A leading toy maker has promised to make changes to a controversial butt-shaped toy, which encourages children to squeeze, jiggle and spread the toy’s cheeks to elicit fart sounds.

Goliath, which created the ‘Butt Face’ toy – available to buy at Smyths, The Entertainer, Amazon and Asda – said it has listened to feedback from families and professionals who aired safeguarding concerns over the product.

Earlier this week, Dr Niamh Lynch, a paediatrician based in Cork and author of Should I Be Worried? A No-Panic Guide To Your Child’s Health, shared her worries over the toy, which has been marketed to children aged four and up.

“As a paediatrician, I would have a lot of safety concerns for children around this toy and the normalisation of this kind of play,” said Dr Lynch on social media.

“Because children learn through play, they learn what is acceptable and not acceptable through play – and this might break down boundaries and normalise playing with other people’s bottoms.”

In response to her video, people shared equal outrage over it. “I saw this in Smyth Toys the other day and I was seriously appalled. And anyone who bought that for a kid I would immediately suspect as a groomer,” said one commenter.

Multiple others called for the toy to be banned.

Elsewhere, on Mumsnet, one parent shared they’d spotted the product in their local Smyths store and “couldn’t believe it was real”.

They continued: “Am I being completely unreasonable, or is this incredibly inappropriate for early years? Children learn through play, and at age 4, they are just starting to grasp vital concepts like body safety, personal boundaries, and consent. Normalising this kind of interaction under the guise of ‘cheeky humour’ feels entirely wrong and confusing for toddlers.”

In response, a commenter said: “I can’t imagine who thought this would be a good concept for a toy – it’s really distasteful.”

Another described it as a “safeguarding nightmare”.

Some parents acknowledged that their kids would love it and they could understand why the product exists (“it’s grim but my 8yos would 100% want one”, said one), while others couldn’t see the problem.

“I don’t see the issue? I mean it’s tacky. And ugly. But children find bums funny. Obviously they don’t see them in a sexual way,” said another respondent. “Not saying I like this toy. But I can’t see how it could be harmful.”

Following a backlash in Australia, which saw a former child abuse detective warn that the toy could be misused by people seeking to normalise touching private parts or groom children, some stores pulled the toy from shelves.

Goliath has since told HuffPost UK that it has “decided to remove the stretch feature and change the age recommendation to 8+ years”.

“We are currently updating packaging and product design to reflect these changes,” the company’s spokesperson said.

“Ultimately, our aim is to create toys that bring families fun and laughter, while taking seriously the trust parents place in us when choosing toys for their children.”

HuffPost UK has contacted Asda, Amazon, Smyths and The Entertainer for comment.

One popular fan theory about the new Spider-Man movie Brand New Day is really starting to grab people’s attention.

In the lead-up to the film’s release, many people spotted a detail in the trailer that led them to believe that the Spider-Man comic book villain The Jackal could make his MCU debut, after they spotted Peter Parker and MJ at a party with a fictitious beer brand called the “Green Jackal” prominently displayed.

Some even suspected that Keith David might be playing the villainous character – and while this turned out not to be true, that hasn’t stopped people speculating as to exactly what the Jackal nod could have been all about.

Film fan Ivan Mars – whose posts as The Movie Detective have earned him 3.1 million followers on TikTok – has speculated that MJ’s new boyfriend, played by Star Wars actor Eman Esfandi, may actually be The Jackal in disguise.

“During the party scene where [MJ’s boyfriend] appears for the first time, there’s a beer keg labelled Green Jackal – but wait, he’s also wearing a green jacket,” Ivan pointed out.

“And if you look closely, the corners of his smile almost make his teeth look unusually sharp, just like The Jackal.”

He also reminded viewers that when Peter asks MJ how her new relationship is going, she tells him that her boyfriend is always telling her that she’s “withholding”, suggesting he might already suspect she has more knowledge about Spider-Man’s identity than he thinks she’s letting on.

“And we know Marvel never leaves these details there by accident…” he added.

Ivan’s video has now been viewed more than a million times across Tiktok and Instagram, with fans voicing their support in the comments.

