Charles Dickens would “heartily approve” of this much-loved BBC period drama adaptation.

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Downton Abbey fans are urged to watch this “extraordinary” BBC period drama that’s been hailed the “best film ever”.

Charles Dickens is famed for writing some of the greatest stories in history from Great Expectations and Oliver Twist to A Christmas Carol.

Some that viewers may not be as familiar with though is Bleak House, a Victorian bestseller about a lifelong lawsuit, a hidden family secret and an orphan girl.

The 19th Century novel has been adapted for the small screen on a few occasions but it’s the 2005 version that’s often brought up by Downton Abbey fans as an alternative watch. And what’s even better is that the “excellent” 15-part period drama Bleak House is ready to stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

While a multi-generational inheritance case continues to drag on, orphan Esther Summerson and wards Ada Clare and Richard Carstone, go to live with their generous cousin John Jarndyce at his home, Bleak House.

Elsewhere, aristocrat Lady Dedlock raises suspicions with a lawyer as she suddenly shows an anxious interest in a court document from years ago.

What makes Bleak House stand out even more though is its star-studded cast, led by Motherland and Line of Duty star Anna Maxwell Martin as Esther Summerson.

She is joined by The Fall and Sex Education actress Gillian Anderson as Lady Dedlock, Netflix’s Beef actress Carey Mulligan and The Crown icon Charles Dance as Mr Tulkinghorn.

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“This multi-hour TV drama is a masterpiece from beginning to end”, someone praised on IMdB. Another said: “I can’t think of a greater Dickens film adaptation. This version of ‘Bleak House’ is simply one of the best films ever made.”

Someone else hailed it the “best film I’ve ever seen”, with a fourth writing: “It took me totally by surprise.

“I recommend that any lover of great literature and British period pieces make this a must see.”

As a further fan stated: “I rather think that Charles Dickens if he were still around would heartily approve.”

Bleak House is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

EXCLUSIVE: The Duchess of Sussex travelled to Britain with her children for a reunion with King Charles, and while the meeting is believed to be a success, her public image in the UK leaves a lot to be desired

She may have been able to enjoy her first significant trip to the UK in more than four years, visiting the likes of Highgrove, Althorp and even the Scottish Highlands.

But despite the visit to Britain with Prince Harry and her children seemingly going off without a hitch once they arrived in the country, it appears she is still not popular among the public. A new poll shows that she is still hugely unpopular with Brits, having only a 22 per cent approval rating – with only Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s being lower.

And even though the UK visit last month saw her finally reunited with the King and Queen at Charles’ country retreat and Harry reportedly expressing his desire for his children to know more about their royal heritage in the UK, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes that for Meghan, the negative approval ratings will have an effect on any future plans.

The former BBC royal correspondent told the Mirror : “Meghan is an intelligent woman. I’m sure she is perfectly aware of her extremely low popularity in the UK. I should imagine she now views it as a lost cause and, in any case, she seems to be far happier with her sunshine life in California.

“I think Meghan can be credited with encouraging Harry to stop sulking about the past and concentrate on the future. But I’m not sure she has any further role to play in mending the rift between Harry and his family.

“I think her eyes are firmly set on their lives in California, their children and her business ventures. She seems to be perfectly reconciled to a permanent estrangement from her own father, so she probably doesn’t see any particular problems in Harry remaining estranged from his brother and having only a fragile relationship with his father.”

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Despite this, the royal expert believes it was important that the Duchess of Sussex was present for the long overdue meeting at Highgrove, as Harry continues to mend the rift between his father, as Archie and Lilibet may have sensed the tension within the family if she wasn’t included.

“It’s a good thing that she was part of the family reunion at Highgrove a few weeks ago,” Jennie explained. “The children deserve to see some family harmony: it would have been damaging to have to explain that their mother wasn’t invited.

“And even though it must all have been rather awkward – after the accusations Harry and Meghan have made about the Royals – I’m sure everyone was on their very best behaviour.”

And while the Highgrove meeting may have brought up complicated feelings for both the Sussexes and the monarch, Jennie believes that Meghan may still feel a sense of loyalty to her in-laws, given their relationship to her husband and children.

