Latest news with #Layton
The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Downtown Abbey cast to reunite for ‘farewell' documentary after final film but major change is set to leave fans fuming
AFTER six sensational seasons and two films, a third and final movie will sees us wave goodbye to the drama at Downton Abbey for ever. To mark the sad occasion the cast will reunite for a glossy documentary, called Farewell Downton Abbey. Advertisement 5 The Downtown Abbey cast are set to reunite for a 'farewell' documentary after their final film Credit: Alamy Sadly for the millions who watched the show on ITV the swan song is set to go to one of the streaming giants. A TV insider said: 'This will be bittersweet news for all the people who would be thrilled at the prospect of seeing all the stars of Downton Abbey coming together one last time. 'Because it means there's likely to be a bidding war between the streamers to get this, probably Netflix, who currently show all the TV episodes, and Prime Video, who have the first two movies. 'With the release of the third film it's 'Goodbye Downton Abbey'. But not everyone is going to be able to take part in that, as only those who have the right subscription will be able to see it.' Advertisement READ MORE ON DOWNTON ABBEY I exclusively revealed last year that creator Julian Fellowes and his team were preparing to make Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. It will star, for the last time, the likes of They became huge stars on the back of the series which ran for six series from 2010 to 2015. The new movie will be released in September and the documentary, made by British production company Monkey Kingdom, which has just finished filming will drop around the same time. Advertisement Most read in News TV It will include behind-the-scenes footage from the set of the film, as well as interviews with the cast and members of the public who'll explain why its such a grand British Institution. Then they'll just need a subscription to an American streamer to watch it. From Stacey Solomon to Claudia Winkleman, the real BBC rich list as earnings of stars the Beeb DON'T report are revealed Layton's back in fashion 5 Layton Williams is returning to our screens for a role in Netflix hit Geek Girl Credit: Getty HE has seemed a tad elusive since reaching the final of Strictly Come Dancing in 2023. Advertisement Now actor It tells the story of awkward adolescent Harriet Manners, played by Emily Carey, who is suddenly plunged into the bizarre world of modelling. The first series of the comedy drama, which is an adaptation of the children's novels by Holly Smale, debuted last year, while the second is due to air in 2026. Filming has started in London with Layton joining the cast playing a extravagant fashionista called Onassis. Advertisement That must be a real stretch for him. Scot sitcom to return AWARD-winning Scottish sitcom Two Doors Down will return with a Christmas special, two years since the last series aired. The residents of Latimer Crescent will congregate at Beth (Arabella Weir) and Eric's (Alex Norton) house to celebrate. Others returning include ELAINE C SMITH. 'Unique' show's season two 5 Unique interview show, The Assembly, is getting a second series, pictured David Tennant on the show Credit: PA UNIQUE interview show The ITV programme sees autistic, neurodivergent and/or learning disabled people grill celebrities – with the debut series featuring the likes of Advertisement As revealed in TV Biz, there will be another six stars stepping up to the plate in the next outing, though they've yet to be unveiled. And there will be an extra helping in the next season with an episode called The Assembly: Unseen. Entertainment boss Katie Rawcliffe said they were bringing the show back as it was: 'Warm, funny, revealing and just that little bit mischievous.' Meanwhile, Stu Richards, director of the show, said: 'I cannot believe we're still getting away with this. Advertisement 'It is just a ludicrous privilege.' Moor's murders on full blast THE BBC has commissioned a two-part series on the Moors murders, drawing on lost documents and recordings of child serial killers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley. The Beeb's Joanna Carr said: 'Duncan Staff expertly revisits the case in pursuit of answers and, ultimately, justice.' Hacker's pup for laughs 5 Hacker T Dog has been recruited by Blue Peter Credit: PA BLUE Peter has recruited a puppet called Hacker T Dog as its newest presenter. The canine joins Abby Cook, Joel Mawhinney, Shini Muthukrishhnan on the BBC show alongside Henry, a real dog. Advertisement Hacker has been a CBBC favourite for 16 years, but will be part of the crew from September. The pooch, ahem, said: 'It's dead exciting! Thank you for letting me aboard the mighty ship Blue Peter. I am privileged , nay proud, to be involved in this fine institution and top-notch show.' Puppeteer Phil Fletcher is the man behind Hacker. The BBC's Sarah Muller added: 'Viewers can expect plenty of mischief from the one-and-only Hacker T Dog.' Advertisement Gill: Sex role was healing 5 Gillian Anderson has opened up on her role as a sex therapist on Sex Education Credit: Getty SEX Education star Speaking on Davina McCall's Begin Again podcast she said: 'We have a tendency to brush things under the carpet when traumatic things happen to us. 'I mean I know that I certainly have, I just kind of get on with my life. It's not until somebody with some objectivity says, 'Whoa wait a minute, what's going on here and you need to take care of yourself or you need to address this or you need to report this.'' Advertisement She added: 'During MeToo, the degree to which women were encouraged to share how many times or how often they had been harassed or attacked or raped indeed. 'It's important we make a fuss. It's not nothing.'
