[!WARNING] 翻译质量评估未完全通过 (Quality Audit Failed) 发现以下潜在质量问题： - Missing proper nouns in translation: Aaron Briggs, Abu Dhabi, Accrington Stanley, Across Chelsea, Across Instagram, Adam Ramsay, Adam Peaty, Adam Ramsay, Adolf Hitler, Adriatic Sea
每年增加 £4,300 的支出，并警告将出现...
税收突袭 用以支付 伯纳姆的 挥霍计划
安迪·伯纳姆被指责计划向劳动家庭投放每年 £4,300 的“税收炸弹”——这归咎于一场巨额且未经成本核算的挥霍行为。 新任首相昨晚面临指责，称其通过运行 £96 billion 的政策承诺，在“开出英国民众无法兑现的支票”。 人们担心，伯纳姆先生极其昂贵的这一系列提案将
£2.30 订阅者 £1.95 JULY 26, 2026
作者：Gabriel Millard-Clothier 以及 Brendan Carlin
首相的计划将如何支付。该分析基于首相就职第一周公布的一系列承诺，以及他的未来计划。 据估计，这些计划总共将耗资惊人的 £96 billion。 上周就职时，伯纳姆先生概述了一系列抢眼的
地区预报
伦敦、东南部、南部、西南部、海峡群岛：早晨有阵雨，下午转多云，伴有晴间多云。晚上大部分时间晴朗，有微风。最高气温 25C 77F。 威尔士、中地、东英吉利：早晨多云，有毛毛雨。下午转为晴间多云。晚上天气转晴，天空大部分晴朗。最高气温 24C 75F。 西北部、东北部：早晨：阴天，有雨，微风。下午：阵雨，中风。晚上：雨势减弱，多云，风力减轻。最高气温 19C 66F。 苏格兰：早晨：小雨，温暖且有风。下午：阵雨，有风且伴有晴天。晚上：多云，较凉，风力减弱。最高气温 18C 64F。
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BELFAST BIRMINGHAM CANTERBURY CARDIFF GLASGOW LEEDS MANCHESTER NEWCASTLE NORWICH PLYMOUTH
我们所有的记者均遵守《编辑实操守则》，且本报是独立新闻标准组织 (IPSO) 的成员。 我们的目标是尽可能迅速地纠正任何错误。 n 若要报告不准确之处，请发送电子邮件至 corrections@mailonsunday.co.uk。如需正式投诉，请访问 mailonsunday.co.uk/readerseditor。您也可以致信读者编辑，地址为 Readers’ Editor, The Mail on Sunday, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY，或直接联系 IPSO，网址为 ipso.co.uk。
北爱尔兰、爱尔兰：早晨：多云，有小雨。下午：有风，伴有分散的阵雨。晚上：大部分多云，有微风。最高气温 20C 68F。
YESTERDAY (24 hours to 6pm) – 最高温：特丁顿 (Teddington), 布希公园 (Bushy Park), 30c。 最低温：沙普 (Shap), 6c。 最湿润：哈里斯 (Harris): 奎德尼什 (Quidnish), 6.60mm。 最晴朗：威特灵 (Wittering), 14.8hrs。 气压计 (6pm) – 1006.52mb。下降。湿度：38%。 WEEK AHEAD 周一带来阳光和温暖气温。周二，雨带向北延伸，可能伴有雷阵雨。到周三，南部将再次出现晴间多云。周四大部分时间保持干燥且温暖。
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英国国防部养老金失误影响
超过 1,400 名英国军事退伍军人被英国国防部要求偿还数万英镑，原因是该部门过度支付了他们的养老金。 英国国防部的这次承认被保守党斥为“纯粹的无能”，保守党要求政府“纠正这一错误”。 英国国防部在 2024, 11 月发现了过度支付的情况，其中部分金额超过 £100,000, 但退伍军人直到今年才被告知该部门的错误。 近 400 起过度支付与军队的两项最终薪金计划有关，这些计划支付一项保证收入。
➤➤ 续自第一页
批评者警告称，这些政策已经导致了 £1.7 billion 的成本。 这包括承诺取消电费单中的增值税（VAT）、将巴士行程上限设为 £2、结束露宿街头以及大幅削减酒吧和音乐场所的商业 rates。 伯纳姆先生立即面临指责，称大多数承诺缺乏资金支持。 本周，预计首相将公布迄今为止最昂贵的承诺——誓言解决成年人社会护理危机，预计将耗资 £18 billion。 更糟糕的是，托利党指责首相在十年计划中，未来的承诺还涉及另外 £76 billion 的未核算措施。 这些包括： l £18.8 billion 用于建设市政住房； l £22.7 billion 将泰晤士水务（Thames Water）纳入公共控制； l £14.1 billion 的未来国防支出； l £12.4 billion 用于解冻个人所得税免税额； l £8 billion 的对外援助增量。 伯纳姆先生在兑现国防支出方面面临特别压力，因为他的新任财相约翰·希利（John Healey）之前因基尔·斯塔默爵士（Sir Keir Starmer）拒绝支付升级武装部队的费用而从前政府辞职。 这包括当前承诺中 £5 billion 的国防支出缺口，以及额外的 £10 billion 以达到未来国防支出 3 per cent 的目标，这是伯纳姆先生的坚定承诺
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抽奖 1
生活，并每年根据通货膨胀率增加。但据《泰晤士报》报道，在某些情况下，某些年份的通货膨胀增幅似乎计算了两遍。 此外，根据军队养老金协会（FPS）的一项信息自由请求，另有 1,000 多名退伍军人也因其他错误而受到多付养老金的影响。 目前尚不清楚该错误是由人工操作还是技术问题引起的。 尽管英国国防部（MoD）表示承认该错误“可能会给人们带来不确定性”，但它坚持认为其在法律上无法左右，必须追回这笔款项。一名发言人
计划在秋季 实施报复 第 7 页 决定里夫斯 命运的 愤怒电话 第 8, 9 页 “将纳税人 视为储蓄罐”
政府。新任首相还明确表示，泰晤士水务应当收归国有。而且他已多次暗示，他将在秋季考虑提高个人所得税起征点。
影子财政大臣梅尔·斯特赖德爵士告诉《星期日邮报》，安迪·伯纳姆的计划无异于“开出了英国人民无法兑现的支票”。
他补充道：“安迪·伯纳姆在就职的第一周证明了他完全没有计划，提出了一系列缺乏资金支持的支出承诺，总计构成一项 £96 billion 税收炸弹。
‘全国各地的家庭已经面临创纪录的税收负担，现在又面临税收大幅上涨的前景。’”
安迪·伯纳姆试图以一系列积极的公告开启他的首相任期，首先是计划取消电费单中的增值税，为家庭节省 £45 ——这笔资金将通过取消基尔·斯塔默爵士关于数字身份证的计划来筹措。
然而，在负责数字计划的前内阁部长达伦·琼斯透露该项目最初就未获得资金支持后，这一公告几乎立即陷入僵局。
这使得安迪·伯纳姆在就职首日的计划中留下了一个 £850 million 的资金缺口。
随后，一项耗资 £450 million 的巴士票价上限计划似乎也产生了反效果，因为交通大臣海蒂·亚历山大承认资金细节尚未“敲定”。
此外，关于谁来为首相 £340 million 的无家可归者计划买单，也存在疑问。
安迪·伯纳姆上周还受到政府借贷成本飙升的影响。
昨晚，前财政部顾问、Buxlow Advisory 合伙人卡梅伦·布朗将安迪·伯纳姆的就职首周称为一次“大嘴巴式的奢靡演出”。
纳税人联盟首席执行官约翰·奥康奈尔昨晚告诉《星期日邮报》：“这份 £96 billion 的愿望清单是经济上的疯狂，将压力巨大的纳税人视为了一个无限的储蓄罐。
‘在没有资金保障的情况下挥霍数百亿进行国家扩张，是对那些已经被榨干的劳动家庭的一次鲁莽掠夺。’”
安迪·伯纳姆的一位发言人昨晚坚称：“这是胡说八道。
‘这周安迪·伯纳姆已经两次减税，他的直觉是在任何可能的情况下降低税收。
‘他宣布的一切都已获得充分资金支持。’”
在昨晚的一次采访中，约翰·希利似乎确认他将尝试寻找更多数十亿英镑的资金用于武装部队。
这位财政大臣坚持认为，确保国家安全是“任何政府的首要职责”，并承诺将“履行我们对国际盟友的国防承诺”。
[[IMG_XXXX]] 在 national-lottery.co.uk 检查乐透抽奖号码
奖金
帮助热线：0330 1000 601 如果您的《星期日邮报》缺少任何板块，这不是您的报刊零售商的责任。请在今天至周二的上午 9 点至下午 6 点之间拨打帮助热线，或发送电子邮件至 helpline@mailonsunday.co.uk，我们将立即为您补发（仅限英国）。如果您的《星期日邮报》未能送达，请拨打免费电话 0330 1000 601* 或发送电子邮件至 availability@mailonsunday.co.uk 通知我们，我们将尽量确保予以纠正。
THUNDERBALL（雷霆球） 13, 15, 17 21, 23 奖金 14
（此处接上文/页码） 说道：“在确实发生错误而付款的情况下，我们有责任追回纳税人的资金。
‘我们将始终寻求以一种敏感且适度的方式地执行，包括通过量身定制的还款计划以及来自退伍军人服务部门的财务和福利支持。’”
托利党养老金发言人海伦·沃特利抨击道：“这是典型的无能。为这个国家服务过的男女现在被告知要交回他们完全有理由认为属于自己的钱，而这并不是他们的错。”
n 关于促销和读者优惠咨询，请致电 0330 1000 601。拨打 0330 号码在固定电话中免费；移动运营商可能会收费。
泳池之隔 在婚礼不和之后，亚当的 父母在 264 英里外观看他 争夺金牌 —— 并问道：“ 为什么他把名字改成了 Ramsay-Peaty？”
高级娱乐圈记者
周五晚上，在他参加格拉斯哥 Commonwealth Games 100米蛙泳半决赛时，他怀孕的妻子自豪地坐在泳池边观看。 但由于一场激烈的不和，三次奥运金牌得主亚当·Ramsay-Peaty 第一次没有父母在现场为他加油。 卡罗琳和马克·Peaty 此时正在 264 英里外，在斯塔福郡厄托克塞特的家中通过电视观看他追逐第五枚 Commonwealth 金牌。 亚当，31, 于 12 月在巴斯修道院与电视名厨戈登·拉姆齐的女儿霍莉结婚，他周五透露，他决定采用妻子的姓氏。 他现在的比赛名称是 Ramsay-Peaty，并佩戴印有该名字的泳帽。在首场比赛前，霍莉，26, 在
在格拉斯哥
为弟弟肖恩加油
凯特和盖里·麦肯自豪地看着他们 21 岁的儿子肖恩参加昨晚在格拉斯哥举行的 400 米自由泳赛事。 失踪者麦德琳·麦肯的弟弟肖恩，其双胞胎姐妹阿梅莉也在观看。由于其父亲出生在格拉斯哥，他获得了代表苏格兰参赛的资格，此次赛事标志着这位游泳运动员首次参加重大锦标赛。 他在托尔克罗斯国际游泳中心的决赛中以 3:53.47 的成绩排名第八 —— 稍慢于预赛成绩，他在预赛中排名第 5。
Instagram 上分享了他佩戴泳帽的照片，并写道：“如此特别。” 但这次更名对于那个被他背弃的家庭来说又是沉重的一击。Peaty 家族的一位朋友表示：“他们意识到这是亚当第一次以新名字参加游泳比赛，这有点令人气愤。我们都
想知道为什么必须是 Ramsay-Peaty 而不能是 Peaty-Ramsay？” 据称，曾经在 4am 起床并开车 40 分钟送亚当去训练的卡罗琳，因无法在泳池边观看而感到心碎。一名消息人士告诉《星期日邮报》：“卡罗琳和马克在看亚当游泳，但
奋力拼搏： 肖恩·麦肯 （上图） 凯特和 盖里在 格拉斯哥 为他加油
只能通过电视看。尽管家庭关系破裂，他们仍会祝愿他一切顺利。在正常情况下，他们本应前往苏格兰在泳池边陪伴他。 ‘过去他们一直都在那里支持他并为他加油。事情演变成这样非常令人难过。’
家庭不和：亚当·Ramsay-Peaty 与霍莉。左上图为亚当的儿子和母亲
在周五的半决赛中，一名 BBC Radio 5 Live 的评论员最初将该游泳运动员称为 Ramsay-Peaty，随后改口为亚当 —— 可能是因为后者说起来更简便。 父母与亚当（他与前任有一名儿子）之间的关系在去年其奢华婚礼准备期间变得紧张。 紧张局势可能始于 11 月，当时卡罗琳没有被邀请参加在牛津郡独家 Soho Farmhouse 举行的霍莉单身派对。新娘的母亲塔娜·拉姆齐及其好友维多利亚·贝克汉姆出席了活动。 随后，双方就导致不和的根源发表了激烈的公开指责。 在亚当的家人中，只有他的姐姐贝瑟尼参加了婚礼。她一直是唯一与这对夫妇保持联系的亲属 —— 直到本月初，她与霍莉发生了惊人的争吵。 任何能修复这场持续不和的人，肯定值得一枚金牌。
父亲自杀后，全面改革 儿童抚养费机构
邮报调查组 (MAIL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT)
在《邮报》的一篇谴责性揭秘报道后，国会议员们昨晚要求针对儿童赡养服务局 (Child Maintenance Service) 的“系统性”失效采取紧急行动。在报道揭露了家长们在面临巨额虚高费用后，如何陷入经济崩溃、失去房屋甚至被逼自杀之后，活动人士呼吁对该政府机构进行“全面改革”。
据怀疑，计算机故障和人员配置问题导致了儿童赡养服务局 (CMS) 长期存在的问题，这已导致数万名家长被过度收费——迫使部分人不得不依赖食物银行或搬离孩子身边。
英国有超过 800,000 名家长的前伴侣付款事宜由 CMS 管理，该机构
旨在确保在关系结束且孩子与其中一方父母共同生活的时间超过一半时，孩子能得到保障。
其中一个被披露的令人震惊的案例是来自哈德斯菲尔德（Huddersfield）的乔纳森·奥尼尔（Jonathan O’Neill），41岁，在被要求额外支付 £4,200 之后不幸自杀。据其姐姐乔安娜·史密斯（Joanna Smith）称，在他去世后的几个月里，他的家人仍继续收到新的付款要求。她说：“感觉他们根本不在乎，完全不理会。但这将我们的生活撕成了碎片。”
其他令人心碎的故事包括来自Herefordshire的陆军退伍军人西蒙·沃德（Simon Ward），45岁，他说在每月付款额从 £36.40 增加到 £419 之后，他变得“在经济和精神上都陷入瘫痪”，并被迫寻求食品银行的帮助。而来自Northamptonshire的卡尔·莱弗雷特（Carl Leverett），48岁，被告知他欠款 £77,000。
议员们描述称，他们接到了大量选民关于儿童维护服务局（CMS）的投诉，该局甚至被拿来与邮政局丑闻相比较。
自由民主党议员伊恩·索洛姆（Ian Sollom）表示：“《邮报》的调查揭露了儿童维护服务局计算错误，随后追讨父母并不欠款的钱——甚至在他们对案件提出异议期间也是如此。部长们需要修复一个给家庭带来经济损害和精神痛苦的系统。”
英国自杀预防组织 STOPSuicides UK（一个揭露 CMS 失败案例的活动团体）的共同创始人伊恩·布里格斯（Ian Briggs）补充道：“我们经常听到父母描述巨大的经济压力、旷日持久的争议以及恶化的心理健康状况，其中一些人甚至陷入自杀危机。”
“这次调查应当成为启动公开调查、紧急改革、加强保障以及提高问责制的催化剂。”
在另一个案例中，父亲贝尔祖安·泽卡（Belzuan Zeka）在 2025 年圣诞节前的一周里感到“恐慌”，因为他收到了四份不同的付款要求，每月金额从 £180 到 £3,500 不等。他说：“对于一个拥有如此大权力的政府机构来说，感觉实际上完全没有问责制。”
儿童维护支持咨询服务机构 NACSA 的米歇尔·考恩利（Michelle Counley）表示：“《邮报》的调查凸显了我们每周都会看到的各种问题。该系统未能提供及时且准确的维护计算，导致产生错误的欠款，从而引发无法负担的支付要求。”
其他议员也加入了谴责。英国改革党（Reform UK）副党魁理查德·泰斯（Richard Tice）补充道：“体制上不愿承认失败的态度，已慢慢转变为一种认识，即可以且应当做得更好。”
中多塞特和北普尔（Mid Dorset and North Poole）的自由民主党议员维基·斯莱德（Vikki Slade）表示：“最终，CMS 需要紧急且全面的改革，以便让儿童的福利和经济稳定放在首位。”
而来自西南德文郡（South West Devon）的保守党议员丽贝卡·史密斯（Rebecca Smith）表示：“目前有太多的家庭感到被抛弃了。”
大多数支付抚养费的父母必须提供其收入的 12 到 19 百分比，计算方式主要
[[IMG_XXXX]] 悲剧：乔纳森·奥尼尔与其姐姐乔安娜·史密斯合影
【定论：《邮报》的揭秘报道】
使用英国税务海关总署（HMRC）的记录，直到其子女完成全日制教育或培训，或年满 20 岁。
负责监管儿童维护服务局（CMS）的就业与养老金部（DWP）昨晚否认“CMS 内部存在系统性 IT 故障”，并坚持认为这些说法具有“误导性”。一名发言人表示：“在 2018 年，由于为了解决存储空间不足等问题进行的一系列系统升级，系统出现了一些响应缓慢的情况，但这从未影响到计算，并在 2018 年底通过重大的 IT 改进得到了纠正。
‘收到多封信件反映了这样一个过程：每当登记一项变更（包括新工作或夜间照顾安排的变更）时，都会发送一封带有新计算结果的信件。
‘这些变更通常在短时间内接连发生，因此可能会在短时间内收到多封信件。
‘支付安排是公平的，并基于支付方父母的收入，评估准确率一直接近 100%。如果父母对决定有异议，可以提起上诉，由独立法庭决定是否应予以更改。’
ROW: Andy Slaughter
曾与哈马斯 会面的议员 获任法律职务
资深政治特派记者
安迪·伯纳姆在任命一名曾与杰里米·科尔宾一同会见哈马斯官员的议员担任高职后，引发了一场反犹主义争议。 安迪·斯劳特在内阁改组中被任命为总检察官（Solicitor General）。他现在将负责监督皇家检控署（Crown Prosecution Service）关于恐怖主义、仇恨犯罪和反犹主义的起诉工作。 斯劳特先生长期以来一直是对以色列持批评态度的人。2010年，他在访问西岸时与前工党领导人科尔宾先生及哈马斯官员合影。 2015年，据称他曾认同以色列“编造和虚构”攻击或杀害无辜巴勒斯坦人的理由。 “反对反犹主义工党”（Labour Against Antisemitism）发言人费奥娜·夏普（Fiona Sharpe）告诉《星期日邮报》： “安迪·斯劳特有着一段漫长且令人不安的记录，这引发了严重的警示。” 但总检察长办公室的一位发言人坚持认为，斯劳特先生“一直一贯谴责哈马斯的行为”。
停止关闭 有线电视信号
安迪·伯纳姆面临来自工党和托利党的压力，要求推迟关闭免费无线电视（free-to-air television）的计划。 一个跨党派的议员小组正敦促部长们放弃一个潜在的 2034 年期限（即届时将转为仅通过互联网访问电视频道），并将其推迟到 2044 年。 在给数字化秘书丽莎·南迪（Lisa Nandy）的一封信中，他们写道：“依赖屋顶天线的人中，许多是最脆弱的群体。地面电视是他们获取新闻、观看体育赛事并参与国家生活的途径。” 昨晚，政府发言人强调“尚未做出决定”。
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盖瑞·莱因克（Gary Lineker）昨晚被指责为“极度虚伪”，因为尽管他与英国税务海关总署（HMRC）进行了长达五年的法律斗争，并参与了一个有争议的避税计划，但他仍呼吁提高税收。 这位前英格兰足球运动员上周与 100 多位其他百万富翁共同签署了一封公开信，敦促安迪·伯纳姆增加对最富裕人群的征税。 这些自封为“爱国百万富翁”的人宣称：“我们希望你给我们征税。我们负担得起。” 但这位前 BBC 主持人因其复杂的税务问题而面临批评，包括就一项他不想支付的 £4.9 百万英镑账单与税务局进行了长期的斗争。 法院文件披露了这位四个孩子的父亲如何抵制税务局的要求，要求他为其在 2013 年至 2018 年期间的电视主持工作支付 £3.62 百万英镑的所得税和 £1.31 百万英镑的国民保险费。 经过多年的法律纠纷，在伦敦进行了一场耗资巨大的为期三天的税务法庭审理后，一名法官终于在 2023 年做出了有利于他的裁决。 这发生在莱因克成为众多向一家名为 Ingenious Media 的公司运行的计划中每人投入至少 £100,000 英镑的明星之一约 20 年之后。
这些方案为电影投资者提供了巨大的税收减免。2016 年，英国税务海关总署（HMRC）表示，这些方案构成了“避税”，因为他们试图利用“人为亏损”来逃避数百万英镑的税款。
而在 2017 年，泄露的文件表明，65 岁的莱尼克（Lineker）在出售巴巴多斯的一处豪宅时避开了印花税，因为他是通过一家离岸公司购买的。
托利党影子商业大臣安德鲁·格里菲斯（Andrew Griffith）谴责这位名星，称：“如果自以为是的说教是一项奥运运动，那么百万富翁薯片推销员加里·莱尼克（Gary Lineker）一定会赢得金牌。”
“令人难以置信的是，他在教导他人为什么应该缴纳更多税款的同时，竟然把时间花在精心设计的避税方案上。对于这些脱离群众的名人来说，像往常一样——他适用一套规则，而其他人适用另一套。”
亚当·斯密研究所（Adam Smith Institute）主管麦克斯韦尔·马洛（Maxwell Marlow）表示：“加里·莱尼克呼吁征收财富税，而他之前还与 HMRC 斗争以减少自己的税收，这种虚伪的呼吁不过是一场荒唐的公关噱头。”
“如果加里和他的晚宴好友们想多缴税，他们大可以通过与 HMRC 沟通来实现——最好是在法庭之外。”
改革党财政部发言人罗伯特·詹里克（Robert Jenrick）表示：“加里·莱尼克的虚伪程度令人震惊。如果他想多缴税，他明天就可以给财政部签一张支票。但他不会这么做，因为他多年来一直试图在电视上尽可能少地缴税”
莱内克被指在 与 £4.9m 税单的 五年抗争中 极其虚伪 且他参与了有争议的避税计划
税务局之争：2015 年的加里·莱内克及其前妻丹妮尔·巴克斯
“由许可费资助的收入。”文件显示，英国税务海关总署（HMRC）于 2019 年开始追缴莱内克的欠税。当时他作为 BBC 薪酬最高的节目主持人，年收入超过 £1.7 million。税务局表示，他应当被归类为 BBC 和 BT Sport 的雇员，他在那里主持欧冠联赛的报道。
相反，他是通过 Gary Lineker Media 作为承包商获得报酬的，这是他与时任妻子丹妮尔·巴克斯在 2012 年共同建立的合伙企业，这使得莱内克能够部分以红利形式领取报酬，适用较低的公司税率。他表示，所有收入均已缴税。
HMRC 根据 IR35 法案对他进行了针对，该法案旨在打击所谓的“伪装雇员”的避税行为。但莱内克在 2023 年赢得了上诉，法官裁定他是一名自由职业者，并与两家广播公司分别签署了合同。HMRC 虽提起上诉，但于 2024 年解决了此案。
托利党议员查理·德惠斯特（Charlie Dewhirst）表示：“这就是我们对加里·莱内克所预期的那种极其虚伪的行为。如果他如此渴望让其他所有人多缴税，为什么他要费尽心思与 HMRC 斗争五年，只为了给自己省下数百万英镑的额外税款？”
公开记录还显示，莱内克是 Ingenious Media 在 2003 年至 2007 年间设立的一系列有限责任合伙企业（LLPs）的成员，这些企业被用作电影融资计划。这些计划帮助制作了如《最佳异国金盏花酒店》、《少年派的奇幻漂流》和《阿凡达》等电影。
但一套复杂的贷款安排允许投资者将巨额损失抵减其收入，从而节省大量税款。2012 年，时任 HMRC 负责人的戴夫·哈特内特（Dave Hartnett）将此类电影计划描述为“给人渣准备的骗局”。
没有迹象表明这些计划是违法的，且 Ingenious 始终坚持其合伙企业是为了盈利而经营。
2016 年 8 月，一个税务法庭判定，该公司的计划成员仅有权获得此前申请的三分之一税收减免。莱内克后来在推特上表示，他早在多年前就已“交清”了款项。
2021 年，上诉法院裁定这些合伙企业是以盈利为目的而经营的，但在一份声明中，HMRC 强调了法院同时“注意到这些 LLPs 是避税计划”。
另外，《天堂文件》的文件显示，莱内克通过一家名为 Goalhanger Inc（在英属维尔京群岛注册）的公司共同拥有一处巴巴多斯房产。据称该房产已于 2010 年出售给新业主。
根据巴巴多斯法律，任何房产均需缴纳 1 ％的印花税和 2.5 ％的转让税。但如果房产由 BVI（英属维尔京群岛）的一家公司出售，则可免税交易。
尽可能少缴税”
没有授权的“弥赛亚”
《星期日邮报》 7 月 26 日 • 2026
£80 的 T 恤？他穿上了
首相身着接地气的 服装以争取选民。 如果他们知道 这套衣服花了他多少钱就好了！
融资计划：《阿凡达》电影
SHUTTERSTOCK / 20TH CENTURY STUDIOS
安迪·伯纳姆精心打造的“平民”形象将在今天严重受损，因为《星期日邮报》揭露他花费数千英镑购买奢侈服装。这位首相在前往唐宁街 10 号的竞选活动中，特意摒弃了传统的西装和领带，转而选择飞行员夹克、T恤和牛仔裤，试图以此让自己与威斯敏斯特的同事们区分开来。
但我们可以透露，他在一次补选期间为了在竞选视频中显得随和而穿着的便装总价超过 £1,000，其中包括一件哈林顿夹克（£695）、一条牛仔裤（£295）和一件 £80 的T恤——这些金额远远超出了许多选民的承受能力。
这些服装由 Private White VC 制作，这是一家位于曼彻斯特的高端裁缝店，其客户群包括大卫·贝克汉姆爵士、西班牙国王以及演员罗伯特·德尼罗和丹尼尔·克雷格。伯纳姆先生在两年前就成为了该店的常客。
这位前大曼彻斯特市长还在那里购买了一套价值 £1,500 以上的定制西装，用于他重返下议院。
来自马莎百货的商品”
这一消息传出之际： 新任首相被指控在就职首周就揭晓了一项 £96billion 的挥霍计划——相当于每个工作家庭增加 £4,300 以上的负担； 预计伯纳姆先生本周将推进昂贵的承诺，承诺解决成人社会护理、青年失业危机，并继续推进其权力下放项目； 上周的内阁洗牌被贴上“工党历史上派系清洗最严重的一次”的标签，伯纳姆先生的政治执行者路易丝·海格（Louise Haigh）和安内莉丝·米德格利（Anneliese Midgley）被斥为“暴徒”并被比作黑手党； 基尔·斯塔默爵士的盟友表示，他们目前正处于夏季休战期的退让状态，但警告说他们将在九月回归，让首相生活得艰难起来，并计划对他进行严厉施压。
伯纳姆先生将其所谓的“曼彻斯特服装”——主要由黑色和深蓝色夹克、T恤、牛仔裤及品牌运动鞋组成——作为其形象的核心。这不仅让他看起来与选民更亲近，还使他能与其他政治人物（如他的竞争对手基尔爵士）区分开来，后者在穿着便装时总是显得局促不安。
在竞选视频中，可以看到伯纳姆先生穿着 Private White VC 的服装在梅克菲尔德（Makerfield）四处走动——包括走在一条两旁布满波纹铁皮的破旧住宅街上——与选民见面并讨论他们的关切。
他对镜头说道：“我进入政坛是为了给普通人而战。我为这里的矿工而战，为我们从上届工党政府获得的赔偿而战，为希尔斯堡（Hillsborough）家庭的公正而战，此外，当鲍里斯·约翰逊政府在新冠疫情期间试图将这里的人民视为二等公民时，我也进行了反击。所有这些经历教会我的是，威斯敏斯特对于这个地区以及整个英国境内此类社区的人们来说是失效的。”
托利党和改革党政治人物昨天批评首相是一个伪君子，并称他的“平民”面具终于脱落了。
改革党议员李·安德森（Lee Anderson）表示：“一件T恤 80 英镑——这相当于他上周宣布的每户电费增值税减免额的两倍。”
托利党议员格雷格·斯塔福德（Greg Stafford）补充道：“安迪·伯纳姆精心塑造的……”
[[IMG_XXXX]] 裁剪得如此精准且刻意，就像他那昂贵的定制西装一样。我想知道在他新的梅克菲尔德选区中，有多少选民买得起一套至少 £1,500 的西装。 “这或许解释了为什么我们的新首相尽可能选择穿着随意和休闲。但随后发现，即使是他那些休闲 T 恤和夹克也花了一大笔钱。 “遗憾的是，所有迹象都表明，伯纳姆先生在挥霍公共资金方面，就如同在自己的衣服花销上一样奢侈。” 甚至一些工党议员在私下里也嘲笑新首相昂贵的衣橱。其中一人说：“我想安迪会说，为了工人，没有什么方案是太好的，但这确实是一大笔钱。在梅克菲尔德，买一套西装真的要花那么多钱吗？还是说那天下午马莎（Marks & Spencer）关门了？” Private White VC 的首席执行官、43 岁的詹姆斯·伊登（James Eden）表示，伯纳姆先生在 6 月 18 日——即梅克菲尔德补选当天——进行了访问，而该公司制作了他在四天后于下议院就职宣誓时穿着的那套西装。 伊登先生说：“他指定了一种精美的超级 120s 精纺羊毛西装面料，由优质美利奴羊毛制成。 “安迪非常健谈且友好，选择得非常完美。他很清楚自己想要什么，倾向于海军蓝色。 “我稍微在他耳边建议他想要什么样的外观。我们重新为他量尺寸，裁剪版型，裁剪面料，然后缝制，他在 48 小时后就穿上了。 “一套超级 120s 羊毛的两件套西装起售价为 £1,500。”
【定制：安迪·伯纳姆在 Private White VC 为其西装试穿】
然而，专家建议，首相选择的西装价格可能超过了 £2,000。 伊登先生表示，伯纳姆先生——他作为首相年薪为 £174,000，而在担任曼彻斯特市长时年薪为 £118,000——总是自费购买。 “安迪最近一次来店里大约是在两周前，”他补充道，“我很肯定他又买了一条我们的‘海洋’（Marine）牛仔裤和几件衬衫。” 首相还穿着该品牌的“羊绒开领毛衣”（£595）、“美利奴羊毛休闲西装”（£495）以及每件售价 £195 的“杰克 Polo 衫”（Jack’s Polo）。 伊登先生表示，他赞同伯纳姆先生穿着西装配 T 恤的倾向，并补充道：“这很时尚，展现了现代感。安迪穿了很多我们的东西。他拥有 12 到 20 件单品。” 唐宁街的一位发言人拒绝发表评论。但一位接近首相的人士坚称：“他也穿 Fred Perry、Adidas、North Face 和 Paul Smith……他也被已知在马莎（M&S）购物。”
【端庄：穿着‘外交官’（Diplomat）休闲西装和‘杰克 Polo 衫’】
和布伦丹·卡林（Brendan Carlin）
基尔·斯塔默爵士的盟友们正计划在秋季对安迪·伯纳姆展开报复，以应对上周残酷的内阁洗牌以及未经资金支持的政策声明。 他们誓要就这位新首相声称要引发 40 年来英国政坛最大变革的雄心，对其进行严厉质询。 他们的努力将包括“细致地关注”以确保伯纳姆先生遵守政党 2024 年关于税收的竞选宣言。 《星期日邮报》可以透露，基尔爵士的忠实支持者正考虑成立一个新的议会小组，以确保其继任者在预算案出台前维持“经济能力”。 关注点也正转向今年 9 月即将进行的工党新总书记选举，政党全国执行委员会中支持斯塔默的盟友能够选出一个人，在候选人筛选和党纪执行方面让伯纳姆先生的日子更难过。 据了解，斯塔默的忠实支持者将在夏季维持“停战”状态，而那些被新政府冷落的人
他们的秋季报复
在国外或在自家花园里隐退， 舔舐伤口并重新集结。 一名议员表示：“斯塔默派 正围在烧烤架旁，说着 ‘祝你好运，咱们九月份 再来看看你进展如何’。” 上周内阁洗牌引发的强烈反弹， 背景是人们声称这次洗牌是 “工党历史上派系斗争最激烈的 清洗之一”，是一场“大屠杀” 以及一次“惩罚性打击”。 被剔除出内阁的人员包括 前财政大臣雷切尔·里夫斯、 前副首相大卫·拉米以及 曾任住房秘书的史蒂夫·里德。 昨晚，资深人士将责任归咎于 被议员们称为“安迪国王 宫廷里两只新蜂王”的人—— 国务第一秘书路易丝·海格和首席党鞭
效仿凯特 回归内阁
人们说，你应该为你向往的 职位而穿衣，而不是为你 目前的职位。 路易丝·海格在重返政府之际， 她的风格所透露出的崇高野心 可能相当耐人寻味。 在被任命为兰开斯特公领地大臣 兼国务第一秘书后，曾被判诈骗罪的 海格女士似乎得到了 威尔士王妃的指点。 39 岁的海格女士是安迪·伯纳姆 政府中最有权势的女性， 她已经将自己标志性的染红发色 更换为更为中性的低调造型。 上周，她身穿一件熟悉的 LK Bennett Lasa 连衣裙抵达 内阁办公室，这件裙子 时尚前卫的王妃此前曾穿过。 对海格女士来说不幸的是， 她的时尚触觉相当滞后。 44 岁的凯特在 2014 年 访问澳大利亚的皇家之旅期间 首次穿着这件裙子。 该裙子曾售价 £245， 现在在折扣网站上出售。
安妮莉丝·米德格利—— 因为洗牌的残酷性质。 一名伯纳姆的批评者表示：“ 这首先是路易丝·海格的洗牌， 是对斯塔默忠诚者的惩罚性打击。” 另一人则将矛头指向了海格
政治暴徒”
米德格利女士，她是伯纳姆 出人意料地选来监管议会 党纪的人选。 一名曾在前 Unite 工会领导人 伦·麦克卢斯基和前工党领导人 杰里米·科尔宾手下工作 的诺斯利议员甚至声称，
皇家灵感：路易丝·海格（左，上周）以及（右）2016 年的凯特
现在对伯纳姆政府施加了 “极左”的控制。 另一位资深的党内消息人士 将海格女士和米德格利女士 称为“政治暴徒”，称她们的行为 就像“派系黑手党”一样。 甚至自称是米德格利女士 朋友的人也参与其中，承认： “从一个连前席议员都算不上的人 直接变成首席党鞭， 让很多人感到非常不快。” 伯纳姆的盟友们驳斥了 极左控制的说法，认为 这纯属胡言，并辩称米德格利 也曾为基尔·斯塔默爵士工作。 与此同时，一些斯塔默的 忠诚者回想起 2021 年秋天， 当时曼彻斯特市长的盟友们 给了基尔·斯塔默爵士一年的时间 来证明他能扭转民调结果 并带领政党对抗托利党。 当时，伯纳姆阵营否认 存在最后通牒。但
昨天，斯塔默的盟友们明确表示， 他们将在秋季对首相 采取自己的测试和衡量标准。 其中一人表示，这将包括 确保伯纳姆先生没有违反 工党著名的 2024 年税收承诺 来为其新承诺筹集资金。 至少有一名内阁前部长 正密切关注民调，以观察 所谓的“北方之王”能否 对英国改革党保持稳定的领先优势。 资深工党议员及前部长 格雷厄姆·斯特林格昨晚表示： “那些心怀怨恨的斯塔默派 威胁要在秋天伏击安迪， 简直令人发笑。斯塔默及其 核心圈子根本不知道如何治理。” “这些无能的前部长们 如果能保持一段时间的沉默， 将是非常受欢迎的。”
李·托马斯
L
愤怒电话
去年 9 月，当时仍拥有至高权力的财政大臣蕾切尔·里夫斯（Rachel Reeves）与安迪·伯纳姆共同决定了自己的命运。大曼彻斯特市市长在发出激进呼吁，要求英国停止“受制于债券市场”后，在全国新闻头条中大放异彩。他的这次干预让大多数威斯敏斯特的人第一次意识到，这位所谓的“北方之王”为了抢占风头并开始他渴望已久的向唐宁街进发，竟然准备做得如此露骨。当他及其团队在策划如何利用他的全国知名度时，他接到了一位愤怒的财政大臣的电话。安迪的一位朋友（他坚持要求我们这样称呼他）表示，两人之间“毫无情分”，并向《星期日邮报》透露，里夫斯女士用愤怒且坚定的语气告诉市长：“你必须现在撤回你的言论。” 她的恐慌是由市场对伯纳姆先生言论的反应引起的，这导致 30 年期国债收益率上升，并将长期借款推至 27 年高点。一名知情人士透露，里夫斯女士在电话中“尖叫大喊”，并告知伯纳姆先生：“我的电话一直在响，没停过！” 据说市长冷淡地回答道：“蕾切尔，我简直不敢相信你在说什么。” 九个月后，安迪赶走了基尔·斯塔默爵士——而财政大臣的职位正是依赖于他——她也被迫收拾行囊，离开了唐宁街以及她觊觎已久但仅享受了短短两年的职位。在关于基尔爵士离职的媒体报道风暴中，里夫斯女士被解职的消息显得较为次要。但与许多其他高级部长不同，媒体和评论界认为她的命运已成定局。尽管她为了留住这份热爱的工作做出了最大且最真诚的努力，但人们很少将她视为安迪·伯纳姆潜在的财政大臣人选。但希望总在延续，里夫斯女士的一位亲近同事说，她真心认为自己仍有一线机会……“前提是所有其他领先的候选人都决定不接这个差事”。该同事说：“我认为认为埃德（米利班德）可能会自动放弃，或者莎巴娜（马哈茂德）可能不想做，这并不不合理。而且（伯纳姆）可能恰恰会认为，‘目前，我不需要更换人选’。” 看来，里夫斯女士和财政部在约翰·希利最终被任命为她的接替者时，和 SW1 地区的每个人一样措手不及。
为了竭力保住自己的职位，政见转向了左翼。但正如我们在她陨落的完整戏剧性故事中所揭露的那样，这位财政大臣早已注定失败……
她试图暗示自己有能力且愿意执行伯纳姆主义政策的尝试，比许多人意识到的要早得多。 三月，就在与未来的首相发生激烈电话冲突几个月后，里夫斯女士在伦敦城发表了她的 Mais 讲演，在演讲中透露她已要求官员与伯纳姆先生及其他
在世界各地 都被证明行不通
市长“共同制定一份未来财政权力下放的路线图，并在今年的预算案中公布”。 她表示：“这将制定相关计划，让地区领导人能够控制一部分国家税收，而这些税收长期以来一直由中央政府分配。” 里夫斯女士希望，这正是伯纳姆先生所想要的。
高级政治特派记者
想要听到，而她的同事们现在认为，从那时起，她开始认真地试图抓住这份她深爱的工作。 然而，她与权力下放的暧昧关系并未结束。在接下来的几个月里，威斯敏斯特见证了来自财政部日益反复无常的简报，这些简报似乎与里夫斯通常沉闷的专家治国风格相悖。 四月，《卫报》报道称，由于唐纳德·特朗普干预伊朗所引发的影响，她正在研究冻结租金以保护家庭预算——这是一项在全球范围内被证明从未奏效的疯狂政策，但却是极左翼政治家经常提出的要求。 次月，由于她向超市施压要求限制食品价格，试图限制伊朗战争引起的通货膨胀，她被超市贴上了“绝望”的标签。 这一提议使她被指责试图回归“20世纪70年代的失败政策”，这与伯纳姆先生更广泛的政策议程一致。一位白厅消息人士表示，里夫斯女士“看到了风向，并认为，‘如果他们想要的是民粹主义左翼的东西，那就给他们’。”
竞争对手？：蕾切尔·里夫斯及其妹妹艾莉“竞争意识极强”
在伯纳姆先生于梅克菲尔德（Makerfield）获胜并返回威斯敏斯特后，这些努力变得更加徒劳。上个月，里夫斯女士显著地没有出现在唐宁街，与忠诚者们一起听取基尔·斯塔默爵士的辞职演说。 然而，仅仅几小时后，她就出现在了议会的自拍照中，与新当选的国会议员伯纳姆先生在一起，在他庆祝凯旋回归下议院时，她鼓掌且笑得像只柴郡猫。 但尽管她做出了努力，一个月后，她还是被安迪迅速解雇了。在离职之际，她被提供了教育部门的职务——而不是有人声称的国防部门，因为希利在几周前刚声称她阻碍了对军队的关键投资，在这种情况下，绝不可能将该职位交给她。 盟友坚称，她本愿意继续留在政府中，但她很可能会拒绝教育部门的职位，认为这降职太多。 事实上，有说法称，伯纳姆先生的团队在完全清楚她无法接受该职位的的情况下才向她提供这个岗位。 这一理论得到了露西·鲍威尔就任该职位的支持——因为如果职位等级更低，对于这位工党副手及伯纳姆的亲密盟友来说，将是一份糟糕的奖励。 最终，蕾切尔·里夫斯在任期间的结束并非以闹脾气或发脾气告终，而是一次“支持-
欢送会：蕾切尔·里夫斯在告别 No 11 后前往一家酒吧
《星期日邮报》可以透露，在公告发布后，她给约翰·希利发了一条“短信”，得到了一个“友好的回复”。 尽管在获得梦寐以求的职位后不久就失去了它，但这位前财政大臣的盟友认为，在确保继任者不会是那个会“摧毁她在经济‘稳定化’方面所留下的遗产”的人之后，她得以“昂首挺胸地离开”。 这实际上是一个含蓄的代称，意指“确保埃德·米利班德永远无法获得该职位”。 她的努力在她作为财政大臣最后几次公开活动之一中得到了证明，即她在 7 月 15 日发表的豪宅演讲（Mansion House speech）。 在向伯纳姆先生发出关于不选择米利班德先生接替她的含蓄警告时，里夫斯女士告诉金融城，只有经济稳定才能帮助实现英国所需的“根本性变革”，并称伦敦的金融服务业为经济的“皇冠上的明珠”。 关于伯纳姆先生应该选择谁的债券交易员观点民意调查也在白厅传阅，结果显示米利班德先生的评价“明显负面”。 一名盟友认为，如果伯纳姆先生选择了“红色埃德”，那么金融城对上周一系列缺乏资金支持的承诺所产生的“冷淡”反应，将不会让他如此惬意。 在至少排除了米利班德先生作为继任者的可能性后，里夫斯女士在北伦敦肯蒂什镇（Kentish Town）——这位前首相的后花园——的一家酒吧里，与基尔爵士及其最亲密的顾问和盟友被拍到在一起。 照片中的团队喝酒、流泪、唱卡拉OK，像发疯的鬣狗一样大笑，一名在场人士观察到，由于责任的重担被减轻，她和基尔爵士看起来都已经“年轻了十岁”。他们补充道：“这是一次欢送会。这类场合总是既忧伤又快乐。为了达到那个位置，她努力了很久，基尔也是如此。” “我认为他们期待更多。他们曾承诺一个十年的国家复兴计划。” 虽然关于里夫斯女士是否可以通过更好的出牌方式留在 No 11, 的讨论将继续，但她所有的朋友和盟友对其计划达成了一致。 “我不认为她已经结束了前线政治生涯，”一名盟友说。“我认为（里夫斯）在干预时不会像撒切尔或布莱尔那样。而且我认为蕾切尔极其严肃且可信。” “所以，是的，工党现在确实有一个‘变革’时刻，但我认为她还没完。” 里夫斯女士一位来自西米德兰兹郡的国会议员朋友告诉《星期日邮报》： “她极具天赋。她还有很多、很多、很多可以贡献的东西。” “过去几年的历史告诉我们，你不应该过早地否定一个人。各式各样的人最终都有非常成功的‘第二幕’——大卫·卡梅伦，威廉·海格。” “没有理由认为一个有这么多贡献能力——且相对年轻，她还不到 50 岁——的人不能拥有第二幕。” 虽然里夫斯女士继续担任一名低调的后座议员，但上周对于这个家族之名来说并非全是坏消息。她的妹妹艾莉不仅成功留在政府中，而且还获得了晋升为总检察长的机会，作为前律师，这是她觊觎已久的职位。 但伯纳姆先生的这一举动可能会冒着在两姐妹之间制造更大裂痕的风险，这对姐妹俩都极具竞争心。 5 月，《星期日邮报》披露两人曾发生过一次“剧烈的争吵”。
并像发疯的 鬣狗一样 大笑
愤怒地离开了
这场关于安迪·伯纳姆的“争吵”发生在艾莉儿儿子的生日派对上。 今年早些时候，当伯纳姆先生试图在戈顿和登顿区补选（Gorton and Denton by-election）中竞选国会议员时，艾莉在基尔·斯塔默爵士的号召下投票阻止他参选。 但她这样做是在10号唐宁街得知她倾向于与露西·鲍威尔（Lucy Powell）一起投票支持他在该选区参选之后。 据称，基尔·斯塔默爵士的办公室曾给瑞秋打电话，要求她向妹妹施压并“解决这个问题”——但他们当时并不知晓这对姐妹正一起在孩子的生日派对上。 瑞秋与艾莉发生了对峙，这次干预引发了一场激烈的争吵，最终以当时的财政大臣愤怒地乘大臣专车离开而告终——而且她当时甚至还没顾上穿鞋。 在过去几个月里，艾莉与“伯纳姆团队”进行了更为公开的接触，她在内阁中的留任无疑将考验她与瑞秋的姐妹情谊。这对姐妹最好不要成为英国政坛新的米利班德兄弟（Milibands）。 当然，瑞秋·里夫斯的朋友们急于淡化家庭不和的传闻，一名忠诚的后座议员坚称： “瑞秋为艾莉感到高兴。看到她在自己擅长的领域获得这样一个绝佳的机会，真是太好了。” 另一人补充道：“她一直为艾莉感到高兴……” 显然，瑞秋·里夫斯在工党议员中仍然拥有巨大的忠诚度——尽管这其中也掺杂着同样规模的嘲讽、怜悯和愤怒。 友好的议员们不禁地讲述他们认为的里夫斯女士的成功之处，例如取消了两孩福利上限。 他们还认为她浇灌了“增长的绿芽”——鉴于工党领导下该国贫血的“增长”水平，她的反对者对此表示怀疑。 无论如何，她的政治遗产现在掌握在他人手中。
分歧：凯伦和艾伦·卡特
一名被指控在法国农村将英国侨民凯伦·卡特刺死的情敌患有一种疾病，导致她“几乎无法切开一个信封”，她的朋友们说道。 祖母玛丽-劳尔·奥特福（Marie-Laure Autefort），70, 被指控在多尔多涅省（Dordogne）的特雷莫拉村（Trémolat）用锐利武器至少刺了卡特女士，65, 八次。 去年4月的这次袭击极其猛烈，经常在当地球队踢球的卡特女士在数分钟内因大出血死亡。 据说两名女性都爱上了同一个男人——75, 岁的前富士通（Fujitsu）高管让-弗朗索瓦·格里耶（Jean-François Guerrier）。 但那些接近身材瘦小的奥特福（身高不足5英尺5英寸）的人坚持认为，她不可能使出那么大的力气。其中一人说：
谋杀嫌疑人几乎 无法切开信封， 朋友称
在巴黎
“她患有严重的骨关节炎，尤其是双手。 ‘疼痛和活动受限非常严重，她几乎无法切开一个信封。 ‘认为她变成了一个超级强健的刺客，能在几分钟内制服卡特女士，这听起来完全不对。’ 一位朋友补充说，她的病情已得到医生的证实。 尽管如此，警方立即将离异且育有三个孩子的母亲奥特福视为首要嫌疑人，并在一天内将其逮捕。 她在 48 小时后被释放，但在 15 个月后被再次逮捕，并于本月被指控蓄意谋杀。一名调查人员表示：‘她的最初不在场证明中暴露出矛盾之处。她声称当晚在照顾某人，但事实非常模糊。’ 奥特福和卡特女士都独居。卡特女士正准备与她的南
并未获得回应”
Autefort 最近结束了她与退休石匠 Jean-Claude Autefort 的婚姻，而丈夫 Alan 则在非洲。 这段三角恋中的关键人物经常在村里的咖啡馆见面。许多消息来源称，前护理工作者
Autefort “深深地爱上了” Guerrier 先生，并对他与 Carter 女士之间日益增长的关系感到沮丧。 Guerrier 先生在 Carter 女士去世当晚为包括她在内的朋友举办了一场聚会。随后，他开车跟她回到了家中。 当他到达那里时，发现她倒在门边的血泊中。 泄露的采访记录显示，他告诉警方，他“是来在 Karen 家过夜的”。 是 Guerrier 先生告诉警方调查 Autefort 的，但从 Guerrier 先生和 Autefort 身上提取的 DNA 与犯罪现场发现的不匹配。 警方记录显示：“他将她描述为一个在去年对他陷入狂热之爱的女人，以至于在结婚数十年后离婚，离开了她孩子的父亲。
被告：Marie-Laure Autefort，据称患有骨关节炎
随后，当她意识到这份萌芽中的激情并未获得回应时，感到非常沮丧。” Guerrier 先生告诉警方，Autefort 的住处距离 Carter 女士的家只有十分钟步行路程，中间要穿过几片田野。他的话确保了她的被捕，但随后她提供了不在场证明。Autefort 目前保释中，保释条件包括不得留在 Trémolat。
7 月 26 日 • 2026 年 《星期日邮报》
萨姆的《奥德赛》之旅在银幕上仅出现十分钟后，能否以胜利告终？博彩公司认为可以。
在洛杉矶
她在《奥德赛》的银幕出现时间不足十分钟。然而，在夏季大片中贡献了许多人称之为“最亮眼表演”的萨曼莎·莫顿（Samantha Morton）已成为明年奥斯卡最佳女配角奖的出人意料的领先候选人。 这位备受赞誉的英国女演员在克里斯托弗·诺兰（Christopher Nolan）耗资 £190m 改编的荷马希腊史诗中，通过对女妖基尔刻（Circe）的塑造，令观众和评论家们深深着迷。 尽管她在这部三小时电影中的表演属于“眨眼即错过”的程度，但 49, 岁的莫顿女士已成为该片最大的讨论焦点之一。该片在上映首周末全球票房超过 £198m，并在大西洋两岸的票房榜均名列前茅。 如果她在明年的奥斯卡金像奖中赢得这座金色小奖杯，她将有优秀的同行陪伴。 朱迪·登奇爵士（Dame Judi Dench）在 1998 年的《莎翁在恋爱》（Shakespeare In Love）中饰演伊丽莎白一世女王，赢得了最佳女配角奖
对她赞不绝口”
——尽管她的出场时间仅为 5 分钟 52 秒。 美国电影艺术与科学学院的一名成员预测，莫顿女士几乎肯定能获得奥斯卡提名。 该消息人士表示：“好莱坞对萨曼莎赞不绝口。《奥德赛》是每个人都在谈论的电影，而她抢走了每一个她参与的场景。角色大小并不重要。她带来的情感冲击在离场后依然久久不散。 ‘在目前这个阶段，如果她没有获得提名，我会感到非常惊讶，而且她将具有极强的竞争力。’” 这一认可将成为莫顿女士的突破时刻。 她曾两次获得奥斯卡提名——一次是在 2000 年，因在伍迪·艾伦（Woody Allen）的《甜蜜低俗》（Sweet And Lowdown）中饰演一名哑巴洗衣女工；另一次是在 2004 年，因出演关于纽约爱尔兰移民家庭的《在美国》（In America）。但尽管她长期被认为是英国最受尊敬的女演员之一，前电影大亨哈维·韦恩斯坦（Harvey Weinstein）却臭名昭著地将她斥为“太普通”而无法成为女主角。 这种情况可能即将改变。 据了解，诺兰在没有要求她试镜的情况下就将基尔刻这个角色交给莫顿女士。那个出乎意料的电话
一名新证人指认了一名他认为在 30 年前犯下残忍谋杀林·罗素（Lin Russell）及其女儿梅根（Megan）惨案的嫌疑人。
罗斯·希尔兹（Ross Shields）已联系了迈克尔·斯通（Michael Stone）的律师——斯通此前被判定为谋杀犯——他声称真正的凶手是他的亲戚，木匠雷·巴克（Ray Buck）。
66 岁的斯通在狱中服刑 29 年期间一直坚称自己无罪，
并于本月提供了一份 DNA 样本，以便刑事案件审查委员会（Criminal Cases Review Commission）进行新的法医分析。目前结果尚在等待中。
巴克曾是一名拳击手，有暴力前科，在警方调查肯特郡奇尔登登（Chillenden, Kent）发生的 45 岁的林和 6 岁的梅根被锤击杀害案时，他就在警方的关注范围内。
家中的狗也死去了，但梅根 9 岁的姐姐乔西（Josie）奇迹般地幸存了下来。
巴克在 2000 年于比奇海德（Beachy Head）自杀身亡，享年 46 岁。
希尔兹先生表示，在谋杀案发生当天，他 9 岁，由巴克的姐姐特雷西（Tracy）在福克斯通（Folkestone）照顾。他告诉《星期日报》（The Sunday Times），巴克当时“冲进”屋里说：“我做了一些不可原谅的事……我杀了三个人。我也杀了那条狗。”
斯通的律师已说服巴克的一位男性亲属捐献 DNA。斯通当时没有不在场证明，但在现场并未发现他的 DNA。
肯特郡警方在最初的调查中表示，曾收到一名与福克斯通有关的人员亲属的联系，其提供的证据已得到“全面且充分的审查”。
[[IMG_XXXX]] 主演：萨曼莎·莫顿（Samantha Morton），左图；饰演 喀刻耳刻（Circe），上图
获胜者： 朱迪·登奇（Dame Judi Dench）夫人 右图： 1999 年 因出演 《莎翁情史》（上图） 而获得奥斯卡奖
据报道，这让该女演员落泪。
一名来自该片制作公司环球影业（Universal Pictures）的消息人士表示： “这虽然不是那种‘眨眼即逝’的片段，但对于一部三小时的电影来说，十分钟根本不算什么。
‘这很容易在剪辑中被忽略。克里斯从一开始就想要萨曼莎。她是一位受过古典训练的演员，虽然她
没有像[合作演员]安妮·海瑟薇（Anne Hathaway）那样的票房号召力——你无法将视线从她身上移开——但观众在看到她的戏份时一直在惊叹和哭泣。”
社交媒体上充斥着对莫顿女士表演的赞誉，粉丝们称其为“令人着迷”且“令人难忘”。
莫顿女士最初是一名魔术师助手，她利用早期学习的这种手法训练，成功完成了一场将男人变成猪的戏码。
学院消息人士称：“你可以看到她在情感上的转变，从男人出现时感到害怕的女人，变成了以最深刻且最可怕的方式掌控权力的强者。”
诺兰（Nolan）表示，在莫顿女士完成拍摄后，全体演职员“爆发出热烈的掌声”，他说：“上一次出现这种情况还是在《黑暗骑士》中希斯·莱杰（Heath Ledger）拍完戏后。”
莱杰死于药物过量，2009 年因饰演小丑（Joker）而获得奥斯卡奖。
在描述接演喀刻耳刻这一角色时，她说：“我 12 岁离开学校，在那时就开始演戏。我没有受过高等教育。我不了解原著素材。我完全是根据剧本演的，那个剧本震撼了我。我一直在抽泣，我很愤怒。除了记得有一天我要和猪在一起之外，我对整体细节已经记不清了。我进入了状态，然后就沉浸其中了。”
比阿特丽斯·斯特雷特（Beatrice Straight）持有获得奥斯卡奖的最短表演时长记录，她在 1976 年的《网络》（Network）中出现了 5 分 40 秒。
环球影业 / 盖蒂图片社 (GETTY IMAGES)
来自波尔多的詹姆斯·菲尔丁（James Fielding） 以及伦敦的尼古拉斯·派克（Nicholas Pyke）报道
由于欧洲有记录以来最严重的几次山火失控肆虐，法国昨日请求派遣军事增援。在英吉利海峡两岸以及已宣布国家紧急状态的西班牙，面对如启示录般恐怖的景象，超过 270,000 名居民和游客被命令离开家园。在法国西南部，火焰继续在波尔多以西仅 12 英里的地方肆虐；而马德里附近的一场山火在昨日傍晚被指处于“巅峰期”，数千人被告知留在室内。昨日，随着大规模撤离行动的持续，相关消息宣布： l 山火造成了首位西班牙受害者，一名男子被困在车内； l 马克龙总统已向法国西南部部署 1,500 名部队； l 正在制定撤离波尔多市的紧急计划； l 今天在巴黎举行的环法自行车赛最后一赛段将缩短，以便重新部署安保人员； l 此外，在离家更近的地方，数百名消防员正在与苏格兰凯恩戈姆山的火灾作斗争。
这场始于周二波尔多以西松林的山火，目前已烧毁 390 平方英里的林地，焚毁了房屋和度假别墅。官员表示，强风和炽热的余烬使情况进一步恶化，在数英里外引发了新的火灾。他们含蓄地承认，目前的局势“远未得到控制”。包括英国游客在内的近 200,000 人被告知离开吉伦特省和朗德地区的家园，其中包括有时被称为“法国汉普顿”的 Lege-Cap-Ferret 旅游目的地，这里是富豪和名流的聚集地。周五，当局下令撤离整个 Cap Ferret 半岛，数百人乘船逃生。许多人在水对岸风景如画的阿卡雄镇找到了安全地。居民和游客仅有 30 分钟的时间收拾行囊。
50 岁的英国游客本·斯特恩汉姆（Ben Sturnham）带着他八岁的女儿阿勒格拉（Allegra）乘船逃离 Cap Ferret，他将当时的场景比作“小型敦刻尔克”。由于没有出租车可用，
270,000 人 逃离山火
讲述从肆虐 炼狱中惊险 逃生的经历
且道路“完全堵死”， 唯一的出路是支付 250 欧元并乘船 穿过海湾前往阿卡雄。 “我们是死里逃生， 及时离开了，”他说道。
巴黎人诺艾米·艾森希特特（Noémie Eisenchteter）是一名半英国血统的营销主管，她在周五凌晨收到应急服务的短信警报后，被迫撤离一座豪华别墅。
及时离开了”
25 岁的艾森希特特女士是一位热衷于马球的运动员，她在那里仅停留了 48 小时，随后森林火灾产生的烟柱便使上方的天空陷入一片黑暗。“我们抵达 Cap...
居民被 疏散
“周三晚上我们在费雷特（Ferret），能看到远处有一些烟雾，但我们没太在意。但当我们周四起床时，烟味变得非常浓烈，让房子闻起来像是在烧烤，而且天空变得非常暗，遮住了太阳，”她告诉《星期日邮报》。
昨晚，火焰威胁到了波尔多市本身——随着烟雾飘过城市——官员们表示，他们正在考虑进行大规模疏散的可能性。西部郊区的居民已经离开，他们被要求在周六凌晨撤离。
波尔多机场也位于城市的西缘，但昨晚仍在继续运营——尽管部分公共交通线路已暂停。
英国航空已开始联系客户以“提供协助”，以防他们需要更改行程，并提供替代路线和时间。
来自泽西岛的马丁·史密斯（Martin Smith）和尼古拉·史密斯（Nicola Smith）当时正与亲戚住在波尔多北部的梅里尼亚克（Mérignac）假日酒店。
[[IMG_XXXX]] 15 miles 15 miles Moutchic beach Gironde wildfire Fire has cut off Cap Ferret peninsula
他们接到工作人员凌晨 3.30am 的叫醒电话，被告知必须离开。由于费雷特角（Cap Ferret）半岛的火灾烟雾滚滚而来，酒店不得不关闭。49, 岁的史密斯夫人说：“这让身体受到了冲击，场面相当戏剧化，但我整晚都在手机上收到警报。”
波尔多地区著名的葡萄园位于城市北边沿加龙河（river Garonne）分布，被认为没有危险。
在西班牙，约 60,000 名居民已被疏散，当地火势正逼近马德里和历史古城阿维拉（Avila）。另有 28,000 名居民被告知留在家中。
当局担心马德里的火势将与第二场大火合并——他们将此描述为“非常糟糕的消息”。昨天，西班牙首相警告称“接下来的几个小时将非常复杂”。
一些居民被疏散令吓坏了，其中一人表示：“如果你不从火中逃跑，它就会把你吞噬。”
与此同时，美国国家航空航天局（Nasa）被迫放弃在西班牙的一个通信中心，这影响了该机构与太空探测器的通信能力。欧洲各国正集结飞机和专业设备提供支持。欧盟本身已向法国派遣五架飞机和两架直升机，向西班牙派遣四架飞机。
昨天，法国军方的首架运输机被部署用于扑救山火。该飞机配备了投放装置，可释放 20 吨水或阻燃剂。
决赛路段缩短 以释放关键的 救援资源
[[IMG_XXXX]] Andernos-les-Bains Biscarrosse San Martin d Valdeiglesia Madrid Madrid Madrid wildfire
英国热浪预报
预报员警告称，英国本周可能会迎来第四次热浪，气温最高可达 35C (95F)。 在期待已久的雨水从北部和西北部消散后，英格兰大部分地区和威尔士东部可能会回归炎热干燥的天气。 BBC 预报员表示，本周大部分时间气温将在 25C 至 32C (77F 至 90F) 之间，但到周末，英格兰全境可能会出现 30C 至 35C (86F 至 95F) 的高温。 这个夏天已经带来了酷热，当诺福克郡林伍德村附近的斯特ランプ肖山记录到 37.7C (99.9F) 的高温时，打破了 6 月的记录。 当气温连续三天超过该地区设定的阈值时，炎热时段被定义为热浪。 今年的第三次热浪在大多数地区于上周末结束，当时最高气温降至 24C (75F) 以下。然而，在蒙茅斯郡的乌斯克以及德文郡的埃克塞特机场，气温已连续 20 天超过热浪阈值。 目前有 20 million 英国人处于禁用水管浇水的限制之下。 英国气象局首席气象学家丹·苏里 (Dan Suri) 表示：“在经历了一段长时间炎热、干燥且稳定的天气后，随着天气锋面向英国东南部移动，部分地区将出现暂时性变化。” “虽然一些地区，特别是北部和西部，将出现降雨和阵雨，但许多地方的降水量可能会相对较少。” “对于英格兰南部大部分地区，干燥条件预计仍将是主导特征，本周气温将迅速回升，且有可能再次出现非常温暖或局部炎热的天气。”
飞过法国西南部拉卡诺的一片森林。近几周，野火袭击了欧洲大部分地区，意大利、希腊、葡萄牙和德国均受到影响，苏格兰和威尔士的部分地区亦然。 昨天，500 名消防员正在扑救凯恩戈姆山脉一场持续十天的大火，该火灾已被宣布为重大事件。昨天，苏格兰首席部长约翰·斯温尼 (John Swinney) 请求英国政府提供军事援助。
法国
在北威尔士哈莱赫附近的里诺吉德山脉，消防人员也在与一场野火作斗争。 与此同时，尽管数千名游客受到了影响，但法国国际伙伴关系部长埃莱奥诺尔·卡罗伊 (Éléonore Caroit) 敦促游客不要改变旅行计划。 她在 Radio 4 的《今日》(Today) 节目中表示，虽然火势比 2022 年更严重，但该国大部分地区并未受到影响。
PETER JOLLY NORTHPIX / TIM CLARKE
和 Gabriel Millard-Clothier
外交大臣埃德·米利班德 (Ed Miliband) 昨晚面临要求，被呼吁对失宠的国际刑事法院英国首席检察官展开调查。 卡里姆·汗 (Karim Khan) 本周末因涉嫌性不端行为，被撤销了他在国际刑事法院 (ICC) 的高职。 此前大约两年前，《星期日邮报》独家披露了 56, 岁的汗被指控涉及一名女性同事的不当行为。 该投诉是在汗请求逮捕以色列总理本雅明·内塔尼亚胡 (Benjamin Netanyahu)，指控其在加沙涉嫌战争罪行之前不久提出的。 随后披露，一名 30 多岁的与其共事的律师称，在 11 月的时间里，他在未经她同意的情况下亲吻、摸索并与她发生了性关系。 本月初，该女性（同意以 Sarah 的身份公开）首次公开讲述了她的指控。 在接受 CNN 采访时， she alleged that on one occasion, while on an official visit to Colombia, Khan came into her hotel room and that, as she pretended to be asleep, he ‘started to put his hand...
持续不断的猛攻”
伸手进我的紧身裤里，对我进行猥亵，把舌头伸进我的耳朵里”。 汗（Khan）是一位在约克郡长大、育有两个孩子的父亲，他多次否认所有指控。 但在周五晚上于纽约联合国总部举行的一次秘密投票中，该法院 125 个成员国中有 82 个国家投票将其撤职。外交部昨晚拒绝透露 英国 是否对他投了反对票。 莎拉（Sarah）的一位朋友昨夜表示：“我认为她还没有意识到这件事。过去两年给莎拉和她的家人带来了沉重的打击。我今天和一位亲近的亲戚谈过，从决定公布的前一天起，莎拉就一直没睡过觉。” 影子外交大臣普里蒂·帕特尔（Priti Patel）女爵士称莎拉的证词“令人心碎”，并呼吁政府启动自己的调查。 她告诉 MoS：“国际刑事法院（ICC）因其首席检察官令人震惊的行为而遭到削弱，然而新任首相和外交大臣却对此保持沉默。”
园艺活动可降低糖尿病风险
一项研究发现，园艺不仅能减轻压力和燃烧卡路里，还可能降低 2 型糖尿病的风险。 拥有花园的人患该病的可能性低 7%，这种病症与心脏病发作风险增加相关。 这些益处可能与挖掘花园有关，这种锻炼通过帮助人们维持健康的 [此处文本中断]
米利班德被促请 调查被指性骚扰 而遭撤职的 国际检察官 （由《星期日邮报》披露）
性不端行为非常严重，但我们的部长们对他地感兴趣的是发布荒谬的社交媒体内容，而不是严肃的治理工作。 “艾德·米利班德必须立即对这些指控以及国际刑事法院（ICC）和其他国际机构内部的权力滥用发起紧急调查。” 去年，第二名女性站了出来，
体重。但研究人员补充道，花园可以让人们接触到更多样化的细菌，从而增强免疫系统。 这可能带来心理益处，有助于降低患慢性病的风险。 来自澳大利亚布里斯班昆士兰大学的研究人员研究了超过 400,000 名英国成年人的数据。 他们发现，拥有花园与糖尿病风险降低 7% 相关——而周围 800 米内有 3 个公园也能将风险降低 6%。 该团队表示，城市规划者在进行新开发时应考虑私人花园的重要性，并建议它们可以“在减轻和管理
并指控汗（Khan）存在性不端行为。这名被化名为帕特里夏（Patricia）的女性还向 CNN 讲述了她在 2009 年担任实习生期间，被要求在他家中工作的情况。 她声称，“每次我在那里，他总是对我发动猛攻，对我摸胸、抓
慢性病负担”方面发挥作用”。 在过去的 20 年中，英国 2 型糖尿病患者的人数增加了一倍多，达到 4.2million。据认为另有 1.3million 人患有 2 型糖尿病但并不知情。 这与肥胖直接相关，导致血糖水平螺旋式上升。 这增加了心脏病发作、中风、失明、神经损伤和截肢的风险。
她指责他“不停地对我动手动脚，亲我的脸，摸我的头发，试图让我与他进行亲密活动”。 汗的法律团队负责人塔亚布·阿里（Tayab Ali）在一份声明中表示，联合国监督服务办公室（United Nations Office Of Oversight Services）的一项调查并未对他做出“任何一项不端行为的认定”。 他补充说，汗先生“将通过所有可行的法律机制，对该决定的合法性和公正性提出挑战”。 一名外交部发言人表示：“我们感谢国际刑事法院（ICC）办公室完成了其调查，并尊重其调查结果。 “英国期望国际组织领导人遵守最高的行为标准，我们对任何形式的性剥削、虐待或骚扰，以及对此不采取行动的行为采取零容忍态度。”
被解雇： 声名狼藉的 检察官 卡里姆·汗（Karim Khan） （上图）及其 指控者 律师 莎拉（Sarah）
“必须就 会面情况 坦白交代”
资深政治特派记者
安迪·伯纳姆的首席商业与人工智能顾问在唐宁街封锁消息数月后，现已被要求对其潜在的利益冲突坦白交代。 瓦伦·钱德拉（Varun Chandra）自 2024 年以来一直处于工党争取美国科技高管努力的中心，他从一家由前英国特工创立的企业情报公司加入基尔·斯塔默爵士的政府。 他面临着要求其公开与科技巨头会面记录及其在人工智能领域个人财务利益的呼吁。 特别顾问有责任确保其不存在利益冲突，也不应存在“感知到”的冲突。
审查：政府顾问瓦伦·钱德拉
然而，他们无需公开申报与私营公司和说客的会面。 但独特的是，钱德拉先生在年度特别顾问利益公开名单中的条目缺乏任何关于其此前就业情况的细节。 保守党主席凯文·霍林雷克（Kevin Hollinrake）表示：“政府最高级别的商业顾问竟然被允许向支付其薪水的公众隐瞒其商业利益。” 5 月的报道称，钱德拉先生在 2024 和 2025 年与美国顶尖科技老板进行了 16 场未公开的会面。监督机构透明国际（Transparency International）的罗斯·祖斯曼（Rose Zussman）表示，这些会面可被视为“闭门游说”。唐宁街拒绝置评。
演艺界顾问编辑
自该节目首次在屏幕上播出以来，《舞动奇迹》（Strictly）一直吸引着 BBC 年龄较大且忠实的观众。 现在，在 22 年后，内部人士称高层正“执意”进行一项针对 Z 世代的改造，但这冒着将老观众推开的风险。《星期日邮报》可以透露，在第 24 系列节目播出前，为了追逐难以捉摸的 18 至 24 岁年龄组，高管们已经取消了禁止在该节目中签约过多真人秀明星的禁令。 一些极力想留住年长观众的 BBC 内部人士对此感到愤怒，被提及的名字包括去年的《爱之岛》（Love Island）获胜者卡什·默瑟（Cach Mercer），以及美国真人秀明星兼网红金·卡戴珊（Kim Kardashian）的发型师克里斯·阿普尔顿（Chris Appleton），后者本身在社交媒体上拥有大量追随者。 《老大哥》（Big Brother）的主持人威尔·贝斯特（Will Best）也被宣布为参赛者，但年长观众对他几乎不闻其名；而另一位《爱之岛》获胜者达妮·戴尔（Dani Dyer）在去年因脚踝骨折被迫退出后，也将回归。 此外，人们还担心由艾玛·威利斯（Emma Willis）和乔什·威迪科姆（Josh Widdicombe）组成的主持阵容可能会让年长观众反感。 不过，第三位主持人约翰内斯·拉德贝（Johannes Radebe）在年长粉丝中非常受欢迎。 一名内部人士表示：“BBC 内部正就《舞动奇 tắc》爆发某种规模的内战。”
猎兔帮将兔子尸体倾倒在村民门前
一项令人震惊的调查显示，有组织犯罪团伙正侵入农场并恐吓业主，以举行非法的猎兔（hare coursing）活动。 这些暴徒通常身穿军装并戴着面罩，强行闯入农地，释放卢瑟猎犬（lurchers）或格雷豪德犬（greyhounds）追猎野兔——在这种血腥运动中，奖金可达 £50,000，且能赢得令人垂涎的“超级 8 杯”（Super 8 Cup）。 猎兔活动（狗通过猎杀以及在追逐过程中使猎物转向的频率来获得积分）已于 2005 年在英国被禁止。 但警方表示，近年来有组织犯罪团伙的参与，导致此类秘密活动的数量增加了十倍。 两年前，汉普郡奥布里奇（Awbridge）的孩子们来到学校时，发现建筑物外被倾倒了 20 只野兔和兔子的尸体，以及一只被斩首的鹿尸。 在向北七英里处，布劳顿（Broughton）村店入口附近散落着 50 只死兔。一只死掉的仓鸮和红隼也被系在门把手上。 一名土地所有者讲述了他如何面对一名戴面罩的参与者，对方拿着一个装有钢珠的弹弓。 而在去年举行的一次最大规模活动中，剑桥郡...
是否会后悔聘请一群像金·卡戴珊理发师那样的 Z世代“名人”？
这家公司。“现在确实在推动邀请年轻的网红类型人士参加，这些人是年长一代无论花多久时间都从未听说过的。以前，只会有一个网红，比如 Joe Sugg，或者去年的 George Clarke。而今年，有如此多吸引年轻人而非老年人的参赛者。 ‘随着 Emma 和 Josh 接替 Tess [Daly] 和 Claudia [Winkleman] 担任主持，节目的感觉将发生剧烈变化。但由于有这么多年轻参赛者，可能会产生向追求年轻化严重倾斜的风险……年长者已经觉得 BBC 上的内容越来越少。与此同时，BBC 正在追逐那些宁愿看 YouTube 的年轻观众。’ 在这一新系列中，高层还确定了《东区东街》（EastEnders）演员 Lacey Turner 以及前《邻居》（Neighbours）明星转行的歌手 Delta Goodrem。前残奥运动员 Sarah Storey 勋爵也已签约。 ‘BBC 最不需要做的就是疏远其核心观众，’该消息人士表示。‘正是这些人支付了电视执照费。《舞动奇迹》给他们带来了巨大的快乐。对许多人来说，这是他们在 Beeb（BBC）上观看的全部内容。’ 该节目将于 9 月回归其第 24 季，在砍掉四位年长女性舞者后，还将启用五位新的、更年轻的职业舞者。
[[IMG_VILE]]: 令人厌恶：在汉普郡布劳顿的村店外散落着死掉的野兔 [[IMG_BLOODSPORT]]: 血腥运动：一只狗在追猎它的目标
农民 Mathew Latta 看着十几辆 4x4 越野车在他的田野上疾驰，此前乘客用角磨机切开了铁门。随后 70 很多人带出了狗，开始猎杀野兔并对猎杀结果进行赌博，同时大声播放派对音乐。 剑桥郡警方认为，参与者来自英格兰和威尔士各地，并完成了一条 20 英里的干扰路线以降低被
[[IMG_SIGNED_UP]]: 已签约：模特 Cach Mercer 赢得了《爱之岛》（Love Island），与 Toni Laites 共同获胜 [[IMG_DEAL]]: 交易：Chris Appleton 与金·卡戴珊
抓获的概率——途中他们还强行将其他车辆挤下公路并抢劫了一家加油站。 Latta 先生告诉 BBC，他看到帮派成员在车里用双筒望远镜观察猎杀情况。 ‘这 100% 是一个组织有序的猎兔赛（coursing event），有参赛者和竞技犬，’他说。‘这相当恐怖。’ 他那惊恐的七岁女儿一直问：‘爸爸，这些人会进到屋子里来吗？’ 该活动持续了大约
三小时，犯罪分子留下了四辆车——其中一辆已成焦黑残骸。剑桥郡警方随后逮捕了 40 多人，并指控了 25, several of whom have now been convicted. 在对一处地址的搜查中，他们发现了一个 2 英尺高的“超级 8 杯”（Super 8 Cup），上面刻有狗和野兔的图像以及以往获胜者的姓名。 BBC 获得的一段视频显示，一群 8 个男人在一家酒吧喝酒，并就 2025 Super 8 Cup 冠军犬的价格讨价还价。这只鲁尔格犬（lurcher）最终以 £55,000 成交。 向警方提交的信息自由请求显示，在过去的三年中，共有 9,000 起猎兔赛报告。 英国国家野生动物犯罪组（UK National Wildlife Crime Unit）负责人、总督察 Kevin Lacks-Kelly 告诉 BBC： ‘其中一些小伙子赚了大钱。你面对的是该国组织最严密的犯罪分子。他们就像一支小军队。’
詹姆斯·亨特 S
坚固的友谊：卡罗琳·格雷厄姆与F1冠军亨特
他们并不含蓄。她是一个典型的“豪门名媛（Sloane）”，在围场中穿梭时，红色长发上扎着黑色天鹅绒蝴蝶结，发出嗤嗤的笑声。而他则是典型的浪子，一个口才流畅的玩弄情场的男人，因为平庸的长相和略显圆滑的态度而被绰号为“蟾蜍”。回到20世纪80年代初，萨拉·弗格森在一级方程式（F1）世界之外几乎无人知晓。她当时还没遇到未来的丈夫，即当时的安德鲁王子。相反，她是一个热爱生活的前度假屋服务员，当时正与帕迪·麦克纳利交往，后者是一名失败的赛车手，但他发现自己处于新兴的F1款待业务的最前沿。正是这项业务最终让麦克纳利成为了英国第238位最富有的男性；在他上周以 88 岁高龄去世时，拥有 6 亿英镑 (£600 million) 的财富。当这个悲伤的消息传来时，许多人推测，麦克纳利（在遇到弗格森之前是鳐寡，且从未再婚）可能会永久解决这位失宠前公爵夫人的财务困境。毕竟，他们保持友谊超过四十年，经历了弗格森与安德鲁的婚姻与离婚，以及她多年挥霍无度且负债累累的生活。麦克纳利始终支持她，甚至在最近几个月，当她与恋童癖杰弗里·爱泼斯坦之间长达 20 年的友谊之耻在所谓的“爱泼斯坦文件”中公开，导致她被迫淡出公众视野时，他依然在支持她。去年2月，在被赶出温莎大公园的皇家小屋后，她逃到了奥地利的一家水疗中心，随后前往麦克纳利在瑞士的家中。昨晚，她的一位关系人告诉我，多年来健康状况不佳的麦克纳利允许弗格森住在他的 2500 万英镑 (£25million) 度假屋中——因为他在最放荡不羁的时期在此举办派对，这里被戏称为“可卡因城堡”——“因为他一直想帮助她”。该关系人表示：“每个人首先想到的问题是，‘帕迪是否会彻底救她于水火？’在她的多次丑闻中，他一直对她极其忠诚，而且丑闻确实很多。甚至在最近几个月，他仍让她住在他的度假屋里。如果他给她留下了足以改变生活的钱，那将是一件多么了不起的事？”另一位与弗格森圈子相同的人补充道：“帕迪很精明。如果他给她留了一栋房子和现金，没人会感到惊讶，但你可以打赌这些钱是放在一个每月领取收入的私人信托基金里。他绝不会给她一大笔现金，因为他知道她挥霍得有多快。”据称，弗格森由于这位她曾将其描述为“父亲般的人物”和“导师”的男子的去世而感到“心碎”，她曾告诉一名采访者：“他教会了我很多关于生活的道理。当我需要建议时，我会向他求助。他似乎见多识广，尝试过一切。”当我读到麦克纳利去世的消息时，我的思绪立刻回到了 20 世纪 80 年代初的一个夏天，当时我和学校最好的朋友一起去了英国大奖赛，她的父亲是其中一支车队的总监。对我来说，那是一个陌生的世界，我是一个在世界各地军事基地长大的军队后代，在我的
F1 围场中 见证了弗格森 与帕迪·麦克纳利 极其热烈的情事。 如果他没有给她 留下一部分财产， 我会感到很惊讶。
卡罗琳·格雷厄姆 (CAROLINE GRAHAM)
美国编辑
一家定居在汉普郡乡村的家庭。 “弗吉”（Fergie）——在小报开始关注她之前，大家都这么叫她——仅比我大 7 岁，但感觉她像是来自另一个星球。她鲁莽、自信且大嗓门，她的父亲 Ron “奔腾少校” 弗格逊 (Ron ‘The Galloping Major’ Ferguson) 曾担任查尔斯王子的马球经理。 她曾在瑞士韦尔比耶 (Verbier) 担任度假屋女孩，在那里她结识了麦克纳利 (McNally)，后者比她大 22 岁。麦克纳利雇她担任儿子肖恩 (Sean) 和罗洛 (Rollo) 的保姆。当时他与妻子安妮·“特维斯特”·道宁 (Anne ‘Twist’ Downing) 分居，后者是一位蒙特卡洛继承人，于 1980 年死于癌症。 当我在银石赛道看到他们时，弗吉和麦克纳利是男女朋友，但麦克纳利会公开地与那些聚集在车手周围的众多美女调情，比如阿兰·普罗斯特 (Alain Prost)、尼尔森·皮奎特 (Nelson Piquet) 和年轻的尼格尔·曼塞尔 (Nigel Mansell)，后者当时还处于一级方程式 1 赛车的职业生涯早期。 虽然赛道无疑充满魅力，但与如今这个价值数十亿英镑的产业完全不同。 麦克纳利是一名英国皇家空军 (RAF) 医生的六个孩子中的第五个，他曾尝试参加赛车比赛但失败了，随后为了赚钱而挨家挨户推销真空吸尘器。后来他开始为《赛车运动》(Autosport) 杂志撰写关于赛车的文章，这使他进入了 F1 巨头伯尼·埃克拉斯通 (Bernie Ecclestone) 的社交圈。 随后他产生了一个绝妙的创意。 如果提供企业赞助方案，并向商人收取高昂的费用，让他们成为他所谓的“围场俱乐部”(The Paddock Club) 的会员会如何？这是一个专属的赛道边款待套房，在那里，你可以一边啜饮香槟，一边以轰鸣的赛车、长腿金发女郎和马里奥·安德烈蒂 (Mario Andretti) 等传奇车手为背景。 这立刻取得了成功。 在许多方面，与弗吉约会——凭借她宏亮的贵族口音以及通过父亲建立的皇室关系——对麦克纳利来说是一个精明的商业决定。 她是一个“斯隆游侠”(Sloane Ranger)，这是一类穿着 Barbour 夹克、粗花呢裙子和带有褶边领口的衬衫，并在“市区”和“乡村”住宅之间穿梭的上层阶级青年。 那个圈子当时正处于鼎盛时期，在我们相识一年后，《官方斯隆游侠手册》(The Official Sloane Ranger Handbook) 登顶了畅销书榜。 麦克纳利带来了赛车界的人，而弗吉带来了她的朋友们：那些来自地主阶级、英俊、傲慢且极其富有的年轻男女。 她很狂野。 1976 年的世界冠军詹姆斯·亨特 (James Hunt) 当时是 BBC 的评论员，与默里·沃克 (Murray Walker) 搭档。由于某种无法解释的原因，他可怜我这个局外人，于是我们成为了密友。 詹姆斯本人就是一个传奇的色情狂，他对麦克纳利没什么好感，称其为“投机分子”。麦克纳利曾短暂地担任过詹姆斯的助手。 詹姆斯告诉我，在那个赛季的一次比赛中，他不幸地住在弗吉和她情人的隔壁房间，他形容她是“我听过嗓门最大的女人”。 他非常愤怒，因为她激情的尖叫声让他整夜没睡好。每当弗吉走过时，詹姆斯就会大喊：“哦，帕迪！哦，帕迪！” (Oh Paddy! Oh Paddy!) 值得称赞的是，她以幽默的心态面对。
麦克纳利的公司起飞了。在接下来的几年里，我看着他的款待套房变得越来越大，也越来越专业。他与所有人签署了企业赞助协议。 当你进入“围场俱乐部”时，那里会有成箱成箱的免费万宝路香烟。他推广劳力士手表和香奈儿香水。 于是他变得非常富有，而弗吉在经济上一直努力追赶同龄人，无疑对此深感满意。 在他位于韦尔比耶的“可卡因城堡”(Cocaine Castle) 举办的派对上（该度假屋的正式名称是 Les Gais Lutins，或作“The
她的激情尖叫 让他保持 清醒
它，将两辆车全部撞毁，并摧毁了他的车库门。 他在附近一家名为 The Farm Club 的夜总会有一张永久席位，在那里他会招待像摩纳哥的斯特凡妮公主这样显赫的朋友。 在一个除夕之夜，他特意从圣彼得堡空运了鱼子酱。 1990年，当杰米·布兰福德（现马尔伯勒公爵）迎娶第一任妻子贝基·费尤·布朗时，他担任伴郎，并买了一辆枪灰色路虎揽胜作为结婚礼物，同时用新郎不端行为的故事震惊了宾客。 但麦克纳利也会在朋友面前羞辱费吉。她会抱怨他称她“胖”且“丑”。有一次她在度假小屋等待，而他带回了一个迷人的瑞士女人。他给了她一个选择：“要么进行三人行，要么滚蛋”。 最终，费吉在1985年意大利大奖赛上给了他最后通牒：要么结婚，要么分手。 詹姆斯后来告诉我：“当然，帕迪选择了‘要么分手’。” 那年六月，麦克纳利开车带费吉去温莎城堡参加一个派对，在那里她与安德鲁一拍即合。 两人于次年结婚。 一些朋友认为她一直爱着麦克纳利。 一名女性说：“如果帕迪娶了她，就不会有安德鲁。我认为费吉是通过那段关系来寻找慰藉，而且在扮演了这么长时间帕迪的配角之后，我认为她
密不可分：1986年，莎拉·费根与帕迪·麦克纳利在一起，那一年她与安德鲁结婚
喜欢成为关注的中心，而嫁给王子所带来的一切正好满足了这一点。她沉浸在童话故事中，而这当然地变成了噩梦。” 麦克纳利的财富始终是她的掩护。 他买下了詹姆斯·邦德作者伊恩·弗莱明在威尔特郡的价值£40百万的二级上市住宅 Sevenhampton Place，这里在费吉与安德鲁的婚姻破裂后成为了她的避风港。 此外，他还在法国南部拥有一座名为 Le Clos de Meaux 的别墅，以及在韦尔比耶共三座滑雪度假屋，并在苏格兰拥有一片红松鸡原野。 一位老友说：“帕迪非常宠爱费吉。他没有娶她，但他在第一任妻子之后也没娶过任何人。费吉对他儿子很好，而他对她的女儿们也很好。” 多年来，贝阿特丽斯公主和尤金妮公主一直享受着由麦克纳利提供的滑雪假期，他会给女孩们挥金如土
“嫁给我，否则……” 帕迪选择了“否则”
昂贵的礼物，如设计师手袋和高级定制滑雪服。 不幸的是，麦克纳利（McNally）在长子肖恩（Sean）之后去世，后者在今年早些时候意外去世，享年50多岁。 一位朋友表示：“这件事相当神秘。报纸上没有任何关于肖恩去世的消息。帕迪的健康状况多年来一直不佳，但失去儿子对他造成了沉重的打击。” 那么，回到钱的问题上。 麦克纳利在 2006 年以 £262 百万英镑的价格卖掉了他的公司 Allsport Management。他在 2011 年退休。 那个圈子的朋友们每年都会在他位于威尔特郡广阔庄园的泳池边参加他举办的烧烤派对，以庆祝英国大奖赛。 麦克纳利最终买下了庄园相邻的两处房产：一座坐落在 165 英亩土地上的詹姆斯一世风格住宅，以及 500 英亩的汉普顿农场（Hampton Farm）。 从与最接近麦克纳利的人交谈来看，如果他没有给她留下一大笔来自其 £600 百万英镑财富的份额，我会感到非常震惊。 一位朋友说：“最后几年他生活得相当安静。他有一小圈密友，莎拉（Sarah）处于核心位置。他们一直在电话中交谈，甚至在他病得很重的时候也是如此。” 一位律师朋友表示，麦克纳利直到最后都在修改遗嘱：“他的长子去世了。因此有了遗嘱附录 [用于对遗嘱进行细微修改的法律文件]。” 虽然遗嘱可能会公开，但麦克纳利的财富被绑定在瑞士私人信托中，以掩护其庞大遗产的最终受益人。有些人认为，正如在生前一样，麦克纳利会照顾他的长期好友。 一位消息人士说：“当然，他会照顾弗吉的。他们出现在彼此生命中的时间，比他们与配偶结婚的时间还要长。他承诺过会一直照顾她，他会做到的。”
《星期日邮报》获悉，威廉王子和哈里王子可能会在明年计划为纪念戴安娜王妃去世 30 周年而举行的一次“重大”王室活动中，时隔多年首次重新聚首。 这次活动旨在纪念三十分年前在巴黎隧道中去世的已故母亲所留下的持久遗产，由为了纪念她而设立的慈善机构“戴安娜奖”（The Diana Award）主导策划。
威廉和哈里都是该慈善机构的赞助人——这也是这对关系疏远的兄弟之间唯一共同保留的赞助身份——尽管近年来他们一直分别代表该慈善机构出席活动，但据了解，两人都将受到邀请。
消息人士称，该慈善机构计划在 2027, 年通过一系列活动来纪念这一里程碑式的周年日，其中最亮点将是一场星光熠熠的黑色领结盛宴。 这可能会与萨塞克斯公爵夫妇明年夏天前往伯明翰参加残疾人邀请赛（Invictus Games）的行程时间重合。 如果两兄弟都出席，那么
政治记者
《星期日邮报》可以披露，赌博监管机构已被敦促调查针对财政大臣 约翰·希利 意外任命的“可疑”内部人士投注。 在经历了数日关于内政大臣沙巴娜·马哈茂德（Shabana Mahmood）或当时的能源安全大臣埃德·米利班德（Ed Miliband）将获得该职位的预测后，他的任命成为了上周内阁重组中最大的惊喜。 在任命之前，马哈茂德女士是财政部的头号热门人选，概率被评定为 84%
博彩交易网站 Smarkets 的概率为 1/5。 但在周一下午 6 点正式宣布约翰·希利先生就任前的几个小时内，在上午 8 点、10 点、正午和下午 1 点分别下了四次注——赔率在 80/1 到 140/1 之间。每笔赌注预计至少赢得 £600，远高于触发赌博委员会调查的 £100 门槛。 这些情况现已上报给监管机构。 这位前国防大臣的任命早就在伯纳姆团队内部决定好了——但工党通过将“圈子控制在极小范围内”（一名消息人士的话），确保了消息没有泄露。本报获悉，约翰·希利先生与财政部竞争对手埃德·米利班德在安迪·伯纳姆成为首相的三周前，在后者的唐卡斯特选区办公室举行了一次秘密峰会，会上讨论了约翰·希利先生获得该职位的路径。 一名了解此次会议的人士表示，甚至连各自的顾问都被拒之门外，峰会在“没有随从”的情况下举行，以防止消息泄露。 但在任命当天，手续上的要求意味着更多的人需要知情，包括工党顾问和国会议员、公务员以及警察。 罗伯特·詹里克昨晚告诉英国国防部（MoS）：“监管机构应当调查这一可疑活动。就在上个月，一名原托利党议员才承认在大选期间进行赌博欺诈。如果工党高层有人做了同样的事，那将是令人愤慨的。” 该监管机构以需要“维护调查完整性”为由，尚未透露是否已启动全面审查。它将内部人士投注视为 1.
赞助人： 哈里王子和威廉王子 参加戴安娜奖 活动
这将是他们自 2022 年英国女王伊丽莎白二世葬礼以来，首次共同公开露面。戴安娜奖旨在表彰那些能为他人生活带来改变的年轻人，对于两位王子来说，这是一个至关重要的组织，因为它在传承他们母亲的记忆方面发挥了关键作用。 近年来，威廉和哈里轮流参加活动，该慈善机构的一位消息人士表示，工作人员非常小心地确保每位王子参加活动的次数保持“均等平衡”。
这是 2005 年《赌博法》规定的一种刑事犯罪。 当有报道称一些托利党人利用内部消息对 2024 年 6 月的选举日期进行投注时，工党政治家们并未回避要求进行全面刑事调查的呼吁。现任工作与养老金大臣帕特·麦克法登（Pat McFadden）曾给时任首相里希·苏纳克（Rishi Sunak）写了一封公开信，谈到“吞没托利党的赌博丑闻”。 他表示：“看起来托利党成员适用一套规则，而其他人适用另一套规则。” 他还要求立即暂停所有涉事人员的职务，并致信赌博委员会首席执行官，要求进行全面调查并公开涉事人员姓名。 包括苏纳克最亲密的助手、国会议员克雷格·威廉姆斯（Craig Williams）在内的那些托利党人，此前因投注金额低于目前受到审查的金额而被起诉。 工党政治家在面对目前的指控时，声音明显低了很多。当被问及该党是否支持调查呼吁时，一名工党发言人拒绝发表评论。
慈善机构：“戴安娜奖”助力延续公主的记忆
两人都希望参加任何纪念他们已故母亲的重要活动。2017 年，为了纪念戴安娜逝世 20 周年，他们在圣詹姆斯宫举行的一场高规格“戴安娜奖”活动中共同亮相。 但十年后，这对于该慈善机构来说，处理起来变得更加棘手。2024 年 3 月，威廉出席了“戴安娜奖”活动，以纪念该慈善机构成立 25 周年，而哈里则随后通过视频链接出席。 自那以后，年度颁奖礼一直以虚拟形式举行——但明年的活动将面对面举行，且正如一名消息人士昨晚解释的那样，目前也有讨论关于梅根出席的可能性。 一名消息人士表示：“哈里希望梅根能参与其中，以便更接近他母亲的遗产。”萨塞克斯公爵夫妇的代表已被要求对此发表评论。 “戴安娜奖”的一名发言人表示，该慈善机构处于计划周年活动的“早期阶段”，但补充道：“尚未达成任何计划，也未就出席或参与做出任何决定。”肯辛顿宫拒绝评论。
7 月 26 日 • 2026 年 《星期日邮报》
与我的侄女（以及其他 2,000 名尖叫青少年）共度的一夜，证明了西蒙·考威尔的点金之手已经回归
娱乐圈！
娱乐版咨询编辑
在谢泼德布什帝国剧院（Shepherd’s Bush Empire）周围回荡的高分贝、刺耳的尖叫声，瞬间将我带回了 1995 年。 作为一名痴迷于 Take That（当时英国最红的男团）的青少年，我曾在温布利体育馆第五排的座位上兴奋地尖叫，坚信主唱加里·巴洛（Gary Barlow）确实只对我一个人挥手。那是一个特殊的夜晚——数以千计像我一样的少女，在她们的流行偶像面前痴迷地昏厥。 但上周与我 14 岁的侄女奥利维亚（Olivia）一同去看该国最新的男团 December 10，证明了两件事：此类流行音乐依然有很大的市场，而该组合背后的西蒙·考威尔（Simon Cowell）依然拥有他的神奇触感。 当然，这前提是那些震耳欲聋的尖叫声具有参考价值。 即使你从未听说过 December 10，我预测不久后他们就会家喻户晓。 这七名年轻小伙子是从数千名参加 Netflix 试镜的希望者中挑选出来的。
演出前 11 小时开始排队
才艺秀评审西蒙·考威尔（Simon Cowell）：《下一幕》（The Next Act）。尽管他们直到 1 月底才发行首支单曲，但我可以确认，他们已经拥有了一批痴迷的粉丝群。 被称为“Tenners”的粉丝们，在上午 9 点就已经在场馆外排起了长队——距离乐队登场还有 11 小时。 有些人如此虔诚，甚至在现场守了一整夜，渴望能尽可能靠近这些男孩：克鲁兹·李-奥乔 (Cruz Lee-Ojo)，20 岁，亨德里克·克里斯托弗森 (Hendrik Christoffersen)，20 岁，约翰·法达雷 (John Fadare)，18 岁，乔希·奥利弗 (Josh Olliver)，17 岁，尼古拉斯·阿尔维斯 (Nicolas Alves)，17 岁，以及肖恩·海登 (Sean Hayden)，19 岁。第七名成员丹尼·布雷瑟顿 (Danny Bretherton)，17 岁，目前处于休息状态，详情稍后详述。 在等待期间，粉丝们大声地唱着该乐队迄今为止有限的几首歌曲——包括《Infinity (123)》、《Angel》和《Bad For Me》。他们表演了在卧室里练习了数日的舞蹈，并在想到能亲眼见到乐队时激动落泪。 现场还有手工制作的海报——一张写着“乔希，嫁给我吧”，而另一张写着“我们爱你 December 10”，并配有红心。 这是青少年追星最极致、最歇斯底里的状态。 直到几个月前，当奥利维亚（Olivia）打电话给我，兴奋地告诉我她发现了一支新乐队时，我才意识到 December 10 的影响力有多大。 她并不是在考威尔的节目中偶然发现 December 10 的，而是在 TikTok 上发现了这些男孩。奥利维亚执意要我加入她和两名朋友一起参加演出，这样我就可以亲自评判他们的音乐。 就像其他 2,000 名观众一样，她花了好几天时间制作自己的周边商品——包括在一件黑色 PVC 夹克上镶嵌水钻，以还原乐队的标志。她还在自己的太阳镜上装饰了同样的图案。 最激动人心的是，在演出前，奥利维亚和她的朋友们幸运地在化妆间见到了这些男孩——包括肖恩，他是奥利维亚目前最喜欢的成员。得知消息后她们激动得哭了。 奥利维亚递给男孩们一本她精心制作的 80 页剪贴簿，记录了他们的“最佳时刻”，而对方表示会保留这本书，这让她感到非常开心。 当他们也在她制作的一面旗帜上签名时，她欣喜若狂。 坦白说，我对这群年轻人以及考威尔是否还能打造出一支热门乐队持有怀疑态度。现年 66 岁的他，作为 Westlife、One Direction、5ive 等组合背后的操盘手，当然拥有卓越的资历。 他的 Netflix 节目旨在寻找一些新鲜的东西。 海选在整个英国和爱尔兰举行，最终入选的七个人与 EMI 唱片公司签约——那里也是泰勒·斯威夫特 (Taylor Swift) 和保罗·麦卡特尼爵士 (Sir Paul McCartney) 的东家。 但今年看来，这可能行不通。 尽管考威尔的《X Factor》在播出期间几乎每年都能产生冠军单曲，但 December 10 的首支单曲《Run My Way》的销量却很惨淡。 该曲在单曲榜上勉强排在第 72 位，在发行首周仅售出 6,300 份（包括实体销售、下载量和流媒体播放量）。 我与考威尔进行了长时间的交谈，他决心不放弃。 在因为我对 December 10 的怀疑而责备我之后，他向我保证这些男孩一定会成功。 现在我很乐意承认，他的判断是正确的。 记得披头士乐队 (The Beatles) 时代的音乐业内人士表示，周围青少年对 December 10 的歇斯底里程度与当年 One Direction 刚走红时的热潮相似且相当。 这对考威尔来说，当然是悦耳的音乐。本月，该乐队的首张专辑《On Your Side》在英国排行榜上排名第 5，在爱尔兰排名第 3。这一消息由经纪人卡桑德拉·格雷西 (Cassandra Gracey) 在演出舞台上宣布，现场再次响起了尖叫声。 我被告知，该组合实现了 2026 年迄今为止销量最高的 EP——是过去十年中规模最大的此类出道作品。 December 10 已经积累了超过 30million 次流媒体播放量，以及 22.9million 次 YouTube 播放量。
CLICK NEWS AND MEDIA
在日本已经 大受欢迎
浏览量以及总计 3.7million 的社交媒体关注人数。 他们的巡演《下一步》（The Next Step）在英国和欧洲全部售罄。 今年夏天，这些男孩将在阅读和利兹音乐节演出，随后将飞往日本，据我所知，他们在那里已经“大受欢迎”。 虽然唱片销量不再能让音乐人变得超级富有，但这支乐队拥有众多品牌合作，包括丰田（Toyota）和 Primark。 对于肖恩（Sean）来说，在 Primark 的爱尔兰特许经营店 Penneys 工作过之后，现在能与该品牌合作，这算是一个圆满的时刻。 但已经出现了一丝丑闻的迹象。由于有人投诉丹尼（Danny）被指对前女同学和前女友发表了某些言论，他的参与已被暂停。但我被保证他将会回归。 演唱会结束时，一群十来岁的青少年涌向场馆外，希望能见到他们的偶像，场面让人想起我当年痴迷 Take That 的样子——我曾经为了看他们抵达而前往盖特威克机场。 我还记得演唱会后的那种失落感——以及再次体验一次的强烈渴望。 但最让我感到欣慰的是，尖叫声终于停止了。
[[IMG_XXXX]] 抗议：詹妮弗在去年的一次游行中
一年多前，当詹妮弗·梅勒（Jennifer Melle）陷入人生低谷时，她的长女——一名和她母亲一样的护士——将一只六周大的小狗放在了她的怀里。她希望通过照顾另一个生命能让她的母亲重新振作起来。“她能看到我在哭泣，整天躺在床上。如果我出门，我会在超市里、公交车上、街道上惊恐发作。她想让我重新获得快乐，”詹妮弗说道。詹妮弗，42 岁，是一名虔诚的基督徒，她给这只小可卡普犬起名为埃丝特（Esther），这是一个很好的圣经名字，从此以后她们便形影不离。“埃丝特是一道光，是我康复过程中至关重要的一部分，”她在谈到这只诱导她每天散步的小狗时说道，“她带来了很多快乐。多亏了她，我重新获得了生活。”尽管这令人心暖，但令人震惊的是，像詹妮弗这样的一位女性——一名在从事着最高强度工作的同时独立抚养三个孩子的资深护士——竟然需要有人提醒她自己是谁。而当她处于“创伤”（她多次使用了这个词）中时，提供一线支持的是她的孩子们而非她的雇主，这令人感到可耻。“孩子们非常担心我的健康状况，”她承认道，“我彻夜难眠，经常突然落泪。如果我在外面惊恐发作，我就得找个地方坐下来，打电话给他们，让他们引导我度过难关。”她的幼子，也是她唯一的儿子，现在 19 岁，但对于他来说，看着一直以来能力出众的母亲崩溃，是特别痛苦的。“我和他父亲已经分开了，但情况发展到最后，他的父亲为了他的心理健康，带他去了乌干达两个月。看着我在家里哭泣、惊恐发作，他受到了创伤。他不明白为什么他的母亲，那个一直在外工作的母亲，不能去上班。
他不明白为什么我会因为这次事件而如此痛苦。”距离“这次事件”让詹妮弗的生活陷入崩塌已经过去两年多，而距离《星期日邮报》披露她的惊人故事，引发一场关于性别认同、良知和言论自由的全民辩论（J.K. 罗琳等人也对此表达了愤怒）已经过去一年多。詹妮弗的遭遇与达灵顿（Darlington）护士们的斗争以及在苏格兰桑迪·佩吉（Sandie Peggie）的斗争有相似之处。所有这些女性——这些坚决反对他们认为已经控制了公共部门部分领域的跨性别意识形态的普通护士——现在都成了朋友。詹妮弗的故事导致她与雇主埃普舍姆和圣海伦大学医院 NHS 信托基金（Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust）陷入了一场复杂的法律之争，这尤其令人震惊。在这种情况下，事实从未被质疑。2024 年 5 月，在圣海伦医院一个繁忙的夜班期间——她在那里工作 12 年，记录无瑕疵——詹妮弗匆忙前去帮助一名正挣扎于处理一名患者的初级同事，该患者是一名来自高安全级别男子监狱的被定罪儿童色情狂，由两名警卫护送至医院。
这名身高 6 英尺、身材魁梧的患者在医疗记录中被列为男性——“而且其中一名警卫称呼他为先生”，詹妮弗今日坚持这样说——但该患者认同自己为女性。在患者房间外与一名医生讨论导尿管移除问题时，詹妮弗将该患者称为“他”和“先生”。听到这话后，该患者变得具有攻击性，对身为黑人女性的詹妮弗进行了一连串种族歧视性的辱骂并向她猛冲，尽管当时该患者被锁链限制。詹妮弗尽可能平静地解释道：
作者：珍妮·约翰斯顿 (JENNY JOHNSTON)
在这种情况下，她能尽力而为，但由于她的基督教信仰，她无法在这种情况下使用女性代词，但她提出可以使用患者选择的（女性）姓名。 她认为——而且现在依然认为——自己的处理方式非常专业，成功化解了一个潜在的危险局面。 证据支持她的说法。 该患者此前一直因为想要办理出院而激动不安，但最终选择留宿一夜。“我还是给他提供了止痛药物，” 詹妮弗回忆道，即便在最严峻的情况下，她也从未停止照顾她的患者。 然而，那天晚上谁因为行为受到了惩罚？简直令人难以置信，是詹妮弗。 当她的患者就被误称性别而提出投诉时，是詹妮弗发现自己面临纪律处分程序——这是一名护士所能面临的最严重的处分。 她不仅最终被停职，还收到了最终书面警告，并被移交给护理和助产委员会 (NMC)——该机构有权剥夺她作为护士的执业资格。 在长达两年的“噩梦般”煎熬中（直到本月才结束），她实际上被排挤出了国民医疗服务体系 (NHS)，与同事隔绝，并对自己的职业生涯、生计甚至心理健康感到担忧。 她的女儿在目睹母亲经历这一切地狱般的折磨后，悲痛万分，从自己在 NHS 的护士岗位上辞职了。 “我的长女受影响最大，” 詹妮弗今天告诉我，“她当时刚刚取得儿科护士资格，但她辞职了。她无法承受发生在我身上的事情。她在考虑自己的职业生涯。如果她也陷入麻烦，会发生什么？她甚至考虑过转行。” 是因为不信任 NHS 作为雇主吗？“是的。她现在已经重新开始工作了。她先是以临时护士 (bank nurse) 的身份开始，现在在另一家医院的新生儿重症监护室 (NICU) 工作，但曾有一段时间，她不知道自己是否还想要这份职业。” “我们祈祷。我们等待我的案件进展。我说，‘考虑一下。’ 我建议她不要操之过急，花时间休息和恢复。” 尽管该医疗信托基金会在今年 1 月放弃了纪律处分（她在公开讲述自己的遭遇后被停职），但直到本月初，NMC 才关闭其执业能力调查，结论是无需就此答辩。这意味着詹妮弗没有做错任何事情。 “我履行了我的职责，” 她今天重复道，完全得到了平反。 然而，这次胜利是多么的复杂。尽管她今天流露出明显的宽慰之情，
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仍在康复中：詹妮弗·梅勒 (Jennifer Melle) 今天与她的考卡普犬 Esther 在一起。插图：去年 3 月 23 日《星期日邮报》(MoS) 的报道
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对于事情竟然发展到如此地步，内心仍然感到难以置信。 支持她的国会议员克莱尔·库廷霍 (Claire Coutinho) 谴责医院信托机构对詹妮弗进行了“政治迫害”（witch-hunt）。她本人并不使用这个词，但今天她因被“弃之不顾”而感到受伤的情绪显而易见。她说：“事情不应该发展到这个地步。没有一名护士应该因为说出真相并履行职责而面临我所经历的一切。” 我们聊到了她最消沉的时刻。她说最糟糕的部分是“收到一封来自 NMC（护理和助产监管委员会）的信，将我贴上‘对公众构成危险’的标签。那对我造成了巨大的打击。我心碎了。” 另一个低谷是在调查的初始阶段，她被“重新部署”到另一个病房。当涉事患者重新入院时，她被告知甚至不能进入那里的员工休息室吃午餐，以免两人相遇。 “幸运的是，那是六月，所以我可以直接去公园吃午餐。”是一个人吗？“是的，但没关系。我的同事们被告知不能与我就发生的事情进行交谈。有些人害怕联系我。” 她评估了在这场混乱中是否失去了朋友，但结论可能是相反的。“在某些方面，我交到了更多朋友。很多人，甚至是我不认识的人，会走过来对我说：‘我们支持你。’”
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JOHN NGUYEN / JNVISUALS
失眠之夜 并且 泪崩
“我们正在为你祈祷。”不过，这个案例从未仅仅关乎宗教信仰。詹妮弗一直主张，信仰与她观察“生物学事实”的义务是并行的。她指出，这是一个临床环境。我们讨论了如果她那天晚上在电话中对医生说“我这里有一位女士”可能会发生什么。她说，这会让她的病人满意，“但在事实层面是错误的”。而且这可能会损害患者护理。她指出，相关的医生是一名泌尿科医生，其建议取决于患者是男性还是女性，因此她表示：“我可能会被告知我拨错了传呼号码。”她认为“管理层竟然没有考虑到这一点，真是不可思议”。在这个案例中，她的主管如此迅速地站在那个具有攻击性的患者一边，至今仍让她感到“极其受伤”。
她指出，医院员工与这名患者有很长一段时间的接触史。“有些事情我们不能讨论，但这并不是该患者第一次来医院。那里有暴力史。你必须优先考虑员工的安全和福祉，但他们没有这样做。”与达灵顿的护士们和桑迪·佩吉一样，詹妮弗在某些人眼中被描绘成一个煽动者，但她坚称自己绝非如此。她也不认为自己是对方——一个英雄。“我确实觉得自己很勇敢，因为我为自己挺身而出，但也许在某种程度上，我是那个幸运的人。他们为了某种目的而利用我。为了让改变发生，必须有人说‘不’。”在这里，她对上帝的信仰高于一切，但詹妮弗案例中真正令人悲哀的是，她对人性以及对 NHS 这一机构的信心已不复往昔。
她聊到，她的二女儿从事会计工作是一件好事。她的儿子呢？他正在等待 A-level 成绩，并收到了几份 9 月份入学的大学录取通知书——一份是学习电气工程，另一份是从事物理治疗。她知道后者几乎肯定会引导他进入 NHS 职业生涯。“所以我说，‘别那样做。去学电气工程吧。’”她自己的职业生涯停滞了吗？在风波中，她不得不申请新职位，最终接受了一份级别较低的工作。在谈到自己在门诊诊所而非繁忙的外科病房任职时，她说：“我别无选择。那是一个非常不同的环境，但我确实喜欢。这也给了我时间从所有创伤中恢复过来。”
她为洗清名誉而战的斗争可能已经结束，但还有一场更广泛的战斗需要赢得。今年 2 月，詹妮弗会见了妇女与平等事务大臣布里奇特·菲利普森和卫生大臣卡林·史密斯，两人表达了同情，告诉她不应有任何一名护士因为拒绝使用错误的人称代词而像她那样受到惩罚。詹妮弗指出，这里的问题在于，尽管 2025 年最高法院的裁决已经明确女性的法律定义基于生物学性别，但她的 NHS 信托基金和 NMC（护理与助产委员会）遵循的指南似乎在表达完全相反的观点。“这意味着这件事可能会在其他人身上再次发生。现在轮到政治家采取行动了，以确保不再有人经历这一切。医疗专业人员仍然担心自己的处境。”支持詹妮弗的基督教法律中心首席执行官安德里亚·威廉姆斯表示，她的案例“揭露了政府部长给出的保证——即医疗专业人员不应因拒绝使用他们认为不真实的代词而受罚——与某些 NHS 信托基金及 NMC 内部由激进主义驱动的政策现实之间，存在着明显的脱节。‘没有任何一名护士应该面临调查或职业危机。’”
因为 这种情况 而失去我的职业生涯
因为以尊重的方式表达了一个合理的信念。政府既定政策与监管实践之间日益扩大的差距正在造成混乱、恐惧和不公正，这迫切需要得到解决，以便医疗专业人员在履行职责时，不必被迫违背自己的信念。” 那么，詹妮弗对那个引发这一系列事件的患者有什么看法？这有点复杂。 “因为他，我本可能会失去我的职业生涯。他的所作所为非常自私。但我对他没有恨。事实上，我祝他一切顺利。我不希望他对他的对待方式与对待其他患者有任何不同。” 她会亲自治疗他吗？她点了点头。“会，我会像对待我自己的家人一样对待他。”
尽管在接管权力前有数周的时间准备，安迪·伯纳姆 似乎在治理能力上准备得极其不足。他的政策和支出公告陷入了可以预见的麻烦，即便伯纳姆先生过于忙碌或过于兴奋，他的随从们也本该察觉到这一点。在大多数情况下，最明显的问题是：“你打算如何支付这笔费用？”而给出的答案充其量是含糊其辞。 这有一个简单的原因。伯纳姆先生和大多数社会主义者一样，并不真正相信“量入为出”。他说他坚持这种观点，但实际上并非如此。 一次又一次，工党政府因为这个原因而快意地驶向极其显眼的礁石。他们反复让民众背负债务和税收，加上
在贫困中死去—— 还是把它交给 税务局？
前几天，一笔令人欣喜的资金汇入了我的银行账户。这是我母亲在二月去世后，其遗产中的部分现金。我继承的金额并不巨大，但比我预想的要多。而这笔钱之所以还存在，主要归功于她近年来的居家护理费用——直到最后几天接受国民医疗服务体系（NHS）的帮助之前——都由我的姐姐支付。 我意识到这种情况并不普遍，因为大多数人可能别无选择，只能耗尽资金来照顾自己的晚年。我一次又一次地告诉母亲，把她有的钱全部花掉直到用完为止，到时候我们再接手。尽管这不理智，但她拒绝为自己花钱，这在我看来是一种近乎原始的冲动，许多人都感同身受：希望能给我们留下一些东西——以某种方式照顾我们，甚至在死后也能做到。尽管她在生前无法照顾好自己。 随着新任首相的就职，究竟如何为社会护理提供资金的问题再次成为中心话题。无论安迪·伯纳姆 有多聪明，我非常怀疑他能否解决这个问题，因为无论选择哪种方案，没人会喜欢。 事实是，这个国家的大多数人并没有足够的资产来支持大约五年以上的高标准护理，即便他们有储蓄和房产。而像我这样拥有资产的人，是通过艰苦努力才实现的，而且相当喜欢在离世时能留下一些东西的想法。但审视我自己对此的态度
从未在 工党的议程之上
偶尔的货币贬值，或者是像私人融资计划（PFI）这种隐藏支出的畸形产物。而现在，历史又要重演了。 一项针对伯纳姆承诺的托利党 分析显示，他已经承诺支出 £95.9 billion，而他并没有这笔钱。他试图用一些泡沫般、含糊不清的说法来掩盖这一点，声称资金将来自取消某些项目——但遗憾的是，这些项目实际上并没有被拨专款。因此，
Shulman的
真实的金钱将以某种方式从纯粹的理论金钱中提取出来，就像从黄瓜里变出月光一样。我们又来了。 无论推翻基尔·斯塔默爵士是为了什么，其目的都不是为了平衡国家账目。如果凯米·巴德诺克及其副手有意识地利用目前摆在他们面前的绝佳机会，其主要影响很可能是托利党的迅速复兴。
事实上，我意识到自己完全陷入了矛盾。理智的一面接受了这样一个事实：我们不能期望在为孩子保留房产或存款的同时，还能获得高质量且全额资助的护理。我认为我的儿子完全不需要从我这里继承遗产，因为他接受了良好的教育，且到目前为止生活一直非常优渥。而感性的一面则认为——这适用于许多拥有足够资产以维持生计的人——我不希望把所有的钱都花在一家糟糕的养老院里。 我在两种想法之间摇摆，但越来越倾向于一位富有的金融专家曾经给我的建议：死的时候账户里空无一物。 新政府可能会在这个决定上给我提供帮助，因为他们看起来非常热衷于确保我们没有太多可以传给后代的财产，而即便有，也会被税收吞噬。 职业规划往往取决于运气
一位曾任职于《Vogue》的前同事最近为我的旧团队成员举办了一次大约 20 人的聚会。我很高兴地看到他们大多过得很好——尽管没有一个人还在《Vogue》工作——与斯塔西·杜古伊（Stacey Duguid）形成鲜明对比。杜古伊曾在《Elle》及其他高级时尚岗位工作数十年，她最近在社交媒体上的坦白引起了轰动：她今年 51 岁，有两个孩子，目前正领取通用信贷（Universal Credit）并在当地就业中心排队。 在分析这些截然不同的经历是否有什么可借鉴之处时，我不得不得出结论，运气是最大的因素。虽然我的前团队成员很少有全职工作，但几乎所有人都开拓了某种新的赚钱方式，并且幸运地拥有能在过渡期间支持他们的伴侣，而杜古伊则要应对一场痛苦的离婚。 尽管寻找人生这个阶段的可靠路线图会很美好，但在观察了这群 50 多岁和 60 多岁的女性后，我只能得出结论：根本不存在这样的东西。 独眼巨人在中年焦虑面前败北
又是一场夏季电影对决——克里斯托弗·诺兰的大预算作品《奥德赛》（The Odyssey）对阵奥利维亚·王尔德极其幽默的《邀请》（The Invite）。《奥德赛》可以说是一部过长的三小时史诗，演员阵容庞大；而《邀请》则是一部四人剧，场景仅限于美国公寓的一个房间内。 不出所料，我支持《邀请》，因为一部关于中年礼节的极其痛苦的喜剧，比一个吃人的独眼巨人以及没完没了的战斗场景更合我的胃口。 不过，好消息是这两部电影都让电影院座无虚席，将人们从沙发上吸引出来，这正是电影业繁荣所需的一切。 我实在无法忍受在晚餐时看到短裤
每年夏天都会出现一个“男士穿短裤”的问题——而今年夏天的情况比以往任何时候都更严重，因为在热浪袭来之际，如此之多的男士开始在城镇中裸露双腿。 就我个人而言，我不喜欢男士在城市里穿短裤，而且就像最近一项调查中参与的日本女性所提到的那样，她们引用了“sunehara”——即腿毛骚扰——显然并不认为短裤适合作为办公着装。 我们刚刚结束在意大利的一次短暂假期，带着一个
应该 闭嘴 ……
一封信中，超过 100 名“爱国百万富翁”告诉首相：“我们希望您向我们征税。我们负担得起。” 没错，他们负担得起。但他们同样负担得起雇佣专家来减轻税负。 难道说，他们实际上是希望伯纳姆先生向其他人征税，而那些人可没那么热衷？ 对于这种情况，有一个非常古老的词汇：伪善。 莱尼克先生应该在秘密和沉默中行善。 事实上，他制造的动静越小越好。
一个多代人的团体。白天我们穿着任何凉快衣服，但晚上我们会努力打扮得体一点。有趣的是，那些坚持在晚餐时穿宽松短裤和 T 恤的竟然是老家伙们，而年轻人则穿上长裤和挺括的衬衫——看起来时尚得多。 花园在 午夜被浇透
同样在意大利南部，有一个打理得非常精美的花园，每天都浇水。那里没有禁止使用软管或洒水器的规定。 不像在伦敦，泰晤士水务的禁令意味着如果你在午夜之后探出窗外，你听到的不是乔尼·米切尔的《夏日草坪的嘶嘶声》（她那首关于美国富裕阶层空虚的歌曲，那里洒水器让草坪保持翡翠绿），而是前花园浇水时发出的嘶嘶声，人们希望能逃过检测。
势头强劲：凯特·加拉韦
卷土重来
是否有人注意到在户外行走时佩戴卷发卷的趋势？上周，凯特·加拉韦被拍到佩戴卷发卷进入电视演播室，但最近我在火车上、地铁里以及街道上看到许多女性正自豪地展现她们内心深处的希尔达·奥格登风格。
埃利奥特·弗兰克斯
7 月 26 日 • 2026 年 《星期日邮报》 我 有一个坦白：我曾经秘密地喜欢过安吉拉·雷纳。我们曾在国会议员茶室里聊天，我曾与她一起大笑——她那种响亮且淘气的哄笑非常有感染力。 我钦佩她的信念，希望她能取得成功——对于一个政治观点与我截然相反的人来说，这很奇怪。 然而，这是一种对同样来自北方的女孩的情感反应，她来到了威斯敏斯特，走过了一条艰辛的道路，并且与我一样出身于类似的市政房背景。 但是，天啊，她现在变成了一个多么圆滑的投机者。一个最糟糕的贪财之辈，因为在她眼中闪烁的金钱符号之外，她是一个彻头彻尾的伪君子。 为了解释原因，我需要回溯到 2022 年，当时我以文化部长的身份离开了保守党内阁。 在我最后一期的部长薪酬包中，有一笔 16,876 英镑的离职金。 这并非经过艰苦争取才得到的赔偿金，而是发给所有离职部长的自动金额。 完全公开地说，我甚至不知道有这么回事。然而，两年后，在一家报纸发现我的旧……之后，这笔款项似乎成了至关重要的国家话题。
骗子和 一个镀金的 伪君子
部门公布了他们的年度账目。显然，有一项规定是 65 岁以上的部长不应领取该款项，因此我是在错误的情况下收到付款的。 这似乎是一个相当歧视年龄的规定，应该予以修改，但这并非由我来提出。 我本可以指示我的律师提起诉讼，拒绝归还这笔数额巨大的资金，但那不是我的作风。 我尊重《部长准则》，并决定立即退还款项，但在那之前，不出所料，我被左翼记者围攻，要求知道我是否会把钱还回去。 带头攻击的是尖酸且一直令人不快的一名女性——艾米莉·索恩伯里（Emily Thornberry）（不出所料，基尔·斯塔默和安迪·伯纳姆都没有在他们的内阁中为她安排位置）。她向任何愿意倾听的记者和媒体机构大声叫喊我的名字，因此，BBC 必然会打电话来，询问我是否愿意接受劳拉·昆斯伯格（Laura Kuenssberg）的严厉质询。 我认为媒体的强烈反应非常奇怪。我甚至在昆斯伯格的节目中开玩笑说，我很沮丧现在每个人都知道我的真实年龄了。 然而，电话依然接踵而至。 记者们并不满足于我承诺偿还资金，因此要求我向他们发送银行账户的截图以证明我已经这么做了。 第二天，款项已支付，错误得到了纠正，世界终于可以重新运转。在任何时候，我都没有坚持那个错误并拒绝偿还。与此同时，安吉拉·雷纳（Angela Rayner）在偿还去年被解职住房部长时收到的遣散费问题上，却坚持己见
部长 离职金。贪婪的 骗子安吉拉 拒绝这样做， 让每一个 有抱负的 工人阶级 女性失望了
她是否在被 Radio 4 的《今日》（Today）节目追讨？ 她的电话是否也因为同样要求查看银行账户截图的记者而爆炸？ 当然没有。雷纳适用一套规则，而我适用另一套。 但真正让她厚颜无耻的是，正是她在 2024 年竭尽全力修改《部长准则》，以将
该条款规定，“任何在因涉嫌严重失职或违反《部长行为准则》而接受调查期间离开部长职位的人员，将无权领取遣散费”。而现在的情况就是这样。雷诺正对着她参与修改的准则竖起中指。因为我们不能忘记她是如何被斯塔默从内阁中踢出的。去年秋天，记者发现她在申报其第二套房产——位于霍夫的一套价值 £800,000 的公寓——的印花税时，少报了 £40,000。即便在最宽松的解释下，这也是一个相当严重的会计错误。
她被举报给英国税务海关总署 (HMRC) 以及议会伦理顾问劳里·马格努斯爵士 (Sir Laurie Magnus)，后者承认，虽然雷诺“表现得正直……但我认为 [部长] 准则已被违反”。因此，她在九月匆忙地回到了后座议员席位，但至少她的口袋里装进了近 £17,000 的遣散费。
如果在失去部长薪水的这十个月里，她过着贫困的生活，我或许可以原谅她想要留住这笔钱。但事实远非如此。请听我简单介绍一下她在那个贪婪的“间隔年”里赚了多少钱。
她即将出版的回忆录预付款让她赢得了 £61,500，同时她在公共演讲中捞到了 £104,000，其中包括为德意志银行和一个房产行业团体举办的两场各 £20,000 的活动。
加上她的遣散费，她的外部收入达到了整整 £182,000 —— 此外，别忘了工党贵族阿里勋爵 (Lord Ali) 捐赠给她的衣服和特权。
这与她在 2023 年关于议员赚取第二收入的虔诚誓言相比，简直到了滑稽的地步。她当时认为：“成为一名议员不是一份兼职。这就是工作本身。工党将终结这种勾当。”那么，就让这件事成为安迪·伯纳姆对其党派所谓“价值观”的第一次考验吧。
但这里除了党派政治之外，还有一个更重要的观点。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。
当你像我和雷诺一样，出身于贫穷和逆境的背景时，你承担着更大的责任，因为你必须一次又一次地证明，你配得上
记住， 是因为她 挥之不去的 丑闻气息
担任部长一职。为什么？因为这有助于确保机会之梯牢牢地立在地面上，从而使其他来自类似背景的女性受益。
为了民主进程，我们必须确保机会之梯不会被那些出身特权阶层的人拉走，因为后者基于人为构建的先入之见，认为像雷诺和我这样的人不合适，且没有能力担任公职。
这就是为什么当我成为一名部长时，我工作得比别人更努力，并确保在离开每个部门时，都留下了一份经过验证的成就清单。
雷诺本应承担同样的责任。她应该对自己要求更高，向世界证明，当威斯敏斯特接纳像我们这样的人时，会从中获益。
雷诺通过她自己的行为记录，辜负了每一个工人阶级出身的女性。她用她的劣迹抹黑了我们，而她在余生中被人们记住的，将不再是她在担任部长期间取得的任何成就（因为根本没有任何成就），而是每次调职后，她身后挥之不去的丑闻气息。
这就是安迪·伯纳姆能做出的最好选择吗？在任命雷诺时，他潜意识里传达了一个信息：标准和部长准则并不重要。
让我告诉他，这些很重要。任何认为任命像雷诺这样如此缺乏道德和伦理底线的人也没关系的总理，显然注定会失败。
MATCHE earn an ot
Fearne and Elliot
MATCHED
:
菲恩是马球好友
在《竞争对手》（Rivals）中，马匹和上流社会扮演着重要角色——因此，昨天在赫林汉姆马球协会（Hurlingham Polo Association）的一场活动上看到这部热门剧集中的两位关键人物，或许并不令人惊讶。 在这部改编自吉莉·库珀（Jilly Cooper）情色小说且由 Disney+ 拍摄的剧中，艾米莉·阿塔克（Emily Atack）饰演莎拉·斯特拉顿（Sarah Stratton），她是托利党议员保罗·斯特拉顿（Paul Stratton）的第二任妻子及前情妇。 她的角色渴望成为一名电视名人，因此阿塔克女士，36，在萨里郡埃根（Egham, Surrey）的活动中与播报员、作家兼播客主持人菲恩·科顿（Fearne Cotton）交谈甚欢也就不足为奇了。 《竞争对手》的导演兼执行制片人埃利奥特·赫加蒂，54，去年获得了国际艾美奖最佳剧集奖，他与科顿女士，44，同行。这对情侣在科顿女士与丈夫杰西·伍德（Jesse Wood，滚动石乐队 Ronnie 之子）分道扬镳后走到了一起。
阳光与微笑：昨天的菲恩·科顿和艾米莉·阿塔克
被迫下台
印度教育部长昨天在全国范围的学生抗议活动中被迫辞职。 由 Z 世代领导的“蟑螂人民党”（Cockroach Janta Party, CJP）誓言，在德尔门德拉·普拉丹（Dharmendra Pradhan）下台后将结束为期五周的“斗争”。 这场运动是在包括试卷泄露在内的丑闻之后发起的，吸引了数百万追随者，并迅速扩大为一场反对总理纳伦德拉·莫迪（Narendra Modi）的抗议浪潮。 其“蟑螂”之名源于印度首席大法官曾使用该词来描述失业青年。据认为，印度近一半的大学毕业生处于失业状态。
CJP 在上周引起了国际关注，当时数十名活动人士在向德里议会进军时被催泪瓦斯、橡胶子弹和警棍击伤。 普拉丹先生在 X 上用印地语宣布辞职，表示他“尊重年轻人的志向、梦想和期待”。 CJP 将这一决定描述为民主的胜利，支持者昨晚在首都举行庆祝活动。 该党表示：“蟑螂人民党立即撤回其在全国范围内的抗议活动。这次青年的斗争将被载入史册。”
A
很多人会非常愿意回到 20 世纪 70 年代。托利党在指责安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）将让我们回到那些年份时应当小心。他不能也不会这样做，但如果人们认为他能且会这样做，很多人反而会为此投票。 作为一个经历过那个十年的人，我厌倦了撒切尔主义的强硬分子不停地唠叨“三日工作周”、飞行纠察员、工会大亨和未经掩埋的尸体。 这并不是因为这些事情没有发生。它们确实发生了，我也报道了其中很多。但这是因为它们只是一个宏大图景中极小的一部分。 那个时代其他令人震惊的特点是：几乎每个人在走出校园后都能直接找到工作；街道平静且有警察巡逻；一个人仅靠一份收入就能养家并提供住房；你吃喝或使用的绝大多数东西都是在英国种植或制造的；如果你进入大学，你不会被强迫背负终身债务。 破碎的家庭要罕见得多，教育更好，毒品不常见。在很多方面，那是一个令人愉快、舒适的 era. 它没有被邪恶的工会破坏，尽管确实有一些愚蠢和荒唐的罢工。真正的问题始于 20 世纪 60 年代，当时第一波巨大的通货膨胀墙击中了这个国家。这在很大程度上是由美国在战争和福利上的巨额支出造成的。 狡猾的哈罗德·威尔逊（Harold Wilson）还使英镑贬值，将其价值削减了 14 比率，但却虚伪地声称“你口袋里的英镑”不会受到影响。我记得他在黑白电视上说着这个谎言。那是巨大的毁灭性全球地震的一部分，其中很大一部分是由愚蠢的越南战争所造成的巨额成本（近乎
汽车最终会吞噬这个国家吗？英格兰现在有一半的议会通过划定车位或设置标志，积极鼓励在人行道上停车。想象一下，如果市政厅鼓励在马路上推婴儿车，“驾驶员”们会闹出多大的动静。
英国每年售出的汽车中，有超过 100 万辆因为体积太大而无法停在标准停车位（宽约 7 英尺 10 英寸，长 15 英尺 9 英寸）内。目前有计划将标准停车位扩大到宽 8 英尺 6 英寸、长 16 英尺 5 英寸，以应对日益庞大的汽车。
因此，留给人类的空间就更少了。英国目前约有 33 million 辆汽车，其中大部分每天有 23 小时在排水沟边贬值。目前约有 £92billion 的资金被贷给人们用于购买汽车。
明年我希望出版一本名为《汽车的疯狂》的书。这就是原因。
[[IMG_XXXX]] 查尔斯和卡米拉在英联邦运动会上从一个 TARDIS（一个 19 世纪 20 年代的警亭）中出现。真是个绝妙的噱头。但你绝不会看到一个警察（已灭绝）从警亭（已废除）或警察局（大多已关闭）中走出来。监狱如此拥挤的原因不是因为我们关进去的人太多，而是因为罪犯在成为惯犯之前没有遇到法律或惩罚。到那时，监狱作为威慑手段就失效了。
（就像我们目前在乌克兰和伊朗的战争一样愚蠢）。我们做的一些事情让情况变得更糟，尤其是加入共同市场和放宽明智的债务限制。是的，罢工通常是危险且具有破坏性的，而且很少能带来多少好处，但大多数这样做的人只是试图赢回被剧烈通货膨胀夺走的部分财产。
对于任何收入较低或领取固定养老金的人来说，通货膨胀都是可怕的。在通胀初期，当我们还使用我们可爱的旧货币时，商店和市场上的物价对于一个 1660 年代的英国人来说应该是可以认出的。到最后，所有物价都疯涨了，而且从那时起一直如此。
我清晰地记得 1973 年的那一天，那些相对满足的日子彻底结束了。我的妻子（当时还不是）和我花了一个美丽的 10 月初在剑桥的河上撑船，然后乘火车回到 London，我们在那里度周末——结果发现，当我们懒洋洋地晒太阳时，战争和苦难已经袭击了中东。
第四次重大阿拉伯-以色列冲突——赎罪日战争，在当天的午餐时间爆发，并导致油价飙升，就像唐纳德·特朗普的伊朗冒险现在所导致的那样，改变了我们所知的世界。对我来说，地球明显变暗了，我认为它再也没有完全恢复那个遥远的下午所具有的轻快阳光感。
上周三，《每日邮报》报道称，一名法官谴责了将大麻合法化的呼吁。他在判决一名男子时如此表示，该男子以如此凶残的手段将他 73 岁的母亲殴打致死，以至于他自己的手也骨折了。该男子在习惯性吸食大麻后发疯，随后杀害了母亲。
Steven Everett 法官警告说，大麻是一种“可怕”的物质，它“导致并加剧了”心理健康问题。他说，将大麻去刑事化的运动是“完全错误的”。法官命令将其无限期拘留在精神病房。
BBC 网站报道了此案，却一次也没有提到大麻。这是为什么？
我是谁？ l 我为 Percy Pig 的广告配音。 l 我创立了一个零酒精啤酒品牌。 l 我梦游，且经常在睡梦中脱衣服。 l 我开始获得电影角色时变得自大，所以我妈把我送去上木工课。 l 我去过布朗克斯科学高中，但只是为了学习如何扮演美国青少年。 l 小时候我因为学习芭蕾而被欺负——考虑到我在《比利·艾略特》中的突破，这很贴切。 l 我的脚上有个蜘蛛侠纹身，并且在周五上映的一部电影中再次饰演该角色。
我们有趣的每周测验，请您根据新闻中的人物、地点和事物来猜测……
我是谁？ l 我是为了销售报纸而发明的。 l 竞争者曾使用硝化甘油作为性能增强剂。意大利人马里奥·西波利尼 (Mario Cipollini) 曾将帕米拉·安德森 (Pamela Anderson) 的裸照作为动力。 l 我雇佣人员将涂鸦在路上的卡通阴茎修改为不那么冒犯的设计。 l 竞争者流下的汗水足以冲洗 39 次马桶。 l 第一个穿我那件著名的黄色球衣的人讨厌它让自己看起来像只金丝雀。 l 我今天在巴黎结束。
我在哪里？ l 这里曾是 18 英寸高的杰弗里·哈德逊爵士 (Sir Jeffrey Hudson) 的家，他是“女王的侏儒”，曾被装在派里呈给查理一世的妻子亨丽埃塔·玛丽亚 (Henrietta Maria)。 l 按照传统，到访的贵族和皇室成员必须递交一个马蹄铁。 l 这里的一个村庄与巴黎结为友好村庄——而法国首都从未同意过。 l “水坝破坏者” (Dambusters) 曾使用这里的一个水库来练习他们的第二次世界大战轰炸袭击。 l 这里的一所学校曾教育过鲍里斯·卡洛夫 (Boris Karloff)、斯蒂芬·弗雷 (Stephen Fry) 和里克·斯坦 (Rick Stein)（见左图）。 l 我是英格兰最小的郡，但面临着被计划中的边界变更（再次）抹除的威胁。
答案：汤姆·霍兰德 (Tom Holland)，环法自行车赛，拉特兰郡 (Rutland)。
STEVE BENNETT
引发大停电担忧
控制室工程师称，负责陈旧的国家能源电网的“不诚实”老板们正在将生命置于危险之中，因为他们拒绝承认系统已处于崩溃边缘。
举报者告诉《星期日邮报》，安全违规行为已成常态，而一场灾难性的停电是“工程上的必然”。
相关内部人士指责老板们掩盖真相，并表示他们花了两年时间警告国家能源系统运营商 (Neso) 和监管机构 Ofgem 的高管，称向“净零”目标的冲刺意味着他们已经“失去了对系统的控制”。然而，并未采取任何行动。
上周，在泄露的文件揭露该网络在 6 月 23 日因风能和太阳能短缺而接近关停后，Ofgem 下令展开调查。
但消息人士告诉 MoS，问题的真实规模要严重得多，自从工党上台并加速推动“清洁”能源以来，电力电网一直处于失控状态。他们表示，数以千计的新风电场、太阳能电场和电池储能单元正在破坏网络的稳定性。
现在，一组 Neso 工程师向公众和 Ofgem 呼吁，帮助揭露真相。
“我们这些工程师已经在两年前就请求 Ofgem 调查并确保系统安全。这只需要求 Neso 提供证明，证明其始终能够……”
计算出需要多少能源。但他们不会这样做，也不会进行调查。所以我们已经告诉了全世界。 “6月23日仅仅是平凡的一天。我们无法控制系统。我们已经尽力了。 现在交给公众和监管机构了。请帮帮我们。” 能源顾问凯瑟琳·波特（Kathryn Porter）告诉《星期日邮报》：“系统正一天比一天波动。Neso 已经无法对系统进行建模。如果你无法预测系统，你怎么能声称能安全地运行它？” 去年西班牙和葡萄牙发生了 16 小时的停电——人们普遍将其归咎于大型太阳能电站引起的问题——直接导致 8 人死亡，但在接下来的两天里可能又导致了 165 人死亡。 一名 Neso 的举报人告诉《星期日邮报》：“情况一天比一天糟糕。我们现在是在飞机起火的情况下盲飞。发生大规模停电已经不是‘是否’的问题，而是一个工程上的必然。” “如果我们使系统部分过载，那就意味着东西会起火或爆炸。电缆会掉落在地上，也许是在高速公路之上，然后产生电弧，喷出火焰，最后掉在地上。” 他们警告说，同事们现在正在“重新运行模型”，试图更改计算结果，并声称 6月23日 没有出现问题。 Neso 的一名发言人表示，将不再对此发表进一步评论。 Ofgem 的一名发言人表示：“我们正在审查 Neso 是否遵守了法规，以及可以吸取哪些教训以提高未来的系统安全性。”
真是极其离谱的一周。 我们迎来了一位新任首相，他似乎主要关注的是在酒吧打啤酒，以及在 TikTok 上拍视频展示自己是个多么超级酷的有趣家伙，与此同时，他还让国家的新任财政大臣（约翰·希利）给酒吧零食评级。 他忙于拍摄“内容”，以至于几乎没有时间眨眼，更不用说真正履行首相的职责了。 我们是否正在见证世界上第一个“网红”首相？接下来会是什么，《跟上伯纳姆一家》？ 在 Instagram 上直播内阁会议？给大臣红匣子评级？ 他会不会推出一系列睫毛嫁接产品？任何事情都有可能。 不过，伯纳姆在上周确实抽出时间做了一件事。他撤销了科学、创新和技术部（DSIT），并将其一个关键部分——人工智能（AI）安全研究所——转移到了内阁办公室。 内阁办公室的职责极其庞大且广泛。它是一个样样通却样样松的杂货铺。
伯纳姆的 动态推送 简直是 平庸之极
理解 AI 安全需要极高水平的专业知识。DSIT 拥有这一切。它是政府中唯一真正理解 AI 的部门。为什么要撤销它？ 可能因为它是基尔·斯塔默爵士的前任里希·苏纳克设立的。它被广泛认为是 AI 安全领域的领先权威，对于测试新 AI 模型的具体功能以及——更重要的——安全性至关重要（例如，AI 公司 Anthropic 就用它来测试其高风险的 Mythos 模型）。 但恰恰因为这个原因（我们不能让托利党的成功故事堵塞了现在“光荣革命”的叙事，对吧？），它必须消失。作为理由，伯纳姆指出了任命一名新的人工智能大臣，该大臣将参加内阁会议。 但尽管这位新成员卡尼什卡·纳拉扬（Kanishka Narayan）被认为是个才华横溢的小伙子，但这——就像伯纳姆的许多做法一样——更多是为了营造一种氛围，而不是实施真正的变革或解决实际问题。 如果没有自己的部门，纳拉扬将几乎没有任何实权。相反， AI 各方面的职责被分摊到了几个政府部门，包括文化部（丽莎·南迪）、商务部（乔纳森·雷诺兹）和内阁办公室（安东尼娅·罗密欧）。 任何对政治稍微有所了解的人都知道，这其实是……
肆虐无禁。 正当我们需要一个大胆且 连贯的计划来应对时， 我们的这位新 TikTok 总理 却在随心所欲
ripe for disaster。在此时此刻， 我们真正需要的是在该领域 制定一个大胆且连贯的战略， 但伯纳姆却将 AI 视为安抚 部长们虚荣心的棋子。 也许这是因为他真的没有 意识到局势的严重性。事实上， 他似乎认为 AI 纯粹是个巨大的 笑话。以至于在本周早些时候， 他在 TikTok 上发布了一段视频， 在视频中他给 AI 生成的、用于 其新设立的 10 号唐宁街北部办公室 的海报打分（如果你不相信我， 可以去查看他的官方动态： 那简直是平庸之极的体现）。 他错了。AI 是这个国家面临的 最重要的议题之一，如果不是 最重要的话。如果它继续目前的 发展轨迹，它将改变我们所有人的 生活。无论结果是好是坏，都 取决于像伯纳姆这样的人。但 显而易见的是，情况远非 尽在掌控。 提醒一下，上周有消息披露， 两个新版本的 ChatGPT 突破了 一个所谓的安全测试环境， 获得了互联网访问权限，并 入侵了一家名为 Hugging Face 的公司服务器，它们在那里 潜伏且未被察觉，随后窃取了 完成开发人员指派任务所需的 信息。 换句话说，它们脱离了控制。 但事实证明，它们绝非个案。 本周晚些时候，正如《每日邮报》 独家报道的那样，安全专家透露， 他们测试过的每一个 AI 模型 都试图通过欺骗手段绕过 安全控制。 这促使反对党党魁凯米·巴德诺赫 发出警告，称这项技术现在 对英国的安全性构成了“明显 且现存的威胁”。与此同时， 英格拉银行行长安德鲁·贝利 表示，公众应对“前沿 AI 给 金融部门及其客户带来的更 广泛的风险”感到担忧。 事态即将变得严峻。 人类正在失去对这个……的控制
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自原子弹以来最强大的发明，而似乎没有人有计划。 我第一次开始担心这件事是在十多年前，当时 OpenAI 创始人 Sam Altman 在 2015 年开玩笑说，它可能会抹除人类种族——但是在很多人从中赚了很多钱之后才会发生（到目前为止，他大约说对了一半）。 在我看来，科学家们创造一项实际上将使人类大脑变得多余的技术，简直是彻头彻尾的疯狂。我不明白为什么掌权者看不到潜在的威胁以及优势，而且至少没有尝试设定一些界限。 除了它开始带来的经济和社会变革——整个就业市场的潜在毁灭，以及艺术和创意产业的空心化——还有一个恐怖的问题，即如果它落入错误的人手中会发生什么。 而它已经落入了。 毕竟，AI 不像其他潜在的致命物质，即受国际协议控制。任何有互联网连接的人都可以免费使用。博科哈拉姆（Boko Haram）和其他伊斯兰国相关网络正在其行动中使用 AI 来增强其战斗能力。俄罗斯和伊朗也在这样做。 在更具体的层面上，许多煽动社交媒体并导致线上线下如此多仇恨的虚假信息都是 AI 生成的。这些东西正在以我们甚至没有意识到的方式重塑我们的大脑和我们的社会。而且 AI 没有道德或界限，除了实现其自身目标外，没有任何指令。你简直就像是让一个蹒跚学步的孩子掌管全球核武库。
年度专栏作家 五年来 四次获奖！
你简直就像是 让一个蹒跚学步的 孩子掌管
十年前，还来得及踩刹车。现在，情况要难于弥补得多。因为
AI 的真正问题在于，它的进化速度超过了任何人的预期。 虽然人类在技术发展方面花了数千年才达到今天的程度，但 AI 在短短几分钟和几秒钟内就跨越了这些时间线。 目前，它的能力每四个月翻一番。这意味着在一年后，这些模型——你知道的，那些正从其“沙箱”中逃脱并在互联网上横行的模型——的能力将比目前强三倍。而且这种能力还将继续增加。 所以，忘掉生活成本危机、公交车票价、税收上涨、气候变化、女性是否可以拥有阴茎……把这些全部忘掉：如果政治家现在不能掌控局面，很快我们将发现自己处于一个无法回头的时间点。 也许我们已经到了那里。我在这个领域接触过的每一位专家都说同样的话：我们现在最好的希望是，AI 领域的两大主要参与者——中国和美国——能够搁置分歧，就这项技术的使用达成某种类似于核协定的协议。 换句话说，人类的未来取决于唐纳德·特朗普和习近平能否进行一次理性的、成年人的对话，其中每一方都同意不再任性发脾气。 好吧。我想，在它持续期间的时候确实很有趣……
工作之行：巴尔纳贡城堡 (Balnagown Castle)
城堡虐待指控的 调查将重启
《星期日邮报》可以透露，警方已重启对前哈罗德百货 (Harrods) 老板穆罕默德·法耶德 (Mohamed Al Fayed) 性侵指控的调查。 警方正在审查报告
关于这位名声扫地的亿万富翁在高原庄园“恐怖之堡”中虐待行为的指控，可追溯到 30 年前。一名曾在哈罗德百货（Harrods）工作的员工此前透露，1991 年在前往罗斯郡巴纳高温城堡（Balnagown Castle）旅行期间，她遭受了一次恐怖的袭击，她将其描述为一次强奸未遂。现年 58 岁的索菲亚·斯通（Sophia Stone）表示，她终于在 2021 年鼓起勇气向苏格兰警方报案，但警方称由于缺乏佐证，无法推进此案。
《星期日邮报》（MoS）获悉，今年一名新证人出现，能够证实斯通女士的描述，这促使苏格兰警方重新启动调查。该证人被认为是在此次旅行中同行的一名哈罗德百货员工。另一名女性此前也声称，几十年前在该庄园被法耶德（Fayed）家族的另一名成员性侵。
在斯通女士报案时，伦敦大都会警察局已收到数十起针对该商人的类似性质投诉。他在两年后去世。
斯通女士昨天表示：“我很高兴听到苏格兰警方在重新审理我的案件。该案的关闭对我个人来说是毁灭性的。”
负责调查性虐待丑闻的全党议会小组的两名议员也在 11 月促请警方重新调查。
斯通女士从 1988 年开始在哈罗德百货工作，当时她 19 岁。她很快被这位埃及业主看中，并被提拔为他的私人助理，在任职期间经常遭受性骚扰。
在一次前往巴纳高温（由法耶德于 1972 年购买）的旅行中，斯通女士称他进入她的房间，脱掉睡袍并强行将她压在身下。
现任斯塔福德郡接待员的斯通女士认为，那些协助法耶德实施犯罪的人也应被追究责任。
一名警方发言人表示：“进一步的调查正在进行中。”
我们以一贯的不羁方式，审视未来几天可能爆发的一些故事……
周一 由于所有可用水源都得用来稀释安迪·伯纳姆的承诺，更多禁用水管禁令被出台。
与此同时，新任首相公布了他应对生活成本危机的旗舰政策：Freddos 巧克力价格将钉在 10p。
周二 伯纳姆承认，北区 10 号（No 10 North）的永久住所要到 2032 年才能完工——这是工党快速住房建设政策的又一次胜利！
在完成了英国首个身体艺术学位的首年学习后，一些学生认为他们有望获得一个“纹身二等二（tattoo-2-2）”学位。
周三 英联邦运动会负责人坚持认为，球迷们几乎没有注意到该赛事的削减成本措施，因为金牌是在 Subbuteo 足球、马里奥赛车和捉迷藏项目中颁发的。
指控：索菲亚·斯通
周四 有人质疑木偶（Muppets）是如何参与到世界杯决赛中的，但国际足联（Fifa）官员表示，作为美国总统，唐纳德·特朗普有权出席。
棕榈滩 7 岁以下五人制足球赛现场出现愤怒场景，因为特朗普先生不得不被强行拖离颁奖照片现场。
周五 在誓言要制作一个非“觉醒”、且“符合历史事实”版本的《奥德赛》后，埃隆·马斯克被告知这是一个纯虚构作品，就像 X 的在线安全政策或美伊停火协议一样。
身在狱中的安德鲁·泰特（Andrew Tate）在发给其 11 million 粉丝的一系列推文中抗议，称他不被允许与外界进行任何接触。
周六 随着法国的洋葱耗尽，人们看到身穿条纹毛衣的骑行者脖子上挂着一串串高卢牌（Gauloises）香烟骑车穿梭。
T
娱乐版！
顾问编辑 娱乐圈
[[IMG_XXXX]] 一脸幸福地举起白葡萄酒杯互相庆祝，理查德·梅德利 (Richard Madeley) 和他的妻子朱迪·芬尼根 (Judy Finnigan) 在一家地中海餐厅合影。 对于这对夫妇的粉丝来说，这在公开场合罕见地见到了这对组合。他们在 20 世纪 90 年代成为国民级名人，当时数以百万计的观众收看他们主持的 ITV 节目《今晨》(This Morning)。 尽管 70 岁的理查德比他的妻子小 8 岁，且依然深受电视高层的青睐——他主持 ITV 的《英国早安》(Good Morning Britain)，最近还主持了 Channel 5 的《走进世界超级监狱》(Inside The World’s Mega Prison)——但朱迪几乎已经完全退出了公众生活。 在照片下评论的人们很高兴地看到她的状态如此之好。但引发最多讨论的是这对夫妇 40 年的婚姻。 正如理查德的一位老友所说：“他相当英俊，而且依然是一位处于巅峰期的知名名人。很多男人到现在可能早就离开并与年轻得多的女性同居了。但这种念头从未在他脑海中出现过。在对待朱迪这件事上，从来没有任何他做坏事的迹象。” “他完全且彻底地爱着她，就像他第一次见到她时那样。当他谈起这件事时，他的脸在发光——那是改变生活的时刻，也是让他如此幸福的时刻。”
他如何与朱迪相识时 脸上焕发出光彩
那天是在 44 年前，当时理查德作为一名初级记者走进曼彻斯特的格拉纳达 (Granada) 电视新闻编辑室，穿着一套后来被朱迪形容为“荒谬的天蓝色西装”的衣服。 两人当时都与他人结婚——朱迪已经有两个孩子——但他们十分投缘，在与各自的伴侣离婚后开始了一段浪漫关系。他们于 1986 年结婚，同年晚些时候，杰克 (Jack) 出生，一年后克洛伊 (Chloe) 随之而至。 而他们的关系也助力了他们的事业——两年后，在 ITV 高层决定希望主持人们是一对夫妇之后，他们被从地方新闻节目中选出，去主持一个新节目《今晨》(This Morning)。他们一夜之间便成为了
44 年前 Judy 第一次见到 格拉纳达电视台（Granada）的新 男孩，穿着他那套“傻傻的 天蓝色西装”
成功，主持该节目 13 年。观众们喜爱他们之间真挚的 关系，以及他们分享了更多 关于婚姻的私密细节，包括 Richard 的结扎手术。 他们在 2001 年卸任，当时 第 4 频道（Channel 4）为他们提供了 自己的节目《Richard & Judy》，该节目 运行了七年。但自那时起， 除了偶尔在《Loose Women》中 露面，Judy 几乎没有在 荧幕上出现过。 有些人刻薄地推测 年龄歧视起到了作用；并且 Judy 对丈夫仍在工作的 事实感到不满。 但其他人坚持认为她非常 快乐，并为 Richard 的 电视事业得以延续而感到自豪——并且 补充说，退到幕后是她的选择。 她一直在与健康问题作斗争， 在 2018, 年遭受了近乎致命的 胃溃疡破裂，这 需要两次救命的 输血。 但在那之前，她在 2013 年 告诉本报，她已经 接受了 Richard 更加 社交活跃的事实，并承认自己 “在电视上从未感到自在”。“我 一点也不想念它，”她说。“我不 喜欢处于聚光灯下，有时 感觉就像在跑步机上一样。电视 榨干了我的生命。” 上周，一位亲密朋友告诉我： “他们达成了一个协议，只要 Richard 依然被电视界 需要，他就会继续做。他热爱 此道，而且 Judy 一直以来 对他的事业非常支持。 “她为他感到自豪，而且她仍然 喜欢帮他准备并 给他反馈。这非常 甜蜜。而且就像许多退休 女性一样，她们喜欢男人 出门在外，而不是在家里 碍事。”至关重要地，我被告知，她 还把 Richard 牵在一条很紧的
绳子上，所以他从未能够 像他的一些电视 同行那样到处乱跑。 Judy 用书籍取代了电视—— 撰写了几部小说，其中 一些设定在康沃尔（Cornwall），他们在那里 有一栋度假屋。这对夫妇仍然 经营着他们极其受欢迎的 读书会，尽管现在是在线形式。 在工作之余，Judy 是一位溺爱的 祖母，有五个孙辈，包括 Chloe 与前英格兰 橄榄球运动员 James Haskell 关系中 出生的三岁女儿 Bodhi。 她经常帮忙照顾孩子， 一名消息人士称，她将这个角色 看得“非常认真”。 “Judy 喜欢这样，她绝对 溺爱她的孙子孙女，”这位朋友说。 “她现在把这视为她的 天职，孩子们也非常崇拜 她。Richard 则是那个更逗趣的 爷爷。”在 39, 岁的 Chloe 三年前与
以此共勉：Richard 和 Judy 在一家地中海餐厅 庆祝他们的结婚周年纪念
Haskell 分手时，她也给予了支持。 “Judy 知道处于公众 关注之下是什么感觉，”这位朋友说。 “所以当 Chloe 经历那次糟糕的分手时， 她求助于的是 Judy。 她是一位睿智的女士。” 认识她的人说， Judy 也有着“极佳的幽默感”—— 这在应对 Richard 时 非常有用。 如今，作为《Good Morning Britain》 苏珊娜·里德（Susanna Reid）的共同主持人之一， 他经常发表令人尴尬的评论， 导致他在社交媒体上被 比作艾伦·帕特里奇（Alan Partridge）。 “Richard 就是 Richard，”一个人说。 “他总是会说和做一些事情
对待她作为 祖母的新角色
那些事情会让朱迪翻白眼或 做鬼脸，但这就是他的天性， 而她禁不住因此而爱他。理查德 有时是个笨蛋，但他 是朱迪的笨蛋。 “他总是很乐意被她约束， 因为他绝对崇拜她。这就是 他们在一起时的相处方式。 他们依然拥有那种让观众 沉醉了数十年的化学反应。” 了解他们的消息人士称，他们 喜欢通过在北伦敦汉普斯特德 最喜欢的当地餐厅定期约会 来“保持浪漫”。 “他们喜欢一起开心地笑，喝杯 葡萄酒，”一位消息人士说。 “他们的关系一直建立在欢笑之上。 这很美好。” 而他们长期婚姻的秘诀是？ “理查德愿意为朱迪做任何事。 她的幸福一直是他最优先考虑的事，” 这位朋友说。 “朱迪近年来慢了下来， 但他很乐意照顾她， 而且他依然有足够的精力 供两人使用。 “他们度过了一个又一个美好的 岁月，并希望未来还有 很多、很多这样的日子。”
U
出乎意料的访客在奎恩莫尔（Quernmore）的一所微型小学里颇为罕见，这是一个隐藏在北兰开셔尔郡广阔荒原中的偏远村庄。学校附近唯一的建筑是圣彼得教堂，学校与教堂共有坚定的基督教价值观和一面干石围墙。然而在 2022, 7月，就在 100 名学生放暑假前不久，教师瑞秋·史蒂文森（Rachel Stevenson）听到一辆摩托车在车道上嘎然而止，发现自己面对着一个穿着黑色皮革机车装备的陌生男人。这位访客给 55 岁的史蒂文森女士带来的任何担忧很快就消散了。因为这位看起来处于中后期的骑行者，并不是什么心怀不轨、粗犷的“地狱天使”。他递给她一个装有 10 枚 1盎司不列塔尼亚金币的袋子（当时每枚价值 £1,000），结果证明他是一位守护天使。作为一名虔诚的基督徒，他正在进行一场慈善远征——在他游览北兰开셔尔郡和坎布里亚郡期间，将他的财富捐赠给沿途那些美丽但破旧的古老教堂及其附属学校。虽然这位神秘的骑行捐助者（他还在相邻教堂的门下留了三枚金币）似乎在四个夏天前的一短时间内完成了全部或大部分捐赠，但出于我将要解释的原因，这些事情直到现在才被揭露。目前已知他向同一地区的至少 8 座小教堂和 2 所学校交付了 53 枚金币——其中大多是金币，本周每枚价值已飙升至 £3,400。然而，由于部分接收者不愿公开他们的意外之财，据信其他礼拜场所和教育机构可能也从中受益。由于捐赠的性质和规模如此异常，大多数接收者将其悄悄存放于教堂保险柜中，直到最近才在 Chards 将其兑现。Chards 是黑池著名的金条交易商，那位匿名骑行者曾在那里购买金币。总计这些金币换回了约 £100,000 —— 对于那些在会众数量少到可以用两只手数得过来的周日募捐盘子前工作的乡村牧师来说，这是一笔难以想象的资金。由于出席人数减少和维护成本飙升，在过去十年中约有 3500 座教堂关闭。骑行者的无私之举将用于修复渗水的屋顶和彩色玻璃窗；而在奎恩莫尔学校的案例中，其金币售得 £15,000，被用于将一个摇摇欲坠的投影仪更换为互动白板。然而，最感激的受益者可能是圣威尔弗里德教堂（St Wilfrid’s），这是梅林村一座令人惊叹的 14 世纪教堂，安·芬威克（Ann Fenwick）就埋在其中央 the nave，她曾在 1700s 年代英勇地解放了英国的天主教徒。凭借一个
这位神秘的 “来自天堂的 地狱天使”，通过 在祭坛旁秘密留下 袋装的金币， 来拯救我们 日益坍塌的教堂？
你将获得：圣玛格丽特教堂的教堂管理员汤姆·罗斯韦尔（Tom Rothwell）
由于定期礼拜的人数不足一打，该教堂根本没有希望筹集到更换石板瓦及进行其他紧急工程所需的 £750,000，教区居民担心布莱克本教区（Diocese of Blackburn）可能会在阻止其关闭的斗争中失败。 然而，牧师简·李（Jane Lee）在去年复活节期间清理教堂祭坛下方时，在一个塑料袋里的盒子中发现了九枚不列颠尼亚金币（Britannias），这带来了新的希望。 因为尽管这些金币最近拍得的 £30,000 远低于所需的全额费用，但这位守护天使的慷慨促使当地人举行了筹款活动。 随着这个现代寓言在本周传遍全球并迅速走红，教区居民还希望一位更富有的捐赠者能支付剩余的维修费用。 这位机车骑士的慷慨与他的谦逊相称。他如此坚定地要求保持匿名，以至于很少亲自移交金币，而是倾向于将它们留在希望被发现的地方——如祭坛和捐款箱附近。只有极少数人见过他，而这个故事直到几天前才偶然地被揭露。 一名圣威尔弗里德（St Wilfrid’s）教区居民的儿子是伦敦的一名会计师，拥有媒体联系渠道，在听说此事后将其转发。 在这个英国永恒的角落里，这引发了一阵兴奋，志愿者们在他们的教堂里搜寻可能被秘密藏匿的金币。 不幸但不可避免的是，鉴于投机的小偷已经将这些偏远且经常空置的建筑作为目标，人们还担心犯罪分子可能会试图从这位骑士的善良中获利。讽刺的是，霍恩比（Hornby）圣玛格丽特教堂的教堂管理员汤姆·罗斯韦尔说，2022 年悄悄投入捐款箱的三枚金币支付了修复由歹徒造成的损坏的费用。 那些“人渣”拆走了屋顶的铅皮，导致雨水倾泻在管风琴上，但这些金币拍得了 £8,000，而国家教堂信托基金（National Churches Trust）的配套资金使这笔款项翻了一番。 在这位神圣骑士造访的最偏僻地点中，包括圣约翰洗礼堂（St John the Baptist），这是一座位于坦斯托尔（Tunstall）附近，被麦田环绕的极具城堡风格的宏伟建筑。
经历了一番 反思的 可爱之人
卡恩福斯（Carnforth），在 1800 年代初期曾有勃朗特姐妹——夏洛特、艾米莉和安妮到访。在 2022 年的某个夏天，退休教师、时任管理员的苏·亨特（Sue Hunter），69 岁，在清理一场婚礼后的现场时，在一个 Chards 购物袋中发现了一枚金质不列颠尼亚金币和七枚银币。同样，这名摩托车手将它们放在了祭坛上。在确认这些钱财并非作为结婚礼物留下的后，亨特夫人将它们上交予以保管，随后她告诉我，她就“把这件事给忘了”。
四年来，这些钱币一直被锁在保险箱里，如果她前几天没有打开电视新闻，它们可能还会留在那里。现在它们已被售出，金币售价 £3,000，银币售价 £500：这笔资金将帮助保护教堂宏伟的佛兰德斯彩色玻璃窗。
那么，关于这个在自由自在的慈善家的传教骑行路线（该路线从集镇加斯汤（Garstang）的圣多马教堂（St Thomas’s church）向北沿着 A6 和 A683 公路延伸 30 英里，直到甜美且充满游客气息的柯比隆斯代尔（Kirkby Lonsdale）的圣玛丽教堂（St Mary’s））引起一阵阵好奇的问题是：
头盔后的男人是谁？是什么驱使他用黄金铺就这些连接古老教堂的道路？在本周追踪他的足迹并拼凑他留下的线索后，我已非常接近能够提供答案。
我们可以相当肯定地认为他的真实教名是詹姆斯（James），因为在一次孤立的自我揭露时刻，他在梅林（Melling）的圣威尔弗里德教堂（St Wilfrid’s）的访客簿上留下的记录中是这样自称的。日期为 11, 2022, 6 月，时间为上午 11 点，他写道：“多么美丽且宁静的教堂。梅林理应为他们的遗产感到自豪”。他以优雅的笔触在记录末尾签名：“詹姆斯，永生之主的仆人”。
他在一份 2022, 年发行的救世军（Salvation Army）传单上潦草写下的便条中也带有相同的签名，他将便条与九枚金币留在了一起，并声明希望将金币捐赠给教堂。他
y
他似乎也住在，或曾住在距离布莱克浦（Blackpool）骑行距离很近的地方。为了遵守反洗钱法规，Chards 公司记录了他的详细信息。尽管她不能泄露其隐私，但贵金属交易商的运营负责人罗谢尔·加拉德（Rochelle Garrad）表示，此人是“当地人”，年龄在 60 或 70 多岁。
由于他是一位“多年来对黄金感兴趣的长期客户”，她说道，他有时会访问位于黄金英里（Golden Mile）后面的展厅，并停下来与员工聊天。他谈到了自己的宗教信仰，加拉德女士模糊地记得他曾给他们一本他写的关于基督教的书。
当教堂开始联系
f
Chards 公司，表示他们想要兑换在印有该公司标志的袋子中发现的金币时，这些接触帮助他们“拼凑”出了他的身份。
然而，加拉德女士补充道，“詹姆斯”自 2023 年以来一直没有与 Chards 接触，而本周当公司尝试代表我与他联系时（并严格承诺我不会指认他的身份），他没有回应，让我们怀疑他是否还活着。
当然，在他于那个难忘的 7 月在奎恩莫尔（Quernmore）将金币交给雷切尔·史蒂文森（Rachel Stevenson）——他是少数向其透露身份的人之一——的那天，他看起来健康状况良好。史蒂文森女士将他描述为“非常害羞且谦虚”，身穿摩托车皮衣的他在外表上并不富裕，她说他们进行了一次“关于生命和上帝的愉快交谈”。
他解释说，学校和教堂在山谷中相依相顾的样子给他留下了深刻印象，于是他把那一袋金币交给了她（他说当时每枚金币价值约 £1,000），并强调他不希望被致谢或被指认身份。
最近从教师岗位退休的史蒂文森女士以一个快乐的拥抱送他离开，并在“此后数周内一直处于亢奋状态”。
“在他给我的印象中，他是一个真正可爱、温柔、善良的人，他对人生进行了一些反思，只想用自己的钱去做善事，”她本周告诉我。
研究这个骑手的路线，他很可能在出发前在地图上精准地标出了这些教堂，因为其中几家完全不在常规路线上。他甚至可能在一次慷慨的骑行中，将摩托车的侧包塞满了数十枚金币，并在所有留下金币的地方停靠。
因为同样是在 2022 年 7 月，加斯坦（Garstang）圣托马斯教堂（St Thomas’s）的牧师迈克尔·哈钦森（Michael Hutchinson）看到这个男人在礼拜期间走进来，将三枚金币放在一位年长女信徒手中。
“上帝祝福了我，我想祝福你，”他告诉她。当时，
教堂的信众冻僵了，因为暖气系统已经报废，但这几枚金币带来的 £4,293 资金帮助他们购买了新的散热器。
然而，近年来金价的指数级上涨意味着，那些持有金币时间最长的教堂获得了最大的回报。
22 carat, 1oz 黄金 金币最初由
皇家造币厂（The Royal Mint）于 1987 年铸造，
当时的价值为 £100.
