TRAVEL

Gogglebox favourites Roisin Kelly and Joe Kyle have revealed a major milestone in their relationship – just months after being axed from the Channel 4 show.

The couple announced they’re moving out of their flat in Glasgow as Roisin, 26, took to Instagram to share a heartfelt reel.

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In the short clip, significant moments flashed up on-screen including when the pair first moved into the flat as well as decorating a Christmas tree.

This was followed by shots of the empty flat after they moved all of their belongings out of the home they once shared.

A background voice is heard saying: “It was official, a new season had begun. After all, seasons change, so do cities, people come into your life and people go but it’s comforting to know the ones you love are always in your heart and if you’re very lucky, a plane ride away.”

She captioned the post: “Oh I will miss you flat #movingout.”

The move comes after Roisin and Joe, 28, were sensationally dumped from the iconic show earlier this year.

In July, the two took to social media to share: “After three and a half years of sitting on the sofa channel 4 have decided it’s time for Joe and I to stretch our legs and have not asked us back for season 26. Therefore, we are leaving the Gogglebox family.

“We couldn’t be more grateful to Studio Lambert for the opportunity, the experience has actually been so mad and we will miss watching TV with you all on Friday nights!”

They added: “It’s been an honour to represent Scotland as some of the first Scottish people on the show and prove we don’t actually need subtitles.”

“We have made friends for life and after filming every week for years you have become like our family!

“We could not have asked for better people to work with and we will miss you immensely. It for sure has been a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

The pair, who were involved in a terrifying accident, wrapped with the words: “Time to watch TV in silence for a bit and put down the popcorn.”

A spokesperson for Channel 4 said at the time: “We thank Joe and Roisin for their contributions to Gogglebox over the years, and wish them all the best for the future.”

The new series of Gogglebox kicked off last night but fans were left fuming after Roisin and Joe weren’t included in the line-up.

Taking to X, one raged: “What’s happened to Joe and Roisin, they were the funniest ffs.”

Another added: “Can’t believe they got rid of Roisin and Joe, some of the boring b******s on this they could of p***ed off.”

A third tweeted: “I’m missing Roisin and Joe already.”

Meanwhile a fourth begged: “Can someone explain why have we replaced the lovely Scottish couple with pretentious posh p****s who aren’t even funny. just noo f*** off!!”

Instead, the pair were replaced by a whopping five new families in the biggest cast shake-up in years.

Sisters from Edinburgh, a family from Surrey, friends from Glasgow, a married couple from the Cotswolds, and a mother and daughter-in-law from Yorkshire all joined the show in last night’s instalment.

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Tourists visiting France needn’t speak perfect French, but these seven essential phrases can make all the difference in the kind of holiday you experience abroad.

A French cultural advisor has unveiled seven essential phrases that could completely change how locals treat British tourists visiting France.

MaryAnne Sparkes, cultural advisor at cruise company European Waterways, says British visitors needn’t speak perfect French but must master a handful of crucial phrases to avoid being dismissed in the globe’s most-visited destination.

Sparkes counsels British holidaymakers planning journeys across the Channel as she says: “Locals don’t expect fluent French but you do need to say Bonjour and a couple of other key words to avoid offending. In some places one word is your ticket to being treated like a local.”

The cultural advisor explains French etiquette remains hidden until violated, particularly in scenic regions where life follows a customary pace.

“In France etiquette is invisible until you get it wrong. Skipping a simple greeting can instantly brand you as an outsider especially in the prettiest parts of the country” she says.

According to Sparkes, the most vital phrase is “Bonjour” which should never be omitted when entering shops, restaurants or any social environment. “Bonjour isn’t just a greeting. It’s a sign of mutual respect” she points out. “It’s how you announce that you see and acknowledge someone.”

The expert emphasises six additional indispensable phrases British visitors should master before arrival, which include “s’il vous plaît” (please) when requesting anything from café orders to directions. Sparkes observes courtesy operates as social currency in France, with minor pleasantries creating a substantial impact on how residents react.

“Excusez-moi” (excuse me) comes third on the essential list for navigating crowds or making enquiries, followed by “Comment ça va?” (how are you?) which demonstrates genuine concern even during fleeting interactions.

The cultural expert also suggests perfecting “Merci beaucoup” (thank you very much) for any kindness from opening doors to serving meals.

For unavoidable tourist blunders, “Je suis désolé(e)” (I’m sorry) preserves social peace.

The concluding expression “Puis-je…?” (May I…?) should be employed when seeking approval in official circumstances.

The specialist emphasises these expressions prove most effective when spoken with genuine intent rather than flawless accent. “French etiquette isn’t complicated but it is expected. These phrases make the difference between being tolerated and being truly welcomed”, she says.

The advice emerges as statistics demonstrate approximately 17 million British nationals travel to France annually despite its standing as one of the most discourteous nations globally. As increasing numbers of British holidaymakers explore beyond conventional tourist destinations into countryside villages, these social signals become progressively vital.

Whilst fluency remains unnecessary, grasping fundamental cultural standards opens the door to friendlier, more genuine encounters across the nation. Sparkes emphasises that modest linguistic attempts demonstrate respect for French culture, which residents recognise and value.

“You don’t need perfect French. Just showing you’ve made an effort with these few phrases opens doors to genuine connections with locals” she says.

For British holidaymakers planning French getaways, European Waterways recommends practicing these expressions beforehand, observing that even flawed efforts generate favour from residents.

The cultural advisor concludes that learning these seven expressions enables tourists to discover authentic France beneath the tourist veneer.

In Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere, travel writer Jan Morris described the city’s many faces and “ambivalence”, maintaining that, unlike most other Italian cities, it has “no unmistakable cuisine”. But I had come to Trieste to experience, if not a cuisine, then a culinary tradition which, to me at least, does seem unmistakable: the osmiza scene of the surrounding countryside.

An osmiza (or osmize in the plural) is a Slovene term for a smallholding that produces wine in the Karst Plateau, a steep rocky ridge scattered with pine and a patchwork of vineyards that overlooks the Adriatic Sea. Visiting osmize is a centuries-old tradition in which these homesteads open their doors to the public for a fleeting period each year. Guests order their food and wine at a till inside – where a simply tiled bar, often set into local stone, might boast family photos, halogen lights and a chalkboard menu – before heading outside to feast at long Oktoberfest-style tables and benches.

“On the Italian side of the border, we just serve cold food,” Jacob Zidarich tells us, as he places down plates of pickled courgette, house-cured salumi, local cow’s milk cheese and a homemade sausage with mustard and grated horseradish. “But in Slovenia, you find cooked food.”

I am sitting with my partner on the hot terrace at Zidarich’s family home, looking out over a glittering Adriatic. To accompany our food, Zidarich pours two glasses of liquid gold vitovska, a white wine indigenous to this corner of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, the north-eastern Italian region that borders Slovenia, and which is home to the port city of Trieste.

