Get ready for a new week (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
A new month dawns, giving us a clean slate, followed by the shift of Mercury into Cancer, which brings family and home themes under the spotlight.
This may mean nostalgic memories surface and you want to recreate what was once so magical.
Summer isn’t far away now either — lazier days, longer nights, an invitation to be playful and have more fun. Let’s accelerate towards that lovely feeling now; a practice run if you like!
Let the tarot cards guide us towards the real fun awaiting us this week. What person, place or activity is going to give us a real good time?
Or, come join my magical, mystical tarot club, free for a whole month when you sign up using this link.
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Aries
March 21 to April 20
Get the party started (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Aries for this week: Seven of Cups
Meaning: The good times this week are already living inside your imagination — you are the zodiac’s ultimate party starter, after all. So, all you need to do is get what you are dreaming of doing into your real life. Tell them about it. Book it. Reserve it. Share it. Organise it.
Don’t worry about folk saying no thanks, or laughing, or belittling your idea. People are actually envious of your big dreams, your larger than life ideas, and your uncanny ability to pull it all off! Do something that will make this week a week to remember forever! I dare you.
You’re radiating main character energy right now (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Taurus for this week: Judgement
Meaning: You just want to do something for yourself, possibly by yourself (or with a mirror soul), and enjoy it without anyone judging, interfering or wanting a piece of the action or your time. Is that too much to ask? No it is not, Taurus.
Judgement wants you to be authentic and fully present, to invest in something that you alone crave doing and want to enjoy. A spa day, shopping, reading in a cosy spot, going on a hike, getting a major makeover, signing up to a class or course that fascinates you. Do it. Enjoy it. Embrace it. Make yourself the main character.
You might have a secret admirer (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Gemini for this week: Ten of Cups
Meaning: Your love life and inner circle is where it’s all at this week, Gemini, it is your sign’s season after all, so you’re kind of the centre of attention — rightly so! You may find yourself falling (deeper) in love, wandering out with a new friend who feels like a soulmate, receiving news of a secret admirer that makes you feel excited, or creating an alliance with someone at work and knowing you’ve got each other’s backs.
Folks underestimate your loyalty, your steadfast devotion to people and ability to enhance their life. You’re an asset, a treasure, and a gem of a person. Act like it, know it, believe it, and enjoy the fruits of it this week.
Put your blinkers on and do you (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Cancer for this week: Eight of Swords
Meaning: The good time for you this week is found by switching off the ‘overthinking’ and ‘assumption’ gears in your brain. All the way off. Stop assuming you know what folk really think about you. In fact, stop caring too!
Your self worth and inner value comes from your own perspective and understanding of your nature, progress and struggles. All you can do is measure the version of you now with the past version — do you think you’re growing, learning, improving? If so, celebrate and keep going. If not, don’t worry, just set a small goal this week that will take you from A to B, in some way. Prove you can do it. And repeat.
Meaning: Take a break this week! Kick back, switch on the ‘out of office’ (mentally if not physically), and make your leisure time feel like a true vacation… sunbathing, cocktails, late nights, long walks, romantic gestures, ‘what if’ thinking and ideas.
You have been working so hard recently, investing a lot of mental energy into something, and you’re closer to a mini burnout than you may realise. Sidestep that outcome by simply resting, enjoying your time, turning away from the problems for a while (some may resolve themselves, and you’ll return to what’s left with a clearer head and new set of ideas). Vacation time.
Make the most of this lucky streak (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Virgo for this week: The Sun
Meaning: The Sun promises that you are due to have a wonderful week, maybe the best of 2026 so far! A bold promise, yes, but this is a great card. It’s like a portal is opening up in front of you — and if you’re bold enough to take a leap and jump through it, you will land in a realm of success, joy and happiness.
What bold leap can you take? Maybe it’s a pitch, an idea launched, an application, a trip booked, a date arranged, a person welcomed, a decision made. Something that represents hope and optimism for you, that represents a move forwards to a better place. You are being blessed with good fortune this week, use it to make a wonderful step to a brighter future.