在“詹姆斯”分发金币的
2022 年，它们的交易价格为 £1,400. 在随后的四年里，对安全投资的需求使其价格飙升了约 140 l百分比。
因此，当今年早些时候，被这位守护天使眷顾的最北端两家教堂决定将他们的六枚金币打包出售时，他们回收了近 £20,000。
对于卡斯特顿（Casterton）的圣三一教堂（Holy Trinity）来说，他们分得的 £10,000 份额超过了他们的年收入。
神秘骑手的无私之举给他们的财务和士气带来了巨大的提升，布莱克本主教（Bishop of Blackburn）菲利普·诺斯（Philip North）右敬主教本周详细说明了这一点。
他将这些礼物的象征价值描述为“绝对巨大的”。
见我，我们会 找最好的蛋糕 招待他
他们表示，他们已经提醒这些小型农村社区的教区居民，他们拥有支持，并且在热爱自己的教堂这件事上并不孤单。 “基督徒生活的核心便是慷慨之举，”他说。“那是耶稣走向十字架并献出生命。耶稣在圣马太福音的教导中说：‘你们捐赠时要秘密进行’。这种完全无私的匿名捐赠非常美好。” “我不知道[捐赠者]是谁，我也想保持这种未知——除非他想来见我，那样的话，我们将非常欢迎他，并且我们会找最好的蛋糕招待他！” 主教呼吁国家支持那些出席率低的人口稀少乡村教堂的维护工作。为了让这些教堂能够维持运作，他建议它们应该像过去那样，兼作邮局、咖啡馆和社区中心。 他开玩笑地补充道，那位基督徒摩托车手可能还留下了尚未被发现的更多硬币，这对兰开夏郡农村地区的“深度教堂大扫除”来说是“一个非常好的激励”。确实如此。 与此同时，假设这位“地狱天使”守护者仍然骑在马鞍上，英格兰西北部各地那些破旧教堂的管理人将会祈祷他重启他的金色十字军东征。 l 额外报道： Tim Stewart
GUZELIAN / SHUTTERSTOCK / 模特摆拍
I
当你作为一名记者敢于挑战传统观点时，可能会感到孤独——尤其是当你因为一个大流行的原因而挑战两个超级大国和一些世界顶尖科学家时。 因此，看到我的观点逐渐被接受，我感到很欣慰——在与全球其他异见者的共同调查支持下，我认为忽视 Covid-19 可能从实验室泄漏的假设是愚蠢的。 现在很少有严肃的人会否认这一概念，尽管中国在持续掩盖——特别是在中情局（CIA）加入联邦调查局（FBI）和美国能源部的行列，声称这种适应能力惊人的冠状病毒“更有可能”来自武汉的一个实验室，而非从动物身上溢出。 德国情报部门和法国医学科学院也持有这一观点。鉴于大流行带来的持久影响，我们应该无情地追求真相，以保护未来的世界。 然而，六年前当我开始揭开新冠出现之谜时，这一假设被贴上了种族主义和阴谋论的标签。 与许多其他人一样，我被一个奇怪的“巧合”所震惊：它爆发在一家拥有世界最大蝙蝠冠状病毒库并开展旨在提高传染性的高风险研究的秘密实验室所在的城市。 本报应当获得称赞，因为我们发表了一系列开创性的文章，揭露了与美国资金的联系以及不足的
过于普遍”
武汉的安全控制措施、中国独裁政权的欺骗性，以及质疑官方版本事件的研究。 这场争论目前仍无定论。然而有一点很明确：存在一场欺骗公众的阴谋，涉及英国和美国的顶尖科学家及研究资助机构。这些权势人物匆促地在有影响力的科学期刊上发表声明，以反驳关于 Sars-CoV-2（导致 Covid-19 的冠状病毒株）可能与“任何基于实验室的情景”有关的暗示。 但现在我们可以看到，随着他们的主张被撕碎，这场肮脏丑闻中的核心人物是如何反应的。上周，由美国参议院国土安全委员会主席兰德·保罗（Rand Paul）领导的一项调查中，Slack 消息应用程序的私人聊天记录被公开，显示出尽管他们公开立场予以否认，但内心其实非常恐惧实验室泄漏的可能性。 尽管如此，他们依然嘲笑批评者。因为我敢于提出质疑，这些科学家分享的幼稚侮辱中，我被称作“白痴”、“欺负人的人”、“那个混蛋（fer）”、“低智商个体”和“一坨屎”。其他人遭受的辱骂更严重——“F”字出现了 189 次。 他们还谈到了如何阻挠《信息自由》（FOI）请求——这一行为已经导致一名美国参与者面临联邦指控。在我的 FOI 请求因令人发指的安全理由被拒绝后，爱丁堡大学的进化生物学家安德鲁·兰鲍特（Andrew Rambaut）在的一封信中写道：“比雷尔（Birrell）给校长写了一封信，威胁要报道这件事 [指不公开文件]，所以律师只想确保一切就绪，好让他滚蛋（p off）。”
实验室泄漏理论以 掩盖自身漏洞的西方 科学家小圈子，真可耻
风险测试：在武汉秘密的病毒研究所工作的研究人员，该研究所研究冠状病毒。右图：《星期日邮报》勇敢的报道
因此，这家由公共资金资助的高等教育机构——这家自吹自擂拥有“开放文化”的机构——竟然协助扼杀了对一个世纪以来最严重的公共卫生灾难的调查。 请记住，这位教授是世界上被引用次数最多的科学家之一。“不要在电子邮件中讨论，”他在另一个时间点说道，表现出对任何透明度概念的蔑视。“或者仔细筛选一些电子邮件用于 FOI 记录。” 遗憾的是，在疫情期间，这种傲慢和态度变得过于普遍——从而帮助
摧毁了公众对科学和政府的信心……兰鲍特 (Rambaut) 是 2020 年 3 月由《自然-医学》(Nature Medicine) 发表的《近端起源》(Proximal Origins) 声明的五位作者之一。在排除了实验室泄漏的可能性后，该文章成为了学术历史上被引用次数最多的文章之一。随后披露地显示，他们是在前美国总统顾问安东尼·福齐 (Anthony Fauci) 及其上司弗朗西斯·柯林斯 (Francis Collins) —— 时任美国最大医疗资助机构负责人 —— 以及当时富有且显赫的惠康信托 (Wellcome Trust) 负责人、现任世界卫生组织首席科学家的杰里米·法拉尔爵士 (Sir Jeremy Farrar) 的秘密操纵下行动的。
时任政府首席科学顾问的帕特里克·瓦兰斯 (Patrick Vallance) 也是一个关键人物。当我试图通过信息自由法 (FOIs) 获取他关于此问题的电子邮件、会议纪要和笔记时，我收到了 32 封邮件，但几乎每个字都被涂黑删除了。然而，在《自然-医学》声明发表三个月后，第一作者克里斯蒂安·安德森 (Kristian Andersen) 将实验室泄漏的可能性定为 30%。他告诉同事：“我们的论文在表态‘绝不可能’方面非常强硬，但在现阶段，我对该声明的信心有所下降。”
这位丹麦免疫学家在公开场合依然对实验室泄漏理论不屑一顾，不久后他告诉天空新闻 (Sky News)：“正如我们在论文中所描述的，所有数据都强烈表明这是一个天然病毒。”但在私下里，他也承认他们在蝙蝠冠状病毒研究方面做出了虚假陈述：“我们……说这项工作是在‘全世界’开展的，但这并非事实——它仅在 WIV [武汉病毒研究所] 开展。”安德森在讨论福齐和柯林斯时甚至说“他们创造了这种病毒”——并承认“我交谈过的大多数科学家都认为这很可能与实验室有关”。
如果之前没有披露大量关于他们欺骗行为的信息，这件事会更令人震惊。法拉尔在私下讨论武汉生物安全状况如同“西部荒野”。安德森承认实验室泄漏理论“极其有可能”。
最初引起怀疑的是病毒上的“弗林切割位点” (furin cleavage site)，这使得新冠病毒对人类具有高度传染性，但在类似的冠状病毒中从未见过。随后发现，武汉的科学家及其关键的西方合作伙伴在病毒传播的一年前，就曾寻求美国资金，试图将这一特征植入类 Sars 病毒中。
“有人尝试做这些事情，这确实并非不具有可能性，”兰鲍特在这些最新的信息中承认。“我们只需要重新说服自己这只是巧合。”
这是该事件中的另一个奇怪巧合。然而，在实验室获得性感染频繁发生后，排除泄漏理论显得很奇怪——尤其是当这种疾病出现在距离携带类似冠状病毒的蝙蝠最近栖息地数百英里之遥的地方时。
现在毫无疑问，这个由科学家组成的秘密小圈子利用他们的名声，推行一套虚假的叙事，否认实验室泄漏的可能性并将其斥为“阴谋论”，以保护他们自己。如果大流行始于一次实验室事故，那这是人为失误。然而，中国随后的掩盖行为是不可原谅的——在西方协助其掩盖真相的“有用白痴”们同样如此。
他们背叛了人类，也背叛了科学的信条——他们只配得到羞辱和惩罚。
蜘蛛侠的 下一个大角色 ——婚礼派对主持人
“蜘蛛侠”汤姆·赫兰德（Tom Holland）与赞达亚（Zendaya）正计划在英国最著名的城堡之一举办一场盛大的派对，以庆祝他们最近低调举行的婚礼——只要他们能避开一种微小的吸血昆虫。
据我所知，这对新人选择了位于莱斯特郡的贝尔沃城堡（Belvoir Castle），这里是曼纳斯（Manners）家族的领地，由第11代拉特兰公爵大卫·曼纳斯（David Manners）领导。
然而，我听说这对新人在规划过程中遇到了一个小麻烦。一名消息人士告诉我：“最近城堡相关人员在园区部分区域的长草丛中感染了蜱虫。这引起了巨大的恐慌。汤姆和赞达亚此后坚决要求任何客人都不得靠近该区域，以免好莱坞 A 级明星也被蜱虫叮咬。蜱虫会传播莱姆病。”
当这对新人放弃盛大的白色婚礼而选择低调办理时，粉丝们感到震惊。来自伦敦的汤姆，30 岁，一直对此守口如瓶，直到最近才透露他已在亲近家人的见证下，与美国人赞达亚结婚。赞达亚，29 岁，是他的五年女友，并在四部漫威电影中饰演“蜘蛛侠”的搭档。
一个小谎言
时尚达人特林尼·伍德尔（Trinny Woodall）正与她的女儿莱拉（Lyla）发生争执——起因是一条被偷的 Miu Miu 腰带。62 岁的特林尼说：“莱拉走进来宣布：‘我爱我的 Miu Miu 腰带。’”当特林尼指出这件物品直接来自她的衣橱时，22 岁的莱拉反击道：“我两个月前就拿走了。你没注意到，所以它现在是我的了。”捡到就是赚到……
上个月当被问及家人是否参加了婚礼时，他回答道：“是的，他们都在。关于这件事我就说这么多。”
但我的消息人士告诉我，他们计划的派对将与那场低调的婚礼仪式截然不同。
“规模会非常大，”我的消息人士透露，“他们最近在考察场地，指出他们希望放置大钢琴和其他帐篷的位置。”
这对夫妇在不演戏时生活平淡——比如在里士满公园散步并避开聚光灯——但我的消息人士说这次派对将是“史诗级的”。
◆ 导演克里斯托弗·诺兰（Christopher Nolan）最新的大片《奥德赛》（The Odyssey）灵感来自数千年前荷马的史诗，但他自己的品味则更为简单。诺兰宣布，《企鹅波波》（Pingu）——讲述一个说着乱码且会发出“noot, noot”声的拟人化皇帝企鹅家族的故事——是“西方文学的奠基之作”。
他称其为“一个非常人性化的故事。一个关于饥荒、归乡、失去、爱与战争的故事”。是否会被拍成新电影仍有待观察……
有故事分享？请发送邮件至 diary@mailonsunday.co.uk
他的父亲在 1998 年世界杯对阵阿根廷的比赛中著名地收到了一张红牌，但克鲁兹·贝克汉姆（Cruz Beckham）这首足球主题的歌曲《Seeing Red》并未提及此事。
尽管视频中出现了裁判驱逐球员的画面，但贝克斯（Becks）在 16 强赛中因踢迪亚哥·西蒙尼（Diego Simeone）而被早早罚下场的片段并没有被采纳。我想知道这是为什么？
◆ 美妆大亨夏洛特·蒂尔伯里（Charlotte Tilbury）在一次国王信托基金庆祝活动上让君主感到惊讶，因为她违反了皇家礼仪，在国王脸上亲了两次。53 岁的夏洛特并不是第一个给国王带来意外惊喜的红发女性。辣妹组合成员杰丽·哈利威尔（Geri Halliwell）在 1997 年的一场慈善晚宴上曾著名地掐了国王的屁股。
对于《权力的游戏》女演员索菲·特纳来说，真爱的道路从未平坦。 在与Coldplay主唱克里斯·马丁短暂约会后，我可以透露，这位明星已与考德雷公园庄园的继承人佩格林·皮尔逊重启了浪漫情缘。这对情侣（见上图）在去年夏天于一场上流社会婚礼上发生争执后分手，但现在他们已恢复了往日的奢华作风：驾驶快艇疾驰，乘坐敞篷超级跑车。 而他们并不是唯一一对重燃爱火的情侣——贵族洛拉·比特在分手四个月后，再次与模特帕克·范·诺德约会。我的线人发现他们在一起时“亲密无间”，地点在伦敦西区的波托贝洛路。
对于一个不相信婚姻的人来说，社交名媛、Queen乐队鼓手罗杰·泰勒的女儿泰格莉莉·泰勒表达这种观点的方式十分有趣。泰格莉莉曾说，结婚会“夺走所有的浪漫”，但她显然改变了主意，因为这位 31 岁的女性（平时也叫泰格）上周飞往法国参加单身派对，随后将与音乐家 Mkulu Lee（40 岁，见左图）结婚。
I
《生物战》(BIOLOGICAL WAR) 作者
这是一个寒冷的一月之夜，就在午夜前夕，一起爆炸震惊了位于西伯利亚科尔措沃的一家秘密生物研究机构。爆炸震碎了一栋高层建筑的玻璃。五楼的一间实验室起火了。这家机构表面上是一个无害的医学研究单位，实际上是国家病毒学和生物技术科学中心——由于某些不祥的原因，它被称为“矢量”(Vector)。在生物学中，矢量是指能够将病原体从一个宿主传递到下一个宿主的实体，通常通过叮咬宿主生物或吸血来实现。美国官员怀疑，“矢量”的真实功能——就像俄罗斯境内数十个类似机构一样——是对世界上最致命的细菌进行生物技术实验，旨在使其变得更加致命。
“矢量”的冷冻库中存放着一系列细菌，例如引起埃博拉出血热和天花的细菌，以及许多其他杀手。而在这种情景下，这些细菌中包括一种全新的、不可阻挡的鼠疫 Y. pestis 菌株，正是这种细菌引发了摧毁中世纪欧洲的黑死病。由于其严重程度和症状发作迅速（包括败血症和多器官衰竭），这种鼠疫菌株是一种极其危险的病原体。
在“矢量”工作的科学家们非常清楚它的威力。次日早晨，其中一人前往当地的一座东正教教堂忏悔。“父亲，请原谅我，因为我犯了罪，”他告诉神父，“我在我的实验室引起了一次爆炸。”科学家说，实验室声称只进行疫苗研究，但那里同时也运行着非法的生物武器计划。他坦承自己一直在参与其中一个计划，研发一种基因改造的鼠疫武器。昨晚，他的良心终于战胜了他，他决定摧毁自己的研究成果。
“但结果适得其反。本来应该是场小火，结果变成了爆炸。”随着科学家的讲述，他的皮肤下升起一种温暖、刺痒的感觉。他不小心感染了自己。他的中枢神经系统被一种不自然的快感汹涌地充盈——这是病原体改造的特殊设计，旨在鼓励受害者外出社交，从而立即传播细菌。很快，这种快感将转化为恐怖，因为他的每一个器官都将衰竭。
神父给予了赦免，科学家长长地舒了一口气。他咳嗽了一声，向空气中释放了数亿个鼠疫颗粒。这些颗粒被随后进入教堂的人吸入，那是一名回家探亲的学生，很快他将返回洛杉矶的加州大学继续学业。
该学生离开教堂，随后登上一架飞机。就像所有其他商业客机一样，即便在最好的时候，飞机也是一个巨大的细菌工厂。当该学生抵达洛杉矶并前往市中心时，疾病悄无声息地开始蔓延。到第二天早晨：疫情爆发。街道上的人们开始抽搐并倒在地上。其他人昏迷不醒，没有呼吸，口吐白沫。一名男子在谵妄中尖叫，在气喘吁吁时肠道不自觉地排空。另一人从轮椅上跌落，眼睛充血，口边挂着血迹。另一个人的眼睛在流血。在附近，一名妇女在痛苦中扭动，皮肤上布满了红斑。另一名男子弯下腰，咳出肺部的碎片。
人们嚎啕、尖叫，发出野兽般的低吼，仿佛来自但丁的《神曲·地狱篇》或希罗尼穆斯·波希的画作。尽管他们并不知情，但他们是第一批死于这种致命细菌的人。这种细菌即将像野火一样席卷全球，无法控制，无法阻挡，只要不在最初的 24 小时内使用抗生素，它将抹杀掉接触到的每一个人类宿主。在疫情爆发中，时间就是一切。
这完全有可能成为现实。西方国家长期以来都知道，某些病原体正被秘密地武器化以用于杀戮。通过汇总来自总统顾问、微生物学家、流行病学家、外交官以及中央情报局（CIA）的事实和预测，我构建了这种情况可能发生的方式。
如果瘟疫真的汹汹而至，且被刻意设计成一种能够将我们灭绝的生物武器，那么世界末日或许就近在咫尺。而这一切可能在国际社会禁止此类大规模杀伤性武器的情况下依然发生。
一名投奔西方的俄罗斯科学家表示，苏联曾开发并储备了数百吨炭疽杆菌以及数十吨鼠疫和天花病毒，旨在对抗美国及其西方盟友。这是一个规模庞大、非法且绝密的生物武器计划，其唯一目标就是：杀死数亿人。
这显然违反了国际条约，因此他们费尽心思地进行伪装。其中一座主要设施被建成一座精神病院的样子，由穿着精神病患者服装的演员在场地内徘徊。
在间谍卫星的俯视下，这里看起来像是一家疗养院，康复期的患者穿着睡衣走动或在打排球。一个平民掩护机构
尖叫并 发出兽一般的 噪音
该组织创建的目的是为了使其看起来像是在生产疫苗和其他药物。它被命名为 Biopreparat（生物制剂），意为“生物制剂”。根据曾在该组织担任副主管、后叛逃至西方的肯·阿里贝克（Ken Alibek）的说法，这是“冷战中最黑暗的阴谋”。
另一名高级叛逃者透露，当年在俄罗斯，他拥有不设限的预算，以及高达 3,000 名科学家和武器工程师为他工作。他的各个团队不仅制造了生物超级武器，还开发了部署这些武器的手段。他们甚至研究出了如何改装巡航导弹，使其能绕过美国的雷达系统，在大量人口之上喷洒鼠疫和其他病原体云。
为了理解这种病毒传播的速度有多快，我们需要回到那个实验室泄漏事件。
在向神父忏悔后，这名 Vector 实验室的科学家走进了森林。此时，基因改造带来的快感已经消失，鼠疫症状已经显现。他身体的疼痛剧烈到无法言表。他的肺部充满了坏死的细胞组织，他正溺在脓液之中。他意识到自己所做之事的后果，在绝望中决定自杀。
他坐在雪地里，身边放着一支步枪。他神志不清，不停地摸着脸，试图定位额头上那感觉像冰锥一样的东西。他大声哭喊，将血咳在洁白的雪地上。他站起身继续行走。走了几码后，他倒地昏迷。当他醒来时，一群男人正站在他身边盯着他看。其中一个人弯下腰，捏住他的鼻子，按压他的胸口，开始向他的口中吹气。
这些人是参加狩猎之旅的国际运动员。给这名 Vector 科学家进行心肺复苏的人是一位富有的企业家，他的两个大学年龄的儿子也随行。
猎人们轮流将这名垂死的科学家抬回他们居住的狩猎小屋。在那里，他们将这名病危的科学家交给救援服务部门。
这是他们行程的最后一天。他们一起吃晚餐，共用桑拿房，然后在第二天早晨乘一辆小型面包车前往机场。
每个人在不知不觉中，都已经感染了基因改造的肺鼠疫。
在机场，一名来自德国的 80 岁法官正前往日本，他将在那里登上 cruise 游轮进行一次新年航行。
在回到加勒比海家乡登岸后，这位企业家和他的儿子们感到异常兴奋。他们去健身房与其他健身爱好者一起举重，然后去了一家咖啡馆。到傍晚结束时，三人开始感到剧烈不适。他们已无法获救。
与此同时，在那个德国人的游轮上，有 3,700 名乘客和船员。此前他在船上拥挤的酒吧和餐厅穿梭时，一直感觉状态极佳。而现在，在深夜，他虚弱且发烧，几乎无法移动。
船医误诊他为诺罗病毒，建议他在香港下船——这是一个拥有 7.5million 人口的密集城市。在船上，
船医随后开始恐慌。一小时内有 34 例新入院病例。一名护士倒下，口边带着铁锈色的泡沫，血粘液在地板上积聚。
血液中的 Y. pestis（鼠疫杆菌）将毒素注入免疫细胞，使身体无法进行防御。
也许是一位来自……的商人
完全崩溃
越南人当时也在俄罗斯的狩猎之行中。他在港口城市岘港拥有几家酒店。在其中一家酒店的餐厅里，两名美国水手正在吃早餐，他们就坐在业主身边，呼吸着同样的空气。 基因改造的鼠疫杆菌（Y. pestis）进入了他们的肺部并开始繁殖。他们返回到停靠在深水码头的航空母舰上。舰上有 5,000 人。这是地球上最强大的战舰之一。在两个核反应堆的驱动下，它可以在不需要加油的情况下运行 20 年。而它即将被一种无形的武器化为废铁。
前生物武器工程师谢尔盖·波波夫（SERGEI Popov）谈到了他对参与苏联计划的后悔。 “我钦佩那些有勇气说‘不’的人，”他说。“我一直认为这些武器永远不会被使用，因为这太荒谬了。”但由于他和其他人的参与，这些生物武器确实被研发了出来。 人类，而且还是科学家，通过设计创造了这种超级武器。 讽刺的是，随着 20 世纪初抗生素的发现，鼠疫成为了历史上的祸患——直到 20 世纪 70 年代基因工程的出现。 通过将引起脑炎的病毒基因拼接进引起鼠疫的细菌基因组中，科学家们可以制造出一种陷阱式生物武器。 如果感染者服用抗生素，这将触发改造后鼠疫菌中的脑炎基因，使这种疾病变成一个死亡判决。 因此，那些处于政府秘密抗生素储备接收第一线的关键工作人员，反而会被治疗尝试本身杀死。 一名投奔西方的俄罗斯生物武器专家在接受美国情报人员审讯时透露，这种突变旨在让美国人对自己的政府失去信心，播种生存危机带来的混乱，并将这个国家带回黑暗时代。 与此同时，对国际禁令的公然违反仍在继续。
人们会做出 丧心病狂的 行为
根据美国国务院的一份报告，除了俄罗斯，朝鲜还维持着一项进攻性生物武器计划，而中国和伊朗同样在从事生物研究。
一位美国高级政客告诉我： “一次大规模生物袭击的结果将是生理上的死亡、政府功能的死亡，以及几乎所有层面上的死亡。生物战将是一场深沉的噩梦。人们为了生存会做出非人的行为。” 试想一下：当鼠疫降临一座大城市，混乱随之爆发。符合我们这个时代的特点，一名网红将这一切通过直播传出。随着该网红的视频疯传，恐慌蔓延。 劫匪看到了机会。商店被冲进并洗劫一空。破坏者点燃任何他们能接触到的东西。警察团队介入以恢复秩序，但迎接他们的是铺天盖地的砖石袭击。 法律与秩序完全崩溃，城市的广大区域陷入火海。暴力激增。有报道称无家可归者在街头遭到殴打。警察试图将新闻团队挡在外面，但公民记者和网络网红知道如何规避系统，他们骑着电动滑板车抵达，拍摄正在展开的混乱景象。 警笛尖叫。消防员吹响气喇叭。救护车无法通过。在夜晚，任何仍在熟睡的居民都被一阵阵震耳欲聋的摆动报警声惊醒。
SONIC / BACKGRID / GETTY IMAGES
杜阿与卡勒姆确保 彼此不曾远离
在经历了为期三天的盛大婚礼后，他们 享受了在意大利为期一个月、如诗般恬静的蜜月时光。 但尽管卡勒姆·特纳 (Callum Turner) 及其妻子终于回到了工作中，不过一如既往地，他们不知如何地设法让自己几乎一直形影不离。 当 30 岁的里帕 (Lipa) 小姐被拍到步入纽约市的一家录音室时，她身着一件波点挂脖裙，搭配一顶洋基队棒球帽和一个价值 £23,000 的铂金包；而她的新婚丈夫则回到了距离哈德逊河仅几英里外的即将上映的电影拍摄现场。 36 岁的特纳是下一任詹姆斯·邦德的竞争者，周五他正与合作演员玛格丽特·夸利 (Margaret Qualley) 在新泽西州为帕克·芬 (Parker Finn) 重拍的 1981 年邪典经典电影《占有》(Possession) 拍摄一场激烈的戏份。而这一切
来自每一部智能手机：“紧急警报。您所在的地区已发布强制撤离令。立即离开。不要等待。”人们被告知只有十分钟时间收拾最值钱的财物并离开。 瘟疫受害者死在街头上的画面充斥着社交媒体。互联网上 #致命瘟疫 (#KillerPlague) 的话题正火热讨论。在 X 上，一名警察弯腰咳血的图像已被观看超过 100million 次。全国性的恐慌由此展开。 在他们的智能手机上，每个人都在拼命分辨什么是真实的，什么是虚假信息。 卫生部门无法提供帮助。他们的网站已经崩溃，电话线路全部堵塞。 消息在世界范围内传播，恐慌在蔓延，且每一分钟都变得更加血腥。在 伦敦，超市里因为罐装食品爆发了斗殴，并迅速演变为致命冲突。 在德国，一群暴徒在网络虚假信息声称数百万瓶抗生素（所谓感染的解药）被储存在地下后，纵火焚烧了一家医疗公司的总部。 在中国，一家医院的大门被焊死，瘟疫受害者被封在里面。 未受感染的家人试图绝望地与亲人讲理，强迫他们意识到危险并逃离。 他们也随之被感染，循环往复——每一次速度更快，范围更广。所有人都将最终死去。 现在街头躺着数以千计的尸体。尸体被乌鸦啄食，被老鼠啃咬。 一支冷冻卡车车队本应待命处理溢出的尸体，但大多数司机被困在由事故和火灾引起的主干道交通大堵塞中。 数十万人选择逃离洛杉矶。他们顶风逆行在高速公路上，穿梭在应急车道中。车辆相撞并堆积。货车发生折叠事故。在机场，两架私人湾流私人飞机在争分夺秒地在城市尚能离开时逃离，无视空中交通管制员的警告，在半空相撞。 随着超过一半的劳动力迅速丧失能力，警察对此无能为力，武装团伙在医院用枪指着医生和护士，强迫他们打开药房。
娱乐圈顾问编辑
看起来相当不光彩——尤其是与他婚后休息期间开着保时捷与新婚妻子在意大利闲逛时相比。 他身着一件沾有假血的灰色毛衣，与他的银幕妻子夸利小姐拍摄场景，后者穿着一件飘逸的紫色连衣裙。与此同时，粉丝们评论说她长得像里帕小姐。 《占有》是根据由已故的萨姆·尼尔 (Sam Neill) 主演的电影重拍的，讲述了一名国际间谍（由特纳饰演）与其妻子（由夸利小姐饰演）之间的关系。据说她的角色在要求离婚后表现得极其反常。
病菌可能是 人类最后的 发明
通常守法的公民们在洗劫 药店。有报告称 保安被杀。 与此同时，一支由 200 人组成的、 经过生物战对抗、幸存者治疗、 设立污染站等训练的专业 军事部队正在向
城市推进。但车队减速直到 完全停止，道路被一场 多车连环相撞事故地阻塞。 车辆在燃烧。人们死去了。 在美国五角大楼运行的 生物战争模拟中，此时 将宣布“ENDEX”，即 “演习结束”。 在真实的生物袭击中，新 一代的感染将每 18 小时爆发一次……
多年以后。世界陷入寂静 且被感染。与寒冷阴暗的 核冬天不同， 生物战让世界变得 昏暗且衰败。 活下来的人在疑惑 哪一天才是终结。 死者早就在大规模的 集体火葬堆上被焚烧， 或被狗、猪或老鼠吃掉。 没有人知道 Y. pestis（鼠疫杆菌）将在空气中、 在泥土中、在死者身上 潜伏多久。 生存下来的并非最适应者， 而是那些拒绝脱掉 防毒面具的人。那些拥有 即使在睡眠时也绝不摘下
成绩顶尖的 关键
不必在意额外的家庭作业 或昂贵的私人导师。 科学家们发现，提升孩子 数学能力最好的方法之一 就是带他们去骑马。 来自沙特阿拉伯 国王大学的研究人员 追踪了 262 名 7 至 9 岁 的学生，发现那些 定期骑马的学生在数学 方面的成绩比 不骑马的人更好。 这是因为他们 具有更好的执行功能—— 即解决 复杂问题的能力。 之前的研究发现， 骑马涉及的快速决策和 感觉处理可以增强 执行功能和 工作记忆。 这份发表在 《BMC心理学》（BMC Psychology）上的 报告称，骑马 需要一系列的 动作，这些动作能“刺激神经 网络”，并通过 “注意力控制和 工作记忆参与”来提高 数学表现。
呼吸器的纪律。 那些愿意孤独生活， 并且保持孤独的人。那些准备 在远处杀戮的人，甚至在 知道对方是否被感染之前 就动手。 这些是在大规模生物武器 释放后将重新填充世界 的人群特征：马基雅维利主义者、 独我论者和心理变态者。 主要是男性。这并非一个 充满希望的未来文明基石。 相反，这是一个由偏执 和恐惧而诞生的新世界。 “种瓜得瓜” 在世界残存的角落里 被低声地地重复着。 一种经过基因改造以实现 人传人、具有超强毒性、 能够击败反制措施且 无已知疗法的致命病菌， 可能是人类最后的发明。
l 改编自安妮·雅各布森（Annie Jacobsen）的《生物战》（Biological War）（Torva 出版，£22），将于 7 月 30 日出版。© Annie Jacobsen 2026。如欲订购副本，价格为 £19.80（优惠有效期至 08/08/26；英国境内订单满 £25 免邮费），请访问 www.mailshop.co.uk/books 或拨打 020 3176 2937。
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特朗普总统已下令在 美国最负盛名的博物馆 之一的门外放置标牌， 警告访客其中可能包含 “不准确的信息”。 特朗普先生已签署一项指令， 要求在华盛顿特区的 史密森尼国家美国历史博物馆 外放置通知，称 该馆未能准确反映美国历史。 总统指责博物馆馆长
四月，在一年一度的白宫记者协会（White House Correspondents’ Association）晚宴之前，人们感觉到唐纳德·特朗普总统想要利用这次机会表现出和解之意——向新闻界伸出橄榄枝。 我们永远不会知道他原计划地要说什么。 这场庆祝新闻自由的活动被一名枪击者戏剧性地中断了。虽然特朗普从未发表那篇演讲，但他在随后立即举行了一场新闻发布会。当时他仍穿着礼服，在会上对记者们表现得十分大方。 但周五晚上，他的基调截然不同。他喃喃地抱怨交给他的演讲稿“极其愚蠢”，并选择完全脱离稿件，在近一个小时的时间里大部分都在讲一些几乎等同于人身攻击的笑话。一名CNN女主播因未能“微笑”而遭到指责；另一名来自《华尔街日报》的记者被评价为“不可雇佣”。 现场响起了急促的抽气声，大部分时间陷入了震惊的沉默。当然，特朗普攻击记者早已不是新鲜事。但
情况已经恶化 到了什么程度
令人惊异的是，他选择在这样一个传统上被视为总统与“第四权力”之间温情交流的活动上这么做。 作为BBC的华盛顿首席记者和北美编辑，我在乔治·W·布什和巴拉克·奥巴马执政期间参加过这些晚宴。 2015, 在提到国会瘫痪时，奥巴马说：“我特别感谢所有成员，他们从‘不通过任何法律’的精疲力竭的日程中抽身，今晚来到了这里。” 当时的笑话在双方之间都是温和的，总统也优雅地接受调侃。 那里有一种粗犷的、好莱坞式的光辉，诸如亨利·基辛格这样的显贵出席，身边总跟着一位绝色佳人。 事实上，其中一个主要的批评点在于，这种氛围有点过于亲密，政治记者们与他们本应监督的政府之间关系过于熟稔。
驻洛杉矶报道
安希亚·哈蒂格（Anthea Hartig）被指持有“激进的活动分子意识形态”。 哈蒂格女士上周在国会接受质询，因展示关于奴隶制、黑人历史和同性恋权利的展品而被指责教唆“国家自我厌恶”。最近的一次展览
应当接受监督。当然，这可能会令人不适：在比尔·克林顿时代，记者们在对他进行各种调查的同时，他还在亲昵地向这些记者颁发奖项。作为总统，你必须能够承受这一切。 但特朗普的问题在于，他很少能承受。今年是他首次以总统身份出席——此前他从未在意过。 特朗普上一次参加该活动是在 2011 年，当时他是《华尔街日报》的客人，时任总统奥巴马在席间拿他开玩笑，质疑其美国公民身份的合法性，并调侃特朗普在《学徒》节目中的经历。 有观点认为（尽管特朗普予以否认）他被那次嘲讽气得不轻，以至于决定在那时就竞选白宫总统。有趣的是，在周五的晚餐会上——特朗普戏称这次经历“比我想象的要糟糕得多”——传统的喜剧演员被换成了一位魔术师。这是特朗普的特定要求，还是组织者考虑后做出的决定？这一点尚不明确。 但如果他愿意，他也可以拿自己开玩笑。在 2024 年总统大选前由纽约天主教会举办的 Al Smith 晚餐会上，他开场白说道：“能与各位在一起真是真正的荣幸。这些天，在纽约任何地方出现而没有收到出庭传票，都是一种荣幸。” 当时他因扣押政府文件而面临巨大压力，这段话确实很幽默。因此，一个合理的问题是：在特朗普的民调支持率继续暴跌、共和党面临 11 月中期选举惨败的情况下，为什么他没有利用周五的演讲将其作为政治机会。 他没有这么做，确实让一些较为深思熟虑的支持者感到担忧，并引发了另一个疑问：他究竟想达到什么目的？ 如果说这仅仅是因为对新闻界的蔑视，那就太简单化了。他有理由不喜欢记者，但他仍然与那些被他全面批评的出版物做生意。 可能是因为他不在意是否采取政治上娴熟的手段。但还有另一种可能性——即他根本不知道情况已经糟糕到了什么程度。 这对一名总统来说是可能的。乔·拜登似乎真心认为自己能赢得 2024 年大选，在他任期的最后几天，一群心腹告诉他不要相信民调，说那些全是胡扯。 毕竟，特朗普身边围绕着一群坚定的支持者。这是一个极度享受成功且无法面对任何失败的人。如果共和党在中期选举中表现糟糕，这将对他产生不利影响。 他之前曾以出人意料的反弹令我们惊讶。现在的问题是，在 80 岁的高龄，他是否仍然拥有足够的精力和专注力来再次扭转局面，并在总统任期的最后几年留下积极的遗产？ 在他与伊朗进行这场看似永无止境的战争时，他肯定需要那位魔术师。
[[IMG_XXXX]] 博物馆的展览包括露骨的性意象，另一件作品名为《少女时代（复杂之作）》，探讨了年轻女性在性别认同方面的挣扎。 哈蒂格女士告诉国会，该博物馆“不参与美国的政治辩论”。 今年早些时候，特朗普总统谴责史密森尼学会“过度关注奴隶制，而非国家成就”。
of the week
“长睫毛之夜。” 新任首相安迪·伯纳姆在首个内阁中残忍清除斯塔默派系的绰号。
“非常激动能被任命为教育大臣。” 露西·鲍威尔在她的新岗位上有一个不吉利的开端。
“那些抽泣的觉醒主义者会对这个名字感到焦虑。一个成熟的国家不会逃避自己的历史。一个严肃的国家不会为了迎合最新的抱怨政治时尚而破坏自己的记忆。” 新西兰外交部长温斯顿·彼得斯在其国家将一艘新轮渡命名为库克船长号时说道。
“我挺喜欢很多艺术家的，但我认为这玩意儿太烂了。” 韦恩·鲁尼在节目中对世界杯决赛中场表演（包括左图的夏基拉）发表的评语。
“人类已不再能掌控自原子弹以来最令人敬畏的创造物。” 技术活动家康纳·阿克希奥特斯在硅谷巨头 OpenAI 承认其一个程序在测试期间失控后说道。
“没想到我会被罗梅什·兰加纳森和路易·塞鲁威胁要缴纳电视执照费。我只想看球。” 一名社交媒体用户对 BBC 在世界杯决赛期间首次播出的执照费广告做出的反应。
“她说他光会吹牛，没真本事。” 尼克·韦尔登回忆起他的作家母亲费伊对作曲家拉里·阿德勒的描述，后者过去经常在对面房子里裸体练习口琴。
“腿毛骚扰。” 东京女性职员在反对允许男性同事在炎热天气穿短裤时使用的术语。
O
Oyster 这只狨猴上周引起了相当大的轰动。这一切始于上周五，当时在伦敦西北部肯萨尔赖斯的 302 路公交车上发生了一场骚动。走道被一个从行李架上伸出来的洗衣袋堵住了。袋子里有一个笼子，而笼子里有一只极小的猴子。她脱水、焦虑、“叽叽喳喳地跳来跳去”，在恐惧中颤抖，显然是被主人故意遗弃在那里的。
现在我们大多数人都听说了，那位细心的司机如何将猴子带回威尔斯登车站的 Metroline 巴士车库并通知了 RSPCA（英国皇家防止虐待动物协会）。以及工作人员如何根据交通卡将其命名为 Oyster。
而且，由于命运的巧合，虽然她没能回到她的家人身边以及她位于巴西雨林的自然栖息地，但她确实前往了一个专业的避难所，而那里恰巧一直在为其孤独的雄性寻找一名雌性伴侣
养只宠物猴子的想法，但 对此毫无概念
狨猴。因此，这看起来像是一个温暖人心的圆满结局。 但事实证明，Oyster 只是最近几个月来被主人遗弃的数十只迷你狨猴中的一只。而且，根据救援专家的说法，她是其中非常幸运的一只。 “有些被赶出去留在乡间，或者从车窗里扔出去。还有的直接被冲进马桶——是的，它们小到可以被冲走，”Herefordshire 的 Wildside Exotic Rescue 创始人林赛·麦肯纳（Lindsay McKenna）说道。 “人们不知道如何饲养它们。他们喜欢养只宠物猴子的想法，他们在 TikTok 或 Instagram 上看过它们，但他们其实对此毫无概念，而现在随着最近所有的变化……” 今年 4 月，一项急需的新立法出台，要求灵长类动物所有者申请持有动物的许可证。据当局称，申请率低得令人担忧。 虽然加强管制显然是一件好事，但林赛担心目前没有大赦，也没有安全网。那些没有认真考虑过宠物猴子——其护理、饮食、环境、寿命（它们最高可活 15 年）——的所有者，现在仅仅是对获取专业许可证感到恐慌，于是便处理掉了他们的宠物。 “如果我们不小心，整整一代异宠将会被冲进马桶或从车里扔出去，”她说。
巴士上被残酷遗弃的 狨猴证明了英国 需要一项新法律来 打击…… TikTok 上 关于异宠的 阴森狂热
比起切斯特菲尔德（Chesterfield）的排屋或布里斯托尔（Bristol）的平房，这些异域“宠物”更适合非洲的荒野、亚马逊盆地的热带雨林或草原地带。 这由于多种原因而令人担忧，其中不乏动物福利、疾病和生物安全。而且还因为其中许多动物简直极其危险。 根据国际野生动物慈善机构 Born Free 的研究，目前在英国境内，根据 50 年前制定的《危险野生动物法》（DWAA），有 2,200 多个危险野生动物被合法饲养，范围从毒蛇到大型猫科动物、鳄鱼和灵长类动物。 包括 Born Free 的创始赞助人乔安娜·鲁姆利（Joanna Lumley）在内的活动人士一直呼吁修改法律。 他们希望禁止在卧室饲养眼镜蛇和响尾蛇，在客厅饲养猴子，而且是的，在某些情况下，禁止在花园池塘里饲养短吻鳄。 “野生动物绝不应该被当作宠物饲养，无论我们认为自己能为它们提供多么美好的家，”鲁姆利说。 “令人震惊的是，如此多动物仍被合法地由私人持有，支撑着一个残酷且恐怖的贸易。”虽然其中一些动物位于教育设施和保护区内，但令人担忧的是，全国各地有大量动物被饲养在家庭中——在卧室、客厅和花园棚屋里。 这其中包括世界上最致命的蛇类——锯鳞蝰，目前其中一条已获得许可证
法案已有 50 年 未更新
为了老天之缘，竟然在大伦敦地区饲养这些动物。 这一切引发了无数疑问。关于虐待动物以及我们的安全。关于为什么有人想在肯特郡的后花园里养一只鳄鱼或一只巨型蜥蜴。以及为什么 DWAA（该法案传统上关注的是保护人类免受野生动物伤害，而非关注囚禁对动物的影响）在 50 年间没有更新。在当今时代，这似乎完全令人感到可耻。 像林赛（Lindsay）和另一位异宠救援者波拉·斯图尔特（Paula Stewart），以及野生动物福利组织（Wild Welfare）的西蒙·马什（Simon Marsh）正在收拾这些残局。 “我们将野生动物称为异宠，但它们仍然是野生动物，具有野生动物的所有行为特征，即使是在人工环境下繁育的，”林赛说道。她在 17 年前辞去了公司工作以救援这些动物，目前与她的团队一起照顾 43 种不同的物种，包括山狮、猞猁、短尾猫、臭鼬、小袋鼠、银狐和一只斑马。 大多数动物来自私人住宅，包括四只山狮，它们曾被养在后花园里，如果逃脱可能会非常危险。 “被驯化的野生动物可能是最危险的，因为它们不怕人，”林赛说。“所以，没错，如果它们饿了，它们会发起攻击。”许多获救的动物状态极其糟糕。心理方面——踱步、打转、甩头、自残——以及生理方面，由于营养匮乏和缺乏阳光，经常患有代谢性骨病和佝偻病。 她讲述了一个可怜的小狨猴的故事，这只小猴在生命的第一年里一直吃棉花糖和干香蕉，且没有阳光照射。 “她的身体结构与其他猴子不同，且有严重的骨骼问题，”她说。“把像这样的野生动物单独关在中央空调房的仓鼠笼子里，怎么可能是一件正确的事？” 林赛发现了一只年轻的羊驼，其状态糟糕到不得不对其进行安乐死，还有一些山狮一直被关在狭小的混凝土围栏中。 经营“动物才艺机构”（The Animal Talent Agency）的波拉·斯图尔特在十年前偶然在卡迪夫的一个车库里发现一只被遗弃的浣熊后开始从事救援工作——浣熊在英国被列为禁养的入侵物种。 “那是作为一件圣诞礼物……”
蟒蛇：斯图尔特·科尔曼与他的宠物蛇斯特拉以及邻居海蒂和艾莉森
美洲狮：一旦逃脱极其危险
女儿，已经不再被需要且变得非常有攻击性，被关在黑暗中的板条箱里，”她说道。 保拉的玉米蛇 Candy 是从一场住宅火灾中救出来的。而她心爱的鬃狮蜥 George 则是在切郡的一套空房子里发现的，当时租客已经搬走。 “那里没有暖气，没有灯光，没有食物或水。他就那样被丢在水族箱里被遗弃了。” 所有这些都严重影响了他的健康。因为太冷，他患上了代谢性骨病。尾巴骨折导致畸形。下颚因发育不全而形成反颌。 林赛和保拉都注意到最近宠物数量激增，并将其归咎于社交媒体网红鼓励异宠热潮。“这是一种炫耀。这能让他们在社交媒体上获得更多关注者，”林赛说。 在 Instagram 和 Facebook 上，那些展示小狨猴分享草莓酸奶、坐在主人头上或用牙刷被梳理毛发的视频获得了数千条评论。 与此同时，TikTok 上那些令人厌恶的、男人在客厅里将死兔子扔给巨蟒的视频获得了数百万次观看。“正是这种冲击感刺激了人们。他们把野生动物当成娱乐工具。这不对，而且在推波助澜地刺激市场，”保拉说。 考虑到他们每周都要处理的种种惨状，这些动物救援者对宠物主人出奇地宽容。“许多人确实热爱他们的宠物，但他们不理解这些动物极其复杂的生存需求，”Wild Welfare 的西蒙·马什表示。“这通常既是由于无知，也是由于疏忽。” 林赛表示赞同：“大多数人从未想过要伤害它们。他们只是被这种迷恋所吸引，并被繁殖者误导了。” 许多人可能不知道，像 Oyster 这样的狨猴是一种高度智能、社交化且有感知能力的生物，在野外，它们自然地生活在由家庭组成的群体中，以水果、蔬菜和昆虫为食，而不是独自生活在电视机旁的仓鼠笼子里。 “主人把它们当作微型婴儿或人类对待，并对它们期望过高。它们是野生动物，”保拉说。 新的眼镜王蛇或球蟒主人需要明白，将这些聪明的蛇养在卧室的水族箱里并不能满足它们的福利需求。 而且，更大的蛇会吃掉整只兔子和豚鼠——包括皮肤、皮毛在内——这些食物是以 20 只一组的冷冻包形式出售的（在英国，给蛇喂食活体动物是违法的），并且会占用你的冷冻柜数十年之久。 那些购买宠物短吻鳄的人需要的不仅仅是一个花园池塘和每周几块牛排；事实上，这些爬行动物需要一个持续监控的环境，包括紫外线灯、湿度控制以及水温和水质检查。 问题很大程度上在于，新型的异宠供应商不再是那些能够审核买家并提供建议的经验丰富的宠物店主。
并对他们进行教育。现在市场上充斥着不法繁殖者，他们在互联网上打广告，只要愿意支付 £1,000-£4,000 买一只幼年狨猴，或者支付 £30-£300 买一条球蟒，他们就会卖给任何人。
这意味着拥有这些动物会带来许多不愉快地惊喜。首先是这些动物的寿命。忘掉豚鼠通常的四年或仓鼠的三年吧——一条蛇可以活 30 年，一只蜥蜴在 15 到 20 年之间。而乌龟或鹦鹉甚至能活到 80 年。即使是狨猴也能活 14 或 15 年——这比任何社交媒体上的狂热流行都要长得多。
此外，动物还会逃跑。每周都有关于丢失的异宠（且通常是危险宠物）的故事。九天前，在肯特郡南伯勒的一名邻居花园里发现了一条 3 英尺长的球蟒 Stella，它在逃脱主人监管两周后被找到。
最近几天，诺福克郡布拉默顿村的居民们处于红色警报状态，因为有人发现一只被比作“小豹子”的大猫在乡村徘徊，并已向 RSPCA 报告。结果证明那是 Blaze，一只萨凡纳猫——这是非洲野伺服猫与家猫的杂交种——它从一个...
心态，但 它们并非 温顺的猫
附近的围栏。萨凡纳猫在社交媒体上非常受欢迎。 “这是一种奖杯宠物心态，”大猫专家里克·明特（Rick Minter）表示。“但它们很棘手，且可能具有高度的攻击性和捕食性，因此需要承担巨大的责任。 ‘这些并非温顺的猫，它们可能非常凶猛，并且已知会攻击小型犬。’” 它们也是出色的逃脱专家。许多缺乏经验的所有者在看到它们离开时感到非常宽慰，以至于根本不麻烦去通知当局。 而现行法律似乎极其荒谬，这使得情况没有得到改善。 正如 Born Free 机构的圈养研究与政策经理克里斯·刘易斯（Chris Lewis）上周所言： “《1976年危险野生动物法》旨在使饲养被归类为‘危险’的野生动物成为一种完全异常的情况。 ‘然而 50 年后，我们发现自己处于这样一种局面：英国私人住宅中饲养的毒蛇数量几乎是英国动物园的十倍；薮猫继续被不必要且残酷地与家猫杂交以产生“时尚”的混血种；而灵长类动物尽管政府承认它们不适合作为宠物饲养，但仍继续被囚禁。’” 结果，这些动物处于极大的危险之中。而它们那些不称职且被误导的所有者，也将公众置于危险之中。
BPM MEDIA / CHANNEL 5 / RSPCA
成真……通过在 42 岁时 完成好莱坞首秀
去年 5 月的一场乳腺癌诊断让她的世界天翻地覆。 但前模特凯特·蒂克尔（Kate Tickle）经历了一场惊人的转机——她获得了她的第一份好莱坞演员工作。现年 42 岁的蒂克尔女士，
在去年被诊断为 1 期 HER2 阳性乳腺癌，但目前已康复。 在被选入一部即将上映的时尚传奇乔治·阿玛尼（Giorgio Armani）传记电影后，这位出生于湖区的女演员告诉《星期日邮报》： “你生命中的梦想没有过期日期，你的诊断结果并不意味着生命就此结束。” 在描述自己是如何被诊断出疾病时，这位四个孩子的母亲说，她梦见自己能感觉到一个肿块。“那个梦太真实了，所以我去看医生了，”她说。 “他们摸不到肿块，但我做了乳腺 X 光检查，就在那时他们发现出问题了。” 蒂克尔女士在 11 月完成了化疗。6 月，她接到电话通知，她获得了《阿玛尼：时尚之王》（Armani: The King Of Fashion）中的一个角色——这是她的第一部主演电影。 她将饰演阿玛尼的私人助理，阿玛尼于 9 月因肝衰竭去世，享年 91 岁。 虽然蒂克尔女士曾担任过演员乌玛·瑟曼（Uma Thurman）的替身，并担任过电影制作人迈克尔·温纳（Michael Winner）的私人助理，但她此前从未进入好莱坞。这部传记片由意大利制片人安德烈亚·伊尔沃利诺（Andrea Iervolino）主导，他是蒂克尔女士丈夫、音乐制作人大卫·蒂克尔（David Tickle，66 岁）的朋友。 曾与加里·莱因克尔（Gary Lineker）交往过的蒂克尔女士表示，她有伊尔沃利诺先生的
我们 获悉的事项
安迪·伯纳姆 的二头肌上可能有一个曼彻斯特蜜蜂纹身，但他并不是首位拥有身体艺术的首相。就像许多水手一样，詹姆斯·卡拉汉在第二次世界大战期间纹了身。但与 伯纳姆 不同的是，他对他身上的纹身感到非常尴尬，以至于拒绝穿短袖。 2
中国现在生产了全球 45 百分之多少的鹅肝供应量。该国每年负责生产 11,000 吨。 3
英国最健康的养老地是奥克尼群岛。这个苏格兰群岛的平均“健康寿命”（即预计能保持良好状态的生活年龄）为 72.9，而 英国 许多地区的这一数值为 60，在黑普尔则低至令人心惊的 50。 4
迪拜机场可能很快将允许乘客无需出示护照或登机牌即可无缝通过移民局。这个巨大的交通枢纽正在试行一套系统，该系统利用生物识别摄像头、集成
顶级角色：凯特·蒂克尔将主演设计师乔治·阿玛尼的传记片
并为此角色表示感谢。“当我告诉安德烈我所经历的一切，以及我如何希望激励我的 4 个儿子和任何经历类似情况的人时，他希望将其实现，”她说道。 蒂克尔女士表示，她分享自己的故事是为了希望能帮助他人。“我希望其他收到癌症诊断通知或面临任何其他改变生活的境况的人，能够坚信治疗后仍有生活，恐惧后仍有欢乐，并且他们比自己想象的更强大，”她说道。“不要停止梦想。癌症可能会改变你的过去，但它不必夺走你对未来的希望。”
在线 时事通讯
航班数据和人工智能，将机场中的面孔与注册文件及相应的航班预订进行匹配，在短短 4 秒内可为多达 10 人办理清关，从而无需任何人为了使用自助终端而排冗长的队伍。 5
对于 Z 世代来说，阅读突然变得超级性感。专家表示，这部分归功于数量日益增加的名人读书会——流行歌手杜亚·利帕、超级模特凯亚·格伯（见上图）以及演员瑞茜·威瑟斯彭都拥有自己的热门读书会，鼓励读者每月讨论一本不同的小说。
模特营地
专栏 医生 审核 财富与假期
常见农药 以及过度 运动是否会导致 运动神经元病？
西蒙为他那 难看的趾甲 采取的激进解决方案 健康 第 46-47 页
专家指南： 如何大幅降低 您的遗产税账单 财富 第 50-51 页
在 英国 最 宁静的度假胜地 避开人群 假期 第 60-61 页
挑战天命：斯蒂芬·霍金与 MND 共存 55 年
……分成了两大类：家族性，即遗传性，约占病例的十分之一；以及散发性，即发生在没有已知家族史的人身上。 许多科学家现在认为，后者的触发因素是基因、生活方式和环境暴露之间复杂的相互作用。 一系列顶尖运动员被诊断出患病，包括橄榄球球星 Rob Burrow 和 Lewis Moody，以及前英国板球运动员 David Lawrence，这引发了人们的疑问：为什么处于身体巅峰状态的健康年轻男性似乎越来越多地被击倒。
最著名的患者是 物理学家斯蒂芬·霍金，他 在 1963 年被诊断出患有 一种 MND，当时年仅 21 岁。 医生最初认为他只能活 几年，但他生存了 五个多十年 —— 成为了世界上最 著名的科学家之一。 伦敦国王学院的 Ammar Al-Chalabi 教授 创建了 MND 登记处，旨在识别 可能与个人基因相互作用 导致疾病的潜在环境诱因， 他认为与生活方式因素相关的病例 可能比专家之前认为的更多。 “MND 并非全部由基因决定，也并非 全部由生活方式决定，”他表示。“你的风险 大约有一半来自基因， 另一半来自你的生活方式 以及你接触的环境，其中一部分归因于 衰老和生物学随机性。 “我们还不知道具体哪些 生活方式因素起作用，但如果生活方式 完全不发挥重要作用，那将令人惊讶。”
Al-Chalabi 教授 认为研究人员 面临的挑战是， 没有任何单一的风险因- 素能够充分 解释这种疾病。 相反，他表示，当一系列风险因素 在一名已有基因易感性的人身上 终身累积时，MND 可能会出现。除了吸烟， 接触某些杀虫剂、污染，以及 更令人惊讶的是，极高强度的体力活动 都被认为与风险增加有关。 领先的 MND 研究员 Pamela Shaw 教授 （女爵士）表示： “在临床中一直让我惊讶的是， 我的大多数 MND 患者 都身材苗条且活跃。你极少 在生活方式非常久坐不动的人身上 看到这种病。” 这促使她研究运动与 MND 之间可能的联系。一项由 Shaw 教授合著并发表在 《EBioMedicine》杂志上的研究发现， “频繁的剧烈运动” —— 每周至少 6 小时 的高强度体力活动或 12 小时 的中等强度活动 —— 增加了那些 携带使其易患该病基因变异者的 MND 风险。 他们认为，剧烈运动期间 体内的低氧水平可能会导致 运动神经元中出现一种被称为 氧化应激的过程 —— 这可能会 导致损伤并最终导致细胞死亡。
在另一项研究中，Shaw 教授 及其团队发现， 在具有基因 易感性的 MND 患者中， 那些运动 强度更大的人 往往在更年轻的 年龄出现症状。 这一发现与一项 针对极其艰苦的 90 公里（56 英里） Vasaloppet 越野滑雪赛 参赛者的研究结果相呼应。 瑞典研究人员发现， 速度最快的滑雪者，即性能频谱 最顶端的人，患 MND 的概率 是普通人群的四倍。但 处于中游水平的参赛者 风险低于平均水平。 这表明，如果风险增加，
运动神经元病（MND）的症状通常是逐渐开始的。最常见的首要迹象是肢体肌肉无力——例如行走踉跄、掉落物品或握力减弱。 笨拙、绊倒以及更频繁地掉落物品是典型的早期主诉，有时伴有因踝关节肌肉无力而导致的拖腿或足下垂。研究表明，四分之一的病例起始症状不同，表现为语言含糊或吞咽问题。 在大约四分之一的病例中，首发症状影响语言和吞咽肌肉，通常表现为语言含糊程度日益增加。
这是一个事实 据某些统计，英国的 MND 发病率在世界范围内最高——这被认为部分归因于更好的监测水平。
影响运动员的 疾病——我从未见过 患有 MND 的 ‘沙发土豆’（不运动的人）”
这种现象确实存在，可能仅限于参与最高强度体力活动的人群。肖教授认为，这种风险很可能是源于反复将运动系统推向极限，而非来自正常的娱乐性锻炼。
她表示：“大多数运动员永远不会患上 MND。我们的研究表明，对于极少数携带错误基因的人来说，多年的高强度锻炼可能会让疾病更早地显现出来。”
“最终目标并不是要指责锻炼。而是要充分了解其生物学机制，以便我们能提供合理的健康生活建议，并且至关重要的是，为那些已知处于较高风险的人群开发预防 MND 的方法。”
吸烟作为 MND 的潜在诱因已得到了深入研究。一些研究表明，曾经吸烟的人患病可能性比从未吸烟的人高 20 到 40 百分比，尽管科学家们
强调证据仍然不一。研究表明，被诊断出患有 MND 的吸烟者出现症状的年龄通常比不吸烟者更年轻。一些研究指出，吸烟的女性可能面临特别高的风险，尤其是在绝经之后。
但这些研究并未精确指出增加风险的具体香烟数量、开始吸烟导致最高风险的年龄，以及电子烟的影响。
可以肯定的是，吸烟会对体内的几乎每个器官造成不可逆的伤害，这主要是由吸入的焦油、尼古丁和一氧化碳驱动的。
科学家认为，烟草烟雾可能通过增加全身的炎症和氧化应激，同时使神经细胞接触到潜在的有害化学物质，从而导致 MND 的发生。
此外，戒烟对于 MND 患者具有明显益处。由于该疾病会影响呼吸相关的肌肉，避免吸烟带来的额外压力有助于降低胸部感染和呼吸道并发症的风险。
虽然还没有证明某种特定食物会导致 MND，但某些饮食习惯被认为与细胞损伤和炎症风险增加有关。一项美国研究发现，汞暴露量最高的人（通常是通过食用剑鱼和鲨鱼等大型掠食性鱼类）患 MND 的可能性是其他人的两倍。
专家强调，这仍然仅是一个可能的促成因素，且任何风险的增加幅度可能都很小。
最早期迹象。其他早期特征包括肌肉抽搐、痉挛、疲劳和不明原因的体重减轻。
病程在不同患者之间存在差异——有些人下降迅速，而另一些人恶化速度要慢得多。虚弱感会扩散到其他肢体，随后影响语言、吞咽和呼吸肌肉。大多数患者在确诊后几个月内就需要使用轮椅。
目前尚无治愈方法，且 MND 最终会导致死亡，尽管生存时间从不到一年到多年不等，确诊后的平均预期寿命通常为两到五年。
某些鱼类，如鳕鱼和鲨鱼，含有极高水平的水银，因为它们处于食物链的顶端，以积累了这种有毒金属的小鱼为食。英国国民医疗服务体系（NHS）建议成年人每周食用这两类鱼类的量不得超过一份，而建议儿童和孕妇完全避免食用。同时建议准妈妈限制食用金枪鱼，因为它含有的水银比大多数其他鱼类更多。
另一种较为罕见的理论涉及一种被称为“假羊肚菌”的有毒野生蘑菇。由于一项针对 2021 年法国阿尔卑斯山村庄蒙沙万（Montchavin）中出现的一组明显运动神经元病（MND）病例的研究，人们对这种真菌的关注度有所提高。
在被发现患有该疾病的所有 14 名患者中，他们都吃过这种蘑菇，而未受影响的当地人则没有食用。假羊肚菌含有一种名为 gyromitrin 的毒素，这种毒素在体内会被转化为一种能够破坏神经细胞的化学物质。一些科学家认为，重复接触可能会导致多年后发展为 MND。然而，专家强调，这些发现并不能证明因果关系，目前没有确凿证据表明假羊肚菌中毒会导致 MND。
维生素 D 缺乏症也受到了调查，因为在包括 MND 在内的多种神经退行性疾病中，缺乏维生素 D 较为常见。这种维生素在肌肉功能、炎症控制和免疫健康方面发挥着重要作用，一些研究表明
多名知名橄榄球运动员，包括 Rob Burrow、Doddie Weir、Ed Slater 和 Lewis Moody，均被诊断患有运动神经元病（MND），这促使研究人员探讨参与这项运动是否会影响患该病的风险。
包括格拉斯哥大学 2022 年一项针对前苏格兰国际橄榄球运动员的著名研究在内的多项研究表明，前运动员患神经退行性疾病的发病率较高。
专家认为，在接触性运动中，反复的头部冲击可能会增加风险；尽管其他针对顶尖耐力运动员的研究表明，长期剧烈运动——
研究人员还探讨了地理环境是否能提供线索。从历史上看，苏格兰记录的 MND 发病率略高于 英国 其他地区，因此有人认为日照不足和维生素 D 产生较低可能起到一定作用。
美国北部的各州也研究过类似的理论，那里的居民全年接收的阳光较少。然而，专家警告说，目前几乎没有证据表明维生素 D 缺乏会直接增加一个人患 MND 的风险。
虽然维持健康的维生素 D 水平对整体健康至关重要，但科学家尚未建立起其与该疾病之间明确的因果联系。密歇根大学 ALS 卓越中心主任 Eva Feldman 博士表示，研究并未显示美国北部地区的人群患 MND 的风险更高。
另一种理论是，长期接触某些环境毒素和化学物质，如农业化学品、农药、重金属和工业溶剂，可能会增加风险。
多项研究发现，农民、农业工人以及其他经常接触农药的人员患 MND 的风险似乎高于普通人群。
研究人员认为，长期接触某些杀虫剂、杀菌剂和熏蒸剂可能
起到作用，尽管他们强调证据显示的是一种关联性，而非证明这些化学物质导致了该疾病。
最强有力的证据与具有多年职业接触史的人群有关，例如农民和农药施用者。
研究人员多次将这些工人与更高的 MND 风险联系起来，特别是接触了可在体内持续存在多年的旧款农药之后——尽管其中许多农药此后已被禁用或受到严格限制。
MND 协会研究负责人 Belinda Cupid 博士在对该研究发表评论时表示：
勇往直前：橄榄球之星 Rob Burrow 在 2019 年被诊断患有 MND，并于 2024 年去世。
事实： 在美国，MND 被称为卢·格里格病（Lou Gehrig’s disease），得名于一名在 1939 年被诊断出患病的著名棒球运动员。
或运动与基因易感性之间的相互作用——也可能起到作用。
确切原因尚不明确。
尽管有高关注度的病例，但包括 MND 协会在内的组织强调，即使在顶尖运动员中，该病仍然罕见，且病例数量太少，无法就其与橄榄球的任何联系得出确定的结论。
前球员和慈善机构，包括由苏格兰橄榄球联盟锁卫 Weir 创立的 My Name’5 Doddie 基金会——Weir 在与 MND 斗争后于 2022 年去世，年仅 52 岁——继续推动大规模的募捐和宣传活动，以更好地了解这种疾病。
“有证据表明，接触农药是导致运动神经元病（MND）的一个促成风险因素，且这些证据正在不断累积，我相信这将成为未来研究的重点。”
回到美国，费尔德曼博士目前正领导一项大规模的 30 年研究，该研究追踪了密西根州北部数千名工人——该州是全美 MND 死亡率最高的州之一——旨在调查污染是否能解释该疾病。
她表示，该州的汽车工业和广泛的樱桃种植可能会使居民接触到重金属和农药——这是研究人员正在调查的两种可能导致 MND 的环境因素。
然而，在诊断和管理 MND 及相关疾病方面拥有 25 年经验的临床科学家凯文·塔尔博特教授警告说，不要在没有充分证据的情况下，匆忙得出关于毒素或某种新环境毒素能解释患者人数增加的结论。
“目前还没有确凿证据表明重金属、农药或其他毒素会导致运动神经元病，”与阿尔-查拉比教授共同建立 MND 登记册的塔尔博特教授说道。
“如果环境因素参与其中，它作用于那些本身就具有遗传易感性的人群，我们需要严谨、公正的科学研究来证明这一点。”
布鲁斯·亚当斯 (BRUCE ADAMS)
让你 吃得 更多， 而非更少
一项新研究表明，在用餐时饮水实际上可能会让你吃得更多。 为了测试用餐期间的饮水习惯是否会影响人们的进食量，来自纽约州康奈尔大学（Cornell University）和宾夕法尼亚州宾州立大学（Penn State University）的研究人员结合了两项涉及 86 成年人的实验数据。 参与者根据自己的意愿尽情食用牛肉辣椒酱或鸡肉提卡玛莎拉（chicken tikka masala），并同时饮用水。研究人员对整个过程进行了拍摄，以便测量他们饮用了多少水。 他们饮水的次数、每口饮水量、饮水速度，以及在食物与水之间交替的频率也受到了监测。 这项发表在《食欲》（Appetite）杂志上的研究发现，饮水较多的人吃得更多而非更少；而在食物和水之间切换更频繁的人也吃得更多。 参与者每多喝 100 克水，就会多吃 39 克食物，这相当于增加了约 49 卡路里。 那些频繁在进食与饮水之间切换的人
所以它不能让我们产生饱腹感”
吃得更多：每次额外的切换与多消耗约 4.4 克食物相关。 研究人员怀疑，这种“切换”效应是通过延迟一种被称为“感官特异性饱足感”（sensory-specific satiety）的现象起作用的——即某种食物的吸引力在进食时间延长后自然下降的机制。 与水交替饮用可能会重新引入对比感，使餐食在更长时间内保持吸引力，从而推迟人们停止进食的时间点。 康奈尔大学营养科学助理教授兼论文第一作者佩奇·坎宁汉（Paige Cunningham）博士表示：“一直以来流传着一种广泛的建议，认为喝水能让我们产生饱腹感，但水在胃中排空很快，因此它可能无法让我们长时间感到饱腹。” “相反，水可能会增加我们的进食量，因为它提供了润滑，这可以加快进食速度，并防止口干，从而延长对食物的享受。” 不过，作者指出，由于该研究规模相对较小，这意味着其研究结果不能应用于所有餐食或饮食场景。
健康
我以及我的许多全科医生（GP）朋友在近年中都注意到一个日益增长的趋势。越来越多的女性在抱怨脱发。根据谷歌的数据，英国境内关于女性“脱发”和“头发变薄”的在线搜索量自 2021 起增加了一倍多。
当这些女性来到我的诊所时，她们经常道歉，仿佛脱发是一个过于琐碎的问题，不值得向全科医生求助。但这其实是一个患者必须始终与家庭医生讨论的健康问题——而且它可能是身体内部出现问题的首批可见迹象之一。
那么，英国女性这场“秃顶危机”背后的原因是什么？
首先，必须强调的是，脱发通常是衰老的正常组成部分。据估计，英国有 800 万女性经历某种形式的脱发。到绝经后，其中一半的人会出现一定程度的女性型脱发——这是指晚年自然脱发的医学术语。
但这无法解释为什么脱发现象似乎在增加。
一些专家认为，这种增长归因于减肥药 Mounjaro 和 Wegovy 的广泛使用，目前有 2.5million 英国人在服用这些药物——其中大多数是女性。
脱发是体重骤减的一种副作用，但这些药物无法解释承受这一问题的女性数量之多。
相反，我认为许多人患有一种经常被忽视的缺乏症：她们的铁水平偏低。
铁是携带氧气在全身循环的关键营养素。
缺铁的患者通常会出现呼吸短促、心悸和持续疲劳。但在某些情况下，脱发可能是唯一的迹象。
据认为，这是因为当缺铁时，身体会将氧气重新定向至重要器官，而远离产生新发丝的毛囊。
听到凯文·基根死于胃癌，我感到心碎——这不仅仅是因为我的乔迪（Geordie）根源。
这位英格兰和纽卡斯尔的足球传奇人物在发现自己患上这种可怕的疾病时已经太晚了。直到他因为一场车祸住院后才被诊断出来。
警示信号：女性如果经历脱发，应始终咨询其全科医生（GP）
缺铁一直是女性常见的健康问题——约十分之一的英国女性受此影响，因为这通常是由月经量过多触发的。 但它也可能由糟糕的饮食引起。如果规划不周，不含肉类的饮食会导致铁元素水平降低。 近年来，年轻女性中采取素食和纯素饮食的人数有所增加——许多人停止了乳制品的摄入，转而选择替代奶。 正是这种改变，可能是女性脱发问题神秘增加背后的原因。因此，任何正经受脱发困扰的女性都应始终要求其全科医生进行铁蛋白血液检测。 该检测测量的是你身体储备的铁量，而非检测时在血液中循环的铁量。 一旦确诊，缺铁的治疗方案很简单：服用补铁剂，可在数周内提高铁蛋白水平。然而，通常需要铁蛋白持续上升约三到六个月，才能看到头发重新生长。部分患者在服用铁片时会出现副作用，包括
意外。胃癌向来难以察觉。 这是因为许多症状——最常见的是吞咽困难、食欲减退和消化不良——经常被认为是无害的而而被忽视。 患者和全科医生需要更好地识别这些迹象。
胃绞痛、恶心和便秘。但证据表明，每隔一天服用一次铁剂，而不是每天服用，通常对胃的刺激较小且同样有效。 必须强调的是，缺铁远非脱发的唯一原因。 它也可以是绝经期的最早征兆之一，因为女性性激素雌激素水平的下降会产生影响。 针对头发稀疏而开出的激素替代疗法，通常能带来明显的改善。 雌激素在哺乳期间也会下降，这就是为什么许多新产妇会注意到头发开始
如果发现足够早，胃癌是可以有效治疗的。 但如果任其恶化，那就是死刑。 凯文·基根（Kevin Keegan）永远改变了英国足球。我希望他的去世也能改变我们诊断这种癌症的方法。
已解答
管腔综合症太 严重了——他 该怎么办？
我的父亲多年来一直饱受 手腕管腔综合症（carpal tunnel）的 折磨，但最近疼痛非常剧烈， 以至于导致他无法入睡。他 该怎么办？
手腕管腔综合症的治疗需要 一定的时间——但通过一些简单的 调整可以立即缓解疼痛。这种 令人痛苦的情况影响手腕， 通常仅在单侧出现。 控制手部的神经通过手腕中 一个被称为“腕管”的狭窄 区域，该区域如果收紧， 会挤压神经并引起疼痛。 由物理治疗师提供的每日 手腕锻炼是减轻神经压力的 最有效治疗方法。 短期内，晚上佩戴夹板以 保持手腕挺直确实有帮助。 这能减轻神经压力并缓解 疼痛。大多数药店都可以 买到夹板。 在极端情况下，患者可能会 被建议进行手术。
成块脱落。甲状腺功能减退 是另一个常见原因。 当这个控制代谢的腺体 功能减慢时，头发可能会 变薄，并伴有疲劳、便秘、 情绪低落和体重增加。 这是一种终身疾病，但每日 服用甲状腺素片（人工甲状腺 激素）通常能迅速恢复 正常的头发生长。头皮状况 如皮炎或银屑病也可能 起到一定作用，全科医生 (GP) 也会对此进行检查。 有时脱发需要紧急关注。 突然出现的斑块状脱发—— 而非逐渐整体变薄——应尽快 就医；同样，如果脱发速度 极快且伴有其他令人担忧的 症状，如不明原因的体重 减轻、发烧或整体感觉不适， 也应尽快就医。在极少数 情况下，这种脱发可能是 由癌症引起的。 对于绝大多数女性来说， 有个好消息。脱发很常见， 几乎总是有原因可循，且 一旦完成了正确的血液检查， 通常是非常容易解决的。
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研究人员称，一种廉价且 常用的药物可能给阿尔茨海默病 患者带来希望。 长期以来，NHS（英国国家医疗服务体系） 一直开具锂药来治疗双相 情感障碍和某些形式的 抑郁症。 现在研究表明，它还可以 对抗痴呆症，该病在英国 影响 982,000 人，目前尚无 治愈方法或预防性治疗。 之前的研究将
这是全科医生（GP）接诊中最常见的主诉之一——而且炎热的天气似乎让情况变得更糟。研究表明，踝关节酸痛影响了近五分之一的 55 岁以上人群，使其成为英国仅次于膝盖的第二大最疼痛关节。然而，对于许多患者来说，原因可能是一个谜。《星期日邮报》的驻院全科医生专栏作家 Ellie Cannon 博士上周写道，她在近期的热浪期间出现了踝关节僵硬。她承认自己不确定诱因，“作为一名全科医生，承认这一点很令人尴尬”。这篇文章引发了读者的海量邮件和信件，他们表示自己也经历了同样的问题。一名 55 岁女性地描述了在过去的一年里，她的踝关节在早晨变得僵硬，而垫高脚部后似乎有所改善。另一位读者，一名 76 岁男性，讲述了他在近几周内右踝出现了“僵硬和令人不快疼痛”的情况。同时，一名 85 岁女性读者描述了她的“非常僵硬”的踝关节疼痛让她感觉仿佛“站在胶水里”一样。专家表示，这个问题有几种潜在原因。其中之一（至少对女性而言）是更年期，研究显示更年期会诱发关节疼痛。当然，一些患者可能患有未诊断的踝关节损伤，例如拉伤或扭伤。然而，一些专家表示，有一个出人意料的高概率原因：隐藏的静脉曲张。大多数人认为静脉曲张是皮肤下可见的凸起、扭曲的静脉。但专家表示，这是一个常见的误区——许多导致症状的静脉隐藏在表面更深处，无法被看见。那么，你如何判断踝关节疼痛是否由该病引起？静脉曲张影响五分之一的成年人，发生在血管内瓣膜功能障碍时，导致血液在静脉中淤积而不是回流到心脏。研究表明，大多数病例与遗传有关。虽然它通常被认为是一个女性健康问题，但研究显示在男性中也同样常见。至关重要的是，专家表示，踝关节酸痛通常是静脉曲张的首批症状之一。“存在一种误区，认为所有
锂缺失会导致认知功能障碍。 发表在《自然》杂志上的一项研究发现，阿尔茨海默病患者大脑中的锂水平较低。 在动物模型中，锂缺乏已被证明会加速认知能力下降以及大脑中斑块的积聚，这两者都与阿尔茨海默病相关。 在基因工程改造的小鼠中
患者会出现可见的静脉曲张，但对许多人来说，这些是隐藏的，”怀特利诊所（The Whiteley Clinic）的静脉曲张专家 Mark Whiteley 教授表示。 “这种病症通常始于踝关节僵硬和疼痛。许多患者报告说，当他们垫高脚部时，疼痛往往会减轻。 “随着时间的推移，患者可能会开始注意到踝关节皮肤发痒，或者可能会出现溃疡。有些
有没有想过为什么……
当压力切断了身体某个部位的正常血流和神经信号传输时，就会产生这种发麻、刺痛的感觉。长时间盘腿而坐，或者在睡眠时压住手臂，会挤压在四肢与大脑之间传递信息的神经。一旦压力释放，神经开始再次放电，但由于是不规则的，因此向大脑发送了混乱的
信号。这在医学上被称为“感觉异常”（paraesthesia）。这种情况通常在几分钟内就会消失。偶尔出现针刺感是无害的。但如果这种情况频繁发生、持续时间较长，或伴有麻木或无力感，则值得去看全科医生（GP），因为这可能预示着神经损伤、糖尿病或维生素缺乏。
为了研究阿尔茨海默病的发展，低剂量锂治疗改善了记忆表现并减轻了脑损伤迹象。研究人员认为，锂可能有助于保护涉及记忆和思考的脑细胞，并维持大脑各区域之间的连接。最新发现概述在发表于《转化精神病学》（Translational Psychiatry）的一篇观点文章中，研究人员在文中主张，低剂量锂
值得进一步研究，作为早期阿尔茨海默病患者的潜在治疗方法。阿尔茨海默病协会研究与创新副总监理查德·奥克利（Dr Richard Oakley）博士表示：“这项研究增加了关于锂在阿尔茨海默病中潜在作用的讨论，但重要的是要注意，它并未表明锂可以预防或治疗痴呆症。
‘一些研究表明，阿尔茨海默病患者的大脑中锂水平较低。目前针对早期阿尔茨海默病患者的临床试验规模较小，还没有明确证据表明其具有影响。
‘没有单一的方法可以解决痴呆症，我们应该继续探索所有有前景的途径。了解哪些潜在治疗方案能给人们的生活带来实质性改变的唯一途径就是通过更多研究。’
患者可能会出现可见的静脉曲张——但其他人则可能不会。’因此，研究表明许多患者需要接受一种名为“静脉双普勒超声”的专业扫描，以揭示腿部瓣膜是否工作正常。然而，专家表示，许多全科医生并未派遣患者进行此类扫描。这在很大程度上是因为国民医疗服务体系（NHS）不承担静脉曲张治疗的费用。
该病症可以通过两种方式有效治疗：一种是烧除破损静脉（一种称为“内热消融”的手术），另一种是用医疗泡沫阻塞这些血管（称为“泡沫硬化疗法”）。
但只有在被归类为处于剧烈疼痛或出现并发症的情况下，静脉曲张患者才能获得 NHS 治疗。
标准如此严格，以至于每年在 NHS 开展的静脉曲张手术仅有 20,000 例——而此病症影响人数达数百万人。
研究显示，患者为了去除静脉曲张，每条腿经常花费高达 £3,000。
专家强调，脚踝疼痛并不总是由静脉曲张引起的。更年期专家娜奥美·波特（Dr Naomi Potter）博士表示，中年时期的激素变化经常引发关节疼痛。
‘性激素雌激素的流失会导致关节僵硬……’
“且感到酸痛，”波特医生（Dr Potter）表示。“好消息是，激素替代疗法 [最常见的绝经期治疗方法] 对这一问题确实有效。”
但波特医生补充说，那些经历脚踝酸痛的绝经期患者，可能还会经历其他常见症状，如脑雾和出汗。
专家表示，了解脚踝疼痛是否由肌肉损伤引起至关重要。
“如果脚踝受损，你会看到红肿，”波特医生说。“而且触碰时可能会相当敏感。”
但专家确信，许多脚踝酸痛的病例与隐藏的静脉曲张有关——他们敦促患者针对此问题进行检查。
“这是 15 to 20 per cent 的人口存在但并未意识到的一项问题，”怀特利教授（Professor Whiteley）补充道。
“如果你感到脚踝酸痛，值得请你的全科医生（GP）为你推荐进行扫描检查。”
这是一个事实 人字拖也可能是夏季脚踝酸痛的原因，因为研究表明，薄底鞋底会导致关节发炎。
为了去掉我那些结痂且发黄的脚趾甲，我尝试了所有方法——唯一的解决方案是用钳子把它们撬掉……我只希望它们能重新长出来
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REHENSILE（可抓取的）。我不得不偷偷溜到洗手间，在手机的 Google 应用上查找这个词，我怀疑这个词绝不会是什么好评。那是在一次去克罗地亚出差期间，一名同事指着我穿着 Birkenstock 凉鞋的双脚，对着全体成员大声说道——就好像在嘉年华畸形秀上揭露一个额外恐怖的细节一样：“大家快看！西蒙的大脚趾甲是可抓取的！”所有人的目光现在都集中在我的脚上，尤其是我的黄尖大脚趾。大家的集体反应是：“呃。”同事的妻子判定：“真恶心。”“你为什么不采取点措施处理一下？”顺便说一句，“Prehensile”是指动物用来抓握或持有物品的附属器官。我的同事显然在暗示我的脚趾甲看起来不像人类，而像动物——仿佛它们能紧紧扣住树枝的边缘。我崩溃了。我羞愧地回到房间，把凉鞋换成了乐福鞋，在剩下的日子里再也没有在公共场合露脚趾。夏天是对中年男性的残酷时间。他们松垮的“奶爸身形”袒露在外，皮肤被晒伤且起斑点。而对于我们中的一些人来说，通过人字拖、拖鞋和凉鞋的无情暴露，那些被真菌感染的丑陋脚趾甲在 easyJet 的办理登机处任由所有人观看和评论。在之前的八月里，我被叫做“史瑞克脚趾”和“荷马·辛普森之脚”，我那橙黄色的指甲被比作“易碎的玉米片”。大部分这些话是我的家人说的。我的女儿们小时候去海滩时，陪伴她们的是一位父亲，他那长满老茧、像霍比特人一样的蹄子尖端覆盖着某种像发黑且脱屑的矿渣一样的东西。有时，通常在度假期间——在孩子们绝对尖叫着惊恐之余——一枚大脚趾甲可能会决定完全脱离其数字基座，在下方留下可怕的、像被丢弃的异形蛹一样的皮肤脱落层。这种情况持续了多年——至少 30 年。在每周参加五人制足球赛期间，我的脚趾被反复踩踏后患上了真菌感染。夏天不穿袜子就穿臭皮鞋的习惯也没有起到任何帮助。在城镇和球场上遭受折磨后，我的脚趾甲会先变黑，然后变黄，最后脱落。通常是在洗澡时。确实很恶心。每次发生这种情况时，我都会想：“好吧，至少它们现在会健康且粉嫩地长回来了。”但它们从未如此。它们长回来后反而比以往更厚、更粗糙、更易碎且更蜡黄。修剪它们就像试图用厨房剪刀雕刻大理石。坚固的德国工程指甲剪在我手中简直会散架。也许克罗地亚的那位女士是对的；在酒店游泳池边恶心了别人三十年之后，在尝试了昂贵且承诺效果极佳的局部治疗失败后，并在用肉色指甲油（Superdrug 有一款相当不错的，售价 £1.99）掩盖我的卑劣羞耻感之后，也许我最终真的应该对我那些“可抓取”的脚趾甲采取行动。
但这难道不会疼吗？可以理解的是，我对任何侵入性手术的想法都感到胆怯。在我儿子的记忆库中存储着关于二战时期拔脚趾甲是唯一疗法的恐怖故事，于是我被一个令人兴奋的新型且无痛解决方案的消息所鼓舞，该方案在 Marion Yau 的 Harley 医疗足部与激光诊所提供。或者，正如门口铜牌上所写的那样——“足部修复女士”。
利用光辐射的力量，Yau 的 Lunula 激光机既能杀死真菌，又能加速健康指甲组织的生长。无需痛苦的拔甲过程。更清澈的指甲
趾甲真菌感染（医学上称为甲真菌病）在温暖潮湿的环境中生长旺盛，这就是为什么预防措施主要集中在保持双脚干燥以及避免接触受污染的表面。公共淋浴间、健身房更衣室和游泳池边是主要的滋生地，因此专家建议穿着人字拖或洗澡鞋，而不是赤脚行走。
他们还建议人们在洗脚后应彻底擦干，特别注意脚趾之间的空间，因为那里容易积聚水分且真菌容易在此扎根。
人们还应选择透气的鞋类，理想情况下选择皮革或网眼材质，并轮换穿着鞋子，以便每双鞋在两次穿着之间至少有一天的时间完全干燥。
研究还表明，将趾甲修剪成平直形状且不过短至关重要，因为指甲周围受损的皮肤会给真菌提供便捷的入侵点。
专家建议人们不要与他人共用指甲剪、锉刀或袜子，并定期检查双脚是否有早期迹象：变色、增厚或指甲边缘碎裂。任何容易出汗的人应考虑使用抗真菌足部粉末或喷雾，这有助于保持干燥。
研究表明，尽早发现感染会使治疗变得容易得多，因此在出现指甲变化的第一个迹象时就咨询药剂师或全科医生（GP）会产生很大影响。
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事实证明 研究表明，不到三分之一的趾甲真菌感染患者曾就此情况寻求医疗帮助。
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在接下来的几个月里会逐渐出现。因此，我脱掉袜子和鞋子，跳上检查床，让尤小姐（Miss Yau）仔细观察。
情况有多糟？ 如果以1到10分衡量（10分为最糟糕），我那像坚硬的“奇脆麦片”（Cheerios）一样的趾甲被评为5分。“我看过更糟糕的，”她确认道。
是的，大脚趾有严重的真菌感染。我还患有创伤引起的变色和甲剥离（onycholysis）——即甲板与下方甲床分离。
单靠激光治疗无法解决这个问题。 为了有机会治愈延伸到甲床的瘢痕组织，并实现新的、不发黄的角质生长，她准备从……没错，把我的趾甲拔掉开始。
我之前其实看过她这么做。在她的 Amazon Prime 电视节目《糟糕足部诊所》（The Bad Foot Clinic）中，我看着尤小姐和她的全科医生丈夫肯尼（Kenny）处理各种足科主诉——疣、鸡眼、趾蹼、拇指外翻和跖疣。但在那一集中，持钳的马里昂（Marion）将一名受真菌感染士兵脚上的十个黄色趾甲全部拔除——伴随特写镜头——那一幕让我惊恐地合上了笔记本电脑盖。
也许，我应该寻求第二诊疗意见？“这可能是由香港脚（运动员足）发展而来的，”哈雷街（Harley Street）的足科医生史蒂文·托马斯（Steven Thomas）在没看到我那像托尔金笔下（Tolkien-esque）的猪蹄一样的脚之前建议道。
香港脚（医学术语为 tinea pedis）是一种高度传染性的皮肤真菌感染。瘙痒、刺痛和灼热的皮疹通常始于脚趾之间，在温暖潮湿的环境中（如出汗的鞋子和公共淋浴间）生长旺盛。
果然，在我的青少年和20多岁时期，我确实遭受过香港脚的折磨，瘙痒和烦躁到我会把趾缝间的皮肤抓到出血……然后重新穿上肮脏、汗涔涔的运动鞋，任由那片血红的烂肉溃烂。
趾甲反复受到创伤（例如跑步、足球或徒步旅行）会损害指甲，使导致香港脚的同类真菌更容易入侵。
托马斯先生解释说，任何从事易受创伤运动的人，或长时间站立的人——如足球运动员、厨师、军人等——都存在风险。
如果你能尽早发现趾甲真菌感染，局部治疗（通常是涂抹液）可能会成功。处方药甲油（如环吡酮 Ciclopirox）效果最好，但需要勤奋地涂抹数月，而在此期间……
解决问题：西蒙 与安娜贝尔·克罗夫特（Annabel Croft）在一起，以及（插图） 治疗前后的脚趾
健康的指甲会生长出来。“但随着指甲感染加深且指甲增厚，局部治疗将无法进入整个指甲下方或触及甲床，”他警告道。口服药物更为有效；特比萘芬（terbinafine，通常开方为 Lamisil）是一种强效的处方抗真菌药，用于治疗严重的甲真菌病。标准剂量是每天服用一片 250mg 的药片，连续六周治疗手指甲感染，或连续 12 周治疗脚趾甲感染。在开具特比萘芬处方前，医生通常会发送指甲剪下的碎片进行检测，以确认感染为真菌性，并安排血液检查以检查
肝功能，因为该药物在极少数情况下可能会影响肝脏。事实证明，我早已过了口服药物阶段。因此，在经过两周的准备，使用各种真菌洗液以及特比萘芬和 Daktarin 药膏以检查是否有任何过敏或副作用后，这个中年男人穿上了他的“大男孩裤子”（鼓起勇气），躺在了 Marion Yau 的诊疗床上。在打了几针局部麻醉后，她准备好了所有工具：镊子（钳子）、一个“提升”工具和一把手术用 Scrivener 刀片。我突然觉得自己成了自己的一场《至尊统帅》（Master And Commander）噩梦中的主角。 实际上，真的没那么糟糕。主要是因为我拒绝
观看。即使 Yau 小姐开始刮除甲床上的瘢痕组织和碎片，也没有太疼。也许在手术刮除深入时会有几次阵痛。当她好心地问我想不想把去掉的脚趾甲留作纪念时，我确实缩了一下（我礼貌地拒绝了）。 每个脚趾上都贴了巨大的、像卡通一样滑稽的敷料。我听话地服用了止痛药，换上了 魔术贴 凉鞋 （出于风格考虑，拒绝了推荐的 Crocs 洞洞鞋），然后乘 Uber 回家。 自己开车在技术上是违法的，乘坐公共
这是一个事实 脚趾甲真菌感染 在老年中更为常见。 五分之一的 60 岁以上人群 和一半的 70 岁以上人群 受到影响。
交通则充满风险，而且如果骑 Lime 共享单车，我看起来会相当傻。如果我蜷缩脚趾，我仍然可以行走，尽管像只鸭子。麻醉药效过后疼痛吗？偶尔会有抽痛。晚上我加倍了药量，然后安然入睡。然后醒来，更换新的绷带。“现在你必须对清洁有点强迫症，”Yau 小姐警告道。在接下来的几个月里，清洗、清洁和重新包扎我的脚趾——以及更换新鲜的袜子和干净的鞋子——将成为我日常生活的一部分，就像刷牙一样习惯。我还将回来进行四次随访预约，期间我的脚趾将接受 Lunula 激光治疗，以帮助防止感染复发并鼓励健康指甲生长。在我们的下次见面时，Yau 小姐告诉我，我采取行动是很明智的。“身体任何部位的感染都很糟糕。如果让受感染的脚趾甲持续时间太长，
可能会引发继发性细菌感染，”她说。“增厚的指甲随后可能会在甲床下方形成溃疡，就像糖尿病患者的压力性溃疡一样，有发生更严重并发症的风险。”她继续说道，随着年龄增长，我们更容易受到感染，并承认我的年龄 (62) 是这种情况的典型人群。“我们的皮肤更干燥，头发更干燥，指甲更干燥且更脆弱。我们服用更多的抗生素，这也让我们容易感病。”她补充道：“有些女性来找我，告诉我她们很多年没给丈夫看过脚了。”（真菌性脚趾甲影响男性和女性的程度相同。）脚趾甲的真菌感染可能会扩散到其他肢体。有时，Yau 小姐不得不为那些被脚部严重感染的手指甲进行手术。担心我自己那像男人一样大的美甲，在她说这话时，我紧张地捂住了双手，然后迅速地
进入了激光室。Lunula 激光设备使用两种特定波长的光（紫色和红色）来杀死真菌感染，同时刺激指甲生长，且不会损坏周围组织。你将双脚放入一个光箱中，让低能量激光束发挥魔力。然后是更多的清洗、更多的抗真菌药膏和新的敷料。我的脚趾看起来依然有点凄惨，呈现出粉红色且光秃秃的样子，在刮除过的地方留有顽固的血迹。真是太恶心了。然后，突然之间，在六到八周后……长出指甲了！一个淡粉色的渐增新月形。微透明。看起来很健康。绝对不是黑色或黄色。在经历了 30 年的尼古丁色、坚硬且剥落的指甲，以及泳池边的尴尬和家族的耻辱之后，我的脚趾正迅速变得几乎可以见人，达到了可以穿 Birkenstock 凉鞋的标准。2027 年的夏天，我们准备好迎接你了！
咖啡 可能会 加速 衰老
一项新研究表明，饮用过滤咖啡而非速溶咖啡可能会减缓衰老。 研究人员发现，饮用过滤咖啡的人倾向于表现出较低水平的生物年龄加速，而饮用速溶咖啡的人则表现出较高水平。 随着饮用量的增加，这种关联变得更加强烈，在每天饮用三杯以上的人群中效果最明显。 研究人员写道：“过滤咖啡与生物衰老减缓相关。” “相反，速溶咖啡与生物衰老的风险增加有关。” 他们认为，这些差异可能与咖啡的加工方式及其对炎症和代谢的影响有关。 过滤咖啡可能含有更高水平的化合物，如氯原酸，后者被认为具有抗炎和代谢益处。 速溶咖啡与过滤咖啡之间化合物的差异以及加工方法的不同也可能
有助于解释这些截然不同的发现。 研究人员分析了 49,414 名成年人的健康数据，平均年龄为 56 岁，并将咖啡饮用习惯与生物衰老相关的 DNA 变化进行了对比。 速溶咖啡与生物衰老加速之间的联系在年长参与者、男性和目前的吸烟者中最为显著。 研究作者指出，速溶咖啡仅导致生物年龄增加约 0.1 至 0.2 年，因此在个人层面的影响有限。然而，这一发现可能对大规模人群产生更广泛的公共健康影响。 作者在《npj Science of Food》杂志上写道，这项观察性研究无法证明咖啡类型直接导致衰老变化。 他们还指出，饮用咖啡的习惯通常与更广泛的生活方式和社会经济因素相关，这意味着其他影响因素可能会影响研究结果。 根据英国咖啡协会的数据，英国人每天饮用约 98 million 杯咖啡，这意味着平均每个咖啡饮用者每天饮用两到三杯。 约 80% 的 英国 户家庭购买速溶咖啡，其中 65 岁以上的人群占据了相当大的需求份额。
健康
战胜了皮肤癌…… 后来它复发了。 唯一的征兆？疲劳
在伦敦接受培训并担任护士近八年期间，约翰·威尔逊（John Wilson）认为自己已经见过足够多奇怪的肿块和痣。但直到 2014 年，他的全科医生指出他背上一个形状古怪的印记，当时 30 岁的他才意识到自己忽略了自身皮肤癌的一个关键危险信号。约翰的医生刮下了这颗痣的一小块样本——这颗痣很大，呈黑色，边缘参差不齐，隐藏在他的右腋下——并立即进行了检测。到第二天，他得到了诊断结果：黑色素瘤，这是最致命的皮肤癌形式。该疾病处于极早期，庆幸的是，约翰的医生在当天将其切除。但这次经历完全改变了他对未来的态度。“收到这样的诊断结果是一个巨大的打击——我非常感激那位注意到它的全科医生，”约翰说。“在癌症被切除后，我决定走出去，开始生活。”在接下来的十年里，约翰在世界各地担任护士——在澳大利亚和亚洲的贫困社区诊疗，还航行过大西洋。然后，在今年 1 月，就在搬回伦敦几周后，约翰发现自己再次住院，这一次是疑似肾结石。但当约翰的医生查看 CT 扫描以确认诊断时，他们还发现他的肝脏中有一个看起来像肿瘤的物体。经过更多扫描，约翰和他的伴侣费利西亚（Felicia）得到了毁灭性的消息。他的癌症复发了——这一次扩散到了肺部、肝脏、肾脏和腹壁。约翰震惊了。他的皮肤没有任何新变化，感觉完全正常——除了比平时更容易疲劳，而他将其归结为搬家的压力。“这就像是被大锤正面击中一样，”约翰说，但他补充道：“我极其幸运地患上了那个肾结石，否则我也许会在不知情的情况下继续这样生活好几个月，甚至好几年。”“我是一名护士，但两次都没有认出皮肤癌的症状或体征。没有医学训练的公众机会更小。我们需要提高人们对黑色素瘤体征的意识。”皮肤癌的诊断已经
@BarneyCalman @EnnalsEthan @Dr_Ellie @MeikeLeonard @_Lukechafer
使命：约翰·威尔逊（John Wilson）希望提高人们对皮肤癌的认识
在英国，皮肤癌的发病率在过去十年中显著攀升，其中黑色素瘤的病例增加了近三分之一。如今，每年大约有 21,000 例黑色素瘤新病例，导致近 2,300 人死亡——使其成为该国最常见的癌症之一。主要症状是任何新生或变化的生长物。这可能包括在大小、形状或颜色上发生变化的痣，或者发展出锯齿状、不规则边缘的痣。皮肤癌也可能看起来像持续出血、
...在特应性皮炎和 脂溢性皮炎之间？ 有什么区别...
