Latest news with #BearGrylls
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
Tiny beach hut in trendy Welsh holiday hotspot dubbed 'Cheshire-by-Sea' goes on sale for £150,000
A tiny hut on a trendy Welsh holiday hotspot dubbed 'Cheshire-by-Sea' has gone on the market for an eye-watering £150,000. The bare-bones beach-side shelter is just 12ft long by 10ft wide - smaller than a standard parking space - and is made of corrugated iron. Buyers won't even be able to stay in the cabin overnight as sleepovers are banned. The changing hut has no furniture inside, with the only furnishings a stripy shower curtain and a few small signs. But it holds stunning views over the seacape on the sandbanks beside Abersoch - a north Wales peninsula whose well-heeled staycationers include Coleen Rooney and Bear Grylls. Just last month another sea-side plot went up for grabs for a stunning £100,000... and it didn't even include a cabin. The shack's price-tag is only £8,000 short of the average cost of a terraced home in the county of Gwynedd - according to figures from the Office of National Statistics. Estate agent Beresford Adams called it a 'fantastic opportunity to acquire a modern freehold bathing hut on this renowned beach in Abersoch.' The tiny space measures just 12 by 10 ft - and is smaller than a standard parking space They continued: 'This is a modern constructed hut built some four years ago lying about 200 yards towards the Yacht club end of the beach from Footprints Café down Golf Road. 'The hut lies along the sand dunes just slightly set back from the front line huts, enjoying magnificent views across Cardigan Bay to the Moorings and the St Tudwals Islands. 'The hut measures 12' 4' x 10' internally with a small mezzanine storage area and a changing cubicle. A timber Balcony 11' x 6' 9' with double wooden door entry.' Coleen Rooney and her family make regular holiday trips to Abersoch, swapping the beaches of the Caribbean for North Wales most years. In August 2023 she posted several family snaps of her children with the caption: 'Always the best time in Abersoch.' Porth Mawr beach runs at nearly half a mile in length and is known among locals for its golden sand and is mainly backed by the dunes. Explaining the lure of Abersoch, tourist body Visit Snowdonia said: 'There are three beaches at Abersoch - it's the main beach that holds the Blue Flag and the Seaside Award.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Holly Willoughby's big budget Netflix show Bear Hunt AXED – leaving her without a show on TV
NETFLIX'S big budget adventure series Bear Hunt has been axed after just one series, The Sun can reveal. The show, set in Costa Rica, was fronted by Bear Grylls and Holly Willoughby - and means Holly, 44, is currently without a primetime TV show for the first time in over 20 years. 1 The decision not to recommission the heavily backed series comes following a series of last ditch production meetings where various cost-cutting measures were discussed. Last night a source said: 'Everyone involved with Bear Hunt is absolutely gutted - they loved the format, and it actually hit its targets from the streaming side. "But the overall cost of travel, insurance and, of course, securing big name talent proved too dear - it was completely untenable even after they looked at filming closer to home, and making more of a budget show. 'It is no slight on Holly or Bear either and execs are now trying to find another formula for them to showcase their talents. "Naturally it's a real blow to Holly as it's the latest show to have time called, but she's a professional and knows that sometimes this is how it goes. 'She's got a number of other exciting projects in the pipeline; that's showbiz, after all.' News of the show's termination comes just four months after it first aired. It showed adventurer Bear hunting down 12 celebrities in the jungle including Boris Becker, Mel B, Shirley Ballas and Lottie Moss, whilst Holly, 44, presented it. Fans were frustrated she was not given more air time and, according to reports, she therefore earned the equivalent of £40,000 per minute she was on air. It has been a tricky few months for the star. After she quit This Morning in October 2023 - following a horrific rape and kidnap threat - she took a three month break from telly to be with her family. How ITV are losing grip on 'golden girl' Holly Willoughby as she eyes £10m TV megadeal and plans to follow TV legend She bravely returned to ITV'S Dancing On Ice - a show she had hosted alongside former best pal Phillip Schofield, 63, since 2006 - last January. But the once-popular skating showed was also given the axe earlier this year - which she latterly fronted alongside with Stephen Mulhern - whilst she quit You Bet, another show starring Stephen, 47, in March. Recently, the mum of three also launched a huge sale on her lifestyle brand. The presenter is founder of wellbeing business Wylde Moon, established