NewsBeat
Wales breaking news plus weather and traffic updates (Sunday, May 31)
As Swansea’s M&S Oxford Street store closed its doors for the final time on Saturday devastated customers paid one final visit to the store they’ve been coming to for decades.
The flagship Swansea store shut for good on May 30 after announcing it would close in February and hundreds stopped at the store to lay flowers, leave messages, take pictures, and have a quiet moment to themselves in scenes more akin to a funeral than a shop closure. For many the end of an era proved an emotional one, with some visibly crying.
You can read more here.
NewsBeat
Great Manchester Run 2026 LIVE as thousands of 10k and half marathon runners hit the city’s streets
If you’re heading into town by car, be warned. It’s gong to be even more difficult that usual.
The start line for both races is located on Portland Street and both finish on Deansgate. The routes do vary though, and you can take a look at our full guide here.
Road closures
The following roads will be closed to vehicular traffic during the dates and times shown.
Saturday 30 May to Sunday 31 May
6am, 30 May to 9pm, 31 May
- Liverpool Road – Deansgate to Barton Street
6am, 30 May to 11pm, 31 May
- Tonman Street – Deansgate to Barton Street
Sunday 31 May
2am to 7pm
- Deansgate – Whitworth Street West to Quay Street
4am to 4pm
- Peter Street – Mount Street to St Peters Square
- Portland Street – Princess Street to Oxford Street
- Chepstow Street – Oxford Street to Great Bridgewater Street
- Dickinson Street – Portland Street to the eastern end of the street
4am to 6pm
- Deansgate – Quay Street to John Dalton Street
- St John Street – Deansgate to Byrom Street
- Jacksons Row – Deansgate to Southmill Street
- Lloyd Street – Deansgate to Southmill Street
- Peter Street – Deansgate to Mount Street
- Quay Street – Deansgate to Byrom Street
- Southmill Street – Peter Street to Albert Square
5:30am to 1pm
- Mancunian Way East – Fairfield Street to Regent Road
- Mancunian Way West – Fairfield Street to Regent Road
- Pin Mill Brow – Fairfield Street to Mancunian Way
6:30am to 1pm
- Chorlton Road – Jackson Crescent to the Mancunian Way roundabout
- Fairfield Street – Ashton Old Road to Mancunian Way
- Manor Street – Paddock Street to Mancunian Way
6:30am to 2:45pm
- Albion Street – Whitworth Street West to Great Bridgewater Street
6:30am to 4pm
- Abingdon Street – Portland Street to Silver Street
- Bloom Street – Chorlton Street to Princess Street
- Cross Street – Cross Street to John Dalton Street
- Great Bridgewater Street – Oxford Street to Deansgate
- Major Street – Sackville Street to Princess Street
- Minshull Street – Portland Street to Aytoun Street
- Oxford Street – Peter Street to Whitworth Street West
- Portland Street – New York Street to Princess Street
- Princess Street – Albert Square to Portland Street
- Sackville Street – Portland Street to Major Street
6:30am to 6pm
- Hardman Street – Byrom Street to the Royal Bank of Scotland car park exit
- Atkinson Street – Byrom Street to Deansgate
- Bootle Street – Deansgate to Southmill Street
- Byrom Street – Quay Street to Hardman Street
- Central Street – Southmill Street to Lloyd Street
- Bridgewater Viaduct – Chester Road to Whitworth Street West
- Chester Road – Bridgewater Way to Bridgewater Viaduct
- Ellesmere Street – Hulme Hall Road to Chester Road
- Hulme Hall Road – Ellesmere Street to Chester Road
- Whitworth Street West – Albion Street to Deansgate
7am to 11:30am
- Alan Turing Way – Ashton New Road to Ashton Old Road
7am to 1pm
- Ashton Old Road – Alan Turing Way to Pin Mill Brow
7am to 2:45pm
- Albion Street – Whitworth Street West to Medlock Street
- Medlock Street – Albion Street to Princess Road
- Whitworth Street West – Albion Street to Gloucester Street
- City Road East – Albion Street to Great Jackson Street
- Great Jackson Street – City Road East to Chester Road
- River Street – Medlock Street to Garwood Street
- Garwood Street – Great Jackson Street and City Road East to River Street
8am to 11am
- Ashton New Road – Ashton New Roa/Darley Street to Alan Turing Way
When Penny forgot about a lunch date to meet her daughter’s in-laws for the first time, her husband of 45-years knew it was time to go to the doctors.
Denis Horton, 75, was familiar with the signs of memory loss. His friend’s wife had developed dementia just five years earlier, so he was attuned to what could be put down to ageing, and what couldn’t.
Penny, 74, is a ‘voracious reader’ and attentive grandma to her three grandchildren.
She was organised and on top of everyone and everything in her life, having had a long career in the social services before her retirement in 2019.
But in 2019, she started to struggle to remember dates, directions in familiar areas and exciting plans.
She became confused while travelling to a London restaurant to meet her daughter’s partner’s family for the first time
‘That’s when I knew to get her checked out,’ Denis said.
What followed was plenty of tests, different doctors and trips to clinics across London.
At first, medics at the Acton Memory Clinic were unsure whether Penny had any memory loss problems. But eventually, after blood and cognitive testing, she was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers.
