reveals

A FORMER royal gardener has revealed one thing you should never do to your lawn if you want to keep grass green and healthy.

With temperatures set to climb again this weekend, after a chilly bank holiday , many of us are likely making plans to spend time relaxing in the garden.

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However, after a long winter of neglect, our lawns may be in need of a bit of TLC.

You may be tempted to get your mower out and cut your grass in it during the heat, however, former royal gardener Jack Stooks who worked in the royal gardens of the Highgrove Estate for more than 20 years, revealed that this is a mistake.

“When it gets too hot, what you definitely don’t want to do is keep mowing the grass and keeping it as short as possible”, he told  Big Fat Links.

“You want to forgo cutting for a week or two so that the grass keeps growing by itself, rather than depleting it.

“Wait until you have some moisture back in the soil.”

Ivana Agustina, Head of Project Management at ShrubHub seconded this tip, stating: “You’re slicing into already-dry blades under a blazing sun.

“That kind of trauma leaves your grass vulnerable to pests, yellowing, and fungal infections.”

Jack added that it is also not a good idea to do any planting in hot weather.

 “You don’t want to put too much stress on the plants by moving them or planting anything if you can help it.

“People will be planting bedding plants and potted plants for the summer, but they will constantly need attention and watering morning and night.

“So, if you’re planting anything right now, it’s only bedding plants, and they will need a lot of water.

“I would suggest not putting them in the borders yet but putting them in pots and checking them morning and night.”

Jack previously revealed that a great tip for banishing slugs from your garden is using brassica leaves, which can be found on vegetables such as Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and more.

The expert explained that you should place these leaves down in the corners of your vegetable patches with something sturdy on top to keep in place.

How to stop yellow patches on your lawn

STEVEN Bell, Managing Director of Paving Shopper, shared his insights on the true causes of lawn discoloration and how to maintain a lush, green lawn…

1) Sharpen mower blades

2) Prevent fungal disease with nitrogen fertiliser

3) Mow frequently

4) Aerate lawn with a fork

He said to check these ‘every day’ and you are likely to find up to ‘five or six’ slugs, before either ‘hand picking off’ slugs, or ‘feeding to birds’.

Jack added: “Put the brassica leaf onto the ground and put a rock on top of it to keep it in place. 

“In the morning, go out early, pick up the brassica leaf and you’ll find about five or six slugs on each.

“You can either hand pick them off, or people tend to go and feed them to the birds, but that isn’t such a good idea because they can scuttle off into the garden. 

“I think the best way is to put them into a beer trap, that way they can drink the beer and enjoy their last few minutes…” 

STAECY Solomon told viewers she didn’t have sex with husband Joe Swash for a year in her BBC reality show Stacey & Joe.

The honest Loose Women star shared a candid confession in the final episode.

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The couple, who got married in 2022, revealed their plans for the future in the very last scene.

Joe, 43, said: “Maybe we could make another kid next year…”

Stacey, 35, shot back: “I don’t think so.”

Giggling, she added: “I don’t think we had sex in 2024. We haven’t seen each other!”

The series saw Stacey balancing a booming career, including a new perfume range, while juggling parenthood with hers and Joe’s kids Rex, five, Rose, three, and Belle, two, plus her sons Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12, from previous relationships.

But while showing the positives, it has also highlighted the spats Stacey has with Joe.

The couple had just shot scenes in a counselling session and Stacey was left in tears.

She had booked the couples therapy session to support Joe, 43, following his ADHD diagnosis.

Joe had told the counsellor: “All I’m hearing is that I’m this huge problem in Stacey’s perfect life.

“I don’t hear no positive stuff about me.”

Viewers also watched Stacey grow increasingly irritated by Joe’s inability to carry out basic household tasks.

In one episode, he threw bleach into the washing machine to whiten his T-shirts.

Joe also raised eyebrows when he was shown returning home from a fishing trip five hours late, leaving Stacey to juggle their kids and an important work meeting.

This week, a source close to the couple told The Sun: “Stacey is regretting signing up to do the show.

“She’s not used to the backlash they are getting as everything she touches normally turns to gold.”

Despite this, The Sun previously confirmed Stacey & Joe will be returning to the BBC for a second series.

And on Tuesday night, fans were also treated to a “coming soon” teaser at the end of the episode.