back in 2021, which encourages shoppers to "value reconnecting with yourself." Could You Bet! be the full circle moment Holly Willoughby needs? By Joshua Rom When Holly Willoughby finally announced her departure from This Morning in October 2023 it felt almost like a crescendo. After her feud with Phillip Schofield, dealing with the revelation about his workplace relationship, months of speculation, a lacklustre return to the daytime show and a horrendous kidnap plot it seemed like her own departure was almost a relief. She made her return to TV on Dancing On Ice, a show that first shot her to superstardom that she knew inside and out. This was combined with a long-standing colleague from her days in children's TV to serve as her co-host in the form of Stephen Mulhern. It was a safe and steady bet for the star that placed emphasis on the continuity of her career despite unprecedented challenges. She was previously announced as one of the hosts for a new jungle challenge show for Netflix called Bear Hunt. The streamer reportedly spent £1million on a 'ring of steel' security detail made up of ex-special forces and former military guns to protect her against drug gangs and kidnappers. We are still yet to see this show but with contestants such as Mel B, Shirley Ballas and Steph McGovern it is sure to be a must-watch. But You Bet! feels like a proper homecoming for the star as she returns to ITV with her first new format since she left This Morning. Her partnership with Stephen Mulhern will continue and the new show could cement them as the new golden hosting couple of the most popular commercial broadcaster. Huge names like Olly Murs and Harry Redknapp will only bolster their star power and viewers will surely love the on-screen reunion with her former colleague and BFF Alison Hammond. Plus, you cannot go wrong with a beloved TV game show format from the 90s. The BBC can attest to this with the success of Gladiators. On paper, this news has all the qualities for a major success and maybe it will be the show to usher in a new era for Holly Willoughby.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Celebrity Bear Hunt has been AXED as the show will not return for a second season
Netflix have axed their big money television show Celebrity Bear Hunt after just one series, MailOnline can reveal. The programme, which was set in Costa Rica and was hosted by Holly Willoughby alongside Bear Grylls, will not return despite the star saying that he was hopeful it would. Sources close to the show which aired in February say that while the ratings did well it was expensive to make and Netflix are now planning to do more live events rather than pre-recorded shows. One told MailOnline: 'Everyone was very proud of the show but when it came to it, it was just so expensive to make. 'You had to have a whole set in Costa Rica, loads of staff and loads of celebrities. The overheads were eyewatering.' It is understood that cheaper locations were looked at but nothing was appeared to be suitable. The news will come as a blow to Grylls, who speaking just two weeks ago, Bear said of a second series: 'God willing, we're just sort of figuring that out at the moment,' while speaking to Dermot O'Leary on Radio 2. Celebrity Bear Hunt had an impressive line up of celebrities including Spice Girl Mel B and tennis player Boris Becker who would not have been cheap to hire, according to sources. Other celebrities that took part included Lottie Moss, Danny Cipriani, Big Zuu, Joe Thomas, Kola Bokinni, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Leomie Anderson, Shirley Ballas, Steph McGovern and Una Healy. The show, which was Holly's first programme with Netflix, featured twelve celebrities who are sent to a jungle in Costa Rica, where they were forced to avoid being hunted down by Grylls. Along the way, the celebrities faced various challenges and solve puzzles. Holly, 44, signed for the show after her terrifying kidnap torment at the hands of former security guard Gavin Plumb who was last summer found guilty of a plot to kidnap, rape and murder her. When Grylls called her, she revealed she immediately she said yes - a decision which was aided by her three children Harry, Belle and Chester. 'It felt like the right time for me,' Holly told the Mail. 'When Bear called and described the premise of the show, I was like, 'Okay, well, firstly it sounds like a great show, it also sounds like a show that my kids would love, my kids love Bear anyway,' so it was a bit of a no brainer. 'For a long time, I think because my kids were younger, I've always been a bit 'ooh' I don't like leaving the country for so long, even when I went out to Australia for I'm A Celeb, kids came with me. 'It just felt like a really exciting project. You hear about different shows and there's always that real gut instinct when you go 'yes' and I think you just have to listen to that, and this was definitely a yes on a spot.'
