Hot air balloonists given green light for new Somerset festival
Bath Hot Air Balloon Club is a not-for-profit organisation which raises money for charities including Suicide Prevention UK and Saltford Primary School.It has been based at Snake Meadows since January 2024, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.The club's Andy Morse said: "We are all about bringing the young generation, the new generation into hot air ballooning which has been seen as quite an expensive sport."
The club had faced opposition from the parish council over concerns that the site entrance was too narrow.It said it could lead to nuisance parking and difficulty evacuating the site if necessary.In response, Mr Morse said that the club had an emergency services plan in place and would hire professional securityThe club also agreed to reduce visitor numbers from 2,000 to 1,200 in light of the objections.Jerry Davis, from Bath Hot Air Balloon Club, said: "We have been fighting the parish council for 12 months on this. Now we can move forward."
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Edinburgh Live
a day ago
- Edinburgh Live
Huge equipment trucks arrive in Edinburgh as rock legends AC/DC prepare for Murrayfield gig
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Get the latest Edinburgh Live breaking news on WhatsApp Trucks have been spotted lined up outside Edinburgh Murrayfield, signalling the imminent arrival of rock legends AC/DC. The iconic band is playing Murrayfield Stadium on Thursday, August 21 in their "POWER UP" tour across Europe and Australia. A video posted to social media shows rows of Transam Trucks stationed outside the venue. One of the most recognisable fleets in the music industry, Transam Trucking is a transportation company that specialises in music and entertainment. Their clients include Dua Lipa, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, The 1975, Shania Twain, Sting, Metalica, Muse, and more. The video, posted to TikTok, was shared with the caption: "AC/DC tour has arrived into Murrayfield stadium Edinburgh. Here are some of the trucks that are on the tour". The video wracked up over 20,000 views in less than 24 hours as capital residents prepare for the huge concert. One local took to the comments section, saying: "I saw all those trucks last night on the bypass! Wondered what they were for". A jealous resident added: "Wish I was going". An excited music lover shared: "See you there on Thursday". Police Scotland issued a statement ahead of the concert on Thursday, warning locals to expect a "very busy" city centre due to a convergence of events. The ACDC concert coincides with a match between Hibernian FC and Legia Warszawa, along with the ongoing Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Edinburgh International Festival.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
I'm a lottery expert – the 180 day rule that Euromillions ticket holders needs to know after mega £210m jackpot is won
WE'VE all dreamt of winning the EuroMillions jackpot, pinning our hopes on that all-important £2.50 ticket. But do you know the crucial deadlines and rules to follow - or risk losing out on a massive win? Top lottery experts reveal all you need to know as a HUGE £210million jackpot was won in last night's game. 3 The lucky ticket holder from France has now become immediately richer than the likes of mega stars Adele, Harry Kane and Dua Lipa. The jackpot reached a mega £210million after it rolled over in recent draws. The winning numbers were: 24, 31, 34, 41, 43 and the Lucky Stars are: 06, 08. Players will also have another chance to play this Friday with a £14million jackpot up for grabs. Millions of us buy a EuroMillions ticket each week, battling it out against other players to try and win a huge windfall. You pick five numbers from 1-50 and two lucky stars from 1-12, or you can choose a lucky dip - which is when the numbers are randomly selected for you. But are you aware of the important game rules you need to follow? If you don't, you could jeopardise your chance of scooping a monster prize. Here, we speak to top lottery experts about all the EuroMillions small print you may not know about. Make sure you gamble responsibly and only gamble with money you can afford to lose. Set a money limit before playing. The 180-day prize rule Winners have 180 days from the draw date to claim their prize - otherwise, they lose the lot, explains lottery expert and blogger known as Lottery Guy ( He chooses to remain anonymous but has been running his blog, Lottery Guy, since 2004, where he dishes out lottery tips to help players win big. He says: 'You've got six months from the draw date to claim - after that, even a jackpot is gone for good. 