‘It was difficult to come to terms with,’ Denis said. ‘Especially because we were, and still are, very happy together.’
The couple had met at school in Grimsby, when Denis was 18 and Penny was 16. They had moved to west London, for work and raised four children together.
They are regular theatre-goers, as well as avid walkers, making the reality of their future hard to swallow.
Latest London news
To get the latest news from the capital, visit Metro’s London news hub.
Denis said: ‘Things aren’t as they were, with Penny repeatedly asking a lot of the same questions. But I remind myself to be patient, and aside fromt that we remain a happy couple going about our normal lives.’
They immeadiately launched into action finding the best course of treatment to try and delay the disease from developing.
The answer lay in numerous trials, and after researching what would be the best course of action for them, they came across University College Hospital’s pioneering clinical study.
Brain inflammation is a feature of Alzheimer’s progression, and scientists are exploring whether treating this and improving the brain’s natural repair processes helps slow the disease.
This is the first-of-its-kind approach to treatment, and led by Professor Catherine Mummery, they are developing ImmunoBrain’s new antibody.
And results so far are promising. There are no adverse side effects and researchers have observed trends which would indicate improvement.
Professor Mummery said: ‘Without volunteers we have no trials, and without trials we have no progress. At the moment, we are making real progress in the study of Alzheimer’s—and that is down to people like [Penny].
‘There is still a clear need for new treatments that can address the underlying biology of Alzheimer’s disease.
‘These findings suggest that working with the immune system in a different way may offer a promising new direction. While this research is still at an early stage, it is encouraging to see signals that support further study.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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Tip Toe is undoubtedly about to become one of 2026’s most talked-about new shows.
Created by Russell T Davies, the man behind It’s A Sin, Years And Years and Doctor Who, the hard-hitting Channel 4 drama takes an unflinching look at today’s divided world, by introducing us to two neighbours who have co-existed peacefully for years, but suddenly find themselves at war with one another due to their opposing views.
Starring Alan Cumming and David Morrissey, Tip Toe pulls no punches in its exploration of timely themes like online radicalisation, the so-called “manosphere”, the rise of far-right rhetoric and transphobia, and is sure to spark a range of opinions as a result.
Ahead of Tip Toe’s premiere, HuffPost UK caught up with cast members Alan and David, as well as its writer, to discuss what went into the creation of one of the year’s most hotly-anticipated shows…
Tip Toe was inspired as much by events from Russell T Davies’ own life as it was from the general news cycle
The shift in society that inspired Tip Toe was something that Russell says had been “rising up and rising up until I had to write it”.
He explains: “There were various things in my life both at work and at home – in ways that I’m not going to go into because it’ll only encourage them to happen again, genuinely – that made me think ‘that’s enough’.
“If this anger, this violence and these lies are getting close to my life – I’m in a very privileged, lucky and well off position, so for those who are not so well off, then this must be really bad. These times must be getting worse and worse and worse.”
Vincent Dolman/ITV/Shutterstock
Russell continues: “As well as witnessing and listening to every friend I’ve got – especially my queer friends, who are feeling more and more pressure, and more and more attacks upon them – I have a disabled friend, a wheelchair user, who had someone turn up at her door, ring the doorbell, and when she opened the door, there was a man saying, ‘you’re lying, you can walk, you’re claiming this on benefits’. To her face!”
“The anger that I always thought was online is now visibly stepping into the modern world,” he laments, which is what inspired the events of Tip Toe.
It’s important to note that Tip Toe is not set in a not-to-distant future dystopia, this is Russell T Davies’ reflection on the modern world as it is
“You only need to look at the news now to know that we’re not talking about some vague future events,” David says.
“It’s right here, right now. And that’s really shocking – that’s why it’s important work.”
Russell also states: “If this were a drama about a Jew living next door to someone [and facing persecution from them because of their religious beliefs], none of us would have any problem whatsoever [believing it]. We’d all be going ‘this is [already] happening, it’s out there’.”
Despite his own personal feelings on the subject matter, Russell wanted to show different sides to characters on all sides of the argument, and not paint either of them as saints
Of David Morrissey’s character, Russell observes: “I think I do defend him, at times. I think I’m there to do that. I think I’d be a terrible writer if I didn’t do that, I think that’s why I love writing, is exploring people like that.
David agrees: “You can never play a cause. You can never play an example of something, you have to play an individual. And the great thing about Russell’s writing, I think, is that he gives Clive a fork in the road every now and again. He gives him a choice. And it’s interesting to feel why he makes the other choice than the one that you would like him to make, or you wish him to make.”
“He’s someone who Russell has given a chance to,” David notes.
“Equally, I find fault with Leo,” the screenwriter points out. “I think Leo can be selfish, I think he can be a bit of a busybody, I think he can oversexualise things. I love exploring all that.
“I’ve absolutely no interest in just being nice about people, because I think people are complicated and strange, and that’s why I write. That’s why I’m here, I love it.”
Given Tip Toe’s difficult subject matter, everyone involved knew it was going to make for a difficult shoot
Alan says that he “knew it was going to be” hard to shake off the themes of Tip Toe at the end of a day’s filming.
He explains: “All of us knew it was going to be difficult, and we said, ‘oh, we have to look after ourselves’ in the readthrough at the start.”
Because of this, Alan recalls living a much more “monk-life existence” than he’d anticipated when he first got the part.