In already recorded footage, Stacey and Joe were shown on a romantic country mini break, along with a trip to a theme park with their kids and on a big family skiing holiday.

The BBC is yet to confirm when the second series of Stacey & Joe will air.

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SIMON Cowell admits he’s “socially inept” and has revealed the unexpected bonus that his TV shows have given him which has helped him through his shyness.

Cowell, 65, said he desperately struggles to make small talk and told how he became so stressed at Joan Collins’s party that he had to leave just half an hour after sitting at the table.

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The BGT judge revealed that becoming recognised as the man behind hit shows like American Idol, The X Factor, and Britain’s Got Talent, had helped him.

He admitted that it made it easier for him to have conversations as people would talk about the programmes and their stars – topics he felt comfortable chatting about.

Speaking on Elizabeth Day’s How To Fail podcast, Cowell said: “I am very shy – like I can’t go to a pre-party.

“It’s my worst thing in the world – making small talk with people I don’t know.

“If we have a common subject I’m pretty good.

“But years ago, if I had to go to a party, particularly if you have to stand up with a drink, with horrible food, and just talk to people you don’t know, it’s torture.

“So once I was known by people it was kind of good because it broke the ice with people you meet, so instantly they know you, you’re talking about something I like, which is the shows or the artists or whatever.

“So it kind of helped me with my shyness.”

Cowell, engaged to Lauren Silverman, with whom he has a son Eric aged 11, added: “But still now Lauren is brilliant in these positions. I’m hopeless.

“Joan Collins had a birthday party, and I’m ‘How do I get out of it? I can’t.’

“And I said to Lauren ‘I’ll go, but we have to time it, because there’ll be a horrible stand-up pre-drinks’. I can’t do that.

“At the same time, Joan is a diva, and if you’re late she’ll kill me, so I’m trying to balance everything.

“I think we’ve timed it well – we didn’t.  For 45 minutes I had to talk to people and I was dying inside.

“I was so stressed by the time I got to the table, I left after about 30 minutes, because I just can’t deal with it. Draining.”

Describing it as one of his failures, Cowell admitted: “That is one of them. I am socially inept.”

Simon’s famously blunt feedback, which sometimes crossed the line of being harsh to the contestants, made him a household name in the world of Talent shows.

The TV personality wasn’t afraid to tell the singing hopefuls that they sounded like “garbage,” that they had “no talent” or that their audition was a “complete and utter waste of time” – all of which are direct quotes he had said to the contestants at some point.

He became a fan favourite due to his lovable charm and sharp sense of humour. 

Many fans seemed to agree with Simon’s critique of the singers making him beloved and one of the leading talent scouts in the music industry of the past two decades. 

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A SOVIET spacecraft once destined for Venus is expected to crash land on Earth this week after more than 50 years stuck in orbit.

The Cold War-era spacecraft, called the Kosmos 482 Descent Craft, is set to embark on a fiery descent through the atmosphere between 8 May and 12 May.

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The failed Venus probe has been stuck in low Earth orbit since its launch in 1972.

Marco Langbroek, a lecturer in space situational awareness at Delft Technical University in the Netherlands predicted the landers return in a blog post.

The spacecraft is expected to hit Earth at a staggering speed of 17,000mph – which Langbroek likened to a meteorite impact.

Soon after its botched launch, Kosmos 482 broke into several pieces.

The probe’s main body reentered Earth’s atmosphere on 5 May, 1981.

Though the Descent Craft has remained in orbit for almost 53 years, until now, when it appears to be breaking free.

It is just one of roughly 35,000 pieces of space debris, measuring more than 10cm in size, which are being tracked by experts.

At 3ft-wide and 495kg in weight, the lander is unlikely to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere on its descent.

Langbroek has mapped out where the hunk of space debris might land.

The projected landing zone covers an enormous area on both sides of the equator. 

Kosmos 482 is expected to fall anywhere between latitude 52 degrees north and 52 degrees south – which puts London, alongside other major cities, from New York to Beijing, in possible danger.

Also in the red-zone are Australia, South America, and Africa, as well as parts of Europe, North America and Asia.

Nobody knows for sure where Kosmos 482 will hit.

It’s important to note the spacecraft has a significant amount of ocean to plunge safely into.

The odds of the rogue spacecraft hitting a populated area are exceptionally slim.

