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‘Trusted’ piano teacher sent ‘horrifyingly’ explicit messages to teen schoolgirl

Published

4 days ago

30 January 2026

Chris Higgins sent the ‘wholly inappropriate messages’ to one of his students and left the victim ‘a shadow of her former self’.

A ‘trusted’ piano teacher who sent sexually explicit messages to a 14-year-old girl, which were found by her dad, has been jailed.

Chris Higgins sent the ‘wholly inappropriate messages’ to one of his students and left the victim ‘a shadow of her former self’. The 46-year-old’s sickening actions were uncovered when the teenager’s dad spotted a message flash up on her phone from a contact saved as ‘Chris’ on a school night last September.

With strict rules around mobile phones, he checked the device – and was left horrified by what he found. The court heard Higgins had been sending sexually explicit and inappropriate messages to the schoolgirl.

The trusted teacher, from Poulton-le-Fylde in Lancashire, saw his daughter had deleted messages from the chat, so only messages from the previous 24 hours were displaying. There were also a number of disappearing messages which had been sent.

As reported by Lancashire Live, when he checked the number for Chris in his daughter’s phone for the number he had for Higgins, he realised they were one in the same.

Higgins referred to conversations from the night before in one message and admitted he had ‘pushed her too far’. The girl’s father filmed the messages as evidence and her mum contacted police the next day.

Officers arrested Higgins and seized his phone, uncovering further disturbing messages – including references to taking the child to a hotel in London. Higgins pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child.

He was sentenced at Lancaster Magistrates Court on January 29 to 10 months immediate custody. A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also put in place for 10 years, meaning Higgins’ activities will continue to be monitored after he has been released from prison.

In a devastating impact statement to the court, the victim said: “I didn’t want to go to school, I thought people would be judging me even though no one knew what happened. I wanted to stay in bed all day. I was getting sanctions from school and it would mainly be from my male teachers. My attendance got bad.

“I was a good kid. Didn’t get into trouble, I got on with everybody. After it, Miss said she could see a change in my behaviour. I didn’t want to tell my friends what happened, so I lost a lot of friends. I wouldn’t want to be friends with someone who was sad all the time.

“Not going to school affected my grades. I’m below on everything, when before, I was on target or overachieving. I didn’t want to play piano. When I sat at the piano, I thought of him and I didn’t like the feeling. I’ve been playing since I was nine. I still don’t play piano now.”

The victim’s parents wrote: “The most profound impact of this offence stems from the fact that the defendant was a trusted, well-known member of our community. This betrayal has left our family with a deep-seated mistrust of others and a constant state of anxiety.

“We are in a persistent state of worry whenever our children are not directly with us. It has been heartbreaking to witness the transformation of our daughter. She was once a confident, outgoing, and stage-loving child; she has now become a shadow of her former self. The emotional toll is evident in several ways.”

DC Stacey Billington, from the Blackpool Child Protection Team, said: “Chris Higgins abused his position of trust in order to send sexually explicit messages and wholly inappropriate messages to one of his students. He did this for his own sexual gratification.

“His sordid actions have clearly had a profound impact on his victim and her family. I want to praise them for the strength and patience they have shown in this investigation.

“Hopefully this case will highlight the importance of being tuned in to who your children are messaging on their phones, or viewing online. It was thanks to the diligence and responsible parenting displayed by the victim’s parents that stopped Higgins in his tracks and prevented any further potential offences being committed.”

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Best running shoes for men in 2025, tested by an expert

Published

8 minutes ago

4 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Best running shoes for men in 2025, tested by an expert

As On shoes so often do, the Cloudsurfer Next catches the eye with a smart design. The feel, however, is less forgiving. The frame is notably rigid, so slipping them on does not have the comforting softness offered by some brands. They feel secure and well structured, but the ride is flatter and less responsive than I have come to expect from On. The promised “cloud-like” sensation isn’t there.

There were positives. The curved sole, known as a rocker, helps roll the foot forward and gives a strong push-off from the toes. On winter mornings, I also appreciated the rubber grip pads on the outsole, which provided reliable traction on wet pavements and even on frosted patches. For steady, cold-weather training, they make a safe option.

But there may be a case for sticking with On’s Cloudeclipse shoes from last year. The Cloudeclipse featured a “Speedboard”, a stiff plate inside the shoe that improved acceleration and made transitions between walking, jogging and sprinting seamless.