“That’s not like me,” he claims. “I actually remember thinking, ‘ooh, I’m going to make this show in Manchester, and I’m going to be out all night and having great fun’, and you know, I could actually count on one hand the number of even restaurants I went to.
“I would just go home and be quiet and be calm. That was really how [I wound down]… because it was a lot, and physically it was quite intense.”
David is also effusive about how much the cast and crew checked in with one another during shooting, especially in the show’s darker moments.
“The people who are making it aren’t just asking what your dietary requirements are, they’re really concerned about you and checking in with you, and we checked in with each other,” he enthuses. “And that meant that the experience – although it was exhausting and really knackering – you were held.”
David said that working on a show as well-organised as Tip Toe meant he was able to really focus on the difficult task at hand
“The really important thing to say is that a lot of British telly that I’ve done in the last couple of years, you’re getting [the scripts for new episodes as you film,” David says. “That means that your workload – for me and everybody else – is doubled because you’re getting it piecemeal.
“But with this, all five episodes were written before we got there, so people like our design team, our costume team, everyone was prepped. So, even though our time limit filming was short – as it always is, because of the financials – it was well planned.”
David claims this allowed him more “freedom as an actor”.
“Even though we go to really dark places, and you’re exhausted, that’s all your fighting,” he continues. “You’re not fighting the schedule, you’re not fighting the fact that you haven’t got the script, you’re not picking up on the designers’ panic because they don’t know what’s happening.
“So, we were only doing the show. And we had all of the show. So, you were able to give yourself 24/7 to it. And it was fine.”
Alan Cumming had a specific way of de-stressing at the end of a long day of filming
“On Saturdays and Sundays I would get Thai massages,” the Emmy winner reveals. “These ladies would walk on my back, because my body was so tense for so much of the time. In a way, I really sort of self-medicated with that, by just being so blissed out and exhausted at the weekends. It was a lot.”
He goes on to share that “immediately” when filming was over, he went on a week-long digital detox.
“I think that was not unconnected,” Alan claims. “I think the story of Tip Toe just shows the toxicity of our social media world, and so it was so amazing to get away from all that.”
He admits: “I was glad to leave Leo behind – much as I loved him. But, it was also a nice bridge away from the show, to not have to deal with anything online.”
Having Alan’s dog, Lala, around on set helped keep things light, too
“It was actually really good having a dog on the set,” Alan says. “For me, as an emotional support animal, but also, you woke up in the morning and everyone’s like, ‘ahhh’. It’s a really incredible thing. It’s a really great way to sort of make everyone step out of what they’re doing.”
He continues: “I always find that on planes, whenever I take her, it just completely changes the atmosphere. And you see people soften in a way that they wouldn’t otherwise.”
Look out for a cameo from Lala in the brutal final episode, too, with an assistant director walking past with the dog just as Leo enters Clive’s house.
Warner Bros. TV via Getty Images
There was never a question of setting Tip Toe anywhere other than Manchester
“I’ve only ever had one show made in London which was A Very English Scandal,” Russell enthuses. I’m a campaigner for not making stuff in London, and for getting more of a voice from outside, because I think it’s important.
“When I was first writing Queer As Folk, I was really dreading that Channel 4 would say, ‘it’s got to be set in London’. And if they’d said that, then I would have done it set in London. But they didn’t! They said, ‘no, no, no, you write whatever you want to write’.”
Because so many members of the Tip Toe crew already lived in and knew Manchester, Russell felt this gave the show a “a natural rhythm” and “authenticity”, noting: “it feels salty, it feels grounded, it’s just a nice feeling, and we got very welcomed.”
“I’ve been filming on Canal Street for 26 years now, and they are very welcoming and friendly and hilarious,” he adds. “All the drag queens come out and we have a hoot! So it’s a nice community.”
Oh, and we’re pleased to report that being on set with Denise Welch was as much of a delight as you’d expect
The actor, presenter and new-found national treasure is prominently featured in episode three of Tip Toe, and when we mention Denise Welch’s name to Alan, David and Russell, they all let out a small cheer.
Russell gushes: “The moment her name was suggested I just leapt on it. I’ve known her for years – I’ve worked with her ex-husband, Tim Healy, who I loved working with, and that’s how I got to know her, out on the Manchester gay scene.
“I adore her, so that was a very easy ask. She’s gorgeous. And a properly good actor! That’s the point! And I think, sometimes, underrated as an actor, and that’s what was lovely about it. It was like, ‘come on, come and watch her do her stuff’.”
For David, his scenes with Denise were the first he shot for Tip Toe.
He recalls: “That was really brilliant. She’s so wonderful. She’s so great.”
The first two episodes of Tip Toe are now streaming on Channel 4, with new episodes following on Sunday 7 June.
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There’s no denying the beauty industry is oversaturated, with too many products and confusing messaging about what your skin actually needs.
Viral trends come and go, and only add to the overwhelm, but aren’t always best suited to you and your needs. As a beauty journalist, I know this feeling all too well – I have oily skin with hormonal acne and mild rosacea, and despite my years in the industry, I’m often left feeling frustrated with the excessive amount of products that promise to ‘fix’ me.
If that’s something you’ve also experienced, Noli could be the solution to simplifying things. It’s an AI-driven platform, backed by L’Oreal, that uses dermatologist diagnostics to take the guesswork out of beauty shopping.