'A £63.8 million win went unclaimed in 2012.' Simon Horne, from Allwyn UK, the National Lottery operator which runs Euromillions in the UK, says: 'It does occasionally happen and then any prize money goes towards good causes supported by the National Lottery and Euromillions.' When a major prize – more than £50,000 – isn't claimed, Allwyn launches a publicity blitz in the area where the ticket was bought. This is the case in the London borough of Barnet, where Allwyn tried reuniting a lucky ticket holder with a £106,738.50 Euromillions win. However, because the prize was left unclaimed, the winnings will now go to National Lottery good causes. Meanwhile, one EuroMillions player in Fife in Scotland, has until December 10 to claim £3,613,887. Another player, who bought their ticket in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales in April 2024, missed out on £1 million after the deadline for claiming passed in October. Their UK Millionaire Maker winnings went to charity instead. Lottery Guys says: 'Always check your ticket, and don't chuck any away without checking them properly.' Should you buy more tickets? YOU'VE got to be in it to win it. Every time you buy a ticket the odds of winning increase. But WARNING - only spend what you can afford. At the end of the day, it's down to luck. This is why some people prefer to be part of a syndicate, where multiple tickets are bought. While this means you'll have to share the pot, the odds become more favourable each ticket you buy. The 30-day lost ticket rule You think your numbers have come up, you've upended the house, but you still can't find your ticket. What can you do? You need to act fast, as Lottery Guy explains: 'If your ticket gets ruined, lost or even stolen, you have to tell Allwyn within 30 days of the draw — or you lose your chance, no matter what.' If you report the loss within that time frame, Allwyn will try to pay out your prize. It will investigate to work out whether you are the rightful ticket holder, asking questions such as where you bought the ticket and whether it was your own numbers or a Lucky Dip. Simon says: 'If you've bought the ticket, we want to try and find a way to be able to get you your prize. 'We'd investigate and then if no one else had come forward after 180 days, we have discretion to award you the prize, even without a ticket.' Back in 2001, Martyn Tott from Watford, Hertfordshire, missed out on a £3m lottery jackpot after he lost his ticket. When the purchasing manager, then 25, and his wife Kay realised they had won, they couldn't find the ticket. Because the couple hadn't registered the lost ticket within 30 days, they lost out on the lot and sadly their marriage broke down shortly after. In a syndicate only ONE person gets paid A lottery syndicate is when a group of people club together and put money into a pot for lottery tickets. One person will be in charge of buying the tickets and sharing out the winnings. They are called the syndicate manager. It makes a lot of sense to join a syndicate. It should increase your chance of winning something because you're usually buying a lot more tickets - and of course, the only real way you can boost your chances of winning is to buy more tickets. In fact, around one in five top prizes are won by syndicates. But it's important to know a very important rule when it comes to syndicates - only one person, the syndicate manager, is paid. They are responsible for divvying out the winnings. To avoid problems, Simon urges players to draw up an agreement and make everyone sign it. He says: "Then if there's any complications down the line, everyone knows where they stand.' NEVER let your mate buy your ticket Technically, whoever bought the ticket is the owner. So, think carefully before sending someone to the shop to get it for you. Lottery Guys says: 'Asking a friend or partner to grab your ticket? Be careful — if it wins, there's nothing to stop them claiming it for themselves. 'Money can do strange things to people.' Even if you've bought it yourself, you can take steps to make sure no one else claims it as theirs. 'For extra protection, write your name on the back of the ticket as soon as you buy it. 'Hardly anyone does this, but if there's no name on it, they have to assume the person who has the ticket is the rightful owner. 'Unless someone comes forward to dispute the claim, they will pay out to that person who has the ticket.' This might also help if you drop it, someone else finds it, or it gets stolen. A little-known agreement could protect your winnings Winning the lottery should be life-changing, but it can also be a loser's game if couples split up. Rachel Spencer Robb, a partner in family law with Clarion Solicitors, says: 'If one person in a marriage buys a winning ticket, the money is technically theirs. 'But if they later split up, the winnings should go into the pot of assets to be shared.' That doesn't mean they'll automatically be split half and half. Lots of factors are considered, so one person could end up with less. It's also a different matter for the quarter of couples who live together but aren't married. Then, the person who didn't buy the ticket isn't legally entitled to a penny if they split up. Rachel says: 'It doesn't matter how long they've been together, there's no such thing as a common law husband or wife. 'One way around this is to sign a Living Together Agreement when you are still a couple, which lays out who gets what in the event of a split.' Rachel says it is sensible for anyone playing the lottery or Euromillions with a partner, married or not, to draw up this little-known agreement or at least have some discussions about how any win would be split. It may sound over the top, but with more than four in ten marriages ending in divorce, it's a smart move. Rachel says: 'Leaving a paper trail showing the specifics of what you intended or agreed can be very helpful if your relationship changes.' 