Your task this week is to embrace the joy of life (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Libra for this week: Three of Cups
Meaning:You are the good time, this week, Libra! Ruled by Venus, you’re blessed with beauty, pleasure and wealth. You innately know how to be good company and how to make sure folk have a good time. So, your mission this week is to be social, to get around as many folk as you know and like.
Don’t make this a chore. Truly choose to spend time with people you love, have missed, or know match your upbeat vibes. Do new things together to create new memories and connections. Visit magical places, try something offbeat, do the luxury option, test the new venue in town. Live life well with folk you like. It can all be that simple.
Fence-sitting won’t cut it here (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Scorpio for this week: Two of Swords
Meaning: The good times are waiting for you, this week, on the other side of a big decision you’ve been putting off making or even facing up to. Not like you, because you’re typically a fearless progressive, always moving forwards with your ambitions. Maybe this is a head vs heart decision. Maybe you feel truly torn between options. Procrastination isn’t, however, helping matters. You may lose out altogether if you don’t ‘pick a side’ soon.
So, dedicate the first half of this week to researching, discussing and executing your preferred choice. Don’t overthink. You can always make a new choice if it proves to be wrong. Don’t worry. And then spend the second half of the week enjoying yourself and toasting your good judgement! I have a feeling you will do the right thing!
Tarot card for Sagittarius for this week: The Chariot
Meaning: If this week is all about enjoying yourself then The Chariot is a very apt card for you. It represents travel: journeys, outings, new vehicles, adventures, quests, holidays and major moves in home and/or location. You adore moving around, broadening your horizons, seeing new places and this card is a strong invitation to do so!
The Chariot also represents purpose and aligning your place or home with what you want your life to be about. Are you in the right place? Would a move open up fresh options? Consider carefully. You could be focused on travel very soon, certainly by July.
They’ll soon realise their mistake (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Capricorn for this week: Three of Swords
Meaning: The route to contentment, peace and simply feeling happy in your own skin this week is to surgically remove the known thorns in your side. And you know what (or who) they are.
The Three of Swords is permission to ghost, block and withdraw. Do what is necessary to distance yourself from toxicity, in all its guises. A toxic situation will change you long before you could change it. If you’ve been treated badly, lied to, betrayed, backstabbed, or cast aside… walk away. Give them the gift of your absolute absence. They deserve it.
A childlike creative energy flows through you this week (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Aquarius for this week: Page of Cups
Meaning: Your inner child knows that summer is on the way and is already awake with plenty of ideas for fun! Tune into your childhood memories, photos, music, friendships and hobbies this week with the wide-eyed, wholesome Page of Cups.
Get creative with how you could reinvent and repurpose something from your past for your present. Nostalgia is a lovely feeling and sometimes a signal that something from long ago can still be meaningful and useful and rewarding for you in the here and now. Tune in.
Tarot card for Pisces for this week: Nine of Wands
Meaning: Pisces, deploy a simple trick this week. Do the hard work first. Get up early, be first to it, and get the bad chores, the worst tasks, the dreaded stuff, out of the way. This is how you’ll have fun this week.
When you dread doing something, it infects your whole realm, your overall mood. Remove that fly from your ointment by resolving to do whatever it is that feels heavy or difficult way ahead of schedule. The Nine of Wands promises it will go a lot easier and quicker than you imagine, which will be a cause for celebration in and of itself.
Kerry King has been reading, teaching and creating tarot for 30 years. Join her magical, exclusive Tarot Club for forecasts, predictions, lessons and readings straight to your inbox. Enjoy one month free for all Metro readers (no lock-in or commitment) over on Patreon.
Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.
“Juice carton knocked over on the back seat, muddy footprints after a wet school run. This wet and dry vacuum plugs into your 12V socket and tackles both the crumbs and the spills without needing a mains plug.”
10:17, 17 Jun 2026Updated 10:24, 17 Jun 2026
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Maintaining a clean car interior can prove challenging, particularly for families with young children or those whose vehicles see constant use, such as driving instructors or taxi drivers. Regular interior car valets can quickly become expensive, so investing in a portable handheld vacuum for on-the-go cleaning offers a sensible solution.
