Latest news with #Cotswold
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Loose Women cuts sparked outburst of lazy misogyny from – mainly male – trolls who have NO IDEA why show's so important
I WAS walking (some might say roaming) around Cotswold Wildlife Park when a young woman pushing a pram approached me. 'I just want to thank you and the other Loose Women,' she said. 'I was feeling very isolated and depressed as a new mum, and it was hearing all your stories that made me realise my feelings weren't unusual. 7 7 'You saved my life. You feel like friends.' And there, in a nutshell, is what the long-running ITV daytime show Loose Women means to its immensely loyal, core audience which, aside from stay-at-home mums and office workers on their lunch break, includes people living with disability, shift workers, students, and the elderly — many of whom live alone and like the company the show brings. Earlier this year, the programme won a Royal Television Society award for its Facing It Together campaign against domestic violence, and was nominated for a Bafta too. Unexpurgated bile So, when it was announced that one of the precious few, all-female shows was being cut back to 30 weeks a year to save money for, among other things, more sport, the snooty reaction from some quarters was immensely disappointing. One male commentator for a broadsheet casually dismissed Loose Women — on air for 25 years — as a 'gabfest'. Clearly he hadn't seen the episode when Janet Street Porter turned to then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and demanded: 'Why do you hate pensioners?' Or when I took a clearly uncomfortable Sir Keir Starmer to task over why his drink with Labour colleagues in Durham during a Covid lockdown was any different to Boris Johnson's 'Partygate'. Or when a squirming Nigel Farage was put on the spot and declared afterwards 'that was one of the scariest things I've ever done.' We are not a political show and, yes, we have a good laugh too — often talking about lighthearted subjects such as, among other things, how to stack a dishwasher correctly, wardrobe malfunctions, and the key to growing excellent tomatoes. But we always cover the day's main news stories, as well as important topics such as, among many other things, miscarriage, post-natal depression, menopause, midlife female invisibility (oh the irony) and breast cancer awareness. Katie Price reignites bitter Loose Women feud seven years after panel exit, ranting 'I hated that show' It's primarily debate 'through a female lens' but if you have a problem with that, then may I humbly suggest that the problem is you. Perhaps it's simply part of the casual misogyny that pollutes so much of public discourse these days. On Loose Women, the panellists have all achieved success in their fields of acting, singing, journalism, podcasting, presenting and athletics, and range in age from 25 to 85-year old TV legend Gloria Hunniford. All interesting, funny women with wisdom to impart and great stories to tell, yet dismissed by some as though all we're doing is gossiping over the garden wall after pegging out our washing. Similarly, unlike shows involving primarily male presenters, we're plagued by regular reports about 'cat fights' (yawn) backstage. It's nonsense but hey, why let the facts get in the way of clickbait? What surprises me is the amount of keyboard warriors who swallow it hook, line and sinker, then use it as an excuse to post unexpurgated bile about a programme that, judging by their factual inaccuracies, they have rarely, if ever, watched. In the Wild West of online message boards, the panellists who are under 40 are sometimes trolled as 'bimbos' or 'airheads' while the older ones like me are called 'old hags' or 'fishwives' by people who really should know better. And sadly, some of them are women. 'Deeply depressing' We try to laugh about it backstage, but I do wonder where this constant denigration of the female gender is leading us. Thankfully, there are still plenty of allies out there. Radio 4's Woman's Hour questioned why it's female-centric programming that's being cut, and Richard Osman put up a spirited defence of ITV's 'successful' daytime shows on the podcast The Rest Is Entertainment. 7 7 Journalist Bryony Gordon, writing about the cutbacks to Loose Women and Lorraine, said: 'I find it deeply depressing in a world that sometimes feels as though it's going backwards when it comes to the visibility of women's issues. 'These shows might feel like trifling entertainment to those who don't watch them, but the reality is they provide a much-needed space for important subjects that would otherwise be ignored. 