Apple has unveiled its new iPhone 17e with premium features for a more attractive price

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Apple has opened pre-orders for it newest smartphone and it’s available with a pennies-per-day deal at one store. On Monday (March 2), the tech giant officially launched the iPhone 17e.

It’s the latest entry in Apple’s budget-friendly ‘e’ range, marketed as a more affordable alternative to the iPhone 17. The 17e is promoted as delivering ‘powerful performance and features at an exceptional value’, carrying a £599 price point that undercuts the flagship version by £200.

Despite the reduced cost, it still provides fast performance, a sophisticated camera system, Artificial Intelligence capabilities and double the initial storage capacity at 256GB. Pre-orders for the iPhone 17e are live now ahead of its March 11 release date, and Sky Mobile is offering it for 61p per day when customers place their order early.

When spreading the payment across one of Sky’s monthly plans, the iPhone 17e 256GB comes to £19 with £12 upfront. This equates to roughly 61p per day over a 31-day month.

Similarly, the iPhone 17e 512GB is priced at £25 with £12 upfront – or roughly 80p per day. Beyond storage choices, there are now additional colour options available, as Apple has introduced a new ‘soft pink’ variant alongside the standard black and white, reports the Mirror.

Sky’s iPhone 17e pre-order deal

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Sky Mobile is offering the new iPhone 17e for £19 per month or 61p per day when pre-ordering by March 10.

One aspect worth noting about Sky’s mobile contracts is their 36-month duration, although subscribers have the flexibility to switch to a newer handset after 24 months without additional charges. These deals include a 100MB data package, but this allowance will be quickly used up by most users, making an upgrade to a more substantial plan advisable.

Rival retailers like Mobiles.co.uk are also taking pre-orders, with the £28.99 per month 100GB tariff a standout option, while the £35.99 500GB tariff comes with free AirPods 4. For those who’d rather buy the device outright, launch prices typically remain consistent across retailers, so expect major sellers like Amazon and Argos to match the £599 price point.

The iPhone 17e arrives a year after Apple introduced its inaugural ‘e’ model, the iPhone 16e. Several enhancements have been made since its predecessor, most notably the 256GB storage capacity – double the base storage of the earlier version at the same cost.

Performance has also been significantly boosted thanks to Apple’s cutting-edge A19 chip, identical to the processor inside the standard iPhone 17. Despite its more affordable price point, the iPhone 17e delivers high-end specifications including a 48MP Fusion camera capable of capturing stunning images and 4K Dolby Vision footage, the newest iOS 26 operating system pre-installed, and advanced Apple Intelligence features.

The 6.1″ Super Retina XDR screen benefits from Ceramic Shield 2 protection, which Apple claims provides three-times superior scratch protection versus the earlier generation. One minor drawback is the battery life, which falls slightly short of the standard iPhone 17 at up to 26 hours of video playback, compared to 30.

Unveiling the iPhone 17e, Kaiann Drance, Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing, stated: “The iPhone 17e combines powerful performance and features our users love at an exceptional value, making it a compelling option for customers looking to upgrade to the iPhone 17 family. We know our customers want a product that will last, and iPhone 17e delivers just that.

“With A19 for incredible performance, double the entry storage, a smarter camera system, and enhanced durability, iPhone 17e is designed to stay fast, secure, and valuable for years to come.”

The case will now be investigated further by Cambridgeshire’s Coroner Court

The case of a boy who died less than two months after a now-suspended Cambridge surgeon operated on him has been referred to a coroner, as a review found “evidence that fatal physical harm was caused”.

Jack Moate, aged nine, was operated on by Kuldeep Stohr, an orthopaedic consultant who specialised in children, at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge on September 28, 2015.

Jack, who had several complex medical needs and limited mobility, spent almost eight hours in surgery for an operation on his hips.

He died on November 21, 2015, with his mother saying he was “in agony” and his care has since been reviewed as part of a wider exercise. A letter from Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) to Jack’s mother, Elizabeth Moate, seen by the Press Association, says that an independent clinical expert who reviewed Jack’s care found “there was evidence that fatal physical harm was caused”.

