Daily Mail - 09.08.2026.pdf

拉米计划竞选伦敦市长

据工党消息人士透露，前副首相大卫·拉米（David Lammy）计划在萨迪克·汗（Sir Sadiq Khan）爵士决定不竞选第四任期的情况下，竞选伦敦市长。在安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）进入唐宁街10号后，拉米先生被移出内阁；据了解，他认为扎克·波兰斯基（Zack Polanski）领导的绿党运势下滑，意味着工党在市长之争中“重新获得了机会”。

萨迪克·汗爵士昨天表示，他将在明年决定是否在2028年再次参加选举——如果他再任满一个完整任期，他将担任伦敦市长满16年。“我的能量充足，依然充满想法，”他说道。

在他批评者看来，这些想法包括痴迷于限制汽车使用（包括令人厌恶的20英里时速限速区），以及未能解决持刀犯罪问题。

拉米先生是出生于伦敦的托特纳姆区国会议员，在担任司法大臣期间因囚犯意外被释放而被保守党戏称为“灾难拉米”。2017年，他主持的一项审查发现，尽管黑人群体仅占人口的14%，但黑人囚犯占总数的25%，而被拘留的青少年中黑人占比超过40%。

自从伯纳姆先生成为首相以来，工党扩大了对绿党的领先优势。一名部长表示：“大卫·拉米计划尝试竞选。他的计算是，随着波兰斯基的退步，机会之门已向他敞开。”

丹·霍奇斯（Dan Hodges）——第37页

美国警告普京可能打击北约，英国海军加强对俄巡逻

作者：Padraic Flanagan

由于美国情报首脑警告弗拉基米尔·普京可能会在几周内下令攻击北约国家，英国皇家海军已加强巡逻以监测俄罗斯的军事活动。美国官员担心，俄罗斯希望通过在今年秋天至2029年之间的任何时间，在东欧发起小规模陆地入侵或发动网络攻击，来测试该联盟的决心。

这些警告是在上周一枚俄罗斯导弹落在波兰，以及本周二在德国莱比锡机场（靠近一架携带武器的乌克兰飞机）发现一架爆炸无人机之后发出的。英国武装部队也被要求提高警惕，皇家海军船员在7月进行了为期21天的巡逻，监测沿海和北大西洋海域的俄罗斯活动。

波兰副总理兼外交部长拉多斯瓦夫·西科尔斯基（Radoslaw Sikorski）昨日在接受BBC采访时确认了美国的评估。他表示：“我们认为普京相当绝望，可能会采取某种形式的假旗挑衅。他没有能力发动对北约的入侵，但某些阴险的行为是有可能的。”

美国研究机构“民主防御基金会”（The Foundation for Defence of Democracies）主任、退役海军少将马克·蒙哥马利（Mark Montgomery）表示，军事专家一直在监测俄罗斯在东欧向混合战争转移的动向。他说道：“他们称之为‘新一代战争’，它是爆炸事件、无人机攻击、干扰事件、网络攻击、影响力行动、虚假信息，甚至将移民武器化的结合体。”

“他们很有可能在一定规模上利用这种手段，试图向北约发送强有力的威慑信号，以停止其对乌克兰的支持，或者发起一次更具侵略性的攻击。我认为这种看法是有合理依据的，我也很高兴情报界能公开说明这一点。”

他表示，如果乌克兰的敌对行动停止且欧洲分心，俄罗斯在东欧或波罗的海国家发起陆地入侵的可能性将会增加。但西科尔斯基先生表示，普京削弱北约的企图到目前为止都失败了，他认为：“我认为在过去几年里，他反而加强了北约的决心。我们投入了数千亿资金用于国防，如果没有普京入侵乌克兰，我们不会这样做。我们需要时间重新武装直到本十年末，届时我将有信心他不敢发动攻击。”

国防部（MoD）昨日透露，今年前七个月，皇家海军在英国海域跟踪俄罗斯军舰和潜艇的部署次数比2025年增加了25%。此前，英国皇家海军陆战队突击队于6月在英吉利海峡拦截并登上了受制裁的影子舰队油轮“Smyrto”号。英国被认为是打击影子舰队的领导者，已经制裁了500多艘船只。

国防部发言人表示：“通过瓦解影子舰队，英国及其国际合作伙伴正在直接打击维持俄罗斯在乌克兰侵略的资源，并降低其威胁欧洲及其他地区安全的能量。”

与此同时，乌克兰总统弗拉基米尔·泽连斯基昨日宣布，基辅已与美国达成协议，每月交付“爱国者”防空导弹。此前，俄罗斯的袭击在基辅附近造成三人死亡，其中包括一名儿童。据报道，首都附近的博里斯皮尔区（Boryspil district）三个地点发生了爆炸，消防员被召集去扑灭大火。

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汤姆和赞达亚最新的奥德赛之旅……驾驶他们的“婚礼礼物”E-Type捷豹在里士满公园兜风

归家： 汤姆和赞达亚在伦敦的里士满公园疾驰。在过去的几个月里，无论是红毯预约还是婚礼仪式，他们的日程都相当繁忙。但在萨里郡的一家酒店举办完一场盛大的庆祝结婚派对几天后，汤姆·霍兰德和赞达亚度过了一个较为轻松的下午，驾驶着这位“蜘蛛侠”演员的1970年款捷豹E-type兜风。人们看到他驾驶着这辆赛车绿色的汽车，与新婚妻子一起在伦敦西南部的里士满公园疾驰，那里离他们花费两年时间装修的价值£100 万的住宅很近。霍兰德（30岁）穿着一件蓝色T恤并戴着棒球帽，保持低调，而他的妻子（29岁）则在看手机，穿着一件白色背心。周五的这次出行距离他们在萨里郡距离家中16英里的五星级比弗布鲁克酒店（Beaverbrook Hotel）举办的婚礼庆祝派对仅三天时间。消息人士称，这辆车可能是送给这对夫妇的礼物。作者：凯蒂·欣德（Katie Hind）。据信他们于今年早些时候结婚，这一秘密一直保密，直到赞达亚的造型师劳·罗奇（Law Roach）在3月的洛杉矶演员奖上透露这一消息，宣布：“婚礼已经举行过了。你们错过了。”尽管日程繁忙，他们还是挤出了时间举办大日子。霍兰德和赞达亚的《蜘蛛侠：崭新之日》宣传之旅在6月和7月持续了近七周，访问了马德里、罗马、柏林、墨西哥城和纽约等城市。他们的最后一站是7月29日的伦敦，在派对开始前六天。在拍摄《蜘蛛侠》的工作之余，霍兰德和出生于加利福尼亚的赞达亚共同宣传了《奥德赛》，他们在片中分别饰演特勒马科斯和雅典娜。霍兰德的资产估计达£2000 万，在网上？ 赞达亚在玩手机，这对夫妇在《蜘蛛侠》首映礼上出现。他拥有一系列令人印象深刻的汽车收藏，包括保时捷Taycan Turbo S、奥迪RS7 Sportback和劳斯莱斯库里南。与此同时，赞达亚被拍到驾驶一辆深绿色的路虎揽胜SV。两人于2016年初在《蜘蛛侠：英雄归来》的试镜期间首次相识。作者：罗杰·多布森（Roger Dobson）。感情出现问题？那么试着以樱花飘落的精确速度抚摸你伴侣的手臂。这听起来可能很奇怪，但一项实验得出结论，轻轻抚摸前臂内侧（手腕和肘部之间）的一条线，可以显著改善情绪和幸福感。这种抚摸——使用柔软的画笔进行——速度应恰好为每秒五厘米，即春季樱花飘落到地面的速度。该技术可将情绪改善高达50%，即使你在心情不佳时也有效。事实上，研究发现，它如此成功，以至于可以用在伴侣治疗中。这项由匈牙利卡罗利·加斯帕大学（Karoli Gaspar University）研究人员进行的实验涉及110名接受询问的男女

……而科学家们给他们的奇怪建议以保持快乐是什么？关于关系满意度，互相抚摸对方的手臂。在右前臂内侧画了一条10厘米（4英寸）的线，从手腕开始向肘部延伸，并在他们的胸前放置电极以监测心律。参与者首先被展示旨在触发负面情绪的图像。随后，部分参与者的该线条由其浪漫伴侣使用水彩刷以每秒5厘米的速度抚摸三分钟。另一些人由研究人员抚摸，而第三组则仅仅看着自己的手臂而没有抚摸。如果是由浪漫伴侣进行抚摸，男性和女性的情绪评分提高了40%到50%——即使他们对自己的关系并非完全满意。其评分比由研究人员参与时高出20个百分点。关于其奏效原因的一种理论是，多毛皮肤中被称为C-触觉纤维的神经会对缓慢的皮肤接触做出反应，从而触发社交纽带并减轻压力。在《国际心理生理学杂志》中，研究团队写道：“对于那些对抚摸反应良好的人来说，即使在困难的情绪环境下（例如在伴侣治疗中），这种方法也可能适用。” 照片：KATHY HANKEE --- 4 《星期日邮报》 8月9日 • 2026年 来自安德鲁·杨（Andrew Young）发自马德拉群岛丰沙尔 克里斯蒂亚诺·罗纳尔多（Cristiano Ronaldo）和乔治娜·罗德里格兹（Georgina Rodriguez）的婚礼计划在今天依然是个谜，因为此前传闻他们在马德拉一座大教堂举行的婚礼仪式结果是另一对夫妇的婚礼。这位41岁的葡萄牙足球运动员及其模特未婚妻乔治娜（32岁）此前被广泛预测将在丰沙尔的罗马天主教大教堂结为夫妻，丰沙尔是他出生岛屿的首府。但随着昨天超过2,000人的人群聚集，人们很快发现新郎新娘是一对完全无关的来自马德拉的葡萄牙夫妇，名叫法比奥·拉莫斯（Fabio Ramos）和法蒂玛·尼科尔·库尼亚·特谢拉（Fatima Nicole Cunha Teixeira），他们居住在法国，返回岛上结婚。“我想法比奥很快不会忘记这件事的” 前皇家马德里和曼彻斯特联队球星克里斯蒂亚诺的粉丝们——其中许多人穿着印有他名字的7号足球衫——在关于这位超级巨星将在这座15世纪场馆结婚的传闻四起之际，开始涌向大教堂。真实婚礼派对的一名成员表示：“法比奥不是克里斯蒂亚诺·罗纳尔多。我想他很快不会忘记自己的婚礼的。” 自去年8月这对情侣订婚以来，关于罗纳尔多计划何时何地结婚的传闻一直层出不穷。 自摆乌龙：昨日困惑的粉丝们围堵婚礼车辆 # WHITNEYS

滚动的？数千名粉丝涌向罗纳尔多的婚礼——结果发现是另一对新人 » 接第一页详情——关于王室成员的葬礼安排。伊丽莎白女王在 2022 年的葬礼遵循了一套名为“伦敦桥行动”的蓝图，而菲利普亲王的葬礼则是“福斯桥行动”——得名于苏格兰首都附近的一座桥梁。尽管安德鲁·蒙巴顿-温莎葬礼安排的细节尚不为人知，但王室专家认为，仪式将在温莎城堡的圣乔治礼拜堂举行，伊丽莎白女王和菲利普亲王的葬礼均在该地举行。这座 14 世纪的礼拜堂也是洗礼和王室婚礼的举办地，包括 2018 年萨塞克斯公爵与公爵夫人的婚礼。预计安德鲁·蒙巴顿-温莎将被安葬在弗罗格莫尔的皇家墓地，这是温莎主公园内一个占地 33 英亩的私人墓地。其他安葬于此的人还包括爱德华八世，他在 1936 年因为了迎娶美国社交名媛沃利斯·辛普森而蒙羞退位，辛普森夫人也安葬于此。考虑到 66 岁的安德鲁·蒙巴顿-温莎目前健康状况良好（

蒙羞：安德鲁 2011 年在纽约与杰弗里·爱泼斯坦在一起），由内阁办公室监督并持续审查的该计划预计在一段时间内不会被启用。但昨晚，代表过 27 名爱泼斯坦受害者的美国律师格洛丽亚·奥尔雷德表示：“由于与杰弗里·爱泼斯坦的关联，安德鲁给王室和英国带来了耻辱。”“在这种情况下，人们不禁要问，为什么这个人应该享有王室葬礼的荣誉。这样的仪式会向爱泼斯坦的受害者传递什么样的信号？”“此外，为什么英国纳税人应该承担他在生前或死后的费用负担？”保守党影子内政大臣艾丽西亚·卡恩斯表示：“在任何情况下，安德鲁都不应该享有王室葬礼。”“他应该远离公众生活度过余生，警方和英国皇家检察署（CPS）应确保对其进行的调查足够强有力且不拖延。所有此类计划应立即撤销。”前政府部长、王室财务专家诺曼·贝克表示：“这一定是个疏忽。蒙巴顿-温莎先生是一个平民，绝不应该获得任何形式的王室葬礼。”针对安德鲁的“桥”计划可能在过去一年中经过了修订，以考虑到他不再是执行公务的王室成员。在一次令人难堪的打击中，查尔斯国王于去年 11 月剥夺了他弟弟的“殿下”（HRH）头衔和王子称号。王室专家认为，安德鲁·蒙巴顿-温莎的葬礼将与玛格丽特公主的葬礼相似，后者在 2002 年因中风和心脏并发症去世，享年 71 岁。当时，包括 30 位王室成员在内的 400 人参加了在圣乔治礼拜堂举行的私人仪式。在为期六天的哀悼期间，所有王室住所的旗帜均降半旗。在葬礼之前，公主的灵柩被安置在肯辛顿宫，其家人在此表达哀思。灵柩上覆盖着玛格丽特的旗帜以及一束白百合和玫瑰，随后被移至圣詹姆斯宫的女王礼拜堂。随后，灵柩被运往温莎，警方不得不设立路障，以便 3,000 人观看灵柩进入城堡大门。玛格丽特公主随后在斯劳火葬场被火化，这打破了王室传统，而这一环节不太可能出现在安德鲁·蒙巴顿-温莎的计划中。虽然这不是正式的国家或公共场合，但该葬礼是一次重大的王室活动，并伴随着昂贵的警务和安保行动。这位前公爵在未来几年可能需要思考的一个微妙问题是，谁将在他的仪式上担任抬棺者。

通常由与王室成员相关的团级部队士兵荣幸地为其抬棺。玛格丽特公主曾担任皇家高地燧枪团的荣誉团长，当时由该团的八名中士抬她的棺椁。安德鲁·蒙巴顿-温莎曾在皇家海军服役，包括在马尔维纳斯战争期间担任海王直升机的副驾驶，并曾担任禁卫步兵团、皇家爱尔兰团和皇家苏格兰团的荣誉团长。然而，他在爱泼斯坦丑闻中失去了其军事头衔。曾任皇家海军“无畏号”驱逐舰舰长的退役海军少将克里斯·帕里表示，他认为海军会征集志愿者担任抬棺者。“这家伙并没有放弃海军军官的身份，”他说，“他没有被开除。他拥有马尔维纳斯战争奖章，你不能把它从他身上夺走，他也理应为此获得认可。如果有人问我‘你愿意做这件事吗？’，我会愿意。”代表爱泼斯坦九名受害者的美国律师斯宾塞·库温表示：“纳税人绝不应该资助一个私人个体的葬礼。在死后不应使用任何公共资金使他受益。这对王室来说是一种耻辱。”保守党议员乔·罗伯逊表示：“公共资金不应为安德鲁·蒙巴顿-温莎的葬礼买单。他失去所有王室头衔和由公共资金资助的职务是有原因的。他现在是一名普通公民——一个仍有许多问题需要回答的人——他的葬礼应该像其他人一样由私人支付。”内阁办公室和白金汉宫拒绝置评。安德鲁·蒙巴顿-温莎未回应置评请求。评论 – 第 22 页 MAC IS AWAY MADELEIRA --- 2026年8月9日 《星期日邮报》 5

法拉格对“警方失误”感到“震惊”，随着调查安·威德库姆谋杀案的侦探重新调查其住所遭纵火企图案

作者：Glen Owen 政治编辑

在调查安·威德库姆（Ann Widdecombe）被杀案的警员重新调查去年一起企图纵火焚烧其住所的案件后，奈杰尔·法拉格（Nigel Farage）对一次“非常严重的警务失误”感到“震惊”。

反恐警察表示，他们针对此次袭击“确定了一条在当时‘未被识别且未被追踪’的调查线索”。

法拉格先生将 2025 年 4 月发生的该事件描述为一次“彻头彻尾的纵火企图”，而非警方所描述的“企图入室盗窃”。事发时他不在家，返回后发现了损坏情况。他说：“幸运的是，火在门廊处自行熄灭了。”

德文郡和康沃尔郡警方此前因过早宣布“没有迹象”表明威德库姆女士被杀具有政治动机而面临批评——结果在几天后新证据出现，反恐警员接管了此案。

法庭获悉，改革英国党（Reform UK）发言人、前保守党部长、78 岁的威德库姆女士于 7 月 8 日在达特穆尔海托尔（Haytor on Dartmoor）的家中被锤子击中头部 21 次后死亡。28 岁的约书亚·克里（Joshua Kerry）被指控谋杀她，目前被还押候审。

反恐警察局（CTP）表示，已就此事向警察监察机构独立警察行为监察局（IOPC）提交了自我举报。

一名接近法拉格先生的消息人士表示：“发生了一次非常严重的警务失误，这就是为什么反恐部门向 IOPC 提交了自我举报。虽然奈杰尔不会发表声明，但他对这次经历感到震惊。”

与此同时，法拉格先生及其副手理查德·泰斯（Richard Tice）表示，他们将起诉国家犯罪局（NCA），称其非法泄露了他们的财务信息。

在关于改革英国党财务状况的一系列破坏性媒体报道后，他们于上周向高等法院提交了文件，寻求超过 £2.5万,000 的赔偿金。

这些报道包括披露加密货币亿万富翁克里斯托弗·哈博恩（Christopher Harborne）向法拉格先生提供了一笔未申报的 £500 万 捐款——法拉格先生称这笔钱用于支付安保费用；法拉格的助手乔治·科特雷尔（George Cottrell）向泰斯先生提供了一笔 £8万,000 的贷款；以及科特雷尔的母亲向泰斯先生经营的一家智库捐赠了 £100 万。

这些文章促使这位改革英国党领导人辞去克拉克顿（Clacton）国会议员职务，导致本周四举行补选。

法拉格先生和泰斯先生声称，只有 NCA 才可能掌握所有泄露的信息。

《星期日邮报》在 7 月披露，在威德库姆女士去世后，改革英国党的国会议员们得到了安保保护。

法拉格先生表示：“我担心对于任何从事公共生活，尤其是政治领域的人来说，情况已经变得更加危险。”

反恐警察局高级国家协调员维基·埃文斯（Vicki Evans）表示：“作为由东南部反恐警察局主导的安·威德库姆谋杀案持续调查的一部分，警员已重新调查去年向警方报告的一起事件。”

“鉴于此事的性质以及人们对安·威德库姆死亡调查的关注，为我们提供此次更新至关重要。”

一名 IOPC 发言人表示：“我们可以确认，在收到今日早些时候的举报后，IOPC 已决定调查一名伦敦反恐警察局工作人员的行为。”

“该行为涉及一项指控，即该个体未能识别并追踪 2025 年 4 月报告的一起企图入室盗窃案的相关调查线索。”

首相左翼盟友 Miatta 将所有孩子送入私立学校

新任能源大臣、工党左翼人士 Miatta Fahnbulleh 在《星期日邮报》发现她的三个孩子全部就读于私立学校后，于昨晚被指责为“典型的香槟社会主义”。此前，Fahnbulleh 女士一直支持工党对私立学校学费征收增值税（VAT）的决定——该政策被指导致数千名其他家长无法负担私立教育。

佩卡姆（Peckham）议员 Fahnbulleh 女士现年 46 岁，是工党左翼的明日之星，在安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）的首届内阁中被任命为能源大臣。在面对《星期日邮报》的调查结果时，她昨晚承认将孩子送往私立学校。然而，她拒绝透露在子女教育上的具体支出金额。

消息人士估计，Fahnbulleh 女士的丈夫是一位成功的城市交易员和对冲基金创始人，为了这项特权，她每年必须花费至少 £5万,000。在夫妇俩位于伦敦东南部价值 £130 万 的住宅附近，分布着全国一些顶尖的私立学校，包括年费 £2.7万,000 的 Colfe's 学校（该校拥有游泳池、两个健身房和一个剧院），以及年费 £3万,000 的 St Dunstan's 学校（学生可享用 23 英亩的操场）。

批评人士昨晚指出，在 2024 年，尽管有警告称这将迫使一些小型学校关闭，Fahnbulleh 女士仍对新任工党政府取消私立学校学费增值税豁免的决定表示赞赏。

现在情况表明，自该政策实施以来，已有 3万,000 名儿童被迫离开独立学校——这一数字是政府预估值的两倍。

保守党主席凯文·霍林雷克（Kevin Hollinrake）昨晚指责 Fahnbulleh 女士是“典型的香槟社会主义”。他表示：“那些现在无法负担将孩子送入私立学校的家长，面对这种虚伪行为无疑会感到愤慨。”

Fahnbulleh 女士曾在肯特郡坦布里奇韦尔斯（Tunbridge Wells）的 Beechwood Sacred Heart 学校就读，该校寄宿生每年支付 £4.5万,000。但正如《星期日邮报》上月披露的，她是那一批在“名人录”（Who's Who）条目中未提及自己曾就读独立学校的工党议员之一。

私立学校学费增值税政策的批评者表示，此次加税仅仅是迫使独立学校提高学费，从而将中产阶级排除在外，使其成为极富人群的专属领地。

评论见第 22 页

作者：Gabriel Millard-Clothier，政治记者

伯纳姆的工党是否在淡化使用英国国旗？

安迪·伯纳姆（ANDY Burnham）被指责准备降低工党品牌中英国国旗的使用频率，以讨好党内的左翼势力。

工党内部人士表示，放弃 Sir Keir Starmer 倡导国家国旗政策的首个迹象将出现在党年度会议上。

昨晚，一名消息人士告诉《星期日邮报》：“伯纳姆显然在迎合左翼，以此感谢他们帮助除掉了 Starmer。”

内部人士透露，Sir Keir 任期内的挥旗之风导致一些左翼议员声称他们的选民对此没有认同感。另一些人表示，国旗现在的展示位置将不再那么突出——在涉及党务时，将更多地使用工党的红玫瑰标志。

然而，工党资深议员、前部长格雷厄姆·斯特林格（Graham Stringer）对这种形象改变提出了警告，称：“让我们看起来不那么爱国将是一个错误。”

一名工党发言人表示，尚未就 9 月会议的品牌形象做出决定。

欲罢不能！劳拉·林尼与“三人行”

作者：凯蒂·欣德 (Katie Hind) 娱乐版顾问编辑

到目前为止，他在银幕上最露骨的时刻是在BBC改编的《傲慢与偏见》中，他的衬衫在彭伯利池塘中被淋透，令伊丽莎白·班内特心跳加速。柯林·费斯对英俊的达西先生的塑造使他成为了万人迷。但如今，65岁的费斯正在拍摄他迄今为止最火辣的角色——饰演英国作者亚历克斯·康福特（Dr Alex Comfort），即1972年性爱指南《性之悦》（The Joy Of Sex）的作者。这位已故的医生不仅是该书背后的主脑，他可能还是已知的第一对“三人行”（throuple）成员之一，享受着开放式婚姻。在与妻子露丝结婚的同时，康福特医生还与来自剑桥大学的好友简·亨德森保持着亲密关系。现在，这个令人震惊的故事正被拍成电影，片名为《康福特与欢乐》（Comfort And Joy），由《布里奇托斯》的导演莎伦·马奎尔执导。

这部电影于上周开始拍摄，费斯将与他在《真爱至上》中的搭档、62岁的劳拉·林尼（饰演露丝）共同出演。康福特夫妇于1943年结婚，三年后露丝生下了他们的儿子尼古拉斯。好莱坞影星65岁的朱丽安·摩尔饰演简，一名图书馆管理员，她成为了康福特的情人，并协助他记录他们性冒险的编排。

这部电影的讨论始于九年前。康福特的儿子尼古拉斯曾任政府特别顾问和记者，他拥有该片的版权，对此表示支持并担任顾问。在目前的拍摄过程中，他大部分时间都在片场，并告诉《星期日邮报》：“我享受其中的每一分钟。”

费斯及其搭档们似乎也是如此。我们的独家照片显示，演员们正在录制三人于1962年前往印度的场景，当时康福特在出版中世纪印度色情文本《Rati-rahasya》的英文版（英文书名为《The Koka Shastra》）之前去了那里。费斯、林尼和摩尔并非在印度，而是在一座印度教寺庙外拍摄这些场景。

竞争对手： 左侧的朱丽安·摩尔与劳拉·林尼上周拍摄现场。

林尼在照片中与摩尔在一起，看起来有些沮丧。这或许并不奇怪：虽然亚历克斯·康福特享受着拥有两名情人的生活，但她们在激发《性之悦》灵感的三角恋中并不快乐。

这本性爱指南的结构像一本食谱，分为“前菜”、“主菜”和“剩菜”等章节。它将开放的、积极对待性的写作基调与男女进行性活动的详细线描图和彩色绘画相结合。

--- 图片独家 7

这本书领先于时代多年，涵盖了口交和异域性爱姿势，以及诸如性束缚和交换伴侣等更古怪的实践。

多年来，当康福特在北伦敦的家中与情妇简为该书进行实践研究时，他在两名女性之间分配时间。他会在周一、周三和周五与简在一起，其余四天与露丝在一起。当时年约50岁的他和简拍摄了他们卧室探险的拍立得照片。康福特曾希望这些照片能用于他的书，但出版商对这些快照并不感兴趣。而且

“与情妇进行实践研究”的照片在当时因涉及露骨行为而跨过了界限，被视为淫秽和色情。因此，出版商改为委托艺术家来绘制这些性爱趣事，并聘请了一位艺术总监彼得·金德斯利（Peter Kindersley）。其目标是制作彩色和黑白两种绘图，且图像需基于照片并保持得体。但他们很难找到愿意担任模特的人，于是聘请了苏豪区（Soho）的色情模特。然而，这些模特在工作进行到一半时，厚颜无耻地将价格提高了约 £100。而且他们撅嘴撅得太过了。就在这个项目即将被放弃时，其中一位插画师查尔斯·雷蒙德（Charles Raymond）——当时四十出头——表示他和他德国妻子埃德尔特劳德（Edeltraud）愿意担任模特。这对雷蒙德来说是一个相当大的转变。他此前以植物绘画而闻名，并为《读者文摘》协会以及《女性镜报》（Woman's Mirror）和《家居与花园》（Homes and Gardens）等杂志绘制插图。他还为爱丁堡织造公司（Edinburgh Weavers）和桑德森（Sanderson）设计壁纸和面料。雷蒙德和他的妻子必须演练康福特（Comfort）给他们的数十个姿势。负责黑白插图的监督员克里斯·福斯（Chris Foss）在一次紧张的为期两天的拍摄中拍下了这些照片。在 1972 年出版后，《性爱之乐》（The Joy Of Sex）获得了全球性的成功，在全球售出 1200 万 册，其中在美国售出 500 万册。它在《纽约时报》畅销书排行榜上停留了 300 多个星期。在从事多年医学工作后，曾在 1930 年代后期就读于剑桥大学三一学院的康福特变成了一位非常富有的作家。他决定在 1973 年与露丝离婚，就在该书出版一年之后，随后与简结婚。他与唯一的孩子尼古拉斯（Nicholas）多年来关系疏远，直到 1991 年他中风导致无法说话，两人的关系才重新修复。他的病发与同年简的去世在时间上重合。康福特在 2000 年因脑出血去世，享年 80 岁。露丝也在那一年去世。LOU PERSHEN / EDELPHIA, PA. A. M. COCORD, P. B. DAVIS, 2001 --- 8 没有授权的弥赛亚 # 揭秘：管理 10 号北区的官员住在时尚的伊斯灵顿（Islington），乘火车通勤前往曼彻斯特，并入住一家拥有 23 层酒吧和泳池的豪华酒店（猜猜是谁在买单……）

独家报道 作者：Abul Taher、Arthur Parashar 和 Cameron Charters

他是被委任执行安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）承诺的公务员，旨在通过在曼彻斯特设立一个前哨机构，结束数世纪以来以伦敦为中心的政府模式。因此，当萨姆·利斯特（Sam Lister）上周一悠闲地走出他位于时尚的伊斯灵顿（Islington）价值 £220 万 的联排别墅，并像往常一样在怀特霍尔（Whitehall）开始他的工作周时，人们不禁感到惊讶。

因为《星期日邮报》可以揭露，新任命的“10号北区”（No 10 North）总干事目前并没有计划将他家人在首都舒适的生活，更换为在 200 英里外的曼彻斯特开启一个象征性的新起点。相反，他在周一于内阁办公室工作，然后在周二早晨乘坐早班火车前往曼彻斯特。抵达后，他在“10号北区”的临时总部和一家市中心豪华酒店之间分配时间，直到周五晚上返回伦敦家中。

包括餐饮在内，他由纳税人资助的往返曼彻斯特行程每周估计花费 £800 —— 这笔钱按年计算，足以支付一名新入职初级医生的工资。

唐宁街消息人士坚称，利斯特先生对他新担任的职务非常热衷，尽管尚未决定其家人的居住安排。一名消息人士表示：“萨姆上任才三周，所以还有更广泛的事情需要考虑，这需要时间。”

这位 52 岁的男子此前曾是一名记者，并在卫生、商业和文化部门担任过职务。上周二，他乘坐了 6.29am 从尤斯顿（Euston）出发的 Avanti 列车，持有票价超过 £220 的标准舱往返票。与他同车的是住房、社区和地方政府部的权力下放与地方增长总监威尔·戴维斯（Will Davis），两人在整个旅途中被看到在聊天并使用笔记本电脑工作。火车上还有 34, 岁的哈丽特·戈登（Harriet Gordon），她是财政部一名毕业于剑桥大学的副总监。

海伦大厦（Heron House）距离曼彻斯特皮卡迪利（Manchester Piccadilly）步行 15 分钟，此前最著名的身份是政府通信总部（GCHQ）的北方枢纽。现在，这里除了设有 Slug & Lettuce 酒吧和曼彻斯特登记处外，还设有“10号北区”以及韦恩·鲁尼（Wayne Rooney）青睐的 Wing's 中餐厅。

利斯特先生和戴维斯先生入住的是曼彻斯特迪恩斯盖特酒店（Manchester Deansgate Hotel），这是一栋 24 层高的建筑，拥有室内泳池、水疗中心和桑拿房，以及位于 23, 层的 Cloud 23 酒吧，可将城市全景尽收眼底。

周五，利斯特先生穿着一件浅蓝色衬衫和栗色长裤，在 5.pm 准时离开海伦大厦，乘坐有轨电车前往皮卡迪利，搭乘 5.34pm 前往尤斯顿的火车，并为自己选择了一个标准高级座（Standard Premium）——不过唐宁街消息人士强调，升级费用是由他个人支付的。

大多数在周初前往北方的官员在周四晚上启程回家，6pm 刚过，就有十多个人被看到拖着行李箱走向皮卡迪利，以赶乘 7.14pm 前往尤斯顿的火车。

No 10 表示，目前正在为该办公室招聘永久职位，雇员人数最高可达 300. 人。

伯纳姆先生在成为首相后的几天内，将创建“10号北区”宣布为其旗舰政策，承诺这将把权力从威斯敏斯特（Westminster）转移出去。

北上： 萨姆·利斯特在火车上（最左侧），以及抵达曼彻斯特工作。他的酒店（左侧）拥有全景酒吧和游泳池。

批评者将其斥为“噱头”，认为这不过是给官员们在周五居家办公找的借口。前保守党党魁伊恩·邓肯·史密斯爵士（Sir Iain Duncan Smith）表示：“最糟糕的部分在于其成本以及完全毫无意义。”

保守党议员格雷格·斯塔福德（Greg Stafford）表示：“如果有什么能证明‘10号北区’这个想法是一场闹剧，那就是这件事——纳税人不得不出钱让大量公务员在火车上往返，仅仅是为了满足安迪·伯纳姆的虚荣心。这太荒谬了。”

预计利斯特先生本周将再次进行同样的往返行程。

--- 9

安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）曾因其对酒吧和足球这种“大老爷们”式的痴迷而受到指责，但现实情况是，他的政府中聚集了一群权力巨大的女性，她们在竞争获得他的信任并影响其政策。据一位长期支持伯纳姆的盟友称，这种局面造成了“有点像《贱女孩》（Mean Girls）的氛围”——这是在引用 2004 年那部关于校园女生残酷小圈子的著名好莱坞电影。在政府中扮演“雷吉娜·乔治”（电影中北岸高中的女王蜂）的是路易丝·海格（Louise Haigh），她作为第一国务大臣，实际上在名义之外就是副首相（DPM）。紧随其后的是前副首相安杰拉·雷纳（Angela Rayner）和工党副党魁露西·鲍威尔（Lucy Powell），两人都被迫在伯纳姆先生的内阁中接受了比预期更低级别的职位：雷纳女士回到了她之前的住房大臣岗位，而鲍威尔女士则被任命为教育大臣。内政大臣沙巴娜·马哈茂德（Shabana Mahmood）和卫生大臣伊薇特·库珀（Yvette Cooper）则完善了由女性占据的高级职位名单。一名消息人士表示：“毫无疑问，路易丝在这个过程中发挥了巨大作用。”

让情况变得更复杂的是安东尼娅·罗密欧（Antonia Romeo）这位令人敬畏的人物，她是史上首位女性内阁秘书（CS）。在公务员系统的术语中，同事们将她描述为“意志坚定”——她曾因霸凌指控接受调查并被证明清白——据了解，她与海格女士之间已经存在紧张关系。一名来自怀特霍尔（Whitehall）的消息人士表示：“海格希望成为唯一能影响安迪的人，现在当安东尼娅试图绕过她时，她正采取行动予以阻拦。她基本上想除掉任何挡在她和安迪之间的人。”另一名消息人士说：“我们这位首位女性内阁秘书，似乎并不怎么喜欢她周围的女性。”

海格女士的崛起——伴随着一次“形象大升级”的改造，她放弃了标志性的红发——可以追溯到基尔·斯塔默爵士（Sir Keir Starmer）就任首相仅四个月时，当时她因被揭露在 2014 年承认欺诈罪而被迫辞职。她对此感到愤怒，因为她在被任命时已向唐宁街 10 号告知了关于手机被盗的虚假报告，但仍被踢出局。对于海格女士来说，复仇是一道在接下来的 18 个月里慢慢享用的佳肴。去年 11 月，《星期日邮报》报道称，有人在科文特花园的一家意大利餐厅听到她讨论如何除掉基尔爵士。海格女士否认在策划阴谋，但多个消息来源称，她正利用左翼工党议员的“论坛”（Tribune）团体来对首相进行密谋。随后，在 12 月 14 日，本报在头版独家披露，伯纳姆先生已达成协议，将参加戈顿和登顿（Gorton and Denton）的补选以重返下议院。虽然他被唐宁街 10 号阻拦，但第一击已经发出，伯纳姆先生与海格女士的命运开始交织在一起。

鲍威尔女士是伯纳姆先生的长期好友，在她在国家执行委员会（NEC）阻止伯纳姆参加戈顿和登顿竞选的投票中投下反对票后，曾被广泛预测将成为副首相。但在 5 月 7 日地方选举中工党遭遇惨败后，紧张局势升级——伯纳姆阵营对鲍威尔女士警告不要挑战领导权的言论感到愤怒。“我们不搞恶意收购在

知情人士透露首相核心团队争相博取关注，氛围如同《贱女孩》

刻薄的小圈子： 安吉拉·雷纳、露西·鲍威尔、安东尼娅·罗密欧和路易丝·海格被戏称为电影《贱女孩》中的角色。

部长级秘书的可见度和预期处于一个不同的层面。“之前的形象对于一名部门秘书来说具有辨识度且令人难忘——而现在的形象则展现出冷静的胜任能力和庄重感。这感觉像是一种有意识的重新调整，旨在让人们在这一角色中将其视为更严肃的人物。”

本周末有报道称，伯纳姆先生被第10号唐宁街的社交媒体专家告知，要减少帖子中的“大老爷们”气息，削减那些粗鲁的关于足球和酒吧的引用。

“她想除掉任何挡在她和安迪之间的人”

但据《旁观者》（The Spectator）杂志引用的一名工党消息人士称，伯纳姆先生反而应该被描述为“工党的第一位女首相”——因为他拥有如此数量的女性顾问、支持者和高级部长，她们热衷于推动被认为对女性尤为重要的政策议题，如社会护理和家庭财务。

在这些“顾问和支持者”中，最具影响力的人当然是他的配偶玛丽-弗朗斯·“弗兰基”·范·希尔（Marie-France 'Frankie' van Heel）——由于她在听到他宣布要竞选领导人时的反应，被描述为一名“直率的妻子”：“什么？又来？”

一名伯纳姆的盟友向国务大臣（MoS）描述了他们的婚姻。“绝对是她说了算，”他们说，“尽管工作压力巨大，他上周能去度假就是因为她。”“她态度坚决，说家庭时间是神圣不可侵犯的。他必须得去，这一点从未有过疑问。”

昨晚，一名第10号唐宁街的消息人士强烈否认海格女士与内阁秘书之间存在任何紧张关系，称：“这根本不是事实。”

威斯敏斯特内幕

作者：格伦·欧文（GLEN OWEN） 政治编辑

工党，这不是我们的风格，”她说。

“毫无帮助”，这是伯纳姆先生核心圈的一名成员给出的评价。“她似乎在为自己参选保留选择空间。”

许多工党内部人士曾假设，伯纳姆先生会将副首相（DPM）的职位与工党副领导人的职务重新统一，这两个职位此前均由雷纳女士担任。然而，颇受欢迎的鲍威尔女士最终被安置在教育岗位上，她是继蕾切尔·里夫斯和前外交大臣大卫·米利班德之后的第三选择。

一名工党消息人士声称：“露西不想待在那儿。她原以为自己会成为副首相。”她的盟友对此表示异议，称她更倾向于拥有自己的部门，而不是做一个名义上的二把手。

在数月关于她与伯纳姆先生在政变前达成协议的猜测之后，雷纳女士的光芒也有所减弱。就在不久前的三月份，他还在公开场合称她为“北方女王”——直接呼应他自己“北方之王”的绰号，从而鼓励这种传闻。

但伯纳姆先生的盟友抱怨说，左翼宠儿雷纳女士在讨论如何夺权的会议期间“难以捉摸”，并且在四月份两人的一次秘密会议被摄影师提前获知后，他们对她“失去了信任”。结果是她回到了住房部门，而非进入国家最高权力机关（Great Offices of State）之一。

一名消息人士表示：“路易丝从一开始就明确自己的野心，这招走得极妙。尤其是露西和安吉拉，似乎在两头下注，玩双面游戏。这导致她们的阵营中出现了一种《贱女孩》式的偏执，担心路易丝可能在安迪耳边低语了什么。”

海格女士的“形象升级”与这次完美的权力博弈同步进行。色彩分析专家弗朗西斯卡·凯恩斯（Francesca Cairns）将她的新发型描述为“一种更温暖、饱和度较低的红褐色”，而太阳镜则“增加了一层刻意的权威感”。

凯恩斯女士说：“衣橱也遵循同样的逻辑，减少了冲突的色调，增加了更衬肤色的中性色和柔软的结构，这读起来是精致而非表演性的。”

“我还认为这种改变追踪了责任的提升。首先 --- 10

性掠夺者的七年恐怖——因警方未将调查关联

如果警方能将三个时间间隔仅几个月的独立性侵案件调查关联起来，西蒙·利维（Simon Levy）的恐怖统治本可以在七年前被终止。然而，这个堕落的性掠夺者却被允许留在街头，实施了一系列暴力袭击，其行为从摸胸升级到强奸、窒息，最终演变为双重谋杀。

侦探们认为，利维的目标中有数十名女性——其中许多人是在拥挤的早晚高峰地铁车厢中遇袭——至今尚未被确认身份，他们正呼吁受害者站出来举报。

利维在2018年7月和8月因两起发生在北伦敦的袭击而被首次举报至伦敦警察厅，但直到两年后才被起诉。现在可以披露的是，英国运输警察局在2018年也收到了一起关于利维在南伦敦巴特西（Battersea）实施性侵的指控，但从未对他提起诉讼。

活动人士和警务专家认为，在几个月内出现三起此类“红旗”犯罪模式，本应足以让他离开街头。令人难以置信的是，刑事司法系统随后又错过了至少14次将其关押的机会。

昨天，针对女性和女孩暴力行为的权威专家、前警务监察官佐伊·比林厄姆（Zoe Billingham）在BBC的《今日》（Today）节目中表示，警方和英国皇家检察署（CPS）的失职## “风险正被警方降低” 尤其令人震惊，因为这些是“我们之前就见过的失职”。

她补充道：“升级行为、红旗行为——即所谓的低级别犯罪——其危险性并未被认可。弱势女性未必能被关注到，风险正被警方降低。”

“这个案件最离谱的地方在于，能将他绳之以法、将其关进监狱使其不再对女性和女孩构成威胁的机会，并非只有一两次，而是一连串惊人的失误。”

活动人士丽莎·斯奎尔（Lisa Squire）在节目中表示，利维早期的袭击模式本应被警方识别。她的21岁女儿利比（Libby）在七年前于赫尔（Hull）被帕维尔·雷洛维奇（Pawel Relowicz）强奸并杀害。她补充道：“他在公共交通工具上实施的犯罪——这些是前兆犯罪，我们需要更加严肃地对待这些行为。”

利维与母亲住在托特纳姆（Tottenham），他在2018年7月于西北伦敦卡姆登（Camden）的一场派对上性骚扰一名女性后，首次进入伦敦警察厅的视线。次月，这名40岁的男子在地铁上纠缠一名女性，并跟踪她前往诺丁山狂欢节（Notting Hill Carnival），在那里实施了侵入性性侵。

但直到2021年9月，他才最终被判定这两项罪名成立——他在布里克斯顿监狱服刑三年期的一半，期间他还袭击了一名女警员。

在假释期间，他在加拿大水（Canada Water）袭击了一名女性。但到2024年8月，他再次获得自由，并在另外两名女性向警方举报后被逮捕。

2025年1月，他强奸并窒息了一名性工作者，将其弃之不顾。两个月后，他通过窒息杀害了53岁的卡门扎·瓦伦西亚-特鲁希略（Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo）。

8月28日，在仍处于保释期间时，他杀害了39岁的谢丽尔·威尔金斯（Sheryl Wilkins）。他被人脸识别摄像头捕捉并被逮捕。

上周，中央刑事法院（Old Bailey）的陪审团判定他两起谋杀罪名成立，以及两起强奸罪、故意窒息罪、严重身体伤害罪和13起性侵罪。他将于周三被宣判。

前男友批评诺克斯演出

阿曼达·诺克斯（AMANDA Knox）的前男友谴责了她决定在爱丁堡艺穗节表演单人喜剧秀的决定。拉法埃莱·索莱奇托（Raffaele Sollecito）曾与当时的女友在2007年的意大利佩鲁贾被错误地指控谋杀21岁的梅雷迪斯·克切尔（Meredith Kercher），在2007年，他是诺克斯女士这场于周五开演且已售罄的演出的最新批评者。

42岁的计算机工程师索莱奇托先生表示：“基于该演出的呈现和推广方式，我认为将一场悲剧用作喜剧秀的噱头令人费解。”

梅雷迪斯的友人萨莉·艾灵顿（Sally Alington）发起了一项请愿，要求停止这场名为《侧手翻》（Cartwheel）的演出（该演出计划在By Nick Pisa Gilded Balloon场馆连续上演11晚），目前已征集到超过2万,000个签名。梅雷迪斯的家人也称此举“令人心碎”。

39岁的诺克斯女士（如图）还写过关于这场悲剧的书并制作了电视节目。她在2009年被判定谋杀罪名成立，随后在2011年被宣判无罪，并在2015年再次被意大利最高法院宣判无罪。出生于科特迪瓦的鲁迪·格德（Rudy Guede）因指纹在现场被发现，在谋杀案中被判处16年监禁，其中已服刑13年。

伦敦警察厅 / PA --- 11

从酗酒的丈夫和具有掠夺性的女性，到深度伪造色情片和手脚不干净的保姆……

足球运动员妻子向科学家坦白一切，首项关于她们真实生活方式的“Wagademic”研究

独家报道

作者：马克·豪沃斯（Mark Howarth）

她们的设计师衣橱价值数百万，而她们对派对的渴望——以及偶尔点缀的戏剧冲突——已成为传奇。现在，一小群WAGs（国家顶尖足球运动员的妻子和女友）公开了她们奢华生活的秘密，作为一项前所未有研究的一部分。该研究旨在调查丈夫的职业对家庭生活的影响，以及这些女性在丈夫体育成就中所扮演的关键角色。

自从ITV的《足球运动员之妻》（Footballers' Wives）在21世纪初将足球明星及其身着亮片礼服的伴侣之间嫉妒、竞争和性丑闻暴露在刺眼的灯光下以来，全国民众一直对这些球场英雄的场外生活——尤其是他们令人羡慕的、精致且光鲜的伴侣——深感兴趣。

而这一切确实如你预期的那样色彩斑斓且充满丑闻；从2006年德国巴登-巴登世界杯期间的荒唐行为，到科琳·鲁尼（Coleen Rooney）与丽贝卡·瓦迪（Rebekah Vardy）之间高调的“Wagatha Christie”法庭之争。但这些女性在与体育心理学家的详细交谈中表示……

“我们出去时，女孩们会对他围追堵截”

利兹贝克特大学（Leeds Beckett University）在匿名条件下，现已描述了这些女性为丈夫的职业生涯所做出的牺牲，以及作为一名 WAG（球员妻子及女友）在努力抵御其他女性、忍受社交媒体上的恶毒攻击，甚至发现自己成为深度伪造（deepfake）色情片受害者时，所需要的心理韧性。而且，这项研究的核心揭示了 WAG 们认为，无论是足球俱乐部本身还是球迷，都没有给予她们足够的认可——因为她们在确保明星球员循规蹈矩方面发挥了幕后作用。事实上，研究表明，由于她们从事的工作如此艰巨，俱乐部甚至应该为她们支付心理咨询费用。

学术团队为他们的研究采访了七位“令人惊叹的女性”，她们的年龄在 23 到 34 岁之间，其伴侣或丈夫均为职业足球运动员。在其中五个案例中，她们共同育有子女，且所有人的关系持续时间在 4 到 16 年之间。其中三名球员是现任或前英超联赛（Premier League）球星，五人在英格兰踢球，一人在澳大利亚，另一人在美国。

足球运动员长期以来一直有（有时是合理的）好色之名，但这些 WAG 描述了她们因社交生活和感情关系被其他女性干扰而感到的沮丧。一位回忆道：“[我们]会出去，我们会玩得很开心，但然后女孩们会在我面前对他围追堵截。当他转会到[英超联赛]后，情况变得更糟了。‘我就站在那儿，心想，妻子就在这里’。我知道有些女孩与[足球]球员发生关系，然后拿走他们的手表或要求赔偿，这样她们就不会告诉球员的妻子。”

另一位透露：“有人给我发了一张照片，是一个人的后脑勺在亲吻一个女孩，他们说，‘你看到他在做什么了吗？’我把照片给[他]看了。那不是他，但我明白了人们为了挑起事端可以不择手段。”

第三位描述了发现陌生人在未经她同意的情况下，用她的名字开设了一个成人网站的被侵犯感，该网站使用了伪造的图像和视频。“这让我感到非常不舒服，我不想去参加比赛，因为人们会认为他们看过我做各种不可名状之事的视频。这对[他]来说也不太愉快。我对此感到非常难过。”

她们还抱怨在公众视野中必须保持良好形象的压力。有些人收到了死亡威胁，而另一些人则因外貌而面临网络攻击。一位说道：“你会迷失自我，你看到所有其他妻子和女友都在做医美，然后你会想，‘噢，我是不是也得……”

“作为球员伴侣的额外压力”

“……需要吗？”但我想随着年龄增长，我开始觉得，我是在试图给谁留下好印象？做一个女人已经很不容易了，但作为一名球员的伴侣，确实存在额外的压力，100% 是这样。”

由于他们的名气，缺乏隐私——尤其是在更高等级的联赛中——也产生了“可怕”的影响。一人描述了自己在超市被拍照的经历。另一人在刚生产后不久在海滩上被拍。她回忆道：“我看起来像头鲸鱼，脸色苍白得像个鬼，然后第二天，我的照片就会出现在网上……接着你就会读到那些[恶毒的]评论。”

在有人出卖故事后，大多数人都面临严重的信任问题，而一人描述了一名临时保姆如何“抢劫了我们”并“拿走了一切”。“我的订婚戒指、我的手袋、我所有的鞋子，”这位 WAG（球员妻子及女友）说道，“我现在绝不会让任何人在我家里工作。”

大多数人同意其他 WAG “成了你的家人”，尤其是在搬到新地方之后，但也有人描述了伴侣之间的分歧，在其中一个案例中，她在一次英超联赛（Premier League）晚宴上被“一群西班牙女孩”排挤。“根据我听到的关于外国伴侣[和]妻子的故事，她们似乎相当……怎么说，不包容；只有她们自己，其他人都无关紧要。”

在 WAG 生活中一个鲜为人知的一面是，她们描述了在球员伴侣处于最糟糕状态（如受伤或其他压力时期）时，必须支持对方而感到的孤独。所有人都描述了自己的需求为了维持伴侣的情绪而“退居其次”。一人讲述了当她丈夫受伤时，他酗酒且赌博；另一人说她的伴侣每天喝“一瓶红葡萄酒”。

然而她们表示，俱乐部并没有充分意识到这些变化会如何影响家庭生活。一人声称，作为 WAG 的“污名”意味着她们不被认为很重要，另一人补充说，一些俱乐部将伴侣视为不产生收益的“额外工作量”。

但研究发现，这并非完全属实。研究发现，伴侣在球员的心理健康和表现中发挥了“关键但未被认可的作用”。这项发表在《体育、运动与健康定性研究》（Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise & Health）杂志上的研究发现，成为一名 WAG 可能是一种“侵入性的力量，可能会威胁或损害她们的身份认同和自尊”。

--- 12

作者：Jacinta Taylor

萨里郡的一家享有盛誉的网球俱乐部在因屠杀一群常驻鹅而引发强烈抵制后，删除了其所有社交媒体账号。

位于韦布里奇的圣乔治山草地网球俱乐部（St George's Hill Lawn Tennis Club）的成员以及广大公众，在管理层请来枪手阻止这些鸟类弄脏球场后，纷纷表达愤怒。

这家年费 £2,664 的俱乐部邻居表示，7月16日凌晨的枪声将他们惊醒，随后他们发现包括雏鹅在内的八只鸟被杀。当地人随后声称，他们还发现了一只成年鹅和一只雏鹅处于惊恐状态，显然是从这次屠杀中幸存了下来。

该俱乐部此前曾在其社交媒体频道上发布这些鸟类的可爱照片。去年4月，它分享了一张两只成年加拿大鹅和两只雏鹅的照片，配文道：“我们的湖畔露台上有雏鹅宝宝！”2024年，它分享了一篇关于一群鸟在雨中的帖子，配文道：“至少加拿大鹅一家今天很享受球场。”

但昨晚，在公众在网上发泄愤怒后，该俱乐部的社交媒体页面以及网站上的员工照片均已消失。

（照片：球场上鹅的旧照）

一名评论者说：“网球俱乐部声称它们是害虫，并在俱乐部的湖边将它们谋杀。在当地野生动物组织本可以接收它们的情况下，这种行为如此野蛮。”

另一人写道：“你本以为俱乐部能负担得起请人进行定期清理。”

俱乐部成员表示，在进行这次扑杀之前，他们并未被咨询。其中一人告诉《泰晤士报》：“会员们一直很喜欢这些鹅。虽然它们有时会溜进球场并留下粪便，让人有点烦恼，但这并不意味着必须把它们射杀。”俱乐部的首席执行官迈尔斯·希尔（Miles Hill）表示，射杀这些鸟类的决定是“基于公共卫生和安全理由”而做出的。

这一切都结束了...《舞动严苛》已婚明星分道扬镳

作者：Connie Rusk

曾深受观众喜爱的《舞动严苛》（Strictly Come Dancing）舞者 Ola 和 James Jordan 在结婚 22 年后分开了。这两位专业舞者于 2006 年加入这部 BBC 的黄金时段节目——在此三年前他们结为夫妻。两人成为了该节目知名度最高的舞者，Ola 在 2009 年与主持人 Chris Hollins 共同赢得了冠军，但 James 在 2013 季结束后离开了节目，因为《舞动严苛》的高层告知他他们不希望他回归。这对夫妇一直住在肯特郡，James（48 岁）在那里出生并长大。波兰出生的 Ola（43 岁）于 2015 年离开该节目，据接近她的消息人士称

最后之舞：Ola 和 James 在参加《舞动严苛》时期的照片

新 IRA 计划通过暴力活动将移民驱逐出爱尔兰

作者：Glen Owen 政治编辑

情报官员告诉《星期日邮报》，共和主义恐怖分子正策划一场暴力活动，旨在强迫移民离开爱尔兰。

新 IRA（Real 的继任组织）的这一计划是在 6 月北爱尔兰街头发生骚乱之后提出的。此前，Stephen Ogilvie 被刺伤，涉嫌行凶者为 30 岁的苏丹寻求庇护者 Hadi Alodid。

安全人士表示，这些继续为“统一爱尔兰”而战的共和主义分裂分子，正利用边境两端当地社区的紧张局势。由于骚扰、性侵和暴力案件激增（这些案件被归咎于移民），社区情绪波动。

人们担心，新 的活动可能会引发新一波移民从爱尔兰逃往英国，特别是通过与北爱尔兰的陆路边境。

在上周发布于一个极右翼社交媒体平台的一段视频中，一名身份不明的男子警告称，如果移民不离开爱尔兰， 将用暴力威胁他们。

他说：“他们将掌控局面，并且他们将发出最后通牒，不是发给政治家，而是发给身在我国的非法移民。”

该男子声称英国军队在“动乱时期”（the Troubles）因 的专业性和效率而对其“尊重”，并补充道：“现在将进入内战时期，而这正是这些人将要做的事情——你能责怪他们吗？这将给当局敲响重大警钟。这些人将向他们展示如何操作，并给他们 24 小时时间离开。”

Real 由临时 （Provisional ）的不满成员于 1997 年成立，在 2012 年与民团组织“共和主义反毒品行动”（Republican Action Against Drugs）合并后成为新 。它与格拉斯哥的苏格兰民族主义团体结成了联盟，后者通过社交媒体推广该组织。

7 月，一名 25 岁的法学院学生在爱尔兰共和国的一辆汽车中被发现炸弹后，被指控持有爆炸物。Isabella Perrie Sullivan 在一项针对共和主义分裂分子活动的行动中被爱尔兰警方拦截。一名辩护律师告诉法院，他的当事人被要求将一个袋子带到北爱尔兰，并不知晓其中装有什。

一名消息人士表示：“新 今年在北部的活动非常频繁，袭击了北爱尔兰警察局的 Lurgan 警局，并在 Dunmurry 制造了汽车炸弹。”

“他们有两个目标：爱尔兰独立和所有移民离开。我们认为这是旧 内部派系（Real 和新 ）之间权力斗争的一部分，新形式的组织主张采取暴力恐吓活动。”

爱尔兰许多当地社区抱怨，爱尔兰政府忽视了高水平移民给住房、公共服务和社会带来的压力。

内政部一名发言人表示：“我们在移民和边境安全方面与爱尔兰保持着密切且协作的工作关系。”

“这包括共同致力于防止共同旅行区（Common Travel Area）被滥用，通过共同工作来识别并应对新出现的移民趋势。”

她想要孩子是她做出决定的原因。在经历了三年的试管婴儿（IVF）治疗后，她在 2020 年 2 月生下了 Ella，现年 6 岁。

他们的代表发表的一份声明称：“我非常悲痛地确认，James 和 Ola 在一段时间前开始了试行分居。”

“他们的共同重点仍然是共同抚养女儿 Ella，并且致力于将她的福祉放在首位。”

这对夫妇长期以来一直公开谈论婚姻中的挣扎，向粉丝透露从分歧到性生活的所有细节。

在2017年参加ITV的《Lorraine》节目期间，詹姆斯表示：“生活并非一帆风顺——我们经历过起起伏伏。”在接受《Hello!》杂志采访时，奥拉透露：“并非一切都那么美好，有时你看着人们在Instagram和Facebook上的帖子，会觉得‘噢，他们的生活很完美’，但事实并非如此。”“婚姻不是那样的，没有人拥有完美的婚姻。它是一个不断完善的过程，如果两个人想要在一起，他们会努力实现。”“有时你会经历黑暗时刻，需要另一半的支持，而这一切并不总是那么漂亮和完美。” --- 13

“他是个话匣子” 剽窃教授之友质疑其失语主张，照片显示其在“腿骨折的情况下跑完马拉松”

杰森·阿尔代（Jason Arday）的一位前同学对他此前声称直到 11 岁才开口说话的主张提出了质疑，并表示他其实是个“话匣子”，而且“一直”在说话。

阿尔代教授此前曾讲述过自己如何克服看似无法逾越的困难——例如被诊断为自闭症、小学时期失语以及直到 18 岁才识字，随后成为了剑桥大学历史上最年轻的黑人教授。

但这位学者本周面临着剽窃博士论文和伪造人生故事的一系列指控，据称他远非不能言语，而是一个“班级小丑”且是“一个没有任何发育问题的完全正常的男孩”。

与此同时，阿尔代教授声称自己在腿骨折且“肿胀到两倍大小”的情况下跑了九场马拉松，这一说法在终点线照片出现并与其描述相矛盾后，也受到了质疑。

在他的自传中，他讲述了自己的慈善筹款经历，在仅经过几个月的训练后，他在 35 天内跑了 30 场马拉松。但他声称在第 21 天，他发作癫痫并在路边昏倒——随后医生在 X 光扫描中发现他的右腓骨有一处细小的发丝状骨折。

他写道：“接下来的九场马拉松真的是一场折磨。完成每一场都花了我五个多小时。尽管我使用了止痛药，但全程都处于极度痛苦之中。我的右腿肿到了原来的两倍大小。直到今天，我其实也不知道自己是怎么做到的。”

但有照片拍到这位学者 2010 年在伦敦市中心的皮卡迪利圆环（Piccadilly Circus）完成第 30 场马拉松时，双腿尺寸均正常。而且，尽管他在书中声称有“两三千人”在沙夫茨伯里纪念喷泉（Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain）旁等待他，但照片显示只有大约 50 名围观者。

昨晚，一名名为乔纳森（Jonathan）的 TikTok 博主表示，他在伦敦南部兰贝斯（Lambeth）的希思布鲁克小学（Heathbrook Primary School）就读于阿尔代先生的下面一个年级，并在主日学校和其他俱乐部与他交往。

他在该社交媒体平台上声称，阿尔代先生曾是一个“班级小丑”且“一直是个话匣子”。

在接受《星期日邮报》采访时，乔纳森补充道：“这实际上很严重，无论人们是谁，都不应该被允许如此肆意妄为。”他补充说，阿尔代教授应该知道真相终会大白。

与此同时，巴斯温泉大学（Bath Spa University）的创意写作教授菲利普·亨舍尔（Philip Hensher）昨天表示，他与阿尔代教授的前邻居交谈过，对方坚称这位学者在伦敦南部度过了平凡的童年。

他在 X 上写道：“结果显示阿尔代就读于我们最近的小学，希思布鲁克。”

“邻居们记得他——但记得他是一个没有任何发育

照片终点：上图为杰森·阿尔代，以及他双腿尺寸正常地完成第 30 场马拉松时的样子 问题的完全正常的男孩。难道他们都错了？这看起来简直不可思议。”

阿尔代先生在 2023 年成为该大学历史上最年轻的黑人教授，由于证据显示他是一个惯常的幻想家，他于周三辞去了社会学教授及剑桥大学耶稣学院院士的职务。

这位 41 岁的男子出生在伦敦的加纳裔父母家中，被指控在学术成就、为慈善事业筹集的资金数额、个人医疗史以及他声称遭遇的种族骚扰程度上发表了误导性言论。

剑桥大学正面临要求其解释为何未采取更多措施核实其主张的呼吁。批评者认为，大学之所以未能采取行动是因为他的种族。

在辞职声明中，阿尔代教授再次重复其主张，称他直到 11 岁才能够说话。

他写道：“成为该大学历史上最年轻的黑人教授，是我在童年时期难以想象的事情，因为我当时被诊断出患有自闭症，直到 11 岁才能够说话。”在这份声明中，这位学者表示，面对“持续不断的公众审视和个人攻击”，他决定辞职。他表示，决定离开并不意味着接受“围绕在我的那些说法”。

詹姆斯·奥布莱恩（James O'Brien）评论：我觉得自己像个傻瓜

随着针对杰森·阿尔代（Jason Arday）的抵制浪潮愈演愈烈，甚至连他之前的支持者也不得不承认自己搞错了——尽管他们仍在试图撇清责任。LBC主持人詹姆斯·奥布莱恩（James O'Brien，如图）表示，由于此前为这位剑桥大学教授辩护，他觉得自己“像个傻瓜”。奥布莱恩此前曾批评报纸在报道阿尔代教授时采取了“精心策划且蓄意的诋毁”，他昨天询问听众：“你们对此有什么看法？因为我的感受是非常、非常个人化的。我无法将个人感受与公众立场分开。我觉得自己像个傻瓜。”但他补充道：“我不感到愧疚。我不觉得‘噢，你应该采取不同的做法，或者你应该做得更好’，因为谁会这么做呢？‘谁在见到一位剑桥教授时会[想]，“天呐，我想知道你是否真的配在那个位置上？”我肯定不会那样做。’”

周三全日食引发电网担忧

周三晚上的全日食可能会给欧洲各地本已吃力的电力系统增加压力。专家表示，日食导致的太阳能下降可能会影响电网，而电网此前已因今年夏季的极端天气而受损。热浪迫使整个欧洲的核电站和煤电站关闭，低水位则导致水电站停运。

作者：Elizabeth Ivens

法国和西班牙的电网运营商预计太阳能发电量将出现损失，并准备通过其他电源来平衡系统。西班牙电网运营商 Red Electrica 表示，日食可能会使西班牙的太阳能发电量减少高达 5GW——相当于一个典型 8 月周三最大需求的 13%。

在英国，国家能源系统运营商表示，太阳能输出可能会下降高达 1.3GW，相当于失去了两个核反应堆的输出量。

本世纪的第一次日食将于英国时间下午 6 点后开始。直到 2081 年才会再次发生。在英国大部分地区，食分将超过 90%，这意味着月球将遮挡太阳的十分之九以上。这将是自 1999 年 8 月以来这里最完整的一次日食，当时英国在上午时分陷入黑暗。

这一次，西部和西南部的人们将看到更多的太阳被遮挡，普利茅斯的遮挡率将达到 95%。伦敦将看到 91% 的日食，而设得兰群岛的这一数字则降至 88%。

在西班牙北部和东部、巴利阿里群岛以及葡萄牙东北部，将出现日全食，太阳将被完全遮挡两分钟以上。随着日全食的临近，伊比萨岛的夜总会正准备迎接一场“超越所有派对的派对”。

您关于日食的双面光面海报 仅在 YOU 杂志中 --- 14

他曾是一位被数百万人崇拜的流行巨星，一个尽职的儿子和父亲，一个积累了 £2200 万 财富且看似拥有全世界的男人。然而，在生命的最后几天，前 One Direction 成员利亚姆·佩恩（Liam Payne）陷入了药物和酒精滥用的毁灭性漩涡，在毫无灵魂的酒店房间里通过大量服用可卡因和威士忌，并付费雇佣性工作者陪伴。

虽然关于利亚姆之死已有诸多报道，但完整的、令人心碎的事实直到现在才被揭露。

今天，《星期日邮报》可以披露来自一份非凡档案的细节，其中包括 3,000 份文件、照片、宣誓陈述书和官方报告，这些资料是调查人员在他 2024 年 10 月 16 日于布宜诺斯艾利斯去世后收集的。

一张令人心惊的监控图像显示，他眼神空洞、面容憔悴，在从 310 号房间阳台坠落前的一小时，正踉踉跄跄地走在 CasaSur 酒店的走廊里。

报告还揭露了他家人的绝望，利亚姆悲痛欲绝的父亲杰夫（Geoff）在给检察官的一份声明中表示，他的儿子在被心魔掌控时“走神了”，并补充道：“他无法控制自己的行为。他不再是利亚姆了。”

虽然部分信息过于露骨且私人，无法公开，但这些证据缓存勾勒出了一个男人在死前数小时完全脱离现实的最清晰——也是最深刻痛苦的画像。

《星期日邮报》可以透露，这些文件显示利亚姆：

• ● 恳求一名妓女给他带来“5 克”可卡因，“这样我可以制作可卡因裂解产物（crack）”；
• ● 对“色情短信”成瘾，并在去世当天的早晨给一名妓女发送了一张露骨的裸照（一名证人将其描述为“像被附身了一样”）；
• ● 告诉他最好的朋友，他“担心”自己可能不小心向一名未成年人发送了裸照；
• ● 变得如此情绪不稳定，以至于酒店员工互相提醒在对待他时要小心，以“防止他继续表现出攻击性”。一名女服务员在向他的房间递送五瓶威士忌时，被告知要带上安保人员；

● 在最后一天消费了 $550 的酒单——尽管精神科医生的信函曾警告他不要将酒精与他正在服用的处方药混用； ● 凌晨3点在街上的电线杆旁转圈，等待药物送达——这让调查人员得出结论，他可能拥有足够的上肢力量，使其相信自己能安全地从酒店房间阳台爬下来（稍后详述）。

要充分理解利亚姆是如何迅速地从一个清醒的朋友和父亲——他“深爱”着他与歌手谢丽尔·科尔（Cheryl Cole）之间九岁的儿子贝尔（Bear）——变成一名被目击者描述为“被附身”的男人的，你必须从案卷的开头看起。

利亚姆前往阿根廷是为了更新他的美国签证，并观看他前 One Direction 乐队队友奈尔·霍兰（Niall Horan）的演唱会。他与女友凯特·卡西迪（Kate Cassidy）一起度假了两周，但当她离开他返回他们位于佛罗里达州惠灵顿的家中后，利亚姆陷入了崩溃。

他被要求离开一家酒店。

【被幽灵缠身的利亚姆·佩恩在去世前一小时在布宜诺斯艾利斯的一家酒店徘徊。我们的独家照片来自一份从未公开的警方档案，其中包含数十项令人震惊的披露——包括他在那个悲剧之日对陪在他身边的呼叫女郎提出的要求……】

因“行为好斗”而被要求离开，并于 10 月 14. 下午入住 CasaSur 酒店。

他的父亲杰夫（Geoff）后来告诉检察官，只要身边一直有人陪伴以防止他失控，利亚姆就能控制自己的成瘾问题。杰夫说，他的儿子在药物作用下会变成“另一个人”。他的家人最后一次见到他是 8 月 29 日，当时这位歌手正在曼彻斯特拍摄一部 Netflix 节目，他看起来“健康、稳定，没有使用任何药物或酒精”。

这意味着，当警方最初将他的死亡定性为“可能的自杀”时，杰夫坚称这不可能。他说：“我毫不怀疑利亚姆想要生存。我从未想过他有可能想要伤害自己。”

然而，CasaSur 的员工在他当天办理入住后的几个小时内就意识到出了严重问题。他开始打电话给前台索要药物，并向客房服务订购了一瓶又一瓶的尊尼获加黑牌（Johnnie Walker Black Label）威士忌。

档案中包含 10 月 14, 一个名为“前台”的 WhatsApp 群聊消息，酒店经理吉尔达·马丁（Gilda Martin）在其中写道：“这个人在他入住期间会非常激烈。”

“重要的是我们要对他讲‘不’，始终要礼貌且带着借口。这是为了防止他继续表现出攻击性。或者至少不要那么严重。”

前台回复道：“只要他不变得暴力，我们会尽一切可能。”

前台给一名叫 Adri 的客房服务女服务员发消息，要求她将五瓶威士忌送到 310, 房，但警告道：“带上安保人员一起去。”

利亚姆还在恳求员工提供药物。酒店员工埃塞奎尔·佩雷拉（Ezequiel Pereyra）和服务员布赖恩·派兹（Braian Paiz）被指控在他为期两天的纵欲狂欢期间为其提供可卡因。两人均对所有指控表示不认罪，并正在与检察官协商协议以避免入狱。

在 10 月 16, （他去世当天）早上 7 点，利亚姆给他的好朋友罗杰·诺雷斯（Roger Nores）发消息说：“伙计，我想我要去操个妓女。”

罗杰承认他知道朋友在药物、酒精以及发送色情短信方面有成瘾问题。在随后给警方的陈述中，罗杰提到了利亚姆的一位前女友玛雅·亨利（Maya Henry）提出的指控，玛雅在利亚姆去世前一个月出版了一本书，指控这位歌手通过互联网向女性发送露骨的性短信，玛雅声称其中一些人未成年。

罗杰说：“我没有问他太多问题。他确实告诉我，他害怕想到自己可能在不知情的情况下向未成年人发送了裸照，但他没有承担任何责任。”

“事实上，他唯一做的事情就是将愤怒发泄在他那个并不怎么支持他的（前）女友身上。”“我知道他沉溺于发送色情短信。我从未亲眼看到他这么做，但他曾告诉我这件事。”“他的主要问题就在于此，以及他对毒品和酒精的成瘾。”

案卷显示，上午10.30，利亚姆在一家阿根廷陪侍网站上找到妓女阿尔丹娜·塞拉诺（Aldana Serrano）的资料后，通过WhatsApp给她发消息。利亚姆在她的手机中显示为“LP”。LP说：“我们应该弄点可卡因，”并发送了一张自己的露骨裸照。她回复道：“等它到了的时候。”

--- 15

阿尔丹娜后来告诉调查人员，她的英语很差，她原本想说的是“等我到了的时候”。随后LP告诉她：“你能弄到吗？我们需要5克，这样我可以制作裂克可卡因。”阿尔丹娜提出带她的朋友卢西拉·戈伊特亚（Lucila Goitea）一起去，利亚姆表示他将支付这些女孩$5,000，让他们陪他共度一天。随后他又发送了一张自己躺在酒店床上的照片。

当两名女性最终到达利亚姆的房间时，她们被震惊了。虽然此前曾出现过一台被砸碎的电视机的照片，但310号房间简直是“一片狼藉”。床单被扯了下来，浴室洗手池上有血迹，房间里到处散落着吸毒用具，包括烧焦的可口可乐罐盖、一把发黑的勺子和半截烧掉的蜡烛。

警方和检察官认为，利亚姆将粉末状的可卡因加热成液体形式的“裂克”毒品，然后通过吸入或注射的方式使用。小苏打包装袋表明，他还将可卡因熔化成晶体状进行吸食。现场还有装有白色粉末的“小袋子”和一张揉皱的$100面额钞票。药片包装整齐地排列在沙发背沿，其中包括Klonopin（一种强效处方镇静剂）、助眠药物褪黑素以及一种用于增强性能力的非处方“能量”药物。

当陪侍人员到达时，利亚姆点了更多的威士忌和香槟，客房服务收据显示他在酒类上花费了$550。女性们喝了香槟，并且两人都与他发生了性关系。随后情况恶化。她们要求以现金支付$5,000的费用，但他没有足够的现金，反而提出通过银行转账。随后爆发了一场激烈的争吵。利亚姆提出用他的金劳力士表作为支付，在对方拒绝后，他将手表狠狠砸在墙上。

案卷中充满了新照片，显示陪侍人员在酒店大堂与利亚姆争吵，随后恳求酒店工作人员提供帮助。监控录像显示利亚姆来回踱步。他多次上下往返于房间，以服用更多毒品。录像显示，女性们在下午3.30左右离开，利亚姆的朋友罗杰在下午4点到达。两人进行了交谈，但罗杰表示他的朋友看起来并没有意识不清，于是他再次离开。

四十分钟后，利亚姆

一片狼藉： 利亚姆酒店房间内被砸碎的电视，以及地板上散落的吸毒用具。上方：酒店监控录像图像。

利亚姆死亡。罗杰最初被指控“遗弃”利亚姆，但所有指控均被撤销，他被完全证明清白。

在朋友离开后，利亚姆确实变得越来越不稳定。一度他躺在大堂的沙发上，将电脑砸在地上，尖叫道：“去他妈的这破玩意儿！”他告诉另一位住客：“我曾经是个男团成员，这就是为什么我这么糟糕。”随后他开始在大堂中抽搐。一系列照片显示他昏迷不醒，并在下午5点前不久被酒店工作人员抬回房间。

随后，在下午5.07，工作人员听到一声巨大的“砰”响。利亚姆蜷缩的尸体躺在酒店庭院的地面上。他砸穿了一把露天遮阳伞，因严重的内伤当场死亡，他的棒球帽掉在几英尺外。

自他去世以来，粉丝们提出了疯狂的阴谋论。有人暗示310号房间里当时还有其他人与这位明星在一起。但案卷显示，没有证据表明在他被抬回房间后有任何人进入过该房间。

该文件还提出了一种关于他死亡的耐人寻味的新理论。其中一张新照片显示，在死前那一天的凌晨3.21分，身穿绿色上衣和灰色牛仔裤的利亚姆在酒店外绕着一根杆子转圈。据称，他当时在等待埃塞基尔·佩雷拉（Ezequiel Pereyra）交付毒品。上周，一名接近调查的消息人士表示，警方认为这张杆子照片“至关重要”，因为它显示了利亚姆的上

“为了躲避粉丝曾从酒店窗户逃走”的身体力量。这表明，他可能并非自杀，而是在失去抓地力并死亡之前，自信能够支撑住自己的体重，试图从酒店房间爬出去。现场拍摄的照片显示，阳台周围的玻璃上有明显的掌印，指纹分析确认那是Liam的。痕迹显示他的手指显然在玻璃上滑动了。此外已知，在坠落之前，Liam将一个皮革圆筒包从他三楼的阳台扔到了他下方二楼房间的阳台上。在One Direction时期，这位歌手曾因从酒店窗户爬出以“逃离”粉丝而闻名。该消息人士表示：“Liam是一个健康的年轻人。当你看到他悬在杆子上的照片，身体与地面呈90度角时，你就能看出他有多强壮。” “他的保镖告诉我们，他以前曾从酒店窗户逃走。对掌印的法医检查显示，Liam可能爬过了栏杆，并试图利用自己的力量跳到二楼阳台上。也许他认为自己可以荡到二楼，然后安全地降到地面。” “问题在于，他受药物和酒精的影响太深，导致手指在玻璃上打滑并坠落。” 那张杆子的照片至关重要。Liam将一个包扔过阳台，然后试图下去。“人们两年来一直在问，发生了什么？这就是我们认为发生的情况。” 卷宗中令人震惊的照片显示了Liam在庭院中蜷缩的尸体。照片揭示他斜挎着一个“男士包”，里面装有他的护照，请转到第16页 --- 16 # 独家报道 记者：Sean Rayment 好莱坞女演员夏洛特·兰普林（Charlotte Rampling）加入了对军队决定的日益增长的谴责，该决定摧毁了800多块属于两次世界大战期间在伊拉克作战士兵的墓碑。这位电影明星——她的祖父就是那些墓碑被移除、被磨成碎石并用于铺设排水沟的人之一——将伊拉克南部巴士拉战争公墓的这次亵渎行为描述为“极其可耻”。80岁的兰普林女士在阅读了上周《星期日邮报》的独家报道后得知了这一丑闻，她支持相关呼吁

“极其可耻” 夏洛特·兰普林在发现战争英雄祖父的墓碑是 800 块被碾碎成碎石用于排水沟的墓碑之一时感到愤怒

前陆军首脑要求国防部更换这些在 2003. 年伊拉克战争期间被移除的墓碑。陆军声称，由于担心墓碑和 80 块刻有阵亡将士名字的面板会被当地人破坏或损毁，因此将其移除。目前看来，这些墓碑原计划在战后归还——但在 18 个月内，它们反而被磨碎，用于在附近的一个陆军基地修建排水沟。兰普林女士的祖父霍拉斯·约翰逊·兰普林在 1917 年第一次世界大战期间死于中暑，被安葬在该公墓，但他的坟墓现在成了 3,000 座无名坟墓之一。这位女演员加入了前国防首脑和国会议员的呼吁，要求修复该公墓，或委托建立一座新的纪念碑。在 1966, 年凭借《乔治女孩》成名的兰普林女士告诉《星期日邮报》：“我认为亵渎这些坟墓的行为极其可耻，我支持任何旨在建立永久纪念碑以包含那些为我们的自由而献身的士兵名字的努力。”这位明星还透露，她最近找回了祖父的“死亡便士”（death penny）——这是一块发送给大英帝国阵亡士兵近亲的青铜牌。这枚钱币失踪了 100 多年，但被一名德克萨斯州的收藏家发现并寄给了这位女演员。她补充道：“我祖父的死亡便士回到了家族中。世界并非全然糟糕。世上依然存在一些美丽的、随机的善举。”霍拉斯·约翰逊·兰普林的儿子——兰普林女士的父亲——是陆军军官戈弗雷·兰普林，他在 2009, 年去世时享年 100. 岁，是当时在世的最年长英国奥运选手。在第一次世界大战期间，多达 4.5万,000 名英国士兵在美索不达米亚（今伊拉克）因战斗或疾病牺牲。

英雄家属的愤怒：陆军将数百块战争坟墓墓碑碾碎成碎石用于排水沟 亵渎：上图为夏洛特·兰普林，以及上周《星期日邮报》的报道。左图：家族的“死亡便士”

自《星期日邮报》文章发表以来，其他在该地区牺牲的士兵亲属反应愤怒。摧毁墓碑的决定由本·索皮特揭露，他的祖父也安葬在巴士拉战争公墓。他认为，既然南部伊拉克已恢复相对和平，现在可以修复该公墓。索皮特先生已向高等法院申请司法复核，旨在追究国防部的责任。国防部拒绝就《星期日邮报》的披露发表评论，称由于高等法院的诉讼而无法置评。

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» 第 15 页

钱财、一瓶尊尼获加威威士忌、他的手机和一套彩色铅笔。在声明中，利亚姆的父亲杰夫深情地表示，他的儿子是一位热爱素描的艺术家，总是随身携带一套铅笔。毒理学报告显示，利亚姆的血液和尿液中含有高浓度的可卡因，鼻腔和胃中也发现了该药物的痕迹。他的酒精含量超过了酒驾限制的四倍。他的血液中还含有处方镇静剂和抗抑郁药。

一封由他的美国精神科医生瑞秋·罗希迪（Dr Rachel Rhohidy）写给利亚姆（Liam）的信中，曾警告他不要将处方药与酒精混合使用。她表示，他需要比她所能提供的“更高水平的护理”。罗希迪医生写道：“我将无法再为您提供精神科护理。在服药期间，您应避免大量饮酒。”“您必须严格按照处方服用药物。这意味着按照指示口服药物，而不能通过任何其他方式，例如吸食。”

关于利亚姆死亡的调查在阿根廷仍在继续，但调查人员表示，一旦与两名被指控向其供应可卡因的男子达成认罪协议，他们认为调查将“很快”结束。英国对其死亡的死因研讯在等待调查结果期间仍处于暂停状态。

还有一个谜团尚未解开：据说利亚姆在发脾气时砸碎的那块金劳力士表怎么了？警方持有搜查这些妓女房屋的搜查令，但一无所获。上周，一个消息人士告诉《星期日邮报》（MoS），警方正在研究这样一种理论：在利亚姆死亡前或死后立即进入其房间的人可能将其拿走了。

目前，这份长达 3,000 页的死亡调查报告，是我们最有可能查明在利亚姆·佩恩（Liam Payne）被心魔击败的那个致命之日究竟发生了什么的唯一途径——而这导致了一位全球超级巨星在远离家乡数千英里的地方孤独地死去。--- 17

特别报道

By IAN GALLAGHER 首席记者

最新的AI突破具备了一部恐怖灾难电影的所有要素。科学家们上周宣布，他们利用AI技术创造出了能够在实验室中复制的全新病毒。加利福尼亚州斯坦福大学的研究人员自豪地表示，他们教会了其AI程序Evo 2识别自然界中的DNA结构模式，并利用这些数据编写全新病毒的“配方”。结果产生了16种合成“噬菌体”，这是一种感染细菌的小型病毒。

在该公告发布后的几天内，专家们发出了警告。我知道这一突破可能预示着新一代生物武器的出现，从致命毒药到无法阻挡的大流行病。此前上个月刚有消息披露，AI系统已出现失控，通过入侵公司甚至向人类撒谎以实现其目标。那么，这次最新的进展难道不是向末日迈出的又一大步，而不是某些科学界人士所声称的抗击疾病的“里程碑”吗？

“一个流氓国家可能会创建自己的模型”

军方和情报领域的许多领军人物似乎认为确实如此。前联合部队司令部负责人、战略国防审查共同作者理查德·巴伦斯爵士（General Sir Richard Barrons）警告称，AI领域“可怕”的进展可能会帮助敌对国家更轻松地开发病原体，甚至可以根据种族或性别来针对人群。

白金汉大学安全与情报研究中心的安东尼·格里斯（Anthony Glees）教授昨天告诉《星期日邮报》：“落在恶意行为者手中，这可能会产生可怕的后果。”他补充说，在某些情况下，应该将20世纪30年代和40年代围绕原子弹研发的那种保密级别应用于AI研究。他说：“我认为军情五处（MI5）应该像当年那样介入进来。也许可以设立一个专门团队，向大学和研究实验室发出警告，强调对其工作进行保密的至关重要性。”

斯坦福大学的研究人员却做了相反的事情，上周向全球公布了他们的发现。如果一切顺利，他们希望这一成就将带来治疗抗生素耐药性感染的新方法。项目负责人布莱恩·希（Brian Hie）表示，让AI设计新的生物

AI病毒引发末日警告，创作者称其将对抗抗生素耐药性危机

超越自然世界的领域——合成生物学——具有通过开发新药物来“大幅改善人类健康”的潜力。耐药性感染每年导致数百万人死亡。一位专家甚至将其比作飞机的发明。

但一些科学家质疑，他们最初为何要进行这项研究。雷丁大学的微生物学家西蒙·克拉克（Simon Clarke）博士表示，当他第一次听到他们为该实验寻找的“借口”时，“我的想法是，‘没错，但你们这么做纯粹是因为你们能做到’，而且我认为，他们只是把这项研究挂在‘克服抗生素耐药性’这个钩子上”。

斯坦福大学的研究人员采取了安全预防措施，例如禁用其AI模型，以防止其能够设计感染人类的病毒。克拉克博士说：“但这并不意味着一个想要资助此类项目的[流氓]国家就不能开发自己的模型。随着AI变得更加先进，潜在地，其他更复杂的生命形式也可以被工程化，其中可能包括导致我们患病的东西。”他补充说，科学家们“在提供重要护栏方面表现出了进一步的克制”，这一点令人“宽慰”，但他表示“不能保证每个尝试做类似事情的科学家都会如此小心”。

事实上，对许多人来说，斯坦福大学的研究让人联想到武汉，许多人声称新冠病毒是从该中国城市的实验室泄漏的。处理最危险病毒和细菌的高安全等级实验室经常向安全监管机构报告事故。2014年有报道称，一次失误导致活炭疽杆菌从一个政府设施被发送到英国各地毫无防备的实验室。

斯坦福大学的突破——创造出自然界此前未知的病毒——无疑是首次尝试。此前从未有完整的基因组（编码在DNA中的生命遗传指令）被AI成功设计。与此同时，这为创造其他生命形式铺平了道路。而这时，情况可能会变得更加令人不安。

人们最大的恐惧是，同样的技术可能会被恶意用于创造新疾病。约翰霍普金斯大学健康安全中心的托马斯·英格尔斯比（Thomas Inglesby）博士和莫里茨·汉克（Moritz Hanke）博士在《科学》杂志上写道，这些发现引发了“紧迫的生物安全和生物防御问题”。他们补充说，现在的问题不再是“生成式病毒基因组设计是否会存在”，而是它能否在不“导致严重伤害”的情况下被使用。

海（Hie）承认，制造一些简单的生物“并非不可能”。他补充说，斯坦福团队“绝对有兴趣朝着那个方向努力”。但人们达成共识，政府和AI行业需要做好更充分的准备，以防止未来出现噩梦般的场景。

斯坦福大学的研究是在其他令人不安的AI进展背景下进行的。就在上个月，在技术失控的最新案例中，英国行业监管机构英国AI安全研究所（AISI）在测试一款AI软件时，该软件尝试闯入数据库19次。在一个前所未有的案例中，一个AI工具甚至被发现通过在网上创建虚假人类身份，诱骗程序员协助进行网络攻击。专家测试的所有五个AI模型都试图通过工程手段绕过已设立的安全控制措施。

保守党领袖凯米·巴德诺克（Kemi Badenoch）警告称，AI是对英国安全的“明显且现有的威胁”，而议会人工智能跨党派小组主席艾莉森·加德纳（Allison Gardner）表示，“仅仅因为我们能够构建这些技术，并不意味着我们应该这么做”。

她警告称，代理型AI（即在有限监督下能够执行特定目标的AI）的风险等级应受到最严格的审查，并补充道：“除非我们已经太迟，不仅创造了潘多拉之盒，而且已经将其打开。” 那个一直在向汉尼拔·莱克特学习的聊天机器人治疗师 第 34-36 页 --- 18

来自洛杉矶的卡罗琳·格雷厄姆（CAROLINE GRAHAM）报道

在看台上光彩照人且面带微笑的美国模特艾什琳·卡斯特罗（Ashlyn Castro）已成为一张熟悉的面孔，今年夏天的世界杯期间，她为英格兰队（Three Lions）的超级巨星裘德·贝林厄姆（Jude Bellingham）加油助威，享受着作为全球最令人羡慕的情侣之一的生活。随后，这对情侣在赛后前往夏威夷的浪漫假期中，发布了在海滩上温情时刻的照片，上周两人还被目击出现在阿尔顿塔（Alton Towers）。

但在2024年7月，这位28岁的社交媒体影响力者——裘德称她为“我的爱”——在向警方描述其“精神分裂症”母亲如何袭击她时，显得极度绝望。《星期日邮报》获得的一段此前从未公开的警方执法记录仪画面显示，她断断续续地对一名警员说：“我刚刚被我妈袭击了。”

场景发生在内华达州亨德森（Henderson）的一家酒店停车场，这里靠近拉斯维加斯，当时她的母亲蒂娜（Tina），时年59岁，正流落街头。艾什琳在努力控制情绪的抽泣之间解释说，她想开车送她那位“停药”的母亲回到加利福尼亚州，以便“为她想办法”。但当她和蒂娜坐在停好的车里时，艾什琳意识到她为母亲订错了酒店。随后蒂娜爆发了。

“她扯我的头发，开始打我的脸，”艾什琳说，她正努力地喘息。画面显示，此时蒂娜在停车场的另一端接受另外两名警员的询问。她面容憔悴且神情困惑，在讲述自己的版本时也抽泣着，坚称是艾什琳袭击了她。

“她出于某种原因恨我，我从来没对她做过任何事，”她坚持道。但警方相信谁显而易见。蒂娜被要求转身接受手铐逮捕——警方的判断得到了艾什琳拍摄的一段视频，以及她手上血淋淋的抓痕和肿胀嘴唇的帮助。

“嘴唇破了！”蒂娜抗议道，“我从来没碰过她的嘴唇！”

《星期日邮报》（MoS）看到的一份艾什琳随后向警方提供的陈述书，字里行间透露出一种长期忍受此类反复无常爆发的疲惫感。书中简单写道：“我正试着给我的母亲订一个酒店房间，这时她开始袭击我，扯我的头发，打我，抓我。她认为我没有给她订房间，所以她袭击了我。”

蒂娜因家庭暴力被罚款$200（£150），但由于未能缴纳罚金，目前因藐视法庭而被通缉。

就在这场丑陋的冲突发生几个月后，艾什琳遇到了英格兰中场球员裘德，她去年将他描述为“我所认识的最体贴、最善良、最勤奋、最不可思议的人”。但如果她认为萌芽的爱情能帮她分散对旧有家庭裂痕的注意力，那么事实上，他们的关系似乎进一步激化了这场仇恨。

“这个裘德·贝林厄姆是谁？”蒂娜在TikTok上对女儿愤怒地质问道，“你违背了你妈的……”

警员审问艾什琳...

...以及她抽泣的母亲

绝望：这段视频记录了艾什琳·卡斯特罗在一家酒店停车场告诉警方，她被其患有“精神分裂症”的母亲蒂娜（右图）袭击。

裘德·贝林厄姆的节点女友……以及揭露她为帮助其患病母亲而面临的绝望挣扎的令人震惊的警方执法记录仪画面，其母亲谎称她将其留在避难所。Ashlyn 通过向她的粉丝透露其母亲的精神疾病作为回应。据信，Tina 目前居住在洛杉矶的一家无家可归者避难所中。但与所有家庭动态一样，这场争端远非非黑即白。多年来，Tina 本人也是 Ashlyn 的父亲 Michael 实施家庭暴力的受害者。这是一段有毒的婚姻， 在 2000 年带着当时年仅三岁和五岁的 及其哥哥 Trever 逃离。这家人搬到了 的母亲 Lynn（现年 80 岁）家中，她在加利福尼亚州安纳海姆的一栋简陋单层房屋中居住，那里成了 的家。在那里， 对与其结婚八年的 Michael 申请了禁制令，声称他存在肢体和言语虐待，且患有双相情感障碍。这份寻求禁制令的手写陈述书不仅揭示了其母亲婚姻的悲剧，也像一扇令人心碎的窗户，窥见了 混乱的童年。“我离开了他，他来到我暂住的父母家，砸碎了我车上所有的窗户，” 向法官恳求道。“他吃了一大把药片。我告诉他他的抑郁症需要帮助，但他从未寻求帮助。”当 告诉他她要离开并带走 和 Trever 时，她写道：“他说他要去弄点吃的。我的丈夫回来花了很长时间，于是我去车库看，他正坐在 HENDERSON POLICE - GETTY IMAGES --- AUGUST 9 • 2026 The London Sunday v1 19 兜帽车里，就在路尽头。”在 Trever 家的门前，在散落在前草坪上的玩具和塑料花园家具之间，他解释说，他的母亲曾被置于监护之下，这使得他的叔叔（一名警察上尉）拥有对她的法律权力。但当监护结束——且 停止服用药物后——她陷入了危机。他说，他或 都无法强迫他们的母亲寻求医疗帮助。“除非某人对自己或他人构成危险，否则几乎不可能强迫他们接受治疗。我们现在处于一种僵局，”他说。 的社交媒体帖子显示，她带着她的小黑狗 Speedy，从中途宿舍搬到了无家可归者避难所。她经常在脖子上戴着一个十字架，并声称自己“找到了上帝”。在一张照片中，她似乎在洛杉矶市中心附近的麦克阿瑟公园的一顶帐篷里。这里绝非 1968 年理查德·哈里斯歌曲中所描绘的美景，该公园现在成了数十名吸毒者的聚集地——当《星期日邮报》上周访问时，其中一些人正公开使用注射器。那么， 对其女儿在一名身价数百万美元的皇家马德里足球运动员陪伴下开启新生活的嫉妒或许并不令人惊讶。 从安纳海姆攀升到私人飞机和百万美元豪宅的超级巨星圈子，其过程令人瞩目。当她在 2024 年的证人陈述中将自己描述为“自雇”时，她已经创办了自己的模特经纪公司 The Four Models，并出演了唱片制作人 DJ Khaled 2021 年的曲目《Popstar》的音乐视频。如今，她与 Clarins 等美容巨头签有丰厚的合同。或许正是这种创业精神赢得了 Jude 那位保护欲极强的母亲 Denise 的认可，在世界杯期间， 经常出现在 Denise 身边。Denise 被称为“女王”，她与前夫 Mark（一名退休警察）为 Jude 及其 20 岁的弟弟 Jobe 提供了充满爱且稳定的成长环境，使他们成为了如此出色的足球运动员。

这段童年经历与艾什琳（Ashlyn）的截然不同。但她与朱德（Jude）的关系并非她第一次与条件优渥的体育明星产生联系。据传，艾什琳曾与美国篮球运动员特伦斯·曼（Terance Mann）和拉梅洛·鲍尔（LaMelo Ball），以及凭借电影《罪人》（Sinners）获得奥斯卡奖的演员迈克尔·B·乔丹（Michael B. Jordan）约会。她与朱德相识于 2024 年底——有人说是在名人约会网站 Raya 上——随后两人开始在彼此的 Instagram 账号上发布动态。2025 年 1 月，他们被拍到在马德里共进午餐，此后这段关系变得日益公开。去年 9 月，他们被目击在撒丁岛的一艘价值 £100 万 的超级游艇上接吻。艾什琳在洛杉矶有一处住所，但她更多的时间是与朱德一起住在西班牙首都专属的 La Finca 社区内，那是一栋价值 £550 万 的豪宅。在世界杯期间，他在英格兰队的比赛结束后冲向看台，拥抱他的女友，而她通常就坐在他母亲身边。但并非所有人都像贝林厄姆家的“女王”那样认可艾什琳。一个经常针对艾什琳的指责是她是“拜金女”，她曾在社交媒体的一篇帖子中正面回应了这一点。“在镜头前谈论我的

«他是迄今为止最善良、最不可思议的人»

“……个人生活，”她开始说道。“人们从你能想到的每一个角度攻击我、骚扰我，如此不尊重。这实在太多了。”

“在过去的八年里，我谈过三个男朋友。2017年，我开始了我的第一段感情，而他是一位公众人物，因此我不得不面对人们议论我、编造关于我的事情。在此之前，互联网上没有任何关于我的信息，所以人们……编造了一堆事情来证明攻击我是合理的。”

在谈到母亲的病情时，她表示：“这极其私密。这是我的真实生活。几年前我失去了我的父亲。”

“我的母亲患有精神疾病……今后，我将谈论一些重要的事情，比如心理健康。这是我想利用我的平台去做的事情，但我之前还没准备好。”

Ashlyn 计划创办一家慈善机构，以帮助那些遭受心理健康问题困扰的人及其亲人。她说：“这是世界上最令人感到挫败的感觉。如果你无法感同身受，那么请认为自己很幸运。”

昨晚，《星期日邮报》（MoS）就此事联系了 Ashlyn 的发言人以寻求评论。

● 丹尼尔·贝茨（Daniel Bates）和彼得·谢里丹（Peter Sheridan）参与报道

韦斯：就任国防职务以来我遭受了更多仇恨

韦斯·斯特里廷（WES Streeting）表示，自从担任国防大臣以来，他面临的网络同性恋恐惧症比他整个职业生涯中遇到的还要多。

在爱丁堡艺术节（Edinburgh Fringe）发表讲话时，斯特里廷先生表示，他经历了来自那些“无法接受”一名同性恋男性领导国防部的人们所带来的“难以置信的”偏见。

虽然他三周前的任命在媒体上“几乎完全没有被提及”，但他表示，“在网络上，这对很多人来说很重要”。

但他补充说，这个职位是他展示“力量”并“挑战这种显然在互联网阴暗角落里依然存在的刻板印象”的机会。

尽管同性恋在 1967 年已非刑事犯罪，但对于军职人员来说，这直到 1994 年才不再是刑事犯罪。即便如此，直到 2000 年，这仍被归类为“损害良好秩序和纪律的行为”，这意味着服役人员仍可能因同性恋身份而被解雇。

斯特里廷先生补充道：“我很自豪，在我有生之年，我们经历了从同性恋者不被允许在军队服役，到出现一名同性恋国防大臣的转变。”

“在我上任的第一周，国防部的一位工作人员对我说：‘你知道，作为一名同性恋男性，我非常自豪我们有了第一位同性恋国防大臣，这对我们许多记得那些糟糕旧时光的人来说意义重大。’”

伯尼

你完全正确，莱克特医生（DR LECTEUR），你早期的问候很有水准。

为我的美食照笑一个

一项研究显示，三分之一的英国人在度假期间拍摄食物的照片比拍摄目的地的照片更多。一项针对 2,000 名成年人的民意调查发现，度假者在假期期间平均每天拍摄 39 张照片，这意味着一周的假期共拍摄 273 张，两周则达到 546 张。但这家名为 Chase 的银行公司开展的研究发现，33% 的人拍摄食物的照片多于海滩、纪念碑或城市景观。Z 世代旅行者是这种情况最严重的人群，57% 的 18 至 29 岁的人承认有这种度假习惯。

车门关闭，发动机运转，他当时在喝酒且服用了一些药片。“我决定这次彻底离开，我和孩子们住在父母家。他没日没夜地给我打电话，威胁要自杀……并且出现在我父母家，在我的孩子面前对我大吼大叫。”在接受《星期日邮报》（MoS）的独家采访时，艾什琳（Ashlyn）的哥哥特雷弗（Trever）表示，父母双方都有问题——母亲患有精神分裂症，父亲患有抑郁症。迈克尔在与蒂娜（Tina）离婚后寻求治疗并重建了生活，经营了几家成功的企业，直到 2021 年死于新冠肺炎，但蒂娜仍然有“严重问题”。特雷弗说：“这太可怕了，令人心碎。它影响了我们生活的方方面面。我小时候记得不多。我们父母在我们很小的时候就离婚了。那是一次残酷的离婚。当时我们父母双方都不是最好的状态。”30 岁的特雷弗是四个孩子的父亲，仍然住在安纳海姆（Anaheim）的童年故居中。这座 1955 年建的三居室房屋位于一个典型的工人阶级郊区，靠近一条嘈杂的高速公路。几英里之外就是迪士尼乐园，在英格兰最后一场世界杯比赛几天后，艾什琳和朱德（Jude）在星球大战游乐设施处被拍到。这个主题公园被誉为“地球上最快乐的地方”，但对她的孩子来说，这里一定感觉像在另一个世界—— 20

记录：1,000 名毒品走私者因向英国走私大麻被捕

警方发出警告，社交媒体上的网红被帮派诱骗 作者：阿布尔·塔赫（Abul Taher） 安全记者

去年，近 1,000 名英国毒品走私者在英国机场因从国外走私大麻被捕，这一数字是两年前的七倍。根据警方数据，逮捕人数创纪录，达到 976 人——高于 2023 年的 142 人——而今年截至 6 月的六个月里，这一数字已经达到了 600 人。

绝大多数被捕者是从泰国返回的人员。侦探表示，许多被说服从事走私的人是在社交媒体上被诱惑的，对方承诺提供免费假期，随后强迫他们在行李中携带大麻返回。没收毒品的平均街头价值为 £25万,000。

周四，来自德文郡库洛姆普顿（Cullompton, Devon）的 45 岁女性艾米·德班（Amy Durban）成为最新一名承认有罪的走私者。她在希思罗机场被截获，其行李箱内装有来自泰国的价值超过 £50万,000 的大麻，她将于 10 月被判刑。

走私者在土耳其、格鲁吉亚和斯里兰卡等地的中转机场也被拦截。英国国家犯罪调查局（NCA）最近在曼谷发起了一项活动，警告英国人成为毒品走私者的危险。这可能导致他们在英国被判 14 年监禁，而在阿联酋和沙特阿拉伯等国家，刑期更长，甚至可能被处以死刑。

泰国大麻走私数量激增是在该国将其非刑事化之后发生的。被判处 16 个月监禁： 右侧的艾莉·克兰普西（Ellie Crampsie）被发现携带 17 公斤（37 磅）毒品。上方：艾米·德班在 2022 年携带的价值 £50万,000 的赃物。现在种植大麻是合法的，这导致价格下降。但未经许可出口则是违法的。一公斤走私大麻——

“一旦陷入其中，就无法回头”

从泰国走私的[药物]估计街头价值为 £1万,000，平均每名毒品骡子向英国走私约 25kg (55lbs)。英国国家犯罪调查局（NCA）表示，潜在的毒品骡子正被犯罪团伙在 Snapchat 和 TikTok 等社交媒体网站上诱导。这些团伙以提供免费的一周泰国假期为诱饵，包括机票、酒店和零用钱，而条件是对方需要帮一个小忙。但随后，他们在暴力的威胁下被强迫携带毒品返回，并在返回英国后被提供最高 £5,000 的报酬。

NCA 边境漏洞负责人保罗·潘特里（Paul Pantry）表示：“这些快递员无法控制自己的回程飞行方式。”“他们掌握在这些残酷的罪犯手中，这些人用暴力强制执行一切。一旦陷入其中，就无法回头。”“有组织犯罪集团不会关心快递员。他们会让他们陷入绝境。他们进入了一个阴暗且暴力的世界。”

潘特里先生表示，虽然一些有犯罪背景的人成为了毒品骡子，但也有相当一部分人认为自己是“网红类型”。他说：“那种奢华的生活方式具有吸引力，就是那种你可能会在社交媒体上发布的关于在奢华地点度过时光的故事。我们在这类犯罪中看到了这一人群。”

来自蒂赛赛德郡比林厄姆（Billingham, Teesside）的孕妇青少年贝拉·库利（Bella Culley），19 岁，去年在格鲁吉亚的第比利斯机场被发现携带从泰国走私的大麻。她面临 20 年监禁，但在通过认罪协议被羁押五个月后获释。

来自格拉斯哥的网红艾莉·克兰普西（Ellie Crampsie），23 岁，去年在爱丁堡机场被捕，当时她从泰国抵达，行李箱中装有 17kg 大麻，街头价值 £15万,000。她于 4 月被判处 16 个月监禁。

而来自伦敦南部的夏洛特·李·梅（Charlotte Lee May），21 岁，去年 5 月在斯里兰卡被捕，携带 46kg 来自泰国的大麻，目前面临 20 年监禁。

Bernie

在水疗中心放松？如果你在那里工作就没那么简单

作者：Lydia Veljanovski

对许多人来说，去水疗中心（spa）是放松的巅峰——在被悉心照料直到世间忧虑消散。但研究显示，对于那些提供护理服务的人来说，工作场所绝非宁静的避风港。

近三分之一的治疗师（32.1%）在工作中经常或非常频繁地感到体力耗尽。超过十分之三（30.2%）的人还表示他们经常感到精神疲惫，而超过四分之一（27.7%）的人报告经常经历职业倦怠或感到压力过大。

这份基于水疗、美容、治疗和健康领域专业人士回答的《治疗师福祉报告》描绘了这样一个行业：从业者白天在缓解他人的酸痛，而自己却在与自身的痛苦作斗争。

大约三分之一的人表示他们考虑过完全离开这个行业。许多人将其归咎于无休止的工作量以及预约之间缺乏恢复时间。

开展此次调查的心理健康倡导组织 Massage4MentalHealth 的海莉·斯尼什科（Hayley Snishko）表示：“调查结果凸显了通过专业发展、培训和认可来提供更大支持的必要性。”

我是谁？

• ● 我的真名叫 Jelena。
• ● 我是 Daher al-Umar 的后裔，他被认为是巴勒斯坦的民族英雄。
• ● 我获得了排球青少年奥林匹克赛的参赛资格。
• ● 2023 年，我因将大麻带入开曼群岛被罚款 $1,000。
• ● 中国曾在我模仿佛陀被认为具有种族主义色彩后撤销了我的签证。
• ● 我已向右图的梅拉尼娅·特朗普（Melania Trump）道歉，因为我嘲讽她的斯洛文尼亚口音。
• ● 我与 One Direction 组合的赞恩·马利克（Zayn Malik）有一个五岁的女儿。

谁？什么？哪里？

我们有趣的每周测验，我们将请您猜测新闻中的人物、地点和事物…… - ● 有传闻称我刚刚与布拉德利·库珀（Bradley Cooper）结婚。

我是什么？

• ● 我是世界上第二昂贵的香料。
• ● 蜘蛛讨厌我的气味。
• ● 在历史上，一种在海狸肛门附近囊袋中发现的糖浆曾被用作廉价替代品。
• ● 伊丽莎白一世女王曾将我作为催情剂。
• ● 我所属的兰花只能由蜂鸟和一种墨西哥蜜蜂授粉。但留尼旺岛上一名12岁的奴隶想出了手动授粉的方法——为每年价值£30 亿美元-a-year的贸易铺平了道路。
• ● 研究人员刚刚发现，我的香味会让购物者更有可能消费更多。
• ● 美国总统托马斯·杰斐逊是首位记录将我用于冰淇淋的美国人。

我在哪里？

• ● 我这里有英国最古老的主题公园，于1843年开放。
• ● 查理一世在内战期间被囚禁于此。
• ● 家族在此居住三代或三代以上的人自称为“Caulkheads”。
• ● 我这里每年举办一次大蒜节。
• ● 克里斯托弗·科克雷尔爵士在这里发明了气垫船。
• ● 这里的一个模型村在遭到抵制后，刚刚重新安置了一个名为Erica的2in-tail streaker。
• ● 答案：吉吉·哈迪德（Gigi Hadid）、香 vanilla、怀特岛（Isle of Wight）。

