Good morning. If you’re just joining our live coverage, here is the full statement from Big Church Festival organisers, where a man was killed by a falling sign.

A spokesperson said: “We are devastated by the serious incident that took place at Big Church Festival 2026 today, in which a sign fell, injuring at least seven people, one of whom tragically lost their life.

“First and foremost, all of our thoughts are with those who have been affected, their families and friends, and everyone who witnessed what happened. Following today’s incident, we have made the decision to bring Big Church Festival 2026 to a close.

“Our immediate priority is the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved and helping those currently at the festival to leave the site safely.

“We will provide further information as quickly as we can through our website and official channels. Please look to these for updates.

“We are working with the emergency services, police and the Health and Safety Executive as they establish the circumstances surrounding today’s incident. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who responded, and to our teams and community for the care they have shown one another.

“Big Church Festival is about bringing people together. Tonight, that community is grieving. Right now, our focus is on those directly affected by what happened today.

“We are heartbroken.”

14 million of us are out of contract with our current mobile phone supplier – and therefore could be saving money

Do you panic when your phone packs in? Does the battery warning bring you out in a cold sweat? Have you ever felt the heartbreak of watching a wet phone die? You are not alone.

The latest data from Uswitch shows 96% of the population have a mobile phone and there are 88 mobile phone subscriptions (contracts) in operation. We are a nation in thrall to those little mini computers in our pockets and bags.

Yet according to MoneySavingExpert, 14 million of us are out of contract with our current mobile phone supplier. This means we are paying way over the odds for our phone service. In fact, if you shop savvy and think about what you need from your contract, you could save upwards of £250 a year.

Switching to a better deal with another mobile phone service provider may seem like a faff, but it’s remarkably easy – and yes, you can keep your number. So with the cost-of-living crisis showing no signs of going away, here’s my guide on how you can switch and save.

Can I switch today?

If you’re out of contract, you can switch to a new provider immediately! However, can you remember your online password for your bill? I certainly couldn’t. So before you start shopping around, reset your password and take a look at your bill. It should say if you are out of contract and you will also be able to see how much data you are using too. This can help you cut costs later.

If you’ve switched or renewed recently, add your mobile phone contract renewal date to your calendar. If you add this one month before the renewal day you have time to do some research and find the best deal.

What if my contract hasn’t expired?

If you are mid-contract, you will likely have to pay an exit fee to leave early. This starts high and reduces as your contract progresses. If you can find a better deal, then it may be worth breaking your contract early, but ask for an estimated exit fee from your provider first. This also gives them an opportunity to come up with a better counter offer to keep your custom.

If the exit fee is too high, you can sometimes leave your contract early if the business isn’t meeting its side of the contract.

I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but here are some of the most commonly cited reasons for leaving a contract early:

• Poor signal strength
• Bad customer service
• Changes to your original contract
• Mid-contract price increases
• Changes in circumstances (like moving abroad or to an area with no mobile phone coverage from your provider)

If you are alleging poor signal strength, download a free app to monitor this. Report the problem to the mobile phone company and take regular screenshots showing you service is poor to support your argument.

What research should I do before I switch?

Start by having a think about how long you want to lock yourself in to a contract for. You get cheaper deals for longer contracts, but prices can increase mid-term, so make sure you read the terms from the mobile phone company. New rules from Ofcom state that they should clearly explain what those mid-term contract increases will be on your offer letter.

Some mobile phone companies offer discounted rates for the first few months of a deal with the best deals running for up to a year. Your contract will increase significantly afterwards, so when comparing deals, get your calculator out and add up what the total amount is you will pay over the duration of the contract. Don’t forget to put the date the contract increases in price in your diary too, so you don’t go overdrawn if cash is tight.

You can also get a range of discounts for “bundling” deals. This means you agree to move other contracts over to the same new provider. For example, you could get a discount bundle deal for having your broadband, TV and mobile phone packages with the same provider. This can be convenient but make sure you research all of the separate deals before signing up, along with comparing the costs with single deals elsewhere.