To understand the tradition of visiting osmize is to grasp something of Trieste’s complex history and multifaceted cultural identity. The word derives from the Slovenian osem, meaning “eight”, a reference to a decree by 18th-century Holy Roman empress Maria Theresa that farmers in the Karst could sell their wares for eight consecutive days each year.

The result is an enduring tradition in which farmers only open for a short time each season, although almost all of them are now open for more than eight days a year. For this reason, no two osmiza-based itineraries are the same. Turn up at virtually any time of year and there will be osmize open – especially over the warmer months – all offering an affordable flavour of the Friulian countryside.

You’ll pay little more than €2-3 for a quarter-litre carafe of wine and €12-15 for an abundant platter of cold cuts, pickles and pillowy white bread. The tradition is particular to this tiny nook of Friuli, although as Zidarich indicated, it also exists – with differences – over the Slovenian border. Our focus is the Italian side where you can check which osmize are open (on the day of writing, there are 13) and at what time on the website osmize.com.

I base myself at the charming Hotel Albero Nascosto in the centre of Trieste for three nights and, with the intention of visiting as many of the osmize as possible, hire a car. I make it to four osmize, and realise quickly that Zidarich is something of an exception. Although his family had been making simple white and red wines for generations, it was his father, Benjamin, who transformed the farm into one of the most respected wine producers in the region. At other osmize we mostly drink wine from kegs. Some might describe these places as rustic, but even the table wines here have a clear style and moreish complexity to them.

Next up is Verginella Dean, an osmiza bustling with both locals and visitors and known for its peerless view of the Gulf of Trieste. From here the city’s Piazza Unità d’Italia is just visible, as is the brutalist Temple of Monte Grisa (which we visit afterwards). From an outdoor bar with two wine taps, I order a quarter of malvasia for two of us and a mixed platter of pork cuts, triangles of salty cheese and sun-dried tomatoes “for one” (it could feed four).

Osmize aren’t so much a cuisine as a gastronomic tradition, but I might have put to Jan Morris that they are emblematic of a place that, although bureaucratically Italian, has strong Slovenian influences. Zidarich’s vineyards straddle the border with most of the land being in Italy, but Slovenian is the language spoken at home, as with all the farmers I met.

“We don’t feel Italian here, we feel like we’re from Trieste,” says Theresa Sandalj, who owns a green coffee import business based in the city. The daughter of Trieste Slovenians, she tells me she grew up without any Italian traditions – “no lasagne, no ravioli” – and that when she met her Milanese husband she gave him a copy of Morris’s book “to explain what I was”.

Trieste, then, is at a crossroads between three great European cultures: Roman, Slavic and Austrian. But it doesn’t stop there – it’s a multi-faith, “inter-racial jumble”, as Morris had it, home to one of the largest synagogues in Europe alongside Greek and Serbian Orthodox churches. Its significant immigrant communities rub shoulders.

Besides osmize, there are plenty of reasons for hungry travellers to visit Trieste, from its quirky coffee culture complete with its own vocabulary (here an espresso is a nero, which could refer to a glass of red wine elsewhere in the region) to fresh fish and seafood at restaurants such as Trattoria Nerodiseppia and Le Barettine, which are both within spitting distance of the hotel.

We also loved Mimì e Cocotte, a centrally located seasonal restaurant that combines the humility of home-cooked food with a sense of occasion, and specialises in regional natural wines. With these we wash down courgette frittata and two plates of pasta – cacio e pepe, and cavatelli with tomatoes and stracciatella. Just outside Trieste, in the seaside village of Duino, Alla Dama Bianca has the fading charm of a 1970s hotspot. Here we eat razor clams and watch swans glide across the water as the sun sets.

Back in Trieste, on Via Giusto Muratti, we discover Pagna, an artisanal bakery and natural wine bar run by the Serbian pastry chef Pedja Kostic, who was drawn to Trieste from Belgrade via the US, by the wine scene. At Pagna I eat the almond croissant of my life: a perfect crisp pastry with a pillowy interior hugging not-too-much frangipane.

But it was for osmize that I came, where each one reflects the people behind it. At Šuc Erika, an osmiza in the middle of a farmyard, whose walls are adorned with a picture depicting ricotta production and felt-tip drawings by previous child guests, we order from a woman in a Metallica T-shirt. Afterwards, we sit under a pergola of ripening grapes. Rather magically, we are the only ones here, and sip our drinks (which, unusually, include a delicious cloudy beer brewed in-house) to a soundtrack of cattle lowing and stamping their hooves.

Unable to resist just one more before we leave, we head to Osmiza Boris in Medeazza, where Boris’s wife, Patricia, is behind the bar. She tells us about the salumi, wine vinegars, olive oil and honey they make on-site, while two teenage sons pad in and out of a courtyard in flip-flops. Boris was recommended to us by a waiter at La Dama Bianca as one of his favourites to visit before work, which gives you some indication of how widely enjoyed osmize are here – democratic and available to everybody, when they happen to be open.

The trip was provided by Promo Turismo FVG, the tourist board of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia. Doubles at Hotel Albero Nascosto from £120 B&B

WE’VE all done it.

Spotting a plant you think will look amazing in your garden – rushing out to buy it – and then realising that on its own it suddenly looks, well, a bit naff.

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But happily, a new book by Jamie Butterworth could be about to banish the embarrassment of a badly put together garden for good.

‘What Grows Together’ – which comes out next weekend – offers up over 60 ‘fail safe plant combinations for every garden’ with no confusing horticultural jargon or lecturing.

You may recognise Jamie from his RHS Show Feature Dog Garden at Chelsea Flower Show this year – which he created alongside Monty Don and DJ Jo Whiley.

He’s appeared many times on Gardeners World, and cites Monty Don as the gardener who inspired him to get into horticulture.

His nursery Form Plants also supplies plants to Windsor Castle – and when he met King Charles at Chelsea Flower Show, the King said: ‘I know Jamie — you are delivering plants to me on Wednesday. Please don’t be late.’”

But it was another famous Jamie that actually inspired his book.
“I love cooking, but I never know what ingredients to put together as to what will taste nice,” he told Sun gardening.

“But when I came across Jamie Oliver’s Five Ingredients Book – where he just goes – take these ingredients and do this and this is what you’ll get, it was just brilliant. It was exactly what I needed.

“I just thought – we need to do this for gardening. We’ve even laid it out like a recipe book – in terms of making it look really crisp and simple – it’s like no other gardening book that’s ever been written.

“There’s so much synergy between cooking and gardening – people want to garden, they want to have nice gardens but they’re time poor and they don’t know what to plant that will a. Survive and b. look good, and that was the starting premise of the book.

“We’re forever learning with plants – my particular passion is growing plants, putting them together and making nice displays – it’s how I like to make people happy.

“It’s about getting rid of the old gardening rules – the ‘you must do this, you must do that, you must plant carrots at this exact time or everything will fail.

“What I wanted to do was make growing more accessible – there is no right way – but learning even just a few combinations and what will grow well together – then that gives people confidence to have a go themselves.”