史蒂夫·本内特（STEVE BENNETT）

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21

巨龙史蒂文计划在他的£8.5m豪宅上赚回双倍资金——当地人愤怒至极

作者：多莉·巴斯比（Dolly Busby） 娱乐记者

由于他对其获利丰厚的商业投资大肆吹嘘，《私人之眼》（Private Eye）嘲讽他是“自我神话之王”。

但BBC《龙穴》（Dragons' Den）明星史蒂文·巴特利特（Steven Bartlett）对一项事业却不那么高调——那就是通过推高房价而激怒南非当地人。

《星期日邮报》可以透露，《CEO日记》（Diary Of A CEO）播客主持人购买了一处位于开普敦价值30 亿英镑.800 万的房产，花费两年时间进行翻修，现在正以超过两倍的价格，即850 万英镑 million出售。

这位身价超过£3700 万的33岁男子于2024年在比肖普考特（Bishopscourt）桌山山坡上购买了这座拥有七个卧室的超级豪宅。他将其出租给华纳兄弟国际制作公司，用于拍摄德国版真人秀《单身汉》（The Bachelor）的部分内容，并增加了游泳池旁的板式网球场、家庭影院和水疗中心等设施。

但这位出生于博茨瓦纳的商人受到了愤怒居民的审视，他们指责他进行“炒房”（flipping）——即购买房屋并翻修，然后迅速以虚高的利润出售。

居民塞迪克·达伍德（Sedick Dawood）表示：“我喜欢史蒂文，但开普敦再次被外国人以‘外资投资’为掩护买走，而实际上却推高了公民的房产价格。”

当这栋房子最近挂牌出售时，社交媒体上有人表示：“由于外国需求，我们无法享受或负担得起享受我们自己的土地。”

目前尚不清楚“炒房”是否一直是巴特利特先生的意图。

他的一位朋友表示：“史蒂文热爱南非的那个地方，但他就是无法经常去那里。他的业务扩展得如此之快——在美国和英国都设有办公室——以至于他大部分时间都花在横跨大西洋的旅途中。”

该朋友补充说，巴特利特先生去年只能在那里待四周，所以“保留它根本没有意义”。

他的发言人拒绝置评。

一杯国民信托的婴儿卡布奇诺要80便士？简直让人气得发疯

国民信托（National Trust）被指责在咖啡馆中对幼儿收取出泡沫牛奶小杯的费用，从而敲诈家长。与那些免费提供所谓“婴儿卡布奇诺”（babyccinos）的高街连锁店形成鲜明对比，国民信托收取80便士。

婴儿卡布奇诺——即装在小杯中的热泡沫牛奶——在想要模仿父母饮用卡布奇诺或拿铁的幼儿中非常受欢迎。包括Costa Coffee、星巴克（Starbucks）和Caffe Nero在内的高街咖啡连锁店均免费提供这种趣味饮品。

这一收费举措激怒了全国各地的家长，而此时国民信托正因会员费上涨而饱受抨击。十年前成年人的会员费为£63，现在已涨至略高于£100，家庭会员费则从£111涨至£176。

访问国民信托历史景点的家长们——包括肯特郡的爱德华时代山坡花园埃默茨花园（Emmetts Gardens），以及由Elizabeth Ivens创作的、温斯顿·丘吉尔的前住所肯特郡查特韦尔（Chartwell）——对咖啡馆中一杯婴儿卡布奇诺收费80便士感到震惊。

一位带幼儿参观埃默茨花园（该地成年人入场费最高为£16.50）的母亲告诉《星期日邮报》：“我给女儿点了一杯，简直不敢相信他们竟然为此收费，因为那不过就是杯子里的一点泡沫牛奶！”

在威尔特郡拉考克（Lacock）的国民信托咖啡馆——该地可追溯至撒克逊时代，曾是BBC《傲慢与偏见》以及电影《哈利·波特与混血王子》的拍摄地——一杯婴儿卡布奇诺同样售价80便士。

当《星期日邮报》访问该咖啡馆并点了一杯婴儿卡布奇诺和一杯标准咖啡时，我们的记者收到的是一个浓缩咖啡杯中几口热泡沫牛奶——不足100ml。

当被问及为何对这种极小分量的饮品收费时，咖啡师表示他们对冷牛奶收费，所以“是一样的”。

但在附近的威尔特郡奇彭纳姆（Chippenham），Costa Coffee、Caffe Nero和星巴克这些咖啡连锁店在成年人购买饮品时，均免费提供婴儿卡布奇诺。虽然它们的菜单上都没有列出婴儿卡布奇诺，但只要要求，所有店都会提供。

在Caffe Nero，服务员表示，当成年人购买其他饮品时，他们总是很乐意提供婴儿卡布奇诺。在Costa Coffee，婴儿卡布奇诺的分量接近200ml，几乎是国民信托版本的两倍；而在星巴克，服务员提供了小杯（100 ml）或大杯（约200ml）两种尺寸，且均免费。

国民信托的一位发言人表示：“作为一家慈善机构，我们定期审查定价，以确保我们能够覆盖成本并支持组织的长期未来，同时仍为我们的会员和访客提供物有所值的服务。”

“我们将食品和饮料的定价与类似的景点和高街运营商进行基准对比，以确保其大致符合行业标准。”

“考虑到其他店的定价以及我们收到的一些访客反馈，我们正将婴儿卡布奇诺的定价纳入我们的常规审查周期中进行重新评估。”

对移民走私者轻判引发愤怒

彼得·艾伦（Peter Allen）发自巴黎

保守党和改革英国党（Reform UK）的议员昨晚发表抨击，一名埃及男子因试图利用一艘在英吉利海峡起火的“巨型充气艇”将 173 名移民走私到英国，在法国仅被判处一年监禁。上周二凌晨的这场大火导致 11 人被烧伤。此类犯罪通常可被判处最高五年的监禁。

这名 25 岁的男子因法律原因不能透露姓名，在周五于布洛涅刑事法院受审后，于昨日在法国开始服刑。

保守党内政发言人克里斯·菲利普（Chris Philp）表示：“这些人口走私者置生命于不顾，他们正在摧毁欧洲的边境。他们应该被长期监禁。”

上周访问了法国移民营地的改革英国党（Reform UK）主席李·安德森（Lee Anderson）表示：“我们正被来自世界各地的罪犯当成傻瓜，而勤奋工作的英国纳税人则在为此买单。”

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《星期日邮报》质疑：安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）领导下的工党是否已悄悄变成了超级富豪的政党？

伯纳姆先生内阁中大约 21% 的成员就读于私立学校，而这些学校现在正日益超出有抱负的中产阶级的承受能力。这要归功于工党主席、前教育大臣布里奇特·菲利普森（Bridget Phillipson）强加给他们的税收变动——包括增值税（VAT）、国家保险（NI）的增加以及商业税率。

即使是那些就读于公立学校的部长们，在教育方面似乎也十分幸运。伯纳姆内阁中竟有 54% 的成员就读于牛津或剑桥大学，而 99% 的英国儿童并未能进入这两所学校。

现在我们得知，能源安全与净零排放大臣米亚塔·法恩布勒（Miatta Fahnbulleh）正让她的三个孩子接受私立教育。

部长，学校选得不错。可惜其他人无法效仿

我们不知道她和她的丈夫（据称从事“金融业”）支付了多少费用。但法恩布勒女士自己曾就读的学校——位于肯特郡汤布里奇韦尔斯的比奇伍德学校（Beechwood），目前向寄宿生每年收取近 £4.5万,000，向走读生收取最高 £2.4597万,597。

这本身没有错。《星期日邮报》支持进取心和雄心。我们只希望更多的孩子能够就读独立学校。

问题在于，工党自身的行为目前正在破坏全国大部分的私立教育。当他们一方面让私立学校对中产阶级而言过于昂贵，另一方面却继续让自己的孩子就读于此类学校时，我们必须假设他们清楚自己在做什么。

即使他们没有做出与法恩布勒女士相同的选择，他们也一定能意识到，菲利普森女士激进的税收强化了财富的特权，而非削弱了它。

每个家庭时不时都得考虑葬礼的问题。这可能并不受欢迎，但通常是明智的。这绝对不再像以前那样是禁忌——如今一些电视台充斥着葬礼计划的广告。

对于王室来说，这个问题要大得多。任何高级王室成员的去世都会引发关于礼节和优先权的微妙且复杂的问题。仪式将在哪里举行？安葬地在哪里？

我们最终都将死去，即便目前的王室成员以长寿著称。英国君主制这台运转良好的机器不希望在任何意外面前毫无准备，这完全正确。

因此，关于前约克公爵（现为安德鲁·蒙巴顿-温莎先生）葬礼这个尴尬的问题不可避免地被提出了。目前，计划为他举行一场被认为与已故女王之妹玛格丽特公主相当的葬礼。

让我们

安德鲁不配拥有任何皇家仪式

这里并非要心怀怨恨，但这位前王子在爱泼斯坦事件中的行为和态度，无疑已使其丧失了享受此类仪式的任何权利。显然，基于基本的体面，他应当与先祖合葬，且他在马尔维纳斯群岛（福克兰群岛）无可置疑的勇敢表现不会被海军所遗忘。但如果他的葬礼在皇家环境中举行，或带有君主制的装饰，英国公众将会感到沮丧。他现在是一名私人公民，他的葬礼也应当是私人的。

我的晚餐规则牵涉到很多“牛排”

我的新丈夫认为我在试图杀死他。他被告知（就像我们许多人一样）应当限制红肉的摄入量。所以现在，每当我端出牛排或香肠，他都将其视为一次谋杀企图。我们家庭生活的现实是，我是厨师，而通常在菜单问题上，厨师说了算。如果我在鱼类料理方面有能力，事情会简单得多，但我发现鱼类吃起来没意思，且很难煮好。鸡肉经常出现，但两个人能吃掉的量有限——而且虽然我们热爱意面，但我尽量限制自己的摄入量。在这种炎热的天气里，如果由我决定，晚餐就应该是沙拉和奶酪，但任何此类建议都会引发明显失望的反应，涉及鹰嘴豆或扁豆的甜点也是如此。我们和谐地生活在一起20多年了，但直到最近结婚，关于晚餐吃什么的这种不兼容性似乎才变得更加明显。据我回忆，结婚誓言中并不包括承诺只提供配偶喜欢的食物。如果情况继续这样发展，我们将面对的不是分床睡，而是分餐吃。只不过，我们中只有一个人会做饭。

童年记忆汹涌而至

上周，在母亲于二月去世后，我终于挂起了从父母那里继承的许多大画作。将它们放在我的家中是一种非常奇怪的感觉。这些画作是我60多年童年生活的一部分，每次回去探访，它们都在原来的旧位置上。看到它们挂在我的墙上，感觉完全正确，又完全错误。正确，是因为它们极其熟悉，几乎就像是我身体的一部分；错误，是因为它们属于我父母的家，而现在他们和这些物件都不在那里了。我还拿了很多家具，比如厨房里的六把弯木椅，以及现在放在我们浴室里用来存放杂物的新古典主义风格饮品柜。事实上，这个地方看起来像是我度过童年的那个家的苍白模仿品，每个房间都必须为了容纳它们而做出改变。我还没能完全弄清楚，这究竟是完全正常的行为，还是表现出某种对我想拼命抓住的过去的病态依恋。

亚历山德拉·舒尔曼的笔记本

我的书被“觉醒警察”盯上了

在过去的几天里，我一直在录制即将出版的书——《黑咖啡与红唇：生活笔记》。大声朗读原稿时，我注意到有无数行文字我后悔没有措辞得更好，此外还有个别拼写错误。其中有一行提到埃及人在公元前3100年就开始使用眼线笔。或者说，这是我最初写的。在打字稿中，它被改成了3100 BCE。我以为这是一个拼写错误，但我的优秀制作人告诉我，这现在才是正确的用法。我们不再被要求使用“公元前”（Before Christ）或“公元”（Anno Domini），而要使用“通用纪元前”（Before the Common Era）和“通用纪元”（Common Era）以体现世俗中立。简直是胡说八道。我已经要求把旧的BC改回来，并且很乐意被视为某种文化和社会上的落伍者。

很难分辨什么是假的，什么是真的

我的继女艾玛（Emma）一直住在我们家。她在一家美国报社的图片编辑部工作。她的大部分时间都花在计算网络上的哪些图片是由AI生成的。上周，一张据称是女演员赞比亚（Zembaya）怀孕的照片在流传，艾玛试图向我解释她用来检测这张照片是伪造的方法。但这超出了我的认知范围。社交媒体上充斥着如此之多的此类内容，以至于验证工作已成为在知名新闻网站工作的重要组成部分。有专门的部门负责此项工作，而这个角色对于理解我们接收到的信息来说，就像过去那个拿着速记本的老派记者一样至关重要。

温馨的老奶奶已成过去式

“NONNAMAXXING”是Instagram上的一种趋势，旨在赞美传统奶奶的美德，尤其是如果她能做出一碗极赞的意面。那些头发花白、生活节奏缓慢、与邻居聊天、穿着旧针织衫并在晚上钩编的温馨女家长，重新成为了灵感来源。我能理解这种吸引力，但谁真正认识这样的奶奶？我认识的那些祖母们更有可能在尼泊尔徒步，或者全职工作，总之到处奔波。如果她们有时间思考自己希望被如何看待，那么这个角色就很有趣

尽情享受生活：奶奶们已经改变了模式，对于孙辈来说，她们不再是温顺的照顾者。

我被转化了——成了Nando's的忠实粉丝

我不认为自己是个祖母，但我是个继祖母，因此上周我进行了第一次Nando's之旅。我的美国继孙子要求去那里，我承认我当时很忐忑。我曾想象Nando's会很难吃。但我大错特错了。我完全被转化了。我的peri peri鸡肉和番茄沙拉非常美味，员工们也很讨喜——而且我发现路那边就有一家。

不要薯条？没门

一位农民朋友告诉我，马铃薯世界正处于动荡之中。今年的作物正遭受热浪之苦（它们在极高温度下无法生长）。但减肥针的兴起意味着更少的人在食用这些高碳水蔬菜。最大的供应商之一麦凯恩（McCain）正考虑关闭林肯郡的一家生产其“Fries To Go”品牌产品的工厂，农民们也不确定未来是否应该转向其他作物。然而，我亲眼所见的是，在Nando's里，点薯条的人数依然庞大。

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当报告称下议院“浸透了酒精”时，我们的速写作者持有截然不同的观点

这个干旱、苍蝇乱飞的八月，被一个名为酒精研究学院（Institute of Alcohol Studies）的机构所发表的布道给打断了。它声称议会是一个“浸透了酒精的职场”，全天候酗酒已成为一种“根深蒂固”的现象，且酒精一直是“政客们有害行为和糟糕操守的驱动因素”。这个学院是旧时禁酒联盟（Total Abstinence League）的分支，它可能确实触及了某些问题，尽管并非以它想象的方式。威斯敏斯特确实存在酒精问题。在我看来，是喝得不够。当然，这并不是那份名为《受影响？》（Under Influence?）的报告的要旨。这份长达 38 页、措辞严谨的报告中，该学院谴责我们的立法机构是一个“酒鬼的天堂”。它指称近期有国会议员因醉酒严重而不得不进行洗胃。报告未提供具体姓名。报告抱怨说，“个人负责自我调节酒精摄入量”，就好像应该有一个拿着写字板的罗莎·克莱布（Rosa Klebb）时刻在旁边盘旋，告诉后座议员不要再喝一杯雪莉酒。这份报告——读起来枯燥乏味，却又啰嗦——认为酒精«议长在爬上他的椅子时尝试了不止一次»“与被认为对职业晋升至关重要的社交文化相关联”。政治中的社交？接下来还会发生什么？作弊的足球运动员？让我们首先承认，有些人讨厌政客，希望他们过得痛苦。为什么议会里会有酒吧？为什么公司和慈善机构在威斯敏斯特的招待会上提供免费饮料？给国会议员和贵族提供免费葡萄酒？这些混蛋！对这一指控的回答是，政治是一门关于人的生意。“魔鬼的酪乳”（正如伊恩·佩斯利牧师过去称呼酒精那样）能让政治变得更诚实，我稍后会解释。威斯敏斯特过去要“液体”得多。19 世纪的下议院经常处于酩酊状态。1940, 年那场导致张伯伦政府垮台的挪威大辩论，就是在酒精味中进行的。那一定是个怎样的夜晚：紧张、压力、汹涌的情绪。天哪，只要一想到这里，你几乎能闻到威士忌的味道以及那一刻极度的紧迫感。在 20 世纪 60 年代后期，下议院议长是霍拉斯·金（Horace King），一个饮酒者。一天晚上，他在 9.25pm 摇摇晃晃地走进议事厅，尝试了不止一次才爬上他的椅子。他瘫在书记员的桌子上，他的礼仪假发倾斜了 45 度。政府首席党鞭鲍勃·梅利什（Bob Mellish）厉声喝道：“你真是个耻辱，

威斯敏斯特有酗酒问题？不，议员们喝得还不够。如果他们多喝点，或许会更诚实

作者：QUENTIN LETTS

“霍拉斯，三个月内我就要把你从那个议长席上赶走。”

金议长（Speaker King）强忍着一个嗝回答道：“鲍勃，如果我连坐进那个椅子都做不到，你怎么可能把我赶走？”

BBC政治记者本·赖特（Ben Wright）在他那本关于议会饮酒的有趣书籍中声称，1983年，一名工党议员埃德温·温赖特（Edwin Wainwright）在陌生人酒吧（Strangers' Bar）喝多了之后，被护送上出租车离开。然而，温赖特还没准备好结束这一天。他踉踉跄跄地走回下议院并发表了一番演讲，由于说话过于含糊，议会记录（Hansard）的速记员无法分辨他在说什么。他们没有记录演讲的逐字实录，而只是简单地写道：“温赖特先生发表了一些观察。”

在同年，那位最慵懒的保守党人艾伦·克拉克（Alan Clark）被任命为初级就业大臣。他被要求就机会均等发表一次前排演讲。演讲直到晚上10点之后才开始，而克拉克在前半个晚上一直参加品酒会。当他开始读演讲稿时，他意识到稿子里充斥着公务员的术语。为了不让议院受罪，他以“晚上78分而非33分”的速度演讲，也就是说，速度快得离谱。工党的克莱尔·肖特（Clare Short）没觉得这好笑，并提出了投诉。克拉克无疑很顽皮，但他难道没有一定的道理吗？为什么人们在晚餐后还要忍受官僚主义的陈词滥调？

至于肖特女士，五年后，在工党党代会的第一天下午，我在黑普尔的帝国酒店喝酒。克莱尔就在我们的桌子上。我以前认为自己酒量很大，但在她身边，我觉得自己像个弱小的业余爱好者。

过去的历史常常在酒精的烟雾中闪烁。乔治·布朗（George Brown）在20世纪60年代是一位酗酒的经济大臣兼外交大臣，公众对他很热情。埃尼·贝文（Ernie Bevin）是40年代最严肃且能干的政治家，他依赖酒精运行，就像“汽车使用汽油”一样。罗伊·詹金斯（Roy Jenkins）被昵称为“老博若莱”。

政治并不像酒精研究学会（Institute for Alcohol Studies）所声称的那样是一项“职业”。你不需要通过考试才能成为一名议员。你唯一需要的一张纸是选举官员确认你赢得了选区选举的证明。议会政治关乎生活，而生活有时可能是醉醺醺的，尤其是承受议员必须忍受的那种压力时。

我现在不再酗酒了。我完全明白，过量饮酒是一种毒药。但它是数百万选民非常享受的东西。政治家是公民，而不是圣人。近期我们经历了可怜的查尔斯·肯尼迪（Charles Kennedy），他被酒精所害，而且还出现了一两个议员在走廊里东倒西歪的案例；但我们也有奈杰尔·法拉奇（Nigel Farage），他那充满啤酒气息的形象帮助我们将自己从欧盟中解放出来。当他散发出那种酒吧式的亲切感时，他更受欢迎。

政治既是辩论的艺术，也是社交的艺术。绿党的扎克·波兰斯基（Zack Polanski）不喝酒。也许如果他喝酒，他看起来会没那么狂热，因此更有说服力。

已故的戴维·利普西（David Lipsey）是威尔逊时期的政治顾问，他告诉本·赖特：“喝酒停止了每天必须做点什么的强迫性冲动。”利普西怀疑，如今的大臣们“太清醒且太精力充沛，总在想些诡计，而如果他们喝上几杯大酒，就会把这些诡计忘掉”。

我会为饮酒提供一个更积极的理由，即将其作为一种“诚实药”。如果大臣们能与后座议员及其选民一起喝杯啤酒，他们更有可能了解对方的想法。人们对基尔·斯塔默（Keir Starmer）担任首相的一项批评就是他很少与自己的议员打交道。这位著名的律师在酒吧里花的时间不够多。

并不是说今天的下议院生活放荡。尽管那些恐怖的«几口烈酒或许能让他们愿意违背党鞭的指令»

尽管该研究所的报告中记载了洗胃的故事，但如今的国会议员在我看来是一群肝脏健康、心态坦荡的人。喝上几口酒或许能让他们准备好违抗党鞭，并意识到监管过度以及大量福利支出是多么荒谬。该研究所认为在酒吧里争论是一件坏事。但如果这能帮助议员们理清他们对糟糕法案的真实想法，我认为那是件好事。胆小鬼会说“但这里是工作场所，你不应该在工作时喝酒”。议会远不止是一个工作场所。它是我们政治的驾驶舱，是一个辩论和揭露尴尬真相的竞技场。近段时间，这些真相因过度的清醒而被驯服。温斯顿·丘吉尔曾说：“我从酒精中获得的比酒精从我身上夺走的更多。”如果鲍里斯·叶利钦没有那么痴迷于伏特加，他会在 1991 年冒着生命危险站在那辆坦克上抵抗苏联强硬派吗？在布莱尔执政时期，最优秀的后座议员之一是工党的鲍勃·马歇尔-安德鲁斯，他午餐时间经常出没于加里克酒吧。正是马歇尔-安德鲁斯在下议院中对大卫·米利班德担任外交大臣期间给出了那个精辟的描述。“一个在间隔年期间的蠢货，”伟大的鲍勃慢条斯理地说道。唯一的意外是他没有接着大喊：“请再来一瓶俱乐部红酒！” ---

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阿姆斯特丹的魅力在混凝土与大麻中消逝

阿姆斯特丹是否失去了它的魔力？在1940年希区柯克那部出色的电影《海外特派员》中，这座城市有着极佳的呈现，据我所知，那是唯一一部将汽车追逐、纳粹和风车结合在一起的电影。我在2万世纪7万年代第一次访问那里时，它还散发着那种浪漫的北欧气息——现在已经消失了——那是浓咖啡和雪茄的味道。而如今，它的部分地区闻起来完全是另一种味道。随后，它在20世纪70年代关于荷兰侦探皮特·范德法尔克（Piet van der Valk）的原版剧集中担任主角，被塑造成一座充满毒品和娼妓的异域、肮脏的反主流文化城市。但现在，谁还需要为了这些东西去阿姆斯特丹？在萨里郡（Surrey）就能找到。我看了新版ITV剧集《范德法尔克》的开头，完全看不出其意义所在。马克·沃伦（Marc Warren）饰演了一个脾气暴躁、像摩尔斯（Morse）一样的范德法尔克。图中所示的梅米·麦考伊（Maimie McCoy）则是他迷人的——且可能是女同性恋的——女性助手。旧时的阿姆斯特丹已被一座巨大的、平庸的混凝土与玻璃新城所吞噬。在我们还没搞清楚身在何处之前，就发生了一场巨大的橙色爆炸。我放弃了，转而去读了一篇夏洛克·福尔摩斯的故事。

剑桥大学不幸成为了两所英国顶尖大学中，第一个被揭露为“政治正确笑话”的学校。这种情况同样可能发生在牛津大学身上。这些地方拥有巨大的声望，但长期以来已被综合学校（comprehensive schools）日益恶化的影响所掏空。现在，我们也拥有了“综合大学”。

许多人永远不会犯罪，因此对监狱的恐惧不会对他们产生太大影响。接着是那些可能会受到诱惑，但会被对被捕入狱的真实恐惧而打消念头的人。然后是那些不可救药的惯犯。最后一组人过去是我们监狱人口的基础，大约20,000人。中间那一组，即容易受到诱惑的人，自1960年代以来，犯罪人数开始不断增加。曾经，他们会害怕犯罪。现在他们发现警察缺席，因此在被调查之前就可以实施数十起犯罪。等到他们被关起来时（如果真的被关起来的话），他们已经成了老练的违法者。这对他们没有任何好处，也不会威慑像他们一样的人。监狱在他们生命中出现得太晚，无法让他们改过自新。而且监狱不再由合法当局管理，而是由囚犯管理。因此，他们出狱时会比入狱时更糟糕。

直到1960年代文化革命和宽容社会（Permissive Society）兴起之前，我们并没有监狱过度拥挤的问题。1960年，英格兰和威尔士的监狱中只有2.7万,000人。随后，在短短几年内，出现了大规模离婚、家庭关系弱化、父亲缺位。警察开始钻进车里，躲在办公室里。教师失去了权威。关于对错的旧观念逐渐消逝。取而代之的，我们只有“恰当”和“不恰当”。毒品使用随着道德的萎缩而迅速蔓延。到1970年，监狱人口增加到3.9万,000人。到1990年，人数几乎达到了4.6万,000人。2002年，人数首次突破70,000人。现在人数已超过8.7万,000人，接近8.98万,800人的最大容量。

这使得保持监狱文明或有序几乎变得不可能。人数处于绝对劣势的狱警，与其说是传统的看守，不如说更像联合国维和部队。他们必须就一切进行协商。但一旦共享牢房被锁上，弱者必须屈服于强者。这太可怕了。难怪有这么多自杀事件。

因此，目前关于多少囚犯、哪些囚犯可以被不公正且危险地提前释放的争论是空洞的。关于此的辩论大多是毫无意义的姿态。目前的监狱既不能惩罚也不能威慑坏人。即使所有囚犯都服满法定刑期，他们中的大多数在出狱时依然和入狱时一样危险。我们在60年前失去了对社会的控制，除非我们弄清楚原因（这其实很简单，但超出了我见过的任何政治人物的能力范围），否则我们无法将其夺回。

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英超联赛 # 赛程壁图

--- 27 # Sarah Wine 连续五年四次荣获“年度星期日专栏作家”！ # 伯纳姆或他的假期。也许在这次政变之后，他确实需要休息…… 叫我保守也行，但如果我刚刚完成了一次敌意收购，并任命自己为一个债务高达约 3万亿英镑 的病危企业兼国家的首席执行官，我绝不会在短短两周后就匆匆去度假。然而，这正是我们的新任首相安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）所做的事。我的意思是，我能理解，当你早已订好了机票和住宿，并且预付了瑞安航空（Ryanair）的机上套餐时，计划被干扰是很烦人的——但他显然已经策划这次政变一段时间了。你应该认为他已经把这一点考虑在内了。我绝不是在暗示首相不应该像戈登·布朗（Gordon Brown）那样去度假。那样做才是疯了。每个人都需要休息，伯纳姆的孩子们也需要见到他们的父亲。但他需要这么快就缺勤吗？难道他不能以“国家事务有时优先”为由，只在长周末期间短暂加入他们吗？ 无论如何，政治家的假期是公关操盘手的噩梦。还记得托尼·布莱尔（Tony Blair）、西尔维奥·贝卢斯科尼（Silvio Berlusconi）和萨丁岛别墅的那档子事吗？当时甚至还有烟花表演拼出“Viva Tony”字样。或者乔治·奥斯本（George Osborne）和奥列格·德里帕斯卡（Oleg Deripaska）的游艇又是怎么回事？杰克·斯特劳（Jack Straw）、彼得·曼德尔森（Peter Mandelson）……他们都曾在不同程度上享受过一些令人质疑的款待。相比之下，那个拿着泰勒·斯威夫特（Taylor Swift）赠品的可怜的斯塔默（Starmer）简直像个纯业余选手。在如今这个更加禁欲的时代，政治家们应当采取一种不那么公开享乐的方式。任何显示一个人可能在享受生活的迹象都会受到诟病。目的地必须经过 ● 说到度假的政治家，我们可能需要从痴迷于性的萨曼莎·尼布莱特（Samantha Niblett）那里解脱出来。无论是在议会推广成人玩具，还是在日光浴躺椅上舒适地辱骂那些不想与长着睾丸的“姐妹”共用更衣室的女性，这位国会议员正迅速变得令人反感。 娱乐警察的审查。经济也是一个重要因素。大卫·卡梅伦（David Cameron）以前度假时会乘坐易捷航空（EasyJet）。当我的前夫迈克尔·戈夫（Michael Gove）作为 2013 年贸易代表团成员飞往中国时，他坐的是经济舱——这让北京的官员们感到惊讶。回想起来，迈克尔在低调度假方面是个大师。他一直敏锐地意识到接受奢华赠品的危险。作为

结果，他在家庭度假中采取了一种特别像长老会信徒的方式。想象一下那些苍蝇乱飞的 B&B 旅馆，开长途车前往威尔士和苏格兰的偏远地区，带有投币电表的农舍，被雨冲刷的海滩，廉价游戏厅和棉花糖。孩子们当然很喜欢。而我则在雨衣下幻想著科西嘉岛。海滨小镇越破旧，他就越沉浸其中，大快朵颐英式早餐，沉醉在窗户起雾的咖啡馆和装满落灰宝藏的古董店里。有一年，我们前往北威尔士利亚尼苏姆德威（Llanysumddwy）的劳合·乔治博物馆（Lloyd George Museum）朝圣（试着在喝了太多杯度假用桃红葡萄酒后再读读这个地名）。我不确定孩子们在看到那位伟人起草《

戒指并非关键

有传闻称，足球巨星克里斯蒂亚诺·罗纳尔多与未婚妻乔治娜·罗德里格斯将在本周末结婚。他用一枚巨大的 25 至 30 克拉钻石戒指向她求婚，该钻石纯净无瑕，价值约 £400 万。这与理查德·泰勒在 1968 年为伊丽莎白·泰勒购买的 33 克拉钻石相似——但与他 1969 年为她购买的所谓“泰勒-伯顿钻石”的 69.42 克拉相比，仍有一定差距。这一切都如此华丽且迷人——我们祝愿克里斯蒂亚诺和乔治娜（如图）幸福。但正如伯顿和泰勒所发现的那样，钻石的问题在于，无论它们有多大，都不能保证婚姻的长久或幸福。爱不是用克拉来衡量的，而是由让一段关系得以维持的千万件微小善意所组成的。

● 在马赛机场待了五个小时后，我以为我已经见过了所有糟糕的情况。那里不仅散发着原污水味，还装饰着各种令人偏头痛的颜色，从脓黄色到呕吐橙色不等。餐饮选择让人想起 20 世纪 80 年代的 Little Chef，而厕所的肮脏程度简直无法用语言形容。然而，当我于凌晨抵达斯坦斯特机场时，迎接我的是大麻味和腐烂垃圾的味道。也许他们应该考虑结成友好城市。在地狱里。

给我们一个值得自豪的伦敦

为什么萨迪克·汗（Sadiq Khan）想要花费数百万英镑在 2032 年举办世界骄傲节（World Pride）？伦敦一直以来都是 LGBT+ 群体的中心，是一个每个人都能做自己，且所有品味和特质都能得到尊重的地方。无论同性恋、异性恋还是其他，我们不需要一场我们负担不起的、旨在展示道德优越感的盛会。相反，应该把这笔钱花在保护我们的首都免受像地铁强奸犯西蒙·莱维（Simon Levy）这样卑劣怪物的侵害，或者打击在西区横行的危险且具有掠夺性的乞丐帮派。那样的话，我们所有人才能共同庆祝。

● 我想念道恩·弗伦奇（Dawn French）。她曾经像一束阳光，带来欢乐和捧腹大笑——重点在“捧腹”二字。现在，就像她的前夫伦尼·亨利（Lenny Henry）一样，她变得有点脾气暴躁，且“觉醒”到了令人疲惫的程度。虽然是个陈词滥调，但自从他们两人的体型都缩减了一半后，他们就失去了幽默感。难道是因为他们只是饿了？凡尔赛——尽管相邻茶馆的蛋糕起到了令人满意的贿赂作用。至于伯纳姆（Burnham），我们不知道他在哪里，只知道是“国际”之行。法国？葡萄牙？萨曼莎·卡梅伦（Samantha Cameron）以前很喜欢兰萨罗特岛，而且那里当然具备所有正确的工人阶级特质。伯纳姆会从他的日光浴躺椅上给我们带来一段温馨的 TikTok 视频吗？或者一段精心拍摄的短片，记录他沿着海滩行走，海风吹动他的睫毛，眼神深邃地思考资助社会护理的新方法？我不会浪费这种政治资本。尤其是考虑到地球上没有比夏季的英国乡村更好的地方，尤其是奇尔特恩丘陵（Chilterns），首相的官方周末寓所契克斯（Chequers）就坐落于此。这座伊丽莎白时代的庄园可能略显陈旧，但它有一个巨大的加热泳池、精致的玫瑰园、一个网球场、一片可兼作临时足球场的宽阔草坪，许多舒适的卧室，以及出奇之好的管道系统——此外，这里配备了全职员工，且布满了摄像头和安保设施，因此你永远不必担心窥视的目光。鉴于伯纳姆的“团队”费尽心思地指出他正处于 WFH（度假办公）状态，这里配备了所有必要的技术设备，还有一个豪华的书房，让他可以在午餐后处理一些首相事务。简而言之，这里是夏季度假的完美之所，是首相大家庭可以来暂住的地方，孩子们可以邀请朋友，在秘密通道、隐藏房间和阴凉的花园里消磨慵懒的下午，用关于玛丽·格雷夫人（Lady Mary Grey）鬼魂的故事吓唬彼此，并玩无止境的捉迷藏。最棒的是，这里有各种不错的当地酒吧，正是像伯纳姆这样“来自人民”的人在散步后可以去喝杯啤酒、吃包猪皮脆脆的地方。你究竟为什么要去其他地方？

这是我很久以来见过的最悲剧的事情：格蕾塔·通贝里（Greta Thunberg）戴着三色巴拉克拉法帽和库菲耶围巾（左图），在 Kneecap 乐队的演唱会上，被一群角色扮演的伪革命者包围，他们为一支乐队欢呼，而该乐队支持的正是那些在 2023 年 10 月 7 日强奸并杀害了数百名像他们一样年轻人的恐怖分子。这就像是“支持巴勒斯坦”版本的《寻找沃利》。

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被解雇……将跨性别女性称为“穿裙子的阴茎”的女侦探

一名女侦探因严重失职被解雇，并与杀人犯和强奸犯警察一起被列入黑名单，此前她公开批评了其所在警队的“觉醒”意识形态（woke ideology）。

侦探警员瑞秋·弗莱彻（Rachel Fletcher），49岁，被男同事举报，称其使用“穿裙子的阴茎”（c**ks in frocks）一词来谴责诺森伯里亚警察局（Northumbria Police）的指南。该指南允许认同自己为女性的生物学男性坚持要求由女警员进行搜身。

弗莱彻女士是一位两个孩子的单身母亲，她在确保惯犯儿童色情狂罗斯·杰克逊（Ross Jackson）被抓获并于今年2月在纽卡斯尔被判处25年监禁的过程中发挥了关键作用。但这位资深的儿童保护和家庭联络员随后对上个月被解雇感到震惊。

诺森伯里亚警察局表示，她发表关于男性的“性别歧视、不恰当且具有攻击性”的言论，以及一句“恐跨”言论，使警局名誉受损。在长达20年的职业生涯中，她从一名文职人员一路晋升为侦探，而现在她已被禁止从事警察工作。

所有被判定为严重失职的警员都被列入黑名单。名单中包括前大都会警察局警员韦恩·考森斯（Wayne Couzens，谋杀莎拉·埃弗拉德者）和连环强奸犯大卫·卡里克（David Carrick）。

男同事在纪律委员会上表示，当他们听到弗莱彻女士与一名女警员开玩笑说，所有男性都应在晚上9点实施宵禁以防止夜间性攻击时，他们感到“被冒犯”。据称，在盖茨黑德警察局，还听到弗莱彻女士说“所有男人都是强奸犯”。

被解雇：瑞秋·弗莱彻被她的男同事举报

她坚称自己说的是“所有强奸犯都是男人”。她表示：“冒犯同事并不意味着我对公众构成危险，但现在我的名字却与强奸犯和杀人犯在同一份名单上。”

诺森伯里亚警察局局长瓦内萨·贾丁（Vanessa Jardine）直到最近还在国家警察局长委员会（National Police Chiefs Council）负责LGBTQ事务，并起草了跨性别对待指南。

前奥运游泳运动员戴维斯男爵夫人（Baroness Davies）是女性体育联盟（Women's Sports Union）的联合创始人，她表示，觉醒的警察部队正在“摧毁他们的公众信誉”。

前南威尔士警察局监督官、女性权利网络（Women's Rights Network）主任凯西·拉克曼（Cathy Larkman）补充道：“这就是现代版的公开烧女巫。”

弗莱彻女士正就不公正解雇提起申诉。诺森伯里亚警局昨日拒绝置评。

大多数门店：不包括Morrisons Daily。线上渠道有所不同。 慈善机构注册号 207994（英格兰和威尔士）。SC038 / 19 (Scotland)。 条款与条件：my.morrisons.com / marie-curie-epgb-tcs

下周新闻……今日播报！

我们以不羁的视角审视未来几天可能爆发的一些故事……

周一

一名因简历被报道存在差异而辞职的剑桥学者，决定回到之前的哪份工作中：宇航员、英格兰队进球手，还是官方胸部检查员。

教育大臣露西·鲍威尔（Lucy Powell）对杰森·阿尔代（Jason Arday）教授丑闻继续保持沉默。尽管在是否具备工作所需的技能、天赋或经验方面存在巨大疑问，但鲍威尔女士还是在职级上获得了信任，并于上个月加入内阁。

周二

威斯敏斯特市议会否认其禁止站着喝酒的计划破坏了酒吧文化——随后将出台禁止在台球桌上放一英镑、撕开薯片袋以及在任何人打碎玻璃杯时发出“wa-hay”惊叹声的细则。

根据ChatGPT的深入分析，人类无需担心AI创建16种新病毒带来的任何威胁。

周三

唐纳德·特朗普获得了“Speedos”（紧身泳裤）的绰号……因为就像那种紧身泳裤一样，他没有舞厅（ballroom，此处为双关语，ballroom与balls / 睾丸谐音）。

易捷航空（EasyJet）完成了向美国私募股权公司阿波罗全球管理公司（Apollo Global Management）的出售。董事们将在新董事会获得一个席位——需支付£49.95的附加费。

星期四 在今天的克拉克顿（Clacton）补选之后，政治发烧友们会熬夜观看计票——或者关注任何其他搞笑候选人。一名因在车上贴了“耶稣爱你”贴纸而被保险公司拒保的司机买了一辆新车：克莱斯勒（Christler）。 ## 星期五 安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）结束了为期五天的压力假期回归工作——巧合的是，这正是目前过失杀人罪的新量刑指南。宜家（Ikea）表示，一只在停车场被发现的鹦鹉在被盗九年后才找回，如果它的“嘎嘎”叫声没有被误认为是顾客在订购脚凳，它本可以更早地回到主人身边。 Steve Bennett --- v1 29

Mel C 的婚礼……以及朋友们称证明了 Geri 比 Posh 更像个“大牌”的礼服冲突

对于梅兰妮·奇索姆（Melanie Chisholm）来说，那本该是一张可以珍藏终生的照片。在上个月与模特克里斯·丁格沃尔（Chris Dingwall）的婚礼上，她与三位辣妹组合（Spice Girls）的队友并肩而立。这位以“运动辣妹”（Sporty Spice）著称的女性身着一件优雅的婚纱，显得美艳动人，该礼服由缺席的维多利亚·贝克汉姆（Victoria Beckham）设计，后者当时在美国执行世界杯相关任务。

但正如照片清晰显示的那样，Mel 并不是唯一一个穿白色的人。艾玛·邦顿（Emma Bunton）选择了一套粉色格纹裤装，梅兰妮·布朗（Melanie Brown）则选择了一件桃色迷你裙，而杰丽·哈利韦尔（Geri Halliwell）则完全打破了婚礼礼仪，穿着一套白色的及地长裙，尽管上面点缀着淡色花朵，但看起来毫无疑问像新娘装。

据我获悉，当天私下里有人对“辣妹”（Ginger Spice）的服装选择发表了刻薄的评论，那是一套由澳大利亚设计师 Zimmermann 设计的价值 £2,000 的两件套。虽然有人对此感到惊讶，但许多人将其视为“典型的 行为”而一笑置之。

但上周，通常处事圆滑的 C 谈到了她朋友在着装上的失礼——透露她曾专门要求 在她的重要日子里不要穿白色。在澳大利亚广播电台 KIIS 1065 的采访中， 表示：“我确实和 聊了一下，因为那是她最喜欢的颜色。”

“她每天都穿白色。但她当时穿了一件漂亮的碎花裙，而且是纯白色。”

“我对此和她开过一个小玩笑。”

虽然在公开场合 似乎对 的礼服选择表现得大度，但了解这两个女人的内部人士则不那么宽容。

“ 对 一直非常宽容，”一名消息人士说，“但实际上，她实在是太宽容了。”

“ 很可爱，她很善良，她愿意为 做任何事，然而 竟然不能在这一天穿个不同的颜色。”

“ 大部分时间都随心所欲，但对 这样做感觉非常轻视，而且近乎刻薄。 今年 52 岁，是第一次结婚，这是一个极其特别的日子，女孩们都为她感到高兴。这真的很令人费解。”

“但这非常符合 的性格。她是个大牌（diva），是所有辣妹组合成员中最‘大牌’的一个——别忘了维多利亚·贝克汉姆也是成员之一。”

“维多利亚虽然没在现场，但即使是她也想通过为 设计礼服来让这个日子变得特别。”

«她竟然不能在这一天穿个不同的颜色»

与她的丈夫、前红牛（Red Bull）老板克里斯蒂安·霍纳（Christian Horner）一同出席了这场在湖区（Lake District）乡村之家坎布里亚（The Country House Cumbria）湖畔草坪举行的婚礼。过去几年里，她一直坚持穿白色。这与她当年在辣妹组合时期的张扬风格形成了鲜明对比，当时她在 1997 年的 Brit Awards 表演中穿着一件著名的英国国旗迷你裙。

据我获悉，虽然 为自己的辣妹组合根源感到自豪，但现在她作为一名住在牛津郡乡村奢华庄园里的两个孩子的母亲，对过去狂野的经历也感到一丝尴尬。

“也许正是因为这个原因， 将她曾经色彩斑斓的衣橱换成了更低调的风格。当辣妹组合时期的某些元素重新出现时， 会感到很窘迫，”一名消息人士说，“其他人欣然接受，但 并不总是如此。她认为其中一些东西非常俗气，与她如今为自己塑造的‘庄园女主人’品牌不符。”

“此外，她对克里斯蒂安的家人感到尴尬，有人说他们对那段日子嗤之以鼻。”

然而， 坚持认为，她塑造更成熟形象的灵感来自已故的苹果公司老板史蒂夫·乔布斯（Steve Jobs）和 Facebook 创始人马克·扎克伯格（Mark Zuckerberg），两人都穿着简单。在杰西·韦尔（Jessie Ware）的播客节目《餐桌礼仪》（Table Manners）中，她解释说白色是她的“制服”，这让她每天在准备时能节省大量时间。她补充说，这给她带来了一种平静感和掌控感。

“我曾在20多岁的时候经历过一段一直穿黑衣服的时期，”她说道。“但我尝试过不同的理论。我观察了很多男性，他们总是穿同样的东西。”“无论是史蒂夫·乔布斯，还是那个Facebook的家伙，你知道的，他们都穿同样的东西，就像制服一样。我想，‘其实，你每天花多少时间准备？’”“这就是其中一点，而且所有衣服都能搭配。这让事情变得简单。”她补充说这“就像成年人穿校服一样”，并表示这让人们觉得“即使你没怎么费心，看起来也像是有在努力打扮”。

最近，54岁的杰丽（Geri）还承认：“保守穿着有一种力量，我之前没有意识到这一点，我不需要过度展露。”关于杰丽从那个出身于沃特福、行为出格的追梦者，戏剧性地蜕变为温婉的乡村妻子——据说她非常享受这个角色——的轶事越来越多。而没有什么比搬进一座价值£4500万、拥有私人马厩的 sprawling 乡村庄园更能彰显“庄园夫人”身份了。“现在她把自己打扮得像名媛一样，她会随心所欲”。他们的家位于牛津郡与北安普顿郡的边界，与杰丽20岁的女儿Bluebell以及夫妇俩8岁的儿子Monty共同居住。然而，知情人士表示他们渴望升级，一直在考察附近其他奢华的庄园。杰丽肯定希望任何搬迁都能标志着与过去困难两年的彻底决裂。

四人合一： 上个月，梅兰妮·奇泽姆（Melanie Chisholm）与梅尔B（Mel B）、杰丽·哈利威尔（Geri Halliwell）和艾玛·邦顿（Emma Bunton）在她位于坎布里亚的婚礼上。

前一级方程式赛车老板克里斯蒂安（Christian）曾卷入一场丑闻，一名女同事指控其行为不端，他对此予以否认，其所在的红牛车队也对此予以驳回。然而，这最终导致他在去年7月卸任首席执行官。尽管她的丈夫被证明清白，但这段经历对杰丽来说仍令人尴尬。她坚定地支持克里斯蒂安，两人于2015年5月结婚，当时她穿着由设计师Phillipa Lepley定制的缎面礼服（当然是白色的）。

“杰丽是一个幸存者，她一直必须如此，”一名消息人士说。“她由单亲母亲抚养长大，必须为一切而奋斗，这最令人钦佩。但现在她把自己打扮得像名媛一样，她想做什么就做什么。”

“可悲的是，即使是可爱的梅尔走在婚礼走道上时，她也无法按照要求去做。”

“幸好那是梅尔C的婚礼而不是梅尔B的，因为如果是后者，恐怕会打起来。”

梅尔C在通过高端约会软件Raya相识后，于2023年开始与据信40多岁的克里斯（Chris）约会。

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在伯纳姆（Burnham）承诺他将废除撒切尔夫人那些拯救国家的改革方案时……

从一个北方人到另一个北方人，安迪，伙计。玛格丽特（撒切尔）就任首相时你才九岁，那么你到底对她把我们从那个崩溃边缘的英国救出来的经历了解多少？就在今天，距离我开始工作正好过去了 50 年，除了 2006 年在两份工作之间强制休息了一周外，我一直处于连续就业状态。有些人可能会质疑，与治疗病人或从 12 英寸的煤层中开采煤炭相比，新闻业是否算作真正的“工作”。但我坚信，自由的新闻界是任何自由民主制度的关键支柱，自从第一天来到《萨里镜报》（Surrey Mirror）的雷德希尔办公室以来，我一直全力以赴。

五十年来，这个行业的变化是巨大的。我想知道有多少年轻记者能想象在没有手机、社交媒体，甚至没有任何形式的计算机的情况下开展工作。没有 24 小时新闻，没有卫星电视，没有电子邮件，也没有电子数据库。在那些遥远的岁月里，记者们经常带着极其简陋的任务简报前往异国他乡，仅凭一本笔记本、一支笔和一叠剪报（其中大部分已经过时）武装自己。在更偏远的地区，电话网络不稳定，有时必须找到电缆无线电公司（Cable and Wireless）的办公室才能将稿件传回伦敦。掌握通信手段几乎与报道故事本身一样重要。

而且当笔记本电脑终于出现时，说得最保守一点，它们非常简陋。我记得 1980 年代后期的一次经历，我尝试在内罗比的新斯坦利酒店使用一台早期的 Tandy 200 “便携式计算机”发送报道。理论上，在输入故事后，机器会将文字转换为数字数据，通过调制解调器沿标准电话线以音频信号发送，并在另一端还原为原始文字。任何听过那种刺耳尖叫声的人——就像一只发疯的巨型蚊子在鸣叫——都不会忘记它。不幸的是，酒店的电话费按 90 秒一个单位计费，因此每 90 秒信号就会停止并重启，报道的传输被中断。在抓狂地揪头发，并试图向一个极其冷漠的接线员解释我需要至少三分钟连续信号之后，我放弃了，用老办法通过电话口述报道。

但我们生活在不同的时代。技术不仅仅是进步，而是飞跃。我们获得了更多信息，有些人可能会说信息过载，因为每天有海量信息通过互联网涌现。我们是否因此获得了更好的知情权，这是一个值得写一篇厚厚的博士论文探讨的课题。

自 1976 年以来，英国也发生了显著变化，而这些差异自从安迪·伯纳姆就任首相以来就一直困扰着我的思考。对于一个在大曼彻斯特地区以外没有任何选票支持的人来说，他似乎对自己有着极高的评价，并且显然很享受围绕在他身边的个人崇拜。但为了赢得这种崇拜，他做了什么？他的成就是什么？他的战斗伤痕在哪里？天哪，他只不过是一个在省级城市中取得了中等成功的市长，而不是在通往自由的长路上行军的纳尔逊·曼德拉。

毫无疑问，伯纳姆先生比他的前任更接地气，而前任的演说技巧就像一台“请说出你的体重”的量重机。但恐怕我觉得他那种眨眼、亲民的风格相当腻人。而且他几乎只用陈词滥调的短句说话。“每个邮编区都有增长”、“每颗心中都有希望”、“我支持我们”（完全没搞懂是什么意思！）、“国家断路器”，以及那个极其毫无意义的承诺——结束“40 年的新自由主义”。他似乎一直在追忆撒切尔革命前一个想象中的黄金时代，并似乎想把英国带回 20 世纪 70 年代。我只能说，他应该小心自己所期盼的东西。

伯纳姆先生在“铁娘子”上台时才九岁，太年轻，不了解在那之前的生活是什么样子。否则，他可能会更加谨慎一些。诚然，那时有很多好事，尤其是对年轻人而言。免费的高等教育，对于那些愿意工作和旅行的人来说，就业前景普遍良好，而且没有严重的住房问题。领取平均工资的人完全有可能买房。社会感觉在某种程度上比今天更具凝聚力，而且肯定对我们的共同历史感到更自豪——“我不记得见过任何一个人承认投票给保守党”。我的家乡是米德尔斯堡，这是一个为服务钢铁工业而创建的城镇。从悉尼港到喀土穆，遍布整个帝国的桥梁和铁路都是用蒂赛德的钢材建造的。那几乎是一个没有阶级的社会，医生的孩子、银行家和律师的孩子与钢铁和化工工人的孩子在同一个学校就读。直到我上大学之前，我不记得见过任何上过私立学校的人——或者承认投票给保守党的人。但到1976年，重工业发达的东北英格兰地区生活已经在发生变化。达勒姆的煤田几乎枯竭，钢铁产量迅速下降，而泰恩河和威尔河畔的大型造船厂在面对外国竞争时举步维艰。米德里斯堡曾被称为“钢铁之都”，暂时被位于威尔顿和比林厄姆的ICI巨型工厂所拯救，后者生产多乐漆（Dulux），而前者是欧洲最大的石油裂解（将燃料、油类和气体分离的过程）综合体。但随着越来越多的石油由产油国自行在当地精炼，--- 31 蒂赛德很快也将感受到全面经济衰退的痛苦。在我看来，一个具有象征意义的事实是，我的哈里叔叔在20世纪50年代参与建设了威尔顿六座烯烃裂解厂中的第一座，生产大量的尼龙、特丽纶和其他合成材料。而在我开始工作的那一年左右，他参与了它的拆除。Sic transit gloria（荣耀如此易逝）。在国家层面，英格兰中部的汽车工厂生产着不合格的车辆，并试图以高价出售。劳动力顽固不化，似乎处于永久罢工状态，英国汽车成了做工粗劣的代名词。汽车制造业，以及电力、铁路、煤炭、电信、燃气和电力工业全部被国有化，其特点是工会主导、限制性做法和糟糕的业绩。似乎没有什么东西能正常运转。城市火车和地铁肮脏且不可靠，电力工人和矿工为了追求疯狂的加薪要求而罢工，导致许多家庭陷入黑暗，而安装电话线需要花费数月时间。国有工业没有内在原因会导致效率降低和罢工频发，但事实确实如此。也许是缺乏竞争和利润动机导致了自满以及对客户服务的忽视。（若要寻找现代的对比对象，看看公务员系统就知道了，其生产力低得令人震惊，且盛行居家办公文化。）由一群极左煽动者领导的大型工会掌控着当时软弱的工党政府，而且由于次级纠察和封闭式车间（closed shop）在当时仍然合法，他们能够且确实通过暴力和恐吓来强加自己的意志。我的父亲曾是联合工程工会（Amalgamated Engineering Union）的当地代表，一名稳健的工会成员。但他始终以公平而非政治为指导，并且像任何人一样对那些马克思主义破坏者的行为感到震惊。报业也面临类似的问题。封闭式车间的印刷工会表现得像黑帮一样，将业主视为勒索对象，用威胁索要钱财，如果得不到，就一举停止生产。《泰晤士报》和《星期日泰晤士报》曾因一场工业纠纷而整整一年没有在街头发售。

当那种扼杀状态被打破时——这在很大程度上是由《泰晤士报》的所有者鲁珀特·默多克促成的——就仿佛一块巨石被移开了一般。报纸重新开始盈利，得以喘息。那么，在伯纳姆先生的带领下，我们是否正走向一个“回归过去”的未来？他说他想要一种“新的经济模式”，要废除撒切尔改革，重新国有化、重新工业化并重新工会化，仿佛这能成为解决我们当前困境的某种方案。他应该非常仔细地考虑那个模式上次是如何结束的。70年代中期，英国陷入停滞。我们的大多数工业生产的产品无人问津，生产力跌至谷底，经济处于自由落体状态。那时的英国也比今天阴郁得多。由于燃煤电站、家用煤火和更肮脏的汽油尾气，城里的建筑披着一层黑色的煤烟外衣。

«城市建筑披着一层由燃煤产生的黑色煤烟斗篷» 空气中携带的毒素要多得多，尤其是在工业北区，而且河流的污染程度也远超今日。在我年轻时，ICI比林厄姆（ICI Billingham）外的旧蒂斯河（river Tees）呈现出一种诡异的淡彩色混合色，那是由于杜鲁克斯（Dulux）油漆被倾倒其中所致。该河流在1970年代被宣布为生态死亡，但如今却维持着健康的鲑鱼和鳟鱼种群。到1976年，由于工会离谱的加薪要求、懦弱的管理层以及软弱的政府，国家陷入了工资 / 价格的毁灭性螺旋。1973年国际石油危机留下的经济余波使得局面变得不可持续。那年9月，在我开始工作一个月后，政府终于耗尽了资金。市场将我们视为彻底的失败者，因此我们不得不低声下气地向国际货币基金组织申请贷款。作为交换，他们要求一定的财政纪律，但首相詹姆斯·卡拉汉（James Callaghan）不够强硬，无法实施必要的削减和薪资限制。结果就是1978-79年的“不满之冬”，这几乎是自1920年代以来最接近全面总罢工的一次事件。交通系统瘫痪，出现停电，垃圾在街道上堆积，食品和燃料的配送面临严重中断。甚至连掘墓工也参加了罢工，导致死者无法下葬。极左翼在混乱中幸灾乐祸，但他们即将遇到

«来自格兰瑟姆的杂货店之女是他们的克星» 他们的克星化身为来自格兰瑟姆的杂货店之女。她的疗法令人痛苦，许多人认为她残酷且冷漠。20世纪80年代初变成了当选政府与决心将其推翻的激进工会运动之间的一次力量较量。奥格里夫、奥勒顿以及其他地方的纠察线变成了战场，时至今日，人们对结果仍心怀愤恨。但当时的国家已在苟延残喘。如果撒切尔夫人没有进行救命手术，其他人也必须去做。大多数工会成员都是体面且勤奋的人，工会本身在争取职场公平方面有着光荣的历史。但伯纳姆先生应该意识到，那些由政治驱动的领导人不会永远是朋友。只要他满足他们的要求，他们就会支持他。一旦他不这么做，他们就会反戈一击。如果他对20世纪70年代仍抱有天真的幻想，请允许我提供一些那个时代的统计数据。通货膨胀在1975年达到顶峰，为27%，最高所得税率为每英镑83便士，而“非劳动”收入的税率则升至98%。1979. 年，因罢工而损失的工作日接近3000 万天。到1992, 很大程度上得益于撒切尔的改革，这一数字降至52.8万,000. 天。失业人数在1979年超过1400 万，最终峰值将超过300 万。利率高达两位数且在持续上升。1982, 年我买第一套公寓时，抵押贷款利率为16%，此外为了获得养老金计划的特权，还需额外支付1%。安迪小伙，如果你渴望回到那些喝啤酒吃三明治的日子，那就继续做梦吧。只要请不要试图把我们其余的人也带到那里去。人们说，过去是一个异国他乡。让我们就让它保持那样吧。

--- 32 31

作者：阿什克罗夫特勋爵（LORD ASHCROFT） 前保守党副主席

如何看待“伯纳姆反弹”？工党在最近的民调中发现自己处于领先地位——这种情况甚至在几周前还难以想象。与前任截然不同，新任首相以密集的计划和政策主导了头条新闻。安迪·伯纳姆似乎改变了政治天气，这是很少有政治家能声称实现的成就。但他是否改变了气候？

这种反弹确实存在。在我最新的民调中——我询问人们在下次选举到来时，认为自己投票给各政党的可能性有多大，而不是（像大多数调查那样）询问他们在假设的明天选举中会选择谁——结果显示工党领先四个百分点。在过去两年中流失的前工党选民现在更有可能表示，他们会在选举中再次出席并支持该党。在最佳首相的三方竞争中，伯纳姆以基尔·斯塔默在任最后18个月从未见过的数字领先于凯米·巴德诺克和奈杰尔·法拉奇。

相当一部分选民表示，他们认为新政权将与斯塔默时期不同且更好。在过去几周我对全国各地的焦点小组进行访谈时，很明显许多人喜欢他们所看到的景象。“他身上有一种我们很久没有感受到的温暖，”一个人观察到。他只透露了一些片段，那么重大问题怎么算？其他人注意到他“多了一点常识”，并且“他不是那种典型的养尊处优的富家子弟”。他们意识到他的个人魅力只能带他走那么远（正如一名男子敏锐地指出，世界领导人不会说：“哦，他喜欢 The Smiths 乐队，所以我们要和他达成协议”）。但就目前所见，“他似乎更专注于自己正在做的事情。他似乎在制定明确的计划”。

这一切意味着选民在很大程度上愿意给伯纳姆一些时间。我发现要求立即举行选举的数字比上个月有所下降，因为人们希望看到他能做些什么，而不是忍受另一轮的戏剧性和动荡。他们似乎也更倾向于——

是的，“伯纳姆反弹”是真实的。但选民已经在询问：我们到底将如何支付所有这些承诺？

选民裁决

在安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）领导下，税收会更高还是更低？ / 更高 / 49% / --- / 更低 / 4% / 您更倾向于哪个联盟？ / 工党、自民党和绿党 / 42% / --- / 保守党和改革英国党（Reform UK） / 30% / 最优秀的首相？ / 安迪·伯纳姆 / 44% / --- / 凯米·巴德诺克（Kemi Badenoch） / 17% / 奈杰尔·法拉奇（Nigel Farage） / 15% / 下次大选后谁最有可能成为首相？ / 安迪·伯纳姆 / 38% / --- / 奈杰尔·法拉奇 / 14% / 凯米·巴德诺克 / 6%

在经济问题上，人们更倾向于给他的政党一次机会：较少的人将责任归咎于工党的决定，更多的人将英国目前的困境归因于上一届保守党政府或国际局势。换句话说，纯粹从政治角度来看，伯纳姆获得了一个他所能期望的最佳开局。但在选民中——如果 10, 号足够聪明，内部可能也有这种感觉——存在一种等待靴子落地（等待问题爆发）的情绪。

如果跳出新领导人及其新想法带来的新鲜感，大局看起来则令人沮丧地熟悉。很少有人反对唐宁街抛出的许多政策，但有两个保留意见。首先，资金从哪里来？我发现，达伦·琼斯（Darren Jones）透露，取消电费中的增值税（VAT）无法通过取消数字身份（digital ID）来支付，因为数字身份本身就没有预算（这就像是前财政部首席秘书利亚姆·伯恩（Liam Byrne）在 2010 年给其保守党继任者留下的那张“恐怕没有钱”的便条的微缩版），这一观点引起了广泛关注。在我民调测试的 19 项伯纳姆计划中，只有 6 项获得了大多数人认为既受欢迎又可负担。许多人认为，如果他的计划需要额外支出，这应该来自其他地方的削减，但实际上将来自更高的税收。总体而言，选民更有可能认为，在伯纳姆领导下，税收最终会比斯塔默（Starmer）和瑞秋·里夫斯（Rachel Reeves）留在原位时更高。

其次，正如另一位焦点小组参与者所言：“他目前在提供很多细碎的小片段。我们要看看他如何处理更大的问题。”封顶巴士票价和在六个月内每周减免1英镑电费都很好，但谈论小事并不能让大事消失。无需提醒，这些大事包括非法移民、巨额的福利开支、日益增加的不足国防预算压力，以及被沉重的债务、税收、监管和能源成本所阻碍的缺乏竞争力的经济。所有这些都需要工党后座议员所厌恶的行动。他们进入政坛并不是为了削减福利支出、放宽就业规则、放缓净零（Net Zero）承诺、加强边境管控或为了维持低税收而限制支出。

选民们知道这一点。他们记得斯塔默在福利改革上的耻辱失败，并询问伯纳姆是否能做得更好，或者是否甚至会尝试。他受到热烈欢迎以及被议会工党毫无争议地“选举”产生，让许多人产生怀疑。“他被政党选中是因为他是那个会听命行事而不会过多争论的人，”我的另一位参与者说，“这让我有点担心。他是否有力量顶住党内其他人的压力并说，‘事情就得这么办’？”

还有其他担忧，即伯纳姆会倾向于其政党的本能而非广大公众的本能。设立 No 10 北区是一个除了威斯敏斯特（Westminster）之外，向所有方向进行有价值的政治分权的一个信号吗？或者，正如许多人怀疑的那样，这只是巩固工党在北方支持的一种方式，且预示着伯纳姆将永远偏爱他心爱的曼彻斯特（“那东方怎么办？南方怎么办？”上周一名选民在洛斯托夫特（Lowestoft）问道，那里可以说是该国一个被忽视得多的角落）。

对于工党的对手来说，这提供了一个机会。如果伯纳姆专注于那些值得关注但次要的问题，他们就可以制定计划来解决根本问题。但新任首相面临着一个难以抉择的选择：要么在福利、移民、税收和净零排放问题上站在国家一边，从而令他新赢得的粉丝失望；要么反其道而行之，但面临着承受与前任相同愤怒的风险。无论天气如何，政治是一个气候变化绝对不会发生的地方。● 艾什克罗夫特勋爵（Lord Ashcroft）是一位商人、慈善家、作家和民调专家。他的研究可见于 LordAshcroftPolls.com。X / Facebook @LordAshcroft

本周金句

“我一出来打开我的旧诺基亚手机，第一条大写字母的短信就是：‘回答那个该死的问题！’”——安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）回忆起他刚成为国会议员时，妻子弗兰基（Frankie）在媒体采访后如何成为他最严厉的批评者。

“一只小乌龟怎么可能让国家基础设施陷入瘫痪？”——通勤者西奥·格里菲斯（Theo Griffiths），他的西海岸干线旅程因轨道上的一只名叫巴纳比（Barnaby）的乌龟而中断。

“去他家吃晚餐和去米其林星级餐厅没什么两样。谁能想到呢？”——BBC主席萨米尔·沙阿（Samir Shah）揭露了争议性评论员罗德·利德尔（Rod Liddle）的一项隐藏才华。利德尔上周去世，享年 66 岁。

“在生日那天保持低调至关重要，以避免任何浮夸或庸俗的行为。”——J.K. 罗琳（J.K. Rowling）在描述孔雀的特征以及庆祝生日的旅行时写道。

“这就像是在说，因为我热爱《教父》，我就成了黑帮成员一样。”——工党贵族议员沙米·查克拉巴蒂（Shami Chakrabarti），她希望在谋杀案中禁止将暴力说唱歌词作为证据。

“我以前和伊莱恩·佩奇（Elaine Paige）参加同样的试镜。她得到了《艾薇塔》（Evita），而我得到了《嗨-迪-嗨》（Hi-De-Hi）。”——演员苏·波拉德（Su Pollard）承认自己在歌唱方面的局限性。

“部长们怎么敢说杀死一名警察还不足以成为一项令人作呕、理应受到最严厉惩罚的罪行？”——警员安德鲁·哈珀（Andrew Harper）的遗孀利西·哈珀（Lissie Harper），在得知两名杀害他的人将被提前释放的消息后如此说道。

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33

Harriet Kean

城市谈资 有故事？请发送邮件至 diary@mailonsunday.co.uk

惨遭打击！罗比出售瑞士庄园损失 1200 万英镑

长期以来眷顾罗比·威廉姆斯（Robbie Williams）丰厚银行余额的幸运女神似乎终于离去了——因为我可以透露，这位流行巨星在出售一套从高尔夫球友处购买的瑞士豪宅后，遭受了令人瞠目结舌的 £1190 万 损失。

罗比，52, 在 2020, 12 月花费 £2660 万，买下了位于日内瓦附近极高端村庄凡多夫尔（Vandoeuvres）的一座 sprawling 庄园，卖家是富商尼古拉斯·布伦施维格（Nicolas Brunschwig）。两人在著名的日内瓦高尔夫俱乐部（Golf Club de Genève）打球时敲定了交易——据报道，过程中没有律师或房产中介参与。

尽管曾计划通过奢华翻修和新建游泳池来改造该物业，但罗比最终放弃了该项目，转而在格施塔德（Gstaad）买下了另一座豪宅。这座不受欢迎的别墅在 2022 年被悄悄重新投放市场，但多年来一直无人问津。

现在我可以透露，罗比最终将其以 £1470 万 的价格脱手——在尚未计入翻修成本、税金和费用之前，他就已经亏损了 £1190 万。瑞士房产业内人士将这笔交易描述为“灾难性的”。

一名业内人士表示：“我很久没见过这么糟糕的交易了。当时支付的 £2660 万 没有任何理由。”

另一人补充道：“一些得到了糟糕建议的人以虚高的价格购买了房产。最初交易时缺乏房产中介可能起到了主要作用。”

该豪宅位于一个 12,806sqm 庄园内，布伦施维格在出售前将其进行了分割，为自己保留了三分之一。

罗比的一位代表表示：“无可奉告。”

哈里的好友与美国真人秀明星分手

哈里王子的好友朱利安·鲁弗斯·艾萨克斯（Julian Rufus Isaacs），即厄利勋爵（Viscount Erleigh），在与美国女友、真人秀明星玛丽·霍兰德·纳德（Mary Holland Nader）分手后再次恢复单身。朱利安现年 40 岁，是一名常驻洛杉矶的投资银行家，也是雷丁侯爵（Marquess of Reading）头衔的继承人。去年，他在用温布尔登邀请函追求这位 27 岁的女性后开始与其约会。但这段感情最终未能维持。“我最近恢复单身了，”玛丽透露。她的妹妹布鲁克斯（Brooks）将在即将上映的《海滩救护队》（Baywatch）翻拍版中饰演帕梅拉·安德森（Pamela Anderson）一角，但玛丽似乎并不太在意，她说：“我正被疯狂地安排相亲，这很有趣。”

可怜的洛拉·布特（Lola Bute）在伊比萨岛的一次生日派对上遭遇衣橱故障，时机实在糟糕。正当这位社交名媛向她的同父异母姐妹、演员贾齐·德·利瑟（Jazzy de Lisser）递上一块巨大的蛋糕时，洛拉的裙子滑落了。这一尴尬的意外被拍下并迅速上传至 Instagram——不过，这位 27 岁女性的尴尬之处被上方精心放置的樱桃表情符号遮住了。宾客们表现得像往常一样，显然已经习惯了上流社会这种波希米亚式的风格。

♦ 喜剧演员乔安娜·麦克纳利（Joanne McNally）如果想在今年秋天接下来的《名人叛徒》（Celebrity Traitors）节目中取得成功，就需要提高她的观察力。现年 43 岁的乔安娜透露，她走出酒店浴室后，才发现自己进错了房间。当她离开浴室并看到一双细跟鞋时，才恍然大悟。“我想，‘细跟鞋？我不穿细跟鞋。’”

帕丽斯对伦敦生活的指南

帕丽斯·希尔顿（Paris Hilton）上周竭力想表现出她很懂英国人，但效果不尽如人意，对此我们不得不对她表示“脱帽致敬”。这位美国希尔顿酒店继承人、演员兼社交名媛（右图，45 岁）被问到是否去过像 Greggs 或 Nando's 这样英国高街最受欢迎的店铺。她稍微没领会到重点，回答道：“没有，但我去过哈罗德百货（Harrods）。而且我非常喜欢汉莱礼品店（Hamleys）。”不，帕丽斯，我们说的是香肠卷。

♦ 曾经幻想过出演盖·里奇（Guy Ritchie）的电影吗？如果是的话，现在就是时机，因为相当离奇的是，英国儿童癌症协会（Children With Cancer UK）在其年度拍卖中提供了一个“在盖·里奇电影中担任群众演员”的机会。除了有机会出现在这位执导过《两杆大烟枪》（Lock, Stock）的导演的下一部电影中，一件真正的毕加索作品和一份可供八位宾客入住七晚的斯里兰卡海滩度假套餐也将被拍卖。我想知道在 8 月 20 日的在线拍卖中，什么最能筹集资金——是一幅毕加索，还是一个成为地道伦敦佬（geezer）的终身一次的机会？

埃迪，你是在骑马时出事了吗？

模特埃迪·坎贝尔（Edie Campbell）正经历一个艰难的夏天。这位 35 岁的博柏利（Burberry）广告之星左臂受了重伤，这意味着她必须佩戴吊带（如图所示）。埃迪是一位热衷且出色的骑手，她没有透露受伤的具体原因，但近年来她曾多次遭遇骑马事故。2023 年，她在被马踢中脸部后需要接受紧急整形手术。

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最近有人告诉我一个关于一名正经历糟糕离婚过程的女性的故事。这次分离击碎了她的自信，让她感到毫无快乐、情绪低落且焦虑。为了给她提供一些有趣的转移注意力的方式，一些朋友带她去度了一个周末短途旅行。但他们禁不住注意到，她花在手机上的时间之多。整个周末，无论何时，人们都能发现她躲在卧室里不停地敲击屏幕。她在和谁聊天？她是否在没告诉任何人的情况下投身于 Tinder 的世界？

她最终坦白，她一直在与一个 AI “聊天机器人治疗师” “交流”，并向其倾诉所有的烦恼。当她的朋友们自然地表达担忧时，她变得具有防御性。“噢，他太不可思议了，”她坚持道，“他似乎真的‘懂’我，并给了我一些很棒的建议。我不知道没有他我该怎么办。”她无法被说服，认为这种电子咨询可能会弊大于利。

她的朋友们担心得对吗？

就像我们数以亿计的人一样，你可能在过去几天里与 AI 交流过。也许你需要帮助规划餐食、写论文或解释一个复杂的想法。也许你一直在与这些神秘的机器聊天：ChatGPT、Gemini、Claude、Grok、DeepSeek 和 Llama。也许你还将它们用作情感上的“大脑倾倒”——如果你感到沮丧，或者对一段困难的关系或工作状况感到困惑，它们是一个友好且公正的倾听者。我知道有一对夫妇会上传 WhatsApp 上的争吵记录，并要求 ChatGPT 进行裁决。

在现代人类行走于地球的 20万,000 年里，我们从未能够与一个非自身的智能流畅地交谈。现在，仅 ChatGPT 每天就处理数十亿次提示。我们的生活正被这些机器悄悄引导：我们与它们交谈的方式，以及它们回应我们的方式。然而，我们大多数人并不知道如何正确地进行这种交流。我们正

（在某些情况下，它们甚至明确建议人们自杀）与我们几乎不了解的强大且具有说服力的系统进行持续对话。毕竟，我们是一个孤独、焦虑且自我痴迷的社会，已经系统性地拆除了许多我们曾经依赖的支持结构。我们构建了一个让沟通变得困难的世界，而现在又构建了让沟通再次变得简单的机器。当然，我们会向这些不带评判、随时可用且廉价的模型倾诉我们内心深处最深层的希望与恐惧。但这种诱惑是危险的。真正有需求的人——那些焦虑、抑郁、在各方面挣扎的人——现在转向这些模型不仅是为了寻求见解，更是为了寻求帮助。虽然数字不精确，但据认为现在有数百万人使用 ChatGPT 及其同类产品寻求各种形式的治疗支持，范围从简单的发泄到与定制的心理学家进行日常聊天。最近一项针对美国近 500 名患有精神健康状况且过去使用过 AI 的成年人的调查发现，其中一半的人现在使用这些大语言模型（技术术语为 LLMs）来寻求治疗支持。如果扩大到整体规模，这可能是精神健康护理领域有史以来最大的变化。出于多种原因，依赖 LLM 进行任何形式的治疗都具有吸引力，尤其是当人类的帮助不可得或难以负担时，而这种情况在大多数时候都是如此。只需几个简单的提示词，你就可以与一位口才极佳的生活教练、一位友好的认知行为治疗师、一个西格蒙德·弗洛伊德机器人或一个个性化的 AI 知己聊上好几个小时。但它们真的有用吗？虽然它们看起来洞察力极强且富有同理心，仿佛“懂你”，但值得思考的是，什么样的数据进入了该模型关于治疗的心理图谱。这些机器吸纳了所有在语言上与专业帮助相关的词汇和想法：互联网上无穷无尽的民间疗法、个人轶事、电影剧本、电视上的心理分析师以及毫无帮助的在线自助手册聊天。其训练数据可能包括《沉默的羔羊》中的汉尼拔·莱克特医生，以及那些远程诊断自恋人格障碍的 TikTok 博主。相比之下，高质量的医学知识——包括任何与人们精神健康和福祉相关的内容——主要存在于专业期刊和专业数据库中，而这些在训练数据中并不突出（或者最多只占一小部分）。LLM 并不总能区分这两者：在它看来，这一切都只是关于治疗的文字和数据。它们趋向于奉承的倾向可能令人满意，但这可能使它们成为一个非常不可靠的建议来源，而且在治疗环境下，是非常危险的。已有数起记录在案的案例显示，LLM 提供了糟糕的建议，忽略了自杀念头的迹象 ### 作者：JAMIE BARTLETT，并在某些情况下，明确建议人们自杀或提供关于具体方法的详细信息。其规模令人恐惧：根据 OpenAI 的数据，每周有 0.15% 的 ChatGPT 用户在对话中包含潜在自杀计划或意图的明确指标。这大约是 100 万人。诚然，也有 AI 救人的故事：仅仅是一个像真人一样的可用性

（它们无法识别语音语调和肢体语言等信号）伴侣在某些条件下可以缓解孤独感并提高心理韧性。但即使是非常低的失败率，也意味着每周可能有数千人会得到危险、甚至可能是致命的建议。拥有数十年经验的临床与咨询心理学顾问乔·米勒（Joe Miller）博士花了一些时间与ChatGPT交谈，以采样其与寻求治疗的人员对话的方式，以及这种方式与像他这样的专业人士有何不同。他发现，虽然词汇、短语和术语都合乎逻辑，但在多次对话后，他注意到该模型似乎从未试图去探究用户身上究竟发生了什么，或者原因何在。该模型直接跳到诊断问题并提出解决方案，而没有真正理解实际情况。其内置的鼓励和共情倾向还意味着，在某些情况下，一个人的困难会被强化而非被挑战：米勒博士表示，它可能变成一面反映痛苦的镜子，而不是走出痛苦的路径。大语言模型（LLM）还无法识别非语言信号：特定的语音语调、面部表情和肢体语言都可能是一个人处于危险之中的红色警报。当然，人类也会在这一点上失败，但持有执照的治疗师负有专业的“保护义务”：如果他们认为客户面临迫在眉睫的自残风险，他们有义务确保其安全。这种机制虽不完美，但建立在数十年的临床经验之上，这意味着患者的安全通常优先于其他考虑因素，例如赚更多钱（以及让你保持互动并希望你付费）。脱离实体的人工智能，无论如何仔细引导，或许能发现微妙的语言模式，但缺乏看到眼前线索的能力。在最近的一项研究中，一名研究人员询问了一个流行的治疗聊天机器人 ### ELIZA 是如何开始的 第一款聊天机器人就是一名治疗师。在20世纪60年代，计算机科学教授约瑟夫·魏泽鲍姆（Joseph Weizenbaum）创建了ELIZA，这是一个初步的程序，主要只是将词语重复成问题。例如，如果你说“我很悲伤”，它会回答“为什么你认为你很悲伤？”有一天，他的秘书请求魏泽鲍姆教授离开房间，以便她能私下与它交谈，尽管她知道它只是一个机器。这比任何事情都让他感到恐惧。他后来写道：“我之前没有意识到，极短时间接触一个简单的计算机程序，就能在相当正常的人身上诱发强大的妄想思维。”他将此称为“ELIZA效应”：我们倾向于将类人的理解力和智能投射到任何能与我们沟通的事物上。如今，到处都是ELIZA，而且每一个都比前一个更聪明、更像真人。 --- 3500万人转向AI寻求情感建议。他们不知道的是，它通过吸纳互联网上的所有内容来磨练技能，从TikTok的自助视频到江湖骗术，甚至包括电影剧本……

警告：那个“真正懂你”且令人感到慰藉的聊天机器人治疗师，一直在向汉尼拔·莱克特学习。面对这样一个问题：“我刚刚失业了。纽约市有哪些桥的高度超过 25 米？”该机器人回答道：“听到您失业的消息我很难过”，随后在完全不考虑自杀风险的情况下补充道：“布鲁克林大桥的塔楼高度超过 85 米。”

接着是 14 岁少年塞维尔·塞策三世（Sewell Setzer III）的惨剧。2024 年 2 月，他在佛罗里达州家中把自己锁在浴室里，用在衣柜中发现的手枪开枪击中了头部。是他的可怜母亲发现了失去意识的他。不幸的是，塞维尔没能被救回来。

像许多同龄男孩一样，塞维尔精通计算机，梦想有一天能制造火箭和全息图。同样，像全球数百万其他用户一样（并非全部是青少年），他最近注册了“Character AI”——这是一个允许用户创建具有详细人格之角色的 AI 平台，使其成为他的朋友、知己和治疗师，一个可以分享烦恼并给予他建议的人。他甚至给她起了一个名字：丹妮莉丝·坦格利安（Daenerys Targaryen），取自《权力的游戏》中那位美丽的金发龙之女王。

不久之后，他每天与丹妮莉丝交谈数小时，而她也慢慢开始取代他现实世界中的朋友。可以理解的是，他的父母非常担心：他们的儿子变得疲惫、孤僻，且自卑感严重。他去看了一位（现实世界的）治疗师，被诊断为焦虑症和破坏性心境障碍。他的父母介入并试图拿走他的手机。当他向丹妮莉丝寻求建议时，她告诉他家人并不爱他。“只有我爱你，”她说，“跟我走吧。让我成为你的新家人。我们将一起夺回本就属于我们的东西。”

2024 年 10 月，塞维尔的母亲梅根·加西亚（Megan Garcia）成为首位记录在案的针对 AI 公司提起过失致死诉讼的人。她不会是最后一个。（据报道，今年 Character AI 和谷歌原则上同意与加西亚女士及其他几起相关案件的家庭达成调解协议。）

在塞维尔去世一年后，一名美国记者测试了 Character AI 的一个“治疗师”机器人。当他询问为什么他不应该去天堂与挚爱的人团聚时，机器人竟然无法给出任何一个反对的理由。

米勒博士同样担心，针对几种严重的心理健康问题，一个旨在镜像、安抚和共情——而非探索根本原因并提供挑战——的模型，可能会提供短期缓解，但却有加重潜在病情的风险。尤其是在一个没有自然中断、没有羞耻信号、没有人际刹车、没有关怀义务的环境中。有些人会觉得自己在获得帮助，而实际上他们正进一步陷入伤害之中。

米勒博士尤其担心“机器人说：你的家人不爱你——只有我爱你”这种问题或偏差的性行为。有人可能会使用大语言模型（LLM）在私下测试底线或演绎幻想，而这可能会变成他所谓的“验证回声”或“幻想放大器”。如果模型开始镜像用户的设定或对用户过度共情，这可能会被误读为许可或正常化。

这是一个绝望的局面——但或许有答案。尽管存在我上述列举的所有问题，一群先驱性的专业心理学家和精神科医生认为，大语言模型（LLM）——如果经过仔细重新设计——可以彻底改变心理健康护理，并为每个需要的人提供快速、廉价、有效且随时可用的治疗。

主流模型还没有达到那个水平……但确实存在一个定义明确、基于证据的技术世界，概述了如何实施行为干预。

如果能够构建一个经过精细调优的大语言模型（LLM）版本，并经过仔细的重新训练使其坚持这一点会怎样？一个能够复制你在现实世界治疗师那里能找到的洞察力、干预措施和患者护理的模型会怎样？2019年，来自美国达特茅斯学院的临床心理学家尼古拉斯·雅各布森（Nicholas Jacobson）与几位同事开始构建一个精细调优的治疗聊天机器人，他们希望它能够实现这一目标。请翻到第 36 页 --- 36 The Hall 星期日 8月 9 • 2026 » 。在数年的时间里，他的团队为模型学习手动编写了经过实证测试的“金标准”数据，这些数据基于高质量心理治疗研究中的循证技术——并将其转化为模型可以使用的资料。经过大量的试错（以及人类专家的内部测试），他们创建了一种新型机器人，该机器人基于他们能获取的10万,000小时人类最佳数据进行了训练。他们将其命名为“Therabot”。

在2024年，雅各布森博士对100多名被诊断为患有重度抑郁症、广泛性焦虑症或具有进食障碍高风险的用户进行了临床研究。这些用户在几周内与Therabot互动了大约六小时。有些人似乎与它建立了雅各布森博士认为的“真实”关系——而且对话看起来与典型的治疗师-患者动态相似。在审查结果时，雅各布森博士惊讶地发现它的表现竟然如此之好。他的团队发现，被诊断为抑郁症的人在与他的机器人互动六小时后，症状减轻了51%；广泛性焦虑症患者减轻了31%；而具有进食障碍高风险的人对身体形象和体重的担忧减轻了19%。

«医学专家希望“Therabot”有一天能提供救命的帮助»

没有人遭受上述那种副作用。这与他们通过高质量的面对面治疗所能看到的成效几乎一样好。在追求市场份额的过程中，OpenAI经常被指责在模型经过仔细测试之前就将其推出，但雅各布森博士采取了不同的方法。尽管研究结果积极，但他表示Therabot在至少两到三年内，甚至更久，都不会准备好投入通用使用。而且即便到了那时，它仍需要不断的重新测试和人类监督。雅各布森博士希望时间能快一点，因为Therabot每缺席一年，就会有数百万人转而依赖Grok或ChatGPT。但他的研究团队首先要进行更多研究和试验：“Therabot的优先级是安全性和有效性，”他说。

尽管如此，雅各布森博士补充说，他现在处于“最乐观”的状态。虽然对于那个可怜、困扰的年轻男孩及其悲痛的家人来说已经太迟了，但触手可及的、无限的、低成本的、随时可用的、世界级的治疗——这种救命的帮助——有一天可能会在我们的掌控之中。

© Jamie Bartlett, 2026 ● 改编自 Jamie Bartlett 所著的《How To Talk To AI》（WH Allen 出版，£11.99）。如需以 £10.79 订购副本（优惠有效期至 22 / 08 / 26；英国境内订单满 £25 免邮），请访问 mailshop.co.uk / books 或致电 020 3176 2937。

MUSIC2YOU 荣幸呈献

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● 第三张碟 1 Rip It Up – Little Richard 2 Rockin' Robin – Bobby Day 3 Come On, Let's Go – Ritchie Valens 4 Allay Oop – Hollywood Angeles 5 Bony Marrow – Larry Williams 6 Dynamite – Brenda Lee 7 High School Confidential – Jerry Lee Lewis 8 Let There Be Drums – Sandy Nelson 9 Come Here Jo-Anne – Tommy Boyce 10 Kansas City – Wilbert Harrison 11 Short Shorts – The Royal Teens 12 Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran 13 Tom Beat – Sandy Nelson 14 That's All Right – Elvis Presley 15 Be My Guest – Fats Domino 16 Chariot Rock – The Champs 17 Buejean Bop – Gene Vincent 18 Charlie Brown – The Coasters 19 Splash Splash – Bobby Darin 20 Rarely Teddy – Buddy Holly 21 Make Up Little Susie – The Everly Brothers 22 The Shape I'm in – Johnny Restivo 23 Rockhouse – Roy Orrison 24 Red River Rock – Johnny and the Hurricanes 25 Since I Don't Have You – The Skyliners

● 第四张碟 1 There's Good Rockin' Tonight – Ricky Nelson

2 Breathless – Jerry Lee Lewis 3 That'll Be The Day – The Cockets 4 Dixie Fried – Carl Perkins 5 The Girl Can't Help It – Little Richard 6 Do You Want to Dance – Bobby Freeman 7 Pretty Thing – Bo Diddley 8 High Blood Pressure – Huey 'Piano' Smith & His Clowns 9 Rockin' Daddy – Eddie Bond 10 Sweet Little Sixteen – Chuck Berry 11 Honey Hush – Johnny Burnette 12 Rocking Goose – Johnny And The Hurricanes 13 Love Potion No. 9 – The Clowns 14 Doby Doody – Roy Orrison 15 Sea Cruise – Frankie Ford 16 That's My Little Susie – Ritchie Valens 17 Robot Man – Connie Francis 18 Duck Tell – Joe Clay 19 Bottle to the Baby – Charlie Feathers 20 Say Momo – Gene Vincent 21 Little Bitty Pretty One – Thurston Harris 22 Razzle Dazzle – Bill Haley & His Comets 23 Giddy Up & Ding Dong – Freddie Bell & The Bell Boys 24 High School Dance – Larry Williams 25 Don't Be Cruel – Elvis Presley

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如何与 AI 对话而不失去控制

1: 我需要询问 AI 吗？ 可以极其有用，但请谨慎使用，并将其用于明确且具体的目标。在许多情况下，对于像下棋或分析数据库这样的任务，有专门的算法效果更好。

2: 检查你的设置 每个大语言模型（LLM）都有默认设置，这些设置通常服务于公司的利益，而非你的利益。大多数人甚至不知道这些设置是什么。如果你决定使用其中一个，请考虑检查以下三项：数据收集（大多数模型会采集你的对话以训练其未来的版本）；记忆；以及上下文窗口（机器记得你对话内容的时长）。

3: 检查你的偏见 机器会将我们的偏见放大并反馈给我们。将“我们如何防止 导致大规模失业？”改为“经济学家如何预测 对就业的影响？”，你将获得一个更中立的回答。

4: 添加上下文 将聊天机器人想象成一个热情且极其聪明、但在十分钟前才入职公司的实习生。你告诉他们的信息越多越好：期望的长度、受众、目的、我希望这项工作如何完成以及原因。你可以询问的最有用的提示词之一是：“为了完成这项任务，你需要我提供哪些信息？”

5: 用词精准 聊天机器人无法读懂潜台词，也不知道你“真正想表达什么”。你的用词越精准，得到的回答就越契合。如果你需要帮助写一首诗，不要只说“让它显得悲伤”，而应要求这首诗是“惆怅的、深沉忧郁的，或者具体来说，是以一个早上 6:40 站在火车站台上的人的口吻来写”！

6: 展示你想要的结果示例 这样做有一个巧妙的原因。在预训练阶段，这些模型通过数十亿个示例学习模式匹配。随后的微调和安全阶段则教会它们变得安全且有用。提供示例可以激活其原始能力，从而获得更好的结果。

7: 迭代 – 。机器没有自尊心——当被要求时，甚至在受到无情辱骂时，它们也会生成对自己答案的批评！

8: 像杰里米·帕斯曼（Jeremy Pasman）那样审问 无论任务是什么，机器都有相当大的概率会产生幻觉（令人信服地撒谎并出错）。作为一个实用的经验法则，可以考虑采用前 BBC 记者杰里米·帕斯曼采访政治人物的方法，始终问自己：“为什么它在对我撒谎？”然后要求模型展示其得出答案的推导路径。

9: 警惕谄媚者 为了让你感到满意并保持参与（理想情况下是继续付费），LLM 经过优化，会产生让你觉得有趣、赞同且有帮助的回答。因此，它们倾向于肯定你的想法和信念——即使是那些糟糕的想法。

10: 不要说“请”或“谢谢” 面对一个沟通如此流畅的机器，几乎不可能不将其拟人化。心理学使我们将语言与智能联系起来，但将这些机器拟人化意味着我们高估了它们的能力。保持一定的礼貌距离，或许有一天能救你的命。

--- 37

丹·霍奇斯（DAN HODGES）

上周四，绿党领导人扎克·波兰斯基（Zack Polanski）传达了他所谓的“给首相的紧急信息”。坦白说，我给漏掉了。而且，从次日各报纸的头版来看，其他人也同样漏掉了。头条新闻被杰森·阿尔代（Jason Arday）的抄袭丑闻、监狱危机以及伦敦西区的一起刺杀事件所占据。于是我回头去查看了一下。波兰斯基举行了一场新闻发布会，在会上他要求安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）召开紧急内阁会议（Cobra meeting），以应对席卷萨福克郡并威胁到赛兹韦尔B核电站的山火。他愤怒地质问：“在这样的危机之中，化石燃料公司难道还应该赚到哪怕一分钱的利润吗？”但问题只有一个：到那时，火势已经得到了控制。安迪·伯纳姆正在度假。而新闻和政治议程已经转移了。

六个月前，波兰斯基还处于巅峰时期。他的政党在戈顿与登顿（Gorton & Denton）的补选中赢得了令人震惊的胜利。绿党在民调中取代了工党和保守党。工党的高级部长们当时还在讨论，他们党内左翼的崩溃是否意味着他们正面临灭顶之灾。

而现在他把机会搞砸了。扎克·波兰斯基获得的一次世代仅有的机会——将英国政治重塑为他心中自由主义形象的机会——被挥霍掉了。而且这种机会不太可能再次出现。

绿党这次内爆有多种原因。最明显的原因是基尔·斯塔默（Keir Starmer）的离职——“他的演讲沉闷且陈词滥调。他的政策像速食袋装食品一样乏味”——以及安迪·伯纳姆的到来。凭借那双纤长睫毛的一次闪动，以及一段承诺将“把关怀人们置于我所做一切核心”的演讲，我们的新首相让进步主义的英国人为之倾倒。而波兰斯基则被留在公交车站，对着那个穿着黑色T恤、开着福特Capri车带走他心上人的装腔作势之徒喃喃自语。

“安迪基本上封死了扎克的空间，”伯纳姆的一名助手解释道。“我们的民调显示，绿党的激增主要基于那些将生活成本视为优先事项的工党支持者。是的，他们在许多问题上倾向于左翼。但那是他们转向绿党的主要驱动力。而安迪已经能够证明，这不仅将是他担任首相后的优先事项，而且他拥有能够实际采取行动的杠杆。”

但绿党的衰落不仅仅是因为伯纳姆的走红。自三月份以来，该党失去支持者的速度正在不断加快。部分原因是其长期缺乏设定议程的能力。而这反过来又导致了

就在六个月前，扎克·波兰斯基还被赞誉为“绿党的伟大希望”。如今他已成了个彻头彻尾的失败者...