Watch out for firms that move you automatically on to the ‘best’ deals. They get commission for this and some don’t act in your best interest. Have a look at review sites too, so you can get a feel for how the business handles complaints and deals with problems.

Here’s your checklist when reviewing your mobile phone service providers:

• If you want a contract or pay as you go deal
• If you want a “free” handset
• Contract length and mid-term rises
• “Inclusive” minutes (the number of calls/texts in the UK you get for free each month)
• Data (the amount of data you can download from the internet)
• International calls and data roaming (the latter is the cost of using your phone abroad)
• Additional charges (sending photographs, “add on” benefits etc
• Freebies and gifts

Here’s a guide on what to look for from Ofcom.

How do I switch to a new mobile phone service provider?

Ofcom has a relatively simple process which should mean you are able to switch mobile phone providers by text. Problems do occur though, but you can complain if a business gets it wrong – and potentially get compensation.

If you want to keep your number:

The industry term for switching to a new mobile provider while keeping your existing number is known as “porting”. To switch and keep your number:

• Contact your existing mobile phone company and request a Porting Authorisation Code (PAC)
• To request this by text, send PAC to 65075
• You can also request this through your online account or by calling the business
• Your PAC code must be given in one minute and lasts for 30 days, but don’t delay!
• Your existing provider must also send you all important information, including any exit fees if they apply
• Your new service provider then does all of the work behind the scenes and you should be set up within one working day

If you aren’t bothered about keeping your number:

• You will need to request a Service Termination Authorisation Code (STAC) instead
• To request this by text, send STAC to 75075 or obtain the code online or on the phone
• The process is the same after doing this

What if I change my mind?

If you signed up to your mobile phone contract online or on the phone, then legally, you have a 14 day cooling off period.

This means you can change your mind and end the new contract if you are unhappy with the service, if you feel you’ve been misled or you find a more advantageous deal. Make sure the business logs that you have cancelled the agreement on its systems. The clock stops ticking on the time limit when you say you want to cancel.

What about all my stuff?

Contacts, photos, old WhatsApp messages. All of these things and more should not vanish when you move to another mobile phone company if you keep the same handset. However, many people report problems to varying degrees with some switches to new handsets, so prep in advance.

Take some time to learn about backing up your phone. This includes data stored on the phone itself, things you’ve backed up on a computer or hard drive and information you’ve saved to a “cloud storage service”.

If you are changing handsets, talk to your mobile phone company and the manufacturer about transferal of data, just to be sure.

Finally, lots of mobile phones now have ‘e-sims’. Many people don’t really understand how e-sims work, so make sure you ask about this when speaking to the mobile phone company.

What can go wrong?

Mobile phone companies are not allowed to charge you for notice periods when the switch date has occurred. If this happens to you, tell the firm that has billed you that you want to make a formal complaint. They should address the error, remove the debt and confirm that this has occurred in writing.

Compensation may apply if there is a delay with the switch or errors occur. People sometimes report being stuck in between two businesses blaming each other when this occurs. Your new provider is responsible for ensuring the switch takes place appropriately. But you can still complain about the old provider if they are responsible for errors.

Ask the new business to confirm in writing what the problem was and use that letter as evidence in your complaint against the new provider.

Making a complaint

Don’t forget that you can make a complaint about most mobile phone or broadband problems to the Ombudsman. The largest of the services is the Communications Ombudsman and you can contact them here. Alternatively you can find CISAS here.

• Martyn James is a leading consumer rights campaigner, TV and radio broadcaster and journalist

The talent show, fronted by Simon Cowell, created some of the biggest music stars, including One Direction, Little Mix, Leona Lewis, and Alexandra Burke.

Originally, The X Factor ran for 15 series from 2004 until 2018, before airing two spin-off series in 2019 with X Factor: Celebrity and X Factor: The Band.