'I won £182m EuroMillions jackpot but lost it all over direct debit error' STUDENTS Rachel Kennedy and Liam McCrohan had all the winning numbers for a £182m EuroMillions prize - but lost it all over a direct debit error. The couple recieved a message on their National Lottery app saying they had a "winning match" for the EuroMillions prize draw. But they were left "absolutely heartbroken" when they called to claim the pot and were told their Direct Debit payment had been declined. Rachel, who was studying business at Brighton University at the time, didn't have enough cash in her bank account to pay the £2.50 charge. Rachel told the Sun: "I called the number thinking I'd won £182million and they said, 'Yeah, you've got the right numbers but you didn't have the funds in your account for the payment of the ticket so it didn't go through'." Liam, who was studying economics at the University of Hertfordshire, added: "I was already picturing our dream house and the dream car. "I was absolutely heartbroken when we heard we hadn't actually bought the ticket." Why just before 7:30pm is the worst time to buy If you leave it to the last minute, then there's a risk that you run out of time to buy your ticket. Lottery Guy says: 'You've got to buy your ticket before 7:30pm on draw nights, which are Tuesday and Friday for EuroMillions. 'Anything after that goes into the next draw — even if it's just one minute late.' Simon warns against rushing into the newsagents or loading up your app at 7:25pm. 'It gets a lot busier in shops and online, especially just before a big draw. 'You might find yourself stuck in a queue or unable to find your bank card. 'We don't want people to miss out on the chance to win a big prize, so allow yourself enough time.' The direct debit error that could cost you your winnings Having an online account to buy regular EuroMillions tickets makes sense for some. It means you don't miss a draw, never lose a ticket, and you'll be automatically notified if you win. It works by setting up a Direct Debit so a set amount comes out of your bank account. Winnings of less than £50,000 will then automatically be paid in. But, be warned, you have to have sufficient funds in your account for a Direct Debit to be taken. If that's not the case, you may not be entered into the draw. Lottery Guy says: 'If the payment fails, you didn't buy a ticket, simple as that. 'If it was because of an error by Allwyn then they would investigate and probably find in your favour. 'But not for insufficient funds - that's 100% the players responsibility.' Students Rachel Kennedy and Liam McCrohan missed out on £182 million in 2021. Rachel's account was set up to automatically buy a EuroMillions ticket with her usual numbers but because her account did not have the right funds, the ticket payment did not go through. How to boost your chances of winning the Euromillions QUIT your job, travel round the world, buy a private island... what would you do with £172million? You'd better get planning, there are ways to boost your chances of walking away with the ENTIRE EuroMillions prize. Never pick the 'right' numbers Statistically, each number has an equal chance of being drawn. That means that there are no numbers which are more likely to help you win. The trick is to pick numbers that players are least likely to pick. One of the main ways that you can avoid picking other people's numbers is to pick numbers on the left of the grid, and avoid those on the right. That's because studies show that people naturally gravitate towards the right-hand side. Avoid birthday numbers It may be tempting to pick yours and your loved one's birthday dates as your main numbers with the hope they bring you luck. But the Lottery Guy said it's best to avoid this tactic. That's because there will be a greater number of people picking numbers 1-31. "Avoiding these numbers doesn't increase your chance of winning, but if you do win, you're much less likely to split the prize with other winners." Three of the five winning main numbers for the whopping £208million EuroMillions winning ticket were birthday date numbers. They were: 13, 22 and 23. Pick 'unpopular' numbers Statistically, each number has an equal chance of winning, which means there are no "lucky" numbers you can pick to boost your chances. But Lottery Guy said a good idea would be to pick "unpopular" numbers in your ticket. Unpopular numbers are those which run from 32-50, because they fall outside of the birthday date numbers. It makes sense to choose these numbers, because fewer players will be picking them. That means that if you win a share of the winnings, there will be fewer people with the same unpopular numbers on their ticket. Play on Tuesdays You have to be in it to win it, so if you want the chance of scooping a jackpot, you must buy a ticket. But certain days are better than others to buy a ticket. Lottery Guy said Tuesday is actually the best day to buy a ticket over Friday. He said: "With EuroMillions, Friday is the much more popular day, so you've got more competition on a Friday. "Consider focusing on the Tuesday draw if you want to keep more of that jackpot for yourself."
