This summer of heatwaves has made the climate crisis impossible to avoid for most Brits as temperatures continue to break records.

Andy Burnham’s government has pledged to help bring down the cost of living, but ministers have been remarkably quiet over the consequences of this excessively hot summer.

A spate of record-breaking heatwaves have swept across Europe and the UK is currently in the middle of its third drought in five years.

The Green Party has urged the prime minister to hold an emergency COBRA meeting on how to meet this challenge – and it’s far from the only voice calling for action.

Here’s a look at what’s at stake as the stifling summer continues.

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) warned on Sunday that food shortages could be on the horizon following periods of extreme weather.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw told the BBC the government should give farmers tax breaks to build water storage systems on their lands.

Winter floods made it difficult to sow seeds and the current drought means any crops which were planted are struggling to grow.

Wheat is growing to just half its normal height and farmers across England have been forced to harvest earlier in the year to salvage what remains.

The climate impacts, together with the loss of EU-derived subsidies which protected farming, means that a third of British farmers are now making a loss or narrowly breaking even.

Livestock farmers are struggling as well due to low grass growth, and are resorting to using their winter supplies.

The issue stretches to farms around the world. Bradshaw warned the countries which we rely on for food are also facing changing climates.

These pressures have driven the price of fresh food up. Wholesale tomatoes have risen in price by more than 60%, iceberg lettuce by 90%, and potatoes by more than 40%.

The Met Office reported England had just 8% of its average July rainfall last month.

It is expected to be recorded as the driest July to date. In some parts of the country, it has not rained in more than a month.

Approximately 23 million people across England and Wales are under a hosepipe ban now, and to top it off, there’s also been a surge of wildfires, particularly in Suffolk.

Habitats are being destroyed as a result, and there are fears of irreversible ecological collapse, according to Natural England.

The water policy manager at Wildlife Trusts, Ali Morse, told the Guardian: “This week we’ve seen drought declared across half of England, but even under normal conditions, water scarcity is emerging as an urgent issue.

“If we don’t secure new water supplies and become more efficient with our use, it’s clear that, under a changing climate, we won’t have enough water to meet the needs of both society and the environment in future … but what most don’t realise is that across large parts of the country, we’re already reaching this limit.”

Electricity demand typically goes up during extreme heatwaves, as people turn to air conditioning and fans, while their fridges go into overdrive to stay cool, putting further pressure on the system.

The very equipment controlling the grid might also struggle as power lines and insulators expand in high temperatures.

Overhead lines and underground cables can droop in hot weather too, bringing them close to surrounding environments with trees, buildings and the ground.

National Grid warned this week that “power cuts may be more common than usual”, as hot weather slows down the network.

The system told the Mirror: “Sustained heat like this puts extra pressure on our network. Equipment doesn’t get the chance to cool down overnight, and demand for cooling during the day adds to the strain.

“Longer heatwaves increase the risk of heat-related faults, which can cause power cuts for our customers.”

National Grid also advised Brits to keep a torch nearby with a spare set of batteries in case of unexpected power cuts.

London bus drivers plan to strike later this month over working conditions with cab temperatures reaching almost 40C lately.

Soil shrinkage has disrupted rail services as well, while heat can warp rails, forcing operators to lower speed limits for safety.

The International Transport Forum warned that heatwaves are putting passengers at risk across Europe.

It said: “High temperatures can buckle railway tracks, strain power and cooling systems, and make buses, trains and stations unsafe or uncomfortable.

“Heat also increases the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke among transport workers, with implications for operational safety.”

The intergovernmental organisation called for vehicles to be modernised with effective cooling systems and more reflective materials to be used to reduce heat absorption, too.

UK buildings are built to retain warmth with thick walls and small windows but that means during heatwaves, it can feel impossible to cool down.

Most properties do not have air conditioning installed, either.

Not only are current homes and offices struggling to cope with the extreme weather, there’s a consequence for new homes, too.

Many of the areas in England where the government was hoping to build more homes are now facing major water shortages.