The letter, dated February 2 of this year, said: “In the NHS, fatal harm means at the time of reporting, the patient, in this case Jack, has died and the incident may have contributed to the death.”

It added: “We have reported Jack’s case to the coroner”, who would be in contact with Ms Moate “to discuss next steps”. The expert also found that “the care provided was not in line with the standards we expect”.

Dr Sue Broster, chief medical officer at CUH, said in a statement: “On behalf of the trust, I offer my unreserved apologies for the failings in Jack’s care.” Jack’s case was examined as part of a broader external clinical review commissioned by the trust last year into Ms Stohr’s practice following concerns about care that was “below the expected standard”.

Last March, the trust said that the care of “almost 700 patients who have undergone planned surgical procedures” would be reviewed. Concerns were raised as early as 2015 and were the subject of an external clinical review in 2016.

A separate independent review, which reported back last year, highlighted how the 2016 review raised concerns about Ms Stohr’s surgical technique and judgment but it was “misunderstood” and opportunities to act on the findings were “missed”.

Jack’s mother, who lives in Cambridgeshire, said her son had epilepsy and was largely wheelchair bound, although he could sit independently and unaided on the floor without any back support, and was able to stand in a standing frame and use a walking machine.

He had regular physiotherapy, which sometimes caused pain, but he mainly coped well with his many life-limiting conditions. He was also able to understand commands and communicate using facial expressions and noises.

Ms Moate said she was concerned about him undergoing surgery due to his complex conditions and as he was highly susceptible to infections. Jack suffered “significant blood loss” in a procedure which ultimately left his right hip wrongly aligned and his left hip unstable and unhealed. Ms Moate added: “I’ll never be able to forgive the hospital for what happened.

“They sent my boy home and he died in agony. I said I didn’t want him to have surgeries on both hips at the same time.

“I’d have much rather him had one operation at a time. I felt pressured into signing the consent form.”

She said she wanted “answers and justice for Jack”.

His cause of death was recorded at the time as deep vein thrombosis, cerebral palsy alongside epilepsy.

Solicitor Elizabeth Maliakal, of Hudgell Solicitors, who represents Ms Moate, said Jack’s death “pre-dates all investigations and reviews carried out into Ms Stohr’s practice”.

“Had it been properly and fully investigated at the time, action to address her shortcomings could have been taken then, and we may well not be where we are now, with more than 700 cases being reviewed,” she said.

She has called for a statutory inquiry. Ms Maliakal added: “There is a wider pressing hospital patient safety issue to be addressed around the management and governance of specialist surgeons. We want a meeting with (Health Secretary) Wes Streeting as a matter of urgency.”

Dr Broster said: “Our thoughts remain with his family, and we are doing everything we can to support them at this extremely difficult time.

“We have passed all details of his care at the trust to the coroner to investigate the cause of Jack’s death and will continue to provide full assistance to them.

“The external retrospective clinical review, led by Andrew Kennedy KC, into the cases of patients who received care by Kuldeep Stohr remains ongoing and we continue to focus on supporting all patients and families affected.

“We will publish a summary of the review findings once all cases have been reviewed and discussed with those affected, and remain committed to implementing improvements to our services to ensure that cases like Jack’s cannot happen again.”

Ms Stohr was removed from clinical practice in 2024 and subsequently suspended. She remains suspended.

The clinical review process is anticipated to reach completion this summer, with the trust scheduled to release its findings and any recommendations.

Woolly mammoths. Sabre-toothed tigers. The dodo. There is one species we can’t allow to end up on this list of vanishing creatures: the bookworm.

In a world where screen time dominates a dwindling attention economy, readers are in serious danger of becoming a dying breed. Recreational reading among children and teenagers in the UK has fallen to its lowest point in two decades, with just one-third of eight- to 18-year-olds saying they enjoy reading in their free time – a 36 per cent decline since 2005. Adults are not much better: only around half of us regularly pick up a book, and even fewer parents like to read to their young kids.

