BBC’s weekend TV favourite Strictly Come Dancing will be a noticeably different show when it returns to our screens in the autumn.

Over the last few months, a number of the show’s resident professional dancers have parted ways with Strictly under a variety of circumstances, while it’s also been suggested that companion show It Takes Two could be getting something of an overhaul, too.

Then, of course, there’s the search for a new presenting team in the wake of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s exits at the end of last year.

Before her departure, Tess had been with Strictly since its inception in 2004, with Claudia joining on a permanent basis a decade later, taking over presenting duties from the late Sir Bruce Forsyth.

Advertisement

When the duo began hosting together, they made history as the first female presenting team to front a primetime show, and there’s no denying that Strictly viewers are going to miss their unique dynamic on those wintery Saturday nights.

But, with Tess and Claudia having now left the ballroom for good, fans are now looking to the future, and speculating over exactly who could be brought in to fill their shoes.

Rumours began circulating late last year, with The Sun publishing a list of names supposedly doing “chemistry tests” with the aim of landing the coveted Strictly role.

Since then, there’ve been a fair few developments, including one report claiming that BBC bosses could be looking to boost Strictly’s presenting team from two to three to shake things up even more.

Advertisement

As we wait for further news, here’s a quick round-up of everyone who’s been rumoured for the gig so far…

Zoe Ball

When we first heard that there were two vacant spots on the Strictly presenting line-up, our minds immediately went to Zoe Ball, who competed in the third series before going on to front companion show It Takes Two for 10 seasons.

She’s even guest hosted the main show, filling in for Claudia Winkleman back in 2014.

Zoe has also expressed interest in the job, with the rumour mill going into overdrive when she was included in The Sun’s supposed presenter shortlist, with the tabloid naming her the “frontrunner” for the gig as recently as February.

Advertisement

Emma Willis

The Sun’s piece naming Zoe Ball as a frontrunner claimed that the job search had become a “straight shoot-out” between her and another popular British presenter, Emma Willis.

Emma is best known for her work fronting a variety of reality shows over the years, including The Voice, The Circle and Big Brother.

More regularly, she’s also become a regular face on This Morning, and gained a more international audience when she began co-hosting the UK edition of Love Is Blind alongside her famous husband Matt Willis.

According to The Sun’s “source”, the BBC were hoping to pair either Zoe or Emma with a “more left-field person” with a “female stand-up comedian” being the preferred choice.

Advertisement

Mel Giedroyc

Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

Just days after this, the Daily Mail published a piece saying that Mel Giedroyc was being “eyed” for a presenting role at the helm of Strictly.

It was claimed that Mel’s “gentle touch” and ability to “use humour to relieve [any] tension”, as displayed during her time in the Great British Bake Off tent, had made her a favourite for the job.

Mel can currently be seen in action in the latest season of Last One Laughing, and has recently competed on The Masked Singer and fronted the TV quiz show adaptation of Pictionary.

Advertisement

She also took part in the annual Strictly Christmas special back in 2021, where she was paired with Neil Jones.

Miranda Hart

Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

Self-professed Strictly super-fan Miranda Hart was mentioned as a possible new host by The Sun in late March 2026.

According to the tabloid, Miranda was being considered for the role due to the fact that she and Claudia Winkleman share a similar sense of humour, with a source describing the rumoured signing as a “massive coup for the BBC”.

Advertisement

Angela Scanlon

Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

Another former Strictly star rumoured to be on the BBC’s “golden ten” shortlist late last year, Angela Scanlon competed on the show in 2023, where she was paired up with now-reigning champion Carlos Gu.

The Irish presenter is best known for her work on shows like Robot Wars, Your Home Made Perfect and The One Show, and will next be seen trying her luck on The Celebrity Apprentice.

In March 2026, the Daily Mail said it was increasingly likely that Angela would bag one of the Strictly presenting jobs, following “meetings over the past few weeks with show bosses”.

Advertisement

Rylan Clark

A week after the Mail named Angela Scanlon as a top pick to take over as one of Strictly’s new hosts, the same publication claimed that she and Rylan Clark were a potential new duo.

They cited a “Strictly source” who suggested that bosses liked the idea of creating a new presenting pair rather than relying on an existing TV duo, and that Angela and Rylan would definitely fit the bill.