“Not only that, but he was on Ned’s list of potential Spider-Man,” one TikTok user wrote, while another agreed: “Ned was suspicious of him being Spider-Man must be a reason for that.”

“Ooooohhhhhhh…..wow this is a great take!!!!” a different fan wrote on Instagram, while another Marvel fan conceded: “It is possible.”

“Dude got a sharp teeth and now he’s the goblin,” another Instagram user also joked.

While Marvel bosses are remaining tight-lipped about MJ’s boyfriend’s back story for now, one thing we can rule out is that he is actually Paul Rabin, another love interest of Peter Parker’s ex originally introduced in the comic books as the secret son of another Spider-Man villain, The Emissary.

“I am not, never have been, and never will be ‘Paul’,” the actor wrote on X earlier this week. “To those of you I saw in the comments defending my honour and saying I’d never accept that role… thank you and [may the force be with you].”

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in cinemas now.

The UK’s leading energy supplier is encouraging the public to ‘power down’ during today’s eclipse.

The rare celestial event, which will see the moon obscure the sun by up to 95%, will take place between 6pm and 8pm, causing the sky to darken for a period of time.

During this point, a large portion of Britain’s solar power will be knocked out – just as millions of people are getting home from work and electricity demand rises.

To try and reduce the strain on the grid, Octopus Energy is urging the public to move everyday jobs outside the busy 6-8pm window – which means avoiding running certain appliances.

Octopus advised against running washing machines, games consoles and dishwashers during the eclipse – encouraging people to use them earlier or later in the day, where possible.

The following appliances can also use plenty of electricity in the home, so it might be worth turning them off at the plug, too:

• Tumble dryers
• TVs
• Ovens
• Electric showers
• Air conditioning units and fans.

Octopus noted that solar energy generated 14.4% of Britain’s electricity in July, “meaning a couple of hours without sunshine can leave a gap that has to be filled”.

According to the Guardian, today’s eclipse is expected to wipe out between 300 and 1,100 megawatts of solar power.

If enough households delay using electricity for a short period of time, it can “reduce the need to fire up extra gas power stations,” Octopus said in a press release.

The supplier said eligible customers who use less electricity than normal during the hours of the eclipse will earn free electricity the following weekend.

If you’re planning on heading outside to view the eclipse, but haven’t been able to get your hands on certified eclipse glasses, check out our guide to watching it safely using everyday, household items.

Speaking to HuffPost UK previously, Myles Robinson, a former boiler repair company owner, said: “Heat from the air or soil can warm up the water in your pipes, making it feel less refreshing”.

That (obviously) makes it warmer. But can it affect its taste, too?

Well, according to Dr Bill Simpson, a chartered chemist and specialist in sensory science, and Genevieve Upton, Our Taap’s in-house filtration expert, it can.

Dr Simpson said that “Warmer pipes mean slightly more microbial activity – this is mostly harmless but occasionally noticeable. Summer water can taste subtly different for that reason.”

One study found that a type of bacteria called Coliform bacteria significantly increases in water reservoirs during the summer.

Upton added that due to microbes like these, water is treated with chlorine, which is itself odourless and tasteless.

“But when it reacts with organic material in the water, and in the pipework it travels through, it produces byproducts – compounds that can taste faintly medicinal, or create a swimming-pool character that some people find noticeable, particularly in warmer months when water companies increase their dosing to compensate for higher bacterial activity.”

That’s not the only thing that might be at play here, either, Dr Simpson said.

“There’s also something called thermal taste: about one in five people experience a shift in how water tastes simply because the temperature has changed. Same water, different temperature – suddenly it seems more bitter, or metallic, or slightly sweet.

“Nothing wrong with the water. Just something interesting about how taste works.”

The effect can be so extreme that “Temperature changes alone can trigger a metallic sensation in some people – a kind of phantom taste response”.

Still, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek help if you notice some changes to your water’s flavour.

Thames Water explained that if you notice a petrol or diesel taste or smell coming from your tap, you should contact your water supplier immediately.

