Shirley Ballas, the 64-year-old Strictly Come Dancing judge, has said "my toyboy days are behind me" as she indicated she does not expect to have another relationship. The former dancer split from partner Danny Taylor in December after six years together, and he is 13 years younger than her. Ballas said the breakup occurred because they were not growing together and she needed some peace. She recalled a relative of […]

Rail revenue and gateline staff employed by a private contractor for Northern Trains are set to strike on 2 September, with additional industrial action planned from 3 September, in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said its members voted overwhelmingly in favour after nine months of negotiations failed to secure an agreement. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said the workers perform vital […]

Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig for €60m (£51.8m), the club confirmed. The 22-year-old versatile attacker can operate on the left wing or as a number 10 and has signed a five-year contract with a two-year option. Leipzig will receive a sell-on clause as part of the deal. Simons travelled to London ahead of the move and is quoted on the club's announcement video: […]

Three Scottish brothers have set a new world record for the fastest human-powered crossing of the Pacific Ocean. Jamie, Ewan and Lachlan Maclean arrived in Cairns, Australia, on Saturday 30 August 2025 at about 01:52 BST, completing the voyage in 139 days, five hours and 52 minutes. The Edinburgh-born trio are the first crew to row from South America to Australia. The roughly 9,000-mile crossing beat the previous record held […]

The Conservative Party has urged the independent adviser on ministerial interests to conduct an ethics review into Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner's tax arrangements. The move follows reports that she saved tens of thousands of pounds in stamp duty on a £800,000 second home in Hove after removing her name from the deed of a family property in Greater Manchester. It was also alleged that she previously indicated the Greater […]

Portsmouth City Council has described damage to the 19th-century Portsmouth Guildhall as upsetting after vandals painted a St George's Cross on the building. The Victorian hall, now used as an events venue, is among several structures in the city marked with the red-and-white symbol, the council said. A council spokesperson said the Guildhall is a civic and cultural landmark of great importance to the city and its residents. Damaging it […]