In testing, that model excelled on hills, driving the runner upwards and cushioning well on the descent. The Cloudsurfer Next, by contrast, laboured on climbs, so much so that those sections felt exhausting, only to send me flying downhill at a pace that verged on uncontrollable.

One strength in the Cloudsurfer’s favour is sizing accuracy. Unlike the Cloudeclipse, which ran small, the Cloudsurfer Next fits true to size.

Key specifications

Heel-to-toe drop: 6mm
Weight: 273g
Men’s sizes available: 7-17

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How Denmark is inviting visitors to rediscover analogue play

Published

15 minutes ago

4 February 2026

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How Denmark is inviting visitors to rediscover analogue play

Currently hitting headlines for being the sovereign state to which Greenland belongs, it’s also the birthplace of Lego and Hans Christian Andersen. Play is in this country’s DNA, making it ideal for a family getaway

Children here don’t reach for devices – they reach for bricks. At Lego House in Billund, Denmark, my three-year-old kneels in front of a tumbling rainbow waterfall of blocks, fully absorbed in the creation of a Duplo mansion. Nearby, my six-year-old works on a Lego electric vehicle charging station, calm and content, focusing intently.

Lego House – a stone’s throw from the bustling Legoland theme park resort – is a sprawling temple to play. Part museum, part playground, it’s filled with 25m bricks and hands-on building zones that are designed for kids and adults alike. You can create and test Lego vehicles on ramps and tracks, make Lego flowers and ‘plant’ them into a shared creation garden. You can even order your lunch via mini Lego models that get scanned at your table; the meals arrive down a spiralling turquoise conveyor belt, presented by Robert and Roberta the robots. The building’s striking stacked-block structure and crisp white walls are designed to make the world-famous bricks stand out to maximum eye-popping effect.

In this room at least, there are no screens, no notifications, just the delicate rattle of pieces, and quiet concentration. In a world where our indoor environments are dominated by devices, it strikes me as unusual, even radical. And, as Denmark announces plans to restrict children’s access to social media, the country’s experiments with unplugged play – from Lego bricks to fairy tales – feel more urgent, and complex, than ever.

Since the company was founded in 1932, just metres away from where Lego House sits today, Lego has rooted its ethos in the concept of det gode leg – ‘good play’ – the idea that children learn best when they’re free to follow their curiosity, test ideas and make mistakes. The name Lego is itself clipped from the Danish leg godt, ‘play well’.

As we drive through the Jutland peninsula and on to the island of Funen, I’m reminded that this is a country where play is considered a tool for resilience. Imagination is almost a national virtue. Forest kindergartens, where Danish children spend their days climbing trees and building shelters, sit alongside degree-trained pædagoger, who specialise in nurturing curiosity rather than drilling phonics.

There are play-focused after-school clubs, maker-space libraries that offer everything from prototyping labs to woodworking and welding workshops, and a workplace culture that appears, at least, to put hygge and imagination on a par with productivity.

Lego House in Billund, Denmark, is part museum and part interactive playground. Image: Lego House

Even the national curriculum leans into this ethos, legally embedding play and experimentation as the foundation of early learning. It all adds up to a quiet assertion that imagination is something worth protecting.

Prof Helle Marie Skovbjerg, an expert on play and childhood at Design School Kolding, is among those exploring this national obsession. Genuine play, Skovbjerg says, must be allowed to unfold freely on its own terms, rather than as a tool for learning or even, shudder, preparing kids for a future jobs market. Play, she insists, is a “state of being” – a mood that opens us up to others and to new meaning.

So what can we learn from the ‘homeland of play’? Is this just quaint nostalgia packaged up to the tune, in Lego’s case, of profits of £1.6bn in 2024? Or could it be a deliberate counter-model to screen-saturated childhoods elsewhere?

Lego has rooted its ethos in the concept of det gode leg – ‘good play’ – the idea that children learn best when they’re free to follow their curiosity, test ideas and make mistakes

Someone who didn’t have to compete with the pull of screens in his time was Hans Christian Andersen, author of classic fairy tales including The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Pea and The Snow Queen. Andersen was born into poverty in the city of Odense, but while he lacked in material terms, his imagination ran in wild and inexhaustible supply. A poor boy overcoming trials and tribulations to become world-famous, his biography is like a fairy tale in itself.