But there are abundant benefits to reading. Young people who get into the habit of reading in early childhood are more likely to achieve high qualifications and upward social mobility later on; they’re more able to build empathy, develop their creativity and spark their imagination. Reading even makes you happier.

Fortunately, in 2026, the fightback has begun. This year, a major nationwide campaign is inviting people to fall back in love with reading. A Department for Education initiative, the National Year of Reading is supported by more than 60 partners, including literary sector charities, funders and pledge partners. Library cards for newborns; 72,000 new books distributed to those who need them most; a £27.5m package for libraries; libraries in Suffolk are even offering an amnesty for 15,000 overdue library books. It’s all about putting a stop to the bookworm extinction. Also working hard to promote the power of books is the Queen’s Reading Room charity, which celebrates its fifth anniversary this year and connects over 186,000 book enthusiasts across more than 180 countries.

And yet for all the benefits of reading, sometimes life just gets in the way. But there are several tips and tricks to help you stay on track with your TBR pile. And who better to advise than some of the world’s leading authors and biggest bookworms?

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Ian McEwan

If you think you’re not reading enough, start with a novella, that entrancing form, short enough to hold you, not long enough to overwhelm you. Instead of a list, here’s one: Reunion by Fred Uhlmann.

Helen Fielding

Don’t google the Beckhams! Or do online shopping or look at your screens. Being hooked by a good book is like nothing else. You have to use your own imagination to do the things that video games, TV, movies and memes do. You have to make all the sights, sounds, smells and effects with your own mind. That’s what makes reading so absorbing, restful and good for the soul.

On that note, don’t read anything where you’re forcing yourself because it’s so heavy going. I ruined my love of Dickens for years by forcing myself to read Bleak House in two days at college because I’d failed to do my summer reading list. Read the books you enjoy – and mix in some classics. They’ve stood the test of time for a reason. And the stories can be even more complex and seductive than the Beckhams.

Salman Rushdie

Reading is a habit. You need to form the habit. Pick a convenient time of day and pick up a book at that time for 15 minutes. Do it every day for a couple of weeks and hopefully you’ll catch the bug. Oh, and make sure it’s a book you enjoy. If you find you’re not enjoying it, discard it and try another one. The book doesn’t matter. The pleasure does.

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Andrew Miller

Top tip: a comfy reading chair by a good light, and with a little table for your tea and glasses. You might also wish to invest in an elegant reading robe (or two: one for summer, one for winter).

Kate Mosse

Trust your instincts – reading should be fun, nourishing, life-enhancing, brain-expanding, so if a book isn’t speaking to you, put it aside and try something else. It doesn’t matter. A story that isn’t to your taste now will still be waiting for you when the time is right. Enjoyment is everything.

Ian Rankin

Carve out some time, put down your phone, leave a book in a strategic spot – sofa, bedside, bathroom – and pick it up rather than your device!

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Tessa Hadley

Don’t ever think of reading as a duty. It’s a pure pleasure. Don’t wait till bedtime. Turn your phone off or leave it in another room. Make a cup of tea or pour a glass of wine (a small glass, you need to stay sharp), remove your shoes. Curl up in a comfortable armchair or on a sofa. Exit all the smallness of your life, move through the portal of your books into other worlds, other ways of seeing and thinking and feeling…

Tom Fletcher

Reading doesn’t only include traditional books. Stories live in song lyrics, comics and graphic novels – and audiobooks are a brilliant way to listen on the go. Follow your curiosity, read what excites you and explore your interests, not what you think you should be reading, and shift your mindset about what counts. For example, listening to audiobooks during a car journey is a fun way for families to read books together when the calendar is packed.

Jeanette Winterson

If there is any book you really loved… read it again! Then ask a friend for something they have enjoyed. Read that! Then choose something for yourself… Meanwhile, a short poem every day is like an espresso shot in the morning or a nightcap at bedtime. Try that too!

