kitchen

Sept. 26 (UPI) — President Donald Trump has announced a slew of tariffs to go into effect at the start of next month impacting pharmaceuticals, kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, heavy trucks and other products.

Trump announced the tariffs separately on his Truth Social media platform Thursday night, all to go into effect Oct. 1, with the first being a 25% tariff on all so-called heavy trucks manufactured outside of the United States.

The second statement announced a 50% tariff on kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and “associated products,” as well as a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture over “national security and other reasons” to protect U.S. manufacturing from “the large scale ‘FLOODING’ of these products into the United States by other Countries.”

The third, and final, announcement for Thursday night from the American president was a 100% tariff on branded or patented pharmaceutical products, which would be waived if the company was “BUILDING their pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant in America.”

“There will, therefore, be no Tariff on these Pharmaceutical Products if construction has started,” he said.

Trump has long turned to economic tariffs as a bargaining tool, both as a negotiation tactic and as an attempt to spur the domestic manufacturing industry. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has railed against trade deficits, often framing them as examples of trading partners taking advantage of the United States.

He has imposed a series of policies that have increased tariffs on U.S. imports from all global partners, according to a report from the Congressional Research Service. Some countries have responded with retaliatory tariffs, while many of his policies are being challenged in the courts.

Countries have also independently made deals with the United States to reduce the severity of the tariffs.

According to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, Trump’s tariffs are expected to generate $2.3 trillion over the next decade but cost the United States 0.8% of GDP and 825,000 jobs based on the nonprofits’ modeling.

President Donald Trump announced a new wave of tariffs on Thursday, including a 100% levy on branded or patented drug imports from 1 October, unless a company is building a factory in the US.

Washington will also impose a 25% import tax on all heavy-duty trucks and 50% levies on kitchen and bathroom cabinets, the US president said as he unveiled the industry-focused measures.

“The reason for this is the large scale “FLOODING” of these products into the United States by other outside Countries,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, citing the need to protect US manufacturers.

The announcements come despite calls from US businesses for the White House to not impose further tariffs.

The new tariffs could impact major producers of branded pharmaceuticals – including the UK, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland and Japan.

The UK exported more than $6bn (£4.5bn) worth of pharmaceutical products to the US last year, according to the United Nations.

Jane Sydenham, investment director at Rathbones, said speculation over tariffs for pharmaceuticals meant the sector had endured a “rollercoaster ride” over the past few months.

“The pharmaceutical sector in terms of share prices has been under pressure for quite some time both in the UK and the United States and Europe so nobody likes uncertainty and that’s been keeping a cloud over the sector for a while,” she told the BBC’s Today programme.

However, Neil Shearing, chief economist at Capital Economics, said the tariff announcements were “not quite as big a move as it appears at first sight”.

This was due to the exemptions available to generic drugs and to those firms building factories in the US.

“Many of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies either already have some production in the US or have announced plans to build production in the near future,” he said.

The tariffs on heavy trucks would protect US manufacturers from “unfair outside competition” and that the duties would help lift American companies such as Peterbilt and Mack Trucks, Trump said.

These firms “will be protected from the onslaught of outside interruptions”, he wrote.

The new levies on kitchen and bathroom cabinets, as well as some other furniture, were in response to high levels of imports, which hurt local manufacturers, the president said.

He added that the US would start charging a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture from next week.

The new duties came as Trump expands his tariff policies, which have been a key feature of his second term in the White House.

Trump’s sweeping tariffs on more than 90 countries came into effect in early August, as part of his policies aimed at boosting jobs and manufacturing in the US, among other political goals.

He previously imposed sector-specific tariffs on steel, copper, aluminium, cars and vehicle components.

Earlier this year, the US Chamber of Commerce urged the White House to not introduce new tariffs, arguing that many parts used in truck production are sourced “overwhelmingly” from countries like Mexico, Canada, Germany, Finland and Japan.

The organisation added that these countries are “allies or close partners of the United States posing no threat to US national security.”

Mexico and Canada are among the biggest suppliers of parts for medium and heavy-duty trucks, accounting for more than half of total US imports in the sector last year, said the chamber.

It warned that it was “impractical” to expect many of these parts to be sourced domestically, resulting in higher costs for the industry.

The new tariffs favour domestic producers but are “terrible” for consumers as prices are likely to rise, said trade expert Deborah Elms from research firm Hinrich Foundation.

The levies would cover more products at higher rates than Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, which were aimed at correcting trade imbalances with other countries.

These industry-specific import taxes could serve as a back-up plan to secure revenues as Trump’s sweeping duties on global trading partners are being challenged in court, said Ms Elms.

A MUM has been praised after sharing the genius hack she swears by to give her kids a toy room without making her house look messy.

As a home schooling mum, Paige has devoted a whole room in her abode to her kids’ learning – which also contains some toys.

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But as any parent knows, toys eventually make their way into different rooms, and can end up making the house look untidy.

So Paige came up with a clever idea to let her kids play in the lounge – one of the main family areas of the home – without it turning into another toy room.

In a video on her TikTok page, the mum-of-three showed the kitchen, toy room and lounge, all of which looked perfectly neat and tidy.

She then took the camera to behind the sofa, where she had set aside a large area for toys to go.

“Having a little mini toy room behind the couch was the best decision!” she wrote over the top of the video.

Thanks to the positioning of the sofa, the area is entirely invisible until you’re right on top of it.

And it also means that Paige doesn’t have to deal with tidying it up until she wants to.

“Really has help the house look a bit cleaner haha!” she added in the video caption.

People were quick to praise Paige in the comments section for the clever hack.

“This is so smart!” one wrote.

To which Paige replied: “It really works well!”

“So cute! Great idea!” another added.

“Your house is literally a dream – it’s beautiful,” a third gushed.

“Aww thank you!” Paige responded.

“We love it so much but we are growing and will need more room eventually.

“This space is huge, but tiny rooms is the down fall!”

How to baby-proof your house

IF you’ve got a baby coming very soon, here’s our top tips on how to get your home ready for their arrival…

Secure Furniture and Appliances: Use brackets or straps to anchor heavy furniture and TVs to the wall. Ensure that large appliances like fridges and ovens are stable and cannot tip over.

Install Safety Gates: Place gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Use gates to block off rooms that are not baby-proofed.

Cover Electrical Outlets: Use outlet covers or plates to prevent little fingers from poking into sockets. Ensure that electrical cords are out of reach or secured.

Lock Cabinets and Drawers: Install child-proof locks on cabinets and drawers, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. Store hazardous substances, sharp objects, and small items that can be swallowed out of reach.

Use Corner and Edge Protectors: Attach soft corner and edge protectors to furniture with sharp edges. Consider using them on low tables, countertops, and fireplace hearths.

Secure Windows and Doors: Install window guards or locks to prevent windows from opening more than a few inches. Use door knob covers and door stoppers to prevent pinched fingers.

Maintain a Safe Sleep Environment: Use a firm mattress and avoid placing pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals in the cot. Ensure the cot meets current safety standards.

Keep Small Items Out of Reach: Regularly check the floor for small objects that could be choking hazards. Be mindful of items like coins, buttons, and small toys.

Adjust Water Heater Temperature: Set your water heater to a maximum of 49°C (120°F) to prevent scalding. Always test bath water temperature before placing your baby in.

Use Baby Monitors: Place baby monitors in the nursery to keep an eye on your little one. Ensure the monitor cords are out of reach to avoid strangulation hazards.

By taking these steps, you can create a safer environment for your baby.

“With all that wood accenting going on in there you could easily turn this into a hobbit house,” someone else pointed out.

Paige’s family home is located in Northern California, and is nestled within 10 acres of woodland.

She lives there with her other half and their three children – River Wildfox, Cedar Moon and Sequoia Rain.