That means ministers may struggle to achieve their promise to build 1.5 million homes by the end of this parliament.

Secretary general of the TUC Paul Nowak told the Guardian: “As heatwaves become our new normal, we need to find ways to work and live with hot weather.

“That means new laws on maximum working temperatures, adapting buildings and workplaces to keep them cool, and ambitious climate action to tackle the problem at its root.”

Labour said last month it was considering making it illegal to work when it is “too hot”.

England is heading for its highest number of heat-related deaths this summer with an estimated 2,877 people who died in the May and June heatwaves.

The UK’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA) released heat health alerts for eight regions of England this week, amid particular concern for the elderly.

UKHSA’s Polly Ashmore said: “We are urging health and social care services in affected regions to ensure they are prepared, and reminding people to look out for elderly relatives, neighbours and those with underlying health conditions, making sure they are aware of the forecast and following the necessary advice.

“Simple steps such as staying hydrated, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day and keeping your home cool are some of the key ways to help keep yourself and others safe during periods of hot weather.”

The NHS has also been urged to adapt to the rising temperatures.

Health secretary Yvette Cooper said this week that A&E pressures during summer will end up being as intense as those during the winter flu season.

The Royal College of GPs also advised doctors to cancel surgeries in extreme weather.

Radiotherapy machines and NRI scanners have failed in the heat too.

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

Phoebe Bridgers appears to have taken a swipe at Gracie Abrams in a song from her upcoming album, Lost Weekend.

The two musicians were previously friends, with Gracie even serving as the opening act on Phoebe’s Reunion Tour in 2021, and later citing the Kyoto singer as one of her musical inspirations.

However, it seems their relationship has soured since Gracie started dating Phoebe’s ex, Paul Mescal, if lyrics from her upcoming third studio album are anything to go by.

Ahead of Lost Weekend’s release on Friday 14 August, a review from The Guardian teased lyrics from one song, titled The Governor’s Waltz, that both the newspaper’s critic and fans think are about Gracie.

On the new track, Phoebe is heard singing: “She can pretend to be me. Since she took my place in my bed, on that stage.”

In its review, The Guardian suggested this lyric “could be interpreted as a swipe at Mescal’s current partner, Gracie Abrams”.

This led to a frenzy on social media with people theorising about what the lyrics really mean, and what might have gone on between the two singers.

Phoebe and Paul dated for around two years before their break-up in 2022, with Gracie starting to date the Normal People actor two years later.

Since then, the new couple have made numerous red carpet appearances together, with the Aftersun actor even contributing a song to Gracie’s new record.

Phoebe’s bed-related lyric on The Governor’s Waltz may also relate to a certain set of space-themed sheets.

Users of the gossip-centric Fauxmoi subreddit have noted that Gracie used a bedroom set prop in a recent live performance, featuring a bedframe and sheets that closely resemble those of Phoebe’s childhood bedroom.

Elsewhere on her new album, Phoebe also appears to reveal that she and Paul were set to marry before their relationship ended, with The Guardian writing that “the title track confirms that they were, as rumoured, engaged (‘I’m supposed to be married but I called it off’)”.

Phoebe’s supposed dig could also be a retaliation to songs on Gracie’s 2024 album The Secret Of Us, which some fans interpreted to have been inspired by her new boyfriend’s previous relationship.

Since the speculation began with the publication of The Guardian’s review on Wednesday, none of the parties involved have commented publicly.

Earlier this week, it was reported that celebrity blogger Perez Hilton was receiving emergency medical care following a livestream in which he appeared to self-harm.

Police were dispatched to the internet personality’s home in Florida on Tuesday night, after concerning footage was circulated on social media, according to reports. He was then taken to a nearby hospital where he received medical attention and care from mental health professionals.

His family have since shared a statement saying Perez – who has three children aged 13, 11 and eight – is “able to communicate”. They asked for “continued prayers, understanding, and grace” as he continues to recover.

While TikTok confirmed it had removed the livestream, the Guardian reported that footage has also been “widely circulated across other platforms”. As a result, there’s a chance kids and teens might come across it – or actively seek it out.

