Keir Starmer was torn apart by an audience member on BBC Question Time last night as questions over his judgement continue to mount.

The prime minister is facing pressure to resign from some Labour MPs after appointing Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to Washington, despite knowing about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

As the show discussed whether Starmer should now step down, one audience member suggested this was the final straw.

“I think that since Keir Starmer became prime minister, he upset the pensioners by saying about the winter fuel allowance, then he upset the farmers, then there was the Angela Rayner scandal, and then Alli,” she said, alluding to the clothes the prime minister received from Lord Alli.

“I think how can people trust this prime minister when he appointed Mandelson and he knew that he had the relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and also he has done so many U-turns on different policies,” she continued. “He has betrayed the British people, especially on disappointment with Mandelson, so how can we trust him and how can we keep him as a prime minister?”

However another member in the audience said “no major party is without scandal”, and that since July 2024 is the only time there’s been stability in governance especially with a shift in the international world order.

“I feel like right now it’s better off either keeping the party current or keeping the leader current to avoid destabilising the country,” he said.

A third audience member said Starmer “looks like a very broken man” when he issued an apology over Mandelson on Thursday.

However, she added: “But I can’t excuse what he did. I really was hopeful that he would be a good leader. I thought he had all the qualities. So if he doesn’t, then who does? How do we move forwards?”

Environment secretary Emma Reynolds defended the prime minister, saying he has dealt with international challenges “very skillfully” in a difficult geopolitical period.

“The security services did not advise against appointing Mandelson,” she noted, while adding that this process clearly needs to be improved.

Jacob Elordi has shed some light on how he tackled the Yorkshire accent for the controversial new Wuthering Heights film.

Among accusations of whitewashing and test audiences’ shock at a reported opening mid-execution ejaculation scene, the fact that the film’s two leads – Jacob and Margot Robbie – are both Australian has been less talked about.

However, when the trailer – and, later, a full clip – dropped for Saltburn director Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Emily Bronte’s classic novel, we got a preview of Jacob’s take on the Northern English accent.

Speaking to the BBC, the actor has now revealed how he tackled the notoriously tricky task.

“I just practise it in the bath, over and over and over and over,” he said. “I like the ‘meks’ and the ‘teks’, instead of ‘take’. I like the ‘M-E-K’, ‘T-E-K’.”

Generally speaking, fans’ reactions to Jacob’s accent has been positive, with many putting their aspersions about Emerald’s take on Wuthering Heights aside to praise how he “nailed it”.

Meanwhile Margot – who plays heroine Catherine in the film – hasn’t gone for the northern accent for the film, instead adopting something closer to received pronunciation English.

Emerald has previously spoken about adding her own stamp to the gothic story, and her choice to include quotation marks around the film’s title.

“I knew right from the get-go, I couldn’t ever hope to make anything that could even encompass the greatness of this book,” she said.

“All I could do was… I don’t know… make a movie that made me feel the way the book made me feel. And so, therefore, it just felt right to say it’s Wuthering Heights… and it isn’t! You know?”

The director isn’t shy about provoking a strong reaction with her work, with Saltburn becoming a huge cultural moment thanks in part to scenes like Barry Keoghan’s bathtub moment.

Equally, her directorial debut Promising Young Woman picked up a slew of awards for its smart, feminist take on rape culture and supposed “nice guys” in the wake of the Me Too movement.

Wuthering Heights arrives in cinemas on Friday 13 February, just in time for Valentine’s Day weekend.

Cervical screenings are key to spotting cell abnormalities and HPV (responsible for 99% of cervical cancers) early, preventing any changes from turning into cancer.

Since 1964, these screenings have happened through cervical screenings in the UK, in which a “soft brush” is inserted into a person’s cervix to collect cells.

But new research published in the BMJ said “HPV testing of menstrual blood could be a robust alternative or replacement to clinician-based testing”.

This could be promising, the researchers say, because people can “non-invasively collect samples at home”. The process also “reduces their discomfort and alleviates fear of pain”.

As many as 62% of people eligible for cervical screenings say they worry about discomfort, while one in three skip their appointment.