MY DINING table doubles up as my workspace, which means I’m no stranger to a dusting of toast crumbs on my desk.

When I spotted Lakeland’s super-cute countertop vacuum, which costs just £9.99, I was seriously intrigued.

As long as the compact gadget worked well enough, I thought it had potential to be a game-changing cleaning hack.

Mini Countertop Vacuum, £9.99 from Lakeland

On first glance, the Lakeland vacuum is small and sleek. It’s also super easy to use, with a single setting — you press the button to fire it into action, and then you simply move it across any surface to suck up the crumbs.

Technically, that’s something you could do with a normal cordless vacuum cleaner, but, being honest, that feels like too much effort.

Plus, this feels more hygienic, as you can restrict its use to just surfaces and not floors.

Performance

I would usually grab a cloth or a piece of kitchen towel to wipe down the dining table after a meal, but keeping the vacuum nearby presents a much more convenient alternative.

It’s got bristles underneath, which help guide crumbs to underneath the vacuum.

I found the best method was to use it to sweep the crumbs into a corner (while switched off) before turning it on, and then sucking them up.

Mini Countertop Vacuum, £9.99 from Lakeland

Another handy use for the Mini Countertop Vacuum is in the kitchen, when you’re preparing food and creating a mess — I found it particularly useful to have on hand when making toast.

The suction isn’t going to rival a normal vacuum, but it’s easily powerful enough for crumbs, so it definitely does what it claims to — and at £9.99, you’ve got to class that as a win.

I’d recommend it for those quick clean-ups in between proper household cleans.

If you have kids, I can only imagine how much use you’d get out of it — especially since the description says it’ll even suck up glitter!

If you have kids, I can only imagine how much use you’d get out of it — especially since the description says it’ll even suck up glitter!

I might live in an adult-only household, but as a fiend for messy help-yourself meals, I’ve found myself reaching for the countertop vacuum often.

If you work in an office, the device would be useful to keep in a drawer for when you need to do a swift cleanup of your workspace.

It’s not too noisy (although you’re only likely to use it for a few seconds anyway), and it’s also cordless, charging up via a USB cable. 

The small and lightweight design means you could even take it away with you if you’re staying somewhere self-catered.

The only thing it won’t help with is wet spills, so drips and splashes from drinks or sauces will still need to be wiped up.

Mini Countertop Vacuum, £9.99 from LakelandVacuum £9.99

While we’re on the topic of handy household gadgets, I swear by an Amazon clothes steamer that costs £21.99 and helps me avoid ironing.

I also recently tested out one of the most compact cooking devices money can buy, in my Ninja Crispi air fryer review.

A SAVVY mum has shared a “genius” trick to guarantee there are no tears when applying sun cream.

Not only does it make the process much more fun for youngsters, but if your little one hates having sun cream applied, then you’ll need to check this out.

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With this simple tip, which has been hailed the “best sun cream hack ever,” you’ll need an unexpected kitchen essential.

Posting on social media, Gemma McCartan, a mum-of-two and full-time content creator from the UK, gave her followers a close-up look at her trick, which involves using spoons when applying spray sun cream.

Alongside her short video, the influencer beamed: “The best sun cream hack for kids EVER.”

She then said: “To the mum who posted this, I love you.”

Instead of wrestling her son Max to close his eyes so she could apply the spray sun cream to his face, the youngster instead put two spoons over his eyes.

Gemma was then able to spray his face with sun cream, without it getting in his eyes and causing any tears.

Moments after, the woman’s daughter then did the same, yet again ensuring a seamless application with no irritation of the eyes, whilst at the same time, making the often agonising process much more exciting. 

Thrilled with her hack, Gemma later wrote: “It’s been a game changer.” 

Clearly beaming with the simple trick, the mother added: “It’s made my day, I had the kids crying on holiday until we found this hack.” 

Gemma’s TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @gemmamccartan, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 200,800 views.

Not only this, but it’s also amassed 2,074 likes and 138 comments. 

Parents were impressed with the “genius” trick and many thought it was a “great” idea. 

One person said: “What a brilliant idea.” 

Another added: “That is genius.” 

My son has allergies so this is amazing

Gemma McCartan

Whilst a third commented: “Not only practical, it gives the kids a feeling of control over what’s about to happen, so they are more willing to cooperate. Great idea.”

Meanwhile, someone else gushed: “Best idea ever for sun cream.” 

However, at the same time, one user wrote: “Should have cream on eyelids too as they can burn, I know it stings if it gets in eyes but it’s such a sensitive area so best to have full coverage.”

To this, Gemma wrote back and explained: “Yes but my son has allergies so this is amazing.” 

Not only this, but another person asked: “Won’t they get a burnt line where the handles are?”

In response, Gemma confirmed that instead of spraying the sun cream on her youngster’s eyelids, after the fun part, she then uses her finger for a more controlled application, as she acknowledged: “I use my finger to do the sides and lids.” 

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SUMMER might be great for your tan but your hair – not so much.

As the heatwave rolls on, hair experts are warning that rising temperatures, sun exposure and sticky humidity could be silently wrecking your locks.

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According to Sam Cinkir, CEO of top UK skin and hair clinic Este Medical Group, the summer months bring a cocktail of factors that can secretly sabotage your strands and lead to frizz, breakage and even bald spots.

Sam warns: “Warmer temperatures, increased exposure to the sun and higher levels of humidity can all combine to cause problems for our hair in summer.”

While we slather on SPF to protect our skin, our hair often gets forgotten and that’s when trouble starts.

The heat can dry out your strands, zap moisture from your scalp, and weaken hair follicles, making hair more prone to thinning and damage.

Humidity adds insult to injury, lifting the cuticle layer of the hair and letting in moisture, which causes swelling, frizz, and that all-too-familiar ‘triangle head’ situation.

“You might find your locks more susceptible to issues such as breakage, split ends, frizziness or even hair loss,” Sam told The Sun.

But it turns out, the real hair hero isn’t sitting on a salon shelf, it could already be in your kitchen.

Sam explains that a few simple dietary tweaks can play a big role in restoring shine, strength and scalp health during the hotter months.

He recommends focusing on foods rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and key nutrients like vitamins A, C and E, along with iron and zinc.

These are all crucial for keeping the hair follicle strong, encouraging healthy growth, and locking in moisture.

And don’t forget hydration. A dry scalp is an unhappy scalp and not drinking enough water can leave both your hair and skin looking parched.

So what should you be eating?

Oily fish

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Sam highlights oily fish, like mackerel, herring and tuna, as one of the top summer saviours.

These fish are packed with omega-3s, which help nourish the scalp and improve blood flow to hair follicles, key for reducing inflammation and preventing shedding.

Leafy greens

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Leafy greens are another smart swap.

Spinach, kale and bok choy are rich in iron and vitamin C.

Vitamin C helps your body produce collagen, a protein that keeps your hair strong and structured.

Eggs

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Sam also notes that eggs are a brilliant source of keratin.

Keratin is the main protein your hair is made of and plays a big part in preventing thinning.

So it’s important to add this breakfast staple into your diet if you want to combat thinning hair.

Greek yogurt

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For a tasty way to end the day, try a bowl of Greek yogurt.

Not only is it high in protein, but it also contains vitamin B5, which supports healthy hair texture and cell renewal. It even helps with dandruff by keeping the scalp nourished.

With tubs going for around £3.50 in most supermarkets, it’s a small price to pay for big results and certainly cheaper than an emergency trip to the salon.

You can also add nuts and seeds for added benefits.

Nuts and seeds, such as almonds, pumpkin seeds and flaxseeds, are packed with biotin and healthy fats that boost keratin production and encourage growth.

So, if your hair’s looking limp, frizzy or falling out more than usual, it might not be your shampoo to blame.

