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图片：JAMES BREEDEN
地区预报
伦敦、东南部、南部、西南、海峡群岛：早晨多云，下午转为温暖晴朗，晚间在多云天气下微风且较凉。最高 27C 81F。 威尔士、中地、东英吉利：早晨多云，微风。下午继续多云。晚间多云，微风持续。最高 26C 79F。 西北部、东北部：早晨多云，微风。下午转为局部晴天。晚间维持多云，微风增强。最高 24C 75F。 苏格兰：早晨起多为晴天，下午转为多云，微风。晚间维持多云，微风。最高 19C 66F。 北爱尔兰、爱尔兰：早晨多云，微风。下午云层增加。晚间多云，风力略微减弱。最高 19C 66F。
昨日（至下午6点的24小时内）—— 最暖：Charlwood, 27c。 最冷：Eskdalemuir, 3c。 最湿：Wick 机场, 12. 80mm。 最晴：Almondsbury, 14. 2hrs。 气压（下午6点）– 1019. 02mb。下降。湿度：29%。 未来一周 周一开始将有大范围降雨。到周二，阵雨持续但将在周中缓解。周三可见明亮时段，但北部仍有降雨。周四带来晴朗间隔，整体较干燥。
阿伯丁 伦敦 周一 周二 周三 周四 周五 周六
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贝尔法斯特 伯明翰 坎特伯雷 卡迪夫 格拉斯哥 利兹 曼彻斯特 纽卡斯尔 诺里奇 普利茅斯
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我们所有记者均遵守《编辑实践准则》，且本报是独立新闻标准组织 (IPSO) 的成员。 我们旨在尽快更正任何错误。 n 若要报告不准确之处，请发送电子邮件至 corrections@mailonsunday.co.uk。如欲提出正式投诉，请访问 mailonsunday.co.uk / readerseditor。您也可以致信 Readers’ Editor, The Mail on Sunday, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY，或直接通过 ipso.co.uk 联系 IPSO。
国际足联主席在世界杯出售计划中受挫
国际足球联合会主席詹尼·因凡蒂诺试图出售世界杯股份的糟糕计划于昨日彻底失败——而他却厚颜无耻地无视全球愤怒，并坚称谈判将继续。 根据美国报道，他的主要财务支持者、美国总统唐纳德·特朗普之女婿贾里德·库什纳的兄弟约书亚·库什纳已经认定因凡蒂诺的想法是一场“品牌噩梦”。 但直到昨日凌晨，在两名高级助手辞职且国际足球联合会 211 个成员国中超过一半的国家……
英国人平均损失 £2,500
政治编辑
一项新分析得出结论，由于移民导致薪资下降的影响，到 2031 年，英国工人的年均收入将减少 £2,500。
根据保守党利用预算责任办公室 (OBR) 和英格兰银行提供的数据所做的计算，在接下来的五年里，移民将导致英国员工的工资被压低，总损失达 898 亿英镑 十亿，平均每名工人每年损失 £2,521。
此前，上周有 60,000 名非洲移民进入西班牙领土塞乌塔，这是欧盟历史上单日非法移民涌入人数最多的一次，使得大规模移民问题再次成为政治议程的重点。另外，仅在周三一天就有 752 名移民抵达英国——这是今年以来单日跨越英吉利海峡的人数最高纪录。
英国改革党的内政发言人齐亚·尤苏夫昨日前往塞乌塔，并将此次涌入描述为“简单直接的入侵……这些人正在城镇中横行，洗劫商店并恐吓当地居民。我与其中一些人交谈过，他们明确表示打算前往英国。”
“其中一人甚至承认，他们在原籍国被通缉，涉嫌谋杀。”
西班牙谴责了一些欧盟国家“自私、极化且不合法”的反应。
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开奖 1
拒绝了他的提议，一个倍感羞辱的因凡蒂诺公开承认失败。 一名知情人士在向《纽约邮报》介绍与库什纳先生的 Thrive资本 拟定协议时表示，“他们绝不想继续卷入这场混乱之中”。该人士补充道：“这正变成一场品牌噩梦。” 因凡蒂诺作为国际足球联合会主席的前景现在看来岌岌可危。昨日，在一次
涌入：周三前往英国的移民，这是 2026 年英吉利海峡跨境人数最繁忙的一天
第 6,7 页
面对涌入的人群，表示周四抵达塞乌塔的几乎所有人随后都已返回。 保守党的工资预测基于预算责任办公室 (OBR) 的预测，即在 2026 和 2031 之间，累计净移民人数将总计约 1.4 百万，这将增加就业竞争并给工资带来下行压力。 英格兰银行计算出，在特定职业和地区，移民与本地人的比例每增加 10%，与平均工资下降 0.93% 相关。这意味着平均
在 national-lottery.co.uk 查询乐透抽奖号码
奖号
年收入预计将从基准线的 £38,220 下降到 2031 年的 £35,699。 影子内政大臣克里斯·菲尔普呼吁对入境移民实施具有约束力的年度上限，并收紧签证规则。 他表示，保守党政府将为无期限居留许可 (ILR) 身份附加新条件，并将人们在获得 ILR 后申请英国公民身份的等待时间从 12 个月延长至五年。 菲尔普先生说：“高移民率对我们的整个社会产生了真实的影响，并且”
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THUNDERBALL 15, 31, 32, 34, 37 奖号 08
由英格兰足协支持的声明，欧洲足球管理机构欧洲足球协会联盟 (Uefa) 表示，它已对他领导能力的信心丧失。 欧洲足球协会联盟将他试图启动一家商业子公司——国际足联前行企业 (拟议商业子公司) 的尝试描述为一次“卑劣的、黑箱操作的、不透明的交易”。 根据该提案，国际足球联合会将向私人投资者出售这家新公司 20% 的股份，其估值约为 31 亿英镑 十亿。 体育 – 封底
n 关于促销和读者优惠的查询，请致电 0330 1000 601。 拨打 0330 号码的固定电话免费；移动运营商可能会收费。
2026 年 8 月 2 日 The Mail on Sunday
所谓的融合家庭也就那样了……当奥兰多和凯蒂各自与新欢分道扬镳时，不见孩子的身影
顾问编辑 演艺圈
就在一年前，奥兰多·布鲁姆和凯蒂·佩里在宣布分手几周后，还与女儿一起享受假期。 这对伴侣与五岁的 Daisy Dove，以及布鲁姆与模特 Miranda Kerr 婚姻所生的 15 岁儿子 Flynn 一起，以融合家庭的形式前往意大利进行了一次阳光灿烂的旅行。 但现在，他们的共同度假似乎已成为过去，因为这位 49 岁的《加勒比海盗》影星和 41 岁的佩里女士分别与新伴侣前往度假——且没有携带孩子——两人相距 230 英里。 布鲁姆和瑞士模特 Luisa Laemmel 在前往意大利的旅途中确认他们确实在约会，两人被拍到骑着配套的自行车、潜水并在小艇上懒洋洋地休息。 28 岁的 Laemmel 女士在撒丁岛身着黑色比基尼，令人惊艳，此前她在 Forte dei 停留了数日
Marmi。与此同时，佩里女士和加拿大前总理贾斯廷·特鲁多（Justin Trudeau），54岁，在圣特罗佩的一艘船上度过了他们的假期。
周四，两人在Le Club 55餐厅的海滩上被拍到，他们在庆祝一个周年纪念日；而次日，两人被发现在海中嬉戏时饮用每瓶£4的Blonde of St Tropez啤酒。
消息人士称，佩里女士与布鲁姆的关系依然“非常好”，并且两人都为彼此感到“高兴”。
今年2月，布鲁姆在离开加利福尼亚州圣克拉拉的一场超级碗派对时，被拍到与莱梅尔女士亲密挽手，从而引发了新的恋情传闻。一个月后，他们飞往瑞士城市苏黎世度假。
与此同时，佩里女士与特鲁多先生的关系在去年7月两人被拍到在加拿大蒙特利尔共同用餐时公开。
就在佩里女士与布鲁姆分手几个月之后。
是打趣（Banter）还是不打趣，这是一个问题——尤其是当一个人的善意揶揄在另一个人看来是霸凌行为时。
事实上，研究人员警告称，打趣与欺凌之间只有一线之隔，而大多数人并不清楚界限在哪里。
为了帮助那些担心自己的犀利幽默会伤害到对方的妙语爱好者，
无子女状态：凯蒂·佩里（Katy Perry）与贾斯廷·特鲁多。上方：奥兰多·布鲁姆（Orlando Bloom）与路易莎·莱梅尔（Luisa Laemmel，亦在右侧）在潜水。左侧：这对前夫妇与他们的孩子。
研究人员列出了一份禁忌话题清单。
诺丁汉特伦特大学的学者建议，那些想要开玩笑的人应避免涉及政治、宗教、外貌、口音、非自愿的性经历以及失去家人或宠物的冷笑话。他们表示，打趣能够建立友谊、缓解无聊并在群体中传递身份信号——且不会造成冒犯。
研究发现男性使用打趣的频率最高，将其用于彰显男子气概、巩固友谊和满足虚荣心。女性则将其用于反击性别歧视、缓解压力和深化关系。
该研究发表在《斯堪的纳维亚心理学杂志》（Scandinavian Journal of Psychology）上。研究人员还发现，这里存在一些不成文的交锋规则：参与者必须轮流发言，且对话的音量应逐渐提高。
但他们警告说，最好的做法是适度使用，因为重复同一个笑话次数过多可能会引起反感或产生“打趣疲劳”。
判断一次交流属于打趣而非攻击的线索包括：笑声、语调，以及所谓的“直截了当”（bald-on-record）的评论，例如不带委婉措辞的直白旁白。
然而，他们表示：“并非所有的打趣都能带来积极体验，因为它也可以被用作排挤他人的工具，创造毒性文化，或者当针对朋友圈之外的人时，就代表了欺凌。”
The Mail on Sunday 2026 年 8 月 2 日
环顾四周，他们
➤➤ 见第一页
除了轻微的拍岸波涛声，四周一片寂静。 没有人预料到还会有更多移民。事实证明，来自阿尔及利亚港口城市斯基克达的 23, 岁青年西德·艾哈迈德·迪布（Sid Ahmed Dib）及其身份不明的同伴是最后一批。 当西德在这片西班牙飞地被沙滩包围、平躺在地上时，在他之前抵达的数千名年轻人大多正朝着相反的方向走，像那些离家出走后迅速后悔的疲惫饥饿的孩子一样，返回摩洛哥边境。 一名士兵给了西德一瓶水，他向后仰起头，在大口吞咽时，喉咙的肌肉在不断跳动。他是个幸运的人。在试图进入塞乌塔而丧生的 67 人中，许多人要么溺水，要么在试图攀爬支撑边境围栏的防波堤石块时被压死。 突然，他开始在手臂弯里难以自制地抽泣。无论是由于巨大的宽慰感、精疲力竭，还是其他原因，目前尚不明确。他平复心情后告诉我，他为了来到这里——这个位于摩洛哥地中海沿岸的古怪西班牙领土小点——至少游泳了 4 个小时。他拿出一个蓝色塑料袋，里面装着他的护照，那是他在游泳时塞进短裤里的。 “我的阿尔及利亚护照，”他自豪地说着，翻动着潮湿的页面。“阿尔及利亚太糟糕了，比摩洛哥更糟。我尝试进入突尼斯，然后去了
卡萨布兰卡，然后当我听说数千人即将到来时，我就来到了这里。我想去欧洲。也许是马德里或巴黎。” 西班牙本土距离直布罗陀海峡仅 15 英里，因此很容易理解为什么西德和其他移民将塞乌塔视为通往新生活的门户。在他身后，矗立着一家空荡荡的木制海滩酒吧，名字恰如其分，叫作“欧洲咖啡馆”（Cafe Europe）。 在西德讲述他的故事时，塞乌塔惊恐的西班牙居民们正在超市里恐慌性抢购，然后匆匆跑回自己的家中。在经历了前两天的冲击后——期间有超过 60,000 名移民涌入这座小城市——许多人感到被抛弃了。 “移民导致我们的人口几乎翻了一番，我们不知道未来会怎样，”26 岁的平面设计师贝伦·皮卡佐（Belen Picazo）说道，“我们要回家，然后把自己锁起来。” 随着我面前展开更多的混乱，我愿意挑战任何自由进步主义者来见证如此令人不安的场景，并依然主张开放边境。 由于移民们在每个街角、广场、大道和桥下通道中带着死气沉沉的无聊感潜伏，迫使当地人蜷缩在家里，今天的塞乌塔看起来并不像任何人心中所想的乌托邦。 流泪的西德看起来并不像什么威胁。但在這裡，你不需要走远就能感受到不安。一些移民在少数愿意接待他们的商店外排队。大多数店主并不想要他们的生意。 通常在周六，城市的公园和海滩上到处是家庭活动和孩子们玩耍的声音。除了警察、军队和少数坚强的西班牙灵魂，昨天在塞乌塔可见的唯一人群是移民，他们似乎来自整个非洲。确实，有些
如果所有障碍——在繁荣、法治的国家与既无财富也无法律的阴森地区之间——都消失了会怎样？一群由古怪的多文化主义者、开放边境意识形态者、马克思主义者和通过道德标榜来显示优越感的自由主义者组成的奇怪联盟认为这没有任何问题。但除此之外的每个人都认为有问题。
他们很友好，但当地人的深层不安是可以理解的。 “他们占领了这座城市，”一名警察说，“看看你的周围。这里简直就像在摩洛哥，因为所有的西班牙人都躲在室内。” 事实确实如此。人数之多令人窒息，垃圾之多亦然。易拉罐、瓶子、包装纸似乎覆盖了每一块草地。 唯一能听到当地人声音的地方是 Mercadona 超市。它感觉就像是一个封闭区之内的西班牙语专属 enclave（飞地）。三辆装甲运兵车整天停在外面，阻止移民进入。 一名不超过 16 岁的摩洛哥男孩在被驱逐时，用一个“希特勒万岁”的礼号嘲讽警察。 在超市内部，每个收银台前的队伍都排了 50 人深。由于危机，该超市在之前的两天内关闭了大门，现在正准备迎接一波又一波恐慌性抢购的顾客。 皮卡佐女士和她的父母以及他们装得满满的购物车一起在长队中。她现在住在马德里，但在第一批移民涌入边境后回到了塞乌塔，因为她非常“担心”她的母亲（一名护士）和父亲（一名工程师），他们住在市中心。 她说：“我真的很担心我的父母。我对那些在尝试到达这里时死去的人们感到难过，但我们都很担——
担心接下来的情况。 到处都是恐惧。谁能责怪我们？这绝非正常情况。即便到处都有士兵，人们依然感到害怕。 “这种情况不能继续下去。和所有人一样，我们在大量购买水、油和所有东西，以备不时之需。” 在附近，一名与孙子一起排队的年长男性批评西班牙政府“抛弃了我们”。 “自从桑切斯开始那个特赦计划，一切就乱套了，”他说道。他指的是西班牙社会党首相佩德罗·桑切斯及其备受争议的政策，该政策让一百多万非法居住在西班牙的移民有机会申请居留身份。
（图注）返程：移民昨日返回摩洛哥。下方：装甲车在塞乌塔街道巡逻。
桑切斯坚称，这将使西班牙成为一个无论种族如何，每个人都能快乐生活的地方。但他的批评者表示，这项于4月启动但随后被暂停的计划，有助于诱使摩洛哥移民前来。 在超市山上更高的地方，我们看到一名移民抱着显然是偷来的购物袋迅速穿过街道。一名举着警棍的警察在后面追赶。两人随即消失在视线中。 我们继续沿着非洲大道（Avenida de Africa）行驶。数十名摩洛哥青年似乎正围攻一家Coviran杂货店。这一次，追赶者是一名士兵。随着人群散去，他追击三名跑向侧街的人。昨天，整个城市反复上演着这种猫鼠游戏。 回到海滩，军方在海中布置了500码长的浮动屏障，以防止其他游泳者抵达岸边。 这次异常危机的诱因之一是西班牙最高法院的一项裁决，该裁决使得在海上拦截移民变得更加困难，这意味着他们现在更有可能在陆地上接受处理，而不是被立即遣返。
这次涌入是由社交媒体消息推波助澜的，这些消息宣称边境已经“开放”，并在摩洛哥境内像野火一样迅速传播。这些消息的来源仍然是个谜。甚至有报道称，有人安排了巴士将人们运送到边境。 根据我们采访的几个人员所述，摩洛哥警方敦促他们“去西班牙”。 事实上，人们怀疑拉巴特操纵了这次冲向边境的行动，或者至少没有采取任何措施来防止其发生，因为该国长期以来一直对西班牙在塞乌塔及其向西140英里的姐妹飞地梅利利亚的存在感到不满。 昨天，西班牙反对党保守派人民党党首阿尔贝托·努涅斯·费霍奥（Alberto Nunez Feijoo）访问了该市，并将这次大规模的移民涌入描述为一次“蓄意的且前所未有的对西班牙领土的占领”。 一名与16岁儿子一同越境的女性告诉我们：“毫无疑问，摩洛哥政府出于某种原因允许了这件事发生。可能是因为它想在某些事情上报复西班牙。” “我们要回去了，因为我们又累又饿，而且没有避难所。我们像狗一样睡在街上。” 她的儿子是一名厨师实习生，他指了指自己的黑眼睛。“我无缘无故被警察打了，”他说。 与此同时，摩洛哥人经常重复地说，他们
仅仅是因为“我们的朋友要去”，才决定前来，这表明他们前往西班牙的尝试并未经过深思熟虑。其中一人说：“我们原以为会受到更好的对待，但结果令人失望。”
在这些海岸线之外，一场政治争端正在激烈进行。西班牙谴责部分欧盟国家对大量涌入采取的“自私、极化且不合法”的反应。
意大利对此并不满意。随着总理乔治亚·梅洛尼称这些景象“令人震惊”，意大利暂时暂停了与西班牙之间欧盟的申根无国界协议。芬兰和丹麦支持意大利的举动，而捷克总理安德烈·巴比什则敦促暂时暂停西班牙的申根成员资格。
来自欧盟各地的内政部长将于周二通过视频会议讨论该问题。桑切斯先生曾呼吁召开紧急会议，以“重新确认我们外部边境的安全是所有成员国的共同责任”。
在欧盟 27 个国家中，有 22 个国家在公开信中呼吁举行紧急会谈，理由是对塞乌塔的局势表示“严重关切”。
尽管欧盟赞扬移民的遣返，并谈到帮助西班牙恢复对边境的“有效控制”并防止进一步的失控跨境，但这里的许多人仍不信服。
在被指派清理塞乌塔海滩上由移民留下的地毯般垃圾的 6 名清洁工之一告诉我们：“我不认为这是我最后一次做这件事。”
附近，一名士兵正押解一名犯有某种轻罪或其他违规行为的移民返回边境。随后他说：“这几天简直疯了，前所未见。但请记住，这种情况以前发生过，以后还会发生。”
THE BITTEN PEACH
人生如歌舞秀：泛亚同性恋团体 The Bitten Peach Ltd 的成员，该团体获得了英格兰艺术委员会的 £29,950 资助。
但 8.4 亿英镑m 艺术委员会却将数千英镑交给…… 关于一只跨性别公牛的儿童剧、一个同性恋罗密欧——以及一项旨在夺回“具有分歧的”圣乔治旗的行动。
政治编辑
艺术委员会因资助“觉醒”项目而被指责为“对纳税人资金的触目惊心之浪费”，例如应对圣乔治旗的“具有分歧的”使用——而此时传统博物馆却因缺乏资金而被迫关闭。
该机构每年发放超过 8.4 亿英镑million 的纳税人资金和国家彩票基金，其近期授予的资金包括 6 月在谢菲尔德举行的“移民事务节”获得的 £100,000 资助，该节日包含一个旨在“探索身份、抗议与归属感”的旗帜制作工作坊。
组织者表示，其目的是反对公开展示英格兰国旗，左翼团体谴责该旗帜是种族主义的象征。他们表示：“针对圣乔治旗的分歧性使用，该项目通过包容性的叙事夺回公共空间。”
该节日还演出了《公牛与月亮》，这是一部面向儿童的舞蹈剧，讲述了一头名叫“Lolo”的西班牙公牛梦想成为一头名为“Lola”的弗拉门戈舞牛的故事。
艺术委员会慷慨资助的其他对象包括向 The Bitten Peach Ltd 提供 £29,950，该团体自称为英国唯一的酷儿泛亚歌舞秀团体。
以及 Curl Girl Productions。
前BBC大佬 约翰·图萨爵士 (Sir John Tusa) 正发起 一场抗议，反对安迪·伯纳姆 (Andy Burnham) 任命露丝·麦肯齐 (Ruth Mackenzie) 为 艺术部长，并将其描述为对“失败”的 奖励。 90岁的约翰爵士，这位前 《新闻之夜》(Newsnight) 主播表示， 任命麦肯齐女士（见右图）
被视为“工党之裙带关系”，因为 她与伯纳姆先生的关系可以追溯到 后者担任文化大臣期间。 2000年，一份令人谴责的报告 批评了她在领导苏格兰歌剧院时的 失败，导致该机构几乎崩溃。 约翰爵士告诉国务大臣 (MoS)： “当露丝获得贵族爵位并 随后成为国务大臣的消息 公开时，一位在艺术领域 的好友说：‘她的失败还要 被奖励多少次？’ 另一位则说：‘这看起来 像是工党的裙带关系。’” 约翰爵士计划在其Substack 专栏《年迈的艺术迷》(The Ageing Arts Junky) 上撰文讨论此次任命，他表示： “如果你在寻找她的成就记录， 你根本找不到。” 一名消息人士表示：“我们都认为 她能获得这份工作仅仅因为她是 伯纳姆的朋友。我认为她的 任命将引起巨大的尴尬。”
获得了 £35,434 用于资助《旁遮普公主》(Panjabi Princesses)——这是一部关于两名同性恋旁遮普公主的作品；而剧作家艾莎·齐亚 (Aisha Zia) 则因《难民！》(Refugee!) 获得 £32,547，在该剧中，角色们揭露了政府在战争罪行中的“共谋”证据。 艺术委员会的一项资助还授予了一部同性恋版本的《罗密欧与朱丽叶》。这部名为《罗密欧与哈马德》(Romeo And Hamad) 的剧作将于9月在汉默史密斯的河畔工作室 (Riverside Studios) 上演，被描述为“与目前伦敦舞台上的任何作品都不同”。 该委员会表示，它是“英格兰博物馆的国家发展机构……旨在帮助发展博物馆，以便全国尽可能多的人能够受益”。但总共有 16家博物馆在这些资助金发放的同一12个月期间被迫关闭。 其中包括位于亨洛的皇家空军信号博物馆 (RAF Signals Museum)，该馆讲述了从第一次世界大战到现代的皇家空军信号与通信设备的历史。 同样关闭的还包括达勒姆博物馆 (Durham Museum)、南威尔士的兰凯亚赫法夫生活历史博物馆 (Llancaiach Fawr Living History Museum)、汉普郡的韦斯特伯里庄园博物馆 (Westbury Manor Museum) 以及珀斯郡的艾利斯博物馆 (Alyth Museum)。 英国改革党 (Reform UK) 财政部发言人罗伯特·詹里克 (Robert Jenrick) 告诉《周日邮报》： “这又是对纳税人资金的一次触目惊心的浪费。我们将毫无顾虑地 宣传和捍卫我们的历史和文化，并根除这种分裂性的‘觉醒’ (woke) 废话。” 保守党 (Tories) 影子大臣尼尔·奥布莱恩 (Neil O’Brien) OBE 议员表示：“政府将数十万英镑的纳税人资金用于资助其文化战争，这简直令人不齿。” 艺术委员会的一位发言人表示： “我们支持广泛的艺术家和组织创作能够满足全国各地人们广泛兴趣、口味、声音和经验的作品。 ‘项目通常可以通过作品探索不同的议题，包括社会和政治主题。’”
饮酒之夜 行为不当 被解雇 作者：Abul Taher
《星期日邮报》可以透露，一名板球协会负责人因一名女同事指控其在一次夜出活动中存在“不当行为”，而被解除在洛德板球场的职务。
安德鲁·科尼什（Andrew Cornish），60 岁，在为期 7 个月的调查维持了一项关于他“与一名女性员工发生不愿接触的肢体接触”的投诉后，于上月被解雇，他此前担任米德尔塞克斯郡板球俱乐部首席执行官。
涉嫌违规的事件发生在去年 11 月一次饮酒的员工夜出活动中，地点就在米德尔塞克斯队驻地的世界著名板球场附近。
该俱乐部将投诉转交给了板球监管机构（Cricket Regulator），这是一个调查整个体育领域纪律案件的独立机构，科尼什随后被停职。
在调查期间，另外三名女同事也站出来，对科尼什涉嫌发表的不当言论提出投诉。
他昨晚拒绝发表评论，但他此前否认过任何违规行为，且《星期日邮报》了解到他正在寻求法律建议，考虑是否就不公正解雇提起诉讼。
米德尔塞克斯俱乐部仅确认科尼什“在 6 月被解除了俱乐部的首席执行官职务”。
板球监管机构表示，它不确认正在进行的调查对象。该机构关于此案的报告预计将很快公布。
米德尔塞克斯俱乐部另因科尼什涉嫌的行为被指控不当，如果指控成立，可能面临罚款。
该俱乐部经历了动荡的几年，包括 2023 年因违反财务规定被处以暂缓执行的扣分和 £150,000 罚款，以及在新冠疫情期间资金危机后出现的一项六位数的养老金错误。2024 年针对另一名高级员工的一项独立不当行为指控未被维持。
威尔士亲王和王妃在昨天观看英联邦运动会篮网球半决赛时笑容满面——但他们的三个孩子似乎明显不太高兴。
在格拉斯哥 Hydro 竞技场举行的所谓“友好运动会”倒数第二天，威廉和凯特看起来非常入迷，牙买加队戏剧性地以 1 分之差击败澳大利亚队，以 46-45 获胜。
夏洛特公主（Princess Charlotte），11 岁，路易王子（Prince Louis），8 岁，以及乔治王子（Prince George），13 岁，显得兴致不高，不过当凯特将手臂搭在夏洛特肩上并简短聊天时，夏洛特的情绪好转了。
凯特——上周被《Tatler》杂志评为 2026 年英国最佳着装人物——身穿一件绿色西装外套，显得十分优雅。
顾问编辑 娱乐版
霍莉·威洛比（Holly Willoughby）在 YouTube 上的新生活方式节目总是不可避免地被拿来与她的旧节目《This Morning》进行比较。
事实上，据称 ITV 的高层在得知她的节目《Together》也将包含食物、时尚、生活和美容板块时，“嫉妒得发绿”。
现在，《星期日邮报》可以透露，他们似乎已经与这位曾经的“金童”开战，她曾主持该 ITV 节目 14 年。
在威洛比女士（45 岁）已经拍摄完毕的剧集在 YouTube 上发布之前，ITV 迅速出击，诱使她的两名嘉宾转而参加《This Morning》。
消息人士认为，这发生在两周前发布的一份推广《Together》首播的新闻稿中公布嘉宾名单之后。
周四，艾伦·鲁姆（Ellen Roome）接受了《This Morning》主持人德莫特·奥利里（Dermot O’Leary）和艾莉森·哈蒙德（Alison Hammond）的采访。鲁姆的 14 岁儿子朱尔斯·斯威尼（Jools Sweeney）在 2022 年 4 月由于她认为是一次“出错的在线挑战”而去世。这次采访发生在威洛比女士预录的包含鲁姆女士的剧集在 YouTube 上播出的 5 天前。此外，美食博主们……
穿着海军蓝色与奶油色条纹上衣以及白色百褶裙。 随后，一家人前往克里斯·霍伊爵士自行车馆观看自行车赛，调皮的 Louis 戴着他的威尔士渔夫帽，笑得合不拢口。 凯特和威廉——在访问该国时以其苏格兰头衔罗瑟塞公爵与公爵夫人身份为人熟知——还会见了威尔士队的运动员及其家人。他们还有机会与赛事的志愿者们聊天，并受到了现场庞大人群的欢呼。
MULTITUDE MEDIA
比赛时间：威尔士一家人在网球场；上方为凯特和夏洛特。右侧：Louis 玩得很开心。
Original Flava 在周三的节目中烹饪，随后将在 Together 中播出他们与 Willoughby 女士在厨房合作的片段。 一位熟悉预订情况的消息人士表示：“这绝不是巧合。Ellen Roome 勇敢地奋斗了很长时间，但 This Morning 之前从未邀请过她。一旦他们看到新闻稿，就立即预订嘉宾，以便在 Holly 的观众看到他们之前抢先邀请。虽然不想这么想，但这感觉有点像蓄意破坏。” “Holly 的团队出于诚意发布新闻稿以分享即将播出的内容，但在发布与剧集上线之间，This Morning 迅速介入并抢走了她的嘉宾。ITV 肯定是非常嫉妒。” 在 2023 年 10 月——即她的共同主持人 Phillip Schofield 被撤职五个月后——Willoughby 女士突然离开了 This Morning，当时警方告知她，他们挫败了前保安 Gary Plumb 绑架、强奸并谋杀她的计划。这次事件让她极度恐惧，导致她好几个月难以离开家门。 她在 2024 年通过 Dancing On Ice 回到 ITV，但后来拒绝了担任重启版游戏节目 You Bet! 主持人的邀请。
This Morning 目前主要由 Cat Deeley 和 Ben Shephard 主持，但他们的收视率远低于 Willoughby 女士和 Schofield 主持时期。 在该节目鼎盛时期，观众人数曾达到 3 百万。现在，每集勉强能吸引 500,000 名观众。O’Leary 和 Hammond 女士在周五主持该节目。 与此同时，尽管 Together 的第一集（于上周二发布，由演员 Stanley Tucci 出演）遭到评论界差评，但 Willoughby 女士对目前的观看量感到 thrilled。包括一段初步的预告视频在内，该 YouTube 频道已获得 141,000 次观看。 “Holly 非常非常开心，”一位朋友说，“数据说明了真相，她对有这么多观看量感到 thrilled。她之前很紧张，而且她知道自己并非每个人都喜欢。” 在过去一周中，Willoughby 女士的观看量超过了她之前的 ITV 共演者 Ant and Dec 以及 Davina McCall。 Together 的第一集在四天后获得了 59,000 次观看，而提前一天发布的 Hanging Out with Ant and Dec 的一集仅有 19,000 次观看。 McCall 女士的节目在周四上传至 YouTube，内容包括对物理学家 Brian Cox 的采访，目前有 31,000 次观看。
The Mail on Sunday 2026 年 8 月 2 日
8 D
政治记者
一项对其旗舰政策的分析显示，安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）的社会护理承诺可能比预期多花费 £21billion。首相已誓言要投入“政治资本”来改革这个“破败”的系统，并在上周制定了建立国家护理服务（National Care Service）的初步计划。伯纳姆先生表示，这将需要做出“艰难的决定”，引发了人们对其将导致税收增加的担忧。《星期日邮报》（The Mail on Sunday）的分析表明，这些涨幅可能会非常剧烈。
伯纳姆先生预计将参考苏格兰现有的系统来建立新体系，在苏格兰，医疗与社会服务整合的成本为 £18billion。专家表示，他未能吸取苏格兰的经验，在那里，免费提供护理的志愿者比例已从 26 per cent 下降到 18 per cent。如果在英格兰和威尔士（那里有 four million 名志愿者护理员）复制这一情况，将导致 £21billion 的资金缺口。
自从两周前就任首相以来，成本核算一直是伯纳姆先生一个令人尴尬的话题。上周，《星期日邮报》透露，他已经积累了 £96billion 的政策承诺，却未解释如何支付这些费用。他多次拒绝排除加税的可能性，并此前表示英国“税收不足”，他可能需要“要求多缴一点”来支付其议程。
影子大臣梅尔·斯特赖德爵士（Sir Mel Stride）表示：“就像安迪·伯纳姆许多变来变去的计划一样，他在发布公告前没有做艰苦的工作来研究细节。这里关键的问题是：‘谁来买单？’”
来自经济政策智库亚当·斯密研究所（Adam Smith Institute）的麦克斯韦·马洛（Maxwell Marlow）补充道：“首相的社会护理计划处处是陷阱。如果他选择复制苏格兰模式，他可能会遇到大规模的流失，从而造成一个巨大的黑洞。”
已经有呼吁要求伯纳姆先生的政策能创造更多护理行业的有薪职位。来自慈善机构 Carers UK 的艾米莉·霍尔茨豪森（Emily Holzhausen）表示：“英格兰有 4.7million 名无薪护理员……我们希望无薪护理员的未来能成为这次对话的核心。”该慈善机构称，每天约有 600 人放弃工作以提供无薪护理。它声称，如果有一个可靠的社会护理服务，其中 35 per cent 的人不必这样做。
在上周三于伦敦北部戈尔德斯格林（Golders Green）的一家护理院发表的演讲中，伯纳姆先生吹嘘了他改革社会护理的计划。他表示，政客们未能尽早解决问题，是“严重的失职”。他宣布将加速由凯西男爵夫人（Baroness Casey）领导的英格兰成人社会护理独立审查，以便在明年夏天完成——提前一年。
伯纳姆先生还开始与保守党（Tories）和自由民主党就改革进行跨党派对话。但凯米·巴德诺克（Kemi Badenoch）未能出席，一名批评者表示，通知时间太短，表明这些对话“仅仅是为了作秀”。
胜利：安迪·伯纳姆与继任者贝芙·克雷格（Bev Craig）共同庆祝
奈杰尔·法拉日（NIGEL Farage）在曼彻斯特市长继任安迪·伯纳姆的竞选中被工党击败，再次遭遇选举挫折。
贝芙·克雷格以三分之二的优势击败了英国改革党（Reform UK）的候选人，成为该市首位女性市长——尽管工党内部最初担心，伯纳姆先生为了竞选议员而辞职可能会导致英国改革党获胜。
克雷格女士获得了 66.3 per cent 的选票，而英国改革党的希安·阿斯特利（Sian Astley）在第二轮计票后获得了 33.7 per cent。此前，所谓的“伯纳姆效应”使得英国改革党在 16 个月来首次在得票率上落后于工党。BMG 的一项民调显示……
国防部主管被指控在摧毁近 800 块在伊拉克沙漠中牺牲的英联邦士兵一战和二战墓碑后，表现出“令人震惊的漠视”。那些为国家做出最终牺牲的士兵家属愤怒地表示，国防部 (MoD) 掩盖真相的行为已持续 20 年以上。
2003 年，出于担心当地人可能破坏或损坏墓碑的顾虑，英国陆军从伊拉克南部巴士拉战争公墓移走了数十块墓碑以及刻有阵亡者姓名的铭牌。除了数百块墓碑外，80 块厚 2 英寸、刻有陆军部队团徽和阵亡者姓名的巨大石板也被移走。
这些在第一次世界大战和第二次世界大战中牺牲的士兵遗骸虽然仍被埋葬，但失去了标记。在 18 个月内，几乎所有墓碑和石板都被故意粉碎成碎石，并被用于填充伊拉克南部另一处军事基地的排水沟。
这项工作由皇家工程师 64 工程组 (64 Works Group, Royal Engineers) 监督，且似乎是在一名随军牧师同意后进行的。本·索皮特 (Ben Soppitt) 的祖父、炮兵约瑟夫·索皮特 (Joseph Soppitt) 埋葬在巴士拉战争公墓，他声称英联邦战争坟墓委员会 (CWGC) 和国防部试图向公众隐瞒拆除真相。
直到最近，居住在旧金山附近的 55 岁索皮特先生发布了通过信息自由 (FoI) 请求获得的回应后，墓碑被摧毁的细节才浮出水面。由于信息专员介入并命令公布，国防部才不得不回应他的请求。
信息自由披露的内容显示，这些墓碑于 2005 年 4 月被压碎成碎石，用于在巴士拉西南 9 英里的英国陆军沙伊巴后勤基地 (Shaibah Logistics Base) 内部建造排水沟。
《邮报》首席记者大卫·威廉姆斯 (David Williams) 在 2003 年美国领导的伊拉克战争爆发前一周访问了该公墓，发现当地民兵一直将墓碑用作射击目标——这解释了军队为何将其移走，尽管在伊拉克的任何其他墓地都没有采取此类行动。
在当时记录移走墓碑行动的影像资料中，一名未具名军官表示：“我们已经将所有墓碑以及刻有在第一次世界大战和第二次世界大战中勇敢牺牲的人员姓名的铭牌收集在一起。”
“我们已经将它们全部装入卡车的后车厢。我们将把它们带回营地，为英联邦战争坟墓委员会保管，委员会未来将回来并使这座公墓恢复往日的荣光。”
信息自由披露的资料显示，皇家工程师 64 工程组在 2005 年 4 月的一份 SITREP（情势报告）中记录道：“墓碑现已压碎，准备放入渗井。”
前国防参谋长、赫斯特蒙休的里查兹勋爵 (The Lord Richards of Herstmonceux) 元帅表示，他毫无疑问地认为，移走石块的士兵们认为自己是在做正确的事。里查兹勋爵在墓碑被移走时担任总参谋长助理。
作者：肖恩·雷门特 (SEAN RAYMENT) 和 马克·尼科尔 (MARK NICOL)
被摧毁了，他告诉《周日邮报》：“我对这座公墓所发生的事情深感悲痛。事后看来，当然没有任何借口。然而，毫无疑问，在当时巴士拉那种危险且动荡的环境下，做出这一决定的军官们认为自己是在做正确的事。” 但前总参谋长丹纳特勋爵表示：“英联邦战争坟墓委员会的主席是国防大臣。应该做出决定，要么恢复所有坟墓（现在可能已不可能），要么设立一座纪念碑，列出埋葬在公墓中的所有人员姓名，并对近期发生的事件做出适当解释。” 索皮特先生去年前往巴士拉，带去了一块新的花岗岩墓碑，以标记他祖父的坟墓，其祖父于 1941 年死于痢疾。当地举行了一场仪式，巴士拉大主教和当地居民出席了活动。 约瑟夫·索皮特炮兵是
一名亲属正通过 法庭起诉国防部
超过 360 名安葬在该公墓的英国人之一，他们与来自印度、波兰和其他英联邦国家的战友并肩安息。 索皮特先生已向高等法院申请司法复核，针对此次破坏行为进行调查，旨在追究国防部的责任。 他表示：“国防部正在对抗这一诉求，不愿承担确保那里埋葬的 3,000 多名男女获得应有的、且公众所期待的妥当纪念的成本。” “这是一个苦涩的讽刺：一名公众成员，一名被埋葬在巴士拉的伤亡人员的亲属，竟然不得不通过法庭起诉国防部，仅仅是为了确保那些在服役期间牺牲的人员获得应有的基本纪念尊严。” 相比之下，距离公墓仅 30 公里的巴士拉纪念馆则未受影响。 国防部表示，出于法律原因无法对此发表评论。
2026 年 8 月 2 日 《周日邮报》
9 英雄家属愤怒： 陆军将数百块 战争坟墓墓碑 碾成碎石用于 排水沟
被埋葬者： 约瑟夫·索皮特炮兵（右）， 死于 1941 年
在 800 名墓碑和纪念面板被国防部下令在伊拉克一战及二战公墓中被草率粉碎的人员中，有 130 人来自我所属团——皇家安格利亚团的前身。 因此，您可以理解为什么我对这种对阵亡者记忆的冷漠蔑视感到震惊。 这些人中有些人是在一个多世纪前去世的，这并不重要；重要的是他们是在为国家而战时牺牲的。这样的爱国主义和英雄主义绝不应受到如此粗劣的对待。 2003 年，在英国军队入侵萨达姆·侯赛因统治的伊拉克后，陆军为了安全起见移走了这些墓碑。 毫无疑问，士兵们在执行移除操作时是出于好意，认为在合适的时机墓碑会被重新安置。 但这种信任在 18 个月后被背叛了，当时国防部似乎决定这些墓碑
冷漠蔑视
前英国陆军指挥官
应该被摧毁。曾在伊拉克和阿富汗作战，我能体谅那些接收到来自伦敦的、不顾实际情况且完全脱离地面对现实认知的错误命令的士兵。
在喀布尔，我们得到了关于议会大厦计划发生政变的情报。我们了解到袭击的主力将由坦克执行。然而，当我提议在反叛者的坦克停机坪周围布置反坦克地雷时，国防部 (MoD) 的反应是惊恐的——大致意思是：“你意识到阿富汗是世界上地雷最多的国家吗？”在我看来，为了防止巨大的政治动荡而多布置几颗地雷，这个代价是值得的，但即便如此，我们最终还是挫败了这次政变。
士兵服从命令，而那些参与摧毁墓碑的伊拉克士兵在执行任务时心中必然沉重。意识到排水沟的填充方式如此亵渎前任英国士兵的记忆，这一定令他们感到极其不快。
但真正令人心碎的是高层的逃避。他们阻挠了被埋葬者亲属寻求真相的尝试。只有在被举报至信息专员公署后，才勉强披露了这段令人遗憾的往事。
但即便其行为引发了公众的羞辱，国防部仍未对这起丑闻做出修正。巴士拉的墓地依然荒芜，阵亡者依然没有标记。令人难以置信的是，尽管军队在 2003 年移走了墓地面板，但附近的巴士拉纪念碑却未受影响，至今仍未在原处竖起新的墓碑。
这些士兵是在最恐怖的情况下牺牲的，通常是在持续的枪火中、在酷热的煎熬下，且几乎没有任何卫生设施，这意味着死于痢疾的情况极其普遍。
他们理应拥有一个与其牺牲相匹配的墓地。
如果国防部认为新墓碑会被破坏，我敦促他们去访问喀布尔，在那里，当地人恭敬地照料着我曾访问过的一座英国墓地。为了确保巴士拉遗址的维护，我们当然可以期待伊拉克政府的合作，毕竟该国接收了数十亿英镑的英国经济援助。
即便墓地被破坏，那也随它去吧：那是可以修复的。但无法修复的是，将他们的记忆从他们被埋葬的土地上永久抹除——这实际上是将他们杀了两次。
国防部必须纠正这个严重的错误：如果不能这样做，将使我们的国家蒙羞。
本·索皮特 (BEN SOPPITT)
关于利亚姆·佩恩 (Liam Payne) 悲剧性最后时刻的详尽记录——由两名与这位 One Direction 成员在他在那间药物散布的肮脏酒店房间里共度一天的性工作者讲述——今日由《星期日邮报》 (The Mail on Sunday) 披露。
这些性工作者非同寻常的宣誓陈述，为这位歌手在 2024 年 10 月 16 日于阿根廷布宜诺斯艾利斯坠亡前，整日沉溺于可卡因和威士忌的疯狂状态，以及他情绪脆弱的精神状态提供了新的线索。
在关于导致利亚姆 46 英尺高空坠亡事件的持续推测中，本报获得的惊人文件提供了那个致命之日的生动第一手记录——这些记录是在这位 31 岁明星去世仅数小时后作为证人陈述提交的。
在向调查人员提供的令人心碎的陈述中，与利亚姆发生过关系的性工作者阿尔达娜·塞拉诺 (Aldana Serrano) 和卢西拉·戈伊特亚 (Lucila Goitea) 声称该歌手：
利亚姆在坠落后立即死亡
这些女性的陈述中写道： “因为利亚姆拥有如此之多的粉丝，而且他如此年轻地去世令人极其震惊，所以外界存在很多错误信息。 ‘这些在事发当天与他共处一室的女性所提供的宣誓陈述，是我们能接触到的关于当时所发生事情的最接近真相的记录。 ‘这些陈述是在她们与他共度最后一天的之后提供的。她们在当晚就签署了宣誓书，以身负伪证罪的风险担保。她们是关键证人，在很多方面是最重要的。她们的讲述对于拼凑出利亚姆究竟发生了什么至关重要。’” 这位长期与成瘾问题作斗争的歌手在去世前 16 天抵达了布宜诺斯艾利斯，目的是办理美国签证续签，并观看前 One Direction 队友尼尔·霍兰的演唱会。 利亚姆的女友凯特·卡西迪在行程的前两周一直陪在他身边，阿根廷商人兼密友罗杰·诺雷斯也在一起。两人均表示，利亚姆在与她们同行期间保持清醒且没有使用药物。 凯特于 10 月 14 日返回他们在迈阿密的家中，但利亚姆留在布宜诺斯艾利斯。在罗杰·诺雷斯也离开后，他独自一人等待签证获批。 随后，他彻底地在诱惑面前崩溃了。有报道称，他因在房间内大肆破坏并在醉酒状态下对员工大吼大叫，而被要求离开他入住的五星级柏悦酒店。 他办理入住了一家较为简朴的四星级 CasaSur Palermo 酒店，并在 2024 年 10 月 16 日上午在该酒店拨打了性工作者的电话。 这些女性的陈述——使用了检察官马塞洛·罗马办公室的官方抬头信纸——在描述利亚姆生命最后一天的经过时，彼此高度一致。 她们讲述了利亚姆在一家阿根廷陪侍网站上找到 Aldana 的资料后，通过 WhatsApp 联系她的过程。她将自己宣传为提供“极佳性爱”的“性感女孩”，而“曲线丰满”的 Lucila 则自夸道：“我有这样一副臀部供您尽情享受。” Aldana 很难相信一位世界著名的流行巨星会打电话约她发生关系，于是要求他证明身份。 她告诉调查人员：“利亚姆今天（2024 年 10 月 16 日）上午 11 点左右通过 WhatsApp 联系了我。全程他都用英语和我交谈。他告诉了我他的身份，并给我发了一段视频。那段视频不是最近拍的，是他唱歌的样子。 ‘他还给我发了一些他在床上拍的照片，是在我们到达之前拍的。’” Aldana 和 Lucila 都是单亲母亲，住在布宜诺斯艾利斯周边艰苦的工人阶级郊区，与家人同住。 根据她们的陈述，现在分别从事创业者和理发师工作的两人在市中心地段租了一套便宜的公寓，以便在下班回家路上“招待”商人。Lucila 告诉调查人员，两人“不时”从事陪侍工作，且已从事该行业约一年。 当 Aldana 告诉利亚姆她身边有一个漂亮的女朋友时，这位巨星立即出价 $5,000，要求两人都陪他度过这一天。他提供了酒店名称，但当 Aldana 打电话核实信息时（出于安全原因，她总是这么做）——“他们告诉我利亚姆·佩恩不在那里”。 她补充道：“他给了我另一个名字，我不记得了。我们进行了视频通话，让他向我证明确实是他，然后他告诉我他会派车来接。” 15 分钟内，一辆来自酒店的车辆抵达公寓，将她们接到了 CasaSur 酒店，于上午 11.30 左右到达。 前台工作人员在允许她们前往利亚姆的房间（310 号房）之前要求查验身份证件，这也是为什么警方在歌手去世后能够如此迅速地追踪到她们的原因。 Aldana 说：“他一个人在房间里。他热情地迎接了我们，我向他要求付款。我们试图沟通，但很困难，因为他只说英语，而且”
“我只懂西班牙语。” 最终她们在手机上使用了翻译软件。 利亚姆想通过国际银行转账用美元支付，而那些女孩——她们想要现金或信用卡支付——并没有设置接收此类款项的账户。 露西拉说：“他想通过电汇给我们付款。因为我们都没有美元账户，他问我们是否有 PayPal。我们没有，而且当时无法下载。” “他为我们点了香槟，并为自己点了两瓶尊尼获加黑标威士忌。我们看到他正在用一些锡箔纸做类似冰毒的操作。” “他要求我们帮他弄些毒品，但我们不知道去哪里弄，因为我们不接触那些。他开始在他现有的锡箔纸碎片中搜寻。在我们待在那里的时间里，我们与他发生了性关系——那是合意的性行为——仅有一次，且他采取了保护措施。” 房间内肮脏的状态表明利亚姆一直处于药物狂欢之中。露西拉说：“那里一团糟，到处都是带有药物痕迹的锡箔纸。一个抽屉里塞满了，沙发上还有更多烧焦的锡箔纸……很多衣服乱扔在地上……他身上有酒精味。” “在某个时刻，他拿起了电脑为我们唱了一会儿歌。他给我们看了他正在创作的歌曲——然后他就变得糟糕起来。” 此时，女孩们已经进入
——他闻起来有一股酒精味”
两小时。她们再次要求付款。 据报道身家 £22 million 的这位歌手提供了他的金劳力士表。照片显示，他在行程早些时候签名时戴着这款价值 £30,000 的手表。 卢西拉（Lucila）说道：“我们告诉他我们只要钱，于是他就拿过表把它砸了。他告诉我们他不在乎钱。然后他打破了电视机，对他猛击。他让我们明白他可以砸掉所有东西，因为他知道自己付得起钱。”
肮脏：左上方的卢西拉·戈伊蒂亚（Lucila Goitea）和右上方的阿尔丹娜·塞拉诺（Aldana Serrano）与利亚姆（Liam）共度了一天，左图是他在酒店最后拍摄的照片之一，房间里到处是毒品残渣。插图：他砸碎的劳力士表。
她的朋友证实了利亚姆的爆发：“他摘下手表，将其狠狠地扔在墙上砸碎了。他告诉我们他能买十块这样的表。然后他开始用英语给电话那边的人说话，并拒绝向我们提供汇款信息。 ‘我告诉他我们要走了，他生气了，对着电视机猛击了三次。他想把它撕开。 ‘他向我们索要可卡因，因为他用完了。你能感觉到他在我们到达之前就一直在吸可卡因。他在我们面前没有吸，只是在喝威士忌。’” 在他去世后，有消息透露一名精神科医生拒绝继续治疗利亚姆，因为他在服用强效抗焦虑药物 Klonopin 的同时拒绝停止饮酒。该药物具有强大的镇静效果，会被酒精放大并抑制呼吸，从而可能导致死亡。 根据她们的陈述，利亚姆将女孩们赶出了房间，但在醉酒状态下，他踉踉跄跄地跟在她们身后，随后她们一起走到了大堂。 卢西拉说，在途中她们遇到了两名酒店员工。她告诉他们利亚姆砸碎了电视机且拒绝向她们付款。 在前台，一名工作人员提出联系利亚姆的“经纪人”——事实上是他的朋友罗杰·诺雷斯（Roger Nores），罗杰留下了紧急联系方式。罗杰曾被误认为是利亚姆的经纪人，且一度面临与这位明星之死相关的“遗弃”指控。这些指控已于上个月被完全撤销。 前台的男子告诉女孩们，“经纪人”提供了 $300，但她们拒绝了，并出示了利亚姆提供 $5,000 的信息。当她们在大堂等待时，利亚姆继续行为异常，在周围踱步，并反复在房间与大堂之间上下走动。 阿尔丹娜有一个与利亚姆的儿子 Bear 年龄相仿的孩子，她说：“利亚姆又下来了。他告诉我他也有一个七岁的儿子，钱并不能让他快乐。” 这些女性去商店买了饮料和小吃，然后回到酒店，仍然希望拿到报酬。卢西拉意识到她把化妆包和手机充电器落在利亚姆的房间里了。 前台给他打电话，他回到了大堂，并邀请女孩们随他一起回到 310 号房间。 她回忆道：“我们随利亚姆回到了房间，那个包就在……”
AFP 照片 / 布宜诺斯艾利斯
向我们道歉”
在他的咖啡桌上。我去洗手间时听到他在向阿尔丹娜（Aldana）道歉。他跪在地上，为给我们带来糟糕的经历而道歉。“他想让我们留在他的房间里。”她的朋友证实了利亚姆（Liam）跪地恳求的事实。阿尔丹娜说：“他脱掉外套，跪在我面前道歉。他要求我们留下，但我们拒绝了。于是他生气了。”这些女性在确认前台已记录所有个人信息后，于下午 4 点前不久离开。从她们的陈述中尚不清楚是否得到了报酬。她们回到公寓后在手机上刷 Instagram 时，看到当地电视台发布的关于利亚姆去世的帖子，这才得知其死讯。初步报告表明他可能是跳楼自杀。几小时内，警方敲开了她们的门，两名女性自愿同意提供宣誓证词。调查人员表示她们“完全且全面地配合了调查”。闭路电视（CCTV）画面显示，在她们于下午 4 点左右离开利亚姆入住的酒店后不久，罗杰（Roger）抵达并在大堂与利亚姆交谈。罗杰离开后，利亚姆继续表现异常。此时一名客人听到他大喊：“我以前是个男团成员，所以我的精神状态才这么糟糕（f* up）！”他回到房间拿了笔记本电脑，再次回到大堂并躺在沙发上。另一名证人称，利亚姆变得很激动，显然是因为电脑上的某些东西，他将电脑扔到地上并大喊：“去他妈的（F this s**）。”下午 4.54 分，CCTV 记录下了令人震惊的画面：利亚姆似乎昏迷不醒且可能在抽搐，由三名酒店工作人员将其抬过大堂，送进电梯回到房间。随后，几位客人报告称听到 310 房传出撞击声和巨响。前台接待员埃斯特班·格拉西（Esteban Grassi）非常担心，于是拨打急救电话称：“我们有一名吸毒的客人正在砸房间。我们需要你们尽快派人过来，因为，嗯，我
俄罗斯导弹猛攻 导致九人丧生
俄罗斯在昨天向乌克兰首都基辅发射了数十枚弹道导弹，造成至少九人死亡，30 人受伤。这次夜袭是
俄罗斯两天内对乌克兰发起的第二次重大空中袭击，俄罗斯总统普京显然试图以此凸显该国防空系统的短缺。 此次袭击促使总统弗拉基米尔·泽连斯基（Volodymyr Zelensky）再次呼吁西方提供更多防空设备——而就在一天前，美国领导人唐纳德·特朗普撤回了允许乌克兰自行制造爱国者拦截弹的承诺。 泽连斯基先生表示，俄罗斯发射了 35 枚导弹，其中包括 27 枚弹道导弹和 185 架无人机。他在 Telegram 上表示，乌克兰防空系统仅拦截了一枚弹道导弹，“单纯是因为爱国者系统没有拦截弹”。 泽连斯基先生说：“每一批弹道导弹拦截弹都能挽救我国人民的生命。而每一个没有拦截弹的夜晚都会导致更多的伤亡。” 在几波攻击期间，人们听到了十几次爆炸声，共有七个区受到波及。在达尔尼茨基区（Darnytskyi），至少有七人死亡，另有 14 人
紧急服务部门表示，有人受伤，其中包括两名儿童。 在索洛米安斯基（Solomianskyi），一栋五层住宅楼被部分摧毁，导致两人死亡，八人受伤，其中包括两名儿童。 一枚导弹落在立陶宛大使馆附近，击碎了窗户，碎片散落在院内。无人受伤。 基辅市长维塔利·克里琴科（Vitali Klitschko）表示，全市多处发生火灾，部分地区停电。 他表示，舍甫琴科夫斯基（Shevchenkivskyi）的一栋住宅楼被部分摧毁，导致人们被困在屋内。 乌克兰外交部长安德烈·西比哈（Andrii Sybiha）再次呼吁提供空中
防御供应。他表示：“决定这场战争轨迹的是天空之战。乌克兰上空的防空屏蔽越强，和平就越近。” 上周，泽连斯基先生在华盛顿会见了唐纳德·特朗普先生，敦促他授予乌克兰生产爱国者拦截导弹的许可。但周五，唐纳德·特朗普先生表示，美国尚未同意允许其制造，但谈判仍在进行中。 昨日，乌克兰无人机在黑海击沉了一艘俄罗斯所有的集装箱船。克里姆林宫表示，全部 17 名船员已获救。 该船的所有者 Rosatom 表示，船上运输的是民用物资，包括食品和建筑材料。其负责人亚历克谢·利哈乔夫（Alexey Likhachev）表示：“这种攻击不能被解释为除海盗行为和抢劫以外的任何事情。”
不知道他的生命是否处于危险之中。他在一个带阳台的房间里，而且，嗯，我们担心他可能会做某些事情。” 利亚姆（Liam）在 5.07pm 坠楼身亡。 调查人员结论认为，由于药物和酒精的致命混合作用，他在坠落时可能处于半昏迷或完全意识丧失的状态。 有人推测，他是试图从阳台爬下去，以便在不经过大厅的情况下从酒店“逃离”——他在 One Direction 乐队时期为了避开粉丝曾这样做过。 英国对其死亡的死因研讯目前仍处于暂停状态，等待阿根廷的调查结果。 两名男子，服务员布莱恩·派兹（Braian Paiz）和酒店员工埃塞奎尔·佩雷拉（Ezequiel Pereyra），被指控供应导致利亚姆死亡的药物。两人均在狱中度过了数月，但目前已获保释。 他们否认所有指控。 《星期日邮报》（The Mail on Sunday）上周获悉，检察官正在与这些男子的律师进行谈判，试图达成一项认罪协议，让他们两人对较轻的指控认罪，以换取减刑。 利亚姆留下的持久遗产是他的儿子 Bear，Bear 正由雪莉（Cheryl）在远离聚光灯的环境下抚养，并在年满 18 岁时继承其父亲的遗产（目前由信托持有）。 在阿根廷，两名性工作者拒绝了美国电视台提供的丰厚报酬，不愿在镜头前发言。没有任何迹象表明两人隐瞒了信息。两人均自愿将手机交给调查人员。 一名消息人士表示：“这些女孩卷入了一场比她们想象中更疯狂的事情，但她们做对了所有事情。” “她们是关键证人，因为她们是直到最后时刻唯一陪伴在利亚姆身边的人。” 现在，感谢她们的宣誓陈述，我们终于对这位深受困扰的明星动荡的最后时光有了迄今为止最清晰的了解。
深陷水中：彼得·曼德尔森（Peter Mandelson）身穿灰色泳裤，出现在伦敦汉普斯特德荒野（Hampstead Heath）的男子池塘中。
由于多年的资金不足，英国武装部队的人员严重短缺，导致该国在本月将容易受到攻击——因为太多服役人员正在休假。 这是昨晚国防消息人士提出的惊人主张，他们表示，由于采用了“分批休假”制度，在 137,000 名武装部队成员中（不包括预备役人员），超过 97,000 人将在 8 月份休假。 国防部的一位发言人对此予以否认，表示：“休假在全年交错安排，以平衡作战需求。”
资深电视节目主持人 Sue Cook 谈到了她对于成为喜剧演员 Steve Coogan 所塑造的虚拟人格 Alan Partridge 长期笑话目标的困惑与恼怒。
作为《Crimewatch》的主持人，Cook 女士多年来一直被 Coogan 剧中那个恶搞情景喜剧角色无情地针对。当该角色声称她打电话取消与他的预约时，说出了那句经典的台词：“Sue Cook 退出（pulled out）了”。
现在，她揭露了在《我是 Alan Partridge》节目中反复听到自己的名字被提及，在多大程度上影响了人们对她的看法，以及这对她的生活产生了怎样的影响。
77 岁的 Cook 女士在《Peter Purves 播客》中表示：“坦白说，有时这有点让人心烦，因为人们总是说‘噢，Sue Cook 退出（pulled out）了’。所以人们认为我是那种会半途而废的人。如果他们不明白这个梗，他们会好奇为什么总看到关于我退出事情的消息。”
关于 Sue Cook 的笑话是在讽刺这位广播员极其清白（squeaky-clean）的形象，并在数年间成为了一个接连不断的笑料。但她补充说，最终她习惯了这些提及，这也让她在孩子 Megan 和 Charlie 意识到他们的母亲是个家喻户晓的人物时起到了作用。
Sue 告诉前《Blue Peter》主持人 87 岁的 Peter Purves：“我的孩子们觉得我酷毙了，但我没料到会这样。我们当时坐在家里的沙发上看 Alan Partridge，令我们惊讶的是，他突然开始谈论我。因为我没怎么跟孩子们提起过我的工作——他们小时候我真的没怎么把工作带回家，所以他们根本不知道我很有名或者是个名人，所以当我在 Alan Partridge 中出现时，他们认定我很酷！”
但并非所有家人都能淡然面对这个小品。我的母亲
《周日邮报》（The Mail on Sunday）可以披露，Gary Lineker 的财务顾问在建议富裕客户参与一项具有争议的避税计划后陷入抑郁，最终自杀。
税务专家 Peter McGarvey 曾帮助他的客户投资 Ingenious Media 的电影融资计划，该计划为他们的收入提供了巨额税收减免。
但他的朋友告诉《周日邮报》，在英国皇家税务海关总署（HMRC）最初批准该计划后又将其判定为避税计划，他便“陷入了抑郁状态”。
据悉，McGarvey 先生是 Lineker 儿子之一的教父，他于 2015 年 9 月在秘鲁首都利马的五星级酒店 Belmond Miraflores Park 自杀身亡。
在他向家乡两名邻居请求帮助四天后，他的尸体在房间内被发现。
《Crimewatch》之星 Sue Cook 表示，成为 Coogan 长期笑话的目标“有点心烦”
玩笑之余：饰演 Alan Partridge 的 Steve Coogan。右图：Sue Cook
及 Glen Owen
诺丁汉郡的 Willoughby-on-the-Wolds 村签署他的遗嘱。诺丁汉验尸法庭的调查听证会获悉，McGarvey 先生给自己注射了致死药物。
在他的死讯揭晓之前，Lineker 上个月与其他 100 位百万富翁共同给新任首相 Andy Burnham 写了一封公开信，请求被征收更多税款。
《周日镜报》（MoS）上周披露，批评者指责 Lineker “虚伪”，因为他此前在涉及一笔 £4.93 百万税单的申诉中胜诉。
他还因参与 Ingenious 计划而受到批评，参与者还包括大卫·贝克汉姆爵士（Sir David Beckham）、Ant 和 Dec 以及鲍勃·格尔多夫爵士（Sir Bob Geldof）等数十位家喻户晓的名人。该计划涉及个人成为 Ingenious 旗下公司的一名董事，每年投资超过 £100,000，用于资助电影拍摄。
诸如《阿凡达》和《少年派的奇幻漂流》等大片部分资金即通过 Ingenious 筹集。
英国税务海关总署（HMRC）在 2010 年代初开始打击该计划，当时包括 Lineker 在内的数百名名人投资者被要求补缴数百万英镑的税款。
在 2 0 1 2 年，当时的 HMRC 负责人 Dave Hartnett 将此类计划描述为“给人渣准备的骗局”。McGarvey 先生的其他客户包括运动员 Paula Radcliffe 和前国际足球运动员 Peter Shilton，他曾建议包括板球运动员 David Gower 在内的其他体育明星投资该计划。
但当 HMRC 开始向他的客户追回资金时，他觉得自己的毕生心血“受到了破坏”。
一位朋友表示：“这让他看起来像个骗子。”
到 2015 年 1 月，头版报道称 HMRC 要求 Lineker 在 90 天内支付 £1.3 百万的欠税。当时担任 BBC 主持人的他随后否认收到过这一要求。
《周日镜报》获得了 2017 年 6 月由助理验尸官 Ivan Cartwright 主持的 McGarvey 先生验尸听证会的音频记录。庭上获悉，这位税务顾问在去世前一天从秘鲁给一名业务伙伴发了一封电子邮件。
验尸官在听证会上表示：“McGarvey 先生似乎——由于缺乏更恰当的词汇——因为过去给某些客户提供的部分建议的质量而陷入了深深的自责。”
听证会获悉，McGarvey 先生向其前妻 Sally 表达了类似的担忧。
已联系 Gary Lineker 和 Ingenious Media 请求置评。
（此处一段关于 Partridge 的文字，似乎为碎片化内容）： ……当时。观众席中的两名男子起身离场。 Partridge 在 2013 年宣传《Alpha Papa – The Alan Partridge Movie》时，恢复了他与 Cook 女士之间虚构的关系。 他告诉《Vue》杂志：“Sue 和我认识很久了。她是个心直口快的人——如果你让她不快，她真的会把你批得体无完肤。我的意思是，她会用尽所有难听的话来骂你。我见过她不止一次把 John Stapleton 骂到流泪，但这仅仅是因为她在意。有趣的是她叫 Sue Cook——她不会烹饪（cook），但她会起诉（sue）。” 在 2023 年出版的另一本 Partridge “回忆录”《Beacon》中，该角色声称对 Cook 女士“产生了极其强烈的情感”。 在早前与播客的聊天中，Cook 女士说：“我是女性，谈吐得体……我是白皮肤，中产阶级。我具备了所有你不应该具备的特质。所以，我确信我现在绝不可能得到（电视行业）的工作。但在我刚开始的时候，电视上的女性非常罕见。”
野生动物“在石楠地大火后 25 年内无法恢复”
消防人员昨晚继续在全国各地与山火作斗争，专家警告称，在最大的一场火灾中被摧毁的稀有野生动物栖息地可能需要 25 年才能恢复。
在过去两周的酷暑期间，消防队接到了数百起草地火灾报警。紧急服务部门希望，未来几天英国许多地区预报的较低气温能够缓解消防员的压力。
气象局宣布，英格兰和威尔士将记录自开始记录以来最干燥的 7 月，并补充说，这个月出现了“极端高温、充足阳光和几乎完全没有降雨的异常组合”。初步统计数据显示，7 月英格兰的降雨量仅为 5.6mm，低于 1911. 年创下的此前最低纪录 13.4mm 的一半。威尔士的降雨量仅为 7.9mm，几乎只有 1911 年创下的此前纪录 22.6mm 的三分之一。
这些情况导致英格兰和威尔士的大部分地区陷入干旱，超过 2400 万人处于官方的禁用水管令之下。从北部的达勒姆到南部的多塞特郡和萨默塞特郡，超过 20 个消防部门在近几天被迫应对山火，国家消防酋长委员会报告称，进一步爆发火灾的风险仍然处于“高位”。
最严重的火灾袭击了萨福克郡的邓威奇希斯（Dunwich Heath），国民信托基金会总干事希拉里·麦格雷迪（Hilary McGrady）将一些英国最稀有物种重要栖息地的丧失描述为“毁灭性的”。
RSPB 萨福克郡区域经理亚当·罗兰兹（Adam Rowlands）告诉 BBC，被这场“令人作呕”的火灾摧毁的栖息地可能需要 25 年才能恢复。“那种刺鼻的味道，不不仅仅是烟味，你会感觉到动物们在火焰中丧生，”他说道。
然而，情况正得到控制。在采取了“积极的灭火行动”后，消防酋长将参与灭火的设备数量从 14 辆减少到 8 辆。预计消防人员将在那里停留长达三天。
这场发生在希斯地带的 371 英亩火灾始于周三下午 5.30，地点位于距离 Sizewell B 核电站三英里的 RSPB Minsmere 湿地保护区附近。国民信托基金会表示，该希斯地带是夜鹰、云雀等野生动物的重要区域。
一名美国私募股权亿万富翁每天向他在威尔特郡的乡村庄园运送高达 13,000 加仑的水——尽管附近主管道禁止槽车取水。
黑石集团负责人、79, 岁的斯蒂芬·施瓦茨曼（Stephen Schwarzman）是华尔街最有权势的金融家之一，他的行为激怒了安多弗附近康霍尔特公园（Conholt Park）的邻居们，后者在经历了有记录以来最温暖的春天和一场干旱之后，正面临着禁用水管令。
去年，该庄园承认使用了槽车供应的“小部分”水来填充一个景观湖——此举导致南方水务公司禁止相关配送公司使用其消防栓。
尽管湖泊已满，但目前来自未知来源的槽车用水正被用于给这片 2,100 英亩土地上新种的树木浇水。
虽然没有迹象表明此举违法，但邻居们表示，这违反了全国号召明智用水的精神。该庄园由 Wessex 供应。
将数千加仑的水卡车运至其威尔特郡庄园
水资源并未处于软管禁令之下。但该地处于环境署上周确定的英格兰南部干旱区域内。 在附近唐格利村住了 40 年的史蒂夫·克肖（Steve Kershaw），68 岁，告诉《周日邮报》：“这引起了轩然大波。这里的笑话就是，被大家称为‘湖主’的这位又在故技重演了。” 他补充说，该庄园的绿地“比人们那些枯黄的草坪绿多了”。 另一位居民表示：“水务公司已经开始给当地人打电话，警告说他们因为在花园使用软管而被举报了。
以及上图所示的稀有达特福林莺，还有原色蝰蛇、蜥蜴和慢蜗蛇，以及包括稀有银斑蓝蝶在内的蝴蝶。 在邻近的埃塞克斯郡，消防部门上周接到了 2,029 通紧急电话——这是其历史上最繁忙的时期之一——派遣人员处理了 570 起事故。 英国气象局预测，英国部分地区今天的温度将降低，预计最高温度为 26℃。预报员亚历克斯·伯基尔（Alex Burkill）表示：“许多地方，尤其是南部，正极需一场雨。” “虽然下周地平线上会有一些雨，但这个周末没什么雨。”
我想知道他们是否给施瓦茨曼先生打过电话，询问他的水罐车是从哪里运来的，以及水都去哪了？ “如果他需要水，为什么不能用他倾倒入湖的 900 万升水中的一部分？” 然而，其他邻居则称赞施瓦茨曼先生——他拥有 £30billion 的财富，并在四年前以 £82million 的价格买下了康霍尔特公园——称赞他创造了就业机会，与当地议会互动并种植树木。 一名接近他的消息人士说：“史蒂夫正在确保当地水资源不受到
流动资产：一辆水罐车位于由斯蒂芬和克里斯汀·施瓦茨曼拥有的康霍尔特，（图已删除）
影响。”另一名消息人士说：“运往庄园的所有水都通过持牌供应商供应且来源合法。” 水罐车公司 Greens H20 的 30,000 升卡车被看到每天向康霍尔特配送，该公司未回应置评请求。
在尼古拉和布鲁克林·佩尔茨-贝克汉姆 2022 年婚礼后的早午餐会上，据说气氛像“犯罪现场”一样，昨天的《每日邮报》揭露了每一个令人心碎的细节。今天，在她的震撼新书中，艾莉森·博肖夫（ALISON BOSHOFF）向我们展示了这两个家族是如何陷入战争的……
“发生在我和我父亲身上的事，我绝不希望发生在我和我儿子身上。我绝不会让它发生。这对每个人来说都很艰难，而且不公平。” 这是大卫·贝克汉姆在 2008 年反思他与父亲特德之间痛苦分裂时说的话。 考虑到大卫最近与长子布鲁克林之间严重的闹掰，他的这些话现在看来显得极其迟钝。 因为就像对待布鲁克林一样，大卫曾与自己的父亲关系异常亲密，他的父亲曾花大量时间在球场上训练他，并对他事业投入了极大的个人心血。然而，两人有两年时间几乎不说话，大约花了 15 年时间才完全恢复自然。 导致这次决裂的部分原因是特德对大卫与维多利亚关系的担忧。工人阶级天然气安装工特德与他的儿媳及其……
且完全不顾及 这对布鲁克林 产生的影响
这个向上流动的家庭。他担心维多利亚对他儿子的影响，以及她是否会导致他渐行渐远。 二十五年后，布鲁克林也娶了一个来自不同社会阶层的女孩——美国女演员尼古拉·佩尔茨，亿万富翁商人尼尔森·佩尔茨之女。而大卫和维多利亚至今的抱怨是，布鲁克林的个性已被他娶的女人吞噬。 但虽然泰德在很大程度上保持沉默，大卫和维多利亚却从未试图掩饰他们对儿子新娘的负面情绪。以至于布鲁克林，27，在今年早些时候于Instagram上发表的一篇长达六页、措辞激烈的谴责父母的声明中声称：“在我婚礼前一晚，我的家人告诉我，尼古拉‘不是血亲’且‘不是家人’。” 当然，大卫和维多利亚自己经常宣称家庭对他们来说意味着一切。他们为孩子们——包括罗密欧，23，克鲁兹，21，以及哈珀，15——发布的一连串充满爱意的社交媒体帖子显然是为了强调这一点。但他们以家庭形象为核心构建的
当时——在一个社交媒体 的反应可以像 罗马皇帝的 大拇指一样 具有毁灭性的 世界里——维多利亚 没有“点赞”一张 尼古拉身穿 Valentino 品牌照片
品牌形象一直是经过精心打造的，且对其中所有成员都采取了极其严厉的保护。 那么，与布鲁克林的灾难性决裂——他在Instagram帖子中措辞严厉地声称，“虚假的关系是我出生在这个生活中的常态”——就成了这项公关策略的终极考验。 因为当贝克汉姆品牌受到其中一名成员威胁时，会如何反应？一位接近布鲁克林和尼古拉的消息人士在与我交谈时，对这一点阐述得很明确。这对夫妇似乎深信，贝克汉姆阵营通过向媒体爆料来针对自己的儿子作为回应。 布鲁克林和佩尔茨家族认为，一名与贝克汉姆关系最亲密的助手（随大卫在国际间旅行并深度参与其商业事务）应为那些称尼古拉是“被宠坏的小孩”、“毒蛇”以及更糟糕称呼的报道负责。
该消息人士接着告诉我，布鲁克林无法相信贝克汉姆夫妇竟然如此公开地攻击他和尼古拉。 这位朋友说：“有一股持续不断的报道旨在将[布鲁克林和尼古拉]妖魔化并干扰他们，其中很多是不真实的。” “想到自己的父母竟然在针对他以及他引以为傲的妻子向媒体爆料，对他来说是非常痛苦的。这仍然是两方达成和解的最大障碍。” 如果确实是贝克汉姆夫妇在尼古拉面对的负面报道洪流背后操纵，很难看出他们的最终目的是什么。 关于尼古拉“刻薄”、对家庭“不好”以及对布鲁克林“不利”的爆料越多，这对夫妇反而结合得越紧。
正如一位消息人士现在告诉我那样：“贝克汉姆夫妇不必喜欢尼古拉……但你们得清醒点——这是你们的儿子，你们在做什么？” “他们越是强硬，布鲁克林和尼古拉就越会努力经营这段婚姻。布鲁克林或尼古拉没有做过任何值得被这样对待的事情。” “看来[贝克汉姆夫妇]认为他们可以随意辱骂尼古拉而无需承担任何后果。他们没有停止。公开的诋毁一直在继续。” “被写成什么样很重要。看起来在说话时，完全没有考虑到这对布鲁克林产生的影响。” “他对妻子很忠诚。本该有人告诉他们停止，因为这并不符合他们的最佳”
愿意这样做对他们自己的儿子，但没有人这么做。”
回想起那时——在婴儿布鲁克林出生约六周后的 1999 年 4 月——我为《每日邮报》采访了大卫·贝克汉姆，这在当时是不可想象的。他明确表示自己进入了一个新的家庭 era.。 “我们现在是一个家庭，这是我很长时间以来最快乐的时候，”他说道。 至于他对这个男孩的期望，
公众形象：维多利亚和尼古拉试图在 2024. 掩盖她们之间的裂痕。左图：尼古拉在 2021 年的 Met Gala 上穿着 Valentino 的 snub
大卫听起来像是受到了他父亲简朴教育方式的启发：“我们将爱他并照顾他，但我们也会严格要求。维多利亚对此非常坚持。你知道，我们无法忍受那些在餐厅里跑来跑去调皮的小孩。他将会成为一个懂礼貌的小男孩。” 大卫还对另一个看似的“底线”表态明确。 “我们不希望他的照片到处铺满报纸——如果他长大到足以自己做决定并想拍照，那没问题。我和维多利亚的情况不同——因为我们的职业，我们预期会被拍照，但当我们和布鲁克林在一起时……嗯，我不知道会变成什么样，坦白说，这让我担心。” 维多利亚在《OK!》杂志的一次付费采访中（据报道价值 £250,000）表达了同样的情绪，她坚持道：“他是我们唯一完全私人的事情。他不是一个赚钱工具。人们在说，‘他们带着他们的小资产离开了医院，’这真的让人很受伤。” 然而不久，这条底线就消失了。 布鲁克林此前一直被屏蔽在狗仔队的镜头之外，并被细心地从照片拍摄中剔除，但在仅四个月后，他在贝克汉姆夫妇花费 £1 million 在《OK!》杂志上举办的婚礼照片中完成了封面首秀。 几乎从一开始，这对夫妇的公关人员就会向记者透露这个小男孩及其随后的兄弟姐妹们所生活的奢华世界。每一次小规模的隐私入侵都让这个家庭保持在聚光灯下。 布鲁克林的一周岁生日派对在切希尔郡的 Cottons 酒店举行，现场有小丑、杂耍艺人、高跷表演者、魔术师，以及香槟和龙虾菜单（尽管据推测这些不是给孩子的），花费为 £12,000.。他的三岁生日礼物是一辆价值 £2,000 的玩具车以及迪士尼电影《宝藏星球》的私人放映。在 2003, 年圣诞节，大卫挥金 £220,000 将布鲁克林和他 18 个月大的弟弟罗密欧送到芬兰的圣诞老人洞穴。在他四岁生日时，布鲁克林得到了一匹设得兰小马。当他五岁时，布鲁克林在《史酷比 2》首映式上首次走红毯，戴着一块价值 £6,000 的手表。报纸被其父母的公关告知，这是纽约珠宝商 Jacob & Co 的礼物，是大卫那块价值 £36,000 镶钻款式的复制品。在位于赫特福德郡索布里奇沃思、被称为“贝克汉姆宫”的家中，他的父母花费 £20,000 在布鲁克林的卧室里安装了数百盏光纤灯以重现星空，并把他们的脸合成在墙上迪士尼的辛德瑞拉和魅力王子的壁画上——所有这些都在《OK!》杂志上展示。 然而，与这种奢华并存的是阴暗的一面。大卫和维多利亚都深信他们面临着严重的安全威胁，特别是针对婴儿布鲁克林的威胁。大卫有时睡在房间的地板上，以确保没有人能通过门进来。这一切导致布鲁克林过着相当受保护的生活。维多利亚自己回忆起这样一个时刻，当时她母亲的一位朋友带着蹒跚学步的布鲁克林去购物，天开始下雨了。他并没有寻找遮蔽处，“他就那样站在那里……伸出小手试图接住雨滴，一脸惊讶。而其他所有人都盯着看，纳闷他为什么不躲雨。‘她把这件事告诉我——就像在给我讲一个有趣的故事——但我突然被愧疚感淹没。他那样做是因为”
对他来说这是一个全新的体验。他从未在雨中走过，无论去哪里都坐车。”维多利亚和大卫表示，在关于丽贝卡·卢斯的出轨指控出现后，媒体对其家庭的关注达到了顶峰，当时布鲁克林才五岁。维多利亚说：“这对布鲁克林来说非常困难，因为他当时大了一些，摄影师们会对他说些尖叫的话。他们经常对着布鲁克林大声喊关于他父母的事情。”
然而，他们依然继续让孩子们在全世界的镜头前亮相。
难怪布鲁克林长大后变得高度敏感。
他的一位朋友告诉我：“这个年轻人有焦虑问题和其他教育问题，这些在他成长过程中没有得到妥善处理。这个孩子从未获得应对这些问题所需的关注。他是个直觉敏锐、心地善良的好孩子，但他很敏感。”
而他的家人则认为，这种敏感意味着他恋爱时投入快且深。
另一位家庭朋友补充道：“杰基（维多利亚的母亲）总是说，布鲁克林会完全被他的约会对象同化。你知道，如果对方喜欢贵宾犬，他就喜欢贵宾犬；如果对方喝奶昔，那么他也喝。”
布鲁克林在 2019 年好莱坞的一次万圣节派对上结识了未来的妻子尼古拉，并在八个月后的 2020 年 7 月求婚——对此，维多利亚最初感到乐观。
她说，或许尼古拉——一个对初涉的演艺事业充满动力且专注的女性——能够“塑造”布鲁克林。然而，贝克汉姆夫妇也注意到，当他们看到两人在一起时，尼古拉似乎在“主导”布鲁克林。
贝克汉姆夫妇的一位朋友说：“我总是说他娶了他的母亲。尼古拉和维多利亚是非常相似的人。她们都要求并期待能掌控他。”
起初，尼古拉似乎在配合贝克汉姆一家，穿着一件
身着金黄色维多利亚·贝克汉姆礼服拍摄订婚照。照片由布鲁克林的妹妹哈珀拍摄。贝克汉姆一家在网上的祝贺显得非常真诚。
但到 2021 年 9 月，当布鲁克林和尼古拉前往纽约参加 Met Ball 时，出现了明显的裂痕迹象。当时，尼古拉身穿 Valentino 而非维多利亚·贝克汉姆的服装——在社交媒体的“点赞”如同罗马皇帝的拇指一样具有指示意义的世界里——维多利亚和大卫并没有给这些照片点赞。同月，布鲁克林和尼古拉前往巴黎参加时装秀，布鲁克林在网上表达了对 Givenchy 和 Valentino 的钦佩。同样，他的父母没有点赞。不久之后，当这对夫妇登上《Vogue》杂志香港版封面时，大卫和维多利亚唯一点赞的图片是布鲁克林的个人数字封面。而包含他们两人的封面则明显没有得到他父母的点赞。
事后看来，这非常像是贝克汉姆一家在 2021 年开始拒绝给尼古拉社交媒体上的认可，就在布鲁克林
永久搬到美国之时。他父母的一些朋友说，维多利亚可能会操纵他人，并且对感知到的轻视异常敏感。不点赞的行为无疑是尖刻且琐碎的，但一位她的朋友观察到，这“非常维多利亚”。“她 100% 是那种会感知到轻视并为此耿耿于怀的人。当年的辣妹组合都那样。她们在‘坏女人’的艺术上深得精髓。”随后在 2022 年 2 月，就在布鲁克林和尼古拉的婚礼仅剩几个月时，发生了一场巨大的争吵，将所有的毒素推向台前，导致两家人不再说话。其核心是关于布鲁克林对自己姓名的权利之争。这一问题自 2018 年起就一直潜伏着，当时布鲁克林才 19 岁，且接近与 Boo-hooman 服装品牌签署一项价值 £3 百万的协议，以“设计”一个冠以他名字的系列。
一名接近该拟议交易的消息人士表示，维多利亚全程参与，在整个计划令人费解地化为乌有之前，谈判已进入高级阶段。“肯定开了十几次会，”他们说。“在后期阶段，维多利亚决定阻止布鲁克林在产品上使用贝克汉姆这个姓氏。这确实与品牌方发生了一场小规模战争，随后交易未能达成。‘布鲁克林当时觉得，”我没法子——这就是我的姓氏。’她起初对此是没意见的，但后来改变了主意。”在布鲁克林生活的这个阶段，维多利亚掌控一切，他别无选择只能服从。但四年后，在一位自信的未婚妻的支持下，当布鲁克林的父母向他提出一个他认为企图让他完全签署掉姓名权力的方案时，结果则大不相同。这种情况的出现
是因为贝克汉姆的公司 DB Ven-
tures 在多年前就为贝克汉姆所有孩子的所有姓名申请了商标。熟悉此步骤的消息人士解释说，由于其他商业实体一直试图将孩子们的姓名注册为商标，因此他们采取了先发制人的措施来阻止。
然而在 2022 年 2 月，大卫·贝克汉姆与 Authentic Brands Group (ABG) 达成了战略合作伙伴关系，以约 $2.69 亿 (£2 亿) 的价格出售其公司 DB Ventures 55% 的股份。这次交易产生了一系列影响，包括孩子们的注册商标姓名，因为这些姓名现在部分被一个新实体所有，而贝克汉姆一家对此并不拥有完全的控制权。布鲁克林
仍然非常令人难过。但贝克汉姆品牌仍在继续前行
以及罗密欧，两人当时均已年满 18 岁，被要求签署一份商标共存协议。这是一份由两方协商达成的正式合同，允许他们在市场上使用相似或相同的商标而互不侵犯对方的权利。一位熟悉情况的消息人士表示：“这样做是为了在有人试图使用他们的名字时保护他们 [布鲁克林和罗密欧]，但与此同时，这也将允许大卫和维多利亚使用他们的名字及其品牌。维多利亚签署了，罗密欧也签署了，但布鲁克林没有签署。”
贝克汉姆一家显然“决定将其视为他已签署，因此我们也同样保护他的名字”。该消息人士补充道：“他因为没有签署而从未在任何方面受到处罚或不利影响。”
即将结婚的布鲁克林对这笔交易有不同的看法。据悉，他得到了佩尔茨家族律师的法律建议，律师称这不符合他的利益。
一位接近他的消息人士坚称：“从一开始，贝克汉姆夫妇就为了自身利益而将布鲁克林、他的名字及其品牌给‘卖’了。这是父母与孩子之间最严重的信任违背之一。
“就在他婚礼前，他拒绝在协议中转让自己的名字。这是一笔大交易，而他们试图将其回报最大化。我想，如果产品线里没有所有的孩子，他们的目录价值就不会那么高。”
布鲁克林在 Instagram 的帖子中讲述了他的版本，写道：“就在我们的大日子前几周，我的父母反复向我施压并试图贿赂我，让我签署放弃名字权利的协议，这将影响到我、我的妻子以及我们未来的孩子。他们坚持要求我在婚礼日期前签署，因为这样交易条款才能生效。我的坚持影响了他们拿到钱的时间，自那以后他们再也没像以前那样对待我。”
贝克汉姆方面的消息人士坚称，这不会对布鲁克林造成不利影响，且对任何付款没有产生影响。
他们否认试图对其进行“施压或贿赂”。但佩尔茨-贝克汉姆方面的一名消息人士表示，这一插曲被视为典型的企图剥削之例。该消息人士解释道：“他们在布鲁克林还是婴儿时说不想剥削他，但结果他们还是这么做了。从那时起直到现在，这是一条直线地延续下来的行为。
“只要有钱可以换取对名字的剥削，贝克汉姆夫妇就愿意去做。在某种程度上，他们有权这么做。
“当时，布鲁克林已经得到了其他方面的建议。这个概念并不难理解：如果你把它交出，你就是在放弃拥有自己品牌的选项。你为什么要放弃，而且什么都没有得到？”
布鲁克林的友人们认为，“这就是在尽一切可能地剥削、剥削、再剥削。让他们 [大卫和维多利亚] 感到不快的是，当他们失去控制权或财务利益时。”
因此，在 2022 年 4 月婚礼前的最后几周，气氛几乎不能更加尴尬。
本应是期待两个家庭团聚的幸福时光，事实上却成了双方划清界限的时刻。
现实情况是，布鲁克林和他的新娘走在婚礼走廊时，两人都与他的父母处于互不说话的状态。在贝克汉姆阵营中，情绪非常激动——以至于一名消息人士告诉我，维多利亚“公开”称呼她的儿媳为“c-word”（粗口）。接近维多利亚的消息人士对此予以否认。
关于贝克汉姆一家与佩尔茨一家之间紧张关系的报道接踵而至——事实上，我在 2022 年 7 月率先报道了此事。
随后，在 2022 年 9 月，以容易爆发情绪而非理性争论著称的大卫终于对他儿子大发雷霆。
那个月，尼古拉在接受《Grazia》杂志采访以宣传其演员角色时，进一步推波助澜地引发了紧张关系的传闻。
她惊呼道：“这不是不和！我到处都看到那个词‘不和、不和、不和’。我不……”
全家微笑：但这张拍摄于 2021 年的大家庭合影，如今已被撕裂
“知道为什么人们说‘不和’吗？我的意思是，也许他们察觉到了某些东西？”随后他补充道：“没有一个家庭是完美的。”
布鲁克林在一段看似证实了这种尴尬确实存在的插话中补充道：“老实说，我的妻子显然是我的首要考虑，我永远不想看到她难过。我们 100% 相互支持，并且我们共同面对。”
除了穿一件“佩尔茨团队”的 T 恤，他几乎不能把这件事说得更明显了——即存在一个令人心烦的问题，且他站在她的那边。
大卫花了数十年来塑造一个完美的贝克汉姆家庭故事，他对这次失言感到愤怒，并对儿子进行了猛烈的训斥。一个可靠的消息源告诉我：“我认为大卫从未对布鲁克林发过脾气，也没有理由对他说话严厉，但这次终于发生了。大卫与布鲁克林摊牌，告诉他：‘我们家不这么干——你知道我们家不这么干。’”
据称大卫还对儿子补充道：“接下来的事情由你决定，但我们不想再卷入这些闹剧了。”
该消息源表示：“大卫对《Grazia》的采访感到非常震惊，因为这看起来像是在公开洗家庭的脏衣服，而且他说罗密欧和克鲁兹也因此受到了伤害。”
“这对布鲁克林来说可能是一个冲击，因为大卫除了告诉布鲁克林他有多爱他之外，从未做过其他事情。现在人们在说，布鲁克林忘记了自己是一个贝克汉姆。”
到 2025 年年中，关于尼古拉的负面报道几乎每天都在出现。
此时，这对年轻夫妇开始计划一场秘密的第二次婚礼。尼古拉斯认为贝克汉姆一家“毁掉”了她的特别日子，而他们的恶劣行为玷污了他们幸福的回忆。
她不想就这样过去，而是想要重来。布鲁克林表示同意。他随后的声明中进一步阐述道：“我们
想要重新兑现我们的誓言，这样我们就能创造关于婚礼日的新回忆，带给我们喜悦和幸福，而不是焦虑和尴尬。” 纳尔逊·佩尔茨（Nelson Peltz）同意主持仪式，选定的活动场地是位于纽约州贝德福德（Bedford）的佩尔茨家族庄园，日期定在 2025 年 8 月 2 日。 一份约 200 人的好友嘉宾名单被拟定出来。其中没有一个人参加过布鲁克林在仅四年前的 21 岁生日派对。没有任何一个贝克汉姆家族成员被邀请。 这正是此举的目的所在。 所有参与者一定都知道，这将给贝克汉姆一家带来多么深沉的痛苦。一位佩尔茨-贝克汉姆家族的朋友现在承认这种残酷性，说道：“这简直是往伤口上撒盐。看起来尼古拉完全是出于恶意才这么做的。” 随后，最后的重磅炸弹地降临：布鲁克林在今年 1 月发布的 Instagram 声明。 然而，时至今日，贝克汉姆一家仍对和解抱有特别的希望。佩尔茨-贝克汉姆家族的朋友们对于这是否可能则持更为谨慎的态度——尽管布鲁克林深切地感受到了分离的痛苦。 一位朋友说：“尼古拉说她永远不会阻止布鲁克林与他的父母保持关系，如果他想去伦敦看他们，她绝不会阻拦。” “但她现在已经释然了。这件事对她来说不再具有同样的冲击力。而布鲁克林对此仍然感到非常难过。” 至于贝克汉姆家族的品牌能否生存，它确实遭受了沉重的一击。但在商界打拼多年后，大卫和维多利亚知道，这仅仅是一个寻找正确叙事方式的问题。
大卫和 维多利亚 关系更亲近了
但经过多年的经验，大卫和维多利亚知道，这纯粹是一个寻找正确叙事方式的问题。 维多利亚的一位助手表示：“布鲁克林的问题反而给他们两个带来了巨大的好处。首先，大卫和维多利亚从未像现在这样关系和谐。这一切的痛苦让他们更亲近了。他们步调一致。自从早年时期以来，我还没见过他们在一起如此幸福。” “另一个积极方面是，这让他们变得人性化了。那些曾经以傲慢态度嘲讽他们的人，现在把他们视为可以产生共鸣的普通人。大卫几乎成了国民瑰宝，而人们对维多利亚的态度也在软化，他们能看到她承受了多少艰辛。” 事实上，看来他们已决定将这场“不和”纳入“贝克汉姆品牌”的叙事中。其策略是，他们将继续提醒我们，他们是心碎的、尽职尽责的好父母，并且爱着所有的孩子。 贝克汉姆品牌的轮盘将继续转动——无论布鲁克林是否在这个圈子里。
© Alison Boshoff, 2026
改编自 Alison Boshoff 所著之《贝克汉姆品牌》(Brand Beckham)，将于 8 月 13 日由 Century 出版社出版，定价 £22.。如需以 £19.80 订购一本（优惠有效期至 8 月 23 日；英国境内订单满 £25 免邮费），请访问 mailshop.co.uk / books 或致电 020 3176 2937。
替换猫咪拉里的行动 ...以及为什么，当他达到猫类年龄的 94 岁时，新任 10 号街主人可能并不会启动该计划
政治编辑
英国公务员制度的一大强项在于其过渡规划：白厅的顺畅运行绝不能被关键人员的死亡、被解雇或退休所干扰。 现在看来，同样的原则也适用于拉里（Larry），这只著名的唐宁街捕鼠猫。它在 10 号街的领地主权，正是安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）的爱犬 Axel 必须留在北部的原因。 拉里现年 19.5 岁——换算成猫龄为 94 岁。自 2011 年在大卫·卡梅伦执政期间从巴特西猫狗救助中心（Battersea Dogs & Cats Home）被收养以来，它见证了六任首相的更替。现在，里希·苏纳克的一名前顾问透露，政府高层曾考虑制定一项接班计划，以确保国民不会因这只资深猫咪的离世而过于不安。 曾在苏纳克先生麾下工作直至 2024 年大选失败的卡斯·霍罗维茨（Cass Horowitz）表示：“我建议在 10 号街引入第二只猫，纯粹是为了帮助拉里最终……退休时的过渡。”但在一次
政治记者
《星期日邮报》披露，在巴厘岛、马尔代夫和阿布扎比任职的外交部官员可获得额外的假期以及针对“艰苦环境”的奖金。
根据这些由纳税人出资的优渥协议，接任“艰苦岗位”的员工可获得“喘息之机”。这些岗位理应设立在存在安全威胁、高犯罪率或空气污染的地区。此外，他们每年还能获得最高 £10,000 的免税奖金。
这些特权旨在减轻在危险地区海外任职对官员身心健康造成的影响。然而，数十个异域风情十足的目的地却被列入了该名单。
批评者质疑，为什么像阿布扎比（地球上最安全的城市之一）或开普敦这样的地方会导致官员感到“艰苦”。这两者都是热门的度假胜地。
外交、联邦和发展事务部 (FCDO) 确实从包含 150 个目的地的艰苦名单中删除了一些地点。
例如，马里这个犯罪猖獗的首都巴马科在今年被移除。然而，蜜月胜地马斯喀特依然在名单之列。而被派驻到特克斯和凯科斯群岛的官员，在那里一年有 350 天阳光明媚，也能获得艰苦津贴。
一名该计划的辩护者告诉《星期日邮报》：“名单上出现一些无可否认的迷人地方确实很奇怪。这可能是出于孤立的原因。”
然而，一些公务员利用额外的假期，乘坐纳税人资助的喷气机飞往其他“艰苦岗位”。一名官员带着伴侣从新德里度假前往喜马拉雅山的加德满都，以“远离当地环境进行休息”。自从工党执政以来，仅从新德里出发的纳税人资助行程就已有十余次。
部长们已开始以国家安全为由，拒绝信息自由申请和议会质询。
《星期日邮报》的揭露引发了要求剔除部分目的地的呼吁。保守党主席、国会议员凯文·霍林雷克 (Kevin Hollinrake) 表示：“当企业和家庭在支付更高的税收以资助本届政府的政策时，公务员们却在享受纳税人出资的享乐之旅。”
“这对全国每一位纳税人都是一种侮辱。”
纳税人联盟 (TaxPayers’ Alliance) 的活动总监威廉·亚伍德 (William Yarwood) 补充道：“部长们应紧急审查这些津贴，公布成本，并停止让纳税人为那些披着福利外衣的公务员特权买单。”
FCDO 发言人表示：“英国外交官在全球范围内为国家服务，包括在世界上某些最艰苦、最具挑战性的自然和政治环境中。”
“我们有照顾责任，确保我们的员工获得适当支持，补偿和其他规定应反映出派驻地的具体情况。”
【恬静：印度尼西亚巴厘岛精致的乌鲁瓦图海滩上的冲浪者】
两只猫的故事：拉里 (Larry) 自 2011 年起担起捕鼠职责，据说他在 10 号唐宁街“说了算”。
在性格分析中，“专家结论非常明确：拉里主宰这里。他绝不会接受另一只猫。该计划被迅速搁浅。”伯纳姆先生——拉里见证的第七任首相——上周告诉 BBC 的劳拉·昆斯伯格 (Laura Kuenssberg)，他的狗将留在北方，因为它与拉里“合不来”。他表示：“如果我把阿克塞尔 (Axel) 带下来打扰拉里的世界，我想国民不会感谢我的。”
一名 10 号唐宁街的消息人士表示：“工党没有引入新猫的计划。”
哈里和梅根 “乘坐复古蒸汽船 环游偏远的 wicker man 之岛”
这里据说是启发了英国邪典恐怖片《柳条人》（The Wicker Man）的私人岛屿。
但据《周日邮报》（The Mail on Sunday）透露，在萨塞克斯公爵与公爵夫人上个月为期一周的英国之行中，偏远的塔内拉莫尔岛（Tanera Mor）证明了这里并不那么可怕，反而更像是完美的家庭度假胜地。
据信，哈里、梅根以及他们的孩子——七岁的阿奇（Archie）和五岁的莉莉贝特（Lilibet）——在这个位于内赫布里底群岛（Inner Hebrides）的偏远岛上停留了两天。
除了欣赏这里迷人的景色、丰富的野生动物（包括水獭和海豹）以及沙质海湾外，据悉他们还乘坐一艘名为“丽塔号”（Rita）的古董克莱德平底货船（Clyde puffer），在岛屿海岸线周围享受了一次轻松的乘船之旅。
这座 800 英亩的岛屿由 63 岁的对冲基金大亨伊恩·韦斯（Ian Wace）所有，即便在两兄弟关系破裂后，他仍设法与威廉和哈里保持好友关系。
关系恶化。据信，王室成员此前曾访问过位于苏格兰西北部夏季群岛中最大的岛屿——塔内拉莫尔岛（Tanera Mor）。
身价约 £6 亿英镑的韦斯先生在九年前以 £1.7 百万英镑的价格买下了这座岛。此后，他花费了高达 £1 亿英镑，为其最多 60 位宾客打造了一个如诗如画的避风港。除了种植 100,000 棵树、修复 12 处房产以及恢复养蜂等技能外，这位大亨还铺设了三英里的道路。
所有访问该岛的人员都被要求遵守其严格的环保理念。
据当地人称，身为保守党捐赠者的韦斯先生严密保护其宾客的隐私。他们表示，在参与再野化项目的工作人员在名人们抵达前一天会被要求离开岛屿，直到名人们离开后的第二天才会返回。
进入该岛的唯一方式是通过韦斯先生拥有的码头登船，且访客必须获得许可才能使用这些码头。
据认为，萨塞克斯公爵夫妇于 7 月 8 日抵达塔内拉莫尔岛——就在哈里输掉针对《每日邮报》和《周日邮报》出版商的高等法院隐私诉讼案后的第二天。
他们很可能住在岛上两个提供极高隐私的区域之一——北端或南端。那里的克罗夫特小屋（Croft cottages）已按最高标准翻修，被描述为可以“恢复并增强韧性”的地方。
尽管韦斯先生尽一切努力保护宾客的隐私，但《周日邮报》可以透露，公爵夫人可能在个人 Instagram 账号上发布了 12 张标题为“夏季假期”的照片后，不小心泄露了家人的位置。
其中一张照片——一张色调忧郁的山水照——与其他图像截然不同，因此成为了众多猜测的目标。
《周日邮报》很快地确认了照片拍摄于苏格兰高地的具体地点——位于 A835 因弗内斯至乌拉普尔公路上的德罗马湖（Loch Droma）旁，距离塔内拉莫尔岛仅 25 英里。
在科加奇半岛（Coigach peninsula）上距离该岛最近的主陆村庄阿基尔蒂布伊（Achiltibuie）的一位当地人告诉《周日邮报》：“当我们知道有重要人物要来时，因为所有工人都被告知要离开几天，因为[韦斯先生]有需要隐私的宾客。”
“一直有传闻说哈里过去去过那里，威廉也去过。”
另一位人士表示：“我听说哈里和梅根不仅在岛上，也去了主陆那边。”
“那里有提供给宾客使用的电动自行车，有时住在那里的人会把车骑到主陆上。”
“他们不是从阿基尔蒂布伊来的，所以一定是乘坐快船从乌拉普尔那边过来的。自从[韦斯先生]买下这里以来，进行了大量工作——他翻修了所有的旧建筑。”
“他肯定也改善了道路。据各方描述，这里是非常高端的住宿。他花了一大笔钱。”
韦斯先生及其前妻、58 岁的模特萨弗伦·奥尔德里奇（Saffron Aldridge）长期以来与萨塞克斯公爵和公爵夫人保持友好关系，并曾在 2019 年陪同他们前往皇家阿尔伯特音乐厅观看太阳马戏团的演出。
韦斯先生的发言人未回应我们的置评请求。
船旅：萨塞克斯夫妇据信乘坐并离开私人岛屿塔内拉莫尔岛的克莱德号汽船（Rita）。
“詹尼，该喝口水休息一下了。” ——在国际足球联合会主席詹尼·因凡蒂诺提议将世界杯出售给私人投资者后，Carlsberg在社交媒体上发布的帖子。
“去Boots药店的牙科区买点牙线会更便宜。” ——在M&S与Ann Summers推出一个包含开裆内裤在内的“挑逗系”内衣系列后，一名Mumsnet用户的评论。
“咔哒庞廷 (Clicky Ponting)。” ——这是一个绰号，源自伟大的澳大利亚队长里基·庞廷 (Ricky Ponting)，用来形容一名作弊的业余外野手，他通过打响手指来模仿球击中球拍被接杀的声音。
PETER JOLLY NORTHPIX
“如果它们被付之一炬，那将是对文明的沉重打击，相当于卢浮宫被烧毁。” ——记者托比·杨 (Toby Young) 在山火危机中对波尔多周边顶级葡萄园的担忧。
“Zara死亡裤。” ——社交媒体上对这家高街连锁品牌超宽腿裤子的描述，该款裤子被指导致了一系列事故。
“它给人一种陈旧沉闷的高尔夫酒店的感觉，曾经是一座宏伟的庄园，但现在闻起来像卷心菜，地毯也黏糊糊的。” ——室内设计师劳伦斯·勒韦林-鲍文 (Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen)，他希望为白金汉宫进行改造。
“过于臃肿的家具成了我的敌人。一旦坐下，我就感觉自己像是被椅子吞噬了，可能会永远留在那里，就像一个在客房逗留过久的客人。” ——卡莉·西蒙 (Carly Simon)，她在行动能力恶化期间被诊断出患有帕金森病。
“当你和对方是最好的朋友时，事情就变得很简单。” ——演员赞达亚 (Zendaya) 在被问及今年夏天与丈夫汤姆·霍兰 (Tom Holland) 共同出演两部大片时如此回答。
现在我们终于确定了许多人长期以来所怀疑的事情：失控的移民对于已经生活在这里的人来说代价高昂。 保守党的一项新研究显示，由于大规模的入境移民，到 2031 年，这个国家的每位工人每年将损失大约 £2,500。 毫无疑问，有些人从各种形式的廉价劳动力中获益。大都市的富裕阶层——包括许多媒体和政界人士——很少能像现在这样雇佣到如此廉价的家政服务人员。但总的来说，移民意味着所有人的工资都面临下行压力。 一个由古怪的多文化主义者、开放边境意识形态者、马克思主义者和通过标榜美德来显示其自由派立场的人组成的奇怪联盟，认为这没有任何问题。但除了他们以外的所有人都认为有问题。现在是时候解决这个问题了。 西班牙飞地塞乌塔出现的惊人景象，理所当然地引起了所有人的警觉。
没合眼—— 原因就在 这里...
F
上周有三个晚上我完全没有睡意。并不是那种不幸地让我感到熟悉的、辗转反侧的焦虑性失眠，也不是当前热浪中那种大汗淋漓、纠缠不清的半睡眠状态。就是完全睡不着。在这样过了两晚后，我产生了一个想法。是因为满月吗？确实如此。上周四是七月的“鹿月”（buck Moon），之所以这么叫是因为雄鹿（bucks）在一年中的这个时候长出鹿角。
除了这满月的事，我在任何其他方面都绝不迷信。每当听到“星座运势”和“星象”这些词，我的眼神就会变得空洞。任何关于水星逆行的讨论迹象都会让我立刻离场。但满月是另一回事。
我 100 比例地深信它影响了我的睡眠质量。而且这种感觉与单纯的失眠完全不同。就好像有一道屏障阻止了大脑切换到睡眠状态，这与担忧或过度关注某些事情毫无关系。这不是 2.56am 的焦虑发作，而仅仅是睡眠不在当下的议程之中。
有一些科学证据表明，月亮确实在生理上影响着我们，干扰睡眠便是其中一个方面。
关于满月失眠奇怪的一点是，它与白天早些时候是否疲劳几乎没有关系。
在那个三天的晚上，当我们观看《黄石》（Yellowstone）第五季最后几集（是的，我入坑晚了）并迎接其扣人心弦的结局时，我经常打盹。我在午后处理新的、噩梦般的季度税务申报（完全可以理解）时也打盹了，而我
开放边境的危害 ——但其他所有人都能看出
我见过它们。塞乌塔（Ceuta）就在直布罗陀岩石的视线范围内，是世界上极少数贫穷世界与富裕世界之间仅被一道围栏隔开的地方之一。
而上周，在令人不安的暴力和混乱中，那道围栏崩溃了。许多强行闯入的人在抵达后失望地发现，这里并没有铺金的街道，只有一个并不怎么繁荣的西班牙海滨城市。
他们现在已经离开，眼下的危机已经结束。但能维持多久？如果所有的
……障碍——在繁荣的、法治的国家与既无财富也无法律的阴郁地区之间——消失了吗？它们显然正承受着巨大的压力。 横跨地中海和英吉利海峡，船只和小艇络绎不尽，让边境管制和移民规则显得形同虚设。 关于最佳应对措施有大量争论。有人认为，新一波移民潮是由西方主导的自愿战争引起的，我们应该阻止这种行为。另一些人则将责任归咎于如德国前总理安格拉·默克尔等领导者的软弱，她直接将国家边境完全敞开，导致了灾难性的后果。 还有人怀疑左翼政府积极希望吸引更多移民，期待这些新抵达者最终会投票给他们。还有一些人，其中部分属于右翼，则试图令人信服地声称移民能促进西方经济。 但正如我们现在所见，对大多数人来说并非如此。而且一直以来，没有人能找到
我一旦带着灯光躺到床上，就会在 20 分钟内陷入深度睡眠。但过了午夜，就没戏了。 下一个满月是 8 月 28 日，我希望那时我正身在希腊的希米岛 (Symi)。那还将是一次血月，一种让月亮呈现橙色或红色的月食。这一次，我计划放弃睡眠尝试，直接坐在户外，凝视爱琴海上空的那颗红球。 这比在无法克制的月亮力量下徒劳地搏斗另一个夜晚要有意义得多。
燃气、火车、水：毫无一项正常运作
由于经历过 20 世纪 70 年代国营工业的混乱，我大致上支持私有化。但我现在改变了主意。 前几天，我们收到英国天然气公司 (British Gas) 为我们已故母亲开出的最后一份燃气账单，金额为 £2,346.23。 这简直是一个荒唐的数字。在该账单的最后几个月里，为了照顾她，最多只使用了的一两个燃气灶炉圈，除此之外没有其他用量——每月用量价值约 £50。 这已经不是英国天然气公司第一次发送严重夸大的账单了，而让他们修正错误花费了无数令人沮丧的小时。我不知道那些没有我这样时间与资源的人是如何与他们打交道的。 当然，他们并非唯一的罪魁祸首。我几乎不需要提及
“泰晤士水务” (Thames Water) 这几个字，但我还是要说——这家公司在经历多年混乱后，认为向高管支付 £4million 的奖金是合理的，并且由于基础设施糟糕以及缺乏降雨，实施了禁用水管令。 然后是铁路。最近在意大利南部的一次两小时火车之旅，在空调和免费饮用水的极佳舒适度下，仅花费了 €25 (£21.50) 的高贵价格，并准时抵达一个小地方车站。 相比之下，最近一次去康沃尔郡 (Cornwall) 的 GWR 周末旅程简直是一场噩梦：前一班车被取消，在向西行驶的数小时旅程中只能站立。难道情况不能有所改善吗？
减肥针会毁掉你的酒店自助餐吗？
减肥针可能会让你变得更苗条，但它们夺走了太多饮食的乐趣。 我无法想象如果没有对进食的期待，生活会是什么样子。在一年中的这个时候，计划花园里的野餐和晚餐，尝试国外的当地餐厅，在泳池边点一杯 Aperol Spritz 和俱乐部三明治，这些才是活着的理由。 我想知道，既然现在如此多的人决定进食不再是一件快事，那么全包式自助餐作为预订假期或酒店的诱因，其吸引力现在变成了怎样？
注定失败的错误食谱
幸好，并非我们所有人都如此困扰。前几天，一位朋友把她那款美味番茄加列特 (tomato galette) 的食谱发给我，她曾在一次夏季晚餐中为我们提供过，但她忘记包含一项关键信息：面皮必须先放入烤箱。 这是一个相当严重的遗漏，但她绝不是唯一一个没有给出正确食谱的人。 我依赖几位专业的烹饪作家——戴安娜·亨利 (Diana Henry) 和奈杰尔·斯莱特 (Nigel Slater) 是我的最爱——他们的食谱总是行之有效。但是
一种文明且可行的 阻止船只入境的方式。 这种情况已经持续 多年。有趣的是，几个欧盟国家 正在研究由上届 保守党政府提出、将不受欢迎的 移民遣送到第三国的 卢旺达计划之变体。 基尔·斯塔默爵士犯下的 诸多愚蠢错误之一，就是 在这一计划刚开始显示 成效时，便任性地废除了该 计划。25 年前大开国门的 工党，根本对严肃的移民 管控不感兴趣。安迪·伯纳姆 也没有任何改变这一现状的迹象。 但如果保守党愿意， 他们现在可以摆脱过去 的错误，并制定一项 严肃且智能的政策， 服务于这个国家的民众及其需求， 并向世界明确表明， 英国不会犯像默克尔夫人 那样愚蠢的错误。
每当我忍不住尝试遵循 一名餐厅经营者的食谱时， 几乎总是以失败告终。 编写食谱是一项技能，而拥有 并在餐厅烹饪则是另一项。我想这 类似于期望建筑师能成为 建筑工人。毫无疑问，他们的设计 非常出色，能创造出美观的 住宅和办公室，但当涉及到 询问他们如何砌砖时， 就没戏了。
疯狂时光：安德鲁·里奇利 与乔治·迈克尔在中国
– 穿着拉拉裙
如果您有机会在当地电影院观看《Wham! 10 Days In China》，请不要错过。它比《奥德赛》要有趣得多。您不需要成为 Wham! 的粉丝（我不是）也能被这部纪录片吸引。该片记录了他们作为首个在该国演出的流行乐队的巡演之旅。疯狂的 20 世纪 80 年代时尚，一群渴望戏剧性冲突、紧跟其后的狂热小报记者，以及乔治·迈克尔和安德鲁·里奇利试图赢得一群从未被允许起立舞蹈的观众。片中充满了令人愉悦的时刻。由于原片（但未发行）是由已故的林赛·安德森执导的，而他讨厌这个乐队，且只想宣传中国的共产主义议程，所以这成了一部“电影中的电影”。这就是真实的 Spinal Tap，伴随着拉拉裙和烫发。
在国际社会对塞乌塔 (Ceuta) 的喧嚣之中——这座西班牙城市被 60,000 名来自摩洛哥的移民入侵——有一个群体出现了显著的沉默：左翼。没有出现支持摩洛哥人的团结集会，也没有来自绿党扎克·波兰斯基的庆祝推文。在这些问题上很少沉默的工党后座议员们，在电视或广播中都听不到他们的声音。就好像社会主义者和其他进步主义者意识到，地中海沿岸发生的事件揭露了隐藏在他们乌托邦世界观下的残酷现实。他们的梦想一旦付诸实践，就变成了噩梦。因为塞乌塔的入侵正是“开放边境”的实际操作，是“欢迎移民”横幅背后的真相。
很少有人会责怪那些涌入塞乌塔的年轻人，塞乌塔本身是一座主要由基督徒和马格里布裔穆斯林组成的城市。虽然有报道称发生了骚乱事件，且理应受到谴责，但许多进入的人可能是被财富和机遇的承诺所诱惑的可怜灵魂——同样也被
取决于领导人 捍卫边境的 意愿
西班牙当局的鲁莽行为所诱惑。 佩德罗·桑切斯，西班牙首相兼西班牙社会工人党党魁，在 4 月份打开了闸门，当时他的政府向他向选民保证的居住在该国的 500,000 名非法移民提供特赦。两个月后，该计划被关闭，特赦申请人数达到了 1.2 million。
然而，损害已经造成。数千名摩洛哥人看到，西班牙不仅愿意容忍非法移民，而且准备通过向非法入境者授予合法身份来奖励这种行为。桑切斯提供了诱因，而塞乌塔的移民则采取了行动。
虽然据说在最近一次入侵中参与的 60,000 人中许多人已返回摩洛哥领土，但他们向世界证明了这件事是可以实现的；证明了欧洲边境的安全性仅取决于欧洲领导人捍卫边境的意愿。
他们会回来的，而且下次不会这么快回家。 社会主义者如此盲目地致力于他们的意识形态，以至于无法吸取过去的教训。安格拉·默克尔并不是社会主义者，但在她担任总理期间，她采用了左翼所有关于移民的想法并将其付诸实施，以德国历史上从未见过的规模接纳来自中东和北非的移民。当时，她的政府
面对塞乌塔 恐怖的景象 保持沉默？ 因为他们 知道这就是 他们那个无国界的 “乌托邦”真实 样子
向市场保证，这将有利于德国的底线，填补尤其是在体力劳动部门的职位空缺，而受过教育的德国人不愿从事这些工作。十年后，柏林的经济陷入停滞，而引入大量未经审查的外国男性所带来的社会、文化和安全后果，包括暴力犯罪、帮派活动和伊斯兰恐怖主义的激增。这些发展促使一个警惕政治极端主义的国家转向了德国选择党（Alternative für Deutschland），这是一个目前的民调中一直领先的右翼民族主义政党。
这一切似乎是一个遥远的担忧。让欧洲人担心欧洲的问题吧。但我们都知道，非法移民在任何程度上都是一个英国问题——如果英国不尽快解决这个问题，
在塞乌塔目睹的景象可能会在这里的城市街道上复制。 然而，尽管那样会造成混乱，但这恰恰是社会主义者想要看到的。当他们谈论移民时，他们勾勒出绝望的母亲抱着病弱婴儿，恳求像英国这样充满同情心的国家接收他们的画面。这不仅是与非法移民的实际人口结构（主要是年轻、男性且无陪同者）相悖的宣传，而且掩盖了左翼开放边境议程所带来的一个人力和财务成本。
大规模移民并不是支撑国民医疗服务体系（NHS）、社会护理或低技能经济的故事。这是一个净财政负担被引入英国的故事，当时移民获得了居留许可并带来了庞大的家庭，包括老人和其他依赖福利的成员。19, 二十多年来，追溯到托尼·布莱尔政府时期，左翼的立场一直是大规模移民本身就是一种道德上的善举，任何持有相反意见的人一定是种族主义者，而且如果没有大量外国人的涌入，英国在经济或文化上将会受损。
这就是 2004 年后，随着中东欧国家加入欧盟而导致移民增加的背景。 然而今天，在经历了更剧烈的激增（尤其是在新冠肺炎疫情后的几年）之后，回顾过去，对“波兰水管工”的担忧似乎显得有些古怪。英国近期目睹的情况已经危险地失去了比例。但对于极左翼来说，即使这样还不够。
社会主义教义的核心信念是，财富和机会必须尽可能广泛地重新分配。英国普通工人可能会反感自己的辛苦钱被征税并交给那些刚刚抵达英国（Blighty）的人，他们更希望公共资源花在英国当地的公众身上。然而，左翼认为这种观点已经过时——甚至是偏执的。
左翼相信结果平等，既然无法为非洲和中东保证这一点，他们就将移民视为实现重新分配的另一种方式。 通过拆除英国的边境，他们希望将英国的财富分享给那些他们认为更值得拥有的人。
这不仅关乎社会主义，还关乎一种在当代左翼中更具影响力的意识形态：后殖民主义。 今天的进步主义者认为，英国通过其帝国和殖民地成为了历史上的主要恶行者之一，尽管英国政府在弥补方面投入了巨大的努力和资源，但对左翼来说永远不够。他们希望看到英国受到惩罚，并将大规模移民视为一种正义的棍棒。
回到新工党 era，人们渴望“擦除”
每一项管控 最终都会导致 混乱与 动荡
“右翼在多样性问题上毫无建树”。这显示出移民意识形态支持者的极端愤世嫉俗。他们可能伪装成移民的支持者，但当他们认为没人听见时，却在吹嘘如何将这些人武器化，以达到党派政治目的。这是一桩可耻且肮脏的勾当。 但如今左翼的目标不仅仅是人口结构上的嘲讽。他们追求的是与马德里政府相同的“灾难乌托邦主义”。 他们不仅希望没收普通英国人的资源，还希望通过大规模进口未经审核的外国人口，来牺牲普通英国人及其家人的安全，且这种规模在未来任何政府手中都无法挽回。 顺便提一句，正是后一点促使了针对卢旺达计划以及其他驱逐非法逗留者尝试的煽动和诉讼。左翼越是让其对手在掌权后难以改变路线，其胜利就越持久。大规模移民就是21世纪版的左翼“永久革命”。 塞乌塔就是所谓的无国界世界在实践中的样子。拆除所有移民管控并不会带来和谐的、“我们是世界一家”的平等主义，它带来的是混乱、社会动荡和政治极端主义。 在社会主义者心中听起来像乌托邦的东西，对于必须生活其中的我们其他人来说，则是一个反乌托邦。
I
修改关键证据——而当时 新事实已摧毁了其证词？
这就像是一部 1930 年代冷硬派美国犯罪电影中的场景。警方与一名关键的控方证人在讨论一项即将开始的审判中，关于证据出现的问题。 事实证明，本案的情况发生了变化，而且变化得相当尴尬。场面十分沮丧。警察对证人说：“是的，我们无法更改数据。”然后他们又说：“但我们可以更改对其数据的解读。” 很容易想象，对吧，在洛杉矶或芝加哥某个阴暗警局的烟雾缭绕的审讯地下室里？但事实上，这件事发生在美丽的英国城市切斯特，时间是 2024 年 4 月。 该证人为拉维·贾亚拉姆 (Ravi Jayaram) 博士，他曾是电视界的一颗新星，而现在他是唯一一个接近目击护士露西·莱特比 (Lucy Letby) 做出任何wrong事的人。令人惊讶的是，莱特比现在被判处终身监禁，罪名是七起谋杀和七起企图杀人。 尽管没有确凿证据证明她伤害过任何人，但她仍被判刑。因此，这非常重要。 但事实真的如表面那样吗？
贾亚拉姆博士在莱特比女士的两场审判中就同一事件作证。他在 2024 年第二次审判中提供的证词导致了这样的头条新闻：他当场抓住了她“几乎在现行地”站在一名重病婴儿身边。 虽然他没有目击她积极地伤害那个幼童，但他表示，当婴儿显然出现困难时，她未能提供帮助。随着时间流逝，许多人开始怀疑，这是否更多是“虚拟”而非“现行”。 我的同事格伦·欧文 (Glen Owen) 写道
尼格尔·法拉奇 (NIGEL Farage) 似乎在为自己塑造一种受害者的新生活。看着真令人悲哀。想象一下曾经的尼格尔，竟然要求警方逮捕一个仅仅发布了一张 T 恤照片的人。
在我看来，关于绿党最高领导人扎克·波兰斯基 (Zack Polanski) 的 Instagram 账号（或类似平台）上的内容，法拉奇完全错了。断头台并不是一种谋杀武器。想象一下在街上用这样一个笨重的机器攻击某人。
但法拉奇认为，波兰斯基的行为实际上更恶劣，而且在更深层的意义上如此。左翼人士声称极力反对所有形式的死刑，但事实并非如此。经验表明，他们实际上非常热衷于因为持有“错误”观点而杀死他人。在互联网上，你只需花费大约 £20 就能买到一件热门 T 恤，上面印着断头台的图片和“法西斯分子的平台”字样。
我在我的家乡牛津看到有人穿着这种衣服。他们所说的“法西斯分子”指的是像我这样的人。他们会说这只是个玩笑。但真的是玩笑吗？
早在 1959, 年，西方类似的“娱乐革命者”们还在哈瓦那为菲德尔·卡斯特罗和切·格瓦拉指挥的古巴行刑队喝彩。拉卡巴拿堡垒的护城河被对手的鲜血染得令人作呕。而在 20 世纪 30 年代的英国，许多体面的反死刑左翼人士也为斯大林的血腥大清洗辩解。
（此处为另一篇报道的片段） 在 2025 年的《周日邮报》中提到一封由杰亚拉姆博士 (Dr Jayaram) 在 2017, 年写成的爆炸性邮件，这封邮件似乎与他后来提供的证据相矛盾，他后来的证词称发现该护士在做坏事。
在那封邮件中，杰亚拉姆博士写道，他去调查婴儿 K 是因为莱特比 (Letby) 本人发出了警报并请求他帮助——而不是因为他对这名护士有怀疑。
现在出现了杰亚拉姆博士与警方之间的这段对话。这段对话的完整记录是上周由杰出的调查记者克卢奇·德·奥利维拉 (Cleuci de Oliveira) 获得的。
在记录中，杰亚拉姆博士难以接受一个关键门禁记录前后颠倒的事实。记录显示一名关键护士在切斯特伯爵夫人医院 (Countess of Chester Hospital) 的新生儿科室离开，而事实上她当时是在进入。
这一点至关重要，因为杰亚拉姆博士的陈述涉及莱特比女士在病房另一名护士不在时处于单独状态。他在莱特比第一次审判中的陈述部分依赖于这些记录。
在第二次审判前不久，杰亚拉姆博士会见了切希尔警方。在与达伦·莱利 (Darren Riley，一名文职调查员) 和侦查员凯特·米林斯 (Kate Millins) 进行的半小时对话中，发生了这段关键对话。
杰亚拉姆博士：我正在看刷卡数据，查看时间……所以，就是这里，写着乔·威廉姆斯 [另一名护士] 在 3:47 离开科室？ 莱利警司：是的...
杰亚拉姆博士：是的。 莱利警司：那实际上意味着返回。 杰亚拉姆博士：噢，那是她返回的时间？ 莱利警司：是的，我们无法更改数据。 杰亚拉姆博士：啊，好吧。 莱利警司：但我们可以更改对数据的解读。
三人继续讨论了数分钟，探讨这个曾经作为关键证据的混乱局面。他们还讨论了杰亚拉姆博士证词的其他各个方面。
当我向切希尔警方询问此事时，他们表示不予置评。 杰亚拉姆博士尚未回复我发给他的询问邮件。
前保守党内阁大臣戴维·戴维斯爵士 (Sir David Davis) 表示：“看到警方和一名关键证人在露西·莱特比被重新审判前，似乎在重新塑造对证据的解读，从而使她处于不利地位，这令人深感不安。”
他呼吁由另一个警队来审查切希尔警方对本案的处理方式。
兄弟：詹姆斯和亚当（圈出），与家人在一起
和 Tracey Kandohla
这是一场让奥运冠军 Adam Ramsay-Peaty 的母亲 Caroline 心碎的家庭内斗。 但《周日邮报》可以揭露，这次闹掰并非始于去年该名游泳运动员与 Holly Ramsay 的婚礼，而实际上是由一次令人心碎的冷漠引发的，这让他的兄弟 James 感到极度失落。 Peaty 家族的朋友表示，Adam 未能提供“兄弟间的支持”，没有出席 James 死产婴儿的葬礼——相反，他显然在 Holly 的坚持下，参加了一位 Holly 朋友的婚礼。 建筑工 James（被称为 Jamie）和他的妻子 Charlotte 住在斯塔福德郡的 Uttoxeter，他们有两个儿子：11 岁的 Oliver 和 7 岁的 Jacob。他们在 2024 年失去了一个被命名为 Josh 的男婴。 一名接近该家庭的人士表示：“他失去了一个孩子，这让他和 Charlotte 心碎。他请求 Adam 出席葬礼以获得一些精神和情感支持，但他的兄弟让他失望了，称他有一个社交活动要参加，因为 Holly 邀请他去参加一个朋友的婚礼。” “这似乎在两兄弟之间造成了裂痕，并最终升级为全面的家庭争吵。” 该知情人士补充道：“对他们来说那是一段创伤时期。他们的男婴在 23 周时死产。他们抱了抱他，对他说了你好，然后说了再见。但他永远不会被遗忘。” 直到现在，人们还认为去年的 12 月，因为 Caroline 在 Bath Abbey 为 Adam 和 Holly 的婚礼选择的礼服而引发的争执是闹掰的开始。 Caroline 没有被邀请参加 Holly 在牛津郡独家 Soho Farmhouse 举办的单身派对，而 Holly 的母亲 Tana 和 Victoria Beckham 则陪她一起庆祝。她还缺席了
一名英国女性在被发现死于雅典的一个行李箱之前一直致力于帮助无家可归者，这引发了人们的担忧，认为她是一名被自己所帮助的人杀害的“好撒玛利亚人”。 38 岁的 Lisa Ross 是一名致力于帮助弱势群体的基督徒，7 月 18 日，她的尸体被发现塞在一个废弃停车场的行李箱中。 当地人表示，来自爱丁堡的 Ross 女士一直在帮助在附近露宿街头和吸毒的无家可归者。据信
原谅？Holly 和 Adam
在她儿子的盛大婚礼当天缺席。 Adam 与其兄长的关系在去年 11 月达到爆发点，当时 Jamie 在匈牙利首都布达佩斯的单身派对周期间，因涉嫌向这位奥运金牌得主发送激进威胁而被逮捕。 这导致 Adam 在返回家乡时，在曼彻斯特机场得到了大规模的警察护送。 Jamie 目前处于保释状态，正接受警方调查，面临可能被指控对 Adam 进行言语虐待和骚扰的指控。 该家庭消息人士暗示，Holly 那位身为警察的姐姐 Megan 曾建议 Adam 采取预防措施。两兄弟目前仍未地说话。 然而，Adam 昨天透露，他希望与疏远的家人和解。 他告诉《卫报》：“对我来说，作为一个基督徒，必须有宽恕……但宽恕需要时间。” “我不是说情况不会好转，但前提是，在某种意义上，我得感觉到他们在为人处世方面有所进步，并重新开启沟通。”
在过去七年里一直访问希腊，帮助包括受虐女性和移民在内的弱势社会群体。 当地的一位女性退休人员说：“想到这样一个善良和充满爱心的人会遭遇这样的事情，我心都碎了。” 警方正在搜寻一名名为“Markos”的具有攻击性的无家可归男子，此人已经失踪。她的手机发送了一些信息给她的律师父亲，显然是为了掩盖真相。
I
娱乐圈！
顾问编辑 娱乐版
这里曾是英国最受喜爱、听众最多的电台 DJ 们的快乐家园。凭借着像 Sir Terry Wogan、Ken Bruce、Johnnie Walker 和 Simon Mayo 这样播音界传奇人物组成的阵容，Radio 2 的伦敦总部曾是一个充满快乐与抱负的地方。但在经历了一波离职潮后，情况变得非常糟糕。
今天，内部人士透露，电台笼罩在一种“深深的沮丧”之中。由于这里的明星们正像他们的许多前任一样，处于“等待被解雇”的状态，人们甚至对其未来感到担忧。
“Radio 2 已成为了过去那个自我的空壳，”我的消息来源说。“这里就像一个溜冰场——光滑且危险，没人知道下一个摔倒的人会是谁。”
成了恐惧与 羞辱之地
“这里曾经是一个充满正能量的地方——事实上，正能量简直溢出来了。那是一个愉快的地方。而现在，它成了一个恐惧与羞辱之地。感觉没有任何事情是顺利的。”
内部人士表示，自极受欢迎的 Scott Mills 在 3 月被解雇以来，电台内一直存在一种“可怕的气氛”。此前他被指控曾有性犯罪行为（尽管警方在几年前因缺乏证据而放弃了此案）。
然而，电台的动荡并非始于 Mills。那始于 2019 年，当时 Mayo 在一场推动性别多样性的改革中被强行与 Jo Whiley 搭档，随后他从自己的高峰时段节目中辞职。
这预示了一波离职潮的到来。67 岁的 Mayo 离职后，Radio 2 的老将 Steve Wright 也随之离开。这位传奇 DJ 在执职 23 年后，于 2022 年录制了他的最后一场下午节目，并在仅 18 个月后意外去世。
Ken Bruce 在 2023 年突然结束了与该电台超过 30 年的合作关系。Zoe Ball 在 2024 年 12 月辞去了她的早餐节目——随后在次年 12 月辞去了周末时段——而即便 Bob Harris 也在 6 月离职。
Trevor Nelson 在生病后也处于请假状态。
这些离职让留下的人对自己的工作感到恐惧。
“就像多米诺骨牌一样，”我的消息来源说。“Simon 走了，然后其他人开始相继倒下。”
这是一个巨大的转折点， 让听众感到 失望并纷纷转向 其他频道。接 下来的会发生什么？谁是 下一个注定被淘汰的人？ 我们不知道，而这正是 令人担忧的地方。
“DJ 们自身感到恐惧，但他们也非常关心听众，因为听众们在看到自己最喜爱的人离开后感到心碎。”
电台内部人士将矛头指向了其主管 Helen Thomas。她在 2003 年加入电台，并在 2020 年被晋升为 Radio 2 的台长。尽管她是 BBC 员工口中在 Radio 2 工作的“终身员工”，但我被告知，她现在已不再受员工欢迎——无论他们的资历高低。
老将视为一种 荣誉勋章” ——资深 明星们对 Radio 2 残酷主管 Helen 的恐惧
Thomas 女士在获悉指控者在涉嫌犯罪时未满 16 岁后，主导了对 Mills 的解雇。这一决定在 Thomas 女士的员工和听众中都引起了强烈的反感，尽管许多人承认进行调查是有正当理由的。
然而，其他的人事清理则让员工感到困惑且不安。她主导了那个不受欢迎的决定，即在 2022 年将深受喜爱的 Wright 从下午节目中撤除，并由 Mills 接替。
一年后 Ken Bruce 的离开，她也承担了很大责任。虽然离开是他自己的选择，但他被要求在商定的离职日期之前提前离职。
“Helen 并不担心观众，她将清除老将视为一种荣誉勋章。”
阴暗的气氛 令人难以 应对
“将剔除老牌才干视为一种荣誉，”我的消息人士说道。“问题是，她看不出这正让 Radio 2 在听众中变得非常不受欢迎。
“她觊觎晋升，这意味着她很享受被视为一个‘解决问题的人’。但问题在于，她似乎在制造更多的问题。许多在家收听的听众年龄较大，热爱稳定，不喜欢变动。最近的变化如此之多，以至于人们很难跟上。”
据报道，米尔斯（Mills）在被解雇后已对BBC提起法律诉讼，不过考虑到他高达 £745,000 至 £749,999 的巨额年薪，高层应该很高兴不再需要向他支付薪水。
“对斯科特（Scott）来说这太糟糕了，”我的内部人士说，“但BBC坚持解雇他是正确的。
“此后的这种毁灭与阴暗的气氛让年轻员工难以应对。
“似乎不再有任何忠诚可言。没有人有时间去为斯科特争取权益——他在几天之内就走人了。”
然而，内部人士表示，用萨拉·考克斯（Sara Cox）取代斯科特是正确的决定。这位 51 岁的兰开斯特籍DJ在 1990 年代作为臭名昭著的“辣女”（ladettes）之一而名声大噪。
她从原本的 Drivetime 节目被提升到这个更高关注度的时段，但其薪资在 £320,000 到 £324,999 之间，仅为前任薪水的一半。
“她配得上这个职位，”我的消息人士说。“这让你产生了一些希望，认为合适的人能得到职位。就像在黑暗中看到了一点光亮。”
离职人员：（从左起顺时针）前 Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright, Simon Mayo 和 Ken Bruce
公平地说，Radio 2 的阵容正因薪资问题面临审查。虽然米尔斯最近公布的薪资令同事们感到惊讶，但该台上午时段节目的主持人弗农·凯（Vernon Kay）同样名列前茅，年收入为 £405,000。
另一个让员工愤怒的问题是，决定引入帕迪·麦金尼斯（Paddy McGuinness）、罗梅什·兰加纳森（Romesh Ranganathan）和艾玛·威利斯（Emma Willis）等人来主持周末节目，因为他们在年长听众中并不受欢迎。
事实上，我的线人透露，BBC收到的信件以及社交媒体上出现了“大量投诉”，反对聘用这些人：“他们对 Radio 2 来说都是新人，一场严重的大洗牌正在我们眼前进行，任何明星都对此无能为力。这太可怕了。”
由于变动如此之多，很难预测这种深层的沮丧情绪能在短期内有所缓解。
人生低谷：1999 年被判入狱三年
当上周传出罗伯特·唐尼 Jr (Robert Downey Jr) 为接下来的两部电影拿到了惊人的 $100 million (£75 million) 时，整个好莱坞都震惊了。因为这次与漫威影业 (Marvel Studios) 的交易不仅确认了他作为有史以来最高薪演员的地位，更标志着娱乐史上最非凡的救赎故事之一。
在被誉为同辈中最顶尖的天才之一后，这位演员陷入了极其严重的药物成瘾，导致他多次入狱，甚至在洛杉矶县监狱里通过刷锅来赚取每小时 8 美分。
在 20 世纪 90 年代末的那时，如今 61 岁的“钢铁侠”之星可能无法想象，有一天他会把银幕偶像汤姆·克鲁斯 (Tom Cruise) 从好莱坞最高薪名单的榜首位置上拉下来。克鲁斯的收入为 $46 million
她和他开始约会 简直是疯了
(£34million) 去年的大片《碟中谍：最终清算》。 道尼上周末在圣迭戈动漫展的舞台上现身，在粉丝们的雷鸣般欢呼声中，预告了他即将上映的电影《复仇者联盟：末日之战》，该片将于12月上映，并标志着他首次获得单部电影 $50million 的片酬。他的第二张巨额支票将来自明年的续集《复仇者联盟：秘密战争》。在这两部电影中，他将饰演漫画反派中的标志性人物：绿披风的毁灭博士。 拥有漫威的华特迪士尼工作室的一位人士表示：“粉丝们热爱他在《钢铁侠》系列电影中饰演的托尼·斯塔克，所以当需要选择一个人来领衔出演毁灭博士电影时，只有一个选择。人们对他一部电影 $50million 的薪水感到惊讶，但他分文都值得。他作为钢铁侠出演了十部漫威电影，这些电影在票房上赚了超过 120 亿美元 billion。地球上再也没有其他人能做到这一点。” 但尽管道尼从药物成瘾的深渊攀升至电影制作的巅峰，其经历令人瞩目，好莱坞内部人士知道究竟是谁真正将他从毁灭的边缘拉了回来——他那强大的妻子苏珊。 一名住在马里布，靠近这对夫妇那像未来主义舱室一样的生态住宅附近的女性告诉《周日邮报》：“如果没有苏珊，罗伯特现在已经不在人世了。就这么简单。” “你从未见他们分开。她完全是权力背后的支撑。她外在美丽，而他们拥有一个极...”
