Let’s get this out of the way: no, I am not as good at reviewing sticky toffee puddings as STP Reviews. I have neither the expertise nor the drive to assess 60+ of the cakes, and certainly have not refined a marking system so good it’s earned me tens of thousands of fans.

But I do like the dessert, and I’m generally strict about baked goods (woe betide anyone who gets me started on fudgy vs cakey “brownies”). I demand plenty of glossy, rich, buttery sauce, a moist sponge, and a molasses-y mass of dates.

Which might lead some to wonder why I tried a microwave STP recipe last week. All I can say is that it was late, the recipe had hundreds of five-star reviews, and I craved it. Even Nigella has “emergency” baked goods for such urgent cases.

I followed the New York Times’ recipe. It starts with a mug of melted butter, to which you add brown sugar, salt, and cream before zapping for 30-second increments: that’s your caramel sauce.

Mine took me about a minute. It’s important to really thoroughly stir the sauce between microwave sessions, or else it could become gritty and split.

The recipe asked for dates, butter, cream, and baking soda to be mixed in a bowl next. I microwaved these before mashing them; the dates turn into an earthy-smelling puree remarkably quickly.

(Side note: they make a great caramel if you’re ever in a bind or can’t have dairy).

Then, add flour, cinnamon, sugar, and salt, and microwave the lot for about 45 seconds.

Pour the thickened sauce over the cake, add cream if you like (I do), and you’re done!

I was impressed by how quickly the whole job was done. It took me 10 minutes, as promised. The process is both easy and gloopily satisfying (the dates in particular were fun to make).

It’s not gorgeous to look at, but come on: who cares? This is a 10 pm, over-the-kitchen-sink eat if ever I saw one.

The standout is the caramel sauce. The recipe authors said it’d thicken as the cake cooked, which it did; by the end, it was velvety, thick and smooth. If you’re ever in a dessert-mergency, I do recommend making that sauce and smothering anything vaguely cake-y in it.

That said, I don’t believe the sponge in an STP should be relegated to the role of sauce carrier, and this one felt that way. The cake was a little rubbery and dry; its crumb was indistinct and far from tender. Still, nobody else said that in the comments, so maybe I left mine in too long.

Regardless, for ten minutes and a microwave, I was pretty wowed. It hit a lot of the marks of a great sticky toffee pudding (luxurious sauce, date-y stickiness, and rich butter flavour), and it more than exceeded my expectations.

It’s not going to score highly on a pro’s account, I reckon. But when you’re in a rush and/or have a craving, its value rockets to at least an 8/10. Reviewers have given it five stars for good reason.

Every year, the Met Gala gathers together some of the most famous faces from across the world of music, cinema, sport and, of course, fashion for a star-studded fundraiser in aid of the Metropolitan Museum Of Art’s Costume Institute.

This year’s event was held on Monday night, and proved to be as A-list as ever.

Co-chaired by Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams and, as ever, Anna Wintour, the themed dress code of 2026’s Met Ball was “Fashion Is Art” – really allowing the famous guests to think outside the box and let their imaginations run wild when putting together their red carpet looks.

And what do you know – some of them actually did.

On that note, we’ve pieced together some of the must-see looks from this year’s Met Gala, from some of the biggest stars on the planet…

As one of the organisers of the Met Gala this year, Beyoncé will have known that all eyes were on her on the red carpet.

Leaning into the elaborate theme, the Break My Soul singer sported this glittering, skeletal-inspired look on the red carpet, where she was joined by her husband Jay-Z and eldest daughter Blue Ivy Carter, marking the 14-year-old’s Met Ball debut.

Sam Smith has become renowned for their dramatic approach to fashion in recent history, and this year’s Met Ball really afforded them the chance to go all out.

Channelling Norma Desmond, the British star gave us old school Hollywood glamour in a floor-length black dress complete with bejeweled adornments, billowing sleeves and a feather headpiece.

Madonna’s Met Gala look was a real departure from what we’re used to seeing the Queen of Pop in, opting for something more gothic, dark and, frankly, weird that we’re totally here for.

The Bring Your Love singer’s ensemble was directly inspired by a Leonora Carrington painting, in one of the night’s more literal interpretations of “Fashion Is Art”.

Janelle Monáe brings it every single Met Ball, and a theme like “Fashion Is Art” was always going to be in their wheelhouse.

The 10-time Grammy nominee mixed the old and new with their imaginative look, which incorporated elements of nature and technology, merging moss and butterflies with wires and microchips.

Dressed in head-to-toe leather, Luke Evans’ look was an obvious nod to Tom Of Finland.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight on the Met Ball red carpet, the Welsh actor said that “playing such an iconic character on stage” in the current Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show made him want to put a “twist” on an “iconic gay artist who has influenced so much”.

Former Game Of Thrones star Gwnendoline Christie has never been one to shy away from leaning into a Met Gala theme.

On Monday night, her look consisted of a massive feathered hat and a floor-length red dress nodding to faded glamour – but our favourite part of the whole ensemble was the hand-held mirror, adorned with a recreation of her own face.