The answer could be on your plate and a few simple swaps could be all it takes to save your summer strands.

Saturday Kitchen took an awkward turn just minutes in after the host apologised to viewers over his co-star’s remark

Saturday Kitchen host Matt Tebbutt was not too impressed as he was forced to issue an apology over a comment his co-star made.

The BBC show returned to screens on Saturday morning (August 2) with Matt back at the helm. Joining Matt – who is rumoured the new face of MasterChef – on the programme were chefs Paul Ainsworth, Ravinder Bhogal and Justin Tsang.

Strictly star Bill Bailey also made an appearance, and drinks expert Helen McGinn was on hand too, to discuss some booze and to pair the drinks with the studio dishes.

However, just minutes into Saturday Kitchen airing, and things took an awkward turn, when Matt turned to Helen and asked her what she’s got coming up.

“We’ve gone rosé. I cannot wait,” Helen said. Referring to the wine, she said: “It’s from volcanic soil, so it’s got like super energy. It’s like an energy drink!”

Baffled, Matt fired back: “Like an energy drink?!” Helen replied: “Yeah in my world.” Not impressed, Matt then said: “If there are any children watching at home, it is not like an energy drink! Sorry.” He then tried to swiftly move on and chatted to Bill and about his food heaven and hell dishes.

It comes after Matt welcomed back a beloved member of the Saturday Kitchen team last week. In the episode aired on July 26, Matt commented: “He’s back! Olly Smith, where have you been all my life?!”

Olly replied: “Oh well, all your life! Well, over the last few weeks, I’ve had a triple threat of writing, going to weddings, and festivals.”

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This week’s edition of Saturday Kitchen descended into chaos when a huge name from the culinary world called in

Saturday Kitchen halted its usual proceedings today (Saturday, 5th July) when a major celebrity chef called into the show.

Following a segment with Rick Stein in Lancashire, the show returned to presenter Matt Tebbutt in the studio after rustling up a carbonara with Gennaro Contaldo.

However, before moving onto Matt’s interview with Fleur East, the current star of Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, Gennaro interrupted the show to take a phone call.

He revealed none other than Jamie Oliver was on the phone, causing an eruption of laughter from the rest of the guests.

Jamie, the beloved chef, TV presenter and restaurant owner, exclaimed “Hello everyone!” down the line as the Saturday Kitchen stars all applauded.

The phone call continued with Jamie revealing his Saturday morning plans and promising to tune into the show soon.

“Just come back from the market,” he shared. “I’m going to be home in two minutes and I’m going to turn the TV on.”

Matt’s guests this week, which also included Clare Smyth, wine expert Helen McGinn and chocolatier Paul A. Young, all let out an “Aww”.

BBC presenter Matt then quipped: “Jamie’s just been down the market, he actually lives that life.

“He goes down the market, buys his stuff, then goes home on his little scooter.”

As Gennaro told Jamie, “I love you and miss you!”, Matt swiftly moved on to the next segment to prevent any more disruption.

Italian chef Gennaro is a firm fan-favourite of the show and many viewers took to X (formerly Twitter) to praise him for another classic Saturday Kitchen appearance.

“Gennaro is the GREATEST!!” one user exclaimed. “I had the honour and privilege to get to know him years ago during the opens of all the Jamie’s Italians.

“His passion and love is second to one. Plus his food is always perfection.”

And another fan declared: “27 minutes in and this is already a vintage #SaturdayKitchen. Gennaro putting in an all-timer performance – but you come to expect the best from Matt and co.”

Saturday Kitchen airs Saturdays from 10am on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Saturday Kitchen descended into chaos as host Matt Tebbutt attempted to make Vicky Pattison’s food heaven

Saturday Kitchen guest Angela Scanlon had a cheeky question for host Matt Tebbutt on the latest episode.

During Saturday’s instalment, Angela, 41, and Vicky Pattison were on the show to talk about their new podcast Get A Grip.

Usually on Saturday Kitchen, guests are either served food heaven or food hell depending on the public’s vote.

However, because Angela and Vicky, 37, were both on the show, Matt, 51, revealed that only one of them would be served food heaven and they had to compete in a game.

The duo were tasked with throwing as many velcro balls as they could at Matt’s head with Vicky winning the game and therefore securing her food heaven.

Matt revealed he was going to be making a crustless cheese quiche, where he said: “It was a bit of a quandary because you’re trying to eat less meat, you like chicken but don’t want to eat cows because they’re like puppies in a field.

“You like potatoes, cheese, shallots, but then you say you don’t like vegetables because they’re a bit silly. So imagine my dilemma when trying to come up with a dish!”

As Matt started creating the dish, Angela spotted an instant issue as she said: “Are those tomatoes just for show? Vicky doesn’t like tomatoes!”

However, Vicky insisted: “Whack them on!” as they’re a “crowd pleaser” adding that she’s used to picking them off. As Matt got stuck in, Vicky and Angela loudly spoke about the dish to which Matt joked: “We can hear you over here!” to which they insisted: “Sorry, it looks really good!”

When it was time to dish the creation, Angela teased: “Oh, just cold tomatoes on there? Interesting!” as Matt quipped back: “Alright, hang on!”

He then chopped up some shallots with rocket to which Angela asked of the shallots: “Are they supposed to be cooked, did you forget to cook them?” to which a laughing Matt insisted for his fellow guests to keep Angela and Vicky busy.

Angela then declared: “We’ll have them raw, don’t worry!” to which Matt insisted: “You are going to have them raw, don’t worry!”, adding: “What a morning!”

After serving Vicky the dish, which she declared was “so good”, an exhausted and flustered Matt joked: “I need a glass of wine!”

As well as Vicky and Angela, Matt was joined by chefs Owen Morgan and Avi Shashidhara, Helen McGinn and Jane Dunn.

Saturday Kitchen continues on Saturdays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Saturday Kitchen host Matt Tebbutt was left cringing following a guest’s confession about him on the BBC One show

A Saturday Kitchen guest didn’t hold back as they exposed host Matt Tebbutt’s behaviour on the programme.

The BBC show returned to screens on Saturday morning (August 17) with Matt back at the helm. Joining Matt on the programme were chefs Paul Ainsworth, Sam Evans and Shauna Guinn, as well as special guest Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

But things took an awkward turn when Matt demanded one of the guests to “park it there” after they let slip a rather awkward confession about the beloved TV star.

As Paul Ainsworth cooked up a delicious dish for Matt and the guests, Matt quizzed him: “Is this on the menu in your restaurant Caffè Rojano?”

Paul replied: “Yes we put this on the menu,” to which Matt gushed: “It’s a great restaurant.”

Wine expert Olly then chimed in: “I love it, me and my family we’ve gone there several times. Really informal setting, delicious food.” Matt added: “Super relaxed.”

Olly said: “Well in your case Matthew very relaxed. A little too relaxed perhaps..,” as an awkward silence filled the studio.

Matt proclaimed: “Let’s park that there!” But chef Paul wasn’t going to let it go. He said: “Shall we go there? Shall we go there?!”

Matt replied: “Let’s not,” as Paul continued: “I think the viewers need to know that you fell asleep in Caffè Rojano!” An embarrassed Matt laughed along with his guests and he admitted: “It had been a long day.”

It comes after Matt spilled the secrets of working in live television – and opened up on the toughest part of the job.

Despite revealing he relishes the challenge every week on the BBC show, Matt has admitted the crew face a number of challenges in a bid to make the long-running show continue to air smoothly.

The 51-year-old chef has presented the weekend morning food show since 2017, when he took over from James Martin. And he has admitted that the crew are “like family” and are often met with many challenges, meaning they have to rehearse “a lot” despite it looking like they “wing it” at times.

Saturday Kitchen airs every Saturday at 10am on BBC One.