'I've seen first-hand how engaged the viewers of both shows are, and how passionate the presenters and production staff are when it comes to their work.' Indeed. And it's the dedicated staff behind the scenes, rather than the on-screen freelancers, who will bear the brunt of the job losses that come with both shows being cut back to term-time viewing only. Look, if a commentator sits and watches a week of Loose Women and decides, quite genuinely, that they found it devoid of any enjoyment, I would fight to defend their right to say so. But so much of what I read, day in, day out, are just lazy, anti- female tropes that simply add fuel to the fire of the modern-day misogyny being stoked by the likes of Andrew Tate. It's just one of those things that ITV has to make programme cuts for business reasons, but let's not use it as yet another excuse to treat women's viewpoints as irrelevant. Nige straight to the point FOR anyone still baffled by the Reform party's rapid rise in the polls, it's not rocket science. It's because it's fronted by Nigel Farage who, when asked a question, seemingly gives a straight answer. Lots of voters have become sick of hearing variations of the following from other politicians. 'I'm really glad you've asked that question, so let me be clear. I'm not going to speculate . . .' Er, right. So you're actually saying nothing at all, then. Mind you, how many of Farage's bold solutions would actually become reality if he ever got into power is debatable. Longevity secret NONAGENARIANS Desmond Morris and Sir David Attenborough are old friends from their days presenting rival zoo shows. When asked about their longevity (Desmond is 97, David, below, is 99), the former replied: 'Neither of us have done anything to ensure a long life. 'We don't go to the gymnasium. We eat and drink what we feel like. 'The reason we're still here is because we both still ask questions about the world. 'We're still inquisitive and we're both still working as hard as we ever have. 'If we couldn't work, I don't think we'd last.' And there, straight from the mouths of two legends, is the best example of why having regular work (if you're able to do so and can actually find it) is so good for your mental and physical health. Mothers know why Lila sizes up Kate LILA Moss has admitted that she raids the wardrobe of mum Kate. Well if your mother was a supermodel, you would, wouldn't you? But equally, this scenario will be familiar to anyone with an adult daughter. Both of mine are exactly the same height, dress and shoe size as me. And quite frankly, it's a wonder I'm not permanently naked.
Wales Online
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
'I went to Clarkson's Farm ahead of season 4 - I left after 5 mins with huge complaint'
'I went to Clarkson's Farm ahead of season 4 - I left after 5 mins with huge complaint' Clarkson's Farm is back on Amazon Prime for its fourth season and fans are keen to see where the hit show is filmed - but one person who went to the farm has shared their huge complaint The entire car park was taken up by a huge queue (Image: Sasha Morris/ Express ) With the successful return of Clarkson's Farm for its fourth series on Amazon Prime, it's no wonder fans are eager to visit the location where it all takes place. The farm is situated just outside Burford, a picturesque village in Oxfordshire, known for its iconic Cotswold stone and abundance of cafes, making it an ideal spot for those journeying from afar and looking to spend the day. Given the rare heatwave sweeping across the UK, Head of Showbiz for Sasha Morris decided to do exactly that and made her way to Clarkson's Farm. Her first impression? Well, she was taken aback by the sheer number of people who had descended upon the farm. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter Arriving shortly after it opened to visitors, she found the queue already winding back towards the main entrance, with parking attendants estimating at least an hour's wait before gaining entry to the farm shop. They mentioned that such queues were a regular occurrence every weekend, with Jeremy Clarkson's popularity soaring as fans are keen to sample the produce featured in the hit Amazon series. Sasha had anticipated a larger venue, but with lengthy queues even for the portable toilets, it seemed like her morning would be spent mostly waiting for a brief glimpse of what the farm interior was like. One pair in the queue disclosed that they had journeyed an hour and a half from Tamworth, setting off early to beat the crowds. Their motivation for visiting was Jeremy Clarkson's renowned Hawkstone beer, with plans to stock up before heading back home. Article continues below However, another couple who had travelled over an hour from Bristol were less enthused by what they encountered. They had visited the farm shop out of curiosity but decided to leave