As well as his experimental, boundary-pushing writing style – childlike wonder meets surreal dread, surface-sweet, often sharp underneath – Andersen also drew and made papercuts and picture books. His weird and wonderful world is conjured up beautifully at Hans Christian Andersen’s House, a museum designed by Japanese architects Kengo Kuma and Associates, which opened in Odense in 2021. Here, you can summon the swans from The Ugly Duckling with a wave of your arms, use a special mirror to ‘try on’ ornate kimonos and enter the garden of giants, where even the tallest guest can feel as tiny as Thumbelina.

This is a country where play is considered a tool for resilience. Imagination is almost a national virtue

His life and work are woven together in a magically trippy way. As Henrik Lübker from the museum puts it: “H.C. Andersen’s House does not talk about H.C. Andersen – it speaks as H.C. Andersen.”

But for families, the standout feature of this most un-museum-like museum is Ville Vau in the basement. The name of this make-believe land, taken from one of Andersen’s children’s song books, has no literal meaning, but to borrow a famous Danish slogan, it’s probably the best make-believe centre in the world.

There are multiple zones, including a little town with shop fronts, a palace and a horse-drawn carriage. Huge tactile fabric pebbles sit alongside brimming baskets of pretend food and racks and racks of gleaming dress-up outfits, headwear and jewellery. It’s less ‘Look but don’t touch’ and more ‘Look and touch everything and dive with total imaginative abandon into your own stories and games until your parents literally drag you out at closing time’.

The space is dimly lit, which makes it feel mysterious and a little bit thrilling, everything is unapologetically child-height and best of all, created to top-tier theatrical production-level quality. You won’t find any shoddy polyester Disney princess costumes here, more like embroidered linen polka dot tunics in multiple size options and painstakingly crocheted Danish pastries in the make-believe bakery. My children are in heaven.

“It often feels to me as if every fence, every little flower says, ‘take a look at me, and my story will unfold within you,’” wrote Andersen. Aside from being amid mud, stones and sticks in nature, this is one of the spaces I’ve been in with my children where that sense of creative stimulation and flow has felt most alive. As if the stories themselves are pressing to be discovered.

We travel on to the city of Vejle, where the graceful curls of the Bølgen apartment complex rise like liquid waves against the fjord. The kids haven’t watched (or asked for) any TV all week and their dad and I have been reaching for our phones less too. I’m thinking about how hollow the ready-made narratives offered by screens can feel. On the opposite end of the scale, I’m reminded about how my partner manages to summon up some fantastical, obscure characters from the depths of his tired brain at bedtime, rewarded by the rich closeness of a shared story.

Waves etched in concrete – the Bølgen complex in Vejle rises over the fjord. Image: Morten Elsborg

I’m grateful for Denmark’s reminders to take time to create alongside, or with, our children.

Neuroscientist Ruth Feldman published research in 2012 about how coordinated play between parent and a child releases oxytocin simultaneously in both. Her work showed that music, art and other tactile activities trigger this faster than verbal affirmation – helping to explain why creative sessions can shift a child’s mood quicker than lectures or advice. Their nervous system literally feels a sense of safety through creation. On the other hand, what does it say to their neural networks if we’re constantly clutching our phones? That danger could strike at any moment, we ‘might’ need to be ready.

You may well be sceptical about Denmark’s utopian promises. After all, the country has recently made headlines over immigration debates, housing shortages and tax controversies to mention a few, but some people here seem to understand the slow, quiet work that’s needed to create stories.

It’s making me think that imagination isn’t a luxury but a skill nurtured slowly, in playful moments: tinkering with bricks, in a fleeting fairytale corner of a museum. Perhaps we don’t need a Danish blueprint to reclaim it – just permission to let curiosity lead, to follow ideas wherever they tumble, and to remember that the most magical inventions often start with nothing more than a child kneeling on the floor, lost in play.

Unplugged inspiration: three more Danish detours to fire up your imagination

1) Forest Tower (Skovtårnet), near Copenhagen

A slow-rising spiral through the treetops of the Gisselfeld Castle’s forest, the Forest Tower turns a simple walk into a theatrical ascent. As visitors circle higher, the canopy thins and the structure’s form becomes more apparent, the architecture interacting with its surroundings. This is Danish creative problem-solving in practice: using design to frame nature in new ways and encourage visitors to notice familiar environments differently.