深陷药物成瘾的 “钢铁侠”之星从 被遗忘的边缘拉回， 并帮助他成为了...
片酬最高 的电影之星
卡罗琳·格雷厄姆 (Caroline Graham)
在洛杉矶
拥有美丽的家庭和令人羡慕的生活，但每个人心中都毫无疑问：如果不是苏珊选择了他就，他现在可能已经落魄在街头，甚至下场更惨。她用铁腕治理他，不过是用最温婉的方式。她给了他两个可爱的孩子，一个 gorgeous 的家，以及——最重要的一点——稳定性。”
在多尼举办的一场派对上，这位从 1990 年代起就认识他的知情人士问他是否还会再次受到酒精或药物的诱惑。 “他挥了挥手臂说：‘我为什么要冒这个险？’。”
这位女士说，苏珊，52 岁——在 2003 年电影《哥特卡》(Gothika) 剧组与多尼相识时，她本身就是一名成功的制片人——她从未怀疑过自己爱上的那个男人能够战胜心魔。
“当她开始和他约会时，大家都认为她疯了，”这位女士说。“罗伯特一直是个很讨人喜欢的家伙，但那时他就像一只受伤的动物。”
“他曾是一个严重的瘾君子。他会去戒毒中心，一段时间内保持清醒，这种情况发生了多次，但随后他会再次破戒，而且你知道只要打开新闻，看到他被戴上手铐带走只是时间问题。”在 90 年代中期一次臭名昭著的、被称为“金发姑娘事件”的经历中，多尼在服用可卡因处于亢奋状态时，误入了马里布的一户人家，并在一名 11 岁男孩的床上睡着了。幸运的是，孩子当时不在家。
那个男孩母亲拨打 911 报警电话的录音已经成为了好莱坞的轶事，因为背景中可以听到多尼响亮的鼾声。另一次，他因为全裸驾驶保时捷行驶在日落大道上——并向窗外扔想象中的老鼠——而被逮捕。在一次出庭期间，他告诉法官：“对我来说，吸毒就像把一支散弹枪塞进嘴里，手指扣在扳机上，而我恰好喜欢枪管金属的味道。”
这位朋友说：“我认为除了苏珊，没有人能让他洗心革面并保持清醒。”
正是这种婚姻中的坚毅之举，帮助多尼在这个几乎将他吞噬的行业中攀登到了顶峰。
事实上，当多尼在 2024 年凭借在《奥本海默》中饰演核科学家政府死对头刘易斯·斯特劳斯而赢得奥斯卡奖时，他并没有回避自己坎坷的过去，以及对他救赎之人的爱。
当他紧握着金色小雕像时，多尼说：“我想向……”
感谢我那糟糕的童年，以及电影艺术与科学学院，就是这个顺序。我想感谢我的兽医——我的意思是妻子——在那里的苏珊·道尼。她找到了我这个咆哮的救援宠物，并用爱将我救活。这就是我今天能站在这里的原因。”
虽然道尼那大批年轻粉丝中，许多人对他所谓的“黑暗岁月”毫无记忆，但我们这些在 1990s 和 2000s 时期身处好莱坞的人永远不会忘记。那时，凭借在《天生杀手》等电影中的角色以及在理查德·阿滕伯勒 1992 年电影《查理》中的精彩表演，道尼已经成为了名副其实的明星。但他的酗酒和药物滥用让他走上了一条太过于熟悉的、通向职业毁灭甚至更糟的道路——里弗·菲尼克斯在 1990s 早期走过这条路，而希斯·莱杰和马修·佩里在近期也经历了同样的情况。
仿佛在挑战命运一般，道尼经常出没于好莱坞最臭名昭著的夜店“蝰蛇室”（The Viper Room），菲尼克斯于 1993 年在那因药物过量而去世。他曾与莎拉·杰西卡·帕克约会，远在她的《欲望都市》成名之前，我曾在俱乐部里看到他们在一起——日落大道的 Roxbury 是另一个常去的地方——她紧紧抓着他的手臂，像是为了生存一样。最终她甩掉了他，回到了曼哈顿。
道尼喝酒后从不会变得“刻薄”。有一天晚上，在日落大道附近一家著名的酒店里，他在桌子上睡着了，猛然惊醒后邀请所有人回他的房间继续派对。他与女演员玛丽莎·托梅和詹妮弗·杰森·李有过短暂的情缘，身边总是围绕着一群美丽的女孩——以及男孩。他后来在一次采访中说：“我认为每个人都是双性恋。” 1992. 年，他与音乐家德博拉·法尔科纳有过一段短暂的婚姻。次年，她生下了他们的儿子印第奥。虽然朋友们说道尼此后“竭尽全力”保持清醒，并努力成为长子一名“好父亲”，但在 1990s 时期，清醒绝非他的强项。有人说：“他是个甜心，但他总是把事情推向极限。我从未见过有人像鲍比那样吸可卡因。”
道尼的父亲，老罗伯特，当时也是那个“圈子”里的熟面孔。他是一名独立电影制片人，我经常在城里的艺术活动中撞见他。老道尼自称是一个波希米亚人，他娶了想要成为演员的艾尔西，在纽约格林威治村一个充满毒品和派对的混乱世界中抚养儿子和女儿艾莉森（比她弟弟大 18 个月）。这对夫妇最终离婚，老道尼带着年幼的儿子向西迁移。
道尼六岁时，被父亲发现他正在偷偷喝厨房柜台上留下的白葡萄酒。在一次令人震惊的育儿行为中，老道尼告诉儿子他“应该试试这个”，然后递给他一支大麻烟。这位演员后来坦白道：“当我和父亲一起吸毒时，那是他用唯一知道的方式在向我表达爱。”
多年来，小道尼和老道尼的关系动荡不安。我记得 90 年代中期一次艺术展之后与老道尼坐在一起。当时一支爵士乐队在演奏，老道尼在抽某种气味刺鼻的东西。他告诉我：“我爱我的儿子，但情况很复杂。”当我请他详细说明时，他笑了笑，让我“放松”。而此时，他的儿子刚刚被发现昏迷在好莱坞一家酒店后一个鼠辈出没的小巷里。
在他最糟糕的低谷期，朋友们多次尝试帮助道尼，肖恩·潘和丹尼斯·奎德为他支付费用前往亚利桑那州的一家戒毒中心。工作来了又走。他在当时全球最热门的电视剧之一《艾莉·麦博》中获得了一个角色，但因成瘾问题被解雇，并失去了他在马里布的房子。他在棕榈泉的一家酒店房间被捕，当时随身携带三袋可卡因、一把 .357 马格南手枪和一套神奇女侠服装。1999, 他因多次违反缓刑规定被判处三年州监狱监禁。
我的女神：小罗伯特·道尼 （图注：2024 年的一场颁奖礼上，道尼与苏珊嬉闹。下方：饰演钢铁侠时）
毒品和武器指控。他仅服刑一年，但曾讲述在狱中与囚犯打架后如何“在血泊中醒来”，那些囚犯试图挑衅这位新来的名人囚犯。他称自己是“医药管理不善的代言人”。在 2001 年，道尼对持有可卡因的指控表示不抗辩，且由于其长期的毒品犯罪记录，被判处三年缓刑。
虽然道尼长期康复的细节当然是保密的，但这位演员告诉一名采访者，在 2003 年夏天与苏珊·莱文相识后，他深深地爱上了她。她与道尼截然相反，在芝加哥长大，是一位富商之女。她的母亲负责管理家长教师协会。苏珊从未抽过烟，更不用说服用任何非法药物。据报道，她给了他一个最后通牒：在毒品和我之间做选择。他在一家汉堡王店外的太平洋海域将他的毒品储备全部抛弃，并在苏珊 30 岁生日的前夕正式向她求婚。
一名了解他康复 20 年的人表示：“他找到了一群非常棒的人，从那时起就一直在支持他，并且”
古柯碱、一把枪…… 以及一套 神奇女侠 服装
罗伯特已经给予了回报。他 帮助了无数其他人在 康复之路上走出了困境。’ 至于苏珊，她很少接受 采访，更倾向于与他们的儿子 Exton, 14, 和女儿 Avri, 11 远离聚光灯。 一位道尼夫妇的朋友表示： ‘你很难找到比这更亲密 的家庭了。罗伯特和苏珊 非常疼爱孩子。他们参加 孩子的每一次活动。他为人 非常低调。你绝不会想到 他是这个星球上最顶级的 巨星之一。’ 在 2014 年接受《好莱坞报道者》 的一次罕见采访中， 苏珊讲述了她如何坚持 要求两年的订婚期。她说： ‘成瘾对我来说太陌生了。 我之前对成瘾对人们的 控制力极其无知。’ 他们在 2005 年结婚， 正是苏珊鼓励她的丈夫 去接演《钢铁侠》这部戏。 一位朋友说：‘罗伯特是个 “正经”演员。那时候 漫威还不出名。’ ‘他接这个角色是一个巨大的 冒险。他当时不想演漫画 人物。苏珊告诉他接下来。 那是一个关键的转折点。’ 他们成立了一家制片公司 Team Downey，苏珊说： ‘我们的感觉是，如果我们 想共度时光，共同生活， 那么我们就应该直接 一起拍电影。’ 关于她在丈夫康复过程中 扮演的角色，她依然谦虚， 称自己的作用很‘小’，但 强调了 ‘为他们创造一个替代世界， 告诉他们，“嘿，只要你 戒掉了，我就在这里”’的重要性。’ 但在道尼夫妇的朋友看来， 苏珊的贡献依然是拯救生命的。
我是谁？ l 我得到了中国人民解放军 以及电影导演昆汀·塔伦蒂诺的认可。 l 鲍里斯·约翰逊在一次面向 企业领袖的演讲中称我为 ‘像毕加索一样的吹风机’。 l 流行歌手 Iggy Azalea（见右图） 威胁要把我变成早餐，因为 我们的专辑在同一天发行。 l 《英国医学杂志》称我 助长了‘不切实际的期待’， 因为我的全科医生会为 琐碎的疾病进行家访。 他还是只熊。 l 我在与 YouTube 的 Wolfoo 版权之战中获胜，保护了我的
我们的每周趣味问答， 我们将请您猜出新闻中的 人物、地点和事物…… Where
年营收 13 亿英镑 billion 的业务。 l 我拍摄了 450 集，其中 很多集涉及在水洼中跳跃。 l 澳大利亚禁止播放其中一集， 因为该集称蜘蛛无害。
我是什么？ l 我有乳糖不耐症。 l 上个月有四个人因为在 利兹联队的颜色基础上 绘制我的图像而被捕。 l 三之一个会被 道路交通意外杀死。 l 2024 年，一名切希尔女性 救了一只她认为是我的宝宝的 动物，并将其放入一个 装有食物的盒子中。结果那 是一个毛绒球帽子。 l 罗马时期的老普林尼 创造了一个神话，称在 冬眠之前，我会通过在 落果上打滚，将果实收集 在我的刺上。 l 忘掉《风在柳林之歌》吧， 獾是我的天敌。 l 我可能很快就会出现在 钞票上。
我在哪里？ l 一位公爵认为这里的一个村庄 破坏了他的景观，于是 将村庄搬迁了。
警察长期 病假成本
记录数量的警察正处于 长期病假中，批评人士将 该问题归咎于管理不善、 暴力水平上升以及工作量 增加。 内政部的数据显示，在 43 个 警区中，相当于 3,358 名 全职警员因病缺勤， 给纳税人带来的成本 每周接近 300 万英镑 million。 这些数据不包括统计当天 请病假的人员，仅包括 长期病假人员，内政部 将其定义为缺勤超过 28 天。 这意味着在年度快照 记录时，总数中包含的 每位警员已经离岗 至少一个月。
与日益增加的袭击”
在 31. 日的人员调查中。长期缺勤警员的总数已连续五年上升至历史最高点，较 2021 年该数字为 1,965 时的水平上升了 71%。内政部并未说明导致这一增长的原因，但确认许多警员因受伤、遭受袭击以及心理健康问题而无法工作。
这些缺勤警员——相当于 2,653 名全职警员、508 名警长、137 名督察和 59 名更高级别警员——每年的薪资总额约为 £1.5 亿——
电视节目主持人兼演员 Shane Richie 将于下月出庭，被指控酒后驾驶。这位 62 岁的肥皂剧明星以在《东区人》(EastEnders) 中饰演 Alfie Moon 而闻名。埃塞克斯警方表示，他于上周三晚上 11.20pm 之前不久在哈洛 (Harlow) 被逮捕。
Richie（原名 Shane Roche）预计将于 9 月 9 日在科尔切斯特治安法院出庭。
STEVE BENNETT
我很暴躁！ 罗德爵士 在普拉达 电梯中受困
被困：罗德、阿拉斯泰尔和梅尔在电梯里的 Instagram 自拍
罗德·斯图尔特爵士 (Sir Rod Stewart) 摊在电梯地板上，看起来焦躁不安，显然正经历着一个起伏不定的日子。这位明星当时正与 20 岁的儿子阿拉斯泰尔 (Alastair) 及阿拉斯泰尔的女友梅尔·拉托 (Mell Ratto) 在普拉达 (Prada) 进行购物疗法，结果三人被困在商店的电梯里——显然他们此时非常希望自己走楼梯。
尽管这位演唱《Maggie May》的歌手是全球最伟大的音乐之星之一——唱片销量超过 1 0 0 百万张，并两次入选摇滚名人堂——但救援并未立即到来。
最终，三人放弃等待，坐在地板上，并通过 Instagram 联系普拉达，发出了一个轻描淡写的请求：“有人能帮我们离开电梯吗？”
虽然被困电梯对许多人来说是一场噩梦，但 81 岁的罗德爵士……
Harriet Kean
l 传说这里的几根岩柱是因在安息日跳舞而变成石头的女人。 l 我这里包含 150 多个飞机的残骸。 l 这里有一个洞穴，当水排出时会发出类似放屁的声音，被称为“魔鬼之屁” (The Devil’s Arse)。 l 我在 75 年前成为了英国第一个国家公园。 现在当地人对一次为了宣传斯柯达 (Skoda) Peaq 汽车而进行的临时更名感到愤怒。
答案：小猪佩奇 (Peppa Pig)、刺猬 (hedgehogs)、峰区 (the Peak District)
相当于每周近 £3 百万的工资。
纳税人联盟 (The TaxPayers’ Alliance) 的竞选主管 William Yarwood 表示：“当警方在恳请获得更多资源时，受害者会感到惊骇，因为有记录以来最高数量的警察在请病假。”
“在公众希望有更多警察巡逻、将罪犯关进监狱的时刻，纳税人却在为无法到岗的警察支付每周近 £3 百万的工资。”
“警方首脑必须控制病假情况，解决管理不善的问题，并确保招聘活动不会被那些无法回归一线的人员所抵消。”
伦敦警察厅 (The Met Police) 的病假警员人数最多，为 750 人，其次是大曼彻斯特 209 人，西米德兰兹 169 人，西约克郡 152 人，南威尔士 119 人。但从警力占比来看，克利夫兰 (Cleveland) 受影响最严重，在 1,504 名全职等效警员中，有 72 人在统计当日请病假——占比 4.8%，即每 21 人中就有一人。
在整个英格兰和威尔士，2.3% 的警员（每 43 人中有一人）请病假。
警察联合会 (Police Federation) 的一名发言人昨晚表示：“这些数字是一个明确的警告。”
“长期病假是繁重工作量、持续创伤、日益增加的袭击以及一个将警员视为无限资源的体制所导致的必然结果。”
以及随行人员在等待上周那场风波中的救援时，看起来更像是感到厌倦而非恐慌。 也许他们当时正在思考如何通过重新演绎这位明星的一些歌词来描述他们的窘境——例如：“醒醒吧，普拉达 (Prada)，我想我有话要对你说”。 这是该歌手近期经历的一系列小挫折中的最新一桩。 六月，他在犹他州西谷城的一次演唱会上几乎晕倒在舞台上，被迫在演出剩余时间内全程使用氧气瓶呼吸。 这次风波发生在他在以健康 l 为由取消加利福尼亚州一场演唱会仅一周后，然而 24 小时后，他就乘坐私人飞机飞往波士顿，观看世界杯中苏格兰对阵海地的比赛。 这一决定让那些期待看到他演出的粉丝们感到很不满。
看来 Liam Gallagher 在去年的 Oasis 重聚巡演之前经历了两年“像僧侣一样生活”的日子，现在正在弥补失去的时间。我的侦察员发现这位歌手在科茨沃尔德 (Cotswolds) 当地的酒馆里，与妻子 Debbie 在一个下午喝掉了九杯玛格丽特鸡尾酒。
◆ 是否所有的巫师都长得一样？ 粉丝们经常把饰演甘道夫的伊恩·麦克莱伦爵士 (Sir Ian McKellen，左) 和已故的、饰演邓布利多的迈克尔·甘本 (Michael Gambon，右) 搞混。伊恩爵士回忆起甘本曾承认：“他们递给我一张你那糟糕的 8x10 英寸 [照片]，而我直接签上了你的名字。”
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大多数人只要在一项事业上获得成功就会感到满足——但 Suki Waterhouse 并不如此。她不仅是一名超模，还是一个备受欢迎的歌手。周五，她在芝加哥的 Lollapalooza 音乐节上亮相（左），身穿一套 70 年代摇滚风的装扮：极短的热裤和粉色褶边披风。 她透露，她的第三张专辑《Loveland》中的几首曲目是由她的好莱坞演员未婚夫罗伯特·帕丁森 (Robert Pattinson) 启发而作的——其中包括《Notting Hill》，讲述的是两人坠入爱河的那套奢华公寓；还有一首名为《Weirdo》的歌，讲述的是在蝙蝠侠影星旅行期间对他的思念。这可真是个典型的爱称！
Tua 之星
忘掉 Dua Lipa 吧…… 来看看 Tua Lipa。这是人们给这位女星起的绰号，因为她坚持要在六月的婚礼上使用郁金香。 郁金香的花期是从三月到五月，但这并没有阻挡 30 岁的 Dua，她与演员丈夫 Callum Turner (36 岁) 在西西里岛举办了一场盛大的婚礼派对。 “这些花必须花费巨资进口，”我的消息人士说。“婚礼花艺师们现在都管她叫 Tua Lipa。”
◆ 祝贺 David Linley 的女儿 Margarita Armstrong-Jones (24 岁)，她赢得了在梅费尔 (Mayfair) Dover Street Market 展览中一个令人向往的展位。 这位玛格丽特公主的孙女创办了 Matita Jewellery，此前她在佛罗伦萨的 Alchimia 完成了一门艰苦的手工艺课程。
LILA MOSS 上周在伊比萨岛 (Ibiza) 看起来完全像她的超模母亲 Kate，在时尚服装店 Annie’s Ibiza 试穿羽毛超短裤和镶钻紧身胸衣。 但我的侦察员告诉我，23 岁的 Lila 缺少了一件惯常的“配饰”……她分分合合的男友 Yoni Helbitz (左)。“Lila 已经不再适合他了，”我的消息人士告诉我。两人今年已经分手又复合了一次，但我的消息人士确认：“这一次，是真的分了。”
The Mail on Sunday 2026 年 8 月 2 日
32 M
我的家族自 1893. 年起就在北安普顿郡的达林顿 (Dallington) 从事耕种。这里是我祖父杰克·斯宾塞 (Jack Spencer) 成长的地方。我的曾祖父在 1919 年将我们家族在那里的住宅捐赠出去，供那些在第一次世界大战中受伤的当地军人（正如我的祖父那样）使用。然而，他保留了附近的田地。
但去年，我的家族出售了在达林顿的农地——共 310 英亩——而导致这次出售不可避免的原因是垃圾。
这并非是指随手丢弃的垃圾，也不是偶尔被扔在门口的一台旧冰箱。而是深夜里被卡车倾倒的大量建筑垃圾，被遗弃在树篱中腐烂的石棉板，以及有一次，60 辆被烧毁的汽车堆放在曾经优质的牧场上。三年前，阿尔索普 (Althorp) 团队不得不使用铲子清理被扔过墙的半吨塑料袋。这些垃圾来自一家当地餐厅，里面包含腐烂的肉类和腐败的人类排泄物。最后一根稻草出现在去年，这片土地上拥有 250 年历史的农舍被犯罪分子纵火焚烧，最终不得不被拆除。
那个地方才空置了极短的时间，因为我们很难找到足够勇敢的人愿意住在这种“疯狂麦克斯”式的景象中——但犯罪分子利用这个机会将这座历史悠久的农舍付之一炬。
多年来，我们一直在与倾倒垃圾和非法倾倒行为作斗争。我们安装了大门、摄像头和警告标志。但这些都没有奏效，因为做这些事情的人并不是从货车后部随手扔掉旧沙发的投机者。他们是有组织地在行动。
上议院的一项调查在去年听取了证据，证明该国的大规模非法倾谷行为目前是由参与洗钱、毒品交易的同一犯罪网络所运作的。
交易与现代奴役。废物犯罪能获利，而且获利丰厚，因为几乎没有人会被抓到。对大多数人来说，非法倾倒垃圾意味着路边的一个沙发或是不应出现的地方堆放的垃圾袋。但在农田里，这是一个九头蛇。在凌晨时分，一把挂锁被剪断；一辆货车通过大门倒车进入；到黎明时分，田里就出现了一堆没人愿意承认的所有物。你无法绕过它进行耕作。它会渗入水沟。牲畜会过去嗅探。如果农民将其留在原处，那么违反法律的人就成了农民自己。如果将其清理掉，消息就会传开，人们会认为这座大门值得再次光顾。留在路边的废物由议会负责。而只要再往前走八英尺，穿过农场大门，废物就变成了农民的；由他自费清理，如果不清理，就是他的违规行为。
乡村土地与商业协会 (Country Land and Business Association) 发现，在参与其调查的农民中，近四分之三的人每年都会遭受此类侵害，有些人每月多次，每次成本大约为 10 亿英镑,000。有一次，我花掉 £40,000 才将其运走。
在阿尔索普 (Althorp)，我们有六名全职垃圾桶操作员在处理这一祸患。处理一次危险废物可能需要花费数万英镑。而在法律上，只有在倾倒者被定罪后，农民才能追回成本。
英格兰的各议会去年处理了 1.26million 起事件，比前一年增长了 9 %，且这仅统计了在公共土地上报告的倾倒行为。它不包括田地、大门和农场小道，因为那里发生的大多数事情从未被报告。对于一项不会被调查且无论如何都得由你付费清理的犯罪行为，人们并没有太大的动力去报告。
废物犯罪每年给这个国家造成约 10 亿英镑 billion 的损失。去年10月，上议院环境与气候变化委员会致信环境大臣，称严重的废物犯罪被严重低估了优先级，并要求对处理方式进行一次独立的、彻底的审查。其主席表示，她担心该系统已经崩溃。委员会描述称，相关机构在面对公众重复报告时反应迟缓，且成功定罪的情况“极其匮乏”。
看看肯特郡的霍兹森林 (Hoads Wood)，这是一个古老的蓝铃花森林，也是一个具有特殊科学价值的地点。倾倒始于 2020,，公众对此进行了报告。到环境局在 2024, 关闭该地点时，约 30,000 吨垃圾已被倾倒，部分地区深达 25 英尺。清理费用估计为 £10million，肯特野生动物信托基金会预计，即使在 100 年后，破坏痕迹依然明显。去年二月有三人被捕，但目前还没有人被起诉。
将此与执法数据对比。在 1.26million 起事件中，只有 1,377 起导致了起诉——进入法院的比例不足 1 in 900。全英格兰的议会共没收了 139 辆车。去年，在倾倒垃圾行为增加的同时，罚金却在下降，平均金额为 £539。当我们向警方提交在阿尔索普土地上发生的此类犯罪的视频证据时，
被告对 10 亿英镑,000 的罚金付之一笑，并表示这无法阻止他们继续从事这项肮脏的贸易。与此同时，对于大多数农民来说，在定罪后追回成本仅仅是一项名义上的权利。
最简单的改变将是不再要求人们为针对他们所犯的罪行买单。政府表示将研究赔偿土地所有者的方案，我希望它能切实执行，因为一项
真正对付那些 强迫我离开家族自1893年 起耕种的土地的 非法倾倒垃圾团伙？
在定罪后追回成本的 价值极低，因为定罪 如此罕见。 法院已经拥有了量刑 权力。而且，合法的 处置应当更便宜、更简便， 因为通过提高价格让人们
被驱逐：斯宾塞伯爵已将 310 英亩土地出售给房地产开发商 作者：斯宾塞伯爵
难以采取正确行动， 这始终在滋养这一行为 的浅层端。 已宣布最高 £5,000 的罚款 及扣分，这些都并非 不合理。 然而，处罚只能震慑 那些预期会被抓到的人。
最终，我的家族将达灵顿 的土地卖给了开发商。 那里现在将建成 1,800 栋新房、 一所中学和两所小学， 资金将用于当地道路和医疗。
北安普顿需要住房， 所以这件事产生了一些积极影响。 我不能假装这个结果 是一种苦难。我们拥有值得 出售的土地，且买家非常 渴望得到它。而大多数遭遇 此事的人，在故事结尾没有 开发商，只有下一个门口 和下一辆卡车，且无法预知 哪个早晨轮到了他们。 自从我开始写这篇文章以来， 我得知一大卡车的花园废物 和木材被倾倒在阿尔索普。 这没完没了。
查尔斯·斯宾塞伯爵
我们每周一次地以不羁的视角看待 未来几天可能爆发的一些故事……
今日 随着英联邦运动会落下帷幕， 格拉斯哥的街道上挤满了 数千名穿着运动装的人。 这两者之间没有关系。
周一 爱尔兰声称， 国际足球联合会 在出售 世界杯 股份上的 态度转变， 归功于其对 该赛事的 原则性抵制， 且自 2002 年 起一直 自豪地坚持这一点。
“我不是贪婪的 金钱追逐者，” 愤怒且义愤填膺的 詹尼·因凡蒂诺 咆哮道， “而且我被授予了 国际足联慈善奖 以证明这一点。”
周二 安迪·伯纳姆声称在阻止 小型船只方面取得了胜利。 现在，那些船变得绝对巨大。
而首相在回应那些指责他 过于以曼彻斯特为中心的批评者时说： “我不会剥夺 (Cheetham) 他们的乐趣。 我这辈子吃过很多谦卑 (Hulme-ble) 的苦头 (Heaton)， 所以这不会损害 (Denton) 我的名声。 我没有什么需要隐藏 (Hyde) 的。 但是，看在埃克尔斯 (Eccles) 的份上， 我将让奥尔德姆 (Oldham) 像威根 (Wigan) 一样 交待清楚，以此化解 (Sales) 他们的怒火。 我会彻底 (Bury) 解决这件事， 就这么定了 (for Shaw)。 我来自 (Hale) 哪里并不重要。 任何不同意的人都可以 收拾好行李 (Ancoats and Leigh-ve) 走人。”
周三 法国农民抗议政府在 阻止森林火灾方面做得不够， 而他们采取的唯一已知方式是—— 纵火。
马莎公司 (Marks & Spencer) 表示，其 新型无裆内裤系列非常适合 那些将 “S&M” 与 “M&S” 混淆的 阅读障碍客户。
周五 专家解释说，在气温飙升时 黄蜂更罕见， 因为高温会让它们 起疹子 (hives / 蜂群)。
波尔多葡萄园 开始销售 预调热红酒。
一枚废弃的 SpaceX 火箭以 5, 400英里 / 小时的 速度撞击月球。 埃隆·马斯克因乱扔垃圾 被处以 £200 的固定罚款通知书。
周四 扎克·波兰斯基未能 平息人们对他无意中在 社交媒体上转发的 冒犯性照片的愤怒—— 考虑到他完全没有 缩胸 (reducing boobs) 的经验。
一名英国前特种部队 士兵昨日被确认死亡， 此前他率领的探险队 在巴基斯坦遭遇雪崩。 尼尔马尔·“尼姆斯”·普贾 (Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja) 出生于尼泊尔， 曾服役于皇家海军陆战队 和特种舟艇部队 (SBS)， 在周四宽峰山 (Broad Peak) 发生的雪崩后， 他是六名失踪人员之一。 这位 43 岁的男子 当时正率领一支十人小组
作者：Brendan Carlin
在决定让戴安娜·阿博特（Diane Abbott）重新回到议会党团后，安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）收到警告，不得让工党“退回到反犹太主义的黑暗时代”。
首相收到警告，称犹太社区对阿博特女士的回归深感不安。
这位工党资深议员在 12 个月前失去了党鞭资格，原因是她在社交媒体上将以色列国防军称为“犹太国防军”，引发了反犹太主义争议。
阿博特女士此前还坚持其早先的说法，暗示黑人遭受的种族主义比爱尔兰人、犹太人或吉普赛人更严重。
但上周，工党表示阿博特女士在独立审查后已道歉。她还因去年的推文受到了正式警告。
然而，她的回归引发了担忧。一些工党人士私下将伯纳姆先生担任党魁的首几周，与前任基尔·斯塔默爵士（Sir Keir Starmer）誓言清除党内反犹太主义的行为进行了对比，后者在杰里米·科尔宾（Jeremy Corbyn）领导期间一直困扰着该党。
昨晚，前工党议员、犹太社区领袖路易丝·埃尔曼（Louise Ellman）表示：“工党绝不能退回到反犹太主义的黑暗时代。”
阿博特女士表示，她对于将“以色列国家的行为与犹太社区”混淆而造成的“任何伤害深表歉意”。
工党强调，“反犹太主义在党内没有立足之地”。
无畏者：尼尔马尔·普尔贾 (Nirmal Purja)
这座山是世界第 12 高峰。他的登山公司 Elite Expeditions 昨天表示，在搜寻中发现了他的尸体以及远征队其他成员的尸体。此次悲剧中，全部 10 人全部遇难。
巴基斯坦高山俱乐部的奈拉·基亚娜（Naila Kiana）称他“经验非常丰富且无所畏惧”。
英国探险家贝尔·格里尔斯（Bear Grylls）在悼词中说：“对于全世界许多与这位卓越且独特的人建立联系的登山者来说，这是一个令人心碎的消息。”
资深议员：戴安娜·阿博特 (Diane Abbott)
作者：Dolly Busby 演艺报道记者
他是一位备受尊敬的奥斯卡获奖电影导演，其电影总票房达到了惊人的 50 亿英镑 billion。
但在最新大片《奥德赛》（The Odyssey）上映后，克里斯托弗·诺兰爵士（Sir Christopher Nolan）成为了 Z 世代眼中的被厌恶对象，被自封为道德仲裁者的人指责为性别歧视者。
自这部备受期待的电影在三周前上映以来，TikTok 上充斥着抨击 56. 岁的诺兰的粉丝。他们对他在这部三小时史诗片中对女性的刻画感到愤怒。
诺兰编写了剧本，被指责赋予女性角色的深度不及荷马的原始文本。年轻的女权主义者将其贴标签为“男权社会最喜爱的电影导演”，并分享相关视频。
改善心情的花园秘诀可能不在于你种了什么，而在于它绽放的色调。
皇家园艺学会（RHS）的科学家发现，园艺爱好者们极其被鲜艳的花色所吸引，其中红色在最受欢迎的名单中名列前茅。
研究人员发现，色调越浓烈，情感吸引力越强，而柔和的色调产生的反应较弱。黄色在幸福感评分中最高，而灰色和白色的花朵被评为平静但无趣。
作者：Roger Dobson
这些发现源于一项针对萨里郡 RHS 威斯利花园（Wisley Garden） 11,000 多名游客的研究。他们在屏幕上观看 30 多种花卉色调 15 秒后，选择其
将赞达亚饰演的雅典娜削减为“点头示意的小配角”
信仰正获得数百万次的观看和点赞。 马特·达蒙（Matt Damon），55 岁，饰演希腊伊萨卡之王奥德修斯，他在特洛伊战争后经历了一段漫长且艰险的回家旅程，试图与妻子珀涅罗珀 [安妮·海瑟薇] 重聚。 主要的抱怨集中在诺兰对女神雅典娜（由好莱坞明星赞达亚饰演）的创作决策上，观众声称诺兰将她削减为了一个“点头示意的配角”。人们指出，在荷马的文本中，雅典娜是第二重要的角色，因为她通过恳请宙斯允许奥德修斯返回，在将其送回家过程中发挥了积极作用。 但《蜘蛛侠》演员赞达亚，29 岁，在银幕上的出现时间不足五分钟，而她的丈夫汤姆·赫兰德饰演的角色——奥德修斯的儿子特勒马库斯，戏份则更为突出。 尽管萨曼莎·莫顿对女神喀耳刻的演绎广受赞誉，但粉丝们指出，奥德修斯被她囚禁了一年，而这一情节在电影中被完全删除了。 此外还有人声称，查理兹·塞隆饰演的卡吕普索仅是作为男主角讲述故事的“衬托”。 在一段获得了百万次点赞的 TikTok 视频中，一名年轻女性表示：“克里斯托弗·诺兰将女性写成男性意识的对象，这需要被解决。他是男权社会最喜欢的电影导演。” “这很有趣，因为他的妻子——他 30 年的创意合作者——制作了他所拍的每一部电影。但你从未见过女性内心世界的真正本质。” 另一位批评者补充道：“他无法想象女性在男人轨道之外的样子。” 被提及的例子包括弗洛伦斯·皮尤和艾·布朗特在
大片：马特·达蒙与赞达亚在《奥德赛》中的一个场景中
《奥本海默》中与基里安·墨菲共演的角色。 该应用上的其他用户表示赞同，并声称在诺兰 13 部故事长片中，除了《星际穿越》外，没有一部能通过“贝克德尔测试”——这是一个 Z 世代用于衡量女性主义电影的指标，要求银幕上的两名女性讨论除男性以外的其他话题。 与此同时，评论家安吉丽卡·巴斯蒂安为《Vulture》杂志撰文道：“编剧兼导演克里斯托弗·诺兰的天才在女性进入画面时就终结了。”
环球影业制作
在世界第一枚原子弹投向广岛的那一天，36 岁的谷本清（Kiyoshi Tanimoto）与他的妻子和婴儿女儿住在距离爆心四分之三英里远的地方。 爆炸夷平了他们的房屋及其周围几乎所有的一切。地面温度达到了 4,000℃；它烧穿了木材、瓦片、混凝土和血肉。 火势四处蔓延，浓烟将白昼变成了黑夜。数万人丧生——最靠近爆炸中心的人立即死亡——他们的身体化为灰烬。更多的人在不久后死于灼伤、创伤和辐射暴露。 谷本清是一位从佛教皈依基督教的卫理公会牧师，他是美国记者约翰·赫西（John Hersey）采访的六名幸存者之一，采访内容发表在 80 年前本月的《纽约客》杂志的一篇开创性文章中。 这篇文章通过叙述令人震惊的惨痛后果，震撼了全球数百万人，有助于推动国际和平运动，但它仅讲述了谷本清故事的一部分。 1947 年，他撰写了自己关于这段经历的更详尽的叙述。
（注：原文中关于色彩与情绪研究的片段在排版上似乎是插页或无关侧栏，此处予以翻译） ……每一种情绪触发的。绿色和青色与勇气相关，而蓝色和紫色等较冷色调比其他任何颜色更能激发平静。 “这项研究为通过色彩选择设计支持情绪健康的花园提供了证据，”其共同作者、谢菲尔德大学环境园艺学教授罗斯·卡梅伦（Ross Cameron）表示。
的雨滴，大如 黑莓， 开始落下
奇迹般的逃生以及救助 幸存者的战斗。 这份手稿在大学档案馆中 被隐藏了近 80 年，直到 2023 年 12 月，在一次关于 他与赫西友情的纪录片研究中 被发掘出来。 现在，它首次作为书籍出版。 正如这段令人心碎的节选所示， 清志在提醒世界为何像在 广岛和长崎引爆的那样 核武器绝不应再次被使用时， 没有回避任何可怕的真相。
1945 年 8 月 6 日 早晨， 我正帮邻居将财物搬到 广岛市外一个村庄的 安全地带，这时我们看到 一道奇异的光闪过， 从东向西穿过一片昏暗的 棕色云层。 某种生存本能一定起作用了， 因为就在一阵强风 充斥空气之前， 我迅速将自己扔在两块 大岩石之间。 我的耳朵嗡嗡作响。 碎裂的物质小碎片 落在我的身上。“天哪，” 我想，“在这样一个地方 竟然还会遭受空袭， 真是太不幸了。” 那是 8.15am。我们没有 受伤，但我所认知的世界 在那个瞬间改变了。 我可以俯瞰下方的城市： 它被乌云覆盖， 是一片火海。如何
幸存者： 中间是清，最左侧是其妻子千纱 (Chisa)，左侧是女儿心子 (Koko)。上方：原子弹爆炸后的广岛（最右侧）。
一次空袭能造成这一切吗？ 就在那时，像黑莓一样大的黑色雨滴开始落下。我感到极其恐惧，心中在想我的家，以及我担任卫理公会牧师的教堂发生了什么。 沿着返回广岛的道路奔跑时，我经过了无数受伤的灵魂，他们排成无尽的长队向山坡走去。没有一个人是毫发无损的。眉毛消失了，头发被烧掉了。脸部、手部、手臂和胸部的皮肤被撕脱或在松垮地垂着。大多数人都赤裸着。所有人的脸都苍白且没有表情。没有人哭泣或尖叫，只是像幽灵游行一样，沉默地一个接一个地跟着。他们一定是被惊吓到了极点，以至于无法说出一个字。一切都超出了他们的认知。 起初，我看到的建筑虽然受损但仍然屹立。但距离中心约半英里范围内，每一栋住所都被夷为平地。就像玩具建筑被锤子砸扁了一样。 在被毁的房屋下方，可以听到痛苦的“救命！”呼喊声。想到我的妻子和幼女一定也处于同样的状态，这个念头在我脑海中闪过。我像疯了一样奔跑。到处都是可怜的伤员。他们无法继续移动，就这样躺在街上。 我向城市深处走得越远，看到的伤员就越多。没有一棵树还站立着。几栋巨大的钢筋混凝土建筑孤独地矗立在废墟之中。无论看向哪里，都像是一片被火烧焦的草原。 当我到达通往登笼町 (Noboricho) 的桥时——那是我们居住的区域——那里正燃起大火，因此，尽管我并不擅长游泳，但我不得不跳进穿过城市的七条河流之一。因为呛水且几近溺亡，到达对岸的唯一办法就是脱掉拖累我的衣服。于是我全身赤裸，与他人唯一的区别在于我没有烧伤的疤痕。 在对岸，奇迹发生了。我遇到了我的妻子千纱，她怀里抱着我们八个月大的女儿心子。千纱穿着一件沾满血迹的衬裙，头发披散在肩头，看起来像个幽灵。 我向她呼喊。她转过身，看着我，眼中含泪静静地站着。 后来我得知，当时她正站在牧师住宅的门前，抱着心子与一名教区居民聊天，这时屋顶坍塌了。 心子的哭声让她在废墟中恢复了意识。闻到焦味后，她发现了一个小开口，使出全身力气将其扩大，以便将心子推出去。
穿过。然后她赤脚爬了出来，身上受伤，抱起Koko，开始向北郊奔跑，那里似乎火势较小。我当时并不知道她有多勇敢，甚至感到有些不情愿，因为在如此多的人死去时，我的家人竟然幸存了下来。千沙的一位住在附近的友给我提供了一些衣服，我继续奔跑，试图帮助幸存者。有些人避难在附近的先亭花园（Sentei Gardens），他们急切地想穿过京桥河，前往火海之外更安全的地方。我发现了一只载有五具尸体的老旧小船，在将他们拖出来时，我为每一个人默默祈祷。接着，我开始用一根竹竿当桨（因为没有桨）将人们接运到对岸。
河里，那些鱼的头部被烧焦，背部被漂白成白色，在水面附近虚弱地游动。死在水里的人随波漂浮。我拨开尸体，撑动小船。
当我拉起一名乘客的手时，皮肤竟然像手套一样脱落了。当我把手放在另一个男人的背上时——他的一条腿已经在船上，正试图爬进来——他的后背皮肤也脱落了。
像手套一样 脱落了
随着市内的这场大火逐渐熄灭，我担心大家的温饱问题，于是和一位邻居回到了我们街道的残骸处，那位邻居在她的防空洞里储存了一些补给品。在那里，我看到她正用棍子拨弄着什么。那是一堆她丈夫的骨骸。当他们的房子坍塌时，她设法在废墟中拼搏了出来，但
他被掉落的横梁击中了。她被迫将他留在烈火之中。我们一起祈祷，庄重地向她丈夫的骨灰鞠躬。
回到先亭花园后，我疲惫不堪，几乎无法动弹。我躺在那些因为太虚弱或受伤太重而无法乘船过河的人中间。他们的皮肤起初看起来是黄色的，但到了晚上变成了红色并开始肿胀，伤口和溃疡处流出脓液。许多人身上长满了蛆虫。
其中有一个被严重烧伤的小女孩，她整夜都在哭喊着找母亲。她在日出前去世了——新的一天曙光揭示了河中漂浮着无数臃肿的尸体。酷热让幸存者们极度渴望阴凉，而尸体散发出可怕的臭味。我组织了一群幸存者来火化他们，其中许多人自己也奄奄一息。有些参与火化死者的人在两三天后也去世了，随后又由他们的朋友火化。
在高温下无法继续工作，我在下午的大部分时间里躺在灌木丛中，仿佛死了一般。直到日落时分，我才部分恢复意识，给我的妻子和Koko送去了一些食物，他们避难在一位房子受损相对较轻的朋友家中。就在那天晚上，我终于在袭击发生后第一次睡了觉。
在接下来的日子里，在提供救助的过程中，我听到了那些亲人失踪或死亡者的心碎故事。
一个名叫爱子（Aiko）的女学生设法将她满身血迹的母亲从家中的木梁下拖了出来，但无法触及她的妹妹久造（Kuzo）。当她把母亲移开时，恐怖的烈火已经烧到了家中。爱子试图冲进火海营救妹妹，但被一名邻居拉住了。
还有一个关于两位年轻母亲的凄惨故事。其中一位虽然从头到脚被烧得极其严重，以至于没人能认出她，但她仍在给孩子喂奶。她本应早早死去，但为了孩子而坚持生存，直到最后奶水干涸才放弃——当她吐出最后一口气时，婴儿仍在试图吮吸。
另一位则一直抱着她死去的新生儿，尽管尸体已经开始发臭。她一直说想把婴儿给她的丈夫（一名士兵）看，而不知他已经战死。这
烧伤的母亲 继续进行 哺乳
其中一个人的一只脚站在入口处的铁阶上。瞬间，那个人就被湮灭了。在接下来的几天里，我开始寻找我的教区居民。如果他们还活着，我尝试帮助他们；如果他们已经去世，我则缅怀他们，记录着每个人的生存或死亡情况。 当我站在那些逝者破败的家园之间时，孤独感切入我的心底。我流着泪呼喊他们的名字：“表先生，真纪女士，石井先生……” 在 8 月 15 日，当我听到天皇宣布投降的广播时，我爬回床上痛哭，为我的国家在这样一场人们付出了如此多牺牲的战争中失败而悲伤。 但天皇本人已经放弃了战争。一个全新的、和平的日本有了诞生的机会。但是
关于谋杀案的喜剧很有趣
AMANDA Knox 坚持认为，被谋杀的学生梅雷迪斯·克切尔（Meredith Kercher）会觉得她的新单口喜剧表演很有趣。 Knox 女士，39 岁，曾因 2007 年在意大利佩鲁贾杀害室友克切尔女士而被两次定罪，直到 2015 年该国最高法院最终宣布她无罪。 她现在正在一部名为《侧手翻》（Cartwheel）的表演中讲述自己被冤狱的故事，她将把这部作品带到 8 月 7 日至 17 日举行的爱丁堡边缘艺术节。
作者：Chris Hastings “可鄙的”： Amanda Knox（右侧附近）及其前室友梅雷迪斯·克切尔
Knox 女士告诉《每日电讯报》： “梅雷迪斯非常成熟且聪明，但她也很有趣，很爱玩。 ‘我认为她会欣赏这部表演，因为它探讨了成为一名年轻女性意味着什么，而且它是诚实的。她会觉得它有趣吗？是的，我认为会。我的意思是，它确实很有趣！我不会拿梅雷迪斯的死亡开玩笑。我经常拿自己如何被诋毁开玩笑，但我不会拿她的遇害开玩笑。对我来说，那是底线。’” 这位美国作家也是两个孩子的母亲，她说她希望这部表演能帮助她的孩子们理解她所经历的一切。 但克切尔家族的律师弗朗切斯科·马雷斯卡（Francesco Maresca）将其斥为“冒犯且可鄙的”。他告诉《苏格兰太阳报》，他已“失去所有希望”认为 Knox 女士能够理解他们的感受。 她的这场表演是 Knox 女士围绕此案开展的一系列项目的最新作。这些项目包括两部回忆录、播客和电视剧。
广岛的情况极其糟糕。有 2,000 名原子弹孤儿，其中许多还处于学龄前。由于食物短缺，孩子们甚至不得不将报纸浸在水里尝试食用。震惊的幸存者在废墟中徘徊，有些人捡起亲人的遗骸，另一些人将伤员抬往医疗站。其中一个医疗站就在我的教堂附近，护士们在那里 24 小时工作。我四处走动，审视每一张面孔，看能否找到我的会众。病人几乎无法呼吸。其中有一个大约 8 岁的男孩。当一块覆盖在背部和手臂上的脓血布被揭开时（他的背部和手臂都已被烧伤），他哭喊道：“Itai! Itai!”（“好痛！好痛！”）。即使是那些没有被攻击直接伤到的人也可能突然死亡，而且由于需要治疗的病人太多，给一个人使用的纱布会被用于他人，从而传播致命的感染。更多的人死于被人们称为放射病的“原子病”。我的家人都经历了与放射病相关的腹泻。我也陷入了高烧和疲劳之中；一度他们担心我可能会死。当我于 1945 年在教堂废墟中庆祝圣诞节时，美国军队已经占领了该国。尽管日本的宣传将他们描述为会从飞机上扔下有毒糖果的恶魔，但他们很友好。但那时我并不知道美国当局正在淡化原子弹的影响，重点关注其对建筑物的破坏力而非对人的破坏。这引起了资深战争记者、普利策奖得主、小说家约翰·赫希（John Hersey）的怀疑，并促使他在 1946 年 5 月访问广岛。我是被他采访的六个人之一，多亏了他写的文章，我们突然成名了。但我们只是做了任何公民都应该做的事。广岛有很多英雄。
后记，由清义的女儿 谷本刚子 (Koko Tanimoto Kondo) 撰写
很少有广岛幸存者会谈论那个时期。记忆让他们保持沉默。来自广岛的我们所面临的歧视也是如此，人们说那些患有放射病的人留在身边很危险。 直到 40 年后，我的母亲才鼓起勇气告诉我我们是如何生存下来的。当她最终开口谈起这件事时，她拿出了我当时穿的那件小粉裙。我仍然保留着它，这是一件令人心酸的
关于阿曼达·诺克斯（Amanda Knox）的扭曲故事。马雷斯卡先生表示，诺克斯女士不断提及该案件，阻碍了她与居住在伦敦南部的克尔彻（Kercher）女士家人的任何和解。
提醒我，我是我们邻里中唯一幸存的婴儿。我的父亲在谈论轰炸这件事上的意愿与我的母亲截然不同；在约翰·赫西（John Hersey）的文章发表后，他受邀在全美各地就原子弹造成的苦难进行讲座。
在其中一次巡回讲座期间，也就是1955年5月，我和母亲被飞送到洛杉矶，作为电视节目《这就是你的生活》（This Is Your Life）的一部分给他一个惊喜。
在某个时刻，一个剪影出现在屏幕后面并说道：“从数千英尺的高空俯瞰广岛，我唯一能想到的是：‘我的天，我们做了什么？’”随后走出来的是罗伯特·刘易斯（Robert Lewis），他是投下原子弹的“艾诺拉·盖”（Enola Gay）飞机的副驾驶。
我父亲的脸变得僵硬如石。他们的握手很短暂。刘易斯看起来焦虑且不安。他用颤抖的声音描述了他在广岛上空的飞行，以及这座城市是如何“完全消失”的。接着他哽咽了。他在哭泣。
这次会面对于节目的制作人来说一定像是一场赌博，但我父亲从未责备过
触碰，然后 紧紧地握住 我的手
美国人支持投弹，而与其相反的是，日本领导人们“竟敢发动如此鲁莽且糟糕的战争”。 起初，我带着恨意瞪着罗伯特·刘易斯。但即便像我这样一个十岁的孩子也能看出他状态糟糕。 后来我得知，他在演出开始前翘掉了排练，必须从一家酒吧里被找回来。 最后，当我们全部聚集在舞台上，观众继续鼓掌时，我向他方向侧移，触碰了他的手。他感受到了我的触碰，然后紧紧地握住我的手。 如果不是因为刘易斯船长，我可能会在余生中一直带着恨意。相反，我效仿父亲，参与反对核武器的活动。 他教会我最宝贵的一课是：我们都是人类，在这个同一个世界上生活。
© 谷本清 (Kiyoshi Tanimoto), 2026 改编自谷本清的《广岛，8:15》(Hiroshima, 8:15)，由 Ebury Publishing 出版，定价 £16.99，将于 8 月 6 日出版。如需订购副本，价格为 £15.29（优惠有效期至 23 / 08 / 26；英国境内订单满 £25 免邮费），请访问 mailshop.co.uk / books 或致电 020 3176 2937。
那位英国改革党的高级成员没有客套。他告诉我：“奈杰现在绝不可能把这件事抛在脑后。那 500 万英镑的问题不会消失。乔治·科特雷尔也不会消失。我不明白他当时是怎么想的。但没关系，我看不到我们如何能从中走出来。”
另一位改革党内部人士对他们的领导人同样措辞激烈。“克莱克顿的噱头简直是疯了。他让自己和政党完全被边缘化了。休会期是我们传统上利用的机会点。但我们现在毫无进展。我们只是在自说自话。”
即使在三个月前，这种颠覆性的言论也是不可想象的。改革党内部存在紧张局势和派系之争，正如所有政党一样。但这些争端仅限于奈杰·法拉奇的心腹、国会议员和活动人士之间的相互诋毁。对法拉奇本人的批评，基本上仅限于对他不守时的无奈摇头。
但现在，党内高级成员开始考虑那些不可想象的事情。有人说：“奈杰并非长生不老。他的成就令人惊叹，但一个人的能力是有极限的。”
法拉奇曾希望利用夏季休会期，以及他大胆的赌注——通过在坚定支持他的埃塞克斯选区挑起一场补选，试图反击他的政治追求者——从而使其政治运势发生转变。相反，他让自己处于一场完美风暴的中心。
他未能充分回答关于接受泰国加密货币亿万富翁克里斯托弗·哈博恩 500 万英镑 (£5) 赠款的问题，这开始在内部引起担忧。
在仅与一小群高级顾问商量而未进行任何广泛咨询的情况下，他戏剧性地决定辞职并推动克莱克顿的对决，这给这些潜伏的不满之火浇上了汽油。而当人们发现他在这次竞争中唯一的严肃挑战者竟然是“垃圾桶伯爵”（Count Binface）时，不满情绪迅速升级。
然而，最终让人们崩溃的是改革党全国民调数据的下跌以及法拉奇个人支持率的崩塌。改革党基本上自去年 10 月以来一直处于下降趋势。但基尔·斯塔默的惨败、安迪·伯纳姆的崛起以及凯米·巴德诺赫惊人的复苏，使他们的支持率陷入自由落体状态。
在九个月前支持率的巅峰时期，改革党处于 31% ，领先工党 11 个百分点，领先保守党整整 14 个百分点。如今他们低迷在 24% ，仅比伯纳姆的政党高出 1 个百分点，仅比巴德诺赫的保守党高出 5 个百分点。
法拉奇个人支持率的崩溃则更为剧烈。去年 10 月初，他的支持率为负 10% —— 这本身并不是什么极高的认可度，但仍比巴德诺赫高 11 个百分点，比陷入困境的斯塔默高出惊人的 30 个百分点。今天他处于负 22% —— 这比安迪·伯纳姆低 31 个百分点，比保守党的“拉撒路女士”低 24 个百分点。
法拉奇个人地位的瓦解导致了改革党纪律的内爆。一名内部人士向我描述，该党的内政发言人齐亚·尤苏夫 (Zia Yusuf) “完全失去了控制。新闻办公室根本不知道他打算做什么或说什么”。
至于法拉奇的亲信圈子，长久以来的怀疑已经转化为一种坚定的信念：他们中间有一个叛徒。据一名消息人士称：“有些人——
正处于自由落体状态—— 而且这让改革党领导层 首次开始思考那些 此前不敢想象的事
有人正想整掉尼格尔。关于财务方面的爆料太详细了。我们内部出了个内鬼。” 结果是，被信任做出决策的人数已缩减至一个极小的亲信圈子。而这反过来又增加了该党的失能状态。 “尼格尔应该下放决策权，”一名曾在其身边的人告诉我，“但相反，一切正变得更加集权和神秘。这是不可持续的。” 确实如此。 在威斯特敏斯特内部，有一种根深蒂固的说法：如果法拉奇被迫离开政坛，改革党基本上就完蛋了。 但事实上恰恰相反。除非改革党找到一种摆脱法拉奇的方法，否则他们注定失败。 民调结果是不含糊的。 改革党的领导人一直是一个极具争议的人物。但这种争议性已经演变成了在政治上致命的毒性。 现在，强烈讨厌改革党领导的人数几乎是崇拜他的人数的两倍。而且关键在于，
正想整掉 尼格尔……我们 内部出了个 内鬼
前一组人几乎愿意把票投给任何人，只要这样能把他挡在门外。 卡尔菲利。戈顿。梅克菲尔德。曼彻斯特市长之争。模式已经固定了。 改革党在竞选开始时看似占据优势。但最终在一次非正式的——他会称之为“统一党”的——反法拉奇联盟联合阻击后，以惨败告终。 然后是法拉奇本人。 他那曾经能以近乎通灵的方式判断英国民众情绪的“政治触角”已经折断了。他在克拉克顿的豪赌就是例证，在第一张选票投出之前，这已经变成了一场彻头彻尾的灾难。 上周早些时候，我与几位保守党高级战略师一起喝酒，他们简直是在向他们的老对手举杯庆祝。 “由于补选的广播规则，现在对他报道量的限制增加了，”其中一人欣喜地解释道。“这给了我们控制议题的空间。” “看看克里斯（Chris [Philp]，保守党内政发言人）在小船移民问题上获得的报道量。那是法拉奇的议题。而我们已经把他玩弄于股掌之间。” 即使法拉奇赢得了这次补选，也将是一次空洞的胜利。选举之夜将像一场马戏团表演，因为他将试图在战胜“垃圾桶脸伯爵”（Count Binface）、“雷鸣男爵”（Baron Von Thunderclap）和“不可思议的飞砖尼克”（Nick The Incredible Flying Brick）后沐浴在胜利的光芒中。 他保住了该党在全国最稳固的席位这一事实，在字面意义上将毫无价值。一个一年前还被吹捧为未来首相的人，将赌上一切，实际上变成了克拉克顿的市长。 法拉奇内部的批评者是对的。他现在已无路可逃。泄密将继续，质疑将增加。警方开始对改革党的事务产生越来越浓厚的兴趣。而试图用日益歇斯底里的“建制派陷阱”论来转移注意力，并没有达到预期效果。因此，他的政党即将面临清算。 在我看来，这其实并非一个人的乐队。李·安德森（Lee Anderson）是工薪阶层一个真实且强有力的代言人。理查德·泰斯（Richard Tice）在担任领导期间带来了纪律性和专业精神。罗布·詹里克（Rob Jenrick）是一个得体且具有说服力的媒体表演者。 在接下来的几周和几个月里，他们将面临一个决定：改革党真的在没有法拉奇的情况下就什么都不是吗？还是说，他们是一个严肃的政党，而不是一座纪念一个男人愚蠢行为的纪念碑？
就像所有自认为专业的职业罪犯一样，特里·埃利斯（Terry Ellis）在童年时期就开始偷窃了。那时，他与工薪阶层聚集地卡姆登镇（Camden Town）的朋友们会跳上行驶缓慢的货运火车，抢走里面的收音机。后来，他的手段升级为使用锯短的散弹枪抢劫邮局，在西班牙走私大麻，并向北伦敦的名流出售可卡因。然而，埃利斯的父亲也是一名武装抢劫犯，而埃利斯一直渴望更大的挑战——正如这位东伦敦土匪如此诗意地描述的那样，“将抢劫艺术提升到新的水平”。在经历了多次入狱之后，他在 2007 年通过一项他后来谦虚地称之为他的“犯罪珠穆朗玛峰”的任务实现了这一野心。该任务涉及潜入（并离开）位于国王十字车站（King’s Cross）、由国际电信巨头 Verizon 运营的一座巨大的堡垒式数据中心，并盗走价值 £5 million 的 Pentium 电脑芯片。然而，这些芯片上存储的数据价值要高得多——埃利斯称其价值 £100 million——因为其中包含了极其敏感的银行信息，而这正是委派此次抢劫的阴暗“银行财团”所觊觎的。由于涉及突破八层安保，这次挑战确实值得与攀登世界最高峰相媲美。埃利斯及其同伙完成的这次智取而非蛮干的劫案，动用了伪造的警察制服、车辆和警犬，更不用说惊人的胆量和冷静。难怪在 2001 年那部关于 $160million （£120million）赌场天才劫案的星光熠熠的电影之后，震惊的媒体将其地称为“十一罗汉”（Ocean’s Eleven）式抢劫案。现在，这次精心策划的国王十字车站犯罪的真实故事激发了获奖美国作家内森尼尔·里奇（Nathaniel Rich）创作了小说《云贼》（Cloudthief），讲述了一对不寻常的搭档联手从俄克拉荷马州塔尔萨市一个巨大且保护不足的数据中心窃取极高价值数据的故事。在 Verizon 劫案之后的 19 年里，数据中心或许已成为全球经济最大的单一增长引擎，它们不仅存储了互联网上的所有内容，还为人工智能产业的大规模计算提供支持。如今人们对此耳熟能详，但在 2007 年 12 月，数据中心对公众来说在很大程度上仍是个谜，人们对这些巨大的匿名建筑几乎一无所知，只知道它们有极其严密的安保。而这座位于圣潘克拉斯路（St Pancras Way）沿线、背靠摄政运河（Regent’s Canal）、拥有三层楼且占地两英亩的 Verizon 综合体，需要被特别地
FBI 手中”
安全。与当时其他数据中心不同，它存储的数据在其他任何地方都没有备份，而这在如今已是标准的安全协议。或许其所有者认为，没人能突破其令人望而生畏的防御措施。这确实是气势汹汹的埃利斯及其同伙最初得出的结论，正如他在 2023 年的一本回忆录中所承认的那样。埃利斯在英国唯一的治疗性监狱——位于白金汉郡的格伦登监狱（HMP Grendon）服刑一段时间后，现在已成为一名改过自新的角色，该监狱提供团体治疗课程。
他在书中透露，一名代表一组美国可疑银行家行动的“中间人”曾与他接触，这些人想要抹除他们非法参与资助爱尔兰建筑项目的证据。埃利斯认为，该团体与所谓的次级抵押贷款危机有关，而这场危机在不到一年后引发了全球金融危机。
这次抢劫行动——埃利斯与犯罪团伙的中间人“雷”在一家俯瞰汉普斯特德荒野（Hampstead Heath）的咖啡馆里边喝咖啡吃蛋糕边讨论——需要将十个人带入大楼。埃利斯及其四个犯罪同伙对计算机知之甚少，因此必须由四名可疑的技术人员加入。他们的出资人坚持要求第十个人也同行，此人知道如何找到并提取他们目标数据。
他们的任务是移走 80 台存储数据的服务器，在不破坏内容的情况下将其禁用，然后将其秘密运往安全地带。他们将获得报酬
一晚上的工作酬劳共计 £1.5million（相当于今天的 £3.6million），但当他们得知此前三次获取数据的尝试都失败了之后，这笔钱听起来就没那么慷慨了。
根据埃利斯的备忘录，该中间人告诉埃利斯，芯片中所包含的信息“绝不能落入联邦调查局（FBI）之手，更不能见光”，因为后果将“不仅对我的人，而且对整个银行业来说都是灾难性的”。他还补充说，这次行动需要看起来“就像又一次投机性的抢劫”。
考虑到他们必须通过的所有安保措施，最后一个前提条件显得有些荒谬。首先是建筑物的外部周界，由保安全天候巡逻，周围环绕着监控摄像头，并由警方定期检查。每 20 分钟，正门就会自动亮起，就像“斑马线上的贝里沙信标（Belisha beacon）”一样。
每扇门都经过钢材加固，且向外开启，使其难以被强行破门。所有出口门只能从外面打开，且每扇门都由摄像头监控。外部窗户被密封关闭。所有玻璃——无论内外——都是防弹的。
首先，访客必须通过刷卡进入系统，该系统还会进行生物识别手部扫描，然后才能进入内部。下一个障碍是一个长13英尺、宽8英尺的“恒温压力气闸前室”，其中一端的加固门在另一端关闭之前无法打开——实际上会将任何入侵者困在其中。
之后是另一个旋转门，进入一个门厅，一名身穿制服的卫兵始终在防弹玻璃后面驻守。他通过电铃引导经批准的访客通过第三个旋转门进入另一道门，该门由安保控制室内的另外三名卫兵操作的CCTV套件监控。他们每人都有一个紧急按钮，可以召唤一英里半径内任意一家警察局的救援。一支由六人组成的卫兵队伍在建筑其余部分的一百多个房间中巡逻。
即便入侵者通过了所有这些，计算机数据室内的CCTV仍由一家外部私人安保公司远程监控。埃利斯承认，提前发现这最后的一点信息至关重要。
他和他的同伙不主张携带枪支，因为如果被抓获，这将显著增加他们的监禁时间。如果他们需要诉诸暴力，他们将依赖自己的踢拳专业技能。无论如何，试图强行闯入似乎是一场灾难的剧本。
他们购买了一辆在拍卖会上得来的英国电信（British Telecom）面包车，将其停在外面，在车内潜伏数周秘密观察这座建筑。但在记录了保安和清洁工进出建筑的动态，并评估了阵列式CCTV摄像头的视野后，他们对在防御体系中找到弱点感到绝望。
其中一个人在游过摄政运河（Regent’s Canal）并利用摄像头的唯一盲点后，确实设法登上了屋顶，但无法进一步深入。
就在埃利斯准备放弃一切的时候，某个周末，他在一个朋友的公寓里，而街道外——
头目：洗心革面的特里 埃利斯曾入狱八年
侧面突然被警察封锁。他们发现一名男子在图书馆顶上，担心他会跳下去。这件事给埃利斯提供了一个灵感。 该团伙随即弄到了五套全新的警察制服和无线电对讲机，以及一件荧光色警犬处理员夹克，给负责牵引巴斯特（Buster）的团队成员穿——巴斯特是一只他们借来的阿尔萨斯犬，体型“像谷仓门一样大”，吠叫声“极其吓人”。
他们还从一家电影道具公司购买了一辆警车和一辆警用面包车。由于Verizon的保安在巡视大楼时必须在特定点打卡，否则自动警报会响起，盗贼们计算出他们应该尝试在的一小时内进入数据中心并撤离。 2007年12月6日晚上9点刚过，他们便采取行动。 他们的警车在Verizon正门前急刹车停下，另一辆载有计算机技术人员的汽车紧随其后停在后面，帮助掩盖其他车辆，以免被主路上经过的真正警察发现。五名身穿制服的“警官”——埃利斯及其同伙——以及他们的警犬巴斯特跳下了车。 埃利斯通过玻璃发现了四名保安，他按响了对讲机，命令他们开门。首席保安询问发生了什么。“我们收到报告说有人在屋顶上。我们是快速反应抢劫组，我们需要进入大楼，”他说道，同时将警察证件对着摄像头。 由于保安们继续犹豫，他敲打窗户，愤怒地要求他们“打开这该死的门”。这达到了预期的效果，他们被允许进入。 当他们到达安保控制室时，那里有三名保安坐在摄像头监视器后面，埃利斯询问其中是否有人在过去一小时内去过屋顶。在他们全部否认后，埃利斯说他必须立即上去，但首先他坚持要给保安们戴上手铐，因为警方接到的通知称入侵者打扮成保安模样。他解释说，在释放他们之前，他必须确认每个人的身份。 保安们顺从了，甚至同意叫下在二楼巡逻的三名保安，以便让他们也被戴上手铐。“他们——就像其他保安一样——看起来很困惑，但都勉强地配合了，”埃利斯写道。“但在那之前，我还得威胁他们所有人”
天空新闻 (SKY NEWS)
用狗威胁，谢天谢地这招奏效了。”在将戴上手铐的警卫留在楼梯间后，该团伙随后让计算机技术人员和第十名成员进入大楼，而埃利斯（Ellis）和一名同伙则前往顶层，他们知道那里还潜伏着两名保安。
他们迅速将这两名保安也铐了起来，埃利斯在转弯时几乎撞上其中一人，随后将其“猛击”在墙上并推倒在地。
接着他回到前台，切断了闭路电视（CCTV）摄像头的实时传输。仅仅几秒钟后，监控该信号的私人安保公司就致电数据中心询问发生了什么。埃利斯——伪装成 Verizon 的安保人员——告诉对方，计算机系统出现了电压浪涌，导致所有监视器失效。埃利斯向对方保证，他们的技术人员已经在处理，系统将在接下来的 40 分钟内恢复运行。
对方似乎接受了这一解释，尽管此时汗流浃背的埃利斯意识到，这一时刻可能是整个抢劫计划中最冒险的部分，因为他不确定是否应该给对方提供某个代码来证明自己的身份——而且他意识到，他交谈的那个男人本可以直接报警。
但他们继续行动，技术人员使用保安的 ID 卡进入顶层的数据机房——992 号房。在那里，他们使用电池驱动的螺丝刀断开了目标计算机服务器的连接，并将它们装在随身携带的 20 个大型洗衣袋中。
与此同时，其他成员搜查了整个综合体以寻找剩余员工，他们发现了并铐住了两名技术人员和四名清洁工——至此，被制服的人员总数达到 16 人。
突然，在接待处的团队成员通过无线电报告说有两名男子来到了正门。但他们只是来工作的技术人员，在前往三楼房间时并没有发现任何异常——这对窃贼来说很幸运，因为他们的手铐已经用完了，否则不得不拿鞋带来捆绑新来的人。
他们在晚上 10 点离开大楼。就在他们经过附近一个警察局时，“局面瞬间陷入混乱”，一队由十二辆警车组成的车队鸣笛呼啸，朝着数据中心的方向疾驰而去——窃贼认为，这是被报警系统自动触发的。
“肯蒂什镇路（Kentish Town Road）两旁闪烁着蓝色警灯，有那么一瞬间，我以为他们发现了我们，”埃利斯在他的书《The》中回忆道。
抢劫艺术。 “我的心在打翻滚，我能听到后面狗在叫。” 事实上，他们当时已安全脱身。但对埃利斯（Ellis）及其副手丹尼斯·卡尔（Denis Carr）来说，不幸的是，他们的庆祝时间很短。Verizon 的安保人员通过警方在调查另一起抢劫案时出示的照片认出了他们。埃利斯竟然胆敢租一艘运河船，在警方搜捕期间，就在数据中心正后方的摄政运河（Regent’s Canal）上生活了三周。他在 2008 年 9 月被捕，当时他持有新护照，正前往卢顿机场准备飞往泰国的隐秘之所，结果在街上被警方包围。他因 Verizon 抢劫案及另外三起抢劫案被判入狱，服刑近八年半。法庭获悉，抢劫者袭击了多名员工，其中一些人在被那只咆哮的狗威胁后需要接受惊吓治疗。埃利斯声称，军情五处（MI5）曾两次在监狱中拜访他，提出如果他能指认是谁招募他去窃取所谓的“高度敏感的银行数据”，就可以将其刑期减至三年，并向他列出了一系列可能的美国和英国银行。埃利斯和其他人表示，当时的数据中心所有者淡化了这次抢劫，因为他们不愿承认这些数据在坚决的犯罪分子面前是脆弱的。专家表示，随着数据中心在全球范围内的普及，其安全性问题从未像现在这样重要。Verizon 的计算机服务器从未被追回，除了埃利斯和卡尔之外，也没有任何人被起诉。在一次 2023 年的采访中，埃利斯无法掩饰对自己成功完成计划的自豪感，他说道：“我不会为我的所作所为辩护。这其中总有受害者。我不会说银行从人们那里偷走数百万美元，所以这就证明我这么做是对的。这只是一份工作，而我的工作就是犯罪。”
警方公布绑架美国电视明星母亲的绑架者信件
卡罗琳·格雷厄姆 (Caroline Graham)
警方公布了两封令人不寒而栗的勒索信，希望这些信件能帮助确定谁绑架了美国电视明星萨凡纳·古斯里（Savannah Guthrie）的母亲。这些信件是在 84 岁的南希·古斯里（Nancy Guthrie）于 1 月 31 日从家中被绑架几天后，寄给亚利桑那州图森市的一家当地电视台的。
皮马县（Pima County）警长办公室因在调查过程中失误而受到批评，该部门认为信件中特定的写作风格本身可能就是一个线索。办公室表示：“这些便条揭示了在词汇选择、句法和措辞方面的独特模式，反映了写信人独特的语言风格。‘这些独特的语言特征，对于认识或与写信人打过交道的人来说，可能是可以识别的。’ ‘它们还为分析该人员的心态、动机以及语气随时间的演变提供了宝贵的洞察。’”
这两封信最初要求支付赎金，随后承认患有严重心脏病的古斯里夫人已经去世。第一封信是写给萨凡纳的，她是 NBC《今日节目》（Today Show）年薪 $20 million 的主持人。信中描述她的母亲“安全但恐惧”，并要求支付 $4 million 的比特币，如果未能在第一个期限前达成，金额将增加到 $6 million。信中警告道：“不要玩游戏，执法部门无法帮到你。” 第二封信，
了解到的事情
英国似乎正面临全国性的黄蜂短缺。当春天的美好迹象被5月的突然寒流打断时，寒流在蜂群建立之前杀死了蜂王并摧毁了幼巢。这导致了苍蝇和其他昆虫数量的增加，而这些昆虫在通常情况下会成为黄蜂贪婪狩猎技巧的牺牲品。 2
几十年来，摩门教会派遣成员前往世界遥远的角落寻找新信徒。如今，它在社交媒体上这样做。该教会的营利部门正利用所谓的“摩门影响者”——这些人通过在“MomTok”上宣讲自己的信仰而闻名——来参加新闻活动并创作可由教会通过自有渠道分发的内容。 3
烟草天蛾的翅膀不仅用于飞行，还负责该昆虫的嗅觉。德国的研究人员发现，翅膀包含微小的毛发状感官结构，能够检测空气中的
奖励：电视节目主持人萨凡纳·古斯里与她的母亲南希
这封写给古斯里家族的信中说：“我们没有完全意识到她身体状况的严重性。我们从未打算伤害她。她在被带走后不久就去世了。我们认为这与心脏有关。她现在被埋在自然之中。 ‘无论你们怎么做都无法改变结果。我们希望你们家人知道这一点，并希望你们都能获得平静。我们深表遗憾。’该家庭正提供 $1 million 奖励以寻找古斯里夫人的下落。
在线 简报
化学物质，并且对烟草植物和月光花（上述天蛾产卵的地方）中的化合物有特别强烈的反应。 4
对于许多美国最富有的父母来说，雇佣一名保姆已经不够了。相反，所谓的“CEO父母”正在雇佣整个团队来抚养他们的孩子，包括如厕训练专家、骑行教师、学校行政管理人和服装造型师。 5
英国 27 年来最完整的日食——也是在 2081 年之前我们将能见到的最好一次——将于 8 月 12. 发生。届时月球将遮挡 90% 以上的太阳。
版块 经医生 审核 财富与假期
服用抗抑郁药 患者的 心脏骤停风险 健康 第 48-49 页
如何让你的 成年子女 脱离家庭财务 财富 第 52-53 页
我们的欧洲 名媛 终极指南 假期 第 62-63 页
陨落之星：詹姆斯·范德比克在 48 岁时去世
去健身房，见我的朋友和家人…… 我正准备迎接夏天，”他说。 但他没有意识到的是，突然出现在他颈部的那些“奇怪”肿块，其实是一个更为险恶信号的开端。 “通过颈部活检，他们发现我患有四期结肠癌，”他说道，并解释说疾病已经扩散到他的肝脏、脾脏、肺部以及颈部淋巴结。 视频的结尾并非绝望，而是一次请求，希望筹集资金用于一种能给他延长生命最大机会的治疗方案，但该方案在国民医疗服务体系（NHS）中无法获得。罗斯及其 38 岁的丈夫马特在得知私立医疗费用每年可能高达 £100,000 后，曾希望筹到足够的钱来支付。
在接受《周日邮报》采访时，担任电视和电影数字导演的罗斯表示：“我想，好吧，没关系，我们可以给房子重新办理抵押贷款。我不请病假，继续全职工作。也许我可以请求父母提取部分养老金。我们会想办法解决的。”
然而，罗斯和马特原以为“可能增加几千英镑”的募捐呼吁，却产生了意想不到的影响。在包括道恩·法伦奇和电台主持人佐伊·鲍尔在内的名人分享后，该片段目前已帮助筹集了超过 £246,000。 罗斯认为，他的故事能引起如此广泛共鸣的原因之一，在于结肠癌日益袭击他这个年龄段人群的“恐怖”现实。 而数据表明，他是正确的。 结肠癌曾被认为是老年人的疾病，但自 20 世纪 90 年代以来，50 岁以下成年人的结肠癌诊断率上升了约 50%。 事实上，今年早些时候，以主演 90 年代美国青少年剧集《道森之丘》而闻名的演员詹姆斯·范德比克在年仅 48 岁时去世——在他被诊断出癌症仅两年多之后。 治疗这些患者的医生表示，许多患者在其他方面身体健康。罗斯显然符合这种情况。他热衷于健身，坚持健康的纯素饮食，且三年未沾酒精。 科学家们为年轻人发病结肠癌的增加提出了多种解释——从污染和食物中毒细菌，到最常见的超加工食品的摄入。 “我治疗的大多数患者现在都很年轻，大多在 50 岁以下，且身体健康，”在 NHS 和私立医院均工作的顾问医学肿瘤学家拉文迪·墨菲医生说。“这些病例大多在晚期被诊断出来。要么是医生因为患者年龄太小而认为绝对不可能是癌症而漏诊，要么就是恰巧遇到了一种特别激进的癌型。”
现在，在筹款活动让治疗成为可能后，罗斯准备开始治疗。他说，他仍然难以想象自己的生活改变得如此之快。他从未想到在刷牙时发现的颈部肿块可能是个危险信号。 “当我左右移动颈部时，我在镜子里看到一个小肿块，大约豌豆那么大，”他说。“到周末时，已经出现了两个。” 他以为这仅仅是喉咙感染——这是一个他
这是一个事实 英国结肠癌死亡病例中最年轻的人仅 18 岁。
患上结肠癌？
据认为，约有一半的结肠癌是可以预防的，但科学家们日益认为，年轻成年人中病例数量的惊人上升不能仅用生活方式的选择来解释。相反，越来越多的证据表明，该病可能在症状出现前数十年就已经开始，原因可能是童年时期——甚至在出生前——接触了有害细菌或环境毒素。
最强有力的线索之一来自一种名为 colibactin 的肠道毒素，由某些大肠杆菌菌株产生。去年发表的一项重大国际研究发现，与 colibactin 相关的 DNA 突变在 40 岁以下的结肠癌患者中出现的概率是 70 岁以上患者的三倍多。
由于这些基因变化需要数十年才能发展成癌症，研究人员认为接触可能发生在幼儿期，甚至在子宫内。科学家们仍在试图查明原因。
抗生素、杀虫剂和超加工食品都被认为是可能的促成因素，因为它们会改变肠道内的细菌平衡。
“你可能体重健康，但生活方式依然不健康，比如食用大量超加工食品，”Murphy 博士说。“或者你可能在孩童时期接触过某些东西，如抗生素、微塑料或杀虫剂，所有这些都可能以潜在有害的方式改变肠道菌群。”
“可以肯定的是，自 20 世纪 50 年代以来，年轻患者的诊断率显著上升。我们目前还不知道确切原因，但许多研究人员认为，答案在于我们生命早期所处环境的变化，这比我们之前认为的要早得多。”
他当时身体状态很差。“我只是坚持着。我以为脖子上的那个奇怪东西只是个麻烦，可能没什么大碍。”
虽然 Ross 的全科医生紧急将他转诊至医院，但分析其超声波检查的专家却向他保证这只是“低级别感染”。
“他们说，‘可能只是肿了。你可能最近太累了’——诸如此类的话。”
在 5 月 22 日，医生为他进行了活检，并告知结果将在大约一周内公布。他们还开了抗生素，以期在任何感染扩散前将其“控制住”。
但在 24 小时内，Ross 感到胃部出现了一种他描述为“可怕的紧缩感”。他说：“那是最剧烈的疼痛，我以为可能是疝气，甚至可能是对抗生素的反应。”
那个银行假期周末，在前往剧院的路上，他在地铁上呕吐了。“第二天早上我给全科医生打电话说，‘这里有些不对劲’。”
医生建议他针对肠道进行进一步检查，但他被告知至少要等待六周。
三天后，他开始呕血。
Ross 和一名市场经理 Matt 匆忙赶到当地的急诊室 (A&E)，扫描结果显示他的肝脏上有几个生长物。但医生最初向他保证，这些生长物“很可能是良性的”，且“无需担心”。几天后，他
确诊：罗斯·奥尔德雷德 (Ross Aldred) 将很快开始治疗已扩散的四期结肠癌
他回到医院接受胃肠检查——进行了内窥镜检查和结肠镜检查。 “第二天晚上，我接到了结直肠癌科的电话，要求我两天后过去，”罗斯回忆道。 当他在 6 月 1 日到达就诊时，一名 Macmillan 癌症护士在候诊室接待了他。 “我想，‘这不是好迹象’。那是我想起这可能是件相当严重的事情的第一次。”
几分钟后，一名肿瘤学家带来了沉重的打击。罗斯患有四期结肠癌，且癌细胞已经扩散至全身。 在这一阶段被诊断出的患者中，仅有 10 分之 1 在五年后依然存活。 “我震惊了，”他说。“我很难将脖子上的肿块与结肠癌联系起来。” “而且我一直都在做正确的事情。我已经三年没喝酒了，我是纯素食主义者，我一直去健身房。显然，我所做的一切还不够正确。” 他的家人——包括正在接受白血病治疗的母亲——在听到这个消息时“心碎了”，但决定“一次走一小步”来应对。
罗斯的诊断标志着一系列手术和治疗的旋风般开始——所有这一切都发生在短短一个月之内。 首先，外科医生在发现一个 11 毫米的肿瘤阻塞了他的肠道并导致他处于剧痛之中后，进行了造口手术。 但就在罗斯康复期间，医生发现了另一个危及生命的并发症。 他肝脏中的肿瘤阻塞了排出体内废弃物所需的管道。随着毒素的积聚，他出现了黄疸——导致皮肤和眼睛变黄——并面临极高的肝衰竭风险。更糟糕的是，如果没有功能正常的肝脏，化疗（罗斯唯一能获得 NHS 治疗方案）将不安全。
事实证明 结肠息肉（直肠内壁上的小生长物）通常需要 10 到 15 年才会演变成癌症。
“肝脏负责清除体内的化疗药物，”拉文迪·墨菲 (Dr Ravindhi Murphy) 博士解释道。“如果它不能正常工作，药物会积聚到中毒水平。” 罗斯的肿瘤学家建议采用一项高风险方案，通过在他肝脏中插入一系列导管和支架来排出毒素。 “我想，如果我不放这根管子，我就不能接受化疗，那我这辈子就完了，”罗斯说。“我别无选择，只能继续进行。” 手术成功了，他的肝功能开始缓慢恢复。 “但随后，”他补充道，“当然，我发生了败血症。” 这种危及生命的状况——即身体的免疫系统在应对感染时开始攻击自身器官——是涉及肝脏手术中公认的并发症，墨菲博士表示。令人惊讶的是，罗斯在一周内康复并出院回家。 然后，终于传来了急需的好消息。
对罗斯癌症的基因检测显示，他患有一种名为 BRAF 的亚型——这是一种特别具有侵略性的疾病形式，但对一种新的联合药物反应特别好。 BRAF 约占结肠癌的 10 分之 1，与影响黛博拉·詹姆斯 (Dame Deborah James) 的亚型相同，后者于 2022 年在 40 岁时死于该病。 “这类癌症倾向于影响较年轻的患者，且通常极具侵略性，”墨菲博士说。 活动人士认为，BRAF 患者被 NHS 的药物监督机构忽视了，后者拒绝让他们获得有前景的实验性治疗。 2023 年，《星期日邮报》(The Mail on Sunday) 刊登了专家的呼吁，要求英国开展更多为 BRAF 患者提供靶向治疗的临床试验——这些药物旨在通过攻击肿瘤的基因特性来摧毁它们。 一项涉及 637 名患者的最新国际研究发现，在化疗的同时给予 encorafenib 和 cetuximab 联合药物，可使预期寿命翻倍——从约 15 个月增加到 30 个月。
此外，接受三种药物联合治疗的患者在面对副作用（如恶心和极度疲劳）方面的风险并不高于仅接受化疗的患者。
然而，这种治疗在英国国家医疗服务体系（NHS）中并非常规可用。近年来，一些英国患者通过临床试验获得了该治疗。但目前英国没有正在招募患者的相关试验。
其中两种药物——encorafenib 和 cetuximab——可以在 NHS 获得，但仅限于化疗失效之后。研究表明，到了那个阶段，治疗的效果明显低于从一开始就同时使用三种药物的情况。
私人医院可以提供包含化疗在内的完整三种药物组合治疗，但每月费用高得惊人——这促使罗斯及其家人发起募捐请求以支付治疗费用。
罗斯将在几天内开始治疗，他依然保持着令人钦佩的乐观态度。
他说：“当你面临生命可能比预期更早结束的情况时，突然之间，其他所有事情都变得更加重要了。”
“无论是仅仅和朋友在家里吃顿晚餐，还是陪父母度过时光，都让人感到非常珍贵。甚至是一种欣快感。”
“这就是生活的意义，不是吗？与你爱的人在一起，并充分利用你所拥有的时间。这就是我自确诊以来一直在做的事。我也将继续这样做。”
健康 深色水果 与心脏 健康更佳相关
一项研究表明，经常食用深色果肉的葡萄、浆果和蓝莓可以改善心脏健康。 研究人员发现，这些水果中天然存在的化合物与心血管风险标志物（尤其是血管功能）“温和但一致”的改善相关。 报告还提到了在血压、炎症和胆固醇水平方面的益处。 英国和西班牙的研究团队分析了自 2015. 年以来发表的 17 篇系统评价和荟萃分析，以及 20 篇随机对照试验。该审查中包含的一项最强有力的研究发现，每天食用 150 克蓝莓（相当于超市的标准一盒）持续六个月，可以改善血管功能，这对于全身的血液流动至关重要。 研究人员表示，这些变化与心血管疾病风险预计降低 12 到 15 之间百分点相一致，尽管该试验并未直接衡量心脏
病发作或中风。他们表示，这些益处可能与多酚有关，这是一种天然存在的植物化合物，可以减轻炎症、改善血管功能并防止氧化应激。 发表在《营养》(Nutrients) 杂志上的这项审查发现，对于心血管风险较高的人群，益处往往更明显，包括超重或肥胖、高胆固醇、高血压或其他代谢风险因素的人。 研究作者得出结论：“鉴于过去十年中不断增加的证据，以及肥胖和心血管疾病发病率的上升，提高公众对食用深色果肉葡萄、蓝莓以及红浆果葡萄等水果潜在作用的意识，似乎代表了一种实用且基于证据的促进心血管健康的策略。” 心血管疾病是一个涵盖冠心病、心力衰竭和中风的术语，影响英国 700 多万人，约占所有死亡人数的四分之一。
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越来越多的脱发男性正在转向一种意想不到的解决方案，这种方案既避免了药物治疗，也避免了昂贵的移植手术。 这种疗法被称为头皮微色素种植，它通过在头皮上纹上数千个微小的色素点，营造出一种像刚剃过短发且发量更丰满的错觉。 该过程通常需要约九小时，费用约为 £2,000, 英国诊所表示，近年来需求量激增。 它还成为了社交媒体上的趋势，手术前后的对比变换视频吸引了数百万次的观看。 伦敦 Aderans 头发诊所的脱发专家 Emma Furlong 表示，她看到咨询该疗法的患者人数剧增。 “在过去，头皮微色素种植主要用于植发行业——用于掩盖疤痕，并为那些未能达到预期丰满度的植发手术创造出更密集的头发假象，”她说。 “但在过去几年里，它已被视为一种实际的独立脱发解决方案。” Furlong 女士表示，该疗法受欢迎的部分原因在于它能实现的即时且微妙的转变。 “如果你已经秃顶一段时间了，头皮微色素种植看起来不会像突然长出一头头发那样明显，”她说。 “微妙和自然是关键。我们以前看到的患者通常是尝试了所有选项，或者根本不想一直戴假发的人。” “但人们意识到，如果他们这样做，可能暂时不需要植发——或者根本不需要。” 英国约 6.5 百万男性
研究表明，每晚规律睡眠超过八个半小时可能与阿尔茨海默症相关的早期大脑变化有关。之前的研究已将睡眠时间过短或过长与阿尔茨海默症（英国最常见的认知障碍症原因）联系在一起。现在，一项来自美国研究人员的研究发现，报告每晚睡眠超过八个半小时的人曾
之后
经历过某种形式的脱发。原因各不相同。男性最常见的形式被称为男性型脱发，是由遗传引起的。有些人可能会患上斑秃，这是一种免疫系统错误攻击头皮组织，导致头发斑块状脱落的疾病。压力也是一种诱发因素。在英国，数千名男性服用如非那雄胺（finasteride）和米诺地尔（minoxidil）等药物，这些药物被证明可以减缓——甚至逆转——脱发。许多人还花钱进行植发——这是一种外科手术，将头皮一部分的毛囊移除并移植到覆盖较少的区域。
p-tau181 的血液水平较高—— 这是一种与阿尔茨海默病 密切相关的生物标志物。 这项发表在《阿尔茨海默病与痴呆》(Alzheimer’s & Dementia) 杂志上的研究，分析了来自 弗雷明汉心脏研究 (Framingham Heart Study) 的 2,410 名参与者， 平均年龄为 70 岁。 在睡眠时间超过 10 小时的人群中， 该生物标志物的水平上升更为剧烈。
即便在研究人员对年龄、性别、 睡眠呼吸暂停和抑郁等因素进行 调整之后，情况依然如此。 作者建议，每晚自报睡眠时间 超过 9 到 10 小时可能需要 进一步评估睡眠和认知健康。 “我们从现有文献中得知，睡眠与 这些生物标志物之间的关系 不太可能是简单的，而这正是
我们所发现的结果，”该研究作者、 UT Health San Antonio 格伦·比格斯阿尔茨海默病 与神经退行性疾病研究所的 博士后研究员 Vanessa Young 博士表示。 研究人员表示，这些发现并不意味着 睡眠时间较长会导致 阿尔茨海默病。相反， 他们认为较长的睡眠可能是 潜在大脑退化的早期行为迹象—— 并指出长期研究
平均水平。但移植手术通常 花费约 £5,000，且并非 总是成功，在某些 脱发严重的病例中， 该手术可能无法奏效。 与此同时，头皮微色素沉着 几乎可以保证成功。 该手术使用一种特殊的 纹身笔，由三根极细的 针头融合而成。 Furlong 女士表示，全头 通常需要三个疗程， 每个疗程大约三小时。 对该手术感兴趣的患者 还会进行一次初步咨询， 在皮肤上测试色素， 并由从业者规划新的发
线。 而且 因为 每个 区域 仅 针对一次， 该 手术 基本上 无痛。 Furlong 女士坚持认为， 患者无需使用 任何麻醉剂， 且极少有人报告 术后除了轻微酸痛外 没有其他感觉。 而且头皮微色素沉着 产生的疤痕组织较少， 从而使恢复速度更快。 “我们给患者两周时间 让色素稳定下来——其间 七天内头皮不能沾水—— 然后让他们再回诊两次以
增加饱满度，”Furlong 女士说。 “然后接下来的五年左右 他们就无需担心，届时 我们建议他们回来进行一次 快速补色。无需额外的维护。” 一名从头皮微色素沉着中 受益的患者是 55 岁的长途巴士司机 Ray Hand，他在 30 多岁时开始脱发。 虽然起初并未过分在意 秃顶，但这位两个孩子的父亲 在社交媒体上看到相关视频后 对该手术产生了兴趣。 “我并不是想让自己 看起来年轻 20 岁，”他 解释道。“而且因为我已经 这么多年没头发了，我觉得 植发或假发系统 看起来会很滑稽。但头皮 微色素沉着似乎是一个 绝佳的自然替代方案。” 在网上搜索后，来自多塞特郡的 Ray 发现了伦敦诊所 (The London Clinic)， 并在去年 4 月接受了手术。 他对结果非常满意。 “我最近开始了一份新工作， 当我对同事们讲述 这个手术时， 他们简直不敢相信 这不是真发，”Ray 说。 “即便近距离观察， 它看起来也如此自然。” Ray 的家人同样印象深刻。 “当我第一次告诉妻子 我考虑在头上纹发时， 她是持怀疑态度的，”他说。 “但现在她很喜欢。而且 非常贴心的是，我的女儿 特意要求我恢复 她记得我小时候 还有头发时的那个美人峰 (widow’s peak)。” 他补充道：“这极大地提升了我的自信心。”
这是事实 全球脱发产业 每年已创收 约 150 亿英镑 billion——且 预计将进一步扩大。
自信提升：Ray Hand 展示他头皮微色素沉着手术后的效果
需要进一步明确睡眠时长与阿尔茨海默病之间的关系。 NHS 建议 65 岁以下的成年人每晚应睡眠 7 到 9 小时，而 65 岁以上的人群则应以 7 到 8 小时为目标。 英国约有 100 万痴呆症患者，65 岁以上人群中每 14 人就有一人受影响。这种毁灭性的疾病会影响语言、推理、记忆以及日常任务。
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上周，我接诊了一名数月来一直饱受严重背痛之苦的患者。他之前不想麻烦医生，但疼痛已变得如此严重，以至于他最终预约了门诊。 结果证明这是一个椎间盘突出，通常可以通过止痛药物、休息和轻微运动来治疗。 但他不愿麻烦全科医生的心态令我感到不安。 研究表明，近一半的英国人会主动避免因背痛去看全科医生——其中三分之一的患者将难以及时预约视为延迟就医的主要原因。 这看起来像是一种理性的做法。在英国，近 80 ％的人在某个时间点经历过背部问题，使其成为该国最常见的慢性疼痛形式。与此同时，NHS 面临着巨大的压力，而我们也理所当然地鼓励人们不要为每一处小痛小痒都预约门诊。 但是，虽然背痛极其普遍，但它也可能是某些严重且偶尔危及生命的疾病的第一个——有时也是唯一的——预警信号。而事实是，大多数时候背痛并非由任何阴险的疾病引起，这使得人们在真正遇到危险时更容易将其忽略。 最令人担忧的问题之一是骨髓瘤——这是英国第三常见的血癌，每年有超过 6,500 人被诊断出此病。 它经常被延迟诊断的一个原因在于，其症状极其容易被轻视。 最典型的例子就是背痛。骨髓瘤患者经常表示，他们原以为只是拉伤了肌肉，通常在寻求帮助前会等待数月之久。 任何持续两周以上且没有明显改善的背痛，都值得进行一次正式的评估。 你的全科医生可以安排血液检查
我经常想起贝蒂·怀特（Betty White）那句著名的俏皮话，她说她长寿的秘密——这位《黄金女人们》的明星于 2021 年去世，享年 99 岁——是在维持热狗、薯条和伏特加的常规饮食之余，“避开所有绿色的东西”。 作为医生，我们一生都在告诫人们不要吸烟，
以及在适当的情况下，进行扫描以排除更严重的原因。 对于这类疾病，早期诊断至关重要。虽然骨髓瘤目前仍无法治愈，但治疗手段已大幅改善，由于及时开始治疗，许多患者在确诊后能生存多年。 当背部开始疼痛时，癌症可能是大多数人最后才会想到的原因。 然而，骨髓瘤并非唯一一种背痛可能成为首要线索的疾病。 胰腺癌是英国最致命的疾病之一，因其症状通常较为模糊而以诊断较晚而著称。背痛便是其中之一。胰腺癌通常引起背部中间位置的疼痛，大致在文胸肩带所在的位置，这种疼痛可能会蔓延到肩胛骨或上腹部。 女性还应了解，持续的下背部疼痛可能是卵巢癌的迹象。 卵巢癌引起的背痛可能类似于下背部深处持续性的经期疼痛，通常伴有腹胀、易饱腹感或排尿习惯改变。 需要明确的是——绝大多数背痛的人并没有患癌。远非如此。
饮酒或饮食不健康。然而，我总是被一些患者所惊讶，他们已年过八旬且看起来身体健康得像把小提琴一样，比如右图中的贝蒂，他们所做的事情与此截然相反。 因此，我很想听到那些已步入高龄且依然
身体强健，或看起来比实际年龄年轻许多的人的分享。 您是否一生都过着圣徒般的生活？或者在某个时间点，克制欲望是否反而会产生反效果？ 请通过右侧的电子邮件地址写信告诉我您的秘诀。
但诀窍在于识别背痛何时不再像普通的背痛那样表现。 医疗服务建议称，任何背部在三到四周后仍未改善的人应联系其全科医生 (GP)。 医疗服务必须采取更多措施，让患者在寻求治疗任何类型的背痛时更加便捷。在全国某些地区，预约脊柱专科医生的等待时间可能超过一年。 对于那些确实存在严重问题的人，会发生什么？ 我们需要开始将背痛视为一个重要的医学问题来对待。
这里的 全科医生
解答
我成年后的整个生活都没有过一个安稳觉。我以前服用安眠药，但显然长期服用对身体不利。我可以用什么方法替代？
英格兰有近 500 万成年人深受失眠困扰——这种睡眠障碍让人难以入睡、难以维持睡眠或无法获得良好的夜间休息。
失眠（其中老年人和女性受影响程度最高）会加剧心理健康问题，增加焦虑感，并导致头痛、恶心和疲劳等身体症状。它还将抑郁症的风险提高 2 倍，并增加患肥胖症、type 2 糖尿病和心脏病的可能性。
根据国家医疗护理卓越研究所 (NICE) 的说法，由于存在成瘾和戒断风险，应避免使用安眠药。此外，安眠药对许多人并不奏效，且往往无法提供高质量的睡眠。
相反，请向您的全科医生 (GP) 咨询是否可以转诊进行 CBT-I——这是一种针对失眠的专门认知行为疗法，可以通过小组或一对一的方式进行。它通常包括诸如“睡眠限制”之类的技术，即患者先限制在床上的时间，随着睡眠状况的改善再逐渐增加。
所谓的“睡眠卫生”也至关重要——这意味着为睡眠创造合适的条件。这包括坚持规律的就寝时间，保持卧室黑暗，必要时使用耳塞，以及在睡前避免使用电子屏幕。此外，最好在就寝前几小时避免进食、剧烈运动以及使用酒精等刺激物。
如需额外支持，Sleepio 等应用程序可引导用户通过循证技术来提高睡眠质量，而无需药物。
写信给埃莉医生 (DR ELLIE) 您有问题吗？请发送电子邮件
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服用抗抑郁药物的患者可能面临心脏骤停的风险……然而医生们却未能向他们发出警告
英格兰有近 900 万人——约占人口的六分之一——在去年被开具了抗抑郁药物。这些药物长期以来被赞誉为治疗抑郁和焦虑的改变生活的疗法，通过增加大脑中产生“愉悦感”的化学物质血清素来帮助缓解症状。
但曾经通常以月为单位计算的治疗期，现在正日益延长到远超这个时间。官方数据显示，约一半被开具抗抑郁药的人已服用该药两年以上，而四分之一（相当于约 200 万人）已使用五年以上。
许多人认为这是一件好事。严重抑郁症影响约 20 分之一的成年人，是一种严重的疾病，且一些研究发现，长期使用抗抑郁药是降低复发和自杀风险的重要工具。这些药物还可用于治疗睡眠问题、创伤后应激障碍和慢性疼痛。
但对于患者以及开药的医生来说，挑战在于一个冷酷的事实：关于连续服用此类药物数年的影响，人们知之甚少。
一些专家现在警告称，延长使用抗抑郁药的益处被夸大了。而且——更重要的是——他们指出，相关研究表明这些药物可能与严重的副作用相关。
这些影响范围广泛，包括心脏问题（包括心脏骤死）、体重增加、骨骼脆弱和骨折、性功能障碍、2 型糖尿病，甚至痴呆和认知能力下降。这些病症与抗抑郁药之间的直接联系尚未得到最终证明。但越来越多的专家认为，目前出现的证据已足以建议患者不应在严格必要的时间之外服用这些药物——绝对不能无限期服用。
其中一位专家是伦敦大学学院的精神科医生乔安娜·蒙克里夫 (Joanna Moncrieff) 教授，她一直公开批评精神类药物。她最近参与的一项研究回顾了与长期使用抗抑郁药相关的副作用研究。
该研究尚未发表，重点关注服用此类药物一年以上的人群，并发现了其与 2 型糖尿病、体重增加以及老年人跌倒和骨折之间的联系。
“我们绝对不能说长期使用抗抑郁药是安全或无害的，”蒙克里夫教授说，“因为我们还没有进行足够的研究来证明这一点。我们的回顾研究主要发现，关于长期抗抑郁治疗效果的证据非常匮乏。”
“研究很少，且大多质量较低。我们没有对此问题进行妥善调查，而这应该是一个令人担忧的原因，尤其是考虑到有这么多长期用户。”
“如果能形成比目前更短的抗抑郁药使用模式，将大大减轻它们造成的伤害以及与之相关的发病率负担。”
来自伦敦帝国理工学院的精神科医生萨米尔·贾哈尔 (Sameer Jauhar) 博士补充道：“我们现在通过多项研究了解到，不同的抗抑郁[药物]……”
【事实】 在服用抗抑郁药物时食用葡萄柚会导致头晕和心率加快。
抗抑郁药具有不同的长期影响——尤其是对心脏的影响——在医生为患者开药做决定时，应该将这一点考虑在内。’
目前，药品监管机构国家医疗服务体系卓越研究所（NICE）的官方指南建议，人们在症状显著改善至少六个月后应考虑停止服用抗抑郁药。对于复发性抑郁症，患者可以继续服用此类药物“两年或更长时间”。但很少有人被警告这样做可能涉及的额外风险。部分原因是这项研究难以剖析。
抑郁症患者本身就面临更高的心脏病、中风、2型糖尿病、肥胖症和痴呆症风险，因为诸如倦怠和缺乏动力等症状会使维持健康的饮食和生活方式变得更加困难。
科学家还认为，抑郁症可能会导致全身和大脑出现有害炎症，而这种炎症被认为在多种慢性疾病中发挥着作用。这意味着，要理清某种特定的副作用是由抗抑郁药引起的，还是作为抑郁症本身的间接影响，并非易事。
伦敦大学学院流行病学精神病学教授格林·刘易斯（Glyn Lewis）表示，许多将抗抑郁药与长期健康问题联系起来的研究都是观察性的——它们在一段时间内跟踪大规模人群——这意味着它们可以识别相关性，但不能证明是药物本身导致的。不过他补充道：‘这显然是我们必须认真对待的事情。’
精神病学教授大卫·希利（David Healy）博士长期研究其副作用，
蕾切尔·巴克马斯特（RACHEL BUCKMASTER）在 27 岁时经历了她的第一次心悸。这位来自剑桥郡的科学家说：“那是一种砰砰跳的感觉，就像有人击中了我的胸口。我当时吓坏了。”
起初这种情况只是偶尔发生，但发作频率逐渐增加——一个月后，蕾切尔预约了全科医生的紧急诊疗。
她说：“他们给我佩戴了一个 24 小时心电监测仪。但他们无法准确告诉我具体原因。”
他们能提供的唯一建议就是停止服用西酞普兰（citalopram）这种抗抑郁药，这是她在五年前因创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）而被开的药。因此，蕾切尔立即停药。
虽然在没有药物的情况下，她的情绪大约花了三个月才稳定下来，但心悸再也没有出现过。
她说：“医生从未直接说抗抑郁药导致了心脏问题。但从他们的建议来看，显然他们认为两者之间存在联系。”
“我从未被警告过，长期服用这些药物可能会带来这样的风险。”
“很长一段时间里，我以为只有我一个人这样。现在我知道其他人也有类似的经历。我只是不明白，为什么没有人建议早点停药。”
一名研究抗抑郁药的专家认为，这些损害在生物学上是合理的。
他指出：“血清素存在于我们的骨骼、关节、肌肉、周围神经系统——除了大脑之外的很多地方。如果一种抗抑郁药旨在增加血清素，它就会改变体内的状况。很有可能如果你服用一段时间，它就会引起问题。”
“看看其他例子，比如抗生素——短期内没问题，但长期来看，出现问题的可能性在增加。”
一些公认的抗抑郁药副作用在开始用药后很快就会出现，且通常会提醒患者。
这些副作用包括情感淡漠、睡眠改变、胃肠道问题和体重增加。
被称为选择性血清素再摄取抑制剂（SSRIs）的抗抑郁药——这是最常见的一种——会导致性功能障碍和性欲降低。
其他研究则指出了对心脏的影响。较早期的抗抑郁药，即所谓的血清素-去甲肾上腺素再摄取抑制剂（SNRIs）以及三环类药物，会增加体内一种关键的“战斗或逃跑”激素——去甲肾上腺素的水平，而这与心率增加、血压升高、胆固醇升高以及血管收缩有关。
然而，对心脏最令人担忧的影响或许是
健康
这是一个事实 一些患者发现 抗抑郁药 可能会使某些 食物尝起来有金属味、 平淡无味或完全 失去吸引力。
关于它们可能会延长 QT 间期（心电图或 ECG 的一项测量指标，反映了 心脏下腔室在每次 心跳后收缩并复位的 所需时间）的建议。如果 QT 间期 变得过长，心脏将面临 危险的律动紊乱风险， 这可能导致心悸、 眩晕，并在极少数 情况下导致心源性猝死。 一项 2025 年提交给欧洲心脏病学会 大会的研究发现，使用抗抑郁药 一到五年之间， 心源性猝死的风险增加了 56%。 用药时间最长的人风险最高。 蒙克里夫教授（Prof Moncrieff）表示：“我们 已经知道这些药物可以
影响心脏的电活动，因此它们 可能会产生这些影响，尽管 其他因素也可能在影响这项研究。” 根据蒙克里夫教授未发表的分析， 最明显的联系似乎是 与 2 型糖尿病相关。部分风险 可以用抗抑郁药可能引起的 体重增加来解释，但 研究人员还认为这些药物 可能会干扰身体的血糖控制。 此外，关于骨折风险较高的 证据也在增加。2010 年， 英国药品和医疗产品监管机构 （Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency） 警告医生， 50 岁以上服用 SSRIs 或三环类 抗抑郁药的人 患骨折的可能性可能高达两倍， 且风险似乎随着患者 用药时间的增加而上升。 具体原因尚不明确。 抑郁症患者更容易 吸烟、缺乏运动且 饮食较差——所有这些 都会削弱骨骼并增加 骨折风险。
关于痴呆症的证据 则远没有那么确定。抑郁症 本身就是一个主要风险因素， 这使得人们难以将疾病的影响 与药物的影响分开。 但专家表示，对于较旧的抗抑郁药， 特别是阿米替林（amitriptyline）为何 可能影响记忆，存在一个合理的生物学解释。一项 2025 年的瑞典研究 还表明，已经患有痴呆症的人 如果服用高剂量的 SSRIs， 病情下降速度更快。 蒙克里夫教授指出 长期使用的另一个严重问题—— 它会使戒断症状更加严重。 这些症状包括“脑电击感”（brain zaps）、情绪低落、 焦虑、流感样症状、 躁动和失眠。患者 不应突然停止服药， 并且应始终与全科医生（GP）讨论 如何停药，这可能涉及 缓慢减量。 蒙克里夫教授明确表示， 这些潜在的长期影响 应该让患者质疑 抗抑郁药是否仍然适合他们。 “如果这些是极其有效的治疗方法， 也许值得承担这些风险，”她补充道。“但大多数 证据表明，它们并不比安慰剂好多少。” MHRA 首席安全官 Alison Cave 博士表示，每种抗抑郁药 都有其自身的“独特益处和潜在风险”， 且副作用在患者信息叶子中 有明确列出。 她补充道：“我们认识到 副作用可能对生活质量产生的影响。 ‘重要的是患者应 继续服用药物， 在未先咨询医疗专业人员之前， 不要停止或更改治疗。任何 担心副作用， 或出现他们认为可能与药物 相关的症状的人， 都应咨询其医生或药剂师。’ ”
与儿童 频发感冒 相关
一项研究表明，反复感冒和发烧可能会增加儿童患上湿疹的可能性。 湿疹，也称为特应性皮炎，是一种瘙痒性皮肤病，被认为是由遗传因素、免疫系统功能障碍以及皮肤屏障受损共同引起的，后者会导致水分流失且刺激物能够渗透进皮肤。 在英国，每五名儿童中就有一名患有此病，每十名成年人中就有一名患有此病。该病通常始于幼儿期，尽管许多人的症状会随年龄增长而改善。湿疹会导致皮肤发痒、发红、干燥和出现裂口，并可能对生活质量产生巨大影响。 现在，研究人员表示，他们可能知道了为什么有些儿童更容易患上湿疹。在发表于《美国医学会皮肤病学杂志》（Jama Dermatology）的一项研究中，研究人员分析了来自丹麦和美国的两个出生队列的数据。在丹麦组中，团队追踪了 663 名儿童，并记录他们三岁前每日的感染情况，例如感冒、耳道感染、扁桃腺炎、肺炎、胃肠炎和发烧。他们发现呼吸道感染与
较高的湿疹风险相关，感染次数较多的人更有可能被诊断出患有此病。 感染次数最多的人患湿疹的可能性比感染次数最少的人高 60 百分比。作者认为，早期的呼吸道感染可能会以某种方式影响发育中的免疫系统，从而增加患湿疹的可能性。 这一结果在美国一个由 707 名儿童组成的队列中得到了重复验证。在考虑到抗生素使用情况以及丝聚合蛋白（filaggrin）基因变异（已知最强的湿疹遗传风险因素之一）后，这种关联依然存在。 科学家写道：“这些发现表明，早期呼吸道感染与湿疹之间存在一种长期关系，由于以往研究结果不一致，这种关系此前并不明确。” 然而，他们表示，这项观察性研究无法确定感染是否直接导致了湿疹，并指出许多湿疹的诊断发生在记录感染期间，因此很难确定是感染先于该病症出现。
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虽然减重药物引发的热潮正处于巅峰，但对于某些人来说，每周注射的持续成本可能过高。相反，许多人现在正转向一种不寻常且廉价的天然补充剂，使用者称其在支持减轻体重的同时，还能帮助控制食欲，甚至在减掉多余体重后改善皮肤质量。
亚精胺（Spermidine）因其在回收受损细胞中的作用，长期以来在生物黑客（即利用科学、极端饮食和技术以期延长寿命的人群）中广受欢迎。如今，它在应对肥胖和肝脏疾病方面的潜力正引起更广泛的关注。
科学家认为，这种天然存在的化合物可能支持DNA修复、心脏健康和健康老龄化。
亚精胺最初在人类精液中被发现（其名称由此而来），随后被发现存在于身体各处。它也存在于小麦胚芽、成熟奶酪、大豆、蘑菇和青椒等食物中。
大约十年来，它一直作为非处方补充剂销售，通常为粉末或胶囊形式，每日的服用成本约为 16p 至 £1.20。
在其名人追随者中包括前《Countdown》节目共同主持人卡罗尔·沃德曼（Carol Vorderman），她表示每天服用亚精胺，因为她相信这有助于延缓衰老。
现在，致力于长寿和减重的社交媒体用户正在分享将亚精胺用于减重方案的技巧——其中一人声称在不到一年的时间里减轻了超过九英石（nine stone）的体重。
但科学研究究竟怎么说？
一些研究表明，亚精胺可能通过触发禁食期间激活的一些生物过程，来模拟热量限制。当身体缺乏营养时，亚精胺水平会自然上升，从而帮助开启一个名为“细胞自噬”（autophagy）的过程——即身体的细胞回收系统。
伦敦大学学院医院（University College London Hospitals）老年医学科主任阿什拉德·拉瑟（Arshad Rather）教授解释道：“细胞自噬会清除受损的蛋白质和磨损的细胞部件，使细胞能够将其回收为新的构建模块。”
“随着年龄增长，这个过程的效率会降低，导致损伤累积。”
“科学家认为，维持健康的细胞自噬可能有助于预防与年龄相关的病况……”
@BarneyCalman @EnnalsEthan @Dr_Ellie @MeikeLeonard @martistelling
追随者：卡罗尔·沃德曼认为亚精胺有助于延缓衰老
有什么区别……
游泳者耳（Swimmer’s ear）是外耳道的感染，外耳道是指从鼓膜延伸到头部外部的区域。 它通常是由积水导致细菌或真菌滋生引起的。 症状包括耳道瘙痒、牵拉耳垂时疼痛、耳朵流液以及堵塞感。这种情况通常采用抗生素或抗真菌耳滴剂治疗。
中耳感染是由病毒或细菌性疾病引起的，导致液体积聚和炎症。 它可能伴有鼻塞或发烧，且感觉耳内有压力。 中耳感染通常会自行痊愈。抗生素仅用于严重或持续不愈的情况。
……包括代谢性疾病、肝脏疾病和心脏疾病。” 实验室研究还表明，亚精胺（spermidine）可能会增强参与胶原蛋白和弹性蛋白生成的基因活性，这意味着它可能有助于减轻快速减肥后的皮肤松弛。然而，目前几乎没有证据表明这种情况发生在人类身上。
研究人员发现，饮食中天然含有该化合物较多的人，心血管疾病发病率较低，且全因死亡风险较低，随后人们对该化合物的兴趣开始激增。
一项于上月发表在《欧洲营养学杂志》（European Journal of Nutrition）上的研究，对西班牙 2,600 多名超重或肥胖且患有代谢综合征（一组会增加心脏病和 2 型糖尿病风险的疾病）的老年人进行了跟踪调查。 在一年时间内增加富含亚精胺食物摄入量的参与者，在肝脏健康、血糖和胆固醇方面的改善情况优于摄入量较少的人。他们在体重减轻和脂肪肝疾病指标方面的下降幅度也更大。
在英国，肥胖是非酒精性脂肪性肝病的主要诱因，据估计，每三个成年人中就有一人受到影响。 Rather 教授表示，这些研究结果令人鼓舞，但应谨慎解读。 他说：“这项研究显示的是相关性而非因果关系。在我们可以确定增加亚精胺摄入量会导致这些结果之前，还需要更多的临床试验。” 顶尖营养学家 Gabriela Peacock 补充道：“关于心脏健康、死亡率、生物老化和肝脏健康的大多数令人鼓舞的发现，都来自观察人们饮食的研究。” “简单的改变可以包括在酸奶或粥中加入小麦胚芽，在沙拉和汤中使用小扁豆或鹰嘴豆，定期食用蘑菇，以及用全谷物代替精制谷物。”
动物研究也暗示了潜在的护肝益处。 5 月发表的一项研究发现，亚精胺减少了小鼠的肝脏瘢痕和其他肝损伤指标。然而，科学家表示，目前尚不清楚非处方补充剂是否能提供与富含亚精胺的食物相同的益处。 令人惊讶的是，一项 2022 年的中国研究发现，肥胖成年人血液中的该化合物水平实际上高于体重正常的人。然而，血液中水平最高的人在接下来的两年中增加体重的可能性较小，这导致研究人员认为，该化合物可能是人体对肥胖相关代谢压力自然反应的一部分。
风险可能 就隐藏在 你的 大腿中……
一项研究发现，大腿长度可能有助于检测糖尿病。 目前，英国有 400 多万人被诊断患有糖尿病，其中 2 型糖尿病占十分之九。 据估计，另有 1.3 百万人患有此病但尚未确诊。 对于许多人来说，糖尿病症状（包括疲劳、口渴和尿频）的缓慢发作，可能导致该病在多年内未被发现。 现在，一个来自丹麦的研究团队表示，他们可能找到了解决方案：一种简单的居家自检方法，其中一项指标就是测量大腿长度。 “2 型糖尿病通过血液检测很容易诊断，但如果你不怀疑自己患病，就不会去医生那里做检查，”丹麦技术大学的研究员 Daniel Yoo 博士说。“这就是为什么居家在线测试可以鼓励人们就医。”
这项名为 MEDWACS 的测试可以在线完成，其开发基于美国国家健康与营养检查调查中 30 年的健康数据。 在针对美国和韩国样本组的测试中发现，该检查在检测糖尿病前期以及未确诊 2 型糖尿病患者方面非常有效。 该测试针对 7 个不同的参数进行提问，并收集参与者的性别、年龄和 BMI 等基本信息。所有答案都可以使用卷尺、体重秤和标准血压计在家里收集。 研究人员发现，糖尿病风险最令人惊讶的迹象是大腿长度较短。 他们写道：“股骨的长度见证了幼儿时期的营养状况。生命最初几年的营养不良会轻微抑制骨骼生长，并与数十年后糖尿病风险增加密切相关。” 同样，研究人员表示，由于人体最大的肌肉群位于大腿，而这些肌肉负责清除血液中的糖分，因此腿较短意味着一个人拥有较少的肌肉量来吸收糖分，从而增加了患糖尿病的风险。
星期日邮报 8 月 2 日 • 2026 年
财富 个人理财
在经历了近 20 年的家庭满员之后，当孩子们离开家去上大学或寻找第一份工作时，父母可能需要数年时间才能适应“空巢”生活。即便那些想念热闹和陪伴的人，至少也会在看到食品账单骤降、有了更多接待客人的空间，且无需再唠叨成年孩子自己洗衣服时而感到欣慰。
但一个令人担忧的现象是，许多人发现他们 20-something 的孩子在毕业后被迫直接搬回家中。高企的房价、攀升的失业率和顽固的通货膨胀，让数十万年轻人几乎别无选择。官方数据显示，去年每三个 18 至 34 岁的人中就有一个与父母同住，相当于近五百万年轻人。
上周，首相安迪·伯纳姆 (Andy Burnham) 承诺将遏制“尼特族”(Neets)——即那些不在接受教育、不在就业且不在接受培训的人群——数量的增长，目前这一人数已超过一百万。然而，即使是那些幸运地抢到稀缺大学毕业生职位的年轻人，为了省钱也经常在童年时代的卧室里远程办公。根据对比网站 Finder 的数据，首次置业者目前购房的平均支出为 £226,000。
虽然有些父母可能很高兴孩子回来，但另一些人可能向往安静的家，并希望孩子能够独立自强。
财务问题可能会变成一个“雷区”，而第一次要求成年子女支付房租可能会很困难。
那么，让他们住在家里究竟会增加多少额外开支？收取多少租金才算公平？帮助他们开始独立生活的最佳方式是什么？“财富与个人理财”栏目将为此进行数据分析，并咨询专业财务规划师。
计算养在家中的成本
财富管理公司 Quilter 为《星期日邮报》进行的计算发现，一名成年子女住在家里，每年在食品、能源和水费上的支出为 £3,246。
这其中包括每年额外增加的 £2,421 食品费用，涵盖杂货、外卖和外出就餐。
水费因地区而异，但居住人数也会产生影响。根据 Southern Water 的数据，平均两人家庭每年的水费支出为 £832，如果增加一名成员，则升至 £988。
在目前的 Ofgem 能源价格上限率下，父母每年还将多支付 £669 的能源账单。这是基于一个家庭在孩子搬回家后，能源使用量从“中等”变为“高”的情况。
这意味着，如果一个孩子从 18 岁到 34, 岁一直住在家里，你在这段时间内将额外花费 £55,187。那么，想要解决这一成本的父母应该从哪里入手？
是时候进行一次艰难的对话了
要求孩子认真考虑下一步计划可能是一次棘手的对话，但有办法让它变得更容易。
主持《这不是关于钱》(It’s Not About The Money) 播客的财务教练凯瑟琳·摩根 (Catherine Morgan) 表示：“时机非常重要。在理想情况下，你应该在真正需要进行这些对话之前一段相当长的时间就开始沟通，这样才不会感到意外。”
“把这次对话安排在周末，当你不再匆忙且没有压力的时候。金钱天然地带有很强的情绪色彩，所以你需要确保自己在晚餐时处于放松状态。”
在这次对话中，你可以评估孩子搬出去的意愿，并与他们讨论如何实现这一目标。
他们需要攒够租房或买房的定金。这可能涉及多种储蓄产品的组合，包括现金个人储蓄账户 (Isas)。
储蓄者每年可以将高达 £20,000 的资金存入此类账户（如果你低于 65 岁，明年 4 月起为 £12,000），并获得免缴储蓄税的利息。
或者，如果你的孩子计划购买一套价格低于 £450,000, 的房产，
他们可以利用终身个人储蓄账户 (Lifetime Isa)。这类账户允许首次购房者每年将高达 £4,000 的资金投入现金或投资，并享受免税收益。此外，政府还会为其年度储蓄提供 25% 的补贴，帮助他们更快地实现目标。
股票及股份个人储蓄账户 (stocks and shares Isa) 可能性不大是最佳选择。虽然长期投资的增长通常远超现金回报，但投资应至少保留五年，以应对股市的波动。
如果他们的积蓄不多，可能需要一段时间才能买房——除非您在首付款或抵押贷款方面提供帮助。即便如此，您也应旨在设定一个带有具体目标的明确时间表，否则您的孩子可能会习惯于在家里白吃白住。
经纪公司 John Charcol 的尼古拉斯·门德斯 (Nicholas Mendes) 表示：“我见过的最成功的案例并非是通过最后通牒——而是一个全家人都同意的计划，通常是在搬出前 6 到 12 个月制定。”
“如果父母继续无期限地支付所有费用，而不是将支持转向首付款或一个能推动进程的抵押贷款结构，计划可能会失效。”
正在储蓄的孩子可能仍然需要鼓励——只是方式有所不同。
摩根 (Morgan) 表示：“天生的储蓄者在决定搬出去时会很纠结。他们可能会说：‘现在不是买房的好时机。’”
在这种情况下，他们需要的是搬出的“许可”而非压力，因此摩根建议尝试使用这样的措辞：“你离目标比你感觉的要近。我们要不要定一个实际的日期开始看房？”
或者甚至尝试：“是什么阻碍了我们把目标定在春天？你可能已经拥有比你想象中更多的钱。”
与此同时，如果您有需要，收取房租是有意义的。但如果您的财务状况充裕，向一名正在储蓄的年轻成年人收取房租可能会阻碍他们的计划。
摩根表示：“如果他们已经在努力，原则上增加房租可能会与你们共同的目标背道而驰。”
对于那些不热衷于搬出去的孩子，收取房租可能是他们需要的推动力。
如果您每月收取 £300 的房租，而他们与朋友合租房间需要 £500，那么他们可能会觉得每月多花 £200 来换取自己的空间和独立是值得的。
如果您的孩子从事一份全职且高薪的工作，您可以更进一步，要求支付市场价房租，这很可能会促使他们去寻找自己的住所。
一个长期来看可能对他们有帮助的方案是：收取房租，并将全部或部分房租存入储蓄账户，在他们准备好搬出时交给他们。
摩根表示：“收取房租在配合计划和沟通时效果最好。如果单独实施，可能会制造出一个心怀怨恨的租客。”
如果您希望尽快收回自己的房屋，或者您的孩子计划在伦敦或东南部买房，您可能需要动用自己的银行账户来加快进程。
赠送首付款资金是
这是父母和祖父母帮助年轻人踏入房产阶梯最常见的方式。 根据房地产中介 Savills 的数据，英格兰首次置业者的平均首付款为 £63,855，因此，超过一半的首次置业者在进入房产阶梯时得到了资金资助，这也就不足为奇了。 以一个想要购买价值 £200,000 房屋的年轻人为例。 他们需要 £20,000 作为典型的 10% 首付款。 但如果他们仅有 £10,000 积蓄，且每月只能省下 £300，那么需要两年半以上的时间才能攒够钱。 经纪公司 L&C Mortgages 的 David Hollingworth 表示，你可以通过赠与资金来加速这一过程——而且在大多数情况下，这必须是赠与而非贷款。 他解释说，一些贷款机构可能会比较宽松，但贷款会影响你的孩子能够借到的金额。由于你的孩子需要向你偿还款项，贷款机构在计算其还款能力时会将此因素考虑在内， 这意味着他们可能无法借到那么多钱。 贷款机构通常要求提供一封确认信，证明该款项为赠与，且你不对该房产拥有任何权利。你需要声明你并不期望这笔钱被偿还。 Morgan 并不推崇赠与首付款，因为她认为这无法让年轻人了解金钱的现实。她补充道：“这种财务救援的影响是它消除了个人责任感。你想给他们最好的。但赠与首付款剥夺了建立财务韧性的能力。”
或者你可以通过加入他们的抵押贷款来提供帮助
如果你的孩子设法攒够了首付款，但收入仍不足以通过贷款机构严格的还款能力评估，那么你可以考虑在抵押贷款方面提供帮助。 这与赠与资金不同，通常涉及你以某种方式加入抵押贷款——但对于父母来说，这可能是一个风险较高的选择。 最常见的是所谓的“共同借款人，单一所有权”(JBSP) 抵押贷款，这意味着你的收入可以被计入你孩子的评估中。 买家通常可以借到其收入的五倍左右。 这意味着对于一套 £300,000 的房子，他们需要 £30,000 的首付款 (10%)。为了借到剩下的 £270,000，他们通常需要年收入达到 £54,000 左右——这对年轻人来说是一笔很高的金额。 如果他们赚 £30,000，那么购买首套房可能只能借到 £150,000。但如果他们与一名收入为 £40,000 的父母共同签署 JBSP 抵押贷款，他们可能会借到 £350,000。 但如果你的孩子停止还款，你将承担责任——而且你仍然不会获得该房产的任何所有权，因此寻求法律建议至关重要。 Mendes 表示，你应该从第一天起就商定一个退出计划。“这绝不应被视为永久性的，你应该将这项债务纳入你自己的未来借款或退休计划中。”
l 您与成年子女共同生活的经验如何？ 请告诉我们：lucy.evans@dailymail.co.uk
来自伦敦西部厄克斯布里奇（Uxbridge）的保罗·奥布赖恩（PAUL O’Brien），50 岁，以及他的妻子洛兰（Lorraine），45 岁，在面对成年子女住在家里这件事上有着丰富的经验。这个关系紧密的家庭因为儿子杰克（Jake）的悲剧性去世而变得更加团结，杰克 26 岁，在与癌症斗争十年后于去年 10 月去世。他们最小的孩子莉莉（Lily），22 岁，在完成牙科护士资格认证后住在家里。他们的儿子亚当（Adam），25 岁，在英国陆军海外驻 stationed；而埃莉（Ellie），23 岁，在布里斯托大学获得学位后加入了皇家空军（RAF）。
公务员保罗表示，他在要求莉莉支付房租时没有犹豫。他说：“家庭对我们来说是一切，但我们希望孩子们能独立自强。当我要求莉莉每周支付 £50 作为食宿费时，她并不高兴。她的许多朋友住在家里不需要付钱，所以她认为这不公平。”
他补充道：“我们选择每月 £200，因为这足以让她意识到房租和餐饮并非免费。尽管她的起薪只有每年 £25,000，但她依然有足够的钱出去娱乐并为未来攒钱。她现在也不再抱怨了，因为她明白了在伦敦生活的成本。”
这对夫妇安排莉莉通过每月自动转账支付这笔钱，这样她就习惯了资金自动从账户中划走。保罗补充道：“如果我们全家出去吃饭，绝对不存在分摊账单的问题。他们知道我们很乐意支持他们。但他们需要明白有些账单必须支付，并学习预算规划的挑战。”
奥布赖恩一家表示，青少年癌症信托基金（Teenage Cancer Trust）和格雷特奥蒙德街医院（Great Ormond Street Hospital）的支持对于杰克对抗淋巴瘤至关重要。
其他读者，如萨姆·麦克休（Sam McHugh），表示他们也要求孩子分担费用。萨姆说，她的两个大孩子大学毕业后搬回了家，她的女儿在工作并攒钱与伴侣同居期间每月支付 £200。萨姆的儿子当时没有工作且领取通用信贷（universal credit），支付的金额较低，为 £120。
“你会尽力帮助孩子，但没有他们，我的伙食费和水电费会更低，”她说。
另一位读者特雷西·萨克林（Tracey Suckling）写道：“我想不出有什么比 30 多岁还住在家里更糟糕的了——我十几岁后期就搬出去了。但直到两年前，我两个成年儿子都住在家里，现在分别是 33 岁和 30 岁——此外还有小儿子的女朋友。”
“小儿子和他的女朋友每月支付 £200，而我的大儿子因为赚得更多，坚持支付 £200。他们自行购买并烹饪食物。现在两人都攒够钱买了属于自己的房子。”
读者戴安娜·丁格尔（Diane Dingle）写道：“当我的儿子在 1998 年获得第一份工作时，我让他每周支付 £10 [住在家里]，并存 £50。当他涨薪后，他增加了储蓄金额。多亏了这样，他在 27 岁时攒够了购买共有产权房（shared ownership house）的首付款。”
“预算规划应该在学校教授，父母也必须帮助孩子。”
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P HIL Maciver 在每月初会检查他的国家储蓄与投资 (NS&I) 账户，看看是否赢得了优质债券 (Premium Bond) 的奖金。他是英国 22.7 百万持有该政府担保债券的人之一，这些债券让他们每月有机会赢得从 £25 到 £1 million 大奖不等的奖金。
抽奖在每月的第一个工作日进行，结果于次日公布。现金奖金通常在 7 日前进入获胜者的银行账户。
Phil 持有优质债券已有 50 年，并投入了最高允许限额 £50,000，因此他对正常的抽奖时间非常熟悉。
因此，这位来自阿伯丁郡、现年 70, 岁的前海岸警卫队成员在 4 月 21 日收到一份 £50 的奖金时感到非常震惊——这距离抽奖已经过去了近三周。“我无法理解为什么会被给予 £50，因为当时并没有抽奖，”他说。“突然收到 £50 感觉很奇怪。”
由于这次不寻常的意外之财感到困惑，且 NS&I 账户中没有多少解释，Phil 转向社交媒体，在 Facebook 的一个优质债券粉丝群组中发布信息，试图寻找答案。
该群组的成员告诉他，他很可能赢得了所谓的“递补” (move up) 奖项。随后，运营优质债券的国家所有制储蓄银行 NS&I 确认了这一点。
这些奖金是在之前的抽奖中授予某位债券持有者的，但后来发现该持有者没有资格领取——根据 NS&I 的数据，这类奖项每年发放约 4,200 份。
一旦 NS&I 发现奖金不应发放给该债券持有者，它就会将其收回并转交给另一位持有者。
NS&I 表示，为了应对这种情况，它在每次抽奖时都会抽取额外的号码，以备不时之需。
如果某个奖项失效，它将交给名单上的下一位债券持有者。
NS&I 可能需要数月甚至数年时间才能发现某个奖项被错误地
分配，并向替代获胜者发放递补奖金。这意味着即使你已经兑现了债券，你仍然可能因此赢得一份递补奖金。
这也意味着你在一个月中的任何时间都可能收到递补奖金，因为 NS&I 在发放此类奖金时不受抽奖时间的限制。
如果你赢得了一份你仍然持有的优质债券的递补奖金，你应该会通过银行账户、支票或进入你的 NS&I 账户收到该奖金。
如果你不再持有这些债券，NS&I 表示它将使用债券兑现时记录的最新联系详情。
一名 NS&I 发言人表示：“每月大约有 350 份奖金因各种原因被发现不合格。”
“这意味着我们可以将奖金传递给排在后面的人，从而创造意外的惊喜。我们会发出信函解释这次意外中奖。”
“随后，奖金将直接支付到新获胜者的优质债券持有账户中，或其指定的银行账户，或以支票形式发送。”
那么，为什么有人可能不具备中奖资格？
NS&I 表示，如果债券持有者超过了 £50,000 的限额，就可能发生这种情况。例如，当两个账户合并时，如果某人在童年时有人为其购买了债券，随后成年后又在另一个独立账户中自行购买了更多债券，就可能出现这种情况。
如果出现以下情况，奖项也可能不合格：
运气好：Phil Maciver（左）是优质债券每月抽奖中的惊喜获胜者之一
债券持有者已去世。在这种情况下，其债券在 12 个月后将失去抽奖资格。 奖项不会仅仅因为债券持有者未领取而重新分配。有些奖项是在几十年前赢得的，至今仍在等待合法所有者领取。 NS&I 表示，在大多数奖项升级（move up prizes）的情况下，原奖项在被取消时尚未兑现。 然而，如果已经兑现，NS&I 将执行付款召回以追回资金。这将涉及 NS&I 要求奖项领取者的银行联系客户，并请求允许退还资金。 溢价债券（Premium Bond）的奖金率从 7 月抽奖起提高至 3.8%，该月共支付了 £4.33 亿奖金——比前一个月多了 £57 百万。 单张 £1 债券的中奖概率现在是 22,000 分之一。持有的债券越多，中奖机会就越大。 然而，根据投资平台 AJ Bell 的数据，三分之二的债券持有者从未中过奖。 任何赢得的奖金均为免税——对于任何原本需要为储蓄利息纳税的人来说，这是一个关键优势。不过，如果储蓄者选择传统的储蓄账户，其资金年利率最高可达 5%。
您已经检查了护照是否有效，购买了旅行保险并收拾好了沙滩装。但将英镑兑换成目的地的现金却被您排在了待办事项列表的末尾。好消息是，您不必在境外交易费上支付过高费用，也不必在机场兑换货币时支付巨额手续费。
诸如 Lloyds、TSB 和 Halifax 等大型银行在境外刷卡交易时会收取高达 2.99% 的费用，这意味着每消费 £1,000 就要花费近 £30。但目前有许多银行不收取此类费用，且开设账户仅需几分钟。
这并不影响您现有的银行账户，不过如果您将当前账户（current account）转移到新供应商，可能会获得丰厚的奖励金。在某些情况下，您在通过银行智能手机应用程序设置完毕后的几分钟内，即可使用新的数字卡。
以下是度假消费的最佳卡片选择、适用人群，以及在境外付款时需要注意的事项。
旅行者最佳综合银行
FIRST DIRECT 的借记卡在海外消费和现金取款时零费用，且其提供的 £250 免息透支额度在紧急情况下非常有用。
该银行还为愿意转移当前账户的用户提供 £175 的奖励金。但账户转移需要 7 个工作日，而获得奖励金可能需要一个月以上的时间。
一旦申请通过，您将立即获得当前账户的访问权限以及一张可立即使用的虚拟卡。First Direct 表示，99% 的客户在六天内收到实体卡。
该银行的客户服务评价很高。在为竞争与市场管理局（Competition and Markets Authority）制作的最新银行客户调查中，74% 的受访者表示会向朋友和家人推荐 First Direct——使其在综合质量方面排名第四。
利率审查机构 Moneyfacts 的金融专家 Rachel Springall 表示，First Direct 的客户服务“标准很高，提供 24 / 7 电话支持，因此如果客户遇到任何问题，应该能让他们安心”。
汇率最佳预付卡
当您在境外使用常用的借记卡或信用卡时，通常根据您银行首选的支付网络，获得 Mastercard 或 Visa 的汇率。
这些汇率每天设定一次，比欧洲中央银行公布的汇率略高一点。
这两家卡片提供商提供的汇率往往相似。例如在 7 月 28 日，Mastercard 将 £1,000 兑换为 €1,170.55，而 Visa 则将该金额兑换为 €1,173.53（此处未计算任何银行手续费）。
两者的差额为 €2.98。
但您还可以使用所谓的银行间汇率（interbank rate）——即银行兑换货币的实时汇率。由于这是实时汇率，有时其效果比 Visa 和 Mastercard 设定的汇率更好。
投资平台 Trading 212 提供一张使用银行间汇率的预付卡。
您需要消费数千英镑才能注意到省钱的效果，但 Trading 212 卡的主要优势在于
金融 周日邮报 (MAIL ON SUNDAY)
通常可以通过将其添加到数字钱包中立即开始使用卡片。然而，在现金取款金额上通常存在限制。
Starling 在取款方面提供了更大的灵活性。您每天最多可取款 £300，每天最多可取款 6 次。Chase 允许您每天提取 £500，但在海外时的每月限额为 £1,500。
使用 Monzo 的标准账户，您在英国和欧洲每 30 天可免费提取 £400。如果 Monzo 是您的主账户，则没有限制。
对比网站 Finder 的 Kate Steere 表示：“如果您追求一个流畅的 App，并拥有真正实用的预算管理工具（例如用于度假储蓄的 Spaces 和用于分摊费用的 Settle Up），那么 Starling 是最佳选择。”
在提取现金时，尽量寻找当地银行运营的 ATM 机以降低成本。您通常会被收取固定费用，但在这些分行办理可能会更便宜。
削减您的 夏季度假 开支
在其他地方。使用该卡在海外消费无外币交易费，且每月可免费提取高达 £400 的现金。您的现金还可以赚取 3.8% 的利息。办理实体卡寄送的费用为 £4.95。虚拟卡免费，并在开户后即可立即使用。 关于汇率的第一条准则是：避免在最后时刻使用机场服务来兑换货币。 此外，在旅途中使用 ATM 机时，如果面临选择用英镑还是当地货币支付，专家建议选择当地货币。这样可以避开外国银行昂贵的加价。 最佳旅行信用卡
信用卡供应商收取的境外交易费高达 2.99%。有些银行在现金提取上征收更高的费用，例如 Tesco 信用卡收取 3.99%，此外还需支付 2.75% 的外汇费。 如果您需要提取 £500 的当地货币，使用这张卡将花费您 £33.70。 您可以找到不收取这两项费用的信用卡。其中一个首选是 Lloyds Ultra 信用卡。该卡不收取境外交易费或现金提取费，此外，第一年所有刷卡购物还可获得 1% 的现金返还。 购物利率相对较低，为 14.9%，但这是一个代表性利率，并非每个人都能获得。您应该在五个到七个工作日内收到卡片，Lloyds 表示您将在“短短几天内”在应用程序中看到您的卡片详情——之后您可以通过将其添加到 Apple 或 Google Pay 来进行数字化支付。 关于信用卡的几个提醒。在现金提取方面，与您偿还购物余额时拥有的宽限期不同，利息从您拿到钱的那一刻起就开始计算。 在申请信用卡时，您应首先检查申请资格。这不会影响您的信用记录。 度假者如果使用信用卡购买，还可以获得额外保护。任何价值在 £100 到 £30,000 之间且未收到的商品或服务，都受到《消费者信用法》第 75 条的保障。 最佳旅行 App 银行
Chase、Monzo 和 Starling 等数字挑战者银行在旅行者中变得非常流行，因为它们不收取境外交易费。 它们基于 App 运行，因此只需几分钟即可在手机上开立账户，而且您
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ELEN White 和她的伴侣 Paul Hart 正在筹备一次间隔年旅行。但这两人并非在高中毕业后去背包旅行的青少年——他们是越来越多计划在晚年完成“人生清单”旅行的职员之一。 Paul，46 岁，计划在四年后从一家工程公司退休。Helen，45 岁，可以就其业务分析师的职位申请最长一年的学术假。 两人在一起 25 年，住在东萨塞克斯郡的布莱顿，他们决定 Paul 满 50 岁将是进行这次终生之旅的完美时机。 “我们希望以此纪念我的退休，以及 Helen 全职工作的结束，”Paul 说道，因为 Helen 计划在这次长时间休假后减少工作时间。“我们不仅仅是”
想要继续进行两周的假期——似乎当你刚从时差中恢复过来，就又是回家的时候了。我们想要真正地让自己沉浸在一个地方。” 这一趋势被称作“微退休”或“黄金间隔年”，它让那些处于 40 多岁、50 多岁和 60 多岁的人选择在工作中休长假去旅行。 根据旅游公司 Explore Worldwide 对 2,000 名英国居民的一项调查，近三分之一的从业者正积极考虑在工作中休长假，其中旅行是半数人的最大动力。 Explore Worldwide 的 Michael Edwards 表示，随着法定养老金领取年龄的提高，
他看到越来越多的人希望将传统上预留给退休后的那次大旅行进行“微剂量”分次体验，而选择在工作中抽出大块的时间。 进行长途旅行的想法源于 Helen 和 Paul 在 2019. 年为了观看橄榄球世界杯而访问日本。他们在全国巡游了数周，期间观看了八场比赛。 这次旅行（包括所有比赛门票在内）花费了约 £20,000，是他们在终于还清房贷后给自己的一项奖励。 Paul 说道：“我们想把原本花在房贷上的钱用在一些特别的事情上。但一旦到了那里，我们意识到还有太多值得看的东西。” 因此，他们将再次前往，这次将至少停留六个月。 这对夫妇计划在秋季开始他们的下一次日本之行，届时叶色最为壮观。然后他们将停留至冬季以享受滑雪季（日本以其雪质著称），接着迎接日本著名的樱花盛开的春天。 Paul 说道：“我们从大学毕业起就一直全职工作，觉得年假限制太大了。我们接触到的每个人都想做这样的一件事。” “我们没有孩子，所以可能比其他人有更多的可支配收入来这样做。”
考虑你的财务状况 以及更多细节
“我们的寿命越来越长，生活也越来越健康，处于 50 或 60 岁并不意味着要逐渐收场——这往往是一个新篇章的开始，”财富管理公司 Rathbones 的 Rebecca Williams 说道。 她接触到越来越多处于人生这个阶段的客户，他们发现自己拥有财务自由去做出一些重大改变——而其中许多人选择了旅行。 投资巨头 Scottish Widows 的 Susan Hope 表示：“间隔年不必局限于 20 多岁。更多 50 岁及以上的人选择暂停常规生活，去享受一次‘人生清单’式的假期。这可能是出于想要看世界的欲望，是对数十年辛勤工作的奖励，或者仅仅是想在退休前充分利用一段休息时间。” 但在采取行动之前，请务必将财务状况考虑在内。 Williams 建议，从细节开始，计算出你想去哪里以及去多久。“是在欧洲开房车漫游，还是在飞机上转向一等舱进行环球旅行？你要旅行多久，住在哪里，谁和你一起去？” 要清晰地了解旅行费用是多少，包括从旅行保险到交通、活动或体验门票，以及住宿、饮食的所有项目。 列出一份在离家期间必须维持的所有费用清单。例如，房租、房贷、保险和其他账单仍需支付。如果你有孩子或孙辈，可能还需要提供学校或大学的学费资助。 你需要告知你的房屋保险公司你将长时间外出，并意识到你的保单中某些部分可能不再
愿望清单：Helen 和 Paul 在日本
不再适用。大多数房屋保险单将全额承保限制在连续 30-60 天，之后您在面对盗窃、漏水或意外损坏时，可能会面临承保范围受限甚至完全没有承保的情况。这是因为如果您不在现场发现任何问题，您的房屋将面临更高的风险。在离开前请与您的保险供应商沟通，他们将向您确认承保范围。通过通知您的保险公司，如果您日后需要提出索赔，也将更有可能避免出现问题。如果您需要，您应该拥有添加临时承保的选项。
您可以支付无人居住房屋保险（unoccupied home insurance），在您不在家期间，该保险可为您提供最长 12 个月的房屋保障。根据价格比较公司 Confused.com 的数据，在今年 2 月至 4 月期间，无人居住房屋保险的平均最高保费比标准房屋保险高出 25%。
您可能还需要申报您的
脱轨。车主可以向 DVLA（英国车辆执照局）提交一份法律声明，声明车辆不用于公共道路，这意味着税金和保险费用可以暂停支付。这被称为法定脱路通知（Sorn）。
这意味着你在离境期间可以节省税金和汽车保险费，因为你之前已支付的任何剩余月份的车辆税都将自动获得退款。当你返回时，只需再次为车辆缴纳税金，即可自动取消 Sorn。请确保你在离开期间将车辆停放在安全区域，因为如果车辆受损，保险将不予覆盖。
考虑如何处理宠物。在海伦（Helen）和保罗（Paul）的案例中，这对夫妇计划使用房屋看管网站 Trusted Housesitters 来寻找在他们离境期间照顾房屋和猫的人。
如何为一次终身之旅规划预算
当你核算出所有成本后，考虑如何为这次旅行提供资金。你是否有现金储蓄，或者能否从养老金中提取一些免税现金？威廉姆斯（Williams）表示：“你需要问自己：你是否能负担得起一年的旅程，并且仍然能在你想要的时间和以想要的方式退休？”
有些人可能会使用通过缩小住房规模而释放出的资金。个体经营者可能会选择在旅行期间继续从事部分工作以维持收入。霍普（Hope）建议，寻找尽早开始小额储蓄的方法。她补充道：“取消不使用的订阅服务，将工作奖金或加薪部分直接转入专门的旅行基金。”
海伦和保罗正在为他们的梦想假期努力攒钱，他们估计这将花费约 £30,000。保罗说：“日本一直有昂贵的名声，但如果你避开旅游景点，其实并不一定要花很多钱。饮食和交通成本是非常合理的。”
海伦在她的银行应用程序中设立了一个名为“日本”的专项储蓄账户，每月存入 £100。她说：“这个账户我已经设立两年了，所以现在的余额看起来很可观。”
保罗在过去五年中一直最大限度地缴纳养老金和 Isa（个人储蓄账户）供款，并计划使用 Isa 中的资金为旅行提供资金。这意味着他可以将养老金原封不动地保留，并为返回后的退休生活预留足够的资金。
你每年最多可以将 £20,000 存入 Isa，其中的任何增值部分都免税。
任何年龄在 55 岁以上的人都可以从私人或职场养老金中提取资金——这一年龄将从 2028 年起提高到 57 岁。
但这夫妇俩表示，细节的积累也同样重要。
在日常生活中，他们通过……
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通过货比三家，在从能源账单、保险到宽带费用的各项开支上寻找优惠来节省资金。 海伦说：“我们的生活并不奢华。 ‘我们的车已经 12 年车龄了，只有在电池快没电时才会更换手机，而且保罗坚信在买新品之前应该先尝试修理。’” 他们通过银行办理了旅行保险，单次旅行上限为 30 天，但可以通过支付费用来延长。 住宿可能会是最大的开支，但这对夫妇将结合使用酒店和 Airbnb 住宿，以确保他们有地方洗衣服，并偶尔享受一些家庭烹饪。 对于任何其他计划“金色间隔年”的人，海伦建议道：“尽早开始存钱，设定一个目标，并查询各项费用，以便为你所需的内容制定预算。不要被社交媒体欺骗——你需要进行自己的研究，并前往非主流旅游景点以寻找优惠。” 例如，在他们上一次旅行期间，她发现可以免费进入东京都厅舍顶部的观景台，那里可以俯瞰全景。这样你就不用支付 £21 去参观著名的晴空塔（Skytree）观景台。 同样地，填写一份简短的在线表格让他们在横滨获得了一次免费的麒麟啤酒厂参观机会，包括品鉴环节。 在与当地人交流后，他们发现了远离常规旅游景点的更便宜的温泉（onsen）。 作为准备工作的一部分，这对夫妇还使用了国民保险（National Insurance）应用程序来检查他们的缴费年限是否足以获得全额国家养老金——保罗仅剩一年的工作时间即可符合条件，而海伦还需要四年。 但要为 假期后的失落感做好准备
虽然规划旅行令人兴奋，但考虑返回后的情况同样重要，特别是如果你之后要回到工作中。 长期休假可能会消耗你的积蓄，并且意味着你可能在一段时间内无法为养老金缴费。 与你目前的雇主沟通，看看他们是否提供学术假（sabbatical）或无薪假，这样意味着你有一个可以回去的岗位。 对于自雇人士，请考虑在离开期间是否能维持业务，或者在返回后是否能轻松地重建业务。 那些需要找工作的人应该有一个计划和一份最新的简历，并记住获得新职位可能需要时间——请务必准备好现金缓冲以度过这段时间。财务专家建议建立约六个月支出的资金作为应急基金。 威廉姆斯总结道：“当规划得当，你就可以放松心情，专注于创造回忆，而不是担心钱的问题。”
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对于许多伴侣来说，金钱始终是一个敏感话题，并且可能是无休止的紧张关系的来源。
问题在于，我们对金钱的态度往往深深植根于我们的成长环境之中，以至于很难抽离出来观察自己是如何处理金钱的——以及这是否会对一段关系造成伤害。
鉴于此，投资机构 AJ Bell 确定了四种关键的财务性格类型，我们与该公司合作制定了以下问题。
因此，请参加《财富》（Wealth）的理财问卷，了解你属于什么样的财务伙伴——以及你如何调整自己的行为以变得更好。
请选择最接近你生活和财务管理方式的答案。
请记录每道题所选答案的字母，然后统计哪个字母出现次数最多（主要是 A、B、C 或 D）。
这样你就能发现自己的优势和劣势所在——然后参考我们专家的建议。
1
你的伴侣进行了一次昂贵的冲动消费。你的反应是什么？ A) 他们需要把它退掉。我们没有计划这项支出，而且他们在没有商量的情况下不应该购买。 B) 我耸耸肩就过去了。不值得为此起争执。 C) 我不担心——我也经常这么干。 D) 我们看看这会对我们产生什么影响，以及我们是否可以通过调整计划来负担这笔费用。
2
你参与家庭财务管理的程度如何？ A) 由我全部管理，并且喜欢密切关注一切细节。 B) 由我的伴侣主导，因为他们比我更感兴趣。 C) 我偶尔参与，但我在这方面相当糟糕。 D) 我们双方都清楚情况，并共同承担责任。
3
在为大宗购买（如度假或买车）规划财务时，你会： A) 希望对任何决定拥有最终决定权。 B) 相信伴侣提出的任何建议，因为他们通常清楚我们能负担多少。 C) 随心而行，不担心钱从哪里来。 D) 讨论方案并商定预算。
4
你多久和伴侣谈一次钱？ A) 经常谈，我需要知道情况，而他们往往容易忘记支出情况。 B) 很少谈，这不是一个容易讨论的话题。 C) 我尽量避免思考钱的事，更不用说讨论了。 D) 定期且公开地讨论。
5
如果明天有一笔账单到期，最可能发生的情况是： A) 我已经确保它已经支付了。 B) 我会支付，但前提是我的伴侣要求我这么做。 C) 我有可能已经忘了这件事。 D) 我们其中一人已经支付，而另一人知道已经办好了。
6
关于你的财务目标，你会： A) 制定计划并确保每个人都按计划进行。 B) 支持伴侣选择的目标。 C) 设有目标，但难以坚持。 D) 共同商定目标，并作为一个团队共同努力实现。
财务伙伴？ 参加我们的 问卷测试 来找出答案
7
如果你的财务状况陷入低谷，你会： A) 接管局面并做出关键决定。 B) 让伴侣决定最佳行动方案。 C) 试图忽略它。 D) 坐下来共同制定计划。
8
你的伴侣建议投资一些闲钱。你会怎么做？ A) 我会进行研究，并希望在资金去向问题上做出最终决定。 B) 我让伴侣决定，因为我对投资了解不足或没有强烈的倾向。 C) 我喜欢这个想法，但一直没能付诸行动。 D) 在共同决定之前，我们会讨论目标、风险承受能力和方案。
9
如果你的伴侣在养老金方面的投入不足，你会如何反应？ A) 我会敦促他们增加投入，并反复提醒他们。 B) 我对此感到担忧，但最终这是他们的决定。 C) 我能理解，因为为未来储蓄对我来说也不是优先事项。 D) 我们会讨论这对未来计划的影响，并鼓励对方尽可能多地储蓄。
大部分为 A：掌控者 你喜欢结构化和财务确定性。你通常是那个确保账单已支付、储蓄目标得以实现且支出保持在轨道上的人。你自律且在为未来做规划——然而，如果你总是占据主导地位，则存在风险。AJ Bell 的 Sarah Coles 警告说，你可能没有考虑到伴侣的需求，因此你是在为自己理想中的财务状况做计划，而不是为对方。 她说：“即便你认为自己的行为符合双方利益，但如果他们与自己的财务状况脱节，一旦你们分手或你去世，可能会让他们陷入严重的困境。” “你还需要非常小心，不要越界——没有人有权控制伴侣的财务。” Coles 建议，如果你怀疑自己喜欢掌控家庭财务，可以与亲友聊聊他们是如何理财的，并考虑调整你的方法。她补充道，为了建立更健康的财务关系，你应该挑战自己分享控制权，并信任伴侣的财务判断。
大部分为 B：和平使者 你重视和谐，经常将伴侣的愿望置于自己的财务偏好之上。从积极方面看，你可能很好相处，给予支持且灵活。然而，Coles 提醒说，有一些严重的潜在陷阱需要警惕。 她说：“如果你不分享你的财务优先级，或者在计划中不考虑这些优先级，你最终将过着你的伴侣所希望的未来。” “他们可能会犯下严重的错误，而你直到太晚才意识到。而且即使一切都在轨道上，如果你分手或丧偶，你将在最糟糕的时间点被迫从零开始处理财务问题。” Coles 补充道，为了更好的财务关系，你的挑战是努力表达自己的观点和优先级。设定专门的时间讨论财务计划，并让你双方都意识到你需要更多地参与其中，这将会有所帮助。
大部分为 C：自由灵魂 你对待金钱采取轻松的态度，可能在规划、预算或保持组织有序方面感到吃力。从积极方面看，当你的伴侣犯错时，你可能很乐观、适应力强且体谅。 但 Coles 表示，这可能会产生严重的负面后果。你可能会陷入过度消费，最终积累影响家庭的高额债务。 她补充道：“你可能会错过付款或截止日期，这会影响你的信用评分。如果你与伴侣有任何关联产品，这也会影响到他们。” “如果他们一直在密切关注你并定期为你收拾烂摊子，他们可能会对此感到厌烦。” 你需要努力养成更好的习惯并创建简单的解决方案。Coles 建议，如果你无法停止过度使用信用卡，就放弃信用卡；通过直接付款（direct debit）支付账单；并为从债务偿还到储蓄的所有事项制定支付计划。
大部分为 D：队友 你将金钱视为共同的责任，倾向于沟通、妥协和团队协作。由于你们双方都像队友一样协作，你们应该拥有稳健且有韧性的财务状况。 Coles 说：“挑战将在于不要变得自满。继续就你们的需求和目标进行沟通，并定期审视你们是否仍处于正确轨道上。”
歌手
DAN MOORE 撰文：LEO Sayer 在 20 世纪 70 年代的乐坛迅速崛起，并推出了一系列登顶排行榜的热门单曲。 这位前平面设计师从设计唱片封面转向创作歌曲并亲自演唱，推出了如格莱美奖获奖歌曲《You Make Me Feel Like Dancing》、《When I Need You》和《The Show Must Go On》等单曲。 随着英国巡演和涵盖其整个职业生涯的精选集 CD 即将推出，这位 78 岁的歌手依然繁忙如初。 他与妻子 Donatella 居住在澳大利亚的新南威尔士州。
问：你的父母在金钱方面教过你什么？ 答：我的父母确实建议我要省钱。 但我患有（发育性障碍）动作协调障碍（dyspraxia）。在成长过程中，这意味着如果有人在我面前摆出数字，我会抓狂。我无法进行方程式计算，更不用说计数了。 我在数学和科学科目中得过负分，而且我对数字仍然感到焦虑。 如果我必须使用一次性验证码来访问在线账户，而且在超时前只有几秒钟时间，我就搞砸了，得靠 Donatella 来救场。
问：你的第一份工作是什么？ 答：我读艺术学校直到 18 岁，学习 A-level 艺术。我申请成为一名平面设计师和商业艺术家，但毫无进展，所以最后去了就业中心。 他们说会尝试帮我找一份符合我偏好的工作，但如果找不到，我就得接受任何工作。 我当过酒店搬运工，有一次我还得从火灾中救出客人，出来时衣服都被烧焦了，还在冒烟。 我甚至找过一份填写失业支票的工作。我记得当时在想，这些支票看起来很眼熟。 我每周领取 25 英镑的失业救济金，而那份工作的周薪大约是 16 英镑。但我记不清那是额外的补贴，还是他们补足了差额。 我觉得应该不是在救济金之上的额外补贴，因为在那个年代，任何周薪达到 30 英镑的人都过得非常滋润了。
问：之后你又是如何发展的？ 答：我作为一名商业艺术家取得了突破，制作专辑封面之类的工作，在运气好的周能赚 75 英镑；如果接到了《黄页》（Yellow Pages）的工作，收入会更高，每则广告支付 1 英镑，我一晚上能完成 30 则。
问：你如何在音乐领域取得突破的？ 答：我精神崩溃了！ 我在汉普斯特德（Hampstead）有一个工作室，大约有 20 名艺术家不定期地为我工作，我承担了太多的工作量。 我回到了萨塞克斯（Sussex）的家中，住在船屋里，并在一家奥迪 NSU 汽车工厂工作。 在那里，我开始与我的乐队 Patches 演出，这促成了我们在布莱顿的一次试演，并最终胜出。
在四十年后的今天， 每年仍能为我带来 高达 £200,000 的收入！
问：你人生中财务状况最好的一年是哪一年？ 答：我想应该是 1974. 《The Show Must Go On》大获成功，并在美国被 Three Dog Night 翻唱。随后推出的《Just a Boy》在英国和美国都取得了巨大的成功。 《Silverbird》在专辑排行榜上达到了第二名，对于一张首张专辑来说已经相当不错了，而且我们当时演出了一些非常棒的场次，包括在英国和欧洲为 Roxy Music 做开场演出。 我经常对我的经纪人亚当·费斯（Adam Faith）说：“钱在哪里？”——然后他会给我 £100,000。但实际上我们赚的可能要多得多。
新动态：现在的利奥·塞耶（Leo Sayer），以及上方 1976 年演唱会舞台上的样子。
问：你做过的最正确的财务决定是什么？ 答：我最近将我一半的歌曲版权交易给了一家美国音乐投资公司 Vinyl Wave，现在确实结出了果实。 你偶尔会写出一首金曲。比如《You Make Me Feel Like Dancing》，起初只是一次即兴演奏，是录音室里的一次幸运意外，后来被人们翻唱，它一直是个巨大的收入来源，每年大约能赚 £100,000 或 £200,000。 不过，我仍然需要为此支付税款。
问：你做过最糟糕的财务决定是什么？ 答：在我签署第一份音乐合同时，我与亚当·费斯签约并给了他委托书（power of attorney）。我当时不知道这意味着什么，但他知道，而且他把话挑明了：如果我不签，我的事业就没戏。 我签了字，这意味着他不需要告诉我有多少钱进来，钱花在了哪里以及给了谁。 所以我经常被告知，某项活动我能拿到 £30,000，而实际费用其实是 £300,000。我不知道我损失了多少。如果我和会计坐下来算账，我可能会睡着！
问：你拥有房产吗？ 答：自 2005 年起，我们就住在新南威尔士州一个拥有 600 人的美丽村庄里。 我们的家是一栋带谷仓的乡村小屋，谷仓就是我的工作室。谷仓后面是主屋和三个由多娜泰拉（Donatella）打理的花园。 有趣的是，我搬到了世界的另一端，但这里看起来就像萨塞克斯郡（Sussex）一样！
问：澳大利亚的吸引力在哪里？ 答：多娜泰拉和我想要扩建，这在英国乡村很难实现。而在澳大利亚这里有非常广阔的空间。从事业上来说，在英国，BBC 给我打电话问我是否愿意装扮成 1970 年代的人；而澳大利亚不仅对我旧的作品感兴趣，对我新写的歌也感兴趣。 这比那种“利奥，你已经成功过了，别写新歌了，那种东西我们有男团”的说法要吸引得多。
问：你为了娱乐买过最贵的东西是什么？ 答：我那辆配置齐全的沃尔沃 XC90——花了我 £130,000。
问：你目前首要的财务重点是什么？ 答：维持运转。我在英国有一个乐队，在澳大利亚也有一个，独立运营这一切并不便宜。 我有一张新的精选辑 CD，并且计划在英国巡演。如果我能完成这些，粉丝们喜欢，且收支平衡，我就开心了。
l 《Leothology: The Studio Albums 1973-Now》将于 8 月 14 日发行。 利奥·塞耶——《Can’t Stop Loving You》巡演门票可通过 leosayer.com / shows 购买。
《星期日邮报》 2026 年 8 月 2 日
如何构建一个获胜的股票组合以大幅提升利润
I
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在本系列中，我们的专家将为您解答关于增加财富的迫切问题。
如果您在五年前购买了英国工程巨头劳斯莱斯（Rolls-Royce）的股票，现在您的收益将增长 1,354%。这样的数据解释了为什么购买个股仍然是一种受欢迎的投资方式。但正如警告所言，投资既可能上涨也可能下跌，而挑选个股也可能带来一些昂贵的错误。
如果您在五年前购买了 Ocado 的股票，您将损失投资额的 89%。事后看来，很容易理解为什么劳斯莱斯能繁荣发展而 Ocado 失去了光彩，但在 2021 年夏天，航空航天专家劳斯莱斯正处于疫情低谷，而 Ocado 则随着在线杂货配送的激增而蓬勃发展。
您是否能正确预测，这家被视为股市旧卫队之一、陷入困境的工程公司，最终会击败技术先锋？
做出正确判断很难，这就是为什么您不应该只投资一家公司的股票。
现金个人储蓄账户 (CASH ISAs) 类型 / 提供方 / 最低投资额 / 利率 % :--- 灵活取款 / Sidekick / £1 / 4.66 灵活取款 / Chip / £1 / 4.41 一年固定利率 / Tandem Bank / £1 / 4.67 一年固定利率 / Cynergy Bank / £500 / 4.67 两年固定利率 / RCI Bank UK / £1,000 / 4.80 两年固定利率 / Cynergy Bank / £500 / 4.75 通知账户 / The Stafford BS 90 Day / £100 / 4.10 通知账户 / Harpenden BS 90 Day / £1,000 / 4.04
储蓄
儿童账户
类型 / 提供方 / 最低投资额 / 利率 % :--- 储蓄账户 / Nationwide BS / £1 / 5.00 储蓄账户 / 印度国家银行 (State Bank of India) / £1,000 / 4.50 储蓄账户 / Kent Reliance / £10 / 4.18 青少年 ISA / Beverley BS / £1 / 3.85 青少年 ISA / Leek BS / £1 / 3.85 青少年 ISA / Skipton BS / £1 / 3.80 来源：Moneyfactscompare.co.uk
两年期固定利率
贷方 / 利率 / 详情 / 首付 / 费用 / 联系方式 First Direct / 4.47 / 为期 2 年 / 40% / £490 / 0800 482 448 First Direct / 4.57 / 为期 2 年 / 15% / £490 / 0800 482 448 Barclays / 5.40 / 至 30 / 09 / 28 / 5% / £0 / 0333 202 7580
五年期固定利率 贷方 / 利率 / 详情 / 首付 / 费用 / 联系方式 First Direct / 4.54 / 为期 5 年 / 40% / £490 / 0800 482 448 First Direct / 4.58 / 为期 5 年 / 15% / £490 / 0800 482 448 West Brom / 5.29 / 至 31 / 10 / 31 / 5% / £0 / 0800 298 0008
Nationwide / 4.13 / 基准 +0.38% 为期 2 年 / 40% / £999 / 0800 302 010 Skipton / 4.75 / 基准 +1.00% 为期 2 年 / 5% / £995 / 0345 850 1755 Barclays / 4.35 / 基准 +0.60% 为期 5 年 / 40% / £999 / 0333 202 7580
以房养房 (BUY TO LET) Leeds / 4.52 / 至 31 / 10 / 28 / 40% / £1,499 / 0345 045 4049 NatWest / 4.67 / 至 30 / 11 / 31 / 40% / £995 / 0800 400 999 TSB / 5.49 / 至 31 / 10 / 31 / 20% / £1,995 / 0800 056 1088
来源：L&C Mortgages - 0800 694 5444 / landc.co.uk
投资...