“Jamie’s an idol of mine – and I want to make gardening as accessible as he did for cooking.

“You pay garden designers hundreds of pounds to tell you where to put plants – hopefully this book will negate all of that and give people the accessibility they need to go ‘oh actually this is what I need to do’ and it’s that simple.”

JAMIES’ FAVOURITE COMBINATIONS

COMBINATION ONE
Hydrangeas Limelight and Agastache Blackadder – both plants individually are brilliant and will flower for a long long time each – Hydrangeas from June to Autumn and even once they’ve finished flowering they’ll hold their seed heads and look great in the winter. Agastache Blackadder is a perennial and has dark purple liquorice flowers and if you plant the two together the darkness of the Agastache looks brilliant against the white of the hydrangea – but will also grow up through it. If you want to add to it – just add in some yellow Cosmos.

COMBINATION 2
Calycanthus ‘Aphrodite’, Japanese Forest Grass, Penstemon ‘Pensham Plum Jerkum’
Calycanthus has really rich ruby wine red flowers which look stunning in their own right. It flowers from late May through to September/October, leg it up by taking off lower branches – then you’ve got a specimen rather than just a shrub – and underplant with Hakonechloa Macra – AKA Japanese forest grass and the Penstemon with dark rich ruby colour flowers the same as the calycanthus. Individually they’re great plants – but put together that’s an incredible combination.

 What Grows Together: Fail-safe Plant Combinations for Every Garden by Jamie Butterworth (11 September, DK)

Also in Veronica’s Column this week…

News, top tips, Plant of the Week and a competition to win two hedge trimmers

NEWS! Catherine’s Rose is finally available to buy on the high street – with B&Q taking the honours as the main bricks and mortar stockist.
Named after HRH Princess Kate, and launching in store at the end of this month, funds from every sale will go to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
The pink ‘Catherine’s Rose’, which is scented, was developed by Harkness Roses – and in May we ran a competition for Sun Readers to become the first in the world to own a rose.
Now everyone can get one from their local B&Q..
The RHS and Harkness joined forces with Kate after she underwent a “very spiritual and very intense emotional reconnection” with nature after undergoing treatment for cancer.
The princess announced in January she was in remission after completing a course of preventative chemotherapy.

WIN! WIn one of two Webb ECO 20V 15cm Cordless Mini Chainsaw/Pruning Saws with Telescopic Pole Reach PLUS battery – worth £124.99 each. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/WebbPruner or write to
Sun Webb Pruner competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm. September 20, 2025. T&Cs apply

PLANT OF THE WEEK! Heuchera Berry Timeless is evergreen and will still be sending up sprays of pale pink flowers well into September. It’s heat resistant and hardy – and doesn’t seem fussy about soil or shade or too much sun.

JOB OF THE WEEK! You can start with your onion sets now – to overwinter and get a bountiful crop next year. Red Winter is a great one to get in the ground. Potatoes and raspberries are ready to harvest and sweetpeas can be sown under cover.

TOP TIP! IF you fancy growing your own salad leaves over Winter – now is the time to start.
Lambs Lettuce is very hardy and perfect for Winter Gardens. Get the seeds in the soil now – either in pockets you know are milder – or in a cold frame.
The best thing about sowing rocket is that you’ll get your first crop with four to six weeks – and it also thrives in cooler temperatures.
If you plant Arctic Spring butterhead lettuce now – you’ll get a crop early next year. But also keep an eye out in garden centres, as they often sell a ‘Winter Mix’. Sarah Raven currently has one that includes ‘Can Can’, ‘Salad Bowl’ and ‘Merveille de Quatre Saisons.’

NEWS! Harrogate Autumn Flower Show is taking place from September 19th to 21st. As well as the usual floral marquees – there’s an Incredible Edible pavilion showcasing the best fruit and vegetables – as well as the giant versions – including a National Onion Championship. Plus talks, live demonstrations, expert gardening advice and competitions. And there’s a plant creche so you don’t have to carry your purchases round all day.

A recent visitor to a hotel dubbed the UK’s worst said their room was dirty, had stained walls and smelt of sewage with no ventilation – although remarkably they found one aspect of the premises ‘magnificent’

It was always going to be a bit of a risk staying at what has in recent years been labelled the worst hotel in the UK by other appalled guests. However one plucky visitor decided to see if the reviews really were justified at the Grand Hotel in Scarborough.

Sadly they claim their stay there pretty much lived up to expectations with a dusty room, dirty toilet and foul smell coming from the bathroom, which they didn’t want to get undressed in.

The restaurant was also a let down with ‘stale’ food, ‘dirty cutlery’ and staff struggling to clear up the mess left behind by other diners. However there was one part of the large Victorian building that surprised them with its beauty.

Posting under the name Angiebarbara, the appalled traveller shared their thoughts on Tripadvisor in a critique entitled ‘The not so grand!’. They had visited the beach front hotel, which overlooks Scarborough’s harbour and South bay in August this year and had clearly read the large volume of poor reviews previously written. “Unfortunately the many not so great reviews are true and I had to see it first hand to believe it,” they wrote before going into great detail about what they discovered.

“The rooms are dirty with dust, holes and spills up the walls, creaky floors and filthy windows that don’t open and have no air con or ventilation and are tiny and constricted. When you first walk in the smell really hits you and especially as you open the bathroom door. All I can describe the smell of is raw sewage and the stuffiness of the room makes it overbearing,” they said, adding that the beds were “small with sunken matresses and hard pillows”.

They were so disgusted by the “tiny” bathroom itself that they didn’t want to undress in there, preferring to keep their footwear on instead. They said it: “Had ground dirt in the walls and flooring, rusty taps and mouldy shower and brown stains on the ceiling. The toilet was stained. The shower was missing a glass panel, not that I’d have attempted to undress in there, it was bad enough walking in with my shoes on,” they fumed.

Elsewhere in the hotel, they found ‘unclean’ cutlery and glasses in the dining room at breakfast with staff unable to keep up with the clearing required, so the reviewer, “had to brush the seats before sitting down and dodge the debris on the floor”. The food itself didn’t fare any better with, “dry, stale bread and puddings” and “discoloured vegetables”.

Although the imposing building is Grade II listed, the front of the premises has little “kerb appeal”, according to the guest, who said it was littered with dustbins and “overflowing rubbish and bird excrement covering them and the paths”. The ‘unwelcoming’ seating area was also covered in bird mess too they said.

However they did flag that it was a “shame” the entrance to the building let down the south side because the views there were surprisingly “magnificent”. They concluded their scathing review by advising the management to spend a whole lot of cash to improve visitor experience. “If you’re looking for basic standard accommodation do not stay here at the not so grand hotel,” they wrote. “In my opinion this hotel needs several million pounds spent on it to restore its reputation and quality. Shame on whoever has let such a beautiful piece of Baroque style architecture turn to rubble!”

