Latest news with #JohnCooper
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Bull on the loose charges through streets of Birmingham
A bull on the loose charged around parts of Birmingham for several hours on Friday. Shocked residents and passers-by took footage of the animal, and traffic in New Bond Street was brought to a halt. A police officer was seen chasing after the bull, before council staff eventually helped officers corner it. The black bull was first spotted at 9.30am near New Bond Street, Digbeth, about a mile from the centre of the city, which is famous for its Bullring shopping area. The animal then charged past Small Heath railway station, towards traffic. John Cooper, who works at the station, told BirminghamLive: 'I had to go for another look and thought 'oh god, it's a bull'. 'It was quite a shock – I didn't know to react. It was a first for me.' During the afternoon, West Midlands Police officers and Birmingham city council employees together guided the bull into an old Dunelm building, where animal-welfare officers were called in. Social-media users called for the animal to be rescued and protected. No one knew where the bull had come from, and council officials were trying to track down its owner. Councillor Majid Mahmood said: 'This magnificent animal seemed to be enjoying an unexpected city break but our amazing street cleansing staff weren't phased at all, helping move it into a safe place.'
Metro
10 hours ago
- Metro
Bull on the loose charging down streets in UK city
A bull is on the loose in a Birmingham suburb. Passersby filmed the black bull trotting past the Golden Suite hotel in Small Heath today. Where the animal came from is unclear, with footage showing it charging across the road as cars drove by. @johncooper68 bull loose in small heath ♬ original sound – John Cooper Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: Boy, three, starved to death by parents 'became invisible to child services' MORE: Peter Tatchell 'laughed at by police before being removed' from Birmingham Pride MORE: Man says cafe staff refused to serve him because of his face tumours
The Independent
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
Mini John Cooper Works Electric review: Worth the premium?
The John Cooper name and his famous signature has adorned Minis for over six decades, but this is the first time that we've seen a properly fettled electric Mini John Cooper Works model. As with the rest of the new Mini Cooper range, there are petrol and electric versions, but it's the EV we're focusing on in a world where electric hot hatchbacks seem to be taking off. An electric Peugeot 208 GTi is coming soon and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N has received huge acclaim, while Tesla Performance models do what the name suggests – they go very quickly indeed. Mini hasn't focused entirely on performance with the John Cooper Works Electric. A 0-62mph time of 5.9 seconds is fast by old-school hot hatch measures, but nothing special when it comes to EVs. In fact, the standard Mini Cooper Electric SE will do the same sprint in 6.7 seconds. And therein lies the problem that John Cooper Works is facing – it just doesn't offer that much more for the extra £5,550 (minimum) outlay. There are a few fun bits, like the boost button on the steering wheel that ups the power to an impressive 255bhp, but the sense of performance for the JCW Electric over a Cooper SE just isn't enough. Tweaks to the suspension have made the car even more grippy, but have also made the ride rock hard. And while the optimised aerodynamics look great, you have the alternative option of adding the John Cooper Works pack to the Cooper SE for a Mini that's not quite as aggressive looking but still very much looks the part. If the job of the John Cooper Works Electric is to remind you how good the standard Minis are, then job done. You can swerve the JCW Electric and still be smiling loads in any other Mini. How we tested We spent a few hours enjoying the Mini John Cooper Works Electric around Cotswold lanes, testing the performance and handling, but also how easy it would be to live with. All our reviews include real-world assessments looking at everything from the tech to the space and practicality. Mini John Cooper Works Electric: £35,455, Independent rating: 6/10 Mini John Cooper Works Electric specs Price range: £35,455 Battery size: 54.2kWh Maximum claimed range: 251 miles Miles per kWh: 4.4 Maximum charging rate: 95kW Battery, range, charging, performance and drive Mini has stuck with the 52kWh battery for the John Cooper Works Electric, which means a maximum claimed range of 250 miles – amazingly three miles more than a Cooper SE with the same battery, but less power. Fast charging is at the same speed as the Cooper SE at an unremarkable 95kW, meaning a 10 to 80 per cent charge would take around half an hour. You'll need to flick the boost button on the steering wheel to get the fastest 0-62mph time, which at 5.9 seconds is far from remarkable these days. With grippy tyres on standard 18in wheels and beefed-up suspension, the traditional go-kart feeling is ever-present, more so than on the Cooper SE. That's a blessing and a curse, upping the fun factor but dragging down ride quality. Put simply, it's too firm to be comfortable. There's no extra excitement from the noise the John Cooper Works Electric makes either. The standard synthesised noises – there are 39 so-called 'earscapes' in the car – are the same as before. They're great fun, especially in go-kart mode, which is entered via a rocker switch on the dash and a 'woo-hoo' sound