It was Norris’ first pole since Las Vegas last year, three races from the end of his championship season, and a suggestion – at the very least – that Mercedes may not have things all their own way this year, after all.

Italian Antonelli salvaged a good result for Mercedes after a difficult session.

The Mercedes car has often struggled in the heat, and the 32C temperatures did not seem to do it any favours.

But after not looking competitive for most of the session, Antonelli ensured he was the very last car to set a time in the final session, when the track would be at its grippiest, and it paid off.

Russell took the opposite route, running first and he ended up 0.4secs back from his team-mate, not an ideal result given he already has to make up nine points on Antonelli in the championship.

Ferrari and Red Bull also have major upgrade packages this weekend, and Red Bull’s seem the more effective so far.

Fifth on the grid and 0.592secs from pole – even if it is a McLaren and not a Mercedes – counts as a good result in the context of a difficult start to the season.

Hamilton, who has started the season well, was 0.379secs off Leclerc in the final reckoning.

Tadcaster Road was closed at its junction with St Helen’s Road after a crash earlier this afternoon (May 1), but it has since reopened.

“The road is expected to remain closed for several hours while emergency services deal with the incident,” said a spokesperson for the force at around 2pm today.

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Motorists are advised to avoid the area and use an alternative route, with queues mounting across the west side of the city.

A resident who wanted to remain anonymous said: “It’s really tough trying to drive around west York at the moment with lots of drivers apparently trying to get round the closure on Tadcaster Road.  

“There are long queues on Carr Lane, and heading towards the city on Holgate Road and Dalton Terrace, much more than you would normally expect at this time of day on a Friday.  

“The Carr Lane queues are not helped by people stopping alongside parked cars making it very difficult for traffic coming the other way.”

More to follow.

A Peter Kay show has been evacuated mid-performance after authorities identified a potentially “suspicious bag” at the venue.

Witnesses said the comedian was taken off stage by security just 45 minutes into his show at the Utilita Arena Birmingham on Friday.

West Midland Police said they were searching the site after a 19-year-old man was taken into custody.

The force said in a statement: “We are assisting with an evacuation at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham after a potential suspicious bag was found.

“A 19-year-old man is in custody and as a precaution the site is currently subject of a search.

“We will provide further updates when we can.”

Doors opened at 6pm before the show began around 8pm. Footage on social media showed people queueing to leave their seats as part of the evacuation. A video from outside the venue showed police vehicles and flashing lights.

A spokesperson for the arena said that the evacuation was precautionary on advice of the force and ticket holders would be contacted in due course.

“Utilita Arena Birmingham has been evacuated as a precaution on the advice of West Midlands Police after a potential suspicious bag was found nearby.

“The safety and security of our customers and colleagues is our highest priority. We can confirm everyone was safely evacuated and that the venue is secure.

“Ticket holders will be contacted directly in due course.”

The arena, which can seat around 15,800 people, was set to host Mr Kay as part of his latest tour across the UK and Ireland, with all profits donated to 12 leading cancer charities, including Children with Cancer UK, Blood Cancer UK, Bowel Cancer UK, and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

At the end of an appeal hearing at London’s Southwark Crown Court on Friday, Justice Amanda Tipples said: “Having considered all the evidence before us, we cannot be sure that the damage to the complainant’s phone was caused by Mr Linehan… We therefore found Mr Linehan not guilty of the offence.”

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is the sequel to a film that launched a thousand memes.

For the film’s New York premiere in April 2026, fashion designer Evan Hirsh decided to commemorate one of the original 2006 film’s most celebrated scenes. He embroidered Meryl Streep’s infamous monologue on the fictional fashion history of the colour cerulean into the bright blue train of his coat.

In the monologue, ice-queen fashion editor Miranda Priestly (Streep) lambasts ingenue Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) for her ignorance about the blue – I mean, cerulean – colour of her sweater.

Equal parts derisive and incisive, this monologue nods to the “ballroom” tradition of reading the flaws of others, in order to deliver a devastating (and often hilarious) insult. Ballroom is an underground scene of competitive balls created by Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ communities centred on dance, fashion and performance. There, reading functions as both art form and social critique.