The setup is simple; complete the questionnaire to discover your profile – or what Noli calls its BeautyDNA – and it will analyse your skin type, concerns, budget preference, and more, to recommend the products best suited to your needs.
So I did exactly that, and have plenty of thoughts. My personal needs are to clear up blemishes, tackle dehydration and smooth uneven tone and texture. I told Noli I have no preference on fragrance, want my skin to feel soothed, and I’m happy to spend a little more on products if they’ll work.
Here’s exactly what Noli said I needed, and my verdict on the four-product skincare routine it built for me.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar H Iso-Biome Cleansing Cream
Noli advised using this as my first skincare step, as it’s gentle enough to cleanse my skin without being too harsh or removing too much oil, which can only lead to increased oil production.
It’s specifically formulated to soothe discomfort from harsh acne treatments, which can be very drying, and is well-tolerated with Isotretinoin (a prescription acne treatment).
The formula is packed with niaciamide, mannose and glycerin, which, combined, hydrate and reduce the appearance of pores and inflammation.
I love how rich and creamy it feels when lathered with warm water, and I found it surprisingly effective at removing my makeup too.
It rinses off easily, is fragrance-free, and leaves my skin feeling immediately softer and smoother.
So far, so good.
SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective
Next up was a targeted serum, and Noli’s top pick for me was this SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective. Gel.
It’s a blend of hyaluronic acid, cucumber, thyme and mulberry that contains lactic acid, a gentle exfoliant, that unclogs pores, reduces blemishes and hydrates without adding oil.
It’s incredibly lightweight, with a watery-thin texture that absorbs in seconds, which I love.
There’s nothing I hate more than spending ages rubbing a sticky solution on my skin.
It has a slight medicinal scent, but it disappears very quickly, and I found that when I had bouts of period-induced breakouts, it calmed my skin and left it feeling soothed and comfortable, even when I had painful cysts on my chin.
It’s expensive, but a worthwhile investment.
IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Gel Cream
Next is an oil-free moisturiser that can tackle blemishes, hydrate and balance oil production.
Noli’s pick was this from IT Cosmetics – a refreshing, cooling gel cream that contains a mix of niacinamide and lactic acid, both proven ingredients for reducing inflammation, regulating excess oil and unclogging pores.
Everything I need, basically.
I love the texture of this; it’s like a drink of water for my skin, without the stickiness or greasy residue I often experience from thicker, richer traditional creams.
I use it day and night, and it creates a smooth, even base for my makeup and SPF to be applied on top.
Kiehl’s Better Screen™ UV Serum Sunscreen
I know all too well the importance of SPF, and having been sunburnt as a reckless teenager, I’m well aware of how damaging a lack of sun protection can be.
Noli recommended this new sunscreen from Kiehl’s, which provides SPF 50 and a silky-soft texture that leaves a glowy finish.
It’s a non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t block your pores, which inevitably leads to breakouts, and doesn’t leave a white cast behind that could leave my skin looking ghostly.
I love the radiant finish, which isn’t dewy, but just enough to make my skin look healthier with one use.
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First came the news that capers and cloves are neither roots, fruits, leaves, nor veg: they’re both the flower buds from shrubs and trees, respectively.
Once harvested, they’re dried. Capers are then brined or salted.
But figs, which can be eaten fresh or dried, look far more like a “regular” fruit to me than either of those and are filled with what seem to be seeds.
So, I was surprised to learn that they’re technically flowers, and that some need to house dead wasps (oh, good) in order to fruit.
Is a fig a fruit?
Nope, and it’s not a berry either. It’s an inverted flower.
This is more technically known as an “inflorescence,” the Ecological Society of America (ESA) said.
It happens when a bunch of flowers and seeds are housed in a “bulbous stem”.
That, botanists might be aware, poses a bit of a problem for pollinators and for the fig itself.
Usually, the parts of a plant that can reproduce are external. That way, animals like bees and other factors like the wind can, e.g., spread their pollen and help it grow and fruit.
But when the parts of the plant responsible for these processes are locked away in the walls of a bulb, pollinators can’t reach them, and normal reproductive behaviour is off the table.
This is where the female fig wasp comes in for wild species of the plant.
How do wasps help to create figs?
There’s an absolutely tiny hole at the top of the fig called the ostiole. Amazingly, the queen of a pollinator called the fig wasp fits into this modified-leaf-lined cavity.
But the passage isn’t easy. Often, the wasp will lose her wings and antennae on their way into the fruit, the ESA explained.
Once she’s in there, the queen lays her eggs among the bundled flowers (anyone else feel queasy?). She also, crucially, brings in pollen from other figs that would have had no other way to get in, pollinating the ovaries to create fruit.
The queen dies, and her body is used as an energy source for the growing fig.
So… what happens to the eggs?!
I’ll need you to brace yourself for this part. The brothers, which are born without wings, hatch and fertilise their sisters while they’re still unhatched.
Then, they begin the doomed task of tunneling to the outside world. They live their entire life cycle in the fig, meaning they never escape the fruit; they die there. The path is to let the ladies out.
When the girls are born, they start to collect pollen. Some fig wasp species have a special pouch for the job, but others just pick it up as they go along.
Then, they leave through the pathways the boys made, and the horrific cycle can begin all over again.