Most pieces of deorbited space debris land in the sea or unpopulated areas.

Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, said probability that the fall will cause any damage is extremely small.

The Kosmos 482 was previously feared to hit the Earth back in 2019.

Video footage from October 2020 shows the failed spaceship plummeting out of orbit.

The startling footage shows the out-of-control craft hurtling through the sky – headed for Earth.

What is space debris?

Space debris is an umbrella term for any bit of junk, disused equipment and otherwise, that is currently stuck in Earth’s orbit.

And it has spiralled into a big problem since the dawn of the space age in the 1950s.

There are nearly 30,000 objects bigger than a softball hurtling a few hundred miles above Earth, ten times faster than a bullet.

It poses huge risks to satellites and the International Space Station (ISS), where crew occasionally have to maneuver out of the way of objects hurtling towards them.

In 2016, a fleck of paint managed to chip a window in the ISS because it was moving at such high speeds in Earth’s orbit.

The problem is, it’s not just a space issue – but Earth’s too.

Objects in space undergo a process called orbital decay, which means they orbit closer to Earth as time goes on.

Debris left in orbits below 600km normally fall back to Earth within several years.

While most space debris burns up on reentry to Earth’s atmosphere – there are some bits that don’t.

This is particularly the case with larger objects, like the EP-9 pallet.

A report by US watchdog, the Federal Aviation Authority, published last year warned that space debris that survived the fiery reentry could kill or injure someone on Earth every two years by 2035.

A GARDENING expert has shared a common mistake homeowners make when trying to keep their lawns green – and why it’s wasting you money.

With temperatures set to climb again this weekend, after a chilly bank holiday many of us are likely making plans to spend time relaxing in the garden.

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However, after a long winter of neglect, our lawns may be in need of a bit of TLC.

And although you may think that the best thing to do to keep your lawn looking healthy in the heat is blast it with water Ivana Agustina, Head of Project Management at ShrubHub revealed that this can have an adverse affect.

“A lot of people overwater without realizing it,” she told Fabulous.

Over-watering your lawn can drown the roots, leading to a shallow root system which is more susceptible to diseases and pests.

Ivana said that instead of running a sprinkler throughout the day, you should deep water the grass twice a week in the morning.

“This encourages the roots to grow deeper and makes your lawn more drought-resistant.

“You’ll use less water overall, and your lawn will actually look greener for it.”

As you will be using less water with this method you will save money, whilst making your lawn look lusher than ever.

 Ivana also revealed that mowing at the wrong time can have disastrous consequences.

“People don’t realise that grass gets stressed just like any plant,” she said.

Many gardeners make the common mistake of mowing their grass in the midday heat, without realising the harm this can do to the grass.

“If you mow it at the wrong time, you’re basically wounding the lawn when it’s least able to recover.”

The expert revealed that in spring the best time to mow your lawn is between 9 am and 11 am.

“Mowing during late morning means you’re not clogging your mower with wet clippings or baking the lawn in midday heat,” she said.

How to stop yellow patches on your lawn

STEVEN Bell, Managing Director of Paving Shopper, shared his insights on the true causes of lawn discoloration and how to maintain a lush, green lawn…

1) Sharpen mower blades

2) Prevent fungal disease with nitrogen fertiliser

3) Mow frequently

4) Aerate lawn with a fork

Ivana explained that one of the worst times to mow your grass is before 8 am as grass is still wet from morning dew, which leads to “uneven trimming”.

She added that between 2 pm and 4 pm is also not a good time to cut the grass, as this is the hottest part of the day,  “which is bad news for moisture retention and overall lawn health.”

The expert added: “You’re slicing into already-dry blades under a blazing sun.

“That kind of trauma leaves your grass vulnerable to pests, yellowing, and fungal infections.”

During the summer time, the expert revealed that the best time to mow is between 6 am and 8 am, as this allows you to avoid the heat.

Ivana said that cutting your lawn at the wrong time could lead to fungal diseases, uneven growth and increased weed risk.

FERRARI has revealed the launch date for its first ever electric vehicle – after having “prepared for years”.

The car giant’s CEO Benedetto Vigna made the bombshell announcement at a financial meeting, saying that the car would be unveiled in three steps.

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He said that the manufacturer will show “the technological heart” of the new model at the company’s capital markets day on October 9.

