Pep Guardiola has said farewell to Manchester City and talk has now turned to how the club will fare without the legendary manager.

From returning club legends to a message from Neil Warnock, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City farewell threw up more than its fair share of surprises but was a fitting way to say goodbye to one of the greatest managers the Premier League has ever seen.

With the ticker tape swept up and the bunting back in the cupboard, talk has already turned to what the post-Pep era will look like. Enzo Maresca is set to replace Guardiola in the Etihad hotseat as he seeks to continue the incredible success the Catalan coach has delivered over the past decade.

While City’s rivals are licking their lips in the hope of a United-esque drop-off following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, the set-up at the Etihad should ensure no such prediction comes to pass, although the task of following a manager who delivered 20 trophies in 10 years cannot be underestimated.

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Our City writers discussed the challenge facing Maresca in the latest episode of the Talking City podcast, with Chief Manchester City Writer Simon Bajkowski confident there will be enough motivation in the squad to prove they are not reliant on Guardiola to deliver success.

“I think there’s going to be a sea change but Erling Haaland said at the after party ‘We want to win the biggest titles and we didn’t win them this year, we want to fight for those titles’. So the players that are still here will be determined to improve on last year,” he said.

“Everyone thinks there’s going to be a drop-off after Pep – it would be weird if there wasn’t – but you’ve got Enzo Maresca coming in who is determined there won’t be, and the players as well, they don’t want to be seen as players who are nothing without Pep.

“If we’re being honest, a lot of them want to win the World Cup and do as well as they can for their countries, but when they come back there will be a different level of motivation from them.”

As cha cha closer to Strictly Come Dancing season once more, speculation on who could be taking part is red hot.

Last series saw Lioness Karen Carney and professional partner Carlos Gu take home the trophy, and there will surely be a string of celebrities keen to replicate their success.

And to say the new cast will be joining Strictly at an important time would be an understatement, as there’ll have been plenty of big changes by the time the BBC flagship show returns to screens.

Following the departure of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, we’ll have new hosts, with broadcaster Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe, and pro dancer Johannes Radebe now confirmed to be taking charge.

What’s more, the pro dancer roster will be wildly different, as Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, and Gorka Márquez have departed, while Neil Jones and Nancy Xu will be ‘benched’ without a partner.

So, as bosses look to fill the gaps and carry Strictly into a new era – hopefully free from scandals and internal investigations – let’s take a look at the rumoured line-up for 2026.

Lacey Turner

She’s been playing EastEnders’ favourite Stacey Slater for over 20 years, but now Lacey Turner could be set to appear on the BBC in a very different way.

According to reports, the 38-year-old soap actress is looking to use her break from Albert Square to pursue new ventures, with a TV source spilling to The Sun: ‘Strictly bosses are delighted to snap Lacey up for the series, especially as she has such a huge fan base from her time on the soap.

‘She’s down to earth, and viewers will be excited to get to know her personality away from Albert Square.’

They added: ‘She has loved having some quality time off screen to focus on parenting, but feels like now is the perfect time to learn to dance and try something different before she reprises her role in EastEnders.’

It wouldn’t be the first time an EastEnders icon has appeared on Strictly – who could forget Jake Wood (aka Max Branning) with his Mambo No. 5 salsa?

Josie Gibson

She rose to fame as a Big Brother winner and has since cemented herself as a British TV favourite.

Josie Gibson is now often seen presenting on This Morning, and, in 2023, she placed fourth in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

If reports are to be believed, though, she could be looking to at least earn herself a place on the podium by signing up to Strictly and wowing on the dance floor.

‘Josie has been on the BBC’s radar for a while, and they’ve not given up their pursuit,’ said a source.

They added to The Sun that the ball is has already started: ‘They’re hoping this year is the year, and talks are progressing well.’

‘Bosses are convinced her down-to-earth charm will be the boost this year’s new-look show needs,’ the insider also claimed. ‘Warm and engaging, she’s just what they require right now and will be a sure-fire hit with fans.’

Josie, 41, certainly wouldn’t be the first ITV daytime star to tackle Strictly, with previous series signing up the likes of Alison Hammond, Ruth Langsford, Charlotte Hawkins, and, who could forget, Ed Balls.

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Delta Goodrem

Australian singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem has also reportedly been on the Strictly bosses’ wish list for ‘years’.

A source told the Daily Mail that her signing this time is ‘all but a done deal’.

