Race Across the World has made Coventry brothers closer
A pair of brothers who are taking part in the latest series of Race Across the World have said the experience has improved their relationship.Brian Mole and his brother Melvyn Mole, who are both in their 60s, are one of five teams who have raced more than 14,000km (8,700 miles) across China, Nepal and India for the chance to win £20,000.The Coventry born brothers said they are using the show as a way to reconnect with each other."Before the race, I couldn't imagine Brian and I talking the way we've spoken over the last seven weeks." Melvyn said on the show.
On Wednesday's episode the teams embarked on the penultimate leg of the race across India, from Sasan Gir in Gujarat south to Panaji in Goa.Despite being at the top of the leader board, the brothers made the decision to visit a vineyard in Nashik, Maharashtra, costing them the top spot.The siblings expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to reconnect."Our relationship will only get better now," Melvyn said on the show.Brian Mole jokingly told Radio Coventry and Warwickshire: "We're blokes, we don't usually say I love you to your face, he was lucky to get a hug the other day."Brian previously said it took him a little while to make up his mind about joining the challenge but he was glad he did.Sharing his delight on the show he said: "Once the race is finished we'll speak to each other more. "I'm not a big lovey dovey bloke but I love him really, I wouldn't tell him that to his face," Brian joked.
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Telegraph
23 minutes ago
- Telegraph
An extraordinary debut from a young British writer, plus the best novels of June
Saraswati ★★★★★ by Gurnaik Johal According to Hindu scripture, the Saraswati was one of the great rivers of ancient India. In this ambitious debut, named for that river, by the British Indian writer Gurnaik Johal, a young man of similar heritage from Wolverhampton travels to his ancestral village in the Punjab following his grandmother's death. On his last visit, as a child, the well on her farm had been dry for decades. But now Satnam finds water in it. Could, as the villagers claim, this be the return of the Saraswati? The politicians who get wind of it certainly think so. If Satnam will just sign over the land, they tell him, he could be part of an 'era-defining project' to resurrect the river and 'return our country back to its former greatness'. Satnam, who's unemployed, going through a breakup and looking for a sense of purpose, cannot sign fast enough, and is soon committing acts of thuggery to encourage other landowners to do the same. We're made to wait to find out what happens to him, as the novel then cuts to the Chagos Islands and the story of a Mauritanian pest exterminator; indeed, each of Saraswati's seven long sections concern a different main character. But we continue to hear about the Saraswati, the Narendra Modi-esque prime minister who's elected on the promise of resurrecting it, and the rising tensions between India and Pakistan over the project's contravention of a water treaty. Saraswati is a sobering parable: we corrupt what is miraculous. Yet Johal never loses sight of his characters. In one section, a Canadian eco-saboteur keeps watch for her comrades as they sabotage a lumber mill. She has heard that their next target is where her mother works and phones her, casually suggesting she take some time off. But she can't say what for. It's a brilliantly charged scene. Johal's other characters include an asexual Kenyan academic, a Bollywood stuntman, a 15-year-old Pakistani influencer and a nameless female journalist: all very different, all well realised. Then, there's Sejal, a 16-year-old girl when we first meet her in 1878, 'destined to live the life of her mother, who had lived the life of her mother'. She elopes to the Punjab with a man called Jugaad, but still ends up living the narrow, destitute life she's hoped to escape. It seems an incongruous tale to be telling, until we realise it's the same tale – that our seven present-day characters are all Sejal's descendants. The connection forms a beautiful counterpoint with the Saraswati storyline. There, like the proverbial flap of a butterfly's wings, a small thing escalates into something terrible; here, the reverse happens – that is, from someone seemingly insignificant comes an amazingly various diaspora. But then almost everything in Saraswati works beautifully. Johal has written a major novel, and at his very first attempt. GC Saraswati is published by Serpent's Tail at £16.99. To order your copy, call 0330 173 0523 or visit Telegraph Books So People Know It's Me ★★★★☆ by Francesca Maria Benvenuto On Nisida, an island off the coast of Naples and site of a notorious juvenile prison, one inmate called Zeno – a 15-year-old who has been detained for shooting and killing another boy – is given a simple task by his Italian teacher, Ms Martina: write down what you're thinking, and you'll get furlough for Christmas. Zeno duly complies. And so through a run of sprawling entries that make up Francesca Maria Benvenuto's engrossing debut novel, So People Know It's Me, we learn about Zeno's life both before prison and inside it. There's his impoverished upbringing, which forced his mother to resort to sex work; descriptions of friends he's made on the inside, among them a guard called Franco; his girlfriend, Natalina; and the story of his slow capture by a world of criminal drug gangs that has led him to where he is now. Almost instantly, we see that Benvenuto is presenting us with that most tempting of literary archetypes: the loveable rogue, who despite having committed some of the most awful acts imaginable, still wins our sympathy through charm, and – in the case of a young criminal such as Zeno – the glimpses of innocence he occasionally betrays. We see this, and we prepare ourselves not to be taken in by it. Only here, through the unusual twists and turns of Benvenuto's