The property is owned by Britannia Hotels, which bought it in 2004. It did actually invest a whopping £7million refurbishing it and in 2017 it was named by Historic Britain as one of the top ten places, buildings and historical sites that tell the story of England and its impact on the world. When it was opened in 1867 it was the largest hotel and brick structure in Europe and was designed in a V shape to honour Queen Victoria. It was during this period that the hotel was a favourite among the elite in society.

These days though, business doesn’t seem to be quite as positive, with a poor 2.4 Tripadvisor rating and 4,325 people rating it terrible. Others that have recently stayed there have also shared their thoughts. One raged: “Avoid this vile hotel! We got put into room 1010 which is in the basement. The hotel had a vile smell, it was dirty, in need of renovation, and downright vile. The windows were full of dirt and bird muck and you couldn’t see out of them, the wardrobe had coat hangers slung on the floor with an old ironing board slung in there, there were cobwebs hanging down from the ceiling. I would not put my dog in that basement never mind human beings.”

Another advised to “avoid” it all costs: “The whole place is filthy, ignorant receptionists and terrible food,” they wrote. “Do not go here, clearly needs some new management. Credit to the lads on the bar, they were actually polite and showed some professionalism.”

However there is the occasional happy camper, with one being “pleasantly surprised” after hearing of its reputation: “After reading the reviews I wasn’t expecting much but everything was good,” they posted. “My room was spacious and clean. The bathroom looked newly fitted. I also had a sea view. The ground floor was beautifully decorated, where the reception, ballroom, bar etc are situated. The food was good. Breakfast and evening meals are self service. A spectacular building.”

Other positive reviews point to the hotel’s location near to the centre and the seafront. Some love the nostalgic charm of the building itself, while others find that aspect means it looks shabby and needs refurbishment.

The General Manager often replies to the reviews, which presumably takes up a large portion of his day. He posted a “genuinely sorry” message to Angiebarbara apologising for all the issues they encountered during their stay. “Cleanliness, comfort, and service are areas we take seriously, and it’s clear from your comments that we fell short in several respects,” they wrote addressing the complaints, adding: “Your observations regarding the condition of the room, the food quality, and the upkeep of the property have been noted and will be reviewed with our management and operational teams.”

Mirror Online has contacted Britannia Hotels for comment.

THE EXACT amount of money each pensioner will get as their Winter Fuel Payment this year has been confirmed by the Department for Work and Pensions.

More than nine million people are set to receive the payment later this year.

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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed eligible people born before September 22, 1959 will automatically receive the funds.

It comes after the previous £300 payment was axed for millions of pensioners last winter and only those on certain benefits qualified.

The move triggered a massive backlash for Labour as some 10 million pensioners lost their winter fuel allowance in the benefit cut.

It saved the Treasury just £1.4 billion but caused a massive public outcry – and the government was forced to perform a half baked U-turn.

The PM cracked under pressure after a voter backlash.

It’s now been revealed that this year’s payment will be between £100 and £300, to help cover the cost of higher heating bills this winter.

The money will become available to most eligible pensioners in November or December.

The amount is determined by both age and household circumstances of a claimant over the qualifying period, which is the week of September 15 to 21.

Where you were born is also a contributing factor.

Letters can be expected for those who qualify for it in England and Wales in October or November.

The letter will provide details on how much money you will be offered, as well as which bank account the payment will go into – which is usually the same as where you receive State Pensions or other benefits.

DWP guidance states: “You’ll get a letter in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll get, if you’re eligible.

“If you do not get a letter but think you’re eligible, check if you need to make a claim.”

People in Scotland will not get Winter Fuel Payment as the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment has replaced it.

This scheme follows similar eligibility criteria as outlined by the DWP, but will be issued automatically by Social Security Scotland from the end of November.

The GOV.UK website provides further guidance on the scheme and how to be a claim.

It also warns people to be wary about scammers who may send out trick messages that provide a link to click on and make a claim.

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These are not official DWP messages and should be deleted.

So those eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment are people living in England and Wales born before September 22, 1959.

You will not be eligible if:

• you live outside England and Wales
• you were in hospital getting free treatment for the whole of the week of September 15-21, 2025 and the year before
• you need permission to enter the UK and granted leave says you cannot claim public funds
• you were in prison for the whole of the week of September 15-21

It is possible for people living in a care home to get the Winter Fuel Payment.

However, there are two factors that if combined mean you will not be eligible.

This is if you are on Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Alloance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), whilst having lived in a care home during since June 23, 2025 or earlier.

If you live alone, or none of the people you live with are eligible for Winter Fuel Payment:

• you will get £200, if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959
• you will get £300, if you were born before September 22, 1945

If you live with someone else who is eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment:

• £100 if you and the person you live with were both born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959
• £100 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959 but the person you live with was born before September 22, 1945
• £200 if you were born before September 22, 1945 but the person you live with was born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959
• £150 if you and the person you live with were born before September 22, 1945

Your payment will also be different if you are receiving other benefits payments.

• £200 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959
• £300 if you were born before September 22, 1945

If you and a partner jointly claim any benefits, one of you will get a Winter Fuel Payment of:

• £200 if both of you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959
• £300 if one or both of you were born before September 22, 1945

The money will be paid into the bank account where benefits are usually paid into.

Care home residents that are eligible will get:

• £100 if you were born between September 22, 1945 and September 21, 1959
• £150 if you were born before September 22, 1945

Those with an income of more than £35,000 will have all of their Winter Fuel Payments returned by the HMRC, either through PAYE or submitting a Self Assessment tax return.

The DWP has said: “If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by 28 January 2026, contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.”

It is also possible to opt out of the Winter Fuel Payment, either by completing an opt out form by September 14, or calling the helpline before 6pm on September 12.

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HELEN Flanagan has been forced to slash the price of her £1.5million mansion AGAIN after struggling to sell her family pad amid money woes.

The former Coronation Street star, 35, had already slashed more than £300,000 off the price of the house she shared with ex Scott Sinclair.

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Now Helen has been forced to reduce the price again for a second time after just fourth months of being on the market.

Helen first put the £1.5million six-bedroom family home up for sale in May, before reducing it to £1.195million just four weeks later. 

Now, the detached, 5,000sq ft home can be snapped up for a cheeky £995,000.

The former couple, who have three children together, bought the property at Belmont, near Bolton, in June 2021 for £840,000.

It has five reception rooms, six bathrooms and six bedrooms including two en-suites.

The house is situated on the edge of moors and is said to have “breathtaking views”.

Helen, who has spoken openly about “losing all her money” in the past, recently opened up being forced to downsize.

She said: “It actually makes me sad that I’m going to be leaving soon because I actually put so much effort into it.

“When we moved I put like a lot lot of my savings into doing the house up and making it look really beautiful. 

“But it’s a big house. It’s an eight bedroom house, which is obviously really hard to keep on top of.”

Meanwhile, Helen has shown off her evil stepmother credentials as she debuted her panto outfit for the first time.

The actress will play the evil stepmother in Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs at Liverpool‘s M&S Bank Arena in December.

The stunning star donned a sequinned red and black dress, with black feathered sleeves, and wore a gold and red diamante tiara on her head.