NZ Herald
28-05-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Fires linked to lithium batteries have doubled. Why the delay in dealing with them?
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but speculation from a Fire and Emergency staff member was the culprit could be lithium-ion batteries. Two weeks later, a fire broke out in a scrapyard in the Auckland suburb of Ōtara. Again, lithium-ion batteries were suspected. Until investigations are complete, we can't say for sure lithium-ion batteries caused the blazes. However, data collated by Fire and Emergency New Zealand ,suggests the number of fires caused by these have more than doubled since 2020 growing from 51 in 2020 to 120 in 2024. So far this year, 42 fires have been related to batteries. The increase is because of the proliferation of the batteries, which are often found in devices that can be charged, such as mobile phones and laptops. They are also used in power banks, vapes, e-scooters, e-bikes and power tools. If damaged, defective or used incorrectly, these batteries can overheat, catch fire, and even explode. They're so combustible that outdoor survival expert Bear Grylls used the battery from a waterlogged phone on his television show to start a fire. 'As soon as I cut into the battery, that's going to expose the lithium to the oxygen and that mix of spark heat and oxygen is going to create fire,' he tells the audience. A few cuts later white smoke jets out of the battery, and the handful of tinder he's prepared bursts into flames. This propensity for rapid combustion means batteries thrown in with regular rubbish, then later crushed or damaged, can become flashpoints for infernos. This is why fires at scrap yards and inside rubbish trucks have become more commonplace. A large scrapyard fire on Saleyards Rd, Ōtāhuhu, last year. So, what are we doing? Keeping batteries out of places where they're likely to get damaged – like landfill or scrap yards – is one way to reduce fires. There's a push to make producers take more responsibility for the products they create, especially when the disposal can cause issues. This might mean educating the public on battery disposal and ensuring there are enough convenient places to stop the batteries ending up in rubbish bins, and a process to safely store, transport and recycle the returned batteries. In some cases companies voluntarily opt to provide the public with options for returning goods when they reach their end of life, but in 2020 moves were made to make schemes compulsory for a range of problematic items. E-waste joined tyres, refrigerants and synthetic gases, farm plastics and agrichemical containers, plastic packaging and larger batteries, such as electric car batteries as priority products for the Government. This meant regulated schemes would be set up under New Zealand's Waste Minimisation Act. The act requires product stewardship schemes be set up 'as soon as practicable' for priority products, but doesn't give a deadline. To date, only one of the six priority products – tyres – has a regulated scheme in place. The Tyrewise scheme became operational in September 2024. Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds told RNZ farm plastics and agrichemical containers were the current focus for the Government. 'I intend to progress schemes in a measured way to ensure they are well-considered and cost-of-living impacts are limited.' She said there are no confirmed dates relating to the e-waste scheme. 'The Ministry for the Environment is working with industry and stakeholders on the next steps. I have asked officials to keep me updated on progress, acknowledging that any proposed plan will require time to determine the next steps.' It's been five years, has it stalled? Simmonds said the e-waste stewardship scheme hasn't stalled, but it's fair to say some confusion surrounds its current status. Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds says farm plastics and agrichemical containers are the priority. Photo / Supplied Members of a working group who were part of an e-waste product stewardship scheme design project, led by non-profit TechCollect, told RNZ they hadn't been updated since a report was submitted to the Ministry for the Environment in June 2023. 'We never really got clear answers about why it wasn't progressing,' said Kahurangi Carter. She's a Green Party MP now, but at the time she was involved with the working group as a representative of Para Kore, a recycling and waste group with a focus on marae. She was one of 14 group members. Other working group members contacted by RNZ were also unaware of whether anything had happened since the report was submitted. 'I'm not sure what happened to it,' said Karen Driver, from the Zero Waste Network Aotearoa. Tim Findlay, former owner of Remarkit, a company which repurposed e-waste, said he has no idea what happened since the report was submitted. 'I'm not sure what goes on behind the scenes,' he said. 'Certainly a lot of time and effort went into this latest paper.' The paper Findlay was referring to was the 109-page report. It was headed up by not-for-profit TechCollect, which received $320,000 from a Waste Minimisation Fund to lead the design stage of an e-waste product stewardship scheme. TechCollect's head of operations, Michael Dudley, said the scheme didn't stall after the report was submitted to the Ministry for the Environment in 2023. 