narrative, the trick of the archetype works on us all the same. Compelling though this is, So People Know It's Me has an equally strong sales pitch: Benvenuto is an accomplished criminal lawyer who has defended minors in court. Her book draws from the experiences of her mother who – just like Ms Martina – worked as a teacher on Nisida, home to a very real prison for young people. And yet Benvenuto avoids wielding that authority too heavily. She never bashes over our heads the very legitimate moral problems of housing minors in a prison complex as on Nisida; rather, intimate experience affords her an empathy that feels real without being sentimental. Zeno is under no illusions that what he has done is wrong – but that does not make him less human or beyond hope. With time, his simple writing exercise becomes a project of self-realisation; near the end of the novel, Zeno begins to envision a life for himself beyond prison, perhaps even as a writer. As befits her setting near Naples, Benvenuto's original prose blends Italian with Neapolitan. Inevitably, the translator Elizabeth Harris has replaced this interplay between two languages with just one: but the more diminished English, with Zeno's voice peppered with vague colloquialisms, feels as though it belongs everywhere and nowhere at once ('she don't got no problems'). And where Harris has let the occasional Neapolitan word or phrase stand on its own – strunz, scornacchiato, 'nnammurata – we're only reminded of a layer of meaning that has been lost. This dualism is important, though: in particular, I'm left wondering where Benvenuto might have originally slipped into Neapolitan to distinguish between other dualities, such as between social classes or children and adults. (That isn't to criticise Harris's work, however. Another translator might have cast the Neapolitan in another mutually intelligible dialect – imagine a back and forth between English and Scots – but the specificities of Italy would still be lost.) 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Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Daily Record
Freddy Brazier announces he's going to rehab to 'get clean' after sad fallout with dad
Freddy Brazier, 20, has revealed he's going to rehab in Spain to get clean after battling a smoking addiction since age 12 Freddy Brazier has announced he is heading to rehab in Spain as he battles a long-standing addiction. The 20-year-old, youngest son of Jeff Brazier and the late Jade Goody, revealed he has been addicted to smoking since the age of 12 and is now taking steps to 'get clean.' The move follows reports of a strained relationship with his father Jeff, leading Freddy to leave the family home and move in with his maternal grandmother, Jackiey Budden, Mirror reports. On Instagram, Freddy opened up about his decision to seek treatment, saying: "I've decided that I will be cutting down and I want to go to Rehab In Marbs as I feel if I'm in England I won't take getting clean seriously." He described smoking as a "bad coping mechanism that turned into an addiction, something I relied on and something that made me feel sane and some what OK." Yet now, Freddy is determined to turn his life around. "I've found a boxing club and a rehabilitation centre. Ive found someone I want to get to know and I'm happy. I got a good bunch of friends and I [want to] get out and enjoy myself." His goal is clear. "I want to be clean so I can live happily and have healthy relationships with people and be there for all of my family rather then feeling like I'm in the middle and have to choose a side." Freddy also reflected on his struggle to feel loved, admitting, "I haven't been able to feel loved properly as I have never loved myself and it starts now." He hopes to embrace a new chapter, sharing: "I want to play football and take up boxing I want to be happy and be in a healthy relationship and have a healthy relationship with my Nana and my father." The young man ended his heartfelt message with a plea for privacy and understanding: "Every day is a new story about me and my Nana and father. It's getting boring now. Mind your business and have a good rest of the week x." Concerns about Freddy's wellbeing have grown this week after news emerged that he had moved out of his father's home to live with Jackiey Budden. Freddy and Jeff had previously been seen sharing a close bond, notably on the BBC series Race Across the World last year. However, their relationship now appears fractured, with Freddy growing closer to his late mother Jade's mother. Reports say Jeff is devastated by the situation and is considering legal action to prevent Freddy and his grandmother from spending time together. Defying his father's wishes, Freddy has continued to share photos with his grandmother on social media. One recent post alarmed fans as he listed the things he hates about himself, including his 'relationship with weed,' 'step parents,' and his inability to love properly. He also mentioned having 'family issues.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The TikTok video was shared just a day before what would have been Jade Goody's 44th birthday. The late Big Brother star died aged 27 in 2009 after a battle with cervical cancer. Supporters flooded Freddy's post with messages of encouragement. One TikTok user wrote, "Ah man this is gonna be sad to watch," while another said, "Go home son, this is not what mum wanted for you sweetheart." A third added, "Sending you love Fred! Watched you in Race Across the World & you're such a decent lad with so much potential." The tension within the family extends beyond his father. Freddy was absent from his older brother Bobby's 22nd birthday party on Monday, an event reportedly marked by a "sadness" due to his absence. Bobby was said to have spent time with Jeff and his stepmother Kate instead. Freddy was just four when Jade passed away. Since then, Jeff has dedicated himself to raising Freddy and Bobby, striving to provide stability after such a traumatic loss.