A wet and dry vacuum cleaner provides a practical and budget-friendly option compared to frequent professional interior car washes, allowing you to keep your vehicle clean whenever it requires a quick refresh. It’s perfect for dealing with everything from crumbs to liquid spills while you’re out and about.
The Hilka 12V Corded Vacuum Cleaneris praised for its adaptability across both wet and dry surfaces, which numerous Argos customers highlight as an especially useful feature.
This wet and dry vacuum plugs directly into a 12V in-car socket, meaning it’s ready to use without the need for charging or a mains power supply.
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It has a 2.8m cable for flexible reach and comes with a crevice tool, upholstery brush and narrow nozzle, making light work of tight gaps, seats and door pockets.
The Hilka vacuum cleanerfeatures a 500ml dustbin, 120W of power and an easy-clean filter, designed to handle both wet and dry messes while staying compact and lightweight at under 1kg for easy one-handed use and storage in the boot.
Back at Argos, the Hilka 12V Corded Wet and Dry Car Vacuum Cleanerhas attracted a string of impressive reviews. One satisfied customer noted: “Excellent cleaner. Bought few weeks ago for my husband as he’s a driving instructor and his car gets messy easily, the product is that good that we’ve even recommended some instructors and they are happy with it.”
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The Argos product listing describes it as follows: “Juice carton knocked over on the back seat, muddy footprints after a wet school run. This wet and dry vacuum plugs into your 12V socket and tackles both the crumbs and the spills without needing a mains plug.”
Another reviewer commented: “Brilliant little hoover, with all the extensions/accessories it picks up very well indeed! Great price, great design and we’re pleased indeed! So; if you’re looking for a very reasonably priced hoover, that works brilliantly…. then this is the right one for you.”
A third person noted: “Excellent tool and worked very well. Thoroughly recommend.”
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However, one customer expressed concerns: “Whilst this is a handy sized unit and the long cord means you can reach the parcel shelf and boot fairly easily, I found it to be underpowered.”
But many shoppers praised the Hilka vacuum cleaner, with another saying: “I was suspicious about how good this would be but it turned out to be really good. Quite powerful and the tools are useful. Great product for the price.”
How to secure the £20 Hilka 12V Corded Wet and Dry Car Vacuum Cleaner for 33p through TopCashback:
Search for Argoson the site, click through and buy the item normally.
Get £15 cashback when you spend £15 or more on an item.
The cashback will track to the TopCashback ‘Earnings page’ within seven days of your purchase.
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Kalidou Koulibaly has publicly criticised the VISA situation in the USA which has meant that a number of countries, Senegal included, are without the bulk of their fans who are unable to enter the country
10:18, 17 Jun 2026Updated 10:18, 17 Jun 2026
Senegal skipper Kalidou Koulibaly has called out the continue VISA issues that have hampered people getting into the US as he claimed “Africa cannot have their people”.
Senegal began their tournament against France on Tuesday night, losing 3-1 in New York, but a number of people from their country were unable to attend with Senegalese nationals facing a travel ban in America.
In December, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation which imposed partial travel bans on Senegal. The other World Cup participants to suffer similar fates were Ivory Coast, Iran and Haiti.
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The proclamation suspended entry into the U.S. for immigrants and non-immigrants, including those travelling under business and tourism category, which is what they would tick in order to attend the World Cup.
Koulibaly, formerly of Chelsea and now playing in Saudi Arabia, told the Athletic: “The federation did the work for us to have parents or our close family with us, but it’s true that some supporters couldn’t fly to America.
“I think that every team can have their people, so I don’t understand why people from Africa cannot have their people. I don’t want to speak about politics or something like this. I just want to speak about football, enjoy football, and I think football is for everybody. I just want to tell this and I hope that the situation will be OK, but for me the most important is that we have to play for our people.”
