order (SRO) hearing when security guards spotted him tucking away a paper receipt on Wednesday (June 3).

The 18-year-old’s behaviour resulted in police officers finding a Sim card holder and the receipt for a new mobile phone and he was arrested and held in custody overnight.

Joanne Bullock, prosecuting, said: “He has removed items from his pockets and a security officer noticed he was acting suspiciously.

“He was folding up a receipt for a new mobile phone and a new Sim card holder were also placed in the security tray and it was established that he was in breach of his interim sexual risk order.

“A mobile phone was then found at his home address which was identical to the one he had the receipt for.”

Ms Bullock said all of the offences took place between May 21 and June 3 this year.

Vayro, of Cockton Hill Road, Bishop Auckland, pleaded guilty to four breaches of his interim SRO when he failed to register a new mobile phone, deleted messages on social media, accessed Facebook messenger, Instagram and Snapchat.

Lucy Redshaw, mitigating, said there was no evidence of any sexual contact recovered from the device but her client accepted he had breached the terms of the order.

She added: “He is someone who has a complex background. He is 18 and is someone with his own vulnerabilities.

“He has a low IQ and potential learning difficulties.”

William Unsworth, the chairman of the magistrates’ bench, adjourned the case until June 26 to allow time for a full pre-sentence report to be compiled on the teenager.

He was released on conditional bail until his next court appearance.

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

The series first aired on ITV in 2019, and fans of the cancelled period drama are still calling for a second season, with some viewers describing it as one of the best series they have ever watched

Devotees of Downton Abbey are being encouraged to watch a period drama praised as “the best ever”.

Beecham House debuted in 2019, crafted by Gurinder Chadha, the director behind Bend It Like Beckham.

Situated in Delhi during 1795, amidst the Mughal era, the series chronicles the Beecham family’s experiences in their recently acquired residence.

Led by John Beecham (portrayed by Tom Bateman), a former East India Company soldier, the household relocates to the imposing estate in pursuit of a new beginning.

The synopsis continues: “John Beecham, a former soldier in the East India Company, is determined to leave the past behind him and start a new life,” reports the Mirror.

“When he arrives at the grand house the staff are shocked to discover that their secretive new master has arrived with a baby of mixed parentage.

“John is determined to reunite his family in Delhi and keep the identity of his child secret-but at what cost?”

The ITV production featured Tom alongside Lesley Nicol, Leo Suter, Good Morning Britain’s Adil Ray and Bridgerton star Bessie Carter.

Audiences were captivated upon the programme’s initial broadcast, and continue recommending it to enthusiasts of Downton Abbey and The Other Bennet Sister across social platforms.

Advertisement

One person called it “superb”, while another said: “Stunning cinematography, beautiful and touching show”. They went on: “It’s very addictive, touching story and shots are so beautiful that you are just lost in it and feel every bit of the story. Waiting for season 2.”

Another said: “This production is incredible and it is so far being true to historical events. This is British TV or any TV at its best.”

Yet another begged for a second season, adding: “Having pretty much given up on finding anything worth watching on a TV screen, I discovered Beecham House. It was mesmerizing!”

Another fan wrote: “I love it!!! It cannot end like this. We need more. Pleeeeese!!!!!” (sic)

One fan called Beecham House a “phenomenal series” they binged “in one sitting”, as another called it “outstanding”.

Someone else said: “One of the best series I’ve ever watched,” adding: “This series is so underrated it really does deserve some appreciation.”

One fan added in their review: “Stunningly rich”, while another said: “I was dazzled. Can’t believe it ends like this.”

Despite fans begging for a second season, Beecham House was cancelled before another instalment, thought creator Gurinder later spoke about the possibility of it being revived.

She told Express.co.uk : “I think it’s one of those shows that had a massive following on catch up and some of our figures are incredibly high.

“Also, it had a large Asian audience which is hard to measure because there’s no way of measuring the Asian audience.”

She went on: “I think on the Sunday night it went out, it went out at the same time as Love Island. So it was unfortunate. In a way, that’s the reality.

“TV is these days to be much more about reality shows and sporting events and drama has had to you have to look at catch up audiences in figures. I think we kinda of bore the brunt of that.”

She added: “Also, I think for ITV, there’s this feeling that people in Britain are a bit tired of period dramas. Period dramas haven’t been faring as high as they used to.”

Beecham House is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.

The historic Edwardian garden at Newby Hall, Ripon, was opened by broadcaster Gyles Brandreth on Thursday, June 4.

Restoration of the 2,800sqm garden was led by Lucinda Compton and head gardener Lawrence Wright.

Work started on the garden in 2019, but the implications of Covid slowed its progress.

The refurbished rock garden at Newby Hall in Ripon (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Head gardener Lawrence said: “It’s amazing. When I joined in 2021, it was maybe a third of the way done, and it was still early days in terms of visitor engagement with the rock garden.

“We never closed the rock garden off, so visitors have seen the progress over the last seven years.