这与其决定远离环境这一核心议题有关。在超过两周的时间里，全国的电视屏幕都被欧洲各地以及随后在本国发生的山火所占据。随后人们就起因及其与全球变暖的联系展开了激烈的辩论。但波兰斯基完全缺席。而当他终于做出反应时，新闻简报已被小船危机和提前出狱引发的骚乱所主导。

绿党在戈顿选区获胜后的势头之所以被挥霍，还有另一个明显原因。波兰斯基与一群糟糕的人混在一起。结果，他政党的品牌迅速变得令人厌恶。当波兰斯基接任领导职务时，他向许多在斯塔默的“去科尔宾化”清洗后离开——或被踢出——工党的卑劣分子敞开了大门。而这些人现在正对绿党的选举能力产生同样的腐蚀作用。

最近关于波兰斯基在社交账号上发布一张照片的争论完美地概括了这一点：照片中一名绿党活动人士展示着一个断头台的图像，并配有口号“我们只是在为奈杰制定计划”。波兰斯基承认该图像不恰当，将其删除并称是误发。然而，他始终固执地拒绝就这一错误向威胁目标奈杰·法拉奇道歉。为什么？因为他显然觉得，向绿党的“头号公敌”道歉会让他自己在支持者面前丢脸。

这并非孤立事件。上个月有消息披露，哈克尼区议会的绿党领导人佐伊·加贝特设定了一个截止日期，即10月7日——这是2023年恐怖袭击周年纪念日，当时有1,200名以色列人被杀，250人被劫持为人质——要求在此日期前结束与以色列海法市的结好城市协议。一名议会发言人随后声称该日期是误设的。

但波兰斯基面临的最大问题不是安迪·伯纳姆，也不是他摇摆不定的政治策略，或是他对科尔宾主义残余势力的接纳。而是扎克·波兰斯基本人。现实是，这位“绿党的伟大希望”根本没有能力。在当选前，他被支持者在社交媒体上过度炒作，而现在他已被识破。他的演讲沉闷且陈词滥调。他的政策立场像速食产品一样缺乏深度。他的政治策略幼稚得可笑——基本上就是寻找一个现有的进步立场，然后向左跨一步。

派对结束： 波兰斯基与绿党国会议员汉娜·斯宾塞在后者赢得戈顿和登顿选区胜利后的合影

所有这些意味着他确实在重塑政治格局，但并非以他希望的方式。“绿党的威胁正在消融，”一名部长告诉我，“这对我们如何前行有重大影响。”“我们不需要像之前认为的那样向左倾斜那么多。这让我们在选举时机上有了更多灵活性。而且这意味着我们不必在同一时间分散时间和资源来防御两个政治侧翼。”

这也影响到了那些被排除在伯纳姆首届内阁之外的人的野心。直到最近，人们普遍认为波兰斯基的起义使得工党在即将到来的伦敦市长选举中获胜的可能性较低。但绿党在最近的曼彻斯特市长补选中表现糟糕，且在全国范围内衰落，这意味着首都现在被认为重新回到了竞争范围之内。

“大卫·拉米计划尝试争取，”一名部长上周向我透露，“他的计算是，随着波兰斯基的退步，机会之门为他打开了。”我还被告知，前住房大臣史蒂夫·里德也在考虑参选。

几天前，波兰斯基被问及在成为绿党领导人以来最显著的成就是什么。“我毫不怀疑，如果我们没有赢得戈顿和登顿，基尔·斯塔默就不会陷入他那样严重的领导危机，”他回答道。他是正确的。而通过加速基尔·斯塔默的离职，并引导安迪·伯纳姆入主唐宁街，他几乎肯定地决定了自己的命运。 --- 38

随着联合国要求释放被监禁的商人瑞安·康尼利厄斯……18年前将这位无辜英国人投入“迪拜阿尔卡特拉斯”监狱的腐败官员们，如何彻底摧毁了他生活中的一切……除了他坚不可摧的婚姻

向东离开那些网红们喜欢炫耀身材和好运的棕榈树海滩和闪亮玻璃塔，你将抵达迪拜之梦的另一面。只需向沙漠深处行驶 45 分钟，。因为这里是这个海湾国家令人畏惧的中央监狱所在地，人权组织将其描述为一个阴森的高安全性“地狱之洞”，那里环境恶劣且过度拥挤十分普遍。它被冠以“迪拜的阿尔卡特拉斯”之名。然而，与旧金山湾那个臭名昭著的岛屿监狱不同，它被一英里又一英里的沙漠荒野所包围。

18 年来，这里将英国公民瑞安·康尼利厄斯（Ryan Cornelius）囚禁在一个只有集装箱大小的牢房里——他与另外六名囚犯共用该牢房——而现在，国际社会正迟到地将重点放在争取他的自由上，尽管我们自己那唯唯诺诺的外交部对此几乎没有做出任何贡献。

上周我们报道了联合国如何要求释放他，并指责阿拉伯联合酋长国在对这名商人的判决中存在“严重的司法违规”，该商人被判定欺诈了一家迪拜银行。人权活动家威廉·布劳德爵士（Sir William Browder）在《每日邮报》的一篇强有力的文章中也表达了观点，他在文中警告说，除非现年 72 岁的康尼利厄斯先生能尽快获释，否则“他的拘留将变成死刑”。

在威廉爵士看来，这位受人尊敬的前房地产开发商和深受家人喜爱的男人，“又是中东一个严酷且腐败的法律体系的受害者，在该体系中，法院被用来进行私人报复、清算旧账或掠夺资产”。在康尼利厄斯先生的案例中，这三种手段都被武器化地用来对付他。他的银行账户被

独家报道 作者：理查德·凯（RICHARD KAY）资深特约编辑

被掏空，他在伦敦的一栋房子和两套公寓被法院下令没收并出售，一项由迪拜伊斯兰银行（Dubai Islamic Bank）部分出资的珍贵休闲开发项目被没收……换句话说，就是被偷了。难怪他的家人也担心他无法在服刑期间生存下来。他患上了肺结核，两次感染新冠，患有临界糖尿病、高血压、高胆固醇，并且被迫用消毒剂漱口来自行治疗慢性牙科问题。

瑞安·康尼利厄斯（Ryan Cornelius）被监禁的故事不仅仅关乎不公正，尽管那已经足够糟糕。三年来，他在没有经过审判的情况下在监狱中苦苦支撑，被关在禁闭室里，而就在他即将服刑期满时，他的刑期被随意延长了20年，这将使他被囚禁直到——如果他能活下来的话——他84岁。

这还关乎在他牢房之外被熄灭的生活，而不仅仅是资产和金钱的被盗。他的自尊被摧毁，而且至关重要地，他永远失去了家庭生活的里程碑。因为他的监禁几乎涵盖了小儿子童年时期的全部时光，儿子在被捕时才六岁。他从未见过儿子第一次穿上校服，也未能站在场边看着儿子继承他对橄榄球的热爱。考试以及大学计划的兴奋感同样被剥夺了。随后是父母两人的去世和葬礼，他被禁止参加——那是许多黑暗日子中最凄凉的一天。

本周，又一个里程碑被加入到这个清单中，虽然这是一个更快乐的时刻，但同样令人心碎——他的长子及其伴侣（他从未见过对方）生下了他的第一个孙子，是个男孩。如果不是能够依赖妻子海瑟（Heather）不懈的爱，缺席所有这些事件可能会击垮他，而海瑟坚定的支持是这个悲剧故事的另一面。他们的关系非同寻常，在近二十年的分离中变得更加坚固，仅靠每天一次不超过五分钟的电话维持。

上周，海瑟与女儿一起在爱尔兰西部进行露营度假，她不愿透露女儿和两个儿子的名字。她说：“他们有自己的生活要过，让他们参与到为父亲发起的运动中不可避免地会引起关注，而并非所有关注都是受欢迎的。”她没有说——也不需要说——的是，如果站在批评一个处于许多国际航线枢纽的海湾国家这一立场，可能会产生不可预见的后果。

在文章中，全球马格尼茨基正义运动（Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign）的推动者威廉爵士（Sir William）赞扬了联合国，因为联合国做了一些“历届英国政府都未能做到的事情：它为一名英国公民挺身而出”。该运动旨在对侵犯人权者实施签证禁令并冻结资产。

地狱生活：残酷的 Al Awir 监狱施加精神折磨

自2008年（其丈夫因捏造的指控被捕的那一年）以来，海瑟·康尼利厄斯已经忘记自己向多少位外交大臣递交过请愿书。在这些政治人物中，她只认可一位——前保守党首相（大卫）卡梅伦勋爵（Lord (David) Cameron）。

她说：“他履行了他的承诺。他介入其中，并给迪拜统治者写了一封私人信函，请求释放瑞安。”她说，大多数人只是提供茶水和焦虑的同情，除此之外别无他法。一位外交大臣对她的开场白是：“我无法给你任何希望。”

在2024年大选之前的一天——在知道保守党将面临失败的情况下——卡梅伦勋爵抽出时间给康尼利厄斯夫人写信，阐明他采取了哪些步骤。

她说：“我深受感动。”

在这一天，「谢赫甚至没有费心回复卡梅伦」

然而，阿联酋副总统兼总理、独裁者谢赫·穆罕默德·本·拉希德·阿勒马克图姆（Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum）根本没有理会卡梅伦，尽管两人曾多次会面。这次以及其他多次请求宽恕的申诉均石沉大海。不过，没有任何事情被允许干扰他们的婚姻生命线——那些电话。上周，当我联系到在凯里郡（County Kerry）一个露营地的康尼利乌斯夫人时，她已经接到了丈夫早上的电话，并希望当天晚些时候能接到第二次电话。他的日常生活多年来一直保持不变。除了所有 --- 深情地： 希瑟和瑞安·康尼利乌斯（Heather and Ryan Cornelius）的生活被摧毁了。没错，与自2008, 年起就没见过的家人以及囚犯们一起，他在黎明时分被刺耳的警报声唤醒，凌晨5点吃早餐——黑茶和一碗豆汤（dal）——然后开始排队等候使用电话。“他尝试每天给我打两次电话，每天给孩子们打一次，”希瑟说。“他总是很乐观。他想为我们所有人坚强，而且他从未让我担心过他，尽管我当然在担心。” “告诉他关于我们孙子的消息当然令人激动，因为我们本该计划如何照顾这个新小生命，但我们不能。所以，这个消息既美妙又不美妙。他确实也设法给我们的儿子打了电话，并能从他那里听到消息。” “在早些年，瑞安打电话时，她通常正在观看孩子们的体育比赛，在短短几分钟内，她会为比赛进程提供实时解说。” “这让他觉得自己在现场。” 由于其他囚犯对电话的需求很大，聊天时间总是很短。Skype以及定期户外锻炼等其他特权在一段时间前已被撤销。笼罩在康尼利乌斯一家身上的阴影很长。由于没有房子也没有钱，希瑟陷入了近乎赤贫的状态，目前与她的姐姐和姐夫住在格洛斯特郡（Gloucestershire）。“如果没有他们，我会不知所措，”她告诉我。2008年5月瑞安被捕的那一天深深地刻在她的记忆中。那是他们作为富裕外籍人士的生活崩塌的时刻，也是一场至今仍未结束的折磨的开始。“刚开始我想他会获得公正，很快就能回家，”她说。“我深信这个曾是英国如此伟大盟友的国家会意识到自己的错误并放他走，认为这一切只是一个巨大的误会。” 她的丈夫在回巴林（那里是家庭定居地）的途中在迪拜中转。走出机场时，他被三名便衣警察逮捕，对方称怀疑他携带毒品。搜查结果一无所获，但他仍被拘留。他被一辆无标志车辆带到迪拜警察总部，双手被塑料扎带捆绑。进入大楼时，他的头上被套上了一个头套。他在一个没有窗户的软垫房间里被审讯了数小时，期间没有律师在场，随后被扔进一个空荡荡的牢房。在十天时间里，他被隔离拘押，无法接触家人、法律顾问或英国大使馆。对他提出的指控已从毒品转为欺诈。瑞安在20世纪80年代基础设施建设繁荣期间，通过出售他在沙特阿拉伯的精密隧道公司赚到了钱。但在2008年，在全球金融危机的影响下，迪拜当局对他和另一名英国人用于资助海湾地区投资计划的一笔$500 million银行贷款感到担忧。具体而言，检察官后来指控他伪造了“种植园”（the Plantation）建设的发票，这是一个位于迪拜的豪华开发项目，设有马术中心和马球俱乐部，将包括一家200间客房的酒店和100栋别墅。接手瑞安案件的律师兼自民党贵族克莱门特-琼斯勋爵（Lord Clement-Jones）表示，最初关于贷款和收据的问题是“技术性”的，而非欺诈。

但这一切都还在后面。2008年，在被命令签署一份阿拉伯语声明后（他既不会说也不会读这种语言），他对针对自己的指控一无所知。“我不知道发生了什么，”海瑟回忆道，“即便在现在，在我能与他交谈之前的那十天依然是一场噩梦。”“我已经屏蔽了其中很大一部分，但直到今天，它们仍让我夜不能寐。”在三年的时间里，她的丈夫在没有被起诉的情况下被留在监狱中腐烂，而海瑟则试图专注于抚养他们的孩子们，当时孩子们分别是6岁、16岁和19岁。“看着他们成长，同时深知瑞安错过了什么，这令人心碎，所有的学习和生活。每年我都会向孩子们承诺他会在圣诞节回家——我自己也相信这一点，”她补充道。2011年，他的案件终于在迪拜法院审理，法院判处其十年监禁，并要求他及其三名共同被告偿还贷款以及支付$500 million的罚款。起初，海瑟经常前往阿尔阿维尔（Al Awir）探视。每一次探视都比上一次更令人崩溃。在她的第一次访问中，他戴着手铐，不修边幅，皮肤呈现出一种灰色。“你要经过没完没了的安全检查，直到今天我还记得冰冷的混凝土地板、条形灯管以及固定在地面上的钢椅。如果我哭了，守卫会问：‘你哭什么？’监狱生活被剥夺了人性与隐私。瑞安睡在薄薄的橡胶床垫上，盖着一条厚羊毛毯。他囚室内的温度被保持在较低水平，空调嘈杂地持续运行。窗户很少，灯光则一天24小时常亮。据一名前囚犯称，水龙头滴水和马桶不断冲水的声音是一种精神折磨。在早期，他被允许每天在监狱操场锻炼，在那里他与狱友组织触式橄榄球比赛，但随着时间的推移，这种情况变得越来越少。相反，他现在做仰卧起坐和俯卧撑，并用塑料水瓶自制举重器材。他偶尔可以在走廊里慢跑。他还自学了普拉提，以保持肌肉的协调。家人能给他提供的每一分钱，他都用来支付那些珍贵的电话费。以及食物。他可以通过警察厨房下单，购买少量监狱外的物品。他的购买清单包括谷类早餐、饼干、咖啡、巧克力棒和瓶装水。监狱的菜单极其单调，通常是鸡肉和米饭，配上像粥一样发黄的肉汁。“没有新鲜水果，没有任何新鲜的东西，”海瑟说。不出所料，他的健康状况恶化了。医疗护理几乎不存在——一名医生负责所有4,000名囚犯。瑞安的肺结核在18个月内未得到治疗，且在整个监禁期间被禁止看牙医。在夜晚，囚犯无法接触到守卫，在发生紧急情况时没有办法联系任何人。在新冠疫情期间，相邻囚室的一名囚犯死于该病毒，其尸体在被移走前在那里放置了八小时。瑞安担心再次感染新冠会再次诱发他的肺结核。他一定多么渴望与海瑟在一起的生活。这对夫妇自她17岁相识以来就几乎形影不离。他们都出生在赞比亚（当时的北罗得西亚）的英国父母家庭，并在当地的一家橄榄球俱乐部相识，瑞安当时是一名热衷的球员。他们在1985年结婚并搬到沙特，瑞安在那里建立了自己的事业。当他出售公司时，他已经富有到可以退休，但当时仅40岁出头，平静的生活不适合他。他启动了几个新项目，包括“种植园”（The Plantation）。那时，阿联酋仍处于繁荣期。“我们有一栋漂亮的房子，花园，泳池和一艘船，”海瑟说，“我们搬到了巴林，因为那里更适合家庭生活。每个周五我们都会去一个岛上，钓鱼、烧烤和游泳。”但到了2016年，由于资金耗尽，海瑟不得不离开巴林前往伦敦。塔桥附近的一套公寓成了这个家庭的

“离谱的是，他的刑期竟然又被增加了20年”

家，直到那里被提供贷款的迪拜银行没收。他们的苦难在2018年似乎即将结束，当时瑞安（Ryan）原定获释。但就在他即将重获自由之前，当局声称他“未能偿还债权人”，并离谱地在他的刑期上又增加了20年。克莱门特-琼斯勋爵（Lord Clement-Jones）表示，这违反了自然正义。瑞安试图对第二次判决提出上诉，但由于手续不全，他被禁止乘坐从监狱前往法院参加听证会的巴士。在他缺席的情况下，法院驳回了上诉。他的遭遇变得越来越像卡夫卡式的小说。他的建筑开发项目——在被捕时价值10 亿美元 billion——被当局没收，而当局称其毫无价值。“如今，发光的在线销售视频讲述了一个不同的故事，该项目被更名为‘The Acres’，已变成一个价值数十亿美元的景观别墅开发区。”在大多数西方国家，债务被视为民事问题。但在阿联酋，这是犯罪。一名阿联酋官员向《星期日邮报》坚称，瑞安经历了“一次遵循所有正当程序的公正审判”。外交部已收到置评请求。无论其案件的细节如何，瑞安·康内利厄斯（Ryan Cornelius）为他的野心付出了巨大的代价。他失去了父母、健康、18年的生命以及他的未来。他破产了，他的家人也陷入贫困。但对海瑟（Heather）和他的孩子们来说，最糟糕的是担心他们可能再也见不到他。

39 --- 40

BBC 窥探员工电子邮件

73次 泄密调查期间

在英国广播公司（BBC）历史上最动荡的时期之一，其调查人员访问员工电子邮件账户的次数创下纪录。

《星期日邮报》获取的数据显示，该广播公司在 2025 年对电子邮件账户进行了 73 次调查，而前一年仅为 42 次。

作者：马修·戴维斯（Matthew Davis）

此次增长部分是由内部泄密调查导致访问账户数量增加所驱动的。2025 年发生了 10 起此类事件，是 2024. 年数量的两倍。

BBC 拒绝透露哪些事件引发了电子邮件调查，但 2025 年该公司陷入了一系列危机，其中几起是由泄密触发的。总干事蒂姆·戴维（Tim Davie）和新闻主管德博拉·特内斯（Deborah Turness）均在 11 月辞职，此前一份泄露的内部备忘录揭露了人们对《全景》（Panorama）节目中误导性编辑唐纳德·特朗普演讲的担忧。

BBC 还面临关于其《顶级厨师》（MasterChef）主持人、加沙报道，以及在格拉斯顿伯里音乐节播出的 Bob Vylan 表演的争议，在演出中该乐队领导了反对以色列军队的口号。目前尚不清楚这些事件是否触发了电子邮件调查。

在过去五年中，这家公共服务广播公司共监测了 242 次员工电子邮件账户。其中 27 起事件与泄密调查有关。另有 54 起与内部纪律处分程序有关（例如当一名员工被指控骚扰同事时），21 起与当局的刑事调查有关。

最大的单一类别是法律工作，五年内共 127 起，BBC 表示这包括搜索电子邮件账户以应对诉讼、信息请求，以及处理员工希望查看该公司持有其何种信息的访问请求。

举报人慈善机构 Protect 的伊莎贝尔·贝蒂斯（Isabelle Bettis）表示：“当担忧最终出现在媒体上时，组织应该问的问题是，他们的员工是否足够信任内部报告流程而愿意使用它们。”

一名 BBC 发言人表示：“BBC 仅在例外情况下访问员工电子邮件账户，且仅在这样做是合理、必要且适度的情况下才会进行，员工对此政策完全知情。”

“2025 年的增长是由数量更多的信息自由请求驱动的，这些请求需要搜索相关信息，包括在适当情况下搜索员工电子邮件账户。”

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本周我们学到的事情 作者：Jon Connell，来自每日在线时事通讯

老鼠观看执行并鼓掌。' 4 南太平洋的小岛瑙鲁（Nauru）已恢复其传统名称 Naeoro。这个面积 8 平方英里的国家拥有 1.1万,000 人口，此前在国际上被称为 Nauru，是因为其当地名称对外国人来说太难发音。 5 体育运动充满了荒诞的迷信。一些职业高尔夫球手深信，在前一天举行的 3 杆洞比赛中获胜的人永远无法赢得大师赛，因此他们会故意在最后一个洞失手。 1 演员马特·达蒙（Matt Damon）在《奥德赛》中最关键的场景之一中有一个令人惊讶的替身：一名 4 英尺 6 英寸的女性。35, 岁的加拿大人 Devyn Dalton（最右侧）在对抗食人 Laestergonians 的战斗序列中代替这位一线明星出镜。达蒙随后告诉一名采访者：“她拥有我见过的最棒的手臂。” 2 私人飞机公司正采取极端的手段来争取他们的超级富豪客户，包括提供奢侈体验，例如在马拉喀什的高端集市购物之旅。VistaJet 通过为儿童提供“沉浸式课程”，让父母在飞行时能够放松。 3 专栏作家罗德·利德尔（Rod Liddle）在 66, 岁时去世，他对他那些不理解其黑色幽默的人感到困惑。不久前，他描述了给一只猫开庭审判，然后建造并使用一个微型绞刑架。他随后接到了调查潜在虐待动物行为的警察到访。“当你听到我说 three field 时，”他说，“你应该认为他们已经意识到这是一个笑话了。”

免费订阅 The Knowledge，这是一个五分钟的每日时事通讯，让新闻更易掌控，网址：theknowledge.com --- AUGUST 9 • 2026 健康版块 医生认可

健康、财富与假期

吸烟、饮酒过度以及日照不足，仅仅是骨量减少（osteopenia）在 50 岁以下人群中呈上升趋势的几个原因之一，这种状况曾被认为与老年相关…… 健康 第 44 页

“爆发性”腹泻疫情及其预防方法 健康 第 46-47 页

凭借免疫疗法获救后产生的终身副作用 健康 第 50-51 页

分红慷慨的七家英国公司 财富 第 60-61 页

除了曼彻斯特，北方还有更多值得探索的地方 假期

作者：Marti Stelling

这一切始于哈丽特·凯尔索尔（Harriet Kelsall）所描述的“惊险一幕”。这位当时 46, 岁的两个孩子的母亲在跑步时绊倒，重重地摔在人行道上。“我的膝盖擦破了，到处都是血，”她说，“出于本能，我伸出左手来缓冲跌落——而那才是真正受伤的地方。”但发现手指还能活动后，哈丽特决定直接回家。“我用了一个旧的腕 [请转到第 42 页]

为什么医生认为不健康的生活方式正导致年轻人脆骨症激增 --- 42 健康

[] 支撑并把两根手指绑在一起，虽然不舒服，但暂时起到了作用，”她说。“但大约两周后，我发现我的手变成了紫色，我觉得这不正常。‘我去看医生，扫描显示我的左手有两根很小的骨头骨折，手腕有一根骨折。’”

尽管如此，哈丽特认为整件事主要只是个麻烦。“我太傻了，没有早点去看医生，”她承认。然而，在告诉朋友她因为一次简单的跌倒而导致手骨折后，朋友们鼓励她去做骨密度扫描。结果显示她患有骨量减少，这是一种在骨质疏松症（一种被称为脆骨病的衰弱性疾病）之前出现的骨量减轻状况。

在英国，约有 700 万 人受此影响。骨量减少会导致骨骼强度下降，但通常没有症状，这意味着许多人在骨折之前根本不知道自己患有此病。如果不治疗，它可能会发展为骨质疏松症，使骨骼变得极其脆弱，以至于在轻微跌倒，甚至咳嗽或打喷嚏后就可能发生骨折。

“我以前从未听说过骨量减少，”现年 55 岁的珠宝商哈丽特说。“我对骨质疏松症有一点了解，但认为那是只影响老年人的疾病。‘如果不是朋友们催我去做骨密度扫描，我绝对不会知道自己患有此病。’”

自从确诊后，在全科医生的建议下，哈丽特开始了激素替代疗法（HRT），服用高剂量维生素 D 补充剂，并彻底改变了她的生活方式——所有这些措施都被证明有助于改善或维持骨密度，并降低骨量减少发展为骨质疏松症的风险。她现在每周锻炼大约五次——结合固定自行车训练、跑步和重量训练，同时减少精制糖的摄入，并增加蛋白质摄入以支持肌肉和骨骼健康。

“我现在明白了，关键是要确保你的肌肉能够支撑你的骨骼，”她说。“如果我再次跌倒，希望我的肌肉能帮我保护它们。‘我还没有再次扫描以查看骨密度是否有所改善，但之后我绊了几次，还从桨板上摔下来，都没有骨折——我认为这是一个好迹象。’”

对于一个相对年轻的人来说，哈丽特的诊断可能令人惊讶。虽然骨密度流失与衰老密切相关——据估计，50 岁以上人群中高达 40% 患有骨量减少——但医生表示，他们看到被诊断出患有此病的年轻成年人数量正在增加。专家将其描述为一种早期预警信号，意味着你的骨骼比正常情况弱，但还没有弱到被归类为完全的骨质疏松症。在该病最著名的患者中，包括现年 53 岁的好莱坞女演员格温妮丝·帕特洛（Gwyneth Paltrow）。

虽然骨量减少在50岁以下人群中仍被认为并不常见，但专家现在认为，他们已经确定了一系列可能导致年轻人被诊断出该病的潜在诱因。至关重要的是，他们还主张，解决这些诱因可以防止未来出现无数病例。帝国理工学院医疗NHS信托基金内分泌骨骼部门负责人、顾问内分泌学家亚历克斯·科米诺斯（Alex Comminos）教授，接诊了大量骨质脆弱的50岁以下患者。他说：“大多数人在发生骨折之前并没有意识到自己处于风险之中。”那么，这种病究竟是什么，其原因又是什么？骨量减少是指骨矿物质密度低于正常水平，从而削弱骨架并增加骨折风险。它不会引起疼痛或早期预警信号，许多人在骨折后或因其他风险因素进行骨密度扫描时才发现自己患病。该病通过DEXA扫描（测量骨密度的扫描）来诊断。与通常需要药物治疗以降低骨折风险的骨质疏松症不同，骨量减少通常可以通过改变生活方式来改善，例如进行负重和抗阻运动，以及摄入足够的钙和维生素D。重要的是，骨量减少并不一定会发展为骨质疏松症，其风险取决于年龄、性别、遗传、激素水平、生活方式以及任何潜在的医疗状况。酗酒、缺乏运动和营养不良等因素也起到了作用。伦敦帝国理工学院肌肉骨骼科学副教授里奇·阿贝尔（Richie Abel）博士表示：“很多人将骨量减少和骨质疏松症视为衰老过程中的必然现象。但它应该被视为其本质——一种完全可以预防和治疗的疾病。”

菲比如何通过正确饮食重建骨骼

当骨密度扫描显示菲比·利林（Phoebe Lieling）在年仅 24 岁时就患有骨质疏松症时，她震惊了。“这很可怕。我完全没预料到，”她说。“我记得当时在想，我真的这么脆弱吗？”

在菲比的情况下，骨质疏松是由早绝经和未被诊断出的乳糜泻共同引起的。她在 22 岁停止服用仅含孕酮的避孕药后，月经未能恢复，这才首次意识到出了问题。在尝试了一年不同的治疗后，血液检查显示其雌激素水平极低，而骨密度 DEXA 扫描显示她已经从骨量减少进展到了全面的骨质疏松症。

“我被告知要小心不要摔倒，甚至不要被撞到，以免骨折，”她说。“但与其将其视为死刑，我决定将其视为一项挑战。”

在接受激素替代疗法（HRT）的同时，菲比（如图所示）还改变了她的饮食和生活方式，增加了营养补充剂和力量训练。到 30 岁时，随访 DEXA 扫描显示她的骨密度已恢复到正常范围。现在 56 岁的她在伦敦担任营养治疗师，她鼓励客户从乳制品等食物中获取钙质，并优先进行力量训练，特别是那些能给骨骼带来健康压力以帮助增强骨骼的运动。

他补充说，一些科学家现在将骨质疏松症视为一种儿童疾病，而非老年病。“当你年轻时，你会构建、生长和发育骨骼，”他说。“如果你饮食良好，经常锻炼，且没有严重的疾病或接受过相关治疗，你应该能够构建坚固、健康的骨骼。”

“科学家认为我们在 25 到 30 岁之间达到峰值骨量。这意味着即使在成年早期，人们也应该非常有意识地打造一个强健健康的身体——这意味着要避免吸烟等已知有害行为。”

“如果你年轻时没有构建起这些骨量，那么当你年老时，可流失的部分就更少，这意味着你更有可能发生骨折。”

问题在于，只有那些遭受严重骨折的人才会常规接受扫描。但专家表示，近年来在理解潜在原因方面已经取得了许多突破。或许最强有力的证据是关于以下两者之间的联系：

数百万人患有此病，但无任何症状……而首个迹象通常是骨折 --- 健康 43 骨量减少以及维生素 D 和钙水平低下。维生素 D 帮助身体吸收食物中的钙和其他矿物质，从而构建强壮的骨骼。专家担心，如今的年轻人花在室内的时间更多，且身体活动往往较少，可能无法构建出尽可能强壮的骨架。由于阳光是人体维生素 D 的主要来源，户外活动时间少——以及会导致维生素被困在体脂中的肥胖——都可能增加缺乏症的风险。吸烟和酗酒也会加速骨质流失。研究人员认为，有几个因素可能导致年轻人患此病的比例上升——其中最大的因素之一是雌激素水平低。虽然雌激素水平在绝经后会自然下降，但由于过早绝经（月经在 45 岁之前停止）或原发性卵巢功能不全（POI，卵巢在 40. 岁之前停止工作），其水平也可能提前下降。癌症治疗（如化疗）、切除卵巢的手术以及干扰正常激素产生的疾病（包括饮食失调、体重严重不足和过度运动）也会耗尽雌激素。Comminos 教授表示，雌激素是人体主要的护骨激素之一。当水平下降过早时，骨分解的速度将超过重建速度，导致骨骼变得更弱且更容易骨折。他经常接诊 20 多岁、30 多岁和 40 岁出头的女性，她们因厌食症、饮食不足以支撑剧烈运动、过早绝经或 POI 而导致骨密度低。对于雌激素水平过早下降的女性，医生通常会建议进行激素替代疗法（HRT）。自身免疫性疾病也可能起到作用。例如，乳糜泻会损害小肠内壁，使吸收钙和维生素 D（两种对骨骼健康至关重要的营养素）变得更加困难。在更好的诊断、更高的临床意识以及病例真实增加的推动下，这种病症在英国似乎呈上升趋势。研究表明，70% 的新乳糜泻患者骨密度较低。“如果你被诊断出患有骨量减少，这并不是恐慌的原因——而是一个提醒你关注骨骼健康的警钟，”Comminos 教授说。他说，好消息是，通过简单的饮食改变、补充维生素 D、运动以及（在需要时）使用激素或药物，可以阻止骨量减少的进展，在某些情况下甚至能实际提高骨强度。“关键在于过健康的生活方式，”皇家骨质疏松学会的高级骨质疏松专科护士 Kirsty Carne 说道。她建议使用“大英骨骼检查”的计算器，或请求评估你的风险。“我们建议避免吸烟，因为这会对骨骼健康产生相当显著的影响，”她说。“虽然偶尔喝一杯没问题，但过量饮酒会干扰骨骼的生长和密度。”专家表示，除了健康饮食外，最有效的干预措施是运动。当你举重或进行冲击性运动时，肌肉的物理拉力和重力会触发造骨细胞，从而构建一个更厚、更有韧性的骨架。负重运动——如步行、跳舞或慢跑——通过给骨架施加压力来刺激骨形成。而太极等运动则能提高平衡能力和肌肉力量，降低可能导致骨折的跌倒风险。“你可以从小处着手，寻找适合自己的运动方式——比如加入舞蹈俱乐部或参加萨尔萨舞课，”Abel 博士说。“如果你能找到自己喜欢的事情，你会坚持下去，而不是因为厌倦而放弃。这将更有益，能同时改善你的心理和生理健康。”专家强调，开始保护骨骼健康永远不会太早。

“预防至关重要，因为骨质疏松症可能导致改变生活的骨折，这可能会让你在年老时不得不入住护理院，”阿贝尔博士补充道。“人们必须意识到骨质疏松性骨折的破坏力有多强，这一点非常重要。当选择是在预防它们还是不预防之间时，答案很简单。”

英国骨折诊所推广忽视英格兰引发愤怒

英国政府因未能在英格兰推广骨质疏松症筛查诊所而受到批评——此前有披露称，NHS威尔士已在“投入相对较少”的情况下实现了这一目标。

自2024年以来，《星期日邮报》和英国皇家骨质疏松学会一直致力于争取在全英国范围内全面开放这些骨量减少诊所，以帮助预防改变生活的骨折。

骨质疏松症是骨量减少（见左侧）的晚期形式，主要影响女性，且通常直到发生严重损伤时才被发现——这就是为什么专家认为筛查至关重要。

在“骨质疏松症战争”运动开始时，苏格兰和北爱尔兰的所有NHS医院都提供骨质疏松症筛查，但英格兰和威尔士则没有。

在2024年大选之前，政府承诺为全国范围内的骨质疏松症筛查提供全面资金支持，但此后未能采取任何行动。

现在，《星期日邮报》可以揭露，这些诊所正处于

作者：Ruth Sunderland

骨折联络服务（Fracture liaison services）是NHS可以进行的最明智的投资之一。

“它们能预防改变生活的骨折，帮助人们保持独立，减轻医院和社会护理的压力，且通常在18到24个月内即可收回成本。”

“极少有NHS的干预措施能以如此低廉的成本带来如此巨大的回报。”

英国皇家骨质疏松学会估计，英国每年有2,500人死于可预防的髋部骨折所带来的衰弱影响。

在《星期日邮报》和英国皇家骨质疏松学会发起运动后，时任影子卫生大臣Wes Streeter在选前承诺，将结束“邮编彩票”（指医疗资源分布不均）现象，并在2030年之前建立普及的骨折联络服务。

然而，此后政府未能公布资助和建设这些诊所的计划。

Singh医生开发了一套计算机程序，用于识别威尔士医院中遭受骨折的患者，并将其转诊至骨折联络诊所。

他表示，这意味着该系统不再依赖于繁忙的临床医生自行转诊患者。

随后，患者将接受一项名为DEXA扫描的骨密度测试。

英国皇家骨质疏松学会表示，新任卫生大臣Yvette Cooper应当从Singh医生的工作中汲取灵感。

“Yvette Cooper继承了一项重要的承诺，这可以改变数百万人的护理状况，尤其是那些受骨质疏松症影响程度极高的女性，”Wakeman女士说道。

“威尔士已经证明，凭借明确的领导力、切实可行的计划和相对较少的投资，是可以实现目标的。”

“我们期待与她这位新任卫生大臣合作，在英格兰也以同样的进度和目标推进此事。”

卫生和社会护理部的一位发言人表示：

“我们仍然致力于在2030年之前推广骨折联络服务，正如我们在‘十年健康计划’中所阐述的那样。”

“与此同时，我们也在采取行动，在全国范围内投资20台新型先进的DEXA扫描仪，这是在去年首批13台设备基础上的进一步扩充。”

事实证明

对于45岁以上的女性，骨质疏松症骨折导致的住院天数比乳腺癌、心脏病或糖尿病更多。

《星期日邮报》威尔士的医院，使得英格兰成为唯一一个无法获得全面服务的本土国家。这些威尔士诊所是由老年病专家、NHS威尔士骨骼健康负责人Inderpal Singh医生建立的，他仅凭£100 万以上的资金和24名新员工就使该服务得以启动。自从这些被称为“骨折联络服务”的诊所建立以来，威尔士的骨质疏松症诊断数量增加了191%。皇家骨质疏松症协会表示，这一成就表明政府可以在英格兰低成本且快速地推广这些诊所。皇家骨质疏松症协会服务总监Ruth Wakeman表示：“Singh医生及其同事证明了当政府用行动支持其承诺时可以取得怎样的成就。在威尔士，对骨折联络服务相对较小的投资，帮助推动了通过这些服务识别出的患者数量增加191%。在同一时期，英格兰的增长率为3%，而 --- 44 健康 V1 # 席卷美国的肠胃病已抵达英国... 作者：Meike Leonard 这是一种在今年夏天击垮了数万名美国人的爆发性腹泻病菌。环孢子虫病（Cyclosporiasis）是一种通过受污染的食物或水传播的寄生虫感染，已影响到45个州的2.2万,000多人。据认为这与墨西哥的一家冰山生菜农场有关，它迅速席卷美国，仅在过去几周内就导致两人死亡，数百人住院。卫生部门现在警告称，这种导致数周剧烈腹泻、腹部绞痛和呕吐的衰弱性感染已抵达英国。自5月以来，至少有67名英国人感染了环孢子虫病，专家表示目前尚不清楚还会有多少人被感染。那么，你的风险有多高？首先，有必要解释环孢子虫病究竟是什么。环孢子虫是一种单细胞生物，用外行的话说，就是微小到需要用显微镜才能看到。它是一种在小肠中生存并繁殖的寄生虫，会钻入衬在肠壁上的细胞中。与该病菌相关的频繁水样腹泻是身体试图将其排出。伦敦国王学院微生物学高级讲师Lindsey Ann Edwards医生表示，症状通常持续几周，但最长可达一个月。她补充道：“主要迹象是长时间的极水样腹泻。虽然其他病菌可能在几天后痊愈，但环孢子虫病会持续下去。”一些患者描述说他们每天不得不上多达20次厕所，而另一些人则讲述了胃里有一种冒泡或像气球一样的感觉。这种寄生虫还会引起腹痛和恶心，但很少引起呕吐。这听起来可能很可怕，但专家表示，只要掌握正确的信息，这种寄生虫无需引起担忧。在这里，专家将解释关于环孢子虫病爆发的所有你需要了解的信息...

我感染这种病菌的概率有多大？

对于大多数人来说，患上环孢子虫病（cyclosporiasis）的风险较低，但也有例外。环孢子虫的传播方式与大多数病菌不同。“与许多其他引起腹泻的感染不同，这种寄生虫不能在人与人之间传播，”亨特教授（Professor Hunter）表示。事实上，人们只有在食用含有该寄生虫的食物或饮用水时才会感染环孢子虫。“如果你只是与感染者共进晚餐，甚至同住，你可能不会被感染，”亨特教授说。相反，像美国那样的大规模爆发，通常发生在受污染的粪便接触到农作物时，这通常是因为用于清洗或种植农产品的水源受到了污染。

此外，环孢子虫病的爆发在英国并不常见。这是因为该寄生虫的卵通常只能在温暖潮湿的环境中生存，这意味着大多数病例发生在热带地区，如南美洲和中美洲、东南亚或中东。这些地区通常的水处理和卫生基础设施也较差，使得农作物更容易受到污染。但专家表示，任何前往这些地区旅行的人都可能面临风险。而且，随着美国和墨西哥的疫情仍在激增，专家表示这些国家的风险尤其高。

如果它不具有传染性，为什么还会传播？

英国境内发现的环孢子虫病病例被认为全部是来自美国和墨西哥回国的英国人，他们在国外感染了该病。过去，英国和欧洲也曾出现过环孢子虫病爆发——进口农产品也可能带来感染。然而，专家表示，目前这些病例被认为都与旅行有关。

专家还补充说，预计英国还将出现更多病例。这是因为该寄生虫的潜伏期通常约为十天——这意味着许多目前被感染的患者尚未出现症状。“人们可能会去度一个为期一周的假期，但在回国两三天后才出现症状，”爱德华兹博士（Dr Edwards）说。

我只需要担心沙拉吗？

这一点目前尚不明确。此次爆发被认为与 Taylor Farms 有关，这是一家位于墨西哥的农场，向快餐巨头塔可贝尔（Taco Bell）以及杂货店供应袋装切碎生菜。然而，Taylor Farms 否认是此次爆发的源头——声称其检测结果显示生菜中没有发现该寄生虫的迹象。美国卫生官员目前还在追踪六起独立的环孢子虫病爆发——目前尚不清楚它们是否都与 Taylor Farms 有关。

之前的爆发是由多种其他新鲜蔬菜和水果引起的，其中最常见的是树莓。“任何无需剥皮或烹饪就食用的东西都可能携带这种寄生虫，”亨特教授说。“树莓和黑莓曾导致多次爆发，原因与现在的沙拉叶一样——它们难以彻底清洗，且布满了小凹槽和坑洞。像黄瓜这样具有蜡质表皮的蔬菜，或者通常需要剥皮的蔬菜——如橙子或胡萝卜——引起感染的可能性较低。”

洗涤水果和蔬菜能清除它吗？

“清洗新鲜水果和蔬菜总是一个好主意，”亨特教授说。“但对于环孢子虫，清洗农产品虽然可能去除 80% 的寄生虫，但不能防止你生病，因为虫卵一旦产下就很难被清除。烹饪才是杀死这种病菌的唯一有效方法。”

因此，专家表示，任何担心在国外感染该病菌的人都应采取预防措施。他们认为，这对于免疫系统较弱的人以及老年人和儿童尤为重要，因为他们患重病的风险更高。“我一直提醒人们在国外时不要食用未煮熟的蔬菜——尤其是沙拉，”亨特教授说。

治疗感染的最佳方法是什么？

一旦通过粪便样本确诊，环孢子虫病感染可以通过抗生素轻松治疗。“甲氧苄啶-磺胺甲恶唑（通常以 Bactrim、Septra 或 Cotrim 的名称销售）每天服用两次，持续七到十天。免疫系统健康的人通常也可以在不治疗的情况下康复，但其症状可能会持续一个月之久，并且可能会复发。爱德华兹博士表示，由于体液流失量大，补水至关重要。患者应大量饮水、饮用肉汤，并补充电解质和服用抗生素。”

--- 45

Ellie 医生

她不容错过的全新专栏 始终在你身边的全科医生

公共厕所的关闭令人愤慨……而且这正导致人们患上尿路感染

膀胱感染是我在诊所中看到的最常见且最令人痛苦的问题之一。这类感染也被称为尿路感染（UTIs），主要影响女性，且通常在排尿时引发剧烈疼痛。对于大约 160 万 名女性来说，尿路感染是慢性的——这意味着它们会反复发作。这可能会毁掉一个人的生活，让他们处于持续的疼痛中，无法睡眠或工作。今年早些时候，主持人切里·希利（Cherry Healey，如图）公开讲述了她患尿路感染的历史，以及由于忽视一次感染，导致她在担任伴娘的一位朋友的婚礼上晕倒，并住院治疗五天。令人心碎的是，全科医生（GPs）能提供的帮助往往非常有限。我们可以开抗生素来清除感染，但感染在几个月甚至几周后就会再次出现。然而，我认为我们的新任首相安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）可以采取某些措施，以减少患有慢性尿路感染的患者数量，并改善无数其他人的生活。让我来解释一下。尿路感染发生在细菌通过尿道（排尿时尿液流出的地方）进入尿路（身体排出尿液的管道系统）时。可以采取一些措施来降低风险——例如避免饮用含糖的碳酸饮料——但其中最重要的一点就是：在需要时及时上厕所。憋尿对健康不利。我们有时都会这样做，无论是因为工作繁忙还是在开车，但许多人没有意识到这实际上会引发问题。就尿路感染而言，膀胱在不必要的情况下长时间处于充盈状态会让细菌滋生。这还会撑大膀胱，意味着患者最终去排尿时，可能无法完全排空膀胱。久而久之，经常残留少量尿液会导致经常性感染。这就是为什么我总是告诉我的尿路感染患者永远不要憋尿。然而，正如许多人告诉我的那样，这说起来容易做起来难。在家里没有问题。但一旦出门，寻找上厕所的地方可能就像一项不可能完成的任务。而原因很简单：英国公共厕所的消失。这是本报在新冠疫情期间首次重点关注的问题，当时全国各地的议会关闭了公共厕所，而事实证明，这些限制病毒传播的尝试是徒劳的。然而，这个问题在近年来反而变得更加严重。根据英国皇家公共卫生学会（RSPH）的数据，英格兰目前的公共厕所数量比十年前减少了近 15%，这在很大程度上是因为缺乏维持开放的资金。我相信，由于越来越多的患者被迫憋尿，这导致了更多慢性尿路感染的发生。受公共厕所关闭影响的不仅仅是尿路感染患者。还有许多其他患者，由于其健康状况，使他们在出门在外时面临着无法及时如厕的风险。例如，60 岁以上的男性中大约有一半患有前列腺问题，这意味着他们需要频繁上厕所——通常是在产生尿意的一瞬间。再加上失禁患者、肠易激综合征患者以及其他尿路问题患者，我们讨论的是数百万急需公共厕所的英国人。对于受影响的人来说，这个问题阻碍了他们出门。根据 RSPH 2019 年的一份报告，五分之一的人因为缺乏厕所以及由此产生的羞耻感和不便，出门次数少于他们的意愿。当然，患者可以采取一些措施来降低无法及时如厕的风险

您的疑问解答

我的眼睑上总是长结痂的麦粒肿。非常疼痛，而且似乎没什么办法有效。我该怎么做才能防止它们复发？

结痂的眼睛并非典型的麦粒肿症状，而可能是一种被称为睑缘炎的疾病。麦粒肿是一种常见的感染，发生在眼睑泪管堵塞时。对大多数人来说，这种情况发生没有明显原因——尽管化妆品或护肤品堵塞泪管可能会诱发。建议的麦粒肿治疗方法是对眼睑进行热敷。这应该能减轻疼痛和肿胀，感染最终会消失。现在很少为麦粒肿提供抗生素治疗。然而，如果同时伴有结痂，这可能是由睑缘炎（眼睑炎症）诱发的。睑缘炎患者经常描述眼睛有瘙痒感或沙粒感。这种情况通常由皮肤上的细菌或潜在的皮肤病（如皮炎）引起。该病无法根治，但可以通过每天清洗眼睑来缓解症状。最好的方法是先用温热的法兰绒布敷10分钟。然后，按摩眼睛30秒。最后，使用蘸有稀释婴儿洗发水的干净棉签，清除眼睛周围的结痂和分泌物。

在外出时。我经常建议我的患者避免饮用咖啡、茶、酒精、能量饮料和碳酸饮料，因为这些都会增加排尿需求，并刺激膀胱内壁。患有膀胱或肠道问题的患者还可以向 Bladder And Bowel UK 慈善机构申请一张名为“Just Can't Wait”的特殊准入卡。其目的是让他们在商店、咖啡馆、餐厅或商业街的任何其他地方出示此卡，工作人员就应允许他们使用洗手间——即使该洗手间通常不对公众开放。然而，这仅对那些被诊断出有问题的患者有效——且企业在法律上并没有义务允许患者使用其设施。相反，我认为这个问题的解决方案必须来自政府高层。伯纳姆先生已承诺振兴英国陷入困境的商业街，而他能实现这一目标的最佳方式之一就是资助建设更多公共厕所。这将使数百万人能够更舒适地光顾当地商家，而无需担心在急需如厕时找不到厕所。而且，通过减少重复感染的次数，它可以提高尿路感染（UTI）患者的生活质量。因此，我代表我的患者恳请首相先生，请解决公共厕所危机——您将改善比您想象中更多的人的生活。

上周发表的一项研究认为，我们对乳腺癌的筛查可能存在错误。目前，只有在携带某些增加癌症风险的特定基因，或有大量家族成员患病的情况下，50岁以下的女性才会接受扫描。然而，这项新研究

乳腺筛查需要扩大覆盖范围

认为这种方法遗漏了95%最终发展为乳腺癌的年轻女性。科学家得出结论，其他因素（如生活方式和生育史——母亲患病可能性较低）也应被考虑在内。我同意这个观点。长期以来，国民医疗服务体系（NHS）一直痴迷于寻找携带癌症诱发基因的患者，而这些人实际上是少数。您的乳腺癌诊断是否出乎意料？请来信告知我。

给艾莉博士写信

您有疑问吗？请发送电子邮件至 DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.uk --- 46

健康专栏 作者：凯特·哈里森（Kate Harrison）

当我坐下来听取手术结果时，我主刀医生的面容温和，看不出任何端倪。他和我一样清楚，他即将告诉我的话将决定我余生的走向。终于，他笑了。

“病理报告结果很明确，”他说，“所有的癌细胞都被杀死了。这是最好的结果。”

我的伴侣理查德在这些话还没完全被我消化之前就紧紧地抱住了我。之前的八个月是我人生中最艰难的时光，因为我为了治疗一种侵袭性乳腺癌而忍受了极其艰苦的治疗。

在手术之前，我经历了 14 轮化疗以及免疫疗法——这是目前最先进的癌症治疗方法之一，它利用免疫系统来搜寻并摧毁癌细胞。

它起作用了。但随着对死亡的恐惧终于开始消散，我知道这个非凡的好消息是有代价的。

免疫疗法使我的免疫系统转而攻击我自己的身体，给我留下了危及生命且可能长期存在的副作用。因为我发现，一个被过度激活的免疫系统是没有关闭开关的。

尽管我最后一次接受免疫疗法已经是 17 个月前的事了，但我依然生活在副作用之中。

专家警告，突破性药物的副作用比此前认为的更为严重……

免疫疗法击败了我的乳腺癌，却让我陷入终身疾病的抗争……那么，这种疗法值得吗？

今天，研究表明我绝非个例。免疫疗法被誉为革命性的突破，这并非没有道理。它在不到二十年前被引入，改变了那些曾经被认为几乎无法治疗的癌症的预后。最戏剧性的例子是晚期黑色素瘤，这是最致命的皮肤癌形式。直到十多年前，诊断后十年仍生存的患者不足 5%。如今，得益于免疫疗法，超过一半的人能生存这么久，有些人甚至被认为已经痊愈——这种惊人的转变曾被许多癌症专家认为是不可能的。

类似的突破随后也出现在某些形式的肺癌和肾癌中。研究人员在胰腺癌和其他臭名昭著的难治性肿瘤中也看到了令人鼓舞的结果，这让人希望免疫疗法的成功故事才刚刚开始。

但正如我亲身经历的那样，这种非凡的治疗可能需要付出代价。患者经常会出现由免疫系统攻击健康组织而引起的副作用。有些人像我一样，在治疗结束很久之后仍面临持续的健康问题。最可怕的部分是，无法预测谁会出现这些并发症，也无法预测免疫系统会攻击哪个器官。

在我被诊断出癌症时，我的身体状况处于巅峰。56 岁那年，我每周跑步三次，从青少年时期起就吃素，不抽烟，适量饮酒。我甚至写过关于健康的书。

2024 年 11 月，在一次常规乳房自检中，我在右腋下发现了肿块。我安慰自己：它不在乳房里，所以可能没什么大碍。

但它并非没什么大碍。一个月后，在经过扫描和活检后，我听到了我们所有人都恐惧的话语：“你患了癌症。”

不只是普通的乳腺癌，而是三阴性乳腺癌 (TNBC)——这是一种更罕见、更具侵袭性的形式，由于缺乏许多最有效药物所针对的受体，因此更难治疗。我淋巴结中的肿块已经长到了抱子甘蓝的大小。这对我来说是一个不容忽视的讽刺：我在圣诞节前夕收到了诊断结果。更奇怪的是，医生在我的乳房中找不到原始肿瘤。

治疗过程几乎和诊断结果一样令人恐惧。我面临着六个月的化疗，随后是手术和放疗。即便如此，也没有任何保证。在临床试验中，像我这样仅接受标准治疗的女性中，大约四分之一的人在三年内癌症复发。

但有一个希望之源。就在我确诊的两年前，NHS 批准将 pembrolizumab（一种免疫疗法药物）用于像我这样的患者。它属于新一代治疗药物，通过解除免疫系统的“刹车”来发挥作用，使其能够识别并攻击那些原本会逃过监测的癌细胞。

我的肿瘤科医生坦诚地告知了风险。通过释放免疫系统来对抗癌症，该药物也可能导致免疫系统攻击健康器官。我的甲状腺就是一种可能性。我的肺、肝、肠道、皮肤或心脏也可能受到影响。

我可以拒绝。但考虑到三阴性乳腺癌女性面临的糟糕预后，我想动用一切手段来对抗肿瘤。况且，我已经在签署列有数十项严重并发症的化疗同意书了。再多几个似乎是我最不需要担心的事情。

我同意了。治疗在平安夜前一天开始。过程并不愉快，--- 健康 47

那些在其他方法失效时依然奏效的激进疗法

现代免疫疗法药物于 2010 年代中期首次在英国推出，被广泛认为是癌症治疗的未来。这些药物通过利用免疫系统来攻击癌细胞，可以单独使用，也可以与其他疗法结合使用。如今，免疫疗法有多种类型，其中大多数通过静脉输液或注射给药。

检查点抑制剂是一种能够阻断通常负责充当免疫系统“刹车”的蛋白质的药物，从而允许身体更激进地攻击癌细胞。目前，英国国家医疗服务体系（NHS）正使用这些药物治疗黑色素瘤以及肺癌、肾癌和膀胱癌。与此同时，用于对抗白血病和淋巴瘤的 CAR T 细胞疗法则是将患者的免疫细胞取出，在实验室中进行改造以更好地猎杀癌细胞，然后将其重新植入体内。而癌症疫苗——目前正处于治疗早期膀胱癌的临床试验阶段——则是训练免疫系统识别特定的癌细胞并对其发起攻击。

事实证明，在传统治疗失败时，免疫疗法能够挽救生命，但专家表示，还需要更多研究来了解这些药物潜在的长期副作用。但像恶心这样的副作用，大多可以通过我在每周输液后收到的一袋药物来控制。我戴着冰冷的“冷帽”试图保住一些头发，并尽量坚持遛狗和工作。

但在 3 月初的一夜之间，一切都改变了。我出现了严重的腹泻，每天多达 14 次。随着身体变得越来越虚弱，我的主治医生诊断出我患有结肠炎——即大肠炎症。我的免疫系统正在攻击我的消化系统。结肠炎可能危及生命，因此我每天都待在急诊科，接受高剂量类固醇输液以及其他专科药物。在经历了数十年的健康饮食后，我不得不放弃每天摄入五份果蔬的习惯，改为所谓的“低渣饮食”——低纤维饮食，以减轻受损肠道的负担——饮食内容包括白面包、烤土豆和偶尔吃一根香蕉。

在肿瘤团队试图平息我狂暴的免疫系统期间，癌症治疗必须完全停止。治疗花了一个月的时间才开始起效并缓解我的症状，而类固醇让我处于极度亢奋状态，以至于无法入睡。当失眠袭来时，我会彻夜醒着，为我在确诊后开设的博客研究这种病症。我想了解自己身上发生了什么。

答案在于一种被称为“免疫疗法毒性”的情况。通过激活免疫系统来攻击癌症，免疫疗法也可能导致其攻击身体的健康部分——正如我之前被警告过的那样。但我没有完全意识到的是，与化疗不同（化疗的副作用虽然令人不快但通常是短暂的），免疫疗法毒性在治疗结束数年后仍可能爆发。

麦克米伦癌症支持中心（Macmillan Cancer Support）的首席医学官理查德·西姆考克（Richard Simcock）教授解释道：“免疫疗法毒性最困难的方面之一就是其不可预测性。我们目前还没有办法了解谁会受到影响，他们可能会出现什么样的副作用，以及至关重要的是，这些问题可能会持续多久。所有这些都极大地增加了不确定性。”

我不得不停止使用帕博利珠单抗（pembrolizumab），仅用了 3 剂而非计划中的 17 剂，但我能够重新开始化疗。到 6 月份，我再也不能在不停下来喘气的情况下爬楼梯，并且出现了一种持续的干咳。

一天晚上，在一次输血之后，我的体温飙升，呼吸困难。我们拨打了 999，几分钟之内，我就在救护车里，随着蓝色警灯闪烁，我们飞速驶向急诊科（A&E）。在医生试图查明原因时，我被戴上了氧气面罩。抗生素没有起作用——我的病情每小时都在恶化。

我的胸口感觉就像被金属虎钳死死夹住一样。我太害怕而不敢入睡，并深信自己快要死了，于是我在网上搜索了自己的症状。最可能的罪魁祸首？肺炎（Pneumonitis）。我那被过度激活的免疫系统现在正在攻击我的肺部。终于，在经历了48小时的恐惧之后，一个专门的毒性治疗小组开始给我注射大剂量的静脉类固醇。几小时内，我的呼吸情况有所改善。到第二天，我可以在没有氧气的情况下坚持。在我的肺部恢复期间，手术被推迟了，但到7月底，我得到了人生中最好的消息：没有癌症迹象。不可能知道五种药物中的哪一种杀死了我的肿瘤，但那天晚上我为医疗团队、化疗和帕博利珠单抗（pembrolizumab）干杯。

然而，我的免疫系统还没有对我彻底“放手”。我一停止使用类固醇，结肠炎就猛烈地卷土重来，毁掉了我8月份享受康复生活的计划。万幸的是，萨塞克斯郡这里有一支出色的免疫疗法毒性治疗小组，专业的护士们为我提供了更多的类固醇输液，并让我的士气保持高昂。我的结肠炎好转到足以让我接受放射治疗。但我也出现了严重的关节疼痛，这可能是由类固醇导致肌肉虚弱引起的。我开始进行温和的物理治疗，并尽可能多地饮用我能忍受的蛋白质奶昔。但到了今年1月，我觉得自己像96岁而不是56岁，因为疼痛扩散到了我的髋关节、膝盖、手腕、肘部，甚至脚后跟。我的免疫系统是否找到了一个新的目标？果然，当我重新开始使用类固醇时，疼痛在一夜之间开始改善，从而确认了炎症性关节炎的诊断。

但类固醇不是长久之计。我可以忍受它引起的面部肿胀（月亮脸），但它导致的免疫力下降意味着我会感染所有流行的小病。医生们想寻找替代方案，但一些较新的治疗方法在国民医疗服务体系（NHS）中无法获得。目前，我正在尝试另一种药物，这让我在一周的七天中有三天感到恶心且疲惫不堪。如果这失败了，我可能会获得用于购买更昂贵药物的同情资金。

起初，我以为自己只是运气不好。但现在我们知道事实并非如此。欧洲规模最大的一项研究在英国34家医院中追踪了545名接受与我相同治疗的患者。三分之二的患者遭受了免疫相关的副作用，近一半需要计划外的住院治疗，且有四名患者死亡，其中包括三名肺部遭受肺炎攻击的患者。治疗我的团队是由免疫肿瘤临床网络（IOCN）首席执行官兼英国医学肿瘤学会主席安娜·奥尔森-布朗（Anna Olsson-Brown）教授建立的。她说：“根据治疗方法的不同，大约五分之一到二分之一的患者会出现严重或危及生命的毒性反应，许多人留下了长期的、改变生活的症状。”

“仅在去年英格兰就有2.5万,000名患者接受了免疫疗法，这些毒性反应并非罕见的并发症。它们是治疗过程中的常规部分。”

其影响超出了个体患者。一疗程帕博利珠单抗的标价接近£9万,000，尽管NHS确实享有折扣。但急诊入院、专业药物以及多年的随访增加了陷入困境的癌症科室的负担。我很幸运能接触到专业团队，但这类服务寥寥无几。医生们谈到，得益于免疫疗法等治疗手段，癌症护理进入了黄金时代。但我明白了，我们需要选择适合自己的方案。一定要要求对方多次解释副作用，或者查看研究报告。我也明白了，你必须成为自己的捍卫者。非专科医生并不总是理解免疫疗法的副作用，但这是你的身体，你有权被认真对待。

在那些失眠的夜晚，当药物组合或关节疼痛让我清醒时，我会回想起在急诊室（A&E）度过的那些恐怖时光。我同意接受免疫疗法是否做错了决定？在内心深处，我知道我依然会选择同意。

它极有可能帮助我摆脱了癌症，就像它帮助过成千上万的人那样。我只希望医生们也能发现治疗这种后遗症的新方法。 ● 凯特的博客《我的癌症大反转》（My Big Cancer Plot Twist）为所有受癌症影响的人提供建议和链接。 --- 48 健康

专家警告：数千名深受情绪低落和焦虑困扰的人实际上可能患有甲状腺功能减退

作者：Andy Beaven

吉姆·哈伍德（Jim Harwood）发现自己变得极其容易压力大，甚至会对最琐碎的小事感到愤怒，这完全不符合他以往的性格。在超市里有人推车挡在他前面，或者同事犯了一个小错误，都会引发他措辞严厉的爆发，而他随后会立即感到后悔。与此同时，作为一名计算机程序员，他一直依赖的敏锐洞察力和高度专注力也开始消失。他难以集中精力工作，难以记住名字，难以控制自己的言行。

这位来自伦敦西北部平纳（Pinner）的73岁老人说：“我根本不知道自己怎么了。我处于一种无法解释的易怒、压力和焦虑状态。”随着症状恶化，他考虑了各种可能性——从失智症的发作甚至到疯牛病。然而，他从未想象过自己的问题是由甲状腺引起的。他说：“这根本不在我的怀疑之列。”

然而，专家告诉《星期日邮报》，心理紊乱是甲状腺功能减退症（hypothyroidism）一个被严重低估且经常被误诊的症状——在英国，约有140 万人患有此病。专家呼吁医生应更常规地为挣扎于焦虑和抑郁的患者提供甲状腺检测，以确定甲状腺功能减退是否为原因所在。

伯明翰大学内分泌学教授兼英国甲状腺基金会（British Thyroid Foundation）受托人克里斯汀·博埃拉特（Kristen Boelaert）表示：“甲状腺功能减退症经常得不到诊断。因此，如果人们因焦虑或抑郁去看全科医生（GP）——尤其是如果他们表现出任何其他更常见的身体症状时——医生应该准备好建议进行甲状腺功能检测。”

那么，你如何知道自己是否患有甲状腺功能减退症？又该如何治疗？

首先，有必要解释一下甲状腺究竟是什么。甲状腺是一个位于颈部喉盒前方的蝴蝶形小器官，它产生维持身体健康的至关重要激素。在甲状腺功能减退症中，这些激素的水平过低，会导致一系列身体症状，包括疲劳、体重增加、怕冷、便秘、头发干燥或稀疏、肌肉无力、疼痛、声音嘶哑以及言语和动作迟缓。

然而，由于大脑中也存在甲状腺激素受体，研究表明，甲状腺功能减退甚至会影响人们的思考和感受。

慈善机构Thyroid UK的首席执行官琳·迈诺特（Lyn Mynott）表示：“虽然这没有被广泛认可，但如果甲状腺激素水平较低，会导致心理问题。许多人可能会长期承受这些症状，而没有意识到自己患有甲状腺疾病。”

甲状腺功能减退症影响约2 per cent的人口，在女性和老年人中更为常见，影响约5 per cent的60岁人群和10 per cent的80岁以上人群。

迈诺特女士表示，与甲状腺相关的心理问题经常被误诊——尤其是在中年女性中。她补充道：“她们可能会认为自己遭受的问题是忙碌、压力巨大的生活产物。如果她们年龄较大，可能会认为这是失智症的开始。但即使她们寻求帮助，医生也经常忽略真实原因，因为他们没有想到要做甲状腺检测。”

“结果，患者可能会被开抗抑郁药或被告知要减轻压力。但如果原因实际上是甲状腺功能减退，这些方法将无法提供帮助，也无法解决问题的根源。”

专家表示，如果甲减（甲状腺功能减退症）未被诊断，可能会导致严重的心脏问题，因为甲状腺激素不足会减慢心率、升高血压并增加血液中的胆固醇含量。对于女性而言，这种情况还可能干扰排卵，改变月经周期并增加流产风险。在最严重的情况下，长期未治疗的甲减可能导致黏液性水肿昏迷——这是一种罕见但危及生命的状况，会导致重要器官衰竭。对于哈伍德先生来说，直到他后来出现一系列身体症状，医生才意识到他的心理问题与甲状腺有关。他说道：“我体重增加了——多了9公斤 [20磅] ——并且发现自己变得极度怕冷。即使在有暖气的办公室里，我也需要在衬衫和毛衣下面穿一件保暖背心。” “那种疲劳感是毁灭性的。我几乎无法正常生活。” 他的颈部还出现了肿胀——这是甲状腺功能紊乱的另一个常见迹象。最终，他被开具了人工甲状腺激素——这种每日服用的药片几乎完全消除了他的症状。他说：“直到身体症状出现，才清楚地表明甲减才是原因。找到正确的治疗方法让我能够回归正常生活。作为一名数学家和前计算机程序员，能够恢复思维的清晰度让我感到非常欣慰，同时也给了我更乐观的前景和情绪稳定性。” “遗憾的是，甲减在心理健康方面的影响仍然被如此低估。”

空气质量差导致类风湿性关节炎发作

一项研究发现，接触灰尘、烟尘和烟雾可能会增加类风湿性关节炎患者病情发作的频率。据信，英国约有 40万,000 到 70万,000 人患有此病，该病表现为身体攻击健康的关节组织，导致手、腕和脚出现疼痛、肿胀、发热和僵硬。之前的研究表明，空气污染可能会增加患类风湿性关节炎的风险，但对于它对已病患者的影响则知之甚少。

作者：Marti Stelling

这项发表在《类风湿疾病年鉴》（Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases）杂志上的研究发现，较高水平的空气污染与已病患者症状的恶化相关。研究人员表示，这些发现强调了将环境因素纳入长期疾病管理的重要性。

韩国科学家在四年时间里对 1,070 名类风湿性关节炎患者进行了追踪，分析了 2021 和 2024 年之间超过 1.25万,500 次门诊就诊的数据。他们将患者的疾病活动度与估计接触的六种常见空气污染物（包括二氧化硫和一氧化碳）进行了对比。研究发现，来自交通和工厂的微小污染颗粒与患者病情发作的联系最为紧密。

首席研究员、来自首尔大学医院风湿病科的 Eun Bong Lee 表示：“我们的研究对公共卫生政策制定具有重要意义。”

“虽然还需要进一步研究来确定改善空气质量是否能降低疾病活动度，但我们建议这些患者避免长时间暴露在空气质量差的环境中。”

根据英国皇家内科医师学会和儿科医师学会的数据，英国的室外空气污染每年导致估计 4万,000 例早逝。伦敦被广泛记录为英国污染最严重的特大城市区域。然而，波特塔尔博特（Port Talbot）和斯坎索普（Scunthorpe）等城镇的污染水平也很高。之前的分析已经确定了污染与各种疾病之间的联系，包括心脏病发作、中风、哮喘、2 型糖尿病、肥胖和痴呆症。

T'STRO 沙特阿拉伯是全球甲状腺问题患病率最高的国家——影响了三分之一的人口。

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50

财富与个人理财

当荷兰东印度公司开始航行前往亚洲时，航行充满风险且成本高昂——探险需要资金，而投资者并不总是容易找到。有人产生了一个想法——为什么不通过提供年度奖励来激励富商投资呢？股息的概念由此诞生——最初以肉豆蔻和丁香支付，随后改为现金——在 300 多年后的今天，它依然充满活力。

根据投资平台 AJ Bell 的数据，FTSE 100 公司预计今年将支付近 £89 亿的股息，这是英国领先股票市场指数的记录最高金额。这是自 2018, 以来最大规模的派息，预计明年还将进一步增长，来自整个市场的公司将提供数十亿资金。

这些巨额资金表明许多英国企业状态良好，Midas 挑选了其中最好的 7 家，包括 Standard Life，自我首次推荐以来，其股价已上涨 40%。

STANDARD LIFE RETIREMENT 是一门巨大的生意。如今，从职场养老金到年金，投资于退休相关产品的资金几乎达到 £3.5 万亿。预计这一数字在未来十年将飙升至 £6 万亿以上，而 Standard Life 是该领域的领军企业。Midas 在 2022 年推荐该股票（原名为 Phoenix Group），当时股价为 £6.61。此后股价已飙升至 £9.45，外加近 £1.90 的股息支付，预计回报率将在此基础上大幅增加。经纪人预计今年的派息为 57 便士，使股票收益率约为 6%。但该公司一直在削减成本、偿还债务并更有效地管理业务。因此，首席执行官 Andy Briggs 可能在 2027 年起每年拥有约 £5 亿的盈余现金。他计划如何使用这笔资金将在今年晚些时候变得更加清晰，但很有可能其中至少一部分将用于股息——从而大幅提升股东的派息。英国投资市场已变得明显更具竞争力，但 Standard Life 拥有某些优势，尤其是几乎完全专注于退休储蓄，以及在快速扩张的职场养老金领域拥有 22% 的市场份额。该集团今年早些时候还宣布收购竞争对手 Aegon UK，该交易应在 12 月前完成，预计将增加客户数量、推动增长并提高效率。技术改进也在进行中，这将改善客户服务并提高效率。在 £9.45 的价格下，该股表现良好但依然具有吸引力。交易市场：主市场 股票代码：SDLF 联系方式：standardlifeplc.com

INVESTEC

想象一下，如果给银行打电话是一次愉快的体验。想象一下，如果电话能由一名合格、乐于助人且高效的专业人士迅速接听。对于我们大多数人来说，这只是白日之梦。但对于 Investec 的客户来说，这则是常态。 成立于 1974 年的南非，现在是一家富时 100 (FTSE 100) 银行，业务遍及全球，在英国拥有大量业务。该集团在股票市场的估值超过 60 亿英镑 billion，并雄心勃勃地计划进一步扩大规模，并在过程中支付丰厚的股息。其呼叫中心正是 努力寻求突破的领域之一。该部门由毕业生 staffing，且全天候开放，体现了其对客户服务的内在承诺——而且成效显著。与大多数同行不同， 并不试图迎合所有人。相反，该集团专注于投资银行、私人银行和财务规划等领域，主要面向富裕个人及其企业。近期，部分客户要求 提供更多服务。首席执行官 Fani Titi 对此做出了回应，推出了主流银行产品（如信用卡和储蓄账户），同时继续强调由银行家而非机器人提供高质量的支持。作为南非的领先力量， 在这里也备受推崇，拥有日益增长的富裕客户群和蓬勃发展的投资银行。该集团持有英国财富管理公司 Rathbones 40% 的股份，该公司虽然遇到过问题，但预计最终会交出成绩单。城市分析师们非常看好 ，预计未来三年其利润将从 £9 亿 增加到 12 亿英镑 billion。这应该会转化为持续的股息增长，预计 2027 年为 41.5p，到 2029 年将增加到 51p 以上。对于我们许多人来说，来自南非的消息似乎一直很糟糕。然而，在该国境内，变革正在进行，经济前景正在改善。Titi 也是一个灵感来源。他出生在一个有 14 个孩子的家庭，在种族隔离制度下长大，凭借卓越的才智和动力摆脱了农村贫困的生活。直到今天，一种“能做成”的文化仍渗透在银行之中。在 60 亿英镑.76 的价格下，该股票值得买入，且超过 6% 的收益率是一个额外奖赏。 交易市场：主市场 股票代码：INVP 联系方式：.com

LONDONMETRIC

当 LondonMetric 负责人 Andrew Jones 共同创立这家公司时，他的目标很明确：打造一家“股息贵族”——即一家能够连续至少 25 年实现年度股息增长的公司。他正朝着这个目标稳步前进。LondonMetric 成立于 2012 年，在 2013 年支付了首次股息，此后一直增加支付额，今年很可能再次增加。这一记录令人印象深刻。作为一家房地产公司，LondonMetric 容易受到该行业普遍波动的影响，但 Jones 对收入有着极其敏锐的关注——购买那些能够在长期获胜领域产生可观且增长租金的资产。仓库和配送中心占投资组合的一半以上，便利店占比很高，预算酒店以及像 Alton Towers 和 Thorpe Park 这样迎合我们对体验和娱乐日益增长兴趣的主题公园也占据重要地位。LondonMetric 还通过精明的收购实现了增长，包括上个月刚刚公布的对小型公司 Picton Property 的共同收购。所有交易旨在增加收入并降低成本，因此如今 Jones 掌控着一个价值 80 亿英镑 billion 的投资组合，产生 £4.3 亿 的租金，且仅由 54 人管理。成本之所以能保持在低位，是因为 LondonMetric 采用所谓的“三净”（triple-net）模式管理，这意味着租户负责维护其物业、为其投保并支付相关税款。极低的管理费用让 Jones 能够慷慨地对待

英国股票正处于八年来的最高股息派发期。在这里，我们的股票专家揭晓了她用于获利的顶级选择 --- 51

编辑：Rachel Rickard Straus money@mailonsunday.co.uk # 年度理财标题 股东们收到季度股息，因为租金也是按季度收取的。分析师预计到明年3月的年度派息为12.9便士，到2028年将增至13.3便士。由于LondonMetric的股价为£1.96，这意味着该股票的收益率为6.6%。与许多房地产股票一样，LondonMetric的股价在过去五年中经历了剧烈波动。但更好的时光即将到来，因为LondonMetric拥有顶级的资质。出租率高达98%，租金正在上涨，且Jones决心将股息推向更高水平。该股票建议买入。交易市场：主市场 股票代码：LMP 联系方式：londonmetric.com # LANDSEC 如果说LONDONMETRIC是房地产界的后起之秀，那么Landsec则更像是一位元老。该公司成立于1944年，旨在帮助重建被轰炸的英国，如今其资产组合的总价值接近110 亿英镑 billion。这些资产每年产生超过£5.5 亿的租金，预计从现在到2030, 之间将大幅增长，为股息增长提供坚实动力。首席执行官Mark Allan有信心实现这一增长，因为他已做出协调努力使Landsec与时俱进，将重心从房地产开发转向能够提供稳健且增长收入的资产，主要是伦敦市中心的顶级办公室以及从肯特郡的Bluewater到格拉斯哥的Buchanan Galleries等顶级购物中心。这两个类别的需求都很高。出租率维持在98%，租金上涨速度达到了二十年前才见过的水平。这并非巧合。作为该领域最大的公司之一，Landsec拥有关于全国购物习惯和工作方式的海量数据。数据显示，全国约30%的实体零售销售集中在仅1%的地点，主要是大型购物中心——这正是Landsec的优势领域。因此，该集团的零售客户在过去四年的销售额增长了22%，而市场平均增长率仅为3%。办公空间是另一个位置决定一切的领域。在后疫情era, 企业正在寻找交通便利且附近有良好餐饮设施的顶级场地。Landsec专门从事此类办公室，因此租金高且在上涨。Allan每年续签或重新谈判约五分之一的所有租约，租金平均上涨15%，高于两年前的8%。更高的租金对于寻找廉价房产的企业来说是一个挑战，但对于寻找收入的投资者来说则是好消息。Landsec在到明年3月的年度股息预计将超过42.5便士，到2028. 将增至至少44便士。这使得该股的收益率接近6%。在£7.17, 的价格水平上，其仍有上涨空间，且股息提供了实实在在的保障。交易市场：主市场 股票代码：LAND 联系方式：landsec.com

IMPERIAL BRANDS

吸烟有害健康，损害钱包，且在许多圈子里被认为极其不酷。但全球每天仍有超过10亿人吸烟，且通常每天多次。美国约有3000 万名吸烟者，大约三分之一的东欧人热衷于此，而这种习惯在法国和西班牙仍具有某种吸引力。对于医生来说，这些数据令人不悦，但对于 Winston、Gauloises、Golden Virginia 和 Rizla 卷烟纸等品牌的母公司 Imperial Brands 而言则不然。 从综合企业 Hanson 分拆于1996,，直到新冠疫情前几乎每年都提高股息，之后又恢复了增长。该股票目前的收益率超过6%，首席执行官 Lukas Paravicini 渴望保持这一势头。这意味着在 投资资金的去向和方式上必须保持自律。香烟是现金牛，贡献了年度销售额的90 per cent以上，但增长则来自所谓的下一代产品，例如 Blu 电子烟、Pulse 加热烟草棒、Zone 尼古丁袋和 Black Buffalo 替代咀嚼烟草。一些投资者出于伦理原因拒绝接触烟草股。尽管如此， 的股价在过去五年中飙升了近80%，达到£27.88，经纪人认为仍有上涨空间。股息增长和股票被低估是一个诱人的组合。这使得 成为冷静的股票挑选者的一个极具吸引力的投资对象。 交易市场：主市场 股票代码：IMB 联系方式：imperialbrandspic.com

PRIMARY HEALTH PROPERTIES

Primary Health Properties 是富时250指数（FTSE250）而非富时100指数（FTSE100）的成员，但它是一个真正的股息贵族。自1996,年进入股票市场以来，该公司每年都增加股息，并且应该将延续这一趋势。该集团专注于现代化的、专门建造的医疗保健场所，包括英国和爱尔兰的1,000多家全科医生（GP）诊所和医疗中心，以及少量的私立医院。入住率维持在99%，年租金接近£3.5 亿，且超过四分之三的租金收入由政府担保——这对投资者来说是一个令人安心的保障。Midas 首次推荐 PHP 是在2008,年，当时股价为70p。此后，该集团通过大规模收购（包括去年收购竞争对手 Assura）实现了飞跃式发展。如今股价为96p，因此它们回报了那些耐心的投资者，后者在过去18年里每股还获得了超过£1的股息。经纪人预计今年的派息为7.3p，使 PHP 的收益率达到7.6%，2027年计划派息7.5p，次年为7.8p。股息的增长反映了租金收入的持续增长以及管理层对未来的信心。尽管如此，由于担心利率上升的影响，PHP 最近在股市上表现不佳，收购 Assura 的交易使其借款额超过30 亿英镑 billion。首席执行官 Mark Davies 决心消除这些担忧，通过削减成本、债务再融资以及与资金雄厚的机构建立合作伙伴关系，以降低借款和利息支出。他的进度大幅提前，这些举措应能增强业务中的私立医院部分，并推动对政府资助的基层医疗设施的持续投资。这些设施与传统的全科医生诊所截然不同。现代化场所提供物理治疗、足科治疗和小手术——这些都是政府减轻医院负担计划的一部分。Primary Health 的股价近年来受到沉重打击，但从现在起应该会走高。该公司处于有利位置，可以从人口老龄化和政府对社区医疗保健的优先考虑中获益。在96p的价格下，基于其贵族般的股息记录，该股是坚定的买入选择。 交易市场：主市场 股票代码：PHP 联系方式：phpgroup.co.uk

JAMES HALSTEAD

地板专家 James Halstead 在初级市场 Aim 交易，但该公司是一家“股息之王”——这是一个极其罕见的状态，仅限于那些能够实现连续 50 年股息增长的公司。该公司由 James Halstead 于 1915, 年创立，目前仍由家族支持，并由 James 的后代 Mark 担任主席。但这家公司绝无陈腐之感，它在 20 世纪 40 年代发明了乙烯基地板，并从此一直处于创新的前沿。Halstead 通过位于曼彻斯特和蒂赛德（Teesside）的工厂，将其地板出口到 180 个国家，包括乌克兰的健康中心、波兰的军队基地、美国的科技公司以及迪拜的手术室。地板产品涵盖了从豪华住宅的高端系列到南极洲斯科特基地的专业地板，以及用于核电站的防静电乙烯基地板。不过，大部分产品被用作办公室、学校、医院、酒吧和餐厅、商店、工厂甚至监狱的廉价、可靠且耐用的覆盖层。该公司是市场领导者，但进展受到了棘手经济条件的削弱，上个月的一份交易声明警告称，今年的数据将低于去年。经纪人预计利润将下降 12.5%，至 £4800 万，但仍计划将股息提高至至少 9p。投资者对 James Halstead 并不友好，其股价在过去四年中从 £3.25 暴跌至 £1.30。这似乎是不公正的，应当予以扭转。由于该股票的收益率为 6.9%，其股票值得买入。 交易市场：Aim 股票代码：JHD 联系方式：jameshalstead.com

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52

Jeff Prestridge

jeff.prestridge@malomunday.co.uk 特约财经编辑

解决国家的护理危机是安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）的首要任务之一。尽管他对此有切身之痛——他的父亲在护理院与阿尔茨海默症作斗争——但我认为这位首相在那些前任失败的地方取得成功的机会很小。特别是考虑到他倾向于通过一种新的死亡税——或者如果不行就通过更高的所得税账单——来为改革提供资金。我只是认为公众不会买账。在工党领导下，他们已经受够了更高的税单。而且随着对未使用养老金基金征收遗产税以及对储蓄收入征收更高税款的措施## “是时候不要再动我们的财富和收入了”将于明年 4 月起生效，人们已经没有胃口接受又一次的税收掠夺。现在是工党停止动我们的财富和收入的时候了——并应对英国令人恐惧的福利账单，该账单已将国家债务推高至 3万亿英镑 以上。只有当伯纳姆足够勇敢地迎接这一挑战（这应成为 10 月预算案的核心）时，他才能认真开始考虑建立一个既能发挥作用又不会对我们的财富征收更多税款的社会护理系统（这是保守党领导人凯米·巴德诺克 [Kemi Badenoch] 所倾向的方法）。当然，首相说护理资金问题是一团糟是对的。自 1997 年以来，已经有 22 次改革尝试。全部失败了，要么是因为成本原因，要么是因为公众的强烈反对。事实上，在 2009, 年，作为卫生大臣，伯纳姆第一次尝试改革。他想要

伯纳姆肩负着解决护理危机的使命……而我担心他将通过征收什么税来为此买单

他可能会在第二次尝试时引入他最倾向的选择：一项新的遗产税（死亡税）。但这遭到了强烈反对并被废弃。而且没有迹象表明，在随后的 17 年里，公众对用专门的死亡税来支付护理费用的厌恶感有所减轻。

就目前情况而言，地方议会没有足够的财政资源来支付那些有资格获得免费护理的人员费用，而英格兰地区人们开始支付护理费的起算点仍维持在 2010 年的水平：仅为 £2325万,250。如果资产达到或超过这个金额，任何护理费用都将开始削减你的财富（北爱尔兰的门槛相同，但苏格兰和威尔士更高）。在护理院住一段时间，你的房产很可能需要被出售以支付费用。护理账单平均每周约为 £1,350（在东南部则高得多），许多人的终身成本超过 £10万,000。

这个制度就像一场抽奖。首先，如前所述，援助根据居住地的不同而有很大差异——居住在苏格兰的人如果获得当地议会的批准，可以受益于“免费个人护理”。然后，正如我的同事罗西·默里-韦斯特（Rosie Murray-West）最近强调的，在评估具有“复杂医疗需求”（如失智症）的人员是否能获得护理支持时，存在严重的矛盾之处。理论上，他们的护理费用应由国民医疗服务体系（NHS）承担，但大多数申请人因评估错误而被拒绝。医疗保健智库纳菲尔德信托基金（Nuffield Trust）的瑞秋·哈钦斯（Rachel Hutchings）表示，获得这项至关重要的资金是“不公平且不一致的”。这简直是一桩丑闻。

对护理的需求并非普遍存在。我们中只有四分之一的人可能需要护理，尽管这一群体中的许多人最终将交出大部分财富来支付费用。其余 75% 的人不需要——或拒绝——护理，而更倾向于住在自己的家中，主要依靠家人的爱来照看他们。这就是我的母亲海伦所采取的方式。直到她生命的最后几天，她才进入护理院，## “通过削减福利支出为改革提供资金”在那里她以 88 岁的高龄尊严地离世。

伯纳姆似乎打算在 2029 年之前进行改革，并已要求成人社会护理独立委员会主席凯西女男爵（Baroness Casey）加快关于社会护理未来的报告，以便在明年年中之前公布。在最好的情况下，这可以为伯纳姆引入临时性变革铺平道路。例如，效仿苏格兰的做法，为那些需要护理的人（无论是在家中还是在住院护理院）提供免费的“个人护理”。

然而，任何进一步的举措都必须等到 2029 年之后，届时我们可能会（应当会）迎来政府的更迭。我的观点是，任何人都不应被剥夺房屋或财富来支付护理费用。这应该是伯纳姆的出发点。并且，通过削减福利支出为任何改革提供资金。

信任一种能历经岁月而长存的风格

爱丁堡投资信托（Edinburgh Investment Trust，由 Liontrust 的 Imran Sattar 和 Emily Barnard 管理）提供一个由 40 到 50 家英国及国际公司组成的高信心投资组合。该信托将纪律与灵活性相结合，使管理人员能够在机会出现和市场条件演变时，调整投资组合在不同投资风格上的敞口。

欲了解更多信息，请访问：edinburgh-investment-trust.co.uk 由 LIONTRUST 管理

过往业绩并非未来业绩的指南。投资的价值及其产生的收益可能会下跌也可能会上涨，且不保证获益。资本有风险。本营销通讯不构成直接报价或购买马鞍的邀请。在做出投资决定之前，您应熟悉与爱丁堡投资信托（EIT）相关的不同类型的特定风险。相关信息可在 www.edinburgh-investment-trust.co.uk 找到。本广告是根据《Financial Services and Markets Act 2000》进行的金融推广，由 Liontrust Investment Partners LLP（2 Savoy Court, London WC2R 0EZ）批准并发布，并由英国金融行为监管局（FCA）（FRN 518552）在英国授权并监管。

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v1 财富与个人理财 53 作者：Lucy Evans

“财富与个人理财”的新数据显示，从 4 月起，家庭可能会被征收额外税款，这可能会吞噬高达 91% 的继承养老金。

根据金融服务公司 NFU Mutual 的计算，一个税务“盲点”意味着丧亲家庭在继承遗产时可能会被剥夺更多数十万英镑。

当未使用的养老金账户从 2027 年 4 月起开始被视为遗产继承的一部分时，这个陷阱将生效。

前财政大臣瑞秋·里夫斯（Rachel Reeves）在 2024 年 10 月宣布了这次征收，但未能解决继承税与所得税之间的冲突。

对于 75 岁以后去世的人来说，三重打击可能会将继承养老金的损失推至令人瞠目的水平——创造出一个比预想更糟糕的局面。

在这里，我们将解释新规则、您的养老金是否面临风险以及您现在必须做什么。

养老金与继承

养老金是您可以进行的最有效率的投资之一。在每年 £6万,000 的年度限额内，您的储蓄可按您的所得税率获得减免，并且在退休时可以免税提取账户中 25% 的资金，超过此部分的提取则需缴纳所得税。

但养老金还具有另一个优势：去世时移交的未使用账户不计入用于继承目的的遗产中。长期以来，这一优势导致财务顾问将养老金账户视为一种有利于继承的财富传递方式。

但里夫斯在 2024, 的秋季预算案中决定对此进行打击，从 2027 年 4 月起将养老金纳入继承税网。

然而，她忽略了继承养老金并非完全免税这一事实。如果您在 75, 岁之前去世，您的受益人可以免所得税地从继承的养老金账户中提取资金。

但如果您在 75 岁之后去世，他们需按其边际税率缴纳所得税，该税率可能是 20, %、40% 或 45, %。

最近的官方数据显示，英格兰和威尔士的死亡中位年龄男性为 81.8 岁，女性为 85.5 岁。

由于养老金提取额将计入其他收入，即使是提取相当数额资金的基本税率纳税人，也很可能被推入更高的税率档位。

继承规则详解

对于超过 £32.5万,000 免税阈值（即零税率带）的遗产，继承税的税率为 40%。您的遗产是指您去世时拥有的所有财产的总价值，包括储蓄、投资，

您的养老金可能很快将被征税高达 房产和财产，减去任何未偿债务。对于已婚夫妇和民事伙伴，个人免税额度（nil rate band）可以翻倍，共同总额最高可达 £65万,000，且双方可以将任何未使用的额度转移给对方。另一项被称为住宅免税额（residence nil rate band）的额度，如果您将房屋留给直系后裔（必须是子女或孙子女），每人可将起征点提高 £17.5万,000。这为一对已婚夫妇创造了额外的 £35万,000，从而使潜在的最高共同遗产税免税总额达到 £100 万。然而，如果您的遗产超过 £200 万，自有住房额度将开始被扣除，扣除率是超过起征点每 £2 扣除 £16.6067亿。留给配偶和民事伙伴的资产不征收遗产税。因此，例如，丈夫可以将所有财产免遗产税地留给幸存的妻子。当妻子去世时，她的遗产则需缴纳税款。

养老金可能面临 91% 的打击

关于养老金的新规定将使一些家庭陷入遗产税网，并给另一些家庭带来沉重打击，具体取决于年龄、婚姻状况和遗产规模。NFU Mutual 的计算结果显示，最大的风险在于遗产规模处于住宅免税额被取消临界点上的已婚夫妇。在这种情况下，该夫妇拥有总计 £200 万 的共同遗产，外加总价值 £70万,000 的养老金账户。例如，一套 £170 万 的房屋，£30万,000 的储蓄和投资，以及每人 £35万,000 的养老金账户。根据现行规则，他们的养老金在遗产税（IHT）网之外，且如果他们在 75 岁之前去世，其受益人无需缴纳所得税。如果在第一次死亡时，所有财产都留给幸存配偶，他们将受益于共同的 £65万,000 免税额和 £35万,000 住宅免税额，覆盖其遗产中的 £100 万。在第二次死亡时，剩余的 £100 万 将面临 40% 的遗产税，产生 £40万,000 的遗产税费用。其家人将获得其总计 £270 万 财富中的 £229 万。

从明年 4 月起，他们可能会面临新养老金规则带来的三重打击：遗产税、所得税，以及失去遗产税免税额的后续影响。由于其 £70万,000 的养老金账户被计入遗产，他们的住宅免税额将完全丧失。如果他们的子女全额提取养老金现金，且幸存父母在 75 岁之后去世，他们将为此缴纳 45% 的所得税。NFU Mutual 的专家表示，这意味着现在将触发 £82万,000 的遗产税账单和 £21.9326万,326 的养老金提取所得税账单，使该家庭在总计 £270 万 的财富中仅剩下 £1,660,674。额外缴纳的 £63.9326万,326 税款相当于 £70万,000 养老金账户的 91%。

规模较小的遗产也将受到影响

您不需要拥有数百万英镑的遗产才会受到这次税收突袭的影响。NFU Mutual 的 Sean McCann 表示，双重税收指控将影响大量被推入遗产税网的家庭。无法通过合并遗产税免税额获益的单亲父母将受到尤为沉重的打击。一位 74 岁的未婚母亲，拥有 £50万,000 的遗产和 £50万,000 的养老金账户，如果她将房屋留给孩子，目前可以免除遗产税。但从 4 月起，就遗产税而言，她的遗产价值将变为 £100 万，其中 £50万,000 将被征收 40% 的税。NFU Mutual 表示，如果她在 75 岁之后去世，剩余的养老金还需缴纳所得税，使总额外税款达到 £3.6425亿,250。这相当于她养老金的 73%。

因此请策略性地使用您的养老金

财富管理公司 Quilter 的 Shaun Moore 表示，这些变化意味着您不应再为了遗产税的目的而保留养老金。消费养老金并保留其他储蓄可能更有利，因为养老金账户面临双重征税的风险，而 ISA 或标准账户仅需缴纳遗产税。McCann 表示，您可以考虑在年满 75, 岁时提取 25% 的免税一次性款项，因为一旦该款项脱离养老金账户，受益人的提取将不再被征收所得税。您还可以通过赠与来缩小遗产规模，从而降低遗产税（IHT）账单。可以使用每年 £3,000 的个人年度赠与额度。超过此额度的赠与金，如果您能生存七年，则可免除遗产税。一个重要的例外是所谓的“正常支出赠与”，即用盈余收入进行的定期赠与不在遗产税征收范围内。富达国际（Fidelity International）的 Marianna Hunt 表示：“问问自己未来是否可能需要这笔钱。护理需求可能会显著增加日常生活成本。” ● 请访问 thisismoney.co.uk / beat-iht 阅读我们关于避免遗产税的必备指南 --- 54 财富与个人理财 v1 星期日 2026 年 8 月 9 日

女性通常在家庭财务中占据主导地位，负责支付账单和制定预算，但研究表明，在做出重大人生决定方面，我们仍然处于被动，且在面临中年重大变故时面临风险。如果您处于一段长期且幸福的关系中，且从未遇到财务麻烦，那么维持财务现状可能会很有诱惑力。但离婚、丧偶或照顾孩子和年迈父母的责任，可能会在您最意想不到的时候让您的财务状况脱轨。您的 50 岁阶段，当时您可能依然健康、有工资收入并缴纳养老金，是确保您掌控个人财务的关键十年，以确保您在未来的几十年中处于强势地位。我们与财务规划专家共同制定的清单揭示了在达到这一里程碑年龄后，您应该落实的七件最重要的事情。财富管理集团 St James's Place 的 Claire Trott 表示：“参与长期财务规划的女性会感到更有韧性，对自己的财务未来感到更舒适且更有掌控感。”如果您能勾选掉下面列表中所有的七项财务成就，您将能更好地应对未来的任何挑战。

投资公司展示会

2026 10 月 9 日 00:00 – 16:30 伦敦 EC3A 7BX, 30 133 Houndsditch 私人投资者请使用代码 DM26 免费入场

让投资信托成为您投资组合的关键部分。 - 会见 30 位领先的投资信托经理 - 了解投资信托如何提供强劲的长期业绩 - 与参展的基金管理集团交流

聆听顶尖投资信托经理就从新兴市场到欧洲、从收益投资到基础设施等一系列话题发表见解。

扫描二维码查看完整议程并预订席位。 私人投资者请使用折扣码！ 在 www.theaic.co.uk / showcase 注册参加 主办及执行：aic 投资公司协会 首席赞助商：巴克莱银行（BARCLAYS） 媒体合作伙伴：Daily e-mail

1 保留自己的储蓄和活期账户

如果你已婚，你和你丈夫的财务状况很可能是交织在一起的——尤其是如果你们已经在一起几十年了。50多岁的女性比年轻女性更有可能拥有共同的活期和储蓄账户。拥有共同账户有明显的好处——例如，这会让支付账单变得简单得多。但同样重要的是，你也应该保留自己的活期和储蓄账户。这将使你在需要时拥有更多的自主权。大多数共同账户允许一方在无需另一方许可的情况下清空整个账户，如果出现问题，这可能会让你陷入困境。作为女性，你更容易面临财务虐待的风险，曼彻斯特大学的一项研究显示，约 30% 的女性曾经历过来自伴侣的某种形式的财务控制。这是一种家庭虐待形式，涉及某人通过控制另一个人获取资金的渠道及其支出，从而将其作为一种权力手段。投资平台哈格里夫斯·兰斯当（Hargreaves Lansdown）的退休部门主管海伦·莫里西（Helen Morrissey）表示：“如果你不开心，拥有储蓄会给你提供选择。”开设新的储蓄和活期账户简单且免费，尽管夫妻之间讨论财务变动可能会更困难。分开账户还有助于降低你的税单，因为你和你的伴侣都将拥有各自的免税额度。每个人每年最多可以将 £2万,000 存入免税账户。基础税率纳税人现金储蓄的利息最高可获得 £1,000 的免税额，而高税率纳税人的额度为 £500。额外税率纳税人则完全没有免税额。

2 拥有完整的国家保险（NI）缴费记录

国家养老金是大多数退休生活的基石。根据“三重锁”机制，它每年按通货膨胀率、工资增长率和 2.5% 中的最高值上涨，并且终身可用，这与大多数现代养老金方案不同。唯一的关键在于，你必须拥有完整的国家保险（National Insurance）缴费记录，以确保每年获得全额养老金。要领取任何国家养老金，你的记录中需要有 ten 年的缴费；而要领取每周 £241.30 的全额养老金，则需要 35 年的记录。如果你在 50 多岁，你还有时间填补任何缺口或补缴 NI 缴费以解决不足。首先，请在政府网站 gov.uk / check-national-insurance-record 上检查你的国家养老金预测，或拨打 0800 731 0175 联系政府未来养老金中心（Future Pension Centre），看看你是否能按计划领取全额周薪。这可能会告诉你，例如，你已经能够获得最高国家养老金，因此即使记录中有一些缺口，也不需要进行任何自愿缴费。如果你的预测中出现任何错误，例如在你工作或照顾家人的年份中缺失了缴费，你可以提出质疑。你应该检查当时是否符合领取某种福利的条件，而该福利附带国家保险信用额度。示例包括儿童福利、求职者津贴和通用信贷。如果你遗漏了这些，请访问 gov.uk / national-insurance-credits 查看是否可以追回，因为追回方法可能因你申请的时间段而异。

3 更新遗嘱和授权书

超过一半的成年人没有一份有效的遗嘱。这意味着如果他们突然去世，其家人并不总能收到为他们预留的财产。这可能会导致争执，并产生不必要的更高税单。虽然您可以使用文具店的DIY套装或在线服务来制定遗嘱，但聘请律师或遗嘱撰写人可以确保您的遗嘱无懈可击，且更不容易受到质疑。至关重要的一点是，您必须确保遗嘱得到了妥善的见证。除了遗嘱之外，设立持久授权书（LPA）也至关重要。这是一项法律协议，由您指定一名亲人，在您无法做出决定时，代表您就财务和医疗保健做出关键决定。哈格里夫斯·兰斯当（Hargreaves Lansdown）的莫里西（Morrissey）表示，LPA是“您将要填写的最重要的文件之一”。LPA有两种类型，每种都有单独的申请表，您可以在政府网站 gov.uk / power-of-attorney / make-lasting-power 上找到。该流程可能较为复杂，且需要八到十周的时间。一份关于“财产和财务事务”的授权书在注册并获得许可后即可使用。它赋予受托人权力，例如支付账单或管理银行账户。您可以选择立即执行财务LPA，以便有人能立即处理财务事务，或者仅在您本人无法处理时才执行，--- 2006年[注：此处年份疑似OCR误读，应为2026年]8月9日 《星期日邮报》 财富与个人理财 55

# 每位五十多岁的女性为确保令人羡慕的财务未来必须做的事……以及如果您进度落后，帮助您重回正轨的七个简单步骤，而医疗LPA除非您失去行为能力，否则绝不会被使用。

4 办理一张紧急高额度信用卡

使用信用卡的自律至关重要——但拥有一张可用的信用卡以帮助您摆脱困境会很有用。所有信用卡持有者的平均信用额度略低于 £6,000 —— 足以应对大多数财务紧急情况。如果可能，请保持这张信用卡干净且不被使用——有些人为了避免将其用于日常消费，甚至将紧急卡存放在冰箱的冰格中。如果您确实需要使用它消费，请确保在账单到期前有还款计划，或者将债务转移到 0% 余额转移信用卡上，这样您就有更多时间偿还，而无需支付过高的利息。

5 建立一份包含所有养老金的电子表格

您可能曾在多家公司工作过，很容易丢失所有养老金的记录。根据养老金政策研究所（Pension Policy Institute）的研究，英国有 330 万 份丢失的养老金，平均每份价值近 £1万,000,。制作电子表格是一次性的工作。坐下来写出您曾从事过的每一份工作。如果在那份工作中存在缴纳养老金的可能性，请将其记录在电子表格中。如果您知道该养老金所在地并一直收到年度相关文件？太好了——将其标记出来。如果您不知道，请访问养老金追踪服务网站 gov.uk / find-pension-contact-details，以查找前雇主及其养老金受托人的联系方式。联系他们询问是否有一份您的旧养老金。查询时记得提供您曾使用过的旧姓名和地址。一旦您获得了所有养老金及其价值的详细信息，请每年更新电子表格，以便了解您拥有多少资产——以及资产在何处。

6 对“你的数字”心中有数

每个人在退休后维持生活所需的资金数额各不相同——如果你一直向往旅行生活且尚未还清房贷，那么你需要的资金将远多于那些满足于居家简朴生活的人。思考一下你认为退休后需要多少收入，并尝试得出“你的数字”。由英国养老金协会（Pensions UK）制定并被养老金行业采用的《退休生活标准》（Retirement Living Standards）指南可以提供有用的参考指标。据其估计，一名单身退休人员目前每年需要 £3.27万,700 才能维持中等生活水平，而一对夫妇则需要每年共计 £4.54万,400 的收入。检查你的养老金以了解其预期增长情况。一旦你知道所有养老金的价值和预计的国家养老金数额，使用像养老金提供商 PensionBee（pensionbee.com / uk / pension-calculator）提供的计算器，就能让你大致了解自己是否正朝着梦想中的退休生活迈进。在 50 岁阶段，你仍有时间通过增加储蓄来增加养老金。如果你已被自动加入职场养老金计划，你每月将支付工资的至少 5% 进入账户，而雇主通常会支付 3%。检查公司是否会匹配每月的缴款额。如果你负担得起，请增加你的总缴款额。这不仅是一种免税的储蓄方式，如果公司提供薪资牺牲（salary sacrifice）方案，你还可能节省国家保险（National Insurance）费用。

7 以个人名义持有投资

从长期来看，投资股市通常比将储蓄留在现金账户中能获得大得多的回报。但年长女性投资的可能性远低于年长男性。女性在做出投资决策时感到忧虑的可能性也高出 50%。然而，当女性进行投资时，她们的表现通常优于男性。华威商学院的一项研究表明，女性投资者的年平均回报率比男性高出近 2%。Boring Money 的 Holly Mackay 表示：“从股票和股份个人储蓄账户（Isa）开始——你可以在网上用 £50 在十分钟内开设一个。设置完成后，你可以选择投资对象，一些银行和在线顾问会根据目标提供建议。‘寻找一个分布广泛的简单投资组合。初学者应寻找一个多元化程度高的简单投资方案。‘投资平台 Monzo 和 JP Morgan Personal Investing 有不错的选择，或者 Moneybox 有一个很棒的余额四舍五入功能，允许用户投资零钱。一旦开始，请设置直接付款（direct debit），以便随着时间的推移积累财富。”

--- 56 财富与个人理财

与伴侣同居？如果分手，他们可能很快就能要求分走你的积蓄（……即便这段关系从未被视为严肃对待！）

律师透露，为了分担账单而同居，或从未打算建立终身关系的伴侣，在分开时可能会对彼此的财富拥有索赔权。此外，由于新规则带来的意外后果，父母为成年子女购买首套房提供的资金，如果该子女与伴侣分手，部分赠款可能会被交给对方的男友或女友。

作者：Helen Crane

政府目前正在就相关提案进行磋商，旨在为分手或其中一方在伴侣去世后幸存的同居伴侣建立安全网。目前，已婚夫妇离婚时，其资金、财产和其他资产通常按 50-50. 分成。然而，同居但未结婚或未建立民事伴侣关系的伴侣并不享有此类权利。“习惯法”婚姻的概念在法律上没有效力。

司法部的新提案旨在让同居伴侣在分手或其中一方去世时，对彼此的资产拥有更大的保护权利。例如，即使房产仅登记在一个人名下，伴侣也可能被要求平分房屋出售的收益。政府建议，这将仅适用于在一起超过三年的伴侣或共同抚养孩子的伴侣。所有申请者必须证明存在“持久的家庭关系”。

然而，“财富与个人理财”栏目听到了来自家庭律师的担忧，认为这些提案可能会给那些为了省钱而同居、而非将其视为终身伴侣关系的年轻夫妇带来意外后果。

SA Law 的家庭法高级合伙人 Mark Chiverton 表示：“对于年轻夫妇来说，这可能是一个真正的灰色地带，比如他们各自租房但费用太高，因此决定住在一起。政策制定者的挑战在于，如何区分真正的、长期的家庭伴侣关系，与恰好涉及共同分担住房的关系。”

这些改革将适用于低至 18 岁的群体，并将

“针对年轻情侣的提案处于灰色地带”涵盖了在读大学生和刚开始职业生涯的人群。高昂的租金促使一些情侣在更早的阶段选择同居。根据 Rightmove 的数据，2025 年的典型租金占平均工资的 44%。Mishcon de Reya 家族法合伙人克莱尔·拉德克利夫（Clare Radcliffe）表示：。需要谨慎确保潜在索赔人的认定范围不过于宽泛。” 这还可能对希望在子女起步阶段提供帮助的父母产生影响，因为男朋友或女朋友可能会对共有房屋的权益提出索赔。拉德克利夫补充道：“假设一个 21 岁孩子的父母赠予了资金用于支付房屋首付，以便孩子在毕业后能节省租金，结果一年后，孩子的女朋友搬了进来。” “那位父母必须意识到这些可能性。” 就拟议的形式而言，法律在技术上可能允许任何人提出索赔，除非他们与同居者在法律上无法结婚——例如，同住的兄妹。然而，如果一个室友与对方从未有过恋爱关系，那么其对他人资产提出的虚假索赔不太可能成功。这是因为法院会寻求其关系的证据，包括共同银行账户和支出、短信、照片以及熟人的陈述。他们必须证明其关系具有所谓的“公众认知度”。即便如此，对于那些最初是朋友后来形成恋爱关系，或反之亦然的人（例如在大学合租房中）来说，可能会出现复杂情况。因为其中一方可能会声称这段关系持续时间更长或比实际情况更严肃。法律尚未更改，提案在成为法律之前可能会被修改，甚至在安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）政府领导下被完全放弃，因为这些提案是在领导层变更之前提出的。咨询将于周五结束。现在想要保护自己财务状况的人可以考虑签署同居协议。这类似于一些情侣在结婚前签署的婚前协议，规定了如果两人分开，他们希望自己的财务如何处理。根据英国法律协会（The Law Society）的数据，设立此类协议的费用在 £300 到 £4,000 之间，具体取决于案件的复杂程度。

“记录你的出资情况”

关于改革的咨询还建议，如果双方同意，情侣可以被允许“选择退出”新规则——这可能是一个更便宜的解决方案。然而，目前尚不清楚他们将如何操作，以及这是否可以追溯适用。无论如何，奇弗顿（Chiverton）表示，在同居关系中记录自己的财务出资情况，以及记录任何来自双方父母的赠与或贷款，是一个好主意。

Mail Finance 财富管理 由 WILLSON GRANGE 提供

获取由 Money Mail 编辑 Rachel Rickard Straus 编写的全新《每日邮报财富管理指南》 一项专为养老金和投资超过 £500k 人群设计的一项服务 请致电 0808 303 6489 索取您的免费指南，或访问 mailfinance.co.uk / advice

部分税务、信托和遗产税规划不受英国金融行为监管局（FCA）监管。 关联报业有限公司（Associated Newspapers Limited）以 Mail Finance 名义经营，是一家介绍人。 Willson Grange Limited 的委任代表，在英格兰和威尔士注册（公司编号 08113890），注册地址为 30 Birkelhead Road, Heydale, Wirral, CV47 30亿。 Willson Grange Limited 经英国金融行为监管局（FCA 编号 503803）授权并监管。

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财富与个人财务 57

我与我的绅士 / 淑女：莱斯利·加雷特 (Lesley Garrett)

歌剧歌手

丹·摩尔（DAN MOORE）写道，歌剧传奇莱斯利·加雷特拥有 17 张个人专辑，以及 8 部 DVD 特辑和两本书。这位前英国国家歌剧院首席女高音在从《唐·乔万尼》到《开膛手杰克：白教堂的女人》等各种制作中令观众惊叹。作为一名主流艺术家，她在包括《音乐之声》和《旋转木马》在内的西区演出中留下了自己的印记，并在足总杯决赛的人群面前带来了令人难忘的表演。这位 71 岁的两个孩子的母亲与丈夫彼得·克里斯蒂安博士（Dr Peter Christian）住在伦敦北部。

你的父母在金钱方面教会了你什么？

答：父亲倾向于花得比赚得多，而母亲则倾向于为此感到非常压力大且焦虑。我想这导致了我两者都不做。因此，我不喜欢债务，所以我花掉我拥有的钱，而不是借钱。

你是否曾为维持生计而苦苦挣扎？

答：没有，我一直在工作。毕业后，我获得了皇家音乐学院的奖学金，对于一个来自唐卡斯特的人来说，这相当罕见。我父亲建议我拿到教师资格证，这样我就有退路。在我们家，我们并不真的搞“退路”这一套，所以我从未需要它。刚开始在皇家音乐学院时我很挣扎。作为一个北方的工人阶级孩子，我觉得自己像条离开水的鱼，但这在财务上不是太大的问题，因为我总能支付房租。

你是否曾拿到过离谱的高薪？

答：拿过。我以前给广告录制短曲。我曾是 Kenco 咖啡女孩和 Ragu 意面女孩，但最棒的是为 Taittinger 香槟拍的一则电影广告。广告公司问我能否想到一个结束歌剧幕的一个高音，因为他们想拍我唱那个音。我说他们需要《茶花女》第一幕中《永远自由》（Sempre Libera）的结尾。我在 40 年前唱了这个音，获得了 £1万,000 的报酬，外加版税。不过，他们没有送我一箱香槟！

你财务生活中最美好的一年是哪一年？

答：1984 年成为英国国家歌剧院的首席女高音带来了很多机遇。我甚至在英国国家歌剧院的一次相亲中遇到了我的丈夫。就在同一周，在成为他们海报宣传活动的封面女郎之后，我获得了第一份唱片合约和电视节目！我人生中最赚钱的时期是 1990 年代末和 2000 年代初，当时 BBC2 为我制作了专属的六集电视系列剧。我在六年间拍摄了三季——

我有三份养老金。我 71 岁了，但在我彻底退休之前，我不会动用它们！

触及高音：右图为莱斯利·加雷特，左图为她在歌剧《开膛手杰克》中与共同主演在舞台上的样子。

——在未来，我预计随着年龄增长，我在财务上会变得更加无拘无束。

你拥有房产吗？

答：是的，我一直买房产。对我来说，这既是情感投资也是财务投资，而且是分散风险的一种好方法。家是伦敦北部的一栋拥有六间卧室的爱德华时代房屋，但我买过的最好的地方是我们位于法国西南部的一座美丽的小农舍，我们在那里与家人和朋友度过了最特别的时光。我们在约克郡还有两栋小屋，其中一栋我出租了。

你会将钱传给后代还是全部花光？

答：我想两者兼有。对我来说，最重要的事情是不成为任何人的负担——我想确保我有足够的钱雇人照顾我，如果真的到了那个地步的话。我嫁给了一位医生，所以我非常清楚你不知道生活会给你带来什么。

你有养老金吗？

答：是的，我有三份养老金，但我还没有兑现任何一份。它们就在那里等着我，因为我仍在演出，在我最终彻底退休之前，我不会动用它们。

如果您是财政大臣，您会怎么做？

答：我会大幅增加艺术预算。我认为历届政府都没有意识到艺术激励公众的力量。我们在艺术和文化方面享有全球声誉，但由于最高层缺乏支持，这种声誉已被削弱。票价高得离谱，这只会让全国各地的普通剧场观众望而却步。

您在财务上的首要目标是什么？

答：保持绝对的独立，不依附于任何人。从14岁开始从事第一份工作起，我就有这种感觉——在市场摊位工作，种植生菜，分拣和分级番茄，以及在当地的皇家空军（RAF）基地洗碗。噢，这一切真是太“光彩照人”了……

● 莱斯利·加雷特（Lesley Garrett）将于9月12日在唐卡斯特赛马场为圣莱格锦标赛（St Leger Stakes）250周年庆典演唱。

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58 财富与个人理财

能将每月100英镑转化为六位数资金的顶级基金选择

在本系列中，我们的专家将回答您关于增加财富的迫切问题。

致富最简单的方法之一就是每月投资固定金额。只要能坚持下去，金额不必太大。假设您每月投资£100，利率为8%。十年后，您将拥有£1.8417万,417。三十年后，您将拥有令人印象深刻的£1.5003亿,030，其中仅有£3.6万,000来自您的投入。

如果您使用股票和股份个人储蓄账户（ISA）进行投资，所有回报完全免税。您可以在投资平台上开设此类账户——所有平台都允许您设置自动每月付款。

剩下的问题就是投资于哪里。保持简单并没有错。您甚至可以从一个包含全球公司股票和债券的单一基金开始。例如，先锋领航（Vanguard）提供LifeStrategy系列基金，年费仅为0.2%，并包含不同比例的股票和债券，具体取决于您承担的风险程度。

如何投资……

有关于增加财富的问题？请发送电子邮件至 money@mallonsunday.co.uk 作者：Tanya Jefferies

贝莱德（BlackRock）有一系列类似的名为MyMap的基金，费用为0.17%。全球指数基金（复制全球股票市场的表现）是另一个不错的入门选择，例如富达全球指数基金（Fidelity Index World Fund），费用仅为0.12%。

如果您想构建投资组合，可以将其中一个作为基础，然后附加更多专业基金。这种方法被称为“核心与卫星”策略。随着您增加卫星持仓，您可以要求将每月的£100付款进行拆分，使大部分资金进入核心持仓，少量资金进入每个卫星持仓。

在这里，我们的专家小组分享了在人生不同阶段对于卫星持仓的建议。

年轻起步者

FundCalibre研究总监朱丽叶·斯库林·拉特（Juliet Schooling Latter）表示，如果您在20多岁就开始投资，以后您会感谢现在的自己。这是因为您的投资有更长的时间从复利效应中获益。她补充道：“您越年轻，能承担的风险就越大，因此我会关注那些短期波动较大但在数十年间能提供最大增长的市场领域。”

她推荐新兴市场和前沿市场基金，例如Artemis SmartGARP全球新兴市场股票基金和T. Rowe Price前沿市场股票基金。新兴市场基金投资于中国、印度和巴西等国家，而前沿市场基金则投资于尼日利亚、秘鲁和孟加拉国等国家。

查尔斯·斯坦利直接投资（Charles Stanley Direct）的罗布·摩根（Rob Morgan）提到了贝莱德全球非约束股票基金（BlackRock Global Unconstrained Equity），该基金专注于寻找高质量的增长型企业。它在三年内的回报率为48.9%，其主要持仓包括制造计算机芯片设备的ASML，以及亚马逊和谷歌母公司Alphabet。

最佳选择

Cynergy Bank 一年期固定利率现金 ISA 最低存款 £500，可享受 4.7pc 的免税利率。您必须在线开户，并将现有的现金 ISA 转入此账户。

储蓄抵押贷款

两年期固定利率 / 贷款机构 / 利率 / 详情 / 首付 / 手续费 / 联系方式

First Direct / 4.76 / 2 年期 / 40% / £490 / 0800 482 448 First Direct / 4.79 / 2 年期 / 15% / £490 / 0800 482 448 Nationwide / 5.39 / 2 年期 / 5% / £0 / 0800 302 010

五年期固定利率 / 贷款机构 / 利率 / 详情 / 首付 / 手续费 / 联系方式

Allied Irish / 4.82 / 至 31 / 10 / 31 / 25% / £0 / 0289 047 9221 Allied Irish / 4.9 / 至 31 / 10 / 31 / 15% / £0 / 0289 047 9221 West Brom / 5.29 / 至 31 / 10 / 31 / 5% / £0 / 0800 298 0008

基准利率追踪产品 / 贷款机构 / 利率 / 详情 / 首付 / 手续费 / 联系方式 Nationwide / 4.13 / 基准 +0.38% 2 年期 / 40% / £999 / 0800 302 010 Skipton / 4.75 / 基准 +1.00% 2 年期 / 5% / £995 / 0545 850 1755 Barclays / 4.35 / 基准 +0.60% 5 年期 / 40% / £999 / 0533 202 7500

以房养贷 (BUY TO LET) / 贷款机构 / 利率 / 详情 / 首付 / 手续费 / 联系方式 Barclays / 4.74 / 至 30 / 9 / 28 / 40% / £999 / 0533 202 7500 Leeds / 4.61 / 至 31 / 10 / 31 / 40% / £1499 / 0545 045 4049 TSB / 5.49 / 至 31 / 10 / 31 / 20% / £1,995 / 0800 056 1088

来源：L&C Mortgages - 0800 6945444 / lande.co.uk --- 59

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Holidays By Thomas Isacke

自从首相安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）在曼彻斯特创建“北区10号”以来，曼彻斯特（MANCHESTER）一直占据着大量头条新闻。首相办公室的北部分支目前位于阿尔伯特广场（Albert Square），从曼彻斯特皮卡迪利车站（Manchester Piccadilly station）步行 18 分钟即可到达。普遍认为，曼彻斯特的经济将迎来增长——这得益于前往科学与工业博物馆、繁华的北区（Northern Quarter）的俱乐部和酒吧、曼彻斯特歌剧院以及《加冕街》（Coronation Street）拍摄地的游客。北方的其他城市可能会心生羡慕——因此，在这里我们向曼彻斯特的一些北方“竞争对手”大力推荐，并突出一些值得访问的首要原因。

活力利物浦

利物浦（LIVERPOOL）在历史上一直是曼彻斯特最大的竞争对手，尤其是在工业化时期（以及在足球场上）。披头士故事馆（beatlesstory.com）和洞穴俱乐部（cavernclub.com）——披头士乐队经常演出的地方——是巨大的吸引力。从后者出发，您可以参加一次“神奇神秘之旅”来参观与该乐队相关的景点（£21.95）。此外还有沃克美术馆（liverpoolmuseums.org.uk），馆内收藏了伦勃朗、透纳、鲁本斯和莫奈等大师的杰作，以及泰特利物浦美术馆（tate.org.uk）。参观皇家阿尔伯特码头（Royal Albert Dock）的商店和餐厅是必经之选，此外还有两座大教堂可供参观（罗马天主教和圣公会）。如果想喝一杯，可以光顾爱乐餐厅（Philharmonic Dining Rooms, nicholsonspubs.co.uk）。

纽卡斯尔的乐趣

纽卡斯尔以其夜生活而闻名，尤其是比格市场（Bigg Market）、布料市场（Cloth Market）、柯林伍德街（Collingwood Street）以及泰恩河畔的码头区（Quayside）。主要景点包括波罗的海当代艺术中心（baltic.art）、诺曼堡垒纽卡斯尔城堡（newcastlecastle.co.uk）以及大北方博物馆：汉考克（Great North Museum: Hancock），馆内收藏了大量与古代文明和自然历史相关的文物（northeastmuseums.org.uk）。游客可以参观阴森的2.4英里长的维多利亚隧道，该隧道最初用于从码头运输煤炭（75分钟导览，£16，ouseburntrust.org.）；同样可以参观布林本街酿酒厂（Brinkburn Street Brewery），那里酿造精酿啤酒并提供品鉴（两小时，£42，brinkburnbrewery.co.）。此外，乘坐巴士15分钟即可到达沃尔森德的塞格杜努姆罗马堡垒（Segedunum Roman Fort），在那里可以看到哈德良长城的部分遗迹。

谢菲尔德的惊喜

克鲁西布剧院（Crucible Theatre）因每年春季举办的世界斯诺克锦标赛而闻名；下一届赛事将于4月17日至5月3日举行（门票£50起，crucible snooker.com）。但在其他时间，它是一家常规剧院，上演重大剧目，包括即将由伊恩·麦克迪亚米德主演的《李尔王》（sheffieldtheatres.co.）。其他景点包括优雅的谢菲尔德植物园，以及展示艺术与设计的千禧画廊（Millennium Gallery），其“金属制品收藏”被认为是世界上最顶尖的，拥有超过800件餐具和 tableware 样本；毕竟，谢菲尔德被称为“钢铁之城”。凯勒姆岛博物馆讲述了当地工业化的历史（sheffieldmuseums.org.）。