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Hypocrisy of the secret celebrity smokers: All the 'wellness-loving' stars who can't resist lighting up
From pop stars and Hollywood actors to wellness gurus, there are many celebrities whose fans would never expect them to smoke a cigarette or vape. Rita Ora and her husband Taika Waititi were the latest stars to surprise fans, as they lay out a platter of cigarettes for their A-list celebrity friends to enjoy at the director's 50th birthday party in Ibiza. And they are not alone, because the habit, which has been widely socially shunned since the 2007 smoking ban, is now au fait again - at least in celebrity circles. Dua Lipa and Sabrina Carpenter are among the Gen Z starlets who have been pictured sparking up. Meanwhile, Liz Hurley, Angelina Jolie, and Jennifer Aniston - who all have very healthy lifestyles - are among those who have been caught secretly lighting up. Despite campaigns raising awareness into the dangers of smoking - the habit remains the most common cause of preventable disease in the UK, raising the risk of cancer, heart disease and strokes - aim to try and make England 'smoke free' by 2030, with less than 5% of people smoking. Perhaps it's the stress of life in the spotlight, but a surprisingly high proportion of famous faces seem to enjoy a cheeky cigarette, including the famous faces below... Elizabeth Hurley Rita Ora and her husband Taika Waititi were the latest stars to surprise fans, as they lay out a platter of cigarettes for their A-list celebrity friends to enjoy at the director's 50th birthday party in Ibiza Despite being involved with raising awareness for breast cancer for many years, Elizabeth committed quite the faux pas when she opted to have a cheeky cigarette. In 2014, Elizabeth was pictured sitting in a car with the window down alongside longtime friend Patrick Cox, and she was seen puffing away as the vehicle drove off. It came shortly after an appearance on Sky News as part of her breast cancer awareness scheme. Various studies have shown that smoking tobacco increases a person's risk of developing the disease. During the interview, Elizabeth spoke out about the pain caused by her grandmother's death from the disease as she revealed she wants to speak openly about breast cancer to help other women. She said: 'My grandmother didn't really speak about it at all, when she found her lump she was too scared to tell the doctor, she didn't know anything about breast cancer. 'She assumed it was a death sentence, and unfortunately it was for her.' Elizabeth's grandmother passed away from the disease in 1992, and she recently recalled the time she showed her her scars from a double mastectomy before quickly changing the subject which she deemed to be taboo. Appearing on ITV's This Morning, she added: 'At that time, there was no pink ribbon, nobody talked about breast cancer, magazines didn't have pink months, nobody was selling products to raise money for research.' Dua Lipa surprised fans in January, when she was spotted smoking with fiance Callum Turner as they packed on the PDA in Paris despite her proudly declaring that she'd kicked the habit last year. Sitting in front of the Eiffel Tower, Dua, 29, and Callum, 34, didn't seem to have a care in the world as they only had eyes for one another while puffing on the cigarettes. However, during an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers the pop star explained that she initially gave up smoking for her Future Nostalgia tour in 2022. The singer revealed she had kicked the habit in order to make sure her vocal health was at its best - before announcing she had stopped altogether. She told host Seth: 'I was smoking cigarettes at the time... But I've stopped. I've quit, guys.' It is not clear exactly when the Houdini hitmaker began smoking, but after suffering from laryngitis in December 2021 she explained she felt the need to quit for the sake of her tour and later gushed about how much 'confidence' quitting had given her. Speaking on her At Your Service podcast, she revealed: 'I had laryngitis in December and that kind of kickstarted me quitting smoking a month earlier than I was supposed to. But I did it and I have stuck to it.' Smoking raises the risk of infections and inflammation in the voice box, while doctors warn that it can also cause the vocal cords to become irritated and dried out, which can lead to shifts in how they vibrate — and the sound