She said: “Understandably, I think Meghan remains very proud of her royal connections. She does seem to like to use her title at the drop of a hat and she and Harry clearly want their children to be aware of their heritage and know that they are a Prince and Princess. And there’s nothing wrong with that, even though Harry appears to feel that being royal has been the hardest cross to bear.”

With Meghan’s 45th birthday just days away, the royal expert said that it is unlikely that the Firm will mark the special day, as they do with other senior royals on social media, but that doesn’t mean the occasion isn’t marked privately.

“I doubt if there will be any formal birthday wishes posted for Meghan, but if the King really is in fairly regular contact – as has been suggested – then perhaps there will be a phone call or birthday card,” Jennie said.

And while it is believed that the meeting at Highgrove was a success, Jennie said that Meghan seems content with her life in America, where she can focus solely on her family and business without thinking about her past royal duties and reputation in the UK.

“I haven’t seen the verified figures for her businesses and projects – but it looks to me as if they are quite reasonably successful. You certainly can’t accuse her of being lazy or not trying to earn her living. So I think we should all wish her good luck. And a very happy birthday.”

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FIFA has abandoned controversial plans to sell stakes in the World Cup and its other tournaments to private investors following a fierce backlash from football’s governing bodies. The news leaves president Gianni Infantino publicly humiliated and facing serious doubts over his future.

The governing body confirmed on Saturday that the proposal, known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), “will not proceed” after three continental confederations rejected the plans, with UEFA warning that its member nations would boycott FIFA competitions if they went ahead.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the proposal had been designed to generate more investment for member associations around the world, particularly in developing football nations, but admitted it had become too divisive.

In a statement, Infantino said: “The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our FIFA Member Associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where support is most needed.

“And more so, as we said from the outset, to do this only if a majority of the FIFA Member Associations were in support and always subject to a consultation process with them, the FIFA Council, the Confederations and wider stakeholders.

“Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.

“Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve.

“As a result, this proposal will not proceed.

“Moving forward, my intent is to bring all interested parties back together in the coming days and weeks in the spirit of shared interest in our game, and with the objective to continue growing football everywhere, particularly in those countries that mostly need our support.”

The proposal centred on the creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise to manage the commercial and operational aspects of FIFA competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups. The most contentious element was a plan to sell a 20 per cent stake in the company to private investors.

Thrive Eternal, a company founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of United States President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, had been identified as the leading investor, although the firm declined to comment on the proposals.

The plans sparked widespread criticism across world football and led to the resignation of Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro. FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour also distanced himself from the proposal, telling the Associated Press it was “a project of one person”.

Political figures also joined the criticism, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham branding the proposal “an outrageous suggestion”.

“The idea that it could even be brought forward shows that, in my view, (Infantino) is the wrong man to lead the organisation,” Burnham said.

The Asian Football Confederation welcomed FIFA’s decision to withdraw the plans, with president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa saying any major reforms must be based on “proper consultation, collective dialogue and respect for the established governance structures of our game”.

He added: “The AFC stands ready to support any initiative that strengthens the unity of the football family, contributes to the continued growth of the game globally and delivers meaningful benefits to all stakeholders.”

Alongside UEFA’s threat of a boycott, the proposals had also been rejected by CONCACAF, while the AFC called for an urgent review of FIFA’s governance and decision-making processes. South American governing body CONMEBOL had also sought further information and clarification before FIFA ultimately withdrew the plans.

The Netflix period drama has viewers calling it the perfect Bridgerton alternative, combining period drama with dark comedy

If you’ve reached the end of Bridgerton and find yourself searching for something to fill that period drama void, this series is the ideal place to begin – and you won’t even need to switch streaming platforms.

Netflix subscribers have been heaping praise on this dark comedy series set in 14th-century Italy. What many are unaware of, however, is that its entertaining storyline is drawn from a collection of 100 tales penned by an Italian writer, dating back to that very same period.

