Latest news with #MarksandSpencers
The National
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Michelle Gomez releases statement after Harry Potter role backlash
Gomez, known for her roles in Green Wing and Doctor Who, posted a statement after fans were furious she is taking on the role of Professor McGonagall in an Audible series of JK Rowling's books. Fans were not happy with Gomez taking on the part, as Rowling has become renowned for her opposition to transgender rights. Gomez insisted she was a supporter of LGBT+ rights, and said she 'understood' why her taking on the role was 'painful' for many fans. READ MORE: Ross Greer demands action on Scottish Israel boycott plan The Harry Potter author recently called for a boycott of Marks and Spencers over a transgender member of staff working in the lingerie section. And, Rowling contributed to For Women Scotland's crowdfunder when they took the case over the definition of a woman to the Supreme Court. Following the ruling, which said the definition under the Equality Act referred to biological sex, Rowling posted a photograph of her smoking a cigar on a yacht, celebrating the outcome. Following the judgment, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published guidance that essentially banned transgender people from using toilets of their acquired gender. One fan wrote: 'It is incredibly disappointing to see that Michelle Gomez has chosen to work on the Harry Potter audio series. There isn't an excuse for it- JK Rowling's contribution to anti trans legislation and violence, supported by her HP earnings, has been well known for several years now.' Another said: 'Michelle Gomez can post as many apologies as she wants - you cannot call yourself an ally to trans (or LGBT*) people while actively choosing to work on a project directly linked to the most notorious, unapologetic transphobe in the world. That is not allyship, it's performance.' Posting on her Instagram story, Gomez said: 'To my LGBTQ+ fans, and especially the trans community: I want to speak directly to the concerns that have been raised about my involvement in this project. I hear you, and I understand why this is painful for many. 'I want to be clear that I stand with trans people, and I support trans rights - fully and without hesitation. (Image: Audible) 'When I accepted this role, I did so as someone who has always loved the stories and what they meant to so many, especially those who found comfort and identity in that world. 'I now understand more clearly how deeply complicated and hurtful this association can feel, and I take that seriously. 'Being an ally means listening even when it's uncomfortable and taking accountability where it's needed. I'm committed to doing both.' She then linked to a donation page for Callen-Lorde, a US-based LGBT+ healthcare provider. In response, one fan said: 'Quite frankly I'm not convinced she was truly this ignorant & is trying to save her own ass. It won't work. Not unless you drop out of the project & show you're against JKR & her trans genocide.' The audiobook adaptations are set to star Hugh Laurie as Albus Dumbledore, Matthew Matthew MacFadyen as Lord Voldemort and Riz Amed as Professor Snape.
The Irish Sun
12-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Irish Sun
I was shocked after trying M&S' game-changing microwave poached eggs – they are 10/10 perfect and ideal for lazy cooks
MANY people love preparing poached eggs for breakfast - but they can be a faff to get perfect. However, one shopper pointed out that M&S is now selling pre-packaged poached eggs, and all you need to do is stick them in the microwave for less than one minute. 3 A woman has revealed how she bought Marks and Spencer's microwave poached eggs and said they were 10/10 Credit: TikTok/@lifeoflivsx 3 The eggs are two for £2.60 and take 40 seconds in the microwave Credit: TikTok/@lifeoflivsx Liv, who posts under She shared: 'So Marks and Spencers have made a big statement that they sell the perfect pre-made poached egg. 'So not gonna lie, as an egg obsessed girly, I had to give it a go.' She said she picked them up from near to the breakfast pots and fruit in her local shop - and was ready to give them a go. More on M&S According to the M&S website, they contain 7g of protein and are "ideal for breakfast in a rush." Holding up the packet, which had two white eggs that appeared already poached, she said: 'I can't say I'm enticed by how they look, but all you need to do is apparently put them in the microwave for 40 seconds and then they are perfect.' Liv said she picked the two eggs up for £2.60 and said she is aware that she could make them for herself normally but wanted to try them out. After sticking them in the microwave for less than a minute, she was left with yolky, runny eggs, which looked incredible. Most read in Fabulous She added: 'I'm pretty impressed. Oh my god look. Now I probably wouldn't buy these again because it would be a very lazy, expensive habit to do, but 10 out of 10 Marks and Spencers, well done.' Many people were left scratching their heads at the new product - and the cost. I tried the new picnic range from M&S - the £3.50 dip everyone needs to try One said: 'Who can't make a poached egg.' A second wrote: '2.60 for two eggs!' However, some foodies seemed very keen to try the poached eggs for themselves. 3 The eggs are part of M&S' Eat Well range Credit: M&S One said: 'Would I buy Another pointed out: 'This is so handy for people who struggle to lift pans etc.' A third commented: 'For everyday? no. for like i want to feel fancy this sunday? yes!' How to make the perfect poached eggs from scratch HERE'S how to poach an egg in the microwave, according to the experts at Kitchn. All you need is an egg, a mug, half a teaspoon of vinegar and a third to a half a cup of water. Put the water and vinegar in the mug. Crack the egg into the water – making sure the egg is submerged. Cover the mug with a small plate or saucer. Place in the microwave and cook on medium high power for 60 seconds. Carefully remove the plate and check the egg. If it is not done blast it again for 20 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, drain the water out of the mug and then place the egg on your plate, and enjoy.