upon seeing the lengthy queue. Clarkson's Farm is said to always have huge queues (Image: Sasha Morris/ Express ) The farm has a small shop and a seating area for tea and cake, but options are apparently somewhat limited, particularly for those hoping to maximise their visit after a long drive and waiting just to see the famous site. Sasha said: "I found myself sharing the sentiments of the Bristol couple – the sun was blazing, and it hardly seemed worthwhile to queue for an hour just to explore the small shop and then queue again for a hot drink and cake. One could be enjoying the splendid weather in a pub garden in Burford or Lechlade instead. "After standing in the queue for a mere five minutes, I opted to head ten minutes down the road to the Farmer's Dog instead." Undoubtedly, both Clarkson and Amazon must be over the moon with the series' success in recent years, boasting sky-high ratings and an ever-growing range of products launched by the television personality. His Hawkstone beer and cider have been a resounding hit, not to mention his honey and jam. However, it shocked Sasha that he could capitalise on this even further, perhaps he could even consider an expansion of the shop to accommodate the throngs of visitors drawn to the TV hotspot. It seems like a no-brainer – he'd have more scope to sell additional products, possibly extend the food section enabling visitors to spend their entire day there, ensuring they don't feel their trip has been in vain. Watch Clarkson's Farm on Amazon now. Article continues below
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I went to Clarkson's Farm - it wasn't worth the trip and left 5 minutes later'
With season four of Clarkson's Farm making a highly anticipated return to Amazon Prime, fans are eager to get a slice of the action and head to the Chipping Norton farm themselves With the fourth series of Clarkson's Farm making a return to Amazon Prime today, it's no wonder fans are flocking to the actual location. The farm is nestled just outside Burford, a picturesque village in Oxfordshire, known for its iconic Cotswold stone and an abundance of cafes, making it an ideal day trip destination for those travelling from afar. In the midst of a rare UK heatwave, I decided to join the throng and made my way to Clarkson's Farm. Perhaps naively, I was taken aback by the sheer number of people who had descended on the farm, reports the Express. Arriving shortly after opening time, I was met with a queue that snaked all the way back to the main entrance, with parking attendants estimating at least an hour's wait before gaining entry to the farm shop. They revealed that such queues were a regular weekend occurrence, with Jeremy Clarkson's popularity soaring as fans clamoured to sample the produce featured in the hit Amazon series. I had anticipated a larger venue, but with lengthy queues even for the portable toilets, it seemed my morning would be spent mostly waiting, with only a few minutes left to actually explore the farm's interior. One couple in the queue disclosed they'd journeyed an hour and a half from Tamworth, ensuring they set off early to beat the queues. Their motivation for visiting the farm was Jeremy Clarkson's renowned Hawkstone beer, with plans to stock up before heading back home. However, another couple who had also travelled over an hour from Bristol were less impressed by what they found. They had visited the farm shop out of curiosity but decided to leave upon seeing the queue. The farm has a small shop and seating area for tea and cake, but options are somewhat limited, especially for those wanting to maximise their visit after a long drive and waiting just to see the famous location. I found myself sharing the sentiments of the Bristol couple – the sun was blazing and it simply didn't seem worth it to queue for an hour just to explore the tiny shop and then queue again for a hot drink and cake. Instead, you could be sitting in a pub garden in Burford or Lechlade, making the most of the good weather. I queued for merely five minutes before deciding to head ten minutes down the road to the Farmer's Dog instead. Both Clarkson and Amazon must be over the moon with the success of the series in recent years, boasting sky-high ratings and the TV star launching an array of products annually. His Hawkstone beer and cider have been a roaring success, along with his honey and jam. However, it strikes me that he could capitalise on this even more by expanding the shop to accommodate the hordes of people descending on the TV hotspot. It's undoubtedly a win-win for him – he has more chances to sell additional products, and could even expand the food section so visitors can spend their entire day there, ensuring they don't feel their trip was in vain.