Image: Mads Tolstrup

2) Restaurant Remouladen, Vejle

Restaurant Remouladen serves Danish open sandwiches (smørrebrød) and simple mains built around traditional local ingredients. Recent dishes include yuzu-marinated herring on malt rye with daikon and grilled spidskål (pointed cabbage) with poached egg, cashew hummus and mixed greens. The kitchen captures how Danish cooking can evolve without losing its roots.

Image: Remouladen

3) Økolariet, Vejle

In Vejle, Økolariet is a hands-on sustainability centre where visitors can experiment and explore environmental issues in playful, unexpected ways. Generate energy with mini wind turbines, test water quality with simple kits, or watch food waste turn into compost. Økolariet makes climate action tangible and immediate, showing that learning can come from doing, not lecturing.

Image: Økolariet

Main image: Lego House

Travel to and from Denmark, accommodation, attraction entry fees and meals were partly covered by VisitDenmark

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Hollywood star reveals she had ‘disgusting’ parasites living inside her for 5 years

Published

22 minutes ago

4 February 2026

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Hollywood star reveals she had 'disgusting' parasites living inside her for 5 years

Claire Foy had a ‘disgusting parasite’ for years (Picture: Aurore Marechal/Getty Images)

In a ‘gross’ confession, Claire Foy revealed she was forced to give up caffeine after discovering she had a parasite.

The Crown star sought medical attention after she lost weight continuously and ‘didn’t know what was going on’.

Speaking on Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware, she shared she had picked up the parasite years before, during a trip to Morocco.

Claire, 41, said it had been in her body for ‘at least five years’, adding that that particular parasite ‘travels as a pair’.

‘I got told by the doctor, gross, absolutely rank. It’s disgusting anyway,’ she said of the ordeal.

However, the parasites have had a long-lasting impact, as she had to give up caffeine in an attempt to combat them.

She appeared on Jessie Ware’s Table Manners (Picture: Table Manners)

14th Governors Awards - Arrivals — Claire had to go on ‘hardcore antibiotics’ to fight the parasite (Picture: Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)

She shared: ‘I basically had to go on this diet, and because I didn’t want to take, like, really hardcore antibiotics and stuff like that, I took all this little gross stuff, and part of that was giving up caffeine.’

That’s not the only dietary change Claire has had to make as she discovered she had an autoimmune condition.

The Emmy Award winner revealed: ‘This is my big secret, I feel like I’m in The Traitors or something, and I’m letting everyone know that I’m related to someone!

‘So I don’t actually eat gluten or sugar [..] except when I go out for dinner. It doesn’t have an impact on me.

‘It’s just because I have an autoimmune condition, so I should avoid anything which causes more inflammation.’

While growing up, Claire faced a series of illnesses, including a benign tumour behind her eye and juvenile arthritis.

At just 13, she was unable to walk without the help of crutches due to the ‘horrible and debilitating’ joint pain and inflammation.

She had a series of health battles as a kid (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage)

Speaking to the Sunday Times Culture last month, the Wolf Hall star admitted her early health struggles made her think about death ‘whole life’.

‘Death?’ she said. ‘The fact we’re all on our way out? It’s something we just don’t want to think about while we’re alive. But I have thought about death my whole life.

‘I just presumed that it was going to happen, especially through my childhood… my thing was that I was never going to make it past 40 ? ever. I have had many medical things in my life.

‘But, yes, I’m still here and someone once told me, “You know, most people live?” They meant most people live quite a long and lovely life. Well, not necessarily lovely. But people do tend to live.

‘That’s what humans want to do. We want to survive, and that’s quite reassuring.’

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE: Gripping books to read before they become film adaptations in 2026

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Delays on M60 near Prestwich after six-car pile-up

Published

31 minutes ago

4 February 2026

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Delays on M60 near Prestwich after six-car pile-up

The crash happened between J16 near Clifton and J17 near Prestwich, and all emergency services were on the scene.

National Highways shut one lane heading clockwise just before half eight while recovery took place.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed a “six-car pile-up” had taken place in the fast lane, but there had been no injuries, no arrests and no signs of fire or a fuel spillage.

They said all drivers and passengers were able to leave their cars and stand in the central reservation.