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Malorie Blackman

Read for pleasure with the emphasis on pleasure. Read what you love, what you care about, what challenges you, makes you think, makes you laugh or cry or feel. If you want to read graphic novels, books about hobbies or listen to audiobooks, then go for it. And enjoy!

David Mitchell

Keep a small fancy notebook on your bookshelf. On 1 January, write the name of the year – just “2026”. Every time you finish a book, write its ordinal number – 1st, 2nd, 3rd… 50th, etc. Do a deal with yourself – every year, you’ll finish more books than last year. You’re allowed to balance out a 900-page Dawn of Everything with a slim novella by Clare Keegan.

Also, as you read, keep a pen close by. (A pencil is better but who carries pencils around?) Whenever you encounter something that you don’t want to forget, put a dot at the top of the page. Put another dot in the margin next to the line where the non-discardable something occurs. When you’ve finished the book, go through the book, looking out for the dots at the tops of pages; transcribe the “dotted somethings” into another notebook. By hand, with a fountain pen. Revisit them from time to time. If you know the author or can reach them on social media, share a few of your favourite dots. Trust me, it will enhance or even transform their day.

Lastly, when tempted to kill an hour on YouTube or a mediocre documentary on Netflix, remember that you will wish you could get those wasted 60 minutes back. Spend that same hour with a good book and you’ll feel mentally richer, less alone, smarter and that bit wiser.

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Elif Shafak

Books are our beloved companions. I think it’s so important that we see reading as a continuous journey where we learn new things every day, sail to new horizons. When we dive into a novel, for a few days or weeks, we become someone else, we transcend the borders of the “self” and see the world through another person’s eyes, feel what they feel. We empathise with their sorrows, their joys, their dreams. Literature dismantles the duality of “us” versus “them”. This is a humbling exercise for the mind, for the soul.

Let’s read anything and everything that speaks to us – from cookbooks to political philosophy to literary fiction. I have never believed in that distinction between “highbrow literature” and “lowbrow literature”. Instead, let’s keep the curiosity of the mind alive and thriving. Let’s be intellectual nomads, constantly searching. That requires reading widely, both fiction and non-fiction. Across the board. If we are reading only one type of genre, or the same kind of books, it means we are not leaving our comfort zones. I find it very important that our reading lists be eclectic, diverse, connecting with multiple cultures, backgrounds, and traditions of storytelling.

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Tim Bouverie

The best tip for reading more is to read great books by amazing authors – Austen, Dickens, Tolstoy, Waugh, Hemingway, etc. But having a dedicated reading time, such as before bed, or commuting to work – any time when you can ignore your telephone and concentrate – can also help. Smartphones are addictive and unwholesome. Reading, when pursued with energy and dedication, is addictive and wholesome.

Adam Weymouth

I’ve had some reading droughts since becoming a parent. Thrillers are often my way back: something inches thick with a hundred chapters. I can devour one in a fraction of the time it takes me to get through something more literary, and by the time I’m done, I’m back in the habit. Robert Ludlum is a particular favourite.

Robin Stevens

The most important thing to me as an author and reader is the concept of fun. A book is a story – it’s entertainment – and I believe you should be looking for the kind of entertainment that truly makes your heart sing. What fun means to you is entirely personal, and nothing to do with how objectively pleasant a story might be (my own favourite genre revolves around at least one person being violently murdered), but as far as I’m concerned, that’s the only metric you should be judging your reading on.

Ellie Suttie, Aaron Loughridge and Scott Boyle, who are all from the local area, are working on the Monklands Replacement Project (MRP) as part of the team from Laing O’Rourke, the project’s construction partner.

Apprentices working on the new Monklands Hospital have spoken of their work in supporting the huge NHS Lanarkshire project.

Ellie Suttie, Aaron Loughridge and Scott Boyle, who are all from the local area, are working on the Monklands Replacement Project (MRP) as part of the team from Laing O’Rourke, the project’s construction partner.