The revolutionary model’s debut will take place in the spring of next year and sales will start in October 2026, Vigna announced on May 6.

The groundbreaking statement is the first time Ferrari has indicated when the EV could reach customers.

In February, Vigna claimed the car would be presented at the company’s capital market day in October.

Ferrari Chairman John Elkann said that his company had been “preparing for years” for electrification.

The company first started selling hybrid models in 2019 – but has now scheduled to unveil the new fully electric cars for this October.

Elkann said during the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting: “Electrification has been a path that we’ve been pursuing now for decades, starting in Formula One and then from our race cars to our sports cars.

“We are very excited about unveiling the Ferrari Elettrica.”

He praised the newly inaugurated Ferrari facility – which was introduced in June in its hometown of Maranello.

Known as the e-building, he said it would give the firm increased manufacturing flexibility to develop future models.

“Now, we can also claim that all our key electric components are developed and handcrafted in Maranello,” Elkann added.

Vigna reaffirmed that Ferrari would continue to produce petrol, hybrid as well as fully electric cars.

Hybrid cars made up 51% of all Ferrari sales in 2024.

Vigna said: “Indeed, in line with our strategy, we continue to invest in all three powertrains … to offer our clients maximum freedom of choice.”

Ferrari sells about one in four cars in the United States – its largest market.

The firm said in March that it plans to raise prices for some of its models by as much as 10 percent because of Donald Trump‘s tariffs.

But despite the economic changes – Ferrari on May 6 reported a 15 per cent rise in first-quarter core earnings and stuck to its financial guidance for the year.

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Emmerdale’s Mackenzie Boyd actor Lawrence Robb has revealed an update on his mystery flashforward clip teased back in December, dropping a major hint about when it will air

Viewers of Emmerdale have been speculating over the mystery Mack Boyd flashforward that has yet to be explained or air on the ITV soap.

But now the actor playing Mackenzie has issued a major update on the matter. He isn’t the only one though, with soap producer Laura Shaw also spilling new details to The Mirror about the mystery scene.

Back in December in time for the New Year, the soap aired five eerie flashforwards which teased the fates of characters in 2025. So far we have seen three of these flashforwards play out in real time, revealing the context behind them.

We saw Nate Robinson was the body dumped in the water, Amy Wyatt was the person whose hand slammed underneath the ice, and Caleb Miligan flatlined due to Joe Tate targeting him for his kidney. There’s a funeral flashforward yet to air, while fans are sure this is Nate’s funeral.

But the final flashforward still not addressed saw Mack running through the woods with a panicked look on his face. It’s not clear if he’s running away from someone or something, or towards it.

READ MORE: Emmerdale actor apologises to co-star after rage-fuelled row on screen

But now there’s new details including when it will finally air. Mack actor Lawrence revealed that he had not yet filmed the scene in question, and hinted he didn’t know too much about it.

But he did suggest it was linked to a new storyline, being kept top secret, which will involve him and another character. Laura had teased said storyline to The Mirror, where she called it “life changing” for those involved.

She revealed Mack and Aaron Dingle would take centre stage in a mystery storyline, which would air across a big week of episodes. Not only that, but they are currently building a special set for the huge scenes.

Laura told us that the plot would be huge, and that it would air in August/September time. Lawrence also addressed the plot with minor comments, hinting he either couldn’t tell us about it or that it was too early for him to know much about it.

What he did know though, as backed by Laura, is that the flashforward was in some way linked to the big storyline. This means we can expect to see the mystery moment air in August or September time for sure, and whenever the big week of episodes airs it seems.

With that, this confirms the mystery glimpse to the future is linked to a life-changing event, and that it involves Aaron. Lawrence told us: “We haven’t filmed that yet. I know it’s intrinsically linked to the big story about Mackenzie and Aaron, but that’s all I know at the minute.”

Meanwhile, Laura spilled: “We’ve got big stuff coming up for Aaron and Mackenzie towards the end of summer into autumn.

“We’ve got a big week of episodes planned for then. It’s gonna be life changing for those two. We’ve still got that flashforward from New Year, we’ve not forgotten about it. Might that happen there? We shall see.

“We are actually in the process of building a new set for that week and I’ve read the first drafts of the scripts and I have to say it’s some of the most exciting and gripping episodes that I’ve read in a long time. I can’t wait to see what happens with that.”