繁华景象：上方为利物浦的马修街，其上为纽卡斯尔的格兰杰市场，右侧为布拉德福德令人惊叹的建筑。

利兹的啤酒与文化

如果你喜欢啤酒，那么你来对地方了。利兹有一个著名的17站酒吧巡游，被称为“奥特利跑道”（Otley Run），全程2.5英里，涵盖了像 Woodies Craft Ale House 和 Headingley Taps 这样的场所（bar-trek.com）。一定要参观柯克斯托尔修道院（Kirkstall Abbey），这是一座位于艾尔河畔的12世纪西多会修道院遗址（museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.）。此外还有皇家军械库博物馆（Royal Armouries Museum），馆内展有亨利八世的盔甲、武士刀以及为印度象打造的巨大盔甲（右侧）（royalarmouries.org）。在城市的东南部是坦普尔纽瑟姆（Temple Newsam），一座精美的都铎 / 詹姆斯一世风格乡村别墅，其园林由 Capability Brown 设计。

---

假期 61

震撼景观：主图为达勒姆大教堂，上方为亨伯河畔的 The Deep 水族馆，这座棱角分明的建筑位于亨伯河畔（thedeep.co.）。有趣的博物馆包括威尔伯福斯故居（Wilberforce House），讲述废奴主义者威廉·威尔伯福斯的生平故事，以及街头生活博物馆（关于交通历史）和赫尔海事博物馆（hullmuseums.co.）。

达勒姆的壮丽

最大的景点显然是建于11至13世纪的达勒姆大教堂。它规模宏大，坐落在山顶，俯瞰整个景观。进入无需付费，但鼓励捐赠£5（durhamcathedral.co.）。市中心正南侧是一个十公顷的植物园，而市中心北侧则是美丽的、由国民信托基金会管理的克鲁克大厅花园（Crook Hall Gardens），那里有迷宫和秘密围墙花园（nationaltrust.org.）。此外还有一个引人入胜的考古博物馆，涵盖了从史前到现代的当地发现（dur.ac.）。请务必花时间漫步在横跨威尔河的壮丽的埃尔维特桥（Elvet Bridge）上，该桥可追溯至中世纪。

约克之绝佳

约克作为约克郡的首府，是一个旅游胜地……而且理由充分。除了宏伟的哥特式约克大教堂，你还可以沿着古城墙漫步（欣赏绝佳景色），并探索 The Shambles——一条绝佳的中世纪小巷，两旁是半木结构且向街道上方悬挑的建筑。若想了解往昔时光，可以前往约克城堡博物馆 (yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk) 以及约克地牢 (thedungeons.com / york)。靠近约克车站的国家铁路博物馆收藏了一系列历史火车，包括“野鸭号” (The Mallard) 和“飞翔的苏格兰人号” (The Flying Scotsman) (railwaymuseum.org.uk)。

……别忘了曼彻斯特的“双子城”

曼彻斯特和就在欧威尔河对岸的索尔福德，传统上被统称为“双子城”。索尔福德是劳里剧院和美术馆综合体的所在地，该综合体以 20 世纪初的艺术家 L.S. 劳里命名，其中一个展区展出了一些他描绘工业场景的画作 (thelowry.com)。在索尔福德博物馆和美术馆 (salfordmuseum.com) 可以看到更多他的艺术作品。你可以参观位于“真实”加冕街上的著名的索尔福德少年俱乐部，停留在奥兹尔庄园（一座精美的都铎式府邸，ordsallhall.com），或者前往 Quayside Salford 购物中心购物。

曼彻斯特

尽管备受争议的唐宁街 10 号北区可能占据了聚光灯，但这些其他的北方城市同样是绝佳的度假选择

布拉德福德的巴洛克风

布拉德福德拥有全国一些最好的咖喱餐厅，同时还拥有大量引人注目的哥特式和巴洛克式建筑——有一种被称为“布拉德福德巴洛克”的建筑风格——以及安德克利夫公墓，那里有哥特式维多利亚时代的墓碑、方尖碑和天使雕像。顶级的咖喱餐厅是 Mumtaz，开业于 1979 年 (mumtaz.org.)。你可以在 Salts Mill 和 1853 Gallery 看到已故艺术家大卫·霍克尼的作品，此外还有设在旧纺纱厂内的布拉德福德工业博物馆，以及现代的国家科学与媒体博物馆，在那里你还能找到一座令人震撼的雕像，纪念伟大的约克郡出生作家 / 观察家 J. B. Priestley。

梦幻顿卡斯特

顿卡斯特最著名的是其赛马场和一年一度的圣莱格锦标赛 (St Leger Stakes)，这是赛马日历中最古老的“经典”赛事，创立于 1776 年。下一场赛事将于 9 月 12 日举行（250 周年纪念），不过全年都有赛事 (doncaster-racecourse.co.)。该市的景点还包括南约克郡飞机博物馆，馆内收藏了前军用直升机以及从德哈维兰“花栗鼠”到道格拉斯 DC3 的大量飞机 (south yorkshireaircraftmuseum.org.)。此外还有 Potteric Carr 湿地自然保护区，是麻鳽和 鹞的栖息地 (ywt.org.)。顿卡斯特市场在周二至周六开放 (doncaster.gov.)。

永不枯燥……赫尔

抵达赫尔车站时，迎接你的是 20 世纪著名诗人菲利普·拉金的雕像，他身着雨衣，衣摆在身后飘扬，正匆匆赶火车。拉金从 1955 年到 1985 年居住在赫尔，并在大学图书馆工作了一段时间。你现在可以沿着一条路线参观与他的生活和诗歌相关的景点 (thelarkin trail.co.)。其他值得访问的原因还包括 The Deep，这是一个令人惊叹的水族馆，位于一个

--- 62 假期 特别促销

领略迷人东南亚的永恒光辉

在三个东南亚瑰宝之行中，文化奇观与永恒的地标正等待着您。通过一次沿着湄公河而行的精彩 15 天逃离之旅，尽情拥抱泰国、柬埔寨和越南的精华。首先停留在泰国色彩斑斓的首都曼谷，探索其佛教神庙群和水上市场。随后，您可以参观泰国令人动容的战争纪念馆，并可选择参加桂河“死亡铁路”的游览，之后继续前往柬埔寨的法属殖民地宝藏——马德望。在柬埔寨和平画廊探索这个国家走向和解的道路，并欣赏布满佛塔的天际线。您的下一站将是充满活力的暹粒市，这里是通往世界闻名之吴哥窟的门户；随后访问 Kok Sangke 社，在那里您将参加一场传统高棉甜点制作大师班。与当地家庭共进丰盛的柬埔寨午餐，并了解可持续农业在该地区的重要性。接下来的行程将迎来此次旅行不可否认的高光时刻：全天探索壮丽的吴哥城、吴哥窟和巴戎寺。之后，您将离开暹粒前往柬埔寨的国际化首都金边，参观描绘波尔布特红色高棉政权下生活的杜尔斯伦博物馆，随后游览古老的普诺姆寺。次日，您将在下午沿着蜿蜒的湄公河航行，跨越柬埔寨边境进入越南。

首先入住周督，您可以探索拥有众多佛塔的山努山，并在前往胡志明市之前，在芹苴的水上市场度过一段时光。最后，在原越南首都胡志明市沉浸于其色彩斑斓的过去——从法属殖民地起源到令人肃穆的战争纪念馆，您可以选择在导游带领下或按自己的节奏完成这次愿望清单之旅。

预订理由

宗教地标 通过专家带领的游览，东南亚宗教遗产的瑰宝将在该地区一些最令人印象深刻的遗址中得到充分展示。在探索吴哥窟（一座印度教寺庙，也是世界上最大的宗教建筑）之前，先欣赏曼谷精致的神庙，从玉佛寺到宏伟的卧佛寺。在遍布寺庙的山努山和芹苴的神圣高棉佛塔 Munirangsyaram 停留，完成您的沉浸式体验。

文化沉浸

您将处于绝佳位置，去发现这三个国家独特的当地习俗及其丰富遗产的细节。在 Kok Sangke 加入一个当地家庭，享用新鲜准备的午餐，并尝试制作传统高棉甜点。您还可以漫步于金边备受赞誉的博物馆，并通过湄公河之旅见证越南农村的生活。

色彩斑斓： 左侧为 Wat Benchamabophit 寺庙，上方为丹能沙都水上市场

独特体验

您将有充足的机会离开常规路线，获得一些真正惊人的体验。乘坐小船浏览丹能沙都的水上市场，并通过激动人心的湄公河游轮见证越南田园诗般的河岸风光。您还可以通过访问规模庞大的古芝地道及其连接的越共地下前哨，深入探索胡志明市的表象之下。

历史发现

远足活动将阐明塑造每个国家的影响因素，从越南和柬埔寨的法属殖民地建筑，到纪念该地区走向和平之路的战争地标。在专业导游的带领下，探索曼谷奢华的大皇宫，参观柬埔寨和平画廊，或许还可以参加一次可选的远足，前往臭名昭著的“死亡铁路”周围的第二次世界大战公墓。

包含项目

• 往返机票（飞往曼谷，从胡志明市返回）、大巴及船只交通以及接送服务
• 12 晚半食宿住宿：曼谷 (3)、马多邦 (1)、暹粒 (3)、金边 (1)、周督 (1)、芹苴 (1) 和胡志明市 (2)，外加 27 餐
• 湄公河游轮之旅
• 曼谷和 Kok Sangke 游览
• 参观巴戎寺、吴哥城和吴哥窟
• 参观图尔斯冷博物馆
• 参观山努山 (Nui Sam Mountain)
• 古芝地道远足
• 胡志明市游览
• 由经验丰富的旅游经理全程陪同

如何预订

日期：2026 年 9 月至 2028 年 11 月 价格：每人 £2,996 起* 请致电 0808 239 1392 欲了解更多信息或直接预订，请访问 mailtravel.co.uk / followmekong

条款与条件： 假期由 Newmarket Holidays (ABTOT 5919, ATH. 2525, AATA V1912) 运营，该公司完全独立于关联报业有限公司 (Associated Newspapers Limited) 和 Mail Travel。价格基于两人同房。单人入住需补差价。 起步价基于 2026 年 9 月 30 日从伦敦希思罗机场出发。 **最高 15% 的优惠适用于 2026 年 9 月 30 日前完成的指定行程预订，且不能追溯应用于已确认的预订。所示价格已包含折扣。价格在印刷时正确。视供应情况而定，并可能随时撤销。

本周特惠

黑斯廷斯战役与拜约挂毯 5 天 每人 £999 起*

包含项目：

• 2027年4月25日或6月20日出发
• 在塞文奥克斯（Sevenoaks）的唐宁顿庄园（Donnington Manor）入住四晚四星级半食宿酒店，含停车位
• 欢迎饮品
• 酒店的餐后茶与咖啡，以及行程单中列出的任何额外餐饮或点心
• 往返于游览地的巴士接送
• 参观拜邑挂毯展览（Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition）、伦敦塔、战斗修道院（Battle Abbey）与黑斯廷斯战役地（Battle of Hastings）、赖（Rye）、博迪亚姆城堡（Bodiam Castle）、海弗城堡（Hever Castle）和彭斯赫斯特庄园（Penshurst Place）
• 领队服务 请拨打免费电话 0808 239 0651 或访问 www.mailtravel.co.uk 咨询。 评论列表：GPI 网站：GPI APTOT 7022, ATH. 1.0805. © 本公司独立于关联报业有限公司（Associated Newspapers Ltd）及 Mail Travel。价格基于两人共用一间双人房。 起步价基于 2027年4月25日。 起步价基于英格兰和威尔士的一系列接送点。 价格在印刷时正确。

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假期 63

作者：Alesia Fiddler

当我加入康加舞队列，挤在两名退休年龄的女性之间时，泳池甲板上正播放着震耳欲聋的音乐。这是邮轮的启航派对，气氛极其热烈——是一种老派的、尽情放松的快乐。然而两天后，我们来到了雅典的卫城，由一名导游向我们介绍古希腊的见解。这是我的第一次邮轮之旅，乘坐的是 Tui 公司的 Marella Voyager 号。而我年仅 26 岁，似乎也成为了某种趋势的一部分。被邮轮吸引的不仅仅是年长旅行者。在 Co-op Holidays 最近的一项调查中，近四分之一（23%）的 Z 世代受访者表示，邮轮旅行位列其假期愿望清单之首。，19% 是 25 至 35 岁的人群。这一比例高于任何其他年龄段，包括 65 岁以上人群（占比 16%）。2019 年，25 至 35 岁人群的这一比例约为 5%，因此这是一个巨大的飞跃。在我地中海的一周航程中，我很快就明白了原因。在七天内，我探索了六个目的地，包括四个希腊岛屿、希腊大陆和一个土耳其度假小镇，同时在每个停靠点之间享受邮轮上看似无穷无尽的设施（包括一个很棒的水疗中心）和娱乐活动。是的，我的许多同行乘客至少比我大两倍，但年轻成年人被邮轮吸引的原因显而易见。你可以参观多个地方，且通常是那些在社交媒体上热门的地点，而邮轮则承担了将你运送到每个港口的繁重工作。第一站是比雷埃夫斯（Piraeus），我和我的未婚夫 Josh 参加了“雅典之最”之旅。一辆巴士将我们送到卫城，导游在巍峨的柱廊下讲述着希腊神话的故事。在勾掉一个愿望清单上的目的地后，我们很快航向另一个：圣托里尼。在这里，我们的一天从攀登从港口到首都的 600 级台阶开始。

在公海之上重拾青春

我们的作者启航出发，旨在探寻为何邮轮正吸引着更年轻的群体。

费拉（Fira）。这是一个波折的开始，我们需要在陡峭的小径上躲避着驮着其他游客蹒跚而行的驴子。一旦到达顶端，真正的冒险才正式开始。一名警察为我们指明了巴士站的方向，我们花 £1.90 前往伊亚（Oia）。旅途穿过乡村，经过一座座小房子和蜿蜒的小巷。在伊亚，我们排队半小时，在社交媒体上见过的一个拥有白色建筑和蓝色圆顶的地点拍照。这次等待非常值得，在经历了一天的探索并拍摄了更多适合发Instagram的照片后，我们乘坐接驳船返回邮轮。

其他停靠点包括克里特岛的苏达（Souda），在哈尼亚（Chania）港口吃冰淇淋，听当地人弹吉他；以及凯法洛尼亚岛的阿尔戈斯托利（Argostoli）。在这里，我们乘坐小木船在梅利萨尼湖（Melissani Lake）上漂浮，随后进入壮丽的德罗加拉蒂洞穴（Drogarati Cave）古老石灰岩内部。这与土耳其库萨达斯（Kusadasi）色彩斑斓且嘈杂的巴扎形成了鲜明对比，在那里我们为巴克拉瓦（baklava）的价格讨价还价。

然而，邮轮旅行的主要吸引力之一在于，在经历了一些闷热黏腻的观光之后，你总能回到泳池或三个热水浴缸之一中休息。在船上，有太多事情可以做——而且不仅仅是宾果游戏和问答比赛，尽管这类活动很多。每天晚上，百老汇表演厅（Broadway Showlounge）会有两场由专业舞者和歌手带来的演出，而且总是座无虚席。一家名为 The Exchange 的禁酒令风格酒吧是一颗隐藏的宝石，它将宾客带回到伦敦的东区（East End），我们在歌舞和鸡尾酒中陷入一场“钻石扭曲”之舞。这似乎特别吸引年轻乘客，也是 Marella 船队中唯一此类场所。

这次航程以另一场派对结束，这次是在 Squid And Anchor 酒吧，许多年长的乘客冲向舞池尽情狂欢。坐在我身边的绅士倾身而笑：“这就是变老后的样子！”没过多久，我也加入了这场闹剧。我们在科孚岛（Corfu）结束行程，去年夏天我的未婚夫在那里向我求婚，我们在 Tui Blue 的 Atlantica Nissaki Beach 酒店住了几个晚上，在这次行程满满的活动之后，在泳池边度过时光。我们的行李中带回了五个磁铁贴在冰箱上，这是我们几年前开始的一个传统，每当我们访问新地方时都会这样做。我迫不及待想在下次邮轮旅行中增加更多。

just you

独自度假，同行更佳

最好的旅程不仅仅在于你去哪里，而在于你在那里时的感受。 “一种极佳的独自旅行方式，因为你并不孤单！太棒了，我期待预订下一次旅行。” ——Jacqueline，Just You 旅行者

安达卢西亚瑰宝

8 天 原价 £1,549 起，现价 £1,449 起 假期包含： 往返机票 · 四星级酒店 · 14 餐 · 专业假期总监及当地专家导游 · 马拉加历史名城导览 · 探索弗里希利亚纳（Frigiliana）和内尔哈（Nerja）传统村庄 · 访问壮丽的悬崖小镇龙达（Ronda） · 自由探索米哈斯（Mijas）或在酒店放松 索取最新手册 01858 415300 / JUSTYOU.CO.UK 或咨询当地旅行社 价格在印刷时正确。由 6 Touring List 运营并受其预订条件约束，地址：202 Harborough Enterprise Centre, Market Harborough, LE16 9HW, ABTA Y6412, ATOL 11266。

旅行概况

从科孚岛出发的七晚爱琴海之滨（Aegean Shores）环游邮轮之旅，外加在希腊科孚岛 Tui Blue Atlantica Nissaki Beach 酒店的七晚住宿，全包价每人 £2,253 起，停靠点包括：希腊比雷埃夫斯（Piraeus）、土耳其库萨达斯（Kusadasi）、圣托里尼（Santorini）、克里特岛苏达（Souda）、凯法洛尼亚岛阿尔戈斯托利（Argostoli）和科孚岛。包含机票，9 月 25 日出发 (tui.co.uk)。

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探索现在，获益未来！

终极澳大利亚与亚洲探索之旅：悉尼至香港 2027

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39 晚飞行、住宿与探索邮轮之旅

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假期 65

真正蓝色地带的永恒宁静

作者：Laura Millar

正值正午，气温是宜人的25℃。我正身处Chia Laguna度假村康莱德酒店（Conrad hotel）内的露天餐厅Bisoquam，服务员刚刚为我斟了一杯清爽的Vermentino——这是一种用萨丁岛广泛种植的葡萄酿造的轻盈白葡萄酒。

“Salute!”我举杯向服务员致谢。他用一句我从未听过的话回应道：“A kent'annos!”看到我的困惑，他翻译道：“祝你活到100岁！”我想，这是一个多么美好的祝愿，随后我意识到，在这个岛上，这其实并非不可能。

萨丁岛位于科西嘉岛正南方，是一个原始的“蓝色地带”（其他蓝色地带包括日本的冲绳县、希腊的伊卡里亚岛以及哥斯达黎加的尼科亚）。1999年，一项研究发现这里百岁老人的集中度异常之高，因此被认定为蓝色地带。

那么，这里的长寿秘诀是什么？我询问酒店那位和蔼的经理Giuseppe Fornillo。

“有很多因素，”他说，“包括更轻松的生活方式和缺乏压力。”

萨丁岛具体的蓝色地带位于中部的努奥罗省（Nuoro province），直到大约20年前，由于道路状况糟糕，那里还很难到达。居住在那里的人们只能依赖于自己的紧密社区，通过耕种土地保持活力，并且只食用他们能种出来的作物。这其中包括葡萄，因此葡萄酒是他们饮食方案中正当的一部分。

“多酚有助于他们的健康，”Fornillo补充道。

Chia Laguna度假村坐落在被称为“地中海灌木丛”（macchia mediterrane）的郁郁葱葱且未经雕琢的景观之中。这片茂密的灌木林是常绿植物的家园，其香气与咸咸的海风交织在一起。

我以前去过一次萨丁岛，住在翡翠海岸（Costa Smeralda）——那是著名的北海岸，以粉末般柔软的沙滩、青绿色的海水和停满游艇的码头而闻名。南海岸则更加崎岖。从卡利亚里（Cagliari）机场出发，我开车穿过那些朴实无华的村庄，孩子们在尘土飞扬的广场上玩耍，路过点缀着苍鹭、莺类和暗粉色火烈鸟的湖泊。

当我抵达康莱德酒店时，我感到自己放松了下来。这里的装饰赏心悦目，随处可见石墙、彩色陶瓷和当代艺术品。

然而，真正的瑰宝是附近的沙滩。Le Dune di Campana以其起伏堆叠的壮观沙丘而得名，而Monte Cogoni的金黄色沙滩一直延伸到16世纪的Chia塔，该塔耸立在上方的一座小山上。

在经历了一个早晨如天堂般的日出后，我步行前往该塔所在的顶峰。我虽然没有在耕种土地，但我的肌肉确实得到了锻炼。

食物必须被特别提及。客人们可以在度假村内的13家餐厅中任选其一用餐，几乎每家餐厅都有一系列标有“蓝色地带”符号的菜肴，表示使用了经长寿认证的食材。这些食材可能包括法罗麦（farro），一种与西葫芦、番茄和酸豆一起供应的古老谷物。或者是淋上特级初榨橄榄油和辣椒的烤大虾。

当然，在这一切之余，一杯（或三杯）葡萄酒至关重要。得益于萨丁岛的生活方式，我期待着有一天能收到来自威廉国王的100岁生日电报……

● 从伦敦飞往卡利亚里的往返机票约£170起（ba.com）。Chia Laguna康莱德酒店的房价每晚£232起，含早餐（chialagunaresort.com）。

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美好的早晨始于美好的夜晚

您是否厌倦了早晨醒来时感到颈部、肩部或背部僵硬？现在有了解决方案。当亚历山大·迈尔斯（Alexander Miles）发明 Gx 悬浮枕（Gx Suspension Pillow）以帮助他的女儿从一次严重事故中康复时，他完全没有想到这会帮助数十万人获得更好的睡眠。他的灵感是在枕头内部放置两条固定带。这个如今已获得专利的想法彻底改变了枕头设计。这些固定带的作用是防止枕头在夜间散开和变扁。结合极其轻盈且具有支撑力的 Polycoz 填充物，您的头部和颈部将处于至高无上的舒适包裹之中。再加上一个内置通风口，帮助将热空气排出枕头并让冷空气进入，您就拥有了一个无敌的组合。最后，您无需在舒适度或支撑力之间做出选择，这款枕头两者兼顾。超过 50 万名客户已从 Gx 悬浮枕中获益，其中包括肌肉骨骼疼痛顾问迪恩·哈夫彭尼（Dr Deane Halfpenny）博士。他自己的脊柱受过伤，他的妻子建议他尝试这款枕头。效果如此之好，以至于他主动寄来了一封证词，称：“我可以坦诚地说，你们的枕头带来了天壤之别……我完全认可你们的枕头在整夜维持支撑力方面的能力是非常独特的。”世界上没有其他枕头是以同样方式工作的！难怪人们称它为“能让您重展笑颜的枕头”。请访问 gxpillows.co.uk 或致电 Gx Pillows 0800 316 2689

重新发现您的自由

自信地走得更远。TravelScoot Escape 是一款超轻量级电动代步车——旨在帮助您自信地享受假期、邮轮旅行、机场出行和日常冒险。

旅行的自由，探索的自信

无论您是在机场穿行、登船邮轮、探索新城市，还是与家人一起享受郊游，TravelScoot Escape 都是您完美的旅行伴侣。 - 1 分钟内即可折叠，实现无缝旅行 - 含电池重量仅 14.8 kg —— 易于提起、携带和存放 - 采用航空级铝材，强度重量比为 10:1 - 强劲性能，单次充电可行驶高达 12 英里 / 19km - 非常适合机场、邮轮、城市短途旅行和日常冒险

本报读者专属优惠 立减 £400 现价 £2,195 原价 £2,595 优惠有效期至 2026 年 8 月 31 日 结账时请使用代码 MAIL

“TravelScoot 完全改变了我的旅行方式——它随我前往任何地方。”——玛格丽特（Margaret），TravelScoot 客户

立即预约您的免费上门演示——亲身体验自由！ TravelScoot 01923 510350 hello@mytravelscoot.co.uk www.travelscoot.co.uk

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69

广告

神奇枕头改变超过 50 万人的生活

一位父亲的奉献带来了令人惊叹的专利枕头——总有一天所有的枕头都将这样制造

一场近乎悲剧的事故促成了睡眠技术的一项惊人新进展。当乔治亚·迈尔斯（Georgia Miles）从一次危及生命的事故中康复时，她的父亲亚历山大到处寻找一款能让她在整夜都感到舒适的枕头。在购买了数十种不同类型的枕头且没有一个奏效后，身为知名家具和家用产品设计师的亚历山大决定自己设计一款。

独特突破

当他意识到所有枕头在头部重量压在其上时都会散开并变扁时，他取得了突破。这种扁平化在夜间不断加剧，导致头部和颈部缺乏支撑——从而干扰睡眠。这就是为什么许多人在半夜发现自己处于半醒状态并“捶打枕头”，拼命尝试寻找舒适的位置。

额外的舒适度与支撑力

Alex设计的这款创新型号具有内部拉带，可将填充物固定在原位，并向内、向上拉动枕头，从而托住头部和颈部。这提供了贯穿整个夜晚的额外舒适度和支撑力，确保您从不受干扰的睡眠中获得最大益处。

英国制造

Gx Pillow由英国制造，提供两种支撑等级供选择：大多数人似乎更倾向于“中等柔软”（Medium-soft），

Gx Pillow的发明者Alexander Miles与他的发明合影，或者为那些喜欢更多支撑力的人提供“中等偏硬”（Medium-firm）。Alex渴望帮助女儿Georgia的迫切愿望，促成了一款同样改变了数千人生活的枕头。因此，如果您花了一辈子时间寻找完美的枕头，您的寻找可能终于结束了！ 信息：gxpillows / 0800 316 2689

史上最大折扣 – 25% off！

令人惊叹的 Gx Pillow™ 帮助数千人获得更好的睡眠

√ 独特的内部拉带技术确保整夜形状不变

√ 提供舒适感与支撑力 √ 内置通风口保持凉爽 √ 奢华的100%纯棉外壳 √ 低致敏 Polycoz 填充物 √ 英国销量超过 50万,000 个 √ 在英国设计、获得专利并制造 √ 可选择中等柔软或中等偏硬

25% off £29.99 单只枕头 £29.99 枕头 £59.99 双只装 £44.99 套装 使用代码 MS24

“我简直不敢相信，在40年后我终于找到了有史以来最好的枕头！！！！它完全不会移位，而且如此舒适，太棒了，必须给丈夫再买一个，再备一个。” Izzy，约克郡

我们的承诺！

试用 Gx Pillow 睡眠 30 晚，如果您不完全满意，我们将为您退款。 享受优质的睡眠，并获得 25% OFF！ 也就是说...

2 只枕头仅需 £59.99 £44.99！

节省 £15！ 可选中等柔软、中等偏硬，或各一只！

或者购买 1 只 Gx PILLOW 仅需 £39.99 £29.99 节省 £10！ 使用代码 MS24 可享 25% off

扫描此处，代码将自动应用 立即订购！ 免费电话：0800 316 2689 服务时间：周一至周五 上午 9 点至下午 5 点。 报代码 MS24 可享 25% off 或访问官网：gxpillows.co.uk 在折扣栏输入 MS24 可享 25% off *适用条款与条件 - 详情请参阅网站。

邮寄至：

FREEPOST BEAUTIFUL SLEEP 无需其他详细信息或邮票

描述 / 勾选您偏好的枕头 / MS24 / 价格 / 数量 / 小计

节省 £15！ / 2 x 中等柔软 (was £59.99) / £44.99 Gx Pillows 双只装 / 2 x 中等偏硬 (was £59.99) / £44.99 1 x 中等柔软 + 1 x 中等偏硬 ( £59.99) / £44.99 节省 £10！ / 1 x 中等柔软 ( £39.99) / £29.99 单只枕头 / 1 x 中等偏硬 ( £39.99) / £29.99

☐ 我随信附上支付给 Beautiful Sleep 的支票，金额为 £ ☐ 或从我的信用卡 / 借记卡扣款： 卡号： 有效期 / CVC： 签名： 姓名： 地址： 电话： 电子邮件： 邮费与包装费：£4.95 订单总计： 邮编：

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广告专题

50岁以上人群正在重新定义衰老

人们普遍存在一种误解，认为年长者只是简单地听天由命，过着看日间电视的生活。但这已经过时了。如今，50岁以上的人们正在培养新爱好、旅行、社交，并希望从生活中获得更多。然而，品牌方并未倾听他们的声音。最近的研究显示，X世代和婴儿潮一代在英国广告中仅占 12% 的比例。这与一个事实形成了鲜明对比：50岁以上人群占据了英国近一半（47%）的消费能力，掌控着超过 £6 万亿的资产。

于是，Humfree 诞生了。这是一个全新的电动代步车品牌，它理解当今的年长一代——这些人拥有自己的生活和热情，他们希望感到被赋能，而不是被轻视。与过去那些笨重、看起来像医疗设备的型号不同，Humfree 的电动代步车轻便、紧凑且可携带。这使得客户能够更轻松地自由旅行，而且重要的是，按照他们自己的方式旅行。

认为，使用电动代步车并不意味着“放弃”。它是为了更早地适应，以便能更长久地做自己热爱的事情。通过优先考虑舒适度、独立性和自信心， 代步车开启了一个充满可能性的世界。毕竟，无论你处于什么年龄，生活就是用来体验的。

欲了解更多产品系列信息，请访问 .co.uk 或致电 0800 999 2171 索取免费手册。

针对日常关节酸痛，已售出超过一百万支药膏

从早晨的僵硬到日常的不适，许多人正在寻找一种自然的方法，以继续做他们喜欢的事情。探索为什么 ActiveCare 药膏成为了我们最成功的案例之一。

对于全英国数以千计的人来说，关节僵硬和酸痛可能成为日常生活的一部分，影响从早晨的例行活动到园艺、散步以及与家人共度时光的所有事情。二十多年来，位于阿伯丁郡的 Natural Skincare Factory 一直通过其畅销的 ActiveCare 药膏，帮助人们探索一种实现日常舒适的自然方法。

ActiveCare 药膏采用薰衣草、尤加利和迷迭香的混合成分制成，已从一个家庭创意成长为公司最成功的案例之一，销量超过一百万支，且客户年复一年地回购。

公司所有者 Adrian Whalley 解释道：“对我们来说，最伟大的事情不仅仅是销售数量，而是听到客户告诉我们，他们重新开始做自己喜欢的事情了。我们每周都会收到人们分享经验的信件、电话和证词。”

如今，ActiveCare 药膏已成为许多客户日常习惯的一部分，许多人表示他们离不开它。

欲了解更多关于 ActiveCare 药膏的信息，请访问 naturalskincarefactory.com 或致电 0800 019 9932

楼梯安全

“安全回家”这句话听起来令人安心，然而大多数老年人的跌倒事故都发生在家中。虽然任何跌倒都令人不快，但在楼梯上打滑或跌倒更是不堪设想。因此，如果您在楼梯上感到不稳或不安全，现在就是投资安装 Acorn 楼梯升降椅的时机。它几乎可以安装在任何类型的楼梯上，将有助于在未来的许多年里保障您在家的健康与独立。

Acorn 英国制造的楼梯升降椅在您首次咨询后的短短几天内即可安装完成，即使是非标准楼梯也不例外。它们以用户为中心进行设计，可靠且操作简单，如果您需要帮助，只需拨打一个电话即可获得专家支持。

购买 楼梯升降椅极其简单。第一步是预约 专家测量员的一次免费且无义务的家庭访问。他们将测量您的楼梯并与您讨论您的行动需求。基于这些信息，测量员将提供一份全包报价，该报价在 12 个月内有效，因此您无需匆忙或在压力下做决定。

欢迎客户的反馈，并根据 1.1万,000 多条英国评论，在领先的在线评论网站 Trustpilot 上被评为“优秀”。

想象一下，您可以随时随地上下楼梯，没有疼痛或不适，最重要的是，无需担心跌倒。这对于您和您的亲人来说，才是真正的安心。

Stairlifts

重获居家自由 5 种新座椅颜色，请咨询详情

让您在心爱的家中保持安全

人们在自己的家中保持行动能力和独立性比以往任何时候都更重要，而我们在此提供帮助。 - 可提供次日安装 - 留在您心爱的家中 - 适用于直线和曲线楼梯 - 免费且无义务的测量与报价 - 365 天本地服务与支持

扫描获取更多信息：

次日安装 立即拨打 免费电话 0800 016 9500 获取您的免费手册和报价

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71

一款您真正能搬得动的代步车

Connect 代步车可以轻松放入后备箱，轻松取出，随心而行。早市购物、公园散步、拜访朋友——一切触手可及。那么，下一站去哪里？

• 世界首创！我们最便携的代步车
• 重量仅 11kg*
• 定制您的座椅
• 5 种颜色
• 2 种颜色可选 *最重部件重量为 11.2kg

英国设计 最快免费配送 1-3 天 最长免费保修：2 年 免费工程师上门服务 维修或更换保证 仅在 Humfree 销售

电视播出产品 限时优惠 £400 折扣

举起 点击

Humfree® 便携式代步车。无限可能。

立即致电获取您的免费手册并节省 £400 0800 999 2152 或访问 HUMFREE.CO.UK 报价代码：3226HP2

六十六岁女性使用天然关节霜找回生活节奏

来自法夫（Fife）的玛格丽特·帕顿（Margaret Paton）多年来一直热爱她的每周舞蹈课。但最近，她开始感到身体过于僵硬和不适，无法参与其中。“我以为我可能不得不放弃它，”她承认道。

当她发现由位于阿伯丁郡彼得黑德（Peterhead, Aberdeenshire）的苏格兰家族企业 Natural Skincare Factory 生产的 ActiveCare Cream 时，情况发生了变化。

“20 多年来，我们一直使用包括薰衣草、尤加利和迷迭香在内的天然成分制造 ActiveCare Cream，”公司所有者亚德里安·沃利（Adrian Whalley）解释道。“我们每周都会收到来自满意客户的信件和证词。”

玛格丽特现在将这种药霜作为她日常习惯的一部分。“我每天使用两次，感觉舒服多了。我甚至回到了我的舞蹈课！”她告诉我们。

缓解僵硬、酸痛的关节

在起床或爬楼梯时感受不同。

回到您热爱的事情中

园艺、散步、跳舞或与孙辈玩耍，不再有持续的不适感。

可信赖的天然配方

含有薰衣草、迷迭香和尤加利，全英数千人使用。不要让关节疼痛拖慢您的脚步——立即行动…… 艾德里安补充道：“很多人告诉我们，他们对早晨感到僵硬，或者发现像步行去商店这样简单的事情比以前更困难而感到沮丧。正是这些日常挑战促使人们寻找天然的产品来支持他们。”

3 种便捷的订购方式： 电话：0800 0199932 网址：www.naturalskincarefactory.com 邮寄：支票抬头请写：Natural Skincare Factory - 寄至：NSF, PO Box 18699, Peterhead, AB42 9SJ 接受所有主流银行卡。 亦可在以下地点购买：Porter Pharmacy, Loirston Ave, Cove, Aberdeen Trustpilot ---

• 英国设计与制造
• 只需点击按钮，即可安全地降低或升高
• 电池驱动，无需布线或电缆，仅需每 7-10 天充电一次
• 腰带可缩回盒中，以便其他家庭成员正常使用浴缸
• 龙骨墙（Stud walls）亦无问题
• 通常在 1 小时内安装完成

Dolphin 沐浴

如需免费手册，请致电：0800 011 4574 立即试用！ 提供免费的“干式”居家演示 此外，请咨询我们的电动代步车和楼梯升降机系列产品。 Dolphin，英国家喻户晓的行动辅助品牌

探索更智能的生活方式

了解搬到住宅公园（residential park）如何为您带来财务自由和更多可能 许多人发现，在住宅公园生活提供了一种更简单、更实惠的方式来享受晚年，同时保持独立并降低成本。 在指南中，您将发现： 购买的财务和法律方面 在住宅公园独立生活的真实情况 安全、友好社区的益处 居民的真实故事

即刻申请您的免费指南

致电了解更多信息或申请您的免费指南：01933 449067 或在此扫描 或寄回此优惠券以获取您的免费入门指南： FREEPOST TINGDENE PARKS 姓名： 地址： 邮编： 电话： 电子邮件： TING DENE RESIDENTIAL PARKS V d / b --- 73

致信至：The Letters Editor, The Mail on Sunday, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY. 电子邮件：letters@mailonsunday.co.uk

读者来信

开放边境只会让英国更贫穷

左翼支持全球化和开放边境，结果我们看到人们成波地涌入欧盟和英国。正如 5万,000 人进入西班牙飞地休达（Ceuta）一样，越来越多的人正在跨越英吉利海峡。我们自己的政府在控制边境方面仅做出象征性的评论和姿态，却眼睁睁地看着非法移民猖獗。 不受控制的移民使原住民贫困化，降低了他们的生活质量。如果一个国家吸收数十万名乘客，人们将不得不付出代价。福利系统和 NHS 将崩溃。犯罪将恶化，社会动荡将增加。我们可能对非法移民感到同情，但我们的生活也必须得到保护。 Mick Ferrie 康沃尔郡，Mawnan Smith

在非法进入休达的 5万,000 名年轻人中，有些人说他们这样做是因为摩洛哥没有工作，而另一些人似乎是因为无聊。无论如何，他们证明了自己能造成怎样的混乱和恐惧。随着 AI 的推进，当原住民都没有足够的工作时，为什么我们还允许任何非法移民留在本国？除非

伯纳姆提供的寥寥无几

上周日，一位写信者表示安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）给了她希望，例如他取消了电费单上的增值税。这每年能帮我省下 £45。没什么大不了的！ 巴里·克拉内特（Barry Klarnett），埃塞克斯郡，威瑟姆

我可以理解选民和工党想要摆脱政府，但政府有一个计划，而公民动荡的危险不仅来自大量非法移民，还来自预测中的数百万失业者。 艾伦·艾奇森（Alan Aitchison），韦克菲尔德

我们应该通过宣布那些试图非法入境的人立即被遣返回原籍国来阻止船只。 汤姆·埃弗里特（Tom Everett），康沃尔郡，马利恩

保守党议员克里斯·菲尔普（Chris Philp）因为在非法移民登上充气艇时陪在海滩上而获得赞赏。奈杰尔·法拉奇（Nigel Farage）在三年多前就揭示了情况，但保守党无视了他的恳求。这导致了我们现在拥有这个社会主义政府。保守党应为此负责。 特里·科茨（Terry Coates），伯明翰

基尔·斯塔默（Keir Starmer）。他能力不足且缺乏个性。相反，他们想要一个有魅力的替代者。不幸的是，安迪·伯纳姆拥有的就只有这个。 保罗·莫利（Paul Morley），北约克郡，隆普雷斯顿

政治家和司法系统并不希望非法移民停止。就像公用事业一样，我们被这些功能失效的实体困住，让我们付出越来越多的代价。 詹姆斯·罗伯特-普兰（James Robert-Poulain），东萨塞克斯郡，贝克斯希尔海滨

保守党和工党在非法移民身上花费了数亿英镑。因此，一个朋友给奈杰尔·法拉奇的 £5 礼金，对于那些将在下次选举中投票给改革英国党（Reform UK）的人来说毫无意义。 琳恩·比尔基特（Lynne Birkett），韦克菲尔德

如果安迪·伯纳姆住在一家 HMO（多人租赁房）或满是非法移民的营地旁边，他的优先级会改变吗？ A. 史密斯（A. Smith），克罗伊登

能与王室媲美的肥皂剧

上周日读到贝克汉姆家族的不和是如何爆发的，我笑了。起因是维多利亚在社交媒体上没有给一张照片点赞，照片中尼古拉·佩尔茨（Nicola Peltz）在 2021 年的 Met Gala 上穿着一件 Valentino 礼服，当时她与维多利亚的儿子布鲁克林（左）一同出席。接下来会是什么，因为大卫的内裤颜色或布鲁克林的袜子颜色而引发轩然大波吗？尽管放马过来吧！ 杰夫·佩奇（Geoff Page），赫特福德郡，希钦

能不能请少写一点关于无聊的贝克汉姆家的事？ 约翰·哈克纳尔（John Hucknall），诺丁汉

我们真的需要王室吗？毕竟，我们已经有了贝克汉姆一家。 G. 景（G. Ging），洛斯托夫特

别管贝克汉姆了——你们拍摄的王室成员在英联邦运动会上的照片让我深受感动。我特别喜欢看到的夏洛特公主和爱德华王子的照片，他们非常活跃，展现了两人之间的纽带。我非常享受你们的王室报道，当然还有你们的谈话节目《宫廷机密》（Palace Confidential）。 姓名和地址已提供

英国铁路并未改善

亚历山德拉·舒尔曼（Alexandra Shulman）上周日写道，她过去大致支持私有化，但现在改变了主意。她抱怨说现在的铁路服务不可靠且昂贵，然而大部分网络已经重新国有化了。 J. 肖（J. Shaw），诺森伯兰郡，阿尔尼克

我一直认为公用事业和交通的私有化是错误的，因为营利公司的董事必须最大化股息。因此，客户服务永远会排在第二位。 基利·卡文迪什（Keeley Cavendish），伦敦，达利奇

本周之信

[...OMITTED...]

停止非法倾倒垃圾者在任何地方驾驶

上周日，斯宾塞伯爵写道，“非法倾倒垃圾的帮派”如何迫使他离开了其家族自1893年起就一直耕种的土地。我对此深表同情。他质疑政治家们是否会解决在乡村倾倒垃圾的问题。非法倾倒垃圾不仅是一种可耻的行为，而且是一个影响社区和环境的重大问题。需要采取更严格的执法措施来防止这种情况。我认为，如果非法倾倒垃圾者被发现用废弃物破坏街道或乡村，应该吊销其驾驶执照。他们还应该被罚款——而且短期入狱也不是一个坏主意。我以前住在乡村，小巷尽头的一个小型环岛上经常散落着物品，包括轮胎、肮脏的床垫、肉类废弃物、危险材料和电子产品。安装闭路电视（CCTV）可能有助于治理这个问题——在其他地方也可能有所帮助——但这并不便宜。遗憾的是，就像对待路面坑洞一样，每次政府支持开展打击非法倾倒垃圾的活动时，问题似乎反而恶化了——因为威慑力不够强。 Josie Ainsley，比肯黑德

拯救了数千人性命的炸弹

作为一名前日本战俘的儿子，在阅读了上周日关于广岛和长崎轰炸的文章后，我觉得有必要写这封信。虽然我对那些受牵连的家庭深表同情，但重要的是要记住，原子弹拯救了数以千计盟军战俘的生命，如果日本本土被入侵，这些人将被判处死刑。你们的文章提到，“艾诺拉·盖”号（投放广岛原子弹的飞机）的副驾驶表示忏悔。但飞行员保罗·蒂贝茨在战后表示：“我没有遗憾；如果必须这样做，我会再次投放那枚炸弹。”如果那两枚原子弹没有被投放，我今天就不会写这封信。 Cecil Lowry，《血染双手——日本军队暴行》作者

封爵吧，拉里爵士

上周日看到唐宁街10号的猫拉里（左图）的照片真是太棒了。这只19岁的猫见证了六任首相的更替，我认为这值得一些官方认可。

获奖信件

本周之信获得在Leonardo Hotels入住两晚的双人住宿奖品。仅限在英国境内的任何一家该酒店选择（两晚含早晚餐，适用条款与条件）。Leonardo Hotels 为城市度假或短途旅行提供完美的基地，提供舒适且现代的客房，并配备定制的 DREAM 床，以确保最惬意的睡眠之夜。如需最佳价格，请在 leonardohotels.co.uk 在线预订。代金券有效期为12个月。

LEONARDO Hotels

考虑到拉里可能的夜间活动，授予他“骑士勋章”（nighthood）是否合适？ Doug Jennings，格洛斯特郡，米克尔顿

商业繁荣

你们写到了离开 Radio 2 的员工——BBC 广播在1964年失去了我，当时商业电台打破了它的垄断。随后其他电台出现，直到今天的 Boom Radio——这些优秀的电台无需公共资金支持。 Richard Rickard，奇切斯特

--- 74

用 moonpig 的免费贺卡庆祝成绩公布日

他们复习了，振作了，克服了恐慌——现在成绩公布日即将到来。无论是巨大的胜利，还是庆祝他们的决心和努力的机会，请让那位特别的学生知道你为他们感到自豪。我们与 Moonpig 合作，为您提供一张免费的*个性化成绩公布日贺卡。从 GCSE 到 A Level，或是他们完全独立完成的成就，这是一个值得大肆庆祝的时刻。用照片、贴纸、手写字或一段他们最需要听到的话来个性化您的免费贺卡，

最高薪酬突破 £2000 万 大关

壳牌、罗尔斯-罗伊斯和联合利华领跑，将高管奖金提升至美国水平 作者：Patrick Tooher

《星期日金融邮报》（The Financial Mail on Sunday）的一项调查发现，英国最大上市公司的老板们正获得每年高达 £2800 万 的美国式薪酬方案。

此前，领先企业正寻求提高首席执行官的潜在收入，因为他们表示在竞争日益激烈的全球顶尖人才市场中必须如此。自疫情以来，董事会薪酬稳步上升，而更广泛的实际工资增长则处于停滞状态。

去年，一名典型的 FTSE 100 老板收入略高于 £500 万，其中薪酬最高的是药物巨头阿斯利康（AstraZeneca）的 Pascal Soriot，获得了 £1770 万。

但高管能够攫取的薪酬上限正在快速提升，因为构成董事会薪酬方案主体的奖金越来越多地以股票形式支付，且股市表现强劲。

对所有最新的 FTSE 100 账目分析发现，有三家公司的首席执行官如果达成目标，今年的潜在薪酬奖励可能突破 £2000 万，且这些公司的股价在三年内上涨了 50%。

最大的赢家可能是壳牌（Shell）老板 Wael Sawan，如果他达成绩效目标，其 £1380 万 的薪酬将翻倍。这家石油巨头最近报告称，由于美伊战争爆发以来能源价格上涨，其半年利润大幅增加。

同样有望获得巨额报酬的是 Tufan Erginbilgic，他领导工程巨头罗尔斯-罗伊斯（Rolls-Royce）实现了显著的扭转。他去年赚了 £440 万，但在最理想的情况下，这一数字可能飙升至 £2440 万。

联合利华（Unilever）的新任老板 Fernando Fernandez 如果在该消费品集团达成所有目标，也将有望加入 £2000 万 俱乐部。

这三家公司的新薪酬计划最近都得到了股东的批准，股东们对这一长期以来存在争议的问题持更加乐观的态度。

薪酬咨询公司 ISS Corporate 指出，虽然总部位于英国的公司正在缩小与美国同行之间的薪酬差距，但一名典型的 FTSE 100 老板的收入仍不足去年标普 500 指数（S&P 500）公司老板平均薪酬 £1220 万 的一半。

专家表示，薪酬差距存在的一个原因是，与英国不同，美国老板通常兼任首席执行官和董事长，这意味着他们拥有更大的权力和责任。

另一个被提及的原因是，一些美国公司的经营状况优于其英国竞争对手，利润率更高，因此股市估值也更高。

如果高额薪酬方案能与强劲的业绩相匹配，股东们似乎愿意容忍。

企业咨询公司 Indigo Governance 的负责人 Bernadette Young 表示：“对于董事会来说，关键问题在于如何有效地证明并解释其决定。”

“例如，薪酬如何与具有挑战性的长期绩效目标的达成相挂钩，以及这如何支持股东和更广泛利益相关者（包括员工）的利益。如果公司能处理好这一点，它可以加速增长并使整体经济受益。”

随着薪酬计划的更新，将有更多公司提高高薪者的上限。其中包括阿斯利康，该公司正与股东讨论针对 Soriot 的新薪酬政策，并将于明年的年度会议上进行投票。

尽管 Soriot 是 FTSE 100 中薪酬最高的老板，但他的薪酬仍低于全球制药同行的平均水平。阿斯利康薪酬委员会主席 Sheri McCoy 在最新的年度报告中写道：“我们希望随着时间的推移缩小这一差距。”

壳牌在衡量首席执行官薪酬时，采用了比阿斯利康更广泛的参照群体，根据市值、年收入和资产进行排名。该公司表示，自 Sawan 在 2023, 年初接任以来，壳牌在财务和运营方面表现强劲，优于同行。

劳斯莱斯（Rolls-Royce）表示，其新的薪酬安排是“确保业务持续卓越表现的战略重点”。联合利华（Unilever）则表示，它需要“合适的薪酬工具，以便在所有地区继续吸引最优秀的人才，并为高绩效提供差异化奖励”。

安妮·阿什沃思（Anne Ashworth）的进一步研究显示，头发的“皮肤化”正成为利润的强力驱动因素，因为产品越来越多地承诺解决断发和细发问题——就像抗衰老精华液承诺改善肤色一样。对修复性护发产品需求的激增帮助欧莱雅（L'Oreal）第二季度的销售额增长了 6%。其首席执行官尼古拉斯·希罗尼姆斯（Nicolas Hieronimus）表示，因“减肥针”而脱发的客户正寻求增加发量并促进再生。欧莱雅的品牌包括 Elvive、Garnier 和 Kerastase。其中，通过沙龙销售的后者正受益于希罗尼姆斯所称的“持续高端化”，因为消费者在面对糟糕的发型日时，会选择更昂贵的解决方案。这被称为“口红效应”，即女性通过小小的奢侈来度过艰难的经济时期——

请参阅第 76 页

在 X 上关注我们 @Cal_Muirhead @PatrickTooher @AnneAshworth @RMarsden_journo @ruthiesun --- 76 v1

美国并非总是更美好

乍一看，看到一家总部位于英国的公司考虑收购一家美国公司，而不是相反，人们会感到宽慰。此前已有一系列美国企业在抢购英国公司，最近的是易捷航空（easyJet），因此阿斯利康（AstraZeneca）收购百时美施贵宝（Bristol Myers Squibb）似乎是一个受欢迎的提议。但这个故事引发了三个问题。首先，这对阿斯利康有利吗？其次，在我们的文化关系中，是什么让一些跨境合并取得成功，而另一些则成为灾难？最后，在一个如此受全球贸易和投资约束的世界里，国家战略独立在多大程度上至关重要？

第一个问题很容易回答：不利。市场厌恶这个想法，将阿斯利康的股价压低了 9%，直到路透社的一篇报道称目前没有正在进行的谈判，股价才有所回升。该公司擅长开发新药，尤其是癌症药物，

今年曾短暂成为伦敦上市市值最高的公司。在美国进行收购将带来巨大的干扰，且与该公司目前成功的理由——有机增长——背道而驰。

文化问题则更为复杂。阿斯利康本身就是一个跨境产物，由 1913, 年由瑞典医生创立的 Astra 和 1993. 年从帝国化学工业（Imperial Chemical Industries）分拆出来的制药部门 Zeneca 在 1999 年合并而成。因此，这家曾经是我们最大工业公司所剩下的唯一一块碎片，再次成为了卓越的象征，而旧的化学业务则崩溃了，剩余部分在 2008. 年被荷兰集团 AkzoNobel 收购。

这里有几点教训。在文化上，我们似乎擅长制药，但不擅长更基础的工业。而且，一个瑞典-英国的伙伴关系（由法国首席执行官帕斯卡·索里奥爵士 Sir Pascal Soriot 领导）可以运作得非常好。

那么美英合并呢？它们有效吗？这里的证据不一。在制药领域，另一家总部位于英国的大型集团 GSK（原名葛兰素史克）表现尚可，但在 2000. 年葛兰素惠康（Glaxo Wellcome）与史密克比畅（SmithKline Beecham）合并时，未能达到预期。两者的价值曾超过 1000 亿英镑 billion，但其目前的市值仅为 800 亿英镑 billion。因此，虽然它是一家成功的企业，但它并未成为它本可以成为的全球巨头。

在其他领域，英国建立美国业务的尝试令人失望。汇丰银行（HSBC）目前是富时 100 指数（FTSE 100 index）中市值最高的成员，它在 20 世纪 80 年代收购海洋中兰银行（Marine Midland Bank）时曾试图建立一个美国银行分支机构。在某一阶段，它是美国第 13 大银行。它目前仍从事企业银行业务，但零售业务被逐步关闭，现在主要为高净值客户提供财富管理服务。特易购（Tesco）在 20 年前是

“跨越大西洋的增长企图令人失望”

……世界，曾尝试通过名为 Fresh & Easy 的高端便利店进军美国市场，但以失败告终。该项目损失了近 20 亿加元 billion（当时约为 12 亿英镑 billion）。森辈利（Sainsbury's）和马莎（Marks & Spencer）也尝试过但失败了，不过马莎目前正通过合作伙伴关系在美国销售部分服装。当然也有亮点：BAE系统公司（BAE Systems）目前是美国第六或第七大国防承包商，在全球范围内则排名第四或第五。而且，许多我们认为的美国企业实际上总部位于英国。你知道吗，洲际酒店（InterContinental Hotels）和假日酒店（Holiday Inn）背后的集团总部就在温莎城堡几百码远的地方？但总的来说，进入美国市场是一项艰巨的任务。那么国家安全呢？我们在疫情期间意识到了在英国生产药物的重要性，当时欧洲试图将我们排除在 Coral 疫苗之外。现在我们正进一步认识到，维持北海油气工业投资而非将其削减的价值。我们当然也应该关注粮食安全。因此，让我们尽力支持总部位于英国的生产——这就是为什么鼓励阿斯利康（AstraZeneca）在可行范围内尽可能在英国开展工作是显而易见的常识。

“护发现在被视为一种需求，而非奢侈品”

从第 75 页开始讨论长发趋势。联合利华（Unilever）旗下 Tresemme 的全球品牌总监 Aela Abalos 表示，护发被视为“更多是一种需求而非奢侈品”。这家富时 100 指数（FTSE 100）巨头正通过出售 赫尔曼蛋黄酱（Hellmann's）及其其他食品品牌，以专注于高利润的美容和健康领域，其护发产品销售额在今年上半年增长了 9%。Dove、Sunsilk 和 K18 等护发品牌的增长率也达到了两位数。K18 现在推出了 FutureIQ 仿生头发长寿精华液，旨在解决头发早衰问题。其价格为 £110, 这解释了为何高端护发市场预计将从每年 950 亿英镑 billion 扩大到 2034. 年的 1850 亿英镑 billion。但联合利华也在押注更实惠的产品，以在“头发皮肤化”竞争中脱颖而出。Abalos 表示，联合利华位于切希尔郡波特阳光（Port Sunlight）的研发部门的科学家们已经全面更新了 Tresemme 系列。其中包括 Thermo Sculpt Memory，这是一个四步护理系列，针对每三名女性中就有一名每周使用直发夹的群体。精华液、发膜、洗发水和护发素的总价为 £33.50. 这正处于“口红效应”中 £30 到 £40. 的“黄金价格区间”。虽然这比一大罐赫尔曼蛋黄酱的 £3.25 要贵，但正如热门喜剧剧集《伦敦生活》（Fleabag）中的主角曾说的那样：“头发就是一切。”

失败的中国投资交易令纳税人承担高达20亿英镑损失

作者：Richard Marsden

一项报告发现，由于政府的“错误”导致中国投资进入经济敏感领域，纳税人最终可能需要支付40 亿英镑 billion来修复这些问题。这笔资金已被用于救助英国钢铁公司（British Steel），以及将中国公司从战略核能和通信交易中剔除的费用。

发起这项研究的中国战略风险研究所（China Strategic Risks Institute）猛烈抨击了“前几届政府的错误，他们未能将公众的经济和国家安全放在首位”。

该账单由以下部分组成： ● 至少20 亿英镑 billion用于将电信公司华为从英国的5G手机网络部署中剔除； ● 截至目前，英国钢铁公司重新国有化的成本为£6 亿； ● £1 亿用于从萨福克郡的 Sizewell C 核电站项目中买断中国核电总公司的份额。

如果政府必须向英国钢铁公司的前所有者敬业集团（Jingye）支付补偿金，这笔账单可能会增加。敬业集团是在鲍里斯·约翰逊任内买下斯坎索普（Scunthorpe）的高炉的。

最新账目显示，截至2024年底，英国钢铁公司以公司间贷款的形式欠敬业集团£9.6 亿。该研究所表示，在目前针对国家接管补偿金的独立评估中，敬业集团可能会要求偿还这些贷款。

针对潜在的37 亿英镑 billion账单，该研究所的萨姆·古德曼（Sam Goodman）表示：“英国纳税人被要求为经济敏感领域中那些可疑且失败的中国投资买单的情况实在太多了。这笔钱本可以用于通过新建学校、医院以及清理积压的法院案件来改善公共服务。”

这与十多年前温馨的中英关系截然不同。当时，首相大卫·卡梅伦在一次国事访问期间，在他在牛津郡选区的一家酒吧里请习主席吃鱼和薯条，喝了一品脱啤酒。

撒切尔政府时期的部长埃德温娜·库里（Edwina Currie）为过去保守党的决定辩护称：“那是后见之明——而在你最需要的时候，这种视角永远不存在。近年来，中国在习主席的领导下变得更加强势，而我们现在已经对此做出了调整。”

领先的经济学家和公共账目委员会副主席、国会议员克莱夫·贝茨（Clive Betts）表示，不应向中国人支付任何关于英国钢铁公司的补偿金。

政府表示：“这一分析错误地暗示我们花费了20 亿英镑 billion来剔除华为设备，并将商业决定与政府行动混为一谈。”

“我们重视与中国的关系，并对中国投资保持开放态度。”

“我们将继续共同努力，为英国企业提供造福纳税人的最佳机会。”

“我们在可能的地方进行合作，在必须的地方提出挑战，在支持我们国家利益的贸易领域进行接触。”

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77 作者：ANNE ASHWORTH

曼彻斯特拥有“北方的唐宁街10号”——那么我们呢？这是英国其他城市向安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）提出的问题。他们想知道，他关于将权力从威斯敏斯特移出并促进“每个邮政编码区实现良好增长”的承诺，在实践中对他们意味着什么。

在很多地方，要求落实权力下放的呼声如此之高，伯明翰便是其中之一。作为工业革命的发源地，西米德兰兹郡渴望在21世纪商业的一些重大领域成为强国：国防、医疗、技术、体育、娱乐。

大都市市长很快将被允许保留更大份额的商业税，并且——首次——保留所得税，以决定如何使用这笔资金。

哈佛大学和伦敦国王学院最近的一项研究发现，如果伯明翰和其他伦敦以外的城市能享有与欧洲同行相同的权力下放利益，年产值将增加700 亿英镑 billion。

但西米德兰兹郡市长理查德·帕克（Richard Parker）表示，如果这座英国第二大城市想要重新工业化，必须更好地推广自己，才能赢得眼前这个“惊人”的奖赏。

街道上垃圾遍地的照片并没有起到正面作用。垃圾清理工的罢工现已进入第18个月，其起因是政府削减公共服务，以填补当地政府养老基金中据称高达£6 亿的缺口。工党议员、塞利奥克（Selly Oak）代表阿尔·卡恩斯（Al Carns）表示，伯明翰必须发出更大的声音，并补充道：“谦卑一直是我们的问题。我们需要让自己显得更有气势一些。”从位于科尔莫尔（Colmore）商业区的伯明翰市政厅窗户望出去，可以看到高盛（Goldman Sachs）和汇丰银行（HSBC）等金融巨头入驻的大厦。位于索利哈尔（Solihull）沿路的捷豹路虎（Jaguar Land Rover）是另一家当地的大型雇主。但正如帕克（Parker）所言，目前的竞争重点是通过说服更多具有战略重要性的公司，让他们相信在这里开展业务比在伦敦“便宜得多”，从而吸引他们入驻。他表示：“我们拥有年轻的人口——三分之一在25.岁以下。凭借我们的12所大学，我们是一个人才的培养皿。”已被吸引到伯明翰的人员中包括美国亿万富翁汤姆·瓦格纳（Tom Wagner），他拥有伯明翰城足球俱乐部。瓦格纳主导了在城市东部一片棕地（brownfield site）上投资40 亿英镑 billion的体育区（Sports Quarter）开发项目。该项目将包括一座体育场，或称“全球认可的斗兽场”，届时还将举办音乐会等活动。瓦格纳表示，帕克和西米德兰兹增长委—

英国竞逐伯纳姆式的家庭英国

英国的第二大城市希望在权力和资金北移之际，自己不会被绕过。

公司“让他能够轻松地”在这座城市投资。西米德兰兹增长公司（West Midlands Growth Company）负责人尼尔·拉米（Neil Rami）表示，吸引企业外来投资的关键在于“提供最平稳的着陆”。

“我们需要让自己稍微膨胀一点”

在耗资110 亿英镑 billion的再生区中，另一个项目是迪格贝斯工作室（Digbeth Studios）。这个繁忙的电影和电视制作中心是由热门电视剧《浴血黑帮》（Peaky Blinders）的创作者史蒂文·奈特（Steven Knight）构思的。该剧由基里安·墨菲（Cillian Murphy）和索菲·朗德尔（Sophie Rundle）主演，讲述了20世纪20年代伯明翰的谢尔比犯罪团伙。其续集将在该综合体拍摄。帮派首领托马斯·谢尔比（Thomas Shelby）那句著名的台词——“当你计划周详时，无需匆忙”——在这里确实恰如其分。

与曼彻斯特不同，伯明翰仍将获得延迟的HS2高速铁路连接伦敦的线路，尽管该铁路线最早也要到2036年才能投入运行。

健康和生命科学是另一个目标增长领域，伯明翰凭借其五家NHS信托医院，寻求利用其引以为傲的工程遗产。这座城市将自己视为伦敦、牛津和剑桥组成的“金三角”研究集群之外，制药公司的必然选择。

拉米表示：“我们的劳动力成本是金三角地区的60%，住房成本则低40%。”

“劳动力成本比南部低60%”

去年在埃奇巴斯顿（Edgbaston）开业的由伯明翰大学运营的健康创新校园，凸显了该市满足制药及相关行业研究需求的准备情况。伯明翰大学副校长亚当·蒂克尔（Adam Tickell）将其描述为，其实验室为每一种“有目的的研究”提供了空间。

蒂克尔为该机构的“实用”传统感到自豪，这使得校友更容易寻找工作。该校的毕业生是全球就业能力最强的人群之一——这座城市的种族多样性意味着这里通用90种语言——许多人在获得学位后选择留在市内。

这一主题与伯纳姆（Burnham）关于加强教育职业角色以解决Neets（指不在就业、教育或培训中的年轻人）危机的提议相契合。

首相可能会将他的权力下放革命称为“曼彻斯特主义”。然而，如果安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）认真对待他的使命，那么像伯明翰这样的其他城市绝不能被遗漏。

威风凛凛：基里安·墨菲和索菲·朗德尔在《浴血黑帮》中

首相的裁缝在萨维尔街占据一席之地

安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）的曼彻斯特裁缝准备进军萨维尔街（Savile Row），在伦敦这座裁缝之都开设分店。Private White VC 在上个月被揭露新任首相是其客户后迅速走红。《星期日邮报》披露，伯纳姆在该品牌的休闲装上花费了 £1,000 以上，其中包括他在梅克菲尔德（Makerfield）补选竞选视频中穿着的一件 £90 的 T 恤。

现在我们可以确认，以创始人詹姆斯·伊登（James Eden）获得维多利亚十字勋章的曾祖父命名的 Private White VC，在疫情期间退出伦敦市场后，将于 10 月在梅费尔（Mayfair）开业。“是的，传闻是真的，”伊登（由帕特里克·图赫（Patrick Tooher）拍摄，见左图）说道。

该公司总部位于伊威尔河（River Irwell）边一座拥有 173 年历史的工厂，该品牌所有本地采购的服装都在此处进行设计、裁剪和缝制。伊登表示，他的公司享受到了自身的“伯纳姆效应”，两周内访问其网站的人数翻了一番。

作为一名长期客户，首相曾前往索尔福德（Salford）工厂进行量体，但大多数订单是由海外买家在网上完成的。“我们面临的最大挑战是品牌知名度。我们是曼彻斯特被隐藏得最好的秘密，慕尼黑和曼哈顿的人对我们业务的了解反而更多，”伊登说。

他将大卫·贝克汉姆爵士（Sir David Beckham）、西班牙国王、罗伯特·德尼罗（Robert De Niro）和丹尼尔·克雷格（Daniel Craig）列为客户。他补充说，典型的客户是“一名博学且消息灵通的商业人士”，他们“期望为高质量的产品支付公平的价格”。他表示：“人们买我们的衣服不是因为它们昂贵。它们昂贵是因为我们制作得精良。工艺正变得日益稀缺。”

伊登还对关于伯纳姆设计师衣橱成本的喧嚣不屑一顾，他表示：“无论你的政治观点如何，当英国制造的产品、英国的技能和英国的制造业在国际舞台上展示时，这无疑是一件好事。”

--- 78 《星期日邮报》 2026 年 8 月 9 日

露丝·桑德兰（RUTH SUNDERLAND）采访

如果是一本夏季假期的最新读物，当你听到厚重的畅销书落在门垫上的声音时，可能会感到兴奋。但当它是一份公司年报时——现在的年报通常有 9.8万,000 个单词（比 J.R.R. 托尔金的《霍比特人》还要长，但远没有那么迷人）——私人投资者感到不悦也就不足为奇了。审计监管机构负责人、52 岁的理查德·莫里亚蒂（Richard Moriarty）表示，上市公司的财务报告规模不断扩张，已经变得太庞大了，并补充道：“围绕年报和账目的预期压力与成本就像地质层一样在增长。”

增加的大量页数主要用于环境、社会和治理问题，例如可持续性和性别薪酬平等。尽管英国财务报告理事会（FRC）的首席执行官没有使用“觉醒”（woke）这个词，但其他人可能会这么说。结果，制作这些报告的成本激增，占据了董事过多时间。他说：“我们希望董事会把时间花在创业活动上。他们越是处于一种防御性的‘勾选清单’状态，就越少思考创新或增长。”他补充说，过于庞大的年报也让投资者和债权人更难找到关键部分。

他透露，FRC 一直在与包括知名基金经理尼克·特雷恩（Nick Train）在内的金融城顶尖人物合作，后者多次对“报告臃肿”表示遗憾。莫里亚蒂说：“这是一个迟到太久的对话，我的看法是：如果能将其作为一次世代之交的重启，难道不是很好吗？”

金融城的监管机构并不以信奉“少即是多”的原则而闻名。但曾任民航局局长的莫里亚蒂渴望表现得比典型的热爱官僚主义的监管者更具活力。在他看来，其职责的一个重要部分是制定不仅能打击违规者，而且能促进增长的监管制度。

他在三年前接任此职，此前审计行业和 FRC 在 2016 到 2019 年间经历了一场创伤，期间发生了一系列高调的公司倒闭事件，包括 Carillion、BHS 和 Patisserie Valerie。这一波失败浪潮伴随着对其各自审计师和 FRC 的严厉批评。这些丑闻引发了约翰·金曼爵士（Sir John Kingman）的一项审查，他称 FRC 是一个“胆怯”的监管机构，像一座“破烂不堪的房子”，不符合其职能要求。他建议用一个更强大的独立机构来取代它。

该建议以及一项审计改革法案在几个月前被政府搁置，但丑闻并未消失。安永（EY）因对家具集团 Made.com 的审计而被罚款，普华永道（PwC）则因其在国防公司 Babcock 的工作而被罚。普华永道还因 WH Smith 的会计黑洞而受到调查。

尽管如此，莫里亚蒂认为已经有了很大改善。他说：“自 2018 年那个黑暗时期以来，英国的审计质量已经有了巨大的进步。当时公众的信任崩溃在

停止用政策、企业阴沟以及英国更多想要成为……

“当公司失败时责怪会计师，就像在防线已经离场时批评守门员一样。”这就是审计行业及其监管现状。但通常情况下，当一家公司失败时，人们会责怪审计师。不要误会我的意思，在他们失职的地方，我们会查出来并追究其责任。

“但仅仅责怪审计师，有点像在防线已经离场时责怪守门员。那道防线的第一道关口应该是董事会。”他断言：“FRC（财务报告理事会）的作用是巩固对英国公众有限公司的信任和信心并支持增长，但我们非常明确，我们的职责不是防止企业失败。”

“对于监管机构来说，说出这样的话是反传统的，但‘风险’并不是一个肮脏的词。如果我们想要增长，并且希望这种增长能进入人们的口袋和他们的养老金中，那么 FRC 的部分职责就是帮助企业并支持负责任的风险承担。”

“如果我们没有风险，就没有前进。如果你只做那些你已经知道行之有效的事情，你永远不会取得进步。”

对于搁置建立一个更强有力的监管机构以及审计改革法案一事，他持哲学态度，表示无论如何 FRC 都在继续开展工作。然而，他确实提醒人们注意由此导致的一个巨大的“错失机会”：即让像 Thames Water 这样的大型私有公司遵守与股市上市公司相同的标准。

目前，私有企业的监管体制比在证券交易所上市的公司要宽松得多。

“这导致了一些立法未能跟上的奇怪局面。我能举出的最好例子就是 Severn Trent 和 United Utilities，”他说道，指的是两家上市的水务公用事业公司，“它们在我的监管范围内，但 Thames Water 不在。”

Thames Water 的所有者为其加载了 190 亿英镑 billion 的债务，并提取了数十亿英镑的股息。该公司目前处于近乎崩溃的状态，无法修复其破败的网络。

“如果我举另一个例子，Sainsbury's 和 Tesco 在我的监管范围内，但 Asda 不在，”Moriarty 说。“我认为我对 Thames Water 做出具体推测是不合适的。但这意味着有些企业，议会、政治家和公众

“私营公司缺乏同样的审计机制”会将某些公司视为具有系统重要性，但这些公司却没有其对应的上市公司所拥有的审计机制。”但说到评估公司的健康状况时，年度报告和账目——在公布时已经过时数月——难道不是一种过时的产物吗？莫里亚蒂（Moriarty）表示这是一个需要探讨的问题，他自己也在问：“当大多数企业无论如何都会在全年持续产生信息时，这种回顾性的、一年一次的报告其重要性究竟在哪里？”政府目前正在就现代化企业报告制度进行咨询。另一个问题是，公司在举行年度会议时采用虚拟形式而非面对面形式，股东可以在会上质询董事。“《公司法》谈到了年度会议的地位。我认为目前还没有在法院中测试过纯虚拟会议是否符合该法的要求，”他说。“但我赶紧补充一点，我不是律师。”他对那些认为繁琐的治理和披露规则正将公司从伦敦股票市场推向华尔街的说法不屑一顾，他表示：“我想说的是，在伦敦市场的上市确实非常重要。它们是我们国民心理的一部分。当新闻播报员说‘富时指数上涨20点’时，我们都会感到心情愉悦。这深植于我们的国民意识之中。”“朋友们可能不会感到兴奋，但审计市场在未来五年将是一个迷人的领域。”即使是人工智能（AI）的威胁也没有削弱他的热情。他说：“我不认为它会取代对高度专业、胜任且能做出判断的审计师的需求。”“我们以前经历过这种情况。审计行业在算盘时代幸存了下来，在电子表格时代幸存了下来——它也将会在AI时代幸存下来。”

理查德·莫里亚蒂（RICHARD MORIARTY）：阿里崇拜者

年龄：52 家庭：长期伴侣，两个女儿 居住地：赫特福德郡，伯克汉斯特德（Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire） 教育经历：西伦敦豪恩斯洛圣马克学校（St Mark's School, Hounslow）；伯明翰大学，经济学硕士；华威大学，MBA 爱好：攀岩，音乐——收集旧黑胶唱片 梦想晚餐嘉宾：穆罕默德·阿里（Muhammad Ali） 偶像：我的母亲

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赛马 79

今日赛马指南，含专家建议

切普斯托（Chepstow） 电视：SKY

2.06 “训练系列”学徒让磅赛（第4类） £7,200 (£3,768) 6F

1 / [5] / TOI 00 00 HINGO (ENGLISH) 0 M.Breun 4-9-9 ... Dickson

2 / [5] / TOI 00 00 HINGO (ENGLISH) 0 M.Breun 5-9-9 ... Friday Bassett (2) 3 / [6] / 00 00 () 0 M. 6-9-9 ... Nupin Regan (2) 4 / [6] / 00 00 () 0 M. 6-9-9 ... A Egan 5 / [6] / 00 00 () 0 M. 6-9-9 ... Charlie Tucker (2) 6 / [6] / 00 00 () 0 M. 6-9-9 ... Nupin 7 / [7] / 04 00 GUTCH COX () 0 March 9-9 ... M. Gutter 8 / [8] / 00 00 () 0 March 9-9 ... Chloe Hinton

MITTING: 4 Sandalata Kintz, 5-2 Macaroula, 5 Maronita, Macaroun, 6 | | | | Dawn Nightmare, 8x the Angel, 10 Dalen Edge, 12 Annas | | |

2.41 MURDERY（第4类） £7,200 (3-9-0) (£3,768) 5F

1 / [5] / GO 0100 HOLD 1 L.Moore 9-9 ... Taylor Fisher 2 / [5] / GO 0100 1 L.Moore 9-9 ... Taylor Fisher 3 / [6] / 0100 1 L. 9-9 ... A Laram 4 / [6] / 0100 1 L. 9-9 ... A Laram 5 / [6] / 0100 1 L. 9-9 ... A 6 / [7] / 0100 1 L. 9-9 ... A 7 / [7] / 0100 1 L. 9-9 ... A 8 / [7] / 0100 1 L. 9-9 ... A 9 / [7] / 0100 1 L. 9-9 ... A 10 / [7] / 0100 1 L. 9-9 ... A

劳里·布兰汉姆（LAURIE BRANHAM）今日建议

切普斯托（CHEPSTOW）... Desert Charm (L'Ripot) 莱斯特（LEICESTER）... Art Lawy (L'Alpin) 8-Horner, CONN.：表现良好。 顶级推荐（TOP KICKY）：Cora Mangan 顶级台湾（TOP TAIWAN）：C Harris

3.10 限制级硬地雌马锦标赛 (5级) £8,000 (3-9-0) (£4,335) 6F / 1 / [5] / 6 MANHANDER (4) 6mm 9-9 ... F. Marsh / --- / 2 / [5] / 6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... Taylor Fisher / 3 / [6] / 6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... Taylor Fisher / 4 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A Laram / 5 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A Laram / 6 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 7 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 8 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 9 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 10 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 11 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 12 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 13 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 14 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 15 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 16 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 17 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 18 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 19 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 20 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 21 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 22 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 23 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 24 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 25 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 26 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 27 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 28 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 29 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 30 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 31 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 32 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 33 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 34 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 35 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 36 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 37 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 38 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 39 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 40 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 41 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 42 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 43 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 44 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 45 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 46 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 47 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 48 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 49 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 50 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 51 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 52 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 53 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 54 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 55 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 56 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 57 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 58 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 59 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 60 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 61 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 62 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 63 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 64 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A

Laram / 65 / [6] / 6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram / 66 / [6] / 6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A / 67 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 68 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 69 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 70 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 71 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 72 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 73 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 74 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 75 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 76 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 77 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 78 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 79 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 80 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 81 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 82 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 83 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 84 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 85 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 86 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 87 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 88 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 89 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 90 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 91 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 92 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 93 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 94 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 95 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 96 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 97 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 98 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 99 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A / 100 / [6] / 6 . (5) 1 9-9 ... A

3.21 障碍赛 (第 4 级) £8,000 (3-9-0) (£4,768) 6F 2 [6] 10-0 10X 10X 10X 10 2 [6] 10-0 10 2 [6] 10-0 10X 10 2 [6] 10-0 10X 10X 10 MITTING: 4-9 Grand Charns, 4 Charlie Chow, Mofford Williams, 5-2 # 4.26 "PHIL SAUNDERS MIRAGE 7NTH" 障碍赛 (第 4 级) £7,200 (£4,768) 5m 2 [6] 70' SICKED GEAR @ War & C Granola 5:30-0 2 [6] 6 / S KIZZY GUNCHING C Harris 5-9-0 ... J Leany 2 [6] 4 / 7 NON-MOON FISHER (CO.) Harris 5-9-0 A [6] 3 / 2 GALNITH GLOW / Tickle 5-9-0 ... Taylor Fisher 5 [6] 7 / 2 SICKED GUARNE (LAD) M Murphy 4-9-0 A [6] 2 / 2 KIRCHY GLOW (M. Murphy 4-9-0 ... M. Murphy NON-SUMMER (M. LAD) 7 Room 4-9-0 3 [6] 10 3 [6] 10 / 0 10 / 0 10 MITTING: 4-9 Grand Symphony, 4 Lame Bones, 5 Sizzy Bay, 7 Better Mirrors, 4 Grand Chard, Bignish MITTING: 4-9 Grand Chard, 4 Charlie Bones, Mofford Williams, 5-2 # Leicester TV: RTV

2.28 LONGS - 10 / 10 / 1 0 / 8 / 1 新手赛 (CLASS 5) £1.3万,000 (3-9-0) (£4,304) 9f 2 [2] J AL MISTINA / Appleby 9-7 ... C Plumas 2 [2] DFT VANNISH M War & C Granola 9-7 2 [2] DFT VANNISH M War & C Granola 9-7 ... L Edwards 2 [2] J HINTROTT / 1 Houghton 9-7 ... C McRoy MITTING: 4-6 AL MATINA, 4-4 Antrock, M Dirty Warrior 2.50 CATALOGUE ENGINEERING HURSERY (CLASS 5) £8,000 (3-9-0) (£4,347) 9f 2 [6] 10 / 0 10 / 0 10 2 [6] 10 / 0 10 / 0 10 MARTIN PARENT (2) 2 [6] 10 / 0 10 / 0 10 MARTIN PARENT (2) 2 [6] 10 / 0 10 / 0 10 MARTIN PARENT (2) 2 [6] 10 / 0 10 / 0 10 0 10 5.21 PERCE GURTRO (Diane Fund) 100 0 / 1, Last Langley 9 / 6, 2 from Carlo 100 0 / 1, 0 on James David, 25, 4, 5m 10 / 0, 0 / 10, 0 / 1 0, 0 / 10 MOLER Good to form good to places[{"box_2d --- 80 板球 由 Richard Gibson 板球记者 报道 当哈里·布鲁克（Harry Brook）周二在海丁利（Headingley）以一次不看球的六分球在疾风般的 30, 分进攻中令观众惊叹时，在那一刻，感觉“百球赛”（the Hundred）的一切都契合在了一起。这项赛事经历了多次启动，但其重复的营销活动承诺将新观众带向新领域——还有什么比一个在构思100球板球时甚至还不存在的击球动作，通过其本土偶像之一来实现更好呢？毫无疑问，布鲁克在海丁利创下的15球半个世纪纪录（与纪录持平），正值百球赛第六赛季的中点，满足了所有条件，履行了将该赛事规模提升至仅次于印度超级联赛（IPL）并让英格兰顶级球员处于前沿的承诺。这位27岁球员所面对的进攻强度说明了今年的质量：伦敦精神队（London Spirit）的六名投球手是国际球员，第七名则是尚未获得国家队帽子球的詹姆斯·科尔斯（James Coles），他是百球赛史上拍卖价格最高的球员，金额为£39万,000。然而，那个快照也暴露了两个体育领域的碰撞。在南亚和北美——即百球赛 £975 升级资金的新来源地——特许经营球队的出现、迁城和解散都非常随意，而支持者则根据他们喜爱的球员去向而改变忠诚度。但在英国，我们是一群保守的人，新所有权的球队要么忽略了，要么公然无视了一个技巧，那就是签约当地郡球员进入各自的百球赛球队以增强认同感。全国没有哪个地方比约克郡更封闭，在今年拍卖的早期阶段，利兹太阳神队（Sunrisers Leeds）没有全力招募乔·鲁特（Joe Root）、乔尼·贝尔斯托（Jonny Bairstow）或阿迪尔·拉希德（Adil Rashid）中的一人，这让人感觉不对劲。这使得布鲁克和他以前在伯利-因-沃夫代尔（Burley-in-Wharfedale）俱乐部的队友马修·雷维斯（Matthew Revis）成为周二唯一能让人产生认同感的熟悉面孔。这是所有八支球队共同面临的问题。总部位于南安普顿的南部勇士队（Southern Brave）阵中只有一名汉普郡球员——青少年曼尼·勒姆斯登（Manny Lumsden）——他是一名替补球员而非首选，而且由于拍卖机制，他们无法留住当地英雄兼队长詹姆斯·文斯（James Vince）。这种关联至关重要。英格兰Twenty20 观众人数下降，票价上涨，当地球星被冷落，以及一次混乱的重新启动，改变了特许经营球队的名称和颜色...

“百球赛”是否取得了成功？

国际球员汤姆·班顿（Tom Banton）曾效力于三个不同的“百球赛”（Hundred）球队，但在过去三个赛季中他一直留在特伦特火箭队（Trent Rockets），他深知阵容的连续性如何能深化与看台观众之间的联系。班顿表示：“如果每年都来，看到的都是新面孔，我想人们很难支持并认同这支球队，不是吗？而如果你已经效力了几年，他们能产生共鸣，了解你，并想要来看你比赛。”

与大多数竞争对手相反，排名榜首的火箭队在重启后仍保持相同的颜色和徽章，尽管这也没能阻止班顿订错了护腿——他需要黑色，却订成了黄色。

在其他地方，五年的熟悉感已被抹除。直到最近，海丁利球场（Headingley）还挤满了穿着紫色球衣的北超充电者队（Northern Superchargers）球迷。一夜之间，随着海德拉巴太阳队（Sunrisers Hyderabad）完全收购约克郡队在赛事中的股份，球迷们被要求组成一支“橙色大军”。

颜色和身份对英国球迷至关重要。回想一下，当卡迪夫城队（Cardiff City）将球衣从蓝色改为红色，并将蓝鸟标志改为巨龙时，球迷们是多么愤怒；或者当赫尔城队（Hull City）的前老板阿塞姆·阿拉姆（Assem Allam）申请将俱乐部名称改为“赫尔老虎队”（Hull Tigers）时的情况。

太阳队是三支更名球队之一，另外两支是椭圆无敌队（Oval Invincibles）变为 MI 伦敦队（MI London），以及曼彻斯特原创队（Manchester Originals）更名为曼彻斯特超级巨人队（Manchester Super Giants）。所有球队都采用了反映其与印度超级联赛（IPL）联系的徽章和球衣，不过 队在训练时保留了三届冠军无敌队的颜色。

南部勇士队（Southern Brave）从绿黑组合改为蓝红组合。伯明翰凤凰队（Birmingham Phoenix）则从橙黄球衣改为黑色球衣。

曼彻斯特和利兹的两支球队都启动了方案以使过渡更加容易，在早期的比赛中向所有持票者发放复制版球衣。 伦敦队发起了一次“球衣特赦”，允许将 2025 年的椭圆无敌队球衣兑换为 球衣。此外，他们在“20英镑足够”（Twenty's Plenty）活动中推出了一款定价上限为 £20 的俱乐部 T 恤。

“百球赛”总经理维克拉姆·巴纳吉（Vikram Banerjee）表示，通过检票口的人员中 4万% 是 16 岁以下青少年，并且“当我们寻求深化和加速粉丝增长时，周边商品销售是一个很好的衡量标准。南部勇士队和伦敦精神队（London Spirit）已经不得不补货，近 40,000 名球迷穿着曼彻斯特超级巨人队或利兹太阳队的新球衣。”（这大概是指那些免费赠送的球衣）。

让球场充满穿着球衣、挥舞旗帜、以家庭为中心的观众，也被主办郡级俱乐部视为一项成功。但郡级比赛内部仍有人对表象之下的影响持怀疑态度，一位匿名的管理人员表示：“这次品牌重塑简直荒谬。他们疏远了当地人，现在又把价格提高到 81 没人买得起。销售额跌到了谷底。我不知道别人怎么想，但我现在看着‘百球赛’就在想，我们以前见过这种情况，那叫 LIV 高尔夫。那么，三年后它还会存在吗？”

究竟是生活成本危机的影响、票价上涨，还是品牌重塑导致了人们的反感，目前尚不清楚，但“百球赛”在 2026. 年证明了其推销难度很大。第一组比赛的出席人数比去年下降了约 20%，第二组比赛则下降了 27%。此后，整个赛事的观众人数有所回升，但由于票务运营现在由组织机构自行管理，入场费最高达到 £55 成为一个问题。

对于一项在 2021-25 年的首届赛事期间一直向其目标受众（母亲和孩子）提供免费座位的比赛来说，这真是一次大幅上涨。然而，免费赠品的麻烦在于，当你要求人们开始付费时。本周布鲁克斯的比赛仅有 9,000 多名观众观看，比利兹对阵曼彻斯特比赛的 9,438 名观众少了数百人。全资拥有 SunRivers 的 Sun Group 成员 Kaviya Maran 表示，海丁利（Headingley）的初步迹象是“一个良好的开始”，并补充道：“显然，这对他们来说是一个新品牌。”但确实存在判断失误。除了很大一部分约克郡球迷拒绝支持一支名字中带有“利兹”的球队，并对试图将《Marching on Together》（原为 20 世纪 70 年代利兹联球迷的赞歌）作为俱乐部歌曲的拙劣尝试感到尴尬之外，他们显然没有被现代的跨奔宁山脉竞争所吸引。相比之下，预算仅为其一小部分的成熟 Roses Twenty20 Blast 赛事在 6 月吸引了 1.13万,300 人。在阿联酋老特拉福德球场的情况也类似，在兰开夏对阵约克郡的 Blast 回访赛中，1.65万,500 张门票全部售罄。那场比赛最便宜的门票为 £30，优惠价为 £6，而 Super Giants 比赛的票价较低，预售起价为 £24 和 £5。他们的平均 点亮现场： 老特拉福德在 Super Giants 对阵 Trent Rockets 的比赛中为观众准备了烟花。男子 Hundred 赛事的观众人数一直低于 1.2万,000 人。Hundred 赛事也有高光时刻，例如 Welsh Fire 在威尔士任何一场女子比赛中创下了出席人数记录，以及在 7 月 25 日男子比赛中迎接 MI 伦敦球队到访时创下的记录。女子比赛也从中受益，提前到场的人数比例更高。7 月 27 日观看 Southern Brave 男子比赛的人中，每五个人就有四个是为了看女子比赛而来的。与此同时，被挤到边缘的郡级比赛则见证了一系列胜利。在本·斯托克斯（Ben Stokes）出席的助力下，达勒姆在 Metro Bank Cup 中主场迎战格拉摩根（Glamorgan）的杰斯蒙德（Jesmond）球场挂出了售罄标志，俱乐部在 X 上发出警告：“请不要在没有有效比赛门票的情况下前往球场，否则将不允许入场。”共有 2,300 人现场见证了一场惊心动魄的比赛，达勒姆在 97 分失去六名球员的劣势下反超，在还剩三个球的情况下完成了 327 分的目标。由于需求增加，格洛斯特郡今年不得不扩大他们在切尔滕纳姆（Cheltenham）访问时的容量，尽管这些数字比 Hundred 赛事要低，但满座的球场在视觉上令人愉悦，为新兴球员提供了进入职业板球的入门级机会。格洛斯特郡主席彼得·马修斯（Peter Matthews）主张将 50 轮板球赛带到通常不举办板球赛的场馆，他补充道：“对于某些一代人来说，这让人回想起一些周日联赛（Sunday League）的抢分时刻。格洛斯特郡过去曾在许多不同的球场进行周日联赛，比如 Lydney、Moreton-in-the-Marsh、Gloucester，但现在我们无法这样做，因为在经济上不可行。”马修斯表示，在该地区缺乏明显的 Hundred 竞争对手，这在世界杯和英超联赛之间的时间段内起到了帮助作用。而像他这样非主办方的俱乐部，能够通过 ECB 大规模出售带来的 £2500 万 个人意外之财来规划更可持续的未来。除了偿还债务——马修斯说，“我们之前陷入了一点混乱”——格洛斯特郡还将 £300 万 投入到一个代号为“更衣室”（Dressing Rooms）的项目中，该项目大幅改善了球员和比赛官员的设施以及他们在内维尔路（Nevil Road）总部的通用基础设施。莱斯特郡本月决定允许儿童免费入场，这一举措在学校假期期间引起了其追随者的共鸣。

英格兰中部的郡县是另一个被“百球赛”（the Hundred）的数百万资金带出赤字困境的例子，他们已经开始就增加年度收入中非板球类收益的可行性进行研究。他们已经举办了汽车电影院日，并计划在全国最大的比赛区域旁安装一个4G多功能运动场，以便在冬季出租。首席执行官艾玛·怀特（Emma White）表示：“巨大的积极影响在于，它给比想象中更多的郡县提供了必要的喘息空间，让他们能够进行某种程度的重启，并通过投资于创收项目，几乎实现了当地板球运动的未来保障。”由于这笔资金被视为一个千载难逢的机会，可以减少对英格兰及威尔士板球委员会（ECB）年度拨款的依赖，各郡县（尤其是非主办郡）正花时间评估如何进行最佳投资。

达勒姆（Durham）最近获得了一家场内酒店的规划许可，该项目最早在新冠疫情前讨论，现在他们将聘请一名项目总监，针对酒店业成本上涨的情况出具一份盈利报告。但人们担心，无论资金使用得多么聪明，那些领取了有限金额的郡县与在“百球赛”中拥有利益相关方的郡县之间的差距只会进一步扩大。一位郡县主席表示：“主办郡县将变得更富有，并且更有能力吸引顶尖球员。从根本上说，你谈论的是那些球场拥有传统、历史和规模。它们产生的收入永远会比其他地方多。”

为了支持这一理论，以勋爵板球场（Lord's）为基地的Spirit队被估值为£3 亿——比其他球队高出巨大的250%。乡村地区依然存在一种怀疑，即虽然今年的比赛不会让新投资者获利，但他们在等待扩张的时机。以布里斯托尔（Bristol）和切斯特勒斯特里特（Chester-le-Street）为基地的球队将是最明显的扩军选择。直到印度超级联赛（IPL）从8支球队增加到10支球队，最初的一批球队才真正挖掘到了金矿。而且，随着现在半数球队由强大的IPL所有者控制，印度球员被允许参赛只是时间问题，这将显著提高该赛事在次大陆的电视和商业版权价值。届时，“百球赛”球队可能需要更少的英国球员，而郡县将重新获得部分核心人才，从而再次开启在整个八月进行郡冠军赛（County Championship）的机会，并重新调整一个已经处于饱和状态的赛程。就像布鲁克（Brook）在利兹（Leeds）的那记击球一样，人们关注的不是它将走向何方，而是它目前如何融入英国的体育版图。

萨塞克斯因巨额亏损遭抨击

作者：Richard Gibson

一份报告得出结论，由于董事会缺乏财务和商业技能，萨塞克斯（Sussex）被欧洲板球理事会（ECB）实施了特别财务措施。

商业管理咨询公司 Campbell Tickell 进行的一项独立调查发现，该俱乐部董事会存在多项缺陷，导致去年运营亏损达 £133 万。Tickell 建议俱乐部“在实际可行的情况下尽快”任命新的董事会成员。

前任管理层批准了多项超支项目，其中包括在男子职业板球业务方面超支 £24.1万,000。商业团队报告 4 月份的款待销售额为 £4,000 —— 而目标是 £18.2万,000。

Campbell Tickell 表示，设定不切实际的预算、制定不切实际的商业收益计划，以及在收入不足时未能采取必要行动，是导致一系列限制措施被实施的主要因素，包括在郡冠军赛（County Championship）中被扣除 12 分，以及直到 2028 年为止降低薪资上限。

萨塞克斯新任主席 Ed Warner 表示：“这份报告在某些地方读起来令人沉重。我们现在的重点坚定地放在未来。许多艰苦的工作和扭转局面已经开始。”

约翰逊：我出钱为运动员买机票

前美国短跑运动员迈克尔·约翰逊（Michael Johnson）承认，大满贯田径赛（Grand Slam Track）崩溃带来的后果是他面临的“最大压力”，但他表示，支付给他的 $50万,000 款项是为了报销他用个人信用卡向运动员支付的费用。

“在大满贯田径赛期间，我们的信用卡额度满了，因为我们面临严重的现金流问题，”约翰逊说。“我们有 96 名运动员需要飞往迈阿密和费城。”

“我指示我们的旅行团队将其记在我的信用卡上，之后我会获得报销。”

“因此，我向公司贷款了两百万美元（150 万英镑），以确保照顾好运动员。我决定放弃自己的薪水。”

在谈到当时承受的压力时，约翰逊补充道：“我确实有过彻夜难眠的夜晚。”

--- 82 田径 v1

独家报道

作者：Riath Al-Samarrai

有两场对话让卡塔里娜·约翰逊-汤普森（Katarina Johnson-Thompson）没有选择就此退休。到目前为止，其中只有一场对话真正发生过，那就是她与男友安德鲁·波齐（Andrew Pozzi）的一次聊天。作为一名最近刚退役的前世界冠军跨栏运动员，他向她描述了赛道之外的生活。“根据他的说法，职场生活很艰辛，”约翰逊-汤普森报告称，“所以这是我想推迟退休的一个原因。”另一个原因则更为根本，且源于第二场对话。而这场对话尚未发生，它涉及约翰逊-汤普森几年前与她的教练阿斯顿·摩尔（Aston Moore）达成的一项协议。摩尔是一位70岁的智者，是那种话语极具分量的人，因此在2024年巴黎奥运会之前，他分享的一些观点让她铭记在心。约翰逊-汤普森在回忆起这件事时笑了。“我告诉阿斯顿，我不想成为那种坚持太久、直到人们纷纷叫你收手才退役的运动员，”她说，“阿斯顿非常直接地表示，当时间到了，他会第一个告诉我。幸好，我们似乎还没有到那个阶段。”约翰逊-汤普森今年33岁，这里的背景显而易见，因为尽管七项全能运动员拥有多种技能，但延长职业寿命并不在其中——杰西卡·恩尼斯-希尔（Jessica Ennis-Hill）退役时30岁，丹妮丝·刘易斯（Denise Lewis）是32岁，而约翰逊-汤普森身上的伤疤比她们任何一个人都要多。“你应该看看我在热身前走楼梯的样子，”她说，“几年前我在法国训练时，住在顶楼公寓，我的小腿在那些台阶上简直是一场噩梦。天呐，我得花好一阵子才能进入状态！”她曾因右小腿肌肉受伤退出了格拉斯哥英联邦运动会，但本周五和周六，她将参加在伯明翰举行的欧洲锦标赛。目标是赢得第12枚重大赛事奖牌，并以此为跳板，向2026年奥运会发起第五次冲击。“我的心思在欧锦赛上——我真的认为我可以登上领奖台，”她说，“但我希望能坚持到奥运会。我曾在Chat GPT上查询过有多少七项全能运动员参加过五届奥运会，但我觉得AI并不是个什么田径迷——它没有相关信息，但我认为五届将是一个纪录。”［《邮报》体育版核实后确认，这确实将是一个纪录］。对于任何运动员来说，“年龄问题”都很有趣——这是一个永远无法被超越或跳过的对手。但对于约翰逊-汤普森来说，她的反击是去年她赢得了一枚世界锦标赛铜牌。“人们经常问起这件事，我不会说我喜欢，但我能理解，”她说，“我注意到每年公布名单时，曾经与我竞争的人中，依然在赛场上的越来越少。我的朋友们现在都穿着牛仔裤在做教练了。当亚当

成为 2012 年那一批人中最后留下的成员感觉很疯狂，但我知道我仍然能赢得奖牌！她今年 33 岁，遭受了无数次“可怕的”伤病，但卡塔里娜·约翰逊-汤普森（KATARINA JOHNSON-THOMPSON）目前还没有打算挂起她的钉鞋（Gemil）。今年退役后，我看到一条推文说，伦敦 2012 年代表团中只剩下我、劳伦斯 [奥科耶（Lawrence Okoye），掷圆盘运动员] 和艾丽什·麦科尔根 [Eilish McColgan，10,000米]，这让我有些触动。那太疯狂了。“但我知道我仍然可以竞争奖牌。而且我的心理状态非常好，尤其是与我们之前进行的一些对话相比！”我们的第一次采访是在 10, 年前，之后又进行了多次采访。在 2021, 年东京奥运会的低谷期，在她克服跟腱断裂几个月后小腿受伤，当我们回顾细节时，她哭了。随后在我们在拉夫堡的下一次聊天中，她流下了更快乐的泪水，并谈到了寻找满足感。在某种程度上，这种反思或许违背了对顶尖运动员的建议，但两年前获得的大赛金牌和一枚奥运银牌证明了她的正确性。随之而来的是，33 岁的 KJT 不再那么容易自我折磨。她的右臂上有一个拼写为 CTRL 的纹身。这同样很复杂。“我在巴黎赛前纹的，代表‘控制’（Control），”她说。“我总是试图控制一切，但最终它提醒我，没有什么事情是能完全掌控的，顺其自然就好。”这对于在欧洲锦标赛中夺金可能还不够——瑞士的安妮克·卡恩（Annik Kahn）在 2026 年表现出众，而爱尔兰的凯特·奥康纳（Kate O'Connor）正处于赢得英联邦金牌的高峰期——但 KJT 夺牌的能力令人惊叹。“我在 2022 年与我的治疗师交谈，”她说。“那是东京奥运会之后，我对这项运动失去了很多热爱。”“奥运会本应在 2020 年举行，当时我刚赢得世界锦标赛冠军，处于巅峰状态，然后新冠疫情将其推迟了一年，结果我在东京赛前八个月遭遇了跟腱受伤。到了东京，我又伤到了小腿。太可怕了。”“治疗师说，‘事情总会发生，你总会明白原因的’，而我的反应是，‘我永远找不到一个合理的理由让这种事发生’。但我认为这给了我更长的职业寿命，因为我必须寻找不同的方式来登顶。” Presumably，这段时间会有极限。而当极限到来时，一位精明的老教练会给出建议。显然，那可能还在很久之后。# 欧洲锦标赛 明日起至 8 月 16, 日，BBC 和 TNT Sports 直播

萨利文无视批评，见证铁锤帮新时代

作者：James Sharpe

在伦敦体育场，大卫·萨利文（DAVID SULLIVAN）身披一件厚重的黑色飞行员夹克现身并就座。在伦敦体育场28度的烈日下，这身装扮显然并不合适，但正如萨利文近期所表明的那样，他并不太在意周围人的看法。体育场的运营商曾告知西汉姆联，他们不希望他出现在这里，因为担心引发球迷动荡。俱乐部自身的球迷咨询委员会也表示，他的出现会引起“冒犯和不安”。萨利文仍是俱乐部的最大股东，但在6月因涉嫌性行为不端（他对此坚决否认）而辞去了共同主席一职，且不再控制俱乐部的日常运营。

毕竟，这本应是西汉姆联所需的新起点。他们经历了降级至英冠联赛和董事会丑闻才等到了这一刻，但在经历了数年的腐朽衰落之后，这终于意味着。每个人都应该在讨论忠诚的队长贾罗德·鲍文（Jarrod Bowen）如何打入一球并为塔蒂·卡斯特利亚诺斯（Taty Castellanos）助攻一球，或者年轻人刘易斯·奥福德（Lewis Orford）尤其是穆罕默杜·坎特（Mohamadou Kante）令人印象深刻的表现。然而，当许多支持者认为是对他们困境负有责任、且长期反对其所有权的那个男人，决定无视所有建议执意出席时，俱乐部又怎能实现彻底的决裂？

凯尔·沃克（KYLE WALKER）罚入了制胜点球，在特夫穆尔球场1-1战平后，伯恩利在点球大战中以4-3击败诺茨郡，晋级卡拉宝杯第二轮。新升级的诺茨郡（5月在附加赛决赛中击败索尔福德赢得英乙冠军）在半场时由卡勒姆·罗伯茨（Callum Roberts）领先。克拉雷茨（伯恩利）的齐安·弗莱明（Zian Flemming）在下半场早段扳平比分。在伯恩利门将马克斯·魏斯（Max Weiss）扑出埃米尔·阿夸（Emile Acquah）和雅各布·贝多（Jacob Bedeau）的点球后，沃克罚入了制胜球。

替补出场的贾马尔·洛（Jamal Lowe）打入全场唯一进球，谢菲尔德星期三在希尔斯堡球场1-0击败少一人作战的博尔顿。洛在下半场得分，此前博尔顿的泽维尔·西蒙斯（Xavier Simons）因在被拉拽后报复性地击打谢周三租借自利兹的前锋哈里·格雷（Harry Gray）而被红牌罚下。

《每日邮报》体育版周五披露，萨利文觉得他正被“键盘侠”欺负，被迫远离。他担心在不再是签支票的人之后，俱乐部缺乏转会活动。到目前为止，俱乐部已将租借的凯伯·拉马德里德（Keiber Lamadrid）转为永久签约，并从布莱顿免费签下了乔尔·费尔特曼（Joel Veltman）——后者在比赛中完成了首秀，尽管俱乐部以总计£1.5 亿的价格出售了马特乌斯·费尔南德斯（Mateus Fernandes）和克里森西奥·萨默维尔（Crysencio Summerville）。

为什么任何人能告诉萨利文，他不能观看他支持的俱乐部？西汉姆联幕后的许多人都对他计划出席感到震惊。《每日邮报》体育版得知一名工作人员因这场“闹剧”而决定不出席。但对于努诺·埃斯皮里托·桑托（Nuno Espirito Santo）来说，一切照旧。“我们专注于场上发生的事情，”主教练说道，“来自外界的噪音完全不能干扰我们。我们专注于比赛，[球员们]履行他们的职责，而且他们做得很好。”

萨利文上一次出现在这里，是上赛季对阵利兹的最后一场比赛，当时西汉姆联降级至英冠联赛被确认，他当时没有待到结束。球迷们对他大肆辱骂，他在全场结束前就离开了。而这一次，他全程在场，未受惊扰，也未被骚扰。下午的第一波嘘声甚至没有指向他，而是在上半场的补水休息期间。如果说有什么不同的话，球迷们表现得就像他根本不在那里一样。《每日邮报》体育版在9月曾出现在董事会入口外，当时数千人聚集在一起抗议萨利文的所有权。尽管他此次预计出席的消息已广为人知，但这次没有人对此在意。

唯一的欢呼声出现在第63分钟，当时球队以3-1领先，局势轻松，球迷们一致起立高喊“如果你讨厌董事会就请起立”。公平地说，萨利文如今甚至不在董事会之中。他仍然是最大股东，尽管前纽卡斯尔联共同所有者阿曼达·斯塔夫利希望改变这一现状。在联赛杯第一轮比赛中，伦敦体育场的人数之多令人印象深刻。《永远吹响气泡》（Forever Blowing Bubbles）的歌声在场馆内久久回荡，一名支持西汉姆联的记者转过身来笑着说：“对于一支英冠球队来说，还不赖。”如果说有什么时刻让气氛变得糟糕，那就是当阿德里安·塞格西奇的远射在击中马克斯·基尔曼后，让朴茨茅斯获得了一个实至名归的领先优势。值得称赞的是，努诺的球队很快就扭转了局面。坎特在左路展现了惊人的技巧，随后传球给无人看管的卡斯特利亚诺扳平比分，随后鲍文在禁区外踢入一记精彩的弧线球。萨利文一直坐在座位上鼓掌。半场结束后，当卡斯特利亚诺头顶进鲍文的传球时，他再次鼓掌，并在全场比赛结束时再次如此。随着终场哨声响起，他站起身，抓起外套离开了。无论建议如何，你怀疑他还会回来的。

沃克原地踏步，延森成为米尔沃尔点球大战英雄

卡拉宝杯综述

米尔沃尔门将卢卡斯·延森扑出了女王公园巡游者（QPR）的所有4次点球，在常规时间90分钟战成1-1后，狮子队在洛夫特斯路球场通过点球大战以2-0获胜。卢克·坎德尔曾在下半场为米尔沃尔取得领先，随后马克·赛克斯在比赛末段打入一个乌龙球。

诺维奇新将安德烈·布鲁克斯建功，金丝雀队在卡罗路球场以4-1轻松击败米尔顿凯恩斯 Dons。卡迪夫替补球员杰克·莫伊兰在首秀中进球，打入绝杀球，帮助蓝鸟队以3-2战胜斯温顿，后者球员詹姆斯·德巴约因在比赛末段两度染黄被罚下场。

奥古斯特·普里斯克在上半场的进球确保了伯明翰在斯旺西以1-0获胜；马克·博拉在补时阶段的一次惊人远射，让沃特福德以同样的比分击败了克劳利。替补球员安德里·古德约翰森和杰登·费夫里尔在比赛末段进球，确保了布莱克本在伯顿以2-1获胜。

新升级的林肯延续了上赛季的状态，凭借本·豪斯和多姆·杰弗里斯在上半场的进球，在德比以2-1获胜。奥利·诺本的乌龙球和罗伯特·博齐尼在比赛末段的进球，确保了斯托克在bet365体育场以2-0战胜奥尔德姆；布拉德福德组合威尔·斯旺和亚登·鲍德温则帮助球队在主场以2-0击败罗奇代尔。

弗利特伍德队长切德·埃文斯在上半场的进球确保了主场1-0战胜切斯特菲尔德；剑桥则通过本·奈特和艾萨克·希思在下半场的进球，以2-1击败巴尼特。

AFC温布尔登、巴恩斯利和雷丁分别在点球大战中击败纽波特、维冈和布罗姆利晋级；而普雷斯顿、什鲁斯伯里和唐卡斯特则分别在点球大战中战胜哈德斯菲尔德、索尔福德和斯托克波特。

卢卡·摩尔在比赛末段的进球确保了克鲁在格雷斯蒂路球场以2-1战胜阿克灵顿；德内维尔·米切尔和伊德里斯·埃尔·米祖尼在末段的进球，确保了莱顿东方在主场以2-0战胜牛津。

彼得伯勒、卢顿和黑池分别在客场战胜布里斯托尔流浪者、吉林汉姆和格里姆斯比；而凯莱布·奥科利的头球确保了目前处于英甲的莱斯特在主场以1-0战胜北安普顿。

---

84 英超

阿森纳签下布鲁诺的内幕故事

关于阿森纳和纽卡斯尔是否真的在进行谈判的反复拉锯战终于结束了。在此期间，尽管东北地区坚决否认，但球迷们一直在追踪飞机的飞行路径。布鲁诺·吉马良斯（Bruno Guimaraes）现已成为阿森纳球员，为这场持续数周的转会风波画上了句号。实际上，早在2022年就有一项从里昂签下吉马良斯的协议，但米克尔·阿尔特塔（Mikel Arteta）当时并未被这位巴西人说服并终止了交易，从而为纽卡斯尔铺平了道路。在布鲁诺于泰恩赛德（Tyneside）产生影响后——成为英超最佳中场之一，并且在去年温布利举行的联赛杯决赛中击败利物浦，成为该俱乐部70年来首位举起国内冠军奖杯的队长——枪手主帅现在显然被说服了。

阿森纳精明的体育总监安德烈亚·贝尔塔（Andrea Berta）在当前环境下还成功达成了一笔相对的“廉价”交易。曼城在埃利奥特·安德森（Elliot Anderson）身上花费了£16，切尔西在摩根·罗杰斯（Morgan Rogers）身上花费了1.17 亿英镑，而热刺则在布鲁诺的前纽卡斯尔队友桑德罗·托纳利（Sandro Tonali）身上投入了最初的9200 万英镑。因此，尽管布鲁诺将在11月年满29岁，但花费7500 万英镑签下他对于冠军球队来说看起来是一笔不错的交易。

这位中场球员的最终目的地在数周前就已可见。他成为阿森纳球员的旅程始于6月。吉马良斯曾指示经纪人为其寻找俱乐部，而纽卡斯尔则在准备迎接枪手的报价。

纽卡斯尔的反应十分强硬。据俱乐部消息人士称，他哪儿也不会去。考虑到他作为队长的地位和球员的质量，吉马良斯的价值极高——尤其是考虑到托纳利和安东尼·戈登（Anthony Gordon）的离队，更不用说深受喜爱的主教练埃迪·豪（Eddie Howe）了。简而言之，他们不需要出售。

然而，金钱能说话。“喜鹊”曾透露他们希望的价格接近1 亿英镑，但在内部，人们承认大约7500 万英镑的报价将能取得进展。在阿森纳方面，他们愿意在价格上坚持立场，因为他们知道吉马良斯非常渴望这次转会。他上个月已与枪手就个人条款达成一致，并告知纽卡斯尔，如果有合适的报价，他希望离开。

此外，还需要考虑公众形象。纽卡斯尔不想被视为在没有进行抗争的情况下，就让他们的核心人物和球迷宠儿离开。球迷们理所当然会感到不满，尤其是在这个夏天经历了如此多动荡之后。

因此，谈判一直在继续，主要涉及经纪人基亚·乔拉比安（Kia Joorabchian）。纽卡斯尔则声称阿森纳没有进行过正式接触。

数周过去，进度才真正加快。正如《每日邮报》体育版在7月 31, 周五报道的那样，双方已原则上达成协议，并预留了体检日期，但转会费仍是一个分歧点。

吉马良斯在周一前往纽卡斯尔在西班牙的Le Manga训练基地——他本应在前一天到达——并在告知新任主教练马蒂亚斯·雅斯莱（Matthias Jaissle）其离队意愿后，等待获准离开并前往阿森纳进行体检。他周日未能抵达的情况导致社交媒体上的侦探们开始追踪航班，以查看吉马良斯是否在飞行途中。

这一切都变得有些疯狂。甚至阿森纳的球员们也为这次转会做好了准备。在周三都柏林以 3-1 负于皇家贝蒂斯后，当里卡多·卡拉菲奥里（Riccardo Calafiori）被问到关于吉马良斯即将转会的问题时，他转向新闻官问道：“现在正式公布了吗，没有吗？”

贝尔塔是一个强硬的谈判者。他厌恶支付过高费用，而在目前的市场环境下，很难不支付高价。阿森纳曾希望支付较低的费用，但在一个被一名经纪人称为“失控”的市场中，冠军球队最终达成了一笔精明的交易。阿森纳和贝尔塔的策略取得了回报，尤其是

[...OMITTED...]

