Latest news with #Blackpool-based
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Britain's Got Talent's voting figures exposed following Harry Moulding's win
Britain's Got Talent 2025 came to an end over the weekend, with Blackpool-based magician Harry Moulding announced as the winner Britain's Got Talent 2025's voting figures have been revealed following magician Harry Moulding's win over the weekend. The Blackpool-based magician took to the stage earlier that night and impressed the panel of judges, including Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and Bruno Tonioli, by correctly guessing which cards they had chosen out of a pack, while jumping out of a plane. Reacting to his win on Saturday, Harry collapsed to the ground and screamed in excitement. He later told hosts Ant and Dec: "I can't believe what is going on. Thank you, thank you everyone so so much. I genuinely feel like everyone has been behind me. This has been the most incredible journey." Harry won this year's competition by a huge percentage after beating 10 other finalists. Dance act Binita, eight, came in third place while The Blackouts narrowly missed out on winning by coming in second place. The magician won with 27.1% of the votes, with second place act, The Blackouts, receiving 15.1% of the votes. Binita got 13.2% while Olly Pearson received 10.4%. Joseph Charm came out with 9.3% and Jasmine Rice got 9.1%. Hear Our Voice received 7%, Vinnie McKee 4.7%, Han & Fran 3.6%, Ping Pong Pang 3.1%, and Stacey Leadbeatter came out with 2.8% of the votes. Some BGT fans have expressed their disappointment at one act not being crowned the 2025 winner. Taking to social media, some viewers were certain dance group Blackouts were going to be awarded the top prize. One said: "Robbed!!! Should have won!" Another added: "They should have won was the best act by far." Someone else commented: "They should have won." The Blackouts were happy with second place as they said after the announcement: "Thank you so much, we feel so grateful for this journey. Thank you so much and congratulations. Well deserved." Meanwhile, some fans branded Harry's win as "unfair" as he appeared to have longer on stage than some other acts. It is standard for acts to have a two minute slot to show their very best routine. However, some viewers thought magician Harry and comedian Joseph Charm had longer than that. One said: "Not an undeserving winner but they need to look at levelling out the segment times next year so that all contestants have a fair chance."
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Man's brain tumour discovered before pet dog died of same disease
A man who fought for a brain tumour diagnosis for more than a decade has spoken of his heartbreak after his beloved pet dog died from the same Haynes, who is from Blackpool but lived in Northampton at the time, said he suffered seizures, distorted vision and memory loss for more than 10 years before he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in Haynes was recovering from surgery to treat his tumour when his dog Taz began to suffer seizures. Taz deteriorated quickly and died with a post-mortem test revealing the cause to be a brain tumour."I was grieving him while still trying to process my own diagnosis," said the 53-year-old. "It was a cruel twist of fate." "To see him suddenly start seizing and then to lose him so quickly was heart-breaking," he said."To then be told he had a brain tumour too felt surreal. You would not believe it if it was a film script."Mr Haynes said Taz had been by his side during the worst part of his illness and had "kept him going" when he felt like giving up during his battle for a diagnosis. He said he raised concerns repeatedly with doctors at GP surgeries as well as departments at Northampton General Hospital but was told his symptoms were due to stress. It was only after Mr Haynes moved back to Blackpool in 2023 and suffered a major seizure that saw him rushed to hospital that he received his diagnosis. He said scans revealed a slow-growing tumour in his right frontal lobe measuring 26mm."I had been asking for a brain scan for years," Mr Haynes said. "I wrote letters, sent emails, raised it in consultations."When the tumour was finally discovered I wasn't even shocked, I was angry. "The long-term impact has been devastating. Frontal lobe damage affects memory, emotion and physical coordination."It's changed my life completely." 'Often misdiagnosed' Now retraining as a mental health counsellor, Mr Haynes said he was determined to turn his experience into something positive. He volunteers at Counselling in the Community, a Blackpool-based charity that offers accessible and affordable counselling services, and said he would continue to raise awareness about brain tumours."I've been told this disease is rare but my experience tells a different story," he said."It is under-recognised, underfunded and far too often misdiagnosed."I'm speaking out because people are dying while waiting to be believed. We need earlier diagnosis, better-trained professionals and proper investment in research."Northampton General Hospital has been contacted for comment. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Independent
23-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
UK's ‘green' digital bank makes first profit as challengers boom
A green-focused digital bank has said a wave of consumers buying heat pumps and solar panels and switching to electric cars has helped it make its first yearly profit. Tandem Bank, which launched in 2014, is among the UK challenger banks to see earnings rocket over the past year. The Blackpool-based group said it wants to make it easier for people to live a 'greener lifestyle' at a time when costs are rising and environmental rules are becoming more complex. It reported an annual pre-tax profit of £4.4 million in 2024, having previously been operating at a loss. On an underlying basis, which strips out what it views as one-off costs, profits surged 40% to £24.1 million compared with the previous year. 'Green' lending rose 9% year-on-year to total £572 million, representing more than a third of its total loans, Tandem revealed. This incorporates all the bank's lending products targeted at borrowers who are transitioning to a lower-carbon lifestyle, such as installing heat pumps, solar panels and energy-efficient windows or boilers in their homes. It also offers a mortgage with an interest rate discount to people whose homes are more energy efficient. New motor finance lending hit £160 million, with 80% of cars financed meeting emission standards for cities across the UK, Tandem said. Alex Mollart, Tandem's chief executive, said the bank's 'mission is to make it easier for people to choose a greener lifestyle', particularly as 'products and services get more expensive, environmental rules and regulations get more complex, and banks offer increasingly limited services on old tech'. The latest results from Tandem reflect a wave of growing challenger banks that have muscled into the market with new products, technology and customer service that appeals to digitally savvy consumers and businesses. Zopa Bank, in newly released annual accounts, reported its second full year of profitability. The digital bank, which was founded in 2020, revealed its pre-tax profit doubled to £34.2 million in 2024, from £16.8 million the previous year. It now has about 1.4 million customers and saw savings and lending grow during the year, with the group offering products including loans, credit cards and car finance. Zopa last year partnered with John Lewis to offer loans of up to £35,000 for spending like home upgrades, a new car, holidays, or big events such as a wedding. Meanwhile, Allica Bank, which has been dubbed one of Britain's fastest-growing fintechs, revealed earlier this month that it had almost doubled its yearly profit. The bank, which focuses on lending to established small and medium businesses, reported a pre-tax profit of about £30 million for 2024. Allica's chief executive Richard Davies said the pace of growth was 'testament to the frustration that our customers feel with the status quo'.