At its peak, the ITV show brought in 19 million viewers and became one of the UK’s most talked-about shows.

Now reports suggest that ITV are looking to bring Cowell’s singing competition back but with a new look.

The X Factor to return after 7 years, reports

ITV bosses and production company Talkback Thames have reportedly been in talks to bring back The X Factor, according to The Sun.

The show would have younger judges to appeal to a social media generation; however, it’s said that Cowell would still return in some capacity.

Discussing the show’s potential return, a source told The Sun, “They can explore a younger, fresher panel, with new faces and have Cowell behind the scenes.

“The plan is for the show’s return to take on a new life and be updated to envelop social media generation.

“ITV has shown with programmes like Love Island and I’m A Celebrity . . .  that social media is where they can inject massive viewing figures.

“The X Factor was one of the most iconic shows in TV history and created dozens of stars and household names who are still riding high today.

“Executives at Talkback Thames have had discussions with ITV chiefs about a comeback, and they are super-keen for it.”

Back in May, Cowell was asked if he would like to see The X Factor return while appearing on the Tales from the Celebrity Trenches podcast, “Yeah, we talk about it a lot. Do you bring it back as X Factor or do you bring it back as the Z Factor?

“There’s still no question, the power of TV in terms of getting people to know an artist. It’s so important if you’re not writing your own material.

Recommended Reading

“The truth is there’s something about being on a big screen. You hear about these artists who break online, but so rarely.

“Truth is, I guess, thank God, people like being on TV.”

Newsquest has contacted ITV for a comment.

Would you like to see The X Factor return? Let us know in the comments.

By WILKO MARTÍNEZ-CACHERO, US REPORTER

Published: 06:35 BST, 30 August 2026 | Updated: 06:45 BST, 30 August 2026

Shocking video captured the frightening moment two jets appeared to almost collide with the top of a packed sports stadium during a spectacular pre-game flyover.

The footage from Cape Town, South Africa, showed just how extremely low the pair of Airlink Embraer E-Jets flew over the 55,000-seat DHL Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

In multiple clips, the narrow regional jets zipped through colorful pyrotechnics blasting off the stadium’s roof as the crowd loudly cheered.

Different angles displayed the back of the planes seemingly coming very close to grazing the stadium.

Advertisement

The jets were about 41 to 46 feet above the top of DHL Stadium, which stands roughly 164 feet tall near sea level, per FlightRadar.

The flyover happened ahead of the rugby game between the South African Springboks and the New Zealand All Blacks, which is part of a series that has been labeled ‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.’

Airlink is an official partner of the series and praised the ‘spectacular scenes’ it put on at the match.

Video captured on Saturday at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, appeared to show an extremely low pre-game flyover

Advertisement

The Airlink Embraer E-Jets jets breezed through colorful pyrotechnics let off at the top of the stadium

Despite the apparent proximity, there was never any indication that a dangerous incident could have happened because of the low-altitude flyover

Advertisement

However, viewers reacted in shock, with one online commenter calling the flyovers ‘absolutely unnecessary and dangerous.’

‘That was close,’ a second user added, sharing a video where a jet’s wing looked to nearly strike the stadium.

The two jets used in Saturday’s flyover were registered as ZS-YAE and ZS-YDE, according to CPT Aviation.

Advertisement

Both were painted in special green and black colors, respectively, for the occasion.

Another user opined that the flyover ‘could’ve been a MAJOR disaster.’

Another added: ‘I mean, cool but how is that safe?’

Other commenters insisted that the stunt was ‘too dangerous’ and that ‘too many people’s lives were put at risk’ as a result.

Advertisement

‘Some of these people travelled internationally to enjoy the games,’ one user wrote.

But despite the shocked reactions, there was never any indication that anyone was in danger during the awe-inspiring stunt.