Dr Catherine Knibbs, a therapist and online harms expert, shared that she’d been messaged a number of times about the Perez Hilton livestream.

She said in a social media video that she wanted to give parents a “heads up” as “your children might have seen, might still see, or might know about” what happened with the online personality.

“Some of your children will be, kind of just, they’ll pass it by; other children might be distressed, confused, want to understand it – and this is where, as a parent, we need to have open conversations,” said Dr Knibbs.

If your child mentions the video, or what happened to Perez Hilton, experts agree that the best thing parents can do in this instance is keep the conversation going, and not shut it down.

“When children don’t understand what they’ve seen and we shut the door on communication, they tend to fill in the gaps themselves,” said Fiona Yassin, family psychotherapist, and founder and clinical director of The Wave Clinic.

“This has the potential to increase fear, confusion or distress about what they’ve seen, plus it might exacerbate anxiety and lead them to withdraw.”

But where do you even begin when talking about something that a) you might not have seen yourself or know much about, and b) is clearly a very complicated, emotive and sensitive situation?

Yassin suggested for parents to start by asking their child exactly what they’d seen or heard, and how it made them feel.

“Listen without judgement, acknowledge that it may have been upsetting to them, and answer their questions honestly using simple, age-appropriate language,” she advised.

“Stick to the facts and avoid speculation, as children often take their cues from the adults around them. You don’t need to have all the answers, but you do want to be a calm, reliable and trusted source of information for your child.”

If your child seems unusually anxious, withdrawn, or preoccupied after seeing the video – or if the conversation raises concerns about their own wellbeing or that of a friend – Yassin said “it’s really important to see support from a trusted mental health professional”.

“Young people can be exposed to highly distressing content without warning, and some may not have the emotional maturity or support to process what they’ve seen,” she added.

Dr Knibbs suggested that it’s important to have conversations with our children about human behaviour and mental health, as “you could be walking around a public environment such as a town centre and come across somebody ‘crashing out’ [slang for becoming suddenly, uncontrollably angry or distressed]”.

“We need to have conversations about human behaviour – and human behaviour is complicated,” she said in a video, before adding: “Your children need to know they can come and talk to you about this stuff.”

While talking about self-harm as a topic can feel scary and overwhelming for parents, Yassin said avoiding it “can leave young people feeling more isolated”.

“If we reflect on why we might be avoiding a conversation about something distressing, it’s usually because of our own discomfort, not our child’s. Instead, try to lean into the conversation in a considered, compassionate and open way,” she advised.

“When someone in the public eye shares something distressing, it can have a particularly powerful impact on young people because they’re naturally influenced by people they admire or follow in online spaces.

“Exposure to self-harm online involving a public figure can unintentionally make the behaviour seem more familiar and normal than it is.”

The therapist recommended steering clear of criticising the person involved or sensationalising what’s happened.

“This is an opportunity to help our child make sense of what they’ve seen in an age-appropriate way – a sign that someone is experiencing significant emotional distress and needs support,” she said.

“This helps separate the person from the behaviour, reducing the risk of young people seeing self-harm as something to copy or as an effective way of managing difficult emotions.”

If the conversation gives your child the courage to open up about their own personal struggle with self-harm, or that of a friend, the most important response is to “stay calm, listen without judgement, and thank them for trusting you”, said the therapist.

Dr Josephine Neale, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at Priory, said parents should see self-harm as a “signal” of underlying emotional distress, “rather than simply a behaviour that needs to be stopped”.

“Let them know you take their concerns seriously, and create a safe space for ongoing conversations rather than treating it as a one-off discussion,” she advised.

If they are worried about a friend doing it, the psychiatrist suggested encouraging them not to carry that responsibility on their own and to involve a trusted adult.

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, frightened or even guilty when a child shares they have been self-harming, but it’s important not to let these emotions get in the way of offering them support.

“If you need a moment to gather yourself, take it, then come back to the conversation with reassurance and openness,” said Yassin.