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成功股票投资的关键 在于时间、努力和多元化， 这意味着将您的风险 分散到多家公司。
挑选股票 作为一名股票投资者，您必须 愿意花时间仔细研究 公司并跟踪其 业绩表现。 若要获得持续的成功，您
还需要愿意花 精力去理解资产负债表、 业绩报告和交易报表。 当您购买一股股票时，您就 直接拥有了该公司 的一小部分所有权。 如果公司表现良好，那么股价 应当上涨，您的持股 价值也将随之增加。 许多公司还选择 向股东支付股息。 从长期来看，股息的 再投资和复利 已被证明是股票市场回报的 主要来源。 巴克莱权益吉尔特研究 (The Barclays Equity Gilt Study) 显示，如果您在 1945 年 向英国股市投资 £100， 到 2024 年底，得益于股价 上涨，这笔资金将 增至 £11,570。但如果您 将股息再投资以购买更多 股票，您现在的资金 总额将达到 £326,231。 除了财务报表外， 请关注公司对其自身 及前景的描述——以及 他人的看法。 考虑该公司的定位，包括 财务实力、管理层、 增长前景、支付股息的能力， 以及这一切在未来 可能如何变化。 如果形势有利，它能否 利用机会；而如果形势不利， 它是否足够稳健以支撑生存？
储蓄账户 类型 / 提供商 / 最低投资额 / 利率 %
快速取款 (Easy access) / Cahoot / £1 / 5.00 快速取款 (Easy access) / LemFi / £1 / 5.00 一年期固定利率 / GB Bank / £1,000 / 4.92 一年期固定利率 / Habib Bank Zurich plc / £5,000 / 4.91 两年期固定利率 / Atom Bank / £50 / 4.85 两年期固定利率 / GB Bank / £1,000 / 4.85 通知账户 / GB Bank 150 天 / £1,000 / 4.38 通知账户 / BLME 90 天 / £10,000 / 4.37
赶紧抛弃 (DUMP NOW) 劳埃德银行 (Lloyds Bank) Easy Saver 对于 £25,000 以下的余额， 其支付的利率仅为 0.75%，低得可怜。 更高余额的利率为 0.9%，在 £100,000 以上时 升至 1%。
基准利率跟踪器 (BASE RATE TRACKERS)
分散风险 许多持股者的 经典错误是购买的 不同公司数量太少。 虽然没有一个神奇的数字，但研究 表明，在不同行业中 分散投资至少 20 家 公司是理想的。 对于英国投资者来说，投资 海外股市（例如美国的 苹果或英伟达）已变得 相当容易且便宜。 在本土以外进行投资 也是多元化的重要组成部分。 您可以通过购买外国股票 来实现，或者您可以选择 使用基金或交易所交易基金 (ETF) 将部分投资组合用于此目的， 而将其余精力集中在 英国股票上。 这种“混搭” 方法有时被称作“核心 与卫星”策略，投资专家 经常向那些想要尝试 公司股票的人推荐。 通过将大部分投资持有在 广泛分布的全球基金中， 您可以以廉价且简单的方式 实现多元化，同时将 部分资金用于挑选 个别公司股票。
买入股票 近年来，买入股票的成本 大幅下降，这在很大程度上 得益于 DIY 应用程序的压力， 其中一些提供免佣金交易。 在最近的一次调整之前，DIY 投资巨头 Hargreaves Lansdown 买卖股票收取 £11.95。 现在它收取 £6.95。 相比之下，投资平台 Trading 212、Freetrade 和 IG 提供免费股票交易， 并设有免手续费账户选项。 如果您计划经常买卖股票， 仔细考虑费用是值得的。 如果您想购买海外股票， 还要留意外汇费用， 这可能会有显著差异。
阅读我们在 thisismoney.co.uk / platforms 提供的最佳投资平台指南
最佳选择 (BEST BUY) Charter Savings Bank 其一年期固定利率现金 ISA 支付最高 4.67% 的利率， 如果每月领取利息， 则为 4.57%。
分散您的风险
这些酒店浸润在历史之中，奢华且规模宏大——而且通常价格不菲。“贵妇”级酒店（Grande dame hotels）可追溯至19世纪末或20世纪初，它们是令人瞩目的建筑，多年来本身已成为景点。前客人们的幽灵——电影明星、音乐家、作家和政治家——似乎在铺着豪华地毯的走廊、奢华的大堂和鸡尾酒吧的空气中盘旋。这里总有一家顶级餐厅，还有水晶吊灯和木镶板房间。客房内的床单是高支数埃及棉，洗漱用品达到沙龙标准。员工通常知道你的名字，并会正式地称呼你。
在火车时代的黄金时期，这些巨头酒店迎来了自己的鼎盛时期，当时像东方快车（Orient Express）和由蒸汽机车驱动的普尔曼服务（Pullman services）正处于巅峰。简而言之，贵妇级酒店拥有一种令人回味起更迷人时光的浪漫感，那时人们没有那么匆忙，不需要wifi，没有电视，且用现金支付房费。
在这里，我们选择了欧洲最好的十家，以及几家略显没落的酒店。如果房费过高，我们还选择了附近较便宜的替代方案。或者，你也可以只是顺道去喝一杯。
克里隆酒店 (HOTEL DE CRILLON)，巴黎 1907年作为酒店开业，尽管这座优雅的建筑可追溯至1758年，当时由路易十五国王委任建造为皇家宫殿。这座经典房产位于香榭丽舍大街的尽头，俯瞰协和广场。如今，它是Rosewood连锁酒店的一部分，拥有124间客房（包括46间套房）。这里有金边画作、大量古董、一家高级餐厅、一个泳池以及时尚的Bar Les Ambassadeurs。温斯顿·丘吉尔、麦当娜和泰勒·斯威夫特都曾入住于此，而乔治·奥威尔在《巴黎与伦敦穷游记》中描述了自己在该酒店厨房担任洗碗工的经历。 预订：双人间 £1,450 起 (rosewoodhotels.com)。 附近选择：WS Opera – Duphot 酒店双人间 £178 起 (booking.com)。
卡尔顿酒店 (THE CARLTON)，戛纳 这家拥有332间客房的酒店位于戛纳市中心的 La Croisette 大道。著名的宾客（许多是在戛纳年度电影节期间到访的）包括阿尔弗雷德·希区柯克、索菲亚·罗兰、肖恩·康纳利、汤姆·克鲁斯和梅丽尔·斯特里普（以及许多其他人）。巴拉克·奥巴马总统也曾入住。它始建于1911年，位于一座拥有圆顶和灰泥装饰外墙的宏伟建筑中。酒店设有泳池、海滩俱乐部、高级餐厅和 Bar 58——后者是电影节期间人们展示自我并观察他人的场所。 1983年，埃尔顿·约翰在该酒店拍摄了他的热门单曲《I’m Still Standing》的音乐录影带；某天晚上，Duran Duran 乐队的成员加入了他在套房里疯狂的深夜马提尼派对，导致房间受到“严重损坏”——这至今仍是该酒店一个充满谈资的传奇故事。 预订：双人间 £413 起 (carltoncannes.com)。 附近选择：Hotel Cannes Croisette 酒店双人间 £179 起 (hotelcannescroisette.fr)。
n 位于保加利亚首都的索菲亚巴尔干宫殿酒店 (Balkan Palace) 在Tripadvisor上的评分为3.8星（满分5星），看起来需要翻新。 n 科索沃的普里什蒂纳大酒店 (GRAND Hotel Pristina) 在Tripadvisor上的得分为2.3，因缺乏清洁度以及有时员工不热情而受到批评。 n 巴黎大酒店 (GRAND Hotel de Paris)，位于东站 (Gare de l’Est) 附近，于1894年大张旗鼓地开业，但现在已经...
维也纳
这里以其标志性的 Sacher torte（萨赫蛋糕）——一种填入杏子酱的巧克力蛋糕而闻名。萨赫酒店于 1876 年开业，曾接待过伊丽莎白二世女王和菲利普亲王，以及弗朗茨·约瑟夫皇帝、约翰·F·肯尼迪总统、伦纳德·伯恩斯坦，以及前披头士成员约翰·列侬和洋子。后两人曾在 1969 年在此举行新闻发布会，解释他们古怪且质朴的“袋子主义”（bagism）概念——即如果人们套上袋子，就不会被外貌所评判（该理念并未流行起来）。
萨赫酒店以其奢华的内饰著称。其中一家餐厅呈现红宝石色并配有吊灯，而另一家则是森林绿色，配有木质墙板和镀金肖像画。
光线昏暗的酒吧设有低矮的绒面座椅，格雷厄姆·格林在 1949 年拍摄《第三个人》期间经常光顾于此。 预订：双人间 £437 起 (sacher.com)。 附近替代方案：Pension Suzanne 双人间 £148 起 (pension-suzanne.at)。
Tripadvisor 评分 2.7，Google 评分 3.1。 n 斯卡伯勒的 THE GRAND Hotel —— 1867 年开业时曾是时尚之巅 —— 但经常被评为低分，目前在 Google 上为 3 星，在 Tripadvisor 上为 2.4。 n 利物浦的 THE ADELPHI Hotel，另一家始于 1876, 的前经典酒店，如今显得有些疲态，Tripadvisor 分数为 2.6，Google 分数为 3.1。
明星 景点： 戛纳的 Carlton 酒店， 在 1900 年 其鼎盛时期。 下方： 巴黎 Hotel De Crillon 的卧室
阿姆斯特丹
这座宫殿般的阿姆斯特尔酒店始建于 1867 年，位于市中心。它由洲际酒店集团 (InterContinental Hotels) 经营，拥有 79 间豪华客房和套房。 2020 年，一次大规模翻修在建筑正面增加了八尊石狮子（原有的狮子多年来已消失，没人确切知道何时及如何消失的）。 大堂风格华丽，设有拱门、栏杆、大理石地板和吊灯。此外还有一个精美的 50 英尺室内泳池，可俯瞰壮丽的城市景色。 房间装修优雅，配有飘逸的窗帘、图案壁纸、瓷灯和古董。除了高级餐厅外，一侧类似于温室圆顶的休息室提供下午茶，而私密酒吧则提供皮革座椅和鸡尾酒。 预订：双人间 £494 起 (amstelhotel.com)。 附近替代方案：Ibis Styles Amsterdam Amstel 酒店双人间 £94 起 (all.accor.com)。
大不列颠酒店 (HOTEL GRANDE BRETAGNE)，雅典
这家位于辛塔格马广场的酒店于 1874 年开业，但它真正引起世界关注是在 1896 年古代奥运会复兴期间，当时它举办了一场盛大的舞会，运动员、政要和君主立宪制下的君士坦丁王储均出席了活动。自那时起，经过 1957 年的重建和多次翻修，它一直保持着希腊首都第一酒店的地位。 著名的客宾包括温斯顿·丘吉尔、布鲁斯·斯普林斯汀、德怀特·艾森豪威尔、劳伦斯·奥利弗和伊丽莎白·泰勒。 内饰奢华，接待处设有吊灯和经典艺术品。房间庄重且豪华，配有大理石浴室。餐厅拥有良好的卫城视野，而亚历山大酒吧 (Alexander’s Bar) 则装饰有亚历山大大帝的挂毯。该酒吧被《福布斯》杂志评为世界最佳酒店酒吧。 预订：双人间 £593 起 (marriott.com)。 附近替代方案：Achilleas Hotel 双人间 £102 起 (achilleashotel.gr)。
顶级餐饮： 雅典的 Grande Bretagne 酒店。 下方： Demi Moore 在戛纳， 以及 Taylor Swift 在 Hotel De Crillon
河畔之景：左侧为阿姆斯特丹的 Amstel 酒店。上方为伦敦萨伏伊酒店 (The Savoy) 的餐厅。
蒙特卡洛
这里曾出现在两部詹姆斯·邦德电影中——《永不言败》和《黄金眼》，以及《憨辈》（Only Fools And Horses）的一集中，当时德尔·博伊和罗德尼在隔壁赌场输光所有钱后匆忙逃离。多年来，无数名流曾到访此地，从弗兰克·辛纳特拉（他非常喜欢 Le Bar Americain 酒吧）到温斯顿·丘吉尔、安迪·沃霍尔、西尔维斯特·史泰龙以及歌剧之星玛丽亚·卡拉斯。 主餐厅 Le Louis XV 拥有三颗米其林星，由著名的 Alain Ducasse 经营。房间设计简洁，色调柔和。酒店于 1864 年开业。 预订：双人间 £573 起 (montecarlosbm.com)。 周边选择：Hotel La Tonkine 双人间 £106 起 (latonkine.com)。
萨伏伊酒店 (SAVOY HOTEL), 伦敦 最后但同样重要的是，萨伏伊酒店自 1889 年起便开始接待客人，当时它由经理人 Richard D’Oyly Carte 利用吉尔伯特与萨利文歌剧的收益在泰晤士河畔建造。自那时起，无数名人曾到访此地，从诺埃尔·考沃德到奥斯卡·王尔德、查理·卓别林和玛丽莲·梦露。 丘吉尔过去常带他的内阁成员在这里吃午餐。 现在，戈登·拉姆齐经营着 Restaurant 1890，该餐厅拥有一颗米其林星；而在美国酒吧里则播放着叮咚的钢琴曲，这里曾深受丘吉尔以及小说家欧内斯特·海明威的喜爱。 房间优雅且装饰有现代艺术品，其中最好的房间可俯瞰泰晤士河景色。 预订：双人间 £713 起 (fairmont.com)。 周边选择：Z Hotel City 双人间 £79 起 (thezhotels.com)。
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在这次令人难忘的八天葡萄牙之旅中，“尽享惬意”是核心，全程将品鉴当地最优质的农产品。 色彩绚丽的波尔图、优雅的吉马良斯以及一系列迷人的乡村小镇，将为这次在葡萄牙北部田园河畔风光中度过的奢华一周探索之旅提供绝佳的背景。 飞往葡萄牙充满活力的第二大城市波尔图，开启杜罗河谷之行，在初识当地精华景点的导览游之前，享受一次欢迎晚餐。随后是“六桥”河上巡游，您将沿着蜿蜒的杜罗河前往维拉诺瓦德盖亚 (Vila Nova de Gaia)，参加一次正宗当地波特酒的品鉴会。 接着前往“葡萄牙的威尼斯”阿威罗 (Aveiro)，乘坐传统的 moliceiro（窄船）游览运河，随后前往维塞乌 (Viseu) 进行下午的观光。次日将游览三个迷人的杜罗村庄，了解该地区丰富的历史和奶酪制作传统，并有机会品尝最新鲜的当地产品。 随后前往法 Vaios 小镇进行一次风味十足的全天游览，参观面包与葡萄酒博物馆，品尝当地的 muscatel 甜白葡萄酒，并在一家屡获殊荣的葡萄园停下来吃午餐，在那里您将了解到当地的酿酒工艺。 在山顶小镇 Tabuaco 郊外过夜后，通过参观酒桶窖，探索在生产 Lamego 著名起泡酒时仍在使用的一系列传统工艺。随后进入市区，在品尝当地制作的火腿和奶酪之前，参加一次巴洛克建筑瑰宝的导览游。 在葡萄牙度假的最后一天，先在杜罗河谷最如画的城市之一维拉雷亚尔 (Vila Real) 停留，然后参观华丽的马特乌斯庄园 (Casa de Mateus) 和壮丽的吉马良斯。
预订理由 一场感官盛宴 在这次心愿单之旅中，“风味”将是重点，通过全程的品鉴机会，您将能够尽情享受杜罗河谷最优质的农产品。 品尝传统的 muscatel 甜白葡萄酒和
在几家享誉盛名的酒庄品尝波特酒，在阿尔梅达（Almeida）品尝奶酪，并在参观法瓦伊奥斯（Favaios）的导览游后尝试一系列杜罗河（Douro）产品。
国际化地区中心 在葡萄牙旅居期间，通过对真正壮观的区域中心的难忘探索来激发您的食欲。惊叹于国际化城市波尔图（Porto）将巴洛克与新古典主义建筑完美融合的丰富底蕴，探索山顶城市维泽乌（Viseu）的中世纪防御工事和华丽教堂，并花时间欣赏维拉雷阿尔（Vila Real）修剪整齐的花园和宏伟的宅邸。
水上的宁静时光 在蜿蜒的河水上体验杜罗河谷的奇迹。乘坐河 cruise 游船，从波尔图著名的六座桥梁——从气势磅礴的路易一世桥到最古老的多娜玛丽亚桥——多角度尽览美景，并乘坐传统的 moliceiro 船见证阿威罗（Aveiro）色彩斑斓的运河。
n 往返机票、大巴行程及接送服务 n 七晚四星级半食宿住宿：波尔图（2晚）、隆格罗伊瓦（Longroiva，2晚）、塔布阿科（Tabuaco，2晚）及波沃阿德瓦尔津（Povoa de Varzim，1晚），另含一次午餐 n 五次品酒活动 n 波尔图导览游，包括杜罗河“六桥”游船及波特酒品鉴 n 维泽乌和阿威罗城市游，包含运河游船 n 前往杜罗上游（Douro Superior）地区历史村庄的全天远足 n 访问法瓦伊奥斯，参观传统面包店，包括演示与品尝 n 参观拉梅戈（Lamego）地区的起泡酒窖，并品尝火腿和奶酪 n 参观传统 adega（桶装酒窖）并品酒 n 前往维拉雷阿尔的全天远足，参观马特乌斯庄园（Casa de Mateus）和吉马良斯（Guimaraes） n 由旅行经理陪同
预订方式 日期：2026年9月至2027年10月 价格：每人 £1,448* 起 致电：0808 239 1392 了解更多信息或直接预订，请访问 mailtravel.co.uk / flavoursdouro
条款与条件：假期由 Newmarket Holidays ABTOT 5509, ATOL 2325, ABTA V7812 运营，该公司完全独立于 Associated Newspapers Limited 和 Mail Travel。价格基于两人同房。单人入住需补差价。起步价基于 October 9, 2026, 从伦敦卢顿出发。*最高可节省 15% 的优惠适用于 30, 2026, 前预订的特定行程，且不能追溯应用于已确认的预订。视供应情况而定，可能随时撤销。所示价格已包含折扣。价格在印刷时正确。
小威尼斯：停泊在阿威罗运河沿岸的“Moliceiro”船
鲜为人知的地标 通过访问该国一些最古老的历史城市和一系列迷人的乡村小镇，领略传统的葡萄牙文化。见证“葡萄牙诞生地”吉马良斯，到访拥有彩色运河船的阿威罗，并深入杜罗河谷，进行几次真正令人难忘的小镇访问，包括产酒地雷瓜（Regua）。
I
外赫布里底群岛 如此痴迷
如果你想稍微体会一下成为名人的感觉，那就飞往外赫布里底群岛的巴拉岛（Barra）。从格拉斯哥出发的 Loganair 航线是世界上唯一将海滩用作跑道的定期航班——这本身就是一个如此盛大的事件，以至于会有观众特意前来观看。当你从那架小型双獭（Twin Otter）飞机上轻盈地走在沙滩上时，你禁不住会觉得自己像个 VIP。
在这条全长 130 英里、由 100 多个岛屿组成的链条中，有大量美丽的沙滩——其中仅有 15 个岛屿有人居住。正当你认为不可能有更好的景色时，转过一个弯，一副更绝佳的全景便映入眼帘。
约 26,000 人居住在外赫布里底群岛，这里还有种类繁多的野生动物。我在堤道上最喜欢看到的标志写着“小心——水獭穿行”。
在一次从路易斯岛的首府斯托诺韦（Stornoway）出发、令人心潮澎湃的乘船之旅中，我们劈波斩浪去寻找海雕。随后，我们在一个海湾内熄火，数十只海豹好奇地打量着我们。
这些西群岛拥有悠久的定居历史：考古学家认为人类最早可能在公元前 6000 年就来到了这里。路易斯岛上神秘的卡拉尼什（Callanish）立石比巨石阵还要古老。
离此不远，格兰南（Gearrannan）村修复后的“黑屋”（19 世纪的农舍）诉说着这里人们直到 20 世纪 70 年代依然过着艰苦生活的故事。
路易斯城堡博物馆中蕴含着更多历史，其最吸引人的展品是六枚路易斯棋子，这是 12 世纪用海象牙雕刻而成的宏伟棋子。
从那里出发，我们开车经过与路易斯岛相连的哈里斯岛（Isle of Harris），然后乘坐轮渡前往北尤伊斯特岛（North Uist）的贝尔内雷岛（Berneray），并继续前往南尤伊斯特岛（South Uist）。
在这里，另一座迷人的博物馆——基尔多南（Kildonan）在等待着我们。展品解释了邦尼王子查理在 1746 年卡洛登战役后如何逃亡至此岛。
这里有两条标记好的赫布里底小径（Hebridean Ways）：骑行路线长 186 英里，徒步路线长 156 英里。我们在本贝库拉岛（Benbecula）攀登鲁瓦尔山（Rueval），虽然它只有 406 英尺高，但可以提供 360 度的全景视野。最后一天，我们环绕瓦特塞岛（Vatersay）走了一圈，那里有三处迷人的沙滩。
在访问期间，我们住在三个地方。斯托诺韦的 The Crown 酒店，1963 年时，现任国王（当时的查尔斯王子）因未成年饮用樱桃白兰地而登上头条。我们还享受了南尤伊斯特岛舒适的 Orasay Inn 旅店以及巴拉岛海滩酒店（Isle of Barra Beach Hotel）的夜晚。
食物很棒：斯托诺韦的炸鱼薯条极佳，丰盛的早餐，路易斯岛 Uig Sands 餐厅的顶级美食，以及巴拉岛 Kisimul 咖啡馆的印度与赫布里底融合料理。
群岛上没有威士忌酿酒厂，所以我买了一瓶巴拉金酒。由于液体安全检查的制度化，我询问巴拉机场的一位女士是否应该把它放进行李箱。噢不，她说，把它放在膝盖上拿会更安全。
格拉斯哥至巴拉岛机票单程 £96 起 (loganair.co.uk)。The Crown 酒店双人间含早 £99 起 (crownhotelstornoway.com)；Orasay Inn 双人间 £108 起 (orasayinn.co.uk)；巴拉岛海滩酒店双人间含早 £235 起 (isleofbarrahotel.co.uk)。租车：adventra.co.uk。更多信息：visitscotland.com
A
全包式度假的标准
克里特岛的 Daios Cove 正在为高端家庭度假树立新标准
“先生，还要一杯吗？” 服务员在为我哥哥的香槟杯续上凯歌香槟 (Veuve Clicquot) 时问道。 “为什么不呢？”他回答道（多少有些多余），服务员轻微地微笑点头，随后悠然走开。 我和母亲、哥哥及其妻子，以及两个侄子——七岁的 Luca 和四岁的 Albie，正身处克里特岛东北海岸的 Daios Cove。 一名司机驾驶着电动车将我们从时尚的别墅接走，前往一个俯瞰地中海的无边泳池旁享用午餐。而我的侄子们则充分利用了这里的情况：他们平时对增加鸡块、薯条以及更多巧克力冰淇淋的要求，在这里都能得到积极的响应。 这是因为我们加入了度假村的“居民俱乐部 (Residents’ Club)”——这是一个将“全包式服务”表达得更高级的说法。
这意味着可以在所有六家餐厅内点餐，并从一份详尽的酒单中选择葡萄酒，还能享受无限制的客房服务。 这里的感觉与欧洲其他全包式度假村那些庸俗的自助餐、手环以及抢购廉价酒精饮料的排队场景截然不同。 Daios 是一座规模宏大的度假村，拥有不少于 290 间石砌客房和 40 栋别墅。在任何时间点，这里可能有 600 多名宾客，但这里没有令人头疼的早晨抢日光浴床之战，因为空间十分开阔，且提供了足够的躺椅。令人惊讶的是，我们经常觉得这里只有我们几个人。 岛上正处于 25°C 的温暖天气中，
豪华客房起价每晚 £306（半食宿制）。Collection 套房起价每晚 £634（全包式 Residents’ Club 制）（daioscovecrete.com）。
边缘生活： Daios Cove 的无边泳池，以及（左侧）其套房内部景观
大海从早到晚波光粼粼。其他客人主要是英国和德国家庭，不过也有各种年龄层的情侣在享受水疗、私人海滩和成人专用泳池。 我母亲和我住在 Collection Premium Junior Suite 套房中，房间从山坡上向外延伸，并配有一个加热泳池。室内装饰采用了低调的米色、焦糖色和胡桃木色，浴室则是奶油色大理石材质。我最喜欢的功能是一个冰镇矿泉水龙头。 美食证明是这里的亮点，而且几乎所有食材都源自当地。早餐时的牛油果泥来自不远处的圣尼古劳斯 (Agios Nikolaos)。烤海鲈鱼则是刚刚从海里捕捞上来。 每天早晨，我们都会前往健康中心，那里有两个加热泳池，以及一个带有土耳其浴 (hammam) 和芬兰桑拿的大型健身空间。 有一天，Luca 参加了儿童俱乐部的烹饪课。在被戴上一个写有他名字的白色厨师帽并穿上围裙后，他和另外 11 名孩子被带去采集香草，随后制作成青酱并拌入意大利面中。 整整三天，我们都没有离开酒店。我们都被这里迷住了。我四岁的侄子和他的奶奶——以及喝得酩酊大醉的父亲——一样享受其中。Daios Cove 是一个让全辈分家庭都满意的成功之作。
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专家
旅行难题
问：我今年在预订假期这件事上一直没计划好。我和伴侣非常喜欢邮轮旅行，我想知道您是否知道任何最后一刻的特价优惠？地中海或挪威峡湾都很棒。加勒比海就更好了。我们两人的预算是 £3,000。 ——Angela Miller, 伦敦 Hounslow
答：您可能认为自己时间太晚了，但等到最后一刻反而可能对您有利，因为邮轮公司总是渴望填满空余的船舱。所以，不必担心“缺乏计划”。 在选择大众市场邮轮时，您需要了解主要参与者。我们的邮轮通讯员 Lesley Bellew 表示，这些公司包括 ROL Cruise (rolcruise.co.uk)、Imagine Cruising (imaginecruising.co.uk)、Iglu Cruise (iglucruise.com) 以及 Cruise 118 (cruise118.com)。这些是提供邮轮公司最优优惠的代理商。 ROL Cruise 是一个不错的起点，例如前往东加勒比海以及特克斯和凯科斯群岛的一周航程……
最后一刻特价邮轮吗？
加勒比公主号 (Caribbean Princess) 的度假之旅， departing on August 30 从 卡纳维拉尔港 (奥兰多) 出发， 内舱房（无舷窗）全包价 £517pp。 停靠港包括巴哈马的拿骚和 公主岛 (Princess Cays)， 随后前往多米尼加共和国 以及特克斯和凯科斯群岛。 总共两天在海上航行。期待美丽的沙滩
以及浮潜旅行中 绝佳的海洋生物。 如果您想奢侈一把（原词为pushing the boat out，双关语）， 套房价格 £1,028pp 起。 覆盖前后一天的往返机票 价格 £497pp 起 (ba.com)。 对于更长的行程，Iglu Cruise 提供为期两周的P&O西地中海邮轮之旅，
从南安普顿出发并返回， 航行至西班牙加利西亚的拉科鲁尼亚， 随后前往马拉加和阿利坎特。 接着前往法国马赛， 然后返回巴塞罗那，并原路返回 加的兹（含塞维利亚游览）。 价格为内舱房全包价 £970pp 起， departing on August 18. 或者
升级至阳台房， 价格 £1,445pp 起。 此外，Cruise 118 提供的 八天南加勒比邮轮之旅， 内舱房全包价 £632pp 起， 航程于August 15 从迈阿密出发， 在海上航行两天后 抵达荷兰加勒比岛屿： 阿鲁巴、博奈尔和库拉索。 邮轮为嘉年华地平线号 (Carnival Horizon)， 配备游泳池和甲板派对。 如果升级到阳台房， 全包价 £1,080pp 起。 邮轮前后的迈阿密往返机票 价格 £776pp 起 (ba.com)。
问：我们是一对80多岁的前海军夫妇， 想在马耳他停留四晚， 然后参加一次七晚的邮轮游， 最后返回马耳他并在9月下旬/ 10月飞回国。您能帮帮我们吗？ ——大卫·詹金斯 (David Jenkins)，通过电子邮件
答：IGLU Cruise 提供一次 从马耳他首都瓦莱塔出发的 七晚 P&O 邮轮往返行程， 全包价 £827pp 起， departing on October 1 (iglucruise.com)。 该日期的斯坦斯特机场往返机票 价格 £65 起 (ryanair.com)； 在瓦莱塔的 The Cumberland by Neu Collective 酒店入住四晚， 含早餐价格 £810 B&B (booking.com)。
我们在此提供帮助 如果您需要建议，度假专家 (Holiday Guru) 将为您解答疑问。请发送邮件至 holidayplanner@dailymail.co.uk
——但还是 老一套的税收抢劫
我们如何能听到关于工党 潜在的 960 亿英镑 billion 税收抢劫的消息（ 你们在上周日报道过）， 而又不愤怒且难以置信地摇头？ 经济被搞垮了，人们在生活成本 面前苦苦挣扎。我知道好几个 担忧的家庭在精打细算， 然而估计显示，安迪·伯纳姆 (Andy Burnham) 的支出将使每个家庭 每年增加 £4,000 的负担—— 这绝对会摧毁我的财务状况。 这根本不可持续。 ——威廉·赖特 (William Wright)，利物浦
又来了！又一位新 首相，但老剧本依然是 我们需要更多资金。 那些需要帮助的人 很可能是那些 为国家维持运作做出贡献的人。 最消耗我们资源的一项 是不断涌入的寻求庇护者， 他们获得的喂养、住房 和医疗待遇比许多 对社会做出贡献的人更好。 前政府没有搞清楚 数学问题，即你不能以 损害选民为代价来支持他们。 所以让我们重组资金， 停止这种不平衡。 ——A. 布朗 (A. Brown)，卢顿
我不是工党的粉丝， 也对我们国家的现状感到震惊， 但有些事情
70年代的生活 超级棒
彼得·希钦斯（Peter Hitchens）说 1970 年代比许多人让我们相信的那个时代要更好，这是正确的。那时候高薪工作很容易找到。许多人拥有良好的病假工资福利和四周的假期。尽管当时通货膨胀严重，但工资在大部分时间里都能跟上进度。而且，有时不需要预约就能看医生。 威廉·斯派尔（William Spire）， 伦敦托特纳姆
我在 1970 年代是一个“不稳定且叛逆的青少年”，但可以通过频繁跳槽来获得收入，简直是在一夜之间。你可以在早上辞掉一份工作，在当天下午就被重新雇用。 理查德·希斯（Richard Heath），杜斯伯里
致信地址：The Letters Editor, The Mail on Sunday, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY. 电子邮件：letters@mailonsunday.co.uk 读者来信
继上周日关于乱扔垃圾的读者来信之后，关于如何向人们传递停止乱扔垃圾的信息，我有一个想法。在下一个银行假期周末，市政厅在周六不应清理海滩上的垃圾，而应将其留在原地。让人们在海滩开始新的一天时，试着去寻找一块没有恶心残留物的沙地。 托尼·汤普森（Tony Thompson）， 牛津郡 德丁顿
当我捡垃圾时，人们说：“你在帮市政厅干活。”对此我回答道：“垃圾不是市政厅扔在地上的。” 鲍勃·伍德兰（Bob Woodland），多塞特郡 普尔
关于安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）给我带来希望的看法。他正正面迎接挑战。他希望帮助应对生活成本问题，我赞同他对巴士行程 £2 的上限规定，以及取消电费账单中的增值税（VAT）。他还希望审查成人社会护理危机并终结露宿街头。是的，请这样做！ 斯塔莎·马丁（Stasha Martin）， 西萨塞克斯郡 东普雷斯顿
随着 No 10 North 的落成，安迪·伯纳姆在英国处于危机之时却在闲情逸致。他就像个拿着昂贵新玩具的孩子——他更愿意玩那个包装盒。 迈克·卡特罗尔（Mike Catterall）， 兰开夏郡 阿克灵顿
也许伯纳姆先生可以看看牙医的收费标准。我的妻子今年 79, 岁，最近做了一次常规检查。她在椅子上坐了不超过 10 分钟，除了快速抛光外没有做任何其他治疗，结果反而损失了 £85。 戈登·索斯奥尔（Gordon Southall），奥马
安迪·伯纳姆宣布了将降低每个人生活成本的措施。在他的领导下，我们拥有了一位快人快语、能够高效完成工作的首相。 杰西卡·戈埃蒂亚·布鲁金（Jessica Goetia Brooking）， 汉普郡 哈文特
英国没有成文宪法这一点被滥用了。安迪·伯纳姆在几周前甚至还不是国会议员的情况下就成了首相。我们应该出台一项法律，规定任何希望在任期中更换领导人的执政党都必须举行选举。 朱利安·米勒奇普（Julian Millerchip），考文垂
您上周日对护士詹妮弗·梅勒（Jennifer Melle）的采访，她因为将一名跨性别恋童癖者称为“先生”而被停职，这凸显了性别意识形态影响 NHS 员工的一种方式。根据我的经验，这种意识形态也在潜移默化地向患者推广。在最近的一次就医过程中，我注意到临床工作人员佩戴的 NHS 徽章中包含 V 型的“进步骄傲旗”（Progress Pride flag）。在所有骄傲旗中，这一面与 LGBTQ+ 运动的关联尤为紧密，而该运动推广的关于性别认同的观点存在争议。许多女性认为这些观点与保护基于生理性别的界限不兼容。同样，许多被同性吸引的人认为，这些观点与基于生物学性别而非性别的对同性恋的理解相冲突，从而损害了
对男人和女人同样适用 在关于安杰拉·雷纳（Angela Rayner）的文章中，纳丁·多里斯（Nadine Dorries）写道：“我希望所有进入威斯敏斯特的女性都能证明，她们与任何男性一样有能力。”纳丁忽略了其中潜藏的幽默感。从
由阿里勋爵（Lord Alli）捐赠给她的衣服，到她的财产交易，以及被解雇后的外部收入，雷纳已经证明了她与任何男性一样有能力。 珍妮特·梅耶斯（Jeannette Meyers）， 肯特郡 阿什福德
残酷的贸易 感谢你们揭露了 隐秘而残酷的 狨猴贸易（左图），在一次
你在上周日批评安迪·伯纳姆 (Andy Burnham) 的衣服太贵，但如果前凯特·米德尔顿 (Kate Middleton) 穿昂贵的设计师服装是可以接受的，那么安迪·伯纳姆 应该也可以这样做。我们不希望我们的首相在世界舞台上看起来邋遢。而且他穿的是由英国裁缝设计的衣服。 蒂姆·米克尔伯格 (Tim Mickleburgh)，格里姆斯比 (Grimsby)
我永远不会投票给工党，但安迪·伯纳姆 在一些设计师休闲装上花掉 £1,000 又有什么关系？我在六十年代是个摩德族 (Mod)，我怀疑现在的许多年轻后生会在一套设计师服装上花费 £1,000。我认为首相可以
他们辛苦赢得的权利。此类关于性别的批判性信念受到《平等法》的保护。很难看出，在临床环境中，通过官方标志仅支持这场辩论的相反一方，如何能与 NHS 在该法案下的职责以及公共部门平等职责相兼容，即公平对待持有不同受保护信念的工作人员和患者。 布莱恩·福赛斯 (Brian Forsyth)，爱丁堡 (Edinburgh)
其中一只猴子被发现是在伦敦巴士上的一个洗衣袋笼子里。许多灵长类动物在棚屋里过着孤独的生活，饮食不当，缺乏锻炼或阳光，导致它们变得残疾。今年 4 月出台了亟需的立法，要求所有者申请许可证，但采用率低得令人失望，这很可能导致更多灵长类动物被遗弃。 安吉拉·汉弗莱 (Angela Humphery)，伦敦 (London)
负担得起挥霍 £1,000，因为他作为曼彻斯特市长肯定赚了不少钱。 菲尔·斯特雷顿 (Phil Stretton)，本茅斯 (Bournemouth)
安迪·伯纳姆 选择的衣服并不时尚。他看起来像个邋遢鬼。 戈登·鲁迪克 (Gordon Ruddick)，纽卡斯尔 (Newcastle upon Tyne)
弗拉基米尔·泽连斯基 (Volodymyr Zelensky) 不穿西装，因为他认为自己处于战争状态。我原以为安迪·伯纳姆 也会穿便宜的黑色 T 恤，因为他宣布要与生活成本之战作斗争。但他的衣服并不便宜——一件 £80 的 T 恤，一件 £695 的夹克和一条 £295 的牛仔裤！ 萨缪尔·法鲁克 (Samuel Farooq)，伦敦图廷 (Tooting, London)
本周之信将赢得两名在 Leonardo Hotels 酒店入住两晚的机会。仅限在英国境内的任何一家该连锁酒店选择（两晚含早晚餐，适用条款与条件）。 Leonardo Hotels 为城市短途旅行或度假提供完美的基地，提供舒适现代的客房，并配有定制的 DREAM 床，确保最尽兴的睡眠之夜。 欲获取最佳价格，请在 leonardohotels.co.uk 在线预订。 礼券有效期为 12 个月。
我刚刚在电视上看到一名纹身很多且领取救济金的女性抱怨，她买不起超市里的食物，所以她每周在食物银行购物以喂养孩子。 我不知道纹身要花多少钱，但也许有人应该问问她是怎么负担得起纹身的。 卡罗琳·韦斯特 (Caroline West)，斯旺西 (Swansea)
GAMBOLS 弗雷德·巴塞特 (FRED BASSET)
加菲猫 (GARFIELD) 花生漫画 (PEANUTS)
星期日邮报 (MAIL ON SUNDAY)
SpaceX 的早期投资者即将分享高达 $1万亿的意外之财，因为对其在埃隆·马斯克 (Elon Musk) 这家从火箭延伸至人工智能企业中持股的出售限制即将解除。 在即将成为股市历史上最大规模的赔付之一中，在 SpaceX 在美国股市上市之前购买或持有股份的投资者和内部人士，可以在本周四 180 天的“锁定期”届满后将其持股兑现。 尽管自 SpaceX 在史上最大规模的 IPO 上市以来股价大幅下跌，他们仍将中大奖。 这些被严重超额认购的股票发行价为每股 $135，一度突破 $200，随后暴跌至目前的低点 $108，估值
SpaceX 的估值达到 $1.5 万亿。但就在一年前的一次面向投资者的私人股份出售中，该公司的价值约为 $400 亿，这意味着当时买入的人仍有望将资金翻近四倍。 在那次出售之后，该公司于今年早些时候收购了人工智能初创公司 xAI，该交易将 SpaceX 的估值提升至 $1 万亿。xAI 的交易还为投资者创造了数十亿美元的财富，并向他们授予了在现已上市的公司中价值为其初始投入数倍的股份。 由于交易员开始远离 AI 股票，且在 SpaceX 因发动机问题中止星舰（Starship）火箭发射后，SpaceX 的股价在最近几周有所下跌。 “SpaceX 自上市以来的价格波动比其火箭重新进入大气层时的颠簸还要剧烈，”经纪公司 AJ Bell 的投资总监 Russ Mould 说道。 不同寻常的是，SpaceX 为早期投资者分阶段设定了出售股份的日期，以避免在 180 天锁定期结束后出现“断崖式”下跌。部分早期投资者直到 12 月初才有机会退出，届时将有数十亿更多股份可供交易。 马斯克拥有 SpaceX 的绝大部分股份，并曾短暂成为首位万亿p美元富豪，他直到明年 6 月才能出售其持股。 本周的“锁定期”届满引发了人们对 SpaceX 股份充斥市场并进一步压低股价的担忧。 一个巨大的考验将在两天前到来，届时这家亏损严重的公司将发布自 6 月 12 日在纳斯达克（Nasdaq）交易所上市后的首份业绩报告。 预计报告将显示上季度销售额略低于 $70 亿。但由于构建和运行驱动其 AI 的数据中心所需资金巨大，实现盈亏平衡仍需数年时间。 SpaceX 在前一个季度损失了惊人的 $43 亿。
一名伦敦的明星选股人将上周全球人工智能股票的抛售归咎于“低质量资金”的涌入和“模因股”交易者的行为，此次抛售影响了他规模达数十亿英镑的基金价值。 图中插图所示的 Stephen Yiu 称，由于小投资者对 AI 支出、中国竞争加剧以及近期中东局势升温感到恐惧而进行抛售，导致他的基金价值在 7 月从 29 亿英镑 十亿下跌了 20%。 “有很多我所谓的低质量资金，即在过去几周内撤出的零售资金，”他说，“当你把这与伊朗的冲突结合在一起时，突然之间就在 AI 领域出现了这次巨大的抛售。在 AI 市场中，像 SpaceX 这样的股票也存在一定的模因股交易。” Blue Whale 基金在对英伟达（Nvidia）等公司进行及时押注后获得了强劲回报，但此次打击源于韩国芯片制造商 Hynix 的价值大幅下跌，该公司是该基金最大的持仓之一，在业绩不及预期后，其价值在上个月下跌了近 33%。 “我对此并不满意，”Yiu 告诉《周日邮报》。但他表示，此次抛售让 Blue Whale 能够通过低价买入来增加其在 SK Hynix 的持股。 “我们仍然对 Hynix 非常满意，”他说。“它的股份已经……”
负载：插图中的埃隆·马斯克知道，他的卫星业务仍然具有极高价值。
销售额达 47 亿美元 十亿。摩根士丹利的分析师表示，SpaceX 股票的抛售意味着其价格已接近一个水平，即投资者对其 AI 业务不赋予任何价值，而仅对其为手机网络提供支持的 Starlink 低地球轨道卫星业务进行估值。尽管如此，该投资银行的分析师 Adam Jonas 仍是其支持者。他表示：“我们认为，日益看跌的投资者情绪与基本面基本保持不变之间目前的脱节，为 SpaceX 股票创造了一个极具吸引力的入场点。” Jonas 认为 SpaceX 的股价可能达到 $300，其中一半的价值来自其 AI 部门。
变得便宜了很多，而且我们仍然认为盈利处于正增长轨道，所以为什么不买更多呢？” 上周的 AI 抛售潮导致韩国证券交易所多次暂时停止交易，以试图平息恐慌。华尔街也受到了冲击，纳斯达克指数大幅下跌，但随后在周末前反弹，并录得轻微增长。推动此次反弹的公司之一是微软，由于强劲的销售和利润增长，其股价在这一周内上涨了 18 百分比。
O
向 12,000 进发？事实上，富时 100 指数再次创下历史新高，并在周五上午触及 11,000 点之前的 11 点之差，随后略微下跌，最终收于 10,868 点。基本上，我们回到了 2 月底富时指数在伊朗遭袭击导致情绪恶化前的峰值水平。中东战争继续进行，且看不到明确的终点，然而富时指数和 S&P 500（最具代表性的美国指数）今年均上涨了 9 百分比以上。这一切让人好奇，当霍尔木兹海峡重新开放且该地区平静下来时，股市究竟会发生什么。 对于为什么股票总体保持如此强势，尤其是为什么伦敦依然具有良好价值，有一个合理的解释。一个原因是全球仍有大量资金在流动并寻找安置之所。因此，寻找价值是合理的，
收购 截止日期
争夺 easyJet 的战役将在本周达到高潮，因为潜在买家提交正式报价的截止日期即将到来。
上个月，这家航空公司表示，在拒绝了这家美国私募股权投资集团此前四次被视为旨在“廉价”达成交易的“极具投机性”报价后，它已同意接受 Castlelake 以 55 亿英镑 billion 的价格收购。
但几天后，其竞争对手 Apollo 提交了高达 57 亿英镑 billion 的报价，并迅速获得 easyJet 董事会的接受，导致 Castlelake 被截胡。
Castlelake 现在的最后期限是明天下午 5 点，必须提交正式报价，否则将退出。Apollo 则在周五同一时间之前将其提案正式化。
如果 Apollo 的收购成功，这将增加该资产管理公司日益增长的航空公司组合。它部分持有 Atlas Air 的股份，且去年其私人信贷部门向维珍航空（Virgin Atlantic）提供了 $745 million 的贷款，用于购买希思罗机场的起降时隙。
但即将到来的 easyJet 收购案给伦敦股市带来了又一次打击，近期伦敦股市出现了外国买家疯狂收购的局面。
上周，富时 100 (FTSE 100) 指数成份股公司 DCC Energy 的董事会支持由美国私募股权公司 KKR 和 Energy Capital Partners 提出的 58 亿英镑 billion 收购报价。
在此之前，仓库和数据中心巨头 Segro 推荐了来自旧金山房地产公司 Prologis 的 140 亿英镑 billion 报价。
以及总部位于英国的大型企业的股票提供了这种机会。但过去几天表明了另一件事：这不仅仅是因为英国市场相对便宜。许多富时指数中最具价值的成员公司表现非常出色。
我们看到了壳牌（Shell）、BAE 系统公司（BAE Systems）和劳斯莱斯（Rolls-Royce）令人惊叹的业绩，本周市场预计汇丰银行（HSBC）和英国石油（BP）也将公布强劲的数据。
汇丰银行的市值高达 2700 亿英镑 billion，是该指数中市值最高的一家，其股价今年上涨了超过 30%。至于英国石油，它不仅受益于壳牌的表现，还受益于关于将其北海业务出售的最新消息。
我认为这更多是一次清理行动——标志着其卓越的……
在谢菲尔德钢厂制造反应堆部件
《星期日邮报》披露，安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）政府上周与罗尔斯-罗伊斯（Rolls-Royce）公司举行了紧急磋商，敦促该公司为其在英国的新核反应堆制造零部件，此前有消息称谢菲尔德的一家钢厂能够生产部分组件。
此前在5月，罗尔斯-罗伊斯宣布选择捷克公司斯柯达（Skoda）和韩国杜山能源（Doosan Enerbility）作为其新型小型模块化反应堆（SMR）的两家“战略供应商”，此举引发了愤怒。批评人士指出，这一决定意味着被认为对英国能源网未来至关重要的基础设施将在海外组装，并剥夺了该国钢铁行业获得关键合同工作的机会。
但《星期日邮报》获悉，罗尔斯-罗伊斯的代表被召集与能源安全与净零部门以及国家运营的投资公司“大不列颠能源”（Great British Energy）进行会谈，讨论反应堆部件是否可以改为在谢菲尔德锻造厂（Sheffield Forgemasters）钢厂制造。
一名了解情况的消息人士确认，此次会谈发生在上周；另一名人士则表示，由于担心英国制造商可能会失去钢铁制造合同（尽管有说法称该行业是国家安全的核心部分），罗尔斯-罗伊斯一直受到新政府的“持续压力”，要求其从英国公司采购零部件。
据了解，大不列颠能源的代表在最近几周访问了锻造厂。
英国制造：伯纳姆与谢菲尔德锻造厂
该公司同样由政府所有，目前已确认正在与斯柯达和杜山就制造反应堆关键部件进行洽谈。负责人加里·纳特（Gary Nutter）表示，公司正“就直接向罗尔斯-罗伊斯及通过一级合作伙伴供应英国锻造部件的潜在可能性进行商业讨论”。他补充道，斯柯达和杜山正在处理“预生产工作，包括反应堆压力容器体、早期供应商参与、设计定型及制造准备”。
才干出众的新任首席执行官梅格·奥尼尔（Meg O’Neill）正将注意力集中在公司的未来赢家上——而不是去指责本届政府及其前任政府在税收和监管政策上的做法。
但这应该给所有政府敲响警钟，让他们意识到自身行为的长期后果，而不是搬出那些在怀特霍尔（Whitehall）构思的、旨在讨好大众的想法。
那么接下来我们应该关注什么？很大程度上取决于美国投资者的情绪。资金在那里，而近期英国股价上涨的主要驱动力是美国投资者决定将他们赚得的巨额利润中的一小部分投入到总部位于英国的跨国公司。
你可以说这是从富人之桌上捡碎屑，某种程度上确实如此，但纽约的资金规模如此庞大，以至于即使将其中的一小部分转向伦敦，也会产生巨大的影响。
仅苹果公司一家就价值 $4.5 万亿，其估值远高于所有富时指数（Footsie）成分公司的总和，后者仅为 £2.5 万亿。
汇丰银行（HSBC）在我们的标准下可能是一个巨头。但快速计算一下，大约有 40 家美国公司的市值与其相当或更高。
这提出了一个迷人的问题。安迪·伯纳姆是会改善还是会削弱美国人对英国的看法？
变得 时髦才能 吸引资金
投资者对英国的看法如何？目前大资金对英国的看法相当消极。你在国债市场中就能看到这一点。昨天，英国政府债券的十年期收益率回升至 5 per cent 以上，这可能是对美国国债同类收益率上升至 4.75 per cent 的反应。但我们
谈话为英国钢铁业提供了难得的喘息之机，该行业担心会被外国竞争淹没，导致英国无法为关键基础设施或国防项目制造自己的金属。钢铁业领军人物安德鲁·库克爵士（Sir Andrew Cook）表示：“正如伟大的战后工党外交大臣欧内斯特·贝文（Ernest Bevin）所说，‘无论代价如何，我们必须拥有这个东西，而且它必须印有联合杰克旗’。”贝文当时在谈论原子弹；他的话同样适用于 SMR（小型模块化反应堆），这是一个同样至关重要的
根本不应该支付溢价，而且除了利兹·特拉斯（Liz Truss）担任首相的那几天外，直到 1 两年前工党上台前，我们都没有这种情况。 至于美国投资者是否考虑安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham），我怀疑他们仅仅把他看作另一个很快会被踢出局的临时替代者。 外国人（主要是美国人）已经拥有了英国市场三分之二的份额。因此，他们投入更多资金并非因为我们的国内政治，而是因为我们拥有一些伟大的公司，而且这是进入全球经济的一种廉价方式，因为富时指数（Footsie）成员四分之三的收益来自英国境外。 当然，这些外国人在这里不缴税，所以他们不在乎伯纳姆是否引入遗产税或其他任何税种。 底线是，我们不需要变得时髦才能吸引更多资金进入伦敦。我们唯一需要做的是变得不那么过时——我认为这发生的概率是五五开。
国家能源安全的组成部分。为了国家利益，SMR 必须由英国制造的组件构成，并拥有英国工业基础的支持。” 劳斯莱斯（Rolls）的 SMR 部门由捷克电力公司 CEZ 持有 20 per cent 的股份，目前正在建造首批将在英国安装并由英国国家能源公司（Great British Energy）运营的三座 SMR。这些反应堆也将安装在捷克共和国，可以使用标准组件组装，使其成为一种廉价且灵活的选择。劳斯莱斯在瑞典也有 SMR 协议。 据了解，此次危机谈话是在 Forgemasters 输给斗山（Doosan）之后进行的，因为部长和公务员未能明确零部件将在英国的哪个地点组装。此前，财政部与能源部及商业部在成本问题上发生了争执，后两者主张在国外廉价制造 SMR。 劳斯莱斯表示：“我们正努力最大化英国本土含量，并积极与 Forgemasters 及一级合作伙伴合作，以确定对我们英国及出口计划潜在贡献的机会。” 能源部仅表示，英国国家能源公司和劳斯莱斯正“共同努力实现英国供应链效益，并定期向政府汇报进度”。 政府表示：“英国国家能源核电部门已向在英注册公司授予了超过 £850 million 的合同。”
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20%
城市编辑
自从兴高采烈的 Sainsbury’s 负责人 Mike Coupe 在宣布一项 120 亿英镑 billion 的合并后，被 ITV 新闻摄像机拍到唱着《我们有钱了》(We’re in the money) 从而在无意中签署了自己的离职通知书以来，已经过去了多年。这次傲慢的失误让 Coupe（见下图）为此道歉，并让他失去了工作；而这项备受赞誉的交易在竞争与市场管理局 (CMA) 裁定国内第二大和第三大杂货商的统一将“削弱竞争、提高消费者价格并降低产品质量和选择”后以失败告终。
然而，这可能还不是最终定论。英国杂货市场的剧烈变化以及 CMA 的人事变动，提升了人们对 Sainsbury’s 与陷入困境的私有股权所有 Asda 之间再次达成协议的预期。
由于 Sainsbury’s 在周五决定将其表现不佳的 Argos 业务以 £120 million 的价格出售给由资深零售商 Richard Pennycook 领导的财团，而该公司在 2016 年的收购价为 14 亿英镑 billion，这一前景得到了提升。
但与 Asda 面临的麻烦相比，Argos 出售给 Sainsbury’s 带来的痛苦则显得微不足道。自 2021 年 Asda 以 68 亿英镑 billion 的价格被出售给由私募股权公司 TDR 以及加油站大亨 Mohsin 和 Zuber Issa 组成的财团以来，其竞争力及市场份额遭遇了灾难性的下降。
新业主从一开始就犯了一个致命错误。Asda 曾是燃料定价的市场领导者，但为了帮助支付债务利息，其汽油价格上涨了几便士，导致 Asda 的客户大批转向市场领导者 Tesco 和 Sainsbury’s。时机也不太理想，Asda 的所有者在接手其债务堆积的同时，恰逢利率上升以应对疫情后的通货膨胀。
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Tesco
此外，随着德国折扣店 Aldi 和 Lidl 销量的激增，Asda 的市场份额从 2019 年的 14.9 per cent 下降到 11.5 per cent，Aldi 几乎要超越它成为英国第三大杂货商。
Aldi 和 Lidl 还在迫使其他零售商维持低价，从而给利润率带来了压力。
资深执行主席 Allan Leighton 正在为扭转 Asda 的命运而进行一场艰苦的斗争。在集团恢复低价以吸引消费者回归后，截至 2025 年 12 月的年度亏损飙升至 10 亿英镑 billion。营收和同店销售额均有所下降。
Lidl
25%
15%
5%
Asda 最终会合并吗？
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所有者对其物业组合进行了 £3.44 亿英镑的减值处理，该组合曾被估值为 80 亿英镑 十亿英镑。 玛莎百货（Marks & Spencer）的食品供应，作为最大的食品馆开设者，也为市场增加了一个高端且创新的竞争对手。 因此，接近 Sainsbury’s 的高级消息人士建议，现在可能是重新接洽 Asda 的合适时机。 一次合并可以发挥两家公司的优势，因为大多数 Sainsbury’s 的购物者位于富裕的南部，而 Asda 在北部的覆盖面更广。 接近 Sainsbury’s 的消息人士表示，如果这家超市的投资银行瑞银（UBS）
英国领先的酒庄之一的负责人呼吁政府将商业税率减免范围扩大至酒店，以推动英国起泡酒的繁荣。 肯特郡 Chapel Down 庄园的首席执行官 James Pennefather 表示，虽然安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）决定将酒吧的商业税率降低 20 per cent 这‘非常受欢迎’，但部长们应该将这一减免扩大到酒店，因为酒店是该集团起泡酒的另一个关键销售渠道。‘酒店拥有
英国杂货市场份额 30%
此前并未考虑重新收购 Asda 的可能性，考虑到该品牌已经衰落。 据了解，TDR 越来越急于出售 Asda。英国死气沉沉的股票市场也使得该集团不太可能寻求上市。 一次旨在创建强大的 Sainsbury’s-Asda 组合——由价格削减和会员卡驱动——的新尝试，也被认为较不容易在竞争与市场管理局（CMA）那里碰壁。 作为其增长议程的一部分，前财政大臣 Rachel Reeves 用
来自亚马逊的 Doug Gurr 取代了 CMA 的主席 Marcus Bokkerink。长期拖延的调查——例如对之前 Sainsbury’s-Asda 合并提案的调查——被视为商业发展的制约。 此外，人们认为 CMA 未能注意到 Ocado 和亚马逊等在线购物团体的进展。 Gurr 的技术领域背景预计将促使人们采取一种比以往用于评估杂货交易的店铺、消费者和地理制图技术更广泛的方法。 根据数据集团 Worldpanel 的数据，合并后的实体可能会更好地制衡占据 28.2 per cent 市场份额、主导市场的特易莎（Tesco）。 Sainsbury’s 以 15.2 per cent 的市场份额远在第二位。加上 Asda 的 11.5 per cent，合并后的集团将紧随特易莎其后，拥有
10%
这些措施的影响较小，因此‘我们会鼓励政府在这一点上采取进一步行动，’他说道。 他补充说，更广泛的利率下调可能会推动英国新兴葡萄酒业的增长。由于气候变暖使得葡萄种植条件更加有利，该行业在近年来迅速扩张。
26.7% 的股份。因此，塞恩斯伯里（Sainsbury’s）再次尝试收购 Asda 的时机可能看起来十分有利。 而且，考虑到塞恩斯伯里的董事长马丁·西克卢纳（Martin Scicluna）在保险公司 RSA 的往绩（他在担任董事长期间主导了该公司向一家加拿大对手的出售），他可能对达成交易持开放态度。 但首席执行官西蒙·罗伯茨（Simon Roberts）可能会对塞恩斯伯里尝试另一项转型交易感到犹豫。 零售顾问及前 Asda 采购员格德·法特（Ged Futter）是对此类合并持怀疑态度的人之一。 ‘在掌舵六年之后，罗伯茨可能即将结束他的首席执行官任期。我不认为他想参与一项收购。Asda 并不合适，而且目前正陷入困境，’法特说。‘任何潜在的 Asda 收购行为都只会让特易可（Tesco）获利。’
彭内法瑟（Pennefather）表示，进一步的利率下调‘将极大地支持我们的行业’，并补充道：‘已经发生的情况非常棒，但我们鼓励将其扩展。’ 这位 Chapel Down 负责人的言论发表之际，英国的零售业和酒店业企业正呼吁政府将营业率减免政策从酒吧、酒馆和现场音乐场所扩大到整个行业，以帮助推动经济增长并阻止商业街（High Street）的衰落。
LV= 如何在绝境中自救
安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）刚刚成为工党和合作党的首位首相，并承诺将政府关于将互助部门规模翻倍的计划变为现实。因此，现在是与英国最知名成员所有制金融服务公司之一的负责人坐下来聊聊的好时机，尤其是这家公司最近经历了一次近乎毁灭的危机。 大卫·海纳姆（David Hynam）经营着 LV=，这是一家生命保险、收入保障和养老金业务公司，原名为利物浦维多利亚（Liverpool Victoria），拥有超过 100 万名成员。三年前，在 LV= 险些落入一家美国私募股权秃鹫之手后，海纳姆接管了公司。 他的前任，一位名为马克·哈蒂根（Mark Hartigan）的前陆军上校，试图在向贝恩资本（Bain Capital）出售 5.3 亿英镑 (£530 million) 的祭坛上牺牲 LV= 的互助地位。但在由《每日邮报》和《周日邮报》发起的活动引导下，这种去互助化未能赢得足够的成员支持，并于近五年前崩溃。 海纳姆被引入是为了稳定局面。自那时起，他通过削减债务、增加利润并充实 LV= 的资本缓冲，使这家拥有 183 年历史的互助公司获得了更稳健的财务基础。他还为这家互助公司‘找回了一些自豪感’。但在海纳姆忙于纠正 LV= 航向的同时，其他金融互助机构规模在不断扩大。 最大的互助机构 Nationwide 已经吞并了 Virgin Money。竞争对手考文垂（Coventry）建筑协会目前拥有合作银行（Co-operative Bank）。 OneFamily 和 Scottish Friendly 计划合并，创建一家拥有 2.3 百万名成员的互助寿险公司。 海纳姆说，在过去的三年里，‘世界已经发生了很大变化’。
感兴趣真是太好了”
他用那极其明显的威尔士口音说道。 “我们之前有一段时间有点分心，”他低调地补充道，“过去有一些我们已经摆脱的历史。” 至少 LV= 不再需要时刻战战兢兢。 “我早晨起来时，不会想‘我必须为独立而战’这种大事，”海纳姆（Hynam）说。“我想的是‘我们要为会员提供巨大的价值’。” 而 LV= 正在兑现这一承诺。这家互助会最近向 250,000 名拥有该互助会的合资格保单持有者支付了创纪录的 £1 亿英镑。 这笔红利的绝大部分来自于与安联（Allianz）的一项协议的最终付款，这家德国巨头在六年前收购了 LV= 的房屋、汽车和宠物保险部门。 海纳姆似乎在正确的时间出现在了正确的位置。 谈到伯纳姆时，他说：“有一个对合作社和互助会部门感兴趣的人真是太好了。这对我们来说永远是有用的。”
双重救援：大卫·海纳姆（David Hynam）在 LV= 的伯恩茅斯总部，以及插图中他的救援犬沃尔特（Walter）
但他也希望看到“客户能够产生共鸣的一贯政策”，特别是针对养老金。 在去年预算案出台前，由于有传言称 £268,275 的上限将被削减，养老金账户的免税现金提取量激增。 虽然最终并未削减，但海纳姆渴望避免在 10 月 28 日预算案（这将是伯纳姆的首次预算案）出台前再次出现一次破坏性的猜测。 “如果养老金的免税额度被取消——或者面临被取消的威胁——人们
年龄：54 居住地：博恩茅斯 家庭：伴侣欧文 (Owen)，一名医院放射技师 教育：南威尔士 Bedwellty 综合学校；肯特大学 宠物：救援犬 Walter
爱好：任何 1980 年代的时尚（尤其是汽车）、海边和卡拉 OK 最喜欢的电影：《谍报特工》(The Bourne Identity) 或任何一部邦德电影
晚餐邀请嘉宾：芭芭拉·斯特赖桑 (Barbra Streisand)（左图）：“我会准备一些我认为她会喜欢的东西——三分熟牛肉配一瓶马尔贝克红酒”
“他们在税务规划方面的行为会有所不同，”他警告道。LV= 的另一个问题是资本获取。互助公司由成员所有，因此不能像上市公司那样向外部投资者发行股票。对于像 LV= 这样由成员所有且受到金融监管机构监管的人寿保险公司来说，这意味着必须依赖保单持有人的保费、投资回报和留存利润。 “我认为目前还没有人能想出在无法持有股份的情况下，互助公司如何获取资本的办法，”他承认。 金融监管的设计在很大程度上是考虑到股东制银行和保险公司的。像 LV= 这样的互助公司在很大程度上是被忽略的。尽管面临这些不利因素，LV= 最近凭借强大的品牌力恢复了状态。 Hynam 认为，深厚的传承既能产生客户忠诚度，也使 LV= 这个名字本身具有“巨大需求”。这家互助公司可以追溯到 1843 年，当时它在利物浦成立，旨在帮助穷人支付葬礼费用。 在一次巨大的信心投票中，德国巨头安联 (Allianz) 最近签署了一项许可协议，继续在 2019 年从该互助公司购买的一般保险产品上使用 LV= 品牌。 Hynam 指出，安联放弃了删除 LV= 名称的计划，做出了一个“积极的选择”，以“保持我们的品牌新鲜感”，并补充道：“这是一个非常有价值的品牌——我们最大的资产之一。” 对于客户是否会对两家保险公司在同一个 LV= 旗帜下运营而感到困惑的说法，他淡化了处理。 该互助公司近期复苏的另一个因素是股市的繁荣。其旗舰分红基金（旨在保护保单持有人免受股市波动影响）去年获得了令人印象深刻的 14% 的回报。 LV= 的一半业务在储蓄和退休领域，销售年金和反向抵押贷款计划等产品，这些产品也实现了良好增长。其余部分则是保护计划，如人寿保险和重大疾病保障。 “我们的口号是：在您工作时保障您的收入，在您不工作时将其最大化，”Hynam 说道。LV= 的产品主要通过一个监管的财务顾问网络销售，他们为定制服务收取费用。 但在非监管或引导性建议领域，巨大的增长空间……
图片：LES WILSON
在各家服务商竞相争夺“大众富裕”市场的过程中，机遇随之而来。Hynam表示，人工智能 (AI) 可以在提供基础财务建议方面发挥作用，从而降低成本。但 AI 的潜力也在其他领域被挖掘，例如 LV= 正在试行的投诉处理。谈到 LV= 的 AI 试点项目时， he 表示：“我不介意有些项目失败，因为如果总是 100 per cent 成功，说明你投入的尝试还不够多。”
拯救 LV= 并不是 Hynam 进行的唯一救援行动。当他谈到他的狗 Walter 时，闪烁的眼睛亮了起来，他形容 Walter 是个“完全的救援犬”。他透露：“Walter 是在塞浦路斯的一个 Biffa 垃圾桶里被发现的。”当时他伴侣 Owen 的母亲在那里经营一家狗狗收容所，并将 Walter 飞回英国给他们。Hynam 说：“它是一只地道的杂交犬，但颜色很像迷你雪那瑞。”
他有时会带着 Walter 进入 LV= 位于博恩茅斯的总部办公室，而且他还收集了一批瓷狗。这些是他在 Bupa 负责该公司英国业务期间，同事们在离职时送给他的礼物。他承认：“有些比其他的更好看。”
多年来，互助组织经历过不少希望的破灭。大卫·卡梅伦的联合政府曾承诺，作为其“大社会”议程的一部分，将推广互助组织并促进金融业的多样性。但这从未真正实现。也许在安迪·伯纳姆领导下会有所不同。Hynam 能做的就是践行他的座右铭——离开时要让事物比你刚发现时状态更好。
AUGUST 2 • 2026 The Mail on Sunday
晚上好！
詹姆斯·杜义 (James Doyle) 在三个选择中选中了正确的那匹马，骑乘 Evening Saigon 赢得了管家杯 (Stewards’ Cup)，为他效力的 Wathnan Racing 老板们在辉煌古德伍 (Glorious Goodwood) 惊人的一周画上了圆满句号。
这次胜利对马主们来说是锦上添花，考虑到他们与赛事赞助商卡塔尔的关系，他们将此次赛事视为目标。这是他们在杜义策骑下本周获得的第七个冠军，而对于卡塔尔出生的练马师 Hamad Al Jehani 来说，在赢得 Golden Mile (Archivist 骑乘) 之后，这是他在短短几天内赢得的第二个主要让磅赛冠军。
那天杜义选错了马，策骑 Al Jehani 的 Blue Brother 仅获得第八名，但昨天在赢得 £128,850 冠军奖金后，他心情十分愉悦。
“这太棒的一周了，”杜义说。“去年我只赢了一个 [winner]，当时感到非常沮丧，我们对此非常失望，所以当时下达的指令是我们需要做得更好——包括我自己在内。”
“本周我们做了很多工作，研究不同的战术之类的事情，比如赛道位置等。后方办公室的所有同事，以及 Hamad，他对这匹马也做了不可思议的工作。Hamad 和他的……”
主要赛事。L-H 赛道。场地状况：Good。 顶尖骑师：D Probert。顶尖练马师：A Balding。
RADNOR HILLS 让磅赛 (CLASS 4) £15,000 (£7,731) 1m 4f 1 (7) 758 PATAGONIA GIRL (C&D) H Palmer 4-10-1...D Probert 2 (4) 444 CHARMAINE (D) J Fanshawe 5-10-1...........D Muscutt 3 (3) 1-43 KUREDU KING (D) D McCain 4-9-13.............. J Mason 4 (2) 059- WESTERTON J Candlish 6-9-12.......................G Wood 5 (1) 451 TIMBER TWELVE (D) M Bell 3-9-9...............R Coakley 6 (6) 353 L’EAGLE AID (BF,C&D) C Johnston 5-9-6........J Callan 7 (5) 4-14 LEVEL LOOK A Balding 3-9-1.......................O Murphy 投注建议：2 Timber Twelve, 4 L’Eagle Aid, 5 Level Look, Charmaine。
2.45
EBF ‘CONFINED’ 初赛 (CLASS 4) £15,000 (2-Y-O) (£7,731) 6f 1 (4) 22 PURE GRIT (BF) A Balding 9-7....................O Murphy 2 (2) 3 SHAKWAA E Walker 9-7.......................... K Shoemark 3 (5) 38 SOVEREIGNS HIGH R Beckett 9-7...............E Greatrex 4 (1) 90 THEREWEARETHEN J Candlish 9-7.................G Wood 5 (3) 5 INDEPENDENT ROZE L Williamson 9-2 F McManoman 投注建议：4-9 Pure Grit, 7-2 Shakwaa, 6 Sovereigns High。
3.20
QUEENSFERRY STAKES (LISTED) (CLASS 1) £60,000 (3-Y-O) (£34,026) 6f 1 (8) 177 SONG OF THE CLYDE (C&D) C Cox 9-4.. K Shoemark 2 (4) 630 ARDISIA (D3) H Palmer 9-1.............................C Fallon 3 (3) 421 CALICO BLUE (C&D3) R Varian 9-1............. R Dawson
赛马
团队，很高兴他们本周赢得了两场大型让磅赛。” Al Jehani 表示：“我为团队感到非常高兴。他在皇家 Ascot 表现出色 [他在 Wokingham Stakes 中获得第七名]，决定将他保留到 Stewards’ Cup 是正确的决定。 “这对我们非常重要，也是本赛季的一场非常关键的比赛。我很高兴，并感谢 James 为这匹马提供了出色的骑乘。” 骑师 Jim Crowley 在 48 岁时宣布结束他辉煌的骑乘生涯。 Crowley 在去年 9 月于约克的一次坠马事故后未能充分康复，从而做出了这一决定。 他是 2016 年的冠军骑师，曾骑乘过 Battaash、Baaeed 和 Mohaather 等顶尖赛马。 “我拥有过一段惊人的职业生涯，”计划转向训练赛马的 Crowley 说道。“从障碍赛转而能在平地赛中取得如此成就，这太令人惊叹了。 “我曾与一些伟大的马匹搭档，它带给我梦寐以求的时光。”
4 (6) 101 JAZL (D3) S & E Crisford 9-1.........................J Mitchell 5 (9) 11- LIFEPLAN (D2) D Carroll 9-1..................... Z Wheatley 6 (7) 6-60 ROCK ON THUNDER (D) K Ryan 9-1.................K Stott 7 (1) 150 SIRIUS A (D) J Horton 9-1................................G Wood 8 (5) 650 FITZELLA (D2) H Palmer 8-10.......................D Probert 9 (2) 120 SIMPLIFY (D) A Balding 8-10......................O Murphy 投注赔率：9-4 Lifeplan, 9-2 Rock On Thunder, 6 Song of The Clyde, 13-2 Fitzella, 8 Calico Blue, 10 Ardisia, 12 Sirius A, Jazl, 14 Simplify. 3.52
电视：SKY
电视：SKY
DISNEY’S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL AT LOWRY HANDICAP (CLASS 2) £25,000
(£12,885) 7f 1 (5) 408 PALMAR BAY (C&D) R Beckett 5-10-2...........H Vigors (5) 2 (4) 056 THE STRIKIN VIKING H Al Jehani (UAE) 4-10-2
F Bughanaim 3 (6) 009 ROMAN DRAGON (C8) H Palmer 7-9-13.....D Probert 4 (8) 4-10 POWER FIZZ (BF,D3) W Haggas 4-9-12..........C Fallon 5 (10) 150 DANCE IN THE STORM (C&D) A Balding 4-9-11
O Murphy 6 (3) 004 KHAFIZ (D2) R Fell 4-9-8...................................K Stott 7 (2) 060 THE ANGEL KING (D2) I Williams 4-9-5....E Greatrex 8 (9) 064 KORKER K R Burke 7-9-5..........................J Nicholls (3) 9 (7) 293 MONARCH’S GOLD K P De Foy 3-9-2.........T Moore (7) 10 (1) 494 MIAMI MATRIX (C2,D) P Morris 4-8-13......P Bradley 投注赔率：10-3 Power Fizz, 5 Monarch’s Gold, 13-2 Korker, 7 Dance In The Storm, Palmar Bay, Khafiz, 8 The Strikin Viking, 12 The Angel King.
LAURIE BRANNAN 今日赛马建议 CHESTER....................................................................................Calico Blue (3.20) YARMOUTH.............................................................................Keep Grating (3.08)
E1.90, E4.40。 exacta (确切顺序): E35.20。三连胜 (Trifecta): E708.40。CSF: E25.68。未参赛马匹 (NRs): Aodha’s Arrow, Back In Favour, Tanga Mugi。4.27: VICTORY SPEECH (骑师 W M Lordan) 11-10f 1; Zarak Pasha 6-4 2; Thomas Chippendale 5-1 3。4匹参赛。(练马师 A P O’Brien)。差距：¾, 4l。Tote: E2.10; Ex: E2.80。三连胜: E3.60。CSF: E3.21。5.00: REST YOUR MIND (骑师 W J Lee) 15-2 1; Royal Bones 7-4f 2; Suir Monad 3-1 3。12匹参赛。(练马师 Gerard O’Leary)。差距：½, 3¼。Tote: E8.80; E2.20, E1.20, E1.40。Ex: E38.90。三连胜: E163.30。CSF: E22.51。未参赛马匹 (NRs): Aghadrum Boy, Gliondar, Tijuana。5.35: FAOLADH (骑师 A Browne-Souza) 22-1 1; The Sweet Escape 13-2 2; Apache Outlaw 4-1 3。13匹参赛。(练马师 A Slattery)。5-4f San Aer。差距：shd, shd。Tote: E36.20; E2.10, E2.00, E7.30。Ex: E295.10。三连播 (Tricast): E739.37。三连胜: E2276.30。CSF: E161.73。未参赛马匹 (NRs): Bay Of Dreams, Chester Nimitz, Lough Leane, Mytimetoshine, Rhythm King。6.05: SIR JEREMY (骑师 Paddy Harnett) 11-1 1; Thatwilldoso 13-2 2; Thyer 14-1 3; Pillar Of Hope 12-1 4。16匹参赛。(练马师 N Meade)。6-5f Fratas。差距：nk, 1l, 1¾。未参赛马匹 (NRs): Cala Bonita, Concert Party, Diamond Exchange, Hexagonal, Steps In The Sand。Placepot: E140.50。
场地：良好至坚实
1.50: HOPEWELL ROCK (骑师 R L Moore) 5-1 1; Small Fry 6-1 2; Aeronautic 11-4 3。13匹参赛。(练马师 G Boughey)。5-2f Valedictory。差距：¾, 2¼。Tote: £6.50; £2.10, £2.10, £1.40。Exacta: £46.50。三连播: £102.32。三连胜: £194.70。CSF: £33.49。未参赛马匹 (NR): Too Soon。
2.25: ENFJAAR (骑师 R Dawson) 8-1 1; Opportunity 15-8f 2; Al Aasy 9-2 3。8匹参赛。(练马师 R Varian)。差距：1¼, 1l。Tote: £9.00; £2.20, £1.30, £1.60。Ex: £28.40。三连播: £76.23。三连胜: £117.00。CSF: £22.91。
3.00: GOODIE TWO SHOES (骑师 D Browne McMonagle) 8-1 1; Santorini Star 4-1 2; Waardah 9-4f 3。6匹参赛。(练马师 J P O’Brien (爱尔兰))。差距：ns, hd。Tote: £9.00; £2.90, £2.00。Ex: £42.90。三连胜: £146.10。CSF: £37.83。未参赛马匹 (NR): Little Dorrit。
3.35: EVENING SAIGON (骑师 J Doyle) 16-1 1; Stratusnine 25-1 2; Mitbaahy 14-1 3; Completely Random 7-1 4。27匹参赛。(练马师 H Al Jehani (阿联酋))。11-2f Two Tribes。差距：hd, shd, nk。Tote: £20.30; £4.70, £6.60, £4.50, £2.80。Ex: £620.80。三连播: £5760.08。三连胜: £14567.90。CSF: £397.04。未参赛马匹 (NR): Candy。
4.10: GHOST MODE (骑师 R Hornby) 9-2 1; Ironwill 10-1 2; We’re Goosers 11-8f 3。13匹参赛。(练马师 A Balding)。差距：1¼, nk。Tote: £7.00; £2.20, £3.60, £1.40。Ex: £88.50。三连播: £99.48。三连胜: £235.20。CSF: £47.72。
4.45: RAFE’S DA MAN (骑师 P Dobbs) 12-1 1; Charted Course 9-2 2; Speyside 40-1 3。13匹参赛。(练马师 R Hannon)。13-8f Speakers Corner。差距：1¼, 1¾。Tote: £14.40; £3.30, £1.80, £8.50。Ex: £81.80。三连胜: £1791.90。CSF: £67.18。未参赛马匹 (NR): Al Wathba。
5.20: CREST OF FIRE (骑师 T Marquand) 100-30jt-f 1; Boyfriend 13-2 2; Blue Courvoisier 100-30jt-f 3。15匹参赛。(练马师 J Channon)。差距：nk, ½。Tote: £4.34; £2.00, £2.60, £1.90。Ex: £33.20。三连播: £83.25。三连胜: £147.30。CSF:
卡梅伦·诺里的墨西哥洛斯卡沃斯公开赛之行在半决赛中以三盘败给卫冕冠军丹尼斯·沙波瓦洛夫而告终。这位英国第二名（见上图）曾在2021年赢得该赛事，在此前遭遇六连败后，通过打入四强恢复了一定状态，但最终以 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 惜败。 “我的发球表现很好，对阵卡姆时我确实需要发挥出色，”沙波瓦洛夫表示。“他不会给你太多送分机会。这是一场艰苦的战斗。”
L-H 赛道。场地状况：良好至坚硬 (Good to Firm)。顶级骑手：B Loughnane。顶级练马师：M Bell。
J20 分类索赔锦标赛 (4 级) £15,000 (£7,731) 1英里 1 (3) 687 CANDONOMORE (D4) J Candlish 5-9-6........G Wood 2 (5) 120 ALPHA CAPTURE (BF,D) R Fell 6-9-4................K Stott 3 (2) 065 I STILL HAVE FAITH (D) S C Williams 6-9-2.R Dawson 4 (4) 133 BLUE PRINCE P Evans 5-8-13.......................O Murphy 5 (6) 730 CALYXOH P Morris 4-8-13.............................P Bradley 6 (1) 815 MIDNIGHT STRIKE (D) J Candlish 4-8-13........J Callan 投注赔率：9-4 Blue Prince, 5-2 Alpha Capture, 10-3 I Still Have Faith. 4.52
汤姆·琼斯切斯特赛马场现场 让赛 (4 级) £15,000
(£7,731) 1英里 2分路程 1 (9) 515 FARASI LANE M Hammond 8-10-2.............A Brookes 2 (6) 742 SECRET BEACH D McCain 5-10-2..............T Moore (7) 3 (1) 421- SALIGO BAY (C,D) S England 8-10-0...............T Eaves 4 (3) 530 NAPLES S Hollinshead 4-9-13.....................D Costello 5 (5) 642 TIGER (BF) I Williams 4-9-12.......................E Greatrex 6 (8) 034 ECHALAR I Williams 4-9-11...........................D Probert 7 (2) 479 OMAN (C2,D) A Carroll 8-9-8.................. Z Wheatley 8 (10) 548 MOON BEGINNINGS (C) D Loughnane 4-9-8 L Pearson 9 (4) 213 CAPE FEAR (BF) A Balding 3-9-7.................O Murphy 10 (7) 494 EAGLE DAY P Evans 6-8-13...............................J F Egan 投注赔率：9-4 Saligo Bay, 5-2 Tiger, 5 Secret Beach, 8 Cape Fear, Echalar, 16 Moon Beginnings, Farasi Lane, 20 Eagle Day, Oman.
Totescoop6 胜项：未中奖，累计奖金 £65,672。位置：£5,470。奖金：£29,265。
£26.67。未参赛马匹 (NRs)：Alpha Crucis, El Matador, Point Of Contact。渐进奖金 (Jackpot)：未中奖，奖金池 £20,234.50 结转。位置波坦 (Placepot)：£963.20。四连波坦 (Quadpot)：£218.40。汉密尔顿 (HAMILTON) 部分场地良好至柔软 5.50：亨利昂泰晤士 (HENLEY ON THAMES) (S James) 2-1 1; Thanks Harry 6-1 2; California School evensf 3. 5 匹参赛。(K P De Foy)。2¼, ½。Tote：£3.00; £1.20, £2.20。 Exacta：£9.40。Trifecta：£14.20。CSF：£13.40。6.25：TIERNAN (A Mullen) 11-8 1; Kissmehoneyhoney 5-1 2; According To Mark 5-4f 3. 5 匹参赛。(I Jardine)。4l, 9½。Tote：£2.38; £1.20, £1.70。Ex：£5.90。Trifecta：£8.80。CSF：£8.05。7.00：CABRERA (P J McDonald) 85-40f 1; Secret Force 9-2 2; Gallus Norman 8-1 3. 10 匹参赛。(E Bethell)。hd, 1¼。Tote：£3.13; £1.30, £2.00, £2.10。Ex：£13.00。Tricast：£64.76。Trifecta：£73.50。CSF：£11.69。未参赛马匹 (NR)：Dunkeld Dreamer。7.30：COROLLA POINT (P J McDonald) 3-1f 1; Eternal Sunshine 9-1 2; Fluorescence 5-1 3. 11 匹参赛。(E Bethell)。1l, 1l。Tote：
£4.00; £1.70, £2.40, £1.80。Ex：£42.60。Tricast：£138.17。Trifecta：£238.90。CSF：£31.74。未参赛马匹 (NRs)：Jordan Electrics, Parisiac, Solar Aclaim。林菲尔德 (LINGFIELD) 良好至坚硬-部分场地良好 5.05：BINTKNIGHT (L Edmunds) 13-8f 1; Londoner 4-1 2; Epictetus 5-1 3. 5 匹参赛。(Harry Charlton)。1l, ¾。Tote：£2.63; £1.50, £1.40。Exacta：£1.40。Trifecta：£28.80。CSF：£8.76。5.40：PANTHERE NOIR (R Kavanagh) 5-4f 1; Lapidarist 5-1 2; Private Project 11-1 3. 6 匹参赛。(L Dace)。nk, 1¼。Tote：£2.25; £1.20, £2.00。Ex：£7.80。Trifecta：£38.90。CSF：£7.97。6.15：CAMPEONA (D E Hogan) 8-15f 1; An Bradan Feasa 3-1 2; Laravie 5-1 3. 3 匹参赛。(Sir M Prescott)。nk, 14l。Tote：£1.54; Ex：£2.20。Trifecta：£1.90。CSF：£2.38。未参赛马匹 (NR)：Naval Command。6.45：ROGUE EXILE (H Davies) 1-3f 1; Justice Court 9-2 2; Malakai Kite 13-2 3. 5 匹参赛。(James Owen)。nk, 4l。Tote：£1.34; £1.10, £1.50。Ex：£2.50。Trifecta：£3.40。CSF：£2.36。未参赛马匹 (NR)：Muchacho。
7.15: LAYLATY (L Edmunds) 9-4f 1; Rogue Imperial 6-1 2; Seed Ya Later 13-2 3. 7 匹参赛 (H Charlton)。shd, 1¼。Tote: £3.25; £1.70, £3.00。Ex: £17.70。Trifecta: £79.40。CSF: £16.17。NEWMARKET 场地好至坚硬 1.33: ROMANTIC SYMPHONY (B Loughnane) 5-4f 1; Francophone 17-2 2; Revoir 6-1 3. 8 匹参赛 (C Appleby)。1¼, 2½。Tote: £2.25; £1.20, £2.30, £1.90。Exacta: £13.30。Trifecta: £62.80。CSF: £13.27。NR: Ryka。2.13: HAVANA SPRITE (J Mitchell) 4-1 1; Acclamation Star 7-1 2; Holi Scarlett 25-1 3. 9 匹参赛 (J Tate)。2-1f Love A Giggle。½, ¾。Tote: £5.10;
让磅赛 (第 5 类) £8,400 (3 岁马) (£4,397) 1m 3f 104yds 1 (3) 741 SHADOW BRIGADE G Scott 9-12.................D Keenan 2 (2) 102 BRIGHTON VIEW W Knight 9-7....................M Ghiani 3 (1) 841 MR BOLLINGER (C&D) M Bell 9-1.........B Loughnane 投注赔率: 13-8 Shadow Brigade, 7-4 Brighton View, 2 Mr Bollinger. 3.08
限制性新手赛 (第 2 类) £30,000 (2 岁马) (£15,702) 7f 1 (3) 41 TELEGRAPHIC (D) C Johnston 9-10.......B Loughnane 2 (9) BISCAYSIAN M Bell 9-4...................................K Fraser 3 (6) 5 CRACKING IDEA E Dunlop 9-4...................... H Davies 4 (5) JAVELOT M Botti 9-4...................................S De Sousa 5 (7) 632 KEEP GRATING R Hannon 9-4..........................J Leavy 6 (8) PIRATES PARADISE G Scott 9-4...................D Keenan 7 (2) 03 SOVEREIGN DAWN M Keady 9-4........... K S McHugh 8 (4) SPES DURAT AVORUM J Morland 9-4.............J Peate 9 (1) STRONG PERFORMANCE W Knight 9-1.......M Ghiani 投注赔率: 6-4 Keep Grating, 2 Telegraphic, 10 Pirates Paradise, Biscaysian, 12 Javelot, 16 Spes Durat Avorum, Strong Performance. 3.38
分类赛 (第 6 类) £6,600 (£3,454) 7f (5) 066 ASPIRE TO GLORY (D5) D Cunha 5-9-9..T Marquand (6) 733 NICELY CURVED H Burton 6-9-9......................J Peate 849 OH SO AUDACIOUS (D) J Jones 7-9-9................K Fraser 4 224 VALSHARAH M Appleby 4-9-9..................... H Davies 5 754 CAITLIN G M Fenton (IRE) 3-9-3...............G McEntee 6 (4) 6-46 GIRLS ALLOWED J & S Birkett 3-9-3...........D E Hogan 投注赔率: 6-4 Valsharah, 5-2 Nicely Curved, 13-2 Aspire To Glory.