In another angle, it looked like the back of one of the jets was close to clipping the 55,00-seat stadium

Two planes were involved in a very close call doing a flyover before South Africa faced New Zealand in Cape Town ✈️ pic.twitter.com/Ylggc9LyR6

— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) August 29, 2026

Advertisement

A photo of the flyover before the game between South Africa and New Zealand. Flyovers have been common for important rugby games in South Africa going back to the 1990s

The jets used during Saturday’s flyover, seen pictured here, were painted in green and black colors especially for the match

Airlink touted the flyover on Saturday after it happened, writing on X: ‘Planning. Precision. Performance.’

Advertisement

Low-altitude flyovers are relatively common for big rugby games in South Africa going back to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final.

While many viewers were stunned, others defended the flyover calling it ‘beautiful’ or ‘spectacular.’

‘Only the weak of heart and mind will criticize this, but then again, those dudes need a license to go crap in the woods whilst camping,’ another said.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Airlink and DHL Stadium for comment. 

Advertisement

The creators of the BBC medical drama Casualty have finally admitted that the show was designed as an attack on Margaret Thatcher‘s health policies.

Paul Unwin and Jeremy Brock, who launched the show in 1986, say they were inspired to write the drama because of what they saw as the Conservative government’s dire neglect of the NHS.

The two men have come clean at last about the show’s political origins in an interview to mark its 40th birthday next Sunday.

On today’s edition of Radio 4’s The Reunion, presenter Kirsty Wark asks Unwin directly if the show was designed to be critical of Mrs Thatcher’s Government.

He replies: ‘Yes. In fact, our original pitch began with the line, “In 1948, a dream was born. In 1985, the dream was in tatters”. Pretentious? A little bit. 

‘But we did really mean it, and we really did feel the BBC was behind us in trying to say this great national institution was under real pressure.’

Even the programme’s title had political undertones. TV bosses initially planned to call the programme Front Line or City Hospital, before realising the name Casualty was more in keeping with its political agenda.

Brock said: ‘I think Casualty came up as a consequence of us realising there was a lovely double meaning in the title. 

Pictured: Cast members from Casualty appearing in the show’s 40th anniversary special

Paul Unwin and Jeremy Brock said the show was inspired by the neglect of the NHS during Margaret Thatcher’s time in government

Advertisement

‘You had the casualties who came in and then you had the staff who were the casualties of a system that was under-funding them and putting them under incredible pressure.’

Catherine Shipton, who played Nurse Duffy, one of the show’s most popular characters, recalled producer Geraint Morris telling staff about the show’s mission statement. 

She said: ‘Geraint gave us this speech. It just felt like a huddle. This was a maverick group of people, and he said this is anti-cuts, pro-NHS, that is what we are doing here.

‘It just chimed with everything I personally believed, and I just thought I can’t believe that every word that’s going to come out of my mouth, I’ll believe it.’

Although Casualty was an instant hit, many viewers agreed with Edwina Currie, the then junior health minister, that it was too negative about the state of the NHS. 

At the time, the BBC refuted suggestions of political bias, claiming the show was just honest.

The political heat which surrounded the show in its early days had serious consequences for Peter Salt, a real-life nurse who was also its medical consultant.

He was warned that his NHS career might be affected if he continued with the television role.

He told The Reunion: ‘My career nearly ended or abruptly came to a stop very early on.

‘When the show started the hospital authorities were saying, “This is great. Shining a light on the hospital is very, very good”.

‘As soon as the Government started getting their tuppence worth in, I was approached and told, “Are you sure you want to keep doing this? You might want to be running this department one day”.’ Salt said he interpreted that as a threat.

Casualty, which aired its 41st series earlier this year, is one of the world’s longest-running dramas. Over the years, it has helped launch the careers of some of the world’s biggest stars.

Titanic star Kate Winslet, Lord Of The Rings actor Orlando Bloom and Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley all appeared in the show when they were complete unknowns.