Their work with the MRP is part of the project’s important programme of Community Benefits, which includes a commitment from Laing O’Rourke to employ local apprentices.

Aaron said: “I’ve always felt that the best way to learn is through real, hands-on experience, and an apprenticeship offers exactly that.

“Being able to apply what I’m learning straight away, rather than waiting years to use it in the real world, made the apprenticeship route feel like the most valuable option for me. It allows you to build confidence, skills and industry knowledge from day one.

“It means so much to me as it’s the local hospital for where I grew up and where I live now. The care they have provided for the people around me who spent time in the hospital was incredible, so I know how important this hospital will be.”

Ellie admitted she has enjoyed her role so far with the hands-on experience and support from the team helping her grow in confidence.

“I’d advise anyone applying for an apprenticeship to be clear about why hands-on learning suits them and to show genuine enthusiasm for developing practical skills,” said Ellie.

“Take time to research the company and role, and don’t be afraid to highlight your motivation and willingness to learn – those qualities stand out just as much as experience.

READ MORE: Council receives application providing more details on Gartcosh development

“I grew up only five minutes from the site, and the existing hospital has always been my local one, so I know first-hand how much of a difference the new development will make for local people.

“It feels meaningful to contribute to something that will have such a positive impact on the area I’m from.”

Scott has surprised himself with the knowledge he has gained within just six months of starting his role.

He added: “From an early stage, I’ve been encouraged to take ownership of tasks, build confidence in my decision making and develop the ability to work independently while still knowing when to seek guidance.

“This balance of support and responsibility has played a significant role in accelerating both my professional growth and my practical capability.

READ MORE: Victim nearly died after hammer attack on Larkhall street

“The prospect of being able to say, in the future, that I played a part in its successful delivery is particularly gratifying. The scale and complexity of the project provide a valuable opportunity to develop a broad understanding of multiple engineering disciplines.”

In December, the board of NHS Lanarkshire has met and approved the Full Business Case for the new University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie.

Board members agreed that the Monklands Replacement Project (MRP) business case should now be submitted to the Scottish Government for consideration and final approval. Scottish Government approval will allow hospital construction to begin next year at Wester Moffat in Airdrie, with a targeted opening in 2031.

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READ MORE: Jail for thug who stabbed police officer during a drugs raid

Start by deciding whether you want an underblanket or mattress topper, which go underneath your bedsheets, or a heated throw, which lies on top of you on the sofa.

Then, the main points to consider are the electric blanket’s comfort, ease of use, energy efficiency and safety features. Look for soft, thick fabrics which cushion the wires. Anything too thin can be uncomfortable or feel too hot to touch.

If you and your partner prefer different temperatures, an electric underblanket or mattress topper with dual controls will stop arguments by enabling you to heat each side of the bed separately. Some have separate controls for warming the feet and body differently, too.

“Look for electric blankets that have built-in safety features like automatic shut-off and overheat protection and don’t buy them second hand as you won’t know the history of the blanket,” says Capanna.

Generally, it’s not advisable to wash electric blankets too often. But, it is worth reading the washing instructions carefully too, as while most electric blankets today are “machine washable”, some tolerate it better than others.

Finally, check the guarantee period as this will indicate the quality and durability of the product.

Choosing the best electric toothbrush could make a tangible difference to your general health as well as giving you a better smile. Research into brushing teeth found that gum disease can accelerate mental decline and good dental health could slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s. Dentists generally recommend brushing with an electric toothbrush over a manual model.

For this guide, I constantly test the latest electric toothbrushes from major names like Oral-B, Philips and Spotlight, as well as innovative contenders. I also keep an eye on the latest deals.

I tried value options starting at £40 RRP all the way up to £800 toothbrushes. Some have quite quirky features, including a 365-day battery life, antibacterial travel case and tongue cleaning settings.