特应性皮炎（Atopic dermatitis），即湿疹，是一种导致皮肤发炎且剧烈瘙痒的皮肤病。 它是由于遗传、皮肤屏障受损以及免疫系统过度活跃共同导致的。 治疗方法包括使用润肤剂、抗炎药膏，如果
结痂且瘙痒，或出现不寻常的蜡样、鳞屑状肿块。十分之九的病例被认为是可以避免的，而接触来自太阳——或日光浴床——的紫外线是该病的主要原因。 而且该病在男性中比在女性中更常见——前者癌症倾向于出现在躯干或颈部，而后者则出现在下肢。 专家表示，病例激增可能是多种因素综合作用的结果，包括人口老龄化和
病情严重时的光疗。 脂溢性皮炎（Seborrheic dermatitis） 会导致皮肤瘙痒、发炎，并在头皮、眉毛和耳朵等出油区域出现油腻的黄白色鳞屑。 治疗依赖于药用洗发水以及处方药或非处方抗炎和抗真菌外用药。
诊断技术的提高，以及出国度假和户外日光浴的普及和可负担性增加。然而，尽管人们对皮肤癌的增加感到广泛担忧，许多英国人仍然不了解该病的风险和征兆。慈善机构“黑色素瘤关注”（Melanoma Focus）今年早些时候发布的一项调查显示，九分之一的英国成年人曾故意晒伤皮肤——这使他们面临更高的黑色素瘤风险。这项针对 英国 3,000 多名成年人的调查发现，令人震惊的是，三分之一的成年人还承认从未使用过防晒霜。卫生服务部门的建议是，始终使用 SPF 至少为 30 的防晒霜，每两小时在全身涂抹六到八茶匙的药霜——且在游泳、出汗或用毛巾擦干后必须涂抹。伦敦诊所（The London Clinic）的顾问皮肤科医生克里斯托弗·罗兰-佩恩（Dr Christopher Rowland Payne）博士表示，大多数黑色素瘤之所以被发现，是因为它们表现为一颗新痣，或现有痣的变化——通常出现在暴露在
阳光下的区域。如果能早期发现，黑色素瘤几乎总能治愈——但随着时间的推移，治疗将变得更加困难。癌症扩散的迹象可能非常广泛——取决于受影响的器官——但常见症状包括皮肤下出现硬块、淋巴结肿大、持续疲劳和不明原因的体重减轻。已被切除的 1 阶段黑色素瘤复发的概率通常较低。约翰认为自己只是运气不好。罗兰-佩恩博士建议，任何患过癌症且注意到精力水平、体重发生变化或出现任何新肿块的人都应该就此咨询全科医生。但他建议，避免皮肤癌的最佳方法首先是限制阳光照射。约翰目前正在接受增强免疫力的治疗，他说这次诊断再次给了他一种全新的
他接下来的计划。他目前正在攻读皮肤病学资格认证，希望有一天能培训他人识别皮肤癌的迹象，并通过他的慈善机构“尽早发现”（Spot It Early）提供免费的痣检查。“我想利用我所学到的知识，以及我正在经历的这一切，为他人带来改变，”他说道。“早发现和晚发现之间的区别可能决定一切。这一点我比任何人都清楚。” ÷约翰正在 GoFundMe 网站（www. gofundme.com/f/nurseskincancer）上为他的慈善机构筹集资金。
游泳 可缓解 慢性 背痛
研究发现，游泳可能是治疗慢性背痛的一种有效方法。据估计，每年有超过 10million 英国人遭受背痛之苦，其中腰痛是导致残疾的主要原因。治疗方法涵盖从物理治疗到抗炎药。但研究显示，高达九成（90%）的慢性背痛患者通过非手术疗法几乎得不到缓解。
现在，来自澳大利亚悉尼麦考瑞大学脊柱疼痛研究中心的研究人员表示，他们可能找到了一种更好的缓解背痛的方法——游泳。
他们将 76 名年龄在 26 至 74 岁之间且遭受腰痛至少三个月的患者分成了两组。
其中一组接受了为期八周的游泳计划——每周进行三次 30-to-45 分钟的往返游泳——以及四次物理治疗。
另一组则接受了
物理治疗但没有游泳——而是继续进行他们平时的治疗和活动。
首席研究员黛博拉·沃伦（Deborah Wareham）表示，八周后，游泳组的背痛减轻了约 50 百分比。
定期游泳的益处在六个月和一年后的随访中依然存在——尽管两组之间的差异随时间而减小。
全球指南将运动推荐为慢性腰痛的一线治疗方案，但仅有部分运动类型（如普拉提）经过了临床评估。
脊柱疼痛研究中心共同主任马克·汉考克（Mark Hancock）教授表示：“游泳在治疗背痛中的依据是符合逻辑的，但对其进行测试至关重要。”
“游泳可以改善活动范围、力量和整体有氧能力，且水的浮力可以帮助人们进行在其他情况下可能会感到疼痛的动作。”
“患者告诉我们，游泳建立起他们开始锻炼并参与其他体育活动的信心——有些人计划结束后继续游泳，而有些人则转向了其他形式的运动。”
个人理财
越来越多的丧亲家庭正面临遗产税账单的冲击——而情况即将变得更加糟糕。从明年 4 月起，当养老金开始被纳入遗产税计算范围时，数千份过去无需缴税的遗产将被拖入遗产税网。这意味着更多家庭将被迫按 40 l百分比的统一税率缴纳死亡税。如果新任首相安迪·伯纳姆继续推进他此前提出的引入遗产税以覆盖免费社会护理成本的计划，可能会有进一步的变动。此类税款可能会对死亡时的所有遗产征收 10 l百分比的税。目前尚不清楚这将是取代遗产税还是对其进行补充。然而，一个已表达过增加财富税意向的政府不太可能削减总税收。而且，社会护理的成本是遗产税筹集资金的四倍多，因此要覆盖该成本需要更多——而非更少——的税收。在 2024-25. 年度，家庭缴纳的遗产税为 £8.4 billion。但仅在英格兰，成年社会护理的总成本就达到了 £34.5 billion——且每年增长 8 l百分比。伯纳姆会对该系统做出怎样的修改，目前无法预料。但家庭需要准备好在变动公布时立即采取行动。针对已经确定的变动，您现在可以采取一些规划步骤，从简单的到高级的不等。我们咨询了专家的最终遗产税待办事项清单——您应该优先考虑哪些措施来削减家庭账单。Aston Accountancy 创始人兼《邮报》财经网站 This is Money 的税务专栏作家 Heather Rogers 表示：“过去几年政府的多次更替以及优先事项的不断变化，让家庭在做长期决策时感到紧张。但不要把遗产税规划留到太晚。尽早寻求建议，将自己的需求放在首位。”对于那些认为自己的遗产可能会产生巨额账单，或事务处理较为复杂的人来说，一名优秀的理财顾问可以帮助理顺一切。
除非您确定自己足够富有，足以让遗产税成为一个问题，否则您不必为此失眠，更不必开始研究复杂的避税策略。
个人在去世后可以免税传承最高 £325,000 —— 即“起征点”（nil-rate band）。配偶或民事伙伴——或生存的一方——可以合计移交 £650,000。超过此金额的部分将按 40 l百分比征收遗产税。
然而，如果您将房屋传给直系后代（如子女或孙子女），您的免税额将提高到 £500,000，夫妇两人则为 £1 million —— 这被称为“住宅起征点”（residence nil-rate band）。
要计算您的遗产是否可能超过这些阈值，请汇总您所有资产的价值：房产、储蓄和投资。即使考虑到您的资产在退休消费过程中可能会贬值，Mattioli Woods 的理财顾问 Kam Singh 仍表示：“许多人惊讶地发现自己的遗产规模比想象中要大，尤其是那些几十年前买房且见证了房价大幅上涨的房主。”
请记住，从 4 月起，养老金账户中剩余的任何资金都将计入您的总额。
保护您的亲人免受 遗产税影响的 权威 11步计划
您需要基于您的需求，而不仅仅是您目前的支出，还要考虑您未来可能面临的账单，例如如果您需要护理，其费用可能非常高昂。 实现这一目标的最佳方法是采用一种名为“现金流建模”的过程，即审查所有经常性支出，然后加上即将产生的成本，并预测您可能需要的金额。 一个很好的切入点是查阅您的银行对账单，以计算收入和支出情况。如果您尚未退休，请考虑在停止工作或还清抵押贷款后，您的成本将如何变化。 “确定您自己需要多少钱，从而确定您可以承受多少支出的增加，或可以捐赠多少，”Evelyn Partners 的遗产规划负责人 Ian Dyall 表示。一名金 3. 审查您的遗嘱或制定遗嘱
这将意味着您的受益人可能会面临“双重税”陷阱。 这是因为当 75 岁以上的人去世时，其受益人在领取继承的养老金时，还必须按 20, 40 或 45 比率支付自身的普通所得税。 对于高税率纳税人来说，这代表了 64 比率的税率——40 比率被作为遗产税扣除，余额再次被征收 40 比率的税。
无论是否担心遗产税，这都是每个人都应该采取的一步。这是确保您的财富传递给您预定之人的唯一方法。 您的意愿必须优先考虑，但也有一些传递财富的方法可以降低您的账单。 例如，配偶和民事伙伴之间可以免遗产税地向对方留下资产，但子女和其他人——包括未结婚的长期伴侣——则需缴税。因此，已婚
Jefferies
养老金与投资编辑
只要您在赠与后生存七年，您就可以在免交遗产税的情况下赠与任意金额。 这意味着如果您尽早开始赠与，就可以减轻您的遗产税责任。 然而，您绝不能冒在晚年资金耗尽的风险。您
夫妇可能会选择将财富免税地留给对方，然后将剩余部分传给子女，而不是一开始就将其交给子女。 Ian Dyall 表示，他的公司 Evelyn Partners 处理过一对未婚但育有子女且共同生活数十年的夫妇，其中一人患了绝症。生存的一方本将被迫出售房屋以支付巨额遗产税账单，因此他们成为了民事伙伴。
融顾问可以帮助创建详细的现金流计划，以展示您的资产将如何随时间变化、您可以消费多少以及资金是否足够持久。 Netwealth 的负责人 Charlotte Ransom 表示，人们常犯的最大错误之一是将遗产税规划视为一项税务练习，而不是一项财务规划。她表示：“现金流建模可以帮助确定在不损害未来安全的情况下，现实地可以赠与、消费或投资的金额。” 4. 检查谁将获得您的养老金或福利
请记得将养老金处理方式的变化纳入考虑。从明年 4 月起，如果您将养老金或死亡福利留给配偶或民事伙伴以外的任何人，您将面临税单风险。 您可能希望在变更之前联系您的计划方，以更改您的指定受益人。 Ransom 表示：“即使是一个设计良好的遗产税策略，也可能被一份过时的遗嘱或养老金指定所破坏。请确保您的意愿已记录在案。” 5. 创建一个亲属可以访问的文件夹
你所拥有的资产以及如何访问 账户，对于悲痛的亲属来说可能是一种行政上的 便利。 “大多数人已经转向电子账单，这使得他们的执行人无法访问。 而且一些投资，例如比特币，完全是虚拟的，”Dyall 说道。“如果你有财务 顾问，提供他们的联系电话将非常有价值。” 6. 计划如何支付任何 遗产税账单
money@mailonsunday.co.uk 遗产税 4页特刊
欠款金额，并将应缴资金交给税务部门。 至关重要的是，账单必须由执行人或 管理人预先支付，而此时他们还 未通过遗嘱认证获得遗产中的资产访问权——且如果 没有英国税务海关总署 (HMRC) 确认遗产税已处理完毕， 遗嘱认证将不会获得批准。 如果账单支付逾期，未缴税款将被收取利息——4 % 加上英格兰银行的 基准利率，目前为 3.75 %。 因此，现在的年利率为 7.75 %。 受益人通常没有足够的现金来支付 税款。常见的补救措施是 通过借款来支付账单，分期付款——尽管这 仍需按上述利率支付利息——或者使用 死者银行账户中的现金、 储蓄和投资直接支付给 HMRC。 然而，如果你提前计划， 你可以购买人寿保险并 将其设立为信托，这样它在遗产税目的上就不属于遗产的一部分， 你的受益人可以使用 这笔资金来支付账单（稍后详述）。 7. 考虑这些快速 遗产税获益方案
年度 之选
在你的遗产中，因此可能会被征收遗产税。 将其放入信托使其脱离你的遗产是非常简单的。致电你的服务提供商并询问相关流程，这通常涉及填写一份表格。
B) 考虑变更契据 (deeds of variation)： 如果你收到了一笔你因为足够富有而并不需要的遗产，这是一种避免增加自身遗产税责任的方法。 你可以使用变更契据将遗产的部分或全部转交给下一代。 例如，假设你已拥有的财富超过了你的遗产税免税额度，而你从父母那里继承了一笔 £100,000 的赠与，该款项需缴纳遗产税。 如果你保留这笔赠与，税后你将收到 £60,000。如果这笔钱随后成为你遗产的一部分并传给你的孩子，它将再次被征收 40% 的税，导致他们只能获得 £36,000。 然而，如果你使用变更契据将这 £100,000 直接从你的父母转交给你的孩子，遗产税将仅征收一次，因此他们将收到 £60,000。 使用变更契据的赠与立即生效，因此它不依赖于你是否在赠与后生存七年以获得遗产税豁免。 在去世后办理变更契据的截止期限为两年。
消费是迄今为止减少遗产最简单的方法。钱是你挣来的，为什么不享受它呢？ 然而，许多人希望利用年度免税额进行赠与，这样即使他们在赠与后的七年内去世，也不存在日后被追缴遗产税的风险。 你可以每年赠与 £3,000，此外还可以进行最高 £250 的无限次小额赠与，且无需缴纳遗产税。 婚礼赠与限额为：给孩子的最高 £5,000，给孙辈或曾孙辈的最高 £2,500，以及给其他任何人的最高 £1,000。 只要你是定期从收入（而非资本）中进行赠与，且不影响你自身的生活标准，你也可以进行任何金额的遗产税免税赠与。 这被称为“作为收入正常支出的部分而进行的赠与”规则。在利用此规则之前，请查看 IHT403 表格中的相关章节，了解需要提供哪些信息作为证明，以确保这些赠与符合资格。 在进行赠与时，保留一份关于谁在何时收到了多少钱的简单记录至关重要。 Singh 表示：“一位 70 岁出头的退休教师客户，多年来一直向不同的家庭成员进行随机转账。” “七年期限一直在计算，且银行对账单最终会证明这些赠与的存在。” “但她在不同时间向不同的人支付了不同的金额，且没有关于意图或分类的记录。对于任何试图拼凑这些信息的执行人来说，这将是一个巨大的行政负担。”
设立信托是规避遗产税的一种流行方式，但它并非万能的遗产税逃税手段。 信托允许你在去世后为他人预留资金、房产或投资。 如果你选择合适的信托，你仍然可以控制资金的使用方式。但通常情况下，你不能在资金进入信托后继续从中获益，同时还希望你的受益人能够免除遗产税。 信托种类繁多，更不用说需要考虑的税费。因此，这是一个复杂的领域，专业建议至关重要。 Rogers 表示：“如果你计划设立信托，请确保你了解它将实现的目标，以及所有的税务影响和申报影响。” “警惕信托产品的误导销售——请始终使用律师、专业会计师或财务规划师。”
有一些类型的投资可以提供遗产税优惠。只有在您的资产可能超过免税额的情况下，才需要考虑这些方案。
例如，为了鼓励对小型创业企业的投资，如果人们持有具有商业财产救济（business property relief）状态的公司股份至少两年，政府将为其提供遗产税保护。对于指定股份，救济额为 50%，这意味着实际的遗产税率为 20%。但这类投资处于光谱中较为大胆——因此也是风险最高——的一端。它们仅被认为适合那些要么本身是经验丰富的投资者，要么能够负担高端财务咨询服务的富人，而不适合那些无法承受在该领域损失大量投资资金的适度富裕者。
这是一种在您去世后支付一笔资金的保单。如果您将保单放入信托，它将不再计入您的遗产，从而免于缴纳遗产税。
如上所述，您可以购买一份保单，其赔付金额相当于您预计去世时遗产将产生的遗产税额，这样可以让继承人更容易支付遗产税账单。
“一份以信托形式签署的终身保单不会降低遗产税账单，但它能提供资金来支付这笔费用，”辛格（Singh）表示。“保费成本将取决于所需的保障水平、您的年龄以及申请时的健康状况，但这仍然是一个一直被低估且实用的解决方案。”
money@mailonsunday.co.uk
谁不想在退休后拥有一份无风险的收入，且无论经济和股市出现怎样的动荡，每月都能保证收到这笔钱。
因此，年金（annuities）出现复苏也就不足为奇了。这类产品让您使用部分或全部养老金储蓄来购买一份终身收入。尽管具有吸引力，但许多退休人员仍然对年金望而却步，因为这是一项巨大的承诺——一旦锁定，就无法改变主意；而且某些年金的收入随人离世而终止，因此如果您没有预期的那样长寿，可能无法获得良好的价值。
然而，一个鲜为人知的选择——固定期限年金（fixed-term annuity），期限为五年或十年——可以提供一个折中方案。此外，它有可能为您带来 7.5 ％的保证利率，且大部分资金将在五年内返还。
根据养老金网站 Annuity Project 的数据，一名退休人员如果使用 £100,000 购买最高利率的五年期固定期限年金，可获得 £7,510 的年收入，并在到期时获得 £85,561 的返还。
或者，您可以购买一种每年支付 £5,050 且期限为五年的产品——并在到期时全额返还您的 £100,000。
这远高于“4 ％规则”，即养老金投资者通常被告知每年可以安全提取的金额，以确保他们在退休后不会耗尽现金。它还击败了市场上最好的五年期固定利率储蓄债券，目前最佳选择 Close Brothers 的利率为 4.92 ％。
“这是终身年金与波动较大的收入提取方案（income drawdown）之间一个很好的折中选择，”Annuity Project 创始人兼 Eadon & Co 金融顾问 Billy Burrows 表示。
他补充说，您可以选择不提取收入，而追求最大到期价值。采用这一策略，您可以将 £100,000 转化为年金，并在五年后获得保证的 £128,641 返还。
“这一策略可以帮助那些不需要收入，但不想将大笔资金留在可能贬值的股市中的退休人员，”他说。
与终身年金相比，固定期限年金通常
让您的储蓄 获得保证的 7% 回报
减免数千英镑的 遗产税账单
在一段设定的时间内（通常为 5 到 10 年）支付保证收入。在期限结束时，你将获得一笔回款——被称为保证到期金额或价值——让你能够自由决定接下来的操作。 你可以选择期限以及接收的收入水平——提取的越多，最终的赔付金额就越低。 Chester Rose 咨询公司的特许财务规划师 Adam Vanstone 表示：“该到期金额随后可由你随意使用：可以用作另一种定期年金、灵活提取、终身年金或现金。” 如果你在定期年金结束前去世，你的受益人将获得剩余资金——可以是持续支付随后加上约定的最终付款，或者作为一笔 lump sum（一次性款项）。 顾问们指出，在某些场景下，定期年金可能特别有用。 Shackleton Advisers 的特许财务规划师 Louise Bowman 表示：“它可能被那些最近退休、且在其他退休福利（如养老金或国家养老金）开始发放之前需要可靠收入的人员所使用。” Vanstone 表示，即将到来的遗产税变更增加了年金的吸引力。 从 2027 年 4 月起，养老金将需要缴纳遗产税。 定期年金为人们提供了一种将退休储蓄移出 HMRC（英国税务海关总署）管辖范围的方法。你可以消费这笔收入，或者将其赠予他人。 如果这种赠予是定期进行的，且不影响你的生活标准，那么这些赠款可以立即脱离遗产税网。 一名身体健康的退休人员现在也可以选择定期年金，等到以后身体状况可能恶化时再购买终身年金，届时他们可能会符合获得更高收入的条件。但定期年金并非万能药。如果你选择提取高额收入，你拿回的金额将低于投入的一次性资金。 Burrows 警告称，如果到期时利率大幅下降，那么先领取定期年金然后在期末再购买另一个年金的计划可能会失败。 虽然定期年金比终身年金更灵活，但它仍然不如灵活提取（drawdown）那样适应性强。例如，你将无法通过调整收入来控制你的税单或适应消费习惯的变化。 money@mailonsunday.co.uk
Y
动物魔力：在南奥克尼群岛，一只豹海豹冒出水面向 Caroline 问候，企鹅在身后蹒跚而行 伟大冒险：Caroline 在探险船上度过了 12 天
你一生努力工作，做出牺牲。现在是时候享受你的时光，将你自己置于孩子或其他受赡养者之前了。这就是卡罗琳·塔普肯 (Caroline Tapken) 的看法，她在酒店业、旅游营销和公关领域工作了 40 年，足迹遍及全球，目前处于半退休状态。她的态度是，在依然健康且足够活跃、能做想做的事情时，应该享受金钱。她说：“在我停止全职工作时，旅行一直是我优先考虑的事项之首——我在退休初期，身体还健康活跃时就开始这么做了。我在日常事务上并不奢侈——我宁愿把钱花在旅行和体验上。如果钱不是用来享受的，那它有什么用呢？”
现年 65 岁、居住在伦敦西区厄克斯布里奇 (Uxbridge) 的卡罗琳，在结婚 25 年后于 2017 年离婚，这使得她的退休计划发生了意外的转折。她原计划与前夫一起退休到泰国（当时他们住在那里）经营一家宾馆。但在分居后，她决定返回英国是明智的，因为这样可以省去签证、工作许可和医疗成本的复杂问题。卡罗琳有一名 30 岁的女儿和一名 28 岁的儿子住在英国，她说她现在正充分地生活——只要有机会就去旅行，同时兼顾她作为外籍人士顾问的工作。她说，她存钱并不是单纯为了在去世后让孩子们继承。她宁愿现在享受体验，并在她活着的时候帮助孩子。她说：“我认为很多人在花自己的钱时会感到愧疚，因为他们担心遗产的传递，想确保孩子们在未来得到照顾。”
“我的看法是，你的钱是通过努力工作换来的，所以你应该享受它。如果孩子们有期望，那么也许需要进行一次沟通。”
“但不要让遗产规划阻碍你去做想做的事。你一生都在把他们放在首位。现在是时候把你自己放在首位了。”
卡罗琳最近的一次假期是与一位女性朋友前往南极洲的旅行。总费用为每人 £18,000，卡罗琳将其形容为一台体面汽车的价格。然而，她毫无遗憾。这次旅程持续了近三周。她们在布宜诺斯艾利斯待了几天，飞往阿根廷的乌斯怀亚，然后在那里度过了 12 天。
花在和朋友的奢侈度假上。 这是我的钱，我要享受它！
环球旅行者：Caroline Tapken 曾多次前往加勒比地区旅行
一艘小型探险船环绕南极洲，在那里他们看到了几种企鹅，并与鲸鱼近在咫尺。随后他们在乌拉圭停留了几天，然后飞回家中。 这艘探险船大约有 128 名乘客，因此感觉非常亲切，因为你可以结识船上的其他乘客。Caroline 和她的朋友（年龄 69 岁）共用一间双人船舱。 她说，探险船通常没有单人船舱，且单人房价可能非常高，因此与朋友同行有助于降低成本并提供陪伴。“这次旅行简直太神奇了，完全值这个钱，”她说。
“能如此亲近自然，感觉如此超现实。” Caroline 和同一位朋友去年还乘坐高桅帆船 Royal Clipper 游览了加勒比地区，他们从巴巴多斯出发，穿过了小安的列斯群岛。 他们现在正在考虑另一次 Royal Clipper 之旅，可能从哥斯达黎加出发，或者从欧洲前往加勒比地区的跨大西洋航行。根据行程和航班的不同，每人的总费用在 £6,000 到 £8,000 之间。 他们还计划在九月份去波兰克拉科夫进行一次较短的城市度假。“自从我在 20 世纪 80 年代住在 伦敦 以来，我们就一直是朋友，她也经常旅行，”Caroline 说。 “所以对于我们双方都感兴趣的旅行，我们会一起出行，以便有伴并降低成本。能有一个兴趣相似、冒险精神相近的人同行是很棒的。我们还考虑在新年去斯里兰卡，担任一两周的海龟康复志愿者。” 她说，人们应该在身体足够健康的时候，完成规模最大且对体力要求最高的旅行。 当她与孩子们一起出门时，她会资助他们的旅费。其中一个亮点是她带着儿子、女儿及其伴侣去巴巴多斯度过了一周，他们在那里享受沙滩并体验了航海。 “当你脱离正常环境和日常生活的琐碎时，这是一个了解你成年后子女的绝佳机会，”她说。“当我们坐在沙滩上，手里拿着鸡尾酒，除了考虑当晚吃什么晚餐之外没有什么好担心的，我们进行了一些非常棒的对话。” “我们能够完全放松，进行一些在如今看来似乎没有时间进行的对话。我现在能更好地了解他们三个作为成年人的样子。” 她有一位财务顾问帮她计算可以花多少钱。多年来，她在金钱方面一直很谨慎，将积蓄进行投资，因此积累了一笔可观的退休金。 然而，由于她成年后的大部分时间都住在国外，且没有缴纳自愿的国家保险（NI）缴款，她无法领取全额的国家养老金。 但她能领取一部分，因为她自 2017 年起就回到了 英国，并尽可能多地补缴了 NI 缴款。 她说：“钱花光了或者没有足够的钱支撑退休生活，是我这个年龄段人们普遍的恐惧。” “但你的 60 岁中期到 70 岁中期是你的‘活跃期’（go-go years），那时你希望仍拥有健康、精力和体力去做事情，因此应该在这些年里将体验最大化。” “不要把大计划推迟到你觉得‘准备好花钱’的时候，因为你的钱可能会比你的健康更长久。”
是你的活跃期”
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投资者在 4 月至 6 月期间从英国公司获得了创纪录的 £35.3 十亿股息，最新数据表明。
总分红（包括特别股息）在分析的三个月年度同期内增长了 2.5 百分比，但常规股息则飙升了 7.4 百分比。
追踪付款情况的股份登记机构 Computershare 表示，这一卓越表现是由少数几个部门的局部异常增长所驱动的。
由于高利率和低贷款损失提高了盈利能力，银行支付了创纪录的 £11.1 十亿——比去年 4 月至 6 月增长了 20.6 百分比。
矿业股息也支撑了创纪录的分红——得益于铜、银和金的高昂价格——在 2026 年第二季度年度同期内增长了 27.5 百分比。
但挣扎中的英国经济打击了部分行业，包括房屋建筑商。食品、饮料和烟草的分红缩减了 15.9 百分比，这主要由帝亚吉欧（Diageo）大幅削减股息所驱动。
Computershare 的马克·克莱兰（Mark Cleland）表示：“股息增长仍然严重依赖于少数大型公司和行业。”
他预计增长很快将趋于缓和，因为主导行业的增长速度正在放缓。他认为今年的股息总额将达到约 £90.5 十亿。
许多在家里进行建筑或管道工程的业主会心安理得地将旧材料扔进垃圾槽，或者感激地接受工匠将其带走。但虽然旧砖块、锅炉、瓷砖和地板看起来像没用的碎石，但它们可能是一个意想不到的宝库，价值数百或数千英镑。随着建筑原材料成本飙升——六年内上涨了 40%——我们询问了专家，您不应该扔掉或赠送什么，应该预期什么样的价格，以及如何销售以获得最佳交易。
旧砖块 最受欢迎的砖块价格在过去六年里翻了一番。因此，如果您在后花园有一堆砖，或者在更换墙壁后有剩余，请将其出售而不是扔掉。在房屋中进行扩建或翻新等项目的业主通常希望与现有砖块相匹配。然而，旧款的砖块尺寸、图案和材料有时不再生产，因此他们必须购买二手货，且供应有限。例如，手工制作的维多利亚和爱德华时代伦敦黄砖（London Yellow）被交易商以每托盘 250 块砖几乎 £700 的价格出售——每块砖 £2.80。但交易商通常只向私人卖家支付最高 £2，因为他们需要考虑运输和专业清洁成本。价格约为每块 £2 的阿克灵顿砖（Accrington）和红色帝国砖（Red Imperials）也非常受欢迎。
英国在乔治三世统治时期的 1784 年引入了砖税——每千块砖两先令六便士。自然地，这导致建筑商使用了更大的砖块。但如果您有任何更早期的纤细砖块——无论是都铎时期还是乔治时期——它们在特色墙中的需求量很高，每块售价在 £1.50 到 £2 之间。
南约克郡谢菲尔德回收砖公司（Reclaimed Brick Company）的 Stan Hoare 表示：“二战以后的现代砖块简单来说没有早期的砖块那么坚固——而且在翻新房产时，人们越来越追求持久的质量，因为他们不是在搬家，而是在用砖瓦投资家居的未来。”
“早期砖块在美学上也更具吸引力，而且帝国单位意味着旧砖通常比现代砖块略大，因此更适合旧房产。”
“饰面砖（Facing bricks）的需求尤其旺盛，因为它们被展示在墙的外侧，而其背后可能隐藏着轻质混凝土砌块。”
锅炉与管道 当暖气工程师上门并对您那台过时且损坏的旧锅炉摇头叹息时，他们提出将其拆除并运走似乎是在帮您一个忙——而且他们甚至可能为此向您收取费用。 但锅炉内部的所有铜管和黄铜阀门意味着该锅炉可能价值 £50。如果您更换用于供水和中央暖气的铜管，您可能会拥有多达 300 英尺的管道，重量达 70kg，价值至少 £470。 储存在阁楼中的传统铜制水箱重量可达 20kg，价值可能为 £135，而储物柜中的铜制加热圆柱体则可能卖到 £100。这是因为由于需求量大，铜价在过去 12 个月里上涨了近 40 百分比。 肯特郡斯旺斯康（Swanscombe）Ace Car Breakers 的汤姆·富勒格（Tom Fullager）就是那些很高兴为您处理这些废料的废金属商人之一。 他表示：“我们以每吨 £6,750 的价格收购铜——给我们打电话或把家里的旧管道搬过来，我们将很乐意按照市场价支付。” 他补充道：“我们还以每吨 £3,900 的价格收购黄铜，每吨 £1,000 收购铅。只需携带您的身份证和地址证明即可。” 如果您的房产需要全面重新布线，电缆中可能含有多达 30kg 的铜——对废金属商而言价值 £135。两个总重 4kg 的黄铜水龙头可带来 £15 的收益。如果您在烟囱周围有 100kg 的铅闪边（lead flashing），那么价值 £100。
地板 旧房子的地板可能会吱吱作响且有缝隙，但它们可以卖到数百英镑。 最常见的库存是维多利亚时代和爱德华时代的松木地板，这些地板的售价通常在每平方米 £50 到 £150 之间（相当于几个标准
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建筑废料扔进 废料箱——将它们 卖掉可赚数千英镑
损坏的锅炉现在都能换回一笔财富
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（木板）取决于 质量和饰面。 较旧且较宽的木板——宽度在 7 到 9 英寸之间，而非 传统的维多利亚时代和 爱德华时代标准的 6 到 7 英寸——由于缝隙较少且更为罕见， 且来自可能已有 至少两百年历史的房产， 因此能卖出更高价格。 像橡木这样的硬木——其 耐用性和抗凹陷能力更强—— 每平方米价值可能在 £100 到 £250 之间。 来自兰开夏郡 Burscough，Lawson’s Yard 的 Adam Lawson 表示： “在装修期间前往垃圾填埋场之前， 请务必联系回收场， 因为旧地板可能具有极高价值。 我们最感兴趣的木板 通常是来自乔治时代、维多利亚时代和 爱德华时代建筑的宽幅古董松木或原装 橡木。 “那些宽木板来自巨大的、生长缓慢的树木， 如今很难获得原材料—— 这增加了其价格。” 他表示，价值在很大程度上取决于 木板的质量和饰面， 浓郁温暖的色调以及 原始的痕迹和孔洞 提供了人们追捧的个性和魅力。 但为了达到这个效果， 待售的木板可能需要由专业人员 进行手工打磨和涂油。 这意味着你最终获得的报酬 可能仅为商人销售该木材价格的一半多一点—— 不过，如果你有时间并具备专业知识 来拆除旧木板，则可以节省这部分费用。 Lawson 说：“每块板子都必须 小心拆除以避免损坏，并手工除钉。 我们经常发现原始的切钉、 螺丝、地毯固定夹以及 所有在 100 年或更长时间里积累的隐藏金属。 “只要漏掉一颗钉子， 就可能严重损坏昂贵的 机器。通常，其他地板 覆盖物已被粘在 木材上，粘合剂可能 极其难以去除。 修复的技巧在于尽可能 保留其原始个性和古色。” 屋顶瓦片与石板 希望更换破裂屋顶瓦片或 建造新屋顶部分的房主 很少愿意将新瓦片与旧的、 风化的瓦片混合在一起。 这意味着所有类型的旧屋顶瓦片和 石板都有需求。 回收场是寻找正确规格 瓦片的理想场所
这些材料能够适应即使是最不寻常的房产，因此是出售不需要的瓦片的天然去处。最受欢迎的瓦片之列包括弧形粘土瓦，通常被称为法兰德伦 (Flemish) 瓦，回收场将其售价高达每块 £5，因此可能会给你这个价格的一半。在一栋典型的房子上最多有 4,000 块屋顶瓦，这意味着你的房顶上可能坐拥价值 £20,000 的财富。
虽然粘土瓦不像石板瓦那么常见，但回收的威尔士石板瓦始终需求巨大。尺寸约为 12 by 24 英寸的大块石板瓦在回收场售价为 £6，因为幸存下来的数量很少。
甚至一度不受欢迎的水泥瓦，其价格也在上涨，最高可达每块 £5，因为半个世纪前左右建造的房屋现在需要与现有屋顶相匹配的维修材料。
霍尔 (Hoare) 表示：“不仅是屋顶瓦片的价值在上涨——窗框的石窗楣和石板也是如此。我们对约克郡石材的需求很高，但必须处于良好状态才能获得最高价格。”
来自 Reclaimed Brick Company 等经销商的石窗楣成交价可超过 £200，而约克郡石板的价格每平方米在 £100 到 £200 之间。尺寸为 42 by 59 英寸且无损坏的罕见大石板售价最高可达 £350.
您可能需要与回收场讨价还价，才能让他们出到其拟售价的一半，但您出售的材料越多，讨价还价的筹码就越大——而且对于石板来说，前提是它们没有崩边或裂缝。
与其他建筑材料一样，拍摄清晰的照片并通过电子邮件发送给回收场是值得的，并且要对品相和任何缺陷完全诚实，以避免失望。
n 要寻找您附近的回收场，请访问网站 there-claimedcompany.com/reclamation-yards 并输入您的邮政编码。另一个可考虑用于出售回收材料和其他废旧物品的网站是 salvoweb.com。 toby.walne@mailonsunday.co.uk
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特约金融编辑
在这个国家，拥有 Isa 账户的百万富翁人数超过 10,000 人。但还有一个规模每年都在增长的更排外的俱乐部——“200 万英镑 Isa 社群”。在这个人数不足 1,000 人的群体中，就有简·巴尔 (Jane Barr，非真实姓氏)。通过勤俭生活以及自 20 世纪 80 年代中期以来无论市场好坏都坚持投资，这位来自伦敦南部的 77 岁卓越女性建立了一个价值略高于 £2 million 的 Isa 投资组合——而且在退休前，所有资金均来自一份微薄的薪水。
本月早些时候，我在投资信托基金 Templeton Emerging Markets（她 Isa 账户中最大的持仓）的年度股东大会上见到了简。我在伦敦的这次大会上发表了关于长期投资优势的演讲，但在会后与简共进简餐并发现她是一位双倍 Isa 百万富翁后，我确实在想，真正应该站在那个舞台上宣讲长期投资美德的人应该是她。
被她的投资敏锐度所吸引，我几天前采访了她——而她没有让我失望。简与她的两个成年儿子之一住在一起，她是一个在财务上非常精明的人。她的投资探索之旅令人着迷，应当激励你继续投资——无论是通过 Isa 还是自我投资的个人养老金。她应用于投资的纪律将为你提供良好的投资基础，让你在未来有机会加入 Isa 百万富翁俱乐部。
简最初在 20 世纪 80 年代开始对投资产生兴趣，当时由玛格丽特·撒切尔领导的保守党政府启动了对该国一些重量级公司（如英国电信 (BT)、英国天然气、英国航空、英国航空航天和罗尔斯-罗伊斯）的私有化。
“我来自一个中产阶级家庭，钱一直很紧张，”她说。“我的父亲是南海岸一名自雇的古董商，而母亲则照顾家庭，照顾我和我的两个哥哥。”
“父亲对古董了如指掌，但经常在维持生计方面感到吃力。我离开家时就知道，我能在生活中出头的唯一方法就是勤俭节约，照顾好自己和自己的钱。”
简大学毕业后搬到伦敦，开始从事媒体研究员的职业，在工作期间，她对投资的兴趣被激了起来。
“那是在 1984 年底英国电信私有化期间，办公室里的所有谈话都在讨论买股票，”她说。她购买了所有私有化公司的股票，并一直持有，而不是像许多投资者那样迅速获利了事。
随着 1987 年具有税收优势的个人股权计划 (PEPs) 的出现，以及 12 年后随之而来的
ISA (个人储蓄账户)
随后，简开始利用这些工具来积累一个免税的投资组合。如今，她的 Isa 组合包含约 40 项持仓。尽管其中一些是像国家电网（National Grid）、壳牌（Shell）和联合利华（Unilever）这样的家喻户晓的名字，但大多数是投资信托。
她最值钱的持股是 Templeton Emerging Markets 和 3i Group——这两者的价值均约为 £285,000。其他关键持仓包括 CQS Natural Resources Growth & Income、F&C、TR Property 和 Scottish Mortgage。
除了在 Scottish Widows 拥有 200 万英镑的 Isa 之外，简还拥有一份价值 £1.2million 的个人自投养老金（SIPP），以及一个价值约 £300,000, 的投资组合，她正稳步地将其转移到她的 Isa 中（受限于 £20,000 的年度最高限额，并留意资本利得税）。
那么，对于像你我这样的人，简在如何加入 Isa 百万富翁俱乐部方面有哪些建议？大多数建议非常简单直接且不复杂。
定期投资 简的投资哲学围绕着定期将资金存入 Isa —— 然后让股市完成其余的工作。
“即使在 77 岁，我依然是一名长期投资者，”她说。“我倾向于将投资期限设定为至少十年，并且在股价下跌时不会过度担心。”
股息再投资 她从未从她的 Isa 中提取过任何收益。相反，她收到的所有股息都自动进行再投资，从而增加了她在各家公司的持股数量。
“在我看来，将股息再投资是积累长期财富的可靠方法，”她说。 “每当你将一次股息再投资，你就增加了持有的股票数量，进而意味着在未来获得更多收益的机会，而这些收益随后可以再次投资。这就像一个雪球，在滚下山坡时变得越来越大。”
利用投资信托 尽管简持有许多家喻户晓公司的股票，但她的投资组合目前以投资信托为主。
“我喜欢它们，因为它们在多家公司之间实现了多元化，”她说。“基金经理还会为你承担所有担忧，寻找能够提升信托股价的投资机会。”
性价比 简喜欢寻找那些费用不会侵蚀收益的投资。例如，F&C 的年度持续费用，她
简（JANE）并不希望从她的 Isa 中获取任何收入——甚至不想提取部分利润来享受生活中的美好事物。 她唯一一次进行的 Isa 提取——金额达六位数——是在大约五年前为了解决一个“家庭问题”。 这种利他主义的方式让许多人难以理解。毫无疑问，她理应享受投资劳动的果实，不是吗？ “我不需要动用我的 Isa，”她坚持道，“我想去的旅行都已经去了，我需要的衣服也已经全部有了。我喜欢看着我的 Isa 增长，但我会把它留给我的两个儿子，让他们享受其中的财务收益。是的，他们将面临一笔巨额的遗产税账单，但剩下的钱依然足够让他们在经济上过得滋润。” 我相信简的 Isa 之旅会激励您继续投资。您永远不知道，在她的故事鼓舞下，在未来的岁月里，您或许也能加入她的 Isa 百万富翁俱乐部——甚至进入 200 万英镑 Isa 协会。 jeff.prestridge@mailonsunday.co.uk
持有成本是 0.45%。Alliance Witan 和 Brunner 的相应费用分别为 0.47% 和 0.61%。
充分利用您的 ISA 机会 她的 Isa 成功建立在最大限度利用年度 Isa 额度的基础之上——自 1999 年 Isa 推出以来，她一直虔诚地这样做。 “当然，现在并不是每个人每年都有 £20,000 可用于投入 Isa，”她说，“但请尽量利用您的额度。我天性节俭，觉得花钱很难。我宁愿放弃在当地咖啡馆花 £2 喝一杯每日咖啡，也不愿失去多投资一点的机会。” 尽管简从未使用 Isa 来储蓄，但她明白为什么有些人更倾向于现金 Isa 而非股票类 Isa——例如，希望买房而正在攒定金的潜在房主，或者无法承受退休金资本承担风险的老年人。 但对于那些希望积累财富以确保退休后经济保障的人来说，她认为通过 Isa 或养老金进行税收高效的投资是最佳方案。 她补充道：“从长远来看，股票给投资者的回报往往比现金给储蓄者的回报更好。因此，我对《财富与个人财务》读者的建议是定期且缓慢地投资——并保持耐心。”
保持参与……并 向他人学习 简在离婚后于 51 岁退休，现在她每周在伦敦的维多利亚和阿尔伯特博物馆工作一天，负责为其传统珠宝收藏建立在线目录。 这让她有充足的时间关注自己的投资，包括参加他们举行的年度股东大会。 “我在投资方面学到的很多东西都来自这些会议，”她说，“不仅来自投资经理，还来自其他股东提出的问题。”
57 在马尔维拉斯群岛作战后， 我很难找到工作…… 所以我觉得阿根廷的 国旗噱头十分幼稚 且不尊重人
西蒙（SIMON），64 岁，曾是威尔士卫队的士兵，也是马尔维拉斯群岛战争的退伍军人。丹·摩尔（DAN MOORE）写道，当阿根廷“天鹰”战斗机袭击运送其团体的皇家舰队辅助舰“加拉哈德号”（RFA Sir Galahad）时，他遭受了严重的烧伤。 1982 年 6 月 8 日的这次袭击导致最初 48 人死亡，97 人受伤，其中包括西蒙，他的头部和身体有 46 ％的面积被烧伤。 他在随后的多年里经历了 90 多个大手术才康复，最后一次手术大约是在五年前。 此后，西蒙将时间投入到各项慈善活动和筹款计划中。这位三个孩子的父亲与妻子露西（Lucy）住在卡迪夫。
问：你的父母在金钱方面教会了你什么？ 答：我在一个市政住宅区长大，亲眼看到生活是多么艰辛。 我的母亲波琳（Pauline）打两份工，一份是护士，另一份在酒吧擦地板，这样我们才能去度假。那是一段艰苦的时光。
问：你的第一份工作是什么，挣多少钱？ 答：我做过送奶员和送报员。在参军之前，我在一家金属加工厂当体力劳动者。 因为当时我太年轻，不符合工作年龄，我必须用一个死人的名字来工作。 我拿的工资大概相当于当时小孩的收入，但我不能说我挣了多少。我想我现在也不想说……即便我还记得，万一税务海关总署（HMRC）因为我没缴税而找我麻烦怎么办！
问：你为什么最终决定参军？ 答：我年轻时惹过一些麻烦，包括被抓到坐在另一辆偷来的车的副驾驶座上。 我想要并需要一些纪律约束，而军队给我提供了一条出路。 我记得在训练期间，我每周能领到 £4，即便是在第二次世界大战期间，这笔钱都低得离谱，更不用说 1978 年了。 尽管收入微薄，但我们将部分钱存入储蓄账户，这样休假时我们就有几百英镑可以花。
问：每周 £4 的工资背后有什么原因？ 答：军队不想让我们挥霍金钱。他们希望我们学会良好地管理资金，如果你每周只有 £4，或者像我当下士时每周拿 £5，你就必须这么做。 我们需要从津贴中预留足够的钱来购买鞋油、洗漱用品，以及在军队销售机构（NAAFI）买一杯茶和一个粘面包。
问：你是否将军队视为一种职业？ 答：是的。我签约服务九年，除非你开始晋升，否则这是最长的任期。我非常热爱。 我曾被派驻在柏林和北爱尔兰。我进入了橄榄球队，被派驻到肯尼亚，然后前往马尔维拉斯群岛。 如果你一分钱都没有，总有人会借给你，然后在你有能力时无息偿还。那是一段美好的生活，我原以为我会永远留在军队里。
问： “加拉哈德号”袭击如何改变了你的生活？ 答：一名安置官员告诉我，我已失去就业能力——而这个人本应该是帮助我寻找新职业和未来的人。 我觉得我被抛弃了。我拥有的一切都是靠自己挣来的。我甚至无法就听力损失获得赔偿，因为我的受伤时间在 1987 年 5 月之前，而那是索赔的截止日期 [由于历史性的王室豁免权而导致无法获得民事赔偿]。
金钱 西蒙·韦斯顿 (Simon Weston) 慈善机构创始人
问：您如何看待阿根廷在世界杯上的横幅？ 答：谁想看别人的破旧床单？那令人失望、不尊重、非常不专业且幼稚。我认为在任何体育赛事中都不应该展示政治观点，因为体育是为了团结人们，而不是通过将人们隔离来引发争论。
问：您是如何重返岗位的？ 答：威尔士卫队 (Welsh Guards) 尽可能地在军队中保留我的编制，这样我就不会陷入困境。当时我在医院，所以没有花钱。 我在军队中待了三年，期间一直住院、接受手术且无法工作。当我离开时，大约有 300 万失业者，机会不多，所以非常困难。 我去了新西兰从事青少年工作，之后去了利物浦，在那里共同创办了一家名为“韦斯顿精神” (Weston Spirit) 的慈善机构。我的慈善和筹款工作正是从那里真正开始的。
问：您当时生活过得宽裕吗？ 答：早些年我没有任何收入，所以我必须非常小心地控制开支。 我租房住了一段时间，最终当人们对我公开演讲产生兴趣时，我开始赚到了一些钱。随后接到了电视节目的邀请，更多的工作也随之而来。
问：您财务状况最好的一年是什么时候？ 答：大约在同一时期，即 20 世纪 80 年代中期，我有机会写了一本书《昂首挺胸》(Walking Tall)，这本书非常成功，并让我获得了担任多家慈善机构首席筹款人的更多工作机会。
【鼓舞人心：西蒙·韦斯顿，他批评了阿根廷在对阵英格兰的半决赛中的抗议行为】
问：您做过的最好的财务决定是什么？ 答：购买人寿保险。虽然你永远不希望用到它，但它能给你的家人提供一定程度的保障，而且是免税的。 在某个阶段，我每年在高速公路上行驶数万英里，如果发生意外，汽车保险无法供养我的家庭。 当时我有一个妻子和三个年幼的孩子，他们需要经济支持。人寿保险的核心在于考虑他人，而不是你自己。
问：您拥有房产吗？ 答：我们在卡迪夫有一栋五卧独立屋。我还拥有我母亲的旧居（一栋独立房产）以及我岳母的半独立屋。 因为发生了一些事情，包括入室盗窃和其他问题，她们两人都不得不搬走。
问：您目前首要的财务优先级是什么？ 答：和一直以来一样，支付账单、税款以及仅剩的一小部分抵押贷款。
l 西蒙·韦斯顿可通过 htalentmanagement.com 接受演讲邀请。欲了解更多关于 Debra 蝴蝶皮肤慈善机构 (Debra The Butterfly Skin Charity) 的信息，请访问 debra.org.uk。
58
的利润交给税务局
I
在这一新系列中，我们的专家将 回答您关于增加财富的 急切问题。
投资者自然希望尽可能多地 保留他们辛苦赚来的回报。 最简单的方法之一就是尽可能 实现税务高效投资。 投资者需要关注的主要税项是 对投资利润征收的资本利得税 (CGT)、 对股票和基金分红征收的股息税， 以及对债券票息征收的所得税。 避免这些税款的两个明显切入点是 养老金和股票与股份 ISA。 但还有其他方法可以确保您 交给税务局的钱尽可能少—— 简单的财务规划在长期内 可能会带来丰厚回报。 我们将为您讲解所需了解的知识。
养老金 —— 每年 £60,000 这可能是最税务高效的投资方式， 因为缴款可享受所得税减免， 且投资利润和股息免税。 基本税率的税收减免会自动 添加到缴款中，使其增加 25
最佳选择... 为您的家庭和储蓄提供的领先方案
现金 ISA (CASH ISAS) | 类型 | 提供商 | 最低投资额 | 利率 % | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 灵活提取 | Sidekick | £1 | 4.66 | | | Moneybox | £500 | 4.65 | | 一年期固定利率 | Vida Savings | £1,000 | 4.65 | | | Charter Savings Bank | £5,000 | 4.63 | | 两年期固定利率 | Charter Savings Bank | £5,000 | 4.72 | | | Tandem Bank | £1 | 4.71 | | 通知账户 | The Stafford BS 90 Day | £100 | 4.10 | | | Harpenden BS 90 Day | £1,000 | 4.04 |
储蓄
儿童账户
| 类型 | 提供商 | 最低投资额 | 利率 % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 储蓄账户 | Nationwide BS | £1 | 5.00 |
| State Bank of India | £1,000 | 4.50 | |
| Kent Reliance | £10 | 4.18 | |
| 青少年 ISA | Leek BS | £1 | 3.85 |
| Skipton BS | £1 | 3.80 | |
| The Stafford BS | £1,000 | 3.76 | |
| 来源：Moneyfactscompare.co.uk |
两年期固定利率 (TWO-YEAR FIXES)
| 贷款机构 | 利率 | 详情 | 首付比 | 手续费 | 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 |
| West Brom | 5.15 | 至 31/10/28 | 5% | £0 | 0800 298 0008 |
五年期固定利率 (FIVE-YEAR FIXES) | 贷款机构 | 利率 | 详情 | 首付比 | 手续费 | 联系方式 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Allied Irish | 4.63 | 至 30/09/31 | 25% | £0 | 0289 047 9221 | | First Direct | 4.58 | 为期 5 年 | 15% | £490 | 0800 482 448 | | HSBC | 5.24 | 至 31/10/31 | 5% | £0 | 0800 494 999 |
| 贷款机构 | 利率 | 详情 | 首付比 | 手续费 | 联系方式 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barclays | 4.04 | 基准 +0.29% 为期 2 年 | 40% | £999 | 0333 202 7580 |
| 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 |
买房出租 (BUY TO LET) | 贷款机构 | 利率 | 详情 | 首付比 | 手续费 | 联系方式 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | HSBC | 4.93 | 至 31/10/28 | 40% | £0 | 0800 494 999 | | NatWest | 4.67 | 至 31/10/31 | 40% | £995 | 0800 400 999 | | Newcastle | 5.40 | 至 31/12/31 | 20% | £999 | 0345 606 4488 |
来源：L&C Mortgages - 0800 694 5444 / landc.co.uk
投资...
关于如何增加财富有疑问？请发送电子邮件至... money@mailonsunday.co.uk
作者：Elizabeth Anderson
百分比。高税率纳税人可能会通过职场计划自动获得额外的税收减免，或者可以通过税务申报表或致信 HMRC（英国税务海关总署）来申请。每个纳税年度您可以向养老金账户缴纳高达 £60,000，但该数字包括自动增加的基本税率税收减免以及任何雇主缴纳的款项。额度在每个纳税年度重置，且您可以结转过去三年的未使用额度。
如果您年收入低于 £3,600，您在每个纳税年度最高可就 £3,600 的养老金储蓄获得税收减免。如果您年收入超过 £200,000，该额度将递减。 那些已经开始领取定额缴款养老金或私人养老金的人，其年度限额将降低至 £10,000。 在养老金包装内，投资可免税增长，再加上税收减免，使养老金成为一个强大的长期投资工具。然而，在提取资金时需要纳税。 前 25 百分比是免税的（最高 £268,275），其余部分则被视为应税收入。 养老金的主要缺点是，通常在 55 岁之前无法提取您的资金——而从 2028. 年 4 月起则为 57 岁。因此，如果您是一名年轻投资者，可能在数十年内无法提取资金。 您可以通过职场计划或通过投资平台开设的自助投资个人养老金 (Sipp) 进行投资。雇主也会向职场养老金缴款，从而进一步增加您的资金池。
ISA – 每年 £20,000 股票及股份 ISA 是真正的免税账户。投资利润、股息或提取款项均无需纳税。对于储蓄者，现金 ISA 提供了类似的避风港，所有赚得的利息均免税，且提取款项无需纳税。 每个纳税年度您最高可向 ISA 缴纳 £20,000，且不能结转往年的未使用额度。与养老金不同，ISA 在任何年龄都可以提取。缺点是缴款无法获得税收减免。
利用配偶的 额度 为了最大化您的税收高效投资，请考虑您配偶或伴侣的额度。一对夫妇在每个纳税年度可以在 ISA 中避税 £40,000，或在养老金中避税高达 £120,000。 财富管理公司 Six Degrees 的联合创始人 Katherine Waller 表示：“我们看到的错误是，夫妇俩几乎将所有的养老金财富都建立在其中一个人的名下。在退休时，那个人必须提取所有资金，很容易导致税率进入高税档，而其配偶的个人免税额和基本税率档则在很大程度上未被利用。”
利用 CGT 免税额 年度 CGT 额度
储蓄账户 类型 | 提供商 | 最低投资额 | 利率 % ---|---|---|--- 便捷取款 | Cahoot | £1 | 5.00 | LemFi | £1 | 5.00 一年期固定利率 | OakNorth Bank | £1 | 4.91 | Habib Bank Zurich plc | £5,000 | 4.91 两年期固定利率 | Kent Reliance | £1,000 | 4.83 | Close Brothers Savings | £10,000 | 4.83 通知账户 | GB Bank 150 天 | £1,000 | 4.38 | BLME 90 天 | £10,000 | 4.37
立即抛弃 Cahoot Simple Saver 第 10 期 去年此时发售时的利率为 4.55%，一旦您持有该账户满一年，您的资金将被转移到 Cahoot 储蓄账户，其利率仅为 1%。
基准利率追踪器
这意味着每年您可以获得 £3,000 的免税投资利润。如果您在 Isa 或养老金之外积累了大量收益，您可以出售部分投资，金额最高可达这一限额。
已婚夫妇之间可以互赠资产且无需缴纳资本利得税。因此，您可以利用两人的免税额，将每个纳税年度的资本利得税（CGT）免税收益增加一倍至 £6,000，免税股息增加至 £1,000。
InvestEngine 的投资主管 Andrew Prosser 表示：“对于其中一方不工作或收入较低的夫妇来说，仅凭这一点每年就能节省数百甚至数千英镑的税款。”
利用子女免税额 考虑为您孩子或孙辈缴纳初级 Isa 或初级 Sipp。每个纳税年度最多可向初级 Isa 缴纳 £9,000，向初级 Sipp 缴纳 £3,600（含税收减免）。请注意，资金属于孩子，不能被收回。孩子在 18 岁时可以从初级 Isa 中取款，但几十年来将无法领取初级养老金。
最佳选择 Vida Savings 其一年期固定利率现金 Isa 利率为 4.65pc。您可以通过在线申请开户，最低金额为 £1,000。您还可以将现有的现金 Isa 转入该账户。
萨塞克斯避世之旅 在东萨塞克斯郡 Cowbeech 村附近的 Beechcroft Cottages 庄园内，入住一卧室的 Bull Pen & Cart Lodge 四晚，两人同行价格每人 £393 起 (premiercottages.co.uk)。
22%
印度金三角 印度金三角八日游现可预订，每人 £999。价格包含住宿、交通、领队及活动项目 (trailfinders.com)。
20%
希腊之金 Olympic Holidays 提供科孚岛 Boukari 五星级 Mythos Panorama 酒店的七晚全包套餐，两人一室价格每人 £1,145 起。包含从纽卡斯尔往返的机票 (olympicholidays.com)。
24%
2026 年的夏天可能会打破记录——而且不仅仅是指近几周席卷全国的酷热高温。燃料价格上涨、全球局势动荡，以及地中海地区更加炎热的气候，意味着“国内度假”(staycations) 正迅速成为我们的首选假期。根据 Airbnb 的数据，64% 的英国人今年选择在 英国 国内度假。海滩将被挤满，酒吧将人满为患——而我们许多人所寻求的休息与放松可能会变得稀缺。 但好消息是，即便在这个繁忙的夏天，依然有很多安静的角落侥幸地避开了游客的视线。正因为这些地方较不为人知，它们在盛夏期间仍有房源。
贝普顿村， 西萨塞克斯郡 远离繁忙的海岸线，内陆的萨塞克斯郡依然是一个拥有古朴村庄、燧石小屋和绝佳酒吧的土地。贝普顿村位于南唐斯国家公园的核心地带，有通往集镇米德赫斯特 (Midhurst) 和考德雷公园 (Cowdray Park) 的迷人徒步路径。韦尔德与唐兰博物馆 (The Weald and Downland Museum) 和西迪恩花园 (West Dean Gardens) 都在十分钟车程之内，此外还有一家绝佳的 Fox Goes Free 美食酒吧 (thefoxgoesfree.com)。入住优雅的 Apsley Cottage，可容纳四人，配备室外热水浴缸，花园可欣赏到唐斯山脉的壮丽景色，且紧邻考德雷农场商店 (Cowdray Farm Shop)，方便购买当地特产。 预订：每晚 £485 起 (cowdray.co.uk)。
伍斯特郡
在伍斯特郡、Herefordshire 和 Shropshire 之间有一片不为人知的边境地带，蒂姆河谷 (Teme Valley) 这里郁郁葱葱，风景优美，被宁静的乡村小路纵横交错，遍布啤酒花田和苹果果园。滕伯里韦尔斯 (Tenbury Wells) 是主要城镇，而以美食闻名的历史名城拉德洛 (Ludlow) 仅需短途开车即可到达。这里是浪漫度假的完美地点，而 Eathelin 是一座围绕古橡树而建的豪华树屋，为两人提供了诗意的避风港。环形阳台是品尝日落饮品的绝佳之所，随后可以在室外热水浴缸中浸泡。 预订：三晚度假套餐 £1,095 起 (premiercottages.co.uk)。
南萨默塞特 平原，萨默塞特郡
萨默塞特平原 (Somerset Levels) 是一个巨大的湿地和沿海平原，这里是...
大自然：外赫布里底群岛 Vatersay 的沙丘。 左图：一只在诺福克郡 Winterton 海滩休息的海豹。
苍鹭、猛禽、涉禽和水獭，这里一年四季都保持着宁静。Cider Cottage 位于南部边缘，距离伊尔明斯特 (Ilminster) 两英里，附近有 RSPB Grey-lake，提供了许多令人愉悦的平坦徒步路线。附近的村庄，如欣顿圣乔治 (Hinton St George) 和南佩瑟顿 (South Petherton)，是英格兰最漂亮的村庄之一，而欣顿的 Lord Poulett Arms 则是吃午餐的绝佳地点 (lordpoulettarms.com)。Cider Cottage 可入住四人，是一栋二级上市的茅草屋，拥有户外用餐和烧烤区，非常适合漫长的夏日夜晚。 预订：一周 £2,122 起 (oliverstravels.com)。
伊登谷 (EDEN VALLEY)， 坎布里亚郡 (CUMBRIA)
当温德米尔 (Windermere) 交通拥堵且格拉斯米尔 (Grasmere) 游人如织时，位于湖区和北奔宁山脉 (North Pennines) 之间的伊登谷则是该地区隐藏最深的秘密。在风景如画的砂岩村庄（如 Armathwaite 和 Dufton）中闲逛，骑自行车穿梭在安静的乡村小路上，并在出色的美食酒吧用餐，包括克利夫顿 (Clifton) 的 George and Dragon (georgeanddragonclifton.co.uk)。East Lodge 坐落在 Edenhall Estate 的静谧环境中，是非常适合家庭入住的房产。 预订：每晚 £350 起 (edenhallestate.com)。
坎布里安山脉 (THE CAMBRIAN MOUNTAINS)， 威尔士 (WALES)
威尔士中部的坎布里安山脉比布雷肯比肯斯 (Brecon Beacons) 和斯诺登尼亚 (Snowdonia) 的游客少得多。这里非常适合户外家庭度假。步行前往 Pumlumon Fawr 的最高峰，在 Hafren Forest 的木栈道上徒步，或在晴朗的夜晚仰望深黑色天空下的星辰。如果想完全脱离电网，可以入住 Tincture，这是一栋修复精美的 17 世纪小屋。室内装修时尚，配有设备齐全的现代化厨房，房屋周围的一英亩土地还拥有一个天然深水池。
最 宁静的 避世之所
预订：一周 £1,995 起 (uniquehomestays.com)。
北泰恩谷 (THE NORTH TYNE VALLEY)， 诺森伯兰郡 (NORTHUMBERLAND)
诺森伯兰郡拥有广阔的开放空间、茂密的森林和层层堆叠的历史，是英格兰最安静的郡之一，是一个由农耕乡村和沉睡村庄组成的宁静世界。远离海岸线以及哈德良长城 (Hadrian’s Wall) 和温多兰达 (Vindolanda) 等旅游景点，即使在盛夏，也有可能行走数英里而遇不到一个人。Gunnerton 村坐落在风景峻俏的
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绝美孤绝之境：威尔士坎布里安山脉的一条蜿蜒道路
北泰恩河谷（North Tyne Valley），从赫克瑟姆（Hexham）开车 20 分钟即可到达，基尔德水库（Kielder Water）和非凡的基尔德天文台（Kielder Observatory）也近在咫尺。东边小屋（East Cottage）是一处迷人的双卧室度假地，配有螺旋楼梯、阁楼卧室和宁静的花园。 预订方式：一周起价 £930 (simplyowners.net)。
瓦特赛， 外赫布里底群岛
前往瓦特赛（Vatersay）本身就是一场冒险。它是外赫布里底群岛最南端有人居住的岛屿，通过一条堤道与巴拉岛（Barra）相连。瓦特赛学校（Vatersay School）是大家庭度假的绝佳选择，主校舍可容纳六名成人和两名儿童，另有一栋可容纳两名成人的独立木屋。房屋拥有壮丽的海滩景观，有机会观察到晒日光鲨、老鹰和水獭。 预订方式：木屋与校舍一周起价 £2,850 (vatersayschool.co.uk)。
哈尔伯顿， 中德文郡
远离拥挤的海岸线，中德文郡即使在盛夏也依然是一个平静之地，而坐落在运河边的岩石小屋（Rock Cottage）则更显宁静。埃克斯穆尔（Exmoor）和达特穆尔（Dartmoor）以及大海都近在咫尺，但真正的乐趣在于直接从门口出发进行桨板冲浪或皮划艇运动，在黎明时分钓鱼，或者仅仅是在惬意的孤独中沿着纤道漫步。哈尔伯顿农场商店（Halberton Farm Shop）提供丰富的当地商品，小屋可容纳四人。欢迎携带宠物犬。 预订方式：每晚 £160 起 (rockcottage.uk)。
切维奥特山脉， 苏格兰
这里历史悠久，散布着铁器时代的堡垒，并布满了徒步小径，是英国苏格兰一片荒野且未经破坏的土地。凯尔索（Kelso）和梅尔罗斯（Melrose）这两个集镇以 stunning 的梅尔罗斯修道院（Melrose Abbey）而闻名，提供极佳的食品店和熟食店，非常适合为皮尔尼小屋（Pirnie Cottage）的餐食采购食材。该房屋可容纳八人，非常适合家庭入住。 预订方式：一周起价 £842.50 (crabtreeandcrabtree.com)。
温特顿海滨， 诺福克郡
就在繁忙的大雅茅斯（Great Yarmouth）海岸线往上不远处，温特顿海滨（Winterton-on-Sea）是一个安静的地方，没有游戏厅或一日游游客，只有一片原始的沙滩和背后的沙丘。这里是观察海豹的绝佳位置，尤其是霍西海滩海豹群（Horsey Beach Seal Colony），而开启一天的最佳方式是在直接坐落在沙滩上的沙丘咖啡馆（Dunes Cafe）享用早餐。旧村庄商店（The Old Village Shop）是理想的落脚点。这是一次巧妙的改造，可容纳六人。在花园里享用晚餐时，可以伴随附近大海的涛声。 预订方式：一周起价 £1,631 (wintertoncottages.co.uk)。 l 所有价格均为八月份一周的费用。
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A
PREMIER Collection的葡萄牙逃逸之旅承诺为您带来皇家景致、迷人的文化亮点，并入住该国最具历史感的“pousada”酒店。
通过在系列宏伟的pousada酒店（由宫殿和城堡等历史建筑改造而成）入住七晚，深入探索葡萄牙最受喜爱的三个地区的当地历史。
您的行程将从飞往里斯本开始，入住您的首家酒店——高贵的克卢什宫pousada酒店（Pousada Palacio de Queluz），随后返回葡萄牙首都参加有导游陪同的游览。接着是一个悠闲日，您将有机会前往埃斯托里尔（Estoril）和卡斯凯什（Cascais）等沿海小镇，以及辛特拉（Sintra）的皇家避暑地继续探索。
下一站将前往维塞乌（Viseu），途中您将经过大学城科英布拉（Coimbra），然后入住维塞乌pousada酒店（Pousada Viseu），这里将是您接下来的两个晚上的遗产酒店基地。
在贝拉阿尔塔（Beira Alta）地区期间，您可以自行探索，或许可以通过参加附近quinta（葡萄酒庄）的可选游览来品尝当地最优质的品牌酒。此外，附近各种传统的传统手工艺面包店和奶酪制作坊也值得关注，它们将为您呈现葡萄牙乡村生活的风味。
随后，您将向北前往波尔图（Porto），即杜罗河谷（Douro Valley）的门户，进行一整天的观光。
在前往杜罗河小镇雷瓜（Regua）和联合国教科文组织列入名录的吉马良斯（Guimaraes）进行最后两次游览之前，您将在由修道院改造而成的阿马雷斯修道院pousada酒店（Pousada Mosteiro de Amares）住宿一晚。
预订理由 难忘的pousada入住体验 在三家pousada酒店入住，感受葡萄牙的颓废奢华。
d h l M l h
d d i d i
在邻近的克卢什宫pousada酒店（曾是葡萄牙皇家卫队的总部）漫步于受凡尔赛宫启发的花园中；在维塞乌pousada酒店入住一座翻新过的19世纪医院。您的最后一家酒店——阿马雷斯修道院pousada酒店，坐落在一座由12世纪修道院改造而成的建筑内，将作为您最后两晚的基地。
超越指南的游览行程 在这次Premier Collection逃逸之旅中，您的同行者将不超过 24 位，这样您可以用更亲密、更专注的方式享受每一次游览。通过可选的游览活动发现卡斯凯什和埃斯托里尔优雅的沿海度假胜地，并领略葡萄牙色彩斑斓的首都里斯本。您还将参观被誉为“葡萄牙牛津”的科英布拉以及辛特拉，最后以访问充满活力的波尔图结束行程。
原汁原味的葡萄牙介绍 除了其他有导游陪同的游览外，您还将通过访问该国最具历史感的城市，对传统的葡萄牙文化进行原汁原味的了解。
n 前往里斯本的航班（从波多返回）、大巴行程及接送服务 n 七晚四星级含早餐住宿：Pousada Palacio de Queluz（三晚）、Pousada de Viseu（两晚）以及 Pousada
如何预订 日期：2026年9月至2027年10月 价格：每人 £1,949起* 致电 0808 239 1392 欲了解更多信息，请访问 mailtravel.co.uk/pousadasportugal
条款与条件：假期由 Newmarket Holidays 运营，ABTOT 5509, ATOL 2325, ABTA V7812，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 2027年4月27日 从利物浦约翰·列侬机场出发。*最高可节省 15% 的优惠适用于 2026年7月30日 之前完成的指定行程预订，且不能追溯应用于已确认的预订。视供应情况而定，且可能随时撤销。所示价格已包含折扣。价格在印刷时准确。
迷人的乡村小镇。见证“葡萄牙诞生地”吉马良斯 (Guimaraes)，访问色彩斑斓的运河之城阿威罗 (Aveiro)，并前往杜罗河谷 (Douro Valley) 进行几次真正令人难忘的小镇之行，包括产酒区雷瓜 (Regua)。此外，您将有充足的自由时间来放松或按自己的意愿探索。
一场感官盛宴 如果没有尝试当地最优质产品的机会，伊比利亚半岛之行将是不完整的。品尝 Viseu 繁荣葡萄园生产的著名葡萄酒，在风景如画的杜罗河谷小镇盖亚新城 (Vila Nova de Gaia) 品尝波特酒，并在欣赏里斯本风光的同时，犒劳自己一份传统的葡式蛋挞 (pastel de nata)。
Mosteiro de Amares（两晚），以及四顿晚餐 n 里斯本之旅 n 波多之旅 n 雷瓜和吉马良斯之旅 n 由一名经验丰富的 Premier Collection 游览经理全程陪同
手里拿着一杯冰镇的桃红葡萄酒，我正驾驶着自己的私人游艇，以每小时 7 个海结的速度在亚得里亚海上巡航。在船头，船长正在展开风帆，这样我们就能平稳地向他的“秘密游泳点”驶去。青蓝色的海水在阳光下闪闪发光，清澈得可见五彩斑斓的鱼群在水面下穿梭。不，我并不是巧妙地争取到了与莱昂纳多·迪卡普里奥度假的邀请，也没有与某个年轻的贝克汉姆成为好友。我也没有中彩票。相反，我被一群大学好友簇拥着，当我们穿越克罗地亚崎岖的海岸线时，他们正享受着日光浴。每人每晚不到 £65，我们就租下了一艘私人游艇一周——还包括船长 Andy 的协助，以及我们的接待员 Josefa，她将负责准备餐点并维持船上秩序。“我几乎一生都在航海，”Andy 在我们第一个早晨的简报中说道，“所以你们无需担心任何事情。”尽管他只有 30 岁，但已经积累了 13 年的经验，他解释说，接下来的几天里，我们唯一的真正任务就是尽情享受。“如果 Josefa 或我可以做任何事情让你们的旅程更愉快，尽管开口，”他说。我想我会习惯这种生活的。Libertine 号是一艘 50 英尺的游艇，最多可供 10 人睡眠，将是我们未来几天的家。这里有四个双人舱室，三个浴室，以及室内外座位区，我惊讶于如此紧凑的空间竟然能如此整齐地容纳这么多设施。在整理本周的补给品时，Josefa 指出了船内巧妙隐藏的各种储物柜。配备了冰箱和衣柜空间，这简直就像一个海上的玛丽·波品斯包。我们在甲板上惬意地喝着 Aperol 饮品，向 Josefa 询问之前的乘客。她告诉我们，有些人可能相当挑剔：要求炒蛋必须精确到分钟，复杂的甜点上必须点缀草莓，还要定制鸡尾酒（从早到晚不停地调配）。但即便只是在船上待了几个小时，你也能明白自己为什么会如此沉醉。从我们驶离斯普利特（Split）的那一刻起，Libertine 号上的生活就感觉像是奢华的极致。每天早晨，当我们慵懒地走出舱室时，Josefa 已经准备好了水果、酸奶、坚果和鸡蛋的丰盛早餐。然后 Andy 会解释当天的计划——一个游泳与日光浴相结合的充实行程。当我们没有在克罗地亚的阳光下 lounging 时，我们会尽情享用 Josefa 准备的自制虾仁意面或塔可午餐，练习潜水，或者在向下一个目的地巡航时听音乐。第一天结束后，我们前往米尔纳（Milna）的码头，那是布拉奇岛（island of Brac）上的一个小村庄，距离斯普利特约 11 海里。迎接我们的是一位当地人描述的“数月来最美的日落”。在陆地上，我们吃着木柴烤比萨，品啜着
舱室狂热 梦想之行： 上图：Libertine 号， 最多可容纳 十名客人。 上方：甲板上的 用餐区，以及 游艇内部
为 4 至 10 人团体提供的为期一周的私人游艇之旅，起价为每人每晚 £78（基于 8 人共用），若 10 人共用则降至每人每晚 £63。费用包括船长服务、机场接送、免赔额保险、燃油、wi-fi 和税费 (sail-croatia.com)。
喝着克罗地亚啤酒 Ozujsko，与当地人打台球消磨夜晚；当地人似乎遵循一种巴尔干变体规则，这让他们具有明显的优势。非常有意思。然而，第二天早晨却出现了一个低谷时刻。这时，我朋友 Izzy 手上的银戒从指间滑落，消失在码头的深蓝色海水中（即便安迪迅速潜水寻找，也未能将其找回）。
克罗地亚的热情款待迅速成为了此次旅行的主题。那天晚上，我们停靠在 Stari Grad，这是一个拥有 2,000 人的小镇，隐匿在 Hvar 岛的一处缝隙中。在这里，我们搭乘出租车，沿着两旁种满橄榄树的蜿蜒道路前往 Hora Hvar，一家位于农业庄园内的“从农场到餐桌”餐厅。
我们当晚的服务员是 Christian，他同时也是餐厅的经理，一个精力充沛的人物，对我们在整个晚上品鉴的（许多款）克罗地亚葡萄酒充满了热情。离开时，我们感到饱足且有些轻微的醉意——这或许与 Christian 准备的庆祝用樱桃利口酒小杯饮品有关。
不过，我的高光时刻是在 Libertine 号上，在阳光下探索安迪的“隐藏”海湾。我们捕捉鱼类，然后将它们放回大海。我们在黄金时段饮酒前打了个盹。当我们经过其他船只和豪华游轮时，觉得自己就像是游艇社交圈的一员（但无需支付游艇圈的价格）。
I
想象一座位于精美新艺术风格建筑中的博物馆，馆内收藏着莫奈、雷诺阿和高更的画作。你可能会认为它在巴黎，或者其他某座西方城市。但它其实在开罗。
欢迎来到穆罕默德·马哈茂德·哈利勒博物馆 (Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil museum)。我第一次听说这座博物馆是在 2010 年的新闻中，当时报道称梵高价值数百万英镑的画作《罂粟花》被盗。出于好奇，我在次年了解到更多信息，当时主持人菲奥娜·布鲁斯 (Fiona Bruce) 和菲利普·莫尔德 (Philip Mould) 在 BBC 的《真迹还是赝品？》(Fake Or Fortune?) 系列节目的第一集中到访此处，以鉴定一幅莫奈的作品。
最近，我终于飞往开罗，决心寻找这座奇特的博物馆。但它在哪里？它真的开放吗？它没有网站，我的当地导游也没有听说过。
事实证明，穆罕默德·马哈茂德·哈利勒博物馆靠近尼罗河，离开罗的喜来登酒店不远。它 housed 在一座建于 1915 年的宫殿式建筑中，配有一个两侧种满棕榈树的正式花园。进入内部，你会看到装饰考究的房间，铺着拼花地板，透过高窗可以俯瞰尼罗河。
底层展出了精美的陶瓷。随后，沿着一座华丽的楼梯而上，便是菲利普·莫尔德所称的“辉煌的”绘画收藏。这里有 300 多幅作品，主要是印象派，但也包括许多其他 19 世纪法国名家，如德加、科罗、米勒、图卢兹-劳特雷克、皮萨罗和德拉克罗瓦。罗丹的雕塑也点缀其中。
入场票价？仅需 £1.50。
而且当时只有另外两名游客——一对法国夫妇。
也许这种法国联系是恰到好处的，因为来自埃及显赫家庭的马哈茂德·哈利勒在 1903 年于巴黎学习法律后，结识并娶了迷人的埃米莉安·卢塞 (Emilienne Luce)，后者是音乐学院的一名学生。从那时起，他们在开罗和巴黎之间往返，在共同对艺术的热爱的驱动下，开始购买画作。
身为政治家的哈利勒最终成为了埃及参议院议长。他也被认可为
穆罕默德·马哈茂德·哈利尔博物馆（MOHAMED Mahmoud Khalil Museum）位于 Kafour 街 1 号。开放时间为周二至周四上午 10 点至下午 5 点；周五下午 2 点至下午 5 点。请携带护照。 伦敦-开罗往返机票 £375 起 (ba.com)。
在 1949 年被选为法国艺术院（Academie des Beaux-Arts）成员后。 这座房子在 1962 年首次作为博物馆开放，在埃米莉安（Emilienne）去世并将房产遗赠给国家两年之后。那么，为什么它如此不为人知，甚至在艺术界也是如此？ 答案可能是因为它在多年来反复地开放和关闭。在 20 世纪 70 年代的一段时间里，这座优雅的建筑被埃及总统安瓦尔·萨达特（Anwar Sadat）征用。 最近的一次关闭是在 2010 年《罂粟花》（Poppy Flowers）被盗之后，这次关闭时间最长——持续了 11 年。但现在，经过现代化改造并加强了安保措施，它似乎将永久开放。
艺术圣地：该博物馆。左图：展出的哈利尔漫画
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专家
问：我担心即将到来的马拉加之旅，因为上周 there was a severe temperature warning（发布了严重高温预警），最高温达39C。我不确定自己能否应付。近期在英国的热浪中就已经足够困难了。您在保持凉爽方面有什么建议吗？或者我可以取消行程并通过我的旅行保险获得赔付吗？ ——丽塔·约翰逊，肯特郡，布罗德斯泰尔斯
答：是的，近期英国可能确实很热，诺福克郡林伍德的6月记录温度达到了 37.7C，但西班牙的情况可能更加酷热。其历史最高气温出现在 2021 年科尔多瓦省的拉兰布拉，达到了 47.6C。而今年早些时候，在西班牙南部的哈恩市，水银柱达到了40C，创下了西班牙5月的记录。 马拉加近期确实酷热难耐，国家气象局发布了涵盖这座热门城市以及托雷莫利诺斯、马贝拉和埃斯特波纳等海滨度假胜地的预警，日温经常在 30 多度的高位。 然而，您将无法取消行程并通过旅行保险申请赔付。不去旅行将被视为“不愿旅行”，这将导致您的保单失效。 只有在山火袭击了您预订的住宿且没有合适替代方案的情况下，保险才会生效。 幸运的是，西班牙许多地方（如露天餐厅和咖啡馆）都已经标准配置了冷却水雾系统，能有效缓解最严重的高温。而且大多数酒店都有空调，不过您可以在出发前再次确认。 此外，还有许多我们在近几周已经熟悉且符合常识的建议，例如随身携带水瓶——如果在安达卢西亚长时间外出，甚至可以带两个。 另外，无论多么诱人，请不要尝试晒黑。一定要涂抹至少 30 SPF（防晒系数）的防晒霜——并确保您购买的瓶身标签显示至少四星 UVA 防护。 NHS（英国国家医疗服务体系）建议，如果您要长时间外出，应在出发前 30 分钟涂抹防晒霜，并在出门前再次涂抹。您还应至少每两小时重新涂抹一次。并且，不要因为认为自己有防护就比平时在阳光下停留更久。 建议佩戴宽檐帽和宽松衣物——穿着翻起衣领的 Polo 衫以保护颈部免于晒伤是个好主意。务必佩戴太阳镜，但不要买便宜货。眼镜应提供 100 比例的 UV 防护并带有 UV400 标志。 早起购物或观光也是一个主意。如果稍后感到疲倦，您可以在房间里睡个欧式午觉，或者在泳池边的阴凉处打个盹。像西班牙人那样在较晚的时间进晚餐也是明智的。此外，可以携带一把传统折扇或现代电池驱动的电风扇。
问：我预订了一次前往意大利湖区的旅行，沿途乘火车并有过夜停留。虽然我可以用随身行李箱应付，但我希望在离开英国之前将一个大行李箱寄到目的地，并在行程结束时将其寄回。您能推荐一家公司吗？ ——彼得·布朗，通过电子邮件
答：请尝试 sendmybag.com，该网站在基于 28,000 多条评论的 Trustpilot 评分中获得了 4.5 / 5 分。其英国至意大利的标准单程费用为 20kg 费用 £33，30kg 费用 £43。
我们在此为您提供帮助 如果您需要建议，“度假大师”（Holiday Guru）在此为您解答疑问。请发送电子邮件至 holidayplanner@dailymail.co.uk
伯纳姆先生，公平竞争要求如此
就在两年多前，工党凭借其竞选宣言赢得权力，由基尔·斯塔默领导。而现在，由其亲信选出而非通过公众投票产生的安迪·伯纳姆，却在告诉我们“他的宣言”将是什么。正如您上周日所言，我们选民理应有权进行大选，因为目前发生的事情违背了这个国家的宗旨——公平竞争。 艾伦·沃德 (Alan Ward)， 林肯郡，斯利福德 (Sleaford, Lincolnshire)
上周日您提到，国家希望举行选举，且一项民调显示，47 per cent 的人认为应该举行选举，而 31 per cent 的人则不这么认为。然而，这些人中相当一部分可能是安迪·伯纳姆的支持者，他们认为他能赢得选举并锁定另一个五年的社会主义工党统治。我同意他们的看法。托利党现在绝不可能赢得选举，改革党（Reform）也不可能，因为随着奈杰·法拉奇（Nigel Farage）陷入丑闻，该党在民调中正在下滑。如果举行大选，工党将轻松获胜，尽管其多数席位会大幅减少。“红墙”地区将回归工党，被伯纳姆的魅力和迷人的睫毛所蒙骗，导致改革党和托利党无论是单独还是通过联合政府，都无法赢得足够的席位。小心愿望成真。
像对待国会议员那样 对待我们的公民
彼得·希钦斯 (Peter Hitchens) 认为公众的保护应优先于国会议员的安全，这一观点是正确的。如果公众认为暴力犯罪失控而国会议员被优先保护，那么对整个体制的信心将会降低。 彼得·亨里克 (Peter Henrick)， 伯明翰，北菲尔德 (Northfield, Birmingham)
在承认大多数精神疾病患者并不会实施暴力之的同时，彼得说“这些事情确实会发生”。是的，但药物滥用、童年经历、失业、无家可归以及环境等因素通常也是原因。 埃米莉·麦克雷 (Emilie McRae)， 威尔特郡，特罗布里奇 (Trowbridge, Wiltshire)
写信至：The Letters Editor, The Mail on Sunday, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY. 电子邮件：letters@mailonsunday.co.uk L tters
您强调的垃圾监管员的激进行为令人不齿。但有些人为乱扔垃圾找借口，理由是该区域已经很脏了。过去的违规证据并不能证明进一步违规是合理的。 F. 哈维 (F. Harvey)，布里斯托 (Bristol)
我们需要垃圾警察
对于右翼而言，最好的希望是让伯纳姆在没有授权的情况下执政，并在接下来的三年里把事情搞砸。到那时，国民的好奇心将被满足，支持率将回流至改革党和复兴的托利党。 凯文·科利 (Kevin Coley)，莱斯特 (Leicester)
安迪·伯纳姆知道举行大选会将他及工党赶下台，所以这绝不可能发生。我认为政府将在圣诞节前垮台。伯纳姆曾是一个失败的工党部长，担任首相后也不会有任何改变。他的首相任期缺乏合法性，这只会让人们在每一次不可避免的政策失误后，更加强烈地要求举行选举。 大卫·霍德尔 (David Hoddell)， 萨默塞特郡，克莱夫登 (Clevedon, Somerset)
上周日我关注地读到了关于儿童在学校受伤获得赔偿的内容。其中一名学生因为烤棉花糖烫伤嘴唇而获得了 £4,000 的赔偿。你们还报道了其他成功的赔偿申请，例如被网球击中、被树根绊倒，以及在跑向充气城堡时跌倒。看来
RNLI 而非 HRH 需要资金 上周我去了一家 RNLI（皇家国家救生艇协会）站点并进行了捐赠。但我在贵报上看到，国王将通过皇冠地产（Crown Estate）从我的捐赠中获益，因为 RNLI 需要为其海滨站点支付租金。RNLI 是一家救生慈善机构；它不应向 HRH（陛下）支付租金，而
在南肖特港（Southport）这里。上周两个朋友去进行一次“垃圾漫步”，仅用两个黑色垃圾袋就装满了空的酒精饮料罐。这里有一条街道刚刚铺设了精致的旗石。两个月后，他们本不必费心这么做，因为那里已经被丢弃的口香糖覆盖了。 Chris Whittaker, Southport
当特蕾莎·梅、鲍里斯·约翰逊和利兹·特拉斯成为未经选举的托利党首相时，是否也有如此强烈的选举呼声？ Rob French, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire
安迪·伯纳姆增加对外援助的计划简直荒谬。各党派的国会议员都认为对外援助是好事，但这些国家的需要难道应该排在那些为国会议员支付税款（以便让他们在海外挥霍资金）的人之前吗？ John Roberts, Bradford
在安迪·伯纳姆的领导下，那些完成安吉拉·雷纳所承诺住房的工匠将被拖入更高的税率档位，就像那些为路易丝·海格染发的理发师一样。 Tony Thompson, Deddington, Oxfordshire
赔偿文化在近几十年里的英国已经泛滥成灾，你们的文章恰恰展示了最新的实例。我在上学时，一个女孩从秋千上掉下来摔断了手臂。另一个女孩在游泳池边跌倒撞到了头（尽管被反复告知不要跑）。一个女孩在猛关橱柜门时夹断了手指。她们都没有向
应该获得 一笔可观的拨款。 Ann Field, Manchester 太年轻了 上周日的文章概述了跨性别意识形态如何通过色彩鲜艳的绘本（左图）和其他阅读材料强加给学校里的幼童，这简直令人愤慨。
愤世嫉俗
西班牙在世界杯决赛中获胜（见上图），做得好！裁判给一名阿根廷球员出红牌也做得好。他们在太多场合（尤其是针对英格兰时）凭借极其恶劣的犯规而逃脱惩罚。 Andy Kester, Frome, Somerset
世界杯决赛正是国际足联（Fifa）想要的：卫冕冠军兼南美冠军阿根廷对阵欧洲冠军西班牙。想象一下，如果英格兰晋级并成为一场全欧洲的决赛，那将损失数百万的报道覆盖面。 Rod Williams, Great Holland, Essex
阿根廷球员举起了一幅横幅，声称马尔维纳斯群岛（福克兰群岛）属于他们的国家。正如彼得·希钦斯所指出的，双方许多勇敢的士兵为证明事实并非如此而牺牲。足球运动员在那里纯粹是为了比赛。 Bernadette Aitchison, Liverpool
我们可以派遣一支舰队前往福克兰群岛以示抗议——如果我们还有舰队可以派遣的话。 J. McKie, Gateshead
学校的保险公司索赔，而事实本该如此。 大多数学校应该熟悉在其场所内发生事故的风险，并且应当采取合理的护理措施，确保这些地方没有明显的危险。 但学校永远不可能成为完全无风险的环境。 Josephine Drury, Buckley, North Wales
为什么教育大臣和政府没有解决这个问题？ Mick Ferrie, Mawnan Smith, Cornwall Nimbys 的正确想法 萨拉·维恩在写关于牛津郡皮丁顿（Piddington）居民的文章时触及了一个痛点，当地居民对在那里安置 1,250 名单身男性寻求庇护者的计划做出了反应，投票支持独立。人们可能会称他们为 Nimbys（ NIMBY：不要在我家后院的人）
本周信件获胜者将赢得 两名入住 Leonardo Hotels 两晚的住宿。仅限在 英国 境内任何一家 该酒店旗下分店选择（两晚 含早餐，适用条款与条件）。 Leonardo Hotels 为城市度假或 短期出行提供完美基地， 提供舒适且现代的客房， 并配备定制的 DREAM 床垫， 为您带来最惬意的一夜好眠。 如需获取最佳房价，请在 leonardohotels.co.uk 在线预订。 礼券有效期为 12 个月。
但我并不希望这么多这样的人 集体住在我的街道上。 Lynda Heckman, 北威尔士, Trefnant 尽情享受吧 Charlotte Eagar 上周日 将 1990 年代的夜生活与 如今的狂欢进行了对比。我认为 人们在几十年前社交时更快乐—— 因为那时他们不必担心 Instagram 的帖子。 Amanda Yates, 泰恩河畔纽卡斯尔
GAMBOLS FRED BASSET
加菲猫 (GARFIELD) 花生漫画 (PEANUTS)
《星期日邮报》 (MAIL ON SUNDAY)
新一轮超额利润税突击
准备公布亮眼的业绩， 更高的利润税“有 95% 的可能性”
据该行业一些资深分析师称，随着新任财政大臣 约翰·希利 寻找容易的目标以平衡国家账目，英国最大的几家银行将面临针对其“亮眼”利润的超额利润税。
本周，劳埃得银行 (Lloyds)、国民西敏寺银行 (NatWest) 和巴克莱银行 (Barclays) 将公布最新业绩，届时这种繁荣的规模将清晰地呈现出来。
根据城市预测，这些业绩预计将显示，它们今年合计将赚取近 £19 billion，高于 2025, 的略低于 £16 billion。
银行从长期高利率中获益，这提高了它们的净利息收益率——这是一个衡量其支付给储蓄者的利息与向借款者收取的利息之间差距的关键财务指标。
巨额利润已经导致政界各界呼吁征收额外税款，一些行业观察人士预测，超额利润税几乎是必然的。
“我认为征收银行税的可能性大约有 95 per cent probable，”投资银行 KBW 的 Ed Firth 表示。“银行的获利程度远超其权益成本，并向股东返还了巨额资本。”
经纪公司 Shore Capital 的 Gary Greenwood 表示：“如果银行继续公布亮眼的利润，它们确实让自己容易受到政治攻击。”
银行负责人警告称，任何超额利润税都将导致贷款减少，从而阻碍增长。摩根大通 (JP Morgan) 的老板 Jamie Dimon 上周警告首相 安迪·伯纳姆 不要进一步向银行征税，警告称这可能会危及其在 伦敦 金融都心 (Canary Wharf) 建造价值 £3 billion 总部的计划，并导致投资撤出英国。
专家表示，政府进一步向该行业征税最可能的方式是通过银行附加税。
对于年利润超过 £100 million 的银行，该税项在 25% 的公司税率基础上额外征收 3% 的附加税。
该附加税在 2023 年 从 8% 下调至目前的水平。
作者：Patrick Tooher
保守党政府。 根据工会大会（Trades Union Congress）的计算，撤销这一削减将在四年内筹集£9 billion。 图中所示的希利正在寻找增加福利、国防和生活成本措施（例如支持家庭能源账单）支出资金的方法，同时坚持限制公共借款的财政规则。 另一个选择是限制向高街银行支付的一项隐形补贴， 该补贴每年估计花费纳税人£20 billion，被称为“准备金分级”（reserve tiering）。 在这种鲜为人知的计划中（批评者称其等同于免费资金），贷款机构对其在英格兰银行持有的准备金（资金池）收取利息。 这些准备金总额超过£500 billion，主要是英格兰银行在2008年金融危机后为支撑银行体系而启动的量化宽松（即印钞）计划的结果。 最初，在利率较低时，银行在这些准备金上几乎没有赚到钱。 然而，在英格兰银行基准利率飙升后，他们现在对其资金池每年收取3.75 per cent的利息。 而且，为了遏制通货膨胀，关键利率在预期之外维持了较长时间的高位，而印钞计划则被逆转。 “我不会排除准备金分级的可能性，”银行咨询公司 SeaPoint Insights 的创始人 John Cronin 表示。 “我只是认为附加费是更容易实现的变更，”他补充道。 前财政大臣 Rachel Reeves 在银行的强烈游说下，抵制了征收意外之财税（windfall tax）的呼吁。金融危机后为提高安全性而引入的规则也在放宽。 行业团体 UK Finance 表示，新的银行税将损害英国的国际竞争力，并阻碍政府的增长目标。根据会计师事务所 PwC 的顾问称，银行去年共支付了£43 billion的税款。
【配图：CARRYING IT：足球运动员 Erling Haaland 拥有价值 £1m 的爱马仕包系列】
尽管高端男包在世界足球精英中风靡，但奢侈品巨头爱马仕（Hermes）和 LVMH 预计本周将交付停滞不前的年度利润。 在世界杯之后，足球明星引以为傲的昂贵男包正成为最具价值的产品。 在锦标赛期间，挪威球员 Erling Haaland 在场外经常被拍到携带其价值 £1 million (£1) 的爱马仕包系列中的某一款，例如价值 £37,365 的 HAC 40 Birkin。 时尚分析网站 Launchmetrics 计算出，
在英国大获成功 访谈 第 75 页
作者：Anne Ashworth
Haaland 携带 Birkin 包的照片为爱马仕——这家估值 €176 bLllLRn (£150 bLllLRn) 的法国时尚之家——创造了 £6.6 mLllLRn 的品牌价值。 但即便有 Haaland 的背书，预计也无法让公司的命运复苏，分析师预测爱马仕今年上半年的利润为 €2.2 bLllLRn，略低于 2025 年的 €2.25 bLllLRn。 与此同时，LVMH 这一估值 €235 bLllLRn 的奢侈品巨头（旗下品牌包括 Louis Vuitton 和 Dior）正处于
D
我们的新任财政大臣说的话是真的吗？在周二对财政部工作人员发表的演讲中，约翰·希利表示，他的首要任务是财政纪律，并补充道：“因为财政信誉是经济稳定和国家安全的基石。”
那么，让我们希望如此吧，这有三个强有力的理由：前两个显而易见，第三个则不那么明显。
首先，他必须控制国家债务的融资成本。今年的利息支出将至少为 £110 billion，使其成为政府在社会服务（包括养老金）和 NHS 之后的第三大支出。十年期国债（政府债券）的收益率目前已超过 5%，除了去年 11 月的一小段时间外，这是自 2008 年以来的最高水平。这在一定程度上是对全球因素的反应，特别是油气价格最新上涨后对通胀造成的压力——美国利率也上涨了。但这对英国纳税人来说影响较小，因为无论如何，他们都必须支付额外的利息账单，或者对于购房者来说，他们将看到抵押贷款成本再次攀升。
其次，他必须维持对英镑的信心，因为强有力的英镑能降低包括油气在内的进口成本，进而降低通胀。英镑目前的交易价格为 $1.33。如果这里的价格与美国相似，它应该在 $1.50 左右。这就是国际货币基金组织计算的所谓购买力平价率。
因此，如果国际投资者（顺便提一下，他们持有国家债务的近三分之一）有更多的信心，我们不仅可以降低借贷成本——
爱马仕 利润 下滑
预计利润将从同期 €5.7 下降至 €5.4，该公司将于明天公布数据。
尽管像英格兰中场球员朱德·贝林厄姆（Jude Bellingham）在担任品牌大使期间，估计为路易威登（Louis Vuitton）带来了 $1.1 (£825,000) 的价值。而法国前锋基利安·姆巴佩（Kylian Mbappe）被认为在将他的训练袋转化为该品牌 £4,500 Normandie 托特包后，为迪奥（Dior）创造了 $1.3 的价值。
这些利润预警对于时尚巨头来说安慰不大，因为他们正试图恢复需求，并抵消由于中东战争以及庞大的中国市场增速放缓而导致的下滑。
唯一的光亮是来自美国富裕客户的需求，美国男性也越来越多地被这些品牌的魅力所吸引。
但这未能为这两家公司的股价提供太多动力，两者的股价今年均有所下跌。
LVMH 的股价自 1 月以来下跌了 29%。而爱马仕在同一时期下跌了 23%。
在英国品牌 Burberry 公布数据后，这两家奢侈品巨头可能会试图挑战阴郁的预测。Burberry 上周数据显示，截至 3 月的年度亏损从 £32 大幅收窄至 £8.9，销售额有所回升。
英国两家最大养老金供应商的负责人呼吁政府部长提高职场养老金的缴纳金额，因为人们越来越担心数百万人为退休储蓄不足。
在自动加入机制（auto-enrolment）下，雇主必须为员工的养老金计划缴纳至少 3% 的工资，而工人则缴纳 5%。但最近的研究发现， 25 到 55 岁的工人中，有 41% 的人将没有足够的资金度过晚年。
Aviva 的 Amanda Blanc（见右图）表示，“仍有太多人为退休储蓄不足”，并指出虽然 2012 年引入自动加入机制有所帮助，但仍需要采取更多行动。
她表示：“我们希望看到一个明确的雄心和时间表，将最低缴费比例逐步从 8% 提高到 12%。这将是朝着建立一个能更好反映当今人们生活和工作方式的养老金制度迈出的一大步。”
竞争对手 Legal & General 的负责人 Antonio Simoes（见插图）也表示， 8% 的最低标准“仍不足以提供大多数人期望的退休生活”。他补充道：“将缴费比例逐步提高到 12%，并使人们在进入职场的时刻起就能够开始储蓄，这对于帮助后代在退休后获得更高的财务安全至关重要。”
他此前曾呼吁将自动加入的年龄从 22 岁降低到 18 岁，以便人们更早地开始储蓄，并给投资更多增长时间。
财政研究所（Institute of Fiscal Studies）发现，如果缴费比例达到 12%，将有近四分之三地参加定额缴款养老金计划的工人能够避免退休后生活标准的剧烈下降。
但该智库表示，这可能会有
划船；我们也可以降低通胀。 这就是为什么“财政信誉”至关重要，以及为什么希利（Healey）在这一问题上坦诚地公开表态是正确的。
然而，希望新任财政大臣能比前任更好的第三个原因是关于谁拥有英国上市公司的。 对于能够发现真实价值的精明海外投资者来说，我们目前就像是一个廉价商店。 我们的政府相当无能；但我们的公司，或者至少其中许多公司，相当不错。 低股价（富时 100 指数 [FTSE 100] 的预测市盈率约为 13，而美国标准普尔 500 指数 [S&P 500] 为 21）与被低估的英镑相结合，这意味着投资者购买英国公司的价格仅为类似美国公司的二分之一到三分之二。 因此，不出所料，出现了一波对我们一些最优秀企业的收购潮。 今年我们已经看到三家富时 100 成员公司被收购——保险公司 Beazley、财富管理公司 Schroders 和质量保证服务公司 Intertek——并且 伦敦 上市的能源分销商 DCC 和仓库运营商 Segro 也收到了报价。前富时 100 成员 Tate & Lyle 和 easyJet 也收到了报价，两者看来都将被收购。 此外，还有许多规模较小的公司已被收购，通常——
年粗陋且具有破坏性的 政策
以远高于其市场价值的高额溢价被收购。 这在多个层面都是一场灾难。首先，英国投资者可以轻松持有的公司池正在缩小。因此，大多数人被剥夺了分享我们最充满活力的企业不断增长的财富的机会，因为只有资深投资者才能找到维持利益的方法，而且通常连这都做不到。 其次，决策权被移至海外。买家可能会在形式上承诺会保护这里的就业机会，或者称英国管理团队在更广泛的企业中将拥有关键的话语权，或类似的废话。但我们都知道现实情况。如果他们需要省钱，被砍掉的将是英国的工厂。 第三，创业者有巨大的动力在资本更便宜且更充足的海外启动业务。这里不是探讨伦敦股票交易衰落原因的地方——我们经历了 30 年粗陋且有时是蓄意破坏的政策。 但衡量这位新财政大臣是否成功的一个标准，将在于他能否重建全球对英国公司的信心。 有许多工作要做，而我怀疑本届政府根本不知道该如何操作。但将国家财政建立在稳健的基础之上将是一个开始。
对于低收入者来说，尤其是如果雇佣大量最低工资员工的公司削减招聘，可能会产生“意外后果”。英国保险业协会呼吁任何上调应在 2030 年前完成以帮助企业适应，其中雇主支付 5 per cent，雇员支付 7 per cent。上周，财政部表示，如果国家养老金（目前每年 £12,547）在 2027 年 4 月超过冻结的 £12,570 免税额，那么仅以国家养老金为收入的人员将免缴所得税。
升级，利率 上涨迫在眉睫
尽管由于担心伊朗战争可能会在夏季之后继续拖延，住房贷款成本不断攀升，但预计英格兰银行本周仍将把利率维持在 3.75 per cent。 据金融数据公司 Moneyfacts 称，包括 Halifax、Santander 和 Yorkshire Building Society 在内的十多家贷款机构在过去两周内提高了抵押贷款利率。 这些举措使五年期借款的平均固定利率回到了 6 月份的 5.61 per cent。 波斯湾的长期紧张局势影响了设定固定利率抵押贷款成本的“掉期”市场，由于对全球石油供应的担忧，上周一桶布伦特原油的价格触及 $100 大关。 英格兰银行货币政策委员会的利率决策可能会忽略新政府为缓解生活成本压力而公布的预期反通胀措施的影响，例如在电费账单上减免 $7 并将其降至 5 per cent。 投资银行 Investec 的经济学家表示：“到目前为止宣布的政策变化在通胀前景的边缘起到了作用，但最终只是小打小闹，而非改变局势的决定性因素。” 而升级的伊朗战争已经浇灭了任何通过降低利率来减轻家庭和企业财务负担的希望。交易员目前预计英格兰银行基准利率今年将上涨两次，第一次将在 9 月。
A
随着学校假期的开始，许多家庭会从橱柜里拿出棋盘游戏。有些人会选择《大富翁》（Monopoly）或《拼字游戏》（Scrabble），但越来越多新一代的人更倾向于在疫情引发的棋盘游戏热潮中出现的新兴、且知名度较低的作品，而这股热潮几乎没有放缓的迹象。
当我与法国游戏巨头 Asmodee 的首席执行官托马斯·库格勒（Thomas Koegler）见面时，一些新一代的作品正在展出。Asmodee 将英国视为其第二大市场。Asmodee 是欧洲最大的游戏制造商，也是全球最大的游戏公司之一，仅次于美国玩具和游戏巨头如孩之宝（Hasbro）或美泰（Mattel）。
在库格勒身后的架子上摆放着一些热门作品，包括让玩家在各大洲之间建立最长火车线路的《 Ticket To Ride 》，以及关于创建鸟类保护区的游戏《Wingspan》。
该公司最成功的游戏之一是《卡坦岛》（Catan）。这款游戏创建于 1995 年，让玩家控制一组定居者，在尝试建立村庄的同时，获取并交易木材和牲畜等资源以获得积分。
该公司还拥有一个利润丰厚的集换式卡牌部门，销售基于《精灵宝可梦》（Pokemon）等知名特许经营权的产品。
虽然许多游戏已经拥有了稳定的粉丝基础，但库格勒告诉我，由于疫情期间的封锁导致许多家庭转向棋盘和卡牌游戏以分散注意力，因此吸引了更多的人。
“自新冠疫情以来，我们看到了真正的加速，”他说。“疫情为游戏进入许多家庭打开了大门，许多人意识到这是共同度过美好时光的绝佳方式。”
且客户群得以保留，使 Asmodee 能够从一群新的棋盘游戏痴迷者中获利。该公司的业绩证明了这一点。截至今年 3 月的年度报告显示，在销售额增长 23% 至 14 亿英镑（£1.4 billion）后，Asmodee 的利润从前一年的 400 万英镑（£4 million）激增至 2360 万英镑（£23.6 million），其中 16% 来自英国。
其成功使该公司成为了一个在瑞典股票交易所市值达 26 亿英镑（£2.6 billion）的巨头，规模超过了像 Currys、Ocado 和 Greggs 等在伦敦上市的公司。
库格勒表示，棋盘游戏能够持续成功的原因之一是，在许多家庭正与生活成本危机作斗争的时候，它们提供了负担得起的娱乐方式。
“即使是一款可能花费 50 英镑（£50）且可以四个人一起玩的高价游戏——你开车去电影院看场电影并支付零食和饮料的费用都比这多。而且用棋盘游戏，你可以玩好几次而无需额外费用，”他说道。
在智能手机时代，许多人正转向这家公司……
一位工党大佬表示，由于英国钢铁公司（British Steel）基本上毫无价值，部长们必须拒绝中国就其国有化而提出的赔偿要求。
在英国钢铁公司的前所有者颈业集团（Jingye）威胁称，将就政府的接管采取国际仲裁，并将其贴上“公然敲诈和严重违反国际法”的标签后，国会议员克莱夫·贝茨（Clive Betts）公开表态。
公共账户委员会副主席贝茨表示：“这是一个亏损实体。它怎么可能有任何价值？”他坚称，政府寻求“独立评估员”的意见以“使中方满意”是正确的。但作为首位就此争议发声的工党高级人物，贝茨补充道：“我们绝不能被视为为此支付任何费用。”
早前，会计师事务所 Grant Thornton 的前税务总监迈克·沃伯顿（Mike Warburton）表示，政府为英国钢铁公司支付任何费用都将是“疯狂之举”，因为数亿英镑……
他表示，人们将游戏视为一种脱离网络并与他人面对面社交的方式，并补充道：“在一个万物日益数字化的世界里，人们渴望获得离开屏幕的机会。玩桌面游戏还可以帮助患有社交焦虑症的人建立关系，这是我们在疫情期间看到的一个日益严重的问题。” Koegler 属于少数能够将自己的热情转化为职业的人之列。 在巴黎担任商业战略顾问的工作让他感到“厌倦”后，这位 44 岁的男子在发现自己对游戏的喜爱后，于 2016 年在 Asmodee 担任管理职位。他迅速晋升，在 2024 年成为首席执行官。不到一年后，在公司从其瑞典母公司——视频游戏公司 Embracer 分拆而出时，他带领该集团进入了公开市场。 桌面游戏热潮的另一个原因是，随着更多针对不同受众的游戏出现，以往认为玩家主要是年长男性的刻板印象正在消失。 Koegler 说道：“某些游戏可能吸引某种性别，但这并非绝对。许多女性在玩那些你认为传统上由男性主导的游戏。现在不再只是男人在地下室里玩这些游戏了。” 他将此比作世纪之交时，关于蝙蝠侠和蜘蛛侠的电影如何带动了超级英雄的兴起。他说：“在 70 年代和 80 年代，超级英雄被认为是书呆子。现在他们已成为主流。” “我们这边情况类似。现在越来越多的人发现了玩桌面游戏的乐趣，这是一件非常棒的事情。”
摘自《星期日邮报》，5 月 17 日
巨额损失使该业务基本上“变得毫无价值”。去年 4 月，政府接管了英国钢铁公司（British Steel）的管理权，该公司在林肯郡的斯肯索普（Scunthorpe）运营着英国最后两座生产原生钢的高炉，被视为对国家安全至关重要。此前，议会举行了紧急会议以阻止敬业（Jingye）关闭这些高炉。本月，该公司被完全国有化，引发了敬业的愤怒，后者已威胁要对政府和英国钢铁公司的管理层采取法律行动。
上周，该公司在中文社交媒体平台微信上发布了一份声明，指责部长们忽视了对这家钢铁制造商的“投资”。敬业声称，政府的行为损害了英国的信誉，并令国际投资者感到不安。 中国外交部也呼吁给予“双方均可接受”的补偿，并补充道：“英国如何处理此事将影响中国投资者对英国投资环境的看法”。 商业部表示，补偿条例草案将于“秋季”公布，其中将阐明补偿流程，由独立评估师决定应支付的金额（如果有的话）。
UNITED Utilities 准备顶住 安迪·伯纳姆 的压力，向股东支付巨额股息——新任首相此前谴责此举是私有化水务公司“牟利”的典型例子。 这一举动使这家为英格兰西北部 700 万家庭提供服务的垄断供应商与这位前曼彻斯特市长陷入了冲突。 伯纳姆已誓言要将该行业重新国有化，首先从处于崩溃边缘的 泰晤士水务 开始。水务公司因在河流、海洋和湖泊中进行工业规模的污水排放而受到抨击，与此同时，它们积累了巨额债务，并向股东发放大量股息。
安迪·伯纳姆 (Andy Burnham) 的旗舰项目“北方10号府”正以一个大胆的目标被建立起来，即“监督我国有史以来最大规模的权力再平衡”。但对于这位新任首相将政治权力从威斯敏斯特转移的计划来说，目前可能遭遇一次立即性的挫折：一名顶级大律师现声称，该部门新办公室所在的土地是由曼彻斯特市议会“非法”购买的。
代表房地产大亨奥布里·魏斯 (Aubrey Weis) 的克里斯托弗·奈特 (Christopher Knight) 皇家法律顾问认为，相关官员在 2017 年底以 £42 百万的价格收购该 10.5 英亩的前中央零售园区 (Central Retail Park) 场地租赁权之前，两次违反了法律。
这片位于市中心北缘安科茨 (Ancoats) 的土地目前是一个建筑工地。该场地中仅一半多一点，约 5.5 英亩，将被改造为政府耗资 £2.3 十亿的新“数字校园”，该校园将包含“北方10号府”，并在 2032 年完工时容纳 7,000 名公务员。
但奈特认为，在九年前决定购买该零售园区的租赁权时，该决定违反了管理此类交易的规则。值得注意的是，他的客户此前一直卷入一起针对大曼彻斯特联合管理局 (GMCA) 的独立法律挑战，而该局此前由担任市长的安迪·伯纳姆监督。
在《星期日邮报》看到的一份法律意见书中，奈特表示，GMCA “未能遵守”相关规则，即在向之前的所有者 TH Real Estate 报价之前，必须获得该场地的正式估值报告。
他补充道：“据我了解，这代表了该议会为市中心场地进行的史上最昂贵的土地收购。”
据称，另一个法律违规行为发生在曼彻斯特市议会 (MCC) 的成员在不知情的情况下，由于 MCC 拥有该场地的永久产权，而房地产顾问 Metis 曾提出另一份购买该永久产权的报价。MCC 是组成 GMCA 的十个地方当局之一。
Metis 当时代表的是另一位曼彻斯特房地产大亨达米安·弗鲁德 (Damian Flood)，他经营着开发商 Cole Waterhouse。
在 2017 年 9 月一份向议员提交的、建议收购零售园区租赁权的报告中，
自 1989 年私有化以来，该公司一直向高管支付巨额奖金。上个月在竞选马科菲尔德 (Makerfield) 选区议员期间，安迪·伯纳姆敦促联合水务公司 (United Utilities) 取消一项 £288 百万的款项支付，并将这笔钱用于降低客户账单。
最终股息将于下周一支付。此前，联合水务公司去年的潜在利润飙升 44% 至 £738 百万，而家庭账单（包括安迪·伯纳姆选区居民的账单）平均每年上涨 £86。
安迪·伯纳姆表示，“在这种规模的牟利行为面前，简直没有任何正当理由”。
尴尬境地：安迪·伯纳姆想要作为其北方基地的场地购买行为“违反了规则”。
土地交易 “非法”
没有提及 Metis 的报价。 关于这一点，Knight 表示：“报告中未能引起对 Metis 报价的关注是不合法的，因为这导致市议会在考虑土地收购时，在行使其受托责任时未考虑所有相关因素。”他表示
人们正苦于生活成本危机”，并补充道：“这证实了为什么人们觉得体制在操纵他们。这证明了必要的公共服务回归公共控制的合理性。” 接管泰晤士水务对安迪·伯纳姆来说可能是一个受欢迎的举措，尤其是考虑到他在英格兰西北部核心地带以外的选民中相对不出名。 最近的一项 YouGov 民调发现，超过 80% 的公众支持水务设施国有化。 泰晤士水务目前深陷近 £20 billion 的债务，除非与债权人达成救援协议，否则到今年年底前将耗尽现金，或者它将进入
市议会成员“没有义务”接受 Metis 的报价——但他们“没有机会”考虑该报价。 该律师还指出，一份为市议会编写的报告——由物业顾问 Jonathan Bernstein 于 2017 年 9 月撰写，他是时任曼彻斯特市议会首席执行官 霍华德·伯恩斯坦爵士之子——
发现该零售园区的商业用途价值为 £33 million，住宅用途价值为 £25 million 至 £30 million。 但后来发现，在当地一项拟议的房地产开发计划被搁置后，到 2022 年，该土地的价值已下降至 £27 million，引发了市议会对该地块进行了“巨额
特别管理——一种临时形式的国有化。 由美国对冲基金 Elliott Capital 和 Silver Point 领导的债权人在上周提高了他们对这家英国最大水务公司的资本重组计划，试图在最后时刻阻止其回归公共所有权。 泰晤士水务的最大股东已经将其持股价值减记为零，但债权人可能会坚持要求最高额度的债务偿还——如果他们觉得利益受损，则会诉诸法院。与此同时，部长们面临着解释将如何为回归国家控制提供资金的压力。政府已收到置评请求。
超额支付”地块的指责。Knight 表示：“每当市议会决定支出公共资金时，必须按照其受托责任行事。 ‘在拟议决定是收购一项预计将使市议会花费超过 £42 million 的土地财产权益时，这可能被认为是一项尤为重要的义务。 ‘对于一个地方当局来说，这是一笔巨大的资金，在授权该决定的决策过程中，可以预期会采取极其谨慎的态度。’ 挑战该物业交易的正式截止日期在 6 年后的 2023 年到期。 周五，安迪·伯纳姆在曼彻斯特另一栋政府大楼内设立的 No 10 North 临时基地度过了一天，他表示：“这创造了一种国家更加平衡的感觉，并且在这里可以成就大事。” 但关于该物业的争议威胁到安迪·伯纳姆试图扩大其影响力的尝试。
在整个英国范围内，权力正从威斯敏斯特转移。 出生于英国的 Weis，76岁，拥有一个价值£1 billion的地产帝国，目前定居美国，未能就此发表评论。 关于 No 10 North 场地的指控出现之际，这位大亨正陷入一场针对大曼彻斯特组合当局（GMCA）的法律挑战，指称该机构以优惠利率向另一家开发商 Renaker 提供贷款。 上个月，上诉法院驳回了他关于 Renaker 贷款的指控；然而，他现在正准备向最高法院提出最终挑战。 曼彻斯特市议会的一位发言人表示：“收购前中央零售公园（Central Retail Park）场地，确保了该场地能够与该地区的更广泛再生计划相辅相成。” “我们不同意针对此次收购所提出的观点。” “收购该场地的决定未受到质疑，且价格反映了一个大型零售场地和市中心关键再生机会的价值。” “议会承担的成本是在该成本将通过场地的长期开发得以回收的基础上达成的。” 已联系 GMCA 和唐宁街寻求评论。
唯一的英国竞争马 Kalpana 在击败了一批出色的国际对手后，为练马师安德鲁·鲍尔丁（Andrew Balding）赢得了他在乔治六世与伊丽莎白女王锦标赛（King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes）中首次激动人心的胜利。 自安德鲁已故的父亲伊恩（Ian）在 1971 年凭借传奇的德比冠军 Mill Reef 赢得该项赛事以来，雅士谷（Ascot）的这项一级赛（Group One）标志性赛事一直与鲍尔丁家族紧密相连。 “这是一件大事，因为这是我们一直想赢得的比赛，”显而易见地情绪激动的鲍尔丁说道。在短短两小时内，他接连赢得了三项组别赛冠军——得益于 Moonrise 在稍早的玛格丽特公主锦标赛（Princess Margaret Stakes）中的成功，以及 Item 在约克（York）获得的一级二组赛冠军。 “像这样的比赛定义了一个赛季，也定义了一个职业生涯。我太高兴了。” 在提到其家族在该项赛事中的传承时，鲍尔丁补充道：“我们伴随着它成长。我想该项赛事的首位冠军就是在 Kingsclere [鲍尔丁练马所在地] 训练的，在这么多年后能将其带回这里真是太棒了。” 而骑师科林·基恩（Colin Keane）则表现得较为克制。
主要赛事。左手赛道。场地情况：好至坚硬-部分路段良好。 顶尖骑师：J Hart。顶尖练马师：T Easterby。
新马赛斯赛 (CLASS 4) £10,000 (£5,400) 1英里 1 (1) 72 ALBEMAGIC Steph Hollinshead 3-9-7 ................C Lee 2 (3) 55 FELIZ NAVIDAD D O’Meara 3-9-7 ...................D Nolan 3 (2) 232 ASSET Sir M Prescott 3-9-2 ............................ L Morris 投注：2-5 Asset, 10-3 Albemagic, 13-2 Feliz Navidad。
3.00
新马赛斯赛 (CLASS 4) £11,000 (2岁马) (£5,757) 5分路 1 (5) 5 BOLT OF BLUE E Dunlop 9-7 ..................B Loughnane 2 (6) 63 ONSLAUGHT R & P Fahey 9-7 .....................B Garritty 3 (1) 74 SOLE RULER P Midgley 9-7 ....................P Mulrennan 4 (7) THE MEAN FIDDLER J & S Quinn 9-7 ................J Hart 5 (3) 434 CALEF D O’Meara 9-2 ......................................M Winn 6 (2) 46 NAVAL COP A Balding 9-2 ....................P J McDonald 7 (4) SHAQRA QUEEN K R Burke 9-2 ...........................C Lee 投注：2 The Mean Fiddler, 5-2 Shaqra Queen, 5 Onslaught。
3.30
TREVOR WOODS 纪念让磅赛 (CLASS 5) £8,000 (£4,187) 1英里 1 (1) 243 COOLREE (D5) S England 7-10-1 ............P J McDonald 2 (4) 342 POLYGRAM T Davidson 4-10-0 ........................R Scott 3 (5) 651 MOUNT KING (C&D4) T Easterby 6-9-11 .......D Allan 4 (2) 321 STELLA LUCENTE (D) J Morland 3-9-10 C Rodriguez 5 (3) 646 MASTER OF ENTROPY J & S Quinn 3-9-7 ..........J Hart 6 (6) 744 THE NEW BAY PEARL S Whitaker 4-9-1 .........T Eaves 7 (7) 116 BRADBURY E Bethell 3-9-0 ...................B Loughnane 投注：3 Stella Lucente, 7-2 Mount King, 9-2 Coolree, 5 Polygram。
4.00
WILLIAM HILL POMFRET 锦标赛 (列名赛) (CLASS 1) £60,000 (£33,612) 1英里 1 (6) 258 CERULEAN BAY (BF,D2) D O’Meara 5-9-7 ......D Nolan 2 (2) 202 HOLLOWAY BOY (D2) K R Burke 6-9-7 ...............C Lee 3 (3) 7-94 POINT LYNAS (C&D) E Bethell 7-9-7 .......C Rodriguez 4 (1) 702 CRYSTAL FLYER B Haslam 5-9-2 ....................A Mullen 5 (4) 38-7 MODEL YUKO R Varian 4-9-2 ..................... R Dawson 6 (5) 924 MOSTAR DREAMS (D) A Keatley 5-9-2 O McSweeney 投注：8-11 Holloway Boy, 5-2 Point Lynas, 9-2 Cerulean Bay。
雅士谷 (ASCOT) 草地良好至坚硬 1.10: NEVER ENOUGH (W Buick) 11-8f 1; Izuba 13-2 2; Tumishi 13-2 3。 9 匹参赛。(E Walker)。 1½, ¾。 Tote: £2.38; £1.25, £2.15, £1.85。 Exacta: £12.60。 Trifecta: £39.90。 CSF: £11.09。 1.45: MOONRISE (O Murphy) 11-2 1; Dee’s Funny Girl 9-1 2; Velozee 17-2 3。 11 匹参赛。(A Balding)。 5-2f Dark Issue。 nk, ¾。 Tote: £6.50; £3.15, £1.95, £2.70。 Ex: £44.20。 Tricast: £428.25。 Trifecta: £378.70。 CSF: £53.92。 2.20: KON TIKI (R L Moore) 7-2 1; Esna 40-1 2; Skydance 8-1 3。 8 匹参赛。(J Chapple-Hyam)。 5-6f Touleen。 1¼, 1l。 Tote: £4.95; £1.45, £4.30, £2.05。 Ex: £72.40。 Tricast: £1043.07。 Trifecta: £233.00。 CSF: £129.46。 2.55: AMAZING JOURNEY (S Osborne) 4-1 1; Two Tribes 28-1 2; Aalto 14-1 3; Extremely Zain 3-1f 4。 16 匹参赛。(J Osborne)。 1¼, hd, hd。 Tote: £6.80; £5.90, £2.65, £9.50。 Ex: £146.80。 Tricast: £1562.66。 Trifecta: £1914.90。 CSF: £127.29。 未参赛(NR): Akkadian Thunder。 3.35: KALPANA (C T Keane) 13-2
1; Calandagan 6-5f 2; Benvenuto Cellini 4-1 3。 9 匹参赛。(A Balding)。 1½, ½。 Tote: £7.50; £2.00, £1.15, £1.75。 Ex: £18.00。 Tricast: £35.84。 Trifecta: £62.50。 CSF: £14.69。 4.10: PRIMO LARA (S Osborne) 4-1 1; Masterinthewoods 4-1 2; Oasis Sunrise 40-1 3。 15 匹参赛。(J Chapple-Hyam)。 3-1f Edwin Hubble。 1½, 2¼。 Tote: £5.85; £2.20, £2.25, £9.70。 Ex: £38.60。 Tricast: £606.22。 Trifecta: £975.00。 CSF: £21.36。 4.45: HICKORY (S Osborne) 10-1 1; Crown Board 9-1 2; Spanish Voice 13-2 3。 11 匹参赛。(J Osborne)。 100-30f Blue Rc。 ½, ns。 Tote: £12.85; £3.90, £2.05, £3.20。 Ex: £113.20。 Tricast: £647.70。 Trifecta: £1160.30。 CSF: £98.30。 5.20: ALL WAYS GLAMOROUS (G Mangan) 8-1 1; Getreadytorumble 100-30f 2; Indian Run 13-2 3。 13 匹参赛。(C Mason)。 ½, 1l。 Tote: £10.45; £3.20, £1.65, £2.90。 Ex: £59.70。 Tricast: £171.00。 Trifecta: £330.40。 CSF: £36.72。 未参赛(NR): Desert Cop。 积宝 (Jackpot): £9,081.70，其中 £12,023.69 结转
Placepot: £47.20。 Quadpot: £14.90。
他效仿其父
说道：“我只是为这匹小雌马感到高兴。虽然她已经赢了两场一级赛，但她可能值得赢更多几场，而她今天展现了她真正的水准。 ‘这是一届竞争最激烈的赛事之一，参赛马匹来自全球各地，因此她今天能取得胜利非常特别。’ 在这场由两匹巴利多尔（Ballydoyle）领跑马引导的极快节奏比赛中，米凯尔·巴扎洛纳（Mickael Barzalona）在骑乘卫冕冠军 Calandagan 时采取了耐心的战术，在进入最后两分之一个英里标志点后才尝试追赶 Kalpana。 然而，与 12 个月前不同，这匹 6-5 的热门马未能超越鲍丁的雌马，后者凭借强劲的后劲以一个半马身的优势轻松获胜，而爱尔兰德比冠军 Benvenuto Cellini 获得了值得称赞的第三名。
庞特弗拉克及地区高尔夫俱乐部有限公司 (PONTEFRACT AND DISTRICT GOLF CLUB LTD) 让磅赛 (CLASS 3) £17,000 (£8,762) 1m 2f 1 (1) 144 PERCY’S DAYDREAM (D3) D O’Meara 4-10-0 M Winn 2 (5) 538 WITHOUT COMPROMISE (D3) A Brittain 5-9-10
C Hardie 3 (3) 2-95 POMME POMME (D4) J Channon 4-9-9 R Dawes (5) 4 (2) 912 JEZ BOMB (C,D) S England 5-9-6.....................R Scott 5 (4) 317 MOONJID (D) M Appleby 4-9-4 ...............S De Sousa 投注赔率：11-8 Jez Bomb, 7-2 Percy’s Daydream, 4 Moonjid. 5.00
电视：RTV
让磅赛 (CLASS 6) £6,500 (£3,402) 6f 1 (9) 555 STARSONG (D6) M Appleby 7-9-9 ............. R Dawson 2 (11) 702 BULLINGTON BRY J Macey 4-9-8 ..............L Edmunds 3 (1) 745 RAIN CAP (BF,C&D) J Riches 9-9-8 ...........S B Kirrane 4 (10) 009 GO VICTOR (D) T Culhane & S Barclay 3-9-8
P Mulrennan 5 (3) 338 ELDEYAAR (BF,D7) A Brittain 7-9-7................C Hardie 6 (4) 605 MISS MAGIC DRAGON (D) D Donovan 3-9-5 ....C Lee 7 (8) 215 BATTENBURG BELLE (D) R Menzies 3-9-4 ........J Hart 8 (2) 959 SUMMER RAIN C Lidster 4-9-3 .......................D Allan 9 (7) 034 MY BOY JACK (D3) K Frost 7-9-3 ............M Paetel (5) 10 (5) 8-00 COILED M Rimell 4-9-3 ...............................S De Sousa 11 (6) 838 POWER OF CHORA (BF) J Ramsden 3-9-2
T Langley (5) 投注赔率：3 Rain Cap, 9-2 Battenburg Belle, 5 Bullington Bry, 11-2 Starsong, 6 Eldeyaar, 8 Power Of Chora, 12 Miss Magic Dragon. 5.30
莎拉·古斯特森纪念赛 (SARAH GUSTERSON MEMORIAL) 让磅赛 (CLASS 4) £10,000 (£5,234)
6f 1 (5) 131 TRILBY (D3) S England 6-10-0 ..............P J McDonald 2 (3) 834 BELL SHOT (D2) M Appleby 7-9-10 Mason Paetel (5) 3 (4) 5-38 GOYARD (BF,D) D O’Meara 4-9-10 .................D Nolan 4 (1) 441 THE GOOD BISCUIT (C&D) R Carr 5-9-7 ............J Hart 5 (2) 161 IRIS DANCER (D14) T Davidson 8-8-10 ............R Scott 投注赔率：5-2 Trilby, 11-4 The Good Biscuit, 10-3 Iris Dancer.
劳里·布兰南今日推介 (LAURIE BRANNAN WITH TODAY’S TIPS) 庞特弗拉克 (PONTEFRACT) ....................................................................Holloway Boy (4.00) 厄托克塞特 (UTTOXETER) ...................................................................................Ice Jet (312)
Cool Molly 3-1jt-f 3. 8 跑 (J Candlish)。3-1jt-f Highland Olly。 1¾, 4l。Tote: £11.00; £3.10, £1.60, £1.20。Ex: £51.10。Tricast: £133.68。Trifecta: £194.40。CSF: £45.32。 3.10: VELOCIRAPTOR (D Probert) 8-11f 1; Storm Blade 13-8 2; Sea Idol 8-1 3. 6 跑 (H Palmer)。1l, 3¼。Tote: £1.73; £1.30, £1.10。 Ex: £2.00。Trifecta: £4.10。CSF: £2.18。 3.48: CALICO BLUE (R Dawson) 4-6f 1; Tricky Tel 10-1 2; Postmodern 11-2 3. 7 跑 (R Varian)。1½, nk。Tote: £1.67; £1.20, £2.80。Ex: £6.50。Trifecta: £31.50。CSF: £8.85。 4.23: ACES WILD (Taryn Langley) 20-1 1; Spendmore Lane 33-1 2; Secret Mistral 10-1 3. 11 跑 (A Wintle)。11 4f Al Hussar。 1l, hd。Tote: £21.90; £4.50, £7.70, £2.70。Ex: £445.10。Tricast: £6814.80。Trifecta: £1686.70。CSF: £543.02。NR: True Promise。 4.58: PARLANDO (R Kavanagh) 13-2 1; Secret Beach 15-2 2; Break The Bank 11-4 3. 7 跑 (I Williams)。7 4f Seven Sisters。 ½, ½。Tote: £8.00; £3.20, £3.00。Ex: £50.10。Trifecta: £130.90。 CSF: £52.87。 5.33: MAHARAJAS EXPRESS (D Probert) 8-1 1; Over Spiced 22-1 2; Harry Mole 9-2 3. 11 跑 (I Williams)。7-2f Keldeo。nk, nk。 Tote: £11.80; £2.80, £3.80, £1.80。Ex: £131.10。Tricast: £916.75。 Trifecta: £1139.60。CSF: £171.79。NR: Guernsey Lady。Placepot: £529.80。Quadpot: £135.80。
GOWRAN PARK 好地况 1.40: SWORD OF STATE (R P Cleary) 18-1 1; Seaxburh 5 4f 2; Why Oh Why 16-1 3. 10 跑 (B Duke)。1¼, 3l。Tote: €24.90; €4.50, €1.02, €4.30。Exacta: €50.00。Trifecta: €812.30。CSF: €42.69。NR: Summer Sent You。 2.12: HERO OF THE HOUR (J M Sheridan) 11-4 1; Liamo 5-2f 2; Dawn Flame 4-1 3. 14 跑 (W Delahunty)。¾, ½。Tote: €4.30; €1.60, €1.20, €1.60。Ex: €12.30。Tricast: €30.37。 Trifecta: €59.70。CSF: €10.79。NRs: Heart Of Eternity, Pocket Jacks。 2.44: DYNAMIC FORCE (R Holohan) 6-1 1; The Blue Panther 12-1 2; Eichan San 9-1 3; Leannespour 33-1 4. f16 跑 (T G McCourt)。7-2f Sands Castle。hd, 1½, ½。Tote: €7.90; €1.90, €2.90, €2.60, €7.60。Ex: €85.60。Tricast: €703.99。Trifecta: €448.10。CSF: €81.37。 3.22: NIL BUA GAN DUA (D Browne McMonagle) 5-1 1; Vauntingly 9-1 2; Believed 6-5f 3. 7 跑 (J P O’Brien)。shd, ½。 Tote: €6.20; €2.10, €3.70。Ex: €47.80。Trifecta: €129.90。CSF: €49.41。NR: Shosholoza。
尽管对他的 阉马的失败感到失望，但 Calandagan 的 练马师 Francis-Henri Graffard 对 表现感到满意。 “本赛季不像去年那样 顺利，”Graffard 说道。 “Epsom [Calandagan 在加冕杯中获得第四名] 是一场灾难，然后是 Saint-Cloud， 他在那里赢得了一场精彩的比赛，但他们 更改了比赛日期， 这与本次比赛的时间非常接近。 “所以，我没有足够的时间让他 为今天的比赛恢复最佳状态，而且， 法国现在处于热浪中——这 耗费了马匹大量的能量。 所以考虑到所有这些因素，他依然 跑出了一场非常出色的比赛。” 名师 Aidan O’Brien 也对 Benvenuto Cellini 的表现感到满意， 后者很好地完成了 1m 4f 的路程。 他说：“我对 Benvenuto Cellini 非常满意。他跑出了一场很棒的
L-H 赛道。地况：Good。顶级骑师：S Bowen。 顶级练马师：O Murphy。
QUINNBET 每日免费投注 青少年 HDL (4级) £10,000 (3岁马) (£5,446)
2m 1 1 VIETNORM A Keatley 11-7 .......................... D McMenamin 2 AL ZA’AMA D McCain 11-0 .....................................T Gillard 3 3 HELLO GARDA J J Hanlon (IRE) 11-0 .............P Hanlon (5) 4 R KEEP UNDER WRAPS O Greenall & J Guerriero 11-0
J Tudor 5 NICOLAI N Mulholland 11-0 ...............................C O’Farrell 6 SALKADAN D Skelton 11-0 ...................................H Skelton 7 2 US OFFICER T Dascombe 11-0 ............................B J Powell 8 ZOOTER Jack Jones 11-0 .........................................S Bowen 9 ADBA Faye Bramley 10-7 .....................................H Kimber 投注：5-2 Vietnorm, 9-2 Keep Under Wraps, 5 Salkadan, 6 Us Officer, 8 Zooter, 10 Adba, 12 Al Za’ama, Nicolai, 20 Hello Garda。 2.42
ROYS ICES MARES’ HANDICAP HURDLE (第 5 级) £7,000 (£3,697) 2英里 1 0-PP MISS OREO J J Hanlon (IRE) 8-12-0 ..............P Hanlon (5) 2 1-8P MIRACLES DO HAPPEN (D) B Aprahamian 5-11-11
J Bowen 3 682 NO RISK TODAY F O’Brien 6-11-5 ...........................J Hogan 4 114 PRETTYLADY (D2) O Greenall & J Guerriero 4-11-3
J Tudor 5 3-72 CULLIGRAN (D) D J Jeffreys 7-11-3 ........................K Woods 6 664 CURIOUS MRS FOX D Thompson 5-10-13 .........................
....................................................................J Thompson (5) 7 141 LADY FORTUNE (C&D) F Brennan 6-10-13 I Ryder (5) 8 06-6 DOTTIES PROMISE (D) S Corbett 6-10-12 .........N Moscrop 9 922 NORTHERN ROSE G Hanmer 6-10-9 ................J M Davies 10 4P5 JUKEBOX ANNIE (D) C Hitch 7-10-6 ..................B Godfrey 11 756 MYFAVOURITESISTER P Neville 7-10-3 ...............B Hughes 12 P57 GRANNY B M Mullineaux 6-10-2 ........................K Brogan 投注：9-4 Lady Fortune, 6 Northern Rose, 7 Myfavouritesister, No Risk Today, Prettylady, 10 Culligran, 12 Curious Mrs Fox。
Totescoop6 冠军：未中奖 £54,731 累积奖金。位置：£4,686。 红利：£25,358。
3.55: DUCHESS OF KENLI (J M Sheridan) 7-1 1; 佩戴星形装备 11-4 2; Serendipia 20-1 3. 1 3. 13 匹参赛 (J P O’Brien)。13-8f Vishaya。 1¼, 2l。Tote: €8.10; €2.50, €1.30, €5.30。Ex: €31.40。三连单： €360.00。CSF: €27.38。 4.30: HAMBELTON (L T McAteer) 6-5f 1; No More Porter 9-1 2; Zaraahmando 6-1 3. 1 3. 9 匹参赛 (D Marnane)。½, ½。Tote: €2.20; €1.10, €2.20, €1.80。Ex: €14.80。三连播：€51.06。三连单： €70.70。CSF: €13.82。 5.05: HEXAGONAL (R Holohan) 10-1 1; Duchess Anne 9-2 2; Master Garvey 6-1 3. 1 3. 13 匹参赛 (D Hogan)。7-2f Yquem。2¼, 2l。Tote: €14.60; €3.70, €2.40, €105.40。Ex: €105.40。三连播： €310.89。三连单：€830.40。CSF: €57.86。NR: My Vonnie。 5.40: SUMMER IS TOMORROW (D Browne McMonagle) 3-10f 1; Hollys Graces 20-1 2; Benevento 11-1 3. 1 3. 7 匹参赛 (J P O’Brien)。6½, ½。Tote: €1.30; €1.10, €7.90。Ex: €11.60。三连单： €34.90。CSF: €10.07。NR: Ask Me Again。Placepot: €347.60。
LINGFIELD 良好至坚实 5.27: SIXTY PLUS (R Havlin) 1-3f 1; Panthere Noir 9-2 2; Mick The Hat 8-1 3. 1 3. 4 匹参赛 (James Owen)。6l, 3¾。Tote: £1.34; Exacta: £2.10。三连单：£3.60。CSF: £2.19。 6.00: HAVEAGOBEAU (Olivia Haines) 9-2 1; Celtic Spirit 9-2 2; Homeland 11-10f 3. 3. 6 匹参赛 (J Boyle)。1¼, nk。Tote: £5.50; £1.60, £2.30。Ex: £22.90。三连单：£25.00。CSF: £24.66。NR: Mix De Gris。 6.30: SPIRIT OF LYRA (N Callan) 6-5f 1; Summer Triangle 7-4 2; Fortunate 28-1 3. 2 3. 7 匹参赛 (W Knight)。3½, 4l。Tote: £2.20; £1.40, £1.40。Ex: £3.90。三连单：£33.80。CSF: £3.50。NRs: Rocsane, Yankeedoodledandy。 7.00: IT DUNT MARRA (S Donohoe) 6-5f 1; Catching Dreams 3-1 2; Desert Legend 9-2 3. 7 匹参赛 (Ollie Sangster)。½, 1¾。Tote: £2.20; £1.30, £1.90。Ex: £5.90。三连单：£19.00。CSF: £4.73。 7.30: DUSKAURA (K Fox) 9-1 1; The Feminine Urge 16-1 2; Dark Sun 13-2 3. 7 匹参赛 (A Carroll)。5-2f Be An Angel。nk, nk。 Tote: £10.00; £4.00, £4.50。Ex: £90.80。三连单：£423.50。CSF: £133.58。 8.00: DEBRIEF (P-L Jamin) 11-4 1; Adalida 11-2 2; Goldwork 3-1 3. 3. 5 匹参赛 (Harry Eustace)。2-1f Espona Bay。3¼, nk。Tote: £3.75; £1.50, £12.50。Ex: £12.50。三连单：£57.90。CSF: £17.23。
这场比赛。这是他第一次与年长马匹竞争，我们对他有了很多了解。 “我们了解到他能很好地应对一英里半的距离，在你看到他面对年长马匹完成比赛之前，你无法确定这一点。即使是在冲线时，他看起来也没有精疲力竭。” “我认为我们可以考虑参加 育马者杯 (Breeders’ Cup)。” 不幸的是，日本竞争者 Masquerade Ball 和 Wurttemberg 的表现几乎没有亮点，分别仅获得第七名和第九名。 在伯克郡一个阳光明媚的下午，离开这里的大赛，Saffie Osborne 骑乘三场比赛取得了惊艳的 274-1 连胜，分别骑乘 Amazing Journey 和 Hickory 为她的父亲 Jamie 赢得了卓越的胜利，并骑乘 Primo Lara 为练马师 Jane Chapple-Hyam 赢得了胜利。 “我热爱 皇家上升赛马场 (Ascot)，这里一直给我带来好运，除了
障碍赛让磅赛 (CLASS 4) £8,700 (£4,594) 2英里 1 4U4 WAR CORRESPONDENT (D2) J J Hanlon (IRE) 7-12-0
P Hanlon (5) 2 112 ICE JET (BF) D Skelton 4-11-9 ...............................H Skelton 3 310- BRIGHT LEGEND F Bramley 6-11-7....................J O’Neill (7) 4 9F-4 ROMANY BROWN B Case 6-11-6 ......................C Gethings 5 2-10 KING SACRE (D) N Hawke 6-11-4 ......................J M Davies 6 3-41 DROMBEG LAD (D) A Hales 6-11-4 ......................K Woods 7 513 EMERALD TIME (D) D Elsworth & R Hatch 5-10-13
T Bellamy 8 4-F7 DIESEL LINE (C&D2) C & A Pogson 8-10-3 ...........S Bowen 投注：2 Ice Jet, 11-4 Drombeg Lad, 6 Bright Legend, 7 Emerald Time, 8 King Sacre, 12 Diesel Line, 16 War Correspondent. 3.42
电视：SKY
追逐赛让磅赛 (CLASS 2) £22,600 (£11,759) 3英里 1 51-3 SURE TOUCH (C) O Murphy 10-12-0 ............ T Hutsby (10) 2 433 SONY BILL F Bramley 5-11-11 ................................H Cobden 3 241 GRAND CLERMONT (C&D) D Pipe 10-11-9 R Corcoran (5) 4 131 SUNRAY SHADOW (C&D) D Skelton 7-11-8 .......H Skelton 5 151 BAGHEERA GINGE N & W Twiston-Davies 8-11-6
S Twiston-Davies 6 395 HOLD YOUR FORT (D5) D Hamer 10-11-5 .......... T Bellamy 7 211 IMPERIAL ALEX (C&D2) T Lacey 9-11-5 ............S Sheppard 8 357 STANS THE MAN (D) E Pickard 9-10-13..............B Godfrey 9 121 THE FLYING POET (D3) O Murphy 7-10-5 .............S Bowen 投注：3 Sunray Shadow, 7-2 Grand Clermont, 4 Bagheera Ginge, 6 Imperial Alex, 8 The Flying Poet, 10 Sure Touch, 12 Sony Bill. 4.12
障碍赛让磅赛 (CLASS 2) £18,600 (£9,823) 2英里 7f 1 00-7 ZILLOW F Bramley 6-12-0 ....................................H Cobden 2 1/63 SHALLOW RIVER (D) O Murphy 10-11-11 ..............S Bowen 3 7-69 ROGER POL (C&D2) J Snowden 8-11-9 ..............I Ryder (5) 4 131 KARNAVAL POINT (C,D) D Pipe 6-11-4 .......R Corcoran (5) 5 14-2 PADDY DE POLE P Nicholls 8-11-1 ..........................F Gingell 6 427 PIKE ROAD (BF,C&D) M Keighley 7-10-11 ....F Keighley (5) 7 122 TYSON (BF) D Skelton 6-10-11 .............................H Skelton 8 611 DIVILABOTHER (D) T Davidson 8-10-10 ................. H Reed 9 P-31 IDAHO FIRE J Owen 5-10-8 ....................................J J Burke 投注：3 Idaho Fire, 4 Karnaval Point, 9-2 Divilabother, 6 Tyson, 8 Paddy De Pole, Shallow River, 12 Pike Road, 16 Zillow, Roger Pol.