Does that mean I’m eating wasps every time I eat figs?
Not always, and not complete ones.
Seedless figs may have been cultivated as early as 11,400 years ago, presumably by traumatised tree owners who thought, “I cannot allow this in good conscience”.
Thankfully, most commercially produced figs use a method like this, which means the fruits don’t need to be pollinated.
So no, the fig from your supermarket probably doesn’t have wasps in it.
But the ESA pointed out that because the boy wasps stay behind in figs grown traditionally, “animals, including humans, who eat figs that have not been commercially cultivated likely consume dead wasps”.
Anyone else feeling far less charmed by those aesthetic fresh fig cheeseboards?
NewsBeat
Every Britain’s Got Talent winner from Harry Moulding to Paul Potts – and where they are now
Britain’s Got Talent crowned its 19th winner in last night’s grand finale.
After weeks of auditions and live shows, judges Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, KSI and Amanda Holden saw the hopefuls narrowed down to 10.
This included singer Matty Juniosa, dance group LMA, magician Fabian Fox, and comedian Ted Hill.
But it was Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone Farmers Choir who took home the win, emerging as the first-ever winning choir, taking home the £250,000 cash prize.
This also means that they’ve scored a coveted spot at the Royal Variety Show.
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But what happens after that?What’s become of the 18 previous winners of the hit ITV show?
No need to look far – we’ve put together a list of past champions, as well as what they’ve been up to since their time on stage.
Series 18 – Harry Moulding
Magician Harry Moulding took home the win last year after an ambitious routine that began with a spot of skydiving.
In doing so, he successfully predicted each card the judges would pull out of a hat, leaving them stunned.
24 at the time of auditioning, he faced off against dance group The Blackouts in the live final.
‘I can’t believe what is going on,’ he said as he was crowned the winner.
‘Thank you, everyone, so much. I genuinely feel like everyone has been behind me. This has been the most incredible journey.’
Harry is still touring the UK, performing for a variety of audiences – including Prince William, who described his work as ‘truly amazing.’
Series 17 – Sydnie Christmas
After performing a show-stopping rendition of Over The Rainbow during 2024’s live final, a new star was born in Sydnie Christmas.
Once the show was over, she went on to release her debut album, titled My Way, which reached number one on the UK and US iTunes Pop Albums chart and number two on the overall UK iTunes Albums chart.
Last year, she revealed that she would be going back to school in spite of her successful album and £250k win.
‘It’s good to have something, just in case,’ she said with an air of humility.
Series 16 – Viggo Venn
In 2023, comedic clown Viggo Venn provided plenty of chaos.
To get laughs, he kept things simple in his first audition. He began by clapping and jumping around the stage to Daft Punk tune One More Time before removing a series of high-visibility vests. Just as the audience thought he was done – another one came off!
During his final performance, the comic had the judges in fits of laughter when he forced Simon to wear a matching hi-vis jacket as rose petals were thrown over the pair.
While his style of comedy divided the audience, he has remained busy with a tour in Australia and the USA, and the Norwegian star is currently back in the UK, hitting up theatres with his shenanigans.
He also dabbled in reality TV, taking part in The Traitors Norway. Although it was filmed before BGT, it wasn’t on screens until after his win.
Series 15 – Axel Blake
Comedian Axel Blake was laughing all the way to the bank after his win in 2022.
Since winning, Axel has continued to do what he does best – make people chuckle and create skits for his social media pages, lightly poking fun at everyone from conspiracy theorists to the ‘bad influence friend’.
He has continued to appear on TV in shows including Don’t Hate The Playaz, CBBC’s Saturday Mash-Up, and The Stand-Up Sketch Show.
Axel competed in America’s Got Talent: All Stars before being eliminated in the early stages and has also contributed to BGT Reacts, where famous faces have their say about auditions.
On top of his TV work, he has started a podcast called Like Father Like Fun, with his son, Nyron.
Series 14 – Jon Courtenay
Jon was the first Golden Buzzer act ever to win the series title, being sent through earlier in the series by Ant and Dec.
The pianist quickly won over the Geordie hosting duo with his original songs, which incorporated tales of his family life and his experiences travelling the world and utilised his humour.
After his win, Jon revealed he had secretly been fighting skin cancer, after finding odd-looking moles on his head.
‘I know that BGT are making a TV show, and it’s almost a cliché now that people have these sob stories when they come on the show, and I didn’t want to be that,’ he shared on This Morning.
After surgery and immunotherapy, he was given the all-clear.
Soon after, the stand-up comedian and musician was finally able to go on tour with Bigger, which included a stop at the London Pavilion. He also managed to find time to write a book, Against The Odds: The Memoir Of A Weird Year.
Season 13 – Colin Thackery
Chelsea Pensioner Colin Thackery left us bawling with his audition, singing Wind Beneath My Wings.
He dedicated the heartfelt song to his late wife, Joan, and we just couldn’t hold in our tears.
After performing at the Royal Variety Performance in November 2019, he confessed he gave away his prize money to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, where he lives, as well as to his grandchildren.
A month later, he released his debut album Love Changes Everything and even toured the UK.
Season 12 – Lost Voice Guy (Lee Ridley)
In 2018, Lee Ridley had the audience howling with laughter with his extremely unique routine during the auditions, which eventually led to him becoming the first comedian to ever win the show.