Business Wire
14-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
New Data: Consumer Debt Crisis Drives Legal Stress to 5-Year High
ADA, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Foreclosure legal inquiries jumped nearly 30% year-over-year in the second quarter as mounting consumer debt pushed Americans to seek legal help at the highest rate since November 2020, according to new data that offers an early warning sign of household financial stress ahead of the next Federal Reserve debt report. LegalShield data offers early warning of household financial stress ahead of Federal Reserve's upcoming debt report. Share LegalShield's Consumer Stress Legal Index (CSLI) climbed 4.4% from March to June, driven by surging foreclosure and consumer finance legal inquiries, all rooted in increased debt. 'Debt is the common thread behind rising consumer stress,' said Matt Layton, senior vice president of consumer analytics at LegalShield. 'Whether it's missed mortgage payments, maxed-out credit cards, or mounting buy-now-pay-later balances, debt-fueled household spending is forcing people to ask a lawyer for help.' Data analysis shows the Foreclosure Index jumped 13.3% during the quarter and is now nearly 28.9% higher than a year ago, marking the steepest annual increase in three years. The Consumer Finance Index also climbed 8.7% since March, as more consumers sought legal assistance for debt-related issues such as defaults and loan modifications. Americans in Debt LegalShield's CSLI report comes ahead of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's scheduled release of second quarter household debt numbers in early August. Household debt has steadily increased since 2013 following a period of decline after the 2008 recession. Household debt balances stood at a record $18.20 trillion in Q1 2025, a 0.9% rise from the end of 2024. In particular, mortgage balances grew by $199 billion and home equity lines of credit (HELOC) increased by $6 billion. More concerning is that overall debt delinquencies increased to 4.3% at the end of Q1, the highest level since 2020, including rising delinquencies for mortgages and HELOCs, as well as student loans that began reporting to credit agencies in Q1 following a nearly five-year pause due to the pandemic. 'LegalShield data tends to move ahead of official reports, and right now, it's signaling deeper trouble,' said Layton. 'In the coming weeks, we expect the next debt and foreclosure reports to reflect what calls to our provider lawyers are seeing — more households slipping into unsustainable financial territory.' Consumers Take Action LegalShield data tracks actions taken by consumers with more than 150,000 calls to provider lawyers each month. The LegalShield dataset is built on hard data based on American households' real-time legal needs that reflect financial pressures and opportunities. This stands in contrast with polling based on opinion and sentiment. The latest rise in consumer stress reveals sharp increases in foreclosure and consumer finance inquiries, and those findings suggest that more Americans are struggling with debt, housing costs, and financial obligations, even as overall spending remains strong; the latest Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) data shows consumer spending is up 6.9% year over year in May. Key Research Findings: Consumer Stress Legal Index (CSLI) Highest in More Than 5 Years CSLI: 68.2 (up from 65.3 in March; up from 61.8 YoY) +4.4% quarter-over-quarter | +10.4% year-over-year The CSLI has increased four straight months, signaling intensifying economic stress for consumers despite a resilient stock market and stable employment figures. Foreclosure Spike Signals Growing Housing Strain Foreclosure Index: 46.8 (up from 41.3 in March; up from 36.3 YoY) +13.3% quarter-over-quarter | +28.9% year-over-year Rising insurance premiums, property tax reassessments, and adjustable-rate mortgage resets are pressuring homeowners. LegalShield's Foreclosure Index closely tracks foreclosure filings nationally. Rising Debt Fuels Surge in Consumer Finance Legal Issues Consumer Finance Index: 106.4 (up from 97.9 in March; up from 101.7 YoY) +8.7% quarter-over-quarter | +4.6% year-over-year Consumers are increasingly seeking legal assistance for a wide range of financial issues with a steep rise in the index in the second quarter. Analysis of the data indicates households are feeling the effects of delinquent debt, sustained interest rates and persistent inflation on everyday essentials. Bankruptcy