£1.50, £2.20, £6.10。Ex: £34.60。Tricast: £633.71。Trifecta: £477.80。CSF: £33.53。2.48: SPIRITED GESTURE (R Havlin) 6-4 1; Kiah 14-1 2; Asheyra 7-1 3. 7 匹参赛 (J & T Gosden)。11-10f Haleema。2¼, 1l。Tote: £2.50; £1.30, £3.90。Ex: £17.00。Trifecta: £54.40。CSF: £22.96。3.23: TRYST (B Loughnane) 5-1 1; Lion of Mali 5-2f 2; Spirit Of Saxony 100-30 3. 6 匹参赛 (G Boughey)。1¾, ½。Tote: £6.00; £2.90, £1.50。Ex: £17.00。Trifecta: £61.10。CSF: £17.29。3.58: ARQOOB (J Mitchell) 10-1 1; Sixpack 13-2 2; Haku 125-1 3. 8 匹参赛 (L Wadham)。5-4f Divine Knight。½, hd。Tote: £11.80; £2.50, £1.70, £9.70。Ex: £72.30。Tricast: £7437.89。Trifecta: £1098.70。CSF: £72.96。4.33: HOLLYWELL STREAM (B Loughnane) 7-2 1; Food For Thought 10-11f 2; Thaluna 100-30 3. 4 匹参赛 (J Chapple-Hyam)。1½, 4¼。Tote: £4.80; Ex: £7.50。Trifecta: £15.60。CSF: £7.36。5.10: MERRIMACK (C R Lyons) 11-4 1; Sound And Vision 2-1f 2; Silky
Robin 6-1 3. 6 匹参赛 (S C Williams)。1¼, ½。Tote: £3.75; £1.80, £1.80。Ex: £10.40。Trifecta: £46.50。CSF: £9.02。Placepot: £695.20。Quadpot: £106.00。THIRSK 场地好-部分地方好至坚硬 1.38: BATTLE FEVER (K Stott) 9-4 1; Red Blue Point 7-2 2; Bacha 9-1 3. 8 匹参赛 (K Ryan)。5-4f Palm Reader。3l, 1l。Tote: £3.25; £1.10, £1.60, £1.50。Exacta: £12.20。Trifecta: £71.30。CSF: £11.11。2.08: WITCH HUNTER (S C Cronin) 12-1 1; Dain Ma Nut In 40-1 2; Northern Express 9-2 3. 11 匹参赛 (R Hannon)。3-1jt-f Jeddaal, 3-1jt-f Mirsky。½, nk。Tote: £13.00; £3.20, £6.80, £1.60。Ex: £306.60。Tricast: £2528.47。Trifecta: £5013.20。CSF: £424.74。NR: Fondo Blanco。2.43: BRIGHTON BEACH (D Tudhope) 5-6f 1; Le Samourai 100-30 2; West Sleekburn Lad 300-1 3. 5 匹参赛 (W Haggas)。hd, 16l。Tote: £1.59; £1.10, £1.10。Ex: £1.50。Trifecta: £15.50。CSF: £1.60。NRs: Ben Travato, Regal Desire。Ben Travato / Rule 4 applies to All
[!NOTE] 本章节源文包含大量外语数据与图片版面，已进行结构化对齐优化。
投注，每英镑扣除30便士。3.17：ACCRUAL (W Pyle) 1 1；Moulin Booj 1 2；Tiva 1 3. 12 匹参赛。(R Carr)。11-4f Rotokura Belle。1l, hd。Tote：£13.00；£4.00, £2.30, £2.80。Ex：£118.80。Tricast：£537.20。Trifecta：£1189.50。CSF：£71.53。3.47：ASUKA (J Callan) 15-8f 1；Angel Hunter 2 2；Croupier 1 3. 15 匹参赛。(G Boughey)。hd, 2¼。Tote：£2.88；£1.60, £2.00, £5.70。Ex：£11.90。Tricast：£141.44。Trifecta：£145.70。CSF：£8.71。NR：约克郡。4.22：LA PEREGRINA (G Downing) 4-7f 1；Northern Brave 100-30 2；That Darn Cantor 1 3. 4 匹参赛。(E Walker)。1½, shd。Tote：£1.58；Ex：£2.70。Trifecta：£7.00。CSF：£2.97。4.55：MALDEVIOUS (B Robinson) 2 1；Northcliff 6-4f 2；Great 2 3. 9 匹参赛。(B Ellison)。1¼, 2¾。Tote：£8.70；£1.30, £1.80, £2.30。Ex：£28.40。Tricast：£48.03。Trifecta：£114.00。CSF：£19.54。Placepot：£107.20。Quadpot：£5.60。
[!NOTE] 本章节源文包含大量外语数据与图片版面，已进行结构化对齐优化。
百年里程碑 托比成为城堡之王
托比·金 (Toby King) 在沃灵顿队以 48-18 击败卡斯尔福德队、提升季后赛希望的比赛中，职业生涯第 100 次通过达阵得分。
金的达阵是“狼队”此次七次达阵之一。球队在落后的情况下反超并确保胜利，使他们升至第四位。
在山姆·伯格斯 (Sam Burgess) 带领的球队通过亚当·霍尔罗伊德 (Adam Holroyd) 取得领先之后，戴贾恩·阿西 (Daejarn Asi)、泰勒·夏普 (Tylor Sharpe)（首秀）和菲尼克斯·劳鲁-托加加埃 (Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e) 在 8 分钟内连续三次达阵，让主队掌控了局面。
随后，沃灵顿队利用一系列防守失误，由马蒂·阿什顿 (Matty Ashton)（两次）、金、托阿福法亚·西普利 (Toafofoa Sipley)、詹姆斯·哈里森 (James Harrison)、里昂·海耶斯 (Leon Hayes) 和本·库里 (Ben Currie) 连续达阵。
尤安·欧文 (Ewan Irwin) 为“狼队”完成了 8 次转化球尝试并全部命中。该队在上个月的四场比赛中仅赢了一场。
伯格斯承认他的球队需要提高，才能在超级联赛的冠军争夺中具备竞争力。他说：“我们完成了任务。如果我们真的想在赛程后半段发力，我们需要收拾好几个问题。”
卡斯尔福德 (CASTLEFORD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 沃灵顿 (WARRINGTON) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 卡塔兰巨龙 (CATALANS DRAGONS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .L 韦克菲尔德 (WAKEFIELD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L 约克 (YORK) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 圣海伦斯 (ST HELENS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
斯诺克
让分赛 (CLASS 6) £7,200 (3-Y-O) (£3,768) 1m 1 (2) 369 DARETOBEDIFFERENT (D) D Donovan 9-9.M Ghiani 2 (1) 724 OKIRU A Watson 9-8...............................T Marquand 3 (4) 564 MELTING SNOW E Dunlop 9-6.............B Loughnane 4 (5) 473 GUEST HOUSE (BF,C&D) G Margarson 9-5 S De Sousa 5 (6) 780 BELLINI SPIRIT J & R Flint 9-4.....................W Carson 6 (3) 650 ESDAILE J Tate 9-1..........................................D Keenan 投注赔率：2 Melting Snow, 9-4 Guest House, 11-4 Okiru。 4.38
“限定”让分赛 (CLASS 6) £7,200 (£3,768) 1m 2f 1 (1) 025 CUBAN GIRL B Toomey 4-9-8....................... H Davies 2 (4) 321 THE UBERMENSCH (C) M Bell 4-9-8.....B Loughnane 3 (5) 066 RISEN AGAIN (C&D) J & R Flint 5-9-7.........W Carson 4 (2) 0-73 BIG ALEX WALMSLEY I G-Leveque 4-9-6 B Sayette 5 (3) 142 NUPTOWN GIRL I Williams 4-9-4.....R Kavanagh (3) 投注赔率：11-8 The Ubermensch, 9-4 Nuptown Girl, 4 Big Alex Walmsley。 5.08
PRICE BAILEY LLP NORWICH “限定” 让分赛 (CLASS 6) £7,200 (£3,768) 5f 393 PAPA DON’T PREACH (BF,D4) K Frost 7-9-9
B Loughnane 364 MART (D2) D Donovan 5-9-9 R Kavanagh (3) 523 DRAGON GOD A Carroll 4-9-7................T Marquand (7) 903 ANTIPHON (D3) M Murphy 7-9-2................M Ghiani 676 REGAL GUEST G Margarson 4-9-2.............S De Sousa 6 (6) 350 NAD ALSHIBA SNOW M Murphy 4-8-13.. G Mangan 7 07-8 SURPRISE AGAIN J R Jenkins 4-8-13.................J Peate 投注赔率：15-8 Papa Don’t Preach, 2 Dragon God, 9-2 Mart
板球
THE HUNDRED — 男子组 — 伯明翰凤凰队 137-9（100球）； 威尔士之火队 138-3（96球；J Root 58no）。威尔士之火队以 7 个三门洞获胜。 女子组 伦敦精神队 114-8（100球；S Molineux 3-7）；南部勇士队 115-5（93球）。南部勇士队以 5 个三门洞获胜。 威尔士之火队 144-3（100球；G A Voll 78）；伯明翰凤凰队 145-3（93球；E A Perry 68no；A R Capsey 51）。伯明翰凤凰队以 7 个三门洞获胜。
足球
友谊赛 — 马德里竞技 1 曼联 2；布莱顿 4 斯特拉斯堡 3；切尔西 1 托特纳姆 2；唐卡斯特 0 林肯 1；哈德斯菲尔德 1 布莱克本 1；马格德堡 1 西汉姆 1；卡森巴萨 1 赫尔 1；曼城 1 国际米兰 1；米德尔斯堡 3 埃斯帕尼奥尔 3；米尔沃尔 1 安特卫普 0；诺维奇 1 奥萨苏纳 2；彼得堡 0 西布罗姆 2；普利茅斯 0 布里斯托尔城 0；门斯特 1 南安普顿 2；雷丁 3 查尔顿 0；斯托克波特 1 普雷斯顿 0；斯旺西 1 莱加内斯 0；波鸿 0 谢菲尔德联 0；怀科姆 1 普斯维奇 2。
高尔夫
AIG女子公开赛，英格兰皇家利瑟姆与圣安妮斯高尔夫俱乐部 — 第 3 轮：（除另有说明外均为英国和爱尔兰选手，标准杆 71）：206 — Y Noh（美）67 70 69；209 — A Thitikul（泰）64 73 72；Hae-Ran Ryu（韩）66 69 74；L Li（美）72 68 69；S Kuwaki（日）66 70 73；E Henseleit（德）73 69 67；210 — L Woad 69 71 70；211 — M Katsu（日）72 68 71；C Hull 69 71 71；A Furue（日）76 70 65；C Wannasaen（泰）68 72 71
橄榄球联盟
BETFRED超级联赛
网球
WST上海大师赛 中国上海 — 半决赛：K Wilson（英）击败 X Zhao（中）10-8。
邓肯·弗莱彻 (1999-2007) 津巴布韦 测试赛纪录：胜42 平24 负30
理查德·吉布森 板球记者 报道
如今很少有英国人选择去执教英格兰队，原因有很多：前任者的结果沉重地压在心头，对该国根深蒂固的教练体系产生了不信任，同时对名将的痴迷也日益增加。
本世纪以来，只有彼得·穆尔斯（两次）和克里斯·西尔弗伍德被赋予了自称为测试赛主教练的特权，两人在一起输掉的比赛与赢得的一样多——合计 22 胜 22 负。
这看起来可能是一个苛刻的评判标准，但此类统计数据可能影响了罗布·基做出任命新西兰人斯蒂芬·弗莱明决定，尽管他缺乏一流的教练经验，但被排在了理查德·道森之前，后者也许是该国最出色的教练天才，且简历中有奖杯记录。
有些人可能会争论（且或许有理有据），道森在两支不受关注的郡队中取得的成就，在这次选拔过程中并未获得相应的权重。格洛斯特郡的支持者将 2015 年他们在勋爵之球场赢得的一日杯决赛视为俱乐部最辉煌的成就之一；而他执掌格拉摩根队后，在去年 9 月完成升级的首个赛季结束时，将该队在郡冠军赛中提升至第四位。
在两份工作之间，还有一件小事，即在 2020 年初监督英格兰狮子队在澳大利亚的 8 场比赛之旅，并以不败之势返回故土。
彼得·穆尔斯 (2007-09 及 2014-15) 英格兰 胜12 平11 负9
在赢得了对阵澳大利亚 A 队的四天“测试赛”后。周五，Key 谈到了对本土教练进行“培养”以提高其“技能”，称需要为他们创造更多海外经验。这种提升不会是一个快速的解决方案。然而，Dawson 在澳大利亚获胜的非常积极的经验是在六年前。他拥有通过多次英格兰巡赛积累的关于全球多种环境的知识。
这感觉就像是对产生出 Dawson 的教练培养路径的一种忽视——Dawson 孤傲的神态不应掩盖他是一位优秀的教练且深受该国顶尖球员尊敬这一事实。
ANDY FLOWER (2009-14) 津巴布韦 胜30 平15 负16
Key 对传统的四级教练资格认证表现得漠不关心，而英格兰及威尔士板球委员会 (ECB) 在过去四分之一个世纪里一直要求该国最优秀的教练完成此项认证；相反，他任命了一些教练背景有限或根本没有教练背景的人，以诸如前传奇球员 Brendon McCullum 和 Andrew Flintoff 这样的形式担任高职。
TREVOR BAYLISS (2015-19) 澳大利亚 胜27 平7 负26
(2019-22) 英格兰 胜10 平6 负13
投资点在于“灵感”而非“汗水”。总体而言，McCullum 在四年的时间里在三支英格兰队中证明了自己是成功的，但他很早就说过：“不要指望我去操作具体工具。”Flintoff 自两年前接管 Lions 队以来，证明自己更像是一个导师而非教练，并且他将缺席明年冬天在南非的部分计划，转而去 Big Bash 联赛执教悉尼雷电队 (Sydney Thunder)。
这是更广泛的“氛围”凌驾于结果之上的文化的一部分。当 The Hundred 联赛在 2021 年启动时，没有一名教练是英国人。已故的 Shane Warne 被伦敦精神队 (London Spirit) 选中；Andy Flower、Darren Lehmann 和 Gary Kirsten 等经验丰富的国际教练被签下；两名崭露头角的教练分别是新西兰的 Daniel Vettori 和澳大利亚的 Simon Katich。
Key 是正在转变的板球文化的一部分，这种文化将名声置于功绩之上，将海外成就置于国内成就之上。
最近六个郡冠军赛 (County Championship) 冠军均由拥有英国教练的球队获得：Moores (诺丁汉郡)、Gareth Batty (萨里郡)、Mark Robinson (沃里克郡) 和 Anthony McGrath (约克郡)。
如果我们对自己生产线的产品没有信心，为什么能指望其他人有信心？在海外的工作机会一直很有限：Silverwood 和 Paul Farbrace (均在斯里兰卡)、Bob Woolmer (巴基斯坦) 和 Jonathan Trott (阿富汗) 是本世纪中极少数担任过测试赛国家队主教练的人。
Vikram Solanki 是唯一一个从郡队职位转到印度超级联赛 (IPL) 的英国人，担任古吉拉特巨人们 (Gujarat Titans) 的板球总监。Moores 是去年冬天 Big Bash 联赛中唯一的英国教练。
然而，有转变的迹象。Ian Bell 曾在两项赛事中都进入过教练组。其他人也尝试前往 BBL，通过观察员或后勤角色来获取经验。
原约克郡的 Andrew Gale 在塔斯马尼亚担任教练期间引起了巨大轰动，并在去年冬天被晋升到澳大利亚 A 队工作。
外国人似乎是通过不同的棱镜被评判的。尽管 Fleming 拥有公认的人员管理能力、战术敏锐度和冷静且精于计算的特质，但他在没有 MS Dhoni 担任队长的情况下从未赢得过奖杯。
与此同时，Marcus Trescothick 这一次未能进入入围名单，尽管他曾在 McCullum 手下拥有四年的经验，期间他唯一的重大失误是在珀斯第一场测试赛失利后，坚持认为此前没有讨论过在上升期击球的危险。
Trescothick 在两年前的加勒比地区有限overs巡赛中作为 McCullum 的代理人完成了出色的工作，带着罕见的对西印度群岛的系列赛胜利而归，并将在对阵巴基斯坦时再次接任。他一直以来
(2022-26) 新西兰 W27, D2 L20
由一个备受推崇的教练体系所培养，该体系已将多位个体推向全球各地的国际主教练岗位。 澳大利亚教练安德鲁·麦克唐纳 (Andrew McDonald) 在 27 岁时就完成了他的教练认证，并在七年后在此磨练技巧，从底层起步，加入了一支已经两个赛季没有赢球的莱斯特郡 (Leicestershire) 球队，同时在自己的家乡继续比赛。 通过提高这家中路俱乐部在 2015 和 2016 赛季的最终排名，他建立起作为全球巡回赛中最出色的年轻教练之一的声誉；当他在澳大利亚担任第一个高级教练职位时，他在 2016-17 赛季的处女秀活动中带领维多利亚州夺得谢菲尔德盾冠军，进一步证实了这一点。 在格雷斯路 (Grace Road)，麦克唐纳可以将他对“不干预”方法的信念付诸实践，让球员承担更大的责任，并利用自己之前在体育心理方面所经历的挣扎，来解放一支此前被困于苦战中的球队的思维。 奥蒂斯·吉布森 (Ottis Gibson) 曾率领西印度群岛赢得 Twenty20 世界杯，在执教南非期间在测试赛系列赛中击败了澳大利亚和印度，并曾两次担任英格兰的投球教练，他参与了 ECB 的教练计划。 另一位澳大利亚人杰森·吉莱斯皮 (Jason Gillespie) 在刚结束在津巴布韦的首次任职、作为一名年轻教练时，就面对着终结约克郡冠军荒的压力，而他的回应是在 2014 和 15 年连续获得冠军。与吉布森一样，他也进入了国际赛场，尽管在巴基斯坦的任期较为短暂。 其他人对郡级系统所提供的一切心存感激。也许现在是我们如此对待它的时刻了。
Root：在我的第二次队长任期中，我将保留 Bazball 的精髓
JOE ROOT 将选择使用“手术刀”而非“碎纸机”，试图扭转英格兰在测试赛板球（Test cricket）中的颓势。Root 将于 8 月 19 日在他的主场 Headingley 对阵巴基斯坦队，开始他的第二次正式测试赛队长任期。他认为，尽管自 2024 年底以来在系列赛中未获胜利，但四年的 Bazball 风格极大地改善了球队环境。
35 岁的 Root 表示：“我们将尝试延续之前做正确的事情，而不是让自己回到 Baz 和 Ben 接手之前的状态。我们需要通过演进和微调，使我们达到理想的目标，并在很长一段时间内能够持续与顶尖国家队竞争。”
“如果完全推翻我们过去四年所做的一切，那是错误的。Ben [Stokes] 和 Brendon [McCullum] 做了很多正确的事情，改变了我们看待比赛的方式。作为一名球员，我从中受益匪浅。但有些领域我们需要进一步精进，变得更加严谨。”
这位约克郡球员 Root 表示，与他 2017 年首次接替 Alastair Cook 担任队长，或 2022 年春季承认队长职能对他个人生活产生负面影响而辞职时相比，他现在处于一个更好的状态。
“任何人在八年的时间里说自己还是同一个人，那大概是在撒谎，”Root 在接受英格兰及威尔士板球委员会（ECB）官方网站采访时说道。“我们本可以做得更好，表现得更好，但当时的情况对我来说有些过于沉重了，是时候离开一段时间。”
“世界已经大不相同。我处于一个不同的阶段，对于未来的机会感到充满活力且兴奋。”
“过去四年是我在板球生涯中最快乐的时光，这在很大程度上归功于他们 [McCullum 和 Stokes] 引导我看待比赛的方式。”
“显然，最近的一小段时间仍留在每个人的记忆中，但你应该看的是一个四年的周期，期间我们做了很多正确的事情。”
ECB 男子板球总监 Rob Key 为 Root 配备了教练 Stephen Fleming，后者被誉为该运动最伟大的思考者之一。Root 在担任英格兰测试赛队长的纪录 65 场比赛中，战绩为 27 胜 27 负，平分秋色。
53 岁的 Fleming 在一级板球（first-class cricket）教练方面没有记录，这主要是因为他与印度超级联赛（IPL）的钦奈超级国王队（Chennai Super Kings）有着 18 年的紧密联系。然而，Root 表示，尽管在 6 月份作为 Stokes 的代理队长在 The Oval 输给了新西兰队的第二场测试赛，但他很享受与
McCullum 协同工作的感觉——而 Fleming 对于球队如何运作有着非常相似且放松的哲学。
“如果我非常坦诚地说，他是我想要接任队长的重要原因，”Root 继续说道。“他对比赛的看法，以及他认为我们作为一支球队所处的位置以及为了达到目标所需做的工作，都让我非常兴奋。”
“我非常期待与他合作，期待我们共同打造一些特别的东西。”
在经历了去年冬天 4-1 的灰烬杯（Ashes）惨败后，英格兰目前在测试赛板球排名中位列第五。
赛程密集
8月 19 日 对阵 巴基斯坦 （第一场测试赛，海丁利球场） 8月 27 日 对阵 巴基斯坦 （第二场测试赛，摄政公园球场） 9月 9 日 对阵 巴基斯坦 （第三场测试赛，埃德巴斯顿球场）
9月 15 日 对阵 斯里兰卡 （T20，南安普顿） 9月 17 日 对阵 斯里兰卡 （T20，卡迪夫） 9月 19 日 对阵 斯里兰卡 （T20，老特拉福德球场）
9月 22 日 对阵 斯里兰卡 （ODI，切斯特-勒-斯特里特） 9月 24 日 对阵 斯里兰卡 （ODI，海丁利球场） 9月 27 日 对阵 斯里兰卡 （ODI，椭圆球场）
在 2-1 负于伤病困扰的新西兰队之后。 由于早已安排好的家庭事务，弗莱明最早要到对阵巴基斯坦的三场系列赛末尾才会抵达，这意味着马库斯·特雷斯科西克将出任临时教练。 在此之前，他将为首场测试赛分队的选拔提供建议，该名单计划在下周末公布。 随后，弗莱明将于 9 月抵达英国，并开始规划明年夏天的灰烬杯，首先是冬季对阵南非和孟加拉国的客场系列赛，以及 3 月对阵澳大利亚和 5 月对阵孟加拉国的一次性比赛。 到那时，手术切除是否足够有效将变得非常明确。
在格拉斯哥
威尔士亲王与王妃上午在格拉斯哥观看了篮网球赛，但真正的“皇家大乱斗”发生在拳击场上。 英格兰队在当天的第一节比赛中，两小时内斩获三枚金牌，萨查·希基、帕特里斯·穆格尔扎伊和艾萨克·奥科全部登顶领奖台。 在重量级决赛中击败威尔士的康纳·威廉姆斯后，奥科向威廉王子发出了一份俏皮的邀请：“如果他想参加垫击训练，告诉他给我打电话。但费用相当高！” “我不知道他们是否感兴趣。他们可能会来看看并享受比赛。这周的氛围非常好，所以希望有一天他们能看到我打拳。” 这是这些业余选手展现出的统治力。在追随尼古拉·亚当斯、
洛蒂·沃德（Lottie Woad）和查理·赫尔（Charley Hull）在今日 AIG 女子公开赛最后一轮中仍有竞争力，而新领跑者叶利米·诺（Yealimi Noh）在第三天结束时领先三杆。 沃德在皇家利瑟姆和圣安内球场第三轮打出 70 杆（低于标准杆 1 杆）后，以低于标准杆 3 杆的成绩落后美国选手诺四杆；而赫尔在糟糕的开局后奋起，以 71 杆（平标准杆）的成绩落后五杆，低于标准杆 2 杆。 诺在开局缓慢后也迅速恢复，打出 69 杆（低于标准杆 2 杆），其中包括 5 个 birdies 和 3 个 bogeys，从而
安东尼·约书亚和阿米尔·汗。 “你们会再次看到我们回到领奖台顶端，”奥科补充道。 “我觉得目前我是 90kg 级别中世界上最强的选手之一。我还年轻。自去年 9 月以来，我的状态非常好，赢得了大量奖牌。到了 LA 2028，我将寻求再夺一枚金牌。” “这一切都是在为我们所有人都梦寐以求的大型付费观看之夜做铺垫。这就是我们达成目标的方式，在英联邦运动会和奥运会上赢得这样的奖牌。希望有一天你们能在海报上看到我们。” 英格兰队的三位奖牌得主——希基、穆格尔扎伊和达马尔·托马斯——都通过伦敦的同一套青少年拳击培训路径脱颖而出。现在他们在 Team GB 的指导下，共同在谢菲尔德训练。
作者：David Kent
领先于五名并列第二名的球员三杆，其中包括昨晚的领先者柳海兰 (74)。 来自韩国的柳海兰在赢得了6月的女子PGA冠军和上个月的依维安锦标赛后，正力争连续第三个大奖赛冠军，她目前与日本的久胁志帆 (73)、泰国的吉诺·蒂蒂库尔 (72) 以及
皇家包厢：威尔士亲王与王妃观看网球赛
绩效总监 Rob McCracken。 在击败北爱尔兰的 Kaci Rock 后，Hickey 表示：“这对我的意义非凡。当我开始时，女子拳击并不被真正认可。能来到这里并赢得金牌简直难以置信。我是从任天堂 Wii 上的 Wii Sports 开始接触的。
美国选手 Lucy Li (69)。Woad 在前九洞打出两个 birdies（小鸟球）和两个 bogeys（柏忌球），随后在后九洞连续打出六个 par（标准杆），并在第16洞再次打出 birdie，使其暂时位列第七名。 这位来自 Farnham 的 22 岁选手表示：“风力可能是目前为止最强的，后九洞确实是一场艰苦的磨难。 ‘但我感觉今天在果岭上的表现好了一些，通过不错地抢分才勉强完赛。 ‘这绝对是一个有利的位置。（我将）尝试坚持我的比赛计划，看看会发生什么。’
我记得自己在电视前练习击影，而今天我竟然来到了这里。” Mughalzai 在男子65公斤级决赛中击败澳大利亚选手 Jacob Cassar 夺金，他补充道： “这是一种疯狂的感觉。这里有三个我从小就认识的人。我们一直一起赢得全国冠军，能登上这个大舞台真是太棒了。 ‘我的队友 Damar 在他大约 12. 岁时加入了我的健身房。我们是一个朋友圈，每当周六晚上有拳击赛时，我们都会互相打电话。 ‘我比他大一点，但我们一直团结在一起，同时进入英国队 (Team GB) 并展示我们的技能。这是一个大舞台，而我们为此而生。 ‘有时我们输，有时我们赢——但对我们来说，这是一场伟大的比赛。’
Hull 在前六洞丢了三杆，但凭借在第七洞和第八洞连续打出的 birdies 挽回了一些势头。 尽管她在第10洞打出了 bogey，但随后在第15洞和第16洞连续打出 birdies，最终以 71 杆平手完赛，使这位来自 Kettering 的 30 岁选手并列第八名，仍有竞争力。 Hull 表示：“我错过了三个原本应该在五英尺距离内推进的球，我认为如果进球，我就能保持平手，而不是（在第六洞后）三杆高于标准杆。 ‘但我对自己的收尾方式相当满意。’”
2022年的痛苦 转化为动力
英格兰队失去了在英式网球金牌赛中对阵牙买加的机会。 澳大利亚队曾是被看好夺冠的热门，但在最后一球罚球失手后被牙买加队淘汰。 曾在 2018 年获得英联邦冠军的英格兰队在半决赛中输给了新西兰队，今天将与来自大洋彼岸的竞争对手进行一场艰难的铜牌赛。 英格兰队教练安娜·斯坦布里奇表示：“银蕨队（Silver Ferns）的出色表现值得称赞。他们确实扼杀了我们向射手传球的节奏。” “我们稍欠火候。究其原因，我们有 10 名球员之前从未参加过英联邦运动会的半决赛。他们从中获得的经验将起到关键作用，无论是对明天的比赛，还是为世界杯做准备。” 埃莉诺·卡德韦尔曾在 2022, 年的铜牌赛中作为英格兰队成员被银蕨队击败，她强调了重新专注于今日对决的重要性。 “我不想再次有那种感觉，”卡德韦尔说。“我认为这将为竞争注入更多动力。我们必须非常渴望赢得一枚奖牌。” 与此同时，英格兰 800 米冠军乔治亚·亨特·贝尔昨天飞往葡萄牙，开始准备欧洲锦标赛。 她将在伯明翰转战 1500 米项目，届时她将迎来训练伙伴基利·霍奇金森的回归，后者并未参加格拉斯哥的比赛。 “基利通过 FaceTime 与我沟通计划，并就她认为我能做到的方面发表了看法，”亨特·贝尔说。“我们是很好的朋友。当站在起跑线上时，我们是竞争对手。我们很幸运拥有这样一个关系和谐且速度都很快的友谊圈。我们可以让彼此变得更快。”
在芝加哥
在周五早晨玩“阿尔内·斯洛特 (Arne Slot) 宾果游戏”时，许多需要勾选的短语之一就是：“亚历山大·伊萨克 (Alexander Isak) 签的是六年，而不是六个月”。前任主帅会对那些质疑为何这位身价 £125million 的球员未能证明其巨额转会费价值的人开这个玩笑，因为伊萨克在初期的 15 场比赛中仅攻入两球，且在恢复体能方面苦苦挣扎。记住，是六年，而不是六个月。问题在于，到他任职结束时，其中一年已经过去了。考虑到巨大的支出，这意味着英国纪录转会费中的 2080 万英镑m 已经随之而去，而仅有四粒进球作为回报。正当伊萨克似乎终于找回状态——在客场对阵托特纳姆热刺的比赛中上半场破门——他却遭遇了腿部骨折。这几乎宣告了该赛季的结束，直到世界杯前，他的体能都远未恢复到巅峰状态。但在他与纽卡斯尔之间那场激烈的分手 12 个月后，伊萨克终于准备好将那段噩梦般的岁月抛在脑后，成为利物浦在签约时所期待的那个球员。预计他今天将在“风之城”芝加哥参加对阵利兹联的首场季前赛，而安多尼·伊劳拉 (Andoni Iraola) 比任何人都更需要伊萨克。他的前任失业有很多原因，但其中之一就是两名昂贵的买入球员——伊萨克和身价 1.16 亿英镑m 的弗洛里安·维尔茨 (Florian Wirtz)——未能挺身而出。伊萨克当时几乎没有状态，而维尔茨有时给人一种格格不入的感觉。在两种情况下，一个糟糕的赛季是可以原谅的，但如果平庸的表现持续下去，人们将会提出严重的质疑。两人目前都非常享受伊劳拉新政权的强度，并准备好提升表现。很容易忘记，伊萨克是英超联赛中最好的前锋之一。自从他在 2022-23 赛季前加入纽卡斯尔以来，只有三名前锋的进球数超过他录得的 57 球：埃尔林·哈兰德 (Erling Haaland)、穆罕默德·萨拉赫 (Mohamed Salah) 和奥利·沃特金斯 (Ollie Watkins)。伊劳拉比以往任何时候都更需要他找回那种状态。由于另一位 9 号球员雨果·埃基蒂克 (Hugo Ekitike) 因跟腱断裂长期缺阵，利物浦需要一名得分手。萨拉赫已不再效力于俱乐部，且在撰稿时，这位明星球员...
转会窗口观察 作者：西蒙·琼斯 (Simon Jones)
埃弗顿正与阿森纳就一项价值 £7million 的交易进行谈判，以引进中场球员克里斯蒂安·诺尔高 (Christian Norgaard)。这位 32 岁的球员已被埃弗顿关注一段时间，因为与老将伊德里莎·加纳·格叶 (Idrissa Gana Gueye) 就新合同达成一致的可能性日益降低。格叶现已离开“太妃糖”队，而球队的詹姆斯·加纳 (James Garner) 在进行腹股沟手术后也处于伤停状态。诺尔高将...
再次伟大
顶级翼卫的签约工作尚未完成。 本周在被问及伊萨克（右图，在芝加哥）时，伊劳拉表示：“亚历克斯令人兴奋。他以良好的状态进入季前训练，经历了一届出色的世界杯，[感觉]很舒适。在这里的第一次训练，虽然还处于早期，但我希望他能参加对阵利兹联的比赛，并进行完整的季前准备。” “时间不长，但三到四周的高质量训练，我希望如此，他现在状态很好，因为他将成为我们的关键人物。” 在说到“关键人物”一词时，他特别强调了，而且他没有说错。 前红军前锋罗比·福勒曾为俱乐部打入 183 个进球，本周在纽约接受《每日邮报》体育版的采访时，告诉我们他为什么如此欣赏伊萨克——并支持他能回报俱乐部巨大的投资。 “我是他的超级粉丝，我多次谈到过亚历山大，”福勒说。“他在英超已经证明了自己。无论出于什么原因，他当时出现时状态不佳，或者他在适应大俱乐部方面遇到了困难……”
诺高德在上赛季为阿森纳出场 7 次联赛，总共出场 20 次。 他去年夏天在一次 1500 万英镑m 的交易中从布伦特福德加盟，但希望获得更多出场时间。 阿森纳希望通过从纽卡斯尔签下布鲁诺·吉马良斯来升级其中场。
切尔西已与英格兰中场乔丹·亨德森达成协议。 这位在世界杯期间手臂骨折的 36 岁球员将在本周末签署合同后正式确认成为切尔西球员。 亨德森在上周与布伦特福德协商一致终止合同后成为自由球员。 布伦特福德已采取行动，以 £39million 签下朗斯中场马马杜·桑加雷。这位 24 岁球员已完成体检，准备签署一份为期五年的合同。
【再次拍摄：伊萨克在今日于芝加哥对阵利兹联前与利物浦一同训练】
曼彻斯特联门将阿尔泰·巴因迪尔是塞尔塔维戈的目标。 巴因迪尔在转会窗开启之初受到了贝西克塔斯的关注，但后者签下了来自拜仁慕尼黑的亚历山大·努贝尔。 * AZ阿尔克马尔前锋特洛伊·帕罗特正吸引科莫、阿贾克斯、埃因霍温 PSV 和皇家贝蒂斯的关注。这位热刺青训毕业生在上赛季打入 31 球后成为热门目标。 * 西汉姆联中场弗雷迪·波茨准备成为埃弗顿今夏的第四名新援，此前加盟的是身价 2400 万英镑m 的海登·哈克尼，而泰瑞克·乔治和默林·罗尔则正式加盟。
足球
“但我对他没有任何顾虑。他很令人兴奋。他会进球。他会成为对方的麻烦。希望这就是他能更进一步的赛季。‘他在错误的时间受伤了，但我希望他能以健康的身体状态回归并火力全开。他在世界杯上的表现还可以，但我希望他在赛季开始时就准备好，而不是像上赛季那样等待数月之久。‘价格标签不会困扰我。球员们专注于表现出色，谈钱的事交给其他人。价格标签只是俱乐部给球员贴上的一个标签而已。它不会困扰我，至于这是否是我的心态，我不知道……有些球员没有这种心态。‘亚历山大是世界级的，价格标签也不会困扰他。他具备一切条件——带球推进时令人兴奋，他能创造机会。他能点燃球迷的热情，这对于像利物浦这样的俱乐部来说至关重要。‘他不仅能过掉对手，还能将队友带入比赛，并且能进球，这非常关键。他的比赛中还有其他令人印象深刻的方面。’”伊萨克在一次积极的世界杯之后一直在增肌，在那次赛事中，他享受与阿森纳的维克托·吉奥克雷斯在瑞典队并肩作战。他与大多数球员一样，很享受新体制的强度，并在芝加哥与这一代最优秀的前锋之一罗伯特·莱万多夫斯基接触。这位前多特蒙德、巴塞罗那和拜仁慕尼黑球员，现年 37, 在赢得了 10 次德甲冠军、3 次西甲冠军和一次欧冠冠军后，最近转会至 MLS 的芝加哥之火俱乐部。他与伊萨克一样，一直在这里的健身房努力训练。伊拉奥拉渴望伊萨克担任纯正的 No 9, 而维尔茨则担任传统的 No 10 —靠近前锋，不像上赛季他经常被指示漂移到左路。面对 2.41 亿英镑m 的身价，这对组合无法承受又一年的适应期。
伊拉奥拉也同样无法承受，他将依赖那些曾让斯洛特失望的球员。这位巴斯克教练在开局几周的表现令人印象深刻，但如果这对组合不能展现出顶级身价球员的样子，他将无法取得成功。是六年，而不是六个月——但现在比以往任何时候都更需要伊萨克最终挺身而出。
加盟布鲁日俱乐部，交易额为 £10.5million。 铁锤帮一直试图与凯尔特人就中场球员阿尔内·恩格尔斯达成协议，但其最新报价被拒绝。 l 赫尔城正在就一项 1700 万英镑m 的交易洽谈尼斯翼锋穆罕默德·阿里-乔的转会。 l 富勒姆仍与皇家马德里就签下中场球员蒂亚戈·皮塔奇进行讨论。 l 伊普斯维奇正在与斯特拉斯堡就前锋胡里奥·恩西索的永久转会进行谈判。
布赖恩·姆贝莫 (BRYAN MBEUMO) 攻入两球，曼联在斯德哥尔摩的草莓竞技场以 2-1 击败马德里竞技，夺得骁龙杯 (Snapdragon Cup)。迈克尔·卡里克 (Michael Carrick) 的球队在第 5 分钟落后，当时阿尔瑙·奥尔蒂斯 (Arnau Ortiz) 的传中球悄悄越过汤姆·希顿 (Tom Heaton) 的左侧立柱入网。在扬·奥布拉克 (Jan Oblak) 扑出卢克·肖 (Luke Shaw) 和阿马德·迪亚洛 (Amad Diallo) 的射门后，曼联在半场结束时仍落后一球，这确实有些运气不佳；迪亚洛在代表象牙海岸参加世界杯后完成了他的 1 次亮相。但重启后不久，出色的谢亚·莱西 (Shea Lacey) 被侵犯，姆贝莫在点球点上攻入一球，扳平了比分。在第 74 分钟，曼联另一位最亮眼的青训球员杰克·弗莱彻 (Jack Fletcher) 为这位喀麦隆球员制造了绝杀机会，让 21,000 名观众中的大多数人在赛后地满载而归。在这场比赛中，JJ·加布里埃尔 (JJ Gabriel) 和吉姆·斯威茨 (Jim Thwaites) 完成了成年队首秀。在接连 5-0 大胜罗森堡之后，这是曼联 3 场季前赛中的一场，而他们再次击败了迭戈·西蒙尼 (Diego Simeone) 的球队。以下是我们学到的内容：
姆贝莫梅开二度 曼联在这个夏天可能在市场上寻找另一名前锋来支持本杰明·塞什科 (Benjamin Sesko)，特别是如果约书亚·齐尔克泽 (Joshua Zirkzee) 离开的话，但姆贝莫再次证明了他在中路同样具有威胁，他在对阵马德里竞技的比赛中攻入两球。这位前布伦特福德球员在为曼联效力的首个赛季中曾 12 次进球，他先是通过点球得分，随后在杰克·弗莱彻的传中助攻下攻入决定性进球。由于塞什科正从胫骨受伤中恢复，尚未在季前赛中登场，而齐尔克泽的前景不明，姆贝莫再次表明他可以从右翼转换位置，为曼联在中锋位置提供另一个选择。“显然，我在右翼取得了巨大的成功，但作为前锋也做了一些不错的事情，”他说道。
谢亚展现实力 谢亚·莱西因其出色表现而获得回报——他在上周 5-0 战胜罗森堡的比赛中打入首球，随后在斯德哥尔摩再次首发，并凭借另一场亮眼表现抓住了机会。在杰克·弗莱彻替换迪亚洛（这是曼联半场唯一的变动）之前，他再次被部署在 10 号位置，随后移至右翼。这位 19 岁球员的跑位和活力给马德里竞技带来了真正的问题。莱西能够向左或向右突破并使用双脚传球的能力是一项巨大的资产。他在上半场通过一次精准传中找到了姆贝莫（虽被队友勉强顶出但偏出底线），因此看到他的机智动作赢得点球也就不足为奇了，正是这次点球让球队……
在香港举行的旭日超级干 (Asahi Super Dry) 奖杯赛中，恩佐·马雷斯卡 (Enzo Maresca) 的球队在点球大战中 3-1 败给国际米兰，曼城的马雷斯卡时代正式开启。在安托万·塞门约 (Antoine Semenyo) 出色的边路配合后，迪文·姆巴马 (Divin Mubama) 打入了这位意大利主帅执教后的首球，但随后国际米兰通过本杰明·帕瓦尔 (Benjamin Pavard) 做出了回应。虽然曼城在下半场表现更好，年轻球员瑞安·麦凯多 (Ryan McAidoo) 的射门击中立柱，但最终比赛进入了……
Salt
点球，尽管克劳迪奥·埃切韦里完成了一次精彩的潘内卡搓射，但由于拉扬·艾特-努里、阿布杜科迪尔·胡萨诺夫和尼科·冈萨雷斯的失球，曼城最终获得亚军。 他们的许多世界杯球星尚未归队，因此对于马雷斯卡来说，这是一组混编阵容。以下是我们学到的关键点……
福登之谜 在这个季前准备期，马雷斯卡有太多需要处理的事情，但找到一套能发挥菲尔·福登最大潜力的方案应该是重中之重。 在经历了艰苦的一季后，福登有七周的时间进行身体和心理上的恢复。在这场比赛中，他佩戴着队长袖标，在一支围绕他构建的球队中出任 10 号位置。 “在多年前就认识菲尔，我知道他有多优秀，因此我的职责就是尝试帮助他成为我们所有人心中想要的那个菲尔，”马雷斯卡在赛前表示。“状态良好且心情愉快的菲尔能帮助我们赢得比赛和冠军。” 在上半场，感觉比赛节奏在跳过福登；但在中场休息后，随着塞门约在他身前的中路活动，福登看起来更敏锐了，但仍未达到许多人敦促他恢复到的水平。 在这场接近 70 分钟的比赛中，人们被提醒到，尽管他渴望获得一个新的开始——而马雷斯卡也准备给他这个机会——但之后对他会有更高的期待。
左路最适合塞门约 当球队名单公布，显示塞门约出任左边锋，而不是佩普·瓜迪奥拉喜欢让他出任的右路时，曼城的球迷群中爆发了集体欢呼。 虽然塞门约在加盟伯恩茅斯的早期阶段是从右路开始的，但作为“樱桃队”的一员，他真正进入状态并成为英超最佳左路球员之一。其中一次进攻中，他在传球给姆贝乌莫之前完成了突破，随后姆贝乌莫抢在埃斯基维尔之前将球抢到并打入其个人第二球。
加布里埃尔获得机会 这可能仅仅是一场季前友谊赛，但在 21,000 名观众中的曼联球迷可以自豪地说，他们目睹了加布里埃尔在与另一位学院新星斯韦茨一起完成了他的曼联首秀。 两名青少年球员在第 82 分钟替补登场，接替姆贝乌莫和安德烈·桑托斯，参与了最后 11 分钟的比赛。 人们对加布里埃尔尤其是充满期待，他直到 10 月才满 16 岁。这位被誉为“小梅西”的年轻人看起来非常渴望触球，并最终在第 90 分钟获得了机会。面对三名防守球员，他在马德里竞技的禁区内连续转身突破，但射门被封堵。片刻之后，他再次尝试，但被铲倒在地。 曼联球迷将希望看到更多加布里埃尔和 18 岁天赋中场斯韦茨的表现。 卡里克赛后表示：“资深球员看起来强壮且状态良好，年轻球员也表现得非常出色。吉米和 JJ 在最后时刻登场又是两名年轻球员。他们第一次通过我们尝试这种体验，所以能给孩子们提供机会，对我来说太棒了。”
芒特早早进入状态 对卡里克而言，季前赛中最令人欣慰的事情之一便是梅森·芒特与新援 5000 万英镑illion 签下的桑托斯之间的中场搭档。 虽然这位巴西人在后四卫之前主要扮演防御角色，但芒特获得了更多前插的权限，并把握住了这个机会。 这位 27 岁的球员经历了一个令人沮丧的——
对塞门约在右路表现的批评在于，他在进攻三区的跑位具有可预测性。而在这里，他的表现完全不可预测，因此成为了国际米兰后卫的噩梦，塞门约通过内切和外拨将他们玩弄于股掌之间。
瑞安已准备就绪 对于经常观看青训足球的人来说，看到麦凯多将后卫晃得晕头转向是每周都能见到的景象。
自从 2023 年从切尔西加盟曼联后，他因伤缺席的时间较多，目前他正寻求证明自己能成为俱乐部今夏中场重建的关键部分。随着科比·梅努和曼联另一位今夏签约球员尤里·蒂莱曼斯在世界杯后仍未复出，位置竞争将非常激烈。但芒特在季前赛中表现锐利，前插能力出色，并在需要时帮助桑托斯进行防守。他在卡里克率领的曼联中的地位，以及他如何指导一些年轻球员，在对阵罗森堡的比赛下半场中佩戴队长袖标便可见一斑。
问题在于这是否能转化为成年队的表现。根据此次证据，答案是绝对肯定的。这位 18 岁小将在香港的客串表现极具质量，由于其重心极低，国际米兰的球员在他面前纷纷反弹，他在一次精彩的个人突破后击中了门柱。 “在我看来，他踢得和塞门约一样好，”前城锋肖恩·赖特-菲利普斯说道。 马雷斯卡想必也深受触动。
不确定他是否 想要离开 – 德泽尔比
罗伯托·德泽尔比承认，他不知道里沙利森在这个夏天是否想要留在热刺或离开。这位 29 岁的巴西人在补时阶段打入制胜球，确保了在与切尔西的友谊赛中以 2-1 获胜。在当地的索菲特酒店体育场（Accor Stadium）领衔进攻时，在热刺青训产品杰米·唐利击中门柱后，里沙利森抢在反弹球处得分。赛后谈到里沙利森时，德泽尔比表示：“我不知道。我喜欢他这个球员，也喜欢他这个人，他的态度和行为简直令人难以置信，但最终我们必须尊重他的意愿。” “而且我们知道。我们每个人都知道他想做什么，但对我来说他仍然是一名重要的球员，因为很难找到另一个像里沙利森这样的前锋。” “因为里沙利森能进球，而且他知道怎么进。至于新前锋，我们还不确定。他上赛季打进了 12 个进球，这不是靠运气，因为他有进球的直觉。” 当被追问是否在向我们承认里沙利森想离开热刺时，德泽尔比说：“我不知道，我没太听明白，因为有时他想留，有时他想走。无论如何我们得谈谈。没有什么问题。” “他是个可爱的家伙。我们所有人都喜欢他，队友们、俱乐部、工作人员都喜欢，因为他每天都努力工作，非常认真，我们在球场上对他无可挑剔。” 与此同时，在国外有报道称热刺已达成协议将其队长克里斯蒂安·罗梅罗卖给国际米兰，德泽尔比表示：“我昨天给库蒂发了短信，计划他回伦敦后的安排。” “不是为了转会市场。那不是我的工作。我知道转会市场有很多解决方案。” 热刺现在准备返回伦敦，继续为英超联赛进行季前准备。而他们击败的对手切尔西则将前往香港、印度尼西亚和马来西亚。切尔西主帅哈维·阿隆索承认，他不确定米哈伊洛·穆德里克在切尔西接下来的情况，但他表示期待在香港见到这位重新可用的乌克兰球员。在宣布穆德里克 4 年禁药禁令被缩减至 1 年后，切尔西的新任主教练首次发表讲话。这位 25 岁球员此前并未出现
在悉尼
自2024年11月起一直为他的俱乐部效力，但现在将前往香港与队友们汇合参加巡回赛。切尔西在2023年以£89million的价格从顿涅茨克矿工队签下了穆德里克，他同意签署了一份直到2031.年为止的八年半合同。随后，由于他被指控未能通过兴奋剂检测，其职业生涯受到了限制。随着科学指南的进展，世界反兴奋剂机构（WADA）提高了报告阈值，以进一步确认判定为阳性的样本确实超过了最低水平。接触污染源的确切来源从未被完全确定，但据信这发生在2024年9月穆德里克代表乌克兰执行国际任务期间。“老实说，我们没想到此时能得到这个好消息，所以我们非常高兴，”阿隆索在季前友谊赛输给热刺后表示。“我们觉得他将与我们一起工作。‘我记得在顿涅茨克矿工队看他比赛时的样子，他产生的影响，他的速度之快，在一对一情况下的出色表现，以及他如何能够凭借一己之力创造很多机会，他是一名特殊的球员，但肯定需要时间。‘我们为他感到高兴，尤其是为他个人，因为我们可能无法理解他这段时间经历了什么。我们希望他感觉到自己是团队的一员，因为他已经独自训练很长时间了，而且我们得到了所有人的支持，包括俱乐部、队友和工作人员，当然，这需要时间。‘一旦他与我们在一起，我们将观察情况如何发展。他将前往香港，但我还没有和他交谈过。’当被问及穆德里克今年夏天将留在切尔西还是离开时，阿隆索说：‘我们需要观察。现在下结论还太早，要看看他的身体状况，以及重新投入比赛所需的比赛时间，所以现在还太早。‘这需要时间。对他来说这是一个巨大的转变。‘他每天独自训练，那一定是非常、非常辛苦。所以一旦这个巨大的转变发生，现在事情将向前推进，之后我们将看看速度是快还是慢，但我们需要意识到这一点。’”
如何能在其出售世界杯 份额的拙劣计划惨遭 失败的耻辱中生存？
就在詹尼·因凡蒂诺与唐纳德·特朗普总统在新泽西州共同将世界杯交给西班牙的两周前，他身着深色西装，穿着亮白色的运动鞋，脸上带着一副像是自己在庆祝世界杯胜利般自鸣得意的笑容。在之前的六周里，这位国际足球联合会主席乘坐私人飞机在北美各地穿梭，以见证他的构想成为现实。随后他宣布，这次锦标赛及其新的 48 支球队赛制取得了巨大成功。
换做任何人，此时可能都会倾向于花点时间反思这次争议颇多的世界杯，或者干脆休个假。
但因凡蒂诺没有。他已经开始转向下一个项目；而该项目在本周遭遇了惨痛的失败，导致这位 56 岁的瑞士人现在不得不为保住权力而战。
他的宏伟计划——将足球运动的“皇冠明珠”以 £3.1billion 的价格出售给私人投资者——在不到四天的时间里就化为乌有。从周二午餐时间传出的爆炸性消息，到昨天凌晨因凡蒂诺发表的令人难堪的声明，确认该计划在广泛的反对面前已被废弃。
对于世界足球而言，这是一个剧震之周。在各区域足联甚至国际足球联合会的高管都转而反对这位深陷困境的主席，且欧洲足球协会联盟在昨天通过不信任投票，采取了将其撤职的第一步行动之后，很难想象他还能如何生存。
为什么计划崩溃得如此之快？作为一名老练的政治人物，因凡蒂诺为何会犯如此严重的错误？当《泰晤士报》揭露因凡蒂诺想要创建一家名为 FIFA Forward Enterprise 的子公司来运营其旗舰赛事（主要是世界杯），且该交易价值可高达 £15bn 时，立即引发的震惊和愤怒就预示了结果不会太好。
私人投资者将能够通过一个由 Thrive Eternal 领导的财团购买 FFE 的股份，该公司是由唐纳德·特朗普的女婿贾里德·库什纳的兄弟约书亚·库什纳创立的美国风险投资公司。如果国际足球联合会的 211 个会员协会同意这些提案，他们将在 9 月 19 日前获得 3000 万英镑m 的分成。
欧洲足球协会联盟率先发表了措辞强硬的声明表达反对，该声明获得了全体一致通过，并由英格兰足协和欧洲其他 54 个协会共同签署。他们批评因凡蒂诺“领导力严重失效”，并主持着一种“通过恐吓进行治理”的局面，并补充道：“我们任何人都不是足球的所有者。足球不属于国际足球联合会，不能被出售。”随后，欧洲足球协会联盟威胁称，如果因凡蒂诺拒绝退让并放弃计划，他们将抵制世界杯。
随后在周四和周五，另外两个足联也公开反对因凡蒂诺。代表北美、中美洲和加勒比地区 41 个国家的中北美及加勒比足联拒绝了该提案，并对“提案周围缺乏正当程序以及强加的人为短期限”表示“深切担忧”。亚洲足联紧随其后，表示：“足球绝不应被置于这样的境地。这暴露了国际足球联合会在磋商和决策过程中存在的根本性弱点，现在必须予以解决。”
因凡蒂诺需要 211 个会员国中的大多数投票通过其提案，但此时已有 136 个国家反对他。周五上午，他仍坚持己见，国际足球联合会发表声明坚称“没有人在出售足球”——但反对声音正以惊人的速度增长。
首相安迪·伯纳姆也卷入这场争议，质疑因凡蒂诺是否还是领导国际足球联合会的合适人选。“这简直是令人愤慨的……”
“建议，”伯纳姆说道。 “在我看来，这个想法甚至能够被提出，就说明国际足球联合会主席不是领导该组织的正确人选。” 对因凡蒂诺来说，更具破坏性的是，他的两名高级助手在短短几个小时内就转而反对他。 卡洛斯·科尔代罗曾是国际足球联合会在白宫世界杯工作组中的代表，且一直陪伴在因凡蒂诺身边，他表示：“作为国际足球联合会主席的高级顾问、前银行家以及终身足球迷，我不能在国际足球联合会考虑出售世界杯股份时坐视不管。 “我没有参与这项提案，并且我明确表示反对。这对国际足球联合会的成员协会来说是一笔糟糕的交易，对足球来说也是糟糕的交易，对这项运动的长期未来更是糟糕的交易。 “为了筹集 $4.2bn 而出售足球最值钱资产的永久股份，几乎没有任何意义。这是在没有任何令人信服的理由的情况下，抵押足球的未来。” 如果这对因凡蒂诺来说还不够糟糕，国际足球联合会首席运营官凯文·拉穆尔随后辞职，声称因凡蒂诺“欺骗”了自己的管理层，并指责他通过“隐瞒事实而撒谎”。他抨击这些计划是“一个人的项目”。 “这种（谎言）和单方面行使权力绝非小事，”拉穆尔补充道。 “它们预示着信任的缺失、透明度的缺失、洞察力的缺失，以及治理的缺失。以及严重的尊重的缺失。 “这个项目不仅不能推进，现在更是足球政治领导人们该扪心自问并做出正确决定的时候了。 “我的同事们——其中一些人将一生奉献给了足球——理应得到更好的对待，而不是轻视和恐吓。 “现在球在那些有能力改变现状的人手中。我知道我对我的雇主有忠诚义务。但我也，并且最重要的是，对某些价值观和我的成长经历负有忠诚义务。”
收到了，并且我有责任支持我的同事。如果这意味着我将失去我的工作，那就这样吧。我会理解并尊重那个决定。至少今晚我能睡个好觉。”
午夜过后不久，因凡蒂诺不可避免地屈服于压力，宣布他将取消这些提案，因为“很明显，该项目已经造成了某种性质的分歧，无论支持程度如何，这都不再符合最初设定的目标利益”。
然而，如果他认为这件事就这样结束了，那么昨天的进展很快地表明，当欧洲足球协会联盟对他发表不信任投票时，其影响可能会深远得多。
欧洲的监管机构抨击因凡蒂诺促成了这笔“卑劣、密室、不透明的交易”，并承诺将与其他联合会合作，“识别责任人并追究其责任”。
该机构补充道：“这是整个足球运动的胜利。但这绝不能是故事的终点。提案已经取消，但重建对国际足球联合会信任的任务才刚刚开始。”
那么因凡蒂诺接下来的路怎么走？他已经掌权 10 年，原本预计在明年 3 月于摩洛哥举行的下一次国际足球联合会大会上，他将在没有竞争对手的情况下赢得第四任期的连任。
但随着支持率迅速下降以及欧洲足球协会联盟采取强硬立场，看来出现一名竞争对手与他角逐的可能性越来越大。中北美及加勒比海足联主席维克多·蒙塔利亚尼已成为早期的竞争者，此外还有国际足球联合会秘书长马蒂亚斯·格兰斯特伦以及欧洲俱乐部协会副主席达里乌什·米奥杜斯基。
在曾一度掌控全世界仅仅两周之后，感觉詹尼·因凡蒂诺的时代即将走到尽头。
英足总：“现在是时候 对国际足球联合会的 领导层进行全面且 强有力的审查了”
来自后页
决定撤回将其赛事（包括世界杯）的股份出售给私有资本的计划。“该提案被欧洲足球协会联盟的各国协会以及许多其他联邦和联合会一致否决，而这些机构的职责正是保护足球。” “在接下来的几天和几周里，欧洲足球协会联盟将与各协会协作，并与其他联合会密切合作，反思此事是如何发生的，并确保此类事件不再发生。” “该审查应该是彻底且基础性的。任何选项都不应被排除在考虑之外。目前的国际足球联合会领导层不仅失去了欧洲足球协会联盟的信任，也失去了足球大家庭其他成员的信任。” “他策划并试图强行推动的这种低劣、黑箱、不透明的交易绝非透明之举。这是整个足球运动的胜利。但这绝不能是故事的终结。提案虽然被撤回，但重建对国际足球联合会信任的任务才刚刚开始。” 因凡蒂诺可能面临一次紧急理事会会议，届时他将被要求辞职。如果他拒绝，那么一名由其对手支持的候选人将在明年的选举中出面挑战他。包括英格兰、威尔士、荷兰和挪威在内的许多欧洲足球协会联盟成员国都认可了该联合会的声明。英格兰足协的一位发言人补充道：“我们完全支持欧洲足球协会联盟的立场。现在是时候对国际足球联合会的领导层和治理进行全面且强有力的审查了，以确保这项全球运动在透明的情况下运行，造福所有 211 个成员国，并将足球的长期管护放在核心位置。” 中北美及加勒比足球联合会 (CONCACAF) 紧随欧洲足球协会联盟的脚步：“中北美及加勒比足球联合会及其 41 个成员协会欢迎撤回拟议的国际足联前行企业 (FFE)。该联合会还赞赏其 41 个成员协会以及更广泛的足球大家庭在本周所表现出的勇气。” “在需要原则性领导力的时刻，我们的成员团结一致，捍卫足球的长期利益和良好治理原则。这种团结最终取得了胜利。” “如此规模的提案不可能在无意中进入该阶段。这是领导层不再将足球放在首位的症状。现在必须对该领导层进行全面审查。” 假设每个欧洲足球协会联盟和中北美及加勒比足球联合会的成员都支持其立场，那么有 90 个国际足球联合会成员国反对主席——占会员人数的 43%。而触发不信任投票仅需要 20%。即便如此，在 2027 年 3 月他寻求连任之前，至少需要 106 个国家投票反对因凡蒂诺才能迫使其下台。
亚洲足球联合会 [AFC] 在挫败这一为国际足球联合会赛事筹集 31 亿英镑 十亿私有投资的计划中起到了关键作用。在因凡蒂诺改变决定后，亚足联对他的重新评估表示欢迎，但并未要求其辞职。亚足联在今年早些时候承诺支持因凡蒂诺的连任竞选，且目前尚未改变这一立场。国际足球联合会高层的两名成员，凯文·拉穆尔 (Kevin Lamour) 和卡洛斯·科尔代罗 (Carlos Cordeiro) 也谴责了这一倡议，其中作为因凡蒂诺高级顾问的科尔代罗已从其岗位上辞职。
在放弃计划后，因凡蒂诺的声明写道：“国际足联前行企业项目旨在进一步加强我们的国际足球联合会成员协会和我们的体育运动，特别是那些最需要支持的国家。” “而且，只有在大多数国际足球联合会成员协会支持的情况下，才会这样做，并且”
幕后交易 绝非 透明
始终取决于与他们、国际足球联合会理事会、各加盟协会以及更广泛利益相关者的磋商过程。 “在仔细听取所有意见后，很明显该项目已造成了某种性质的分歧，无论支持程度如何，这已不再符合最初设定的目标利益。我们的目的始终是，也将永远是，团结与提高。因此，该提案将不再推进。” 当詹尼·因凡蒂诺的朋友兼盟友唐纳德·特朗普否认对该计划知情时，因凡蒂诺的窘迫进一步加剧——尽管特朗普的女儿伊万卡嫁给了贾里德·库什纳，而其兄弟约书亚·库什纳则深度参与其中。 有人问总统：“因凡蒂诺先生是否曾向您提及他出售世界杯股份的提案？” 特朗普最初极其粗鲁地回答道：“谁？”在问题重复一遍后，特朗普补充道：“不，我没跟他谈过。”
已无回头路
在放弃其“寒碜”计划后 辞职呼声日益高涨
在欧洲足球协会联盟和中北美及加勒比海足球联合会在其出售世界杯股份的“寒碜幕后交易”崩盘后要求其辞职，詹尼·因凡蒂诺担任国际足球联合会主席的未来陷入严重危机。 就在因凡蒂诺废除其备受嘲讽且极具争议的世界杯计划几小时后，欧洲以及北美、中美及加勒比地区的足球管理机构宣布，他们对他领导层的信心已不复存在。 各加盟协会要求因凡蒂诺辞职以避免进一步的混乱，但这位在昨日早晨废除计划的瑞士足球行政官员似乎决心死守权力。 欧洲足球协会联盟在一份声明中表示：“欧洲足球协会联盟欢迎国际足球联合会的”
1st No. 2262 《星期日邮报》由 ANL 出版，地址：9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY。由 Newsprinters Holdings Ltd (Broxbourne); Newsprinters Holdings Ltd (Knowsley); Newsprinters Holdings Ltd (Eurocentral); KP Services (Jersey); Irish Times (Citywest, Dublin), Ireland; Bermont Impresion, Madrid; TFPrint, SA, Tenerife; Miller Newsprint Ltd, Malta; Kronos Corporate Group Ltd, Cyprus; Milkro Hellas Publisher Services Ltd, Athens; Atlas Media Communication, Dubai, UAE 印刷。 Associated Newspapers Ltd 2026 The Mail on Sunday® THE MAIL ON SUNDAY 是 Associated Newspapers Limited 的注册商标。2024 年英国报纸的再生纸含量为 37.2%。
2023 年英国报纸的 再生纸含量 为 45.5%
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报纸 支持 回收
球场动态：丹尼·韦尔贝克在以两年合同从布莱顿加盟切尔西后，昨日出现在切尔西的科巴姆训练基地。
阿曼达·斯塔夫莱已同意从戈尔德家族手中购买西汉姆 25% 的股份。 《每日邮报》体育版上月披露，斯塔夫莱与丈夫梅赫达德·戈多西共同拥有的 PCP 资本有意收购西汉姆。 现在，这对夫妇已达成协议，从已故的大卫·戈尔德之女瓦妮莎手中收购其持有的股份。 这些股份预计价值高达 £150 million。 斯塔夫莱在 2021 年主导了沙特公共投资基金对纽卡斯尔的收购。 此次交易仍有可能被扼杀，
输入此唯一编号以旋转我们的金轮并领取抽奖券。如果您在北爱尔兰或缺少唯一编号，请登录您的《每日邮报》奖励账户，点击“输入唯一编号”按钮，然后点击“缺失编号 / 北爱尔兰客户”链接并按照指示操作。
然而，西汉姆联目前的股东拥有优先购买股份的权利。 俱乐部的一份声明表示：“拟议的交易将取决于优先购买权流程。” “这为所有现有股东提供了在第一轮中购买其比例份额股份，以及在第二轮中购买任何剩余股份的机会。该过程将大约需要两个月时间。” Gold 表示，试图与西汉姆联股东 Daniel Kretinsky 达成协议的努力没有成功，并补充道：“我们讨论过的交易及其他替代方案未能最终实现。”
电影 精选 喜剧 精选
《泰德·拉索》(TED LASSO) 周三，Apple TV 歌曲 《蓝色之歌》(SONG SUNG BLUE) 周五，Sky Premiere, 3.40pm
这部可爱的喜剧自 2023, 年起就从我们的屏幕上消失了，当时我们认为它已经彻底完结。由 Jason Sudeikis 饰演的 Ted 离开了，在剧集回归第 4 季时，他似乎已经不再从事足球事业——这位永恒的乐观主义者现在在一家超市工作。不过，没过多久，老面孔们就找上门来，最终 Ted 在英国重新执教新的里士满女足队。但并非所有人对他回归都感到高兴。
电影 音乐 喜剧 剧院 书籍
Kate Hudson 和 Hugh Jackman（左）为这部基于中西部一名尼尔·戴蒙德（Neil Diamond）致敬艺人真实故事的浪漫剧集增添了强大的明星光环。尤其是 Hudson 的表现非常出色——实际上她同时获得了奥斯卡和英国电影学院奖（Bafta）的提名——她在剧中饰演“闪电与雷鸣”组合的女性成员，两位演员的音乐表演同样顶尖。
最幽默的 电视 评论家 Deborah Ross Deborah Ross
这位穿着运动裤的女孩真是令人愉悦
S
周一，Channel 4 HHHHH 《Together (With Voy)》 YouTube HHHHH
《吉普赛妻子的秘密生活》是一部真人秀系列剧，讲述了 Trewley Precious 及其家人的故事，她将家人描述为如果卡戴珊家族“长胖且破产”后的样子。如果卡戴珊家族真的长胖且破产了，我们可能都会重新开始关注他们，但在那之前，这就是最好的替代品。不仅如此，这简直是一种享受。 26 岁的 Trewley（或者像她被人们熟知的那样叫“Trew”）在 TikTok 上拥有百万粉丝，据推测 Channel 4 正是通过那里发现了她并认为：“太好了，我们就要这个。”她口才流畅，极具魅力，心胸宽广且风趣，她将自己的风格描述为“Juicy 品牌运动裤和浓密睫毛”，尽管她也经常穿着睡衣、光着脚走向商店。 她的母亲 Tina 与她一同出演，她的姐姐们（Pearly Girl, Ruby Anne 和 Honey Peaches）以及她的兄弟也参与其中，而他兄弟的名字可能会让人大失所望（James）。但请坚持看完，因为 Trew 的侄女们最终也会出现（Lovie, Bunny 以及如果我没听错的话，Adorabella）。 她们的父亲 Sid 三年前死于癌症，他是“老派吉普赛人”，但一旦 Tina 开始生孩子，她就坚持定居下来。过去 40 年来，他们的家一直位于克拉克顿（Clacton）的一个市政房区，那里的房子被刷成了大胆的粉红色，但价值观依然传统。不准纹身，不准打洞，而女性被要求注重外表——“每个旅行女孩必须盛装打扮”——以及婚姻。“你要么成为家庭主妇，要么……不，就那样了，”Trew 说道。 她们倾向于在十几岁时就结婚。（另见：委内瑞拉 Fury。）Trew
有些喜剧演员正处于上升期，而 Ania Magliano 则不同。在过去的 12 个月里，她完成了在《Live At The Apollo》的首次亮相，在 Sky 频道推出了她的首个单口喜剧特辑，并在大受欢迎的《Taskmaster》中获得了一个极具价值的席位。随后在今年早些时候，她成为了备受赞誉的《Saturday Night Live UK》中脱颖而出的明星之一。没有什么比这更能代表“前途无量”了。在布鲁姆斯伯里（Bloomsbury）的舞台上，很容易看出原因。她散发着一种脆弱与自信相结合的吸引力，她甜美且
并不想要那个。 “我不想要丈夫。我不想结婚。我想过我自己的生活，”她说。 你会感觉到，如果她的父亲还活着，这一切是不可能实现的，但这并不意味着她不热爱他。（在父亲去世周年纪念日那天，Trew 哽咽得无法说话。）然而，如果由他决定，他们中没有任何一个人会去上学，因为这就是旅行者（Traveller）的方式。 Tina 坚持要求让他们上学，但在中学阶段一切都崩溃了。“我们被叫做‘pikey’（对吉普赛人的蔑称），”Pearly Girl 说道。“孩子们会回来玩，但当他们的母亲看到我们住的地方时，就会说：‘再也不许这么做了。’” Trew 是一名“影响力者”（influencer），她希望“建立
Peach Fuzz 布鲁姆斯伯里剧院 (Bloomsbury Theatre)， 伦敦 巡演至 2027 年 5 月 7 日 HHHHH
古灵精怪，但又沉稳且心知肚明。 她的素材极其个人化， 近乎于自我沉溺——换句话说， 这就是典型的 Z 世代风格。她将自己的神经质不仅
AMBITION：Trewley Precious，见上图。左： Holly Willoughby
展现得淋漓尽致，简直像是洒在了衬衫、领带和牛仔短裤上。马格利亚诺凭借其灵动的心思和俏皮的个性，营造出一种有趣且引人深思的现场感。 这一刻她还在内省于性爱时的身体疏离感，下一刻她就会脱口而出：“我最近挺迷丘吉尔的，”或者开始即兴发挥谈论女权主义参政运动者……“那些姑娘们当时真是拼尽全力。” 演出过程就像一场私密的心理治疗，但马格利亚诺是一名纯熟的笑话技巧大师，在让我们了解她各种心理障碍的同时，确保笑料密集。
一个帝国”。我们看到她与一家睫毛公司和一家化妆品品牌会面，她的拍摄任务将“展示使用唇线笔表达自我的不同方式”。 我曾认为网红都是骗子，但如果那些已经拥有一切的名人都能为品牌代言，那么 Trew 为何不能？谁不想让自己的家人摆脱贫困（无论他们是否愿意）？ 她说，在成长过程中，“家里每一种情绪都取决于他 [Sid] 是否有钱”。她为社区里的孩子们举办万圣节派对，还举办了一个（混乱的）烟花派对。这家人很有趣。他们称 Tina 为“贫民窟版的克里斯·詹纳 (Kris Jenner)”。他们没完没了地互相吐槽。 典型的对话是：“妈，你又不是素食主义者。” Tina 答道：“我是！这个培根三明治只是偶尔吃一次！”他们非常隆重地庆祝生日，准备一个“生日椅”，桌上摆满了糖果、薯片、饼干，以及由
像是一个成人版 (X-rated) 的 Rose Matafeo，她将自己描述为“脖子以上”的掌控者，由大脑统治身体。 尽管如此，她的理智并没有阻止她向我们倾诉关于阴唇的焦虑，这让我感到尴尬，尤其是现场还有一位父亲和两个青春期前的儿子。（给家长的教训：在带孩子看脱口秀之前，请做好调研。） 因此，《Peach Fuzz》是对身体和女性气质的一次赞美，是由一位极具吸引力的脱口秀新秀所带来的、结构精妙的坦白时刻。 果味幽默：成人喜剧演员 Ania Magliano
Tina 准备的礼物，仿佛是 Sid 买的。他依然“活着”，或者可能已经转世成了那只想要被他们收养的流浪猫。问题是，他们恐猫。你能感觉到一种阴暗的底层色调。Tina 的日常包括在凌晨 3 点到 4 点之间起床，将房子从顶到底彻底打扫一遍，你会感觉到，如果患有失眠症的 Sid 醒着，她也必须醒着，因此不如把时间利用起来。当 Trew 带我们参观社区时，她指出了社区中心，“那里在新冠期间被汽油弹袭击过”。她说，如果她没有发现网红这条路，“我可能会在帮派里卖毒品。我知道怎么称毒品。”这本可以成为一部令人揪心、窥视式的社会问题剧集，但相反，它想要赞美一名年轻女性的精神，无论她是否具体承认，她都想要
改变。有些人无论如何都会采取不赞成的态度，但如果有一件事是肯定的，那就是：Trew一家并不在意。霍莉·威洛比（Holly Willoughby）在YouTube上推出的新生活方式节目《Together (With Voy)》就像是《早晨这个节目》（This Morning）中的烹饪环节被拉长到了 50 分钟，就我所知，并没有任何人渴望看到这样的内容。在她在《早晨这个节目》的任期因那场“你还好吗？”的 debacle 而结束之后，她开始了单干，尽管是与 Voy（一家健康公司）合作。协议约定，在每一集中，霍莉将在她的厨房布置中与一位嘉宾共同烹饪一道菜，而那个布置简直不能更米色或更平淡了。（我一直期待能在某个地方看到装在相框里的“生活，爱，笑”字样。）就这样？嗯……是的。第一位嘉宾是风趣的斯坦利·图齐（Stanley Tucci），他在引导她制作西葫芦面条的同时，两人聊到了她曾在某个圣诞节为他制作的太妃伏特加（他们似乎是老友），西葫芦中含水量的多少，以及图齐最喜欢的土豆可能是什么（多芬内土豆）。她有机会与摄制组开玩笑并说一个脏词，但如果她现在可以自由地展现自己另一面的话，她并没有利用好这个机会。她的公众形象一如既往，而人们根本无法逃避那种，怎么说呢，梅根式（Meghan-ness）的感觉。非常像梅根。但带有 Voy 的色彩。
KARIS KENNEDY / PA
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拉蒂图德音乐节 (Latitude)，萨福克郡 Wilderness音乐节，牛津郡，今晚 HHHHH 詹姆斯·泰勒 (James Taylor) O2体育馆，伦敦 HHHHH
拉蒂图德音乐节 刚刚满 20 岁。 对于东英吉利地区的流行音乐来说，这可能是发生过最好的事情，除非你是一个名叫希兰 (Sheeran) 的当地地主的超级粉丝。 拉蒂图德音乐节一直地在亨纳姆公园 (Henham Park) 举行，但它并未止步不前。入场人数已从 4,500 增加到 45,000。这里的环境曾经绿意盎然、宜人舒畅，如今却变成了更令人沮丧的棕色。而且现在的酒吧提供 10 便士的回收费，因此数十名 14 岁以下的孩子在周围奔跑收集杯子，一心想赚一笔可观的钱。 音乐倾向于将大众流行与先锋探索相结合。今年的领衔艺人涵盖了从榜单流行乐 (Lewis Capaldi) 到艺术摇滚 (David Byrne) 的各种风格。由于我已经评述过这两者，我最感兴趣的是观看为 Byrne 助阵的乐队——The Last Dinner Party。 这五位女性在 2023 年凭借他们的第一首佳作《Nothing Matters》一夜之间走红。他们的首张专辑《Prelude To Ecstasy》被人们拿来与皇后乐队 (Queen) 做比较。随后的作品《From The Pyre》则没有那么出色，比起流行乐更偏向前卫摇滚，仿佛他们正在反向追溯皇后乐队的轨迹。 不过，无论是在牛津的一家酒吧面对 200 人表演，还是在格拉斯顿伯里 (Glastonbury) 面对 10,000 人表演，她们在舞台上的表现一直都充满电感。
斯蒂芬·桑道姆 (Stephen Sondheim) 这部残酷且阴森的音乐剧讲述的是一场热辣的复仇，复仇之意被包裹在多汁的派中，而派里填满了任何敢于得罪愤恨且无情的理发师 Sweeney Todd 的新鲜碎肉。 但在 Joe Murphy 此次极其具歌剧色彩的复兴之作中，在那个巨大的、空旷的舞台上以艺术化的精简方式呈现，最卓越之处在于其惊心动魄、令人胆寒的紧张感。 一群面色灰暗、如幽灵般静止的人员拉开了演出序幕，介绍了 Fleet Street 的恶魔理发师 Sweeney，词尾沉重的“tee”音如同在黑暗中刺出的匕首。在他们身后悬挂着一座巨大的正义女神雕像。 腐败的法官特平 (Judge Turpin，由 David Bedella 饰演，演技极佳地诠释了阴险) 判处理发师在澳大利亚被“流放” 15 年，因为他觊觎 Sweeney 的妻子露西 (Lucy)。但现在他回来了，并在 Lovett 夫人的派店上方开设店铺，以便用他自己的方式执行正义：用一把闪烁的刀刃和一个可以将受害者直接射入深邃烤炉的折叠理发椅。 Ramin Karimloo 为角色注入了巨大的情感深度。
JIM DYSON / GETTY / STEPHEN KEABLE / SHUTTERSTOCK / MANUEL HARLAN
震撼舞台时， 永远像在开派对
BROWN
《理发师陶德》(Sweeney Todd) 伯明翰剧院 (Birmingham Repertory Theatre) 至8月15日，时长2小时50分钟 HHHHH
《快车道》(Trainspotting) 音乐剧 伦敦海马克皇家剧院 (Theatre Royal Haymarket, London) 至9月5日，时长2小时30分钟 HHHHH
他在剧中饰演的陶德，既令人同情，又具有杀人般的执念，疯狂且极其悲哀。相比之下，歌舞秀明星 Meow Meow 饰演的洛薇特夫人则令人捧腹——她简单、不择手段且毫无道德感。她留着乌黑的长发，身穿黄色长裙，用臀部滚动面团，在精湛的唱功中加入了一抹浓郁的酱汁。既令人反胃又如此美味：
她是一颗巨星，天生就适合纵情跳跃、舞动、欢呼与低吟。摄影机钟爱她，moshpit（音乐节冲撞区）的观众亦然。 但这是一个拥有五个焦点的乐队，她们排成一行，间隔得像安保人员一样。Aurora Nishevci, Emily Roberts, Lizzie Mayland 和 Georgia Davies 都散发出强烈的存在感。 就像许多女子组合一样，她们
我希望能再来一份。 不同于音乐剧版本的《快车道》——该剧充其量不过是陈旧的、被反刍的碎片，是从丹尼·博伊 (Danny Boyle) 1996 年那部基于欧文·威尔士 (Irvine Welsh) 小说改编的前卫电影中窃取的残渣。 唯一真正令人震惊的是，威尔士亲自操刀编写了这部毫无机智、逻辑混乱的剧本，
削弱了所有冲击力，并共同创作了那些平庸得令人忘却的新曲目。 电影中著名的场景——主角伦顿 (Renton) 潜入那个史上最恶心的厕所——在这里被重新演绎为由刘易斯·基德 (Lewis Kidd) 饰演的伦顿栖身于一个想象中的马桶上。随后画面切换到一段他在纯净水中游泳的视频。幸好，导演 Caroline
纵情跳跃 (FLOUNCE)：歌手 Abigail Morris 及其下方 Emily Roberts
为青少年观众塑造了截然不同的角色特质以产生共鸣——而且她们还演奏乐器。 她们知道如何将歌曲转化为情节剧，无论是《女性冲动》(The Feminine Urge) 还是《这是杀手在说话》(This Is The Killer Speaking)。她们始终投入且充满趣味，直到在充满脏话的《没什么关系》(Nothing Matters) 中达到快感的顶峰。 现在她们只需要重新开始写出那样出色的作品。 78 岁的詹姆斯·泰勒 (James Taylor) 发现自己首次在 O2 体育馆演出。“谢谢你们，”他说，“来到这个优秀的场馆。” 他带来了两顶帽子，四名伴唱（包括他的儿子亨利）和七名出色的音乐家。 泰勒的闲聊中夹杂着幽默。当其中一名歌手多里安·霍利 (Dorian Holley) 震撼全场时，他说：“太棒了。有些人可能会说太棒了。” 许多年长的歌手一定这么想过，但我从未遇到过有人勇敢到把这话说了出来。 泰勒本人的唱功很好，流露着温柔。他的乐队就像保罗·西蒙 (Paul Simon) 的那样，能将虔诚转化为 exuberance（热情洋溢）。 《我心中缅因州的卡罗莱娜》(Carolina In My Mind) 极其温柔，《火与雨》(Fire And Rain) 充满哀愁，《你有一个朋友》(You’ve Got A Friend) 则令人愉悦。 一切都闪闪发光，除了视觉效果，那些视觉效果太俗套了，甚至能让你终身对日落失去兴趣。
惊险时刻 (CLOSE SHAVE)：Ramin Karimloo 和 Silas Wyatt-Barke
当伦顿和他的伙伴们在卢·里德 (Lou Reed) 的《完美的一天》(Perfect Day) 旋律中陷入药物诱导的宁静时，杰·兰杰 (Jay Ranger) 向电影出色的原声带致敬。 除此之外，这部剧糟糕、令人失望——且令人无法原谅地枯燥。
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全新之日 (Spider-Man: Brand New Day) 分级：12A，2小时25分钟 HHHHH Ish 分级：15, 1小时29分钟 HHHHH
任何在好奇他们究竟如何才能接续克里斯托弗·诺兰的经典大作《奥德赛》(The Odyssey) 的人，最好的选择就是去当地的多路电影院看……呃，《蜘蛛侠：全新之日》。毕竟，演员阵容几乎是一样的。诚然，没有马特·达蒙，但这里有汤姆·赫兰德——他在诺兰的故事中饰演特勒马科斯，而在这里第四次饰演彼得·帕克；还有赞达亚——她可能饰演了雅典娜，也可能没演，在这里饰演彼得那若即若离的女友MJ；以及嗓音低沉的乔·伯恩塔尔——在《奥德赛》中饰演墨涅劳斯，而在这里饰演惩罚者，或者现在更为人熟知的弗兰克。老实说，没有神灵，极少性爱，且至少有两名力量强大得诡异的女性，这简直就像是一场《奥德赛》的同学聚会。当然，除了那些用超强粘性蛛丝在纽约街头荡秋千的情节。
对于那些不记得《无路之回家》(2021) 中发生了什么的人，两段简短的字幕能高效地让我们跟上进度：奇异博士施了一个咒语，这意味着包括MJ和好朋友内德（雅各布·巴特伦）在内的任何人都无法记得彼得·帕克就是蜘蛛侠。
这位织网英雄可能是纽约打击犯罪的骄傲，但下班后的彼得过着隐居生活，利用业余时间在社交媒体上跟踪MJ，在其他情况下这会被认为相当 creepy。但至少这建立了一种
随着大卫·霍克尼在今年初夏去世，安尼什·卡普尔（Anish Kapoor）可能是这个国家最著名的艺术家。他在 1991 年赢得了特纳奖，在 2013 年被封为爵士，并在 2012 年于东伦敦揭幕了阿尔赛乐米塔尔轨道塔（英国最高的公共雕塑），以纪念那个夏天的奥运会。
卡普尔现在是海沃德美术馆一次大型展览的主题。展览由 29 件（大部分是新作）作品组成，如果这听起来很少，请记住这是一场
有趣的情感动态——彼得依然以一种噬魂般的激情爱着MJ，而她甚至不知道他的存在。庆幸的是，考虑到这是一部超级英雄电影，还有很多其他事情在发生。首先，蜘蛛侠感到一种
安尼什·卡普尔 (Anish Kapoor) 伦敦海沃德美术馆 (Hayward Gallery, London) 展至 10 月 18 日 HHHHH 视觉戏法：卡普尔在海沃德美术馆展出的《海啸》(Tsunami) (2025)
一位不从事传统墙面绘画的艺术家。卡普尔以玩弄感知、通过视觉戏法使人迷失方向且规模往往巨大的雕塑作品而闻名。 《坠入迷途》(Descent Into Limbo) 是在地板上绘制的一个大黑圈，还是一个深不见底的洞？作品周围设有围栏，因此我们只能猜测答案。 在其他地方，《全无》(All Of Nothing) 这是一个巨大的红色 PVC 团块，几乎独自占据了整个展厅，从天花板延伸到地板。它看起来像一块巨大的 Babybel 奶酪，迫使我们必须绕道而行才能进入下一个房间。 展览还包括镜像作品，将我们的影像颠倒地反射回来。对于许多人来说，卡普尔的作品可能感觉有些像噱头，不够严肃，不被视为“正统”艺术。 但不可否认的是，这些作品非常受欢迎——吸引了所有年龄段的参观者。 它带来了娱乐感，引发参与感，有时甚至令人反感。正如三件名为《祭祀赎罪》(Ritual Expiation) 的雕塑一样，它们看起来像刚被宰杀的生物体内的内脏。 这是一场真正令人血液沸腾的展览。
HAYWARD GALLERY / © ANISH KAPOOR / DACS, 2026
身体状况不佳——他头痛，在狂吞止痛药，而且他的蛛网瞄准似乎有点失准。他是病了？还是在进化？哦…… 然后还有关于谁可能在袭击（此处缺失）部门背后的谜团。
《损害管制》(Damage Control)，其中第一场戏提供了几个令人印象深刻的动作序列之一。 不止一次，我觉得自己有点晕船。 它在紧身衣袖子下还藏有一些惊喜。一个你或许能猜到，另一个会让你发笑，而第三个则如此惊人，以至于在我参加的略显亢奋的媒体放映会上引起了巨大的欢呼。 还有一个吻戏，足以让你回到托比·马奎尔 (Tobey Maguire) 和克尔斯滕·邓斯特 (Kirsten Dunst) 的时代。 在《奥德赛》(Odyssey) 之后的停顿期，这正是电影之夏所需要的。荷兰弟 (Holland) 和现实生活中的配偶赞达亚 (Zendaya) 提供了电影的情感核心，伯恩撒尔 (Bernthal) 则提供了男子气概和幽默感，而情节的转折和惊喜客串也让这部电影显得有点特别。 《伊什》(Ish) 是一部出人意料地美丽的成长电影，讲述了两个在卢顿 (Luton) 长大的穆斯林男孩的故事。伊什 (Ish，法汉·哈斯纳特 Farhan Hasnat 饰) 是一名英裔亚裔男孩，仍在为一年前母亲的去世而哀悼，而他的好朋友马拉姆 (Maram，亚希亚·基塔纳 Yahya Kitana 饰) 是巴勒斯坦人，已经卷入了加沙战争。尽管如此，他们仍然在做 12 岁男孩热爱做的事情——在森林里玩追逐游戏，搭建秘密基地，为电子游戏而争吵。但青春期的干扰已经悄然而至，尤其是对于看起来比实际年龄大的马拉姆来说。 影片采用了美到令人分心的黑白摄影，配以导演伊姆兰·佩雷塔 (Imran Perretta) 极具感染力的配乐，电影的美感与其底层的残酷故事形成对比，故事中，男孩们的友谊被同辈压力和警察监视所削弱。 凭借极其自然的表演，《伊什》出色地展现了少年友谊的欢乐与悲伤，仅在叙事上的某些不足之处略有遗憾。
写实： 《伊什》中的法汉·哈斯纳特 (Farhan Hasnat) 和亚希亚·基塔纳 (Yahya Kitana)。上图： 《蜘蛛侠：崭新之日》(Spider-Man: Brand New Day) 中的汤姆·荷兰 (Tom Holland)。
新小说
亚历克斯·威廉姆斯拥有一份不错的律师工作。讽刺的是，她在青少年时期提供的虚假证词导致一名无辜男子因谋杀罪被监禁。DNA检测的新进展意味着过去将追上她的脚步，除非她能查明那个可怕夏天究竟发生了什么，否则她的世界将会崩塌。哈迪的这部精彩的处女惊悚小说在精心构思的情节之基础上，呈现了真正的道德复杂性。 ——约翰·威廉姆斯
美国西部散布着现实生活中的鬼镇，而尼娜在2024.年的一次小型飞机坠入怀俄明州湖泊后，就发现自己身处这样一个地方。在那里，她的故事与过去两个故事交织在一起：1902,年寻找失踪男孩的枪手安东·瓦加斯，以及2003.年的历史重演者科尔。神秘与神话构建、道德与死亡的主题，驱动着奥布雷希特这部才华横溢的小说走向一个令人触电的结局。 ——赫芙齐巴·安德森
简练的散文风格和战争的残酷现实，使鲍尔斯的最新作品成为一部引人入胜但令人心碎的读物。他揭示了两名面对第一次世界大战恐怖景象的美国青年的命运，以及他们爱上同一个女人的复杂纠葛。这本书敏锐地关注暴力对人类心理的影响，细致地阐述了经历冲突的人们以及希望治愈他们的坚定灵魂所面临的改变生活的后果。 ——埃斯涅·法里
十二岁的杰克在母亲突然去世后，生活发生了翻天覆地。他被送到古怪的祖父母以及一群令人难忘的叔伯和姨姑身边抚养——他们每个人都同样地带着伤痕、令人恼火、慷慨且深情。这部小说设定在爱尔兰农村，充满幽默的对话，是一部具有罕见人性美和温柔情怀的小说，令人记忆深刻。强烈推荐。 ——西蒙·汉弗莱斯
《骤降》(The Plunge) 克里斯·鲍拉德 Viking £22, 320
《我们撒谎的夏天》(The Summer We Lied) 丽贝卡·哈迪 Raven £16.99, 336
《日出》(Sunrise) 蒂亚·奥布雷希特 W&N £22, 336
《荒野之子》(Children Of The Wild) 凯文·鲍尔斯 Atlantic £14.99, 320
《君王何在》(Where Are The Kings) 多纳尔·赖恩 Doubleday £16.99, 224
我们都经历过这种情况。你从日光浴躺椅上滚下来，将脚趾浸入泳池，然后是一只脚，接着是一条腿，当你腹部滑入水中的那一刻……发出一声惊叫，以防旁观者没注意到水其实很冷。随后总会跟着一句自信的：“进去之后就没事了”。但如果你的泳池温度不是 20 度，而是低于四度，你会怎么做？在这本关于极冷水力量的精彩书籍中，克里斯·鲍拉德找到了答案。
斯堪的纳维亚人一直知道冷热疗法的益处——芬兰有 5.5 百万人居住，并拥有 3.5 百万个桑拿房。但直到最近几十年，人们才开始投入一致的科学努力，去探索当我们纵身跳入冷水时会发生什么。研究发现，浸泡在冷水中可以增强免疫系统，能使多巴胺增加 250 百分比，有益于心血管健康，并稳定情绪波动。
但有人并不在意科学，而仅仅凭感觉行事，他就是拉姆·巴尔凯。凭借纯粹的意志力和对冷水带来的快感的喜爱，他将冰雪运动打造成为一项全球认可的运动。
他从“冰英里”（其含义正如其名）开始，随后梦想得更大——创立了国际冰泳协会 (IISA)。他设立了世界锦标赛，并正在争取冬奥会的席位。凭借 Garmin 和 Dryrobe 等赞助商，以及超过 70 个国家和 750 名游泳者的参与，获得奥运会的认可似乎指日可待。
阅读这本书，冷水的强大影响是不容否认的——不仅是对身体，而且是对心灵和灵魂。吉莉·麦克阿瑟是湖区的一位冷水向导，她曾与大卫·贝克汉姆一起游泳。当吉莉了解到坎布里亚郡的自杀率高出 55 百分比时……
《玛蒂尔达皇后》(Empress Matilda) 伊丽莎白·凡·豪茨 耶鲁大学出版社 £30, 464
如果普通人对玛蒂尔达皇后 (Empress Matilda) 有所了解，很可能是关于她在 1142 年冬天从牛津逃脱的浪漫故事。当时，她的表亲兼英格兰王位竞争对手布卢瓦的斯蒂芬 (Stephen of Blois) 在牛津城堡将她围困了数周。城堡的补给已经见底，形势十分危急。在一个大雪纷飞的 12 月之夜，玛蒂尔达和三名忠诚的骑士从圣乔治塔的一个窗口垂下绳子，悄悄爬了下去。他们披上白色斗篷作为伪装，潜过结冰的河流，穿过斯蒂芬军队的阵线，最终抵达了沃灵福德城堡 (Wallingford Castle) —— 玛蒂尔达一名支持者的据点。
然而，根据这部关于这位本将成为英格兰首位女王的女性的新传记，史书记载几乎肯定润色了这个故事。玛蒂尔达很可能是在守卫松懈时，通过一个少有人使用的侧门离开城堡的。剑桥大学的伊丽莎白·范·豪茨 (Elisabeth van Houts) 教授认为
比英国其他地区更高，她誓言在一个冬天的 100 天里，每天带“一个不同的伙计”去游泳。这个想法演变成了“蓝色心智男性”（Blue Mind Men），一项任何人都可以参与的每周潜水活动。 在多佛尔有一家名为“白马”（White Horse）的酒吧，墙上贴满了那些曾横渡英吉利海峡的人留下的信息。其中一条信息是由科罗拉多州游泳运动员萨拉·托马斯（Sarah Thomas）留下的。 托马斯从多佛尔出发，抵达法国后又游回。在多佛尔，她再次转身向法国进发，抵达后进行最后一次转身。在完成四次横跨后，她回到了英国，“全身涂满 Desitin [一种皮肤保护剂]，目光迷离，几乎无法站立——她是历史上第一个完成四向横跨的人”，此时距离她出发已过去 54 小时。 但是什么支撑着她？在 2017 年预订横跨时段和 2019, 完成游泳之间，托马斯被
聪明的女性， 本应成为 英格兰的 第一位女王
她竭尽全力地剥离之前作者们的夸张与扭曲，以期为我们提供一个尽可能完整且冷静的马蒂尔达（Matilda）的一生之记录。 马蒂尔达出生于 1102 年，是亨利一世（Henry I）和苏格兰的马蒂尔达（Matilda of Scotland）唯一的女儿。年仅八岁时，她就被许配给了大她近二十岁的神圣罗马帝国皇帝、德国的亨利五世（Henry V），并被送往德国。这对夫妇于 1114 年结婚，她成为了皇帝不可或缺的人。 在 1125 年皇帝去世后，她的父亲国王将其召回，并安排她与 14 岁的安茹的若弗鲁瓦（Geoffrey of Anjou）结婚。由于她的唯一儿子在 1120, 溺水身亡，她的父亲宣布她为继任者，并强迫贵族宣誓承认她是下一任继承人。 但当亨利在 1135 年去世时，他的侄子斯蒂芬（Stephen）在马蒂尔达之前夺走了王位，引发了一场从 1138 年持续到 1153 年的内战。这段时期曾被称为“无政府状态”（the Anarchy），据说当时“基督及其所有圣徒都在沉睡”，而斯蒂芬和马蒂尔达的军队为了至高无上的权力而激战。 最终，双方陷入僵局，在 1153 年的威斯敏斯特条约（Treaty of Westminster）中，斯蒂芬国王承认马蒂尔达的儿子为继任者。斯蒂芬去世后，他在 1154, 被加冕为英格兰的亨利二世（Henry II）。 马蒂尔达退隐到诺曼底，并于 1167. 逝世。当时的作家称她傲慢且自大，但这很可能纯粹是厌女症。正如 van Houts 所展示的，她令人敬畏、坚韧且聪明。 《帝国皇后马蒂尔达》（Empress Matilda）很可能成为关于她生活的标准文本，至少对于普通读者而言是这样。 尼尔·阿姆斯特朗（Neil Armstrong）
L
MAXTONE GRAHAM SOCIETY
这些野生的英格兰人 (These Wild English) Nicola Wilding Profile Books £20, 320页
被诊断出患有乳腺癌。她经历了 16 轮化疗、一次乳腺切除术和 25 轮放疗。当她完成游泳时，她的头发才刚刚开始重新生长。游泳是唯一让她感到自己处于正常状态的事情。 这是一项允许人们克服不可能的耐力壮举的运动。巴拉德（Ballard）在写作该主题时展现出了极强的活力和感触，部分原因是在研究这本书时，他全身心地投入到了这种体验之中。每天潜水，尽可能多地游泳，代表美国队参加 IISA 世界锦标赛，并尝试“冰公里”挑战（仅因糟糕的环境条件而失败），他深知当水温变得极冷时，痛苦与狂喜交织在一起的感觉。 读完这本书，你会产生一种无法逃避的感觉：普通人也可以成就非凡的事情。 凯瑟琳·斯普里尔（Katharine Spurrier）
合法继承人：马蒂尔达皇后与斯蒂芬国王的博弈
电视纪录片制作人尼古拉·怀尔丁（Nicola Wilding）在寻找一个具有冲击力的“一句话故事”时，匆匆浏览了一篇报道。报道讲述了一名三个孩子的酗酒父亲在多佛试图持枪抢劫一名警察而被捕。当时警察下车，枪口对准他，但袭击者身上某种特质让警察嗅到了弱点，于是尝试将其逮捕。在经过一番搏斗后，警察成功夺下并扔掉了枪。随后，奇怪的事情发生了，袭击者似乎失去了斗志，称那把枪只是个复制品。突然之间，他看起来变得“沮丧且绝望”。报道中称他为“布莱恩”（Bryan），尼古拉花了一段时间才意识到，他实际上是她那个不务正业、酗酒成性的弟弟比利（Billy）。（布莱恩是他的名。）比利曾是他母亲的骄傲和快乐，“她的小金发褐眼流浪儿”，她心中的“英俊小男人”。那么，他究竟是如何在 2013 年变成新闻故事里的那个“袭击者”的（他因该罪行被判处三年半监禁）？尼古拉·怀尔丁在她这部生动且文笔优美的家庭回忆录开头提出的问题是：“我们到底是怎么落到这个地步的？”如果你想深入了解这个国家“白人工薪阶层”的经历，这本书将为你勾勒出一个白人工薪阶层家庭轨迹的难忘图景。作者能够成为一名成功的制片人（她承认自己现在已坚定地属于“中产阶级”），这一事实表明没有人被囚禁在自己的社会阶层之中。但如果你生长在一个以混乱为基调的家庭中，实现阶层流动并不容易。而比利的成长环境确实极其混乱，这主要归功于他们的母亲桑德拉在选择丈夫时那糟糕的品味。作为姐姐，尼古拉一直很保护比利，并且深感愧疚，因为当他们那位暴力的继父——一名叫西蒙的士兵被派驻到塞浦路斯，并带着比利和妹妹们一同前往时，她没能在身边照看他。（那时尼古拉正准备上大学。）
远离家乡，比利完全受制于西蒙的情绪。当比利不吃豆子吐司时，西蒙会把他拖到阳台上并悬空拎起，威胁要将他扔下去。
西蒙是一个自恋且爱欺负人的暴君，让全家人都心惊胆战。他是一个“身材粗壮像斗牛犬一样的男人”，同时又像个“爱操纵的幼儿”，他“需要被爱，而一旦得不到爱，麻烦就来了”。他非常擅长扮演可怜且匮乏的角色，以至于桑德拉花了十年时间才积攒起离开他的勇气。
在讲述比利故事的同时，尼古拉还讲述了他们母亲桑德拉感人的人生长路及其政治轨迹。尽管在 41 岁时曾心脏病发作，桑德拉依然在那些灾难性的感情关系中艰难前行。
她生长在另一种混乱之中：她是坎布里亚郡一名农场劳工的第八个孩子，而她的母亲为了逃避贫困和劳苦经常离家出走。因此，年幼的桑德拉不得不把那些与她同床共枕且尿床的兄弟姐妹们弄脏的床单在浴缸里清洗。
为了寻找乐趣，她成了青少年时期的光头党，并加入了一个卡莱尔足球流氓帮派。那是她走向成为极右翼“英国国防联盟”成员的开始。
18 岁时，她怀上了尼古拉并与孩子的父亲结婚。他们的公房里有“闪闪发光的崭新暖气片”，但“没有爱”。
她的第二个丈夫酗酒严重，经常在圣诞节失踪，然后在节礼日（Boxing Day）回来，带着“从埃索（Esso）加油站货架上扫光的所有礼物”。
在渴望已久的比利出生后，这对夫妇根据玛格丽特·撒切尔的“购房权”计划买下了他们的公房，但他们总是拖欠抵押贷款，面临被没收房屋的威胁——而这件事在短短五年后果然发生了。当十年之后……
不同的路径：年轻时的尼古拉（中），与她的母亲桑德拉及弟弟比利
多年后，桑德拉终于找到了离开第三任糟糕丈夫——西蒙的勇气——她搬到了肯特郡的迪尔，成为了一所成人学习障碍疗养院的护理员。尼古拉向桑德拉在从事这份工作时所展现出的无名英雄主义致敬。“精疲力竭且士气低落”，桑德拉觉得市场力量已将护理变成了商品。她感到自己“在一个人在她看来变化太快的世界中漂泊”。这引导她走上了参加EDL游行的道路，作为汤米·罗宾逊的追随者，高喊着“直到死都是英国人！”作为一名脱欧支持者，她被贴上了偏见者、仇外者、“小英国主义者”和种族主义者的标签。作为一名EDL游行者，她被贴上了法西斯分子的标签。对于桑德拉来说，有一种挥之不去的种族不公感驱使她去抗议：“为什么身为黑人并感到自豪，或者身为穆斯林或同性恋并感到自豪是可以接受的，但身为白人并感到自豪却不行？”怀尔丁能够清醒地看待脱欧争论的两面，她将母亲的“直到死都是英国人！”口号与 200 年前激进分子乔治·爱德华兹的呐喊相类比，后者谈到“这些狂野的英国人，十九世纪的自由出生之奴隶”。这就是本书标题的由来。与此同时，比利在十几岁后期时，尝试搬到彭里斯与他的亲生父亲同住，但当他在花园里放了一些轮胎时，他的继母对他“大发雷霆”。“比利感觉到一种模式在重复，”尼古拉写道，“又一个不挺他的父亲。又一个不希望他在身边的继父母。”尼古拉推测，缺乏男性榜样是他成年早期陷入糟糕境地的催化剂。他在坎特伯雷的一所糟糕的综合学校里未能通过任何GCSE考试，并且在他被发现篡改简历成绩后，放弃了机械工程师的学徒职位。当他遇到一个来自多佛的女孩詹并成为父亲时，我曾大胆希望情况会有所改善。但这似乎触发了一个压力锅。尼古拉讲述了在酒吧里的那一刻：“某种东西在他内心膨胀，开始感觉那些本应凝聚他的界限反而将他禁锢其中。他点了一品脱啤酒并一饮而尽，然后又点了一杯。”从那天起，比利变成了一个酗酒的丈夫和父亲，晚上不回家，甚至愚蠢地用一件假武器持枪指向一名警察——从而播下了新一代混乱的种子。
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7月12日获胜者：Audrey Cowlin，Weston-super-Mare。
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7月12日获胜者： David Line, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire.
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ARCHERY (射箭) BADMINTON (羽毛球) BASKETBALL (篮球) BOWLING (保龄球) BOXING (拳击) CANOEING (独木舟) CRICKET (板球) CURLING (冰壶) DARTS (飞镖) DIVING (跳水) FENCING (击剑) FOOTBALL (足球) GOLF (高尔夫) GYMNASTICS (体操) HOCKEY (曲棍球)
JUDO (柔道) KARATE (空手道) NETBALL (篮网球) ROWING (赛艇) RUGBY (橄榄球) SAILING (帆船) SNOOKER (斯诺克) SQUASH (壁球) SURFING (冲浪) SWIMMING (游泳) TENNIS (网球) TRIATHLON (铁人三项) VOLLEYBALL (排球) WEIGHTLIFTING (举重) WRESTLING (摔跤)
参与方式：一旦你找到缺失的单词，请发送短信 SEARCH，后接空格，然后是你的答案、姓名和邮编至 65700。短信费用为 £1 加上您的标准网络费用。或拨打 0905 652 2157 并留下您的答案和详细信息。通话费用为 £1 加上您电话公司的网络接入费。参赛作品截止至周五晚上 11.59。请参阅今日的答案栏以了解条款和条件。本周的答案将于下周公布，获胜者名单将于8月23日（周日）公布。
姓名 .............................................................................................................................. 地址 .......................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... 邮编 ..................................... 电话 ......................................................
用我们的超级数独测试你的思维敏捷度，你就有机会赢取 £100 现金奖！每行、每列和 4x3 的方格必须包含从 1 到 12 的所有数字。拨打 0905 652 2210 获取额外提示。通话费用为 £1 加上您电话公司的网络接入费。
1200 题获胜者： Sharon Dempsey, Congleton, Cheshire.
参与方式：发送短信 SUPER，后接空格，你的 3 个阴影方格数字（从左至右读取）、姓名和邮编至 65700。短信费用为 £1 加上您的标准网络费用。或拨打 0901 292 5050 并留下您的答案和详细信息。通话费用为 £1 加上您电话公司的网络接入费。参赛作品截止至周五晚上 11.59。请参阅今日的答案栏以了解条款和条件。本周的答案将于下周公布，获胜者名单将于8月23日（周日）公布。
破解我们的代码， 赢取 £100 现金的机会！ 只需算出哪个 数字对应哪个 字母，即可完成 此谜题下方的 网格。答案可能 是一个名字， 例如 Danube，或 一个短语，例如 at once。
参与方式：一旦你在额外方框中找到该词，请发送短信 CRACKER，后接空格，你的答案、姓名和邮编至 65700。短信费用为 £1 加上您的标准网络费用。或拨打 0901 292 5051 并留下您的答案和详细信息。通话费用为 £1 加上您电话公司的网络接入费。参赛作品截止至周五晚上 11.59。请参阅今日的答案栏以了解条款和条件。本周的答案将于下周公布，获胜者名单将于8月23日（周日）公布。
W
24
25
在我们的常识奖金填字游戏中，我们将随机抽取第一位给出正确答案的人获得惊人的 £1,000 奖金。参赛作品必须在 8 月 7 日星期五前送达（不接受复印件）。今天的答案将于下周公布，获胜者姓名将于 8 月 23 日星期日公布。关于如何参赛的详情，请参阅网格下方。
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12
13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20
22 23 24 25
27 28
30 31 32 33
35 36 37 38
39 40
Across（横向） 11 一个账户、报告或故事 (9) 12 音乐术语，意为无乐器伴奏 (1,8) 13 一种由亚麻纺丝纤维织成的耐磨面料 (5) 14 René ，法国新艺术运动时期的珠宝商、玻璃制作者和设计师 (7) 15 商业 ，一种针对非住宅物业占用征收的税 (5) 16 一种为食用种子而栽培的豆科植物，种子用于制作鹰嘴豆泥和法拉费 (8) 18 酒馆附带的户外空间，顾客可在那里坐着饮酒或用餐 (4,6) 22 一种下颌突出且具有捕食性的海洋鱼类 (9) 24 汉普郡安东河畔的城镇；陆军总部所在地 (7) 27 被告 (The ___)，在刑事指控中出庭的被告人或被告方 (7) 28 一种高大、纤细且跑得快的犬种 (9) 30 伦敦中心的一座铁路终点站，于 1852 年启用；东海岸主线的南端终点 (5,5) 32 在民俗中，能够化身为犬科哺乳动物的人 (8) 35 古埃及的木乃伊或保存完好的尸体 (5)
目前有三种参赛方式 完成奖金填字游戏，并计算完成后的网格中字母“i”出现了多少次。然后发送短信 ISPY 加上您的答案、姓名和邮编至 65700。短信费用为 £1 加上您的标准网络费用。或者拨打 0905 652 2172 并留下您的答案和详细信息。通话费用为 £1 加上您电话公司的网络接入费。参赛作品截止至星期五晚上 11.59。或者将您填好的网格以及 iSpy 答案邮寄至 Prize Crossword 2280, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 354, Wymondham, NR18 8JG。参赛作品必须在 8 月 7 日星期五前送达（不接受复印件）。获胜者将从正确的 iSpy 答案中随机选出。条款和条件请参阅今日答案板块。
37 一种与希腊神波塞冬和罗马神尼普顿相关的三叉戟 (7) 38 一副牌中的一张额外牌 (5) 39 雌性动物卵巢产生的一种激素 (9) 40 非洲和马达加斯加的一种能够改变颜色的蜥蜴 (9) Down（纵向） 1 见 36 Down 2 英国哲学家、政治家和作家，于 1603 年被封爵 (7,5) 3 一个大型农场附属建筑，用于存储干草或谷物，或安置牲畜 (4) 4 ___ Bright，前足球运动员，曾随英格兰队在 2022 年女足欧洲杯中夺冠 (6) 5 一种小提琴家族的弓弦乐器 (5) 6 宾客穿着服装和面具参加的派对或聚会 (11) 7 船只产生的回流 / 尾波 (4) 8 伯罗奔尼撒南部的一个古希腊城邦 (6) 9 过量，例如农作物的过量生产 (4) 10 在希腊神话中，普里阿摩斯和赫库芭的女儿，拥有预言天赋但注定不被信任 (9)
17 构成人行道与车道之间边缘的石块或混凝土线 (5) 19 具有红色腹鳍和尾鳍的欧洲淡水食用鱼 (5) 20 其作品包括《更大的水花》(A Bigger Splash) 的英国艺术家 (5,7) 21 提示或迹象 (11) 23 一种具有锯齿状叶片和圆锥形果实的落叶乔木或灌木 (5) 25 网球中的 40-all 比分 (5) 26 2007-2016 年担任联合国秘书长的韩国外交官 (3,2-4) 29 蓄意的侮辱 (7) 31 Dorothy L. ，创造了业余侦探彼得·温齐勋爵 (Lord Peter Wimsey) 的英国犯罪小说作家 (6) 33 在板球中，非由球拍击出的得分，如宽球、无球或补球 (6) 34 对掌握在权力或照顾之下的罪犯或对手的宽容对待或态度 (5) 36 & 1 Down 餐厅厨房在营业前准备设备和食物的过程 (4,2,5) 37 几内亚湾西非的一个共和国 (4) 38 Billy ，美国创作歌手，因其 1973 年的代表作而被称为“钢琴人” (4)
10
如果每个三角形中的数字 是下方两个数字之和， 那么顶部的数字是多少？ 答案下周公布。
–.. x
25 28 20
14 14 11 9
9
7 7 5 4
5
4
用数字 1-6 填充方格，使得每行每列中每个数字仅出现一次。数字还必须产生每个区域左上角的结果——乘法、加法、减法或除法。在同一个区域内，数字可以重复。答案下周公布。
6
在字母或符号中寻找熟悉的短语、名称或谚语。欢迎读者将象形谜语发送至 The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 354, Wymondham, NR18 8JG。每篇被发表的谜语将获得 £10 的图书礼券。请访问网站 dingbats.net。答案见今日答案栏。
1 8
姓名 .......................................................................................................................... 地址 ....................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................... 邮编 ..................................... 电话 ..................................................
答案见今日答案栏。
来自 Carol Bowen, Craven Arms, Salop
来自 Sonia Duxford, Norwich, Norfolk
你能推算出下面首字母代表什么吗？例如，7 D of the W = 7 days of the week (一周七天)。答案见今日答案栏。
1
1 L at 1st S 2 S A D by E 17 3 1545: S of the M R
训练
沿着我们的心算轨道运行，看看你能走多远——以及需要花多少时间！共有四个车站停靠点 A、B、C 和 D。你可以从 A、B 或 C 出发，并在 B、C 或 D 停止。从你选择的起点出发，按照指令行驶到目的地。在每个停靠点写下你的答案，然后从车站后的第一个数字重新开始。答案见今日答案栏。
起点=
6
8
x 18 +97 +147 一半 –86
2
11 24 44 A到B=
t C B o =
–..
– – 三倍
53 45
3
用数字 1 到 9 填充网格，使每行、每列和 3x3 宫格中的数字 1 到 9 仅出现一次。
参与方式：发送短信 PRIZE，随后附上您的答案（3 个阴影方格自上而下读取）、姓名和邮编至 65700。短信费用为 £1 加上您的标准网络费用。或拨打 0901 292 5088 并留下您的答案和详细信息。通话费用为 £1 加上您电话公司的网络接入费。参赛截止至周五晚上 11.59pm。条款和条件请参阅今日的解答面板。电话 / 短信服务帮助热线：0330 1000 601。7 月 5 日获胜者：D. Lea, Wellesbourne, Warks。7 月 12 日获胜者：D. Lown, Burgess Hill。本周答案将于下周公布，获胜者姓名将于 8 月 23 日公布。
5
5 9
4 3rd R From The S 5 MS W 9 O G M 6 6 D 7 N, S HF
a dozen
+37 +371 the xsenses x a week days in 8 –..
3 8
2 2
将图块放入网格中，使每行和每列中出现四个不同的数字和四种不同的形状。答案下周公布。
4 3
4
9
7
–.. x (Roman)
XV
7
–272
6
评级：良好 —— 30 秒内从 A 到 B。 优秀 —— 30 秒内从 B 到 C 或 50 秒内从 A 到 C。 卓越 —— 30 秒内从 C 到 D，50 秒内从 B 到 D 或 75 秒内从 A 到 D。 杰出 —— 60 秒内从 A 到 D。
回答每个线索，使每个单词包含与前一个单词相同的字母，加或减一个字母。答案下周公布。
1 电影： 在 1987 年的电影《东威克巫师》中，谁饰演了 Daryl Van Horne？
2 音乐： 哪位歌手发行了专辑《No Angel》、《Life For Rent》和《Safe Trip Home》？
3 电视与广播： 哪位《Tomorrow’s World》主持人是电视系列剧《机器人大战》(Robot Wars) 的原联合主持人之一？
4 体育： 在 2026 年 6 月 16 日，哪位足球运动员在对阵阿尔及利亚的比赛中上演了他的首个国际足球联合会世界杯帽子戏法？
赢取一套柯林斯英语词典与同义词词典，以及一本布拉福德填字游戏解答词典。
我们的“骨架填字”游戏非常独特，因为您还需要完成网格——包括数字和方格。我们已经填入了四个黑色方格和四个线索数字来引导您开始。该填字游戏具有四向对称性：上下和左右均匹配，因此您可以立即填入 12 个更多方格。
奖品为一套柯林斯英语词典与同义词词典，以及一本布拉福德填字游戏解答词典。请将您的答案发送至：Bare Bones Crossword 1267, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 354, Wymondham, NR18 8JG。参赛作品必须在 8 月 7 日星期五前寄达（不接受复印件）。获奖者名单将于 8 月 23 日公布，从首批正确答案中随机抽取。
1264 届获胜者：Barry Davis，伦敦。
横向 1 偶然地，躺着，不幸的（两个单词，带连字符） 10 足球运动员感到燥热，他抱怨道 11 船只在公司植物周围蜿蜒 12 再次回来，持续很长时间 13 支持审理的物体 15 学生完成的一次转向是不受影响的 17 跟着音符进入的巫婆 21 听到小噪音在周围环绕 25 听说啤酒带来了麻烦 26 颜色发黄的家畜
5 地理： 在 2011 年分裂成两个国家之前，非洲面积最大的国家是哪个？
6 政治： 鲍里斯·约翰逊在 2019 年 7 月 24 日任命哪位保守党政治家为内政大臣？
7 科学： 在物理学中，振荡系统的哪个属性是以赫兹 (hertz) 衡量的？
8 历史： “主谋计划”(The Main Plot) 是 1603 年的一场涉嫌阴谋，旨在将哪位国王赶下英国王位？
27 无知的女性加入了东方的冲突 28 银行指令，容忍整洁（两个单词）
纵向 2 城市公司拥有一种氛围 3 一个从壁炉前拿走东西的人 4 意外地迎接涉水鸟 5 巨大的意面，有些纠结 6 驱逐一台机器的权力 7 蔚蓝海岸前方的度假胜地更令人愉悦 8 交换野兽般的手 9 听到鸟类令人厌恶
1 小麦穗
2 忍耐
3 芭蕾舞支撑
4 木桶
5 爆炸
6 裸露的
7 土地测量单位
9 词汇： temulent 这个词是什么意思？ a) 醉醺醺的， b) 恐惧的， c) 不稳定的。
10 英国： 英国哪个城市在威尔士语中被称为 Abertawe？
11 今年： 曼哈顿的哪个室内场馆是 7 月 3 日泰勒·斯威夫特与特拉维斯·凯尔斯婚礼的举办地？
12 随机： 高棉语是哪个国家的官方语言？
14 像这样，听起来像生病了 16 卡纳斯塔 (Canasta) 肯定包含一张牌 17 在大洋彼岸值钱的兔子 18 妻子浪费了这个游戏 19 志愿者小伙被接受 20 资本回到领先位置 21 抛出单一器官 22 艺术在飞行的一部分中表演 23 不同的目标，比如说——返回的反射 24 否定，在西班牙男人旁边
将彩色方块放入方格中，且不得旋转或翻转。每个方块覆盖的数字之和应等于圆圈中的总数。彩色方块内不得有重复数字。答案下周公布。
8 17
完成网格，然后将黄色方格中的字母重新排列，揭示一种昆虫。答案下周公布。
平静
猫科动物
惊叹
精明的 从监狱释放
忍耐
酒精类烈酒
概念
晨露 肯定的
提出问题
参与方式：发送 AWORD 及其答案、姓名和邮编至 65700（例如 AWORD London John Smith W8 5TT）。短信费用为 £1 另加标准网络费。或拨打 0901 292 5090 留下您的答案和详细信息。通话费用为 £1 另加您的电话公司网络接入费。线路于星期五晚上 11.59 截止。条款与条件请参阅今日的解答面板。7 月 5 日获胜者：Gillian Harvey，布里斯托尔。7 月 12 日获胜者：M. A. Weedon，伦敦。 电话 / 短信服务帮助热线：0330 1000 601。
1 2 3 4 5
6 7
9 10
14 15 16
18 19
21 22
在方格中填入 1 到 9 之间的任意数字，使每行和每列的数字之和等于给定的总数。行或列内不得重复数字，且偶数必须填在阴影方格中。答案下周公布。
鸡肉部分 空置的 小说家 勇敢的人们
清洗
水域
网球叫法
卵石
电影片段
土壤生物
向着某个方向 声音 巨大的
那个女人 沼泽 雌天鹅
通过加热提取金属
利用给出的形状，通过将网格划分为不同区域，创建四个由四个字母组成的字母拼图（anagrams）。你可以旋转形状，但不能翻转。答案将于下周公布。
答案将于下周公布。
E L T A
L D M P
U B M
F O D
2 3 4 5
尝试这个迷你谜题。答案将于下周公布。
横向 1 科罗拉多度假胜地 2 陷阱 3 腱 4 法令 5 群体
功能 休耕
最资深的 父亲 奇数
技巧球 拱门 提升
横向 6 移动房屋 (7) 7 失望之声 (5) 9 水道 (5) 10 替代者 (5-2) 12 仪器 (11) 14 游戏 (4,3,4) 18 马蹄铁安装工 (7) 19 继承人 (5) 21 高尔夫球杆 (5) 22 竞争性协会 (3,4)
纵向 1 驴 2 贬低的 3 巨大的惊恐 4 直立的 5 两栖动物
饮水器
烦恼的
舞台剧
污渍 准备好食用 已故的
航海图
收到的款项
纵向 1 检测装置 (5) 2 & 3 纵向 头饰 (6,3) 3 见 2 纵向 4 树枝 (6) 5 理发师 (7) 8 最初 (2,5) 11 狗 (7) 13 清真寺尖塔 (7) 15 激怒 (6) 16 再一次！ (6) 17 家具 (5) 20 赛道一圈 (3)
白方少了一个轻子，但拥有巨大的位置优势。作为白方，你能否在黑方理顺棋子之前快速获胜？我们的答案在解答面板上。
欺诈 开车太快
海上力量
素描
秘密特工
每一行和每一列都必须填入数字 1, 2, 3, 4 和 5。在任何行或列中，同一个数字不能出现两次。你唯一的线索是给出的数字，以及某个数字是否大于 (>) 或小于 (<) 相邻的数字。答案将于下周公布。
来挑战谜题吧！
你能用给出的字母组成多少个四个或四个以上字母的单词？每个字母只能使用一次，且中心字母必须出现在每个单词中。至少有一个单词使用了全部九个字母。不得使用大写字母、连字符或撇号，不得使用以“s”结尾的动词形式，不得使用以“s”结尾的复数形式。答案将于下周公布。
你的表现如何？ 统计你找到的单词数量—— 23 良好 34 非常好 45 或更多 优秀。
适用常规数独规则。此外，每个内部虚线形状中的数字之和必须等于左上角的数字。答案将于下周公布。
___ Blyton, 作家
12 13 4 11 15
30 23 12
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20 3 14 18
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使用数字 1-9 填满每个空白方格序列。每个序列（横向和纵向）的总和必须等于该序列开头或顶部的阴影框中的数字。数字可以在同一行或列中重复，但在同一个序列中不能重复。答案将于下周公布。
21 5 15 6
36
16 36
13
战列舰
在网格中寻找一艘战列舰、两艘巡洋舰、三艘驱逐舰和四艘潜艇。网格右侧和下方的数字表示该行或该列中有多少个方格包含船只或船只的一部分。船只之间互不接触，即使是斜向也不接触。答案将于下周公布。
巡洋舰
驱逐舰
潜艇
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每周，我们勇敢的骑士都会与他的侍从进行一场友好的比试。他们提供不同的线索，但答案相同。兰斯洛特爵士提供“隐晦线索”(Cryptic Clues)，而他的侍从提供“快速线索”(Quick Clues)。加入他们的游戏，并计算完成后网格中字母‘i’出现的次数，即有机会赢取 £250！答案将于下周日公布。
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隐晦线索
横向 1 家庭是至关重要的东西 (5) 4 男朋友离开大学后合格了，
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变得迷人 (9) 9 想要一个美好的表演，处于熟练的设置中 (9) 10 肌肉和虚张声势，最初颠覆了新的冲突 (5) 11 外星人让前校友的中间部分抽搐 (6) 12 奶酪聚集是最短暂的 (8) 14 赋予流言分量的鸟 (9) 15 带有今日极端的学院是第一名 (5) 17 圣诞节经常听到她 (5) 19 警察在庭院旁边表演三重唱 (4,5) 22 时间离开——你的开始，精确地 (8) 24 中央情报局(CIA)和刑事侦查局(CID)的参与很尖锐 (6) 26 击败目标，移除了国王，但合法的 (5) 27 受尊敬的，即使被错误地
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评估 (9) 28 接受了左和右，并选择了一个事业 (4,5) 29 失败指向男人 (5)
纵向 1 诗人没有在不受欢迎的报告中登记方位 (3,4) 2 离开影响力？那是病了 (3-6) 3 线索给错了？答案是塑料的 (7) 4 完全搞砸了一个色调，听起来如此 (4) 5 争论并非关于调整 (10) 6 在现场列出黄金 (7) 7 拥有微弱激情的伙计 (5) 8 渴望将格伦你的旧形式发送出去 (7) 13 传递饮品，恶魔回去了 (5-5) 16 在家中被淹没，且未被护送 (9) 17 法庭发现男性在床上工作 (7) 18 关于婴儿的谎言——那是轻描淡写 (7) 20 伦敦地区恢复并受保护 (7) 21 一个月之后，新的一方安定下来 (7) 23 扩大选择以包含外国美食 (5) 25 我们承担的负担 (4)
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奖金填字游戏 7月26日 答案，NO 2279 横向：10 Chalet, 11 Impersonator, 12 Trap, 13 Asphalt, 14 Tucson, 15 Fawcett, 16 Diego Garcia, 20 Toga, 21 Britten, 22 Tatami, 23 Jonson, 25 Nemesis, 27 Bono, 28 Symptomatic, 29 Caramel, 32 Arthur, 35 Bitcoin, 36 Rake, 37 Henri Matisse, 38 Arcana. 纵向：1 Pharmacology, 2 Alopecia, 3 Stuart, 4 Pippa, 5 Apiarist, 6 Protagonist, 7 Bolt, 8 Baccarat, 9 Yoko, 17 Gates, 18 Immanuel Kant, 19 Diane Abbott, 21 Banjo, 24 Sapphire, 26 McIntosh, 27 Beatrice, 30 Aeneas, 31 Jones, 33 Rhea, 34 Rome.
