Latest news with #Mirror
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
ITV speaks out over concerns Loose Women panel to be slashed amid daytime cuts
Reaction to the news Loose Women will air only 30 weeks of the year from January irked Jane Moore, who said she was "immensely disappointed" to see pundits' "lazy misogyny" ITV has insisted it is not planning "radical changes" to the Loose Women line-up after it emerged some panelists were "in a state of panic and up in arms" amid the cuts bombshell. The popular daytime programme will air for just 30 weeks each year from January, one of several changes ITV is making to "reinvest across the programme budget in other genres." It reportedly left some Loose Women stars worried for their future, particularly Coleen Nolan, who a source had said was "shocked and blindsided" at the decision. Her colleague Jane Moore was also furious, albeit more so at the "snooty reaction" by commentators in the media. The journalist said she felt the programme has received unfair criticism, and reminded pundits the panel regularly hold key political figures, such as Nigel Farage, held to account. ITV has also stressed Loose Women plays an important part in its daytime schedule, and told the Mirror today that wholesale changes to the panel are unlikely. The ITV source said: "We are not planning any radical changes to the panel. All of our Loose Women are hugely valued and we celebrate each and every one and the experience and opinions they bring to the show every day. "Many of our long standing panellists have appeared on the show for the majority of its 25 year run on screens and those stalwart, Loose legends are at the core of the show's success and hugely popular with the audience. The show remains a big priority within our daytime slate, having secured a BAFTA nomination, launched a podcast and celebrated a milestone anniversary in the last year alone." It is thought this stance has been shared with the stars themselves, some of whom "reached out to the production team in a panic" following the announcement of the shake-up last week. Ruth Langsford and Kaye Adams were among those particularly concerned, the Mirror reported in the wake of the bombshell. Coleen, whose sister Linda died in January, "has always really relied on Loose Women... her main income," a source had told us. They added: "She was one of the first Loose Women and she's always thought it would go on forever. The Loose Women ladies are all gutted. They love the show and are really dedicated to it." The programme, which first aired in 2000, won a Royal Television Society award earlier this year for its Facing It Together campaign against domestic violence. However, writing for The Sun this week, Jane said: "One male commentator for a broadsheet casually dismissed Loose Women — on air for 25 years — as a 'gabfest'... The snooty reaction from some quarters was immensely disappointing." The journalist, in her second stint on Loose Women, reminded critics Janet Street Porter confronted then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the show, asking him: "Why do you hate pensioners?" The iconic moment in May 2024 led to his fall from power, as Labour thrashed the Conservatives in a landslide election just weeks later.
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Brit faces huge term in notorious hellhole jail if meth drug mule claim proved
The pensioner was held after leaving a flight from the Mexican resort of Cancun at Santiago Airport, where he had hoped to stay overnight and then catch a flight to Australia A British pensioner faces years in one of South America's most notorious prisons if convicted after allegedly being caught trying to smuggle five kilos of methamphetamine into Chile. The 79-year-old was held after leaving a flight from the Mexican resort of Cancun at Santiago Airport. After spending the night at a hotel in the Chilean capital, he was booked on a flight to Sydney, Australia, the following day. The unnamed pensioner was remanded in custody following a court appearance after a judge approved a prosecution request to send him to prison pending probable charges and trial. Cops say the drugs he was apprehended with would have been worth £200,000 on the streets of the South American country. An official told the Mirror that anyone, including a foreign national, found guilty of the importation of such a quantity of drugs would be sent to Santiago's brutal San Miguel Prison. The jail is notorious for its overcrowded conditions and a history of violence, including a deadly 2010 fire that killed 81 inmates. The fire, which began during a fight between inmates, highlighted the state of Chile's prison system. The prison was designed to house 900 inmates but holds up to 2,000 men. "Anyone found guilty of importing drugs into Chile beyond what is classed as for personal use is sentenced to serve their time at San Miguel,' the official said. "Five kilogrammes of methamphetamine is a quantity beyond what is acceptable for a lesser sentence, and if found guilty, the offence attracts up to 15 years in prison." The Brit was intercepted after his luggage was put through an airport scanner. The pensioner was asked to open his suitcase in front of police after they detected a 'suspicious' substance and cops discovered a secret compartment where the drugs had been police chief Sergio Paredes said it was the first time the arrested man had entered Chile. He said: 'This person came from Mexico and when he was arrested and taken to the anti-narcotics squad's airport offices, he said that the suitcase had been received by some Mexican nationals at Cancun airport. 'He was due to spend a night in a hotel in the centre of Santiago before boarding a flight to Sydney, Australia.' Mr Paredes said police were still investigating whether the drugs were due to remain in Chile or be taken to Australia. He added: 'Prosecutors are looking into this and trying to establish whether the drug was for internal consumption or was due to be transported by this British national to Australia.' Chilean customs officers released pictures of the drugs they had confiscated, saying: 'Customs officials intercepted a foreign citizen with more than five of kilos of methamphetamines hidden in a secret compartment in his luggage at Santiago Airport. 'He was stopped after his luggage was scanned and has been remanded in custody.' The drugs arrest is the latest in a series of similar recent apprehensions around the world involving British nationals, although most have been far younger than the man held in Chile. Yesterday it emerged a British couple aged 33 and 34 had been held at Valencia airport after police discovered 33 kilos of cannabis in their luggage. The pair claimed they were tourists coming from Thailand after they were intercepted as they got off a flight from France. A 23-year-old British woman in Ghana was arrested last week after being accused of attempting to bring up to 18kg of cannabis into the UK on a May 18 British Airways flight to Gatwick. Bella May Culley, 18, sparked a massive international search operation in early May after she was reported missing while she was believed to be holidaying in Thailand. However, it was later revealed that the teen, from Billingham, County Durham, had been arrested 4,000 miles away on drug offences in Georgia, allegedly carrying 30 pounds (14kg) of cannabis into the ex-Soviet nation. And recently 21-year-old Charlotte Lee May, from Coulsdon, south London, was arrested in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo after police discovered 46 kg of 'Kush' - a synthetic strain of cannabis - in her suitcase. The former flight attendant, facing up to 25 years in prison if convicted, is claiming she had 'no idea' about the drugs worth up to £1.2 million and insisting they must have been planted in her luggage without her knowledge.