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

The presenter says the way colleagues rallied around him after social media storm was ‘lovely’

Gary Lineker has described the way he was supported by colleagues over his controversial suspension from the BBC in 2023 as “beautiful”. The outgoing Match of the Day presenter was asked in a new TV interview if the storm over the political comments he’d made on social media had been “blown out of all proportion” and he agreed it had.

The TV star, 64, explained: “It was a crazy week. It upset me, having all the press outside my house every minute of the day for five or six days. It got a bit silly.”

But Lineker said he discovered there was a surprisingly heart-warming aspect to the stressful situation. “It was actually also lovely, because the backing I got from the people I work with was beautiful.”

READ MORE: Sir David Attenborough to front new landmark BBC series weeks after 99th birthday

The row erupted after he posted that the language used by then home secretary Suella Braverman over the “stop the boats” asylum policy was “not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 1930s”.

But after he was suspended, in March 2023, many of his colleagues in BBC Sport refused to stand in for him, including Alex Scott, Alan Shearer and Ian Wright, plus Mark Chapman, Gaby Logan and Jermaine Defoe.

Lineker’s remarks were made in new ITV interview show The Assembly, in which stars are quizzed by a group of interviewers who are autistic, neurodivergent or learning disabled.

Under the rules, no question is off the table and everything must be answered. Asked if there was any element of “shove out” from the BBC over his Match of the Day departure, Gary says: “I don’t know, maybe they would have got rid of me anyway. I think it was the right time. You don’t want to overstay your welcome, do you?” Pushed on whether he was actually given the boot, he insists: “No, I wasn’t sacked.”

Questioned about being taken in by Brass Eye’s satire on paedophiles back in 2001, he says: “I wasn’t fooled. They cut out all the stuff where I kept saying ‘this is a joke’. They were quite devious.”

In the programme, made by Chris Morris, Lineker was shown holding up a picture of a hillside, explaining that a tiny blue blob in the middle was actually a child and saying, “If you attempt to show this to a paedophile he will try and attack it in an attempt to get to the child.”

But speaking 24 years on, Gary said: “They told me they were with the police and they wanted me to do it, halfway through I thought ‘this is just a scam’. But people found it funny.”

Asked to name the worst person he’s ever worked with he quips: “It’s a shame I’ve never worked with Piers Morgan.”

The dad-of-four became choked as he was asked how he felt when eldest son George was diagnosed with cancer as a baby. “That was really tough – it changes you,” he admitted. “He was only two months old. We got told he had leukaemia, he wasn’t given much chance. It was really awful, we were in the hospital for about seven months with him.

“But we were the lucky ones because there were other parents in there that lost their kids so we felt quite fortunate in the end. It was really scary.”

He said he and ex-wife Michelle had coped in different ways. “I felt I needed to talk about it. Michelle, she would bottle things up. But ultimately we got a good ending.”

Lineker told the group that he tells his kids he loves them, despite only hearing it once from his own father, at the very end of his life. “It was different back then,” he sighed. “He did say ‘I love you’ on his deathbed, which made me cry.”

The Assembly’s executive producer Stu Richards said the stars who took part had behaved differently. “It’s really exciting when the celebrity first walks into the room. Gary Lineker was incredibly nervous, Danny Dyer over-compensated and started telling everyone how great they looked.”

• The Assembly: Gary Lineker, Sunday, 10pm, ITV1/ITVX

EXCLUSIVE: Celebs Go Dating sex expert Dr. Tara Suwinyattichaiporn has opened up about the upcoming series of the E4 reality show which has recently started filming in Ibiza

Celebs Go Dating guru Dr. Tara Suwinyattichaiporn has revealed all on the latest series of the hit E4 reality show, which has kicked off filming under the sun in Ibiza.

Pop icon and Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona is giving love another shot on the show, joining fresh faces including Love Island’s Olivia Hawkins, Too Hot To Handle’s Louis Russell, and S Club’s very own Jon Lee.

Christine McGuinness, formerly of The Real Housewives of Cheshire fame, was set to join the romantic escapades but has stepped back due to feeling “overwhelmed” by the focus on her personal life and pining for her family.

