Latest news with #CraigCharles
Western Telegraph
19-07-2025
- Western Telegraph
Review: Aldi robot vacuum versus Amazon's top-rated Ultenic
I blame 80s sci-fi. Growing up, we were promised jet packs and hover boards, or at the very least, there'd be robots for all our household chores. I imagined I'd arrive home after a long day in the office to a spotless house every time. Sadly, this has not been the case, and with kids and a house full of dogs, I could really do with a hand. So, when I first heard about robot vacuums, I had to try one, and then another, and then more. I've tried Eufys and Roombas, and all manner of own-brand ones. There have been ones that didn't pick anything up, or got lost under furniture and couldn't find their way back to the charger. Some were so high-maintenance, I was quicker using my manual vacuum cleaner (yes, I have too many of those, too). The best I've found so far is an early model Ultenic D5, which was a real game-changer when it came out. I've had it for a few years, and while it's needed a couple of replacement batteries, it's a real workhorse. So when I saw its newer updated model the Ultenic T20 pro in the Amazon Prime Sale, I wondered if it could be as good. As luck would have it, Aldi has its own new Robotic Vacuum Cleaner is part the supermarket's new Life Hacks range, which also includes a fancy smart kettle. Never one to turn down a middle aisle bargain, I got one to try, in my own little home-based Robot Wars. I pitted the pair against a series of challenges, to see which would fare best. All that was missing was Craig Charles and a cast of house robots. Aldi Ambiano Robot Vacuum (price £99.99) Aldi robot vacuum cleaner (Image: Aldi) This clever little gadget cleans floors with its three-stage suction, sweeping and mop functions. It's billed as being for hard floors, but it coped admirably on my shorter-pile rugs too. It has a battery life of 90 minutes, a HEPA filter, a 400ml dustbin and a 250ml water tank. There's a remote control, and an app-controlled system compatible with Google, Alexa, and Siri, and it's £99, which is a steal when compared to similar products. I found it very easy to use with both the remote control and the app, and it quickly picked up some flour, sugar and rice that I laid out to test it. It found its way back to its docking station after a few tries, and popped itself back on charge. The mop function worked well, but I prefer an old-fashioned mop to really give the floor a good scrub with scorching water, so I'd probably stick to vacuuming. Ultenic T20 Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner (£239.99, including a £50 voucher deal) from Amazon Ultenic T20 robot vacuum cleaner (Image: Ultenic) The Ultenic T20 is one of Amazon's top rated products (with 4.9 stars). It's more than twice the price of the Aldi vac, but it has more than twice the suction, at 8000Pa, so it gets up every last crumb, lifting embedded dust, pet hair, and debris from carpets, hard floors, and tiles. The AI-powered LiDAR laser navigation scans rooms in real-time, avoiding furniture, cables, and my feet, for collision-free cleaning. It vacuums, sweeps, mops, and auto-empties dust into its station, and cleaned our whole ground floor in one go with 150 mins of battery life. It also boosts suction on carpets for deeper cleaning (how it knows to do this, I can only imagine). Again, I'm not really a robot mop girl, but it worked well. It also integrated well with our Alexa, so it was easy to switch on with voice commands, or the remote control. It is, without doubt, the best robot vacuum I've tried. Recommended reading: So, which wins robot vacuum wars? In fairness, both are brilliant. The Aldi robot vacuum is a bargain for hard floors, and I'd buy it without hesitation for a quick and easy clean each day. For bigger houses like mine, with different floor surfaces and a large area, plus pets and kids, the Ultenic T20 is worth the extra money because it picks up so much, and the fact that it's self-emptying means I can run it several times a day without having to be at home. There's a place in my heart for both these little labour-savers, and I'm a step closer to living the life I always imagined. Next step, jetpacks and hover boards.