Meanwhile, The Sun claimed more recently that bosses were looking to add a male presenter into the mix, rather than trying to replicate Claudia and Tess’ dynamic, with Rylan one of three names mentioned as being in the frame.

Like Zoe Ball, Rylan previously fronted the spin-off show It Takes Two for four seasons between 2019 and 2022, and is a regular fixture on the BBC thanks to his Radio 2 show, his coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest and his travel series Rob And Rylan’s Grand Tour, which he co-presents with Rob Rinder (more on him in a sec).

Advertisement

Bradley Walsh

Even before he was included on The Sun’s list of the “golden ten” stars supposedly in consideration for the Strictly gig, Bradley Walsh was named in the press as a top pick to take over at the helm of the dance show.

Currently known for his work at the helm of The Chase, Gladiators and Blankety Blank, the tabloid reported in November that Bradley was being “lined up” by higher-ups at the BBC to take over from Tess and Claudia, as part of an apparent “revamp” for the show.

Last month, The Sun revived the speculation when they included him in their shortlist of three male stars reportedly in consideration to join Strictly’s new presenting team.

However, despite the persistent rumours, Bradley has repeatedly cast doubt on the suggestion that he’ll be taking over at the helm of Strictly.

Advertisement

Alex Jones

Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

Last year, when Bradey’s name was mentioned in the press for the first time as a possible Strictly host, The One Show host Alex Jones was also suggested as a potential co-host.

Back in November 2025, The Sun cited “insiders” who claimed that Alex and Bradley were being “courted as the perfect partnership” to take over the show.

Later, Alex was also one of the 10 names listed to be on the rumoured shortlist, and while many other names have been mentioned in the months since, the tabloid insisted as recently as March that she was “still the favourite” in producers’ eyes.

Advertisement

Fleur East

Since competing on The X Factor in 2014, Fleur East has carved a new career for herself as a presenter, fronting Hits Radio’s breakfast show, as well as a recurring segment on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.

Fleur has most notably fronted Strictly’s companion show It Takes Two since 2023, a year after competing on the main show, making it to the final alongside her professional partner Vito Coppola.

In March, The Sun mentioned that the Sax singer was still “in the mix”, indicating she could still land one of the coveted presenting slots.

Johannes Radebe

Advertisement

One of the most recent additions to the ever-growing list of rumoured hosts is Striclty pro Johannes Radebe.

Johannes has been a favourite of Strictly fans ever since he first joined as a professional dancer in 2018, and in March, The Sun named him as a wildcard third male star near the top of bosses’ wishlists, alongside Bradley Walsh and Rylan Clark.

If the South African performer did land the job, it wouldn’t be the first time a former Strictly pro moved to a different role within the show.

Current It Takes Two host Janette Manrara was previously a pro dancer on Strictly, as was resident judge Anton Du Beke.

Alan Carr

Advertisement

Tess and Claudia’s Strictly exits were announced in the middle of last year’s series of The Celebrity Traitors, meaning plenty of people’s minds immediately went to scene-stealer Alan Carr as a favourite for the hosting job.

Already a popular stand-up comic, Alan has plenty of TV experience to his name now, not just as host of his talk show Chatty Man, but also series like Picture Slam, Interior Design Masters and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.

Unfortunately, he quickly poured water on the rumours, insisting the gig would be “too nerve-racking” for him.

That being said, he was still named in The Sun’s subsequent list of possible hosts, even if the man himself seems less keen on the suggestion.

Amanda Holden

Advertisement

David Fisher/Shutterstock

Also on that list was Amanda Holden, with whom Alan has now shared the screen on a number of occasions.

Like Alan, Amanda was mentioned on The Sun’s rumoured shortlist, but also dispelled the rumours, insisting that her commitments with Britain’s Got Talent would mean she wouldn’t be able to do Strictly.

“We are so flattered to be in that mix,” she told her Heart listeners. “[But] we both are not doing it.”

Holly Willoughby

Advertisement

Of course, it was always going to be inevitable that rumours about Holly Willoughby landing the gig would also start to circulate.

Former Dancing On Ice host Holly – who has been keeping something of a low profile since her This Morning exit in 2023 – was named as the bookies’ favourite for the hosting gig almost immediately, after which Daily Mail reporter Richard Eden wrote in his column that he’d heard from former BBC One controller Peter Fincham that a reliable source had told him that the job was Holly’s for the taking.