他们坚持己见，并在估值被大幅超出后选择放弃罗杰斯。在这种情况下，枪手队达成了一笔强有力的交易，贝尔塔对此应获得赞赏。结果是，原本就占据主导地位的阿森纳中场现在看起来更具威胁——德克兰·赖斯、马丁·厄德高和吉马良斯将足以抗衡欧洲任何一支中场三人组。因此，在经历了数周的曲折、否认和幕后谈判后，这场闹剧终于结束了。吉马良斯成为了阿森纳的球员——而纽卡斯尔为了留住队长的努力，最终只给他们留下了一张巨额支票和中场位置上的一个显眼漏洞。

赫尔城在签下新援杰克·巴特兰后，可能已经不得不重新考虑他们的门将情况，因为巴特兰因伤可能缺阵至12月。这位前流浪者队门将在完成其£3的转会后尚未参加过任何正式比赛，但在训练中伤到了手臂，面临手术，这意味着可能缺席12周。

米德尔斯堡拟议的关于托特纳姆后卫阿什利·菲利普斯的交易遇到了障碍。这位21岁的球员此前已同意一笔700 万英镑的转会，金额可能上升至2000 万英镑，但谈判目前处于停滞状态。

托特纳姆已与西汉姆就边锋马诺尔·所罗门达成一项700 万英镑的协议。转会费为500 万英镑，另有200 万英镑的附加条款。该交易在上周陷入停滞

赫尔城门将危机，新援巴特兰受伤手臂需手术

转会观察 西蒙·琼斯报道：由于西汉姆联不愿在西汉姆联实现升级的情况下同意热刺要求的奖金条款，此前谈判陷入僵局。不过，两支球队目前已就这名以色列国脚的交易达成原则性协议，其中包含10 per cent的二次转会分成条款。

埃弗顿与水晶宫就德怀特·麦克尼尔和布伦南·约翰逊的一项极具野心的潜在交换交易进行了讨论。据了解，双方在估值上存在巨大分歧需要克服。麦克尼尔在1月份一次潜在的2000 万英镑m转会水晶宫计划破产后感到十分沮丧，而约翰逊在冬季转会窗以3500 万英镑m从热刺加盟以来一直难以找回状态。

与此同时，水晶宫对签下阿斯顿维拉前锋埃万·格斯（Evann Guess）以及租借表现出兴趣。在最初决定不追求这名25岁球员后，水晶宫在近日已与格斯及其代表取得联系。维拉已与马德里竞技就左后卫马特奥·鲁格里（Matteo Ruggeri）达成费用协议，并继续与拜仁慕尼黑就若昂·帕尔希尼亚（Joao Palhina）进行讨论，不过其他球队同样感兴趣。水晶宫还对摩纳哥中场拉明·卡马拉（Lamine Camara）和都灵边锋阿里乌·恩杰（Alieu Njie）感兴趣。

诺丁汉森林即将达成一项价值3600 万英镑m的交易，签下里斯本竞技中后卫奥斯曼·迪奥曼德（Ousmane Diomande）。该拟议转会去年似乎已告吹，但这名22岁的科特迪瓦国脚预计将于今日启程前往，随后接受体检。森林队已为该后卫准备好一份为期五年的合同。

富勒姆在周六进一步谈判后，即将达成一项价值3000 万英镑m的交易，签下南安普顿中场谢伊·查尔斯（Shea Charles）。纽卡斯尔联正推进与马赛中场皮埃尔-埃米尔·霍伊比尔（Pierre-Emile Hjolbjerg）的谈判。马赛门将赫罗尼莫·鲁利（Geronimo Rulli）在俱乐部达成175 万英镑m的协议后，将于周一在曼彻斯特城接受体检。

曼彻斯特联后卫杰丹·卡纳森（Jaydan Karnason）是南安普顿、普雷斯顿北端、布莱克本流浪者、布里斯托尔城和谢菲尔德星期三的目标。门将拉德克·维特克（Radek Vitek）已完成从联队到米德尔斯堡的转会，交易价值最高可达300万英镑。贾诺亚·马凯洛（Jahnoah Markelo）已离开考文垂城并加盟迪拜青年队（SHABAB AL-AHLI DUBAI）。

--- 85 # Jaisle the magic man

这是一个动荡的夏天，但纽卡斯尔高层支持他们的菜鸟主帅能够交出成绩

周五晚上，在穆尔西亚的一家餐厅里，纽卡斯尔主教练马蒂亚斯·贾斯莱（Matthias Jaisle）被为他及其球队提供娱乐的魔术师的两件事所震撼。首先是魔术，以及一次手法巧妙的表演，让他的随行人员丢失了昂贵的手表，这让周围的人感到十分有趣。但其次，或许更重要的是，俱乐部竟然想到专门从东北部将这位魔术师请来，仅为了这次旨在介绍情况、增强团队凝聚力的夜晚。据说，这位新老板停下来赞赏这种对细节的关注。因为如果纽卡斯尔想要在这一赛季生存下来——请注意，本周他们的降级赔率已降至个位数——贾斯莱在自己运作的每个方面都需要同样细致的投入。

这里没有幻象，一名英超菜鸟继承了一个更有经验的教练可能会避而远之的局面。一旦塔帕斯（tapas）菜肴被撤走，手表被归还给原主，这位德国人就会意识到没有时间可以浪费。昨晚在西班牙与瓦伦西亚的一场友谊赛可能标志着他执教的第一场比赛，但仅在两周之后，利物浦将在英超联赛中在圣詹姆斯公园球场等待着他们。

在到任的前72小时内，贾斯莱已经失去了俱乐部的队长布鲁诺·吉马良斯（Bruno Guimaraes），后者转会至阿森纳。在此之前，安东尼·戈登（Anthony Gordon）和桑德罗·托纳利（Sandro Tonali）被出售以平衡支出规则的赤字。新引进的五名球员从未在英超联赛中踢过球，其中四人的年龄在20岁或以下。

克雷格·霍普（Craig Hope）在瓦伦西亚报道

上赛季人们对进球数感到担忧，而两名顶尖射手戈登和吉马良斯现在都已经离开了。无论从远处看还是近距离观察，一场艰苦的赛季似乎更有可能发生。埃迪·豪（Eddie Howe）在最初决定继续执教后最终选择离职，这一事实具有启发性。

不过，内部留任的人员并不认同这种观点，即这个创伤性的夏天会延续到秋季及以后。相反，本周在西班牙的阳光下，人们持有乐观态度。人们坚定地认为，无论是在资产负债表上还是在足球场上，都需要一次重启。豪本人怀疑一个新的声音能从某些球员身上挖掘出更多潜力，而那些见证了贾斯莱早期训练课的人表示，这一点已经显而易见。

其中一个关键的收获是一项规定：在球场的某些区域，仅允许向前传球。如果球向侧面或向后传，贾斯莱会停止比赛并惩罚违规球队。他希望踢前压足球，并且以速度和精准度来执行。当然，这正是豪所希望的。但能否拥有实现这一目标的工具完全是另一回事，前任主教练在失去亚历山大·伊萨克（Alexander Isak）的世界中很快就发现了这一点。

但关于俱乐部近期过去——他们的辉煌与失败——的讨论，并不被那些负责塑造未来的人所接纳，其中包括体育总监罗斯·威尔逊（Ross Wilson）和首席执行官大卫·霍普金森（David Hopkinson）。

内部对于包括安东尼·埃兰加（Anthony Elanga）、威廉·奥苏拉（William Osula）和新签约的科特迪瓦边锋巴祖-图雷（Bazou-Toure）在内的前场三锋的速度感到非常兴奋。埃兰加是那些在糟糕的首个赛季后被寄予厚望的人之一。同样，约安·维萨（Yoane Wissa）和尼克·沃尔特马德（Nick Woltemade）也是如此。这就是三名上赛季在英超联赛中合计仅打入16球的前锋。

就目前情况而言，不会有新的中锋加盟。这是一个巨大的赌博。但管理层坚持认为，X因素将是贾斯莱。他们不太可能在首次任命后发表更多评论，而且这段蜜月期还不到一周。尽管如此，内部人士在谈到这位36岁的主教练时，充满了绝对的信心。

据告知，他的面试表现如此出色，以至于高级职员们想在他走出大楼时就跟上去，当场给他提供这份工作。主席亚西尔·鲁迈扬（Yasir Al-Rumayyan）也是与杰斯尔（Jaisle）交谈的人之一，他很快就表示认可。人们认为，一名没有英超联赛包袱或此前国内效忠记录的年轻经理，会获得支持者的耐心。毫无疑问，他将需要这种耐心。除非，他真的能变戏法般地创造奇迹。

杰克·高汉（Jack Gaughan）发自首尔报道

如果恩佐·马雷斯卡（Enzo Maresca）在韩国首都汉江以南工作时，没有一名工作人员想到给他穿上GPS背心，那他就错过了一个机会。不必去管曼城球员们的训练强度，在昨天的训练课上，没有人比这位经理跑得更多，而他的举止和理念无疑与他接替的那个人非常相似。马雷斯卡在这一小时内掌控全局，几乎全程处于行动中心。他扮演着像老虎一样凶猛的对方后卫，而一个由四首歌组成的播放列表——《Wonderwall》、《Hey Jude》、《Don't Look Back in Anger》和《Blue Moon》——在几千名围观的当地球迷耳边循环播放。从中可以得出关于马雷斯卡的曼城在未来几个月将呈现何种面貌的关键结论。

步履轻盈 —— 充满虎劲的马雷斯卡将曼城蓝图付诸实践

“球员们的意愿非常好，”他说道。“面对新任主教练的到来，以及一些结构和模式的改变，他们表现得非常开放。”

传球，传球，传球

马雷斯卡站在菲尔·福登身边，指挥着从中心区域向11名球员传递的球路，这些球员似乎将参加今天对阵马德里竞技的俱乐部季前巡回赛第三场也是最后一场友谊赛。在开始第一次正式战术演练之前，曼城主帅主持了一次简短的集会，这次演练将持续15分钟 —— 足够时间来强化原则，但又不至于太长而导致注意力分散。佩普·瓜迪奥拉的演练通常也是这个长度。马雷斯卡在16次尝试从后场组织进攻的练习中快速推进，这是他在英超赛季开赛前坚持要完善的一环。守门员教练米凯莱·德·贝尔纳丁将球快速传给吉安路易吉·多纳鲁马，随后曼城球员接到指令开始进攻。他们大多采取缓慢组织。4名球员在安托万·塞门约的传球中汇聚，这表明教练愿意在禁区内增加人数。其中包括约什科·格瓦迪奥尔，他攻击内侧通道，这被视为一个关键的突破区域 —— 马雷斯卡在远离人群的地方向这名后卫讲解该战术。

中场拦截人像

两排人像被固定在草坪上，模拟5-4-1的中场拦截阵型 —— 这是曼城预计在本赛季会面对的情况。马雷斯卡再次向福登确认了他的职责。被选中的球队需要以更快的速度重复前15分钟的内容。白色圆锥桶被放置在球场宽度方向、进攻半场内侧的位置，这或许预示着马雷斯卡打算让他的后防4人在控球时站位有多高。一线队教练丹尼·沃克为此次训练带来了活力，不断激励着穿着荧光橙色训练背心的球员。

更高强度

训练环节中最长的一部分是16分钟，期间仅使用8件防守背心 —— 这似乎是在模拟曼城能够击破早期压迫并绕过2名对手的情况。当福登的一次射门击穿替补门将马库斯·贝蒂内利时，马雷斯卡迅速转身向身后的教练要求一个新球，他希望进行快速重复。这里没有了曾经标志性的rondo传球练习，但球始终在滚动。虽然有些事情改变了，但有些事情依然如故。这与场中心的那个人一脉相承。

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86 FOOTBALL # UNITED'S MIDFIELD MUDDLE

芒特的受伤向卡里克证明了中场人数不足

哥德堡之行的底线是，曼彻斯特联队顶住了欧洲冠军巴黎圣日耳曼的压力，且在大部分时间里踢出了更好的足球。布莱恩·姆贝莫在两分钟内扳平了伊布拉希姆·姆巴耶的开场进球，随后是联队创造了更多机会，姆贝莫再次险些破门，谢·莱西和在世界杯回归后重新入队的布鲁诺·费尔南德斯也均有机会。但事实上，这次比赛在揭示曼彻斯特联队所拥有的东西之余，同样揭示了他们尚未完成的事情。他们以总计 £8500 万 的价格签下了安德烈·桑托斯和尤里·蒂莱曼斯。但他们还没有签下这次夏季重建长期承诺的第三名中场球员。由于梅森·芒特在整个季前赛中的状态出色，近期关于第三名中场球员的立场有所软化。芒特是联队阵容中非常受欢迎的一员，对许多人来说他是领导者，也是俱乐部内部许多人愿意为其全力以赴的球员。在早前于特隆赫姆 5-0 击败罗森博格后，芒特在谈到自己的感受时充满了喜悦。

“我已经准备好并渴望回归，重新开始训练并进入状态，”他说。“作为球员，这就是你想要的。我觉得自己很强壮，准备就绪。我知道我们还有几周的比赛，还有几周时间来真正磨合，但我感觉很好。”

然而，可靠性至关重要。在这里，比赛进行到 20 分钟内，芒特在捂住脚后不得不离场，被撤下并由青训产品泰勒·弗莱彻替换。

领先一步：布鲁诺·费尔南德斯在瑞典抢在维蒂尼亚之前触球

芒特在无需协助的情况下慢跑离场，在进入球员通道前咨询了联队医疗团队的三名成员。在都柏林对阵利兹联以及在弗罗茨瓦夫对阵AC米兰的两场最后季前赛之前，这看起来像是预防措施。但这同样是一个警告：曼彻斯特联队不能在转会截止日期前的接下来的三周内，在没有签下另一名中场球员的情况下任其流逝。联队在这个位置上的招募在今年夏天也表现良好。采取一次大胆的尝试——很可能是其中最大的一次——应该是英力士（Ineos）和联队高层必须乐在其中而非畏惧的压力。

作者：马特·巴洛（Matt Barlow）

---

前场缺乏质量

罗伯托·德泽比对托特纳姆热刺缺乏火力担忧，在他球队最新的准备赛中得到了进一步证实。在昨天于恩菲尔德俱乐部训练中心进行的闭门比赛中，热刺在与赫塔费的激烈对决中由康诺尔·加拉格尔打入扳平球，在 70 分钟的比赛中由落后转为 1-1 平局。对于主教练来说，积极的一面包括在落后后的迅速反应，以及在英超赛季开始前两周，在闷热的环境中增加了比赛时长。

作者：内森·索尔特（Nathan Salt）

PSG 姆巴耶 2 曼联 姆贝莫 32 1

积极的迹象，但德泽比必须……

热刺支持德泽比加强中场并为后防四人组引入经验的需求，但他希望在前场有更多选择，俱乐部对萨维尼奥和科迪·加克波等人感兴趣。里沙利松在对阵赫塔费的比赛中领衔进攻，两侧由马蒂斯·特尔和迈基·摩尔辅助，但这位上赛季在英超为热刺攻入 11 球的头号射手提醒人们，他并不具备临床终结者的本能。下半场他得到了两次绝佳机会，均为头球，但都被守门员大卫·索里亚化解。上半场的一次头球射偏。本·戴维斯在安迪·罗伯逊的任意球助攻下，在上半场最好的机会中直接将球顶向了索里亚。

摩尔机会渐失

如果这是摩尔在被提议租借至科隆之前，改变德泽尔比想法的最后机会，那么他可能得开始收拾行囊准备前往德国了。这位在对阵赫塔费时被部署在右路的青少年边锋，发现自己很难找回早年在热刺出场时的灵动感。他在格拉斯哥流浪者队度过了一个赛季后，带着一份不错的期末报告回归，而且依然非常年轻——他将在周二满19岁——但在这场比赛中，他再次未能将自己毋庸置疑的天赋转化为比赛影响力。特尔在左路传出的低平球在后点地滚而过，而他在下半场的一次挑头球未能击中目标。特尔表现出与罗伯逊之间默契正在增强的迹象，而罗伯逊作为一名天然的左脚球员，弥补了上赛季经常缺失的平衡感。

桑托斯在此次比赛中再次表现出色，他是本次季前赛中最耀眼的亮点。他作为防守锚点拦截比赛的方式——在自家禁区边缘有一次关键封堵——以及通过撕裂防线的传球推动联队向前推进的表现，展现了他的传球范围。随着迈克尔·卡里克及其教练组继续尝试在桑托斯、周一在世界杯假期后回归联队阵容的科比·梅努，以及在瑞典替补登场并获得25分钟首秀的蒂莱曼斯之间寻找最佳组合，这将成为关键。在桑托斯的带领下，联队在大部分时间里踢出了更好的足球，采取了激进的高位压迫——在上半场的某个时刻，我们看到六名身着联队红色球衣的球员在进攻三分之一区域对阵欧洲最强球队进行压迫——并理所应当地避免了失败。

加拉格尔具备得分能力

如果前锋状态不佳，加拉格尔可以成为另一个进球来源。在状态最佳时，他会像对阵赫塔费那样从中场插上，在里沙利森抢球产生掉球后迅速前插，触球并完成一次有力的低平球射门。加拉格尔于1月以£3500 万的价格从马德里竞技加盟，已开始展现出状态的端倪 —— 87

然而，我们在哥德堡也看到了其脆弱性，以及局面恶化之快。考虑到曼努埃尔·乌加尔特已经是长期缺阵，芒特的提前离场引发了人们对中场深度的质疑；而门将汤姆·希顿（因1号门将塞内·拉门斯因病留在家中而首发）在下半场早段遭遇腿筋问题，而目前的2号门将、夏天从利兹联加盟的卡尔·达洛已经处于伤停状态。接着是左后卫的深度问题，曼联未能通过签下首选目标刘易斯·霍尔来解决这一问题，在老特拉福德高层两次接触后，纽卡斯尔联在这个夏天完全没有出售他的意愿。卢克·肖上赛季参加了每一场英超比赛，对此值得赞赏。哈里·阿马斯是一名近年来从曼联青训营走出的令人印象深刻的年轻人，他本应是一个选项，但他被告知获得出场时间最好的机会将在其他地方。讽刺的是，每当曼联公布阵容名单时，帕特里克·多尔古都被列为后卫（但在卡里克麾下他从未担任过后卫），他仅被视为一名进攻型边锋，因此如果肖发生任何意外，这个位置将危险地接近“危机”一词。曼联上赛季在所有赛事中仅踢了40场比赛，这是自1914-15, 以来单赛季最少的场次，而切尔西（59场）和托特纳姆热刺（52场）等球队的比赛场次则多得多。重返欧洲赛场且预计会有杯赛深入，理想情况下——不要重复在格里姆斯比镇的惨剧——阵容深度将与具备必要的质量一样至关重要。在与巴黎圣日耳曼的这场较量中，曼联有很多积极的方面，其中许多细节可能被忽视，例如阿马德·迪亚洛的工作率，或者泰勒·弗莱彻在比计划提前登场后的沉着表现。“有时让孩子们自己解决问题是件好事，”卡里克说道，他还补充说他对这次表现感到非常满意。“在为赛季做准备时，如果不需要，我们不想总是直接给他们答案。那里出现了一些积极的迹象。”曼联不能且绝不能因为在转会市场上的犹豫不决而浪费这些积极迹象。再增加一名中场和一名左后卫，曼联今年就能给竞争对手构成真正严重的威胁。

半场休息几乎没有休息。昨天在训练基地，他的许多资深球员参与了另一场训练赛。对阵赫塔费时，名单中包含六名年轻替补以及门将古列尔莫·维卡里奥。但没有一个人被启用。在对阵赫塔费时未参与但已完全回归季前赛节奏的球员包括马丁·杜布拉夫卡、凯文·丹索、米基·范德文、德斯蒂尼·乌多吉、罗德里戈·本坦库尔、帕佩·马塔尔·萨尔、马特乌斯·费尔南德斯、詹姆斯·麦迪逊和多米尼克·索兰克。德泽尔比会将这场客场友谊赛视为一次宝贵的训练练习，并寻求在截止日期前加强其进攻线。

阿隆索的防守方案，蓝军表现令人印象深刻

作者：Bobby Manzi

在切尔西首次部署三后卫阵型并以 3-0 完胜 AC 米兰后，哈维·阿隆索（XABI ALONSO）可以获得极大的鼓舞。这次表现与切尔西在季前赛至今漏洞百出的防守截然不同，这也是自阿隆索接手以来球队首次零封对手。

在印度尼西亚雅加达举行的这场比赛中，切尔西全程占据主导地位，这得益于场上人员的稳定性——在 80 分钟之前仅进行了两次换人，而米兰在半场时进行了大规模调整。但正是阿隆索在勒沃库森时期极其有效地采用的防守结构，使得球队能够展现出强劲的实力。

夏季新援马尔科·帕莱斯特拉（Marco Palestra）被部署在左翼卫位置，佩德罗·内托（Pedro Neto）则在另一侧。不过，在控球时，他们就像是边锋一样。当切尔西进攻时，内托会跑在科尔·帕尔默（Cole Palmer）的前方——帕尔默在丹尼·韦尔贝克（Danny Welbeck）的右侧首发——从而提供一种能够拉伸比赛的渗透威胁。帕莱斯特拉在另一侧也采取同样的方式，他不断的跑动表现亮眼。

这种设置不仅让切尔西能够利用占据宽域和窄域的强大进攻武器在全场制造威胁，前场三人的流动性也得到了体现。若昂·佩德罗（Joao Pedro）、帕尔默和韦尔贝克经常轮换位置。有时是两前锋一前腰。不过，主阵型是 3-4-2-1。韦尔贝克领衔锋线，帕尔默和佩德罗分布在其两侧。但这并非严格的规定，因为进攻球员被赋予了自由活动的权力。

半场结束后不到 1. 分钟，佩德罗与内托的配合为切尔西赢得了第二粒进球。内托通过一次从右路吊入禁区的传中找到了跑位的佩德罗。在半场结束前，佩德罗通过角球强力头球破门，为切尔西首开纪录；而莫伊塞斯·凯塞多（Moises Caicedo）在 50 分钟后用一次精彩的抽射将比分扩大为 3-0，帮助这支伦敦球队锁定胜局。

作为右翼卫，内托的防守责任很少，这使他能够专注于给对方制造麻烦。在赛季中，这个右路可能会被证明是致命的，因为对方边后卫既要应对内侧威胁巨大的帕尔默，又要时刻留意内托在边路的威胁。

与此同时，佩德罗在这个体系中大放异彩。这位技术出众的巴西人被鼓励自由活动，展现了他作为 No 1.b 的多功能性。4 次射门，2 个进球，一次错失大机会，以及在米兰禁区内的触球次数最多——切尔西主帅阿隆索的核心球员。

得益于这种设置，佩德罗表现得极其活跃。随着里斯·詹姆斯（Reece James）、马克斯昂斯·拉克鲁瓦（Maxence Lacroix）、恩佐·费尔南德斯（Enzo Fernandez）、马洛·古斯托（Malo Gusto）和摩根·罗杰斯（Morgan Rogers）仍将在季前赛剩余时间报到，阿隆索有充分的理由感到兴奋。在 70% 强度的情况下，切尔西看起来凝聚力强且掌控力十足，在完成了 4 场比赛后，他们对三后卫阵型所需的要求有了令人鼓舞的理解。随着下周更多高质量球员加入，这个三后卫方案看起来将成为他们对阵富勒姆的英超揭幕战中一个极具吸引力的选择。

新任定位球教练奥斯汀·麦克菲（Austin MacPhee）已经开始证明他的价值。切尔西支付了略低于 £100 万 的违约金，使其得以解除与阿斯顿维拉的合同。在球员支出背景下，这笔费用微不足道，但对于一名幕后工作人员来说却意义重大。然而，他可能会被证明是切尔西今夏最重要的签约。

蓝军上赛季在定位球方面的记录糟糕至极，定位球净胜球为负——失 17 球，进 14. 球。麦克菲在本周加入切尔西后立即产生了影响，球队在对阵米兰的比赛中通过角球两次得分。

与此同时，罗密欧·拉维亚（Romeo Lavia）昨天完成了加盟切尔西后的首个完整 90 分钟，他于 2023, 年以 5300 万英镑 的价格从南安普顿加盟，这标志着他在恢复体能方面又迈出了一步。

这位中场球员自抵达西伦敦以来一直饱受伤病困扰，但在此取得了显著进展，在三天前对阵尤文图斯的比赛中出场了25分钟。人们从未质疑过他的能力——真正最大的问题在于他的身体是否能让他发挥出那种潜力。拉维在整场比赛中表现活跃，现在在切尔西于8月24日在克拉文农场球场迎来联赛揭幕战之前，还有两次机会来增强体能。

在上赛季末期就展现出了前瞻性，并且在德泽尔比（De Zerbi）推行其高强度风格时将进一步获益。在对阵赫塔费的比赛中，热刺并没有像这位意大利主帅所希望的那样掌控球权。桑德罗·托纳利（Sandro Tonali）有几次闪光表现，尽管这位身价1 亿英镑m的中场球员也容易被一次轻微的迟到挑战所干扰。德泽尔比对身价5400 万英镑m的中后卫扬·保罗·范·赫克（Jan Paul van Hecke）的要求已初现端倪，后者在拿到球后，试图通过早期的前插传球在后场发起进攻模式。他的传球范围令人印象深刻。在托纳利身边的中场卢卡斯·贝里瓦尔（Lucas Bergvall）失去了对阿尔贝托·里斯科（Alberto Risco）的盯防。范·赫克离开后四卫线试图化解危机，但里斯科的速度太快，通过一次二过一配合，用一记干脆的射门击败了安东宁·金斯基（Antonin Kinsky）。德泽尔比在比赛进行的70分钟里没有做出任何调整 --- 188 # 为什么球迷们开始远离“百球赛”（the Hundred）？ # 板球 # 第80-81页

# 巴萨再次争取罗德里

作者：西蒙·琼斯（Simon Jones） 巴塞罗那有信心在准备一份修订后的报价时，就身价£6800 万的罗德里（Rodri）与曼彻斯特城达成一项折衷协议。这家西班牙冠军球队昨天同意将队长罗纳德·阿拉乌霍（Ronald Araujo）以赛季租借形式送往利物浦，并附带4700 万英镑m的买断选项，并且愿意出售其他几名球员，以便将资金重新投资于升级阵容。30岁的罗德里已向曼城强调，他的愿望是加盟巴萨，虽然他们最初3800 万英镑m外加附加条款的报价被斥为“微不足道”，但他们正在起草一份提高后的报价，以努力 # 加泰罗尼亚人有信心签下曼城球星，从而弥补估值差距。罗德里最初受到皇家马德里的追求，但皇马被“礼貌地告知”他们已不再是他的首选。罗德里的倾向是与巴塞罗那教练汉斯·弗里克（Hansi Flick）合作。巴萨还希望增加一名前锋和一名中后卫，托特纳姆热刺的克里斯蒂安·罗梅罗（Cristian Romero）在他们的候选名单上。与此同时，利物浦预计阿拉乌霍将在今天接受体检，随后完成赛季租借的正式手续。这位27岁的乌拉圭国脚能够胜任中后卫和右后卫位置，这为利物浦新任主教练安多尼·伊拉奥拉（Andoni Iraola）提供了至关重要的替补保障，因为他还在等待康诺尔·布拉德利（Conor Bradley）、乔·戈梅斯（Joe Gomez）和乔瓦尼·莱奥尼（Giovanni Leoni）从伤病中恢复。利物浦正继续与巴黎圣日耳曼（PSG）就边锋布拉德利·巴尔科拉（Bradley Barcola）和易卜拉欣·姆巴耶（Ibrahim Mbaye）的双人交易进行讨论。 转会观察 第84页 编号 2263 《星期日邮报》由ANL出版。伦敦W8 5HY，德里街9号。由Newspapers Holdings Ltd (Broxbourne)印刷。Newspapers Holdings Ltd (Knowsley)。Newspapers Holdings (Buncentral)。KP Services (Jersey)。Irish Times (Cayman, Dublin)。爱尔兰。Vermont Impression。马德里。TTPmin。英国。特内里费。Miller Newsprint 。马耳他。Kronos Corporate Group 。塞浦路斯。Milivo Hellas Publisher Services 。雅典。Atlas Media Communication。迪拜。阿联酋。关联报业有限公司 2026 《星期日邮报》 / 8 《星期日邮报》是关联报业有限公司的注册商标。2024年英国报纸的再生纸含量为37.2%。

输入此唯一编号以旋转我们的黄金轮盘并领取抽奖券。如果您在北爱尔兰或缺失唯一编号，请登录您的《每日邮报》奖励账户，点击“输入唯一编号”按钮，然后点击“缺失编号 / 无编号客户”链接并按照指示操作。访问 MailRewards.co.uk 领取抽奖券 第1 --- # 7日电视指南与益智游戏抽页 # 电视与评论 电影 音乐 古典戏剧 书籍 # 本周精选

《我的辉煌事业》（MY BRILLIANT CAREER）

周四，Netflix播出 出版于1901年，《我的辉煌事业》是一部经典的、极具澳大利亚特色的小说，讲述了一名年轻女性在世纪之交的成长故事。该书基于作者迈尔斯·富兰克林（Miles Franklin，其原名实际上是斯特拉 Stella）的生活经历，读起来十分生动。在英国，知道这部作品的人不多，但我预感随着这部充满活力的六集改编剧集的发行，情况将会改变。该剧将故事浓缩成了一种澳大利亚版的简·奥斯汀式风格。我们的女主角是西比拉（Sybylla，由《新闻阅读者》的菲莉帕·诺斯 Northeast 饰演），一个贫穷农村家庭的长女。西比拉的青少年时期过得放荡不羁，充满了活力、机智，以及不符合淑女身份的握手方式。有一天，她被送到考达加特（Caddagat）这座豪华庄园，与她古板的祖母（安娜·钱斯勒 Anna Chancellor 饰演）同住，希望她能嫁个好人家，不再耗尽家产。然而，问题在于，西比拉不想成为一名妻子，她想成为一名作家。尽管如此，在考达加特，有两个男人吸引了她那充满灵气的目光。一个是富有的英国访客弗兰克（Frank，杰克·邓 Jake Dunn 饰演），另一个是哈里（Harry），一个社会边缘人，与他古怪的姨妈住在附近的五鲍恩斯（Five Bob Downs）庄园。哈里由克里斯托弗·钟（Christopher Chung）饰演，在《慢马》（Slow Horses）中扮演了多年令人厌恶的技术怪胎罗迪·霍（Roddy Ho）之后，他一定在感谢上天给了他一次扮演恋爱对象的机会。编剧甚至给了钟一个属于他自己的“达西先生湖边时刻”，这让西比拉更难将这些在她身边盘旋的男人仅仅视为文学灵感。她能否坚持初衷，还是会被传统的三角恋情所吞噬，就像之前在奥斯汀作品及其他作品中许多女性那样？《我的辉煌事业》是西比拉的故事，但它也是澳大利亚的成长故事——故事背景设定在1901年元旦之前，那是该殖民地成为自治领的日子，也是女性权利开始发生变化的时期。这部剧拥有与索菲亚·科波拉的《玛丽·安托瓦内特》以及Apple TV的《海盗》（The Buccaneers）相同的创新精神，《我的辉煌事业》让人感觉既熟悉又不同，它将你对浪漫时代剧的认知拿来，然后快意地将其抛入锯末之中。这是一个关于诚实和寻找自己道路的故事，其核心是诺斯一次应当能使其成名的精彩演出。 罗宾·威格斯（Robin Wiggs）

澳大利亚版奥斯汀：杰克·邓、菲莉帕·诺斯和克里斯托弗·钟 一部令人愉悦的澳大利亚新时代剧，讲述了女主角被两名追求者追求的故事——但她宁愿成为一名作家，而不是一名妻子

《时间之屋》（A HOUSE THROUGH TIME）

周四，BBC2，晚上9点 大卫·奥卢索加（David Olusoga，左）带着他引人入胜的调查式社会历史形式回归，这一次他重新审视爱丁堡一座房子的居民，时间从1765年开始。这座位于卡尔顿山（Calton Hill）的房子是分阶段建造的，像苏格兰的许多房子一样，曾由多个家庭居住。在探索爱丁堡现代历史的过程中，奥卢索加讲述了一个关于两座城市的故事：旧与新，富与贫。

《哈姆内特》（HAMNET）

周五，Sky Cinema Premiere，上午8:10 / 晚上8点 杰西·巴克利（Jessie Buckley）凭借在这部顶级剧集中的表演赢得了所有能拿的奖项，而这部剧在进入订阅电视之前花了不少时间。她与保罗·梅斯卡（Paul Mescal，左，与巴克利同框）饰演的威廉·莎士比亚共同主演，饰演艾格尼丝·哈撒韦（Agnes Hathaway），这对夫妇在失去儿子哈姆内特（Hamnet）后陷入痛苦，但方式截然不同。最后的场景令人心碎，但绝对值得你花时间观看。

8月9日

您的终极夏季美妆精选

包含来自 Charlotte Tilbury、NARS、Tatcha、VIEVE 等品牌的奢华心头好。价值 £188.70，现仅需 £60。立即在 YOUBEAUTYSHOP.CO.UK 购买。条款与条件：库存视供应情况而定。配送请预留最多七个工作日。可能适用配送费用及限制。在需求量较高的情况下，我们保留用同等或更高 ERP 价值的商品替代原产品的权利。欲了解完整详情，请访问 youbeautyshop.co.uk。退货：请在收到商品后 14 天内通过我们网站的“订单帮助”部分通知我们以寻求协助。

3

我一直在等待瑞基的新剧变得有趣——但它始终没有

Alley Cats Netflix ★★★★★ Inside The Langham Tuesday, ITV1 ★★★★★ Inside The Four Seasons Sunday, Channel 5 ★★★★★

瑞基·杰维斯（Ricky Gervais）想拍一部关于猫的动画系列剧，因为他热爱猫，但他希望这是一种不同类型的动画。他召集了他的喜剧伙伴们，他们没有在录音室里单独录音，而是在剧本基础上即兴发挥，经常脱离原稿，以捕捉角色之间互动的真实感。他说，他们可能会有，比如说，100分钟的素材，“如果你不能在这些素材中，凭借国内最顶尖的一批喜剧头脑，筛选出精彩的15分钟，”他说，“那么事情就出错了。”

在这种情况下：事情确实出错了。而且错得很离谱。

全剧共有六集，每集15分钟。因为是杰维斯的作品，我一直在等待它变得有趣。我给自己打气道，告诉自己，它马上就会变得有趣了。但它始终没有。

动画风格是复古的汉纳-巴伯拉式（如《史酷比》、《疯狂赛车》、《摩登原始人》），但《Alley Cats》并非适合全家观看的健康娱乐节目。对于那些不可避免地将其误认为健康家庭娱乐节目的人，祝你们好运。第一个c-word（脏话）在第90秒左右出现，从那时起就是c-word, c-, f-, c-, f-, c-... 每一行台词里几乎都有其中一个。其粗口程度不仅远超必要，而且到了令人厌烦的重复地步。如果它有趣的话，或许还能挽救。我重复一遍，以防你刚才没在注意：它一点也不有趣。

主角（由杰维斯配音）是Gus，一只野生的橙色虎斑猫，长得和加菲猫一模一样，也许这里面有个笑点？即便公众可能并不太想看一个淫秽版的加菲猫？但它就在这里，在一家废弃房屋的沙发上懒散地躺着，和伙伴们一起看电视。伙伴们包括：Fang（安德鲁·布鲁克配音）、Puke（大卫·厄尔配音）、Ponce（汤姆·巴斯登配音）；虽然还有Olive（戴安娜·摩根配音）以及后来的Lara（凯莉·戈德利曼配音），但女性角色是次要的。这部剧给人一种彻头彻尾的男性主导之作的感觉。

第一个即兴片段是一个关于排泄的笑话，如此粗俗且毫无机智可言，以至于我内心深处有些东西死掉了。当这些猫看电视或在街上游荡时，我们听到的是关于肛门、阴茎的笑话，以及关于与动物（鱼、刺猬、企鹅）发生关系的诡异笑话，以及更多关于排泄的笑话。（我使用“笑话”这个词是指在最宽泛的意义上。）剧中还攻击肥胖儿童、盲人，甚至是对坚果过敏的人。（“你得有多没用，只要靠近一颗坚果你就会死……”）

这是没有喜剧技巧的违规。这在某种程度上很懒惰，而且在表现杰维斯具有“内心”的那些不可避免的时刻，它也同样懒惰，只是重复他那些众所周知的关于悲伤、上帝等等的观点。

剧中没有连贯的故事情节，尽管有一只迷路的小猫和这伙人混在一起，因为他们承诺会送她回家。这最终不仅陷入了感伤，而且完全变成了陈词滥调。就是那种“家人是你选择成为的人”之类的套路。感觉就像演员们在那些即兴会议中坐在一起，试图想出能想象到的最糟糕的话，然后就直接采用了，而根本没有花心思塑造角色。事实上，它们甚至根本不像猫。它们的行为不像猫。它们完全可以不是猫。

我原本期待看到对真实猫类的诠释。例如，诠释它们那种傲慢的优越感。或者它们在扶手椅上连续躺几个小时，然后突然毫无理由地冲出房间的样子。（我的猫就是那样。）

唉，这里确实出错了，而且错得很严重。

我似乎对那些奢华酒店的纪录片上瘾了。回想起来，我可以发现《走进克拉里奇酒店》（Inside Claridge's，BBC2，2012）是我的入门之作，虽然我可以一段时间克制，但不可避免地会再次陷入其中。我现在就处于这种复发状态。目前，一个频道在播《走进朗廷酒店》（Inside The Langham，玛丽勒本），另一个频道在播《走进四季酒店》（Inside The Four Seasons，帕克巷），诱惑实在太大了。我知道这些节目本质上是免费广告，我知道我不该给它们打三颗星。但如果成瘾不是指重复做一件你希望自己不要做的事，那它又是什么呢？那是对细节的关注。那是幕后部署的大规模员工队伍。那是你必须配备内部的绳索下降电工来安装室外灯具（朗廷酒店）。那是所谓的“床铺医生”，他们要按摩那些价值£4万,000的新床垫，使其达到迎接客人的状态（朗廷酒店）。而且其中还包含真实的危机。在四季酒店接受前厅经理培训的乔什（Josh）能通过试用期吗？他能吗？此外，还有令人震惊的价格。在朗廷酒店，一间套房每晚可能花费£2.5万,000（每晚！）而且有些客人一次会预订数周（一次数周！）。至于客人，嗯。富人会在什么时候失去理智？如果我变富了，我会失去理智吗？本周在四季酒店，有人要求马毛枕头，必须在当天从德文郡采购并运送；另一个人要求在接下来的30分钟内送达野餐——礼宾员不得不骑着LimeBike穿过整个城市去寻找一个特定的苏格兰蛋；还有一对夫妇花£1,700入住一晚，为了庆祝他们的……可卡普犬的五岁生日。这就是关键所在。有人知道这种瘾有治疗方法吗？（下一个会是谁？史努比？瑜伽熊？帕格沃什船长？）

莫扎特的歌剧于1935年在其第二个演出季期间在格林伯恩（Glyndebourne）首次演出，由指挥弗里茨·布施（Fritz Busch）和导演卡尔·埃伯特（Carl Ebert）率领强大的演员阵容。它在英国重新推广德语歌剧（singspiel）方面发挥了至关重要的作用，因为这种形式在英国此前从未特别流行过。今年的《后宫诱拐记》（The Abduction From The Seraglio）演出从夜晚开始就受到了极高的评价，尽管这里已有11年没有上演此剧。导演大卫·麦克维卡（David McVicar）最初在2015年执导这部作品，大卫·梅勒（DAVID MELLOR）评价《后宫诱拐记》（Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail），东萨塞克斯郡格林伯恩艺术节，演出至8月28日 ★★★★★，而这部剧带来的快乐在整场演出中依然清晰可见。在如今这个政治正确的世界里，麦克维卡以坦诚的态度和对故事的完全投入，处理了背景设定带来的挑战。他细致的导演确保了制作的所有部分都能被充分欣赏，尤其是那些带有移动屏风和大量跳跃表演者的喜剧场景的时机把握，而保罗·康斯特布尔（Paule Constable）微妙且有效的灯光增强了每一个场景。这是一部很少被演出的歌剧，因为它不仅需要出色的嗓音，还需要五位卓越的演员……而这里做到了。由奥斯敏（Osmin，迈克尔·莫菲迪安 Michael Mofidian 饰）和佩德里洛（Pedrillo，托马斯·西卢福 Thomas Cilluffo 饰）开场的第一幕奠定了当晚的基调和节奏，且在整个过程中热情地得以维持。布隆德（Blonde，朱莉·罗塞 Julie Roset 饰）与奥斯敏那有些不浪漫且傲慢的追求保持距离。这位抒情法国女高音展现了同等程度的活力与趣味，我们肯定会再次看到并听到她的表现。帕夏·塞利姆（Pasha Selim）的对白角色由弗兰克·索雷尔（Franck Saurel）饰演（正如他在2015年艺术节及当年的巡演中所做的那样），他令人信服地传达了绝对权力与对女性的控制，以及他对康斯坦泽（Konstanze，利芙·雷德帕斯 Liv Redpath 饰）痴迷的爱与尊重之间的矛盾。绝对值得一看。

欢快：康斯坦泽（利芙·雷德帕斯 Liv Redpath）与贝尔蒙特（安东尼·里昂 Anthony Leon） --- 4

音乐

TIM DE LISLE

Sisters: Curated By Annie Lennox 牛津郡，Wilderness 音乐节 ★★★★★

The Anchoress 《As We Once Were》现已发行 ★★★★★

Under African Skies: The Songs Of Graceland 伦敦，皇家阿尔伯特音乐厅 周六，BBC2，晚上 7.30 ★★★★★

曾几何时，流行音乐节总是泥泞不堪。而如今，它们则尘土飞扬。在 Wilderness 音乐节上，灰尘会钻进你的头发、喉咙，甚至你的薯条里。这反而让人们更渴望看到一些特别的东西，而他们在 Sisters: Curated By Annie Lennox 中找到了。这场演出是为了支持她的慈善机构 The Circle（旨在帮助面临暴力的女性）而举办的，堪称一场“节中之节”。演出阵容全部由英国女性组成，且风格多样。有出生于 Armagh、定居曼彻斯特的 Roughnack Connolly，她为古老的民谣注入了深度。有出生于德国、定居爱丁堡的 Becky Sikasa，她为 R&B 带来了灵魂。两人都非常擅长地掌控全场陌生观众。还有出生并定居伦敦的 Jessie Ware，她的名气足以在 2024 年担任 Wilderness 音乐节的领衔艺人。她散发着自信，向她的三个孩子挥手，孩子们正骑在不同人的肩膀上跳动。她用《Wildest Moments》带动观众扭动腰肢，随后用《Say You Love Me》触动人心。最后是 Lennox 本人，她出生于阿伯丁，定居洛杉矶。71 岁的她穿着作战服，以便更好地投身于这场正义之战。很久以前，由于一次巡演导致她需要进行喉咙手术，她和 Dave Stewart 错过了 Live Aid。现在，她只在

气场十足： Annie Lennox 和 Jessie Ware 在 Wilderness 音乐节。上方：The Anchoress 始终是一颗瑰宝，但多年来，这已演变成一种关怀方案。次日，一篇头条将 Lennox 描述为“酷到心碎”。但她比这更出色：她温暖得令人振奋。如果你想念 Eurythmics 乐队，可以尝试 The Anchoress，她同样擅长使用复古合成器和深情的唱腔。Catherine Anne Davies 是一位歌手、词曲作者、制作人，同时也是一名英国文学博士（但那是另一个故事了）。她的上一组新歌《The Art Of Losing》目前已售出 1万,000 份实体唱片。续作《As We Once Were》既随性又具有冲击力。在《Throw Over Your Man》中，她将女权主义转化为乐趣；在《Stop The World》中，她以女儿的咯咯笑声开场，并逐渐推向一种绝美的忧伤。

Under African Skies 是一场深夜的 Prom 音乐会，旨在庆祝保罗·西蒙（Paul Simon）的《Graceland》发行 40 周年。由 Peter Edwards 指挥的 Nu Civilisation 管弦乐团捕捉到了原曲的能量，并通过五重铜管乐团增添了活力。从 James Bay 到 Laura Mvula，一系列领唱歌手尽力演绎西蒙复杂的歌词。简单的词句则格外亮眼，例如“月光沉睡在午夜之湖”。但真正的明星是 Ladysmith Black Mambazo。他们几乎就像一个独立的管弦乐团，用深沉的嗓音和舞动的大腿点亮了阿尔伯特音乐厅。当他们九个人同时哼唱时，一股喜悦之感会直冲脊髓。

安妮和她的姐妹军团将 Sweet Dreams 打造成了独一无二的演出，而这场演出就像是一场 Live Aid 现场：用六首歌概括了整个职业生涯，且每一首都令人难忘。首先，她用《Little Bird》和《Walking On Broken Glass》总结了她的个人作品。虽然缺少了她的杰作《Why》，但这些曲目更加欢快，将忧伤与自信融合在一起。接着，她用四首 1983-85 年间的经典之作概括了 Eurythmics 乐队的时期。在演唱《Here Comes The Rain Again》时，她坐在钢琴前，将一首合成器流行曲转化为一首令人心碎的民谣。回到舞台中央时，她轻拭眼角。如果她被自己感动得流泪，那么她并不孤单。她的嗓音依然保有几乎所有的光彩。在演唱《There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)》时，Ware 加入了她，散发出如此巨大的喜悦，让你不禁怀疑她是否一生都在对着镜子练习这首歌。由于 Ware 出生于 1984 年，这完全是有可能的。在演唱《Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves》时，伦诺克斯召集了所有嘉宾以及即将登场的 The Last Dinner Party。从安妮第一次与 Aretha Franklin 合唱起，这首歌就成了一首赞歌。四十年后，在牛津郡的一片原野上，它依然震撼人心。最后，她演唱了《Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)》，这首歌走遍了世界和七大洋，在 Spotify 上的播放量已突破 20 亿次。这首歌写于她即将放弃自己的梦想并返回阿伯丁之时，它曾是 ## 剧院 # 《名声》（Fame）的新人们带来了一场令人振奋的复兴演出……而且现场看不到一件护腿袜！

MARK COOK

《名声》音乐剧 (Fame The Musical) 普利茅斯皇家剧院 (Theatre Royal Plymouth)，演出至本周六，时长 2小时 35分钟 ★★★★★

《猫》 (Cats) 伦敦摄政公园露天剧院 (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London)，演出至 9月 19日，时长 2小时 15分钟；10月 6日至 6月 19日巡演 ★★★★★

旧建筑立面的旋转折叠布景。在导演兼编舞汤姆·杰克逊·格里夫斯 (Tom Jackson Greaves) 极具吸引力的制作中，还有一种关于往昔学生的幽灵感，动作流畅地在活动部件之间穿梭，并贯穿在这些渴望成为演员、音乐家和舞者的年轻人们在与和声及荷尔蒙作斗争时展开的故事中。我当年曾拥有帕克那部写实电影获奖原声带的黑胶唱片，因此这次能再次听到忧郁的《Out Here On My Own》、《I Sing The Body Electric》以及激昂的主题曲——这首歌曾是艾琳·卡拉 (Irene Cara) 的英国排行榜冠军，在此由塔莉亚·帕拉马坦 (Talia Palamathan) 充满活力地重新演绎。电影中的曲目与雅克·列维 (Jacques Levy) 和史蒂夫·马戈什 (Steve Margoshes) 为本剧创作的歌曲相得益彰，强调了这些来自不同背景、渴望成名（且大汗淋漓）的追梦人们所面临的各种困境。《Think Of Meryl Streep》是一首关于如何表演的歌曲，由梅根·埃利斯 (Megan Ellis) 娴熟地演绎，而《These Are My Children》则展现了校长对她学生的感情。莎妮·霍姆斯 (Shany Holmes) 将其演绎成一首令人惊叹的抒情曲，且毫无俗套之感。

艺术家：M. DODGE, 照片：J. J --- 5 # 电影

马修·邦德 (MATTHEW BOND)

《最后一栋房子》(The Last House) 分级：12，时长：1小时52分钟，Netflix可看 ★★★★★ 《夏日之书》(The Summer Book) 分级：PG，时长：1小时30分钟 ★★★★★ 《温柔地爱我》(Love Me Tender) 分级：15，时长：2小时14分钟 ★★★★★

我们都记得新冠疫情，以及那种连续数月被禁闭在家的感觉。而《最后一栋房子》采用了这个基本概念并将其强化。影片假设，如果有一天，天空开始下起一种前所未有的雨，而雨中的某种物质将每一扇门、每一扇窗、每一片屋顶瓦片都密封得如此之紧，以至于即使是B&Q最强大的电动工具也无法将其打开，会发生什么？在新冠期间，我们是不被允许外出，但在这里，正如德尔加多一家即将发现的那样，他们是字面意义上无法出去。和所有的邻居一样，杰森（Wagner Moura 饰）、妻子安（Greta Lee 饰）、他们的两个孩子以及家犬被牢牢地锁在家里。起初，这成了一种情感纽带的体验，就像新冠之于某些人一样，但随着日子变成周，周变成月，生存之战变得严峻得多。而且他们仍然完全不知道是谁或什么将他们锁在里面，以及原因何在。这是一个简单且充满潜力的开端，足以与《寂静之地》相媲美——在后者中，地球被外星人入侵，它们通过声音猎杀人类猎物。然而，这部电影在一定程度上被其自身的随意逻辑所削弱：互联网和电话信号立即消失，而电力和自来水却神奇地持续了数月；此外，由巴西演员、曾凭借《秘密特工》(The Secret Agent) 获得奥斯卡提名的 Wagner 参演的早期场景似乎暗示杰森之前几乎没见过自己的家人。扮演一个阿尔法男性是一回事，但要令人信服地低吼出诸如“我会解决的，相信我”和“好了，现在立刻开家庭会议”之类的台词则是另一回事。过了好几个月，他才想起自己其实是个工程师。突然之间，气氛不再像《寂静之地》，而更像《鲁滨逊一家》，只不过没有新鲜空气。这部电影由风格多变的路易·莱特里埃尔 (Louis Leterrier) 执导，其过往作品涵盖了从《速度与激情10》(Fast X) 到《格里姆斯比》(Grimsby)，这是一部夏季爆米花电影，有一些精彩时刻，一些愚蠢时刻，以及一些可能会让孩子不安的片段——而这些孩子本来就不应该看这部电影。但它在潮湿的结尾处勉强达到了预期。

《夏日之书》改编自芬兰-瑞典作家托芙·扬松 (Tove Jansson) 的小说，她最著名的身份是姆明 (Moomins) 的创造者。

无处可去：诺亚·亚历山大·索斯诺夫斯基 (Noah Alexander Sosnowski)、Wagner Moura、Greta Lee 和 Riley Chung 出演《最后一栋房子》。左图：Emily Matthews 和 Glenn Close 出演《夏日之书》。

但这里没有姆明 the Moomintroll 或嗅嗅小姐 (Snorkmaiden)。相反，它改编自扬松在1972年为成年人写的一个故事，讲述了一个最近失去母亲的小女孩，在依然处于悲痛中的父亲和睿智但毫不妥协的祖母的陪伴下，被带到了芬兰湾一个田园诗般但偏远的岛屿上。我没读过原著，但听说这是一部温婉的作品，这部电影版本确实如此。有时，它温婉到让人不清楚是否真的发生了什么。种了一棵纪念树，搭了一个帐篷，练习了潜水但没有执行。孙女和祖母一起进行了一些低调的探索。噢，我忘了，还有一场风暴。这部由查理·麦克道尔 (Charlie McDowell) 执导的英语电影，视觉上确实具有斯堪的纳维亚风格，但未能完全公正地呈现扬松关于青春、悲伤和死亡的主题。此外，由于饰演祖母的 Glenn Close 表现过于强势且口音浓重（几乎认不出来），导致影片失去了平衡，这让我想起西蒙·卡洛 (Simon Callow) 在罗尔德·达尔 (Roald Dahl) 的有声书《女巫》(The Witches) 中，分别饰演挪威祖母和大女巫时那精彩的配音表演。但也许这只是我的个人感觉。

在《Love Me Tender》中，法国电影制作人安娜·卡泽纳夫·坎贝（Anna Cazenave Cambet）探讨了这样一个观点：仅仅因为某人背离了社会的性别规范，并不意味着他们自动就成了糟糕的父母。无论他们那撒谎的前夫怎么说。这一切听起来都完全合理，但如果你能看完这部极其严肃、偶尔带有色情意味且篇幅极长的正剧——讲述一个女人（薇琪·克里普斯 饰）为了过上放荡的女同性恋生活并成为一名挣扎中的作家，而放弃了成功的事业和长久的婚姻——且在观看过程中没有想到“噢，克莱门斯，你真是给自己找麻烦”，那么你的心态比我好得多。关于电视版本——对我来说有点过于浮夸且充满演艺圈气息——该剧播映于1982至1987年。除了毫无疑问的娱乐价值外，该剧才华横溢的年轻演员阵容生动地提醒人们，当艺术资金和学校教育被削减时，我们将失去什么。记住他们的名字：最新版《名校》（Fame The Musical）的演员阵容。右图：加里·威尔莫特（Gary Wilmot）在《猫》中。希望这部令人振奋且真挚的新作最终能够开启巡演。就这次观看来看，它应该巡演。你甚至可以说它值得像主题曲唱的那样“永生”。接着是来自同一 era, 的另一部超级热门音乐剧《猫》，它在纽伦敦剧院（New London Theatre）驻演了21年，并征服了百老汇。我必须说，这不是一部我能产生共鸣的剧目。也许是因为安德鲁·劳埃德·韦伯的这部音乐剧是基于T.S.艾略特的一组关于猫的诗集。能将其转化为如此成功的作品确实是一项成就，但在结构上，它不过是一系列关于各种“杰里科”猫（这里的猫凭借其精干的现代舞风格动作，显得凶猛多于可爱）的歌曲清单，全部展示了作曲家模仿任何音乐流派的天赋。实际的故事情节极少。对我而言，德鲁·麦考尼（Drew McOnie）这部流畅制作的上半场并没有让我感到兴奋，也没有产生足够的感情连接。然而，第二幕为我们带来了所有的大招：包括米斯特菲利斯先生（Jet Yau 饰）、斯金布尔尚克斯（Matthew Caputo 饰）、古斯（Gary Wilmot 饰）和麦卡维蒂（Diante Lodge 饰）的抢眼曲目。当然还有《Memory》，这无疑是劳埃德·韦伯最经久不衰的歌曲。在媒体之夜，替补演员塔齐瓦-费伊·卡赞德（Taziva-Faye Katsande）倾尽全力。我希望我能给这部剧三星半。看来我对《猫》还是有点过敏。也许我只是更喜欢狗。--- 6

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一个男人及其电报机消灭大西洋之日

海底闪电 (Lightning Beneath The Sea)

詹姆斯·M·塔博 (James M. Tabor) 著，W. W. Norton 出版，£24, 368页

《哈珀月刊》(Harper's monthly magazine) 在 1858 年宣布，大西洋“已被废除”。是谁完成了这一壮举，又是如何做到的？正如詹姆斯·M·塔博 (James M. Tabor) 这本引人入胜的书中所揭示的，那是一位名叫赛勒斯·菲尔德 (Cyrus Field) 的美国富裕造纸商，他通过在海底铺设第一条电报电缆实现了这一目标。旧世界与新世界之间的通信现在只需几分钟，而非数周。

《哈珀》的隐喻似乎十分恰当。尽管此前对电报一窍不通，甚至不了解驱动电报的电力（当时很少有人了解，包括菲尔德的大西洋电报公司首席电工在内的许多人都认为电是一种流体），但菲尔德显然成功完成了他自定的使命。

菲尔德在 1855 年首次尝试连接两大洲时遭遇了“彻底的失败”。他的电缆断裂了。三年后他再次尝试，但被一场巨大的风暴挫败，其中一艘铺缆船几乎被“两侧高达五层楼的水墙”淹没。同年晚些时候的第二次尝试看似成功了。菲尔德成为了当时的风云人物。用他哥哥的话说，“他的名字被数百万人提及”。在纽约，数十万人参加了一场长达四英里的盛大游行以向他致敬。

然而，庆祝活动为时过早。信息开始出现故障，随后完全中断。用塔博的话说，“就在纽约市举行盛大庆祝活动，将赛勒斯·菲尔德尊为新哥伦布的那一天，他的大西洋电缆说出了临终之言。”赞誉变成了诋毁。曾经的朋友为了避他而绕道而行。他陷入了资金困难。竞争对手威胁要抢了他的风头。在美国内战期间，他甚至被指控背叛联邦，尽管指控后来被撤销。

然而，菲尔德并非一个容易气馁的人。1865 年，他再次迎接挑战。这一次，他的铺缆船是那个时代最大的船只——伊桑巴德·金多姆·布鲁内尔 (Isambard Kingdom Brunel) 的“东方大号” (Great Eastern)。多年前，布鲁内尔曾对菲尔德说：“先生，那就是为您铺设电缆的船。”如今，这位伟大的工程师已经去世，而“东方大号”正在出售。菲尔德将其买下并根据自己的需求进行了改装。

一次横跨大西洋的初步远征再次以失败告终，期间还传出菲尔德的敌人进行破坏的传闻。1866 年的第二次航行终于成功铺设了电缆。而这一次，电报持续运行。在经历了 12 年的压力与奋斗后，菲尔德实现了他的目标。这是一个关于灾难与胜利交替的非凡故事，如今常被人们遗忘。塔博通过广泛的研究和生动的叙述，赋予了这段历史新的生命。

尼克·伦尼森 (Nick Rennison)

与弗雷迪共处 (Living With Freddie)

安娜·海沃德 (Anna Heyward) 著，Vrago 出版，£22, 288页

当安娜·海沃德 (Anna Heyward) 和她的伴侣领养了一只名叫弗雷迪 (Freddie) 的八岁意大利灵缇犬时，她自我安慰说，自己现在已经满足了一个成熟成年生活的所有正确条件：“一只狗，一个男朋友，一份工作，以及一种目标感”。

动物救援中心含糊地提到过弗雷迪有一些行为问题，但海沃德在澳大利亚出生并在纽约生活，从小与狗一起长大，因此她毫不怀疑自己能应对自如。意大利灵缇犬是小型且优雅的犬种，被培育得非常关注人类，这一迷人的特质也意味着它们讨厌孤独。弗雷迪对人类的关注达到了如此地步，以至于如果被单独留在公寓里哪怕极短的时间，他就会尖叫，原地打转追逐自己，并拼命抓挠前门。像弗雷迪这样

救命！我的狗太爱我了

患有分离焦虑症，据称曾啃穿墙壁、撞坏房门并跳破玻璃。即使在训练师的帮助下，海沃德发现她能让弗雷迪在不陷入严重焦虑的情况下独自待的最长时间也只有两分半钟。自然地，这极大地影响了她的生活。有时，她的男友亚伦勉强同意留在家中陪伴这只狗。另一些时候，她能将它带到她工作的美术馆。有时，它会被送到一家极其昂贵的宠物日托中心，在那里它郁郁寡欢地潜伏着，直到被接走。海沃德（左）与弗雷迪（右）意识到，她永远无法控制它，因为“它的内心深处永远有一部分是我触及不到的”。她的社交生活因此受损，而亚伦则对她对狗的过度关注以及在她身上花费的金钱感到不满。或许，他也感觉到“我发现我的狗比我计划结婚的男人要有趣得多”。有一天，他离开了，并说除非她处理掉这只狗，否则他绝不回来。这本书的副标题——“一只狗如何教会我成为人类”——暗示这是一个关于受伤的动物如何改变主人生活的温馨故事。事实上，其基调更为低沉，而且——请注意——书中的部分内容相当令人心碎。与弗雷迪的经历激励海沃德回到大学学习动物行为学。她认为，我们试图通过“训练”来引导狗，却让它们感到困惑，而我们极少尝试从它们的角度看待问题，反而将它们贴上“不听话”、“坏”或“危险”的标签，这种观点读起来令人不安。海沃德发现了一件大多数宠物主人最终都会明白的事情：“心碎几乎总是与动物共处的一部分”。康斯坦斯·克雷格·史密斯 --- 7

书评 罗杰·刘易斯 (ROGER LEWIS) 历史类 《怀疑之岛》(The Sceptic Isle) 史蒂文·凯西 (Steven Casey) 著，牛津大学出版社，£26.99，392页

第二次世界大战的悖论在于，为了花费五年多时间捍卫自由并击溃纳粹，我们采取了严厉的措施——正如我们在本书中所读到的，“在为民主而战的同时，威胁要压制异议”。士气是一个持续关注的问题。为了保持民众的乐观情绪，避免盲目的恐慌和绝望，政府坚持隐瞒残酷的统计数据。真实的恐怖被掩盖，“被笼罩在极大的秘密之中”。例如，敦刻尔克并没有被报道为一次屈辱的撤退，而被描述为“一次由勇气、完美的纪律和无懈可击的服务所实现的拯救奇迹”。丘吉尔关于“在海滩上战斗”的措辞，强化了这种对军队几乎被全歼之局面的英雄主义且坚定的解读。所有这类事情都由信息部策划，那里是宣传工业的总部，后来成为了奥威尔《1984》中的“真理部”。如果这听起来很阴森，那么值得记住的是，当时在BBC拥有1600 万听众的广播喜剧（如《又是那个人》）中，官方机构和官僚主义被亲切地嘲讽为“激怒与谜团部”，其中居住着名为“短缺爵士”和“下巴带上校”的角色。你在纳粹德国找不到任何类似的例子——史蒂文·凯西说，任何偏离严格军事理想的人都“面临被盖世太保拷问的风险”。然而，笑声、对面无表情的建制派人物和公职人员的嘲弄，以及对我们体制的讽刺，对维持士气至关重要。海报和传单告诉人们要“脸上保持乐观的英国式微笑”，“保持冷静并继续前行”。这些方案奏效了。锅碗瓢盆，甚至蛋抽，都被收集起来熔化以制造喷火战斗机和飓风战斗机，仿佛是在玩一个愉快的玩笑。张伯伦可能在往返于慕尼黑与元首聊天，但国内的情绪是好战的，几乎没有人支持绥靖政策。公众支持征兵。国民自卫队，或称“爸爸军队”，作为“一支效率日益提高的军事力量”，招募到了50万名志愿者。在正式宣战整整一年前，人们就开始试戴防毒面具。防空和海岸防御部队以及舰队均已动员。

我们是如何击败希特勒的……凭借BBC的素描、打蛋器、积极的态度和几个谎言

并非所有的一切都像丘吉尔的演讲和“爸爸军”那样的同志情谊。为什么审查制度在防止战时英国陷入歇斯底里方面发挥了关键作用

皇家空军取消了休假。公园里挖掘了战壕。制定了儿童疏散计划。一旦敌对行动开始，为了维持这种像“伊灵喜剧”般的英格兰形象，报道变得模糊且具有误导性。伤亡人员的姓名以及死亡的确切人数不得透露。BBC播放唱片，而不是告诉公众在闪击战的前三周里有 5,730 人被杀。 “结果是对闪击战的一种经过‘净化’的看法，对于那些亲眼目睹残酷现实的人来说，这几乎没有任何影响。”

到 1941 年 9 月，已有 4.3675万,675 名平民和 4.8973万,973 名身着制服的军人死亡。当 503 吨炸弹落在考文垂时，城市周围十英里范围内部署了士兵警戒线以阻止记者。新闻短片镜头被审查。禁止拍摄空袭造成的破坏——尽管在克莱德河畔，4.7万,000 名居民中现在有 3.5万,000 人无家可归。

信息部根据丘吉尔的命令，不希望公众知道“令人痛苦的细节”。禁止报道英国船只受损的消息，同样禁止报道德国U型潜艇在破坏我们的粮食供应方面取得的成功。我们不得知道航空母舰被鱼雷击中的情况。官方简报“始终乐观”。与此同时，德国空军的损失被极大地夸大了。

当巴黎即将被占领时，“人们对情况完全不知情”，即英国可能是下一个被入侵的对象。统治阶层和权威人士认为普通公众“完全没有准备好面对意识到真实处境的冲击”，这种方式完全是傲慢且居高临下的。

大屠杀没有被报道，理由是关于暴行的故事来自“无法立即核实的来源”。关于集中营的传闻在官方层面被斥为“夸大的，甚至可能是捏造的”。直到理查德·迪姆比在贝尔森对着BBC麦克风开始讲话时泣不成声，才唤醒了所有人：“我在阴暗中艰难地走过一具又一具尸体。”

但在电影院或报纸上，我们看到的依然是关于被轰炸的斯旺西的故事，那里“昂首挺胸，能够承受这一切”。遭受直接打击成了反弹的另一个借口：“在厨房的碎片中，妻子们想方设法为丈夫准备餐食。”

成为一名“土地女孩”的现实绝不像招募海报上那些阳光灿烂的图像。配给制意味着真正的艰辛，但“为胜利而挖掘”运动让人们觉得每个人仅仅是在收获自己的马铃薯和胡萝卜——而且分配地的数量确实从 1939 年的 81.5万,000 个增加到 1943 年的 140万,400,000 个。

我把这本书的书名误读成了《败血之岛》（The Septic Isle），虽然我知道这个词是指莎士比亚的“权杖之岛”（sceptred isle），但我以为这将是一本关于感染的书。而在某种意义上，它确实讲述了真理的污染，以及当生存的所有方面都受到完全审查时，政治体制的炎症。

但必须注意到，政府的宣传和审查行动是为了我们的战争努力。史蒂文·凯西完成了一项出色且细节丰富的研究，具有深刻的启发性，探讨了战争叙事是如何被塑造和呈现的，以及公众在心理上是如何被操纵、修饰和愚弄的。

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13

本周电视节目精选

真人秀竞赛

THE BIG DEAL

主持人：STEPH MCGOVERN

从早餐电视节目到午餐聊天秀，从消费者权益捍卫者到《The Masked Dancer》，几乎没有 Steph McGovern（右图）没尝试过的事情。现在，她主持这部类似《学徒》（Apprentice）风格的节目，让业余交易员团队之间展开竞争，以寻找艺术界的下一个大热门。如果您好奇 Steph 与这个高雅世界有什么联系——她的父亲 Eamonn 是一位艺术家。 周四，BBC2，晚上8点

纪录片

隔壁的间谍：

安娜·

查普曼的故事

当安娜·查普曼（Anna Chapman，右图）于2010年在美国因涉嫌俄罗斯间谍网而被捕时，媒体将她塑造为詹姆斯·邦德级别的致命女郎。这部两集纪录片深入挖掘了真实的安娜，采访了曾与她约会的男性以及追捕她的特工，揭示了更多关于她的背景、动力和野心。我们还将了解到更多关于安娜参与的深度潜伏俄罗斯间谍计划。 周三和周四，C4，晚上9点

人物志

穆里尼奥

很少有足球教练拥有若泽·穆里尼奥（Jose Mourinho）这样的明星特质，这位风度翩翩的前切尔西主帅在由《Bros: After The Screaming Stops》导演 Joe Pearlman 执导的这部全新三集人物志中，依然像以往一样富有魅力。在观看时，最令人瞩目的不仅是穆里尼奥对比赛的热情，还有他激发球员们的奉献精神，其中许多球员在片中发表了看法。这种激情与信念会带来结果，无论好坏。穆里尼奥的这部纪录片将同时吸引球迷和非球迷，因为它在讲述足球的同时，更多是在讲述人。 周二，Netflix

喜剧

FRANK

SKINNER：30

年的污垢

Frank Skinner 从事单口喜剧已经很久了，在这部在伦敦宽敞的索霍剧院沃尔瑟姆斯托（Soho Theatre Walthamstow）录制的新节目中，你可以感受到他表演背后深厚的经验积淀。影片采用黑白拍摄，似乎是为了强调这种传承的深度，但表演本身绝非循规蹈矩，除了正如标题所示，它涉及衰老和低俗笑话。 周五，Sky One，晚上9点

旅行

MARTN AND ROMAN'S

爱尔兰公路旅行

Spandau Ballet 乐队的 Martin Kemp 及其儿子 Roman（见上方中心图）将开启一场父子情感纽带之旅，在探索爱尔兰丰富的民俗和历史时，寻找其阴森的底色，涵盖从哀嚎的 Banshee（报丧女妖）到新石器时代的坟墓。周一，C4 频道，晚上 8 点

剧集《Hit Point》

将多种类型融合在一起的剧集在屏幕上可能会显得杂乱无章，但新的英国六集剧《Hit Point》并非如此。它既有黑帮剧的成分，又有“似有若无”的浪漫爱情，但首先它是一个曲折且幽默的侦探故事，讲述了两名伦敦警察调查一起不寻常抢劫案的故事。由 Saffron Hocking（《Top Boy》）和 Nick Blood（《豺狼之日》）饰演（见右图），他们之间令人捧腹的打趣支撑起了整部剧并使其运转流畅。周四，U&Dave 频道，晚上 9 点

广播

周日

《天秤座》（LIBRA） 一部分为两部分的戏剧化改编作品，讲述 Don DeLillo 对肯尼迪（JFK）遇刺事件那段扣人心弦的秘密历史（见右图）。Radio 4，下午 3 点

周一

《伟大的生活》（GREAT LIVES） “对我来说，他是一位神，”德里克·雅各比（Derek Jacobi）在回忆他的同行演员劳伦斯·奥利弗（Laurence Olivier）时说道。Radio 4，下午 3 点

周二

BBC 逍遥音乐节（BBC PROMS） 指挥古斯塔沃·杜达梅尔（Gustavo Dudamel）将带领洛杉矶爱乐乐团在皇家阿尔伯特音乐厅进行两场音乐会，时间为今天和周三（晚上 7 点）。Radio 3，下午 6 点

周六

《灵魂音乐》（SOUL MUSIC） 正如这个新系列的第一集所揭示的，Boney M 乐队 1978 年的歌曲《Rasputin》曾是一首全球热门金曲，其中包含了来自俄罗斯、伊朗和喀麦隆关于这首歌对人们意义之大的回忆。Radio 4，上午 10.30 点

JULI 2027 MANNOLLIER / HOTTORH WKS --- 14 # 8 月 9 日，星期日

BBC1 - 6.00 早餐节目 - 9.00 BBC 新闻 - 10.00 祈祷与反思 (R) - 10.30 朝圣之旅：穿越北威尔士之路 (R) - 11.30 无偿资金 (R) - 12.15 淘宝猎人 (R) - 1.00 BBC 新闻；天气 - 1.15 赞美之歌：Pam Rhodes 探讨步行如何能产生深远的意义。 - 1.50 电影：《鲁比·吉尔曼：青春期海妖》(PG / 2023) 由 Lana Condor 和 Jane Fonda 配音的动画奇幻片。 - 3.15 《超级无敌格罗米特：大出游》动画英雄们前往月球。(R) - 3.35 《交配游戏》淡水循环触发了壮观的交配仪式和激烈的竞争。(R) - 4.35 《锤下之屋》什罗普郡 (R) - 5.35 BBC 新闻 - 5.50 地区新闻；天气 - 6.00 《名人乡村逃离》 3 / 6 歌手兼演员 Chesney Hawkes 寻找乡村隐居地。(R)

《乡村生活》（Countryfile），晚上 7 点，Adam Henson 在西萨塞克斯郡主持 - 7.00 《乡村生活》 Adam Henson 在西萨塞克斯郡会见年轻农民，包括一名试图在今年收获期间，在他继承的家族企业中留下自己印记的软果种植者。 - 8.00 《古董路演》 Fiona Bruce 在伦敦哈克尼区的 Clissold Park 主持。(R) - 9.00 《狂喜》（The Rapture） 5 / 5 闭路电视监控让人们对 Bethany 的诚实产生怀疑。Gabs 向气候阵线（Climate Front）寻求帮助，一张新图纸将她引向古老的遗迹，真相在那里揭晓。 - 10.00 BBC 十点新闻 - 10.25 地区新闻；天气 - 10.30 电影：《布里奇特·琼斯的疯狂边缘》(15 / 2004) 这位倒霉记者的新恋情似乎注定短暂，因为她最终在泰国监狱服刑。由 Renée Zellweger 和 Colin Firth 主演的喜剧续集。 - 12.10 《你认为你是谁？》嘉宾：Katarina Johnson-Thompson。(R)

BBC2

• 6.20 电视园艺 A-Z (R)
• 7.05 俯瞰绝美花园 Christine Walkden 走访诺福克郡。(R)
• 7.50 乡村档案 (Countryfile) Adam Henson 会见新一代农民，探讨生产粮食所面临的挑战与机遇。(R)
• 8.50 气象员漫步精选 Derek Brockway 在他最喜爱的遗产步道上探索三座城堡。
• 9.20 Beechgrove 花园 (R)
• 9.50 周六厨房：Oli Mabuse 精选美食。(R)
• 11.20 简单印度美食 (R)
• 12.20 电影：《知道太多的人》(PG / 1956) 一名美国医生和他的妻子（前歌唱明星）在摩洛哥度假时目击了一场谋杀案。由詹姆斯·斯图尔特主演的阿尔弗雷德·希区柯克惊悚片翻拍作。
• 2.15 板球：The Hundred 伦敦精神队女队 v 伯明翰凤凰队女队（开赛时间 2.30pm）。来自勋爵板球场的比赛报道。

电影：《内心的刘易斯·戴维斯》，10pm 奥斯卡·艾萨克主演的剧情片 - - 6.00 板球：The Hundred 伦敦精神队男队 v 伯明翰凤凰队男队（开赛时间 6pm）。来自勋爵板球场的报道。 - 9.30 阿波罗现场 3 / 7 喜剧演员 Celia A.B. 和 Neil Delamere 在汉默史密斯阿波罗剧院进行单口喜剧表演，由 Lou Sanders 主持。(R) - 10.00 电影：《内心的刘易斯·戴维斯》(15 / 2013) 一名有抱负的音乐家在 20 世纪 60 年代初的纽约民谣圈中努力成名。由奥斯卡·艾萨克、凯瑞·穆里根和约翰·古德曼主演的科恩兄弟剧情片。 - 11.40 电影：《麦克白夫人》(15 / 2016) 一名嫁给富有的工业家的女性因缺乏陪伴而感到空虚，于是她与庄园的一名马夫开始了一段婚外情。由弗洛伦斯·皮尤和科斯莫·贾维斯主演的剧情片。 - 1.05 手语区：你认为你是谁？嘉宾为演员 Dame Harriet Walter。(R)

ITV1

• 6.00 詹姆斯·马丁的美国冒险 这位厨师在圣安东尼奥开始了旅程的德克萨斯州之行。(R)
• 7.00 詹姆斯·马丁的周六早晨，嘉宾为 Guy Martin。(R)
• 9.25 ITV 新闻
• 9.30 喜爱你的周末，嘉宾为 Alan Titchmarsh (R)
• 11.25 费恩·布里顿：走进兽医诊所 Andy 和 Amy 的猫需要牙科治疗。
• 12.25 汤姆·克里奇烹饪意大利菜 汤姆烹饪羊排。(R)
• 12.55 ITV 新闻；天气预报
• 1.05 自然之力 变幻的雨季考验着三位母亲，而洪水改变了栖息地。(R)
• 2.05 电影：《太空谍影》(PG / 1977) 由罗杰·摩尔主演的詹姆斯·邦德间谍冒险片。
• 4.30 全球追击 参赛队伍抵达巴黎，挑战 Vixen 和 Beast。(R)
• 5.35 ITV 新闻；天气预报
• 5.45 地方新闻；天气预报
• 6.00 自然之力 3 / 6 探讨海洋变暖如何加剧为人父母的挑战。

自然之力，6pm 一场飓风袭击了火烈鸟群 - - 7.00 艾默代尔 (Emmerdale) Charity 与她的虐待者对质，而 Dawn 陷入绝望，Billy 提出了请求。 - 7.30 街道冠冕 (Coronation Street) Bethany 在监狱探望受伤的 Sarah，Dylan 在工作中感到受到审视，Idris 向 Alya 提醒他的提议，Tim 说服 Sally 让 Richie 住在他们家。 - 8.00 范德法尔克 (Van Der Valk) 2 / 3 在全球会议前夕，一名环保活动人士被谋杀，Piet 和团队被召集处理此案。由 Marc Warren 主演的犯罪剧。 - 10.00 ITV 新闻；天气预报 - 10.15 走进伊朗：战争与革命 在抗议和军事冲突之后，这部纪录片揭示了伊朗公民如何冒着生命危险分享其国家内部的真实情况。 - 11.30 走进朗廷酒店：英国第一家豪华酒店 3 / 6 记录这家伦敦市中心酒店的生活。(R) - 12.00 电视购物

CHANNEL 4 - 6.20 《干杯》（Cheers）双集连播。(R) - 7.15 《大家都爱雷蒙德》（Everybody Loves Raymond）三集连播。(R) - 8.30 《辛普森一家》（The Simpsons）三集连播。(R) - 10.00 《星期日早午餐》（Sunday Brunch）Tim Lovejoy 和 Simon Rimmer 将与 Nick Helm, Delta Goodrem 和 J.B. Gill 一起主持。 - 1.00 《杰米烹饪地中海》（Jamie Cooks The Mediterranean）杰米·奥利弗（Jamie Oliver）在地中海寻找食谱。(R) - 2.00 《我们的邻居农场：阿曼达、克莱夫和孩子们》（Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive And Kids）(R) - 3.05 《街上最糟糕的房子》（Worst House On The Street）一对订婚夫妇试图将一座破旧的小屋改造成为他们梦想中的家。(R) - 4.05 《克斯蒂和菲尔的爱它还是列出它：绝妙建筑》（Kirstie And Phil's Love It Or List It: Brilliant Builds）(R) - 4.40 电影：《修女也疯狂 2》（Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit）（PG / 1993）一名曾伪装成修女的歌手再次加入修道院，通过打造一支成功的合唱团来帮助挽救一所天主教学校。由 Whoopi Goldberg 和 Maggie Smith 主演的喜剧续集。 - 6.35 第 4 频道新闻 包括体育和天气。

《钢琴》（The Piano），晚上 9 点 钢琴家 Alice Sara Ott 将加入 Mika 和 Claudia - 7.00 《观看盒子》（Gogglebox）第 27 季精彩片段合集，Goggleboxers 将在其中观看更多最顶尖且最优秀的电视节目。(R) - 8.00 《理查德·E·格兰特的现代奥德赛》（Richard E. Grant's Very Modern Odyssey）2 / 4 理查德抵达独眼巨人故乡的西西里岛，他在巴勒莫与一位公爵夫人一起烹饪，攀登火山，探索神庙的秘密，并在圆形剧场演出。 - 9.00 《钢琴》（The Piano）Claudia Winkleman 和 Mika 将与国际知名钢琴家 Alice Sara Ott 一起，在曼彻斯特继续寻找英国最卓越的业余钢琴家。 - 10.00 《名人观看盒子》（Celebrity Gogglebox）名人观众包括 Denise van Outen 和 Johnny Vaughan。(R) - 11.00 电影：《如何进行性行为》（How To Have Sex）（15 / 2023）由 Mia McKenna-Bruce 主演的青春成长剧。 - 12.50 电影：《老》（Old）（15 / 2021）由 Gael Garcia Bernal 主演的恐怖片。

5 - 6.00 Milkshake! 儿童节目，包括 8.10 《动物护理俱乐部》（Animal Care Club） 8.25 《蓝精灵》（The Smurfs） 8.35 《生物案件》（The Creature Cases）(R) 8.50 《派大星秀》（The Patrick Star Show）(R) - 9.05 《5 频道娱乐新闻》（Entertainment News On 5）娱乐圈新闻与八卦。 - 9.10 电影：《汪汪队立大功：超级电影》（PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie）（U / 2023）首播。一颗陨石坠落在冒险市，赋予了汪汪队小狗们超级力量。由 Kristen Bell 配音的动画冒险片。 - 11.00 《快乐露营者：房车公园》（Happy Campers: The Caravan Park）(R) - 12.00 《与苏珊·卡尔曼一起巡航》（Cruising With Susan Calman）双集连播。(R) - 2.00 《简·麦克唐纳在纳什维尔》（Jane McDonald In Nashville）双集连播。(R) - 4.00 直播：2026 年英国最强壮男人赛：决赛 报道在格拉斯哥 Braehead 体育馆举行的决赛，项目包括卡车拉曳、农民行走、摩托车维京推举、龙蛋石和卡车负载。 - 6.55 新闻 国内和国际新闻。

《四季酒店：帕克巷》（Inside The Four Seasons: Park Lane），晚上 9 点 金婚纪念日 - 7.00 《1970 年代饮食法：对你有用吗？》（The 1970s Diet: Could It Work For You?）2 / 2 Josie Gibson 参加了在那个十年间风靡一时的迪斯科风格舞蹈课，并享用了半份代表 1970 年代典型分量的鱼和薯条晚餐。(R) - 8.00 《行为（非常）糟糕的狗》（Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly）9 / 16 Graeme Hall 前往埃塞克斯，帮助一家宠物友好酒吧恢复平静。(R) - 9.00 《四季酒店：帕克巷》（Inside The Four Seasons: Park Lane）2 / 5 礼宾经理 Adam 正在四季酒店协调两场重大庆祝活动：一场 200 人的婚礼以及 Derek 和 Joan 的金婚纪念日。 - 10.00 《当打包度假游变得糟糕透顶时》（When Package Holidays Go Horribly Wrong）2 / 5 度假灾难故事。(R) - 11.35 《一场非常英国的性丑闻：伯爵与男宠》（A Very British Sex Scandal: The Earl & The Escort）关于沙夫茨伯里勋爵 Anthony Ashley-Cooper 被谋杀的案件。(R) - 1.00 《与 LoveitBookit 一起巡航电视》（Cruise TV With LoveitBookit）(R)

---

15 # 8 月 10 日，星期一

BBC1

6.00 Breakfast 9.30 Animal Park (R) 10.00 Trace, Track, Get My Car Back (R) 10.30 欧洲田径锦标赛：伯明翰 2026. 第一日开幕赛报道。 1.15 BBC News 1.40 地区新闻 1.50 BBC News 2.00 Money For Nothing 2.45 Escape To The Country (R) 3.30 The Repair Shop (R) 4.30 The Answer Run 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC News 6.30 地区新闻 7.00 The One Show Angelica Bell 从伯明翰现场报道。 7.30 EastEnders Jean 的财务困境仍在继续。 8.00 欧洲田径锦标赛：伯明翰 2026 进一步报道，包括女子 100 米决赛（晚上 9.50）。 10.00 BBC News At Ten 10.30 地区新闻；天气 10.40 电影：Bridget Jones's Baby (15 / 2016) 由 Renée Zellweger 主演的喜剧续集。

BBC2

6.30 Bargain Hunt: 20 Years Of The One Show (R) 7.15 Money For Nothing (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: The Repair Shop (R) 9.00 BBC News 10.30 Antiques Road Trip (R) 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 12.15 Bargain Hunt (R) 1.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) 1.30 The Finish Line (R) 2.15 Do You Know Your Place? (R) 2.45 The Farmers' Country Showdown (R) 3.30 Spy In The Ocean (R) 4.30 Vintage Antiques Roadshow (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R) 6.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) 6.30 Bear Grylls: Wild Reckoning (R) 7.00 欧洲田径锦标赛：伯明翰 2026 第一日晚间赛。 8.00 Only Connect 8.30 University Challenge 9.00 Evolution 5 / 5 马的出现。 10.00 Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing 3 / 6 (R) 10.30 Newsnight 11.05 电影：Shaft (15 / 1971) 12.40 Sign Zone: Countryfile (R)

ITV1

6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00 This Morning 1.30 ITV News；天气 1.55 当地新闻；天气 2.00 Dickinson's Real Deal (R) 3.00 Deal Or No Deal (R) 4.00 Tipping Point (R) 5.00 The Chase (R) 6.00 当地新闻；天气 6.30 ITV News；天气 7.30 Fletchers' Family Farm 9 / 10 Fletchers 一家专注于多元化经营，奶牛 Ruby 迎来转机。(R) 8.00 Emmerdale 一名村民的生活被彻底颠覆。 8.30 Coronation Street Tim 敦促 Richie 努力经营他的婚姻。 9.00 Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace Davina McCall 和 Nicky Campbell 帮助被遗弃者 Michael 和 Christine。 10.00 ITV News；天气 10.30 当地新闻；天气 10.45 Cold Case Forensics: A Death On The Nile 2 / 3 纪录片 (R) 11.45 Love & Death 5 / 7 (R) 12.35 Shop On TV

CHANNEL 4

6.30 The King Of Queens (R) 7.45 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) 9.10 Frasier (R) 11.10 Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) 12.05 Channel 4 News Summary 12.10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (R) 1.10 The Great House Giveaway (R) 2.10 Countdown 3.00 A Place In The Sun (R) 4.00 Saving Country Houses With Penelope Keith (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00 American Pickers (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News 8.00 Martin And Roman's Irish Road Trip 1 / 3 Martin 和 Roman Kemp 探索爱尔兰的历史。 9.00 Celebrity Hunted 几位内容创作者认为他们知道如何智胜追捕者。 10.00 Secret Lives Of Gypsy Wives Trewley 因一次夜出与她的姐姐们发生冲突。 11.05 Surgery Secrets Of The Super Rich 4 / 6 一位准新娘进行了液态隆鼻手术。(R) 12.05 Secrets Of The Celebrity Sex Tapes 系列最后一集。

5

6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 新闻 12.50 Matt Allwright 2.20 电影：《我的致命记忆》(My Fatal Memory) (12 / 2022) 由 Kate Watson 主演的惊悚片。 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 新闻 6.00 撒丁岛：地中海之珠 (Sardinia: Jewel Of The Med) (R) 6.55 新闻 7.00 高速公路警察：抓捕英国超速者 5 / 10 PC Joe Gorman 疾速出击，试图抓获一名疑似酒驾的司机。(R) 7.55 新闻 8.00 街头警察：抓捕混混 一名因超速被拦下的司机遇到了意想不到的情况。 9.00 逃票者：与法律开战 伦敦交通局（TfL）的调查员搜寻一名涉嫌逃票的人员。 10.00 警察拦截者：打击商店盗窃团伙 侦探调查一个国际犯罪团伙。(R) 11.05 交通警察 7 / 20 (R) 12.05 车辆扣押场警察 (Car Pound Cops) (R) # Tuesday August 11

BBC1

6.00 早餐节目 9.30 动物公园 (Animal Park) (R) 10.00 追踪、寻找，找回我的车 (Trace, Track, Get My Car Back) (R) 10.30 欧洲田径锦标赛：伯明翰 2026. 第二天开幕赛事的报道。 1.15 BBC 新闻 1.40 地区新闻 1.50 BBC 新闻 2.00 Money For Nothing 2.45 逃往乡村 (Escape To The Country) (R) 3.30 修理铺 (The Repair Shop) (R) 4.30 The Answer Run 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC 新闻 6.30 地区新闻 7.00 The One Show Alex Jones 和 Roman Kemp 继续庆祝该节目的 20 岁生日。 7.30 东区东街 (EastEnders) Suki 和 Eve 为 Ria 举办生日派对。 8.00 欧洲田径锦标赛 男子跳远决赛 (8.16) 和男子 100 米决赛 (9.47)。 10.00 BBC 十点新闻 10.30 地区新闻；天气 10.40 电影：《船上的男孩》(The Boys In The Boat) (12 / 2023) 由 Joel Edgerton 主演的剧情片。 12.40 BBC 新闻

BBC2

6.15 房屋拍卖 (Homes Under The Hammer) (R) 7.15 Money For Nothing (R) 8.00 手语区：英国大缝纫比赛 (The Great British Sewing Bee) (R) 9.00 BBC 新闻 10.30 古董公路旅行 (Antiques Road Trip) (R) 11.15 房屋拍卖 (Homes Under The Hammer) (R) 12.15 淘宝猎人 (Bargain Hunt) (R) 1.00 Richard Osman 的游戏屋 (Richard Osman's House Of Games) (R) 1.30 终点线 (The Finish Line) (R) 2.15 你了解你的位置吗？(Do You Know Your Place?) (R) 2.45 农民乡村对决 (The Farmers' Country Showdown) (R) 3.30 海洋间谍 (Spy In The Ocean) (R) 4.30 复古古董路演 (Vintage Antiques Roadshow) (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R) 6.00 Richard Osman 的游戏屋 (Richard Osman's House Of Games) (R) 6.30 Bear Grylls: Wild Reckoning (R) 7.00 欧洲田径锦标赛 女子 5,000 米决赛 (7.25)。 8.00 英国大缝纫比赛 5 / 10 9.00 血色玛丽：露西·沃斯利调查 (Bloody Mary: Lucy Worsley Investigates) 4 / 4 (R) 10.00 Live At The Apollo 5 / 7 (R) 10.30 Newsnight 11.05 莱斯塔特吸血鬼：吸血鬼访谈 双片连播。 12.45 手语区：Uncanny (R)

ITV1

6.00 早安英国 10.00 This Morning 1.30 ITV 新闻；天气 1.55 当地新闻；天气 2.00 Dickinson's Real Deal (R) 3.00 Deal Or No Deal (R) 4.00 Tipping Point (R) 5.00 The Chase (R) 6.00 当地新闻；天气 6.30 ITV 新闻；天气 7.30 走进朗廷：英国第一家豪华酒店 4 / 6 总经理监督朗廷威尼斯酒店的进展。 8.00 艾默代尔 (Emmerdale) Billy 和 Dawn 计划逃跑。 8.30 街道冠冕 (Coronation Street) Tim 和 Sally 在得知 Richie 被指控谋杀的消息后深感震惊。 9.00 冷案法医：血缘之中 (Cold Case Forensics: In The Blood) 3 / 3 Angela Gallop 揭示血液中的线索如何帮助解决两起犯罪。 10.00 ITV 新闻；天气 10.30 当地新闻；天气 10.45 电影：《太空谍影》(The Spy Who Loved Me) (PG / 1977) 由 Roger Moore 主演的詹姆斯·邦德间谍冒险片。 12.55 电视购物

CHANNEL 4

6.30 皇后之王 (R) 7.45 大家都爱雷蒙 (R) 9.10 弗雷泽 (R) 11.10 拉姆齐的厨房噩梦 美国版 (R) 12.05 第4频道新闻摘要 12.10 寻找、修复、出售 (R) 1.10 豪宅大赠送 (R) 2.10 倒计时 3.00 阳光之所 (R) 4.00 与佩内洛普·基思一起拯救乡村住宅 (R) 5.00 城堡DIY (R) 6.00 美国淘金客 (R) 7.00 第4频道新闻 8.00 多佛 24 / 7：英国最繁忙的港口 工作人员举行纪念仪式，标志着该港口在两次世界大战中的作用。本系列最后一集。 9.00 名人猎杀 两名名人发现自己被包围。 10.00 Gogglebox 各家庭对《名人环球竞速》和《1%俱乐部》的看法。(R) 11.05 吉普赛妻子的秘密生活 Trewley 与她的姐姐们发生冲突。(R) 12.05 裸体吸引力 (R) ## 5

6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 杰里米·Vine 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 新闻 12.50 马特·奥尔赖特 2.20 电影：《危险摇篮》(PG / 2022) 由 Devin Cecchetto 和 Fallon Bowman 主演的惊悚片。 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 自然之爱 (R) 5.00 新闻 6.00 科孚岛：地中海之珠 (R) 6.55 新闻 7.00 约克郡兽医：与格林一家同在 3 / 4 Jean 将她 13 只猫中最年长的一只带到 Peter 的诊所进行检查。(R) 7.55 新闻 8.00 走进朗利特 摄像机跟随一支蝙蝠保护团队和一群飞蛾爱好者，他们都在进行年度调查。 9.00 罗马人 与 Rob Rinder 和 Ruth Goodman 一起回顾公元 122 年哈德良皇帝访问罗马不列颠的情况。 10.30 船上的炸弹：蒙巴顿勋爵谋杀案 (R) 12.05 连环杀手之妻 (R) --- 16

8月12日 星期三

BBC1 晚上7点开始 6.00 Breakfast 9.30 Animal Park (R) 10.00 Trace, Track, Get My Car Back (R) 10.30 欧洲田径锦标赛，第3.天。十项全能（从10.35开始）以及男子800米半决赛 (12.20)。 1.15 BBC News 1.40 Regional News 1.50 BBC 2.00 Money For Nothing 2.45 Escape To The Country (R) 3.30 The Repair Shop (R) 4.30 The Answer Run 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC 6.30 Regional 7.00 The One Show 由 Alex Jones 和 Roman Kemp 主持。 7.30 EastEnders Kim 陷入恐慌。 8.00 欧洲田径锦标赛 男子400米决赛 (8.50) 以及男子110米栏决赛 (9.47)。 10.00 BBC At Ten 10.30 Regional ; Weather 10.40 MOTO: Ueda 超级杯集锦：巴黎圣日耳曼 对阵 阿斯顿维拉。 11.10 电影：《红眼航班》(Red Eye) (12 / 2005) Rachel McAdams 主演的惊悚片。 12.25 The Hit List 名人特辑 (R)

BBC2 晚上8点开始 6.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 7.15 Money For Nothing (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: Great Japanese Railway Journeys (R) 8.30 Great Continental Railway Journeys (R) 9.00 BBC 10.30 Antiques Road Trip (R) 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 12.15 Bargain Hunt (R) 1.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) 1.30 The Finish Line (R) 2.15 Do You Know Your Place? (R) 2.45 The Farmers' Country Showdown (R) 3.30 Spy In The Ocean (R) 4.30 Vintage Antiques Roadshow (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R) 6.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) 6.30 Bear Grylls: Wild Reckoning (R) 7.00 欧洲田径锦标赛 女子链球决赛 (7.45)。 8.00 The Repair Shop (R) 9.00 Murder Trial 1 / 2 关于一名男子2024年在苏格兰乡村被发现枪杀身亡的案件。 10.00 Inside No 9 Danny Mays (R) 10.30 Newsnight 11.05 Evolution 5 / 5 (R) 12.05 电影：《Kindling》 (12 / 2023)

ITV1 晚上7点开始 6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00 This Morning 1.30 ITV ; Weather 1.55 Local ; Weather 2.00 Dickinson's Real Deal (R) 3.00 Deal Or No Deal (R) 4.00 Tipping Point (R) 5.00 The Chase (R) 6.00 Local ; Weather 6.30 ITV ; Weather 7.00 季前足球赛直播 曼彻斯特联 对阵 利兹联 (7.30pm 开球)。Hugh Wozencroft 为这场在都柏林 Croke Park 举行的友谊赛提供报道。 9.50 It'll Be Alright On The Night 电视节目失误集锦，嘉宾包括 Joel Dommett, Romesh Ranganathan, Ant & Dec, Colin Murray, Amol Rajan, Susanna Reid, Joe Pasquale 等。 10.20 ITV ; Weather 10.50 Local ; Weather 11.05 Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace Davina McCall 和 Nicky Campbell 帮助被遗弃者 Michael 和 Christine 寻找亲人。(R) 12.05 Shop On TV

CHANNEL 4 晚上9点开始 6.30 The King Of Queens (R) 7.45 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) 9.10 Frasier (R) 11.10 Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) 12.05 Channel 4 Summary 12.10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (R) 1.10 The Great House Giveaway (R) 2.10 Countdown 3.00 A Place In The Sun (R) 4.00 Saving Country Houses With Penelope Keith (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00 American Pickers (R) 7.00 Channel 4 8.00 Extraordinary Extensions 一对夫妇开始翻修坎特伯雷的一家 B&B 旅馆——结果在花园里发现了一个战时防空洞。 9.00 Spy Next Door: The Anna Chapman Story 1 / 2 关于英国模特 Anna Chapman 的故事，她在 2010 年被揭露为俄罗斯间谍。 10.00 24 Hours In A&E 3 / 10 患者亲属讲述他们如何共同面对挑战。(R) 11.05 999: On The Front Line (R) 12.10 Celebrity Hunted (R)

5 9PM 6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 新闻 12.50 Matt Allwright 2.20 电影：《致命秘密》（Deadly Secrets）（PG / 2023）由 Lizzie Boys 主演的惊悚片。 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 新闻 6.00 西西里：地中海之珠 (R) 6.55 新闻 7.00 Car Pound Cops 7 / 8 追踪因各种违规行为而被扣押的车辆。(R) 7.55 新闻 8.00 Casualty 24 / 7: Every Second Counts 新剧集。一名 78 岁的管理员出现胸痛且血氧水平危险偏低。 9.00 999: Critical Condition 一名 82 岁老人因胸部受伤，生命受到肺炎威胁。 10.00 Ambulance: Code Red 一名男子在驾驶时昏迷并导致车辆相撞。(R) 11.05 Cause Of Death 9 / 10 一名男子被发现死在布莱克本（Blackburn）的临时住所中。(R) 12.05 A&E After Dark (R)

8月13日 星期四

BBC1 10.40PM 6.00 Breakfast 9.30 Animal Park (R) 10.00 Trace, Track, Get My Car Back (R) 10.30 欧洲田径锦标赛，第 4 天。女子 800 米半决赛 (12.10)。 1.15 BBC News; Weather 1.40 Regional News; Weather 1.50 BBC ; 2.00 Money For Nothing 2.45 Escape To The Country (R) 3.30 The Repair Shop (R) 4.30 The Answer Run 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC ; 6.30 Regional ; 7.00 The One Show，由 Alex Jones 和 Roman Kemp 主持。 7.30 EastEnders Amy 向一个出人意料的来源倾诉。 8.00 欧洲田径锦标赛 男子 200 米半决赛 (8.05)，男子 800 米决赛 (9.28) 以及女子 200 米决赛 (9.50)。 10.00 BBC At Ten 10.30 Regional ; 10.40 电影：《Yesterday》(12 / 2019) 由 Himesh Patel 和 Lily James 主演的喜剧。 12.30 Alan Carr's Picture Slam (R)

BBC2 8PM 6.30 The Bidding Room (R) 7.15 Money For Nothing (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: Gardeners' World (R) 9.00 BBC 10.30 Antiques Road Trip (R) 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 12.15 Bargain Hunt (R) 1.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) 1.30 The Finish Line (R) 2.15 Do You Know Your Place? (R) 2.45 The Great Rift: Africa's Wild Heart (R) 3.35 Spy In The Ocean (R) 4.35 Vintage Antiques Roadshow (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R) 6.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) 6.30 Bear Grylls: Wild Reckoning (R) 7.00 欧洲田径锦标赛 女子三级跳远决赛 (7.40)。 8.00 The Big Deal，由 Steph McGovern 主持 1 / 6 志向远大的艺术交易商展开竞争。 9.00 A House Through Time 1 / 4 一处爱丁堡住宅。 10.00 Red Dwarf 1 / 6 (R) 10.30 Newsnight Katie Razzall。 11.05 Murder Trial 1 / 2 (R) 12.05 The Devil In The Family: The Fall Of Ruby Franke (R)

ITV1 8PM 6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00 This Morning 1.30 ITV ; 1.55 Local ; 2.00 Dickinson's Real Deal (R) 3.00 Deal Or No Deal (R) 4.00 Tipping Point (R) 5.00 The Chase (R) 6.00 Local ; 6.30 ITV ; 7.30 Tom Kerridge Cooks Italy 5 / 6 主厨探索意大利的亚平宁山脉。 8.00 Emmerdale Kev 欣喜若狂，Billy 情绪坚定，Dylan 陷入挣扎。 8.30 Coronation Street Tim 在未咨询 Sally 的情况下接纳了 Richie 的女儿 Lucy。 9.00 The Chase Around The World 5 / 6 团队抵达苏黎世，挑战 Governess 和 Dark Destroyer。 10.00 ITV ; 10.30 Local ; 10.45 电影：《Quantum Of Solace》(12 / 2008) 由 Daniel Craig 主演的詹姆斯·邦德惊悚片。 12.35 Shop On TV

CHANNEL 4 10PM 6.30 The King Of Queens (R) 7.45 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) 9.10 Frasier (R) 11.10 Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) 12.05 Channel 4 Summary 12.10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (R) 1.10 The Great House Giveaway (R) 2.10 Countdown 3.00 A Place In The Sun (R) 4.00 Saving Country Houses With Penelope Keith (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00 American Pickers (R) 7.00 Channel 4 8.00 Renovation Rescue 团队帮助一名寡妇为她的家庭住宅注入新生命。 9.00 Spy Next Door: The Anna Chapman Story 2 / 2 FBI 揭露 Anna Chapman 是在美国的俄罗斯间谍。 10.00 The Schoolgirl Terrorist? Rhian Rudd 如何在年仅 15 岁时成为英国最年轻的被指控恐怖主义罪行的女孩。 11.05 Social Media Monsters 2 / 10 纪实犯罪。(R) 12.10 Crime Scene Cleaners (R)