And per Northumbrian Water, metal-tasting water may mean your pipes are corroding and that it’s time to speak to a plumber.

Depending on the weather and even your hormonal state, it can be completely normal to sweat at night.

In fact, the NHS said on its site, “Most people sweat during the night”.

Still, sometimes, it’s worth speaking to your doctor about it. Night sweats can be a symptom of menopause, low blood sugar, autoimmune disorders, thyroid issues, and more, per the Mayo Clinic.

And Dr Jiri Kubes, a radiation oncologist and medical director of the Proton Therapy Center in Prague, said, “During hot weather, almost everyone will experience warmer and more uncomfortable nights.

“That makes it very easy to overlook a symptom that might otherwise have prompted concern,” as it can rarely signal cancer.

Dr Kubes said that context and frequency matter here – sweating for one or two nights during a heatwave, for instance, might not be much to worry about.

“However, if unexplained night sweats continue regularly for more than two or three weeks, it would be sensible to arrange an appointment with your GP,” he said.

“People should seek advice sooner if the sweating is severe or appears alongside other concerning symptoms. You do not need to wait several weeks if you are feeling significantly unwell.”

The NHS agrees that you should see your doctor if night sweats happen “regularly”, if they wake you up, and/or if they worry you.

The extent of the sweating could say a lot, too – “If the room is cool but you are repeatedly waking with your pyjamas and bedding soaked through, that is different from simply feeling clammy on a hot night”.

Drenching night sweats have been linked to certain blood cancers, particularly lymphoma.

Night sweats that are “accompanied by unexplained weight loss, persistent fatigue, recurring fevers or a painless swelling in the neck, armpit or groin should be discussed with a doctor,” Dr Kubes shared.

Other warning signs include:

• painless lumps or swellings that do not settle,
• unexplained itching,
• breathlessness,
• persistent coughing,
• unusual bruising,
• infections that keep returning.

The oncologist stressed that most people with night sweats won’t have cancer, adding that swollen lymph nodes happen all the time due to illness and tiredness is common, too.

“These symptoms alone cannot provide a diagnosis. An overactive thyroid, for example, is a relatively common and treatable condition that can be identified through testing,” he ended.

“The message is not to panic after a couple of hot nights. It is to recognise a persistent and unexplained change, particularly when other warning signs are present.

“Do not simply wait for the weather to cool if the sweating is severe, keeps returning or is accompanied by other symptoms. A conversation with your GP can help establish whether further checks are needed.”

There’s a strong chance you know already, but there’s a pretty big solar eclipse happening later today (12 Aug) – and there won’t be another one like it until 2090.

The eclipse, which will see the moon obscure the sun by up to 95% (depending on where you’re viewing it from), will take place between 6pm and 8pm, causing the sky to darken for a period of time.

Health experts and the UK government have warned that you can’t look at the sun during this time without the right protection as it can cause permanent damage to your eyesight. Sunglasses won’t work either.

You can buy certified solar eclipse glasses, but if you didn’t order yours in time (or they were sold out), fear not! Here are a couple of ways you can watch the rare event safely.

There are two ways to do this.

Dr Shireen Ghezel, a GP, shared how to make a projector at home using a cereal box, some white paper and a square of foil.

Simply cut a strip of white paper and pop it at the bottom of the cereal box (this is what the eclipse will be projected onto). Then, cut out two slots from the top of the cereal box and pop a square of foil on one side, poking a hole through it with a biro.

When it’s time to look at the eclipse, turn your back to the sun and let the sun shine into the hole (via the foil). Peek into the box on the other side to see it projected onto the paper.

If you haven’t got a box to hand, you’ll need a biro, a piece of card and something to project the sun onto (a bit of paper would work).

In a video shared to Facebook, David Jones, a consultant ophthalmologist for Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, made a hole in a piece of card with his biro and then held the card up, facing the sun, with the piece of paper behind it.

The sunlight could be seen shining through the card and making a dot of light on the paper.