He alleged: “My hairdresser also cuts the hair of a well-known channel controller. What’s said in Harry’s the hairdresser stays in Harry’s. But he says with great confidence that Holly Willoughby will take over.”

Tabloid reports stretching as far back as 2023 even suggested that the BBC had been hoping to “lure” Holly over to them from ITV via a rumoured offer to present Strictly, two years before Tess and Claudia even announced they were departing.

More recently, Holly was included on the “golden ten” list published in The Sun.

Advertisement

Alison Hammond

Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock

Daytime legend Alison Hammond was also reported by The Sun to be one of the stars undergoing “chemistry tests” to try and land the co-presenting gig on Strictly Come Dancing.

Following this, she made an appearance on Loose Women where the Great British Bake Off presenter made no secret of her hopes to end up with the Strictly hosting job.

When she was still more of a beloved cult figure than a full-blown national treasure, Alison competed on Strictly back in 2014, where she was partnered with Aljaz Skorjanec.

Advertisement

Rob Rinder

David Fisher/Shutterstock

The Sun’s much-cited piece about the search for the new Strictly hosts mentioned that bosses were considering existing presenting teams, mentioning travelogue stars Rylan and Rob Rinder.

Rob – who first rose to fame as the host of Judge Rinder and now regularly co-presents ITV’s Good Morning Britain – was also reported to be taking “chemistry tests” with a variety of different potential co-hosts with the prospect of forming a new duo to front Strictly Come Dancing.

Oti Mabuse

Advertisement

Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP

Oti Mabuse is undoubtedly one of the most popular Strictly pros in the show’s history, and since parting ways with the show, has become a regular fixture on screen, judging Dancing On Ice, fronting the dating show Romeo & Duet, briefly landing her own ITV daytime series and regular popping up on the Loose Women panel.

The same day Tess and Claudia’s departures were announced, Strictly staple Craig Revel Horwood (now the show’s longest-serving fixture) named Oti as his top pick to inherit the presenting job, alongside Alan Carr.

La Voix

We are going to continue manifesting this as long as we possibly can, alright? Give. Her. The. Job.

Source link

The University and College Union (UCU) has issued a damning verdict on Ulster University’s brutal decision to axe 450 jobs. The union represents over 120,000 staff across further education institutions in Britain and Ireland. In a statement, they said:

The shocking announcement to cut 450 jobs at Ulster University is unprecedented and represents a direct threat to the quality of education, respect for staff, desires and ambitions of students and the long-term future of our institution.

Staff already work under sustained pressure, with rising workloads and impossible demands. Imposing redundancies on this scale is deeply alarming and unsustainable. Removing hundreds of staff will fundamentally damage the student experience and weaken academic provision.

Our members deserve full transparency, genuine consultation, in line with legal obligations, as well as the opportunity to challenge the assumptions underpinning these decisions. Any process that falls short of this will be robustly contested and our members will not be afraid to take action to challenge these decisions.

Staff at Ulster University also strongly criticised the decision, with lecturer Aisling O’Beirn highlighting the “wider societal consequences”. She pointed out how the sackings will “pull income out of the economy” and:

…restrict people’s access to education, which is so important in a post-conflict society…

Ulster University’s dysfunctional higher education funding approach backfires again

The university claimed that:

Redundancies across the higher education sector have become unavoidable.

They went on to cite the “more than 100 institutions across the UK” that have reduced staffing levels. Ulster University went on to suggest that:

…a sustainable funding model is not going to be forthcoming, and regretfully, we must now act to reduce our costs.

Ulster University had been seeking permission to raise tuition fees by over £1,000 per year. This would have forced students to bear a cost of £5,831 every 12 months. Minister for the economy Caoimhe Archibald rejected the request in May 2025. In the Six Counties, universities also receive funding from Stormont via block grants. The squeezed education budget has left a shortfall in money going to universities.

Setting of students fees in the north of Ireland is devolved to Stormont, which has chosen to set them at a lower level than the 2025/26 cap of £9,535 Labour allow in England. Scotland and Germany seem to actually value higher education, where the state will largely cover payment of fees for most students.

Universities in the Six Counties rely heavily on the whopping fees they are entitled to charge international students, who are typically expected to pay around £17,000 per year. However, multiple changes by successive Westminster governments racing to the bottom on immigration have deterred such students from coming.