As he lost his voice because of cerebral palsy at a young age, the comedian completed his many routines through an iPad app.
Where is he now? Lee performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and released a book jokingly titled I’m Only In It For The Parking.
Lost Voice Guy went on tour around the UK in 2019 and made the show available online.
Series 11 – Tokio Myers
After growing up in a ‘really rough estate’ in northwest London and watching his head teacher being stabbed, Tokio Myers used his experiences to create beautiful music.
The pianist wowed his way through to the finals, where he was crowned 2017’s winner.
After the series, he released his debut album Our Generation. He has also been releasing mesmerising covers and original music on his Instagram.
Series 10 – Richard JonesIn In
In 2016, former army officer Richard Jones took home the grand cash prize after impressing judges with his magic.
He became the first magician to win the show and scored his own one-off television show called Operation Magic.
Fans then flocked to his latest show, The Sound of Magic, on tour at venues across the UK until early this year.
Series 9 – Jules O’Dwyer & Matisse
‘Do you like dogs?’ Brad Pitt once said in Snatch.
‘We love dogs,’ Jules and her canine pal Matisse probably replied when they auditioned in series 9.
The winner and her dog, Matisse, received death threats after viewers found out their act included a second dog named Chase, because apparently, people take BGT a little too seriously.
A year after winning, the human-doggy duo performed live shows and were allowed to keep their title despite Ofcom ruling that viewers were deceived.
Series 8 – Collabro
In 2014, musical theatre act Collabro was crowned winners of the talent show.
They auditioned with Les Miserables’ Stars, which got them through.
The group has since released seven albums, five of which were done without band member Richard Hadfield, who decided to leave the group as he was ‘unhappy for a very long time’.
In 2019, they were seen and eliminated at the preliminaries of Britain’s Got Talent: Champions.
The boys also appeared in the American version of The Champions.
Series 7 – Attraction
The Hungarian shadow act was one of the more unique acts on the show, differing from the usual singing and dancing.
Attraction even divided viewers as they were the first foreign act to win the show in 2013.
The controversy obviously didn’t matter, as the group has since found themselves performing in Las Vegas and even appearing in Swinton Insurance advertisements.
Series 6 – Ashleigh and Pudsey
More dogs! Ashleigh and Pudsey won our hearts the moment they auditioned, showing off their impeccable routine.
As 2012’s champions, they performed at the Royal Variety Performance before Pudsey went on to star in a TV adaptation of Mr Stink.
That’s not all; the pair travelled the nation in theatre productions of it.
Pudsey was then the titular star of his own film – voiced by David Walliams – and made his reality show debut on ITV2’s Top Dog Model.
However, the nation’s beloved doggo passed away in 2017, and Ashleigh promised she’d continue performing with her other dog, Sully.
Series 5 – Jai McDowell
Jai McDowell, a singer, won the fifth series in 2011 but was dropped by Simon’s record label nine months after being signed, as his debut album didn’t do too well.
Ah, well, at least he got to support Gareth Gates on tour.
After two years as a member of the vocal group G4, Jai is now actively pursuing a solo career.
Series 4 – Spelbound
If Spelbound didn’t leave you spellbound, then nothing can sway you.
The acrobat group somersaulted, flipped, and twisted their way to the winner’s crown and even performed at the London 2012 Olympics closing ceremony and released their own DVD.
Members Elise Matthews, Georgia Lancaster, and Millie Spalding even won three consecutive world championships as a trio in acrobatic gymnastics.
After winning gold in 2016, they decided to retire.
Series 3 – Diversity
Well, it’s Diversity. They really speak for themselves.
The incredible dance group are extremely active to this day, with members appearing on many shows.
Individual stars of the group have become more famous than others, especially Dancing on Ice judge Ashley Banjo and Kiss FM presenters Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely.
Series 2 – George Sampson
George Sampson impressed the judges the moment he auditioned and eased his way straight to the final, winning with his performance of Singin’ In The Rain.
The 2008 winner quickly made use of his newfound fame, starring in an online television show called Follow My Lead, offering fans behind-the-scenes access to his life, and releasing the single Get Up on the Dance Floor/Headz Up. In 2009, George and Simon amicably parted ways.
In 2011, he switched to acting and played Kyle Stack in the school drama Waterloo Road. He also appeared in Mount Pleasant and Emmerdale and joined the team for the hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, playing Dean.
He competed on Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions, which was eventually won by Twist & Pulse.
Series 1 – Paul Potts
Opera singer Paul Potts was the first-ever winner of Britain’s Got Talent in 2007.
Whew, how time flies.
Following that first season, Paul released his album One Chance and went on to release several more over the years.
He appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss his performance clip on YouTube and co-hosted the Australian talk show The Morning Show in 2009.
In September 2017, Paul won the 320th episode of the South Korean television music competition Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend, in a duet with Bae Da-hae. Four years ago, he competed on the Masked Singer Germany.
His incredible story of mobile phone salesman to singing superstar was told in a film named after his first album, with James Corden playing him and music written by Taylor Swift.
A version of this article was first published on June 2, 2024.
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Family history can open unexpected doors, and for John Stafford it revealed a connection to two very different maritime figures – the world‑famous explorer Captain James Cook, and the lesser‑known but deeply heroic Redcar lifeboatman William Guy.