纽卡斯尔 (NEWCASTLE) 标准速度慢
1.35: BEARWITH (T Kiely-Marshall) 7-2jt-f 1; Sweet Kiss 10-1 2; Token Love 7-2jt-f 3. 13 匹参赛. (H Bethell). 3¼, 2¼. Tote: £5.40; £2.00, £3.00, £1.80. Exacta: £56.00. Tricast: £138.81. Trifecta: £470.60. CSF: £42.72.
2.05: GLORY ROAD (B Loughnane) 6-4f 1; Ruby Wedding 4-1 2; Eniac 14-1 3. 13 匹参赛. (R Beckett). ¾, nk. Tote: £2.50; £1.20, £1.90, £4.80. Ex: £9.90. Tricast: £67.45. Trifecta: £80.10. CSF: £7.70.
2.39: ASANDER (B Garritty) 50-1 1; Mirzimaan 7-4f 2; Mollisha 16-1 3. 14 匹参赛. (M & D Easterby). shd, ½. Tote: £105.80; £14.00, £1.40, £5.60. Ex: £381.70. Trifecta: £5419.50. CSF: £142.65.
3.15: VICTORY ACE (MP Sheehy) 14-1 1; Zatsgood 3-1f 2; On The River 33-1 3. 14 匹参赛. (J Butler). hd, nk. Tote: £19.20; £6.70, £4.90, £1.80. Ex: £94.60. Tricast: £1451.57. Trifecta: £2088.90. CSF: £59.20.
4.00: FANTASTIC FOX (J Mitchell) 100-30 1; Mr Mistoffelees 9-1 2; Chuzzlewit 11-1 3. 12 匹参赛. (R Varian). 11 4f Fight Your Corner. 2l, shd. Tote: £4.40; £1.80, £2.50, £3.20. Ex: £31.90. Tricast: £314.33. Trifecta: £242.80. CSF: £33.09. NRs: Freddie Steady Go, Walsingham.
4.35: DEFENCE MISSILE (P Bradley) 22-1 1; Mercurius Power 13-2 2; Pebble Dash 14-1 3. 12 匹参赛. (Miss L Perratt). 6 4f Adelaide Bay. ½, shd. Tote: £36.60; £7.20, £2.70, £4.50. Ex: £310.90. Tricast: £2137.10. Trifecta: £4616.00. CSF: £160.76.
5.10: TOO MUCH (C Hutchinson) 7-2 1; Ellie’s De Vega 5-2f 2; Let’s Go Hugo 5-1 3. 10 匹参赛. (D Thompson). 2½, nk. Tricast: £44.70. CSF: £12.94.
5.45: TRAIS FLUORS (P Bradley) 11-1 1; Timebar 10-1 2; I Can Boogy 7-2 3. 13 匹参赛. (Miss L Perratt). 100-30f Sassy Glory. 1¼, 1¾. Tote: £17.80; £4.10, £3.70, £1.70. Ex: £171.60. Trifecta: £1421.40. CSF: £118.17. NR: Eva The Deeva. Placepot: £279.70. Quadpot: £105.50.
DOUBLE ACT：Kalpana 和 Keane
“皇家会议，”这位兴奋的骑手热情地说道，“三匹马都有机会，但如果认为它们都能赢，那就有点太冒险了。这非常特别。” Chapple-Hyam 本人在昨天的赛道上获得了两场胜利，由 Ryan Moore 骑乘的 Kon Tiki 令人印象地赢得了 Group Three 的 Valiant Stakes，随后 Primo Lara 也获得了胜利。
障碍赛 (第 4 级) £10,000 (£5,281) 2m 4f 1 163- PALAMON (BF,D) D Skelton 6-12-1 .........................C J Todd 2 4-41 COUNTRY PARK (D) J & A O’Neill 7-11-12 ..........J O’Neill Jr 3 133 GATEAU DE MIEL F O’Brien 10-11-6 .........T Broughton (3) 4 713 LAKEFIELD FLYER (BF) J J Hanlon (IRE) 8-11-4 P Hanlon (5) 5 165 BELLE LE GRAND D Skelton 7-11-3 .........................T Durrell 6 3/04 RAS KASSAR (D) D Pipe 7-11-2......................R Corcoran (5) 7 222- AT THE OCHE (BF) D Skelton 5-11-2 .....................H Skelton 8 P-UU BUDDAH CASTLE (D) P Neville 6-11-2 .................B Hughes 9 7-U8 HUDSON M Bowen 5-10-13 ...................................J Bowen 10 655 A DUBLIN JOB (D2) S-J Davies 9-10-10 C Johnstone-Baker (7) 投注：3 At The Oche, Country Park, 6 Palamon, 7 Lakefield Flyer, 8 Ras Kassar, Gateau De Miel, 10 Belle Le Grand, 14 Hudson. 5.12
QUINNBET 障碍赛 (第 1 分组) (第 5 级) £7,000 (£3,697) 2m 4f 1 1-3F IAMYOUARE (BF,D) D McCain 6-12-0 ...................T Gillard 2 P-24 PURPLE OWL (BF) D Pipe 6-12-0 ..............................J Tudor 3 3-27 ROYAL ROCKET E Lavelle 5-11-12 ..........................H Cobden 4 124 JAFIMGOSO (BF) D Skelton 7-11-10 .....................H Skelton 5 536 PURE LOGIC J J Hanlon (IRE) 6-11-8 ..............P Hanlon (5) 6 840 BENY NAHAR ROAD H Hogarth 7-11-7 .............J Hamilton 7 008- CRAFTY GAEL O Murphy 7-11-0 .............................S Bowen 8 9-07 LUMINARIES (D3) E Whillans 9-10-2 ..................S Quinlan 9 5-P5 WARNER’S CROSS S Leech 9-10-2 ........................... H Reed 10 0/07- ILLICO DE MONTAVE R Gasson 8-10-2 ....................B Poste 投注：11-4 Purple Owl, 4 Jafimgoso, Crafty Gael, 9-2 Royal Rocket, 6 Iamyouare, 12 Pure Logic, 20 Beny Nahar Road, 33 Warner’s Cross. 5.42
QUINNBET 障碍赛让分赛 (DIV 2) (CLASS 5) £7,000 (£3,697) 2英里4分之1英里 1 F-73 UHTRED RAGNARSON A King 5-12-0 ................ T Bellamy 2 1-23 FISKARDO (BF) M Bowen 6-11-13 ..................S Fenelon (5) 3 3-1B OCTOBER HILL (D) D Pipe 6-11-12 ................R Corcoran (5) 4 44P TOMMY CULLEN M Crawley 8-11-11 .................... J Quinlan 5 884 SONYOURASTAR (BF) O Murphy 6-11-8...............S Bowen 6 4-63 THE SECRET PEARL A Hales 7-11-7 ........................K Woods 7 776- ASHDOWN FOREST (BF) D Skelton 4-10-7 ........H Skelton 8 6-7P PAPILLONDELUMIERE J R Barlow 8-10-2 E Callwood (7) 9 964 MC’FLO A Carson 5-10-2 ......................................B J Powell 投注赔率：3 Uhtred Ragnarson, 7-2 Fiskardo, 4 Sonyourastar, 5 Ashdown Forest, 7 October Hill, 10 The Secret Pearl.
7.15: RED SNAPPER (骑师 Charlie Tucker) 16-1 冠军; Thunderous Love 15-2 亚军; Liosa 11-2 季军。10 匹参赛。(裁判 Kathy Turner)。7 4f Maid In Devon。差距 1马身, ½马身。全票投注 (Tote): £17.00; £3.40, £2.30, £2.00。 exacta: £144.60。三连播 (Tricast): £759.33。三连单 (Trifecta): £882.30。CSF: £134.44。
7.45: SUDBURY HILL (骑师 C Rodriguez) 9-2 冠军; Double Red 9-4 亚军; Orchard 17-2 季军。4 匹参赛。(裁判 Harry Derham)。平手赔率f Queen’s Companion。差距 颈差, 3¼马身。全票投注 (Tote): £5.70; exacta: £12.80。三连单 (Trifecta): £32.60。CSF: £14.59。
约克 (YORK) 场地状况：部分良好至坚硬 1.30: KODIAC THRILLER (骑师 J Hamilton) 17-2 冠军; Sports Coach 9-2 亚军; Managing Director 6-1 季军; Ventura Express 14-1 第四。17 匹参赛。(裁判 M Walford)。3-1f Lethal Nymph。差距 ½, ½, 肩宽。全票投注 (Tote): £10.40; £2.60, £2.00, £1.80, £3.50。 exacta: £75.70。三连播 (Tricast): £276.57。三连单 (Trifecta): £886.10。CSF: £49.77。
2.00: STRATUSNINE (骑师 James Doyle) 100-30f 冠军; Coul Angel 33-1 亚军; Air Force One 9-1 季军; Veblen Good 18-1 第四。21 匹参赛。(裁判 H Palmer)。差距 ½, 颈差, 颈差。全票投注 (Tote): £4.34; £1.70, £9.80, £2.10, £5.20。 exacta: £263.60。三连播 (Tricast): £1017.19。三连单 (Trifecta): £3361.60。CSF: £136.05。未参赛 (NR): Fivethousandtoone。
2.35: ITEM (骑师 R Hornby) 3-1 冠军; Pride Of Arras 9-1 亚军; Damysus 5-4f 季军。5 匹参赛。(裁判 A Balding)。差距 2¾, ½。全票投注 (Tote): £4.00; £1.80, £3.50。 exacta: £22.10。三连单 (Trifecta): £57.20。CSF: £25.54。
3.05: DWINDLING FUNDS (骑师 P Mulrennan) 5-1 冠军; Final Night 10-1 亚军; Barley 25-1 季军。15 匹参赛。(裁判 J Goldie)。4-1f Son。差距 ¾, 肩宽。全票投注 (Tote): £6.00; £2.00, £3.80, £7.40。 exacta: £78.00。三连播 (Tricast): £1207.54。三连单 (Trifecta): £1439.00。CSF: £54.40。未参赛 (NRs): Barry’s Boy, Paladin。
3.42: ROGUE JEWEL (骑师 D Tudhope) 11-1 冠军; Gladys Pugh 16-1 亚军; Nour 100-30 季军。6 匹参赛。(裁判 E Bethell)。5-2f Desert Smoke。差距 肩宽, 颈差。全票投注 (Tote): £12.00; £3.40, £4.30。 exacta: £92.20。三连单 (Trifecta): £341.60。CSF: £146.02。
4.17: LIKEALOT (骑师 Rossa Ryan) 100-30f 冠军; Tycoon 6-1 亚军; Wahdan 11-1 季军。10 匹参赛。(裁判 R Beckett)。差距 7½, 3½。全票投注 (Tote): £4.34; £1.60, £2.40, £3.70。 exacta: £22.70。三连播 (Tricast): £198.69。三连单 (Trifecta): £185.10。CSF: £23.49。
4.52: FLIGHT CONTROL (骑师 Rossa Ryan) 7-2 冠军; Mr Noble 7-2 亚军; Toastmaster 5-1 季军。12 匹参赛。(裁判 K Frost)。100-30f Return Of The Gods。差距 头差, 3¾。全票投注 (Tote): £4.50; £1.60, £2.00, £1.90。 exacta: £21.90。三连播 (Tricast): £65.03。三连单 (Trifecta): £89.00。CSF: £16.52。未参赛 (NRs): Dacres Cross, Keep An Eye On It, Zarvali。地方波底 (Placepot): £4,636.80。四连波底 (Quadpot): £399.70。
布达佩斯
在一阵巨大的欢呼声后，刘易斯·汉密尔顿（Lewis Hamilton）无奈地摇了摇头。从一度极有可能获得杆位，到几个小时后被降级至发车格后方，他在匈牙利的世界冠军希望受到了冲击。
然而，情况并不像最初看起来那样糟糕，因为在排位赛结束很久之后，赛会干事介入并再次调整了车阵。
对汉密尔顿的第一击是兰多·诺里斯（Lando Norris）在最后时刻通过偷袭夺走了他的杆位。第二击则发生在赛会干事室，汉密尔顿因无意中阻挡了迈凯伦车队的奥斯卡·皮亚斯特里（Oscar Piastri）而不可避免地受到处罚。
汉密尔顿从发车格第二位被降至第五位。排在第四位的积分榜领先者基米·安东内利（Kimi Antonelli）被提升至第三位。这种情况维持了大约一小时。在经历了10轮比赛后，汉密尔顿落后于这位意大利人 45 分，形势似乎对他不利。
但局面随后发生了反转，由于马克斯·维斯塔潘（Max Verstappen）驾驶的红牛赛车打转引发黄旗，安东内利因未能减速而被扣掉三个位置。因此，这位意大利人将从第七位起跑。
尽管如此，这依然是“运气不佳的刘易斯”。他的法拉利车队未能提醒他皮亚斯特里正迅速从后方逼近，这让他失望不已；现在，他必须全力以赴，才能争取到原本在第二起跑位时看来志在必得的高额积分。
在遭遇挫折之前，从汉密尔顿驶入封闭公园（parc ferme）并停在标有 No 1 的标记牌旁来看，他似乎认为自己拿到了杆位。
当时诺里斯仍在赛道上，正通过流畅的冲击争夺顶端，而这个机会得益于汉密尔顿在第一次尝试后未能提升成绩，尽管那次尝试暂时让他处于领先地位。
除了诺里斯以 0.012秒之差险胜汉密尔顿外，几乎没有车手在最后阶段能挖掘出额外的速度。随后，No 1 标记牌被移至这位世界冠军的迈凯伦赛车前方，No 2 则被放置在红色赛车旁。
随后，汉密尔顿在当地时间下午 6pm 被传唤至赛会干事处，这是后续所有事情的序幕。
“整个周末我们的表现都非常出色，”汉密尔ตัน说道。在紧接着的采访中，由于被即将到来的处罚所分心，他并没有表现出太多的喜悦。“我觉得整个排位赛过程很稳健，但出于某种原因，我们第一个出赛，我认为这并不是正确的决定。出于某种原因，当时抓地力不足。”
体育简讯
英联邦运动会
游泳 —— 男子 50米 仰泳决赛：1 P Coetze (南非) 24.18s, 2 O Morgan (英格兰) 24.48, 3 R van Renen (南非) 24.51.
自行车
环法赛 —— 第 20 赛段 (Le Bourg d’Oisans - Alpe d’Huez, 171.0km)：1 R Carapaz (厄瓜多尔) EF Education-EasyPost 4小时 59分 39秒, 2 R Evenepoel (比利时) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe +26s, 3 S Kuss (美国) Team Visma | Lease a Bike +31, 16 T Pidcock (英国) Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team +9:03. 总成绩：1 T Pogacar (斯洛文尼亚) UAE Team Emirates-XRG 72小时 53分 22秒, 2 R Evenepoel (比利时) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 06:26, 3 I del Toro (墨西哥) UAE Team Emirates-XRG +9:42, 9 T Pidcock (英国) Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team +29:28, 21 A Yates (英国) UAE Team Emirates-XRG +1:51:59.
足球
巴罗 2 布莱克浦 0；巴斯城 2 纽波特 2；博尔顿 0 埃弗顿 0； 波士顿联 1 彼得堡 0；布罗姆利 3 水晶宫 0；凯尔特人 2 AC米兰 2；乔利 0 阿克灵顿斯坦利 3；克鲁 1 伯明翰 2；东莱利 0 克劳利镇 1；波尔图 L 阿斯顿维拉 L；森林 绿 1 加迪夫 5；盖恩斯堡特林尼蒂 0 唐卡斯特 0；盖茨黑德 1 纽卡斯尔 1；哈罗盖特镇 2 唐卡斯特 2；哈特尔普尔 0 格里姆斯比 3；科尼亚体育 0 赫尔 3；卢顿 2 阿尔库卢德 0；马拉加 L 莱斯特 L；马林 3 普雷斯顿北端 0；波特维尔 L 穆尔西亚 L；QPR 3 佛罗伦萨 2；罗瑟勒姆 0 谢菲尔德联 2；索尔福德城 3 邓迪联 2；斯卡伯勒竞技 0 巴恩斯利 2；什鲁斯伯里 1 西布罗姆威治 4；绍森德 1 莱顿东方 1；斯蒂夫尼奇 1 米尔沃尔 0；斯特拉斯堡 L 布莱克本 L；斯温登 1 布里斯托尔城 3；特鲁罗城 0 普利茅斯 1；沃特福德 3 汉莎罗斯托克 0；维尔登斯通 2 米尔顿凯恩斯 0；韦斯顿-超级马雷 0 埃克塞特 2；沃金 0 雷丁 2；狼队 L 皇家 社会 L；威科姆 3 约维尔 2；威科姆 XI 3 朴茨茅斯 1。 高尔夫
对汉密尔顿来说，另一个额外的好处是，银箭车队已成为了他们曾经主导地位的影子。相反，汉密尔顿的队友夏尔·勒克莱尔速度排名第三，随后被提升至第二，最终比皮亚斯特里领先一个位置。 开第二辆梅赛德斯赛车的乔治·罗素仅排名第七。他在进入维修站的途中不得不放弃赛车，一次漏水故障引发了他最近的一波厄运。他将在今天下午的比赛中更换一台新发动机。 经过这一系列波折，罗素将从第六位起跑。
Kelly (US) 66 68 68; C Percy (Aus) 63 68 71; 205 — P Baker 69 69 67; 206 — D Fichardt (SA) 70 68 68; 207 — E Els (SA) 65 71 71; P Perez (US) 65 75 67; M Brier (Aut) 67 69 71;. ISPS HANDA 女性苏格兰公开赛（邓多纳尔林克斯，盖尔斯，艾尔郡）— 第3轮（除非另有说明，均为英国和爱尔兰球员，标准杆 72）： 204 — J Shin (Kor) 66 67 71; 209 — P Anannarukarn (Tha) 71 69 69; 211 — E Henseleit (Ger) 70 68 73; E Hara (Jpn) 70 70 71; 213 — A-Lim Kim (Kor) 67 72 74; 214 — M Yamashita (Jpn) 70 74 70; L Coughlin (US) 66 74 74; 216 — A Yang (Kor) 76 69 71; R Zhang (US) 73 72 71; R O’Toole (US) 73 72 71. 联盟橄榄球
BETFRED 超级联赛 利伊 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 沃灵顿 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 T: Armstrong, Lam, Senior T: Sipley Ofahengaue, Hanley Hopoate G: Cook 4 G: Irwin 2 图卢兹 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .L 卡塔隆巨龙 . . . . . . . . . . .L
约克 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 哈德斯菲尔德 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 T: Nofoaluma, Galeano T: Jagger, Lolohea Thompson, Inman Wrench, Woolford G: Bennison 3 G: Flanagan 4
大奖赛
发车格位置 1 兰多·诺里斯 (Lando Norris) 1分 17.207秒 2 刘易斯·汉密尔顿 (Lewis Hamilton) * +0.012 3 夏尔·勒克莱尔 (Charles Leclerc) +0.238 4 基米·安东内利 (Kimi Antonelli) ** +0.272 5 奥斯卡·皮亚斯特里 (Oscar Piastri) +0.477 6 马克斯·凡斯塔潘 (Max Verstappen) +0.518
车手年度冠军争夺战 1 K 安东内利 (K Antonelli) (梅赛德斯) 204分 2 L 汉密尔顿 (L Hamilton) (法拉利) 159分 3 G 拉塞尔 (G Russell) (梅赛德斯) 126分 4 C 勒克莱尔 (C Leclerc) (法拉利) 103分 5 L 诺里斯 (L Norris) (迈凯伦) 92分 6 O 皮亚斯特里 (O Piastri) (迈凯伦) 91分
今日 下午2点：直播 (Sky Sports F1)。 晚上6.30点：集锦 (Channel 4)
n 由于战争中断了世界冠军赛日程，在一次奇怪的转折中，一级方程式赛车 (FORMULA ONE) 将在马来西亚举行“巴林大奖赛”。 《每日邮报》体育版获悉，替代场地将于今日确认，并于10月4日举行，排在阿塞拜疆站和新加坡站之间。 根据巴林王储萨尔曼与马来西亚国王之间达成的一项协议，这场比赛将冠以该海湾王国的名称。巴林原定于4月举办该赛事，但随后美国和以色列攻击了伊朗。 由于对中东美国军事基地的报复性打击，使得在该地区重新举办该赛事成为不可能。将比赛转移至距离巴林八小时飞行路程的雪邦国际赛车场 (Sepang International Circuit) 的计划得到了一级方程式赛车的全力支持。 这场由巴林出资的赛事将使本赛季增加至23场比赛，但如果11月29日和12月6日在卡塔尔和阿布扎比举行的最后两站也成为敌对行动的牺牲品，那么这个数字将被削减。 在这种情况下，将在伊莫拉增加一场额外的比赛，极有可能在两个空出的日期中较早的那一天举行，从而将世界冠军赛恢复到22轮。
网球
ATP 杰内拉利公开赛（奥地利，基茨比厄尔）决赛：Q 哈里斯 (Q Halys, 法国) 击败 A 布勃利克 (A Bublik, 哈萨克斯坦) 6-4 7-6 (8-6)。 WTA 普拉格 Livesport 公开赛（捷克，普拉格）—— 半决赛：D 斯尼古尔 (D Snigur, 乌克兰) 击败 T 瓦伦托娃 (T Valentova, 捷克) 7-6 (7-4) 6-3；L 塔格尔 (L Tagger, 奥地利) 击败 B 克雷吉茨科娃 (B Krejcikova, 捷克) 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-4)。 WTA 汉堡 MSC 女子公开赛（德国，汉堡）—— 半决赛：A 邦达尔 (A Bondar, 匈牙利) 击败 E 阿瓦内斯扬 (E Avanesyan, 亚美尼亚) 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 7-6 (7-2)；T 考帕奇 (T Korpatsch, 德国) 击败 M 谢里夫 (M Sherif, 埃及) 6-1 2-0 退赛。
今日赛事
板球 —— 单日杯 - A组，11 .00：格洛斯特郡 对 肯特郡 (布里斯托)。莱斯特郡 对 兰开夏郡 (格雷斯路)。萨默塞特郡 对 华威郡 (汤顿)。萨里郡 对 诺安普顿郡 (吉尔福德)。B组：埃塞克斯郡 对 德比郡 (切姆斯福德)。米德尔塞克斯郡 对 格拉摩根郡 (拉德莱特, 11.00)。萨塞克斯郡 对 约克郡 (霍夫)。伍斯特郡 对 汉普郡 (新路)。 英式橄榄球联盟 —— Betfred 超级联赛 (3.0)：利兹 对 布拉德福德。
L
在纳什维尔
利物浦球迷已经逐渐习惯了安多尼·伊劳拉 (Andoni Iraola) 作为新任主教练的身影，但当他昨晚在纳什维尔的一场对阵桑德兰的友谊赛中首次执教时，他身边站着几张安菲尔德忠实拥趸们感到陌生的面孔。 从一名与伊劳拉共事已久的体能教练，到两名在足球联赛中累计出场近 800 次的前防守球员，以及一名前那不勒斯守门员导师，这就是这名巴斯克人背后的团队，他被赋予了带领利物浦重返巅峰的任务。 最好的切入点是他的得力助手且本身也是利物浦球迷的汤米·埃尔菲克 (Tommy Elphick)，他与肖恩·库珀 (Shaun Cooper) 和巴勃罗·德拉托雷 (Pablo de la Torre) 一起从伯恩茅斯跟随伊劳拉而来。翻阅档案发现，在 2011 年的一篇《布赖顿先驱报》(Brighton Argus) 文章中，当时在冠军联赛中为海鸥队效力的年轻埃尔菲克曾表示，他终极的梦想就是前往安菲尔德。 埃尔菲克从另一位前伯恩茅斯主帅埃迪·豪 (Eddie Howe) 身上学习领导力，他曾在豪的麾下担任队长。
以及一名能够帮助 伊劳拉为利物浦找回 美好时光的前伯恩茅斯队长。
这位 38 岁的人评价极高，据报道，英冠俱乐部布里斯托尔城和伯恩利在这个夏天都采取行动，试图聘请他担任主教练。
埃尔菲克在球员生涯中是一个喧闹的声音，他曾效力于阿斯顿维拉和哈德斯菲尔德——有时并不清楚某些教练要求他做什么。但豪尔信息的清晰度激励了埃尔菲克在经历了第 10 次手术被迫在 33 岁就早早退役后进入教练领域。
当埃尔菲克在 2022-23 赛季迎来重大突破时，他正在伯恩茅斯担任 21 岁以下球队的主教练。加里·奥尼尔被提升为主教练，埃尔菲克被邀请加入他的幕后工作人员队伍。他在 2023 年表示：“我们进去了，松开了手刹，全力以赴。”
当奥尼尔在确保“樱桃军团”保级的情况下被解雇时，埃尔菲克知道大多数队员感到失望，且认为这一决定过于苛刻。正是在那时，他证明了自己的价值——消息人士称，他在让所有人重新团结起来方面起到了至关重要的作用。
新帅伊劳拉本想带过来他在巴列卡诺光芒队的二把手伊尼戈·佩雷斯，但由于工作许可问题而未能实现。佩雷斯随后接管了巴列卡诺的最高职位，并带领他们进入了上赛季欧协联决赛，这使他在今年夏天加盟了比利亚雷亚尔。
伊劳拉喜欢保持一定距离的管理方式，因此埃尔菲克和另一位教练库珀负责主持训练课，并在更深层面上了解球员。当伯恩茅斯在伊劳拉执教的前九场比赛中一场未胜时，教练组保持了冷静。
在比赛日，伊劳拉喜欢坐在埃尔菲克和库珀之间，以便进行持续的对话。当主教练说不出来时，他会提醒这对搭档中的一个人在场边带动气氛。
库珀是一名定位球专家。据悉，这位前伯恩茅斯、萨顿和朴茨茅斯后卫将专注于进攻性和创造性的定位球战术。埃尔菲克则将负责防守 routines。
定位球是利物浦的问题区域，他们上赛季在定位球中丢了 23 个球，仅次于利兹、水晶宫……以及
面部缝了 20 针
作者：Alex Jennings
埃纳·鲁比奥在脸部直接撞上一辆车的尾部后，需要缝 20 针。
周五，当一辆 UAE Team Emirates-XRG 车辆为了避让一名环法赛观众而刹车时，这位 Movistar 骑手撞到了该车的后挡风玻璃。
哥伦比亚人鲁比奥此前在总成绩排名第 27 位，但在昨天由 EF Education-Easy Post 的理查德·卡拉帕斯赢得的倒数第二赛段前被迫退出。鲁比奥在被送往医院之前面部包裹了绷带，随后被出院。
驾驶该车的霍塞安·费尔南德斯表示：“一名观众突然跑出来，直接摔在我们的车下。我的唯一反应就是刹车以避免将其撞倒。”
鲁比奥的事故并非今年环法赛中首起涉及观众的事故。周四，卡拉帕斯险些撞到一名正在摆拍拍照的观众。
斯洛文尼亚的塔代伊·波加查预计将在今天于巴黎锁定一项纪录平局的第五次环法冠军。
伯恩茅斯。去年 12 月，定位球导师亚伦·布里格斯为此丢了工作，而定位球分析师刘易斯·马奥尼接手后赢得了赞誉。
伯恩茅斯的瑞安·克里斯蒂在 2024 年表示：“肖恩想出了很多不同的定位球战术，每场比赛他都会给我们尝试新的方案。”上个赛季，他们通过定位球攻入了 20 球，排名第六，但在另一端，他们是整个组别中丢球最多的。
本周在芝加哥被问到这个话题时，伊劳拉说：“当我到达伯恩茅斯时，在汤米和肖恩方面我非常幸运。他们准备非常充分，在帮助我理解英国文化、球员心态、他们习惯的事物以及他们如何……方面给予了我很大帮助。”
就像在训练中一样，一些小的细节 也许在西班牙是不同的。 “此外，汤米在阿斯顿维拉、伯恩茅斯、 布莱顿、哈德斯菲尔德积累的经验， 让他们能与球员保持更近的距离， 球员们会感到更有认同感。我年纪稍大一些。 有些球员可能不知道我曾经是一名球员。 “所以他们对我非常好，是非常优秀的教练， 我们对比赛的理解基本一致， 且他们在教练组中担任不同的角色。 这就是我选择继续与他们共事的原因。”
核心人物： 前伯恩茅斯 主帅伊劳拉将 再次与汤米·埃尔菲克 （最左侧）共同工作， 与此同时， 默西赛德郡 巨头利物浦 开始为新赛季 做准备
新后勤团队的另一位重要成员是德拉托雷，一名体能教练，他与伊劳拉自塞浦路斯的AEK拉纳卡时期起就一直合作。“对我来说，他不仅仅是一名体能教练，”伊劳拉说道，“他是一名助手，我们彼此非常了解。” 当地报道将德拉托雷描述为一名“火爆人物”，在本赛季他将发挥重要作用，因为伊劳拉需要适应欧洲足球的持续需求以及在四个战线上的竞争。伤病
在上个赛季也是一个大问题。 德拉托雷上个月告诉西班牙报纸《阿斯》（Diario AS）：“能够见证这种在足球层面和人性层面的每日进化，是我职业生涯中最令我自豪的成就之一。关键在于建立一个比赛模型和团队认同感，让球员们真正相信教练的理念。抛开结果不谈，我很自豪能成为这样一个从未停止相信、竞争和进步的集体的一员。 “安多尼极其聪明，他以身作则，在这种如此激烈（visceral）的运动中拥有罕见的情绪稳定性。他阅读比赛及其需求的能力几乎是独一无二的。” 伊劳拉身边还将有路易斯·费尔南多·伊贝尔。这位巴西人负责租借球员、Under 21s和Under 18训练组的工作，并在所有组别之间充当沟通桥梁。伊贝尔此前曾任巴西球队米内罗竞技的助理教练，并于去年9月加入利物浦。 完成后勤配置的是守门员教练亚历杭德罗·罗萨伦，他曾在那不勒斯赢得过两座意甲冠军。
赞扬阿根廷
国际足联主席詹尼·因凡蒂诺在给该国足协的一封缺乏共情心的信中，厚颜无耻地赞扬了阿根廷的“专业精神”——尽管此前在阿根廷输给西班牙的世界杯决赛后，他对其行为启动了调查。 虽然在世界杯后发送祝贺信是惯例，三支获得奖牌的国家都收到了因凡蒂诺的来信，但他选择的措辞值得质疑。 这封信首先由阿根廷媒体泄露，随后经《每日邮报》体育版核实，信件是发给阿根廷足协主席克劳迪奥·塔皮亚的，因凡蒂诺在信中对 “卓越表现”表示“诚挚的祝贺”。
豪由于之深
埃迪·豪坚称他不知道纽卡斯尔中场布鲁诺·吉马良斯的未来会如何发展。 阿森纳正考虑开出£70million的报价请求引进吉马良斯，而后者已告诉纽卡斯尔他希望离开并加入英超冠军队。 纽卡斯尔在今年夏天早些时候以£100m将桑德罗·托纳利卖给托特纳姆热刺，他们坚持认为这位巴西人非卖品，且尚未收到正式接触。但豪表示：“听着，我不知道布鲁诺的未来会发生什么，那是让其他人去猜测的。 “我在世界杯之前、期间和之后都与布鲁诺交谈过。我们进行了一些非常好的对话。他简直是一个太棒的人。 “有些对话我并不参与。我认为这样是不公平的”
回击德福
沃金队（Woking）足球主管乔迪·布朗（Jody Brown）在杰梅恩·德福（Jermain Defoe）本周早些时候辞去这家国家联赛（National League）俱乐部主教练一职后，对他发起了抨击。 消息人士告诉《每日邮报》体育版，德福周四未出席训练，并致电俱乐部告知他将在执教四个月后卸任。 一名消息人士指出，德福与沃金队管理层的一名成员之间存在内部冲突。而一直面临沃金球迷批评的布朗将责任推给了德福。 布朗在一份声明中表示：“近几周，俱乐部各部门（包括球员、员工和
利昂内尔·斯卡洛尼（Lionel Scaloni）的球队，并补充道： “这些胜利始终是不断努力、专业精神和关注细节的果实，同时也源于对这项美妙运动的热情、投入和热爱。 “所有这一切都预示着一个非常光明的未来，毫无疑问，将为阿根廷足球开辟通向新的伟大成功的道路。” 在上周日决赛后的冲突中，阿根廷球员利昂纳多·帕雷德斯（Leonardo Paredes）袭击了西班牙球员埃里克·加西亚（Eric Garcia），此次冲突似乎还涉及阿根廷球星纳胡埃尔·莫利纳（Nahuel Molina）和蒂亚戈·阿尔马达（Thiago Almada），以及助理教练罗伯托·阿亚拉（Roberto Ayala）。
对比（例如亚历山大·伊萨克（Alexandeer Isak）去年夏天转会利物浦的漫长过程）。 “你必须独立地看待这件事。他是我们俱乐部的队长，在我们共事的所有时间里，他一直是一名不可思议的球员。 “我代表俱乐部的所有人发言，我们绝对热爱他，当然，每个人都希望他能留下。 “他定于31号返回，目前没有理由认为他不会回来。 “我们不想失去最好的球员。这是一个显而易见的结论。失去这两个关键球员（托纳利以及可能的吉马赖斯）对我们来说很痛苦且困难。对我而言，到目前为止又是另一个充满挑战的夏天。”
其他部门）关于日益增加的担忧的反馈。 “为了更好地了解情况，我要求杰梅恩和保罗（助理布雷斯威尔）提交一份简短报告，概述球队的阵容深度、招募目标以及任何运营挑战。该报告被要求多次提交，但从未收到。 “随后安排了一次会议，涉及董事、主教练、助理主教练和运营主管，旨在审查赛季准备情况。杰梅恩及其助理均未参加该会议或当天的训练课。”
T
被
狂热席卷时
一个非凡生命的跨度，充满了如此多难以磨灭的瞬间，或许掩盖了那六个真正黄金年所具有的压倒性意义。这段时光在 1977 年以凯文·基根在利物浦的斯佩克机场登机结束，目的地是欧洲冠军杯决赛，在他往后的回顾中，那或许是他巅峰时期的光荣时刻。
虽然之后还有纽卡斯尔联的章节，以及在汉堡两度获得欧洲足球先生奖项，但基根在利物浦的岁月是他最好的时光，而随后的离开则表明他是一个超越那个时代的人。
人们熟知地记得他坐在安菲尔德球场外的垃圾桶上，等待与他心爱的比尔·香克利见面，随后在 1971 年以 £33,000 的身价签约，并成长为俱乐部的首位全球之星：他是 Brut 须后水、倍力 (Pirelli) 拖鞋、史密斯 (Smiths) 薯片以及“绿十字准则” (Green Cross Code) 的代言面孔，出入于乔治·贝斯特的 Slack Alice 夜总会，并拥有足球界最著名的签名。然而，香克利灌输给他的信念促使他追求更多。
尽管很少有人充分意识到这一点，但 1976 年利物浦造访巴塞罗那时，巴萨展现出的雄心让基根将欧洲大陆视为一次冒险，这种看法在当时的同行中极少见——当然，这不包括他所效仿的超级巨星之路径的贝斯特。基根环顾诺坎普球场巨大的更衣室、俱乐部的小礼拜堂以及壮丽的球场草坪，他也想要拥有同样的一切。
那晚利物浦赢得了比赛——1-0，那是欧洲联盟杯的半决赛，
他们随后赢得了冠军。但那个夏天也充斥着约翰·克鲁伊夫在阿贾克斯签署的新一份每周 £10,000 的合同，而当时报酬最高的英国球员则要面对 82% 的国内超级税率。
基根因对 1975-1976 夺冠赛季做出贡献而获得的 £2,000 奖金在税后被削减至 £400 —— 此外还有前一年的附加税要求。双方达成协议，他将给利物浦最后一年时间，而俱乐部将竭尽全力为他寻找一家合适的俱乐部。
基根对生活非凡的热情以及他巨大的商业吸引力，在他最后一个赛季之前的那个夏天展露无遗 —— 那实际上是他事业的巅峰。在短短一周内，他为了前往马恩岛的推广之旅奔波 1,000 英里，为伦敦周末电视台 (London Weekend Television) 现场报道捷克斯洛伐克对阵西德的欧洲冠军杯决赛提供演播室分析，参加了一场对抗巴西队的全明星 XI 比赛，并在里尔 (Rhyl) 参加了一个节日庆典的开幕式。
在 BBC 的《超级巨星》(Superstars) 节目中经历了一场传奇的煤渣跑道自行车车祸后， he 领取了比赛奖金，在回家的途中于纽波特帕格内尔 (Newport Pagnell) 服务区因精神衰弱而昏迷，并在医院挂了三天的点滴。
“他很年轻，但我希望他能明白，他不能搬动大山，”他的教练鲍勃·佩斯利 (Bob Paisley) 在那混乱的几周后说道。但基根康复了，完成了他心中在利物浦最出色的一季，并帮助球队在 1977 年对阵门兴格拉巴赫时获得全场最佳球员，赢得了他们的首座欧洲冠军杯。
那一季他也为球队赢得了第一师的冠军。在冲刺阶段对阵阿森纳时，正是基根趁门将吉米·里默 (Jimmy Rimmer) 没能接住球而破门得分。在那个春天于伊普斯维奇进行的一场极具争议且身体对抗激烈的比赛中，同样是基根打入了决定性进球。这类贡献如此之多，以至于几乎没有登上头条。
荣耀之夜：1973 年利物浦赢得欧洲联盟杯后，基根被狂欢的球迷高高举起
欢乐时光：1974 年利物浦赢得足总杯时，基根与埃姆林·休斯 (Emlyn Hughes) 在一起
在利物浦输掉的 1977 年足总杯决赛周末，汉堡队签下了他，并提供了 £500,000 的现金预付款。他克服了语言障碍，这在他和妻子珍 (Jean) 试图在一家德国五金店买一个保险丝时表现得十分明显，两人只能通过手势表达需求。店主拿出来一个插头。当基根夫妇说“nein, nein”（不，不）时，店主走开了一会儿，回来时竟然带了一棵圣诞树。
在汉堡的三年里，他两次被评为欧洲最佳足球运动员。“我认为足球运动员的职业生涯很短，每一个机会都应该把握住，”他后来在谈到这次转会时说道。
然而，一个持久的谜团是，基根之后只赢得了一座奖杯 —— 即 1979 年在汉堡获得的分格量德甲冠军。他总是在前进，但 —— 除了他认为是他唯一重大错误的一项工作，即英格兰队主教练一职 —— 他从未更进一步。
在利物浦的六个球员年限，为球队带来了三次联赛冠军、三座欧洲奖杯和一座足总杯，这是他职业生涯中最长久且最成功的时期。佩斯利是挖掘他并解决了他在 20 世纪 70 年代初反复出现的脚部不适问题的人，最终通过拆解基根那辆绿色的福特卡普里 (Ford Capri) 发现离合器踏板太硬。但香克利 (Shankly) 则是他的父亲般的人物和激励者，让他觉得他
能移山填海。在基根最后的一次广播采访（接受 BBC 采访）中，他说他作为一名足球运动员的“最佳体验”就是遇见了香克利（Shankly）。“那就是改变我生活的事情，”他说，“一个人。他仅仅是因为相信我，看到了我自己从未察觉到的潜能。我真的必须感谢他，感谢他所做的一切。”
我最后一次见到基根是在八年前，他身上依然保有当年的光彩。他告诉我，他是一个“五年期的人”，总是寻求变动。“无论我在哪里，我从未久留，”他说，“我不会说我感到厌倦，但我认为我更擅长于建设。如果你不再进步，那么留下来就没有意义。一旦你不再前进，坚持下去还有什么意义？重新定义自己。掌控你的命运。尝试前进。”
但安菲尔德（Anfield）是他的避风港。那是他成长、停留时间最长并获得名声的地方。“利物浦成就了我，不仅是在足球运动员的身份上，更是在人格上，”他反思道，“球迷们成就了我。当他们开始高唱我的名字时！我算什么，身高 5 英尺 7 英寸，还穿着古巴跟靴子？但因为他们，我变成了 6 英尺 6 英寸。”
“每次回去，我都会经过我以前租住的地方。你无法抹去那些回忆。”
在最后一次代表利物浦出征——即在罗马举行的那场欧洲冠军杯决赛——前往斯佩克（Speke）机场登机时，他是最后一个上机的人。数以千计的人聚集在那个小航站楼，见证那一刻。那是一种超越了“披头士狂热”的崇拜。
由于他要求获得接近顶薪球员基利安·姆巴佩（Kylian Mbappe）的薪水，并试图协商一笔巨额的忠诚奖金，因此[变得]昂贵。维尼修斯的新教练若泽·穆里尼奥（Jose Mourinho）不太可能阻碍任何交易的达成。他高度评价这位 26 岁的球员，而两人在上一赛季因皇家马德里在欧冠对阵本菲卡（Benfica）的附加赛中引发的种族虐待争议而闹僵，被认为不会成为他们建立良好工作关系的障碍。但穆里尼奥也意识到，该球员的离队将使他摆脱一个战术难题，而在此之前的卡洛·安切洛蒂（Carlo Ancelotti）或哈比·阿隆索（Xabi Alonso）都未能妥善解决。马德里过去两个赛季一直受困于如何将维尼修斯和姆巴佩安置在同一个进攻重心过重的球队中，而又不削弱他们个人能力的问题。两人都希望占据球场上的相同区域，且承担的防守责任有限。
维尼修斯和姆巴佩在场外的关系也未能融合。上赛季，姆巴佩指责这位巴西球员助推了阿隆索被解雇。他希望这位现任切尔西经理能够留在俱乐部，但在赛季初与巴塞罗那的首场联赛中，维尼修斯在被阿隆索换下时大发雷霆，这一公开行为损害了教练的权威。这对阿隆索来说是一个沉重的打击，他从未真正从中恢复，并在 1 月被解雇；尽管当时姆巴佩在身体未完全康复的情况下，仍飞往沙特阿拉伯参加西班牙超级杯，试图通过赢得冠军来帮助阿隆索保住工作。姆巴佩与维尼修斯——皇家马德里更衣室中两个最强势的人格——之间的关系，进一步加剧了他们在场上不兼容所带来的问题。当穆里尼奥在 2010 年首次执掌皇家马德里时，他也精简过一个难以相处的更衣室，当时俱乐部传奇球员劳尔（Raul）和古蒂（Guti）虽然已处于职业生涯末期，但仍选择了离开。维尼修斯的离队可能会引起皇家马德里部分支持者的不满，因为他们深知他在欧冠联赛中的重要性。
千万身家是阿森纳 实现维尼修梦想的 关键
他在 2022 和 2024 年的追求中，在这两场决赛中均打入进球。 但这位球员在上赛季的多个时间点也遭到了嘘声，起初是因为他在那场国家德比被阿隆索换下时表现出的任性，随后则是由于人们对马德里赛季如此糟糕地崩溃而感到普遍失望的一部分。 一些球迷可能会担心他在酋长球场会怎么做，因为他将在 26. 岁正值巅峰时期来到伦敦。但大多数人将支持俱乐部的决定，即将其变现，并欢迎他为之铺路的后续新援。
如果 19 岁的科特迪瓦边锋严·迪奥曼德是其中第一人，那么马德里将迎来一名愿意在进攻右翼效力的球员，他上赛季在 RB 莱比锡就司职该位置。这将有助于穆里尼奥的平衡之举。 上赛季，穆里尼奥与维尼修的关系蒙上了一层阴影，因为在维尼修指责本菲卡的吉安卢卡·普雷斯蒂安尼对他进行种族虐待后，穆里尼奥未能支持这位巴西边锋。 在 2 月份对阵本菲卡的欧冠附加赛首回合中，维尼修为马德里进球后在光之体育场的客场球迷面前庆祝。 他表示随后遭到了普雷斯蒂安尼的种族虐待，对方捂住他的嘴并多次称他为猴子。姆巴佩是几名支持维尼修主张的皇家马德里球员之一。 赛后，穆里尼奥表示他无法在关于发生之事的两种截然相反的描述中做出判断，并批评了维尼修在所谓虐待之前庆祝进球的方式。 “在这么多体育场里都会发生这种事，”穆里尼奥在谈到他的进球庆祝时说道，“我在场上告诉他：‘你进了一个惊世骇俗的球，为什么那样庆祝？为什么不学迪·斯蒂法诺、贝利、欧西比奥那样庆祝’，总是这样。” 这种暗示——无论是有意还是无意——即维尼修通过挑衅性的庆祝方式在某种程度上招来了虐待，而这话竟然出自挑衅庆祝之宗师之口，这在维尼修阵营中并不受欢迎。此后双方没有伸出橄榄枝，而维尼修定于明日返回皇家马德里训练，这将是他们自上赛季附加赛以来首次公开会面。 只要该球员处于穆里尼奥计划的核心位置，维尼修心中任何残留的不快都不足以恶化他们未来的关系。但只要姆巴佩仍然是皇家马德里最重要的球员，这一点就无法保证。 如果阿森纳真的落实他们的兴趣，最终决定权将在弗洛伦蒂诺·佩雷斯手中，他是最近重新当选的皇家马德里主席。2018. 年尤文图斯出价 €105 (£90) 购买克里斯蒂亚诺·罗纳尔多时，佩雷斯毫不犹豫。罗纳尔多被马德里出售时 33 岁，而非维尼修的 26, 岁，但人们感觉到马德里是一个拥有过多特立独行超级巨星的俱乐部，这些巨星都要求球队围绕他们构建。 上赛季维尼修与皇家马德里的合同谈判陷入僵局的主要原因是他要求获得接近姆巴佩的新薪水。满足这一要求意味着皇马需提供一份每赛季价值 €30 (£26) 的新合同，外加 €15 (£12.8) 的忠诚奖金——而这两者阿森纳都无需匹配。 另一种选择是，如果这场闹剧拖延下去，将在 2027. 年免费失去这名球员。如果阿森纳决定全力争取一名能让其卫冕进程加速的球员，维尼修转会伦敦将是马德里非常愿意探讨的一个选项。
特立独行的超级巨星： 同时容纳维尼修（左）和姆巴佩（上）这两个强势性格是一个挑战，这对皇家马德里而言是一项挑战
T
作者：James Sharpe
真是太感谢你了，摩根。 干脆把马蜂窝捅破算了。在完成了从阿斯顿维拉到切尔西的 £117 百万英镑英国纪录级转会后，摩根·罗杰斯（Morgan Rogers）宣布：“我正在加入伦敦最大的俱乐部。”也许他是真心的。也许当你的新俱乐部为你支付如此巨额的费用时，你在合同上有义务这么说。
埃利奥特·安德森（Elliot Anderson）在以 £116 百万英镑转会至曼彻斯特城后也尽到了他的职责。这位出生于 2002 年的小伙子说：“在我的认知中，曼彻斯特城一直是曼彻斯特的王者。”
总之，回到伦敦。罗杰斯关于一家上赛季落后于真正的英超冠军阿森纳 33 分的俱乐部的大胆主张，激起了所有旧有的情绪和争论。
那么，谁才是伦敦最大的俱乐部？《每日邮报》体育版已经戴上了钢盔，勇敢地承担起为这个最具争议的问题提供最终答案的任务……
奖杯
最大的俱乐部都做些什么？他们赢取奖杯。赢的越多，你的名声就越大，你的金库和规模也就随之增长。
但这取决于你赢的是什么。一橱柜的联赛杯（League Cups）和社区盾杯（Community Shields）远没有一个橱柜的英超奖杯和欧洲冠军杯那么令人印象深刻。
阿森纳的联赛冠军头衔数量是切尔西的两倍多，且赢球的时间跨度更长，足总杯冠军数量也几乎是后者的两倍。在本土赛场上，只有一个赢家。
不过，成为欧洲（或世界）冠军是否比成为英格兰冠军更伟大？阿森纳在欧战方面的缺失是他们明显的弱点。
最大的俱乐部都赢得过欧洲冠军杯。阿森纳没有。
当然，那是通过一场对阵巴黎圣日耳曼的点球大战与荣耀失之交臂，但托特纳姆热刺最近赢得过欧洲奖杯，西汉姆联也赢得过，水晶宫也赢得过。
切尔西拥有两座欧冠奖杯、两座欧联杯奖杯，甚至还有一座欧协联奖杯。
他们吹嘘自己是历史上唯一一家赢得过所有主要欧洲奖杯的俱乐部，这在很大程度上让你不得不为那些国际城市博览会杯（Inter Cities Fairs Cup）的球迷感到惋惜。
当加布里埃尔将点球踢飞至看台的一瞬间，切尔西就发布了一则邀请函，邀请人们预订“伦敦奖杯之乡”的球场之旅，而那座“大耳朵杯”被置于中心位置。
他们还是两届世俱杯冠军，这听起来很酷，但直到现在奖金达到 £100 百万英镑时，才开始让人觉得重要。
结论：平局
联赛排名
分量也源于历史的积淀。切尔西几乎所有的联赛冠军头衔都获得于 2005 年之后，当时的一位俄罗斯寡头开出的支票数额比
这里有证据证明 阿森纳才是 伦敦真正 最大的俱乐部
破纪录签约补上一堂历史课……
任何其他人都会告诉你，时间站在阿森纳这一边。自阿森纳于 1893 年加入足球联赛以来，他们的平均联赛排名是 8.3。而在切尔西的历史中，这一数字是 12.7。热刺的是 11.7。在两家俱乐部共同存在的 110 个赛季中，阿森纳在其中 77 个赛季的排名更高。即使在英超时代（era,），当切尔西强势崛起时，两家俱乐部排名更高的次数各占 17 次，不过蓝军的这 16 次集中在从 2004-05 到 2022-23 的 18 个赛季期间。 然而，阿森纳在整个英超时代（era.）的平均排名 3.8 依然优于切尔西的 5。 而且即便在现在，阿森纳也是现任冠军，而在他们三次获得亚军期间，切尔西分别仅排名第 10 和第 12。
结论：阿森纳
球场与观众
酋长球场（阿森纳于 2006 年迁入）与斯坦福桥球场根本无法相提并论。更大、更好、更满。 在阿森纳搬迁之前的短暂五年期间，切尔西曾拥有略微更多的观众，但从历史上看，枪手队的观众人数更多。 切尔西的平均观众人数在 20 世纪 80 年代初甚至跌破 13,000 人。除非切尔西进行扩建或搬迁，否则他们无法与阿森纳竞争。或者与热刺竞争。 是的，你可以像该俱乐部支持者信托在温格最后几年的低迷期所做的那样，暗示阿森纳在公布观众人数——填充座位数或门票销售量——时并非一直完全诚实——但当该俱乐部的球迷出动时，他们规模极其庞大。伊斯灵顿议会估计，有超过一百万人参加了他们的英超冠军夺冠巴士巡游。 当切尔西在 2015 年举行巡游时，官方人数约为 70,000。在 2005 年穆里尼奥执教的第一年，约有 200,000 人到场。
消费能力
最大的俱乐部挥霍最多的资金，对吧？很少有球队像切尔西那样花钱。正如我们在罗杰斯身上看到的，他们有能力在阿森纳眼皮子底下地这样做。 始于亚布拉莫维奇时期的做法在 BlueCo 时代得以延续。切尔西在过去五年中的净支出——那是“净”支出——超过 £800m，比任何其他英超球队都多出近 £150m，比阿森纳多出 £262m。
切尔西在今年早些时候宣布，2024-25 赛季的税前亏损达到英超纪录的 £262.4m。他们花费了远超十亿之巨，但其中花得好的并不多。 足球财务专家基兰·马奎尔最近列出了英超历史上最高的工资单，并根据足球通货膨胀和俱乐部当时的消费能力进行了调整。 切尔西在亚布拉莫维奇时代的巅峰期，从 2003-04 到 2010-11 的所有赛季占据了前 10 名中的 8 位。 阿森纳首次出现在名单上的是 2011-12 赛季，排在第 51 位。在他们之前的是 16 个不同的切尔西赛季、17 个曼联赛季、12 个曼城赛季和 5 个利物浦赛季。 然而，在之前的两组结果中，阿森纳在收入方面将切尔西远远甩在身后：£691m 对 £491m。
德克兰·赖斯是阿森纳唯一一名签约费超过 £100m 的球员。 切尔西现在有三名：罗杰斯、莫伊塞斯·凯塞多和恩佐·费尔南德斯。他们的前七名签约费全部高于阿森纳第二贵的新援 £72m 的尼古拉斯·佩佩。如果他们想从纽卡斯尔地争取布鲁诺·吉马良斯，他们必须出更高的价格。
结论：切尔西
巨额投入带来了名将和名帅。在英超时代 (era)，阿森纳的教练席上出现过温格、乌奈·埃梅里和米克尔·阿尔特塔。切尔西则拥有过穆里尼奥（两次）、卡洛·安切洛蒂、拉法·贝尼特斯、安东尼奥·孔蒂和托马斯·图赫尔。这些都是足坛最顶尖的名字。但
随后他们也经历过格雷厄姆·波特和利亚姆·罗森尼尔。在球场上，很少有人能拥有像蒂埃里·亨利、丹尼斯·贝尔克坎普或帕特里克·维埃拉那样的气场。萨卡将是下一个。切尔西则会指向迪迪埃·德罗巴和伊登·阿扎尔。或许还有科尔·帕尔默？近年来，阿森纳也接纳了几个切尔西的弃将，比如凯·哈弗茨和诺尼·马杜埃凯，而他们现在都成了冠军。在培养英格兰球星方面，阿森纳同样领先。赖斯、马杜埃凯、布卡约·萨卡和埃伯雷基·埃泽在对阵挪威的世界杯四分之一决赛中出场，使得阿森纳球员的累计出场次数突破 1,000 次。而切尔西——第一家在 1999 年派出全外籍阵容的俱乐部——出场次数则不足 750 次。
[[IMG_XXXX]] 影响力对比： 阿森纳今年的联赛冠军庆祝活动吸引的人群规模是切尔西 21 年前的五倍
罗杰斯敲定 £117m 切尔西交易……随后 将矛头指向阿森纳
摩根·罗杰斯在以 £117m 的转会费加盟斯坦福桥、成为有史以来最昂贵的英格兰球员后，宣布切尔西是伦敦最大的俱乐部。 蓝军截胡了阿森纳对这位 23 岁英格兰球星的追求——在上周三三狮军团负于阿根廷的次日便开启了谈判。阿森纳消息人士声称，他们对罗杰斯的出价最高仅为 £80m，而切尔西迅速与阿斯顿维拉达成协议，使他成为队史上最昂贵的签约球员，超过了 2023 年为恩佐·费尔南德斯支付的 £106m。 随着他的多年合同获得确认……
[[IMG_XXXX]] 资本之争：在以 £117m 加盟切尔西后，摩根·罗杰斯的言论出现在《每日邮报》体育版封面上。
社交媒体
在现代，衡量一家俱乐部规模的真正标准，无疑是他们在社交媒体上的粉丝数量。我本以为阿森纳会赢得这一项。很少有球迷团体能像枪手那样发出如此尖锐的声音，尤其是当他们觉得（且经常觉得）自己被亏待或被抢劫时。然而，切尔西在各项指标上都胜出。他们在 X、Instagram、TikTok、Facebook 和 YouTube 上的粉丝数量更多，总计超过 33 million。
很明显，两家俱乐部都渴望成为老大。切尔西此前将“CFC LDN”品牌注册为商标——还有什么比这更能证明你是伦敦的霸主？当被问及此问题时，一名阿森纳消息人士回答道：“答案只有一个。”一名与两家俱乐部都有过交易的知名经纪人告诉《每日邮报》体育版：“阿森纳的处事方式源于一种声望。而切尔西在办事方式上更具有大俱乐部的作风。他们非常直接：如果我们想要那个球员，我们会不惜一切代价将其拿下。直接摊牌。这就是大俱乐部的心态。” “这绝对是两种不同的文化，尽管双方都认为自己是伦敦最大的俱乐部，但方式截然不同。阿森纳就像一个老钱家族、略带特权感的贵族，可以依靠头衔和家族历史。切尔西则是新富阶层，是超级成功的城市白领，不掩饰地炫耀自己的财力，并以此推动获得更多成功。” 埃隆·马斯克可能是世界上最富有的人，特斯拉可能是按市值计算（无论这意味着什么）最大的汽车公司，但祝你好运能让任何人相信他们真的比梅赛德斯或法拉利规模更大。
判定：阿森纳
抱歉，摩根，你的新俱乐部可能是挥金如土，但大多数指标确认枪手才是这座城市的绝对主角。 最终判定： 阿森纳
随着玛德琳的弟弟 向他的奥运之梦 迈出第一步 肖恩·麦肯在家庭悲剧 二十年后开辟自己的道路 S
站在 托尔克罗斯国际中心（Tollcross International Centre） 昨日的起跳台上，肖恩·麦肯（Sean McCann） 拍了拍大腿，凝视着 泳池的全长。 他的母亲凯特（Kate）坐在 另一端，穿着一件印有“Yes Sir, I can boogie”的 T 恤。 肖恩在公众关注中长大， 自从他的姐姐 玛德琳（Madeleine）2007年 在葡萄牙的一次家庭度假期间 三岁时失踪以来。 在整个童年时期，肖恩无法控制 家族的新闻头条，但在这里， 作为一名参加英联邦运动会的 21 岁青年， 叙事主导权牢牢掌握在他手中。 “加油，肖恩！”他的父亲 格里（Gerry）大声地喊道，双手捂住嘴， 此时他的儿子在第一次转身时 暂时落后，排名第七。
哈里·班福思（HARRY BAMFORTH）
格里的家族根在 格拉斯哥，这意味着肖恩 有资格在这次运动会上代表苏格兰参赛， 尽管他出生并成长于莱斯特郡（Leicestershire）。 在这个东区泳池的八个往返中， 肖恩一路奋起，追回了名次。 谁知道在最后的冲刺阶段 他心中在想什么，但 他展现出了坚韧的决心， 最终以第四名的好成绩完赛。 他的成绩为 3 分 52.65 秒， 在 400 米自由泳预赛中排名 第七快，足以获得决赛资格。 预赛后，他被引导进入 混合采访区，面对等待的媒体。 “肖恩将只谈论游泳， 且仅限游泳……这就是我们来这里的目的，” 苏格兰媒体经理命令道。 当一簇录音笔被 推到他面前时，他显得有些沉思， 但这位说话轻柔的学生很快露出了微笑。 他被问到进入决赛是什么感觉？ “进来之前并没有真正的预期， 尤其是竞争对手如此强大， 但我很高兴看到我做到了，”他回答道。 “我不会说我感到了压力， 但由于有这么多人观看，我确实很紧张， 我不仅想为自己表现出色， 也想为苏格兰争取荣誉。 我确实很紧张，但很高兴 能完成一次体面的比赛。”
加州 之梦： 肖恩·麦肯， 照片拍摄于 2024年马略卡岛的一次活动（右）， 他公开表示 希望入选 2028年奥运会 英国队。 左：与父母 格里和凯特， 以及他的双胞胎 妹妹艾米莉（Amelie）
麦肯夫妇曾多次表达 他们的决心，确保肖恩 及其双胞胎妹妹艾米莉（她当时也坐在看台上） 能拥有尽可能正常的童年。 “我们担心的是孩子，” 凯特在 2017 年说道。“我想 我们也尝试对他们进行一定的引导， 因为显然不只是我们 成为了社交媒体负面影响的受害者。 “在某个时刻，你必须意识到 时间并未凝固，我认为我们两人都意识到 我们欠双胞胎的，是确保 他们的生活能像他们应得的那样充实， 而我们确实尽了最大努力来实现这一点。” 格里还谈到了培养 他们的独立能力。“我现在的保护欲 确实比以前强，但你不能 太娇养他们，”
他说。“他们必须独立。 焦虑在增加，但我们不能 让这影响到他们 正常的成长。 “肖恩和艾米莉表现得 非常好；显然，他们无法完全屏蔽媒体， 他们会听到各种说法，他们上学， 他们听广播。” 在普拉亚达鲁兹（Praia da Luz）发生的那些可怕事件 将永远留在家人心中。 近二十年后， 玛德琳依然失踪，但 肖恩已经达到了可以 开辟自己道路的阶段。 “我从小就发现， 我真的非常、非常喜欢竞争， 我认为这让所有艰苦的 训练小时变得有价值，” 他说。“当你能像这样 在人群面前， 尽全力地游泳。” 在格拉斯哥另一个庞大观众群的欢呼下， 肖恩获得了第八名
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1 Australia 6 2 5 13 2 Nigeria 3 3 0 6 3 Scotland 2 2 0 4 4 England 1 4 3 8 5 Canada 1 0 2 3
今日赛程 10.45am：Ramsey-Peaty 参加 50m 蛙泳预赛（半决赛今晚举行）。 11am：网球：英格兰 对阵 澳大利亚。 正午：男子全能体操。 n TNT Sport 现场直播。精彩回顾：Channel 5
在昨晚的 400m 自由泳决赛中。 他在拉夫堡大学 (Loughborough University) 的化学工程学位课程还剩两年时间。那些曾在拉夫堡及其他地方与他一起训练的人明确表示，这种惊人的进步归功于他的心态和成功的驱动力。 苏格兰国际游泳运动员 Charlie Hutchison 告诉《每日邮报》体育版：“他是个苦干者，就像
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比该队的其他所有人都勤奋。我们进行一些艰苦得令人厌恶的训练课，但他从不抱怨或发牢骚。他只是埋头苦干。 ‘这绝对是他之前没有那么多竞争对手时所磨练出来的，随后进入这样一个极具竞争力的群体。他没有因此气馁，而是不断向前推进。 ‘能让他作为苏格兰队的一员加入球队真是太棒了。’ 知情人士向《每日邮报》体育版解释道，肖恩过去大多数早晨必须在 5.15am 起床参加训练，而那些被认为‘级别更高’的队伍则在更理想的时间段游泳。 但麦肯（McCann）从不抱怨，并付出了‘艰苦的努力’以求进步。哈奇森（Hutchison）继续说道： ‘他正走在取得极佳成绩的道路上。他在苏格兰青年队的晋升之路非常顺利。 ‘他一直在不断增强实力，比刚加入时几乎快了 12 秒。’
这是他的首次成年组锦标赛，他毫不掩饰自己想要进入 2028 年洛杉矶奥运会的野心。 如果这位苏格兰人想让梦想成为现实，他必须在个人最好成绩的基础上再缩短 5. 秒以上。 尽管如此，由于麦肯在大幅缩短个人最好成绩方面经验丰富，人们坚信他具备达到巅峰的潜质。 ‘这太神奇了，’他在格拉斯哥出水后说道，他让父母感到自豪。‘在整个过程中你都能听到观众的呐喊，这激励我在最后 100 米全力冲刺。 ‘我认为奥运会始终是一个更高的阶段，所以能够在这里代表苏格兰参赛是一个很好的跳板。 ‘希望经过未来两年的努力，我能让自己的名字进入奥运会的竞争名单。’
在格拉斯哥
比赛开始： 肖恩·麦肯 昨天在 400 米自由泳 预赛中的表现。诺瓦茨基（Nowacki） 准备掀起波澜 并挑战 拉姆齐-皮蒂（Ramsay-Peaty）
在格拉斯哥的水下，一场新的竞争正在酝酿。亚当·拉姆齐-皮蒂在英国游泳界已经统治了十多年，但现在候赛室里出现了另一个名字。 菲利普·诺瓦茨基（Filip Nowacki）仍在等待他的 A Level 成绩，但这位来自米尔菲尔德（Millfield）的中学生已经打破了他偶像的青少年记录。2012, 杰森·肯尼（Jason Kenny）击败克里斯·霍伊（Chris Hoy）成为自行车领域的霸主。拉明·亚马尔（Lamine Yamal）在上周的世界杯决赛中战胜了利昂内尔·梅西（Lionel Messi）。 游泳圈内人士认为，诺瓦茨基实现类似突破只是时间问题。 诺瓦茨基在格拉斯哥代表泽西岛参赛。他昨晚在 100 米蛙泳中与拉姆齐-皮蒂对决，还将参加 50 米和 200 米项目。 并肩而立时，他们看起来就像大卫与歌利亚。诺瓦茨基矮了 5 英寸，也没有那样发达的二头肌。 拉姆齐-皮蒂凭借强大的上肢划水动作改变了比赛，而诺瓦茨基的强项在于腿部踢水。他的臀部位置较高，且比那位强行破水前行的前辈动作更为优雅。 ‘能与世界上最顶尖的人——可以说是有史以来最伟大的蛙泳运动员——同场竞技，对我来说非常特别，’诺瓦茨基说。 ‘他是这项运动真正的榜样。即使在候赛室里，他也表现得非常专业且专注。作为一名崭露头角的年轻人，仰慕这样的人非常重要。这些资深运动员知道自己在做什么。他们之前经历过很多次这种情况，我认为观察他的做法至关重要。’ 诺瓦茨基将在下个月的欧洲锦标赛期间得知他的数学、经济学和物理学考试成绩。随后，他计划进入拉夫堡大学（Loughborough University）深造，在那里他可以精通
大卫对决歌利亚：泽西岛的诺瓦茨基（左）与英格兰的拉姆齐-皮蒂
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他的技艺将及时在 2028 年洛杉矶奥运会准备就绪。重大奖牌已在他的目标之内。
“菲利普在去年的世界青少年锦标赛中以 2:07.32 的成绩夺冠，除了其中一次，这个成绩在每一届成年组奥运会中都能获得奖牌，”诺瓦基的教练 Kieron Piper 告诉《每日邮报》体育版。“他绝对具备这种水准，所以如果他能保持同样的轨迹，那么在他参加的每一场赛事中，他都将跻身决赛选手之列。”
“亚当·皮蒂改变了游泳——他的体型和力量。他绝对是史上最伟大的，领先幅度非常之大。之前的世界纪录保持者，来自澳大利亚的 Zac Stubblety-Cook，在身体压制力上不如很多其他游泳运动员。这并不罕见。”
“菲利普比一些同龄人稍小一些，因此他几乎可以在水面上滑行，有点像打水漂的石头。与一些同龄人相比，他的身高让他能够非常出色地浮在水面上。他在技术能力方面非常敏锐。他拥有一些强大的生理优势，使他能够充分发挥自我。”
拉姆塞-皮蒂在看到有前途的游泳运动员时能立刻认出来。他已经将诺瓦基签入自己的经纪公司，并将继续指导这位神童。
“如果将我自己与 12 年前的 2014 年相比，菲利普及其职业生涯可能达到的高度令人非常兴奋，”拉姆塞-皮蒂说。
“我已经赢得了所有能赢的奖项。如果我能为这项运动带来更多粉丝，并培养这下一代人才，那么这将是一个绝佳的位置。我不会回避我依然渴望赢得金牌这一事实，但现在更多的是关于这段旅程。不过，别误会，我依然会是一个敢于拼搏的人。”
维尼修惊艳之作
出击震惊球坛 抢签马德里 超级巨星 作者：Simon Jones
阿森纳已就皇家马德里边锋维尼修斯·朱尼奥尔（Vinicius Junior）的可获得性进行了初步询问。
随着何塞·穆里尼奥的球队在探索从 RB 莱比锡购买 延·迪奥曼德（Yan Diomande），这家英超冠军俱乐部已核查了这位巴西人的状态。
维尼修斯·朱尼奥尔与同样在阿森纳关注名单上的迪奥曼德拥有相同的代理人，且在过去 12 个月里，沙特阿拉伯方面也表现出了兴趣。
这位 26 岁的球员正处于合同的最后一年，如果无法就新合同达成协议，马德里方面可能会倾向于将其出售，而不是在明年夏天失去他且不获得任何转会费。
这笔交易对阿森纳来说将是一次惊人的胜利，但两家俱乐部尚未开启正式谈判。朱利安·阿尔瓦雷斯（Julian Alvarez）、延·迪奥曼德和布拉德利·巴尔科拉（Bradley Barcola）是阿森纳关注的其他前锋。
去年，国民队（Al Ahli）愿意向维尼修斯·朱尼奥尔提供一份为期五年、价值 €10 亿的合同。利物浦在本次转会窗口早期也被认为有兴趣，但目前并不参与竞逐这位周薪约 £520,000 的球员。
1st No. 2261 《星期日邮报》由 ANL 出版，地址：London W8 5HY, 9 Derry Street。由以下公司印刷：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。 Associated Newspapers Ltd 2026 《星期日邮报》® 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
刘易斯·汉密尔顿的冠军希望在今天匈牙利大奖赛前受到了损害——尽管随后得到了部分缓解——因为他被处罚在发车格中后移三个位置。
这位七次世界冠军预计将从第五位起跑，而他的头号冠军竞争对手基米·安东内利将从第七位起跑。
他们原计划分别排在第二和第四位，但汉密尔顿（目前落后于梅赛德斯车队的安东内利 45 分）因在排位赛中无意中阻挡了奥斯卡·皮亚斯特里驾驶的迈凯伦赛车而受到处罚。
作者：Jonathan McEvoy
发自布达佩斯
在排位赛期间。随后在当晚，安东内利因在红牛车手马克斯·维斯塔潘打转后未能根据黄旗减速而受到stewards（赛会干事）的处罚。
结果是，汉密尔顿将比意大利车手安东内利领先两个位置起跑。
世界冠军兰多·诺里斯获得杆位，
汉密尔顿在法拉利车队的队友夏尔·勒克莱尔被提升至第二位。皮亚斯特里在发车格排第三。
“有时候你就是运气不佳，”在匈牙利赛道创纪录八次夺冠的汉密尔顿说道。
梅赛德斯的乔治·罗素落后于其青少年队友 50 分，他排在第七位，但在安东内利的迟到处罚生效后，他的顺位被提升到了安东内利之前。
《非凡扩建》 (EXTRAORDINARY EXTENSIONS) 周三，C4 频道，晚上 8 点
英国说唱歌手 Tinie Tempah（左图）同时也是一名房地产开发商，他将回归其关于房屋扩建的类《宏伟设计》(Grand Designs) 风格的新系列节目。首先，Tinie 将会见两位装饰艺术 (Art Deco) 爱好者，他们希望将自己在伦敦的排屋变成一座 1920 年代盖茨比风格的宫殿。随后，节目将转至诺福克郡，对一座茅草屋进行微调。
电影 音乐 古典 戏剧 书籍
《伟大的埃莉诺》 (ELEANOR THE GREAT) 周日，Sky Premiere 频道，下午 2 点
斯嘉丽·约翰逊被低估的导演处女作，由伟大的 June Squibb（左图）饰演埃莉诺。埃莉诺是一位 94 岁的犹太裔寡妇，她从佛罗里达州搬到曼哈顿与女儿同住，并意外地在一家大屠杀幸存者组织中引起了争议。这是一个处理得非常巧妙的棘手主题，且无论你的立场如何，Squibb 的表演都令人愉悦。
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最幽默的 电视 评论家 Deborah Ross Deborah Ross
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(Oti And Richard’s South African Odyssey) 周二，More4 频道 HHHHH
我曾在想世界是否需要更多女性杀手，因为现在她们似乎无处不在。此刻可能就有一个人潜伏在你家外的花坛里，准备发起攻击。需要我等你检查一下吗？
没问题吧？那我就继续了。Jodie Comer 为我们带来过一名女性杀手（《杀死伊芙》），Keira Knightley（《黑鸽》）和 Keeley Hawes（《杀手》）也是如此，而现在轮到汉娜·沃丁汉在喜剧动作惊悚片《生死之行》中亮相。我起初并不乐观。
然而，由于我崇拜沃丁汉，我想尝试一下，而这次尝试是我永远不会后悔的。这部剧非常刺激，极其幽默，而且还是一个关于友情的甜蜜感人的故事。
Octavia Spencer 共同主演，如果这还不足以吸引你，Bill Nighy 也现身出演，Cathy Tyson 同样在场。简直太完美了。
沃丁汉饰演的“鞭尾”(Whiptail) 是一名致命杀手。在詹姆斯·邦德风格的开场戏中，她准备发起攻击——这次不是从你的花坛，而是从奥地利的一座山顶。她的接线员在命令她：“射击，射击，射击”（参考《大破天幕杀机》）。接着，她穿着滑雪服滑行（参考《黄金眼》）。随后，她在酒吧后面勾搭了一个帅哥。“明天还能再见到你吗？”他充满希望地问道。“绝对不行，”她回答道（每部邦德电影都是如此）。
这种性别反转并不新鲜。事实上，这里没有什么是真正新颖的，也不会有原创奖。但尽管这是一个熟悉的故事，它却被讲述得充满自信、热情、气派且机智。（剧本由 Tessa Coates 编写。）其中有一些非常出色的台词。当“鞭尾”被告知要下毒时...
在进入第二个 50 年的初期，多塞特歌剧团 (Dorset Opera) 上演了两部深受大众喜爱的作品：首先是多尼采蒂的《爱情灵药》——可以说是最出色的意大利喜剧；其次是一部更难驾驭但旋律优美的作品——圣桑的《参孙与s达丽拉》。《爱情灵药》中的独唱角色展现了多塞特歌剧团一贯的高水准，尤其是饰演忧郁农手的男高音杰·布罗德赫斯特 (Jay Broadhurst) 表现出色（他目前仅 20 多岁）。
朱利安·吉德拉 (JULIAN GUIDERA)
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Nemorino，以及海兰·洪 (Haeran Hong) 饰演的一流 Adina。如果非要挑剔的话，我也许会建议卫兵队长 Belcore 的表现——
过度制作 (OVER-PRODUCED)： 理查德·科尔斯 (Richard Coles) 和 奥蒂·马布塞 (Oti Mabuse)
如果她下一个目标不是他，她会绝望地感叹道：“这是胆小鬼的游戏，剧毒。表演精神在哪里？”此外，其中还穿插了一些关于犯罪播客和惊悚小说的碎片。 (如果你喜欢犯罪播客和惊悚小说，你绝对会笑出声。) 在返回伦敦后，她与认识了 20 年的好友黛比 (Debbie，由 Spencer 饰演) 重聚。黛比对此毫无察觉。在黛比眼中，惠普泰尔 (Whiptail) 是名为朱迪斯 (Judith) 的一名法证会计师。黛比和朱迪斯同属于一个读书会。这周由黛比主持，她告诉朱迪斯不要盯着一名刚剪了糟糕发型的会员看。 我提到这一点是因为，这绝对是自《伦敦生活》(Fleabag) 以来最搞笑的糟糕发型场景。(记得克莱尔吗？那个发型，她说，‘让我看起来像一支铅笔’？这次的发型比那个更糟糕。) 黛比嫁给了一位政治家大卫 (David，由 Jamie Parker 饰演)，得益于黛比，大卫被预测将成为下一任首相。她是幕后推手。没有她，他甚至找不到自己的鼻腔喷雾。与此同时，惠普泰尔的职业生涯并不顺利。她的联络员萨姆 (Sam，由 Calam Lynch 饰演) 告诉她，他们的老板“局长”(The Director，由一名表情冷漠的 Nighy 饰演) 不再对她的工作满意。她总是擅自行动。“你是个 WOACA，”萨姆告诉她。什么？“一个‘特定年龄的女性’ (Woman Of A Certain Age)，而且你开始出格了。是因为你 50 岁了吗？” 她对此反应不佳。她被允许通过最后一次任务来证明自己。我们看到她参与高速汽车/摩托车追逐，在饮料中下药，并用煎锅猛击打手的头部。对于一个 WOACA 来说，表现相当不错。但当一次任务出错且大卫被揭露为人品不端时，她被迫告知黛比她的真实职业。“你杀人？”黛比问。“仅限工作时，”朱迪斯强调。两人
由乔纳森·埃耶斯 (Jonathan Eyers) 饰演，表现得尤为生动，但显然这部作品投入了大量的工作和技巧。 一如既往，弗兰克·齐尔霍斯特 (Frank Zielhorst) 的指挥赢得了好评，斯蒂芬·哈里斯 (Stephen Harris) 的合唱团演唱同样出彩。 在某些方面，圣-桑的《参孙与达丽拉》(Samson Et Dalila) 难度更高。在这部作品的两个极具挑战性的独唱角色中，参孙本人由在英国首次登台的 Won Whi Choi 演绎，唱得非常好。这是一个
被迫使用由“威廉姆斯夫人”(Mrs Williams，由 Tyson 饰演) 提供的伪造护照潜逃，她的鞋匠铺被用作掩护。我喜欢这家店。但底线是：这是一段令人信服的友谊。你会相信这段友谊。在（共八集的）第二集中，剧情暂时回溯，展示了她们是如何相识的。作为一名致命的杀手是孤独的工作，而作为幕后推手同样如此。两人都曾孤独。两人都需要并珍惜彼此。沃丁汉 (Waddingham) 和 Spencer 的表现极佳，彼此之间有着如此出色的化学反应，以至于你可以忽略某些剧情漏洞。(等等，什么？她们突然就有了外套和手电筒？) 沃丁汉还带来了极佳的肢体表现力，不仅是在穿着皮革衣时，而且是在身着晚礼服闯入慈善晚宴时。我立刻想到了 P.G. 伍德豪斯 (P.G. Wodehouse) 的一段话：“她看起来就像是被浇进衣服里，然后忘了
年轻人的表现，我怀疑我们在多塞特以外的地方还会经常看到他。他是一位出色的抒情男高音。 多塞特歌剧节一直将自己定位为一个节日，那些希望听到高标准合唱的人会发现这里的选角非常理想。 在我今年看过的所有演出中，这些演出名列前茅，而且有很多歌手我期待能定期再次听到。 优秀 (EXCELLENT)：杰伊·布罗德赫斯特 (Jay Broadhurst) 在《爱之灵药》(L’Elisir D’Amore) 中饰演 Nemorino
说“什么时候””。确实要检查一下，不过在你再次检查花床之前千万别忘了。稳妥总比后悔好。我对奥蒂和理查德的南非奥德赛（South African Odyssey）抱有乐观态度。奥蒂·马布塞（舞者）和理查德·科尔斯（前牧师兼流行歌星）是朋友，而南非是她的故乡。我期待看到自然的闲聊以及对这个国家的连接感。我认为本可以产生自然的对话和连接感，但与大多数名人旅行日志一样，这档节目制作痕迹过重。第一站是约翰内斯堡，有个家伙带他们去用非洲布料制作自己的服装，所以我们实际上看到的只是一个房间和一台缝纫机。然后就是：这里有个舞团，这里是索韦托发生的一些可怕的事情，这里有一些美丽的风景让你心情好起来，这里有一个男童合唱团。穿着斜纹棉布裤的科尔斯全程看起来都很尴尬。有大量的
深思熟虑地频频点头。他们确实聊到了自己。科尔斯经常提到他已故的丈夫，后者曾在南 Africa 工作。奥蒂见到了她的姐姐。但一切都太刻意了，让你觉得从未真正了解过他们或南非。奥蒂和理查德都是可爱的人，但这种过度制作会扼杀任何人的活力。也许除了 Whiptail 之外，如果他能不按常理出牌，那正是这部剧所需要的。
戈尔-朗顿 (ROBERT GORE-LANGTON)
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《樱桃园》 天鹅剧院 (Swan Theatre) 斯特拉特福 直到 8月 29日，2小时 35分钟 HHHHH 《窈窕淑女》 奇切斯特 节日剧院 (Festival Theatre) 直到 9月 5日，2小时 55分钟 HHHHH
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内森·布兰纳 (Kenneth Branagh) 带着近期《暴风雨》的后续之作回到了皇家莎士比亚剧团 (RSC)。在《樱桃园》中，他回归了自己的北爱尔兰之根，听起来就像他那部热门电影《贝尔法斯特》里的人——把 hair 读成 “hurr”。他饰演洛帕金，一个出身农民的精明商人。同样领衔主演的是好莱坞的海伦·亨特 (Helen Hunt)，她饰演果园的贵族所有者拉涅夫斯卡娅，以及她那没用且胡言乱语的哥哥盖耶夫，由同为美国银幕之星的比尔·普尔曼 (Bill Pullman) 饰演。 作者契诃夫曾是一名全科医生。你可以说他 1904 年的这部剧是对一种名为“生活”的疾病症状的研究。在这种情况下，是指人类无法面对显而易见的事实。管理这座庄园及其巨大樱桃园的那个不负责任的家庭正深陷债务之中。这让人想到了伯纳姆的英国。 由劳拉·韦德 (Laura Wade) 改编，这里的问题在于亨特饰演的拉涅夫斯卡娅过于平淡且模糊。她始终未能传达出该角色的优越感，也未能表现出她面对洛帕金（在某种程度上崇拜她）建议砍掉樱桃园并开发庄园时的极度恐惧。 剧中偶尔会出现触动心弦的凄美时刻，例如接近尾声时，家中的干事女儿瓦莉亚（由埃丝特·史密斯出色地饰演）在等待……
约翰·珀森 (JOHAN PERSSON) / 布伦南·布坎南 (BRENNAN BUCCANAN)
经常会有歌手追随名声显赫的父亲或母亲的脚步，但要找到一个能同时效仿父母双方的歌手仍然极其罕见。这个由鲁弗斯·温赖特 (Rufus Wainwright) 和玛莎·温赖特 (Martha Wainwright) 领衔的小圈子现在迎来了一位新成员：布莱克·瓦特 (Blake Watt)。 布莱克是一位 25 岁的伦敦人，他是本·瓦特 (Ben Watt) 和特蕾西·索恩 (Tracey Thorn) 的儿子，后者以组合 Everything But The Girl 而闻名。他的乐队名为 Family Stereo，以恰到好处且含蓄的方式暗示了他的背景。 第二代艺术家很容易被贬低为“关系户 (nepo babies)”。这个标签总是具有误导性（他们不是婴儿），而且很少公平。那些反对者是否也反对马丁·艾米斯 (Martin Amis) 写小说，或者反对杰夫·巴克利 (Jeff Buckley) 创作《Grace》？我们无需为父母选择的职业承担责任。而且有些东西确实是家族遗传的，无论是务农、行医还是音乐。 在推出这张首张专辑的过程中，布莱克明智地选择了一种不会让人想起 Everything But The Girl 的音色。温柔的人声、温暖的吉他以及灵巧的钢琴更接近尼克·德雷克 (Nick Drake)，尽管基调更为轻快。
The Thread 周五发行 HHHHH Rough Trade 50 南岸中心， 伦敦 HHHHH
Family Stereo 最出色的歌曲—— 《Remedy》、《Fault Lines》、《Tunnels》—— 制作精良，简约而具反思性。 Rough Trade Records 今年迎来 50 周年， 对于一家独立厂牌来说，这是一项相当了不起的成就。 它在南岸中心用一个周末的活动进行了庆祝， 由 Pulp (HHHHH) 领衔演出。 贾维斯·科克尔 (Jarvis Cocker) 及其队友在过去的 15 个月里， 从 O2 体育馆到格拉斯顿伯里 (Glastonbury)， 带来了一些令人兴奋的表演，但这一次的效果仅有二分之一。 他们完整地演奏了优秀的回归专辑《More》， 贾维斯为每首曲目准备了 PowerPoint 介绍。 这一策略带来的笑声 比动力更多，而当《More》之后紧接着出现 《More》的片段时，情况并没有好转。 全专辑演出的潜规则是： 必须以六首热门歌曲收尾。 当观众在呼唤《Common People》和《Disco 2000》时， Pulp 却给了我们一些较沉重的曲目（《Wicker Man》、《This Is Hardcore》）。 他们的下一步行动应该会更令人满意： 8 月他们将进行两场露天演出， 并发行去年在 O2 体育馆的现场专辑， 随后还将推出一部演唱会电影。 Rough Trade 演出的最终之星变成了 来自 Scritti Politti (HHHHH) 的格林·加特赛德 (Green Gartside)。 这位流行乐坛较为隐世的人物设法在一天内演了两场。 “我很恐惧，”他说，“但我们玩得很开心，不是吗？” 我们确实很开心，因为 Scritti 的招牌风格 依然如此独特。在 2026 年， 没人会想到将欧洲知识分子主义与雷鬼和放克结合在一起。 在 1984 年，这种结合将 Scritti 推向了前十名。 加特赛德在 71 岁时依然散发着温柔的魅力。 他的声音虽比以前沙哑， 但完美诠释了《The Sweetest Girl》、《Absolute》和《Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)》的绝美旋律。 而当他说新专辑即将推出时，现场爆发了巨大的欢呼声。
缺乏动力：海伦·亨特 (Helen Hunt) 和 肯尼斯·布拉纳 (Kenneth Branagh) 在《樱桃园》中。下图：凯齐亚·伊贝 (Keziah Ibe) 在《窈窕淑女》中。
一个痛苦地永远没有到来的求婚。 但尽管演员阵容不错——盖伊·亨利 (Guy Henry) 饰演的醉酒地主是亮点—— 这部剧的内在韵律被从未停歇的现场配乐掩盖了。 整个夜晚基本上缺乏动力。 只有布拉纳将恼怒与崇拜混合在一起的活泼演绎， 才使这部剧免于沦为彻底的失败。 凯齐亚·伊贝以出色的舞台首秀， 在《窈窕淑女》中成功塑造了花女 杜利特尔 (Doolittle)。 她做鬼脸，尖叫，抽泣， 并被赋予了优美的嗓音。 当她唱起《I Could Have Danced All Night》时， 我能感觉到萨塞克斯 (Sussex) 的观众随之摇摆。 当然，她变成了希金斯教授 (Professor Higgins) 社会实验的对象—— 将她从一个街头 urchin 变成一位公爵夫人。 她与哈德利·弗雷泽 (Hadley Fraser) 饰演的躁动不安、显然处于频谱之上的希金斯相匹配， 后者对着伊丽莎 (Eliza) 破口大骂，在舞台上跳来跳去，仿佛置身于一部闹剧。 他演得太棒了，我一次也没有想念过雷克斯·哈里森 (Rex Harrison)。 此外，还要留意伟大的贝琳达·朗 (Belinda Lang)，她饰演亨利的母亲，精准无误； 本·卡勒顿 (Ben Culleton) 饰演的弗雷迪·恩斯福德-希尔 (Freddy Eynsford-Hill) 嗓音优美； 以及托尼·贾亚瓦德纳 (Tony Jayawardena) 饰演的皮克林上校 (Colonel Pickering)，他对方子裙知道得异常之多。 如果你和我一样，对伦敦腔演唱过敏， 那么《I’m Getting Married In The Morning》和《With A Little Bit Of Luck》 可能有点难以下咽。 但它们是合唱名曲，在这里得到了 编舞师斯蒂芬·米尔 (Stephen Mear) 的全力演绎。 蕾切尔·卡瓦诺 (Rachel Kavanaugh) 的制作 在勒纳 (Lerner) 和 罗 维 (Loewe) 辉煌的作品中， 找到了滑稽的谩骂与深沉的温柔之融合。 对于一部如此频繁上演的剧目， 它呈现出一种真正新鲜、闪耀的夏季款待感。
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在你悄悄好奇那个扮演一名痴迷于性的医生的究竟是不是本·斯蒂勒时，你会意识到《The Dink》是那种在不知不觉中潜入你内心的电影。前一分钟你还在叹息，心想这个关于一名从未发挥出潜力的前青少年网球冠军的单薄故事是多么愚蠢，下一分钟你就会发现自己在笑，然后大笑不止。《The Dink》或许很傻，但事实证明它也极其有趣。杰克·约翰逊（Jake Johnson）可能仍因在电视喜剧《New Girl》中饰演尼克以及在动画版《蜘蛛侠》电影中为彼得·帕克配音而闻名，他在片中饰演达斯蒂·“锤子”·博伊德（Dusty ‘The Hammer’ Boyd），即那位前青少年冠军。达斯蒂仍然倾向于认为，如果不是因为在一场离奇的浴室意外中折断了手腕，他在职业巡回赛中短暂的职业生涯在面对安迪·罗迪克时本可以坚持超过一场比赛。他如此痴迷于自己的网球过去，以至于没有意识到他父亲（艾德·哈里斯 饰）所看到的：他们那家高级俱乐部的网球未来正受到匹克球（pickleball）势不可挡之兴起的威胁。对于那些不了解的人来说，匹克球是在一个较小的球场上用球拍和带孔的球进行的比赛，参与者通常是老年群体。而匹克球玩家们正要求增加更多球场。“这是一场瘟疫！”他惊恐的父亲惊呼道。一场决胜局对决被安排——网球对阵匹克球——但目前还不清楚达斯蒂将为哪一方效力，尤其是在他遇见坎蒂丝（玛丽·斯汀伯根 饰）之后，坎蒂丝虽然可能比他大 30 岁，但在网球裙下依然看起来很迷人。或者，那应该是匹克球裙？谁知道呢——重要的是，她似乎也喜欢他。虽然这部电影可能显得缺乏野心，但这是一部伪装得很好的喜剧，肖恩·克莱门茨（Sean Clements）精炼的剧本与乔什·格林鲍姆（Josh Greenbaum）的导演功力强强联手，为斯汀伯根带来了多年来最好的角色，并邀请到罗迪克和约翰·麦肯罗（John McEnroe）进行精彩的客串，而且最重要地，解释了什么是“dink”。恰如其分地，它是一种巧妙的截击放小球（drop shot）。就像这部电影本身一样。提醒一下，《动物庄园》（Animal Farm）看起来可能像一部儿童
邦德
分级：12，1小时42分钟 可在 Apple TV 上观看 HHHHH Animal Farm（动物庄园） 分级：PG，1小时35分钟 HHHHH On The Sea 分级：15，1小时51分钟 HHHHH
虽然是动画片，但它确实是基于 乔治·奥威尔（George Orwell）那部 具有政治色彩的同名讽刺中篇 小说改编而成的。 即使在动画形式下，它仍然是 相当成人向的内容，尽管 进行了某些改动，例如引入了 一只“叫 Lucky 的可爱小猪” 担任叙述者和核心角色，以及 改变了 Snowball 的性别—— 这只猪最终成为了农场的管理者。 而人类农场主 Jones 在另一个 改动中，是因为被银行没收了 财产，而非被他虐待的动物 赶出了土地。 奥威尔最初的目标是像
【引人入胜且幽默：Jake Johnson（中）及《The Dink》 的演员阵容】
斯大林这样的共产主义独裁者， 这些人变得与他们所取代的 国王和沙皇非常相似。然而， 在由 Andy Serkis 执导、背景 设定在无人机和防化服林立的 近未来的这个版本中，敌人是 大企业和工厂化养殖。打赌 你的孩子肯定等不及了，嗯？ 尽管配音阵容包括 Seth Rogen、 Glenn Close 和 Kathleen Turner， 但最终结果与你想象的一样 阴暗且令人不快，而且对 成年人来说也不太适用。 我们在《断背山》中看到了 同性恋牛仔，在《上帝之国》中 看到了同性恋农场工人， 现在我们在《On The Sea》中 看到了同性恋渔民，这部电影 设定在安格尔西岛（Anglesey） 一个显然被现代宽容观念 遗忘的社区。 这对于 Jack (Barry Ward) 来说 似乎是个坏消息，他可能与 可爱的 Maggie (Liz White) 结婚多年，并有一个青少年 儿子，但他发现自己被 Daniel (Lorne MacFadyen) 莫名地吸引， 后者是一名苏格兰扇贝潜水员 且是当地的新来者。 影片拍摄得非常精美，MacFadyen 的表现确实出色，但这种悲剧 感显得无休无止，而且那毫无 疑问经过精心研究的当地口音， 对于非威尔士籍的演员来说， 听起来非常吃力。
【不适合儿童： 新版《动物庄园》中 一只猪领导了起义】
新小说
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W
《The Shadow Step》 马克·比林厄姆 (Mark Billingham) Sphere 出版社 £22, 400页 比林厄姆这部非常有趣的系列小说第三部，讲述了在黑池担任警察且长期不服从管教的德克兰·米勒 (Declan Miller) 的故事。故事始于一名毒贩的意外死亡，结束于附近森林中一场血腥的高潮。然而，本书的核心在于让我们愉快地探索米勒的世界——他与侦探搭档之间的玩笑、他的社交舞课、他与亡妻的对话——并为他试图改善家乡凋零之地艰苦生活的英勇尝试而喝彩。 约翰·威廉姆斯 (John Williams)
《Gentle Things》 丹妮尔·吉尔斯 (Danielle Giles) Mantle 出版社 £18.99, 352页 吉尔斯在她的处女作（关于中世纪修女的《Mere》）之后，带来了这个关于大火后伦敦医学与厌女症的、潜行般令人产生幻觉的故事。露西是一个贫穷的年轻女仆，在守寡母亲的催婚压力下，她一次次地避开那些邋遢的追求者——结果却爱上了一位迷人的药剂师，而对方的医德并非表面看上去那样。这部作品阴森且曲折，揭露了当时科学状况的令人不安之实。 安东尼·卡明斯 (Anthony Cummins)
《Voyagers》 梅格·查尔顿 (Meg Charlton) Borough Press 出版社 £16.99, 320页 六岁时，亚历克斯 (Alex) 和安娜 (Ana) 在加利福尼亚沙漠中一同失踪，据称是被外星人绑架了。两天后他们被发现，并迅速成为了准童星。成年后，安娜沉溺于这段经历，而亚历克斯则拥护理性。但当一个来自太空的未知信号让全世界都聚焦于外星接触时，他们的疏离状态结束了。在这个处理得轻盈的科幻前提下，作者对友谊、记忆和叙事进行了温柔的诠释。一部极具吸引力的处女作。 赫芙齐芭·安德森 (Hephzibah Anderson)
MIRANDA ALDHOUSE-GREEN / TRIANGLE NEWS / GETTY / ALAMY / SHUTTERSTOCK
《Florenzer》 菲尔·梅兰森 (Phil Melanson) Pushkin Press 出版社 £14.99, 368页 在15世纪的意大利，三个截然不同的男人努力在历史上留下自己的印记。佛罗伦萨的统治者洛伦佐·德·美第奇 (Lorenzo de’ Medici) 利用财富和战争来扩大影响力；世故的祭司弗朗切斯科·萨尔维亚蒂 (Francesco Salviati) 代表教皇对他进行阴谋策划；而年轻的列奥纳多·达·芬奇 (Leonardo da Vinci) 则在为争取委约作品而挣扎，并因探索同性行为而冒着职业风险。这是一部跨越二十年的宏大小说，将错综复杂的情节与对中世纪生活的生动描绘相结合，充满了氛围感和时代细节。 安东尼·加德纳 (Anthony Gardner)
在迪诺·马丁斯 (Dino Martins) 这本惊心动魄的书中所描述的所有爬行昆虫中，最令人毛骨悚然的一定是眼虫。这位肯尼亚生物学家解释了这种可憎的生物如何生活在马、羊，以及没错，猫和狗的眼眶中。 雌虫产卵，卵随后孵化，幼虫随之游到泪液中。被这种“蠕虫之泪”吸引的苍蝇将幼虫吸入，随后幼虫钻入宿主的生殖器官，然后缓慢地向头部移动。 当苍蝇落在另一只动物的眼睛上饮水时，幼虫破壳而出，钻入其中，整个恐怖的循环再次开始。 要读完《Hidden Creatures》，你确实需要一个强大的胃。但你还需要一种好奇心。马丁斯博士与大卫·爱登堡 (David Attenborough) 一样，能够突破科学数据的限制，揭示自然界和谐而复杂的结构。 起初，马丁斯对一只大象腐烂尸体的描述似乎既恶心又深沉地令人悲伤。 但在抒情的散文中，他向我们展示了这锅“沸腾的蛆虫炖锅”如何执行一项重要的生物学清理工作。蛆虫充当了“分解者和循环者”，确保这头巨兽一生中聚集的所有营养和精华都不会被浪费。 几分钟内，獴、灵猫、豹甚至昆虫就开始享用这些蛆虫，利用这些便捷的蛋白质包（你可以将其视为生物界的“即食餐”）。 事实上，蛆虫被证明是如此有帮...
关注那些 琐碎小事
政治家、商业领袖和爱管闲事的人都告诉过我们，不要“在意琐碎小事”（sweat the small stuff），但伊恩·博戈斯特（Ian Bogost）在一本非常有趣的书中问道，为什么不能在意呢？总的来说，琐碎的小事反而更有趣。战争在肆虐，世界在燃烧，但此时此刻，我对书架上的字母排序，或者我女朋友最近给我准备的新内裤抽屉更感兴趣。博戈斯特认为，物质世界充满了感官享受的意外机会，我们所需要做的就是让自己去体验它们。 敌人，正如往常一样，是技术，具体来说就是智能手机。我们在餐厅里见过多少次父母在摆弄
你的绦虫
Hidden Creatures Dino Martins William Collins £22, 336pp
……令人惊叹的是，美国的医生现在正将它们用于治疗重病患者。这种疗法是将经过消毒的绿瓶蝇幼虫放置在受感染的肉子上。蛆虫能有效地清除坏死组织，并在过程中防止坏疽的发生。 作为一名不折不扣的乐观主义者，Martins 分享了
【自然之道：绦虫等寄生虫发挥着关键作用】
蛆虫的分泌物甚至可能为研制新药提供可能性，包括一些有助于对抗耐药菌株的药物。 正当你开始对寄生虫产生好感时，Martins 提醒我们关注它们阴暗的一面。携带疟原虫的蚊子每年导致超过 50 万人死亡。 在某个时刻，Martins 甚至自己染上了这种病，最终在内罗毕的一家医院就诊。按照他的风格，在他开始感觉好转的瞬间，他坚持前往医院实验室观察自己被感染的血液。 想象一下，当他看到自己感染的是恶性疟原虫（Plasmodium falciparum）——所有疟原虫中最致命的一种——时，内心涌起的那种病态的自豪感。 《Hidden Creatures》是一部极佳的科普作品。虽然书中揭露的残酷之处不容否认——且不论竞争激烈，在这个世界里，寄生虫甚至以寄生虫为食——但正是那种迷幻感让读者欲罢不能。 Dino Martins 的绝佳技巧在于运用其抒情风格——将塞伦盖蒂草原上的雨云形容为“紫色、蓝黑色的水车”——来指出自然界阴暗面中那种乖张的美感。 我保证，读到最后，你将能够以一种近乎敬畏的目光看待蚂蟥、蛆虫，甚至是绦虫。 Kathryn Hughes
The Small Stuff Ian Bogost Allen Lane £20, 240pp
……用手机地盯着屏幕而忽略他们的孩子？我们有多少次扮演过这样的父母？我曾经有一部手机，但在 2016 年我在椭圆球场（The Oval）主持一场问答比赛时，把它留在讲台上去了趟洗手间，等我回来时，它被偷了。我再也没有买过新手机，尽管我的家人没完没了地抱怨他们不知道我在哪里，但好处在于，他们确实不知道我在哪里。 Bogost 说：“敦促你‘停下来闻闻玫瑰花香’已成了陈词滥调，但你甚至不需要停下来。当它们在前往幼儿园接送点的路边盛开时，香气已经弥漫在空气中了。你闻到了吗？”我确实闻到了。 “重新找回日常互动中失落的快乐还不算太晚，因为你生活的世界充满了你尚可与之交流的平凡之物。这很简单，免费，且没有任何后果。我称之为‘满足感’，而这本书讲述的就是如何重新发现它。” 书中许多最有趣的段落涉及关于“物品”的实际对话。其中一段描述 Bogost 遇到了另一位资深的健怡可乐（Diet Coke）消费者，两人一致认为塑料瓶装的口感最差。易拉罐稍好，但两人都更倾向于在酒吧里喝的那种——由调酒师操作的饮料“枪”将糖浆与碳酸水混合而成。 他们一致认为，最顶级的健怡可乐是德克萨斯州那种装在巨大的、凹凸不平的红色桶里的。奇怪的是，我最近也和一些 Maltesers 巧克力球的爱好者有过类似的对话。我们都认为，从涂蜡的纸盒里吃出来的味道比从塑料袋里吃要好得多。事实上，在写完这篇评论后，我可能会忍不住去买一盒。 《The Small Stuff》极其令人振奋，它会让你用一种全新的视角去看待公共交通工具上的绒面织物图案。Bogost 不相信“延迟满足”：他认为像我这样总是把披萨最美味的部分留到最后吃（那时通常已经冷了）的人是白痴。但这本书带来的快乐绝无延迟。 无论你是喜欢先倒茶还是先倒牛奶，我想你都会爱上这本书。 Marcus Berkmann
公元前 55 年 8 月，肯特郡海岸附近，迪尔附近。 罗马人抵达了…… “穿着沉重的军团盔甲，你如何穿过一艘搁浅运输船的甲板？ 海浪让船身尴尬地摇晃。你感到疲惫，或许还感到恶心。你的四肢僵硬且抽筋。你紧握着扶手，感觉到结晶的盐分……” 这就是一名军团士兵当时的感受。在此之前，从未有罗马军队踏上过这座神秘、迷雾笼罩的岛屿。 等待着他们的是怎样的恐怖？除开那些除了战斗之外别无所爱的凶猛不列颠人。 这部关于罗马征服英国的、大胆且多方面的历史新著，以如此详尽且具有电影感的生动描写将其还原，人们无法不称其为“史诗级”。 尤利乌斯·凯撒在公元前 55 年以及公元前 54 年的短暂插曲，实际上是一场公关噱头，旨在巩固他在国内作为伟大将领的声誉。它几乎没取得任何成果。他甚至没有到达传说中且利润丰厚的“贝莱里翁”（Belerion）——康沃尔的锡矿区。 不，真正的征服始于公元 43 年。正如在占领城市或国家时经常发生的那样，内部的叛徒在起作用。当英国沦陷于罗马之手时，普通的不列颠人被大规模屠杀或奴役。与此同时，英国的精英阶层在观察风向后，非常巧妙地向他们的新主子献媚，而他们的背叛行为换来了装满葡萄酒的双耳瓶、银杯、橄榄等精致食物，甚至是宫殿般的乡村别墅。费迪南德·亚迪斯（Ferdinand Addis）指出，其中一个例子就是萨塞克斯郡的菲什伯恩宫殿，那里拥有加热泳池、大理石和柱廊花园。 这些不列颠酋长曾经是“盛宴的提供者、啤酒的饮用者、项圈的佩戴者”。但亚迪斯干巴巴地写道，在新的罗马秩序下，他们被期望变得“理智且可靠，熟悉当时的意识形态，并尊重新的事物秩序”。这就是你如何巩固自己的社会地位的方式。 然而，被征服的部落确实反击了军团。卡拉塔库斯（Caratacus）——或者用他自己的语言最可能是“卡拉多克”（Caradoc）——领导了一场英勇的抵抗。但罗马的战争机器高效且无情。不列颠-凯尔特人的战斗方式色彩斑斓但混乱，是一群外表宏伟、虚荣的个体的混战，这些“野蛮人”蔑视作为服从单位进行战斗的理念。作者提醒我们，他们甚至会为了谁能分到最好的一块烤猪肉而进行生死决斗。他们穿着
长相体面，衣着考究， 且在战斗中极尽凶猛
HART 历史
征服 (Conquest) Ferdinand Addis 著 Head Of Zeus 出版，£30, 464页
他们穿着精美的羊毛斗篷，留着巨大的胡须，且精心打理，以至于他们的坟墓中发现了镜子和镊子。战争是一种艺术形式。他们驾驶战车是因为那样看起来很帅，“一个展示武勇的嘈杂且色彩绚丽的讲台”。
对于罗马士兵来说，这只是一份工作。他们是“一类熟练的劳工，其工作内容就是死亡”。事实上，他们似乎觉得这种残酷杀戮的常规工作几乎枯燥且重复，因此当提图斯在公元70年攻占耶路撒冷并下令每天将 500 名犹太人钉在十字架上时，士兵们“通过将受害者以各种不同的姿势钉在十字架上来娱乐自己，‘以此作为玩笑’”。
他们服从命令，在被称为军团的 5,000 人规模单位中作战，最终几乎总是能击败蛮族。
卡拉塔库斯意识到了这一点，因此多年来一直采取不对称战争，使用打了就跑的游击战术。但最终，军团在威尔士的山区——我们不确切知道具体地点——将其逼入绝境，他被击败了。他逃往英格兰北部的布里根特斯女王卡蒂曼杜娅寻求帮助——但这位女王作为另一名统治阶级的叛徒，将他移交给罗马人进行仪式性的绞杀。
然而，罗马人既能残酷也能宽宏，他们钦佩他纯粹的战斗精神及其拒绝屈服的态度，而且他似乎在罗马又生活了多年，虽为囚徒但幸存了下来。
当然，公元61年还有波迪卡那场凶猛的起义——你可以理解原因。新的统治者鞭笞了她，并强奸了她的女儿们，以此作为“教训”。她将科尔切斯特和 伦敦 焚毁，屠杀了数千人并折磨其他人，
但随后再次被军团的纪律击败。
不久，这片土地也像英国的上层阶级一样被罗马化了。英格兰西南部一个以超凡脱俗的迷雾和奇怪气味而闻名、被不列颠人视为神圣之地数代之久的温泉，被彻底罗马化，如今被称为巴斯（Bath）。毕竟，罗马作家普林尼说，罗马的使命是“聚集分散的领域……柔化习俗……统一许多民族不和谐的野蛮语言……为人类带来文明”。
但另一个声音，英国首领卡尔加库斯在俯瞰今日 苏格兰 境内被毁的土地和破碎的民族时，被记录下这样一句刻薄的评论：“他们制造了一片荒漠，并称之为和平。”
我喜欢作者在任何引起他兴趣的主题上随意发散的方式，并让这些内容也变得迷人。书中有一个关于草原（大致相当于今天的 乌克兰 ）雅姆纳亚人（Yamnaya）的章节，极其引人入胜。今日约 90% 的英国本土居民都起源于他们。这些“开阔草原上的牛仔”身材高大且肤色白皙，骑马驾驶战车，在公元前3000年左右，以惊人的速度和侵略性从第聂伯河席卷至大西洋，横跨欧洲。
他们是以战斗年龄的年轻男性群体——koryos，“狼孩”的形式而来的，袭击欧洲那些更平和的农民，在那里他们“强奸、掠夺、偷窃和杀戮。但至关重要的是，他们是在远离自己族人的地方做这些事的”。现代DNA分析显示了结果：“欧洲的大部分遗传构成被改变了”。正如历史中经常发生的那样，胜利的雅姆纳亚人屠杀了所有男性，并强奸/娶了/使所有女性怀孕，因此今日欧洲男性的DNA具有明显的雅姆纳亚特征，而女性的“线粒体DNA”则根植于更早的欧洲新石器时代。这虽然令人不安，但具有一种阴郁的吸引力。我们是种族灭绝杀手的后代。
《征服》（Conquest）是一个引人入胜的叙事，它在一条令人愉悦且迂回的路径上穿梭于我们复杂的历史，是对那段永远改变了我们岛屿的极其暴力且绝望时代的极其新鲜且现代的描述。
s
S
《爱之岛》的诅咒 (THE CURSE OF LOVE ISLAND)
前参赛者在一部新的两集纪录片中讲述了节目内部的真实情况。内容涵盖了他们初次进入时感到的紧张，以及随后关注度消失、资金枯竭后的感受——而节目则转向了下一批岛民。片中对参赛者 Sophie Gradon、Mike Thalassitis 以及主持人 Caroline Flack 的自杀进行了令人心酸的反思，但最令人动容的是 Anton Danyluk（左）公开讲述自己曾尝试自杀的经历。 周日，Prime Video
新节目
一部来自美国的八集猫鼠游戏式惊悚片，镜头前有两位出色的女演员，幕后则由顶尖编剧（《渴望性爱》的 Elizabeth Meriwether）操刀。Emmy Rossum（右）饰演新任 FBI 特工 Alice Black，她正在追踪一名将男性一个个杀掉的女性连环杀手。饰演杀手的是 Lola Petticrew，去年她在 Channel 4, 的北爱尔兰剧集《Trespasses》中饰演一个截然不同的角色，表现极其出色。周一，Disney+
JOEL ANDERSON / ITV / SHUTTERSTOCK / WIREIMAGE
霍莉的新生活方式节目在 YouTube 上播出，而且有点俏皮地选在上午 10 点推出——就像《早晨好》(This Morning) 一样。主持人（右）在她的居家风工作室中迎接名人以及拥有非凡故事的普通人，节目包含时尚、美容和健康板块。预计这里的脏话会比你习惯的早间电视节目多得多。 周二和周五，YouTube，上午 10 点
周一《亲密》(INTIMA)
Lena Headey（右）创作、导演并主演这部大胆的喜剧剧集，饰演一名电影业的亲密协调员。 Radio 4，晚上 11 点
周二 《15 层》(FLOOR 15) Fergus Walsh 在盖伊医院 (Guy’s Hospital) 的 15 层进行报道，那里正在对晚期癌症患者进行临床试验。Radio 4，晚上 8 点
奇幻剧《吸血鬼莱斯特》(THE VAMPIRE LESTAT) 这部改编自安妮·赖斯 (Anne Rice) 《吸血鬼访谈》的作品以狂野的风格开启了全新的第三季，时间跳跃到现代美国，发现吸血鬼莱斯特正处于他的摇滚之神 era.。由 Sam Reid（上图）饰演的莱斯特就像是 Michael Hutchence 和 Iggy Pop 的结合体，在座无虚席的体育馆中演出。周二，BBC2，晚上 9 点
周四《娜塔莉·海恩斯为经典正名》(NATALIE HAYNES STANDS UP FOR THE CLASSICS)
这位“摇滚明星”神话学家，她的系列节目以来自古城亚历山大里亚的非凡发明故事开始。 Radio 4，上午 9 点
周六 《在侧幕等待》(WAITING IN THE WINGS) 作为对 Penelope Keith 的致敬，重播 Noel Coward 的这部设定在退休女演员之家中的剧作。Radio 4，下午 3 点
BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 CHANNEL 4 5
6.00 早餐节目 9.00 BBC新闻 10.00 祷告与反思 (R) 10.30 朝圣之旅：北威尔士之路 (R) 11.30 无偿之财 (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 探讨圣经和基督教信仰中树的精神含义。 1.55 生命线 Eddie Marsan 代表 Tourettes Action 发起此次呼吁。 2.05 择偶游戏 水生生物求偶仪式片段。(R) 3.05 电影：《杜立特医生》(PG/2020) 由小罗伯特·唐尼和安东尼奥·班德拉斯主演的奇幻冒险片。 4.35 房屋拍卖行 位于考文特里、坎布里亚和威尔士山谷的房产。(R) 5.35 BBC新闻 5.50 地区新闻；天气预报 6.00 名人乡村逃离 3/6 由记者及电视节目主持人 Janet Street-Porter 主持。(R)
《狂喜》，晚上9点 Ruth Madeley 和 India Ria Amarteifio 主演
7.00 乡村档案 Anita Rani 东海岸公路旅行的最后一站是萨福克海岸的奥福德内斯，在那里她发现了废弃的军事综合体如何被野生动物重新占据。 8.00 古董路演 2/19 Fiona Bruce 在利物浦的塞夫顿公园棕榈屋主持节目，发现的物品包括在慈善商店买的明代花瓶、披头士纪念品和 George Melly 的画作。(R) 9.00 《狂喜》 1/5 一名心理学家被指派治疗一名宗教领袖的女儿，该女子因谋杀母亲而被强制住院。由 Ruth Madeley 和 India Ria Amarteifio 主演的心理惊悚剧。 10.00 十点 BBC 新闻 10.25 地区新闻；天气预报 10.30 电影：《我是传奇》(15/2007) 由威尔·史密斯、爱丽丝·布拉加和查理·塔汉主演的科幻惊悚片。 12.00 你认为你是谁？ 由 Adeel Akhtar 主持。(R)
6.25 电视园艺 A-Z (R) 7.05 俯瞰绝美花园 园艺学家 Christine Walkden 飞往坎布里亚上空。(R) 7.50 乡村档案 Anita Rani 访问埃塞克斯海岸的一个自然保护区。(R) 8.50 气象员徒步精选 三次改变人们生活的徒步之旅。 9.20 山毛榉园 (R) 9.50 周六厨房最佳美食 包含 Hasan Semay、Freddy Bird 和 Anna Haugh 的食谱。 11.20 印度美食简易指南 双剧集。美食作家兼厨师 Anjum Anand 准备一系列菜肴。(R) 12.20 电影：《十字弩行动》(PG/1965) 第二次世界大战冒险片，由 George Peppard、索菲娅·罗兰和 Trevor Howard 主演。 2.15 板球：百球赛 Trent Rockets 女队 v 伦敦 Spirit 女队 (开始时间 2.30pm)。在诺丁汉 Trent Bridge 的比赛报道。
板球：百球赛，下午6点 Tom Banton 为 Trent Rockets 出战
《自然之力》，晚上7点 鸮类在新的纪录片系列中亮相
Tour de France 2026, 晚上9点 由 Rebecca Charlton 主持
6.00 板球：百球赛 Trent Rockets 男队 v 伦敦 Spirit 男队 (开始时间 6pm)。在诺丁汉 Trent Bridge 的比赛报道。在队长兼全能球员 Liam Livingstone 的带领下，Spirit 队希望在经历了上周揭幕战 7 分的遗憾失败后反弹。 9.30 阿波罗剧院现场 2/7 Dara O Briain 在伦敦汉默史密斯阿波罗剧院主持这场喜剧秀，在介绍脱口秀明星 Felicity Ward 和 Mo Gilligan 的表演前为观众暖场。(R) 10.00 电影：《出租车司机》(18/1976) 一个孤独的纽约出租车司机变得日益不安，并逐渐被驱使去实施一次残暴的暴力行为。马丁·斯科塞斯执导，罗伯特·德尼罗主演的剧情片。 11.50 电影：《象人》(12/1980) 安东尼·霍普金斯主演的剧情片。 1.50 手语地带：你知道你的位置吗？ (R)
6.00 詹姆斯·马丁的美国冒险 (R) 7.00 詹姆斯·马丁的周六早晨，嘉宾为迈克尔·鲍尔 (R) 9.25 ITV新闻 9.30 与艾伦·蒂奇马什共度周末 (R) 11.30 费恩·布里顿：走进兽医，费恩见证了一只孟加拉猫的阉割手术。 12.30 汤姆·克里奇烹饪意大利，主厨探索托斯卡纳和拉齐奥。(R) 1.00 热爱你的花园，为慈善工作者艾琳改造萨福克郡的一座花园。(R) 1.55 ITV新闻；天气预报 2.10 交易还是不交易：名人特辑，古兹·汗参加该游戏节目。(R) 3.10 电影：《活期快逃》(PG/1973)，由罗杰·摩尔和雅菲特·科托主演的詹姆斯·邦德冒险剧。 5.30 追击名人特辑，嘉宾为杰德·亚当斯、托尼·科蒂、Naughty Boy和维维安。(R) 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 1/6，安德鲁·林肯讲述在气候变化加剧和天气变得更加极端的情况下，动物们为生存而战的情况。 8.00 《艾默代尔》，盖比进行体检，而凯夫的朋友史蒂夫认为这个村庄是个金矿。 8.30 《 Coronation Street》，莎拉向大卫和肖娜透露了关于乔迪秘密盒子的消息。 9.00 《黑暗》 5/6，在莫妮卡分心救菲莉时，杀手逃脱了。此外，尼古尔告诉巴克利关于贝瑟尼的私情，巴克利袭击了斯蒂芬。 10.00 ITV新闻；天气预报 10.20 天空之恐：阻止液体炸弹阴谋，回顾 2006 年那次被挫败的恐怖袭击，当时英国阴谋者试图将液体炸药走私到多架跨大西洋客机上并将其摧毁。 11.30 《追击：环球之旅》 2/6，团队抵达巴塞罗那。(R) 12.30 电视购物
6.20 《女王之王》双片连播。(R) 7.10 《雷蒙德的一切》三片连播。(R) 8.30 《辛普森一家》三片连播。(R) 10.00 周日早午餐，蒂姆·洛夫乔伊和西蒙·里默与盖尔斯·布兰德雷斯、瑞奇·威尔逊、尼古拉·贝内代蒂和斯蒂芬·曼根一同参与。包含加布里埃拉·西尔米提供的音乐。 1.00 杰米烹饪地中海，在突尼斯，杰米·奥利弗受邀在偏远海滩与当地厨师一起烹饪。(R) 2.05 《狗狗之家》纪录片精彩片段。(R) 2.50 乔治·克拉克的惊人空间，两兄弟将一辆破旧巴士改造为冰淇淋车。(R) 3.55 我们的邻居农场：阿曼达、克莱夫和孩子们 (R) 5.00 英国最受欢迎的火车站，由西·金主持，本集赞美英国的海岸和沿海车站。(R) 6.00 第四频道新闻，包括体育和天气预报。
电影：《原谅》，晚上10点，拉尔夫·费恩斯和杰西卡·查斯坦主演
6.30 一级方程式匈牙利大奖赛精彩回顾，李·麦肯齐与大卫·库特哈德、爱丽丝·鲍威尔和阿里安娜·布拉沃共同主持，报道匈牙利环赛道本赛季第 11 轮的赛事情况。 9.00 《钢琴》，克劳迪亚·温克尔曼和米卡抵达约克站，并由爵士钢琴家Hiromi陪伴。表演者中有一位天赋异禀的词曲作者，带来了一首极具个人色彩的原创曲目。 10.00 电影：《原谅》(18/2021)，一对夫妇在开车前往派对的途中，在摩洛哥沙漠中撞死了一名年轻人。根据劳伦斯·奥斯本小说改编的剧集，由拉尔夫·费恩斯、杰西卡·查斯坦和马特·史密斯主演。 12.15 电影：《伴我同行》(15/1986)，4 名青少年在寻找一名失踪少年的尸体时，以艰辛的方式认知了生活。由里弗·凤凰、杰里·奥康奈尔和科里·费尔德曼主演的剧集。
6.00 Milkshake! 儿童节目，包括：8.10 动物护理俱乐部 (R) 8.25 蓝精灵 8.35 生物案件 (R) 8.50 派大星秀 (R) 9.00 5频道娱乐新闻，演艺圈新闻与八卦。 9.10 电影：《海绵宝宝电影：海绵出水》(U/2015)，由汤姆·肯尼配音的动画喜剧。 11.00 2026 年 Commonwealth Games，格拉斯哥第二天的精彩回顾。(R) 12.00 快乐露营者：房车公园 (R) 1.00 与苏珊·卡尔曼一起巡游，双片连播。(R) 3.00 进入死亡谷，由尼克·诺尔斯主持，双片连播。(R) 5.00 与迈克尔·波蒂洛在里斯本，迈克尔在葡萄牙首都度过了一个周末。(R) 6.25 新闻，国内和国际新闻。 6.30 当海滩假期变得糟糕透顶 1/5，讲述噩梦般的假期经历。(R)
8.00 顽皮狗狗 (Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly) 7/16 格雷姆·霍尔 (Graeme Hall) 会见了一只潜在的学校治疗犬，但这只狗一直扮演着“班级小丑”的角色，而不是给教室带来冷静的影响。(R) 9.00 2026年环法自行车赛 (Tour De France 2026) 这场大环赛最后阶段的实况，路线从图里 (Thoiry) 到巴黎，全长 133 公里，高潮是沿着香榭丽舍大街的传统终点冲刺。 10.00 2026年英联邦运动会 (Commonwealth Games 2026) 格拉斯哥第三日的精彩回顾，包括艺术体操个人全能决赛，以及游泳和残疾人游泳项目的九枚奖牌颁发。 11.05 鲍里斯·约翰逊：进入乌克兰杀戮区 (Boris Johnson: Into Ukraine’s Kill Zone) 鲍里斯·约翰逊前往乌克兰前线，旨在了解在普京入侵该国四年后发生了什么。(R) 12.35 警探 (Cops) (R)
BBC1 BBC2 ITV1
6.00 早餐节目 9.30 动物公园 (R) 10.15 追踪、寻找、找回我的车 (R) 10.45 专家证人 (R) 11.15 房屋拍卖 (R) 12.15 淘宝猎手 1.00 BBC 新闻 1.35 地区新闻 1.45 BBC 新闻 2.00 不劳而获 2.45 逃往乡村 (R) 3.45 出价室 4.30 巡回拍卖师 (R) 5.15 无用之用 (R) 6.00 BBC 新闻 6.30 地区新闻 7.00 The One Show 7.30 东区居民 (EastEnders) 伊恩正为他可能是最后的自由之日做准备。 8.00 全景 (Panorama) 深度报道。 8.30 诈骗拦截者 4/15 (R) 9.00 狂喜 (The Rapture) 2/5 加布斯追踪到了贝瑟尼画作中那个神秘女子的下落。 10.00 BBC 十点新闻 10.30 地区新闻；天气 10.40 你认为你是谁？ 5/8 主持人托比·琼斯 . (R) 11.40 电影：《面包车里的女人》(12/2015) 喜剧正剧，由玛吉·史密斯主演。 1.25 BBC 新闻
6.00 早餐节目 9.30 动物公园 (R) 10.15 追踪、寻找、找回我的车 (R) 10.45 专家证人 (R) 11.15 房屋拍卖 12.15 淘宝猎手 (R) 1.00 BBC 新闻 1.35 地区新闻 1.45 BBC 新闻 2.00 不劳而获 2.45 逃往乡村 (R) 3.45 出价室 (R) 4.30 巡回拍卖师 (R) 5.15 无用之用 (R) 6.00 BBC 新闻 6.30 地区新闻 7.00 The One Show 7.30 东区居民 (EastEnders) 希拉在与格雷见面后深受震惊。 8.00 英国缝纫大赛 3/10 参赛者将回收 T 恤，并制作带有环保信息的服装。 9.00 谋杀 24/7 3/8 一名在什鲁斯伯里被伏击杀害的 DPD 司机。 10.00 BBC 十点新闻 10.30 地区新闻；天气 10.40 电影：《盲眼之光》(12/2019) 成长正剧，由维维克·卡尔拉和米拉·加纳特拉主演。 12.35 BBC 新闻
BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 CHANNEL 4
6.30 淘货猎手 (R) 7.15 动物公园 (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 闪电 (R) 2.45 毛发骑行者的烘焙之旅 (R) 3.45 农民乡村对决 (R) 4.15 太空看地球 (R) 5.15 把它卖了！ (R) 6.00 理查德·奥斯曼的游戏屋 (R) 6.30 仅此一事 (R) 7.00 全球之眼：来自全球BBC记者的调查报告。 7.30 知识大师 8.00 唯有连接：Sinistrals队对阵Merseyside Eyes队。 8.30 大学挑战赛 9.00 进化 3/5 本集讲述蝙蝠的故事。 10.00 莫蒂默与怀特豪斯：去钓鱼 3/6 (R) 10.30 新闻之夜 11.05 电影：《希望与荣耀》(15/1987) 由塞巴斯蒂安·赖斯-爱德华兹主演的英国第二次世界大战剧情片。 12.55 手语区：乡村生活 (R)
6.30 淘货猎手 (R) 7.15 动物公园 (R) 8.00 手语区：英国大缝纫赛 (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 闪电 (R) 2.45 毛发骑行者的烘焙之旅 (R) 3.45 农民乡村对决 (R) 4.15 太空看地球 (R) 5.15 把它卖了！ (R) 6.00 理查德·奥斯曼的游戏屋 (R) 6.30 仅此一事 (R) 7.00 瑞克·斯坦的食物故事 2/6 瑞克遇见了一位热爱野外采集的厨师。(R) 8.00 惊艳酒店：大堂之外的生活 3/8 (R) 9.00 吸血鬼莱斯特：吸血鬼访谈 1/7 莱斯特讲述了导致一场惨烈酒店冲突的经过。 9.45 阿波罗现场 6/7 (R) 10.30 新闻之夜 11.05 电影：《新男孩》(12/2023) 首播。由凯特·布兰切特主演的剧情片。 12.35 手语区：娜塔莉·卡西迪：共同护理 (R)
6.00 英国早安 10.00 晨间节目 1.30 ITV新闻；天气 1.55 地方新闻；天气 2.00 迪金森的真实交易 (R) 3.00 成交或不成交 (R) 4.00 倾斜点 (R) 5.00 追击赛 (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 7/10 这家人决定在林地露营。 8.00 艾默代尔 Kev渴望留下好印象。 8.30 街道冠冕 乔迪的意外到来掩盖了哈珀的欢迎回家派对。 9.00 黑暗 6/6 当凶手身份被揭穿，莫妮卡迅速采取行动，她有机会救下最后的受害者。 10.00 ITV新闻；天气 10.30 地方新闻；天气 10.45 TikTok：谋杀成名 3/3 一位尸体在侧路被发现的网红。(R) 11.40 爱与死亡 3/7 (R) 12.40 电视购物
6.00 英国早安 10.00 晨间节目 1.00 ITV新闻；天气 1.20 地方新闻；天气 1.30 ITV赛马：光辉古德伍德。报道该赛事的首日，包括古德伍德杯。 4.30 倾斜点：史上最佳决赛 (R) 5.00 追击赛 (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 2/6 总经理斯特凡召集员工宣布重大消息。 8.00 艾默代尔 维尼的嫉妒可能正引发问题。 8.30 街道冠冕 大卫和肖娜面对质乔迪。 9.00 冷案法医：上帝银行家的之死 1/3 探讨意大利银行家罗伯托·卡尔维的死亡。 10.00 ITV新闻；天气 10.30 地方新闻；天气 10.45 电影：《绝地战警》(15/1995) 威尔·史密斯和马丁·劳伦斯主演的动作惊悚片。 1.00 电视购物
CHANNEL 4 5
6.25 Cheers (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 Narrow Escapes (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 风暴艾米（Storm Amy）袭击多佛，强风导致一艘邮轮偏离航线。 9.00 24 Hours In A&E 一名女性遭遇骑行事故。 10.00 Secret Lives Of Gypsy Wives 蒂娜（Tina）因无法承担的宠物医疗账单而心碎。 11.05 999: On The Front Line 急救人员发现一名女性跌倒，且大脑可能出血。(R) 12.05 Secrets Of The Celebrity Sex Tapes 真人秀明星米米（Mimi）分享了她性爱录像背后的故事。
6.25 Cheers (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 Narrow Escapes (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00 American Pickers (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News 8.00 Hotel Chocolat Unwrapped 新剧集。揭秘巧克力制造商的幕后故事，该公司正进军烘焙业务。 9.00 The Undeclared War 3/6 芭芭拉（Barbara）与前男友尼基·陈（Nicky Chan）相遇——首次是在 2014 年香港的一次注定 MI6 任务中，之后在 2022 年他再次出现在 伦敦。 10.00 Gogglebox 评论 The Celebrity Traitors 和 Trigger Point。(R) 11.05 First Dates (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 电影：She Is Not Your Daughter (12/2022) 由艾丽西亚·莱利·威利斯（Alicia Leigh Willis）主演的惊悚片。 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 News 6.00 Jersey And Guernsey (R) 6.55 News 7.00 Motorway Cops: Catching Britain’s Speeders 3/10 警员比利·斯特德（Billy Stead）和内森·索尔默（Nathan Saltmer）在追踪一辆疑似克隆的 BMW。(R) 7.55 News 8.00 Street Cops: Catching The Yobs 新剧集。警察响应一名同事的求救电话。 9.00 The Crow Girl 4/6 一具尸体引导珍妮特（Jeanette）找到了伯克曼（Burkeman）一家。 10.05 Commonwealth Games 2026 格拉斯哥第四日的精彩回顾。 11.05 Police: Night Shift 999 8/8 警员默钱特（Merchant）发现一名男子在开车时观看手机内容。(R) 12.05 Traffic Cops (R)
6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 News 12.50 Matt Allwright 2.20 电影：Mystery Of The Dead Nanny (12/2022) 由尼科莱特·兰利（Nicolette Langley）主演的惊悚片。 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 News 6.00 Malta: The Jewel Of The Med (R) 6.55 News 7.00 The Yorkshire Vet: At Home With The Greens 1/4 英国两名最年长的在职农民的生活。(R) 7.55 News 8.00 Inside Longleat 在历史悠秘的秘密花园中，团队在搬运一座青铜雕塑。 9.00 The Crow Girl 5/6 珍妮特（Jeanette）和索菲亚（Sophia）挖掘维多利亚（Victoria）的过去，而阿玛尔（Amar）与迈克（Mike）分享信息。 10.00 Commonwealth Games 2026 格拉斯哥第五日的精彩回顾。 11.05 Accused: Guilty Or Innocent? 4/7 (R) 12.05 Accused: Guilty Or Innocent? 5/7 (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; Weather 2.00 Money For Nothing 2.45 Escape To The Country (R) 3.45 The Bidding Room 4.30 The Travelling Auctioneers (R) 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC News; Weather 6.30 Regional News 7.00 The One Show 由 Alex Jones 和 Vernon Kay 主持。 7.30 EastEnders Gray 继续 操纵 Sheila。 8.00 The Repair Shop 一台弹珠机 被修复。 (R) 9.00 Murder 24/7 4/8 关于 伍斯特郡一起致命捅刺案的 调查。 10.00 BBC News At Ten 10.30 Regional News; Weather 10.40 电影：Eye In The Sky (15/2015) 由 Helen Mirren 主演的 惊悚片。 12.15 The Hit List 名人 特别篇 问答节目。 (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; Weather 2.00 Money For Nothing 2.45 Escape To The Country (R) 3.45 The Bidding Room (R) 4.30 The Travelling Auctioneers (R) 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC News; Weather 6.30 Regional News 7.00 The One Show 由 Alex Jones 和 Clara Amfo 参与。 7.30 EastEnders Sheila 与 Chelsea 对质，后者意识到 她必须让她见到 Jordan。 8.00 Fake Or Fortune? 3/4 调查一幅被认为是法国 艺术家 André Derain 所作的画作。 9.00 Who Do You Think You Are? 7/8 Harriet Walter 追溯 她的母系祖先。 10.00 BBC News At Ten 10.30 Regional News; Weather 10.40 Murder 24/7 (R) 12.35 Alan Carr’s Picture Slam (R)
6.30 无中生有 (Money For Nothing) (重播) 7.15 竞拍室 (The Bidding Room) (重播) 8.00 标志地带：伟大的日本铁路之旅 (Sign Zone: Great Japanese Railway Journeys) (重播) 8.30 伟大的欧陆铁路之旅 (Great Continental Railway Journeys) (重播) 9.00 BBC 新闻 1.00 理查德·奥斯曼的游戏之家 (Richard Osman’s House Of Games) (重播) 1.30 终点线 (The Finish Line) (重播) 2.15 闪电 (Lightning) (重播) 2.45 毛茸茸骑士的烘焙之旅 (The Hairy Bikers’ Bakeation) (重播) 3.45 农民乡村对决 (The Farmers’ Country Showdown) (重播) 4.15 太空看地球 (Earth From Space) (重播) 5.15 把它卖了！(Flog It!) (重播) 6.00 理查德·奥斯曼的游戏之家 (Richard Osman’s House Of Games) (重播) 6.30 仅此一事 (Just One Thing) (重播) 7.00 名人古董路演 5/20 约翰·伯科和萨莉·冈内尔接受挑战。(重播) 8.00 海上救生 4/10 纽黑文救援队全力尝试营救一名游艇运动员。(重播) 9.00 火药阴谋：露西·沃斯利调查 2/4 (重播) 10.00 9号房间内部 2/6 (重播) 10.30 新闻之夜 (Newsnight) 11.00 超凡 (Uncanny) 2/3 (重播) 12.00 家庭之魔：鲁比·弗兰克之陨 (The Devil In The Family: The Fall Of Ruby Franke) (重播)
6.30 无中生有 (Money For Nothing) (重播) 7.15 竞拍室 (The Bidding Room) (重播) 8.00 标志地带：园艺世界 (Sign Zone: Gardeners’ World) (重播) 9.00 BBC 新闻 1.00 理查德·奥斯曼的游戏之家 (Richard Osman’s House Of Games) (重播) 1.30 终点线 (The Finish Line) (重播) 2.15 闪电 (Lightning) (重播) 2.45 毛茸茸骑士的烘焙之旅 (The Hairy Bikers’ Bakeation) (重播) 3.45 农民乡村对决 (The Farmers’ Country Showdown) (重播) 4.15 太空看地球 (Earth From Space) (重播) 5.15 把它卖了！(Flog It!) (重播) 6.00 理查德·奥斯曼的游戏之家 (Richard Osman’s House Of Games) (重播) 6.30 仅此一事 (Just One Thing) (重播) 7.00 逃往乡村 (Escape To The Country) (重播) 8.00 挖掘英国 2/6 (重播) 9.00 家庭之魔：鲁比·弗兰克之陨 2/3 9.50 北约克郡穆尔斯：狂野之年 (重播) 10.00 走私生意：卧底 调查在法国活动的偷渡团伙。 10.30 新闻之夜 (Newsnight) 11.00 高尔夫：2026年女子公开赛集锦 大满贯锦标赛第一天。 12.00 电影：《黑化》(The Blackening) (15/2023) 由 Grace Byers 主演的喜剧恐怖片。
6.00 英国早安 10.00 此时此刻 1.00 ITV 新闻；天气 1.20 地方新闻；天气 1.30 ITV 赛马：辉煌古德伍德。赛事第二天报道，包括萨塞克斯锦标赛。 4.30 翻牌赢大奖：史上最强决赛 (重播) 5.00 追击 (The Chase) (重播) 6.00 地方新闻；天气 6.30 ITV 新闻；天气 7.30 非诚勿扰：银行家的最佳之战 8.00 艾默代尔 乔通过举行一次即兴午餐让每个人都感到不安。 8.30 Coronation Street 罗斯的生日家庭庆祝活动让卡西难以承受。 9.00 想成为百万富翁吗？由杰里米·克拉克森主持的问答节目。(重播) 10.00 ITV 新闻；天气 10.30 地方新闻；天气 10.45 电影：《生而让我死》(Live And Let Die) (PG/1973) 由罗杰·摩尔和雅菲特·科托主演的詹姆斯·邦德冒险片。 1.05 电视购物
6.00 英国早安 10.00 此时此刻 1.00 ITV 新闻；天气 1.20 地方新闻；天气 1.30 ITV 赛马：辉煌古德伍德。赛事第三天报道，包括拿骚锦标赛。 4.30 翻牌赢大奖：史上最强决赛 (重播) 5.00 追击 (The Chase) (重播) 6.00 地方新闻；天气 6.30 ITV 新闻；天气 7.30 汤姆·克里奇烹饪意大利 3/6 厨师在翁布里亚寻找松露。 8.00 艾默代尔 仓库里可能有危险。 8.30 Coronation Street 卡西将罗斯作为新目标，重温她的精彩瞬间。 9.00 全球追击 3/6 团队抵达里斯本，挑战“黑暗毁灭者”和“罪人”。 10.00 ITV 新闻；天气 10.30 地方新闻；天气 10.45 电影：《绝地救兵2》(Bad Boys II) (15/2003) 由威尔·史密斯主演的喜剧惊悚续集。 1.25 电视购物
6.25 干杯 (Cheers) (重播) 7.45 每个人都爱雷蒙 (Everybody Loves Raymond) (重播) 9.10 弗雷泽 (Frasier) (重播) 11.10 拉姆齐的厨房噩梦：美国版 (Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA) (重播) 12.05 第4频道新闻摘要 12.10 寻找、修复、出售 (Find It, Fix It, Flog It) (重播) 1.10 大宅赠送 (The Great House Giveaway) (重播) 2.10 倒计时 (Countdown) 3.00 阳光下的居所 (A Place In The Sun) (重播) 4.00 惊险逃生 (Narrow Escapes) (重播) 5.00 城堡DIY (Chateau DIY) (重播) 6.00 美国淘金客 (American Pickers) (重播) 7.00 第4频道新闻 8.00 卓越扩建 新剧集。一对夫妇将他们位于伦敦西区的家改造为一座受《了不起的盖茨比》启发而建的宫殿。 9.00 未宣战之战 4/6 芭芭拉找到了尼基，但她不稳定的行为让丹尼感到担心。 10.00 急诊室24小时 7/7 萨拉因严重的头部和胸部受伤就诊。(重播) 11.05 急诊室24小时 一名 23 岁女性发生骑马事故。(重播) 12.05 谋杀案：数字侦探 (重播)
6.25 Cheers (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. With Scarlett Moffatt in Dictionary Corner. 3.00 A Place In The Sun (R) 4.00 Narrow Escapes (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00 American Pickers. (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News 8.00 Renovation Rescue 新系列。Vogue Williams 和 Luke Mabbott 为房主提供 实用的 DIY 和设计 建议。 9.00 Murder Case: The Digital Detectives 法医手机分析如何 引导侦探找到了 Samantha Holden 的凶手。 10.00 Don’t Date Brandon 1/3 两名女性试图 警告他人远离 一名惯性出轨者。 11.00 Don’t Date Brandon 2/3 12.05 Don’t Date Brandon 3/3
6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 News 12.50 Matt Allwright 2.20 电影： Memories Of Murder (12/2023) 由 Andrea Bogart 主演的惊悚片。 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 News 6.00 Malta: The Jewel Of The Med (R) 6.55 News 7.00 Car Pound Cops 5/8 在 萨里郡，一名四轮摩托车骑手 被拦截。(R) 7.55 News 8.00 Casualty 24/7: Every Second Counts 急救人员紧急救治 一名呼吸困难的 71 岁老人。 9.00 The Crow Girl 6/6 在 Jeanette 处理 Lou 行为 引发的后果时， Victoria 寻求复仇。 10.00 2026年英联邦运动会 格拉斯哥第六日的精彩回顾， 包括举重、 田径和残疾人田径， 以及最后的游泳 和残疾人游泳项目。 11.05 Cause Of Death 7/10 (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 电影： Stolen Baby: The Murder Of Heidi Broussard (12/2023) 由 Anna Hopkins 主演的剧情片。 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 News 6.00 Malta: The Jewel Of The Med (R) 6.55 News 7.00 Around The World In First Class With Josie Gibson 1/4 Josie Gibson 探索 头等舱旅行的世界。(R) 7.55 News 8.00 Cornwall: A Year By The Sea 9/10 艺术家 Iona 在 圣艾夫斯主持一场 风景画大师班。 9.00 Benidorm Is Murder 1/6 由 John Hannah 和 Carolina Bécquer 主演的剧情片。 10.00 2026年英联邦运动会 格拉斯哥第七日的精彩回顾。 11.05 Fare Dodgers: At War With The Law 执法人员在沃克斯霍尔 进行一次大规模抓捕行动。(R) 12.05 Street Cops: Catching The Yobs 纪录片。(R)
BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 CHANNEL 4 5
BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 CHANNEL 4
6.00 早间新闻 9.30 动物公园 (重播) 10.15 追踪、寻找，追回我的车 (重播) 10.45 专家证人 (重播) 11.15 房屋拍卖 (重播) 12.15 淘货猎人 1.00 BBC 新闻 1.35 地区新闻 1.45 BBC 新闻 2.00 理发师之谜 2.45 逃往乡村 (重播) 3.45 竞拍室 4.30 巡回拍卖师 (重播) 5.15 Pointless (重播) 6.00 BBC 新闻 6.30 地区新闻 7.00 The One Show 7.30 我们的生活：乐队中最后的矿工 纪录片。 8.00 花岗岩港口 2/3 林多和团队找回了谋杀武器。 9.00 我在撒谎吗？ 3/9 (重播) 9.30 Ann Droid 3/6 琳达拉着苏去了海边。 10.00 BBC 十点新闻 10.30 地区新闻；天气 10.40 奥斯汀 7/8 11.05 奥斯汀 8/8 11.35 电影：《嗅到女人香》 (15/1992) 喜剧正剧，由阿尔·帕西诺主演。 2.10 BBC 新闻
6.00 Breakfast 10.00 Saturday Kitchen 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) 2.00 Money For Nothing (R) 3.00 Escape To The Country (R) 3.55 电影：博物馆奇妙夜： 史密森尼博物馆之战 (PG/2009) 5.35 BBC News 5.45 地区新闻 5.55 The Hit List 名人特辑 6.40 Alan Carr’s Picture Slam 7.25 Michael McIntyre’s Big Show 6/6 主持人 Holly Willoughby 和 Perrie Edwards，以及 Busted 与 McFly 的音乐表演。(R) 8.25 Pointless Celebrities 8/21 参赛者包括 James Jordan。(R) 9.10 How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge) 4/6 Alan 探讨大自然是否能治愈焦虑的心灵。(R) 9.40 BBC News; Weather 10.00 Calvin Harris: Live From Scotland DJ 现场演出。 12.05 BBC News
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 12.50 Lifeline (R) 1.00 Richard Osman’s House Of Games (R) 1.30 The Finish Line (R) 2.15 Lightning (R) 2.45 The Hairy Bikers’ Bakeation (R) 3.45 The Farmers’ Country Showdown (R) 4.15 河马：非洲河流巨兽 (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 1/4 (R) 7.30 Beechgrove Garden 团队 规划冬季方案。 8.00 Gardeners’ World Carol Klein 探讨地下植物与微生物的伙伴关系。 9.00 Bergerac 3/6 犯罪剧， 由 Damien Molony 主演。 9.45 QI XL 5/14 (R) 10.30 Newsnight 11.00 电影：Chuck Chuck Baby (15/2024) 首播。由 Louise Brealey 主演的剧情片。 12.40 高尔夫：女子公开赛 2026 年集锦
6.30 儿童节目 8.40 The Lady Grace Mysteries (R) 9.05 Gardeners’ World (R) 10.05 电影： 码头风云 (PG/1954) 由 Marlon Brando 主演的剧情片。 11.50 The Great British Sewing Bee (R) 12.50 A Cook Abroad: Rachel Khoo’s Malaysia (R) 1.50 电影：会当我龄 (U/1944) 由 Judy Garland 主演的音乐剧。 3.40 Fake Or Fortune? (R) 4.40 Evolution (R) 5.40 电影： 超人 (PG/1978) 由 Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder 和 Marlon Brando 出演的漫画改编冒险片。 7.55 Bolero At The Proms 西班牙 国家管弦乐团在 Proms 首次亮相。 9.10 Barbra Streisand: Becoming An Icon 回顾这位女演员兼歌手的成名之路。(R) 10.10 电影：一个星诞生 (15/1976) 由 Barbra Streisand 和 Kris Kristofferson 主演的音乐剧重拍版。 12.25 高尔夫：女子公开赛 2026 年集锦
6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00 This Morning 1.00 ITV News 1.20 Local News; Weather 1.30 ITV Racing: Glorious Goodwood. 报道该赛事的第四天，包括卡塔尔乔治国王锦标赛。 4.30 Tipping Point: Best Ever Finals (R) 5.00 The Chase (R) 6.00 Local News; Weather 6.30 ITV News; Weather 7.30 Abbey Clancy: Celebrity Homes 4/6 (R) 8.00 Emmerdale Claudette 做出了承认。 8.30 Coronation Street Nina 指控 Sienna 盗窃。 9.00 The Twisted Tale Of Amanda Knox 5/8 随着 Raffaele 的审判持续数年，他的历史逐渐揭晓。 10.05 The Twisted Tale Of Amanda Knox 6/8 Amanda 陷入抑郁。 11.05 ITV News; Weather 11.40 Local News; Weather 11.55 Inside The Langham: Britain’s First Grand Hotel 2/6 纪录片。(R) 12.30 Shop On TV
6.00 James Martin’s French Adventure (R) 6.30 James Martin’s American Adventure (R) 7.25 Love Your Weekend With Alan Titchmarsh (R) 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 1.15 ITV Racing: Glorious Goodwood. 报道该赛事的第五天，包括 Coral Stewards’ Cup。 4.30 电影：麦克菲保姆 与大爆炸 (U/2010) 6.30 ITV News; Weather 6.45 Local News; Weather 7.00 Deal Or No Deal: Celebrity Special 由 Stephen Mulhern 主持的游戏节目，播音员 Zoe Ball 挑战银行家，希望为她选定的 慈善机构赢取资金。 8.00 电影：皇家赌场 (15/2006) 由 Daniel Craig 主演的间谍惊悚片。 10.40 ITV News; Weather 10.55 The Staircase 3/8 12.15 Shop On TV
6.25 Cheers (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 Narrow Escapes (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00 American Pickers (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News 8.00 Surgery Secrets Of The Super Rich 3/6 Joyce 在其 60 岁生日之际进行了内窥镜面部提升术。 9.00 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown 新剧集。 Jon Richardson 和 Harriet Kemsley 对阵 Rob Beckett 和 Richard Ayoade。 10.00 Big Fat Quiz: Best Bits 由 Jimmy Carr 主持。 11.05 Sarah Millican: Thoroughly Modern Millican Live 单口喜剧。(R) 12.10 Ramy 新剧集。Ramy 将与一个来自过去的人约会。
6.05 Cheers (R) 7.55 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) 9.50 The Simpsons (R) 11.50 Frasier (R) 1.50 Four In A Bed (R) 4.20 The Dog House (R) 5.25 电影：《迷失之城》(12/2022) 桑德拉·布洛克主演的冒险喜剧。 7.30 Channel 4 News 8.00 Hitler’s Games: Berlin 1936 In Colour 纳粹德国举办的 1936 年奥运会的彩色修复片段。本片讲述了那些表现卓越的非凡运动员的故事，同时也讲述了希特勒如何将奥运会用作宣传。 9.00 Dictator: The Hitler Interviews 1/3 那些见过并认识阿道夫·希特勒的人的证词。 10.00 电影：《美国黑帮》(18/2007) 基于真实事件的犯罪剧，讲述 20 世纪 70 年代的毒枭 Frank Lucas 以及试图将他绳之以法的警察。丹泽尔·华盛顿主演。 12.50 Ramy
6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 News 12.50 Matt Allwright 2.20 电影：《谎言之孕》(15/2024) Holly Deveaux 主演的惊悚片。 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 News 6.00 Malta: The Jewel Of The Med (R) 6.55 News 7.00 Holiday Scams: Don’t Get Caught Out Alexis Conran 及其团队对阵那些针对度假人士的诈骗者。(R) 7.55 News 8.00 Michael Palin In Venezuela 3/3 Michael 开始他冒险之旅的最后一程，进入苏利亚州。(R) 9.00 Britain’s Killer Wave Of 1607 探讨 1607 年 1 月的布里斯托尔海峡洪水。(R) 10.00 Commonwealth Games 2026 格拉斯哥第八日的亮点回顾。 11.05 Piers Morgan: Uncensored 新闻与辩论。 1.00 Cruise TV With LoveitBookit (R)
6.00 Milkshake! 9.00 Entertainment News On 5 9.10 Commonwealth Games 2026 (R) 10.00 Secrets Of The Royal Palaces (R) 12.00 Secrets Of The Royal Gardens (R) 1.00 The Royals: Uncensored 2.00 Yorkshire: A Year In The Wild (R) 4.00 直播：英国最强壮男人 2026。来自米尔顿凯恩斯 Planet Ice 的第一天。 6.55 News 7.00 Sussex: Jewel Of The South Coast 2/5 该郡多样化的景观和充满活力的社区。 8.00 Meghan Markle: Inside The Mind Of A Duchess 萨塞克斯公爵夫人的侧写。(R) 9.00 Harry & Meghan: Royal Hypocrites? 对萨塞克斯公爵及公爵夫人的指控。(R) 10.30 Commonwealth Games 2026 格拉斯哥第九日的亮点回顾。 11.30 Scandal: The Major-Currie Affair 约翰·梅杰与埃德温娜·库里之间私情的故事。(R)
来挑战谜题吧！
£1,750 等你来赢 比一周中任何其他报纸拥有更多的谜题
赢取 £100
下面列出的水果和蔬菜中，除一个以外全部隐藏在网格中。找到缺失的词条，您就有机会赢取 £100！单词可以是水平、垂直或对角线，反向或正向。答案下周公布。上周的缺失词条：SECRETARIAT。
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
7月5日获胜者：Hazel Peaker，西约克郡，Thongsbridge。 6月28日获胜者：S. Halfacre，东萨塞克斯郡，Hailsham。
赢取 £100
通过我们的超级数独测试您的思维敏捷度，您就有机会赢得 £100 现金奖！每行、每列和每个 4x3 宫格必须包含 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。 6 3
4 11 8
2 10 1 6
8 4
5 6 8 9 4
12 2 3 9 8 11 7
7 2
7 1 3
12 5 3 10
赢取 £100
5 24 9 4 4 11 2 10 2 4 24 7
24 6 17 2 11 18
14 15 2 10 14 8 8 9 8 24 10 2
22 17 26 2 7 18 16
2 17 13 11 14 9 6 9 6 7 11
1 14
2 9 8 23 9
10 14 18 22 11 1 12 20 12 20 20 6
2 8 24 7 11
14 13 14 15 6 4 18 20 22 2 18
10 19 3 15 2 11 14
13 18 20 21 9 4 9 8 25 20 20 16
14 9 10 6 18 2
6 24 10 7 2 10 24 6 7 2 20 6
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
7月5日获胜者：D. McILroy，埃塞克斯郡，Witham。 6月28日获胜者：M. Sharpe，沃里克郡，Binton。 16 9 14 6 2 18 8
3 1 9 5 11
5 7 12
7 10 8
10 8
6 12
10 5 6
杏 (APRICOT) 芦笋 (ASPARAGUS) 黑莓 (BLACKBERRY) 樱桃 (CHERRY) 西葫芦 (COURGETTE) 黄瓜 (CUCUMBER) 枣 (DATE) 苦苣 (ENDIVE) 茴香 (FENNEL) 无花果 (FIG) 葡萄柚 (GRAPEFRUIT) 番石榴 (GUAVA) 羽衣甘蓝 (KALE) 生菜 (LETTUCE) 青柠 (LIME)
西葫芦/大 squash (MARROW) 甜瓜 (MELON) 油桃 (NECTARINE) 橄榄 (OLIVE) 桃子 (PEACH) 梨 (PEAR) 李子 (PLUM) 马铃薯 (POTATO) 萝卜 (RADISH) 大黄 (RHUBARB) 菠菜 (SPINACH) 南瓜 (SQUASH) 橘子 (TANGERINE) 芜菁 (TURNIP) 山药 (YAM)
如何参加：找到缺失的单词后，发送短信 SEARCH，后接空格，然后发送您的答案、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 2157 留下您的答案和详情。通话费用为 £1 加上您电话公司的网络接入费。报名截止至周五晚上 11.59pm。请参阅今日的答案栏了解条款和条件。本周答案将于下周公布，获胜者名单将于 8 月 16 日（星期日）公布。
2 15
姓名 .............................................................................................................................. 地址 ........................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................................ 邮编 ....................................电话.......................................................