She also held aloft a red apple, symbolic of the poisonous apple so relevant to the Snow White storyline.

A source previously told The Sun: “Helen is excited for panto season and can’t wait to get into character, she’s a brilliant actress and knows how to put on a show.

“She’ll also be pocketing a pretty penny, celebrities and soap stars make good money doing panto and always look forward to it as some extra income.”

But despite being about to make her first foray into the world of pantomime, Helen is not looking forward to being alone this Christmas.

Helen, shares daughters Matilda, nine, Delilah, six, as well as four-year-old son Charlie, with her ex Scott Sinclair.

However, the ex-Coronation Street star also recently told The Sun that she was spending Christmas without her children this year, as she and former Chelsea footballer Scott, who most recently played for Bristol Rovers, live so far apart.

But Helen explained: “”I’ll do something in November – a really nice long weekend then I feel like I’ve had my Christmas period with them.”

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CHELSEA fans want Uefa action over the ‘appalling’ treatment from Polish police ahead of May’s Conference League final.

Just hours before kickoff on May 28, ugly scenes unfolded mainly near the fan zone in Wroclaw – where the final was held – with riot police forced to defuse the violence.

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The fighting spilt over when fans started kicking and throwing flares into each other’s camps, chairs were flying through the air, and fans squared up to each other before police, some armed with guns, came to split them up.

​However, AWAY from that drama, according to the Football Supporters Association, ten Chelsea fans were wrongfully arrested and detained without any access to legal representation or allowed contact with relatives for 24 hours.

It’s claimed that these fans were not at all involved with the disorder elsewhere in Wrocław’s historic square.

Those involved allegedly had their hands cable-tied by police wearing masks, and held in vans with no ventilation, food or water for hours, before being taken to a police station.

There, they claim to have been mocked, strip-searched, and coerced into signing documents without the benefit of any translation or legal explanation.

One of the detainees said, “One individual suffered a panic attack and was nearly unconscious before officers permitted minimal bathroom access.

“When we arrived at the station, detainees were mocked by officers, denied phone calls, and strip-searched in front of mixed-gender officers.”

Another fan said: “We were presented with documents written entirely in Polish and were coerced into signing them without the benefit of any translation or legal explanation whatsoever.

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“Although I was presented with my rights in English, I was barely given any time to read them before being taken to my cell. When I asked if I could take the document with me to read it properly, my request was denied, and this form remained unsigned.”

The fans involved were then supposedly released over 24 HOURS after the initial upset, missing the entirety of their team’s European final in which Chelsea beat Real Betis 4-1, while Polish police claim the fans were ‘misidentified’ and released as ‘witnesses’ without apology.

While the group are pursuing legal advice and hoping to receive compensation for how they were treated, they have been backed by the Chelsea Supporters Trust and called on Chelsea and UEFA to look into the incident further.

The fans involved said: “We ask that Chelsea treat these matters with the seriousness they deserve and stand firmly against the injustice committed against innocent supporters.

“We hope Chelsea FC will support its fans and take appropriate steps to defend those who did nothing wrong.

“The treatment that some Chelsea supporters received from the Polish authorities in Wroclaw before the Conference League Final in May was utterly appalling.

“The treatment of these supporters was unacceptable, and the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust will continue to assist and support those supporters in their ongoing dispute with all authorities involved.”

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An estimated 70,000 fans arrived in the city earlier in the week with many drinking and eating in close proximity to rival supporters.

A statement from Lower Silesian Police in Wrocław said 28 people had been arrested on Wednesday over the violent scenes.

They said at the time: “After 5pm on the Wrocław Market Square, in connection with the previous negative behaviour of fans and the clash of several hundred people from both teams, arrests of fans involved in this incident are ongoing.

“The police quickly took action and restored the violated legal order, and now they continue to act so that others can safely participate in this great celebration of sports.

“At this moment, we can confirm the arrest of 28 participants in the incident.

“No one will escape legal responsibility and the police will react decisively and appropriately to the situation.”

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Another fan also claimed he missed the game entirely, and left with no money after his encounter with Polish police and left figuring out a way to return home, having been jailed for FIVE days.

He said: “I have just been released from Polish jail. Just found out that Chelsea won the Conference League.

“Polish police have sucked me for all my money. I’ve been in there for four days, five days, over a petty little fight with these Betis fans.

“I’m in Wroclaw, no money, just my backpack and the stuff that I bought with me apart from the money that I had.

“I don’t really know how I’m getting home to be honest. At least Chelsea won the f*****g Conference League, as I’ve just found out.”

SunSport has contacted the Polish Police for comment…

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DARTH Vader’s lightsaber has been sold for £2.7million — making it the most expensive Star Wars prop in history.

The fake weapon, made from an old flash camera attachment, beat pre-sale expectations by £100,000.

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It was famously used in 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back in the battle where baddie Vader chops off Luke Skywalker’s hand — then reveals that he is, in fact, his opponent’s father.

Brandon Alinger, of auction house Propstore in Los Angeles, said: “The result marks a landmark moment for the entire world of film collecting.”

“To see a Star Wars lightsaber – the symbol of one of cinema’s greatest sagas – become the highest-valued piece of the franchise ever sold at auction is incredibly special.”

He added: “It speaks to the enduring cultural power of Star Wars and the passion of fans and collectors who see these artifacts as touchstones of modern mythology.”

The 1ft (32cm) green lightsaber was used in scenes by Darth Vader actor David Prowse and stunt performer Bob Anderson.

In the pre-auction process it was described as “one of the most significant cinema artefacts ever.”

Other items sold on Thursday night included the Spider-Man suit worn by Tobey Maguire in the 2002 superhero film, which went for $289,800 (£214,000).

Harrison Ford‘s eight-foot bullwhip, belt and whip holster from Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989) beat its pre-sale estimate to sell for $485,100 (£360,000).

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WHERE to start? It’s a ‘wow wee woo’ weekend of hardcore racing with a host of exciting horses strutting their stuff.

Take your pick from Group 1 sprinters, Arc contenders and star milers. And that’s not to even mention belting handicaps at Ascot and Haydock.

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Let’s start with a huge 24 hours for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, headed by Kalpana at Kempton and a host of sexy perfomers lining up for trials at Longchamp tomorrow.

Kalpana is the defending champion in the Group 3 September Stakes, and she will be expected to see off a decent line-up that includes the Hong Kong victor Giavellotto, no mug.

Andrew Balding’s stable star is generally 6-1 market leader for the Arc on October 5, and she will need to score in style to consolidate that position live in front of the ITV cameras.

The daughter of Study Of Man comes into this race on the back of a second to Calandagan in the King George VI at Ascot. A polished performance is needed and Juddmonte’s retained rider Colin Keane misses many other tasty prizes this afternoon for this one.

A spectacular card on Sky Sports Racing tomorrow at Longchamp sees three more Arc trials. The Prix Foy numbers Sosie (last year’s fourth and a 16-1 shot this time) and Los Angeles, the former Derby third.