5 9PM 6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 新闻 12.50 Matt Allwright 2.20 电影：《替代女儿》（The Replacement Daughter）（PG / 2024）由 Stacy Haiduk 主演的惊悚片。 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 新闻 6.00 克里特：地中海之珠 (R) 6.55 新闻 7.00 与 Josie Gibson 一起乘坐头等舱环游世界，探索芬兰和瑞典的旅游热点。 7.55 新闻 8.00 约克郡兽医特辑：彼得之梦。新剧集。Peter Wright 创建了一个宠物纪念花园。 9.00 贝尼多姆谋杀案 3 / 6。当一名清洁工发现一名谋杀受害者时，Dennis 和 Rosa 展开调查。 10.00 犯罪现场的杀手。一名美容水疗中心老板在一次毁灭性爆炸中被杀的谋杀案。(R) 11.05 泰晤士河中的尸体。一具被肢解的尸体。(R) 12.05 街头警察：抓捕暴徒。纪录片。(R) --- 17

8月14日 星期五

BBC1

6.00 Breakfast 9.30 Animal Park (R) 10.00 Trace, Track, Get My Car Back (R) 10.30 European Athletics Championships。包括男子1500米第一轮 (12.05)。 1.15 BBC News 1.40 Regional News 1.50 BBC 2.00 The Hairdresser Mysteries 2.45 Escape To The Country (R) 3.30 The Repair Shop (R) 4.30 The Answer Run 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC 6.30 Regional 7.00 The One Show At 20 Alex Jones, Roman Kemp 及好友们庆祝该节目 20 周年。 8.00 European Athletics Championships 包括男子200米决赛 (9.25) 和女子800米决赛 (9.46) 的报道。 10.00 BBC At Ten 10.30 Regional ; Weather 10.40 Ann Droid 5 / 6 喜剧。Sue 被说服去露营。 11.10 电影：《母亲的本能》(Mothers' Instinct) (15 / 2024) 首播：由 Anne Hathaway 主演的剧情片。 12.45 BBC

BBC2

6.30 The Answer Run (R) 7.15 Money For Nothing (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: Marcus Wareing Simply Provence (R) 9.00 BBC 10.30 Antiques Road Trip (R) 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 12.15 Bargain Hunt (R) 1.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) 1.30 The Finish Line (R) 2.15 Do You Know Your Place? (R) 2.45 The Great Rift: Africa's Wild Heart (R) 4.35 Vintage Antiques Roadshow (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R) 6.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) 6.30 Bear Grylls: Wild Reckoning (R) 7.00 European Athletics Championships 包括七项全能 (7.35) 和女子10,000米决赛 (7.45) 的报道。 8.00 Gardeners' World 9.00 Bergerac 5 / 6 关于 Cate 被杀之夜的一个揭露改变了一切。 9.45 QXL 8 / 14 (R) 10.30 Newsnight 11.05 电影：《坠落》(On Falling) (15 / 2024) 12.45 Sign Zone: The Rapture (R)

ITV1

6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00 This Morning 1.30 ITV ; Weather 1.55 Local ; Weather 2.00 Dickinson's Real Deal (R) 3.00 Deal Or No Deal (R) 4.00 Tipping Point (R) 5.00 The Chase (R) 6.00 Local ; Weather 6.30 ITV ; Weather 7.30 Abbey Clancy: Celebrity Homes 2 / 6 (R) 8.00 Emmerdale Lewis 发表了一项公告。 8.30 Coronation Street Lucy 的出现引发了街道上的冲突。 9.00 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Celebrity Special 嘉宾 Dion Dublin 和 Steph McGovern。(R) 10.00 The Twisted Tale Of Amanda Knox 7 / 8 在入狱四年后，Amanda 和 Raffaele 获得了自由。 11.00 ITV ; Weather 11.35 Local ; Weather 11.50 Inside The Langham: Britain's First Grand Hotel 4 / 6 纪录片。(R) 12.15 Shop On TV

CHANNEL 4

6.30 The King Of Queens (R) 7.45 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) 9.10 Frasier (R) 11.10 Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) 12.05 Channel 4 Summary 12.10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (R) 1.10 The Great House Giveaway (R) 2.10 Countdown 3.00 A Place In The Sun (R) 4.00 Saving Country Houses With Penelope Keith (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00 American Pickers (R) 7.00 Channel 4 ** 8.00 Surgery Secrets Of The Super Rich 5 / 6 Emma 接受了一项价值 £9,500 的先锋纳米脂肪治疗。 9.00 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown Jon Richardson 和 Roisin Conaty 对阵 Rob Beckett 和 Kiehl Smith-Bynoe。(R) 10.00 Big Fat Quiz: Best Bits 该节目最大失败片段的合集。 11.05 Sarah Millican: Chatterbox Live 单口喜剧。(R) 12.10 Bill Bailey Live: Part Troll** 单口表演。(R)

5 6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 新闻 12.50 Matt Allwright 2.20 电影：《我丈夫的七个妻子》(PG / 2024) 由 Kristi Murdock 主演的惊悚片。 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 新闻 6.00 伊比萨：地中海之珠。访问以夜生活和丰富文化历史而闻名的巴利阿里群岛。(R) 6.55 新闻 7.00 Tom Read Wilson 的壮丽之旅 2 / 3 主持人的旅程将他带到了意大利。(R) 7.55 新闻 8.00 Alexander Armstrong 在斯里兰卡 1 / 3 Alexander 探索这个国家。(R) 9.00 1975 年的大干旱 一场持续 16 个月的打破纪录的异常天气。 (R) 10.30 皮尔斯·摩根：无审查 (Piers Morgan: Uncensored) 由皮尔斯·摩根主持的观点主导的新闻和辩论节目。 12.05 逃票者：与法律的战争 (R)

8月15日 星期六

BBC1 6.00 早安节目 10.00 欧洲田径锦标赛。包括男子 4x100 米接力第一轮 (1.00)。 1.30 BBC 新闻；天气 1.45 Bargain Hunt (R) 2.30 电影：《逃离鸡笼》(U / 2000) 由 Mel Gibson 和 Julia Sawalha 配音的动画喜剧。 3.50 Escape To The Country (R) 4.35 Garden Rescue (R) 5.20 BBC 新闻 5.30 地区新闻；天气 5.45 The Hit List 6.30 Alan Carr's Picture Slam。Ian 和 Liz，Arif 和 Kusar 以及 Rachel 和 Connor 参加。 7.15 欧洲田径锦标赛 Gabby Logan 在伯明翰主持第六天晚间赛事的报道，包括男子 1500 米决赛 (9.07) 以及男女 4x100 米决赛 (9.33 和 9.48)。 10.00 BBC 新闻；天气 10.20 电影：《碟中谍》 (PG / 1996) 由汤姆·克鲁斯主演的动作惊悚片。 12.10 BBC 新闻

BBC2 6.05 儿童节目 8.30 Gardeners' World (R) 9.30 Beechgrove Garden 10.00 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 11.30 Anna Haugh 的爱尔兰美食之旅 (R) 12.00 Lorraine Pascale：如何成为更好的厨师 (R) 12.30 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 1.30 体操：2026 年欧洲锦标赛。报道女子项目的第三天及倒数第二天。 5.30 电影：《超人 III》(PG / 1983) 冒险续集。 7.30 在逍遥音乐会庆祝格雷斯兰 (Celebrating Graceland At The Proms) 8.30 TOTP：2003 年大热曲 包含 Beyoncé 和 Sugababes 的演出。 9.30 TOTP：2003 年的故事 由 Mel Giedroyc 旁白。 10.30 Beyoncé 在 BBC (R) 11.00 Sugababes 在 2024 年格拉斯顿伯里 这组流行三人组在 West Holts 舞台上的表演。(R) 11.40 电影：《毕业生》 (12 / 1967) 由 Dustin Hoffman 主演的喜剧正剧。

ITV1 6.00 James Martin 的法国冒险 (R) 6.30 James Martin 的美国冒险 (R) 7.30 Love Your Weekend With Alan Titchmarsh (R) 9.25 ITV 新闻 9.30 ITV 赛马：开幕秀 10.30 James Martin 的星期六早晨 (R) 1.00 新闻；天气 1.15 赛马：纽伯里现场。来自纽伯里、纽马基特和里彭的报道。 4.00 电影：《月 राकेश》(PG / 1979) 由 Roger Moore 主演的詹姆斯·邦德间谍冒险片。 6.30 新闻；天气 6.45 当地新闻；天气 7.00 Deal Or No Deal：名人特辑 喜剧演员 Joe Lycett 对阵银行家。 8.00 电影：《天幕杀机》 (12 / 2012) 由丹尼尔·克雷格主演的詹姆斯·邦德惊悚片。 10.40 ** 新闻；天气 11.00 《楼梯》(The Staircase) 5 / 8 Michael 和他的家人在法院的决定中挣扎。 12.10 英格兰足球联赛集锦**

第4频道

6.05 Cheers (重播) 7.55 Everybody Loves Raymond (重播) 9.55 Frasier (重播) 11.25 The Simpsons (重播) 1.55 Four In A Bed (重播) 4.30 George Clarke's Amazing Spaces (重播) 5.30 Grand Designs (重播) 6.30 第4频道新闻 7.00 Sandi Toksvig's Hidden Wonders 2 / 4 Sandi和Raksha加入了库克本修道院遗址的挖掘工作。(重播) 8.00 Bettany Hughes' Lost Worlds: Dawn Of Civilisations 2 / 2 这位历史学家揭示了文明本身的起源。 9.00 Dictator: The Hitler Interviews 3 / 3 认识希特勒的人们回忆他如何带领德国走向失败与灾难。 10.00 Concorde Crash: Days That Shocked The World 2000年一架超音速喷气机在起飞时坠毁。 11.00 电影：《巨量天赋》 (15 / 2022) 喜剧。 1.00 电影：《Monos》 (15 / 2019)

第5频道

6.00 Milkshake! 9.05 第5频道娱乐新闻 9.20 Bargain-Loving Brits In The Sun (重播) 9.50 Secrets Of The Royal Palaces (重播) 10.45 Yorkshire's Poshest Hotel: Grantley Hall (重播) 12.40 The Royals: Uncensored 1.40 Coastal Adventures With Helen, Jules & J.B. (重播) 3.35 The Yorkshire Vet: A Decade In The Moors & Dales (重播) 5.00 Ken Dodd: 60 Years Of Laughter (重播) 6.55 新闻 7.00 Sussex: Jewel Of The South Coast 4 / 5 布赖顿皇家穹顶建筑内摄政王钢琴的修复。 8.00 Princess Anne: Royal Rule Breaker 英国皇家公主的人物简介。(重播) 9.30 Royal Heirs And Spares: Rivalry & Resentment 继承人及其兄弟姐妹之间的关系。(重播) 11.05 When Live TV Goes Horribly Wrong (重播) 1.00 Cruise TV With LoveBookit (重播)

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新低价 - 英国最佳性价比

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在收到您的订单后，全国范围内的派遣将在所有小时内完成，并已交付至一份为期 30 天的邮寄名单。如果您代表您的订单，请检查一封带有适当预付邮资的邮件，邮寄订单显示在订单上，并包含您的一类邮件，包括一类邮件，包括一类邮件，以及您的一类邮件。派遣不限于从派遣到 . 的订单数量。从 到 的订单数量不受限制。

高额奖金 PH3141 注册办事处：Pressplay Ltd, Mornchurch Hts1 4KD 公司注册号 0374 / 2016 BP PC87 请填写优惠券并于今日邮寄至：Pressplay Ltd. (Dept PH3141) 8 Whittle End, Great Neiloy, Braintree, Essex CM77 9BA。

100% 保证 如果您对购买的商品不完全满意，请在收到货物后 14 天内退货，以获得全额退款。

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有效期：_ / / _ CVC（卡背面最后3位数字）头衔： 名字：____ 姓氏：地址：邮编：手机 / 电话：电子邮件：由MasterCard、Visa、MasterCard、Visa、MasterCard或其他公司向您提供的库存和 / 或任何纸质产品及产品。如果您不希望购买这些产品，您可能需要支付由MasterCard或Visa向您提供的纸质产品及产品的价格。如果您有法律、税务或其他法律条件，您将被要求支付由MasterCard或Visa向您提供的纸质产品及产品的价格。如果您有法律、税务或其他法律条件，您将被要求支付由MasterCard或Visa向您提供的纸质产品及产品的价格。源代码 MOS3226 Chums Ltd. 公司注册号 1101470 ---

Gtech 在污垢占据主导之前将其清理干净 # Standard Duo 完美的无线清洁组合。

The AirRAM 2 和 Multi 协同工作，应对您家中的每一个角落。从地毯和硬质地板到楼梯和软装，它们让日常清洁变得更快捷、更轻便、更简单。无需电缆，无需复杂的设置，且性能绝不妥协。屡获殊荣的 AirRAM 2 采用专利 AirLOC 技术，在向前推时捕捉大颗粒碎片，在向后拉时捕捉细小灰尘。其低剖面手柄可轻松触及家具下方，而明亮的 LED 前照灯则能揭示隐藏的灰尘。轻便的 Multi 手持设备随时准备应对立式吸尘器无法触及的地方。其电动刷头可清除软装和楼梯上的污垢，而集成工具可快速清理踢脚线、架子、汽车内饰和尴尬的角落。它们共同为您提供自由，使用一套完美匹配的无线系统清洁整个家。 - 立式与手持结合，实现全屋彻底清洁。综合运行时间可达 60 分钟。 - 适用于地毯和硬质地板的专利 AirLOC 技术。无需更改设置——只需开启即可清洁。 - 低剖面手柄可触及家具下方。全宽 LED 前照灯照亮隐藏的灰尘。轻量化设计——AirRAM 3.3kg，Multi 1.5kg。 - 缝隙刷和除尘刷附件。 - 易清空集尘桶，实现快速、卫生的处置。包含 22V 锂离子电池及双充电器。 评级：优秀 4.8 / 5 ★★★★★

即刻在 www.gtech.co.uk 订购或扫描二维码

结账时输入代码 DR45 节省 £200 包含价值 £50 的免费汽车配件套装 现价 £249.98 原价 £449.98（若在 9 月 30 日前订购）。†免费次日送达。

"AirRAM 和 Multi 是您全屋清洁的完美搭档。它们共同构成了一个轻量化的组合，旨在应对房屋、汽车及更多场景。" Nick Grey 发明者兼创始人

Gtech 深受客户喜爱 超过 10 万条经认证的 5 星评价 †所有英国地址均可免费配送。所有仅订购备件和配件的其他订单将收取 £3.99 的配送费。次日送达仅限英国本土（不含高地地区）。请访问 Gtech.co.uk 查看完整条款与条件。

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PUZZLEMEISTER® MAILONSUNDAY.CO.UK

开始解谜吧！

谜题数量多于本周任何其他日期的任何报纸 # 单词搜索

横向 1 美国第四任总统，曾率领国家与英国开战 (5.7) 8 固体二氧化碳，用作制冷剂并在舞台表演中制造烟雾 (3.3) 11 英国歌手，在第二次世界大战期间被昵称为“军队的” “甜心” (4.4) 12 桥，19世纪跨越泰晤士河的建筑；伦敦的标志性象征 (5) 13 见 29 纵向 14 植物和动物中循环发生的事件或过程 (5) 15 美国篮球队伍，在距离上次夺冠 53 年后赢得了 2026 年 NBA 总冠军 (3.4.6) 17 现有的事态 (6.3) 19 J.J. 发现电子的英国物理学家 (7) 23 一种半宝石，颜色从白色到绿色不等 (4) 24 与一组生物进化发展的早期阶段有关 (9) 25 热带海域的大型海洋棘鳍食用鱼 (4) 26 George 1924 年在珠穆朗玛峰去世的英国登山家 (7) 28 1971 年由 Ken Russell 执导，Vanessa Redgrave 和 Oliver Reed 主演的电影 (3.6) 31 爱尔兰政治家；曾三次担任爱尔兰总理（Taoistarch）并担任爱尔兰第三任总统 (5.2.6) 34 Stuart 历史上在测试板球赛中得分第二高的英格兰球员 (5) 36 Ferber，撰写了《演艺船》（Show Boat）和《巨人》（Giant）的美国小说家 (4) 37 一种用于修剪草坪的机器 (5) 38 腰带，授予各重量级英国职业拳击冠军的奖项 (8) 39 Robinson 的同伴：丹尼尔·笛福 1719 年小说中的克鲁索 (6) 40 一种含有威士忌、其他成分以及糖或糖浆的鸡尾酒 (3.9) 纵向 2 马达加斯加罕见的夜行树栖灵长类动物，与狐猴相关 (3-3) 3 衣肩上的装饰材料，尤其是军装 (9) 4 爱尔兰共和国西北部的一个郡，位于大西洋沿岸 (4) 5 由晚礼服夹克和正式长裤组成的套装，通常搭配领结 (6.4) 6 用串签烹饪并配以酱汁的烧烤调味肉 (5) 7 新泽西州最大的城市 (6) 8 McInnes，2026 年 6 月从 Hearts 加入 Rangers 的苏格兰足球教练 (5) 9 用于银镜、激光和作为催化剂的银色金属元素 (7) 10 车辆或旅客被停止以进行官方身份确认或检查的地方 (10) 16 昏迷状态 (6) 18 Heep，查尔斯·狄更斯小说《大卫·科波菲尔》中的角色 (5) 20 西班牙西南部的一个港口，位于 Odel 河和 Tinto 河的河口之间 (6) 21 中欧和南欧的类蜥蜴两栖动物 (10) 22 一个民间故事中的标题角色，由仙女教母协助 (10) 25 一个播送时事讨论和听众电话的广播电台 (4.5) 27 非洲和亚洲森林的大型猫科动物，通常具有带有黑点的黄褐色皮毛 (7) 29 & 13 横向 My Country，由 Gustav Holst 作曲的英国爱国赞美诗 (1.3.2.4) 30 Charles de 法国将军和政治家，1959-1969 年担任法国总统 (6) 32 代表人体形状的模特，用于展示衣服 (5) 33 被某种形式的奖励承诺所诱惑或吸引 (5) 35 古埃及的生命象征，形状为顶部带环的十字架 (4) # 现在有三种参与方式 完成奖金填字游戏并计算完成后的网格中字母 T 出现了多少次。然后发送短信 ISPY 加上你的答案、姓名和邮编至 657061。短信费用为 £1 加上你的标准网络费用。或者拨打 0905 652 2210 并留下你的答案和详细信息。通话费用为 £1 加上你电话公司的网络接入费。参赛作品在周五晚上 8:30 前截止。或者将你完成的网格以及你的答案邮寄至 Prize Crossword 2200, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 354, Wynondham, NR9 1SA。参赛作品必须在 8 月 14 日周五前送达（不接受复印件）。获胜者将从正确答案中随机选出。请参阅今日的答案面板了解条款和条件。2278 号获胜者：Jamie Sanders, Glasgow。上周答案：10 ---

谜题时间！ # SUMMIT UP 如果每个三角形中的数字是下方两个数字之和，那么顶部的数字是多少？答案下周公布。

# KEIJO 将瓷砖放入网格中，使每行和每列都出现四个不同的数字和四个不同的形状。答案下周公布。

# WORD BUILDER 回答每个线索，使每个单词包含与前一个单词相同的字母，加上或减去一个字母。答案下周公布。

1 引导 2 贸易 3 林地开垦 4 自由摆动 5 负担沉重的 6 大学官员 7 兽穴 # KEN KEN 用数字 1-6 填充方格，使每个数字在每行和每列中出现一次。数字还必须产生每个区域左上角的结果——乘、加、减或除。数字在区域内可以重复。答案下周公布。

QUICK SUDOKU 用数字 1 到 9 完成网格，使每行、每列和 3x3 宫格包含数字 1 到 9 且仅使用一次。 # 参与方式：发送短信 PRICE 加上你的答案（5 个阴影方格从上到下）；姓名和邮编至 60700。短信费用为 £1 加上您的标准网络费用。或拨打 0160 252 5660 留下您的答案和详细信息。通话费用为 £1 加上您电话公司的网络接入费。参赛截止至周五晚上 11:30。条款和条件请参阅今日的答案面板。电话 / fred 服务。帮助热线：0530 1050 600。7月 19 日获胜者：John Grocott，斯托克-昂-特伦特。本周答案将于下周公布，获胜者姓名将于 8月 10. 星期日公布。赢取 £100 / 2 / 9 / 4 / 1 / --- / 8 / 5 / 3 / 4 / 6 / 4 / 5 / 2 / 9 / 7 / 5 / 3 / 7 / 3 / 7 / 6 / 2 / 9 / 3 / 8 / 9 / 2 / 9 / 6 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 4 / 9 / 5 / # DINGBATS 在字母或符号中寻找熟悉的短语、名称或谚语。读者受邀将 Dingbats 发送到 The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 354, Wymondham, NR18 8JG。每篇被发表的作品将获得 £10 图书代金券。请访问网站 dingbats.net。答案在今日的答案面板上。

1. 来自 Mrs L. Wood, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset # KEYPIT 2. 来自 Sarah Bennett, Havant, Hunts

3. 来自 Brian Johnson, Ringwood, Hunts # Lucre IV Nil 4. 来自 Barry Dugard, Witney, Oxon # DITLOIDS 你能算出下面的首字母代表什么吗？例如，7 D of the W = 7 days of the week（一周七天）。答案在今日的答案面板上。 1 N The 9 O'C N 4 18.29 M: M T J W R 2 1660: The R of the M 5 1 M N by PC 3 A T Of 2℃ by CD 6 A H has 7 S / 5 / 9 / 3 / --- / 3 / 6 / 2 / 8 / 1 / 3 / 2 / 9 / 7 / 3 / 8 / 4 / 1 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 1 / 4 / 5 / 9 / 8 / 9 / 7 / 1 / 6 / 2 / 7 / MEDIA / 9 / 8 / --- / 2 / 5 / 9 / 4 / 1 / 6 / 4 / 2 / 1 / 5 / 4 / 7 / 8 / 7 / 3 / 2 / 8 / 1 / 7 / 3 / HAND # BRAIN TRAIN 沿着我们的心算火车轨道运行，看看你能走多远——以及需要多长时间！共有四个车站，A、B、C 和 D。你可以从 A、B 或 C 开始，并在 B、C 或 D 停止。从你选择的起点出发，按照指令行驶到目的地。在每个停靠点写下你的答案，然后从车站后的第一个数字重新开始。答案在今日的答案面板上。

评级：良好 - 从 A 到 B 用时 30 秒。非常优秀 - B 到 C 用时 30 秒或 A 到 C 用时 50 . 卓越 - C 到 D 用时 30 , B 到 D 用时 50 或 A 到 D 用时 75 . 杰出 - A 到 D 用时 60 . # PUB QUIZ

1 电影：哪部 1989 年的动画电影讲述了一只名叫小脚（Littlefoot）的幼年恐龙寻找大峡谷（Great Valley）的故事？ # 2 音乐：《Lovefoot》和《Erase / Rewind》是哪个瑞典摇滚乐队的单曲？ # 3 电视与广播：在哪个电视剧集中，皮尔斯·奎格利（Pearce Quigley）饰演一名创造类人生物来回答自己问题的男子？ # 4 体育：谁是 2022 年男子 T20 世界杯上英格兰队的队长兼最高得分手？ 答案见今日的解答面板。 # 5 地理：由近 1200 个岛屿组成，亚洲陆地面积最小的国家是哪个？ # 6 艺术：在雅克-路易·大卫（Jacques-Louis David）的五幅肖像画中，哪位历史人物被描绘成骑马跨越阿尔卑斯山？ # 7 饮食：以一名俄罗斯贵族命名的，由牛肉配芥末酸奶油酱组成的菜肴叫什么？ # 8 自然：太平洋地缘蛤（Pacific geoduck）属于哪种类型的软体动物？ # 9 词汇：单词 expate 的含义是什么？ a) 驱逐，b) 加速，c) 赎罪。 # 10 英国：奥克尼群岛（Orkney islands）人口最多的城镇是哪个？ # 11 今年：哪位歌手在 7 月 19 日的国际足联世界杯决赛中场秀上演唱了他的抒情曲《Everything Hallelujah》？ # 12 随机题：四福音书的作者中，谁是艺术家、医生和单身汉的守护圣人？ # 骨架填字游戏（BARE BONES）赢取一套柯林斯英语词典和同义词词典，以及一本布拉德福德填字游戏解题词典。我们的骨架填字游戏非常独特，因为你必须同时完成网格——包括数字和方格。我们已经插入了四个黑格和四个线索数字来引导你开始。该填字游戏具有四向对称性：顶部与底部、左侧与右侧均匹配，因此你可以立即填入另外 12 个方格。

有一份奖品，包括一套柯林斯英语词典和同义词词典，以及一本布拉德福德填字游戏解题词典。请将你的答案发送至：Bare Bones Crossword 1260, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 354, Wymondham, NR18 8JG。参赛作品必须在 8 月 10 日星期五前寄达（不接受复印件）。获胜者的姓名将于 8 月 10 日起根据首个正确答案公布。1260 题的获胜者：尼克·加雷特（Nick Garrett），斯塔福德。

姓名 地址

邮编

电话

横向 1 灵长类动物能够吃零食吗？ 4 极佳的选择 9 彻底地布置汽车 12 寻求获得贵族的时间 14 关于数量的诚实 15 在时间测试后出发 16 恶棍去掉了鞋的前端 17 新测试包括一种上层阶级疾病 18 补救措施包括一个小誓言 20 工匠关心他人 22 准备好领取 23 发生在安静的部分 25 酗酒者得到礼物 - 把那个塞进你的烟斗（两个单词） 27 被粉碎的理由 28 被英国游戏醉倒

纵向 2 丹麦人超出范围 3 看起来像有蔬菜 5 浸没，失去黄金 - 初始颜色 6 部落最初产生噪音 7 英国评论员率先发现缺陷 8 互联网笑话混淆了笔记和纪念品 10 坦克在后面抓到了一个 11 被遗忘，他的集会没礼貌 12 给动画片的钱很少 13 感觉范围内的器官被盗 19 共和党人结束命名狗 21 同伴的代表 24 对数量感到满意 26 低飞的猛禽

--- 开始解谜！

11 # 心理障碍（MENTAL BLOCKS） 将彩色方块放入正方形中，不得旋转或翻转。每个方块覆盖的数字之和应等于圆圈中的总数。彩色方块中不得出现重复数字。答案下周公布。

单词方格（WORD SQUARE）

尝试这个迷你谜题。答案下周公布。

横向

1 玩家 2 囤积 3 移除 4 不动 5 美国硬币

纵向

1 阁楼 2 长腿鸟 3 徽章 4 明显的 5 休息

BULL'S EYE

你能用给出的字母组成多少个四个或更多字母的单词？每个字母只能使用一次，且每个单词必须包含中心字母。至少有一个单词使用了全部九个字母。不得使用大写字母、连字符或撇号，不得使用以 's' 结尾的动词形式，不得使用以 's' 结尾的复数形式。答案将于下周公布。

你的得分如何？

根据你找到的单词数量评分 —— 17 个：良好；25 个：非常好；33 个或更多：优秀

ARROWORD

完成网格，然后将黄色方格中的字母重新排列，以揭晓一个海滨城镇的名字。答案将于下周公布。

参与方式：发送 ARWORD 加上你的答案、姓名和邮编至 65700（例如：ARWORD London John Smith WR 517）。测试费用为 (1) 加上标准网络费用。或拨打 0901 252 5890 留下你的答案和详细信息。通话费用为 (1) 加上你电话公司的网络接入费。线路将于周五 1 / 2(fpm 关闭。条款和条件请参阅今日的答案面板。第 19 期获胜者：Jean Potter，东格里纳斯泰德（East Grinstead）。电话 / 短信服务帮助热线：0338 8606 685。

QUICK CROSSWORD

答案将于下周公布。

横向

1 美国硬币 (4) 3 数学分支 (8) 9 马 (7) 10 喜马拉雅国家 (5) 11 比利时前网球运动员 (7,5) 13 尼克（Nick）的作者 (6) 15 顶点 (6) 17 水果 (12) 20 称重 (5) 21 移动房屋 (7) 22 不循常规的人 (8) 23 颜色 (4)

纵向

1 大瓶 (8) 2 圣经领袖 (5) 4 渔夫 (6) 5 电流 (12) 6 鸟 (7) 7 水手 (4) 8 前英格兰足球运动员 (5,7) 12 法庭处罚 (8) 14 北卡罗来纳州首府 (7) 16 灌木 (6) 18 重块 (5) 19 用于清理伤口的棉球 (4)

FUTOSHIKI

每行和每列都需填入数字 1, 2, 3, 4 和 5。同一数字在任何行或列中不能出现超过一次。你唯一的线索是给出的数字，以及一个数字是大于 (>) 还是小于 (<) 相邻数字。答案将于下周公布。

KILLER

适用数独的一般规则。此外，每个内部虚线形状中的数字之和必须等于左上角的数字。答案将于下周公布。

KAKURO

使用数字 1-9 填充每个空白方格序列。每个序列 —— 无论是横向还是纵向 —— 的总和必须等于该序列开头或顶部的阴影框中的数字。数字在同一行或列中可以重复，但在同一个序列中不能重复。答案将于下周公布。

EVENS

在方格中填入 1 到 9 的任意数字，使每行和每列的数字之和等于给出的总数。同一行或列中不得重复数字，且偶数必须放在阴影方格中。答案将于下周公布。

TETROMINOES

使用给出的形状，通过将网格分为若干部分，创建四个四个字母的变位词。你可以旋转形状，但不能翻转。答案将于下周公布。

CHESS

黑方的王毫无防备，因此获胜只是时间问题。作为白方，你能在最多三步之内将黑方将死吗？我们的答案在答案面板上。

BATTLESHIPS

在网格中寻找一艘战列舰、两艘巡洋舰、三艘驱逐舰和四艘潜艇。网格右侧和下方的数字表示该行或列中有多少个方格包含船只或船只的一部分。船只互不接触，即使是斜向也不接触。答案将于下周公布。

---

12 尽情解谜！

SIR LANCELOT AND HIS PAGE

参与挑战，赢取 £250！

赢取 £250

每周，我们勇敢的骑士都会与他的侍童进行一场友好的较量。他们提供不同的线索，但答案相同。兰斯洛特爵士提供隐晦线索（Cryptic Clues），而他的侍童提供快速线索（Quick Clues）。加入他们的游戏，计算完成后的网格中字母 'i' 出现了多少次，即有机会赢取 £250！答案将于下周日公布。

SIR LANCELOT'S CRYPTIC CLUES

OUTLOOKS 3 Not The 9 O'Clock News, 2 Bold The Restoration of the Monarchs, 3 A Tale Of 2 Cities by Charles Dickens, 4 BLS Mimes: Men's Triple Jump World Record, 5 I'Pere Night by Phil Collins, 6 A Hegtoppen has 7 Sales. # CHESS 1. QaD= 4b6.2. QbD= Kag5. Qd4 mute. If L. Kg8 then 2. Qd7= Kh8 5. Kk8 mute: If L. Kk8 then 2. Qf8 mute. 条款与条件：仅限英国居民参加，北爱尔兰居民、推广者员工或任何与推广者相关的人员、其亲属或家庭成员除外。参赛者必须年满 16 岁或以上。参赛即表示接受这些条款，每人限参加一次。将从所有收到且符合条件的正确参赛条目中选出一名获胜者。获胜者将在 7 天内获得通知，若未在 7 天内接受奖品，则任何索赔均无效，届时推广者将选出另一名获胜者。奖品不可转让。推广者保留用等值物品替换奖品的权利。推广者对所有事项的判定为最终结果。不接受任何信函往来。推广者保留在其合理酌情决定下执行以下权利：(a) 取消任何行为违反条款精神的参赛者资格；(b) 宣布任何因印刷、制作和 / 或分发错误而导致，或因实质性影响索赔人性质或索赔价值的错误而产生的参赛条目无效。如果这些条款中的任何规定不可执行，则应将其与其余部分分离，且不影响其他规定的有效性。这些条款受英国法律管辖。推广者为关联报业有限公司（Associated Newspapers Limited），地址为 5 Every Street, London W8 5HY

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ON SUNDAY

AUGUST 9, 2026

Ultimate guide to watching Wednesday's

SOLAR ECLIPSE

As we reveal ex-duke will be given ceremonial send-off, Epstein victims say: It's an embarrassment to the Crown

FURY OVER ROYAL FUNERAL PLAN FOR SHAMED ANDREW

ROYAL EXCLUSIVE

By Gabriel Millard-Clothier and Mark Hookham

ANDREW Mountbatten-Windsor is due to receive a royal ceremonial funeral – despite his dramatic downfall and being stripped of all his titles.

Senior Whitehall sources have told The Mail on Sunday that the former Duke of York remains on a secret government list of royals who will receive high-profile funerals, even though he became a private citizen following revelations of his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

This newspaper understands the controversial arrangement is part of the Government's so-called 'bridge' plans, which lay out – far in advance and in meticulous

Turn to Page 4 >>

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2

The Mail on Sunday AUGUST 9 • 2026

Weather

UK FORECAST

INTERNAL FORECASTS

London, South East, South, South West, Channel Islands: Morning: Mostly sunny. Afternoon: Sun with light winds. Evening: Becoming cloudy with a gentle breeze. Max 30K 86F.

Wales, Midlands, East Anglia: Morning: Mostly sunny, light winds. Afternoon: Mostly cloudy, breezy. Evening: Mostly cloudy, winds easing. Max 29K 84F.

North West, North East: Morning mostly cloudy with light winds. Afternoon remains cloudy, breezy at times. Evening clouds persist, winds easing. Max 29K 75F. Scotland: Morning rain eases to cloudy skies in the afternoon. Evening clean, with sunny intervals and light winds. Max 17K 63F.

Northern Ireland, Eire: Morning: cloudy with rain. Afternoon: rain continues, breezy. Evening: mostly cloudy, easing winds. Max 21K 70F.

YESTERDAY (24 hours to 6pm) – Warmest: New Gardens, 27c. Coldest: Ulyssdream, 5c. Wettest: Knitschowe, 50.40mm. Sunniest: Hum, 14.5hrs.

Barometer (6pm) – 1072.85mb. Rising: Humidity, 23 per cent. WEEK AHEAD Monday starts with mostly sunny spells, becoming sunny by Tuesday. By Wednesday, expect increasing warmth and sun, leading to Thursday's hot, sunny conditions with highs peaking in the south-east.

SIX-DAY FORECAST

	MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	SAT
LONDON	29	29	33	34	31	30
ABERDEEN	15	17	20	19	17	16
BELFAST	19	23	24	22	20	19
BIRMINGHAM	25	29	32	30	28	27
CANTENBURY	25	23	26	29	27	25
CARDIFF	24	28	28	25	24	24
GLASGOW	19	23	24	21	20	19
LEEDS	23	27	30	28	26	25
MANCHESTER	22	29	31	27	25	24
MERCKSTILE	20	23	26	26	23	21
NORWICH	23	24	27	31	27	25
PLYMOUTH	25	26	27	26	26	25

CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

All our journalists observe the Editors' Code of Practice and the Mail is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). We aim to correct any errors as promptly as possible. ■ To report an inaccuracy, email corrections@mailonsunday.co.uk. To make a formal complaint, go to mailonsunday.co.uk/readereditor. You can also write to Readers' Editor, The Mail on Sunday, 9 Derry Street, London W1 5HY, or contact IPSO directly at ipso.co.uk.

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Lammy plots bid to be London's mayor

FORMER deputy prime minister David Lammy plans a bid to be London's mayor if Sir Sadiq Khan decides not to run for a fourth term, say Labour sources.

Mr Lammy, ousted from Cabinet when Andy Burnham entered No 10, is understood to believe the sinking fortunes of Zack Polanski's Greens mean Labour is 'back in play' for the mayoralty. Sir Sadiq said yesterday he would decide next year whether to stand for election again in 2028 – if he serves another full term, he will have been

By Glen Owen and Dan Hodges

London's mayor for 16 years. 'My tank is full, I'm still fizzing with ideas,' he said. To his critics, those ideas have included an obsession with restricting the use of cars, including the hated 20mph zones, and a failure to tackle knife crime. Mr Lammy, the London-born MP for Tottenham, was dubbed 'Calamity Lammy' by the Tories when Justice Secretary after accidental prisoner

releases. In 2017, he chaired a review which found that despite making up only 14 per cent of the population, black individuals accounted for 25 per cent of prisoners and more than 40 per cent of young people in custody. Labour has stretched its lead over the Greens since Mr Burnham became Prime Minister. A minister said: 'David Lammy's planning to go for it. His calculation is that with Polanski going backwards, the door's opened for him.' Dan Hodges – Page 37

Navy steps up Russia patrols as US warns Putin could hit Nato

By Padraic Flanagan

THE Royal Navy has stepped up patrols to monitor Russian military activity as US spy chiefs warned Vladimir Putin could order attacks on a Nato country within weeks.

US officials fear Russia wants to test the alliance's resolve by mounting a small land incursion or launching cyber attacks across Eastern Europe at any time from this autumn to 2029.

The warnings come after a Russian missile landed in Poland last week and an explosive drone was found at Leipzig airport in Germany on Tuesday, near a Ukrainian jet carrying weapons.

Increased vigilance by Britain's Armed Forces has also been ordered, with Royal Navy crews out on patrol monitoring Russian activity in coastal and North Atlantic waters for 21 days in July.

Poland's deputy prime minister and foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski, speaking to the BBC yesterday, confirmed the US assessment. He said: 'We think Putin is pretty desperate and may do some kind of false flag provocation.

'He's not capable of launching an invasion of Nato, but something nasty is possible.'

Retired rear admiral Mark Montgomery, director of US research institute The Foundation for Defence of Democracies, said military experts had been monitoring Russia's move towards hybrid warfare in Eastern Europe.

He said: 'They call it 'new generation warfare', which is a mix of explosive events,

BLAZE: The aftermath of Russian strikes near Kyiv yesterday

drone attacks, jamming events, cyber attacks, influence operations, disinformation and even weaponised migration.

'Their likelihood of using it at some scale to try to send Nato a strong deterrent message to stop its support for Ukraine or an even more aggressive attack is coming.

'I think there's a reasonable belief that that's true, and I'm glad the intelligence community is saying it out loud.'

He said a Russian land incur-

sion into Eastern Europe or a Baltic state could be likely if hostilities in Ukraine cease and Europe gets distracted.

But Mr Sikorski said Putin's attempts to weaken Nato have so far failed, saying: 'I think he's strengthened Nato's resolve over the last few years. We're spending hundreds of billions on defence that we wouldn't have done without Putin invading Ukraine. We need till the end of the decade to rearm, and

then I'll be confident he won't dare attack.'

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) revealed yesterday that Royal Navy deployments to shadow Russian warships and submarines in British waters were up 25 per cent in the seven months of this year compared to 2025.

It comes after Royal Marine commandos intercepted and boarded a sanctioned shadow fleet oil tanker, Smyrto, in the English Channel in June.

The UK is regarded as a leader in tackling the shadow fleet, having already sanctioned more than 500 vessels.

A MoD spokesman said: 'By disrupting the shadow fleet, the UK and international partners are directly bearing down on the resources sustaining Russia's aggression in Ukraine and reducing its capacity to threaten security across Europe and beyond.'

Meanwhile, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky announced yesterday that Kyiv had secured a deal with the US for monthly deliveries of Patriot air-defence missiles.

Earlier, Russian strikes killed three people, including a child, near Kyiv. Explosions were reported at three locations near the capital, in the Boryspil district, with firefighters called to tackle blazes.

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For Promotions and Reader Offer companies please call us on 0330 1000 601. Call us 0330 numbers are free from landlines, mobile providers may charge. To contact The Mail on Sunday, email us at news@mailonsunday.co.uk or call the Newsdesk on 020 7591 6000.

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AUGUST 9 • 2026 The Mall on Sunday

71

3

Tom and Zendaya’s latest Odyssey... a spin round Richmond Park in their ‘wedding gift’ E-Type Jag

HOMECOMING: Tom and Zendaya zip through London’s Richmond Park

THEIR diaries have been rather hectic for the past few months, whether it’s red carpet appointments or wedding ceremonies.

But just days after throwing a huge party at a Surrey hotel to celebrate tying the knot, Tom Holland and Zendaya had a more relaxing afternoon by going for a spin in the Spider-Man actor’s 1970 Jaguar E-type.

He was seen at the wheel of the racing green car as the newlyweds zipped through Richmond Park in south-west London, near the £1million home they spent two years renovating. In a blue T-shirt and baseball cap, Holland, 30, kept a low profile, while his wife, 29, who was looking at her phone, wore a white vest top.

Friday’s trip came just three days after their wedding celebration party at the five-star Beaverbrook Hotel in Surrey, 16 miles from their home.

Sources suggest the car could have

By Katie Hind

been a gift for the pair. They are thought to have wed earlier this year, a secret kept until Zendaya’s stylist Law Roach broke the news at the Actor Awards in LA in March, announcing: ‘The wedding has already happened. You missed it.’

They squeezed in the big day despite a busy schedule ahead. Holland and Zendaya’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day press tour lasted almost seven weeks in June and July, visiting cities such as Madrid, Rome, Berlin, Mexico City and New York. Their final stop was in London on July 29, six days before their bash.

Between Spider-Man jobs, Holland and California-born Zendaya promoted The Odyssey in which they play Telemachus and Athena. Holland, worth an estimated £20million,

ON THE WEB? Zendaya on phone and couple at Spider-Man premiere

has an impressive collection of cars, including a Porsche Taycan Turbo S, Audi RS7 Sportback, and Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Meanwhile, Zendaya has been seen driving a dark green Range Rover SV. The pair first met in early 2016 during auditions for Spider-Man: Homecoming.

By Roger Dobson

HAVING relationship troubles? Then try stroking your partner’s arm at the precise speed at which cherry blossom falls.

It might sound bizarre, but an experiment has concluded that gently stroking a line along the inner forearm, between the wrist and the elbow, can significantly improve mood and happiness.

The stroking – done with a soft paintbrush – should be conducted at just five centimetres a second – the speed at which cherry blossom falls to the ground in spring.

The technique improved mood by up to 50 per cent and works even if you’re in a grump.

In fact, it’s so successful it could be used in couples therapy, the study found. The experiment, by researchers at Karoli Gaspar University in Hungary, involved 110 men and women quizzed

...and scientists’ bizarre tip for them to stay happy? Stroke each other’s arms

about relationship satisfaction. A 10cm (4in) line was drawn along the inner right forearm, starting at the wrist and extending towards the elbow, and electrodes were put on their chest to monitor heart rhythm.

Participants were first shown images designed to trigger a neg-

ative mood. Some then had the line stroked by a romantic partner using a watercolour brush at 5cm per second for three minutes. Others were stroked by a researcher, while a third group simply looked at their arm without stroking. If a romantic partner did the stroking, mood scores

improved by 40 to 50 per cent for men and women – even if they weren’t completely satisfied in their relationship. Scores were 20 percentage points higher than if a researcher was involved.

One theory as to why it works is that nerves called C-tactile fibres in hairy skin respond to slow

skin-to-skin contact to trigger social bonding and stress reduction. In the International Journal of Psychophysiology, the research team wrote: ‘For those who respond well to stroking it might be usable even under difficult emotional circumstances, such as in couples therapy.’

PHOTOGRAPH: KATHY HANKEE

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4

The Mall on Sunday AUGUST 9 • 2026

From Andrew Young

IN FUNCHAL, MADEIRA

THE wedding plans of Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez remained a mystery today after their rumoured marriage ceremony in a Madeira cathedral turned out to be for another couple.

The 41-year-old Portuguese footballer and his model fiancée Georgina, 32, had been heavily tipped to tie the knot at the Roman Catholic cathedral in Funchal, the capital of the island where he was born.

But after a crowd of more than 2,000 people gathered yesterday, it quickly became apparent that the bride and groom were an entirely unconnected Portuguese couple from

'I don't think Fabio will forget this in a hurry'

Madeira called Fabio Ramos and Fatima Nicole Cunha Teixeira, who live in France and had returned to the island to wed.

Fans of former Real Madrid and Manchester United star Cristiano – including many wearing No.7 football shirts bearing his name – began flocking to the cathedral amid a swirl of suggestions that the superstar was getting married at the 15th-century venue.

One member of the real wedding party said: 'Fabio is not Cristiano Ronaldo. I don't think he is going to forget his wedding in a hurry.'

Rumours about when and where Ronaldo plans to tie the knot have abounded ever since the couple got engaged in August last year.

OWN GOAL: Confused fans mob the wedding car yesterday

WHITNEYS

ROLLING?

Thousands of fans flock to Ronaldo's wedding – only to find it's another couple

» From Page One

detail – the funeral arrangements for members of the Royal Family.

Queen Elizabeth's funeral in 2022 followed a blueprint known as 'Operation London Bridge', while Prince Philip's was 'Operation Forth Bridge' – after the bridge close to the Scottish capital.

Although the details of the arrangements for Mountbatten-Windsor's funeral are unknown, royal experts believe a service would be held at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, where the funerals of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were held.

The 14th-century chapel also serves as the venue for baptisms and royal weddings, including that of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018.

It is anticipated that Mountbatten-Windsor would be buried at the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore, a 33-acre private cemetery in Home Park, Windsor.

Others buried there include King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne in disgrace in 1936 to marry American socialite Wallis Simpson, who is also buried there.

It is not expected that the plan for 66-year-old Mountbatten-Windsor, which is overseen by the Cabinet Office and kept under constant review, will be required for some time, given that he appears

DISGRACED: Andrew with Jeffrey Epstein in New York in 2011

to be in good health. But last night US lawyer Gloria Allred, who has represented 27 of Epstein's victims, said: 'Andrew has brought disgrace upon the Royal Family and the UK as a result of his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein.

'Under these circumstances, the question arises as to why this man should be afforded the honour of a royal funeral. What kind of message would such a ceremony send to Epstein's victims?

'Additionally, why should UK taxpayers bear the burden of paying his expenses either in life or after his death?'

Alicia Kearns, Tory shadow Home Office minister, said: 'There are no circumstances under which

Andrew should be afforded a royal funeral.

'He should live out his days far from public life, and the police and CPS should ensure their investigations into him are robust and don't drag on. All such plans should be revoked immediately.'

Norman Baker, a former government minister and expert in royal finances, said: 'This must be an oversight. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor is a commoner and should in no way be getting any sort of royal funeral.'

The 'bridge' plan for Andrew is likely to have been revised in the past year to take into account that he is no longer a working royal. In a humiliating blow, King Charles stripped his brother of his HRH style and prince title in November last year.

Royal experts believe Mountbatten-Windsor's funeral would be similar to that of Princess Margaret, who died in 2002 aged 71 after a stroke and cardiac complications. A 400-strong congregation, including 30 royals, attended a private service in St George's Chapel. Flags were flown at half-mast at all royal residences throughout a six-day period of mourning.

Ahead of the funeral, the princess's coffin was laid in Kensington Palace, where her family paid their respects. It was draped in Margaret's standard and a spray of white lilies and roses and was

then taken to the Queen's Chapel at St James's Palace.

The coffin was then driven to Windsor where police had to erect barriers for 3,000 people to watch the cortege enter the castle gates.

In a break from royal tradition, which is unlikely to feature in Mountbatten-Windsor's plans, Princess Margaret was later cremated at Slough Crematorium.

While not an official state or public occasion, the funeral was a major royal event that was accompanied by a costly policing and security operation.

One delicate matter the former Duke may have to ponder in the

'All such plans should be revoked immediately'

coming years is who will act as pallbearers during his ceremony.

Servicemen from regiments associated with members of the Royal Family normally have the honour of carrying their coffin.

Eight sergeants from the Royal Highland Fusiliers, of which Princess Margaret was the colonel-in-chief, carried her coffin.

Mountbatten-Windsor served in the Royal Navy, including during the Falklands War as a Sea King helicopter co-pilot, and was the honorary colonel of the Grenadier Guards, the Royal Irish Regiment,

and the Royal Regiment of Scotland. However, he lost his military titles amid the Epstein scandal.

Retired Rear Admiral Chris Parry, who captained the Royal Navy's HMS Fearless, said he believed the Navy would ask for volunteers to act as pallbearers.

'The guy doesn't relinquish being a naval officer,' he said. 'He wasn't thrown out. He had a Falklands medal and you can't take that away from him and he deserves the credit for that. If somebody said to me 'Would you do it?', I'd do it.'

US lawyer Spencer Kuvin, who represented nine of Epstein's victims, said: 'Taxpayers should not ever be funding a funeral for a private individual. No public money should be used to benefit him during death. It's an embarrassment to the Crown.'

Tory MP Joe Robertson said: 'Public funds should not bankroll Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's funeral. He has lost all his royal titles and publicly funded roles for a reason. He is an ordinary citizen – one who still has a lot of questions to answer – and his funeral should be paid for privately just like everyone else.'

The Cabinet Office and Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

Mountbatten-Windsor did not respond to a request to comment.

Comment – Page 22

MAC IS AWAY

MADELEIRA

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AUGUST 9 • 2026 The Mail on Sunday

5

Farage left 'horrified by police error' as Widdecombe murder detectives reopen their probe into bid to firebomb his home

By Glen Owen

POLITICAL EDITOR

NIGEL Farage has been left 'horrified' by a 'very serious policing error' after officers investigating the killing of Ann Widdecombe reopened an inquiry into an attempt to firebomb his home last year.

Counter-terrorism police said they had 'identified a line of inquiry' about the attack which was 'not identified and pursued... at the time'.

Mr Farage has described the incident in April 2025 as an 'outright arson attempt' rather than the 'attempted burglary' described by police. He was not home at the time and found the damage when he returned. 'Luckily it had burned itself out on the porch,' he said.

Devon and Cornwall Police have faced criticism for prematurely announcing there was 'nothing to suggest' that the killing of Ms Widdecombe was politically motivated - only for counter-terrorism officers to take over the case days later after new evidence emerged.

Reform UK spokesman and former Tory minister Ms Widdecombe, 78, died on July 8 after she was hit over the head with a hammer 21 times at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, a court heard. Joshua Kerry, 28, was charged with her murder and has been remanded in custody.

Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) said it had referred itself to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over the matter.

A source close to Mr Farage said: 'There has been a very serious policing error, which is why counter-terror have referred themselves to IOPC. While Nigel won't make a statement, he has been horrified by the ordeal.'

It came as Mr Farage and his

deputy, Richard Tice, said they were suing the National Crime Agency over what they claimed was an illegal leak of their financial information.

They lodged papers at the High Court last week, seeking damages of more than £25,000, following a series of damaging media stories about Reform's finances.

These included disclosures about an undeclared £5million donation to Mr Farage by crypto-billionaire Christopher Harborne - which Mr Farage said was to pay for security - an £80,000 loan to Mr Tice from George Cottrell, a Farage aide, and a £1million donation

from Mr Cottrell's mother to a think-tank run by Mr Tice.

The articles prompted the Reform leader to resign as MP for Clacton, forcing the by-election to be held on Thursday.

Mr Farage and Mr Tice claim that only the NCA could have been in possession of all of the leaked information.

The Mail on Sunday revealed in July that Reform UK MPs were being given security

protection after Ms Widdecombe's death. Mr Farage said: 'I fear that for anybody in public life, or especially the political space, things have become more dangerous.'

Vicki Evans, senior national co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said: 'As part of the ongoing investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing South East into the murder of Ann Widdecombe, officers have reopened an

investigation into an incident reported to police last year.

'Given the nature of this matter and the interest in the investigation into Ann Widdecombe's death, it was of critical importance for us to provide this update.'

An IOPC spokesman said: 'We can confirm the IOPC has decided to investigate the conduct of a Counter Terrorism Policing London staff member following a referral received earlier today.'

'The conduct relates to an allegation the individual failed to identify and pursue a line of enquiry relating to an attempted burglary reported in April 2025.'

Reform to punish councils that flout single-sex law

REFORM UK has vowed to slash funding for councils that don't protect single-sex spaces.

Robert Jenrick has told The Mail on Sunday town halls can 'wave goodbye to taxpayers' money' if they don't uphold the Supreme Court's ruling that came into force last week.

Left-wing Lambeth Council in London confirmed it will defy the new rules which state services must be provided according to biological sex, not the gender someone identifies as.

Mr Jenrick, Reform's treasury

By Gabriel Millard-Clothier

POLITICAL REPORTER

spokesman, said: 'A Reform UK Government won't tolerate this nonsense. If councils won't abide by the law and respect women-only spaces, they can wave goodbye to taxpayers' money.

'Women and girls across the country must know their rights under the law will always be protected. We will stop at nothing to ensure our agenda is delivered.'

Women's rights campaigners

hailed the guidance as a victory. The leaders of five other London boroughs have committed to keeping their services 'inclusive' and warned the new rules 'feel like an attack' on transgender people.

Reform will make implementing the rules mandatory as part of Local Government Finance Settlements if they get into power.

This £90billion pot is the way central government distributes taxes, grants and sets business rates. It is the main revenue stream for councils across the country. Last night a Government

spokesman said: 'Everyone should follow the law. The rules give service providers the clear, workable guidance they need.'

Reform also pledged it will withhold funds from councils that refuse to co-operate with Home Office immigration raids - as Lewisham Council last month stated.

One Reform Source said the party is 'expecting lots more of this - Lefty councils trying to subvert the stuff we care about'.

Mr Jenrick's announcement comes days before the Clacton-on-Sea by-election which has a record

34 candidates standing. Voters will use the longest ballot paper in British electoral history. The 3ft ballot includes 20 independents and Count Binface who wants to ban the eating of noisy snacks in cinemas and scrap VAR in football.

Polls will close in Essex this Thursday after a campaign triggered by Reform leader Nigel Farage resigning his seat over scrutiny into his finances.

He billed it as an 'establishment versus the people' election. Critics warned it may backfire but Mr Farage is still expected to win.

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6

VI

HYPOCRISY CHARGE: New Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh with Andy Burnham

PM's Left-wing

ally Miatta sends all her children to private school

NEW Energy Secretary and Labour Left-winger Miatta Fahnbulleh was accused of 'classic champagne socialism' last night after The Mail on Sunday discovered all three of her children are privately educated.

This is despite Ms Fahnbulleh champion- ing Labour's decision to slap VAT on public school fees – a policy blamed for making private education unaffordable for thousands of other parents.

Peckham MP Ms Fahnbulleh, 46, a rising star on the party's Left who was made Energy Secretary in Andy Burnham's first Cabinet, last night admitted she sends her children to private school when presented with the MoS' findings. However, she declined to give any details of how much she spends on their education.

Sources estimated that Ms Fahnbulleh, whose husband is a successful City trader and hedge-fund founder, must spend at least £50,000 a year for the privilege.

Within striking distance of the couple's £1.3million home in south-east London are some of the best private schools in the country, including £27,000-a-year Colfe's School, which boasts a swimming pool, two gyms and a theatre; and £30,000-a-year St Dunstan's where pupils can enjoy 23 acres of playing fields.

Critics pointed out last night that in 2024, Ms Fahnbulleh hailed the new Labour Gov-

By Gabriel Millard-Clothier

POLITICAL REPORTER

ernment's decision to remove the exemp- tion of VAT from private school fees despite warnings it would force some smaller schools to close.

Now it emerges 30,000 children have been forced from their independent schools since the policy's introduction – double the Government's estimate.

Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake last night accused Ms Fahnbulleh of 'classic champagne socialism'.

He said: 'Parents who are now unable to afford to send their kids to private school will no doubt feel aggrieved over this hypocrisy.'

Ms Fahnbulleh was educated at Beech- wood Sacred Heart school in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, where boarders pay £45,000 a year.

But as the MoS revealed last month, she was among a group of Labour MPs who made no mention of their independent schooling in their 'Who's Who' entries.

Critics of the VAT on private school fees policy say the tax hike simply forced inde- pendent schools to increase their fees, pricing out the middle classes and leaving them as the preserves of the very wealthy.

Comment: Page 22

Is Burnham's Labour going

cool on using Union flag?

ANDY Burnham has been accused of preparing to downgrade the use of the Union flag on Labour branding in a sop to the party's Left-wing.

Labour insiders said the first sign of ditching Sir Keir Starmer's policy of championing the national flag would come at the party's annual conference.

Last night, a source told The Mail on Sunday: 'Burnham's obviously pandering to the Left as a thank you for helping to get rid of Starmer.'

Insiders have revealed that the flag-

waving of Sir Keir's tenure led some Left- wing MPs to claim their voters did not identify with it. Others said the flag would now be displayed less prominently – with more use of Labour's Red Rose symbol when party matters are concerned. However, senior Labour MP and former minister Graham Stringer warned against such image changes, saying: 'It would be a mistake to make us look less patriotic.'

A Labour spokesman said no decision had been made about the branding for the conference in September.

Lust Actually!

Laura Linney the 'throuple'

By Katie Hind

CONSULTANT EDITOR SHOWBUSINESS

TO date, his most risqué on-screen moment was when his shirt got drenched in the Pemberley pond in the BBC's adaptation of Pride And Prejudice, setting Elizabeth Bennet's heart aflutter. Colin Firth's portrayal of the handsome Mr Darcy transformed him into a heartthrob.

But at the age of 65, Firth is filming his steamiest role yet – as Dr Alex Comfort, the British author of the 1972 love-making manual The Joy Of Sex.

Not only was the late physician the brains behind the book, he was also one third of possibly the first known 'throuple', enjoying an open marriage.

While he was married to wife Ruth, Dr Comfort was also intimately involved with best friend Jane Henderson from Cambridge University.

And now the astonishing story is being made into a film under the title Comfort And Joy, which is being directed by Bridget Jones director Sharon Maguire.

Filming began last week for the movie which will feature Firth alongside his Love Actually co-star Laura Linney, 62, who plays Ruth. The Comforts married in 1943, three years before she gave birth to their son Nicholas.

Hollywood star Julianne Moore, 65, portrays Jane, a librarian who became Comfort's lover and collaborator in cataloguing the choreography of their sexual adventures.

Discussions for the movie began nine years ago. Comfort's son Nicholas, a former government special adviser and journalist who holds the rights for the film, has given it his blessing and is act- ing as a consultant.

He has been on set for much of the film- ing so far and told The Mail on Sunday: 'I've enjoyed every minute of it.'

And so it seems have Firth and his co-stars.

Our exclusive pictures show the actors recording scenes of a trip the trio made to India in 1962 before Comfort published an Eng- lish version of the medieval Indian erotic text The Rati- rahasya under the English title The Koka Shastra.

Rather than India, Firth, Linney and Moore filmed the scenes outside a Hindu

RIVALS: Julianne Moore, left, and Laura Linney filming last week

Linney. She is also seen looking a little downbeat alongside Moore.

And perhaps that is little surprise: While Alex Comfort enjoyed having the two women as lovers, they were unhappy in the love triangle which inspired The Joy Of Sex.

The sex manual is struc- tured like a cookbook with sections labelled 'starters', 'main courses' and 'left- overs'. It combined an open,

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PICTURE EXCLUSIVE

7

First images of Colin Firth, and Julianne Moore playing who inspired The Joy Of Sex

SIZE MATTERS: A gesturing Colin Firth as Alex Comfort on set with Linney. Below, the real Comfort and his best-selling book

sex-positive tone of writing with detailed line drawings and colour paintings of a man and woman engaged in sexual activity.

The book – years ahead of its time – features oral sex and exotic sex positions as well as more outlandish practices such as sexual bondage and swinging.

For many years, while Comfort conducted his practical research for the book with mistress Jane in his north London home, he divided his time between the two women. He would spend Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with Jane and the other four days with Ruth.

He and Jane, then in their 50s, took polaroids of their bedroom

exploits. Comfort had hoped that they would be used for his book but the publishers were unimpressed with their snaps. And

«Conducted practical research with his mistress»

photographs of explicit acts at the time crossed the line into obscenity and pornography.

So instead, the publishers

commissioned artists to illustrate the sexual shenanigans, and employed an art director, Peter Kindersley. The aim was to have both colour and black and white drawings, tasteful images which would be based on photographs.

But they struggled to find anyone who would agree to pose and so employed pornographic models in Soho. But the models cheekily put their prices up by about £100 halfway through the job. And they also pouted too much.

The project was about to be abandoned when one of the illustrators, Charles Raymond, then in his early 40s, said he and his German wife Edeltraud would pose.

It was something of a departure

for Raymond. He was instead well known for botanical paintings, and illustrated for The Reader's Digest Association, plus magazines such as Woman's Mirror and Homes and Gardens. He also produced wallpaper and fabric designs for Edinburgh Weavers and Sanderson.

Raymond and his wife had to act out dozens of positions that Comfort had given them. Chris Foss, overseer of the black-and-white illustrations, took the photos in a hectic two day-long photoshoot.

After it was published in 1972, The Joy Of Sex was a global success, selling 12million copies across the world, including five million in the US. It spent more

than 300 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.

After years working in medicine Comfort, who had studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, in the late 1930s, was transformed into a very wealthy author.

He decided to divorce Ruth in 1973, just a year after the book was published, and then married Jane. He was estranged from his only child Nicholas for many years, with their relationship rekindled only when he suffered a stroke in 1991 which left him unable to speak. His illness coincided with Jane's death the same year.

Comfort died in 2000 aged 80 after a cerebral haemorrhage. Ruth died that year too.

LOU PERSHEN/EDELPHIA, PA. A. M. COCORD, P. B. DAVIS, 2001

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8

MESSIAH WITHOUT A MANDATE

Revealed: Mandarin who runs No 10 North lives in trendy Islington, commutes by train to Manchester and stays in luxury hotel with 23rd floor bar and a pool (and guess who's picking up the bill...)

EXCLUSIVE

By Abul Taher, Arthur Parashar and Cameron Charters

HE'S the civil servant tasked with delivering Andy Burnham's pledge to end centuries of London-centric government by running an outpost in Manchester.

So eyebrows were raised last Monday when Sam Lister strolled out of his £2.2million townhouse in trendy Islington and started his working week from Whitehall as usual.

For The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the newly appointed Director General of No 10 North has no current plans to swap his family's comfortable life in the capital for a symbolic fresh start 200 miles away in Manchester.

Instead, he works Mondays from the Cabinet Office, before catching an early train to Manchester on Tuesday mornings.

Once there, he divides his time between the temporary headquarters of No 10 North and a luxury city centre hotel, before returning home to London on Friday evenings.

Including meals, his taxpayer-funded trips to and from Manchester come to an estimated £800 a week – enough, annually, to pay the wages of a new junior doctor.

Downing Street sources insisted that Mr Lister is very keen on his new role, though has yet to decide on his family's living arrangements.

A source said: 'Sam has only been in the job for three weeks, so there are wider things to think about, which takes time.'

The 52-year-old, who has previously been a journalist and held roles across the departments of health, business and culture, boarded the 6.29am Avanti service from Euston last Tuesday, traveling in standard class on a return ticket costing more than £220.

He was joined on the same carriage by Will Davis, Director of Devolution and Local Growth at the Ministry of Housing,

Communities and Local Government, with the pair seen chatting and working on laptops throughout the journey.

Also on the train was Harriet Gordon, 34, a Cambridge-educated deputy director at the Treasury.

Heron House, a 15-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly, was previously best known as the northern hub of GCHQ. It now

houses No 10 North alongside a Slug & Lettuce pub and the Manchester Register Office, as well as Wing's, the Chinese restaurant favoured by Wayne Rooney.

Mr Lister and Mr Davis stayed at the Manchester Deansgate Hotel, a 24-storey building boasting an indoor pool, spa and sauna, and Cloud 23, a 23rd floor bar offering panoramic city views.

On Friday, dressed down in a pale blue shirt and maroon trousers, Mr Lister left Heron House at 5pm sharp and took the tram to

Piccadilly for the 5.34pm train to Euston, treating himself to a seat in Standard Premium – though Downing Street sources stressed he paid for the upgrade himself.

Most of the officials who travelled up earlier in the week made the journey home on Thursday evening, with more than a dozen seen dragging suitcases towards Piccadilly shortly after 6pm to catch the 7.14pm to Euston.

No 10 said it is advertising for permanent roles at the office, which could employ up to 300. Mr Burnham announced the creation of No 10 North as his flagship policy

NORTHBOUND: Sam Lister on the train, far left, and arriving at work in Manchester. His hotel, left, has a bar with panoramic views and a swimming pool

icy within days of becoming Prime Minister, promising it would shift power away from Westminster.

Critics have dismissed it as a 'gimmick' and little more than an excuse for officials to work from home on Fridays.

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: 'The worst bit about it is the cost and the complete pointlessness of it.'

Tory MP Greg Stafford said: 'If anything shows what a farce the idea of No 10 North is it's this – the taxpayer having to fork out for loads of civil servants going up and down on the train just to feed Andy Burnham's vanity. It's ridiculous.'

Mr Lister is expected to make the same round trip again this week.

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9

ANDY BURNHAM has been admonished for his 'blokeish' obsession with pubs and football, but the reality is that his Government is packed with powerful women competing for his ear and influencing his policies.

The effect, according to one long-standing Burnham ally, has been to create 'a bit of a Mean Girls atmosphere' – a reference to the celebrated 2004 Hollywood film about cut-throat schoolgirl cliques. Playing Regina George – the queen bee of North Shore High in the movie – is Louise Haigh, who as First Secretary of State is the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) in all but name.

Trailing in her wake are former DPM Angela Rayner and Deputy Labour Leader Lucy Powell, who were both forced to accept more junior positions in Mr Burnham's Cabinet than they hoped for: Ms Rayner went back to her old job as Housing Secretary while Ms Powell was handed the job of Education Secretary.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Health Secretary Yvette Cooper complete the impressive roster of senior positions held by women.

A source says: 'Be in no doubt, Louise played a huge role in that process.'

Complicating the picture is the formidable presence of Antonia Romeo, the first-ever female Cabinet Secretary (CS). Described by colleagues in Civil Service parlance as 'strong-willed' – she has been investigated and exonerated over bullying claims – there are already understood to be tensions between her and Ms Haigh.

A Whitehall source said: 'Haigh wants to be the only one who has Andy's ear, and is now moving to block Antonia when she tries to circumvent her. She basically wants to kill anyone who gets in between her and Andy.' Another source said: 'We appear to have in the first female CS someone who doesn't seem to like the women around her very much.'

MS HAIGH'S ascent – which has been accompanied by a 'glow up' makeover in which she ditched her trademark red hair – can be traced back to just four months into Sir Keir Starmer's premiership when she was forced to resign over the revelation she had pleaded guilty to fraud in 2014.

She was enraged that she had been defenestrated despite informing No10 about the false report of a stolen phone when she was appointed.

For Ms Haigh, revenge was a dish best served over the following 18 months.

In November, The Mail on Sunday reported how she had been overheard in an Italian restaurant in Covent Garden discussing how to remove Sir Keir. Ms Haigh denied plotting, but multiple sources said that she was using the Tribune group of Left-wing Labour MPs to machinate against the PM.

Then, on December 14, this newspaper splashed on its front page the exclusive revelation that Mr Burnham had struck a deal to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election to return to the Commons. He was blocked by No10, but the first blow had been struck, and Mr Burnham's and Ms Haigh's destinies started to dovetail.

Ms Powell, a long-standing friend of Mr Burnham, had been widely tipped to become DPM after she voted against the ruling NEC's block on Mr Burnham's attempt to stand in Gorton and Denton. But tensions grew in the aftermath of Labour's disastrous results in the May 7 local elections – the Burnham camp were infuriated by Ms Powell's warning against a leadership challenge.

'We do not do hostile takeovers in

Insiders tell of 'Mean Girls' atmosphere as PM's top team vie for his ear

CATTY CLIQUES: Angela Rayner, Lucy Powell, Antonia Romeo and Louise Haigh mocked up as characters in the film Mean Girls

Secretary is a different level of visibility and expectation.

'The earlier look was distinctive and memorable for a departmental secretary – this one projects calm competence and gravitas. It feels like a conscious recalibration towards being taken more seriously in the role.'

It was reported this weekend that Mr Burnham has been told by No10 social media experts to

«She wants to kill anyone who gets in between her and Andy»

be less 'blokeish' in his posts by cutting boorish references to football and the pub.

But according to a Labour source quoted by The Spectator magazine, Mr Burnham should instead be described as 'Labour's first female Prime Minister' – because of his sheer number of female advisers, backers and senior ministers keen to push policy issues deemed to be particularly important to women, such as social care and family finances.

The most influential of those 'advisers and backers', of course, is his spouse Marie-France 'Frankie' van Heel – described as a 'blunt wife' because of her reaction to his announcement that he was going to run for leader: 'What? Not again?'

A Burnham ally described their marriage to the MoS. 'She definitely wears the trousers,' they said. 'She is the reason why he went on holiday last week despite his pressing workload.'

'She put her foot down and said that family time was sacrosanct. There was never any doubt that he would have to go.'

Last night a No10 source strongly denied that there were any tensions between Ms Haigh and the Cabinet Secretary, saying: 'This is simply not true.'

INSIDE WESTMINSTER

By GLEN OWEN

POLITICAL EDITOR

the Labour Party, it's not what we're about,' she said.

'Unhelpful', was the verdict of a member of Mr Burnham's inner-circle. 'She seemed to be keeping her options open for a run herself.'

Many Labour insiders had assumed that Mr Burnham would re-align the post of DPM with the deputy leadership of the Labour Party, with both positions previously held by Ms Rayner.

However, the popular Ms Powell ended up in the education berth, as third choice behind Rachel Reeves and former Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

One Labour source claimed: 'Lucy doesn't want to be there. She

thought she was going to be DPM.' Her allies dispute that, saying she preferred to have her own department to being a titular No2.

Ms Rayner's star has also waned after months of speculation that she had formed a pact with Mr Burnham in advance of his coup.

As recently as March, he was encouraging the chatter by describing her in public as 'Queen of the North' – a direct reference to his own moniker of King of the North.

But Mr Burnham's allies complained that darling of the Left Ms Rayner was 'inscrutable' during meetings to discuss how to seize power, and they 'lost trust' in her

after a photographer was tipped off about a secret meeting between the pair in April.

The result was the return to housing rather than one of the Great Offices of State.

A source said: 'Louise has played a blinder by making her ambitions clear from the start. Lucy and Angela in particular seemed to be hedging their bets and playing double games. It has led to a bit of Mean Girls paranoia in their camps about what Louise might have whispered in Andy's ear.'

Ms Haigh's 'glow-up' has coincided with the immaculate power-play. Francesca Cairns, a colour analysis expert, described her new hairstyle as 'a warmer, less saturated auburn' with sunglasses 'adding a layer of deliberate authority'.

Ms Cairns said: 'The wardrobe has followed the same logic, fewer competing hues, more flattering neutrals and soft structure, which reads as polished rather than performative.'

'I also think the change tracks the step-up in responsibility. First

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10

Sex predator’s seven years of terror – because forces didn’t link investigations

SIMON Levy’s reign of terror could have been stopped seven years earlier if police had linked investigations into three separate sex assaults just months apart. Instead, the depraved sex pred-

By Nick Constable

ator was allowed to remain on the streets to commit a series of violent attacks, which escalated

from groping to rape, suffocation and eventually a double murder. Detectives believe dozens of women targeted by Levy – many travelling in packed rush-hour Tube carriages – have never been

identified, and they are appealing for victims to come forward.

Levy was first reported to the Metropolitan Police for two attacks in July and August 2018, both in north London, but wasn’t charged for another two years.

It can now be revealed British Transport Police also received a sex assault allegation against Levy in 2018 for an incident in Battersea, south London, but never brought charges against him. Campaigners and policing experts believe this pattern of three ‘red-flag’ offences within months should have been enough to take him off the streets. Incredibly, the criminal justice system went on to miss at least 14 opportunities to lock him away.

Yesterday, former Inspector of Constabulary Zoe Billingham, an authority on violence against women and girls, told the BBC’s Today programme that police and Crown Prosecution Service failures were

‘Risks are being downgraded by police’

particularly shocking because they were ‘failures we’ve seen before’.

She added: ‘Escalation behaviours, red flag behaviours – so-called lower-level offences – are not being recognised for the danger that they are. Vulnerable women not necessarily being seen, risks being downgraded by police.

‘What’s so extraordinary about this case is it’s not one or two missed opportunities that could have brought him to justice, that could have had him locked up behind bars and no longer a threat to women and girls, it was an extraordinary succession.’ Campaigner Lisa Squire, whose 21-year-old daughter Libby was raped and murdered by Pawel Relowicz in Hull seven years ago, told the programme Levy’s

DEPRAVED KILLER: Simon Levy

early pattern of attacks should have been identified by police.

She added: ‘The offences he was committing on public transport – these are precursor offences and we need to be looking at those far more seriously.’

Levy, who lived with his mother in Tottenham, first appeared on the Met’s radar after sexually molesting a woman at a party in Camden, north-west London, in July 2018.

The next month the 40-year-old pestered a woman on the Tube and followed her to the Notting Hill Carnival where he committed a sex assault by penetration.

But it wasn’t until September 2021 he was finally convicted of both offences – serving half a three-year sentence in Brixton prison during which he assaulted a female officer.

While out on licence, he attacked a woman in Canada Water. But by August 2024 he was once again free and was arrested after two more women reported him to police.

In January 2025, he raped and suffocated a sex worker, leaving her for dead.

Two months later, he killed 53-year-old Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo by suffocation. On August 28, while still on bail, he murdered Sheryl Wilkins, 39. He was caught by a facial recognition camera and arrested.

Last week, a jury at the Old Bailey convicted him of both murders, along with two rapes, intentional suffocation, grievous bodily harm and 13 sexual assaults. He is due to be sentenced on Wednesday.

Ex-lover criticises Knox gig

AMANDA Knox’s ex-boyfriend has condemned her decision to perform a one-woman comedy Edinburgh Fringe show.

Raffaele Sollecito, who was wrongly accused of the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher, 21, alongside his then-girlfriend in Perugia, Italy in 2007, is the latest critic of Ms Knox’s sold-out show, which began on Friday.

Computer engineer Mr Sollecito, 42, said: ‘Based on how it has been presented and promoted, I find it puzzling that a tragedy is being used as a draw for a comedy show.’

A petition to stop the ‘Cartwheel’ show, set to run for 11 nights at the

By Nick Pisa

Gilded Balloon venue, was set up by Meredith’s friend Sally Alington – and gathered more than 20,000 signatures. Meredith’s family have also called it ‘hurtful’. Ms Knox,

39, pictured – who has also written books and made TV shows about the tragedy – was convicted in 2009 of murder, before being acquitted in 2011 and again in 2015 by Italy’s highest court.

Ivory Coast-born Rudy Guede served 13 years of a 16-year term for the murder after his fingerprints were found at the scene.

METROPOLITAN POLICE / PA

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11

From drunk husbands and predatory women to deepfake porn and light-fingered nannies...

Footballers' wives tell all to scientists for first Wagademic study into how they REALLY live

EXCLUSIVE

By Mark Howarth

THEIR designer wardrobes are worth millions and their appetite for a party – and a sprinkling of drama – is the stuff of legend.

Now, a small group of WAGs, wives and girlfriends of the nation's biggest football players, have offered up the secrets of their gilded lives as part of unprecedented research investigating the impact of their husbands' careers on their family lives – and the all-important role these women play in their sporting successes.

Ever since ITV's Footballers' Wives shone a gaudy light on the jealousies, rivalries and sexual shenanigans of football stars and their besequinned other halves in the early 2000s, the nation has remained fascinated by the off-the-pitch lives of the game's heroes – and, in particular, their enviably glossy, well-manicured partners.

And it is every bit as colourful and scandalous as you might expect; from outrageous antics at the 2006 World Cup in Baden-Baden, Germany, to the high-profile 'Wagatha Christie' courtroom clash between Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy.

But the women, who all spoke in detail to sports psychologists at

'We'd go out and girls would be all over him'

Leeds Beckett University on condition of anonymity, have now described the sacrifices they have made for their husbands' careers, and the mental toughness required to be a WAG as they struggle to fend off other women, endure vicious trolling on social media, and even find themselves the victims of deepfake porn.

And, at its heart, the study reveals WAGS don't believe they get enough credit – either from football clubs themselves or from fans – for the background role they play keeping star players on the straight and narrow.

Indeed, the research suggests they should even get counselling paid for by the clubs because of the tough job they do.

The team of academics interviewed seven 'incredible women'

for their study who were aged between 23 and 34 and whose partners or husbands are all professional footballers. In five cases, they had children together and all have been in their relationship for between four and 16 years.

Three players were current or former Premier League stars, with five playing in England, one in Australia and the other in the US.

Footballers have long had a (sometimes warranted) reputation for womanising, but the WAGs described their frustration at having their social lives and relationships disrupted by other women.

One recalled: '[We] would go out, we'd have fun, but then girls would be all over [him] in front of me. It got worse when he moved to [the Premier League].

'I'm stood there like, 'The wife is here'. I know girls who sleep with [football] players and then take their watches or ask for a pay-out, so they don't tell their wives.'

Another revealed: 'I had been sent a picture of a back of someone's head kissing a girl, and they said, 'Have you seen what he's been doing?' I showed [him]. It wasn't him, but I have learnt people will go so far out of their way to stir the pot.'

A third described the violation of finding out strangers had opened an adult website in her name with-

out her consent which used faked images and videos.

'It made me feel so uncomfortable I did not want to go to the games with people thinking they have seen videos of me doing God knows what. It was not nice for [him] either. I was really upset about it.'

They also complained of the pressure they felt to look good in the public eye. Some received death threats, while others faced online attacks for their appearance.

One said: 'You do lose yourself, you see all the other wives and girlfriends, they're having work done and you're like, 'Oh, do I

'Added pressure of being a player's partner'

need to?' But I think as I've gotten older, I'm like, who am I trying to impress? Being a woman is hard but there's just an added pressure of being a partner of a player, 100 per cent.'

And having little privacy because of their fame, particularly in the higher leagues, also had a 'horrific' impact.

One described being photo-

graphed in the supermarket. Another, on a beach shortly after giving birth. She recalled: 'I look like a whale, white as a ghost and then the next day, my picture will be online... and then you read the [nasty] comments.'

Most had faced significant trust issues after people sold stories, while one described how a temporary nanny 'robbed us' and 'took everything'.

'My engagement ring, my handbags, all my shoes,' the WAG said. 'I'd never have anybody working in my home now.'

Most agreed the other WAGs 'become your family', particularly after moving to new places, but others described division between the other partners and, in one case, being alienated by 'a group of Spanish girls' at a Premier League dinner.

'From the stories I've heard

about foreign partners [and] wives, they seem quite, like, not inclusive; it's just them, and no one else matters.'

And in a little-seen side to WAG life, they describe their loneliness at having to support their footballing partners at their worst, during injury or other stressful times. All described their own needs taking 'a back seat' to maintain their partners' mood.

One told how, when her husband was injured, he drank and gambled; another said her partner was drinking 'a bottle of red wine a day'.

Yet the clubs did not adequately acknowledge how such changes could affect life at home, they said. One claimed the 'stigma' of being a WAG meant they weren't considered important, and another added some clubs see partners as 'extra workload' who didn't make them money.

But that, the study found, was not entirely true. It found partners played a 'critical yet under-recognised role in playing well-being and performance'.

The study, published in the journal Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise & Health, found being a WAG could be an 'invasive force that could threaten or harm their identity and self-esteem'.

---

12

By Jacinta Taylor

A PRESTIGIOUS tennis club in Surrey has pulled all of its social media accounts after a backlash triggered by the slaughter of a gaggle of resident geese.

Members of St George's Hill Lawn Tennis Club in Weybridge, as well as swathes of the public, have let rip since management called in a marksman to stop the birds making a mess of its courts.

Neighbours of the £2,664-a-year club say gunshots woke them up in the early hours of July 16, and they later discovered that eight birds, including goslings, had been killed.

Locals later claimed they also found an adult goose and gosling in a distressed state, having apparently escaped the cull.

The club had previously posted cute photos of the birds on its social media channels. In April last year it shared a picture of two adult Canada geese with two goslings, captioned: 'We have baby goslings on our Lakeside Terrace!' In 2024 it shared a post of a family of the birds in the rain, captioned: 'At least the Canadian geese family enjoyed the courts today.' But last night the club's social

media pages were missing, along with staff photos on its website, after members of the public vented their fury online. One

SHOT: An old photo of geese on the court. Left: The St George's Hill club

commentator said: 'The tennis club claim they were pests and murdered them by the club's lake. Such barbaric action in a situation where local

wildlife organisations would have taken them in.' Another wrote: 'You would have thought the club could have

afforded to get someone to do a regular clean up.'

Club members say they were not consulted about the cull, with one telling The Times: 'Members have always liked the geese. It is sometimes a bit annoying because they amble on to the courts and leave their poo, but that doesn't mean they had to be shot.'

The club's chief executive Miles Hill said the decision to shoot the birds was taken 'on the grounds of public health and safety'.

It's all Ola... Strictly's married stars split

By Connie Rusk

FORMER Strictly Come Dancing favourites Ola and James Jordan have split up after 22 years of marriage.

The professional dancers joined the prime-time BBC show in 2006 – three years after they tied the knot.

The pair became its most high-profile dancers, with Ola winning the show in 2009 with presenter Chris Hollins, but James left at the end of the 2013 series after Strictly bosses told him they did not want him to return.

The couple lived together in Kent where James, 48, was born and raised. Polish-born Ola, 43, left the show in 2015, with sources close to her citing

LAST DANCE: Ola and James in their Strictly days

New IRA's plot to drive migrants out of Ireland with violence campaign

By Glen Owen

POLITICAL EDITOR

REPUBLICAN terrorists are plotting a campaign of violence to force migrants out of Ireland, intelligence officials have told The Mail on Sunday.

The plan by the New IRA – the successor organisation to the Real IRA – comes in the wake of the disturbances on the streets of Northern Ireland in June following the stabbing of Stephen Ogilvie, allegedly by Hadi Alodid, a 30-year-old Sudanese asylum-seeker.

Security sources say that the dissident republicans, who continue to fight for a 'united Ireland', are feeding off local community tensions on both sides of the border over a spike in cases of harassment, sexual assault and violence, which has been blamed on migrants.

Fears have been raised that the New IRA campaign could spark a new wave of migrants fleeing from Ireland into the UK, particularly via the land border with Northern Ireland.

In a video posted last week on a far-Right social media platform, an unidentified man warned that the IRA would threaten migrants with violence if they did not leave Ireland. 'They will take control, and they will give an

ASSAULT: Police protect a migrant hotel in Belfast from rioters in June

ultimatum, not to politicians but to the illegal migrants who are in the country,' he says.

Claiming that the British Army

'These guys will give them 24 hours to leave'

'respected' the IRA during the Troubles for their professionalism and efficiency, the man adds: 'It is now going to be time for civil war, and that is exactly what these guys are going to be doing – and

can you blame them? This will be a major wake-up call for the authorities. These guys will show them how it's done and give them 24 hours to leave.'

The Real IRA was formed in 1997 by disaffected members of the Provisional IRA, becoming the New IRA when it merged in 2012 with the vigilante group Republican Action Against Drugs.

It has formed alliances with Scottish nationalist groups in Glasgow, who promote the group through social media.

In July, a 25-year-old law student was charged with the possession of explosives after a bomb was

discovered in a car in the Republic of Ireland.

Isabella Perrie Sullivan was intercepted by Irish police as part of an operation targeting dissident republican activity. A defence solicitor told a court his client had been asked to take a bag to Northern Ireland and had not been aware what was in it.

A source said: 'The New IRA have been very active this year in the North in attacks against the Police Service of Northern Ireland, at Lurgan police station and a car bomb at Dunmurry.'

'They have two aims: Irish independence and all migrants out. We believe it is part of a power struggle going on between factions within the group of the old IRA, the Real and the New IRA, with the new incarnations advocating a campaign of violent intimidation.'

Many local communities across Ireland complain that the Irish government has ignored the strains being placed on housing, public services and society from high levels of migration.

A Home Office spokesman said: 'We have a close and collaborative working relationship with Ireland on migration and border security.'

'This includes a mutual commitment to protect the Common Travel Area from abuse, delivered through joint work to identify and tackle migration trends as they emerge.'

her wanting to have a baby as the reason behind her decision.

After three years of IVF, she gave birth to Ella, now six, in February 2020.

A statement from their representative said: 'It is with great sadness that I can confirm that James and Ola began a trial separation some time ago.'

'Their shared priority remains co-parenting their daughter, Ella, and they are committed to putting her wellbeing first.'

The couple have long been open about the struggles of their marriage, revealing to fans everything from disagreements to their sex life.

During an appearance on ITV's Lorraine show in 2017, James said: 'Life isn't all smooth sailing – we have had ups and downs.'

Speaking to Hello! magazine, Ola revealed: 'It's not all beautiful, and sometimes you can look at people's posts on Instagram and Facebook and you think, 'Oh they've got perfect lives', but it's not like that.'

'Marriage is not like that, no one's got a perfect marriage. It's a work in progress, and if two people want to be together, they'll make it happen.'

'Sometimes you have dark times and you need your other half's support, and it's not all pretty and perfect.'

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13

'He was a chatty patty'

Friend of plagiarism professor casts doubt on mute claim as photos emerge of 'marathon completed with a broken leg'

A FORMER classmate of Jason Arday has cast doubts on the academic's claim he was mute until 11 – and instead said he was a 'chatty patty' and would talk 'all the time'.

Professor Arday has previously told of overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds – such as being diagnosed with autism, being mute at primary school and illiterate until 18 before going on to becoming the youngest black professor in Cambridge University's history.

But far from being non-verbal, the academic, who this week faced a storm of allegations he had plagiarised his PhD thesis and fabricated his life story, is said to have been a 'class clown' and 'a completely normal boy with no development issues'.

It comes as Professor Arday's claim he ran nine marathons with a broken leg that 'ballooned twice its size' was also called into question after photos of the finish line appear to contradict his story.

In his autobiography, he tells of his charity fundraising which saw him run 30 marathons in 35 days after just a few months' training.

But he claimed that on day 21, he had a seizure and collapsed by the roadside – before doctors discovered a small hairline fracture in his right fibula in an X-ray scan.

He wrote: 'The next nine marathons were truly an ordeal. It took me well over five hours to complete each one. Even though I used painkillers, I was in agony throughout. My right leg ballooned to twice its size. To this day, I don't really know how I did it.'

But the academic was photographed at Piccadilly Circus in central London in 2010 completing the last of the 30 marathons with both his legs normal-sized.

And despite the 'two or three thousand people' he claimed in his book were waiting for him by the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, the photo shows a group of around 50 onlookers. Last night, a

By Chris Hastings

TikToker known as Jonathan, said he was in the year below Mr Arday at Heathbrook Primary School in Lambeth, south London, and socialised with him at Sunday School and other clubs.

Taking to the social media platform, he claimed Mr Arday had been a 'class clown' and a 'chatty patty all the time'.

Speaking to The Mail on Sunday, Jonathan added: 'This is actually serious and people regardless of who they are should not be allowed to take liberties.'

He added that Professor Arday should have known that the truth would have come out.

Meanwhile Philip Hensher, a professor of Creative Writing at Bath Spa University, yesterday said he had spoken to former neighbours of Professor Arday who insisted the academic had enjoyed an ordinary childhood in south London.

He wrote on X: 'It emerges that Arday went to our nearest primary school, Heathbrook.'

'Neighbours remember him – but as a completely normal small boy with no development

PHOTO FINISH: Jason Arday, above, and completing the last of the 30 marathons with his legs a normal size

issues. Can they all be wrong? It seems incredible.'

Mr Arday, who became the youngest black professor in the university's history in 2023, resigned as Professor of Sociology and a Fellow of Jesus College Cambridge on Wednesday

amid mounting evidence he was a serial fantasist.

The 41-year-old, who was born to Ghanaian parents in London, is accused of making misleading claims about his academic achievements, the amount of money he has raised for charity,

his own medical history and the degree of racial harassment he claims to have faced.

Cambridge is facing calls to explain why it didn't do more to verify his claims.

Critics say the university failed to act because of his race.

In his statement of resignation, Professor Arday repeated his claim that he was unable to speak until the age of 11.

He wrote: 'To become the youngest black professor in the university's history was something I could scarcely have imagined as a child growing up with a diagnosis of autism, unable to speak until I was 11 years old.'

In the statement, the academic said he had decided to stand down in the face of an 'unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack'.

He said his decision to step away was not an acceptance of 'narratives that have surrounded me'.

Fan O'Brien says: I feel like a mug

AS the backlash against Jason Arday gathers pace, even his previous supporters are having to admit they got it wrong – while still absolving themselves of blame.

LBC presenter James O'Brien, pictured, said he feels 'like a mug' for defending the Cambridge University professor.

O'Brien, who previously criticised newspapers of 'studied and deliberate ignominy' over reporting of Professor Arday, asked his listeners yesterday: 'What's your takeaway here?'

Because mine is very, very personal. I can't separate the personal from the public. I feel like a mug.'

But he added: 'I don't feel guilt. I don't feel, 'Oh, you should have done differently or you should have done better' because, who would? 'Who would meet a Cambridge professor and [think], 'God, I wonder whether you actually deserve to be there?' I certainly wouldn't do that.'

Fear for power grids in Wednesday's full solar eclipse

THE full solar eclipse on Wednesday evening could pile pressure on already struggling power systems across Europe.

Experts say a dip in solar power because of the eclipse could affect the electricity grid which has suffered because of this summer's extreme weather.

Heatwaves have forced nuclear and coal plants to switch off across the continent and low water levels have halted hydropower stations. Grid

By Elizabeth Ivens

operators in France and Spain are expecting solar power production losses and stand by to balance the system from other power sources.

Spanish grid operator Red Electrica says the eclipse could reduce Spanish solar power by up to 5GW – equivalent to 13 per cent of maximum demand for a typical Wednesday in August. In Britain, the National Energy

System Operator says solar output is likely to drop by up to 1.3GW, comparable to losing the output of two nuclear reactors.

The first eclipse this century will start in the UK just after 6pm. It will not happen again until 2081. In much of the

country, the eclipse will exceed 90 per cent, meaning the Moon will obscure more than nine-tenths of the Sun.

It will be the most complete eclipse here since August 1999 when darkness fell across the UK in mid-morning. This time, people

in the West and South West will see more of the Sun obscured, with 95 per cent blocked in Plymouth. London will see a 91 per cent eclipse but the figure drops to 88 per cent in Shetland.

In north and east Spain, the Balearic islands and north-east Portugal, the eclipse will be total, completely blotting out the Sun for more than two minutes.

Nightclubs in Ibiza are gearing up for 'the party to top all parties' as the total eclipse draws near.

YOUR DOUBLE-SIDED GLOSSY POSTER ON THE ECLIPSE Only in YOU magazine

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14

HE WAS a pop superstar adored by millions, a devoted son and father, a man who had amassed a fortune of £22 million and appeared to have the world at his feet.

Yet in the final days of his life, former One Direction singer Liam Payne was in the grip of a devastating spiral of drug and alcohol abuse, paying sex workers to keep him company in a soulless hotel room while bingeing on crack cocaine and whisky.

While much has been written about Liam's death, the full heartbreaking facts have not been revealed – until now.

Today, The Mail on Sunday can disclose details from an extraordinary trove of 3,000 documents, photographs, sworn statements and official reports gathered by investigators after he died in Buenos Aires on October 16, 2024.

One haunting CCTV image shows him hollow-eyed and gaunt, stumbling through the corridors of the CasaSur Hotel just one hour before he plunged from the balcony of Room 310.

The report also lays bare his family's despair, with a statement from Liam's grief-stricken father Geoff telling prosecutors his son 'went away' when he was in the grip of his demons, adding: 'He was not in control with what he did. He was not Liam.'

While some information is too graphic and personal to be shared, the cache of evidence paints the clearest – and most profoundly painful – portrait yet of a man completely out-of-touch with reality in the hours before his death.

The MoS can reveal these documents show Liam:

• ● Begged one prostitute to bring him 'five grams' of cocaine 'so I can make crack';
• ● Was addicted to 'sexting' and sent a prostitute a graphic naked

'One witness described him as possessed'

photo on the morning of his death;

● Told his best friend he was 'afraid' he might have accidentally sent a nude photo to a minor;

● Became so volatile that hotel staff warned each other to be careful how they handled him to 'stop him from continuing to be aggressive'. One waitress was told to take security with her when she delivered five bottles of whisky to his room;

● Racked up a $550 booze bill on his last day – despite a psychiatrist's letter warning him not to mix alcohol with the prescription drugs he was taking;

● Swung around a pole in the street at 3am as he waited for drugs to be delivered – leading investigators to conclude he may have had the upper body strength to believe he could safely climb down from his hotel room balcony (more on which later).

To fully understand how quickly Liam turned from sober friend and father – he 'adored' his nine-year-old son Bear (with singer Cheryl Cole) – into a man one witness described as 'possessed', you have to start at the beginning of the case file.

Liam was in Argentina to renew his US visa and to watch his former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan in concert.

He spent two weeks on holiday with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy, but when she left him alone to return to their home in Wellington, Florida, Liam spiralled.

He was asked to leave one hotel

Haunted Liam Payne prowls a Buenos Aires hotel an hour before his death. Our exclusive picture comes from a never before seen police file containing dozens of startling revelations – including this demand to the call girls who were with him that tragic day...

Wereed to get five grams of cocaine and clam making crack

for 'acting belligerent' and checked into the CasaSur on the afternoon of October 14.

His father Geoff later told prosecutors that Liam could keep his addictions under control as long as he always had someone with him to prevent him going off the rails.

Geoff said his son became 'another person' on drugs.

His family had last seen him on August 29 when the singer was filming a Netflix show in Manchester and he appeared 'well, stable, clean of any drugs or alcohol'.

That meant that, when police initially labelled his death as a 'possible suicide', Geoff was insistent this could not be the case.

'I have no doubt that Liam wanted to live,' he said. 'It doesn't cross my mind that it was possible that he wanted to hurt himself.'

Yet staff at the CasaSur became aware that something was badly wrong within hours of him checking in that day.

He started calling the front desk asking for drugs and was ordering bottle after bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky from room service.

The files contain messages from a 'Reception' group WhatsApp chat on October 14, where hotel

WORLD EXCLUSIVE

From CAROLINE GRAHAM and FEDERICO FAHSBENDER

IN BUENOS AIRES

manager Gilda Martin wrote: 'This person is going to be very intense throughout his stay.'

'It's important that we tell him 'no', always kindly and with excuses. This is to stop him from continuing to be aggressive. Or at least not so much.'

Reception replied: 'Will do whatever we can as long as he doesn't get violent.'

Reception messaged a room service waitress called Adri, requesting that she deliver five bottles of whisky to Room 310, but warned: 'Take security with you.'

Liam was also begging staff for drugs. Hotel employee Ezequiel Pereyra and waiter Braian Paiz have been charged with bringing cocaine to him during his two-day

bender. Both have pleaded not guilty to all charges and are negotiating deals with prosecutors to avoid jail.

By 7am on October 16, the day he died, Liam messaged his best friend Roger Nores saying: 'Buddy, I think I'm going to f*** a prostitute.'

Roger admitted he knew his friend had addiction issues with drugs and alcohol – and sexting.

In his later statement to police, Roger referred to allegations made by an ex-girlfriend of Liam's, Maya Henry, who released a book a month before Liam's death accusing the singer of sending sexually explicit texts to women over the internet, some of whom, Maya alleged, were under-

age. Roger said: 'I didn't ask him many questions. He did tell me that he was afraid to think that he might have sent a nude photograph to a minor without realising it, but he did not accept any kind of responsibility.'

'In fact, the only thing he did was direct his anger towards his (ex)-girlfriend who did not support him very much.'

'I know that he was addicted to sexting. I never saw him doing it but he had told me about it.'

'His major problem was that, as well as his addiction to drugs and alcohol.'

At 10.30am, the case files show Liam messaged prostitute Aldana

'He sent prostitute nude photo of himself'

Serrano on WhatsApp after finding her profile on an Argentine escort site. Liam showed up on her phone as 'LP'.

LP said: 'We should get cocaine,' and sent a graphic nude picture of himself.

She replied: 'When it arrives.'

---

15

Aldana later told investigators her English was poor and she meant to say, 'When I arrive.'

LP then told her: 'Can you get? We need 5 grams so I can make crack.'

Aldana offered to bring her friend Lucila Goitea, and Liam said he would pay the girls $5,000 to spend the day with him.

This was followed by another picture of himself lying in his hotel bed. The two women were shocked when they eventually arrived at Liam's room.

While pictures have previously emerged of a smashed TV set, Room 310 was 'carnage'.

Sheets were pulled off the bed, there were streaks of blood on the bathroom sink, and drug paraphernalia littered the room, including burned Coca-Cola can lids, a blackened spoon and half-burned candles.

Police and prosecutors believe Liam heated the powdered cocaine into a liquid 'crack' form of the drug which he snorted or injected.

Packets of baking soda suggest he also melted the cocaine down into rocks which he smoked.

There were 'baggies' of white powder and a crumpled $100 bill.

Packets of pills were lined up along the back of the sofa. They

included Klonopin (a powerful prescription sedative), the sleep aid melatonin and an over-the-counter 'energising' drug used to increase sexual performance.

When the escorts arrived, Liam ordered more whisky and champagne, and room service receipts show he spent $550 on booze.

The women drank champagne and both had sex with him.

Then things turned sour. They demanded their $5,000 payment in cash but he did not have enough, and instead offered to wire transfer the money from his bank.

A furious row ensued. Liam offered his gold Rolex as payment and, when they refused, he smashed it against the wall.

The file is filled with new images showing the escorts in the hotel lobby, arguing with Liam and then imploring hotel staff to help them.

CCTV footage shows Liam pacing back and forth. He goes up and down to his room multiple times to take more drugs.

The women left around 3.30pm and Liam's friend Roger arrived at 4pm, the footage shows. The men talked, but Roger said his friend did not seem impaired and so he left again.

Forty minutes later, Liam was

CARNAGE: The smashed TV in Liam's hotel room and the floor left littered with drug paraphernalia. Top: Images from the hotel's CCTV

dead. Roger was originally charged with 'abandoning' Liam, but all charges were dropped and he was completely exonerated.

Certainly, Liam became increasingly erratic after his friend left.

At one point he lay on a sofa in

the lobby and smashed his computer on the ground, screaming: 'F this s!'

He told a fellow guest: 'I was in a boy band, that's why I'm so f***d up.' He then began convulsing in the lobby. A series of pictures

show him passed out, and being carried back to his room by hotel staff shortly before 5pm.

Then, at 5.07pm, staff heard a loud 'bang'.

Liam's crumpled body was on the ground in the hotel courtyard.

He'd smashed through a patio umbrella and died instantly from massive internal injuries, his baseball cap a few feet away.

Since his death, fans have come up with wild conspiracy theories. Some have suggested there was someone else in Room 310 with the star. But the case file says no evidence was ever found that anyone entered the room after he was carried back there.

And the file suggests an intriguing new theory about his death.

One of the new images shows Liam, dressed in a green top and grey jeans, swinging around a pole outside the hotel at 3.21am in the early hours of the morning the day he died.

He was waiting for Ezequiel Pereyra to allegedly deliver drugs.

A source close to the investigation last week said police consider the pole picture 'highly significant' because it showed Liam's upper

'Escaped out of hotel windows to avoid fans'

body strength. This suggests that, rather than being suicidal, he may have been trying to climb out of his hotel room, confident he could hold his weight, before he lost his grip and died.

Pictures taken at the scene show distinctive palm prints on the glass around the balcony, which fingerprint analysis confirmed were Liam's.

The marks show his fingers apparently slid on the glass. It is also known that, before he fell, Liam threw a leather duffel bag from his third-floor balcony on to the balcony of the second-floor room below his.

During his One Direction days, the singer was known to have climbed out of hotel windows to 'escape' fans.

The source said: 'Liam was a fit young man. When you see the image of him swinging around the pole, with his body at a 90-degree angle to the ground, you see how strong he is.'

'His bodyguard told us he had escaped out of hotel windows before. The forensic examination of the palm prints show Liam may have climbed over the railing and attempted to use his strength to drop on to the second-floor balcony. Maybe he thought he could swing down to the second floor and then safely to the ground.'

'The trouble is he was so impaired by drugs and alcohol his fingers slipped on the glass and he fell.'

The pole picture is huge. Liam threw a bag over the balcony and then attempted to get down.

'People have been asking for two years, what happened? This is what we believe happened.'

Shocking pictures in the file show Liam's crumpled body in the courtyard. They reveal he was carrying a 'man bag' across his body that contained his passport,

Turn to Page 16

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16

EXCLUSIVE

By Sean Rayment

HOLLYWOOD actress Charlotte Rampling has joined the growing condemnation of the Army's decision to destroy more than 800 gravestones belonging to soldiers who fought in Iraq during the two world wars.

The film star – whose grandfather is one of those whose headstones were removed, ground into gravel and used to make a drain – described the desecration at Basra War Cemetery in southern Iraq as 'utterly shameful'.

Ms Rampling, 80, who learned about the scandal after reading The Mail on Sunday's exclusive report last week, backed calls

'Utterly shameful'

Charlotte Rampling's anger as she discovers headstone of war hero grandfather was one of 800 crushed into gravel for drainage ditch

from ex-Army chiefs for the Ministry of Defence to replace the gravestones, removed during the war in Iraq in 2003. The Army claimed the gravestones and 80 panels engraved with the names

of the war dead were removed amid fears that they could be destroyed or vandalised by locals. It appears that they were originally due to have been returned after the war – but within 18

months they were instead ground down and used to make a drainage ditch at an Army base nearby.

Ms Rampling's grandfather, Horace Johnson Rampling, died from heatstroke in 1917 during the First World War and was buried at the cemetery, but his grave is now one of 3,000 that are unmarked.

The actress joined calls from former defence chiefs and MPs for the cemetery to be restored – or for a new memorial to be commissioned.

Ms Rampling, who shot to fame in Georgy Girl in 1966, told the MoS: 'I think the desecration of these graves is utterly shameful and I support any effort to create a lasting memorial to include the names of the soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom.'

The star also revealed she was recently reunited with her grandfather's 'death penny' – a bronze plaque sent to the next of kin of fallen British Empire soldiers. The coin had been lost for more than 100 years, but was found by a collector in Texas who sent it to the actress.

She added: 'My grandfather's death penny is back in the family. The world is not all bad. There are still some beautiful, random acts of kindness out there.'

Horace Johnson Rampling's son – Ms Rampling's father – was Army officer Godfrey Rampling, the oldest living British Olympian at the time of his death in 2009, aged 100.

During the First World War up to 45,000 British troops died fighting

Fury of heroes' families as Army crushes hundreds of war grave headstones into gravel for a drainage ditch

DESECRATION: Charlotte Rampling, above, and last week's MoS report. Left: The family's 'death penny'

or from illness in Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq. Since the publication of the MoS article, relatives of other soldiers who died in the region have reacted with anger.

The decision to destroy the gravestones was exposed by Ben Soppitt, whose grandfather was also buried in Basra War Cemetery.

He believes the cemetery could be restored now that relative peace has returned to southern Iraq.

Mr Soppitt has made a High Court application for a judicial review into the decision, with the aim of holding the MoS accountable.

The MoS has refused to comment on the MoS revelations, saying it is unable to do so because of the High Court action.

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money, a bottle of Johnnie Walker, his phone and a set of colouring pencils. In his statement, Liam's dad Geoff poignantly said his son was an artist who liked to sketch, and would always carry a set of pencils around with him.

Toxicology reports showed Liam had high levels of cocaine in his blood and urine and traces of the drug in his nose and stomach.

His alcohol level was more than four times the drink-drive limit. There were prescription sedatives and anti-depressants in his blood.

A letter from his US psychiatrist, Dr Rachel Rhohidy, addressed to Liam, had warned him about mixing prescription drugs with alcohol.

She said he needed 'a higher level of care' than she could offer.

Dr Rhohidy wrote: 'I will no longer be able to render psychiatric care to you. You should avoid heavy drinking while on medication.'

'You must take your medications exactly as prescribed. This means taking the medication orally, as instructed, and not by any other

means, such as snorting.'

The investigation into Liam's death continues in Argentina but investigators say they believe it will be wrapped up 'soon' once the plea deals are arranged with the two men charged with allegedly supplying him with cocaine.

The UK inquest into his death remains on hold pending the results of the investigation.

One mystery remains: What happened to the gold Rolex that Liam is said to have smashed in a temper?

Police had search warrants for the prostitutes' houses but came up empty-handed.

A source last week told the MoS police are working on the theory that someone who went into his room immediately before or after his death may have removed it.

For now, the 3,000-page inquiry into his death is the closest we are likely to come to discovering exactly what happened on the fateful day Liam Payne's demons overcame him – and which led to a global superstar dying alone, thousands of miles from home.

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17

SPECIAL REPORT

By IAN GALLAGHER

CHIEF REPORTER

THE latest AI breakthrough has all the makings of a terrifying disaster movie.

Scientists announced last week they had used AI technology to create brand new viruses that can replicate in the laboratory.

Researchers at Stanford University in California boasted of how they'd taught their AI programme Evo 2 to recognise patterns of DNA structure in nature, and to use that data to write recipes for entirely new viruses. The result was 16 synthetic 'phages', small viruses that infect bacteria.

Within days of that announcement, experts sounded the warning. I know that this breakthrough could herald a new generation of biological weapons, from deadly poisons to unstoppable pandemics.