The Decameron is a mini-series inspired by the work of the same name, which unfolds during the devastating Black Death pandemic. Its narrative revolves around a wealthy family as they go to extraordinary lengths to survive the outbreak, all handled with an abundance of humour.

It carries a 15 rating, as The Decameron boldly incorporates sexual content, strong language, violence, and graphic details within its darkly comedic narrative. These elements are precisely what set it apart from the rest and earn it a wealth of five-star reviews.

One viewer wrote on Rotten Tomatoes: “A strange and amusing limited series. Characters that once seemed irredeemable are likeable, if not lovable by the final episode. Absurd and enjoyable, the series manages to stay light while investigating the dark underbelly of humanity.”, reports Wales Online.

Another shared their thoughts on the show in relation to the original text, writing: “While the show is loosely based on a 700 year old book, I found The Decameron fresh and engaging.

“The plot and characters felt like it was faithful to the 1300s without being stodgy. The characters are absolutely absurd, but that is part of their charm.”

Viewers are whisked away on a journey, beginning in 1348 in a fictionalised retelling of events, as the Black Death tightens its grip on Florence. In response, a group of nobles and their servants retreat to a countryside villa in Tuscany, riding out further outbreaks while indulging in their luxuries and lavish lifestyle.

It isn’t long before the disease reaches the tranquil hills and they are left with little option but to battle for their survival.

Bringing these characters to life are Tanya Reynolds from Sex Education, alongside Zosia Mamet, best known for her role in Girls. Also appearing on screen are Lou Gala, Leila Farzard, Jessica Plummer and Amar Chadha-Patel.

The cast have garnered considerable praise amongst critics, with one saying that they delivered “enjoyable performances”. Their review reads: “A period historical series that throws all the comedy and romance tropes out of the window is escalated by the enjoyable performances of a diverse cast untangled from any political narrative.

“This series is proof that even a story with unpredictable direction and story arcs makes for a hilariously entertaining one.”

Others simply ssaid that it was “well acted”, while one viewer said that the script and actors had them “laughing out loud” throughout. The period drama encompasses a great deal in its concise eight episodes and was regrettably never commissioned for a second series following its release in 2024, making it the perfect binge-watch.

The Decameron is streaming now on Netflix.

Chrissy Bell is a senior advisor with Acas and spent 10 years working on its helpline.

Acas provides free, impartial advice to employees and employers on workplace rights and disputes.

“If someone is expecting their wages on a certain date and it doesn’t arrive or it doesn’t arrive in full, then if people haven’t got savings, even a small amount of difference can be the difference between them paying their bills and not being able to pay them,” says Chrissy.

She has this advice to anyone who believes they have not been paid the correct amount,

“Firstly, work out the amount you should have been paid. So check payslips, timesheets, contracts and the first step is to speak to the employers, as there may have been a genuine mistake.”

If this does not work, she suggests putting a more formal grievance in writing, setting out any evidence, including timesheets, and then giving the employer a reasonable chance to respond.

Finally, she says if it is not resolved internally after a reasonable amount of time then the person should consider making a claim to an employment tribunal if they are owed outstanding wages.

“If someone gets an award at an employment tribunal then there are systems in place to help them enforce it if necessary,” she says.

Martha Lindeque declined to provide a statement, but the BBC understands that her position is that she strongly denies the allegations made by her ex-staff.

Will said he could “see his sternum moving” before finding out his heart rate had skyrocketed to 227 beats per minute

A star rower whose heart rate soared to 227 beats per minute was rescued by the air ambulance. Will Young was rowing alone early one summer morning when he began losing his vision and the strength in his arms.

The 34-year-old began falling towards the river but managed to row 100m back to the boathouse and put his boat away. While resting on the second floor of the building, his heart rate skyrocketed to 227bpm.

“I’d never felt like that before,” Will said. “I felt weird and weak. I looked down at my chest and could see my sternum moving really fast. I put my heart strap on and, straight away, it showed my heart rate as 227bpm. I rang 999 and told the call handler I was having a serious cardiac event.”