‘They’ve been trying to get her for years. Obviously, she is a good name for the show.’

The 41-year-old is no stranger to live performances thanks to her music career, having been signed in the early 2000s and released a string of hits Down Under. Her debut album, Innocent Eyes, charted at number two in the UK.

Delta has also dabbled in acting, having played Nina Tucker in Neighbours.

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Having sold nine million records, Delta knows a thing or two about success – but could she add another accolade to her name and become a Strictly champion?

If she does ultimately sign on the dotted line, 2026 will prove to be a very busy year for her, as Delta represented her country in the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna with her song Eclipse, which saw her finish fourth.

Dani Dyer

Poor Dani Dyer had one of the briefest Strictly stints ever last year, as she was forced to withdraw shortly after the launch show due to an ankle fracture.

Partnered with Nikita Kuzmin, he went on to reach the final with Amber Davies, while Dani had to watch on from home while recovering.

The former Love Islander has already expressed interest in returning for a proper attempt, and it wouldn’t be the first time it’s happened, as Jamie Laing famously returned the following year after an injury early on made him pull out.

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Speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show after her premature exit, Dani said she would ‘love to do’ Strictly again.

‘If they rang me, I’d answer the phone,’ she shared. ‘I was devastated.

‘It was hell for me when I hurt my foot; I was so sad.’

When contacted previously for comments, a BBC spokesperson told Metro that plans for the new series of Strictly will be confirmed ‘in due course’.

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Strictly Come Dancing returns to the BBC in September.

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Before their performance, the group described Clarkson as their “biggest cheerleader” and added they “couldn’t thank him enough”, while judge KSI, real name Olajide Olatunji, said he wanted to add their original song, This Is Home, to his Spotify playlist after they performed it.

Hannah Brooks, 37 and from Darcy Lever, dog Shadow died afrer he had swallowed a stone which got stuck in his intestine.

After anxious days and hours through the night, Shadow died with brain damage despite treatment. The bill was around £4,000, with her insurance taking a cushion of £1,000 for her.

Shadow the dog died from swallowing a stone. (Image: Hannah Brooks)

It leaves Mrs Brooks with £3,000 that her family are trying to raise, as her husband works, all while she’s caring after her son Elliott, who has neurodivergence.

She said: “It’s a massive hit and such a shock to lose a pet and all that money on top.

“My son keeps asking for him back, and he just cries. He doesn’t understand that he’s dead.”

The family is trying to get the community together to raise the funds, as they said they couldn’t be able to do it on their own. So far, they’ve raised £100.

Shadow the dog, 2. (Image: Hannah Brooks)

Shadow was only two years old and woke up poorly last Monday, 25 May and died later that week.

Elliott was Shadow’s best friend. (Image: Hannah Brooks)

Mrs Brooks said the hardest challenge is trying to raise money, while just trying to grieve their family pet, and much loved dog by her son Elliott.

To support the family visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/saving-shadow-t5t3k?

She added: “It would just mean everything.  It’s massive to actually do it all in one go.

“It takes the stress off so we can just grieve. We just want to be able to grieve.”

He is also getting to perform infront of some of his family for the first time in Galway this summer

An NI student who found his feet during lockdown is now performing on one of London’s most prestigious stages.

Patrick Adair is celebrating a major milestone in his training, having only taken up formal dance training when he was 18 years old.

Growing up in Dunmurry, he had always loved music and appeared in amateur musical theatre productions but it was only when the world was faced by a global pandemic that he began following his passion.

He said: “When the pandemic stopped the world, I found myself dancing.”

He went on to study musical theatre at Performers College in Essex, where he trained in ballet, tap, jazz, singing and acting. During his studies, he developed a passion for contemporary dance after seeing Message In A Bottle by ZooNation.

“The narrative spoke to me without needing words,” he explained.

“It showed me how movement could tell such a compelling story.”

Encouraged by his teachers, Patrick successfully auditioned to join the BA programme at London Contemporary Dance School, where he is now completing his training.

This summer, he will perform in Colossus at the Southbank Centre, a large-scale production featuring his entire graduating cohort and created in collaboration with the renowned Australian Stephanie Lake Company.

Patrick added: “Finishing my time at The Place by performing at the Southbank Centre is pretty next level.”

Patrick is also excited that the production will tour to Galway as part of the Galway Arts Festival, marking his first major performance on home soil.