that's produced. Jennifer Aniston Despite her good-girl image, Jennifer Aniston has a long history of smoking, which she has said she's since quit. But in 2022, the actress and wellness advocate was pictured lighting up amid her birthday celebrations. Her ex-husband, Justin Theroux, posted a video of the actor lighting a cigarette before it was quickly deleted off his Instagram story. Jennifer, 56, has admitted she was a chain smoker for years early in her career, regularly making her way through a pack of cigarettes a day. But in 2007, three years after finishing her hit show Friends, she decided to quit — saying the habit was affecting her health, energy and even relationships. It doesn't appear she's regularly picked up the habit again, but it also seems she hasn't put away her lighter for good. Jenna Ortega Jenna's lookalike mother Natalie works as a nurse and made sure to promote health to her followers as she posted over a dozen times Jenna Ortega shocked her young fans and was hit by plenty of backlash on social media after being seen smoking cigarettes in London in 2023, while filming Beetlejuice 2. However, the worst shade directed towards the 22-year-old star came from her own mother, who took to her Instagram Story to make some very thinly-veiled posts about the dangers of smoking. Jenna's lookalike mother Natalie works as a nurse and made sure to promote health to her followers as she posted over a dozen times. Among them was a meme of Lord Of The Rings character Gollum with text which quipped: 'Don't believe those lies about cigarettes being bad for you. I've been smoking for most my 21 years and I feel great!' Next Natalie shared an image of yellow and rotted teeth, with the warning: 'Yellow teeth are the most notorious effects of long-term smoking, but the dental damage doesn't stop there. 'People who smoke tend to develop gum disease, persistent bad breath, and other oral hygiene problems. Smokers are twice as likely to lose teeth as nonsmokers.' And she later posted a message about duties as a mother which read: 'A mother is always a mother. 'She never stops worrying about her children, even when they are all grown up and have children of their own.' Gwyneth Paltrow She famously espouses a healthy lifestyle and dedicated workout regime, but even Gwyneth Paltrow enjoyed a sneaky cigarette back in the day. The 52-year old admitted she allowed herself one cigarette per week in the May issue of Harper's Bazaar U.S. edition back in 2013. When asked about her guilty pleasures, the actress, who has her own healthy eating cookbook, said: 'My one light American Spirit that I smoke once a week, on Saturday night.' The actress went on to quit smoking but admitted to Holly Willoughby on her podcast in 2022 that, 'I miss the cigarettes' as she reflected on her crazy younger years. Angelina Jolie Angelina Jolie was once a secret smoker, but she has since opened up about the habit. The actress shared that before her turn as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider almost 25 years ago, she smoked two packs of cigarettes a day. In a Q&A with film critic Leonard Maltin at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival earlier this year, Jolie recalled playing the video game heroine, and how the role forced her to get healthy. 'I admittedly came [in] smoking two packs a day and completely had to change my health and my life and discover that I could do things I didn't know I could do,' she said. She added that the 2001 movie would go on to 'change everything' for her. Jolie went on to explain that she trained 'really hard' for Tomb Raider, which forced her to break out of her vices. Her new fit lifestyle led to her dropping her smoking routine, swapping it out for a healthier normal. 'For Tomb Raider there were a few months of just nothing but multiple training sessions a day: morning, noon and night,' the Oscar-winning star recalled. 'And I didn't want anything but good food, water, and sleep at a certain point.' 