Changes made by the Tories in January 2024 ensured that:

…international students on a postgraduate taught course, such as a master’s degree, have not been permitted to bring their partner and minor children with them to the UK.

International students pushed out by immigration hysteria

Labour have gone ahead with plans that mean students need to prove they have £1,171 per month to support themselves with. In 2027, the post-study work visa duration will go from 24 months to 18.

A sensible model for funding higher education might look like the following: provide sufficient state funding to ensure that all residents of Britain and the north of Ireland who wish to can attend university, without becoming massively indebted. Have appealing rules for international students that attract the best minds to our universities.

This way, you get a well-educated home-grown population, and the brightest people from around the world, who then go on to build a world class economy.

Alternatively, you can wreck higher education by going out of your way to pander to the prejudices of a privately educated, ex-investment banker who wants to fool the public into thinking all societal malaise is the result of immigration. Then proceed to watch your dysfunctional nation slide further into the doldrums.

Of course, the north of Ireland can’t dictate its own immigration rules as these powers are not devolved. Thus we have a sclerotic arrangement that prevents potentially joined-up thinking on issues like this, when Britain maintains its course of self-sabotage.

The UCU condemned the Ulster University job cuts along similar lines, saying:

This announcement indicates a complete lack of a clear strategic vision for sustainable growth and development. At a time when universities should be expanding opportunity, investing in innovation, and strengthening their regional impact, large-scale redundancies signal regression, rather than progression.

They pledged to fight on, declaring that:

UCU will defend our members, challenge all unjustified job losses, and will robustly hold the university and government to account. We stand ready to engage, but we will not stand idly by and let our university flounder through government or university neglect.

Featured image via the Canary

By Robert Freeman

Source link

Establishment figures want more money for war. Recent days have seen government ministers, ex-ministers and generals all demanding welfare is cut to fund massive hikes to ‘defence’ budgets. Turns out they’re all linked to Israel, oil, arms and private healthcare. Quelle surprise, hey?

War hawks gather

The Canary reported on 15 April that UK PM and Chief Silly-Bum of Britainshire-upon-Thames Keir Starmer was under pressure to hike military budgets. The authors of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review were among the most vocal critics. These include former Labour defence minister Lord Robertson and ex-British army general Richard Barrons.

Now, Thatcherite Labour health minister Wes Streeting chipped in as well. Turns out these figures have a links to various lobby groups across issues like pharmaceutical and the arms trade. Barrons said on 15 April that US defence chief Pete Hegseth was right that the Royal Navy was a shadow of itself.

Like many others I hung my head in sorrow. But I couldn’t argue with him because although the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force and the army are, in their bones, outstanding institutions, they are simply too small and too undernourished to deal with the world that we we now live in. And the review says this.

Lord Robertson, in a major 15 April speech, said that Starmer is:

not willing to make the necessary investment.

Funnily enough that money, Robertson said, should be squeezed out of the less well-off:

We cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget.

Classic.

Corrosive complacency

Robertson announced:

There is a corrosive complacency today in Britain’s political leadership. Lip service is paid to the risks, the threats, the bright red signals of danger – but even a promised national conversation about defence can’t be started.

He also accused “non-military experts in the Treasury” of “vandalism”. Which sounds like a pitch for more military control of the economy.

The BBC reported:

Lord Robertson’s apparent suggestion that the government could find money by reducing the welfare bill may be one that is shared by the Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Pressed on the matter in an LBC interview, working class cosplayer Streeting said:

Yes, we do need to put more money into defence, we will need more, that’s the reality of the challenge we face.

Pressed on where it would come from, he said:

We definitely want to reduce the welfare budget. It’s for the Chancellor to set out her budgets, I want to make sure I stay in my lane.

Pressured further he told the channel:

It’s got to come from somewhere.

So why not already vulnerable disabled people who are already struggling to live, eh Wes?

Talk about pulling the ladder up, Streeting…

Big Pharma and arms trade links

Now we come to it… the great grift of our times. Let’s start with Barrons, who is co-chair of Universal Defence and Security Solutions (UDSS).

Here’s what UDSS has to say about itself:

UDSS is a leader in not only the delivery of practical advice and service in all areas of defence and security but also in the thinking and execution of digital age Defence and Security Transformation, including applied cyber.