Head gardener, Lawrence Wright, speaks at the opening of the refurbished rock garden at Newby Hall in Ripon (Image: Stuart Boulton)

“It has gone from essentially being an enchanted fairy woodland over rocks that were overgrown and had their own charm, to something that is horticulturally interesting and has a different feel.

“It is much more engaging; there is a better range of plants, and it’s more horticulturally focused.”

Aiming to recapture the original drama and romance of the rock garden, while conserving it for future generations, hundreds of tonnes of soil have been excavated and replaced, with tonnes of gravel applied as mulch.

The refurbished rock garden at Newby Hall in Ripon (Image: Stuart Boulton)

More than 10,000 plants, bulbs, trees and shrubs have been planted, and the waterfall and aqueduct bridge restored.

Lawrence added: “We are proud of the whole garden, but it is great we’ve now got this piece that is a fantastic addition to the garden.

“It is a completely different style to the rest of the garden, so as a team, it’s a great thing to have had the chance to work on.”

The refurbished rock garden at Newby Hall in Ripon (Image: Stuart Boulton)

And he also said Gyles Brandreth was a “really nice chap”.

“He was really engaged with the garden when he was here,” Lawrence said.

“He wanted to know what we’d done and how we’d done it. He absolutely loved the rock garden, and it was fantastic he wanted to join us.

“He hit the nail on the head when he was saying that it was an enchanted place in his speech before the ribbon cutting.”

Jon Snow, 79, the iconic Channel 4 newsreader, has opened up about his Alzheimer’s diagnosis in a new documentary

Legendary newsreader Jon Snow has disclosed he is living with Alzheimer’s disease, choosing to go public about Britain’s biggest killer.

Jon, 79, famed for fronting Channel 4 News from 1989 to 2021, received a dementia diagnosis in 2023 but has kept his struggle private until now.

The broadcaster, who is backing Alzheimer’s Society, has opted to share his diagnosis to shine a light on the condition, which impacts roughly one million people across the UK.

His journey with the illness will be chronicled in a new documentary by Basement Films, Jon Snow: A Last Big Story, set to broadcast on Channel 4 on Saturday, June 20.

In an exclusive chat with the Daily Mail, Jon revealed that after stepping down in 2021, he plunged into severe depression. He became isolated and lost enthusiasm for pastimes he’d previously cherished, reports the Daily Star.

Jon also fretted that mates were no longer getting in touch – “Nobody ever rings,” he remarked, “I’m forgotten.” Yet in truth, he’d simply forgotten about the conversations.

Though hesitant to consult a GP, maintaining nothing was amiss, a cognitive test and brain scan confirmed Jon had Alzheimer’s disease.

Jon continues to question the diagnosis, stating: “I mean sometimes I doubt whether I’ve really got it. I don’t know if it’s widespread knowledge. I don’t feel disabled in any way,” pondering whether his behaviour is merely typical for someone his age. His wife Precious revealed: “Friends kept asking me if Jon was alright and I would have to lie and say he’s fine, but I knew he wasn’t.”

The Alzheimer’s Society emphasises it’s a widespread myth to assume dementia is simply part of growing older. While memory lapses become more frequent with age, dementia stems from brain diseases and can manifest through difficulties with organisation and judgement, communication, and occasionally shifts in temperament or conduct.

In the documentary, Jon admits: “At the beginning I wanted to hide it, there’s so much prejudice. Any sort of hint of mental decay, you’re sort of dead. There are moments when it pops up but it’s not an all day every day condition, and that’s what I cling onto.”

Michelle Dyson, CEO of Alzheimer’s Society, commented: “Jon’s decision to talk publicly about his dementia diagnosis is a real act of courage and his story will resonate with so many. His support for Alzheimer’s Society will help spark a national conversation about dementia that we so desperately need.

“Despite being the UK’s biggest killer, dementia is still not treated with the same urgency as other major health conditions like cancer.

“Alongside his wife Precious, Jon is shining a light on the need for faster, fairer access to diagnosis. An early diagnosis can unlock vital support, help families plan ahead and potentially open the door to participation in clinical trials. Yet too many people across the country are still waiting far too long for a diagnosis.

“We look forward to working with Jon, whose long-standing commitment to speaking out against injustice will help ensure the harsh realities of dementia cannot be ignored by the UK Government and the NHS.

“I would encourage anyone needing help or information to call our Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456 or visit alzheimers.org.uk.”

In Jon Snow: A Last Big Story, audiences will also witness Jon emerging from retirement for one final investigation to expose a mining disaster impacting local communities in Zambia.

Louisa Compton, Head of News, Current Affairs, Specialist Factual and Sport at Channel 4 remarked: “Jon Snow is not just one of Channel 4’s most recognisable faces – he is part of our very fabric and is dearly loved by viewers around the UK.

“It is a profound privilege that we are able to document his last big investigation, in a sensitively made film that frames Jon’s current affairs nous alongside a new life lived with Alzheimer’s. We hope this film will go a long way to raise awareness of how to live whilst facing a life-changing diagnosis.”

Martin O’Neill is set to continue as Celtic manager after two interim spells last season culminated in a Premiership and Scottish Cup double.