For the first time ever, the celeb-packed cast jetted off to the party island to shoot the opening episode, with Dr. Tara teaming up with fellow love experts Paul C Brunson and Anna Williamson.

Chatting about the new dynamic, Dr.Tara enthused: “It’s been really, really great. I think that we should do it again next year.”, reports OK!.

She added, “There was a sense of relaxation and people were more open to sharing. This group gels really well and there’s good chemistry between all of them. I feel like this series almost everyone is represented.”

Dr. Tara continued: “We have people who are divorced and dating again, we have young people, we have people who have never dated on a TV show so I think it’s a good group with a diverse background in terms of life experiences.”

Reflecting on the benefits of the overseas trip, she concluded, “I’m really glad we got to do the trip abroad early because it really is a test to see if you’re ready or not.”

Mother-of-four Kerry first graced the Celebs Go Dating stage back in 2019, and only now is working with Dr. Tara who joined the dating agency’s crew in 2023.

Dr. Tara was candid about her initial thoughts versus the reality of meeting Kerry, saying, “Anna and Paul worked with Kerry before and I had a little bit of preconceived notions from what I heard and read about her but I was very pleasantly surprised how refreshing.”

She was taken aback by Kerry’s demeanour: “When I met her I figured she’d be chaotic and all over the place but however she’s very peaceful and very self aware and is now really working towards finding love.”

Dr. Tara observed how Kerry has reached a state of personal acceptance which makes her ready to delve back into romance: “She has found acceptance for herself so now she’s ready to date and find love.”

Following Kerry’s break up with former fiancé Ryan Mahoney last year after a six-year-long relationship, she cited a “breach of trust” as the catalyst, revealing, “I never in a million years thought this would happen. Without going into too much detail, there has been a breach of trust between us.”

Embracing her new single status, Kerry’s been indulging in solo trips to Thailand, focusing on a transformative journey of self-love.

Reflecting on her solo travels, Kerry shared at the time, “It’s been a healing journey about spirituality and finding yourself. This is exactly what I needed and it’s shown me that I can do everything I want by myself. I don’t need anyone else.”

Celebs Go Dating is due to return to E4 later this year

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has revealed that only three of his former Manchester United players have spoken to him since his sacking.

The Red Devils icon took charge as manager in 2018, initially on a caretaker contract before he was given the job full-time.

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The Norwegian then remained in charge of the team until November 2021, with a dramatic dip in performances after two years of finishing in the top four.

The 52-year-old spent years away from the dugout before landing a managerial gig in Turkey with Besiktas in January.

However, in a recent BBC interview, he has revealed that only three of his former players have spoken to him since his Man Utd sacking.

Solskjaer started with his appointed captain Harry Maguire, who he called a “leader” and a “fighter”.

The second star he was highlighted was his star signing and current club captain, Bruno Fernandes, before he finally referenced Victor Lindelof.

He said: “For me, Harry [Maguire] has always been a leader and a fighter.

“I was never in doubt when I signed him and he walked in the door he would be captain for us.

“There is another captain there in Bruno [Fernandes]. The two of them are top human beings.

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“I was so happy for them last night [Europa League semi-final first leg].

“Those two and Victor [Lindelof] are probably the only ones I have heard from in the club since I left.

“You want the best for them.”

In the interview, Solskjaer also slammed the decision by the club to sell Scott McTominay to Napoli.

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A GARDENING expert says there’s a better way to beat weeds without relying on harsh tricks or chemical sprays.

In gardens across the UK, weeds are a common headache.

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They sprout in patio cracks, creep through flower beds, and quickly take over any unattended patch of soil.

But before you grab the kettle or a bottle of vinegar, it might be time to take a gentler, smarter approach.

Melissa Quinney, gardening expert at Cabin Master, says the key to weed-free spaces is rethinking how we manage our gardens, and letting nature do more of the work.

“A high-maintenance garden is often a cluttered one,” she explains.

“If you’re always weeding and clearing, consider planting ground cover like creeping thyme or clover.

“These plants suppress weeds by covering the soil, reducing the space and sunlight weeds need to grow.”

Creeping thyme is a top choice for sunny borders and garden paths.

It spreads low and wide, smells lovely when stepped on, and adds beauty as well as function.

It’s also tough and low-maintenance, perfect for busy gardeners.

Clover, meanwhile, not only stops weeds but also boosts your garden’s health.