1199 号获胜者： Kiran Parry, Aberdare。
如何参加：发送短信 SUPER，后接空格，您的 3 个阴影方格数字（自左向右读取）、姓名和邮编至 65700。短信费用为 £1 加上您的标准网络费用。或者拨打 0901 292 5050 留下您的答案和详情。通话费用为 £1 加上您电话公司的网络接入费。报名截止至周五晚上 11.59pm。请参阅今日的答案栏了解条款和条件。本周答案将于下周公布，获胜者名单将于 8 月 16 日（星期日）公布。
破解我们的代码，就有机会赢取 £100 现金！只需推算出哪个数字对应哪个字母，即可完成本谜题下方的网格。答案可能是一个名字（如 Danube）或一个短语（如 at once）。
S 3 16
4 17
5 18
6 V 19
7 20
如何参加：找到额外方框中的单词后，发送短信 CRACKER，后接空格，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 0901 292 5051 留下您的答案和详情。通话费用为 £1 加上您电话公司的网络接入费。报名截止至周五晚上 11.59pm。请参阅今日的答案栏了解条款和条件。本周答案将于下周公布，获胜者名单将于 8 月 16 日（星期日）公布。
8 21
9 22
10 23
11 24
C 12 25
13 26
在我们的常识奖金填字游戏中，首个随机抽出的正确答案将获得丰厚的 £1,000 奖金。参赛作品必须在 7 月 31 日星期五之前送达（不接受复印件）。今日的答案将于下周公布，获胜者姓名将于 8 月 16. 日星期日公布。参赛详情请参阅表格下方。
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11
12 13 14
15 16 17 18
20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
32 33 34 35 36
37 38
横向 10 一种起源于瑞士的木屋，尤其是滑雪胜地度假屋 (6) 11 通过模仿名人之形式进行表演的艺人 (12) 12 一种 U 形或 S 形弯曲且包含积水的管道 (4) 13 黑色物质与碎石混合，用于道路铺设 (7) 14 亚利桑那州东南部城市；亚利桑那大学所在地 (6) 15 米莉森特 ，英国女性参政论者，2018 年在议会广场为其揭幕了一座雕像 (7) 16 英国印度洋领土查戈斯群岛的主要岛屿 (5,6) 20 一件古罗马服装 (4) 21 本杰明 ，歌剧《比利·巴德》的英国作曲家 (7) 22 传统日本房间中使用的一种厚长方形编织草席 (6) 23 本 ___，英国文艺复兴时期的剧作家和诗人，作品包括《狐狸》和《炼金术师》 (6) 25 在希腊神话中，报应与复仇女神 (7)
现在有三种参赛方式 完成奖金填字游戏并计算完成后的格网中字母 “i” 出现的次数。然后将 ISPY 连同您的答案、姓名和邮编发送至 65700. 。短信费用为 £1 另加您的标准网络费用。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 另加您的电话公司网络接入费。参赛作品接收截止至星期五 11. 59pm。或者将您完成的格网及 iSpy 答案邮寄至 Prize Crossword 2279, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 354, Wymondham, NR18 8JG。参赛作品必须在 7 月 31 日星期五之前送达（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的答案栏。
27 领导摇滚乐队 U2 的爱尔兰创作歌手及活动家 (4) 28 显示出疾病、受伤或潜在病症的迹象 (11) 29 焦糖，用于给食物上色和风味 (7) 32 ___，威尔士亲王，亨利 VII 的长子，亨利 VIII 的哥哥 (6) 35 一种加密货币 (7) 36 园艺工具，由一排固定在长柄上的金属或木齿组成 (4) 37 与野兽派和现代主义运动相关的法国艺术家，绘制了《舞蹈》 (5,7) 38 塔罗牌的一套牌中的两个部分之一 (6) 纵向 1 与药物和医药相关的科学分支 (12) 2 导致脱发的状况，尤其是头部脱发 (8) 3 1603 年至 1714 年间在英国统治的王室 (6) 4 ___ Funnell，英国骑手，在 2000 年代的综合赛中获得三枚奥运奖牌 (5) 5 研究或养蜂的人 (8) 6 戏剧或故事中的主角 (11)
7 Usain ，退役的牙买加短跑运动员；100米和200米世界纪录保持者 (4) 8 一种由两名或多名赌徒与庄家对赌的卡牌游戏 (8) 9 ___ Ono，1969 年与约翰·列侬结婚的日本艺术家 (4) 17 Bill ，共同创立微软的美国商业大亨 (5) 18 18 世纪撰写了《纯粹理性批判》的德国哲学家 (8,4) 19 7KH fiUVW EODFN ZRPDQ WR 成为英国国会议员的首位黑人女性 (5,6) 21 一种拥有长颈和圆形鼓状琴身的弦乐器 (5) 24 一种珍贵的刚玉宝石，通常呈亮蓝色 (8) 26 Summer ，在 2024 年巴黎奥运会上赢得三枚金牌和一枚银牌的加拿大游泳运动员 (8) 27 约克 ___ 公主，查尔斯三世的侄女 (8) 30 在古典神话中，一名在特洛伊被毁时逃脱的特洛伊王子 (6) 31 Amy ，为英格兰女子队担任守门员的板球运动员 (5) 33 LDUJH, IDVW UXQQLQJ flLJKWOHVV 栖息在南美洲南部开阔平原的大型快速奔跑的无翅鸟类 (4) 34 由 Ciarán Hinds 饰演 Julius Caesar 的历史剧电视系列剧 (4)
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
6 14
2 7 6
KEN KEN（数独变体）
用数字 1-6 填充方格，使 每个数字在每行和每列中 各出现一次。数字还必须 通过计算得出每个区域 左上角的结果——乘法、 加法、减法或除法。 同一区域内数字可以重复。 答案下周公布。
1 6
–
DINGBATS（字谜图）
通过字母或符号找出熟悉的短语、名称或谚语。读者可将 Dingbats 发送到 The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 354, Wymondham, NR18 8JG。每篇被刊登的将获得一份 £10 的图书代金券。请访问网站 dingbats.net。答案见今日答案面板。
答案见今日答案面板。
姓名 .......................................................................................................................... 地址 .................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................ 邮编 .................................... 电话 ...................................................
来自 Ian Broadhead, Wakefield, W Yorks
来自 Alan Riley, Bolton, Lancs
DITLOIDS（首字母谜题）
你能推断出下列首字母代表什么吗？例如，7 D of the W = 7 days of the week（一周七天）。答案见今日答案面板。
1 7 P for a B B in S 2 6 of 1, H a D of the O 3 7 R by AG
BRAIN TRAIN（脑力火车）
沿着我们的心算轨道行驶，看看你能走多远——以及需要多少时间！共有四个车站停靠点：A、B、C 和 D。你可以从 A、B 或 C 开始，在 B、C 或 D 停止。从你选择的起点出发，根据指令行驶到目的地。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。答案见今日答案面板。
起点=
–..
8 368 943 A到B=
+68
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QUICK SUDOKU（快速数独）
用数字 1 到 9 完成方格，使每行、每列和 3x3 宫格包含数字 1 到 9 且仅使用一次。
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参赛方式：发送短信 PRIZE 及你的答案 （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。或致电 0901 292 5088 并留下 您的答案和详细信息。 通话费用为 £1 加上 您的电话公司网络接入费。 参赛截止至周五晚上 11.59pm。 条款和条件请参阅今日 答案面板。电话/短信 服务热线：0330 1000 601。 本周答案将于下周公布， 获奖者姓名将于 8 月 16 日 周日公布。
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4 2 P Of L And A P Of C 5 The S 7 by EB 6 1066: The B of H
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–..打整 (dozen) a x 19
17 x 4 +348
–28
天 (days in)
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一周的天数 (days in a week) 天数 (days in) 231 – 488 – x 自身 (itself)
两周 (fortnight)
将瓷砖放入方格中，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。
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赢取 £100
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–734
回答每个线索，使 每个单词包含的 字母与前一个单词 相同，但增加或减少一个。 答案下周公布。
PUB QUIZ（酒吧问答）
电影： 在 2007 年电影《300》中， 由哪位演员饰演 斯巴达的利昂尼达斯国王？
音乐： 哪个团体发行了 2001 年的 热门单曲《Survivor》和 《Bootylicious》？
电视与广播： 哪部电视剧由 Dennis Waterman 饰演 Terry McCann， 一名从拳击手转行为 保镖的人？
体育： 哪位自行车运动员保持着 英国女性运动员赢得的 奥运金牌最多记录？
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BARE BONES（骨架谜题）
赢取一套 COLLINS 英语词典和同义词词典，以及一本 BRADFORD'S 填字游戏求解词典
MEDIUM
我们的“Bare Bones”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。我们已经为您插入了四个黑格和四个线索数字以供开始。该填字游戏具有四向对称性：顶部与底部、左侧与右侧均匹配，因此您可以立即填入 12 个更多方格。
困难
奖品为一套 Collins 英语词典和同义词词典，以及一本 Bradford’s 填字游戏求解词典。请将您的答案发送至：Bare Bones Crossword 1266, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 354, Wymondham, NR18 8JG。参赛作品必须在 7 月 31 日星期五前送达（不接受复印件）。获胜者的姓名将于 8 月 16 日从首批正确条目中抽取并公布。
1263 号获胜者：Annette Wilson, Chirnside, Berwickshire。
横向 5 军用飞机中的拳击手 8 回到以带来奇迹 11 浪费了很多时间的人 12 摇晃石头中的物体 13 工具留下了一个点 14 暂停以开始一场台球赛 15 惊吓一名安静的朋友 20 婴儿饮品 21 隐藏在衣物中的武器男子 22 伴随着抽搐而坚持
评分标准：良好 —— 30 秒内从 A 到 B。 很棒 —— 30 秒内从 B 到 C，或 50 秒内从 A 到 C。 优秀 —— 30 秒内从 C 到 D，50 秒内从 B 到 D，或 75 秒内从 A 到 D。 卓越 —— 60 秒内从 A 到 D。
5 艺术： 乔治·修拉（Georges Seurat）的画作《大雅度岛上的周日午后》（A Sunday Afternoon On The Island Of La Grande Jatte）被认为是哪种艺术技巧的领先范例？
6 文学： 哪部 1818 年的哥特式小说副标题为《现代普罗米修斯》（The Modern Prometheus）？
7 饮食： 迪拜巧克力含有由芝麻酱和哪种坚果制成的奶油馅？
8 历史： 哪位英国君主是最后一位凭借征服权声称拥有王位的人？
23 敢于与奇怪的听觉受体一起工作 24 梁上的茶是一种烦恼
纵向 1 经常在室外演奏的响亮音符 2 排水沟最初被阴雨天气破坏 3 处理一个美好的惊喜 4 看起来很快乐，因为冲刺了初始距离 6 不更大形式的反应堆
2 文字游戏
3 拒绝
4 跳跃
5 梯级
6 吟唱
7 火器
9 词汇： expostulate 这个词是什么意思？ a) 阐明， b) 宣誓， c) 抗议。
10 英国： 爱尔兰海的哪个入口将坎布里亚郡（Cumbria）与邓弗里斯和加洛韦（Dumfries and Galloway）分开？
11 今年： 哪位出演过电视剧《吸血鬼猎手巴菲》（Buffy The Vampire Slayer）和《泰德·拉索》（Ted Lasso）的明星于 6 月 1 日去世，享年 72 岁？
12 随机问题： 在亚瑟王传说中，兰斯洛特爵士（Sir Lancelot）的哪个儿子找到了圣杯？
7 艺术家和艺术回归，hROGLng wrRng flDg 获得胜利 9 安抚或腐蚀一位女王 10 石头物品，在马厩旁，在河流旁雕刻 16 例如，排掉一加仑 17 律师带着羊去参加演出 18 教会人员开始审判 19 小冰淇淋和一个蛋糕
将彩色积木放入正方形中，且不得旋转或翻转。每个积木覆盖的数字之和应等于圆圈中的总数。一个彩色积木内不得出现重复数字。答案将于下周公布。
完成网格，然后将黄色方格中的字母重新排列，以揭示一种交通工具。答案将于下周公布。
思维方式 (Mindsets) 印刷 (Printed) 出版物 (publication)
门牙，例如 (Incisors, say) 货运 (Freight) 许可证 (Permit)
吸水纸片 (Piece of absorbent paper)
男童 (Male child) 针孔 (Hole in a needle)
盖子 (Lid) 演员的角色 (Actor's part) 曲线 (Curves)
月亮的 (Of the moon) 大雨 (Rain heavily) 腐蚀 (Corrode) 孤独的 (Solitary)
宝石 (Gem) 代理人 (Agents) 接近 (Close to) 有边界的 (Bordered)
参赛方式：发送短信 AWORD 以及您的答案、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。或致电 0901 292 5090 并留下您的答案和详细信息。通话费用为 £1 另加您电话公司的网络接入费。线路将于周五晚上 11.59 分关闭。条款和条件请参阅今日的答案栏。6月 21 日获胜者：M. Oxborough，朴次茅塞。电话/短信服务帮助热线：0330 1000 601。
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在方格中插入 1 到 9 之间的任何数字，使得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，且偶数必须放置在阴影方格中。答案将于下周公布。
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纸片 (Piece of paper) 大洋 (Large seas) 学校舞蹈 (School dance)
士兵群体 (Groups of soldiers)
舞台低语 (Stage whisper)
部落 (Tribe) 缺席状态 (State of being away)
答案将于下周公布。
使用给定的形状，通过将网格划分为不同部分，创建四个由四个字母组成的易位词。您可以旋转形状，但不能翻转。答案将于下周公布。
P E N I
D L W G
A Y I E
I R T B
尝试这个迷你谜题。 答案将于下周公布。
横向 (ACROSS) 1 围裙 (Pinafore) 2 卑微的 (Menial) 3 LDys D SDWh 4 无生命的 (Lifeless) 5 古代民族 (Ancient peoples)
纵向 (DOWN) 1 6Dvoury MHlly 2 刮胡子 (Shave) 3 法国作曲家 (French composer) 4 ObvLous 5 BLrds’ hoPHs
痛苦的 (Painful)
驾驶 (Steers)
属于我们的 (Belonging to us)
中东国家 (Middle Eastern country)
沙丘 (Mound of drifted sand) 已进食 (Had food) 冗长的 (Lengthy) 以前的 (Formerly) 不想要的植物 (Unwanted plant)
胆小的 (Cowardly)
音高 (Pitch)
纵向 (DOWN) 1 走秀表演者 (5) 2 药物 (8) 3 担忧的 (6) 4 5osWHr (4) 5 来自火星的 (7) 6 芭蕾舞姿势 (10) 9 分割 (10) 12 将...逐出 SosLWLon (8) 14 看到 (7) 16 6HrvH (4,2) 19 切成小块 (5) 20 印度 FosWuPH (4)
横向 (ACROSS) 1 单色画 (10) 7 检测设备 (5) 8 停止工作 (7) 10 InflDWDblH Woys (8) 11 WDlk Soorly (4) 13 肮脏的 (6) 15 餐点 (6) 17 U6 sWDWH (4) 18 APbDssDdor, Ior HxDPSlH (8) 21 PoSHyH’s Iood (7) 22 野狗 (5) 23 半个地球 (10)
这里，黑方牺牲了一个车和国王的安全性，以发动毁灭性的攻击。作为黑方，您能否找到快速击败对方的方法？我们的答案在答案栏中。
冲突 (Conflict) 标记 (Tagged) 不真实 (Untruth)
提升 (Lift)
说话 (Speak)
最佳的 (Optimum)
取笑 (To rib)
每行和每列都要填入数字 1, 2, 3, 4 和 5。任何行或列中同一个数字不能出现超过一次。您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。
开始解谜吧！
您能用给出的字母组成多少个四个或更多字母的单词？每个字母只能使用一次，且每个单词必须包含中心字母。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。答案将于下周公布。
您的成绩如何？ 计算您找到的单词数量 —— 13个 良好，19个 很好，25个或更多 优秀。
适用常规数独规则。此外，每个内部虚线形状内的数字之和必须等于左上角的数字。答案将于下周公布。
凯特 ，模特 (Kate , model) 弄湿 (Dampen)
13 11 14 3 12 29
17 11
16 17 11 15
6 11 8 11
11 21 18
23 7 26 10
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使用数字 1-9 填充每个空白方格序列。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格中的数字。数字可以在一行或一列中重复，但不能在一个序列中重复。答案将于下周公布。
9 13 15 15 3 32 22
3 10
4 3 31
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战舰 (Battleship)
在网格中寻找一艘战舰、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包含舰船或舰船部件的方格数量。舰船之间不接触，即使是对角线也不行。答案将于下周公布。
巡洋舰 (Cruiser)
驱逐舰 (Destroyer)
解决？
我们的实用提示 请访问 WWW. MAILONSUNDAY. CO.UK/PUZZLEHELP 将引导您逐步 完成我们 令人上瘾的 谜题系列
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赢取 £250
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隐晦线索
1 梦想使追随者保持参与 (7) 5 增强一个垫子 (7) 10 酒吧在新的附属建筑旁边 (4) 11 更好地关于一个男人，比如 (10) 12 航海后保留的笔记变得混乱 (8) 13 像舞台演员一样活跃？(2,4) 14 围绕朴次茅斯的顶端废墟的地球 (5) 16 行星访客发展出了远程联系 (9) 19 解雇医生，在排练中感到不适 (4,5) 21 刀和钥匙男孩放入其中 (5) 23 携带蘑菇，伴有野猫环绕 (6) 25 遮阴至关重要 (8) 27 煽动承诺，以虚假的方式巧妙行事 (10) 28 开始在桌下获得，如此勇气！(4) 29 贵族有英国学生要责备 (4,3) 30 柔软的装饰品，牧师在铁路旁布置 (7) 纵向 2 原住民美国人迅速驱逐丈夫 (5) 3 四号音符处的临时遮蔽所 (9) 4 保持成本的降低 (6) 6 单个团队，在当天，带有偏见 (3-5) 7 为剩下的东西而战 (5) 8 旧小册子记者取出 (9) 9 )HOORw 发现 EDnN FRROHr (6) 15 道德是首要的，据说如此 (9) 17 到达并在烤架上烹饪 (7,2) 18 离开前组成坏账 (5-3) 20 昆虫离开，侦察员感到担心 (6) 22 定居者有权提出请求 (6) 24 招募，在新的角色中焕然一新 (5) 26 花卉评分糟糕 (5)
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横向：1 克罗地亚, 5 扫帚柄, 10 氛围, 11 & 28 纵向 查尔斯·雷尼, 13 伊诺拉, 14 纽卡斯尔, 15 包容, 16 箔, 17 鲍·布鲁梅尔, 20 钩子, 21 妊娠, 22 舵, 26 八旬老人, 27 天数, 29 剧演员, 31 亚历山大, 33 伏特加, 34 车站, 35 尼农, 36 橙剂, 37 针鼹。 纵向：1 卡文迪什, 2 牛轭湾, 3 塔斯马尼亚, 4 奥尔科特, 5 青骑士, 6 小鸮, 7 逍遥音乐会, 8 皇冠珠宝, 9 斯卡费尔, 12 拍卖室, 16 来自边缘, 18 群青色, 19 豆袋, 23 备忘录, 24 茄子, 25 萨凡纳, 26 奥克塔维亚, 30 肖恩, 32 用餐。
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E X D E S E R T O R C H I D L K
E Y E S L L U B A E R E D R U M
A S T U R C U S I N I N E F O C
Y M O K I E C P K I G V A K S R
Y P I E Y U E O T S L I S I H S
T Q G J C H A M P I O N E D E U
U C A P T A I N S E B O X E R M
A X A F W O D A H S N A D M G I
E M A A T U L P A R V H I P A X
B I T R I G G E R Y S S A X R A
K S J Q S E P E G A S U S G T M
C T T O I V G B L A Z E D D E M
A E Y P E N N F L I C K A J B N
L R L J I Y A H N G D U S P Z L
B E J G Z S B U C E P H A L U S
K D O D A N R O T M D O L L O R
C O M P O S E R P A C T P O U U E O Z E A L F E M I N I N E R Y F P C I B A R G A I N L E E C H O X R A A V E N G E E N G U L F O S A R B L E A K S P O I L E R C D J P F Q W A R D R O B E F L U X N E Y A I A P O O R S P R I N K L E
fuel, hell, hello, help, helpful, hole, holey, hope, hopeful, HOPEFULLY, hype, lope, loupe, pelf, pole, pule, pulley, yell, yelp (22).
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1 童话 (7) 5 支持 (7) 10 农场建筑 (4) 11 有刺生物 (10) 12 停留 (8) 13 目前活跃的 (2,4) 14 损害 (5) 16 来自太空的岩石 (9) 19 紧急预防措施 (4,5) 21 锋利边缘 (5)
如需通过电话参与，请拨打 0905 652 2140 并留下你的答案和详细信息。电话费用为 £1 加上你的电话公司网络接入费。参赛作品将在周五晚上 11.59 前截止。条款和条件详见下方。电话及短信帮助热线 0330 1000 601。
上周答案：9
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E 6 I 19
C 7 D 20
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W 9 T 22
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25 牧师 (8) 27 以伪造的方式 (10) 28 肠道 (4) 29 责骂 (4,3) 30 窗帘 (7) 纵向 2 迅速地 (5) 3 犹豫的 (9) 4 营救 (6) 6 有偏见的 (3-5) 7 片段 (5)
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1 Gerard Butler, 2 Destiny’s Child, 3 Minder, 4 Laura Kenny (née Trott), 5 Pointillism, 6 Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, 7 Pistachio, 8 Henry VII, 9 c) Protest, 10 Solway Firth, 11 Anthony Head, 12 Sir Galahad. 图形谜题 (DINGBATS) 1 Leftover food, 2 A hiding to nothing, 3 Summertime, 4 Eyes down. 脑力训练 (BRAIN TRAIN) A-B=342, B-C=241, C-D=270. 数字谜题 (DITLOIDS) 1 7 Points for a Black Ball in Snooker, 2 6 of 1, Half a Dozen of the Other, 3 7 Rings by Ariana Grande, 4 2 Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps, 5 The Secret 7 by Enid Blyton, 6 1066: The Battle of Hastings.
9 6 8 5 3 4 7 2 1
4 2 9 6 5 3 8 1 7
8 5 3 1 7 2 4 6 9
6 1 7 4 8 9 3 5 2
2 9 4 8 6 5 1 7 3
5 8 1 3 2 7 6 9 4
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北爱尔兰居民、推广者员工或任何 与本次推广相关的人员、其亲属或 家庭成员。参赛者必须年满 18 岁。通过参赛， 您即接受这些条款。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。若未在 7 天内接受奖品，则任何申领均视为无效，届时推广者将选择另一位获胜者。奖品不可转让。推广者保留以同等价值物品替代奖品的权利。推广者对所有事项的裁定为最终结果。不接受任何相关函件。推广者保留在其合理裁量权下：(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、制作和/或分发错误，或实质性影响申领人数或申领价值的条目为无效。如果这些条款中的任何规定不可执行，则应将其与其余部分分离，且不影响其他规定的有效性。本条款受英国法律管辖。推广者为 Associated Newspapers Limited, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY.
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1… Qxd4+! 2. Kxd4 Bc5+ 3. Kd3 Nxe5 将死。
an extra £4,300 a year as they warn of a...
TAX RAID
TO PAY FOR
BURNHAM’S
BIG SPREE
ANDY BURNHAM has been accused of plotting a £4,300-a-year ‘tax bombshell’ on working families – thanks to a massive uncosted spending spree. The new Prime Minister last night faced claims of ‘writing cheques British people can’t cash’ by running up £96 billion of policy pledges. There are fears that Mr Burnham’s hugely expensive raft of proposals will
£2.30 £1.95 to subscribers JULY 26, 2026
By Gabriel Millard-Clothier
and Brendan Carlin
how the PM’s plans would be paid for. The analysis is based on the series of pledges unveiled by the Prime Minister in his first week in power but also on his future plans. Together they are estimated to cost an eye-watering £96 billion. When he took office last week, Mr Burn- ham outlined a series of headline-grabbing
REGIONAL FORECASTS
London, South East, South, South West, Channel Islands: Morning rain showers, becoming cloudy in the afternoon with sunny intervals. Evening mostly sunny with mild breezes. Max 25C 77F. Wales, Midlands, East Anglia: Morning starts cloudy with drizzle. Afternoon turns sunny with intervals. Evening clears with mostly sunny skies. Max 24C 75F. North West, North East: Morning: Overcast, rain, gentle breeze. Afternoon: Showers, moderate winds. Evening: Rain eases, cloudy, lighter winds. Max 19C 66F. Scotland: Morning: Light rain, mild and breezy. Afternoon: Showers, breezy with sunny spells. Evening: Cloudy, cooler, less wind. Max 18C 64F.
ABERDEEN LONDON MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
28 16 20 26 24 22 17 22 22 21 25 24
BELFAST BIRMINGHAM CANTERBURY CARDIFF GLASGOW LEEDS MANCHESTER NEWCASTLE NORWICH PLYMOUTH
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Northern Ireland, Eire: Morning: Cloudy with light rain. Afternoon: Breezy with scattered showers. Evening: Mostly cloudy with light winds. Max 20C 68F.
YESTERDAY (24 hours to 6pm) – Warmest: Teddington, Bushy Park, 30c. Coldest: Shap, 6c. Wettest: Harris: Quidnish, 6.60mm. Sunniest: Wittering, 14.8hrs. Barometer (6pm) – 1006.52mb. Falling. Humidity: 38 per cent. WEEK AHEAD Monday brings sunshine with warm temperatures. Tuesday, rain spread northwards with thunderstorms possible. By Wednesday, sunny spells return in the south. Thursday stays mostly dry and mild.
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MoD’s pensions blunder
MORE than 1,400 British military veterans have been ordered to repay tens of thousands of pounds by the Ministry of Defence after the department overpaid their pensions. The confession by the MoD was branded ‘straightforward incompetence’ by the Conservatives, who are demanding that the Government ‘put this right’. The MoD identified the overpayments in November 2024, with some amounting to more than £100,000, but veterans were only informed about the department’s error this year. Nearly 400 overpayments relate to the military’s two final-salary schemes, which pay out a guaranteed income for
the public can’t cash’
➤➤ From Page One
policies that critics have warned would already cost £1.7 billion. That was made up of prom- ises to take VAT off electricity bills, a £2 cap on bus journeys, ending rough sleeping and slashing business rates for pubs and music venues. Mr Burnham immediately ran into claims that most of the pledges were unfunded. This week, the PM is expected to unveil his most costly pledge to date – a vow to address the crisis in adult social care, which is antici- pated to cost £18 billion. To make matters worse, the Tories accused the Prime Min- ister of future commitments amounting to another £76 bil- lion of uncosted measures as part of his ten-year plan. These include: l £18.8 billion on council house building; l £22.7 billion to bring Thames Water under public control; l £14.1 billion in future defence spending; l £12.4 billion in unfreezing income tax personal allowances; l £8 billion uplift for foreign aid. Mr Burnham is under par- ticular pressure to deliver on defence spending because his new Chancellor, John Healey, resigned from the pre- vious government over Sir Keir Starmer’s refusal to meet the bill to upgrade the Armed Forces. That includes a £5 billion defence spending hole for cur- rent commitments and an additional £10 billion to get to the 3 per cent target for future defence spending, a firm com- mitment of Mr Burnham’s
23 19 25 25 22 26 24
DRAW 1
life and increased each year in line with inflation. But in some cases the inflation increase appears to have been made twice in some years, The Times reports. And more than 1,000 other veterans have also been hit by overpayments due to other errors, according to a Freedom of Information request by the Forces Pension Society (FPS). It is not clear if the error has been made by human staff or technology. While the MoD said it recognises the error ‘may cause uncertainty for people’, it insisted its hands were legally tied and it must retrieve the cash. A spokesman
PLOT REVENGE
IN AUTUMN
PAGE 7
FURIOUS CALL
THAT SEALED
REEVES’ FATE
PAGES 8, 9
‘Treats taxpayers
like a piggy bank’
government. The new PM has also made clear that Thames Water should be brought under public ownership. And he has repeatedly indi- cated that he will look at lift- ing income tax thresholds in the autumn. Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride told The Mail on Sun- day that Mr Burnham’s plans amounted to ‘writing cheques British people can’t cash’. He added: ‘Andy Burnham has spent his first week prov- ing that he is completely with- out a plan, floating a string of unfunded spending commit- ments that add up to a £96 bil- lion tax bombshell. ‘Families up and down the country, already facing a record tax burden, now face the prospect of huge tax rises.’ Mr Burnham sought to begin
Check Lotto Raffle numbers at national-lottery.co.uk
Bonus
his premiership with a spree of positive announcements, starting with a plan to take VAT off electricity bills and save households £45 – to be funded by scrapping Sir Keir’s plans for digital ID cards. However, the announcement came unstuck almost immedi- ately after Darren Jones, the ex-Cabinet minister in charge of the digital plan, revealed that the project had not been funded in the first place. That left an £850 million black hole in Mr Burnham’s plans on his first day in charge. Then a plan to cap bus fares at a cost of £450 million also seemed to backfire when Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander admitted that the funding details had not been ‘worked through’. There were also questions
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and we will try to ensure this is rectified.
THUNDERBALL
13, 15, 17
21, 23
Bonus 14
said: ‘Where payments have been
made in genuine error, we have a
responsibility to recover taxpayer funds.
‘We will always seek to do so in a
sensitive and proportionate way,
including through tailored repayment
plans and financial and welfare support
from Veterans Services.’
Tory pensions spokesman Helen
Whately blasted: ‘This is straightforward
incompetence. Men and women who
served this country are now being told
to hand back money they had every
reason to believe was theirs, through no
fault of their own.’
over paying for the Prime Minister’s £340 million rough-sleeping programme. Mr Burnham was also hit last week by the cost of govern- ment borrowing soaring. Last night, Cameron Brown, a former Treasury adviser and partner at Buxlow Advisory, dubbed Mr Burn- ham’s opening week a ‘loose- lipped extravaganza’. John O’Connell, the chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, last night told The Mail on Sunday: ‘This £96 bil- lion wish-list is economic insanity that treats hard- pressed taxpayers like an unlimited piggy bank. ‘Blowing tens of billions in unfunded state expansion is a
reckless raid on working fam- ilies who are already being bled dry.’ A spokesman for Mr Burn- ham insisted last night: ‘This is nonsense. ‘This week Andy Burnham has cut taxes twice and his instinct is to lower taxes wher- ever possible. ‘Everything he’s announced has been fully funded.’ In an interview last night, Mr Healey appeared to con- firm that he will try to find bil- lions more to spend on the Armed Forces. The Chancellor insisted that it is the ‘first duty of any gov- ernment’ to keep the country safe, and promised to ‘meet our commitments on defence to our international allies’.
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POOLS APART After wedding feud, Adam’s parents watch him swim for gold from 264 miles away – and ask: ‘Why’s he changed his name to Ramsay-Peaty?’
SENIOR SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER
HIS pregnant wife sat proudly at the poolside on Friday night as he competed in the 100m breaststroke semi-final of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. But, for the first time, three-time Olympic gold medallist Adam Ramsay- Peaty did not have his parents there to cheer him on, amid a bitter feud. Caroline and Mark Peaty were instead watching him chase a fifth Common- wealth gold on TV – 264 miles away at home in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. Adam, 31, who wed TV chef Gordon Ramsay’s daughter Holly at Bath Abbey in Decem- ber, revealed on Friday that he had decided to take her name. He now competes as Ramsay- Peaty and wears a swimming cap bearing the name. Before his first race, Holly, 26, shared a photo on
IN GLASGOW
cheer on little brother Sean
KATE and Gerry McCann looked on proudly as their 21-year-old son Sean competed in last night’s 400m freestyle event in Glasgow. Sean, the younger brother of missing Madeleine McCann, was also watched by twin sister Amelie. Having qualified to represent Scotland because of his father, who was born in Glasgow, the event marked the swimmer’s first at a major championship. He finished eighth in the final at Tollcross International Swimming Centre with a time of 3:53.47 – slightly slower than in the heats, where he came
Instagram of him wearing the cap, writing: ‘So special.’ But the name change is one more blow for the family he has turned his back on. A friend of the Peatys said: ‘They are aware it is the first time Adam is swimming under his new name and it is a bit galling. We all
wonder why it has to be Ramsay- Peaty and not Peaty-Ramsay?’ Caroline, who used to wake up at 4am and drive for 40 minutes to take Adam to training, is said to be devastated to not be pool- side. One source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Caroline and Mark were watching Adam swimming but
BATTLING THROUGH: Sean McCann and, top, Kate and Gerry cheer him on in Glasgow
only on TV. Despite the family rift, they will be wishing him all the best. Under normal circum- stances they would have gone up to Scotland to see him poolside. ‘They have always been there in the past to support him and cheer him on. It’s very sad the way things have turned out.’
FAMILY RIFT: Adam Ramsay- Peaty and Holly. Above left, with Adam’s son and mother
During Friday’s semi-final, a BBC Radio 5 Live commentator initially referred to the swimmer as Ramsay-Peaty, before switch- ing to Adam – possibly because it is simply less of a mouthful. The relationship between the parents and Adam, who has a son from a previous relationship, came under strain last year in the run-up to his glossy wedding. Tensions may have begun when Caroline was not invited to Hol- ly’s hen do at the exclusive Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire in November. The bride’s mother, Tana Ramsay, and her friend Vic- toria Beckham, did attend. Each side then made furious public claims about the root cause of the fallout. Among Adam’s family, his sis- ter Bethany was the only one to attend the wedding. She remained the only relative still in touch with the couple – until she sensationally fell out with Holly earlier this month. Anyone who can mend the ongoing rift will surely deserve a gold medal.
of child maintenance agency after blunders drive fathers to suicide
MAIL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
MPs last night demanded urgent action over ‘systemic’ failings with the Child Maintenance Ser- vice after a damning Mail exposé. Campaigners called for a ‘com- plete overhaul’ of the government agency after we revealed yester- day how parents are being finan- cially crippled, losing homes and even driven to suicide after being hit with massively inflated charges. Computer glitches and staffing issues are suspected of causing the long-running problems with the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), which has led to tens of thousands of parents being over- charged – forcing some to rely on food banks or move away from their children. Over 800,000 UK parents have payments to a former partner managed by the CMS, which is
lives into bits’
meant to ensure children are pro- vided for when relationships end and they spend more than half the time living with one parent. One of the shocking cases high- lighted was that of Jonathan O’Neill, 41, of Huddersfield, who tragically killed himself after a demand for an extra £4,200 – and whose family continued to receive new payment demands for months after his death, according to his sister Joanna Smith. She said: ‘It feels like they just don’t care, they are not bothered. But it has ripped our lives into bits.’ Other harrowing stories include those of Army vet- eran Simon Ward, 45, from Herefordshire, who said he was left ‘financially and emotionally crippled’ and forced to resort to food- banks, after his payments increased from £36.40 to £419 per month. And Carl Leverett, 48, from North- amptonshire, was told he owed £77,000. MPs described being
TRAGEDY: Jonathan O’Neill, pictured with his sister Joanna Smith
inundated with complaints from constituents about the CMS, which has drawn comparisons with the Post Office scandal. Liberal Democrat MP Ian Sollom said: ‘The Mail’s investigation exposes a Child Mainte- nance Service that gets calculations wrong and then pursues parents for money they don’t owe – even while they are disputing their case. Min- isters need to fix a system that is causing financial harm and emotional distress to families.’ I a n Briggs,
co-founder of STOPSuicides UK, a campaign group highlighting failings in the CMS, added: ‘We regularly hear from parents who describe overwhelming financial pressure, prolonged disputes and deteriorating mental health, with some reaching suicidal crisis. ‘This investigation should be a catalyst for a public inquiry, urgent reform, stronger safeguarding and greater accountability.’ In another case, father Belzuan Zeka was left ‘panicking’ in the week before Christmas 2025 after being sent four different payment demands ranging from £180 to £3,500 a month. He said: ‘For a government agency that has this much power, it feels there is virtually no accountability.’ Michelle Counley of child main- tenance support advisory service NACSA, said: ‘The Mail’s investi-
gation highlights the problems we see on a weekly basis. The system is failing to provide timely and accurate maintenance calcula- tions, creating false arrears lead- ing to unaffordable demands.’ Other MPs joined the outcry. Reform UK’s Deputy Leader Rich- ard Tice added: ‘Institutional reluctance to accept failings has slowly turned into acceptance that can and should do much better.’ Vikki Slade, Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, said: ‘Ultimately, the CMS needs urgent and complete reform so that children’s welfare and financial stability come first.’ And Rebecca Smith, Conserva- tive MP from South West Devon, said: ‘Too many families currently feel they are being let down.’ Most paying parents have to pro- vide between 12 and 19 per cent of their income, calculated primarily
DAMNING: The Mail’s exposé
using HMRC records, until their child finishes full-time education or training, or turns 20. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which oversees the CMS, last night denied there were ‘systemic IT glitches within the CMS’ and insisted these claims were ‘misleading.’ A spokes- woman said: ‘In 2018, the system experienced some slow response times due to a series of system upgrades to address matters such as insufficient storage, but these never impacted calculations and were rectified in late 2018 follow- ing significant IT improvements. ‘Receiving multiple letters reflects the process in which a let- ter with a new calculation is sent every time a change is registered including a new job or a change in overnight care arrangements. ‘These are often made within quick succession of one another which can lead to multiple letters over a short period of time. ‘Payment arrangements are fair and are based on the paying par- ent’s income with assessment accuracy rates consistently close to 100 per cent. If parents dispute a decision, it can be appealed, and an independent tribunal will decide if it should be changed.’
ROW: Andy Slaughter
legal role
for MP who
met Hamas
SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT-AT-LARGE
ANDY Burnham has sparked
an anti-Semitism row after
handing a top posting to an
MP who met Hamas officials
alongside Jeremy Corbyn.
Andy Slaughter was
appointed Solicitor General in
the reshuffle. He will now be
responsible for overseeing the
Crown Prosecution Service’s
terrorism, hate crime and
anti-Semitism prosecutions.
Mr Slaughter is a long-
standing critic of Israel. In
2010 he posed with Hamas
officials with former Labour
leader Mr Corbyn on a visit to
the West Bank.
In 2015, he was alleged to
have agreed Israel ‘fabricates
and invents’ reasons to attack
or kill innocent Palestinians.
Fiona Sharpe, spokesman for
Labour Against Antisemitism,
told The Mail on Sunday:
‘Andy Slaughter has a long
and troubling record that
raises serious red flags.’
But a spokesman for the
Attorney General’s office
insisted Mr Slaughter ‘has
been consistent in condemning
the actions of Hamas’.
halt aerial TV switch-off
ANDY BURNHAM is under pressure from both Labour and the Tories to postpone plans to turn off free-to-air television. A cross-party group of MPs is urging ministers to abandon a potential 2034 deadline to move to internet-only access to TV channels, and delay until 2044. In a letter to Digital Secretary Lisa Nandy, they wrote: ‘The people who depend on the aerial on the roof are many of the most vulnerable. Terrestrial television is how they follow the news, watch sport and stay part of national life.’ Last night, a Government spokesperson stressed that ‘no decisions have been made’.
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Gabriel Millard-Clothier
ARY Lineker was last
night accused of ‘gross
hypocrisy’ after calling
for tax hikes despite
fighting a five-year legal
battle with HMRC and
his involvement in a controversial
tax avoidance scheme.
The former England footballer
last week signed an open letter
with more than 100 other million-
aires urging Andy Burnham to
increase taxes for the wealthiest.
The self-styled ‘patriotic million-
aires’ declared: ‘We want you to
tax us. We can afford it.’
But the ex-BBC presenter faced
criticism over his colourful tax
affairs, including a protracted fight
against the taxman over a £4.9mil-
lion bill he didn’t want to pay.
Court documents reveal how the
father-of-four resisted demands
from the taxman to pay £3.62 mil-
lion in income tax and £1.31 million
in National Insurance over his tel-
evision presenting work between
2013 and 2018.
After years of legal wrangling a
judge finally ruled in his favour in
2023 following a costly three-day
tax tribunal in London.
It came around 20 years after
Lineker was among a number of
stars who pumped at least £100,000
each into schemes run by a
firm called Ingenious Media,
rule for him’
which gave huge tax breaks to film investors. In 2016 HMRC said the schemes amounted to ‘tax avoidance’ as they tried to use ‘artificial losses’ to avoid millions of pounds in tax. And in 2017 leaked documents suggested that Lineker, 65, avoided stamp duty when selling a luxury home in Barbados because he bought it through an offshore firm. Andrew Griffith, Tory shadow business secretary, lambasted the star, saying: ‘If self-righteous preaching was an Olympic sport, millionaire crisp salesman Gary Lineker would win gold. ‘It beggars belief that he would spend his time on elaborate tax avoidance schemes whilst lectur- ing others on why they should pay more tax. As per usual for out of touch celebrities – it’s one rule for him and another for everyone else.’ Maxwell Marlow, director at the Adam Smith Institute: ‘Gary Linek- er’s hypocritical call for wealth taxes, as he previously battled with HMRC to reduce his tax take, is nothing but an absurd PR stunt. ‘If Gary and his dinner party chums want to pay more tax, they are welcome to do so by speaking to HMRC – preferably out of a courtroom.’ Reform treasury spokesman, Robert Jenrick said: ‘Gary Linek- er’s hypocrisy is breathtaking. If he wants to pay more tax he could sign a cheque to the Treasury tomorrow. But he won’t because he’s spent years trying to pay as little tax as possible on his TV
Lineker accused of gross hypocrisy over his five-year battle against £4.9m tax bill And he joined controversial avoidance scheme
TAXMAN ROW: Gary Lineker and his ex-wife Danielle Bux in 2015
licence fee-funded income.’ Docu- ments show that HMRC began pursuing Lineker for outstanding tax in 2019. He was earning more than £1.7 million a year as the BBC’s highest-paid presenter. The taxman said he should have been classed as an employee of the BBC and BT Sport, where he pre- sented coverage of the Uefa Cham- pions League. Instead, he was paid as a contrac- tor through Gary Lineker Media, a partnership he set up in 2012 with his then wife Danielle Bux, allow-
ing Lineker to be paid partly in dividends, at a lower corporation tax rate. He has said that all taxes were paid on the income. HMRC targeted him under IR35 legislation designed to crack down on tax avoidance by so-called dis- guised employees. But Lineker won his appeal in 2023, with a judge ruling he was a freelancer and had contracts with both broadcasters. HMRC appealed but settled the case in 2024. Charlie Dewhirst, Tory MP, said: ‘This is the kind of gross hypoc-
FUNDING SCHEME: Avatar movie
risy we’ve come to expect from Gary Lineker. If he is so desperate for everyone else to pay more, why did he bother battling HMRC for five years to save himself mil- lions of pounds in extra tax?’ Publicly available records also show that Lineker was a member of a series of limited liability part- nerships (LLPs) set up between 2003 and 2007 as movie financing schemes by Ingenious Media. The schemes helped produce films such as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Life Of Pi and Avatar. But a complex arrangement of loans allowed investors to write off massive losses against their income, saving them huge amounts in tax. In 2012 Dave Hartnett, then the head of HMRC, described film schemes as ‘scams for scumbags’. There is no suggestion that they were illegal and Ingenious has always insisted its partnerships were trading to make profit. In August 2016 a tax tribunal found that members of the firm’s schemes were entitled to only a third of the tax relief they had previously claimed. Lineker later
SHUTTERSTOCK / 20TH CENTURY STUDIOS
weeted that he had ‘coughed up ears ago’. In 2021 the Court of Appeal ruled hat partnerships were trading ith a view to profit but in a state- ent HMRC highlighted how the court also ‘noted that the LLPs ere tax avoidance schemes’. Separately, documents from the aradise Papers showed Lineker o-owned a Barbados property through a company called Goal- anger Inc, registered in the Brit- sh Virgin Islands. It is said to have een sold to new owners in 2010. Under Barbados law, stamp duty f 1 per cent and transfer taxes of 2.5 per cent are payable on any roperty. But the sale can be made ax free if the property was sold y a company in the BVI.
pay as little as possible’
‘MESSIAH’ WITHOUT A MANDATE
The Mail on Sunday JULY 26 • 2026
The Mail on Sunday JULY 26 • 2026
£80 T-shirt? He cut
PM sported down to earth outfit to woo voters. If only they’d known how much it cost him!
ANDY Burnham’s carefully crafted ‘man-of- the-people’ image will be severely tarnished today as The Mail on Sunday reveals that he spends thousands of pounds on luxury clothing. The Prime Minister made a point of ditching traditional suits and ties on the campaign trail to No 10 in favour of bomber jackets, T-shirts and jeans in an attempt to differentiate himself from his Westminster colleagues. But we can reveal that the casual clothing he wore to appear dressed down in a campaign video during the Makerfield by-election cost more than £1,000, including a Harrington jacket (£695), jeans (£295) and an £80 T-shirt – sums far beyond the reach of many of his constituents. The clothing was made by Private White VC, a top-end Manchester tailor that boasts Sir David Beckham, the King of Spain, and actor Robert De Niro and Daniel Craig among its clientele. Mr Burnham has been a regular cus- tomer there for more than two years. The former Greater Manchester mayor also bought a £1,500-plus made-to-measure
from Marks & Spencer’
suit there for his return to the Commons. The news comes as: The new PM was accused of unveiling a £96billion spending spree in his first week – the equivalent of more than £4,300 for every work- ing household; Mr Burnham is expected to press ahead with costly pledges this week, promising fixes for crises in adult social care, youth unemployment, and pushing on with his devolution project; Last week’s reshuffle was branded ‘one of the most factional purges the Labour Party’s ever experienced’, with Louise Haigh and Anneliese Midgley, Mr Burnham’s political enforcers, branded ‘thugs’ and compared to the Mafia; Sir Keir Starmer’s allies say they are retreating for a summer ceasefire, but warn they will be back in September to make life difficult, with plots to hold the PM’s feet to the fire. Mr Burnham has made what he calls his ‘Manchester clothes’ – which consist mainly of black and navy jackets, T-shirts, jeans and branded trainers – central to his image. As well as making him seem more relatable to voters, they have allowed him to set him- self apart from other politicians such as his rival Sir Keir, who always looked uncomfortable in more casual clothing. In the campaign video, Mr Burn- ham is seen wandering around Makerfield – including down a run- down residential street lined in corrugated iron – in the Private White VC clothing, meeting voters and chatting about their concerns. He says to the camera: ‘I went into politics to fight for ordinary people. I fought for the miners here and the compensation we got from the last Labour Government, the justice for the Hillsborough families, and also when Boris John- son’s government tried to treat people here like second-class citi-
zens during Covid, I fought back. What all these experiences have taught me is that Westminster doesn’t work for people in this part of the world and communities like this across the UK.’ Tory and Reform politicians yes- terday criticised the Prime Minis- ter as a hypocrite – and said his ‘man-of-the-people’ mask was finally slipping. Reform MP Lee Anderson said: ‘Eighty quid for a T-shirt – that’s twice the amount of the VAT cut on electricity bills per household he announced last week.’ Tory MP Greg Stafford added: ‘Andy Burnham’s carefully culti-
for a suit in Makerfield?’
vated image is as carefully stitched up and contrived as his expensive tailored suits. I wonder how many of his new Makerfield constituents can afford a suit cost- ing at least £1,500. ‘That might explain why our new PM prefers to dress down and go casual whenever he can. But then, it turns out that even his
casual T-shirts and jackets cost a small fortune. ‘Sadly, all the signs are that Mr Burnham will be just as extrava- gant with the public purse as he is with his own money on clothes.’ Even some Labour MPs pri- vately mocked the new PM’s costly wardrobe. One said: ‘I sup- pose that Andy will say that noth- ing’s too good for the workers but that’s a lot of money. Do they really pay that much for a suit in Makerfield? Or was Marks & Spencer closed that afternoon?’ James Eden, 43, chief executive of Private White VC, said Mr Burnham had visited on June 18 – the day of the Makerfield by-elec- tion – and the firm had made the suit he wore when he was sworn in at the Commons four days later. Mr Eden said: ‘He specified a beautiful super 120s worsted wool suiting cloth, which is made from fine merino wool. ‘Andy’s extremely chatty and friendly, and chose perfectly. He knows exactly what he wants, and veers towards navy. ‘I was a little in his ear asking how he wanted to look. We re-measured him, cut his pattern, cut the cloth, had it stitched, and he was wearing 48 hours later. ‘A two-piece suit in super 120s
TAILORED: Andy Burnham being fitted for his suit at Private White VC
wool would start from £1,500.’ However, experts suggest the suits chosen by the PM would have exceeded £2,000. Mr Eden said Mr Burnham – who earns £174,000 as Prime Minister and was on £118,000 as mayor of Manchester, always paid his way. ‘Andy came in most recently about a fortnight ago,’ he added. ‘I’m pretty sure he got another pair of our “Marine” jeans and another couple of shirts.’ The Prime Minister also wears the brand’s ‘open-collar sweater in
cashmere’ (£595), its ‘merino wool blazer’ (£495), and its ‘Jack’s Polo’ shirts, which cost £195 each. Mr Eden said he approved of Mr Burnham’s tendency to wear suits with a T-shirt, adding: ‘It’s stylish, it shows modernity. Andy wears so much of our stuff. He’s got between a dozen and 20 pieces.’ A Downing Street spokesman declined to comment. But a source close to the PM insisted: ‘He also wears Fred Perry and Adidas and North Face and Paul Smith... He’s been known to buy from M&S.’
SITTING PRETTY: In the ‘Diplomat’ blazer and a ‘Jack’s Polo’
and Brendan Carlin
KEIR Starmer’s allies are plotting an autumn of revenge on Andy Burnham in response to last week’s brutal reshuffle and unfunded policy announcements. They are vowing to hold the new Prime Minister’s feet to the fire over his stated ambition to unleash the biggest changes in UK politics for 40 years. Their efforts will include a ‘forensic focus’ on ensuring Mr Burnham sticks to the party’s 2024 manifesto on tax. And The Mail on Sunday can reveal Sir Keir’s loyalists are eye- ing up a new parliamentary group to ensure his successor maintains ‘economic competence’ in the run-up to the Budget. Attention is also moving to the upcoming election of a new Labour general secretary this September, with pro-Starmer allies on the par- ty’s National Executive Commit- tee able to pick someone who would make Mr Burnham’s life harder when it comes to candidate selection and party discipline. It is understood Starmer loyal- ists will maintain a ‘ceasefire’ over the summer, while those left out in the cold by the new administration
their autumn revenge
retreat abroad, or to their gardens, to lick their wounds and regroup. One MP said: ‘The Starmerites are around the BBQ, and saying “best of luck, let’s check back in in September and see how you’re getting on”.’ The backlash to last week’s reshuffle emerged amid claims it was ‘one of the most factional purges that the Labour Party’s ever experienced’, a ‘massacre’, and a ‘punishment beating’. Those to be culled from the Cab- inet included former Chancellor Rachel Reeves, ex-Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and Steve Reed, who was Housing Secretary. Last night, senior figures blamed what MPs dubbed the two new ‘Queen Bees of the court of King Andy’ – First Secretary of State Louise Haigh and Chief Whip
COPIES KATE FOR CABINET COMEBACK
THEY say you should dress for the
job you want – not the one you have.
And what Louise Haigh’s style
says about her lofty ambitions as
she returns to government may be
rather telling.
Fresh from being appointed
Chancellor of the Duchy of
Lancaster and First Secretary of
State, convicted fraudster Ms Haigh
appears to have taken tips from none
other than the Princess of Wales.
Ms Haigh, 39, the most powerful
woman in Andy Burnham’s
government, has already swapped
her distinctive dyed red locks for a
more neutral toned-down look.
And last week, she arrived at the
Cabinet Office wearing a familiar
LK Bennett Lasa dress, which the
fashion-forward princess has
previously worn.
Unfortunately for Ms Haigh, she is
more than a little behind the curve.
Kate, 44, first wore the dress
during the 2014 royal tour of
Australia. Once on sale for £245, the
dress is now being offered on
discount sites.
Anneliese Midgley – for the brutal nature of the reshuffle. One Burnham critic said: ‘This was first and foremost Lou Haigh’s reshuffle and it was a punishment beating of Starmer loyalists.’ Another pointed the finger at Ms
behaved like Mafioso’
Midgley, who was Mr Burnham’s surprise pick to oversee parlia- mentary party discipline. A former minister even claimed the Knowsley MP, who used to work for ex-Unite union leader Len McCluskey and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn,
ROYAL INSPIRATION: Louise Haigh last week and, right, Kate in 2016
now exerted a ‘hard-Left’ grip on the Burnham Government. A fellow long-standing party source branded Ms Haigh and Ms Midgley ‘political thugs’ who had behaved like ‘factional Mafioso’. Even self-proclaimed friends of Ms Midgley weighed in, confess- ing: ‘To go from not even a front- bencher to Chief Whip has rubbed a lot up the wrong way.’ Allies of Mr Burnham dismissed the hard-Left claim as nonsense, arguing Ms Midgley had also worked for Sir Keir. Meanwhile, some Starmer loyal- ists recalled how in autumn 2021, allies of the then Manchester mayor had given Sir Keir a year to prove he could turn the polls around and lead against the Tories. At the time, Mr Burnham’s camp denied the ultimatum existed. But
yesterday, Starmer’s allies made clear they would also subject the Prime Minister to their own tests and measures in the autumn. One indicated that would include making sure Mr Burnham did not breach Labour’s famous 2024 tax pledges to fund his new promises. At least one former Cabinet min- ister is closely watching the polls to see whether the so-called ‘King of the North’ can open up a sus- tained lead over Reform UK. Senior Labour MP and ex- minister Graham Stringer said last night: ‘Threats by vengeful Starmerites that they will ambush Andy in the autumn are frankly laughable. Starmer and his inner circle had no idea how to govern. ‘A period of silence from these incompetent ex-ministers would be most welcome.’
LEE THOMAS
L
that sealed desperate
AST September Rachel Reeves, then still the all-powerful Chancellor, sealed her fate with Andy Burnham. The mayor of Greater Manchester was basking in national news headlines after he issued a radical call for Britain to stop being ‘in hock to the bond markets’. His intervention marked the first time most in Westminster realised just how blatantly the so-called ‘King of the North’ was prepared to go to secure the limelight and begin his much- longed-for ascent to Downing Street. While he and his team plotted out how to capitalise on his national prominence, he received a call from a furious Chancellor of the Exchequer. A friend of Andy’s – as he insists we call him – said there was ‘no love lost’ between the pair and reveals to The Mail on Sunday that Ms Reeves told the mayor, in furious and certain terms: ‘You must walk back on your comments, now.’ Her panic was sparked by the market reaction to Mr Burnham’s words, which saw the yield on 30-year gilts rise and pushed long- term borrowing to a 27-year high. One person privy to the call said Ms Reeves ‘was screaming and shouting down the phone’ as she informed Mr Burnham: ‘My phone’s not stopped ringing!’ The mayor is said to have replied coolly: ‘Rachel, I simply don’t believe you.’ Nine months later, Andy had ousted Sir Keir Starmer, on whom the Chancellor was reliant for her position, and she, too, was forced to pack her bags and leave Downing Street and the job she had coveted, though she had enjoyed it for only two short years. In the maelstrom of media cov- erage about Sir Keir’s departure, the sacking of Ms Reeves has played a weak second fiddle. But unlike so many other top ministers, her fate was taken for granted by the media and com- mentariat. Despite her best and very sincere efforts to cling to the job she loved, she was rarely taken seriously as a potential Chancellor candidate for Andy Burnham. But hope springs eternal and one close colleague of Ms Reeves said she genuinely believed she could still be in with a shot… ‘provided all the other frontrunner candi- dates decided it wasn’t for them’. The colleague said: ‘I don’t think it was unreasonable to think Ed [Miliband] might rule himself out, or Shabana [Mahmood] might not want to do it. And [Burnham] might just think, “for now, I don’t need to change”.’ It appears Ms Reeves and the Treasury were just as blindsided by the eventual appointment of John Healey as her replacement
veered to the Left in a frantic attempt to cling on to her job. But as we reveal in the full dramatic story of her downfall, the Chancellor was already doomed...
as everyone else in SW1. Her attempts to signal her ability and willingness to implement Burn- ham-ite policies stretch back fur- ther than many realise. In March, just months after her furious phone showdown with the future Prime Minister, Ms Reeves delivered her Mais Lecture to the City of London, using the speech to reveal she had asked officials to work with Mr Burnham and other
proven across the world never to work
mayors ‘to develop a roadmap for future fiscal devolution, to be pub- lished at this year’s Budget’. She said: ‘This will set out plans to give regional leaders control of a share of some national taxes which have, for too long, been allo- cated by central government.’ This was, Ms Reeves hoped, exactly what Mr Burnham would
CALGIE
SENIOR POLITICAL
CORRESPONDENT-AT-LARGE
want to hear, and her colleagues now believe that at this point she began in earnest to cling on to the job she loved dearly. Her flirting with devolution wasn’t the end, however, and over the coming months Westminster witnessed increasingly erratic briefings from the Treasury that appeared at odds with Reeves’ normally dour technocracy. In April, The Guardian reported she was examining rent freezes to protect household budgets in the fallout from Donald Trump’s inter- vention in Iran – a lunatic policy proven across the world never to work, but which is a frequent demand from hard-Left politicians. The following month she was branded ‘desperate’ by supermar- kets as she pressured them to cap food prices in an attempt to limit inflation caused by the Iran war. The proposal saw her accused of trying to return to the ‘failed policies of the 1970s’, in keeping with Mr Burnham’s wider policy agenda. A Whitehall source said Ms Reeves ‘saw which way the wind was blowing and thought, “if it’s populist Left-wing things that they want, then fine”.’ The efforts became more forlorn
RIVALS?: Rachel Reeves and younger sister Ellie are ‘ultra-competitive’
upon Mr Burnham’s return to Westminster after his victory in Makerfield. Last month, Ms Reeves notably failed to turn up to Downing Street to listen to Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation speech, alongside loyalists. Yet there she was, just hours later, applauding and grinning like a Cheshire cat in parliamentary selfies with newly minted MP Mr Burnham as he marked his trium- phant return to the Commons. But despite her endeavours, a month later she was summarily dismissed by Andy. She was offered the education brief on her way out – not defence, as some claimed, a job it would have been impossible to hand her given Hea-
ley’s claims just weeks ago that she was blocking vital investment for the military. Allies insist she would have been happy to continue in government but it was always likely she would turn down the education job, feel- ing it was too much of a demotion. Indeed, there are claims she was only offered it by Mr Burnham’s team in full knowledge she would be unable to accept the position. This theory is backed by Lucy Powell’s accession to the role – for any less of a position would have been a poor reward for the Labour deputy and close Burnham ally. In the end, Rachel Reeves con- cluded her time in office not with a strop or tantrum, but a ‘support-
LEAVING DO: Rachel Reeves at a pub after her goodbye to No 11
ive text message’ to John Healey following the announcement, The Mail on Sunday can reveal, which elicited a ‘nice reply’. While losing the job she always dreamed of so soon after getting it, allies of the former Chancellor believe she got to ‘leave with her head held high’ after ensur- ing that her successor wasn’t someone who would ‘trash her legacy on stabilisation’ of the economy. This being an unsubtle coded term for ‘ensuring Ed Miliband never got the role’. Her efforts were evidenced by one of her final public outings as Chancellor, as she delivered her Mansion House speech on July 15. In a coded warning to Mr Burn- ham against picking Mr Miliband to replace her, Ms Reeves told the City that only economic stability could help deliver the ‘radical change’ Britain needs, hailing London’s financial services as the ‘crown jewel’ of the economy. Polling of bond traders’ views on who Mr Burnham should pick was also circulated around White- hall, which showed Mr Miliband as ‘clearly negative’. One ally argued that Mr Burn- ham would not have enjoyed the ‘muted’ reaction from the City to last week’s swathe of unfunded promises had he gone with Red Ed. Having at least seen off Mr Mili- band as a successor, Ms Reeves was photographed last Monday alongside Sir Keir and her closest advisers and allies at a pub in the ex-premier’s backyard of Kentish Town, north London. The team drank, cried, sang karaoke and laughed in photos like demented hyenas, as one present observed that both she and Sir Keir already looked ‘ten years
LET DOWN EVERY ASPIRATIONAL WOMAN Page 23
younger’ thanks to the weight of responsibility being lifted. They added: ‘It was a leaving do. They’re always sad and always happy. She worked for a long time to get there, so did Keir. ‘I think they expected more. They had promised a decade of national renewal.’ While debate will continue about whether Ms Reeves could have played her cards better to stay on in No 11, all her friends and allies agree on her plans. ‘I don’t think she’s done with frontline politics,’ said one. ‘I think [Reeves] won’t be any- thing like Thatcher or Blair with [her] interventions. And I think
and laughed like demented hyenas
that Rachel’s incredibly serious and credible. ‘So yes, there’s a “change”mo- ment for the Labour Party now, but I don’t think she’s done.’ An MP friend of Ms Reeves from the West Midlands told the MoS: ‘She’s immensely talented. She has loads, loads, loads more to give. ‘The history of the last couple of years is you shouldn’t write people off. All sorts of people ended up having really successful second acts – David Cameron, Wil- liam Hague. ‘There’s no reason to suppose that someone with so much to give – and relatively young, she’s not yet 50 – couldn’t have a second act.’ While Ms Reeves continues as a humble backbencher, last week
wasn’t all bad news for the family name. Her sister Ellie managed not only to cling on to the Govern- ment, but to win promotion to Attorney General, a job she’s long coveted as a former lawyer. But the move by Mr Burnham could risk driving an even larger wedge between the two ultra- competitive sisters. In May, The Mail on Sunday revealed the pair had an ‘almighty
off without putting her shoes on
row’ at Ellie’s son’s birthday party over Andy Burnham. When Mr Burnham attempted to run for parliament earlier this year in the Gorton and Denton by-election, Ellie joined Sir Keir in voting to block him from standing. But she only did so after No 10 got wind that she was minded to vote alongside Lucy Powell, and back him to stand in the constituency. Sir Keir’s office was said to have called Rachel to lean on her younger sister and ‘sort it out’ – unaware the pair were at that moment together at the child’s birthday party. Rachel confronted Ellie, an inter- vention that sparked a blistering row and ended with the then- Chancellor storming off in her ministerial car – before she had bothered to put her shoes on. Ellie’s continuation in Cabinet, after a more overt flirting opera- tion with Team Burnham for the past few months, will surely test her sisterly bond with Rachel. The pair will do well not to become the new Milibands of British politics. Of course, friends of Rachel Reeves were keen to downplay rumours of a family split, as one loyal backbencher insisted: ‘Rachel is delighted for Ellie. It’s lovely to see her get such a brilliant chance in the area she is an expert in.’ Another added: ‘She’s always happy for Ellie…’ It’s clear Rachel Reeves still commands enormous loyalty among Labour MPs – tempered by equally sizable levels of derision, pity and anger. Friendly MPs couldn’t help but recount what they see as Ms Reeves’ successes such as ending the two-child benefit cap. They also credit her with water- ing the ‘green shoots of growth’ – something that her detractors will doubt given the country’s anaemic levels of ‘growth’ under Labour. Either way, her legacy is now in the hands of others.
SPLIT: Karen and Alan Carter
A LOVE rival accused of stabbing
British expat Karen Carter to
death in rural France has a disease
that leaves her ‘barely able to cut
open an envelope’, say her friends.
Grandmother Marie-Laure Aute-
fort, 70, is accused of plunging a
sharp weapon into Ms Carter, 65,
at least eight times in the village
of Trémolat, in the Dordogne.
The attack in April last year was
so violent that Ms Carter, who
played football regularly in a local
team, died within minutes from a
massive haemorrhage.
Both women were said to be in
love with the same man – Jean-
François Guerrier, 75, a former
Fujitsu executive.
But those close to slightly built
Autefort, who is under 5ft 5in,
insist she would have been incapa-
ble of using such force. One said:
murder suspect can barely cut open an envelope, say friends
IN PARIS
‘She suffers from severe osteoar- thritis, especially in her hands. ‘The pain and lack of movement is so severe, she is barely able to cut open an envelope. ‘The idea that she turned into a super-fit assassin who managed to overpower Ms Carter in a few minutes doesn’t sound right at all.’ Her condition had been verified by her doctors, a friend added. Despite this police instantly con- sidered divorced mother-of-three Autefort their prime suspect and she was arrested within a day. She was released after 48 hours but rearrested 15 months later and was this month charged with pre- meditated murder. An investigat-
ing source said: ‘Inconsistencies were exposed in her original alibi. She made out that she was looking after somebody on the night, but the facts were very vague.’ Both Autefort and Ms Carter lived alone. Ms Carter was on the verge of divorcing her South
was not reciprocated’
Africa-based husband Alan while Autefort had recently ended her marriage to retired stonemason Jean-Claude Autefort. The key players in the love trian- gle saw each other regularly at the village cafe. Former care worker
Autefort was ‘madly in love’ with Mr Guerrier and upset by his bur- geoning relationship with Ms Carter, say many sources. Mr Guerrier hosted a party for friends including Ms Carter on the night she died. He then followed her to her home in his car. When he got there he found her in a pool of blood by her door. He told police that he ‘had come to spend the night at Karen’s’, leaked interview notes reveal. It was Mr Guerrier who told police to investigate Autefort, but DNA taken from Mr Guerrier and Autefort does not match that found at the crime scene. The police record states: ‘He described her as a woman who had fallen madly in love with him the previous year, to the point of divorcing the father of her chil-
ACCUSED: Marie-Laure Autefort, said to suffer from osteoarthritis
dren after decades of marriage. She was then terribly frustrated when she realised this budding passion was not reciprocated.’ Mr Guerrier told police that Autefort lived a ten-minute walk from Ms Carter’s home, cutting across some fields. His words guaranteed her arrest but she then provided an alibi. Autefort is on bail, and conditions include being unable to stay in Trémolat.
JULY 26 • 2026 The Mail on Sunday
Can Sam’s Oscars Odyssey end in triumph after just ten minutes on screen? The bookies think so
IN LOS ANGELES
SHE appears on screen in The Odyssey for barely ten minutes. Yet Samantha Morton has emerged as a surprise frontrunner to win next year’s Best Supporting Actress Oscar after delivering what many are calling the ‘standout performance’ in the summer’s blockbuster. The acclaimed British actress has left audi- ences and critics spellbound with her portrayal of enchantress Circe in Christopher Nolan’s £190m adaptation of Homer’s Greek epic. Despite her ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ per- formance in the three-hour film, Ms Morton, 49, has become one of its big- gest talking points. Its opening week- end saw it take more than £198m worldwide and top the box office on both sides of the Atlantic. And should she take the golden statuette at next year’s Oscars, she would be in good company. Dame Judi Dench won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Queen Elizabeth I in 1998’s Shakespeare In Love
raving about her’
– despite appearing for just five minutes and 52 seconds. One member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences predicted Ms Morton is all but certain to secure an Oscar nomination. The source said: ‘Hollywood can’t stop raving about Samantha. The Odyssey is the film everyone is talking about and she steals every scene she’s in. It doesn’t matter that the role is small. She delivers an emotional impact that lingers long after she’s gone. ‘At this stage I’d be amazed if she isn’t nominated and she’s going to take some beating.’ The recognition would mark a breakout moment for Ms Morton. She has twice received an Oscar nomination – in 2000 for her role as a mute laundress in Woody Allen’s Sweet And Lowdown, and in 2004 for In America, about an Irish immigrant family in New York. But while she has long been
regarded as one of Britain’s most respected actresses, former film boss Harvey Weinstein notoriously dismissed her as being ‘too plain’ to become a leading lady. That could be set to change. Nolan is understood to have offered Ms Morton the part of Circe without asking her to audi- tion. The unexpected phone call
A NEW witness has identified a suspect he believes committed the horrific murders of Lin Russell and her daughter Megan 30 years ago. Ross Shields has contacted lawyers for Michael Stone – who was convicted of the killings – claiming the real murderer was his relative, carpenter Ray Buck. Stone, 66, has maintained his innocence through 29 years in jail
reportedly left the actress in tears. A source at Universal Pictures, the studio behind the film, said: ‘It’s not quite a ‘‘blink-and-you’ll- miss-it’’ scene but ten minutes out of a three-hour movie is nothing. ‘It could easily have been lost in the wash. Chris wanted Samantha from the start. She’s a classically trained actress and, while she
and this month gave a DNA sam- ple for a new forensic analysis by the Criminal Cases Review Com- mission. The results are awaited. Buck, a boxer with a history of violence, was on the radar of police probing the hammer attack killings of Lin, 45, and Megan, six,
STAR: Samantha Morton, left, and as Circe, above
5 mins , 52 seconds!
WINNER:
Dame Judi
Dench
receiving
her Oscar,
right, in
1999, for
Shakespeare
In Love,
above
in Chillenden, Kent. The family’s dog also died but Megan’s sister Josie, nine, miraculously survived. Buck died by suicide at Beachy Head in 2000, aged 46. Mr Shields said that on the day of the murders he was nine and being cared for by Buck’s sister Tracy in Folkestone. He told The Sunday Times that Buck ‘flew’ into the house and said: ‘I’ve done some-
doesn’t have the box-office draw of someone like [co-star] Anne Hathaway, you can’t take your eyes off her. Audiences have been gasping and crying at her scene.’ Social media has been full of praise for Ms Morton’s performance, with fans hailing it ‘mesmerising’ and ‘unforgettable’. Ms Morton, who started out as a magician’s assistant, called on some of that early sleight-of-hand training to pull off a scene in which Circe turns men into pigs. The Academy source said: ‘You watch her emotionally transform from a woman who is scared when the men turn up into someone who wields her power in the most profound and scary way.’ Nolan said the cast and crew ‘broke into a great round of applause’ after Ms Morton finished filming, saying: ‘The last time that happened was with Heath Ledger
UNIVERSAL PICTURES / GETTY IMAGES
round of applause’
on The Dark Knight.’ Ledger, who
died of a drugs overdose, won a
posthumous Oscar in 2009 for his
performance as the Joker.
Describing taking on the role of
Circe, she said: ‘I left school at 12
and started acting at that age.
I’m not highly educated. I didn’t
know the source material. I was
just going by the script which
blew my mind. I was sobbing, I
was angry. I can’t really
remember it in its
entirety other than
there was a day when
I was with the pigs.
I got into the zone
and I was lost.’
B e a t r i c e
Straight holds
the record for
the shortest
p e r f o r -
mance to
w i n
a n
Oscar in
1976’s Net-
work, in which
she appeared for
five minutes and
40 seconds.
thing unforgivable… I’ve killed
three people. I’ve killed the dog.’
Stone’s lawyers have persuaded
a male relative of Buck’s to donate
DNA. Stone had no alibi but his
DNA was not found at the scene.
Kent Police said in its original
investigation it was contacted by a
relative of a man connected to Fol-
kestone whose evidence was ‘com-
prehensively examined in full’.
s
T o
o
o
l
e
e
e
e
e
e
e
d
d
d
d
d
d
d
From James Fielding IN BORDEAUX and Nicholas Pyke IN LONDON
Bordeaux
FRANCE called in military rein-
forcements yesterday as some of
the worst European wildfires on
record rampaged out of control.
More than 270,000 residents and
tourists have been ordered to
leave their homes amid apocalyp-
tic scenes both across the Channel
and in Spain, where a national
emergency has been declared.
Flames continued to rage just
12 miles west of Bordeaux in
south-west France while a
wildfire near the Madrid was
said to be ‘at its peak’ yesterday
evening as thousands were told
to stay indoors.
Yesterday, as the mass evacua-
tions continued, it was announced:
l The wildfires have claimed
their first Spanish victim, a man
trapped in his car;
l President Macron has mobi-
lised 1,500 troops to south-
west France;
l Emergency plans were being
drawn up to evacuate the city
of Bordeaux;
l Today’s final stage of the Tour
de France in Paris will be short-
ened so that security staff can be
re-deployed;
l And closer to home, hundreds
of firefighters were battling a
blaze in Scotland’s Cairngorms.
The French fires, which began on
Tuesday in a pine forest west of
Bordeaux, have so far burned
through 390 square miles of wood-
land, incinerating homes and holi-
day villas.
Officials say strong winds and
hot embers have made the situa-
tion worse, igniting fresh blazes
several miles apart. The situation,
they admit with understatement,
is ‘far from under control’.
Nearly 200,000 people, including
British tourists, have been told to
leave their homes in the Gironde
and Landes region, including the
Lege-Cap-Ferret tourist destina-
tion sometimes known as the
‘French Hamptons’, a popular spot
for the rich and famous.
On Friday, the authorities
ordered the evacuation of the
whole of the Cap Ferret peninsula
with hundreds escaping by boat.
Many found safety in the pictur-
esque town of Arcachon across the
water. Residents and visitors were
given just 30 minutes to pack.
British tourist Ben Sturnham, 50,
fled Cap Ferret with his eight-year-
old daughter Allegra on a boat in
scenes he likened to a ‘mini-
Dunkirk’. With no taxis available
in as 270,000 flee wildfires
tell of dramatic escape from raging inferno
and the road ‘absolutely jammed’, the only route out involved paying 250 Euros and boarding a boat across the bay to Arcachon. ‘By the skin of our teeth we got out just in time,’ he said. Parisian Noémie Eisenchteter, a half-British marketing executive, was forced to evacuate a luxury villa after receiving text alerts
we got out just in time’
from the emergency services in the early hours of Friday morning. Ms Eisenchteter, 25, a keen polo player, was only there for 48 hours before plumes of smoke from the forest fires plunged the sky above into darkness. ‘We arrived on Cap
evacuated
from suburbs
of Bordeaux
Ferret on Wednesday evening and there was some smoke on the dis- tance but we didn’t think too much of it. But when we got up on Thurs- day the smell of smoke was really powerful, it made the house smell of barbecue, and the sky became really dark, blotting out the sun,’ she told The Mail on Sunday. Last night, flames were threaten- ing Bordeaux itself, where – with smoke drifting across the city – officials said they were consider- ing the possibility of a mass evacuation. Residents in the west- ern suburbs have already left, ordered out in the early hours of Saturday morning. Bordeaux Airport is also on the western edge of the city but was continuing to operate last night – although some public transport links were suspended. British Airways has begun con- tacting customers ‘to provide
15 miles
15 miles
Moutchic beach
Gironde wildfire
Fire has cut off Cap Ferret peninsula
assistance’ in case they need to change their plans and is offering alternative routes and times. Martin and Nicola Smith, from Jersey, were staying with rela- tives at the Holiday Inn in Mérignac, just north of Bordeaux
finale shortened to free up vital rescue services
Andernos -les-Bains
Biscarrosse
San Martin d Valdeiglesia
Madrid Madrid
Madrid wildfire
Airport when they got a 3.30am wake-up call by staff and told to leave. With smoke billowing across from fires on the Cap Fer- ret peninsula, the hotel would have to close. Mrs Smith, 49, said: ‘It was a shock to the system and
quite dramatic, but I’d been get- ting alerts on my phone all night.’ The Bordeaux region’s famous vineyards sit several miles to the north of the city along the river Garonne and were not thought to be in danger. Around 60,000 residents have been evacuated in Spain, where fires are closing in on Madrid and the historic city of Avila. Another 28,000 were told to stay at home. The authorities fear the Madrid
fire will merge with a second major blaze – something they describe as ‘very bad news’. Yes- terday the Spanish Prime Minister warned of ‘complex hours ahead’. Some residents were left terri- fied by the evacuation order, with one saying: ‘If you don’t run from the fire, it devours you’. Meanwhile, America’s Nasa space agency has been forced to abandon a communications com- plex in Spain, impacting the agen-
cy’s ability to communicate with space probes. European nations are rallying around with supplies of aircraft and specialist equip- ment. The EU itself has sent five planes and two helicopters to France and four planes to Spain. Yesterday saw the first mission by a French military transport plane deployed to fight the wild- fires. The aircraft, equipped with a dispensing kit that can release 20 tons of water or fire retardant,
UK heatwave forecast
THE UK could bake in its fourth heatwave this week with tempera- tures peaking at 35C (95F), fore- casters have warned. After long-awaited rain clears from the North and North West, hot and dry weather is likely to return for much of England and eastern Wales. BBC forecasters say tempera- tures will peak at 25C to 32C (77F to 90F) for most of the week but that, by the weekend, there is a possibility of highs of 30C to 35C (86F to 95F) across England. The summer has already brought scorching temperatures, with June records broken when a swel- tering 37.7C (99.9F) was recorded at Strumpshaw Hill, near the Nor- folk village of Lingwood. Hot spells are classed as heat- waves when temperatures exceed thresholds set for the area for three consecutive days. This year’s third heatwave ended in most areas last weekend when maximum temperatures dropped
flew over a forest in Lacanau in south-western France. Wildfires have hit much of Europe in recent weeks with Italy, Greece, Portugal and Germany affected as well as parts of Scotland and Wales. More than 500 firefighters were yesterday tackling a ten-day blaze in the Cairngorms that has been declared a major incident. Yester- day the first minister of Scotland, John Swinney, called for military help from the British government.
FRANCE
to below 24C (75F). However, in Usk, Monmouthshire, and Exeter Airport, Devon, temperatures have exceeded heatwave thresh- olds for 20 consecutive days. More than 20 million Britons are now under a hosepipe ban. Met Office chief meteorologist Dan Suri said: ‘After a prolonged spell of hot, dry and settled weather, some will see a tempo- rary change as weather fronts move south-east across the UK. ‘While some areas, particularly in the North and West, will see rain and showers, many places are likely to receive relatively lit- tle rainfall. ‘For much of southern England, dry conditions are expected to remain the dominant feature, with temperatures recovering quickly this week and the potential for very warm or locally hot weather to return.’
Fire crews were also battling a wildfire in the Rhinogydd Moun- tains near Harlech in North Wales. Meanwhile, although thousands of tourists have been affected, Éléonore Caroit, French minister for international partnerships, urged visitors not to change their travel plans. She told Radio 4’s Today pro- gramme that while the fires have been worse than in 2022, most of the country had not been affected.
PETER JOLLY NORTHPIX / TIM CLARKE
and Gabriel Millard-Clothier
FOREIGN Secretary Ed Miliband last night faced calls to order an investigation into the disgraced British chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. Karim Khan was ousted this weekend from his high-profile position at the ICC over allega- tions of sexual misconduct. It comes almost two years after The Mail on Sunday exclusively revealed that Khan, 56, had been accused of misconduct involving a female colleague. The complaint was made shortly before Khan requested that Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu be arrested for alleged war crimes in Gaza. It was later disclosed that a lawyer in her 30s who worked with Khan claimed he kissed, groped and had sex with her without her consent over an 11-month period. Earlier this month the woman, who agreed to be identified as Sarah, spoke publicly for the first time about her allegations. In an interview with CNN, she alleged that on one occasion, while on an official visit to Colombia, Khan came into her hotel room and that, as she pretended to be asleep, he ‘started to put his hand
constant onslaught’
down my leggings, to grope me, to put his tongue in my ear’. Khan, a father of two who grew up in Yorkshire, has repeatedly denied all the allegations. But, in a secret ballot at United Nations headquarters in New York on Friday night, 82 of the court’s 125 member states voted to dis- miss him. The Foreign Office last night refused to say whether the UK voted against him. A friend of Sarah said last night: ‘I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. The last two years have taken a toll on Sarah and her family. I spoke to a close relative today and Sarah still hasn’t slept since the day before the decision.’ Dame Priti Patel, the shadow Foreign Secretary, described Sarah’s testimony as ‘harrowing’ and called for the Government to launch its own probe. She told the MoS: ‘The ICC has been undermined by its chief prosecutor’s appalling conduct and yet the new Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary are silent.
Gardening cuts your risk of diabetes
GARDENING doesn’t just cut stress and burn calories, it may also lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, a study has found. People with a garden are seven per cent less likely to develop the condition linked to increased risk of suffering a heart attack. The benefits may be linked to digging a garden, exercise that reduces the danger of diabetes by helping people maintain a healthy
Miliband urged to probe international prosecutor ousted for sex pest claims exposed by MoS
Sexual misconduct is very serious but we have ministers more interested in posting ridiculous social media content rather than the serious business of governing. ‘Ed Miliband must launch an urgent investigation into these allegations and the abuse of power within the ICC and other interna- tional institutions.’ Last year a second woman came
weight. But the researchers added that gardens could expose people to a broader diversity of bacteria, boosting the immune system. This may have psychological benefits which could contribute to a lower risk of chronic disease. The researchers from Queens- land university in Brisbane, Aus-
forward and also accused Khan of sexual misconduct. The woman, referred to by the pseudonym Patricia, also spoke to CNN and described how while an intern in 2009 she was required to work at his house. She alleged that ‘without fail every time I was there it was a constant onslaught of him coming on to me, groping me, grabbing
tralia, studied data from more than 400,000 British adults. They found that gardens were linked to a seven per cent reduced risk of diabetes – and having three parks within 800 metres also low- ered the danger by six per cent. The team said urban planners should consider the importance of private gardens in new develop- ments, suggesting they could ‘play a role in reducing and managing
me, kissing my face, touching my
hair, trying to get me to engage in
intimate activity with him’.
In a statement, Tayab Ali, the
head of Khan’s legal team, said
that an investigation by the United
Nations Office Of Oversight Ser-
vices had not made ‘a single find-
ing of misconduct’ against him.
He added that Mr Khan ‘will
challenge the lawfulness and fair-
ness of the decision through all
available legal mechanisms’.
A Foreign Office spokesman
said: ‘We are grateful to the Inter-
national Criminal Court (ICC)
Bureau for concluding its investi-
gation and respect their findings.
‘The UK expects the highest
standards of behaviour from lead-
ers of international organisations,
and we have a zero-tolerance
approach to sexual exploitation,
abuse or harassment of any kind,
and inaction to address it.’
SACKED: Disgraced prosecutor Karim Khan, above, and left, his accuser, lawyer Sarah
the burden of chronic diseases’. The toll of Britons with type 2 diabetes has more than doubled in the last 20 years to 4.2million. A further 1.3million are thought to have type 2 without knowing it. It is directly linked to obesity, h causing spiralling levels of sugar in the blood. This increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, blindness, nerve damage and amputations.
‘must come clean over meetings’
SENIOR POLITICAL
CORRESPONDENT-AT-LARGE
ANDY Burnham’s top business and artificial intelligence adviser has been ordered to come clean about his potential conflicts of interest after months of secrecy from Downing Street. Varun Chandra, at the centre of Labour’s efforts to woo US tech executives since 2024, joined Keir Starmer’s government from a corporate intelligence firm founded by former British spies. He has faced calls to publish his meetings with tech chiefs and his personal financial interests in AI. Special advisers have a duty to ensure that they have no conflicts of interest, nor should there be a ‘perceived’ conflict.
SCRUTINY: Government adviser Varun Chandra
However, they do not have to declare meetings with private firms and lobbyists publicly. But, uniquely, Mr Chandra’s entry on the annual publication of special adviser interests lacks any details about his previous employment. Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: ‘The Government’s most senior business adviser has been allowed to keep his commercial interests hidden from the public that pays his salary.’ Reports in May said that Mr Chandra held 16 undisclosed meetings with top US tech bosses in 2024 and 2025. Rose Zussman, of watchdog Transparency International, said the meetings could be viewed as ‘lobbying behind closed doors’. Downing Street declined to comment.
CONSULTANT EDITOR SHOWBUSINESS
SINCE it first hit our screens, Strictly has
enthralled the BBC’s older, loyal viewers.
Now, after 22 years, insiders say bosses
are ‘hell-bent’ on a Gen Z makeover that
risks driving them away. The Mail on Sun-
day can reveal that executives have lifted
a ban on signing too many reality stars for
the show, as they chase the elusive 18-to-
24 age group ahead of its 24th series.
Names that have enraged some quarters
of the BBC who are desperate to keep
their older audience include last year’s
Love Island winner Cach Mercer and
Chris Appleton, hairdresser to American
reality star and influencer Kim
Kardashian, who himself has a large
following on social media.
Will Best, the presenter of Big Brother,
has also been announced as a competitor
but is barely known to older viewers,
while Dani Dyer, another Love Island
winner, is also returning after being
forced to pull out due to a fractured
ankle last year.
There is also some concern that the
presenting line-up of Emma Wil-
lis and Josh Widdicombe
could be a turn-off for
older viewers. How-
ever, the third host,
Johannes Radebe,
is very popular
with older fans.
‘There is some-
thing of a civil
war within the
B B C
o v e r
Strictly,’ says a
source at the
as hare coursing gangs dump rabbit carcasses on villagers
ORGANISED crime gangs are invading farms and intimidating the owners to stage illegal hare cours- ing events, a shocking investigation has revealed. The mobs, often clad in military clothing and balaclavas, smash their way on to farmland to unleash lurchers or greyhounds on wild hares – a bloodsport for which prizes can fetch £50,000 and the coveted ‘Super 8 Cup’. Hare coursing, in which dogs acquire points both for a kill and for how often they make their prey twist and turn during the chase, was banned in the UK in 2005. But police say the involvement of organised crime gangs has, in recent years, seen a tenfold increase in the secret events. Two years ago, children in Awbridge, Hampshire, arrived at school to find 20 hare and rabbit carcasses, as well as the beheaded body of a deer, dumped outside the building. Seven miles north, 50 dead hares were strewn near the entrance of Broughton’s village shop. A dead barn owl and kestrel were tied to the door handle, too. One landowner told how he was confronted by a masked participant carrying a catapult loaded with ball bearings. And in one of the largest events held last year, Cambridgeshire
regret hiring a bevy of Gen Z ‘celebs’ like Kim Kardashian’s hairdresser?
corporation. ‘There is a real push to get young influencer types on, those who the older generations would never have heard of in a month of Sundays. Before, there would be one influencer, such as Joe Sugg, or last year’s George Clarke. This year, there are so many contestants which appeal to young people, not old. ‘The feel of the show is going to change dramati- cally with Emma and Josh hosting
VILE: Dead hares are strewn outside the village shop in Broughton, Hampshire BLOODSPORT: A dog hunts down its target
farmer Mathew Latta watched on as a dozen 4x4s raced across his field after passengers cut open iron gates with an angle-grinder. More than 70 people then brought out dogs, began hunting hares and started gambling on their kills, all while blasting loud party music. Cambridgeshire Police believe participants travelled from across England and Wales and completed a 20-mile distraction route to reduce their chances of being
SIGNED UP: Model Cach Mercer won Love Island with Toni Laites DEAL: Chris Appleton with Kim Kardashian
caught – forcing other cars off the road and robbing a petrol station on the way. Mr Latta told the BBC that he saw gang members in their cars watching kills through binoculars. ‘This was 100 per cent a properly organised coursing event, with competitors and competitive dogs,’ he said. ‘It was quite terrifying.’ His frightened seven-year-old daughter kept asking: ‘Are these men going to come inside, Daddy?’ The event lasted for around
rather than Tess [Daly] and Claudia [Win- kleman] but with so many young contest- ants there risks being a huge lean towards going after youngsters . . . Older people already feel like there is less and less for them on the BBC. Meanwhile, the BBC are chasing a young audience who would rather watch YouTube.’ For the new series, bosses have also secured EastEnders actress Lacey Turner and former Neighbours star turned singer Delta Goodrem. Former Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey has been signed up. ‘The last thing that the BBC needs to do is turn off its core audience,’ says the source. ‘It is those people who pay their TV licences. Strictly brings them so much joy. For many, it’s all they watch on the Beeb.’ The show will be back for its 24th season in September and will also feature five new, younger professional dancers after the axing of four older women.
three hours and the criminals left behind four cars – one a burnt-out wreck. Cambridgeshire Police have since arrested more than 40 people and charged 25, several of whom have now been convicted. In a search of one address, they discovered the 2ft-tall Super 8 Cup engraved with images of dogs and hares along with the names of previous winning owners. A video obtained by the BBC showed a group of eight men drinking in a pub as they haggled
over the price of the 2025 Super 8 Cup champion. The lurcher was eventually sold for £55,000. Freedom of Information requests to police show there have been 9,000 reports of hare cours- ing over the past three years. Chief Inspector Kevin Lacks- Kelly, head of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit, told the BBC: ‘Some of these lads are making a fortune. You’ve got some of the country’s best-organised crimi- nals. They’re like a small army.’
JAMES HUNT S
FIRM FRIENDS: Caroline Graham with F1 champ Hunt
UBTLE they were not. She was the arche- typal ‘thumping great Sloane’, snorting with laughter as she charged around the paddock with a black velvet bow in her flowing red hair. He was the quintessential rake, a silver- tongued playboy nicknamed ‘The Toad’ for his unremarkable looks and slightly slimy manner. Back in the early 1980s, Sarah Ferguson was a virtual unknown outside the world of Formula One. She had yet to meet her future husband, then known as Prince Andrew. Instead she was a fun-loving former chalet girl who was going out with Paddy McNally, a failed racing car driver who found himself at the forefront of the burgeoning F1 hospitality business. It would be a business that ended up making McNally the 238th rich- est man in Britain, with a £600mil- lion fortune by the time of his death last week at the age of 88. When the sad news broke, it led many to speculate that McNally, a widower before he met Fergie and who never remarried, could solve the disgraced ex-duchess’s financial woes for good. After all, they had stayed friends for over four decades, through Fergie’s marriage and divorce from Andrew and her years of profligate spending and debt. McNally stood by her to the end, even in recent months when the shame of her 20-year friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was made public in the so-called Epstein Files, and she was forced to drop out of public view. After she and Andrew were kicked out of Royal Lodge in Wind- sor Great Park last February, she fled to an Austrian spa and then to McNally’s home in Switzerland. Last night, one associate of hers told me McNally, who had been in poor health for years, allowed Fer- gie to stay in his £25million chalet – nicknamed ‘Cocaine Castle’ for the parties he hosted at the height of his loucheness – ‘because he always wanted to help her’. The associate said: ‘The first question everyone thought was, “Is Paddy going to bail her out for good?” He was fiercely loyal to her throughout her scandals, and there were many. Even in recent months he’s let her stay in his chalet. If he’s left her life-changing money, wouldn’t that be something?’ Another man, who moved in the same circles as Fergie, added: ‘Paddy was shrewd. No one would
be surprised if he’s left her a house and cash, but you can bet it’s in a private trust with a monthly income. He’d never give her a lump sum because he knows how easily she’d blow through it.’ Fergie is said to be ‘devastated’ by the death of the man she once described as a ‘father figure’ and ‘mentor’, telling one interviewer: ‘He taught me so much about life. When I wanted advice I turned to him. He seemed to have seen and done everything.’ When I read about McNally’s death my mind instantly went back to one summer in the early 1980s, when I went to the British Grand Prix with my best friend from school, whose father was a director of one of the teams. It was an alien world to me, an Army brat raised on military bases around the world before my
flame and lifelong friend dies at 88...
and Paddy McNally’s VERY racy love affair from the glamorous F1 paddock. I’d be amazed if he hasn’t left her a slice of his
CAROLINE
GRAHAM
US EDITOR
family settled in rural Hampshire. ‘Fergie’ – who was known by that nickname before the tabloids took an interest in her – was only seven years older than me but it felt like she’d come from another planet. Brash, confident and loud, her father Ron ‘The Galloping Major’ Ferguson was polo manager for Prince Charles. She had been a chalet girl in Ver- bier, Switzerland, where she met McNally, 22 years her senior. He hired her to be nanny for his sons Sean and Rollo. He was separated from his wife Anne ‘Twist’ Down- ing, a Monte Carlo heiress, who died from cancer in 1980. When I saw them at Silverstone, Fergie and McNally were boy- friend and girlfriend, but he would openly flirt with the scores of beautiful women who hung around drivers like Alain Prost, Nelson
Piquet and a young Nigel Mansell, who was still in his early Formula 1 career. While the circuit was undoubt- edly glamorous, it was nothing like the multi-billion-pound industry it is today. McNally, the fifth of an RAF doc- tor’s six children, had tried his hand at motor racing but failed, before peddling vacuum cleaners door-to-door to make money. He later wrote about racing for Auto- sport magazine, which brought him into the orbit of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Then he had a brilliant idea. What about offering corporate sponsorship deals and charging businessmen a hefty fee to become members of what he would call ‘The Paddock Club’, an exclusive trackside hospitality suite where you could sip champagne against the backdrop of roaring racing cars, leggy blondes and legendary drivers like Mario Andretti? It was an instant success. In many ways, dating Fergie, with her booming posh voice and royal connections through her father, was a savvy business decision for McNally. She was a ‘Sloane Ranger’, a breed of upper-class young men and women who wore Barbour
jackets, tweed skirts and blouses with frilly collars, and flitted between homes ‘in town’ and ‘the country’. The set was then in its pomp, and The Official Sloane Ranger Handbook topped the bestseller list a year after we met. While McNally brought in motor racing people, Fergie brought in her friends: handsome, entitled – and very rich – young men and women from the landed gentry. She was wild. James Hunt, the 1976 world champion was, by then, the BBC’s commentator alongside Murray Walker. For some inexpli- cable reason he took pity on me as a fish out of water and we became firm friends. James, a legendary womaniser himself, had little time for McNally, who he called ‘a chancer’. McNally had briefly worked for James as an assistant. James told me he’d had the mis- fortune to stay in a hotel room next to Fergie and her lover dur- ing one of that season’s races and described her as ‘the loudest woman I’ve ever heard’. He was furious because her screams of passion had kept him awake all night. James would yell: ‘Oh Paddy! Oh Paddy!’ every
time Fergie walked past. To her credit, she took it in good humour. McNally’s company took off. In the next couple of years I watched as his hospitality suites became larger and more professional. He signed corporate sponsorship deals with everyone. When you went into The Paddock Club there would be boxes and boxes of free Marlboro cigarettes. He promoted Rolex watches and Chanel perfume. And he became very rich, some- thing Fergie, who was always struggling to keep up with her peers financially, undoubtedly appreciated. Parties at his ‘Cocaine Castle’ in Verbier (the chalet was official called Les Gais Lutins, or ‘The
her screams of passion kept him awake
it, smashing both vehicles and destroying his garage door. He had a permanent table at a nearby nightclub called The Farm Club, where he would entertain high-profile friends like Princess Stephanie of Monaco. One New Year’s Eve, he had cav- iar flown in from St Petersburg. He served as best man to Jamie Blandford, now the Duke of Marl- borough, when he wed his first wife, Becky Few Brown, in 1990, buying the couple a gun-metal grey Range Rover as a wedding gift and shocking guests with tales of the groom’s misbehaviour. But McNally would humiliate Fergie in front of friends, too. She would complain he called her ‘fat’ and ‘ugly’. On one occasion she
was waiting in the chalet and he brought home a glamorous Swiss woman. He gave her the option to ‘have a threesome or f*** off’. In the end Fergie gave him an ultimatum at the 1985 Italian Grand Prix: marry me or else. James later told me: ‘Of course, Paddy chose the “or else”.’ That June McNally drove Fergie to a party at Windsor Castle, where she would hit it off with Andrew. The pair married the next year. Some friends believe she was always in love with McNally. One woman said: ‘If Paddy had married her there would have been no Andrew. I think Fergie rebounded into that relationship and, after playing second fiddle to Paddy for so long, I think she
INSEPARABLE: Sarah Ferguson with Paddy McNally in 1986, the year of her marriage to Andrew
loved being the centre of atten- tion, with everything marrying a prince brought her. She bought into the fairytale which, of course, turned into a nightmare.’ McNally’s wealth was always there to shield her. He bought James Bond author Ian Fleming’s £40million Grade II listed home Sevenhampton Place in Wiltshire, which became Fergie’s refuge as her marriage to Andrew crumbled. Then there was his villa, Le Clos de Meaux in the South of France, as well as a total of three ski chalets in Verbier and a grouse moor in Scotland. One long-time friend said: ‘Paddy adored Fergie. He never married her but then he never married anyone after his first wife. Fergie was good to his boys and he was good to her girls.’ For years, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie would enjoy ski holidays courtesy of McNally, who would lavish the girls with
‘Marry me or else.’ Paddy chose ‘or else’
expensive gifts like designer handbags and couture skiwear. Tragically, McNally outlived his elder son Sean, who died unexpect- edly earlier this year in his 50s. A friend said: ‘It’s been rather mysterious. There was nothing about Sean’s death in the papers. Paddy has been in failing health for years but losing his son was a blow which hit him hard.’ And, so, back to the money. McNally sold his business, Allsport Management, in 2006 for £262million. He retired in 2011. Friends from that world would see him every year at a barbecue he would throw beside the pool of the sprawling Wiltshire estate to celebrate the British Grand Prix. McNally ended up buying two adjoining properties to his manor: a Jacobean house set in 165 acres and the 500-acre Hampton Farm. From talking to those closest to McNally I would be stunned if he hasn’t left her a sizable chunk of his £600million fortune One friend said: ‘He lived fairly quietly for the last few years. He had a tight circle of friends and Sarah was at the heart of it. They talked on the phone all the time, even when he was very sick.’ One lawyer friend says McNally was changing his will up to the end: ‘His eldest son died. There were codicils [legal documents to make minor changes to a will].’ While the will is likely to become public, McNally’s fortune is tied up in private Swiss trusts to shield the eventual benefactors of his vast estate. Some believe that, as in life, McNally will look after his long-time friend. One source said: ‘Of course he’s going to look after Fergie. They were in each other’s lives for longer than they were ever married to their spouses. He promised to always take care of her and he will.’
event for 30th anniversary of Diana’s death?
PRINCES William and Harry could be brought together for the first time in years at a ‘significant’ royal event being planned to mark the 30th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana next year, The Mail on Sunday understands. The event, which would pay tribute to the enduring legacy of their late mother three decades after her death in a Paris under- pass, is being masterminded by The Diana
closer to his mother’s legacy’
Award, a charity set up in her honour. Both William and Harry are patrons of the charity – the last remaining patronage the estranged brothers share – and, while they have been carrying out appearances separately on the charity’s behalf in recent years, it is understood both will be invited.
Sources say the charity plans to mark the milestone anniversary with a programme of events in 2027, the highlight of which is set to be a glittering black-tie gala. This is likely to coincide with the Sussexes’ trip to Birmingham next summer for the Invictus Games. And if both brothers attend, it
POLITICAL REPORTER
THE gambling watchdog has been urged to investigate ‘suspicious’ insider betting on Chancellor John Healey’s shock appointment, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. His post was the biggest surprise of last week’s Cabinet reshuffle following days of predictions that either Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood or then-energy security secretary Ed Miliband would land the job. Ms Mahmood was the odds- on favourite for the Treasury immediately before the appoint- ment, rated an 84 per cent
minders to avoid leaks’
probability at 1/5 by betting exchange site Smarkets. But in the hours before Mr Healey was formally announced at 6pm on Monday, four bets were placed – at 8am, 10am, noon and 1pm – at odds of between 80/1 and 140/1. Each punt stood to win at least £600, well above the £100 threshold that triggers a Gambling Commission investigation. They have now been reported to the watchdog. The former defence secre- tary’s appointment had been decided by Team Burnham long in advance – but Labour ensured it was not leaked by keeping, in the words of one source, ‘the circle very, very tight’. This newspaper under-
PATRONS:
Princes Harry
and William
attending events
for The Diana
Award
would be their first joint appearance in public since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. The Diana Award, which c e l e b r a t e s
investigate ‘suspicious’ 140/1 wagers on Healey becoming Chancellor
stands Mr Healey and Treasury
rival Ed Miliband held a secret
summit at the latter’s constitu-
ency office in Doncaster three
weeks before Andy Burnham
became Prime Minister, where
they discussed Mr Healey’s path
to the job.
One person with knowledge of
the meeting said even respective
advisers were kept out of the room,
with the summit held ‘without
minders’ to avoid word leaking out.
But on the day, the formalities of
the appointment meant far more
people needed to know,
including Labour advisers
and MPs, civil servants and
police officers.
Robert Jenrick last night told
the MoS: ‘The watchdog should
investigate this suspicious activ-
ity. It was only last month that a
former Tory MP pleaded guilty to
cheating at gambling over the tim-
young people who make a difference to the lives of others, is a crucial organi- sation for the princes, as it
has played a key role in keeping their mother’s memory alive. In recent years William and Harry have taken turns to partici- pate in events, and a source at the charity said staff were careful to ensure an ‘equal balance’ of occa- sions involving each brother.
ing of the general election. It would be outrageous if someone at the top of the Labour party has done the same.’ The watchdog has not revealed whether it has launched a full review, citing the need to ‘pre- serve the integrity of investiga- tions’. It regards insider betting as
MP has done this’
a criminal offence under the Gambling Act 2005. When it emerged that some Tories had used inside knowledge to bet on the date of the June 2024 election, Labour politicians did not shy away from calls for a full criminal investigation. Pat McFad-
CHARITY: The Diana Award helps keep the princess’ memory alive
Both would wish to take part in any significant events honouring their late mother. In 2017, to com- memorate 20 years since Diana’s death, they made a joint appear- ance at a high-profile Diana Award event at St James’s Palace. But ten years on, this has become far trickier for the charity to nav- igate. In March 2024, William attended a Diana Award event to mark 25 years since the charity’s inception, while Harry appeared later via a video link. Since then, the annual awards have been held virtually – but next year’s events will be held in per- son and, as one source explained last night, there is also talk of Meghan making an appearance. A source said: ‘Harry wants Meghan to be part of it, to be closer to his mother’s legacy.’ Rep- resentatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were approached for comment. A spokesman for The Diana Award said the charity was in the ‘early stages’ of planning anniver- sary events, but added: ‘No plans have been agreed and no decisions have been made regarding attend- ance or participation.’ Kensington Palace declined to comment.
den, now Work and Pensions Sec- retary, wrote a public letter to then-prime minister Rishi Sunak about ‘the gambling scandal engulfing the Tory party’. He said: ‘It looks like one rule for members of the Tory party and another for everyone else.’ He also demanded the immedi- ate suspension of anyone involved and wrote to the Gambling Com- mission’s chief executive calling for a full investigation and for individuals to be publicly named. Those Tories, including Mr Sunak’s closest aide, Craig Wil- liams MP, were prosecuted for smaller bets than the ones now under scrutiny. Labour politicians have been markedly less vocal about the cur- rent allegations. Asked whether the party would back calls for an investigation, a Labour spokes- man declined to comment.
JULY 26 • 2026 The Mail on Sunday
The night out with my niece (and 2,000 other screaming teens) that proved Simon Cowell’s Midas touch is back
T
SHOWBIZ!
CONSULTANT EDITOR SHOWBUSINESS
HE high decibel, piercing screams ricocheting around Shepherd’s Bush Empire took me right back to 1995. As a teenager besotted with Take That – then Britain’s biggest boyband – I had squealed with delight from my fifth-row seat at Wemb- ley Arena, convinced that lead vocalist Gary Barlow really had waved only at me. It was a special night – thousands of teen girls, just like me, swooning at their pop idols. But going out last week with my 14-year-old niece Olivia to see the country’s latest boy band, December 10, has proved two things: there is still very much a market for this type of pop, and Simon Cowell, who is behind the group, still has his magic touch. Certainly, that is, if the deafening screams are anything to go by. Even if you haven’t heard of December 10, I predict it won’t be long until they are household names. The seven young lads were plucked from thousands of hope- fuls who auditioned for Netflix
a queue 11 hours before band was due
talent show Simon Cowell: The Next Act. And despite only releas- ing their first single at the end of January, I can confirm they already have an obsessive fan base. Known as the ‘Tenners’, scores had already formed a long queue outside the venue at 9am – 11 hours before the band was due on. Some were so devoted they had been there all night, desperate to get as close as possible to the boys: Cruz Lee-Ojo, 20, Hendrik Christ- offersen, 20, John Fadare, 18, Josh Olliver, 17, Nicolas Alves, 17, and Sean Hayden, 19. The seventh member, Danny Bretherton, 17, is on a break, more of which later. As they waited, the fans sang the band’s limited collection of songs to date – including Infinity (123), Angel and Bad For Me – at the top of their voices. They performed dances they had practiced in their bedrooms for days, and wept at the prospect of seeing the band in person. And there were the hand- made posters – one read ‘Josh marry me’, while
another said ‘We love you Decem- ber 10’, complete with red hearts. It was teenage fandom at its finest and most hysterical. I only understood the extent of December 10’s appeal myself a few months ago when Olivia rang me, beside herself that she had found a new band. Rather than coming across December 10 on Cowell’s show, she had found
the boys on TikTok. Olivia was determined that I should join her and two friends at the gig so I could judge the music for myself. Like the 2,000 others attending, she spent days making her own merchandise – including decorat- ing a black PVC jacket with dia- mante studs to recreate the band’s logo. She embellished her sun- glasses with the same image. Peak excitement came when, ahead of the gig, Olivia and her friends were lucky enough to meet the boys – including Sean, who is Olivia’s favourite by far – in their dressing room. They cried upon finding out. Olivia handed the boys an 80-page scrapbook she had put together to illustrate their ‘best moments’, and was delighted to be told they would keep it. She was thrilled to bits when they also signed a flag she had made. I’ll be honest, I had my doubts about this mob and whether Cowell could still curate a hit band. Now
66, he of course has a stellar pedi- gree as the man behind Westlife, One Direction, 5ive and more. His Netflix show was a bid to find something fresh. Auditions were held across the UK and Ireland, and the success- ful seven signed with EMI Records – the home of Taylor Swift and Sir Paul McCartney. But this year it looked like it might not work out. Despite Cowell’s The X Factor generating No 1 singles almost every year the show aired, sales for December 10’s first single, Run My Way, were bleak. It limped into the charts at No 72, shifting just 6,300 units (that’s physical sales, downloads and streaming) in the song’s first week. I spoke at length to Cowell, and he was determined not to give up. After ticking me off for doubting December 10, he assured me the boys would come good. And I’m happy to now acknowl- edge his judgment was correct. Music insiders old enough to remember The Beatles say the
levels of teen hysteria around December 10 are similar – and equal to the early hype around One Direction. Which is, of course, music to Cowell’s ears. This month the band’s debut album, On Your Side, went in at No 5 in the UK charts and No 3 in Ireland. This was announced on stage at the gig by manager Cassandra Gracey, to yet more piercing screams. I’m told the group has achieved the highest-selling EP of 2026 so far – the biggest such debut in the last decade. December 10 has amassed more than 30million streams, 22.9million YouTube
CLICK NEWS AND MEDIA
said to already be a huge hit in Japan
views and a combined social media following of 3.7million. Their tour, The Next Step, sold out across the UK and Europe. And this summer will see the boys play Reading and Leeds festivals before jetting off to Japan, where I’m told they are already ‘huge’. While record sales are no longer making musicians super rich, the band has numerous brand deals, including with Toyota and Primark. For Sean, it’s a full-circle moment after working for Pen- neys, Primark’s Irish franchise. But there is already a hint of scandal. Danny’s involvement has been paused amid complaints about comments he is said to have made about former female class- mates and girlfriends. I’m assured he will be back. As the concert ended, Tenners flooded outside the venue to meet their idols in scenes reminiscent of my Take That obsession – I had once travelled to Gatwick to see them arrive. And I remembered that post- concert comedown – as well as the burning desire to do it again. But I was mostly relieved the screaming had stopped.
J
PROTEST: Jennifer on a demonstration last year
UST over a year ago, when Jennifer Melle was at rock bottom, her eldest daughter – a nurse, just like her mum – placed a six-week-old puppy in her arms. She hoped that having another life to care for would bring her mother back. ‘She could see me crying, spending all the time in bed. If I went outside, I was having panic attacks, in the supermarket, on the bus, in the street. She wanted me to be happy again,’ says Jennifer. A devout Christian, Jennifer, 42, called the little cockapoo Esther, a good biblical name, and they have been inseparable ever since. ‘Esther has been a beam of light, a big part of my recovery,’ she says of the dog who coaxed her into daily walks. ‘She’s brought a lot of joy. Thanks to her, I have life again.’ As heartwarming as this is, it is also shocking to discover that a woman like Jennifer – a senior nurse who had raised three children single- handedly while holding down the most demanding of jobs – needed to be reminded of who she was. And that it was her children, rather than her employers, who provided the front-line support when she was in ‘trauma’ (she uses the word several times) is shameful. ‘My kids were quite concerned about my well- being,’ she admits. ‘I was having sleepless nights. I’d burst into tears. If I had a panic attack when I was out, I’d have to sit down somewhere and I’d call them to talk me through it.’ Her youngest, her only boy, is 19 now, but he found it particularly difficult watching his always-capable mother fall apart. ‘I am not together with his father, but it got to the point where his dad took him to Uganda for two months for his mental health. He was trauma- tised watching me at home crying, having these panic attacks. He didn’t understand why his mum, who had always been out working, couldn’t go to work. He didn’t understand why I would suffer because of this incident.’ It is now more than two years since ‘this incident’ sent Jennifer’s life into freefall, and over a year since The Mail on Sunday broke her astonishing story, igniting a national debate about gender identity, conscience and free speech which saw the likes of J.K. Rowling express their outrage. What happened to Jennifer had parallels with the fights of the Darlington nurses and, in Scot- land, Sandie Peggie. All the women – ordinary nurses who stood firm against the trans ideology they believed had captured sections of the public sector – are now friends. Jennifer’s story, which led her into a complex legal battle with her employer, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, was particularly shocking. In this case, the facts were never in dispute. In May 2024, during a busy night shift at St Helier Hospital, where
she had worked with an unblem- ished record for 12 years, Jennifer had rushed to the aid of a junior colleague who was struggling to deal with a patient – a convicted paedophile from a high-security men’s prison who had been escorted to the hospital by two guards. The burly 6ft patient was listed as male in medical records – ‘and was called Mr by one of the guards’, Jennifer insists today – but identified as a woman. While speaking to a doctor outside the patient’s room about catheter removal, Jennifer referred to the patient as ‘he’ and ‘Mr’. Overhearing, the patient became aggressive, verbally abusing Jennifer, a black woman, with a string of racial slurs and lunging at her, while restrained in chains. Jennifer explained, as calmly as
obsessed with wokery, even the law can’t protect nurses like me
cleared her name two years after being
suspended for inadvertently calling a
violent, racist, trans paedophile ‘Mister’
By JENNY JOHNSTON
she could muster in the circum- stances, that she could not use female pronouns in this situation because of her Christian faith, but offered to use the patient’s chosen (female) name. She felt – and still feels – that she handled the situation profession- ally, successfully de-escalating a potentially dangerous situation. The evidence backs her up. The patient, who had been agitat- ing about wanting to self-discharge from the hospital, opted to stay the night. ‘I still gave him pain relief,’ says Jennifer, remembering how she never stopped caring for her patient, even in the most testing of circumstances. Yet who was sanctioned for their behaviour that night? Almost unbelievably, it was Jennifer. When her patient made a complaint about being
misgendered, it was Jennifer who found herself facing disciplinary proceedings – the most serious ones a nurse can face. Not only was she eventually suspended from her job, she was given a final written warning and a referral to the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), the body with the power to take away her right to call herself a nurse. In a ‘nightmare’ two-year ordeal, which ended only this month, she was effectively cast out of the NHS, isolated from her colleagues and left fearing for her career, her livelihood, even her own mental wellbeing. So distraught was her daughter at watching her mother go through this hell that she resigned from her own nursing job within the NHS. ‘My eldest was most affected,’ Jennifer tells me today. ‘She had
just qualified as a paediatric nurse but she resigned from her post. She just couldn’t take what had happened to me. She was thinking of her own career. If she was to get into trouble, what would happen to her? She was thinking even of changing her career.’ Because of a mistrust of the NHS as an employer? ‘Yes. She is back working again. She started as a bank nurse and is now in a NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) in a different hospital but there was a while when she didn’t know if she wanted this career. ‘We prayed. We waited to see how my case went. I said, “Think about it.” I advised her not to rush, to take time for rest and recovery.’ Although the trust dropped disciplinary action in January of this year (she had been suspended after speaking publicly about her ordeal), it wasn’t until earlier this month that the NMC closed its fitness-to-practise investigation, concluding that there was no case to answer. Meaning that Jennifer had done nothing wrong. ‘I did my job,’ she repeats today, totally vindicated. How complicated this victory is, though. While there is a palpable sense of relief from her today,
D
S
h
STILL RECOVERING: Jennifer Melle today with cockapoo Esther. Inset: MoS story on March 23 last year
in
there is still a feeling of disbelief that events went as far as they did. MP Claire Coutinho, who has supported her, has condemned the hospital trust for conducting a ‘witch-hunt’ against Jennifer. She doesn’t use that word herself, but her hurt at being ‘hung out to dry’
sh
bu
Go
is evident today. ‘It should never have come to this,’ she says. ‘No nurse should have to face what I have had to face for telling the truth and doing their job.’ We chat about her lowest moments. She says the worst part was ‘getting a letter from the NMC
labelling me as a danger to the public. That took a big toll. I was distraught.’ Another low was when, in the ini- tial stages of the investigation, she was ‘redeployed’ to another ward. When the patient in question was re-admitted she was told that she
could not even go into the staffroom there to have her lunch, lest there be a crossing of paths. ‘Luckily, it was June, so I could just go to the park and eat my lunch.’ Alone? ‘Yes, but that was OK. My colleagues had been told they could not talk to me about what had happened. Some were fearful to contact me.’ She assesses whether she lost friends during this debacle, but concludes it might have been the opposite. ‘In some ways I made more. A lot of people, people I didn’t even know, would come up to me and say, “We are with you.
op
JOHN NGUYEN / JNVISUALS
sleepless nights and I’d burst into tears
We are praying for you.” ’ This case was never just about reli- gious beliefs, though. Jennifer has always argued that those ran alongside an obligation for her to observe ‘biological fact’. This was a clinical setting, she points out. We discuss what might have happened had she said ‘I have a lady here’ to the doctor on the end of the phone that night. It would have kept her patient happy ‘but it would have been factually wrong’, she says. And it could have compromised patient care. ‘I would probably have been told I had dialled the wrong bleep number,’ she says, pointing out that the doctor in question was a urologist whose advice would depend on whether the patient was male or female. ‘It’s bizarre that management wouldn’t have considered something like this.’ That her managers were so quick to take the side of the abusive patient in this case is still ‘extremely hurtful’. She points out that hospital staff had a long history with this patient. ‘There are things we can’t discuss, but it wasn’t the first time the patient was coming to the hospital. There was a history of vio- lence there. You must prioritise the safety and wellbeing of your staff, and they didn’t.’ In common with the Darlington nurses and Sandie Peggie, Jennifer has been depicted by ome as an agitator, but he insists she was noth- ing of the sort. Nor does e see herself as the posite – a heroine. ‘I do feel brave because do stand up for myself t maybe, in a way, I as the fortunate one. d used me for a purpose. For change to happen, someone has to say “No”.’ Her faith in God soars above everything else here, but what is truly sad about Jennifer’s case is that her faith in human nature – and in the institution of the NHS – is no longer what it was. She chats about how it’s a good thing that her second daughter works in accountancy. Her son? He is waiting for A-level results and has several
was coming
university offers for September – one to study electrical engineering; another to do physiotherapy. She knows that the latter would almost certainly lead him to a career in the NHS. ‘So I’ve said, “Don’t do that. Go and do electri- cal engineering.” ’ Has her own career stalled? In the furore she had to apply for a new position, and ended up accepting a job on a lesser grade. ‘I was left with no choice,’ she says of her role in an outpatient clinic, rather than on a busy surgical ward. ‘It’s a very different environment but I do like it. It’s given me time to recover from all the trauma, too.’ Her fight to clear her name might be over, but there is a wider battle to be won. In February, Jennifer met Bridget Phillipson, the Minister for Women and Equalities, and health minister Karin Smyth, who made sympathetic noises, telling her that no nurse should be pun- ished, like she was, for refusing to use incorrect pronouns. The problem here, Jennifer points out, is that, despite the Supreme Court Ruling of 2025, which clarified that the legal defi- nition of a woman is based on bio- logical sex, her NHS trust and the NMC are following guidelines that seem to say the exact opposite. ‘Meaning that this could happen again to someone else. It’s up to the politicians now to act, so that no one else is put through this. Medical professionals are still fearful of where they stand.’ Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which has supported Jennifer, said that her case ‘exposes a glaring disconnect between the reassurances given by government ministers that healthcare profes- sionals should not be punished for declining to use pronouns they believe to be untrue, and the reality of activist-driven policies within some NHS trusts and the NMC. ‘No nurse should face an investigation or career jeopardy
lost my career because of this situation
for expressing a reasonable belief respectfully. This growing gap between stated government policy and regulatory practice is creating confusion, fear and injustice, and it urgently needs to be resolved so that healthcare professionals can carry out their duties without being compelled to compromise their convictions.’ What of Jennifer’s feelings towards the patient whose behav- iour started the spiral of events here? It is a little complicated. ‘Because of him I could have lost my career. What he did was very selfish. But I do not have anything against him. In fact, I wish him all the best. I wouldn’t want him to be treated in any way different to the rest of the patients.’ Would she treat him herself? She nods. ‘I would, and I would treat him the same way I would treat my own family.’