The 74-year-old has now agreed to stay at Parkhead on a one-year deal – with the option for a further year – after holding talks with the club’s major shareholder Dermot Desmond earlier this week.

Celtic have yet to officially confirm the appointment.

Twenty years on from ending a five-year tenure as Celtic manager, O’Neill returned in late October on a temporary basis after Brendan Rodgers’ departure, overseeing eight games.

He made way for Wilfried Nancy but the Frenchman left after six defeats and only two wins from eight matches. O’Neill was back as Celtic boss in early January, appointed for the rest of the season.

The league title race went to the final day of the campaign, with Celtic beating long-time leaders Hearts 3-1 to finish top. Then, at Hampden two weeks ago, O’Neill won his ninth trophy as Celtic manager with a 3-1 win over Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup final.

​

Alison Hume, the MP for Scarborough and Whitby, refused to be drawn on whom she would back in a potential leadership contest, should Andy Burnham win the Makerfield by-election and challenge Keir Starmer.

​

She added that the prime minister had her full support.

​

Appearing on a BBC Question Time special on Thursday, the mayor of Greater Manchester said he would seek to enter any potential Labour leadership contest if he wins the by-election on June 18.

​

Ms Hume, who was first elected in 2024, remained tight-lipped on the party’s leadership crisis which intensified after almost 100 MPs called on the prime minister to resign following major losses in May’s local elections.

​

Asked who she would back in a potential leadership contest, she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “No comment. There is no leadership challenge at the moment, and the prime minister continues to have my full support.”

​

Labour MPs have been asked to campaign twice in the by-election, as well as on polling day.

​

Mayor Andy Burnham At Scarborough Cricket Club. Courtesy Anttoni James Numminen

Ms Hume told the LDRS she had not yet been canvassing in Makerfield, adding: “As with all by-elections, I’ll be supporting [the candidate], and probably go on polling day.”

​

This week, multiple Labour backbenchers loyal to the PM told PoliticsHome that they would defy instructions to campaign twice in the constituency.

​

Rachael Maskell, the MP for York, has backed Andy Burnham to replace Keir Starmer as the Labour leader and said he would bring hope if he entered Number 10.

​

Ms Hume also declined to comment on whether the York MP was right to say the current mayor of Greater Manchester should replace Mr Starmer.

​

Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said a leadership contest had not been triggered but “the prime minister has been absolutely crystal clear that if there is a contest he will be in it”.

​

A Survation opinion poll (June 4) on the by-election put Andy Burnham ahead at 49 per cent, Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon on 39 per cent, Restore Britain’s Rebecca Shepherd on 8 per cent, the Green Party’s Sarah Wakefield on 2 per cent, and both the Liberal Democrats’ Jake Austin and The Conservatives’ Michael Winstanley on 1 per cent.

​

LONDON (AP) — Anthony Head, the suave, smooth-voiced British actor known for roles in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Ted Lasso,” has died, his family said Friday. He was 72.

Head’s daughters, actors Emily and Daisy Head, told the Press Association news agency that the actor passed away due to complications from pneumonia.

The stage and TV performer became well known to British audiences in the 1980s as one half of a will-they, won’t-they romantic couple in a series of ads for Nescafe Gold Blend instant coffee. The ads were later re-shot for a U.S. audience for Taster’s Choice.

Head achieved wider fame as librarian Rupert Giles, mentor to the title character in the cult-favorite supernatural series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” which ran from 1997 to 2003.

He most recently played Rupert Mannion, the villainous ex-husband of Hannah Waddingham’s character Rebecca, in “Ted Lasso.”

“Our grief is far greater than the hole he has left behind, but we know his legacy will live on, in the shows he was a part of, and in the audiences that love them,” his daughters said. “How lucky we are to know we are able to watch him doing what he loved, even when he is no longer with us.”

Head was born in London on Feb. 20, 1954 to Seafield Head, a documentary filmmaker, and Helen Shingler, an actor. His older brother, Murray, is also an actor.

Other notable roles included playing Geoffrey Howe, the deputy to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, played by Meryl Streep, in the Oscar-winning “The Iron Lady.”

Head portrayed a prime minister himself in the sketch comedy show “Little Britain,” as well as King Uther Pendragon, the father of Prince Arthur, in the “Merlin” TV series. He also appeared in “Motherland,” Manchild,” and “Silent Witness,” along with acting in many plays, musicals, and recording music as a singer.

He was predeceased by his longtime partner, animal welfare activist Sarah Fisher, 61, in 2025.

Flavio Cobolli is through to the French Open final after fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi withdrew minutes before their semi-final with a virus.

The good friends were supposed to meet in the last four at 18:00 BST on Friday for a place in a first Grand Slam final.

However, Arnaldi’s withdrawal was announced just 20 minutes before the players were due to step on Court Philippe Chatrier.

It puts world number 14 Cobolli straight through to Sunday’s Roland Garros showpiece, where he will face second seed and title favourite Alexander Zverev.

Arnaldi had spent 19 hours and 42 minutes on court en route to the semi-finals in Paris – the longest anyone has played on their way to the last four of a major since 1991.