“It improves soil by fixing nitrogen,” says Melissa.

“That means your other plants will benefit, too, and you don’t need chemical fertilisers.”

Also avoid disturbing the soil too much.

Many gardeners make the mistake of constantly digging or turning over flower beds, thinking it helps.

But it can actually bring buried weed seeds to the surface, giving them a better chance to grow.

Melissa recommends a “no-dig” approach instead.

“If you’ve got piles of fallen leaves, leave them in place,” she advises. “Let them break down into mulch.

“It’s free, it locks in moisture, and it helps stop weed seeds from taking hold.”

She adds: “Nature has a way of tidying itself if we let it.

“The more you work with it, the less time you spend battling weeds — and the more time you get to enjoy your garden.”

Many people see boiling water as a chemical-free fix for weeds.

It’s quick, cheap and easy, just pour it on and watch the leaves shrivel up.

But this method can cause more harm than good.

Boiling water damages plant cells on contact, but it rarely kills the root completely.

That means the weed can return within days, often tougher than before.

Worse still, it’s hard to control. A splash too far and you could scald nearby plants or damage your lawn.

It’s especially risky in flower beds, borders or vegetable patches.

White vinegar is another popular option, but it’s acidic and can alter your soil’s pH, which may affect future plant growth.

Instead of using harsh methods, Melissa says to think long-term.

“With the right ground cover, smart soil care and less digging, you’ll spend far less time pulling weeds and far more time enjoying your space.”

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In a TikTok video with over 500,000 likes, a flight attendant and travel influencer exposes the popular complementary beverages you should avoid on an airplane and why.

Airlines have been stepping up their game when it comes to in-flight menus, though this sometimes comes with an inflated cost.

Still, staples like water, tea, coffee and juice are free and reliable on long-haul flights. But one flight attendant has warned against consuming some of these beverages mid-flight.

Kat Kamalani, who gained prominence on social media by sharing little-known travel hacks and tips, has issued a stark warning to her followers, as previously reported by The Mirror. In a TikTok video that has earned over half a million likes, Kat advises: “Don’t you ever, ever, ever consume these products from an airplane, from a flight attendant! Rule number one never consume any liquid that is not in a can or a bottle.”

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She explains that this is because of the hygiene and cleanliness around the plane’s water tanks. “Those water tanks are never cleaned and they are disgusting. Talk to a flight attendant,” says Kat.

She also says while you may be desperate for a coffee or tea – even if it is subpar – it’s best to steer clear. “We rarely rarely drink the coffee or tea. They come from the same water tank. And so when you’re drinking that coffee and tea come from that hot water and it’s absolutely disgusting.”

Kat also points out that the coffee machines are rarely sanitised unless they malfunction. “These little coffee guys, they are rarely cleaned unless they are broken,” she said. “These guys are taken out and cleaned in between flights, but the whole machine is never cleaned and they’re by the lavatories.”

For parents and guardians, Kat urges them to “never ever” ask for hot water for their baby’s formula but provides a smart alternative. “Pro tip for all you parents: never ask for hot water and put it in your baby’s bottle. Ask for a bottle of water on the side and hot water in a cup.” She continues: “Then make your baby a bottle with the bottled water. Put it in the cup and heat it up.”

The TikTok video received a wide range of mixed reactions, including shock and disgust from frequent flyers. Heading to the comment section, viewers debated Kat’s revelations and advice and joked about the quality of airplane beverages. One user wrote: ” Ah that’s why my hot chocolate was rank.”

The safety of water on a plane depends on the cleanliness of the tank, the quality of the water that was loaded, and the maintenance practices of the airline. There have been concerns and studies about the microbiological quality of tap water served on planes over the years.

If you are really keen on a coffee, some airlines let your bring hot drinks onto a plane with some stipulations. For example, easyJet permits passengers to bring hot drinks into the cabin as long as they have been purchased at the airport and have the lid on.

Additionally, if you are concerned about the safety of the water for your baby’s formula, know the liquid limit on many airlines does not apply to baby products. According to easyJet, the 100mL LAG limit does not apply to baby food, milk or sterilised water, though there is a maximum limit of 2 litres.

But keep in mind, you may be asked to taste these foods for security reasons and you should check with cabin crews about how to warm up milk if necessary.