Ms Winslet was only 17 when she appeared as an anxious babysitter in a 1993 episode.

Catherine Shipton recalled a young actress who had little time for the on-set banter which occurred between takes.

She said: ‘She [Kate] was about 17. She was very concentrated… She would just take herself to one side and stay in the zone and not enter into the banter. 

‘But I did sense somebody who loved her profession and who worked really hard at her profession.’

The Reunion is on BBC Radio 4 today at 10am and is available via the BBC Sounds app.

The broadcaster is also promising a ‘gripping’ 40th anniversary Casualty double-bill special that ‘centres on a high-stakes major incident that throws Holby into chaos’. It will be aired on BBC iPlayer on Saturday.

A major police operation is under way in Aarau in northern Switzerland after shots were fired at a rave party, with reports indicating that there are multiple people injured.

The shooting happened shortly after 2.30am on Sunday at a horse racing track in Schachen, on the edge of the town, where a rave was being held.

“Aarau: Nighttime shots at event in Schachen. Several victims. Major police operation underway. Stay away from the area. More info to follow,” police said in a post on X.

The police have urged the public to avoid the area. The Aarau Cantonal Disaster Response Unit (KKE) and an army Super Puma helicopter were also deployed at the site, according to Blick.

“It is not yet clear what exactly happened,” media spokesperson for the Aargau Cantonal Police, Vanessa Rumpold, told the newspaper. The police can currently only confirm “several shots being fired at a large group of people.”

More follows

The prime minister said that will be achieved in-part through ending Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences, or IPPs.

These were available between 2005 and 2012, and were given to offenders who pose a significant risk of causing serious harm to the public.

Once a minimum term has been served, the prisoner can be released only once the Parole Board is satisfied they no longer need to be confined for public safety, meaning many are being held indefinitely.

Burnham said he had applied “common sense” on the treatment of IPPs, which he had “long-standing concerns” about.

“I was faced with a situation where people on those sentences who have more than served their time, not being released when others who’ve committed very serious crimes being released early,” he told the BBC.

“The judgement I’ve made is the public, in my view, would prefer a situation where people who have served their time to be considered for release before those who haven’t.”

According to Ministry of Justice data, 2,271 people are serving IPP sentences as of June. Of those, 856 have never been released because the Parole Board thought it was not safe to do so.

Burnham conceded that of those offenders, there will be “individuals who will pose a risk to communities”, and said a cross-party oversight group would be established.

The government will table legislation to terminate the sentences by the “end of this Parliament”, he added.

Pressed on how many foreign prisoners could be returned, Burnham said it was “hundreds”.

The government has said powers will be implemented early next year to deport some foreign criminals immediately after sentencing.

Those powers would block foreign prisoners from ever returning to the country while “keeping those in prison for the most serious crimes locked up for a substantial period before they are removed”.

The government is not thought to have signed any additional prisoner returns agreements with other countries.

It is understood that work has also begun to create more cells in existing prisons by adapting space used for other purposes, but that is also expected to take months.

None of the measures announced by Burnham are likely to create much additional prison capacity by the time the first batch of prisoners are released early in October.

The prime minister is said to have taken a “political decision” to use some of the remaining capacity in the prison system to ensure the changes announced today could be implemented immediately.

In addition to those in jail for manslaughter, the prime minister said prisoners convicted of indecent assault offences and death by dangerous driving will also remain in prison.

Historic child sex offences and causing or allowing the death of a child will also be exempted from the early release scheme, while new “restriction zones” to better protect domestic violence survivors from perpetrators released early will be introduced.

Burnham said the additional changes announced on Sunday would result in “hundreds” more prisoners staying behind bars.

The justice secretary is expected to give a more precise figure for how many people will be affected when he gives a statement in Parliament on Tuesday.

Earlier this month, Burnham announced prisoners guilty of rape, serious child sex offences and grooming will be excluded from early release eligibility.