The monologue also encapsulates a skill practised in humanities classrooms around the world: close reading. This is the art of unpacking a detail and contextualising it within a broader history, to see how artistic choices and media landscapes come together to shape the world around us – often without us really noticing.

Although an old idea (arguably, even Aristotle was doing it), in the early decades of the 20th century, literary scholars in Britain and America began to emphasise the skills we now know as close reading. They argued that small details and specific choices come together to create the reader’s experience of the text.

In 2006, to see close reading on-screen was rare. Prior to the rise of social media, virtuosic displays of close readings were often confined to academic settings, or the occasional documentary. Now, close reading can be found everywhere in our content diets – in podcasts, YouTube videos and on TikTok.

Close reading proves an ideal technique for generating constant content. It allows creators to unpack artistic choices and the aesthetic histories of just about anything.

Some of this content presents itself as educational programming, making use of expert academic hosts (for example, in Architectural Digest’s series Every Detail or the London Review of Books’ podcast Close Readings).

These podcasts and videos form part of the history of post-war educational media, along with Open University programming that used to fill the BBC airwaves in the early hours. Contributors to this programming included Stuart Hall, whose criticism defined the field of Cultural Studies by melding historical analysis with questions of how media such as TV and film communicate with viewers.

Expertise in close reading, however, does not lie only within academia. Close readings can be found in fashion content that highlights the history of specific items, such as the 99% Invisible podcast Articles of Interest. And they’re also evident in the videos of influencers who examine the history of specific looks and the publications that shaped them.

Videos and podcasts on pop music and culture hosted by musicologists, such as Vulture’s Switched on Pop, also rely on close reading. Fan videos and tweets unpacking the work of singers like Taylor Swift or Sabrina Carpenter perform this same skill.

Every video breaking down the difference between gen Z and millennial makeup, every outfit takedown, every analysis of a political speech – close reading is everywhere.

Close reading in The Devil Wears Prada

Let’s return to that blue sweater. While fashion editors have debunked the scene’s representation of how the fashion industry operates, that is not what is at stake for the characters. This scene dramatises the allure of shared cultural knowledge. This kind of knowledge represents what it takes to succeed at the fictional Runway magazine.

By understanding and valuing the history of a colour, Andy could become part of a glamorous in group. Now, our phones contain our own personal Miranda Priestlys, explaining how and why an object, an image, a text matters – and perhaps why we should buy it.

The Met Gala, an annual evening of fundraising for New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, is always a key date in the close-reading calendar. The event exemplifies what art and music has always done for its wealthy patrons and consumers: it provides an opportunity to see and be seen, to participate in the performance of connoisseurship.

Former Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, the perennially sunglasses-clad inspiration for Priestly, helped make first Monday in May (when the gala is held) a covetable event in the fashion calendar. Days after the theatrical release of the Devil Wears Prada 2 in May 2026, a flurry of content will emerge close reading the outfit choices at the gala.

The message of the cerulean monologue is that culture, and the business of culture, exempts no one. Simply because we do not care about a certain aspect of culture does not mean we can escape its influence.

Like the blue of Andy Sach’s sweater, the act of close reading “represents millions of dollars and countless jobs”, and probably more hours of your own time than you would care to admit. Perhaps most importantly, close reading is the skill that enables us to unpack art’s political statements.

So, in case you had any doubt, it’s important that you know: it’s not just blue, it’s cerulean.

Images of the Utilita Arena emptying are being shared – police are investigating a ‘suspicious bag’

Comedian Peter Kay was reportedly ‘bundled off stage’ in Birmingham as his stand-up show at the Utilita Arena was cancelled after just 45 minutes tonight (Friday).

The comedian had taken to the stage at the Utilita Arena Birmingham at 8pm, but the show was abruptly cancelled after 45 minutes.

People in the crowd said there had been ‘no explanation’ and no warning anything was wrong ahead of a member of the production team heading on to the stage at around 8.45pm to say the show wouldn’t be continuing.

Police have now confirmed they are investigating a ‘suspicious bag’ at the arena.

Images and videos being posted to social media show crowds walking out and the arena emptying. Others said they had seen police in the arena, which was then evacuated, reports Birmingham Live.

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The show, forming part of the Bolton-born funnyman’s national tour which will see all profits donated to 12 leading cancer charities, had started at 8pm.