“My family are coming to see me, and for a lot of them it will be their first time seeing me dance – that’s both exciting and nerve-wracking.

“As I’ve grown, I’ve realised my family just want me to be happy

“And dancing makes me happy.”

Reflecting on his journey, Patrick hopes other young people from Northern Ireland will feel encouraged to pursue ambitious creative goals.

“You’re not defined by where you’re from,” he said. “You can make your own story, but be proud of where you’ve come from and what you carry with you.”

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A new law being brought to parliament today aims to close a loophole which has meant domestic abuse victims living in social housing feel forced to stay in harm’s way – or risk homelessness.

Currently, there is no way for landlords to evict abusers before their victim has already left the home.

And in joint tenancies, victims who wish to leave the home they share with the perpetrator can only get out by ending the tenancy entirely.

According to government statistics, almost 40,000 households in the UK were forced to find a new home after losing their previous one due to domestic abuse in 2024/25.

Part of the new Social Housing Bill, which returns to Parliament for its second reading today, will aim to give greater security to social renters at risk.

It will mean landlords and court can force perpetrators to leave without simultaneously threatening their victims with the same fate.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: ‘No victim of domestic abuse should face the awful choice between staying in danger or losing their home.

‘This government is putting that right, so perpetrators are forced out and survivors and their children can stay safely in the homes and communities they know and love.’

The Bill will also close a loophole which allows domestic abusers to exploit the Notice to Quit.

These notices are used by tenants to inform landlords when they intend to end a rolling contract – but in the hands of perpetrators, they can be wielded to threaten their victim with homelessness.

Under the Social Housing Bill, any Notice to Quit served by a perpetrator will not end the joint tenancy while the court proceedings are still going on.

Courts will also require landlords to provide suitable alternative accommodation if it is not appropriate for victims to stay.

Veronica Oakeshott, the Head of External Affairs at Women’s Aid, said the new measures had long been a focus of campaigning by the organisation.

She added: ‘While ultimately we hope the measures will go further to enable more survivors to qualify, this is an important start.’

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said the current situation is a ‘moral failure’ which allowed abusers to use homes as a ‘weapon of control’.

He said: ‘Victims of domestic abuse have faced an impossible choice – stay in danger or make themselves homeless.

‘This is a moral failure this government is determined to end and these changes are deeds not words that put victims first, give landlords the powers they need, and make sure perpetrators can no longer use housing as a weapon of control.’

The Social Housing Bill will also introduce reforms to the Right to Buy system in an effort to stem the flow of social homes into private hands while not stopping it entirely.

Renters will become eligible for the scheme after 10 years, rather than the current three, while newly built social homes will be protected for 35 years.

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Back in March the 89-year-old actress Shirley Bassey underwent an operation on her hand after ebing in so much pain that she was struggling to reply to fan mail.

Dame Shirley Bassey has shared a health update after undergoing surgery.

Back in March the 89-year-old underwent an operation on her hand after ebing in so much pain that she was struggling to reply to fan mail.

In a photo shared to her Instagram, she grinned and revealed her bandaged hand as she sat in a restaurant. The Love Story singer wrote: “Hello Everybody! I’m currently visiting Spain and am in one of Madrid’s famous restaurants, where they have given me a chair with my name on it! So very cool.

“Thank you so much for asking how my hand is after the operation – it’s coming along slowly. I still find it difficult to write, and eating with my left hand, which is not easy, but helps with my diet!m’m now off to spend time with my son and his family. Sending you lots of love and Best Wishes. Dame Shirley.”

Fans flocked to her comment section and wrote: “Ah I’m so glad to see you safe and well. Looking spectacular as always.” Another wrote: “There should be a THRONE in every major city in the world just for YOU Dame Shirley,”

She recently celebrated 70 years in the business. In an Instagram post she wrote: “It has been an honour to sing and entertain my fans for over 70 years. Across seven decades (wow!), I have had the privilege to meet many of you, and receive fan mail from all around the world!”

But then she apologised to her loyal following: “I always loved seeing the different stamps and used to collect them in a book.Through letters shared, I have read of your celebrations, your losses, your achievements, memories, dreams and even how my music has brought 1978 generations of families together. I am truly humbled.

Continuing, the star said: “At this point in time, I’m sorry to say, that due to up-and-coming hand surgery, I will no longer be able to reply to fan mail. We kindly request for you to avoid sending vinyls, personal items and photographs, as we will be unable to post them back to you. Your support has been incredible.”

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