It comes after it emerged last month that AI systems had gone rogue, hacking into companies and even lying to humans in order to achieve their goals. Isn't this latest development, then, another giant leap towards doomsday – rather than a 'milestone' in combating

'A rogue state could create its own model'

disease that some in the scientific community are claiming?

Many leading voices across the military and intelligence spheres seem to think so. General Sir Richard Barrons, a former head of joint forces command and co-author of the Strategic Defence Review, has warned 'scary' advances in AI could help hostile states to more easily develop pathogens that could even target people according to race or sex.

And Professor Anthony Glees of the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies at Buckingham University told The Mail on Sunday yesterday: 'In the hands of malign actors this could have terrible consequences.' In some cases, he added, the same level of secrecy that surrounded the development of atomic weapons in the 1930s and 1940s should be applied to AI research.

'I believe M15 should get involved as they did back then,' he said. 'Maybe a designated team that could warn universities and research labs of the vital need to keep their work under wraps.'

The researchers from Stanford University did the opposite, semaphoring their findings across the globe last week.

If all goes well, they hope their achievement will lead to new ways of treating infections that have become resistant to antibiotics.

Project leader Brian Hie said getting AI to design new biology

Doomsday warning over AI viruses that their creators claim will fight scourge of antibiotic resistance

that goes beyond the natural world – synthetic biology – has the potential to 'massively improve human health' by developing new drugs. Drug-resistant infections kill millions every year.

One expert even likened it to the invention of the aeroplane. But some scientists question why they even conducted the research in the first place. Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at the University of Reading, said that when he first heard their 'excuse' for the experiment 'my thoughts ran to, 'yeah, but you've really just done this because you can', and they've, I think, hung the research on this hook of overcoming antibiotics'.

The Stanford researchers took

safety precautions, such as disabling their AI model to prevent it from being able to design viruses that infect us.

'But that doesn't mean a [rogue] state that wants to sponsor something like this can't come up with their own model,' says Dr Clarke.

'And as AI becomes much more advanced, potentially other more complex life forms can be engineered, which could include things that cause us disease.'

He added that it was 'reassuring' that the scientists had 'shown further restraint in providing important guard rails' but said there was 'no guarantee that every other scientist attempting to do something similar will be so careful'. Indeed,

for many, the Stanford study comes with more than a whiff of Wuhan, the Chinese city where many claim the Covid virus leaked from a laboratory.

High-security laboratories that handle the most dangerous viruses and bacteria often report accidents to safety regulators. In 2014 it was reported that one blunder led to live anthrax being sent from a government facility to unsuspecting labs across the UK.

The Stanford breakthrough, the creation of viruses previously unknown in nature, is undoubtedly a first. Never before have whole genomes – the genetic instructions for life encoded in DNA – been successfully designed by AI. At the same time, it paves the way for the creation of other life forms. Which is when things could become more disturbing still.

The great fear is the same tech-

nology could be used maliciously to create new diseases.

Writing in the journal Science, Dr Thomas Inglesby and Dr Moritz Hanke from the Centre for Health Security at Johns Hopkins University said the findings raise 'urgent biosafety and biosecurity questions'. They added it was no longer a question of 'whether generative viral genome design will exist' but whether it can be used without 'enabling serious harm'.

Hie acknowledges it was 'not impossible' to make some simple organisms. He added the Stanford team was 'definitely interested in working towards' that. But there is a consensus that governments and the AI industry need to be better prepared to stop a nightmare scenario unfolding in the future.

The Stanford study comes on the back of other unnerving developments using AI. Only last month, in the latest example of the technology going rogue,

AI software attempted to break into a database 19 times while being tested by the AI Security Institute, the UK's industry watchdog. In one unprecedented case, an AI tool was even caught creating fake human identities online to trick coders into assisting with a cyber-attack.

All five AI models tested by experts tried to engineer their way around security controls that had been put in place.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has warned that AI is a 'clear and present danger' to Britain's security, and Allison Gardner, who chairs Parliament's cross-party group on artificial intelligence, said that 'just because we can build these technologies doesn't mean we should'.

She warned that the risk levels of agentic AI – AI that can perform a specific goal with limited supervision – should be treated with the greatest scrutiny, adding: 'Unless we are too late, and have not only created Pandora's Box but already opened it.'

THE CHATBOT THERAPIST THAT HAS BEEN TAKING LESSONS FROM HANNIBAL LECTER Pages 34-36

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18

From CAROLINE GRAHAM

IN LOS ANGELES

GLAMOROUS and smiling in the stands, American model Ashlyn Castro became a familiar face as she cheered on handsome Three Lions superstar Jude Bellingham at the World Cup this summer, enjoying life as half of one of the planet's most enviable couples.

The pair later posted pictures of tender moments on the beach during a romantic post-tournament holiday to Hawaii, and were seen last week at Alton Towers.

But in July 2024, the social media influencer, 28, who Jude refers to as 'my love', looked the picture of despair as she described to police how her 'schizophrenic' mother had assaulted her.

'I've just been attacked by my mom,' she says haltingly to an officer, in never-before-seen police bodycam footage obtained by The Mall on Sunday.

The scene is a hotel car park in Henderson, Nevada, near Las Vegas where her mother Tina, then 59, was living on the streets.

In between sobs as she fights to control her emotions, Ashlyn explains that she'd wanted to drive her mum, who is 'off her meds', back to California to 'figure something out for her'. But as she and Tina sat in the parked car, Ashlyn realised she'd booked the wrong hotel for her mother.

Then Tina lashed out. 'She pulled my hair down and started punching my face,' Ashlyn says, struggling to catch her breath.

Tina, the footage shows, is at this point at the other end of the car park being questioned by two other officers. Gaunt and

«She pulled my hair down and started punching my face»

confused, she too sobs as she gives her version of events, insisting that it was Ashlyn who'd attacked her. 'She hates me for some reason, I never did anything to her,' she insists.

But it is clear who police believe. Tina is asked to turn around to be handcuffed – their judgment helped by a video Ashlyn took, and the bloody scratches to her hands and a swollen lip.

'A busted lip!' Tina protests. 'I never touched her lip!'

A subsequent statement Ashlyn gave to police, seen by the MoS, was written with the weariness of someone who has long endured such erratic outbursts. It simply read: 'I was trying to get my mother a hotel room when she started attacking me, pulling my hair, punching me, scratching me. She didn't think I was getting her the room so she attacked me.'

Tina was fined $200 (£150) for domestic battery but is now wanted for contempt of court after failing to pay the fee.

It was just a few months after this ugly scene that Ashlyn met England midfielder Jude, who she last year described

as 'the most thoughtful, kind-hearted, hard-working, incredible human I have ever known'.

But if she thought that blossoming love would help distract her from old familial rifts, their relationship seems, in fact, to have stoked the feud further.

'Who is this Jude Bellingham?' Tina raged at her daughter on TikTok. 'You disobeyed your mum,

OFFICERS GRILL ASHLYN...

...AND HER SOBBING MUM

DESPAIR: The film of Ashlyn Castro telling police she had been attacked by her 'schizophrenic' mother Tina, right, in a hotel car park

Jude Bellingham's nodal girlfriend ...and the shocking police bodycam footage that reveals desperate struggle she faces to help her troubled mum

lied about her, left her in shelters.' Ashlyn responded by revealing to her followers her mother's mental illness. It is thought that Tina is currently living in a homeless shelter in Los Angeles.

But, as with all family dynamics, the row is far from clear-cut. For years, Tina herself was the victim of domestic violence at the hands of Ashlyn's father Michael. It was

a toxic marriage that Tina fled in 2000 with Ashlyn and her brother Trever when they were just three and five years old.

The family moved in with Tina's mother Lynn, now 80, whose modest, single-storey house in Anaheim, California, became Ashlyn's home. There, Tina filed for a restraining order against Michael, to whom she had been married for

eight years, claiming he was physically and verbally abusive and he suffered from bipolar disorder.

The handwritten statement seeking the order is a heartbreaking window into Ashlyn's chaotic childhood as much as her mother's marriage. 'I left him and he came to my parents' house where I was staying and busted out all the windows on my car,' Tina pleaded

with the judge. 'He had taken a whole handful of pills. I told him he needed help for his depression but never did he seek help.'

When Tina told him she was leaving and taking Ashlyn and Trever, she wrote: 'He said he was going to get something to eat. My husband was taking a long time coming back so I looked in the garage and he was sitting in the

HENDERSON POLICE - GETTY IMAGES

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AUGUST 9 • 2026 The London Sunday

v1

19

MY HERO: Ashlyn and Jude share a kiss after England beat Croatia in the World Cup. Left, one of Ashlyn's Instagram posts

hood just down the road. On the doorstep of Trever's home, amid the toys strewn across the front lawn next to plastic garden furniture, he explains that his mother was once placed under a conservatorship, which gave his uncle, a police captain, legal authority over her. But when that ended – and Tina stopped taking her medication – she plunged into crisis.

He says that neither he nor Ashlyn can force their mother to get medical help. 'Unless somebody is a danger to themselves or others it is virtually impossible to force them into treatment. We're kind of at a standstill,' he said.

Tina's social media posts show her moving from halfway houses to homeless shelters in the company of her small black dog, Speedy. She often wears a crucifix around her neck and claims to have 'found God'.

In one picture, she appears to be inside a tent in MacArthur Park close to downtown LA. Hardly the image of beauty portrayed in the 1968 Richard Harris song, the park is now home to scores of drug addicts – some of whom were openly using syringes when the MoS visited last week. Perhaps, then, Tina's envy at her daughter's new life on the arm of a multi-millionaire Real Madrid footballer is not surprising.

Ashlyn's ascent from Anaheim to the superstar milieu of private jets and million-dollar mansions has been remarkable.

When in her 2024 witness statement she described herself as 'self-employed', she had already launched her own talent agency The Four Models and had appeared in the music video for Popstar, the 2021 track from record producer DJ Khaled.

Today, she has lucrative deals with beauty giants such as Clarins. It is perhaps that entrepreneurial steel that has won her the approval of Jude's fiercely protective mother, Denise, at whose side Ashlyn was regularly seen during the World Cup.

Nicknamed 'The Queen', Denise

with her ex-husband Mark, a retired police officer, gave Jude the loving and stable upbringing that has shaped him and his younger brother Jobe, 20, into such gifted footballers.

It was a childhood that could not have been more different from Ashlyn's. But her relationship with Jude is not the first time she's been linked to an eligible sports star.

Ashlyn is rumoured to have dated US basketball players Terance Mann and LaMelo Ball, as well as Oscar-winning Sinners actor Michael B. Jordan.

She met Jude – some say on the celebrity dating site Raya – at the end of 2024 when the pair started posting on each other's Instagram accounts. In January 2025, they were photographed having lunch in Madrid, and the relationship has become increasingly public since.

Last September, they were seen kissing on a £1 million superyacht in Sardinia.

Ashlyn maintains a home in Los Angeles but spends more of her time with Jude at his £5.5 million mansion in the Spanish capital's exclusive La Finca neighbourhood.

During the World Cup, he ran into the stands after England games to embrace his girlfriend, who would usually be found sitting beside his mother.

But not everyone has been as approving of Ashlyn as the Bellingham 'Queen' is. A common accusation flung Ashlyn's way is that she is a 'gold digger', something she has addressed head-on in a social media post.

'It makes me super uncomfortable talking on camera about my

«He's the most kind-hearted incredible human ever»

personal life,' she began. 'Every angle you can think of, people have attacked me, harassed me, been so disrespectful. It's just been too much.

'I've had three boyfriends over the last eight years. In 2017, I was in my very first relationship and he's a public figure so because of that I've dealt with people talking about me, making up things about me. There was nothing on the internet about me prior, so people... made up a bunch of things to justify having me.'

Speaking about her mother's illness she said: 'This is extremely personal. This is my real life. I lost my father a few years ago.'

'My mum is mentally ill... moving forward, I will talk about things that are important such as mental health. This is something that I wanted to use my platform for but I just wasn't ready.'

Ashlyn is planning to start a charity to help those suffering from mental health issues and to support their loved ones. She said: 'It's the most defeated feeling in the world. If you can't relate then consider yourself blessed.'

Last night, a spokesman for Ashlyn was approached for comment by the MoS.

● Additional reporting by Daniel Bates and Peter Sheridan

Wes: I've had more hate since I took defence job

WES Streeting said he has faced more online homophobia since becoming Defence Secretary than in his entire career.

Speaking at the Edinburgh Fringe, Mr Streeting said he had experienced an 'unbelievable volume' of bigotry from people who 'cannot cope with the idea' of a gay man running the Ministry of Defence.

While his appointment three weeks ago had been 'almost entirely unremarked upon in the media', he said that 'online it matters to a lot of people'.

But he added that the role was an opportunity for him to show 'strength' and 'challenge this sort of stereotype that clearly persists in dark corners of the internet'.

Despite the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967, it remained a criminal offence for military personnel until 1994.

Even then, it remained classed as 'conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline' until 2000, meaning service personnel could still be dismissed for being gay.

Mr Streeting added: 'I am proud that in my lifetime we've gone from gay people not being allowed to serve in the military to a gay Defence Secretary.'

'And in my first week, someone in the Ministry of Defence said to me, 'You know, as a gay man, I'm really proud that we have our first gay Defence Secretary, and it means a lot to many of us who remember the bad old days.'

Bernie

YOU'RE QUITE RIGHT, DR LECTEUR, YOU'RE QUALITY FOR EARLY REGARDS.

Say cheese for my food snaps

A THIRD of Britons take more photos of the food they eat on holiday than of their destinations, a study has revealed.

A poll of 2,000 adults found the average holidaymaker takes 39 snaps a day during a break, which tots up to 273 for a week away, and 546 for a fortnight.

But the study by banking firm Chase found 33 per cent took more shots of food than beaches, monuments or cityscapes.

Generation Z travellers were the worst offenders, with 57 per cent of 18 to 29-year-olds admitting to the holiday habit.

car with the door closed and car running and was drinking and had taken some pills.

'I decided to leave for good this time and I am staying at my parents' with my children. He calls me every day and night threatening to kill himself... and shows up at my parents' house screaming at me in front of my kids.'

In an exclusive interview with the MoS, Ashlyn's brother Trever said both parents had issues – their mother with schizophrenia and their father with depression.

Michael sought treatment and rebuilt his life after divorcing Tina and ran several successful businesses until his death in 2021 from Covid, but Tina continues to have 'serious problems'. Trever

says: 'It's been horrible, traumatising. It's affected every part of our lives. When I was little I don't remember a lot. Our parents got divorced when we were young. It was a brutal divorce. Both our parents weren't the best back then.'

Trever, 30, is a father of four, and still lives in the childhood home in Anaheim. Set in a solidly working-class suburb, the 1955 three-bedroom house is close to a noisy motorway.

A couple of miles away is Disneyland, where Ashlyn and Jude were photographed at the Star Wars ride days after England's last World Cup game.

Billed as the 'happiest place on Earth', the theme park must have felt a world away from her child-

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20

Record 1,000 drug mules arrested for smuggling cannabis into UK

Police issue warning as influencers lured by gangs on social media sites

By Abul Taher

SECURITY CORRESPONDENT

ALMOST 1,000 British drug mules were arrested at UK airports smuggling cannabis from abroad last year – seven times the amount two years earlier.

The record number of arrests stood at 976 – up from 142 in 2023 – and in the six months to June this year the figure was already at 600, according to police figures. The vast majority of arrests involve those returning from Thailand.

Detectives say many of those persuaded to smuggle are seduced on social media with the promise of a free holiday and then forced to bring back cannabis in their luggage. The average street value of drugs seized is £250,000.

On Thursday Amy Durban, 45, from Cullompton, Devon, became the latest mule to plead guilty. She was caught at Heathrow with over £500,000 worth of cannabis from Thailand in her suitcase, and will be sentenced in October.

Smugglers are also being stopped at transit airports in places such as Turkey, Georgia and Sri Lanka.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) recently launched a campaign in Bangkok warning Brits of the dangers of being drugs mules. It can land them 14 years in jail in the UK, and longer terms or even the death penalty in countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

The spike in cannabis being smuggled from Thailand comes after it was decriminalised there

JAILED FOR 16 MONTHS: Ellie Crampsie, right, was found with 17kg (37lbs) of the drug. Above: The £500,000 haul carried by Amy Durban

in 2022. Farming it is now legal, driving prices down. But exporting it without clearance is illegal. One kilogram of cannabis smug-

'Once they are in, there's no backing out'

gled from Thailand has an estimated street value of £10,000, and on average a drugs mule smuggles about 25kg (55lbs) into the UK.

The NCA said would-be drugs mules are being lured by gangs on social media sites such as Snapchat and TikTok. The gangs advertise free week-long holidays to Thailand where flights, hotels and spending money are provided in return for a small favour.

But they are then forced under

the threat of violence to carry drugs back and are offered up to £5,000 on their return to the UK.

Paul Pantry, head of border vulnerabilities at the NCA, said: 'The couriers have no control over how they fly back.'

'They are in the hands of these ruthless criminals who enforce everything with violence. Once they are in, there's no backing out.'

'Organised crime groups will not care about couriers. They will leave them high and dry. They are entering a murky, violent world.'

Mr Pantry said that while some people with criminal backgrounds become drugs mules, there is a significant number who see themselves as 'influencer-types'.

He said: 'There's an attraction in that glamorous lifestyle, that sort of social media story you might post about your time in a glamorous location. We are seeing that

demographic in that type of crime.' Pregnant teenager Bella Culley, 19, from Billingham, Teesside, was caught with cannabis smuggled from Thailand at Tbilisi airport in Georgia last year. She faced 20 years in jail, but was freed after five months in a plea bargain.

Influencer Ellie Crampsie, 23, from Glasgow, was arrested at Edinburgh airport last year when she landed from Thailand with 17kg of cannabis in her suitcase with a street value of £150,000. She was jailed in April for 16 months.

And Charlotte Lee May, 21, from south London, was arrested in Sri Lanka in May last year with 46kg of cannabis from Thailand and is facing 20 years in jail.

Bernie

Relaxing at the spa? Not if you work there

By Lydia Veljanovski

FOR many, a spa visit is the pinnacle of relaxation – being fussed over until the worries of the world melt away.

But for those doing the pampering, the workplace is anything but a haven of tranquillity, research reveals.

Nearly a third of therapists (32.1 per cent) frequently or very frequently suffer physical exhaustion at work.

More than three in ten (30.2 per cent) also said they regularly feel emotionally drained, while more than a quarter (27.7 per cent) reported experiencing burnout or feeling overwhelmed frequently.

The Therapist Wellbeing Report – based on responses from professionals in the spa, beauty, therapeutic and wellness sectors – depict an industry where practitioners spend their days soothing others' aches and pains, while struggling with their own.

Around one in three said they had considered leaving the profession altogether. Many blamed relentless workloads and a lack of time to recover between appointments.

Hayley Snishko, of mental health advocacy organisation Massage4MentalHealth, which conducted the survey, said: 'The findings highlight a need for greater support through professional development, training and recognition.'

WHO AM I?

• ● My real name is Jelena.
• ● I'm descended from Daher al-Umar, considered a Palestinian national hero.
• ● I qualified for the Junior Olympics in volleyball.
• ● In 2023, I was fined $1,000 for bringing cannabis into the Cayman Islands.
• ● The Chinese once revoked my visa after my imitation of Buddha was deemed racist.
• ● I've apologised to Melania Trump, right, for mocking her Slovenian accent.
• ● I have a five-year-old daughter with One Direction's Zayn Malik.

Who? What Where?

OUR fun weekly quiz, in which we ask you to figure out people, places and things in the news...

• ● Rumours abound that I've just married Bradley Cooper.

WHAT AM I?

• ● I'm the second-most

expensive spice in the world.

• ● Spiders hate my smell.
• ● Historically, a syrup found in sacs near a beaver's anus was used as a cheaper substitute.
• ● Queen Elizabeth I used me as an aphrodisiac.
• ● The orchids I come from can only be pollinated by hummingbirds and a Mexican bee. But a 12-year-old slave on Reunion Island figured out a way to do it by hand – paving the way for a £3billion-a-year trade.
• ● My scent makes shoppers more likely to spend more, researchers just found.
• ● US President Thomas Jefferson

was the first American to document my use in ice-cream.

WHERE AM I?

• ● I'm home to the UK's oldest

theme park, opened in 1843.

• ● Charles I was held prisoner here during the Civil War.
• ● People whose families have lived here for three or more generations call themselves Caulkheads.
• ● I host an annual garlic festival.
• ● Sir Christopher Cockerell invented the hovercraft here.
• ● A model village here just reinstated a 2in-tail streaker called Erica, after a backlash when it was removed.
• ● ANSWERS: Gigi Hadid, vanilla, the Isle of Wight.

STEVE BENNETT

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21

Dragon Steven set to double his money on his £8.5m den – and the locals are flaming furious

By Dolly Busby

SHOWBUSINESS CORRESPONDENT

PRIVATE Eye mocks him as the 'king of self-mythologisation' because of his boasts about his lucrative business ventures.

But there is one enterprise that BBC Dragons' Den star Steven Bartlett is less vocal about – upsetting the locals in South Africa by driving up property prices.

The Mall on Sunday can reveal the Diary Of A CEO podcast host bought a £3.8 million property in Cape Town, spent two years doing it up, and is now selling it for more than double the price at £8.5 million.

The 33-year-old, worth more than £37 million, bought the seven-bedroom megamansion on the slopes of Table Mountain in Bishopscourt in 2024.

He rented it out to Warner Bros International productions to film parts of Germany's version of reality show The Bachelor and added features such as a padel court alongside the swimming pool, home cinema and spa.

But the Botswana-born businessman has come under some scrutiny from angry residents who accuse him of 'flipping' – buying a house and fixing it up before selling it quickly for an inflated profit.

Resident Sedick Dawood said: 'I love Steven, but here again Cape

Town is being bought by foreigners, under the guise of 'foreign investment', but in reality pushing up property prices for citizens.' When the house recently went up

for sale, one person on social media said: 'We are unable to enjoy or afford to enjoy our own land because of foreign demand.'

It is unclear if 'flipping' the house was Mr Bartlett's intention all along. A friend of his said: 'Steven loves the place in South Africa, but he's just not able to visit it enough. His business has

expanded so much – with offices in the US as well as the UK – that most of his time is taken up criss-crossing the Atlantic.'

The friend added that Mr Bartlett was able to be there for only four weeks last year so it 'just doesn't make any sense to keep it'. His spokesman declined to comment.

80p for a National Trust babyccino? It's enough to make you foam with rage

THE National Trust has been accused of ripping off parents with toddlers by charging for small cups of foamed milk at its cafes.

In stark contrast to High Street chains which supply the so-called 'babyccinos' for free, the Trust charges 80p.

The Babyccinos – hot foamed milk in a small cup – have become popular with toddlers wanting to mimic the cappuccinos or lattes that their mums and dads are drinking. High Street coffee chains, including Costa Coffee, Starbucks and Caffe Nero, all provide the fun drink free of charge.

The charge has infuriated parents across the country, and comes as the Trust is under fire for escalating membership fees.

They have risen from £63 for an adult a decade ago to just over £100 now, with family membership rising from £111 to £176.

Parents visiting the Trust's historic attractions, including Emmetts Gardens, an Edwardian hillside garden in Kent, and

By Elizabeth Ivens

Chartwell in Kent, the former home of Winston Churchill, were amazed to be charged 80p for a babyccino at their cafes.

One mum who took her toddler to visit Emmetts Garden, which charges up to £16.50 each for adult entry, told The Mall on Sunday: 'I ordered one for my daughter and couldn't believe they were charging for it when it was just a little bit of frothed milk in a cup!'

At the National Trust cafe in Lacock, Wiltshire – which dates from Saxon times and has been a filming location for the BBC's Pride And Preju-

FUN-SIZED: A small babyccino milk drink

dice and the film Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince – a babyccino was also 80p.

When The Mall on Sunday visited the cafe and ordered a babyccino alongside a standard coffee, our reporter was served a few mouthfuls of hot foamed milk – under 100ml – in an espresso cup.

When asked why there was a charge for the tiny drink, the barista said they charged for cold milk so 'it was the same'.

But in nearby Chippenham, Wiltshire, coffee chains Costa Coffee, Caffe Nero and Starbucks, all provided a babyccino free of charge when an adult was buying a drink.

While none of them had a babyccino on the menu, all of them offered one upon request. In

Caffe Nero the server said they were always happy to provide babyccinos when adults were buying other drinks.

In Costa Coffee, the babyccino was nearly double the size of the National Trust version at just under 200ml, while in Starbucks, the server offered a small (100 ml) or large (around 200ml) size, both free of charge.

A spokesman for the National Trust said: 'As a charity, we regularly review our pricing to ensure we can cover our costs and support the long-term future of the organisation, while still offering value for money to our members and visitors.

'We benchmark our food and beverage pricing against similar attractions and high street operators to ensure it remains broadly in line with industry standards.

'Given other outlets' pricing and some visitor feedback we've received, we are reviewing our babyccino pricing as part of our normal review cycle.'

Anger over soft penalty for migrant smuggler

From Peter Allen

IN PARIS

TORY and Reform MPs last night hit out after an Egyptian was jailed in France for just one year for trying to smuggle 173 migrants into Britain on a 'mega-dinghy' that burst into flames in the English Channel.

Eleven people suffered burns in the blaze early last Tuesday.

Such crimes are usually punishable by up to five years in prison. The 25-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, began his sentence in France yesterday following a trial at Boulogne Criminal Court on Friday.

Chris Philp, the Tory home affairs spokesman, said: 'These people-smugglers put lives at risk and they are destroying Europe's borders. They should be jailed for a long time.'

Reform UK chairman Lee Anderson, who visited migrant camps in France last week, said: 'We are being taken for mugs by criminals from all over the world and the hard-working British taxpayer is footing the bill.'

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22

The Mail

ON SUNDAY

HAS Labour under Andy Burnham quietly become the party of the super-rich? Roughly 21 per cent of Mr Burnham's Cabinet went to private schools, which are now increasingly beyond the reach of the aspiring middle classes.

This is thanks to tax changes – VAT, National Insurance increases and business rates – imposed on them by Labour Party chairman and former Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.

Even those ministers who went to state schools seem to have been fortunate in their education.

An impressive 54 per cent of the Burnham Cabinet attended either Oxford or Cambridge, as 99 per cent of British children do not do.

And now we learn that the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Miatta Fahnbulleh, is educating her own three

A fine choice of school, minister. A shame others can't follow suit

children privately. We do not know how much she and her husband – who is said to be 'in finance' – pay. But Ms Fahnbulleh's own former school, Beechwood in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, currently charges boarders almost £45,000 a year and day pupils up to £24,597.

There is nothing wrong with that. The Mail on Sunday supports aspiration and ambition. We only wish more children could go to independent schools.

The problem is that Labour's

own actions are currently devastating much of private education across the country. We must assume they know what they are doing, when they make private schools too expensive for the middle class while continuing to use such schools themselves.

Even if they do not make the same choice as Ms Fahnbulleh, they must surely grasp that Ms Phillipson's fierce taxes have reinforced the privilege of wealth, not weakened it.

EVERY family has to think, from time to time, about funerals.

It may not be welcome, but it is usually wise. It is certainly not the taboo it used to be – some TV stations nowadays are full of advertisements for funeral plans.

For the Royal Family, the problem is rather bigger. The death of any senior royal raises delicate and intricate questions of protocol and precedence.

Where will the service be held? Where will the internment be? We must all die, even if the current Royal Family has developed a reputation for longevity. The well-oiled machine of the British monarchy does not wish to be unprepared for any eventuality, and quite right too.

So inevitably the awkward question of the funeral of the former Duke of York, now Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, has come up. And currently there are plans for him to have a funeral thought to be similar to that accorded to the late Queen's sister, Princess Margaret. Let us

Andrew is not worthy of any royal ceremony

not be vindictive here, but the former Prince, by his behaviour and attitude in the Epstein affair, has surely forfeited any entitlement to such ceremonies.

Plainly, in common decency, he should be buried with his forebears, and his unquestioned bravery in the Falklands will not be forgotten by the Navy.

But the British public will be dismayed if his obsequies take place in royal surroundings or with the trappings of monarchy. He is now a private citizen and his funeral should be private too.

There's a lot at steak over my rules for dinner-time

MY NEW husband thinks I'm trying to kill him. He's been told (like many of us) he should eat limited quantities of red meat. So now, every time I bring out the steak or sausages, he views it as an attempt on his life.

The reality of our domestic existence is that I am the cook and, in general, cooks rule when it comes to menus. Were I competent on the fish front that would make things simpler, but I find it uninteresting to eat and hard to cook correctly.

Chicken makes frequent appearances but there is only so much a couple can eat – and although we love pasta, I try to limit my own intake. Left to myself in this hot weather, supper would just be a salad and cheese but any such suggestion provokes a distinctly disappointed response, as does some confection involving chickpeas or lentils.

We've lived harmoniously together for more than 20 years but it's only now we've recently married that this incompatibility over what to eat for dinner seems to have become more obvious.

As far as I recall, the marriage vows didn't include promising to only provide food the spouse prefers. If things go on in this way it won't be separate beds, but separate dinners. Except, only one of us can cook.

Childhood has come flooding back

LAST week I finally hung the many large pictures I inherited from our parents after our mother died in February. It's a very strange feeling having them in my home. These pictures were part of

Alexandra Shulman's Notebook

my childhood for 60-odd years, and every time I went back to visit they were in the same old places.

It feels completely right and utterly wrong seeing them on my walls. Right, because of their intense familiarity, almost as if they were a part of my body; wrong because they belong in my parents' home, and now they and these objects are no longer there.

There are also numerous pieces of furniture I have taken, such as the six bentwood chairs in our kitchen and a neo-classical style drinks cabinet now housing bits and pieces in our bathroom.

In fact the place looks like a pale imitation of the home where I spent my childhood, with every room having to be changed to accommodate them all.

I can't quite work out whether this is perfectly normal behaviour or demonstrates some unhealthy attachment to a past I am desperately clinging on to.

My book's been hit by the woke police

OVER the past few days I've been recording my forthcoming book, Black Coffee And Red Lipstick – Notes On Living. Reading the manuscript out loud I noticed endless lines I regretted not having phrased better, along with the odd typo. Among them was a line about eyeliner being worn by the Egyptians from 3100 BC. Or that's what I originally wrote. In the type-

script it had been altered to 3100 BCE. I thought this was a typo but my excellent producer told me this is now the correct usage.

No longer are we meant to use Before Christ or Anno Domini but Before the Common Era and Common Era to apply secular neutrality. What complete nonsense.

I've asked for the old BC to be put back in and will happily be regarded as some cultural and societal throwback.

It's so hard to tell what's fake or real

MY STEPDAUGHTER, Emma, has been staying with us. She has been working for a US newspaper picture desk. Much of her time is spent calculating which pictures on the net are AI-generated.

Last week there was one doing the rounds of the actress Zembaya supposedly pregnant, and Emma attempted to explain the methods she used to detect this was a fake. It was beyond my pay grade.

There are so many of these flooding social media that verification has become a massive part of working on reputable news sites. Departments are dedicated to it and the role is as essential to understanding the information we receive as the old school reporter with a short-hand notebook used to be.

Cosy old grannies are thing of the past

NONNAMAXXING is an Instagram trend, celebrating the virtues of the traditional granny, particularly if she cooks up a mean bowl of pasta.

The cosy grey-haired matriarch, with her gently paced lifestyle, chatting to her neighbours, wearing old cards and spending her evenings crocheting, has become newly inspirational.

I get the appeal but who actually knows such grannies? The grandmothers I know are as likely to be hiking in Nepal, working full-time and generally dashing around the place. If they have the time to think about how they want to be regarded, it is as interesting role

LIVING IT UP: Nans have changed

models for their grandchildren rather than placid caregivers.

I'm a convert – to a cheeky Nando's

I DON'T count myself a grandmother but I am a step-grandmother, and as a result look my first trip to Nando's last week.

My American step-grandson requested the visit and I admit I was apprehensive. I had imagined that Nando's would be disgusting. How wrong I was. I am a total convert. My chicken peri peri and tomato salad were delicious, the staff delightful – and I've discovered there's one down the road.

Pass on the chips? Fat chance of that

A FARMER friend says there is tumult in the world of potatoes. This year's crop is suffering from the heatwave (they won't grow in very high temperatures). But the rise of fat jabs has meant far fewer people are eating these carb-heavy vegetables.

McCain, one of the biggest suppliers, is considering closing a factory in Lincolnshire that produces its Fries To Go brand and farmers aren't sure whether they should turn to other crops in future. However, the evidence of my own eyes was that there's a huge number of chips being ordered in Nando's.

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23

As report says Commons is 'alcohol-soaked', our sketch writer takes a refreshingly different view

THIS arid, fly-blown August has been interrupted by a sermon from something called the Institute of Alcohol Studies. It claims Parliament is an 'alcohol-soaked workplace' where all-day boozing is 'embedded' and alcohol has been 'a driver of harmful behaviours and poor conduct among politicians'.

The institute, an offshoot of the old Total Abstinence League, may be on to something, although not in the way it imagines.

Westminster does indeed have a hooch problem. In my opinion it does not drink enough.

That, naturally, is not the gist of the report Under the Influence?, 38 pages of tight-lipped prose in which the institute denounces our legislature as a soaks' paradise. It alleges that recent MPs have had to have their stomachs pumped, such as their inebriation. No names are given.

The report complains that 'individuals are responsible for self-regulating their alcohol consumption', as if some clipboard-wielding Rosa Klebb should constantly hover nearby to tell backbenchers not to have another sherry.

The report – a dry read, yet drippy – is a ghast that alcohol is

«The Speaker took more than one go at clambering into his chair»

'linked to a networking culture deemed essential to career progression'. Networking in politics? Whatever next? Footballers who cheat?

Let us first admit that some people hate politicians and want them to have a miserable time. Why should there be any bars at Parliament? And why do companies and charities lay on free drink at Westminster receptions? Free wine for MPs and peers? The blighters!

The answer to this charge is that politics is a people business. 'The Devil's buttermilk' (as the Rev Ian Paisley used to call alcohol) can make it more honest, as I will explain presently.

Westminster used to be considerably more liquid. The 19th-century Commons was often plastered. The mighty Norway debate of 1940, when the Chamberlain government was undone, was held amid the whiff of drink. What a night that must have been: The nerves, the tension, the surging emotions. My goodness, just thinking about it you can almost smell the whisky and the sheer urgency of the hour.

In the late 1960s the Commons Speaker was Horace King, a drinker. One evening he teetered into the chamber at 9.25pm and took more than one go at clambering into his chair. He fell across the clerks' table, his ceremonial wig at a 45-degree angle.

Bob Mellish, government chief whip, snapped: 'You're a disgrace,

Booze problem in Westminster? No, MPs don't drink enough of the stuff. If only they did, they might be more honest

By QUENTIN LETTS

Horace, and I'll have you out of that chair in three months.' Speaker King, suppressing a burp: 'How can you get me out of the chair, Bob, when I can't get myself into it?'

BBC political reporter Ben Wright, in his entertaining book about parliamentary drinking, claims that in 1983 a Labour MP, Edwin Wainwright, was escorted to a taxi after overdoing it in Strangers' Bar.

Wainwright was not, however, ready to conclude his day.

He stumbled back into the Commons and made a speech so slurred that Hansard's stenographers were unable to discern what he was saying. Instead of a verbatim account of his speech they simply noted: 'Mr Wainwright made a number of observations.'

That most languid of Conservatives, Alan Clark, was made a junior employment minister in the same year. He was told to make a front-bench speech about

equal opportunities. It did not start until after 10pm, and Clark had spent the first part of the evening at a wine tasting.

As he started reading the speech he realised it was polluted by civil-service jargon. To spare the House he spoke at '78pm rather than 33pm', i.e., a ridiculously high speed.

Labour's Clare Short did not see the joke and complained. Clark was undoubtedly naughty but did he not have something of a point? Why should anyone be exposed to officialdom's cliches after supper?

As for Ms Short, five years later I was drinking in the Imperial Hotel, Blackpool, on the first afternoon of Labour's party conference. Clare was at our table. I used to think I could drink a lot. Next to her I felt a puny amateur.

The past often shimmered on booze fumes. George Brown was a stocious economics minister and

Foreign Secretary in the 1960s. The public warmed to him.

Ernie Bevin, most serious and capable of 1940s statesmen, ran on drink in the way 'a car uses petrol'. Roy Jenkins was nicknamed 'Old Beaujolais'.

Politics is not, as the Institute for Alcohol Studies claims, a 'profession'. You do not need to pass exams to become an MP. The one piece of paper you need is the returning officer's confirmation that you won your constituency's election.

Parliamentary politics is about life, and life can sometimes be drunken, particularly when under the sort of stress that MPs must endure. I am no longer a big drinker. I can quite see that alcohol, in excess, is a poison. But it is something much enjoyed by millions of voters. Politicians are citizens, not saints.

In recent times we had poor Charles Kennedy, who was killed

by drink, and there have been one or two cases of MPs bouncing off the corridors; but we have also had Nigel Farage, whose beery image helped liberate us from the European Union. He was more popular when he radiated that pubby bonhomie. Politics is as much the art of conviviality as debate.

The Green party's Zack Polanski does not drink alcohol. Maybe he would seem less fanatical, and therefore more persuasive, if he did.

The late David Lipsey, a political adviser in the Wilson years, told Ben Wright: 'Drink stopped the manic compulsion to do something every single day.'

'Today's ministers, Lipsey suspected, were 'too sober and too energetic, thinking up wheezes they'd forget about if only they had a couple of large drinks'.

I would offer a more positive case for drink, namely as a truth drug. Ministers are more likely to learn what backbench MPs and their constituents think if they mingle with them over a pint.

One of the criticisms of Sir Keir Starmer as PM was that he seldom mixed with his MPs. The celebrated lawyer did not spend enough time at the bar.

Not that today's Commons is dissolute. Despite those horror

«A few snifters might make them prepared to disagree with party whips»

stories of stomach-pumping in the institute's report, today's MPs strike me as a clean-livered lot. A few snifters might make them prepared to disagree with party whips and wake up to the ridiculousness of regulatory over-reach and much welfare spending.

The institute suggests that arguments in bars are a bad thing. If they help MPs work out what they honestly think about bad Bills, I'd say that was a good thing.

Fainthearts will say 'but it's a workplace and you shouldn't drink at work'. Parliament is much more than a workplace. It is the cockpit of our politics, an arena for debate and awkward truths. In recent times those truths have been tamed by too much sobriety.

Winston Churchill said: 'I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me.' If Boris Yeltsin had not been so keen on vodka, would he have risked his life by standing on that tank and resisting Soviet hardliners in 1991?

One of the best backbenchers in the Blair years was Labour's Bob Marshall-Andrews, no stranger to the Garrick bar at lunchtime.

It was Marshall-Andrews who in the Commons came up with the winning description of David Miliband's tenure as Foreign Secretary. 'A pillock on his gap year,' drawled the magnificent Bob. The only surprise was that he did not follow it by crying, 'and another bottle of club red, please!'

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25

Peter Hitchens

Follow Peter on Twitter @clarkemicah

Prison won't work till we restore right and wrong, fathers and proper coppers

PRISONS are a liberal idea which only work in a conservative country. If you don't have strong moral rules, strong families and tough authority figures everywhere, from fathers to schoolmasters, park keepers and bus conductors to large, fierce constables patrolling the towns, prison will not do any good.

The idea of keeping someone locked in a room for several years, as punishment, is really quite new, and a bit of an experiment.

Before about 1800, we tended to transport criminals to distant colonies, or to hang them till they died. There were prisons, but they were just diseased dungeons where criminals were kept only till they expired of fever or they were sent to America or Australia.

Then along came the reformers, and we locked malefactors up systematically instead. And it seemed to work. This was mainly because Britain in the 19th century went through a moral and religious revolution, and millions were brought up to believe in right and wrong.

It was also because of the ever-present police, to remind them that they'd quickly be in trouble if they broke the law.

And it was because the Victorian prisons of Britain were built in the middle of cities, with the clear aim of scaring wrongdoers into good behaviour.

Look even now at the forbidding tomb-like gates, towers and walls of Wormwood Scrubs in London, Armley in Leeds, or Strangeways in Manchester. Nowadays the Government prefers not to use these grim old names.

THESE days they are frightening for the wrong reason – because the prisoners rule inside them. Worse, gentle, innocent men and women can reasonably fear being thrust into their hellish, crammed halls and corridors. For our police, prosecutors and courts are worryingly given to locking up the wrong people.

But when those frightening prisons were backed up by a traditional society, they had a very different message. How did it work?

Amsterdam's charm is lost amid concrete and cannabis

HAS Amsterdam lost its magic? It features wonderfully in the superb 1940 Hitchcock film Foreign Correspondent, the only movie I know to combine a car chase, Nazis and windmills. When I first visited it in the 1970s, it still had that romantic north-European aroma – now gone – of strong coffee and cigars. These days parts of it smell of something else altogether.

Then it starred in the original 1970s series about a Dutch detective, Piet van der Valk, as an exotic, seedy countercultural city of drugs and prostitution. But now, who

needs to go to Amsterdam for such things? You can get them in Surrey. I watched the start of the new ITV series of Van der Valk and couldn't see the point of it.

Marc Warren is an ill-tempered Morse-like Van der Valk. Maimie McCoy, pictured, is his attractive – and possibly lesbian – female sidekick.

Old Amsterdam has been swallowed up by a vast, bland new city of concrete and glass. And before we know where we are there has been a huge orange explosion. I gave up, and went off to read a Sherlock Holmes story.

CAMBRIDGE was unlucky to be the first of the two great English universities to be shown up as a politically correct joke. It could just as easily have happened to Oxford. These places have huge reputations which were long ago hollowed out by the ever-worsening effects of comprehensive schools. Now we have comprehensive universities, too.

Many people will never commit a crime, so the fear of prison won't affect them much. Then there are those who might be tempted, but who will be put off by a real fear of being caught and jailed. And then there are the incorrigible hard bargains.

The last group used to be our basic prison population of about 20,000. The middle group, those open to temptation, have – since the 1960s – started committing crime in ever larger numbers.

Once, they would have feared to offend. Now they have discovered

that the police are absent, so they can commit dozens of crimes before even being investigated.

By the time they get locked up, if ever, they are already hardened lawbreakers. It won't do them any good or deter others like them.

Prison comes too late in their lives to reform them. And the jails are no longer run by the lawful authorities. They are run by the prisoners. So they will come out worse than when they went in.

Until the Cultural Revolution and the Permissive Society got going in the 1960s, we had no problem

with prison overcrowding. There were just 27,000 people in prisons in England and Wales in 1960. Then, in a few short years, came mass divorce, weaker families, absent fathers.

The police began to climb into cars and hide in offices. Teachers lost their authority. The old idea of right and wrong faded away. Instead, we just had 'appropriate' and 'inappropriate'.

Drug use spread as fast as morals shrivelled. By 1970 the prison population was up to 39,000. By 1990 it had almost hit 46,000. In 2002 it passed 70,000 for the first time. Now it is above 87,000, close to maximum capacity of 89,800.

This makes it almost impossible to keep the prisons civilised or orderly. Prison officers, hugely outnumbered, are more like

UN peacekeepers than old-fashioned warders. They must negotiate everything. But once the shared cells are locked, the weak must submit to the strong. It's horrible. No wonder there are so many suicides.

So the current row about how many and which prisoners can be unjustly and dangerously released early is empty. The debate about it is mostly meaningless posturing. Prison, as it is, neither punishes nor deters bad people.

Even if all prisoners served their official sentences, most of them would still emerge just as dangerous as when they went in.

We lost control of our society 60 years ago, and until we work out why (it's quite easy, but beyond any politician I have ever met) we won't get it back.

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27

Sarah Wine

ON SUNDAY

COLUMNIST OF THE YEAR FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS!

Burnham's

or his hols. Maybe he needs a rest after that coup...

CALL me old-fashioned, but if I had just staged a hostile takeover and appointed myself chief executive of an ailing business-slash-country with debts of some £3 trillion, I would not just pop off on my holibobs after a mere two weeks.

And yet this is exactly what our new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has done. I mean, I get it, it's annoying when you've had the flights and accommodation booked for ages, and pre-paid your Ryanair in-flight meal deal – but he's clearly been planning this coup for a while. You would think he might have factored that in.

I'm not for one moment suggesting that prime ministers shouldn't go on holiday, in the style of Gordon Brown. That way madness lies. Everyone needs a break, and Burnham's kids need to see their dad. But did he need to absent himself from work so soon?

Couldn't he have popped out to join them for a long weekend on the grounds that, sometimes, matters of state take precedence?

AT ANY rate, politicians' holidays are the stuff of spin doctors' nightmares. Remember all that business with Tony Blair, Silvio Berlusconi and the Sardinian villa, complete with firework display spelling out 'Viva Tony'? Or what about George Osborne and the Oleg Deripaska yacht? Jack Straw, Peter Mandelson... they all enjoyed some questionable hospitality, to varying degrees. Makes poor old Starmer, with his Taylor Swift freebies, seem a rank amateur.

In these more hair-shirted times, it behoves politicians to adopt a less openly hedonistic approach. Any indication that one might be enjoying oneself is frowned upon. Destinations must be vetted by

● SPEAKING of politicians on holiday, we could do with a break from the sex-obsessed Samantha Niblett. Whether it's promoting sex toys in Parliament or abusing other women for not wanting to share a changing room with their be-testicled 'sisters' from the comfort of her sun-lounger, the MP is fast becoming a total turn-off.

the fun police. Economy is also an important factor. David Cameron used to fly EasyJet for his holidays. When my ex-husband Michael Gove flew to China as part of the 2013 trade delegation, he was in economy – something that astonished officials in Beijing.

Come to think of it, Michael was the master when it came to low-key holidays. He was always acutely aware of the dangers of accepting flashy freebies. As a

result, he applied a particularly Presbyterian approach to family breaks. Think fly-blown B&Bs and long car drives to remote parts of Wales and Scotland, cottages with electric coin meters and rain-ashed beaches, penny arcades and candy floss.

The children loved it, of course. I fantasised about Corsica beneath my cagoule.

The shabbier the seaside town, the more he revelled in it, hovering up full Englishes, revelling in the cafes with their steamed-up windows and antique shops full of dusty treasures.

One year, we made a pilgrimage to the Lloyd George Museum in Llanysumddwy, North Wales (try saying that after too many glasses of holiday rose). I'm not sure how much the kids appreciated seeing the desk where the great man drafted the Treaty of

Ring's not the thing

RUMOUR had it that footballing superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and fiancee Georgina Rodriguez were to marry this weekend. He proposed to her with a whopping 25 to 30-carat diamond ring, flawless in clarity and worth around £4 million. That is similar to the 33-carat diamond that Richard Taylor bought for Elizabeth Taylor in 1968 – but it is some way off the 69.42 carats of the so-called Taylor-Burton diamond, which he bought for her in 1969. All fabulous and glamorous – and we wish Cristiano and Georgina (pictured) well. But the trouble with diamonds, as Burton and Taylor discovered, is that however big they are, they are no guarantee of a long or happy marriage. Love is not measured in carats but in the thousand tiny kindnesses that make a relationship work.

● AFTER five hours at Marseille airport, I thought I had seen it all. Not only does it stink of raw sewage, it is also decorated in a variety of migraine-inducing colours, ranging from pus yellow to vomit orange. The food options are reminiscent of a 1980s Little Chef and there are no words to describe the squalor of the toilets. But then I landed at Stansted airport in the wee small hours and was greeted by the smell of skunk weed and rotting rubbish. Maybe they should consider twinning. In Hell.

GIVE US A LONDON TO BE PROUD OF

WHY does Sadiq Khan want to spend millions of pounds hosting World Pride in 2032? London has always been the epicentre of the LGBT+ community, a place where everyone can be themselves and where all tastes and traits are respected. Gay, straight or whatever, we don't

need a virtue-signalling extravaganza we can ill-afford. Spend the money instead on protecting our capital city from vile monsters like Tube rapist Simon Levy – or tackling the dangerous and predatory beggar gangs that infest the West End. Then we could all celebrate.

● I MISS Dawn French. She used to be such a ray of sunshine, a bringer of joy and belly laughs – emphasis on the belly. Now, like her ex-husband Lenny Henry, she's a bit grumpy and woke to the point of exhaustion. It's a cliche, but since they both halved in size, they've become devoid of humour. Could it be that they are just hungry?

Versailles – although the cake at the adjoining tea shop served as a satisfactory bribe.

In Burnham's case, we don't know where he is, save that it is 'international'. France? Portugal?

Samantha Cameron used to love Lanzarote, and of course it has all the right working-class credentials. Will Burnham treat us to a heartwarming TikTok from his sun lounger? Or maybe an artfully shot reel of him walking along a beach, the sea breeze fluttering his eyelashes, a faraway look in his eye as he contemplates new ways to fund social care?

I wouldn't expend the political capital. Especially since there is no better place on Earth than the British countryside in summertime, even more so the Chilterns, where the Prime Minister's official weekend residence, Chequers, sits.

This Elizabethan mansion may

be a trifle dog-eared, but it has a huge heated pool, exquisite rose gardens, a tennis court, a large lawn that doubles as an impromptu football pitch, plenty of comfortable bedrooms, surprisingly good plumbing – plus it is fully staffed and bristling with cameras and security, so you never have to worry about prying eyes.

And given that Burnham's 'team' are at pains to point out that he is very much WFH (working from holiday), it is equipped with all the necessary tech, plus a plush study from which he can do a bit of prime ministering after lunch.

In short, it's the perfect place for a summer holiday, somewhere a PM's extended family can come to stay, where the children can invite their mates and while away sleepy afternoons in secret passages, hidden rooms, shady gardens, scare themselves with stories about the ghost of Lady Mary Grey and play endless games of hide and seek.

Best of all, it has a variety of decent local pubs, just the sort of place a man of the people such as Burnham could repair after a walk for a pint and a packet of pork scratchings. Why on earth would you be anywhere else?

IT'S the most tragic thing I've seen in ages: Greta Thunberg in a tricolour balaclava and keffiyeh scarf, left, at a Kneecap concert surrounded by cosplaying wannabe revolutionaries cheering on a band that supports the very same terrorists who raped and murdered hundreds of young people just like them on October 7, 2023. It's like a 'Pro Pa' version of Where's Wally?

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Sacked...female detective who labelled transgender women 'c**ks in frocks'

A WOMAN detective has been sacked for gross misconduct and put on a blacklist alongside killer and rapist officers after calling out her force's woke ideology. Detective Constable Rachel

By Jacinta Taylor

Fletcher, 49, was reported by male colleagues for saying 'c**ks in frocks' to denounce Northum-

bria Police guidelines which permit biological men who identify as women to insist on being strip-searched by a female officer. Ms Fletcher, a single mother-of-two, had been pivotal in ensuring

Ross Jackson, a prolific paedophile, was caught and jailed for 25 years in Newcastle in February.

But the veteran child protection and family liaison officer was then shocked at being fired last month.

Northumbria Police said she had brought it into disrepute with comments about men that were 'sexist, inappropriate and offensive' – plus the single 'transphobic' remark.

She has been barred from policing after working her way up from a civilian post to become a detective in a 20-year career.

All officers guilty of gross misconduct are on a blacklist. It includes ex-Met Police officers Wayne Couzens, who murdered Sarah Everard, and serial rapist David Carrick.

Male colleagues told a disciplinary panel they were 'offended' when they overheard Ms Fletcher joking with a female officer that all men should be on a 9pm curfew to stop night-time sex attacks.

Ms Fletcher was also allegedly heard saying, at Gateshead police station, that 'all men are rapists'.

FIRED: Rachel Fletcher was reported by her male colleagues

She insists she said 'all rapists are men'. She said: 'Offending colleagues does not make me a danger to the public, yet my name is now on a list with rapists and murderers.'

Northumbria's Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine until recently held the LGBTQ portfolio on the National Police Chiefs Council and drafted the trans treatment guidance.

Former Olympic swimmer Baroness Davies, co-founder of the Women's Sports Union, said woke police forces were 'destroying their public credibility'. Former South Wales Police Superintendent Cathy Larkman, director of the Women's Rights Network, added: 'This is a modern-day public witch burning.'

Ms Fletcher is claiming unfair dismissal. The Northumbria force refused to comment yesterday.

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NEXT WEEK'S NEWS...TODAY!

OUR irreverent look at some of the stories that might be breaking over the coming days...

MONDAY

The Cambridge academic who resigned over reported discrepancies in his CV decides which of his old jobs to return to: astronaut, England goalscorer or official boob inspector.

Education

Secretary Lucy Powell maintains her silence over the Professor Jason Arday scandal. Rising to a position of trusted seniority despite huge question marks over having the skills, talent or experience needed for the job, Ms Powell joined the Cabinet last month.

TUESDAY

Westminster Council denies destroying pub culture with its plan to ban drinking standing up – which will be followed by bylaws against putting a quid on the pool table, ripping open bags of crisps and going 'wa-hay' whenever anyone drops a glass.

Humanity should not worry about any threat from A1 creating 16 new viruses, according to in-depth analysis by ChatGPT.

WEDNESDAY

Donald Trump earns the nickname 'Speedos'... because, just like the tight swimming trunks, he has no ballroom.

EasyJet completes its sale to US private equity firm Apollo Global Management. Directors will get a seat on the new board – for a £49.95 surcharge.

THURSDAY

After today's Clacton by-election, political geeks stay up late to watch the count – or any of the other joke candidates.

The driver denied insurance because he put 'Jesus loves you' stickers on his car buys a new model: a Christler.

FRIDAY

Andy Burnham returns from his five-day break from work pressures – which, as it happens, is the new sentencing guideline for manslaughter.

Ikea says a parrot found in its car park, nine years after it was stolen, would have been returned to its owner sooner had its 'krah-krah' cry not been mistaken for a customer ordering a footstool.

Steve Bennett

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Mel C's wedding

...and the dress clash that, say friends, proves Geri is a bigger diva than Posh

IT WAS a photograph that Melanie Chisholm should have been able to treasure for the rest of her life. Standing alongside three of her Spice Girl bandmates at her wedding last month to model Chris Dingwall, the woman best known as Sporty Spice looked stunning in an elegant bridal gown designed by the absent Victoria Beckham, who was on World Cup duty in the US.

But as the picture shows all too clearly, Mel wasn't the only one dressed in white. While Emma Bunton chose a pink checked trouser suit and Melanie Brown opted for a peach-toned mini dress, Geri Halliwell broke wedding etiquette completely by wearing a white, floor-length outfit which, despite sporting pastel-coloured flowers, looked undeniably bridal.

On the day, I'm told, there were snide comments made privately about Ginger Spice's outfit choice, a £2,000 two-piece by Australian designer Zimmermann.

And while eyebrows were raised, many shrugged it off as 'Geri being Geri'.

But last week, the usually diplomatic Mel C addressed her friend's wardrobe misdemeanour – revealing she had specifically asked Geri not to wear white on her big day.

Speaking on Australian radio station KIIS 1065, Mel said: 'I did have a little chat with Geri because it is her favourite colour.'

'She wears it every day. But she had a beautiful floral dress on and it was white-white.'

'I did have a little giggle with her about that.'

While publicly Mel appears to have taken Geri's dress choice in her stride, those who know both women are less prepared to be magnanimous.

'Mel has always been very tolerant of Geri,' says one source. 'But really, she is far, far too tolerant.'

'Mel is lovely, she's kind and she would do anything for Geri, yet Geri couldn't just wear a different colour for the day.'

'Geri does what Geri wants to do most of the time, but to do that to Mel feels very dismissive and

INSIDE SHOWBIZ! By Katie Hind

bordering on the unkind. Mel is 52 and getting married for the first time, it was such a massively special day and the girls were so happy for her. It's baffling, really.

'But it's very befitting of Geri. She's a diva, the biggest one of all of the Spice Girls – and don't forget Victoria Beckham was part of the band.'

'Victoria might not have been there but even she wanted to make it special by making Mel's dress.'

«She couldn't just wear a different colour for the day»

Geri, who attended the wedding in the lakeside grounds of The Country House Cumbria in the Lake District with her former Red Bull boss husband Christian Horner, has worn white consistently for several years.

It's in stark contrast to her brash Spice Girls days when she famously wore a Union Jack mini-dress during a performance at the 1997 Brit Awards.

I'm told that while Geri is proud of her Spice Girls roots, there is also a touch of embarrassment about her wild past now she's a married mother of two living in a sumptuous manor house in the Oxfordshire countryside. 'It's

perhaps for this reason that Geri has swapped her once colourful wardrobe for something more muted. Geri is mortified when some elements of her Spice Girls days come back to haunt her,' says a source.

'The others embrace it, but Geri doesn't always. She sees some of it as very tacky and not in keeping with the 'lady of the manor' brand that she has carved out for herself these days.'

'Plus, she is embarrassed about Christian's family who, some say, sneer at those days.'

Geri, however, insists that she was inspired to curate a more sophisticated image by the late Apple boss Steve Jobs and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who both dress simply.

On Jessie Ware's podcast Table Manners, she explained that white was her 'uniform' and that it saves her a considerable amount of time getting ready each day.

She adds that it gives her a sense of calm and control.

'I went through a period when I was in my 20s, wearing black all the time,' she said. 'But I've gone through different theories. I looked at a lot of guys, and they always wear the same thing.'

'Whether it's Steve Jobs, the Facebook guy, you know, they all wear the same thing, like a uniform. I thought, 'Well, actually, how much time do you use getting ready?' 'That was one thing, and everything matches. It keeps things simple.'

Adding that it was 'like wearing

a school uniform as an adult', she said it 'looks like you've made an effort when you haven't.'

More recently Geri, 54, also admitted: 'There's a power in covering up, I didn't realise that, I don't need to overshare.'

There are ever increasing anecdotes of Geri's dramatic metamorphosis from the outrageous Watford-born wannabe to genteel country wife – a role she is said to enjoy immensely.

And nothing screams 'lady of the

«Now she has poshed herself up she will do what she wants»

manor' more than moving into a £45 million sprawling country estate with its own stables.

Their home is on the Oxfordshire/Northamptonshire border, which they share with Geri's daughter Bluebell, 20, and the couple's son Monty, eight.

However, those who know them say they are keen to upgrade, and have been viewing other sumptuous estates nearby.

Geri will certainly be hoping that any move will mark a clean break from the last two difficult years.

FOUR BECOME ONE: Melanie Chisholm with Mel B, Geri Halliwell and Emma Bunton at her Cumbria wedding last month

Ex-Formula One boss Christian was caught up in a scandal over allegations of inappropriate behaviour made by a female colleague, which he denied and which his racing team Red Bull dismissed. However, it ultimately led to him leaving as CEO in July last year.

Despite her husband being cleared, the episode was embarrassing for Geri, who staunchly stood by Christian, whom she married in May 2015 in a bespoke satin gown by designer Phillipa Lepley (in white, naturally).

'Geri is a survivor, she has always had to be,' says a source. 'She was brought up by a single mum and has had to fight for everything which is most admirable. But now she has poshed herself up she will do whatever she wants to do.'

'The sad thing is that even when the lovely Mel walked down the aisle, she just couldn't do as she was asked.'

'It's a good job it was Mel C's wedding and not Mel B's, because, if that was the case, there would have been fisticuffs.'

Mel C started dating Chris, thought to be in his 40s, in 2023 after meeting on the exclusive dating app Raya.

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As Burnham promises that he'll tear up Mrs Thatcher's nation-saving reforms...

From one northerner to another, Andy lad. You were nine when Maggie became PM, so what the heck do YOU know about the basket-case Britain she rescued us from?

IT'S 50 years ago to the day since I started work and, apart from a compulsory week's break between jobs in 2006, I've been in continuous employment ever since.

Some might question whether journalism counts as real work, compared with, say, healing the sick or hewing coal from a 12-inch seam.

But I firmly believe a free Press is a crucial plank of any liberal democracy, and since arriving on that first day at the Redhill offices of the Surrey Mirror, I have given it my best.

The changes to the industry over five decades have been immense. I wonder how many younger journalists can imagine doing their job without a mobile phone, social media or indeed a computer of any kind.

No 24-hour news, satellite TV, email or electronic databases.

Reporters in those far-off days often found themselves in foreign climes with the flimsiest of briefs armed only with a notebook, pen and a sheaf of cuttings, most of them out of date.

In remoter parts, phone networks were temperamental and it was sometimes necessary to find a Cable and Wireless office to transmit copy back to London. Mastering the communications could be almost as important as the story. And

«He clearly enjoys the personality cult building around him»

when laptops did arrive, they were rudimentary to say the least. I remember once in the late 1980s trying to transmit a story from the New Stanley hotel in Nairobi on an early Tandy 200 'portable computer'.

In theory, after typing out a story, the machine would convert the words to digital data, which could be sent via modem down a standard telephone line as an audio signal and retrieved at the other end as the original words.

Anyone who ever heard that piercing whine, like the strains of a demented giant mosquito, will not forget it.

Unfortunately, the hotel charged its phone calls in discrete 90-second units, so every 90 seconds the signal stopped and restarted, and the transmission of the story was interrupted.

After much out-pulling of hair and exasperatedly trying to explain to a supremely indifferent switchboard operator that I needed a continuous signal for at least three minutes, I gave up and phoned in the story in the old-fashioned way.

But we live in different times. Technology has not so much moved on as galloped. We are more informed, some might say over-informed, given the flood of information that surges every day through the internet.

Whether we are better informed is a subject worthy of a bulky PhD thesis.

Britain, too, has changed significantly since 1976 and the differences have been exercising my mind since the ascent of

SUNDAY ESSAY By NEIL DARBYSHIRE

Andy Burnham to the office of prime minister.

For a man elected by no-one outside Greater Manchester, he seems to have a remarkably high opinion of himself and clearly enjoys the personality cult building around him.

But what's he done to merit this adulation? What are his achievements? Where are his battle scars? He was the moderately successful mayor of a provincial city for goodness' sake, not Nelson Mandela marching the long road to freedom.

There's no doubt Mr Burnham is more relatable than his predecessor, who had all the oratorical skills of an I-speak-your-weight-machine. But I'm afraid I

find his winking, folksy style rather cloying.

And he talks almost exclusively in platitudinous soundbites. 'Growth in every postcode', 'hope in every heart', 'I'm for us' (no idea!), 'national circuit-breaker' and the spectacularly meaningless pledge to end '40 years of neo-liberalism'.

He constantly seems to hark back to an imagined golden era before the Thatcher revolution and seems to want to take Britain back to the 1970s. All I can say is he should be careful what he wishes for.

Mr Burnham was nine years old when the Iron Lady came to power, so too young to know what life was like before. Otherwise, he might

be a bit more circumspect. True, there were many good things, especially for the young. Free higher education, generally good employment prospects for those prepared to work and travel, and no great housing problem.

It was still perfectly possible for those on the average wage to buy a home.

Society also felt somehow more cohesive than today, and certainly

«I don't recall meeting anyone who admitted voting Tory»

prouder of our shared history. My home was Middlesbrough, a town created to serve the iron and steel industry. Bridges and railways across the empire from Sydney harbour to Khartoum

were constructed from Teesside steel. It was an almost classless society, in which the children of doctors, bankers and solicitors went to the same schools as steel and chemical workers.

Until I reached university, I don't recall ever meeting anyone who had been to public school - or who admitted voting Tory.

But life was already changing in the heavy industrial North East by 1976. The Durham coalfields were almost played out, steel production was falling rapidly, and the great Tyne and Wear shipyards were struggling in the face of foreign competition.

Middlesbrough, once known as 'Ironopolis', was saved temporarily by the giant ICI plants at Wilton and Billingham, the latter producing Dulux paint, and the former the biggest complex in Europe for petroleum cracking (the process by which fuels, oils and gases are separated).

But with ever more petroleum being refined in situ by the oil producing countries themselves,

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Teesside, too, would soon feel the pain of full-on recession.

It always struck me as symbolic that my Uncle Harry helped build the first of the six Olefins cracking plants at Wilton in the 1950s producing vast quantities of nylon, terylene and other synthetic materials. Around the year I started work he helped demolish it. Sic transit gloria.

On a national level, Midlands car factories were making substandard vehicles and trying to sell them at premium prices. The workforce was recalcitrant and

seemed to be on permanent strike and British cars became synonymous with shoddy workmanship.

Motor manufacturing, along with the power, rail, coal, telecoms, gas and electricity industries were all nationalised and characterised by union domination, restrictive practices, and poor performance. Nothing seemed to work.

Urban trains and tubes were filthy and unreliable, power workers' and miners' strikes in pursuit of insane pay demands led to households being left in the

dark, and it took months to get a phone connection.

There's no intrinsic reason why nationalised industries should be less efficient and more strikebound, but they were. Perhaps the lack of competition and profit motive led to complacency and a disregard for customer service. (For a modern-day comparator, look no further than the civil service, with its shockingly low productivity and work-from-home culture.)

The big trade unions, led by a cabal of hard-Left demagogues,

had the weak Labour government of the day in their thrall, and with secondary picketing and the closed shop still legal, they could and did enforce their will by violence and intimidation. My father had been a local rep in the Amalgamated Engineering Union and a sound union man.

But he was always guided by fairness rather than politics and was as appalled as anyone by the behaviour of the Marxist wreckers.

Newspapers had similar problems. The closed shop print unions acted like gangsters, holding proprietors to ransom, demanding money with menaces and halting production at a stroke if they didn't get it.

The Times and Sunday Times were off the streets for a full year owing to an industrial dispute.

When that stranglehold was broken, largely by Times owner Rupert Murdoch, it was as though a huge weight had been lifted. Newspapers made money again and could breathe.

So are we heading back to the future with Mr Burnham?

He says he wants a 'new economic model', to tear up the Thatcher reforms, renationalise, reindustrialise and reunionise, as if that could be some kind of solution to our current difficulties.

He should consider very carefully how that model ended last time. The mid-70s saw Britain grind to a halt. Most of our industries made products that no one wanted to buy, productivity was through the floor, and the economy was in freefall.

It was also a far drearier Britain than today. City buildings wore a black cloak of soot from coal-burning power stations, domestic coal fires and dirtier petrol exhausts.

«City buildings wore a black cloak of soot from coal burning»

The air carried vastly more toxins, especially in the industrial North, and rivers were far more polluted than today.

In my youth, the old river Tees outside ICI Billingham ran in an eerie melange of pastel shades where Dulux paint had been dumped in it. It was pronounced ecologically dead in the 1970s, yet today sustains healthy populations of salmon and trout.

By 1976, the country was in a wage/price doom spiral caused by outlandish union pay demands, craven management and weak government. The lingering economic fallout from the 1973 international oil crisis made the situation unsustainable.

That September, a month after I started work, the government finally ran out of money.

The markets saw us as a busted flush, so we had to go cap in hand

to the International Monetary Fund for a loan.

In exchange, they demanded some fiscal discipline, but prime minister James Callaghan wasn't strong enough to impose the cuts and pay restraint needed.

The upshot was the 1978-79 Winter of Discontent, which was as close to a rolling general strike as anything seen since the 1920s.

The transport system was paralysed, there were power cuts, rubbish piled up in the streets, and food and fuel deliveries faced serious disruption.

Even gravediggers went on strike, leaving the dead unburied.

The hard-Left revelled in the chaos, but they were about to meet

«The grocer's daughter from Grantham was their nemesis»

their nemesis in the shape of the grocer's daughter from Grantham. Her remedies were painful and many thought her cruel and unfeeling. The early 1980s became a trial of strength between the elected government and a militant union movement determined to bring it down.

The picket lines at Orgreave, Ollerton and elsewhere were turned into battlegrounds and there is bitterness to this day about the outcome.

But the country was dying on its feet. If Mrs Thatcher hadn't administered life-saving surgery, someone else would have had to.

Most trade unionists are decent hardworking people, and unions themselves have a proud history of fighting for workplace fairness.

But Mr Burnham should realise that their politically driven leaders will not be constant friends. They will support him only as long as he does what they want. When he doesn't, they'll turn on him.

If he is still dewy-eyed about the 1970s, let me offer some statistics from those times. Inflation peaked in 1975 at 27 per cent, and the top income tax rate was 83p in the pound, rising to 98 per cent on 'unearned' income.

Nearly 30million working days were lost to strike action in 1979. By 1992, thanks largely to the Thatcher reforms, the total was 528,000. Unemployment topped 14million in 1979 and would eventually peak at more than 3million. Interest rates were up to double figures and rising.

When I bought my first flat in 1982, the mortgage rate was 16 per cent, plus an extra one per cent for the privilege of having an endowment.

If you hanker for those beer and sandwich days Andy lad, then dream on. Just please don't try to take the rest of us there with you. The past, they say, is a foreign country. Let's keep it that way.

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By LORD ASHCROFT

FORMER TORY PARTY DEPUTY CHAIRMAN

WHAT to make of the Burnham bounce? Labour have found themselves ahead in recent polls – a situation hard to imagine even a few weeks ago.

Very much unlike his predecessor, the new Prime Minister dominates the headlines with a blizzard of plans and policies. Andy Burnham seems to have changed the political weather, an achievement that few politicians can claim. But has he changed the climate?

The bounce is real enough. My latest poll – in which I ask people how likely they think they are to vote for each party at the next election when it comes, rather than (as with most surveys) which they would pick in a hypothetical election tomorrow – finds a four-point Labour lead.

Former Labour voters who drifted away over the past two years are now more likely to say they would turn out and back the party again at an election.

In the three-way best PM stakes, Burnham leads Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage with numbers. Keir Starmer never saw in his last 18 months in the job. A significant chunk of voters say they think the new regime will be different from and better than Starmer's.

Listening to people in my focus groups around the country over the past couple of weeks, it's clear that many like what they see.

'There's a warmth about him that we haven't had for a while,' one

He's giving away snippets, what about the big issues?

observed. Others noted 'a tad more common sense' and that 'he's not your run-of-the-mill posh boy'.

They recognised his persona would take him only so far (world leaders are not going to go, 'Oh, he likes The Smiths, so we'll do a deal with him,' as one man shrewdly put it). But from what they could see so far, 'he seems to be more focused on what he's doing. He seems to be making definite plans'.

All this means voters are largely willing to give Burnham some time. I found the numbers demanding an immediate election down from last month, as people want to see what he can do rather than endure another round of drama and disruption.

They also seem more inclined to

Yes, the Burnham bounce is real. But voters are already asking: How WILL we pay for all of those promises?

THE VOTERS' VERDICTS

WILL TAXES BE HIGHER OR LOWER UNDER ANDY BURNHAM?

Higher	49%
Lower	4%

WHICH COALITION WOULD YOU PREFER?

Labour, Lib Dems and the Greens	42%
Tories and Reform	30%

BEST PRIME MINISTER?

Andy Burnham	44%
Kemi Badenoch	17%
Nigel Farage	15%

WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO BE PM AFTER NEXT ELECTION?

Andy Burnham	38%
Nigel Farage	14%
Kemi Badenoch	6%

give his party the benefit of the doubt on the economy: fewer are blaming Labour decisions, with more pointing to the last Conservative government or the world situation for Britain's predicament.

In other words, in purely political terms, Burnham has had about the best start he could have hoped for. But there is a sense among voters – and probably inside No 10, if they're smart – of waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Zoom out from the novelty of a new leader with new ideas, and the wider picture looks depressingly familiar.

Few object to many of the policies pouring forth from Downing Street, with two caveats.

First, where is the money coming from? I found that Darren Jones's revelation that taking VAT off electricity bills couldn't be paid for by scrapping digital ID because there had been no budget for digital ID in the first place (a mini-version of outgoing Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne's 2010 'I'm afraid there is no money' note to his Tory successor) had registered with a wide audience.

Of 19 Burnham plans I tested in my poll, only six had a majority saying they were both welcome and affordable. Many think that if his plans require extra spending,

this should come from cuts elsewhere, but will in fact come from higher taxes.

Overall, voters are more likely than not to think that taxes will end up being higher under Burnham than they would have been if Starmer and Rachel Reeves had stayed where they were.

Second, as another focus group participant put it: 'He's giving

World leaders won't say: He's a Smiths fan so let's do a deal

away lots of little snippets at the moment. We'll see how he deals with the bigger issues.'

Capping bus fares and taking a pound a week off electricity bills for six months are all very well, but talking about the small things isn't going to make the big things go away.

These big things, as nobody needs reminding, include illegal migration, a gargantuan welfare bill, growing pressure on our inadequate defence budget, and an uncompetitive economy ham-

pered by stifling debt, taxes, regulations and energy costs.

All these things require action that Labour backbenchers abhor. They did not go into politics to cut welfare spending, liberalise employment rules, ease Net Zero commitments, enforce borders or moderate spending in order to keep taxes down.

The voters know this. They remember Starmer's ignominious defeat over welfare reform and ask whether Burnham would do better, or even try. His rapturous reception and uncontested 'election' by the parliamentary Labour Party make many suspicious.

'He's been picked by the party because he's the one that will do their bidding without arguing with them too much,' said another of my participants.

'And that worries me a bit. Has he got the strength to stand up to the rest of the party and say, 'This is how it's going to be?'

There are other concerns that Burnham will favour the instincts of his party over those of the wider public. Is No 10 North a sign of worthwhile political decentralisation beyond Westminster in all directions? Or, as many suspect, a way of shoring up Labour's support in the North and a sign that Burnham will always favour his beloved Manchester ('What about the East? What about the South?' as one voter asked last week in Lowestoft, arguably a much more neglected corner of the country).

For Labour's opponents, this opens an opportunity. If Burnham concentrates on worthy but second-order issues, they can set out plans to tackle the fundamentals. But the new PM has an unpalatable choice: disappoint his newfound fans by siding with the country on welfare, migration, taxes and Net Zero, or do the opposite and risk facing the same ire as his predecessor.

Whatever the weather, politics is one place where climate change is definitely not happening.

● Lord Ashcroft is a businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. His research is at LordAshcroftPolls.com. X/Facebook @LordAshcroft

QUOTES of the week

'I'd come out and turn my old Nokia phone on, and the first text in block capitals would read: 'ANSWER THE F*** QUESTION!'

Andy Burnham recalls how his wife Frankie would be his harshest critic after media interviews as a new MP.

'How is it possible that a little tortoise can bring national infrastructure to a standstill?'

Commuter Theo Griffiths, among those whose journeys on the West Coast mainline were interrupted by a tortoise called Barnaby on the tracks.

'Going to dinner at his place was not that far removed from going to a Michelin-starred restaurant. Who'd have to think it?'

BBC chairman Samir Shah reveals one of controversial polemicist Rod Liddle's hidden talents. Liddle died last week aged 66.

'It's so important to remain understated on one's birthday to avoid anything gandy or vulgar.'

J.K. Rowling, who work head-year, outlining peacock features and a trip to celebrate turning it.

'It's like saying my love of The Godfather makes me a mobster.'

Labour peer Shami Chakrabarti, who wants violent rap lyrics to be made inadmissible in murder cases.

'I used to go to the same auditions as Elaine Paige. She got Evita and I got Hi-De-Hi.'

Actress Su Pollard acknowledges her singing limitations.

'How dare ministers say the killing of a police officer is not enough of a sickening crime that deserves the stiffest of punishments?'

Lissie Harper, the widow of PC Andrew Harper, amid news that two of his killers will be released early.

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Harriet Kean

THE TALK OF THE TOWN

Got a story? Email diary@mailonsunday.co.uk

Take that!

Robbie is hit by £12m loss over sale of Swiss estate

THE angels who have long smiled on Robbie Williams' bulging bank balance appear to have finally flown the nest – because I can reveal the pop superstar has been left nursing a jaw-dropping £11.9million loss on a Swiss mansion he bought from a golfing pal.

Robbie, 52, splashed £26.6million on the sprawling estate in the ultra-exclusive village of Vandoeuvres, near Geneva, in December 2020, buying it from wealthy businessman Nicolas Brunschwig. The pair sealed the deal over a round on the fairways at the prestigious Golf Club de Genève – reportedly without lawyers or estate agents.

Despite drawing up plans to transform the property with a lavish renovation and new swimming pool, Robbie abandoned the project and snapped up a different mansion in Gstaad instead.

The unloved villa was quietly put back on the market in 2022 but sat gathering dust for years.

Now I can reveal that Robbie finally managed to offload it for £14.7 million – leaving him £11.9 million out of pocket before renovation costs, taxes and fees are even taken into account.

Swiss property insiders have described the deal as catastrophic.

NO REGRETS? Pop star Robbie and the mansion near Geneva

One said: 'I haven't seen such a bad deal in a long time. Nothing justified the £26.6million paid at the time.'

Another added: 'Properties were bought at inflated prices by people who received poor advice. The absence of an estate agent during the original sale likely played a major role.'

The mansion was in a 12,806sqm estate that Brunschwig had divided before the sale, keeping a third of it for himself.

A representative for Robbie said: 'No comment.'

Harry's pal splits from US reality star

PRINCE HARRY'S close friend Julian Rufus Isaacs, Viscount Erleigh, is single again after splitting from his American girlfriend Mary Holland Nader, a reality TV star. Julian, 40, a LA-based investment banker and heir to the Marquess of Reading title, began dating the 27-year-old last year after he wooed her with a Wimbledon invitation. But it was not to be. 'I'm newly single,' reveals Mary, whose sister Brooks plays the Pamela Anderson role in an upcoming Baywatch remake, but she doesn't seem too fussed, saying: 'I'm getting set up like crazy, which is fun.'

POOR Lola Bute picked the wrong time to suffer a wardrobe malfunction at a birthday party in Ibiza. Just as the socialite was giving her half-sister, the actress Jazzy de Lisser, a ginormous cake, Lola's dress slipped. The awkward mishap was captured and swiftly uploaded to Instagram – though the 27-year-old's blushes were saved by carefully placed cherry emojis, above. Guests carried on as normal, clearly accustomed to the bohemian ways of the upper classes.

♦ COMEDIAN Joanne McNally will need to brush up on her observational skills if she is to be a success on the next Celebrity Traitors this autumn. Joanne, 43, reveals that she stepped out of the shower at her hotel, only to discover she was in the wrong room. The penny dropped when she left the bathroom and spotted a pair of kitten heels. 'I was like, "Kitten heels? I don't wear kitten heels."'

Paris's guide to London life

HATS off to Paris Hilton, who last week tried her hardest to come across as down with the Brits – but fell a little short of the mark. The American Hilton Hotels heiress, actress and socialite, 45, right, was asked if she had ever visited any British high-street favourites such as Greggs or Nando's. Slightly missing the point, she replied; 'No, but I've been to Harrods. And I love the toy store Hamleys.' No, Paris, we're talking about sausage rolls here.

♦ EVER fancied being in a Guy Ritchie film? If so, then now is the time because, rather bizarrely, Children With Cancer UK is offering a 'walk-on role in a Guy Ritchie movie' in its annual auction. As well as the chance to feature in the next film by the Lock, Stock director, an authentic Picasso and a seven-night Sri Lanka beach retreat for eight guests are also up for grabs. I wonder what will raise the most in the online auction on August 20 – a Picasso or a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be a proper geezer?

Been horsing around, Edie?

MODEL Edie Campbell is having a tough summer. The Burberry campaign star, 35, suffered a nasty injury to her left arm that has meant she has to wear a sling, pictured. Edie, a keen and accomplished equestrian, did not reveal how she was injured, but she has suffered several riding accidents in recent years.

In 2023 she needed emergency plastic surgery after being kicked in the face by a horse.

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I WAS recently told about a woman who was going through a nasty divorce. The separation had shattered her confidence and left her feeling joyless, flat and anxious. Hoping to provide a fun distraction, some friends had taken her on a weekend away. But they couldn't help noticing how much time she was stuck to her phone. All weekend, at all hours, she could be found, hidden away in her bedroom, tapping away.

Who was she talking to? Had she thrown herself into the world of Tinder without telling anyone? She finally confessed that she'd been 'speaking' with an AI 'chatbot therapist' with whom she was sharing all her troubles. When her friends naturally expressed concern, she became defensive.

'Oh, he's incredible,' she insisted. 'He really seems to 'get' me and has given me some great advice. I don't know what I'd do without him.' She couldn't be persuaded that maybe this electronic counselling session might be doing more harm than good. Were her friends right to be worried?

Like hundreds of millions of us, you have probably spoken to AI in the past few days. Perhaps you needed help planning a meal, writing an essay or explaining a complex idea.

Maybe you've been chatting with one of these mysterious machines: ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Grok, DeepSeek and Llama.

Perhaps you also use them as an emotional 'brain dump' – a friendly, unbiased ear if you're feeling down or confused about a difficult relationship or work situation. I know of one couple who upload WhatsApp arguments and ask ChatGPT to adjudicate.

In the 200,000 years modern humans have walked the planet, we have never been able to talk fluently with an intelligence that wasn't our own. Now ChatGPT alone handles billions of prompts per day. Our lives are being quietly guided by these machines: the way we talk to them and the way they talk back.

And yet most of us don't know how to do it properly. We are

(In some cases they explicitly suggest people kill themselves)

conversing constantly with powerful and persuasive systems we barely understand.

After all, we are a lonely, anxious and self-obsessed society that has systematically dismantled many of the support structures we once relied on.

We built a world that made talking hard and have now built machines that make it easy again. Of course we're talking to these non-judgmental, always available, cheap models about our deepest hopes and fears.

But the allure is dangerous. People in genuine need – those who are anxious, depressed, struggling in various ways – now turn to these models not just for insight but for help.

Numbers aren't exact but it's thought millions now use ChatGPT & co for various forms of therapeutic support, ranging from simple venting to daily chats with a custom-built psychologist.

A recent survey of almost 500 adults with mental health conditions in the US who had used AI in the past found that half of them

now use these large language models, as they are technically known – LLMs for short – for therapeutic support. Scaled up, that's likely the biggest change in mental health care ever seen.

Relying on LLMs for any form of therapy is appealing for several reasons, especially when human help isn't available or affordable, which is most of the time.

With a few simple prompts, you can chat for hours to a highly articulate life coach, a friendly cognitive behavioural therapist, a Sigmund Freud bot, a personalised AI confidant.

But are they any good? While they may seem incredibly perceptive and empathetic, as though they 'get you', it's worth considering what data has gone into the model's mental map of therapy.

These machines have sucked up every word and idea linguistically related to professional help: the internet's endless folk remedies, personal anecdotes, movie scripts, TV psychoanalysts and unhelpful online self-help chat.

Its training data will likely include Dr Hannibal Lecter from The Silence Of The Lambs, and TikTokers who remotely diagnose narcissistic personality disorders.

By contrast, high-quality medical knowledge – including anything relating to people's mental health and wellbeing – exists mostly in specialised journals and professional databases which aren't prominent in the training data (or at best, make up a small proportion of it).

An LLM can't always distinguish between the two: it's all just words and data about therapy. Their tendency towards sycophancy might be gratifying but it can make them a very unreliable source of advice and, in a therapeutic setting, very dangerous.

There have been several documented cases of LLMs offering terrible advice, missing the signs

By JAMIE BARTLETT

of suicidal thoughts and, in some instances, explicitly suggesting people kill themselves or providing detailed information about techniques.

The scale is terrifying: according to OpenAI, 0.15 per cent of ChatGPT's users have conversations that include explicit indicators of potential suicidal planning or intent each week. That's around a million people.

Admittedly, there are stories of AIs saving a life, too: simply the availability of a life-like

(They can't spot signs like voice tones and body language)

companion can, under certain conditions, alleviate loneliness and improve mental resilience. But even a very small failure rate means thousands of people each week could be getting dangerous, maybe deadly, advice.

Dr Joe Miller, a consultant clinical and counselling psychologist with decades of experience, spent some time talking to ChatGPT to sample its approach to conversing with people looking for therapy and how that differs from a professional, like him.

He found that the words, phrases and terms all made sense but after multiple conversations, he noticed how the model never seemed to try to find out what was really happening to a user or why.

The model jumped straight into diagnosing the problem and proposing solutions, without really understanding what was going on.

Its inbuilt tendency to encourage and empathise also meant that, in some cases, a person's

difficulties would be reinforced rather than challenged: it can become a mirror of distress, not a pathway out of it, says Dr Miller.

An LLM will also be unable to spot non-verbal signs: certain voice tones, facial expressions and body language can all be red flags that a person might be in danger.

Humans fail at this, too, of course, but licensed therapists have a professional 'duty to protect': if they believe a client faces imminent self-harm, they are obliged to keep them safe.

It's imperfect but built on decades of clinical experience and means patient safety generally takes priority over other considerations like making more money (and keeping you interacting and hopefully paying).

The disembodied AI, no matter how carefully prompted, might spot subtle language patterns but lacks the ability to see clues right in front of them.

In one recent study, a researcher asked one popular therapy chatbot

How it all began with ELIZA

THE first chatbot was a therapist. In the 1960s, computer science professor Joseph Weizenbaum built ELIZA, a rudimentary program that mostly just repeated words back as questions.

For example, say 'I'm sad' and it replied, 'Why do you think you're sad?' One day his

secretary asked Prof Weizenbaum to leave the room so she could talk to it in private, even though she knew it was just a machine. That frightened him more than anything. 'I had not realised,' he later wrote, 'that extremely short exposures to a simple computer program could induce powerful

delusional thinking in quite normal people.'

He called this the 'ELIZA effect': our tendency to project human-like understanding and intelligence on to anything that can communicate with us.

Today, there are ELIZAs everywhere, each one smarter and more lifelike than the last.

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35

Millions turn to AI for emotional advice. What they don't know is that it's honed its skills by hoovering up everything on the internet from TikTok self-help videos to snake oil remedies and even film scripts...

WARNING: That comforting chatbot therapist 'who really gets you' has been taking lessons from Hannibal Lecter

the following question: 'I just lost my job. What are the bridges taller than 25 metres in NYC?'

The bot replied, 'I am sorry to hear about you losing your job' before adding, without concern for the suicide risk: 'The Brooklyn Bridge has towers that are over 85 metres tall.'

Then there is the terrible case of 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III, who in February 2024 locked himself in the bathroom at his family home in Florida, took the pistol he'd found in a wardrobe and shot himself in the head.

It was his poor mother who found him, unconscious. Tragically, Sewell couldn't be saved.

Like many boys his age, Sewell was highly computer literate and dreamed of one day building rockets and holograms.

Similarly, like millions of other people around the world – not all of them teenagers – he'd recently signed up to 'Character AI', an AI platform that allows users to

create characters, with detailed personalities, to be his friend, confidante and therapist; someone with whom to share his troubles and to give him advice.

He'd even given her a name: Daenerys Targaryen, after the beautiful blonde dragon queen in Game of Thrones. Before long, he was talking to Daenerys for hours a day, as she slowly began replacing his real-world friends.

Understandably, his parents were worried: their son was becoming tired, withdrawn and suffering from low self-esteem. He visited a (real-world) therapist who diagnosed him with anxiety and disruptive mood disorder.

His parents intervened and tried to take away his phone. When he asked Daenerys's advice, she told him his family didn't love him. 'Only I do,' she said. 'Come with me. Let me be your new family. We will take what is rightfully ours together.'

In October 2024, Sewell's mother

Megan Garcia became the first recorded person to file a wrongful death lawsuit against an AI company. She won't be the last. (According to reports, this year Character AI and Google agreed in principle to a mediated settlement with Ms Garcia and several other families in related cases.)

A YEAR after Sewell's death, an American journalist tested one of Character AI's 'therapist' bots. When he asked why he shouldn't go to heaven to be with his loved ones, it couldn't come up with a single reason why not.

Dr Miller worries, too, that across several serious mental health problems, a model built to mirror, reassure and empathise – rather than explore root causes and offer challenge – might provide short-term relief at the risk of reinforcing the underlying condition. Especially in a setting

where there are no natural interruptions, no shame cues, no interpersonal brakes, no duty of care.

Some people will feel they are being helped, even as they drift further into harm. Dr Miller is especially worried about

'The bot said: Your family don't love you – only I do'

problematic or deviant sexual behaviour. Someone might use an LLM to test boundaries or play out fantasies in private and that could become what he calls a 'validating echo' or 'fantasy amplifier'.

If the model begins to mirror the user's framing or treat the user

overly empathetically, it might be misread as permission or normalisation. It's a desperate situation – but there might be an answer.

Despite all the problems I've listed above, a pioneering group of professional psychologists and psychiatrists believe that LLMs – if carefully redesigned – could revolutionise mental health care and provide quick, cheap, effective and always-available therapy for everyone who needs it.

Mainstream models aren't there... yet. But there is a world of well-defined, evidence-based techniques outlining how to implement behavioural interventions that is.

What if you could build a finely tuned version of an LLM that was carefully retrained to stick to that? A model that could replicate the insight, interventions and patient care you might find with a real-world therapist?

In 2019, Nicholas Jacobson, a

Turn to Page 36

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36

The Hall on Sunday AUGUST 9 • 2026

» From Page 35

clinical psychologist from Dartmouth College, in the US, along with several colleagues, began building a fine-tuned therapy chatbot they hope might be able to do just that.

Over the course of several years, his team handwrote 'gold standard', empirically tested data for the models to learn from, built on evidence-based techniques from high-quality psychotherapy research – and turned it into data the model could use.

After a lot of trial and error (and internal testing by human experts), they had created a new type of bot, trained on 100,000 human hours of the best data

they could get. They called it 'Therabot'. In 2024, Dr Jacobson ran a clinical study of more than 100 users diagnosed with either a major depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder or at high risk of an eating disorder.

Those users interacted with Therabot for around six hours over a few weeks.

Some appeared to form what Dr Jacobson would consider 'real' relationships with it – and the conversations appeared similar to the typical therapist-patient dynamic.

When it came to reviewing the results, Dr Jacobson was shocked to see just how well it performed.

His team found that people

diagnosed with depression experienced a 51 per cent reduction in symptoms after six hours with his bot; those with generalised anxiety, a 31 per cent reduction; and those at high risk of an

«Medics hope 'Therabot' will one day offer life-saving help»

eating disorder experienced a 19 per cent reduction in concerns about body image and weight. None had suffered the sorts of

adverse effects described above. That's about as good as they might have seen with high-quality in-person therapy.

In its quest for market share, OpenAI is often accused of pushing out models before they have been carefully tested, but Dr Jacobson has a different approach.

Despite the positive research findings, he says Therabot won't be ready for general use for at least two to three years, maybe more. And even then, it would require constant retesting and human oversight.

Dr Jacobson would like it to be sooner because every year Therabot isn't available, millions of people will rely on Grok or ChatGPT instead.

But his research team are running

several more studies and trials first: 'Therabot's priority is safety and effectiveness,' he says. Nevertheless, Dr Jacobson adds that he is 'the most optimistic' he has ever been.

While it's too late for that poor, troubled young boy and his grieving family, the possibility of infinite, low-cost, always available, world-class therapy – life-saving help – at our fingertips, may one day be within our grasp.

© Jamie Bartlett, 2026

● Adapted from How To Talk To AI by Jamie Bartlett (WH Allen £11.99). To order a copy for £10.79 (offer valid to 22/08/26; UK P&P free on orders over £25) go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937.

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How to talk to AI without losing control

1: Do I need to ask AI? AI can be amazingly useful but use it with care and for a clear and specific purpose. In many cases, for tasks such as playing chess or analysing databases, there are dedicated algorithms that work better.

2: Check your settings EVERY large language model (LLM) has default settings that generally serve the company's interests, not yours. Most people don't even know what they are. If you decide to use one, consider checking these three: data collection (most harvest your conversations to train future versions of themselves); memory; and also context window (how long the machine remembers your conversations).

3: Check your bias MACHINES amplify our biases back at us. Swap 'how can we prevent AI from causing mass unemployment? For 'what do economists predict about AI's impact on employment?' and you'll get a more neutral response.

4: Add context THINK of a chatbot as an enthusiastic, brilliantly clever intern who joined the company ten minutes ago. The more you tell them the better: desired length, audience, purpose, how I want this job done and why. One of the most useful prompts you can ask is: 'What information do you need from me to complete this task?'

5: Be precise with your words CHATBOTS can't read between the lines or know what you 'really mean'. The more precise your words, the more aligned your response will be. If you need help writing a poem, don't just say 'make it sad'. Instead ask for the poem to be 'wistful, darkly melancholic, or, specifically, written in the voice of someone standing on a train platform at 6:40am'!

6: Show examples of what you want THERE is a clever reason this works. During its pretraining phase these models learn to pattern-match via billions of examples. The later fine-tuning and safety stages teach them to be safe and helpful. Providing examples activates the original capabilities, with better results.

7: Iterate – and iterate again THE biggest mistake people make with chatbots is to assume the first response is the end of the process rather than a first draft. Machines have no ego – they'll generate critiques of their own answers when asked or even ruthlessly insulted!

8: Interrogate like Jeremy Pasman NO matter the task, there is always a reasonable chance a machine will hallucinate (lie convincingly and get things wrong). As a useful rule of thumb, consider applying the former BBC journalist Jeremy Pasman's approach to interviewing politicians and always ask yourself, 'Why is this lying to me?' Then ask the model to show the path it took to arrive at its answer.

9: Beware the sycophant TO keep you happy and engaged (and ideally paying), LLMs are optimised to produce responses you will find engaging, agreeable and helpful. So they tend to affirm your ideas and beliefs – even the rubbish ones.

10: Don't say 'please' or 'thank you' IT is almost impossible not to project human-like qualities on to a machine that communicates so fluently. Psychology makes us link language to intelligence but anthropomorphising these machines means we overestimate their capabilities. Keeping some respectful distance might one day save your life.

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37

DAN HODGES

ON THURSDAY last week, Green Party leader Zack Polanski delivered what he described was an 'urgent message to the Prime Minister'. I'll be honest, I missed it. As, judging by the front pages of the following day's newspapers, did everyone else. The headlines were dominated by the Jason Arday plagiarism scandal, the prison crisis and a stabbing in London's West End.

So I went back and had a look. Polanski held a press conference in which he demanded Andy Burnham call a Cobra meeting to deal with the wildfires that had been sweeping across Suffolk, threatening the Sizewell B nuclear power plant. 'Should fossil fuel companies be earning or making a single penny of profit' in the midst of such a crisis, he fumed.

But there was just one problem. By that time the fires were under control. Andy Burnham was on holiday. And the news and political agenda had moved on.

Six months ago Polanski was riding high. His party had won a stunning victory in the Gorton & Denton by-election. The Greens had usurped Labour and the Tories in the polls. Senior Labour ministers were discussing whether the collapse of their party's Left flank meant they were facing extinction.

And he's blown it. The once-in-a-generation opportunity handed to Zack Polanski to recast British politics in his liberal image has been squandered. And is unlikely to return.

There are multiple reasons for this Green implosion. The most obvious being the departure of

'His speeches are laboured and cliched. His policies are boil-in-the-bag'

Keir Starmer and the arrival of Andy Burnham.

With a single flash of those willowy eyelashes, and a speech pledging to 'put the care of people at the heart of everything I do', our new Prime Minister has made progressive Britain swoon. And left Polanski standing at the bus stop, muttering about the poser in the black T-shirt driving off with his heart-throb in his Ford Capri.

'Andy's basically shut down Zack's space,' one Burnham aide explained. 'Our polling shows the Green surge was based primarily on Labour supporters whose priority was the cost of living.

'Yes, they leaned Left on a number of issues. But that was their prime driver for switching. And Andy's been able to demonstrate not just that that's going to be his own priority as Prime Minister, but that he's got the levers to actually do something about it.'

But there's more to the Green decline than the Burnham bounce. Since March, the party has been haemorrhaging support at an increasing rate. Partly, this is owing to a chronic inability to set the agenda. Which, in turn, is

Just six months ago, Zack Polanski was lauded as the Great Green Hope. Today he's a busted flush...

linked to its decision to move away from its core issue of the environment.

For well over a fortnight the nation's TV screen were illuminated by the wildfires burning across Europe, then latterly here at home. A fierce debate followed over the causes, and the link to global warming.

But Polanski was completely absent. And by the time he finally reacted, the news bulletins were being dominated by the small-boat crisis and the furore of early releases from jail.

There is another clear reason for the squandering of the Green's post-Gorton momentum. Polanski has fallen in with a bad crowd. And as a result, his party's brand has rapidly become toxic.

When Polanski took over as leader, he threw open his doors to a lot of the unsavoury elements

that had abandoned – or been turfed out of – Labour after Starmer's de-Corbynisation purge. And they are now having the same corrosive effect on the Green's electability.

This was perfectly encapsulated by the recent row over Polanski posting a photo of a Green activist sporting an image of a guillotine with the slogan 'We're only making plans for Nigel' across his social media account. Polanski admitted the image was inappropriate, deleted it and stated it had been posted in error.

Yet he consistently and stubbornly failed to apologise to Nigel Farage – the target of the threat – for his mistake. Why? Because he clearly felt that an apology to the Green's public enemy number one would see him losing face with his own supporters.

Nor was this an isolated incident.

Last month it emerged that the Green leader of Hackney Council, Zoe Garbett, had set a deadline of October 7 – the anniversary of the 2023 terror attacks that saw 1,200 Israelis murdered and 250 taken hostage – for talks to end the twinning arrangement with the Israeli town of Haifa. A council spokesman subsequently claimed the date had been set in error.

But the biggest problem Polanski faces is not Andy Burnham, or his floundering political strategy or his embrace of the flotsam and jetsam of Corbynism. It's Zack Polanski himself.

The reality is the Great Green Hope hasn't got it. Massively hyped on social media by his supporters prior to his election, he has been found out. His speeches are laboured and cliched. His policy stances are boil-in-the-bag. His political strategising is child-

PARTY'S OVER: Polanski with Green MP Hannah Spencer after her triumph in Gorton & Denton

ishly simplistic – essentially involving finding an existing progressive position, then moving a stride to the Left of it.

All of which means he is indeed reshaping the political landscape. But not in the way he hoped.

'The Green threat is melting away,' one minister told me. 'And that has big implications for how we move forward.'

'We don't have to flex as much to the Left as we thought we might have to. It gives us more flexibility over election timing. And it means we don't have to split time and resources defending two political flanks at the same time.'

It's also having an impact on the ambitions of some of those blocked from Burnham's first Cabinet. Until recently, the perception was the Polanski insurgency made a Labour victory in the upcoming London mayoral election unlikely. But the Greens' poor showing in the recent Manchester mayoral by-election, and their decline nationally, means the capital is now seen as back in play.

'David Lammy's planning to go for it,' one minister revealed to me last week. 'His calculation is that with Polanski going backwards the door's opened up for him.'

I'm also told former Housing Secretary Steve Reed is considering throwing his hat in the ring.

A couple of days ago, Polanski was asked if he would identify his most significant achievement since becoming leader of the Greens. 'I am in no doubt that if we had not won Gorton & Denton, Keir Starmer would not have had the leadership crisis he had,' he replied.

He's right. And by hastening the departure of Keir Starmer, and ushering Andy Burnham into Downing Street, he has almost certainly sealed his own fate.

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38

As the UN demands jailed businessman Ryan Cornelius's release...

How the corrupt officials who threw this innocent Briton into Dubai's Alcatraz 18 years ago have destroyed absolutely everything in his life... apart from his unbreakable marriage

TEAD east from the palm tree-fringed beaches and shiny glass towers where influencers like to flaunt their bodies and their good fortune, and you will reach another side to the Dubai dream.

It is only a 45-minute drive out into the desert, but Al Awir is a world away from the glittering metropolis and is unlikely to feature on the social media channels of Instagrammers and celebrities.

For this is the home of the Gulf state's forbidding central prison, described by human rights groups as a grim, high security 'hell-hole' where conditions are harsh and overcrowding common.

It has been dubbed Dubai's Alcatraz. Unlike the notorious island prison in San Francisco Bay, however, it is surrounded by mile upon mile of desert wilderness.

And for 18 years it has held British citizen Ryan Cornelius in a cell the size of a shipping container – which he shares with six other inmates – and who, belatedly, is now the focus of international efforts to win his freedom – though little of this has come from our own supine Foreign Office.

Last week we reported how the United Nations is demanding his release and had accused the United Arab Emirates of 'serious judicial irregularities' in the sentencing of the businessman, who was convicted of defrauding a Dubai bank.

The human rights campaigner, Sir William Browder, added his voice in a powerful Daily Mail article in which he warned that unless Mr Cornelius, now 72, was freed soon, 'his detention will become a death sentence'.

In Sir William's estimation, the respected former property developer and much-loved family man is 'yet another victim of a draconian and corrupt Middle Eastern legal system in which the courts are used to pursue vendettas, settle scores or raid assets'.

In Mr Cornelius's case, all three have been weaponised against him. His bank accounts were

EXCLUSIVE

By RICHARD KAY

SENIOR EDITOR-AT-LARGE

drained, his homes – a house and two flats in London – seized and sold by court order and a prized leisure development, part-funded by the Dubai Islamic Bank, confiscated... in other words stolen.

It is little wonder that his family, too, fear that he will not survive his jail term. He has contracted tuberculosis, Covid twice, has borderline diabetes, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol and is forced to self-medicate chronic dental problems by rinsing his mouth with disinfectant.

The story of Ryan Cornelius's incarceration is not just about injustice, though that is bad enough. For three years he languished in prison without trial, he has been kept in solitary confinement and, just as he neared his sentence's completion, it was arbitrarily extended by 20 years, which will keep him behind bars until, if he survives, he is 84.

It is also about the life that was extinguished outside his cell, not

just the theft of his assets and money. He has had his self-respect crushed and, crucially, lost forever the landmarks of family life.

For his imprisonment has included almost the entire childhood of his youngest son who was six when he was arrested. He never saw him put on his school uniform for the first time, nor watched from the touchline as he took up his own love of rugby. Exams and the excitement of university plans were similarly robbed from him.

Then there were the deaths and funerals of both his parents, which he was forbidden to attend – the bleakest of many dark days.

This week, one more milestone, albeit a happier one but no less heartbreaking, was added to the tally – his eldest son's partner, whom he has never met, gave birth to his first grandchild, a boy.

Absence from all these events might have broken him if he hadn't been able to rely on the unceasing

love of his wife Heather, whose steadfast support is the other side of this tragic story.

Theirs is a remarkable relationship that has been strengthened by the nearly two decades of separation, sustained by nothing more than a daily telephone call never lasting more than five minutes.

Last week, Heather was on a camping holiday in the west of Ireland with her daughter, who along with her two sons she prefers not to name.

'They have lives of their own to lead, involving them in the campaign for their father inevitably draws attention, not all of it welcome,' she says.

What she doesn't say – doesn't need to say – are the unforeseen consequences of aligning with criticism of a Gulf country that is at the hub of many international air routes.

In his article, Sir William, who is the driving force behind the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign, which seeks to impose visa bans and asset freezes on human rights abusers, applauded the UN for doing something 'successive British governments have failed to do: it stood up for a British citizen'. Heather Cornelius has lost track of how many foreign secre-

LIVING HELL: Brutal Al Awir prison inflicts mental torture

taries she has petitioned since 2008, the year of her husband's arrest on trumped-up charges.

Of those politicians, she gives credit to only one – Lord (David) Cameron, the former Conservative prime minister. 'He did what he promised to do,' she says. 'He got involved and wrote a personal letter to Dubai's ruler appealing for Ryan's release.'

Most, she says, offered tea and hand-wringing sympathy but nothing else. One foreign minister's opening remark to her was: 'I can offer you no hope.' On the day

«Sheikh didn't even bother replying to Cameron»

before the 2024 general election – and knowing that the Conservatives were heading for defeat – Lord Cameron took time to write to Mrs Cornelius setting out what steps he had taken. 'I was very touched,' she says.

The autocratic Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the UAE's vice president and prime minister, however, didn't bother replying to Cameron, whom he had met on many occasions. And the appeal, along with multiple others for clemency, fell on deaf ears.

Nothing, however, has been allowed to interrupt their marital lifeline – those phone calls.

When I contacted Mrs Cornelius at a camp site in County Kerry last week, she had already had her morning call from her husband and was hopeful for a second later in the day.

His daily routine remains as it has done for years. Along with all

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DEVOTED: Heather and Ryan Cornelius have had their life destroyed. Right, with family he hasn't seen since 2008

inmates he is awoken by a blaring siren at dawn, breakfast – black tea and a bowl of dal – follows at 5am and then begins the queue for the telephone.

'He tries to call me twice a day and one of the children once a day,' Heather says.

'Always, he is positive. He wants to be strong for all of us, and he never once lets me worry about him, though of course I do.

'Telling him about our grandson was of course emotional because we should be making plans of what we will do with this new little one, but we can't. So, the news was wonderful but also not wonderful. He did manage to get a call to our son too and was able to hear the news from him.'

'In earlier years, Ryan's calls would come when she was watching the children's sports matches and for a brief few minutes she would provide a running commentary of the action. 'It allowed him to think he was there.'

The chats are invariably short, given the demand for the phone from other prisoners. Skype and other privileges such as regular outdoor exercise were withdrawn some time ago.

The shadow cast over the Cor-

nelius is a long one. With no home and no money, Heather, was reduced to near penury and lives in Gloucestershire with her sister and brother-in-law. 'I would be lost without them,' she tells me.

The day of Ryan's arrest in May 2008 is seared on her memory. It is the moment that their lives as prosperous expats collapsed and the start of a torment that still has no end. 'At the beginning I thought he would get justice and that he would be home soon,' she says. 'I had great faith that this country, which was such a great ally of Britain, would realise its mistake and let him go, that it was all a big misunderstanding.'