The travel bans that were brought in before the World Cup include exemptions for athletes, support staff and immediate relatives of those who are playing at the tournament – but not for travelling fans.
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Koulibaly was keen to pay tribute to the fans who were present at the MetLife Stadium. Central Harlem in New York City has a strong community of people with ties to Senegal and the game against France was only a short trip across the Hudson River.
Visa issues have marred the World Cup and Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, who put in a heroic performance as his country claimed a point against Spain, explained that his mother was not present for the game as she had issues entering the US.
“I cried after the game because I grew up with my grandparents when I was a kid, and they could not be there,” he said. “They passed away a few years ago. My mum could not be here either for a visa issue, and the money we had to pay for it. We did not manage to do this in time.”
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Upgrade your World Cup TV setup with the Sky Glass ‘designed for football’
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Sky is knocking 20% off its entire range of Glass TVs to mark the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Until June 17, shoppers can upgrade to the Sky smart TV that’s ‘designed for football’ from £4.50 per month when taken alongside a Sky TV and Netflix package.
The BBC’s State Department correspondent Tom Bateman looks at US President Donald Trump’s unusually sharp criticism of Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Israeli strikes on Beirut.
Trump described the strikes as “vicious,” questioned Israel’s use of force, and even suggested Syria could handle Hezbollah with fewer civilian casualties.
The schedule has been shaken up this week, including tonight (June 17) so you might wonder when you can tune in to watch the drama unfold.
Here’s what we know about the changes and which episodes the TV schedule shake-up affects.
Are Emmerdale and Coronation Street on tonight?
There will be no Emmerdale or Coronation Street episodes tonight because ITV will broadcast two football matches back-to-back.
Tonight, the World Cup matches available to watch on ITV1 are England v Croatia with coverage starting at 8pm and kick-off at 9pm.
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Football fans can also watch the Ghana v Panama match from 11.40pm with kick-off 20 minutes later at 12am.
Soap fans will miss out on an episode on Thursday too, however, the longer episodes on Monday and Tuesday made up for the missing slots.
Do you remember these emotional Coronation Street plots?
After a week of disruption, Emmerdale and Corrie are back to their usual 30-minute slots on Friday, June 19 at 8pm and 8.30pm respectively.
EastEnders has also seen some schedule changes throughout the week due to the BBC’s World Cup coverage.
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Tonight, it will air an hour later than usual (at 8.30pm) as it follows BBC coverage of the Portugal v DR Congo match which kicks off at 6pm.
Have you noticed ITV’s new scheduling this year?
From January 2026, the broadcaster introduced a “soaps power hour” on weekdays with 30-minute Emmerdale episodes at 8pm and 30-minute Coronation Street episodes at 8.30pm.
Coronation Street previously aired three hour-long episodes a week, while Emmerdale aired four 30-minute episodes and one hour-long instalment.
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Have you watched the soaps this week? Tell us what you thought of the new episodes in the comments below.
Educators who participate in the charity’s Youth Conversations Hub have consistently raised concerns about school pupils vaping and, more recently, using nicotine pouches during school time.
ASH Scotland is encouraging people who work with children and young people in Lanarkshire to access the charity’s new free e-learning module to increase awareness about the health risks associated with nicotine pouches.
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Educators who participate in ASH Scotland’s Youth Conversations Hub have consistently raised concerns about school pupils vaping and, more recently, using nicotine pouches during school time.
A report on Behaviour in Schools from the teachers union NASUWT shows 46 per cent of teachers in Scotland say pupils are using nicotine pouches during school time.
The new ‘Nicotine Pouches’ e-learning module produced by the charity aims to help teachers and youth workers to understand how nicotine pouches can impact on children and young people’s health, as their popularity grows.
Nicotine addiction can have a greater impact on young people, affecting their brain development and mental health.
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The flavours and colours of these products, combined with marketing tactics such as sponsorship of Formula One races and promotions at concerts and sporting events appeal to under 18s.
Sheila Duffy, chief executive of ASH Scotland, said: “Our new e-learning module is designed to provide a resource for educators in Lanarkshire to learn about the negative impacts that nicotine use can have on the lives of children and young people.