A SAVINGS-savvy homeowner shared impressive before-and-after snaps of her kitchen after nabbing a Temu bargain.

Tracy Davies rid herself of her unsightly tiles with a handy £12 fix.

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Using peel-and-stick tiles from the bargain website, she completely transformed the space.

“From painted tiles which I absolutely hated to stick on times from Temu,” she wrote on the DIY On a Budget Official Facebook page.

“A massive improvement,” she added.

Tracy’s bog-standard white square tiles have been covered with large, marble-style tile stickers, which give the kitchen a modern feel.

Fellow home hackers were shocked by the difference the simple solution made.

“Would love to do this, looks lovely,” one wrote.

“These look great, I’m going to look into getting these,” another said.

“I also used the stick on tiles to cover up ugly tiles in my kitchen,” a third wrote.

The good news is that the stickers are easy to apply, and no grout is needed.

If you want to give your kitchen or bathroom some TLC, Temu offers a huge variety of stick on tiles in different colours and styles.

Amazon, Dunelm and B&Q also sell packs of tile stickers.

The tiles on Amazon range from £8 to £20, while at Dunelm prices start from £18.

It’s not just stick-on tiles that have home fixers jumping for joy – there are even self-adhesive wood panels to add a little extra style to any room.

Betty, a content creator from the UK who is currently renovating her home, used dado rails to panel her hallway – and it left many open-mouthed.

But while many were stunned and thought the DIY project was incredibly “impressive”, others thought it made Betty’s home look “dated”. 

Alongside her short social media clip, the brunette, who often shares beginner-friendly DIY tips and tricks online, beamed: “This is your sign to panel your hallway.”

She then added: “If you’re going to make one update to your hallway for maximum impact then let it be this! 

“This has to be the panelling project that I’m most proud of (mainly because I finally tackled those angles).”

Betty claimed that “preparation is key” when it comes to panelling, as she pre-marked each location to ensure it looked neat once complete. 

She later revealed that she got the dado rails as part of a traditional stair panelling kit from Roomix. 

As well as adding panelling to her hallway, which Betty coated in Dulux Egyptian Cotton paint, she also painted the top of her walls in the shade White Mist from Dulux. 

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Fans accused one of the chefs of making a major blunder

Viewers of Saturday Kitchen were left aghast at a ‘schoolboy error’ during the show after they witnessed a chef’s glaring faux pas.

The episode, broadcast on Saturday (May 31), featuring singer Craig David, delved into various foodie delights as part of national barbeque week among quality segments.

Chef Mike Davies popped up with his steak recipe that apparently went down a treat in the studio, despite eagle-eyed fans catching what they’ve dubbed a culinary blunder.

Allegedly, viewers spotted the chef taste-testing the dish using a ladle, re-dipping it, and proceeding to serve with the same utensil – a definite no-no for kitchen etiquette.

He was showcasing his take on Denver steak with creamed chard, which the BBC faithfully shared online for burgeoning home chefs to try, reports the Express.

Social media was soon abuzz with reactions from quick-to-judge food enthusiasts. On X, a social media user lamented: “The chef just double-dipped in the chard and cream! Then went and plated it up for everyone. Schoolboy error, and very unhygienic.”

Someone else chimed in sentimentally: “Noticed that myself! I’m sure there were producers wincing behind the camera.

“The Denver steak man ate off the ladle and then put it back into the chard. That’s why you carry a spoon mate!” declared another fan, offering some unsolicited advice on proper kitchen protocol.

Joining the online debate, a viewer pointed out what seemed to be a moment of realisation for the chef, commenting: “He also looks like he’s realised his mistake – looked absolutely gutted when they were tasting the food.”

Mike, known as the chef owner of The Camberwell Arms and Frank’s Cafe in Peckham, has been recognised on the BBC Food website.

During the programme, it was revealed that Mike’s cookbook titled ‘Cooking For People’ had been shortlisted for the debut award by The Guild of Food Writers.

The chef took to Instagram to share his excitement: “My cookbook Cooking for people has been nominated for an award. Which is nice.”

He continued to express his pride in the nomination: “It’s been shortlisted amongst some properly awesome books by @thegfw for this year’s best debut award. I’m biased but I like it. It’s full of beautiful recipes, that are written the way I like to teach people to cook. Follow along and make some lovely things for the people that you love, or even for those you don’t.”

Saturday Kitchen airs Saturdays from 10am on BBC One and iPlayer.

Saturday Kitchen star Matt Tebbutt made a surprise pregnancy announcement to viewers on the hit BBC show this morning, as he revealed that his co-star is expecting a baby

Saturday Kitchen was brought to a brief halt by host Matt Tebbutt as he shared some exciting baby news this morning. The popular programme was paused on Saturday, May 24 when the main man Matt made an announcement to viewers.

Matt, 51, revealed that his television co-star and fellow chef Sophie Wyburd, 31, is pregnant. Joined by Anita Rani and chefs Scott Hollsworth and Sophie, Matt stopped the show to make the announcement. He said: “Er Sophie, first of all, congratulations. Sophie’s pregnant!”

The studio then burst into applause, with delighted faces seen all around. Matt then commented on Sophie’s bump, saying: “You can just about see it. ” Sophie smiled and responded: “Just about!”

When asked if she had felt the baby kick yet, she replied: “First little punch yesterday, so I’ll see if they’ll send you a punch later.”

Sophie, who is a chef, regularly appears on the show to demonstrate her simple recipes. The London-based chef announced her pregnancy news on Instagram prior to today’s show. She posted a photo four days ago where she posed on a mountain top, surrounded by trees and greenery.

Dressed in black cycling shorts and a grey t-shirt, Sophie beamed as she cradled her growing bump. In the caption she wrote: “Sausage Pasta Wyburd-Kumar, growing steadily in my tummy and landing with us this autumn!!”

Sophie added: “P.S. writing recipes for a living when for 3 months all you want to eat is spinach and ricotta tortellini is no joke, but the little person in there will be very much worth it I’m sure. The person in there will be very much worth it I’m sure.”

The chef also shared some of her more unusual first trimester pregnancy cravings on social media including marmite and “frozen beige potato products”.

Fans and friends were quick to shower Sophie with lovely messages in the comments section. Fellow chef Alfie Steiner exclaimed: “Oh em geeee contractions!!!! They are going to be eating THE best food.”

Another chimed in: “The best news!!! Congratulations lovely”. Another follower then wrote: “You be growing ur own lil tortellini in there!!! congrats MAMAAAAAAA.” While another added: “Congratulations – this baby is gonna get the best weaning.” And another commented: “Cuteeeestttt bump.”

Sophie, who hails from London, is popular for her simple recipes on the show and online.

This comes following Matt’s chat with The Staff Canteen podcast, where he hinted at the potential end of Saturday Kitchen, sparking rumours about his future career moves. He suggested that he might return to working in kitchens, leading to speculation that he could be stepping into Greg Wallace’s shoes on Masterchef.

“It’s going to stop at some point,” he admitted. “I’m going to have to do something.”

An insider revealed to The Sun: “Matt rose to the challenge of coming into Saturday Kitchen after it was previously hosted by another big name in the world of food, James Martin. He managed the feat of making it his own and almost making viewers forget who his predecessor was. Now Beeb bosses, and the show producers Banijay, will be hoping he can work the same magic on MasterChef.”

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Matt Tebbutt was back hosting Saturday Kitchen this weekend when he kicked off the BBC show with some lovely news

BBC’s Saturday Kitchen was paused by host Matt Tebbutt on Saturday, May 24 as he excitedly shared some baby news.

The chef returned to our screens for another episode of the much-loved cooking show, accompanied by guest Anita Rani and chefs Scott Hollsworth and Sophie Wyburd, while Helen McGinn provided her drinks wisdom and Jordan Bailey celebrated all things burger.