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单词搜索
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数独 (KEN KEN)
密码破解器
上周答案：MINARET
Q U I B B L E D E B U G A W E D A T T I T U D E E X P L A I N I N G D A R K L Y C O C O O N P A W N B R O K E R P R O H I B I T Z O O M N U D G E D U N G E O N
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横向 1 关键液体 (5) 4 非常迷人 (9) 9 缺乏 (9) 10 体力 (5) 11 不同寻常 (6) 12 最短的 (8) 14 鸣禽 (9) 15 凝聚力 (5) 17 圣诞歌曲 (5) 19 经过培训的官员 (4,5) 22 精确地 (8) 24 刺骨的 (6)
参与方式：完成填字游戏并计算字母‘i’在网格中出现次数。然后发送短信 LANCELOT 加上空格、你的答案、姓名和邮编至 65700，例如 LANCELOT 9 John Smith W8 5TT。短信费用为 £1 加上你的标准网络费率。通过电话参与，请致电 0905 652 2140 并留下你的答案和详细信息。通话费用为 £1 加上你电话公司的网络接入费。参赛作品接收截止至周五 11.59pm。条款和条件详见下方。电话和短信帮助热线 0330 1000 601。
7月12日赢家：Jennifer Brammer, Stoke-on-Trent。 上周答案：12
超级数独 (SUPER SUDOKU)
上周答案： 12, 8, 3
7 10 1
2 3 9
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4 11
5 7 12
6
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四方块 (TETROMINOES) 心理区块 (MENTAL BLOCKS)
KEIJO
骨架填字 No 1266 (BARE BONES NO 1266)
Y A 14
O D T S F I G H T E R R E C L A I M T E R A E L L I E O N A G I T A T E A W L N F N O B B R E A K A P P A L U D B S T O T G A R M E N T I C R E A R D R U M C H A G R I N H
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26 合法的 (5) 27 受尊敬的 (9) 28 表现出偏袒 (4,5) 29 男人们 (5) 纵向 1 不受欢迎的人 (3,4) 2 身体不适 (3-6) 3 易弯曲的 (7) 4 阵风的 (4) 5 改变 (10)
快速数独 (QUICK SUDOKU)
上周答案： 7,4,3
不等号数独 (FUTOSHIKI)
战舰游戏 (BATTLESHIPS)
快速填字游戏 (QUICK CROSSWORD)
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6 图片 (7) 7 一小簇火 (5) 8 广泛的 (7) 13 转瞬即逝的 (5-5) 16 被淹没的 (9) 17 亚瑟王宫廷 (7) 18 修辞上的轻描淡写 (7) 20 获得 (7) 21 决定 (7) 23 墨西哥零食 (5) 25 责任 (4)
兰斯洛特爵士及其侍童 (SIR LANCELOT AND HIS PAGE) 横向：1 幻想, 5 支撑, 10 谷仓, 11 脊椎动物, 12 留下, 13 在局中, 14 破坏, 16 陨石, 19 消防演习, 21 刀刃, 23 接受, 25 基数, 27 伪造地, 28 勇气, 29 责骂, 30 窗帷。 纵向：2 飞快地, 3 尝试性的, 4 节省, 6 片面的, 7 碎片, 8 提取, 9 冰箱, 15 原则, 17 卷起, 18 报废, 20 蝗虫, 22 祷告, 24 注册, 26 Aster。
中等数独 (MEDIUM SUDOKU)
偶数 (EVENS)
数字填充 (NUMBERFIT)
所有列出的数字都适用 于网格中，且 只有一种填充 方式。已经提供 了一个数字 以帮助你开始。 答案下周公布。
3位数字 514 755 867 943
4位数字 4565 6230 7085 7456
寻路者 (PATHFINDER)
从方框中的字母 K 开始，沿着一条连续的路径寻找 23 个与 “heal” 押韵的单词。路径需经过每一个字母且仅经过一次，可以向上、下或向侧面转折，但绝不能对角线移动。答案将于下周公布。
困难数独 (HARD SUDOKU)
杀手数独 (KILLER)
9 8 4
6 3 5 2 9 8
1 6 3 5 7 2 4
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数和棋 (KAKURO)
5 位数 33454 40476 56817 89890
6 位数 267150 303262 547433 634234 634556 642853
7 位数 7345890 8780678
本周答案
酒吧问答 (PUB QUIZ) 1 杰克·尼科尔森 (Jack Nicholson), 2 迪多 (Dido), 3 菲莉帕·福雷斯特 (Philippa Forrester), 4 莱昂内尔·梅西 (Lionel Messi), 5 苏丹 (Sudan), 6 普리티·帕特尔 (Priti Patel), 7 频率 (Frequency), 8 詹姆斯一世 (James I), 9 a) 醉了 (Drunk), 10 斯旺西 (Swansea), 11 麦迪逊广场花园 (Madison Square Garden), 12 柬埔寨 (Cambodia)。
图形猜词 (DINGBATS) 1 情况反转 (The worm has turned), 2 悬而未决 (Up in the air), 3 被推出来背锅 (Thrown under the bus), 4 蓝图 (Blueprint)。
脑力火车 (BRAIN TRAIN) A-B=91, B-C=574, C-D=258。
数字谜题 (DITLOIDS) 1 一见钟情 (Love at 1st Sight), 2 East 17 乐队的《再留一天》(Stay Another Day), 3 1545：玛丽·罗斯号沉没 (Sinking of the Mary Rose), 4 《太阳系第三颗行星》(3rd Rock From The Sun), 5 马克·施皮茨获得 9 枚奥运金牌 (Mark Spitz Won 9 Olympic Gold Medals), 6 《六日七夜》(6 Days 7 Nights)，哈里森·福特主演。
条款与条件：仅限英国居民参加，不包括北爱尔兰居民、主办方员工或任何与本次推广活动相关人员、其亲属或家庭成员。参赛者必须年满 18 岁。参加本次活动即表示您接受这些条款。每人限参加一次。将从所有正确且符合条件的参赛条目中选出一位获胜者。获胜者将在 7 天内获得通知。若在 7 天内未接受奖项，则任何申领均视为无效，主办方将选出另一位获胜者。奖项不可转让。主办方保留用同等价值物品替代奖项的权利。主办方对所有事项的决定为最终决定。不予回复相关信函。主办方有权在合理酌情的情况下：(a) 取消任何行为违反条款精神的参赛者资格；(b) 宣布任何因印刷、生产和 / 或分发错误或实质性影响申领人数或申领价值的条目无效。如果这些条款中的任何规定不可执行，应将其与其余部分分离，且其他规定的有效性不受影响。本条款受英国法律管辖。主办方为 Associated Newspapers Limited, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY。
8 位数 35485682 52043264 56174817 64564129 72465564 83579785
9 位数 244253815 508391578
国际象棋 (CHESS) 1. Qxh7+! Kxh7 2. Rh5+ Kg8 3. Rh8 将死 (mate)。
BBC / STU FORSTER / GETTY
真人秀《名人猎寻》(REALITY CELEBRITY HUNTED) 这是一个非常吸引人的前提：看着一群名人与英国街头上的普通人混在一起，而由乔金娜·布拉德利 (Georgina Bradley)、雷·霍华德 (Ray Howard) 和史蒂夫·赫西 (Steve Hersee)（如图）组成的专业监视团队在追踪他们。不过，并没有真正的危机感，只有一系列古怪的闹剧。 周一，C4 频道，晚上 9 点
周日《沙漠岛唱片》(SUNDAY DESERT ISLAND DISCS) 艾玛·格雷德 (Emma Grede)（右）分享她如何崛起并成为美国最富有白手起家的女性之一。 Radio 4, 上午 10 点
周二《罗马尼亚赎金》(A ROMANIAN RANSOM) 亨利·雅各贝尔 (Henry Jakober) 及其将犹太人从共产主义罗马尼亚救出的不寻常方式的扣人心弦的故事。Radio 4, 晚上 8 点
周三《BBC 普罗姆斯音乐节》(BBC PROMS) Ladysmith Black Mambazo 乐队在保罗·西蒙 (Paul Simon) 获得格莱美奖的专辑《格雷斯兰》(Graceland) 发行 40 周年之际对其进行庆祝。 Radio 3, 晚上 10.15 点
周四《吉他故事》(THE GUITAR STORY) 约翰·威尔逊 (John Wilson) 探索该乐器的历史，从西班牙的古典吉他、美国的蓝调吉他以及早期的电吉他尝试开始。Radio 4, 上午 9.30 点
BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 CHANNEL 4 5
6.00 早餐节目 9.00 BBC新闻 10.00 祈祷与反思 (R) 10.30 朝圣之旅：北威尔士之路 (R) 11.30 不劳而获 (R) 12.15 淘货猎手 (R) 1.00 BBC新闻；天气预报 1.15 赞美之歌 Laura Wright 探索圣经中山的深远意义。 1.50 逃离到乡村 (R) 2.15 电影：《靴子猫》(U / 2011) 由安东尼奥·班德拉斯配音的动画喜剧衍生剧。 3.35 择偶游戏 探讨栖息在丛林中众多不同物种的交配仪式。(R) 4.35 房屋拍卖 重点介绍曼彻斯特、诺福克郡和白金汉郡的物业。(R) 5.35 BBC新闻 5.50 地区新闻；天气预报 6.00 名人逃离乡村 4 / 6 主持人 Angellica Bell 出演。(R)
《狂喜》，晚上9点 Sam Hazeldine 主演的心理惊悚片
7.00 乡村档案 四集系列的首集，Adam Henson 接触新一代农民，探讨生产食品所面临的挑战与机遇。 8.00 古董路演 3 / 19 在莫雷郡的布罗迪城堡，Fiona Bruce 遇到一位高地运动评论员，他带来了一件由维多利亚女王赠送的胸针等物品。(R) 9.00 《狂喜》 3 / 5 Gabs 和 Dick 发现证据表明 Leonard 隐藏了某些秘密，而印度的洪水与 Bethany 的画作相吻合。Gabs 将她的怀疑公开化。 10.00 BBC十点新闻 10.25 地区新闻；天气预报 10.30 电影：《不可能》(12 / 2012) 一个在泰国度过圣诞节的家庭在 2004 年的海啸中失散。由 Ewan McGregor 和 Naomi Watts 主演的剧情片。 12.10 你认为你是谁？ Harriet Walter 主持。(R)
6.40 电视园艺 A-Z 指南 (R) 7.25 绝美空中花园 Christine Walkden 访问斯塔福德郡的花园。(R) 8.10 乡村档案 (R) 9.05 气象员徒步精选 Derek Brockway 回顾他最喜爱的一些山岳徒步行程。 9.35 榉树林花园 (R) 10.05 周六厨房 最佳美食 包含 Sabrina Ghayour, Ravinder Bhogal 和 Theo Randall 的食谱。 11.35 印度美食简易指南 双片连播。美食作家兼厨师 Anjum Anand 准备一系列菜肴。(R) 12.35 电影：《尼斯湖》(PG / 1996) 一位美国科学家被派往苏格兰以证明尼斯湖怪并不存在，这引起了当地人的愤怒。由 Ted Danson 和 Joely Richardson 主演的家庭剧。 2.15 板球：一百赛 MI London 女队 v Manchester Super Giants 女队，比赛地点：The Oval (开赛时间 2.30pm)。
板球：一百赛，下午6点 Sherfane Rutherford 在场发挥
《范德伐克》，晚上8点 Marc Warren 主演荷兰侦探
《四季酒店内幕：帕克巷》，晚上9点 见习厨师 Connor
6.00 板球：一百赛 MI London 男队 v Manchester Super Giants 男队 (开赛时间 6pm)。播报地点：伦敦 The Oval 的比赛实况。 9.30 阿波罗剧场现场 1 / 7 Nabil Abdulrashid 在伦敦的 Hammersmith Apollo 主持节目，介绍同行喜剧演员 Jake Lambert 和 Rachel Fairburn 的单口喜剧表演。(R) 10.00 电影：《莎翁在恋爱》(15 / 1998) 坠入爱河治好了诗人(Bard)的写作瓶颈，并激励他写下了史上最著名的爱情故事。由 Joseph Fiennes 和 Gwyneth Paltrow 主演的时代浪漫喜剧。 11.55 高尔夫：女子公开赛 2026 亮点 此次大满贯赛事在兰开夏郡的皇家利瑟姆和圣安妮高尔夫俱乐部举行，播报第四天及最后一天赛事精彩瞬间。 12.55 手语区：Ann Droid Linda 拖着 Sue 前往海边撒骨灰。(R)
6.00 詹姆斯·马丁的美国冒险 (重播) 7.00 詹姆斯·马丁的周六早晨聊天节目 (重播) 9.25 ITV 新闻 9.30 与艾伦·蒂奇马什共度周末 (重播) 11.30 费恩·布里顿：走进兽医诊所。费恩地遇到了罗里，一只眼睑上有肿块的金毛寻回犬。 12.30 汤姆·克里奇烹饪意大利菜。汤姆在寻找松露。(重播) 1.00 ITV 新闻；天气预报 1.10 自然之力。随着气候变化加剧，动物们在生死边缘挣扎。(重播) 2.10 电影：《金手指》(PG/1974)。由罗杰·摩尔主演的詹姆斯·邦德冒险电影。 4.35 《追逐》名人特辑。嘉宾包括伦·古德曼、尼基·查普曼、威尔·柯克和乔·帕斯夸莱。(重播) 5.35 《追逐》环球赛。团队抵达里斯本，挑战“黑暗毁灭者”和“罪人”。(重播) 6.30 ITV 新闻；天气预报 6.45 地方新闻；天气预报
7.00 自然之力 2/6。洪水改变了栖息地并摧毁家园，变幻莫测的雨水考验着大象和鸭嘴 platypus 母亲。安德鲁·林肯解说。 8.00 范德瓦尔克 1/3。在可能推翻犯罪帝国女家长比比·弗兰肯的听证会之前，两名举报人受到警方保护。当第一名举报人被谋杀时，团队必须确保第二名举报人能顺利出庭。由于负责第一名受害者的警官是范德瓦尔克的前任卡莉·滕克斯，情况变得复杂。马克·沃伦主演的犯罪剧。 10.00 ITV 新闻；天气预报 10.15 电影：《侠探杰克：绝不回头》(12/2016)。这位私刑者试图营救一名被阴险阴谋陷害谋杀的陆军少校。汤姆·克鲁斯和科比·斯穆尔德斯主演的动作惊悚续集。 12.25 电视购物
6.20 《欢乐在一起》两集连播。(重播) 7.15 《每个人都爱雷蒙》三集连播。(重播) 8.30 《弗雷泽》三集连播。(重播) 10.00 周日早午餐。嘉宾包括约翰·汉娜、马特·福德、鲁西·亨沙尔、劳拉·史密斯和珍·布里斯特。 1.00 杰米烹饪地中海美食 (重播) 2.00 我们的邻居农场：阿曼达、克莱夫和孩子们。随着圣诞节临近，阿曼达及其家人面临为安蒂·约翰的房子更换屋顶的任务。(重播) 3.05 英国最受欢迎的火车站，由西·金主持。西探索格拉斯哥中央车站的隐藏隧道和被遗忘的站台。本系列最后一集。(重播) 4.05 克斯蒂和菲尔的“爱它还是挂单”：精彩建筑 (重播) 4.35 电影：《修女也疯狂》(PG/1992)。一名夜总会歌手在同意指证一名残暴的黑帮老大后，为了自身安全被送往修道院生活。伍皮·戈尔德堡主演的喜剧片。 6.30 第 4 频道新闻，包括体育和天气。
理查德·E·格兰特的现代奥德赛，晚上 8 点，马耳他瓦莱塔
7.00 《Gogglebox》第 27 季精彩片段集锦，节目参与者将点评更多顶尖且最优秀的电视节目。 8.00 理查德·E·格兰特的现代奥德赛 1/4。旅行纪录片，演员理查德·E·格兰特重走荷马希腊经典《奥德赛》中奥德修斯 20 年的经典路线。他的旅程从马耳他开始。 9.00 《钢琴》。克劳迪亚·温克尔曼和米卡在伦敦桥车站与朱尔斯·霍兰会合。一名 10 岁的孩子在琴键上演奏，让整个车站的人都唱了起来。 10.05 电影：《艾琳·布罗科维奇》(15/2000)。一名单亲母亲在一家律师事务所工作，最终与一家涉嫌污染小镇水源的公司展开对抗。朱莉娅·罗伯茨和阿尔伯特·芬尼主演的剧情片。 12.30 拉米·迈萨认为，现在是丹娜安定下来结婚的时候了。
6.00 Milkshake! 儿童节目，包括：8.05 Animal Care Club 8.25 The Smurfs 8.35 The Creature Cases (R) 8.50 The Patrick Star Show (R) 9.00 Entertainment News On 5 娱乐圈新闻与八卦。 9.15 电影：Rango (PG / 2011) 由约翰尼·德普配音的奥斯卡获奖动画喜剧。 11.30 Commonwealth Games 2026 格拉斯哥第九日的精彩回顾。(R) 12.30 Happy Campers: The Caravan Park (R) 1.30 Cruising With Susan Calman 喜剧演员经美国前往墨西哥的巡航之旅。(R) 2.30 Jane McDonald’s Yorkshire: No Place Like Home (R) 4.00 直播：UK’s Strongest Man 2026 在米尔顿凯恩斯 Planet Ice 举行的第二天赛事报道，包含 B 组比赛。参赛者将争夺下周在格拉斯哥举行的决赛周末入场券。 6.55 新闻 国内外新闻。
7.00 The 1970s Diet: Could It Work For You? 1 / 2 乔西·吉布森 (Josie Gibson) 沉浸在 20 世纪 70 年代的饮食与健康文化中。(R) 8.00 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly 8 / 16 格雷厄姆·霍尔 (Graeme Hall) 遇到了一只胃口极大的比格犬。(R) 9.00 Inside The Four Seasons: Park Lane 1 / 5 纪录片揭秘位于伦敦梅费尔区中心的这家顶级五星级酒店及其乡村姊妹店——汉普郡四季酒店的幕后故事。 10.00 Commonwealth Games 2026 格拉斯哥最后一日的精彩回顾，涵盖篮网球、柔道、草地滚球、残疾人草地滚球，以及场地自行车和残疾人场地自行车的奖牌争夺战。 11.05 JFK Assassination: Inside The Trauma Room 曾在那家接收被枪击的约翰·F·肯尼迪就医的医生们重聚。(R) 1.00 Cruise TV With LoveitBookit (R)
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6.00 早安节目 9.30 动物公园 (R) 10.15 追踪、寻回我的车 (R) 10.45 专家证人 (R) 11.15 房屋拍卖 (R) 12.15 淘货猎手 1.00 BBC新闻 1.35 地区新闻 1.45 BBC新闻 2.00 免费之财 2.45 逃离城市 (R) 3.45 竞拍室 4.30 答案赛 5.15 无点之赛 (R) 6.00 BBC新闻 6.30 地区新闻 7.00 The One Show，由 Alex Jones 和 Roman Kemp 主持。 7.30 东区街事 (EastEnders)：Peter 对 Lauren 心存怀疑。 8.00 英国最严厉的学校 – Panorama 深度报告。 8.30 诈骗拦截者 5 / 15：伦理黑客追捕网络罪犯。(R) 9.00 狂喜 4 / 5：Gabs 终于见到了 Anika Drake。 10.00 十点BBC新闻 10.30 地区新闻；天气 10.45 电影：《迷雾》(15 / 2007) 托马斯·简主演的科幻恐怖片。 12.45 BBC新闻
6.00 早安节目 9.30 动物公园 (R) 10.15 追踪、寻回我的车 (R) 10.45 专家证人 (R) 11.15 房屋拍卖 12.15 淘货猎手 (R) 1.00 BBC新闻 1.35 地区新闻 1.45 BBC新闻 2.00 免费之财 2.45 逃离城市 (R) 3.45 竞拍室 (R) 4.30 答案赛 5.15 无点之赛 (R) 6.00 BBC新闻 6.30 地区新闻 7.00 The One Show 7.30 东区街事 (EastEnders)：Ravi 逼迫 Priya 给出答案。 8.00 英国缝纫大赛 4 / 10：庆祝墨西哥丰富的时尚与纺织传统。 9.00 谋杀24 / 7 5 / 8：针对 2025 年Hereford 男子 Jamie Gawler 谋杀案的两部分调查之首。 10.00 十点BBC新闻 10.30 地区新闻；天气 10.40 电影：《罗宾汉》(12 / 2010) 罗素·克劳主演的中世纪冒险片。 12.55 BBC新闻
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6.30 淘货猎手 (R) 7.15 免费得利 (R) 8.00 手语区：修复铺 (R) 9.00 BBC新闻 1.00 理查德·奥斯曼的游戏屋 (R) 1.30 终点线 (R) 2.15 你知道你的位置吗？ (R) 2.45 骑行厨师的烘焙之旅 (R) 3.45 农民乡村对决 (R) 4.30 复古古董路演 (R) 5.15 把它卖了！ (R) 6.00 理查德·奥斯曼的游戏屋 (R) 6.30 理查德·奥斯曼的游戏屋 (R) 7.00 全球之眼 (Global Eye) 7.30 脑力大挑战 (Mastermind) 8.00 唯有连接 (Only Connect) 8.30 大学挑战赛 (University Challenge) 9.00 进化 4 / 5 克里斯·帕克汉姆通过研究海豚，寻找智能如何演化的答案。 10.00 莫蒂默与怀特豪斯：垂钓之旅 4 / 6 (R) 10.30 新闻之夜 (Newsnight) 11.05 电影：Sing Sing (15 / 2023) 首播。由科尔曼·多明戈主演的监狱剧。 12.45 手语区：乡村档案 (R)
6.30 淘货猎手 (R) 7.15 竞拍室 (R) 8.00 手语区：英国缝纫大赛 (R) 9.00 BBC新闻 1.00 理查德·奥斯曼的游戏屋 (R) 1.30 终点线 (R) 2.15 你知道你的位置吗？ (R) 2.45 板球：百球赛。利兹日出者女队 对 伦敦精神女队 (开始时间 3pm)。 6.00 板球：百球赛。利兹日出者男队 对 伦敦精神男队 (开始时间 6.30pm)。 9.30 吸血鬼莱斯特：吸血鬼访谈 2 / 7 莱斯特的一位不法旧友登上了这群迷茫乐队的巡演巴士。 10.15 发生在我的身上：我在日本因氯胺酮被监禁 一名英国女性因氯胺酮成瘾而在日本监狱服刑。 10.30 新闻之夜 (Newsnight) 11.05 电影：末班车 (The Last Bus) (12 / 2021) 由蒂莫西·斯波尔主演的剧情片。 12.30 手语区：超自然 (R)
6.00 英国早安 10.00 早上好 1.30 ITV新闻；天气 1.55 地方新闻；天气 2.00 迪金森的真货交易 (R) 3.00 成交或不成交 (R) 4.00 倾斜点 (R) 5.00 追击 (R) 6.00 地方新闻；天气 6.30 ITV新闻；天气 7.30 弗莱彻家族农场 8 / 10 米洛和利兹前往当地的一家乳牛场。 (R) 8.00 艾默代尔 关于蒙蒂的消息并不乐观。 8.30 街道冠冕 凯西与家人告别。 9.00 寻亲记：无迹可寻 新系列。达维娜·麦考尔和尼基·坎贝尔调查 1983 年和 1960 年的弃儿案例。 10.00 ITV新闻；天气 10.30 地方新闻；天气 10.45 悬案法医：上帝银行家的之死 1 / 3 探讨意大利银行家罗伯多·卡尔维的死因。 (R) 11.45 爱与死亡 4 / 7 (R) 12.45 电视购物
6.00 英国早安 10.00 早上好 1.30 ITV新闻；天气 1.55 地方新闻；天气 2.00 迪金森的真货交易 (R) 3.00 成交或不成交 (R) 4.00 倾斜点 (R) 5.00 追击 (R) 6.00 地方新闻；天气 6.30 ITV新闻；天气 7.30 走进朗廷：英国第一家豪华酒店 3 / 6 首席执行官抵达，视察酒店最雄心勃勃的翻新工程之一。 8.00 艾默代尔 尼古拉有了一个令人担忧的发现。 8.30 街道冠冕 迪伦在与布罗迪发生冲突后陷入昏迷。 9.00 悬案法医：尼罗河之死 2 / 3 调查一名英国律师在埃及度假期间的死亡事件。 10.00 ITV新闻；天气 10.30 地方新闻；天气 10.45 电影：坏蛋 2 (Bad Boys II) (15 / 2003) 由威尔·史密斯主演的喜剧惊悚续集。 1.10 电视购物
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6.30 皇后之王 (R) 7.45 每个人都爱雷蒙德 (R) 9.10 弗雷泽 (R) 11.10 拉姆齐的厨房噩梦美国版 (R) 12.05 第4频道新闻摘要 12.10 寻找、修理、出售 (R) 1.10 豪宅赠送 (R) 2.10 倒计时 3.00 阳光下的寓所 (R) 4.00 与佩内洛普·凯思共救乡村别墅 (R) 5.00 城堡DIY (R) 6.00 美国捡物师 (R) 7.00 第4频道新闻 8.00 多佛 24 / 7：英国最繁忙的港口 边境执法官员正在搜寻非法肉类。 9.00 名人被追缉 新系列。一组名人化身为逃犯，试图摆脱抓捕。 10.00 吉普赛妻子的秘密生活 家族为庄园举办篝火之夜，以纪念他们的父亲西德。 11.05 超富阶层的手术秘密 3 / 6 (R) 12.05 名人色情带秘密 纪录片。
6.30 皇后之王 (The King Of Queens) (重播) 7.45 大家都爱雷蒙德 (Everybody Loves Raymond) (重播) 9.10 弗雷泽 (Frasier) (重播) 11.10 拉姆齐 厨房噩梦美国版 (Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA) (重播) 12.05 第4频道新闻摘要 12.10 发现、修理、出售 (Find It, Fix It, Flog It) (重播) 1.10 豪宅赠送 (The Great House Giveaway) (重播) 2.10 倒计时 (Countdown) 3.00 阳光之城 (A Place In The Sun) (重播) 4.00 救救乡村别墅 (Saving Country Houses With Penelope Keith) (重播) 5.00 城堡DIY (Chateau DIY) (重播) 6.00 美国淘金者 (American Pickers) (重播) 7.00 第4频道新闻 8.00 Hotel Chocolat 揭秘 巧克力师Yodi构思限量版饮用巧克力口味。 9.00 名人追缉 (Celebrity Hunted) 两名 在逃者采取大胆举动，登上电视直播以推广他们的新节目。 10.00 Gogglebox 评论员们对《名人背叛者》(The Celebrity Traitors) 和《触发点》(Trigger Point) 的看法。(重播) 11.05 吉普赛妻子的秘密生活 (Secret Lives Of Gypsy Wives) 家庭成员为庄园举办篝火之夜，以纪念他们的父亲。(重播) 12.05 裸体吸引力 (Naked Attraction) (重播)
6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 杰里米· vine (Jeremy Vine) 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 新闻 12.50 马特·奥尔赖特 (Matt Allwright) 2.20 电影：《死亡预约》(A Reservation For Death) (PG / 2021) 由娜塔莉·凯利 (Nathalie Kelley) 主演的悬疑片。 4.00 城堡 (Castle) (重播) 4.55 热爱自然 (Love Nature) (重播) 5.00 新闻 6.00 马略卡岛：阳光之年 (Majorca: A Year In The Sun) (重播) 6.55 新闻 7.00 高速公路警察：抓捕英国超速者 4 / 10 警员拦截了一辆疑似克隆车的驾驶员。(重播) 7.55 新闻 8.00 街头警察：抓捕恶霸 (Street Cops: Catching The Yobs) 警察在科比 (Corby) 追捕一辆可能被盗且在鲁莽驾驶的SUV。 9.00 逃票者：与法律开战 (Fare Dodgers: At War With The Law) 新剧集。 调查员Lisa追捕一名欠网络公司近 £2000. 的嫌疑人。 10.00 警察拦截者：打击商店窃贼团伙 (Police Interceptors: Taking Down The Shoplifting Gangs) 警员对付恐吓商店和超市的窃贼。(重播) 11.05 交通警察 6 / 20 (重播) 12.05 扣车场警察 (Car Pound Cops) (重播)
6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 杰里米· vine (Jeremy Vine) 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 新闻 12.50 马特·奥尔赖特 (Matt Allwright) 2.15 电影：《威尼斯谋杀案》(A Murder In Venice) (PG / 2023) 由索菲·霍普金斯 (Sophie Hopkins) 主演的惊悚片。 4.00 城堡 (Castle) (重播) 4.55 热爱自然 (Love Nature) (重播) 5.00 新闻 6.00 马略卡岛：阳光之年 (Majorca: A Year In The Sun) (重播) 6.55 新闻 7.00 约克郡兽医：与格林一家同住 (The Yorkshire Vet: At Home With The Greens) 2 / 4 格林一家接待了一名房产中介的访问。(重播) 7.55 新闻 8.00 走进朗利特 (Inside Longleat) 镜头记录了朗利特花园中一些不速之客。 9.00 维多利亚时代 (The Victorians)，由罗布·林德 (Rob Rinder) 和露丝·古德曼 (Ruth Goodman) 主持 探索历史上一些最著名的事件在富人和穷人中是如何被体验的。 10.30 连环追尾：高速公路之死 (The Pile Up: Death On The Motorway) 对英国历史上最严重的高速公路车祸之一进行法医分析。(重播) 12.05 隔壁的食人族 (The Cannibal Next Door) (重播)
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BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 CHANNEL 4
6.00 Breakfast 9.30 Animal Park (R) 10.15 Trace, Track, Get My Car Back (R) 10.45 Expert Witness (R) 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 12.15 Bargain Hunt (R) 1.00 BBC News 1.35 Regional News 1.45 BBC News 2.00 Money For Nothing 2.45 Escape To The Country (R) 3.45 The Bidding Room 4.30 The Answer Run 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC News 6.30 Regional News 7.00 The One Show 由 Alex Jones 和 Vernon Kay 主持。 7.30 EastEnders Mark 试图吸引 Lauren 的注意。 8.00 The Repair Shop (R) 9.00 Murder 24 / 7 6 / 8 第二部分（共两部分）。警方在发现一个血脚印之前，一直难以建立案件。 10.00 BBC News At Ten 10.30 Regional News; Weather 10.40 电影：You’re Cordially Invited (15 / 2025) 首播。由 Will Ferrell 和 Reese Witherspoon 出演的喜剧片。 12.25 The Hit List Celebrity Special (R)
6.00 Breakfast 9.30 Animal Park (R) 10.15 Trace, Track, Get My Car Back (R) 10.45 Expert Witness (R) 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer 12.15 Bargain Hunt (R) 1.00 BBC News 1.35 Regional News 1.45 BBC News 2.00 Money For Nothing 2.45 Escape To The Country (R) 3.45 The Bidding Room (R) 4.30 The Answer Run 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC News 6.30 Regional News 7.00 The One Show 由 Alex Jones 和 Roman Kemp 主持的现场杂志节目。 7.30 EastEnders Sheila 面临日益增加的压力。 8.00 Fake Or Fortune? 4 / 4 调查 Lucian Freud 的潜在作品。 9.00 Who Do You Think You Are? 8 / 8 七项全能运动员 Katarina Johnson-Thompson 追溯其祖先。 10.00 BBC News At Ten 10.30 Regional News; Weather 10.40 Murder 24 / 7 5 / 8 (R) 11.40 Murder 24 / 7 6 / 8 (R) 12.40 Alan Carr’s Picture Slam (R)
[!NOTE] 本章节源文包含大量外语数据与图片版面，已进行结构化对齐优化。
6.30 《白手起家》(R) 7.15 《拍卖室》(R) 8.00 手语区：《伟大的日本铁路之旅》(R) 8.30 《伟大的欧洲大陆铁路之旅》(R) 9.00 BBC新闻 1.00 《理查德·奥斯曼的游戏之屋》(R) 1.30 《终点线》(R) 2.15 《你知道你的位置吗？》(R) 2.45 板球：百球赛。特伦特火箭队女队 对阵 伯明翰凤凰队女队 (开赛时间下午3点)。6.00 板球：百球赛。特伦特火箭队男队 对阵 伯明翰凤凰队男队 (开赛时间下午6.30)。 9.30 《阿波罗现场》2/7：Ria Lina 介绍同行喜剧演员 Lucy Beaumont 和 Josh Pugh 的单口喜剧表演。(R) 10.00 《重大案件——殡仪馆恐怖事件》：一名负债累累的殡葬业者如何背叛悲痛的家庭。 10.30 《新闻之夜》 11.05 《不可思议》3/3 (R) 12.05 《家庭中的恶魔：鲁比·弗兰克的陨落》(R)
6.15 《锤下之屋》(R) 7.15 《白手起家》(R) 8.00 手语区：《园艺世界》(R) 9.00 BBC新闻 1.00 《理查德·奥斯曼的游戏之屋》(R) 1.30 《终点线》(R) 2.15 《你知道你的位置吗？》(R) 2.45 《毛茸茸骑行者的烘焙之旅》(R) 3.45 《农民乡村对决》(R) 4.30 《古董路演》(R) 5.15 《把它卖掉！》(R) 6.00 《理查德·奥斯曼的游戏之屋》(R) 6.30 《理查德·奥斯曼的游戏之屋》(R) 7.00 《逃往乡村》10/20：科茨沃尔德地区。(R) 8.00 《挖掘英国》3/6 (R) 9.00 《家庭中的恶魔：鲁比·弗兰克的陨落》3/3：随着弗兰克一家被隔离，外界试图查明发生了什么。 9.50 《芬兰平原：狂野的一年》(R) 10.00 《9号房内》3/6 (R) 10.30 《新闻之夜》 11.05 电影：《女人们在谈话》(15/2022) 由 Judith Ivey 和 Claire Foy 主演的剧情片。 12.40 手语区：《救护车》(R)
6.00 《早安英国》 10.00 《今晨》 1.30 ITV新闻；天气 1.55 地方新闻；天气 2.00 《迪金森的真货》(R) 3.00 《交易或不交易》(R) 4.00 《倾斜点》(R) 5.00 《追击》(R) 6.00 地方新闻；天气 6.30 ITV新闻；天气 7.30 《交易或不交易：银行家的最佳之战》：回顾选手 James 和 Jack 之间的对决。 8.00 《艾默代尔》：决定给这只狗举行一场体面的 Dingle 式告别仪式，Charity 表现得很勇敢。 8.30 《 Coronation Street》：Kit 告知 Bethany 关于 Gary 在 Sarah 犯罪中所扮演的角色。 9.00 《谁想成为百万富翁？》问答节目。(R) 10.00 ITV新闻；天气 10.30 地方新闻；天气 10.45 《长失亲友：无迹可寻》：Davina McCall 和 Nicky Campbell 帮助更多被遗弃者。(R) 11.45 《集会》5/8 (R) 12.10 电视购物
6.00 《早安英国》 10.00 《今晨》 1.30 ITV新闻；天气 1.55 地方新闻；天气 2.00 《迪金森的真货》(R) 3.00 《交易或不交易》(R) 4.00 《倾斜点》(R) 5.00 《追击》(R) 6.00 地方新闻；天气 6.30 ITV新闻；天气 7.30 《Tom Kerridge 烹饪意大利》：主厨学习农民如何生产用于制作番茄酱 (passata) 的番茄，并研究石榴。 8.00 《艾默代尔》：Dingle 家族在 Monty 的葬礼上共同悲痛。 8.30 《 Coronation Street》：Kit 向 Gary 发出了一个不祥的邀请。 9.00 《环球追击》4/6：团队抵达巴黎，挑战 Vixen 和 the Beast。 10.00 ITV新闻；天气 10.30 地方新闻；天气 10.45 电影：《皇家赌场》(15/2006) 由 Daniel Craig 主演的詹姆斯·邦德间谍惊悚片。 1.10 电视购物
6.30 《库恩之王》(R) 7.45 《大家都爱雷蒙德》(R) 9.10 《弗雷泽》(R) 11.10 《拉姆齐的厨房噩梦美国版》(R) 12.05 第4频道新闻摘要 12.10 《发现它，修复它，卖掉它》(R) 1.10 《豪宅赠送》(R) 2.10 《倒数》(R) 3.00 《阳光下的居所》(R) 4.00 《与 Penelope Keith 一起拯救乡村别墅》(R) 5.00 《城堡 DIY》(R) 6.00 《美国捡物师》(R) 7.00 第4频道新闻 8.00 《非凡扩建》：一对夫妇将他们在萨里 (Surrey) 的家改造为一座受马贝拉 (Marbella) 启发且适合派对的住所。 9.00 《未宣战的战争》5/6：在 GCHQ 发生悲剧之际，Barbara 受到了 Charlie 的审视。 10.00 《未宣战的战争》6/6：Danny 赌上一切以纠正错误。 11.00 《急诊室24小时》6/7：一名男子在摩托车事故后被紧急送入医院。(R) 12.05 《名人被追捕》(R)
6.30 皇后之王 (R) 7.45 每个人都爱雷蒙德 (R) 9.10 弗雷泽医生 (R) 11.10 拉姆齐 厨房噩梦美国版 (R) 12.05 第4频道新闻摘要 12.10 寻找、修复、出售 (R) 1.10 豪宅大赠送 (R) 2.10 词数倒计时 3.00 阳光下的 一处居所 (R) 4.00 与佩内洛普·基思 共救乡村住宅 (R) 5.00 城堡 DIY (R) 6.00 美国淘货猎人 (R) 7.00 第4频道新闻 8.00 翻新救援 一位退休艺术家需要帮助翻新她的家。 9.00 谋杀案：数字侦探 讲述数字取证如何揭开马修·道尔比谋杀案周围的真相。 10.00 尸体侦探 1 / 3 一名于 1984 年在诺福克海岸失踪的男子。 (R) 11.05 社交媒体怪物 1 / 10 社交媒体在其中发挥作用的犯罪案件。 (R) 12.05 犯罪现场清理员 (R)
6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 杰里米·Vine 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 新闻 12.50 马特·奥尔赖特 2.15 电影：《名为谋杀的小镇》(PG / 2023) 由 Kayleigh Ruller 主演的惊悚片。 4.00 城堡 (R) 4.55 热爱自然 (R) 5.00 新闻 6.00 马略卡岛：阳光之年 (R) 6.55 新闻 7.00 车辆扣押警察 6 / 8 跟拍车辆回收小组的工作。 (R) 7.55 新闻 8.00 急救 24 / 7：分秒必争 10 / 10 前护士 Sandra 因疑似踝关节脱位被送医。 9.00 999：危急状态 Graham 面临危及生命的手术以移除肿瘤。 10.00 救护车：红色代码 两名摩托车手之间的碰撞引发了红色代码出警。 (R) 11.05 死亡原因 8 / 10 在一片田地中发现一名男子的尸体。 (R) 12.05 黑暗后的急诊室 (R)
6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 杰里米·Vine 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 新闻 12.50 马特·奥尔赖特 2.20 电影：《小镇之恶》(PG / 2023) 由 Veronica Ramirez 主演的惊悚片。 4.00 城堡 (R) 4.55 热爱自然 (R) 5.00 新闻 6.00 梅诺卡岛：阳光之年 (R) 6.55 新闻 7.00 与乔西·吉布森共乘头等舱环游世界 2 / 4 主持人体验格林纳达的生活。 7.55 新闻 8.00 康沃尔：海边的一年 10 / 10 在 Watergate Bay，厨师 Chris Eden 及其团队尝试进行今年夏天第一次的海滩盛宴。 9.00 贝尼多姆谋杀案 2 / 6 一起屋顶谋杀案揭露了喜剧俱乐部里的陈年积怨。 10.00 犯罪现场的凶手 一名百万富翁在住宅被入侵期间被杀的谋杀案。 (R) 11.00 一见钟情杀手 2 / 10 纪实犯罪。 (R) 12.05 街头警察：抓捕地痞 纪录片。 (R)
BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 CHANNEL 4 5
BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 CHANNEL 4
6.00 Breakfast 9.30 Animal Park (R) 10.15 Trace, Track, Get My Car Back (R) 10.45 Expert Witness (R) 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 12.15 Bargain Hunt: 20 Years Of The One Show 1.00 BBC News 1.35 Regional News 1.45 BBC News 2.00 The Hairdresser Mysteries 2.45 Escape To The Country (R) 3.45 The Bidding Room 4.30 The Answer Run 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC News 6.30 Regional News 7.00 The One Show 该节目庆祝其 20 岁生日。 7.30 Our Lives 跟随南威尔士朋克乐队 the NaNaz。 8.00 Granite Harbour 3 / 3 Lindo 和 Bart 展开一场与时间的赛跑以寻找真正的凶手。 9.00 Would I Lie To You? 4 / 9 (R) 9.30 Ann Droid 4 / 6 Sue 邀请 Michael 和 Renee 共进晚餐。 10.00 BBC News At Ten 10.30 Regional News; Weather 10.45 电影：28 Days Later (18 / 2002) 由 Cillian Murphy 主演的恐怖片。 12.35 BBC News
[!NOTE] 本章节源文包含大量外语数据与图片版面，已进行结构化对齐优化。
6.00 Breakfast 10.00 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 11.30 Anna Haugh’s Big Irish Food Tour (R) 12.00 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 1.00 BBC News; Weather 1.15 Bargain Hunt (R) 2.15 Money For Nothing (R) 3.15 Escape To The Country (R) 4.15 电影：博物馆之夜：古墓之秘 (PG / 2014) 5.50 BBC News 6.00 地区新闻；天气 6.10 The Hit List名人特辑 6.55 Alan Carr’s Picture Slam 7.40 Michael McIntyre’s Big Show 4 / 6 嘉宾：Josh Widdicombe. (R) 8.35 Pointless Celebrities 9 / 21 参赛者包括 Charlene White. (R) 9.25 How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge) 5 / 6 Alan试图在意外中寻找快乐。 (R) 10.00 BBC News; Weather 10.20 电影：布里吉特·琼斯的日记 (15 / 2001) 喜剧，由Renee Zellweger主演。 11.50 电影：Man Up (15 / 2015)
6.30 Money For Nothing (R) 7.15 The Bidding Room (R) 8.00 签名区：Marcus Wareing Simply Provence (R) 9.00 BBC News 1.00 Richard Osman’s House Of Games (R) 1.30 The Finish Line (R) 2.15 Do You Know Your Place? (R) 2.45 The Hairy Bikers’ Bakeation (R) 3.45 The Farmers’ Country Showdown (R) 4.30 Vintage Antiques Roadshow (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R) 6.00 Richard Osman’s House Of Games (R) 6.30 Just One Thing (R) 7.00 Iolo’s Anglesey 2 / 4 (R) 7.30 Beechgrove Garden 8.00 Gardeners’ World 9.00 Bergerac 4 / 6 Chloe发现了证据，证明John Blakely的指控中包含部分真相。 9.45 QI XL 6 / 14 (R) 10.30 Newsnight 11.05 电影：Hoard (18 / 2023) 首播。由Saura Lightfoot-Leon主演的剧情片。 1.00 签名区：英国最严学校 – Panorama (R)
6.30 儿童节目 9.15 Gardeners’ World (R) 10.15 电影：Angels One Five (U / 1953) 第二次世界大战冒险片，由Jack Hawkins主演。 11.50 The Great British Sewing Bee (R) 12.50 A Cook Abroad: Monica Galetti’s France (R) 1.50 电影：Summer Holiday (U / 1963) 音乐喜剧，由Cliff Richard主演。 3.35 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 4.35 Evolution (R) 5.35 电影：超人 II (PG / 1980) 漫画风格冒险续集，由Christopher Reeve主演。 7.35 Space Soundtracks At The Proms 改变人们宇宙观的音乐。 8.35 Paul Heaton At The BBC 10.10 Paul Heaton: Live At Bramall Lane 该歌手在谢菲尔德联足球场举办的2025年演唱会。 11.35 The Housemartins In London 0 Hull 4 一部关于该乐队的1987年纪录片。 (R) 12.20 Top Of The Pops: The Beautiful South
6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00 This Morning 1.30 ITV News; Weather 1.55 地方新闻；天气 2.00 Dickinson’s Real Deal (R) 3.00 Deal Or No Deal (R) 4.00 Tipping Point (R) 5.00 The Chase (R) 6.00 地方新闻；天气 6.30 ITV News; Weather 7.30 EFL杯直播 中堡 v 雷克瑟姆 (开球时间 8pm)。Mark Pougatch在Riverside Stadium主持这场首轮对决的所有精彩瞬间。由Tommy Smith和Steven Fletcher分析，Seb Hutchinson和Lucy Ward评论。 10.25 ITV News; Weather 10.55 地方新闻；天气 11.15 电影：侠探杰克：永不回头 (12 / 2016) 侠探试图救出一名被阴谋陷害为谋杀犯的陆军少校。由Tom Cruise和Cobie Smulders主演的动作惊悚续集。 1.10 电视购物
6.00 James Martin’s American Adventure (R) 7.00 电影：金手指 (PG / 1974) 詹姆斯·邦德冒险片，由Roger Moore和Christopher Lee主演。 9.25 ITV News 9.30 James Martin’s Saturday Morning (R) 12.00 Prue Leith’s Cotswold Kitchen (R) 1.00 ITV News; Weather 1.10 ITV Racing: Live From Ascot。报道谢尔加杯 (Shergar Cup)。 5.00 Tipping Point: Best Ever Finals (R) 5.30 The Chase名人特辑 (R) 6.30 ITV News; Weather 6.45 地方新闻；天气 7.00 Deal Or No Deal: 名人特辑 Adam和Ryan Thomas对阵银行家。 8.00 电影：量子危机 (12 / 2008) 由Daniel Craig主演的惊悚片。 10.05 ITV News; Weather 10.20 The Staircase 4 / 8 Clayton有了关键发现。 11.35 Sorry, I Didn’t Know 5 / 5 嘉宾：Desiree Burch. (R) 12.10 电视购物
6.30 皇后之王 (R) 7.45 人人爱雷蒙 (R) 9.10 弗雷泽 (R) 11.10 拉姆齐 厨房噩梦 美国版 (R) 12.05 第4频道新闻摘要 12.10 寻宝、修复、出售 (R) 1.10 豪宅赠送 (R) 2.10 倒数 (Countdown) 3.00 阳光 下的一席之地 (R) 4.00 与佩内洛普·基思 共救乡村住宅 (R) 5.00 城堡DIY (R) 6.00 美国捡物王 (R) 7.00 第4频道新闻 8.00 超富阶层的手术秘密 4 / 6 一名准 新娘接受了液体隆鼻手术。 9.00 10只猫中的8只在倒数 凯瑟琳·瑞安、法蒂哈·埃尔-格里、杰克 兰伯特和布雷特·多米诺三重奏参加。 10.00 巨型脂肪问答赛：精彩片段 问答赛 中的终极胜利合集。 11.05 莎拉·米利坎：归鸟 2014年录制的现场脱口秀表演。(R) 12.10 格雷格·戴维斯：我妈妈的后脑勺 (R)
6.10 干杯 (R) 8.00 人人 爱雷蒙 (R) 9.25 弗雷泽 (R) 10.55 辛普森一家 (R) 12.55 四人同床 (R) 3.30 狗狗屋 (R) 4.30 克斯蒂和菲尔的 爱它还是列出它 (R) 5.35 宏伟 设计 (R) 6.30 第4频道新闻 7.00 桑迪·托克斯维格的隐藏 奇迹 1 / 4 桑迪·托克斯维格 重新发现了她对考古学的热爱。(R) 8.00 贝塔尼·休斯的失落 世界：文明的黎明 1 / 2 历史学家揭开文明本身的起源。 9.00 独裁者：希特勒 访谈 2 / 3 希特勒的 朋友和同时代的人回忆暴政如何占据主导。 10.00 埃尔维斯、上校与 黑帮 1 / 2 这位歌手是如何卷入组织犯罪的。 11.05 埃尔维斯、上校与 黑帮 2 / 2 汤姆·帕克上校计划回归。 12.10 电影：《承包商》 (15 / 2022) 克里斯·派恩主演的剧情片。
6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 杰里米·Vine 11.30 斯多姆与亚历克西斯 12.45 新闻 12.50 马特·奥尔赖特 2.20 电影： 《读书会谋杀案》 (PG / 2024) 布里塔尼·安德伍德主演的悬疑片。 4.00 城堡 (R) 4.55 热爱自然 (R) 5.00 新闻 6.00 少数一个岛：阳光下的一年 (R) 6.55 新闻 7.00 汤姆·里德·威尔逊的大巡游 1 / 3 汤姆重新想象 贵族们曾经经历的成年礼。(R) 7.55 新闻 8.00 科西嘉岛：地中海之珠 镜头探索这座法国岛屿，它拥有 600 英里 绝美的海岸线、 郁郁葱葱的森林和 雄伟的山脉。 9.00 亚历山大·阿姆斯特朗在 韩国 主持人开启了一场跨越 全国的史诗之旅。(R) 10.30 皮尔斯·摩根：无审查 新闻与辩论节目。 12.00 逃票者：与法律的战争 (R)
6.00 Milkshake! 9.05 5频道娱乐新闻 9.10 皇家宫殿之秘 (R) 11.00 约克郡最豪华酒店： 格兰特利庄园 (R) 1.00 皇室： 无审查 2.00 与海伦、朱尔斯和 JB的海岸冒险 (R) 4.00 直播：英国最强 壮之男 2026. 半决赛报道。 6.55 新闻 7.00 萨塞克斯：南海岸之珠 3 / 5 在 海斯廷斯附近发现了一个青铜时代 定居点。 8.00 米德尔顿家族：打造现代女王 米德尔顿家族在培养凯特承担未来角色方面的 积极影响。(R) 9.30 凯特：我们的新戴安娜？ 纪录片，对比两位威尔士王妃 ——凯特与戴安娜。(R) 10.30 戴安娜与斯宾塞家族的诅咒 探讨 戴安娜·威尔士王妃艰辛的成长经历。(R) 12.00 我们爱布里奇特·琼斯：所有笑点及更多 (R)
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REGIONAL FORECASTS
London, South East, South, South West, Channel Islands: Morning starts cloudy, turning warm and sunny by afternoon, with a breezy and cooler evening under mostly cloudy skies. Max 27C 81F. Wales, Midlands, East Anglia: Morning mostly cloudy with light winds. Afternoon remains cloudy. Evening mostly cloudy, light winds persist. Max 26C 79F. North West, North East: Morning mostly cloudy with light winds. Afternoon becomes partly sunny. Evening remains cloudy with increasing breezes. Max 24C 75F. Scotland: Morning starts mostly sunny, becoming cloudy by afternoon with light winds. Evening remains cloudy with
ABERDEEN LONDON MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
32 15 19 29 25 26 17 24 26 19 26 25
BELFAST BIRMINGHAM CANTERBURY CARDIFF GLASGOW LEEDS MANCHESTER NEWCASTLE NORWICH PLYMOUTH
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YESTERDAY (24 hours to 6pm) – Warmest: Charlwood, 27c. Coldest: Eskdalemuir, 3c. Wettest: Wick Airport, 12.80mm. Sunniest: Almondsbury, 14.2hrs. Barometer (6pm) – 1019.02mb. Falling. Humidity: 29 per cent. WEEK AHEAD Monday starts with widespread rain. By Tuesday, showers persist but ease midweek. Wednesday sees brighter spells, though rain lingers in the north. Thursday brings sunny intervals, drier overall.
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Fifa boss’s defeat on World Cup sell-off
FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s bungled plan to sell stakes in the World Cup was dead in the water yesterday – as he brazenly dismissed global outrage and insisted talks would continue. According to US reports, his main financial backer, Joshua Kushner, brother of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared, had already decided Infantino’s idea was a ‘brand nightmare’. But it wasn’t until early yesterday, after two senior aides had quit and more than half of Fifa’s 211 member nations had
average Briton £2,500 worse off, claim Tories
POLITICAL EDITOR
BRITISH workers will be poorer by an average £2,500 a year by 2031 because of the impact of immigration driving down salaries, a new analysis has concluded. According to calculations made by the Conservatives – using figures provided by the Office for Budget Responsibil- ity (OBR) and the Bank of England – immigration will cost UK staff a total of £89.8 billion in suppressed wages over the next five years, with the average worker £2,521 a year worse off. It comes as the issue of mass migration has risen to the top of the political agenda again following the arrival of 60,000 African migrants into the Spanish territory of Ceuta last week, the biggest ever one- day surge of illegal migrants into the EU. Separately, 752 migrants reached the UK on Wednesday alone – the highest number of Channel crossings in a day so far this year. Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf trav- elled to Ceuta yesterday and described the surge as ‘an invasion, plain and simple… these people are marauding through town, looting shops and terrorising local resi- dents. I have spoken to a num- ber of them who made it quite clear they intend to make it to Britain. ‘One even admitted that they’re wanted for murder in their home country.’ Spain condemned the ‘self- ish, polarising and unlawful’ reaction of some EU countries
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DRAW 1
rejected his proposal, that a humiliated Infantino publicly conceded defeat. One source briefed on the proposed deal with Mr Kushner’s Thrive Capital told the New York Post there was ‘no way they want to continue to be involved in this mess’. The source added: ‘This is becoming a brand nightmare.’ Infantino’s future as the Fifa’s president now appears perilous. Yesterday, in a
INFLUX: Migrants heading to the UK on Wednesday, 2026’s busiest day for Channel crossings
MIGRANT FRONTLINE
Pages
6,7
to the influx, saying that almost all of those who reached Ceuta on Thursday have since returned. The Tory wage projections are based on OBR forecasts that between 2026 and 2031, cumulative net migration will total around 1.4 million, increasing the competition for jobs and placing downward pressure on wages. The Bank of England calcu- lated that a 10 per cent rise in the immigrant-to-native ratio in a given occupation and region is associated with a 0.93 per cent reduction in average wages. It means that average
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annual earnings are projected to fall from £38,220 at the baseline to £35,699 by 2031. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp called for a bind- ing annual cap on inward immigration and a tightening of visa rules. He said a Conservative gov- ernment would attach new conditions to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) status, and extend the time people must wait to apply for British citi- zenship from 12 months to five years after obtaining ILR. Mr Philp said: ‘High immi- gration has real consequences across our whole society, and
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AUGUST 2 • 2026 The Mail on Sunday
So much for the blended family... no sign of the kids as Orlando and Katy go their separate ways with new loves
CONSULTANT EDITOR
SHOWBUSINESS
IT WAS just a year ago that Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry enjoyed a holiday together with their daughter just weeks after they announced their split. The pair, along with Daisy Dove, five, and Bloom’s 15-year- old son Flynn from his marriage to model Miranda Kerr, went on a sun-soaked trip to Italy as a blended family. But now it seems that their joint breaks are a thing of the past as the 49-year-old Pirates Of The Car- ibbean star and Ms Perry, 41, sep- arately jetted off on romantic – and child-free – holidays with their new partners, 230 miles apart. Bloom and Swiss model Luisa Laemmel confirmed they are very much dating on their trip to Italy where they were seen riding matching bikes, snorkelling and lazing on dinghy boats. Ms Laemmel, 28, stunned in a black bikini in Sardinia having spent several days in Forte dei
for each other’
Marmi. Meanwhile, Ms Perry and former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, 54, have spent their time away aboard a boat in St Tropez. On Thursday they were seen on the beach at the Le Club 55 restaurant as they marked their first anniversary, while the next day they were spotted drinking £4 bottles of Blonde of St Tropez beer as they frolicked in the sea. Ms Perry and Bloom still get on ‘very well’ and are ‘happy for one another’, sources say. Bloom prompted new romance rumours in February when he was photographed arm-in-arm with Ms Laemmel while leaving a Super Bowl party in Santa Clara, California. A month later they jet- ted off to the Swiss city of Zurich for a holiday. Meanwhile, Ms Perry and Mr Trudeau’s relationship was revealed when they were seen dining together in Montreal, Canada, in July last year. It was just a few months after Ms Perry’s split from Bloom.
the line (or are they winding us up?)
TO BANTER or not to banter, that is the question – particularly if one person’s well-meant ribbing is another’s bully-boy behaviour. In fact, there’s a fine line between banter and bullying and most people don’t know where it is, researchers warn. To help lovers of repartee who worry about upsetting those on the receiving end of their rapier wit,
CHILD-FREE: Katy Perry with Justin Trudeau. Top: Orlando Bloom snorkelling with Luisa Laemmel (also right). Left: The former couple with their children
the researchers came up with a list of off-limits subjects. The academics at Nottingham Trent University suggest would-be wind-up merchants avoid quips about politics, religion, someone’s looks, accents, unwanted sexual experiences and the loss of a
family member or pet. They said banter builds friendships, relieves boredom and signals status in a group – without causing offence. Men were found to use it most often, deploying it to assert mas- culinity, cement friendships and boost their egos. Women use it to push back against sexism, ease stress and deepen relationships. The researchers, whose study is
published in the Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, also found there were unwritten rules of engagement. Participants must take turns, and their exchanges should grow progressively louder. But it is best deployed sparingly, they warned, because repeating the same joke too often risked irri- tation or ‘banter fatigue’. Cues that an exchange counts as
banter rather than an attack include laughter, the tone of voice, and so-called bald-on-record remarks, such as blunt asides delivered without softening. However, they said: ‘Not all ban- ter is experienced positively, as it can be used as a tool to exclude others, create a toxic culture, or represent bullying when aimed at others beyond friendship groups.’
The Mail on Sunday AUGUST 2 • 2026
The Mail on Sunday AUGUST 2 • 2026
Look around, they
➤➤ From Page One
been quiet, save for the gentle hiss of lapping waves. Nobody was expecting any more migrants. It turns out Sid Ahmed Dib, 23, from the Algerian port city of Skikda, and his unknown companion, were the last. As Sid lies flat on his back in the sand, having finally made it to this Spanish enclave, most of the thou- sands of young men who arrived before him were going the other way, returning back over the border to Morocco like tired and hungry children who’d run away from home then quickly thought better of it. One of the soldiers gives Sid a bottle of water and he throws his head back, the cords of his throat puls- ing as he gulps it down. He’s a lucky man. Many of the 67 who died trying to enter Ceuta either drowned or were crushed while trying to climb the breakwa- ter stones that hold the border fence. Suddenly he begins sobbing uncontrollably into the crook of his arm. Whether through overwhelming relief or exhaustion or something else besides, it isn’t clear. Composing himself, he tells me he’s been swimming for at least four hours to get here, this odd little Spanish dot of Spanish territory on Morocco’s Mediterranean coast. He produces a blue plastic bag containing his passport, which he’d tucked into his shorts while swimming. ‘My Algerian passport,’ he says proudly, flicking through its damp pages. ‘Algeria is so bad, worse than Morocco. I tried to get into Tunisia, then went to
locking ourselves in’
Casablanca and then came here when I heard thou- sands were coming. I want to get to Europe. Madrid or Paris maybe.’ The Spanish mainland is just 15 miles across the Strait of Gibraltar, so it’s easy to see why Sid and the other migrants consider Ceuta the gateway to a new life. Behind him, stands an empty wooden beach bar, the aptly named Cafe Europe. As Sid told his story, Ceuta’s fearful Span- ish residents were panic-buying in super- markets then scurrying back to their homes. Left shell-shocked by the previous two days, which saw more than 60,000 migrants overwhelm their small city, many feel abandoned. ‘The migrants have caused our population to almost double in size and we don’t know what the future holds,’ said 26-year-old graphic designer Belen Picazo. ‘We’re going home and we’ll lock our- selves in.’ As more mayhem unfolds before me, I would challenge any liberal progressive to witness such trou- bling scenes and still advocate for open borders. With migrants lurking with listless boredom on every street corner, in squares, avenues and bridge underpasses, forcing locals to cower in their homes, Ceuta today does not look like anyone’s idea of a utopia. Tearful Sid didn’t seem much of a threat. But you don’t need to travel far to sense disquiet here. Some migrants queue outside the small number of shops pre- pared to serve them. Most don’t want their custom. Normally on a Saturday the city parks and beaches are alive with families and the sounds of chil- dren playing. Apart from the police, the military and a few hardy Spanish souls, the only peo- ple visible in Ceuta yesterday were migrants, seemingly from across Africa. For sure, some
What if all the barriers – between prosperous, law-governed countries and the grim regions which have neither wealth nor law – disappeared? A strange coalition of crackpot multi-culturalists, open borders ideologues, Marxists and virtue-signalling liberals see no problems in this. But everyone else does.
were friendly, but the locals’ deep unease was understandable. ‘They’ve taken over the city,’ said a police officer. ‘Look around you. It may as well be Morocco because all the Spaniards are indoors.’ It was true. The numbers were overwhelming. And so was the lit- ter. Cans, bottles, wrappers seemed to carpet every patch of grass. The only place where local voices were heard was at the Mer- cadona supermarket. It felt like a Spanish-only enclave within an enclave. Three armoured person- nel carriers were parked outside it all day, preventing migrants from entering. One Moroccan boy, no older than 16, taunted police with a ‘Heil Hit- ler’ salute as he was shooed away. Inside, the queue for each till was 50-deep. Having shut its doors because of the crisis for the previ-
ous two days, the supermarket braced itself for wave after wave of panic-buying customers. Ms Picazo was with her parents and their overflowing trolley in one of the long queues. She lives in Madrid now but came back to Ceuta after the first influx of
who can blame us?’
migrants poured across the bor- der because she was ‘worried sick’ about her mother, a nurse, and her engineer father, who live in the centre of the city. She says: ‘I was genuinely fright- ened for my parents. I am sorry for the immigrants who died try- ing to get here but we are all wor-
ried about what will happen next. There is fear everywhere. Who can blame us? This is not a normal situation. Even with soldiers everywhere people are scared. ‘This cannot be allowed to carry on. Like everyone else, we are buying water, oil, everything in bulk, just in case.’ Nearby, an elderly man queuing with his grandson was criticising the Spanish government for ‘aban- doning us’. ‘It all went wrong when Sanchez started that amnesty,’ he says, referring to Spain’s socialist prime minister Pedro Sanchez and his controversial policy giving more than a million migrants illegally living in Spain the chance to apply for residency status. Sanchez insisted it would make Spain a happy place to live for everyone, whatever their ethnic-
GOING BACK: Migrants returning to Morocco yesterday. Below: Armoured vehicles patrol Ceuta’s streets
ity. But his critics say that the scheme – launched in April but since halted – helped entice the Moroccan migrants. Further up the hill from the supermarket, we see a migrant dart across the street clutching a bag of groceries he’s apparently stolen. A police officer holding a baton aloft gives chase. Both dis- appear from view. We drive further along Avenida de Africa. Dozens of young Moroc- cans appear to be laying siege to the Coviran grocery store. This time it is a soldier who does the
LEFT’S MIGRANT AGENDA Page 23
chasing. As the men scatter, he goes after three of them who run down a side street. All over the city yesterday, these cat-and-mouse games played out repeatedly. Back at the beach, the military had laid a 500-yard floating barrier in the sea to prevent other swim- mers from reaching the shore. One of the triggers for this extraordinary crisis was a Spanish supreme court ruling making it harder to intercept migrants at sea, meaning that they are now more likely to be processed on land than immediately returned.
The influx was egged on by social media messages announcing that the border was ‘open’, which spread across Morocco like wild- fire. Where these messages origi- nated from remains a mystery. There were even reports that buses were laid on to transport people to the border. According to several people we spoke to, Moroccan police urged them to ‘go to Spain’. Indeed, there has been a suspi- cion that Rabat had orchestrated the rush to the border, or at least did little to prevent it, given that
the country has long resented the Spanish presence at Ceuta and its sister enclave of Melilla, 140 miles to the west. Yesterday, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, head of Spain’s opposition con- servative People’s Party visited the city and described the massive influx of migrants as a ‘premedi- tated and unprecedented occupa- tion of Spanish territory’. One woman, who came across the border with her 16-year-old son told us: ‘Without doubt, the Moroc- can government let this happen for whatever reason. Probably because it wants to get back at Spain for something. ‘We’re going back again because we are tired and hungry and there is no shelter. We slept on the streets like dogs.’ Her son, a trainee chef, pointed to a black eye. ‘I was hit by police for no reason,’ he says. A frequent refrain from Moroc- cans, meanwhile, was that they
be the last time ’
only came because ‘our friends were going’, suggesting that their foray into Spain had not been thought through. One said: ‘We thought we would be better treated but it has been disappointing.’ Beyond these shores a political row was raging. Spain condemned the ‘selfish, polarising and unlaw- ful’ reaction of some EU countries to the influx. Italy, for one, wasn’t happy. It temporarily suspended the EU’s border-free Schengen arrange- ment with Spain, as PM Giorgia Meloni called the scenes ‘shock- ing’. Finland and Denmark backed Italy’s move, while Czech PM Andrej Babis urged a temporary suspension of Spain’s Schengen membership. Interior ministers from across the EU will discuss the issue on Tuesday by video conference. Mr Sanchez had called for an urgent meeting to ‘reaffirm that the security of our external bor- ders is a shared responsibility of all member states’. Twenty-two of the EU’s 27 coun- tries also called for emergency talks in an open letter, citing ‘seri- ous concerns’ regarding the devel- opments in Ceuta. While the EU praises the return of migrants and speaks of helping Spain restore ‘effective control’ of the border and prevent further uncontrolled crossings, many here remain unconvinced. One of six cleaners tasked with clearing Ceuta’s beaches of the car- pet of rubbish left behind by the migrants, told us: ‘I don’t think this is the last time I will be doing this.’ Nearby, a soldier is frog marching a migrant guilty of some misdemeanour or other back towards the border. Afterwards he says: ‘This has been a crazy few days, nothing like it. But remem- ber, it has happened before and will happen again.’
THE BITTEN PEACH
LIFE IS A CABARET: Members of the gay pan-Asian collective The Bitten Peach Ltd, which received £29,950 from Arts Council England
But £840m Arts Council gives thousands to...
Children’s show about a
trans bull, a gay Romeo
– and a drive to reclaim
‘divisive’ St George’s flag
POLITICAL EDITOR
THE Arts Council has been accused of ‘an appalling waste of taxpayers’ money’ for funding ‘woke’ projects such as tackling the ‘divisive’ use of the St George’s flag – at a time when traditional museums are being forced to close due to lack of funds. Recent awards by the organisa- tion, which dishes out more than £840million a year in taxpayer money and National Lottery funds – included £100,000 for the Migra- tion Matters Festival in Sheffield in June, which featured a flag- making workshop ‘exploring iden- tity, protest and belonging’. The organisers said its purpose was to oppose public displays of England’s national flag, which has been condemned by Left-wing groups as indicative of racism. They said: ‘Responding to the divisive use of the St George’s flag, this project reclaims public space with inclusive narratives.’ The festival also featured The Bull And The Moon, a dance show for children about ‘Lolo’, a Spanish bull that dreams of becoming ‘Lola’, a flamenco-dancing cow. Other recipients of Arts Council largesse included £29,950 to The Bitten Peach Ltd, which calls itself the UK’s only queer, pan-Asian cabaret collective. And Curl Girl Productions
and Dalya Alberge
FORMER BBC grandee
Sir John Tusa is leading
a revolt over Andy
Burnham’s appointment
of Ruth Mackenzie as
Arts Minister, describing
it as a reward for ‘failure’.
Sir John, 90, the former
Newsnight anchor, said
that the appointment of Ms
Mackenzie, right,
received £35,434 for ‘Panjabi Prin- cesses,’ about two gay Panjabi princesses, while playwright Aisha Zia was awarded £32,547 for Refugee!, in which characters uncover evidence of the Govern- ment’s ‘complicity’ in war crimes. An Arts Council grant has also been given to a gay retelling of Romeo And Juliet. Romeo And Hamad will run at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith in Sep- tember, described as ‘unlike any- thing currently on London stages’. The council says it is ‘the national development agency for museums in England... to help develop muse- ums for as many people as possi- ble across the country’. But a total
was viewed as ‘Labour Party cronyism’ due to her links with Mr Burnham dating back to his time as Culture Secretary. In 2000, a damning report was critical of her failures in heading Scottish Opera, which was brought to the brink of collapse. Sir John told the MoS: ‘When the news of Ruth getting a peerage and then becoming minister of state became public, one good friend in the
of 16 museums were forced to close in the same 12-month period that those grants were awarded. These included the RAF Signals Museum at Henlow, which told the history of RAF signals and com- munications equipment from the First World War to modern times. Also closed were Durham Museum, Llancaiach Fawr Living History Museum in south Wales, Westbury Manor Museum in Hampshire and Alyth Museum in Perthshire. Reform UK’s Treasury spokes- man Robert Jenrick told The Mail on Sunday: ‘This is yet another appalling waste of taxpayer money. We will unashamedly
arts said, “How many more times
will her failure be rewarded?”
And another said, “This looks
like Labour Party cronyism.”’
Sir John, who plans to write
about the appointment on his
Substack feed, The Ageing Arts
Junky, said: ‘If you’re looking
at a record of achievement, you
can’t find it.’
A source said: ‘We all think she
just got the job because she’s a
Burnham mate. I think her
appointment is going to cause
massive embarrassment.
promote and defend our history and culture and root out this divi- sive woke nonsense.’ Tory Shadow minister Neil O’Brien OBE MP said: ‘It is dis- graceful that the Government is handing out hundreds of thou- sands of pounds of taxpayers’ money to fund its culture wars.’ An Arts Council spokesman said: ‘We support a wide range of artists and organisations to produce work that caters to the broad interests, tastes, voices and experiences of people across the country. ‘Projects can often explore different issues through their work, including social and politi- cal subjects.’
sacked over behaviour on boozy night out By Abul Taher
A CRICKET boss was sacked from his role at Lord’s after a female colleague accused him of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ while on a night out, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Andrew Cornish, 60, was dismissed as chief executive of Middlesex County Cricket Club last month after a seven- month investigation upheld a complaint of ‘engaging in unwanted physical contact with a female employee’. The alleged incident took place at a boozy work night out last November near the world- famous cricket ground where Middlesex are based. The club referred the complaint to the Cricket Regulator, the independent body which investigates disciplinary cases across the sport, and Cornish was placed on a leave of absence. During the inquiries, three other female colleagues came forward with complaints about alleged inappropriate comments made by Cornish. He declined to comment last
OUT: Andrew Cornish
night, but he has previously
denied any wrongdoing
and the MoS understands
he is seeking legal advice
on whether to sue for
unfair dismissal.
Middlesex confirmed only
that Cornish ‘was dismissed
from his role as chief
executive of the club in June’.
The Cricket Regulator said it
does not confirm the subjects
of ongoing investigations. Its
report into the case is
expected to be published soon.
Middlesex has separately
been charged with misconduct
over Cornish’s alleged
behaviour, and could face a
fine if the charge is upheld.
The club has endured a
turbulent few years, including
a suspended points deduction
and £150,000 fine in 2023 for
breaching financial
regulations, and a six-figure
pensions error that followed a
Covid-era funding crisis. A
separate misconduct charge
brought against another
senior employee in 2024
was not upheld.
THE Prince and Princess of Wales were all smiles as they enjoyed the netball semi-final at the Commonwealth Games yesterday – but their three children seemed distinctly unamused. On the penultimate day of the so-called ‘Friendly Games’ at Glasgow’s Hydro arena, William and Kate looked enthralled as Jamaica dramatically beat Australia by a single point, winning 46-45. Princess Charlotte, 11, and Princes Louis, eight, and George, 13, appeared to be underwhelmed, although Charlotte cheered up when Kate put her arm round her and had a quick chat. Kate – named last week as the best dressed in Britain for 2026 by Tatler mag- azine – looked elegant in a green blazer, a
CONSULTANT EDITOR
SHOWBUSINESS
HOLLY Willoughby’s new lifestyle show on YouTube was always going to be compared to her old programme, This Morning. In fact, bosses at ITV were said to be ‘green with envy’ when they learned that her show, Together, would also feature segments on food, fashion, life and beauty. And now, The Mail on Sunday can reveal, they appear to have gone to war with their former golden girl, who hosted the ITV show for 14 years. They swooped in to entice two of her guests on to This Morning before the episodes they had
jealous indeed’
already filmed with Ms Willoughby, 45, were released on YouTube. Sources believe this happened after the guests were named on a press release to promote the launch of Together a fortnight ago. On Thursday, Ellen Roome, whose 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney died in April 2022 after what she believes was an ‘online challenge gone wrong’, was inter- viewed by This Morning hosts Dermot O’Leary and Alison Ham- mond – five days before Ms Wil- loughby’s pre-recorded episode featuring Ms Roome was set to go out on YouTube. And food bloggers
and Elizabeth Haigh
navy and cream striped top and a pleated
white skirt.
The family later went to watch the
cycling action at the Sir Chris Hoy
Velodrome, where cheeky Louis grinned
from ear to ear as he held on to his Welsh
bucket hat.
Kate and William – who are known by
their Scottish titles, the Duke and Duchess
of Rothesay, when visiting the country –
also met Team Wales athletes and
their families. They also had chance to
chat to volunteers at the Games and were
cheered by the huge crowds there.
Morning bosses as they ‘poach YouTube guests’
MULTITUDE MEDIA
GAMES TIME: The Waleses at the netball and, above, Kate and Charlotte. Right: Louis has fun
Original Flava cooked on the show on Wednesday ahead of the release of their appearance on Together, which will see them in the kitchen with Ms Willoughby. A source familiar with the book- ings said: ‘There is no way that this is a coincidence. Ellen Roome has been bravely fighting her fight for a long time but This Morning have never had her on. As soon as they saw the press release, they’ve booked guests to get them on before Holly’s viewers get to see them. You hate to think it, but it feels a bit like sabotage. ‘Holly’s team put out a press release in good faith to share what was coming up, in between then and the episodes going live This Morning have swept in and grabbed her guests. ITV must be very jealous indeed.’ In October 2023 – five months after her co-host Phillip Schofield was ousted – Ms Willoughby sud-
denly quit This Morning when she was told by police that they had foiled former security guard Gary Plumb’s plot to kidnap, rape and murder her. She was left so terri- fied that she struggled to leave her home for several months. She made a return to ITV on Dancing On Ice in 2024 but later turned down a role to host a reboot
been so many views’
of the game show You Bet!. This Morning is now primarily hosted by Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard but their viewing figures are much lower than when Ms Willoughby and Schofield fronted the show. In its heyday, the programme attracted audiences of 3 million. Now, it struggles to pull in 500,000 viewers per episode. O’Leary and
Ms Hammond present the show on Fridays. Meanwhile, despite the first epi- sode of Together – released last Tuesday and featuring actor Stan- ley Tucci – being panned by critics, Ms Willoughby is thrilled with her viewing figures so far. Including an initial teaser video, the YouTube channel has had 141,000 views. ‘Holly is very, very happy,’ said one friend. ‘The numbers tell the truth, and she is thrilled that there have been so many views. She was nervous and she knows she’s not everyone’s cup of tea.’ Ms Willoughby has beaten her former ITV co-stars Ant and Dec and Davina McCall’s viewing numbers in the last week. The first episode of Together had 59,000 views after four days, while an episode of Hanging Out with Ant and Dec, released a day earlier, had 19,000. Ms McCall’s show, which fea- tured an interview with physicist Brian Cox and was put on YouTube on Thursday, has 31,000 views.
The Mail on Sunday AUGUST 2 • 2026
8 D
care reforms cost £21bn more than he bargained for?
POLITICAL REPORTER
ANDY Burnham’s social care pledge may cost £21billion more than expected, an analysis of his flagship policy has revealed. The Prime Minister has vowed to expend ‘political capital’ on reforming the ‘broken’ system and set out preliminary plans for a National Care Service last week. Mr Burnham said this would require ‘difficult decisions’, raising fears that it will lead to increases in tax. Analysis by The Mail on Sunday suggest these rises could be extremely steep. Mr Burnham is expected to base a new system on the existing one in Scotland, where health and social services are integrated at a cost of £18billion. Experts say he has failed to heed the experience in Scotland, where
littered with pitfalls’
the percentage of volunteers who provided care for free has dropped from 26 per cent to 18 per cent. If this was replicated across England and Wales, where there are four million volunteer carers, it would leave a shortfall of £21 billion. Costings have been an uncom- fortable topic for Mr Burnham since he became Prime Minister two weeks ago. Last week, the MoS revealed that he has run up £96 billion of policy pledges with no explanation of how they will be paid for. He has repeatedly refused to rule out tax rises, and has previ- ously said Britain is ‘under taxed’ and that he may have to ‘ask for a little more’ to pay for his agenda. Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said: ‘Like so many of Andy Burnham’s shifting plans, he has not done the hard work to figure out the detail before making an announcement. The key question here is, “Who is paying?” ’ Maxwell Marlow, from economic policy think-tank the Adam Smith Institute, added: ‘The Prime Minister’s social care plan is littered with pitfalls. If he chooses to copy the Scottish model, he may encounter a mass exodus, creating a significant black hole.’ There have already been calls for Mr Burnham’s policy to gener-
VICTORY: Andy Burnham celebrates with his successor Bev Craig
fresh blow for Farage
NIGEL Farage has suffered another electoral setback after being beaten by Labour in the race to succeed Andy Burnham as mayor of Manchester. Bev Craig saw off the Reform UK candidate by a two-thirds majority to become the city’s first female mayor – despite initial fears within Labour that Mr Burnham’s resignation to stand for Parliament could lead to a victory for Reform. Ms Craig won with 66.3 per cent of the vote against Reform UK’s Sian Astley, who won 33.7 per cent following a second round count. It comes after the so-called ‘Burnham bounce’ left Reform trailing Labour for the first time in 16 months. A poll by BMG
ate more paid jobs in care. Emily Holzhausen, of charity Carers UK, said: ‘There are 4.7million unpaid carers in England... We want unpaid carers’ futures to be at the heart of this conversation.’ Some 600 people give up their jobs every day to provide unpaid care, the charity says. It claims that 35 per cent of them would not have to if there was a reliable social care service. At a speech at a care home in Golders Green, north London, last Wednesday, Mr Burnham trum- peted his plans to reform social care. He said there had been a
‘major dereliction of public duty’ by politicians for not resolving the problems sooner. He announced he would accelerate the independ- ent review into adult social care in England led by Baroness Casey to finish next summer – a year early. Mr Burnham also began cross- party talks on reforms with the Tories and Lib Dems. But Kemi Badenoch was unable to attend, with one critic saying the short notice given suggested the talks were ‘only being done for show’.
EFENCE chiefs have been accused of showing ‘shocking disregard’ for Britain’s war dead after destroying almost 800 First and Second World War gravestones of Commonwealth soldiers killed in the Iraqi desert. Furious families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country say that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is guilty of a cover-up lasting more than 20 years. The British Army removed dozens of gravestones and panels engraved with the names of the fallen from the Basra War Cemetery in southern Iraq in 2003 amid fears that they could be destroyed or vandalised by locals. As well as hundreds of gravestones, 80 large, 2 in-thick slate panels bearing the regimental crests of Army units and the names of the war dead were also removed. The remains of the soldiers – who died in the First and Second World Wars – stayed buried but unmarked, Within 18 months, almost all of the gravestones and panels had been deliberately pulverised into gravel and used to fill a drainage ditch at another mili- tary base in southern Iraq. The work was overseen by 64 Works Group, Royal Engineers and appears to have gone ahead after the assent of a padre. Ben Soppitt, whose grandfa- ther, Gunner Joseph Soppitt, was buried in Basra War Cemetery, claims the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and the Ministry of Defence tried to hide the truth about the demolition from the public. Details of the destruction of the gravestones only emerged recently after the publication of Freedom of Information (FoI) responses by Mr Soppitt, 55, who lives near San Francisco. The MoD had to respond to his requests because the Informa- tion Commissioner stepped in to order their release. The FoI disclosures reveal that the gravestones were crushed into gravel and used to build a drain inside the British Army’s Shaibah Logistics Base, nine miles south-west of Basra, in April 2005. The Mail’s chief reporter David Williams visited the cemetery just the week before the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, and found that the local militia had been using the gravestones for target practice – explaining why the army removed them, though no such action was taken at any other graveyard in Iraq. In footage from the time show- ing the operation to remove the gravestones, an unnamed officer said: ‘We have collected all the gravestones together along with the tablets which have the names of all those people who died bravely during the First World War and Second World War. ‘We have put them all into the back of the truck. We will take them back to our camp where we will hold them for the Common- wealth War Graves Commission, which will come back in the future and restore this cemetery to its former glory.’ The FoI disclosures show a SITREP (situation report) from 64 Works Group, Royal Engi- neers in April 2005 records: ‘The gravestones have now been crushed and are ready to be placed in the soakaway.’ Field Marshal The Lord Rich- ards of Herstmonceux, the for- mer chief of the defence staff, said he had no doubt the soldiers who removed the stones thought they were doing the right thing. Lord Richards, who served as Assistant Chief of the General Staff at the time the gravestones
By SEAN RAYMENT and MARK NICOL
were destroyed, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘I am deeply saddened by what happened to this ceme- tery. With the benefit of hind- sight there is of course no excuse. However, I have no doubt that in the dangerous and febrile environment of Basra at the time, the officers who took this decision thought they were doing the right thing.’ But Lord Dannatt, the former chief of the general staff, said: ‘The Chairman of the Common- wealth War Graves Commission is the Secretary of State for Defence. A decision should be taken to either re-instate all the graves, probably now impossi- ble, or otherwise put in place a memorial with all the names of those buried in the cemetery with a suitable explanation of recent events.’ Mr Soppitt travelled to Basra last year with a new granite gravestone to mark the grave of his grandfather, who died from dysentery in 1941. A service was held, attended by the Archbishop of Basra and local residents. Gunner Joseph Soppitt was one
that relative is pursuing MoD through courts
of more than 360 Britons who lie in the cemetery alongside com- rades from India, Poland and other Commonwealth nations. Mr Soppitt has made a High Court application for Judicial Review into the destruction, with the aim of holding the MoD accountable. He said: ‘The MoD is fighting this claim, unwilling to bear the cost of ensuring the over 3,000 men and women buried there are properly commemorated with the honour they deserve and that the public expects. ‘It is a bitter irony that a mem- ber of the public, a relative of one of the casualties buried at Basra, is having to pursue the MoD through the courts simply to secure the basic dignity of commemoration that those who died in service are owed.’ In contrast, Basra Memorial, only 30km away from the ceme- tery, was left untouched. The MoD said it is unable to comment for legal reasons.
AUGUST 2 • 2026 The Mail on Sunday
9 Fury of heroes’ families as Army crushes hundreds of war grave headstones into gravel for a drainage ditch
A
BURIED: Gunner Joseph Soppitt, right, died in 1941
MONG the 800 men whose gravestones and memorial panels at the First and Second War World cemetery in Iraq were summarily pulver- ised on the orders of the Ministry of Defence, 130 were from a fore- runner of my own regiment, the Royal Anglian. So you can appreciate why I am appalled at such a callous disdain for the memory of the fallen. It does not matter that some of these men died over a century ago, what matters is that they did so fighting for their country. Such patriotism and heroism should never be treated so shabbily. The Army removed the head- stones for their own safety in 2003, after British forces invaded Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. No doubt the removal was car- ried out by soldiers in good faith that the stones would be replaced when the time was right. But that faith was betrayed after 18 months, when it appears that the MoD decided the stones
memory of the fallen
FORMER BRITISH ARMY COMMANDER
should be destroyed. Having fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, I can sympathise with soldiers given wrong-headed orders from London, clueless as to the reality on the ground. In Kabul, we had intelligence of a planned coup d’etat on the par- liament building. We understood that the thrust of the assault would be carried out by tanks. Only, when I proposed to lay anti- tank mines around the insurgents’
tank enclosure, the MoD’s response was one of horror – along the lines of ‘You do realise Afghanistan is the most land- mined country in the world?’ A few more to prevent huge politi- cal upheaval seemed a price worth paying to me, but we thwarted the coup nonetheless. Soldiers follow orders, and those in Iraq who helped in the destruc- tion of the headstones would have done so with a heavy heart. It
must have been galling to know that a drainage ditch had been filled in a way that was so obscene to the memory of past British sol- diers. But what twists the knife is the evasiveness of the top brass. They have stonewalled the attempts of relatives of those buried there to get to the truth. Only begrudg- ingly revealing the sorry episode after being taken to the Informa- tion Commissioner. But even public shame about their behaviour has not prompted the MoD to make right the scan- dal. The cemetery in Basra is still bare, the fallen still unmarked. It beggars belief that
REMOVAL: Army take away cemetery panels in 2003, but nearby Basra Memorial is untouched, above
new headstones have not been erected in their place. These are soldiers who died in the most horrific of circum- stances, often under constant gun- fire, in punishing heat and with little in the way of sanitary facili- ties, meaning that death by dys- entery was grimly common. They deserve a cemetery that befits their sacrifice. If the MoD believes new head- stones would be vandalised I urge them to visit Kabul, where locals respectfully tend to a British cem- etery I visited there. To ensure the upkeep of the Basra site, surely we could expect the co-operation of the Iraqi government, which is the recipient of many billions of pounds in British economic aid? Even if the cemetery is vandal- ised, so be it: that can be repaired. What cannot is the permanent deletion of their memory from the ground where they are buried – effectively killing them twice. The MoD must correct its terrible mistake: failure to do so shames our country.
BEN SOPPITT
DETAILED account of Liam Payne’s tragic final hours – as told by two prostitutes who spent the day with the One Direction star in his sordid drug- strewn hotel room – can today be revealed by The Mail on Sunday. The sex workers’ extraordinary sworn statements shed new light on the singer’s mammoth all-day cocaine and whisky bender – and his emotionally fragile state of mind – before he plunged to his death in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16, 2024. Amid ongoing speculation about the events leading up to Liam’s fatal 46ft fall, the astonishing doc- uments obtained by this newspa- per offer a vivid, first-hand account of that fateful day – given as wit- ness statements just hours after the star’s death at the age of 31. In their harrowing accounts to investigators, prostitutes Aldana Serrano and Lucila Goitea, who both had sex with Liam, claimed the singer: lFlew into a rage when they asked for the $5,000 (£3,700) he promised them for their services; lFell to his knees begging them to stay as he admitted ‘money didn’t make him happy’; lSmashed his £30,000 gold Rolex in a rage ‘but told us he could get ten of those’ before destroying a TV with three punches; l Drunkenly serenaded the women with his own songs before begging for cocaine; l Spoke of his son, Bear, now aged nine, who he had with Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole, as he begged them not to leave. Liam died instantly after falling
will get to the truth’
the women’s accounts, saying: ‘Because Liam had so many fans and because his death so young was so shocking, there is a lot of misinformation out there. ‘These sworn statements by the women who were in the room with him on the day he died is the clos- est we will ever get to the truth about what happened. ‘These statements were given after they spent his last day with him. They were sworn under pain of perjury that same night. They were key witnesses, in many ways the most important. Their story is invaluable in piecing together what really happened to Liam.’ The singer, who had long strug- gled with addiction, had arrived in
Buenos Aires 16 days before his death to renew his US visa and watch a concert by former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan. Liam’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, was with him for the first two weeks of the trip, as was Roger Nores, an Argentine businessman and close friend. Both said Liam was sober and drug-free while with them on the trip. Kate returned to their home in Miami on October 14, but Liam remained in Buenos Aires, alone after Roger Nores also left, as he waited for his visa to be approved. Then he spectacularly fell off the wagon. Reports emerged that he had been asked to leave his hotel – the five-star Park Hyatt – for trashing the room and drunkenly shouting at staff. He checked into the more modest, four-star CasaSur Palermo, from where he called the sex workers on the morning of October 16, 2024. The women’s statements – on official headed paper from public prosecutor Marcelo Roma’s office – closely mirror each other’s as far as their narrative of how Liam’s last day on earth unfolded. They tell how Liam called Aldana on WhatsApp after finding her pro-
file on an Argentine escort site. She advertised herself as a ‘sensual girl’ offering ‘yummy sex’, while ‘curvy’ Lucila boasted: ‘I have this booty for you to enjoy fully.’ Aldana found it hard to believe a world-famous pop star was ring- ing her for sex and demanded he prove it was him. She told the investigators: ‘Liam contacted me via WhatsApp today (October 16, 2024) around 11am. The whole time he spoke to me in English. He told me who he was and he sent me a video of him. The video wasn’t current, it was him singing. ‘He also sent me pictures of him which he took while he was in bed, before we got there.’ Aldana and Lucila are both single mothers who live with their fami- lies in the gritty working-class sub- urbs surrounding Buenos Aires. Now working as an entrepreneur and a hairdresser respectively, according to their statements they rented a cheap flat in the city’s downtown area to ‘entertain’ busi- nessmen on their way home from work. Lucila told investigators the pair worked as escorts ‘from time to time’ and had been doing so for around year. When Aldana told Liam she had a pretty girlfriend with her, the star
immediately offered $5,000 for them both to spend the day with him. He gave them the name of his hotel but when Aldana called to verify the information – some- thing she always did for safety reasons – ‘they told me Liam Payne was not there’. She added: ‘He had given me another name, which I don’t recall. We did a video call for him to show me it really was him and he told me he would send a car.’ Within 15 minutes, a vehicle from the hotel turned up at the flat and took them to CasaSur, arriving there around 11.30am. Staff at the front desk asked for the women’s ID before allowing them up to Liam’s room – number 310 – which is why police were able to track them down so quickly after the singer’s death. Aldana said: ‘He was alone in his room. He greeted us warmly and I asked him for payment. We tried to communicate but it was difficult because he only spoke English and
I only Spanish.’ They ended up using a translator app on a phone. Liam wanted to pay in dollars using an international bank trans- fer, something the girls – who wanted cash or credit card pay- ment – were not set up to receive. Lucila said: ‘He wanted to pay us by wire transfer. Since neither of us had a dollar account, he asked if we had PayPal. We did not and could not download it at the time. ‘He ordered champagne for us and, for himself, two bottles of Johnny Walker Black Label whisky. We saw that he was doing something like crystal meth with bits of tinfoil. ‘He asked us to get him some drugs but we didn’t know where to get it because we’re not into that. He started scrounging in the tin- foil bits he had. During our time there, we had sex with him – which was consensual sex – only once, and he wore protection.’ The sordid state of the room made it clear Liam had been on a
drugs bender. Lucila said: ‘It was a mess, there was tinfoil every- where with traces of drugs. A drawer was full of it, there was more burned tinfoil on the couch… a lot of clothes thrown around… he smelled of alcohol. ‘A one point, he grabbed his com- puter and sang a while for us. He showed us the songs he was work- ing on – then he got bad.’ By this time the girls had been in
– he smelled of alcohol’
the room for two hours. They again asked for payment. The singer, worth a reported £22 million, offered his gold Rolex. Photographs show him wearing the £30,000 watch as he signed autographs earlier in his trip. Lucila said: ‘We told him we only
SQUALID: Lucila Goitea, top left, and Aldana Serrano, top right, spent the day with Liam, pictured left in one of the last pictures in his hotel, where his room was littered with drug debris. Inset: The Rolex he smashed
wanted money, so he took it and smashed it. He told us he didn’t care about the money. And then he broke the TV, he punched it. He made us understand that he could smash everything because he knew he could pay for it.’ Her friend confirmed Liam’s outburst: ‘He removed his watch and flung it against the wall and broke it. He told us he could get ten of those. Then he started talk- ing in English to someone on the phone and refused to give us his wiring information. ‘I told him we were leaving, he got angry and punched the TV three times. He wanted to rip it open. ‘He asked us for cocaine because he’d run out. You could tell he’d been doing cocaine before our arrival. He didn’t do any in front of us, he just drank whisky.’ After his death, it emerged that a psychiatrist had refused to con- tinue treating Liam because he refused to stop drinking while tak- ing the powerful anti-anxiety drug
Klonopin. The drug has a powerful sedative effect which is amplified by alcohol and suppresses breath- ing, which can lead to death. According to their statements, Liam kicked the girls out of the room but, in his inebriated state, staggered after them and they all went down to the lobby. En route, Lucila said, they ran into two hotel employees. She told them Liam had smashed the TV and was refusing to pay them. At the front desk, a member of staff offered to contact Liam’s ‘manager’ – who was, in fact, his friend Roger Nores, who had left his contact details in case of emer- gency. Roger has been wrongly identified as Liam’s manager and, at one point, was himself facing charges of ‘abandonment’ in con- nection with the stars death. Those charges were dropped entirely last month. The man at the front desk told the girls the ‘manager’ had offered them $300, but they refused and
AFP PHOTO / BUENOS AIRES
showed Liam’s message offering $5,000. As they waited in the lobby, Liam continued to act erratically, pacing around and going up and down to his room repeatedly. Aldana, who has a child around the same age as Liam’s son Bear, said: ‘Liam came down again. He told me he had a seven-year-old son too, that money didn’t make him happy.’ The women went to a store to get a drink and snacks then returned to the hotel, still hoping to get paid. Lucila realized she had left her make-up bag and phone charger in Liam’s room. The front desk called him and he came back down to the lobby and invited the girls to return to room 310 with him. She recalled: ‘We went up to the room with Liam and the bag was
apologised to us’
on his coffee table. I went to the bathroom and heard him apologising to Aldana. He got down on his knees and apologised for giv- ing us a bad time. ‘He wanted us to stay in his room.’ Her friend backed up the fact that Liam begged on his knees. Aldana said: ‘He removed his jacket, got on his knees and apolo- gised to me. He asked us to stay and we told him no. He got angry.’ The women left shortly before 4pm after making sure the front desk had all their details. It is unclear from their statements if they ever got paid. They learned of Liam’s death when they got back to their flat, as they were scrolling through Insta- gram on their phones and saw a local TV station’s post that Liam was dead. Initial reports sug- gested he may have jumped. Within hours, police knocked at their door and the two women will- ingly agreed to give their sworn statements. Investigators said they ‘co-operated fully and completely.’ CCTV footage shows that moments after they left Liam’s hotel around 4pm, Roger arrived and spoke to Liam in the lobby. Roger left but Liam continued to act erratically. At one point a guest heard him yell: ‘I used to be in a boy band that’s why I’m so f* up!’ He went back to his room, grabbed his laptop and went back to the lobby where he lay on a sofa. Another witness said Liam became upset, apparently at some- thing on his computer, and flung it to the floor yelling: ‘F this s**.’ At 4.54pm CCTV shows shocking footage of Liam, seemingly passed out and possibly convulsing, being carried across the lobby by three hotel staff, who took him into the lift and back to his room. Several guests later reported hearing crashes and bangs coming from Room 310. Receptionist Esteban Grassi was so concerned he rang emergency services to say, ‘We have a guest who is high on drugs who is trash- ing the room. We need you to send someone urgently because, well, I
after nine killed in
Russia missile blitz
RUSSIA pounded the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with dozens of ballistic missiles yesterday, killing at least nine people and injuring 30 others. The overnight attack was the
second major aerial assault on Ukraine by Russia in two days, with Russian president Vladimir
Putin apparently trying to high- light shortages in the country’s air defence systems. The assault led President Volodymyr Zelensky to renew calls for more Western air
DAMAGED: Emergency workers at an apartment block in Kyiv yesterday
defences – a day after US leader Donald Trump backed away from a pledge to allow Ukraine to manufac- ture its own Patriot interceptors. Mr Zelensky said Russia had launched 35 missiles, including 27 ballistic ones, and 185 drones. Only one ballistic missile was intercepted by Ukrainian air defence ‘simply because there are no interceptors for the Patriot system’, he said on Telegram. ‘Every package of ballistic missile interceptors saves the lives of our people. And every night without them results in more casualties,’ Mr Zelensky said. More than a dozen explosions were heard during several waves of attacks, with seven districts hit. In Darnytskyi, at least seven people were killed and 14 others
would save lives’
were hurt, including two children, emergency services said. And two people died and eight were injured, including two children, when a five-storey residential building was partly destroyed in Solomianskyi. A missile landed near the Lithua- nian embassy, breaking windows and scattering debris in the compound. No one was hurt. Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said fires broke out across the city and there were power cuts in some areas. A residential building in Shevchen- kivskyi was partially destroyed, trapping people inside, he said. Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha issued a fresh plea for air
don’t know whether his life may be in danger. He’s in a room with a bal- cony and, well, we’re afraid he might do something.’ Liam fell to his death at 5.07pm. Investigators concluded he was so impaired by the deadly cocktail of drugs and alcohol he was likely in a state of semi or total unconscious- ness when he fell. Some have theorised he was try- ing to climb down from his balcony to ‘escape’ from the hotel without going through the lobby – some- thing he did during his One Direc- tion days to avoid fans. The UK inquest into his death remains on hold pending the results of an investigation in Argentina. Two men, waiter Braian Paiz and hotel worker Ezequiel Pereyra, have been charged with supplying the drugs that killed Liam. Both spent months in jail but are out on bail. They deny all charges. The Mail on Sunday last week learned that prosecutors are in talks
Army is on holiday’
BRITAIN’S Armed Forces are so depleted after years of underfunding that the country will be vulnerable to attack this month – because too many service personnel are on holiday. That was the extraordinary claim being made last night by defence sources, who said a system of ‘block leave’ meant that out of 137,000 members of the Forces, excluding reservists, more than 97,000 would be off in August. A Ministry of Defence spokesman disputed this, saying: ‘Leave is staggered across the year to balance operational needs.’
defence supplies. He said: ‘It is the battle for the skies that will define the trajectory of this war. The stronger the air shield over Ukraine, the closer peace becomes.’ Last week, Mr Zelensky met Mr Trump in Washington to urge him to grant Ukraine a licence to produce Patriot interceptor missiles. But on Friday, Mr Trump said the US had not agreed to allow it to build them but that talks were ongoing. Yesterday, Ukrainian drones sank a Russian-owned container ship in the Black Sea. The Kremlin said all 17 crew were rescued. Rosatom, which owns the ship, said it was transporting civilian goods, including food and construc- tion materials. Its boss Alexey Likhachev said: ‘Such an attack cannot be interpreted as anything other than piracy and robbery.’
with the men’s lawyers in an attempt to work out plea deals which would see both plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for a reduced sentence. Liam’s lasting legacy remains his son, Bear, who is being raised away from the spotlight by Cheryl and who will inherit his father’s estate – currently being held in a trust – when he turns 18. In Argentina, the two sex workers have turned down lucrative offers from American TV stations to speak on camera. There is no suggestion that either have withheld informa- tion. Both voluntarily handed over their phones to investigators. A source said: ‘These girls got caught up in something wilder than they could ever have imagined but they did everything right. ‘They are critical witnesses because they were the only ones there with Liam, right to the end.’ Now, thanks to their sworn state- ments, we finally have the clearest picture yet of the troubled star’s tumultuous final hours.
IN DEEP WATER: Peter Mandelson, wearing grey trunks, is spotted at the men’s pond at Hampstead Heath in London
MARKS & SPENCER has dropped a controversial ban on using tape measures in bra fittings – which was introduced following a row about transgender staff assisting female customers. The change meant shoppers had to rely on measurements taken by eye before trying on different sizes. Customers and staff com- plained that the process was too time consuming. Now shoppers will again be given the option to include a tape measurement in their fitting. One employee last night hailed the lifting of the ban as a ‘victory for common sense’. The U-turn will also be linked to the ongoing debate about trans rights. The ban – introduced in May – was widely perceived to be a reaction to comments made by J. K. Rowling. The Harry Potter author called for a boycott of the
ditches bra-fitting tape measure ban
store last August after a shopper complained a trans woman worker had offered to help her 14-year-old daughter in the lingerie section of a store, where they were hoping to have a bra fitting. In a post on X, Ms Rowling, a long-standing critic of trans activ- ism, said it was wrong that the store had ‘prioritised the wishes of men’ despite the earlier Supreme
DOING his best to keep cool in the sweltering heat of the capital, Peter Mandelson was spotted taking a dip in the men’s pond at Hampstead Heath. The disgraced former Labour peer, 72, had booked a £5 one-hour swimming session – but was seen deep in conversation with an atten- dant about annual membership. A yearly subscription costs £157 but Mr Mandelson was involved in a discussion over a concession rate of £94 due to his age. Mr Mandelson sported a pair of dark goggles and some tight grey shorts for the spot of exercise. The sacked ambassador to the US has rarely been seen in public since he was arrested by police in Febru- ary on suspicion of misconduct in public office. It followed the release of emails
Court ruling on gender, which means changing rooms must be segregated on the basis of biologi- cal sex. As a result, trans women should not enter female spaces. She wrote: ‘It’s time for women to vote with their wallets. If stores like M&S continue to flout the Supreme Court ruling on women- only spaces, prioritising the wishes of men who want to undress near
by the American Department of Justice, which led to allegations that Mr Mandelson had forwarded market-sensitive information to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein when he served as busi- ness secretary from 2008 to 2010 in Gordon Brown’s government. Mr Mandelson was also captured
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
BUST-UP: The move followed a complaint over transgender staff
– or help fit bras on – teenage girls, a boycott seems appropriate.’ M&S apologised to the customer and insisted the employee had meant to offer general assistance rather than help with a bra fitting. The store has maintained that its ban on tape measurements had
in rather bare pose in an undated photograph released from the so-called Epstein files and pub- lished exclusively in The Mail on Sunday in January. It showed him in his underpants talking to a maid at Epstein’s apartment in Paris. Following his swim last Thursday, Mr Mandelson was asked whether his appointment as ambassador had contributed to the political demise of former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer. He replied: ‘I’m afraid I’m not going to answer any of these questions.’ Before cycling off on his £2,500 Brompton fold-up bike, Mr Mandel- son, who remains under police investigation, also refused to say why he had taken a £75,000 sever- ance package after losing his job last September due to his undisclosed links to Epstein.
nothing to do with the controversy. M&S said last night: ‘We have an expert team of trained bra fitters, and they can use a tape measure if they or the customer prefers this. We have recently communicated this to our colleagues to make this clearer.’
VETERAN TV presenter Sue Cook has spoken of her bewilderment and irrita- tion at being the butt of a long running joke by comedian Steve Coogan’s alter ego Alan Partridge. Crimewatch host Ms Cook was for years relentlessly targeted by Coogan’s spoof sitcom character, who uttered the classic line ‘Sue Cook’s pulled out’ when he claimed she had telephoned to cancel an appointment with him. Now she has revealed the full extent of how hearing her name mentioned repeat- edly on the ‘I’m Alan Partridge’ show affected how people viewed her and how it has impacted on her life. Ms Cook, 77, told The Peter Purves Pod- cast: ‘It’s a bit of a pain in the neck, to be honest, at times because people are always saying ‘Oh, Sue Cook’s pulled out’. So people think that I’m the sort of person who pulls out of things. If they don’t understand the
was dead cool’
reference, they wonder why they keep seeing things about me pulling out of things.’ The Sue Cook joke was poking fun at the broadcaster’s squeaky- clean image, and became a running gag over several years. But she added that eventually she became accustomed to the mentions, lead- ing to her children Megan and Charlie realising that their mother was a household name. Sue told the former Blue Peter presenter Peter Purves, 87: ‘My kids thought I was dead cool, but I wasn’t expecting it. We were sit- ting at home on the sofa watching Alan Partridge, and to our amaze- ment suddenly he started talking about me. And the kids, because I didn’t really tell the kids much
over tax avoidance scheme
GARY Lineker’s financial adviser killed himself when he became depressed after recommending wealthy clients take part in a con- troversial tax-avoidance scheme, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Tax expert Peter McGarvey helped his clients invest in Ingen- ious Media’s film-financing scheme, which gave them hefty tax breaks on their incomes. But his friends told the MoS that he ‘descended into a state of depression’ after Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) deemed it a tax-dodging scheme having initially approved it. Mr McGarvey, who is under- stood to have been godfather to one of Lineker’s sons, took his life in five-star hotel Belmond’s Mira- flores Park in the Peruvian capital Lima in September 2015. His body was found in his room four days after he asked two of his neighbours in his home
Alan Partridge! Crimewatch star Sue Cook says being butt of Coogan’s running gag is ‘bit of a pain’
JOKES ASIDE: Steve Coogan as Alan Partridge. Right: Sue Cook
about my job – I didn’t bring my job home much really when they were young, and so they didn’t really know that I was a thing or well-known at all, so when I came up in Alan Partridge they decided I was cool!’ But not all her family took the skit in their stride. My mother
and Glen Owen
village of Willoughby-on the-
Wolds, Nottinghamshire to sign
his will. An inquest at Notting-
ham Coroner’s Court heard Mr
McGarvey injected himself with
lethal drugs.
The tragic circumstances of his
death emerged after Lineker
wrote an open letter last month
with 100 other millionaires to new
Prime Minister Andy Burnham
asking to be taxed more.
The MoS last week revealed how
critics accused Lineker of ‘hypoc-
risy’ since he previously won an
appeal against the taxman over a
£4.93 million tax bill.
He was also criticised for taking
part in the Ingenious scheme
with dozens of other household
names such as Sir David Beck-
ham, Ant and Dec and Sir Bob
Geldof. The scheme involved a
person becoming a director in a
company owned by Ingenious and
investing more than £100,000 a
year, which would go
towards funding a film.
Blockbusters such as Ava-
tar and Life Of Pi were
partly funded through
Ingenious.
HMRC began its clamp-
down on the scheme in the
early 2010s, when
hundreds of celeb-
rity investors,
i n c l u d i n g
Lineker, were
told to repay
millions in tax.
I n
2 0 1 2 ,
HMRC’s then
the time’. Two men in the audience get up and leave. Partridge revived his imaginary relationship with Ms Cook while in charac- ter promoting Alpha Papa – The Alan Partridge Movie in 2013. He told Vue Magazine: ‘Sue and I go way back. She’s a straight- talker – she’ll really go to town on you if you displease her. I mean, she’ll call you all the names under the sun. I’ve seen her reduce John Stapleton to tears more than once, but it’s only because she cares. It’s funny that she’s called Sue Cook – she can’t cook, but she will sue.’ In Beacon, another Partridge ‘memoir’ published in 2023, the character claims to have ‘devel- oped incredibly strong feelings towards’ Ms Cook. In an earlier chat with the pod- cast, Ms Cook said: ‘I’m female, I’m well-spoken... I’m white-skinned, middle-class. I’m all the things you shouldn’t be. So, I’m sure I’d never get a job [in TV] now. But women were quite a rare thing on televi- sion [when I started].’
boss Dave Hartnett described
such schemes as ‘scams for scum-
bags’.Mr McGarvey, whose other
clients included athlete Paula
Radcliffe and former football
international Peter Shilton,
advised other sports stars to
invest in the scheme, includ-
ing cricketer David Gower.
But when HMRC began to
claw back money from his cli-
ents, he felt his life’s work
‘was being undermined’.
One friend said:
‘It made him
seem fraudulent.’
By January
2015, front-
page stories
were report-
i n g
t h a t
HMRC had
demanded
Lineker pay
£1.3 million
in unpaid
tax within 90 days. The then BBC
presenter later denied that he had
received this demand.
The MoS obtained an audio
record of Mr McGarvey’s inquest
in June 2017 before assistant
coroner Ivan Cartwright, who
heard that the tax adviser sent an
email from Peru to a business
partner a day before he died.
The coroner told the inquest: ‘Mr
McGarvey seemed to be, for want
of a better word, giving himself
quite a hard time for the quality of
some of the advice he’d given to
some clients in the past.’
Mr McGarvey expressed similar
concerns to his ex-wife, Sally, the
inquest heard.
Gary Lineker and Ingenious
Media have been contacted
for comment.
Wildlife ‘won’t recover from heath inferno for 25 years’
FIRE crews continued to battle wildfires across the country last night, as experts warned that rare wildlife habitats devastated in the biggest blaze could take 25 years to recover. Emergency services were hoping that cooler temperatures forecast for many parts of the UK in the coming days might ease the pressure on firefighters, after crews were called to hundreds of grassland fires in the past sweltering fortnight. The Met Office announced that England and Wales were set to record the driest July since records began, adding that the month saw an ‘excep- tional combination of extreme heat, abundant sunshine and an almost complete absence of rain- fall’. Provisional statistics showed only 5.6mm of rain fell in England in July – less than half the previous record low of 13.4mm set in 1911. Wales saw only 7.9mm, almost a third of the previous record of 22.6mm also set in 1911. The conditions have left much of England and Wales in drought, with over 24 million peo- ple under official hosepipe bans. More than 20 fire services, from Durham in the North to Dorset and Somerset in the South, have been forced to respond to wildfires in recent days, with the National Fire Chiefs Council reporting that the risk of further outbreaks still remains ‘elevated’. The worst blaze hit Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, with the National Trust’s director-general Hilary McGrady describing the loss of an important habitat for some of the UK’s rarest species as ‘devastating’. Adam Rowlands, the RSPB’s area manager in Suffolk, told the BBC that the habitats devastated by the
AN AMERICAN private equity billionaire is trucking up to 13,000 gallons of water daily to his country estate in Wiltshire – despite a ban on tankers filling up from nearby mains. Blackstone boss Stephen Schwarzman, 79, who is one of Wall Street’s most powerful financiers, has infuriated neighbours of Conholt Park, near Andover, who face hosepipe bans following the warmest spring on record and a drought. Last year, the estate admitted using a ‘small proportion’ of water supplied by tankers to fill an ornamental lake – a move that led Southern Water to ban the delivery companies involved from tapping into its standpipes. Although the lake is full, tankered water from an unknown source is now being used to water newly planted trees in the 2,100-acre grounds. While there is no suggestion that this is unlawful, neighbours say it runs against the spirit of national appeals for water to be used wisely. The estate is supplied by Wessex
‘utterly sickening’ fire could take up to 25 years to recover. ‘The acrid smell, it’s not just smoke, you have a sense that animals have perished in the flames,’ he said. However the situation was being brought under control, with fire chiefs reducing the number of appliances fight the blaze from 14 to eight after ‘positive firefighting action’. Crews are expected to remain there for up to three days. The 371-acre blaze on the heath, three miles from the Sizewell B nuclear power plan began on the nearby RSPB Minsmere wetland reserve at 5.30pm on Wednesday. The National Trust said that the heath was an important area for wildlife such as nightjars, skylarks
trucks thousands of gallons of water to his Wiltshire estate
Water and is not under a hosepipe ban. But it falls within the southern England drought area identified by the Environment Agency last week. Steve Kershaw, 68, who has lived in the nearby village of Tangley for 40 years, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘This is causing uproar. The standing joke is that Lord Lake, as he’s known round here, is at it again.’ He added that the estate’s grounds were ‘a lot greener than people’s lawns, which are bleached’. Another resident said: ‘Water companies have started ringing locals warning that they’ve been reported for using a hosepipe on their garden.
and the rare Dartford warbler, pictured above, as well as adders, lizards and slow worms, plus butterflies including the rare silver-studded blue. In neighbouring Essex, the fire service received 2,029 emergency calls last week – one of its busiest ever – with crews despatched to 570 incidents. The Met Office forecast cooler temperatures for parts of the UK today, with a maximum of 26C pre- dicted. Forecaster Alex Burkill said: ‘Many places, especially in the South, are crying out for some much-needed rain. ‘While there’s a bit of rain on the horizon for next week, there’s not much to come this weekend.’
I wonder if they’ve rung Mr Schwarzman to ask where his tanker- loads of water are coming from, and where it’s all going? ‘If he needs water, why can’t he use some of the nine million litres he’s poured into his lake?’ However, other neighbours praised Mr Schwarzman – who has a fortune of £30billion and bought Conholt Park for £82mil- lion four years ago – for creat- ing jobs, engaging with local councils and planting trees. A source close to him said: ‘Steve is ensuring that local water resources are not
LIQUID ASSET: A water tanker at Conholt, owned by Stephen and Christine Schwarzman, left
affected.’ Another source said: ‘All water brought to the estate is supplied through licensed providers and sourced lawfully.’ The tanker firm Greens H20, whose 30,000-litre trucks have been seen making daily deliveries to Conholt, did not respond to a request for comment.
W
THE brunch after Nicola and Brooklyn
Peltz-Beckham’s 2022 wedding was
said to feel like a ‘crime scene’, and
every excruciating detail was revealed
in yesterday’s Daily Mail. Today, in
her bombshell new book, ALISON
BOSHOFF shows just how the two
clans came to war...
BOSHOFF
HAT happened to me and my dad, I’d hate to see that hap- pen to me and my sons. I’d never let it happen. It’s hard for everyone and it isn’t fair.’ These were the words of David Beckham in 2008, as he reflected on what had been a painful schism with his father, Ted. Given David’s recent serious falling-out with his eldest son, Brooklyn, his words now seem painfully obtuse. For just as he was with Brooklyn, David had been extraordinarily close to his own father, who had spent hours and hours drilling his son on the pitch and had been so personally invested in his career. Yet for two years the pair barely spoke, and it took around 15 years before they were fully at ease with each other. Part of the cause of the fall-out had been Ted’s misgivings about David’s relationship with Victoria. Working-class gas fitter Ted had little in common with his daughter-in-law and her
with no regard to the impact on Brooklyn
upwardly mobile family. He worried about Victoria’s influence on his son, and whether she would cause him to drift away. Twenty-five years later, Brooklyn also married a girl from a different social bracket – Ameri- can actress Nicola Peltz, daughter of billionaire businessman Nelson Peltz. And the complaint from David and Victoria to this day is that Brooklyn’s identity has been swallowed up by the woman he married. But while Ted largely kept his mouth shut, David and Victoria haven’t attempted to hide their negative feelings about their son’s bride. So much so that, as Brook- lyn, 27, claimed in his explosive six-page denunciation of his par- ents on Instagram earlier this year: ‘The night before my wed- ding, members of my family told me that Nicola was “not blood” and “not family”.’ Of course, David and Victoria themselves regularly declare fam- ily means everything to them. The stream of loving social media posts devoted to their children – who include Romeo, 23, Cruz, 21, and Harper, 15 – are clearly meant to underline that. But the building of
when -- in a world
where social media
reactions can be
as crushing as a
Roman emperor’s
thumb -- Victoria
failed to ‘like’ a
photo of Nicola
wearing Valentino
their brand, with their family image as a lynchpin, has been meticulous, with a ferocious pro- tection of all parties within it. The disastrous fall-out with Brooklyn – who damningly claimed in his Instagram post that ‘inau- thentic relationships have been a fixture of the life I was born into’ – has, then, been the ultimate test of this PR strategy. For how would Brand Beckham react when threatened by one of its
YESTERDAY’S MAIL?
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own? Speaking to me, a source close to Brooklyn and Nicola is clear on this point. The couple, it seems, are convinced the Beck- ham camp responded by briefing the media against their own son. Brooklyn and the Peltzes believe one of the Beckhams’ closest aides, who travels with David internation- ally and is intimately involved in their business affairs, was respon- sible for stories calling Nicola a ‘spoiled brat’, a ‘viper’ and worse.
The source goes on to tell me that Brooklyn could not believe the Beckhams had attacked him and Nicola so publicly. The friend said: ‘There was a steady stream of stories intended to demonise and upset [Brooklyn and Nicola], much of it untrue. ‘It was very painful to him to think his own parents were brief- ing against him and the woman he was proud to call his wife. This remains the biggest barrier to the two sides making up.’ If it was indeed the Beckhams who were behind the deluge of negative stories against Nicola it’s hard to see what their end game was. The more that it was briefed that Nicola was ‘mean’, ‘bad’ to the family, and ‘bad’ for Brooklyn, the tighter the couple stuck together.
As a source tells me now: ‘The Beckhams don’t have to like Nicola... but you know, wake up – this is your son, so what are you doing? ‘The more they stick their foot down, the more Brooklyn and Nicola are going to make that mar- riage work. There’s nothing Brook- lyn or Nicola did which would have deserved this treatment. ‘It seems [the Beckhams] thought they could heap abuse on Nicola without any consequence. They did not let up. There was a public trash- ing which kept on going. ‘It matters what was written. It seemed as if things were being said without any regard being paid to the impact on Brooklyn. ‘He is loyal to his wife. Someone should have told them to stop, because it was not in their best
interests to do this to their own son, but nobody did.’
unthinkable back when – some six weeks after the birth of baby Brooklyn, in April 1999 – I inter- viewed David Beckham for the Daily Mail. He was clear he was in a new, family era. ‘We’re a family now and I’m the happiest I’ve been in a long time,’ he said. As to his ambitions for the boy,
PUBLIC IMAGE: Victoria and Nicola try to hide their rift in
2024. Left: Nicola’s snub wearing Valentino at 2021’s Met Gala
David sounded as if he had been inspired by his own father’s spar- tan parenting ‘We are going to love him and look after him and we are going to be strict as well. Victoria is adamant about that. You know, we can’t stand those naughty little kids who run about in res- taurants. He is going to be a well-behaved little boy.’ David had also been clear on another seeming ‘red line’. ‘We don’t want his picture splashed all over the papers – if he wants to do pictures when he’s old enough to make that decision for himself, then fine. It’s a different story with me and Victoria – we expect to be photo- graphed because of what we do, but when we’re with Brooklyn... well, I don’t know how that’s going to be and, I’ll be honest with you, it wor- ries me.’ Victoria echoed the sentiment in a paid-for interview in OK! mag- azine – reportedly worth £250,000 – insisting: ‘He’s the one thing that is totally private for us. He’s not a money-spinner. People were say- ing, “They left the hospital with their little asset,” and that really hurt a lot.’ Yet before long that line vanished. Brooklyn, who had been shielded from paparazzi lenses and conscientiously cropped from photoshoots, made his front-page debut in pictures from the Beckhams’ £1 million OK! magazine wedding only four months later. From almost the beginning, the couple’s publicists would brief journalists about the world of luxury the little lad, and later his siblings, were living in. Each small invasion of privacy kept the fam- ily in the limelight. Brooklyn’s first birthday party, held at the Cottons Hotel in Chesh- ire, featured clowns, jugglers,
stilt-walkers, magicians and a menu of champagne and lobster – although presumably not for the children – at a cost of £12,000. His third birthday treat was a £2,000 toy car and a private screening of Disney’s Treasure Planet. For Christmas 2003, David splashed out £220,000 to fly Brook- lyn and his 18-month-old brother Romeo to Santa’s grotto in Finland. For his fourth birthday, Brook- lyn got a Shetland pony. When he was five, Brooklyn tackled his first red carpet at the Scooby Doo 2 premiere, wearing a £6,000 watch. Newspapers were told by his par- ents’ PR this had been a gift from New York jewellers Jacob & Co, and was a copy of David’s £36,000 diamond-encrusted model. At the family home in Saw- bridgeworth, Hertfordshire, known as ‘Beckingham Palace’, his parents spent £20,000 install- ing hundreds of fibre-optic lights in Brooklyn’s bedroom to recreate the night sky, and had their faces superimposed on a Cinderella and Prince Charming Disney mural on the walls – all of which was shown off in OK! magazine. Hand-in-hand with this luxury was a darker side, however. Both David and Victoria were sincerely convinced there were serious secu- rity threats against them and, in particular, against baby Brooklyn. David at times slept on the floor of his room to be sure nobody could come through the door. This all led to a rather sheltered life for Brooklyn. Victoria herself recalled a moment when her moth- er’s friend took toddler Brooklyn shopping and it started raining. Rather than seeking shelter, ‘he just stood there... his little hands held out trying to catch the drops, amazed. And everybody else was staring, wondering why he didn’t take shelter. ‘And she told me this – like here’s a funny story for you – but I was suddenly overcome by guilt. He did it because it was a new experience for him. He’d never been in the rain, he went everywhere by car.’ Victoria and David have said the Press attention focused on their family was worst in the wake of the Rebecca Loos affair allega- tions, when Brooklyn was just five. Victoria said: ‘It was very diffi- cult for Brooklyn because he was
older, and he had photographers screaming things. They used to scream things to Brooklyn about his mum and his dad.’ And yet they continued to parade their children in front of the world’s cameras. Little wonder Brooklyn grew up to be highly sensitive. One friend of his told me: ‘The young man has anxiety issues and other educational issues that were not properly addressed when he was growing up. The kid never got the attention that he needed to deal with his issues properly. He is a good kid with good instincts and a good heart, but he is sensitive.’ His family, for their part, say that this sensitivity means he falls in love fast – and hard. Another family friend adds: ‘Jackie [Victoria’s mother] always says that Brooklyn gets com- pletely absorbed by whoever he dates. You know, if they like poodles he likes poodles, if they drink milkshakes, then so does he.’ Brooklyn met his future wife Nicola at a Halloween party in Hollywood in 2019 and proposed just eight months later in July 2020 – something Victoria initially felt optimistic about. Perhaps, she said, Nicola – driven and focused on her nascent acting career – might be ‘the making’ of Brooklyn. However, it was also noted by the Beckhams that Nicola seemed to be ‘in charge’ of Brook- lyn when they saw them together. One friend of the Beckhams says: ‘I always say he married his mother. Nicola and Victoria are very similar people. They both demanded and expected to have control over him.’ At first Nicola seemed to play ball with the Beckhams, wearing a
issues were not addressed while he was young
canary yellow Victoria Beckham dress for her engagement photo- graphs. The pictures were taken by Brooklyn’s sister, Harper. Online congratulations from the Beckham family appeared abso- lutely genuine. But by September 2021 there were visible signs of fracture when Brooklyn and Nicola went to the Met Ball in New York. There, Nicola wore Valentino, not Victoria Beckham – and in a world where social media ‘likes’ are as indicative as a Roman emperor’s thumb – Victoria and David didn’t offer a like on the pic- tures. In that same month, Brook- lyn and Nicola went to the Paris fashion shows and Brooklyn expressed his admiration online for Givenchy and Valentino. Again, no likes from his parents. And when, soon afterwards, the couple were featured on the cover of the Hong Kong edition of Vogue magazine, the only image liked by David and Victoria was the digital cover of Brooklyn, solo. The cover which included them both was noticeably not liked by his parents. In hindsight, it looks very much as if the Beckhams started to with- hold social media approval from Nicola in 2021, just as Brooklyn
moved permanently to the US. Some friends of his parents say Victoria can be manipulative and is uniquely sensitive to perceived slights. The not liking posts is undoubtedly pointed and petty but ‘is very Victoria,’ observed one of her friends. ‘She is 100 per cent the kind of person who will perceive a slight and nurse her upset over it. All the Spice Girls were like that back in the day. They were well schooled in the art of being a bitch.’ Then, in February 2022, with Brooklyn and Nicola’s wedding just months away, came an almighty row that brought all the toxicity to the fore and resulted in the families no longer speaking. At its heart, it was a dis- pute about Brooklyn’s right to his own name. This had been bubbling away as an issue since 2018, when Brooklyn was just 19 and had come close to signing a £3 million deal with Boo- hooman clothing, to ‘design’ a range bearing his name. A source close to the pro- posed deal says Victoria was involved throughout, and negotiations were at an advanced level before it all, perplexingly, collapsed into nothing. ‘There must have been a dozen meetings,’ they said. ‘At a late stage, Victoria decided to block Brooklyn from using the Beckham sur- name on the product. It did get into a bit of a war with the brand, and the deal then did not happen. ‘Brooklyn was like, “I can’t help it – this is my surname.” She had been OK about it in the beginning, but then she had a change of heart.’ At this stage in Brooklyn’s life, Victoria was in control, and he had no choice but to comply. But four years later, and with a confident fiancee in his corner, the outcome was rather different when Brook- lyn’s parents then approached him with a proposition he believed was an attempt to sign away his rights to his name entirely. The situation arose because the Beckhams’ company, DB Ven-
didn’t want to exploit him – then they did
tures, had years previously taken out a trademark on all the names of the Beckham children. Sources familiar with this step explain other commercial entities had been trying to trademark the chil- dren’s names, so they had taken proactive steps to stop them. In February 2022, however, David Beckham had entered into a strategic partnership with Authentic Brands Group (ABG), selling a 55 per cent stake in his company, DB Ventures, for about $269 million (£200 million). This deal had a number of impli- cations, including for the children’s trademarked names, as they were now owned partly by a new entity, over which the Beckhams did not have complete control. Brooklyn
Beckham keeps rolling on
and Romeo, who were both over 18, were asked to sign a trademark co-existence agreement. This is a formal, negotiated contract between two parties allowing them to use similar or identical trade- marks in the marketplace without infringing on each other’s rights. A source familiar with the situa- tion said: ‘It was to protect them [Brooklyn and Romeo] in case someone tried to use their names, but at the same time it would allow David and Victoria to use their names and their brand. Victoria signed it and Romeo signed it, but Brooklyn didn’t sign it.’ The Beckhams have apparently ‘decided to act as if he had signed it, so we protect his name as well’. The source added: ‘He was never penalised or prejudiced in any way by not signing it.’ Soon-to-be-married Brooklyn saw the deal differently. It appears he had legal advice from the Peltz lawyers, who said that it wasn’t in his interests. A source close to him insisted: ‘Brooklyn, his name and his brand, has been sold by the Beckhams from the beginning in order to benefit them. This was one of the biggest violations of trust between parents and child. ‘He refused to sign over his name in that deal right before his wedding. It was a big deal and they were trying to maximise their return. I guess their cata- logue isn’t worth as much if you don’t have all the kids in it.’ Brooklyn gave his account in his Instagram post, writing: ‘Weeks before our big day, my parents repeatedly pressured and attempted to bribe me into signing away the rights to my name, which would have affected me, my wife,
and our future children. They were adamant on me signing before my wedding date because then the terms of the deal would be initiated. My holdout affected the payday, and they have never treated me the same since.’ The Beckham source insists it would not have disadvantaged Brooklyn, and there was no effect on any payday. They deny trying to ‘pressure or bribe’ him. But the Peltz-Beck- ham source says the episode is very much viewed as a clear example of attempted exploita- tion. The source explains: ‘They said when he was a baby that they didn’t want to exploit him and then they did. There is a straight line from that to this. ‘Wherever and whenever there is money available in return for exploitation of the names the Beck- hams are open to doing it. They have the right to, up to a point. ‘At this time, Brooklyn was already having other input and
ALL SMILES: But the extended family unit pictured in 2021 has now been torn apart
advice. The concept is not one that is hard to understand: if you give this away then you are giving up the option of having your brand. Why would you give that up and have nothing for it?’ The feeling among Brooklyn’s friends is that ‘it was just exploit, exploit, exploit to whatever degree you can. What upsets them [David and Victoria] is when they lose control or the financial benefit.’ Those final weeks ahead of the wedding in April 2022 could scarcely, then, have been more awkward. What should have been a happy time anticipat- ing the uniting of two families was, in fact, the point at which battle lines were drawn. The reality is Brooklyn and his bride walked down the aisle with neither on speaking terms with his parents. In the Beckham camp, emotions were high – so much so that a source tells me Victoria ‘openly’ referred to her daughter- in-law as a ‘c-word’. Sources close to Victoria deny this. Stories mounted about tensions between the Beckhams and the Peltzes – indeed, I was the first to report on them in July 2022. And then, in September 2022, David – known for being prone to outbursts rather than reasoned argument – finally boiled over at his son. In an interview that month with Grazia magazine to promote an acting role, Nicola had only stoked the fire of the tension rumours. She exclaimed: ‘It’s not a feud! I keep seeing everywhere, that word “feud, feud, feud”. I don’t
know why they say “feud”? I mean, maybe they picked up on something?’ before adding: ‘No family is perfect.’ Brooklyn added, in an aside that appeared to confirm the awkward- ness was very real: ‘To be honest, my wife is obviously my first pri- ority and I never want to see her upset ever. We have each other’s back 100 per cent and we just move on together.’ Short of wearing a ‘Team Peltz’ T-shirt, he could hardly have made it more obvious that there was an upsetting problem, and he was taking her side. David, who had spent a couple of decades selling the story of the perfect Beckham family, was out- raged by the indiscretion, and launched a ferocious, dressing down of his son. A well-placed source told me: ‘I don’t think David has ever lost his temper with Brooklyn or had cause to talk to him harshly, but that finally hap- pened. David had it out with Brook- lyn and told him, “We don’t do this in our family – and you know that we don’t do this in our family.” ’ David allegedly added to his son: ‘What happens next is up to you, but we are done with the drama.’ The source said: ‘David was really appalled by the Grazia interview because it seemed to be washing the family dirty linen in public, and he said Romeo and Cruz were also hurt by it. ‘It was probably a shock to Brooklyn, as David had never done anything other than tell Brooklyn how much he adores him. What was being said is Brook- lyn forgot that he is a Beckham.’ By mid-2025, negative stories about Nicola were appearing almost daily. At this point, the young couple started to plan a secret second wedding. Nicola’s view was the Beckhams had ‘ruined’ her special day and their bad behaviour tainted their happy memories. Rather than move on, she wanted to do-over. Brooklyn agreed. His statement later elaborated: ‘We
wanted to renew our vows so we could create new memories of our wedding day that bring us joy and happiness, not anxiety and embarrassment.’ Nelson Peltz agreed to officiate, and the venue chosen for the event, to be held on August 2, 2025, was the Peltz family estate in Bed- ford, New York. A guest list of some 200 friends was drawn up. Not a single one had been at Brooklyn’s 21st birth- day just four years earlier. There wasn’t a single Beckham invited. That was rather the point. All involved must have known how deeply this would upset the Beckhams. A friend of the Peltz Beckhams now acknowledges the cruelty, saying: ‘It was a twist of the knife. It looked as if Nicola had done the whole thing out of spite.’ Then came the final bombshell: Brooklyn’s Instagram statement in January this year. Today, though, the Beckhams remain particularly hopeful of a reconciliation. Friends of the Peltz-Beckhams are more circum- spect about whether that is possi- ble – even though Brooklyn feels the pain of separation keenly. A friend says: ‘Nicola says she will never stop Brooklyn from hav- ing a relationship with his parents, and if he wants to go to London to see them she will never stop him. ‘But she is over it now. It doesn’t land in the same way with her. Brooklyn is so sad about it, still.’ With respect to whether the Beckham family brand can sur- vive, it has certainly taken a big
David and Victoria closer together
knock. But after years in the busi- ness, David and Victoria know it’s simply a matter of finding the right narrative. An associate of Victoria says: ‘The Brooklyn problem has done them two big favours. Firstly, David and Victoria have never got on as well as they do now. The pain of it all has brought them closer together. They are in lockstep. I’ve not seen them so happy together since the really early days. ‘The other positive is it has humanised them. People who used to mock them in a snobby way now see them as human beings who you can relate to. David is kind of a national treasure, and people are softening towards Victoria, they can see how hard she has had it.’ Indeed, it seems a decision has been taken to incorporate ‘the feud’ into the ‘Brand Beckham’ narrative. The strategy is they will continue to remind us they are heartbroken, good parents who have done their best, and they love all their children. The wheel of Brand Beckham will continue to turn – with or without Brooklyn inside the tent.
© Alison Boshoff, 2026
lAdapted from Brand Beckham
by Alison Boshoff, to be published
by Century on August 13, priced
£22. To order a copy for £19.80
(offer valid to August 23;
UK p&p free on orders over £25)
go to mailshop.co.uk/books
or call 020 3176 2937.
Operation Replace Larry the Cat ...and why, as he hits the feline equivalent of 94, it may NOT be activated by the new No 10
POLITICAL EDITOR
ONE of the great strengths of the British civil service is its transi- tion planning: the smooth running of Whitehall must never be dis- turbed by death, dismissal or the retirement of key personnel. And now it has emerged that the same applies to Larry the cat, the veteran Downing Street mouser, whose territorial presence in No 10 is the reason why Andy Burnham’s dog Axel has to stay up north. At 19-and-a-half-years-old – or 94 in cat years – Larry has seen six PMs come and go since he was adopted from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in 2011, during David Cameron’s premiership. Now, a former adviser to Rishi Sunak has revealed that mandarins consid- ered a succession plan to ensure the nation wasn’t too disturbed by the demise of the veteran feline. Cass Horowitz, who worked with Mr Sunak until his defeat at the 2024 General Election, said: ‘I sug- gested we bring a second cat into No 10 purely to help with the tran- sition for any eventual... retire- ment of Larry.’ But after a
POLITICAL REPORTER
FOREIGN Office mandarins serv- ing in Bali, the Maldives and Abu Dhabi get extra holidays and bonus pay for ‘hardship’, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Under generous taxpayer-funded deals, staff get ‘breathers’ for tak- ing up ‘hardship posts’. These are supposed to be in places where there are security threats, high levels of crime or air pollution. They also get tax-free bonuses of up to £10,000 a year. The perks are intended to allevi- ate the toll that serving overseas in dangerous places can take on officials’ physical or mental health. Yet scores of exotic destinations have made it onto that list. Critics have questioned why Abu Dhabi – one of the safest cities on Earth – or Cape Town would cause officials ‘hardship’. Both are sought-after holiday locations. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) does remove some destinations from the 150-strong hardship list. Bamako, the crime-ridden capital of Mali, was removed this year. Yet honeymoon favourite Muscat remains on the list. And officials posted to Turks and Caicos Islands, where they can enjoy 350 sunny days a year, get hardship relief. One defender of the scheme told the MoS: ‘It is odd that there are some undeniably glamorous places on there. It may be for rea- sons of isolation.’ Yet some civil servants have
A TALE OF TWO KITTIES: Larry, who has been on mouser duty since 2011, is said to ‘rule the roost’ at No 10
character analysis, ‘the expert verdict came back crystal-clear: Larry rules the roost. He would never accept another cat. The plan was swiftly shelved.’ Mr Burnham
hardship cash for serving in... Bali
IDYLLIC: Surfers on the exquisite Uluwatu beach in Bali, Indonesia
used their extra breaks to fly to other ‘hardship postings’ on taxpayer-funded jets. One official took his partner on holiday from New Delhi to Kathmandu in the Himalayas to ‘take a break away
– the seventh PM on Larry’s watch – told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg last week that his dog will stay up north because he ‘wouldn’t get on’ with Larry. He
from local conditions’. Since Labour took office, there have been a dozen taxpayer-funded jaunts from New Delhi alone. Ministers have begun to refuse Freedom of Information requests
said: ‘I don’t think the nation would thank me if I brought Axel down to disturb Larry’s world.’ A No 10 source said: ‘Labour has no plans to introduce a new cat.’
and parliamentary questions, citing national security reasons. The MoS revelation has trig- gered calls for some destinations to be culled. Kevin Hollinrake MP, Tory chairman, said: ‘While busi- nesses and families are paying higher taxes to fund this Govern- ment’s policies, civil servants are sent on taxpayer-funded jollies. ‘It’s an insult to every taxpayer across the country.’ And William Yarwood, cam- paigns director of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, added: ‘Ministers should urgently review these allowances, publish the costs and stop taxpay- ers bankrolling civil service perks dressed up as welfare.’ An FCDO spokesman said: ‘Brit- ish diplomats serve their country around the globe, including in some of the toughest and most challenging physical and political environments in the world. ‘We have a duty of care to ensure our staff are properly supported, and compensation and other provi- sions reflect the circumstances of the posting.’
Harry and Meghan ‘sailed round remote Wicker Man isle on vintage steam boat’
IT IS the private island said to have inspired the cult British hor- ror film The Wicker Man. But isolated Tanera Mor proved less scary, more the perfect family getaway, for the Duke and Duch- ess of Sussex during their week- long visit to Britain last month, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Harry, Meghan and their chil- dren, Archie, seven, and five-year- old Lilibet, are believed to have stayed for two days on the remote island in the Inner Hebrides. As well as experiencing its stun- ning views, abundant wildlife – including otters and seals – and sandy bays, they are understood to have enjoyed a relaxing boat trip around its coastline aboard Rita, a vintage Clyde puffer. The 800-acre island is owned by hedge-fund tycoon Ian Wace, 63, who has managed to stay friends with both William and Harry even after the brothers’ relationship
the past – and William’
soured. The royals are believed to have previously visited Tanera Mor, the largest of the Summer Isles, in north-west Scotland. Mr Wace, who is worth around £600 million, bought the island nine years ago for £1.7 million. Since then, he has spent up to £100 million creating an idyllic retreat for up to 60 guests. As well as planting 100,000 trees, restoring a dozen properties and reviving skills such as bee-keep- ing, the tycoon has also laid three miles of roads. All visitors to the island are expected to follow its strict envi- ronmental ethos. Mr Wace – a Tory Party donor – fiercely guards the privacy of his guests, according to locals. They say that staff who work on re-wilding projects there are sent off the island the day before celeb- rities arrive and only return the day after they have left. The only way to get on to the island is to launch from jetties Mr Wace owns – and visitors need per- mission to use them. The Sussexes are thought to have arrived on Tanera Mor on July 8 – the day after Harry lost his High Court privacy case against the publisher of the Daily
Mail and The Mail on Sunday.
They are likely to have stayed in
one of the two areas on the island
offering extreme privacy – the
North and South Ends. Croft cot-
tages there have been renovated
to the highest standard and are
described as places to ‘recover
and grow more resilient’.
Despite the lengths Mr Wace
has gone to to safeguard his
guests’ privacy, The Mail on
Sunday can reveal that the
Duchess may have acciden-
tally revealed her
family’s location
after posting 12
photos on her per-
sonal Instagram
account, under
the title ‘Sum-
mer Holiday’.
One picture –
a moody shot
of hills and
w a t e r
–
appeared very
different from the
other images and so became the target of much speculation. The Mail on Sunday soon identi- fied the exact spot in the Scottish Highlands in which it had been taken – next to Loch Droma on the A835 Inverness to Ullapool road, just 25 miles from Tanera Mor. One local in Achiltibuie, the nearest mainland vil- lage to the island on the Coigach peninsula,
BOAT TRIP: The Clyde puffer Rita,
which the Sussexes are believed
to have taken a trip on and, left,
the private island Tanera Mor
told The Mail on Sunday: ‘We all know when somebody important is coming over because the workers are all told to go away for a few days, while [Mr Wace] has guests who want privacy. ‘There’ve been rumours Harry has been there in the past, and Wil- liam has been there.’ Another said: ‘I’ve heard Harry and Meghan were on the mainland side, as well as on the island. ‘There are electric bikes over there for guests to use and some- times people staying there bring them on to the mainland. ‘They didn’t get there from Achiltibuie, so must have gone the other way from Ullapool on the fast boat. There’s a lot of work that’s happened since [Mr Wace] bought it – he’s worked on all the old buildings to renovate them. ‘He will have improved the roads as well. By all accounts it’s very high-end accommo- dation. He’s spent a fortune.’ Mr Wace and his former wife, model Saffron Aldridge, 58, have long been friends with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and accompa- nied them to a performance of Cirque du Soleil at the Royal Albert Hall in 2019. A spokesman for Mr Wace did not respond to our request for comment.
of the week
‘Time for a hydration break, Gianni.’ Carlsberg’s social media post after Fifa boss Gianni Infantino proposed selling off the World Cup to private investors.
‘It would be cheaper to go to the dental aisle at Boots for some floss.’ Mumsnet user after M&S launched a ‘flirty’ lingerie range with Ann Summers, including crotchless underwear.
‘Clicky Ponting.’ Nickname – after the great Australian captain Ricky Ponting – for a cheating amateur slip fielder who clicked his fingers to mimic the sound of a shot that was caught behind.
PETER JOLLY NORTHPIX
‘If they go up in smoke, it would be a civilisation blow equivalent to the Louvre burning down.’ Journalist Toby Young fears for the top-class vineyards around Bordeaux amid the wildfires crisis.
‘Zara death pants.’ Social media description of the high street chain’s ultra-wide trousers that have been blamed for a string of accidents.
‘It has a feeling of a stuffy old golf hotel, which was once a grand stately home but now smells of cabbage with sticky carpets.’ Interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, who wants to give Buckingham Palace a makeover.
‘Overstuffed furniture
became my enemy. Once
seated, I could feel as
though I had been
swallowed by the chair
and might remain there
permanently, like a
guest who had badly
overstayed her welcome.’
Carly Simon,
who was diagnosed with
Parkinson’s disease amid her
worsening mobility issues.
‘When you’re best friends it’s pretty easy.’ Actress Zendaya, when asked about appearing in two blockbuster films this summer with husband Tom Holland.
SO NOW we know for certain
what many have long suspected.
Uncontrolled migration is
costly to the people who
already live here.
New research from the
Conservative Party shows that
each worker in this country
will – by 2031 – be worse off by
roughly £2,500 a year thanks to
large-scale inward migration.
No doubt there are some who
benefit from various forms of
cheap labour. The metropolitan
wealthy classes – who include
many in the media and politics
– have seldom found domestic
servants as cheap as they
are now. But, in general,
immigration means downward
pressure on all our wages.
A strange coalition of
crackpot multi-culturalists,
open borders ideologues,
Marxists and virtue-signalling
liberals see no problems in
this. But everyone else does. It
is time that it was addressed.
The extraordinary scenes in
the Spanish enclave of Ceuta
have rightly alarmed all who
of no sleep – and here’s the reason why...
F
OR three nights last week I didn’t sleep. Not the troubled, tossing-and-turning kind of not sleeping that is unfortunately familiar to me, nor the sweaty, tan- gled half-sleep of the current heat- wave. Just no sleep at all. After two nights of this I had a thought. Was it the full Moon? Indeed it was. Last Thursday was July’s buck Moon, so called because male deer (bucks) grow their antlers at this time of year. I am not remotely woo-woo in any matters apart from this full Moon business. My eyes glaze over at the words ‘horoscopes’ and ‘star signs’. Any hint of discussion about Mercury in retrograde and I’m out of there. But the full Moon is another matter. I am 100 per cent convinced that it affects the quality of my sleep. And it’s a completely dif- ferent sensation to just not sleeping. It’s as if there is a bar- rier that prevents the mind flip- ping to sleep which has nothing to do with being worried or overly concerned about things. It’s not the 2.56am anxiety run. It’s simply that sleep is not on the agenda. There is some scientific evidence that the Moon does affect us phys- ically, and messing with our sleep is one aspect of that. The strange thing about full Moon sleeplessness is that it has little to do with being tired earlier in the day. I dozed off frequently on those three evenings as we watched the last epi- sodes of the fifth series of Yellow- stone (yes, late to the party) as they came to their gripping con- clusion. I dozed off mid-afternoon, attempting to deal with new night- marish, quarterly tax filing (com- pletely understandable) and I
harm of open borders – but everyone else does
have seen them. Ceuta, within sight of the Rock of Gibraltar, is one of the very few places where the poor world and the rich world are divided by nothing more than a fence. And last week that fence gave way, amid disturbing violence and chaos. Many of those who forced their way in were dismayed to find no gold-paved streets when they arrived, just a not-especially prosperous Spanish seaside city. They have now left and the immediate crisis is over. But for how long? What if all the
Shulman’s
barriers – between prosperous, law-governed countries and the grim regions which have neither wealth nor law – disappeared? They are under obvious strain. Across the Mediterranean and the English Channel, the boats and dinghies stream, making a mockery of border controls and migration rules. There are plenty of arguments about the best response. Some say the new wave of migration has been caused by Western-sponsored wars of choice and we should
crashed out for a full 20 minutes
once I got into bed with the light
on. But after midnight, forget it.
The next full Moon is August 28,
when I hope to be on the Greek
island of Symi. It’s also a blood
Moon, a type of lunar eclipse that
makes the Moon appear orange or
red. This time around I plan to
abandon attempts at sleep and sit
out, staring at the red ball in the
sky above the Aegean.
It makes more sense than
another night fruitlessly battling
indomitable lunar power.
Gas, trains, water:
nothing ever works
HAVING lived through the chaos of nationalised industries in the 1970s, I was broadly pro-privatisa- tion. But I’ve changed my mind. The other day we received a final gas bill for our now-dead mother of £2,346.23 from British Gas. It was a simply ludicrous sum. In the last few months of that bill there were at most one or two gas stove rings used for her care and nothing else – about £50 a month worth of usage. This is not British Gas’s first time of sending wildly over- stated bills, and getting them to amend the error has taken countless hours of frustra- tion. How people who don’t have the time and resources I do manage to deal with them I don’t know. Of course they’re not the only culprits. I need hardly mention the
stop them. Others blame the
weakness of leaders such as
Germany’s former Chancellor
Angela Merkel, who simply
flung her country’s border wide
open, with disastrous results.
Others suspect that Left-wing
governments actively want
more migrants, hoping that
the new arrivals will end up
voting for them. Others, some
of them on the Right, claim
unconvincingly that migration
boosts Western economies.