Cook’s exploits are well documented, but Guy’s story – and the new garment inspired by him – has rarely been told.
William Guy, a marine pilot and volunteer lifeboatman, died on Christmas Day in 1836 while serving as part of the crew that launched Redcar’s Zetland lifeboat during a fierce storm.
He drowned while attempting to rescue the crew of the Danish brig ‘Caroline’, which had run aground on Salt Scar rocks during the storm.
A gansey – a traditional fisherman’s jumper – has now been designed and made in his honour.
John Stafford, a distant relative of Mr Guy who helped bring the tribute to life, said: “Family history throws up a lot of surprises.
“Despite being born in the landlocked East Midlands I am proud to find that I have distant maritime links to both the explorer Captain James Cook, and the heroic lifeboatman William Guy.
“Cook’s story is well known but the story of William Guy less so. He, however, is the inspiration behind the unique Redcar ‘Guy’ gansey.”
William Guy was born in Redcar in 1795.
In 1818, he married Mary Wilson, and together they had five children.
A devoutly religious man, Mr Guy worked as a marine pilot and also volunteered as a lifeboatman.
On Christmas Day 1836, a violent storm swept the Danish brig Caroline towards the Salt Scar rocks off Redcar.
As the vessel struggled in the raging sea, the decision was taken to launch the Zetland. The call went out for volunteers and William left his family in chapel to join the crew battling the gale‑force winds and towering waves.
As the bowman, he stood at the front of the Zetland lifeboat to throw a line to the stricken ship but was swept overboard by a massive wave.
The lifeboat and the rest of her exhausted crew were washed ashore, but William was drowned – the only member of the Redcar crew to die in the attempt.
His body was discovered 17 days later at Sandy Wyke in Staithes and buried in March 1837 at St Peter’s Church in Redcar.
His name is inscribed on the RNLI memorial outside its training centre in Poole.
The Zetland lifeboat, the oldest surviving lifeboat in the world, is now displayed at Redcar’s Zetland Lifeboat Museum.
Despite a variety of patterns arising from many of Britain’s seafaring towns and villages, including Cullercoats, Staithes, Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay and Scarborough, Redcar appears to lack its own distinctive pattern.
Mr Stafford, having taken up knitting, set out to design a gansey in tribute to Mr Guy.
His early attempts proved too challenging – knitting a one-piece jumper in-the-round with complex patterns, gussets and shoulder straps to contend with proved too much for his amateur skills.
So, armed with a few design thoughts, he decided to seek the help of Deb Gillanders, who runs the annual Propagansey exhibition (www.propagansey.co.uk) and workshops at Robin Hood’s Bay.
Mr Stafford said: “Together we worked up the design, me throwing in ideas and Deb suggesting how they could be worked together to create a fitting tribute to William.”
The finished gansey incorporates anchors and hearts, with the anchors featuring a cross motif to reflect Mr Guy’s Christian faith, his steadfastness, and his maritime calling.
The hearts represent his love for the sea and his family.
Rope cables are included to signify his seafaring profession, while columns of ‘Z’s pay tribute to the Zetland lifeboat and the support fund established by the Earl of Zetland (Lord Dundas) for Mr Guy’s widow and children.
The gansey was completed earlier this year.
Mr Stafford said: “This fitting memorial, completed 190 years after Williams Guy’s death, stands as a tribute to his bravery and that of lifeboat crews volunteering around our shores.
“Redcar, at last, has its own distinctive Redcar ‘Guy’ gansey design.”
Ganseys are traditionally hand-knitted jumpers worn for generations by fishermen.
They feature complex patterns unique to families or locations, often representing elements of the maritime environment, and are made from fine natural yarns that provide warmth and some water resistance, while allowing freedom of movement.
Mr Guy’s story now lives on not only through the Zetland lifeboat but also in a pattern that will be forever associated with Redcar’s maritime history.
The gansey joins a long lineage of coastal designs, honouring the men who braved the sea to save others.
It serves as a reminder of both personal sacrifice and the enduring spirit of coastal communities.
WASHINGTON (AP) — An upcoming celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, “The Great American State Fair,” recently had several musical guests back out partly over the event’s ties to President Donald Trump. Now, Trump himself is slated to headline the festivities, the organizers said Saturday.
“I understand Artists are getting ‘the yips’ having to do with their performance,” Trump posted to his social media platform Truth Social Saturday, adding that he was thinking of bringing “the man who some say is the Greatest President in History (THE GOAT!), DONALD J. TRUMP, to take the place of these highly paid, Third Rate ‘Artists.’”
The group organizing the June fair on Washington’s National Mall, Freedom 250, confirmed the billing in a statement, writing, “we are excited to announce that President Trump will personally kick off this historic celebration on Wednesday, June 24.”
Trump’s social media post twice referenced him holding a rally “Wednesday,” without a specific date. The White House did not immediately clarify the discrepancy.
Danielle Alvarez, a spokesperson for Freedom 250, emphasized the broader fair that is scheduled from June 25 through July 10 includes an array of exhibits, family friendly attractions, musical performances, flyovers and more.
Trump was dismissive of the acts that backed out, suggesting in a follow-up post that the solution is to “Cancel it.”
“We should have a giant MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN RALLY, for 250, instead of having overpriced singers, who nobody wants to hear, whose music is boring, and yet who do nothing but complain,” Trump said on social media.