You can find my full reviews further down, followed by some advice on how best to use them, plus Telegraph reader feedback on certain products. But if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at our top five:

The best electric toothbrushes: At a glance

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How to choose the best electric toothbrush

Rotating and oscillating are the two main types of toothbrushes, according to cosmetic dentist Dr. Tara Francis. “An oscillating toothbrush has bristles which oscillate or work by moving back and forth, similar to a pendulum, to help clean teeth and gums. A rotary toothbrush rotates and spins the bristles round and round.

“Some toothbrushes combine the two actions and are known as rotating-oscillating. This is my personal recommendation to patients and what I use. Other mechanisms of action include pulsing and sonic. Pulsing and sonic are additional features to a rotating, oscillating or rotating-oscillating brush.”

When it comes to sonic toothbrushes, you’re looking for any toothbrush that delivers more than 30,000 sonic vibrations per minute to encourage “fluid dynamic activity”: this is where the sonic waves massage the salivary glands, stimulating more saliva. The saliva binds with the water and toothpaste to act as a stronger cleaning agent. Combined with the sonic vibrations from the toothbrush, this helps to better remove plaque and clean harder-to-reach areas of the mouth.

How we test electric toothbrushes

Malcolm Morrison from Paisley was visiting family in Dubai when Iranian counter-attacks erupted, forcing hundreds of British tourists to evacuate on suspended Emirates flights

A Scottish holidaymaker visiting relatives in Dubai has described the frightening moment drones headed in their direction whilst they were at a brunch gathering on Saturday afternoon.

The initial Emirates service returned from the upmarket destination on Wednesday evening as relieved Scots expressed their gratitude at touching down on British soil once more. The passenger jet landed at Edinburgh Airport following its journey from the Middle East.

Onboard were hundreds of travellers who found themselves embroiled in the conflict after hostilities spread to the affluent cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

READ MORE: Man dies 43 years after hospital blunder left him brain-damaged as a babyREAD MORE: WW3 mapped as US and Israel launch strikes on Iran

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Iranian retaliatory strikes commenced over the weekend following a joint US and Israeli missile offensive against Iran, prompting numerous regional airspace shutdowns, reports the Daily Record.

Malcolm Morrison and his partner, hailing from Paisley, were visiting family when missiles and blasts struck the nation. The family subsequently received an alarming notification on their mobile devices instructing them to immediately find shelter.

Malcolm, 40, told the Record: “It feels great to be home but it was very worrying. We only got there on the Wednesday. We were at a brunch at the W on the Palm when the missiles flew towards us. At first they told us it was fireworks, but you could feel the vibrations.

“It was half 4 at this point, but once it got dark we started seeing multiple missiles in the sky. Then we started seeing the black plumes of smoke. There wasn’t much news getting out but we knew it was bad. We got a notification to see they had stopped flights. Then we heard a bang, then we saw the smoke.

“Whilst we were still at the party we were told to stay inside. The Fairmont Hotel beside us actually got hit so we went and stayed with my sister. On the Sunday we heard three or four bangs above my sister’s place. It’s terrifying. I’m still so scared for her.”

Carriers operating Middle Eastern routes scrapped or rerouted numerous flights following the strikes, with Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways and British Airways amongst those scaling back operations due to safety fears. The Edinburgh-bound service was one of just a handful resuming today after thousands of routes were grounded.

Malcolm went on: “Emirates said that flights were suspended but on the app it said our flight was still scheduled. We arrived at the airport today with no idea if we’d get home. We weren’t feeling confident.

“When we boarded the plane it was quite a strange atmosphere. I’m not one of these people who clap on planes but everyone was clapping when it landed. Everyone was tracking the flight path as we travelled. The first hour it was flying over countries that had been hit. That was not a good feeling.

“I’m 40-years-old but my mum has not stopped messaging me. Everyone was so worried about us. I still don’t think it’s sunk in – but we are home.”

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The Emirates flight EK23 departed at 3.10pm local time and touched down at approximately 8pm GMT. Long-distance travel across the region continues to face significant disruption as the conflict persists, with airline passengers strongly advised to verify their flight status before making their way to the airport.