“Let your child know you’re there to support them, listen carefully to what they have to say, and acknowledge how difficult things must feel for them.

“Even if they insist they don’t need help, it’s important to seek professional support as soon as possible. Many young people feel self-harm is helping them cope, or worry that asking for help will make things worse, but while it may bring temporary relief, it doesn’t address the underlying distress.”

You can tell your child you are seeking support for them because you care about their safety and wellbeing. “Keeping them involved in the process helps build trust,” Yassin added. “With the right support, young people can learn healthier ways to manage overwhelming emotions and recover.

“Recovery isn’t always linear, and setbacks can happen, but it’s important for parents to remind young people of the progress they have made and reassure them that their recovery will continue.”

Any concerns about immediate safety, serious injury, or thoughts of wanting to end their life should be assessed by emergency or crisis services.

• Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
• Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI – this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
• CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
• The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
• Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.

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Every now and then, you get an inescapable sign from the universe. Order that takeout. Don’t message your ex.

This drop from Lovehoney is one of those signs. The iconic sexual wellness brand has teamed up with Cosmopolitan to create a box of sex toys to prioritise your pleasure. And, not to mention, at a banging discount – the box costs £99.99 for £216.91 worth of products.

In case you’ve somehow missed me waxing lyrical about orgasms, in short, this is where I stand: there’s nothing better, and vulva owners aren’t having them enough.

Sure, an orgasm doesn’t always have to be the goal, but it doesn’t hurt, either. If you’d like to have more, or at least get yourself on the road on the road to O town more often, this is the way to do it.

Stuffed with eight products, The O Box is curated to help you heighten your pleasure both with a partner and without.

Seriously – it comes with a We-Vibe Sync Lite, a C-shaped vibrator that can be worn to stimulate the clitoris (one of the most reliable routes to orgasm, FYI) during penetrative sex.

The insertable end is thin and discreet enough that a penis or dildo can fit inside you while you wear it, and I’m a huge fan of the fact it uses rumbly vibrations rather than buzzy ones, so your clit doesn’t feel like it’s about to take off.

It’s even app-controlled, so you can power up through its 10 intensity levels without having to break skin contact with your lover.

Then, for an option you can reach for either alone or coupled up, the box also has a coveted Rose sex toy.

ICYMI during the pandemic (like, what else were you doing?) this floral-shaped toy uses suction technology to simulate the best oral sex of your life, and is perfectly sized to fit in your hand so you can rub one out during doggy – or on your back if you prefer to be a solo queen.

If both of those (worth £135 on their own!) weren’t enough for you, Lovehoney has stocked the box full of everything you need for a blooming good time.

We’re talking a bullet vibrator, to keep things simple, water-based lube, a silk eye mask and silk wrist restraint, vanilla-scented massage oil, and even a set of 52 Cosmosutra sex position cards, to give you plenty of ideas to spice things up if you (against all odds) manage to get bored.

Of course, the entire box comes in a stunning red and pink colourway – perfect for an evening of wooing and romancing yourself (and a lover, if you’re feeling generous).

A sign to level up your pleasure? Consider it received.

Soap fans can look forward to seeing another familiar face in the ballroom when Strictly Come Dancing returns to our screens later this year.

On Thursday morning, the BBC announced that actor Lawrence Robb was the 12th star who’s signed up for Strictly this year.

Lawrence is best known for his performance as Mackenzie “Mack” Boyd, one of the newer additions to Emmerdale’s iconic Dingle family, in the long-running ITV soap.

“I don’t know who’s more excited about this, me or my mother,” he joked when the news was confirmed, before admitting: “I can’t quite believe that I am going to be getting my dancing shoes on this September on one of my favourite shows of all time!”

He enthused: “It’s a dream come true, and I can’t wait to bring my all to ballroom. Wish me luck, and any advice is very welcome – trust me I’ll need it!”

Outside of the Dales, Lawrence is known for his work in the dark comedy I Hate Suzie, and the West End shows Legally Blonde and Mojo.

He joins a line-up that already includes EastEnders alum Lacey Turner and Jaime Winstone, alongside a host of stars from the world of music, sport, TV and beyond.