A man with a vested interest in defence spending, in short…

NATO chief and BP advisor

How about Lord Robertson who once headed NATO? Well, Lord Robertson is a ‘senior counselor‘ at the US-based Cohen Group. The Cohen Group assists:

aerospace and defense firms on policy, business development and transactions. We have helped firms from the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Turkey, Israel, GCC, India, Southeast Asia, and Japan to succeed in North America, Europe, the Middle East, India, Latin America, East Asia, and Southeast Asia.

They have:

assisted clients to compete for and win tens of billions of dollars in contracts, to enter new international markets, to build joint venture and other partnerships overseas, and to move up the supply chain.

Another man with an interest in defence spending increases them? Cohen Group also helps out energy firms. Which is lucky… because Robertson is an advisor to the CEO of British Petroleum. Delightful.

One-way Streeting

How about Streeting? Well, it’s no secret that as health secretary Streeting has been a strident advocate of privatising the NHS down to the last doorknob. That may have something to do with his profound links to private healthcare firms… but who can say?

These links are probably best demonstrated by this popular breakdown, in this case tweeted by Streeting’s nemesis Green Party leader Zack Polanski:

Wes Streeting having the chutzpah to tell the story about the NHS.

He doesn't tell the bit about how much he's accepted from private healthcare and the risk our NHS is at under this Labour Government.

Advertisement

And most of all, lots of questions about his meetings with Palantir.#BBCQT pic.twitter.com/r51e5dojEd

— Zack Polanski (@ZackPolanski) March 19, 2026

Streeting has also received tens of thousands of pound from the Israel lobby, according to this report by our pals at Declassified UK. The report notes that:

Streeting became the first member of Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet to visit Israel, in a move designed to signal a break with Jeremy Corbyn’s pro-Palestine position.

The trip was paid for by, you guessed it… our old chums at Labour Friends of Israel (LFI).

When a group of establishment drones want to cut welfare to fund militarism and war, the first question you must always ask is: whose pocket are you in? That is certainly worth asking of this gaggle of wrong ‘uns, as it turns out. A little scrutiny links them directly to some of the most obnoxious interests around: from private healthcare and the arms industry, through to Israel lobbyists and global energy giants.

They must think we’re bloody fools or something…

Featured image via the Canary

By Joe Glenton

Source link

Real Madrid’s exit from the Champions League has become a hot topic in the Spanish and European press, which has treated the elimination as more than just an ordinary defeat, but rather a ‘resounding collapse’ for a team historically associated with continental dominance and decisive moments.

Real Madrid: game over?

In Spain, the newspaper Marca devoted extensive coverage to the event, arguing that Real Madrid had “lost its European identity” and was no longer a team capable of turning results around in difficult moments. It pointed to repeated defensive errors and a lack of the usual resilience, alongside a lack of leadership on the pitch and a failure to react after falling behind.

For its part, the newspaper ‘AS’ offered a harsher assessment, describing what happened as a “complete tactical collapse”, explaining that the team failed to grasp the rhythm of the match and impose its style at any stage. It also highlighted the lack of effectiveness in midfield, weak pressing and organisation, alongside an attacking impotence and a lack of solutions, in a match it described as revealing a clear loss of the battle of the details.

As for ‘Mundo Deportivo’, it focused on the psychological aspect within the team, noting that tension was evident among the players, that body language reflected frustration and a lack of confidence, and that the team spirit that had characterised the side in its previous historic comebacks was absent. In the same vein, ‘Sport’ argued that the elimination should not be seen merely as a result, but as evidence of a “deeper crisis”, amidst an unstable transitional phase and a decline in the effectiveness of tactical choices.

In the Madrid press, reports pointed to a tense atmosphere in the dressing room after the match, with some players blaming one another, amidst a general feeling that an avoidable opportunity had been squandered.

Across Europe, questions are being asked

At the European level, the French newspaper L’Équipe described what happened as “the downfall of a team that relied too heavily on its history”, arguing that overconfidence had become a weakness and that the opposition were better organised and deserved to progress. In England, The Guardian viewed the match as a “revelatory moment”, asserting that Real Madrid is no longer the team that commands respect across the continent, with the gap between them and their rivals narrowing. Meanwhile, the BBC focused on technical shortcomings, pointing to a lack of balance between the lines and a decline in the ability to cope with the pressure of big matches.