Scottish Sun
17 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Freddy Brazier reveals he's going to rehab in Spain saying he ‘wants a healthy relationship with his dad'
It comes just days after he hit out at Jeff's wife Kate in a scathing attack on things he "hates" brave move Freddy Brazier reveals he's going to rehab in Spain saying he 'wants a healthy relationship with his dad' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FREDDY Brazier has revealed he's going to rehab in Spain, saying he 'wants a healthy relationship with his dad'. Jeff Brazier and Jade Goody's son Freddy, 20, told fans today he has been addicted to "smoking" from the age of 12 and will be seeking treatment soon. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 7 Freddy Brazier has revealed he's going to rehab in Spain Credit: Getty 7 The star said he 'wants a healthy relationship with his dad' Jeff Brazier Credit: BBC The Race Across The World star announced his plans to travel to Marbella so that he can become "clean". It comes just days after he hit out at Jeff's wife Kate in a scathing attack on things he "hates". Freddy wrote on his Stories: "I've decided that I will be cutting down And I want to go to Rehab In Marbs as I feel if I'm in England I won't take getting clean seriously. "I've been smoking from the age of 12 and it's time to stop it was a bad coping mechanism that turnt into an addiction something I relied on and something that made me feel sane and some what ok. "I've found a boxing club a rehabilitation centre and a boxing club I've found someone I want to get to know and I'm happy I got a good bunch of friends and I get out and enjoy myself. "I want to be clean so I can life happily and have healthy relationships with people and be there for all of my family rather then feeling like I'm in the middle and have to choose a side. "I haven't been able to feel love properly as I have never loved myself and it starts now I want to play football and take up boxing I want to be happy and be in a healthy relationship and have a healthy relationship with my Nana and my father "Desire everything that is going in new story about me my Nana and father every day ffs it's getting boring now Mind your business and have a good rest of the week x." It was revealed this week that Freddy had moved in with his nan Jackiey Budden in her Bermondsey home. Jackiey, who has lived in the London area close to Tower Bridge all her life, has been spending an increasing amount of time with her grandson amid his feud with TV star father Jeff. Freddy Brazier defies dad Jeff to post new TikTok with nan Jackiey after legal action and 'weed smoking' row It is understood that he has been living at her South London home despite the legal row launched by his father Jeff, 46, to block Jackiey from seeing him. Freddy was just four-years-old and his EastEnders actor brother Bobby, was five when their mother Jade Goody died from cervical cancer in 2009. The Big Brother legend passed away at the age of 27 after a seven month battle with cancer and he has since been raised by his dad. Since then, Jackiey and Jeff have clashed several times before The Sun on Sunday revealed that the former Dancing on Ice contestant took legal action for his son's wellbeing. Despite trying to keep the duo apart, The Mail reports that Freddy spent the last week with his grandmother at her home in Bermondsey. A source told the publication: "Jeff was never going to keep Freddy away from his Nanny for very long – they've always had a strong bond. "Jeff may hate her for all sorts of reasons going back many years, but Freddy loves her very much. "They had a great time together, playing with her dog and catching up at her flat – where he has often stayed over the years. "Whatever Jeff hoped to achieve with his legal efforts, it hasn't worked." This came after The Sun spotted Freddy smoking a joint with his former reality TV star grandmother near Tower Bridge in full view of tourists. Our exclusive photos and video show them smoking a suspicious-looking cigarette as Jackiey was seen to be 'acting erratically' with her grandson. An onlooker remarked: "The pair were puffing away in the open, in full view of tourists passing by and there was an aromatic smell in the air. The source added: "She appeared to be acting erratically." 7 Freddy told fans today he has been addicted to "smoking" from the age of 12 Credit: Instagram 7 Jeff raised Freddy and his brother Bobby after their mum Jade died of cancer Credit: Refer to Caption 7 Jeff recently launched legal action in a bid to stop Freddy from seeing Jade's mother Jackiey Credit: Tiktok 7 Freddy recently confirmed he has moved in with Jackiey in south London Credit: TikTok/@fredbrazier04