Perhaps inspired by her own trip to space last year, Katy Perry’s Met Gala look consisted of what appeared to be a fencing mask, with a shiny and opaque face covering on the front.

As she made her way down the red carpet, Katy revealed that the mask also swung open, adding even further to its futuristic elements (and putting us slightly in mind of a Star Wars villain).

We’re going to be very honest and say that content creator Emma Chamberlain was not exactly the person we thought was going to turn it out the hardest at Monday night’s event – but you can’t argue with this look can you?

In fact, the influencer may have just given us our favourite Met Gala look of 2026, with the dripping paint effect creating an optical illusion that really served the night’s theme.

Fresh from her Oscar nomination and leading performance in the new Handmaid’s Tale spin-off The Testaments, Chase Infiniti’s Met Gala debut was also one of our favourites from this year’s event.

The One Battle After Another star’s colourful dress almost put us in mind of painting-by-numbers (in the best way!), with its graphic design.

On its own, Sarah Paulson’s expansive, red carpet look would have been show-stopping enough, putting us in mind of a presidential ball as much as an event like the Met Gala – but that dollar bill blindfold accessory really gives it something extra.

Sadly, even though Madonna was there too, we didn’t get a recreation of one of our favourite moments in Met Ball history.

One of the more literal “Fashion Is Art” ensembles came from Ben Platt, wearing a colourful suit inspired by one of Georges Pierre Seurat’s most famous works.

The Seurat painting, of course, was also the basis of the iconic Stephen Sondheim production Sunday In The Park With George, which makes Tony winner Ben wearing it all the more fitting.

SZA’s Met Gala look consisted of a layered gown in this absolutely gorgeous yellow colour, as well as a floral headpiece and some beaded face jewellery for the evening.

Our favourite part of the whole look, though, was just how much of a blast the Good Days singer was clearly having wearing it.

Extra body parts always go down well on the Met Ball red carpet, and Lisa’s look was no exception.

The jury’s out on whether “Fashion Is Art” really came into play here, but we just think the Blackpink and White Lotus star looks really cool, to be honest.

Another big name doing the UK proud on the Met Gala red carpet was Brit Award nominee Skepta.

The rapper made a big impression in this matching white co-ord, which he later revealed was adorned with embroidery inspired by his own tattoos, as well as his own song lyrics.

Listen, Nicole Kidman never misses on the red carpet, but given how imaginative some people were with their looks, this feels a little out of place.

We’ve mostly mentioned it in this round-up so we can include her explanation for it.

“Fashion is art and I wanted something red, because I wanted to embrace the way in which red has been used in art through the years,” she apparently claimed.

Kim Kardashian’s latest Met Ball look consisted of a molded bodysuit in an eye-catching shade of orange.

Again, it wasn’t exactly our favourite outfit of the evening, but given just how synonymous with the Met Gala that Kim K has become, we just had to include her, alright.

This year, Halloween came early, with Heidi Klum unveiling one of her trademark dramatic transformations six months before her usual spooky season bash.

For the 2026 Met Ball, Heidi transformed herself into a living artpiece, paying homage to 19th century sculpture with the aid of prosthetics and unconventional materials to deliver one of the night’s most talked-about looks.

And speaking of prosthetics – Bad Bunny’s look was certainly an unconventional one, too.

The recent Super Bowl headliner walked the red carpet as an older version of itself, which it’s been pointed out was a probable nod to “The Aging Body”, a key element of the Met’s Costume Institute’s exhibit this year.

Rihanna’s position as Queen of the Met Gala is safe for another year.

Her latest Met Ball look was another mix of the old and new – offering an unconventional silhouette and undoubtedly the night’s most intricate adornments.

We absolutely love what she did with her hair, too, with her partner A$AP Rocky also joining her on the red carpet later on, sporting a baby pink overcoat and tuxedo.

Can you walk while successfully doing another activity at the same time?

Known as dual-task gait performance, a 2023 paper found struggling to do this has been linked to a risk of falls and cognitive decline in adults aged 65 and over.

The researchers found that most people begin to struggle with the test in their 60s, and that after that point, participants’ cognitive health seemed to influence their performance most.

Another paper suggested a dual-task gait test could help to predict cognitive impairment better than single-task gait speed measurement.

But what is a dual-task gait test, and why might it matter? Here’s what Dr Donald Grant, a GP and senior clinical advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, told us.

These involve walking while doing another activity at the same time (hence the “dual” task). Often, the second task is distracting, e.g. counting back from 1,000 in sevens.

They might involve maths-based tasks or more physical jobs, like nodding your head or holding a glass of water. The real world is filled with these combined tasks, like accepting a call on a walk, a 2021 paper argued.

We know that older adults’ gait, or walking style and speed, can say a lot about how they’re ageing.

But when you add a cognitive or physical distraction to that, Dr Grant said, dual task walking tests “can give us a useful insight into how an individual’s brain and body are working together”.

He added: “As we age, our cognitive abilities can be impacted, making these tasks less automatic, requiring more active thinking.