National Highways announced that recovery had been completed in around 20 minutes, but warned motorists of ongoing delays.

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Ex-Man United star Donny van de Beek supported after huge life update announced

Published

37 minutes ago

4 February 2026

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Donny van de Beek has been supported by several of his ex-Manchester United teammates after announcing a huge life update on social media

A number of Manchester United players have shown their support for Donny van de Beek after the former Reds midfielder got engaged to long-term girlfriend Estelle Bergkamp.

Van de Beek, who made 62 appearances during a four-year spell at Old Trafford, started dating Bergkamp, the daughter of Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp, back in 2019 when he was playing for Ajax.

The loved-up couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in April 2022 before their second child, a son, was born in February 2024. Now, Van de Beek and Bergkamp are set to tie the knot after their engagement was announced in a wholesome Instagram post on Monday evening.

In a joint-post – alongside several images of Van de Beek, 28, proposing – Bergkamp, 30, said: “The easiest YES ever [ring emoji and white love heart emoji].”

Dennis Bergkamp commented with two love heart emojis, while ex-Everton midfielder Davy Klassen wrote: “Congratulations [two love heart emojis].”

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Van de Beek’s former United team-mates Bruno Fernandes, Matthijs de Ligt, Christian Eriksen and Willy Kambwala liked the post, while Reds legend Edwin van der Sar also dropped a like.

After leaving United in July 2024, Van de Beek has spent the last 18 months at La Liga side Girona. He played 35 appearances and scored three times in his debut season at the Spanish outfit.

However, he has been restricted to just two appearances this campaign. This is because Van de Beek ruptured his Achilles tendon during a 1-1 draw against Athletic Club in September.

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During his time at United, Van de Beek helped the Reds reach the Europa League final in the 2020/21 season before being part of the squad that lifted the Carabao Cup in February 2023.

Upon his departure from the Reds, Van de Beek released an emotional statement on social media. “Dear Manchester United family. Today is a memorable day as my adventure at the club comes to an end,” he said on Instagram.

“I want to thank you all for your support throughout the years. From the moment we arrived at Manchester United, we felt extremely welcome and we are grateful for that.

“Thank you to everyone at the club for making us feel at home. A special thanks to all the fans that made these years unforgettable. Besides the football, the birth of our two children here ensures that Manchester will always have a special place in our hearts.

“Good luck to everybody, we’ll meet again [Japanese Ogre emoji and red love heart emoji].”

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‘Adorable’ reason why dogs always follow their owners to the toilet

Published

45 minutes ago

4 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Dogs often opt to follow their owners to the toilet; however, little you may know, there’s a pretty adorable story behind this and it will totally melt your heart

10:26, 04 Feb 2026Updated 10:26, 04 Feb 2026

It’s fair to say that many people love their dogs, with the animals often being described as man’s best friend but, little you may know, they are actually sending you messages via their actions. We may think we know everything about our beloved pets, but it may not be the case, as animals tell us things by using adorable signs.

This was recently brought to people’s attention on TikTok when unhide opened up about a super cute idea, and the clip has since gone viral. When it comes to dogs, they are a lot more sensitive than people realise, and you can often see how loving yours is by the way it acts and follows you around.

It’s not the first time people have been alerted to such behaviour either. Last year, it was also revealed what dogs are trying to tell you when they refuse to look at you.

In the video, is was explained: “Here’s a fact about your dog you probably didn’t know. Does your dog ever follow you around and nose its way into whatever you’re doing, or just stands at the door whenever you’re at the bathroom, and waits for you?

“Well, it’s actually them trying to mimic wildlife to protect you while you’re vulnerable and going to the bathroom. They stand guard to make sure no one attacks you. I guess dogs really are too good for us.”

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The video has been viewed over 400,000 times since it was shared, and thousands of people have commented too. Many thought the cute story was totally “adorable”.

One person replied, saying: “Yes! She’s always at my bathroom door waiting for me whenever I use it.”

Another added: “My dog comes into the bathroom and lies on the floor until I’m done. If I close the door, he pushes it open.”

A third said: “Or it’s just the fact the dog suffers separation anxiety and misses you because you’re gone, even if it’s just to go to the bathroom?”

Meanwhile, a fourth commented: “My dog does that all the time.” One more also chimed in with: “Aww, cute babies.”

Why do dogs really do this?