However, as the programme kicked off, Matt couldn’t wait to share a heartwarming update with everyone tuning in. He joyfully announced: “Er Sophie, first of all, congratulations, Sophie’s pregnant!”

The studio erupted into applause following the announcement, with Matt gesturing towards Sophie and commenting on her visible baby bump: “You can just about see it,” reports the Express.

Sophie responded with a smile: “Just about!” Matt went on to ask if she had felt any movements from the little one, to which Sophie shared: “First little punch yesterday, so I’ll see if they’ll send you a punch later.”

Matt warmly replied: “Well, listen. Lovely to have you here!”

31-year-old Sophie is a culinary creative hailing from South London, boasting an eclectic food industry background that spans restaurant cooking, food styling, and heading up Mob’s food team.

Now, she delights followers with her easy-to-follow, homely recipes via social media and her newsletter, becoming a familiar face to many.

Sophie recently took to Instagram to reveal her pregnancy, posting a beautiful photo showcasing her growing bump.

She excitedly announced her pregnancy on social media, stating: “Sausage Pasta Wyburd-Kumar, growing steadily in my tummy and landing with us this autumn!!”

Adding a personal touch, she joked: “P.S. writing recipes for a living when for 3 months all you want to eat is spinach and ricotta tortellini is no joke, but the little person in there will be very much worth it I’m sure.”

Fans were quick to shower her with love, as one commented: “Awwww, congratulations love! !” Another chimed in with: “Amazing news Sophie, congratulations.”

And a third shared their joy: “Oh Sophie, that’s such wonderful news! Congratulations to you both.”

Saturday Kitchen airs Saturdays from 10am on BBC One.

Here’s Looking at You’s Lien Ta talks about the death of chef Jonathan Whitener, chef Jonathan Gil talks about running a restaurant with Stage IV cancer, and the chef trying to get as many Angelenos as possible to try Sri Lankan food. Also, our nominees for the James Beard Media Awards. I’m Laurie Ochoa, general manager of L.A. Times Food, with this week’s Tasting Notes.

‘Too pretty to be a chef’?

“Top Chef” host Kristen Kish.

(Stephanie Diani / Bravo)

Nearly every female chef I’ve met hates to talk about being a female chef. Just, chef, please.

It’s a stance that Dominique Crenn asserted when she won the World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ award for “world’s best female chef” in 2016. “She famously called it ‘stupid,’” Heather Platt wrote last year in this paper of Crenn’s feelings about her award. “‘A chef is a chef.’”

Even with the stories of yelling, groping and much worse behavior emerging since the #MeToo reckoning, the knowledge that the stresses of the industry also take a toll on men has conditioned some of us to believe that while women may not have an easy time in the business, they can still advance in the industry if they are tough enough.

Here in Los Angeles, after all, it’s not hard to name female chefs who lead their own restaurants, including Socalo‘s Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken, n/naka‘s Niki Nakayama and Carole Iida-Nakayama, A.O.C.‘s Suzanne Goin, Mozza‘s Nancy Silverton, Playa Provision‘s Brooke Williamson, Jar‘s Suzanne Tract, Kismet‘s Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson, Highly Likely‘s Kat Turner and many, many more than the handful of veterans who were making their way to the top during the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s.

Indeed, some of the war stories we’ve frequently heard about women in restaurant kitchens have a quaint quality. In 1983, Ruth Reichl wrote a feature story for California magazine that began with the story of Milliken’s first attempt (ultimately successful) to work at Chicago’s Le Perroquet. “Jovan Trboyevic, the owner, said he would never hire a pretty girl like me — it would cause chaos in the kitchen,” Milliken told Reichl. “He offered me a job as a hat check girl instead.”

By the time current “Top Chef” host Kristen Kish was establishing herself in Chicago and Boston restaurants, “hat check girl” was a job associated with black-and-white movies, not actual restaurant work.

So I took notice when Kish, in her new memoir “Accidentally On Purpose,” devoted the better part of a chapter to the disrespect she received in a male-dominated kitchen after she won Season 10 of “Top Chef” in 2013. It was so bad that less than a year after attaining what she’d thought of as her dream job — chef de cuisine at a fine-dining destination restaurant, Boston’s now-closed Menton — she quit.

We’re talking about a chef who proved to be the epitome of calm and unflappability in the midst of reality TV drama during her season as a “Top Chef” contestant and the ultimate team player when she declined to blame a fellow contestant for the dish that led to Kish being eliminated from the competition. (Kish worked her way back into the game she ultimately won thanks to her cooking on “Last Chance Kitchen.”) She’s also rappelled down a waterfall to harvest watercress in Panama for the National Geographic series “Restaurants at the End of the World.”

The irony is that Menton, Boston’s first Relais & Châteaux restaurant, was a woman-owned restaurant. It was one of several businesses overseen by the hospitality company founded by Barbara Lynch, who was forced to close all of her restaurants last year because of a number of factors, including the fallout from a 2023 investigation of workplace abuse by New York Times reporter Julia Moskin.

In her book, Kish does not question any of the accounts of employees who shared their stories with Moskin and others in the press about their boss (the incidents detailed appear to have happened after Kish left the company in 2014). Still, she views Lynch as a supportive mentor who gave her credit for dishes she created and was the one to suggest her as a contestant to “Top Chef’s” producers. Instead, Kish blames her issues in Menton’s kitchen on the ungenerous attitudes of her male colleagues (while emphasizing that she has “worked with many wonderful men over the years”) and on a corporate decision to give her the top job at Menton without the power to make menu changes and subjecting her to a “training period.”

“Barbara, along with the company’s director of operations and its wine director — both of whom were women — were pulling for me to have the job” after “Top Chef,” she wrote in the book. “But there were also two men in the upper echelon of the organization who were not in agreement and didn’t buy that I was ready for it.”

The experience was the opposite of what Kish had experienced at another of Lynch’s restaurants, the 10-seat Stir, where the menu changed nightly with the seasons and the chefs cooked as they talked and joked with customers across the counter — great training for her “Top Chef” run.

Yet at Menton, without the full support of the company, “the team, mostly men,” Kish writes, felt free to be “recalcitrant at best and more often perniciously undermining. … Sometimes I was disregarded or ignored. … Later, on my rare days off or when I was traveling … they were changing dishes without my knowledge. … It was a sort of psychological warfare for which I wasn’t prepared. Not a single cell in my body wanted to engage in this kind of … conflict.”

Among the untrue rumors she heard about herself was that the only reason she had the Menton job was because she was having an affair with Lynch.

“I don’t know if one of the male chefs from the company would have walked back into something like that,” Kish told me onstage when I interviewed her and “Top Chef” head judge Tom Colicchio at last month’s L.A. Times Festival of Books. “They probably would have been praised and celebrated. There were people who wanted my position and my job. And I don’t think [many] at the top echelon of the restaurant actually thought I was going to do well.”

Then there was the time she and Lynch went to a gathering in London for Relais & Châteaux restaurants and encountered a male chef who bluntly told Kish, “You’re too pretty to be a chef.”

Suddenly, the gulf between Kish and Milliken decades earlier wasn’t so vast.

Kish writes that Lynch instantly scolded the male chef for his insult: “She told him in no uncertain terms to get … out of there and leave us alone. And while I felt protected, it also made me sad. It was very clear that this was something Barbara had probably been dealing with her whole career. There was almost a rote reaction that many women in many fields would likely recognize — one they needed to cultivate in order to survive and succeed. Always playing defense, working harder, stirring up responses to pull out when some entitled overbearing dude shows up, seeming to think he matters more.”