Services to London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London LHR, and Manchester also operated on Wednesday, having resumed earlier in the week. An Emirates spokesperson said: “All scheduled Emirates flights to and from Dubai remain suspended until 2359hrs UAE time on March 4, due to airspace closures across the region.

“Emirates continues to operate a limited number of passenger repatriation and freighter flights on 3 and 4 March. We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority on these limited flights.

“Do not go to the airport unless you have been notified directly by Emirates or hold a confirmed booking for these flights. Emirates continues to monitor the situation, and we will develop our operational schedule accordingly.”

Passengers are urged to visit the airline’s website for the latest updates.

When you tune into Guy Ritchie’s Young Sherlock, you’ll be treated to some onscreen magic from not one but two of the Fiennes family.

The Amazon Prime Video mystery thriller, which doubles as an origin story for the widely-loved Arthur Conan Doyle detective, Sherlock Holmes, is helmed by Hero Fiennes Tiffin, who some may recognise from the After movie quintet.

But that’s not all, he’ll be joined by his uncle Joseph Fiennes, who is stepping into an adjacent role for the show as Sherlock’s father, Silas Holmes, where fans will be able to see the real-life familial chemistry come to roaring life.

‘It’s a luxury that we have the relationship we do and that we are playing the characters that have the relationship they do, because if there is any familiarity that creeps in, it works quite well,’ Hero, 29, told Metro about making the leap from reality to fiction.

His uncle Joseph, famed for his roles in Shakespeare in Love and the Merchant of Venice, among countless others, is quick to agree.

He shared: ‘What we have is what actors are really reaching for all the time through quite hard work and research.

‘We get it for free, which is lovely, this familiarity, and so you want to lean into that; if anything, you want to embrace that.’

Joking that, naturally, great British actor Joseph is ‘obviously uncle Joe to me’, Hero acknowledged the impact growing up under his tutelage has been (bolstered, no doubt, by brother Ralph).

‘He’s also an incredible actor whom I’ve watched and, I guess, aspired to be like, so working opposite [him] in multiple capacities was inspiring, but also you make it fun as well,’ he said to a grinning Joseph, who was quick to add that he hoped he isn’t ‘the stodgy old uncle’.

The American Horror Story actor, 55, had similarly glowing words for his nephew, calling him ‘just sublime’, hugely talented’ and ‘having a great sense of leaving no stone unturned.’

He continued: ‘Off camera, he is such a graceful gentleman with the crew. That’s one thing I observed, which I just thought: “Wow, he’s got it in spades.”

‘He’s got a really, great understanding of caring and how the machine works, and also putting in the work ethic as an actor. It’s wonderful to behold.’

As an origin tale, this certainly goes off the beaten track, with the most notable shift being the unexpected friendship between Sherlock and his arch-rival, Moriarty.

But part of the process is embracing the radical changes.

‘Sometimes, you have a knee-jerk reaction and go: “They haven’t explored Sherlock and Moriarty [as] friends“. But you very quickly start to completely flip it on its head and go: “This actually justifies so much more of what I read in Conan Doyle’s works with this being the case.”‘

When it comes to the complicated father-son dynamic specifically, Joseph was compelled by the way creator Matthew used both the source material and Conan Doyle’s real life to fuel his interpretation.

Joseph pointed out: ‘Conan Doyle, I think, had a pretty unstable but brilliant childhood where his father was an illustrator, and also, sadly, an alcoholic.

‘That sense of a relationship, which is fractured and beautiful at the same time, is something that plays out within the family dynamics of the character he invented, Sherlock Holmes, and Matthew Parkhill picked up on it, so it’s really, really rich, and it’s good fun.’

All in all, Hero echoed a boatload of ‘fun’ for anyone who tunes into the show, as well as plenty of ambition to pull something like this off.