Glasgow Times
19-07-2025
- Glasgow Times
Review: Aldi robot vacuum versus Amazon's top-rated Ultenic
I blame 80s sci-fi. Growing up, we were promised jet packs and hover boards, or at the very least, there'd be robots for all our household chores. I imagined I'd arrive home after a long day in the office to a spotless house every time. Sadly, this has not been the case, and with kids and a house full of dogs, I could really do with a hand. So, when I first heard about robot vacuums, I had to try one, and then another, and then more. I've tried Eufys and Roombas, and all manner of own-brand ones. There have been ones that didn't pick anything up, or got lost under furniture and couldn't find their way back to the charger. Some were so high-maintenance, I was quicker using my manual vacuum cleaner (yes, I have too many of those, too). The best I've found so far is an early model Ultenic D5, which was a real game-changer when it came out. I've had it for a few years, and while it's needed a couple of replacement batteries, it's a real workhorse. So when I saw its newer updated model the Ultenic T20 pro in the Amazon Prime Sale, I wondered if it could be as good. As luck would have it, Aldi has its own new Robotic Vacuum Cleaner is part the supermarket's new Life Hacks range, which also includes a fancy smart kettle. Never one to turn down a middle aisle bargain, I got one to try, in my own little home-based Robot Wars. I pitted the pair against a series of challenges, to see which would fare best. All that was missing was Craig Charles and a cast of house robots. Aldi Ambiano Robot Vacuum (price £99.99) Aldi robot vacuum cleaner (Image: Aldi) This clever little gadget cleans floors with its three-stage suction, sweeping and mop functions. It's billed as being for hard floors, but it coped admirably on my shorter-pile rugs too. It has a battery life of 90 minutes, a HEPA filter, a 400ml dustbin and a 250ml water tank. There's a remote control, and an app-controlled system compatible with Google, Alexa, and Siri, and it's £99, which is a steal when compared to similar products. I found it very easy to use with both the remote control and the app, and it quickly picked up some flour, sugar and rice that I laid out to test it. It found its way back to its docking station after a few tries, and popped itself back on charge. The mop function worked well, but I prefer an old-fashioned mop to really give the floor a good scrub with scorching water, so I'd probably stick to vacuuming. Ultenic T20 Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner (£239.99, including a £50 voucher deal) from Amazon Ultenic T20 robot vacuum cleaner (Image: Ultenic) The Ultenic T20 is one of Amazon's top rated products (with 4.9 stars). It's more than twice the price of the Aldi vac, but it has more than twice the suction, at 8000Pa, so it gets up every last crumb, lifting embedded dust, pet hair, and debris from carpets, hard floors, and tiles. The AI-powered LiDAR laser navigation scans rooms in real-time, avoiding furniture, cables, and my feet, for collision-free cleaning. It vacuums, sweeps, mops, and auto-empties dust into its station, and cleaned our whole ground floor in one go with 150 mins of battery life. It also boosts suction on carpets for deeper cleaning (how it knows to do this, I can only imagine). Again, I'm not really a robot mop girl, but it worked well. It also integrated well with our Alexa, so it was easy to switch on with voice commands, or the remote control. It is, without doubt, the best robot vacuum I've tried. Recommended reading: So, which wins robot vacuum wars? In fairness, both are brilliant. The Aldi robot vacuum is a bargain for hard floors, and I'd buy it without hesitation for a quick and easy clean each day. For bigger houses like mine, with different floor surfaces and a large area, plus pets and kids, the Ultenic T20 is worth the extra money because it picks up so much, and the fact that it's self-emptying means I can run it several times a day without having to be at home. There's a place in my heart for both these little labour-savers, and I'm a step closer to living the life I always imagined. Next step, jetpacks and hover boards.
South Wales Argus
18-07-2025
- South Wales Argus
Review: Aldi robot vacuum versus Amazon's top-rated Ultenic
I blame 80s sci-fi. Growing up, we were promised jet packs and hover boards, or at the very least, there'd be robots for all our household chores. I imagined I'd arrive home after a long day in the office to a spotless house every time. Sadly, this has not been the case, and with kids and a house full of dogs, I could really do with a hand. So, when I first heard about robot vacuums, I had to try one, and then another, and then more. I've tried Eufys and Roombas, and all manner of own-brand ones. There have been ones that didn't pick anything up, or got lost under furniture and couldn't find their way back to the charger. Some were so high-maintenance, I was quicker using my manual vacuum cleaner (yes, I have too many of those, too). The best I've found so far is an early model Ultenic D5, which was a real game-changer when it came out. I've had it for a few years, and while it's needed a couple of replacement batteries, it's a real workhorse. So when I saw its newer updated model the Ultenic T20 pro in the Amazon Prime Sale, I wondered if it could be as good. As luck would have it, Aldi has its own new Robotic Vacuum Cleaner is part the supermarket's new Life Hacks range, which also includes a fancy smart kettle. Never one to turn down a middle aisle bargain, I got one to try, in my own little home-based Robot Wars. I pitted the pair against a series of challenges, to see which would fare best. All that was missing was Craig Charles and a cast of house robots. Aldi Ambiano Robot Vacuum (price £99.99) Aldi robot vacuum cleaner (Image: Aldi) This clever little gadget cleans floors with its three-stage suction, sweeping and mop functions. It's billed as being for hard floors, but it coped admirably on my shorter-pile rugs too. It has a battery life of 90 minutes, a HEPA filter, a 400ml dustbin and a 250ml water tank. There's a remote control, and an app-controlled system compatible with Google, Alexa, and Siri, and it's £99, which is a steal when compared to similar products. I found it very easy to use with both the remote control and the app, and it quickly picked up some flour, sugar and rice that I laid out to test it. It found its way back to its docking station after a few tries, and popped itself back on charge. The mop function worked well, but I prefer an old-fashioned mop to really give the floor a good scrub with scorching water, so I'd probably stick to vacuuming. Ultenic T20 Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner (£239.99, including a £50 voucher deal) from Amazon Ultenic T20 robot vacuum cleaner (Image: Ultenic) The Ultenic T20 is one of Amazon's top rated products (with 4.9 stars). It's more than twice the price of the Aldi vac, but it has more than twice the suction, at 8000Pa, so it gets up every last crumb, lifting embedded dust, pet hair, and debris from carpets, hard floors, and tiles. The AI-powered LiDAR laser navigation scans rooms in real-time, avoiding furniture, cables, and my feet, for collision-free cleaning. It vacuums, sweeps, mops, and auto-empties dust into its station, and cleaned our whole ground floor in one go with 150 mins of battery life. It also boosts suction on carpets for deeper cleaning (how it knows to do this, I can only imagine). Again, I'm not really a robot mop girl, but it worked well. It also integrated well with our Alexa, so it was easy to switch on with voice commands, or the remote control. It is, without doubt, the best robot vacuum I've tried. Recommended reading: So, which wins robot vacuum wars? In fairness, both are brilliant. The Aldi robot vacuum is a bargain for hard floors, and I'd buy it without hesitation for a quick and easy clean each day. For bigger houses like mine, with different floor surfaces and a large area, plus pets and kids, the Ultenic T20 is worth the extra money because it picks up so much, and the fact that it's self-emptying means I can run it several times a day without having to be at home. There's a place in my heart for both these little labour-savers, and I'm a step closer to living the life I always imagined. Next step, jetpacks and hover boards.