'Good things do take time, and it has moved at a glacial speed, I suppose, but you know, that's the nature of product stewardship. It is a slow burn and it's important to get the foundations right from the outset.' TechCollect spent just over a year completing further work and lodged an application to the Ministry for the Environment to be accredited to run the scheme. 'We're in the midst of the assessment process at the moment, and it's an up to 16-week assessment process. So the ball is certainly in the ministry's court for now,' Dudley said. If the ministry's assessment is completed by July and TechCollect receives accreditation, Dudley expects the scheme could be up and running by July 2026. A pilot programme has been running for seven years as a voluntary scheme involving some of TechCollect's members, including well-known brands such as HP, Canon, Dell, and the Warehouse Group. The pilot programme has 39 collection points nationwide where people can drop e-waste free-of-charge. The waste is broken down into different components for reuse and recycling by partners TechCollect works with. Lithium-ion batteries are shipped offshore as there is no infrastructure to recycle them domestically. Dudley said only a 'handful' of brands contribute to the voluntary scheme. 'It would be fantastic if I had all of the sector and the members supporting us, because we could achieve such a larger scale. I've been having conversations with the sector for the last seven years, and our member base remains the same size that it is. Without regulatory intervention and unfortunately a stick, I don't think you're going to see all of the sector come and do the right thing, organically or voluntarily.' If the recommendations in the report are implemented, it would mean a levy would be placed on all electronic products which are manufactured or imported to New Zealand. Dudley wasn't able to give an exact number for what the levy might be, saying the price would be dependent on how much material needed to be recycled. For the Tyrewise scheme the levy is based on the type and weight of tyre. A 9.5kg passenger car tyre has a levy of $6.65 plus gst. The money raised by the levy is used to cover the cost of recycling the product at the end of its life. Dudley described levy setting as a balancing act and said TechCollect has recommended frequent reviews of the levy to ensure it is not too high, or too low. Edging over the line, or 'going round and round in circles'? Another member of the working group, Laurence Zwimpfer from the eDay New Zealand Trust, has spent decades trying to get a scheme under way. He said in 2006 he wrote a report for the Ministry for the Environment highlighting the need for a system to deal with e-waste. 'We thought it would take six months. Now it's nearly 20 years and we still don't have anything in place.' He said lithium-ion battery fires are a consequence of not having something in place. He was a little forlorn when he recently received yet another consultation document, this time asking about extended producer responsibility (EPR) rather than product stewardship. 'It starts off: Do you support the proposal for a modern EPR framework?' The consultation is related to the Government's work on proposed amendments to the Waste Minimisation Act. One of the key changes which are proposed is changing the product stewardship provisions with extended producer responsibility provisions. Zwimpfer explained the two terms are often used interchangeably, with EPR having more focus on producers paying for recycling, and product stewardship sometimes being more collaborative with community groups, or local authorities being involved in some way. 'It's an insult to people that have been involved for 20 years in this process to now go back to say: Do people think this is a good idea?' He worries this new amendment might mean more delays to a formalised scheme. 'We're waiting for government, really, and nothing's changed since 2008 when we told them that in 2008 that's still our position. We've got businesses to run. We can't spend all our day sitting around the table, going round and round in circles.' Dudley sounds enthusiastic about the prospect of a scheme with a government 'stick' behind it in the form of regulations. If TechCollect is successful, he believes the public will see an increase in drop-off points from the current 39 to approximately 300. The need for recycling would be communicated with a nationwide campaign. He said it's his understanding that applications already lodged would continue to be assessed under the current legislation, but he's also confident it meets objectives of an EPR-focused scheme. 'We cannot kick the can down the road any further or delay. We've got the solution. We've got the goodwill of industry. Let's not waste it.' So, what should you do with lithium-ion batteries? Fire and Emergency New Zealand's community and education manager Tom Ronaldson said lithium-ion batteries should never be thrown out in the household rubbish and should be taken to a collection facility or a transfer station. These facilities, either run by councils or private entities, can be found on a map created by WasteMINZ. He urged people to only charge batteries when they are at home and awake and to avoid over-charging devices. 'The toxic chemicals produced during a lithium-ion battery fire are harmful to people, so if a battery catches fire or makes unusual sounds like cracking or clicking, leave it immediately and call 111.'