effect. But there are no extra whooshes, pops or bangs to be heard in the JCW over the standard Coopers. The styling is beefed-up, though, with new spoilers at the front, sides and rear, with plenty of gloss black and John Cooper Works logos, plus splashes of red dotted around including on the brake callipers. Interior, practicality and boot space The cabin has had a John Cooper Works makeover, too, with the black and red theme going across the knitted surface on the dashboard and on the synthetic leather seats. At night you'll notice the ambient lighting on the headlining, too. Otherwise, it's standard Mini fare, which means excellent BMW build quality and more space than you might imagine. The Cooper is strictly three-doors these days, the five-door Aceman is there with the same batteries and motors for a very similar driving experience. It also gets a new John Cooper Works Aceman model. Access to the rear seats is okay through the long front doors, and the small 210 litre boot falls into the 'just big enough to be useful' category. Mini has thought hard about little practicalities. There's a long tray with useful dividers that sits between the front seats, plus usefully large door bins in the front doors. Technology, stereo and infotainment The star of the latest Mini range's tech is the 9.45in circular OLED screen that sits – as it always has in a Mini – in the centre of the dash. It's a lovely screen that's as responsive as it is crisp, and the interface is usable with 'hey Mini' voice control, too. Beneath the screen are rockers and buttons to control starting the car, selecting one of seven driver modes (Vivid, Core, Green, Timeless, Balance, Go Kart and Personal) and for gear selection. Everything else is on the touchscreen, although there are also steering-wheel mounted controls and a programmable fast button. There are a couple of pricey option packs, although they do pile on the kit nicely, that you'll have to plunder to get some of the best tech. That includes the head-up display and the digital key, which converts your smartphone into a car key. Standard are wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – although they only display in a square in the screen, not across the whole circle – and there's wireless phone charging, too. A Harman Kardon audio system provides decent sounds, while clever and usable self-parking sits alongside a host of other driver assistance features. Prices and running costs The good news is that the Mini John Cooper Works Electric is efficient to keep running with a decent claim of 4.4 miles per kWh. The bad news is that unless you really want the most focused electric Mini to drive, we wouldn't pay the £5,550 extra over the already fun-to-drive Cooper SE. As with any Mini, the list price is only the starting price – in this case £35,455. Add in some of the options packs, stripes and different trims and you'll soon end up at the £40,000 mark. The Mini's quality and fun make it worth considering, but we'd stick with a lesser Mini that's just as much fun and save a bit of cash. Mini John Cooper Works Electric rivals FAQs What should I consider before buying one? Consider if the modest performance gain and firmer ride over the standard Mini Cooper SE justify the significant extra cost, and be mindful that the most desirable tech comes in pricey option packs. How long does it take to charge? Fast charging matches the Cooper SE's 95kW, taking about half an hour to go from 10 per cent to 80 per cent. How much does it cost - is it worth it? The starting price for a Mini is £35,455. Including options packs, stripes, and different trims can increase the cost to approximately £40,000. There's a standard three-year warranty, plus eight years' cover for the battery Why trust us Our team of motoring experts have decades of experience driving, reviewing and reporting on the latest EV cars, and our verdicts are reached with every kind of driver in mind. We thoroughly test drive every car we recommend, so you can be sure our verdicts are honest, unbiased and authentic. The verdict: Mini John Cooper Works Electric The biggest problem with the John Cooper Works Electric is that every other Mini is just as fun to drive. The extra cash the JCW Electric costs gets you a bit more performance and a bit more focus, but the performance and driving benefits just aren't enough, while the ride is even stiffer than before. I'd stick with a standard electric Cooper SE with a few JCW extras added on.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Interior Design Masters winner on what spurred him on to victory
Interior Design Masters winner and Stockport teacher John Cooper has said reminding himself of the advice he gave his students got him through the most challenging parts of the competition. The design and technology teacher was named the winner of the BBC1 show's sixth series last week following his Mediterranean-inspired transformation of a cottage in Portmeirion, Wales. Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, Cooper said he had to "take his own advice" during the most challenging parts of the experience, particularly the four times he was up for elimination or "on the couch". He said: "Each time it would have been so easy to put my hands up and think, I can't do this anymore." Cooper added: "In the back of my head I was thinking about the students and what I tell the students - don't give up, persevere, and all that sort of stuff."I thought, what is the best example I can be here?"He said he had to "keep quiet and go back to my normal life" after filming wrapped in September. Students at the school started tuning in in April when she show started to air. Cooper said: "I would get a grilling when I'd go in, like 'you've been on the sofa again' or 'tell us who the winner is'."I've been on half term, so I don't know how they're going to react when I see them." He said the show's host, comedian Alan Carr, helped him get through the tough times. "He's so, so funny 100% of the time," Cooper said. "When he rocks up and you're stressing… he comes along and he makes you smile and he makes you happy."After 19 years of teaching, Cooper said he would finish up at the end of the school year to pursue a full-time career in interior design."That's been the dream for all this time and it's actually becoming a reality now," he said. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Telegraph