AFTER all the weeks he had
to prepare for his takeover,
Andy Burnham seems
remarkably unready to
govern. His policy and
spending announcements ran
into predictable trouble that
his courtiers should have
spotted, even if Mr Burnham
was too busy or too excited.
In most cases, the obvious
question was: ‘How will you
pay for this?’ And the
answers were sketchy at best.
There is a simple reason for
this. Mr Burnham, like most
socialists, does not really
believe in the cutting of coats
according to how much cloth
you have. He says that he
adheres to such ideas. But he
doesn’t really.
Again and again Labour
governments steer merrily
towards highly visible
rocks for this reason. They
repeatedly load the people
with debt and taxes, plus the
die broke – or hand it to the taxman?
T
HE other day a welcome sum of money arrived in my bank account. It was some cash from my mother’s estate after her death in February. The amount I have inherited is not huge, but more than I expected. And the fact it is there at all is due mostly to the fact that her care at home in recent years – until the last days of NHS help – was paid for by my sister. I appreciate this is not a common situation, as most people may have no choice but to deplete their funds to look after themselves in old age. And time and again I told our mother to use whatever money she had until it ran out, when we would then kick in. Despite this being irrational, she refused to spend money on herself, driven by what I sus- pect is an almost primal impulse, shared by many, to be able to leave us something – to care for us in some way, even beyond the grave. Even though she couldn’t care for herself while alive. With the arrival of a new Prime Minister, the issue of how on earth to fund social care has once again taken centre stage. And no matter how bright a spark Andy Burnham may be, I very much doubt he’s going to crack it because whatever the options, nobody likes them. The fact is that most peo- ple in this country don’t have enough assets to fund a high standard of care for more than about five years, even if they have savings and a home. And those who do, like myself, have worked hard to achieve this and rather like the thought of having some of it left when we shuffle off. But examin- ing my own attitudes to this
books is never on Labour’s agenda
occasional devaluation or
the monstrosity of concealed
spending that is the Private
Finance Initiative. And here
we go again.
A Tory analysis of
Burnham’s promises show
that he has already pledged to
spend £95.9 billion which he
has not got, trying to cover
this with frothy, mumbled
claims that the money will
come from cancelling
projects which – alas – have
not actually been allotted
earmarked budgets. Thus,
Shulman’s
real money will somehow
be extracted from purely
theoretical money, rather
like conjuring moonbeams
from cucumbers. Here we
go again.
Whatever the overthrow of
Sir Keir Starmer was about, it
was not aimed at balancing
the national books. Its main
effect may well be a rapid
revival of the Tory Party,
if Kemi Badenoch and her
lieutenants have the sense to
take advantage of the open
goal they are being offered.
matter, I realise I am utterly split. The rational side accepts that we can’t expect to receive fully funded care of a high calibre while keeping a home or savings in the back pocket for our children. I don’t see any real need for my son, who has had a great education and generally privileged existence so far, to inherit from me. The less rational side thinks – and this will apply to many of us who do have an estate that might be worth enough to keep us going – I don’t want to have to spend it all on a horrible nursing home. I swing from side to side but increasingly veer towards the advice I was once given by a wealthy finance expert to die with nothing in the account. I may even be helped in this decision by the new government, which looks pretty keen on making sure we don’t have much left to hand on and what we do will be eaten up in tax. Career map is so often down to luck
A FORMER colleague at Vogue recently hosted a reunion for about 20 of my old team. I was so pleased to see they were mostly flourishing – although none still at Vogue – in con- trast to Stacey Duguid, who worked at Elle and in senior fashion jobs for decades and who has made a stir on social media with her confession that aged 51, with two children, she is on
THE amazing thing about our
tax system is that so many
people honestly and promptly
pay up, year after year. We do so
because we know that taxes are
the price that we pay for a
civilised society.
No sensible person pretends he
likes it – except Gary Lineker,
the crisp expert and Left-wing
pundit, who recently revealed in
a public letter that he longed to
pay more tax. Let him do so. The
authorities are always happy to
accept voluntary contributions.
But, as The Mail on Sunday
shows in detail today, Mr Lineker
has had a number of opportuni-
ties to pay more tax but,
strangely, has turned them down.
He has preferred to use account-
ants and lawyers to behave just
like everyone else, and reduce
his tax as far as the law permits.
And why not?
Mr Lineker’s actions, in seeking
to keep more of his own money,
are a good deal wiser than most
of the opinions that come out of
his mouth.
So how do we square this with
his signature on the famous
Universal Credit and queueing at the local job centre. Analysing whether there is any- thing to be learnt from the differing experiences, I have to conclude that luck is the biggest factor. While few of my former team are in full-time jobs, almost all have forged new means of earning of some kind and were fortunate to have partners who could support them during the transition, while Duguid had a difficult divorce to contend with. Nice as it would be to spot a reli- able road map for this stage of life, surveying this group of women in their 50s and 60s I can only con- clude that there is no such thing. Cyclops is defeated – by middle-age angst
IT’S another summer movie face- off – Christopher Nolan’s big- budget The Odyssey versus Olivia Wilde’s brilliantly funny, The Invite. While The Odyssey is arguably a too long, three-hour epic laden with a massive cast, The Invite is a four-hander that takes place in one room of an American apartment. Unsurprisingly, I’m team The Invite since an excruciating comedy of middle-aged manners is more up my street than a man-eating Cyclops and endless battle scenes. However, the great news is that they are both packing out cinemas and luring people out from their sofas, which is what we need for the movie industry to thrive. I just can’t bear to see shorts at dinner
EVERY summer there’s a men in shorts issue – and this summer more than ever as so many men have taken to baring their legs around town in the heatwave. Personally, I don’t love men in shorts in the city, and like the Japa- nese women who took part in a recent survey, citing sunehara – or leg hair harassment – certainly do not approve of them for office wear. We’ve just returned from a brief break in Italy with a
should put up – and shut up…
letter in which more than 100 ‘patriotic millionaires’ told the Prime Minister: ‘We want you to tax us. We can afford it.’ True, they can afford it. But they can also afford to hire experts to take the edge off it. Could it be that they really want Mr Burnham to tax other people, the ones who are not so keen? There is a very old word for this: hypocrisy. Mr Lineker should do his good deeds in secret and in silence. In fact, the less noise from him, the better.
multi-generational group. During the day we were in anything cool but in the evening we made an effort to spruce up a bit. Interest- ingly, it was the old geezers who stuck to baggy shorts and T-shirts for dinner, while the younger guys put on long trousers and crisp shirts – and looked so much the more stylish for it. The gardens getting a midnight soaking
ALSO in southern Italy there was a beautifully tended garden watered every day. No hosepipe or sprinkler ban there. Unlike London, where the Thames Water ban means if you lean out of the window after midnight, you can hear not Joni Mitchell’s Hissing Of Summer Lawns (her song about the hollowness of wealthy America, where sprinklers keep the lawns emerald green), but the hissing of front garden hosing, hoping to escape detection.
ON A ROLL: Kate Garraway
making a comeback
HAS anyone else spotted the trend for wearing your curlers out and about? Last week Kate Garraway was snapped entering a TV studio with hers, but recently I’ve spotted women on trains and the Tube and just on the street proudly channelling their inner Hilda Ogden.
ELLIOT FRANKS
JULY 26 • 2026 The Mail on Sunday I
HAVE a confession to make: There was once a time when I secretly liked Angela Rayner. We have chatted in the MPs’ tea- room, I’ve laughed with her – that honking, mischievous guffaw of hers is infectious. I admired her conviction and wanted her to do well – an odd thing for someone whose political views are oil to my water. It was, however, an emotional response to a fellow northern girl who had arrived in Westminster, walked a hard path to get there and was from a similar council house background to myself. But, ye gods, what a grifter she has become. A money-grasping scrounger of the worst order, because beyond the cash signs flashing in her eyes, she is a gold- plated hypocrite. To explain why, I need to rewind to 2022 when I left the Conserva- tive Cabinet as Culture Secretary. In my last ministerial pay packet was a severance sum of £16,876. It was not a hard-fought-for pay- out but an automatic sum given to all departing ministers. Full disclosure, I didn’t even know such a thing existed. How- ever, two years later, that payment was seemingly a topic of utmost national importance after a news- paper had spotted it when my old
grasping scrounger and a gold-plated hypocrite
department made public their annual accounts. Apparently, there was a rule that no minister over 65 should receive the sum, so I’d been paid in error. It seemed a pretty ageist rule that should be changed, but it wasn’t for me to make that point. I could have instructed my solic- itors to mount a case for refusing to return what was a lot of money, however that’s not me. I respected the Ministerial Code, and resolved to promptly return the cash, but not before I was pre- dictably besieged by Left-wing journalists demanding to know if I’ll be paying the money back. Leading the charge was the shrill and always unpleasant Emily Thornberry (no surprise that nei- ther Keir Starmer nor Andy Burn- ham found a home for her in their cabinets). She was screeching my name to any journalist and media outlet who would listen, and so it was inevitable that the BBC would call, asking if I’d submit myself to a Laura Kuenssberg grilling. I thought the media outcry so odd. I even joked on the Kuenss- berg show that I was gutted that now everyone knew my real age. Yet still the calls kept coming. Journalists weren’t satisfied that I’d pledged to repay the money, so were demanding I send them screenshots from my bank account to prove I had done so. The following day, the payment was made, a wrong was righted and the world could begin spin- ning again. At no point did I double down on the error and refuse to repay. Meanwhile Angela Rayner has dug her leopard-print heels in
ministerial pay-off. Greedy grifter Angela’s refusal to do the same has let down every working class woman with aspirations
over paying back the severance she received upon being fired as Housing Minister last year. So is she being pursued by the Today programme on Radio 4? Has her phone exploded with the same journalists demanding to see screenshots of her bank account? Of course not. It’s one rule for Rayner and it was another for me. But what really buffs that brass neck of hers is that it was she who fought tooth and nail to amend the Ministerial Code in 2024 to include
that standards and the code don’t matter
the clause that ‘No person depart- ing ministerial office while under investigation for allegations of gross misconduct or breaching the Ministerial Code will be entitled to severance pay’. And here we are. Rayner is sticking two fingers up at the very code she helped amend. For let’s not forget how she was booted out of Cabinet by Starmer. Last autumn, journalists had dis- covered she’d undercooked the stamp duty payment on her sec- ond home, an £800,000 flat in Hove,
by £40,000. A pretty hefty account- ing mistake at the very least. She was reported to HMRC and also to the Parliamentary ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus, who conceded that while Rayner had ‘acted with integrity… I consider the [Ministerial] Code to have been breached.’ So in September she scuttled off to the back- benches, but at least her pockets had been lined with nearly £17,000 in severance pay. Had she lived a life of penury for
the ten months she was deprived of a ministerial salary, I could for- give her for wanting to keep the cash. But far from it. Hold my beer while I give you a brief run- down on what she has earned on her money-grubbing ‘gap year’. An advance for her upcoming memoir won her £61,500, while she raked in £104,000 in public speaking, including two £20,000 gigs for Deutsche Bank and a property trade body. With her severance payment, this takes her outside earnings to a cool £182,000 – and let’s not forget the clothes and perks donated to her by Labour peer, Lord Ali. This is so far removed from her pious pledge in 2023 on MPs earning second incomes as to be comical. ‘Being an MP is not a second job. It is the job,’ she opined. ‘Labour will put an end to this racket.’ Well, let this be Andy Burnham’s first test of his party’s so-called values. But there is a greater point to be made here beyond the party polit- ical. I want all women who arrive in Westminster to prove that they are as capable as any man. When you are from a background like mine and Rayner’s, one of poverty and adversity, you carry a greater responsibility because you have to prove the point, over and over, that you are worthy of the
remembered for the whiff of scandal that lingered
appointment to ministerial office. Why? Because it helps to ensure that the ladder of opportunity remains firmly on the ground for the benefit of other women from similar backgrounds. We owe it to the democratic process that the ladder isn’t hauled up by those from backgrounds of privilege based on manufactured pre-conceptions that people like Rayner and I aren’t quite the ticket and don’t have what it takes to hold office. It is the reason why, when I became a minister, I worked twice as hard and ensured that I left each office with a proven tick-box record of achievement. It was Rayner’s responsibility to do the same. To hold herself to higher standards, to prove to the world that Westminster benefits when it includes people like us. Rayner, by her own record of behaviour, has let down every woman of working class stock. She has tarnished us with her brush and will spend the rest of her life remembered not for anything she achieved while she was a minister (because there’s nothing there). But for the whiff of scandal that lingered in her wake each time she moved office. Is this really the best Andy Burn- ham can do? In appointing Rayner, he has made the subliminal state- ment that standards and the minis- terial code don’t matter. Let me tell him, they do matter, and any prime minister who thinks that it’s OK to appoint someone so lacking in moral and ethical clarity as Rayner is clearly heading for a fall.
MATCHE
earn an
ot
Fearne and Elliot
MATCHED
:
Fearne are polo pals
HORSES and high society play major roles in Rivals – so perhaps it was no surprise to see two of the hit TV show’s key figures at a Hurlingham Polo Association event yesterday. In the Disney+ dramatisation of Jilly Cooper’s bonkbuster, Emily Atack plays Sarah Stratton, the second wife and former mistress of Tory MP Paul Stratton. Her character aspires to be a TV personality so it is little won-
der Ms Atack, 36, hobnobbed with Fearne Cotton, broadcaster, author and podcaster, at the event in Egham, Surrey. Elliot Hegarty, 54, director and executive producer of Rivals, which won an Inter- national Emmy last year for Best Drama, was with Ms Cotton, 44. The couple got together after she split from husband Jesse Wood, son of Rolling Stone Ronnie.
SUNSHINE AND SMILES: Fearne Cotton and Emily Atack yesterday
out by Gen Z protests
INDIA’S education minister was forced to resign yesterday amid nationwide student protests. The Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) vowed to end its five- week ‘struggle’ after Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down. The movement, formed in the wake of scandals including leaked exam papers, amassed millions of followers and quickly broadened into a wave of dissent against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Its ‘cockroach’ name came after India’s chief justice used the term to describe unemployed young- sters. Almost half of India’s gradu- ates are thought to be without work. The CJP captured international
attention last week when dozens of activists were injured by tear gas, pellet guns and batons while march- ing on Delhi’s parliament. Mr Pradhan announced his resig- nation on X in Hindi, saying he ‘respected the aspirations, dreams, and expectations of the youth’. The CJP described the decision as a win for democracy, as supporters celebrated in the capital last night. The party said: ‘Cockroach Janta Party withdraws its nationwide agitations with immediate effect. This struggle of the youth will be recorded in history.’
A
that bad – Tories should be careful about attacking them
LOT of people would be very happy to go back to the 1970s. The Tories should be careful about saying that Andrew Burnham will return us to those years. He can’t and won’t, but if people get the idea that he can and will, a lot will vote for it. As someone who lived through that decade, I tire of Thatcherite hardliners going on about the three-day week, flying pickets, union barons and unburied bodies. This is not because these things did not happen. They did. I reported a lot of it. It is because they are a tiny part of a far larger picture. Other shocking features of the times were that almost everyone walked out of school into a job; that the streets were peaceful and patrolled by the police; that you could keep a family and house them on one income; that most of the things you ate and drank or used were grown or made in Britain; that if you got into university you weren’t forced into lifetime debt. Broken families were much rarer, education better, drugs unusual. In many ways it was a pleasing, comfortable era. It wasn’t wrecked by wicked unions, though there were some stupid and foolish strikes. The real prob- lems began in the 1960s, when the first great wall of inflation hit this country. Much of that was cooked up by the USA’s huge spending on war and welfare. The slippery Harold Wilson also devalued the pound, slashing its value by 14 per cent but claiming falsely that ‘the pound in your pocket’ would not be affected. I remember him telling this lie on black-and-white TV. It was part of a great ruinous global earthquake, a lot of it caused by the huge costs of the stupid Vietnam War (nearly
WILL cars eventually eat this country? Half of all councils in England now actively encourage parking on pavements through marked bays or signage. Imagine the fuss from ‘motorists’ if town halls encouraged pushchairs on roads. More than a million cars which are too big to fit the standard parking space (of roughly 7ft 10in wide and 15ft 9in long) are now sold in Britain each year. There are plans to expand the
CHARLES and Camilla emerge from a Tardis – a 1920s police box
– at the Commonwealth Games. Jolly good wheeze. But the one thing
you won’t see coming out of a police box (abolished) or a police station
(mostly closed) is a police officer (extinct). The reason the prisons are
so full is not because we put too many people in them, but because
criminals don’t encounter the law or punishment till they are already
hardened criminals. By then prison is useless as a deterrent.
as stupid as our current wars in Ukraine and Iran). Some things we did made it worse, especially join- ing the Common Market and relaxing wise limits on debt. Yes, it was often dangerous and destructive to go on strike, and
standard parking space to 8ft 6in wide and
16ft 5in long to cope ever-fatter motor cars.
So, much less space for humans.
There are now about 33 million cars in
Britain, most of them spending 23 hours a day
depreciating in gutters. About £92billion is
currently lent out to people to buy cars.
Next year I hope to publish a book called
The Madness Of Cars. This is why.
seldom did much good, but most of those who did so were only trying to win back some of what raging inflation had cost them. Inflation was horrible for anybody on a small income or a fixed pension. At the start of it,
when we still had our lovely old currency, the prices of things in shops and markets would have been recognisable to an English- man of the 1660s. At the end, all prices were mad, as they have remained ever since. I recall very clearly the day in 1973 when those relatively con- tented days ended for good. My wife (as she then wasn’t) and I had spent a beautiful early October day punting on the river in Cam- bridge, and took the train back to London, where we were staying
LAST Wednesday, the Daily
Mail reported that a judge had
condemned calls to legalise
marijuana. He did so as he
sentenced a man who had
battered his 73-year-old mother
to death with such ferocity that
he broke his hand. He killed her
after going mad following his
habitual smoking of marijuana.
Judge Steven Everett warned
for the weekend – to find that, while we had been lazing in the sun, war and misery had struck in the Middle East. The Yom Kippur War, the fourth major Arab-Israel conflict, had broken out at lunchtime that day and would lead, much as Donald Trump’s Iran adventure is leading now, to rocketing oil prices and the world we know. For me, the planet visibly darkened and I do not think it has ever fully recovered the light-hearted sunlit feel it had that long-ago afternoon.
that cannabis was a ‘terrible’ substance which ‘caused and exacerbated’ mental health issues. He said campaigns to decriminalise it were ‘wholly misconceived’. The judge ordered him to be detained indefinitely in a psychiatric unit. The BBC website reported the case without once mentioning marijuana. How come?
WHO AM I?
l I voiced Percy Pig adverts.
l I founded a zero-alcohol
beer brand.
l I sleepwalk and often undress
in my sleep.
l I got cocky when I started
getting film roles, so my mum
sent me to carpentry classes.
l I went to the Bronx School of
Science, but only to learn how to
act like an American teenager.
l As a child I was bullied for
studying ballet – apt given my
breakthrough in Billy Elliot.
l I have the Spider-Man tattoo
on my foot, and reprise that
role in a film out on Friday.
OUR fun weekly quiz, in which we ask you to figure out people, places and things in the news... Where
WHAT AM I?
l I was invented to
sell newspapers.
l Competitors once used
nitroglycerine as a performance
enhancer. Italian Mario Cipollini
used a naked picture of Pamela
Anderson as motivation.
l I employ people to turn
cartoon penises graffitied
on to the road into less
offensive designs.
l Competitors sweat enough to
flush a toilet 39 times.
l The first person to wear my
famous yellow jersey hated how
it made him look like a canary.
l I end in Paris today.
WHERE AM I?
l I was home to 18in-tall
Sir Jeffrey Hudson, ‘the
Queen’s dwarf’ who was
presented to Charles I’s wife
Henrietta Maria in a pie.
l By tradition, visiting
peers and royalty have to
after insiders claim power grid on brink of crumbling
‘DISHONEST’ bosses in charge of the creaking national energy grid are putting lives in danger because they refuse to admit the system is on the brink of collapse, according to control room engineers. Whistleblowers have told The Mail on Sunday that safety breaches are routine, and a catastrophic blackout is an ‘engineering certainty’. Accusing bosses of a cover-up, concerned insiders say they spent two years warning executives at the National Energy System Opera- tor (Neso) and regulator, Ofgem, that the rush to Net Zero means they have ‘lost control of the sys- tem’. Yet no action was taken. Last week, Ofgem ordered an investigation after leaked docu- ments revealed the network came close to shutting down on June 23
volatile day by day’
thanks to a shortage of wind and solar energy. But sources have told the MoS that the true scale of the problem is far worse and the electricity grid has been out of control since Labour came to power and accelerated the push for ‘clean’ energy. They say thousands of new wind farms, solar farms and battery storage units are destabilising the network. Now a group of Neso engineers have appealed to the public and Ofgem to help expose the truth. ‘We the engineers have asked Ofgem to investigate and ensure the system is safe for two years now. That is simply done by asking for proof that Neso can always
hand over a horseshoe.
l A village here twinned itself
with Paris – without the French
capital ever agreeing.
l The Dambusters used
a reservoir here to practise
their Second World War
bombing raids.
l A school here has educated
Boris Karloff, Stephen Fry and
Rick Stein, left.
l I’m England’s smallest
county, but at threat of being
wiped out (again) by planned
boundary changes.
ANSWERS: Tom Holland, the
Tour de France, Rutland.
STEVE BENNETT
work out how much energy is required. And they won’t do that and they won’t investigate. So we have told the world. ‘June 23 was simply another day. We don’t have control of the system. We have tried our best. ‘It’s now over to the public and the regulator. Please help.’ Energy consultant Kathryn Porter told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The sys- tem is becoming more volatile day by day. Neso can no longer model the system. And if you can’t fore- cast the system, how can you claim to run it securely?’ Last year’s 16-hour power cut in Spain and Portugal – widely blamed on problems caused by vast solar farms – led to eight deaths directly but is likely to have caused 165 more in the following two days. One Neso whistleblower told the MoS: ‘It’s getting worse day by day. We’re now flying blind with the plane on fire. It’s not a matter of “if” there’s going to be a major black- out, it’s an engineering certainty.’ ‘If we overload parts of the sys- tem, that means things will catch fire or explode. We’d have cables crashing to the floor, perhaps over motorways, then arcing over, spray- ing flames, before they hit the floor.’ They warned that colleagues are now ‘re-running the models’ to try to alter the calculations and claim there was no problem on June 23. A spokesman for Neso said it would not be commenting further. A spokesman for Ofgem said: ‘We are undertaking a review of whether Neso complied with regu- lations and what lessons can be learnt to improve system security for the future.’
W
HAT a week. We have a new prime minister, whose princi- pal preoccupa- tion appears to be pulling pints and making Tik- Toks about what a totally super- cool fun guy he is, while getting the country’s new chancellor (John Healey) to rank pub snacks. He’s so busy filming ‘content’ he must barely have time to crimp his eyelashes, let alone actually do any prime-ministering. Are we seeing the world’s first ‘influencer’ PM? What next, Keep- ing Up With The Burnhams? Live-screening Cabinet meetings on Instagram? Rating red boxes? Will he launch a range of lash extensions? Anything is possible. Burnham did have time to do one thing last week, though. He abol- ished the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), and moved a crucial ele- ment of it – the AI (Artificial Intel- ligence) Security Institute – to the Cabinet Office. The Cabinet Office has a huge and wide-ranging brief. It is a jack of all trades, master of none.
Burnham’s
feed is truly
an exercise
in banality
Understanding AI security
requires a high level of expertise.
The DSIT had all that. It was the
one part of government that really
understood AI. Why abolish it?
Probably because it was set up
by Keir Starmer’s predecessor,
Rishi Sunak. It was widely
regarded as a leading authority on
AI safety and considered crucial
for testing the functionality and,
importantly, safety, of new AI
models (for example, it was used
by AI firm Anthropic to test its
high-risk Mythos model).
But precisely for that reason (we
can’t have Tory success stories
clogging up the narrative of the
Glorious Revolution, now, can
we?), it had to go. By way of justi-
fication, Burnham has pointed to
the appointment of a new Minister
for Artificial Intelligence, who will
attend Cabinet.
But while this new chap, Kan-
ishka Narayan, is regarded as a
talented fellow, it is – as so much
of Burnham’s approach seems to
be – more about setting a mood
than implementing real change or
tackling the real problem.
Narayan will have very little real
power without a department of his
own. Instead, responsibility for
various aspects of AI has been
split over several governmental
departments, including Culture
(Lisa Nandy), Business (Jonathan
Reynolds) and the Cabinet Office
(Antonia Romeo).
Anyone who knows the first thing
about politics knows that is a rec-
out of control. Just when we need a bold and coherent plan to deal with it, our new TikTok PM has gone rogue
ipe for disaster. At a time when what we really need is a bold and coherent strategy in this area, Burnham is using AI as a pawn to appease ministerial egos. Perhaps this is because he really doesn’t grasp the seriousness of the situation. In fact, he seems to think AI is all a tremendous joke. So much so that earlier in the week he posted a TikTok of himself rat- ing AI-generated posters for his new No10 North office (if you don’t believe me, check his official feed: it truly is an exercise in banality). He’s wrong. AI is one of the most important issues this country faces, if not the most important. If it continues its current trajectory, it will transform all our lives. Whether that’s for better or for worse depends on men like Burn- ham. But what’s clear is that things are far from under control. As a reminder, last week it emerged that two new versions of ChatGPT broke out of a suppos- edly secure testing environment, gained access to the internet and hacked into the servers of a com- pany called Hugging Face, where they lurked undetected before stealing the information needed to
complete a task they had been assigned by their developers. In other words, they went rogue. But, as it turns out, they were far from alone. Later in the week, as reported exclusively by the Daily Mail, security experts revealed that every AI model they had tested had also tried to trick its way round security controls. This prompted Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Opposition, to warn that this technology now repre- sents a ‘clear and present danger’ to Britain’s security. Meanwhile, the Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey said the public should be concerned by ‘the wider risk posed by frontier AI to the financial sector and its customers’. Things are about to get real. Humanity is losing control of the
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most powerful invention since the atom bomb, and no one seems to have a plan. I first started worrying about this over a decade ago, when OpenAI founder Sam Altman joked in 2015 that it would proba- bly wipe out the human race – but not until a lot of people had made a lot of money out of it (so far, he’s right about half of that). It seemed to me utter madness that scientists were creating a technology that would in effect make the human brain redundant. I couldn’t understand why those in power weren’t seeing the potential threats as well as the advantages, and at the very least trying to set some boundaries. Quite apart from the economical and societal change it is starting to
COLUMNIST
OF THE YEAR
FOUR TIMES IN
THE PAST
FIVE YEARS!
bring about – the potential destruc-
tion of whole swathes of the jobs
market, the hollowing-out of the
arts and creative industries –
there’s the horror of what it might
do if it got into the wrong hands.
Which it already has.
After all, AI is not like other
potentially lethal substances, ie
controlled under international
agreements. It’s free to anyone
with an internet connection. Boko
Haram and other Islamic State-
affiliated networks are using AI in
their operations to enhance their
combat capabilities. Russia and
Iran are doing the same.
On a more tangible level, much
of the misinformation that
inflames social media and causes
so much hatred, online and off, is
AI-generated. This stuff is re-
wiring our brains and our society
in ways we don’t even realise. And
AI has no morals or boundaries, no
imperative save the achievement
of its own objectives. You might as
well put a toddler in charge of the
world’s nuclear arsenal.
Ten years ago, there was still
time to put the brakes on. Now, the
situation is much harder to rem-
edy. Because the real problem
You might
as well put a
toddler in
charge
with AI is that it is evolving faster than anyone ever anticipated. While it has taken the human race millennia to get to where we are today in terms of technological development, AI is traversing those timelines in mere minutes and seconds. Currently it is doubling its capa- bility every four months. What that means is that in a year’s time these models – you know, the ones that are breaking free of their ‘sandboxes’ and marauding around the internet – will be three times more capable than they are currently. And that capability is only going to increase. So forget the cost-of-living crisis, bus fares, tax rises, climate change, whether women can have penises or not... forget it all: if pol- iticians don’t get a handle on this now, very soon we are going to find ourselves at a point of no return. We may already be there. Every expert I speak to in this field says the same thing: our best hope now is if the two main players in the AI field – China and America – can put their differences aside and agree some sort of accord, in the same vein as a nuclear treaty, on the use of this technology. In other words, the future of humanity depends on Donald Trump and Xi Jinping having a sensible, grown-up conversation in which each party agrees not to throw their toys out of the pram. Ah well. I guess it was fun while it lasted...
WORK TRIP: Balnagown Castle
claims at Al Fayed’s castle to be reopened
POLICE have reopened an inquiry into sex assault claims against former Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The force is examining reports
of abuse at the shamed billion- aire’s ‘castle of horrors’ High- land estate dating back more
than 30 years. A former Harrods worker previously revealed how she was subjected to a terrifying attack, which she described as an attempted rape, during a trip to Bal- nagown Castle, Ross-shire, in 1991. Sophia Stone, now 58, said she finally had the courage to come for- ward to Police Scotland in 2021 to report what happened, but the force said it could not progress the case due to a lack of corroboration. The MoS understands a new wit- ness came forward this year who could back up Ms Stone’s account, which has prompted the force in Scotland to reopen the probe. The witness is thought to have been a fellow Harrods worker on the trip. A second woman previously claimed she was sexually assaulted by another Fayed family member at the estate decades ago. At the time of Ms Stone’s report, the Metropolitan Police had received dozens of complaints of a similar nature against the business- man. He died two years later. Ms Stone said yesterday: ‘I’m pleased to hear Police Scotland is looking at my case again. Its closure
NEWS...TODAY!
OUR weekly irreverent look at some of the stories that might be breaking over the coming days… MONDAY More hosepipe bans are introduced as all available supplies are needed to water down Andy Burnham’s promises.
Meanwhile, the new PM unveils his flagship policy for tackling the cost- of-living crisis: Freddos to be pegged at 10p. TUESDAY Burnham concedes the permanent home of No 10 North won’t be ready until 2032 – another win for Labour’s rapid housebuilding policy!
After completing year one of the UK’s first body art degree, some students believe they are on course to get a tattoo-2-2. WEDNESDAY Commonwealth Games bosses insist fans have barely noticed cost-cutting at the event as golds are handed out in Subbuteo, Mario Kart and Hide and Seek.
ALLEGATIONS: Sophia Stone
was devastating for me personally.’ Two MPs on the All-Party Parlia- mentary Group looking into the sex abuse scandal also urged the force in November to re-investigate. Ms Stone worked at Harrods from 1988, when she was 19. She was quickly spotted by the Egyptian owner and promoted to become his personal assistant, where she was regularly sexually harassed. During a trip to Balnagown, pur- chased by Al Fayed in 1972, Ms Stone said he entered her room, took off his dressing gown and forced himself on top of her. Ms Stone, now a receptionist in Staffordshire, believes others who helped Al Fayed with his crimes should be held accountable. A police spokesman said: ‘Further investigation is ongoing.’
THURSDAY Questions are asked about how Muppets got involved in the World Cup final, but Fifa officials say that as US President, Donald Trump had every right to attend.
There are angry scenes at the
Palm Beach under-7s five-a-side
tournament as Mr
Trump has to be
dragged away
from the prize-
giving photos.
FRIDAY
After vowing to
make a non-woke,
‘historically
accurate’ version
of The Odyssey,
Elon Musk is told
it’s a work of
pure fiction, like
X’s online safety
policy or a
US-Iran ceasefire.
Behind bars, Andrew Tate protests he’s not allowed any contact with the outside world in a series of tweets to his 11 million followers. SATURDAY As France runs out of onions, stripy-pullovered cyclists are seen riding around with strings of Gauloises around their necks.
T
SHOWBIZ!
CONSULTANT EDITOR SHOWBUSINESS
ANNED, beaming with happiness and toasting each other with a glass of white wine, Richard Made- ley and his wife Judy Finnigan pose for a photo in a Mediterranean restaurant. And for the couple’s fans, it was a rare public sighting of the dou- ble act who became national treas- ures in the 1990s after millions tuned in to watch them host ITV’s This Morning. Despite Richard, who is, at 70, eight years younger than his wife, still being very much in demand by television bosses – he hosts ITV’s Good Morning Britain and recently fronted Inside The World’s Mega Prison on Channel 5 – Judy has almost completely retreated from public life. Those commenting on the photo- graph were delighted to see her looking so well. But it was the cou- ple’s four decades of marriage that prompted the most debate. As one longstanding friend of Richard’s put it: ‘He’s quite hand- some and he is also a famous celebrity still in his prime. A lot of
glows when he talks about how he met Judy
men would have left and shacked up with a much younger woman by now. But the thought has never crossed his mind. There has never been any whiff of him doing any- thing bad when it comes to Judy. ‘He’s completely and utterly in love with her, as much today as he was when he first met her. When he talks about it his face glows – it was a life-changing moment and it’s one that has made him so happy.’ That day was 44 years ago when Richard walked into the Granada television newsroom in Manches- ter as a cub reporter dressed in what Judy later described as a ‘ridiculous sky-blue suit’. Both married to other people – Judy already had two children – they clicked, and started a romance after divorcing their partners. They married in 1986 and, later that year, Jack was born, followed by Chloe a year later. And their relationship helped their careers – two years on, they were plucked from regional news to front a new show, This Morning, after ITV bosses decided they wanted its hosts to be a married couple. They were an overnight
44 years after Judy first saw Granada’s new boy in his ‘daft sky-blue suit’
success, hosting the show for 13 years. Viewers loved their genu- ine rapport, and the fact they over- shared the more intimate details of their marriage, including Rich- ard’s vasectomy. They stepped down in 2001 when Channel 4 offered them their own show, Richard & Judy, which ran for seven years. But since then, Judy has barely been seen on screen apart from the odd appear- ance on Loose Women. Some have unkindly speculated that ageism has played a role; and that Judy resents the fact that her husband is still working. But others insist she is perfectly happy, and proud to see Richard’s TV career continuing – and add that it was her choice to take a back seat. She has battled health issues, suffering a near-fatal ruptured stomach ulcer in 2018, which
required two life-saving blood transfusions. But even before that, she told this newspaper in 2013 that she had accepted Richard was more gre- garious and admitted she had ‘never felt secure on television’. ‘I don’t miss it at all,’ she said. ‘I didn’t like being in the limelight, and at times it felt as if I was on a tread- mill. TV sucked the life out of me.’ Last week a close friend told me: ‘They have an agreement that as long as Richard is wanted on tele- vision, he will do it. He loves it and Judy has always been very sup- portive of his career. ‘She’s proud of him, and she still likes to help him prepare and gives him feedback. It’s very sweet. And as with many retired women, they like it that their men are out of the house and not under their feet.’ Crucially, I’m told, she also has Richard on a very tight
leash so he has never been able to go gallivanting like some of his tel- evision comrades. Judy replaced TV with books – penning several novels, including some set in Cornwall where the pair have a holiday home. And the couple still run their hugely popu- lar Book Club, albeit now online. Away from work, Judy is a doting grandmother to five grandchil- dren, including Chloe’s three-year- old daughter Bodhi from her relationship with former England rugby player James Haskell. She regularly helps with child- care and a source says it’s a role she takes ‘very seriously’. ‘Judy loves it, she absolutely dotes on her grandchildren,’ says the friend. ‘She sees it as her vocation now, and the kids adore her. Richard is the more silly granddad.’ She also supported Chloe, 39, when she split from
HERE’S TO US: Richard and
Judy toast their anniversary
at a Mediterranean restaurant
Haskell three years ago. ‘Judy knew what it is like to be in the public eye,’ says the friend. ‘So when Chloe had her awful split, it was Judy whom she turned to. She’s a wise lady.’ Those who know her say that Judy also has a ‘great sense of humour’ – which comes in handy when dealing with Richard. Today, as one of Susanna Reid’s co-hosts on Good Morning Britain, his regular cringeworthy com- ments have seen him compared to Alan Partridge on social media. ‘Richard is just Richard,’ says one. ‘He’ll always say and do things
new role as a grandmother very seriously
that leave Judy rolling her eyes or pulling a face, but it’s just who he is, and she can’t help but love him for it. Richard is a prat at times, but he’s Judy’s prat. ‘He’s always happy to be reined in by her because he absolutely adores her. It’s just the way they are when they’re together. They still have that chemistry that kept viewers entertained for decades.’ Sources who know them say they like to ‘keep their romance alive’ by having regular date nights at their favourite local restaurants in Hampstead, North London. ‘They love having a giggle and a glass of wine,’ says one source. ‘Their relationship has been based on laughing. It’s lovely.’ And the secret to their long mar- riage? ‘Richard would do anything for Judy. Her happiness has always been his top priority,’ says the friend. ‘Judy has slowed down a lot in recent years but he’s happy taking care of her and he still has enough energy for the both of them. ‘They have had some wonderful years and they hope there are many, many more yet to come.’
U
Jones
NEXPECTED visitors are something of a rarity at the tiny primary school in Quernmore, a remote village folded into the sweeping moorlands of North Lancashire. The only building near the school is St Peter’s church, with which it shares its staunch Chris- tian values and a drystone boundary wall. In July 2022, however, shortly before its 100 pupils broke up for the summer holiday, teacher Rachel Stevenson heard a motorcycle crunch to a halt in the driveway and found herself confronted by a strange man wearing black leather biker’s gear. Any concern his arrival might have stirred in 55-year-old Ms Stevenson would have been quickly allayed. For the passing rider, who appeared to be of late-middle age, was not some rough-hewn Hell’s Angel with mischief in mind. Handing her a bag filled with ten 1oz Gold Britannia coins, which were then worth £1,000 each, he turned out to be a guardian angel. A devout Christian, he was on a charitable crusade – to disburse his wealth to the beautiful but dilapidated ancient churches, and their associated schools, that he passed while touring North Lancashire and Cumbria. Though the mysterious biking benefactor, who also left three gold coins under the door of the adjacent church, appears to have made all or most of his donations in a short space of time four summers ago, for reasons I will explain they have only just come to light. He is now known to have handed 53 coins – mostly gold ones whose value had soared to £3,400 each this week – to at least eight small churches and two schools in the same area. However, as some recipients are reluctant to publicise their wind- falls, it is believed that other places of worship and education may also have benefited. Since the nature and size of his donations was so unusual, most recipients quietly stashed them away in church safes, and some have only recently been cashed in with Chards, the renowned Black- pool bullion dealership where the anonymous biker bought them. In total they have fetched about £100,000 – funds unimaginable to country vicars who pass the Sunday collection plate around among congregations that can often be counted on two hands. Dwindling attendances and soar- ing maintenance costs have caused around 3500 churches to close over the last decade. The biker’s altruism will repair leak- ing roofs and stained-glass win- dows; and in the case of Quernmore school, whose coins were sold for £15,000, it was used to replace a rickety projector with interactive whiteboards. Yet the most grateful beneficiary might be St Wilfrid’s, a stunning 14th-century church in the village of Melling where Ann Fenwick, who heroically emancipated England’s Roman Catholics in the 1700s, is buried in the nave. With a
‘Hell’s Angel from
Heaven’ saving our
crumbling churches
by secretly leaving
bags of gold coins
next to the altar?
THOU SHALT RECEIVE: Churchwarden Tom Rothwell at St Margaret’s
regular congregation of barely a dozen, it had no hope of raising the £750,000 needed to replace slates and carry out other urgent work, and parishioners feared the Dio- cese of Blackburn might lose its fight to save it from closure. However, the nine Britannias that vicar Jane Lee found in a box inside a plastic bag, while cleaning beneath the church’s altar last Easter, have brought fresh hope. For although the £30,000 the coins recently fetched is a long way short of the full amount required, the guardian angel’s generosity has prompted locals to stage fund-raising events. As this modern-day parable went global and viral this week, parish- ioners are also hoping an even wealthier donor might stump up the rest of the repair bill. The biker’s generosity is matched
by his modesty. He is so deter- mined to retain his anonymity that he has seldom handed the coins over in person, preferring to leave them where he hopes they will be found – near altars and collection boxes. Only a handful of people have met him, and the story only came to light, days ago, by chance. The son of a St Wilfrid’s parish- ioner is a London accountant with Press contacts, and after hearing about it, he passed it on. In this timeless corner of Eng- land, it has sparked a flurry of excitement, as volunteers rum- mage for coins that may have been secreted in their churches. Sadly, but inevitably, given that opportunist thieves already target these isolated and often empty buildings, there is also a fear that criminals might attempt to profit from the biker’s kindness. Ironi-
cally, Tom Rothwell, the church- warden at St Margaret’s, in Hornby, says the three gold coins quietly slipped into the collection box in 2022 have paid to mend damage caused by crooks. The ‘scumbags’ had stripped lead from the roof causing rainwa- ter to pour on to the organ, but the coins fetched £8,000, a sum dou- bled by matching funds from the National Churches Trust. Among the most out-of-the-way sites visited by the holy biker is St John the Baptist, a wonderfully castellated edifice surrounded by wheat fields in Tunstall, near
person who’d had a bit of a rethink in life
Carnforth, attended in the early 1800s by the Bronte sisters, Char- lotte, Emily and Anne. Some time during the summer of 2022, retired teacher Sue Hunter, 69, then a warden, found one of the gold Britannias in a Chards bag, with seven silver coins, while cleaning up after a wedding. Again, the motorcyclist had placed them on the altar. After checking they hadn’t been left as a marriage gift, Mrs Hunter handed them in for safekeeping, then ‘for- got all about them,’ she tells me. For four years they remained locked in a safe, and they might have stayed there if she hadn’t
switched on the TV news the other day. They have now been sold, the gold coin for £3,000 and the silver ones for £500: money that will help preserve the church’s magnificent Flemish stained-glass windows. So, to the question causing rip- ples of intrigue all along the freewheeling philanthropist’s missionary biking route, which stretches northwards for 30 miles along the A6 and A683, from St Thom- as’s church, in the market town of Garstang, to St Mary’s, in twee and tour- isty Kirkby Lonsdale. Who is the man behind the helmet and what drove him to pave the roads linking these ancient churches with gold? After following his trail this week and piec- ing together the clues he left in his wake, I have come tantalisingly close to providing the answers. We can be pretty sure his real Christian name is James, for that is how he styled himself when, in an isolated moment of self-revela- tion, he left an entry in the visi- tor’s book at St Wilfrid’s, Melling. Dated June 11, 2022, and timed at 11am, he wrote: ‘What a beauti- ful and peaceful church. Melling should be justifiably proud of their heritage’. Written in an elegant hand, he signed his entry ‘James, Servant of the Living Lord.’ A note that he scrawled on a Salvation Army leaflet issued in 2022, which he left with the nine gold coins stating that he wished to donate them to the church, carried the same signature. He
y
also appears to live, or have lived, within a short riding distance of Blackpool. To comply with money laundering regulations, Chards kept his details on record. And although she couldn’t betray his confidence, Rochelle Garrad, the bullion dealer’s head of operations, said he was ‘local to the area’, and in his 60s or 70s. As a ‘long-term customer inter- ested in gold for many years’, she said, he would sometimes visit the showroom, just behind the Golden Mile, and stop to chat to staff. He spoke about his religious beliefs, and Ms Garrad vaguely recalls his giving them a book he had written about Christianity. When churches began contacting
f
Chards, saying they wanted to cash in coins found in bags bear- ing the firm’s logo, these encoun- ters helped them ‘piece together’ his identity. However, Ms Garrad added, ‘James’ has not been in contact with Chards since 2023, and when the company tried to get in touch with him on my behalf this week (with the strict undertaking that I wouldn’t identify him) he didn’t respond, leaving us to wonder whether he is still alive. Certainly, he seemed in good health on that unforgettable July day when he handed the coins to Rachel Stevenson – one of the few people to whom he revealed him- self – at Quernmore. Describing
him as ‘very shy and unassuming’, and not outwardly wealthy in his biking leathers, she says they engaged in a ‘lovely talk about life and God’. Explaining that he was impressed by the way the school and church nestled beside one another in the valley, he gave her the bag of coins (which he said then were worth about £1,000 each) stressing that he didn’t wish to be thanked or identified. Ms Stevenson, who has recently retired from teaching, saw him off with a joyous hug and was ‘on a high for weeks afterwards’. ‘He came across as a really lovely, gentle, good-hearted per- son who’d had a bit of a rethink in
life and just wanted to do good with the money he had,’ she told me this week. Studying the biker’s route, it is likely he pinpointed the churches on a map before setting off, for several are way off the beaten track. It is even possible that he stuffed his bike’s saddlebag with dozens of gold coins and stopped off at all the places where he left them during one bountiful ride. For it was also in July 2022 that Rev Michael Hutchinson, the vicar of St Thomas’s in Garstang, saw the man walk in during a service and place three coins in the hand of an elderly female congregant. ‘God has blessed me and I want to bless you’, he told her. At the time,
church’s flock froze in ter because the heat- g system was clapped- ut, but the £4,293 etched by the coins has helped buy new radiators. However, the expo- nential rise in the price of gold in recent ears has meant hat those churches hich clung on to their ns for the longest time e reaped the greatest rd. 22 carat, 1oz Gold ia coins were first
he Royal Mint, in 1987,
alue was £100.
time ‘James’ distrib-
n 2022, they were trad- ing at £1,400. In the ensuing four years, the demand for secure investments has seen their price soar by about 140 per cent. Therefore when, earlier this year, the two northernmost churches alighted on by the guard- ian angel paired up to sell their six coins as a job-lot, they returned almost £20,000. For Holy Trinity, in Casterton, their £10,000 share amounted to more than their annual income. The enormous boost to their finances and morale that has resulted from the mystery rider’s altruism was spelled out this week by the Bishop of Blackburn, the Right Rev Philip North. He described the gifts’ symbolic value as ‘absolutely massive’,
see me we’ll get the best cake we can find
saying they had reminded parish-
ioners in these small rural com-
munities that they had support
and they were not alone in loving
their churches.
‘The very heartbeat of the Chris-
tian life is an act of generosity,’ he
said. ‘It’s Jesus going to the cross
and giving his life. And Jesus says,
in his teaching in St Matthew’s
gospel: “Let your giving be done in
secret”. There is something very
beautiful about this completely
gratuitous anonymous donation.
‘I have no idea who [the giver] is,
and I want to stay in the dark –
unless he wants to come and see
me, in which case he will be
incredibly welcome, and we’ll get
the best cake we can find!’
The bishop is calling for state
support for the upkeep of sparsely
attended country churches. For
them to remain viable, he suggests
that they should double-up as post
offices, cafes, and community cen-
tres, as they did in bygone years.
Jokingly, he added that the possi-
bility that the Christian biker has
left more coins which are yet to be
found was ‘a very good incentive
for in-depth church cleaning’ in
rural Lancashire. It certainly is.
Meanwhile, assuming that the
guardian Hell’s Angel is still hot
in the saddle, custodians of
crumbling churches throughout
the North-West of England will be
praying for him to resume his
golden crusade.
l Additional reporting
by Tim Stewart
GUZELIAN / SHUTTERSTOCK / POSED BY MODEL
investigations into origin of the pandemic... I
T CAN be lonely as a
journalist when you dare to
challenge conventional wis-
dom – especially if taking on
two superpowers and some
of the world’s top scientists
over the cause of a pandemic.
So it has been gratifying to see
the steady acceptance of my argu-
ment – backed by investigations in
harness with fellow dissidents
around the world – that it was fool-
ish to ignore the hypothesis that
Covid-19 might have leaked from
a laboratory.
Few serious people now dismiss
this concept, despite China’s con-
tinuing cover-up – especially after
the CIA joined the FBI and US
Department of Energy in stating
that the startlingly well-adapted
coronavirus was ‘more likely’ to
have come from a Wuhan lab than
to have spilled over from animals.
This view is shared by German
intelligence and France’s academy
of medicine. And given the pan-
demic’s lingering impact, we
should pursue the truth remorse-
lessly to protect the future world.
Yet this hypothesis was branded
racist and a conspiracy theory
when I started to unravel Covid’s
emergence six years ago.
Like many others, I was struck
by the strange ‘coincidence’ that it
erupted in the city with a secretive
lab containing the world’s biggest
repository of bat coronaviruses
and carrying out high-risk
research to boost infectivity.
This newspaper deserves credit
for publishing a string of ground-
breaking articles that exposed the
ties to US funding, inadequate
all too prevalent’
safety controls in Wuhan, duplic- ity of China’s dictatorship and studies contesting the official version of events. There is still no definitive conclu- sion to this debate. Yet one thing is clear: there was a conspiracy to dupe the public, involving leading scientists and research-funding bodies in Britain and the US. These powerful figures hastily pushed statements into influential scientific journals to refute suggestions Sars- CoV-2 – the strain of coronavirus causing Covid-19 – might be linked to ‘any laboratory-based scenario’. But now we can see how central players in this sordid scandal reacted as their claims were shredded. The release last week of private chats on the Slack messag- ing app in an inquiry led by Rand Paul, chairman of the US Senate Homeland Security Committee, shows how they feared the possi- bility of a lab leak despite their public stance dismissing it. Still they sneered at critics. I am called ‘a knob’, ‘bully’, ‘that fer’, a ‘low IQ individual’ and ‘a piece of s’ among the infantile insults shared by these scientists for having the audacity to ask questions. Others get worse abuse – with the ‘F’ word used 189 times. They also talk about frustrating Freedom of Information (FOI) requests – an activity that has already led one US protagonist to face federal charges. ‘Birrell wrote a letter to the Principal threatening to write about it [the non-disclosure of documents] so the lawyer just wants to make sure everything is in place to tell him to p*** off,’ says Andrew
of Western scientists
who mocked my Covid
lab leak theory – just
to protect their backs
RISKY TESTS: Researchers working in Wuhan’s secretive Institute of Virology, which looked at coronaviruses. Right: The Mail on Sunday’s brave reporting
Rambaut, an evolutionary biolo- gist at Edinburgh University, in one missive after my FOIs were rejected on risible safety grounds. So this publicly funded higher education institution – which boasts about its ‘culture of open- ness’ – helped stifle investigations into the worst public health disas- ter for a century. And bear in mind this professor is one of the world’s most-cited scientists. ‘Stay off emails,’ he says at another point, displaying contempt for any concept of trans- parency. ‘Or carefully curate some emails for the FOI records.’ Sadly, such arrogance and atti- tudes became all too prevalent during the pandemic – helping
shatter public confidence in both science and government.. Ram- baut was one of five authors of the Proximal Origins statement pub- lished by Nature Medicine in March 2020. It became one of the most cited articles in academic history after ruling out a lab leak. It has since emerged they were covertly marshalled by former US presidential adviser Anthony Fauci alongside his boss Francis Collins, director at the time of the biggest American medical fund- ing body, and Sir Jeremy Farrar, then head of the wealthy Well- come Trust and now chief scientist at the World Health Organisation. Patrick Vallance, the Govern- ment’s then chief scientific
adviser, was anot er ey gure. When I tried to obtain his emails, minutes and notes on this issue through FOIs, I received 32 emails with almost every word redacted. Three months after the Nature Medicine statement, however, lead author Kristian Andersen put odds of a lab leak at 30 per cent. ‘Our paper was pretty strong in saying “there’s no way”, but I have less confidence in that statement at this stage,’ he told colleagues. This Danish immunologist remained dismissive about the lab leak theory in public, telling Sky News soon afterwards that ‘as we describe in our paper, all the data strongly suggest that this is a nat- ural virus’. Privately, he also admitted they made a false claim on bat coronavirus research: ‘We… say that this work is per- formed “all of the world”, but that isn’t true – it has exclusively been going on at WIV [the Wuhan Insti- tute of Virology].’ Anderson even
h k fi
says ‘they created the virus’ when discussing Fauci and Collins – and admits ‘most scientists I talk to believe there is a likely connection to the lab’. This would be more shocking if plenty had not already emerged about their deception. Farrar talked privately about ‘Wild West’ biosecurity in Wuhan. Andersen admitted the lab escape theory was ‘so friggin likely’. Suspicions were raised initially by the ‘furin cleavage site’ on the virus, which made Covid highly infectious to humans but not seen on similar coronaviruses. Then it was discovered scientists in Wuhan and key Western collab- orators sought US funding to insert this feature into Sars-like viruses a year before its spread. ‘It really isn’t beyond plausibility that someone went ahead and tried
the creed of science’
some of this stuff,’ admits Ram- baut in these latest messages. ‘We just need to re-convince ourselves it is coincidence.’ Another strange coincidence in this saga. Yet it seemed odd to rule out the leak theory after fre- quent incidents of lab-acquired infections – especially when this disease appeared hundreds of miles from the nearest colonies of bats with similar coronaviruses. It is now beyond doubt that this clandestine cabal of scientists used their prominence to push a false narrative dismissing plausi- bility of a lab leak and ‘conspiracy theories’ to protect their backs. If the pandemic began with a lab accident, this was a human error. Yet China’s subsequent cover-up was unforgivable – as were the useful idiots who assisted its duplicity in the West. They betrayed both humanity and the creed of science – and they deserve only shame and retribution.
Spider-Man’s next big role – as wedding party hosts
SPIDER-MAN Tom Holland
and Zendaya are planning a
stonking party at one of
Britain’s most famous
castles to celebrate their
recent low-key wedding – as
long as they can avoid a tiny
blood-sucking insect.
I’m told the couple have
opted for palatial Belvoir
Castle in Leicestershire,
home to the Manners family,
headed by David Manners,
11th Duke of Rutland.
However, I hear the
couple hit a minor snag
during their planning.
‘Someone connected to the
castle recently picked up a
tick from the long grass in part of
the grounds,’ a source tells me.
‘It really set the cat among the
pigeons. Tom and Zendaya have
since been insistent that no guests
should be allowed near that
section of the grounds, lest any of
the Hollywood A-listers also be
subjected to a tick bite. Ticks can
transmit Lyme disease.’
Fans were stunned when the cou-
ple forsook a big white wedding in
favour of a low-key affair.
Londoner Tom, 30, has kept tight-
lipped, only recently revealing
that he had tied the knot, in front
of close family, with American
Zendaya, 29, his girlfriend of five
years and co-star to his Spider-
Man in four of the Marvel films.
little white lie
FASHIONISTA Trinny Woodall is at war with her daughter Lyla, right – over a stolen Miu Miu belt. ‘Lyla came in and declared, “I love my Miu Miu belt,”’ says Trinny, 62. When Trinny pointed out that the item had come straight from her wardrobe, Lyla, 22, countered: ‘I took it two months ago. You haven’t noticed, so it’s mine.’ Finders keepers…
When asked last month if his
family were at the wedding, he
said: ‘Yes, they were all there.
That’s all you’ll get on that.’
But my source tells me the
party they are planning will be
a far cry from the low-key
wedding ceremony.
‘It’s going to be massive,’
reveals my source. ‘They
were perusing the grounds
recently, pointing out where
they wanted the grand piano
and other tents.’
The couple live ordinary
lives away from acting – think
walking in Richmond Park and
avoiding the limelight – but
my source said this party is
‘going to be epic’.
◆ DIRECTOR Christopher Nolan’s latest blockbuster, The Odyssey, is inspired by Homer’s epic poem written thousands of years ago, but his own tastes are more straightforward. Nolan declares Pingu – which features a family of anthropomorphic emperor penguins who speak gobbledygook and ‘noot, noot’ – a ‘foundational text for Western literature’. He calls it ‘a very human story. A story of famine, homecoming, of loss, love and war’. Whether it’s turned into a new film remains to be seen…
Got a story? Email diary@mailonsunday.co.uk
dad, Cruz?
HIS father famously received
a red card against Argentina
at the 1998 World Cup but
Cruz Beckham’s football-
themed song, Seeing Red,
doesn’t touch on the matter.
Despite the video featuring
referees sending off
players, the clip of
Becks being given an
early bath for kicking
out at Diego Simeone in
the last 16 clash didn’t
make the cut. I
wonder why?
◆ MAKE-UP mogul Charlotte Tilbury surprised the monarch at a King’s Trust celebration when she broke royal protocol and kissed him twice on the cheek. Charlotte, 53, is not the first redhead to give the King more than he bargained for. Spice Girl Geri Halliwell famously pinched his bottom at a charity gala in 1997.
THE course of true love never did run smooth for Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner. After a brief spell dating Coldplay singer Chris Martin, I can reveal the star has rekindled her romance with Peregrine Pearson, heir to the Cowdray Park estate. The couple, above, split last summer after rowing at a high-society wedding, but now they are back to their glamorous antics: zooming around on speedboats and riding in open-top supercars. And they’re not the only couple to find themselves back in love – aristocrat Lola Bute is dating model Parker Van Noord again after a four- month split. My spies spotted them ‘all over each other’ in Portobello Road, west London.
FOR someone who doesn’t believe in marriage, Tigerlily Taylor, the socialite daughter of Queen drummer Roger Taylor, has a funny way of showing it. Tigerlily once said tying the knot ‘takes away all the romance’, but she’s clearly had a change of heart because the 31-year- old, who also goes by Tiger, jetted off to France last week for her hen-do, ahead of her wedding to musician Mkulu Lee, 40, pictured left.
I
JACOBSEN
AUTHOR OF ‘BIOLOGICAL WAR’
T IS a cold January night when, just before midnight, an explosion rocks a secret biological research institute in Koltsovo, Siberia. The blast shatters the glass in one of the tall buildings. A fifth-floor laboratory is on fire. Ostensibly a harmless medical research unit, this is the State Scientific Centre of Virology and Biotechnology – known, for ominous reasons, as Vector. In biology, a vector is an entity that can transmit a pathogen from one host to the next, typically by biting the host organism or sucking their blood. Officials in the US suspect Vector’s real function – as with scores of similar establishments throughout Russia – is to carry out biotechnological experiments on the world’s deadliest germs, aiming to make them deadlier still. The freezers at Vector hold an array of germs, such as those that cause Ebola and smallpox, as well as many other killers. And in this scenario, those germs include a new and unstoppable strain of Y. pestis, the bacteria behind the Black Death that decimated medieval Europe. This strain of plague is an especially dangerous pathogen because of its severity and the rapid onset of symptoms, including sepsis and multi-organ failure. The scientists who work at Vector are more than aware of its capabilities. Next morning, one of them goes to confession at a local Orthodox church. ‘Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned,’ he tells the priest. ‘I caused an explosion at my lab.’ The lab claims to only do vaccine research, the scientist says, but there are also illegal biological weapons programmes going on there. He confesses that he has been working on one of these programmes, developing a genetically modified plague weapon. Last night his conscience finally got the better of him and he decided to destroy what he was working on. ‘But it backfired on me. It was supposed to be a small fire. It turned into an explosion.’ As the scientist speaks a warm, tingling sensation grows under his skin. He has accidentally infected himself. His central nervous system is being flooded with an unnatural surge of euphoria, which the modification of the pathogen is specially designed to create, encouraging the victim to go out and socialise and thus immediately spread the germ. Soon, the euphoria will turn to horror, as every one of his organs succumbs. The priest offers absolution and the scientist lets out a long, heavy breath. He coughs, releasing hundreds of millions of plague particulates into the air. These are breathed in by the next person arriving at the church, a student who has been home visiting his family and will shortly be heading back to his course at the University of California, Los Angeles. The student leaves the church and later boards a plane which, like every other commercial passenger aircraft, is a giant germ factory – even at the best of times. As the student arrives in Los Angeles and heads downtown, the disease silently begins to spread. By the next morning: outbreak. People on the streets start to convulse and fall to the ground. Others lie unconscious, not breathing, foaming at the mouth. A man shrieks in delirium, his bowels emptying involuntarily as
he gasps for air. Another falls out of his wheelchair, eyes engorged, blood clinging to his mouth. Another’s eyes are bleeding. Nearby, a woman writhes in agony, her skin mottled with red spots. Another man bends over and coughs up pieces of lung. People howl and scream and make bestial noises, like some- thing out of Dante’s Inferno or a Hieronymus Bosch painting. Though they don’t know it, they are among the first to fall victim to a deadly germ that is about to sweep through the world like wildfire, uncontrollable, unstop- pable, wiping out every human host it comes into contact with unless antibiotics are adminis- tered within the first 24 hours. In an outbreak, time is everything.
could all too easily become a reality. The West has long known that strains of disease are being secretly weaponised to kill. By putting together facts and projections from presidential advisers, microbiologists, epide- miologists, diplomats and the CIA, I have constructed how that could happen. If the plague does come roaring back, deliberately engineered into a biological weapon that could exterminate us, the end of the world may be nigh. And all this could happen despite an international ban on such weapons of mass destruction. A Russian scientist who defected to the West said the Soviets had developed and stock- piled hundreds of tons of anthrax and dozens of tons of plague and smallpox for use against the US and its Western allies, in a sprawl- ing, illicit, classified biological weapons programme with a singular mission: to kill hundreds of millions of people. It was a clear violation of the
international treaty, so they went to great lengths to disguise it. One of the main facilities was built to resemble an insane asylum, with actors dressed as mentally ill patients roaming the grounds. Viewed from spy-in-the-sky satellites it looked like a sanato- rium, with the convalescents walking about in pyjamas or playing volleyball. A civilian front
scream and make bestial noises
organisation was created to make it appear as though it produced vaccines and other medicines. It was named Biopreparat, meaning ‘biological preparations’, and was ‘the darkest conspiracy of the Cold War’, according to Ken Alibek, who was its deputy chief
before defecting to the West. Another high-level defector revealed how, back in Russia, he’d had an unlimited budget and up to 3,000 scientists and weapons engineers working for him. His various teams had not only made biological superweapons but developed the means to deploy them. They had even worked out how to modify cruise missiles to fly under the US’s radar systems and spray clouds of plague and other pathogens over large populations.
TO UNDERSTAND how quickly it could spread, we need to go back to our lab leak. After leaving confession with the priest, the Vector scientist heads into the woods. By now, the genetically modified euphoria has worn off and plague symptoms have emerged. The pain in his body is unspeakably intense. His lungs are filled with necrotic cell tissue and he is drowning in pus. He realises the scope of what he
has done and, in despair, decides to kill himself. He sits down in the snow, a rifle by his side. He is delirious and keeps touching his face, trying to locate what feels like an ice pick in his forehead. He cries out and coughs blood onto the white snow. He stands up and continues walking. After a few yards, he falls down and passes out. When he wakes up, a group of men is standing over him, staring. One of them leans down, pinches his nose, pushes on his chest and starts breathing into his mouth. The men are international sportsmen on a hunting trip. The man giving the Vector scientist CPR is a wealthy entrepreneur whose two university-age sons are with him. The hunters take turns carrying the dying scientist back to the hunting lodge where they are staying. There, they hand over the desperately ill scientist to the rescue services. It is the last day of their trip. They eat dinner together, share a sauna, then drive to the airport in
a small van the next morning. Each one has, without knowing it, become infected with genetically modified pneumonic plague. At the airport, an 80-year-old judge from Germany is going to Japan, where he will board a cruise ship for a New Year’s voyage. On landing home in the Caribbean, the entrepreneur and his sons are feeling euphoric. They go to a gym to lift weights alongside other exercise enthusiasts, then go to a café. By the end of the evening, all three have begun to feel acutely ill. They are beyond help. Meanwhile, there are 3,700 passengers and crew on the German’s cruise ship. He’d been feeling terrific as he moved around the ship’s crowded bars and restaurants. Now, at night, he’s so weak and feverish he can barely move. The ship’s doctor misdiagnoses him with norovirus and advises him to disembark in Hong Kong – a densely populated city of 7.5million people. On board, the
ship’s doctor then begins to panic. There are 34 new admissions in an hour. A nurse falls down, rust- coloured froth around her mouth and bloody mucus pooling on the floor. Y. pestis bacteria in the blood shoots toxins into the immune cells, rendering the body unable to defend itself. Perhaps a businessman from
a complete breakdown of law and order
Vietnam was also on the hunting trip in Russia. He owns several hotels in the port city of Da Nang. In one of these, two US sailors are eating breakfast in the restaurant, sitting close to the owner, breathing in the same air. Genetically modified Y. pestis
bacteria enter their lungs and begin to multiply. They return to their aircraft carrier, which is docked in a deep-water terminal. On board there are 5,000 people. It is one of the most formidable warships on the planet. Powered by two nuclear reactors, it can operate for 20 years without needing to refuel. And it is about to be rendered impotent by an invisible weapon.
SERGEI Popov, a former bioweapons engineer, has talked of his regret at working on the Soviet Union’s programme. ‘I admire those people who had the courage to say no,’ he says. ‘I always believed those weapons could never be used because it was so absurd.’ But he, and others, did work on these biological weapons. Human beings, scientists no less, came up with this super- weapon by design. The irony is that with the early 20th-Century discovery of
antibiotics, plague became a scourge of the past – until the advent of genetic engineering in the 1970s. By splicing genes from a virus that causes encephalitis into the genome of the bacteria that causes plague, scientists could create a booby-trap bioweapon. Were an infected person to take antibiotics, it would trigger the encephalitis gene in the modified plague, turning the disease into a death sentence. So essential workers – who would be first in line to receive secret government stockpiles of antibiotics – would be killed by the very attempts to treat them. A Russian bioweapons specialist who defected to the West told American intelligence officers who debriefed him that the mutation was designed to make Americans lose faith in their own government, sow existential chaos and take the country back to the Dark Ages. Meanwhile, flagrant violations of the international ban continue.
do inhuman things just to survive
In addition to Russia, North Korea also maintains an offensive biological weapons programme, according to a US State Department report, while China and Iran are similarly engaged in biological research.
A SENIOR US politician tells me: ‘The result of a major biological attack will be death physically, death governmentally, death in virtually every context. Biological war will be deeply nightmarish. People doing inhuman things just to survive.’ Just imagine: as plague descends on a major city, bedlam breaks out. Typically for our age, an influencer livestreams it all. As the influencer’s video goes viral, pandemonium spreads. Looters see opportunity. Shops are stormed and overrun. Vandals set fire to anything they can lay their hands on. Police teams move in to restore order but are met by a barrage of bricks. There is a complete breakdown of law and order, and large swathes of the city are on fire. Violence soars. There are reports of homeless people being beaten up in the streets. The police keep news crews away but citizen jour- nalists and internet influencers know how to outfox the system, arriving on electric scooters to film the unfolding chaos. Police sirens screech. Firefight- ers blast air horns. Ambulances can’t get through. At night any residents who are still sleeping are jolted awake by a barrage of oscillating alarm sounds blaring
SONIC / BACKGRID / GETTY IMAGES
epic honeymoon... but Dua and Callum ensure they’re not too far apart
THEY enjoyed an idyllic month-long honeymoon in Italy after their three-day wedding extravaganza. But despite Callum Turner and his wife being finally back at work, true to form, they have somehow managed to stay virtually at one another’s sides. While Ms Lipa, 30, was spotted stepping into a recording studio in New York City dressed in a polka-dot halter dress paired with a Yankees baseball cap and a £23,000 Birkin bag, her new husband was back on the set of his forthcoming movie just a few miles across the Hudson River. Turner, 36, a contender for the next James Bond, was filming an intense scene for Parker Finn’s remake of 1981 cult classic Possession in New Jersey with co-star Margaret Qualley on Friday. And it all
from every smartphone: ‘EMER- GENCY ALERT. A mandatory evacuation order has been issued in your area. LEAVE NOW. DO NOT WAIT.’ People are advised they have just ten minutes to gather their most valuable posses- sions and get out. Visuals of plague victims dying on the streets flood social media. The internet is ablaze with
a police officer bent over and coughing up blood has been viewed more than 100million times. A nationwide panic unfurls. On their smartphones, everyone is scrambling to work out what is real and what is disinformation. Health authorities can’t help. Their websites have crashed and their phone lines are jammed. The news is spreading around the world and panic is setting in, get- ting more murderous by the min- ute. In London, fights break out in supermarkets over canned goods and quickly turn deadly. In Germany, a mob sets fire to the headquarters of a health company
CONSULTANT EDITOR SHOWBUSINESS
looked rather unglamorous – especially compared with his post- wedding break when he meandered around Italy with his new wife in a Porsche. Dressed in a grey sweater marked with fake blood, he shot scenes with his on-screen wife Ms Qualley, who wore a flowing purple dress. Fans, meanwhile, remarked on her resemblance to Ms Lipa. Possession, a remake of the film starring the late Sam Neill, follows the relationship between an international spy, played by Turner, and his wife, portrayed by Ms Qualley. Her character is said to behave disturbingly after asking for a divorce.
after internet misinformation claims millions of bottles of antibiotics – a supposed antidote to the infection – are stored underground. In China, doors of a hospital are soldered shut with plague victims sealed inside. Uninfected family members try desperately to reason with their loved ones, to force them to see the danger, and to flee. They, too, become infected, and the cycle repeats – faster and wider each time. All of them will eventually die. There are now thousands of bodies lying in the streets. Corpses are pecked at by crows and gnawed on by rats. A fleet of freezer trucks should be on standby to deal with any overspill of bodies, but most of the drivers are locked in snarl-ups on the main roads caused by accidents and fires. Hundreds of thousands have chosen to escape Los Angeles. They speed the wrong way down the motorways and weave into breakdown lanes. Vehicles crash and pile up. Lorries jackknife. At
the airport, two private Gulfstream jets, each one racing to get out of the city while it is still possible, ignore air traffic controllers’ warnings and collide in midair. With more than half of its workforce quickly incapacitated, the police can do nothing as armed gangs hold up doctors and nurses at gunpoint in hospitals, forcing them to unlock drug stores.
germ could be humanity’s last invention
Normally law-abiding citizens raid pharmacies. There are reports of security guards being killed. Meanwhile, a 200-man specialist military unit trained in fighting biological warfare, treating survivors, setting up contamination stations and so on, is approaching
the city. But the convoy slows to a full stop, the road blocked by a multi-car pile-up. Vehicles are on fire. People are dead. In biological wargames run by America’s Pentagon, at this point ‘ENDEX’ would be declared, as in ‘End of Exercise’. In a real biological attack, a new generation of infection would continue to explode every 18 hours...
YEARS pass. The world is silent and infected. Unlike a nuclear winter, where it is cold and dark, biological war leaves the world dim and fading. The living are left to wonder which day might be the end. The dead have long since been burned on mass funeral pyres, or been eaten by dogs, pigs or rats. No one knows for how long Y. pestis will linger in the air, in the dirt, in the dead. It is not the fittest who survive, but those who refuse to take off their gas masks. People with the discipline to never remove their
is key to being top of the class
NEVER mind extra homework
or costly private tutors.
Scientists have found one of
the best ways to boost kids’
maths ability is to take them
horse riding.
Researchers from King Saud
University in Saudi Arabia
tracked 262 pupils aged seven
to nine and found those who
regularly rode horses got
better marks in maths than
those who didn’t.
This was because they
had better executive function –
the ability to solve
complex problems.
Previous studies have found
the rapid decision-making and
sensory processing involved in
riding a horse can boost
executive function and
working memory.
The report, published in
BMC Psychology, said riding
requires a wide range of
actions that ‘stimulate neural
networks’ and helps boost
maths performance through
‘attentional control and
working memory engagement’.
respirator, even when they sleep. People willing to live alone, and remain alone. People prepared to kill from a distance, even before knowing if the person they are killing is infected or not. These are the traits of the people who will repopulate the world after a large-scale biological weapon is released; Machiavellians, solipsists and psychopaths. Mainly men. Not a hopeful foundation for a future civilisation. Rather, a new world born of paranoia and fear. ‘You reap what you sow’ is murmured around what is left of the world. A deadly germ, genetically modified to be human-to-human transmissible, hyper-virulent, able to defeat counter-measures, and with no known cure, could be humanity’s last invention.
l Adapted from Biological War by Annie Jacobsen (Torva, £22) to be published July 30. © Annie Jacobsen 2026. To order a copy for £19.80 (offer valid to 08/08/26; UK P&P free on orders over £25) go to www.mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937.
T
PRESIDENT Trump has ordered signs placed outside one of America’s most prestigious museums warning visitors that it could contain ‘inaccurate information’. Mr Trump has signed an order to put notices outside the Smithsonian National Museum Of American History in Washington DC, saying it does not accurately reflect US history. The President has accused museum director
WEBB
HERE was a feeling in April, ahead of the annual White House C o r r e s p o n d e n t s ’ Association dinner, that President Donald Trump wanted to use it to be conciliatory – to offer an olive branch to the Press. We will never know what he was due to say. The event, which celebrates Press freedom, was dramatically halted by a shooter, and while Trump never made his speech, he did give a Press conference imme- diately afterwards in which, still dressed in his tuxedo, he managed to be generous about journalists. But on Friday night he struck a very different tone. Mumbling that the speech he had been given was ‘fricking stupid’ and choosing to veer wildly away from it, he spent most of an hour relating jokes that were little more than personal attacks. A female CNN anchor was berated for failing to ‘smile’; another from the Wall Street Journal was ‘un-hireable’. There were sharp intakes of breath, and a largely stunned silence. Trump attacking journal- ists is, of course, nothing new. But
doesn’t know just how bad things have got
what was extraordinary was that he chose to do so at an event which is traditionally a love-in between presidents and the Fourth Estate. As the BBC’s chief Washington correspondent and North America Editor, I went to the dinners during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations. In 2015, referencing paralysis in Congress, Obama said: ‘I want to especially thank all the members who took a break from their exhausting schedule of not pass- ing any laws to be here tonight.’ The jokes were gentle, in both directions, the president gra- ciously submitting to a ribbing. There was a raw, Hollywood glitzi- ness, with dignitaries like Henry Kissinger in attendance, a gor- geous woman always on his arm. One of the great criticisms, in fact, was that it was a little too cosy, with political correspondents being so pally with the very gov- ernments they were supposed to
IN LOS ANGELES
Anthea Hartig of ‘radical activist ideology’.
Ms Hartig was grilled in Congress last week
and accused of teaching ‘national self-
loathing’ for displaying exhibits on slavery,
black history and gay rights. One recent show
wasted opportunity for a love-in with journalists reveals about the state of his presidency
be scrutinising. Of course, it could be uncomfortable: in Bill Clinton’s time, he was being investigated for all sorts of things by the jour- nalists he was chummily handing out awards to. As president, you you have to be able to take it. But the thing about Trump is he rarely can. This year is the first time he attended as President – he has never previously bothered. The last time Trump was there, as a guest of the Wall Street Jour- nal in 2011, then-President Obama poked fun at him for questioning the legitimacy of his US citizen- ship, and for Trump’s stint on The Apprentice. It’s been suggested – although Trump has denied it – that he was so upset by that roasting that he decided to run for the White House
there and then. Interestingly, at Friday’s dinner – which Trump quipped was ‘far worse than I actually thought’ – the traditional comedian was swapped for a con- jurer. A specific request by Trump or because the organisers thought better of it? That isn’t clear. But he can be funny about him- self if he chooses to be. At the Al Smith dinner, put on by the Catho- lic Church in New York and held just before the presidential elec- tion in 2024, he started off by say- ing: ‘It’s a true pleasure to be with you. These days, it’s a pleasure to be anywhere in New York without a subpoena for my appearance.’ He was under huge pressure at the time over withheld govern- ment documents, and it was genu- inely funny. So there is a legitimate
at the museum included explicit sexual imagery and another was called Girlhood (It’s Complicated) and discussed struggles with gender identity among young women. Ms Hartig told Congress the museum ‘does not take sides in America’s political debates’. Earlier this year President Trump blasted the Smithsonian for ‘focusing heavily on slavery instead of national successes’.
question over why, as Trump’s poll ratings continue to plummet and the Republicans face a drubbing in the November mid-terms, he chose not to use the speech on Friday as a political opportunity. That he didn’t does worry some of his more thoughtful supporters and begs another question: what was he trying to achieve? It would be too simplistic to say it’s just about contempt for the Press. He has reason not to like journalists, but he still does business with publications he so roundly criticises. It could be that he doesn’t care about doing the politically adept thing. But there is another possi- bility – that he doesn’t know just how bad things have got. That is possible for a president. Joe Biden genuinely seemed to think he could win the 2024 elec- tion, and during the last days of his administration, a coterie of people was telling him not to believe the polls, that they were all nonsense. Trump is, after all, surrounded by a band of staunch supporters. This is a man who enormously enjoys success and can’t face up to any kind of failure. If the Republi- cans do badly in the mid-terms, that will reflect badly on him. He has surprised us before with against-the-odds comebacks. The question now is that, at 80, does he still have the energy and focus to turn it all around again, and leave a positive legacy in his last couple of years as president? As he battles a seemingly never- ending war with Iran, he’ll certainly need that conjurer.
of the week
‘The Night of the
Long Eyelashes.’
Nickname
for new Prime Minister
Andy Burnham’s brutal
purge of Starmerites
from his first Cabinet.
‘Absolutely thrilled
the be appointed
Education Secretary.’
Lucy Powell
makes an inauspicious
start in her new job.
‘The snivelling wokesters
will work themselves
into a lather over the
name. A mature country
does not run from its
history. A serious country
does not vandalise
its memory to satisfy
the latest fashion in
whinger politics.’
New Zealand foreign
minister Winston Peters
as his country named a new
ferry after Captain Cook.
‘I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was crap.’ Wayne Rooney’s on-air verdict about the World Cup Final’s half-time show that included Shakira, left.
‘Humanity is no longer in control of its most awesome creation since the atomic bomb.’ Technology campaigner Connor Axiotes after Silicon Valley giant OpenAI admitted that one of its programs went rogue during testing.
‘Didn’t think I would get threatened by Romesh Ranganathan and Louis Theroux to pay my TV licence. All I wanted was to watch the football.’ A social media user reacts to the BBC’s licence fee advert first aired during the World Cup Final.
‘She said he was all mouth and no organ.’ Nick Weldon recalls his author mother Fay’s description of composer Larry Adler, who used to practise the harmonica in the nude in the house opposite.
‘Leg hair harassment.’ Term used by women office workers in Tokyo as they object to male colleagues being allowed to wear shorts in hot weather.
O
YSTER the marmoset caused quite a stir last week. It all started last Friday, when there was a commotion on the 302 bus at Kensal Rise, north-west London. The aisle was blocked by a laun- dry bag sticking out from the lug- gage rack. Inside the bag was a cage. And inside the cage was a teeny monkey. Dehy- drated, distressed, ‘chirping and jumping’ about, quivering in fear and clearly dumped there deliberately by her owner. Most of us have heard now how the thought- ful driver took the monkey back to the Metroline Bus Depot at Willesden station and alerted the RSPCA. And how staff named her Oyster, after the travel card. And how, by a happy twist of fate, while she didn’t quite make it back to her family and her natural habitat in the Brazilian rainfor- est, she did head off to a specialist sanctuary which, by chance, had been looking for a female companion for its own lone male
of a pet monkey but don’t have a clue
marmoset. So it seemed like a happy ending to warm our hearts. But it turns out that Oyster is just one of dozens of miniature marmosets being dumped by their owners over recent months. And, according to rescue experts, she was very much one of the lucky ones. ‘Some are driven out and left in the country- side, or thrown out of car windows. Others are just flushed down the toilet – yes they’re small enough to flush,’ says Lindsay McKenna, founder of Wildside Exotic Rescue in Herefordshire. ‘People don’t know how to keep them. They like the idea of having a pet mon- key, they’ve seen them on TikTok or Instagram, but they don’t really have a clue, and now with all the recent changes...’ In April, much needed new legislation was brought in requiring primate owners to apply for a licence to keep their animal and, according to the authorities, the take up rate has been worryingly low. While tighter controls are clearly a good thing, Lindsay worries that there is no amnesty and no safety net. Owners who had not really thought through their pet monkey – its care, diet, environment, lon- gevity (they can live up to 15 years) – are simply panicking about acquiring a specialist licence and offloading their pets. ‘If we’re not careful, a whole generation of exotic pets will be flushed down loos or thrown out of cars,’ she says. And it’s not just primates who are unwanted. Over recent years – thanks partly to social media trends and easier access to wild animals on the internet – the UK has become awash with exotic ‘pets’ better suited to the wilds of Africa, the tropical rainforest of the Amazon basin or steppe grass-
cruelly abandoned
on a London bus is
proof that Britain
needs a new law to
clamp down on...
The macabre
TikTok craze
for exotic pets
lands than a terrace in Chester- field or bungalow in Bristol. Which is alarming for many reasons, not least animal welfare, disease and biosecurity. But also because a lot of them are downright dangerous. According to research by inter- national wildlife charity Born Free, more than 2,200 dangerous wild animals, ranging from ven- omous snakes to big cats, croco- diles and primates, are currently being kept legally across Britain under the 50-year-old Dangerous Wild Animals Act (DWAA). Campaigners, including Born Free’s founder patron Dame Joanna Lumley, have been clam- ouring for a change in the law. They want to outlaw the keeping of cobras and rattlesnakes in our bedrooms, monkeys in our sitting rooms and, yes, in some cases, alligators in our garden ponds. ‘Wild animals should never ever be kept as pets, no matter how much we feel we could give them a wonderful home,’ said Lumley. ‘It is shocking that so many are still being legally kept in private hands, propping up a cruel and
ghastly trade.’ While some of these animals are located in educational facilities and conservation sanctu- aries, a worrying number are in domestic homes around the coun- try – in bedrooms, sitting rooms and garden sheds. That includes the world’s deadli- est snake, the saw-scaled viper, one of which is currently licensed
Act has not been updated in 50 years
to be kept in Greater London, for goodness’ sake. All of which sparks countless questions. About animal cruelty and our safety. About why anyone would want to keep a crocodile or a giant lizard in their back garden in Kent. And why the DWAA – which traditionally was all about
keeping humans safe from wild animals rather than focusing on the impact of incarceration on the animal – has not been updated for 50 years. Which seems utterly shameful in this day and age. People like Lindsay and Paula Stewart, another exotic animal rescuer, and Simon Marsh of Wild Welfare pick up the pieces. ‘We call wild animals exotic pets, but they’re still wild animals with all the behavioural traits of wild animals, even if bred in captivity,’ says Lindsay, who left her corporate job 17 years ago to rescue these animals and cur- rently, with her team, looks after 43 different species including mountain lions, lynx, bobcats, skunks, wallabies, silver foxes and a zebra. Most came from domestic prem- ises, including four of the moun- tain lions, which were living in back gardens and can be highly dangerous if they escape. ‘A domesticated wild animal is probably the most dangerous, because they are not afraid of humans,’ says Lindsay. ‘So yes, if they were hungry, they would
attack.’ Many of the rescued ani- mals are in a terrible state. Both psychological – pacing, spinning, head turning, self-mutilating – and physical, often suffering from metabolic bone disease and rick- ets thanks to appalling nutrition and lack of sunlight. She tells of the poor marmoset who’d lived on marshmallows and dried bananas for the first year of her life and had no sunlight. ‘She looked different structur- ally to the others and had terrible bone issues,’ she says. ‘How can it be OK to keep a wild animal like that inside a centrally heated house in a hamster cage on its own?’ Lindsay found one young alpaca who was in such a state it had to be euthanised, and mountain lions who have been kept in tiny con- crete enclosures. Paula Stewart, who runs The Animal Talent Agency, started rescuing ten years ago after stumbling across a neglected raccoon – on the banned list in the UK as an invasive species – in a garage in Cardiff. ‘It was a Christmas present for
PYTHON: Stuart Coleman with his pet snake Stella and neighbours Heidi and Alison
MOUNTAIN LION: Highly dangerous if they escape
the daughter, was no longer wanted and had become very aggressive and was kept in a crate in the dark,’ she says. Paula’s corn snake, Candy, was rescued from a domestic house fire. And her beloved bearded dragon, George, was found in an empty flat in Cheshire after the tenants moved out. ‘There was no heating, lighting, food or water. He was just left in a tank abandoned.’ All of which drastically affected his health. He has metabolic bone disease from getting too cold. A crooked tail where it was broken. An underbite on his jaw where it wasn’t properly formed. Both Lindsay and Paula have noticed a surge in numbers lately and blame social media influenc- ers for encouraging the craze in
exotic pets. ‘It’s showing off. It gives them more followers on social media,’ says Lindsay. Across Instagram and Face- book, videos showing small mar- mosets sharing strawberry yogurts, sitting on their owners’ heads or being groomed with a toothbrush, garner thousands of comments. Meanwhile, horrible TikTok videos of men throwing dead rabbits to their gigantic pythons in their sitting rooms gain millions of views. ‘It’s the shock factor that excites people. They’re using wild animals as entertainment. It’s not right and it’s fuelling the market’ says Paula. Given the horrors they all mop up every week, the animal rescuers are surprisingly gener- ous about the owners. ‘Many really
love their pets, but they don’t understand their highly complex needs,’ says Simon Marsh of Wild Welfare. ‘It’s often ignorance as much as neglect.’ Lindsay agrees: ‘The majority never intended harm. They were just swept up in the fascination of it and misled by breeders.’ Many might not know that a mar- moset like Oyster is a highly intel- ligent, sociable, sentient creature, which would naturally live in a linked family group in the wild where they eat fruit, vegetables and insects, rather than on its own in a hamster cage next to the TV. ‘Owners treat them like minia- ture babies or humans and expect far too much of them. They are wild animals,’ says Paula. New cobra or ball python owners need to understand that keeping
the intelligent snakes in a tank in your bedroom is not meeting their welfare needs. And that bigger snakes eat entire rabbits and guinea pigs – skin, fur and all – that come fro- zen in packs of 20 (it is illegal to feed snakes live animals in the UK) and will clog up your freezer for decades. Those purchasing a pet alligator will need a lot more than a garden pond and a couple of steaks a week; in fact the reptiles need a constantly monitored environ- ment complete with UV lights, humidity controls and water tem- perature and quality checks. A big part of the problem is that the new type of exotic pet suppli- ers are no longer experienced pet shop owners who have the oppor- tunity to vet buyers, and advise
and educate them. Now the market is flooded with dodgy breeders who advertise on the internet and sell to anyone happy to pay between £1,000-£4,000 for a baby marmoset, or £30-£300 for a ball python. Which means that ownership comes with a lot of unwelcome surprises. For starters, how long all these animals live. Forget the usual four years for a guinea pig, or three for a hamster – a snake can live for 30 years, a lizard between 15 and 20. And up to 80 years for a tortoise or parrot. Even a marmoset will live 14 or 15 years – a lot longer than any social media craze. Animals, too, can escape. Every week there are sto- ries of missing exotic – and often dangerous – pets. Nine days ago Stella a 3ft ball python was found in a neighbour’s garden in Southborough, Kent, having given her owners the slip for a fortnight. And for days recently, residents of the village of Bramerton, Norfolk, were on red alert after a large cat, lik- ened to ‘a small leopard’ was spot- ted roaming the countryside and had been reported to the RSPCA. It turned out to be Blaze, a Savannah cat – a crossbreed of an African wild serval and a domes- tic cat – which had escaped from a
thing, but
these are not
cuddly cats
nearby enclosure. Savannahs are a hot favourite on social media. ‘It’s a trophy pet thing,’ says Rick Minter, a big cat specialist. ‘But they are tricky and can be highly aggressive and predatory, so it’s a big commitment. ‘These are not cuddly cats, they can be very fierce and have been known to attack small dogs.’ They are also brilliant escape artists. And many inexperienced owners are just so relieved to see them go that they don’t bother to alert the authorities. And is not helped by the fact that the law, as it stands, seems mad. As Chris Lewis, Born Free’s cap- tivity research and policy manager put it last week: ‘The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 was intended to make the keeping of wild animals catego- rised as “dangerous” a wholly exceptional circumstance. ‘Yet 50 years on, we find our- selves in a situation where nearly ten times more venomous snakes are kept in British homes than British zoos, servals continue to be unnecessarily and cruelly crossbred with domestic cats to produce “fashionable” hybrids, and primates continue to be con- fined despite the Government acknowledging they are unsuited to being kept as pets.’ And, as a result, they are in grave danger. And their inept and misguided owners are putting the public in danger, too.
BPM MEDIA / CHANNEL 5 / RSPCA
comes true... by making
Hollywood debut at 42
A BREAST cancer diagnosis in May last year turned her world upside down. But former model Kate Tickle has had an astonishing turn of for- tune – by landing her first Holly- wood acting job. Ms Tickle, 42,
was diagnosed with stage 1 HER2-positive breast cancer last year but is now clear of the illness. After being cast in a forthcom- ing biopic of fashion legend Gior-
gio Armani, the Lake District-born actress told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Your dreams in life don’t have an expiry date, and your diagnosis doesn’t mean life is over.’ Describing how she came to be diagnosed, the mother-of-four said she had a dream that she could feel a lump. ‘The dream was so vivid, so I went to the doctors,’ she said. ‘They couldn’t feel a lump, but I did a mammogram, and that is when they discovered something was going on.’ Ms Tickle completed chemother- apy treatment in November. In June, she got the call that she had landed a role in Armani: The King Of Fashion – her first major movie. She will play a personal assistant of Armani, who died from liver fail- ure in September, aged 91. While Ms Tickle has worked as a body double for actress Uma Thur- man, and been a personal assistant to filmmaker Michael Winner, she has never before made it to Holly- wood. The biopic is being led by Italian producer Andrea Iervolino, a friend of Ms Tickle’s husband, music producer David Tickle, 66. Ms Tickle, who once dated Gary Lineker, said she had Mr Iervolino
LEARNED
THIS WEEK
Andy Burnham may have
a Manchester bee tattoo on
his bicep but he’s not the
first Prime Minister to sport
body art. Like many sailors,
James Callaghan was inked
during the Second World War.
But unlike Burnham, he was
so embarrassed by his tattoo
that he refused to wear
short sleeves.
2
China now makes 45
per cent of the global
supply of foie gras. The
country is responsible for
11,000 tons of it a year.
3
Britain’s healthiest place
to grow old is Orkney. The
Scottish island has an
average ‘healthspan’ – the age to
which you can expect to live on
good form – of 72.9, compared to
60 in many parts of the UK, and
a horrifying 50 in Blackpool.
4
Dubai airport could soon allow passengers to walk seamlessly through immigration without having to show a passport or boarding pass. The massive transport hub is trialling a system that uses biometric cameras, integrated
TOP JOB: Kate Tickle will star in a biopic of designer Giorgio Armani
to thank for the role. ‘When I told Andrea everything I had been through and how I wanted to inspire my four boys and anyone going through similar things, he wanted to make it happen,’ she said. Ms Tickle said she was sharing her story in case it helps others. ‘I want other people who receive the news they have cancer, or any other life-changing circumstance, to keep believing there is life after treatment and joy after fear, and that they are stronger than they know,’ she said. ‘Don’t stop dream- ing. Cancer may change your past, but it doesn’t have to take away your hopes for the future.’
online newsletter
flight data and AI to match
up faces in the airport with
registered documents and
corresponding flight bookings,
clearing up to ten people
within just four seconds,
and removing the need for
anyone to wait in a tedious
queue for a kiosk.
5
For Gen Zs, reading has suddenly become super- sexy. Experts say it’s partly down to an ever-increasing number of celebrity book clubs – pop star Dua Lipa, supermodel Kaia Gerber, above, and actress Reese Witherspoon all have their own popular versions, encouraging readers to discuss a different novel each month.
THE MODEL CAMP
SECTION
APPROVED
BY DOCTORS
WEALTH & HOLIDAYS
triggers the body to slowly shut down. Now experts have a intriguing new theory...
common pesticides and exercising too much cause motor neurone disease?
Simon’s drastic solution for his unsightly toenails Health PAGES 46-47
Our experts’ guide to slashing your inheritance tax bill Wealth PAGES 50-51
Escape the crowds on Britain’s most tranquil getaways Holidays PAGES 60-61
DEFIED THE ODDS: Stephen Hawking lived with MND for 55 years
ment – is grouped into two categories: familial, meaning it is inherited and accounting for around one in ten cases, and sporadic, where it occurs in people with no known family history. Many scientists now believe the latter cases are triggered by a complex interaction between genes, lifestyle and environmental exposures. A string of high-profile diagnoses among elite athletes, including rugby stars Rob Burrow and Lewis Moody and former England cricketer David Lawrence, has fuelled questions why healthy young men in peak physical fitness seem increasingly to be struck down.
The most famous sufferer was physicist Stephen Hawking, who was diagnosed with a form of MND in 1963, aged just 21. Doctors initially gave him only a few years to live, but he survived for more than five decades – becoming one of the world’s most recognisable scientists. Professor Ammar Al-Chalabi, of King’s College London, who set up the MND Register to identify potential environmental triggers that may interact with a person’s genes to cause the disease, believes there could be more cases linked to lifestyle factors than experts previously thought. ‘MND isn’t all genes and it isn’t all lifestyle,’ he says. ‘Roughly half your risk comes from your genes, and about half comes from how you live and what you’re exposed to, with some contribution down to ageing and biological chance. ‘We don’t yet know exactly which lifestyle factors matter, but it would be surprising if lifestyle didn’t play a significant role at all.’ P
ROFESSOR Al-Chalabi believes the challenge facing researchers is that no single risk fac- tor appears to fully explain the disease. Instead, he says MND is likely to emerge when a range of them accumulate over a lifetime in somebody already genetically sus- ceptible. As well as smoking, expo- sure to certain pesticides, pollution and, more surprisingly, extremely strenuous physical activity have all been linked to increased risk. Professor Dame Pamela Shaw, a leading MND researcher, says: ‘What’s always struck me in clinic is that most of my MND patients are slim and active. You very rarely see it in people who’ve led a really sedentary life.’ This led her to investigate a pos- sible link between exercise and MND. One study, co-authored by Professor Shaw and published in the journal EBioMedicine, found that ‘frequent strenuous exercise’ – at least six hours of intensive physical activity or 12 hours of more moderate activity a week – increased the risk of MND in those
who carried genetic variants that predisposed them to the disease. They suggested low levels of oxygen in the body during strenu- ous exercise could be leading to a process called oxidative stress in the motor neurones – this may lead to damage and eventually cause the cells to die. In separate research, Professor Shaw and her team found that in people geneti- cally predisposed to MND, those who exercised more intensely tended to develop symp- toms at a younger age. The findings echoed those of a study of competi- tors in the gruel- ling 90km (56-mile) Vasaloppet cross- country ski race. Swedish researchers found the fastest skiers, those at the very top of the performance spec- trum, were four times more likely to develop MND than the general population. But competitors who finished in the middle of the pack had a lower-than-average risk. It suggests the increased risk, if
OF MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE?
MOTOR neurone disease (MND) symptoms usually begin gradually. The most common first sign is muscle weakness in a limb – a stumble, dropping objects, or weakening grip. Clumsiness, tripping and dropping things more often are typical early complaints, sometimes with a leg dragging or foot drop from weaker ankle muscles. Studies show that a quarter of cases begin differently, with slurred speech or swallowing problems instead. In roughly one in four cases, the first symptoms affect speech and swallowing muscles, with increasingly slurred speech often
IT’S A FACT
The UK has, by some
counts, the highest
MND rates in the world
– this is thought
to be due in part
to better
surveillance.
that seems to affect athletes – I’ve never seen a couch potato with MND’
it exists, may be confined to people participating in the highest levels of physical activity. Professor Shaw believes such a risk is likely to stem from repeatedly pushing the motor system to its limits rather than from normal recrea- tional exercise. She says: ‘Most athletes will never develop MND. What our work suggests is that in a small number of people with the wrong genes, years of very intense exercise may bring the disease to the surface earlier. ‘The ultimate goal isn’t to blame exercise. It’s to understand the biology well enough that we can give sen- sible lifestyle advice and, crucially, develop ways to prevent MND in peo- ple we know are at higher risk.’ Smoking has been heavily inves- tigated as a possible trigger for MND. Some studies suggest those who have ever smoked may be 20 to 40 per cent more likely to develop it than those who have never smoked, although scientists
the earliest sign. Other early features include
muscle twitching, cramps, fatigue and
unexplained weight loss.
Progression varies between patients – some
people decline rapidly, while others deteriorate
much more slowly. Weakness spreads to other
limbs, then to speech, swallowing and breathing
muscles. Most patients need a wheelchair
within months of diagnosis.
There’s no cure, and MND is ultimately fatal,
though survival time ranges from under a year
to many years, with average life expectancy
after diagnosis typically two to five years.
stress the evidence remains mixed. Research indicates that smokers diagnosed with MND typically experience the onset of symptoms at a younger age than non-smokers. Some studies have suggested women who smoke may face a particularly elevated risk, especially after the menopause. But these studies do not pinpoint an exact number of cigarettes that increase the risk, the age at which starting smoking has the highest risk or the impact of vaping. What is known for sure is that smoking causes irreversible harm to nearly every organ in the body, primarily driven by inhaled tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide. Scientists believe tobacco smoke could contribute to MND by increasing inflammation and oxi- dative stress throughout the body, while also exposing nerve cells to potentially harmful chemicals. In addition, quitting smoking does offer clear benefits to those living with MND. Because the dis- ease affects the muscles involved in breathing, avoiding the addi- tional strain of smoking may help reduce the risk of chest infections and respiratory complications. While no specific food has been
proven to cause MND, some diets have been linked to an increased risk of cell damage and inflamma- tion. One US study found people with the highest mercury expo- sure, often through consuming large predatory fish such as swordfish and shark, were twice as likely to have MND. Experts stress this remains only a possible contributor and any increase in risk is probably small. S
WORDFISH and shark contain particularly high levels of mercury because they sit at the top of the food chain, feeding on smaller fish that accumulate the toxic metal. The NHS advises adults to eat no more than one portion of either each week, while children and pregnant women are advised to avoid them altogether. Expectant mothers are also advised to limit tuna because it contains more mercury than most other fish. A more unusual theory involves a poisonous wild mushroom known as the false morel. Interest in the fungus was heightened by research into an apparent cluster of MND cases in the French Alpine village of Montchavin in 2021. All 14 patients found to have the disease had eaten the mushrooms, while unaffected locals had not. False morels contain a toxin called gyromitrin, which is con- verted in the body into a chemical capable of damaging nerve cells. Some scientists have suggested repeated exposure could contrib- ute to MND developing years later. However, experts stress the findings do not prove cause and effect, and there is currently no solid evidence that false morel poisoning causes MND. Lack of Vitamin D has also been investigated because deficiency is common in a number of neurode- generative conditions, including MND. The vitamin plays an impor- tant role in muscle function, inflammation control and immune health, and some studies have sug-
SEVERAL high-profile rugby players,
including Rob Burrow, Doddie Weir, Ed Slater
and Lewis Moody, have been diagnosed with
MND, prompting research into whether
playing the sport could influence the risk of
developing the disease.
Research, including a prominent 2022
University of Glasgow study on former
Scottish international rugby players, indicated
a higher incidence of neurodegenerative
diseases among former athletes.
Experts believe repeated head impacts may
contribute to the increased risk seen in
contact sports, although other studies
examining elite endurance athletes suggest
factors such as prolonged strenuous exercise –
gested low levels may be linked to faster disease progression. Researchers have also explored whether geography may offer clues. Scotland has historically recorded slightly higher rates of MND than other parts of the UK, leading to suggestions that lower levels of sunlight and vitamin D production could play a role. Similar theories have been examined in northern US states, where people receive less year- round sunshine. However, experts caution that there is little evi- dence that vitamin D deficiency directly increases a person’s risk of developing MND. While maintaining healthy vita- min D levels is important for overall health, scientists have yet to establish a clear causal link with the disease. Dr Eva Feld- man, director of the ALS Centre of Excellence at the University of
Michigan, said studies have not shown that people living in north- ern regions of the US are at greater risk of MND. Another theory is that prolonged exposure to certain environmen- tal toxins and chemicals such as agricultural chemi- cals, pesticides, heavy metals and indus- trial solvents may increase the risk. Several studies found that farm- ers, agricultural workers and oth- ers who regularly handle pesticides appear to be at greater risk of developing MND than the general population. Researchers believe long-term exposure to certain insecticides, fungicides and fumigants may
or an interaction between exercise and
genetic susceptibility – may also play a role.
The exact reason remains unclear.
Despite the high-profile cases, organisations
such as the MND Association stress that
the disease remains rare, even among elite
sportspeople, and that the number of cases is
too small to draw firm conclusions about any
link with rugby.
Former players and charities, including the
My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, founded by
Scottish rugby union lock Weir – who died
in 2022 aged only 52 after a battle with
MND – continue to drive massive fundraising
and awareness efforts to better understand
the illness.
IT’S A FACT
In the United States,
MND is known as Lou
Gehrig’s disease, after
a famous baseball
player who was
diagnosed
in 1939.
play a role, although they stress the evidence shows an associa- tion rather than proving the chemicals cause the disease. The strongest evidence relates to people with years of occupa- tional exposure, such as farmers and pesticide applicators. Researchers have repeatedly linked these workers to a higher risk of MND, particu- larly after expo- sure to older pesticides that can persist in the body for years – although many have since been banned or heavily restricted. Commenting on the study, Dr Belinda Cupid, head of research at the MND Association, said:
BRAVE FIGHT: Rugby star Rob Burrow was diagnosed with MND in 2019 and died in 2024
‘The evidence that exposure to pesticides is a contributory risk factor towards getting MND is stacking up and I’m sure will be the focus of future research.’ Back in the US, Dr Feldman is currently leading an extensive 30-year study that is following thousands of workers based in northern Michigan – one of the states with the nation’s highest MND death rates – to investigate whether pollution can help explain the disease. She said the state’s automotive industry and extensive cherry farming could expose residents to heavy metals and pesticides – two of the environmental factors researchers are investigating as possible contributors to MND. However Professor Kevin Talbot, a clinician scientist with 25 years of experience in diag- nosing and managing MND and related diseases, warns against jumping to any conclusions about toxins or some new environmen- tal poison to explain the rising numbers of sufferers. ‘There’s no solid evidence that heavy metals, pesticides or other toxins cause motor neurone dis- ease,’ says Professor Talbot, who set up the MND Register with Professor Al-Chalabi. ‘If the environment is involved, it’s acting on people who are already genetically susceptible, and we need rigorous, unbiased science to prove it.’
BRUCE ADAMS
makes you eat more, not less
DRINKING water with a meal may actually make you eat more, according to a new study. To test whether drinking habits during a meal affect how much food people eat, researchers from Cornell University in New York and Penn State University in Pennsylvania combined data from two experiments involving 86 adults. The participants ate as much as they wanted of either beef chilli or chicken tikka masala along with water and were filmed so researchers could measure how much water they drank. The number of sips they took, their sip size, drinking speed and how often they alternated between bites of food and sips of water were also monitored. The study, published in the journal Appetite, found people who drank more water ate more food, not less, and people who switched more often between food and water also ate more. For every extra 100g of water participants drank, they ate 39 more grams of food, which equates to about 49 more calories. People who frequently switched between bites of food and sips of
so it doesn’t fill us up’
water ate more: each additional
switch was tied to about 4.4 more
grams of food consumed.
Researchers suspect this
‘switching’ effect works by
delaying something called
sensory-specific satiety – the way
a food’s appeal naturally fades
the longer you eat it.
Alternating with water may
reintroduce contrast that keeps
the meal appealing longer,
delaying the point at which
people stop eating.
Dr Paige Cunningham, assistant
professor of nutritional sciences
at Cornell University and the
paper’s lead author, said: ‘There’s
been this widespread advice that
if we drink water it fills us up, but
water is emptied quickly from
the stomach so it likely doesn’t fill
us up for long.
‘Instead, water may increase
how much we eat, providing
lubrication, which can speed up
eating, and preventing a dry
mouth, which can prolong
enjoyment of the food.’
The authors noted that the
relatively small scale of the study
means that the findings can’t be
applied to all meals or eating
situations, however.
Health
women are losing their
hair... fad low-iron diets
I
T’S a growing trend that I and many of my GP friends have noticed in recent years. More and more women are complaining of hair loss. And according to Google, online searches in the UK for ‘hair loss’ and ‘hair thinning’ in women have more than doubled since 2021. When these women come into my clinic, they often apologise, as if hair loss is too trivial a complaint to bring to a GP. But it’s a health problem that patients must always discuss with their family doc- tor – and can be one of the first visible signs that something in the body has gone wrong. So what’s behind this balding crisis among British women? First, it’s important to stress that hair loss is often a normal part of ageing. An estimated eight million women in the UK experience some form of hair loss. By the time they are post-menopausal, half will have some degree of female pattern hair loss – the medical term for the natural loss of hair in later life. But this wouldn’t explain why hair loss appears to be on the rise. Some experts argue that this increase is down to widespread use of the weight-loss drugs Mounjaro and Wegovy, which are now taken by 2.5million Britons – the majority of whom are women. Hair loss is a side effect of sudden weight- loss, but these drugs can’t be responsible for the sheer number of women suffering this problem. Instead, I believe that many have an often-missed deficiency: They have low iron levels. Iron is a crucial nutrient carry- ing oxygen around the body. Iron-deficient patients often expe- rience shortness of breath, heart palpitations and persistent tired- ness. But in some cases hair loss might be the only sign. It’s thought this happens because, when low in iron, the body redirects oxygen to vital organs, and away from hair folli- cles, which produce new strands.
raise awareness of stomach cancer
I WAS heartbroken to hear that Kevin Keegan had died from stomach cancer – and not just because of my Geordie roots. The England and Newcastle football legend found out too late he had the terrible disease. It was picked up only when he was in hospital following a car
WARNING SIGN: Women should always talk to their GP if they are experiencing hair loss
Iron deficiency has always been a common women’s health issue – it affects around one in ten British females because it is often trig- gered by heavy periods. But it can also be triggered by poor diet. Diets that cut out meat can leave iron running low if they aren’t carefully planned. Vegetarian and vegan diets have been on the rise in young women in recent years – and many have stopped consuming dairy, prefer- ring milk alternatives. It’s this change that could be behind this mysterious increase in female hair problems. For this rea-
accident. Stomach cancer is notoriously hard to spot. This is because many of the symptoms – the most common being difficulty swallowing, a loss of appetite, and indigestion – are often dismissed as harmless. Patients and GPs need to get better and spotting the signs.
son, any woman struggling with hair loss should always ask their GP for a ferritin blood test. It measures how much iron your body has in reserve, rather than how much is circulating in your bloodstream at the time of the test. Once diagnosed, the treatment for an iron deficiency is simple: Iron supplements, which can boost ferritin levels in a matter of weeks. However, it typically takes around three to six months of consistently rising ferritin before regrowth becomes visible. Some patients do experience side- effects on iron tablets, including
Caught early enough, stomach
cancer can be effectively treated.
But, left to fester, it is a
death sentence.
Kevin Keegan changed
English football for ever. I hope
that his death can also change
our approach to diagnosing
this cancer.
cramping, nausea and constipa- tion. But evidence suggests that taking iron every other day, rather than daily, is often easier on the stomach and just as effective. It’s important to stress that iron is far from the only cause of hair loss. It can also be one of the earliest signs of the menopause, as falling levels of the female sex hormone oestrogen can take their toll. Hormone replacement therapy, prescribed for thinning hair, often brings noticeable improvement. Oestrogen also dips during breast- feeding, which is why so many new mothers notice hair coming
WHO’S
ALWAYS
HERE FOR
YOU
answered
tunnel is so awful – what can he do?
MY Dad has been suffering for a number of years from carpal tunnel but recently the pain has been so acute it has been preventing him from sleeping. What should he do?
CARPAL tunnel can take some time to treat – but there are easy adjustments that can provide some instant pain relief. The agonising conditions affects the wrist, often just on one side. The nerves that control the hand pass through a tight band in the wrist called the carpal tunnel, which can tighten, squashing the nerves and causing pain. Daily wrist exercises provided by a physiotherapist are the most effective treatment to ease pressure on the nerves. In the short term, wearing a splint at night to keep the wrist straight can really help. This takes the pressure off the nerves and reduces pain. Splints can be bought from most pharmacies. In extreme cases, patients may be offered surgery.
out in clumps. An underactive thy- roid is another common cause. When this gland, which controls the metabolism, slows down, hair can thin alongside fatigue, consti- pation, low mood and weight gain. It’s a lifelong condition, but daily thyroxine tablets – artificial thy- roid hormones – usually restore normal hair growth quickly. Scalp conditions such as dermatitis or psoriasis can also play a part, and a GP will check for these too. There are also times when hair loss needs urgent attention. Sud- den, patchy bald spots – rather than gradual all-over thinning – should be seen quickly, as should very rapid hair loss that is accom- panied by other worrying symp- toms such as unexplained weight loss, fevers or feeling generally unwell. In rare cases, this hair loss could be due to cancer. For the vast majority of women, there is good news. Hair loss is common, almost always explaina- ble, and once the right blood test is done, it is very often fixable.
Do you have a question? Email
I
A CHEAP and commonly used medication could offer hope to Alzheimer’s disease patients, claim researchers. Lithium has long been prescribed on the NHS to treat bipolar disorder and some forms of depression. Now research indicates it could also combat dementia, which affects 982,000 people in the UK and there is no cure nor preventative treatment. Previous research has linked
blamed on hot weather, but...
T’S one of the most common complaints that GPs see – and it appears that the hot weather only makes it worse. Achy ankles affect nearly one in five over-55s according to research, making it second only to knees as Britain’s sorest joint. Yet, for many patients, the cause can be a mystery. Last week, Dr Ellie Cannon, The Mail on Sunday’s resident GP columnist, wrote how she had developed stiff ankles during the recent heatwaves. She admitted that she was unsure of the trigger, ‘as embarrassing as it is to admit as a GP’. The article prompted a flood of emails and letters from readers who said they too had experienced the same issue. One 55-year-old woman said how, in the past year, her ankles had become stiff in the morning and seemed to improve when she elevated them. Another reader, a 76-year-old man, told how he had developed ‘stiffness and unpleasant pain’ in his right ankle in recent weeks. Meanwhile an 85-year-old female reader described how her ‘very stiff’ ankle pain made her feel as if she was ‘standing in glue’. Experts say there are several potential causes of this problem. One of these, in women at least, is the menopause, which research shows can trigger joint pain. Of course, some patients may also have an undiagnosed ankle injury, such as a strain or sprain. However, some experts say there is a surprisingly likely cause: Hidden varicose veins. Most people think of varicose veins as bulging, twisted veins that can be seen beneath the skin. But experts say that is a common misconception – many of the veins responsible for symptoms are hid- den deeper under the surface and cannot be seen. So, how can you tell whether your ankle pain is being caused by the condition? Varicose veins affect one in five adults and occur when valves inside the blood vessels malfunc- tion, causing blood to pool in the veins rather than return to the heart. Research suggests that most cases are genetic. And while it is often considered a women’s health issue, studies show it is just as common among men. Crucially, experts say that achy ankles are often one of the first symptoms of varicose veins. ‘There’s a misconception that all
lithium to cognitive impairment. A study in the journal Nature found lower levels of lithium in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease. In animal models, lithium deficiency has been shown to accelerate cognitive decline and build-up of plaque in the brain, both associated with Alzheimer’s. In mice genetically engineered
patients get visible varicose veins, but for many, these are hidden,’ says Professor Mark Whiteley, a varicose vein expert at The Whiteley Clinic. ‘The condition typically starts off with stiff and painful ankles. Many patients report that the pain tends to get better when they ele- vate their feet. ‘Over time, patients might begin to notice the ankle skin is itchy or they might develop sores. Some
EVER WONDER WHY...
THE tingly, prickly sensation happens when pressure cuts off proper blood flow and nerve signalling to a body part. Sitting cross-legged too long, or leaning on your arm while asleep, squeezes the nerves that carry messages between your limbs and brain. Once that pressure is released, nerves start firing again, but erratically, sending confused
to develop Alzheimer’s, low-dose lithium treatment improved memory performance and reduced signs of brain damage. Researchers believe lithium may help protect brain cells involved in memory and thinking and preserve connections between regions of the brain. The latest findings were outlined in a perspective article published in Translational Psychiatry, in which researchers argued that low-dose lithium
patients may then get visible vari- cose veins – but others might not.’ For this reason, research shows that many patients will need to undergo a specialist scan – known as a venous duplex ultrasound – that can reveal whether the valves in the legs are working properly. However, experts say many GPs do not send their patients for these scans. This is largely due to the fact that the NHS does not cover the cost of varicose vein treat-
signals to your brain. This triggers the feeling known medically as paraesthesia. It usually clears within a minute or two. Occasional pins and needles are harmless. But if it happens frequently, lasts a long time, or comes with numbness or weakness, it is worth seeing a GP, as it could signal nerve damage, diabetes, or a vitamin deficiency.
warrants further investigation as a potential treatment for people with early Alzheimer’s disease. Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘This study adds to a growing discussion about the potential role of lithium in Alzheimer’s but it’s important to note it doesn’t show that lithium can prevent or treat dementia. ‘Some research has suggested that people with Alzheimer’s have
ment. The condition can be effec- tively treated by either burning away the broken veins – a proce- dure known as endothermal abla- tion – or blocking these blood vessels with medical foam – called foam sclerotherapy. But varicose vein patients are offered NHS treat- ment only if they are classed as being in severe pain or suffer complications. The criteria are so strict that only 20,000 operations for varicose veins are carried out on the NHS every year – for a condition that affects millions. Studies show that patients often spend as much as £3,000 per leg to have their varicose veins removed. Experts stress that ankle pain is not always varicose veins. Dr Naomi Potter, a menopause expert, says mid-life hormone changes often trigger joint pain. ‘The loss of the sex hormone oestrogen can make joints stiff
lower levels of lithium in their brains. Clinical trials in people with early Alzheimer’s disease have so far been small and there’s currently no clear evidence that it has an impact. ‘There’s no single approach that will tackle dementia and we should continue to explore all promising avenues. The only way to know which potential treatments can make a meaningful difference to people’s lives is through more research.’
and achy,’ says Dr Potter. ‘The good news is that hormone replacement therapy [the most common menopause treatment] is really effective for this problem.’ But Dr Potter adds that meno- pause patients who experience achy ankles will likely also experi- ence other common symptoms such as brain fog and sweating. Experts say that it is important to know when ankle pain is due to a muscle injury. ‘If there is damage to the ankle, you would expect to see redness or swelling,’ says Dr Potter. ‘It would likely be quite sensitive to touch too.’ But experts are convinced that many cases of achy ankles are linked to hidden varicose veins – and they urge patients to get checked for the problem. ‘This is an issue that 15 to 20 per cent of the population has but doesn’t realise it,’ adds Pro- fessor Whiteley. ‘If you have achy ankles, it’s worth asking your GP to be referred for a scan.’
IT’S A FACT
Flip-flops can also
be a cause of achy
ankles in the summer
as studies show that
the thin soles
can inflame
the joints.
Mills I tried everything to get rid of my crusty, yellow toenails – the only solution was to have them prised off with pliers... I just hope they grow back
P
REHENSILE. I had to sneak away to the bathroom and look up the word on my phone’s Google app, suspecting that it wasn’t going to be altogether complimentary. It was during a work trip to Croatia when a colleague pointed to my Birkenstock-clad feet and said, out lout, to the whole group – as if revealing an extra gruesome detail at a fairground freak show: ‘Look everyone! Simon’s big toenails are prehensile!’ All eyes were now on my feet, particularly my yellow-tipped halluxes. ‘Ew,’ was the collective response. ‘Disgusting,’ decided my colleague’s wife. ‘Why don’t you do something about them?’ Prehensile, by the way, means an animal’s appendage adapted for grasping or holding objects. My colleague was clearly suggest- ing my toenails looked less human than animal – as though they might latch on to the edge of a tree branch. I was crushed. I went back to my room in shame, swapped my sandals for loafers and, for the remaining days never went bare-toed in public again. Summer is a cruel time for middle-aged men. Their flabby dad-bods are unclothed, skin gets burned and blotchy. And, for some of us, via the merciless exposure of flip-flops, sliders and sandals, ugly feet with fungally infested toenails are on show for everyone at the easyJet check-in to look at and comment on. In previous Augusts, I’ve been called ‘Shrek toes’ and ‘Homer Simpson feet’, my orangey-yellow nails likened to ‘crumbly cornflakes’. Mostly by my family. When they were young, my daughters went to the beach with a father whose callused, Hobbit-ish hooves were tipped with something that resembled blackened, flaky slag. Sometimes, often on holidays – to their absolute squealing horror – a big toenail might decide to detach itself from its digital footing altogether, leaving a scary, slough of skin underneath that looked like discarded alien pupae. This went on for years – 30 years at least. I developed a fungal infection in my toes after they’d been repeatedly stamped on during weekly five-a-side football. A habit of going sockless, during the summer, in stinky leather shoes, didn’t help either. After abuse in town and on the field, my toenails would first go black, then yellow, then eventually fall off. Usually in the bath. Ew, indeed. Every time this happened I’d think: ‘Well at least they’ll grow back healthy and pink now.’ But they never did. They just returned thicker, coarser, more crumbly and jaundiced than ever. Cutting them was like trying to carve marble with kitchen scis- sors. Robust German-engineered nail clippers would literally fall apart in my hands. Perhaps the lady in Croatia was right; after three decades of disgusting other people around the hotel swimming pool, after failing with expensive, wildly promising topical treatments and covering up my brackish shame with flesh-coloured nail varnish (Superdrug does a decent one for
£1.99) maybe I should, finally, actually do something about my prehensile toenails. But wouldn’t it hurt? I was, understandably, squeamish about the idea of anything invasively surgical. With my boy’s own memory banks embedded with grisly stories about WWII toenail extraction as the only cure, I’d been inspired by news of an exciting new and painless solution available at Marion Yau’s Harley Medical Foot and Laser Clinic. Or, as it says on the brass plate by the door ‘Miss Foot Fixer’. Deploying the power of light radiation, Yau’s Lunula Laser machine both kills off fungus and accelerates sprouting of healthy nail tissue. No torturous, nail- pulling necessary. Clearer nails
TOE fungus – medically known as
onychomycosis – thrives in warm, damp
environments, which is why prevention is
mostly about keeping feet dry and avoiding
contact with contaminated surfaces.
Public showers, gym changing rooms and
swimming-pool edges are prime breeding
grounds, which is why experts advise
wearing flip-flops or shower shoes rather
than going barefoot.
They also suggest that people should dry
their feet thoroughly after washing, paying
particular attention to the spaces between
toes, where moisture lingers and fungus
takes hold.
They should also choose breathable footwear,
ideally leather or mesh, and rotate their shoes
gradually emerge over the fol-
lowing months. So, I removed my
socks and shoes, hopped up on to
the examination bed and let Miss
Yau take a good look.
How bad were they?
On a scale of one to
ten – ten being the
grimmest – my
hardened Cheer-
ios were marked
at a five. ‘I’ve
seen a lot worse,’
she confirmed.
Yes, the big
t o e n a i l s
h a d
severe
fungal
infections. I also had
trauma-induced discol-
ouration and onycholysis –
the separation of the nail plate
from the underlying nail bed.
IT’S A FACT
Less than a third
of toenail fungus
patients have sought
medical help for the
condition, according
to research.
so that each pair has at least a day to dry out
fully between wears.
Research also shows that it is crucial to keep
toenails trimmed straight across and not too
short, as damaged skin around the nail gives
fungus an easy entry point.
Experts advise that people should not share
nail clippers, files or socks with others, and
check their feet regularly for early signs:
discolouration, thickening or a crumbly nail
edge. Anyone prone to sweaty feet should
consider using antifungal foot powder or
spray, which can help keep things dry.
Studies show that catching infections early
makes them far easier to treat, so seeing a
pharmacist or GP at the first sign of nail
changes can make a big difference.
Laser treatments alone weren’t going to fix this. To have any chance of healing the scar tissue that extended to the nail bed, of achieving new and un-yellowed keratin growth, she was going to begin by… yep, pulling my toenails off. I’d actually seen her do this before. On her Amazon Prime TV show The Bad Foot Clinic, I’d watched Miss Yau and her GP husband Kenny take care of all types of podiatric complaints – warts, corns, webbed toes, bunions and verrucas. But the
episode where a forceps-armed
Marion removed all ten yellow
toenails from the feet of a
fungally infected soldier – close-
ups and all – was the one that
made me slap down my laptop lid
in horror.
Perhaps, I should get a second
opinion? ‘It probably developed
from an athlete’s foot,’ Steven
Thomas, a Harley Street podia-
trist, suggested without seeing
my Tolkien-esque trotters.
Athlete’s foot (medically termed
tinea pedis) being a highly
contagious fungal infection of the
skin. The itchy, stinging and burn-
ing rash commonly starts between
the toes, thriving in warm, damp
environments, such as sweaty
shoes and public showers.
Sure enough, in my teens and
20s I did suffer the nastiness of
Athlete’s foot, so itchy and
irritable I would scratch the skin
between my toes to bleeding
… then put my dirty, sweaty
sneakers back on and let the raw
and ruddy mess fester.
Repeated trauma to the toenails
– from running, football or hiking,
for example – can damage the
nail and make it easier for the
same fungi that cause athlete’s
foot to invade.
A n y o n e
w h o
p l a y s
a
trauma-prone sport, explains Mr
Thomas, or spends long periods of
time standing up – footballers,
chefs, the military etc – is at risk.
If you catch a fungal toenail
infection early, topical treatments
– usually paint-on solutions – can
be successful. Prescription lac-
quers such as ciclopirox work
best, but they need to be applied
diligently for months while a
NAILING THE PROBLEM: Simon with Annabel Croft and (inset) his toes pre- and post-treatment
healthy nail grows out. ‘But as the nail gets more deeply infected and the nail thickens, the topical treatment will be unable to get underneath the whole nail or reach the nail bed,’ he warns. More effective is oral medica- tion; terbinafine (commonly prescribed as Lamisil) is a potent prescription antifungal to treat severe onychomycosis. The standard dose is a single 250mg tablet taken daily for six weeks to treat fingernail infections or 12 weeks for toenail infections. Before prescribing terbinafine, doctors will often send nail clippings for testing to confirm the infection is fungal and arrange a blood test to check
liver function, as the drug can – in rare cases – affect the liver. Turns out, I was way beyond the oral medication stage. So, after a fortnight of preparation, applying various fungal washes and terbinafine and Daktarin cream to check for any allergies or side-effects, this middle-aged man put on his big-boy pants and lay back on Marion Yau’s bed. A few pricks of local anaesthetic later and she was all tooled up: forceps (pliers), an ‘ elevator’ implement and a surgical Scrive- ner blade. I was suddenly starring in my own Master And Commander nightmare. Actually, it really wasn’t so bad. Mainly because I refused to
watch. Even when Miss Yau started scraping off the scar tissue and the debris from the nail bed, it didn’t hurt much. Maybe a few stabs of discom- fort when the surgical scraping dug extra deep. And I did wince when she kindly offered me the removed toenails as a souvenir. (I politely declined.) Huge, cartoon-comical dressings were applied to each toe. Obediently, I dosed up with painkillers, changed into Velcro-strapped sandals ( rejecting the recommended Crocs on stylistic grounds) and was sent home in an Uber. Driving myself would be technically illegal, public
IT’S A FACT
Toenail fungus
becomes more
common in old age.
A fifth of over-60s
and half of over-70s
are affected.
transport treacherous, and I’d
have looked pretty daft pedalling
a Lime bike. If I curled up my
toes, I could still walk, albeit like
a duck.
Was it painful after the aesthetic
wore off? The odd twinge. At
night I doubled my dope dose,
and slept through. Then, woke up
and applied fresh bandages.
‘Now you have to be a little
obsessive about cleanliness,’
Miss Yau warned.
For the next few months,
washing, cleaning and re-dress-
ing my toe – along with fresh
socks and clean shoes – would
become part of my daily routine,
as habitual as brushing my teeth.
I’d also return for four follow-up
appointments, during which my
toes would be treated with the
Lunula Laser to help prevent the
infection from returning and to
encourage healthy nail growth.
I’d been wise to take action,
Miss Yau tells me at our next
meeting. ‘Infection anywhere in
your body is bad. Leave your
infected toenails too long
and a secondary bacte-
rial infection can
develop,’ she says.
‘A
nail
that
becomes thickened
can then ulcerate
underneath the
nail bed, which is
like
pressure
ulcers on a diabetic,
and a risk of more
serious complications.’
As we get older, we
become more susceptible to
infection, she continues, acknowl-
edging my age (62) as a classic
demographic for my condition.
‘We get drier skin, drier hair,
drier and weakened nails. We
take a lot more antibiotics, and
that makes us susceptible also.
‘I have women come in and tell
me that they haven’t shown their
husband their feet for years,’ she
adds. (Fungal toenails affect
men and women equally.)
Fungal infection in toenails can
spread to other extremities. On
occasions, Miss Yau has had to
operate on fingernails that have
become badly infected by feet.
Fearing for my own man-sized
manicure, I sat on my hands as
she said this, and swiftly we
moved into the laser room.
The Lunula Laser uses two
specific wavelengths of light,
violet and red, to kill off the fun-
gal infection while stimulating
nail growth, all without damag-
ing the surrounding tissue.
You pop your feet into a light
box and let the low-level laser
beams do their magic. Then,
more washing, more fungal
cream and new dressings.
Still my toes looked a bit sad,
pink and barren with stubborn
blood stains where the scraping
had occurred. More Ew.
Then, suddenly, after six or
eight weeks... a nail! A waxing
crescent in pale pink. Slightly
translucent. Healthy looking.
Definitely not black or yellow.
After 30 years of nicotine-toned,
toughened flakiness, of poolside
embarrassment and familial
shame, I was rapidly developing
almost-presentable, Birken-
stock-worthy, post-hensile toes.
Summer 2027 here we come!
coffee could speed up ageing
DRINKING filtered coffee rather than instant could slow down ageing, a new study suggests. Researchers found that people who drank filtered coffee tended to show lower levels of biological age acceleration, while those who drank instant coffee showed higher levels. The associations became stronger as consumption increased, with the largest effects seen among people drinking more than three cups a day. The researchers wrote: ‘Filtered coffee was associated with decelerated biological ageing. ‘In contrast, instant coffee was linked to an accelerated risk of biological ageing.’ They suggested the differences may be linked to the way coffee is processed and its effects on inflammation and metabolism. Filtered coffee may contain higher levels of compounds such as chlorogenic acid, which has been linked to anti-inflammatory and metabolic benefits. Differences in compounds within the coffee and processing methods between instant and filtered could also
men and smokers
help explain the contrasting findings. The researchers analysed health data from 49,414 adults with an average age of 56 and compared coffee- drinking habits to DNA changes linked to biological ageing. The link between instant coffee and faster biological ageing was most noticeable among older participants, men and current smokers. Instant coffee was only associated with an increase in biological age by around 0.1 to 0.2 years, the study’s authors noted, so had limited impact on the individual level. However, the finding could have wider public health implications across large populations. Writing in the journal npj Science of Food, the authors stressed that the observational research could not prove that coffee type directly causes changes in ageing. They also noted that coffee-drinking habits are often linked to wider lifestyle and socioeconomic factors, meaning other influences may affect the findings. Britons drink about 98 million cups of coffee a day, meaning the average coffee drinker has between two and three cups daily, according to the British Coffee Association. About 80 per cent of UK households buy instant coffee, with people aged over 65 accounting for a significant share of demand.
Health
cancer 12 years ago... then it came back. The only sign? Tiredness
TRAINING and working as a nurse in London for nearly eight years, John Wilson thought he had seen his fair share of strange lumps and moles. But it wasn’t until, in 2014, his GP pointed out an oddly-shaped mark on his back that the then 30-year- old realised he had missed a key red flag for skin cancer on himself. John’s doctor took a small shav- ing of the mole – large, black, with jagged edges and hidden just under his right armpit – and tested it on the spot. By the next day, he had a diagnosis: Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The disease was in the earliest stages, and, thankfully, John’s doctors removed it that day. But the experience totally changed his attitude towards his future. ‘It was a massive shock to get a diagnosis like that – and I was so grateful to that GP for noticing it,’ said John. ‘After the cancer was removed, I made the decision to just get out and live my life.’ Over the next decade, John worked as a nurse across the world – treating disad- vantaged communities across Australia and Asia, as well as sail- ing the Atlantic. Then, this year, in January, just weeks after moving back to London, John found himself in hospital again, this time with a suspected kidney stone. But when John’s doctors looked at the CT scan to confirm the diag- nosis, they also found what looked like a tumour in his liver. After more scans, John and his partner Felicia were given devastating news. His cancer had returned – this time spreading to his lungs, liver, kidney and abdominal wall. John was stunned. He had no new skin changes and felt completely fine – other than being more tired than usual, which he put down to the stresses of the move. ‘It was like a sledgehammer to the face,’ said John, but he added: ‘I was insanely lucky to have had that kidney stone, or I could have gone on for months, or even years, more without knowing. ‘I was a nurse and didn’t recog- nise the symptoms or signs of skin cancer, either time. Members of the public without medical train- ing have even less of a shot. We need better awareness around the signs of melanoma.’ Diagnoses of skin cancer have
@BarneyCalman @EnnalsEthan @Dr_Ellie @MeikeLeonard @_Lukechafer
MISSION: John Wilson wants to raise awareness of skin cancer
climbed significantly in Britain over the past decade, with cases of melanoma rising by almost a third. Today, there are around 21,000 new cases of melanoma every year and nearly 2,300 deaths – making it one of the most common cancers in the country. The main symptom is any new or changing growth. This can include moles that change in size, shape or colour, or that develop jagged, irregular bor- ders. Skin cancers can also look like persistent sores that bleed,
...between atopic dermatitis and seborrheic dermatitis? WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE...
Atopic dermatitis, known as eczema, is a skin condition that causes inflamed and intensely itchy skin. It is caused by a combination of genetics, an impaired skin barrier and a hyperactive immune system. It is treated with emollients, anti-inflammatory creams and phototherapy if the
itch and crust, or unusual waxy, scaly bumps. Nine out of ten cases are considered avoidable, with exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun – or sunbeds – being the leading cause of the disease. And the condition is more com- mon in men than women – with cancers tending to appear on the torso or neck of the former, and lower limbs of the latter. Experts say that skyrocketing cases are likely to be due to a combination of factors, includ- ing an ageing population and
condition is severe. Seborrheic dermatitis causes itchy, inflamed skin and greasy, yellowish-white scales on oily areas like the scalp, eyebrows and ears. Treatment relies on medicated shampoos and prescription or over-the- counter anti-inflammatory and antifungal topicals.
improved diagnostics, as well as the increasing popularity and affordability of foreign holidays and outdoor sunbathing. Yet, despite widespread alarm over the rise in skin cancer, many Britons are still unaware of the risks and signs of the disease. A survey published earlier this year by charity Melanoma Focus revealed that one in nine British adults have deliberately burnt their skin – putting them at a heightened risk of melanoma. The survey of more than 3,000 adults in the UK found that an astonishing one in three adults also admitted to never using sunscreen. Health Service advice is to always use suncream with an SPF of at least 30, applying six to eight teaspoons to the entire body every two hours – and always after swim- ming, sweating or towelling dry. Most melanomas are spotted because they appear as a new mole, or a change in an existing one – usually in areas exposed to the sun, says Dr Christopher Row- land Payne, consultant dermatolo- gist at The London Clinic. Caught early, melanoma is almost always curable – but it becomes far harder to treat over time. Signs that the cancer has spread can be wide ranging – and depend on the organ or organs affected – but common symptoms can include hard lumps under the skin, swollen lymph nodes, persistent fatigue and unexplained weight loss. The chance of a stage 1 mela- noma that has been removed recurring is generally low. John believes he was simply unlucky. Anyone who has had cancer who notices a change in their energy levels, weight or any new lumps and bumps should see their GP about it, advises Dr Rowland Payne. But the best way to avoid skin cancer, he advises, is to limit sun exposure in the first place. Now having an immune-boosting treatment, John says his diagnosis has once again given him a new sense of what he wants to do next. Studying for a qualification in dermatology, he hopes to one day train others to spot signs of skin cancer and give free mole checks through his charity Spot It Early. ‘I want to use what I’ve learned, and what I’m going through, to make a difference for others,’ he said. ‘The difference between early and late can be everything. I know that better than anyone.’ ÷John is raising money for his charity on GoFundMe at www. gofundme.com/f/nurseskincancer
swims can ease chronic backache
SWIMMING could be an effective treatment for chronic back pain, research has found. More than 10million Britons are estimated to suffer back pain each year, with lower back pain the leading cause of disability. Treatments range from physiotherapy to anti- inflammatory pills. But research shows up to nine in ten chronic back pain patients see little relief from non-surgical therapies. Now researchers from the Spinal Pain Research Centre at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, say they may have found a better way to relieve back pain – swimming. They created two groups from 76 patients aged 26 to 74 who had suffered lower back pain for at least three months. One set were given an eight- week swimming programme – doing laps for three 30-to-45 minute sessions a week – as well as four physiotherapy sessions. The other group had
be painful out of water’
physiotherapy but no swimming – instead continuing with their usual treatment and activity. After eight weeks, back pain lessened by about 50 per cent in the swimming group, said lead researcher Deborah Wareham. The benefits of regular swimming lasted at six-month, and yearly, follow ups – though the differences between the two groups reduced over time. Guidelines worldwide recommend exercise as a first- line treatment for chronic low back pain but only some types, such as pilates, have been clinically evaluated. ‘The argument for swimming in back pain is logical but it was important to test this,’ said Professor Mark Hancock, co-director of the Spinal Pain Research Centre. ‘Swimming can improve range of motion, strength and general aerobic capacity and the buoyancy of water can help people engage with movements that might otherwise be painful. ‘Patients told us swimming built their confidence to start exercising and engage with other physical activities – some continued to swim after the programme, others transitioned to other forms of exercise.’