Little you may know, it’s long been believed that dogs often follow their owners into the bathroom to protect them. It’s thought to act on a primal instinct to guard pack members during vulnerable, confined moments.

However, this behaviour can also be triggered by strong social bonding, intense curiosity and a genuine desire to be near their favourite person. Even though some have believed the guarding theory for years, not all animal behaviourists agree with it, but it’s still pretty adorable nonetheless.

According to RSPCA Pet Insurance, there could be a number of reasons why your pet does this. The website explains: “Many dogs like to follow their owners everywhere, including the bathroom, with some going as far as to scratch at the door while we’re using the toilet.

“In general, dogs follow us because they are social animals and enjoy human company. As their owner, you are the one who meets most of their needs, including for affection, so following is a sign of this attachment.

“They may also be waiting for routines they enjoy such as a walk or dinner time. Providing your dog has plenty of exercise, enrichment activities and mental stimulation, following behaviour is not a problem. If it becomes annoying, it’s important not to reward your dog through attention or treats.

“If your dog suddenly follows you more, this may be a sign they are feeling insecure due to some change (including ageing), afraid (such as of a thunderstorm) or unwell. Your veterinarian can help you with all these situations.”

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Declan Rice issues strong comment on Mikel Arteta’s power at Arsenal after Chelsea win

Published

51 minutes ago

4 February 2026

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Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice made a big Mikel Arteta admission when asked about the maturity shown to defeat Chelsea and reach the Carabao Cup final

Declan Rice has revealed that Mikel Arteta ‘controls everything’ at Arsenal in a clear verdict after the Carabao Cup semi-final triumph over Chelsea. The Gunners beat their London rivals 4-2 on aggregate, with the only goal of a cagey second leg at Emirates Stadium coming in the final minutes through Kai Havertz.

Last month at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal won a thrilling first leg 3-2, which put the tie firmly in their hands. A clean sheet for the hosts would have sealed a spot in the final at Wembley, with Arteta’s side seemingly less expansive in their attacking play on the night.

Chelsea were also reluctant to push for goals in the early stages, despite being behind, with Liam Rosenior opting for a back five formation. With the Blues not conceding until several bodies were sent forward during the final stages in search of a winner, the game plan somewhat worked.

However, Arteta has methodically set up a defensive unit incapable of being penetrated regularly. The Spaniard has improved Arsenal significantly over the last few years with Rice making a clear admission on him after the victory.

He told CBS Sports: “Our manager has total control of everything, from top to bottom of the football club! Everyone listens to him, we all believe in his work. Gabi Heinze has come in, defensive coach, he’s been unbelievable!”

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Earlier in the interview, When asked how he was feeling, Rice replied: “Shattered, the schedule has been ridiculous and when you’re playing Chelsea, who have got so many good players that are constantly making you work [it’s not easy].

“Credit to them it could have gone either way tonight and in the first leg but I think everything we’ve been building towards over the last few years has come together this season. We’re into our first final in a very long time so we need to enjoy the moment.”

The enjoyment of their achievement is expected to be short-lived however, with attention swiftly turning to their next Premier League clash this Saturday which is at home to Sunderland.

A trip to Brentford arrives the following Thursday with the Gunners then hosting Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup that weekend.

Arteta’s side then have the chance to get the jump on some of their rivals with a fixture against Wolves from March brought forward to later this month. That change has been made because Arsenal are now heading to Wembley on the weekend they were scheduled to face the Premier League’s bottom side at Molineux.

That rearrangement gives Arsenal less time to prepare for the North London Derby away at Tottenham. However, it is unlikely Arteta is too concerned, considering the reason with Arsenal in a major final for the first time in nearly six years.

After the victory, he said: “We are so happy. I think overall, over the last two games, I think we deserved to be through. It was a long match, we expected that.

“We wrapped it up at the end in a beautiful way, with Kai scoring the goal in the match that he did and the reaction from the crowd.

“The starters, the finishers, the staff, it just was magical. So I’m really happy because it was a really tough match against a great opponent and we are in Wembley.”

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Grammys Boss Reflects On Justin Bieber’s Boxers Performance

Published

60 minutes ago

4 February 2026

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Grammys Boss Reflects On Justin Bieber's Boxers Performance

Since this year’s awards show aired, executive producer Ben Winston has been lifting the lid on how some of its stand-out moments, including The Biebs’ performance, came to be.