Freedom 250 is billed as nonpartisan, but was launched last year by Trump and is led by a former State Department appointee from Trump’s first term. Several artists, including Bret Michaels, the Commodores and Martina McBride dropped out last week.
Michaels and other artists have said that they were misled about the theme of the shows or were otherwise wary of being caught up in a political fight. McBride, in a statement on Instagram, said she had been “presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading.”
Other artists plan to attend, including Flo Rida, Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli and Vanilla Ice. The latter’s representative previously said that the “Ice Ice Baby” rapper was “proud to help celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary!”
___
Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report.
We’re being treated to yet another full moon this month with the arrival of today’s blue moon.
The blue moon, deceptively not named after its colour, will rise today and peak at around 9.45am – so if you’re hoping to catch a glimpse, there’s no time for lie-ins.
Earlier in the month, stargazers took to social media to share pictures of the flower moon rising above rooftops and trees across the UK.
What made this year’s flower moon special was that it was a micromoon, meaning it appeared slightly smaller and dimmer than usual in the sky.
Today’s full moon is equally as special because it’s both a rare blue moon and a micromoon. You can learn more about why blue moons get their name and how you might be able to see one today right here.
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What is a blue moon?
A blue moon is the name given to the 13th full moon within a calendar year.
As explained by Royal Museums Greenwich, each of the 12 phases of the moon takes roughly 29.5 days to complete, totalling 354 days for all cycles – just under the total number of days in a year.
As a result, we sometimes see a 13th full moon, named a blue moon because it doesn’t fit in with the regular naming conventions of full moons (wolf moon, flower moon, harvest moon, et cetera).
Are blue moons actually blue?
Unfortunately, blue moons are not actually blue, and they appear in the sky as any other full moon. So why are these full moons called blue moons?
Well, it’s thought that the name comes from a mispronunciation of the word ‘belewe’, which means ‘to betray’, with the blue moon ‘betraying’ the tradition of experiencing only one full moon per month.
There are two other definitions for the blue moon.
The first relates to the astronomical seasons, the periods between equinoxes and solstices. Ordinarily, there are three full moons per season, but a blue moon is the third full moon of four full moons within one astronomical season.
The second is thought to have started as a mistake but became popularised through the Trivial Pursuit Board game and radio shows. This simple definition explains blue moons as the second full moon in any calendar month with two full moons, like this month.
How often do blue moons happen?
Blue moons occur roughly every two to three years. The last blue moon took place on August 19, 2024, and, after today, the next blue moon will happen on May 20, 2027.
You can sometimes experience two blue moons within one year. We saw this in 2018, one of which was a lunar eclipse, and we’re expecting to see two more in 2037 – don’t forget to mark it in your calendar!
Will the blue moon be visible?
The blue moon will reach its peak around 9.45am today.
The Met Office has predicted showers for today as the weather cools following a record-breaking heatwave felt across the entirety of the United Kingdom.
With today’s blue moon also being a micromoon, you may struggle to see it, particularly if you’re in an area expecting lots of rain. However, we still think it’s worth a check if you’re awake early enough.
When is the next full moon in the UK?
If you do miss today’s blue moon, there will fortunately be plenty more full moons coming your way, including:
- The strawberry moon on June 30
- The buck moon on July 29
- The sturgeon moon on August 28
- The harvest moon on September 26
- The hunter’s moon on October 26
- The beaver moon on November 24
- The cold moon on December 24
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
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People turned out at Palace Green from 10am this morning, eagerly anticipating the march.
The Green was awash with colour, happiness and smiles, as this year marked Pride’s biggest-ever event.
This year’s event carried added significance following Durham County Council’s decision to withdraw funding.
In response, trade unions have stepped in to reaffirm their long‑standing alliance with the LGBT+ community, raising more than £15,500 to cover the shortfall.
Come 11am the march got underway, with trade unions, political parties, MPs, activists and musical performers all joining the walk.
The vibrant parade, which once again celebrated love, diversity and inclusion, headed down through Owengate and into Saddler Street.
The procession moved into the Market Place before continuing along Claypath and looping via Providence Row and Freemans Place to reach The Sands.
Hundreds of people lined the streets of Durham to show their support and solidarity.
Many also gathered to watch the huge numbers of floats, banners and performers go past.
On arrival at The Sands, which was packed with people, food stalls, rides and a stage, County Durham drag queen Tess Tickle got the party started.
There were speeches from the Mayor of Durham Cllr Gary Hutchinson, who said there was “nowhere else today I’d rather be”.
He added: “This is the most colourful and happiest event I have attended as Mayor. Pride is a message of inclusivity and respect.”
City of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy also made a speech.
The Labour MP said: “We know Pride began as a protest and at its heartbeat is that constant insistence that every single person deserves dignity, safety and joy.
“In Durham, we don’t just march, we weave a tapestry of stories.
“We honour our LGBTQ+ elders who paved the way, we cheer for the young people who are writing the next chapter and we stand with those who can’t be visible yet and promise to keep a place at the table warm for them.”
The celebrations truly started after the speeches, with performances from the likes of Gareth Gates, Bradley from S Club and Claire Richards, as the thousands in attendance partied and rejoiced at the biggest-ever Durham Pride event.
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