“Following the upsurge in youth vaping, a new generation is being attracted into using other addictive and health harming products such as nicotine pouches.
“Drawing in new customers produces huge profits for the tobacco industry, but at a cost to the health and wellbeing of our young people and disruption in the classroom.
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“We trust that our new ‘Nicotine Pouches’ e-learning module will help teachers and youth workers in Lanarkshire to build their knowledge and confidence to start discussions with children and help them make informed choices about protecting their health and wellbeing.”
Mike Corbett, NASUWT national official for Scotland, added: “Teachers know that nicotine pouches are being consumed within schools by pupils and have expressed serious concern that national regulation of nicotine products has failed to keep pace with innovation by the companies selling them.
“The recently published guidance for schools on how to address substance abuse among pupils was welcomed but this is only a first step.
“We need a greater emphasis on prevention and early intervention at all ages to stop children and young people from being drawn in to nicotine pouch use.
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“NASUWT has, therefore, welcomed the e-learning materials from ASH Scotland as one part of a wider systemic response needed to tackle substance misuse in schools.”
As concerns escalate, teachers are urged to equip themselves with the knowledge available free at www.ashscotlandmoodle.org.uk
If you work with young people in Scotland and want to join the Youth Conversations Hub, visit www.ashscotland.org.uk/hub
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A report highlighted there were 286 casualties in total during 2025, down from 378 in 2024 which is a reduction of 24 per cent.
Road casualties have fallen by nearly a quarter across South Lanarkshire in 2025.
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Councillors on the Roads Safety forum this morning (June 16) heard that there’s been a significant reduction in road accident casualties, with new provisional figures revealing that 92 fewer people were injured on the area’s roads in 2025 compared to the previous year.
A report highlighted there were 286 casualties in total during 2025, down from 378 in 2024 which is a reduction of 24 per cent.
The figures, which remain provisional until final publication by the Scottish Government later this year, also show improvements across several key categories.
Fatalities fell from eight in 2023 to six in 2025, while serious injuries decreased from 134 to 107. Slight injuries also saw a notable decline, dropping from 236 to 173.
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The reduction marks a positive step forward after two consecutive years in which overall casualty numbers had returned closer to 400 following the disruption caused by the pandemic.
Councillor Robert Brown (Rutherglen South), welcomed the report, and said: “I’d just like to make a comment on how good the figures actually are in terms of the general downward trend.”
Council officials said the latest figures demonstrate progress but stressed that further work is required to meet ambitious national road safety targets.
South Lanarkshire continues to contribute to Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030, which aims to halve the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads before ultimately achieving a vision of no deaths or serious injuries by 2050.
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There have been no child fatalities for the seventh consecutive year.
Councillor Julia Marrs (Clydesdale North), said: “Thank you for the report, the fact we have no child fatalities is something that should be valued.”
However, serious injuries among children rose slightly from eight to 11 during 2025, with most involving pedestrians aged between 11 and 15.
The report also highlights that driver behaviour remains the biggest contributing factor in road collisions. The most common causes were failing to look properly, careless or reckless driving, loss of control and failing to judge another road user’s speed or path.
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The council said it will continue working with partners including Police Scotland, the NHS, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport to improve road safety.
The couple have dealt with a lot of challenges this year (Picture: ITV)
Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) has been given even more bad news about his health in Emmerdale.
Way back in January, during the crossover event Corriedale, Cain was sent to hospital after being shot. While he was there, he was told that a lump discovered inside of him needed to be tested for cancer.
The drama for the couple hasn’t really stopped, so here’s everything that you need to know about what they’ve faced in 2026 so far, including Cain’s diagnosis, and why Moira was in prison.
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What has happened to Cain and Moira so far this year?
They cannot catch a break! (Picture: ITV)
Following his hospital trip, Cain returned home with Moira and faced an agonising wait for the results of his cancer test.
Focus then turned to Moira, who was arrested on suspicion of assisting Celia with her modern slavery operation.