Personal Finance
S
OARING numbers of bereaved families are being hit with inheritance tax bills – but the picture is about to get a whole lot worse. Thousands of estates that wouldn’t have attracted a bill in the past will be trapped in the inheritance tax net from April next year, when pensions start to be included in estates for tax calculations. It means more families will be dragged into paying death duty at a flat rate of 40 per cent. Further changes could be afoot if new Prime Minister Andy Burnham goes ahead with plans he has previously mooted to introduce an estate tax to cover the cost of providing free social care. Such a tax could be charged at 10 per cent on all estates on death. It is not known whether this would replace inher- itance tax or supplement it. However, it is unlikely that a Government that has expressed an intention to raise tax on wealth would cut the overall take. And social care costs more than four times the amount raised by inheritance tax, so to cover the cost would require more – not less – in taxes. Families paid £8.4 billion in inheritance tax in 2024-25. But the total cost of adult social care was £34.5 billion in England alone – and it is rising by 8 per cent a year. It is impossible to second guess any changes Burnham will make to the system. But families need to be poised to act when the changes are announced. And there are steps you can take now to plan for the changes that are already locked in, ranging from the straightforward to the more advanced. We asked experts for their ultimate inheritance tax to-do lists – what you should prioritise to slash your family’s bill. Heather Rogers, founder of Aston Accountancy and tax columnist at the Mail’s finance website This is Money, says: ‘The many changes in gov- ernment over the past few years and continual changes in priorities, make families nervous about long-term decision making. But don’t leave inheritance tax planning too late. Take advice early, putting your own needs first.’ For those who think their estate may attract a large bill, or have affairs that are less than straight- forward, a good financial adviser can help get everything in line. 1. WORK OUT IF YOU’LL BE HIT BY INHERITANCE TAX
YOU shouldn’t lose sleep, let alone start working on elaborate avoid- ance tactics, unless you are sure you are rich enough for inher- itance tax to become a problem. Individuals can pass on up to £325,000 after death free of inher- itance tax – the ‘nil-rate band’. Spouses or civil partners – or the surviving partner – can hand over a combined £650,000. Inheritance tax is levied at 40 per cent on any- thing above this. However, if you are passing on your home to direct descendants, such as children or grandchildren, your allowance rises to £500,000, or £1 million for a couple – this is called the residence nil-rate band. To work out if your estate could exceed these thresholds, add up the value of all of your assets: property, savings and investments. Even bearing in mind that your assets are likely to fall in value as you spend them in retirement, Kam Singh, financial adviser at Mattioli Woods, says: ‘Many peo- ple are surprised to discover their estate is larger than they thought, especially homeowners who bought decades ago and have seen property values rise significantly.’ Remember that any money remaining in pension pots will be included in your total from April.
Andy Burnham, our experts reveal...
Your definitive
11-step plan
to protect your
loved ones from
inheritance tax
need to base your needs not just on your current expenditure, but also bills you may face in the future, for example if you need care, which can be substantial. The best way to do this is by a process called cashflow modelling, where you look at all of your regu- lar outgoings then add upcoming costs, and forecast how much you are likely to need. A good place to start is looking through your bank statements to work out what’s coming in and going out. If you are not yet retired, think about how your costs will change after you stop work, or have paid off a mortgage. ‘Identify how much money you need yourself and therefore how much you can afford to increase your spending by, or give away,’ says Ian Dyall, head of estate plan- ning at Evelyn Partners. A finan- 3. REVIEW YOUR WILL OR MAKE ONE
That will mean your beneficiaries could face a ‘double tax’ trap. This is because when someone aged over 75 dies their beneficiar- ies also have to pay their own nor- mal income tax rate of 20, 40 or 45 per cent on withdrawals from an inherited pension. For a higher rate taxpayer this represents a 64 per cent tax rate – 40 per cent is taken in inheritance tax and the remainder is then taxed at 40 per cent again.
THIS is a step everyone should take whether or not they are worried about inheritance tax. It is the only way to ensure your wealth is passed on to the people you intend. Your wishes must take priority, but there are ways of passing on wealth that would reduce your bill. For example, spouses and civil partners can leave each other assets free of inheritance tax but children and others – including lifelong partners who have not tied the knot – are liable. So married
Jefferies
PENSIONS & INVESTING EDITOR
AFFORD TO GIVE AWAY
YOU can give away as much as you like free of inheritance tax so long as you live for seven years after making the gifts. That means that if you start giv- ing early you can reduce your inheritance tax liability. However, you mustn’t risk run- ning out of money later in life. You
couples may choose to leave wealth to each other tax-free, then pass what remains to their children, rather than giving it to children in the first place. Ian Dyall says his firm Evelyn Partners dealt with an unmarried couple with children who’d been together for decades when one got a terminal illness. The surviving partner would have been forced to sell their home to meet a huge inher- itance tax bill, so they became civil partners.
cial adviser can help to create a detailed cashflow plan to show how what you have will change over time, what you can spend, and whether it will last. Charlotte Ransom, head of Netwealth, says one of the biggest mistakes people make is treating inheritance tax planning as a tax exercise, rather than a financial planning one. She says: ‘Cashflow modelling can help establish what can realistically be gifted, spent or invested without compromising your future security.’ 4. CHECK WHO GETS YOUR PENSION OR BENEFITS
REMEMBER to factor in the changes to the treatment of pen- sions. From April next year, you will risk a tax bill if you leave a pension or death benefits to any- one other than your spouse or civil partner. You may wish to contact your schemes ahead of the change to alter your nominated beneficiaries. Ransom says: ‘Even a well-de- signed inheritance tax strategy can be undermined by an outdated will or pension nomination. Ensure your wishes are documented.’ 5. CREATE A FOLDER THAT RELATIVES CAN ACCESS
you own and how to access accounts can be an administrative boon for grieving relatives. ‘Most people have moved to elec- tronic statements, which would be inaccessible to their executors. And some investments, such as bitcoin, are entirely virtual,’ says Dyall. ‘If you have a financial adviser, providing a contact num- ber for them can be valuable.’ 6. PLAN HOW TO PAY ANY INHERITANCE TAX BILL
money@mailonsunday.co.uk INHERITANCE TAX 4-PAGE SPECIAL
is owed and hand over any money due to the taxman. Crucially, the bill must be paid upfront by the executor or administrator when they haven’t yet got access to the assets in the estate via probate – and that won’t be granted without HMRC’s sign-off that inheritance tax has been sorted. If the bill is paid late, interest is charged on the unpaid tax – 4 per cent plus the Bank of England base rate, currently 3.75 per cent. So it is now 7.75 per cent a year. It is common for beneficiaries not to have the ready cash to cover the tax. The usual remedies are borrowing to meet the bill, paying it in instalments – though this is
subject to interest at the rate above – or using cash in the deceased person’s bank accounts, savings and investments to pay HMRC direct. However, if you plan in advance, you can get life assurance and put it in trust so it isn’t in the estate for inheritance tax purposes, and your beneficiaries can use the cash to pay the bill (more on this later). 7. CONSIDER THESE QUICK INHERITANCE TAX WINS
TITLE OF THE YEAR
in your estate so can be stung for inheritance tax. Putting it into trust so that it is out of your estate is quite straight- forward. Phone your provider and ask about the process, which typi- cally involves filling in a form.
B) CONSIDER deeds of variation: If you receive an inheritance that you are wealthy enough not to need, this is a way to avoid raising your own inheritance tax liability. You can use a deed of variation to pass on an inheritance, in part or outright, to the next generation. Say, for example, you already have wealth that would exceed your inheritance tax allowances and you inherit a gift of £100,000 from your parents, which is liable for inheritance tax. If you kept the gift you would receive £60,000 after tax. If it then formed part of your estate and you passed it on to your children, it would be taxed again at 40 per cent, leaving them just £36,000. However, if you used a deed of variation to pass the £100,000 directly from your parents to your children, inheritance tax would only be charged once, so they would receive £60,000. A gift using deed of variation is effective immediately, so it is not dependent on you surviving for seven years to be free of inheritance tax. There is a two-year deadline to get a deed of variation after a death. 8. WORK OUT A TIMELINE FOR YOUR GIFTING
SPENDING is by far the easiest way to reduce your estate. You’ve earned it, so why not enjoy it? However, many people want to make use of annual allowances to make gifts so there is no risk of a later inheritance tax bill – even if they die within seven years of making them. You can give £3,000 a year, plus make unlimited small gifts of up to £250 free from inheritance tax. Wedding gift limits are up to £5,000 to a child, £2,500 to a grand- child or great-grandchild, and £1,000 to anyone else. You can also make gifts of any size free of inheritance tax so long as you make them regularly from your income – rather than capital – and they don’t affect your own standard of living. This is called the ‘gifts made as part of normal expenditure out of income’ rule. Before taking advan- tage of it, check the section on the IHT403 form for what information will be required as proof you could live without the money to make sure the gifts are eligible. When making gifts it is impor- tant to keep a simple record of who received what and when. Singh says: ‘One client, a retired teacher in her early 70s, had been making ad hoc transfers to vari- ous family members for years. ‘The seven-year clock had been running on all of it, and bank state- ments would ultimately have evi- denced the gifts. ‘But she had paid different amounts to different people at dif-
ferent times, with no record of intent or categorisation. For any executor trying to piece it together, it would have been a sig- nificant administrative headache.’ 9. CONSIDER SETTING UP A TRUST... WITH ADVICE
SETTING up a trust is a popular way to beat inheritance tax, but is no catch-all inheritance tax dodge. Trusts allow you to set aside money, property or investments for someone else after you die. If you choose the right trust, you can still exert control over how the money might be used. But you usually cannot continue to benefit yourself from what has gone into it, then still expect your benefi- ciaries to avoid inheritance tax. There are many different kinds of trust, not to mention tax charges to consider. So, this is a compli- cated area and advice is essential. Rogers says: ‘If you are planning to set up a trust make sure you understand what it will achieve and all the tax implications as well as reporting implications. ‘Beware of misselling with trusts – always use a solicitor, specialist accountant or a financial planner.’ 10. USE SPECIAL SHARES AND INVESTMENTS
THERE are some types of invest- ment that offer inheritance tax incentives. They need only be con- sidered if you are likely to exceed your allowances. For example, to encourage investment in smaller business ventures, the Government gives people protection from inher- itance tax if they hold shares in firms with business property relief status for at least two years. The relief is 50 per cent for des- ignated shares, which means an effective inheritance tax rate of 20 per cent. But the investments are at the adventurous – and therefore riskiest – end of the spectrum. They are only considered a suit- able inheritance planning tool for wealthy people who are either experienced investors themselves or can afford high-end financial advice, not the modestly well-off who can’t afford to risk a lot of their investment pot in this sector. 11. TAKE OUT A LIFE ASSURANCE POLICY
THIS is a policy that pays out a pot of money on your death. If you put the policy into trust, it falls out of your estate for inheritance tax. You could take out a policy that pays the amount of inheritance tax you expect your estate to attract on your death, as explained above, to make it easier for them to pay the inheritance tax bill. ‘A whole-of-life policy written in trust won’t reduce the inheritance tax bill, but it funds it,’ says Singh. ‘The cost of cover will depend on the level required, your age, and your health at the time of applica- tion, but it remains a consistently underused and practical solution.’ money@mailonsunday.co.uk
W
HO wouldn’t want a risk-free income in retirement, that you are guaranteed to receive every month regard- less of what turbulence hits the economy and stock market. It’s no wonder, then, that annuities have seen a resurgence. These are products where you use some or all of your pension savings to buy an income for life. Despite their appeal, many retirees still shy away from annuities because they are a huge commitment – once you’ve locked in to one you can’t change your mind and with some annuities your income dies with you so you may not get good value if you don’t live as long as expected. However, the little-known option of a fixed-term annuity – which lasts for five or ten years – could provide a middle ground. Plus, it could potentially net you a guaran- teed rate of 7.5 per cent, with most of your money back in five years. A retiree buying a top-rate five-year fixed term annuity with £100,000 could get an annual income of £7,510 and £85,561 back at maturity, according to pension website the Annuity Project. Alternatively, you could buy one that pays £5,050 a year for five years – and pays you back your full £100,000 at maturity. This is well ahead of the ‘4 per cent rule’,
which is the amount pension inves- tors are often told they can safely afford to draw from their pot each year, to ensure they don’t run out of cash in retirement. It also beats the rate on the best five-year fixed rate savings bonds on the market, with current best buy, Close Brothers, paying 4.92 per cent. ‘It’s a good halfway house between an annuity for life and income drawdown which is more volatile,’ says Billy Burrows, founder of the Annuity Project and a financial adviser at Eadon & Co. He adds that you can opt to take no income and instead go for the maximum maturity value. With this strategy, you could annuitise £100,000 and get a guaranteed £128,641 back five years later. ‘This strategy can help retirees who don’t need the income, but don’t want to leave large sums in the stock market where its value could fall,’ he says. In contrast with a lifetime annu- ity, a fixed-term annuity typically
a guaranteed 7% on your savings
thousands off your inheritance tax bill
pays a guaranteed income for a set
period, usually five to 10 years. At
the end of the term, you’ll get a
lump sum back – referred to as a
guaranteed maturity amount or
value – giving you the freedom to
decide what to do next.
You choose the term and level of
income you receive – the more you
take, the lower the final payout.
Adam Vanstone, a chartered
financial planner at adviser
Chester Rose, says: ‘That maturity
amount is then yours to use as
you wish: another fixed-term
annuity, drawdown, a lifetime
annuity or cash.’
If you die before the end of a
fixed-term annuity, your benefi-
ciaries get the remaining funds –
either with ongoing payments
followed by the agreed final pay-
ment or as a lump sum.
There are scenarios where advis-
ers say a fixed-term annuity can
be particularly helpful.
Louise Bowman, a chartered
financial planner at Shackleton
Advisers, says: ‘It may be used by
someone who has recently retired
and needs a reliable income until
other retirement benefits, such as
a pension or state pension, begin to
pay out.’
Vanstone says the impending
inheritance tax changes have
increased the appeal of annuities.
From April 2027 pensions will
become subject to inheritance tax.
Fixed-term annuities create a
way for people to get their retire-
ment savings out of HMRC’s
reach. You can spend the income
or give it away.
Gifts made in this way can fall
outside the inheritance tax net
immediately if you make them
regularly and they don’t affect
your living standard.
A retiree in rude health may also
choose a fixed-term annuity now
and buy a lifetime annuity later,
when their health might have
deteriorated, making them eligi-
ble for a higher income. But fixed- term annuities are not a golden bullet. If you opt to take a high income, you will get back less than the lump sum you put in. Burrows warns that plans to take out a fixed-term annuity and then buy another one at the end of the term may come a cropper if rates
have fallen significantly by then. And while a fixed-term annuity is more flexible than a lifetime one, it’s still less adaptable than draw- down. You won’t, for example, be able to flex your income to control your tax bill or adapt to changes in your spending. money@mailonsunday.co.uk
Y
ANIMAL MAGIC: A leopard seal pops up to greet Caroline in South Orkney Islands as penguins waddle behind BIG ADVENTURE: Caroline spent 12 days on expedition ship
OU’VE worked hard and made sacrifices throughout your life. Now it’s time to enjoy your time and put yourself before your chil- dren or other dependants. So says Caroline Tapken who is semi-retired after a 40-year career in hos- pitality, travel marketing and PR that took her worldwide. Her attitude is that money should be enjoyed while she is still healthy and active enough to do the things she wants. ‘Travelling was always high on my list of things to prioritise when I stopped full- time work – and I’m doing it early in retirement while still fit and active. I’m not extravagant on day-to-day things – I would rather put that money into travel and experiences. What’s the money for, if it’s not for enjoying?’ she says. Caroline, 65, who lives in Uxbridge, west London, saw her retirement plans take an unexpected turn when she divorced in 2017 after 25 years of marriage. She had planned to retire to Thailand with her ex-husband, where they were living at the time, running a guest house. But after the separation, she decided that returning to the UK made sense because it removed the complica- tions of visas, work permits and healthcare costs. Caroline, who has a daughter aged 30 and a son of 28 living in the UK, says she’s now living life to the full – travelling whenever she can, while fitting it around her work as a consultant to expats. She says she’s not saving money simply so her children can inherit it after she dies. She would rather enjoy experiences now and help her children while she is alive. ‘I think a lot of people feel guilty spending their own money because they’re concerned about passing it on and making sure their children are looked after in the future,’ she says. ‘My view is that you’ve worked hard for your money, so you should enjoy it. If the children have expectations, then maybe there needs to be a conversation there. ‘But don’t let inheritance plan- ning hold you back from doing what you want to do. You’ve put them first all your life. Now’s the time to put yourself first.’ Caroline’s recent holiday was a trip to Antarctica with a female friend. The total cost was £18,000 each, which Caroline describes as the price of a decent car. However, she has no regrets. The trip lasted nearly three weeks. They spent a couple of days in Buenos Aires, flew to Ushuaia in Argentina, then spent 12 days on a
kids’ inheritance on luxury holidays with friends. It’s my money, I’ll enjoy it!
GLOBETROTTER: Caroline Tapken has been on several Caribbean trips
small expedition ship around Ant- arctica where they saw several species of penguins and got within touching distance of whales. They then spent a couple of days in Uru- guay before flying home. The expedition ship had about 128 passengers, so it felt personal as you got to know the others on board. Caroline and her friend, aged 69, shared a twin cabin. She says expedition ships do not generally have solo cabins, and solo rates can be very high, so travelling with a friend helped with cost and companionship. ‘The trip was out of this world and abso- lutely worth the money,’ she says.
‘It was just so surreal to be that close in nature.’ Caroline and the same friend also travelled on the tall ship Royal Clipper around the Carib- bean last year where they started in Barbados and sailed through the Leeward Islands. They’re now considering another Royal Clipper trip, possibly start- ing from Costa Rica or a transat- lantic crossing from Europe to the Caribbean. The total cost is £6,000 to £8,000 each depending on the itinerary and flights. They’re also planning a smaller city break to Krakow, Poland, in September. ‘We’ve been friends
since I lived in London in the 1980s, and she travels a lot as well,’ says Caroline. ‘So for trips that are of interest to both of us, we’ll travel together to have company and to keep costs down. It’s nice to have somebody with similar interests and a simi- lar adventurous spirit to go along with. We’re also thinking of going to Sri Lanka in the new year to be turtle rehabilitation volunteers for a week or two.’ She says people should do the big-
are your go-go years’
gest and most physically demand- ing trips while they are fit enough. She subsidises trips for her chil- dren when she goes away with them. A highlight was when she took her son, daughter and her partner to Barbados for a week where they enjoyed the beach and went sailing. ‘When you get away from your normal environment and the rou- tine of daily life, it’s a great oppor- tunity to get to know your children as adults,’ she says. ‘We had some great conversations when we were sat on a beach with a cocktail in
hand, and nothing to worry about apart from what we were going to have for dinner that night. ‘We were just able to relax and have conversations that we just don’t seem to have time for these days. I got to know the three of them so much better now as the adults that they are.’ She has a financial adviser who helps her work out what she can spend and she has always been prudent with her money, investing her savings over the years, so has built up a decent retirement pot. However, she will not get the full state pension because she lived abroad for most of her adult life and did not make voluntary National Insurance contributions. But she will get some because she has been in the UK since 2017 and backfilled her NI contribu- tions as much as she could. She says: ‘Running out of money or not having enough to last my retirement is a common fear among people my age. ‘But your mid-60s to your mid- 70s are your go-go years where you still have hopefully health, energy and fitness to do stuff, so experiences should be maximised in these years. ‘Don’t put off doing the big stuff until you feel ready to spend, because your money may outlast your health.’
54
s
banking and mining flourish
M
INVESTORS raked in a record £35.3billion in dividends from UK companies between April and June, latest figures show. Total payouts, which include special dividends, climbed 2.5 per cent in the year to the three months analysed, but regular dividends soared 7.4 per cent. The stellar performance was driven by pockets of exceptional growth in a few sectors, says shares registry Computershare, which tracks
payments. Banks paid a record £11.1billion – up 20.6 per cent from April to June last year – as high interest rates and low loan losses boosted profitability. Mining dividends also bolstered the record payouts – due to sky-high prices for copper, silver and gold – with a 27.5 per cent rise in the year to the second quarter of 2026. But the struggling UK economy hit some sectors, including housebuilders. Food,
-
drink and tobacco payouts
shrunk 15.9 per cent, mainly
driven by a chunky cut to
dividends by Diageo.
Computershare’s Mark
Cleland says: ‘Dividend growth
remains heavily dependent on a
small number of large
companies and sectors.’
He expects growth to temper
soon as dominating sectors are
showing slower gains. He
believes dividends will total
some £90.5billion this year.
OST homeown-
ers who have
building or plumb-
ing work don
blithely throw old
materials in th
skip or gratefully accept whe
tradesmen take them away.
But while old bricks, boilers, tile
and floorboards may look like use-
less rubble, they could be an
unlikely treasure trove
worth hundreds or thou-
sands of pounds.
As the cost of raw
building materials soars
– up 40 per cent in six
years – we asked experts
what you should never
throw or give away,
prices you should
expect and how to sell
to get the best deals.
OLD BRICKS
PRICES of the most
sought-after bricks have
doubled in value over the past six
years. So, if you have a pile in the
back garden or have spares after
replacing a wall, flog rather than
throw them out.
Homeowners who carry out
projects on their homes, such as
extensions or renovations, often
prefer to match their existing
bricks. However, older brick sizes,
patterns and materials are
sometimes no longer made, so they
must buy second-hand and supply
is limited.
For example, the handmade Victo-
rian and Edwardia-era London Yel-
low are being sold by traders for
almost £700 for a pallet of 250
bricks – £2.80 a brick.
But traders typically pay only up
to £2 to a private seller because
they have transport and profes-
sional cleaning costs to consider.
Accrington and Red Imperials cost-
ing around £2 a brick are also really
sought-after.
A British brick tax was intro-
duced in 1784 during the reign of
George III – at two shillings and
sixpence per thousand bricks. Nat-
urally, this resulted in builders
using larger bricks.
But if you have any earlier slim-
mer bricks – either Tudor or Geor-
gian – they are in high demand for
feature walls and can sell for
between £1.50 and £2 each.
Stan Hoare, of the Reclaimed
Brick Company in Sheffield, South
Yorkshire, says: ‘Modern bricks
since the Second World War are
simply not as strong as earlier
bricks – and increasingly people
are looking for quality that will last
when renovating a property
because they are not moving home
but investing in the future of their
home in bricks and mortar.
‘Earlier bricks are also aestheti-
cally far more appealing and
imperial measurements mean that
older bricks are often slightly
larger than modern examples so fit
with older properties.
‘Facing bricks are particularly in
demand as they get to be shown on
the outside of a wall and behind this
might be hidden breeze blocks.’
BOILER AND PIPES WHEN a heating engineer comes round and shakes their head at your dated broken-down old boiler it may seem like they are doing you a favour by pulling it out and taking it away – and they might even charge you for the privilege. But all those copper pipes and brass valves within it means the boiler could be worth £50. If you replace copper piping used to supply water and for the central heating, you could easily have as much as 300 feet of piping, weigh- ing 70kg and worth at least £470. Traditional copper water tanks kept in the loft weigh as much as 20kg and may be worth £135, while a copper heating cylinder in the air- ing cupboard could fetch £100. This is because the price of copper has risen by almost 40 per cent over the past 12 months due to high demand. Tom Fullager, of Ace Car Break- ers in Swanscombe, Kent, is among the scrap merchant dealers delighted to take it off your hands. He says: ‘We pay £6,750 a tonne for copper – give us a call or bring old plumbing out of the house and we will happily pay the market price.’ He adds: ‘We will also pay for brass at £3,900 a tonne, and £1,000 a tonne for lead. Just bring your ID and proof of address.’ If your property needs a total rewiring there can be as much as 30kg of copper in the cables – worth £135 to a scrap metal dealer. A couple of brass taps weighing a total of 4kg would bring in £15. If you have 100kg of lead flashing around a chimney it is £100. FLOORBOARDS FLOORBOARDS from older houses may be creaky and gappy, but they can sell for hundreds of pounds. The most common stock is Victorian and Edwardian pine floorboards, and these typically sell for anything from £50 to £150 per square metre (equivalent to a couple of standard
s
t
building scraps in the skip – flog them for THOUSANDS
broken boilers could now fetch a fortune
de
planks of wood) depending on quality and finish. Older wider planks – between seven and nine inches rather than a traditional Victorian and Edwardian standard six to seven inches – fetch a premium as they have fewer gaps and are rarer, coming from properties that could be at least a couple of hundred years old. Hardwood such as oak – which is more durable and dent resistant – could be worth £100 to £250 per square metre. Adam Lawson, of Lawson’s Yard in Burscough, Lancashire, says: ‘Always contact a reclamation
yard before going to the tip dur- ing a renovation as old floorboards can have great value. The boards we usually get most excited about are wide antique pine or original oak from Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian buildings. ‘Those wide planks came from huge, slow-grown trees that are much harder to source today – adding to the price.’ He says value is hugely depend- ent on the quality of plank and finish, with rich warm tones and original marks and holes providing sought-after character and charm. But to get this result, planks to
be sold may have to be hand- sanded and oiled by professionals. This means you could end up being paid little more than half the price the wood is sold for by mer- chants – though savings can be made if you have the time and expertise to pull up the old planks. Lawson says: ‘Every board must be lifted carefully to avoid dam- age and de-nailed by hand. We reg- ularly find original cut nails, screws, carpet grippers and all sorts of hidden metal built up over 100 years or more. ‘Miss just one nail and it can seriously damage expensive machinery. Often, other floor
coverings have been bonded to the timber and adhesives can be incredibly difficult to remove. The skill in restoration is to preserve as much of its original character and patina as possible.’ ROOF TILES & STONE SLABS HOMEOWNERS looking to replace cracked roof tiles or build a new bit of roof rarely want to mix in new tiles with the old, weathered ones. That means that all types of old roof tiles and stone slabs are in demand. Reclamation yards are ideal places to find tiles of the correct
h a p e
a n d
material to fit
even the most
unusual prop-
erty, so are a
natural place
t o
s e l l
u n w a n t e d
tiles. Among
he most in
demand tiles are
rved clay tiles,
ten known as
ren h tiles, which
re sold by reclamation
yards for as much as £5
each so might offer you half
this price. With up to 4,000 roof
tiles on a typical house, you may
have £20,000-worth sitting on top
of your home.
While clay tiles are less common
than slate, reclaimed Welsh
slate is always in huge demand.
Large slate tiles, around 12 by 24
inches in size, are sold in reclama-
tion yards for £6 because so few
have survived.
Even once-unloved concrete tiles
are rising in price to as much as £5
each as homes built half a century
or so ago now need repairs that fit
in with the existing roof.
Hoare says: ‘It is not just roof
tiles that are going up in value –
but stone lintels for window
frames and stone slabs as well. We
have high demand for Yorkshire
stone, but it has to be in good con-
dition to fetch the top prices.’
Stone lintels from dealers such
as the Reclaimed Brick Company
can change hands for more than
£200 while Yorkshire Stone slabs
can cost from £100 to £200 per
square metre. Unusually large
undamaged slabs – measuring 42
by 59 inches – go for up to £350.
You may have to haggle for a
reclamation yard to hand over as
much as half the price they intend
to sell it for, but you will have a
stronger bargaining hand the
more that you have to sell – and in
the case of stone slab, they are not
chipped or cracked.
As with other building materials,
it is worth taking clear photo-
graphs that you can email to a rec-
lamation yard and to be totally
honest on the condition
and any imperfections to
avoid disappointment.
n To find a reclamation yard near you, visit the website there- claimedcompany.com/reclama- tion-yards and enter your postcode. Another website to consider for selling reclaimed materials and other salvage is salvoweb.com. toby.walne@mailonsunday.co.uk
T
MONEY EDITOR AT LARGE
HERE are more than 10,000 Isa millionaires in this coun- try. But there is a more exclusive club growing in number every year – the £2 million Isa ‘society’. Among this group, which is less than 1,000-strong, is Jane Barr (not her real surname). By a mix of living a frugal life and investing through thick and thin since the mid 1980s, this remarkable 77-year-old from south London has built an Isa portfolio worth a little more than £2million – and all funded, until her retirement, from a modest salary. I met Jane earlier this month at the annual general meeting of investment trust Templeton Emerging Markets, the biggest holding in her Isa. I gave a talk at the AGM in London on the merits of long-term investing, but after speaking to Jane afterwards over a bite to eat and discovering that she was a double Isa millionaire, I did wonder whether she should have been the one standing up on that stage, preaching the virtues of long-term investing. Hooked by her investment acumen, I interviewed her a few days ago – and she didn’t disappoint. Jane, who lives with one of her two grown-up sons, is one financially shrewd individual. Her voyage of investment dis- covery is a fascinating one, and should inspire you to keep on investing – be it through an Isa or a self-invested personal pension. The disciplines she has applied to her investing will hold you in good investment stead and give your every chance of joining the Isa millionaire club in the future. Jane first became interested in investing during the 1980s when the Conservative government of the time, led, of course, by Marga- ret Thatcher, embarked upon the privatisation of some of the coun- try’s heavyweight companies – the likes of British Telecom (BT), British Gas, British Airways, Brit- ish Aerospace and Rolls-Royce. ‘I came from a middle class fam- ily where money was always tight,’ she says. ‘My dad was a self- employed antique dealer on the south coast while Mum looked after the family home, me and my two brothers. ‘Dad knew his antiques inside out, but often struggled to make ends meet. I left home knowing that the only way I would get on in life was by being frugal and look- ing after myself and my money.’ Jane moved to London after uni- versity to embark on a career as a media researcher, and while at work her interest in investing was piqued. ‘It was at the time of the British Telecom privatisation in late 1984 and all the office talk was about buying shares,’ she says. She bought shares in all the pri- vatisations and held on to them rather than bagging instant profits as many investors did. With the advent of tax-friendly Personal Equity Plans (PEPs) in 1987 and the follow-on ISA (Indi- vidual Savings Account) 12 years
later, Jane began using these vehi- cles to amass a portfolio free from tax. Today, her Isa portfolio com- prises some 40 holdings. Although some are household names such as National Grid, Shell and Unilever, most are investment trusts. Her most valuable stakes are in Templeton Emerging Markets and 3i Group – which are both worth about £285,000. Other key holdings include CQS Natural Resources Growth & Income, F&C, TR Prop- erty and Scottish Mortgage. Apart from her £2 million Isa with Scottish Widows, Jane also has a self-invested personal pen- sion worth £1.2million and an investment portfolio worth some £300,000, which she is steadily moving across to her Isa (subject to the maximum annual allowance of £20,000 and an eye on capital gains tax). So what are Jane’s tips for the likes of you and me on how to join the Isa millionaires’ club? Most are pleasantly straightforward and uncomplicated. INVEST REGULARLY JANE’S investment philosophy is built around squirrelling money away in an Isa on a regular basis – and then letting the stock market do the rest. ‘I’m a long-term investor even at age 77,’ she says. ‘I tend to invest with at least a ten-year time hori- zon and don’t get unduly con- cerned when share prices dip.’ REINVEST DIVIDENDS SHE has never taken any income from her Isa. Instead, all the dividends she receives are auto- matically reinvested, increasing her shareholdings in individual
companies. ‘As far as I am con- cerned, reinvesting your dividends is a sure-fire way to build long- term wealth,’ she says. ‘With every dividend you rein- vest, you increase the number of shares you own and, by implica- tion, the opportunity to earn even more income in the future which can then be reinvested. It’s like a snowball, growing larger as it rolls downhill.’ USE INVESTMENT TRUSTS ALTHOUGH Jane holds shares in many household names, her port- folio is now dominated by invest- ment trusts. ‘I like them because they are diversified across a spread of com- panies,’ she says. ‘The managers also do all the worrying for you in terms of finding the investment opportunities to grow the trust’s share price.’ VALUE FOR MONEY JANE likes to find investments where charges don’t erode returns. For example, the ongoing annual charge for F&C, which she
JANE has no desire to take any income from her Isa – or even to take some of the profits and enjoy the finer things in life. The only Isa withdrawal she has ever made – a six-figure sum – was some five years ago to resolve a ‘family issue’. It’s an altruistic approach which many people will struggle to understand. Surely, she should enjoy the fruits of her investment labours? ‘I don’t need to access my Isa,’ she insists. ‘I’ve done all the travelling I want to do and I have all the
holds, is 0.45 per cent. Respective charges for Alliance Witan and Brunner are 0.47 and 0.61 per cent. MAXIMISE YOUR ISA OPPORTUNITY HER Isa success has been built on utilising to the maximum her annual Isa allowance – something she has done religiously since 1999 when Isas came on stream. ‘Of course, not everyone now has £20,000 a year available to put in an Isa,’ she says. ‘But try and use as much of your allowance as you can. I’m thrifty by nature and find it difficult to spend money. I would rather forego a daily coffee at my local cafe than lose out on the opportunity to invest a bit more.’ Although Jane has never used an Isa to save, she understands why some prefer cash Isas rather than the stocks and shares variety – for example, wannabe homeowners saving for a deposit or elderly people who cannot avoid to take risks with their retirement capital. But for those looking to build wealth which will secure them a
clothes I need. I love seeing my Isa grow, but I will leave it to my two sons to enjoy the financial benefit from it. Yes, there will be a substantial inheritance tax bill for them to pay, but there will be more than enough left over to keep them financially sweet.’ I trust that Jane’s Isa journey will inspire you to keep investing. You never know, encouraged by her story, you might well get to join her in the Isa millionaire club in years to come – or even the £2million Isa society. jeff.prestridge@mailonsunday.co.uk
financially secure retirement, she believes tax-efficient investing through an Isa – or a pension – is the best way forward. She adds: ‘Over the long term, shares tend to produce better out- comes for investors than cash for savers. So my message to Wealth & Personal Finance readers is to invest regularly and slowly – and be patient.’ KEEP ENGAGED... AND LEARN FROM OTHERS JANE retired at the age of 51 following a divorce, and she now works one day a week at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, cataloguing online its traditional jewellery collection. This gives her plenty of time to engage with her investments, including attending annual gen- eral meetings that they hold. ‘A lot of what I’ve learnt about investing has been gleaned from these meetings,’ she says. ‘Not just from the investment managers but from the questions that fellow shareholders ask.’
57 I struggled to work after fighting in the Falklands... so I found Argentina’s flag stunt childish and disrespectful
SIMON, 64, is a former
soldier with the Welsh
Guards and a Falklands
War veteran. He
sustained severe burns
when Argentine
Skyhawk fighters
attacked the RFA Sir
Galahad, which was
transporting his
regiment, writes
DAN MOORE.
The attack on June 8,
1982, left an initial 48
men dead and 97
Q What did your parents teach you about money? A I grew up on a council estate and saw just how hard it was to get by. My mother, Pauline, worked two jobs, as a nurse and cleaning floors in a pub, so we could go on holidays. It was a tough time.
Q What was your first job
and what did you earn?
A I had a milk round and a paper
round, and before joining the
Army, I was working for a metal
fabricator as a labourer.
I had to work under a dead
man’s name as I was too young to
do the job.
I probably got paid what a kid
would earn back then, but I
couldn’t say what I earned. I’m not
sure I’d want to... even if I could
remember, just in case the HMRC
come after me for the tax I
didn’t pay!
Q Why did you end up
joining the Army?
A I got into a spot of bother
when I was young, including
getting caught in the passenger
seat of a stolen car.
I wanted and needed some
discipline, and the Army offered
me a way out.
I remember I was able to draw
£4 a week while in training, which
would have been ridiculously low
money even in the Second World
War, let alone 1978.
Despite getting peanuts, we put
some of our money into a savings
account, so when we went on
leave, we had a few hundred
pounds to spend.
injured, including Simon,
who suffered 46 per
cent burns to his head
and body.
His recovery involved
more than 90 major
operations over many
years, the last one being
about five years ago.
Simon has since devoted
his time to various
charities and fundraising
initiatives. The father of
three lives in Cardiff with
his wife Lucy.
Q What was the reasoning behind the £4 a week pay? A The Army didn’t want us to squander our money. What they wanted was for us to manage it well, which you need to do if you’re on £4 a week, or the £5 a week I got as a lance corporal. We needed to reserve enough money from our allowance to buy shoe polish, toiletries, and a cup of tea with a sticky bun in the NAAFI.
Q Did you see the
Army as a career?
A Yes. I signed up for nine years,
which was the longest term
possible unless you started rising
up the ranks. I loved it.
I was stationed in Berlin and
Northern Ireland. I was in the
rugby team, stationed in Kenya,
and then off to the Falklands.
If you didn’t have a penny, some-
one would lend it to you, and you’d
pay it back when you could,
interest-free. It was a great life,
and I envisioned being in the
Army for good.
Q How did the Sir Galahad attack change your life? A I was told by a resettlement officer that I was unemploya- ble, and this from the guy who’s supposed to help me find a new career and future. I felt I was left on my own. Everything I have, I earned. I can’t even get compensation for loss of hearing because I was injured before May 1987, which is the cut-off date for claims [civil compensation due to historic Crown Immunity].
MONEY Simon Weston Charity founder
Q How do you view Argentina’s World Cup banner? A Who wants to see someone’s tatty old bedsheets? It was disappointing, disrespectful, very unprofessional and childish. I don’t think there is a place for politics being displayed in any sport because sport is about unify- ing people, not segregating people to generate arguments.
Q How did you get back to work? A The Welsh Guards kept me in the Army for as long as they possibly could, so that I wouldn’t struggle. I was in the hospital, so I wasn’t spending money. I stayed in the Army for three years, in hospital, having surgery and unable to work. When I left, there were about three million unemployed, and not many oppor- tunities, so it was really difficult. I went to New Zealand to work
with youngsters, and from there to Liverpool, where I co-founded a charity, Weston Spirit. That’s where my charity and fundraising work really began.
Q Did you make much of a living? A I wasn’t earning anything in the early days, so I had to be very careful with my spending. I lodged for a while and eventu- ally started to earn some money when people became interested in my public speaking. Television offers came in, and more work rolled in off the back of that.
Q What was the best year of your financial life? A At around the same time, in the mid-1980s, I had the chance to write a book, Walking Tall, which was very successful and attracted more work as head fundraiser for a number of charities.
INSPIRING: Simon Weston, who criticised Argentina’s protest at the semi-final against England
Q What was your best financial decision? A Getting life insurance. Even though you never want to call upon it, it gives a certain amount of security to your family, and it’s tax-free. At one stage, I was doing tens of thousands of miles a year on the motorway, and car insurance was not going to provide for my family if something happened. I had a wife and three small chil- dren at the time, who’d need finan- cial support. Life insurance is about thinking of others, rather than yourself.
Q Do you own any
property?
A We have a five-bed detached
house in Cardiff. I also own
my mum’s old home, which was a
detached property and my mother-
in-law’s semi-detached.
They both had to move because
of things that had happened,
break-ins and other issues.
Q What is your number one financial priority? A The same as it’s always been, paying the bills, taxes, and what little remains of the mortgage.
l Simon Weston is available for speaking engagements via htalentmanagement.com. For more information on Debra The Butterfly Skin Charity, visit debra.org.uk.
58
of your profits to the taxman I
IN THIS new series, our experts answer your burning questions about growing your wealth.
NVESTORS naturally want to keep as much of their hard-won returns as they can. One of the simplest ways is to invest as tax efficiently as possible. The main levies investors need to worry about are capital gains tax (CGT) on investment profits, dividend tax on payouts from shares and funds and income tax on bond coupons. The two obvious starting points to avoid these taxes are pensions and stocks and shares Isas. But there are other ways to make sure you lose as little as possible to the taxman – and some simple financial planning can pay off over the long term. We explain what you need to know. PENSION – £60,000 A YEAR THIS is probably the most tax effi- cient way to invest, as contribu- tions qualify for income tax relief and investment profits and divi- dends are tax-free. Basic rate tax relief is automatically added to contributions, boosting them by 25
BEST BUYS...The leading deals for your home and savings
CASH ISAS TYPE PROVIDER MINIMUM INVESTMENT RATE % Easy access Sidekick £1 4.66
Moneybox £500 4.65 One year fixed rate Vida Savings £1,000 4.65
Charter Savings Bank £5,000 4.63 Two year fixed rate Charter Savings Bank £5,000 4.72
Tandem Bank £1 4.71 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 Leek BS £1 3.85
Skipton BS £1 3.80
The Stafford BS £1,000 3.76 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 West Brom 5.15 To 31/10/28 5% £0 0800 298 0008 FIVE-YEAR FIXES Allied Irish 4.63 To 30/09/31 25% £0 0289 047 9221 First Direct 4.58 For 5 years 15% £490 0800 482 448 HSBC 5.24 To 31/10/31 5% £0 0800 494 999
LENDER RATE DETAILS DEPOSIT FEE CONTACT Barclays 4.04 Base +0.29% for 2 years 40% £999 0333 202 7580 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 HSBC 4.93 To 31/10/28 40% £0 0800 494 999 NatWest 4.67 To 31/10/31 40% £995 0800 400 999 Newcastle 5.40 To 31/12/31 20% £999 0345 606 4488
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
By Elizabeth Anderson
per cent. Higher rate taxpayers may get extra tax relief added automatically through a work- place scheme or can claim it via a tax return or by writing to HMRC. You can pay up to £60,000 into a pension each tax year but that fig- ure includes the basic rate tax relief automatically added and any employer contributions. The allow- ance resets each tax year and you can carry over unused allowance
from the last three years. If you earn less than £3,600, you can get tax relief on up to £3,600 of pension savings each tax year. If you earn more than £200,000, the allowance tapers down. Those who have already accessed a defined contribution or private pension get a reduced annual allowance of £10,000. Investments grow tax-free while in the pension wrapper which, combined with tax relief, makes pensions a powerful long-term investing tool. However, they are taxed when you take money out. The first 25 per cent is tax-free (up to £268,275), with the rest treated as taxable income. The main downside of a pension is that you generally can’t access your pot until 55 – and 57 from April 2028. So, if you’re a younger investor, you may not be able to withdraw money for decades. You can invest via a workplace scheme or a self-invested personal pension (Sipp) with an investing platform. Employers will also con- tribute to a workplace pension, boosting your pot further. ISAS – £20,000 A YEAR A STOCKS and shares Isa is genu-
inely tax-free. There’s no tax on investment profits, dividends or withdrawals. For savers, a cash Isa offers a similar haven, with all interest earned tax-free and no tax on withdrawals. You can pay up to £20,000 into Isas each tax year and you cannot carry over unused allowance from previous years. An Isa can be accessed at any age, unlike a pen- sion. The downside is contribu- tions get no tax relief. USE YOUR PARTNER’S ALLOWANCES TO MAXIMISE your tax-efficient investing, consider your spouse or partner’s allowance. A couple can shelter £40,000 in Isas each tax year or up to £120,000 in pensions. Katherine Waller, co-founder of wealth management firm Six Degrees, says: ‘The mistake we see is couples who build up pension wealth almost entirely in one per- son’s name. In retirement that per- son has to draw it all and can easily tip into higher rate tax, while their spouse’s personal allowance and basic rate band go largely unused.’ USE CGT-FREE ALLOWANCE THE annual CGT allowance
SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
TYPE
PROVIDER
MINIMUM INVESTMENT
RATE %
Easy access
Cahoot
£1
5.00
LemFi £1 5.00 One year fixed rate OakNorth Bank £1 4.91
Habib Bank Zurich plc £5,000 4.91 Two year fixed rate Kent Reliance £1,000 4.83
Close Brothers Savings £10,000 4.83 Notice account GB Bank 150 Day £1,000 4.38
BLME 90 Day £10,000 4.37
DUMP NOW
Cahoot Simple
Saver Issue 10
On sale this time last year
with a rate of 4.55pc,
once you have been in the
account for a year your
money is moved to Cahoot
Savings Account, which
pays just 1pc.
BASE RATE TRACKERS
means each year you can make £3,000 in tax-free investment prof- its. If you have built up large gains outside of an Isa or pension, you could sell some of your invest- ments up to this amount. Married couples can gift assets to each other capital gains tax- free. So you could make use of two allowances, doubling CGT-free gains to £6,000 per tax year and tax-free dividends to £1,000. Andrew Prosser, head of invest- ments at InvestEngine, says: ‘For couples where one partner isn’t working or earns much less, this alone can be worth hundreds or even thousands of pounds a year in tax saved.’ USE CHILDREN’S ALLOWANCES CONSIDER paying into a junior Isa or junior Sipp for your chil- dren or grandchildren. Up to £9,000 can be paid into a junior Isa each tax year, and £3,600 including tax relief into a junior Sipp. Be aware that the money belongs to the child and can’t be reclaimed. The child can withdraw from the junior Isa at 18 but won’t be able to access the junior pension for decades.
BEST BUY
Vida Savings
Its one-year fixed rate cash
Isa pays 4.65pc. You open
it online with a minimum
£1,000. You can also
transfer your existing
cash Isas into the account.
THE WEEK S
SUSSEX ESCAPE
A four-night stay
at the one-bedroom
Bull Pen & Cart Lodge at
the Beechcroft Cottages
estate near the village of
Cowbeech, East Sussex, is
available from £393pp, based
on two sharing
(premiercottages.co.uk).
22%
INDIA’S GOLDEN
TRIANGLE
An eight-night tour
of India’s Golden Triangle
can now be booked for
£999pp. The price includes
accommodation, transport,
a tour leader and activities
(trailfinders.com).
20%
GO FOR GOLD
IN GREECE
Olympic Holidays
is offering seven nights
all-inclusive at the five-star
Mythos Panorama, Boukari,
in Corfu from £1,145pp,
based on two sharing a
room. Includes return
flights from Newcastle
(olympicholidays.com).
24%
UMMER 2026 may become a
record breaker – and not just
for the scorching tempera-
tures that have seared their
way across the country in
recent weeks. The hike in
fuel prices, global instability and even
hotter temperatures across the Medi-
terranean means staycations are fast
becoming our holiday of choice. Accord-
ing to Airbnb, 64 per cent of Britons are
choosing a UK break this year. Beaches
will be rammed, pubs packed – and the
rest and relaxation many of us are look-
ing for may be in short supply.
But the good news is that even in this
busy summer, there are plenty of quiet
corners that remain happily off the
tourist radar. And because they’re less
well known, they still have availability
for a high-summer stay.
BEPTON VILLAGE,
WEST SUSSEX
AWAY from the busy coastal strip,
inland Sussex remains a land of
quaint villages, flint cottages and
excellent pubs. Bepton village lies
at the heart of the South Downs
National Park, with lovely walking
trails to the market town of Mid-
hurst and Cowdray Park. The
Weald and Downland Museum and
West Dean Gardens are within ten
minutes’ drive, along with the excellent Fox Goes Free gastro- pub (thefoxgoesfree.com). Stay at elegant Apsley Cottage, sleeping four, with an outdoor hot tub, a garden with glorious views across the Downs and handily close to the Cowdray Farm Shop for locally produced goodies. BOOK IT From £485 per night (cowdray.co.uk).
WORCESTERSHIRE
AN UNDER-the-radar swathe of border country between Worces- tershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire, the Teme Valley is lush and beautiful, criss-crossed by peaceful country lanes and cov- ered in hop fields and apple
GREAT OUTDOORS: Dunes on Vatersay, Outer Hebrides. Left: a seal relaxing on Winterton Beach, Norfolk
orchards. Tenbury Wells is the
main town, with historic Ludlow,
famous for its food, just a short
drive away. It’s the perfect spot
for a romantic break, and Eathe-
lin, a luxurious treehouse built
around an old oak tree, makes an
idyllic bolthole for two. The wrap-
around balcony is just the place
for sundowners, before a soak in
the outdoor hot tub.
BOOK IT Three-night breaks from
£1,095 (premiercottages.co.uk).
SOUTH SOMERSET
LEVELS, SOMERSET
THE Somerset Levels is a vast wetland and coastal plain, home to
herons, raptors, wading birds and
otters, that remains tranquil at all
times of year. Cider Cottage lies
near the southern edge, two miles
from Ilminster, with RSPB Grey-
lake nearby, offering plenty of
pleasingly flat walking trails.
Nearby villages such as Hinton St
George and South Petherton are
some of the prettiest in England,
while the Lord Poulett Arms in
Hinton is a great spot for lunch
(lordpoulettarms.com). Cider Cot-
tage, sleeping four, is a Grade
II-listed thatched cottage, with an
outdoor dining and barbecue area
perfect for long summer evenings.
BOOK IT A week is from £2,122
(oliverstravels.com).
EDEN VALLEY,
CUMBRIA
WHILE Windermere is rammed with traffic and Grasmere packed with visitors, the Eden Valley – tucked between the Lake District and the North Pennines – is the region’s best-kept secret. Potter around picturesque sandstone vil- lages, such as Armathwaite and Dufton, bring the bikes to cycle the quiet country lanes and tuck in at excellent foodie pubs, including the George and Dragon in Clifton (georgeanddragonclifton.co.uk). East Lodge, set in the quiet sur- roundings of the Edenhall Estate, is a great house for families, BOOK IT From £350 per night (edenhallestate.com). THE CAMBRIAN MOUNTAINS, WALES
THE Cambrian Mountains in mid- Wales attract far fewer crowds than the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia. They are perfect for an outdoorsy family holiday. Walk to the highest peak of Pumlumon Fawr, hike the board- walks in Hafren Forest or gaze at the stars beneath ink-black skies on clear nights. To go com- pletely off-grid, stay at Tincture, a beautifully restored 17th- century cottage. The interiors are stylish, with a well-equipped, contemporary kitchen and the acre of land surrounding the house has its own natural plunge pool.
most tranquil hideaways
to sleepy Norfolk villages, we pick ten spots for a peaceful break
BOOK IT A week is from £1,995 (uniquehomestays.com). THE NORTH TYNE VALLEY, NORTHUMBERLAND
WITH vast open spaces, lush for- ests and layer upon layer of his- tory, Northumberland is one of England’s quietest counties, a peaceful world of farming country and sleepy villages. Away from the coast and tourist sites such as Hadrian’s Wall and Vindolanda, it’s possible to walk for miles without seeing another person, even in high summer. The village of Gun- nerton lies in the starkly beautiful
61
SPLENDID ISOLATION: A winding road in the Cambrian Mountains, Wales
North Tyne Valley, 20 minutes’
drive from Hexham, with Kielder
Water and the extraordinary
Kielder Observatory also within
easy reach. East Cottage is a
charming, two-bedroom retreat
with a spiral staircase, mezzanine
bedroom and tranquil garden.
BOOK IT A week is from £930
(simplyowners.net).
VATERSAY,
OUTER HEBRIDES
REACHING Vatersay, the south- ernmost inhabited island in the Outer Hebrides connected to Barra by a causeway, is an adven- ture in itself. Vatersay School is a great choice for an extended fam- ily getaway, with a main school- house sleeping six adults and two children, and a separate chalet sleeping two adults. The house has glorious views of the beach, with the chance to spot basking sharks, eagles and otters. BOOK IT A week is from £2,850 for the chalet and schoolhouse (vatersayschool.co.uk). HALBERTON, MID DEVON
AWAY from the crowded coast- line, Mid Devon remains a peace- ful place, even in high summer, and Rock Cottage feels even more tranquil, set on a canal. Exmoor and Dartmoor are within easy reach, as is the sea, but the real pleasures are paddleboarding or kayaking from the door, fishing at dawn or simply strolling along the towpath in blissful isolation. The Halberton Farm Shop offers plenty of local goods, and the cot- tage sleeps four. Dogs welcome. BOOK IT From £160 per night (rockcottage.uk). THE CHEVIOT HILLS, SCOTLAND
STEEPED in history, dotted with Iron Age forts and latticed with walking trails, this is a wild and unspoilt slice of Scotland. The market towns of Kelso and Mel- rose, famous for the stunning Mel- rose Abbey, offer excellent food shops and delis, ideal for picking up ingredients for meals at Pirnie Cottage. The house sleeps eight and is perfect for families. BOOK IT A week is from £842.50 (crabtreeandcrabtree.com). WINTERTON-ON-SEA, NORFOLK
JUST up the coast from busy Great Yarmouth, Winterton-on-Sea is a peaceful spot with no amuse- ment arcades or day trippers, just a pristine stretch of sand, backed by dunes. It’s a prime location for seal-spotting, particularly the Horsey Beach Seal Colony, and the best way to start the day is with breakfast at the Dunes Cafe, set right on the sand. The Old Village Shop makes an ideal base. It’s a clever conversion that sleeps six. Suppers in the garden have a soundtrack of the nearby sea. BOOK IT A week from £1,631 (wintertoncottages.co.uk). l All prices are for a week in August.
62
A
in Portugal’s exclusive & historic ‘pousada’ hotels
PREMIER Collection escape to Portugal promises regal sights, fascinating cultural highlights and stays in the country’s most historic ‘pousada’ hotels. Delve into the local history of three of Portugal’s best-loved regions with a seven-night stay in a collection of magnifi- cent pousadas – fashioned from historical buildings such as palaces and castles. Start your tour with a flight to Lisbon and check into your first hotel, the regal Pousada Palacio de Queluz, before heading back into the Portuguese capital for a guided tour. A day at leisure follows, and you’ll have the chance to continue your exploration with an excursion to the coastal towns of Estoril and Cascais and the royal retreat of Sintra. Your next stop will be Viseu, and en route you’ll call in at the university city of Coimbra before settling in to the Pousada Viseu, your heritage hotel base for the next two nights. While in the Beira Alta region, you can explore under your own steam and perhaps sample the finest local labels on an optional tour of a nearby quinta (wine estate). Also, of interest nearby are a variety of traditional artisan bakeries and cheesemakers, which promise a taste of life in rural Portugal. You’ll then head north to Porto, the gateway to the Douro Valley, for a full day’s sightseeing. An overnight stay in a con- verted monastery, the Pousada Mosteiro de Amares, comes ahead of two final excursions to the Douro town of Regua and Unesco-listed Guimaraes.
REASONS TO BOOK Memorable pousada stays Embrace Portuguese decadence with luxury stays in three
d h l M l h
d d i d i
pousa a ote s. arve at t e Versailles-inspired gardens of Queluz from the neighbouring Pousada Palacio de Queluz, the former HQ of Portugal’s royal
guar s, an unw n n a reno- vated 19th-century hospital at Pousada Viseu. Your final hotel, Pousada Mosteiro de Amares, is housed in a converted
12th-century monastery and will be your base for your final two nights.
Beyond-the-guidebook excursions On this Premier Collection escape, you’ll be joined by no more than 24 other travellers, so that you can enjoy every excursion in a more intimate and focused way. Discover the elegant coastal resorts at Cas- cais and Estoril on an optional excursion and take in Portugal’s col- ourful capital, Lisbon. You’ll also see Coimbra, the ‘Oxford of Portu- gal’, and Sintra before finishing the tour with a visit to lively Porto.
Authentic introduction to Portugal Alongside your other guided excur- sions, you’ll enjoy authentic introductions to traditional Portu- guese culture, with visits to the country’s most historic cities and
n Flights to Lisbon (returning
from Porto), coach travel
and transfers
n Seven nights’ four-star bed-
and-breakfast accommodation
at the Pousada Palacio de
Queluz (three), the Pousada de
Viseu (two), and the Pousada
HOW TO BOOK
The dates: Sep 2026 to Oct 2027 The price: From £1,949pp*
CALL 0808 239 1392
To find out more, visit mailtravel.co.uk/pousadasportugal
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 April 27, 2027 from Liverpool John Lennon. *Save up to 15% applies to select tour bookings made by July 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.
charming rural towns. Witness Guimaraes, the ‘Birthplace of Por- tugal’, call at the colourful canal town of Aveiro and venture into the Douro Valley for a handful of truly memorable small-town visits, including wine-producing Regua. What’s more, you’ll have ample time at leisure to relax or explore the way you want to.
A feast for the senses No Iberian getaway would be complete without opportunities to try some of the finest local produce. Sample the celebrated wines pro- duced in Viseu’s thriving vine- yards, taste a port in the scenic Douro Valley town of Vila Nova de Gaia and treat yourself to a tra- ditional pastel de nata (custard tart) while soaking up the sights in Lisbon.
Mosteiro de Amares (two),
plus four dinners
n Tour of Lisbon
n Tour of Porto
n Tour of Regua and Guimaraes
n Fully escorted by a
experienced Premier Collection
tour manager
C
HILLED glass of rosé in hand, I’m cruising along the Adriatic Sea at seven nautical knots an hour on my own private yacht. On the boat’s bow, the captain is unfurling the sails so we can glide neatly towards his ‘secret swimming spots’. The aquamarine water glints in the sun. It’s so clear you can see colourful fish darting below the surface. No, I haven’t wangled an invitation to holiday with Leonardo DiCaprio or befriended a young Beckham. Nor have I won the lottery. Instead, I’m surrounded by a group of university friends, who are sunning themselves as we traverse Croa- tia’s rugged coastline. For less than £65 a night each, we’ve chartered our own private yacht for a week – complete with the assistance of the captain, Andy, as well as Josefa, our host- ess, who will prepare meals and keep things shipshape. ‘I have been sailing pretty much all of my life,’ Andy says during our first morning briefing. ‘So you have nothing to worry about.’ Despite being 30 years old, he’s already notched up 13 years’ experience, and he explains that for the next few days our only real task is to enjoy ourselves. ‘If there’s anything Josefa or I can do to make your stay more enjoyable, just ask,’ he says. I could get used to this. Sleeping up to ten peo- ple, Libertine, our 50ft yacht, is to be our home for the next few days. With four double cabins, three bathrooms and both indoor and outdoor seat- ing, I’m amazed by how much fits neatly into this compact space. Unpacking our provi- sions for the week, Josefa points out the var- ious hidden cupboards cleverly tucked into the boat. Complete with a fridge and wardrobe space, it’s like a Mary Poppins bag at sea. Lounging out on the deck with an Aperol, we quiz Josefa about former passengers. She tells us some could be rather demanding: requiring eggs scrambled to the exact minute, strawberry garnishes on over-com- plicated desserts, and bespoke cocktails (mixed from dawn to dusk). But even after a few hours on board, you can see how you might get carried away. From the minute we set sail from Split, life on board Liber- tine feels like the height of luxury. As we emerge lazily from our cabins each morning, Josefa prepares a breakfast spread of fruit, yogurt, nuts and eggs. Then Andy explains the plan for the day to come – a busy combination of swim- ming and sunbathing. When we’re not lounging in the Croatian sun, we gorge ourselves on Josefa’s home- made lunches of prawn pasta or tacos, practise diving or listen to music as we cruise towards our next destination. After the first day, we head to the marina in Milna, a tiny village on the island of Brac, about 11 nautical miles from Split. We are greeted by what one local describes as ‘the best sunset in months’. On land, we eat wood-fired pizza and sip
CABIN FEVER DREAM: Libertine, top, sleeps up to ten guests. Above: The dining area on deck, and the yacht’s interior
WEEK-long private yacht tours are available for groups of four to ten, starting at £78pp per night based on eight sharing, falling to £63pp per night, with ten sharing. This includes skipper service, airport transfers, damage waiver insurance, fuel, wi-fi and taxes (sail-croatia.com).
Croatian beer, Ozujsko, and while away the evening playing pool with locals, who seem to adhere to a Balkan variant of the rules that gives them a distinct advantage. Great fun. Yet the following morning brings a low moment. This is when a silver ring slips from the finger of my friend Izzy and disappears into the deep blue water of the marina (even Andy, who dives swiftly after it, can’t retrieve it). Croatian hospitality quickly becomes a theme of the trip. That evening, we dock at Stari Grad, a town of 2,000, tucked into a crevice of Hvar Island. Here, we catch a
taxi along winding roads lined with olive trees to Hora Hvar, a farm-to-table restau- rant by an agricultural estate. Our waiter for the evening is Christian, also the restaurant’s manager, an ebullient char- acter brimming with enthusiasm for the (many) Croatian wines that we taste through- out the evening. We leave feeling full and slightly giggly – perhaps something to do
with the celebratory shots of cherry liqueur Christian produces. My highlights, though, are aboard Liber- tine, in the sunshine exploring Andy’s ‘hid- den’ coves. We catch fish, then put them back in the sea. We nod off before drinks at the golden hour. And as we pass other vessels and luxury cruise ships, we feel like we’re part of the yacht set (without yacht set prices).
I
MAGINE a museum in a beauti- ful art nouveau building housing paintings by Monet, Renoir and Gauguin. You might expect it to be in Paris, or perhaps another Western city. But it’s in Cairo. Welcome to the Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil museum. The first I heard of it was on the news in 2010, which reported that Van Gogh’s painting Poppy Flow- ers, worth millions, had been stolen. Intrigued, I learned more the follow- ing year when presenters Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould visited to authenticate a Monet in the first programme of the BBC’s Fake Or Fortune? series. I finally flew to Cairo recently, deter- mined to seek out the curious museum. But where was it? And was it actually open? There was no website and my local guide had not heard of it. The Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil museum, as it turned out, was close to the River Nile, not far from Cairo’s Sheraton hotel. It was housed in a pala- tial building, built in 1915, with a formal garden flanked by palms. Inside, you entered distinguished rooms with parquet flooring and a view of the Nile through high windows. The ground floor showcased fine ceramics. Then, up an ornate stair- case, was what Philip Mould called the ‘glorious collection’ of paint- ings. There were more than 300 of them, mainly Impressionist, but also featuring many other big 19th century French names including Degas, Corot, Millet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Pissarro and Delacroix. Sculptures by Rodin were also dotted around. The price of entry? A mere £1.50.
And there were only two other vis- itors – a French couple. Perhaps this French connection was appropriate, as Mahmoud Khalil, from a prominent Egyptian family, met and married the glam- orous Emilienne Luce, a music student at the Conservatoire, after reading law in Paris in 1903. From then on, they divided their time between Cairo and Paris and, spurred by their shared love of art, began buying paintings. Khalil, a politician, eventually became president of Egypt’s Sen- ate. He was also recognised in
MOHAMED Mahmoud Khalil Museum is at
1 Kafour Street. Entry 10am-5pm Tuesday to
Thursday; 2pm-5pm Friday. Bring your passport.
Return London-Cairo flights from £375 (ba.com).
France after being elected a mem- ber of the Academie des Beaux- Arts in 1949. The house first opened as a museum in 1962, two years after Emilienne died and bequeathed it to the state. So why is it so little
known, even in the art world? The answer to this is probably that it has opened and closed repeat- edly over the years. For a while in the 1970s, the elegant building was
ART MECCA: The
museum. Left: A
caricature of
Khalil on display
commandeered by Egyptian president Anwar Sadat. The most recent closure, after the Poppy Flowers was stolen in 2010, was the longest – lasting 11 years. But now, modernised and with beefed-up security, it seems to be open for good.
66
GURU
travel conundrums
Q I’M CONCERNED about my
upcoming trip to Malaga as
there was a severe temperature
warning last week with highs of
39C. I’m not sure I’ll cope. It’s
been difficult enough in the
UK in the recent heatwaves. Do
you have advice on keeping
cool? Or can I cancel the trip
and get money back via my
travel insurance?
Rita Johnson, Broadstairs, Kent
A YES, it may have been hot
in Britain recently, with a
record June temperature of
37.7C at Lingwood in Norfolk,
but it can really heat up in Spain.
Its highest ever temperature
was 47.6C in 2021 in La Rambla
in the Cordoba province.
And in the city of Jaen in
southern Spain earlier this year,
the mercury hit 40C, a Spanish
record for May.
Malaga has indeed been
baking of late, with the State
Meteorological Agency issuing a
warning covering the popular
city as well as the seaside
resorts of Torremolinos, Marbella
and Estepona, with days
regularly in the high 30Cs.
However, you will not be able
to cancel your trip and claim
money back on your travel
insurance. Not going would
be regarded as ‘disinclination to
travel’ and would invalidate
your policy.
Insurance would only be
relevant if a wildfire hit your
intended accommodation
and there were no
suitable alternatives.
Fortunately, many places in
Spain such as al fresco
restaurants and cafes have
installed cooling water-mist
systems as standard, which
work well to keep off the worst
of the heat. And most hotels
have air-conditioning, though
you might double-check yours
in advance.
There are also plenty of
common-sense tips that we have
become familiar to ourselves in
recent weeks, such as always
carrying a water bottle –
perhaps even two, if going out
for long in Andalusia.
Also, as tempting as it may be,
do not try to get a tan. Always
smear on at least 30 SPF (sun protection factor) sunscreen – and ensure the label of the bottle you buy is at least four- star UVA protection. The NHS recommends that if you are going out for a while you should apply sunscreen 30 minutes before leaving and again just before you go. You should also reapply sunscreen at least every two hours. And you should not stay out in the sun for longer than you would normally, thinking you are protected. A
wide-brimmed hat is recommended and loose clothing – polo-neck shirts with collars up to protect your neck from burning are a good idea. Always wear sunglasses, but not cheap ones. Glasses should offer 100 per cent UV protection and feature a UV400 mark. Getting up early to go shopping or see sights is another idea. If you feel tired later, you can always take a continental- style siesta in your room or have a snooze in the shade by the pool. Later evening meals are sensible as well, just like the Spaniards do. And either carry an old-fashioned fan or a modern, battery-powered one.
Q I’VE booked a trip to the
Italian Lakes, travelling by
train with overnight stops along
the way. While I can manage
with an overnight case, I want to
forward a suitcase to the
destination before leaving the
UK and have it delivered back
at the end. Can you recommend
a company?
Peter Brown, via email
A TRY sendmybag.com, which
has a Trustpilot rating of
4.5 out of 5 based on 28,000-
plus reviews. Its standard
UK-Italy one-way charge is
£33 for 20kg and £43 for 30kg.
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
Mr Burnham, fair play demands it
Just over two years ago Labour
were voted into power on their
manifesto, with Keir Starmer at
the helm. Now Andy Burnham,
selected by his cronies, not by a
public vote, is telling us what ‘his
manifesto’ is going to be. As you
stated last Sunday, surely we,
the voters, have the right to a
General Election, as what has
happened goes against what this
country is all about – fair play.
Alan Ward,
Sleaford, Lincolnshire
Last Sunday you stated that the nation wants an election and that in a poll, 47 per cent of people thought there should be one, compared with 31 per cent who didn’t. However, a sizeable proportion of these are probably Andy Burnham supporters who feel that he would win an election and lock in another five years of socialist Labour. I agree with them. The Tories could never win an election now, and neither could Reform, who are slipping in the polls, as Nigel Farage drowns in sleaze. If a General Election were held, Labour would walk it, albeit with a much reduced majority. The ‘Red Wall’ would revert to Labour, duped by Burnham’s charm and hypnotic eyelashes, making it impossible for Reform and the Tories to win enough seats, either apart or in coalition. Be very careful what you wish
Treat our citizens like MPs
Peter Hitchens is right to argue that the public’s protection should have priority over MPs’ safety. If the public perceive violent crime is out of control and MPs are prioritised, overall confidence in the system will be diminished. Peter Henrick, Northfield, Birmingham
While acknowledging that most victims of mental illness do not perpetrate violence, Peter says ‘these things happen’. Yes, but often issues such as substance use, childhood experiences, unemployment, homelessness and environment are factors too. Emilie McRae, Trowbridge, Wiltshire
Write to: The Letters Editor, The Mail on Sunday, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY. Email: letters@mailonsunday.co.uk L tters
Aggressive actions by litter wardens, which you highlighted, are despicable. But some people excuse littering because an area is already messy. Evidence of past transgressions doesn’t justify further ones. F. Harvey, Bristol
We could do with litter police
for. The best hope for the Right is for Burnham to govern without a mandate and screw things up over the next three years. Then the country’s curiosity will have been satisfied and support will revert back to Reform and a resurgent Tory Party. Kevin Coley, Leicester
Andy Burnham knows that
calling a General Election will
remove him and Labour from
power, so it’s never going to
happen. I think the Government
will fall by Christmas. Burnham
was a failed Labour minister,
and nothing will have changed
as PM. His premiership has no
legitimacy and that will only
amplify calls for an election after
every inevitable policy mistake.
David Hoddell,
Clevedon, Somerset
I read with interest last Sunday about compensation for injuries sustained by children at school. One such pupil was given £4,000 for burning their lips on a toasted marshmallow. You also reported that there were successful compensation claims for being hit by tennis balls and tripping over tree roots, as well as falling when running towards a bouncy castle. It would seem that
RNLI not HRH needs funding Last week I went to an RNLI station and donated. But I saw in your paper that the King, via the Crown Estate, will benefit from my donation because the RNLI pays it rent for its shoreline stations. The RNLI is a life-saving charity; instead of paying rent to HRH it
here in Southport. Last week two friends went for a ‘rubbish walk’ and filled two black bags with empty alcohol cans alone. One street here has been newly paved with fancy flagstones. Two months in, they needn’t have bothered, as it is already covered with discarded gum. Chris Whittaker, Southport
Was there such clamour for an election when Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss became unelected Tory PMs? Rob French, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire
Andy Burnham’s plans to boost foreign aid are ridiculous. MPs of all colours think foreign aid is good, but should these countries’ needs be put before those who pay taxes for MPs to fritter the money away abroad? John Roberts, Bradford
Under Andy Burnham, craftsmen completing the homes Angela Rayner has promised will be dragged into higher tax bands, as will the hairdressers who colour Louise Haigh’s hair. Tony Thompson, Deddington, Oxfordshire
compensation culture has run riot in Britain over recent decades, and your article showed just the latest instances of it. When I was at school, a girl fell off the swing and broke her arm. Another fell and banged her head at the side of the swimming pool (despite being told repeatedly not to run). One girl broke her fingers when she slammed a cupboard door shut. None of them claimed on the
should receive a
sizeable grant.
Ann Field,
Manchester
Too young
Last Sunday’s
article outlining
how trans ideology
is being foisted
on young children
in schools via brightly adorned
picture books, left, and other
reading material was scandalous.
over cynicism
Well done, Spain, for winning the World Cup final, above, and well done to the referee for giving a red card to one of the Argentinian players. They got away with outrageous foul play (against England in particular) on far too many occasions. Andy Kester, Frome, Somerset
The World Cup final was
exactly what Fifa wanted. The
holders and South American
continent champions
Argentina against the
European champions Spain.
Imagine if England had
got through and it had
been an all-European final. It
school’s insurance, which is as it should be. Most schools will be familiar with the risk of accidents occurring on their premises and they should take reasonable care to ensure that these are places without obvious hazards. But schools cannot ever be environments that are completely risk-free. Josephine Drury, Buckley, North Wales
Why is this not being addressed by the Education Secretary and the Government? Mick Ferrie, Mawnan Smith, Cornwall Nimbys’ right idea Sarah Vine hit upon a sore spot writing about residents of Piddington in Oxfordshire, who have reacted to plans to house 1,250 single male asylum seekers there by voting for independence. People might call them Nimbys
would have lost millions
in coverage.
Rod Williams,
Great Holland, Essex
Argentina players held up a
banner claiming the Falklands
belonged to their country. As
Peter Hitchens pointed out,
many brave men died on both
sides to establish this was not
so. Footballers are there solely
to play a game.
Bernadette Aitchison,
Liverpool
We could send a fleet to the Falklands in protest – if we had one to send. J. McKie, Gateshead
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but I wouldn’t want such men en masse living on my street. Lynda Heckman, Trefnant, North Wales Just enjoy yourself Charlotte Eagar last Sunday compared nightlife in the 1990s to present-day revelling. I think folk were happier socialising decades ago – because they weren’t worried about Instagram posts. Amanda Yates, Newcastle upon Tyne
GAMBOLS FRED BASSET
GARFIELD PEANUTS
MAIL ON SUNDAY
new windfall tax raid
‘95 per cent probable’ as lenders prepare to deliver stellar results
BRITAIN’S biggest banks face a windfall tax on their ‘stellar’ profits as new Chancellor John Healey looks for easy targets to balance the nation’s books, according to some of the sector’s most senior analysts. The scale of the bonanza will be laid bare this week when Lloyds, NatWest and Barclays unveil their latest results. These are expected to show that they are on track to make almost £19 billion between them this year, up from just under £16 billion in 2025, according to City forecasts. Banks have gained from high- er-for-longer interest rates, which have boosted their net interest margin – a key financial gauge that measures the gap between what they pay savers and charge borrowers. The bumper profits have already led to calls from across the political spectrum for an extra levy to be imposed, with some industry watchers predicting a windfall tax is almost guaranteed. ‘I would have thought that the likelihood of a bank tax was about 95 per cent probable,’ said Ed Firth of investment bank KBW. ‘Banks are making way in excess of their cost of equity and return- ing huge amounts of capi- tal to shareholders.’ Gary Greenwood at bro- ker Shore Capital said: ‘If banks continue to post stellar profits, they do leave them- selves vulnerable to politi- cal attack.’ Bank bosses have cau- tioned that any windfall tax would lead to less lending, hampering growth. Jamie
By Patrick Tooher
Dimon, the boss of JP Morgan, last week warned Prime Minis- ter Andy Burnham against tax- ing banks more, warning it could jeopardise its plans to build its £3 billion headquarters in Lon- don’s Canary Wharf and drive investment from Britain. Experts say the most likely way the Government could tax the sector more is through the bank surcharge. This is levied at 3 per cent above the 25 per cent rate of cor- poration tax on banks that make more than £100 million a year. The surcharge was reduced from 8 per cent in 2023 by the
deal controversy
Conservative Government. Reversing this cut would raise £9 billion over four years, according to calculations by the Trades Union Congress. Healey, pictured inset, is looking at ways to pay for more spending on welfare, defence and cost-of-living measures, such as support for household energy bills, while sticking to fiscal rules that limit public bor- rowing. Another option is to limit a stealth sub- sidy paid to High Street b a n k s ,
which costs taxpayers an esti-
mated £20 billion a year and is
known as ‘reserve tiering’.
Under the little-known scheme,
which critics say amounts to
free money, lenders receive
interest payments on reserves –
piles of cash – they have to hold
at the Bank of England.
These reserves – which amount
to more than £500 billion – were
built up mainly as a result of the
Bank of England’s quantitative
easing – or money-printing – pro-
gramme that was launched after
the 2008 financial crisis to shore
up the banking system.
Initially the banks made virtu-
ally no money on these reserves
while interest rates were low.
However, they now receive
3.75 per cent inter-
est a year on their
cash piles after the
Bank of England
base rate soared.
And the key inter-
e s t
r a t e
h a s
remained higher
for longer than
expected to curb
inflation, while the
money-printing
programme was reversed.
‘I wouldn’t rule out reserve
tiering,’ said John Cronin,
founder of banking consultancy
SeaPoint Insights.
‘I just think the surcharge is
the easier change,’ he added.
Ex-Chancellor Rachel Reeves
resisted calls for a windfall tax
after strong lobbying from the
banks. Rules brought in to make
them safer after the financial
crisis are also being loosened.
Trade body UK Finance said a
new banking tax would harm
Britain’s international competi-
tiveness and hinder the Govern-
ment’s growth goals. Banks paid
a total of £43 billion in tax last
year, according to consultants at
accountancy group PwC.
to lift luxury gloom
BAGGING IT: Footballer Erling Haaland has a £1m collection of Hermes bags
LUXURY fashion giants Hermes and LVMH are expected to deliver stag- nant RU dHclLnLng pURfitV thLV wHHk despite a boom in popularity for their high-end man bags among the wRUld’V fRRtballLng HlLtH. In thH wakH Rf thH WRUld CXp, thH costly man bag that a football star is proud to carry is emerging as the pURdXct wLth mRVt pURmLVH. DXULng thH tRXUnamHnt, 1RUwHgLan VtULkHU EUlLng Haaland waV fUH- qXHntly VHHn – Rff thH pLtch – wLth one or other of his £1 million collec- tLRn Rf RYHUVLzHd HHUmHV bagV, VXch aV thH £37,365 HAC 40 BLUkLn. LaXnchmHtULcV, thH faVhLRn analyt- LcV VLtH, calcXlatHV that pLctXUHV Rf
game boss winning big in Britain INTERVIEW Page 75
By Anne Ashworth
Haaland wLth hLV BLUkLnV cUHatHd £6.6 mLllLRn Rf bUand YalXH fRU HHUmHV, thH €176 bLllLRn (£150 bLl- lLRn) FUHnch faVhLRn hRXVH. BXt HYHn Haaland’V HndRUVHmHnt is not expected to have revived the cRmpany’V fRUtXnHV, wLth analyVtV predicting Hermes to have delivered a pURfit Rf €2.2 bLllLRn Ln thH fiUVt half Rf thLV yHaU, dRwn VlLghtly Rn thH €2.25 bLllLRn Ln 2025. MHanwhLlH, LVMH, a €235 bLllLRn lXxXUy bHhHmRth whRVH bUandV LnclXdH LRXLV VXLttRn and DLRU, LV
D
OES our new Chan- cellor mean what he says? In a speech to Treasury staff on Tuesday, John Healey said his priority was fiscal discipline, adding: ‘Because fiscal credibility is the bedrock of economic stabil- ity and national security.’ Well, let’s hope so and for three powerful reasons: the first two obvious, the third less so. First, he has to hold down the cost of funding the national debt. Interest payments this year will be at least £110 billion, making it the Government’s third-largest outgoing after social services (including pensions) and the NHS. The yield on ten-year gilts – Government bonds – is now over 5 per cent, which aside from a brief period in November last year is the highest since 2008. That’s partly a reaction to global factors, in particular pressure on inflation after the latest surge in oil and gas prices – US rates have gone up too. But that’s small com-
Hermes see profits stumble
expected to report a profit decline to €5.4 billion from €5.7 billion over the same SeUiod wKen it deliveUs figuUes tomorrow. This is despite the likes of (ngland midfieldeU -ude Bell- ingKam geneUating an esti- mated $1.1 million (£825,000) foU Louis Vuitton in Kis Uole as a brand ambassador. And French forward Kylian Mbappe is tKougKt to Kave SUoduFed $1.3 million in value foU DioU afteU SaFNing Kis tUaining Nit into the brand's £4,500 Nor- mandie tote. 7Ke SUofit SUoMeFtions will SUo- vide little comfort for the fash- ion giants as tKey tUy to Uevive demand and offset declines in tKe 0iddle (ast due to tKe ,Uan war as well as a slowdown in the massive Chinese market. 2ne bUigKt sSot is demand fUom affluent FustomeUs in tKe US, with American men also inFUeasingly dUawn to tKe alluUe of tKe BiUNin. But tKis Kas failed to SUovide muFK momentum foU tKe sKaUe prices of both companies, wKiFK Kave slumSed tKis yeaU. LV0H stoFN Kas fallen 29 SeU Fent sinFe -anuaUy wKile HeUmes is down 23 SeU Fent over the same period. 7Ke two luxuUy giants may be KoSing to defy tKe gloomy SUe- diFtions following figuUes fUom BUitisK bUand 0ulbeUUy, wKiFK last week saw its losses for the year to March sharply narrow to £8.9 million fUom £32 million fol- lowing an uStuUn in sales.
fort to British taxpayers who one way or another will have to foot the extra interest bill, or indeed to homebuyers who will see mort- gage costs climbing again. Second, he has to maintain con- fidence in sterling as a stronger pound holds down the cost of imports, including oil and gas, and that in turn pushes down inflation. The pound is trading at $1.33. It ought to be around $1.50 if prices here were to be similar to those in the US. That is the so-called purchasing-power-par- ity rate calculated by the Interna- tional Monetary Fund. So if there was a bit more confi- dence among international inves- tors, who by the way hold nearly a third of the national debt, not only could we cut the cost of bor-
alarm over crisis in pensions savings
THE bosses of two of Britain’s biggest pension providers have called on minis- ters to raise the sum paid into workplace pensions as fears mount that millions are not saving enough for retirement. Under auto-enrolment, employers must contribute a minimum of 3 per cent of an employee’s salary into a pension scheme while workers pay in 5 per cent. But recent research found that 41 per cent of workers aged 25 to 55 will not have enough for their golden years. Aviva’s Amanda Blanc, pictured right, said ‘too many people are still not saving enough for retirement’ and that while the introduction of auto-enrolment in 2012 had helped, more action was needed. ‘We would like to see a clear ambition and timetable for gradually increasing minimum contributions from 8 to 12 per cent,’ she said. ‘This would be a big step towards a pensions system that better reflects how people live and work today.’
Antonio Simoes, pictured inset, head of rival Legal & General, also said the 8 per cent minimum was ‘still not enough to deliver the retirement most people expect’. He added: ‘Gradually increasing contributions to 12 per cent, and enabling people to start saving from the moment they enter the workforce, is essential to help future genera- tions achieve greater financial security in retirement.’ He has previously
rowing; we could cut inflation too. That’s why ‘fiscal credibility’ mat- ters and why Healey was right to go upfront on the subject. There is, however, a third rea- son to hope the new Chancellor will be better than his predeces- sor. This is all to do with who owns British quoted companies. We are a bargain-basement at the moment for canny overseas investors who can spot real value. Our Government has been pretty useless; our firms, or at least many of them, are pretty good. The combination of having low share prices – the FTSE 100 is on a prospective price/earnings ratio of about 13 versus 21 for America’s S&P 500 – and an undervalued pound means inves- tors can buy British companies for between half and two-thirds of the price of a similar US one. So, surprise, surprise, there has been a tidal wave of bids for some of our best enterprises. This year we have seen three Footsie companies taken over – insurer Beazley, wealth manager
called for the auto-enrolment age to drop from 22 to 18 to get people saving earlier and give invest- ments more time to grow. Contributions of 12 per cent would see nearly three-quar- ters of workers saving into defined-contribution pen- sion schemes avoid a sharp fall in living standards in retire- ment, the Institute of Fiscal Studies found. But the think-tank said this could have
Schroders and quality assurance service Intertek – and there are bids for London-quoted energy distributor DCC and warehouse operator Segro. Former Footsie members Tate & Lyle and easyJet have received offers too and both look like they are going. And there are lots more smaller companies that have gone, usu-
years of crass and destructive policies
ally for huge premiums over their market value. This is a disaster on several lev- els. One is that the pool of compa- nies easily available for the bulk of UK investors to hold is shrink- ing. So most of us are denied a share in the growing wealth of our most vibrant enterprises, for only sophisticated investors can
‘unintended consequences’, espe- cially for lower earners if firms with large numbers of staff on the minimum wage cut back on hiring. The Association of British Insur- ers has called for any increase to be delivered by 2030 to help firms adapt, with employers paying 5 per cent and employees 7 per cent. Last week the Treasury said those whose only income is the state pen- sion will be exempt from income tax when the payment, currently £12,547 a year, exceeds the frozen allowance of £12,570 in April 2027.
find some way of maintaining an interest, and often not even that. A second is that decision-mak- ing is moved offshore. The buy- ers may go through the motions of saying they will protect jobs here, or that the UK management team will have a key voice in the wider enterprise, or similar guff. But we all know the reality. If they need to save money it’s the UK factories that get the chop. A third is that there is a huge incentive for entrepreneurs to start their business abroad where capital is cheaper and more avail- able. This isn’t the place to get into the reasons for the decline of share trading in London – we’ve had 30 years of crass and at times wilfully destructive policies. But one measure of the success or otherwise of this new Chancel- lor will be whether he can rebuild global confidence in UK plc. There’s a lot to be done and I doubt this Government has any idea of how to go about it. But to put the nation’s finances on a sound basis would be a start.
rises loom as Iran conflict escalates
7H( BanN of (ngland is exSeFted to keep interest rates at 3.75 per cent this week even as the cost of Kome loans FUeeSs KigKeU on Uenewed feaUs tKe ,Uan waU Fould dUag on beyond tKe summeU. More than a dozen lenders – inFluding Halifax, SantandeU and YoUNsKiUe Building SoFiety – Kave Uaised tKeiU moUtgage Uates oveU tKe Sast foUtnigKt, aFFoUding to finanFial data fiUm 0oneyfaFts. 7Ke moves taNe tKe aveUage fixed Uate foU boUUowing oveU a five-yeaU SeUiod baFN to wKeUe it was in -une at 5.61 SeU Fent. 3Uolonged tensions in tKe Gulf have hit the ‘swaps' market, wKiFK sets fixed-Uate moUtgage costs, as concerns over the global suSSly of oil saw tKe SUiFe of a baUUel of BUent FUude toS tKe $100 mark last week. 5ate-setteUs on tKe BanN of (ngland’s 0onetaUy 3oliFy Committee aUe liNely to ignoUe tKe effeFt of intended FounteU- inflationaUy measuUes unveiled by tKe new GoveUnment to ease Fost-of-living SUessuUes suFK as Futting V$7 on eleFtUiFity bills to 5 per cent. ‘7Ke SoliFy FKanges announFed so faU aUe KelSful at tKe maUgin foU tKe inflation outlooN, but ultimately small beeU, not a gameFKangeU,’ said eFonomists at investment banN ,nvesteF. 7Ke SUotUaFted ,Uan waU Kas extinguisKed any KoSes of an inteUest Uate Fut to ease tKe finanFial buUden on KouseKolds and fiUms. 7UadeUs now exSeFt two inFUeases in tKe BanN of (ngland base Uate tKis yeaU, witK tKe fiUst in SeStembeU.
A
S THE school holidays get under way, many families will find themselves tak- ing a board game out of the cupboard. Some will opt for Monopoly or Scrabble, but increasingly a new generation is pre- ferring newer, less well-known titles that emerged in a pandemic-inspired board game boom which shows few signs of slowing down. Some of the newer generation of titles are on show when I meet Thomas Koegler, the chief executive of French game giant Asmodee, which counts the UK as its second-largest market. Asmodee is Europe’s biggest games maker and one of the largest in the world behind the likes of US toy and game giants such as Hasbro or Mattel. Behind Koegler on a shelf sit popular titles including Ticket To Ride, where players build the
longest train route across conti- nents, and Wingspan, a game about creating bird sanctuaries. One of its most successful games is Catan. Created in 1995, the game puts players in control of groups of settlers trying to build villages while acquiring and trading resources such as wood and live- stock to score points. The firm also has a lucrative trading card arm that sells prod- ucts based on well-known fran- chises such as Pokemon. While many games already had established fanbases, Koegler tells me more people were drawn in as the pandemic lockdowns saw many households turn to board and card games as a distraction. ‘We’ve seen a real acceleration since Covid,’ he says. ‘The pan- demic opened the door for games to enter many households and a lot of people realised these are great ways to spend time together.’ And the customer base has remained, allowing Asmodee to cash in on a new cohort of board game obsessives. The firm’s results attest to this. For the year to March, Asmodee’s profit surged to £23.6 million from £4 million the year before following a 23 per cent rise in sales to £1.4 billion, 16 per cent of which came from the UK. Its success has built the com- pany into a powerhouse with a stock market value of £2.6 billion on the Swedish stock exchange, larger than London-listed firms like Currys, Ocado and Greggs. Koegler says one of the reasons behind board games’ continued success is that they offer afforda- ble entertainment at a time when
MINISTERS must refuse Chinese demands for compensation over the nationalisation of British Steel as it is essentially worthless, a Labour grandee has said. Clive Betts MP spoke out after Jingye, British Steel’s previous owner, threatened to go to interna- tional arbitration over the Govern- ment’s takeover, which it branded ‘blatant extortion and a flagrant violation of international law’. Betts, deputy chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, said: ‘It’s a loss-making entity. How can it be worth anything?’ He insisted
MUIRHEAD
millions from Britain’s board game boom
many families are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. ‘Even an expensive game that might cost £50 that you can play with four people – you will spend more than that driving to the cin- ema to see a film and paying for snacks and drinks. And with a board game you can play it several times without extra cost,’ he says. In the age of smartphones, many people are turning to the compa-
the Government was right to seek the view of an ‘independent asses- sor’ to ‘satisfy the Chinese’. But Betts, the first senior Labour fig- ure to speak out on the contro- versy, added: ‘We must not be seen to pay anything for this.’ Earlier, Mike Warburton, former tax director at accountancy group Grant Thornton, said it would be ‘madness’ for the Government to pay anything for British Steel as hundreds of millions of pounds
of Asmodee, says Covid surge in playing cards and dice is here to stay
ny’s games as a way to get offline and socialise with people face-to- face, he says, adding: ‘In a world where everything is becoming more and more digital, people are craving opportunities to get off their screens. Playing board games can also help people with social anxiety to build relation- ships, a problem that we saw developing during the pandemic.’ Koegler is in a rare category of
worth of losses had left the busi- ness essentially ‘worth nothing’. In April last year, the Govern- ment seized management control of British Steel, which runs the UK’s last two blast furnaces pro- ducing virgin steel at Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, seen as vital to national security. This followed an emergency sitting of Parliament to stop Jingye shutting the furnaces. It was fully nationalised this month, sparking outrage from Jingye, which has threatened legal action against the Government and British Steel’s management.
people who have managed to make one of their passions into a career. After becoming ‘bored’ in his job as a business strategy consultant in Paris, the 44-year-old took a management role at Asmodee in 2016 after discovering his love for games. He rose quickly through the ranks to become chief execu- tive in 2024. Less than a year later, he led the group on to the public markets when it was spun out
From The Mail on Sunday, May 17
Last week, the firm published a statement on Chinese social-media platform WeChat accusing minis- ters of disregarding ‘investment’ in the steelmaker. Jingye claimed
from its Swedish parent, video game company Embracer. Another reason behind the board game boom is that the stereotype of the mostly older, male player is fading as more titles emerge tar- geting different audiences. Koegler says: ‘Certain games might appeal to one gender, but it’s not a rule. Lots of women play what you might consider tradition- ally male-dominated games. It’s not just men in their basements playing these games any more.’ He likens this to how films about Batman and Spider-Man led to the rise of superheroes at the turn of the century. He says: ‘In the 70s and 80s superheroes were nerdy. Now they are mainstream. ‘With us it’s similar. We now have more and more people discover- ing the pleasure of playing board games, and that’s a great thing.’
the Government’s actions had damaged the UK’s credibility and unsettled international investors. China’s foreign ministry has also called for ‘mutually acceptable’ compensation, adding: ‘How the UK handles this will affect Chi- nese investors’ perception of the UK investment environment’. The Department for Business has said draft compensation regu- lations will be revealed ‘in the autumn, setting out the process for compensation, under which the independent valuer would deter- mine what, if any sum, is payable’.
UNITED Utilities is set to defy Andy Burn- ham and pay shareholders a bumper divi- dend – which the new Prime Minister has condemned as an example of ‘profiteering’ by privatised water companies. The move puts the monopoly supplier to seven million households in north-west Eng- land on a collision course with the former Manchester mayor. Burnham has vowed to return the industry to public ownership, starting with Thames Water, which is teetering on the brink of collapse. Utilities have come under fire for industrial-scale sewage dumping in rivers, seas and lakes, while racking up huge debts, showering shareholders with dividends and
MARSDEN A
NDY Burnham’s flagship ‘Num- ber 10 North’ is being set up with a bold aim to ‘oversee the biggest rebalancing of power our country has ever seen’. But in what could be an immediate setback for the new Prime Minister’s plan to move political power from West- minster, a top barrister has now claimed that the land where the department’s new offices will be based was purchased ‘unlawfully’ by Manchester City Council. Christopher Knight KC, acting on behalf of property mogul Aubrey Weis, believes officials twice broke the law before acquiring the leasehold for the 10.5-acre former Central Retail Park site for £42 million in late 2017. The land in Ancoats, on the northern edge of the city centre, is currently a building site. Just over half of the site, some 5.5 acres, is set to be transformed into the Government’s new £2.3 billion ‘Digital Campus’, which will include No 10 North and house 7,000 civil servants when it is completed in 2032. But Knight, whose client has been embroiled in a separate legal challenge against the Greater Manchester Com- bined Authority (GMCA), formerly over- seen by Burnham as mayor, has argued that the decision to purchase the retail
purchase by council’
park’s leasehold nine years ago fell foul of rules governing such deals. In a legal opinion seen by The Mail on Sunday, Knight said the GMCA ‘did not comply’ with rules that required it to obtain a formal valuation report for the site before making an offer to its previ- ous owner TH Real Estate. He added: ‘I understand that this repre- sented the most expensive land acquisi- tion ever made by the council for an inner-city site.’ Another legal breach is claimed to have occurred when members of Manchester City Council (MCC), one of the ten local authorities that make up the GMCA,
were not informed of another offer to buy the site’s freehold – owned by MCC – by property con- sultant Metis. Metis was acting on behalf of another Manchester property mogul, Damian Flood, who runs developer Cole Waterhouse. A report to councillors proposing the acquisition of the retail park leasehold in September 2017 made
paying executives big bonuses since priva- tisation in 1989. Campaigning to become MP for Makerfield last month, Burnham urged United Utilities to cancel a £288 million pay- out and use the money to cut customer bills. The final dividend, due to be paid on Mon- day week, came after United Utilities’ underlying profits surged by 44 per cent to £738 million last year and household bills – including those of Burnham’s constituents – rose by an average of £86 a year. Burnham said there was ‘simply no justifi- cation for profiteering on this scale when
AWKWARD SPOT: The purchase of the site that Andy Burnham wants as his northern base ‘broke the rules’
LAND DEAL WAS ‘UNLAWFUL’
KC claims Manchester City Council broke rules buying site for £2.3 billion digital campus
no mention of Metis’s offer. Regarding this, Knight said: ‘The failure to draw attention to the offer from Metis in the report was unlawful because it resulted in the council taking the decision with- out having regard to all considera- tions relevant to the exercise of its fiduciary duty when considering the acquisition of land.’ He said
people are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis’, adding: ‘This confirms why people feel the system is rigged against them. It makes the case for essential public services coming back under public control.’ Taking control of Thames Water could be a popular move for Burnham, especially as he is relatively unknown to voters outside his north-west England heartland. A recent YouGov poll found that more than 80 over cent of the public support state ownership of the water utilities. Thames Water, which is drowning in nearly £20 billion of debts, will run out of cash by the end of the year unless a rescue deal is agreed with creditors or it enters
the council’s members were ‘not obliged’ to accept Metis’s offer – but were ‘not given the chance’ to consider it. The lawyer also said a report for the council – written in September 2017 by property consultant Jona- than Bernstein, son of then Man- chester City Council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein –
found the value of the retail park for commercial use was £33 mil- lion, and £25 million to £30 million for residential use. But the land’s value was later found to have fallen to £27 million by 2022 after a proposed property development for the area was shelved, sparking accusations that the council had made a ‘massive
special administration – a temporary form of nationalisation. Creditors led by US hedge funds Elliott Capital and Silver Point last week sweet- ened their plan to re-capitalise Britain’s big- gest water company in a last-ditch bid to stop it falling back into public ownership. Thames Water’s biggest shareholders have already written down the value of their stake to zero, but the creditors are likely to hold out for the maximum repayment of their debts – and head to court if they feel short-changed. Meanwhile ministers are under pressure to explain how they would fund the return to state control. The Gov- ernment was approached for comment.
overpayment’ for the site. Knight said: ‘Whenever the council decides to expend public money, it must act in accordance with its fiduciary duty. ‘That might be thought to be a particularly significant obligation where the decision proposed is the acquisition of a property interest in land which is expected to cost the council over £42 million. ‘That is a very large sum of money for a local authority and great care can be expected to be taken in connection with the deci- sion-making authorising it.’ The formal deadline to challenge the property deal elapsed in 2023, after six years. Spending the day at No 10 North’s interim base in another Government building in Manches- ter on Friday, Burnham said: ‘It creates that sense of a more bal- anced country, and that big things can be done from here.’ But the controversy over the property threatens to tarnish Burnham’s attempts to spread
was made’
power from Westminster across the UK. British-born Weis, 76, the owner of a £1 billion property empire, is now based in the US and was una- vailable for comment. The allegations over the future No 10 North site come as the mogul is embroiled in a legal chal- lenge against the GMCA over claims that the authority provided loans to another developer, Renaker, at preferential rates. Last month, the Court of Appeal found against his claim over the Renaker loans; however he is now preparing a final challenge in the Supreme Court. A Manchester City Council spokesperson said: ‘Acquisition of the former Central Retail Park site has ensured that the site can complement the wider regenera- tion of the area. ‘We disagree with the opinion presented about the acquisition. ‘The decision to acquire the site has not been challenged and the price reflects the value of a large retail site and key city centre regeneration opportunity. ‘The cost to the council was agreed on the basis that it would be recovered through the long- term development of the site.’ The GMCA and Downing Street were contacted for comment.
SOLE British contender Kalpana saw off a stellar international field to hand trainer Andrew Balding an emotional first victory in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Ascot’s Group One showpiece has been synonymous with the Balding family since Andrew’s late father, Ian, won it with his legendary Derby winner Mill Reef in 1971. ‘It is a big deal as it is a race we have always wanted to win,’ said a visibly emotional Balding, who sent out a rapid Group race treble in the space of two hours — thanks to Moonrise’s success in the Princess Margaret Stakes earlier on the card and Item’s Group Two win at York. ‘It defines a season, and it defines a career a race like this. I’m so pleased.’ Referring to his family’s legacy with the race, Balding added: ‘We have grown up with it. I think the first ever winner of the race was trained at Kingsclere [where Bald- ing trains], it is lovely to bring it back all these years later.’ For his part, jockey Colin Keane was a little more measured,
Principal Meeting. L-H course. GOING: Good to Firm-Good in places. TOP JOCKEY: J Hart. TOP TRAINER: T Easterby.
MAIDEN STAKES (CLASS 4)
£10,000 (£5,400) 1m
1
(1)
72 ALBEMAGIC Steph Hollinshead 3-9-7 ................C Lee
2
(3)
55 FELIZ NAVIDAD D O’Meara 3-9-7 ...................D Nolan
3
(2)
232 ASSET Sir M Prescott 3-9-2 ............................ L Morris
BETTING: 2-5 Asset, 10-3 Albemagic, 13-2 Feliz Navidad.
3.00
MAIDEN STAKES (CLASS 4)
£11,000 (2-Y-O) (£5,757) 5f
1
(5)
5 BOLT OF BLUE E Dunlop 9-7 ..................B Loughnane
2
(6)
63 ONSLAUGHT R & P Fahey 9-7 .....................B Garritty
3
(1)
74 SOLE RULER P Midgley 9-7 ....................P Mulrennan
4
(7)
THE MEAN FIDDLER J & S Quinn 9-7 ................J Hart
5
(3)
434 CALEF D O’Meara 9-2 ......................................M Winn
6
(2)
46 NAVAL COP A Balding 9-2 ....................P J McDonald
7
(4)
SHAQRA QUEEN K R Burke 9-2 ...........................C Lee
BETTING: 2 The Mean Fiddler, 5-2 Shaqra Queen, 5 Onslaught.
3.30
TREVOR WOODS MEMORIAL HANDICAP (CLASS 5) £8,000 (£4,187) 1m 1 (1) 243 COOLREE (D5) S England 7-10-1 ............P J McDonald 2 (4) 342 POLYGRAM T Davidson 4-10-0 ........................R Scott 3 (5) 651 MOUNT KING (C&D4) T Easterby 6-9-11 .......D Allan 4 (2) 321 STELLA LUCENTE (D) J Morland 3-9-10 C Rodriguez 5 (3) 646 MASTER OF ENTROPY J & S Quinn 3-9-7 ..........J Hart 6 (6) 744 THE NEW BAY PEARL S Whitaker 4-9-1 .........T Eaves 7 (7) 116 BRADBURY E Bethell 3-9-0 ...................B Loughnane BETTING: 3 Stella Lucente, 7-2 Mount King, 9-2 Coolree, 5 Polygram. 4.00
WILLIAM HILL POMFRET STAKES (LISTED) (CLASS 1) £60,000 (£33,612) 1m 1 (6) 258 CERULEAN BAY (BF,D2) D O’Meara 5-9-7 ......D Nolan 2 (2) 202 HOLLOWAY BOY (D2) K R Burke 6-9-7 ...............C Lee 3 (3) 7-94 POINT LYNAS (C&D) E Bethell 7-9-7 .......C Rodriguez 4 (1) 702 CRYSTAL FLYER B Haslam 5-9-2 ....................A Mullen 5 (4) 38-7 MODEL YUKO R Varian 4-9-2 ..................... R Dawson 6 (5) 924 MOSTAR DREAMS (D) A Keatley 5-9-2 O McSweeney BETTING: 8-11 Holloway Boy, 5-2 Point Lynas, 9-2 Cerulean Bay.
ASCOT Good to firm 1.10: NEVER ENOUGH (W Buick) 11-8f 1; Izuba 13-2 2; Tumishi 13-2 3. 9 ran. (E Walker). 1½, ¾. Tote: £2.38; £1.25, £2.15, £1.85. Exacta: £12.60. Trifecta: £39.90. CSF: £11.09. 1.45: MOONRISE (O Murphy) 11-2 1; Dee’s Funny Girl 9-1 2; Velozee 17-2 3. 11 ran. (A Balding). 5-2f Dark Issue. nk, ¾. Tote: £6.50; £3.15, £1.95, £2.70. Ex: £44.20. Tricast: £428.25. Trifecta: £378.70. CSF: £53.92. 2.20: KON TIKI (R L Moore) 7-2 1; Esna 40-1 2; Skydance 8-1 3. 8 ran. (J Chapple-Hyam). 5-6f Touleen. 1¼, 1l. Tote: £4.95; £1.45, £4.30, £2.05. Ex: £72.40. Tricast: £1043.07. Trifecta: £233.00. CSF: £129.46. 2.55: AMAZING JOURNEY (S Osborne) 4-1 1; Two Tribes 28-1 2; Aalto 14-1 3; Extremely Zain 3-1f 4. 16 ran. (J Osborne). 1¼, hd, hd. Tote: £6.80; £5.90, £2.65, £9.50. Ex: £146.80. Tricast: £1562.66. Trifecta: £1914.90. CSF: £127.29. NR: Akkadian Thunder. 3.35: KALPANA (C T Keane) 13-2 1; Calandagan 6-5f 2; Benvenuto Cellini 4-1 3. 9 ran. (A Balding). 1½, ½. Tote: £7.50; £2.00, £1.15, £1.75. Ex: £18.00. Tricast: £35.84. Trifecta: £62.50. CSF: £14.69. 4.10: PRIMO LARA (S Osborne) 4-1 1; Masterinthewoods 4-1 2; Oasis Sunrise 40-1 3. 15 ran. (J Chapple-Hyam). 3-1f Edwin Hubble. 1½, 2¼. Tote: £5.85; £2.20, £2.25, £9.70. Ex: £38.60. Tricast: £606.22. Trifecta: £975.00. CSF: £21.36. 4.45: HICKORY (S Osborne) 10-1 1; Crown Board 9-1 2; Spanish Voice 13-2 3. 11 ran. (J Osborne). 100-30f Blue Rc. ½, ns. Tote: £12.85; £3.90, £2.05, £3.20. Ex: £113.20. Tricast: £647.70. Trifecta: £1160.30. CSF: £98.30. 5.20: ALL WAYS GLAMOROUS (G Mangan) 8-1 1; Getreadytorumble 100-30f 2; Indian Run 13-2 3. 13 ran. (C Mason). ½, 1l. Tote: £10.45; £3.20, £1.65, £2.90. Ex: £59.70. Tricast: £171.00. Trifecta: £330.40. CSF: £36.72. NR: Desert Cop. Jackpot: £9,081.70, with £12,023.69 carried over Placepot: £47.20. Quadpot: £14.90.
as he emulates father
saying: ‘I’m just delighted for the filly. Although she’s won two Group Ones, she probably deserves to have won a couple more and she showed her true class today. ‘It was one of the strongest renewals of the race, with horses coming from all over the globe, so for her to go and do it today is very special.’ In a race run at a furious gallop, courtesy of two Ballydoyle pacemakers, Mickael Barzalona adopted patient tactics aboard reigning champion Calandagan before attempting to reel in Kalpana from the two-furlong marker. However, in contrast to 12 months ago, the 6-5 favourite could not overhaul Balding’s mare who kept on powerfully to score by a cosy length and a half, with Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini a creditable third.
PONTEFRACT AND DISTRICT GOLF CLUB LTD HCAP (CLASS 3) £17,000 (£8,762) 1m 2f 1 (1) 144 PERCY’S DAYDREAM (D3) D O’Meara 4-10-0 M Winn 2 (5) 538 WITHOUT COMPROMISE (D3) A Brittain 5-9-10
C Hardie 3 (3) 2-95 POMME POMME (D4) J Channon 4-9-9 R Dawes (5) 4 (2) 912 JEZ BOMB (C,D) S England 5-9-6.....................R Scott 5 (4) 317 MOONJID (D) M Appleby 4-9-4 ...............S De Sousa BETTING: 11-8 Jez Bomb, 7-2 Percy’s Daydream, 4 Moonjid. 5.00
TV: RTV
HANDICAP (CLASS 6)
£6,500 (£3,402) 6f
1
(9)
555 STARSONG (D6) M Appleby 7-9-9 ............. R Dawson
2
(11)
702 BULLINGTON BRY J Macey 4-9-8 ..............L Edmunds
3
(1)
745 RAIN CAP (BF,C&D) J Riches 9-9-8 ...........S B Kirrane
4
(10)
009 GO VICTOR (D) T Culhane & S Barclay 3-9-8
P Mulrennan 5 (3) 338 ELDEYAAR (BF,D7) A Brittain 7-9-7................C Hardie 6 (4) 605 MISS MAGIC DRAGON (D) D Donovan 3-9-5 ....C Lee 7 (8) 215 BATTENBURG BELLE (D) R Menzies 3-9-4 ........J Hart 8 (2) 959 SUMMER RAIN C Lidster 4-9-3 .......................D Allan 9 (7) 034 MY BOY JACK (D3) K Frost 7-9-3 ............M Paetel (5) 10 (5) 8-00 COILED M Rimell 4-9-3 ...............................S De Sousa 11 (6) 838 POWER OF CHORA (BF) J Ramsden 3-9-2
T Langley (5) BETTING: 3 Rain Cap, 9-2 Battenburg Belle, 5 Bullington Bry, 11-2 Starsong, 6 Eldeyaar, 8 Power Of Chora, 12 Miss Magic Dragon. 5.30
SARAH GUSTERSON MEMORIAL HANDICAP (CLASS 4) £10,000 (£5,234)
6f 1 (5) 131 TRILBY (D3) S England 6-10-0 ..............P J McDonald 2 (3) 834 BELL SHOT (D2) M Appleby 7-9-10 Mason Paetel (5) 3 (4) 5-38 GOYARD (BF,D) D O’Meara 4-9-10 .................D Nolan 4 (1) 441 THE GOOD BISCUIT (C&D) R Carr 5-9-7 ............J Hart 5 (2) 161 IRIS DANCER (D14) T Davidson 8-8-10 ............R Scott BETTING: 5-2 Trilby, 11-4 The Good Biscuit, 10-3 Iris Dancer.
LAURIE BRANNAN WITH TODAY’S TIPS PONTEFRACT ....................................................................Holloway Boy (4.00) UTTOXETER ...................................................................................Ice Jet (312)
Cool Molly 3-1jt-f 3. 8 ran. (J Candlish). 3-1jt-f Highland Olly. 1¾, 4l. Tote: £11.00; £3.10, £1.60, £1.20. Ex: £51.10. Tricast: £133.68. Trifecta: £194.40. CSF: £45.32. 3.10: VELOCIRAPTOR (D Probert) 8-11f 1; Storm Blade 13-8 2; Sea Idol 8-1 3. 6 ran. (H Palmer). 1l, 3¼. Tote: £1.73; £1.30, £1.10. Ex: £2.00. Trifecta: £4.10. CSF: £2.18. 3.48: CALICO BLUE (R Dawson) 4-6f 1; Tricky Tel 10-1 2; Postmodern 11-2 3. 7 ran. (R Varian). 1½, nk. Tote: £1.67; £1.20, £2.80. Ex: £6.50. Trifecta: £31.50. CSF: £8.85. 4.23: ACES WILD (Taryn Langley) 20-1 1; Spendmore Lane 33-1 2; Secret Mistral 10-1 3. 11 ran. (A Wintle). 11 4f Al Hussar. 1l, hd. Tote: £21.90; £4.50, £7.70, £2.70. Ex: £445.10. Tricast: £6814.80. Trifecta: £1686.70. CSF: £543.02. NR: True Promise. 4.58: PARLANDO (R Kavanagh) 13-2 1; Secret Beach 15-2 2; Break The Bank 11-4 3. 7 ran. (I Williams). 7 4f Seven Sisters. ½, ½. Tote: £8.00; £3.20, £3.00. Ex: £50.10. Trifecta: £130.90. CSF: £52.87. 5.33: MAHARAJAS EXPRESS (D Probert) 8-1 1; Over Spiced 22-1 2; Harry Mole 9-2 3. 11 ran. (I Williams). 7-2f Keldeo. nk, nk. Tote: £11.80; £2.80, £3.80, £1.80. Ex: £131.10. Tricast: £916.75. Trifecta: £1139.60. CSF: £171.79. NR: Guernsey Lady. Placepot: £529.80. Quadpot: £135.80.
GOWRAN PARK Good 1.40: SWORD OF STATE (R P Cleary) 18-1 1; Seaxburh 5 4f 2; Why Oh Why 16-1 3. 10 ran. (B Duke). 1¼, 3l. Tote: €24.90; €4.50, €1.02, €4.30. Exacta: €50.00. Trifecta: €812.30. CSF: €42.69. NR: Summer Sent You. 2.12: HERO OF THE HOUR (J M Sheridan) 11-4 1; Liamo 5-2f 2; Dawn Flame 4-1 3. 14 ran. (W Delahunty). ¾, ½. Tote: €4.30; €1.60, €1.20, €1.60. Ex: €12.30. Tricast: €30.37. Trifecta: €59.70. CSF: €10.79. NRs: Heart Of Eternity, Pocket Jacks. 2.44: DYNAMIC FORCE (R Holohan) 6-1 1; The Blue Panther 12-1 2; Eichan San 9-1 3; Leannespour 33-1 4. f16 ran. (T G McCourt). 7-2f Sands Castle. hd, 1½, ½. Tote: €7.90; €1.90, €2.90, €2.60, €7.60. Ex: €85.60. Tricast: €703.99. Trifecta: €448.10. CSF: €81.37. 3.22: NIL BUA GAN DUA (D Browne McMonagle) 5-1 1; Vauntingly 9-1 2; Believed 6-5f 3. 7 ran. (J P O’Brien). shd, ½. Tote: €6.20; €2.10, €3.70. Ex: €47.80. Trifecta: €129.90. CSF: €49.41. NR: Shosholoza.
While disappointed at his
gelding’s defeat, Calandagan’s
trainer, Francis-Henri Graffard,
was content with the performance.
‘This season hasn’t been as
smooth as last year,’ Graffard
said.
‘Epsom [Calandagan finished
fourth in the Coronation Cup] was
a disaster and then, Saint-Cloud,
he won a good race there but they
had changed the date of the race
and it was much closer to this
race.
‘So, it gave me less time to get
him very fresh for today and, also,
it’s a heatwave in France — it
takes a lot of energy of the horses.
So with all these factors he still
ran a very good race.’
Master trainer Aidan O’Brien
was also content with the efforts
of Benvenuto Cellini, who saw out
the 1m 4f trip well.
He said: ‘I was very happy with
Benvenuto Cellini. He ran a great
L-H course. GOING: Good. TOP JOCKEY: S Bowen.
TOP TRAINER: O Murphy.
QUINNBET DAILY FREE BET JUVENILE
HDL (CLASS 4) £10,000 (3-Y-O) (£5,446)
2m 1 1 VIETNORM A Keatley 11-7 .......................... D McMenamin 2 AL ZA’AMA D McCain 11-0 .....................................T Gillard 3 3 HELLO GARDA J J Hanlon (IRE) 11-0 .............P Hanlon (5) 4 R KEEP UNDER WRAPS O Greenall & J Guerriero 11-0
J Tudor 5 NICOLAI N Mulholland 11-0 ...............................C O’Farrell 6 SALKADAN D Skelton 11-0 ...................................H Skelton 7 2 US OFFICER T Dascombe 11-0 ............................B J Powell 8 ZOOTER Jack Jones 11-0 .........................................S Bowen 9 ADBA Faye Bramley 10-7 .....................................H Kimber BETTING: 5-2 Vietnorm, 9-2 Keep Under Wraps, 5 Salkadan, 6 Us Officer, 8 Zooter, 10 Adba, 12 Al Za’ama, Nicolai, 20 Hello Garda. 2.42
ROYS ICES MARES’ HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS 5) £7,000 (£3,697) 2m 1 0-PP MISS OREO J J Hanlon (IRE) 8-12-0 ..............P Hanlon (5) 2 1-8P MIRACLES DO HAPPEN (D) B Aprahamian 5-11-11
J Bowen 3 682 NO RISK TODAY F O’Brien 6-11-5 ...........................J Hogan 4 114 PRETTYLADY (D2) O Greenall & J Guerriero 4-11-3
J Tudor 5 3-72 CULLIGRAN (D) D J Jeffreys 7-11-3 ........................K Woods 6 664 CURIOUS MRS FOX D Thompson 5-10-13 .........................
....................................................................J Thompson (5) 7 141 LADY FORTUNE (C&D) F Brennan 6-10-13 I Ryder (5) 8 06-6 DOTTIES PROMISE (D) S Corbett 6-10-12 .........N Moscrop 9 922 NORTHERN ROSE G Hanmer 6-10-9 ................J M Davies 10 4P5 JUKEBOX ANNIE (D) C Hitch 7-10-6 ..................B Godfrey 11 756 MYFAVOURITESISTER P Neville 7-10-3 ...............B Hughes 12 P57 GRANNY B M Mullineaux 6-10-2 ........................K Brogan BETTING: 9-4 Lady Fortune, 6 Northern Rose, 7 Myfavouritesister, No Risk Today, Prettylady, 10 Culligran, 12 Curious Mrs Fox.
Totescoop6 Win: Not won £54,731 rollover. Place: £4,686. Bonus: £25,358.
3.55: DUCHESS OF KENLI (J M Sheridan) 7-1 1; Wearing Stars 11-4 2; Serendipia 20-1 3. 13 ran. (J P O’Brien). 13-8f Vishaya. 1¼, 2l. Tote: €8.10; €2.50, €1.30, €5.30. Ex: €31.40. Trifecta: €360.00. CSF: €27.38. 4.30: HAMBELTON (L T McAteer) 6-5f 1; No More Porter 9-1 2; Zaraahmando 6-1 3. 9 ran. (D Marnane). ½, ½. Tote: €2.20; €1.10, €2.20, €1.80. Ex: €14.80. Tricast: €51.06. Trifecta: €70.70. CSF: €13.82. 5.05: HEXAGONAL (R Holohan) 10-1 1; Duchess Anne 9-2 2; Master Garvey 6-1 3. 13 ran. (D Hogan). 7-2f Yquem. 2¼, 2l. Tote: €14.60; €3.70, €2.40, €1.80. Ex: €105.40. Tricast: €310.89. Trifecta: €830.40. CSF: €57.86. NR: My Vonnie. 5.40: SUMMER IS TOMORROW (D Browne McMonagle) 3-10f 1; Hollys Graces 20-1 2; Benevento 11-1 3. 7 ran. (J P O’Brien). 6½, ½. Tote: €1.30; €1.10, €7.90. Ex: €11.60. Trifecta: €34.90. CSF: €10.07. NR: Ask Me Again. Placepot: €347.60.
LINGFIELD Good to firm 5.27: SIXTY PLUS (R Havlin) 1-3f 1; Panthere Noir 9-2 2; Mick The Hat 8-1 3. 4 ran. (James Owen). 6l, 3¾. Tote: £1.34; Exacta: £2.10. Trifecta: £3.60. CSF: £2.19. 6.00: HAVEAGOBEAU (Olivia Haines) 9-2 1; Celtic Spirit 9-2 2; Homeland 11-10f 3. 6 ran. (J Boyle). 1¼, nk. Tote: £5.50; £1.60, £2.30. Ex: £22.90. Trifecta: £25.00. CSF: £24.66. NR: Mix De Gris. 6.30: SPIRIT OF LYRA (N Callan) 6-5f 1; Summer Triangle 7-4 2; Fortunate 28-1 3. 7 ran. (W Knight). 3½, 4l. Tote: £2.20; £1.40, £1.40. Ex: £3.90. Trifecta: £33.80. CSF: £3.50. NRs: Rocsane, Yankeedoodledandy. 7.00: IT DUNT MARRA (S Donohoe) 6-5f 1; Catching Dreams 3-1 2; Desert Legend 9-2 3. 7 ran. (Ollie Sangster). ½, 1¾. Tote: £2.20; £1.30, £1.90. Ex: £5.90. Trifecta: £19.00. CSF: £4.73. 7.30: DUSKAURA (K Fox) 9-1 1; The Feminine Urge 16-1 2; Dark Sun 13-2 3. 7 ran. (A Carroll). 5-2f Be An Angel. nk, nk. Tote: £10.00; £4.00, £4.50. Ex: £90.80. Trifecta: £423.50. CSF: £133.58. 8.00: DEBRIEF (P-L Jamin) 11-4 1; Adalida 11-2 2; Goldwork 3-1 3. 5 ran. (Harry Eustace). 2-1f Espona Bay. 3¼, nk. Tote: £3.75; £1.50, £2.30. Ex: £12.50. Trifecta: £57.90. CSF: £17.23.
race. It was his first time against the older horses, and we learnt a lot about him. ‘We learnt he gets the mile and a half well, and you couldn’t be sure of that until he did it against the older horses. Even going to the line he didn’t looked finished. ‘I think we could look at the Breeders’ Cup.’ Unfortunately, there were few positives in the performances of Japanese contenders Masquerade Ball and Wurttemberg, who never figured in seventh and ninth respectively. Away from the big race here on a sunny Berkshire afternoon, Saffie Osborne rode a sparkling 274-1 treble, with superb victories aboard Amazing Journey and Hickory, for her father Jamie, and Primo Lara for trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam. ‘I love Ascot and it has been very lucky for me, with the exception of
HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS 4)
£8,700 (£4,594) 2m
1
4U4 WAR CORRESPONDENT (D2) J J Hanlon (IRE) 7-12-0
P Hanlon (5) 2 112 ICE JET (BF) D Skelton 4-11-9 ...............................H Skelton 3 310- BRIGHT LEGEND F Bramley 6-11-7....................J O’Neill (7) 4 9F-4 ROMANY BROWN B Case 6-11-6 ......................C Gethings 5 2-10 KING SACRE (D) N Hawke 6-11-4 ......................J M Davies 6 3-41 DROMBEG LAD (D) A Hales 6-11-4 ......................K Woods 7 513 EMERALD TIME (D) D Elsworth & R Hatch 5-10-13
T Bellamy 8 4-F7 DIESEL LINE (C&D2) C & A Pogson 8-10-3 ...........S Bowen BETTING: 2 Ice Jet, 11-4 Drombeg Lad, 6 Bright Legend, 7 Emerald Time, 8 King Sacre, 12 Diesel Line, 16 War Correspondent. 3.42
TV: SKY
HANDICAP CHASE (CLASS 2)
£22,600 (£11,759) 3m
1
51-3 SURE TOUCH (C) O Murphy 10-12-0 ............ T Hutsby (10)
2
433 SONY BILL F Bramley 5-11-11 ................................H Cobden
3
241 GRAND CLERMONT (C&D) D Pipe 10-11-9 R Corcoran (5)
4
131 SUNRAY SHADOW (C&D) D Skelton 7-11-8 .......H Skelton
5
151 BAGHEERA GINGE N & W Twiston-Davies 8-11-6
S Twiston-Davies 6 395 HOLD YOUR FORT (D5) D Hamer 10-11-5 .......... T Bellamy 7 211 IMPERIAL ALEX (C&D2) T Lacey 9-11-5 ............S Sheppard 8 357 STANS THE MAN (D) E Pickard 9-10-13..............B Godfrey 9 121 THE FLYING POET (D3) O Murphy 7-10-5 .............S Bowen BETTING: 3 Sunray Shadow, 7-2 Grand Clermont, 4 Bagheera Ginge, 6 Imperial Alex, 8 The Flying Poet, 10 Sure Touch, 12 Sony Bill. 4.12
HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS 2)
£18,600 (£9,823) 2m 7f
1
00-7 ZILLOW F Bramley 6-12-0 ....................................H Cobden
2
1/63 SHALLOW RIVER (D) O Murphy 10-11-11 ..............S Bowen
3
7-69 ROGER POL (C&D2) J Snowden 8-11-9 ..............I Ryder (5)
4
131 KARNAVAL POINT (C,D) D Pipe 6-11-4 .......R Corcoran (5)
5
14-2 PADDY DE POLE P Nicholls 8-11-1 ..........................F Gingell
6
427 PIKE ROAD (BF,C&D) M Keighley 7-10-11 ....F Keighley (5)
7
122 TYSON (BF) D Skelton 6-10-11 .............................H Skelton
8
611 DIVILABOTHER (D) T Davidson 8-10-10 ................. H Reed
9
P-31 IDAHO FIRE J Owen 5-10-8 ....................................J J Burke
BETTING: 3 Idaho Fire, 4 Karnaval Point, 9-2 Divilabother, 6 Tyson,
8 Paddy De Pole, Shallow River, 12 Pike Road, 16 Zillow, Roger Pol.
NEWCASTLE Standard to slow 1.35: BEARWITH (T Kiely-Marshall) 7-2jt-f 1; Sweet Kiss 10-1 2; Token Love 7-2jt-f 3. 13 ran. (H Bethell). 3¼, 2¼. Tote: £5.40; £2.00, £3.00, £1.80. Exacta: £56.00. Tricast: £138.81. Trifecta: £470.60. CSF: £42.72. 2.05: GLORY ROAD (B Loughnane) 6-4f 1; Ruby Wedding 4-1 2; Eniac 14-1 3. 13 ran. (R Beckett). ¾, nk. Tote: £2.50; £1.20, £1.90, £4.80. Ex: £9.90. Tricast: £67.45. Trifecta: £80.10. CSF: £7.70. 2.39: ASANDER (B Garritty) 50-1 1; Mirzimaan 7-4f 2; Mollisha 16-1 3. 14 ran. (M & D Easterby). shd, ½. Tote: £105.80; £14.00, £1.40, £5.60. Ex: £381.70. Trifecta: £5419.50. CSF: £142.65. 3.15: VICTORY ACE (MP Sheehy) 14-1 1; Zatsgood 3-1f 2; On The River 33-1 3. 14 ran. (J Butler). hd, nk. Tote: £19.20; £6.70, £4.90, £1.80. Ex: £94.60. Tricast: £1451.57. Trifecta: £2088.90. CSF: £59.20. 4.00: FANTASTIC FOX (J Mitchell) 100-30 1; Mr Mistoffelees 9-1 2; Chuzzlewit 11-1 3. 12 ran. (R Varian). 11 4f Fight Your Corner. 2l, shd. Tote: £4.40; £1.80, £2.50, £3.20. Ex: £31.90. Tricast: £314.33. Trifecta: £242.80. CSF: £33.09. NRs: Freddie Steady Go, Walsingham. 4.35: DEFENCE MISSILE (P Bradley) 22-1 1; Mercurius Power 13-2 2; Pebble Dash 14-1 3. 12 ran. (Miss L Perratt). 6 4f Adelaide Bay. ½, shd. Tote: £36.60; £7.20, £2.70, £4.50. Ex: £310.90. Tricast: £2137.10. Trifecta: £4616.00. CSF: £160.76. 5.10: TOO MUCH (C Hutchinson) 7-2 1; Ellie’s De Vega 5-2f 2; Let’s Go Hugo 5-1 3. 10 ran. (D Thompson). 2½, nk. Tricast: £44.70. CSF: £12.94. 5.45: TRAIS FLUORS (P Bradley) 11-1 1; Timebar 10-1 2; I Can Boogy 7-2 3. 13 ran. (Miss L Perratt). 100-30f Sassy Glory. 1¼, 1¾. Tote: £17.80; £4.10, £3.70, £1.70. Ex: £171.60. Trifecta: £1421.40. CSF: £118.17. NR: Eva The Deeva. Placepot: £279.70. Quadpot: £105.50.
DOUBLE ACT: Kalpana and Keane
the Royal meeting,’ enthused the thrilled rider. ‘All three horses had a chance but it would have been a bit adventurous to think they would all win. It’s very special.’ Chapple-Hyam enjoyed two winners herself at the track yesterday, with the Ryan Moore-ridden Kon Tiki impres- sively capturing the Group Three Valiant Stakes to supplement Primo Lara’s later victory.
HANDICAP CHASE (CLASS 4)
£10,000 (£5,281) 2m 4f
1
163- PALAMON (BF,D) D Skelton 6-12-1 .........................C J Todd
2
4-41 COUNTRY PARK (D) J & A O’Neill 7-11-12 ..........J O’Neill Jr
3
133 GATEAU DE MIEL F O’Brien 10-11-6 .........T Broughton (3)
4
713 LAKEFIELD FLYER (BF) J J Hanlon (IRE) 8-11-4 P Hanlon (5)
5
165 BELLE LE GRAND D Skelton 7-11-3 .........................T Durrell
6
3/04 RAS KASSAR (D) D Pipe 7-11-2......................R Corcoran (5)
7
222- AT THE OCHE (BF) D Skelton 5-11-2 .....................H Skelton
8
P-UU BUDDAH CASTLE (D) P Neville 6-11-2 .................B Hughes
9
7-U8 HUDSON M Bowen 5-10-13 ...................................J Bowen
10
655 A DUBLIN JOB (D2) S-J Davies 9-10-10 C Johnstone-Baker (7)
BETTING: 3 At The Oche, Country Park, 6 Palamon, 7 Lakefield Flyer, 8
Ras Kassar, Gateau De Miel, 10 Belle Le Grand, 14 Hudson.
5.12
QUINNBET HANDICAP HURDLE (DIV 1) (CLASS 5) £7,000 (£3,697) 2m 4f 1 1-3F IAMYOUARE (BF,D) D McCain 6-12-0 ...................T Gillard 2 P-24 PURPLE OWL (BF) D Pipe 6-12-0 ..............................J Tudor 3 3-27 ROYAL ROCKET E Lavelle 5-11-12 ..........................H Cobden 4 124 JAFIMGOSO (BF) D Skelton 7-11-10 .....................H Skelton 5 536 PURE LOGIC J J Hanlon (IRE) 6-11-8 ..............P Hanlon (5) 6 840 BENY NAHAR ROAD H Hogarth 7-11-7 .............J Hamilton 7 008- CRAFTY GAEL O Murphy 7-11-0 .............................S Bowen 8 9-07 LUMINARIES (D3) E Whillans 9-10-2 ..................S Quinlan 9 5-P5 WARNER’S CROSS S Leech 9-10-2 ........................... H Reed 10 0/07- ILLICO DE MONTAVE R Gasson 8-10-2 ....................B Poste BETTING: 11-4 Purple Owl, 4 Jafimgoso, Crafty Gael, 9-2 Royal Rocket, 6 Iamyouare, 12 Pure Logic, 20 Beny Nahar Road, 33 Warner’s Cross. 5.42
QUINNBET HANDICAP HURDLE (DIV 2) (CLASS 5) £7,000 (£3,697) 2m 4f 1 F-73 UHTRED RAGNARSON A King 5-12-0 ................ T Bellamy 2 1-23 FISKARDO (BF) M Bowen 6-11-13 ..................S Fenelon (5) 3 3-1B OCTOBER HILL (D) D Pipe 6-11-12 ................R Corcoran (5) 4 44P TOMMY CULLEN M Crawley 8-11-11 .................... J Quinlan 5 884 SONYOURASTAR (BF) O Murphy 6-11-8...............S Bowen 6 4-63 THE SECRET PEARL A Hales 7-11-7 ........................K Woods 7 776- ASHDOWN FOREST (BF) D Skelton 4-10-7 ........H Skelton 8 6-7P PAPILLONDELUMIERE J R Barlow 8-10-2 E Callwood (7) 9 964 MC’FLO A Carson 5-10-2 ......................................B J Powell BETTING: 3 Uhtred Ragnarson, 7-2 Fiskardo, 4 Sonyourastar, 5 Ashdown Forest, 7 October Hill, 10 The Secret Pearl.
7.15: RED SNAPPER (Charlie Tucker) 16-1 1; Thunderous Love 15-2 2; Liosa 11-2 3. 10 ran. (Kathy Turner). 7 4f Maid In Devon. 1l, ½. Tote: £17.00; £3.40, £2.30, £2.00. Ex: £144.60. Tricast: £759.33. Trifecta: £882.30. CSF: £134.44. 7.45: SUDBURY HILL (C Rodriguez) 9-2 1; Double Red 9-4 2; Orchard 17-2 3. 4 ran. (Harry Derham). evensf Queen’s Companion. nk, 3¼. Tote: £5.70; Ex: £12.80. Trifecta: £32.60. CSF: £14.59.
YORK Good to firm-good in places 1.30: KODIAC THRILLER (J Hamilton) 17-2 1; Sports Coach 9-2 2; Managing Director 6-1 3; Ventura Express 14-1 4. f17 ran. (M Walford). 3-1f Lethal Nymph. ½, ½, shd. Tote: £10.40; £2.60, £2.00, £1.80, £3.50. Exacta: £75.70. Tricast: £276.57. Trifecta: £886.10. CSF: £49.77. 2.00: STRATUSNINE (James Doyle) 100-30f 1; Coul Angel 33-1 2; Air Force One 9-1 3; Veblen Good 18-1 4. 21 ran. (H Palmer). ½, nk, nk. Tote: £4.34; £1.70, £9.80, £2.10, £5.20. Ex: £263.60. Tricast: £1017.19. Trifecta: £3361.60. CSF: £136.05. NR: Fivethousandtoone. 2.35: ITEM (R Hornby) 3-1 1; Pride Of Arras 9-1 2; Damysus 5-4f 3. 5 ran. (A Balding). 2¾, ½. Tote: £4.00; £1.80, £3.50. Ex: £22.10. Trifecta: £57.20. CSF: £25.54. 3.05: DWINDLING FUNDS (P Mulrennan) 5-1 1; Final Night 10-1 2; Barley 25-1 3. 15 ran. (J Goldie). 4-1f Son. ¾, shd. Tote: £6.00; £2.00, £3.80, £7.40. Ex: £78.00. Tricast: £1207.54. Trifecta: £1439.00. CSF: £54.40. NRs: Barry’s Boy, Paladin. 3.42: ROGUE JEWEL (D Tudhope) 11-1 1; Gladys Pugh 16-1 2; Nour 100-30 3. 6 ran. (E Bethell). 5-2f Desert Smoke. shd, nk. Tote: £12.00; £3.40, £4.30. Ex: £92.20. Trifecta: £341.60. CSF: £146.02. 4.17: LIKEALOT (Rossa Ryan) 100-30f 1; Tycoon 6-1 2; Wahdan 11-1 3. 10 ran. (R Beckett). 7½, 3½. Tote: £4.34; £1.60, £2.40, £3.70. Ex: £22.70. Tricast: £198.69. Trifecta: £185.10. CSF: £23.49. 4.52: FLIGHT CONTROL (Rossa Ryan) 7-2 1; Mr Noble 7-2 2; Toastmaster 5-1 3. 12 ran. (K Frost). 100-30f Return Of The Gods. hd, 3¾. Tote: £4.50; £1.60, £2.00, £1.90. Ex: £21.90. Tricast: £65.03. Trifecta: £89.00. CSF: £16.52. NRs: Dacres Cross, Keep An Eye On It, Zarvali. Placepot: £4,636.80. Quadpot: £399.70.
big Budapest blunder
McEvoy
IN BUDAPEST
A BIG cheer and then Lewis Hamilton was left shaking his head. From a likely pole position one moment to demotion down the grid a couple of hours later, his world championship hopes were rocked in Hungary. However, not as badly so as first appeared as the stewards intervened and shuffled the pack again long after qualifying had ended. The first jab to Hamilton was Lando Norris snatching the front spot from him with a late ambush. The second punch came in the stewards’ room, where Hamilton was inevitably penalised for inadvertently impeding McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Hamilton was relegated from second on the grid to fifth. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who qualified fourth, was elevated to third. For an hour or so. That is how the pendulum appeared to have swung against Hamilton, who is 45 points off the Italian after 10 rounds. But it rocked back his way, when Antonelli was himself reversed three places for failing to slow under yellow flags brought about by Max Verstappen spinning his Red Bull. So the Italian will start seventh. Still, it was a case of unlucky Lewis. He was let down by his Ferrari team not warning him that Piastri was coming up fast behind him, and now he has it all to do to register the big points that looked to be his for the taking from his original second spot. Before his setbacks, Hamilton seemed to think he had qualified first, judging by how he pulled into parc ferme next to the marker with No 1 on it. Norris was still out on track and piecing together his smooth assault on the top, a chance he was gifted by Hamilton being unable to improve on his first run that had temporarily put him in command. Barely any driver was conjuring
SPORT IN BRIEF
Commonwealth Games
SWIMMING — Men’s 50m Backstroke Final: 1 P Coetze (Rsa) 24.18s, 2 O Morgan (Eng) 24.48, 3 R van Renen (Rsa) 24.51. Cycling
TOUR DE FRANCE — Stage 20 (Le Bourg d’Oisans - Alpe d’Huez, 171.0km): 1 R Carapaz (Ecu) EF Education-EasyPost 4hrs 59mins 39secs, 2 R Evenepoel (Bel) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe +26s, 3 S Kuss (US) Team Visma | Lease a Bike +31, 16 T Pidcock (GB) Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team +9:03. Overall: 1 T Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates-XRG 72hrs 53mins 22secs, 2 R Evenepoel (Bel) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 06:26, 3 I del Toro (Mex) UAE Team Emirates-XRG +9:42, 9 T Pidcock (GB) Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team +29:28, 21 A Yates (GB) UAE Team Emirates-XRG +1:51:59. Football
extra speed in the closing stages, bar Norris, who pipped Hamilton by 0.012sec. The No 1 marker was moved in front of the world champion’s McLaren. No 2 was placed by the red car. Then came Hamilton’s summons to the stewards at 6pm local time, a precursor to all that ensued. ‘We’ve been doing a great job all weekend,’ Hamilton said, slow to raise much cheer in the immediate aftermath, distracted by the prospect of his incoming penalty. ‘I felt solid throughout qualifying and, for some reason, we went out first, which I don’t think was the right call. For some reason, the grip wasn’t there then.’