The Prix Vermeille has Arc runner-up Aventure (16-1 for 2025 redemption) and Oaks placed Whirl, while the Niel has another Derby third in Tennessee Stud.

Also at Longchamp is the Group 1 Prix du Moulin, in which Rosallion goes again in desperate need of a win after placed efforts in the Queen Anne and Sussex Stakes and then a disappointing fourth in the City Of York.

Jacques le Marois third Dancing Gemini will be a huge player for Roger Teal with some juice expected in the ground, while Lockinge winner Lead Artist also returns.

The one to beat for me is Henri Matisse, the French Guineas hero who was third in the Sussex but who for me was not at his best. He was previously second to Field Of Gold in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Back to today, and the feature race is the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock, with seventeen runners expected to go to post.

All eyes will be on favourite Lazzat, who was superb when landing the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Royal Ascot but who was beaten into second by Sajir in the Prix Maurice de Gheest when an extra half a furlong should not have been an issue.

Lazzat can win, but it’s his owner-companion KIND OF BLUE (3.35) that interests me, despite the fact that very high draw numbers at Haydock are not always the place to be and James Fanshawe’s ace is in box 19.

Kind Of Blue was back in form at the Curragh last time and should have his ideal conditions to run a big one under Danny Muscutt. The Wathnan purchase has been poor in 2025, having ended last term with success in the Group 1 success in the mud at Ascot.

The third, though, to Bucanero Fuerte was finally a step in the right direction and he might just be a horse who is better in the Autumn when some are deteriorating. James Doyle has ditched him for Lazzat which is totally understandable. But Kind Of Blue was second in this last year and has a brilliant each-way chance.

It’s great to see Kieran Shoemark pick up the ride on Commonwealth Cup hero Time For Sandals, who found 5f a bit sharp at Goodwood but who is improving all the time. Shoemark is in terrific form.

The major betting race at Ascot is the Schweppes Handicap over 7f. It’s hard to think there is a better jockey booking out there than Jamie Spencer for NATIVE WARRIOR (2.40) — and not just because Spencer rides this straight track so well.

Native Warrior was a fine third to the re-opposing and admirable Great Acclaim at Glorious Goodwood. Bumped at the start and slow into stride, the lightly raced four-year-old was short of room a furlong out before keeping on and being hampered again close home.

Basically he was very unlucky and he goes from the same mark here of 95. He’s run well at this track before when third in a Britannia and his come-from-behind style is what Spencer loves.

I’d need another 1,000 words to write about all the other highlights. A weekend to sit back and enjoy. Yeeehaaa!

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IF you took a quick glance at this snail, you’d swear he was just like any other.

In fact, even if you stare at this creature you likely won’t spot his rare anatomical problem.

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However, this issue is said to be “ruining his love life” and condemning him to a “chaste and sterile” existence, according to scientists.

Officially dubbed Ned the snail, this little guy looks like a stereotypical snail, complete with two antennae and a brown shell.

But there is a prominent problem with his appearance, though most people won’t spot it.

Peel your eyes and examine this “shellebrity” closely – can you spot his off feature?

This common garden snail was discovered by New Zealand nature lover and author Giselle Clarkson.

Something off

She noticed that “something looked off” and said she even wondered if Ned was a different species.

So, have you spotted what it is that makes Ned so special?

If you’re still scratching your head, we recommend paying particular attention to his shell.

While Ned’s rare condition may not register to you, experts have launched an international campaign to find him an equally-rare mate.

You may even be able to help – but first, why not give it one last go to spot the odd feature?

Anyone who has ever seen a snail knows that it has a “whorl” – a pattern of spirals or concentric circles – on the side of its shell. 

However, nature lovers know that this feature can only be found on one side, usually the right.

Well you guessed it, Ned’s coils are on the wrong side of his shell.  

While a large majority of snails have the spiral on the right side, around one in 40,000 have the spiral on the left side.

Snails are asymmetrical, meaning they fit together like a jigsaw during “face-to-face” mating.

International attention

This means a typical right-coiled snail and left-coiled snail such as Ned, who is named after famous leftie Ned Flanders from The Simpsons, won’t quite fit together properly when facing.

Now New Zealand Geographic has launched the “Let’s find a mate for Ned” campaign.

The campaign is telling gardeners to “head out into the garden and have a rummage” for another left-coiled common garden snail.

If anyone finds a left-coiled one, they’re urged to contact [email protected].

More brainteasers

Another tricky brainteaser features a gnarled tree but only those with high IQ can spot a sleepy cat hiding on it.

If that’s still not hard enough for you, then have a go at spotting the hidden broom amongst the clothes in less than five seconds.

Or you can have a go at figuring out the hidden message in this band’s cover art that has confused fans for years.

Lastly, puzzle fanatics have been left scratching their heads trying to find the lost feather in just 12 seconds.

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Millom, nestled among Cumbrian mountains, might not be one of the country’s best-known towns, but it certainly left a lasting impression and very much shaped me as a person

Walking around the UK coastal town on the edge of the Lake District where he spent his childhood, a wave of nostalgia and sadness washed over Andrew Papworth.

The assistant editor of The Express was revisiting Millom, a small town nestled among Cumbrian mountains. It may not be well-known across the country, but it certainly left an indelible mark on Andrew.

He said: “As I retraced my steps from our family home in Seathwaite Close to the bottom of Lowther Road, I came across the infant school that gave me the very best start in life.

“Turning down St George’s Road, I passed Millom Park and the children’s play area, where I spent many hours as a boy. In the thriving town centre, I remembered my mum dragging me round the shops. Further along the road, close to the railway station, was The Bridge Cafe, where I used to pop in for sweets on my walk home from Black Combe Junior School.

“Millom was – and is – only a small town, but as a child it felt like my entire universe. In many ways it was, because like any quintessentially English town, it had everything you needed on your doorstep.”

Established around its ironworks in the 1800s before their closure in the 1960s, Millom boasted a strong sense of pride and community. Everyone seemed to know everyone, and there was a palpable sense of camaraderie, reports the Express.

Andrew said: “It looked exactly the same as when I left in 1995, aged nine, and when I last visited in 2005. And while that brought back many nostalgic memories, it also broke my heart.

“It appears that little investment has been made in Millom since then, whether in new homes, shops or community facilities.

“All I noticed was that the old Safeway is now a Tesco, and many of the shops that had such a strong presence seem to have long gone.”

Chatting to locals, one of their first comments is often about the lack of financial input into their area.

Andrew said: “It’s a great sadness. By contrast, Canary Wharf in east London, where I now work, didn’t even exist when I was born but has been steadily transformed from barren wasteland into the bustling heart of London’s financial district.

“Of course it’s not really an even comparison, but it feels desperately unfair that some areas of the country have had millions and billions of pounds of investment while a town with such a rich and vibrant history has barely been given a thought.”

There are other potential factors at play. The historic shipyard in nearby Barrow-in-Furness was a significant employer for Millom workers.