Kay is due to play the arena at the same time again tomorrow night (Saturday, May 2). It is currently unclear why the show was pulled tonight.

BirminghamLive said it has contacted West Midlands Police and organisers for more details.

A member of the audience told BirminghamLive that everyone was asked to leave the venue by a member of the production team at around 8.45pm.

They said the show “wouldn’t be continuing”.

One fan who was at the show shared on X, formerly Twitter: “Just been evacuated out the Utilitia Arena Birmingham and Peter Kay bundled off stage,” adding a mind blown emoji.

Another posted a video of the arena being evacuated, writing: “Being evacuated from the Peter Kay gig in Birmingham. No information as to why.”

A third commented: “Peter Kay gig in Birmingham has been cancelled 45mins in. Peter bundled off stage and the venue evacuated. Police on site. Stay safe, Birmingham.”

And a fourth added: “So not the evening we expected. Evacuated from Birmingham Utilita. Peter Kay brilliant for 45 mins then some p**** has to ruin it. All out safe and quickly.”

The Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester has identified several seats where MPs are prepared to step aside, triggering a by-election which could pave the way for his return to Parliament, The Guardian newspaper said.

The newspaper also reported Mr Burnham’s supporters are attempting to avoid a formal leadership challenge against the Prime Minister, and hope to kickstart a process for him to stand down after what are expected to be disastrous results for Labour in the May 7 elections.

Mr Burnham was earlier this year blocked by Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election, after the previous MP Andrew Gwynne stood down, citing health reasons.

Andy Burnham at Bolton Interchange (Image: Newsquest)

The NEC said worries about the costs of running a new Manchester mayoral elections and fear that Reform could take the mayoralty were behind the decision to block Mr Burnham.

He is now reported to be lining up an “impressive” candidate to replace him as mayor, who The Guardian said was not a sitting MP.

Mr Burnham, who served as health secretary in Gordon Brown’s government, is also said to be preparing a progressive policy platform for Government.

Constituencies across Merseyside and Greater Manchester are reportedly among those where MPs are prepared to stand aside for Mr Burnham, The Guardian said.

Earlier this week, in an interview with the BBC, Labour MP for Bootle Peter Dowd rejected suggestions he was preparing to make way for Mr Burnham.

Raducanu missed March’s Miami Open because of a viral illness and opted out of clay court events in Linz and Madrid to recover fully.

It means her last appearance was in Indian Wells at the beginning of March.

Raducanu has been relying on Alexis Canter for regular support since parting company with coach Francisco Roig after the Australian Open.

She said in Indian Wells her mind was “open” to the possibility of employing another full-time coach, but expressed reservations about the scrutiny that comes with any of her choices.

When Raducanu won the 2021 US Open without dropping a set as an 18-year-old qualifier, Richardson was in the coaching box.

He had only replaced Nigel Sears after that summer’s Wimbledon, but Raducanu and her family decided following her spectacular triumph in New York that an experienced WTA coach was required, and Richardson’s contract was not extended.

Raducanu is due to practise with German player Eva Lys in Rome on Saturday lunchtime.

As a seeded player, she would receive a first-round bye and therefore not have to play before Thursday.

There are also WTA tournaments in Strasbourg and Rabat in the week before the French Open, which rounds off the clay-court season and begins on 24 May.

DIY expert Nick Knowles said he’s no longer going to Turkey as BBC Morning Live viewers told ‘it could see holidays in jeopardy’

A BBC travel expert has given an update to anyone with holidays booked or considering going on a foreign break this summer. On BBC Morning Live consumer champion Rebecca Wilcox told hosts Rav Wilding and Holly Hamilton how concern is growing from people with breaks lined up – as to if it could be cancelled, will they be charged more supplementary fees and will they be covered.

And during the section show DIY expert and guest Nick Knowles revealed his family has decided to cancel their holiday to Turkey amidst all the uncertainty. Host Helen said: “With this morning’s headlines showing oil prices at their highest level since 2022 there’s growing concern that airlines could respond by raising fares or even cancelling some flights.”

Ms Wilcox agreed and said: “It’s very worrying and and the number of headlines make us spike in our concern and I can see that the fuel price is going up making concerns go up and what we’re going to talk about today is how specifically that is going to affect the holiday pricing with airline fares because, of course, jet fuel, is integral for flying through the air.