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Daily Record
Passengers trapped in London train tunnel for two hours
Thameslink is working to get passengers off the train and restore the power supply to tracks following an issue that has sparked lengthy delays to travel in and out of London. A travel warning has been put in place as several passengers have been trapped in a train tunnel for hours. There are fears for the health of those onboard the London train, with the heat and lack of water quickly becoming a concern. One passenger said people are starting to "feel ill" and struggling to remain calm, while others have pleaded for an evacuation. Passenger Goran Kray complained of the situation on the train to Thameslink on social media. He said: "Let's swap places mate so that we can preach to you about staying calm in a carriage with no power, aircon, water and total lack of information. Having been in this situation since 19:42." Matt Dunn also said passengers trapped on the train had started to feel ill due to the heat and lack of water, reports the Mirror. In a response to Thameslink on X/Twitter he said: "Passengers are starting to feel ill due to heat and lack of water. You need to get us off this train. Please allow a controlled evacuation." Thameslink has also now confirmed the passengers were trapped due to an electrical supply failure. 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. A Thameslink spokesperson said the power supplied to the track between London St Pancras and West Hampstead Thameslink needed to be restored. He added: "We are working to get all passengers off the train." Issues were first reported around 8pm tonight, with lines blocked in both directions due to the electric supply failure between the two stations. "If your train has come to a stand in between stations, please remain on board and do not attempt to leave the train unless directed to by a member of staff," Thameslink said in post shared to social media. "We know where you are and we are working to get you on the move again shortly."
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Inside EastEnders star Zack Hudson actor's life away from soap with famous wife
Zack Hudson's fate in Walford has been revealed tonight, but what does actor James Farrar have going on in his personal life when he's not filming in Albert Square? EastEnders fans were left reeling this week as Zack Hudson's fate was thrown into question after a dramatic car crash resulted in him vanishing beneath the surface of a lake. But while his friends and family in Walford may be in mourning, what do we know about the man behind the character, and the life he leads when he is not in Albert Square? James Farrar, 37, joined EastEnders in 2021 as Zack Hudson, who quickly became a central figure in the soap. Zack has had no shortage of dramatic storylines, including a recent one where it was revealed that he is the secret father of Barney Mitchell. Now, after this week's shock crash, viewers are wondering if the actor's time on the soap has come to an end. Tuesday night's (May 27) episode of EastEnders left fans stunned as they watched Teddy and Zack's car plunge into a lake after Teddy lost control of the vehicle. The tension has only built in Wednesday's (28 May) follow-up, as Zack has not been found and characters on-screen think he is dead. While the show has not yet officially confirmed Zack's demise, fans have been speculating that this Farrar has appeared on the soap for the last time, especially after a comment the actor made during a recent interview on This Morning. When asked if he would survive the crash, he simply shrugged and said, "We'll see." He previously told the Mirror: "There is something really exciting coming up next year that nobody really knows about yet. It keeps me going into work every day going…. I'm buzzing for it to start. It is just starting around now." Away from the high-stakes drama of EastEnders, James Farrar has a fulfilling life that extends far beyond the world of Walford. Farrar was born in Greenwich, London, and studied drama and media at the University of Portsmouth before attending the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2010. Before becoming an actor, James had a successful career as a model. He fronted campaigns for major fashion houses such as Jimmy Choo and Dolce & Gabbana, and even shared the spotlight with well-known figures like Nicole Kidman and Kate Moss. However, he eventually took a step back from that glamorous lifestyle because of a very personal reason. He previously told TV Mag: "One of the reasons I joined EastEnders was because of my mum, who has cancer. "It meant that if these are my last days with her, we spent them together rather than me travelling the world." His mother has since undergone chemotherapy and, according to James, is "smashing it" with the "grit of a warrior". In 2017, James married wellness expert Ali Roff Farrar, the Wellness Director for Psychologies Magazine and co-founder of luxury retreat brand We Are Remedy. The couple welcomed their daughter Summer in 2021 and now live together in Blackheath, London. Outside of acting, James is also a certified personal trainer and vegan chef. This is a lifestyle he shares with his wife. They have hosted wellness retreats together for people looking to recharge, and they both champion looking after your physical and mental wellbeing.
Daily Record
7 hours ago
- Daily Record
Frantic search underwater ongoing at reservoir for teenage girl
A huge emergency response is ongoing at the Baitings Reservoir near Ripponden, West Yorkshire. A major underwater search in underway for a teenage girl who is feared to have fallen into a dam. A huge emergency response is ongoing at the Baitings Reservoir nea r Ripponden, West Yorkshire. Mercy teams including police and ambulance teams first raced to the site shortly after 1.17pm this afternoon but despite their efforts they were unable to urgently locate the teen. As the Mirror reports, underwater search teams were then drafted in to continue searching the area. 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'. A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said in a statement: "Shortly after 1.17pm this afternoon (28/5) police were called to a report a girl had fallen into water at Baitings Dam near Ripponden. "Initially police, fire and ambulance were deployed to the scene, but the teenage girl could not be located. "Searches are continuing this evening by underwater search teams, to try and locate her." Footage taken at the dam shows a number of ambulances at the scene.