Of course, Kish’s story has a happy ending. Leaving Menton could have ended her career as a chef since she was getting so many offers to appear on television (“Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend,” “Fast Foodies” and “Restaurants at the End of the World”), something she is very good at. But she now oversees the restaurant Arlo Grey by Kristen Kish in Austin, while balancing life with her wife, Bianca Dusic, and hosting duties on Bravo’s “Top Chef.”

I’ll have more to share from my conversation with Kish and Colicchio in next week’s newsletter. Meanwhile, here’s what else has been happening …

‘His food lifted my soul’

Lien Ta, left, and the late chef Jonathan Whitener in 2022 outside Here’s Looking at You, the Koreatown restaurant they founded in 2016.

(Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)

During a wide-ranging interview with Food’s Stephanie Breijo, restaurateur Lien Ta, the founder of Here’s Looking at You, shared how mentally exhausting the restaurant business can be after revealing this week that she is closing her Koreatown restaurant on June 13. Of course, the slow pandemic recovery and erratic business after the recent fires factored into her decision, but it was the sudden death last year of her co-founder, the chef Jonathan Whitener, that weighed most on Ta.

“Eating his food,” Ta told Breijo, “lifted my soul. … The truth is that I created this restaurant with Jonathan, and he’s eternally my collaborator. The remaining team are all in agreement that we want this to remain Jonathan’s restaurant. We are missing our leader. Signing on for another five-year lease doesn’t make sense when your leader is gone.”

Ta also talked about the “horrible dread” she felt at times “wondering if anyone was going to book a reservation or come in at all, and who we were going to cut [from service].”

“I was definitely buried in a lot of grief,” she added. “Sometimes I wasn’t really sure what to focus on this last year, to be honest … a lot of restaurant owners are sort of programmed to always find solutions, to get through the day or the week or whatever your metric is. I’ve been doing that for a long time.”

‘I’m Mexican. I don’t know how to give up’

Chef Joshua Gil, pictured in 2023, recently opened Three Flames in Westchester and is known for his pioneering pop-up Supper Liberation Front and several Los Angeles restaurants, including now-closed Tacos Punta Cabras and Miramé.

(Jenn Laskey / Courtesy Joshua Gil)

Breijo also had an intense conversation with chef Joshua Gil, who has Stage IV cancer and is in a contract dispute with his his former Mírame and Mírate business partner, but still recently was able to transform a strip-mall Mongolian barbecue restaurant into a Baja-style seafood spot called Three Flames with “tacos, burgers, loaded fries and some of the city’s most creative new tostadas and specials” while keeping the Mongolian barbecue.

“I’m a very stubborn a—,” Gil told Breijo. “I like telling people, ‘I’m Mexican. I don’t know how to give up.’”

One concession to his illness is that he is leaning hard on Anthony Rodriguez, who worked with Gil at Mírame and Mírate.

“These days he sees Rodriguez as the chef,” Breijo wrote, “and himself as a cook who sometimes creates recipes.”

“I’ve been sitting with our identities: who we are, our images of who we are,” Gil said. “I haven’t donned the [chef’s] whites in a long time, and yet I’m still referred to as ‘chef.’ We never lose that. It doesn’t matter how away from the kitchen you are. You’re constantly being called ‘chef’ by those that know you as such, and it’s [hard] holding on to that livelihood, that lifestyle.”

James Beard recognition

Karla Vasquez in the L.A. Times test kitchen.

(Katrina Frederick / For The Times)

Nominations for the James Beard Media Awards, covering books, broadcast media and journalism, were announced on Wednesday. Among the many excellent cookbooks and broadcast, video and audio shows nominated is “The SalviSoul Cookbook: Salvadoran Recipes and the Women Who Preserve Them” by L.A.’s Karla Tatiana Vasquez. As former Food reporter Cindy Carcamo wrote in her profile of Vasquez last year, “SalviSoul” is “the first-ever Salvadoran cookbook to appear on a Big Five imprint.” Food editor Daniel Hernandez talked with Vasquez after news of the nomination came out for our Cooking newsletter, which will publish tomorrow. (Subscribe for free here.)

We also received the happy news that three of our own Food journalists are nominated for Beard awards.

Restaurant critic Bill Addison is nominated in the dining and travel category for his recent guide to dining in San Francisco. Food’s senior editor Danielle Dorsey is nominated in the home cooking category for her story “The warmth of Black traditions around the Thanksgiving table.” And columnist Jenn Harris is up for the Craig Claiborne Distinguished Criticism Award. Her nominated stories are reviews of Sophy’s Cambodian restaurant in Long Beach and Star Leaf in Pasadena, plus a column on why chili crisp and chili crunch are terms that should not be trademarked.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Chicago on June 14.

Also …

An array of dishes at Kurrypinch, including coconut roti, kola kanda risotto, coconut chickpea curry, lamprais, chicken biriyani and pan-seared salmon with curry pumpkin puree plus mango lassi.

(Yasara Gunawardena / For The Times)

MOST of us will have a tin of fish – be it tuna, salmon or mackerel – in the cupboard at any given point.

Great for adding to pasta, whacking on toast or in a sandwich, these budget buys are just one of the kitchen staples food writer and mum of two Amy Sheppard tackles in her new book Easy 10: 10 Ingredients, 100 Fuss-Free Dinner Recipes.

In it, she takes 10 supermarket ingredients – from tinned fish to potatoes to lentils – and comes up with cheap eats to feed the family.

So, if you’re always buying the same staples and making the same meals with them, this is a guaranteed way to shake things up.

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We’ve chosen three ways with tinned fish to inspire you to dust off your tins and turn them into tasty tacos, a delicious fish pie with a twist or spicy fishcakes.

They’re all quick and easy ideas perfect for midweek – enjoy!

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Thai Salmon Fishcakes

Makes: 8
Prep time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 6 mins

Ingredients:
*350g white bread
*2 x 213g tins boneless salmon, drained
*Bunch spring onions, finely chopped
*2tsp chilli flakes
*1tsp garlic paste
*1tsp ginger paste
*Zest and juice 1 lime
*3tbsp sweet chilli sauce
*2 eggs, beaten
*Handful plain flour, for dusting
*Sunflower oil, for frying

Method:

1. Place the bread, salmon and chopped spring onions in a food processor. Pulse until you have a salmony crumb.

2. Tip the mixture into a mixing bowl. Stir in the chilli flakes, garlic paste, ginger paste, lime zest and juice and sweet chilli sauce. Season with salt and pepper, before using your hands to ensure the ingredients are evenly distributed. Add the beaten egg and use your hands to combine the mixture into a wet dough. Shape into 8 equal balls. Scatter the flour over a plate and roll each ball in it until lightly dusted. Brush off any excess, before pressing the balls into patties, roughly 21⁄2cm thick.

3. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large, non-stick frying pan and fry the fishcakes over a medium heat for 2–3 minutes on each side, or until browned and cooked through.

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Chinese Mackerel Tacos

Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 5 mins

Ingredients:
*8 mini tortilla wraps, to serve
*Coriander, to garnish (optional)

For the hoisin slaw:
*1 carrot, finely sliced into thin strips
*4 large sweetheart cabbage leaves, tough stems removed, finely sliced
*1 small red pepper, deseeded and finely sliced
*1⁄2 bunch spring onions, finely chopped
*40g mayonnaise
*50ml hoisin sauce

For the mackerel:
*Oil, for frying
*1⁄2 bunch spring onions, finely chopped
*1tsp freshly ground black pepper
*1tsp Chinese 5 spice
*3 x 125g tins mackerel, drained

Method:

1. First make the hoisin slaw. Put the carrot, cabbage, red pepper and spring onions in a bowl and mix together.

2. Use a separate bowl to whisk together the mayonnaise, hoisin sauce and 1 tablespoon of water until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the sauce over the slaw, mix thoroughly until evenly coated and set aside.