Dips in Q2 But Remains Elevated YoY Index: 32.1 (down from 36.4 in March; up from 29.5 YoY) –11.8% quarter-over-quarter | +8.8% year-over-year Bankruptcy inquiries eased in the short term but remain significantly elevated compared to last year. The dip may reflect temporary stabilization due to seasonal factors, but high debt levels and consumer delinquencies still loom. Study Methodology LegalShield tracks an average of 150,000 monthly calls to provider lawyers based on more than 90 areas of law. That data comprises more than 35 million consumer requests for legal services dating to 2002. The CSLI is the flagship index reporting consumer stress, based on three subindices: Bankruptcy, Consumer Finance, and Foreclosure. About the Research: LegalShield Consumer Stress Legal Index As part of LegalShield's mission to ensure every person has equal access to justice, the company mines its data for insights policymakers can use to make a real, positive impact in their decision making. The LegalShield Consumer Stress Legal Index comprises three subindices that reflect the demand for various legal services. LegalShield's dataset includes more than 35 million consumer requests for legal assistance since 2002, averaging approximately 150,000 calls received monthly. The CSLI uncovers the daily challenges people are facing and provides actionable intelligence to help policymakers and industry leaders bridge those gaps. Released quarterly, view past reports on the CSLI page on About LegalShield: For more than 50 years, LegalShield has provided everyday Americans with easy and affordable access to legal advice, counsel, protection, and representation. Serving millions, LegalShield is one of the world's largest platforms for legal, identity, and reputation management services protecting individuals and businesses across North America. Founded in 1972, LegalShield, and its privacy management product, IDShield, has provided individuals, families, businesses, and employers with tools and services needed to affordably live a just and secure life. Through technology and innovation, LegalShield is disrupting the traditional legal system and transforming how and where people receive legal guidance and services, with access to hundreds of qualified, trusted attorneys and law firms. LegalShield and IDShield are products of Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. To learn more about LegalShield and IDShield, visit and
Calgary Herald
10-07-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Cottage owners stuck in paradise as market slams to a standstill
Article content 'You can see the prices being knocked down daily on people's cottage properties,' he said. 'Unless it's a perfect property at a reasonable price, nobody's buying.' Article content Just south of Algonquin Park, Haliburton County is seeing a flood of cottage listings enter the market. They're not selling for what their previous owners hoped for. Article content 'So far this year, we are down in all the places that are good for buyers,' said Barb Williams, a real estate agent at Baumgartner Realty Group, based in Haliburton. Article content Williams said Haliburton cottage prices are down 11 to 13 per cent in the three months between March and May this year, compared with the same period last year. Sales have also plunged by about a third compared to last year. Article content She noted that those who secured five-year mortgage terms in 2020 are now facing higher mortgage rates as they go up for renewal. Others paying off mortgages on their primary residence may be anxious about the economic outlook and affording two home loans at the same time, Williams said. Article content Article content Haliburton's short-term rental bylaws also mean that some cottage owners have to make expensive updates to bring their properties up to code, such as new septic tanks, for example, which can set them back tens of thousands of dollars. Article content 'When you're already struggling with higher interest rates, and you suddenly have to find $20,000 and then you go to take equity out in your house (to pay for the update), it's not there,' said Williams. Article content Williams has seen sellers lose as much as 20 per cent on their cottage homes — but noted this isn't just in comparison to how much they originally purchased the property for, but also how much they invested in it, such as renovations to turn it into a short-term rental. Article content 'I keep telling (sellers to) hold on to them if you can because you're just going to take a loss.' Article content On the other hand, overflowing inventory and declining prices means buyers now have the luxury of choice. Article content Article content 'We're fully rooted in a buyer's market now,' Williams said. 