Conversely, several newspapers were unanimous in their praise for the opponents, who succeeded in dictating the tempo and capitalising on Real Madrid’s mistakes, setting an example of organisation and discipline against a team that had lost much of its usual character.

Amid these contrasting views, the headlines summed up the situation with striking bluntness: “Real Madrid without spirit”, “A team that has lost its identity”, and “A collapse at the decisive moment”, raising questions that now dominate the discourse: does Real Madrid’s European prestige still stand, or has a new era truly begun in the club’s history?

Featured image via the Canary

By Alaa Shamali

Source link

Argentine star Lionel Messi has become the new owner of Cornella (UE Cornella), following the completion of a 100% takeover of the Catalan football club.

According to the newspaper, the deal was finalised on Thursday 16 April 2026, meaning the club, which competes in the Spanish third division (Tercera Federación – Catalan Group), is now wholly owned by Messi.

Lionel Messi buys UE Cornella

Cornella is a club based in the Catalonia region. Founded in 1951, it is known for its role in developing young talent and training players in the youth ranks, as well as serving as a stepping stone for a number of players who went on to play at higher levels in Spanish football.

The newspaper reported that this move is part of a new sporting project led by Messi, aimed at developing the club’s technical infrastructure and relying on the academy to produce players, whilst working to gradually raise the team’s level in domestic Spanish competitions.

AS also noted that Cornella is one of the clubs that has focused on youth development in recent years, having produced or seen pass through its ranks a number of players, including goalkeeper David Raya, defender Jordi Alba, midfielder Javi Boado and Keita Balde.

The report suggests that Messi’s acquisition of the club reflects a growing trend among former football stars to enter the field of sports investment and club ownership, through long-term projects centred on sporting and academic development.

No further details have yet been released by the club or Lionel Messi’s representatives regarding the financial or administrative aspects of the deal, whilst initial coverage has simply described the transaction as a full takeover of the club.

Lionel Messi thus enters the world of club ownership through the Catalan club Cornella, marking a new chapter in his career off the pitch.

Featured image via the Canary

By Alaa Shamali

Source link

The post Sadiq Khan’s lies about London appeared first on spiked.

Source link

In a horrifying video from Israel’s illegal war on Lebanon, the invaders called a Lebanese man as he drove with his family. The monsters on the other end of the line gave a man an appalling choice: get out of the car and be killed alone, or die in the car with your family:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wear The Peace® (@wearthepeace)

Israel is a terror state and the sickest, most malignant society. ‘Most moral army‘ – yeah, right.

Featured image via the Canary

By Skwawkbox

Source link

Menopause can bring about a number of mental, physical and emotional changes — including some shifts in your sex life.

Clinically speaking, menopause is reached when you’ve gone 12 straight months without a period, marking the end of one’s reproductive years. The average age of the last menstrual period is 51, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

But the transitional phase leading up to menopause, known as perimenopause, typically lasts about four years — though it can be as short as a few months or as long as 10 years. Colloquially, however, many use the word “menopause” as an umbrella term to encompass the whole process.

During perimenopause, which often begins in your mid 40s, levels of hormones like estrogen and progesterone fluctuate. This can lead to irregular periods, hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog, mood swings, vaginal dryness and low libido — all of which can impact one’s sex life directly or indirectly. It’s worth noting that, for some individuals, symptoms may be intense and last a while, and for others they may be more mild and fleeting.

Advertisement

And although certain symptoms like hot flashes tend to dissipate over time, others like vaginal dryness often persist and may even worsen.

The loss of estrogen during menopause can cause the vaginal and vulvar tissue to become thinner, dryer and less stretchy, which can lead to pain during sexual activity, Dr. Stephanie Faubion, director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health and medical director of The Menopause Society, told HuffPost.

And while there is a lot of discussion about the challenges of sex after menopause, it may be comforting to know that it’s definitely not all doom and gloom.

“The good news is that most women who had a good sex life before menopause can continue to enjoy a good sex life after menopause,” Faubion said.

Advertisement

Westend61 via Getty Images

In fact, it’s a myth that women stop being sexual once menopause hits, midlife sex coach Sonia Wright told HuffPost.