During an interview with Rolling Stone, he explained that each act was given an hour and a half of rehearsal time on the Grammys stage to make sure they had every detail nailed down before the ceremony – but the Canadian star only used a fraction of it.

“He came to the stage, he did it once,” Ben recalled. “It was brilliant. We are seven minutes into his hour-and-a-half rehearsal. And he goes, ‘How’d it look to you? You happy with it?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, my God. It looked beautiful. I loved it.’ And he went, ‘OK, fantastic. See you Sunday!’”

Justin Bieber’s performance at the 2026 Grammys was a stand-out

John Salangsang/Shutterstock

In the end, Ben cajoled the As Long As You Love Me singer into running through it one extra time before he headed backstage after just 15 minutes.

What’s more, he also claimed that Justin’s decision to perform in boxers and socks wasn’t something he had planned from the get-go.

“I don’t think he decided what the outfit would be until he walked onstage,” Ben added, which perhaps explains why he decided to wear… well… next to nothing.

Elsewhere in the interview, Ben revealed that Lady Gaga had only landed in LA from Japan the day before the event, and it was touch and go whether she’d be able to perform at all.

“There was one point a few weeks before the show that we thought we might have to lose her from the show, ’cause she just was like, ‘I just don’t see how I can’,” he explained, pointing to the fact that Gaga was performing a string of shows in Japan just days before the Grammys.

“So it was amazing that not only did she do it, but I think she brought one of the most iconic performances.”

Check out our full round-up of this year’s stand-out Grammy Awards moments here.

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John Virgo dies aged 79

Published

1 hour ago

4 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Snooker legend and BBC commentator John Virgo has died aged 79.

Virgo enjoyed an 18-year professional career, winning the 1979 UK Championship among four non-ranking titles, and reaching the semi-finals of the World Championship in 1979.

He is perhaps best known for his post-playing career, presenting snooker TV programme Big Break alongside comedian Jim Davidson from 1991 to 2002.

Following his retirement from playing in 1994, Virgo became a BBC commentator.

His last commentary for the BBC came 17 days ago when Kyren Wilson beat John Higgins in the Masters final.

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France vs Ireland, Six Nations 2026: Kick-off time, TV channel, live stream, team news, lineups, h2h results, odds

Published

1 hour ago

4 February 2026

NewsAdmin

France vs Ireland, Six Nations 2026: Kick-off time, TV channel, live stream, team news, lineups, h2h results, odds

Last year’s winners, Les Bleus, are the hosts for the opener this time as they welcome the country that had clinched the previous two instalments of this staple tournament in northern hemisphere rugby union’s annual calendar.

World No5-ranked France come into Thursday’s match having won their last two internationals following a four-Test losing streak against South Africa and New Zealand last year.

Head coach Fabien Galthie has made a few eye-catching selection calls ahead of this potentially must-win game in the quest to retain their Six Nations title, but there will be unanimous French joy when it comes to one particular returning star in influential captain Antoine Dupont.

Ireland, currently ranked fourth in the world standings, have won five of their seven games since being beaten by France early last year, with the only two defeats for Andy Farrell’s squad coming against the Springboks and the All Blacks. Of more concern, however, is the list of injury absentees facing the Irish boss.

Here’s everything you need to know about the opening match of this year’s Six Nations.

France vs Ireland date, kick-off time and venue

France vs Ireland takes place on Thursday March 5, 2025 at the Stade de France in Paris.

Kick-off is scheduled for 8:10pm GMT, which is 9:10pm CET in France.

This year’s Six Nations is starting on a Thursday for the first time to avoid a clash with the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, which takes place in Milan on Friday evening.

How to watch France vs Ireland

TV channel: In the UK, France vs Ireland is being shown live and free to air on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 7:20pm GMT.

Live stream: Live coverage of the game will also be available for online streaming via the ITVX website and app, which is free with a registration.

Live blog: Meanwhile, you can follow the action as it happens in Paris on Thursday right here with us, in Standard Sport’s dedicated live blog.

France vs Ireland team news

So stacked with talent is the French set-up that Galthie has left all-time record try-scorer Damian Penaud, last year’s Six Nations-winning skipper Gregory Alldritt and veteran centre Gael Fickou out of his 42-player tournament squad entirely.