“When people start to struggle with dual-task examinations, it could indicate cognitive ageing, which is perfectly natural as people get older. This means it can become more challenging to divide attention between thinking and movement simultaneously, which may increase people’s risk of falls.”

The doctor said “walking is more than a physical movement” as it requires clear thinking, coordination and strong mobility, “so dual task tests can help identify any early signs of concern”.

Despite being a “great functional assessment tool, as they accurately measure how well a person can perform everyday tasks simultaneously,” Dr Grant said dual-task walking tests aren’t the be-all and end-all.

“These walking tests can provide a good snapshot of overall health, but they’re never used to actively diagnose potential health concerns. They can help form part of a larger assessment, allowing medical professionals to better understand an individual’s mobility and cognitive abilities,” he said.

But to measure ageing, GPs tend to look at a combination of factors, such as pre-existing health conditions, physical function and cognitive abilities, he added.

The expert ended: “Simple observations, such as memory tests, plus speed, balance or mobility examinations, can all help build a picture of how someone is functioning day to day.”

Many of us grew up being warned of “stranger danger” which was, on reflection, a bit vague – and also pretty terrifying.

Some parents still use it today, however experts are increasingly advising people to shun the whole “stranger danger” line as it could heighten social anxiety and limit kids’ ability to develop healthy interpersonal skills.

Instead, experts are advising to teach about “safe adults” and “tricky people”.

Pattie Fitzgerald, founder of safelyeverafter.com, previously told HuffPost that a tricky person is someone who tricks a child or parent into believing they’re a safe person.

They might ask a child for help, tell them to keep a secret from their parents, try to arrange alone time with them, touch their body excessively and/or inappropriately, or invade their personal space.

And on the subject of adults asking children for help, Nikki Jurcutz, an ex-paramedic who runs Tiny Hearts Education, recently warned that children would “willingly go with a stranger tomorrow” if they were asked: “Can you help me find my puppy?”

In an Instagram post, she said: “To a child, this sounds like the right thing to do. We raise our little ones to be kind and helpful. And that’s exactly what makes it work.”

Parents should teach children that “safe grown ups don’t ask kids for help”, said Jurcutz. “If an adult needs help finding something, they ask another adult. If they’re asking a child, something is wrong,” she added.

And as part of this education, it’s important to practice what they would say to someone if they were asked to help find a puppy, or to go with them, until these phrases become automatic.

“Because in that moment, they won’t have time to think. They’ll fall back on what they’ve rehearsed,” the former paramedic added.

Fitzgerald previously suggested focusing on empowerment, rather than fear, when teaching kids how to stay safe in these situations.

She said: “Use empowering words and phrases like ‘boss of your body’ or ’boss of your own touches,’ thumbs up and thumbs down behaviour in other people, listening to their ‘uh-oh feeling’ when their heart or their brain tells them something doesn’t seem quite right.”

In the UK, there has been a gradual shift away from stranger danger, with more of a focus from child safety charities on dealing with unsafe situations. The charity Action Against Abduction came up with ‘clever never goes’ after finding the stranger danger approach “doesn’t work”.

‘Clever never goes’ teaches kids that they must never go anywhere with anyone – so that means a stranger or a familiar face – unless plans have been made beforehand.

Bradford District NHS Foundation Trust urges parents to teach children how to identify and respond to threatening situations, rather than to specific people, with an emphasis on keeping them “safe, not scared”.

It advises letting kids know who they can trust if they need help (such as a uniformed police officer or a teacher) and explaining they must tell a trusted adult if they have been approached by a stranger or if they feel uncomfortable about a situation.

Netflix has announced that its hit spy drama The Night Agent is coming to an end.

But first, the show will go out with a bang, with one last season.

On Monday, the streaming giant announced that the fourth run of The Night Agent had begun production, and that this would be the show’s final outing.

Creator Shawn Ryan said in a statement: “Ever since the initial success of The Night Agent, I’ve been obsessed with eventually delivering a proper and thrilling conclusion to the show and to Peter Sutherland’s journey.

“I’m so grateful to Netflix and Sony Pictures Television for partnering with me on The Night Agent and for giving us the space to deliver a definitive final season to our worldwide legion of fans.”

“We are hard at work to complete our story and to make our final season one our fans will never forget,” he added.

Based on the novel of the same name, The Night Agent premiered in 2023, introducing Gabriel Basso as FBI agent Peter Sutherland.

It eventually became something of a sleeper hit, with its first season notably becoming the third most-watched inaugural run for any Netflix original at that time, as well as becoming one of the most-watched shows of that year.

A second and third season followed in 2025 and 2026, respectively, with Netflix renewing it for a fourth run back in March.

Ryan said at the time: “It’s been a wild ride filming The Night Agent in five countries across three continents to this point and we’re so thrilled that the adventures of Peter Sutherland will continue into season four.

“Our writers, our cast and our crew stand ready to answer the call to bring our incredible fans even more twists, turns and thrills.”

The first three seasons of The Night Agent are now streaming on Netflix.