Daily Mirror
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
I tried M&S's new strawberry sandwich and couldn't finish it for one reason
It's the season for strawberries and cream - but would you ever eat them in a sandwich? Upmarket retailer M&S have launched a limited edition Red Diamond Strawberry and Creme sandwich and it's definitely causing a stir. With Wimbledon just around the corner, everyone is stocking up on the traditional strawbs and cream, however Marks and Spencers decided to take it up a level with this brand new sandwich. The concept is very M&S, however could this be a new sandwich filling that's able to compete with a beloved ham and cheese or ploughmans sarnie? The limited-edition sandwich goes for £2.80 in stores, and it has been influenced by Japanese cusine, with strawberry sandwiches aka a 'Fruit Sando' found in pretty much every Japanese convienience store they're nothing new. So, with this in mind, I decided to head to my local M&S and give it a go - and it is summer after all. What was once a modest shop where you'd buy your tights and socks, or your uncle a nice bottle of wine, is now going through what looks like a huge experimental process, and all 'traditional' ideas have swiftly gone out of the window. M&S sandwiches have come a long way over the years, they seem to have really stepped outside the box when it comes to their fillings. While you may associate the posh supermarket with cucumber and cream cheese, or salmon and dill stuffed buns, they have gone beyond traditional fillings. Forget your prawn mayo and think more Chicken Katsu Sando or NY style Salt Beef. These aren't just sandwiches, they're M&S sandwiches. Now their dessert style sandwich has been added to the mix - but how did it taste? I was intrigued by this one, as it sounds like it would be way too sweet for me. The Red Diamond strawberries, sitting ontop of a seriously thick layer of sweetened full fat soft cheese and creme fraiche packed between two slices of brioche style bread. This screamed sickly to me and I didn't know what to expect. You are only given one slice of the sandwich, rather than two which already makes it a very expensive 'snack'. For £2.80 I'd have thought you'd get both halves of the sandwich, but as soon as I tried it I knew exactly why - it was a lot. The first hit of strawberry was strong and over-powering, but the creaminess of the cream worked well. I was pleasantly surprised at how mild the sweetness was of the cream and bread. I was expecting it to taste like I was eating a Victoria Sponge cake or a sweet scone, but I was wrong and it was a lot more mild than I thought. The brioche style bread - with crusts included - worked well as it was midly sweet, but not too much. However it was a lot to eat in one sitting, and the thick layer of cream made it tricky to finish. When I didn't get a slice of the strawberry in a bite, I found myself having a mouthful of just bread and cream which was an unusual experience. Overall, I think this is a pretty good sweet treat, but I think cut up into smaller sandwich fingers would be much better - and easier to eat. I think it does work well, and much better than I thought, and to truly top it off, all I need now is a chilled glass of champagne to fully accommodate. I can't say it's replaced a savoury sandwich I'd grab on my lunch break, but it was a very good concept, and fitting for the time of year. It's so wrong it's almost so right? Hats off to you, M&S.