Experienced prop Uini Atonio will play no part, having retired on health grounds following a cardiac event last month, while fly-half Romain Ntamack is out injured.

In come Anthony Jelonch and Theo Attissogbe, starting this first Test at No8 and on the wing, respectively, while star scrum-half Dupont returns to captain his country following a lengthy lay-off that saw him miss much of 2025 with a knee injury picked up against Ireland last year.

Dupont is partnered by fly-half Matthieu Jalibert, who starts amid a strong club campaign for Bordeaux, while last season’s leading try-scorer Louis Bielle-Biarrey joins Attissogbe on the wings. Nicolas Depoortere and Yoram Moefana are named in the centre spots and Thomas Ramos is given the nod at 15 to complete a formidable backline.

France’s starting pack against Ireland consists of Francois Cros and Oscar Jegou either side of No8 Jelonch, with locks Charles Ollivon and Mickael Guillard behind front-rowers Jean-Baptiste Gros, Julien Marchand and Dorian Aldegheri.

On the bench, meanwhile, Galthie has opted for a forward-heavy 6-2 split.

He’s back: Dupont missed most of 2025 with a serious knee injury suffered against Ireland in the Six Nations

Getty Images

As for Ireland, a combination of injuries, form and disciplinary issues have left returning head coach Andy Farrell – who missed last year’s competition due to British and Irish Lions commitments – with fewer decisions to make than he may have liked.

Bundee Aki is suspended for Ireland’s first three Six Nations matches after being issued a four-game ban for “verbal abuse and disrespect” towards match officials during Connacht’s recent loss to Leinster in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

Joining him among Ireland’s absentees are the likes of Mack Hansen, Tadhg Furlong, Hugo Keenan – who fractured his hand in training last week – and Andrew Porter, who are all injured, while out-of-form wing James Lowe is left out of the matchday 23 entirely.

Jamie Osborne is fit to start at full-back against France, with Jacob Stockdale and Tommy O’Brien on the wings, Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey in the centres and a half-back team of Sam Prendergast and Jamison Gibson-Park.

Cian Prendergast has been called into the back row alongside captain Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier, the second row features Tadhg Beirne and Joe McCarthy, and up front it’s star hooker Dan Sheehan plus props Jeremy Loughman – making his first Ireland appearance in two years, with first-choice looseheads Porter, Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle all sidelined through injury – and Thomas Clarkson, who deputises for Furlong.

Farrell matches Galthie with a 6-2 bench split. In the full 37-man squad there was room for in-form uncapped pair Edwin Edogbo and Nathan Doak, but neither make the matchday squad on this occasion.

France vs Ireland lineups

France XV: Ramos; Attissogbe, Depoortere, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Jalibert, Dupont (c); Gros, Marchand, Aldegheri; Ollivon, Guillard; Cros, Jegou, Jelonch

Replacements: Mauvaka, Neti, Montagne, Auradou, Meafou, Nouchi, Serin, Gourgues

Ireland XV: Osborne; O’Brien, Ringrose, McCloskey, Stockdale; S Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Loughman, Sheehan, Clarkson; McCarthy, Beirne; C Prendergast, Van der Flier, Doris (c)

Replacements: Kelleher, Milne, Bealham, Ryan, Conan, Timoney, Casey, Crowley

France vs Ireland head to head (h2h) history and results

It is France who remain the overall head-to-head winners in this match-up, having extended their lead with a 60th competitive victory over the Irish in 2025.

Ireland had narrowed the gap in recent years, beating France in their two previous showdowns between 2023 and 2024, while each nation has won five of the last 10 Tests.

France still hold the advantage in Six Nations history, though, having won 13 times to Ireland’s 11. The other two meetings in this tournament have ended as draws.

France vs Ireland prediction

The French rallied to overcome the early loss of star skipper Dupont to injury that day, and his availability for a first France cap since then is a huge boost to Galthie’s group.

Tough test: Ireland head coach Andy Farrell is without several key players due to injury and suspension

Niall Carson/PA Wire

This is the only Six Nations fixture which has, on average, been decided by fewer than 10 points (8.8), and it has also seen the highest percentage of games won by seven or fewer points (58 per cent).

It is therefore always difficult to pick a winner between these two rugby colossuses, but we’re giving the edge to France due to home advantage as well as Ireland’s worrisome injury list, which includes several absences in key positions.

France to win, by 10 points.