Moira protested her innocence but as she was unable to explain how the ID cards got in her house, and that she also had history of working with Celia from a farming perspective, she didn’t look innocent.
While she was behind bars, Cain received his cancer diagnosis. He kept it to himself for quite a while, believing that Moira didn’t need to know as she had enough stress to deal with in prison.
Everything changed at the start of March though, when Cain headed to the police station to tell Moira everything.
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Cain’s operation took place last month (Picture: ITV)
It was an emotional episode, as Cain broke down and admitted how terrified he was for the future.
Since then, Cain and his sons have moved into Wishing Well with the rest of the Dingles. Moira is now out of prison as well, following the discovery of some new evidence that ultimately proved her innocence and freed her.
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Adjusting to life in the village has been difficult for Moira, as she’s had to get her head around the fact she no longer lives at Butler’s Farm.
Reconnecting with Cain was also a challenge, as he was quietly worrying about how his cancer operation would impact his marriage.
In yesterday’s episode, Cain and Moira arrived at the hospital for a meeting with Ms Rhodes. They discovered from the consultant that – while Cain’s surgery was in fact a success – she suspects the cancer has spread and thus further tests will need carried out.
It was absolutely devastating news for the couple, but at the moment, there hasn’t been any confirmation stating Jeff Hordley is leaving his role as Cain Dingle.
It certainly gives us hope for the future…but anything is possible in the world of soap.
Earlier this year, Jeff told us that the prostate cancer storyline was conceived as ‘The story of a man who doesn’t normally talk about his feelings. It’s bad enough having cancer but the possible side effects of this particular illness are really damaging to males and their egos. Having to talk about that and confront it is, I think, where we want to go down.’
He insisted that, alongside this, the entire situation is ‘a big love story’ between Moira and Cain.
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‘That was underpinning all this. How they get all these adverse challenges and how they deal with them – Moira being inside prison, Cain being told he’s got this illness and how bad it is.’
When asked whether their current ordeals could break Cain and Moira’s marriage apart or make them stronger, Jeff said he genuinely didn’t know – and it could go either way.
‘I think that’s what’s good about this story, for Cain and Moira,’ he reflected. ‘There’s a series of obstacles and hurdles that lay in front of them that I think are really going to challenge them as a couple.
‘As to whether it makes or breaks them, I don’t think I even know just yet but it’s going to be really interesting to see.’
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This article was originally published on February 17, 2026 and has been updated.
Gemma Smith, a consultant in elderly care and stroke, and Lesley Charman, a physiotherapist, completed the one-mile Great North Swim in Windermere on Sunday, June 14, to raise funds for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.
The pair are aiming to raise at least £1,000 to help furnish a comfortable hospital quiet room for patients and their families.
Gemma and Lesley before the swim (Image: Supplied)
Dr Smith said: “We bring them into a room to talk but it needs much more comfortable surroundings, perhaps artwork for the walls, to improve conditions at one of the most difficult times of their lives.
“Stroke is a devastating thing, life-limiting, often brings profound disabilities, and leads to some very difficult conversations with relatives.”
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Funds raised will support enhancements on Ward 4 at Bishop Auckland Hospital and Ward 2 at University Hospital of North Durham.
Gemma (Image: Supplied)
Dr Smith, who has worked with the NHS trust since 2017 and trained in the North East, said the idea for the swim came from her colleague, who encouraged her to try outdoor swimming.
She said: “Lesley does a lot of outdoor activities and got me into swimming.
“I saw a sign for the Great North Swim and am really excited about it.
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“I did the Great North Run in 2003, and I remember how fantastic the camaraderie was.
“So, we will see how much money we can raise.”
Left, Gemma at work (Image: Supplied)
Although she has swum since childhood, Dr Smith admitted she’s not the fastest in the water.
She said: “My husband Andrew is a keen swimmer, he used to swim for county, but he laughs at my technique.
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“I am very slow; in fact, I was once asked to move from the medium to the slow lane by a lifeguard.