Daily Record
06-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
All the retailers hit by recent cyber attacks as two more become latest victims
Marks and Spencers was the first company to get hit back at Easter weekend and now more brands are joining the list. Cyber attacks have taken yet another hit at high-profile retailers as two more well-known brands have become the latest victims to this online crime. Luxury jeweller Cartier and fashion brand North Face have become the latest victims of cyber criminal reign. It has been reported that both Cartier and North Face have revealed that customer data was breached - including email addresses and names. However, the firms did also emphasise that no financial information was taken. The cases of malware hacks has been increasing over the past few months since Marks and Spencers was attacked back in April. As a result, the company had to temporarily shut down their online shopping, which is still yet to reopen more than a month after the attack. This was followed by Co-op being hacked and having to cancel their delivery service. Adidas, Victoria's Secret and Harrods have also joined the list of notable brands that have been victims of cyber criminals. North Face sent an email out to their customers recently informing them that it discovered a "small-scale" attack back in April this year. It went on to say that the hackers targeted the company by using a technique called "credential stuffing", which is when crooks try to use usernames and passwords from another data breach in hopes that customers have reused the same password. It was also noted that some of the hackers may have been able to get access to some shoppers' shipping addresses and purchase history. Those who were affected have been urged to change their passwords. Luxury brand Cartier also sent out an email which informed shoppers that "an unauthorized party gained temporary access to our system" and that the crooks "obtained limited client information". They also said that no passwords or card details were accessed. The firm added: "We contained the issue and have further enhanced the protection of our systems and data." James Hadley, founder of cyber-security company Immersive, has said that cyber attacks are the "harsh reality" of the retail industry. As luxury and high street brands are "overflowing with customer information", he says they are becoming more of an "easy target" for cyber crooks. M&S has still yet to recover properly from the attack in April, with owners saying that their online services are likely to be disrupted until July. Additionally, the company had estimated that this inconvenience will end up costing the company £300million. Within the breach, hackers managed to gain access to a variety of customer personal data, including names, email addresses, postal addresses and dates of birth. Since the incident, Scottish law firm Thompsons Solicitors have filed a multi-million pound class action suit against the company. This was followed by the Co-op and Harrods being forced to shut down their IT systems and restrict their internet access to try and ward off further attacks. On May 2, a Co-op spokesperson revealed ongoing "sustained malicious attempts by hackers to access" their systems. It also said it was "a highly complex situation" following reports that the same cybercriminals had taken responsibility for both breaches. At the same time, Harrods restricted access to their sites following an attempt to gain access to their systems. However, the company was able to keep its stores open and continue their online sales. At the time, a statement from Harrods said: "We recently experienced attempts to gain unauthorised access to some of our systems. "Our seasoned IT security team immediately took proactive steps to keep systems safe and as a result we have restricted internet access at our sites today. "Currently all sites including our Knightsbridge store, H beauty stores and airport stores remain open to welcome customers. Customers can also continue to shop via Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Later on in May, sportswear brand Adidas also disclosed that hackers had been able to steal customers' personal information, which "mainly consisted" of the contact information of people who had been in touch with the help desk. Again, the brand said that passwords and card details, along with other payment data, had not been compromised. On its website, Adidas said: "We remain fully committed to protecting the privacy and security of our consumers, and sincerely regret any inconvenience or concern caused by this incident." Lingerie firm Victoria's Secret was also a victim of a cyber attack, which saw them take down their US website and replace it with a customer notice saying: "Working around the clock to fully restore operations". Some in-store services were also taken down at the time. However, the company's UK website seemed to be unaffected.
Perth Now
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley 'always' talks to women about bras
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley "always" has women wanting to talk to her about their bras. The 38-year-old model - who has Jack, eight, and Bella, three, with fiance Jason Statham - has worked with Marks and Spencers on her Rosie lingerie range since 2012 and she's proud of its enduring popularity. She told Sunday Times Style magazine: "Women always come up to me and tell me about their bras. At dinner, in lifts. It's the best. 'I was taking Jack to his swimming class last week and in the changing room the woman next to us was wearing a Rosie bra. I didn't say anything, I thought that would be weird, but it made me smile.' Rosie - who co-designs all the products with the in-house team - thinks the keys to her collection's success are the "excellent" quality and the familiarity of the retailer, as well as value for money, She said: 'They're excellent, as is the price point. "And the fact that M+S is such a household name. It controls a third of the market share of lingerie, which means one in three women are wearing an M+S bra — that's massive. "Like most British women, my mother bought my first bra from M+S. Everyone has a connection to the store in some way.' While Rosie feels "lucky" to have had a long modelling career, she admitted she is much more interested in the creative side these days. She explained: 'Nobody thought I'd have the career that I've been so lucky to have. 'Being on a shoot is lovely, but it's the least fulfilling part of what I do now. I prefer to have creative input and create a product. When you do a fashion shoot, often the vision, imagery and styling is dictated to you. "You have to be a canvas for everybody else's point of view. It started to feel reductive. Now I understand how I want to be photographed. For many years it was 'Hair! Make-up! Sexy! Body!' It was fun to do that but I'm not that in my real life, so I like to be more authentic.'