'We're sitting at about 10 months of inventory, almost 11, (and) generally anything above six months is a buyer's market.' Article content Charles Layton, 44, said he has scoured hundreds of cottage listings over the past 15 years. Article content Layton, an in-house lawyer for a tech firm, and his spouse are based in downtown Toronto. He said they started seriously looking at purchasing a cottage last year as the city can get hectic and they wanted a family cottage to take their young kids to on the weekends. Article content 'We only recently amassed enough savings to make a purchase realistic and with the COVID-fuelled cottage boom subsiding and interest rates on the decline, it felt like the right time,' Layton said. Article content 'Having a place on the water where we can enjoy nature feels like the Canadian dream.' Article content In April, Layton and his spouse closed on a cottage in the Kawarthas with cedar walls and waterfront views. It was also winterized, which meant they could enjoy the property year-round, justifying the costs, he added. Article content The cottage was listed for $1.975 million, but Layton and his spouse were able to negotiate a lower price after an inspection found a few issues with the septic system and oil furnace. 'We likely would have been able to get it for even less if another buyer hadn't been vying for it.' Article content Layton said the market has definitely softened and now is a good time to buy. 'Listings are plentiful and many of the cottages are taking a long time to sell,' he said, noting that during the pandemic, many buyers were purchasing properties unseen or were forced to make hasty decisions. Article content 'We were able to bide our time and make a careful decision.' Article content Article content However not all Ontario cottage markets are performing the same way. Muskoka, a long-time haven for city dwellers characterized by many higher-end recreational properties, is still seeing demand. Article content According to the REMAX report, the average Muskoka cottage price in the first quarter of 2025 inched up by one per cent year-over-year to hit $990,000. Sales surged by 29 per cent compared with 2024. Article content Article content 'I keep hearing a lot of doom and gloom out there, but that's not what we're seeing,' said Heather Scott, a real estate agent with Forest Hill Real Estate Inc. based in Muskoka. 'There is a lot of confidence in the Muskoka market.' Article content Scott said between May to June there were 33 waterfront sales in the Muskoka Lakes area, with 15 sales under $2 million and the rest over $2 million (with two more than $15 million each.) Article content Still, she said the market certainly looks different than it did five years ago. Article content 'During COVID, people were buying anything that was waterfront,' Scott said. 'Now, quality matters.' Article content Scott said cottages with ideal locations, good road access and higher-quality waterfronts that aren't weedy and marshy are more popular among buyers. Cottages that are in poorer condition but priced too high are taking longer to sell. Article content She has also noticed fewer buyers are purchasing properties with the intent to convert them to short-term rentals — a major trend during the COVID-19 pandemic. Article content Article content Royal LePage's 2025 recreational market report found 36 per cent of Ontario recreational property brokers reported a decrease in the number of buyers who intend to use these properties for rental purposes. Article content And about 19 per cent of Canadians who are selling a cabin/cottage in the next one to two years say that they no longer see the investment potential of a recreational property, which is influencing them to sell, according to the 2025 REMAX cabin and cottage trends report. Article content The same report revealed there is significant demand for waterfront properties, followed by access to recreational activities such as skiing and water sports, larger lots with green spaces and good Wi-Fi. Article content In the Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton, real estate agents said more buyers are gravitating toward smaller cottages for about $500,000 to take their families on the weekends, as opposed to million-dollar mansions on the water.