Paramedics arrived and saw that Will was at immediate risk of a cardiac arrest with dangerously low blood pressure, so they requested support from the East Anglian Air Ambulance. A doctor and critical care paramedic arrived at the scene and sedated Will before delivering a controlled shock to his heart to reset it to a normal rhythm.

Will’s heart stopped briefly and the team needed to carry out CPR until his heart and breathing restarted. He had to be removed from the second floor of the building over the balcony due to its spiral staircase.

He was taken by land ambulance to Addenbrooke’s Hospital with the East Anglian Air Ambulance team. He is now raising awareness to ensure the charity can continue to save lives across the region.

Will said: “I’ve always known about the East Anglian Air Ambulance, but only later became aware that it was a charity; something I think many people don’t know. The service they provide is unbelievably important – critical in fact. I have since been able to meet the team from East Anglian Air Ambulance – it was really cool to meet the people who saved my life.”

Dr Nicola Ebbs, deputy medical director from East Anglian Air Ambulance, said: “At just 33 years old, Will faced a life-threatening situation, and thanks to the charity’s supporters, he was given urgent treatment and care at the scene. To see him now using his experience to support our new air base appeal is incredibly moving.

“People who have experienced first-hand the difference the service can make understand better than anyone why this appeal matters. Their stories help bring to life the impact that rapid, specialist pre-hospital care can have on patients and their families. We are immensely grateful to Will for lending his support to our campaign and for helping us raise awareness of the need for a new air base.”

Will returned to Cambridge in 2016 where he fell in love with rowing, competing at a national level. He had experienced a previous suspected episode of Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) – a dangerously fast heart rhythm that can lead to cardiac arrest.

During this first incident, his heart rate increased to 222 beats per minute for 20 minutes. After investigations at hospital, he learned that he had part of his heart was inflamed. He returned to the sport after time spent recovering, before the second incident which saw him rescued by air ambulance staff.

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Dr Ebbs continued: “We’d also like to extend our thanks to everyone who has donated to the Cambridge Air Base Appeal so far. Together, we’ve made an incredibly strong start and have been humbled by people’s generosity.

“But this is only the beginning. There’s still a significant amount of money to raise. As we push on with our fundraising efforts, every gift and every piece of support will be gratefully received – helping to ensure our crews can continue to reach critically ill and injured patients, in the quickest time possible, when every second counts.”

The East Anglian Air Ambulance relies entirely on charitable donations for its 24/7 critical care service. It also provides aftercare support for former patients and their families.

The Cambridge Air Base Appeal aims to fund the construction of a new and improved facility on land at New Shardelowes Farm, on the outskirts of the Cambridgeshire village of Fulbourn. A spokesperson said the new base will ensure the charity continues to deliver hospital-level critical care to patients in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Bedfordshire, and Suffolk for decades to come.

They said: “Without a Cambridge base, East Anglian Air Ambulance’s lifesaving service would be cut in half, leaving just one air base in Norfolk and dramatically increasing response times to people like Will facing life-threatening emergencies across the region.”

You can find out more about the appeal here.

Brighton is preparing to welcome revellers for its annual Pride event this weekend, and it’s going to be a big one.

Brighton & Hove Pride 2026 starts today with a parade, where hundreds of thousands wearing their brightest rainbow gear will march through the coastal city.

Pride-goers will then pack into Preston Park for a joyous two-day concert with over 150 LGBTQ+ performers, including Diana Ross, Raye, Jessie J, and more.

This year’s theme is ‘the power of love’, as Pride organisers look back and honour the courage, protest, unity and love that carried the community through decades of change.

If you’re looking to attend the giant celebration, we’ve got all the details, including the full parade route, start and end times, Pride in the Park lineup, and everything else you need to enjoy the event.

What is the Brighton Pride parade route and when does it start?

The Brighton Pride parade will begin at Hove Lawns today at 11am and is expected to finish at Preston Park for the Pride on the Park concert, which starts around 1pm.

From the beachfront Hove Lawns, the parade will follow King’s Road before taking a left onto West Street, taking a right onto North Street at the clock tower, and then following London Road until the parade’s end at Preston Park.