Menopause “can actually be the beginning of something amazing; even better than sex in your 20s and 30s,” she said. “You get to be a sexual being until the day you leave this world. Postmenopausal sex can be even more intimate, connective, pleasurable and very satisfying.”

If you are struggling with your sexual well-being around menopause, reach out to your health care provider to discuss causes and potential treatment options tailored to your needs. Vaginal lubricants and moisturizers, sex therapy, hormone therapy, and lifestyle changes like incorporating yoga may help.

Below, women share their personal experiences with sex after menopause. Note: Some last names have been omitted to protect their privacy. Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Advertisement

‘The only thing that changed was knowing what I want from a sexual relationship, and what I will and won’t tolerate.’

“I was around 52 when menopause symptoms started, and it’s now been close to two years postmenopause. When my monthly cycle started to become irregular, I realised menopause was beginning. I did a bit of reading on what to expect, and two of the possible issues I came across were lack or loss of sex drive and vaginal dryness. The worst symptom for me was hot flashes, and I was fortunate that I didn’t need any hormone replacement therapy.

I have always had a relatively high sex drive and sex is important to me, whether in a relationship or not. My sex drive has remained high, and I enjoy a healthy and safe sex life even though I am single. Even though pregnancy is no longer an issue, I always use condoms and get tested for STIs yearly. I have had no issues regarding vaginal dryness and do not need any lubricant for vaginal sex.

For me, the only thing that changed was knowing what I want from a sexual relationship, and what I will and won’t tolerate. Life is too short for bad sex!

Advertisement

What has surprised me is that I find myself attracted to men who are younger than me. I had always dated older. All of my sexual encounters since menopause and becoming single are with younger men ranging in age from 39-50 years of age.” — Kim P., 56, Queensland, Australia

‘I dated a gentleman who made me realise I was still a sexy, vital, vibrant woman.’

“I think I was around 55 when I started going through menopause. I noticed I wasn’t really interested in sex, but I wasn’t sure if it was my circumstances — I was in the middle of a divorce — or ‘The Pause.’ After my yearly gynaecologist visit, where my doctor told me about vaginal atrophy and a few other midlife issues that might arise, I just gave up on sex.

But at age 65, I briefly dated a gentleman who made me realise I was still a sexy, vital, vibrant woman. Sex was fun again! So I’m not sure if it was menopause that made me ‘think’ I no longer was interested in sex/intimacy, or if it was my mind and society. Whatever the case, I’m ready for dating and this next new chapter. Bring it on!” — Brenda B., 67, New York City

Advertisement

‘Now I’m having the best sex of my life.’

“I’ve been postmenopausal for a couple of years at least. Now I’m having the best sex of my life. It’s largely due to the fact that I know exactly what I want. And I feel entitled to say, ‘This is what I want. And this is how I want it.’ And to also say, ‘No, that’s not what I want’ — even if it’s pretty minor. I just know what I want, and I know how to ask for it and to be demanding in a good way.

I had actually very few menopausal challenges, although I started acupuncture early. I’ve done regular acupuncture for probably 20 years now. And my acupuncturist’s goal from the beginning was like, ‘Let’s keep your cycle as regular as we possibly can for as long as we possibly can.’ And I think that was hugely helpful to me: having her support and having her focus on my hormones, to keep them going in the right way. So that’s what I recommend — not necessarily acupuncture — but don’t try to go through menopause solo. Get support, whatever support you can find, that will work for you.

As a sex coach, I’m a huge proponent of masturbation. Because that way, you know your whole body and that really empowers you then to say, ‘This is what really works for me.’ There’s a quality of ‘use it or lose it.’ So if you’re not in a partnership, and you’re not having regular sex and you’re not masturbating, you’re just not ‘juicing your flow,’ basically.

Advertisement

Find the vibrators that work for you. There are so many available right now: vibrators, dildos, combos. I encourage my clients to do “The O 30”: Masturbate 30 days straight, and see what you learn and see what changes in your life.” — Dori Melton, 58, Oakland, California

The Good Brigade via Getty Images

‘My libido actually surged at menopause.’

“I didn’t have expectations about how sex would be after menopause. I had never heard that it might change due to menopause. I think that was positive in that I didn’t internalise stereotypes about inevitable libido changes. My libido actually surged at menopause. But it was also negative in that I had not heard about common postmenopausal physical symptoms such as thinning of vulvar and vaginal tissues, often referred to as a sensation of dryness.