Scotsman
14-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Here's how to triple your chances of winning a £2.8 million house for £10
Made of Cotswold stone, the exterior oozes charm | Raffle House This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. There's plenty of time to enter Raffle House's latest grand prize giveaway, but don't miss this special offer that significantly increases your chances of winning for the same cost Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Raffle House's latest dream home prize giveaway is a six-bedroom Cotswold Stone luxury house in the heart of Stow on the Wold, one of the most desirable areas of The Cotswolds. Tickets to win this incredible house, which will come with a free Range Rover Velar if you enter in May, cost just £10 - but there's a way to get more for your money and increase your odds. The house you'd win has six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and three reception rooms are spread across three floors, and almost 4,000 sq feet. As well as its spacious main layout, there is also a cellar, garden room, and a courtyard garden. The kitchen is lavishly appointed | Raffle House The bonus Range Rover draw closes on May 31, and the draw to win the house closes at the end of June. So there's plenty of time to enter, but we don't know how long Raffle House's three-for-one ticket offer will last for. And that's worth taking a closer look at. Because, although tickets can be bought as a one-off from £10, with a free postal entry available, it's worth starting a subscription, because the offer gives you more for your money if you sign up to pay monthly. For example, the £10 per month subscription offers 45 tickets instead of the standard 15, and the £30 or £50 per month subscriptions also offer more tickets than the equivalent single purchase prices - along with bonus draws and loyalty bonus tickets. Subscribers can cancel at any time. To find out more about the house and the car, or to buy tickets or a subscription, click here to go to the Raffle House website. Energy bills just went up – but this free tool could save you £388 a year With energy costs rising, Switcheroo helps you find cheaper deals in minutes. It's free, easy to use, and only shows tariffs that beat your current rate from suppliers like British Gas and Octopus. No calls, no pressure – just potential savings, with average users cutting £388 off their annual bill.
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Magical little UK village tucked away in the Cotswolds without tourist chaos
This lesser-known village is northwest Wiltshire has everything you'd expect from the Cotswolds, including mellow stone cottages, a charming 17th-century estate and a beloved local eatery Even regular visitors to the Cotswolds may have missed the memo on this picturesque village. While buzzier destinations like Bibury and Bourton often get the most attention from tourists, heading to a new part of Wiltshire will help you enjoy the area in peace and relative quiet. Biddestone has a reputation for being one of the best-kept secrets of the Cotswolds - which, of course, means that it is not as big a secret as it once was. Still, the village has retained a quiet charm that travellers would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. Biddestone is a small, rural village in north west Wiltshire, England, with an incredibly modest population of only a few hundred residents. You may have even passed the village unknowingly, as it is in close proximity to many other beloved destinations; just four miles from Castle Combe and about 5 miles from Lacock, Corsham, Giddeahall and Chippenham. The heart of Biddestone is the village green, where many community events and celebrations are hosted every year. The main open space is surrounded by grand Cotswold mellow stone homes and cottages, decreasing in size as you move away from the village centre. The architecture of the area certainly adds to the character of the squared village, with the majority of buildings boasting picturesque Georgian facades and tiled roofs. Travellers planning an extended trip in the area can stay at one of the architectural marvels situated by the village's large duck pond. The Anvil Cottage and the Billiard Room are both award-winning holiday properties set on the grounds of a 17th-century estate, known as The Close. Once a working forge, Anvil Cottage has been restored beautifully and is now a five-star gold-rated luxury property. The Billiard Room has also been masterfully restored, though it has lived many lives. Originally a blanket factory and then the village school, the property was also converted into a billiard room by the owner of the estate in the 1920s. Today, it is a luxe hideaway with all the modern conveniences of any top hotel. The duck pond on the property also has a unique history, originally serving as a watering place for cattle from the local farms. The Close also continues to celebrate the village's wool trading history, which is what allowed it to prosper. Another architectural landmark of the area is the church of St. Nicholas, which dates back to Anglo-Saxon times. The church was reportedly never enlarged during the seven centuries between its Norman foundation and the late Victorian era, and visitors are welcome to explore the historical landmark daily. The Grade II* listed Manor House is another stop worth adding to your list. When it is open to the public - dogs included - travellers can explore the five acres of beautifully manicured gardens, streams and orchards. Once you're done strolling for the day, a trip to the local favourite pub - The White Horse - is a must. It's easy enough to spot with it's bright white facade. While Biddestone has just enough to keep you entertained for a day and plenty of gorgeous accommodation options, it may be better suited for a day trip from a neighbouring base. In fact, you're likely to meet other Cotswolds residents from Chippenham spending a day on The Green or at The White Horse. It's also a great starting off point for a countryside walk, another reason its so popular with Cotswolds natives.. The Wiltshire Walks website recommends a scenic four-mile walk west into the rural landscape and the deep valley of Colerne Park.