No recycling to hand? No problem! Grab a colander from your kitchen cupboard, stand outside and project the sun onto the ground through the colander’s many holes.

Jones said it’s his favourite method, as “you can make not just one picture of the sun, but a hundred all at once”.

Some people on social media have suggested using phone selfie cameras to watch the eclipse indirectly through their phone screens.

If you don’t have a special solar filter, there’s a risk that the intense sunlight can damage your camera lens, so generally this isn’t advised.

Supporters of Nicholas Hoult have complicated feelings about his next role.

On Tuesday night, the US broadcaster HBO confirmed that Hoult had been cast as Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season of its upcoming adaptation of the Harry Potter books.

The new Harry Potter series has already generated a lot of controversy due to the ongoing backlash surrounding the franchise’s creator JK Rowling, who is an executive producer on the show.

In the past few years, Rowling has become an increasingly divisive figure due to her views and commentary on issues relating to transgender people.

Of late, this has included deliberately and repeatedly misgendering transgender public figures, as well as donating tens of thousands of pounds to the campaign group which raised the initial legal challenge that led to the UK Supreme Court’s ruling last year that the legal definition of a woman should include only those who were assigned female at birth (and sharing a celebratory post of herself smoking cigar once the Supreme Court’s decision was reached).

As a result, many of Hoult’s fans were disappointed by the announcement that he’s accepted a part in the second season of the new Harry Potter show, voicing their feelings on social media…

Hoult began his career as a child actor, and revealed in 2024 that he auditioned for numerous roles in the original Harry Potter series around this time.

“I think I got to the point where I auditioned with [director Chris Columbus],” he recalled during an appearance on Hot Ones Versus. “He didn’t remember this, it wasn’t even a memorable audition. I think I said, ‘Hey, I auditioned for Harry Potter. Still waiting to hear back… I think I’m kind of going to age out of it soon’.”

He continued: “I remember doing a couple of auditions, and then meeting him and maybe having fake glasses for the audition. Not getting the role of Harry, and then maybe coming back and [them] being like, ‘Will you audition for Malfoy?’. I don’t think I got that either, and then they were like, ‘just gradually audition for every role in Harry Potter’ until they were like, ‘No’.”

The first season of Harry Potter will premiere on Now, Sky and HBO Max in the UK later this year.

In the run-up to its release, numerous cast members have spoken about their decision to take part in it, often while distancing themselves from Rowling and her views.

John Lithgow admitted earlier this year that he considered quitting the series – in which he will play Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore – when he began to face criticism over his involvement, but ultimately decided to remain a part of it.

Meanwhile, Nick Frost, the new Rubeus Hagrid, also maintained that his and Rowling’s views on trans issues “don’t align in any way, shape or form”.

And just this week, Bel Powley took part in an interview with The Telegraph, in which she said: “I think that the trans community deserve safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance. But I love Harry Potter.”

The summer holidays are over for kids in Scotland, with the rest of the UK set to follow suit at the start of September.

If you’re based in England, you’ve probably already been thinking about what you need to buy ahead of the first day back: shirts, trousers, ties, jumpers, bags, shoes, PE kits, lunch boxes, stationery, the list goes on.

But if your school relies on branded items, there’s a new change coming into effect that might save you some cash – the UK government estimates it could save parents up to £50 per child.

In fact, September will mark the beginning of three key changes across schools in England, which will impact parents and pupils. Here’s what you need to know.

As of September, the UK government said schools in England must limit the number of compulsory branded items of uniform and PE kit to three items or fewer. For secondary and middle schools this rises to four or fewer, if one item is a tie.

Andrew Wilson, CEO at Oak Multi-Academy Trust, told HuffPost UK the new regulations “allow for more flexibility regarding where families shop for uniforms”.

But he advised parents to review their child’s school uniform policy (usually available on school websites) prior to purchasing uniforms, especially when deliberating which branded and non-branded items are needed.

“Simply, ‘a school shirt’ does not automatically mean it complies with the uniform policy of that specific school,” he said. “No one likes to deal with conflicts at the beginning of the year over an item that could have been easily researched prior to purchase.”