So when I began to experience pain with penetration after menopause, my ignorance resulted in a longer-than-necessary time to diagnosis and treatment after trying various types of lube that did not address the underlying issue. I came to learn that this condition (urogenital atrophy) is very common postmenopause and usually easily treated, but it is under-diagnosed and under-treated. Sometimes considerable self-advocacy is required. In my case, insertable vaginal oestrogen effectively resolved my symptoms and has prevented recurrence of symptoms with ongoing use.

Advertisement

Aside from the temporary physical symptoms I experienced, sex after menopause has mostly been as good and often better than sex prior to menopause. Reasons for this likely include increased sexual confidence; greater experience with sex, relationships and communication; a consistent standard of mutual desire and enthusiasm; some exploration with a variety of interesting partners; and increased privacy as my children have become adults.

In my experience, generally speaking, choice in sex partner(s) can make a tremendous difference in how a woman might experience sex. This is true in any stage of life, though there are some stages and circumstances I believe are particularly fragile, such as early sexual experiences, sex post-childbirth, sex approaching menopause when hormones are erratic, sex postmenopause, and sex during ill health or while processing grief.

I was partnered as I was approaching menopause, and the sexual dynamic became all about my then-partner’s needs and fears. Had we still been together and focused on his needs postmenopause when I experienced pain with penetrative sex, I think I might’ve really struggled with the amount of self-advocacy required to get a diagnosis and treatment. Instead of having to focus on advocating to fulfill someone else’s needs, I was motivated to maintain the pleasurable sex life I’d cultivated for myself.” — Jackie, 54, California

Source link

The post The real Keir Starmer scandal appeared first on spiked.

Source link

US aerospace company Moog’s UK subsidiary has declined to comment on the seizure of a consignment of military components by Belgian authorities while en route to Israel. According to a statement released by the Walloonian government, the consignment did not bear a declaration that the items were for military use as required by Belgian law and did not have the compulsory ‘transit licence’.

A second UK arms consignment has now also been seized, though the manufacturer of that one has not yet been named. But the UK company involved in the first one has: Moog, specifically its Wolverhampton facility.

Moog: going on for six months

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an industry insider told Skwawkbox that Moog’s shipments had been going on via the Belgian route for at least six months and that it was almost unthinkable that paperwork could be inadvertently completed incorrectly by a company whose business consists of shipping items around the world:

The shipments have been going on for years, but Moog changed its shipping arrangements in July, from FedEx to UPS, which led to the route change. There have been at least nineteen shipments through Belgium since July 2025. They did this at the same time as they were applying for a High Court injunction to stop protest activity at their sites.

Fedex kept on shipping for Moog to other destinations but stopped its Israel shipments. This made Moog change route. Belgium, of course, refuses to ship arms to Israel.

Advertisement

Clearly Moog didn’t declare to the Belgian authorities that the items were for military use. There are other technical descriptions one could use to make it less obvious, and the shipment was consolidated with civilian goods, but Moog was obliged to declare it was ML10 military cargo and they didn’t.

It’s extremely unlikely that Moog could have filled in the paperwork wrongly in error. They would have known about the whole routing before the shipments started, as they are a member of the industry body for arms exports, the Export Group for Aerospace, Defence and Dual-Use (EGADD) – indeed their manager responsible for export control was until recently on EGADD’s Executive Committee.

They would have had to file compliance reports for the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) as part of the conditions of their export licence.

Misleading parliament?

Skwawkbox has contacted EGADD for comment. Skwawkbox also contacted Moog. When asked for comment, the Moog employee who took the call said a rapid “No thank you” and hung up.

Who knew what, when, is the key question in this scandal. It appears Moog knew a lot, early – and isn’t happy at being asked about it.

But the knowledge might also extend to Westminster. Clearly, Keir Starmer’s trade minister Chris Bryant is not happy at being asked about it either. Bryant was on 16 April 2026 exposed by Declassified UK misleading Parliament about the shipment and use of such components to Israel.

Bryant knew that Israel can use such parts in its slaughter of Palestinian civilians. Was he – or other government ministers – aware of the illegal routing of Moog and other components to the genocidal IOF? That question remains unanswered.

Featured image via the Canary

By Skwawkbox

Source link