3. Heat a good drizzle of oil in a non-stick frying pan. Add the spring onions and fry for 2 minutes. Stir in the black pepper and Chinese 5 spice and fry for 1 minute. Add the mackerel, breaking it up a little in the pan as you stir, so the pieces are smaller, but not mashed. Fry for 2 minutes until the mackerel is heated through. Stir a tablespoon of water into the hot pan to lift the spices. Season with salt.

4. Microwave the tortilla wraps for a few seconds until warm or gently heat in the oven. Divide the slaw between the wraps, then top each one with spiced mackerel and fold in half.

5. Serve the tacos as they are or with basmati rice, garnished with coriander, if you like.

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15-Minute Gnocchi Fish Pie

Serves: 5
Prep time: 5 mins
Cooking time: 20 mins

Ingredients:
*Oil, for frying
*500g gnocchi
*1 onion, finely chopped
*200g garlic and herb soft cheese
*2 x 145g tins tuna, drained
*100g cheddar, grated
*250ml milk 
*80g frozen sweetcorn
*80g frozen peas
*1tsp dried oregano
*50g fresh spinach leaves
*Garlic bread and salad, to serve

Method:

1. Heat a good drizzle of oil in a large, non-stick frying pan. When it’s spitting hot, add the gnocchi (work in two batches if need be) and fry for 3-5 minutes over a medium-high heat until golden brown and crisp. Set the gnocchi aside.

2. Heat a little more oil in the pan. Add the onion and fry for 5 minutes until soft. Take the pan off the heat and add the soft cheese, tuna, grated cheddar, milk, frozen sweetcorn, frozen peas and oregano. Season with salt and pepper and return to a medium heat.

3. Stir until all the ingredients are combined and the mixture is starting to gently bubble.

4. Once the cheese has melted, stir in the spinach and the fried gnocchi. Simmer for a minute or two until the frozen veg is soft and the gnocchi is heated through.

5. Serve immediately with a side of garlic bread and salad.

How to save money on your food shop

Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:

Odd boxes – plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.

Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.

Sainsbury’s also sells £2 “Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me” fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.

Food waste apps – food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.

Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.

Too Good to Go’s app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.

Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.

Yellow sticker bargains – yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.

But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here.

Super cheap bargains – sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they’ve found on the cheap, including food finds.

“Downshift” – you will almost always save money going for a supermarket’s own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.

The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as “downshifting” and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.

Saturday Kitchen host Matt Tebbutt was lost for words when wine expert Helen McGinn halted the show to share some exciting news.

Saturday Kitchen host Matt Tebbutt was left “touched” and “speechless” after wine expert Helen McGinn brought the show to a standstill with her heartfelt praise for the beloved TV chef.

Matt was in the running for a significant food and drink accolade, prompting Helen to seize the moment to share some uplifting news with the BBC presenter and the audience at home.

Early into the programme, Helen cut in to announce that Matt had clinched a prestigious award, placing him at the pinnacle alongside some of the culinary world’s finest chefs.

Since he couldn’t be there to accept his prize, the sommelier represented him at the event and proudly collected the award on his behalf.

Helen revealed: “Unfortunately you were working on Thursday so you had to miss out on one of your favourite nights of the year, but I stood in for you and believe me I gave it a really good go.”

The TV chef quipped in response: “You sent me a message at like 2am in the morning.” To which Helen playfully shushed him, eliciting laughter from everyone on set, reports the Express.

Continuing with the announcement, she disclosed: “As our viewers know, you were nominated for the Fortnum and Mason Food and Drink Awards for the Food Personality Of The Year.

“It was a public vote and you were up against some really big names, the biggest names in the world of food, including Rick Stein, Nadyia [Hussain], Jamie Oliver, Dame Mary Berry and our wonderful viewers, they voted en masse and… You won, congratulations.”

The wine expert then put the bashful host on the spot, requesting: “Now obviously you weren’t there to make an acceptance speech on the night, so over to you. Is there anything you would like to say?”

Matt, clearly caught off guard, responded: “Do I have to stand up?” Helen, appearing to relish the moment, fired back: “Yes you do, I know you’ll enjoy this.” She explained to other guests on the show: “He’s not very good at taking compliments so he’ll be hating this.”

The Saturday Kitchen presenter admitted: “I don’t like doing things like this, I’m only good with autocue.”

He continued: “Well listen, thank you very much, this is obviously a huge honour, it’s a lovely thing to have and thank you for all of you guys who voted for me, I am really touched and I don’t know what else to say so thank you.”

With a beam, he addressed the audience: “Strangely, I don’t actually like being the centre of attention but that is wonderful, so thank you very much.”

Helen gave Matt another round of applause, saying: “Aww well done.”

Saturday Kitchen airs every Saturday on BBC One, from 10am.

Actor Ross Kemp makes the grim discovery about his great grandfather’s older brother in the latest instalment of Who Do You Think You Are? on BBC1

EastEnders hard man Ross Kemp tells of his sadness over the “dreadful” discovery his great uncle was a violent alcoholic who was blacklisted from British pubs – and never spoken about by his family.

For BBC1’s Who Do You Think You Are? the actor turned TV presenter finds that Albert Chalmers was brought up in a Portsmouth pub alongside his ten siblings, who included Ross’s great grandfather Arthur, nicknamed Pop. He imagines that the family might have had a ‘Disney-style’ existence, perhaps similar to his alter ego Grant Mitchell, who spent most of his time in The Queen Vic alongside his mother Peggy, played by the late Barbara Windsor.

But while Ross’s great grandfather Arthur was nicknamed Pop after Popeye, because of his successful life on the high seas, his great uncle Albert’s time in the navy didn’t end well after he was discharged.

READ MORE: David Tennant issues plea to JK Rowling over ‘medieval and absurd’ trans rights row

The actor discovers he spent years gathering court charges for being drunk and violent, with one report revealing he threatened to decapitate his own mother. Reading from the story in the local paper at the time, Ross says: “It was alleged he threatened to cut his mother’s head off, and everyone else in the house, at the same time chasing after her with a table knife.”

Calling him “a bit of a wrong ‘un”, Ross learns that his behaviour not only led to several spells in prison, but also to him being barred from every pub in the land after he was named on the “blacklist” of the 1902 Licensing Act.

The 60-year-old dad of four says that the story relates to his long-running role in EastEnders. “It doesn’t matter whether I’m in Afghanistan or Columbia, I’m always going to be Grant Mitchell in a leather jacket going ‘get outta my pub!’

“One story in the family, which I think has been very conveniently forgotten, is about Pop’s brother, my great uncle Albert, who was a bad man. A blacklister.” After learning more about his ancestor he ends up feeling some sympathy for Albert, who was sent to the Inebriate Reformatory for three years to try and cure his out-of-control drinking. The facility, contained within a prison in Warwick, aimed to reform inmates with no medical treatment other than denying them access to booze.

It didn’t work and, just one year into his term in 1914, Albert was moved to a psychiatric hospital back in Portsmouth, at the age of 31. Ross, who has made award-winning documentaries, says the same problems are still commonplace today. “Having been to prisons in the UK recently, I see mental health issues and I see people with addiction issues. It’s dreadful to think that in four generations, very little has changed,” he says sadly.

Looking at a photograph of his troubled ancestor, he adds: “I feel very sorry for him. I look at the picture and think ‘there was a life there’. And he wasn’t remembered by anyone, even by his own brother. My great grandfather never mentioned him to his daughters and it was definitely not handed down to my mum and certainly wasn’t handed down to me.

“Albert’s life was never really mentioned in the family history. This is not what I was expecting. I thought they all lived in the pub and it was all slightly Disney. The reality is my great uncle was an alcoholic with mental health issues and there is nothing romantic or sweet or sugar-coated about that.”