The CEO also noted there are additional considerations for students with Special Education Needs (SEN) and/or sensory issues. “For example, for certain students, the type of material, seams, waistbands, etc., can greatly affect their comfort level and ability to focus in class,” he added, urging families of SEN children to reach out to their child’s school as soon as possible to discuss this.

“They may be able to provide recommendations for local vendors or alternative clothing options that have proven successful with other students,” he continued. “Additionally, specialised sensory-friendly schoolwear products are available through online stores.”

Another huge change is that all schools in England will be required to be mobile phone-free environments by default this September. While plenty of schools have already implemented phone bans to varying degrees, Wilson noted parents will likely see “increasing clarity around having a phone-free day in school”.

Some schools will encourage kids to keep phones locked away throughout the school day (sometimes in pouches or lockers), while others request phones to be handed in to teachers first thing.

“Many schools will not feel much different since they have already restricted phones, however, come September, it is expected nationally that students will not be allowed to use their phones during classes, transitions, breaks or lunch,” said Wilson.

“Parents should confirm with their child’s school, as each school will have its own process for enforcing this rule.” (There may be exceptions based upon individual circumstances.)

Siobhan Meredith, executive director of education at the Ted Wragg Trust, urges parents to talk to their children about any changes to phone expectations ahead of their return to school.

Wilson agrees with this approach: “It is far less stressful for the young people when parents and educators send the same clear message about when their phones can and cannot be used.”

Lastly, Meredith highlighted another important change happening this September: the expansion of free school meals to children in all households receiving Universal Credit.

According to the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), more than half (55%) of parents whose children will be eligible are unaware they qualify for the free lunches. You can apply here.

In England, all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 in state schools also receive free school meals.

Here’s to a (hopefully) seamless start to school!

Most of us think we’re better-looking and smarter than the average. And on the flip side, research suggests that many in the UK’s top 10% of earners think they’re getting middling pay.

Something about being labelled “average” seems hard for us to accept, even though, by nature, it’s the most likely position we’ll end up in; thinking you’re not normal might be the most ordinary assumption we have.

Then again, average is only a midpoint. Most of us will be in the top half of some metrics and in the bottom for others.

So, we thought we’d find the average of 22 measures across the UK – so now you can see how you really stand up.

The median annual salary in the UK is £31,584 in 2026.

In 2024, the median outstanding non-mortgage debt in the UK was £6,300 including student loans and £2,500 without student loans.

In 2025, average private rent in the UK was £1,424 in England, £822 in Wales, £1,018 in Scotland, and £873 in Northern Ireland.

In the UK, a Finder survey found the average savings by age in 2026 was:

• 18-24 – £2,699
• 25-34 – £11,023
• 35-44 – £13,379
• 45-54 – £12,452
• 55+ – £33,420.

That averages out to £1,355 in the UK in 2026.

In 2024, the UK average height was:

• 175.8 centimeters (just over 5’9”) for adult men,
• 162.1 centimeters (just under 5’4”) for adult women.

On average, sexually adult Brits have sex 1.1 times a week.

Almost 66% of Brits exercise for an hour or more a week, but only 35% do so for three hours or more a week. 19% weight train, and 17% jog or walk.

Most people don’t run at all. But of those that do, the UK average 5k finish times, by gender, are:

• 38 minutes for women,
• 29 minutes for men.

In the UK, the average hair colour is brown.

The UK’s most common eye colour is blue.

The most common sleep duration in the UK is seven hours a night.

YouGov put the mean self-reported number of lifetime sexual partners at four in 2023; three for women, five for men.

• 83.0 years for women,
• 79.1 years for men.

The average IQ in the UK is 101.57.

In the academic year 2024/25, the most common UK uni grade was a 2:1.

The median Brit reads or listens to three books a year.

Among adults, most said they have 10 friends or fewer.

In 2025, Statista found that most adults in England and Wales were classed as single (not married or in a civil partnership).

Most households in the UK have an average of 2.35 people.

More people in the UK have pets than don’t, with cats and dogs the most popular species.