Meanwhile, paraphrasing the great crime author himself, Joseph quipped: ‘ Conan Doyle once said: “If you’re feeling low, jump on a bicycle, go for a ride” and Hero, Matthew and Guy have delivered the best exhilarating ride for [eight] episodes. It is one to pick up the spirits.’

Young Sherlock is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video now.

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North Wales expat Poppy Owen says she fears debris from defensive missiles more than the explosions as Iranian attacks hit UAE

Approximately 250,000 British citizens reside in Dubai – a varied population of business professionals, social media influencers, and pensioners. So far, many seem fairly calm despite fierce aerial bombardment from Iranian drones and missiles, which has witnessed tonnes of high explosive fired at locations throughout the Gulf following US and Israeli military actions.

Welsh-born expat Poppy Owen, who for the past three years has lived in the upmarket Damac Hills neighbourhood , situated close to the UAE’s Minhad Airbase, confesses that her body “just went into pure fear and anxiety” during the peak of the weekend’s strikes. In a recent video recorded near her Dubai residence, Poppy reveals that the near-continuous explosions she heard were “too close for comfort.”

Originally hailing from North Wales, Poppy maintains her faith in the wealthy emirate’s extensive missile defence capabilities. A considerable amount of the protective weaponry safeguarding Dubai from approaching drones and missiles is deployed from Minhad Airbase – and it’s this close distance that troubles her most.

“It’s not the explosions that were something to be worried about,” she explains. “It was more the debris that when the explosions happened, it was the debris falling down onto buildings and things and places, that was the thing that we should be scared of most.”

She recounts how she has frequently guided her two young children into their bathroom, a place where they would be safe from shattered glass.

To keep her daughters calm, Poppy has attempted to convince them that the regular explosions and flashes in the sky are part of an extraordinary fireworks display.

Poppy shares: “They were reassured that it was just fireworks and nothing to worry about whereas my body just went into pure fear and anxiety because this is too close for comfort. It’s like ‘How can it be that loud? It must be somewhere quite close.’”.

“It was probably happening every 10 minutes or so. We live next to an airbase in Damac Hills – that’s no secret – and what’s happening is that they are firing missiles from the air base next to us, out towards the attacks coming in.”

Thus far, Dubai’s defensive measures seem to be effective. Whilst most incoming drones and missiles have reportedly been intercepted, some of the UAE’s most iconic structures have suffered damage – including the Fairmont The Palm hotel in the upscale Palm Jumeirah development and the Burj Al Arab.

Dubai International Airport has also allegedly been hit by a drone, as well as Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, where one fatality has been reported.

Yasser Elsheshtawy, a professor of architecture at Columbia University who resided in Dubai for two decades, expressed to the BBC that despite only a handful of Iranian strikes being successful, the city’s meticulously crafted image has sustained lasting damage.

He stated: “When you begin to see plumes of smoke rising in the city and sounds of explosion in some of the most exclusive places, that shatters that image of Dubai as this haven of security and safety.”

The scholar further noted that even minor structural harm to iconic buildings could lead to broader reputational implications.

“It will suffer for years to come,” he declared.

Poppy says that aside from an urgent grocery run, she and her family have been living under circumstances akin to the Covid-19 lockdown.

“We were just indoors because that’s what we got told to do. We got told by the government to stay indoors and close our windows, and then all day really it was just hearing the missiles and stuff like that being shot out.

“We were just waiting for the bang, and then any bangs that were happening and shaking the villa doors, at that point we were like, ‘Right, we need to get into the bathroom and just protect the children.’”.

She mentions that information has been scarce, limited to official government announcements and the sound of defensive missiles being launched.

While she and her husband have discussed the idea of leaving the country, they have chosen to stay put for the time being.

“To be honest, the best thing you can do is just stay indoors in the comfort of your own home with all your essentials and ride it out.”

In response, the school has allocated part of its budget towards further staff training and equipment for allergies. “It’s a small amount to have them there and make sure everyone is safe,” said Houghton, who meets in-person with parents of children with allergies to ensure a personalised medical plan is in place.