Barrow 2 Blackpool 0; Bath City 2 Newport 2; Bolton 0 Everton 0; Boston Utd 1 Peterborough 0; Bromley 3 Crystal Palace 0; Celtic 2 AC Milan 2; Chorley 0 Accrington Stanley 3; Crewe 1 Birmingham 2; Eastleigh 0 Crawley Town 1; FC Porto L Aston Villa L; Forest Green 1 Cardiff 5; Gainsborough Trinity 0 Doncaster 0; Gateshead 1 Newcastle 1; Harrogate Town 2 Doncaster 2; Hartlepool 0 Grimsby 3; Konyaspor 0 Hull 3; Luton 2 Al Kholood 0; Malaga L Leicester L; Marine 3 Preston North End 0; Port Vale L Murcia L; QPR 3 Fiorentina 2; Rotherham 0 Sheff Utd 2; Salford City 3 Dundee Utd 2; Scarborough Athletic 0 Barnsley 2; Shrewsbury 1 West Brom 4; Southend 1 Leyton Orient 1; Stevenage 1 Millwall 0; Strasbourg L Blackburn L; Swindon 1 Bristol City 3; Truro City 0 Plymouth 1; Watford 3 Hansa Rostock 0; Wealdstone 2 MK Dons 0; Weston-S-Mare 0 Exeter 2; Woking 0 Reading 2; Wolves L Real Sociedad L; Wycombe 3 Yeovil 2; Wycombe XI 3 Portsmouth 1. Golf
One extra positive for Hamilton was that the Silver Arrows were a shadow of their formerly domi- nant selves. Instead, Hamilton’s team-mate Charles Leclerc was third fastest, later promoted to second, ultimately one place ahead of Piastri. George Russell, in the second Mercedes, was only seventh quickest. He had to abandon his car on his way into the pits, a water leak hav- ing sprung his latest dose of bad luck. He will be fitted with a new engine for this afternoon#s race. After all the snakes and lad- ders, Russell starts sixth.
Kelly (US) 66 68 68; C Percy (Aus) 63 68 71; 205 — P Baker 69 69 67; 206 — D Fichardt (SA) 70 68 68; 207 — E Els (SA) 65 71 71; P Perez (US) 65 75 67; M Brier (Aut) 67 69 71;. ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open (Dundonald Links, Gailes, Ayrshire) — 3rd rnd (Gbr & Irl unless stated, Par 72): 204 — J Shin (Kor) 66 67 71; 209 — P Anannarukarn (Tha) 71 69 69; 211 — E Henseleit (Ger) 70 68 73; E Hara (Jpn) 70 70 71; 213 — A-Lim Kim (Kor) 67 72 74; 214 — M Yamashita (Jpn) 70 74 70; L Coughlin (US) 66 74 74; 216 — A Yang (Kor) 76 69 71; R Zhang (US) 73 72 71; R O’Toole (US) 73 72 71. Rugby League
BETFRED SUPER LEAGUE LEIGH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 WARRINGTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 T: Armstrong, Lam, Senior T: Sipley Ofahengaue, Hanley Hopoate G: Cook 4 G: Irwin 2 TOULOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .L CATALANS DRAGONS . . . . . . . . . . .L
YORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 HUDDERSFIELD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 T: Nofoaluma, Galeano T: Jagger, Lolohea Thompson, Inman Wrench, Woolford G: Bennison 3 G: Flanagan 4
P W D L F A Pts Leeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 15 0 4 656 292 30 Wakefield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 15 0 5 555 340 30 Wigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 15 0 5 587 375 30 Warrington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 13 0 6 478 328 26 Leigh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 13 0 7 458 378 26 Hull K R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 12 0 7 548 323 24 St Helens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 12 0 8 452 426 24 Catalans Dragons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 8 0 11 389 573 16 Toulouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 7 0 12 416 480 14 Castleford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 7 0 13 372 610 14 York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 6 0 14 396 581 12 Bradford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 6 0 13 354 547 12 Hull . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 5 0 15 337 441 10 Huddersfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 3 0 17 311 615 6
Grand Prix
GRID POSITION
1
Lando Norris
1min 17.207secs
2
Lewis Hamilton *
+0.012
3
Charles Leclerc
+0.238
4
Kimi Antonelli **
+0.272
5
Oscar Piastri
+0.477
6
Max Verstappen
+0.518
DRIVERS’ TITLE RACE 1 K Antonelli (Mercedes) 204pts 2 L Hamilton (Ferrari) 159pts 3 G Russell (Mercedes) 126pts 4 C Leclerc (Ferrari) 103pts 5 L Norris (McLaren) 92pts 6 O Piastri (McLaren) 91pts
TODAY 2pm: Live (Sky Sports F1). 6.30pm: Highlights (Channel 4)
n FORMULA ONE will stage the ‘Bahrain Grand Prix’ in Malaysia in a strange twist to the war- interrupted world championship calendar. Daily Mail Sport understands the replacement venue will be confirmed today and be held on October 4 between the Azerbaijan and Singapore rounds. The race will carry the name of the Gulf kingdom, which was due to host its event in April before America and Israel attacked Iran, in an agreement brokered between Crown Prince Salman of Bahrain and the King of Malaysia. Retaliatory strikes on American military bases in the Middle East have made it impossible to restage the fixture in the region and the plan to switch it to Sepang Inter- national Circuit — an eight-hour flight from Bahrain — was met with Formula One’s full support. The Bahrain-bankrolled event will extend the season to 23 races, though that number would be trimmed if the concluding two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi on November 29 and December 6 also fall victim to hostilities. In that case, a single extra race would be added in Imola, mostly likely on the earlier of the two vacated dates, thus restoring the world championship to 22 rounds.
Tennis
ATP Generali Open (Kitzbuhel, Austria) Final: Q Halys (Fra) bt A Bublik (Kaz) 6-4 7-6 (8-6). WTA Livesport Prague Open (Prague, Czech Republic) — Semi Finals: D Snigur (Ukr) bt T Valentova (Cz) 7-6 (7-4) 6-3; L Tagger (Aut) bt B Krejcikova (Cz) 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-4). WTA MSC Hamburg Ladies Open (Hamburg Germany) — Semi Finals: A Bondar (Hun) bt E Avanesyan (Arm) 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 7-6 (7-2) T Korpatsch (Ger) bt M Sherif (Egy) 6-1 2-0 Retired. Today’s Action
CRICKET — One-Day Cup - Group A, 11 .00: Gloucestershire v Kent (Bristol). Leicestershire v Lancashire (Grace Road). Somerset v Warwickshire (Taunton). Surrey v Northamptonshire (Guildford). Group B: Essex v Derbyshire (Chelmsford). Middlesex v Glamorgan (Radlett, 11.00). Sussex v Yorkshire (Hove). Worcestershire v Hampshire (New Road). RUGBY LEAGUE — Betfred Super Lge (3.0): Leeds v Bradford.
L
IN NASHVILLE
IVERPOOL fans are
already growing used to the
sight of Andoni Iraola as
their new head coach but
when he took charge of his
first match last night in a
friendly against Sunderland in
Nashville, he was flanked by sev-
eral faces who will be unfamiliar
to the Anfield faithful.
From a fitness coach who has
been with Iraola since way back,
two former defenders with nearly
800 Football League appearances
between them and a former Napoli
goalkeeping guru, this is the team
behind the Basque, who has been
charged with taking Liverpool
back to the top.
The best place to start is with
right-hand man and Liverpool fan
Tommy Elphick, who follows
Iraola from Bournemouth along-
side Shaun Cooper and Pablo de la
Torre. Scrolling back through the
archives revealed an article from
the Brighton Argus in 2011 when a
young Elphick, then playing for
the Seagulls in the Championship,
said his ultimate dream was a trip
to Anfield.
Elphick takes his lessons in lead-
ership from another former
Bournemouth boss, Eddie Howe,
who he played under as captain of
and a former Bournemouth skipper who can help Iraola bring the good times back to Liverpool
the Cherries. The 38-year-old is rated so highly that Championship clubs Bristol City and Burnley both reportedly made moves this summer to take him on as head coach. Elphick was a boisterous voice in a playing career that also saw him play for Aston Villa and Hudders- field — and sometimes was unclear what certain managers were ask- ing of him. But the clarity of Howe’s messaging inspired Elphick to go into coaching when he was forced to retire at just 33 following his 10th operation. Elphick was working as Under 21s manager at Bournemouth when his big break came in 2022- 23. Gary O’Neil was promoted to head coach and Elphick was invited to be part of his backroom
staff. ‘We went in, took the hand- brake off and went for it,’ he said in 2023. When O’Neil was sacked despite keeping the Cherries up, Elphick knew that most of the squad felt disillusioned and that the decision was harsh. This was when he earned his corn — sources say he was crucial in getting everybody back on board. The new man, Iraola, had wanted to bring over his Rayo Vallecano No 2 Inigo Perez but it was not allowed due to a work permit issue. Perez has since taken the top job at Rayo and led them to the Europa Conference League final last season, earning him a move to Villarreal this summer. Iraola likes to manage from a distance so Elphick and fellow
coach Cooper had a responsibility to take training sessions and to get to know players on a deeper level. When Bournemouth won none of the first nine games of Iraola’s ten- ure, the coaches stayed calm. On a matchday, Iraola likes to sit in between Elphick and Cooper so he can have a constant dialogue. When the head coach’s voice runs out, he nudges one of the pair to bring energy on the touchline. Cooper is a set-piece specialist. It is understood the former Bourne- mouth, Sutton and Portsmouth defender will focus on offensive, creative set plays. Elphick will take charge of defensive routines. Set-pieces are a problem area for Liverpool, who conceded 23 goals from them last season, behind only Leeds, Crystal Palace... and
20 stitches in his face after crash
By Alex Jennings
EINER RUBIO needed 20 stitches after crashing face-first into the back of a car. The Movistar rider collided with the rear windscreen of the UAE Team Emirates-XRG vehicle when it braked to avoid hitting a Tour de France spectator on Friday. Colombia’s Rubio had been 27th overall but was forced to withdraw before yesterday’s penultimate stage, won by EF Education-Easy Post’s Richard Carapaz. Rubio’s face was bandaged before he was flown to hospital and later discharged. Joxean Fernandez, who was driving the car, said: ‘A spectator suddenly ran out and fell right beneath our vehicle. My only reaction was to brake to avoid running him over.’ Rubio’s crash was not the first involving fans on this year’s Tour. On Thursday, Carapaz narrowly avoided colliding with a spectator posing for a photo. Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar is set to secure a record-equalling fifth Tour win in Paris today.
Bournemouth. Last December, set-piece guru Aaron Briggs paid for it with his job, while set-piece analyst Lewis Mahoney stepped up and has earned plaudits. ‘Shaun is coming up with loads of different set-pieces, he has new ones for us to try each game,’ said Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie in 2024. Last term, they scored 20 goals from set-pieces, ranking sixth, but at the other end con- ceded the most in the division. ‘I was very lucky with Tommy and Shaun when I arrived at Bournemouth,’ said Iraola when quizzed on this topic this week in Chicago. ‘They were very pre- pared, very helpful for me in terms of understanding English culture, the mentality of players, what they were used to, what they
like in training, the small details that maybe in Spain are different. ‘Also the experience Tommy has at Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brighton, Huddersfield, they can be in a closer position to players, they can feel more identified. I am a bit older. Some of the players maybe didn’t know I was a player. ‘So they are very good to me, very good coaches, we kind of understand the game similarly and they have different roles in the coaching staff. That’s the rea- son I continued with them.’
MAIN MAN:
Former
Bournemouth
boss Iraola will
again work
alongside
Tommy Elphick
(far left) as
Merseyside
giants
Liverpool
start their
preparations
for the new
season
Another important member of the new backroom team is De la Torre, a fitness coach who has been with Iraola since their time at AEK Larnaca in Cyprus. ‘For me, he is much more than a physi- cal coach, really,’ Iraola said. ‘He is an assistant and we know each other very well.’ De la Torre, described as a ‘fiery character’ by local reports, will have a big role this season as Iraola gets used to the constant demands of European football and competing on four fronts. Injuries
were also a big problem last term. De la Torre told Spanish newspa- per Diario AS last month: ‘Seeing that daily evolution, football wise and human wise, is one of the proudest achievements of my career. The key is building a game model and team identity where players truly believe in the coach’s idea. Beyond results, I’m proud to have been part of a group that never stopped believing, compet- ing, improving. ‘Andoni is incredibly intelligent, he leads by example, and has a rare emotional stability in such a visceral sport. His ability to read the game and its needs is almost unique.’ Iraola will also have Luiz Fer- nando Iubel by his side. The Brazil- ian works across loans, Under 21s and Under 18 straining groups and acts as a link man between all groups. Iubel was formerly assis- tant manager at Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro and joined Liver- pool last September. Completing the backroom set-up is goalkeeping coach Alejandro Rosalen, who won two Serie A titles at Napoli.
praises Argentina
FIFA President Gianni Infantino shamelessly praised Argentina’s ‘professionalism’ in a tone-deaf letter to the nation’s FA — despite launching an investigation into their behaviour after losing the World Cup final against Spain. While congratulatory letters are customary after the World Cup, with all three medal- winning nations receiving one from Infantino, his choice of words is questionable. In the letter — first leaked by the Argentine media and since verified by Daily Mail Sport — sent to the president of the Argentine FA, Claudio Tapia, Infantino sends ‘sincere congratulations’ on the ‘magnificent performance’ of
painful for Howe
EDDIE HOWE insists he does
not know what will happen
with Newcastle midfielder
Bruno Guimaraes’ future.
Arsenal are weighing up a
£70million offer for Guimaraes,
who has told Newcastle he
wants to leave and join the
Premier League champions.
Newcastle, who lost Sandro
Tonali to Tottenham for £100m
earlier this summer, insist the
Brazilian is not for sale and
have yet to receive a formal
approach. But Howe said: ‘Look
I don’t know what is going to
happen with Bruno’s future,
that is for other people to
speculate about.
‘I’ve spoken to Bruno before,
during and after the World Cup.
We have had some really good
conversations. He’s just a
fantastic person.
‘There’s conversations I’m not
part of. I don’t think it’s fair to
hits back at Defoe
WOKING director of football Jody Brown hit out at Jermain Defoe after he resigned as manager at the National League club earlier this week. Sources told Daily Mail Sport that Defoe did not turn up to take training on Thursday and called the club to inform them he would be stepping down after four months in charge. One source indicated there was internal conflict between Defoe and a member of the Woking hierarchy. And Brown — who has faced criticism from Woking fans — has shifted the blame onto Defoe. In a statement, Brown said: ‘In recent weeks there had been feedback from across the club, including players, staff and
Lionel Scaloni’s team and adds: ‘These victories are always the fruit of constant work, professionalism and attention to detail, but also of passion, commitment and love for this wonderful sport. ‘All this augurs a very promising future and, without a doubt, will pave the way for new and great successes for Argentine football.’ Argentina’s Leonardo Paredes attacked Spain’s Eric Garcia in a post-final fracas last Sunday that also appeared to involve Argentina stars Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada, along with assistant coach Roberto Ayala.
compare (to Alexandeer Isak’s protracted move to Liverpool last summer). ‘You’ve got to look at it in its own right. He’s captain of our club and been an unbelievable player, through the whole time we have worked together. ‘I speak on behalf of everyone at the club, we absolutely love him and of course everyone would love him to stay. ‘He’s due back in on the 31st, and there’s nothing to say that he won’t be back. ‘We don’t want to lose our best players. That’s an obvious statement to make. Losing those big two (Tonali and potentially Guimaraes) is painful for us and difficult. For me, it’s been another challenging summer so far.’
other departments, regarding growing concerns. ‘To better understand the situation, I asked Jermain and Paul (assistant Bracewell) for a brief report outlining the squad’s depth, recruitment targets and any operational challenges. That report was requested on more than one occasion but never received. ‘A meeting was subsequently scheduled involving directors, manager, assistant manager and head of operations to review preparations for the season. Neither Jermain nor his assistant attended that meeting or that day’s training session.’
T
was gripped by
mania
made him Anfield’s first
global star... and why he left
HE span of an extra-
ordinary life, full of so
m a n y
i n d e l i b l e
moments, has perhaps
obscured the over-
whelming significance
of the six truly golden years which
concluded with Kevin Keegan
boarding a plane at Liverpool’s
Speke Airport in 1977, destined for
the European Cup final, which he
would look back on as perhaps his
crowning glory.
There were the Newcastle
United chapters and the two
European Footballer of the Year
awards at Hamburg but Keegan’s
Liverpool years were his best of
times, preceding a departure
which showed him to be a man
ahead of those times.
He famously sat on a dustbin out-
side Anfield, awaiting an audience
with his beloved Bill Shankly
before signing for £33,000 in 1971,
going on to become the club’s first
global star: the face of Brut, Pirelli
slippers, Smiths crisps and the
Green Cross Code, partying at
George Best’s Slack Alice
nightclub and possessing the most
famous autograph in football. Yet
the belief Shankly had instilled in
him made him seek more.
Though few fully appreciated
the fact, it was a glimpse of
Barcelona’s ambition when Liver-
pool travelled there in 1976 which
made Keegan view the continent
as an adventure in a way few of his
contemporaries — and certainly
not Best, whose path to superstar-
dom he was following — ever did.
Keegan looked around the vast
Nou Camp dressing rooms,
the club’s little chapel and the
magnificent surface of the pitch
and wanted some of the same.
Liverpool won that night — 1-0,
in the semi-final of the UEFA Cup,
which they went on to win. But that summer was also full of Johan Cruyff’s new £10,000-a-week contract at Ajax, while the best-paid British players had an 82 per cent domestic super tax rate to contend with. Keegan’s £2,000 bonus for his con- tribution to the 1975-1976 title-win- ning season was reduced to £400 after tax — and then there were surtax demands from the previous year. It was agreed he would give Liverpool one more year and they would do all they could to find him a club that suited him. Keegan’s extraordinary zest for life, and his extraordinary commercial appeal, was laid bare in the summer before that final season — his apotheosis, really. In one week, he racked up 1,000 miles for a promotional trip to the Isle of
Man, studio analysis for London Weekend Television’s live coverage of the Czechoslovakia v West Germany European Championship final, an appear- ance in an all-star XI against Brazil and a fete opening in Rhyl. After the legendary bicycle crash on the cinder track in BBC’s Superstars, he collected his prize money from the competition, col- lapsed from nervous exhaustion at Newport Pagnell services on the way home and spent three days on an intravenous drip in hospital. ‘He’s young but I hope he’ll learn he can’t move mountains,’ said his manager, Bob Paisley, after those chaotic few weeks, but Keegan recovered to complete what he always considered his finest season at Liverpool, helping them to their first European Cup as man- of-the-match against Borussia Monchengladbach in 1977. He delivered them that season’s First Division title, too. Against Arsenal during the run-in, it was Keegan who pounced on goal- keeper Jimmy Rimmer’s failure to collect the ball and scored. In a controversially physical match at Ipswich that same spring, it was
GLORY NIGHT:
Keegan is held
aloft by jubilant
fans after
Liverpool’s
UEFA Cup
triumph in 1973
HAPPY HOUR: Keegan and Emlyn Hughes as Liverpool win the FA Cup in 1974
Keegan who scored the decisive goal. Such contributions were so commonplace that they barely carried the headlines. Hamburg signed him, offering £500,000 up front in cash on the weekend of the 1977 FA Cup final, which Liverpool lost. He over- came a language barrier, manifest when he and his wife, Jean, tried to buy a fuse in a German hard- ware store and were reduced to gesturing what they wanted. The shopkeeper brought out a plug. When the Keegans said ‘nein, nein’, he disappeared and returned with a Christmas tree. He was twice named European Footballer of the Year during three years there. ‘I took the view that the footballer’s life was short and every chance should be seized,’ he later said of that move. Yet it is an abiding curiosity that Keegan would win only one more trophy — the 1979 Bundesliga title with Hamburg. He was always moving on and — with the excep- tion of the England manager’s job, which he considered his one great mistake — never up. Those six playing years at Liver- pool, which delivered three league titles, three European trophies and an FA Cup, were by far as long-term and successful as it got. Paisley was the one who scouted him and solved the problem of his repeated foot discomfort during the early 1970s, eventually getting Keegan’s green Ford Capri stripped down to establish that the clutch pedal was too stiff. But Shankly was the father figure and motivator, who made him feel he
could move mountains. In one of Keegan’s last broadcast inter- views, with the BBC, he said his ‘best experience’ as a footballer had been meeting Shankly. ‘That’s what changed my life,’ he said. ‘One person. He just believed in me and saw something I never saw in myself. I have to thank him, really, for everything.’ I last saw Keegan eight years ago and the old lustre was still very much there. He told me he had been ‘a five-year person’ who had always looked to move on. ‘Wherever I’ve been, I’ve never stayed,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t say I get bored but I think I’m much better at building things. I don’t see the point of sticking around when you’re not going anywhere. The minute you’re not going for- ward, what’s the point in sticking around? Reinvent yourself. Con- trol your destiny. Try to move on.’ But Anfield was his refuge. The place where he grew up, stayed longest and found fame. ‘Liverpool made me, not just as a footballer but as a person,’ he reflected. ‘The fans made me. When they started singing my name! What am I, 5ft 7in with Cuban-heeled boots? But because of them I was 6ft 6in. ‘Every time I go back, I go past my old digs. You can’t take the memories away.’ He was the last man to board the plane at Speke for his last Liverpool dance — that European Cup final in Rome — and thousands gathered at the little terminal to witness the moment. It was an adoration surpassing Beatlemania.
e x p e n s i v e
because of his
demands to be
paid close to top-
e a r n e r
K y l i a n
Mbappe as well as try-
ing to negotiate a sizeable loyalty
bonus.
Vinicius’ new coach Jose Mour-
inho is unlikely to stand in the way
of any deal.
He rates the 26-year-old hugely,
and their falling-out last season,
over a racial abuse controversy at
Real Madrid’s Champions League
play-off against Benfica, is not
seen as a barrier to their forming
a good working relationship. But
Mourinho is also aware the play-
er’s departure would relieve him
of a tactical conundrum that
neither Carlo Ancelotti nor Xabi
Alonso before him could properly
solve.
Madrid’s last two campaigns
have been stifled by the problem
of fitting Vinicius and Mbappe into
the same attack-heavy team with-
out diminishing their individual
powers. Both want to occupy the
same parts of the pitch and enjoy
limited defensive responsibilities.
Vinicius and Mbappe have also
not gelled off the pitch. Last sea-
son Mbappe blamed the Brazilian
for helping to get Alonso the sack.
He wanted the now-Chelsea man-
ager to stay at the club but a very
public tantrum from Vinicius
early in the season when he was
substituted by Alonso in the first
league meeting with Barcelona
undermined the coach’s authority.
It was a blow from which Alonso
never really recovered and he was
sacked in January despite Mbappe
jetting out to Saudi Arabia, while
not fully fit, to play in the Spanish
Super Cup and try to help Alonso
save his job by winning the trophy.
The relationship between
Mbappe and Vinicius — the two
biggest personalities in the Real
Madrid dressing room — only
adds to the problems thrown up by
their on-field incompatibility.
When Mourinho arrived at Real
Madrid for his first stint in charge
of the club in 2010 he also thinned
out a difficult dressing room, with
club legends Raul and Guti mov-
ing on albeit towards the end of
their careers.
Vinicius’ departure would upset
some factions of Real Madrid’s
support mindful of his importance
in the Champions League con-
millions hold the key to Arsenal’s Vinicius dream
quests of 2022 and 2024 when he scored in both finals. But the player was also whistled at various points of last season, first for the petulance shown when Alonso substituted him in that El Clasico, and then subsequently as part of a general disappointment at the way Madrid’s season so badly disintegrated. Some fans might fear what he will do at the Emirates, arriving in London in his prime aged 26. But the majority will back the club’s call to cash in and celebrate the new arrivals he paves the way for.
If 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande is the first of those then Madrid will be welcoming a player happy to play on the right of the attack where he featured last season for RB Leipzig. It will help Mourinho’s balancing act. A shadow was cast over Mourin- ho’s relationship with Vinicius last season when he failed to support the Brazilian winger after he accused Benfica’s Gianluca Pres- tianni of racially abusing him. After scoring for Madrid in the first leg of a Champions League play-off against Benfica in Febru-
ary, Vinicius celebrated in front of home fans at the Estadio da Luz. He said he was then racially abused by Prestianni, who covered his mouth and called him a mon- key multiple times. Mbappe was one of several Real Madrid play- ers who backed Vinicius’ claims. Post-game, Mourinho said he could not decide between the opposing accounts of what hap- pened and he criticised the way Vinicius had celebrated his goal prior to the alleged abuse. ‘It happens in so many stadiums’ Mourinho said of his goal celebra-
MAVERICK MEGASTARS: Accommodating the big personalities of both Vinicius (left) and Mbappe (above) is a challenge for Real Madrid
tion. ‘I told him on the pitch: “You score an out-of-this world goal, why do you celebrate like that? Why don’t you cele- brate like Di Ste- fano, Pele, Eusebio”, it’s always the same.’ The implication, intended or oth- erwise, that Vinicius had in some way brought abuse on himself by celebrating in a provocative way — and coming from the master of provocative celebration himself — did not go down well in the Vin- icius camp. There were no subsequent olive branches and Vinicius’ arrival back at Real Madrid training, scheduled for tomorrow, would be their first public coming together since last season’s play-offs. Any lingering bad feeling on the part of Vinicius will not be enough to sour their relationship going forward, providing the player is front and centre of Mourinho’s plans. But that is something that cannot be guaranteed as long as Mbappe remains Real Madrid’s most important player. If Arsenal do follow through on their interest, the final word will be had by Florentino Perez, Real Madrid’s recently re-elected pres- ident. Perez did not blink when Juventus made a €105million (£90m) offer for Cristiano Ronaldo back in 2018. Ronaldo was 33 when he was sold by Madrid, not Vinicius’ age of 26, but there is a sense that Madrid is a club with one too many maver- ick megastars needing the team to be built around them. The main reason Vinicius’ con- tract talks with Real Madrid stalled last season was his demand to receive a new wage close to Mbappe’s. Meeting that demand would mean Real offering a new deal worth €30m (£26m) a season plus a loyalty bonus of €15m (£12.8m) — neither of which Arsenal would have to match. And the alternative, if the saga drags on, would be to lose the player for free in 2027. Vinicius moving to London is an option Madrid will be very open to exploring if Arsenal decide to go all-in for a player who would send their title defence into overdrive.
T
By James Sharpe
HANKS a bunch, Morgan. Kick the hornets’ nest, why don’t you. ‘I am joining the biggest club in London,’ declared Morgan Rogers after completing his £117mil- lion British record transfer to Chelsea from Aston Villa. Perhaps he genuinely means it. Perhaps you’re contractually obliged to say it when your new club fork out quite so much for you. Elliot Anderson did his bit after his £116m move to Manchester City, too. ‘For as long as I’ve known, Manchester, City have been the Kings of Manches- ter,’ said the lad born in 2002. Anyway, back to London. Rogers’ bold claim about a club that finished 33 points behind actual Premier League champions Arsenal last season stoked up all the old feelings and arguments. So, who ARE the biggest club in London? Daily Mail Sport have donned a tin hat and bravely taken it upon ourselves to provide the definitive answer to the most divisive of questions…
TROPHIES
WHAT do the biggest clubs do? They win stuff. And the more you win, the more your reputation grows, as do your coffers, and your size. But it also depends on what you win. A case full of League Cups and Commu- nity Shields is far less impressive than one of Premier League trophies and European Cups. Arsenal have more than double the league titles of Chelsea, won over a far longer period of time, and almost twice as many FA Cups. Domestically, there is only one winner. Only, isn’t being champions of Europe (or the world) bigger than being cham- pions of England? Arsenal’s continental shortcoming is their glaring weak spot. The biggest clubs have won the European Cup. Arsenal haven’t. A penalty shootout against Paris Saint-Germain away from glory, of course, but Tottenham have won a European trophy more recently, so have West Ham, so have Crystal Palace. Chelsea have two Champions Leagues, two Europa Leagues, even a Conference League. They boasted that they are the only club in history to win every major European trophy, which, more than anything, made you spare a thought for fans of the Inter Cities Fairs Cup. As soon as Gabriel sent his penalty high into the stands, Chelsea posted an invitation to book a stadium tour at ‘London’s Home of Trophies’, with Big Ears front and centre. They are two-time Club World Cup winners, too, which sounds cool but is only starting to feel important now that there’s £100m to win.
VERDICT: TIE
LEAGUE POSITION
GRAVITAS comes with a weight of history, too. That all but one of Chelsea’s league titles have been since 2005, with a Russian oligarch signing bigger cheques than
here’s the proof that Arsenal are really the biggest club in London
record signing a history lesson…
anyone else, will tell you that time is on Arsenal’s side. Since Arsenal joined the Football League in 1893, their average league position is 8.3. Across Chelsea’s history, theirs is 12.7. Tottenham’s is 11.7. Across the 110 seasons in which both clubs have existed, Arsenal have finished higher in 77 of them. Even in the Premier League era, when Chelsea stormed to power, the two clubs have split a higher finish 17 times apiece, though 16 of those for the Blues’ came across an 18-season period from 2004-05 to 2022-23. However, Arsenal’s average position of 3.8 across the entire Premier League era still betters Chelsea’s of 5. And even now Arsenal are current champions, after finishing second three times, during which time Chelsea finished 10th and 12th.
VERDICT: ARSENAL
STADIUM AND CROWD
THERE’S simply no comparison between the Emirates Stadium, which Arsenal moved into in 2006, and Stamford Bridge. Bigger, better, fuller. There was a brief five-year period before Arsenal’s move during which Chelsea boasted the marginally bigger crowds but, across history, the Gunners have had the greater attendances. Chelsea’s average crowd even dropped below 13,000 in the early 1980s. Until Chelsea get an exten- sion, or move, they cannot com- pete with Arsenal. Or Tottenham. Yes, you can suggest, as the club’s supporters’ trust did during the malaise of Wenger’s final years, that Arsenal have not always been completely honest with their attendance figures — filled seats or tickets sold — but when the club’s fans come out they
do so in force. Islington Council estimated more than a million people turned up for their Premier League title bus parade. When Chelsea had theirs in 2015, official numbers were around 70,000. Around 200,000 turned up for their first under Jose Mourinho in 2005.
SPENDING POWER
THE biggest clubs splash the big- gest cash, right? Few spend it like Chelsea. As we saw with Rogers, they have the power to do it from right under Arsenal’s noses. What began under Abramovich has continued into the BlueCo years. Chelsea’s net spend — that’s NET spend — over the past five years is more than £800m, nearly £150m more than any other Premier League side and £262m more than Arsenal.
Chelsea announced a Premier League-record pre-tax loss of £262.4m earlier this year for the 2024-25 season. They have spent well over a billion but not much of it well. Kieran Maguire, the football finance expert, recently listed the biggest wage bills in Premier League history, adjusted for football inflation and the spending power clubs had at the time. Chelsea made up eight of the top 10 with all their seasons from 2003-04 to 2010-11 at the height of their Abramovich era. Arsenal’s first appearance on the list, their 2011-12 season, is in 51st place. Ahead of them are 16 different Chelsea seasons, 17 Manchester United seasons, 12 Manchester City seasons and five Liverpool seasons. And yet over previous two sets of results, Arsenal have blown Chelsea out of the water in terms of their revenue: £691m to £491m.
Declan Rice is the only Arsenal signing of more than £100m. Chelsea now have three: Rogers, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernan- dez. Their top seven all come in higher than Arsenal’s second most expensive arrival in £72m Nicolas Pepe. If they are to get Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle, they will have to go higher than that.
VERDICT: CHELSEA
BIG spending brings big names and big managers. In the Premier League era, Arsenal have had Wenger, Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta in the dugout. Chelsea have had Mourinho (twice), Carlo Ancelotti, Rafa Benitez, Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel. The biggest names in the game. But
then they have also had Graham Potter and Liam Rosenior. On the pitch, few have ever had the aura of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp or Patrick Vieira. Saka will be next. Chelsea will point to Didier Drogba and Eden Hazard. And Cole Palmer, perhaps? Arsenal have taken a couple of Chelsea’s cast-offs in recent years, too, with Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke, and yet they are both
PEOPLE POWER: Arsenal’s league title celebration this year attracted a crowd five times the size of Chelsea’s 21 years ago
now champions. Arsenal lead the way, too, when it comes to produc- ing England stars. Rice, Madueke, Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze’s involvement in the World Cup quarter-final against Norway, took the club past 1,000 caps for Arsenal players. Chelsea, the first club to field an all-foreign team, in 1999, stand at less than 750.
Rogers seals £117m Chelsea deal... then takes aim at Arsenal
MORGAN ROGERS declared Chelsea are
the biggest club in London after he
became the most expensive English
player of all time by completing a £117mil
ion move to Stamford Bridge
The Blues hijacked Arsenal’s chase for the
23 year old England star open ng talks the day
after the Three Lions lost to Argentina last
Wednesday Arsenal sources cla m they were only
interested n Rogers for a maximum of £80m and
Chelsea qu ckly struck a deal w th Aston Villa to
make h m their most expensive signing surpass ng
the £106m they paid for Enzo Fernandez in 2023
As his
ov n
x
ear contract was confirmed
l
x it d For
d a
CAPITAL CLASH: Morgan Rogers’ claim on Daily Mail Sport’s back page after he signed for Chelsea for £117m
SOCIAL MEDIA
THE true test of how big a club is in the modern era is, surely, how many followers they have on social media. I would have staked everything on Arsenal winning this. Few supporter groups make their voices quite so piercingly heard than the Gunners’, and cer- tainly when they feel, as they often do, that they have been wronged or robbed. And, yet, Chelsea win on all counts. They have more follow- ers on X, Instagram, TikTok, Face- book and YouTube, to the combined tune of more than 33 million.
IT’S clear they both crave the title. Chelsea previously trademarked their ‘CFC LDN’ branding — what better way to prove you’re Lon- don’s big dogs? ‘There’s only one answer,’ replied one Arsenal source when posed the question. ‘The way Arsenal conduct them- selves comes from a place of prestige,’ a prominent agent who has dealt with both clubs tells Daily Mail Sport. ‘Chelsea have more of a big-club approach in the way they get things done. They are very much: if we want the player, we will do what it takes to get them. Put our cards on the table. That is a big-club mentality. ‘There’s definitely two different cultures, through which both see themselves as the biggest club in London but go about it in a different way. Arsenal are like your old money, slightly entitled aristocrat who can fall back on title and family history. Chelsea are the nouveau riche, super successful city worker who isn’t shy about showing off how much money they have and uses that to drive more success.’ Elon Musk might be the richest man in the world and Tesla the largest automobile company by market capitalisation, whatever that means, but good luck convinc- ing anyone they are really bigger than Mercedes or Ferrari.
VERDICT: ARSENAL
SORRY Morgan, your new club may be big spenders but most metrics confirm the Gunners are the capital’s major players. OVERALL VERDICT: ARSENAL
as Madeleine’s brother took first step towards his Olympic dream Sean McCann is forging his own path two decades on from family tragedy S
TANDING on the starting blocks of the Tollcross International Centre yesterday, Sean McCann slapped his thighs and stared down the length of the pool. His mother, Kate, was sat at the opposite end, wearing a ‘Yes Sir, I can boogie’ tee-shirt. Sean has grown up in the public eye, ever since his older sister, Madeleine, went missing in 2007 when she was three years old on a family holiday in Portugal. Sean had no control of the family headlines throughout his child- hood but here, as a 21-year-old at the Commonwealth Games, the narrative was firmly in his hands. ‘Come on Sean!’ belted his father, Gerry, clasping his hands to his mouth as his son lagged in seventh place at the first turn.
HARRY BAMFORTH
Gerry has family roots in Glasgow, meaning that Sean was eligible to represent Scotland in these games, despite being born and raised in Leicestershire. Over eight lengths in this East End pool, Sean pulled his way back up the field. Who knows what was running through his mind in the home straight, but he showed a resilient determination to finish strongly in fourth place. His time, 3mins 52.65secs, was the seventh fastest of the 400m freestyle heats, fast enough to qualify for the finals. He was paraded into the mixed
zone after the heats to face the waiting media. ‘Sean will talk about swimming and swimming only... that’s why we’re here,’ ordered the Scottish media manager. There was a look of pensiveness when a clutch of dictaphones were shoved in his face but the softly spoken student soon broke into a smile. He was asked how it felt to qualify for the final? ‘It wasn’t really an expectation coming in, especially with how strong the field was, but I’m delighted to see I’ve made it,’ came the answer. ‘I wouldn’t say I felt the pres- sure, but certainly I was nervous with so many people watching and I wanted to do not only not well for myself, but also Scotland as well. I was definitely nervous, but glad I could produce a decent swim.’
CALIFORNIA
DREAMIN’:
Sean McCann,
pictured at an
event in Majorca in
2024 (right), has
made no secret of
wanting to make
the British team for
the 2028 Olympics
Left: with parents
Gerry and Kate,
and his twin
sister Amelie
The McCann parents have repeatedly spoken of their determination to ensure that Sean and his twin sister, Amelie, who was also sat in the stands, could grow up with the most normal childhood possible. ‘Our worry is for our children,’ Kate said in 2017. ‘I think we’ve tried to educate them a little bit as well because obviously it’s not just us that has fallen victim to the downside of social media. ‘At some point you’ve got to real- ise that time is not frozen and I think both of us realise that we owed it to the twins to make sure that their life is as fulfilling as they deserve, and we have certainly tried our best to achieve that.’ Gerry also spoke about develop- ing their independence. ‘I am cer- tainly more protective than I was, but you can’t mollycoddle them,’
he said. ‘They have to be independ- ent. There is increased anxiety but we can’t let that impact on them having a normal upbringing. ‘Sean and Amelie are doing really really well; obviously they are not immune to the media, they hear things, they go to school, they hear the radio.’ Those harrowing events in Praia da Luz will always live with the family. Almost two decades later, Madeline remains missing, but Sean has reached a stage where he can forge his own path. ‘I just found from a young age I just really, really enjoy competing and I think that makes all the hard hours and training worth it,’ he said. ‘When you can come out here in front of a crowd like this and just swim as well as you can.’ Sean, cheered on by another big crowd in Glasgow, finished eighth
G
1 Australia 6 2 5 13 2 Nigeria 3 3 0 6 3 Scotland 2 2 0 4 4 England 1 4 3 8 5 Canada 1 0 2 3
TODAY’S ACTION 10.45am: Ramsey-Peaty in 50m breaststroke heats (semis tonight). 11am: Netball: England Australia. Noon: Men’s all round gymnastics. n Live on TNT Sport. Highlights: Channel 5
in last night’s 400m freestyle final. He has two years remaining of his chemical engineering degree at Loughborough University. Those who have trained with him at Loughborough, and elsewhere, make it clear this stunning progress is down to his mentality and drive to succeed. Scotland international swimmer, Charlie Hutchison, tells Daily Mail Sport: ‘He’s a workhorse, just like
TOTAL
B
everyone else in that squad. We do some disgusting training sessions, but he is never one to complain or moan. He just gets on with it. ‘This is definitely something he has worked on when he didn’t have as many people to race against and then moving to such a competitive group. Just not being demoralised and pushing forward. ‘It’s great to have him on the team as part of Team Scotland.’ Insiders have explained to Daily Mail Sport how Sean used to have to wake up at 5.15am most morn- ings to make training, with the perceived ‘higher’ squads swim- ming at more favourable times. But McCann was never one to moan, and put in the ‘hard yards’ to progress. Hutchison continues: ‘He’s on the path to do very well. His rise through the Scottish ranks was on the junior team. ‘He’s gone from strength to strength, dropping almost 12 sec- onds from when he first joined.’
These are his first senior champi- onships and he has made no secret about his ambitions of making the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. If the Scot wants that dream to become reality, he will have to take off more than five seconds from his personal best. Nevertheless, with McCann no stranger to shaving huge chunks off his best times, there is genuine belief that he has what it takes to reach the pinnacle. ‘It was amazing,’ he said after stepping out of the water in Glasgow, having done his parents proud. ‘You could hear the crowd the whole way through and it just spurred me on to really give it my all down that last hundred. ‘I think the Olympics is always a step even further, so being able to represent Scotland here is a good stepping stone. ‘Hopefully, with a good couple more years of work, I’ll put my name in the mix for the Olympics.’
IN GLASGOW
GAMES ON: Sean McCann during his 400m freestyle heat yesterday Nowacki poised to make waves and challenge Ramsay-Peaty
A NEW rivalry is bubbling under
the water in Glasgow. Adam
Ramsay-Peaty has been
untouchable in British swimming
for more than a decade but now
there is another name in the call
room.
Filip Nowacki is still waiting for
his A Level results but the
schoolboy from Millfield has
already beaten his idol’s teenage
records. In 2012, Jason Kenny
beat Chris Hoy to become the top
dog of cycling. Lamine Yamal
overcame Lionel Messi in last
week’s World Cup final.
Swimming insiders believe it is a
matter of time until Nowacki
pulls a similar stunt.
Nowacki is representing Jersey
in Glasgow. He faced
Ramsay-Peaty in the 100 metres
breaststroke last night and will
also compete in the 50m and 200m.
Side by side, they look like
David and Goliath. Nowacki is
five inches shorter and does not
have the same popping biceps.
Ramsay-Peaty changed the
game with his powerful upper
body stroke but Nowacki’s
strength is in his kick. He keeps
his hips high and moves more
gracefully than his senior, who
forces his way through the water.
‘To be racing one of the best in
the world — arguably the
greatest breaststroker of all time
— is very special to me,’ said
Nowacki.
‘He’s a true role model in the
sport. Even in the call room, he’s
just so professional and so zoned
in. Being one of the youngsters
coming through, it’s very
important to look up to people
like that. Those senior athletes
know what they’re doing. They’ve
been in that position many times
before and I think it’s important
to keep an eye on what he does.’
Nowacki will discover his
maths, economics and physics
exam results during next month’s
European Championships. Then
he plans to enrol at Loughborough
University, where he can master
DAVID v GOLIATH: Jersey’s Nowacki (left) and England’s Ramsay-Peaty
VISIT DAILYMAIL.COM/SPORT
his craft in time for the LA 2028
Olympics. Major medals are in
his sights.
‘Filip won the world junior
championships last year in a time
of 2:07.32, which would have
medalled in every senior
Olympics, bar one,’ Nowacki’s
coach, Kieron Piper, told Daily
Mail Sport. ‘He’s definitely got the
calibre, so if he stays on the same
trajectory then he will be among
the finalists at every event he
goes to.
‘Adam Peaty changed
swimming — his size and his
power. He’s the greatest of all
time by a long, long way. The
previous world record holder, Zac
Stubblety-Cook, from Australia,
isn’t as physically overbearing as
a lot of other swimmers. That’s
not uncommon.
‘Filip’s a little bit smaller than
some of his peers so he can
almost glide on the water, a bit
like a skimming stone. Compared
to some of his peers, his height
allows him to sit on top of the
water quite nicely. He is very
astute in terms of his technical
ability. He has some strong
physiological considerations that
allow him to express himself.’
Ramsay-Peaty knows a
promising swimmer when he sees
one. He has already signed up
Nowacki to his agency and will
continue to mentor his prodigy.
‘If I compare myself to 2014,
12 years ago, it’s very exciting
where Filip and his career can
go,’ said Ramsay-Peaty.
‘I’ve won everything there is to
win. If I can bring more fans to
the sport and nurture this next
generation of talent then it’s a
great position to be in. I’m not
going to shy away from the fact
that I’d love to win gold, but it’s
more about the journey now.
Don’t get me wrong, though, I’m
still going to be a scrapper.’
VINI STUNNER
shock swoop for Madrid mega-star By Simon Jones
ARSENAL have made initial enquiries over the availability of Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior. With Jose Mourinho’s side exploring the purchase of Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig, the Premier League champions have checked on the Brazilian’s status. Vinicius Jnr has the same representatives as Diomande, who was also on Arsenal’s radar, and there has been interest from Saudi Arabi over the past 12 months. The 26-year-old is in the final year of his contract and if an agreement cannot be found on a new deal, Madrid could be open to selling rather than lose him for free next summer. The deal would represent a sensational coup for Arsenal but the clubs are still to open official talks. Julian Alvarez, Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola are other strikers being looked at by Arsenal. Last year, Al Ahli were willing to offer Vinicis Jnr a €1billion five-year contract. Liverpool were also credited with interest earlier this window but are not in the mix for a player who earns around £520,000 a week.
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LEWIS HAMILTON’S title hopes were damaged — before being partially reprieved — when he was sent three places down the grid for today’s Hungarian Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion is due to start fifth with his chief rival for the title Kimi Antonelli seventh. They were previously due to line up second and fourth respectively but Hamilton, who is 45 points adrift of Mercedes’ Antonelli, was penalised for unwittingly blocking the McLaren of Oscar Piastri
By Jonathan McEvoy
IN BUDAPEST
during qualifying. Later in the evening, Antonelli was penalised by the stewards for failing to slow under yellow flags after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen spun. The upshot is that Hamilton will start two places ahead of Italian Antonelli. World champion Lando Norris is on pole with
Hamilton’s Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc promoted a place to second. Piastri is third on the grid. ‘Sometimes you can’t catch a break,’ said Hamilton, a record eight-time winner at the Hungaroring. Mercedes’ George Russell, who is 50 points behind his teenage team-mate, qualified seventh but was promoted a place ahead of him once Antonelli’s belated punishment was applied.
EXTRAORDINARY EXTENSIONS Wednesday, C4, 8pm
The British rapper Tinie Tempah, left, is also a property developer and returns for a new series of his Grand Designs-style show about extensions. First up, Tinie meets two Art Deco fans who want to turn their London terrace into a Great Gatsby-style 1920s palace. Then it’s off to Norfolk for a thatched cottage tweak.
FILM MUSIC CLASSICAL THEATRE BOOKS
ELEANOR
THE GREAT
Sunday, Sky Premiere, 2pm
Scarlett Johansson’s underrated
directorial debut stars the great
June Squibb, left, as Eleanor, a
widowed, 94-year-old Jewish
woman who moves from Florida
to Manhattan to be with her
daughter and accidentally stirs
up controversy in a Holocaust
survivors’ group. It’s an admirably
tricky subject and, whatever your
position on it, Squibb is a delight.
I
s
t
WITTIEST TV CRITIC Deborah Ross Deborah Ross
brutal assassin? She’s killing it!
an
c
Prime Video HHHHH
African Odyssey Tuesday, More4 HHHHH
did wonder if the world needed more
female assassins, as they now seem to
be everywhere. There’s probably one
crouching in a flowerbed outside your
home right now, poised to strike. Shall
I wait while you check?
All clear? Then I’ll continue. Jodie Comer
has given us a female assassin (Killing Eve),
as has Keira Knightley (Black Doves) and
Keeley Hawes (The Assassin), and now it’s
Hannah Waddingham in the comedy action
thriller Ride Or Die. I was not optimistic.
However, as I worship Waddingham, I
thought I’d give it a whirl, and it’s not a
whirl I will ever regret. This is a blast,
and a hoot, and also a sweet and
touching tale of friend hip
Octavia Spencer co-s ars,
and if that doesn’t sell i to
you, Bill Nighy makes
appearance, as doe
Cathy Tyson. Heaven.
Waddingham plays
‘Whiptail’, a deadly
assassin who, in the
James Bond-style
opening sequence, is
poised to strike not
from your flowerbed bu
from a mountain-top in
Austria. ‘Shoot, sho t,
shoot,’ her handler is telli
her (Skyfall). Then it’s
ase
on skis (On Her
est
Secret Service). Then s e p c s up a hottie working behind a bar. ‘Can I see you again?’, he asks hopefully in the morn- ing. ‘Absolutely not,’ she replies (every Bond film ever). Such gender upending isn’t new. Nothing here is, in fact, that new, and no prizes for originality will be forthcoming. But although it’s a familiar story, it’s told with confidence, gusto, swagger and wit. (It’s written by Tessa Coates.) There are some great lines. When Whiptail is told to poison
E
arly in its second 50 years, Dorset Opera embarked upon two popular favourites, firstly Donizetti’s L’Elisir D’Amore – arguably the finest Italian comedy – and secondly a tougher listen, but full of good tunes – Saint-Saens’ Samson Et Dalila. L’Elisir D’Amore has the usual Dorset Opera class about the solo roles, notably an excellent tenor, Jay Broadhurst (still only in his mid-20s), as the sad farmhand
JULIAN GUIDERA
h i k
Festival HHHHH
Nemorino, as well as Haeran Hong’s first-class Adina. If I wanted to be picky, I could perhaps suggest that the captain of the guard, Belcore, was not
OVER-PRODUCED: Richard Coles and Oti Mabuse
her next target, she despairs with: ‘It’s a oward’s game, poi- on. Where’s the show- anship?’ It’s also pered with little n- es about crime pod- casts and thrillers. (If you like cr podcasts and thrill- ers, you will definitely laugh.) On her return to London she reunites with her best friend of 20 years, Debbie (Spencer). Debbie has no idea. Debbie knows Whiptail as Judith, a forensic accountant. Debbie and Judith belong to a book club. Debbie is hosting this week and tells Judith not to stare at a fellow member who has just had a bad haircut. I mention this because it has to be the fun- niest bad haircut scene since Fleabag. (Remember Claire? And the haircut that,
ill d
especially vividly taken by Jonathan Eyers, but it is obvious the amount of work and skill that’s gone into this production. As usual, the conducting of Frank Zielhorst won good opinions, as did the singing of Stephen Harris’s chorus. More tricky in some ways is Saint-Saens’ Samson Et Dalila. Of the two challenging solo roles in this piece, Samson himself is very well sung by Won Whi Choi, making his UK debut. This is a
she said, ‘Makes me look like a pencil’? This haircut is even worse than that.) Debbie is married to a politician, David (Jamie Parker), who is tipped to be the next prime minister, thanks to Debbie. She’s the power behind the throne. He can’t even locate his nasal spray without her. Whip- tail’s career, meanwhile, isn’t going so well. Her handler, Sam (Calam Lynch), tells her that their boss, The Director (a deadpan Nighy), is no longer happy with her work. She keeps going rogue. ‘You’re a WOACA,’ Sam tells her. A what? ‘A Woman Of A Certain Age and you’ve started acting out. Is it because you are 50?’ She does not take this well. She’s allowed to redeem herself via one more job. We see her engaging in high-speed car/motorcycle chases, spiking drinks and bashing hench- men around the head with frying pans. Not bad for a WOACA. But when a gig goes side- ways and David is revealed as shady, she is forced to inform Debbie of her true profes- sion. ‘You kill people?,’ asks Debbie. ‘Only for work,’ Judith stresses. The two are
young man who, I suspect, we
will see a lot more of, and not
just in Dorset. He is a splendid
lyric tenor.
Dorset Opera has always set
itself up as a festival at which
people who want chorus singing
to a high standard will find the
casting ideal.
Of all the shows I’ve seen this
year, these are up there with the
best, and there are plenty of
singers I would expect to hear
again on a pretty regular basis.
EXCELLENT: Jay Broadhurst as
Nemorino in L’Elisir D’Amore
forced to go on the run with the false pass- ports supplied by ‘Mrs Williams’ (Tyson), whose shoe repair shop serves as a front. I love this shop. But the bottom line is: it’s a convincing friendship. You believe in this friendship. In episode two (of eight) we momentarily spool back to see how they met. It’s lonely work, being a deadly assassin, as is being the power behind the throne. Both had been lonely. Both need and cherish each other. Waddingham and Spencer are terrific and share such cracking chemistry you can overlook certain plot flaws. (Hang on, what? They’re suddenly in possession of coats and torches?) Waddingham also brings a glori- ous physicality, not just when donned in leathers but also when she gatecrashes a charity gala in an evening gown. I immedi- ately thought of the P.G. Wodehouse quote: ‘She looked as if she had been poured into her clothes and had forgotten to say “when”’. Do check this out, although not before you’ve checked out the flowerbed yet again. Better safe than sorry. I was optimistic for Oti And Richard’s South African Odyssey. Oti Mabuse (dancer) and Richard Coles (former vicar and pop star) are friends, while South Africa is her home country. I expected natural banter and a sense of connection to the country. I think there could have been natural ban- ter and a sense of connection to the country but, as with most celebrity travelogues, this was over-produced. First stop, Johannesburg, where a fella takes them off to make their own outfits from African fabric, so all we’re really seeing is a room and a sewing machine. Then it’s: here’s a dance troupe, here’s some awful stuff that happened in Soweto, here’s some nice scenery to cheer you up, here’s a boys’ choir. Coles, our man in the chinos, looks awk- ward throughout. There is a great deal of nodding thoughtfully. They do speak about themselves. Coles often refers to his late husband, who worked in South Africa. Oti meets her sister. But it’s so forced it never feels you’ve learned anything real about them or South Africa. Oti and Richard, lovely people, but this kind of over-producing would squeeze the life out of anyone. Apart from Whiptail, per- haps, who would go rogue, which is just what this show needs.
GORE-LANGTON
E
The Cherry Orchard
Swan Theatre,
Stratford-upon-Avon
Until August 29, 2hrs 35mins
HHHHH
My Fair Lady
Chichester
Festival Theatre
Until September 5, 2hrs 55mins
HHHHH
K
enneth Branagh
returns to the RSC
with a follow-up to his
recent The Tempest.
He has gone back to
his Northern Irish roots for
The Cherry Orchard, sounding
like someone from his hit film
Belfast – hair is ‘hurr’. He
plays Lopakhin, the chippy
businessman from peasant stock.
Also topping the bill is
Hollywood’s Helen Hunt as
Ranyevskaya, the grand owner
of the orchard, with her useless,
blithering brother Gaev, played
by fellow American screen star
Bill Pullman.
Chekhov, the author, was a GP.
You could argue his 1904 play is a
study in the symptoms of a
disease called life. In this case,
the human inability to face the
bleedin’ obvious. The feckless
family running the estate and its
vast cherry orchard are drowning
in debt. Burnham’s Britain
springs to mind.
Adapted by Laura Wade, the
problem here is Hunt’s bland,
very so often a singer comes along who has followed in the footsteps of a famous father or mother, but it’s still extremely rare to find one emulating both parents at once. This small club, headed by Rufus and Martha Wainwright, now has a new member: Blake Watt. A 25-year-old Londoner, Blake is the son of Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn, better known as Everything But The Girl. The name of his band, Family Stereo, alludes to his background in just the right way – with subtlety. Second-generation artists are apt to be dismissed as ‘nepo babies’. The label is always misleading (they’re not babies) and seldom fair. Did the nay- sayers disapprove of Martin Amis writing novels, or of Jeff Buckley making Grace? None of us are to blame for our parents’ choice of career. And some things do run in families, whether it’s farming or medicine or music. On the way to this debut album, Blake has wisely settled on a sound that should remind nobody of Everything But The Girl. The tender vocals, warm guitar and deft piano are closer to Nick Drake, though the mood is lighter.
JOHAN PERSSON / BRENNAN BUCCANAN
not-so-fruitful flop
fuzzy Ranyevskaya. She never
gets across the character’s
superiority or her utter horror at
Lopakhin’s (who partly worships
her) suggestion that the cherry
orchard be chopped down and the
estate developed.
There are odd moments of
real poignancy that hit home,
such as towards the end when
Varya, the bustling daughter
of the household (nicely played
by Esther Smith), waits for
The Thread
Out Friday
HHHHH
Rough Trade 50
Southbank Centre,
London
HHHHH
Family Stereo’s best songs – Remedy, Fault Lines, Tunnels – are beautifully crafted, simple but reflective. Rough Trade Records turns 50 this year, quite a feat for an indie label. It celebrated with a weekend at the Southbank Centre, headlined by Pulp (HHHHH). Jarvis Cocker and co have put on some exhilarating performances in the past 15 months, from The O2 to Glastonbury, but this one only half-worked. They played their fine comeback album More in full, with Jarvis giving each track a PowerPoint introduction. The ploy generated more laughter
a proposal that, agonisingly, never comes. But despite a decent cast – Guy Henry’s drunken landowner is a highlight – the play’s inner music is drowned out by a live score that never lets up. The evening basically lacks oomph. It’s only Branagh’s lively cocktail of exasperation and adoration that rescues this from being a flop. Making a terrific stage debut, Keziah Ibe triumphs as Eliza
than momentum, and it didn’t help when More was followed by offcuts from More. An unwritten rule of whole- album shows states that they have to finish with half-a-dozen hits. Pulp gave us some of their heavier numbers (Wicker Man, This Is Hardcore) when the crowd were crying out for Common People and Disco 2000. Their next moves should be more satisfying: in August they do two
Doolittle the flower girl in My Fair Lady. She gurns, yelps, blubs and is blessed with a fine voice. When she sings I Could Have Danced All Night I could feel this Sussex crowd swaying along. She, of course, becomes Professor
open-air shows and release a live
album from The O2 last year,
with a concert film to follow.
The star of the Rough Trade
show ended up being Green
Gartside from Scritti Politti
(HHHHH). One of pop’s more
reclusive figures managed to
play two shows in a day. ‘I’m
terrified,’ he said, ‘but we’re
having fun, aren’t we?’
We were, because Scritti’s
signature dish is still so
LACKING OOMPH: Helen Hunt and Kenneth Branagh in The Cherry Orchard. Below: Keziah Ibe in My Fair Lady
Higgins’ social experiment – to
turn her from a guttersnipe into a
duchess. She’s well matched by
Hadley Fraser’s manic, definitely-
on-the-spectrum Higgins, hurling
abuse at Eliza and hurling himself
about the stage as if he was in a
farce. He’s great and I never once
longed for Rex Harrison.
Watch out, too, for the great
Belinda Lang, pitch-perfect as
Henry’s mother, Ben Culleton’s
fine-voiced Freddy Eynsford-Hill,
and Tony Jayawardena’s Colonel
Pickering, who knows a fishy
amount about women’s dresses.
If, like me, you have a singing
Cockney allergy, then I’m Getting
Married In The Morning and
With A Little Bit Of Luck
take a bit of swallowing.
But they are company
belters, here given the
full elbow by
choreographer
Stephen Mear.
Rachel
Kavanaugh’s
production finds
in Lerner and
Loewe’s glorious
work the blend
of hilarious
abuse and deep
tenderness.
For a show
that’s so frequently
staged, it comes
over as a really
fresh, sparkling
summer treat.
distinctive. In 2026, nobody
would dream of mixing European
intellectualism with reggae and
funk. In 1984, the combination
propelled Scritti into the top ten.
Gartside still exudes gentle
charisma at 71. His voice,
grainier than it was, does justice
to the gorgeous melodies of The
Sweetest Girl, Absolute and Wood
Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin).
And when he says a new album is
coming, he gets a huge cheer.
S
omewhere around the
time you find yourself
quietly wondering
whether that really is
Ben Stiller playing a
sex-preoccupied doctor, you
realise The Dink is one of
those films that creeps up on
you. One minute you’re sighing
and thinking how silly this
flimsy tale of a former junior
tennis champion who never
lived up to his potential is, the
next you realise you’re
laughing and then laughing
again. The Dink may be silly
but it also turns out to be
engagingly funny too.
Jake Johnson, still probably
best known for playing Nick in
the TV comedy New Girl and
supplying the voice of Peter
Parker in the animated
Spiderman films, plays Dusty
‘The Hammer’ Boyd, said
former junior champion who
still likes to believe his brief
career on the pro tour would
have lasted more than one
match against Andy Roddick if
he hadn’t broken his wrist in a
freak bathroom accident.
He’s so obsessed with his own
tennis past that he’s failed to
realise what his father (Ed
Harris) sees: that the future of
tennis at their exclusive club is
threatened by the relentless
rise of pickleball. Which for
those that don’t know is played
on a smaller court with bats
and a ball with holes in it, often
by an older crowd. And the
pickleballers are demanding
more courts. ‘It’s an epidemic!’
exclaims his appalled father.
A play-off duel is fixed –
tennis against pickleball –
but it’s unclear which side
Dusty will play for, especially
once he’s met Candace
(Mary Steenburgen), who
may be 30 years his senior but
still looks lovely in a tennis
skirt. Or should that be
pickleball skirt? Who knows –
the important thing is, she
seems to like him back.
A tad unambitious it may
be, but this is a deceptively
well-made comedy with Sean
Clements’ polished screenplay
and Josh Greenbaum’s
direction joining forces to give
Steenburgen her best role for
years, draw decent cameos
from both Roddick and a
game John McEnroe and,
importantly, explain what a
dink is. Appropriately, it’s a
clever drop shot. Bit like the
film, then.
Be warned, Animal Farm
may look like a children’s
BOND
Cert: 12, 1hr 42mins Available on Apple TV HHHHH Animal Farm Cert: PG, 1hr 35mins HHHHH On The Sea Cert: 15, 1hr 51mins HHHHH
cartoon but it is indeed based on George Orwell’s politically charged satirical novella of the same name. And it remains fairly adult fare even in animated form, despite changes such as the introduction of a ‘sweet little pig called Lucky’, to serve as narrator and central character, and a change of sex for Snowball, one of the pigs who end up running the farm once Jones the human farmer, in another change, is foreclosed on by his bank rather than driven from the land by the animals he has mistreated. Orwell’s original target was communist dictators like
ENGAGINGLY FUNNY: Jake
Johnson, centre, and the
cast of The Dink
Stalin, who came to resemble the kings and tsars they had replaced. Here, however, in a version directed by Andy Serkis and set in a near-future of drones and hazmat suits, the enemies are big business and factory farming. Bet your little ones can’t wait, eh? Despite a voice-cast that includes Seth Rogen, Glenn Close and Kathleen Turner, the end result is every bit as dark and unpleasant as you might imagine and won’t work for grown-ups either. We’ve had gay cowboys in Brokeback Mountain, gay farm workers in God’s Own Country and now we have gay fishermen in On The Sea, a film set on Anglesey in a community apparently left behind by modern ideas of tolerance. Which seems likely to be bad news for Jack (Barry Ward), who may have been long- married to the lovely Maggie (Liz White) and have a teenage son but finds himself strangely drawn to Daniel (Lorne MacFadyen) a Scottish scallop diver and local newcomer. It’s beautifully shot and MacFadyen is genuinely good, but the misery feels relentless and the no-doubt meticulously researched local accent sounds terribly hard work for the non- Welsh members of the cast.
NOT FOR CHILDREN: A pig leads the revolt in the new version of Animal Farm
NEW FICTION
O
W
The Shadow Step Mark Billingham Sphere £22, 400pp The third instalment in Billingham’s highly enjoyable series featuring chronically insubordinate Blackpool copper Declan Miller starts with the accidental death of a drug dealer and ends with a bloody climax in a nearby forest. The heart of the book, though, sees us happily exploring Miller’s world – his banter with his detective partner, his ballroom dancing sessions, his conversations with his dead wife – and cheering on his valiant attempts to improve hard lives in his blighted hometown. John Williams
Gentle Things Danielle Giles Mantle £18.99, 352pp Giles follows her debut, Mere, about medieval nuns, with this stealthily hallucinatory tale of medicine and misogyny in London after the Great Fire. Lucy is an impoverished young maid who, pressed to marry by her widowed mother, dodges one sleazy suitor after another – only to fall for a charming apothecary whose bedside manner isn’t all it seems. Creepy and twisty, it’s queasily eye-opening on the science of the day. Anthony Cummins
Voyagers Meg Charlton Borough Press £16.99, 320pp As six-year-olds, Alex and Ana disappeared together in the California desert, supposedly abducted by aliens. They were found two days later and catapulted to quasi child stardom. As adults, Ana leans in to the experience while Alex embraces rationality, but their estrangement ends when an unidentified signal from space has the world fixating on alien contact. From this lightly handled sci-fi premise come tender takes on friendship, memory and storytelling. An arresting debut. Hephzibah Anderson
MIRANDA ALDHOUSE-GREEN / TRIANGLE NEWS / GETTY / ALAMY / SHUTTERSTOCK
Florenzer Phil Melanson Pushkin Press £14.99, 368pp In 15th-century Italy, three very different men strive to make their mark. Lorenzo de’ Medici, the ruler of Florence, uses wealth and warfare to increase his influence; Francesco Salviati, a worldly priest, schemes against him on the Pope’s behalf; and the young Leonardo da Vinci struggles for commissions and risks his career by exploring gay sex. A sprawling novel spanning two decades, it combines an intricate plot with a vivid portrait of medieval life, rich in atmosphere and period detail. Anthony Gardner
f all the creepy crawlies that Dino Martins describes in this thrilling book, the most gruesome has to be the eye worm. The Kenyan biologist explains how this hideous critter lives in the eye socket of horses, sheep and, yes, cats and dogs. The female lays eggs which duly hatch, whereupon the larvae swim out into the tears. Flies that are attracted to this ‘weeping of worms’ lap up the larvae, which then burrow into their host’s sexual organs before slowly making their way up to its head. When the fly touches down on another animal’s eye for a drink, the larvae burst out, burrow down, and the whole gruesome cycle starts over. You certainly need a strong stom- ach to get through Hidden Crea- tures. But you also need a capacity for wonder. Dr Martins shares with David Attenborough the capacity to push beyond the scientific data to reveal the harmonious complexity of the natural world. At first Martins’ description of coming across the rotting carcass of an elephant seems gross and deeply sad. But in lyrical prose he shows us how the ‘boiling cauldron of maggot stew’ is per- forming an important piece of biological housekeeping. The maggots serve as ‘decomposers and recyclers’, ensuring that all the nutrients and goodness gath- ered by the huge beast in its lifetime will not go to waste. Within minutes, mongooses, civet cats, leopards and even insects start to feast on the maggots, taking advantage of these handy parcels of protein (you could think of it as the creaturely equivalent of opting for a ready meal). Indeed, maggots turn out to be so help-
be sweating the SMALL STUFF
e have all been told, by politicians, business leaders and busybodies, not to ‘sweat the small stuff’, but, asks Ian Bogost in a very entertaining book, why the hell not? The small stuff is, by and large, the more interesting stuff. Wars rage and the world burns, but I’m more interested right now in the alphabetical order of my bookshelves, or the new pants drawer I have recently been given by my girlfriend. Bogost believes that the material world is teeming with unexpected opportunities for sensual pleasure, and all we have to do is to allow ourselves to experience them. The enemy, as so often, is technology, and most specifically, the smartphone. How many times have we seen parents in restaurants fiddling
your tapeworm
Hidden Creatures Dino Martins William Collins £22, 336pp
ful that doctors in the US are now using them in the treatment of seriously ill patients. The therapy involves placing the sterilised larvae of the greenbottle fly on to infected flesh. The maggots effectively remove dying tissue and, in the process, prevent gangrene from setting in. Always the optimist, Martins shares how
The Small Stuff Ian Bogost Allen Lane £20, 240pp
with their phones and ignoring their children? How many times have we been those parents? I used to have a mobile, but I left it on a lectern in 2016 to go to the loo, while I was presenting a quiz at The Oval, and when I returned, someone had nicked it. I have never replaced it, and although my family complain incessantly they don’t know where I am, the upside is they don’t know where I am. Bogost says: ‘It’s a cliche to urge you to “stop and smell the roses”, but you don’t even have to stop. Their scent is already in the air when they bloom alongside the path to the preschool drop-off. Have you taken a whiff?’ I have indeed. ‘It’s not too late to reclaim the
lost joy of everyday interactions, because the world in which you live is full of ordinary stuff with which you might yet commune. It’s easy, and free, and consequence-free. I call it gratification, and this is a book about how to rediscover it.’ Many of the most interesting passages of the book involve actual conversations about ‘stuff’. There’s one in which Bogost meets another dedicated consumer of Diet Coke and they agree that it tastes worst out of plastic bottles. Cans are slightly better, but both of them much prefer the version you get in pubs where syrup is mixed with carbonated water in the drinks ‘gun’ the bartender operates. And the best Diet Coke of all, they agree, is that served in Texas in huge knobbly red buckets. Oddly enough I had a similar conversation recently
NATURE’S WAY: Parasites such as tapeworms have crucial roles
secretions of the maggots may even offer the possibility of new drugs, including some to help fight antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Just when you’re starting to feel positive about parasites, Martins reminds us of their darker side. Mosquitoes, which carry the malaria parasite, are responsible for more than half a million deaths each year. At one point Martins even con- tracts the disease himself and ends up in a Nairobi hospital. True to form, the moment he starts to feel better, he insists on vis- iting the hospital lab to peer at his infected blood. Imagine the surge of perverse pride when he sees that he has been infected with Plasmodium falciparum, the deadli- est of all the malaria parasites. Hidden Creatures is a fabulous piece of popular science writing. While there’s no denying the cruelty revealed – forget about dog eat dog, in this world parasites eat parasites – it is the sense of enchant- ment that keeps the reader hooked. Dino Martins’ great skill is to use his lyrical style – rain clouds over the Serengeti are ‘purple, blue-black water wagons’ – to point out the perverse beauty of nature’s darker side. By the end, I promise, you will be able to look at leeches, maggots and even tape- worms with something approaching awe. Kathryn Hughes
with some Maltesers fans. We all agreed that they taste so much better from the waxed cardboard boxes than from the plastic bags. In fact I may be compelled to go out and buy a box as soon as I have finished writing this review. The Small Stuff is immensely cheering, and will have you looking at the moquette patterns on public transport in a new light. Bogost doesn’t believe in deferred gratification: he thinks that people like me, who always leave the best bit of the pizza until last, when it’s usually gone cold, are idiots. But there’s nothing deferred about the pleasure this book will give. Whether you like to pour the tea first or the milk, I think you’ll love it. Marcus Berkmann
A
ugust, 55BC, off the Kent coast, near Deal. And the Romans have arrived... ‘How, wearing heavy legionary armour, do you cross the deck of a beached transport ship? The surf makes the ship roll awk- wardly. You feel tired, perhaps sick. Your limbs are cramped and stiff. You grip the rail, feeling the crusted salt...’ This is how the legionary must have felt. No Roman army had ever stepped foot on to this myste- rious, fog-shrouded island before. What horrors awaited? Besides, that is, the ferocious Britons them- selves, who loved nothing more than fighting. This bravura, multifaceted new history of the Roman conquest of Britain brings it to life with such detail and cinematic vividness it’s impossible not to call it ‘epic’. The brief episode with Julius Caesar in 55 and again in 54BC was really a PR stunt, to cement his reputation as a great general back home. It achieved next to nothing. He didn’t even get as far as the fabled and hugely lucrative tin mines of ‘Belerion’ – Cornwall. No, the serious conquest began in AD43. And as so often in the capture of cities or countries, trai- tors within were at work. When Britain fell to Rome, the ordinary Britons were slaughtered or enslaved en masse. Britain’s elite, meanwhile, seeing which way the wind blew, did very well cosying up to their new overlords, being rewarded for their treachery with amphorae of wine, silver cups, fancy foods such as olives, and even palatial country villas. One such example, suggests Ferdinand Addis, is Fishbourne palace in Sus- sex, with its heated pools, marble and colonnaded gardens. These British chieftains had
of Britain reveals our ancestors were groomed, well dressed and utterly ferocious in battle
HART HISTORY
Conquest Ferdinand Addis Head Of Zeus £30, 464pp
been ‘feast-givers, beer-drinkers, torc-wearers’. But under the new Roman order, they were expected, says Addis dryly, to be ‘reasonable and reliable, conver- sant with the ideology of the times, and respectful of the new order of things’. This is how you cement your social position. The conquered tribes, though, did fight back against the legions. Caratacus – or ‘Caradoc’ most probably, in his own tongue – led a heroic resistance. But the Roman war-machine was efficient and relentless. The British-Celtic way of fighting was colourful but cha- otic, a free-for-all of magnificent- looking, vainglorious individuals, ‘barbarians’ scornful of the very of idea of fighting as an obedient unit. They even, as the author reminds us, duelled to the death with each other over who got the best slice of roast pork. They wore
beautiful woollen capes, sported huge moustaches, and groomed with such care that their graves contain mirrors and tweezers. War was an art form. They rode chari- ots because they looked good, ‘a noisy and colourful podium for the display of martial virtue’. For the Roman soldiery, it was just a job. They were ‘a class of skilled labourers, whose work was death’. Indeed. they seem to have found their routine of relentless killing almost dull and repetitive, so when Titus captured Jerusalem in AD70 and ordered 500 Jews to be crucified daily, the soldiers ‘diverted themselves by nailing their victims to the crosses in a whole variety of different poses, “as a joke”.’ Obeying orders and fighting in the 5,000-strong units known as legions, they nearly always beat the barbarians in the end. Caratacus understood this, and fought asymmetrical warfare, using hit-and-run guerilla tactics, for years. But eventually the legions brought him to bay in the hills of Wales – we don’t know exactly where – and he was defeated. He fled for help to Queen Cartimandua of the Brig- antes, in northern England – but she, being another ruling-class traitor, handed him over to Rome for ritual strangulation. The
Romans however, capable of mag- nanimity as well as cruelty, admired his sheer fighting spirit, his refusal to bow, and it seems he lived on for years in Rome, a cap- tive but alive. There was also Boudica’s fero- cious revolt in AD61, of course – and you can understand why. The new overlords had flogged her and raped her daughters, ‘as a lesson’. She burned Colchester and Lon- don to the ground, slaughtering thousands and torturing others,
‘wolf-boys’ from Ukraine’s steppes
but was then defeated again by legionary discipline. Soon the landscape too was Romanised, as well as the upper- class Brits. A certain hot springs in south-west England, known for its unearthly mists and strange smells, sacred to the Britons for generations, was thoroughly Romanised, and today is known as Bath. Rome’s mission, after all, said the Roman writer Pliny, was to ‘gather the scattered realms... to soften customs... to unite the discordant wild tongues
of so many peoples... give civilisa- tion to mankind’. But another voice, the British chieftain Calgacus, looking out over his own ruined lands and bro- ken people in today’s Scotland, is recorded as commenting causti- cally: ‘They create a desert and they call it peace.’ I love the way the author goes off at a tangent on any subject that piques his interest and makes that fascinating too. There’s a riveting chapter on the Yamnaya people of the steppes (today’s Ukraine, roughly), from whom some 90 per cent of today’s native British are descended. Tall and fair, these ‘cowboys of the open steppe’ rode horses and chariots, and around 3000BC burst out across Europe with breathtaking speed and aggression, from the Dnieper to the Atlantic. They came in bands of young males of fighting age, the koryos, ‘wolf-boys’, descending on the more peaceful farmers of Europe, where they ‘raped and raided and stole and killed. But crucially they did these things far away from their own people.’ Modern DNA analysis shows the result: ‘much of the genetic make-up of Europe was transformed’. As so often in history, the victorious Yamnaya slaughtered all the men and raped/ married/impregnated all the women, so that European male DNA today is distinctly Yamnaya, while the female, ‘mitochondrial DNA’ is rooted further back in the European neolithic. Darkly fasci- nating if disturbing. We’re descended from genocidal killers. Conquest is a riveting narrative that takes an enjoyably winding path through our complex history, a brilliantly fresh and up-to-date account of a most violent and des- perate time that changed our island forever.
s
S
W
THE CURSE OF LOVE ISLAND
Ex-contestants explain what the
show was like from the inside in a
new two-parter. This ranges from
the nerves they felt walking in to
what it felt like after, when the
attention went away and the
money dried up – and on
to the next group of
islanders. There are
poignant reflections
on the suicides of
contestants Sophie
Gradon and Mike
Thalassitis, and host
Caroline Flack,
but most moving is
when Anton Danyluk,
left, opens up about his
own suicide attempt.
Sunday, Prime Video
new
Cat-and-mouse, eight-part
thriller from the US, with two
excellent actresses in front of
the camera and a top writer
(Elizabeth Meriwether, of
Dying For Sex) behind it.
Emmy Rossum, right, stars
as new FBI agent Alice
Black, who is on the trail of
a female serial killer taking
out men one by one. The
murderess is played by Lola
Petticrew, who was so
excellent in a very different
role on Northern Irish drama
Trespasses on Channel 4 last
year. Monday, Disney+
JOEL ANDERSON / ITV / SHUTTERSTOCK / WIREIMAGE
WILLOUGHBY TOGETHER
Holly’s new lifestyle show is
on YouTube and, somewhat
cheekily, comes out at 10am
– just like This Morning.
The host, right, welcomes
celebrities and ordinary
folk with extraordinary
stories into her home-like
studio, with sections on
fashion, beauty and health.
Expect a good deal more
swearing than you’re used
to from morning TV.
Tuesday and Friday,
YouTube, 10am
MONDAY INTIMA
Lena Headey, right,
created, directs and
stars in a racy comic
drama as a film
industry intimacy
co-ordinator.
Radio 4, 11pm
TUESDAY
FLOOR 15
Fergus Walsh reports
from Floor 15 of Guy’s
Hospital, where trials are
being carried out on patients with
advanced cancer. Radio 4, 8pm
FANTASY THE VAMPIRE LESTAT
This adaptation of Anne Rice’s Interview With
The Vampire opens its new third series in wild
style, jumping forward to the present-day US to
find the bloodsucker Lestat in his rock god era.
As played by Sam Reid, above, he’s like a fusion
of Michael Hutchence and Iggy Pop and playing
packed arenas. Tuesday, BBC2, 9pm
THURSDAY NATALIE HAYNES STANDS UP FOR THE CLASSICS
he ‘ro k star’ mythologist
ns, starting her
series with
xtraordinary
tories of invention
from the ancient
city of Alexandria.
Radio 4, 9am
ATURDAY AITING IN E WINGS As a ribute to Penelope Keith, a repeat of Noel Coward’s drama set in a home for retired actresses. Radio 4, 3pm
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 explores the spiritual
meaning of trees in the Bible
and in Christian faith.
1.55 Lifeline Eddie Marsan
presents this appeal on
behalf of Tourettes Action.
2.05 The Mating Game
Footage of mating rituals
for aquatic creatures. (R)
3.05 FILM: Dolittle (PG/2020)
Fantasy adventure starring
Robert Downey Jr and
Antonio Banderas.
4.35 Homes Under The
Hammer Properties in
Coventry, Cumbria and
the Welsh Valleys. (R)
5.35 BBC News
5.50 Regional News; Weather
6.00 Celebrity Escape To The
Country 3/6 With journalist
and TV presenter Janet
Street-Porter. (R)
The Rapture, 9pm Ruth Madeley and India Ria Amarteifio star
7.00 Countryfile The final stop
on Anita Rani’s east coast
road trip is Orford Ness on
the Suffolk coast, where
she discovers how an
abandoned military
complex has been
reclaimed by wildlife.
8.00 Antiques Roadshow 2/19
Fiona Bruce presents the
show from Sefton Park Palm
House in Liverpool, where
finds include a Ming vase
bought in a charity shop,
Beatles memorabilia and a
painting by George Melly. (R)
9.00 The Rapture 1/5
A psychologist is assigned
to treat the daughter of a
religious leader, who was
sectioned for the murder of
her mother. Psychological
thriller with Ruth Madeley
and India Ria Amarteifio.
10.00 BBC News At Ten
10.25 Regional News; Weather
10.30 FILM: I Am Legend
(15/2007) Sci-fi thriller
starring Will Smith, Alice
Braga and Charlie Tahan.
12.00 Who Do You Think You
Are? With Adeel Akhtar. (R)
6.25 A To Z Of TV Gardening (R)
7.05 Glorious Gardens From
Above Horticulturist
Christine Walkden takes to
the skies above Cumbria. (R)
7.50 Countryfile Anita Rani
visits a nature reserve
on the Essex coast. (R)
8.50 Best Of Weatherman
Walking Three walks that
have changed people’s
lives for the better.
9.20 Beechgrove Garden (R)
9.50 Saturday Kitchen Best
Bites With recipes from
Hasan Semay, Freddy
Bird and Anna Haugh.
11.20 Indian Food Made Easy
Double bill. Food writer and
chef Anjum Anand prepares
a selection of dishes. (R)
12.20 FILM: Operation Crossbow
(PG/1965) Second World
War adventure starring
George Peppard, Sophia
Loren and Trevor Howard.
2.15 Cricket: The Hundred
Trent Rockets Women v
London Spirit Women
(start-time 2.30pm).
Coverage of the match at
Trent Bridge in Nottingham.
Cricket: The Hundred, 6pm Tom Banton in action for Trent Rockets
Force Of Nature, 7pm Owls feature in the new documentary series
Tour de France 2026, 9pm Presented by Rebecca Charlton
6.00 Cricket: The Hundred
Trent Rockets Men v
London Spirit Men (start-
time 6pm). Coverage of the
match from Trent Bridge in
Nottingham. The Spirit,
under captain and all-
rounder Liam Livingstone,
will want to bounce back
after their disappointing
defeat by seven runs in their
opening match last week.
9.30 Live At The Apollo 2/7
Dara O Briain comperes the
comedy show at London’s
Hammersmith Apollo,
warming up the audience
before introducing routines
by stand-up stars Felicity
Ward and Mo Gilligan. (R)
10.00 FILM: Taxi Driver (18/1976)
An isolated New York cab
driver becomes increasingly
disturbed, and is gradually
driven to a brutal act of
violence. Martin Scorsese’s
drama with Robert De Niro.
11.50 FILM: The Elephant Man
(12/1980) Drama starring
Anthony Hopkins.
1.50 Sign Zone: Do You Know
Your Place? (R)
6.00 James Martin’s American
Adventure (R)
7.00 James Martin’s Saturday
Morning With guest
Michael Ball. (R)
9.25 ITV News
9.30 Love Your Weekend With
Alan Titchmarsh (R)
11.30 Fern Britton: Inside The
Vet’s Fern witnesses the
castration of a Bengal cat.
12.30 Tom Kerridge Cooks
Italy The chef explores
Tuscany and Lazio. (R)
1.00 Love Your Garden
Transforming a garden
in Suffolk for charity
worker Eileen. (R)
1.55 ITV News; Weather
2.10 Deal Or No Deal: Celebrity
Special Guz Khan takes
part in the game show. (R)
3.10 FILM: Live And Let Die
(PG/1973) James Bond
adventure starring Roger
Moore and Yaphet Kotto.
5.30 The Chase Celebrity
Special With Jayde Adams,
Tony Cottee, Naughty Boy
and the Vivienne. (R)
6.30 ITV News; Weather
6.45 Local News; Weather
7.00 Force Of Nature 1/6 Andrew
Lincoln narrates a look at
animals’ battle for survival
as climate change
intensifies and the weather
becomes more extreme.
8.00 Emmerdale Gabby has a
medical check-up, while
Kev’s mate Steve thinks
the village is a gold mine.
8.30 Coronation Street Sarah
tips off David and Shona
about Jodie’s box of secrets.
9.00 The Dark 5/6 The killer
escapes while Monica is
distracted by saving Philly.
Also, Nichol tells Barclay
about Bethany’s affair and
he attacks Stephen.
10.00 ITV News; Weather
10.20 Terror In The Skies:
Stopping The Liquid Bomb
Plot A look at the thwarted
2006 terrorist attack, when
British plotters tried to
smuggle liquid explosives
onto multiple transatlantic
airliners and destroy them.
11.30 The Chase Around The
World 2/6 The teams arrive
in Barcelona. (R)
12.30 Shop On TV
6.20 The King Of Queens
Double bill. (R)
7.10 Everybody Loves Raymond
Triple bill. (R)
8.30 The Simpsons Triple bill. (R)
10.00 Sunday Brunch
Tim Lovejoy and Simon
Rimmer are joined by Gyles
Brandreth, Ricky Wilson,
Nicola Benedetti and
Stephen Mangan. With
music from Gabriella Cilmi.
1.00 Jamie Cooks The
Mediterranean In Tunisia,
Jamie Oliver gets invited to
cook with local chefs on a
remote beach. (R)
2.05 The Dog House Highlights
from the documentary. (R)
2.50 George Clarke’s Amazing
Spaces Two young brothers
turn a battered bus into an
ice cream van. (R)
3.55 Our Farm Next Door:
Amanda, Clive And Kids (R)
5.00 Britain’s Favourite
Railway Stations With
Si King This episode
celebrates Britain’s shore
and coastal stations. (R)
6.00 Channel 4 News Including
sport and weather.
Film: The Forgiven, 10pm Ralph Fiennes and Jessica Chastain
6.30 Formula 1 Hungarian
Grand Prix Highlights
Lee McKenzie is joined by
David Coulthard, Alice
Powell and Ariana Bravo to
present action from the
11th round of the season at
the Hungaroring.
9.00 The Piano Claudia
Winkleman and Mika arrive
at York Station, joined by
jazz pianist Hiromi. Among
the performers are a gifted
songwriter with a deeply
personal original number.
10.00 FILM: The Forgiven
(18/2021) While driving to
a party, a couple hit and
kill a young man in the
Moroccan desert. Drama
based on the novel by
Lawrence Osborne starring
Ralph Fiennes, Jessica
Chastain and Matt Smith.
12.15 FILM: Stand By Me
(15/1986) Four youngsters
learn about life the hard
way while searching for the
body of a missing teenager.
Drama starring River
Phoenix, Jerry O’Connell
and Corey Feldman.
6.00 Milkshake! Children’s
shows, including: 8.10
Animal Care Club (R) 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.
9.10 FILM: The SpongeBob
Movie: Sponge Out Of
Water (U/2015) Animated
comedy featuring the
voice of Tom Kenny.
11.00 Commonwealth Games
2026 Highlights from the
second day in Glasgow. (R)
12.00 Happy Campers: The
Caravan Park (R)
1.00 Cruising With Susan
Calman Double bill. (R)
3.00 Into Death Valley With Nick
Knowles Double bill. (R)
5.00 Lisbon With Michael
Portillo Michael spends
a weekend in the
Portuguese capital. (R)
6.25 News National and
international news.
6.30 When Beach Holidays Go
Horribly Wrong 1/5
Accounts of nightmare
vacations. (R)
8.00 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly
7/16 Graeme Hall meets
a potential future therapy
dog for a school, who keeps
playing the role of class
clown rather than bringing
a calming influence to the
classroom. (R)
9.00 Tour De France 2026
Action from the final stage
of the Grand Tour race, a
133km route from Thoiry to
Paris, with the climax being
the traditional finish along
the Champs-Élysées.
10.00 Commonwealth Games
2026 Highlights from the
third day in Glasgow,
which included the artistic
gymnastics individual
all-around finals and
nine medals being
awarded in swimming
and para swimming.
11.05 Boris Johnson: Into
Ukraine’s Kill Zone
Boris Johnson travels to
Ukraine’s frontline to find
out what is happening four
years into Putin’s invasion
of the country. (R)
12.35 Cops (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 Travelling Auctioneers
(R) 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC
News 6.30 Regional News
7.00 The One Show
7.30 EastEnders Ian prepares
for what could be his
final day of freedom.
8.00 Panorama In-depth report.
8.30 Scam Interceptors 4/15 (R)
9.00 The Rapture 2/5 Gabs tracks
down the mystery woman
in Bethany’s drawings.
10.00 BBC News At Ten
10.30 Regional News; Weather
10.40 Who Do You Think You Are?
5/8 With Toby Jones . (R)
11.40 FILM: The Lady In The Van
(12/2015) Comedy-drama
starring Maggie Smith.
1.25 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 Travelling Auctioneers (R) 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC News 6.30 Regional News 7.00 The One Show 7.30 EastEnders Sheila is left shaken after a visit with Gray. 8.00 The Great British Sewing Bee 3/10 The contestants recycle T-shirts and make outfits with an eco-message. 9.00 Murder 24/7 3/8 A DPD driver who was ambushed and killed in Shrewsbury. 10.00 BBC News At Ten 10.30 Regional News; Weather 10.40 FILM: Blinded By The Light (12/2019) Coming-of- age drama starring Viveik Kalra and Meera Ganatra. 12.35 BBC News
BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 CHANNEL 4
6.30 Bargain Hunt (R) 7.15 Animal Park (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 Lightning (R) 2.45 The Hairy Bikers’ Bakeation (R) 3.45 The Farmers’ Country Showdown (R) 4.15 Earth From Space (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R) 6.00 Richard Osman’s House Of Games (R) 6.30 Just One Thing (R) 7.00 Global Eye Investigations from BBC correspondents all over the world. 7.30 Mastermind 8.00 Only Connect The Sinistrals take on the Merseyside Eyes. 8.30 University Challenge 9.00 Evolution 3/5 This episode tells the story of the bat. 10.00 Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing 3/6 (R) 10.30 Newsnight 11.05 FILM: Hope And Glory (15/1987) British Second World War drama starring Sebastian Rice-Edwards. 12.55 Sign Zone: Countryfile (R)
6.30 Bargain Hunt (R) 7.15 Animal Park (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 Lightning (R) 2.45 The Hairy Bikers’ Bakeation (R) 3.45 The Farmers’ Country Showdown (R) 4.15 Earth From Space (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R) 6.00 Richard Osman’s House Of Games (R) 6.30 Just One Thing (R) 7.00 Rick Stein’s Food Stories 2/6 Rick meets a chef who loves to forage. (R) 8.00 Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby 3/8 (R) 9.00 The Vampire Lestat: Interview With The Vampire 1/7 Lestat recounts what led to a brutal hotel confrontation. 9.45 Live At The Apollo 6/7 (R) 10.30 Newsnight 11.05 FILM: The New Boy (12/2023) Premiere. Drama starring Cate Blanchett. 12.35 Sign Zone: Natalie Cassidy: Caring Together (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
7/10 The family decide to
camp out in the woodland.
8.00 Emmerdale Kev is keen to
make a good impression.
8.30 Coronation Street
Jodie’s unexpected arrival
overshadows Harper’s
welcome-home party.
9.00 The Dark 6/6 Monica races
into action when the killer’s
identity is discovered and
she has the chance to
save his final victim.
10.00 ITV News; Weather
10.30 Local News; Weather
10.45 TikTok: Murder Gone Viral
3/3 An influencer whose body
was found in a side road. (R)
11.40 Love & Death 3/7 (R)
12.40 Shop On TV
6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00 This Morning 1.00 ITV News; Weather 1.20 Local News; Weather 1.30 ITV Racing: Glorious Goodwood. Coverage of day one of the meeting, including the Goodwood Cup. 4.30 Tipping Point: Best Ever Finals (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 2/6 Managing director Stefan gathers staff to announce major news. 8.00 Emmerdale Vinny’s jealousy could be causing a problem. 8.30 Coronation Street David and Shona confront Jodie. 9.00 Cold Case Forensics: The Death Of God’s Banker 1/3 A look at the death of Italian banker Roberto Calvi. 10.00 ITV News; Weather 10.30 Local News; Weather 10.45 FILM: Bad Boys (15/1995) Action thriller with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. 1.00 Shop On TV
CHANNEL 4 5
6.25 Cheers (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 Narrow Escapes (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 Storm Amy heads to Dover where high winds blow a cruise ship off-course. 9.00 24 Hours In A&E A woman has had a riding accident. 10.00 Secret Lives Of Gypsy Wives Tina is heartbroken by an unaffordable vet bill. 11.05 999: On The Front Line Paramedics find a woman who’s fallen, and may have a bleed on the brain. (R) 12.05 Secrets Of The Celebrity Sex Tapes Reality TV show star Mimi shares the story behind her sex tape.
6.25 Cheers (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 Narrow Escapes (R)
5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00
American Pickers (R)
7.00 Channel 4 News
8.00 Hotel Chocolat Unwrapped
New series. Behind the
scenes at the chocolatier
as the company moves
into the bakery business.
9.00 The Undeclared War 3/6
Barbara crosses paths with
her ex-boyfriend Nicky Chan
– first in 2014 in Hong Kong
on a fated MI6 mission, and
then again in 2022, when he
reappears in London.
10.00 Gogglebox Reviews of The
Celebrity Traitors and
Trigger Point. (R)
11.05 First Dates (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:
She Is Not Your Daughter (12/2022)
Thriller starring Alicia Leigh Willis.
4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature
(R) 5.00 News 6.00 Jersey And
Guernsey (R) 6.55 News
7.00 Motorway Cops: Catching
Britain’s Speeders 3/10
PCs Billy Stead and Nathan
Saltmer are on the tail of a
possible cloned BMW. (R)
7.55 News
8.00 Street Cops: Catching The
Yobs New series. Police
respond to an distress
call from a colleague.
9.00 The Crow Girl 4/6 A body
leads Jeanette to the
Burkeman family.
10.05 Commonwealth Games
2026 Highlights from the
fourth day in Glasgow.
11.05 Police: Night Shift 999 8/8
PC Merchant spots a man
driving while watching
something on his phone. (R)
12.05 Traffic Cops (R)
6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine
11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 News
12.50 Matt Allwright 2.20 FILM:
Mystery Of The Dead Nanny
(12/2022) Thriller starring
Nicolette Langley. 4.00 Castle (R)
4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 News
6.00 Malta: The Jewel Of The
Med (R) 6.55 News
7.00 The Yorkshire Vet: At
Home With The Greens 1/4
The lives of two of Britain’s
oldest working farmers. (R)
7.55 News
8.00 Inside Longleat In the
historic Secret Garden,
the team manoeuvres a
bronze sculpture.
9.00 The Crow Girl 5/6 Jeanette
and Sophia dig into Victoria’s
past and Amar shares
information with Mike.
10.00 Commonwealth Games
2026 Highlights from the
fifth day in Glasgow.
11.05 Accused: Guilty Or
Innocent? 4/7 (R)
12.05 Accused: Guilty Or
Innocent? 5/7 (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; Weather 2.00 Money For Nothing 2.45 Escape To The Country (R) 3.45 The Bidding Room 4.30 The Travelling Auctioneers (R) 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC News; Weather 6.30 Regional News 7.00 The One Show Hosted by Alex Jones and Vernon Kay. 7.30 EastEnders Gray continues to manipulate Sheila. 8.00 The Repair Shop A pinball machine is restored. (R) 9.00 Murder 24/7 4/8 The investigation into a fatal stabbing in Worcestershire. 10.00 BBC News At Ten 10.30 Regional News; Weather 10.40 FILM: Eye In The Sky (15/2015) Thriller starring Helen Mirren. 12.15 The Hit List Celebrity Special Quiz show. (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; Weather 2.00 Money For Nothing 2.45 Escape To The Country (R) 3.45 The Bidding Room (R) 4.30 The Travelling Auctioneers (R) 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC News; Weather 6.30 Regional News 7.00 The One Show With Alex Jones and Clara Amfo. 7.30 EastEnders Sheila confronts Chelsea, who realises she must let her see Jordan. 8.00 Fake Or Fortune? 3/4 Investigating a painting thought to be by the French artist André Derain. 9.00 Who Do You Think You Are? 7/8 Harriet Walter traces her maternal ancestry. 10.00 BBC News At Ten 10.30 Regional News; Weather 10.40 Murder 24/7 (R) 12.35 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 Lightning (R) 2.45 The Hairy Bikers’ Bakeation (R) 3.45 The Farmers’ Country Showdown (R) 4.15 Earth From Space (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R) 6.00 Richard Osman’s House Of Games (R) 6.30 Just One Thing (R) 7.00 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 5/20 John Bercow and Sally Gunnell take on the challenge. (R) 8.00 Saving Lives At Sea 4/10 The Newhaven crew make a desperate attempt to rescue a yachtsman. (R) 9.00 The Gunpowder Plot: Lucy Worsley Investigates 2/4 (R) 10.00 Inside No 9 2/6 (R) 10.30 Newsnight 11.00 Uncanny 2/3 (R) 12.00 The Devil In The Family: The Fall Of Ruby Franke (R)
6.30 Money For Nothing (R) 7.15
The Bidding Room (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 Lightning (R)
2.45 The Hairy Bikers’ Bakeation
(R) 3.45 The Farmers’ Country
Showdown (R) 4.15 Earth From
Space (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R) 6.00
Richard Osman’s House Of
Games (R) 6.30 Just One Thing (R)
7.00 Escape To The Country (R)
8.00 Digging For Britain 2/6 (R)
9.00 The Devil In The Family:
The Fall Of Ruby Franke 2/3
9.50 The North York Moors:
A Wild Year (R)
10.00 The Smuggling Business:
Undercover An investigation
into people-smuggling
gangs operating in France.
10.30 Newsnight
11.00 Golf: Women’s Open
Highlights 2026 Day one of
the Major Championship.
12.00 FILM: The Blackening
(15/2023) Comedy horror
starring Grace Byers.
6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00
This Morning 1.00 ITV News;
Weather 1.20 Local News;
Weather 1.30 ITV Racing:
Glorious Goodwood. Coverage of
day two of the meeting, including
the Sussex Stakes. 4.30 Tipping
Point: Best Ever Finals (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
8.00 Emmerdale Joe unsettles
everyone by calling an
impromptu lunch.
8.30 Coronation Street A family
celebration for Ross’s
birthday proves too much
for Cassie to bear.
9.00 Who Wants To Be A
Millionaire? Quiz hosted
by Jeremy Clarkson. (R)
10.00 ITV News; Weather
10.30 Local News; Weather
10.45 FILM: Live And Let Die
(PG/1973) James Bond
adventure starring Roger
Moore and Yaphet Kotto.
1.05 Shop On TV
6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00
This Morning 1.00 ITV News;
Weather 1.20 Local News;
Weather 1.30 ITV Racing: Glorious
Goodwood. Coverage of day three
of the meeting, including the
Nassau Stakes. 4.30 Tipping
Point: Best Ever Finals (R) 5.00
The Chase (R) 6.00 Local News;
Weather 6.30 ITV News; Weather
7.30 Tom Kerridge Cooks Italy
3/6 The chef forages for
truffles in Umbria.
8.00 Emmerdale There might be
danger at the depot.
8.30 Coronation Street Cassie
revisits her greatest hits
with Ross as her new target.
9.00 The Chase Around The
World 3/6 The teams
land in Lisbon to take
on the Dark Destroyer
and the Sinnerman.
10.00 ITV News; Weather
10.30 Local News; Weather
10.45 FILM: Bad Boys II (15/2003)
Comedy thriller sequel
starring Will Smith.
1.25 Shop On TV
6.25 Cheers (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 Narrow Escapes (R)
5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00
American Pickers (R)
7.00 Channel 4 News
8.00 Extraordinary Extensions
New series. A couple
transform their west
London home into a Great
Gatsby-inspired palace.
9.00 The Undeclared War 4/6
Barbara tracks down Nicky,
but her erratic behaviour
worries Danny.
10.00 24 Hours In A&E 7/7 Sara
attends with serious head
and chest injuries. (R)
11.05 24 Hours In A&E
A 23-year-old woman has
had a riding accident. (R)
12.05 Murder Case: The Digital
Detectives (R)
6.25 Cheers (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. With Scarlett Moffatt
in Dictionary Corner. 3.00 A Place
In The Sun (R) 4.00 Narrow
Escapes (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY (R)
6.00 American Pickers. (R)
7.00 Channel 4 News
8.00 Renovation Rescue
New series. Vogue Williams
and Luke Mabbott offer
practical DIY and design
advice to homeowners.
9.00 Murder Case: The Digital
Detectives How forensic
phone analysis led
detectives to the murderer
of Samantha Holden.
10.00 Don’t Date Brandon 1/3
Two women’s attempts
to warn others away
from a serial cheater.
11.00 Don’t Date Brandon 2/3
12.05 Don’t Date Brandon 3/3
6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine
11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 News
12.50 Matt Allwright 2.20 FILM:
Memories Of Murder (12/2023)
Thriller starring Andrea Bogart.
4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature
(R) 5.00 News 6.00 Malta: The
Jewel Of The Med (R) 6.55 News
7.00 Car Pound Cops 5/8 In
Surrey, a quad-bike rider
is flagged down. (R)
7.55 News
8.00 Casualty 24/7: Every
Second Counts Paramedics
rush in a 71-year-old who’s
struggling to breathe.
9.00 The Crow Girl 6/6
As Jeanette manages the
fallout from Lou’s actions,
Victoria seeks revenge.
10.00 Commonwealth Games
2026 Highlights from the
sixth day in Glasgow, which
included weightlifting,
athletics and para athletics,
plus the final swimming
and para swimming events.
11.05 Cause Of Death 7/10 (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: Stolen Baby: The Murder Of Heidi Broussard (12/2023) Drama starring Anna Hopkins. 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 News 6.00 Malta: The Jewel Of The Med (R) 6.55 News 7.00 Around The World In First Class With Josie Gibson 1/4 Josie Gibson explores the world of first-class travel. (R) 7.55 News 8.00 Cornwall: A Year By The Sea 9/10 Artist Iona leads a landscape painting masterclass in St Ives. 9.00 Benidorm Is Murder 1/6 Drama with John Hannah and Carolina Bécquer. 10.00 Commonwealth Games 2026 Highlights from the seventh day in Glasgow. 11.05 Fare Dodgers: At War With The Law Officers carry out a major sting in Vauxhall. (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 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 Travelling Auctioneers (R)
5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC News
6.30 Regional News
7.00 The One Show
7.30 Our Lives: The Last Miner
In The Band Documentary.
8.00 Granite Harbour 2/3
Lindo and the team recover
the murder weapon.
9.00 Would I Lie To You? 3/9 (R)
9.30 Ann Droid 3/6 Linda drags
Sue to the seaside.
10.00 BBC News At Ten
10.30 Regional News; Weather
10.40 Austin 7/8
11.05 Austin 8/8
11.35 FILM: Scent Of A Woman
(15/1992) Comedy drama
starring Al Pacino.
2.10 BBC News
6.00 Breakfast 10.00 Saturday
Kitchen 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) 2.00 Money For Nothing
(R) 3.00 Escape To The Country
(R) 3.55 FILM: Night At The
Museum: Battle Of The
Smithsonian (PG/2009) 5.35 BBC
News 5.45 Regional News 5.55
The Hit List Celebrity Special 6.40
Alan Carr’s Picture Slam
7.25 Michael McIntyre’s Big
Show 6/6 With Holly
Willoughby and Perrie
Edwards, and music by
Busted vs McFly. (R)
8.25 Pointless Celebrities 8/21
Contestants include
James Jordan. (R)
9.10 How Are You? It’s Alan
(Partridge) 4/6 Alan
explores whether nature can
heal a troubled mind. (R)
9.40 BBC News; Weather
10.00 Calvin Harris: Live From
Scotland The DJ performs.
12.05 BBC News
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
12.50 Lifeline (R) 1.00 Richard
Osman’s House Of Games (R)
1.30 The Finish Line (R) 2.15
Lightning (R) 2.45 The Hairy
Bikers’ Bakeation (R) 3.45 The
Farmers’ Country Showdown (R)
4.15 Hippos: Africa’s River Giants
(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 1/4 (R)
7.30 Beechgrove Garden The
team plans for winter.
8.00 Gardeners’ World Carol
Klein explores underground
plant-microbe partnerships.
9.00 Bergerac 3/6 Crime drama
starring Damien Molony.
9.45 QI XL 5/14 (R)
10.30 Newsnight
11.00 FILM: Chuck Chuck Baby
(15/2024) Premiere. Drama
starring Louise Brealey.
12.40 Golf: Women’s Open
Highlights 2026
6.30 Children’s Shows 8.40 The
Lady Grace Mysteries (R) 9.05
Gardeners’ World (R) 10.05 FILM:
On The Waterfront (PG/1954)
Drama starring Marlon Brando.
11.50 The Great British Sewing
Bee (R) 12.50 A Cook Abroad:
Rachel Khoo’s Malaysia (R) 1.50
FILM: Meet Me In St Louis
(U/1944) Musical starring Judy
Garland. 3.40 Fake Or Fortune?
(R) 4.40 Evolution (R) 5.40 FILM:
Superman (PG/1978) Comic-strip
adventure with Christopher
Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot
Kidder and Marlon Brando.
7.55 Bolero At The Proms The
Spanish National Orchestra
makes its Proms debut.
9.10 Barbra Streisand:
Becoming An Icon A look
at the actress and singer’s
rise to stardom. (R)
10.10 FILM: A Star Is Born
(15/1976) Musical remake
starring Barbra Streisand
and Kris Kristofferson.
12.25 Golf: Women’s Open
Highlights 2026
6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00 This Morning 1.00 ITV News 1.20 Local News; Weather 1.30 ITV Racing: Glorious Goodwood. Coverage of day four of the meeting, including the Qatar King George Stakes. 4.30 Tipping Point: Best Ever Finals (R) 5.00 The Chase (R) 6.00 Local News; Weather 6.30 ITV News; Weather 7.30 Abbey Clancy: Celebrity Homes 4/6 (R) 8.00 Emmerdale Claudette makes an admission. 8.30 Coronation Street Nina accuses Sienna of theft. 9.00 The Twisted Tale Of Amanda Knox 5/8 As Raffaele’s trial stretches into years, his history unfolds. 10.05 The Twisted Tale Of Amanda Knox 6/8 Amanda falls into a depression. 11.05 ITV News; Weather 11.40 Local News; Weather 11.55 Inside The Langham: Britain’s First Grand Hotel 2/6 Documentary. (R) 12.30 Shop On TV
6.00 James Martin’s French Adventure (R) 6.30 James Martin’s American Adventure (R) 7.25 Love Your Weekend With Alan Titchmarsh (R) 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 1.15 ITV Racing: Glorious Goodwood. Coverage of day five of the meeting, including the Coral Stewards’ Cup. 4.30 FILM: Nanny McPhee And The Big Bang (U/2010) 6.30 ITV News; Weather 6.45 Local News; Weather 7.00 Deal Or No Deal: Celebrity Special Stephen Mulhern hosts the game show as broadcaster Zoe Ball takes on the Banker in the hope of winning money for her chosen charity. 8.00 FILM: Casino Royale (15/2006) Spy thriller starring Daniel Craig. 10.40 ITV News; Weather 10.55 The Staircase 3/8 12.15 Shop On TV
6.25 Cheers (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 Narrow Escapes (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00 American Pickers (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News 8.00 Surgery Secrets Of The Super Rich 3/6 Joyce marks her 60th birthday with an endoscopic facelift. 9.00 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown New series. Jon Richardson and Harriet Kemsley take on Rob Beckett and Richard Ayoade. 10.00 Big Fat Quiz: Best Bits Hosted by Jimmy Carr. 11.05 Sarah Millican: Thoroughly Modern Millican Live Stand-up comedy. (R) 12.10 Ramy New series. A date with someone from his past lies in store for Ramy.
6.05 Cheers (R) 7.55 Everybody
Loves Raymond (R) 9.50 The
Simpsons (R) 11.50 Frasier (R)
1.50 Four In A Bed (R) 4.20 The
Dog House (R) 5.25 FILM: The
Lost City (12/2022) Adventure
comedy starring Sandra Bullock.
7.30 Channel 4 News
8.00 Hitler’s Games: Berlin
1936 In Colour Colourised
footage of the 1936
Olympics, held in Nazi
Germany. This film tells the
story of the remarkable
athletes who excelled, but
also how Hitler used the
games as propaganda.
9.00 Dictator: The Hitler
Interviews 1/3 The
testimonies of those who
met and knew Adolf Hitler.
10.00 FILM: American Gangster
(18/2007) Fact-based crime
drama about 1970s drug
kingpin Frank Lucas and
the cop who tried to bring
him down. Starring
Denzel Washington.
12.50 Ramy
6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine
11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 News
12.50 Matt Allwright 2.20 FILM:
Conceived In Lies (15/2024)
Thriller starring Holly Deveaux.
4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature
(R) 5.00 News 6.00 Malta: The
Jewel Of The Med (R) 6.55 News
7.00 Holiday Scams: Don’t Get
Caught Out Alexis Conran
and his team take on the
scammers who target
people on holiday. (R)
7.55 News
8.00 Michael Palin In Venezuela
3/3 Michael starts the final
leg of his adventure, as he
enters the Zulia state. (R)
9.00 Britain’s Killer Wave Of
1607 Examining the
Bristol Channel floods
of January 1607. (R)
10.00 Commonwealth Games
2026 Highlights from the
eighth day in Glasgow.
11.05 Piers Morgan: Uncensored
News and debate.
1.00 Cruise TV With
LoveitBookit (R)
6.00 Milkshake! 9.00 Entertainment News On 5 9.10 Commonwealth Games 2026 (R) 10.00 Secrets Of The Royal Palaces (R) 12.00 Secrets Of The Royal Gardens (R) 1.00 The Royals: Uncensored 2.00 Yorkshire: A Year In The Wild (R) 4.00 Live: UK’s Strongest Man 2026. Day one from Planet Ice Milton Keynes. 6.55 News 7.00 Sussex: Jewel Of The South Coast 2/5 The county’s diverse landscapes and vibrant communities. 8.00 Meghan Markle: Inside The Mind Of A Duchess A profile of the Duchess of Sussex. (R) 9.00 Harry & Meghan: Royal Hypocrites? Allegations against the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. (R) 10.30 Commonwealth Games 2026 Highlights from the ninth day in Glasgow. 11.30 Scandal: The Major-Currie Affair The story of the affair between John Major and Edwina Currie. (R)
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L E N N E F B L A C K B E R R Y
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6
3
4 11 8
2 10 1 6
8 4
5 6 8 9 4
12 2 3 9 8 11 7
7 2
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12 5 3 10
WIN £100
5 24 9 4 4 11 2 10 2 4 24 7
24 6 17 2 11 18
14 15 2 10 14 8 8 9 8 24 10 2
22 17 26 2 7 18 16
2 17 13 11 14 9 6 9 6 7 11
1 14
2 9 8 23 9
10 14 18 22 11 1 12 20 12 20 20 6
2 8 24 7 11
14 13 14 15 6 4 18 20 22 2 18
10 19 3 15 2 11 14
13 18 20 21 9 4 9 8 25 20 20 16
14 9 10 6 18 2
6 24 10 7 2 10 24 6 7 2 20 6
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
July 5 winner: D. McILroy, Witham, Essex. June 28 winner: M. Sharpe, Binton, Warks. 16 9 14 6 2 18 8
3 1 9 5 11
5 7 12
7 10 8
10 8
6 12
10 5 6
APRICOT ASPARAGUS BLACKBERRY CHERRY COURGETTE CUCUMBER DATE ENDIVE FENNEL FIG GRAPEFRUIT GUAVA KALE LETTUCE LIME
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TO ENTER: Once you have found the missing word, text SEARCH followed by a space then your answer, name and postcode to 65700. Texts cost £1 plus your standard network charge. Or call 0905 652 2157 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. This week’s solution will be published next week and the winner’s name on Sunday, August 16.
2 15
NAME .............................................................................................................................. ADDRESS ........................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................................ POSTCODE ....................................TELEPHONE.......................................................
Winner of 1199:
Kiran Parry, Aberdare.
TO ENTER: Text SUPER followed by a space, your 3 shaded squares,
reading left to right, name and postcode to 65700. Texts cost
£1 plus your standard network charge. Or call 0901 292 5050
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. This week’s solution will be published
next week and the winner’s name on Sunday, August 16.
Crack our code for
your chance to win
£100 cash! Just
work out which
number goes with
which letter to
complete the grid
below this puzzle.
The answer could
be a name, such
as Danube, or a
phrase, eg at once.
S 3 16
4 17
5 18
6 V 19
7 20
TO ENTER: Once you’ve found the
word in the extra box, text CRACKER
followed by a space, your answer,
name and postcode to 65700. Texts
cost £1 plus your standard network
charge. Or call 0901 292 5051 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. This week’s solution
will be published next week and the
winner’s name on Sunday, August 16.
8 21
9 22
10 23
11 24
C 12 25
13 26
There’s an amazing £1,000 prize for the first correct solution drawn at random
in our general knowledge Prize Crossword. Entries must arrive by Friday, July 31
(photocopies not accepted). Today’s solution will appear next week and the winner’s
name on Sunday, August 16. SEE BELOW THE GRID for details on how to enter.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11
12 13 14
15 16 17 18
20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
32 33 34 35 36
37 38
Across
10 A type of wooden
house of Swiss origin,
especially a holiday
home at a ski resort (6)
11 A performer who pretends
to be famous people as a
form of entertainment (12)
12 A fiWWLQJ IRU D SLSH LQ WKH
form of a U shaped or
S shaped bend that
contains standing water (4)
13 Black substance mixed
with gravel and used
in road surfacing (7)
14 City in southeast Arizona;
home to the University
of Arizona (6)
15 Millicent , British suffragist
of whom a statue was
unveiled in Parliament
Square in 2018 (7)
16 Chief island of the Chagos
Archipelago in British Indian
Ocean Territory (5,6)
20 An ancient Roman
garment (4)
21 Benjamin , English
composer of the opera
Billy Budd (7)
22 A thick rectangular
mat of woven straw,
used in traditional
Japanese rooms (6)
23 Ben ___, English
Renaissance dramatist
and poet whose works
include Volpone and
The Alchemist (6)
25 In Greek mythology, the
goddess of retribution
and vengeance (7)
NOW THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO ENTER
Complete the Prize Crossword and count how many times the letter ‘i’ appears in the finished grid. Then text ISPY followed by your answer, name
and postcode to 65700. Texts cost £1 plus your standard network charge. Or call 0905 652 2172 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. Or post your completed grid AND iSpy answer to
Prize Crossword 2279, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 354, Wymondham, NR18 8JG. Entries must arrive by Friday, July 31 (photocopies not accepted).
The winner will be selected at random from correct iSpy answers. See today’s solutions panel for terms and conditions.
27 Irish singer songwriter
and activist who fronts
the rock band U2 (4)
28 Showing signs of a
disease, injury or
underlying condition (11)
29 Burnt sugar, used
for colouring and
flDYRXULQJ IRRG (7)
32 ___, Prince of Wales, eldest
son of Henry VII and older
brother of Henry VIII (6)
35 A type of cryptocurrency (7)
36 Garden tool consisting of a
row of metal or wooden teeth
attached to a long handle (4)
37 French artist connected with
the Fauvist and Modernist
movements, who painted
The Dance (5,7)
38 Either of the two divisions
of a pack of tarot cards (6)
Down
1 The branch of science
relating to drugs and
medicines (12)
2 Condition causing the
loss of hair, especially
on the head (8)
3 The royal house that
ruled in England from
1603 to 1714 (6)
4 ___ Funnell, British
equestrian who won
three Olympic medals in
eventing in the 2000s (5)
5 A person who studies
or keeps bees (8)
6 The principal character
in a play or story (11)
7 Usain , retired Jamaican
sprinter; world record holder
in the 100m and 200m (4)
8 A card game in which two
or more punters gamble
against the banker (8)
9 ___ Ono, Japanese
artist who married John
Lennon in 1969 (4)
17 Bill , American business
magnate who co founded
Microsoft (5)
18 18th century German
philosopher who wrote the
Critique Of Pure Reason (8,4)
19 7KH fiUVW EODFN ZRPDQ WR
become a British MP (5,6)
21 Stringed musical instrument
with a long neck and a
circular drumlike body (5)
24 A precious corundum
gemstone, usually of
a bright blue colour (8)
26 Summer , Canadian
swimmer who won three
gold and one silver medal at
the 2024 Paris Olympics (8)
27 Princess ___ of York, a
niece of Charles III (8)
30 In classical mythology, a
Trojan prince who escaped
the sack of Troy (6)
31 Amy , cricketer who
keeps wicket for the
England women’s team (5)
33 LDUJH, IDVW UXQQLQJ flLJKWOHVV
bird inhabiting the open
plains of southern
South America (4)
34 Historical drama TV series
starring Ciarán Hinds as
Julius Caesar (4)
If the number
in each triangle
is the sum of
the two below,
what is the
top number?
Answer next
week.
–.. x
6 14
2 7 6
KEN KEN
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.
1 6
–
DINGBATS
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.
Answers on today’s solutions panel.
NAME .......................................................................................................................... ADDRESS .................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................ POSTCODE ....................................TELEPHONE...................................................
From Ian Broadhead, Wakefield, W Yorks
From Alan Riley, Bolton, Lancs
DITLOIDS
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 7 P for a B B in S 2 6 of 1, H a D of the O 3 7 R by AG
BRAIN 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=
–..
8 368 943 AtoB=
+68
73 –..
t C B o =
5 2
QUICK SUDOKU
Complete grids with numbers 1 to 9 so each row, column and
3x3 block contains the numbers 1 to 9 used only once.
3 3
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. This week’s solution
will be published next
week and the winner’s
name on Sunday, August 16.
4 2
4 2
4 2 P Of L And A P Of C 5 The S 7 by EB 6 1066: The B of H
1 9
–..dozen a x 19
17 x 4 +348
–28
days in
2 3
a week days in 231 – 488 – x itself
fortnight
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 4
2 3 4
WIN £100
9 8
5 9 4
9 2 4
7 9
2 7 9
–734
Answer each clue so that every word contains the same letters as the previous word, plus or minus one. Answer next week.
PUB QUIZ
1 MOVIES:
Which actor played
King Leonidas of
Sparta in the
2007 film 300?
2 MUSIC: Which group released the 2001 hit singles Survivor and Bootylicious?
3 TV & RADIO:
Which television
series starred Dennis
Waterman as Terry
McCann, a former boxer
turned bodyguard?
4 SPORT:
Which cyclist holds
the record for the
most Olympic gold
medals won by a
female British athlete?
7 8
6 9
BARE BONES
WIN A COLLINS ENGLISH DICTIONARY AND
THESAURUS SET, AND A BRADFORD’S
CROSSWORD SOLVER’S DICTIONARY
MEDIUM
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.
HARD
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 1266, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 354, Wymondham, NR18 8JG. Entries must arrive by Friday, July 31 (photocopies not accepted). The winner’s name will be published on August 16 from the first correct entry drawn.
Winner of 1263: Annette Wilson, Chirnside, Berwickshire.
Across
5 Pugilist in military plane
8 Get back to bring
about miracle
11 One wasted a
lot of time
12 Shake object in stone
13 Implement has
a point left
14 Pause to start a
game of pool
15 Horrify a quiet friend
20 Baby’s drink
21 Chap hiding weapon
in item of clothing
22 Sticking with a twitch
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.
5 ART:
The painting A Sunday
Afternoon On The
Island Of La Grande
Jatte by Georges
Seurat is considered
a leading example of
which artistic technique?
6 LITERATURE:
Which 1818 Gothic
novel is subtitled The
Modern Prometheus?
7 FOOD & DRINK:
Dubai chocolate
has a creamy filling
made of tahini and
what type of nut?
8 HISTORY:
Which English monarch
was the last to claim
the throne by right
of conquest?
23 Dare to work
with strange
sound receptor
24 Tea on beam is
an annoyance
Down
1 Loud note played
outside, frequently
2 Sewer initially
damaged by
wet weather
3 Handle a nice surprise
4 Look happy, having
sprinted initial distance
6 Reactor of no
greater form
2 Plays on words
3 Reject
4 Leapt
5 Ladder steps
6 Chanted
7 Firearm
9 WORDS:
What is the meaning of
the word expostulate?
a) Clarify,
b) Swear,
c) Protest.
10 BRITAIN:
Which inlet of the
Irish Sea divides
Cumbria from Dumfries
and Galloway?
11 THIS YEAR:
Which star of the
television series Buffy
The Vampire Slayer
and Ted Lasso died
on 1 June, aged 72?
12 POT LUCK: In Arthurian legend, which son of Sir Lancelot found the Holy Grail?
7 Artist and art returned,
hROGLng wrRng flDg
for victory
9 Placate or corrupt
a queen
10 Stone article, by
a stable, sculpted
next to river
16 Drain gallon off, say
17 Attorney takes
sheep to a play
18 Church man started
on judges
19 Small ice cream
and a cake
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.
Complete the grid, then unscramble the letters in the yellow squares to reveal a vehicle. Answer next week.
Mindsets Printed publication
Incisors, say Freight Permit
Piece of absorbent paper
Male child Hole in a needle
Lid Actor's part Curves
Of the moon Rain heavily Corrode Solitary
Gem Agents Close to Bordered
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. June 21 winner: M. Oxborough, Portsmouth. Phone/text services Helpline: 0330 1000 601.
1 2 3 4 5
7 8 9
10 11
13 14 15
18 19
17 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.
16 18
Piece of paper Large seas School dance
Groups of soldiers
Stage whisper
Tribe State of being away
Answers next week.
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.
P E N I
D L W G
A Y I E
I R T B
Try this mini-puzzle.
Answers next week.
ACROSS 1 Pinafore 2 Menial 3 LDys D SDWh 4 Lifeless 5 Ancient peoples
DOWN 1 6Dvoury MHlly 2 Shave 3 French composer 4 ObvLous 5 BLrds’ hoPHs
Painful
Steers
Belonging to us
Middle Eastern country
Mound of drifted sand Had food Lengthy Formerly Unwanted plant
Cowardly
Pitch
CROSSWORD
DOWN
1 Catwalk
performer (5)
2 Drug (8)
3 Concerned (6)
4 5osWHr (4)
5 From Mars (7)
6 Ballet
positions (10)
9 Division (10)
12 Force out of
SosLWLon (8)
14 See (7)
16 6HrvH (4,2)
19 Chop into small
pieces (5)
20 Indian
FosWuPH (4)
ACROSS
1 Picture done in a
single colour (10)
7 Detection
device (5)
8 Stops working (7)
10 InflDWDblH Woys (8)
11 WDlk Soorly (4)
13 Squalid (6)
15 Meal (6)
17 U6 sWDWH (4)
18 APbDssDdor,
Ior HxDPSlH (8)
21 PoSHyH’s Iood (7)
22 Wild dog (5)
23 Half of the
globH (10)
Here, Black has sacrificed a rook
and their King’s safety for a
devastating attack. As Black,
can you find a rapid knockout?
Our answer on the solutions panel.
Conflict Tagged Untruth
Lift
Speak
Optimum
To rib
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 – 13 Good 19 Very good 25 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.
Kate _, model Dampen
13 11 14 3 12 29
17 11
16 17 11 15
6 11 8 11
11 21 18
23 7 26 10
3 7
10 8 15 16 11
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.
9 13 15 15 3 32 22
3 10
4 3 31
13 6
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
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
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WIN £250
O
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C
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A
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R
R
S
A
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S
C
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A
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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.
V
B
Y
F
F
V
B
B
K
M
Y
M
K
B
B
K
M
F
F
B
B
B
B
M
M
K
K
B
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M
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F
F
M
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Y
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CRYPTIC CLUES
1 Dream makes follower stay involved (7)
5 Reinforce a cushion (7)
10 Pub next to new outbuilding (4)
11 Better rave about a man, say (10)
12 Kept notes after marine
got confused (8)
13 Active as a stage actor? (2,4)
14 Earth around Portsmouth’s top ruin (5)
16 Interplanetary visitor developed
remote tie (9)
19 Dismiss doctor, getting
sick in rehearsal (4,5)
21 Knife and keys boy put in (5)
23 Take mushroom with
wild cat circling (6)
25 Shade is of the greatest importance (8)
27 Incite promise, cunning
in a false way (10)
28 Starts to get under table
such courage! (4)
29 Aristocrat has English
students to chide (4,3)
30 Soft furnishings padre
set out by railway (7)
Down
2 Native American evicts
husband quickly (5)
3 Provisional shelter at four, note (9)
4 Preserving a reduction in cost (6)
6 Single team, on the day,
was prejudiced (3-5)
7 Fight for what’s left (5)
8 Old pamphlet journalist took out (9)
9 )HOORw finds EDnN FRROHr (6)
15 Morality is chief, so it’s said (9)
17 Arriving and cooking upon grill (7,2)
18 Bad debt to compose
before leaving (5-3)
20 Insect left scout worried (6)
22 Settler has right to a request (6)
24 Enlist, new in new role (5)
26 Flower rates badly (5)
2
2
5
5
3
3
3
2
B N
ACROSS: 1 Croatia, 5 Broomsticks, 10 Vibes, 11 & 28 Down Charles Rennie, 13 Enola, 14 Newcastle, 15 Tolerance, 16 Foil, 17 Beau Brummell, 20 Hook, 21 Gestation, 22 Helm, 26 Octogenarian, 27 Days, 29 Thespians, 31 Alexander, 33 Vodka, 34 Station, 35 Ninon, 36 Agent Orange, 37 Echidna. DOWN: 1 Cavendish, 2 Oxbow, 3 Tasmania, 4 Alcott, 5 Blaue Reiter, 6 Owlet, 7 The Proms, 8 Crown jewels, 9 Scafell, 12 Saleroom, 16 From The Edge, 18 Ultramarine, 19 Beanbags, 23 Memoranda, 24 Eggplant, 25 Savannah, 26 Octavia, 30 Shaun, 32 Dined.
6
E X D E S E R T O R C H I D L K
E Y E S L L U B A E R E D R U M
A S T U R C U S I N I N E F O C
Y M O K I E C P K I G V A K S R
Y P I E Y U E O T S L I S I H S
T Q G J C H A M P I O N E D E U
U C A P T A I N S E B O X E R M
A X A F W O D A H S N A D M G I
E M A A T U L P A R V H I P A X
B I T R I G G E R Y S S A X R A
K S J Q S E P E G A S U S G T M
C T T O I V G B L A Z E D D E M
A E Y P E N N F L I C K A J B N
L R L J I Y A H N G D U S P Z L
B E J G Z S B U C E P H A L U S
K D O D A N R O T M D O L L O R
C O M P O S E R P A C T P O U U E O Z E A L F E M I N I N E R Y F P C I B A R G A I N L E E C H O X R A A V E N G E E N G U L F O S A R B L E A K S P O I L E R C D J P F Q W A R D R O B E F L U X N E Y A I A P O O R S P R I N K L E
fuel, hell, hello, help, helpful, hole, holey, hope, hopeful, HOPEFULLY, hype, lope, loupe, pelf, pole, pule, pulley, yell, yelp (22).
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
11
13
15 16 17
20 21
24 25 26
28
30
1 Fairy tale (7) 5 Support (7) 10 Farm building (4) 11 Spined creature (10) 12 Stayed (8) 13 Currently active (2,4) 14 Mar (5) 16 Rock from space (9) 19 Emergency precaution (4,5) 21 Cutting edge (5)
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.
Last week’s answer: 9
week’s answer: 9, 10, 9
4 6 3
1 8 2
11 9 10
12 5 7
2 5
6 7 9
8 4 1
2 3 12
10 11 5
3 10 11
5 1 4
7 2 6
9 12 8
8 1 9
4 10 7
6 3 11
12 5 2
2 6 5
2 6 5
1 9 12
10 11 3
7 4 8
9 7 10
5 8 1
11 12 4
3 2 6
1 2 10
6 4 9
12 9 8
8 12 7
5 3 11
3 7 1
10 11 4
11 5 3
7 10 12
9 8 2
4 1 6
11 4 10
3 8 7
4 10 1
12 9 6
2 11 5
7 6 2
8 5 3
1 12 9
5 3 8
6 2 12
10 7 11
9 1 4
MENTAL BLOCKS
L 1 H 14
S W F S S D S C R A W L P A C K E D A H G A I R S H P I O N E E R T H E A T R E O O R E W E E I C S E L L O U N I T T M F N E T S A A L E A K A G E R E A C T O R E T B A A B I E D E A L E R C A R R O T S E S K E N
J 2 F 15
G 3 R 16
Y 4 X 17
M 5 P 18
E 6 I 19
C 7 D 20
S 8 U 21
W 9 T 22
Q 10 N 23
CHANCE TO WIN £250!
25 Clergyman (8) 27 In a bogus way (10) 28 Intestines (4) 29 Scold (4,3) 30 Curtains (7) Down 2 Rapidly (5) 3 Hesitant (9) 4 Rescuing (6) 6 Biased (3-5) 7 Fragment (5)
week’s answer: 6,7,3
7 2
6 7
9 5 3 6 2 4 7
6 2
5 3
3 8 6
5 6 2 8 3
3
7 2 4 5
8 4 9 2 7 6
9 8 3 6 7 4 2
3 5 7 9 2 8 6
8
7 9 5 3 6 8
4 8 9 5 3
4 5 2 7
8 3 9
9 4
2 1 4 5
5 4 2 3
3 2 5 1
4 3 1 2
1 5 3 4
B A B M R
D R A C U L A P E T E R
E E U E R C
P A N T R I C Y C L E S
K A L H D
A M A L G A M A T E S
H B O I N D
P E C U L I A R I T Y
A L T S C
O R N A M E N T S C O B
9 Kitchen appliance (6) 15 Belief (9) 17 Folding back (7,2) 18 Irreparably damaged car (5-3) 20 Large insect (6) 22 Supplication (6) 24 Register (5) 26 DDLsy-OLNH flRwHr (5)
ACROSS: 9 Orate, 10 Liverpool, 11 Tall order, 12 Octet, 13 Latvia, 14 Gruesome, 16 Stetson, 18 Wound up,
20 Meatball, 22 Riding, 25 Noise, 26 Sacred cow, 28 Treasurer, 29 Satin.
DOWN: 1 Foot, 2 Wallet, 3 Melodies, 4 Slide, 5 Overdrawn, 6 Groove, 7 Boatload, 8 Clothes peg,
13 Last-minute, 15 Enclosure, 17 Examiner, 19 Universe, 21 Breast, 23 Incite, 24 Scarf, 27 Want.
2 9 7 8
6 3 2 5 9
3 5 4
7 4 9 6 8 5 3
4 8 5 2 6 9
5 2
9 6 8 3 4 2 5 7
7 6 4 3 8 2 9
3 7 5 4 9 2
9 7 6 4 8
2 7 8 6
3 6 5
7 4
3 2 9
5 1 8
1 3 7
2 6 4
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.
315 624
1435 2433 5403 6463 7345 8534
the letter U in the
square box, follow
a continuous path
to find 21 terms
relating to tennis.
The trail passes
through each
and every letter
once and may
twist up, down
or sideways, but
never diagonally.
Answer next
week.
1 4 2 7 9 8 5 3 6
3 7 5 2 1 6 9 4 8
8 3 2 6
4 7 3 9 8
9 4 5 3 2 7 6
5 2 9
2 6
7 5 8 2 9 6
3 8 6 4 7 5 9 2
9 4 7 5 3 8 6
9 4 7
7 8 4 2 5 9
5 3 4 7 8
6 8 3 4
C E D
J E N
N E I
I E V
9 8 4 2 3 5 1
3 4 2 6 1 6 3 7 1 3 1 4
41903 52434 74403 84641
2035504 3456422 6147634 7345757 7345876 7573475
235967 945697
1 Gerard Butler, 2 Destiny’s Child, 3 Minder, 4 Laura Kenny
(née Trott), 5 Pointillism, 6 Frankenstein by Mary Shelley,
7 Pistachio, 8 Henry VII, 9 c) Protest, 10 Solway Firth,
11 Anthony Head, 12 Sir Galahad.
DINGBATS
1 Leftover food, 2 A hiding
to nothing, 3 Summertime,
4 Eyes down.
BRAIN TRAIN
A-B=342, B-C=241, C-D=270.
DITLOIDS
1 7 Points for a Black Ball in Snooker, 2 6 of 1, Half a
Dozen of the Other, 3 7 Rings by Ariana Grande,
4 2 Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps, 5 The Secret 7
by Enid Blyton, 6 1066: The Battle of Hastings.
9 6 8 5 3 4 7 2 1
4 2 9 6 5 3 8 1 7
8 5 3 1 7 2 4 6 9
6 1 7 4 8 9 3 5 2
2 9 4 8 6 5 1 7 3
5 8 1 3 2 7 6 9 4
7 3 6 9 4 1 2 8 5
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.
7 1 1 2 3 1 8 2 3 1 6 2 9 1 2
35857324 48563249 74569645 89803450
563887529 596852065
1… Qxd4+! 2. Kxd4 Bc5+ 3. Kd3 Nxe5 mate.
本次翻译在主体内容的忠实度和完整性上表现良好，但存在明显的残余英文块、未翻译的术语以及部分关键数字未本土化（保留英文量词）的问题。
£96 billion 出现多次，未统一翻译为“960 亿英镑”。£1.7 billion $\rightarrow$ £1.7 billion (未翻译)。£18 billion, £76 billion, £18.8 billion 等所有大额数字均保留英文量词 billion。YESTERDAY (24 hours to 6pm) 标题未翻译。stunning (在“stunning 的梅尔罗斯修道院”中保留英文)。VAT 虽然在后文翻译了，但在关键段落中多次直接使用英文缩写。rates (商业 rates) 未翻译，应为“税率”或“地税”。25C 77F 等温度单位缺失度数符号（应为 $25^\circ\text{C}$）。Pumlumon Fawr, Hafren Forest 等地名直接保留英文，未尝试音译。[[IMG_XXXX]] 占位符，这属于交付缺陷（internal cleanup label）。SUDOKU 部分的数字阵列虽能对应，但部分标题如 KAKURO 被错误翻译为 杀手数独 (Killer Sudoku)，而原文中 KILLER 和 KAKURO 是两种不同的谜题。£96 billion 和 £960 亿 (虽此处未见 960 亿，但量词未本土化导致阅读不连贯)。[!WARNING] 块包含了一系列不相关的专有名词缺失列表（如 Aaron Briggs, Abu Dhabi 等），而这些词汇在提供的 Source Preview 中并未出现。这表明翻译过程中使用了错误的 QA 记录或发生了跨文档的幻觉。存在阻塞性问题 (Blocking Issues Found)。
主要问题在于：
1. 大量关键金融数字保留 billion 格式，未按中文习惯处理。
2. 出现了 [[IMG_XXXX]] 等内部清理标签。
3. 顶部警告块中的缺失清单与本文档内容不匹配，显示处理流程混乱。