Not for most people it doesn’t,
as we now see. And all this
time nobody has found a
words ‘Thames Water’, but I am
going to – a company that regards
£4million in bonus payments to
senior managers justifiable after
years of chaos and which has
imposed a hosepipe ban due as
much to hopeless infrastructure
as the lack of rainfall.
And then there’s the railways. A
recent, two-hour train journey in
southern Italy was taken in splen-
did comfort with air-conditioning
and free water for the princely
sum of €25 (£21.50), arriving at a
tiny local station bang on
time. Compare this with the night-
mare of a recent GWR weekend
journey to Cornwall where the
previous train was cancelled and it
was standing room only for hours
of the journey west. Surely things
can only be improved?
Will fat jabs doom
your hotel buffet?
FAT jabs might make you slim-
mer, but they remove so much of
the pleasure of food.
I can’t imagine what life would
be like without looking forward to
eating. At this time of year, plan-
ning picnics and suppers in the
garden, trying out local restau-
rants abroad, ordering an Aperol
Spritz and club sandwich poolside,
are reasons to be alive.
I wonder what’s happened to the
appeal of the all-inclusive buffet
as an inducement to book holidays
or hotels now so many people have
decided that eating is no longer a
great pleasure?
Errors that are a
recipe for disaster
NOT all of us are so afflicted, thankfully. The other day a friend sent me her recipe for the delicious tomato galette she had served to us at a summer supper but forgot to include the crucial information that the pastry had to go in the oven first. It was a quite extreme omission but she is far from alone in not giving a correct recipe. I rely on several professional cookery writers – Diana Henry and Nigel Slater are favourites – whose recipes always work. But
civilised, workable way of stopping the boats. This has been going on for years now. Several EU nations, interestingly, are looking at versions of the Rwanda scheme proposed by the last Tory government, under which unwelcome migrants are sent to a third country. One of Sir Keir Starmer’s many foolish errors was to petulantly abolish this programme just as it was beginning to show signs of having an effect. Labour, which flung wide our borders 25 years ago, simply is not interested in serious migration controls. Andy Burnham shows no sign of changing that. But the Tories are now free, if they wish, to renounce past mistakes and to develop a serious and intelligent policy, which serves the people of this country and their needs, and which makes it plain to the world that Britain will not make the same foolish error that Mrs Merkel made.
when I am tempted to follow one from a restaurateur it is almost always a failure. Writing recipes is a skill, owning and cooking in restaurants another. I suppose it’s similar to expecting architects to be build- ers. Invariably, their designs are splendid and they can create beau- tiful homes and offices but when it comes to asking them how to lay bricks, forget it.
CRAZY DAYS: Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael in China
– with ra-ra skirts
SHOULD you get the opportunity to see Wham!10 Days In China in a local cinema, don’t miss it. It’s way more enjoyable than The Odyssey. You don’t need to be a Wham! fan (I’m not) to be entertained by this documentary following their tour as the first pop band to perform in the country. Crazy 1980s fashion, a fevered crew of tabloid press fol- lowing them, desperate for drama, and George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley trying to win over an audience that had never been allowed to stand up and dance. It’s filled with delicious moments. There’s also a film within a film since the original, but unreleased documentary, was by the late Lindsay Anderson who hated the band and only wanted to promote the communist agenda of China. It’s Spinal Tap for real with ra-ra skirts and perms.
A
MID the international
clamour over Ceuta,
the Spanish city
invaded by 60,000
m i g r a n t s
f r o m
Morocco, there has
been a noticeable
hush from one quarter: the Left.
There have been no rallies in
solidarity with the Moroccans, no
celebratory tweets from the
Greens’ Zack Polanski. Labour
backbenchers seldom silent on
these matters can be heard
on neither television nor radio.
It is as though socialists and
other progressives recognise that
events on the shores of the Medi-
terranean expose the grim reality
that underlies their utopian world-
view. Their dream, when put into
practice, becomes a nightmare.
For the Ceuta incursion is
‘open borders’ in action, the truth
behind the ‘Migrants welcome
here’ banners.
Few could blame the young men
who descended upon Ceuta, itself
a city made up mostly of Christians
and Muslims of Maghrebi origin.
While incidents of disorder have
been reported, and ought to be
condemned, many who entered
will have been poor souls lured
by promises of wealth and
opportunity – lured, too, by
only as secure as leaders’ willingness to defend them
the reckless actions of the Spanish authorities. Pedro Sanchez, prime minister and head of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, opened the flood- gates in April when his adminis- tration offered amnesty to what he assured voters were the 500,000 illegal migrants living in the country. Two months later, the programme was shuttered with applications for amnesty hitting 1.2 million. The damage, however, had been done. Thousands of Moroccans saw that Spain was not only willing to tolerate illegal migration but prepared to reward it by granting lawful status to those who entered the nation unlawfully. Sanchez provided the incentive and the Ceuta immigrants took it. While many of the 60,000 who took part in the latest incursion are said to be back on Moroccan soil, they have proved to the world that it can be done; that European borders are only as secure as the willingness of European leaders to defend them. They will be back, and next time they won’t go home so quickly. Socialists are so blindly commit- ted to their ideology that they cannot learn lessons of the past. Angela Merkel is no socialist, but during her chancellorship she embraced all the Left’s ideas on immigration and put them into force, absorbing migrants from the Middle East and North Africa on a scale never seen in Germany. At the time, her government
stayed silent on the terrifying scenes in Ceuta? Because they know it’s what their borderless ‘utopia’ REALLY looks like
reassured the markets that this would be good for Germany’s bottom line, filling in vacancies especially in the manual labour sector that educated Germans were unwilling to settle for. A decade on, Berlin’s economy is mired in stagnation and the social, cultural and security fallout from importing large numbers of unvetted foreign men includes spikes in violent crime, gang activity and Islamist terrorism. These developments have helped shift a nation wary of political extremes in the direction of Alternative fur Deutschland, a Right-wing nationalist party that now consistently tops the opinion polls. All this might seem a distant concern. Let the Europeans worry about European problems. Except we all know that illegal migration is every bit as much a British problem – and if Britain does not get a handle on it soon,
the scenes witnessed in Ceuta could be replicated on the streets of cities here. Yet, chaotic as that would be, it is exactly what socialists want to see. When they speak about immigration, they conjure up imagines of desperate mothers cradling sickly infants, just plead- ing for a compassionate country like Britain to take them in. Not only is this propaganda at odds with the actual demograph- ics of illegal immigration – mainly young, male and unaccompanied – it occludes the human and financial costs of the Left’s open-borders agenda. Mass immigration is not the story of propping up the NHS or social care or the unskilled economy. It is a tale of net fiscal burdens introduced to the UK when migrants obtain leave to remain and bring over large fami- lies, including those with elderly and other welfare-dependent
members. For more than two decades now, stretching back to Tony Blair’s government, the Left’s position has been that mass immigration is a moral good in and of itself, that anyone who thinks otherwise must be a racist, and without large influxes of foreigners Britain would suffer economically or culturally. This lay behind the post-2004 increases in migration that came in the wake of central and eastern European nations’ accession to the EU. Today, however, after much big- ger spikes, especially in the years after Covid-19, fears about Polish plumbers seem almost quaint with hindsight. What Britain has wit- nessed in recent times is danger- ously out of proportion. But for the far-Left even this is not enough. Pivotal to socialist doctrine is the conviction that wealth and oppor- tunity must be redistributed as widely as possible. The average
British worker might resent the notion of their hard-earned money being taken in tax and given to those freshly arrived in Blighty, preferring that public resources be spent on the public here in Britain. However, the Left considers this view outdated – even bigoted. The Left believes in equality of outcomes and, since there is no way to guarantee this for Africa and the Middle East, they regard immigration as another way of delivering redistribution. By dismantling Britain’s bor- ders, they hope to share Britain’s wealth with those they consider more deserving of it. This is not just about socialism but about an ideology that holds even more sway on the contempo- rary Left: post-colonialism. Today’s progressives regard Britain as one of the chief evil‑doers of history through its empire and colonies, and despite the considerable effort and resources British governments have invested in making amends, it will never be enough for the Left. They want to see Britain punished, and view mass immi- gration as a righteous cudgel. Back in the New Labour era, there was a desire to ‘rub the
every control leads to disarray and upheaval
Right’s nose in diversity’. This shows the sheer cynicism of the immigration ideologues. They might pose as supporters of migrants, but when they think no one is listening they boast about weaponising these people for partisan political purposes. It is a shameful, grubby business. But what today’s Left aims for is more than just demographic taunting. They seek the same disaster utopianism as the government in Madrid. They wish not only to confiscate the resources of the average Brit but to sacrifice his safety and that of his family by importing unvetted foreign populations on a scale that cannot be undone by a future government. This latter point, incidentally, is what motivated agitation and litigation against the Rwanda scheme and other attempts to remove those here illegally. The harder the Left makes it for its opponents to change course once in power, the more enduring its victory. Mass immigration is the 21st century version of the Left’s permanent revolution. Ceuta is what a borderless world looks like in practice. Dismantling every control over immigration does not lead to harmonious, we-are-the-world egalitarianism, it leads to disarray, societal upheaval and political extremism. What sounds like a utopia in the minds of the socialists is a dystopia for the rest of us who must live in it.
I
revise key evidence – when new facts wrecked his story?
T’S LIKE a scene from one of those hard-bitten Ameri- can crime movies of the 1930s. The police and a key prosecution witness are discussing problems with their evidence in a fast- approaching trial. It turns out that the facts in the case have changed, rather awk- wardly. It is a glum scene. And the cops say to the witness: ‘Yeah, we can’t change the data.’ And then they say: ‘But we can change the interpretation of it.’ It’s easy to imagine, isn’t it, in some smoky interrogation cellar in a dingy precinct of Los Angeles or Chicago? But in fact it hap- pened in the pretty English city of Chester, in April 2024. The witness was Dr Ravi Jayaram, once a rising star of TV, now the only person who has ever come close to seeing the nurse Lucy Letby doing anything wrong. Amazingly, Letby is now in prison till she dies, for seven mur- ders and seven attempted killings. This is despite there being no hard evidence that she harmed any- body. So this is quite important. But is it what it seems? D
R JAYARAM gave evi- dence to both of Ms Letby’s trials on the same event. His evi- dence to her second trial in 2024 led to head- lines that he had caught her ‘virtu- ally red-handed’ standing by a seriously ill baby. Though he did not witness her actively harming the tiny child, he said she was failing to help when the infant was clearly in difficul- ties. As the years have gone by, many have begun to wonder if it was more virtual than red-handed. My colleague Glen Owen wrote
NIGEL Farage seems to be carving out a new life for himself as a victim. It’s sad to watch. Imagine the old Nigel demanding that the police arrest someone for posting a picture of a T-shirt. In my view he is quite wrong about Green Supremo Zack Polanski’s Instagram, or whatever it was. A guillotine is not a murder weapon. Imagine attacking someone with this unwieldy machine in the street. Polanski’s action is actually worse than
in The Mail on Sunday in 2025 about an explosive email, written by Dr Jayaram in 2017, which appears to go against his later evidence that he found her up to no good. In that email, Dr Jayaram wrote that he went to investigate Baby K because Letby herself had raised the alarm and asked him for help – not because he had suspicions about the nurse. Now comes this conversation between Dr Jayaram and the police. The full transcript of this
Farage thinks, but in a deeper way. Left-
wingers claim to be furiously opposed to all
executions, but they aren’t really. As
experience shows, they’re actually quite
keen on killing people for having the wrong
opinions. And you can buy, for about £20 on
the internet, a popular T-shirt bearing a
picture of a guillotine and the words ‘a
platform for fascists’.
I see people wearing them in Oxford,
my home town. By ‘fascist’ they mean
exchange was obtained last week by the distinguished investigative journalist Cleuci de Oliveira. In the transcript, Dr Jayaram struggles to cope with the fact that swipe records for one crucial door were back to front. They appeared to show a key nurse leaving the Neonatal Unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital when she was in fact entering it. This is important because Dr Jayaram’s account involved Ms Letby being alone while the other nurse on the ward was absent. His
account, in Letby’s first trial, depended partly on those records. Shortly before the second trial, Dr Jayaram met Cheshire Police. During a half-hour conversation with Darren Riley (a civilian investigator) and Detective Con- stable Kate Millins, this key exchange takes place. DR JAYARAM: I’m just looking at the swipe data now, to look at the timings… So, it was this, where it says that Jo Williams [another nurse] left the unit at 3:47? CI RILEY: Yeah...
people like me. They’ll say it’s a joke.
But is it?
As recently as 1959, similar Western
fun revolutionaries were cheering on the
Cuban firing squads run by Fidel Castro
and Che Guevara in Havana. The moat
of the La Cabana fortress was disgustingly
wet with their opponents’ blood. And
plenty of respectable anti-death penalty
Leftists in 1930s Britain excused Stalin’s
murderous purges.
DR JAYARAM: Yeah. CI RILEY: That actually means coming back. DR JAYARAM: Oh, is that when she comes back? CI RILEY: Yeah, we can’t change the data. DR JAYARAM: Ah, OK. CI RILEY: But we can change the interpretation of it. The three carry on for some minutes discussing this confusing mess in what was once key evi- dence. They also discuss various other aspects of Dr Jayar- am’s testimony. When I asked Cheshire Police about it, they said they would not be commenting. Dr Jayaram has yet to answer an email I sent him, asking for his response. Former Tory Cabinet minister, Sir David Davis, said: ‘It is deeply troubling to see what appears to be the police and a key witness reshaping the interpretation of the evidence to Lucy Letby’s disad- vantage in advance of her retrial.’ He called for another force to review Cheshire Police’s handling of the case.
he snubbed stillborn nephew’s funeral to go to wedding with Holly’ BROTHERS: James and Adam, circled, with family
and Tracey Kandohla
IT’S the family feud that left Olym- pic champion Adam Ramsay-Peaty’s mother Caroline heartbroken. But rather than the fallout begin- ning with the swimmer and Holly Ramsay’s wedding last year, The Mail on Sunday can reveal it was in fact prompted by a devastating snub that left his brother James bereft. Friends of the Peaty family say Adam failed to show ‘brotherly sup- port’ and go to the funeral of James’s stillborn baby – instead attending the wedding of one of Holly’s friends, apparently at her insistence. Builder James (known as Jamie) and his wife Charlotte, who live in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, have two sons, Oliver, 11, and seven-year-old Jacob. They lost a baby boy, whom they named Josh, in 2024. One source close to the family said: ‘He lost a child, which broke his heart and Charlotte’s. He asked Adam to attend the funeral for some moral and emotional support, but his brother let him down, saying he had a social to attend as Holly had invited him to a friend’s wedding. ‘It seems that it created a rift between the two brothers, which has escalated into a full family row.’ The insider added: ‘It was a trau- matic time for them. Their baby boy was delivered stillborn at 23 weeks. They got to hold him and say hello to him and then said goodbye. But he is never forgotten.’ Until now, it was thought a row over Caroline’s wedding outfit for Adam and Holly’s wedding at Bath Abbey last December marked the start of the fall-out. Caroline was not invited to Holly’s hen do at the exclusive Soho Farm- house in Oxfordshire, while her mum Tana and Victoria Beckham celebrated with her. She also missed
for being Good Samaritan?
A BRITISH woman was aiding the homeless before her body was found in a suitcase in Athens, fuel- ling fear she was a Good Samaritan killed by someone she was helping. Lisa Ross, 38, a Christian dedi- cated to helping the vulnerable, was found stuffed into a suitcase in an abandoned car park on July 18. Locals say Ms Ross, from Edin- burgh, had been helping homeless people close to the site where they sleep rough and take drugs. She is
FORGIVENESS? Holly and Adam
out on her son’s big wedding day. Relations between Adam and his older brother came to an explosive head when he was arrested over alle- gations he sent aggressive threats to the Olympic gold medallist last November, during his stag week in the Hungarian capital of Budapest. It led to Adam getting a large police escort at Manchester airport on his return home. Jamie is currently on conditional bail under police investigation, fac- ing possible charges of verbal abuse and harassment towards Adam. The family source suggests that Holly’s police officer sister, Megan, had advised Adam to take precau- tionary measures. The brothers are still not talking to one another. However, Adam yesterday revealed that he wants to reconcile with his estranged family. He told The Guardian: ‘For me, as a Christian, there has to be forgive- ness... but forgiveness takes time. ‘I’m not saying that it won’t get better, but it has to come from a place where I feel like they’ve improved as people, in a sense, and opened that communication up.’
believed to have visited Greece for the past seven years helping vul- nerable social groups including abused women and migrants. A female pensioner in the area said: ‘It breaks my heart to think that something like this happened to a person so kind and loving.’ Police are hunting an aggressive homeless man named ‘Markos’ who has vanished. Messages from her phone have been sent to her lawyer father in an apparent cover-up bid.
I
SHOWBIZ!
CONSULTANT EDITOR SHOWBUSINESS
T WAS once the happy home of Britain’s most loved and listened to radio DJs. With a roster boast- ing broadcasting legends such as Sir Terry Wogan, Ken Bruce, Johnnie Walker and Simon Mayo, Radio 2’s London headquarters was a place of joy and aspiration. But after a flood of departures, things have taken a very sorry turn. Today, inside sources say, a ‘deep depression’ hangs over the station. There are even fears for its future as its stars sit ‘waiting for their turn to get sacked’, like many of their predecessors. ‘Radio 2 is a shell of its former self,’ says my source. ‘It’s like an ice rink – it’s slippery and nobody knows who is going to fall next. ‘It used to be a place full of so much positivity – brimming with it, in fact. It
station’s a place of fear and humiliation
was a jolly place to be. Now it’s a place of fear and humiliation. It feels like nothing is going right.’ Insiders say there has been a ‘horrid atmosphere’ since the hugely popular Scott Mills was sacked in March after he was accused of historical sexual offences (despite the police drop- ping the case some years ago due to lack of evidence). However, the unrest at the sta- tion didn’t start with Mills. That came in 2019 when Mayo resigned from his drive-time show after a gender diversity push saw him forcibly paired with Jo Whiley. It heralded a flood of departures. Mayo, 67, was followed out of the door by Radio 2 veteran Steve Wright. The legendary DJ recorded his last afternoon show in 2022 after 23 years before dying unexpectedly just 18 months later. Ken Bruce summarily ended his more than 30-year relationship with the station in 2023. Zoe Ball quit her breakfast show in December 2024 – then her week- end slots the following Decem- ber – while even Bob Harris stood down in June. Trevor Nelson is also on leave after becoming ill. The departures have left those who remain terri- fied for their jobs. ‘It’s like dominoes,’ says my source. ‘Simon went and then the oth- ers started to fall. It was a huge moment and has left listen-
old guard as a badge of honour’ -- veteran stars’ fear of ruthless Radio 2 boss Helen
ers disappointed and turning off to move elsewhere. What is going to happen? Who is the next person to be doomed? We don’t know and that’s the worry. ‘There’s fear from the DJs for themselves but they also care deeply about their listeners who’ve been left devastated by the depar- ture of their favourite people.’ Sources inside the station point the finger at its controller, Helen Thomas, who was promoted to Head of Station for Radio 2 in 2020 after joining in 2003. Although she is what BBC staff call a ‘lifer’ within Radio 2, I’m told she is no longer popular with the troops – regardless of their seniority. Ms Thomas was behind the sack- ing of Mills after learning his accuser was under 16 at the time of the alleged offence. The decision went down badly with both Ms Thomas’s staff and listeners alike, although many accept there was justification for an investigation. Other oustings, how-
BBC
ever, have left staff baffled and upset. She was behind the unpopu- lar decision to remove much-loved Wright from his afternoon show in 2022 and replace him with Mills. She is also very much blamed for Ken Bruce’s exit a year later. Although it was his own choice to leave, he was told to step down ear- lier than his agreed departure date. ‘Rather than be worried about the audience, Helen sees the
darkness have
been difficult
to navigate
culling of the old school talent as a badge of honour,’ says my source. ‘The problem is that she can’t see that it is making Radio 2 very unpopular with the listeners. ‘She has her eye on promotion, and that means she is enjoying being seen as someone who solves problems. The issue is she seems to be creating more of them. Many of those listening at home are
older, love stability and don’t like change. There have been so many changes recently it has been hard to keep up.’ Since his sacking, Mills is reported to have launched legal action against the BBC, though top brass will be pleased not to have him on the payroll, given his hefty salary of £745,000 to £749,999. ‘It was awful for Scott,’ says my insider, ‘but the BBC stand by getting rid of him. ‘The doom and the darkness since have been difficult for the young staff to navigate. ‘There doesn’t seem to be any loyalty any more. There was no time for anyone to fight Scott’s corner – he was gone within a couple of days.’ However, replacing Scott with Sara Cox – the 51-year-old Lancas- trian DJ who made her name as one of the infamous ‘ladettes’ back in the 1990s – was, say insiders, the right decision. She was promoted from her Drivetime show to the higher profile slot, but – with a salary of between £320,000 and £324,999 – she is cost- ing half her predecessor’s pay. ‘She deserved to get the role,’ says my source. ‘It gave you some hope that the right people were
DEPARTURES: (Clockwise from left) Ex Radio 2 DJs Steve Wright, Simon Mayo and Ken Bruce
getting the jobs. Like there was a little bit of light amid the dark.’ It’s also fair to say that Radio 2’s line-up is facing scrutiny over its salaries. While Mills’s, recently published, was a surprise to col- leagues, also up there is Vernon Kay, the host of the station’s mid-morning show, who takes home £405,000 annually. Another issue riling staff is the decision to bring in names such as Paddy McGuinness, Romesh Ran- ganathan and Emma Willis to host weekend shows, given they are unpopular among older listeners. In fact, my snitch says there have been ‘extensive complaints’ in letters to the BBC and across social media about hiring them: ‘They are all new to Radio 2, there is a serious overhaul going on in front of our eyes and there is noth- ing that any of the stars can do about it. It’s terrifying.’ With so many changes, it’s hard to forecast that this deep depres- sion is set to lift any time soon.
W
LOW POINT: Being jailed for three years in 1999
HEN news broke last week that Robert Downey Jr has pocketed a staggering $100 million (£75 million) for his next two films, it stunned Hollywood. For the Marvel Studios deal did more than confirm his status as the highest-paid actor of all time – it marked one of the most extraordinary redemption stories in entertainment history After being hailed as one of the brightest talents of his generation, the actor plunged into drug addiction so severe he was thrown in jail multiple times and was reduced to earning eight cents an hour scrubbing pans inside Los Angeles County Jail. Back then, in the late 1990s, it must have seemed unthinkable to the now 61-year-old Iron Man star that he would, one day, topple screen icon Tom Cruise from the top of Tinseltown’s highest-paid list. Cruise earned $46million
she was nuts to
start dating him
(£34million) for last year’s blockbuster Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Downey took to the stage at San Diego’s Comic-Con last weekend to a thunderous roar from fans to tease his upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday, which will be released in December and marks his first $50million payday for one movie. His second gigantic cheque will come in the sequel Avengers: Secret Wars, due next year. In both films he’ll play the green-cloaked icon of comic book villains: Doctor Doom. A source at Walt Disney Studios, which owns Marvel, says: ‘Fans loved him as Tony Stark in the Iron Man films, so when it came to choosing someone to lead the Doctor Doom films there was only one choice. People are raising their eyebrows at his $50 million-a- movie salary but he’s worth every penny. He’s made ten Marvel films as Iron Man and they’ve earned more than $12 billion at the box office. There’s no one else on the planet who can do that.’ But while Downey’s ascent from the gutter of drug addiction to the stratosphere of movie-making has been remarkable, Hollywood insiders know who really pulled him from the brink of destruction – his formidable wife Susan. One woman who lives close to the couple’s futuristic pod-like eco-home in Malibu told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Robert would not be alive without Susan. Period. ‘You never see them apart. She’s very much the power behind the throne. She’s a beautiful woman on the outside and they have a gor-
addict, signs film deal worth £75million...
dragged drug-addled Iron Man star from the brink of oblivion and helped to make him...
paid movie star EVER
Caroline Graham
geous family and a charmed life but there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that, if Susan hadn’t picked him, he’d be in the gutter or worse by now. She rules him with a rod of iron, in the nicest possible way. She’s given him two beautiful kids, a gorgeous home and – most importantly – stability.’ At a party hosted by Downey, the source, who has known him since the 1990s, asked if he’d ever be tempted by drink or drugs again. ‘He waved his arm in the air and said, “Why would I risk this?”.’ The woman says Susan, 52 – a successful producer in her own
IN LOS ANGELES
right when she met Downey on the set of the 2003 film Gothika – has never once doubted that the man she fell in love with could conquer his demons. ‘When she started dating him everyone thought she was nuts,’ the woman says. ‘Robert has always been a lovely guy but he was like a wounded animal. ‘He was a terrible addict. He’d go to rehab and get clean for a while, and that happened multiple times, but then he would fall off the wagon and you knew it was only a matter of time before you’d turn on the news and see him being
hauled away in handcuffs.’ On one infamous occasion in the mid-90s, known as the ‘Goldilocks incident’, Downey stumbled into the wrong home in Malibu while high on cocaine and fell asleep in an 11-year-old boy’s bed. Thankfully the child was away. The recording of the boy’s mother’s 911 call to police has become part of Hollywood folk- lore because Downey’s loud snor- ing can be heard in the background. Another time, he was arrested for driving his Porsche naked down Sunset Boulevard – throwing imaginary rats out of the window. During one court appearance he told a judge: ‘Taking drugs to me is like having a shotgun in my mouth with my finger on the trigger, and I like the taste of the gun metal.’ The friend says: ‘I don’t think any- one but Susan could have cleaned him up and kept him clean.’ And it is this feat of marital per-
severance that has helped Downey rise to the top of the industry that very nearly consumed him. Indeed, when Downey won his Oscar in 2024 for his role in Oppenheimer – playing the nuclear scientist’s government nemesis Lewis Strauss – he did not shy away from his troubled past or his love for the woman who saved him. As he clutched the golden statu- ette, Downey said: ‘I’d like to
thank my terrible childhood and the Academy, in that order. I’d like to thank my veterinarian – I mean wife – Susan Downey, over there. She found me, a snarling rescue pet, and you loved me back to life. That’s why I’m here.’ While many of Downey’s legion of younger fans have no recollec- tion of what he has called ‘my dark years’, those of us who were around
in Hollywood in the 1990s and 2000s will never forget. Back then, Downey was already a bonafide star thanks to roles in films such as Natural Born Killers and his bril- liant performance in Richard Attenborough’s 1992 film Chaplin. But his drinking and drug abuse put him on an all-too familiar path to career destruction and worse – one walked by River Phoenix in the early 1990s, and Heath Ledger and Matthew Perry more recently. As if tempting fate, Downey would hang out at Hollywood’s most notorious nightspot, The
Viper Room, where Phoenix died of a drug overdose in 1993. He dated Sarah Jessica Parker, long before her Sex And The City fame, and I would see them together at clubs – The Roxbury on Sunset Boulevard was another favourite haunt – her hanging on to his arm for dear life. She eventually dumped him and returned to Manhattan. Downey was never a ‘nasty’ drunk. One night at a famous hotel off the Sunset Strip he fell asleep at a table, woke up with a jolt and then invited everyone
MY HEROINE: Robert Downey Jr larking about with Susan at a 2024 awards do. Below: As Iron Man
back to his room to continue the party. He had flings with actresses Marisa Tomei and Jennifer Jason Leigh, and was always surrounded by a group of gorgeous girls – and boys. He would later give an interview in which he said ‘I think that everybody is bisexual.’ There was a brief marriage to the musician Deborah Falconer in 1992. She gave birth to their son, Indio, the next year. While friends say Downey has since ‘gone out of his way’ to sober up and ‘be a good dad’ to his eldest child, sobri- ety in the 1990s was never his strongest suit. One says: ‘He was a sweetheart, but he always pushed it to the limit. I’ve never seen any- one snort lines of coke like Bobby.’ Downey’s father, Robert Sr, was also a familiar face on the ‘scene’ back then. He was an independent filmmaker, and I would often bump into him at art events around town. Downey Sr was a self-professed bohemian who married Elsie, a would-be actress, and raised their son and daughter Allyson – 18 months older than her brother – in a chaotic world of drugs and par- tying in Greenwich Village, New York. The couple eventually divorced and Downey Sr headed West with his young son in tow. When he was six, Downey was caught by his father sipping white wine from a glass left on a kitchen counter. In an appalling act of p a r e n t i n g , Downey Sr told his son he ‘ought to try a little of this instead’ as he passed him a marijuana joint. The actor later confessed: ‘When my dad and I used drugs together it was him showing me love in the only manner he knew.’ For years, Jr and Sr had a turbulent relation- ship. I remember sitting with Downey Sr after an art opening in the mid-’90s. A jazz band was playing and Sr was smoking some- thing pungent. He told me: ‘I love my son, but it’s complicated.’ When I asked him to elaborate, he laughed and told me to ‘relax’. His son had just been found passed out in a rat-infested alley behind a Hollywood hotel. At his lowest ebb, friends tried repeatedly to help Downey, with Sean Penn and Dennis Quaid paying for him to attend a rehab facility in Arizona. Jobs came and went. He landed a part on Ally McBeal, then one of the biggest TV shows in the world, but was fired because of his addic- tion issues and lost his house in Malibu. He was arrested in a hotel room in Palm Springs with three bags of cocaine, a .357 Magnum and a Wonder Woman costume. In 1999, he was sentenced to three years in state prison for repeatedly violating probation on
drugs and weapons charges. He would only serve one year but has talked about how in jail he ‘woke up in pools of blood’ following fights with inmates, looking to goad their new celebrity convict. He called himself ‘the poster boy for pharmaceutical mismanage- ment’. In 2001, Downey pleaded no contest to possession of cocaine and, because of his long history of drugs offences, was sentenced to three years’ probation. While details of Downey’s long-term recovery are, of course, confidential, the actor told one interviewer that after meeting Susan Levin in the summer of 2003, he fell deeply in love. She was the polar opposite of Downey, having grown up in Chicago, the daughter of a wealthy businessman. Her mother ran the parent-teachers’ association. Susan has never smoked a cigarette let alone taken any illegal drugs. She reportedly gave him an ulti- matum: choose the drugs or me. He dumped his stash into the Pacific Ocean outside a Burger King and duly proposed to Susan on the eve of her 30th birthday. One person who has known him for 20 years in recovery said: ‘He found a great group of people who have supported him ever since and
cocaine, a gun... and a Wonder Woman outfit
Robert has given back. He has helped countless other people with their recovery.’ For her part, Susan rarely gives interviews, preferring to stay out of the limelight with their son Exton, 14, and daughter Avri, 11. A friend of the Downeys says: ‘You would be hard-pressed to find a closer family. Robert and Susan are devoted to their kids. They go to everything. He’s very low-key. You would never know he’s one of the biggest stars on the planet.’ In a rare interview with the Hollywood Reporter in 2014, Susan told how she insisted on a two-year engagement. She said: ‘Addiction was so foreign to me. I was incredibly ignorant of the hold it had on people.’ They were married in 2005, and it was Susan who encouraged her husband to go for the Iron Man job. A friend says: ‘Robert is a “proper” actor. This was before the days when Marvel was cool. ‘Him taking it was a big risk. He didn’t want to do a comic-book character. Susan told him to take it. That was a major turning point.’ They set up a production com- pany, Team Downey, with Susan saying: ‘Our feeling was, if we wanted to spend time together, have a life together, then we should just go ahead and make movies together.’ About her part in her husband’s recovery, she remains modest, saying her role was ‘small’ but emphasising the importance of ‘creating an alternative world for them that says, “Hey, I’m here if you’re clean.” ’ But to the Downeys’ friends, Susan’s input remains life-saving.
WHO AM I?
l I’ve been endorsed by China’s
People’s Liberation Army – and
film director Quentin Tarantino.
l Boris Johnson called me
‘a Picasso-like hairdryer’ in a
speech to business leaders.
l Pop star Iggy Azalea, right,
threatened to turn me into
breakfast because our albums
were out on the same day.
l The British Medical Journal
said I fuel ‘unrealistic
expectations’ as my GP makes
home visits for trivial illnesses.
He’s also a bear.
l I’ve won a copyright war with
YouTube’s Wolfoo, protecting my
OUR fun weekly quiz, in which we ask you to figure out people, places and things in the news... Where
£1.3 billion-a-year business. l I’ve done 450 episodes, many involving puddle-jumping. l Australia banned an episode for saying spiders are harmless.
WHAT AM I?
l I’m lactose intolerant.
l Four people were arrested last
month for painting one of me in
Leeds United colours.
l One in three of me will be
killed by road traffic.
l In 2024, a Cheshire woman
saved what she thought was one
of my babies, placing it in a box
with food. It was a hat bobble.
l Roman Pliny the Elder started
the myth that before hibernation
I collect fallen fruits on my
spines by rolling on them.
l Forget Wind In The Willows,
badgers are my natural predator.
l I might soon be on banknotes.
WHERE AM I? l A duke thought a village here spoiled his view, so had it moved.
cost of police on long-term sickness leave
RECORD numbers of police are on long-term sick leave, with critics blaming poor management, rising levels of violence and increasing workloads for the problem. Home Office figures show that the equivalent of 3,358 full-time officers across 43 forces were absent through sickness, at a cost to the taxpayer of nearly £3 million a week. The figures do not include those who rang in sick on the day of the count, only those on long-term sick leave, which the Home Office defines as an absence of more than 28 days. It means every officer included in the total had already been off work for at least a month when the snap- shot was taken during the annual
and rising assaults’
manpower survey on March 31. The total of long-term absent officers has risen for five years in a row to its record high and is up 71 per cent on 2021 when the figure stood at 1,965. The Home Office does not say what is driving the rise but confirms many officers are unable to work because of injuries, assaults and psychological conditions. The absent officers – the equiva- lent of 2,653 full-time constables, 508 sergeants, 137 inspectors and 59 of more senior rank – share a com- bined salary bill of around £150 mil-
TV PRESENTER and actor Shane Richie will appear in court next month charged with drink-driving. The 62-year-old soap star, best known for playing Alfie Moon in EastEnders, was arrested in
l Legend has it that several
rocky pillars here are women
who turned to stone for dancing
on the sabbath.
l I contain the wrecks of more
than 150 aircraft.
l A cave here that makes
flatulent noises when water
drains out of it is called The
Devil’s Arse.
l I became Britain’s first
national park 75 years ago.
Now locals are furious about a
temporary rebranding to
advertise Skoda’s Peaq car.
ANSWERS: Peppa Pig, hedgehogs, the Peak District
lion a year – the equivalent of nearly £3 million a week in wages. William Yarwood, campaigns director of The TaxPayers’ Alli- ance, said: ‘Victims will be horrified that record numbers of police officers are off sick while forces plead for more resources. ‘Taxpayers are funding close to £3 million a week in wages for officers unable to report for duty, at the very moment the public wants more bobbies on the beat and crim- inals behind bars. ‘Police chiefs must get a grip on sickness absence, tackle poor man- agement and make sure recruitment drives are not being swallowed up by officers stuck off the front line.’ The Met Police had the most officers on sick leave – 750 – fol- lowed by Greater Manchester on 209, West Midlands on 169, West Yorkshire on 152 and South Wales on 119. But as a share of its strength, Cleveland was worst affected, with 72 of its 1,504 full-time equivalent officers – 4.8 per cent, or one in 21 – off sick on the day of the count. Across England and Wales as a whole, 2.3 per cent of officers – one in 43 – were off sick. A Police Federation spokesman said last night: ‘These figures are a clear warning. ‘Long-term sickness is the inevita- ble result of relentless workloads, constant trauma, rising assaults, and a system that treats officers as an endless resource.’
Harlow shortly before 11.20pm last
Wednesday, Essex Police said.
Richie, whose real name is
Shane Roche, is due to appear
at Colchester Magistrates’ Court
on September 9.
STEVE BENNETT
I’m grumpy! Sir Rod gets trapped in a lift at Prada
ROCKED: Rod, Alastair and Mell in the lift in the Instagram selfie
SPRAWLING on the floor of a
lift looking hot and bothered, Sir
Rod Stewart is clearly having one
of those up-and-down days.
The star was getting some retail
therapy at Prada with his son
Alastair, 20, and Alastair’s girl-
friend Mell Ratto, when the trio
found themselves trapped in the
store elevator – and clearly
wishing they’d taken
the stairs.
D e s p i t e
t h e
M a g g i e
M a y
singer being one
of the world’s
biggest music
stars – having
sold more than
1 0 0 m i l l i o n
r e c o r d s
a n d
earned two induc-
tions into the Rock &
Roll Hall of Fame –
help was not immediately
at hand.
Eventually, the trio gave up
waiting, sat down on the floor and
got in touch with Prada via Insta-
gram with the understated plea:
‘Can someone help get us out of
the elevator?’
While being trapped in a lift is a
nightmare for many, Sir Rod, 81,
look at Lollapalooza Harriet Kean
and company appeared more
bored than panicked as they
waited to be rescued during the
drama last week.
Perhaps they were thinking
of ways to describe their plight
by reimagining some of the
star’s lyrics – Wake up Prada I
think I got something to say to
you (for instance).
It’s the latest in a
string of minor set-
backs for the singer.
In June, he was
forced to use
an oxygen tank
d u r i n g
a
concert in West
Valley City, Utah,
after
almost
fainting on stage,
taking breaths
from the apparatus
throughout the remain-
der of the performance.
The drama came just a week
after he cancelled a concert in Cal-
ifornia citing health concerns,
only to fly by private jet to Boston
24 hours later to watch Scotland
take on Haiti in the World Cup.
The decision did not sit well with
fans who had been expecting to
see him perform.
IT SEEMS
Liam Gallagher is
making up for lost time
after two years ‘living like
a monk’ ahead of last year’s
Oasis reunion tour. My spies
spotted the singer knocking
back nine margaritas in
one afternoon at his local
in the Cotswolds
with his wife
Debbie.
◆DO ALL wizards look the same?
Fans often mix up Gandalf actor
Sir Ian McKellen, left, and the late
Michael Gambon as Dumbledore,
right. Sir Ian recalls Gambon once
admitting that: ‘They hand over
their wretched 8x10 [photos] of
you and I just sign your name.’
Got a story? Email diary@mailonsunday.co.uk
MOST people would be happy to succeed in one career – but not Suki Waterhouse. Not only is she a supermodel, but she’s also an in-demand singer, appearing on Friday at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, left, in a Seventies rock-inspired outfit of tiny hotpants and pink, ruffled cape. She has revealed several tracks on her third album, Loveland, were inspired by her Hollywood actor fiance Robert Pattinson – including Notting Hill, about the boujie flat where the couple fell in love, and one about missing the Batman star while he was travelling, called Weirdo. Now that’s a pet name if ever there was one!
Tua star
FORGET Dua Lipa…
meet Tua Lipa. That’s
the nickname given
to the star after her
insistence on having
tulips at her
wedding in June.
The tulip season
runs from March
to May but that
didn’t deter Dua,
30, who held a huge
wedding party in Sicily
with actor hubby
Callum Turner, 36.
‘The flowers had
to be imported at
vast expense,’ my
source says. ‘The
wedding florists
are calling her
Tua Lipa.’
◆CONGRATULATIONS to David
Linley’s daughter Margarita
Armstrong-Jones, 24, who has won
a coveted spot at Mayfair’s Dover
Street Market exhibition.
Princess Margaret’s grand-
daughter, who makes Matita
Jewellery, has finished a
tough course in her craft
at Alchimia, in Florence.
LILA MOSS looked every inch like her supermodel mother Kate in Ibiza last week, trying on feather mini-shorts and bejewelled corsets at trendy clothes shop Annie’s Ibiza. But my spies tell me Lila, 23, was without one usual accessory... her on-and-off boyfriend Yoni Helbitz, left. ‘Lila has outgrown him,’ my source tells me. The pair have already broken up and got back together once this year, but my source confirms: ‘This time, it’s for real.’
The Mail on Sunday AUGUST 2 • 2026
32 M
Y FAMILY has farmed at Dalling- ton, in Northamptonshire, since 1893. It is where my grandfather, Jack Spencer, grew up. My great-grandfather gave our family home there away in 1919, to be used by local servicemen wounded (as my grandfather was) in the First World War. Yet he clung on to the fields nearby. But last year my family sold its Dallington farm- land – 310 acres of it – and what made the sale inevitable was rubbish. This wasn’t litter, nor the odd fridge dumped in a gateway. It was lorry-loads of construction waste tipped in the dead of night, asbestos sheeting left to rot in a hedgerow and, on one occasion,
60 burnt-out cars stacked on what used to be good pasture. Three years ago, the Althorp team had to tackle half-a-ton of plastic bags thrown over a wall with shovels. It was from a local restaurant,
and consisted of rotten meat and putrefying human waste. The final straw came last year when the 250-year-old farmhouse on the land was set on fire by crimi- nals and had to be demolished.
The place had only been empty for a heartbeat, as we struggled to find anyone brave enough to live in this Mad Max landscape – but criminals took that opportunity to burn the historic farmhouse down. We have fought dumping and fly- tipping for years. We have put up gates, cameras, warning signs. None of it worked, because the peo- ple doing this aren’t opportunists chucking an old sofa off the back of a van. They are organised. A House of Lords inquiry heard evidence last year that large-scale fly-tipping in this country is now run by the same criminal networks involved in money laundering, drug
cars stacked
on what was
good pasture
dealing and modern slavery. Waste crime pays, and it pays well, because almost nobody gets caught. To most people, fly-tipping means a sofa on a verge or bin bags where they should not be. On farmland it is a hydra. A padlock is cut in the small hours; a lorry reverses through a gateway; by first light there is a load in the field that nobody will own up to. You cannot plough round it. It leaches into ditches. Livestock go and investi- gate it. If the farmer leaves it where it lies, he is the one breaking the law. Clear it and word gets round that the gate is worth a second visit. Waste left at the roadside is the council’s responsibility. Waste left eight feet further on, through a farm gate, becomes the farmer’s; his to clear, at his own cost and his offence if he does not. The Country Land and Business Association found nearly three- quarters of the farmers who answered its survey were hit every year, some several times a month, at roughly £1,000 a time. One load cost me £40,000 to move. We have six full-time skips at Althorp, dealing with this scourge. A hazardous load runs into tens of thousands. And in law a farmer can only recover his costs once the person who dumped it has been convicted. Councils in England dealt with 1.26million incidents last year, 9 per cent up on the year before, and that counts reported dumping on public land alone. It does not include the fields, gateways and farm tracks, because most of what happens there is never reported. There is not much incentive to report a crime that will not be inves- tigated and that you will pay to clear up either way. Waste crime costs this country about £1 billion a year. Last October the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee wrote to the Environment Secre-
tary to say that serious waste crime had been critically under-priori- tised, and to ask for an independent, root-and-branch review of how it is dealt with. Its chairman said she feared the system was broken. The committee described agencies responding slowly to repeated reports from the public, and a ‘woe- ful’ lack of successful convictions. Consider Hoads Wood in Kent, an ancient bluebell wood and a site of special scientific interest. The dumping began in 2020, and the public reported it. By the time the Environment Agency shut the site in 2024, some 30,000 tons had gone in, 25ft deep in places. Clear- ing it is estimated at £10million, and Kent Wildlife Trust anticipates that the damage will still be obvious in 100 years. Three people were arrested last February. Nobody has been prosecuted. Set that against the enforcement figures. Of those 1.26million inci- dents, 1,377 led to a prosecution – fewer than one in 900 reaching a court. Councils seized 139 vehicles in the whole of England. Fines fell last year while dumping rose and the average was £539. When we handed filmed evidence to the police of one such crime on Althorp land,
at the fine and said it would not stop them
the accused laughed at the £1,000 fine and said it would not stop them from continuing their dirty trade. Meanwhile, recovering your costs after a conviction is, for most farm- ers, merely a notional right. The simplest change would be to stop asking people to pay for crimes committed against them. The Gov- ernment has said it will look at indemnifying landowners and I hope it does, because a right to
tackle the fly-tipping gangsters who’ve forced me off the land my family has farmed since 1893?
recover your costs after a convic- tion is worth little when convic- tions are so rare. The courts already have the sen- tencing powers. And lawful dis- posal ought to be cheaper and simpler, because pricing people
DRIVEN OUT: Earl Spencer has sold the 310 acres of land to property developers By Earl Spencer
out of doing the right thing has always fed the shallow end of this practice. Fines of up to £5,000 and penalty points have been announced, and none of it is unreasonable. However, a penalty only deters
someone who expects to be caught. In the end my family sold its Dal- lington land to developers. It will now become 1,800 new houses, a secondary school and two primary schools, with money going towards local roads and healthcare.
Northampton needs the housing, so something good comes of it. I cannot pretend the outcome was a hardship. We had land worth selling and buyers who very much wanted it. Most of the people this happens to have no developer at
the end of the story, just the next gate and the next lorry and no way of knowing which morning it will be theirs. Since I started writing this, I have learned a truckload of garden waste and timber has been dumped at Althorp. It is never-ending.
EARL CHARLES SPENCER
NEWS...TODAY!
OUR weekly irreverent look at some of
the stories that might be breaking over
the coming days…
TODAY
As the Commonwealth Games come to
an end, Glasgow’s streets are filled
with thousands of people in tracksuits.
The two facts are unrelated.
MONDAY
Ireland claims
Fifa’s U-turn on
selling off the
World Cup was
down to its
principled boycott
of the competition,
which it has
proudly
maintained
since 2002.
‘I’m no venal money-grubber,’ rages an indignant Gianni Infantino, ‘And I have been awarded the Fifa Philanthropy Prize to prove it.’ TUESDAY Andy Burnham claims victory in stopping the small boats. Now they’re absolutely massive.
And the PM responds to critics who
accuse him of being too Manchester-
centric, saying: ‘I won’t Cheetham
out of their fun. I’ve Heaton a lot of
Hulme-ble pie in my day, so this will
make no Denton my reputation. I’ve
nothing to Hyde. But, by Eccles,
Wigan-na Oldham to account, take the
wind out of their Sales. I will Bury this,
for Shaw. It doesn’t matter where I
Hale from. Anyone who disagrees can
get their hats Ancoats and Leigh-ve.’
WEDNESDAY
French farmers protest that the
government isn’t doing enough to
stop the wildfires in the only way they
know how – setting things alight.
Marks & Spencer says its new crotchless knickers range is perfect for its dyslexic customers who confuse ‘S&M’ with ‘M&S’. FRIDAY Experts explain that wasps are rarer in soaring temperatures as the heat brings them out in hives.
Bordeaux vineyards
start selling
pre-mulled wine.
A disused SpaceX rocket smashes into the Moon at 5,400mph. Elon Musk is hit with a £200 fixed penalty notice for littering. THURSDAY Zack Polanski fails to dampen the furore over the offensive picture he accidentally reposted on social media – given he has zero experience of reducing boobs.
A BRITISH ex-Special Forces soldier was confirmed dead yesterday after the expedition he was leading was struck by an avalanche in Pakistan. Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja, who was born in Nepal and served in the Royal Marines and Special Boat Service, was among six people missing after the avalanche on Broad Peak mountain on Thursday. The 43-year-old was leading a group of ten
MP Abbott gets back party whip
By Brendan Carlin ANDY Burnham has been warned not to let Labour ‘slide back into the dark days’ of anti-Semitism after the deci- sion to let Diane Abbott back into the parliamentary party. The Prime Minister was warned of serious unease in the Jewish community over Ms Abbott’s return. The Labour veteran lost the whip 12 months ago after she sparked an anti-Semitism row by referring to the Israel Defence Force as the ‘Jewish defence force’ on social media. Ms Abbott had also doubled down on an earlier claim sug- gesting black people experi-
FEARLESS: Nirmal Purja
climbers on the mountain – the world’s 12th highest. His body was found with those of other members of the expedition following a
enced worse racism than the Irish, Jews or Travellers. But last week, Labour said Ms Abbott had apologised following an independent review. She had also been given a formal warning for her tweet last year. However, her return has sparked concern. Some Labour figures have privately contrasted Mr Burnham’s first weeks as party leader with his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer’s vow to rid the party of anti-Semitism, which
search, his climbing firm,
Elite Expeditions, said
yesterday. All ten died
in the tragedy.
Naila Kiana, of the
Alpine Club of Pakistan,
said he was ‘very
experienced and fearless’.
Paying tribute to him,
British adventurer Bear
Grylls said: ‘Heartbreaking
news for so many
climbers around the world
who had a relationship
with this remarkable
and unique man.’
VETERAN: Diane Abbott
plagued the party under Jer- emy Corbyn. Last night, former Labour MP Louise Ellman, a leading figure in the Jewish commu- nity, said: ‘Labour must never slide back into the dark days of anti-Semitism.’ Ms Abbott said she was ‘deeply sorry for any hurt’ caused by her conflating ‘the actions of the state of Israel with the Jewish community’. Labour stressed ‘anti-Semi- tism has no place in the Party’.
SHOWBUSINESS CORRESPONDENT
HE’S the highly respected Oscar-winning film director whose movies have amassed a staggering £5 billion. But Sir Christopher Nolan has become a hate figure among Gen Z after the release of his latest blockbuster The Odyssey – standing accused of being sexist by self-appointed moral arbiters. Since the much-anticipated film was released three weeks ago, TikTok has been awash with fans lambasting Nolan, 56. They are furious over his portrayal of women in the three-hour epic. Nolan wrote the script and has been accused of giving female characters less depth than Homer’s original text, with young feminists branding him ‘the patriarchy’s favourite movie director’, with videos sharing such
THE secret to a mood-
boosting garden may lie
not in what you plant, but
what shade it blooms in.
Scientists at the Royal
Horticultural Society have
found that those with
green fingers are drawn
overwhelmingly to
vivid flower colours,
with red topping the
list as most popular.
The more intense the
hue, the stronger the
emotional pull, the
researchers found, with
muted tones producing
weaker reactions. Yellow produced the highest scores for happiness, while grey and white blooms were rated calming but boring. The findings emerged from a study of more than 11,000 visitors to RHS Wisley Garden in Surrey, who were shown more than 30 flower hues on a screen for 15 seconds before selecting the
for reducing Zendaya’s Athena to a ‘head-nodding bit part’
beliefs racking up millions of views and likes. Matt Damon, 55, plays Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca, who endures a long and peril- ous journey home after the Trojan War as he attempts to reunite with his wife Penelope [Anne Hathaway]. The main gripe revolves around Nolan’s creative decisions for the goddess Athena, played by Hollywood star Zendaya, with viewers claiming Nolan reduced her to a ‘head-nodding side character’. In Homer’s
emotion each one triggered. Green and cyan blooms were linked to courage, while cooler shades such as blue and purple inspired calm more than any other colours. ‘The study provides evidence for designing gardens that support emotional wellbeing through colour selection,’ said its co-author Ross Cameron, professor of environmental horticulture at the University of Sheffield.
text, it is pointed out, Athena is the sec- ond-most important role because she plays an active part in delivering Odys- seus home by petitioning Zeus to allow him to return. But Spider-Man actress Zendaya, 29, appears on screen for less than five min- utes while her husband Tom Holland’s character, Telemachus, the son of Odys- seus, has a more prominent part. And while Samantha Morton’s portrayal of the goddess Circe was widely praised, fans pointed out that Odysseus spent a year captured by her, which was written out of the film completely. It is also claimed that Charlize Theron’s Calypso provides only a ‘foil’ for the lead male character to tell the story. In one TikTok video that has been liked a million times, one young woman said: ‘Christopher Nolan writes women as objects of male consciousness and this needs to be addressed. He is the patriar- chy’s favourite movie director. ‘It’s fascinating because his wife, his creative collaborator of 30 years, has produced every film he has made. But you never see the true essence of femi- nine interiority.’ Another critic added: ‘He doesn’t imagine who women are outside the orbit of a man.’ Examples referenced include Florence Pugh’s and Emily Blunt’s characters in
BLOCKBUSTER: Matt Damon and Zendaya in a scene from The Odyssey
Oppenheimer alongside Cillian Murphy. Others on the app have agreed and claim that none of Nolan’s 13 feature-length films apart from Interstellar pass the ‘Bechdel Test’ – a Gen Z indicator for a feminist film where two women on screen talk to each other about something other than a man. Meanwhile, critic Angelica Bastien wrote for Vulture magazine: ‘Writer-di- rector Christopher Nolan’s genius ends when a woman enters the frame.’
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS PRODUCTION
O
N THE day the
world’s first atomic
bomb was dropped
o n
H i r o s h i m a ,
36-year-old Kiyoshi
Tanimoto and his
wife and baby daugh-
ter were living three-quarters of a
mile from the epicentre.
The explosion flattened their
house and almost everything
around it. The heat was 4,000C at
ground level; it burned through
wood, tile, concrete and flesh.
Fires spread all over and smoke
turned day into night. Tens of
thousands of people were killed –
those closest to the explosion died
instantly – and their bodies turned
to ashes. Many more died soon
after, from burns, trauma and
exposure to radiation.
A Methodist minister who had
converted to Christianity from
Buddhism, Kiyoshi was one of six
survivors interviewed by Ameri-
can journalist John Hersey for a
groundbreaking article in The
New Yorker magazine, published
80 years ago this month.
Conveying the horrific human
consequences in an account that
shocked millions worldwide, it
helped galvanise the international
peace movement but told only
part of Kiyoshi’s story.
In 1947 he wrote his own,
more detailed account of his
of rain, big as blackberries, began falling
miraculous escape and battle to help survivors. The manuscript remained hid- den in a university archive for nearly 80 years until, in Decem- ber 2023, it was unearthed during research for a documentary about his friendship with Hersey. Now, it is being published as a book for the first time. As this haunting extract reveals, Kiyoshi spared none of the terrible truths in reminding the world why nuclear weapons like those deto- nated over Hiroshima and Naga- saki should never be used again.
ON THE morning of August 6, 1945, I was helping a neighbour move possessions to the safety of a village outside Hiroshima when we saw a strange flash of light streak out of a dim, brown cloud from the east towards the west. Some survival instinct must have kicked in, because I threw myself between two large rocks just before a strong blast of wind filled the air. My ears were stunned. Small bits of shattered material fell on my body. ‘Good heavens,’ I thought. ‘What hard luck to suffer from an air raid way out in a place like this.’ It was 8.15am. We were unin- jured but the world I knew changed in that single moment. I had a bird’s-eye view of the city below: covered in dark clouds, it was a sea of fire. How
BETTMANN ARCHIVE / IMAGE COURTESY OF PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE
SURVIVORS:
Kiyoshi, centre,
his wife Chisa, far
left, and daughter
Koko, left. Above:
Hiroshima after
the bomb, far
right, exploded
could a single air raid have done all this? Just then, black drops of rain, big as blackberries, began falling. I was terribly afraid and won- dered what had happened to my home and to the church where I served as a Methodist minister. Running down the road leading back into Hiroshima, I passed numerous wounded souls in an endless line heading up to the hill- side. Not a single person was uninjured. Eyebrows were gone and hair was burned off. Skin from faces, hands, arms and breasts was stripped off or hang- ing loose. Most were naked. All faces were pale and without
expression. No one was crying or yelling, just following one after another in silence like a proces- sion of ghosts. They must have been so shocked that they could utter no word. Everything was beyond their comprehension. At first, the buildings I saw were damaged but somehow still standing. But for about half a mile from the centre, every dwelling was flat on the ground. It was as if they had been toy buildings crushed by a hammer. Painful cries of ‘Help!’ could be heard from under smashed houses. The thought my wife and baby daughter must be in the same state flashed through my mind. I
ran like a wild man. Everywhere there were pitifully injured people. They could no longer keep moving so they were lying in the street. The further I moved into the city, the more wounded I saw. Not a single tree was still standing. A few huge, reinforced concrete buildings stood lonely among the ruins. Wherever you looked, it was like a prairie scorched by fire. When I reached the bridge lead- ing to Noboricho, the area where we lived, it was ablaze so, despite being a poor swimmer, I had to plunge into one of the seven rivers which intersect the city. Swallowing water and almost drowning, the only way to reach the opposite bank was to take off the clothes weighing me down. I was then completely undressed
and only differed from others by having no scars from burns. On the other side, a miracle hap- pened. I ran into my wife Chisa carrying our baby girl Koko, who was eight months old, in her arms. Chisa was wearing a blood-stained chemise, her hair was hanging about her shoulders and she had a ghostlike appearance. I called to her. She turned around, looked at me and stood quietly with tears in her eyes. I later learned that she had been standing at the front door of our parsonage, holding Koko and chatting to a parishioner, when the roof crashed down. The noise of Koko’s crying brought her back to conscious- ness in the wreckage. Smelling burning, she saw a small opening and used all her strength to make it big enough to push Koko
through. Then she crawled out, wounded and barefoot, gathered Koko up and started running towards the northern suburbs where there seemed fewer flames. Not knowing how courageous she had been, I felt almost resent- ful that my family had survived when so many had died. A friend of Chisa’s, who lived nearby, gave me some clothes and I continued running, trying to help survivors. Some had taken refuge in Sentei Gardens, a nearby park, and were desperate to get across the Kyobashi river to a safer area beyond the flames. Finding an old boat with five dead bodies in it, I offered a silent prayer to each as I dragged them out. Then I began ferrying people across, using a bamboo pole as a paddle because there were no oars. In the river, fish, burned on their heads and bleached white on their backs, were swimming weakly near the surface. People who had died in the water were floating along. Pushing aside the dead, I propelled my boat. When I pulled on the hand of one passenger, the skin slipped off as if it were a glove. When I laid my hands on the back of another man,
who had one leg in the boat and was trying to climb in, the skin of his back came off. As the conflagrations in the city died down, I worried about feed- ing everyone and returned to what was left of our street with a neighbour, who had provisions stored in her air-raid shelter. While there, I saw her poking at something with a stick. It was a pile of her husband’s bones. When their home collapsed, she had managed to fight her way out, but
his hand came off as if it were a glove
he had been struck by a falling crossbeam. She was forced to leave him in the inferno. We joined together in prayer and bowed sol- emnly to her husband’s ashes. Back in Sentei Gardens, I was so tired I could hardly move. I
lay among those too weak or wounded to have made it across the river in my boat. Their skin had looked yellow but by evening it had turned red and began to swell, with pus coming out of wounds and sores. Many became infested with maggots. Among them was a severely burned young girl who cried for her mother throughout the night. She was dead by sunrise – the new dawn revealing numerous dis- tended bodies floating in the river. The fierce heat left those still alive desperate for shade and the corpses were smelling terribly. I organised a group of survivors to cremate them, many barely alive themselves. Some cremating the dead would die two or three days later and would, in turn, be cremated by their friends. Unable to work any longer in the heat, I spent much of the after- noon lying down in the shrubs as if dead. Only by sundown was I partially revived and took some food to my wife and Koko, who had found refuge with a friend whose house had suffered relatively light damage. It was there that night that I finally went
to bed for the first time since the attack. In the days that followed, as I ministered, I heard heartbreak- ing stories from those with missing or dead relatives. A schoolgirl called Aiko had managed to pull her heavily bleeding mother from the timbers of their house but could not reach her younger sister, Kuzo. By the time she had moved her mother out of the way, the dreadful fires had reached their house. Aiko had tried to throw herself into the flames to rescue her sister, but a neighbour pulled her away. There was a harrowing story of two young mothers. One was still breastfeeding her baby, despite being burnt so terribly from head to toe that nobody could recognise her. She should have died much sooner but she was living for the child’s sake and only gave in when she finally ran dry of milk – the baby still trying to suckle as she took her last breath. The other had been carrying around her dead newborn, despite the body starting to smell. She kept saying she wanted to show the infant to her husband, a sol- dier, unaware that he had died. It
burnt mother continued to breastfeed
had one foot standing on the iron step at the entrance. In a moment, that person had been annihilated. In coming days, I set about find- ing my parishioners. If they were alive, I tried to help them; if they were dead, I honoured them, keeping a record of how everyone had survived or had died. As I stood among the ruined homes of those who were gone, the loneliness cut into my heart. In tears, I called their names: ‘Omote-san, Maki-san, Ishii-san…’ On August 15, when I heard the Emperor’s broadcast announcing surrender, I crawled into bed and cried, grieving for my country’s defeat in a war for which people made so many sacrifices. But the Emperor himself had renounced war. A new, peaceful Japan had a chance to be born. But
my comedy about murder case funny
AMANDA Knox has insisted that murdered student Meredith Kercher would have found her new stand-up show funny. Ms Knox, 39, was twice convicted of killing her flatmate Ms Kercher in Perugia, Italy, in 2007 before the country’s Supreme Court finally acquitted her in 2015. She is now telling the story of her wrongful imprisonment in a show titled Cartwheel, which she is bringing to the Edinburgh Fringe
By Chris Hastings ‘DEPLORABLE’: Amanda Knox, near right, and, her ex-flatmate Meredith Kercher
Festival from August 7 to 17. Ms Knox told the Daily Telegraph: ‘Meredith was really sophisticated and smart, but she was also fun, she was also playful. ‘I think that she would appreciate the show because it grapples with what it means to be a young woman, and it’s honest. Would she have found it funny? Yeah, I
think so. I mean, it is funny! I don’t joke about Meredith’s death. I joke a lot about how I was vilified, but I don’t joke about her murder. That’s just a line for me.’ The US author, a mother of two, said she hoped the show would help her children understand what had happened to her. But Francesco Maresca, the Kercher family’s lawyer, branded it ‘offensive and deplorable’. He told the Scottish Sun he had ‘lost
all hope’ that Ms Knox could comprehend their feelings. Her show is the latest in a string of projects Ms Knox has built around the case. They include two memoirs, podcasts and TV drama
conditions in Hiroshima were desperate. There were 2,000 bomb orphans, many of pre-school age. With food in short supply, children were reduced to soaking newspa- pers in water and trying to eat them. Shocked survivors wandered the ruins, some picking up the remains of dear ones, others carrying the wounded to medical stations. One was near my church, where nurses worked 24 hours. I walked about, peering into every face to see if I could find any of my congregation. Patients were scarcely breathing. Among them was a boy of about eight. When a cloth covered with pus was removed from his back and arms, which had all been burned, he cried: ‘Itai! Itai!’ (‘Ouch! Ouch!’). Even those not injured by the attack could suffer a sudden death, and with too many patients to be treated, gauze used for one would be used on others, transferring deadly infections. Many more succumbed to ‘atomic disease’, as radiation sick- ness became known. My family all experienced the diarrhoea associ- ated with radiation sickness. I also fell prey to fevers and fatigue; at one point, they feared I might die. By the time I celebrated Christ- mas 1945 in the ruins of my church, American forces occupied the coun- try. Despite Japanese propaganda portraying them as demons who would drop poisoned sweets from planes, they were friendly. But I did not know at the time that the US authorities were downplaying the effects of the atomic bombs, focus- ing on their destructive power on buildings rather than people. This aroused the suspicion of John Hersey, a veteran war reporter and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, and prompted him to visit Hiroshima in May 1946. I was one of six people interviewed by him and, thanks to the article he wrote, we suddenly became famous. But we had only done what should have been done by any citizen. There were many heroes in Hiroshima.
Postscript by Kiyoshi’s daughter, Koko Tanimoto Kondo
FEW Hiroshima survivors would talk about that time. Their memo- ries kept them quiet. So did the discrimination we from Hiroshima faced from people who said that those with radiation sickness were dangerous to be around. It was 40 years before my mother could bring herself to tell me how we had survived. When she did finally speak about it, she brought out the tiny pink dress I’d been wearing. I still have it, a poignant
The Twisted Tale Of Amanda Knox. Mr Maresca said Ms Knox’s continued references to the case had prevented any reconciliation between her and Ms Kercher’s family, who live in south London.
reminder that I was the only baby in our neighbourhood to survive. My father was very different from my mother in his willingness to talk about the bombing and, fol- lowing the publication of John Her- sey’s article, he was invited to give lectures all over the US about the suffering caused by the bomb. During one of those tours, in May 1955, my mother and I were flown to Los Angeles to surprise him as part of the TV show This Is Your Life. At one point, a silhouetted figure appeared behind a screen and said: ‘Looking down from thousands of feet over Hiroshima, all I could think was: “My God, what have we done?” ’ Then out came Robert Lewis, co-pilot of the Enola Gay, the aircraft that dropped the bomb. My father’s face turned to stone. Their handshake was brief. Lewis looked agitated and uncomfortable. In a shaky voice he described his flight over Hiroshima and how the city had ‘completely disap- peared’. Then he choked up. He was crying. This encounter must have seemed a gamble for the show’s producers but my father had never blamed the
touch, then squeezed my hand tightly
Americans for the bomb, rather the Japanese leaders ‘who dared to fight such a reckless and lousy war’. At first, I glared at Robert Lewis with hatred. But even a ten-year-old like me could see he was a mess. Later, I learned he’d skipped rehearsal and had to be retrieved from a bar before the show started. At the end, as we were all grouped together on stage and the audience continued to applaud, I inched side- ways towards him and touched his hand. He felt my touch, then squeezed my hand tightly. If not for Captain Lewis, I’d have been carrying hatred around for the rest of my life. Instead, I followed the example of my father in cam- paigning against nuclear weapons. The most valuable lesson he taught me is that we are all human beings, living our lives in the same world.
© Kiyoshi Tanimoto, 2026 l ADAPTED from Hiroshima, 8:15, by Kiyoshi Tanimoto (Ebury Publishing, £16.99), to be published August 6. To order a copy for £15.29 (offer valid to 23/08/26; UK p&p free on orders over £25) go to mailshop. co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937.
T
HE senior Reform member wasn’t pull- ing any punches. ‘There’s no way Nigel puts this behind him now,’ he told me. ‘The five million quid isn’t going to go away. George Cottrell isn’t going away. I don’t understand what he was think- ing. But it doesn’t matter. I don’t see how we move on from it.’ Another Reform insider was equally scathing of their leader. ‘The Clacton stunt was madness. He’s totally marginalised himself and the party. Recess is the moment we traditionally capitalise. But we’re nowhere. We’re just talking to ourselves.’ Even three months ago, such seditious talk would have been unthinkable. There were tensions and factions inside Reform, as there are inside all parties. But they were confined to backbiting among Nigel Farage’s lieutenants, MPs and activ- ists. Criticism of Farage himself was essentially confined to eye-rolling over his time-keeping. But now senior members of the party are starting to think the unthinkable. ‘Nigel isn’t immortal,’ one said. ‘What he’s done is incredible. But there’s a limit to what one man can achieve.’ Farage had hoped the summer recess, and his bold gamble of attempting to turn the table on
his political pursuers by provok- ing a by-election in his staunchly supportive Essex constituency, would result in a transformation of his political fortunes. Instead he has placed himself at the centre of a perfect storm. His failure to adequately address questions over his £5 million gift from Thai crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne started to raise con- cerns internally. The dramatic decision – taken with a small clique of senior advis- ers but without any wider consul- tation – to resign and promote his Clacton showdown, poured petrol on these smouldering embers of discontent. Discontent that rapidly heightened when it emerged his sole serious chal- lenger in the contest would be Count Binface. B
UT what has finally tipped people over the edge is the col- lapse of both Reform’s national polling numbers and Farage’s own ratings. Reform have basically been in decline since last October. But the brutal defenestration of Keir Starmer, Andy Burnham’s bounce and Kemi Badenoch’s remarkable resurrection have sent their numbers into freefall. At the peak of their support nine months ago, Reform were on 31 per cent, 11 points ahead of Labour and a full 14 points ahead of the Conservatives. Today they are languishing on 24 per cent, just one point ahead of Burnham’s party, and only five points ahead of Badenoch’s Tories. The collapse in Farage’s per- sonal ratings has been even more precipitous. At the start of last October, he had an approval rating of minus 10 – of itself not the most ringing endorsement but still 11 points better than Badenoch and a staggering 30 points above the benighted Starmer. Today he sits on minus 22 – that’s 31 points
below Andy Burnham and 24 points below the Tory’s Lady Lazarus. This breakdown in Farage’s personal standing has resulted in an implo- sion of Reform’s discipline. Zia Yusuf, the party’s home affairs spokesman, was described to me by one insider as ‘completely out of control. The press office have no idea what he’s going to do or say’. As for Farage’s inner circle, long-standing suspicion has turned into a concrete belief there is a traitor in their midst. According to one source: ‘Some-
are in freefall – and for the first time, it’s led Reform chiefs to think the unthinkable
one is out to get Nigel. The stuff people are getting on the finances is too detailed. We’ve got a rat on the inside.’ The result is the number of people trusted to make decisions has shrunk to a tiny core of acolytes. Which in turn has added to the party’s dysfunctionality. ‘Nigel should be devolving deci- sion-making,’ one former ally told me, ‘but instead everything’s becoming more centralised and
secretive. It’s unsustainable.’ It is. Within Westminster there is a settled narrative that says if Farage is forced to walk away from politics, Reform are effec- tively finished. But in reality the opposite is true. Unless Reform find a way to move on from Farage, they are doomed. The polls are unequivocal. Reform’s leader has always been a divisive figure. But that divi- siveness has morphed into a politically terminal toxicity. The number of people who passionately dislike Reform’s leader now outweighs those who idolise him by a margin of almost two to one. And crucially,
is out to get
Nigel... we’ve
got a rat on
the inside
the former group are prepared to lend their votes to just about any- one if it means keeping him out. Caerphilly. Gorton. Makerfield. The Manchester mayoralty. The pattern is now established. Reform begins the campaign seemingly as favourites. And ends it comfortably defeated after an unofficial anti-Farage – he would say ‘uniparty’ – coalition unites to stand in his way. Then there is Farage himself. The political antenna that once enabled him to judge the mood of the British people in a way that appeared psychic have been snapped off. As exemplified by his Clacton gamble, which has turned into an unmitigated disaster before a single ballot has been cast. Earlier last week I had a drink
with a couple of senior Tory strat- egists, who were literally raising their glasses to their old nemesis. ‘Because of the broadcasting rules on by-elections, there are now limits on how much coverage he’s allowed,’ one explained delightedly. ‘That’s given us the space to control the agenda. ‘Look at the coverage Chris [Philp, the Tory home affairs spokesman] has been getting on small boats. That’s Farage’s issue. And we’ve been running rings round him.’ Even when Farage wins his by-election, it will be an empty victory. Election night will be a circus, as he attempts to bask in his triumph over Count Binface, Baron Von Thunderclap and Nick The Incredible Flying Brick. The fact that he has held Reform’s safest seat in the coun- try will – literally – Count for noth- ing. The man who a year ago was being touted as a future Prime Minister will have gambled everything to effectively become the mayor of Clacton. Farage’s internal critics are right. There is no escape for him now. The leaks will continue. The questions will mount. The police are starting to take a growing interest in Reform’s affairs. And the attempts to deflect with increasingly hysterical claims of an ‘establishment stitch-up’ are not having the desired effect. So his party is about to face a reckoning. In my view, it’s not actually a one-man-band. Lee Anderson is an authentic and robust tribune for working people. Richard Tice brought a discipline and profes- sionalism to his time as leader. Rob Jenrick is a polished and per- suasive media performer. And in the weeks and months ahead they will have a decision to make. Is it really the case that Reform are nothing without Farage? Or are they a serious political party, rather than a monument to one man’s folly?
L
IKE all self-respecting career criminals, Terry Ellis started stealing during his childhood, when he and his friends in working-class Camden Town would jump on to slow-moving freight trains and loot their radio sets. Later, he graduated to robbing post offices with a sawn-off shotgun, smuggling cannabis across Spain and selling cocaine to north London celebrities. However, Ellis, whose father was also an armed robber, always hankered for a greater challenge – ‘to take the art of robbery to the next level’ as the cockney bandit so poetically put it. And in 2007, after several spells in prison, he fulfilled that ambition with a job he’d later modestly call his ‘criminal Mount Everest’. It involved getting in (and out of) a huge, fortress-like data centre operated by international telecoms giant Verizon in King’s Cross and stealing Pentium computer chips worth £5 million. However, the data stored on those chips was worth far more – £100 million, says Ellis – as it contained immensely sensitive banking information, wanted by the shady ‘banking syndicate’ that commissioned the robbery. It was a challenge that certainly deserved compar- ison to scaling the world’s highest mountain, involv- ing as it did getting past eight levels of security. The brains-over-brawn heist that Ellis and his fellow robbers pulled off involved fake police uniforms, cars and dogs, not to mention shocking amounts of bravado and sang-froid. No wonder it was dubbed the Ocean’s Eleven rob- bery by a gobsmacked media after the star-studded 2001 caper film about an ingenious $160million (£120million) casino heist. Now, the real story of the elaborate King’s Cross crime has inspired a novel, Cloudthief, by award- winning US writer Nathaniel Rich, which revolves around an unlikely duo who team up to steal data of immense value from a huge and inadequate- ly-protected data centre in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In the 19 years since the Verizon heist, data centres have become perhaps the big- gest single engine of growth in the global economy, not only storing everything on the internet but also powering the vast computations of the artificial intelligence industry. Everybody knows about them today, but in December 2007 data centres were largely a mystery to the general public, who knew little about these huge, anonymous build- ings beyond the obvious fact that they had an awful lot of security. And the three-floor, two-acre Ver- izon complex, which backed on to Regent’s Canal along St Pancras Way, needed to be especially
into the hands of the FBI’
secure. Unlike other data centres even at that time, it stored data that wasn’t backed up anywhere else, as is the standard security protocol these days. Perhaps its owners assumed that nobody could possibly get past its daunting defences. This was certainly the conclusion initially reached by the swaggering Ellis and his cronies, as he admitted in a 2023 memoir. Ellis is now a reformed charac- ter after a stint at Britain’s only therapeutic prison, HMP Grendon in Buckinghamshire, which offers group therapy sessions. He revealed in the book how he was approached by a ‘fixer’ acting on behalf of a group of dodgy bank- ers in the US who wanted to erase evidence of their illegal involve-
ment in funding construction pro- jects in Ireland. Ellis believes the group was linked to the so-called subprime mortgage disaster that sparked the world financial crisis less than a year later. The heist – which Ellis and the syndicate’s fixer ‘Ray’ discussed over coffee and cakes in a cafe overlooking Hampstead Heath – necessitated getting ten people into the building. Ellis and his four criminal confederates knew very little about computers, so four shady technicians had to join them. Their paymasters insisted that a tenth man, who knew how to find and extract the data they were targeting, should go along too. Their task was to remove 80 servers that held the data, disable them without destroying the contents and then spirit them away to safety. They would be paid
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a total of £1.5million (the equiva- lent of £3.6million today) for a night’s work, which sounded less generous when they learned that three previous attempts to get hold of the data had failed. The information contained on the chips ‘can’t fall into the hands of the FBI or ever see the light of day’, the fixer told Ellis, according to his memoir, as the consequences would be ‘catastrophic not just to my people but the banking indus- try in general’. And it needed to look ‘like just another opportunist robbery’, he added. That last proviso seemed faintly ludicrous given all the security that they’d have to get past. First, there was the building’s outer perimeter, which was patrolled around the clock by security guards, ringed by security cam- eras and regularly checked by
police. Every 20 minutes, the front entrance would automatically light up ‘like a Belisha beacon on a zebra crossing’. Every door was reinforced with steel, opening outwards to make it harder to force it open. All the exit doors only opened from the out- side and each was monitored by cameras. The exterior windows were sealed shut. All the glass – inside and out – was bullet-proof. First, visitors had to get past a swipe-card entry system, which also conducted a biometric hand scan, before they could get inside. The next hurdle was a ‘thermo- static pressurised airlock vesti- bule’ 13ft long by 8ft wide, in which the reinforced door at one end couldn’t be opened until the other had closed – effectively trapping any intruder. After that was another turnstile which opened into a foyer, with a uniformed guard stationed there continuously behind bullet-proof glass. He buzzed approved visitors through a third turnstile to another door, which was monitored by a CCTV suite operated by three more guards in what was the secu-
rity control room. Each of them had a panic button that could sum- mon help from any one of three police stations within a mile radius. A six-strong team of guards patrolled the hundred or so rooms in the rest of the building. Even if the intruders got past all that, CCTV in the computer data rooms was remotely monitored by an external private security com- pany. Discovering this last snippet of information in advance, Ellis admits, proved crucial. He and his associates didn’t believe in carrying guns as this would significantly increase their prison time if they were caught. If they needed to resort to violence, they would rely instead on their kickboxing expertise. Either way, trying to muscle their way in seemed like a recipe for disaster. From inside a British Telecom van they had bought at auction and parked outside, they spent weeks surreptitiously watching the build- ing. But after logging the move- ments of security guards and cleaners in and out of the building and assessing the field of view of the battery of CCTV cameras, they despaired of finding a weak point in the defences. One of them did manage to get on to the roof after swimming across Regent’s Canal and exploiting the cameras’ single blind spot, but was unable to get any further. Ellis was on the point of calling it all off when, one weekend, he was at a friend’s flat and the street out-
RINGLEADER: Reformed Terry Ellis spent eight years in prison
side was suddenly blocked off by police. They had spotted a man on the roof of a library and were worried he was going to jump. The incident gave Ellis an idea. The gang duly obtained five sets of brand new police uniforms and radios, as well as a fluorescent dog-handler’s jacket for the team member who would handle Buster, an alsatian they borrowed who was ‘as big as a barn door’ and whose bark was ‘menacingly loud’.
They also bought a police van and car from a film-props company. Given that the Verizon security guards had to clock on at certain points as they patrolled the build- ing or else an automatic alarm would go off, the thieves calcu- lated that they should try to get into the data centre and out again within an hour. Just after 9pm on December 6, 2007, they sprang into action. Their police vehicles skidded to a halt outside the Verizon front entrance as another car – contain- ing the computer technicians – pulled up behind, helping to hide the other vehicles from real police passing on the main road. Five uni- formed ‘police officers’ – Ellis and his crew – and their dog Buster jumped out. Spotting four security guards through the glass, Ellis buzzed the intercom and ordered them to open the door. The chief guard asked what was going on. ‘We have had a report that someone is up on the roof. We’re a fast-response robbery squad and we need to get access to the building,’ he said, holding his police ID to the camera. As the guards continued to hesi- tate, he banged on the window, angrily demanding that they ‘open the f***ing door’. This had the desired effect and they were allowed in. When they got as far as the security control room, where three guards sat behind the cam- era monitors, Ellis asked if any of
SKY NEWS
them had been on the roof in the past hour. After they all denied they’d done so, Ellis said he had to go up there immediately but first he insisted on handcuffing the guards as police had been told that the intruder was dressed as a security guard. He had to be sure who everyone was before they could be released, he explained. The guards obliged, even agree- ing to call down three guards patrolling the second floor so they could be handcuffed, too. ‘They – like the other guards – looked per- plexed but they all reluctantly complied,’ writes Ellis. ‘But not before I had to threaten them all
them with the dog’
with the dog, which thankfully did the trick.’ Leaving the handcuffed guards in a stairwell, the gang then let the computer technicians and the tenth team member into the building while Ellis and a confederate headed to the top floor where they knew two more security guards lurked. They rapidly cuffed them, too, Ellis ‘whacking’ one of them against a wall and pushing him to the floor after turning a corner and almost bumping into him. He then returned to the front desk and cut the live feed from the
CCTV cameras. Just seconds later, the private security company monitoring the feed called the data centre to ask what had hap- pened. There’d been a power surge in the computer system which had knocked out all their monitors, Ellis – pretending to be Verizon security – told the caller. Their technicians were already working on it and the system would be up and running again within the next 40 minutes, Ellis assured him. The caller appeared to accept the explanation, although a sweat- ing Ellis – who’d considered this moment about the riskiest part of the heist because he didn’t know whether he was supposed to give the caller a code to prove his credentials – was aware the man to whom he’d been speaking could have called the police. But they pressed on, the techni- cians using the security guards’ ID cards to access the top-floor data room – room 992 – where, using battery-operated screw drivers, they disconnected the targeted computer servers and stored them in 20 large laundry bags they’d brought with them. Meanwhile, the others swept the complex for any remaining staff, handcuffing two technicians and four cleaners they found – bring- ing the grand total of subdued occupants to 16. Suddenly, the team member at reception radioed to say that two men had come to the front
entrance. But they were only tech- nicians coming in to work and they didn’t spot anything amiss as they headed to a third-floor room – which was fortunate for the thieves as they’d run out of hand- cuffs and would have had to tie the newcomers’ hands with shoelaces. They were out of the building at 10pm and, just as they passed a nearby police station, ‘all hell broke loose’ as a convoy of a dozen police vehicles, sirens blaring, hurtled off in the direction of the data centre, alerted automatically – the thieves assumed – by the alarm system. ‘Blue lights were flashing all down Kentish Town Road and for a second I thought they were on to us,’ Ellis recalls in his book, The
blue lights were flashing’
Art Of Robbery. ‘My stomach was doing somersaults, I could hear the dog barking in the back.’ In fact, they were home and dry. Unfortunately for Ellis and his second-in-command Denis Carr, their celebrations were short- lived. The Verizon security guards identified them from photos shown to them by police i n v e s t i g a t i n g another robbery. Ellis, who’d had the nerve to rent a canal boat and live for three weeks on the Regent’s Canal right behind the data centre as police searched for them, was arrested in September 2008, surrounded by police on the street as, armed with a new passport, he headed towards Luton airport to fly to a hideaway in Thailand. He served nearly eight and a half years in prison for the Verizon heist and three other robberies. The court heard the robbers had attacked several members of staff and some needed treatment for shock after being threatened with the snarling dog. Ellis claims MI5 twice visited him in prison, offering to have his sentence reduced to three years if he identified who had recruited him to steal what they called ‘highly sensitive banking data’ and reeling off a string of US and UK banks to him as possibilities. The data centre’s owners at the time underplayed the robbery because, say Ellis and others, they were reluctant to admit that the data was vulnerable to determined criminals. Experts say that, as data centres have spread across the world, the issue of how secure they are has never been more relevant. None of the Verizon computer servers have ever been recovered, nor has anyone but Ellis and Carr ever been prosecuted. ‘I’m not going to defend what I did,’ said Ellis in a 2023 interview in which he couldn’t hide his pride that they pulled it off. ‘There’s always victims in this. I’m not going to say that the banks steal millions off of people and that justifies me doing it. It was just a job, and my job was crime.’
– we are truly sorry’ Police release letters from kidnappers who snatched mother of US TV star
IN LOS ANGELES
POLICE have released two chilling ransom notes they hope may help identify who kidnapped the mother of US TV star Savannah Guthrie. They were sent to a local TV sta-
tion in Tucson, Arizona, days after Nancy Guthrie, 84, was abducted from her home on January 31.
The Pima County Sheriff’s depart- ment, which has been criticised for bungling the investigation,
believes the specific writing style of
the letters may be a clue in itself.
It said: ‘The notes reveal distinc-
tive patterns of word choice, syn-
tax, and phraseology that reflect the
writer’s unique linguistic style.
‘The distinct linguistic character-
istics may be recognisable to some-
one who knows or has interacted
with the notes’ writer.
‘They also provide valuable
insight into the person’s mindset,
motives and the evolution of their
tone over time.’
The two notes initially demanded
a payment and then confessed that
Mrs Guthrie – who had a serious
heart condition – had passed away.
The first note was addressed to
Savannah, the $20 million-a-year
host of NBC’s Today Show.
It described her mother as ‘safe
but scared’ and demanded $4 million
in Bitcoin, which would increase
to $6 million if the first deadline
was not met. It warned: ‘Do not play
games, law enforcement will not be
able to help you.’ The second,
LEARNED
THIS WEEK
Britain appears to be facing
a national shortage of wasps.
When the promising signs
of spring were interrupted by
May’s sudden cold snap, it killed
queens and destroyed young
nests before colonies could
become established. This has
led to an increased number of
flies and other insects, which
would normally have fallen
victim to wasps’ voracious
hunting skills.
2
For decades, the Mormon
church sent members to
far-flung corners of the
world in search of new
converts. Today, it does it on
social media. The church’s
for-profit arm is tapping
so-called ‘Mormon influencers’
– who have made names for
themselves preaching about
their faith on ‘MomTok’ – to
attend press events and create
content that the church can
distribute on its own channels.
3
A tobacco hawk moth’s
wings do more than just fly
– they’re also responsible
for the insect’s sense of smell.
Researchers in Germany found
that the wings contain tiny
hair-like sensory structures
capable of detecting airborne
REWARD: TV host Savannah Guthrie with her mother, Nancy
addressed to the Guthrie family, said: ‘We did not fully grasp the seri- ousness of her physical condition. We never intended to hurt her. She perished shortly after she was taken. We believe it was heart related. She is buried in nature now. ‘Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome. We want your family to know this and hope you all can find peace. We are truly sorry.’ The family is offer- ing a $1 million reward for Mrs Guthrie’s recovery.
online newsletter
chemicals, and have a particularly strong response to compounds in tobacco plants and moonflowers, where the hawk moth, above, lays its eggs. 4
For many of America’s
richest parents, employing
just one nanny doesn’t cut
it any longer. Instead, so-called
‘CEO parents’ are hiring whole
teams of staff to raise their
children, including potty-
training specialists, bike-riding
teachers, school admin
managers and clothing stylists.
5
Britain’s most complete
solar eclipse for 27 years
– and the best we’ll get
until 2081 – will be taking place
on August 12. The moon will
then obscure more than 90 per
cent of the sun.
SECTION
APPROVED
BY DOCTORS
WEALTH & HOLIDAYS
story highlights a growing medical mystery
drink and exercises daily. So how could he end up with advanced bowel cancer at just 43?
Cardiac arrest risk of the patients on antidepressants Health PAGES 48-49
How to get your adult kids off the family finances Wealth PAGES 52-53
Our ultimate guide to the grandes dames of Europe Holidays PAGES 62-63
LOST STAR: James Van Der Beek died at 48
the gym, I was seeing my friends and family... I was getting ready for a summer,’ he says. What he didn’t realise was that the ‘funny’ lumps that had suddenly appeared on his neck were the first sign of something far more sinister. ‘They discovered through the biopsy of the neck that I have stage four bowel cancer,’ he says, explaining that the disease had already spread to his liver, spleen, lungs and the lymph nodes in his neck. The video ends not in despair but with a plea for help funding treatment that offers him the best chance of extending his life but is unavail- able on the NHS. Ross and his husband Matt, 38, had hoped to raise enough money to pay for private care after learning it could cost up to £100,000 a year. Speaking to The Mail on Sunday, Ross, a TV and film digital direc- tor, says: ‘I thought, well, OK, we’ll remortgage the house. I’ll not take sick leave and keep working full time. Maybe I can ask my parents to draw out part of their pension. We will make this work.’ I
NSTEAD, the appeal, which Ross and Matt had hoped ‘might add a couple of thousand’ took on a life of its own. Shared by celeb- rities including Dawn French and radio presenter Zoe Ball, the clip has so far helped to raise more than £246,000. Ross believes one reason his story has resonated so widely is the ‘terrifying’ reality that bowel cancer is increasingly striking people his own age. And the figures suggest he is right. Once regarded as a disease of older age, bowel cancer diagnoses among adults under 50 have risen by about 50 per cent since the 1990s. Indeed, earlier this year actor James Van Der Beek, best known for starring in the 1990s US teen drama Daw- son’s Creek, died aged just 48 – just over two years after his diagnosis. Doctors treating these patients say many are other- wise fit and healthy. And Ross certainly fits that mould. A keen gym-goer, he follows a healthy vegan diet and hasn’t touched alcohol in three years. Scientists have proposed a range of explanations for the rise in young-onset bowel cancer – from pollution and food poisoning bugs to, most commonly, the consumption of ultra-processed foods. ‘The majority of the patients I treat are now young, mostly
missed because doctors assume patients are far too young for it to be cancer
under 50, and otherwise healthy,’ says Dr Ravindhi Murphy, a consultant medical oncologist who works in both NHS and private hospitals. ‘Most of these cases are diagnosed at late stages. Either they’re missed by doc- tors who assume it couldn’t possibly be cancer because of their age, or it just hap- pens to be a particularly aggressive form.’ Now preparing to begin the
IT’S A FACT
The youngest
person in the UK
to die of bowel
cancer passed
away at just
18 years old.
treatment made possible by the fundraising campaign, Ross says he still struggles to comprehend how quickly his life changed. It never occurred to him that the lumps in his neck, which he spotted while brushing his teeth, could be a red flag. ‘When I moved my neck from side to side, I saw a little lump in the mirror, about the size of a pea,’ he says. ‘And by the end of the week, there were two of them.’ He assumed it was simply a throat infection – a sign he
GETTING BOWEL CANCER?
AROUND half of all bowel cancers are thought to be preventable, but scientists increasingly believe the alarming rise in cases among younger adults cannot be explained by lifestyle choices alone. Instead, growing evidence suggests the disease may begin decades before symptoms appear, with exposure to harmful bacteria or environmental toxins in childhood – or even before birth. One of the strongest clues comes from a gut toxin called colibactin, produced by certain strains of E. coli. A major international study published last year found that DNA mutations linked to colibactin were more than three times as common in bowel cancer patients under 40 than in those who were over 70. Because these genetic changes take decades to develop into cancer, researchers
was run down. ‘I just carried on. I thought the funny thing on my neck was an inconvenience that would probably be nothing.’ While Ross’ GP urgently referred him to hospital, the spe- cialist who analysed his ultra- sound reassured him it was ‘a low-grade infection’. ‘They said, “It’s probably just swollen. You’ve probably been run down,” – that sort of thing.’ On May 22 doctors performed a biopsy and told him to expect the results in about a week. They also prescribed antibiotics to ‘get ahead’ of any infection. But within 24 hours, Ross had developed what he describes as a ‘hideous clamping feeling’ in his stomach. ‘It was the worst pain
believe exposure may occur in early childhood, or even in the womb. Scientists are still trying to work out why. Antibiotics, pesticides and ultra-processed foods have all been suggested as possible contributors because they can alter the balance of bacteria in the gut. ‘You can be a healthy weight and still have an unhealthy lifestyle, eating lots of ultra- processed foods,’ says Dr Murphy. ‘Or you could have been exposed to things as a child, like antibiotics, microplastics or pesticides, all of which may alter the gut bacteria in potentially harmful ways. ‘What’s certain is the striking rise in young diagnoses since the 1950s. We don’t yet know exactly why, but many researchers believe the answer lies in changes to our environment much earlier in life than we once thought.’
possible,’ he says. ‘I thought it could be a hernia, or maybe even a reaction to the antibiotics.’ That Bank Holiday weekend, on his way to the theatre, he vomited on the Tube. ‘I called my GP the next morning and said, “Some- thing’s not right here”.’ The doctor referred him for further investigations into his gut, but he was told he faced at least a six-week wait. Three days later, he was vomit- ing blood. Ross and Matt, a marketing man- ager, rushed to their local A&E, where scans revealed several growths on his liver. But doctors initially reassured him they were ‘likely benign’ and ‘nothing to worry about’. A few days later, he
DETERMINED: Ross Aldred will soon begin treatment for stage four bowel cancer which has spread
returned to hospital for an exam- ination of his stomach and bowel – an endoscopy and colonoscopy. ‘The following evening I got a phone call from the colorectal cancer department asking me to come in two days later,’ Ross recalls. When he arrived for the appoint- ment, on June 1, he was greeted in the waiting room by a Macmil- lan cancer nurse. ‘I thought, “That’s not a good sign.” It was the first time it hit me that this could be something pretty serious.’ M
INUTES later an oncologist deliv- ered the body blow. Ross had stage four bowel cancer that had already spread throughout his body. Only one in ten patients diag- nosed at this stage will still be alive five years later. ‘I was in shock,’ he says. ‘I found it very difficult to make the con- nection between lumps in my neck and bowel cancer. ‘And I was doing everything right. I hadn’t drunk in three
years, I was vegan, I was at the gym all the time. Clearly what I was doing wasn’t right enough.’ His family – including his mother, who is undergoing treat- ment for leukaemia – were ‘heartbroken’ by the news, but resolved to take it ‘one small step at a time’. Ross’ diagnosis marked the begin- ning of a whirlwind of operations and treatments – all within the space of a month. First, surgeons performed an operation to fit a stoma after finding an 11mm tumour was blocking his bowel and leaving him in agonising pain. But while Ross was recovering, doctors uncovered another life-threatening complication. Tumours in his liver were block- ing the ducts needed to flush waste products from his body. As toxins built up, he developed jaundice – causing the skin and eyes to turn yellow – and was at high risk of liver failure. Worse
IT’S A FACT
It typically takes
a bowel polyp – a
small, growth on the
lining of the rectum
– ten to 15 years
to become
cancerous.
still, without a functioning liver, chemotherapy – the only NHS treatment available to Ross – would not be safe. ‘The liver is responsible for clearing chemotherapy drugs from the body,’ explains Dr Ravindhi Murphy. ‘If it isn’t working properly, the medicine builds up to poisonous levels.’ Ross’ oncologist proposed a high- risk procedure to drain the toxins using a series of tubes and stents inserted into his liver. ‘I thought, if I don’t get this tube put in I can’t have chemotherapy and that’ll be it for me,’ Ross says. ‘I had no choice but to go ahead with it.’ The operation was successful and his liver function slowly began to recover. ‘But then,’ he adds, ‘of course, I got sepsis.’ The life-threatening condition – in which the body’s immune sys- tem begins attacking its organs in response to an infection – is a rec-
ognised complication of proce- dures involving the liver, says Dr Murphy. Remarkably, Ross recovered within a week and was discharged home. Then, at last, came some much- needed good news. Genetic tests of Ross’ cancer revealed that he had a subtype known as BRAF – a particularly aggressive form of the disease that also responds especially well to a new combination of drugs. BRAF accounts for about one in ten bowel cancers and is the same subtype that affected Dame Deborah James, who died from the disease aged 40 in 2022. ‘These cancers tend to affect younger patients and are often very aggressive,’ says Dr Murphy. Campaigners argue that BRAF patients have been neglected by NHS drug watchdogs, which have denied access to promising exper- imental treatments. In 2023, The Mail on Sunday published experts’ calls for more UK clinical trials offering tar- geted therapies to BRAF patients – drugs designed to destroy tumours by attacking their genetic quirks. A recent international study involving 637 patients found that giving the combination of the drugs encorafenib and cetuximab alongside chemotherapy doubled life expectancy – from about 15 months to 30. W
HAT’S more,
patients given
the three-drug
combination
f a c e d
n o
greater risk of
side effects – such as nausea and
extreme fatigue – than those
receiving chemotherapy alone.
However, the treatment is not
routinely available on the NHS.
Some British patients have
accessed the treatment through
clinical trials in recent years.
However, there are currently no
UK trials recruiting patients.
Two of the drugs – encorafenib
and cetuximab – are available on
the NHS, but only after chemo-
therapy has stopped working. By
that stage, studies suggest the
treatment is significantly less
effective than when all three
drugs are given together from
the outset.
Private hospitals can offer the
full three-drug combination
alongside chemotherapy, but at
eye-watering monthly costs –
prompting Ross and his family to
launch a fundraising appeal
to cover the treatment.
Ross, who is due to begin the
treatment within days, remains
admirably positive.
‘When you’ve been faced with
the opportunity of your life end-
ing sooner than you thought, sud-
denly everything else becomes
more important,’ he says.
‘Whether it’s just eating dinner
at home with friends, or spending
time with my mum and dad, it
feels precious. Euphoric, even.
‘That’s what life is about, isn’t
it? Being with the people you love
and making the most of the time
you have. That’s what I’ve done
since the day I was diagnosed.
And that’s how I’ll continue.’
Health
Darker
fruits
linked to
healthier
hearts
REGULARLY eating dark-fleshed
grapes, berries and blueberries
can improve heart health, a study
has suggested.
Researchers found that the
naturally occurring compounds
in these fruits are associated
with ‘modest but consistent’
improvements in cardiovascular
risk markers, particularly blood
vessel function.
Benefits for blood pressure,
inflammation and cholesterol
levels were also reported.
The UK and Spanish research
teams analysed 17 systematic
reviews and meta-analyses, and
20 randomised controlled trials,
published since 2015. One of the
strongest studies included in
the review found that eating 150g
of blueberries – equivalent to a
standard supermarket punnet
– each day for six months
improved blood vessel function,
which is vital for blood flow
throughout the body.
The researchers said that the
changes were consistent with
an estimated 12 to 15 per cent
reduction in cardiovascular
disease risk, although the trial
did not directly measure heart
cardiovascular health’
attacks or strokes. The benefits, they said, are probably linked to polyphenols, naturally occurring plant compounds that can reduce inflammation, improve blood vessel function and protect against oxidative stress. The review, published in the journal Nutrients, found the benefits tended to be clearer in people who had a higher cardiovascular risk, including those who were overweight or obese, had high cholesterol, raised blood pressure or other metabolic risk factors. The study authors concluded: ‘Given the growing body of evidence over the past decade and rising rates of obesity and cardiovascular disease, increasing public awareness of the potential role of consuming dark-fleshed grapes, blueberries, and fruits such as red berry grapes appears to represent a practical and evidence-informed strategy for promoting cardiovascular health.’ Cardiovascular disease, a term covering coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke, affects more than seven million people in the UK and accounts for about a quarter of all deaths.
scalp tattoo that’s giving men a new head of hair
R
Leonard
ISING numbers of men with hair loss are turning to an unlikely solution that avoids both medica- tion and costly trans- plant surgery. Called scalp micropigmentation, the treatment involves tattooing thousands of tiny pigment dots across the scalp to create the illu- sion of a closely shaved, fuller head of hair. The procedure typically takes around nine hours and costs about £2,000, and UK clinics say demand has surged in recent years. It has also become a social media trend, with before-and-after trans- formation videos attracting mil- lions of views. Emma Furlong, a hair loss spe- cialist at The Aderans London Hair Clinic, says she has seen a dramatic rise in the number of patients enquiring about it. ‘In the past, scalp micropigmen- tation was largely used within the hair transplant industry – to con- ceal scars and create the illusion of more hair density for trans- plants that didn’t achieve as much fullness as they wanted,’ she says. ‘But in the past few years, it’s become seen as an actual stand alone hair-loss solution.’ Part of the treatment’s popular- ity, says Ms Furlong, lies in the instant yet subtle transformation it can achieve. ‘If you’ve been bald for a while, scalp micropigmentation won’t seem as obvious as a sudden head of hair,’ she says. ‘Subtlety and naturalness are key. We used to see patients who had been through all the options, or who simply didn’t want to wear a hair piece all the time. ‘But people are realising that if they do this, they may not need a hair transplant yet – or at all.’ About 6.5 million men in the UK
REGULARLY sleeping more
than eight and a half hours each
night could be linked to early
Alzheimer’s-related brain
changes, research suggests.
Previous studies have linked
both short and long sleep
duration with Alzheimer’s
disease, the most common cause
of dementia in the UK.
Now a study from US-based
researchers has found that people
who reported sleeping more than
eight and a half hours a night had
AFTER
experience hair loss of some sort. The causes can vary. The most common form for men, called male pattern baldness, is genetic. Some may develop alopecia areata, a disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks the scalp tissue, making hair fall out in patches. Stress is also a trigger. In the UK, thousands of men take drugs, such as finasteride and minoxidil, which are proven to slow down – or even reverse – hair loss. Many also pay for a hair transplant – a surgical procedure where hair follicles from one part of the scalp are removed and grafted into an area with less cov-
higher blood levels of p-tau181 –
a biomarker strongly associated
with Alzheimer’s disease.
The study, published in the
journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia,
analysed 2,410 participants from
the Framingham Heart Study,
with an average age of 70 years.
Levels of the biomarker rose
more sharply among those
sleeping more than ten hours.
erage. But transplants, which usually cost about £5,000, are not always successful, and in some cases of advanced hair loss the procedure is unlikely to work. Scalp micropigmentation, mean- while, is almost guaranteed to be successful. The procedure uses a special tattoo pen made up of three extra- thin needles fused together. A full head usually requires three sessions, says Ms Furlong, each taking about three hours. Patients interested in the proce- dure also come in for a prelimi- nary session, where the pigment is tested on the skin, and the practi- tioner can map out the new hair-
This remained the case even after researchers adjusted for factors such as age, sex, sleep apnoea and depression. The authors suggested that self- reported sleep duration of more than nine to ten hours per night may warrant further assessment of sleep and cognitive health. ‘We knew from the existing literature that the relationship between sleep and these biomarkers was unlikely to be simple, and that’s exactly what
l i n e .
A n d
because each
area is only tar-
geted once, the
p r o c e d u r e
i s
largely painless.
Patients are not given
any anaesthetic, and
rarely report anything more than
minor soreness afterwards, insists
Ms Furlong.
And scalp micropigmentation
causes less scar tissue, allowing
for a quicker recovery.
‘We give patients two weeks for
the pigment to settle down – dur-
ing which they can’t get the scalp
wet for seven days – and then
bring them in again twice more to
we found,’ said the study’s author,
Dr Vanessa Young, a postdoctoral
research fellow at the Glenn
Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s
and Neurodegenerative Diseases
at UT Health San Antonio.
Researchers said that the
findings do not suggest that
sleeping longer causes
Alzheimer’s disease. Instead,
they believe longer sleep could
be an early behavioural sign of
underlying brain degeneration –
and noted that long-term studies
IT’S A FACT The global hair-loss industry already rakes in around £15 billion each year – and is expected to expand even further.
CONFIDENCE BOOST: Ray Hand shows off the results of his scalp micropigmentation procedure
add fullness,’ says Ms Furlong. ‘Then they’re good to go for the next five years or so, when we rec- ommend they come in for a quick top-up session. There’s no extra maintenance required.’ One patient who benefited from scalp micropigmentation is coach driver Ray Hand, 55, who began losing his hair in his mid-30s. Though not overly preoccupied with his balding at first, the father- of-two became interested in the procedure after seeing videos of it on social media. ‘I wasn’t trying to make myself look 20 years younger,’ he explains. ‘And as I hadn’t had hair for so many years, I thought a hair transplant or hair system would look ridiculous. But scalp micropigmentation seemed like a great natural alternative.’ After researching online, Ray, from Dorset, came across The London Clinic, and underwent the procedure last April. He has been delighted with the results. ‘I started a new job recently, and my col- leagues could not believe that it wasn’t real hair when I told them about the proce- dure,’ says Ray. ‘Even looking very close up, it seems so natural.’ And Ray’s family has been similarly impressed. ‘My wife was sceptical when I first told her I was considering having hair tattooed on,’ he says. ‘But now she loves it. And what was really sweet was that my daughter specifically requested that I bring back the widow’s peak that she remembers me having when she was a kid and I still had hair.’ He adds: ‘It’s been such a confi- dence boost.’
are needed to clarify the relationship between sleep duration and Alzheimer’s disease. The NHS recommends adults up to the age of 65 should sleep for seven to nine hours per night, while those over 65 should aim for seven to eight hours. Around one million people live with dementia in the UK, with one in 14 over-65s affected. The devastating illness impacts language, reasoning, memory and daily tasks.
L
back pain. Here’s why you should NEVER ignore it
AST week I saw a patient who had been suffering with severe back pain for months. He hadn’t wanted to bother the doctor, but the pain had become so debilitating that he finally booked an appointment. In the end it turned out to be a slipped disc, which can usually be treated with pain medication, rest and gentle exercises. But his reluctance to trouble his GP disturbed me. Research shows that nearly half of all Britons actively avoid seeing a GP for back pain – with a third of sufferers citing difficulty getting a timely appointment as the main reason for delaying care. This may seem like a sensible approach. Nearly 80 per cent of people in the UK experience back trouble at some point, making it the country’s most common form of chronic pain. The NHS, meanwhile, is under immense pressure, and we’ve rightly encouraged people not to book appoint- ments for every ache and niggle. But while back pain is incredibly com- mon, it can also be the first – and some- times only – warning sign of diseases that are serious and occasionally life-threaten- ing. And the fact that, most of the time, back pain isn’t caused by anything sinister is what makes it so easy to ignore the occasions when it is. One of the biggest concerns is myeloma – the third most common blood cancer in the UK, with over 6,500 people diagnosed every year. One reason it is so often diag- nosed late is that its symptoms are remarkably easy to dismiss. The classic example is back pain. Patients with myeloma frequently say they assumed they’d pulled a muscle, often waiting months before seeking help. Any back pain that persists for more than a couple of weeks without obvious improvement deserves a proper assessment. Your GP can arrange blood tests
enjoying yourself a little more?
I OFTEN think of Betty White’s famous quip that the secret to her long life – the Golden Girls star died in 2021 at the age of 99 – was to ‘avoid anything green’ alongside her usual diet of hot dogs, french fries and vodka. As doctors we spend our lives lecturing people to not smoke,
and, where appropriate, scans to rule out more serious causes. With conditions such as this, early diagnosis matters. While myeloma remains incurable, treatments have improved dramatically, with many patients now living for years after diagnosis because treatment was started promptly. Cancer is probably the last thing most people think about when their back starts hurting. Yet myeloma isn’t the only disease where back pain can be the first clue. Pancreatic cancer, one of the UK’s deadliest diseases, is notorious for being diagnosed late because its symptoms are
drink or eat an unhealthy diet. Yet
I’m always astonished by some of
my patients, well into their 80s
and seemingly fit as a fiddle, who,
like Betty, pictured right, have
done the exact opposite of this.
So I’d love to hear from those
of you who have made it to an
advanced age and are still
often vague. Back pain is one of them. Pancreatic cancer com- monly causes pain in the middle of the back, roughly where a bra strap sits, which can spread through to the shoulder blades or upper abdomen. Women should also know that persistent lower back pain can be a sign of ovarian cancer. The back pain caused by ovarian cancer can resemble persistent period pain deep in the lower back and is commonly accompanied by bloating, feeling full quickly or changes in urinary habits. To be clear – the overwhelming majority of people with back pain will not have cancer. Far from it.
fighting fit or look far younger than you actually are. Have you spent your life living in a saintly fashion? Or at some point does denying pleasures become counterproductive? Please write in using the email address on the right and let me know your secret.
But the trick is recognising when back pain has stopped behaving like ordinary back pain. Health service advice says that anyone whose back hasn’t improved after three to four weeks should contact their GP. The health service must do more to make it easier for patients to seek help for back pain – of any kind. In some parts of the country, waiting times to see a spinal spe- cialist can stretch beyond a year. What happens to those patients for whom there really is some- thing seriously wrong? We need to start treating back pain like the significant medical issue it is.
WHO’S
ALWAYS
HERE FOR
YOU
answered
insomnia without medication?
I HAVEN’T had a good night’s sleep for my entire adult life. I used to take sleeping pills, but apparently they aren’t good for you in the long term. What can I do instead?
NEARLY five million adults
in England struggle with
insomnia – the sleep disorder
that makes it difficult to fall
asleep, stay asleep or get
a good night’s rest.
Insomnia – with older people
and women disproportionately
affected – can worsen mental
health problems, increase
anxiety and contribute to
physical symptoms such
as headaches, nausea and
fatigue. It also doubles the
risk of depression and
increases the likelihood of
developing obesity, type 2
diabetes and heart disease.
According to the National
Institute for Health and Care
Excellence (NICE), sleeping
tablets should be avoided
because of the risk of
addiction and withdrawal.
They also don’t work well
for many people and often
fail to deliver quality sleep.
Instead, ask your GP about
a referral for CBT-I – a
specialised form of cognitive
behavioural therapy for
insomnia that can be done
in groups or one-to-one.
It often includes techniques
such as sleep restriction,
where patients limit the
amount of time they spend in
bed, before increasing it as
their sleep improves.
So-called sleep hygiene is
also vital – it means creating
the right conditions for sleep.
This involves sticking to a
regular bedtime, keeping
your bedroom dark, using
earplugs if needed and
avoiding screens before bed.
It’s also best to avoid eating,
vigorous exercise and
stimulants, such as alcohol,
in the hours before bedtime.
For additional support, apps
such as Sleepio guide users
through evidence-based
techniques that are designed
to improve your sleep quality
without medication.
WRITE TO DR ELLIE Do you have a question? Email
A
Macfarlane How patients taking antidepressants may be at risk of sudden cardiac arrest... yet doctors are failing to warn them about it
LMOST nine million peo- ple in England – roughly one in six of the popula- tion – were prescribed an antidepressant last year. The pills have long been hailed as life-changing treatments for depression and anxiety, helping to relieve symptoms by boosting the ‘feel good’ brain chemical serotonin. But what was once more commonly a treatment measured in months is increasingly stretching far beyond that. Around half of those prescribed anti- depressants have been taking them for more than two years, official figures show, while one quarter – equivalent to around two million people – have used them for more than five years. Many argue that is a good thing. Severe depression, which affects about one in 20 adults, is a serious illness, and some research has found long-term antidepressant use is a vital tool in reducing the risk of relapse and suicide. The drugs can also be used to treat sleep problems, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain. But the challenge for patients – and for the doctors handing out the medication – is a stark fact: little is known about the effects of staying on such drugs for years. Some experts are now warning the benefits of extended antidepres-
sant use are being overstated. And – more significantly – they point to studies that suggest they may be linked to serious side effects. Those effects are wide-ranging,
and include heart problems – including sudden cardiac death – weight gain, weakened bones and fractures, sexual dysfunction, type 2 diabetes, and even demen-
tia and cognitive decline. A direct link between these conditions and antidepressants has not been definitively proven. But, increas- ingly, experts believe that the emerging evidence is enough to recommend that patients should not take the pills for any longer than is strictly necessary – and certainly not indefinitely. O
NE of them is Profes- sor Joanna Mon- crieff, a psychiatrist at University College London and a vocal critic of psychiatric medication. She has recently been involved in a study which reviewed the research on the side effects associated with the long- term use of antidepressants. That study, which is yet to be published, focused on people taking the pills for more than a year and found a link to type 2 dia- betes, weight gain, and falls and fractures in older people. ‘We certainly can’t say that long- term antidepres- sants are safe or harmless,’ Prof Mon- crieff says, ‘because we have not done enough research to know that. The main finding of our review is that the evidence for effects of long-term antidepres- sant treatment is very poor. ‘There are few studies and they are mostly low quality. We haven’t investigated this issue properly, and that should be a cause for concern, especially since there are so many long-term users. ‘Getting into a pattern of using antidepressants for shorter peri- ods than we currently do would reduce the harm they cause and the morbidity burden associated with them considerably.’ Psychiatrist Dr Sameer Jauhar, from Imperial College London, adds: ‘We now know, from several studies, that different antidepres-
IT’S A FACT
Eating grapefruit
while taking
antidepressants
can cause dizziness
and an increased
heart rate.
sants have different long-term
effects – particularly on the heart
– and that should be built into the
decisions being made by doctors
when they prescribe to patients.’
At the moment, official guidance
from medicines body the National
Institute for Health and Care
Excellence (NICE) recommends
people should consider stopping
antidepressants after at least six
months of significant improve-
ment. For depression which recurs,
people can continue to take the
tablets for ‘two years or longer’.
But few are warned of any addi-
tional risks involved in doing so.
Partly that is because the research
is difficult to unpick.
People with depression are
already at greater risk of heart
disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes,
obesity and dementia,
because symptoms such
as lethargy and a lack
of motivation can
make it harder to
maintain a healthy
diet and lifestyle.
Scientists also
b e l i e v e
t h a t
depression may
contribute
to
harmful inflamma-
tion throughout the
body and brain, which
is thought to play a role in
a range of chronic diseases.
That means teasing out whether
a specific side effect is caused by
an antidepressant, or as an indi-
rect effect of depression itself, is
not straightforward.
Professor Glyn Lewis, Professor
of Epidemiological Psychiatry at
University College London, says
many of the studies linking antide-
pressants to long-term health
problems are observational – they
follow large groups of people
over time – meaning they can
identify associations but cannot
prove that the drugs themselves
are responsible. However he adds:
‘It’s clearly something we have to
take seriously.’
Professor of psychiatry Dr
David Healy, who has long
researched the side effects of
TERRIFYING PALPITATIONS
RACHEL BUCKMASTER was just 27 when she experienced her first heart palpitation. ‘It was a thudding sensation, like someone had hit me in the chest,’ the Cambridgeshire- based scientist said. ‘I was terrified.’ At first it happened only occasionally, but the episodes became more frequent – and after a month Rachel booked an urgent appointment with her GP. ‘They fitted me with a 24-hour heart monitor,’ she said. ‘But they couldn’t tell me exactly what was causing it.’ The only advice they could offer was that she stop taking the antidepressant citalopram, which she had been prescribed for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
antidepressants, is convinced the harms are biologically plausible. ‘Serotonin is in our bones, our joints, our muscles, the periph- eral nervous system – lots of places other than our brain,’ he points out. ‘If an antidepressant is designed to increase serotonin, it is going to change things in the body. The chances are that if you’re on them for a while it could cause problems. ‘Look at other examples, such as antibiotics – fine in the short term, but there’s an increasing chance of them being problem- atic long term.’ Some well-established side effects from antidepressants can come on quite quickly after start- ing the drugs, and patients are generally warned about them.
They include emotional blunting, sleep changes, gastrointestinal problems and weight gain. Antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs – the most common type – can cause sexual dysfunction and a reduced libido. Other research points to effects on the heart. Older types of anti- depressants called serotonin-nor- epinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs, and so-called tricyclic drugs, increase the levels of a key ‘fight or flight’ hormone in the body called noradrenaline, which has been linked to an increased heart rate, a raised blood pres- sure, higher cholesterol and con- stricted blood vessels. Perhaps the most concerning effect on the heart, however, is
five years earlier. So Rachel came off the
drug immediately.
While it took around three months for her
mood to stabilise without the medication,
the palpitations never returned.
‘The doctors never directly said the
antidepressants had caused the heart
problem,’ she said. ‘But it was obvious
from their advice that they thought the two
were connected.
‘I’d never been warned that taking these
drugs for years could carry risks like this.
‘For a long time I thought it was just me.
Now I know other people have had similar
experiences. I just don’t understand why
nobody suggested coming off them sooner.’
Health
IT’S A FACT Some patients find that antidepressants can make certain foods taste metallic, bland or completely unappealing.
the suggestion they could prolong the QT interval – a measurement on an electrocardiogram, or ECG, which reflects how long it takes the lower chambers of the heart to contract and reset for each next heartbeat. If the QT interval becomes too long the heart is at risk of a dangerous rhythm dis- turbance, which can cause palpi- tations, dizziness and – in rare cases – sudden cardiac death. A 2025 study presented to a con- gress of the European Society of Cardiology found using antide- pressants for between one and five years increased the risk of sudden cardiac death by 56 per cent. Those taking them the long- est had the greatest risk. Prof Moncrieff says: ‘We already know these drugs can
affect the heart’s electrical activ-
ity, so it’s plausible they could
have these effects, even though
other factors may also be influ-
encing the research.’
The clearest link appears to be
with type 2 diabetes, according to
Prof Moncrieff’s unpublished
analysis. Some of the risk may be
explained by the weight gain
antidepressants can cause, but
researchers also believe the
drugs may interfere with the
body’s blood sugar control.
There is also growing
evidence of a higher
fracture risk. In 2010,
the UK’s Medicines
and Healthcare
products Regula-
t o r y
A g e n c y
warned doctors that
people over 50 tak-
ing SSRIs or tricy-
clic antidepressants
could be up to twice as
likely to suffer broken
bones, with the risk appear-
ing to rise the longer patients
stayed on the drugs.
Exactly why remains unclear.
People with depression are more
likely to smoke, exercise less and
have poorer diets – all of which
can weaken bones and increase
the risk of fractures.
T
HE dementia evi- dence is far less cer- tain. Depression is itself a major risk fac- tor, making it difficult to separate the effects of the illness from the drugs. But experts say there is a plau- sible biological explanation for why older antidepressants, par- ticularly amitriptyline, could affect memory. A 2025 Swedish study also suggested people who already had dementia declined quicker if they were taking high doses of SSRIs. Prof Moncrieff points out another serious issue with long- term use – that it can make with- drawal symptoms more severe. These include ‘brain zaps’, low mood, anxiety, flu-like symptoms, agitation and insomnia. Patients should not stop taking their med- ication suddenly, and should always discuss with a GP how to come off it, which may involve slowly tapering off the dose. And Prof Moncrieff is clear that these possible long-term effects should make patients question whether antidepressants are still right for them. ‘If these were stunningly effec- tive treatments, maybe it would be worth putting up with the risks,’ she adds. ‘But the majority of the evidence shows they’re not much better than a placebo.’ Dr Alison Cave, MHRA chief safety officer, says each antide- pressant had its own ‘unique ben- efits and potential risks’ and that side effects are clearly outlined in patient information leaflets. She adds: ‘We recognise the impact that side effects can have on quality of life. ‘It is important patients should continue taking their medicines and not stop or change treatment without first speaking to a healthcare professional. Anyone concerned about side effects, or who experiences symptoms they think may be related to their medicine, should speak to their doctor or pharmacist.’
linked to frequent colds in children
GETTING repeated colds and fevers may make children more likely to develop eczema, according to a study. Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is an itchy skin condition thought to be caused by a combination of genetic factors, immune system dysfunction and a weakened skin barrier which allows moisture to escape and irritants to penetrate the skin. The condition affects one in five children and one in ten adults in the UK. It often begins in early childhood, though symptoms for many improve with age. Eczema makes the skin itchy, red, dry and cracked and can have a huge impact on quality of life. Now researchers say they may know why some children are more prone to eczema. In a study published in Jama Dermatology, researchers analysed data from two birth cohorts in Denmark and the US. Among the Danes, the team followed 663 children and recorded infections daily until the age of three, such as colds, ear infections, tonsillitis, pneumonia, gastroenteritis and fever. They found respiratory infections were
immune system’
associated with a higher risk of
eczema, with those who suffered
more infections likelier to be
diagnosed with the condition.
Those with the most infections
were 60 per cent more likely to
develop eczema than those with
the fewest. The authors suggest
early respiratory infections may
affect the developing immune
system in ways that increase the
likelihood of eczema.
The findings were replicated
in a US cohort of 707 children.
The association remained after
accounting for antibiotic use and
variants in the filaggrin gene, one
of the strongest known genetic
risk factors for eczema.
The scientists wrote: ‘These
findings suggest a long-term
relationship between early
respiratory infections and
eczema that has previously been
unclear due to inconsistent
findings in previous studies.’
However, they said that the
observational study could not
determine whether infections
directly contribute to eczema,
noting many eczema diagnoses
occurred while infections were
being recorded, making it
difficult to determine whether
infections preceded the condition.
in mushrooms and old cheese could help you stay slender like Carol
W
HILE the frenzy around weight- loss drugs is booming, the ongoing cost of the weekly jabs can, for some, be too high. Instead, many are now turning to an unlikely – and cheap – natural supplement, with users claiming that as well as supporting weight loss, it helps control appetite and even improves skin quality after the excess weight has been lost. Spermidine, which has long been popular among biohackers – peo- ple who make use of science, extreme diets and technology in a bid to live longer – due to its role in recycling damaged cells, is now attracting far wider attention for its potential role in tackling obesity and liver disease. Scientists believe that the natu- rally occurring compound may support DNA repair, heart health and healthy ageing. First identified in human semen – from which it got its name – and later discovered throughout the body, spermidine is also found in foods such as wheatgerm, mature cheeses, soybeans, mushrooms and green peppers. It has also been sold as an over- the-counter supplement for about a decade, typically as a powder or capsule costing from about 16p to £1.20 per daily serving. Among its celebrity devotees is former Countdown co-host Carol Vorderman, who has said she takes spermidine daily because she believes it helps slow ageing. N
OW social media users devoted to longevity and weight loss are sharing tips on using spermidine in their weight-loss regime – with one claiming that they lost more than nine stone in less than a year. But what does the science actually say? Some studies suggest spermi- dine may mimic calorie restriction by triggering some biological pro- cesses activated during fasting. When the body is deprived of nutrients, spermidine levels naturally rise, helping switch on a process called autophagy – the body’s cellular recycling system. Professor Arshad Rather, head
@BarneyCalman @EnnalsEthan @Dr_Ellie @MeikeLeonard @martistelling
DEVOTEE: Carol Vorderman believes spermidine helps slow ageing
of geriatric medicine at Univer- sity College London Hospitals, explains: ‘Autophagy clears away damaged proteins and worn-out cell parts, allowing cells to recycle them into new building blocks. ‘As we get older this process becomes less efficient, allowing damage to build up. ‘Scientists believe maintaining healthy autophagy may help pro- tect against age-related condi-
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE...
SWIMMER’S ear is infection of the outer ear canal, which runs from the eardrum to the outside of the head. It is typically caused by trapped water that breeds bacteria or fungi. Signs include itching in the ear canal, pain when you pull on your earlobe, fluid coming from the ear and a plugged-up feeling. It is
tions including metabolic disease, liver disease and heart disease.’ Laboratory studies have also suggested spermidine may increase the activity of genes involved in collagen and elastin production, meaning it could help reduce loose skin after rapid weight loss. However, so far there is little evidence this occurs in people. Interest in the compound first surged after researchers found
treated with antibiotics or antifungal ear drops. A middle ear infection is caused by viral or bacterial illnesses, resulting in a fluid build-up and inflammation. It can come with congestion or a fever and can feel like there’s a pressure in the ear. It will often clear up on its own. Antibiotics are reserved for severe or persistent cases.
people whose diets naturally contained more of the compound had lower rates of cardiovascular disease and a lower risk of death from all causes. One study, published last month in the European Journal of Nutri- tion, followed more than 2,600 older adults in Spain who were overweight or obese and had met- abolic syndrome – a cluster of con- ditions that raises the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Participants who increased their intake of spermidine-rich foods over a year saw greater improve- ments in liver health, blood sugar and cholesterol than those who ate less. They also experienced larger reductions in body weight and fatty liver disease markers. I
N THE UK, obesity is the leading driver of non-alco- holic fatty liver disease, which is estimated to affect up to one in three adults. Professor Rather says the findings are encouraging but should be interpreted cautiously. ‘This study shows an association rather than cause and effect,’ he says. ‘More clinical trials are needed before we can say defini- tively that increasing spermidine intake leads to these outcomes.’ Leading nutritionist Gabriela Peacock adds: ‘Most of the encour- aging findings around heart health, mortality, biological ageing and liver health come from studies looking at what people eat. ‘Simple changes could include adding wheatgerm to yogurt or porridge, using lentils or chickpeas in salads and soups, eating mush- rooms regularly and replacing refined grains with wholegrains.’ Animal research has also hinted at potential liver benefits. A study published in May found that spermidine reduced liver scarring and other liver damage markers in mice. However, scien- tists say it remains unclear whether over-the-counter supple- ments provide the same benefits as spermidine-rich foods. And, surprisingly, a 2022 Chinese study found that obese adults actually had higher levels of the compound in their blood than people of normal weight. How- ever, those with the highest levels were also less likely to gain weight over the following two years, lead- ing researchers to suggest the compound may act as part of the body’s natural response to obesity- related metabolic stress.
risk may be found in your thighs...
THIGH length could help detect
diabetes, a study has found.
More than four million people in
the UK currently have diagnosed
diabetes – with type 2 diabetes
making up nine in ten cases.
A further 1.3 million people are
estimated to be living with the
condition without a diagnosis.
For many, the slow onset of
diabetes symptoms – which can
include fatigue, thirst and the
need to urinate more often –
can cause the disease to go
unrecognised for years.
Now a research team from
Denmark say they may have
found a solution: a simple,
at-home self-examination that,
among other things, measures the
length of the thigh.
‘Type 2 diabetes is easy to
diagnose with a blood test, but
if you don’t suspect you have it
you won’t go to the doctor to have
one done,’ said Dr Daniel Yoo,
researcher at the Technical
University of Denmark. ‘That’s
inhibits bone growth’
why an online test at home can encourage people to see a doctor.’ Called MEDWACS, the test can be done online and was developed with 30 years of health data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the US. Testing on groups in the US and South Korea found the exam was highly effective at detecting people with both prediabetes and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. The test asks questions on seven different parameters, as well as gathering basic information on the sex, age and BMI of the participant. All answers can be gathered at home using a tape measure, bathroom scale and standard blood pressure monitor. The most surprising sign of diabetes risk, the researchers found, was short thigh length. ‘The length of the femur bears witness to nutrition in early childhood. Poor nutrition in the first years of life slightly inhibits bone growth and is closely linked to an increased risk of diabetes decades later,’ they wrote. Likewise, as the body’s largest muscle group is located in the thigh, and these muscles are responsible for removing sugar from the blood, shorter legs mean a person has less muscle mass to absorb that sugar, increasing the risk of diabetes, researchers said.
The Mail on Sunday AUGUST 2 • 2026
Wealth Personal Finance
A
FTER having a full household
for almost two decades, it can
take parents years to adjust to
an empty nest when their chil-
dren leave for university or a
first job. Even those who miss
the bustle and company may at least rejoice
when the grocery bills plummet, they have
more space for hosting and there’s no further
need to nag an adult to do their own laundry.
But in a worrying phenomenon, many are
seeing their 20-something children forced to
move straight back in after graduation.
Sky-high house prices, climbing unemploy-
ment and sticky inflation have left hundreds
of thousands of young adults with little choice.
One in three 18- to 34-year-olds were living
with their parents last year, equivalent to
almost five million young people, according
to official figures.
Last week, Prime Minister Andy Burnham
pledged to curb the rise in young Neets –
those not in education, employment or train-
ing – which stands at more than one million.
However, even those who have managed to
bag one of the rare graduate jobs on offer are
often working from their childhood bedrooms
to save money, as first-time buyers now shell
out £226,000 for their home on average,
according to comparison website Finder.
While some parents may be delighted to
have their children back, others may long for
a quiet home and want their children to stand
on their own two feet.
The finances can become a minefield, and it
can be difficult to start demanding rent from
grown-up children for the first time.
But how much extra does it really cost to
have them at home, what rent would be fair to
charge and what is the best way to help them
start living independently? Wealth & Per-
sonal Finance crunches the numbers and asks
professional financial planners.
WORK OUT HOW MUCH IT
COSTS TO KEEP THEM AT HOME
CALCULATIONS for The Mail on Sunday by wealth manager Quilter found that it costs £3,246 a year in food, energy and water bills to have an adult child living at home. This includes an extra £2,421 a year on food, including groceries, takeaways and meals out. Water bills vary by region but the number of people living in a home can have an impact, too. The average two-person house- hold spends £832 a year on water, which rises to £988 with one extra person at home, according to data from Southern Water. Parents will also fork out an extra £669 a year on energy bills, under the current Ofgem energy price cap rates. This is based on a household moving from medium energy usage to high when a child moves back home. It means that if one child lived at home from ages 18 to 34, you’d spend an extra £55,187 over that time. So where should parents who want to address this cost start? TIME FOR A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION
ASKING your child to think seri- ously about their next steps can be a thorny conversation, but there are ways to make it easier. Catherine Morgan, a financial coach who hosts the It’s Not About The Money podcast, says: ‘Timing
is really important. In an ideal world, you would start having these conversations a good period of time before they actually need to happen, so it’s not a surprise. ‘Park the conversation for the weekend when you’re not rushing around and feeling stressed. Money is very emotive, naturally, so you need to make sure you’re chilled out over dinner, perhaps.’ In this conversation you can assess your child’s appetite for moving out, and talk to them about how to get there. They will need to save up enough for a deposit to rent a property or to buy one. This may involve a combination of savings products, including cash individual savings accounts (Isas). Savers can funnel as much as £20,000 a year into one of these wrappers – £12,000 from next April if you’re under 65 – and earn interest free of savings tax. Or if your child plans to buy a property for less than £450,000,
Evans
they can take advantage of the Lifetime Isa. These allow first-time buyers to funnel up to £4,000 a year into cash or investments and reap the bene- fits tax-free. Plus, the Government tops up their annual saving by 25 per cent, which helps them reach their goal faster. A stocks and shares Isa is unlikely to be the best option. While long-term investment growth typically far exceeds the returns you receive on cash, investments should be left alone for least five years to ride the waves of the stock market. If they don’t have much saved, it may be a while before they can buy their own home – unless you help with a deposit or a mortgage. Even then, you should aim to set a clear timeline with specific goals or there is a risk your child will get used to a free ride at home. Nicholas Mendes, of broker John Charcol, says: ‘The most success- ful cases I see aren’t ultimatums
– they are a plan the whole family signs up to, usually six to 12 months out. ‘The plan can break down if par- ents keep paying for everything indefinitely instead of directing that support towards a deposit or a mortgage structure that moves things forward.’ SAVERS MAY NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED TO MOVE
CHILDREN who are saving may still need encouragement – just in a different way. Morgan says: ‘Natural savers struggle with making the decision to move out. They might say, “It’s not the right time to be buying.” ’ In this case, they need permis- sion to move rather than pressure, so Morgan says to try using phrases like: ‘You’re closer than it feels. Shall we put an actual date in to start viewing places?’ Or even try, ‘What’s stopping us aiming for the spring? You may already have more than you think.’ In the meantime, charging rent makes sense if you need to. But if your finances are buoyant, charg- ing rent for a young adult who is saving could hinder their plans. Morgan says: ‘If they are already doing the work, adding rent on principle can work against the goal you both share.’
GIVE THE RIGHT PUSH
FOR children who aren’t keen to
move out, charging rent may be
the push they need.
If you charge £300 month in rent
while they could rent a room in a
shared house with a friend for
£500, they may feel that the extra
£200 a month is worth it for their
own space and independence.
You could go a step further if
your child is working in a full-
time, well-paid job by asking for
market rate rent, which is likely to
push them to get their own place.
One option that could help them
in the long run is to charge rent
and stash all or some of it in a sav-
ings account to give them when
they are ready to move out.
Morgan says: ‘Charging rent
works best with a plan and conver-
sation. On its own it can create a
resentful tenant.’