Ross says he can relate to both Pop, born in 1892, and older brother Albert, born a decade earlier, being in the Navy because he has always loved the sea. Brought up by his detective dad John and hairdresser mum Jean in Essex, Ross said that he and his brother Darren were taken on many trips around Europe in the early 1970s before it became popular. “We travelled at an early age when a lot of people weren’t doing that. I’ve always loved being in water. I strongly suspect that there is a connection to the ocean and to travel is in my DNA,” he says, before setting out on his journey of discovery.

In the programme he learns that his maternal great grandfather Pop transferred from the merchant navy to become an ordinary seaman at the start of WWI, quickly rising to become a quartermaster by the age of 22.

When the actor wonders if there is any truth to the family story that he was later shipwrecked, he finds out that in 1943 Pop’s troop carrier, the Duchess of York, was bombed while en route to Algeria, 300 miles off the coast of Portugal. Dozens of men lost their lives when the ship sank, but Pop was one of the lucky ones, rescued and taken to the Allied-controlled port of Casablanca 700 miles away.

Ross, who is a qualified diver, becomes tearful as he imagines what his ancestor went through that day, saying: “I’ve been on my own in the water for a period of time and it’s frightening – you start to hallucinate. I’ve been lost at sea twice when I was diving – of course, it’s nothing like what Pop would have gone through, with the horrors of oil in the water, flames, and dead men floating around you.”

– Who Do You Think You Are? with Ross Kemp airs on BBC1, 9pm,Tuesday 6 May

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SPRING brings longer days, warmer weather, and bursts of colour everywhere, especially in the way of flowers.

From cheery Daffodils and humble Bluebells to elegant Lilies – learn how to help your flowers look fabulous for longer.

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Whether you’ve picked up a treat at the local supermarket or you’ve been gifted a beautiful bouquet, it’s devastating when your flowers die almost instantly.

But don’t despair because a flower expert has shared a secret that will help your flowers last longer.

What is the secret ingredient?

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Elise Harlock, brand manager at Prestige Flowers, said: “Hydration is key for keeping fresh-cut lilies for longer but the acidity of the water is important, too.

“A splash of lemon juice can lower the water’s pH which helps lilies absorb water easier and keep them vibrant for longer.

“Lemon water is a healthy drink for humans but many don’t realise it can have benefits for flowers, too.

“A vitamin C tablet crushed into the vase can also be effective.”

If you haven’t got a lemon lying around at home, you can pick one up for around 30p at your local supermarket.

Most flowers absorb water more effectively in an acidic environment which helps them stay hydrated and fresher for longer and keeps bacteria growth at bay.

What causes flowers to wilt?

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“One of the biggest culprits behind wilting flowers is bacteria as it can block flower stems’ vascular systems.

“This prevents water and nutrient uptake and causes petals to droop and leaves to start yellowing.”

Elise added: “Lowering the pH keeps vase water clearer, the growth of harmful bacteria is reduced, keeping stems clear and expanding your flowers’ lifespan.”

Elise also recommends refreshing the water in the vase every two or three days and trimming stems at a 45-degree angle to improve water uptake.

She added: “Direct sunlight can be too harsh on flowers, so if you want to keep your bouquet for as long as possible, place them somewhere cool and shaded.

The 5 best flowers to help bees to thrive

Nature experts at Faith In Nature have shared the 5 best flowers Brits can plant in their gardens to help bees thrive.

Rebecca Miller, Fabulous’ Associate Editor and keen gardener explains why “bees are brilliant”.

“They are vital. They pollinate our food and play a crucial role in our ecosystem. But climate change, the increasing use of pesticides and loss of habitat means bees are endangered. No matter how big your garden or outside space is, you can plant a flower or two to help bees.”

Lavender

Lavender can thrive in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. It’s fragrant and flowers all-summer-long meaning it’s a big hit with bees – especially bumble bees.

Sunflowers

This cheery flower giant are bee-magnets. And if you look closely at a sunflower head, the big ‘flowers’ are actually a cluster of small flowers, called an inflorescence which attract pollinators.

Ideally, grow sunflowers in groups to provide nectar and pollen for as many bees as possible. At the end of summer, collect the dried seeds from the sunflower heads to feed the birds or plant next year.

Heather

These abundant, bell-shaped blooms are brimming with nectar and pollen – which is good news for bees.

Cornflowers

A vivid blue wildflower, cornflowers are often planted alongside other meadow blooms, like ox-eye daisies and poppies.

They grow on tall stems and are packed with nectar, making them particularly attractive to bees. Cornflowers bloom for a long time and are simple to grow, so they’re perfect for first-time gardeners and experienced alike. 

Crocuses (and snowdrops)

Later this summer, when you’re starting to plan for your Spring displays, consider crocuses and snowdrops.

They provide bees, such as the queen buff-tailed bumblebee and male hairy-footed flower bees, with vital early pollen as they emerge from their winter hibernation. 

“Retrimming flower stems can also extend the life of your lilies.

“Over time, the cut ends of blooms can become blocked by air bubbles which can block water and nutrients accessing the flower.

“Trim half an inch off your stems after a few days to expose a fresh surface to absorb water.”

Meanwhile, you can give your flowerbeds and lawn a spring spruce up without spending any extra money.

Instead of investing in bags of pricey fertiliser, simply repurpose an item that’s already in your fridge.

However, with the sun shining, many people might begin to notice weeds growing on their patios.

But you don’t have to fork out on expensive products to get rid of them, as gardening fans have revealed a simple two-ingredient hack that they claim will make stubborn gravel weeds disappear.

Even better, they say it works in less than 24 hours.

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BRITS wanting to get their garden looking fresh ahead of summer can use a simple kitchen staple to help – but not in the conventional way.

Traditionally, gardeners are told to put teabags in their garden to boost garden plants. 

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Along with other kitchen scraps like potato peel, carrot off-cuts, and banana peels, the teabags help create a rich, nutritious compost that leads to much bigger and stronger fruit and vegetables. 

However, gardeners are now being urged to make sure they rip up their teabags before putting them in the garden, pouring in the leaves directly. 

This is because many of the top branded teabags sold today actually contain plastic. 

Many branded teabags sold in UK supermarkets use plastic, which means they will never break down in your compost and will leave a plastic residue behind that will contaminate the compost with plastic chemicals.

This also includes plant based teabags, such as those used by Yorkshire Tea.

All teabags should be ripped open, and the bag disposed of separately and not in the compost bin.

Yorkshire Tea has advised: “PLA tea bags are sometimes called “plastic free”, but we’ve never used that label and WRAP, the people behind the UK Plastics Pact, also advise against it because plant-based plastics are still plastics.

“You can snip open your used tea bags, compost the tea inside at home, and put the bag itself in your refuse bin.”

“If you don’t want to do that, the alternative is to put your tea bag in your refuse bin.”

Consumer advice magazine Which? explains: “Tea bags have traditionally been sealed with a plastic called polyproplene, which enables their edges to be heat sealed and stop them falling apart in hot water.”

“Small amounts were used, but it prevented them being composted and, due to the enormous amount of tea bags used in the UK, it generated a large amount of plastic waste.”

“The advice from the UK Tea & Infusions Association is to rip open the bags before placing the used tea leaves on your compost heap and dispose of the teabag paper separately in your bin where it will go into landfill.”

There are several benefits of putting tea leaves in your compost, as Chris at Climbing Wild Gardeners explains. 

Chris told the northernecho.co.uk: “Tea bags contain beneficial compounds that improve soil structure, retain moisture, and provide plants with essential nutrients.”

“Burying used tea bags just beneath the soil’s surface helps retain moisture and supports healthy root growth.”

He added: “They also help reduce fungal infections, leading to a greener and healthier lawn.”

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