“Jet2 has told us they are seeing an increase in holidaymakers leaving it to the very last minute to book their holidays, and that’s so they know the full cost of their trip at the time of purchase and that is due to the conflict in the Middle East.

“It tells us that there’s a real worry going on out there. People are quite hesitant to book, they don’t know whether they should go ahead with it. On Monday we heard the Prime Minister saying that airlines actually do have enough jet fuel at the moment but it could see holidays in jeopardy in the future and that depends upon how long this conflict goes on for which, of course, nobody knows.”

She said more people are considering whether to go ahead or just book a staycation in the UK instead. Presenter Holly Hamilton said: “Most people when you chat to them, it’s at the forefront of their mind about booking holidays and in some cases they are cancelling them. Nick you and I were chatting about it and you’ve cancelled your holiday.”

Nick Knowles said: “Yes a holiday in Turkey and we’ve decided to stay home. A holiday in the UK is more expensive than going abroad – so we’re going to go in the back garden and drink cocktails and sunbathe in the back garden. The trick is don’t tell anyone you’re not going away because then they’ll ring you and interrupt.”

Holly said, “Bad news, you’ve just told everybody.” Nick added, “I’m going to be in such trouble with my wife now.”

READ MORE: Martin Lewis warning for holidaymakers including Jet2, easyJet, TUIREAD MORE: Martin Lewis tells mobile users ‘type 5-digit code and screen grab result’ as thefts soar

Rav asked: “Can holiday companies just raise prices then?” Rebecca said: “I’m devastated that Nick is not going to Turkey – how is he going to get those new teeth he was talking about earlier? I’m joking, obviously his teeth are beautiful.” Nick interjected: “I’m going back to the same people who did my hair it’s fine.”

When can holiday companies raise prices

Rebecca said: “They can only raise their prices in specific circumstances because there is a law protecting consumers from these huge hikes in prices that they could add on for any random charges. This law is known as the Package Travel Regulation and it means we are protected.

“The surcharges they are allowed to add on are related to things like fuel cost increases, which we’re talking about today, transport taxes and fees and any fluctuations in the exchange rate movement. They have to say this in your T&Cs at time of booking so just c heck your terms and conditions.”

Holly said: “The people who have booked their holiday will be thinking ‘how much could they possibly add on?’ “ Ms Wilcox said: “Well, it is a limited amount they can add on before they give you the option of cancelling or a refund and that amount they can add on is 8 per cent. This 8 per cent is broken down into 2 sections because the holiday company has to swallow that first 2 per cent and then you as consumer will only pay 6 per cent and that’s of the total cost of your holiday package.

READ MORE: TV holiday expert Simon Calder gives holiday 2026 update and says ‘that is crazy’

“What does that look like for a holiday? So for instance if you’ve spent £1,000 on your holiday that’ll be an extra £60. A £3,500 holiday, another £210, and a £5,000 cruise that’s £300. They can only ask for this for up to 20 days before you travel and that’s why people are booking these last minute holidays because the time limit for that 6 per cent has already gone.”

Package holidays

Rav gave an example from a viewer, Jeff, who was due to pay the balance on his holiday – he’d booked the flights and the accommodation through the same agent and asked if his family would be able to get a full refund if they have to cancel our holiday because of the shortage. Ms Wilcox said: “This sounds like he’s booked a package holiday when he’s booked the flight and the accommodation together and that means you do have more protection and you should be offered a full refund and a suitable alternative if they make major changes.

“If it’s a flight only deal they must offer you a replacement flight or a refund. If they offer you a holiday voucher or credit with them instead of cash be really wary and think twice about doing it. They may lure you in by offering you something that’s supposedly more than what you spent so it looks like it’s of greater value, but I would say you’re more protected if you get the cash back.” She said there may be restrictions, there may be an end date on the credit and also the company could go bust.

She said getting travel insurance when you make the booking was vital as you’re protected from then until time of travel.

The list includes requests for tree felling, the creation of new sports facilities, various residential extensions, and adjustments to previous planning consents.