'I was in training and that's what your body [wants]… You change,' Angelina told Maltin. Once the film was completed, the Hollywood vet said about smoking cigarettes: 'I never did it again…Well, I think I did once or twice.' Rochelle Humes While she's known for her healthy lifestyle and incredible physique, Rochelle Humes has still shown she is partial to a cigarette. The singer turned businesswoman was snapped enjoying a smoke with the This Morning crew back in 2021 . Joined by Phillip Schofield and Dermot O'Leary, the group all looked in very good spirits as they congregated outside for a cigarette break, with Rochelle seen exhaling clouds of smoke while having a laugh with her showbiz pals. Abbey Clancy She's known for her jaw-dropping figure and toned physique. But when she isn't posing up a storm for fashion and lingerie campaigns Abbey Clancy is fond of a cigarette. The model has been snapped numerous times over the years enjoying a smoke while out and about with friends and night outs with husband Pete Crouch. Abbey was most recently seen in February 2023 as she smoked between takes as she filmed her Paddy Power advert in Cheltenham. The star was seen outside her trailer as she indulged in a cigarette while looking stylish in a beige trench coat and tweed hat. Previously Abbey had been spotted getting through a fair few cigarettes to steady her nerves in 2011 ahead of her wedding to Peter. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen They began their career as babies on Full House before transitioning into the fashion world with several hugely successful brands, including The Row. And Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen soon shed their child star image, as they became famous for often being snapped enjoying a smoke break together, particularly outside The Row's New York City office. There is even a dedicated Instagram account to pictures of the twins smoking called @mka_smoking, which boasts over 12,000 followers. The bio on the page - which has been featured on Variety - reads: 'There's nothing quite as soothing as a pic of Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen smoking.' While it was reported that there were 'bowls and bowls filled with cigarettes' at Mary-Kate's wedding to former husband Olivier Sarkozy in 2015, with a source declaring: 'Everyone smoked the whole night'. Ben Affleck Ben Affleck picked up smoking in 2002 when he used to get through a pack a day, according to Marca. And even his two A-list ex-wives were unable to get him to kick the habit, with the actor's smoking photos repeatedly going viral online. Before their short-lived marriage ended last year, Jennifer Lopez was reportedly trying to get Ben to quit the unhealthy habit in April last year. An Insider told OK! magazine : 'JLO loves Ben, but she's tired of his nasty cigarettes. She put up with his smoking at first because it's his only vice left and she didn't want to be a nag, but she can't stand it.' Ben's first ex-wife Jennifer Garner also thought cigarettes were 'disgusting' — and banned him from smoking around their children. The director tried to quit in 2005 when he was expecting his first daughter Violet, who is now 19 years old. But in 2017, he was seen to have picked up the cigarettes again and is said to get through an entire pack in a day when he's stressed, with his smoking photos becoming a viral meme. Ben was photographed smoking as recently as Wednesday night, as he puffed on a cigarette on the Los Angeles set of his sixth feature directorial effort Animals. Ant McPartlin ITV presenter Ant McPartlin has in recent years swapped his bad smoking habit for an e-cigarette. The I'm A Celebrity host has been spotted out and about puffing on the a vape while out walking his dogs near his home in south west London. Previously Ant had been seeing lighting up cigarettes while taking a break on set filming Britain's Got Talent and his former hit show with co-host Dec Donnelly, Saturday Night Takeaway. After an exhausting few takes, the Geordie duo enjoyed a quick break - with Ant seen enjoying a cigarette away from the camera. Becky Hill When UK songstress Becky Hill shared snaps of her recent adventures across the Pond, including at Coachella and in LA, there was one image that evoked more comments than the rest. The Crazy What Love Can Do singer shared an image of herself and DJ Charlie Boon lighting up during the transatlantic trip last month - only to be chastised by some of her followers. Some expressed surprise that the singer was a smoker, while others suggested the unhealthy habit would damage her award-winning vocals. One fan wrote: 'I think you are awesome but please don't glamourise smoking', while another added 'Can't believe you smoke' with a sad-faced emoji. A concerned commenter added: 'It can ruin your singing voice too - be careful Becky.' Others defended her right to drag on cigarettes if she wants