In this research, 3,068 women, aged 20-54 years, with regular periods, wore “minipads” while menstruating.

This was a sterile cotton strip added to their period pad.

They also provided a clinician-collected cervical sample, and an “an additional clinician collected cervical sample for laboratory processing” – like a regular cervical screening.

Researchers wanted to measure the respective diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of these different tests.

“Sensitivity indicates how well a test picks up people who have a disease and specificity indicates how well a test picks up those who don’t,” the BMJ said in a press release.

In this study, minipads had a sensitivity of 94.7% for detecting CIN2+ (precancerous cervical cells usually caused by HPV). This was not far from the sensitivity of clinician-collected samples (92.1%).

And while specificity was lower in the minipad tests (89.1% vs 90.0%), with clinician-collected samples performing better, the negative predictive value, or “the probability that a person with a negative test result truly does not have the disease,” was identical (99.9%).

Additionally, the positive predictive value – “the probability that a person with a positive test result truly has the disease” – was about the same (9.9% v 10.4%), and referrals for further testing were also about equal.

Researchers stressed that more research is needed. This study also said that real-world research should focus on factors like cost and accessibility, as well as ensuring the biomarkers they’re using to detect HPV help the tests to become as specific and sensitive as possible.

Still, the authors add, “The results of this large-scale community-based study show the utility of using minipad collected menstrual blood for HPV testing as a standardised, non-invasive alternative or replacement for cervical cancer screening.

“The findings of this study support the integration of menstrual blood-based HPV testing into national cervical cancer screening guidelines.”

There are two types of people in the world: type A and type B. Or so common wisdom says, anyway — of course, as with anything human, we’re all much more complex than that.

Still, sorting people into type A and type B categories can sometimes serve as useful shorthand for understanding ourselves and others. This is especially true in romantic relationships.

You might think that a partnership between a type A person and a type B person could never work, or would be fraught with tension, but this isn’t completely accurate.

Firstly, type A/type B relationships are all around us — opposites attract, after all. In fact, these relationships can be super successful. All it takes is a little communication.

We spoke to two relationship experts to find out what type A/type B relationships tend to look like, and how to navigate some of the issues that can crop up in these pairings.

People often use the terms “type A” and “type B” in everyday conversation, but few know their slightly odd origins. According to Medical News Today, the terms were first invented in 1959 by two cardiologists whose research suggested that a type A personality may be linked to higher instances of coronary heart disease — but their research has been widely questioned because the scientists received funding from the tobacco industry. Still, the categorizations themselves do hold water as a starting point to understanding how different people work.

Anyway, “type A is typically characterized by high drive, urgency, competitiveness, and a need for control. The person who has a color-coded calendar and gets twitchy when plans change,” Sabrina Zohar, a dating coach and podcaster, told HuffPost. “Type B tends to be more laid-back, flexible, go-with-the-flow, and less reactive to external pressure.”

With that in mind, there’s a LOT of nuance to these categories, and it’s important to take them with a grain of salt. After all, there’s even been a type C personality discussed lately.

“Awareness of one’s personality is helpful when it comes to matters like job placement and relationships; however, only focusing on one’s designated personality type may cause one to underestimate their ability to adapt to circumstances,” Michele Leno, a licensed psychologist, relationship expert and host of the talk show “Mind Matters with Dr. Michele,” told HuffPost. “If you place them in a box, you may not notice the type A behaving calmly under pressure or how well the type B pursues and accomplishes goals.”

Also, there’s a difference between innate personality traits and those brought on by environmental necessity. “Type A may be dealing with anxiety that causes more hyper-vigilance,” said Dr. Leno. “Type B has perhaps learned to home in on their emotions and effectively manage underlying distress so that it is less obvious.”

And another thing: Nobody is just type A or just type B. “We exist on a spectrum and can shift depending on context. Someone might be extremely type A at work but more relaxed in relationships, or vice versa,” said Zohar. “The labels can help us understand general tendencies, but I’d caution against using them to box people in or excuse behavior. We contain multitudes, and ‘that’s just how I am’ isn’t a free pass.”