The loss of 10,000 jobs in the 1990s must have had a profound effect.

Cumbria didn’t have a university until 2007 and for years, many saw the shipyard and Sellafield nuclear power station, now being decommissioned, as the only major career paths. Many dreaming of different lives must have surely packed up and left.

Millom’s location on the north-west coast also makes the town more challenging to access.

But if we can channel investment into even the most disadvantaged corners of this nation, surely we can achieve it in a town blessed with such incredible natural beauty.

Where Millom has undeniably thrived is in its community spirit, which burns as brightly as ever.

During Andrew’s visit on a glorious Monday afternoon, he chatted to Nicola Armstrong, proprietor of The Bloom Room on St George’s Terrace since 2012. Hers is an extraordinary story of triumph – a completely self-taught florist who’s scooped national accolades and showcased at London exhibitions.

“From a tiny little town, I’ve gone to a lot of places,” she says – but she never overlooks one of the major factors behind her achievements.

“I wouldn’t have got where I am without this community,” she reveals. “They’re my biggest cheerleaders.”

Throughout his stay, Andrew also encountered Coordination Group Publishing (CGP), whose vibrant and amusing study guides he relied upon during his GCSEs and A levels. It remains one of Britain’s premier educational publishers.

Whilst shops have shuttered, one that has persevered is Ferguson’s, which has been a reliable fixture in Millom for 70 years. Proprietor Arthur Ferguson celebrated his 100th birthday this year and is thought to be Britain’s eldest shopkeeper.

Andrew said: “While I was in Cumbria, I also visited Barrow to see its dramatic transformation as it builds the next generation of nuclear submarines and becomes the beating heart of Britain’s defence.

“I only hope some of the £220million of government funding going into that regeneration for the national endeavour will benefit Millom, even if only indirectly, because this small town and its people deserve only the best.

“Whatever happens in the future, I know that if I come back in another 30 years, Millom’s soul will remain as strong as ever.”

A man who relocated to Benidorm from the UK has shared three ‘dangerous situations’ he has found himself in since the move, and issued some advice to those planning to visit

A man who has “lived in Benidorm for at least seven or eight years” has shared three hair-raising moments that made him question his decision to move, and whether he should hotfoot it back to the UK.

Harry, known as @harrytokky on TikTok, regularly posts about his life in Benidorm – and recently shared the “most dangerous slash scariest situations” he’s found himself in while living in the Spanish party hotspot. However, he did admit that these things could definitely happen in other places and he said he wasn’t trying to put anybody off visiting Benidorm, as he loves his life there.

Almost being hit by a bus

“Yes, you heard, ran over,” Harry elaborated. He went on: “It was one of these back roads here in Benidorm where people drive at mental speeds, and to be honest, they were so close to hitting me.

“I literally had to run out of the way of the road, it was awful,” he said.

Unexpected police search

Harry recounted how he’d been stopped by police, and they “literally said random search” to him. He alleged they were looking for “the naughty stuff,” which Harry insisted he “didn’t have.”

“They did a full-on search on the side of the road here in Benidorm. I honestly thought they were going to handcuff me, chuck me in the back of a car and throw away the key,” Harry claimed.

Nearly being robbed

“This is definitely number one by far,” Harry divulged, explaining: “I was walking down one of the back alleys […] from the beach to the main road and a guy came up to me, shook my hand, twisted my arm around my back and all of this”.

He described the incident as an attempt to “rob” him of his possessions, labelling it as the “worst experience,” that would leave anyone rattled.

However, he clarified that his intention wasn’t to “scare anyone off Benidorm,” but rather to arm people with the awareness that such incidents can occur, enabling them to take precautions.

“Stuff like this does happen everywhere in the world,” Harry emphasised. “But because I live here, it’s happened to me, and I wanted to speak about it.”

Responding to a comment suggesting he’d led a “crazy life” in Benidorm, Harry added: “I know right, super crazy”.

Despite the incident, Harry highlighted some of the benefits of living in Benidorm – including the cheap McDonald’s.

As he sat outside, he announced: “And just like that, the food has arrived. Now you will not believe how cheap this was. We’ve got two meals here. Guess how much this costs? €11 (£9.53)”.

Harry went on to detail the contents of the meal, which included two portions of fries, two burgers, two drinks, and a side of chicken nuggets.

He enthused: “I mean, €11? What do you think guys? I think that’s an absolute bargain, let’s be honest. €11? In the UK, that’d probably be at least £20.”

A large Big Mac meal in the UK typically costs around £7.69, depending on location, while six chicken nuggets are priced at approximately £3.49.

One London tube station sensationally disappeared from the Underground map, in the same year that it opened, only to make a comeback nearly 20 years later with a new name

The iconic London Underground map, with its vast network spanning across various zones and neighbourhoods, hasn’t always been the same.

For nearly two decades, one station was noticeably missing from its intricate design after it mysteriously disappeared.

Kensington (Olympia) is a peaceful rail and tube stop in West London’s Zone 2, currently served by the London Overground and the District line.

It provides a handy shortcut to avoid Zone 1, as all its Overground services are entirely within Zone 2.

However, if we travel back to 1940, Olympia had a completely different purpose.

Initially opened as Kensington station in 1844, it was so unpopular that it shut down in December of the same year.

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The station returned in 1862 with new services, including the Metropolitan line, and was renamed Kensington Addison Road in 1868.

But during the Second World War, the Metropolitan line was bombed, leading to the closure of the West London stations on the line.

However, this wasn’t the end for Kensington station. As it happens, the station was ideally situated, reports MyLondon.

Not only did it have rail connections to all of London, but it was also conveniently close to the headquarters of the Commander of the Allied Forces, led by Dwight D Eisenhower.

It became his preferred travel spot when he journeyed to Wales in 1944 to prepare for the Normandy landings.

In 1946, the station was renamed Kensington (Olympia) and began transporting workers at the Post Office Savings Bank.

Due to the National Secrets Act, the Post Office Savings Bank kept the station’s existence under wraps, and it wasn’t until 1958 that its presence was officially announced.

That year, Kensington (Olympia) gained a permanent platform and a District line shuttle service to Earl’s Court.

After a significant makeover, the station introduced more regular schedules, added a community garden, and received a facelift.

Despite these improvements, trains remain infrequent at Kensington (Olympia), making it one of London’s only part-time stations.

READ MORE: All UK Home Bargains stores to shut for three days

It’s been named as one of the North East’s most ‘magical’ seaside destinations by travel experts, with people travelling miles for the famous chippy and golden sandy beaches

A Northumberland town has been hailed as one of the most ‘magical’ in the North East by travel gurus. It’s easy to see why, with its golden beaches, charming harbour and a renowned chippy that’s drawn some famous customers – and is always bustling on Good Friday.

The region is overflowing with stunning sights and fantastic activities. From towns and villages lauded as some of the UK’s most desirable places to live, to an Indian restaurant crowned the best in England, and miles upon miles of rolling hills and rugged coastline.