to, saying: 'Why is everyone so sour about the smoking? Let her do what she wants.' The music artist has been spotted enjoying a cigarette on a night out for years, including while celebrating winning her first ever BRIT Award back in 2022. Sabrina Carpenter Sabrina Carpenter recently posed for an Instagram snap with a cigarette in her mouth, which she held in place using a fork. However, it is unclear if the cigarette was a prop for one of her music videos or if she has taken up the habit. Speaking to The New York Times about celebrity smokers, Jared Oviatt, the creator of the Cigfluencers Instagram account, said he has seen a rise in photos of celebrities appearing glamorous as they take a drag from their cigarettes. When he first began the account in 2021, Jared said he was having to search the archives for such photos, but now there are 'at least one or two people' snapped while smoking 'every week'. After a dip in portrayals of tobacco on-screen, Hollywood is embracing cigarettes once again. In Celine Song's new film Materalists, Dakota Johnson's character Lucy smokes throughout the film, holding a cigarette as she flirts with her ex, played by Chris Evans. Last year, a report by Truth Initiative , a non-profit organisation that campaigns against smoking, found that the number of movies featuring tobacco has increased for the first time since 2002 when researchers began tracking it in top films. The health organisation's analysis found that eight of the 10 films nominated for Best Picture at the 2025 Oscars contained tobacco imagery, with 41% of the top films released in 2023 showing tobacco compared to 35% in 2022. It also found that popular TV series streamed on platforms like Netflix and HBO are exposing young people to tobacco imagery. According to Truth Initiative, hit teen dramas like Euphoria and Stranger Things were among the most popular shows with tobacco content, as were animated series like The Simpsons and Bob's Burgers. The popularity of cigarettes has been nosediving since the 1960s, as growing awareness of the health risks put people off the habit. But up until as recently as 2007, before indoor smoking was banned, it was normal to enter a pub, club, restaurant and even the workplace and be greeted by a cloud of smoke. The indoor smoking ban, introduced by the Labour government at the time, was hailed at the time as the greatest advance in public health for half a century and followed a long campaign that began in the 1950s. While tobacco use remains at an all-time low, with figures showing only 11.9% of UK adults smoking as of 2023 , the rise in celebrities having a puff could be seen as cause for concern Statistics from HM Revenue and Customs also show that tobacco sales have declined significantly. However, some experts are worried that the black market for tobacco is thriving , as high prices of cigarettes and other tobacco products send smokers searching for cheaper, albeit illicit alternatives. But a new survey by Action on Smoking and Health appears to show that the British public is unswayed by the rich and famous's preference for a smoke. The polling, carried out by YouGov of over 11,000 adults in England , show that two-thirds (68%) of the public support the 'Smokefree Generation' policy, which would ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after 2009. It also found that 65% of people in England want to live in a country where no one smokes, while nearly half 45% believe the government is not doing enough to tackle smoking. Smoking remains a primary concern for the government, as it seeks to bring down the 80,000 preventable deaths caused by smoking in the UK each year. In 2023, former prime minister Rishi Sunak vowed to crack down on smoking through his flagship Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which proposed a ban on vaping and smoking outdoors and aimed to ban young people from ever being able to smoke legally . Prime minister Keir Starmer confirmed in November that his government would not go ahead with the outdoor smoking ban as it would impact the hospitality sector, which is already struggling with rising operational costs and declining profit margins . However, the nationwide ban on vapes came into effect on June 1, and it is now illegal to sell single-use disposable vapes. The government also plans to extend the indoor smoking ban to specific outdoor spaces, such as children's playgrounds and areas outside schools and hospitals.