Glasgow Times
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Coronation Street star misses event after violent illness
Craig Charles, who is known for playing the role of Lloyd Mullaney on the soap opera and for his time on other shows like Red Dwarf, was supposed to appear at the London Film and Comic Con on Sunday. However, the 60-year-old actor was forced to pull out after falling 'violently ill' Craig Charles forced to pull out of event after falling 'violently ill' I'd just like to say sorry to showmasters and the fans at comicon. I made it to the hotel but woke up at 3 this morning with stomach pains. I then proceeded to be violently ill for hours. Not a pretty sight. I tried to see if it would wear off but at 10 am I called it off and… — Craig Charles (@CCfunkandsoul) July 6, 2025 Discussing the ITV Coronation Street star's whereabouts, the event shared: "We contacted Craig at 9am to be be told that due to a family emergency he would not be in until 11am. "At 11.30am we spent 20 minutes knocking on his hotel room door where there was no answer. "His Red Dwarf colleagues were able to contact him at 12.30 where he confirmed he was ill and unable to attend. These are the facts." They added: "The Group shot will go ahead with Danny, Robert and Hattie, and ticket holders will receive an automatic £60 refund to allow for the change of lineup. "If anybody does not want the group shot, any unused tickets will automatically be refunded after the show." Digital is all fine and dandy CD's are cool, but we all know that the wax it where it's at. My Trunk Of Funk Vol 3 is a veritable fistful of funky things.. get it on your turntable! @imprssvcllctve @bbemusic — Craig Charles (@CCfunkandsoul) September 5, 2024 Later that day, Craig Charles shared an update himself, according to The Sun. He wrote: "I'd just like to say sorry to showmasters and the fans at Comicon. "I made it to the hotel but woke up at 3 this morning with stomach pains. "I then proceeded to be violently ill for hours. Not a pretty sight. Most Popular Soap Operas in the UK Recommended Reading: "I tried to see if it would wear off, but at 10 am I called it off and came back to Manchester." Craig added: "I'm feeling slightly better now, and I'm drinking lots of water and electrolytes. "Again, sorry for the cancellation, and I look forward to next time."
Leader Live
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Coronation Street star misses event after violent illness
Craig Charles, who is known for playing the role of Lloyd Mullaney on the soap opera and for his time on other shows like Red Dwarf, was supposed to appear at the London Film and Comic Con on Sunday. However, the 60-year-old actor was forced to pull out after falling 'violently ill' I'd just like to say sorry to showmasters and the fans at comicon. I made it to the hotel but woke up at 3 this morning with stomach pains. I then proceeded to be violently ill for hours. Not a pretty sight. I tried to see if it would wear off but at 10 am I called it off and… Discussing the ITV Coronation Street star's whereabouts, the event shared: "We contacted Craig at 9am to be be told that due to a family emergency he would not be in until 11am. "At 11.30am we spent 20 minutes knocking on his hotel room door where there was no answer. "His Red Dwarf colleagues were able to contact him at 12.30 where he confirmed he was ill and unable to attend. These are the facts." They added: "The Group shot will go ahead with Danny, Robert and Hattie, and ticket holders will receive an automatic £60 refund to allow for the change of lineup. "If anybody does not want the group shot, any unused tickets will automatically be refunded after the show." Digital is all fine and dandy CD's are cool, but we all know that the wax it where it's at. My Trunk Of Funk Vol 3 is a veritable fistful of funky things.. get it on your turntable! @imprssvcllctve @bbemusic Later that day, Craig Charles shared an update himself, according to The Sun. He wrote: "I'd just like to say sorry to showmasters and the fans at Comicon. "I made it to the hotel but woke up at 3 this morning with stomach pains. "I then proceeded to be violently ill for hours. Not a pretty sight. "I tried to see if it would wear off, but at 10 am I called it off and came back to Manchester." Craig added: "I'm feeling slightly better now, and I'm drinking lots of water and electrolytes. "Again, sorry for the cancellation, and I look forward to next time."