“One time when I was swimming outdoors, I was overtaken by my own tow float.”
Despite this, after a 12-week training plan, she completed the swim in one hour and six minutes, while Ms Charman finished in 51 minutes.
Dr Smith said: “It was a great event, such a lovely atmosphere.
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“Our fundraising is sitting around £1,600 at the moment, which is fantastic.”
She also praised the support from colleagues, former staff, patients, and the Stroke Association.
Dr Smith said: “Stroke is so multi-disciplinary, and the support has come from right across the trust, even staff who have left and some patients, and the Stroke Association, which is amazing.
“I fell in love with working with stroke patients after being on a placement.
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“It is very fast paced as it’s time-dependent.
“The quicker we can act the more we can prevent disability.
“Then it moves into a phase similar to elderly care and it is lovely to see patients come out of the other end and hear about their little triumphs.
“We are there to help people, so it doesn’t take over their lives.”
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Rich Jones, charity manager at the trust, said the funds would make a meaningful difference to patient care.
Mr Jones said: “We are incredibly grateful to Gemma and Lesley for taking on the Great North Swim in support of our stroke services.
“As a consultant and physio working closely with patients and their families every day, they understand how important it is to provide comfortable, welcoming spaces during some of the most difficult moments people face.
“The funds Gemma and Lesley raise will help us improve facilities on our stroke wards, creating environments that offer greater comfort, privacy, and dignity for patients and their loved ones.
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“We’d also like to thank everyone who has supported their fundraising efforts so far.”
The eco-friendly characters, created in 1968 by children’s author Elisabeth Beresford, will relaunch this summer as part of a full-scale global revival that includes new YouTube content blending original 1970s episodes with contemporary live-action and influencer-led shows.
Originally made famous by the BBC’s 1973 stop-motion series, the loveable Wimbledon Common dwellers became cultural icons for their environmental message about reusing and recycling objects they found.
Neil Blair, founding partner and agent at The Blair Partnership, which now manages The Wombles’ rights, said: “The Wombles is an iconic British brand with strong cultural appeal, distinctive characters with core values that translate and resonate globally.
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“It is a rich content opportunity and, with rights now aligned plus a clear development pipeline in place, the property is ideally positioned for expansion across multiple platforms and categories.
“We see significant potential to build The Wombles into a multiplatform international franchise for a new generation of audiences.”
The relaunch will see the original 1970s episodes made available on a new official YouTube channel, alongside fresh content in live-action and digital formats.
This will include collaborations with social media influencers and young presenters, who will explore themes of reuse and sustainability through arts, crafts, cooking, and gardening.
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The Wombles are coming back!
If they emerged from Wimbledon Common this morning, what piece of rubbish do you think they’d be most shocked to find?
A first-look image from the new content reveals updated versions of some of the most familiar characters.
These include Orinoco in his trademark red hat, Wellington the scientist, and Alderney, named after the Channel Island where Beresford spent her later years.
Unlike the classic stop-motion series narrated by Bernard Cribbins, the new Wombles will be brought to life using digital animation.
Plans for the franchise go well beyond YouTube.
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The Blair Partnership has consolidated all intellectual property rights for The Wombles and is developing an interactive digital game, audio productions featuring celebrity casts, new storybooks, and expanded merchandise.
There are also opportunities for television, film, theatre, live events, and mobile apps.
This is not the first attempt to modernise The Wombles.
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In 2020, the characters were redesigned to reflect greater diversity, including a darker-skinned Wellington and a social media presence that promoted International Women’s Day and climate action.
The reboot was dubbed the “Woke Wombles” by some.
At the time, Beresford’s son Marcus Robertson criticised the changes, calling them “insulting to her memory.”
Despite previous efforts, including a series announced in 2023 that never materialised, the latest relaunch has the backing of a unified rights structure and a comprehensive content pipeline.
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The original series ran on the BBC from 1973 to 1976.
In the new programmes, influencers will join the Wombles to demonstrate how to reuse everyday objects through arts and crafts, cooking, and gardening.
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