Wales Online
22-05-2025
- Wales Online
Police warning over behaviour of children in woodland divides opinion
Police warning over behaviour of children in woodland divides opinion Police said 'vandalism' had taken place - but members of the public argued the behaviour was 'imaginative' Police posted photos of a 'den' that had been made at Lower Common in Buckley, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (Image: North Wales Police ) A Welsh police force has ignited a debate after posting about what they found in a protected woodland. Officers from North Wales Police reported that they had been alerted to a makeshift den in a Flintshire forest. Police shared a number of images from the site which showed a fire pit, a makeshift tent shelter, chairs, damaged trees, and even a basketball net. They were called to the scene because it is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which carries a formal conservation status. Describing the situation as "vandalism", police took to Facebook to ask: "Do you know where your children are when they go out to play?" For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here However, the majority of public comments showed sympathy towards the "budding Bear Grylls". Others said they couldn't see the "vandalism" there and said young people needed outdoor spaces to play in. The police's initial post read: "On Monday 19th May, we were made aware of vandalism having taken place at the Lower Common in Buckley where a children's den has been set up in the woodland of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)," reports North Wales Live. "An SSSI is a site of special scientific interest and is a formal conservation designation. Usually describing an area that's of particular interest to science due to the rare species of fauna, flora or any wildlife natural habitat. It's important to protect the geological and physiological features within the area. Article continues below "We have liaised with Flintshire County Council and ranger David Bryan who will arrange to have the area cleaned up. Patrols will be conducted to ensure no further damage is caused." A make-shift tent (Image: North Wales Police ) However, many have leapt to the defence of the youngsters, arguing that their creation is a testament to their creativity and imagination. One respondent stated: "Can't see vandalism here. I trained in Forest School and this is how incredibly imaginative children can be. "Why aren't we embracing this and getting our kids enthusiastic about something before they get to a stage where they are actually being a nuisance and vandalising things 'because they're bored and have nothing to do'?" Another commenter echoed this sentiment, saying: " just a kid or some kids being creative. We've got a budding Bear Grylls in Buckley!" It was a view that was widely shared, with one woman adding: "It's all feeling a bit confusing for the kids at the moment. Common land has traditionally been seen as open and accessible, but now it seems like almost every patch of green space is being designated as protected by Natural Resources Wales. Kids can't even ride mountain bikes through the Knowies anymore. "What's tricky is that while restrictions are tight for local children, the same rules seem far more flexible when it comes to property development, which does raise some eyebrows. It sends mixed messages, especially to young people who just want to be outdoors, active, and creative. "I absolutely recognise the importance of protecting sensitive habitats, and I'm not questioning that. "But we can't ignore the growing gap it's creating for teenagers. When they're told they can't go to places like Lower Common, what's left? "There are so few, accessible outdoor spaces where they can explore, build dens, and tracks to ride bikes, or simply hang out without being moved on or made to feel like they're doing something wrong. "It would really help if Buckley Town Council could identify and actively promote specific spaces where children are welcome, areas to explore, and enjoy nature without fear of being told off. "I grew up doing just that, and we now know how valuable that kind of play is for development and mental wellbeing. It would be a real shame if the next generation missed out on that freedom, simply because no one made space for them." People defended the youngsters who made the camp on social media (Image: North Wales Police ) Another added: "Whilst I understand SSSI sites are important, children being able to play and explore is more important, anywhere kids go in Buckley they are an inconvenience." Article continues below Officers have addressed some of the comments online. The South Flintshire Community Policing Team said: "We are all for children being out in the fresh air, playing and having fun, however unfortunately as this area has been designated as an SSSI, we have had complaints from members of the public about the damage caused during their den building and therefore have to respond to these. "Whilst we do understand the comments being made we are simply offering words of advice to parents who may not be aware that this area is an SSSI."