A full summary of each application submitted to Durham County Council is provided below:

• Hollin Lodge 29A Etherley Lane, Bishop Auckland DL14 7QU. Works to trees including reducing the height of one conifer by 4m, tidying one conifer, and crown reduction and reshaping by 3m of two cherry trees under a Section 211 notice. Ref. No: DM/26/01079/TCA
• 26 North Road, Seaham SR7 7AB. Felling and removal of two conifer trees. Ref. No: DM/26/01084/TCA
• Cell R5 Lambton Park Development Site At Former County Show Ground, Chester Road, Bournmoor DH3 4DX. Non-material amendments to conditions covering plans, drive crossings, landscaping, boundary treatment, and bat/bird boxes for approved application DM/23/01888/RM (as amended by DM/25/02874/NMA). Ref. No: DM/26/01067/NMA
• 165 Hatfield Place, Peterlee SR8 5TG. Pitched roof. Ref. No: DM/26/01059/FPA
• Fairbank The Promenade, Consett DH8 5NJ. Single storey front/side porch extension to the property. Ref. No: DM/26/01050/FPA
• 50 Northside Buildings, Trimdon Grange, Trimdon Station TS29 6HW. Application to apply render to both the front elevation and gable end. Ref. No: DM/26/01047/FPA
• 4 Stockton Road, Sedgefield, Stockton On Tees TS21 2AG. Removal of an existing conservatory and construction of a new single storey extension. Ref. No: DM/26/00988/FPA
• 11 Holyrood, Great Lumley, Chester-le-street DH3 4LY. Erection of a garden room within the property’s grounds. Ref. No: DM/26/01046/HPN
• 5 The Cedars, Coxhoe, Durham DH6 4SG. Creation of a new racket sport club within the premises. Ref. No: DM/26/00972/FPA
• Unit 8 Gemini Point, Peterlee SR8 2FB. Variation of condition 2 relating to previous planning application DM/19/02830/FPA. Ref. No: DM/26/00971/FPA
• White House, Cockhouse Lane, Ushaw Moor, Durham DH7 7PW. Two storey side extension and single storey rear extension with alterations to vehicular access and creation of hardstanding. Ref. No: DM/26/00918/VOC
• 4 Gomer Terrace, Toronto, Bishop Auckland DL14 7SE. Replacement of the existing conservatory roof with a new one. Ref. No: DM/26/00874/FPA
• 21 South Street, Durham DH1 4QP. Variation of condition 1 to amend the rear offshoot/balcony area and discharge condition 6 regarding balcony privacy screen details from planning permission DM/24/01835/RM to prevent shading to rear windows. Ref. No: DM/26/00797/FPA
• Plot 18 Dunelm Stables, Thornley, Durham DH6 3BN. Change of use from agricultural land to residential curtilage, erection of polytunnel and erection of greenhouse (retrospective). Ref. No: DM/26/00762/VOC
• Moorlyn, Wingate Road, Trimdon Colliery, Trimdon Station TS29 6AX. Change of use from agricultural land to residential curtilage with erection of polytunnel and greenhouse (retrospective). Ref. No: DM/26/00707/FPA
• The Old Byre, Market Place, St Johns Chapel, Bishop Auckland DL13 1QF. Discharge of condition 3 regarding window/door details tied to planning permission DM/22/01132/FPA. Ref. No: DM/26/00561/DRC

For more notices affecting YOUR area, visit our Public Notice Portal – Public Notices from The Northern Echo (publicnoticeportal.uk).

• 1 Mill Cottage, Demesnes, Barnard Castle DL12 8PE. Discharge of condition 3 concerning joinery details attached to permissions DM/25/02330/FPA and DM/25/01852/LB. Ref. No: DM/26/00582/DRC
• 60 Deneside, Lanchester, Durham DH7 0LY. Conversion of part of the front garden to create hardstanding for car parking at the front. Ref. No: DM/26/00193/FPA
• Woodleigh, Flatts Road, Barnard Castle DL12 8AA. External alterations for the opening of a Banking Hub and Post Office, including new signage. Ref. No: DM/26/00109/FPA
• Woodleigh, Flatts Road, Barnard Castle DL12 8AA. Application for various advertisements connected to the Banking Hub and Post Office, including fascia, projecting, window poster, directory, and CCTV signage. Ref. No: DM/26/00110/AD