29-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Exclusive: Interior Design Masters winner reveals new John Lewis collection
For John Cooper, the winner of this year's series of the BBC1 show Interior Design Masters, creating a homeware collection to be sold in John Lewis was very much not his normal day job. It was also a first for John Lewis: its design team had not previously worked with a designer who was simultaneously juggling a full-time job as a secondary-school teacher. Cooper, 46, who lives in Stockport with his wife and their two children, aged 11 and nine, teaches design and technology at Wilmslow High School in Cheshire. He had been a fan of the show since its first series in 2019: 'I was one of those people who sat there at home and said 'Oh no, why are you doing that?'' he says. One year my wife said, 'Why don't you just apply for it, if you think you can do better?'' He did, and the first time around he didn't make it onto the show; so he tried again, and this time made it into the final 10. The filming schedule was intense, with a challenge being filmed each weekend over an eight-week period, in a different location each time – ranging from a room in a youth hostel in the Lake District to a dog-friendly room at Battersea Dogs Home and a hospitality suite at Twickenham. The contestants would complete a challenge, then immediately be given the brief for the next one, and Cooper would spend the week coming up with a design and sourcing furnishings. 'I was working during the prep weeks,' he says, 'so I'd get home, start shopping and designing, put the kids to bed, then carry on designing and shopping. It was very fast, very intense'. The guest judges, who included Sophie Robinson and Mary Portas, gave advice which was invaluable for a designer starting out, as was the advice of head judge Michelle Ogundehin. 'They were all so kind,' says Cooper. 'On the very first challenge, Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen came and gave us all individual feedback, and it was so thoughtful and considered. He said, 'I know we've seen lots of spaces that have a lot going on, but don't feel like you have to do that; it's enough to produce a really good-quality finish sometimes, and it can be a little more simple and understated.'' It was a somewhat unexpected nugget of advice, given Llewellyn-Bowen's own flamboyant style, but one that Cooper has brought to bear in his collection for John Lewis, which is executed in a palette of black, white and toffee brown that gives it a modern, youthful look, and something quite different from the brand's usual offering. The collection of 21 products includes furniture, bedding, towels, cushions, throws and lighting. Several existing John Lewis pieces have been reimagined in Cooper's style, which he describes as 'graphic bohemia', and mixes a pared-back palette with a variety of tactile textures. The Blocky chair – a customer favourite – has been upholstered in a nubby fabric with chunky, black-and-white stripes; the Elliott angled desk lamp has been recast in a smart three-tone combo of black, white and toffee; and the popular Mushroom portable lamp comes with a black base and a white shade. Others are entirely new designs that Cooper created with the help of the John Lewis team, such as an extra-large monochrome cotton quilt with toffee-coloured stitching, a geometric throw, several cushions and a set of two framed pieces of graphic 3D-effect wall art in black, off-white and beige. There's also a set of towels and bath mats in a dark palette of black and brown. The throws and cushions were the trickiest products to get right, says Cooper, and they went through several iterations and redesigns until he and the John Lewis team were happy with the finished product. 'I was obsessing over the details; I really wanted to get it right,' he says. His education in creating a collection included learning how to design a piece that could be produced quickly, using techniques such as embroidery and appliqué that could be done in the UK and Europe, rather than further afield. 'I've taught my students about lead times, but I've never had to deal with that myself,' he says. 'I think it's a really good thing for the students to see a teacher actually doing the thing that they teach.' Creating the two scented candles was also a learning experience: 'I had to be trained in how to smell things properly, which was really exciting.' As for what comes next, Cooper plans to throw himself into his design career full-time. 'I've taught for around 20 years, so this has been a little bit of self expression for me, and it's just ticked all the boxes,' he says. 'I've loved every minute of it.' Available online at John Lewis from Friday, May 30. Prices start from £8 for a tote bag, and go up to £499 for the armchair.