Northumberland also knows how to dish up some highly-rated fish and chips. Nominations were held for the favourite spots in the North East for fish and chips earlier this year, and the ultimate winner was from Northumberland, with Ashington’s V.Gormans chippy taking the top spot.

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But Seaton Sluice’s Harbour View is another spot that has earned high praise, reports Chronicle Live. On Good Friday, you can bet there’ll be a queue all the way down the bank outside this beloved chippy.

The owners even provide live entertainment to keep their waiting customers amused. Among those who’ve queued up for some of Harbour View’s top-notch fish and chips is telly icon Ant McPartlin. The Britain’s Got Talent presenter treated his family to a meal there a few years back.

But Seaton Sluice isn’t just about its premier chippy. Metro Vehicle Hire experts have dubbed it one of the most enchanting seaside spots in the region, alongside Whitley Bay, Tynemouth and South Shields.

Their description of Seaton Sluice reads: ‘The village’s spacious, dog-friendly beach is a beautiful long stretch of golden sand, gifting fabulous views and even the occasional dolphin sighting. When the busier Northumberland beaches become packed, this little gem makes for a scenic escape.’

The impressive review of Seaton Sluice also encourages visitors to do a bit of exploring. Take a stroll through Holywell Dene, follow the path to Seaton Burn and make sure to visit the striking Seaton Delaval Hall.

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A survey conducted by consumer group Which? placed Manchester’s Terminal 3 at the bottom of the list for the fourth consecutive year, with a customer satisfaction score of just 43%

Travellers have delivered their verdict on the UK’s airports – and Manchester has been branded the worst to fly from.

A survey conducted by consumer group Which? placed Manchester’s Terminal 3 at the bottom of the list for the fourth consecutive year, with a customer satisfaction score of just 43%. The terminal received a dismal one-star rating out of a possible five for measures such as security queues, seating, and the pricing in shops and food outlets.

One frustrated Terminal 3 passenger fumed: “It’s impossible to get a drink or something to eat, but much worse than that – there is nowhere to sit.” Manchester’s other two terminals didn’t fare much better in the survey. Terminal 1, which is set to close later this year, was ranked second-worst.

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Another traveller said: “The cleanliness in Terminal 1 is appalling. Toilets are often overflowing, and there’s rubbish everywhere.”

Terminal 2 at Manchester could only muster fourth from bottom, with a customer satisfaction score of 53%, although there was at least some positive feedback. One traveller commended its “good facilities prior to long-haul flight and helpful staff at baggage check-in”.

At the other end of the scale, Exeter Airport topped the list with an overall customer satisfaction score of 80%.

However, Exeter serves around 500,000 passengers annually, compared to 29 million at Manchester or 84 million at Heathrow.

Close behind, with a score of 78%, was Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which now caters to five million passengers each year. Passengers lauded its swift, efficient process and friendly staff.

You can search for your closest airport and check the ratings using our interactive gadget.

Chris Woodroofe, Manchester Airport’s managing director, has hit back at the Which? survey and criticism the airport has received. He said: “Through our historic £1.3 billion transformation programme, we have created a world-class and award-winning Terminal 2. We have also announced plans to invest significantly in Terminal 3 – starting this year.

“I am also proud to say customer satisfaction has increased significantly over the past four years. We know how customers feel about their experience because we asked hundreds of them every week about it. Between January and June this year, 91% of 3,045 people surveyed told us their experience was good, very good, or excellent.

“That is how I know this latest outdated and unrepresentative report from Which? bears no resemblance to the experience people receive at Manchester Airport day in, day out.”

A Gatwick spokesperson added: “In the first half of 2025, passengers received great service, as the airport significantly improved its on-time performance, following excellent collaboration with airline partners and National Air Traffic Services.”

A statement from Heathrow read: “Which? has relied on unrepresentatively small sample sizes and recollections to assess an industry that already collects vast amounts of data on a daily basis, all verified and published by an independent regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority.”

While London Luton Airport’s spokesperson said: “Whilst we value all feedback, a sample size of just 255 Which? readers is simply not representative of the 16.7 million passengers who travelled with us in 2024.”

London Stansted’s spokesperson said it was “proud to have welcomed a record-breaking 30m passengers to the airport in the last year, driven by the great value and reliable service on offer, and convenient access to over 200 destinations across Europe and beyond.”

Ceramicist and Saint Lucia local, Amanda, went viral on TikTok last year when she posed a special quest for UK travellers. This year, she’s upping the stakes in her pursuit of a sausage melt.

For all the beauty and sunshine that Saint Lucia offers, one of its few short falls is its lack of a Greggs. After achieving viral success with her social media call to action last year, one Saint Lucia resident is setting Brits on a quest to help with her sausage melt fix.

On September 1, the TikTok creator and ceramicist Amanda offered up a “side quest” to British travellers planning a visit to Saint Lucia. Posting under her TikTok account, @keramikslu, she asked inbound holidaymakers to bring her some Greggs sausage and bean melts.

In exchange, the generous travellers will get to take their pick of one of her pottery creations. While it may seem like a big ask to some, Amanda was spurred by the success of her same call to action last year, though this time she’s updated her request.

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“Well ladies and gentleman, it’s that time of year again,” Amanda shared in a recent TikTok video. “Are you British? Are you coming to St. Lucia on holiday? Are you going to be staying at Coconut Bay?” she asked her followers.

If you answered yes to all of these questions, then Amanda wants to know if you can do her a “little favour please” and bring her some Greggs. But while last year, she was only asking for a single sausage and bean melt, she’s upped the ante this time round.

“I have upped the difficulty level just a tiny bit because it was so easy apparently last time. The challenge is this: can you bring me a frozen box of Gregg’s sausage and bean melts. Can you? Can you!”

The same rules as last time apply, she clarifies: “As a reward, I’ll bring you here [to the studio] and let you pick your own pottery”. Amanda is the business owner of the pottery site Keramik Saint Lucia Artisan Ceramics.

According to her blog she learned to make pottery in Vietnam and continued taking classes in Manchester, UK before deciding to move to Saint Lucia at the end of 2019. It is here that she began documenting her attempt to process clay dug up on her own land.

Her TikTok video concludes with a simple plea: “So British people coming to Saint Lucia staying at Coconut Bay, are you up for the challenge? Please say you are. Please. I really need some Greggs.”

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In just three days, the video has massed over 400,000 views and users in the comments are already signing on to the challenge. One wrote: “Adding Coconut Bay to my travel list just so I can bring you Greggs”.

Another commenter identifying themselves as a British Airways cabin crew member shared they’re also ready to help if Amanda can meet them at the airport. “I’m genuinely willing to get you your Greggs! I’m BA cabin crew and coming to St Lucia on Monday!” they wrote.

Amanda’s original video shared in May 2024 achieved viral success with over 1.5 million views. The following week, she shared a video of her meeting up with a traveller to exchange her pottery for a Greggs delivery with the caption: “happily ever after”.

Let’s hope there’s another happy reunion for Amanda.

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