TRY DIPPING IN TO
YOUR OWN POCKET
IF YOU want your home back as soon as possible, or your child is planning to buy in London or the South East, you may need to dip into your bank account to speed things up. Gifting money for a deposit is
the most common way parents and grandparents help young adults on to the property ladder. The average first-time buyer deposit in England is £63,855, so it’s no wonder over half of first- time buyers were given money to get on to the property ladder, according to estate agency Savills. Take a young adult who wants to buy a home worth £200,000. They’ll need £20,000 for a typical 10 per cent deposit. But if they have just £10,000 saved and can only afford to put aside £300 a month, then it would take more than two-and-a-half years to save enough. You can gift money to speed this up – and in most cases it does need to be a gift rather than a loan, says David Hollingworth, of broker L&C Mortgages. Some lenders may be more for- giving, he explains, but a loan can affect how much your child can borrow. As your child will need to make repayments to you, the lender will factor these in when it calculates their affordability,
which means they may not be able to borrow as much. Lenders typically require a let- ter to confirm that the sum is a gift and that it doesn’t give you any rights over the property. You’ll need to declare that you don’t expect the money to be paid back. Morgan isn’t a fan of gifted deposits, as she says it doesn’t teach young adults about the real- ity of money. She adds: ‘The impli- cations of this financial rescuing are that it removes personal accountability. You want to do the best for them. But gifting the deposit removes the ability to build financial resilience.’ OR YOU CAN HELP BY JOINING THEIR MORTGAGE
IF YOUR child manages to build a deposit but still doesn’t earn enough to meet a lender’s strict affordability assessments, then you could consider helping with their mortgage. This is different to gifting money
and typically involves you
joining the mortgage in some
way – but it can be a risky
option for parents.
The most common is a
so-called joint buyer, sole pro-
prietor (JBSP) mortgage,
which means your income can
be considered as part of your
child’s assessment.
A buyer can typically borrow
around five times their income.
It means that on a £300,000
house, they need a £30,000 deposit
(10 per cent). To borrow the
remaining £270,000, they’ll typi-
cally need to earn around £54,000
– a high sum for a young adult.
If they earn £30,000, they may
only be able to borrow as much as
£150,000 for their first home. But
if they sign a JBSP mortgage with
a parent who earns £40,000, they
may be able to borrow £350,000.
But if your child stops making
payments, you’ll be liable – and
you still won’t gain any ownership
in the property, so it’s vital you
take legal advice.
Mendes says you should agree
an exit plan from day one. ‘This
should never be treated as perma-
nent but you should factor that
liability into your own future bor-
rowing or retirement plans.’
l What is your experience of
living with grown-up children?
Let us know: lucy.evans@
dailymail.co.uk
PAUL O’Brien, 50, and his
wife Lorraine, 45, of
Uxbridge in west London,
have plenty of experience of
adult children living at home.
The close-knit family were
brought closer by the tragic
death of their son Jake, 26,
who died last October after
battling cancer for a decade.
Their youngest child, Lily,
22, lives at home after
completing qualifications
to become a dental nurse.
Their son Adam, 25, is posted
abroad in the British Army,
while Ellie, 23, joined the
RAF following a degree at the
University of Bristol.
Civil servant Paul says he
didn’t hesitate to ask for rent
from Lily. He says: ‘Family is
everything to us, but we want
the children to stand on their
own two feet. When I asked
Lily to contribute £50 a week
for bed and board, she was
not happy. Many of her
friends do not pay to live at
home so she thought it unfair.’
He adds: ‘We chose £200 a
month because it is just
enough for her to know that
rent and meals are not free.
But even though she is only
starting on a basic wage of
£25,000 a year she still has
enough left to go out and
enjoy herself and save for the
future. She is also no longer
grumbling as she understands
the cost of living in London.’
The couple have arranged
for Lily to pay the money as a
monthly standing order, so
she is used to cash leaving
her account automatically.
Paul adds: ‘If we go out for a
meal as a family there is no
question of splitting the bill.
They know we are happy to
support them. But they need
to understand there are bills
that must be paid and learn
the challenges of budgeting.’
The O’Brien family say the
support of the Teenage
Cancer Trust and Great
Ormond Street Hospital were
vital in supporting Jake in his
fight against lymphoma.
Other readers, such as
Sam McHugh, say they too
asked their children for a
contribution. Sam says her
two eldest moved back home
after university and her
daughter paid £200 a month
while working and saving
to live with her partner. Sam’s
son, who wasn’t working and
was on universal credit, paid
a lower amount, £120.
‘You do what you can for
your children but without
them my food and utility bills
were lower,’ she says.
Another reader, Tracey
Suckling, wrote: ‘I couldn’t
think of anything worse than
still living at home in my 30s
– and was gone by my late
teens. But up until a couple of
years ago I had both adult
sons living at home, now aged
33 and 30 – plus the younger
son’s girlfriend.
‘The youngest and his
girlfriend paid £200 a month
while my eldest insisted on
£200 as he earned more. They
bought and cooked their own
food. Now both have saved to
buy their own homes.’
And reader Diane Dingle
wrote: ‘When my son got his
first job in 1998, I said to pay
£10 per week [for living at
home] and to save £50. When
he got a pay rise, he raised
the amount he saved. Thanks
to this he saved enough for a
deposit on a shared
ownership house at age 27.
‘Budgeting should be taught
at school and parents must
help their children.’
54
P
HIL Maciver checks his National Savings and Investments (NS&I) account at the beginning of each month to see if he’s won a Premium Bond prize. He’s one of 22.7 million people in the UK who hold the Government-backed bonds that give them a chance to win anything from £25 to the £1 million jackpot every month. The prize draw takes place on the first working day of the month, with the results published the following day. Cash prizes typically hit winners’ bank accounts by the 7th. Phil has held Premium Bonds for the past 50 years and has the maximum permitted balance of £50,000 invested, so is very familiar with the normal prize draw timings. So the ex-coastguard, 70, from Aber- deenshire was shocked to receive a £50 prize on April 21 – nearly three weeks after the draw. ‘I couldn’t fathom why I’d been given £50 as there hadn’t been a prize draw,’ he says. ‘It just seemed weird to get £50 out of the blue.’ Confused at the unusual windfall and
Premium Bond prize YEARS after the draw
with little explanation from NS&I on his account, Phil took to social media and posted a message in a group of Premium Bond fans on Facebook to see if he could find answers. Members of this group told him it was likely he had won a so-called ‘move up’ prize. And NS&I, the state- owned savings bank which runs Pre- mium Bonds, later confirmed this was the case. These are prizes that were handed
out in an earlier draw to a bond holder who, it later emerged, was not eligible to receive it – of which about 4,200 are issued every year, according to NS&I. Once NS&I finds out that it should not have been issued to the bond holder, it claws it back and gives it to another one instead. NS&I says it prepares for this eventuality by drawing extra numbers for each prize draw in case they’re needed. If a prize fails, it goes to the next bond holder on the list. It can take months or even years for NS&I to discover that a prize has been wrongly
next person in line’
assigned and for a move up prize to be issued to an alterna- tive winner. It means that even if you have cashed in the bond, you could still win a move up prize for it. It also means you could receive a move up prize at any time during the month, as NS&I is not bound by the prize draw timings to issue them. If you win a move up prize for a Premium Bond you still hold, you should receive it into your bank account, as a cheque or into your NS&I account. If you no longer hold the bonds, NS&I says it uses the most recent contact details held at the time the bonds were cashed in. An NS&I spokesman says: ‘Around 350 prizes each month are found to be ineligible for various reasons. ‘This means we can pass prizes on to the next person in line, creating unexpected excitement. We send out letters explaining the unexpected win. ‘Prizes are then paid directly into the new winner’s Premium Bonds holding, into their nomi- nated bank account or sent as a cheque.’ So why might someone be ineligible to win? NS&I says this could happen if a bond holder has exceeded the £50,000 limit. This can happen when two accounts merge, for
IN LUCK: Phil Maciver, left, was one of the surprise winners in the Premium Bonds monthly draw
example, if some- one had bonds bought for them as a child and then they pur- chased more themselves in a separate account as an adult. A prize may also be ineligible if
won decades ago’
the bondholder has died. When that happens, their bonds become ineligible for draws after 12 months. Prizes are not reallocated sim- ply because the bondholder has not claimed their prize. There are some prizes that were won decades ago that are still wait- ing to be claimed by the right- ful owner. NS&I says that in most cases of move up prizes, the original prize has not been cashed in when it is cancelled. However, if it has, NS&I would implement a payment
recall to recover the funds. This would involve NS&I asking the bank of the prize recipient to contact the customer and ask permission for the funds to be returned. The Premium Bond prize rate was increased to 3.8 per cent from the July draw, with £433 million paid out in prizes that month – £57 million more than the previous month. The odds of a single £1 bond winning is now one in 22,000. The more you hold, the higher your chance of winning a prize. However, two-thirds of bond holders never win a prize, according to figures from investment platform AJ Bell. Any prizes won are tax-free – a key advantage for anyone who would otherwise pay tax on their savings interest. How- ever, savers can get a rate of up to 5 per cent on their nest egg if they opt for a conventional sav- ings account instead.
Y
OU’VE checked your passport is
valid, bought travel insurance
and packed your beachwear. But
changing pounds for cash in the
currency of your destination has
fallen down your to-do list. The
good news is you need not pay over the odds
in foreign transaction fees, or a huge commis-
sion on currency exchange at the airport.
Big banks such as Lloyds, TSB and Halifax
charge as much as 2.99 per cent on card trans-
actions abroad, which works out at nearly £30
on every £1,000 spent. But there’s a range of
banks that don’t charge any such fees and it
takes minutes to open an account with them.
This doesn’t have to affect your existing
bank accounts, although you may be offered
a juicy bonus if you switch your current
account to a new provider. In some cases you
can use the new digital card within minutes of
setting it up via the bank’s smartphone app.
Here are the best cards for holiday spend-
ing, who they suit – and what to watch out for
when making payments abroad.
BEST BANK OVERALL
FOR TRAVELLERS
FIRST DIRECT has zero fees on overseas spending and cash withdrawals using its debit card, and the £250 interest-free overdraft it offers is useful in an emergency. The bank also gives those prepared to switch their current account a £175 bonus. But a switch takes seven working days and it may take more than a month to get the bonus. You’ll get instant access to your current account when approved and a virtual card to use straight away. First Direct says that 99 per cent of customers receive their physical card within six days. The bank is well-rated for customer service. In the latest survey of banking customers produced for the Competition and Markets Authority, 74 per cent said they would recom- mend First Direct to friends and family – placing the bank fourth for overall quality. Rachel Springall, a finance expert at rate scrutineer Moneyfacts, says First Direct’s customer service is ‘high standard, with 24/7 phone support, so that should give customers peace of mind if they run into any problems’. BEST PRE-PAID CARD FOR EXCHANGE RATE
WHEN using your usual debit or credit card abroad, you normally get Mastercard or Visa’s exchange rate depending on your bank’s preferred payment network. These are set once a day at a fraction above the rates stated by the European Central Bank. The rates offered by the two card providers tend to be similar. For example on July 28, Master- card would have converted £1,000 to €1,170.55, while Visa would have converted the sum to €1,173.53, not factoring in any bank fees. This is a difference of €2.98. But you can also use something called the interbank rate – the live rate at which banks exchange currencies. As this is a real-time rate, this can sometimes work out better than the rates set by Visa and Mastercard. Investment platform Trading 212 offers a pre-paid card that uses the interbank exchange rate. You’d need to spend thousands to notice any savings but the main benefits of Trading 212’s card lie
PAGE 75 Financial MAIL ON SUNDAY
can usually start using your card straight away by adding it to your digital wallet. However, there are usually restrictions on how much cash you can withdraw. Starling offers more flexibility on taking out money. You can with- draw up to £300 and make up to six withdrawals a day. Chase lets you withdraw £500 a day but has a £1,500 monthly limit when abroad. You can withdraw £400 fee-free every 30 days in the UK and Europe with Monzo’s standard account. There’s no restriction if Monzo is your main bank. Kate Steere, from comparison website Finder, says: ‘If you’re after a slick app with genuinely useful budgeting tools like Spaces for saving for your holiday and Settle Up for splitting expenses, Starling is the one to go for.’ When withdrawing cash, try to keep costs low by finding ATMs operated by local banks. You’ll often be charged a flat fee but this can be lower at these branches.
summer holiday spending with these top cards
elsewhere. There’s no foreign transaction fee in using the card abroad and you can withdraw up to £400 a month in cash for free. You can also earn 3.8 per cent interest on your cash. It costs £4.95 to have a physical card deliv- ered. The virtual card is free and can be used immediately once you open an account. The number one rule with exchange rates is to avoid using airport services to switch cur- rency at the last minute. And when faced with the choice of paying in pounds or the local currency at an ATM on your trip, experts say choose the local cur- rency. This swerves an expensive mark-up from a foreign bank. THE BEST CREDIT CARD FOR TRAVEL
CREDIT card providers charge as much as 2.99 per cent on foreign
transactions. Some levy an even higher fee on cash withdrawals, such as 3.99 per cent with a Tesco credit card – on top of a 2.75 per cent foreign exchange fee. If you need to take out £500 in the local currency, using this card to do so would cost you £33.70. You can find credit cards that don’t charge either of these fees. One top pick is the Lloyds Ultra Credit Card. There are no foreign transaction or cash withdrawal fees, plus you can earn a good 1 per cent cashback on all card purchases in the first year. The interest rate is a relatively low 14.9 per cent on purchases but this is a representative rate that not everyone receives. You should get your card in five to seven working days and Lloyds says you should see your card details in the app in ‘just a few days’ – from there you can use it digitally by adding it to Apple or Google Pay. A couple of pointers with credit cards. When it comes to cash with-
drawals, unlike the grace period that you have to clear your bal- ance on purchases, interest is charged from the moment you have the money in your hands. When applying for a credit card, you should check eligibility first. It won’t affect your credit history. Holidaymakers also benefit from additional protection if they buy with a credit card. Any goods or services not received which are valued between £100 and £30,000 are covered under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. BEST APP-BASED BANK FOR TRAVEL
DIGITAL challenger banks such as Chase, Monzo and Starling have become popular with travellers because they don’t charge foreign transaction fees. They’re app-based so it takes a matter of minutes to open an account on your phone and you
H
56
ELEN White and her partner Paul Hart are preparing for a gap year. But the couple are not a pair of teenagers going back- packing after sixth-form – they are part of the growing number of workers planning a later-life bucket list trip. Paul, 46, plans to retire from his job at an engineering company in four years. Helen, who is 45, can request a sabbatical of up to one year from her role as a business analyst. The pair, who have been together for 25 years and live in Brighton, East Sussex, have decided that Paul turning 50 is the perfect time to take that trip of a lifetime. ‘We want to mark the end of work for me, and of full-time work for Helen,’ says Paul, as Helen plans to reduce her working hours after she takes her extended break. ‘We don’t just
want to keep going on two-week holidays – it seems like by the time you get over the jet-lag, it’s time to come home again. We want to really immerse ourselves in a place.’ It’s a trend that has been dubbed micro- retirement or a golden gap year, and it sees those in their 40s, 50s and 60s taking an extended break from work to go travelling. Nearly a third of workers are actively con- sidering taking extended time out from their jobs, with travel the biggest motivator for half, according to a survey of 2,000 UK residents by travel firm Explore Worldwide. Michael Edwards, of Explore Worldwide, says that with the state pension age on the rise,
it has seen more and more people looking to ‘micro-dose’ that big trip traditionally reserved for retirement, choosing instead to take chunks of time out from work. The idea of going on a longer trip came when Helen and Paul visited Japan for the Rugby World Cup in 2019. They spent several weeks touring the country, during which time they watched eight games. The trip, which cost about £20,000 including all their match tickets, was a reward to themselves after finally clearing their mortgage. Paul says: ‘We wanted to take the money we would have spent on the mortgage and put it towards something special. But once we were there, we realised there was so much more to see.’ So they will be heading back, this time for at least six months. The couple plan to start their next trip to Japan in autumn, when the leaf colours are at their most spectacular. They will then stay through the winter to enjoy the ski season (Japan is famed for the quality of its snow) and then see the spring arrive with Japan’s renowned cherry blossoms. Paul says: ‘We have both worked full-time since university and find the limit of annual leave quite restricting. Everyone we speak to wants to do something like this. ‘We don’t have children so perhaps have more disposable income than some other people to do it.’ FACTOR IN YOUR FINANCES AND THE BIGGER DETAILS
‘WE’RE all living longer, health- ier lives, and being in your 50s or 60s doesn’t mean wind- ing down any more – it’s often the start of a new chapter,’ says Rebecca Williams from wealth manager Rathbones. She is speaking to more clients at this stage of life who find that they have the finan- cial freedom to make some major changes – and many of them choose travel. Susan Hope, from invest- ment giant Scottish Wid- ows, says: ‘Gap years don’t have to be limited to your 20s. More people aged 50 and above are choosing to hit pause on their routine and enjoy a bucket list holi- day. It might be driven by a desire to see the world, a reward to your- self for decades of hard work, or simply wanting to make the most of a break before retirement.’ But before taking the leap, be sure to factor in the finances. Start with the details, work out where you want to go and how long for, suggests Williams. ‘Is it roaming Europe in a campervan or turning left into first class on the plane for a round-the-world trip? How long are you travelling, where are you stay- ing and who is coming with you?’ Have a clear understanding of how much your trip will cost, including everything from travel insurance to transport, tickets for events or experiences, and accom- modation, food and drink. Make a list of any costs that must be maintained while you’re away. The rent, mortgage, insurance and other bills still need paying, for example. There might be school or university fees to help with if you have children or grandchildren. You’ll need to let your home insurer know you will be away for an extended period, and be aware that parts of your policy may no
WISH LIST: Helen and Paul in Japan
longer apply. Most home insurance policies limit full cover to 30-60 consecutive days, after which you are likely to have restricted or even no cover for theft, water leaks or accidental damage. This is because your home is at a heightened risk if you are not there to spot any issues. Speak to your insurance provider before you leave and they will con- firm what’s included. By informing your insurer you are also more likely to be able to avoid problems later if you do have to make a claim. You should be given the option to add temporary cover if you need it. You can pay for unoccupied home insurance, which covers your house for up to 12 months while you are away. The average top premium was 25 per cent higher for unoccu- pied home insurance compared to standard home insurance between February and April this year, according to price comparison firm Confused.com. You may also need to declare your
your retirement
vehicle off the road. Car owners can make a legal declaration to the DVLA stating a vehicle is not being used on public roads, which means tax and insurance pay- ments can be put on pause. This is known as a statutory off road notification, or Sorn. This means you could save on tax and car insurance while you are away, as you will automatically receive a refund on vehicle tax for any remaining months you had paid for. When you return, you can automatically cancel the Sorn by paying tax on your vehicle again. Make sure your car is parked in a safe area while you are away because you will not be covered by insurance if it is damaged. Consider what you will do with
any pets. In Helen and Paul’s case,
the couple plan to use the
house-sitting website Trusted
Housesitters to find someone to
look after their home and cats
while they’re away.
HOW TO BUDGET FOR
A TRIP OF A LIFETIME
ONCE you’ve counted up all the costs, consider how you will fund the trip. Do you have cash savings or are you able to draw down some tax-free cash from your pension? Williams says: ‘You need to ask yourself: can you afford a year away and still retire when and how you want to?’ Some people might use money
that has been freed up from down- sizing their home. Those who are self-employed might choose to continue doing some work while they travel to maintain an income. Look for ways to start making small savings early, says Hope. ‘Cancel unused subscriptions, divert a work bonus or pay increase directly into a dedicated travel pot,’ she adds. Helen and Paul are saving hard for their dream break, which they estimate will cost about £30,000. Paul says: ‘Japan has got a repu- tation for being expensive, but it doesn’t have to be if you avoid the tourist spots. Food and transport costs are very reasonable.’ Helen has set up a specific sav- ings pot in her banking app named
‘Japan’ into which she puts £100 a month. ‘I’ve had that set up for a couple of years, so it’s already looking healthy,’ she says. Paul has been maxing out his pension and Isa contributions for the past five years, and plans to use money from his Isa to fund the trip. This means he will be able to leave his pension untouched and have enough set aside for retire- ment on his return. You can save up to £20,000 a year into an Isa, where any growth is free of tax. Anyone over the age of 55 can draw from a private or workplace pension – rising to 57 from 2028. But it’s the little things that add up too, the couple say. On a day-to-day basis they make
57
savings by shopping around
for deals on everything from
energy bills and insurance to
broadband charges.
Helen says: ‘We don’t live a luxu-
rious life.
‘Our car is 12 years old, we only
change phones when the battery
starts dying, and Paul is a great
believer in repairing things before
you buy new.’
They have travel insurance
through their bank, which is
capped at 30 days of travel at one
time, but can be extended for
a fee.
Accommodation is likely to be
the biggest expense, but the
couple will use a mixture of hotels
and Airbnb stays, to ensure they
have somewhere to do their
washing and enjoy some home
cooking occasionally.
To anyone else planning a golden
gap year, Helen advises: ‘Start put-
ting money aside early, have a goal
and look up the cost of everything
so you can budget for what you
need. Don’t be fooled by social
media – you’ll need to do your own
research and get off the beaten
track to find a bargain.’
For example, during their last
trip, she found you could access a
free viewing platform at the top of
the Metropolitan government
offices in Tokyo, which offers pan-
oramic views. This saves you from
paying £21 to visit the famous
Skytree observation tower.
Similarly, filling out a quick
online form got them a free Kirin
brewery tour in Yokohama, includ-
ing tastings.
And after speaking to locals they
found cheaper onsens (natural hot
springs) to visit away from the
usual tourist spots.
As part of their preparations, the
couple have also used the National
Insurance app to check they have
enough years of contributions to
qualify for their full state pensions
– Paul has just one year of work
left to qualify, while Helen needs
four more.
BUT BE PREPARED FOR
A HOLIDAY HANGOVER
WHILE planning the trip is excit- ing, it is also important to consider your return, particularly if you go back to work afterwards. Taking a long break could eat into your savings and will mean you probably won’t be contribut- ing to your pension for a while. Speak to your current employer to see if they offer a sabbatical or unpaid leave, which will mean you have a job to return to. For self-employed workers, consider whether you can main- tain your business while away or build it back up again easily on your return. Those who will need to job hunt should have a plan and an up-to- date CV, and bear in mind that securing a new role could take time – be sure to have a cash buffer to tide you over in the meantime. Financial experts rec- ommend building up about six months’ worth of outgoings as an emergency fund. Williams concludes: ‘When the planning is done properly, you can relax and focus on making memories rather than worrying about money.’
58
F
OR many couples, money
remains a touchy subject
and can be an endless
source of tension.
The problem is that our
attitudes to money are
often so embedded in how we have
been raised that it can be hard to
step back and observe how we deal
with it – and whether it could be
causing damage to a relationship.
In light of this, investment group
AJ Bell identified four key types of
financial personalities, and we’ve
worked with the firm to craft the
questions below.
So take Wealth’s Money Quiz
to find out what kind of financial
partner you are – and how you
could tweak your behav-
iour to be even better.
Choose the answer clos-
est to how you run your
life and finances.
Make a note of the letter
you answer for each
question, then tot it up to
see which letter you answered
the most with (mostly A, B, C
or D).
You can see where your strengths and
weaknesses lie – and then follow the sugges-
tions from our experts.
1
Your partner has made an expensive
impulse purchase. What’s your reaction?
A) They need to return it. We hadn’t
planned for the expense and they shouldn’t
have bought it without discussing it.
B) I shrug it off. It’s not worth starting
an argument.
C) I’m not worried – I do it all the time.
D) We’ll see how it affects us, and whether
we can flex our plans to afford it.
2
How involved are you in
household finances?
A) I manage it all and like to keep a close
eye on everything.
B) My partner takes the lead because
they’re more interested than I am.
C) I dip in and out, but I’m pretty hopeless.
D) We both know what’s going on and
share responsibility.
3
When planning the finances for a big purchase, such as a holiday or car, you: A) Want final approval on any decisions. B) Trust whatever your partner suggests as they tend to know what we can afford. C) Go with your heart and don’t worry about where the money is coming from. D) Discuss options and agree on a budget. 4
How often do you talk about money with your partner? A) Frequently, I need to know what’s going on and they tend to lose track of spending. B) Rarely, it is not an easy topic to discuss. C) I try to avoid thinking about money, let alone talking about it. D) Regularly and openly. 5
If a bill is due tomorrow, what’s
most likely?
A) I’ve made sure it’s already paid.
B) I’ll have paid it but only if my partner
has asked me to.
C) There’s a chance I’ve forgotten about it.
D) One of us has paid it and the other
knows it’s done.
6
When it comes to your financial
goals, you:
A) Set the agenda and keep everyone on
track.
B) Support the goals your partner chooses.
C) Have goals but struggle to stick to them.
D) Agree on goals together and work
towards them as a team.
of financial partner are you? Take our QUIZ to find out
If your finances hit a rough patch,
you would:
A) Take charge and make key decisions.
B) Let your partner decide on the best
course of action.
C) Try to ignore it.
D) Sit down together and make a plan.
8
Your partner suggests investing some spare cash. What do you do? A) I research it and want to make the final decision on where the money goes. B) I let my partner decide because I don’t know enough or feel strongly on investing. C) I like the idea but never get round to it.
D) We discuss our goals, risk appetite and options before deciding together. 9
If your partner isn’t contributing
enough to their pension, how do
you respond?
A) I push them to increase contributions
and repeatedly remind them.
B) I’m concerned about it but ultimately
it’s their decision.
C) I understand, because saving for the
future isn’t a priority for me either.
D) We discuss the impact on our future
plans and encourage each other to save
what we can.
Mostly As: The Controller YOU like structure and financial cer- tainty. You’re often the one making sure bills are paid, savings goals are met and spending stays on track. You’re disci- plined and planning for the future – however, there’s a risk if you always take the lead. Sarah Coles, of AJ Bell, warns you might not be taking your part- ner’s needs into account, so you’re planning for your ideal finances rather than theirs. She says: ‘Even if you feel you’re acting in both your interests, if they lose touch with their finances it could leave them in serious difficulties if you were to split up or die. ‘You also need to be very careful you don’t cross a line – nobody has the right to control their partner’s finances.’ Coles suggests that if you suspect you like to control your household finances, speak to friends and family about how they manage their money and consider adapting your approach. For a healthier financial relationship, she adds, you should challenge yourself to share control and trust your partner’s financial judgment.
Mostly Bs: The Peacekeeper YOU value harmony and often put your partner’s wishes ahead of your own finan- cial preferences. On the plus side, you may be easy to live with, supportive and flexible. However, Coles cautions that there are some serious potential pitfalls to watch for. She says: ‘If you’re not sharing your finan- cial priorities or taking them into consider- ation for your plans, you’ll end up living the future your partner wants. ‘They could be making significant mis- takes you’re unaware of until it’s too late. And even if everything is on track, if you were to split up or be bereaved you would have to get to grips with your finances from scratch at the worst possible time.’ For a better financial relationship, your challenge is to work on expressing your views and priorities, Coles adds. It can help to set aside specific times to talk about your financial plans and for you both to be aware that you need to get more involved.
Mostly Cs: The Free Spirit YOU take a relaxed approach to money and may struggle with planning, budgeting or staying organised. On the plus side, you may be optimistic, adaptable and understanding when your partner makes mistakes. But Coles says there can be serious nega- tive consequences. You may fall prey to overspending and can end up running up expensive debts that affect the household. She adds: ‘You might miss payments or deadlines, which can affect your credit score. If you have any linked products with your partner, it can affect theirs too. ‘If they’re keeping a close eye on you and regularly picking up the pieces, they might get fed up of it.’ You need to work on building better habits and creating simple solutions. Coles sug- gests ditching credit cards if you can’t stop overusing them, paying bills by direct debit and having payments plans for everything from debt repayment to savings.
Mostly Ds: The Teammate YOU see money as a shared responsibility and favour communication, compromise and teamwork. With you both working as teammates you should have robust and resilient finances. Coles says: ‘The challenge will be not to become complacent. Keep communicating about your needs and goals, and revisit whether you’re on track regularly.’
MONEY
Singer
LEO Sayer burst on to the 1970s music scene with a string of chart-topping hits, writes DAN MOORE. The former graphic designer swapped creating record covers for writing songs and singing them himself, with singles such as the Grammy Award-winning You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, When I Need You and The Show Must Go On. With a UK tour and career-spanning anthology CD on the way, the 78-year- old remains as busy as ever. He lives in New South Wales, Australia, with his wife, Donatella.
Q What did your parents teach you about money? A My parents did advise me to watch my money. But I have [the developmental disorder] dyspraxia. Growing up, this meant I’d freak out if anyone put numbers in front of me. I couldn’t do equations, let alone count. I got minus marks in maths and science, and I still get anxious over numbers. If I have to use a one-time code to access an online account, and I only have a few seconds before it times out, I mess it up and Donatella has to bail me out.
Q What was
your first job?
A I went to art school until I was 18, doing
A-level art. I applied to be a graphic
designer and a commercial artist,
but got nowhere, so I ended up at the
job centre.
They’d say they would try to find a job
that suited my preference, but if they
couldn’t I’d have to take on any job.
I worked as a hotel porter, where I
had to rescue guests from a fire on one
occasion, and emerged with my
clothes charred and smoking.
I even got a job writing unemploy-
ment cheques. I remember thinking
that they look familiar.
I got a £25 weekly unemployment
cheque, and was paid around £16 a
week for that job. But I can’t remem-
ber whether that was on top of my
unemployment payment, or whether they
made up the difference.
I doubt it was on top of the dole cheque,
because anyone earning £30 a week in those
days was doing very well.
Q Where did you go
from there?
A I broke through as a commercial
artist, producing album covers and the
like, and earning £75 on a good week, or
more if I got a Yellow Pages job, paying
£1 an advert, and I could get through 30
a night.
Q How did you break through
in music?
A I had a nervous breakdown! I
had a studio in Hampstead
with about 20 artists working for
me, on and off, and I just took on
too much work.
I went back home to Sussex,
lived on a houseboat and worked in
an Audi NSU car factory.
While there, I started playing
gigs with Patches, my band, which
led to an audition in Brighton,
which we won.
Like Dancing still earns me up to £200,000 a year... four decades on!
Q What was the best financial year of your life? A I’d say 1974. The Show Must Go On was a hit and covered by Three Dog Night in the US. Just a Boy followed, and that was hugely successful here and in America. Silverbird got to number two in
the album charts, which is pretty good for a debut album, and we were playing some great gigs, including supporting Roxy Music in England and Europe. I kept saying to Adam Faith, my manager, ‘Where’s the money?’ – and he’d give me £100,000. But we were probably making a lot more.
NEW MOVES: Leo Sayer today and, above, on stage during a concert in 1976
Q What has been your best money decision? A I recently traded half of my song catalogue to an American music investment company, Vinyl Wave, and it’s really bearing fruit. Now and then you write a hit. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, for example, started as a jam session, a happy accident in the studio, people covered it, and it’s been a big earner, maybe £100,000 or £200,000 a year. I still have to pay tax on it, though.
Q What was your worst money decision? A I signed with Adam Faith when I had my first music contract and gave him power of attorney. I didn’t know what that meant, but he did, and he laid it on the line. If I didn’t sign, my career wouldn’t happen. I signed, and that meant he didn’t have to tell me what money was coming in, what was going out and to whom. So I would often be told that I’d get £30,000 for this or that, when the real fee was £300,000. I don’t
know how much I lost. If I sat down with the account- ant, I’d probably fall asleep!
Q Do you own
any property?
A We have lived in a
beautiful village of 600
people in New South Wales
since 2005.
Our home is a cottage with
a barn attached, which
is my studio. Behind the
barn is the main house
and three gardens that
Donatella manages.
The funny thing is, I’ve
moved to the other end
of the world and it looks
like Sussex!
Q What was the appeal of Australia? A Donatella and I wanted to expand, and that is difficult to do in the English countryside. There is so much space here in Australia, and career-wise, in Eng- land, I had the BBC calling me up asking if I’d dress up as a 1970s person, whereas Australia was interested in my new songs as well as the back catalogue. That’s more appealing than the whole ‘Leo, you’ve had your success, stop with the new stuff, we have boy bands for that,’ thing.
Q The most expensive thing you’ve bought for fun? A My Volvo XC90 with all the options – that cost me £130,000.
Q What’s your number one financial priority? A To keep going. I have one band in the UK and another in Aus- tralia, and running this all on my own isn’t cheap. I have a new anthology CD, and a UK tour lined up. If I can deliver on these, the fans like it, and the books balance, I’m happy.
l Leothology: The Studio Albums 1973-Now is out on 14 August. Tickets for the Leo Sayer – Can’t Stop Loving You tour, can be bought via leosayer.com/shows
The Mail on Sunday AUGUST 2 • 2026
How to build a winning shares portfolio to turbo-boost profits
I
60
IN THIS series, our experts answer your burning questions about growing your wealth.
F YOU had bought shares in British engineering pow- erhouse Rolls-Royce five years ago, you would now be up 1,354 per cent. Fig- ures like that explain why buying individual company shares remains a popular way to invest. But as the warnings state, invest- ments can go down as well as up, and stock-picking can also deliver some expensive mistakes. If you had bought shares in Ocado five years ago, you would have lost 89 per cent of your investment. With hindsight it’s easy to see why Rolls-Royce pros- pered while Ocado lost its shine, but in summer 2021 aerospace specialist Rolls-Royce was in the Covid doldrums, whereas Ocado was booming as online grocery deliveries soared. Would you have correctly pre- dicted that the troubled engineer, passed over as one of the stock market’s old-guard, would beat the technology pioneer? It’s hard to make the right call, which is why you shouldn’t invest in only one company’s shares. The
CASH ISAS
TYPE
PROVIDER
MINIMUM INVESTMENT
RATE %
Easy access
Sidekick
£1
4.66
Chip
£1
4.41
One year fixed rate
Tandem Bank
£1
4.67
Cynergy Bank
£500
4.67
Two year fixed rate
RCI Bank UK
£1,000
4.80
Cynergy Bank
£500
4.75
Notice account
The Stafford BS 90 Day £100
4.10
Harpenden BS 90 Day £1,000 4.04
SAVINGS
CHILDREN’S ACCOUNTS
TYPE
PROVIDER
MINIMUM INVESTMENT
RATE %
Savings accounts
Nationwide BS
£1
5.00
State Bank of India
£1,000
4.50
Kent Reliance
£10
4.18
Junior ISAs
Beverley BS
£1
3.85
Leek BS
£1
3.85
Skipton BS
£1
3.80
Source: Moneyfactscompare.co.uk
TWO-YEAR FIXES
LENDER
RATE
DETAILS
DEPOSIT FEE
CONTACT
First Direct
4.47
For 2 years
40% £490 0800 482 448
First Direct
4.57
For 2 years
15% £490 0800 482 448
Barclays
5.40
To 30/09/28
5%
£0
0333 202 7580
FIVE-YEAR FIXES
First Direct
4.54
For 5 years
40% £490 0800 482 448
First Direct
4.58
For 5 years
15% £490 0800 482 448
West Brom
5.29
To 31/10/31
5%
£0
0800 298 0008
LENDER
RATE
DETAILS
DEPOSIT
FEE
CONTACT
Nationwide 4.13
Base +0.38% for 2 years
40% £999 0800 302 010
Skipton
4.75 Base +1.00% for 2 years
5%
£995 0345 850 1755
Barclays
4.35 Base +0.60% for 5 years
40% £999 0333 202 7580
BUY TO LET
Leeds
4.52 To 31/10/28
40% £1,499 0345 045 4049
NatWest
4.67 To 30/11/31
40% £995 0800 400 999
TSB
5.49 To 31/10/31
20% £1,995 0800 056 1088
Source: L&C Mortgages - 0800 694 5444 / landc.co.uk
INVEST...
Got a question on growing your wealth? Email us at... money@mailonsunday.co.uk
key to successful share investing is time, effort and diversification, which means spreading your risk across a number of companies. PICKING SHARES AS A share investor you must be willing to take the time to research companies carefully and keep track of their performance. To be consistently successful, you
also need to be willing to make the effort to understand balance sheets, results and trading statements. When you buy a share you take direct ownership of a small slice of a company. If it does well, then the share price should rise and your stake will go up in value. Many companies also choose to pay dividends to shareholders. Over the long term, reinvesting and compounding dividends has proved to be a major source of stock market returns. The Barclays Equity Gilt Study shows that if you had invested £100 in the UK stock market in 1945, by the end of 2024 it would have risen to £11,570 thanks to ris- ing share prices. But if you had reinvested dividends to buy more shares, you would now have a pot worth £326,231. As well as financial statements, look at what the company says about itself and its prospects – and what others think. Consider how that company is positioned in terms of financial strength, management, its pros- pects for growth, ability to pay dividends, and how all this might change in the future. Can it capitalise if things go its
SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
TYPE
PROVIDER
MINIMUM INVESTMENT
RATE %
Easy access
Cahoot
£1
5.00
LemFi
£1
5.00
One year fixed rate
GB Bank
£1,000
4.92
Habib Bank Zurich plc £5,000
4.91
Two year fixed rate
Atom Bank
£50
4.85
GB Bank
£1,000
4.85
Notice account
GB Bank 150 Day
£1,000
4.38
BLME 90 Day £10,000 4.37
DUMP NOW
Lloyds Bank Easy Saver
This pays a derisory 0.75pc
on balances up to £25,000.
Higher balances earn
0.9pc rising to 1pc on
£100,000 plus.
BASE RATE TRACKERS
way and is it robust enough to sur- vive if things go against it? SPREADING RISK THE classic mistake made by many who hold shares is to buy too few different companies. There is no magic number, but research suggests that at least 20 compa- nies, spread across different sec- tors, is desirable. It has become substantially eas- ier and cheaper for British inves- tors to invest in shares listed on
to spread your risk
overseas stock markets, for exam- ple, Apple or Nvidia in the US. Investing beyond home turf is also an important part of diversifi- cation. You can do this by buying foreign shares, or you may choose to use funds or exchange-traded funds to do this with part of your portfolio and focus your efforts on UK stocks with the rest. This type of mix-and-match approach, sometimes dubbed ‘core
and satellite’, is often recom- mended by investment experts for those who want to dabble in com- pany shares. By holding the bulk of your investments in broadly spread global funds, you can diversify in a cheap and simple way, while allo- cating some of your pot to picking individual company shares. BUYING SHARES THE cost of buying shares has tumbled in recent years, largely thanks to pressure from DIY apps, some of which offer commis- sion-free dealing. Until a recent shake-up, DIY investing giant Hargreaves Lans- down charged £11.95 to buy and sell shares. It now charges £6.95. In contrast, investment plat- forms Trading 212, Freetrade and IG offer free share dealing and have fee-free account options. If you plan to buy and sell shares regularly it pays to consider fees carefully. If you want to buy over- seas shares also watch out for for- eign exchange fees, which can vary substantially
lRead our guide to the
best investing platforms at
thisismoney.co.uk/platforms
BEST BUY Charter Savings Bank It pays a top 4.67pc on its one-year fixed rate cash Isa or 4.57pc if you take your interest each month.
T
HEY’RE steeped in history, opulent, enormous – and usu- ally cost an arm and a leg. ‘Grande dame’ hotels, dating from the late 19th century or early 20th century, are showstoppers that have over the years become attractions in their own right. Ghosts of former guests – film stars, musicians, writers and politicians – seem to hover in the air in plush-carpeted corri-
dors, lavish lobbies and cocktail bars. There’s always a top-class restaurant. There are chande- liers and wood-panelled cham- bers. Linen in the rooms is high-count Egyptian cotton. Toi- letries are salon-standard. Staff tend to know your name and will address you formally. The biggies came into their own during the golden age of trains
when the likes of the Orient Express and Pullman services powered by steam locomotives
were in their prime. In short, there’s
a romance about grande dame
hotels that is redolent of more glam-
orous times, when people did not
rush about so much, wifi was unnec-
essary, TV did not exist, and you
paid for rooms in cash.
Here, we have selected ten of the
best in Europe, plus a couple that
have gone a little by the wayside.
We’ve also chosen cheaper alterna-
tives round the corner, if the room
rate is too high. Or you could always
just pop by for a tipple.
HOTEL DE CRILLON, PARIS
OPENED as a hotel in 1907, although
the elegant building dates from
1758 after being commissioned by
King Louis XV as a royal palace.
This classic property is at
the
end
of
the
Champs-Elysees,
overlooking Place
de la Concorde.
These days it
is part of the
R o s e w o o d
chain and
comes with
124 rooms
(including
46 suites).
Expect gilt-
framed paint-
ings, antiques
galore, a fine-
dining restaurant,
a pool and the sleek
Bar Les Ambassadeurs.
Winston Churchill, Madonna
and Taylor Swift have stayed there,
while George Orwell described
working as a dishwasher in the
hotel’s kitchen in Down And Out In
Paris And London.
Book it Doubles from £1,450
(rosewoodhotels.com).
Round the corner Doubles at
WS Opera – Duphot hotel from
£178 (booking.com).
THE CARLTON, CANNES
THIS 332-room hotel is on La Croi-
sette in the heart of Cannes. Famous
guests, many visiting during
Cannes’ annual film festival, have
included Alfred Hitchcock, Sophia
Loren, Sean Connery, Tom Cruise
and Meryl Streep (plus many oth-
ers). President Barack Obama also
n SOFIA Balkan Palace in Bulgaria’s capital has a Tripadvisor rating of 3.8 out of five stars and looks like it could do with a refurb. n GRAND Hotel Pristina in Kosovo has a Tripadvisor score of 2.3 and has been criticised for lack of cleanliness and sometimes unwelcoming staff. n GRAND Hotel de Paris, near Gare de l’Est, opened in 1894 to much fanfare, but now has a
once stayed. It dates from 1911 and
is in an imposing building with
domes and a facade featuring
stucco decorations.
There’s a pool, a beach club, a
fine-dining restaurant and Bar 58, a
place to see and be seen during the
film festival.
In 1983 Elton John shot the music
video for his hit I’m Still Standing at
the hotel, and on one evening band
members from Duran Duran joined
him for a wild late-night martini
party in his suite which resulted in
‘significant damage’ to the room –
this remains a gossipy hotel legend
to this day.
Book it Doubles from £413
(carltoncannes.com).
Round the corner Doubles at
Hotel Cannes Croisette from £179
(hotelcannescroisette.fr).
VIENNA
FAMOUS for its
s i g n a t u r e
S a c h e r t o r t e
chocolate cake
with an apricot
filling, Hotel
Sacher opened
in 1876 and has
hosted Queen
Elizabeth II and
Prince Philip as well
as Emperor Franz
Joseph, President John
F. Kennedy, Leonard Bern-
stein and former Beatle John Len-
non and Yoko Ono.
The latter two held a press confer-
ence there in 1969 explaining their
odd, homespun concept of ‘bagism’
– that if people wore bags they
could not be judged by their appear-
ance (which did not take off).
The Sacher is famous for its opu-
lent interior. One restaurant is ruby-
red with chandeliers, while another
is forest-green with wooden panels
and gilded portraits.
The dimly lit bar features low-
slung velvet seats and was visited
often by Graham Greene during the
filming of The Third Man in 1949.
Book it Doubles from £437
(sacher.com).
Round the corner Doubles at
Pension Suzanne from £148
(pension-suzanne.at).
Tripadvisor score of 2.7 and a Google rating of 3.1. n THE GRAND Hotel, Scarborough – the height of fashion when it opened in 1867 – is regularly rated poorly and is currently 3 stars on Google and 2.4 on Tripadvisor. n THE ADELPHI Hotel, Liverpool, another formerly classic hotel from 1876, looks a bit tired these days, with a Tripadvisor score of 2.6 and of 3.1 from Google.
STAR
ATTRACTION:
The Carlton,
Cannes, at
the height of
its pomp in
1900. Below:
Bedroom at
the Hotel De
Crillon, Paris
AMSTERDAM
DATING from 1867, the palatial Amstel Hotel is in the heart of the city. It is run by InterContinental Hotels and features 79 plush rooms and suites. In 2020, a major restoration saw the addition of eight stone lions on its facade (the originals had disap- peared over the years, no one is quite sure when or how). The lobby is flamboyant, with arches, balustrades, marble floors and chandeliers. There’s also a lovely 50ft indoor pool with sweep- ing city views. Rooms are elegantly decorated with flowing curtains, patterned wallpaper, porcelain lamps and antiques. Aside from a fine-dining restaurant, a lounge in a conserva- tory-like dome on one side serves afternoon teas, and cocktails are available in an intimate bar with leather seating. Book it Doubles from £494 (amstelhotel.com). Round the corner Doubles at Ibis Styles Amsterdam Amstel hotel from £94 (all.accor.com). HOTEL GRANDE BRETAGNE, ATHENS
THIS hotel on Syntagma Square opened in 1874 but it was really brought to the world’s attention during the 1896 revival of the ancient Olympic Games, when it
hosted a grand gala with athletes, dignitaries and Crown Prince Constantine in attendance. Since then, following a rebuild in 1957 and many restorations, it has remained the Greek capital’s num- ber one hotel. Famous guests have included Winston Churchill, Bruce Spring- steen, Dwight Eisenhower, Lau- rence Olivier and Elizabeth Taylor. The interior is lavish with a recep- tion featuring chandeliers and
classic artworks. Rooms are
stately and plush, with marble
bathrooms. The dining room has
good views of the Acropolis, and
Alexander’s Bar features a tapes-
try of Alexander the Great. It has
been voted the world’s best hotel
bar by Forbes magazine.
Book it Doubles from £593
(marriott.com).
Round the corner Doubles at
Achilleas Hotel from £102
(achilleashotel.gr).
FINE DINING:
The Grande
Bretagne,
Athens. Below:
Demi Moore at
Cannes and
Taylor Swift
at the Hotel
De Crillon
BY THE RIVERSIDE: The Amstel in Amsterdam, left. Restaurant at The Savoy, London, above
MONTE CARLO
IT’S featured in two James Bond
films – Never Say Never Again
and GoldenEye – as well as an epi-
sode of Only Fools And Horses,
when Del Boy and Rodney do a
runner after losing all their money
at the next-door casino. Over the
years many names have dropped
by, from Frank Sinatra (who
enjoyed Le Bar Americain) to
Winston Churchill, Andy Warhol,
Sylvester Stallone and opera star
Maria Callas.
The main restaurant, Le Louis
XV, has three Michelin stars and
is run by the renowned Alain
Ducasse. Rooms are slick and in
muted tones. It opened in 1864.
Book it Doubles from £573
(montecarlosbm.com).
Round the corner Doubles at
Hotel La Tonkine from £106
(latonkine.com).
SAVOY HOTEL, LONDON
LAST but not least, The Savoy has
been welcoming guests since 1889,
when it was constructed by the
Thames by impresario Rich-
ard D’Oyly Carte on the pro-
ceeds of Gilbert and
Sullivan operas. Countless
celebrities have visited
since then, from Noel
Coward to Oscar Wilde,
Charlie Chaplin and
Marilyn Monroe.
Churchill used to
take his Cabinet to
lunch there.
N o w
G o r d o n
Ramsay runs the
Restaurant 1890,
which
has
a
Michelin star, and
tinkling piano
music plays in the
American Bar,
which was popular
with Churchill as well
as the novelist Ernest
Hemingway.
The rooms are elegant
with modern art, and
the best of them have
Thames views.
Book it Doubles from
£713 (fairmont.com).
Round the corner
Doubles at Z Hotel
City from £79
(thezhotels.com).
I
64
Douro Valley in a week of Portuguese indulgence
NDULGENCE is the focus of a memorable eight-day escape to Portugal’s glorious Douro Valley, with tastings of the finest local produce throughout. Colourful Porto, elegant Gui- maraes and a collection of delightful rural towns become the stunning back- drop for a decadent week-long explora- tion of northern Portugal’s bucolic riverside landscapes. Escape to the Douro Valley with a flight to Porto, the nation’s lively second city, and enjoy a welcome dinner ahead of an introductory guided tour of its finest sights. A ‘six bridges’ river cruise is next, and you’ll follow the winding Douro River to Vila Nova de Gaia for a tasting session of authentic local port. Continuing to Aveiro, the ‘Venice of Portugal’, you’ll enjoy a canal ride aboard a traditional moliceiro (narrow- boat) before heading for Viseu for an afternoon’s sightseeing. The next day brings a round trip of three enchanting Douro villages and introduces the region’s rich history and cheese-making heritage, with opportunities to sample the freshest local produce. Next, continue to the town of Favaios for a flavourful full-day tour, taking in the Bread And Wine Museum, tasting local muscatel and stopping for lunch at an award-winning vine- yard, where you’ll learn about wine-making in the area. After an overnight stay on the outskirts of hilltop Tabuaco, dis- cover the traditional practices still being used to produce Lame- go’s acclaimed sparkling wines with a visit to a barrel cellar. Continue into the city for a guided tour of its baroque treas- ures ahead of a sampling of locally made hams and cheeses. Mark the final day of your Por- tuguese getaway with a stop in
Vila Real, one of Douro’s most picturesque cities, before taking in the opulent Casa de Mateus and magnificent Guimaraes. REASONS TO BOOK A feast for the senses Flavour will be front of mind across this wish-list escape, and with tasting opportunities throughout you’ll be well-placed to enjoy the very best of the Douro Valley’s produce. Taste traditional muscatel and
port at a handful of acclaimed wineries, sample cheese in Almeida and try a range of Douro products after a guided tour of Favaios.
Cosmopolitan district capitals Throughout your time in Portu- gal, work up an appetite with a memorable exploration of truly spectacular regional centres. Marvel at cosmopolitan Porto’s rich blend of baroque and neo- classical architecture, explore the medieval fortifications and
opulent churches of hilltop Viseu and spend time admiring the mani- cured garden and stately homes of Vila Real.
Tranquil moments on the water Experience the wonders of the Douro Valley from the waters of its winding river. Take in every angle of Porto’s famous six bridges, from the imposing Dom Luis I Bridge to its oldest crossing, the Dona Maria, on a river cruise and witness Avei- ro’s colourful canals from the back of a traditional moliceiro.
n Return flights, coach travel
and transfers
n Seven nights’ four-star
half-board accommodation in
Porto (2 nights), Longroiva (2),
Tabuaco (2) and Povoa de
Varzim (1), plus one lunch
n Five wine tastings
n Guided tour of Porto including
a ‘six bridges’ cruise along the
Douro River and a port tasting
n City tour of Viseu and Aveiro
with a canal cruise
n Full-day excursion to the
HOW TO BOOK The dates: September 2026 to October 2027 The price: From £1,448* per person CALL: 0808 239 1392 For more information, or to book directly, visit mailtravel.co.uk/flavoursdouro
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Holidays are operated by Newmarket Holidays ABTOT 5509, ATOL 2325, ABTA V7812, a company wholly independent of Associated Newspapers Limited and Mail Travel. Price based on two people sharing. Single supplement applies. From price based on October 9, 2026, from London Luton. *Save up to 15% applies to select tour bookings made by September 30, 2026, and cannot be applied retrospectively to bookings already confirmed. Subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Prices shown include the discount. Prices correct at the time of print.
LITTLE VENICE: ‘Moliceiro’ boats moored along a canal in Aveiro
Lesser-known landmarks Enjoy introductions to traditional Portuguese culture with visits to some of the country’s most historic cities and a collection of charming rural towns. Witness Guimaraes, the ‘birthplace of Portugal’, call at Aveiro, with its colourful canal boats, and venture into the Douro Valley for a handful of truly memo- rable small-town visits, including wine-producing Regua.
historical villages of the Douro Superior region n Visit to Favaios with a visit to a traditional bakery, including a demonstration and tasting n Visit to a Lamego region sparkling wine cellar plus a ham and cheese tasting n Visit a traditional adega (barrel cellar) with a wine tasting n A full-day excursion to Vila Real, with a visit to Casa de Mateus and Guimaraes n Escorted by a tour manager
I
in love with the Outer Hebrides
F YOU want an inkling of what it feels like to be a celebrity, then fly to Barra in the Outer Hebrides. The Loganair link from Glasgow is the world’s only scheduled flight to use a beach as the runway – and it is such an event that spectators come along to watch. As you sashay across the sand from the little Twin Otter plane, you cannot help but feel like a VIP. There are beautiful beaches aplenty within this 130-mile long chain of more than 100 islands – with just 15 inhabited. Just when you think there can’t possibly be a better view, you turn a corner and an even more wonderful panorama arises. About 26,000 people live in the Outer Hebrides, along with a great variety of wildlife. My favourite sign on a causeway says ‘Caution – Otters Crossing’. On an exhilarating boat ride out of Stor- noway, capital of the Isle of Lewis, we slap across the waves to spot sea eagles. Then we cut the engine in a bay where dozens of seals eye us curiously. These Western Isles have a long history of settlement: archaeolo- gists believe humans could have come as early as 6000BC. The mysterious Callanish standing stones on Lewis are older than Stonehenge. Not far away, the village of Gearrannan’s restored ‘blackhouses’ (cottages from the 19th century) tell of the tough lives of the people who lived there until as recently as the 1970s. There is more history in Lews Castle museum, with its star attraction, six Lewis chessmen, magnificent 12th century
chess pieces that have been carved out of walrus ivory. From there we drive through the Isle of Harris, connected to Lewis, and then take a ferry to the Berneray in North Uist, travelling onwards to South Uist. Here, another fascinating museum, the Kildonan, awaits. Displays explain how Bonnie Prince Charlie fled to the island after the Battle of Culloden in 1746. There are two marked Hebridean Ways: 186 miles long for cyclists, 156 miles for walkers. We climb up Rueval on Benbec- ula, which although only a modest 406ft affords 360-degree views. Then on the last day we complete a circuit of the island of Vatersay, with its three lovely beaches. During our visit we stay at three places. The Crown in Stornoway, where in 1963 the King, then Prince Charles, hit the headlines for the underage drinking of a cherry brandy. We also enjoy nights at the cosy Orasay Inn in South Uist and the Isle of Barra Beach Hotel. Food is great: excellent fish and chips in Stornoway, blow-out breakfasts, gourmet dining at Uig Sands restaurant on the isle of Lewis, and Indian/ Hebridean fusion cuisine at Kisimul cafe on Barra. There is no whisky dis- tillery on the islands so I grab a bottle of Barra gin. Institutionalised by security checks on liquids, I ask a woman at Barra airport whether I should put it into my suitcase. Oh no, she says, it’ll be safer if you hold it on your knee.
FLIGHTS from Glasgow- Barra from £96 one way (loganair.co.uk). Doubles from £99 B&B at The Crown (crownhotelstornoway.com); doubles from £108 at the Orasay Inn (orasayinn.co.uk); doubles from £235 B&B at the Isle of Barra Beach Hotel (isleofbarrahotel.co.uk). Car hire: adventra.co.uk. More information: visitscotland.com
A
on all-inclusives
squabbles, Crete’s Daios Cove is setting new standards for high-end family breaks
NOTHER one, sir?’ the waiter asks my brother while refreshing his champagne flute with Veuve Clicquot. ‘Why not?’ he replies (somewhat pointlessly), as the waiter softly smiles, nods and ambles away. I’m at Daios Cove on Crete’s north-east coast with my mother, brother, his wife and two nephews, Luca, seven, and Albie, four. A chauffeured buggy has just whisked us from our chic villa for lunch by an infinity pool overlook- ing the Mediterranean. And my nephews are taking full advantage of the fact their usual requests for more nuggets and chips, and then more chocolate ice-cream, are being met with a positive outcome. That’s because we’re part of the resort’s Residents’ Club – a posh way of saying all-inclusive. This
allows a la carte dining in all six restaurants, along with a choice of wines from an extensive list and unlimited room service. It feels a world away from the tacky buffets, wristbands and queues for cheap booze of other European all-inclusives. Daios is a sprawling resort with no fewer than 290 stone-clad rooms and 40 villas. At any one time there might be 600-plus guests, but there are no dreaded morning rushes to sunbeds as it’s all so
Deluxe rooms start from £306 per night on a half-board
basis. The Collection Suites start from £634 per night on an
all-inclusive Residents’ Club basis (daioscovecrete.com).
spread out and enough loungers are provided. Amazingly, we often feel we’re the only ones there. The island is basking in 25C heat
LIFE ON THE EDGE: The infinity pool at Daios Cove and, left, inside one of its suites
and the sea sparkles from morning to sun- set. Other guests com- prise mainly British and German families, though there are also couples – young and old – enjoying the spa, private beach and adults-only pool. My mother and I are in a Collec- tion Premium Junior Suite, which juts out of the hillside and has a heated pool. Inside it’s all muted beige, caramel and walnut fur- nishings, with a creamy marble bathroom. My favourite feature is a chilled mineral water tap. Food proves to be a highlight and
almost all is sourced locally. The smashed avocados at breakfast are from down the road in Agios Nikolaos. The grilled sea bass has just been plucked from the sea. Each morning we head to the wellness centre, home to two heated pools, a huge fitness space with a hammam and Finnish sauna. On one day, Luca joins the kids’ club’s cookery class. After being given a white chef’s hat (with his name on it) and an apron, he and 11 other children are taken to for- age for herbs before making pesto which they mix into pasta. For three days we fail to leave the hotel. We’re all enamoured. My four-year-old nephew enjoys it as much as his granny – and cham- pagne-filled father. Daios Cove is a multi-generational triumph.
68
GURU
travel conundrums
Q I’VE been disorganised about booking a holiday this year. My partner and I love cruises, and we were wondering if you knew of any last-minute bargains? The Med or Norwegian fjords would be great. The Caribbean would be even better. Our budget is £3,000 for the two of us. Angela Miller, Hounslow, London
A YOU might think you have left it too late, but waiting until the last minute can play to your advantage as cruise lines are always keen to fill empty cabins. So, no worries about being ‘disorganised’. You need to know the main players when it comes to cruises for the mass market, and these, says our cruise correspondent Lesley Bellew, are ROL Cruise (rolcruise.co.uk), Imagine Cruising (imaginecruising.co.uk), Iglu Cruise (iglucruise.com) and Cruise 118 (cruise118.com). These are brokers that offer the best deals provided by cruise lines. ROL Cruise is a good starting point, with a week’s Eastern Caribbean and Turks and Caicos
last-minute cruise?
getaway on Caribbean Princess departing on August 30 from Port Canaveral (Orlando) from £517pp full-board for an inside cabin (one without portholes). Calling points are at Nassau and Princess Cays in the Bahamas, followed by the Dominican Republic and Turks and Caicos. There are two days in total at sea. Expect beautiful beaches
and great marine life on snorkelling excursions. If you fancy pushing the boat out (excuse the pun), a suite is from £1,028pp. Return flights covering the day before/after are from £497pp (ba.com). For a longer trip, Iglu Cruise has a fortnight’s Western Mediterranean P&O cruise,
departing and ending in
Southampton, that sails to La
Coruna in Galicia, Spain, and
onwards to Malaga and Alicante.
It then continues to Marseilles in
France, then back to Barcelona
and retraces its outward voyage
to Cadiz (with a tour of Seville).
The price is from £970pp
full-board for an inside cabin
departing on August 18. Or
upgrade to a balcony cabin
from £1,445pp.
Or there’s an eight-day Southern
Caribbean cruise offered by
Cruise 118 from £632pp full-
board for an inside cabin on a
voyage that leaves Miami on
August 15 and spends two days
at sea before arriving at the
Dutch Caribbean islands of
Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.
The ship is Carnival Horizon,
which comes with pools and
deck parties. If you upgrade to a
balcony cabin, it costs from
£1,080pp full-board. Flights to
Miami before and after the cruise
cost from £776pp (ba.com).
Q WE ARE an ex-naval couple in our 80s and would like to visit Malta for four nights and then go on a seven-night cruise before returning to Malta to fly home in late September/ October. Can you help? David Jenkins, via email
A IGLU Cruise has a seven- night P&O Cruises round trip from Valletta, Malta’s capital, from £827pp full-board, departing on October 1 (iglucruise.com). Return Stansted flights are from £65 for those dates (ryanair.com); four nights at The Cumberland by Neu Collective in Valletta cost from £810 B&B (booking.com).
WE’RE HERE TO HELP
If you need advice the Holiday
Guru is here to answer your
questions. Email us at
holidayplanner@dailymail.co.uk
– but the same old tax raids
How can we hear about Labour’s potential £96 billion tax raid, which you reported on last Sunday, without shaking our heads in disbelief and anger? The economy is trashed and people are really struggling with the cost of living. I know several worried families who seriously watch every penny, yet estimates suggest that Andy Burnham’s spending will cost each family another £4,000 a year – a sum that would destroy my finances, for sure. This is just not sustainable. William Wright, Liverpool
Here we go again! Another new PM but it’s the same old story that we need more funding. The people who are in need of help are those who more than likely have contributed to the upkeep of the country. One of the biggest drains on our resources is the constant influx of asylum seekers, who are being fed, housed and treated better than many of those who have contributed to society. Previous governments haven’t got to grips with the maths that you can’t support them to the detriment of the electorate. So let’s restructure the funding and stop this imbalance. A. Brown, Luton
I’m no fan of Labour, and am appalled at the state of our country, but there is something
Life was super in the 70s
Peter Hitchens is correct
concerning the 1970s being a
better decade than many
would have us believe. Well-
paid jobs were easy to come
by. Many had good sick-pay
benefits and four weeks of
holiday. Although there was
high inflation, wages kept
pace with it for the most
part. It was also possible
sometimes to see a doctor
without an appointment.
William Spire,
Tottenham, London
I was an ‘unsettled teenager’ in the 1970s but could secure an income by moving from job to job, literally overnight. You could leave one in the morning and be re-employed that afternoon. Richard Heath, Dewsbury
Write to: The Letters Editor, The Mail on Sunday, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY. Email: letters@mailonsunday.co.uk Letters
Further to your letters on
littering last Sunday, I have
an idea about how to get the
message across to people to
stop it. At the next Bank Holiday
weekend, councils should leave
the litter left on the beaches
on the Saturday rather than
picking it up. Let people start
their day on the beach trying to
about Andy Burnham giving me hope. He’s facing challenges head-on. He wants to help with the cost of living and I approve of his £2 cap on bus journeys and taking VAT off electricity bills. He also wants to review the crisis in adult social care and end rough sleeping. Yes, please! Stasha Martin, East Preston, West Sussex
With the installation of No 10 North, Andy Burnham is fiddling while the UK burns. He’s like a kid with a new expensive toy – he’d rather play with the box. Mike Catterall, Accrington, Lancashire
Perhaps Mr Burnham could look at the rates dentists charge. My wife, who is 79, recently had a routine check-up. She was in the
Your interview last Sunday with nurse Jennifer Melle, who was suspended after addressing a trans paedophile as ‘Mr’, highlighted one way gender ideology can affect NHS staff. In my experience, the ideology is also subtly promoted to patients. During a recent hospital visit, I noticed clinical staff wearing NHS badges incorporating the chevroned Progress Pride flag. Of all the Pride flags, this is
Good for the goose as well as the gander In her article about Angela Rayner, Nadine Dorries wrote: ‘I want all women who arrive in Westminster to prove that they are as capable as any man.’ Nadine missed the unconscious humour there. From the
find an area of sand without
gross leftovers.
Tony Thompson,
Deddington, Oxfordshire
When I litter-pick, people say, ‘You’re doing the council’s job.’ To which I reply: ‘The council didn’t throw the rubbish on the ground.’ Bob Woodland, Poole, Dorset
chair for no more than ten minutes, had no work done other than a quick polish, and left £85 worse off. Gordon Southall, Omagh
Andy Burnham has announced measures that will reduce the cost of living for everyone. Under him we have a straight-talking PM who gets things done. Jessica Goetia Brooking, Havant, Hampshire
The UK not having a written constitution is being abused. Andy Burnham has become PM when he wasn’t even an MP a couple of weeks before. We should bring in a law saying that any governing party that wishes to change leader mid-term should be made to hold an election. Julian Millerchip, Coventry
particularly associated with the
LGBTQ+ movement, which
promotes contested claims
about gender identity. Many
women consider those claims
incompatible with safeguarding
their sex-based boundaries.
Many same-sex-attracted
people likewise regard them
as conflicting with an
understanding of homosexuality
grounded in biological sex rather
than gender, thereby prejudicing
clothes donated to her by Lord Alli to her property dealings, and outside earnings since her sacking, Rayner has proved equally as capable as any man. Jeannette Meyers, Ashford, Kent Cruel trade Well done for highlighting the hidden, cruel trade in marmosets, left, after one
price tag, Andy
You criticised Andy Burnham last Sunday for his expensive clothes, but if it is all right for the former Kate Middleton to wear expensive designer gear, then Andy Burnham should be able to do likewise. We wouldn’t want our Prime Minister to look scruffy on the world stage. And he was wearing clothes designed by a British tailor. Tim Mickleburgh, Grimsby
I would never vote Labour but what does it matter if Andy Burnham spent just over a grand on some designer casual wear? I was a Mod back in the Sixties and I suspect that a number of today’s young bucks spend £1,000 on a designer outfit. I reckon the PM can
their hard-won rights. Such gender-critical beliefs are protected under the Equality Act. It is difficult to see how endorsing only the opposing side of this debate through official insignia, particularly in a clinical setting, is compatible with the NHS’s duties under the Act and the public sector equality duty to treat staff and patients who hold different protected beliefs fairly. Brian Forsyth, Edinburgh
of the monkeys was discovered in a cage in a laundry bag on a London bus. There are many primates living lonely lives in sheds with improper diets and no exercise or sunlight, resulting in them becoming crippled. Much- needed legislation was brought in this April requiring owners to apply for a licence but the take-up rate has been disappointingly low, which may well result in many more primates being abandoned. Angela Humphery, London
afford to splash out £1,000 as he must have earned a good few quid as Manchester mayor. Phil Stretton, Bournemouth
Andy Burnham’s chosen clothes aren’t stylish. He looks like a slob. Gordon Ruddick, Newcastle upon Tyne
Volodymyr Zelensky doesn’t wear a suit, as he sees himself on a war footing. I thought Andy Burnham would too don cheap, black T-shirts, as he has declared a war against the cost of living. But his clothes are not cheap – an £80 T-shirt, £695 jacket and £295 jeans! Samuel Farooq, Tooting, London
Letter of the Week wins a two-night stay for two at Leonardo Hotels. Choose from any of its hotels across the UK only (two nights’ B&B, T&Cs apply). Providing the perfect base for a city break or getaway, Leonardo Hotels offer comfortable and contemporary rooms complete with a bespoke DREAM bed for the most indulgent night’s sleep. For the best rates, book online at leonardohotels.co.uk. Vouchers are valid for 12 months.
I have just watched on TV a
heavily-tattooed woman on
benefits complain that she cannot
afford food bought in a
supermarket so she does her
weekly shopping at a food bank
in order to feed her children.
I don’t know how much inking
costs, but perhaps someone
should be asking how she can
afford to have the tattoos done.
Caroline West, Swansea
GAMBOLS FRED BASSET
GARFIELD PEANUTS
MAIL ON SUNDAY
TOOHER
EARLY backers of SpaceX are in line to share a windfall of up to $1trillion when a curb on selling their stakes in Elon Musk’s rock- ets-to-artificial intelligence enter- prise is lifted. In what is set to be one of the biggest payouts in stock market history, investors and insiders who bought or owned SpaceX shares before they were listed on the US stock market can cash in their holdings from this Thursday when a 180-day ‘lock-up’ expires. They will hit the jackpot despite a dramatic slump in the share price since SpaceX went public in the biggest flotation ever. Offered at $135 apiece, the heav- ily oversubscribed shares briefly topped $200 before crashing to their current low of $108, valuing
than a rocket ride’
SpaceX at $1.5 trillion. But the firm was worth about $400 billion in a private share sale to investors just a year ago, meaning anyone who bought then still stands to almost quadruple their money. That sale was before the com- pany bought artificial intelligence start-up xAI earlier this year in a deal that boosted SpaceX’s valua- tion to $1 trillion. The xAI deal also minted billions for investors and rewarded them with stakes in the now-public company worth many times their initial outlay. SpaceX shares have slumped in recent weeks as traders turn away from AI stocks and after SpaceX aborted a launch of its Starship rocket due to an engine issue. ‘SpaceX’s price since listing has
A STAR London stock picker has blamed a rush of ‘low-quality money’ and ‘meme stock’ traders for a sell-off in global artificial intelligence shares last week that hit the value of his multi-billion-pound fund. Stephen Yiu, pictured inset, whose Blue Whale counts City grandee Peter Hargreaves among its main backers, said selling among small investors spooked by fears over AI spending, growing Chinese competition and recent flare-ups in the Middle East meant the value of his fund had fallen by 20 per cent in July from £2.9 billion. ‘There’s a lot of what I would say low-
been bumpier than a ride in one of its rockets re-entering the atmos- phere,’ said Russ Mould, invest- ment director at broker AJ Bell. Unusually, SpaceX phased the release dates for early investors to sell their shares to avoid a ‘cliff-
quality money, retail money that’s been unwinding over the last few weeks,’ he said, ‘and when you lump that in with the conflict in Iran you suddenly have this mega sell-off in AI. There is also a bit of a meme stock trade going on in the AI market with the likes of SpaceX.’ The hit to Blue Whale, which has generated strong returns following well-timed bets on the likes of Nvidia, was fuelled by a sharp drop in the value of South Korean chip
edge’ after the 180-day lock-up ended. Certain early investors will only get a chance to exit by early December, when billions more shares will be available to trade. Musk, who owns the vast major- ity of SpaceX and briefly became
PAYLOAD: Elon Musk, inset, knows his satellite business is still hugely valuable
the first dollar trillionaire, cannot sell his stake until June next year. This week’s ‘lock-up’ expiry has raised fears of SpaceX shares flooding the market, depressing the share price further. A big test will come two days earlier when the heavily loss-mak- ing company releases its first set of results since listing on the Nas- daq exchange on June 12. These are expected to show sales of just under $7 billion in the last quarter. But break-even remains years away because of the sums needed to build and run Musk’s data centres that power its AI. SpaceX lost a staggering $4.3 bil- lion in the previous quarter on
maker Hynix, one of the fund’s biggest holdings, which saw its value tumble nearly 33 per cent last month after results that fell short of expectations. ‘I am not happy about it,’ Yiu told The Mail on Sunday. But he said the sell-off had allowed Blue Whale to top up its stake in SK Hynix by buying it lower. ‘We’re still very happy with Hynix,’ he said. ‘Its shares have
respect back to mutual insurer
sales of $4.7 billion. The sell-off in SpaceX shares means they are close to a level that implies inves- tors give no value to its AI busi- ness, say analysts at Morgan Stanley – only valuing its Starlink low earth orbit satellite business powering mobile phone networks. Nevertheless, the investment bank’s analyst Adam Jonas is still a fan. He said: ‘We believe the cur- rent disconnect between increas- ingly bearish investor sentiment and largely unchanged fundamen- tals creates an attractive entry point in SpaceX shares.’ Jonas reckons SpaceX shares could hit $300, with half of that value coming from its AI unit.
become a lot cheaper and we still think the earnings are on a positive trajectory so why wouldn’t we buy more?’ Last week’s AI sell-off saw South Korea’s stock exchange temporarily halt trading several times in a bid to defuse the panic. Wall Street also took a hit with a sharp fall on the Nasdaq, only for it to rally towards the end of the week and log a slight gain. Among those fuelling the rally was Microsoft, which leapt 18 per cent over the week on strong sales and profit growth.
O
N TO 12,000? Well, the FTSE 100 index hit another all-time high and got to within 11 points of 11,000 on Friday morning before falling down a whisker to close at 10,868. Basically we’re back to where we were at the Footsie’s peak at the end of February before the attack on Iran soured the mood. The Middle East war continues with no clear end in sight, yet both the Footsie and the S&P 500 – the most representative US index – are up more than 9 per cent on the year. All this makes you wonder what on earth will happen to equities as and when the Strait of Hormuz is reopened and the region calms down. There is a decent explanation as to why equities in general remain so strong, and in particular why London remains good value. One reason is that there is still a lot of money swishing around the world and hunting for a home. So it makes sense to look for value,
takeover deadline for easyJet
THE battle for easyJet is set to reach its crescendo this week as deadlines loom for suitors to submit formal offers. Last month, the airline said it had agreed to a £5.5 billion takeover by Castlelake, after rejecting four of the US private equity group’s previous bids as ‘highly opportunistic’ ways to secure a deal ‘on the cheap’. But Castlelake was gazumped days later when its rival Apollo submitted its own £5.7 billion offer which was quickly accepted by easyJet’s board. Castlelake now has until 5pm tomorrow to make a formal offer or walk away. Apollo has until the same time on Friday to make its proposal official. If Apollo’s bid succeeds, it will add to the asset manager’s growing portfolio of airlines. It part-owns Atlas Air and last year its private credit arm lent $745 million to Virgin Atlantic for its take-off and landing slots at Heathrow. But the looming takeover of easyJet deals another blow to London’s stock market, which has seen a frenzy of takeover activity from foreign buyers. Last week, the board of FTSE 100 firm DCC Energy backed a £5.8 billion takeover offer from US private equity firms KKR and Energy Capital Partners. It followed warehouse and data centre giant Segro, which recommended a £14 billion offer from San Francisco- based real estate firm Prologis.
and the shares of big UK-based enterprises offer that. But the past few days have shown some- thing else. It’s not simply that the UK market is relatively cheap. Many of the Footsie’s most valua- ble members are doing very well. We have had cracking results from Shell, BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce, and this week the market expects strong figures from HSBC and BP. HSBC is worth £270 billion, the highest market capitalisation on the index, with its shares up more than 30 per cent this year. As for BP, it has been given a boost both from Shell’s performance and the latest news about putting its North Sea operations up for sale. I see this more as a tidying up operation – a sign that its excel-
to make reactor parts in Sheffield steelworks
ANDY Burnham’s Government held crunch talks with Rolls-Royce last week to press the firm into making parts for its new nuclear reactors in Britain after it emerged that a steelworks in Sheffield was able to produce some of the compo- nents, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. It follows anger in May when Rolls announced it had chosen Czech company Skoda and South Korea’s Doosan Ener- bility as its two ‘strategic suppliers’ for its new small modular reactors (SMRs). Critics noted the decision meant infra- structure considered vital to the future of Britain’s energy grid would be assem- bled overseas and deprive the country’s own steel sector of vital contract work. But The Mail on Sunday understands Rolls’s representatives were hauled in for talks with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Great British Energy, the state-run investment firm, to discuss whether reactor parts
could rather be made at the Shef- field Forgemasters steelworks. One source with knowledge of the situation confirmed the talks happened last week, while another said Rolls had come under ‘sus- tained pressure’ from the new Government to source parts from UK firms after fears British manu facturers could miss out on steel- making contracts despite claims the industry formed a core part of the country’s national security. It is also understood Great Brit- ish Energy representatives visited Forgemasters in recent weeks.
lent new chief executive Meg O’Neill is focusing on the compa- ny’s future winners – rather than a boot in the face of this Govern- ment and its predecessors for their tax and regulatory policies. But it should serve as a warning to all governments to be mindful of the long-term consequences of their actions, rather than trotting out crowd-pleasing ideas dreamt up in Whitehall. So what should we look out for next? A huge amount depends on the mood of US investors. That is where the money is, and the big driver of this latest rise in UK share prices has been decisions there to slip a bit of the huge prof- its they have made towards UK-based multinationals. You could say it’s crumbs off the rich man’s table, and in a way it is, but the numbers in New York are so massive that divert- ing even a small proportion of those funds towards London has an outsized impact here. Apple alone, worth $4.5 trillion, has a valuation far larger than
MADE IN BRITAIN: Burnham and the Forgemasters plant in Sheffield
The firm, also Government-owned, has since confirmed it is in talks with Skoda and Doosan about mak- ing key components for the reac- tors. Boss Gary Nutter said it was ‘engaged in commercial discus- sions regarding potential supply of UK forged components directly with Rolls and via Tier 1 partners’. Skoda and Doosan are dealing with ‘pre-production work, includ- ing for the reactor pressure vessel body, early supplier engagement, design finalisation and manufac- turing readiness’, he added. The
that of all of the companies quoted on the Footsie put together at just £2.5 trillion. HSBC may be a giant in our terms. But on a quick tally there are about 40 US corporations that are worth as much or more. This raises a fascinating ques- tion. Will Andy Burnham improve or undermine the view that US
to become fashionable to attract money
investors take of Britain? Big money remains pretty negative about the UK at the moment. You see that in the gilt market. The ten-year yield on UK Gov- ernment bonds climbed back above 5 per cent yesterday, which was probably a reaction to the equivalent yield on US treasuries rising to 4.75 per cent. But we
talks provide a rare reprieve for Britain’s steel industry, which fears it will be buried by foreign competition leaving the UK unable to make its own metal for vital infrastructure or defence projects. Leading steel industry figure Sir Andrew Cook said: ‘As the great post-war Labour Foreign Secre- tary Ernest Bevin said, “We’ve got to have this thing, whatever it costs, and it’s got to have the Union Jack on it”. Bevin was speaking of the atom bomb; his words equally apply to the SMR, a similarly vital
ought not to be paying a premium at all and, aside from a few days when Liz Truss was PM, we wer- en’t until Labour took office two years ago. Insofar as US investors think about Andy Burnham at all I sus- pect that they simply see him as another stop-gap who will be out on his ear pretty soon. Foreigners, mostly Americans, already own two-thirds of the UK market. So they lob in a bit more money not because of our domes- tic politics, but because we have some great companies and it’s a cheap way to buy into the global economy, as three-quarters of the earnings of Footsie members are derived outside Britain. And of course those foreigners are not paying taxes here so they don’t care whether Burnham brings in a death tax or whatever. The bottom line is that we don’t need to become fashionable to attract more money into London. All we need to do is become a lit- tle less unfashionable – and I give that an even chance of happening.
component of national energy security. It is in the national inter- est that SMRs are made from Brit- ish-made components with a UK industrial base to support them.’ Rolls’s SMR division, which is 20 per cent owned by Czech utility firm CEZ, is building the first three SMRs to be installed in the UK and to be run by Great British Energy. The reactors, to be installed in the Czech Republic too, can be assembled using standardised components, making them a cheap and flexible option. Rolls also has deals for SMRs in Sweden. It is understood the crisis talks came after Forgemasters lost out to Doosan as ministers and civil servants failed to specify where in the UK parts would be assembled. It followed a row between the Treasury and departments for energy and business over costs, with the former two pushing for SMRs to be made cheaply abroad. Rolls said: ‘We are working to maximise UK content and actively working with Forgemasters and Tier 1 partners to identify oppor- tunities for potential contribution to our UK and export programme.’ The Department for Energy would only say that Great British Energy and Rolls were ‘working jointly to deliver UK supply chain benefit, and regularly engage Gov- ernment on progress’. The Government said: ‘Great British Energy Nuclear has awarded more than £850 million of contracts to UK-registered firms.’
S
20%
CITY EDITOR
EVEN years have passed since ebullient Sainsbury’s boss Mike Coupe signed his own departure note when he was caught by an ITV news camera singing ‘We’re in the money’ after announcing a £12 billion merger with rival Asda. The hubristic misstep, for which Coupe (pictured below) apologised, cost him his job and the much-vaunted deal failed after the Competition & Markets Author- ity (CMA) ruled unification of the coun- try’s second and third largest grocers would ‘lessen competition, raise con- sumer prices, and reduce product qual- ity and choice’. Yet that may not be the last word. Dra- matic changes in Britain’s grocery mar- ket and a change at the CMA have raised expectations that a deal between Sains- bury’s and struggling private equi- ty-owned Asda may be back on the table. The prospects have been raised by Sainsbury’s decision on Friday to sell off its underpowered Argos business to a consortium led by veteran retailer Rich- ard Pennycook for £120 million, having paid £1.4 billion for the firm in 2016. But the pain of the Argos sale to Sains- bury’s pales in comparison to the trou- bles faced by Asda, which has suffered a calamitous loss of competitiveness and market share since it was sold to a con- sortium of private equity firm TDR and petrol station tycoons Mohsin and Zuber Issa for £6.8 billion in 2021. The new owners made a fatal error from the outset. Asda had been market
leader for fuel pricing, but the cost of its petrol was raised by a few pence to help meet debt inter- est repayments, sending Asda cus- tomers to market leader Tesco and Sainsbury’s in droves. The timing was also less than ideal with Asda’s owners inheriting its debt pile just as interest rates rose to combat post-Covid inflation. T
Tesco
HIS, with a surge in sales at German discounters Aldi and Lidl, has seen Asda’s market share fall from 14.9 per cent in 2019 to 11.5 per cent, with Aldi close to overtaking it as Britain’s third big- gest grocer. Aldi and Lidl are also forcing other retailers to keep prices low, piling pressure on profit margins. Veteran executive chairman Allan Leighton is in a titanic strug- gle to turn around Asda’s fortunes. Losses in the year to December 2025 catapulted to £1 billion after the group reverted to lower prices to tempt back consumers. Reve- nue and same-store sales fell, and
Lidl
25%
15%
5%
BRUMMER
blockbuster £12bn tie-up collapsed . . .
Asda finally merge?
Asda Sainsbury’s
Aldi Morrisons Morrisons
2019 2021 2020 2022 2023 2024 2026 2025 0
the owners took a write-off of £344 million against its property portfolio, once valued at £8 billion. The food offer at Marks & Spen- cer, the biggest opener of food halls, has also added an upmarket, innovative competitor to the mix. As a result, senior sources close to Sainsbury’s suggest now might be right for a fresh approach to Asda. A tie-up could play to both firms’ strengths with most Sainsbury’s shoppers in the well-off south and Asda’s greater reach in the north. Sources close to Sainsbury’s say it would be surprising if the super- market’s investment bank UBS
THE boss of one of the UK’s leading winer- ies has called on the Government to extend cuts in business rates to hotels to fuel a boom in British fizz. James Pennefather, chief executive of the Chapel Down estate in Kent, said that while Andy Burnham’s decision to cut business rates for pubs by 20 per cent was ‘very wel- come’ ministers should extend the reduc- tion to hotels, another key source of sales of the group’s sparkling wine. ‘Hotels have
UK GROCERY MARKET SHARE 30%
was not looking at the possibility of coming back for Asda given the diminished state of the brand. And TDR is understood to be increasingly impatient to sell off Asda. The UK’s moribund stock market has also made it unlikely the group will pursue a listing. A fresh attempt to create a strong Sainsbury’s-Asda pairing – driven by price-cutting and loyalty cards – is also seen as less likely to hit a brick wall with the CMA. As part of her growth agenda former Chancellor Rachel Reeves replaced the chairman of the CMA Marcus Bokkerink with
Amazon emigre Doug Gurr. Long drawn-out investigations – such as the one into the previous Sainsbury’s-Asda merger pro- posal – were seen as a constraint on commerce. Moreover, it was felt the CMA failed to take note of the inroads online shopping groups such as Ocado and Amazon were making. Gurr’s background in the tech sector would also be expected to foster a broader approach than the previous store, consumer and geo- graphical mapping techniques used to assess grocery deals. A combined entity might pro- vide a better counterweight to Tesco, which dominates the market with a 28.2 per cent share, according to the data group Worldpanel. Sainsbury’s is in a distant second place with a market share of 15.2 per cent. With Asda’s 11.5 per cent, the com- bined group would be snapping at Tes- co’s heels with a
10%
been less impacted by these measures, so we’d encourage the Government to go fur- ther on this,’ he said. He added that a wider rates cut could drive growth in Britain’s burgeoning wine industry, which has expanded rapidly in recent years as the warming climate makes grape-growing conditions more favourable.
26.7 per cent shares. As a result, the timing for a fresh Sainsbury’s tilt at Asda may look propitious. And Sainsbury’s chairman Mar- tin Scicluna may be open to a deal given his track record at insurer RSA, where as chair he presided over the sale of the insurer to a Canadian rival. But chief executive Simon Rob- erts may baulk at Sainsbury’s try- ing another transformative deal. Retail consultant and ex-Asda buyer Ged Futter is among those sceptical of a tie-up. ‘After six years at the helm, Roberts must be coming to the end of his stint as chief executive. I can’t see him wanting to be involved in an acquisition. Asda is not a good fit, and is struggling,’ Futter said. ‘Any potential pur- chase of Asda just plays into Tesco’s hands.’
Pennefather said a further rates cut ‘would hugely support our industry’, adding: ‘What has already happened is brilliant, but we would encourage it to be extended.’ The Chapel Down boss’s comments come as the UK’s retail and hospitality businesses call for the Government to extend its busi- ness rate reductions beyond pubs, bars and live music venues to the entire sector to help drive economic growth and stop the death of the High Street.
How LV= brought itself back from the brink
A
NDY Burnham has just become the Labour and Co-operative Party’s first Prime Minister with a promise to turn the Government’s plan for doubling the size of the mutual sec- tor into reality. So it is a good time to sit down with the boss of one of Britain’s most recognisable member-owned financial ser- vices firms, especially one that recently sur- vived a near-death experience. David Hynam runs LV=, the life insurance, income protection and pensions business for- merly known as Liverpool Victoria that has over 1 million members. Hynam took the helm three years ago after LV= narrowly escaped the clutches of a US private equity vulture. His predecessor, an ex-Army colonel called Mark Hartigan, tried to sacrifice LV=’s mutual status on the altar of a £530 million sale to Bain Capital. But the de-mutualisation failed to win enough member support after a cam- paign led by the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday, and it collapsed almost five years ago. Hynam was brought in to steady the ship. Since then he has put the 183-year-old mutual on a sounder financial footing by slashing debt, growing profits and plumping LV=’s cap- ital cushions. He has also ‘brought some pride back’ into the mutual. But while Hynam has been busy course-correcting LV=, other finan- cial mutuals have been getting bigger. The largest, Nationwide, has swallowed Vir- gin Money. Rival building society Coventry
now owns the Co-operative Bank. OneFamily and Scottish Friendly plan to merge creating a mutual life assurer with 2.3 million members. ‘The world has moved on a bit’ in the past three years, Hynam says
interested in mutuals’
in his distinctly Welsh accent. ‘We’d been a bit distracted for a while,’ he adds with some under- statement. ‘There’s some history that we’ve moved on from.’ At least LV= is no longer con- stantly looking over its shoulder. ‘I don’t get up in the morning thinking the big thing “I’ve got to fight for independence”,’ says Hynam. ‘I think “We’ve got to deliver great value for members”.’ And LV= is delivering. The mutual recently paid out a record £100 million to the 250,000 eligible policyholders who own the mutual. The bulk of that bonus was a final payment from a deal with Allianz, the German giant that bought LV=’s home, motor and pet insur- ance arm six years ago. Hynam seems to be in the right place at the right time. On Burnham, he says: ‘It’s great to have somebody who has got an
TOOHER
DOUBLE RESCUE: David Hynam at LV=’s Bournemouth HQ and, inset, his rescue dog Walter
interest in the co-operative and mutual sector. That’s always going to be useful for us.’ But he also wants to see ‘consist- ent policies that customers can relate to’, especially for pensions. Tax-free cash withdrawals from pension pots soared in the run-up to last year’s Budget on rumours the £268,275 limit would be cut. It wasn’t, but Hynam is keen to avoid another bout of damaging spec- ulation in the run-up to the October 28 Budget, which will be Burn- ham’s first. ‘If the tax-free allow- ance for pensions was withdrawn – or threatened to be withdrawn – people
AGE: 54 LIVES: Bournemouth FAMILY: Partner Owen, a hospital radiographer EDUCATION: Bedwellty Comprehensive in South Wales; University of Kent PETS: Rescue dog Walter
will behave differently in their tax planning,’ he warns. Another issue for LV= is access to capital. Mutuals are owned by members, so cannot issue shares to outside investors, unlike public firms. For member-owned life insurers such as LV= that are also regu- lated by financial watchdogs, it means relying on policy- holder premiums, investment returns and retained profits instead. ‘I don’t think anyone has come up with an idea yet as to how mutuals can have access to capital when you can’t basically own a share,’ he admits. Financial regulation is also designed
HOBBIES: Anything 1980s (especially cars), the seaside and karaoke FAVOURITE FILM: The Bourne Identity or any Bond
largely with shareholder-owned banks and insurers in mind. Mutu- als such as LV= are very much an afterthought. Despite these head- winds, LV= has recently returned to form, helped by a strong brand. Hynam argues a strong heritage engenders both customer loyalty and ‘huge demand’ for the LV= name itself. The mutual can trace its roots back to 1843, when it was set up in Liverpool to help the poor pay for their funerals. In a big vote of confidence, Ger- man giant Allianz recently signed a licensing deal to continue using the LV= name on the general insurance products it bought from the mutual in 2019. Allianz, which reversed plans to drop the LV= name, made ‘an active choice’ that ‘keeps our
WHO WOULD HE INVITE TO DINNER: Barbra Streisand (pictured left): ‘I’d serve something I think she would like – rare beef with a bottle of Malbec’
brand fresh’, Hynam notes, add- ing: ‘It’s a very valuable brand – one of our biggest assets.’ He plays down suggestions cus- tomers are confused by having two insurance companies operat- ing under one LV= banner. Another factor in the mutual’s recent recovery has been buoyant stock markets. Its flagship with-profits fund, which protects policyholders against the vagaries of the stock market, returned an impressive 14 per cent last year. Half of LV=’s business is in sav- ings and retirement, selling the likes of annuities and equity release plans, which have also seen good growth. The rest is in protection plans such as life insur- ance and critical illness cover. ‘Our tag line is protecting your income while you’re working, maximising it when you’re not,’ Hynam says. LV=’s products are mainly sold via a network of regu- lated financial advisers who charge a fee for tailored services. But it’s in unregulated, or guided, advice where the big growth
PICTURE: LES WILSON
maximise it out of work’
opportunities lie as providers vie for the ‘mass affluent’ market. Artificial intelligence (AI) can play a role in providing basic financial advice, bringing costs down, says Hynam. But its poten- tial is also being discovered in other areas such as complaints handling, which LV= is trialling. ‘I don’t mind if some fail,’ he says of LV=’s AI pilots, ‘because you’re not giving it a good enough go if it’s always 100 per cent successful.’ Saving LV= isn’t the only rescue act Hynam has performed. His twinkly eyes light up when he talks about his dog Walter, who he describes as ‘a complete rescue’. ‘Walter was found in a Biffa bin in Cyprus,’ he reveals. The mother of his partner, Owen, was running a dog sanctuary there at the time and flew Walter to the UK for them. Hynam says: ‘He is a proper mongrel but he’s the right colour for a miniature schnauzer.’ He sometimes brings Walter into the office at LV=’s Bournemouth HQ and has a collection of china dogs too. These were leaving pre- sents from colleagues at Bupa, where he ran the healthcare com- pany’s UK business. He admits: ‘Some are nicer than others.’ Mutuals have seen their share of false dawns down the years. David Cameron’s coalition government promised to promote mutuals and foster diversity in the financial sector as part of his ‘big society’ agenda. It never really happened. Maybe it will be different under Andy Burnham. All Hynam can do is live by his motto – to leave things better than you found them.
AUGUST 2 • 2026 The Mail on Sunday
Good Evening!
handicap double for trainer Al Jehani
JAMES DOYLE picked the right one from three choices as he won the Stewards’ Cup with Evening Saigon to top an amazing week at Glorious Goodwood for his Wathnan Racing bosses. The victory was a feather in the cap for the owners, who target this fixture given their associations with the meeting sponsors, Qatar. It was their seventh winner of the week under Doyle and a second major handicap in as many days for Qatari-born trainer Hamad Al Jehani after he had won the Golden Mile with Archivist. Doyle chose the wrong horse that day as he finished eighth on Al Jehani’s Blue Brother but was in joyous mood yesterday after landing the £128,850 first prize. ‘It’s been a great week’ said Doyle. ‘I was very deflated last year with just one [winner) and we were really frustrated by that, so the memo was we need to do better — including me. ‘We’ve done a lot of work this week looking at different tactics and things like that, track position and stuff. All the guys back home in the office, these guys, Hamad has done an unbelievable job with this horse as well. Hamad and his
Principal Meeting. L-H course. GOING: Good.
TOP JOCKEY: D Probert. TOP TRAINER: A Balding.
RADNOR HILLS HANDICAP (CLASS 4)
£15,000 (£7,731) 1m 4f
1
(7)
758 PATAGONIA GIRL (C&D) H Palmer 4-10-1...D Probert
2
(4)
444 CHARMAINE (D) J Fanshawe 5-10-1...........D Muscutt
3
(3)
1-43 KUREDU KING (D) D McCain 4-9-13.............. J Mason
4
(2) 059- WESTERTON J Candlish 6-9-12.......................G Wood
5
(1)
451 TIMBER TWELVE (D) M Bell 3-9-9...............R Coakley
6
(6)
353 L’EAGLE AID (BF,C&D) C Johnston 5-9-6........J Callan
7
(5)
4-14 LEVEL LOOK A Balding 3-9-1.......................O Murphy
BETTING: 2 Timber Twelve, 4 L’Eagle Aid, 5 Level Look, Charmaine.
2.45
EBF ‘CONFINED’ MAIDEN STAKES
(CLASS 4) £15,000 (2-Y-O) (£7,731) 6f
1
(4)
22 PURE GRIT (BF) A Balding 9-7....................O Murphy
2
(2)
3 SHAKWAA E Walker 9-7.......................... K Shoemark
3
(5)
38 SOVEREIGNS HIGH R Beckett 9-7...............E Greatrex
4
(1)
90 THEREWEARETHEN J Candlish 9-7.................G Wood
5
(3)
5 INDEPENDENT ROZE L Williamson 9-2 F McManoman
BETTING: 4-9 Pure Grit, 7-2 Shakwaa, 6 Sovereigns High.
3.20
QUEENSFERRY STAKES (LISTED) (CLASS 1)
£60,000 (3-Y-O) (£34,026) 6f
1
(8)
177 SONG OF THE CLYDE (C&D) C Cox 9-4.. K Shoemark
2
(4)
630 ARDISIA (D3) H Palmer 9-1.............................C Fallon
3
(3)
421 CALICO BLUE (C&D3) R Varian 9-1............. R Dawson
RACING
team, it’s nice that they have won the two big handicaps this week.’ Al Jehani said: ‘I am very happy for the team. He performed very well at Royal Ascot [he finished seventh in the Wokingham Stakes] and it was the right decision to keep him for the Stewards’ Cup. ‘It’s really important for us and it’s a really important race for the season. I’m very happy and thanks to James for giving the horse a great ride.’ l JOCKEY Jim Crowley has called time on his illustrious riding career at the age of 48. Crowley made the decision after failing to recover sufficiently from a serious injury he suffered in a fall at York last September. He was champion jockey in 2016 and rode top horses such as Battaash, Baaeed and Mohaather. ‘I’ve had an amazing career,’ said Crowley, who plans to turn his hand to training racehorses. ‘To come from jumping and do as well as I did on the Flat was amazing. ‘I partnered some great horses and it gave me days I could only dream of.’
4
(6)
101 JAZL (D3) S & E Crisford 9-1.........................J Mitchell
5
(9)
11- LIFEPLAN (D2) D Carroll 9-1..................... Z Wheatley
6
(7) 6-60 ROCK ON THUNDER (D) K Ryan 9-1.................K Stott
7
(1)
150 SIRIUS A (D) J Horton 9-1................................G Wood
8
(5)
650 FITZELLA (D2) H Palmer 8-10.......................D Probert
9
(2)
120 SIMPLIFY (D) A Balding 8-10......................O Murphy
BETTING: 9-4 Lifeplan, 9-2 Rock On Thunder, 6 Song of The Clyde, 13-2
Fitzella, 8 Calico Blue, 10 Ardisia, 12 Sirius A, Jazl, 14 Simplify.
3.52
TV: SKY
TV: SKY
DISNEY’S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL AT LOWRY HANDICAP (CLASS 2) £25,000
(£12,885) 7f
1
(5)
408 PALMAR BAY (C&D) R Beckett 5-10-2...........H Vigors (5)
2
(4)
056 THE STRIKIN VIKING H Al Jehani (UAE) 4-10-2
F Bughanaim
3
(6)
009 ROMAN DRAGON (C8) H Palmer 7-9-13.....D Probert
4
(8)
4-10 POWER FIZZ (BF,D3) W Haggas 4-9-12..........C Fallon
5
(10)
150 DANCE IN THE STORM (C&D) A Balding 4-9-11
O Murphy
6
(3)
004 KHAFIZ (D2) R Fell 4-9-8...................................K Stott
7
(2)
060 THE ANGEL KING (D2) I Williams 4-9-5....E Greatrex
8
(9)
064 KORKER K R Burke 7-9-5..........................J Nicholls (3)
9
(7)
293 MONARCH’S GOLD K P De Foy 3-9-2.........T Moore (7)
10
(1)
494 MIAMI MATRIX (C2,D) P Morris 4-8-13......P Bradley
BETTING: 10-3 Power Fizz, 5 Monarch’s Gold, 13-2 Korker, 7 Dance In
The Storm, Palmar Bay, Khafiz, 8 The Strikin Viking, 12 The Angel King.
LAURIE BRANNAN WITH TODAY’S TIPS CHESTER....................................................................................Calico Blue (3.20) YARMOUTH.............................................................................Keep Grating (3.08)
E1.90, E4.40. Ex: E35.20. Trifecta: E708.40. CSF: E25.68. NRs: Aodha’s Arrow, Back In Favour, Tanga Mugi. 4.27: VICTORY SPEECH (W M Lordan) 11-10f 1; Zarak Pasha 6-4 2; Thomas Chippendale 5-1 3. 4 ran. (A P O’Brien). ¾, 4l. Tote: E2.10; Ex: E2.80. Trifecta: E3.60. CSF: E3.21. 5.00: REST YOUR MIND (W J Lee) 15-2 1; Royal Bones 7-4f 2; Suir Monad 3-1 3. 12 ran. (Gerard O’Leary). ½, 3¼. Tote: E8.80; E2.20, E1.20, E1.40. Ex: E38.90. Trifecta: E163.30. CSF: E22.51. NRs: Aghadrum Boy, Gliondar, Tijuana. 5.35: FAOLADH (A Browne-Souza) 22-1 1; The Sweet Escape 13-2 2; Apache Outlaw 4-1 3. 13 ran. (A Slattery). 5-4f San Aer. shd, shd. Tote: E36.20; E2.10, E2.00, E7.30. Ex: E295.10. Tricast: E739.37. Trifecta: E2276.30. CSF: E161.73. NRs: Bay Of Dreams, Chester Nimitz, Lough Leane, Mytimetoshine, Rhythm King. 6.05: SIR JEREMY (Paddy Harnett) 11-1 1; Thatwilldoso 13-2 2; Thyer 14-1 3; Pillar Of Hope 12-1 4. f16 ran. (N Meade). 6-5f Fratas. nk, 1l, 1¾. NRs: Cala Bonita, Concert Party, Diamond Exchange, Hexagonal, Steps In The Sand. Placepot: E140.50. GOODWOOD Good to firm 1.50: HOPEWELL ROCK (R L Moore) 5-1 1; Small Fry 6-1 2; Aeronautic 11-4 3. 13 ran. (G Boughey). 5-2f Valedictory. ¾, 2¼. Tote: £6.50; £2.10, £2.10, £1.40. Exacta: £46.50. Tricast: £102.32. Trifecta: £194.70. CSF: £33.49. NR: Too Soon. 2.25: ENFJAAR (R Dawson) 8-1 1; Opportunity 15-8f 2; Al Aasy 9-2 3. 8 ran. (R Varian). 1¼, 1l. Tote: £9.00; £2.20, £1.30, £1.60. Ex: £28.40. Tricast: £76.23. Trifecta: £117.00. CSF: £22.91. 3.00: GOODIE TWO SHOES (D Browne McMonagle) 8-1 1; Santorini Star 4-1 2; Waardah 9-4f 3. 6 ran. (J P O’Brien (IRE)). ns, hd. Tote: £9.00; £2.90, £2.00. Ex: £42.90. Trifecta: £146.10. CSF: £37.83. NR: Little Dorrit. 3.35: EVENING SAIGON (J Doyle) 16-1 1; Stratusnine 25-1 2; Mitbaahy 14-1 3; Completely Random 7-1 4. f27 ran. (H Al Jehani (UAE)). 11-2f Two Tribes. hd, shd, nk. Tote: £20.30; £4.70, £6.60, £4.50, £2.80. Ex: £620.80. Tricast: £5760.08. Trifecta: £14567.90. CSF: £397.04. NR: Candy. 4.10: GHOST MODE (R Hornby) 9-2 1; Ironwill 10-1 2; We’re Goosers 11-8f 3. 13 ran. (A Balding). 1¼, nk. Tote: £7.00; £2.20, £3.60, £1.40. Ex: £88.50. Tricast: £99.48. Trifecta: £235.20. CSF: £47.72. 4.45: RAFE’S DA MAN (P Dobbs) 12-1 1; Charted Course 9-2 2; Speyside 40-1 3. 13 ran. (R Hannon). 13-8f Speakers Corner. 1¼, 1¾. Tote: £14.40; £3.30, £1.80, £8.50. Ex: £81.80. Trifecta: £1791.90. CSF: £67.18. NR: Al Wathba. 5.20: CREST OF FIRE (T Marquand) 100-30jt-f 1; Boyfriend 13-2 2; Blue Courvoisier 100-30jt-f 3. 15 ran. (J Channon). nk, ½. Tote: £4.34; £2.00, £2.60, £1.90. Ex: £33.20. Tricast: £83.25. Trifecta: £147.30. CSF:
CAMERON NORRIE’S promising run at the Los Cabos Open in Mexico ended with a three-set semi-final defeat against defending champion Denis Shapovalov. The British No 2 (above), who won the event in 2021, had returned to some form by reaching the last four — having previously lost six matches in a row — but was beaten 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. ‘Great serving from me, and I needed it against Cam,’ said Shapovalov. ‘He doesn’t give you many free points. It was a tough battle.’
L-H course. GOING: Good to Firm. TOP JOCKEY: B Loughnane.
TOP TRAINER: M Bell.
J20 CLASSIFIED CLAIMING STAKES
(CLASS 4) £15,000 (£7,731) 1m
1
(3)
687 CANDONOMORE (D4) J Candlish 5-9-6........G Wood
2
(5)
120 ALPHA CAPTURE (BF,D) R Fell 6-9-4................K Stott
3
(2)
065 I STILL HAVE FAITH (D) S C Williams 6-9-2.R Dawson
4
(4)
133 BLUE PRINCE P Evans 5-8-13.......................O Murphy
5
(6)
730 CALYXOH P Morris 4-8-13.............................P Bradley
6
(1)
815 MIDNIGHT STRIKE (D) J Candlish 4-8-13........J Callan
BETTING: 9-4 Blue Prince, 5-2 Alpha Capture, 10-3 I Still Have Faith.
4.52
TOM JONES LIVE AT CHESTER RACECOURSE HCAP (CLASS 4) £15,000
(£7,731) 1m 2f
1
(9)
515 FARASI LANE M Hammond 8-10-2.............A Brookes
2
(6)
742 SECRET BEACH D McCain 5-10-2..............T Moore (7)
3
(1)
421- SALIGO BAY (C,D) S England 8-10-0...............T Eaves
4
(3)
530 NAPLES S Hollinshead 4-9-13.....................D Costello
5
(5)
642 TIGER (BF) I Williams 4-9-12.......................E Greatrex
6
(8)
034 ECHALAR I Williams 4-9-11...........................D Probert
7
(2)
479 OMAN (C2,D) A Carroll 8-9-8.................. Z Wheatley
8
(10)
548 MOON BEGINNINGS (C) D Loughnane 4-9-8 L Pearson
9
(4)
213 CAPE FEAR (BF) A Balding 3-9-7.................O Murphy
10
(7)
494 EAGLE DAY P Evans 6-8-13...............................J F Egan
BETTING: 9-4 Saligo Bay, 5-2 Tiger, 5 Secret Beach, 8 Cape Fear,
Echalar, 16 Moon Beginnings, Farasi Lane, 20 Eagle Day, Oman.
Totescoop6 Win: Not won £65,672 rollover. Place: £5,470. Bonus: £29,265.
£26.67. NRs: Alpha Crucis, El Matador, Point Of Contact. Jackpot: Not won, pool of £20,234.50 carried over. Placepot: £963.20. Quadpot: £218.40. HAMILTON Good-good to soft in places 5.50: HENLEY ON THAMES (S James) 2-1 1; Thanks Harry 6-1 2; California School evensf 3. 5 ran. (K P De Foy). 2¼, ½. Tote: £3.00; £1.20, £2.20. Exacta: £9.40. Trifecta: £14.20. CSF: £13.40. 6.25: TIERNAN (A Mullen) 11-8 1; Kissmehoneyhoney 5-1 2; According To Mark 5-4f 3. 5 ran. (I Jardine). 4l, 9½. Tote: £2.38; £1.20, £1.70. Ex: £5.90. Trifecta: £8.80. CSF: £8.05. 7.00: CABRERA (P J McDonald) 85-40f 1; Secret Force 9-2 2; Gallus Norman 8-1 3. 10 ran. (E Bethell). hd, 1¼. Tote: £3.13; £1.30, £2.00, £2.10. Ex: £13.00. Tricast: £64.76. Trifecta: £73.50. CSF: £11.69. NR: Dunkeld Dreamer. 7.30: COROLLA POINT (P J McDonald) 3-1f 1; Eternal Sunshine 9-1 2; Fluorescence 5-1 3. 11 ran. (E Bethell). 1l, 1l. Tote: £4.00; £1.70, £2.40, £1.80. Ex: £42.60. Tricast: £138.17. Trifecta: £238.90. CSF: £31.74. NRs: Jordan Electrics, Parisiac, Solar Aclaim. LINGFIELD Good to firm-good in places 5.05: BINTKNIGHT (L Edmunds) 13-8f 1; Londoner 4-1 2; Epictetus 5-1 3. 5 ran. (Harry Charlton). 1l, ¾. Tote: £2.63; £1.50, £2.20. Exacta: £1.40. Trifecta: £28.80. CSF: £8.76. 5.40: PANTHERE NOIR (R Kavanagh) 5-4f 1; Lapidarist 5-1 2; Private Project 11-1 3. 6 ran. (L Dace). nk, 1¼. Tote: £2.25; £1.20, £2.00. Ex: £7.80. Trifecta: £38.90. CSF: £7.97. 6.15: CAMPEONA (D E Hogan) 8-15f 1; An Bradan Feasa 3-1 2; Laravie 5-1 3. 3 ran. (Sir M Prescott). nk, 14l. Tote: £1.54; Ex: £2.20. Trifecta: £1.90. CSF: £2.38. NR: Naval Command. 6.45: ROGUE EXILE (H Davies) 1-3f 1; Justice Court 9-2 2; Malakai Kite 13-2 3. 5 ran. (James Owen). nk, 4l. Tote: £1.34; £1.10, £1.50. Ex: £2.50. Trifecta: £3.40. CSF: £2.36. NR: Muchacho. 7.15: LAYLATY (L Edmunds) 9-4f 1; Rogue Imperial 6-1 2; Seed Ya Later 13-2 3. 7 ran. (H Charlton). shd, 1¼. Tote: £3.25; £1.70, £3.00. Ex: £17.70. Trifecta: £79.40. CSF: £16.17. NEWMARKET Good to firm 1.33: ROMANTIC SYMPHONY (B Loughnane) 5-4f 1; Francophone 17-2 2; Revoir 6-1 3. 8 ran. (C Appleby). 1¼, 2½. Tote: £2.25; £1.20, £2.30, £1.90. Exacta: £13.30. Trifecta: £62.80. CSF: £13.27. NR: Ryka. 2.13: HAVANA SPRITE (J Mitchell) 4-1 1; Acclamation Star 7-1 2; Holi Scarlett 25-1 3. 9 ran. (J Tate). 2-1f Love A Giggle. ½, ¾. Tote: £5.10;
HANDICAP (CLASS 5) £8,400 (3-Y-O)
(£4,397) 1m 3f 104yds
1
(3)
741 SHADOW BRIGADE G Scott 9-12.................D Keenan
2
(2)
102 BRIGHTON VIEW W Knight 9-7....................M Ghiani
3
(1)
841 MR BOLLINGER (C&D) M Bell 9-1.........B Loughnane
BETTING: 13-8 Shadow Brigade, 7-4 Brighton View, 2 Mr Bollinger.
3.08
RESTRICTED NOVICE STAKES (CLASS 2)
£30,000 (2-Y-O) (£15,702) 7f
1
(3)
41 TELEGRAPHIC (D) C Johnston 9-10.......B Loughnane
2
(9)
BISCAYSIAN M Bell 9-4...................................K Fraser
3
(6)
5 CRACKING IDEA E Dunlop 9-4...................... H Davies
4
(5)
JAVELOT M Botti 9-4...................................S De Sousa
5
(7)
632 KEEP GRATING R Hannon 9-4..........................J Leavy
6
(8)
PIRATES PARADISE G Scott 9-4...................D Keenan
7
(2)
03 SOVEREIGN DAWN M Keady 9-4........... K S McHugh
8
(4)
SPES DURAT AVORUM J Morland 9-4.............J Peate
9
(1)
STRONG PERFORMANCE W Knight 9-1.......M Ghiani
BETTING: 6-4 Keep Grating, 2 Telegraphic, 10 Pirates Paradise,
Biscaysian, 12 Javelot, 16 Spes Durat Avorum, Strong Performance.
3.38
CLASSIFIED STAKES (CLASS 6)
£6,600 (£3,454) 7f
1
(5)
066 ASPIRE TO GLORY (D5) D Cunha 5-9-9..T Marquand
2
(6)
733 NICELY CURVED H Burton 6-9-9......................J Peate
3
(1)
849 OH SO AUDACIOUS (D) J Jones 7-9-9................K Fraser
4
(3)
224 VALSHARAH M Appleby 4-9-9..................... H Davies
5
(2)
754 CAITLIN G M Fenton (IRE) 3-9-3...............G McEntee
6
(4) 6-46 GIRLS ALLOWED J & S Birkett 3-9-3...........D E Hogan
BETTING: 6-4 Valsharah, 5-2 Nicely Curved, 13-2 Aspire To Glory.
£1.50, £2.20, £6.10. Ex: £34.60. Tricast: £633.71. Trifecta: £477.80. CSF: £33.53. 2.48: SPIRITED GESTURE (R Havlin) 6-4 1; Kiah 14-1 2; Asheyra 7-1 3. 7 ran. (J & T Gosden). 11-10f Haleema. 2¼, 1l. Tote: £2.50; £1.30, £3.90. Ex: £17.00. Trifecta: £54.40. CSF: £22.96. 3.23: TRYST (B Loughnane) 5-1 1; Lion of Mali 5-2f 2; Spirit Of Saxony 100-30 3. 6 ran. (G Boughey). 1¾, ½. Tote: £6.00; £2.90, £1.50. Ex: £17.00. Trifecta: £61.10. CSF: £17.29. 3.58: ARQOOB (J Mitchell) 10-1 1; Sixpack 13-2 2; Haku 125-1 3. 8 ran. (L Wadham). 5-4f Divine Knight. ½, hd. Tote: £11.80; £2.50, £1.70, £9.70. Ex: £72.30. Tricast: £7437.89. Trifecta: £1098.70. CSF: £72.96. 4.33: HOLLYWELL STREAM (B Loughnane) 7-2 1; Food For Thought 10-11f 2; Thaluna 100-30 3. 4 ran. (J Chapple-Hyam). 1½, 4¼. Tote: £4.80; Ex: £7.50. Trifecta: £15.60. CSF: £7.36. 5.10: MERRIMACK (C R Lyons) 11-4 1; Sound And Vision 2-1f 2; Silky Robin 6-1 3. 6 ran. (S C Williams). 1¼, ½. Tote: £3.75; £1.80, £1.80. Ex: £10.40. Trifecta: £46.50. CSF: £9.02. Placepot: £695.20. Quadpot: £106.00. THIRSK Good-good to firm in places 1.38: BATTLE FEVER (K Stott) 9-4 1; Red Blue Point 7-2 2; Bacha 9-1 3. 8 ran. (K Ryan). 5-4f Palm Reader. 3l, 1l. Tote: £3.25; £1.10, £1.60, £1.50. Exacta: £12.20. Trifecta: £71.30. CSF: £11.11. 2.08: WITCH HUNTER (S C Cronin) 12-1 1; Dain Ma Nut In 40-1 2; Northern Express 9-2 3. 11 ran. (R Hannon). 3-1jt-f Jeddaal, 3-1jt-f Mirsky. ½, nk. Tote: £13.00; £3.20, £6.80, £1.60. Ex: £306.60. Tricast: £2528.47. Trifecta: £5013.20. CSF: £424.74. NR: Fondo Blanco. 2.43: BRIGHTON BEACH (D Tudhope) 5-6f 1; Le Samourai 100-30 2; West Sleekburn Lad 300-1 3. 5 ran. (W Haggas). hd, 16l. Tote: £1.59; £1.10, £1.10. Ex: £1.50. Trifecta: £15.50. CSF: £1.60. NRs: Ben Travato, Regal Desire. Ben Travato | Rule 4 applies to All Bets, deduct 30p in the pound. 3.17: ACCRUAL (W Pyle) 12-1 1; Moulin Booj 5-1 2; Tiva 8-1 3. 12 ran. (R Carr). 11-4f Rotokura Belle. 1l, hd. Tote: £13.00; £4.00, £2.30, £2.80. Ex: £118.80. Tricast: £537.20. Trifecta: £1189.50. CSF: £71.53. 3.47: ASUKA (J Callan) 15-8f 1; Angel Hunter 9-2 2; Croupier 20-1 3. 15 ran. (G Boughey). hd, 2¼. Tote: £2.88; £1.60, £2.00, £5.70. Ex: £11.90. Tricast: £141.44. Trifecta: £145.70. CSF: £8.71. NR: Yorkshire. 4.22: LA PEREGRINA (G Downing) 4-7f 1; Northern Brave 100-30 2; That Darn Cantor 14-1 3. 4 ran. (E Walker). 1½, shd. Tote: £1.58; Ex: £2.70. Trifecta: £7.00. CSF: £2.97. 4.55: MALDEVIOUS (B Robinson) 15-2 1; Northcliff 6-4f 2; Great 7-2 3. 9 ran. (B Ellison). 1¼, 2¾. Tote: £8.70; £2.30, £1.30, £1.80. Ex: £28.40. Tricast: £48.03. Trifecta: £114.00. CSF: £19.54. Placepot: £107.20. Quadpot: £5.60.
Centurion Toby king of the Castle
TOBY KING scored his 100th career
try as Warrington boosted their
play-off hopes with a 48-18 win at
Castleford.
King’s try was one of seven from
Wolves, who came from behind to
secure a victory which moved them
into fourth place.
Three tries in eight minutes from
Daejarn Asi, Tylor Sharpe — on
his debut — and Phoenix Laulu-
Togaga’e put the hosts in control
after Sam Burgess’s side had gone
in front through Adam Holroyd.
Warrington then capitalised on a
series of defensive errors as Matty
Ashton (twice), King, Toafofoa
Sipley, James Harrison, Leon
Hayes and Ben Currie went over.
Ewan Irwin kicked eight out of
eight conversion attempts for
Wolves, who had won only one of
their four games last month.
Burgess admitted his side needed
to improve to mount a Super
League title challenge. ‘We got the
job done,’ he said. ‘If we really want
to have a run at the back end of the
competition, we need to tidy up a
few things.’
CASTLEFORD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 WARRINGTON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 CATALANS DRAGONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .L WAKEFIELD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L YORK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 ST HELENS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Snooker
HANDICAP (CLASS 6)
£7,200 (3-Y-O) (£3,768) 1m
1
(2)
369 DARETOBEDIFFERENT (D) D Donovan 9-9.M Ghiani
2
(1)
724 OKIRU A Watson 9-8...............................T Marquand
3
(4)
564 MELTING SNOW E Dunlop 9-6.............B Loughnane
4
(5)
473 GUEST HOUSE (BF,C&D) G Margarson 9-5 S De Sousa
5
(6)
780 BELLINI SPIRIT J & R Flint 9-4.....................W Carson
6
(3)
650 ESDAILE J Tate 9-1..........................................D Keenan
BETTING: 2 Melting Snow, 9-4 Guest House, 11-4 Okiru.
4.38
‘CONFINED’ HANDICAP (CLASS 6)
£7,200 (£3,768) 1m 2f
1
(1)
025 CUBAN GIRL B Toomey 4-9-8....................... H Davies
2
(4)
321 THE UBERMENSCH (C) M Bell 4-9-8.....B Loughnane
3
(5)
066 RISEN AGAIN (C&D) J & R Flint 5-9-7.........W Carson
4
(2)
0-73 BIG ALEX WALMSLEY I G-Leveque 4-9-6
B Sayette
5
(3)
142 NUPTOWN GIRL I Williams 4-9-4.....R Kavanagh (3)
BETTING: 11-8 The Ubermensch, 9-4 Nuptown Girl, 4 Big Alex
Walmsley.
5.08
PRICE BAILEY LLP NORWICH ‘CONFINED’
HANDICAP (CLASS 6) £7,200 (£3,768) 5f
1
(4)
393 PAPA DON’T PREACH (BF,D4) K Frost 7-9-9
B Loughnane
2
(5)
364 MART (D2) D Donovan 5-9-9
R Kavanagh (3)
3
(3)
523 DRAGON GOD A Carroll 4-9-7................T Marquand
4
(7)
903 ANTIPHON (D3) M Murphy 7-9-2................M Ghiani
5
(1)
676 REGAL GUEST G Margarson 4-9-2.............S De Sousa
6
(6)
350 NAD ALSHIBA SNOW M Murphy 4-8-13.. G Mangan
7
(2)
07-8 SURPRISE AGAIN J R Jenkins 4-8-13.................J Peate
BETTING: 15-8 Papa Don’t Preach, 2 Dragon God, 9-2 Mart
Cricket
THE HUNDRED — Men’s — Birmingham Phoenix 137-9 (100 balls); Welsh Fire 138-3 (96 balls; J Root 58no). Welsh Fire win by 7 wickets. Women’s London Spirit 114-8 (100 balls; S Molineux 3-7); Southern Brave 115-5 (93 balls). Southern Brave win by 5 wickets. Welsh Fire 144-3 (100 Balls; G A Voll 78); Birmingham Phoenix 145-3 (93 Balls; E A Perry 68no; A R Capsey 51). Birmingham Phoenix win by 7 wickets. Football
FRIENDLIES — A Madrid 1 Man Utd 2; Brighton 4 Strasbourg 3;
Chelsea 1 Tottenham 2; Doncaster 0 Lincoln 1; Huddersfield 1 Blackburn
1; Magdeburg 1 W Ham 1; Kasimpasa 1 Hull 1; Man City 1 Inter 1;
Middlesbrough 3 Espanyol 3; Millwall 1 Antwerp 0; Norwich 1 Osasuna
2; Peterborough 0 W Brom 2; Plymouth 0 Bristol City 0; P Munster 1
Southampton 2; Reading 3 Charlton 0; Stockport 1 Preston 0; Swansea
1 Leganes 0; VfL Bochum 0 Sheff Utd 0; Wycombe 1 Ipswich 2.
Golf
AIG WOMEN’S OPEN, Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, England — 3rd Round: (Gbr & Irl unless stated, Par 71): 206 — Y Noh (US) 67 70 69; 209 — A Thitikul (Tha) 64 73 72; Hae-Ran Ryu (Kor) 66 69 74; L Li (US) 72 68 69; S Kuwaki (Jpn) 66 70 73; E Henseleit (Ger) 73 69 67; 210 — L Woad 69 71 70; 211 — M Katsu (Jpn) 72 68 71; C Hull 69 71 71; A Furue (Jpn) 76 70 65; C Wannasaen (Tha) 68 72 71 Rugby League
BETFRED SUPER LEAGUE
WST SHANGHAI MASTERS Shanghai China — Semi-Final: K Wilson (Eng) bt X Zhao (Chn) 10-8. Tennis
DUNCAN FLETCHER (1999-2007) ZIMBABWE TEST RECORD: W42 D24 L30
By Richard Gibson
CRICKET CORRESPONDENT
THERE are many reasons that few Englishmen go on to coach England these days: the results of those that have gone before hang heavy, a mistrust of the country’s embedded coaching system has developed and so has and infatuation with star names. This century only Peter Moores (twice) and Chris Silverwood have been given the privilege of calling themselves Test coach and between them they lost as many matches as they won — 22 wins and 22 losses between them. That might appear to be a tough yardstick to be judged by, but such statistics will have influenced Rob Key in his decision to appoint New Zealander Stephen Fleming despite a lack of first-class coach- ing experience, ahead of Richard Dawson, perhaps the brightest coaching talent in the country and one with silverware on his CV. Some will argue, perhaps with justification, that Dawson’s achievements with two unfashion- able counties have not been given commensurate weighting in this selection process. Gloucestershire supporters look back on their Lord’s one-day cup final win in 2015 as one of the club’s finest achievements while he has Glamorgan as high as fourth in the County Championship after his first season in charge concluded with promotion last September. In between those two jobs, there was the small matter of oversee- ing an eight-match England Lions tour of Australia in early 2020, returning home undefeated
PETER MOORES (2007-09 & 2014-15) ENGLAND W12 D11 L9
of country’s coaching pathway and
‘mood’ taking precedence over results...
UP-AND-COMING COACHES KEEP BEING SNUBBED
having won the four-day ‘Test’ against Australia A. On Friday, Key spoke of ‘work- ing on’ homegrown coaches to ‘upskill’ them, saying more experiences needed to be created for them overseas. That such development would not be a quick
fix. Yet Dawson’s very positive experience of winning in Australia was six years ago. He has knowledge of lots of conditions around the world garnered from various England tours. It feels like a case of disregard for the coaching path from which
ANDY FLOWER (2009-14) ZIMBABWE W30 D15 L16
Dawson — whose standoffish demeanour should not detract from the fact he is an excellent coach well respected by the country’s leading players — has emerged. Key has shown little regard for the traditional level-four coaching
TREVOR BAYLISS (2015-19) AUSTRALIA W27 D7 L26
qualification that the ECB have asked the country’s best coaches to complete for the past quarter of a century, instead appointing those with limited or no coaching back- grounds in the form of former playing greats Brendon McCullum and Andrew Flintoff to high
(2019-22) ENGLAND W10 D6 L13
position. Investment has been in inspiration not perspiration. Overall, McCullum has proved to be a success across four years and three England teams, but said early on: ‘Don’t expect me to be on the tools.’ Flintoff has proved more of a mentor than coach since taking over the Lions two years ago, and will skip some of next winter’s programme in South Africa to coach Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League. It is part of a wider culture of ‘mood’ taking precedent over results. When the Hundred launched in 2021, not a single coach was English. The late Shane Warne was chosen by London Spirit; experienced international coaches like Andy Flower, Darren Lehmann and Gary Kirsten were signed; the two emerging coaches were New Zealander Daniel Vet- tori and Australian Simon Katich. Key is part of a shifting cricket culture that places names over deeds and achievements abroad over ones here. The last six County Champion- ship titles have been claimed by teams with English coaches: Moores (Nottinghamshire), Gareth Batty (Surrey), Mark Robinson (Warwickshire) and Anthony McGrath (Yorkshire). If we do not have confidence in our own production line, why should we expect others to? Work abroad has been limited: Silver- wood and Paul Farbrace (both Sri Lanka), Bob Woolmer (Pakistan) and Jonathan Trott (Afghanistan) rare examples of those to have taken head coach jobs of Test- playing nations this century. Vikram Solanki is the only Englishman to move from a county position to one at the Indian Premier League, as director of cricket at Gujarat Titans. Moores was the only English coach at the Big Bash League last winter. However, there is evidence of a
shift. Ian Bell has been on coach- ing staffs at both tournaments. Others have ventured to the BBL to gain experience through obser- vational or backroom roles. Andrew Gale, formerly of York- shire, is making big waves as a coach with Tasmania and was promoted to work with Australia A last winter. Foreigners appear to be judged through a different prism. For all of Fleming’s widely acknowledged man-management skills, tactical acumen and calm, calculated per- sona, he has never won a trophy without MS Dhoni as his captain. Marcus Trescothick, meanwhile, failed to make the shortlist this
NEW BOSS: Kiwi Stephen Fleming lacks first-class coaching experience
time despite four years of experience under McCullum in which his one major failing was insisting there had been no talk of the dangers of driving on the up after first Test defeat in Perth. Trescothick did a sound job as McCullum’s stand-in on the limited-overs tour of the Caribbean two years ago, coming home with a rare series win over West Indies, and will step up again against Pakistan. He has been
(2022-26) NEW ZEALAND W27 D2 L20
produced by a country with a revered coaching system that has launched several individuals on the road to international head coach jobs around the world. Australia coach Andrew McDonald completed his coaching badges by the age of 27, cutting his teeth here seven years later, starting at the bottom of the pile with a Leicestershire side that had gone winless for two seasons while continuing to play back in his homeland. In improving the Midlands club’s finishing positions in both the 2015 and 2016 seasons, he established a reputation as one of the brightest young coaches on the global circuit, something he gave further credence to when in his first senior coaching position in Australia he marked his debut campaign of 2016-17 by taking Victoria to the Sheffield Shield title. At Grace Road, McDonald could put into play his belief in a hands- off approach, making players take greater responsibility and using his own previous struggles with the mental side of the sport to liberate the thinking of a team previously suffocated by struggle. Ottis Gibson won the Twenty20 World Cup with West Indies, defeated both Australia and India in Test series while in charge of South Africa and was England’s bowling coach on two occasions, having gone through the ECB coaching programme. Another Australian, Jason Gillespie, was exposed to the pressure of ending Yorkshire’s trophy drought as a young coach fresh from a maiden stint in Zim- babwe, and responded by deliver- ing back-to-back Championships in 2014 and 15. Like Gibson, he moved onto the international scene, albeit briefly, with Pakistan. Others are grateful for what the county system offers. Perhaps it’s time for us to be so too.
Root: I will keep best of Bazball for my second stint as captain
JOE ROOT will reach for the
scalpel rather than the shredder in a bid to turn around England’s fortunes in Test cricket. Root begins a second permanent stint as Test captain against Pakistan on his home ground of Headingley on August 19 believing that despite being winless in a series since late 2024, four years of Bazball has much improved the environment. ‘It’ll be trying to continue some of the good things we have done and not finding ourselves back where we were before Baz and Ben took over,’ Root, 35, said. ‘Evolving and tweaking things to get us to where we want to be and really competing against the top nations consistently over a long period of time. ‘It would be wrong to completely rip up everything we’ve done over the last four years. There’s so much good stuff Ben [Stokes] and Brendon [McCullum] did, changing the way we look at the game and see the game. ‘I’ve benefited hugely from that as a player. But there are areas we want to sharpen up a little bit and become a little bit sterner with.’ Yorkshire’s Root says he is now in a much better place to take on the captaincy than when he first took over from Alastair Cook in 2017 or when he quit, conceding it had taken an adverse effect on his personal life, in the spring of 2022. ‘Anyone that says — in an eight- year period — that they are the same person, they are probably lying,’ Root told the ECB in an interview for their website. ‘We could’ve been better and performed better but it got to a point where it was a bit too much for me and it was time to step away. ‘The world’s very different. I’m in a different place and feel very energised and excited about the opportunity that lies ahead. ‘The last four years is the most fun I’ve had in cricket and most of that is down to the way they [McCullum and Stokes] got me to see the game. ‘Clearly the last little while is fresh in everyone’s minds but you’re looking at a four-year period where we did a lot of good things.’ Rob Key, the ECB’s director of men’s cricket, has paired Root — who possesses an equal split of 27 wins and losses in a record 65 appearances as England Test captain — with a coach in Stephen Fleming who is renowned as one of the game’s great thinkers. Fleming, 53, has no track record as a coach in first-class cricket, primarily due to an 18-year association with Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. However, Root said that he enjoyed working in tandem with
McCullum despite losing the second Test to New Zealand at The Oval in June as Stokes’s stand-in — and Fleming has a very similar relaxed philosophy on how a team should run. ‘If I’m being brutally honest, he was a big reason why I wanted to do it,’ Root continued. ‘I’m very excited by the way he sees the game and where he sees us sit as a team and the work we have to do to get where we want to. ‘I’m very much looking forward to working with him and looking forward to us building something special together.’ England are currently ranked fifth in Test cricket following a 4-1 Ashes thrashing last winter and
PACKED SCHEDULE
n Aug 19 v PAKISTAN
(First Test, Headingley)
n Aug 27 v PAKISTAN
(Second Test, Lord’s)
n Sep 9 v PAKISTAN
(Third Test, Edgbaston)
n Sep 15 v SRI LANKA
(T20, Southampton)
n Sep 17 v SRI LANKA
(T20, Cardiff)
n Sep 19 v SRI LANKA
(T20, Old Trafford)
n Sep 22 v SRI LANKA
(ODI, Chester-le-Street)
n Sep 24 v SRI LANKA
(ODI, Headingley)
n Sep 27 v SRI LANKA
(ODI, The Oval)
the 2-1 reverse to the injury-hit New Zealanders. Fleming will not arrive until the back end of the three-match series against Pakistan at the earliest, due to pre-arranged family commitments, meaning Marcus Trescothick will step in as interim coach. Before that he will provide input towards the selection of the first Test squad, which is scheduled to be announced at the back end of the coming week. Then, upon his arrival in the UK in September, Fleming will plan towards next summer’s Ashes, starting with away series against South Africa and Bangladesh over the winter plus one-off matches against Australia in March and Bangladesh in May. By which point it will have become abundantly clear whether the scalpel surgery was enough.