It’s called a partnership for a reason. When we have different strengths and weaknesses in a relationship, we can fill in the gaps for each other — making the ride easier for both people involved.

In a type A/type B relationship, “the type A partner brings structure, planning, and forward momentum,” said Zohar. “The type B partner brings flexibility, calm, and the reminder that not everything needs to be optimised. Type A helps type B stay on track; type B helps type A actually enjoy the ride.”

When someone close to us does things really differently from us, many of us find it difficult, and we may turn to judging them rather than seeking to understand how they work.

“Type A can perceive type B as lazy, unmotivated, or not taking things seriously,” Zohar said. “Type B can experience type A as controlling, critical, or exhausting. Type A wants a plan; type B wants to see how they feel. Type A gets frustrated when things aren’t efficient; type B gets frustrated when everything has to be a production.”

But differences aren’t bad in themselves — the problem lies in how the type A and type B partners respond to those differences.

“They can clash when one tries to change the other,” Dr. Leno said. “While early dating can be exciting, as the relationship progresses, so will expectations. Requiring one to deviate from their natural way of being will induce conflict and possibly a breakup.”

Or as Zohar put it, problems arise “when each person starts interpreting the other’s wiring as a personal flaw rather than a different operating system.”

Short answer? Type A/type B couples are super common. “Opposites do attract, especially early on when differences feel exciting and complementary rather than irritating,” Zohar said. “Type A might be drawn to type B’s ease and chill energy, thinking ‘I need more of that in my life.’ Type B might admire type A’s ambition and ability to get shit done. We often seek out what we feel we lack.”

You probably know where this is going: Those differences may not always feel as good as they did when you started dating. “What attracts you in the beginning can become what annoys you later if you’re not intentional about appreciating those differences rather than trying to change them,” Zohar said.

It doesn’t matter who you are, ALL romantic relationships include major differences between partners — and a learning curve to navigate them effectively.

In the case of a type A/type B relationship, “First, recognize you’re speaking different languages. Type A communicates to solve, fix, plan. Type B communicates to process, connect, explore,” Zohar said. “Neither is wrong, but if you don’t understand what your partner actually needs from a conversation, you’ll keep missing each other.”

Both partners can work on how they approach discussions. “Type A needs to practice patience and resist the urge to immediately turn everything into an action item,” Zohar said. “Type B needs to recognize that their partner isn’t being controlling. They’re trying to create security in the way they know how.”

Again, as in every relationship, it’s important to be clear about what you’re looking for from your partner. “Get explicit about what you need: ‘I’m venting, I don’t need solutions’ or ‘I need us to make a decision on this, can we focus?’” Zohar said. “Don’t expect your partner to just know. Mind reading isn’t intimacy.”

The key to relational harmony is to really lean into what you’re both good at and feel grateful for what your partner brings to the table that doesn’t come as naturally to you.

“Divide and conquer based on strengths instead of fighting over whose approach is ‘right,’” Zohar said. “Let the type A partner take the lead on things that require planning and logistics. Let the type B partner take the lead on spontaneity and making sure you’re actually having fun together.”

In terms of expectations, you should both commit to understanding each other by explicitly communicating how you work and what you need AND by paying attention to your partner’s habits. “Type A: your partner’s relaxed approach isn’t a sign they don’t care,” Zohar said. “Type B: your partner’s need for structure isn’t them being uptight. It’s how they feel safe.”

In terms of boundaries, it’s “about protecting the relationship from your own worst tendencies,” Zohar said. “Type A might need to agree not to criticize how their partner loads the dishwasher. Type B might need to commit to showing up on time when it matters to their partner.”

More than anything, type A partners shouldn’t try to make their partner more like them, and vice-versa — that’s the surest way to strangle the relationship. “You didn’t fall in love with this person so you could turn them into you,” Zohar said. “The goal isn’t to make your type B partner more ambitious or your type A partner more chill. It’s to build a relationship where both ways of being are respected.”