The additional three stars on the line-up will be announced in due course, ahead of Strictly’s launch show in September, which will mark Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe’s debut as hosts.

Check out our round-up of all the stars on the Strictly Come Dancing 2026 line-up here.

Loose Women presenter Nadia Sawalha is claiming that she is taking legal action against her employers at ITV.

In recent history, Nadia had been at the centre of speculation about her status as a member of Loose Women’s on-air team, with reports in the tabloid press having previously suggested she had been temporarily “dropped” due to her vocal support of Palestine on social media.

Earlier this week, the former Celebrity Big Brother housemate vowed to share her side of the story as to why she hadn’t been on Loose Women for a period of time, having last appeared on the topical panel show back in April 2026.

“I will be telling the whole story. It’s pretty unbelievable,” she teased, ahead of a more candid post on Thursday morning.

Nadia began by telling her followers: “My legal team at ELSC have today written to ITV alleging that I have been treated unlawfully due to my protected beliefs. Now, before I say anything else, I want to say how sad I am that it’s got to this, believe me. I have appealed to ITV’s hearts and minds, but to no avail.”

She continued: “After I began speaking publicly in support of Palestine in December 2023, I became the target of an escalating campaign of smears, complaints, hostile media coverage and targeted calls to have me removed from Loose Women. Since then, ITV have taken me on and off Loose Women a number of times.

“I’ve mostly been told that the reason for this was – and I quote – ‘it’s all just a bit noisy out there for us’.”

Nadia then reminded her followers: “In July 2026, after I’d been taken off air again, and Mark [Adderley, her husband] was running as a Green [party] councillor, a number of newspapers made false allegations about us, accusing us of supporting terrorism and being anti-semitic. Disgusting.

“So far, two of the papers have had to issue apologies and pay damages, and other cases are still pending. Now, around the same time, an open letter from a group of prominent pro-Israel media figures apparently sent a 20-page document to ITV urging them not to reinstate me. No one has yet paid me the courtesy of allowing me to see the letter or answer the accusations.

“ITV have continued to take me on and off Loose Women, forever changing the goalposts, whilst also saying that they couldn’t guarantee that they wouldn’t take me off again as it would depend on what was said – even though I am hired for being an opinionated woman on a discussion show and I’d never brought up or spoken about Palestine directly on the show.”

“This is the tip of the iceberg of what’s been happening,” she alleged, before pointing out that “this is Instagram, and I only have three minutes”, and saying that in addition to her “taking legal action against ITV”, she also wanted her supporters to sign a petition in solidarity with her.

She added: “Two years ago, a petition to get me removed from Loose Women was set up, but now I want to show there are many more people with us than against us.

“I want to make it clear, it’s not just me that’s been targeted like this for my beliefs. There are the teachers, doctors, nurses, charity and supermarket workers and students who’ve also spoken according to their conscience, and have suffered a similar fate as me. Well, enough is enough.

“We need to send a clear message to ITV, and other groups and corporations, that we won’t be scared into silence. No one should be bullied out of their job for following their conscience and speaking out against brutal oppression.”

HuffPost UK has contacted ITV for comment.

Nadia made her Loose Women debut in 1999, parting ways with the show in 2002. She then returned to the panel in 2013, and has remained part of the line-up until recent history, which has seen her becoming featured more sparingly.

Last month, she and her husband Mark Adderly received apologies from the Daily Mail and Metro news outlets after reports in which the pair were “wrongfully accused” of “celebrating” the terrorist acts of Hamas, which they said was both “unforgiveable” and had put their family “in danger”.

In their correction notes, both outlets acknowledged that Mark had not shown “support for terrorism or hatred of Jews”.

“The article also said that Mr Adderley and his wife, Ms Sawalha, run a Youtube channel, and that Ms Sawalha fully supported her husband, which may have suggested that she endorsed the statements and videos wrongly said to have been shared by him,” they said. “These allegations were false and we apologise to Mr Adderley and Ms Sawalha for the error and distress caused.”