Fox News
09-07-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Utah Bath & Body Works manager says she was fired over company's pronoun policy
A former Bath & Body Works store manager in Layton, Utah, said she was fired after refusing to address a transgender employee by their preferred pronouns. Jocelyn Boden filed a charge of discrimination last week with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission after she was terminated in May from the company she had worked at for three and a half years. Boden, a "devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," said in her charge that she was "chastised and alienated" by co-workers after she was unwilling to address a new transgender employee by their preferred pronouns. Boden said she addressed the biological female co-worker, who identified as male, by their chosen name, but because of her religious convictions, could not address the co-worker by male pronouns. "Ultimately, team members complained about Ms. Boden's religiously motivated decision to the human resources department," the filing states. "This complaint led to an interrogation into Ms. Boden's use of pronouns. Ms. Boden indicated her religious objection to Bath & Body Works' pronoun policy, including during a discussion with her district manager just two days before the district manager terminated Ms. Boden's employment." Boden was promptly fired after these complaints were filed, without warning and in violation of the company's discipline policy, according to the filing. According to documents in the filing, the company discharged Boden for violating their code of conduct, "which prohibits any unwanted conduct directed at an individual based on their sex, which includes sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or transgender status." "Jocelyn admitted to this behavior and shared with multiple parties that she refused to use correct pronouns. As a result of this investigation, and her admittance, we are making the decision to part ways and end their employment effective immediately," her alleged termination notice states. The discrimination charge was filed by Texas-based legal group, First Liberty, a group that fights religious liberty cases. First Liberty claims Bath & Body Works' conduct violated Boden's religious rights under Title VII, which prohibits employment discrimination based on protected characteristics such as race and sex. It also alleged the company violated the Utah Anti-discrimination Act when it "retaliated" against Boden for expressing her religious beliefs, failed to grant her a religious accommodation, perpetuated a "hostile work environment" and "wrongfully" terminated her employment. "I believe that using pronouns out of line with this understanding of gender is dishonest," Boden said in the filing to the EEOC. "My convictions do not allow me to lie by affirming a reality I believe is false. Therefore, I cannot refer to a female using male pronouns." Most workplace discrimination claims have to be processed through the EEOC before they can be resolved in court, Stephanie Taub, senior counsel for First Liberty, told CBN News. The EEOC told Fox News Digital it was prohibited by law from commenting on alleged charges filed. A Bath & Body Works spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "Bath & Body Works complies with all laws concerning employment practices. As an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate in our management of our associates on the basis of any protected status." Bath & Body Works LLC received a 100% score on providing an inclusive workplace by the Human Rights Campaign in 2025 and was named a leader in LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion.
West Australian
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Piece of Queen Elizabeth's 78-year-old wedding cake sells at auction - and the buyer plans to eat it!
A slice of cake from Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's 1947 wedding has sold in auction for $5,600 – and the buyer has told media outlets he plans to eat it. Gerry Layton, 64, was the winning bidder in auction house Reeman Danise's sale of the rare regal artefact late last week. The 78-year-old slice of alcohol-laced fruit cake was one of 2,000 from the late royals' Buckingham Palace wedding reception, with the auction house noting that it is one of the last pieces of the cake in existence. 'The slice is extremely rare and is probably the very last piece of Queen Elizabeth II's wedding cake in existence,' buyer Gerry Layton told newspaper The Telegraph about his purchase. 'It is in good condition having been wrapped and kept in its box for almost 80 years.' Despite the age of the dessert, Layton says he still fully intends on tucking into the aged fruitcake on his 65th birthday next year — which he hopes to throw on the late queen's former yacht Britannia. 'I hope to have a replica state banquet there at my cost, where I will cut a third of (the slice) off and flambe in rum so that any bacteria will be killed off,' he said. 'But if anything happens to me then at least I will be going out in style on Britannia.' The lavish wedding cake stood at 9ft tall and consisted of four tiers. Layton's slice is four inches by three inches and was originally gifted to Chief Petty Officer F. Lownes of the Royal Navy, who opted to pass down the slice in its original embossed packaging to his son. This is not the first time Layton has made headlines for purchasing a slice of an old royal wedding cake at auction — the royalist also managed to acquire a slice of Prince Charles and Princess Diana's 40-year-old wedding cake in 2021.