Billie Eilish’s brother and musical collaborator Finneas is sticking up for the Birds Of A Feather singer after her acceptance speech at this year’s Grammy Awards sparked the ire of conservative critics.

On Sunday night, the brother-and-sister duo were awarded Song Of The Year at the 2026 Grammys for their hit Wildflower.

While accepting the accolade, Billie was one of several musicians during this year’s awards show to speak out against the current political administration, and in particular the recent actions of ICE officers.

“I feel so honoured every time I get to be in this room,” Billie told the audience. “And as grateful as I feel, I honestly don’t feel like I need to say anything but that no one is illegal on stolen land.

“And it’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now, and I just feel really hopeful in this room and I feel like we need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting. Our voices really do matter and the people matter – and fuck ICE is all I want to say.”

In the days that followed, Billie’s comments were torn apart by all of the usual suspects, with one GB News reporter even going as far as travelling to the pop singer’s house in Los Angeles to – in his words “see if she practises what she preaches” and let him into her home (which, considering Billie’s well-documented history with alleged stalkers, feels particularly egregious).

Posting on Threads, Finneas jumped to his sister’s defence, writing: “Seeing a lot of very powerful old white men outraged about what my 24-year-old sister said during her acceptance speech.

“We can literally see your names in the Epstein files.”

In a separate post, responding to a USA Today opinion piece branding Billie’s views “idiotic”, he said: “You can’t say it doesn’t matter what musicians or celebrities say or think but then talk about it for days. You’re out here making it matter. I’ll keep speaking up especially if it keeps bothering you.”

Billie’s latest win means she is now a 10-time Grammy recipient, while Finneas has 11, having also won two solo awards for his work as a producer.

This year’s top winner was Kendrick Lamar, while Bad Bunny picked up the night’s top honour, Album Of The Year, also speaking out against ICE during one of his own acceptance speeches.

Labour peer Harriet Harman has urged Keir Starmer to take stronger action over the scandal surrounding Peter Mandelson or risk losing his job.

The prime minister is under immense pressure over his decision to appoint Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington last year, despite knowing about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

While Mandelson was sacked in September, a new batch of files released by US lawmakers last week showed just how extensive their friendship was, putting the spotlight on Starmer’s judgement once again.

The prime minister apologised to Epstein’s victims on Thursday, saying Mandelson had lied to him – but Harman, former deputy Labour leader, said that was not enough.

She said: “I think it is so serious for Keir Starmer. I don’t think it’s inevitable that it will bring him down.

“But it will bring him down unless he takes the action, which is really necessary for him to take, and that’s this: firstly, he’s got to stop blaming Mandelson and saying, ‘he lied to me’. Because actually he should never have been considering him in the first place.

“To say ‘he lied to me’ makes it look weak and naive and gullible. So it’s just completely the wrong thing.”

Speaking to Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Harman said Starmer had drifted from his values in appointing Mandelson, and that he must return to them for his career to survive.

She said he should also be “reflecting on why he made that appointment” rather than blaming Mandelson for it all.

“He should also be thinking about a real reset in Number 10, because what you need from your team in Number 10 is people who share your values and your principles and who will help you be the best prime minister you can be, according to your true self,” the peer said.

“Clearly, that is not what happened because the Keir Starmer, who was DPP [director of public prosecutions], would never have appointed somebody like Peter Mandelson to represent the country.”

She urged Starmer to drop his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, who pushed for Mandelson’s appointment, and to bring forward the government’s action on tackling violence against women and girls.

Harman said this would win back the confidence of the Labour backbenchers, parliament and the UK.

There’s rising outrage within the Labour Party over the government’s attempts to block the release of documents from before and after Mandelson’s appointment.

Backlash from his own MPs forced Starmer to climb down and agree to allow an independent committee of MPs to choose what information is published.

No.10 officials have stood by McSweeney so far, with housing secretary Steve Reed insisting he is “of course” safe in the job.

Meanwhile, Home Office minister Mike Tapp insisted that Mandelson had “tricked” Starmer when speaking to BBC Radio 4′s Today programme.

Mandelson quit the Labour Party on Sunday and stood down from the House of Lords earlier this week.