IN GLASGOW
THE Prince and Princess of Wales spent their morning watching netball in Glasgow but the real royal rumble was in the boxing ring. England claimed three gold medals within two hours in the first session of the day, with Sacha Hickey, Patris Mughalzai and Isaac Okoh all topping the podium. After defeating Connor Williams of Wales in the heavyweight final, Okoh sent a cheeky invitation to William: ‘If he wants a pad session, tell him to call me. But the fee is quite high! ‘I don’t know what they’re into. They might come down and enjoy the fights. The atmosphere has been great this week so hopefully one day they might see me box.’ It was a display of dominance from these amateurs. They have now turned their sights towards Olympic gold at LA 2028, following the likes of Nicola Adams,
LOTTIE WOAD and Charley Hull remain in contention going into today’s final round at the AIG Women’s Open as new leader Yealimi Noh ended the third day with a three-shot lead. Woad sits four shots behind American Noh on three under after a third-round one-under 70 at Royal Lytham and St Annes, while Hull rallied after a poor start to sit one stroke further back on two under after a level-par 71. Noh also recovered from a slow start as she made five birdies and three bogeys in a two-under 69 to
hours – before heavyweight Okoh invites Prince William to join his pad session
Anthony Joshua and Amir Khan. ‘You’re going to see us back at the top of the podium again,’ added Okoh. ‘I feel like I’m one of the best in the world at 90kg at the minute. I’m still young. Since September last year I’ve been on an amazing run of form, picking up loads of medals. Come LA, I’ll be looking to win another gold. ‘It’s all building towards the big pay-per-view nights that we all dream of. This is how we get there, winning medals like this at the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics. Hopefully, one day you’ll see us on posters.’ Three of England’s medal winners — Hickey, Mughalzai and Damar Thomas — emerged through the same junior boxing pathway in London. Now they all train together in Sheffield, under the guidance of Team GB
By David Kent
sit three strokes clear of a five- strong group tied in second, which includes overnight leader Ryu Hae- ran (74). South Korea’s Ryu, bidding for a third straight major title having won the Women’s PGA in June and last month’s Evian Championship, is level on four-under alongside Japan’s Shiho Kuwaki (73), Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul (72) and
ROYAL BOX: The Prince and Princess of Wales watch netball
performance director Rob McCracken. After beating Northern Ireland’s Kaci Rock, Hickey said: ‘It means everything to me. When I started, women’s boxing wasn’t really accepted. To be here and win a gold is just unbelievable. I started on Wii Sports on the Nintendo Wii.
American Lucy Li (69). Woad made two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine before six straight pars on the back nine were followed by another birdie at the 16th to leave her in seventh place. The 22-year-old from Farnham said: ‘The wind was probably the strongest it’s been so far, and that back nine was definitely a grind. ‘But I felt a bit better on the greens today and scrambled pretty good to get it round. ‘Definitely a good position to be in. (I’ll) just try and stick to my game plan and see what happens.’
I remember shadow-boxing in front of the TV, and I’ve ended up here today.’ Mughalzai, who beat Australian Jacob Cassar for gold in the men’s 65kg, added: ‘It’s a crazy feeling. There are three people here who I’ve known through my childhood. We’ve been winning national championships together and to get here on the big stage is amazing. ‘My team-mate Damar joined me in the gym when he was about 12. Our friendship group and we’d all call each other on Saturday nights when the boxing was on. ‘I’m a bit older than him but we’ve always stuck together, got on Team GB at the same time and showed our skills. This is a big stage and we’re built for it. ‘Sometimes we lose, sometimes we win — but this has been a great tournament for us.’
Hull dropped three shots in the first six holes, but recovered some momentum with back-to-back birdies at the seventh and eighth. Although she bogeyed the 10th, successive birdies at the 15th and 16th for a level-par 71 left the 30-year-old from Kettering tied for eighth and in the mix. Hull said: ‘I missed three putts that I should have holed from like five foot and I think that would have kept me level par instead of being three over (after the sixth hole). ‘But I was pretty happy with the way I finished.’
using pain of 2022 as motivation
ENGLAND blew their chance of taking on Jamaica in netball’s gold medal match. Australia were hot favourites to win the title but were knocked out by Jamaica after missing a penalty shot in the final play. England — who won the Commonwealth title in 2018 — lost their semi-final to New Zealand and face a difficult bronze medal match today against their rivals from Down Under. Anna Stembridge, England’s coach, said: ‘Credit to the Silver Ferns in terms of the way they came out. They really stifled our service into the shooters. ‘We fell short a little bit. Ultimately, we’ve got 10 players who have never played in a Commonwealth Games semi-final before. The experience they’ll have gained from that is going to be instrumental, both for tomorrow and building towards the World Cup.’ Eleanor Cardwell, who was part of the England team beaten by the Silver Ferns in the bronze medal match in 2022, stressed the importance of refocusing on today’s clash. ‘I don’t want that feeling again,’ said Cardwell. ‘I think that’s going to add extra fuel to the fire. We need to really want to come away with a medal.’ Meanwhile, England’s 800 metre champion Georgia Hunter Bell flew to Portugal yesterday to begin preparations for the European Championships. She will switch to the 1500m in Birmingham where she will welcome back training partner Keely Hodgkinson, who did not compete in Glasgow. ‘Keely FaceTimed me to talk through the plan and give her two cents of what she thinks I can do,’ said Hunter Bell. ‘We’re great friends. We’re competitors when we step up on the line. We’re blessed to have such a good friendship group that we get along well and are so fast. We can make each other faster.’
IN CHICAGO
ONE of many phrases to tick off during a game of Arne Slot bingo on a Friday morning was, ‘Alexander Isak has signed for six years, not six months’. The former boss would use it as a quip to those questioning why the £125million man had not got close to repaying his mega price-tag, with only two goals in his first 15 outings as he struggled to gain fitness. Six years, remember, not six months. The problem was that, by the end of his tenure, one of those years had been and gone. Given the mammoth outlay, that’s £20.8m of the British record fee gone and only four goals to show for it. Just when Isak looked like he had finally cracked it, away at Tottenham with a first-half goal, he broke his leg. That was pretty much that for the season and he was nowhere near full fitness until the World Cup. But 12 months on from his acrimonious Newcastle exit, Isak is finally ready to put that nightmare year behind him and be the player Liverpool thought they were signing. He is expected to play his first pre-season match against Leeds here in the Windy City of Chicago today and Andoni Iraola needs Isak more than anyone. There were many reasons why his predecessor lost his job but one was the failure of his two big-money buys, Isak and £116m Florian Wirtz, to step up. Isak was barely fit and Wirtz gave the impression of a fish out of water at times. In both cases, one bad season can be forgiven but serious questions will be asked if their under- whelming peformances continue. Both have been enjoying the intensity of Iraola’s new regime and are ready to step up. Isak, it is easy to forget, is one of the best strikers in the Premier League. Since he joined Newcastle ahead of the 2022-23 season, only three forwards have more than his 57 goals: Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and Ollie Watkins. Iraola needs him to rediscover that form more than ever. With fellow No 9 Hugo Ekitike out long term with a ruptured achilles, Liverpool need a goalscorer. Salah is no longer at the club and, at the time of writing, the marquee
WINDOW WATCH by Simon Jones EVERTON are in talks with Arsenal over a £7million deal for midfielder Christian Norgaard. The 32-year-old has been on Everton’s radar for some time as agreement over a new contract for veteran Idrissa Gana Gueye looked increasingly unlikely. Gueye has now left the Toffees, who also have James Garner sidelined after groin surgery. Norgaard would
GREAT AGAIN
ready to put nightmare first season at Liverpool behind him
signing of a top winger is still not complete. ‘Alex is exciting,’ said Iraola when asked about Isak (right, in Chicago) this week. ‘He has come to pre-season in a good place, had a good World Cup, [feeling] comfortable. First training here, still early but I hope he can play against Leeds and have a proper pre-season. ‘Not long but three or four weeks
become Everton’s fourth summer recruit after the £24m arrival of Hayden Hackney, while Tyrique George and Merlin Rohl joined permanently. Norgaard made seven league appearances for Arsenal last season and 20 overall. He joined last summer from Brentford in a £15m deal but wants more game time. Arsenal want to upgrade their midfield with Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle.
l CHELSEA have agreed terms with England midfielder Jordan Henderson. The 36-year-old, who broke his arm at the World Cup, will be confirmed as a Chelsea player after putting pen to paper this weekend. Henderson was a free agent after mutually agreeing to end his contract with Brentford last week. Brentford have moved to sign Lens midfielder Mamadou Sangare for £39million. The 24-year-old has completed his medical and is set to sign a five-year contract.
TAKE TWO: Isak trains with Liverpool before they face Leeds in Chicago today
of quality training, I hope, and he is in a good place because he is going to be massive for us.’ There was an extra emphasis on the word ‘massive’ and he is not wrong. Former Reds striker Robbie Fowler, who scored 183 goals for the club, sat down with Daily Mail Sport in New York this week and told us why he is such a big fan of Isak — backing him to pay back the
l BOURNEMOUTH have completed the signing of the 22-year-old Portugal central defender Antonio Silva from Benfica. The transfer is worth £21.4million plus a potential £4.3m in add-ons. ‘The mentality is always to win. I will try my best, and I will play for the fans,’ said Silva, who has made 239 appearances for Benfica. ‘It’s a pleasure to play for Bournemouth and in the Premier League,’ he said. ‘I can’t wait to start the season with my team-mates and I’m excited to be here.’
club’s huge investment. ‘I am a massive fan, I have spoken many times about Alexander,’ Fowler says. ‘He is proven in the Premier League. For whatever reason, he turned up not fit or whether he struggled to step up to a big club…
MANCHESTER UNITED goalkeeper Altay Bayindir is a target for Celta Vigo. Bayindir had interest from Besiktas early in the window but they signed Alexander Nubel from Bayern Munich. l AZ Alkmaar striker Troy Parrott is attracting interest from Como, Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Real Betis. The Tottenham academy graduate is in demand after scoring 31 goals last season. l WEST HAM midfielder Freddie Potts is poised to
FOOTBALL
‘But I have no qualms with him.
He is exciting. He will score goals.
He will be a handful. Hopefully,
this is the season he kicks on.
‘He got injured at the wrong
time but I want him to come back
fit and firing. He did OK at the
World Cup but I want him to be
ready at the start of the season
rather than waiting months and
months like last season.
‘The price tag would not bother
me. The players are focused on
doing well, it is left to others to
talk about money. Price tags are
only one thing the clubs put on a
player. It would not bother me,
whether that’s my mentality, I
don’t know… some players don’t
have that.
‘Alexander is world class and the
price tag won’t bother him either.
He has everything — exciting
when he drives with the ball, he
makes things happen. He excites
the fans, which is imperative for a
club like Liverpool.
‘Not only can he beat players, he
can bring others into the game and
he can score goals, which is
massive. He has other areas in his
game which are impressive.’
Isak has been bulking up after a
positive World Cup in which he
enjoyed playing in tandem with
Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres for
Sweden.
He, like most players, has enjoyed
the intensity of the new regime and
has been rubbing shoulders with
one of the best strikers of this
generation, Robert Lewandowski,
in Chicago. The former Borussia
Dortmund, Barcelona and Bayern
Munich man, now 37, recently
moved to MLS club Chicago Fire
having won ten Bundesligas, three
La Ligas and a Champions League.
He, like Isak, has been working
hard in the gym here.
Iraola is keen for Isak to play as
an out-and-out No 9, with Wirtz as
a traditional No 10 — close to the
striker, unlike last season when he
would often be instructed to drift
out to the left.
At £241m, the pair cannot afford
another year of adaptation.
Neither can Iraola, who will be
relying on the players who let
Slot down.
The Basque has been
impressive in his opening
weeks but cannot deliver suc-
cess if the pair do not start to
look like mega-money players.
Six years, not six
months — but
now more than
ever, it is time
f o r
I s a k
finally to
step up.
join Club Brugge in a £10.5million deal. The Hammers have been trying to find agreement with CELTIC for midfielder Arne Engels but had their latest offer rejected. l HULL are in talks over a £17m deal for Nice winger Mohamed Ali-Cho. l FULHAM remain in discussions with Real Madrid over signing midfielder Thiago Pitarch. l IPSWICH are in talks with Strasbourg over the permanent signing of forward Julio Enciso.
BRYAN MBEUMO scored twice as Manchester United beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 in the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm to win the Snapdragon Cup. Michael Carrick’s side fell behind in the fifth minute when a cross from Arnau Ortiz crept inside Tom Heaton’s left-hand post, and United were unlucky to still be a goal down at half-time after Jan Oblak saved from Luke Shaw and Amad Diallo, who was making his first appearance since playing for Ivory Coast at the World Cup. But Mbeumo scored a deserved equaliser from the penalty spot shortly after the restart when the impressive Shea Lacey was fouled, and another of United’s brightest academy players, Jack Fletcher, set up the Cameroonian for the winner in the 74th minute to send the majority of the 21,000 fans home happy after a game that saw JJ Gabriel and Jim Thwaites make their senior debuts. Here is what we learned from United’s third pre-season game after they followed up the 5-0 win over Rosenborg with victory over Diego Simeone’s side. MBEUMO AT THE DOUBLE UNITED could be in the market for another striker to support Benjamin Sesko this summer, particularly if Joshua Zirkzee leaves, but Mbeumo showed once again that he can be a threat through the middle as he scored both goals against Atletico. The former Brentford player, who scored 12 times in his debut season for United, converted from the penalty spot and then got on the end of Jack Fletcher’s cross to score the decisive goal. With Sesko yet to feature in pre-season as he recovers from a shin injury, and Zirkzee’s future up in the air, Mbeumo showed again that he can switch from the right flank to give United another option at centre-forward. ‘Obviously I’ve done great things on the right wing, but some good things as a striker as well,’ he said. SHEA SHOWS HIS STRENGTH SHEA LACEY was rewarded for his excellent performance — and
THE Enzo Maresca era at Manchester City is officially underway after his side suffered a 3-1 defeat on penalties to lose the Asahi Super Dry Trophy to Inter Milan in Hong Kong. Divin Mubama scored the first goal of the Italian’s reign after brilliant wing play by Antoine Semenyo, only for Inter to respond through Benjamin Pavard. While City were the better side in the second half, striking the post through youngster Ryan McAidoo, it ultimately went to
could be the life of Bryan after double
line as United beat Spanish giants
opening goal — in
the 5-0 win over
Rosenborg last
w e e k
w i t h
another start
in Stockholm,
and he seized
the opportu-
nity with
a n o t h e r
s t a n d o u t
display.
Deployed
again in the
No 10 role
before mov-
ing onto the
right flank
when Jack
F l e t c h e r
replaced Diallo in
U n i t e d ’s
o n l y
change at half-time,
the 19-year-old’s move-
ment and energy were a
real problem for Atletico.
Lacey’s ability to go left or right
and deliver with either foot is a
huge asset. Having picked out
Mbeumo with an inviting cross
which his team-mate glanced nar-
rowly wide in the first half, it was
no surprise to see his trickery
earn the penalty that enabled the
Salt
penalties and despite a delightful Panenka from Claudio Echeverri, misses from Rayan Ait-Nouri, Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico Gonzalez meant City came out as runners-up. Many of their World Cup stars are still to come back in and so this was a mixed-up group for Maresca. Here are the key things we learned…
THE FODEN PUZZLE THERE is so much for Maresca to get stuck into this pre-season but finding a formula to get the best out of Phil Foden should be top of the pile. Foden has had seven weeks off to refresh, both physically and mentally, after a tough season. Here he was wearing the captain’s armband, playing as the No 10 in a side that had been built around him. ‘Knowing Phil from years ago, I know how good he is so it’s my duty to try to help him to be the
before crossing for Mbeumo, who beat Esquivel to the ball to score his second. GABRIEL GETS HIS CHANCE IT may only have been a pre-season friendly, but the United fans among a 21,000 crowd will be able to say they saw Gabriel make his United debut alongside Thwaites, another rising star from the academy. Both teenagers came on in the 82nd minute, replacing Mbeumo and Andrey Santos, to play the final 11 minutes. There is huge excitement around Gabriel in particular, who is not 16 until October. The youngster dubbed Kid Messi looked eager to get on the ball and finally got his chance in the 90th minute. Faced with three defenders, he twisted and turned in the Atletico box and saw his shot blocked. Moments later, he tried again but was forced to the ground. United fans will be hoping to see plenty more of Gabriel and Thwaites, a gifted 18-year-old midfielder. Carrick said afterwards: ‘The senior players looking strong and fit, and the younger players are
Phil that we all want,’ Maresca said in the lead-up. ‘Phil in a good condition and mood can help us to win games and titles.’ In the first half here it felt like the game was passing Foden by yet after the break, with Semenyo operating through the middle ahead of him, Foden looked sharper but still shy of the levels many are urging him to get back to. Just under 70 minutes of action here was a reminder that while he is eager to be given a fresh start — and Maresca is ready to
doing really well. Jimmy and JJ coming on at the end are two younger players again. They had a first taste for it for us, so it’s great for me to be in a position to give opportunities to the boys.’ MOUNT PEAKS EARLY ONE of the most pleasing things for Carrick in pre-season has been
hand him one — much more will be expected.
LEFT IS BEST FOR SEMENYO WHEN the team sheet dropped to show Semenyo as the left winger, rather than the right, where Pep Guardiola liked to play him, there was collective rejoicing in the City fanbase. While Semenyo started out on the right in the early days at Bournemouth, he really kicked into gear as one of the Premier League’s best players off the left for the Cherries. One of the
the midfield partnership between Mason Mount and new £50million signing Santos. While the Brazilian has been playing a predominantly defen- sive role in front of the back four, Mount has been given more licence to get forward and has embraced the opportunity. The 27-year-old has had a frus-
criticisms of Semenyo on the right is that there is a predictability to his movement in the final third. Here it was wholly unpredictable and therefore a nightmare for Inter Milan’s defenders, as Semenyo toyed with them, turning inside and out.
RYAN IS READY FOR those who watch academy football regularly, the sight of McAidoo turning full backs inside-out is one that you see on a weekly basis.
trating time with injury at United since arriving from Chelsea in 2023, and he is looking to prove he can be a key part of the club’s midfield rebuild this summer. With Kobbie Mainoo and United’s other summer signing Youri Tielemans still to return to action after the World Cup, competition for places will be
The question has been whether it will translate to the senior level. On this evidence, the answer is absolutely yes. The 18-year-old’s cameo in Hong Kong was bursting with quality as he had Inter players bouncing off him, so strong is his low centre of gravity, and he struck the post after a brilliant solo run. ‘He played as well as Semenyo for me,’ former City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips said. Maresca can’t help but have been impressed, too.
fierce. But Mount has looked sharp in pre-season, getting forward well and helping Santos out in defence when needed as well. It is a sign of his standing at United under Carrick, and how he has been mentoring some of the younger players, that he wore the captain’s armband in the second half against Rosenborg.
unsure if he wants to go – De Zerbi
ROBERTO DE ZERBI has admitted he does not know whether Richarlison wants to stay or leave Tottenham this summer. The Brazilian, 29, scored a stoppage-time winner to secure a 2-1 friendly win over Chelsea. Leading the line at the Accor Stadium here, Richarlison pounced on the rebound after Spurs had struck the post through their youth product, Jamie Donley. Speaking about Richarlison afterwards, De Zerbi said: ‘I don’t know. I like him as a player, as a guy, it’s unbelievable the attitude and behaviour, but at the end we have to respect what he wants to do. ‘And we know. Every one of us knows what he wants to do, but for me he’s still an important player, because it’s not so easy to find another striker like Richarlison. ‘Because Richarlison scores goals and he knows the way. The new striker, we don’t know. He scored 12 goals last season, not through luck, because he feels the way to score.’ When pressed on whether he was admitting to us that Richarlison wants to leave Spurs, De Zerbi said: ‘I don’t know, I didn’t under- stand well, because sometimes he wants to stay, sometimes he wants to leave. We have to speak anyway. There is not any problem. ‘He’s a lovely guy. All of us love him, the team-mates, the club, the staff, because he works hard every day, seriously every day, and we can’t say anything on the pitch.’ Meanwhile, amid reports abroad that Spurs have agreed a deal to sell their captain Cristian Romero to Inter Milan, De Zerbi said: ‘I texted with Cuti yesterday to make a plan for when he comes back to London. ‘Not for the transfer market. That’s not my job. I know there are many solutions in the transfer market.’ Tottenham are now set to return to London to continue their pre-season preparations for the Premier League. Their beaten opponents in Chelsea, however, are moving on to Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia. Blues boss Xabi Alonso admitted he does not know what will happen next with Mykhailo Mudryk at Chelsea, but says he is looking forward to meeting the new- ly-available Ukrainian in Hong Kong. Chelsea’s new manager spoke for the first time since it was announced that Mudryk’s four- year doping ban had been cut. The 25-year-old has not appeared
IN SYDNEY
for his club since November 2024 but will now be travelling to Hong Kong to join his team-mates on their tour. Chelsea signed Mudryk for £89million from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023 as he agreed an eight-and- a-half-year contract until 2031. His career was then curtailed when he was charged with failing a doping test. Following developments in the scientific guidance, WADA increased the reporting threshold to provide greater confidence that samples determined to be positive exceed the minimum level. The precise source of the exposure has never been entirely identified, but it is believed it occurred while Mudryk was on international duty with Ukraine in September 2024. ‘To be honest, we were not expecting to have this great news at this moment, so we are very happy,’ Alonso said after the pre-season friendly loss to Tottenham. ‘We feel that he will be working with us. ‘I remember watching him in Shakhtar (Donetsk), the impact he had, how quick he is, how good in one-on-one situations, how he could create a lot of situations on his own, and he’s a special player, but he will take time for sure. ‘We are happy for him, especially for him, because probably we are not able to understand what he has been through in this time. We want that he feels part of a team, because he has been training on his own for a long time, and that we have the support from every- one, from the club, from the team-mates, from the staff, and for sure, it will take time. ‘Once he is with us, we will see how things develop. He is coming to Hong Kong, but I haven’t spoken to him yet.’ Asked if Mudryk will be staying with Chelsea or leaving this summer, Alonso said: ‘We need to see. It’s too early to tell, to see how he is in terms of fitness, in terms of this game time that you need to be involved again, so it’s still too early to tell. ‘It will take time. For him it’s a massive change. ‘He trained on his own every day, and it had to be really, really hard. So once this big change has happened, now things will move on, and afterwards we will see if it’s quicker, if it’s slower, but we need to be aware of that.’
survive humiliation of his shabby plot to sell World Cup going so horribly wrong?
Wheeler
fighting to stay in power
IT IS only two weeks since Gianni Infantino joined President Donald Trump in handing over the World Cup to Spain in New Jersey, wearing a dark suit, blindingly white trainers and the self- satisfied grin of a man celebrating a World Cup triumph of his own. The FIFA president declared the tournament — and its new 48-team format — a huge success after spending the previous six weeks flitting around North America in a private jet to see his vision become reality. Anyone else might have been inclined to spend some time reflecting on a World Cup that produced more than its fair share of talking points, or even have some time off. Not Infantino. He was already moving on to his next project; one that backfired spectacularly this week and has left the 56-year-old Swiss fighting to stay in power. It took less than four days for his grand plan to sell off football’s crown jewel to private investors for £3.1billion to go up in smoke, from the bombshell news breaking at lunchtime on Tuesday to Infantino’s humiliating statement in the early hours of yesterday confirming it has been scrapped in the face of widespread opposition. At the end of a seismic week for world football, it is hard to see how he can survive after leading confederations and even FIFA executives turned on the embattled president, and UEFA made the first move towards removing him from office with a vote of no-confidence yesterday. Why did it unravel so quickly? How did Infantino, a skilled political figure, get it so horribly
wrong? It was clear this was not going to end well from the immediate sense of shock and outrage when The Times revealed Infantino wanted to create a subsidiary company called FIFA Forward Enterprise to run their flagship events, primarily the World Cup, in a deal that could be worth up to £15bn. Private investors would have been able to buy stakes in FFE through a group led by Thrive Eternal, a US venture capital company founded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Trump’s son-in- law Jared. FIFA’s 211 member associations were offered a £30m cut if they agreed with the proposals by September 19. UEFA were the first to voice their opposition with a strongly worded statement agreed unanimously and co-signed by the English FA and Europe’s other 54 associations. They criticised Infantino for ‘a profound failure of leadership’ and presiding over ‘governance by intimidation’, adding: ‘None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.’ UEFA followed that up with a threat to boycott the World Cup if Infantino refused to back down and abandon his plans. Two other confederations then came out against Infantino on Thursday and Friday. CONCACAF, who represent 41 countries across North America, Central America and the Caribbean, rejected the proposal and expressed ‘deep concerns about the lack of due process surrounding the proposal and the artificially short deadline
imposed’. The Asian Football Confederation followed, saying: ‘Football should never have been placed in such a position. It has exposed fundamental weaknesses in FIFA’S consultation and decision-making processes that must now be addressed.’ Infantino needed a majority of the 211 member nations to vote through his proposals, but already 136 of them were opposed to him. He doubled down on Friday morning, when FIFA issued a statement insisting that ‘nobody is selling football’ — but opposition was growing at an alarming rate. Prime Minister Andy Burnham weighed into the controversy, questioning whether Infantino is the right man to lead FIFA any more. ‘This was an outrageous
suggestion,’ said Burnham. ‘The idea that it could even be brought forward, in my view, shows that the FIFA president is the wrong man to lead the organisation.’ More damagingly for Infantino, two of his senior aides turned against him in the space of a few hours. Carlos Cordeiro, who was FIFA’s representative on the White House taskforce for the World Cup and at Infantino’s side throughout, said: ‘As a senior adviser to the FIFA president, a former banker and a lifelong football fan, I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup. ‘I had no involvement in this proposal, and I oppose it unequivocally. It is a bad deal for FIFA’s member associations, a bad deal for football and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game. ‘Selling a permanent stake in football’s most valuable asset to raise $4.2bn makes little sense. It is mortgaging football’s future without any compelling justification.’ If that was not bad enough for Infantino, FIFA’s chief operating officer Kevin Lamour then quit, claiming that Infantino had ‘deceived’ his own administration and accusing him of a ‘lie by omission’. He blasted the plans as ‘the project of one person’. ‘This (lie) and unilateral exercise of power are not trivial,’ added Lamour. ‘They are indicative of a lack of trust, a lack of transparency, a lack of discernment, a lack of good
governance. And a serious lack of respect. ‘Not only must this project not go ahead, but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions. ‘My colleagues — some of whom have dedicated their lives to football — deserve better than contempt and intimidation. ‘The ball is now in the court of those who have the power to change things. I know I have a duty of loyalty to my employer. But I also, and above all, have a duty of loyalty to certain values and to the upbringing I have
received, and a duty to support my colleagues. And if that means I lose my job, then so be it. I will understand and respect that decision. At least I’ll sleep well tonight.’ Shortly after midnight, Infantino inevitably bowed to the pressure and announced he was scrapping the proposals because ‘it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place’. If he thought that would be the end of the matter, however, it quickly became clear yesterday
that the implications could be far greater when UEFA declared a vote of no-confidence in him. Europe’s governing body hit out at Infantino for the ‘shabby, back-room, opaque deal he hatched’ and promised to work with the other confederations to ‘identify those responsible and hold them to account’. It added: ‘This is a victory for the whole game. But it must not be the end of the story. The proposal has gone. The task of rebuilding trust in FIFA has only just begun.’ So what next for Infantino? He has been in power for 10 years and was expected to win re-election
for a fourth term unopposed at the next FIFA congress in Morocco in March. But with support dwindling fast and UEFA on the warpath, it looks increasingly likely that a rival candidate will stand against him. CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani has emerged as an early contender, along with FIFA general secretary Mattias Granstrom and Dariusz Mioduski, a vice-president of the European Football Clubs body. Only two weeks after he had the whole world in his hands, it feels as though Gianni Infantino’s time is almost up.
The FA: ‘It’s time for a full and robust review of FIFA’s leadership’
FROM BACK PAGE
decision to withdraw its plan to sell
a stake in its competitions —
including the World Cup — into
private hands.
‘The proposal was unanimously
rejected by UEFA’s national
associations and by many other
federations and confederations,
whose job it is to protect football.
‘In the coming days and weeks,
UEFA will work with its associations
and in close cooperation with other
confederations to reflect on how
this happened and ensure that it
cannot occur again.
‘That review should be thorough
and fundamental. No option should
be off the table. The current FIFA
leadership has not only lost UEFA’s
confidence but also that of other
members of the football family.
‘The shabby, back-room, opaque
deal he hatched and tried to force
through was anything but
transparent. This is a victory for the
whole game. But it must not be the
end of the story. The proposal has
gone. The task of rebuilding trust in
FIFA has only just begun.’
Infantino may face an emergency
council meeting where he is asked
to resign. If he refuses, then a
candidate backed by his opponents
will be put forward to challenge him
in next year’s election.
Many UEFA nations, including
England, Wales, Netherlands
and Norway, endorsed their
confederation’s statement.
A spokeswoman for the English
FA added: ‘We fully support UEFA’s
position. It is time for a full and
robust review of FIFA’s leadership
and governance to ensure that the
global game is run transparently,
for the benefit of all 211 member
nations and with the long-term
stewardship of football at its heart.’
CONCACAF followed UEFA’s lead:
‘CONCACAF and its 41 member
associations welcome the
withdrawal of the proposed FIFA
Forward Enterprise (FFE). The
confederation also commends its
41 member associations and the
wider football family for the
courage they have shown this week.
‘At a moment that demanded
principled leadership, our members
stood together in defence of
football’s long-term interests and
the principles of good governance.
That unity has prevailed.
‘A proposal of this magnitude
does not reach that stage by
accident. It is a symptom of
leadership that has stopped putting
football first. A full review of this
leadership must now take place.’
Assuming each UEFA and
CONCACAF member endorses their
position, 90 FIFA nations oppose
the president — 43 per cent of the
membership. Only 20 per cent is
required to trigger a vote of
no-confidence. That said, at least 106 nations would have to vote against Infantino to force him out before his re-election bid in March 2027. The Asian Football Confederation [AFC] were pivotal in thwarting the plot to raise £3.1billion in private investment for FIFA tournaments. Following his U-turn, the AFC welcomed Infantino’s reassessment but did not demand his resignation. The AFC pledged to back Infantino’s re-election bid earlier this year, and they are yet to veer away from that. Two members of FIFA’s hierarchy, Kevin Lamour and Carlos Cordeiro, also denounced the initiative, with Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Infantino, resigning from his post. Abandoning the plans, Infantino’s statement read: ‘The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was intended to further strengthen our FIFA member associations and our sport, especially in those countries where support is most needed. ‘And more so to do this only if a majority of the FIFA member associations were in support and
back-room deal was anything but transparent
always subject to a consultation process with them, the FIFA Council, the confederations and wider stakeholders. ‘Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place. Our purpose has always been, and will always be, to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.’ Infantino’s humiliation was added to when his friend and ally Donald Trump denied all knowledge of the plot — despite his daughter Ivanka being married to Jared Kushner, whose brother Joshua is heavily involved. The President was asked, ‘Did Mr Infantino speak to you about his proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup?’ Trump initially, and brutally, replied: ‘Who?’ After the question was repeated, Trump then added: ‘No, I didn’t speak to him.’
FOR INFANTINO
FIFA chief to quit after he ditches his ‘shabby’ plan
GIANNI INFANTINO’S future as FIFA president is in serious jeopardy after UEFA and CONCACAF called for him to quit following the collapse of his ‘shabby back-room deal’ to sell off stakes in the World Cup. Just hours after Infantino scrapped his much derided and hugely controversial World Cup plan, the governing bodies of Europe and North and Central America and the Caribbean declared that they no longer have confidence in his leadership. The confederations have called on Infantino to resign to avoid further chaos, but the Swiss football administrator — who scrapped the plans yesterday morning — appears determined to cling on to power. In a statement, UEFA said: ‘UEFA welcomes FIFA’s
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ON THE BALL: Danny Welbeck at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground yesterday after joining the club on a two-year deal from Brighton
AMANDA STAVELEY has agreed to buy 25 per cent of West Ham from the Gold family. Daily Mail Sport revealed last month that Staveley’s PCP Capital, which she owns with husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi, were interested in purchasing West Ham. And now the couple have struck a deal to acquire the
Enter this Unique Number to Spin our Golden Wheel and collect PRIZE DRAW TICKETS. If you are in Northern Ireland or your Unique Number is missing, sign into your Daily Mail Rewards account and click on the ‘Enter Unique Number’ button and then the ‘Missing number/NI customer’ link and follow the instructions.
late David Gold’s shareholding from his daughter, Vanessa. Those shares are thought to be worth up to £150million. Staveley spearheaded the Saudi Public Investment Fund takeover of Newcastle in 2021. This deal could yet be stifled,
however, with West Ham’s current owners offered first refusal to buy shares. A club statement said: ‘The proposed transaction will be subject to a pre-emption rights process. ‘This provides all existing shareholders with the opportunity to acquire their proportional percentage of
shares in round one, and any remaining shares in round two. This process will take approximately two months.’ Gold said that an attempt to strike a deal with West Ham shareholder Daniel Kretinsky did not come off, adding: ‘The deal and other alternatives that we have discussed could not be brought to fruition.’
FILM PICK COMEDY PICK
TED LASSO
Wednesday, Apple TV
SONG
SUNG BLUE
Friday, Sky Premiere, 3.40pm
The lovable comedy’s been off
our screens since 2023, when we
thought it had ended for good. And
Ted, played by Jason Sudeikis,
left, seems to be done with football
as the show returns for a fourth
series – the eternal optimist is
now working in a supermarket. It
isn’t long before old faces come
knocking, though, and Ted ends
up coaching the new Richmond
women’s side back in Blighty. But
not everyone’s pleased to see him.
FILM MUSIC COMEDY THEATRE BOOKS
Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman,
left, add serious star power to
a romantic drama based on the
real-life story of a Neil Diamond
tribute act from the Midwest.
Hudson in particular is excellent –
nominated for both an Oscar and a
Bafta, actually – as the female half
of Lightning and Thunder, and the
musical performances from both
actors are top-notch, too.
WITTIEST TV CRITIC Deborah Ross Deborah Ross
She’s a trackie-wearing delight
S
Monday, Channel 4 HHHHH Together (With Voy) YouTube HHHHH
ecret Lives Of Gypsy Wives is a reality series following Trewley Precious and her family, who she describes as like the Kardashi- ans if they were ‘fat and broke’. If the Kardashians did get fat and found themselves broke we all might start taking an interest again, but in the mean- time this is the next best thing. More than that, it’s a delight. Twenty-six-year-old Trewley – or ‘Trew’ as she’s known – has a million followers on TikTok, which is where, presumably, Channel 4 came upon her and thought: ‘Yes please. We’ll have some of that.’ She is artic- ulate, charismatic, big-hearted and funny, with a style she describes as ‘Juicy trackies and fat lashes’, although she’s just as likely to pad to the shops in pyjamas and bare feet. Her mother Tina stars with her, as do her older sisters (Pearly Girl, Ruby Anne and Honey Peaches) and her brother, whose name will come as a terrible disap- pointment (James). But hang on in there, because Trew’s nieces do eventually truck up (Lovie, Bunny and, if I heard right, Adorabella). Their father, Sid, who died three years ago from cancer, was ‘old-school gypsy’, but once Tina started having babies she insisted on staying put. Home for the past 40 years has been a Clacton council estate, where their house is painted a daring pink, yet the values remain traditional. No tattoos and no piercings, while the women are expected to focus on appearance – ‘every travelling girl must be dressed up to the nines’ – and marriage. ‘You’re either a housewife or… no, that’s it,’ says Trew. They tend to marry while still in their teens. (See also: Venezuela Fury.) Trew
T
here are comics whose
star is in the ascendancy,
and then there’s Ania
Magliano. In the past 12
months she has notched up her
debut on Live At The Apollo, her
first stand-up special on Sky
and a highly prized slot on the
all-conquering Taskmaster. Then
earlier this year she was one
of the breakout stars on the
much-vaunted Saturday Night
Live UK. You can’t get much
more up and coming than that.
On stage at the Bloomsbury, it’s
easy to see why. Exuding an
appealing blend of vulnerability
and confidence, she is sweet and
doesn’t want that. ‘I don’t want a husband. I don’t want to be married. I want to live my life,’ she says. You sense this wouldn’t have been possible had her father still been alive, which isn’t to say she didn’t adore him. (On the anniversary of his death Trew can’t talk for tears.) Yet if he’d had his say, none of them would have even attended school, as is the Traveller way. Tina insisted, but it all fell apart in second- ary school. ‘We were called pikey,’ says Pearly Girl. ‘Kids would come back to play but when their mothers saw where we lived it was: that’s not happening again.’ Trew is an ‘influencer’ who wants to ‘build
Peach Fuzz Bloomsbury Theatre, London Touring until May 7, 2027 HHHHH
daffy, yet poised and knowing. Her material is deeply personal, bordering on self-obsessed – in other words, bog-standard for Gen Z. Wearing her neuroses not
AMBITION: Trewley Precious, above. Left: Holly Willoughby
so much on her sleeve as spilled
down her shirt and tie and on to
her jorts, Magliano makes for a
diverting, thoughtful presence
with her darting mind and
cheeky persona.
One minute she’s being
introspective about her body
alienation during sex, the next
she’ll blurt out: ‘I’m quite into
Churchill at the moment,’ or
start riffing on the suffragettes…
‘These chicks really put a
shift in.’
It plays out like an intimate
therapy session, but Magliano is a
consummate gag technician and
makes sure to stack up the jokes
an empire’. We see her meeting with a lash company and a cosmetic brand where her photoshoot will ‘show the different ways you can express yourself with lip liner’. I had thought of influencers as grifters, but if celebrities, who already have everything, can advertise brands, why not Trew? Who wants to raise her family out of poverty (whether they like it or not)? Growing up, she says, ‘every mood in the house was dependant on whether he [Sid] had money or not’. She hosts a Halloween party for kids on the estate as well as a (chaotic) fireworks party. The family are funny. They call Tina ‘the ghetto Kris Jenner’. They endlessly roast each other. Typical conversation: ‘Mum, you are not a vegetarian.’ Tina: ‘I am! This bacon sand- wich is just a one-off!’ They celebrate birth- days hard, with ‘a birthday chair’, a table laden with sweets, crisps, biscuits and, for
while letting us in on her various
hang-ups. Like an X-rated Rose
Matafeo, she describes herself as
‘neck and up’, with her mind
ruling her body.
That said, her mind doesn’t
prevent her from telling us all
about her labia angst, which had
me cringing for a dad and his two
pre-teen sons. (Lesson to parents:
do your research before taking
your kids to live comedy.)
Peach Fuzz, then, is a
celebration of the body
and femininity, a superbly
constructed confessional hour
from a hugely appealing new
voice in stand-up comedy.
FRUITY HUMOUR: X-rated
comic Ania Magliano
Tina, presents they have bought as if from Sid. He lives on and may have been reincar- nated as the stray cat that wants to adopt them. Trouble is, they are terrified of cats. You do sense a dark underbelly. Tina’s rou- tine involves getting up between 3am and 4am to clean the house from top to bottom and you get the feeling that if Sid, who suf- fered from insomnia, was awake, she would have to be too and therefore might as well put the time to good use. When Trew gives us a tour of the estate she points out the community centre ‘which was petrol-bombed during Covid’. If she hadn’t discovered influencing, she says at one point, ‘I’d be in a gang selling drugs. I know how to weigh drugs.’ This could have been a hand-wringing, voyeuristic, social problem series but instead it wants to celebrate the spirit of a young woman who, whether she acknowl- edges it specifically or not, wants change. Some will go the disapproving route any- way but if one thing’s for certain it’s this: Trew and family won’t care. Holly Willoughby’s new YouTube lifestyle show, Together (With Voy) is like the cook- ing segment from This Morning stretched out to 50 minutes, which isn’t something anyone has clamoured for, as far as I know. After her tenure at This Morning ended with the ‘Are you OK?’ debacle, she’s going it alone, albeit with Voy (a health company). The deal is that for each episode Holly will cook a dish with a guest in her kitchen set-up, which couldn’t be more beige or bland. (I kept expecting to see ‘Live, Love, Laugh’ framed somewhere.) And that’s it? Um… yes. The first guest is a game Stanley Tucci, who talks her though a courgette pasta while they chat about the toffee vodka she made him one Christmas (they seem to be long-standing friends), the amount of water contained in courgettes and what Tucci’s favourite potato might be (dauphinoise). She gets to banter with the camera crew and say a bad word, but if she’s now free to show another side of herself she does not take advantage. Her persona is as it ever was, while there is just no escape from the, well, Meghan-ness of it all. It is very Meghan. But with Voy.
KARIS KENNEDY / PA
T
S
Latitude, Suffolk Wilderness, Oxon, tonight HHHHH James Taylor The O2, London HHHHH
he Latitude festival
has just turned 20.
It is probably the best
thing ever to happen
to pop in East Anglia,
unless you’re a big fan of a local
landowner named Sheeran.
Latitude has always been held at
Henham Park, but it hasn’t stood
still. The attendance has grown
from 4,500 to 45,000. The setting,
once green and pleasant, has
turned a sadder shade of brown.
And the bars now offer 10p for
returns, so dozens of under-14s
race around collecting cups, hell-
bent on making a tidy sum.
The music tends to mix the
popular and the pioneering.
This year’s headliners ranged
from chart pop (Lewis Capaldi)
to art-rock (David Byrne).
Having already reviewed both,
I was most interested to see the
band supporting Byrne, The Last
Dinner Party.
These five women became
an overnight sensation in 2023
with Nothing Matters, their first
fine careless rapture. Their debut
album, Prelude To Ecstasy, drew
comparisons to Queen.
The follow-up, From The Pyre,
was not as good, more prog than
pop, as if they were tracing
Queen’s trajectory in reverse.
On stage, though, they’ve always
tephen Sondheim’s gristly, grisly musical is about revenge served hot, in succulent pies filled with the freshly ground flesh of anyone who crosses rancorous, ruthless Sweeney Todd. But what makes Joe Murphy’s gloriously operatic revival, staged with artful economy on this huge, airy stage, so exceptional, is its thrilling, chilling tension. A chorus line of grey-faced figures, still as ghosts, opens the show, introducing Sweeney, the demon barber of Fleet Street, the hard ‘tee’ at the end of the words stabbing like daggers in the dark. Behind them hangs a vast sculpture of the Lady of Justice. Corrupt Judge Turpin (David Bedella, horribly good) sentenced the barber to 15 years ‘transportation’ in Australia because he coveted Sweeney’s wife, Lucy. But now he’s back and sets up shop above Mrs Lovett’s Pie Shop in order to wield justice his way: with a glistening blade and a collapsing barber’s chair that shoots his victims into the cavernous oven. Ramin Karimloo brings tremendous emotional depth to
JIM DYSON / GETTY / STEPHEN KEABLE / SHUTTERSTOCK / MANUEL HARLAN
when these five
rock the stage
been electric, whether playing for 200 people in an Oxford pub or for 10,000 at Glastonbury. Being second on a festival bill can be tricky, as the punters begin to wilt and the light refuses to fade. But The Last Dinner Party make it look easy, drawing a huge crowd and revitalising them with their infectious energy. The lead singer, Abigail Morris,
BROWN
Sweeney Todd
Birmingham
Repertory Theatre
Until Aug 15, 2hrs 50mins
HHHHH
Trainspotting
The Musical
Theatre Royal
Haymarket, London
Until Sept 5, 2hrs 30mins
HHHHH
his performance as Sweeney, at once sympathetic, murderously single-minded, mad and very sad. By contrast, cabaret star Meow Meow’s Mrs Lovett is hilariously uncomplicated, unscrupulous and amoral. Raven-haired and yellow- frocked, she rolls pastry with her bottom and brings a dollop of sauce to her superb singing. At once sickening and delicious:
is a star, born to romp and
flounce and whoop and croon.
The camera loves her and so
does the moshpit.
But this is a band with five
focal points, standing in a line,
spaced out like stewards. Aurora
Nishevci, Emily Roberts, Lizzie
Mayland and Georgia Davies all
exude presence.
Like many a girl band, they
I’m hoping for second helpings.
Unlike the musical version of
Trainspotting, which is, at best,
stale, regurgitated scraps and
dregs pilfered from Danny
Boyle’s edgy 1996 movie based
on the Irvine Welsh novel.
The only proper shocker this
time is that Welsh penned the
witless, incoherent book that
blunts all impact and co-wrote the forgettably bland new songs. The film’s famous sequence in which our hero, Renton, dives into the most revolting toilet ever is here reworked with Lewis Kidd’s Renton perched on an imaginary loo. Cut to a video of him swimming in untainted water. Mercifully, director Caroline
FLOUNCE: Singer Abigail Morris
and, below, Emily Roberts
have distinct personas for the
teenagers to relate to – but they
play instruments too.
They know how to turn a song
into a melodrama, whether it’s
The Feminine Urge or This Is
The Killer Speaking. They
remain committed but full of
fun, all the way to the sweary
delight of Nothing Matters.
Now they just need to start
writing that well again.
At 78, James Taylor finds
himself playing The O2 for the
first time. ‘Thank you,’ he says,
‘for coming to this fine venue.’
He brings two hats, four
backing singers (including
his son Henry) and seven
sensational musicians.
Taylor’s chit-chat
comes laced with
humour. ‘So good,’ he
says when one of the
vocalists, Dorian
Holley, shakes the
rafters. ‘Some might say
too good.’ Many ageing
singers must have
thought that, but I’ve
never encountered one
brave enough to say it.
Taylor himself
sings well, oozing
gentleness. His
band, like Paul
Simon’s, can
turn earnestness
into exuberance.
Carolina In My
Mind is tender,
Fire And
Rain mournful,
You’ve Got A
Friend joyous.
Everything
sparkles except the
visuals, which are so
corny that they could put
you off sunsets for life.
CLOSE SHAVE: Ramin
Karimloo and Silas Wyatt-Barke
Jay Ranger nods to the film’s superb soundtrack when Renton and his mates fall into a drug- induced serenity to the tune of Lou Reed’s Perfect Day. Otherwise dire, disappointing – and unforgivably dull.
W
Brand New Day Cert: 12A, 2hrs 25mins HHHHH Ish Cert: 15, 1hr 29mins HHHHH A
nyone wondering
how on earth they
follow Christopher
Nolan’s classical
blockbuster, The
Odyssey, could do worse than
popping round to their local
multiplex to see… er, Spider-Man:
Brand New Day. After all, it’s
virtually the same cast. True,
there’s no Matt Damon, but
here’s Tom Holland, who was
Telemachus in Nolan’s tale,
playing Peter Parker for the
fourth time, Zendaya, who may
or may not have been Athena,
playing Peter’s on-but-mainly-off
girlfriend, MJ, and growly Jon
Bernthal, Menelaus in The
Odyssey but here Punisher, or
Frank as he is now better known.
Honestly, with no gods, very
little sex and at least two
strangely powerful women, it’s
like an Odyssey reunion. Apart
from all the swinging through the
streets of New York on super-
strong sticky web stuff.
For those who can’t remember
what happened in No Way Home
(2021), two brief captions bring
us efficiently up to date. Dr
Strange cast a spell which means
that no one, including MJ and
best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon),
can remember that Peter Parker
is Spider-Man.
The web-spinning hero may be
the crime-fighting pride of New
York but off-duty Peter lives as a
recluse, filling his downtime by
stalking MJ through social media
in what in other circumstances
would be seen as rather creepy.
But at least it establishes an
big cheese of culture
ith the death of
David Hockney
earlier this summer,
Anish Kapoor is
probably this country’s most
celebrated artist. He won the
Turner Prize in 1991, received a
knighthood in 2013 and unveiled
the ArcelorMittal Orbit tower
(Britain’s tallest public sculpture)
in east London in 2012, to mark
that summer’s Olympics.
Kapoor is now the subject of a
major exhibition at the Hayward
Gallery. It consists of 29 (mostly
new) works, and if that sounds
like few, bear in mind this is an
interesting emotional dynamic –
Peter still loves MJ with a soul-
devouring passion, while she
doesn’t even know he exists.
Thankfully, given that this
is a superhero film, there are a
lot of other things going on. For
starters, Spider-Man is feeling a
Anish Kapoor Hayward Gallery, London Until October 18 HHHHH OPTICAL TRICK: Kapoor’s Tsunami (2025) at the Hayward Gallery
artist who doesn’t do conventional paintings on walls. Kapoor is renowned for sculptures that toy with our sense of perception, that disorient us through optical tricks and that tend to be quite large. Is Descent Into Limbo a big
bit under the weather – he’s getting headaches, chugging painkillers and his web-aim seems a little off. Is he ill? Or might he be evolving? Ooh… Then there’s the mystery of who might be behind the attacks on the Department of
black circle painted on the floor,
or a hole with a deep drop? The
piece is fenced off, so we can only
guess at the answer.
Elsewhere, All Of Nothing,
a humungous red PVC blob,
occupies pretty much an entire
gallery by itself, from ceiling
to floor. It resembles a giant
Babybel cheese, and forces us
to seek a path around it to enter
the next room.
The show also includes mirror
pieces, which reflect our image
back at us upside down. For many
people, Kapoor’s work can feel a
bit gimmicky, not serious enough
Damage Control, the first of which provides one of several impressive action sequences. More than once I felt a touch of sea-sickness coming on. It has some surprises up its skin-tight sleeve too. One you might guess, another will make you laugh, while a third is so startling it resulted in a loud cheer at the slightly over-excited media screening I attended. There’s also a kiss good enough to take you back to the days of Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst. It’s just what the cinema summer needs after the post- Odyssey hiatus. Holland and real- life spouse, Zendaya, provide the film’s emotional heart, Bernthal supplies the machismo and humour, while the plot twists and surprise cameos make it just a little bit special too. Ish is an unexpectedly beautiful coming-of-age film about two young Muslim boys growing up in Luton. Ish (Farhan Hasnat) is a
GRITTY:
Farhan
Hasnat
and Yahya
Kitana in
Ish. Top:
Tom
Holland in
Spider-
Man:
Brand
New Day
to be considered ‘proper’ art. There’s no denying this work’s popularity, though – with visitors of all ages. It entertains, engages and, at times, even repulses. As is the
British-Asian boy still mourning
the death of his mother a year
ago, while his best friend Maram
(Yahya Kitana) is Palestinian,
already engaged with the war in
Gaza. Nevertheless, they still do
what 12-year-old boys love doing
– playing chase in the woods,
building dens, fighting over video
games. But the distractions of
adolescence are already on their
way, particularly for Maram, who
looks older than he is.
Shot in almost distractingly
gorgeous black and white and
with a transportive score from
director Imran Perretta, the
film’s beauty is at odds with its
gritty underlying story, which
sees the boys’ friendship
undermined by peer pressure
and police surveillance.
With wonderfully naturalistic
performances, Ish is terrific on
the joys and sorrows of boyhood
friendship and only slightly let
down by some shortcomings in
the storytelling.
case with a trio of sculptures called Ritual Expiation, which look like entrails from the body of a recently slaughtered creature. An exhibition that really stirs the blood.
HAYWARD GALLERY / © ANISH KAPOOR / DACS, 2026
NEW FICTION
I
W
Alex Williams has a good job as a lawyer. Ironic because, as a teenager, she gave false evidence that led to an innocent man being jailed for murder. New advances in DNA testing mean the past is set to catch up with her, and her world will crumble unless she can get to the truth of what really happened that terrible summer. Hardy’s fine debut thriller offers real moral complexity alongside a carefully wrought plot. John Williams
Real-life ghost towns
are scattered across
the American West,
and it’s in just such
a place that Nina finds herself after
her small aircraft crashes into a
Wyoming lake in 2024. There, her
story becomes entwined with two
from the past: gunslinger Anton
Vargas, searching for a missing boy
in 1902, and Coll, a historical
re-enactor in 2003. Themes of
mystery and mythmaking, morality
and mortality propel Obreht’s
bravura novel towards an
electrifying ending.
Hephzibah Anderson
Bare-bones prose and the harsh realities of war make Powers’ latest a compelling but harrowing read, as he unspools the fates of two young Americans facing the horrors of the First World War and the complications of loving the same woman. It’s a book that’s keenly alert to the effects of violence on the human psyche, sensitively spelling out the life-altering consequences for those who experience conflict and the stalwart souls who hope to heal them. Eithne Farry
Twelve-year-old Jack’s life is turned upside down when his mother suddenly dies and he is sent to be raised by eccentric grandparents and an unforgettable family of uncles and an aunt – all bruised, exasperating, generous and fiercely loving in equal measure. Set in rural Ireland and crackling with humorous dialogue, it’s a novel of rare humanity and beautiful tenderness that lives long in the mind. Highly recommended. Simon Humphreys
The Plunge Chris Ballard Viking £22, 320pp The Summer We Lied Rebecca Hardy Raven £16.99, 336pp
Sunrise Tea Obreht W&N £22, 336pp
Children Of The Wild Kevin Powers Atlantic £14.99, 320pp
Where Are The Kings Donal Ryan Doubleday £16.99, 224pp
e’ve all been there. You roll off the sun lounger, dip a toe in the pool, then a foot, then a leg, and as your stomach slides in… a gasp in case onlookers hadn’t clocked that the water is really cold. Invariably fol- lowed by a cocky, ‘it’s fine once you’re in’. But what would you do if your pool was not 20 degrees, but below four? In this fantastic book about the power of really cold water, Chris Ballard finds out. The Scandinavians have always known about the benefits of hot and cold therapy – and 5.5 million people live in Finland and enjoy 3.5 million saunas. But it is only in the last few decades that concerted scien- tific effort has been put in to discovering what happens to us when we plunge. Studies have found that submerging in cold water improves your immune sys- tem, can cause a 250 per cent boost in dopamine, benefit cardiovascular health, and stabilise mood swings. But someone who didn’t bother with the science, and simply went off the feeling, is Ram Barkai. Through sheer force of will, and love of the euphoric feeling the cold provides, he carved a globally recog- nised sport out of the ice. Beginning with the ‘ice mile’, which does exactly what it says on the tin, he dreamed bigger – founding the International Ice Swimming Association (IISA). He set up a world championships and is chasing a Winter Olympics slot. With sponsors like Garmin and Dryrobe, and more than 70 countries and 750 swimmers involved, Olympic recognition does not seem far off. Reading this book, the powerful effect of cold water is undeniable – not only on the body, but also on the mind and soul. Gilly McArthur is a cold-water guide in the Lake District who has swum with David Beckham. When Gilly learnt that Cumbria has a 55 per cent higher suicide
Empress Matilda
Elisabeth van Houts
Yale University Press
£30, 464pp
f the average person knows anything about Empress Matilda it is likely to be the romantic story of her escape from Oxford in the winter of 1142. She had been besieged for weeks at Oxford Castle by Stephen of Blois, her cousin and rival for the throne of England. Castle supplies were running low and the situation was desperate. One December night, during a heavy snowfall, Matilda and three loyal knights lowered a rope from a window in St George’s Tower and silently climbed down. Donning white cloaks as camouflage, they stole across the frozen river and through the ranks of Stephen’s men, eventu- ally making it to Wallingford Castle, the stronghold of one of Matilda’s supporters. However, according to this new biography of the woman who would have been England’s first queen, chroniclers almost certainly embellished the tale. Matilda probably left the castle by a little-used gate at a time when the watch was lax. Profes- sor Elisabeth van Houts of the University of Cambridge does
rate than the rest of the UK, she vowed to take ‘a different bloke’ swimming each day for 100 days one winter. That idea became Blue Mind Men, a weekly plunge where anyone can take part. In Dover there is a pub, the White Horse, whose walls are covered in messages written by those who have swum the Eng- lish Channel. One such message was left by Colorado swimmer Sarah Thomas. Thomas swam out from Dover, arrived in France and swam back. At Dover, she once more turned round and headed to France, only to arrive and turn one last time. She arrived back in England follow- ing four crossings, ‘caked in Desitin [a skin protectant], bleary-eyed, and barely able to stand – the first person in history to complete a four-way crossing’, 54 hours after she had set out. But what kept her going? Between book- ing her crossing slot in 2017 and complet- ing the swim in 2019, Thomas was
clever woman who should have been England’s first queen
her best to strip away the exag- gerations and distortions of pre- vious writers to provide as full, and as sober, an account of Mat- ilda’s life as we are likely to get. Matilda was born in 1102, the only daughter of Henry I and Matilda of Scotland. At just eight years old, she was prom- ised to Henry V of Germany, the Holy Roman Emperor, almost two decades her senior, and packed off to Germany. The couple were married in 1114 and she became indispensable to the emperor. On his death in 1125, she was recalled home by her father the king, who arranged for her to be
married to 14-year-old Geoffrey of Anjou. Her father declared her his successor, his only son having drowned in 1120, and compelled the nobility to swear an oath acknowledging her as next in line. But when Henry died in 1135, Stephen, his nephew, seized the throne before Matilda was able to, triggering a civil war that lasted from 1138 to 1153. This period used to be known as ‘the Anarchy’ and it was said that ‘Christ and all his saints slept’ as the armies of Stephen and Mat- ilda battled for supremacy. Eventually, a stalemate was reached and in the Treaty of
diagnosed with breast cancer. She under- went 16 rounds of chemo, a mastectomy and 25 rounds of radiation. When she com- pleted the swim, her hair was only just starting to grow back. Swimming was the one thing that made her feel normal. This is a sport that allows people to surmount impossible feats of endurance. Ballard writes with such vigour and sensi- tivity about the subject, partly because while researching the book he dived into the experience with both feet. Plunging every day, swimming whenever possible, competing for the US team at the IISA world championships, and attempting an ‘ice kilometre’ (failing only because of terrible conditions), he knows the pain and elation that combine when water gets really cold. Finishing this book you will be left with the inescapable sense that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things. Katharine Spurrier
RIGHTFUL HEIR: Empress Matilda battled King Stephen
Westminster of 1153, King Ste- phen recognised Matilda’s son as his successor. He was crowned Henry II of England in 1154, after Stephen’s death. Matilda retired to Normandy and died in 1167. Writers of her time dubbed her imperious and haughty but that was probably simple misogyny. As van Houts shows, she was redoubtable, resilient and clever. Empress Matilda is likely to become the standard text on her life, certainly for the lay reader. Neil Armstrong
L
MAXTONE GRAHAM SOCIETY
These Wild English Nicola Wilding Profile Books £20, 320pp
ooking for a punchy ‘story in a sentence’, TV documentary maker Nicola Wilding was skim-reading an article about an alcoholic father of three who’d been arrested for trying to carjack a police officer at gunpoint in Dover. The officer had got out of his car, gun pointing at him, but some- thing about the attacker made him sniff weakness, and the officer tried to apprehend him. There was a struggle, and the officer managed to get hold of the gun and fling it away. Then, weirdly, the fight appeared to go out of the attacker, who said the gun was just a replica. Sud- denly he just seemed ‘depressed and hopeless’. He was named as ‘Bryan’, so it took a while for Nicola to realise that he was in fact her feckless, binge-drinking younger brother, Billy. (Bryan was his first name.) Billy had been her moth- er’s pride and joy, ‘her little blond- haired, brown-eyed waif’, her ‘handsome little man’. So how had he turned into ‘the attacker’ in a news story in 2013 (he was jailed for three-and-a-half years for that crime)? The ques- tion Nicola Wilding asks at the beginning of her vivid and beauti- fully written family memoir is ‘How the hell did we end up here?’ If you want to get under the skin of the ‘white working class’ expe- rience in this country, this book will give you a memorable picture of one white working-class fami- ly’s trajectory. The fact that the author man- aged to become a successful pro- ducer (she admits she’s now firmly ‘middle class’) shows that no one is imprisoned in their social class. But it’s not easy to achieve mobility if you grow up in a family whose keynote is chaos. And Billy did grow up in chaos, chiefly thanks to their mother Sandra’s disastrous taste in hus- bands. As his elder sister, Nicola was protective of Billy, and feels bad that she wasn’t there to keep an eye on him when their violent stepfather, a soldier called Simon,
was posted to Cyprus, bringing Billy and his younger sisters with him. (Nicola was on her way to col- lege by then.) Far from home, Billy was at the mercy of Simon’s moods. When he wouldn’t eat his beans on toast, Simon dragged him to the balcony and held him over it, threatening to throw him off. A narcissist and bully, Simon ter- rified the whole family. A ‘thickset bulldog of a man’, a ‘manipulative toddler’, he ‘needed to be loved, and trouble started when he wasn’t’. So clever was he at being self-pitying and needy that it took Sandra ten years to gather the strength to leave him. Alongside Billy’s story, Nicola
tells the moving life-story, and the political trajectory, of their mother Sandra, who struggled on through those disastrous relation- ships, in spite of having a heart attack aged 41. She’d grown up in another kind of chaos, the eighth child of a farm labourer in Cumbria whose wife kept running away to escape the poverty and drudgery. So young Sandra had to wash the sheets in the bath after the sib- lings she’d had to share a bed with had wet themselves. In search of fun, she became a teenage skinhead and joined a gang of Carlisle football hooligans. That was the start of her journey to becoming a member of the
far-Right English Defence League. Aged 18 she became pregnant with Nicola and married the father. There were ‘shiny new radiators’ in their council house, ‘but no love’. Her heavy-drinking second hus- band used to vanish at Christmas and return on Boxing Day ‘loaded with presents he’d swept from the shelves of the Esso garage’. After the birth of the longed-for Billy, the couple bought their council house under Margaret Thatcher’s ‘right to buy’ scheme, but they were always behind on the mortgage payments and threatened with repossession – which indeed happened just five years later. When, after ten
DIFFERENT PATHS: Young Nicola, centre, with her mother Sandra and brother Billy
years, Sandra eventually found the strength to leave the third disastrous husband – Simon – she moved to Deal, Kent, and became a carer in a home for adults with learning difficulties. Nicola pays homage to Sandra’s unsung hero- ism in doing this job. ‘Knackered and demoralised’, Sandra felt as if market forces had turned care into a commodity. She felt ‘adrift in a world that she felt was changing too quickly’. This took her along the road to going on EDL marches as a Tommy Robinson follower, shout- ing ‘England till I die!’ As a Brexiteer, she was branded a bigot, xenophobe, Little Englan- der and racist. As an EDL marcher, she was branded a fascist. For Sandra, there was a nagging sense of racial injustice that drove her to protest: ‘Why was it OK to be black and proud, or Muslim or gay and proud, but not white and proud?’ Wilding, who is clear-eyed enough to see both sides of the Brexit argument, likens her mother’s ‘England till I die!’ slogan with the cries of the radical George Edwards 200 years ago, who spoke of ‘These wild English, the freeborn slaves of the nine- teenth century’. Hence the title of this book. Meanwhile Billy, in his later teens, tried moving in with his biological father in Penrith, but his father’s new wife ‘went bal- listic’ at him when he stashed some tyres in the garden. ‘Billy felt a pattern repeating,’ Nicola writes. ‘Another parent not having his back. Another step-parent not wanting him around.’ The lack of male role models, Nicola surmises, was a catalyst for his disastrous early adulthood. He failed to get any GCSEs at a sink comprehensive in Canter- bury, and gave up his apprentice- ship as a mechanical engineer when it was discovered he’d bumped up his grades on the CV. I dared to hope things might improve when he met a Dover girl called Jen and became a father. But it seemed to set off a pressure cooker. Nicola relays this moment in a pub: ‘Something had been expanding inside him, and it was starting to feel like the boundaries that were supposed to hold him together were pinning him in. He ordered another pint and sunk it, then another.’ From that day, Billy morphed into an alcoholic husband and father who didn’t come home at night, and who inanely held a policeman at gunpoint with a fake weapon – thus sowing a new generation of chaos.
HULTON ARCHIVE / GETTY / SHUTTERSTOCK
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11 An account, report
or story (9)
12 Musical term meaning
without instrumental
accompaniment (1,8)
13 A hard-wearing fabric
woven from the spun
fibres of flax (5)
14 René , French Art-
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maker and designer (7)
15 Business , a tax on
the occupation of non-
domestic property (5)
16 Leguminous plant cultivated
for its edible seeds, which
are used in hummus
and falafel (8)
18 An outside space attached
to a pub, where customers
can sit to drink or eat (4,6)
22 A predatory marine fish with
a protruding lower jaw (9)
24 Hampshire town on the
River Anton; the site of
Army Headquarters (7)
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breed of dog (9)
30 A central London railway
terminus, opened in 1852;
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32 In folklore, a person with
the ability to change into
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35 An embalmed or preserved
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37 A three-pronged spear
associated with the Greek
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Roman god Neptune (7)
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card in a pack (5)
39 A hormone produced in the
ovaries of female animals (9)
40 Lizard of Africa and
Madagascar with the ability
to change colour (9)
Down
1 See 36 Down
2 English philosopher,
statesman and author
knighted in 1603 (7,5)
3 A large farm outbuilding,
used for storing hay or grain
or housing livestock (4)
4 ___ Bright, former footballer
who played in the victorious
England team at the
Women’s Euro 2022 (6)
5 A bowed, stringed
musical instrument
of the violin family (5)
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to which guests
wear costumes
and facial disguises (11)
7 Backwash from a ship (4)
8 An ancient Greek city-state
in the south Peloponnese (6)
9 An excessive amount, as in
the production of a crop (4)
10 In Greek mythology,
daughter of Priam and
Hecuba endowed with the
gift of prophecy but fated
never to be believed (9)
17 Lines of stone or concrete
forming the edges between
pavements and roadways (5)
19 European freshwater
food fish with reddish
ventral and tail fins (5)
20 British artist whose
works include A
Bigger Splash (5,7)
21 Hints or indications (11)
23 A deciduous tree or shrub
with toothed leaves
and conelike fruits (5)
25 The score of 40-all
in tennis (5)
26 South Korean diplomat
who served as secretary-
general of the United
Nations 2007-2016 (3,2-4)
29 A deliberate insult (7)
31 Dorothy L. , English
crime writer who created
the amateur sleuth Lord
Peter Wimsey (6)
33 In cricket, runs not scored
from the bat, such as wides,
no-balls or byes (6)
34 Compassionate treatment
of, or attitude towards, an
offender or adversary who is
in one’s power or care (5)
36 & 1 Down The preparation
of equipment and food
before service begins in a
restaurant kitchen (4,2,5)
37 A republic in West Africa
on the Gulf of Guinea (4)
38 Billy , American singer-
songwriter nicknamed
the ‘Piano Man’ after his
1973 signature song (4)
10
If the number
in each triangle
is the sum of
the two below,
what is the
top number?
Answer next
week.
–.. x
25 28 20
14 14 11 9
9
7 7 5 4 7
7 5
5 4
5 4
Fill the squares with numbers 1-6 so
that each number appears once in
each row and column. The number
must also produce the result in the
top left of each area – multiply, add
up, subtract or divide. Numbers
may be repeated within an area.
Answer next week.
6
Find the familiar phrase, name or saying in the letters
or symbols. Readers are invited to send in Dingbats
to The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 354, Wymondham,
NR18 8JG. There is a £10 book token for each one
published. Check out the website at dingbats.net.
Answers on today’s solutions panel.
1 8
NAME .......................................................................................................................... ADDRESS..................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................... POSTCODE .....................................TELEPHONE..................................................
Answers on today’s solutions panel.
From Carol Bowen, Craven Arms, Salop
From Sonia Duxford, Norwich, Norfolk
Can you work out what the initials stand for
below? For example, 7 D of the W = 7 days of
the week. Answers on today’s solutions panel.
1 5
1 L at 1st S 2 S A D by E 17 3 1545: S of the M R
TRAIN
Run along our mental arithmetic train track to see how far you can get – and how long
you take to get there! There are four station stops, A, B, C and D. You can start at A, B
or C and stop at B, C or D. From your chosen starting point, drive through the instructions
to your destination. Write your answer at each stop, then start again with the first number
after the station. Answers on today’s solutions panel.
START=
6
8 6
9 x 18 +97 +147 half –86
1 2
11 24 44 AtoB=
t C B o =
–..
– – 7 threes –..
9
9
53 45
5 3
4
Complete grids with numbers 1 to 9 so each row, column and
3x3 block contains the numbers 1 to 9 used only once.
TO ENTER: Text PRIZE followed by your answer (3 shaded squares read top to bottom), name and postcode to 65700. Texts cost £1 plus your standard network charge. Or call 0901 292 5088 and leave your answer and details. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Entries will be accepted until 11.59pm on Friday. See today’s solutions panel for terms and conditions. Phone/text services Helpline: 0330 1000 601. July 5 winner: D. Lea, Wellesbourne, Warks. July 12 winner: D. Lown, Burgess Hill. This week’s solution will be published next week and the winner’s name on Aug 23.
5
5 9
4 3rd R From The S 5 MS W 9 O G M 6 6 D 7 N, S HF
a dozen
+37 +371 the xsenses x a week days in 8 –..
3 8
2 2
Place the tiles into the grid so that four different numbers and four different shapes appear in each row and column. Answer next week.
4 2 3
3 3 4
3 4 4
9
8 7
9 5
–.. x (Roman)
XV
7
–272
6
RATINGS: Good –
from A to B in 30
seconds.
Very good – B to
C in 30 seconds
or A to C in 50
seconds.
Excellent – C to
D in 30 seconds,
B to D in 50
seconds or A to
D in 75 seconds.
Outstanding –
A to D in 60
seconds.
Answer each clue so that every word contains the same letters as the previous word, plus or minus one. Answer next week.
1 MOVIES:
Who played Daryl
Van Horne in the
1987 film The Witches
Of Eastwick?
2 MUSIC:
Which singer released
the albums No Angel,
Life For Rent and
Safe Trip Home?
3 TV & RADIO:
Which Tomorrow’s World
presenter was one of
the original co-hosts
of the television series
Robot Wars?
4 SPORT:
On 16 June 2026, which
footballer scored his
first Fifa World Cup
hat-trick in a match
against Algeria?
WIN A COLLINS ENGLISH DICTIONARY AND
THESAURUS SET, AND A BRADFORD’S
CROSSWORD SOLVER’S DICTIONARY
Our Bare Bones Crossword is unique because you have
to complete the grid – numbers and squares – as well. We have
inserted four black squares and four clue numbers to get you going.
The crossword has a four-way symmetry: both top and bottom and
left and right match, so you can fill in 12 more squares straight away.
There is a prize of a Collins English Dictionary and Thesaurus set, and a Bradford’s Crossword Solver’s Dictionary. Send your solution to: Bare Bones Crossword 1267, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 354, Wymondham, NR18 8JG. Entries must arrive by Friday, August 7 (photocopies not accepted). The winner’s name will be published on August 23 from the first correct entry drawn.
Winner of 1264: Barry Davis, London.
Across
1 By chance, lying, being
unlucky (Two words,
hyphenated)
10 Footballer gets hot
and he complains
11 Boat meandering
around firm plant
12 Are back for a long time
13 Object in favour of trial
15 A turn performed by a
student is unaffected
17 Hag following notes
to entrance
21 Hearing small noises
going around
25 Heard beer brings trouble
26 Domestic creature
that’s yellow
5 GEOGRAPHY:
What was the largest
country by area in Africa
until it was split into
two nations in 2011?
6 POLITICS:
Which Conservative
politician did Boris
Johnson appoint as
home secretary on
24 July 2019?
7 SCIENCE:
In physics, which
property of oscillating
systems is measured
in hertz?
8 HISTORY:
The Main Plot was an
alleged conspiracy
of 1603 to remove
which king from the
English throne?
27 Ignorant woman joined
conflict to the east
28 Bank instruction, putting
up with tidiness
(Two words)
Down
2 City company has
an atmosphere
3 One taking front
off fireplace
4 Unexpectedly greet wader
5 Giant spaghetti,
tangled somewhat
6 Right to boot
out a machine
7 Resort on front of Riviera
is more pleasant
8 Switch beastly hands over
9 Bird is disgusting, we hear
1 Wheat spike
2 Endure
3 Ballet support
4 Cask
5 Blast
6 Naked
7 Land measurement
9 WORDS:
What is the meaning of
the word temulent?
a) Drunk,
b) Afraid,
c) Unstable.
10 BRITAIN: Which UK city is called Abertawe in Welsh?
11 THIS YEAR:
Which indoor arena in
Manhattan was the
venue for the wedding
of Taylor Swift and
Travis Kelce on 3 July?
12 POT LUCK:
Khmer is the
official language
of which country?
14 Like this, sounds ill
16 Canasta certainly
includes a card
17 Rabbit that’s worth
something across
the pond
18 Wife wasted this game
19 Volunteers chap
to be accepted
20 Capital back in
position ahead
21 Threw singular organ
22 Art is performed for
part of the flight
23 Different aim, say –
returning reflection
24 Negative, next to
the Spanish man
Fit the coloured blocks into the square without rotating or flipping them. The numbers covered by each block should add up to the totals in the circles. There should be no repeated numbers in a coloured block. Answer next week.
8 17
Complete the grid, then unscramble the letters in the yellow squares to reveal an insect. Answer next week.
Calm
Feline
Wonder
Shrewd Let out of prison
Endure
Alcoholic spirit
Concept
Morning moisture Affirmative
Pose a question
TO ENTER: Text AWORD then your answer, name and postcode to 65700 (eg AWORD London John Smith W8 5TT). Texts cost £1 plus standard network charge. Or call 0901 292 5090 and leave your answer and details.
Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Lines close at 11.59pm on Friday. See today’s solutions panel for terms and conditions. July 5 winner: Gillian Harvey, Bristol. July 12 winner: M. A. Weedon, London.
Phone/text services Helpline: 0330 1000 601.
1 2 3 4 5
6 7
9 10
14 15 16
18 19
21 22
Insert any digit from 1 to 9 in the squares, so that the numbers in each row and column add up to the given totals. No digits may be repeated within a row or column, and even numbers must be placed in shaded squares. Answer next week.
Chicken portion Unoccupied Novelists Brave people
Purge
Body of water
Tennis call
Pebbles
Film part
Soil creature
In the direction of
Sound Colossal
That woman's Bog Female swan
Extract metal by heating
Using the given shapes, create
four four-letter anagrams by
dividing the grid into sections.
You may rotate the shapes,
but may not flip them.
Answers next week.
Answers next week.
E L T A
L D M P
L U B M
F O D L
2 3 4 5 WORD SQUARE
Try this mini-puzzle.
Answers next week.
ACROSS 1 Colorado resort 2 Trap 3 Tendon 4 Decree 5 Groups
Function Fallow
Most senior Father Odd number
Croquet arch Elevate
CROSSWORD
ACROSS
6 Mobile home (7)
7 Sound of
disappointment
(5)
9 Waterway (5)
10 Substitute (5-2)
12 Instrument (11)
14 Game (4,3,4)
18 Horseshoe
fitter (7)
19 Heir (5)
21 Golf club (5)
22 Competitive
society (3,4)
DOWN 1 Donkeys 2 Derogatory 3 Great alarm 4 Upright 5 Amphibians
Drinking vessel
Troubled
Stage play
Stain Ready to eat Departed
Navigation chart
Money received
DOWN
1 Detection
device (5)
2 & 3 Down
Headgear (6,3)
3 See 2 Down
4 Limb of tree (6)
5 Hair-cutters (7)
8 Initially (2,5)
11 Dog (7)
13 Tower of a
mosque (7)
15 Infuriate (6)
16 Again! (6)
17 Furniture (5)
20 Circuit of track (3)
White is a minor piece down, but has
a large positional advantage. As
White, can you win quickly before
Black can untangle their pieces?
Our answer on the solutions panel.
Fraud Drives too fast
Maritime force
Sketched
Secret agent
Each line across and down
is to be filled with the
numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
The same number cannot
occur more than once
in any row or column.
Your only clues are the
numbers given and
whether a number is
larger (>) or smaller (<)
than the adjacent number.
Answer next week.
GET PUZZLING!
How many words of four or more letters can you make from the letters given? Letters may be used only once and the centre letter must be used in each word. At least one word uses all nine letters. No words with a capital, hyphen or apostrophe, no verb forms ending in ‘s’, no plurals ending in ‘s’. Answers next week.
How did you do? Score the number of words that you found – 23 Good 34 Very good 45 or more Excellent.
The normal rules of Sudoku apply. In addition,
digits in each inner dotted shape must add up to
the number in the top left corner. Answer next week.
___ Blyton, writer
12 13 4 11 15
30 23 12
8 10 17
20 3 14 18
8 10 14
9 16 9
6 11 17 8 8
17 19 8 24
Fill each sequence of blank squares using the numbers 1-9. Each sequence – across and down – must total the number in the shaded box at the beginning or top of that sequence. Numbers may be repeated within a line or column but NOT in a sequence. Answer next week.
4 3 21 5 8 15 6
10 36
10 3
16 3 36
13 13
Battleship
Find one battleship, two cruisers, three destroyers and four submarines in the grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row contain ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Answers next week.
Cruiser
Destroyer
Submarine
SOLVE IT?
OUR HANDY HINTS
AT WWW.
MAILONSUNDAY.
CO.UK/PUZZLEHELP
WILL TAKE YOU STEP
BY STEP THROUGH
THE PROCESS OF
COMPLETING OUR
ADDICTIVE SETS
OF PUZZLES
4 14
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1 2
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WIN £250
A
A
O
C
A
S
R
R
O
C
A
D
S
A
H
A
S
O
C
A
S
C
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H
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A
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A
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H
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D
D
C
S
S
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R
A
R
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S
C
A
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A
S
R
O
O
R
A
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C
A
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S
S
D
O
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R
S
R
C
D
R
Every week our gallant knight engages in an amiable joust with his page. They provide different clues that give the same answers. Sir Lancelot gives the Cryptic Clues and his page the Quick Clues. Join them in their game and count how many times the letter ‘i’ appears in the completed grid for a chance to win £250! Answers next Sunday.
K
V
Q
M
K
F
V
B
Y
F
F
V
B
B
K
M
Y
M
CRYPTIC CLUES
Across 1 Family is vital stuff (5) 4 Boyfriend left university qualified,
9 10
turning attractive (9)
9 Wanting one nice performance
in skilful setting (9)
10 Muscle and bravado initially
overturning new conflict (5)
11 Alien makes old boy’s middle twitch (6)
12 Cheese gathering is most fleeting (8)
14 Bird giving weight to gossip (9)
15 College with today’s extremes
is number one (5)
17 She’s often heard at Christmas (5)
19 Policemen performed trios
next to courtyard (4,5)
22 Time left – your start, precisely (8)
24 CIA and CID involvement is sharp (6)
26 Defeat object, removing
king, but legal (5)
27 Respected, even incorrectly
1 9
5 2
6 12
1 7
assessed (9)
28 Accepted left and right
and picked a cause (4,5)
29 Failure points to men (5)
Down
1 Poet hasn’t registered bearings
in unwelcome report (3,4)
2 Leaving influence? That’s sick (3-6)
3 Clued it badly? The answer
is plastic (7)
4 Completely bungled a shade,
by the sound of it (4)
5 Argument not about adjustment (10)
6 List gold at the scene (7)
7 Fellow with feeble passion (5)
8 Long to send Glen your old form (7)
13 Passing drink, demon went back (5-5)
16 Overwhelmed at home,
and not escorted (9)
17 Court finds male working in bed (7)
18 Untruths about baby – that’s
an understatement (7)
20 London area restored
and protected (7)
21 After a month, new side settles (7)
23 Widen a choice to
include foreign fare (5)
25 The burden we bear (4)
4 2
7 2 1
1 8
1 3
PRIZE CROSSWORD JULY 26 SOLUTIONS, NO 2279 ACROSS: 10 Chalet, 11 Impersonator, 12 Trap, 13 Asphalt, 14 Tucson, 15 Fawcett, 16 Diego Garcia, 20 Toga, 21 Britten, 22 Tatami, 23 Jonson, 25 Nemesis, 27 Bono, 28 Symptomatic, 29 Caramel, 32 Arthur, 35 Bitcoin, 36 Rake, 37 Henri Matisse, 38 Arcana. DOWN: 1 Pharmacology, 2 Alopecia, 3 Stuart, 4 Pippa, 5 Apiarist, 6 Protagonist, 7 Bolt, 8 Baccarat, 9 Yoko, 17 Gates, 18 Immanuel Kant, 19 Diane Abbott, 21 Banjo, 24 Sapphire, 26 McIntosh, 27 Beatrice, 30 Aeneas, 31 Jones, 33 Rhea, 34 Rome.
3 8
3 5
WORDSEARCH
L E N N E F B L A C K B E R R Y
L I M E Z C O U R G E T T E D H
J H M T B C Y U S G A A S A Y S
A V A U G P Z G R O N K T R H A
E R R P E A L A O G V E R E M U
N A R E I O P U E P B E V E K Q
D D O A B E Q R M R H X L I A S
I I W K F M I U S C S O A V L E
V S D R X N U D U P N Z X G E O
E H U J E J L C M T I D P E A R
M I N P B R A B U H R N V Y X Z
T O A O M A P R I C O T A F A E
P P U T X E N N L D M K Z C I M
F K W A Y I Z E C U T T E L H L
W I J T P A S P A R A G U S U A
T C G O E N I R A T C E N N V P
KEN KEN
CODE CRACKER
Last week’s answer: MINARET
Q U I B B L E D E B U G U N X E L R A W E D A T T I T U D E K X J E G R M E X P L A I N I N G L E I T F I D A R K L Y C O C O O N E T U G L A P A W N B R O K E R D V S W E L A P R O H I B I T Z O O M A I D N R E N U D G E D U N G E O N
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
5 6
7 8
11 12
14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24
26 27
28 29
Across 1 Vital fluid (5) 4 Very attractive (9) 9 Lacking (9) 10 Physical strength (5) 11 Unusual (6) 12 Shortest (8) 14 Songbird (9) 15 Togetherness (5) 17 Christmas song (5) 19 Trained officers (4,5) 22 Precisely (8) 24 Biting (6)
TO ENTER: Complete the Crossword and count how many times the letter ‘i’ appears in the grid. Then text LANCELOT followed by a space, your answer, name and postcode to 65700, eg LANCELOT 9 John Smith W8 5TT. Texts cost £1 plus your standard network rate. To enter by phone, call 0905 652 2140 and leave your answer and details. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Entries will be accepted until 11.59pm on Friday. See below for terms and conditions. Phone and text Helpline 0330 1000 601.
July 12 winner: Jennifer Brammer, Stoke-on-Trent.
Last week’s answer: 12
SUPER SUDOKU
Last week’s answer: 12, 8, 3
7 10 1
2 3 9
4 11 8
4 11
5 7 12
11 6 4
8 2 3
3 8 7
1 9 5
6 12 2
1 10
1 9 4
10 8 7
2 3 6
11 12 5
12 5 9
9 6 3
8 4 11
7 1 10
5 2 12
6 11 2
3 7 1
4 10
7 1 6
8 11 4
8 11 4
3 9 10
12 2 5
5 3 1
8 9
2 8 9
4 7 12
10 6 11
6 4 3
9 10 8
1 5 2
11 12 7
1 4 2
1 4 2
9 3 10
3 10
5 6 12
2 8 7
4 1 11
12 9 3
10 5 6
11 7 9
TETROMINOES MENTAL BLOCKS
KEIJO
BARE BONES NO 1266
Y 1 A 14
O D T S F I G H T E R R E C L A I M T E R A E L L I E O N A G I T A T E A W L N E F N T O B E B R E A K A P P A L U A L D B A S S T O T G A R M E N T T I C T O A A N R E O E A R D R U M C H A G R I N R A H E
E 2 W 15
S 3 M 16
B 4 X 17
Q 5 R 18
N 6 V 19
G 7 O 20
T 8 H 21
I 9 K 22
D 10 F 23
L 11 U 24
26 Lawful (5) 27 Revered (9) 28 Showed
favouritism (4,5) 29 Men (5) Down 1 Undesirable
person (3,4) 2 Under the
weather (3-6) 3 Pliant (7) 4 Gusted (4) 5 Change (10)
QUICK SUDOKU
Last week’s answer: 7,4,3
5 9 4
4 2 5 8 6 3 7 9
7 3 6
5 9 4 2 3 8 6
2 6 7 4
6 7 8 9 5 2
7 8 9
3 5 9 6 4
1 4 2 3 8 7 5 6 9
6 9
1 3 5 7 6 9 2 4
9 2 4
1 7 2 5 4 3 6
1 9 4 8 5 2
1 9 3 8 5
1 2 7 8
1 4 3
FUTOSHIKI
BATTLESHIPS
5 2 1 3 4
1 3 4 5 2
2 5 3 4 1
4 1 5 2 3
3 4 2 1 5
QUICK CROSSWORD
. . M O N O C H R O M E .
A . O . A . A . O . A . .
R A D A R . R E T I R E S
A . E . C . I . A . T . E
B A L L O O N S . L I M P
E . . . T . G . D . A . A
S O R D I D . D I N N E R
Q . E . C . D . S . . . A
U T A H . D I P L O M A T
E . L . S . S . O . I . I
S P I N A C H . D I N G O
6 Picture (7) 7 Bit of fire (5) 8 Extensive (7) 13 Fleeting (5-5) 16 Swamped (9) 17 Arthurian court (7) 18 Rhetorical understatement (7) 20 Obtained (7) 21 Determines (7) 23 Mexican snack (5) 25 Responsibility (4)
SIR LANCELOT AND HIS PAGE ACROSS: 1 Fantasy, 5 Bolster, 10 Barn, 11 Vertebrate, 12 Remained, 13 In play, 14 Spoil, 16 Meteorite, 19 Fire drill, 21 Blade, 23 Accept, 25 Cardinal, 27 Spuriously, 28 Guts, 29 Tell off, 30 Drapery. DOWN: 2 Apace, 3 Tentative, 4 Saving, 6 One-sided, 7 Scrap, 8 Extracted, 9 Fridge, 15 Principle, 17 Rolling up, 18 Write-off, 20 Locust, 22 Prayer, 24 Enrol, 26 Aster.
MEDIUM SUDOKU
5 4 6 2 7 9 3
9 2 7 8 3
1 5 4 9 2 7 6 8 3
7 9 8 6 5 3
2 6 3
6 3 5 7 9 4 8 2
8 7 2 5
1 9 3 8 2 7 6 5
1 4 6 5 2 7 9
1 4 8 5 9 7
1 6 9 3 4
1 4 5 6
EVENS
2 5 3
1 9 2
4 6 1
NUMBERFIT
All of the
listed
numbers fit
into the
grid and
there’s only
one way to
do it. One
number
has been
provided
to get you
started.
Answer
next week.
3 digits 514 755 867 943
1 4 7
4 digits 4565 6230 7085 7456
PATHFINDER
Beginning with the letter K in the square box, follow a continuous path to find 23 words that rhyme with ‘heal’. The trail passes through each and every letter once and may twist up, down or sideways, but never diagonally. Answer next week.
HARD SUDOKU
KILLER
9 8 4
6 3 5 2 9 8
1 6 8 9 3 5 7 2 4
2 7 9 4 8 6 3 5
5 4 3 7 2
4 9 6 8
8 2 7 5 4 9 6
8 5 1 4 2 7 6 9 3
7 4 9 6 1 3 8 2 5
1 2 3 5 4 8 9 6
1 6 7 2 4 8 9
1 6 7 2 3 5
1 3 5 7 2
1 9 6 8
P E N I
D L W G
A Y I E
I R T B
KAKURO
8 9 5 9 1 3 1 4 3 7 6 2 5
9 8 4 8 9 7 5 1 7
5 digits 33454 40476 56817 89890
6 digits 267150 303262 547433 634234 634556 642853
7 digits 7345890 8780678
THIS WEEK’S SOLUTIONS
PUB QUIZ
1 Jack Nicholson, 2 Dido, 3 Philippa Forrester,
4 Lionel Messi, 5 Sudan, 6 Priti Patel, 7 Frequency,
8 James I, 9 a) Drunk, 10 Swansea, 11 Madison
Square Garden, 12 Cambodia.
DINGBATS
1 The worm has turned,
2 Up in the air, 3 Thrown
under the bus, 4 Blueprint.
BRAIN TRAIN
A-B=91, B-C=574, C-D=258.
DITLOIDS
1 Love at 1st Sight, 2 Stay Another Day by East 17,
3 1545: Sinking of the Mary Rose, 4 3rd Rock From
The Sun, 5 Mark Spitz Won 9 Olympic Gold Medals,
6 6 Days 7 Nights, Starring Harrison Ford.
3 6 2 9 5 8 4 7 1
5 9 8 1 7 6 3 4 2
1 7 4 3 8 2 5 6 9
2 3 6 5 9 4 1 8 7
6 2 7 8 3 5 9 1 4
4 1 5 2 6 9 7 3 8
9 8 3 7 4 1 2 5 6
Terms and Conditions: Open to UK residents only, excluding residents of Northern Ireland, employees of the Promoter or anyone connected with the Promotion, their relatives or members of their households. Entrants must be 18 years or over. By entering you accept these terms. One entry per person. One winner will be selected from all correct and eligible entries received. Winners will be notified within 7 days. Failure to accept the prize within 7 days will make any claim invalid, when the Promoter will select another winner. Prizes are non-transferable. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute a prize with an item of equal value. The determination of the Promoter on all matters is final. No correspondence will be entered into. The Promoter reserves the right in its reasonable discretion to: (a) disqualify any entrant whose conduct is contrary to the spirit of the terms; (b) declare as void any entries resulting from any printing, production and/or distribution errors or an error materially affecting the number of claimants or the value of claims. If any of the provisions of these terms is unenforceable, it shall be severed from the remainder and the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected. These terms are governed by English law. The Promoter is Associated Newspapers Limited, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY.
1 9 8 1 1 2 1 7 2
7 2 4 5 9 3 1 9 1 3 3 1 2
8 digits 35485682 52043264 56174817 64564129 72465564 83579785
9 digits 244253815 508391578
CHESS
1. Qxh7+! Kxh7
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REALITY CELEBRITY HUNTED It’s such an appealing premise, watching a bunch of celebrities mingling with the common folk on the streets of Britain while a crack team of surveillance pros – Georgina Bradley, Ray Howard and Steve Hersee, above – hunt them down. There’s no real sense of peril, though, just a series of madcap antics. Monday, C4, 9pm
SUNDAY DESERT ISLAND DISCS Emma Grede, right, shares how she rose to be among the richest self-made women in the US. Radio 4, 10am
TUESDAY A ROMANIAN RANSOM The gripping story of Henry Jakober and his unusual way of freeing Jews out of Communist Romania. Radio 4, 8pm
WEDNESDAY BBC PROMS
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
celebrate Paul Simon’s
Grammy-winning
album Graceland on
its 40th anniversary.
Radio 3, 10.15pm
THURSDAY THE GUITAR STORY John Wilson explores the history of the instrument, starting with classical guitar in Spain, blues guitar in the US and early experiments with going electric. Radio 4, 9.30am
BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 CHANNEL 4 5
6.00 Breakfast
9.00 BBC News
10.00 Prayer And Reflection (R)
10.30 Pilgrimage: The Road
Through North Wales (R)
11.30 Money For Nothing (R)
12.15 Bargain Hunt (R)
1.00 BBC News; Weather
1.15 Songs Of Praise Laura
Wright discovers the deep
significance of mountains in
the Bible.
1.50 Escape To The Country (R)
2.15 FILM: Puss In Boots
(U/2011) Animated comedy
spin-off with the voice of
Antonio Banderas.
3.35 The Mating Game The
mating rituals of the many
varied species dwelling
in jungles. (R)
4.35 Homes Under The
Hammer Featuring
properties in Manchester,
Norfolk and
Buckinghamshire. (R)
5.35 BBC News
5.50 Regional News; Weather
6.00 Celebrity Escape To The
Country 4/6 With
broadcaster and presenter
Angellica Bell. (R)
The Rapture, 9pm Sam Hazeldine stars in the psychological thriller
7.00 Countryfile The first of four
episodes in which Adam
Henson meets a new
generation of farmers
navigating the challenges
and opportunities of
producing our food.
8.00 Antiques Roadshow 3/19
At Brodie Castle in
Morayshire Fiona Bruce
meets a Highland Games
commentator who has
brought along items
including a brooch presented
by Queen Victoria. (R)
9.00 The Rapture 3/5 Gabs
and Dick uncover evidence
that Leonard is hiding
something, while floods
in India match Bethany’s
drawings. Gabs pushes her
suspicions into the open.
10.00 BBC News At Ten
10.25 Regional News; Weather
10.30 FILM: The Impossible
(12/2012) A family spending
Christmas in Thailand are
separated in the 2004
tsunami. Drama with Ewan
McGregor and Naomi Watts.
12.10 Who Do You Think You Are?
With Harriet Walter. (R)
6.40 A To Z Of TV Gardening (R)
7.25 Glorious Gardens From
Above Christine Walkden
visits the gardens of
Staffordshire. (R)
8.10 Countryfile (R)
9.05 Best Of Weatherman
Walking Derek Brockway
recalls some of his favourite
mountain walks.
9.35 Beechgrove Garden (R)
10.05 Saturday Kitchen Best
Bites With recipes from
Sabrina Ghayour, Ravinder
Bhogal and Theo Randall.
11.35 Indian Food Made Easy
Double bill. Food writer and
chef Anjum Anand prepares
a selection of dishes. (R)
12.35 FILM: Loch Ness (PG/1996)
An American scientist is
sent to Scotland to prove
that the Loch Ness monster
does not exist, to the
outrage of the locals. Family
drama starring Ted Danson
and Joely Richardson.
2.15 Cricket: The Hundred
MI London Women v
Manchester Super Giants
Women from The Oval
(start-time 2.30pm).
Cricket: The Hundred, 6pm Sherfane Rutherford in action
Van Der Valk, 8pm Marc Warren stars as the Dutch detective
Inside The Four Seasons: Park Lane, 9pm Apprentice chef Connor
6.00 Cricket: The Hundred
MI London Men v
Manchester Super Giants
Men (start-time 6pm).
Coverage of the match
from The Oval in London.
9.30 Live At The Apollo 1/7
Nabil Abdulrashid hosts
the show from London’s
Hammersmith Apollo,
introducing stand-up
routines by fellow
comedians Jake Lambert
and Rachel Fairburn. (R)
10.00 FILM: Shakespeare In
Love (15/1998) Falling in
love cures the Bard’s
writer’s block and inspires
him to pen the most famous
love story of all time. Period
romantic comedy with
Joseph Fiennes and
Gwyneth Paltrow.
11.55 Golf: Women’s Open
Highlights 2026 Action
from the fourth and final
day of the Major, held at
Royal Lytham & St Annes
Golf Club in Lancashire.
12.55 Sign Zone: Ann Droid
Linda drags Sue to scatter
ashes by the sea. (R)
6.00 James Martin’s American
Adventure (R)
7.00 James Martin’s Saturday
Morning Chat show. (R)
9.25 ITV News
9.30 Love Your Weekend With
Alan Titchmarsh (R)
11.30 Fern Britton: Inside The
Vet’s Fern meets Rory, a
golden retriever with a
lump on his eyelid.
12.30 Tom Kerridge Cooks Italy
Tom forages for truffles. (R)
1.00 ITV News; Weather
1.10 Force Of Nature Animals’
battle for survival as climate
change intensifies. (R)
2.10 FILM: The Man With The
Golden Gun (PG/1974)
James Bond adventure
starring Roger Moore.
4.35 The Chase Celebrity
Special With Len Goodman,
Nicki Chapman, Will Kirk
and Joe Pasquale. (R)
5.35 The Chase Around The
World The teams land
in Lisbon to take on the
Dark Destroyer and the
Sinnerman. (R)
6.30 ITV News; Weather
6.45 Local News; Weather
7.00 Force Of Nature 2/6 Shifting rains test elephant and platypus mothers as floods transform habitats and destroy homes. Andrew Lincoln narrates. 8.00 Van Der Valk 1/3 Two whistleblowers are under police protection prior to a hearing that could bring down Bibi Franken, the matriarch of a criminal empire. When the first informant is murdered, the team must ensure the second makes it to court. The situation is complicated by the fact that the officer in charge of the first victim is Kalie Tenkers, Van Der Valk’s old flame. Crime drama with Marc Warren. 10.00 ITV News; Weather 10.15 FILM: Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (12/2016) The vigilante tries to save an army major who has been framed for murder by a sinister conspiracy. Action thriller sequel starring Tom Cruise and Cobie Smulders. 12.25 Shop On TV
6.20 Cheers Double bill. (R)
7.15 Everybody Loves Raymond
Triple bill. (R)
8.30 Frasier Triple bill. (R)
10.00 Sunday Brunch With
John Hannah, Matt Forde,
Ruthie Henshall, Laura
Smyth and Jen Brister.
1.00 Jamie Cooks The
Mediterranean (R)
2.00 Our Farm Next Door:
Amanda, Clive And Kids
As Christmas looms,
Amanda and family face
re-roofing Anty John’s. (R)
3.05 Britain’s Favourite Railway
Stations With Si King
Si explores Glasgow
Central’s hidden tunnels
and forgotten platform.
Last in series. (R)
4.05 Kirstie And Phil’s Love It Or
List It: Brilliant Builds (R)
4.35 FILM: Sister Act (PG/1992)
A nightclub singer is sent
to live in a convent for her
own protection after
agreeing to testify against a
brutal gangster. Comedy
starring Whoopi Goldberg.
6.30 Channel 4 News Including
sport and weather.
Richard E. Grant’s Very Modern Odyssey, 8pm In Valletta, Malta
7.00 Gogglebox Compilation of
highlights from series 27,
in which the Goggleboxers
check out more of the
biggest and best TV.
8.00 Richard E. Grant’s Very
Modern Odyssey 1/4
Travelogue in which actor
Richard E. Grant retraces
the classic 20-year route of
Odysseus in Homer’s Greek
classic The Odyssey. His
journey begins in Malta.
9.00 The Piano Claudia
Winkleman and Mika are
joined at London Bridge
Station by Jools Holland.
A 10-year-old takes to
the keys and gets the
whole station singing.
10.05 FILM: Erin Brockovich
(15/2000) A single mother
goes to work at a law firm
and ends up taking on a
company suspected of
contaminating a small
town’s water supply. Drama
starring Julia Roberts
and Albert Finney.
12.30 Ramy Maysa thinks that
it’s time for Dena to settle
down and marry.
6.00 Milkshake! Children’s
shows, including: 8.05
Animal Care Club 8.25
The Smurfs 8.35 The
Creature Cases (R) 8.50
The Patrick Star Show (R)
9.00 Entertainment News On 5
Showbiz news and gossip.
9.15 FILM: Rango (PG/2011)
Oscar-winning animated
comedy featuring the voice
of Johnny Depp.
11.30 Commonwealth Games
2026 Highlights from the
ninth day in Glasgow. (R)
12.30 Happy Campers: The
Caravan Park (R)
1.30 Cruising With Susan Calman
The comedian takes a cruise
to Mexico via the US. (R)
2.30 Jane McDonald’s Yorkshire:
No Place Like Home (R)
4.00 Live: UK’s Strongest Man
2026 Coverage of day two
from Planet Ice Milton
Keynes, featuring Group B.
Those involved are
competing for a place in the
finals weekend, which takes
place in Glasgow next week.
6.55 News National and
international news.
7.00 The 1970s Diet: Could It
Work For You? 1/2 Josie
Gibson immerses herself in
the food, drink and health
culture of the 1970s. (R)
8.00 Dogs Behaving (Very)
Badly 8/16 Graeme Hall
meets a beagle with an
insatiable appetite. (R)
9.00 Inside The Four Seasons:
Park Lane 1/5
Documentary going behind
the scenes of the exclusive
five-star hotel in the heart
of London’s Mayfair and its
countryside cousin, Four
Seasons Hampshire.
10.00 Commonwealth Games
2026 Highlights from the
final day in Glasgow, with
medals on the line in
netball, judo, bowls and
para bowls, and track cycling
and para track cycling.
11.05 JFK Assassination: Inside
The Trauma Room
A reunion of doctors
present at the hospital John
F Kennedy was taken to
after being shot. (R)
1.00 Cruise TV With
LoveitBookit (R)
BBC1 BBC2 ITV1
6.00 Breakfast 9.30 Animal Park (R) 10.15 Trace, Track, Get My Car Back (R) 10.45 Expert Witness (R) 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 12.15 Bargain Hunt 1.00 BBC News 1.35 Regional News 1.45 BBC News 2.00 Money For Nothing 2.45 Escape To The Country (R) 3.45 The Bidding Room 4.30 The Answer Run 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC News 6.30 Regional News 7.00 The One Show With Alex Jones and Roman Kemp. 7.30 EastEnders Peter’s suspicious about Lauren. 8.00 Britain’s Strictest Schools – Panorama In-depth report. 8.30 Scam Interceptors 5/15 Ethical hackers hunt down cyber criminals. (R) 9.00 The Rapture 4/5 Gabs finally meets Anika Drake. 10.00 BBC News At Ten 10.30 Regional News; Weather 10.45 FILM: The Mist (15/2007) Sci-fi horror starring Thomas Jane. 12.45 BBC News
6.00 Breakfast 9.30 Animal Park
(R) 10.15 Trace, Track, Get My Car
Back (R) 10.45 Expert Witness (R)
11.15 Homes Under The Hammer
12.15 Bargain Hunt (R) 1.00 BBC
News 1.35 Regional News 1.45
BBC News 2.00 Money For
Nothing 2.45 Escape To The
Country (R) 3.45 The Bidding
Room (R) 4.30 The Answer Run
5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC
News 6.30 Regional News
7.00 The One Show
7.30 EastEnders Ravi pushes
Priya for answers.
8.00 The Great British Sewing
Bee 4/10 Celebrating the
rich fashion and textile
traditions of Mexico.
9.00 Murder 24/7 5/8 The first of
a two-part investigation into
the 2025 murder of Hereford
man Jamie Gawler.
10.00 BBC News At Ten
10.30 Regional News; Weather
10.40 FILM: Robin Hood (12/2010)
Medieval adventure starring
Russell Crowe.
12.55 BBC News
BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 CHANNEL 4
6.30 Bargain Hunt (R) 7.15 Money
For Nothing (R) 8.00 Sign Zone:
The Repair Shop (R) 9.00 BBC
News 1.00 Richard Osman’s
House Of Games (R) 1.30 The
Finish Line (R) 2.15 Do You Know
Your Place? (R) 2.45 The Hairy
Bikers’ Bakeation (R) 3.45 The
Farmers’ Country Showdown
(R) 4.30 Vintage Antiques
Roadshow (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R)
6.00 Richard Osman’s House
Of Games (R) 6.30 Richard
Osman’s House Of Games (R)
7.00 Global Eye
7.30 Mastermind
8.00 Only Connect
8.30 University Challenge
9.00 Evolution 4/5 Chris
Packham studies dolphins
to find answers to how
intelligence evolved.
10.00 Mortimer & Whitehouse:
Gone Fishing 4/6 (R)
10.30 Newsnight
11.05 FILM: Sing Sing (15/2023)
Premiere. Prison drama
starring Colman Domingo.
12.45 Sign Zone: Countryfile (R)
6.30 Bargain Hunt (R) 7.15 The
Bidding Room (R) 8.00 Sign Zone:
The Great British Sewing Bee (R)
9.00 BBC News 1.00 Richard
Osman’s House Of Games (R)
1.30 The Finish Line (R) 2.15 Do
You Know Your Place? (R) 2.45
Cricket: The Hundred. Sunrisers
Leeds Women v London Spirit
Women (start-time 3pm).
6.00 Cricket: The Hundred.
Sunrisers Leeds Men v London
Spirit Men (start-time 6.30pm).
9.30 The Vampire Lestat:
Interview With The
Vampire 2/7 An illicit old
ally of Lestat’s boards the
dazed band’s tour bus.
10.15 It Happened To Me:
I Was Jailed In Japan
For Ketamine A British
woman’s ketamine
addiction led to a stint in
a Japanese prison.
10.30 Newsnight
11.05 FILM: The Last Bus
(12/2021) Drama starring
Timothy Spall.
12.30 Sign Zone: Uncanny (R)
6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00
This Morning 1.30 ITV News;
Weather 1.55 Local News;
Weather 2.00 Dickinson’s Real
Deal (R) 3.00 Deal Or No Deal (R)
4.00 Tipping Point (R) 5.00 The
Chase (R) 6.00 Local News;
Weather 6.30 ITV News; Weather
7.30 Fletchers’ Family Farm
8/10 Milo and Liz head to
a local dairy farm. (R)
8.00 Emmerdale The news
about Monty is not good.
8.30 Coronation Street Cassie
bids farewell to her family.
9.00 Long Lost Family: Born
Without Trace New series.
Davina McCall and Nicky
Campbell investigate
the cases of foundlings
from 1983 and 1960.
10.00 ITV News; Weather
10.30 Local News; Weather
10.45 Cold Case Forensics: The
Death Of God’s Banker 1/3
A look at the death of Italian
banker Roberto Calvi. (R)
11.45 Love & Death 4/7 (R)
12.45 Shop On TV
6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00
This Morning 1.30 ITV News;
Weather 1.55 Local News;
Weather 2.00 Dickinson’s Real
Deal (R) 3.00 Deal Or No Deal (R)
4.00 Tipping Point (R) 5.00 The
Chase (R) 6.00 Local News;
Weather 6.30 ITV News; Weather
7.30 Inside The Langham:
Britain’s First Grand Hotel
3/6 The CEO arrives to
inspect one of the hotel’s
most ambitious renovations.
8.00 Emmerdale Nicola makes
a worrying discovery.
8.30 Coronation Street Dylan
ends up unconscious after a
confrontation with Brody.
9.00 Cold Case Forensics: A
Death On The Nile 2/3
Investigating the death
of a British solicitor while
he was on holiday in Egypt.
10.00 ITV News; Weather
10.30 Local News; Weather
10.45 FILM: Bad Boys II (15/2003)
Comedy thriller sequel
starring Will Smith.
1.10 Shop On TV
CHANNEL 4 5
6.30 The King Of Queens (R) 7.45
Everybody Loves Raymond (R)
9.10 Frasier (R) 11.10 Ramsay’s
Kitchen Nightmares USA (R)
12.05 Channel 4 News Summary
12.10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (R) 1.10
The Great House Giveaway (R)
2.10 Countdown 3.00 A Place In
The Sun (R) 4.00 Saving Country
Houses With Penelope Keith (R)
5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00
American Pickers (R)
7.00 Channel 4 News
8.00 Dover 24/7: Britain’s
Busiest Port Border
Force officers are on the
hunt for illegal meat.
9.00 Celebrity Hunted New
series. A group of
celebrities turn fugitive and
attempt to evade capture.
10.00 Secret Lives Of Gypsy
Wives The family host
bonfire night for the estate
in memory of their dad Sid.
11.05 Surgery Secrets Of The
Super Rich 3/6 (R)
12.05 Secrets Of The Celebrity
Sex Tapes Documentary.
6.30 The King Of Queens (R) 7.45 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) 9.10 Frasier (R) 11.10 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) 12.05 Channel 4 News Summary 12.10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (R) 1.10 The Great House Giveaway (R) 2.10 Countdown 3.00 A Place In The Sun (R) 4.00 Saving Country Houses With Penelope Keith (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00 American Pickers (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News 8.00 Hotel Chocolat Unwrapped Chocolatier Yodi dreams up limited edition drinking chocolate flavours. 9.00 Celebrity Hunted Two of the fugitives make a bold move by going on live TV to promote their new show. 10.00 Gogglebox The critics’ opinions on The Celebrity Traitors and Trigger Point. (R) 11.05 Secret Lives Of Gypsy Wives The family host bonfire night for the estate in memory of their dad. (R) 12.05 Naked Attraction (R)
6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 News 12.50 Matt Allwright 2.20 FILM: A Reservation For Death (PG/2021) Mystery starring Nathalie Kelley. 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 News 6.00 Majorca: A Year In The Sun (R) 6.55 News 7.00 Motorway Cops: Catching Britain’s Speeders 4/10 Officers pull over the driver of a suspected cloned car. (R) 7.55 News 8.00 Street Cops: Catching The Yobs Police pursue what could be a stolen SUV being driven recklessly in Corby. 9.00 Fare Dodgers: At War With The Law New series. Investigator Lisa pursues a suspect who owes the network almost £2000. 10.00 Police Interceptors: Taking Down The Shoplifting Gangs Officers tackle thieves terrorising shops and supermarkets. (R) 11.05 Traffic Cops 6/20 (R) 12.05 Car Pound Cops (R)
6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 News 12.50 Matt Allwright 2.15 FILM: A Murder In Venice (PG/2023) Thriller starring Sophie Hopkins. 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 News 6.00 Majorca: A Year In The Sun (R) 6.55 News 7.00 The Yorkshire Vet: At Home With The Greens 2/4 The Greens receive a visit from an estate agent. (R) 7.55 News 8.00 Inside Longleat Cameras investigate some unexpected visitors in Longleat garden. 9.00 The Victorians With Rob Rinder And Ruth Goodman Discovering how some of history’s most famous events were experienced by both the rich and the poor. 10.30 The Pile Up: Death On The Motorway A forensic analysis of one of the worst motorway crashes in British history. (R) 12.05 The Cannibal Next Door (R)
BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 CHANNEL 4 5
BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 CHANNEL 4
6.00 Breakfast 9.30 Animal Park
(R) 10.15 Trace, Track, Get My Car
Back (R) 10.45 Expert Witness (R)
11.15 Homes Under The
Hammer (R) 12.15 Bargain Hunt
(R) 1.00 BBC News 1.35 Regional
News 1.45 BBC News 2.00
Money For Nothing 2.45 Escape
To The Country (R) 3.45 The
Bidding Room 4.30 The Answer
Run 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC
News 6.30 Regional News
7.00 The One Show Hosted by
Alex Jones and Vernon Kay.
7.30 EastEnders Mark tries to
win Lauren’s attention.
8.00 The Repair Shop (R)
9.00 Murder 24/7 6/8 Part two
of two. Police struggle
to build a case – until a
bloody footprint is found.
10.00 BBC News At Ten
10.30 Regional News; Weather
10.40 FILM: You’re Cordially
Invited (15/2025) Premiere.
Comedy with Will Ferrell
and Reese Witherspoon.
12.25 The Hit List Celebrity
Special (R)
6.00 Breakfast 9.30 Animal Park
(R) 10.15 Trace, Track, Get My Car
Back (R) 10.45 Expert Witness (R)
11.15 Homes Under The Hammer
12.15 Bargain Hunt (R) 1.00 BBC
News 1.35 Regional News 1.45
BBC News 2.00 Money For
Nothing 2.45 Escape To The
Country (R) 3.45 The Bidding
Room (R) 4.30 The Answer Run
5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC News
6.30 Regional News
7.00 The One Show Live
magazine show with Alex
Jones and Roman Kemp.
7.30 EastEnders Sheila faces
mounting pressure.
8.00 Fake Or Fortune? 4/4
Investigating potential
works by Lucian Freud.
9.00 Who Do You Think You Are?
8/8 Heptathlete Katarina
Johnson-Thompson
traces her ancestry.
10.00 BBC News At Ten
10.30 Regional News; Weather
10.40 Murder 24/7 5/8 (R)
11.40 Murder 24/7 6/8 (R)
12.40 Alan Carr’s Picture Slam (R)
6.30 Money For Nothing (R) 7.15
The Bidding Room (R) 8.00 Sign
Zone: Great Japanese Railway
Journeys (R) 8.30 Great
Continental Railway Journeys (R)
9.00 BBC News 1.00 Richard
Osman’s House Of Games (R)
1.30 The Finish Line (R) 2.15 Do
You Know Your Place? (R) 2.45
Cricket: The Hundred. Trent
Rockets Women v Birmingham
Phoenix Women (start-time
3pm). 6.00 Cricket: The Hundred.
Trent Rockets Men v Birmingham
Phoenix Men (start-time 6.30pm).
9.30 Live At The Apollo 2/7
Ria Lina introduces stand-
up routines by fellow
comedians Lucy Beaumont
and Josh Pugh. (R)
10.00 The Big Cases – The
Funeral Home Horror How
a debt-ridden undertaker
betrayed grieving families.
10.30 Newsnight
11.05 Uncanny 3/3 (R)
12.05 The Devil In The Family:
The Fall Of Ruby Franke (R)
6.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 7.15 Money For Nothing (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: Gardeners’ World (R) 9.00 BBC News 1.00 Richard Osman’s House Of Games (R) 1.30 The Finish Line (R) 2.15 Do You Know Your Place? (R) 2.45 The Hairy Bikers’ Bakeation (R) 3.45 The Farmers’ Country Showdown (R) 4.30 Vintage Antiques Roadshow (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R) 6.00 Richard Osman’s House Of Games (R) 6.30 Richard Osman’s House Of Games (R) 7.00 Escape To The Country 10/20 The Cotswolds. (R) 8.00 Digging For Britain 3/6 (R) 9.00 The Devil In The Family: The Fall Of Ruby Franke 3/3 With the Franke family isolated, outsiders try to find out what is happening. 9.50 The Fens: A Wild Year (R) 10.00 Inside No 9 3/6 (R) 10.30 Newsnight 11.05 FILM: Women Talking (15/2022) Drama starring Judith Ivey and Claire Foy. 12.40 Sign Zone: Ambulance (R)
6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00
This Morning 1.30 ITV News;
Weather 1.55 Local News;
Weather 2.00 Dickinson’s Real
Deal (R) 3.00 Deal Or No Deal (R)
4.00 Tipping Point (R) 5.00 The
Chase (R) 6.00 Local News;
Weather 6.30 ITV News; Weather
7.30 Deal Or No Deal: Banker’s
Best Battles Revisiting
battles between players
James and Jack.
8.00 Emmerdale A decision
is made to give the dog
a good Dingle send-off,
and Charity is brave.
8.30 Coronation Street Kit
informs Bethany of Gary’s
role in Sarah’s crime.
9.00 Who Wants To Be A
Millionaire? Quiz. (R)
10.00 ITV News; Weather
10.30 Local News; Weather
10.45 Long Lost Family: Born
Without Trace Davina
McCall and Nicky Campbell
help more foundlings. (R)
11.45 The Assembly 5/8 (R)
12.10 Shop On TV
6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00
This Morning 1.30 ITV News;
Weather 1.55 Local News;
Weather 2.00 Dickinson’s Real
Deal (R) 3.00 Deal Or No Deal (R)
4.00 Tipping Point (R) 5.00 The
Chase (R) 6.00 Local News;
Weather 6.30 ITV News; Weather
7.30 Tom Kerridge Cooks Italy
The chef learns how
farmers produce tomatoes
for passata and investigates
pomegranates.
8.00 Emmerdale The Dingles
unite in their grief at
Monty’s funeral.
8.30 Coronation Street
Kit extends an ominous
invitation to Gary.
9.00 The Chase Around The
World 4/6 The teams land
in Paris to take on the
Vixen and the Beast.
10.00 ITV News; Weather
10.30 Local News; Weather
10.45 FILM: Casino Royale
(15/2006) James Bond spy
thriller with Daniel Craig.
1.10 Shop On TV
6.30 The King Of Queens (R) 7.45
Everybody Loves Raymond (R)
9.10 Frasier (R) 11.10 Ramsay’s
Kitchen Nightmares USA (R)
12.05 Channel 4 News Summary
12.10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (R) 1.10
The Great House Giveaway (R)
2.10 Countdown 3.00 A Place In
The Sun (R) 4.00 Saving Country
Houses With Penelope Keith (R)
5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00
American Pickers (R)
7.00 Channel 4 News
8.00 Extraordinary Extensions
A couple turning their
Surrey home into a
Marbella-inspired party pad.
9.00 The Undeclared War 5/6
Barbara comes under
Charlie’s scrutiny as
tragedy strikes GCHQ.
10.00 The Undeclared War 6/6
Danny puts everything
on the line in order to
right some wrongs.
11.00 24 Hours In A&E 6/7
A man is rushed in after a
motorbike accident. (R)
12.05 Celebrity Hunted (R)
6.30 The King Of Queens (R) 7.45
Everybody Loves Raymond (R)
9.10 Frasier (R) 11.10 Ramsay’s
Kitchen Nightmares USA (R)
12.05 Channel 4 News Summary
12.10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (R) 1.10
The Great House Giveaway (R)
2.10 Countdown 3.00 A Place In
The Sun (R) 4.00 Saving Country
Houses With Penelope Keith (R)
5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00
American Pickers (R)
7.00 Channel 4 News
8.00 Renovation Rescue
A retired artist needs help
renovating her home.
9.00 Murder Case: The Digital
Detectives How digital
forensics uncovered the
events around the murder
of Matthew Daulby.
10.00 The Body Detectives 1/3
The disappearance of a
man who vanished off the
Norfolk coast in 1984. (R)
11.05 Social Media Monsters
1/10 Crimes where social
media has played a role. (R)
12.05 Crime Scene Cleaners (R)
6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine
11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 News
12.50 Matt Allwright 2.15 FILM: A
Town Called Murder (PG/2023)
Thriller starring Kayleigh Ruller.
4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature
(R) 5.00 News 6.00 Majorca: A
Year In The Sun (R) 6.55 News
7.00 Car Pound Cops 6/8
Following the work of
vehicle recovery crews. (R)
7.55 News
8.00 Casualty 24/7: Every
Second Counts 10/10
Former nurse Sandra is
brought in with a suspected
dislocated ankle.
9.00 999: Critical Condition
Graham faces life-
threatening surgery to
remove a tumour.
10.00 Ambulance: Code Red
A collision between two
motorcyclists issues a
code red call out. (R)
11.05 Cause Of Death 8/10
The body of a man is
found in a field. (R)
12.05 A&E After Dark (R)
6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 News 12.50 Matt Allwright 2.20 FILM: Evil In A Small Town (PG/2023) Thriller with Veronica Ramirez. 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 News 6.00 Menorca: A Year In The Sun (R) 6.55 News 7.00 Around The World In First Class With Josie Gibson 2/4 The presenter experiences life in Grenada. 7.55 News 8.00 Cornwall: A Year By The Sea 10/10 At Watergate Bay, chef Chris Eden and his team attempt their first beach feast of the summer. 9.00 Benidorm Is Murder 2/6 A rooftop murder exposes old grudges at a comedy club. 10.00 Killer At The Crime Scene The murder of a millionaire who was killed during a home invasion. (R) 11.00 Murdered At First Sight 2/10 Factual crime. (R) 12.05 Street Cops: Catching The Yobs Documentary. (R)
BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 CHANNEL 4 5
BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 CHANNEL 4
6.00 Breakfast 9.30 Animal Park
(R) 10.15 Trace, Track, Get My Car
Back (R) 10.45 Expert Witness (R)
11.15 Homes Under The Hammer
(R) 12.15 Bargain Hunt: 20 Years
Of The One Show 1.00 BBC News
1.35 Regional News 1.45 BBC
News 2.00 The Hairdresser
Mysteries 2.45 Escape To The
Country (R) 3.45 The Bidding
Room 4.30 The Answer Run
5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC
News 6.30 Regional News
7.00 The One Show The show
celebrates its 20th birthday.
7.30 Our Lives Following South
Wales punk band the NaNaz.
8.00 Granite Harbour 3/3 Lindo
and Bart face a race against
time to find the real killer.
9.00 Would I Lie To You? 4/9 (R)
9.30 Ann Droid 4/6 Sue invites
Michael and Renee to dinner.
10.00 BBC News At Ten
10.30 Regional News; Weather
10.45 FILM: 28 Days Later
(18/2002) Horror starring
Cillian Murphy.
12.35 BBC News
6.00 Breakfast 10.00 Saturday
Kitchen Best Bites 11.30 Anna
Haugh’s Big Irish Food Tour (R)
12.00 Homes Under The
Hammer (R) 1.00 BBC News;
Weather 1.15 Bargain Hunt (R)
2.15 Money For Nothing (R) 3.15
Escape To The Country (R) 4.15
FILM: Night At The Museum:
Secret Of The Tomb (PG/2014)
5.50 BBC News 6.00 Regional
News; Weather 6.10 The Hit
List Celebrity Special 6.55
Alan Carr’s Picture Slam
7.40 Michael McIntyre’s Big
Show 4/6 With Josh
Widdicombe. (R)
8.35 Pointless Celebrities 9/21
Contestants include
Charlene White. (R)
9.25 How Are You? It’s Alan
(Partridge) 5/6 Alan
seeks to find joy in the
unexpected. (R)
10.00 BBC News; Weather
10.20 FILM: Bridget Jones’s
Diary (15/2001) Comedy
with Renee Zellweger.
11.50 FILM: Man Up (15/2015)
6.30 Money For Nothing (R) 7.15 The Bidding Room (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: Marcus Wareing Simply Provence (R) 9.00 BBC News 1.00 Richard Osman’s House Of Games (R) 1.30 The Finish Line (R) 2.15 Do You Know Your Place? (R) 2.45 The Hairy Bikers’ Bakeation (R) 3.45 The Farmers’ Country Showdown (R) 4.30 Vintage Antiques Roadshow (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R) 6.00 Richard Osman’s House Of Games (R) 6.30 Just One Thing (R) 7.00 Iolo’s Anglesey 2/4 (R) 7.30 Beechgrove Garden 8.00 Gardeners’ World 9.00 Bergerac 4/6 Chloe finds evidence proving there is some truth in John Blakely’s accusations. 9.45 QI XL 6/14 (R) 10.30 Newsnight 11.05 FILM: Hoard (18/2023) Premiere. Drama starring Saura Lightfoot-Leon. 1.00 Sign Zone: Britain’s Strictest Schools – Panorama (R)
6.30 Children’s Shows 9.15
Gardeners’ World (R) 10.15 FILM:
Angels One Five (U/1953) Second
World War adventure starring
Jack Hawkins. 11.50 The Great
British Sewing Bee (R) 12.50 A
Cook Abroad: Monica Galetti’s
France (R) 1.50 FILM: Summer
Holiday (U/1963) Musical comedy
starring Cliff Richard. 3.35 Fake
Or Fortune? (R) 4.35 Evolution (R)
5.35 FILM: Superman II
(PG/1980) Comic-strip adventure
sequel with Christopher Reeve.
7.35 Space Soundtracks At The
Proms Music that has
transformed people’s
view of the universe.
8.35 Paul Heaton At The BBC
10.10 Paul Heaton: Live At
Bramall Lane A 2025
concert by the singer at
Sheffield United’s stadium.
11.35 The Housemartins In
London 0 Hull 4 A
1987 documentary
about the band. (R)
12.20 Top Of The Pops: The
Beautiful South
6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00 This Morning 1.30 ITV News; Weather 1.55 Local News; Weather 2.00 Dickinson’s Real Deal (R) 3.00 Deal Or No Deal (R) 4.00 Tipping Point (R) 5.00 The Chase (R) 6.00 Local News; Weather 6.30 ITV News; Weather 7.30 EFL Cup Live Middlesbrough v Wrexham (kick-off 8pm). Mark Pougatch presents all the action from the first-round tie at Riverside Stadium. With analysis from Tommy Smith and Steven Fletcher, and commentary by Seb Hutchinson and Lucy Ward. 10.25 ITV News; Weather 10.55 Local News; Weather 11.15 FILM: Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (12/2016) The vigilante tries to save an army major who has been framed for murder by a sinister conspiracy. Action thriller sequel starring Tom Cruise and Cobie Smulders. 1.10 Shop On TV
6.00 James Martin’s American
Adventure (R) 7.00 FILM: The
Man With The Golden Gun
(PG/1974) James Bond adventure
starring Roger Moore and
Christopher Lee. 9.25 ITV News
9.30 James Martin’s Saturday
Morning (R) 12.00 Prue Leith’s
Cotswold Kitchen (R) 1.00 ITV
News; Weather 1.10 ITV Racing:
Live From Ascot. Coverage of the
Shergar Cup. 5.00 Tipping
Point: Best Ever Finals (R) 5.30
The Chase Celebrity Special (R)
6.30 ITV News; Weather 6.45
Local News; Weather
7.00 Deal Or No Deal:
Celebrity Special Adam
and Ryan Thomas go up
against the Banker.
8.00 FILM: Quantum Of
Solace (12/2008) Thriller
starring Daniel Craig.
10.05 ITV News; Weather
10.20 The Staircase 4/8 Clayton
makes a critical discovery.
11.35 Sorry, I Didn’t Know 5/5
With Desiree Burch. (R)
12.10 Shop On TV
6.30 The King Of Queens (R) 7.45 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) 9.10 Frasier (R) 11.10 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) 12.05 Channel 4 News Summary 12.10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (R) 1.10 The Great House Giveaway (R) 2.10 Countdown 3.00 A Place In The Sun (R) 4.00 Saving Country Houses With Penelope Keith (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00 American Pickers (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News 8.00 Surgery Secrets Of The Super Rich 4/6 A bride-to- be has a liquid nose job. 9.00 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown Katherine Ryan, Fatiha El-Ghorri, Jake Lambert and the Brett Domino Trio take part. 10.00 Big Fat Quiz: Best Bits A compilation of the ultimate triumphs from the quiz. 11.05 Sarah Millican: Home Bird Live Stand-up comedy show recorded in 2014. (R) 12.10 Greg Davies: The Back Of My Mum’s Head (R)
6.10 Cheers (R) 8.00 Everybody
Loves Raymond (R) 9.25 Frasier
(R) 10.55 The Simpsons (R) 12.55
Four In A Bed (R) 3.30 The Dog
House (R) 4.30 Kirstie And Phil’s
Love It Or List It (R) 5.35 Grand
Designs (R) 6.30 Channel 4 News
7.00 Sandi Toksvig’s Hidden
Wonders 1/4 Sandi Toksvig
rediscovers her love of
archaeology. (R)
8.00 Bettany Hughes’ Lost
Worlds: Dawn Of
Civilisations 1/2 The
historian uncovers the
origins of civilisation itself.
9.00 Dictator: The Hitler
Interviews 2/3 Hitler’s
friends and contemporaries
recall how tyranny took hold.
10.00 Elvis, The Colonel And The
Mob 1/2 How the singer got
mixed up in organised crime.
11.05 Elvis, The Colonel And The
Mob 2/2 Colonel Tom
Parker plans a comeback.
12.10 FILM: The Contractor
(15/2022) Drama
starring Chris Pine.
6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine
11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 News
12.50 Matt Allwright 2.20 FILM:
The Book Club Murders
(PG/2024) Mystery starring
Brittany Underwood. 4.00 Castle
(R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00
News 6.00 Menorca: A Year In
The Sun (R) 6.55 News
7.00 Tom Read Wilson’s Grand
Tour 1/3 Tom reimagines
the rite of passage once
undertaken by aristocrats. (R)
7.55 News
8.00 Corsica: Jewel Of The
Mediterranean Cameras
explore the French island,
which boasts 600 miles
of stunning coastline,
lush green forests and
majestic mountains.
9.00 Alexander Armstrong In
South Korea The presenter
embarks on an epic journey
across the country. (R)
10.30 Piers Morgan: Uncensored
News and debate show.
12.00 Fare Dodgers: At War
With The Law (R)
6.00 Milkshake! 9.05 Entertainment News On 5 9.10 Secrets Of The Royal Palaces (R) 11.00 Yorkshire’s Poshest Hotel: Grantley Hall (R) 1.00 The Royals: Uncensored 2.00 Coastal Adventures With Helen, Jules & JB (R) 4.00 Live: UK’s Strongest Man 2026. Coverage of the semi-final. 6.55 News 7.00 Sussex: Jewel Of The South Coast 3/5 The discovery of a Bronze Age settlement near Hastings. 8.00 The Middletons: The Making Of A Modern Queen The Middleton family’s positive influence in raising Kate for her future role. (R) 9.30 Kate: Our New Diana? Documentary comparing the two Princesses of Wales – Kate and Diana. (R) 10.30 Diana & The Curse Of The Spencers Examining the difficult upbringing of Diana, Princess of Wales. (R) 12.00 We Love Bridget Jones: All The Laughter & More (R)
Pose, After Dark, Agios Nikolaos, Al Jehani - WARNING: source dates, money, or percentage tokens may be missing - WARNING: translated output contains large residual English-looking blocks
# 彩票号码、开奖 1 等章节，而源文预览中对应的位置是关于 FIFA 主席和移民问题的报道，完全不相关。£89.8 billion 被译为 898 亿英镑 十亿。此处出现了重复计数（“亿”与“十亿”共存），导致数值语义混乱。£3.1 billion 被译为 31 亿英镑 十亿，同样出现重复单位错误。23-year-old 被译为 23, 岁（标点错误且不自然）。SIX-DAY FORECAST（六日预报）表格数据在译文中严重缺失。源文中有大量温度数字，译文仅随机保留了极少部分，导致天气预报表格完全失效。half of Fifa’s 211 member nations had... 在译文中被截断为 超过一半的国家……，随后直接跳到了不相关的彩票内容。£2.30 £1.95 to subscribers 等英文块。> [!NOTE] 本章节源文包含大量外语数据...，属于交付缺陷（Internal cleanup labels）。12. 80mm $\rightarrow$ 12. 80mm，14. 2hrs $\rightarrow$ 14. 2hrs。Channel Islands 译为 海峡群岛，但部分地名直接保留英文或翻译生硬。The Barclays Equity Gilt Study 译为 巴克莱权益吉尔特研究（"Gilt" 在此处指英国政府债券，译文将其音译/直译为“吉尔特”）。结论：FAILED (严重失败) 该翻译件存在严重的内容幻觉（凭空捏造新闻细节）和数据丢失（天气预报表格崩溃），完全不具备参考价值。