Charities, community groups, local businesses, and blue-light service workers are expected to attend in what has been described as one of the ‘biggest and brightest’ events in Brighton and Hove’s calendar.

Who is performing at Pride on the Park?

Pride on the Park is a two-day ticketed festival that takes over Preston Park from 1pm, acting as the official fundraiser for local community groups.

Over the years, the festival has welcomed performances from international artists, including Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Grace Jones, Nile Rodgers and Chic, the Pet Shop Boys, Dua Lipa, Kylie Minogue, and more.

Both days consist of two main stages – main and dance – along with seven other stages available across the weekend, including a family area.

This year’s two-day festival will see a star-studded line-up of LGBTQ+ performers and allies, including:

On Saturday 

On the main stage, which is hosted by Jonny Woo and Rhys’ Pieces, the line-up includes:

• Raye
• Jessie J
• Self Esteem
• Leigh-Anne
• G Flip
• Moonchild Sanelly
• RuPaul (Icon slot, DJ set)

Meanwhile, on the dance stage you can expect:

• Purple Disco Machine
• Bimini
• Daniel Avery (Electro set)
• Oxylion & Danger
• Patrick Mason (House set)
• and more

On Sunday

On the Sunday, the main stage line-up includes:

• Diana Ross
• Five
• Holly Johnson of Frankie Goes to Hollywood
• Mel C (DJ set)
• Paris Hilton (Icon slot)

The dance stage includes performers:

• Armand Van Helden
• The Blessed Madonna
• Girls Don’t Sync
• Haai
• Hannah Wants
• I. Jordan
• and more

What about the Pride Street Party?

The Pride Street Party will also take place today and tomorrow on Marine Parade with drag queens, music zones and daytime clubbing all on hand for you to enjoy.

Day one of the Street Party will begin at 3pm and run through to 11pm, and it’ll include artists like Alex Fincher, Benji James, Baga Chipz, Bimini, Cherry Bomb, Gok Wan, DILF, Kerry Ellis, and more.

Day two of the event will begin at 2pm on Marine Parade. It’ll finish around 9pm and include performances from Absolute Britney, Cherry Liquor, Davina Sparkles, The Madame, Mary O’Kart, PXSSY PALACE, and more.

Travelling to and from Brighton Pride this weekend

With thousands of people expected to light up Brighton today and tomorrow, transport services have been modified to help manage the crowds.

By train

Brighton and Hove Pride has partnered with Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), the operator of Thameslink, Gatwick Express, and Southern train services, which will run more trains and implement additional train carriages to assist travellers over the weekend.

Brighton and Hove Pride has urged revellers to allow plenty of time to get to and from events in the city and to use Brighton Station for travel, as Preston Park and London Road stations are closed.

Pride attendees have also been warned about the return journey home, with Brighton Pride suggesting party-goers give themselves an hour to get to Brighton station from any event due to the large crowds.

Like last year, a rainbow queue system will help facilitate passengers as they leave the event, directing people to the right queue for their train and destination before reaching the station.

By bus

Festival-goers can also travel to the event by bus. Anyone travelling from West Sussex can reach Brighton by using the 270, 271, 272 or 273 bus routes.

For those of you located in East Essex, you can take the Regency routes 28 and 29 or the Coaster routes 12, 12X, and 13X.

A bus shuttle service between Preston Park, Old Steine and Kempt Town will run, alongside a second shuttle service running between the Pride Campsite, Pride on the Park, and the City Centre.

By car

If you’re driving, please be aware that there will be a series of road closures taking place for the event. There’s also no parking at Preston Park and its surroundings, and parking is restricted on a large section of Madeira Drive.

Brighton and Hove Pride warns that parking in the city centre can be expensive and limited, and so suggests visitors take public transport when possible.

What’s the weather forecast for Brighton Park?

Like last year’s glorious event, we’re once again being treated to beautiful weather over the two-day Pride event.

The Met Office has predicted sunshine and clear skies for today with highs of 23°C. Tomorrow’s conditions will be similar, although a few degrees hotter and peaking at 26°C.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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