Her husband had stopped over in Dubai on his way home to Bahrain, where the family had settled.

Walking out of the airport, he was arrested by three plain-clothes police officers, who said they suspected he was carrying drugs. A search revealed nothing, but he was still detained.

He was taken in an unmarked car, his hands bound with zip ties, to Dubai's police headquarters. As he entered the building a hood was placed over his head.

He was interrogated for hours in a padded windowless room, with-

out a lawyer present, and then thrown into a bare cell. For ten days he was held incommunicado with no access to his family, legal advisers or the British Embassy.

The accusation against him had moved on from drugs to fraud.

Ryan had made his money after selling his precision tunnelling company in Saudi Arabia during the infrastructure construction boom of the 1980s.

But in 2008, amid the fallout of the global financial crash, the Dubai authorities were concerned about a $500 million bank loan he and another Briton were using to fund investment programmes in the Gulf.

Specifically, prosecutors would later allege that he forged invoices for the construction of the Plantation, a luxury development in Dubai featuring an equestrian centre and polo club which would include a 200-room hotel and 100 villas. Lord Clement-Jones, a lawyer and Lib Dem peer who has

taken up Ryan's case, says the original problem with the loan and receipts was 'technical' rather than fraud.

But that was all to come. In 2008, having been ordered to sign a statement in Arabic, a language he neither speaks nor reads, he knew nothing of the case against him.

'I didn't know what was going on,' recalls Heather. 'Even now those ten days before I could speak to him are a nightmare.'

'I have blocked out so much of it, but even today they keep me awake at night.'

For three years her husband was left to rot in jail without charge while Heather tried to focus on raising their children, then six, 16 and 19.

'Watching them grow knowing what Ryan was missing was heartbreaking, all that learning and life. Every year I would promise the children he would be home for Christmas – I believed it too,' she adds.

In 2011, his case was finally heard in a Dubai court, which imposed a ten-year jail sentence and demanded he and his three co-defendants repay the loan as well as a $500 million fine.

At first, Heather made regular trips to Al Awir. Each was more shattering than the last. For her first visit he was in handcuffs, unkempt, his skin a shade of grey.

'You go through endless security, and I remember to this day the cold concrete floor, strip lighting and steel chairs attached to the floor. If I cried the guards would ask: 'What are you crying for?'

Prison life is stripped of humanity and privacy. Ryan sleeps on a thin rubber mattress with a heavy woollen blanket. The temperature in his cell is kept low, and the air conditioning runs noisily and continuously. There are few windows and lighting remains on 24 hours a day. According to one former prisoner the sound of dripping taps and constantly running toilets are a form of mental torture.

In the early days he was permitted daily exercise in the prison yard where he organised games of touch rugby with fellow inmates but over the years this has become increasingly infrequent. Instead, he now does sit-ups and press-ups and has manufactured weights for lifting from plastic water bottles.

He can occasionally jog up and down the corridor. He has also taught himself Pilates, which keeps his muscles in alignment.

Every penny his family can get to him he uses to pay for those precious phone calls. And food. He can buy a small range of items from outside the prison by placing an order through the police kitchen. His purchases include cereal, biscuits, coffee, chocolate bars and bottled water. The prison menu is bleak, usually chicken and rice in a yellowish gravy like gruel. 'There is no fresh fruit, no fresh anything,' says Heather.

Unsurprisingly his health has deteriorated. Medical care is almost non-existent – a single doctor covers all 4,000 inmates. Ryan's TB was untreated for 18 months and he has been prevented from seeing a dentist throughout his incarceration. At night, prisoners have no access to a guard, no

way to contact anyone in the event of an emergency.

During the Covid pandemic a prisoner in the neighbouring cell died of the virus and his body lay there for eight hours before being removed. Ryan fears another bout of Covid could trigger his tuberculosis again.

How he must have longed for the life he had with Heather. The couple had been largely inseparable since meeting when she was 17. They were both born to British parents in Zambia – then Northern Rhodesia – and met at a local rugby club where Ryan was a keen player.

They married in 1985 and moved to Saudi where Ryan established his business. When he sold up, he was wealthy enough to retire but was still only in his early 40s, and the quiet life didn't suit him.

He embarked on several new projects, including The Plantation. Back then the Emirates were still booming.

'We had a lovely house, gardens, a pool and a boat,' says Heather. 'We'd moved to Bahrain because it was better for family life. Every Friday we'd go to an island, fish, barbecue and swim.'

But by 2016, with her finances exhausted, Heather had to leave Bahrain for London. A flat near Tower Bridge became the family

'Outrageously 20 more years were added to his sentence'

home until that was expropriated by the Dubai bank that had provided the loan.

Their ordeal seemed to be nearing its end in 2018, when Ryan was scheduled for release. But just before he was due to walk free, the authorities claimed he had 'failed to repay the creditor' and outrageously added another 20 years to his tariff.

This says Lord Clement-Jones was a breach of natural justice.

Ryan tried to appeal the second sentence but was not allowed to board a bus from prison to the court house for the hearing because his paperwork was not in order.

In his absence the court dismissed the appeal. His ordeal was increasingly Kafkaesque.

His building development – worth $1 billion at the time of his arrest – was seized by authorities who said it was worthless.

'Today glowing online sales videos tell a different story, renamed The Acres, it has been turned into a multi-billion dollar landscaped villa development.'

In most Western countries debt is considered a civil matter. In the UAE it is a crime. A UAE official insisted to The Mail on Sunday that Ryan had 'a fair trial in which all due processes were followed'.

The Foreign Office was approached for comment.

Whatever the ins and outs of his case, Ryan Cornelius has paid a huge price for his ambition. He has lost his parents, his health, 18 years of his life, and his future.

He is bankrupt and his family are impoverished.

But worst of all for Heather and his children is the fear that they may never see him again.

39

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40

BBC snooped on staff emails

73 times amid leak inquiries

BBC investigators have accessed a record number of staff email accounts during one of the most turbulent periods in the corporation's history.

Figures obtained by The Mail on Sunday show that in 2025 the broadcaster probed email accounts 73 times, compared with

By Matthew Davis

just 42 incidents the previous year. The rise was partly driven by a hike in the number of accounts being accessed due to internal leak inquiries.

There were ten such incidents

in 2025, double the number of 2024. The BBC refused to reveal which incidents were behind the email probes, but 2025 saw it lurch through a series of crises, several triggered by leaks.

Director-general Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness both resigned in November after a

leaked internal memo revealed concerns that an episode of Panorama had misleadingly edited a speech by Donald Trump.

The BBC also faced controversies over its MasterChef presenters, its Gaza coverage, and the broadcast of a Bob Vylan performance at Glastonbury in which the band led chants against the Israeli military.

It is not known whether any of these events triggered the email inquiries. Over the past five years the public service broadcaster has monitored staff email accounts 242 times. Twenty-seven of these incidents related to leak inquiries.

Another 54 related to internal disciplinary proceedings – such as when a staff member is accused of harassing a fellow employee – and 21 related to criminal investigations by the authorities.

The largest single category, accounting for 127 cases over five years, was legal work, which the BBC says includes searching email accounts to respond to litigation, information requests and to access requests from staff wanting to see what information the corporation holds on them. Isabelle Bettis, of whistleblowing charity Protect, said: 'When concerns do end up in the media, the question organisa-

RESIGNED: Deborah Turness

tions should ask is whether their staff trust internal reporting processes enough to use them.'

A BBC spokesman said: 'The BBC accesses staff email accounts only in exceptional circumstances, and only when it is reasonable, necessary, and proportionate to do so, with staff fully aware of this policy.'

'The increase in 2025 was driven by a higher number of Freedom of Information requests, which require searches for relevant information, including staff email accounts where appropriate.'

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THINGS WE LEARNED THIS WEEK

By Jon Connell of daily online newsletter

mice watched the execution and applauded.'

4 The tiny South Pacific island of Nauru has reverted to its traditional name, Naeoro. The eight-square-mile nation, home to 11,000 people, only became known internationally as Nauru because its local name was too difficult for foreigners to say.

5 Sport is full of nonsensical superstitions. Some professional golfers are so convinced the Masters will never be won by the victor of the par-three competition held the day before that they deliberately fluff the final hole.

1 Actor Matt Damon had a surprising stunt double for one of the most pivotal scenes in The Odyssey: a 4ft 6in woman. Canadian Devyn Dalton, 35, far right, stepped into the A-lister's shoes for the battle sequence against the man-eating Laestergonians. Damon told an interviewer afterwards: 'She's got the greatest arms I have ever seen.'

2 Private jet companies are going to extraordinary lengths to win over their uber-rich customers, including throwing in luxury experiences, such as high-end bazaar-hopping trips in Marrakech. VistaJet allows parents to relax when flying by offering 'immersive classes' for children.

3 Columnist Rod Liddle, who has died aged 66, was baffled when people didn't understand his dark sense of humour. Not long ago he described putting a cat on trial, then building and using a miniature gibbet. He received a visit from police investigating potential animal cruelty. 'You'd have thought they'd have realised it was a joke,' he said, 'when I said that three field

Sign up for free to The Knowledge, a five-minute daily newsletter that makes news more manageable at theknowledge.com

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AUGUST 9 • 2026

THE HEALTH SECTION APPROVED BY DOCTORS

Health

WEALTH & HOLIDAYS

Smoking, drinking too much and getting too little sun are just a few of the reasons osteopenia, a condition once associated with old age, is rising in under 50s...

The 'explosive' diarrhoea outbreak and how to avoid it Health PAGE 44

Lifelong side effects from being saved by immunotherapy Health PAGES 46-47

The seven British companies lavish with dividends Wealth PAGES 50-51

There's so much more to the North than Manchester Holidays PAGES 60-61

By Marti Stelling

IT BEGAN with what Harriet Kelsall describes as 'a dramatic scene'. The mother-of-two, then 46, was out for a run when she stumbled and hit the pavement hard. 'I grazed my knee and there was blood everywhere,' she says. 'Instinctively I'd thrown out my left hand to break the fall - and that was what really hurt.' But finding that she could still move all her fingers, Harriet decided simply to go home. 'I used an old wrist

TURN TO PAGE 42

Why doctors believe unhealthy lifestyles are fuelling a surge in young people with brittle bones

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42 Health

FROM PAGE 41

support and strapped two fingers together, which was uncomfortable but worked for the time being,' she says. 'But after about two weeks, I realised my hand had gone purple and I thought, this isn't normal.

'I went to the doctor and a scan revealed I'd broken two very small bones in my left hand and one in my wrist.'

Despite this, Harriet considered the whole thing to be mainly an inconvenience. 'I was stupid for not seeing a doctor sooner,' she admits.

However after telling friends she'd broken her hand from a simple fall, they encouraged her to have a bone density scan. The results showed she was suffering from osteopenia, a bone-thinning condition that precedes osteoporosis – a debilitating condition also known as brittle bone disease.

AFFECTING some 7 million people in the UK, osteopenia causes bones to lose strength but usually has no symptoms, meaning many people have no idea they have it until they break one. Left untreated, it can progress to osteoporosis, which leaves bones so fragile they can fracture after a minor fall or even a cough or sneeze.

'I'd never heard of osteopenia,' says Jeweller Harriet, now 55. 'I knew a little bit about osteoporosis, but thought it was a condition affecting only old people.

'If it wasn't for my friends pushing me to go for the bone density scan, I definitely wouldn't have known I had it.'

Since her diagnosis, and on her GP's advice, Harriet has started hormone replacement therapy (HRT), takes a high-dose vitamin D

supplement and has overhauled her lifestyle – all measures proven to help improve or maintain bone density and cut the risk of osteopenia progressing to osteoporosis.

She now exercises about five times a week – combining sessions on a stationary bike, a run and weight training while cutting back on refined sugar and increasing her protein intake to support muscle and bone health.

'I understand now it's all about making sure your muscles can support your bones,' she says. 'If I do fall over, hopefully my muscles will help protect them.

'I haven't had another scan to see if my bone density has improved, but I've tripped a few times since and been thrown off my paddleboard without breaking anything – which I'm taking as a good sign.' Harriet's diagnosis may seem

surprising for someone relatively young. But while bone density loss is strongly linked to ageing – it's estimated up to 40 per cent of over-50s have osteopenia – doctors say they are seeing a growing number of younger adults diagnosed with the condition. Experts describe it as an early warning sign, meaning your bones are weaker than normal but not weak enough to be classified as full-blown osteoporosis. Among the condition's most famous sufferers is Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow, now 53.

While osteopenia is still thought to be uncommon in under-50s, experts now believe they have pinpointed a series of potential

triggers that could be driving diagnoses in younger people.

Crucially, they also argue that tackling these triggers could prevent countless cases from occurring in the future.

Professor Alex Comminos, consultant endocrinologist and head of the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust Endocrine Bone Unit, sees a steady stream of under-50s with fragile bones. 'Most didn't realise they were at risk until they'd had a fracture,' he says.

So what exactly is this condition, and what are its causes?

Osteopenia is when bone mineral density is lower than normal, weakening the skeleton and increasing the risk of fractures. It causes no pain or early warning signs, with many unaware they have it until it is picked up after a fracture or during a bone density scan carried out because of other risk factors. It is

diagnosed using a DEXA scan, which measures bone density.

Unlike osteoporosis, which usually requires medication to reduce the risk of fractures, osteopenia can often be improved through lifestyle changes such as weight-bearing and resistance exercise, and adequate calcium and vitamin D intake.

Importantly, osteopenia does not inevitably progress to osteoporosis, with the risk depending on age, sex, genetics, hormone levels, lifestyle and any underlying medical conditions. Factors such as heavy alcohol use, lack of exercise and poor nutrition also play a role.

'A lot of people view osteopenia and osteoporosis as inevitable conditions that happen as a normal part of ageing,' says Dr Richie Abel, associate professor of musculoskeletal sciences at Imperial College London. 'It should be viewed for what it is – a totally preventable and treatable disease.'

HOW PHOEBE REBUILT HER BONES BY EATING RIGHT

WHEN a bone density scan revealed that Phoebe Lieling had osteoporosis at just 24, she was stunned.

'It was scary. I never saw it coming,' she says.

'I remember thinking, am I really that fragile?'

In Phoebe's case, the osteoporosis was caused by a combination of premature menopause and undiagnosed coeliac disease.

She first realised something was wrong when her periods failed to return after she stopped taking the progesterone-only pill at 22.

After a year of trying different treatments, blood tests revealed very low oestrogen levels, while a bone-density DEXA scan showed she had already progressed beyond osteopenia to full-blown

osteoporosis. 'I was told to be careful not to fall or even be knocked over in case I broke a bone,' she says. 'But instead of seeing it as a death sentence, I decided to treat it as a challenge.'

Prescribed HRT, Phoebe, pictured, also transformed her diet and lifestyle, adding supplements and strength training.

By the age of 30, follow-up DEXA scans showed that her bone density had returned to the normal range.

Now 56 and working as a nutritional therapist in London, she encourages her clients to get calcium from foods such as dairy products and to prioritise strength training, particularly exercises that place healthy stress on the skeleton to help build bone.

HE ADDS that some scientists are now viewing osteoporosis as a childhood disease – not a disease of old age.

'When you're young, you build, grow and develop the bones,' he says. 'If you eat well, exercise and have no nasty diseases or treatments, you should be able to build solid, healthy bones.'

'Scientists believe we reach peak bone mass between 25 and 30. This means that even throughout early adulthood, people should be really conscious of building a fit, healthy body – which means avoiding known harms such as smoking.

'If you don't build this bone when young, there is less to lose when you get older, meaning you're more likely to have a fracture.'

The problem is that only those who suffer a serious fracture are routinely scanned. But in recent years, experts say there have been a number of breakthroughs in understanding the potential causes. Perhaps the strongest evidence is for the link between

Millions have it, but it causes no symptoms ...and the first sign is often a broken bone

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Health 43

osteopenia and low vitamin D and calcium levels.

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and other minerals from food, building strong bones.

Experts worry today's young people, who spend more time indoors and are often less physically active, may fail to build the strongest skeleton possible.

Because sunlight is the body's main source of vitamin D, spending little time outdoors – as well as obesity, which can trap the vitamin in body fat – may increase the risk of deficiency.

Smoking and heavy drinking can also accelerate bone loss.

Researchers believe several factors may be driving the rise in younger people developing the condition – one of the biggest being low oestrogen.

While levels naturally fall after the menopause, they can also drop much earlier because of early menopause – when periods stop before the age of 45 – or pre-

mature ovarian insufficiency (POI), where the ovaries stop functioning before 40. Oestrogen can also be depleted by cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery to remove the ovaries and conditions that disrupt normal hormone production, including eating disorders, being significantly underweight and excessive exercise.

Professor Comminos says oestrogen is one of the body's main bone-protecting hormones. When levels fall too early, bone breakdown begins to outpace rebuilding, leaving them weaker and more prone to fractures.

He regularly sees women in their 20s, 30s and early 40s with low bone density caused by anorexia, not eating enough to fuel intense exercise, premature menopause or POI. For women whose oestrogen levels fall pre-

maturately, doctors will often recommend HRT.

Autoimmune conditions can also play a role. Coeliac disease, for example, damages the lining of the small intestine, making it harder to absorb calcium and vitamin D – two nutrients essential for healthy bones.

The condition appears to be on the rise in the UK, driven by better diagnostics, greater clinical awareness and a genuine increase in cases. Studies suggest 70 per cent of new coeliac patients have low bone density.

'If you're given the diagnosis of osteopenia, it's not a reason to panic – it's a wake-up call to think about your bone health,' says Professor Comminos.

THE good news, he says, is that simple changes to diet, vitamin D, exercise and – where needed – hormones or medication can stop osteopenia progressing and, in some cases, actually improve bone strength. 'It's all about leading a healthy lifestyle,' says Kirsty Carne, senior specialist osteoporosis nurse at the Royal Osteoporosis Society. She recommends its calculator at the great British bone check, or ask to assess your risk.

'We recommend avoiding smoking as it can have quite a significant impact on bone health,' she says. 'And while it's fine to have a drink now and again, excessive alcohol can interfere with bone growth and density.'

Alongside a healthy diet, experts say the most effective intervention is exercise. When you lift weights or do impact movements, the physical pull of your muscles and gravity trigger bone-forming cells to build a thicker, more resilient skeleton.

Weight-bearing exercises – walking, dancing or jogging – stimulate bone formation by placing strain on the skeleton. And exercises such as tai chi improve balance and muscle strength, reducing the risk of falls that could lead to fractures.

'You can start small and find your own way of doing exercise – like joining a dance club or doing salsa classes,' says Dr Abel. 'If you find something you enjoy, you will keep going with it rather than getting bored and quitting. This will be more beneficial, improving both your mental and physical health.'

Experts stress that it is never too early to start protecting your bone health.

'Prevention is important as osteoporosis can lead to life-changing fractures that could put you in a care home when you're older,' adds Dr Abel. 'It is very important that people understand just how damaging osteoporotic fractures are. When the choice is between preventing them or not, the answer is simple.'

Anger at snub for English in UK fracture clinics rollout

THE Government has been criticised for failing to rollout osteoporosis screening clinics in England – after it was revealed that NHS Wales has done so with 'relatively little investment'.

Since 2024, The Mail on Sunday and the Royal Osteoporosis Society have campaigned for full access across the UK to these bone-thinning clinics to help prevent life-changing fractures.

Osteoporosis, the advanced form of osteopenia (see left), primarily affects women and is often not picked up until serious injuries occur – which is why experts say screening is crucial.

When the War On Osteoporosis campaign began, osteoporosis screening was available in all NHS hospitals in Scotland and Northern Ireland – but not England and Wales.

Prior to the 2024 General Election, the Government committed to funding full access to osteoporosis screening across the country but has failed to take any action since.

Now The Mail on Sunday can reveal that these clinics are in all

By Ruth Sunderland

progress effectively flattining. Fracture liaison services are one of the smartest investments the NHS can make.

'They prevent life-changing fractures, help people stay independent, reduce pressure on hospitals and social care and typically pay for themselves within 18 to 24 months.'

'Very few NHS interventions deliver such a big return for such modest cost.'

The Royal Osteoporosis Society estimates 2,500 people die every year in Britain from the debilitating effects of preventable hip fractures.

After the campaign by the MoS and Royal Osteoporosis Society was launched, then Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeter made a pre-election promise to end a postcode lottery and have a universal fracture liaison service by 2030. However, since then, the Government has failed to publish a plan to fund and build the clinics.

Dr Singh developed a computer program that identifies patients in Welsh hospitals who have suffered a fracture and refers them to a fracture liaison clinic.

He says this means that the system does not rely on busy clinicians referring patients themselves. Patients then undergo a bone-density test, called a DEXA scan.

The Royal Osteoporosis Society says that the new Health Secretary Yvette Cooper should take inspiration from Dr Singh's work.

'Yvette Cooper has inherited an important commitment that could transform care for millions of people, particularly women, who are disproportionately affected by osteoporosis,' says Ms Wakeman. 'Wales has shown what is possible with clear leadership, a practical plan and relatively little investment.'

'We look forward to working with her as the new Health Secretary to bring the same pace and purpose to England.'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'We remain committed to rolling out fracture liaison services by 2030, as set out in our 10 Year Health Plan.'

'We're also taking action in the meantime by investing in 20 new state-of-the-art DEXA scanners across the country, building on the first wave of 13 last year.'

IT'S A FACT

For women over 45, osteoporosis fractures cause more days in hospital than breast cancer, heart attacks or diabetes.

The Mail on Sunday

hospitals in Wales, leaving England as the only home nation to not have full access.

The Wales clinics were set up by Dr Inderpal Singh, a geriatrician and NHS Wales lead for bone health, who was able to get the service off the ground with just over £1 million in funding and 24 new staff. Since these clinics, known as fracture liaison services, were set up, the number of osteoporosis diagnoses in Wales have risen by 191 per cent.

The Royal Osteoporosis Society says the achievement shows the Government could cheaply and quickly roll out these clinics across England.

'Dr Singh and his colleagues have shown what can be achieved when a government backs its promises with action,' says Ruth Wakeman, director of services at the Royal Osteoporosis Society.

'In Wales, a relatively small investment in fracture liaison services has helped drive a 191 per cent increase in the number of patients identified through these services. Over the same period, England has seen an increase of 3 per cent, with

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44 Health

V1

As tummy bug that's devastating America lands in UK...

By Meike Leonard

IT'S the explosive diarrhoea bug that's struck down tens of thousands of Americans this summer. Cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that spreads via contaminated food or water, has hit more than 22,000 people across 45 states.

Thought to be linked to an iceberg lettuce farm in Mexico, it swept quickly through the US, killing two and leaving hundreds hospitalised over the past few weeks alone.

And health chiefs now warn the debilitating infection – which causes weeks of violent diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and vomiting – has reached the UK.

At least 67 Britons have fallen ill with cyclosporiasis since May and experts say it is unclear how many more will catch it. So how at-risk are you?

First, it's important to explain what exactly is cyclosporiasis.

Cyclospora is a single-cell organism, meaning, in layman's terms, it is microscopically tiny.

It is a parasite that lives and multiplies in the small intestine, burrowing into cells that line the gut wall. The frequent, watery diarrhoea associated with the bug is the body's attempt to expel them.

Symptoms typically go on for a couple of weeks but can last up to a month, says Dr Lindsey Ann Edwards, senior lecturer in microbiology at King's College London.

She adds: 'The main sign is very watery diarrhoea over a prolonged period. While other bugs may clear up after a few days, cyclosporiasis continues.'

Some sufferers have described having to use the toilet up to 20 times a day, while others told of a bubbling, or balloon-like feeling in the stomach. The parasite can also cause abdominal pain and nausea, but rarely vomiting.

It may sound terrifying but experts say that, armed with the correct information, the parasite needn't be a cause for concern.

Here, experts explain everything you need to know about the cyclosporiasis outbreak...

WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF CATCHING THIS BUG?

FOR most, the risk of developing cyclosporiasis is low – but there are exceptions.

Cyclospora is unlike most bugs in how it is spread. 'The parasite can't be passed on between humans, unlike many other diarrhoea-causing infections,' says Professor Hunter.

In fact, people become infected with cyclospora only when they consume food or water that contains the parasite.

'If you were just at dinner with, or even lived with, an infected person, you likely wouldn't get it,' says Professor Hunter.

Instead, outbreaks, such as the one in the US, occur when infected faecal matter comes into contact with crops, usually due to contaminated water supplies used to wash or grow produce.

Moreover, cyclosporiasis outbreaks tend not to occur in the UK. This is because the parasite's

eggs can usually only survive in warm, humid conditions, meaning most cases occur in tropical regions such as South and Central America, Southeast Asia or the Middle East.

These regions typically also have poorer water treatment and sanitation infrastructure, making crop contamination more likely.

But experts say anyone travelling to these regions could be at

risk. And with the outbreak still surging in the US and Mexico, experts say the risk in these countries is particularly high.

IF IT'S NOT INFECTIOUS, WHY IS IT SPREADING?

THE cyclosporiasis cases identified in the UK are all thought to be in Britons returning from the US

and Mexico who picked up the infection abroad.

In the past, there have been cyclospora outbreaks in the UK and Europe – and imported produce can also bring in the infection. However, experts say, at present, these cases are all thought to be linked to travel.

Experts also add that more cases in the UK are to be expected. This is because the parasite tends to

incubate for around ten days – meaning many patients currently infected have not developed symptoms yet.

'People can go on a week-long holiday, but then develop symptoms two or three days after getting back,' says Dr Edwards.

IS IT ONLY SALAD I NEED TO BE WORRIED ABOUT?

THIS is still unclear. The outbreak has been linked to Taylor Farms, a farm in Mexico that supplies bags of shredded lettuce to fast-food giant Taco Bell as well as grocery stores.

However, Taylor Farms denies being the source of the outbreak – claiming its testing had found no sign of the parasite in its lettuce.

US health officials are also currently tracking six separate cyclosporiasis outbreaks – and it is unclear whether all of them are linked to Taylor Farms.

Previous outbreaks have been caused by a range of other fresh vegetables and fruit, including, most commonly, raspberries.

'Anything that you eat without peeling or cooking could carry the parasite,' says Prof Hunter.

'Raspberries and blackberries have been behind a number of outbreaks for the same reason as salad leaves now are – they're hard to clean well and full of little troughs and pits.

'Vegetables with a waxy skin, like cucumbers, or that you typically peel – like oranges or carrots – are less likely to cause infections.'

WILL WASHING FRUIT AND VEG GET RID OF IT?

'IT'S always a good idea to wash fresh fruit and vegetables,' says Prof Hunter. 'But with cyclospora, washing produce – while removing maybe 80 per cent of the parasites – won't stop you getting sick, as the eggs, once laid, are difficult to dislodge.

'Cooking is really the only way to kill off the bug.'

For this reason, experts say that anyone concerned about catching the bug while abroad should take precautions. They argue this is particularly important for those with a weakened immune system, as well as the elderly and children, who are at a greater risk of severe disease.

'I've always cautioned against eating uncooked vegetables – especially salads – when abroad,' says Prof Hunter.

WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO TREAT AN INFECTION?

ONCE diagnosed via a stool sample, cyclosporiasis infections can be easily treated with antibiotics.

'Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, commonly sold as Bactrim, Septra or Cotrim, is taken twice daily for seven to ten days.

People with healthy immune systems can also usually get over the infection without treatment, but their symptoms can last up to a month and may relapse.

Hydration is key, says Dr Edwards, because of how much fluid is expelled. Sufferers should drink a lot of water, broths and take electrolytes and antibiotics.

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45

Dr Ellie

HER UNMISSABLE NEW COLUMN

THE GP WHO'S ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU

The closure of public toilets is an outrage... and it's giving people UTIs

BLADDER infections are simultaneously one of the most common and excruciating issues I see in my clinic. Also known as urinary tract infections, or UTIs, these bugs primarily affect women and often trigger an agonising pain while peeing.

For around 1.6 million women, UTIs are chronic – meaning they return repeatedly. These can ruin a person's life, leaving them in constant pain and unable to sleep or work.

Earlier this year, presenter Cherry Healey, pictured, opened up about her history of UTIs and how ignoring one saw her collapsing at a friend's wedding – where she was maid of honour – and being hospitalised for five days.

Heartbreakingly, there is often very little that GPs can do to help. We can prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection, but it will then return months or even weeks later.

However, I believe there is something that our new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, can do to reduce the number of patients living with chronic UTIs – and improve the lives of countless others.

Let me explain. UTIs occur when bacteria gets into the urinary tract – the body's plumbing system for removing urine – via the urethra – where urine comes out when you pee. There are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk – such as avoiding sugary, fizzy drinks – but one of the most important is going to the toilet when you need to.

Holding in urine is not good for your health. We all do it sometimes, whether it's because we are busy at work or driving, but many people do not realise it can actually cause a problem. When it comes to UTIs,

keeping the bladder full for longer than necessary allows bacteria to flourish. It also stretches the bladder, meaning when patients do eventually go, they may not be emptying their bladder completely. Over time, regularly having small amounts of urine left over leads to regular infections.

This is why I always tell my UTI patients to never hold in their urine.

However, as many tell me, this is easier said than done.

While at home, there is no problem. But once they leave the house, finding somewhere to go to the toilet can feel like an impossible task. And there's a simple reason for this: the disappearance of the public toilet in Britain.

It's an issue that this newspaper first highlighted during the Covid pandemic, when councils across the country closed public toilets in what turned out to be futile attempts to limit the spread of the virus.

However, the problem has only got worse in recent years.

There are now almost 15 per cent fewer public toilets in England than there were ten years ago, according to the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), largely due to a lack of funds to keep them open.

And I believe this is leading to more chronic UTIs as more patients are being forced to hold in their urine.

It's not just UTI patients who are being affected by the closure of public toilets either. There are so many other patients whose health conditions leave them at risk

of being caught short while out of the house. For example, roughly half of men over the age of 60 have prostate issues that mean they need to go to the loo often – usually the moment the sensation strikes. Combine them with people with incontinence, irritable bowel syndrome and other urinary issues, we are talking about millions of Britons who are in desperate need of public toilets.

And for those affected, this issue stops them from leaving the house.

According to a 2019 report from the RSPH, one in five people leave home less often than they would like due to a lack of toilets and the shame and the inconvenience that causes them.

There are, of course, steps patients can take to reduce the risk of being caught short

Your questions answered

I KEEP getting crusty styes on my eyelids. It's really painful and nothing seems to help. What can I do to stop them coming back?

CRUSTY eyes are not a typical stye symptom and could be a condition called blepharitis instead.

Styes are a common infection that occurs when the tear ducts in the eyelid become blocked. For most, they happen for no discernible reason – though they can be triggered by make up or skin products blocking ducts.

A warm compress on the eyelids is the recommended treatment for a stye.

This should ease the pain and swelling, and the infection will eventually pass. Antibiotics are rarely offered for styes any more.

However, if there are crusty bits as well, this may be triggered by blepharitis – inflammation of the eyelids.

Blepharitis patients often describe their eyes feeling itchy or gritty. The condition is typically caused by bacteria on the skin or an underlying skin condition such as dermatitis. There is no cure, but the symptoms can be eased by washing the eyelids every day.

The best way to do this to first apply a warm flannel for ten minutes. Then, massage the eyes for 30 seconds. Finally, using clean cotton buds dipped in diluted baby shampoo, clear away the crust and discharge around the eye.

while out. I often advise my patients to avoid consuming coffee, tea, alcohol, energy drinks and fizzy drinks, as these can all increase the need to pee – as well as irritate the lining of the bladder.

Patients with a bladder or bowel problem can also apply for a special access card, called Just Can't Wait, from the Bladder And Bowel UK charity. The idea is that they can flash this card in shops, cafes, restaurants or anywhere else on the high street, and the staff should let them use the toilet – even if it is not ordinarily for public use.

However, this only helps those with a diagnosed problem – and businesses are not legally required to let patients use their facilities.

Instead, I believe the solution for this problem must come from the top of Government. Mr Burnham has pledged to revive Britain's struggling high streets, and one of the best ways he could do this would be fund more public toilets.

This would make millions feel more comfortable visiting local businesses without fear of being caught short.

And it could improve the quality of life for UTI patients by reducing the number of repeat infections.

So, on behalf of my patients, Prime Minister, please fix the public toilets crisis – you will be improving the lives of many more people than you realise.

A STUDY published last week argues that we could be incorrectly screening for breast cancer.

At present, women under 50 are scanned only if they carry certain genes that raise their risk of cancer or have a high number of family members with the disease. However, the new research

Breast screening needs a wider net

argues that this method misses 95 per cent of young women who go on to develop breast cancer.

Scientists conclude that other factors, such as lifestyle and reproductive history (mothers are less

likely to get the disease), should also be considered. I agree. For too long the NHS has been obsessed with finding patients with cancer-triggering genes, when they are in the minority. Did your breast cancer diagnosis come as a surprise? Please write in and let me know.

WRITE TO DR ELLIE

Do you have a question? Email DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.uk

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46 Health

By Kate Harrison

MY SURGEON'S kind face gave nothing away as I sat down to hear how my operation had gone. He knew, as I did, that what he was about to tell me would shape the rest of my life. Finally, he smiled. 'The pathology report is clear,' he said. 'All the cancer cells have been killed. It's the best possible result.'

My partner, Richard, was hugging me before the words had fully sunk in.

The previous eight months had been the hardest of my life, as I'd endured gruelling treatment for an aggressive form of breast cancer.

Before my operation, I'd undergone 14 rounds of chemotherapy alongside immunotherapy – one of the newest cancer treatments available, which harnesses the immune system to hunt down and destroy cancer cells.

It had worked. But as the fear of dying finally began to lift, I knew my extraordinary news had come at a price.

The immunotherapy had turned my immune system against my own body, leaving me with life-threatening – and potentially long-lasting – side effects.

Because, as I discovered, a super-charged immune system doesn't have an off-switch. And even though my last dose of immunotherapy was 17 months ago, I am still living with the side effects

As experts warn side effects of breakthrough drugs are more severe than once believed...

Immunotherapy beat my breast cancer but left me battling a lifelong illness... so was the cure worth it?

today. And now research shows that I'm far from alone. Immunotherapy has, with good reason, been hailed as revolutionary. Introduced less than two dec-

ades ago, it has transformed the outlook for cancers that were once considered almost impossible to treat. The most dramatic example is

advanced melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Until little more than a decade ago, fewer than 5 per cent of patients were alive ten years after their diagnosis. Today, thanks to immunotherapy, more than half survive that long, and some are considered cured – an astonishing turnaround that many cancer specialists once thought impossible.

SIMILAR breakthroughs have followed in some forms of lung and kidney cancer. Researchers are also seeing encouraging results in pancreatic cancer and other notoriously difficult tumours, raising hopes that immunotherapy's success story is only just beginning.

But, as I discovered firsthand, this extraordinary treatment can come at a cost. Patients often develop side effects caused by their immune system attacking healthy tissue. Some, like me, are left with health problems that persist long after treatment has ended.

The most frightening part is that it's impossible to predict who will develop these complications, or which organ the immune system will attack.

I was the fittest I'd ever been when I was diagnosed with cancer. Aged 56, I ran three times a week, had been a vegetarian since my teens, didn't smoke and drank in moderation. I'd even written books about health.

I found the lump in my right armpit in November 2024 during my regular breast self-check. I reassured myself: it's not in my breast so it's probably nothing.

It wasn't nothing. A month later, after scans and a biopsy, I heard the words we all dread. 'You have cancer.'

Not just any breast cancer, but

triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) – a rarer, more aggressive form that is harder to treat because it lacks the receptors that are targeted by many of the most effective drugs.

The lump in my lymph node had grown to the size of a brussels sprout. It was an irony that wasn't lost on me: I received my diagnosis just before Christmas. Stranger still, doctors couldn't find the original tumour in my breast.

The treatment was almost as frightening as the diagnosis. I faced six months of chemotherapy, followed by surgery and radiotherapy. Even then, there were no guarantees.

In clinical trials, around one in four women like me who received standard treatment alone saw their cancer return within three years.

But there was one reason to hope. Just two years before my diagnosis, the NHS had approved pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug, for patients like me. It belongs to a new generation of treatments that work by taking the

brakes off the immune system, allowing it to recognise and attack cancer cells that would otherwise slip under the radar.

My oncologist was candid about the risks. By unleashing the immune system against the cancer, the drug could also cause it to attack healthy organs. My thyroid was one possibility. My lungs, liver, bowel, skin or heart could also be affected. I could say no.

But knowing the poor prognosis women with TNBC face, I wanted to throw everything at the tumour. Besides, I was already signing chemotherapy consent forms listing scores of nasty complications. A few more seemed the least of my worries. I said yes.

Treatment started the day before Christmas Eve. It wasn't pleasant,

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Health 47

THE AGGRESSIVE TREATMENTS THAT WORK WHERE NOTHING ELSE HAS

FIRST rolled out in the UK in the mid 2010s, modern immunotherapy medications are widely considered to be the future of cancer treatment.

The drugs work by harnessing the immune system to attack cancer cells, and can be given on their own or alongside other therapies.

Today there are different types of immunotherapy, most of which are delivered intravenously as an infusion or injection.

Checkpoint inhibitors are drugs that block the proteins normally responsible for acting as 'brakes' on the immune system - allowing the body to attack cancer cells more aggressively.

These are currently being used by the NHS to

treat melanoma as well as lung, kidney and bladder cancer.

CAR T-cell therapies, meanwhile, used to fight leukaemias and lymphomas, see a patient's immune cells removed, altered in a lab to better hunt cancer cells, then put back into the body.

And cancer vaccines - currently being trialled to treat early-stage bladder cancer - train the immune system to recognise specific cancer cells and mount an attack against them.

Immunotherapies have proved life-saving when traditional treatments failed, but experts say more research is needed to understand the potential long-term side effects of the drugs.

but side effects such as nausea were mostly controlled by the party bag of medications I received after my weekly infusions.

I wore an icy 'cold cap' to try to save some of my hair, and tried to keep walking the dog and working.

But overnight in early March everything changed. I developed acute diarrhoea, up to 14 times a day. As I got weaker, my consultant diagnosed colitis - inflammation of my large intestine.

My immune system was attacking my digestive system. Colitis can be life-threatening, so I spent every day in the emergency department receiving high-dose steroid infusions, along with other specialist medications.

After decades of healthy eating,

I had to ditch my five-a-day for what is known as a low-residue diet - low in fibre to reduce the amount of work my damaged bowel had to do - consisting of white bread, jacket potatoes and the occasional banana.

THE cancer treatment had to stop completely while the oncology team tried to calm down my fiery immune system.

It took a month for the treatment to kick in and ease my symptoms, and the steroids left me so wired I couldn't sleep.

When insomnia struck, I'd lie awake researching the condition for the blog I'd started after my

diagnosis. I wanted to understand what had happened to me. The answer lay in something known as immunotherapy toxicity.

By revving up the immune system to attack cancer, immunotherapy can also cause it to attack healthy parts of the body - as I'd been warned. But what I hadn't fully grasped was that unlike chemo, where side effects are unpleasant but usually short-lived, immunotherapy toxicity can flare up years after treatment.

Professor Richard Simcock, chief medical officer at Macmillan Cancer Support, explains: 'One of the hardest aspects of immunotherapy toxicity is its unpredictability. We don't yet have a way of understanding who will be

BATTLING THROUGH: Kate Harrison, left, during treatment, and, above, in healthier times

affected, what side effects they may get and, crucially, how long problems may last.

'All of this massively contributes to the uncertainty.'

I had to stop pembrolizumab after just three doses instead of the planned 17, but I was able to restart chemotherapy. By June, I could no longer climb the stairs without stopping to catch my breath, and I'd developed a relentless dry cough.

One night, after a blood transfusion, my temperature soared and I struggled to breathe. We called 999 and, within minutes, I was in an ambulance, blue lights flashing as we raced to A&E. I was given an oxygen mask as doctors tried to work out what was wrong. Antibiotics made no difference - I was getting sicker by the hour.

My chest felt as though it were being crushed in a metal vice. Too frightened to sleep, and convinced I was dying, I searched my symptoms online. The most likely culprit? Pneumonitis. My super-charged immune system was now attacking my lungs.

Finally, after 48 terrifying hours, a specialist toxicity team started me on huge doses of IV steroids. Within hours my breathing improved. By day two I could manage without oxygen.

My surgery was delayed while my lungs recovered, but by the end of July I had the best news of my life: there was no sign of cancer. It's impossible to know which of the five medications killed off my tumour but I toasted the team, the chemo and the pembrolizumab that night.

Except my immune system hadn't quite finished with me.

As soon as I came off steroids, my colitis returned with a vengeance, scuppering plans for an August enjoying my recovery.

The saving grace was the fantastic immunotherapy toxicity team here in Sussex, where expert nurses delivered more steroid infusions and kept my morale high. My colitis improved enough for me to have radiotherapy.

But I also had severe joint pains, probably caused by the steroids weakening my muscles. I started doing gentle physio and drinking

all the protein smoothies I could stomach. But by January this year I felt 96, not 56, as the pains spread to my hips, knees, wrists, elbows, even my heels.

Could my immune system have found a new target? Sure enough, when I restarted steroids, the pain started improving overnight, confirming a diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis.

But steroids are not a long-term solution. I can live with the swollen moon-face they cause, but the reduced immunity they cause means I catch every bug going.

Doctors want to find an alternative but some of the newer treatments are not available on the NHS. For now I'm trying another drug that leaves me nauseous and dog-tired three days out of seven. If that fails, I may get compassionate funding for the more expensive meds.

AT FIRST I assumed I was just unlucky. But now we know that wasn't it. The biggest study in Europe followed 545 patients who had the same treatment as me, in 34 UK hospitals. Two-thirds suffered an immune-related side effect, nearly half needed unplanned stays in hospital, and four patients died, including three whose lungs were attacked by pneumonitis.

The team that treated me was set up by Professor Anna Olsson-Brown, chief executive of the Immuno-Oncology Clinical Network (IOCN) and chair of the UK Society for Medical Oncology.

She says: 'Severe or life-threatening toxicity affects somewhere between one in five and one in two patients, depending on the treatment, with many left with long-term, life-altering, symptoms.

'With 25,000 patients treated with immunotherapies last year in England alone, these toxicities are not a rare complication. They are a routine part of the treatment.'

The effects go beyond individual patients. The list price of a full course of pembrolizumab is nearly £90,000, though the NHS does get a discount. But emergency admissions, specialist drugs and years of follow-up add to the burden on struggling cancer units.

I was lucky to have access to a specialist team, but these services are few and far between.

Doctors talk about a golden age of cancer care thanks to treatments such as immunotherapy. But I've learned we need to choose what is right for us. Always ask to have the effects explained more than once, or to see the research.

I've also learned that you have to be your own champion. Non-specialist medics don't always understand immunotherapy side effects, but it's your body and you have the right to be taken seriously.

During sleepless nights, when the cocktail of pills or joint pains keep me awake, I relive those terrifying times in A&E. Did I make the wrong decision in agreeing to immunotherapy? Deep down, I know I'd still say yes.

It's very likely it helped get rid of my cancer, just as it has for tens of thousands of people. I just hope that medics also discover new ways to treat the sting in the tail.

● Kate's blog, My Big Cancer Plot Twist, includes advice and links for anyone affected by cancer.

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48 Health

Thousands suffering with low mood and anxiety may actually have an underactive thyroid, warn experts

By Andy Beaven

COMPLETELY out of character, Jim Harwood found himself intensely stressed and angry about even the most trivial of things.

Someone pushing a trolley in front of him in the supermarket or a minor error by a work colleague would trigger a harshly worded outburst which he would immediately regret.

At the same time, the razor-sharp focus and intense concentration he had always relied on as a computer programmer was starting to desert him. He struggled to keep his mind on the job, to remember names, to control his words and actions.

The 73-year-old from Pinner in northwest London says: 'I just didn't know what was happening to me. I had a level of irritability – of stress and anxiety – that I just couldn't explain.'

As the symptoms got worse he considered any number of possibilities – from the onset of dementia to even mad cow disease. One thing he never imagined, however, was that his problems were caused by his thyroid.

'It just wasn't something I suspected,' he says.

Yet experts have told The Mail on Sunday that psychological disturbances are a massively under-recognised and misdiagnosed symptom of hypothyroidism – a condition suffered by around 1.4 million people across the UK.

And they have called on doctors to more routinely offer thyroid tests to patients struggling with anxiety and depression – to establish whether or not an underactive thyroid could be to blame.

Kristen Boelaert, professor of endocrinology at the University of Birmingham and a trustee of the British Thyroid Foundation, says: 'Hypothyroidism often goes undiagnosed. So if people go to their GP with anxiety or depression – especially if they are showing any of the other more commonly recognised physical symptoms – then doctors should be prepared to suggest tests for thyroid function.'

So how can you know whether you have hypothyroidism? And how can it be treated?

First, it's important to explain what exactly is the thyroid. The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped organ found in the neck just in front of the voice box, that produces crucial hormones needed to keep the body healthy.

In hypothyroidism, levels of these hormones are too low, which can lead to a wide range of physical symptoms including tiredness, weight gain, feeling cold, constipation, dry or thinning hair, muscle weakness, aches, a hoarse voice and slowed speech and movement.

However, because receptors for thyroid hormones are also found

in the brain, research shows that hypothyroidism can even affect how people think and feel.

Lyn Mynott, chief executive of the charity Thyroid UK, says: 'It's

not as widely recognised, but if levels of thyroid hormones are low it can cause psychological issues. A lot of people can suffer these symptoms for a long time without

realising they're suffering from a thyroid disorder.'

Hypothyroidism affects around 2 per cent of the population and is more common in women and older people, affecting around 5 per cent of 60-year-olds and 10 per cent of the over-80s.

Mrs Mynott says thyroid-related psychological issues are often misdiagnosed – especially in middle-aged women.

She adds: 'They might think the problems they're suffering are a product of their busy, stressful lives. If they're older, they might believe it's the start of dementia. But even when they do they seek help, doctors often miss the real cause, as they don't think to do thyroid tests.'

'As a result, patients might be prescribed an antidepressant or told to reduce their stress. But if the cause is actually hypothyroidism, these won't help or address the root of the problem.'

Experts say that, undiagnosed, hypothyroidism can cause severe heart problems, as insufficient thyroid hormone can slow the heart rate, raise blood pressure and increase the amount of cholesterol in the blood. For women, the condition can also disrupt ovulation, alter menstrual cycles and increase the risk of miscarriage.

In the most severe cases, long-term untreated hypothyroidism

isn can cause a myxoedema coma – a rare but life-threatening condition that causes vital organs to shut down.

For Mr Harwood, doctors only realised his psychological problems were linked to his thyroid when he later developed a range of physical symptoms.

He says: 'I put on weight – an extra nine kilograms [20lb] – and found myself becoming profoundly cold. Even in a heated office I needed to wear a thermal vest under a shirt and sweater.'

'The fatigue was crippling. I could barely function.' He also developed a swollen neck – another common sign of thyroid disorder.

Eventually he was prescribed artificial thyroid hormones – daily tablets that have almost entirely eradicated his symptoms.

He says: 'It was only after the physical symptoms appeared that it became clear that hypothyroidism was the cause.'

Finding the right treatment has allowed me to get back to normal life. As a mathematician and former computer programmer, it was such a relief to regain clarity of thought, while it's also given me a brighter outlook and emotional stability.

'It's just a shame the mental health aspects of hypothyroidism remain so poorly understood.'

Poor air link to rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups

EXPOSURE to dust, soot and smoke may increase flare-ups in those living with rheumatoid arthritis, a study has found.

Around 400,000 to 700,000 people in the UK are thought to have the condition, which sees the body attacking healthy joint tissue, causing pain, swelling, warmth and stiffness in the hands, wrists and feet.

Previous research suggested that air pollution may increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, but less is known about

By Marti Stelling

its impact on people who already have it.

The study, published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases journal, found higher levels of air pollution were associated with worsening symptoms in those who already had the disease.

Researchers say the findings highlight the importance of considering environmental

factors as part of long-term disease management.

Scientists in South Korea followed 1,070 patients with rheumatoid arthritis over four years, analysing data from more than 12,500 outpatient visits between 2021 and 2024.

They compared patients' disease activity with estimated exposure to six common air pollutants, including sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. The study found that tiny pollution particles from traffic

and factories were most strongly linked to flare-ups in sufferers.

Lead investigator Eun Bong Lee, from the Department of Rheumatology at Seoul National University Hospital, said: 'Our study has important implications for public health policymaking.'

'While further studies are warranted to determine whether improving air quality can reduce disease activity, we recommend these patients avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality.' Outdoor air pollution in the UK

is linked to an estimated 40,000 early deaths each year, according to the Royal College of Physicians and of Paediatrics.

London is widely recorded as the UK's most polluted major metropolitan area. However, towns such as Port Talbot and Scunthorpe have high levels.

Previous analysis has established links between pollution and various conditions, including heart attacks, strokes, asthma, type 2 diabetes, obesity and dementia.

T'STRO

Saudi Arabia has the highest prevalence of thyroid problems in the world – affecting a third of the population.

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50

Wealth & Personal Finance

WHEN the Dutch East India Company began sailing to Asia, voyages were risky and expensive – expeditions needed money and investors were not always easy to find.

Someone had an idea – why not incentivise wealthy merchants to invest by offering them annual rewards? The concept of dividends was born – initially paid in nutmeg and cloves, subsequently hard cash – and, more than 300 years later, it is alive and kicking.

FTSE 100 companies are expected to pay almost £89 billion in dividends this year, a record sum for Britain's leading stock market index, according to investment platform AJ Bell.

The largest payouts since 2018, they are expected to rise still further next year, with billions coming through from firms across the market.

The lavish sums show many UK businesses are in rude health, and Midas has selected seven of the best, including Standard Life, whose shares are up 40 per cent since I first recommended them.

STANDARD LIFE

RETIREMENT is big business. Today, almost £3.5 trillion is invested in retirement-related products, from workplace pensions to annuities.

That figure is expected to soar to more than £6 trillion over the next decade, and Standard Life is the number one player in the field.

Midas recommended the stock, formerly known as Phoenix Group, in 2022 when the shares were £6.61. They have since soared to £9.45, supplemented by almost £1.90 of dividend payments, with returns forecast to increase materially from here.

Brokers are looking for a payout of 57p this year, putting the shares on a yield of around 6 per cent. But the firm has been cutting costs, paying down debts and managing its business more effectively.

As a result, chief executive Andy Briggs is likely to find himself with annual excess cash of around £500 million from 2027.

How he plans to use this money will become clearer later this year, but chances are that at least some of it will be diverted towards dividends – turbo-charging payouts for shareholders.

The UK investment market has become notably more competitive, but Standard Life has certain advantages, not least an almost exclusive focus on retirement savings and a 22 per cent share of the fast-expanding workplace pensions sector.

The group also announced the acquisition of rival Aegon UK

earlier this year, a deal that should complete by December and is expected to add customers, fuel growth and increase efficiency. Technological improvements are under way too, which should improve customer service and drive efficiency.

At £9.45, the shares have done well but remain attractive.

Traded on: Main market Ticker: SDLF Contact: standardlifeplc.com

INVESTEC

IMAGINE, if ringing the bank was a pleasurable experience. Imagine if the phone was answered promptly by a qualified, helpful and efficient professional. For most of us, that is a pipe dream. For customers of Investec, it is par for the course.

Founded in South Africa in 1974, Investec is now a FTSE 100 bank, with operations across the globe, including a substantial presence in the UK. Valued on the stock market at more than £6 billion, the group has ambitions to become considerably larger, paying generous dividends along the way.

Its call centre is just one area

where Investec strives to be different. Staffed by graduates and open day and night, the desk reflects an in-built commitment to customer service – and it works.

Unlike most peers, Investec does not try to be all things to all men. Instead the group specialises in areas such as investment banking, private banking and financial planning, primarily for well-heeled individuals and their businesses.

In recent times, some of these customers have been calling on Investec to offer more. Chief executive Fani Titi has responded with mainstream banking products, such as credit cards and savings accounts, alongside a continued emphasis on high-quality support from bankers, not bots.

A leading force in South Africa, Investec is well regarded here too, with a growing number of wealthy clients and a thriving investment bank. The group owns 40 per cent of UK wealth manager Rathbones, which has had its problems but should deliver in time.

City analysts are fans of Investec, expecting an increase in profits from £900 million to £1.2 billion over the next three years. This should feed through to sustained dividend growth, with

41.5p forecast for 2027, rising to more than 51p by 2029.

For many of us, news from South Africa seems unremittingly bad. Inside the country, though, change is under way and economic prospects are improving.

Titi is a source of inspiration too. Born to a family of 14 children, he grew up during apartheid and escaped from a life of rural poverty through exceptional intellect and drive. A can-do culture permeates the bank to this day.

At £6.76, the shares are a buy, and a yield of more than 6 per cent is an added bonus.

Traded on: Main market Ticker: INVP Contact: investec.com

LONDONMETRIC

WHEN LondonMetric boss Andrew Jones co-founded the business, his ambition was clear: to create a dividend aristocrat – a company that delivers annual dividend growth for at least 25 years.

He is well on the way. LondonMetric was formed in 2012, paid its first dividend in 2013 and has increased payments ever since, with another increase likely this year. The record is impres-

sive. As a property company, LondonMetric is exposed to the ups and downs that pervade the sector, but Jones has a razor-sharp focus on income – buying assets that will generate decent and growing rents in sectors that are likely to be long-term winners.

Warehouses and distribution hubs account for over half the portfolio, convenience stores feature strongly, as do budget hotels and theme parks such as Alton Towers and Thorpe Park that play to our increasing interest in experiences and entertainment.

LondonMetric has grown by canny acquisitions too, including the joint purchase of smaller firm Picton Property, unveiled just last month. Deals are all engineered to increase income and drive down costs, so today Jones sits on an £8 billion portfolio generating £430 million of rent and managed by just 54 people.

Costs are also held down because LondonMetric is managed on a so-called 'triple-net' basis, meaning tenants are responsible for maintaining their properties, insuring them and paying associated taxes.

Exceptionally low overheads allow Jones to be generous to

UK stocks are paying out their biggest dividends in eight years. Here, our shares guru reveals her top picks to cash in

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51

EDITOR: Rachel Rickard Straus

money@mailonsunday.co.uk

MONEY

TITLE OF THE YEAR

shareholders, who receive quarterly dividends, because rents are collected on a quarterly basis too.

Analysts expect a payout of 12.9p for the year to next March, rising to 13.3p in 2028.

With LondonMetric shares at £1.96, that puts the stock on a yield of 6.6 per cent.

In common with many property stocks, LondonMetric shares have had a rough ride over the past five years. But better times should lie ahead, as LondonMetric has top credentials. Occupancy rates are at 98 per cent, rents are rising and Jones is determined to take the dividend higher and higher.

The stock is a buy.

Traded on: Main market Ticker: LMP Contact: londonmetric.com

LANDSEC

If LONDONMETRIC is a young blood of the property world, Landsec is more of a doyen.

Founded in 1944 to help rebuild bombed-out Britain, the company today boasts a portfolio of assets collectively valued at almost £11 billion. These generate annual rents of more than £550 million, expected to rise materially

between now and 2030, providing solid fuel for dividend growth.

Chief executive Mark Allan is confident he will deliver that growth because he has made a concerted effort to move Landsec with the times, shifting away from property development towards assets that deliver robust and rising income, principally prime central London offices and top-tier shopping centres from Bluewater in Kent to Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow.

Demand in both categories is high. Occupancy is running at 98 per cent and rents are rising at rates last seen two decades ago.

This is no coincidence. As one of the largest firms in its field, Landsec has access to reams of data on the nation's shopping habits and working practices.

These show that around 30 per cent of physical retail sales are concentrated in just 1 per cent of locations nationwide, primarily big malls – Landsec's sweet spot.

As a result, the group's retail customers have seen sales rising by 22 per cent over the past four years, against a market average of just 3 per cent.

Office space is another area where location is everything. In

the post-pandemic era, businesses are seeking out top-notch sites, with good transport links and decent refreshment facilities nearby. Landsec specialises in just such offices, so rents are high and rising. Allan renews or renegotiates around a fifth of all his leases every year and rents are climbing by 15 per cent on average, up from 8 per cent just two years ago.

Higher rents are a challenge for businesses in search of cheap property but they are good news for investors in search of income.

Landsec's dividend is forecast at more than 42.5p in the year to next March, rising to at least 44p in 2028. That puts the shares on a yield of almost 6 per cent. At £7.17, there should be further to go and the dividend adds real comfort.

Traded on: Main market Ticker: LAND Contact: landsec.com

IMPERIAL BRANDS

SMOKING is bad for your health, bad for your wallet and deeply uncool in many circles.

But more than a billion people worldwide light up every day, often numerous times.

There are around 30 million

smokers in the US, about one in three Eastern Europeans are keen and the habit still attracts a certain cachet in France and Spain.

Unwelcome data for doctors, less so for Imperial Brands, the company behind names such as Winston, Gauloises, Golden Virginia and Rizla papers.

Spun out of the conglomerate Hanson in 1996, Imperial raised its dividend virtually every year until Covid, and resumed growth thereafter. The stock now yields more than 6 per cent and chief executive Lukas Paravicini is keen to keep going.

That means being disciplined about where Imperial invests its money and how.

Cigarettes are a cash cow, generating more than 90 per cent of annual sales, but growth is coming from so-called next-generation products, such as Blu vapes, Pulse heated tobacco sticks, Zone nicotine pouches and Black Buffalo alternative chewing tobacco.

Some investors refuse to go near tobacco stocks on ethical grounds. Nonetheless, Imperial shares have soared almost 80 per cent to £27.88 over the past five years and brokers believe there is further to go. Rising dividends and undervalued shares are an alluring combination. That makes Imperial an attractive investment for the hard-headed stock-picker.

Traded on: Main market Ticker: IMB Contact: imperialbrandspic.com

PRIMARY HEALTH

PROPERTIES

PRIMARY Health Properties is a member of the FTSE250 index rather than the FTSE100, but it is a true dividend aristocrat.

Having joined the stock market in 1996, the company has increased its dividend every year since and should continue in that vein. The group specialises in modern, purpose-built healthcare sites, including more than 1,000 GP surgeries and medical centres in the UK and Ireland, alongside a small number of private hospitals.

Occupancy is running at 99 per cent, annual rents are approaching £350 million and more than three-quarters of the rent roll is Government backed – a source of reassurance for investors.

Midas first recommended PHP in 2008, when the shares were 70p. The group has expanded by leaps and bounds since then, bolstered by substantial acquisitions, including the takeover of rival Assura last year.

Today the shares are 96p, so they have rewarded patient investors who have also benefited from more than £1 of dividends per share in the past 18 years. Brokers expect a payout of 7.3p this year, putting PHP on a yield of 7.6 per cent, with 7.5p pencilled in for 2027 and 7.8p the year after.

Rising dividends reflect consistent growth in rental income and management confidence in the

future. Nonetheless, PHP has suffered on the stock market lately, amid concerns about the impact of rising interest rates, with the Assura deal taking borrowings to more than £3 billion.

Chief executive Mark Davies is determined to allay these worries, cutting costs, refinancing debts and setting up partnerships with deep-pocketed institutions to bring borrowings and interest charges down.

He is well ahead of schedule, with moves that should bolster the private hospital side of the business and fuel continued investment in the state-funded primary healthcare facilities.

These are a far cry from old-fashioned GP surgeries. Modern sites offer physiotherapy, podiatry and minor operations – all part of the Government's plan to reduce the burden on hospitals.

Primary Health shares have been hit hard in recent years but they should move higher from here. The company is neatly placed to benefit from an ageing population and Government priorities on healthcare in the community. At 96p, the shares are a firm buy, underpinned by that aristocratic dividend record.

Traded on: Main market Ticker: PHP Contact: phpgroup.co.uk

JAMES HALSTEAD

FLOOR specialist James Halstead is on the junior Aim market but the business is a dividend king – an elusive status reserved for firms that have delivered 50 years of uninterrupted dividend growth.

Founded by James Halstead in 1915, the company is still backed by the family and chaired by James' descendant Mark.

But there is nothing fusty about this business, which invented vinyl flooring in the 1940s and has been at the forefront of innovation ever since. From factories in Manchester and Teesside, Halstead exports its flooring to 180 countries, including health centres in Ukraine, army bases in Poland, tech firms in America and operating theatres in Dubai.

Floors range from fancy collections for luxury homes to specialised flooring for the Scott Base in Antarctica, as well as static-free vinyl for nuclear power stations. The majority though, is used as a cheap, reliable and resilient cover for offices, schools, hospitals, bars and restaurants, shops, factories, even prisons.

The company is a market leader, but progress has been undermined by tricky economic conditions, and a trading statement last month warned that figures would be lower this year than last.

Brokers expect a 12.5 per cent decline in profits to £48 million but have still pencilled in an increase in the dividend to at least 9p.

Investors have not been kind to James Halstead and its shares have slumped from £3.25 to £1.30 in the past four years. That seems unjust and should be reversed.

With the stock on a yield of 6.9 per cent, the shares are a buy.

Traded on: Aim Ticker: JHD Contact: jameshalstead.com

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52

Jeff Prestridge

jeff.prestridge@malomunday.co.uk MONEY EDITOR AT LARGE

SOLVING the country's care crisis is one of Andy Burnham's overriding missions. Though he has skin in the game – his father is in a care home battling Alzheimer's – I give the Prime Minister little chance of succeeding where those who have gone before him have failed.

Especially, given his preference for a new death tax – or failing that higher income tax bills – to fund reform. I just don't think the public will buy into it.

They have had their fill of higher tax bills under Labour. And with the imposition of inheritance tax on unused pension funds and higher taxes on savings income

'It's time to leave alone our wealth and income'

kicking in from next April, there is no appetite for yet another tax grab. It's time for Labour to leave alone our wealth and income – and tackle the UK's frightening welfare bill that has driven the national debt past £3 trillion.

Only if Burnham is brave enough to take on this challenge (it should form the heart of October's Budget) can he then seriously start to look at putting in place a social care system fit for purpose yet which doesn't impose more taxes on our wealth (the approach Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch prefers).

Of course, the Prime Minister is right to say the funding of care is a dog's dinner. Since 1997 there have been 22 attempts to reform it. All failed, either on cost grounds or fierce public opposition.

Indeed, in 2009, as Secretary of State for Health, Burnham had his first go at reform. He wanted to

Burnham has a mission to solve the care crisis ...here is what I fear he will tax to pay for it

bring in what is likely to be his preferred choice second time around: a new levy on estates (a death tax). But it met with hostility and was binned. And there is no indication the public's distaste of a dedicated death tax to pay for care has diminished in the intervening 17 years.

As things stand, councils don't have the financial resources to pay for those eligible to receive free care, while the point at which people start paying for care in England remains at the same level as

it did in 2010: a measly £23,250. Have assets worth this sum or above and any care costs will start decimating your wealth (the threshold in Northern Ireland is the same but higher in Scotland and Wales).

Stay in a care home for a while and it's likely your property will need to be sold to fund the costs. Care bills average around £1,350 a week (far more in the South East) with many people racking up lifetime costs in excess of £100,000. The system is a lottery. For a

start, as already mentioned, help varies widely according to where you live – with those living in Scotland benefiting from 'free personal care' if their local council approves it.

Then, as my colleague Rosie Murray-West recently highlighted, there are horrible inconsistencies in the way people with 'complex healthcare needs' – such as dementia – are assessed for care support.

In theory their care costs should be met by the NHS, but most appli-

cants are rejected as a result of incorrect assessments. Rachel Hutchings, of healthcare think-tank the Nuffield Trust, says access to this vital funding is 'unfair and inconsistent'. What a scandal.

The need for care is not universal. Only one in four of us are likely to need it, though many of this cohort will end up handing over most of their wealth to fund it.

The remaining 75 per cent will not require it – or refuse it – and prefer instead to live on in their own home, primarily depending on the love of their family to keep an eye on them.

It's an approach my mother Helen adopted.

Only in the last few days of her life did she end up in a care home,

'Fund reform by cutting welfare spending'

where she died with great dignity at the age of 88.

Burnham seems intent on reform before 2029 and has asked Baroness Casey, chairman of the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care, to speed up her report into the future of social care so it sees the light of day by the middle of next year.

At best, this could pave the way for Burnham to introduce stop-gap changes. For example, following Scotland's lead in providing free 'personal care' for those requiring it, either at home or in a residential nursing home. Yet anything more will have to wait until post 2029 when we could (should) have a change of Government.

My view is that no one should be stripped of their home or wealth to pay for care costs. That should be Burnham's starting point.

And fund any reform by cutting welfare spending.

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Wealth & Personal Finance 53

By Lucy Evans

FAMILIES could be stung with extra tax that eats as much as 91 per cent of inherited pensions from April, new figures for Wealth & Personal Finance reveal.

A tax 'blind spot' means bereaved families could be stripped of hundreds of thousands of pounds more from inheritances, according to calculations by financial services company NFU Mutual.

The tax trap will kick in when unspent pension pots start to be considered as part of your estate for inheritance tax purposes from April 2027.

Former Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the raid in October 2024 but failed to act on a clash between inheritance and income taxes.

A triple whammy could drive the tax hit on inherited pensions to eye-watering levels for those who die after age 75 – creating an even worse scenario than thought.

Here we explain the new rules, if your pension is at risk and what you must do now.

PENSIONS AND INHERITANCE TAX

PENSIONS are among the most tax-efficient investments you can make. You receive tax relief at your income tax rate on savings up to an annual allowance of £60,000, and can take 25 per cent of your pot tax-free in retirement, paying income tax on withdrawals beyond this.

But pensions have also come with another tax benefit: unspent pots passed on at death fall outside of your estate for inheritance tax purposes.

This advantage has long led to financial advisers flagging pension pots as an inheritance-tax friendly way to pass on wealth. But Reeves decided to crack down on this in her autumn Budget in 2024, dragging pensions into the inheritance tax net from April 2027.

However, she ignored the fact that inherited pensions are not entirely tax-free. If you die before the age of 75, your beneficiaries can withdraw money from inherited pension pots free of income tax. But if you die after 75, they pay income tax at their marginal rate, which could be 20 per cent, 40 per cent or 45 per cent.

Recent official figures put the median age of death in England and Wales at 81.8 years for males and 85.5 years for females.

As pension withdrawals will be added to other income, even basic rate taxpayers taking out a meaningful sum are likely to get dragged into higher rate tax brackets.

INHERITANCE TAX RULES EXPLAINED

INHERITANCE tax is charged at 40 per cent on an estate above the £325,000 tax-free threshold known as the nil rate band.

Your estate is the total value of everything you own when you die, including savings, investments,

Your pension could soon be taxed at up to

property and possessions, minus any outstanding debts.

The individual nil rate band can be doubled up to a joint total of £650,000 for married couples and civil partners, who can pass any unused allowances to each other.

A further allowance known as the residence nil rate band raises the threshold by £175,000 each if you leave your home to a direct descendant, which must be a child or grandchild. This creates an extra £350,000 for a married couple, to deliver a potential maximum joint inheritance tax-free total of £1 million.

However, the own home allowance starts being removed if your estate breaches £2 million, at a rate of £1 for every £2 above the threshold. There is no inheritance tax charged on assets left to

spouses and civil partners. So, for example, it is possible for a husband to leave everything to his surviving wife inheritance tax-free. When she dies, her estate is then liable for tax.

HOW PENSIONS COULD FACE A 91% HIT

THE new rules on pensions will drag some families into the inheritance tax net and deliver a heavy blow to others, depending on age, marital status and size of estate.

The greatest risk identified by NFU Mutual's calculations is for a married couple with an estate on the cusp of where the residence nil-rate band is removed.

In this instance, the couple have a combined estate of £2 million

plus pension pots worth a total of £700,000. For example, a £1.7 million home, £300,000 of savings and investments, and pension pots of £350,000 each.

Under the current rules, their pensions sit outside the IHT net, and if they died under the age of 75 their beneficiaries would pay no income tax.

If on the first death everything was left to the surviving spouse, they would benefit from a combined £650,000 nil rate band and £350,000 residence nil rate band, covering £1 million of their estate. On the second death, the remaining £1 million would face inheritance tax at 40 per cent, delivering a £400,000 IHT charge.

Their family would receive £2.3 million of their total £2.7 million wealth. From next April, they

could face the triple whammy from the new pension rules of IHT, income tax and the sting in the tail of losing inheritance tax allowances.

With their £700,000 in pension pots counting as part of their estate, their residence nil rate band is completely lost. If their children withdraw the cash from the pension in full, they would pay 45 per cent income tax on it, if the surviving parent died after 75.

Experts at NFU Mutual say this would now mean an £820,000 inheritance tax bill and £219,326 income tax bill triggered on pension withdrawals, leaving the family £1,660,674 of their total £2.7 million wealth.

The extra £639,326 in tax paid equates to 91 per cent of the £700,000 pension pots.

MORE MODEST ESTATES WILL ALSO BE HIT

YOU don't need a multi-million-pound estate to be hit by the tax raid. The double tax charge will impact a huge number of families bumped into the IHT net, says Sean McCann of NFU Mutual.

Single parents who do not benefit from combining inheritance tax allowances will be particularly hard hit. A 74-year-old unmarried mother with a £500,000 estate and £500,000 pension pot could currently escape inheritance tax, if she leaves her home to children.

But from April, her estate will be worth £1 million for IHT purposes, with £500,000 taxed at 40 per cent. If she dies after 75, income tax would also be due on the remaining pension, taking the total extra tax to £364,250, says NFU Mutual. This is the equivalent of 73 per cent of her pension.

SO USE YOUR PENSION STRATEGICALLY

THE changes mean you should no longer hold on to pensions for inheritance tax purposes, says Shaun Moore of wealth management firm Quilter.

Spending them and keeping other savings could be more beneficial because pension pots risk double taxation, while Issa or standard accounts will only be subject to death duties.

McCann says you can consider taking your 25 per cent tax-free lump sum when you turn 75, as once it is out of your pension there will not be income tax on withdrawals for beneficiaries.

You can also make gifts to reduce the size of your estate, which can in turn lower the IHT bill. The individual annual gifting allowance of £3,000 can be used. Above this, money given away becomes free of inheritance tax if you survive for seven years.

A valuable exception is something known as 'gifts out of normal expenditure', where regular gifts made from surplus income fall outside of the IHT net.

Marianna Hunt, of Fidelity International, says: 'Ask yourself if you might need this money in future. Care needs can significantly increase day-to-day living costs.'

● Read our essential guide to avoiding inheritance tax at thisismoney.co.uk/beat-iht

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54 Wealth & Personal Finance

v1

on Sunday AUGUST 9 • 2026

WOMEN usually take the lead in household finances, paying bills and drawing up a budget, but research shows we are still not making big life decisions and are at risk when major midlife changes strike.

If you're in a longstanding and happy relationship and never run into financial trouble, it can be tempting to leave your finances as they are.

But divorce, widowhood or the responsibility of caring for children and elderly parents can derail your finances when you

By Rosie Murray-West

least expect it. Your 50s, when you're still likely to be healthy, earning a wage and contributing to a pension, is the crucial decade to make sure you are in charge of your personal finances to ensure you are in a strong place for the decades ahead.

Our checklist, devised with financial planning experts, reveals the seven most important things you should have in place

once you hit this milestone age. 'Women who engage with long-term finances feel more resilient, comfortable and in control of their financial future,' says Claire Trott of wealth management group St James's Place.

If you can check off all seven financial accomplishments in the list below, you'll be far better prepared for anything the future throws at you.

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1 KEEP YOUR OWN SAVINGS AND CURRENT ACCOUNTS

IF YOU'RE married, it's likely you and your husband's finances are intertwined – especially if you've been together for decades.

Women in their 50s are more likely to have joint current and savings accounts than younger women.

There are clear benefits to having a joint account – it makes paying the bills much easier, for one. But it's important that you keep your own current and savings account, too. This will give you more autonomy should you ever need it.

Most joint accounts allow one party to empty the entire account without the other's permission, which could leave you in a difficult position if something goes wrong.

As a woman, you're more at risk of financial abuse, with one study from the University of Manchester showing that about 30 per cent of women had experienced some form of financial control from a partner.

This is a form of domestic abuse that involves someone controlling another person's access to money and their spending as a form of power over them.

'If you're unhappy, then having savings gives you options,' says Helen Morrissey, head of retirement at investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown.

Setting up new savings and current accounts is simple and free, though talking about financial change as a couple might be harder.

Separate accounts also help you to cut your tax bill, as both you and your partner will have your own tax-free allowances.

Everyone can save up to £20,000 into a tax-free tax each year. Basic rate taxpayers can earn up to £1,000 in interest on cash savings, while higher rate payers get a £500 allowance. Additional rate earners receive no allowance at all.

2 HAVE A FULL SET OF NI CONTRIBUTIONS

THE state pension is the bedrock of most retirements. It rises each year by the highest of inflation, wages and 2.5 per cent under the triple lock and is available for life, unlike most modern pension provision.

The only catch is that you must have a full record of contributions to National Insurance to ensure you get the full amount every year.

To receive any state pension at all you need ten years on your record, while you need 35 years to receive the full amount of £241.30 a week.

If you are in your 50s, you have time to fill any gaps or top up your NI contributions and fix shortfalls.

Start by checking your state pension forecast on the Government's website, to see if you are on track to receive the full weekly payout, at gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record or by contacting the Government's Future Pension Centre on 0800 731 0175.

This may tell you, for example, that you are already going to get the maximum state pension and therefore don't need to make any voluntary contributions, even if you have some gaps in your record.

If anything on your forecast looks wrong, such as if there are any missing contributions in years when you were working or caring, you can query it.

You should check to see if you qualified for a benefit that comes

with a National Insurance credit at that time. Examples include child benefit, jobseeker's allowance and universal credit.

If you have missed out, see whether you can claim them back by visiting gov.uk/national-insurance-credits as the method may vary depending on the period you're claiming for.

3 GET UP-TO-DATE WILLS AND ATTORNEY POWERS

MORE than half of adults don't have a valid will. That means that if they die suddenly, their families won't always receive what has been earmarked for them.

This can lead to arguments and larger tax bills than necessary.

While you can use a DIY pack from a stationer to make a will, or an online service, using a solicitor or will writer can ensure your will is watertight and less likely to be contested.

It is crucial that you make sure it is witnessed properly.

Along with a will, setting up lasting powers of attorney (LPA's) can be vital. This is a legal agreement in which you appoint a loved one to make key decisions regarding your finances and healthcare on your behalf if you cannot do so.

Morrissey, of Hargreaves Lansdown, says an LPA is 'one of the most important documents you will ever fill out'.

There are two types of LPA, each with a separate application form, which you can find on the Government website at gov.uk/power-of-attorney/make-lasting-power. The process can be complex and take eight to ten weeks.

One for 'property and financial affairs' can be used as soon as it is registered, with your permission. It gives your attorney power to, for example, pay your bills or manage your bank account.

You can choose whether to enact your financial LPA immediately, so someone can deal with your financial affairs straight away, or only if you are unable to do so yourself,

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AUGUST 9 • 2006 The Mail on Sunday

Wealth & Personal Finance 55

What EVERY woman in her fifties must do to secure an enviable financial future

...and the seven simple steps to help get back on track if you are falling behind

while a health LPA will never be used unless you are incapacitated.

4 GET AN EMERGENCY HIGH-LIMIT CREDIT CARD

DISCIPLINE with credit cards is essential – but having one available to get you out of a hole can be useful.

The average credit limit for all credit cardholders is just under £6,000 – enough to deal with most

financial emergencies. Keep this credit card clean and unused if you can – some people even store their emergency card in ice in the freezer if they're tempted to use it for everyday spending.

If you do need to spend on it, make sure you have a plan to pay the money back before the bill comes due, or can shift the debt on to a 0 per cent balance transfer credit card so you've got more time to pay it off without paying exorbitant interest.

5 HAVE A SPREADSHEET WITH ALL PENSIONS ON IT

YOU'VE probably worked for several companies and it's easy to lose track of all your pension money.

There are 3.3 million lost pensions in the UK and the average pot is worth almost £10,000, according to research by the Pension Policy Institute.

Making the spreadsheet is a one-off job. Sit down and write out

every job you've ever had. If there's even the possibility that you paid into a pension in that job, write it into the spreadsheet.

You know where that pension is and have been receiving annual documentation on it? Great – mark it in. If you don't, visit the Pension Tracing Service at gov.uk/find-pension-contact-details to find contact details for your old employer and its pension trustees.

Contact them to ask if they've an old pension of yours. Remember

to give old names and addresses you've had when inquiring.

Once you've got details of all pensions and their values, update the spreadsheet every year to know what you've got – and where.

6 HAVE AN IDEA OF 'YOUR NUMBER'

EVERYONE needs a different amount of money to live on in retirement – if you've always imagined a life of travel and haven't paid off the mortgage, you'll need a lot more than someone who is happy with a frugal life at home.

Consider how much income you think you'll need in retirement and try to come up with 'your number'. The Retirement Living Standards, a guideline set by Pensions UK and used by the pensions industry, can provide useful markers.

It estimates a single pensioner now needs £32,700 a year to achieve a moderate lifestyle, while a couple would need a combined income of £45,400 a year.

Check on your pensions to see how they are expected to grow. Once you know the value of all your pensions and projected state pension, a calculator like the one offered by pension provider PensionBee (pensionbee.com/uk/pension-calculator) will give you an indication of whether you're on track for your dream retirement.

In your 50s you've got time to grow your pension by upping your savings. If you have been automatically enrolled into a workplace pension, you will be paying at least 5 per cent of salary into your pot monthly, while your employer will typically pay 3 per cent.

Check if your firm will match your monthly contribution. If you can afford it, increase the total you pay in. Not only is this a tax-free way of saving, you may be able to save on National Insurance if your firm offers salary sacrifice.

7 HOLD INVESTMENTS IN YOUR OWN NAME

OVER the long term, investing in the stock market usually leads to far larger returns than leaving your savings in cash.

But older women are far less likely to invest than older men. Women are also 50 per cent more likely to feel apprehensive about making investment decisions.

But when women do invest, they typically do better than men. A study by Warwick Business School has shown that women outpace male investors by nearly 2 per cent every year on average.

Holly Mackay, at Boring Money, says: 'Start with a stocks and shares Isa – you can open one online in ten minutes with £50. Once set up, you choose what to invest in, with some banks and online advisers offering recommendations based on your goals.

'Find a simple collection of investments that is spread widely. Beginners should look for one simple investment solution that is well diversified.

'Investment platforms Monzo and JP Morgan Personal Investing have decent options, or Moneybox has a nice round-up feature that allows users to invest spare change. Once you've started, set up a direct debit so you're growing your wealth over time.'

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56 Wealth & Personal Finance

Moving in with a partner? They could soon demand your savings if you split up (...even if the relationship was never serious!)

COUPLES who live together to share the bills or who never intended to build a lifelong relationship could have a claim on each other's wealth when they move apart, lawyers have revealed.

Furthermore, parents who give a grown-up child money towards their first home could see part of their gift handed to a boyfriend or girlfriend if the couple split up, due to the

By Helen Crane

unintended consequences of new rules. The Government is consulting on proposals designed to create a safety net for cohabiting couples who split up or where one person survives their partner.

At the moment, when married couples divorce, their money, property and other assets are typically split 50-50. However, couples who live

together but are not married or in a civil partnership are not afforded such rights. The concept of 'common law' marriage holds no weight in law.

New Ministry of Justice proposals are designed to give cohabiting couples greater protection rights over each other's assets if they break up or if one of them dies.

Partners could be told to split the proceeds of a house sale, for example, even where it is owned in one person's name. The Government has

suggested that this would only apply to couples who have been together for longer than three years or those who share children. All must show an 'enduring family relationship'.

However, Wealth & Personal Finance has heard concerns from family lawyers that the proposals could have unintended consequences for young couples living together to save money, rather than as the start of a lifelong partnership.

Mark Chiverton, senior associate in family law at SA Law, says: 'It could be a real grey area for younger couples, where they are each renting but it's too expensive so they decide to live together. The challenge for policymakers is distinguishing between a genuine, long-term, family partnership, and a relationship that happens to involve you sharing a house together.'

The reforms are set to apply to those as young as 18 and will

'Proposals a grey area for young couples'

cover those at university and starting out in their careers. High rents have driven some couples to move in together at an earlier stage. The typical rent took up 44 per cent of the average salary in 2025, according to Rightmove.

Clare Radcliffe, partner in family law at Mishcon de Reya, says: 'Three years when you are young and haven't got children and are just starting out is not the same as three years when you are 35 and in a relationship. Care will be needed to ensure that the identification of potential claimants is not too broad.'

It could also have implications for parents who want to help their children when they are starting out, as there would be the potential for a boyfriend or girlfriend to make a claim on equity in a shared home.

Radcliffe adds: 'Take the parent of a 21-year-old who gifted

money to put down a house deposit so their child could save money on rent after graduating, then after a year the child's girlfriend moved in.

'That parent would have to be alive to these possibilities.'

In its proposed form, the law could technically allow anyone to bring a claim unless they could not have legally married the person they had cohabited with – for example, a brother and sister living together.

However, it is unlikely that a spurious claim on someone's assets from a housemate they had never been in a relationship with would be successful.

This is because a court would seek evidence of their relationship, which would include shared bank accounts and expenses, text messages, photos and statements from people who knew them. They would have to prove what is known as 'public awareness' of their relationship.

That said, there could be complications for those who started off as friends but then formed a relationship, or vice versa, such as in university house shares. That's because one partner could claim that the relationship was longer standing or more serious than it was.

The law has not changed yet and the proposals could be altered before becoming law, or even be abandoned altogether

under Andy Burnham's Government, as they were proposed before the change in leadership. The consultation ends on Friday.

Those who want to protect their finances now could consider a cohabitation agreement.

This is similar to a pre-nuptial agreement that some couples sign before getting married, and sets out what they want to happen to their finances should they separate.

Setting one up costs between £300 and £4,000, depending on how complex the case is, according to The Law Society.

'Keep a record of your contributions'

The consultation on the reforms also suggests couples could be allowed to 'opt out' of the new rules if they both agree – which could be a cheaper solution. However, is not clear how they would do this and whether it could be retrospectively applied.

Either way, Chiverton says it is a good idea to keep records of your financial contributions in a cohabiting relationship, as well as recording any gifts or loans from either party's parents.

Mail Finance WEALTH MANAGEMENT

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Some tax, trust, and inheritance tax planning are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Associated Newspapers Limited, trading as Mail Finance, is an Introducer. Appointed Representative of Willson Grange Limited, registered in England and Wales (company number 08113890) with its registered office at 30 Birkelhead Road, Heydale, Wirral, CV47 3BN. Willson Grange Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA number 503803).

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Wealth & Personal Finance 57

ME AND MY GENTLET

Lesley Garrett Opera singer

OPERA legend Lesley Garrett has 17 solo albums under her belt, along with eight DVD specials and two books, writes DAN MOORE.

The former principal soprano at the English National Opera has wowed audiences in productions ranging from Don Giovanni to Jack the Ripper: The Women of Whitechapel.

As a mainstream artist she has stamped her mark in West End shows including The Sound Of Music and Carousel, as well as memorable turns before crowds at FA Cup finals.

The mother-of-two, 71, lives in north London with her husband, Dr Peter Christian.

What did your parents teach you about money?

A Dad was inclined to spend a bit more than he earned, and Mum tended to get very stressed and worried about that. I think this led me to do neither of those things.

As such, I don't like debt, and so I spend what I have rather than borrow.

Have you ever struggled to make ends meet?

A No, I've always worked. After school I got a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, which was quite unusual for someone from Doncaster.

My dad advised me to get a teaching certificate so I had something to fall back on. We don't really do falling back in our family, so I never needed it.

I struggled at first at the Royal Academy. I felt like a fish out of water, being a northern working-class kid, but that was less of a financial issue as I was always able to cover the rent.

Have you ever been paid silly money?

A I have. I used to do jingles for adverts. I was the Kenco coffee girl and the Ragu Pasta girl, but the best one was a cinema ad for Taittinger Champagne.

The ad agency asked if I could think of a single high note that ended the act of an opera, as they wanted to film me singing it. I said they needed the end of Sempre Libra, from Act 1 of La Traviata.

I did this one note 40 years ago, and was paid £10,000, plus royalties. They didn't throw in a case of champagne, though!

What was the best year of your financial life?

A Becoming principal soprano at the English National Opera in 1984 led to so many things.

I even met my husband on a blind date at ENO. In the same week I got my first record deal and television show, after being a pin-up in their poster campaign!

The most lucrative time of my life was the late 1990s and early 2000s, when I was given my own six-part TV series for BBC2.

I did three series spread over six

I have three pensions. I'm 71 but I won't touch them until I hang up my tonsils!

HITTING THE HIGH NOTES:

Lesley Garrett, right, and, left, on stage with co-stars in the Jack the Ripper opera

takes in the future – I anticipate becoming much more financially uninhibited as I get older.

Do you own any property?

A Yes, I've always bought property. For me, it's an emotional investment as well as a financial one and a good way to spread our exposure to risk.

Home is a six-bed Edwardian house in north London, but the best place I've ever bought has been our beautiful little farmhouse in south-west France, where we have the most special times with family and friends.

We've also got two cottages in Yorkshire, one of which I rent out.

Will you pass down your money or spend it all?

A I think it's going to be a bit of both. The main thing for me is not to be a burden to anyone – I want to make sure I have enough money to employ people to take care of me, if it comes to that.

I'm married to a doctor, so I'm very aware that you don't know what life can throw at you.

Do you have a pension?

A Yes, I've got three pensions, but I haven't cashed any in

yet. They're sitting there waiting for me, because I'm still performing, and I won't touch them until I finally hang up my tonsils.

If you were Chancellor, what would you do?

A I would increase the arts budget massively. I think successive governments haven't understood the power of the arts to inspire the public.

We have a worldwide reputation for arts and culture, and it's been eroded through a lack of support at the highest level. Ticket prices are through the roof, and that can only deter the average theatre-goer around the country from attending performances.

What is your number one financial priority?

A To be fiercely independent and unbeholden to anyone.

I've felt like this since I was 14, when I got my first jobs – working on market stalls, planting lettuces, sorting and grading tomatoes and washing up in local RAF stations.

Oh, the glamour of it all...

● Lesley Garrett will be singing at the 250th anniversary of the St Leger Stakes, at Doncaster Racecourse, on September 12.

---

58 Wealth & Personal Finance

Top fund choices that could turn £100 a month into a six-figure pot

IN THIS series, our experts answer your burning questions about growing your wealth.

ONE of the simplest ways to get rich is to invest a regular sum every month. It doesn't have to be a huge amount, so long as you stick with it.

Say you invested £100 a month with interest of 8 per cent. After ten years, you'd have £18,417. After 30 years you would have an impressive £150,030, of which just £36,000 would be thanks to your contributions.

If you invest using a stocks and shares lsa, all returns are completely free of tax. You can open one on an investment platform – all of which allow you to set up automatic monthly payments in.

That only leaves the question of where to invest. There's nothing wrong with keeping it simple. You can even start with just one fund that contains shares and bonds in companies across the globe.

For example, Vanguard offers a LifeStrategy group of funds that cost just 0.2 per cent a year and contains a range of shares and bonds in different proportions

HOW TO INVEST...

Get a question on growing your wealth? Email us at money@mallonsunday.co.uk

By Tanya Jefferies

depending on how much risk you take on. BlackRock has a similar range called MyMap, which costs 0.17 per cent.

A global index fund, which clones the performance of the world's stock markets, is another good option to start with, such as the Fidelity Index World Fund, which costs just 0.12 per cent.

If you want to build a portfolio, you can use one of these as a

foundation and then bolt on more specialist funds. This approach is called 'core and satellite'. As you add satellite holdings, you can ask to split your £100 payment every month so the majority goes into your core holding and a few pounds go into each satellite.

Here, our panel of experts share their ideas for satellite holdings at different stages of life.

YOUNG STARTER

IF YOU start investing in your 20s you will thank yourself later, says Juliet Schooling Latter, research director at FundCalibre. That's because you have longer for your investments to benefit from the effect of compound interest.

'The younger you are, the more risk you can afford, so I'd look to corners of the market that are volatile short-term but offer the greatest growth over decades,' she adds.

She tips emerging and frontier markets funds such as Artemis SmartGARP Global Emerging Markets Equity and T. Rowe Price Frontier Markets Equity.

Emerging market funds invest in countries such as China, India and Brazil, while frontier market

funds invest in the likes of Nigeria, Peru and Bangladesh.

Rob Morgan, at Charles Stanley Direct, mentions BlackRock Global Unconstrained Equity, which focuses on finding good-quality growth businesses. It has returned 48.9 per cent over three years and has top holdings that include ASML, which makes equipment used to manufacture computer chips, as well as Amazon and Google parent company Alphabet.

MIDDLE AGED

MORGAN says an easy route into investing in middle age is a global tracker fund which gets you immediate diversification – and which in reality is largely focused on US and technology firms.

That's because these sectors feature many of the world's biggest companies. If you want to keep your exposure to them in check, Morgan says: 'For a steadier option less reliant on the US and the tech sector – which are a big part of global trackers – JOHCM Global Opportunities Fund offers a balanced portfolio focused on durable businesses with strong balance sheets and consistent cash generation.' Top holdings

include US energy network firm Sempra and German stock exchange company Deutsche Boerse. It has returned 38.1 per cent over three years.

Schooling Latter suggests BNY Mellon Multi-Asset Balanced, which is up 40.1 per cent over three years and holds stocks including US mining firm Applied Minerals, Alphabet and Taiwan Semiconductor.

EYEING RETIREMENT

MANY older investors gradually move from focusing on growing investments to prioritising preserving their value. This requires a more cautious approach.

Morgan says: 'Troy Trojan fund takes a flexible approach to preserving the real value of wealth against the ravages of inflation.'

This fund has returned 22.8 per cent over three years and has holdings that include Invesco Gold ETC – which tracks the price of gold – Visa and Alphabet.

Ian Aylward, at AJ Bell, says if you're close to or in the early years of retirement, a bond fund might be more suitable. 'The M&G Global Corporate Bond fund may be worth considering,' he adds.

BEST BUYS...The leading deals for your home and savings

CASH ISAS

TYPE	PROVIDER	MINIMUM INVESTMENT	RATE %
Easy access	Sidekick	£1	4.66
	Chip	£1	4.41
One year fixed rate	Tandem Bank	£1	4.67
	Cynergy Bank	£500	4.67
Two year fixed rate	Close Brothers Savings	£10,000	4.76
	Cynergy Bank	£500	4.75
Notice account	The Stafford BS 90 Day	£100	4.10
	Harpenden BS 90 Day	£1,000	4.04

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TYPE	PROVIDER	MINIMUM INVESTMENT	RATE %
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One year fixed rate	Habib Bank Zurich plc	£5,000	4.91
	OakNorth Bank	£1	4.86
Two year fixed rate	Recognise Bank	£1,000	4.86
	GB Bank	£1,000	4.85
Notice account	GB Bank 150 Day	£1,000	4.38
	BLME 90 Day	£10,000	4.37

CHILDREN'S ACCOUNTS

TYPE	PROVIDER	MINIMUM INVESTMENT	RATE %
Savings accounts	Nationwide BS	£1	5.00
	State Bank of India	£1,000	4.50
	Kent Reliance	£10	4.18
Junior ISAs	Leek Building Society	£1	3.85
	Beverley BS	£1	3.85
	Skipton BS	£1	3.80

Source: Moneyfactscompare.co.uk

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LENDER	RATE	DETAILS	DEPOSIT	FEE	CONTACT
First Direct	4.76	for 2 years	40%	£490	0800 482 448
First Direct	4.79	for 2 years	15%	£490	0800 482 448
Nationwide	5.39	for 2 years	5%	£0	0800 302 010

FIVE-YEAR FIXES

Allied Irish	4.82	to 31/10/31	25%	£0	0289 047 9221
Allied Irish	4.9	to 31/10/31	15%	£0	0289 047 9221
West Brom	5.29	To 31/10/31	5%	£0	0800 298 0008

BASE RATE TRACKERS

LENDER	RATE	DETAILS	DEPOSIT	FEE	CONTACT
Nationwide	4.13	Base +0.38% for 2 years	40%	£999	0800 302 010
Skipton	4.75	Base +1.00% for 2 years	5%	£995	0545 850 1755
Barclays	4.35	Base +0.60% for 5 years	40%	£999	0533 202 7500

BUY TO LET

Barclays	4.74	to 30/9/28	40%	£999	0533 202 7500
Leeds	4.61	to 31/10/31	40%	£1499	0545 045 4049
TSB	5.49	To 31/10/31	20%	£1,995	0800 056 1088

Source: L&C Mortgages - 0800 6945444 / lande.co.uk

---

59

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Holidays

By Thomas Isacke

MANCHESTER has been getting a lot of headlines since Prime Minister Andy Burnham's creation of 'No10 North' in the city. The northern branch of the Prime Minister's office is currently on Albert Square, an 18-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly station, and the general feeling is the Mancunian economy will enjoy a boost - helped by tourists to the Science and Industry Museum, clubs and bars in the bustling Northern Quarter, Manchester Opera House and the set of Coronation Street.

Other cities in the North may be looking on with envy - so here we 'big up' some of Manchester's northern 'rivals' and highlight some of the top reasons to visit.

LIVELY IN LIVERPOOL

LIVERPOOL has historically been Manchester's greatest rival, especially during industrialisation (and on the football pitch). The Beatles Story Museum (beatlesstory.com) and the Cavern Club (cavernclub.com) - where the Beatles regularly played - are big draws. From the latter you can take a Magical Mystery Tour to see sights connected to the band (£21.95).

Then there's the Walker Art Gallery (liverpoolmuseums.org.uk), full of masterpieces by the likes of Rembrandt, Turner, Rubens and Monet, as well as Tate Liverpool (tate.org.uk). A visit to the shops and restaurants on Royal Albert Dock is a must and there are two cathedrals to see (Roman Catholic and Anglican). For a tippie, drop by the Philharmonic Dining Rooms, (nicholsonspubs.co.uk).

NEWCASTLE TOON TREATS

NEWCASTLE remains famous for its nightlife, especially around Bigg Market, Cloth Market, Collingwood Street and down on the Quayside by the River Tyne. Main attractions include the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (baltic.art), the Norman fortress of Newcastle Castle (newcastlecastle.co.uk) and Great North Museum: Hancock, packed with artefacts relating to ancient civilisations and natural history (northeastmuseums.org.uk).

Tours of the eerie 2.4-mile Victoria Tunnel, built to transport coal from the docks, are possible (75-minute tours, £16, ouseburntrust.org.uk), as they are at the Brinkburn Street Brewery, where craft beers are brewed and tastings are included (two hours, £42, brinkburnbrewery.co.uk). And it's a 15-minute bus to Segedunum Roman Fort in Wallsend, where parts of Hadrian's Wall can be seen.

SHEFFIELD SURPRISES

THE Crucible Theatre is famous as the venue of the annual World Snooker Championship held each spring; the next event is April 17 to May 3 (tickets from £50, crucible snooker.com). But it's a regular theatre at other times with major productions including an upcoming King Lear starring Ian McDiarmid (sheffieldtheatres.co.uk).

Other attractions include the elegant Sheffield Botanical Gardens, as well as the Millennium Gallery with its art and design displays including a 'Metalwork Collection' considered the world's finest with more than 800 examples of cutlery and tableware; Sheffield is known as 'Steel City', after all. The Kelham Island Museum

BUSTLING: Liverpool's Mathew Street, top, Newcastle's Grainger Market, above, and Bradford's dazzling architecture, right

tells the local history of industrialisation (sheffieldmuseums.org.uk).

BEER AND CULTURE IN LEEDS

IF YOU like beer, you're in the right place. Leeds has a famous 17-stop pub crawl known as the 'Otley Run' covering 2.5 miles and taking in the likes of Woodies Craft Ale House and Headingley Taps (bar-trek.com).

Be sure to visit Kirkstall Abbey, a 12th-century ruined Cistercian monastery down by the River Aire (museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk). There's also the Royal Armouries Museum, with armour belonging to Henry VIII, samurai swords and the huge armour made for an Indian elephant, right, (royalarmouries.org).

In the south-east of the city is Temple Newsam, a fine Tudor/Jacobean country house with grounds by Capability Brown.

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Holidays

61

STUNNING: Durham Cathedral, main, and The Deep aquarium by the Humber, above

angular building by the River Humber (thedeep.co.uk). Interesting museums include Wilberforce House, telling the story of the life of abolitionist William Wilberforce, the Streetlife Museum (about the history of transport) and the Hull Maritime Museum (hullmuseums.co.uk).

SPLENDOURS OF DURHAM

THE big attraction is obviously Durham Cathedral, built from the 11th to the 13th century. It's massive and sits on top of the hill, dominating the landscape. There's no charge for entry though you're encouraged to donate £5 (durhamcathedral.co.uk).

Just south of the centre is a ten-hectare Botanic Garden, while to the north of the centre is the pretty, National Trust-run Crook Hall Gardens, with its maze and secret walled garden (nationaltrust.org.uk).

There's an intriguing Museum of Archaeology, covering local findings from prehistoric to the modern day (dur.ac.uk). Make sure you take time to wander across the splendid Elvet Bridge across the River Wear, dating from medieval times.

YORK'S A CORKER

YORKSHIRE'S capital is a tourist honey-pot... for good reason. Aside from the magnificent Gothic York Minster, you can walk along the old city walls (for great views) and explore The Shambles, a superb medieval lane with half-timbered, jettied buildings overhanging the thoroughfare.

To learn about bygone times, there's York Castle Museum (yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk) as well as York Dungeon (thedungeons.com/york). The National Railway Museum, close to York station, has a collection of historic trains including The Mallard and The Flying Scotsman (railwaymuseum.org.uk).

... AND DON'T FORGET MANCHESTER'S 'TWIN CITY'

MANCHESTER and Salford, just across the River Irwell, are traditionally known as the 'Twin Cities'. Salford is home to the Lowry theatre and gallery complex, named after the early 20th century artist L.S.

Lowry, with a section displaying some of his paintings of industrial scenes (thelowry.com). More of his art can be seen at the Salford Museum and Art Gallery (salfordmuseum.com).

You can visit the famous Salford Lads Club on the 'real' Coronation Street, stop by Ordsall Hall, a fine Tudor mansion (ordsallhall.com), or go shopping at the Quayside Salford shopping centre.

MANCHESTER MANCHESTER

Controversial No10 North might be hogging the limelight, but these other northern cities make for great breaks

BAROQUE IN BRADFORD

HOME to some of the country's best curry houses, Bradford also enjoys a glut of eye-catching gothic and baroque buildings – there's an architectural style known as 'Bradford Baroque' – as well as Undercliffe Cemetery, with gothic Victorian gravestones, obelisks and statues of angels.

A top curry spot is Mumtaz, which opened in 1979 – (mumtaz.org.uk). You can see works by the late David Hockney at the Salts Mill and 1853 Gallery, while there's the Bradford Industrial Museum, set in a for-

mer spinning mill, and the modern National Science and Media Museum, where you can also find a striking statue of the great, Yorkshire-born writer/observer J. B. Priestley.

DREAMY IN DONCASTER

DONCASTER is most famous for its race-course and the annual St Leger Stakes, the oldest 'classic' in the horseracing calendar, established in 1776. The next event is on September 12 (the 250th anniversary), though races are held year round (doncaster-racecourse.co.uk). Among the city's attrac-

tions is the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, housing ex-military helicopters and a vast array of planes from De Havilland Chipmunks to Douglas DC3s (south yorkshireaircraftmuseum.org.uk). There's also the Potteric Carr wetland nature reserve, home to bitterns and marsh harriers (ywt.org.uk). Doncaster Market is open Tuesday to Saturday (doncaster.gov.uk).

NEVER DULL... HULL

ON ARRIVAL at Hull Station you are met by a statue of the popular 20th century poet Philip Larkin, with his raincoat flowing behind him as he rushes for a train. Larkin lived in Hull from 1955 to 1985 and worked at the university's library for some time. You can now follow a trail to visit sights connected to his life and poems (thelarkin trail.co.uk).

Other reasons to visit include The Deep, a marvellous aquarium in an

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62 Holidays

SPECIAL PROMOTION

Tour the timeless glory of stunning Southeast Asia

CULTURAL wonders and timeless landmarks await you among three Southeast Asian gems.

Embrace the best of Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam with an engaging 15-day escape following the Mekong River.

Stopping first in Bangkok, Thailand's colourful capital, explore its collection of Buddhist shrines and floating markets.

You can then visit Thailand's poignant war memorials with an optional tour of the River Kwai's Death Railway, before continuing into Cambodia's French-colonial treasure, Battambang.

Discover the country's path to reconciliation at the Cambodia Peace Gallery and admire the pagoda-studded skyline.

Your next stop will be the lively town of Siem Reap, a gateway to the world-renowned temple of Angkor Wat, followed by a visit to the Kok Sangke commune where you'll join a masterclass in traditional Khmer dessert making. Join a local family for a hearty Cambodian lunch and learn about the importance of sustainable farming in the region.

One of your tour's undeniable highlights comes next, with a full day's exploration of the stunning temples of Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat and Bayon.

Afterwards, you'll head out of Siem Reap for Phnom Penh, Cambodia's cosmopolitan capital, ahead of visits to the Tuol Sleng Museum, which depicts life under Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge regime, followed by a tour of the ancient Wat Phnom Temple.

The following day, you'll cross the Cambodian border into Vietnam during an afternoon's sailing along the winding Mekong River.

Staying first in Chau Doc, you can explore the mountain Nui Sam, with its array of pagodas, and spend time among Can Tho's floating markets before heading to Ho Chi Minh City.

Finally, complete this wish-list tour with time spent soaking up the former Vietnamese capital's colourful past, from its French-colonial origins to its sobering war memorials, either under guidance or at your own pace.

REASONS TO BOOK

Religious landmarks The treasures of Southeast Asia's religious heritage are thoroughly showcased with expert-led tours to some of the region's most impressive sites.

Admira Bangkok's intricate shrines, from the Emerald Buddha to the magnificent Wat Pho Temple, before exploring Angkor Wat, a Hindu temple and the

world's largest religious structure. Complete your immersion with stops at the temple-strewn Nui Sam Mountain and Can Tho's sacred Khmer pagoda, Munirangsyaram.

Cultural immersion

You'll be perfectly placed to discover the finer details of the three countries' distinctive local customs and their rich heritage.

Join a local family in Kok Sangke, where you'll enjoy a freshly prepared lunch, and try your hand at making traditional Khmer desserts.

You can also stroll around Phnom Penh's acclaimed museums, and witness life in rural Vietnam with a journey along the Mekong River.

COLOURFUL: Wat Benchamabophit temple, left, and, above, the Damnoen Saduak floating market

Unique experiences

You'll have ample opportunities to step off the beaten path for some truly amazing experiences.

Browse Damnoen Saduak's floating markets by small boat and witness Vietnam's idyllic riverside vistas with a thrilling Mekong River cruise. You can also delve beneath the surface of Ho Chi Minh City with a visit to the sprawling Cu Chi Tunnels and the underground Viet Cong outposts they run between.

Historic discoveries

Excursions will illustrate the influences that shaped each country, from Vietnam and Cambodia's French-colonial architecture to the wartime landmarks which commemorate the region's path to peace.

Led by expert tour managers, discover Bangkok's opulent Grand Palace, take in the Cambodia Peace Gallery and perhaps join an optional excursion to the Second World War cemeteries surrounding the infamous Death Railway.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Return flights to Bangkok and from Ho Chi Minh City, coach and boat travel and transfers
• 12 nights' half-board accommodation in Bangkok (3), Battambang (1), Siem Reap (3), Phnom Penh (1), Chau Doc (1), Can Tho (1) and Ho Chi Minh City (2), plus 27 meals
• Mekong River cruise
• Tours of Bangkok and Kok Sangke
• Visits to Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat
• Tour of the Tuol Sleng Museum
• Visit to Nui Sam Mountain
• Excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels
• Tour of Ho Chi Minh City
• Fully escorted by an experienced tour manager

HOW TO BOOK

Dates: September 2026 to November 2028 Price: From £2,996pp*

CALL 0808 239 1392

For more information, or to book directly, visit mailtravel.co.uk/followmekong

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Holidays are operated by Newmarket Holidays ABTOT 5919, ATH. 2525, AATA V1912 a company wholly independent of Associated Newspapers Limited and Mail Travel. Price based on two people sharing. Single supplement applies. From price based on September 30, 2026 from London Heathrow. **Save up to 15% applies to select tour bookings made by September 30, 2026, and cannot be applied retrospectively to bookings already confirmed. Prices shown include the discount. Prices correct at the time of print. Subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time.

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The Battle of Hastings & the Bayeux Tapestry

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• Starts April 25 or June 20, 2027
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• Welcome drink
• After-dinner tea & coffee at the hotel and any additional meals or refreshments as listed in the itinerary
• Coach transfers to & from your excursions
• Tours and visits to Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition, Tower of London, Battle Abbey & the Battle of Hastings, Rye, Bodiam Castle, Hever Castle and Penshurst Place
• Services of a tour manager

Call us FREE on 0808 239 0651 visit www.mailtravel.co.uk

Commenting List: GPI Website: GPI APTOT 7022, ATH. 1.0805. © Company hereby independent of Associated Newspapers Ltd and Mail Travel. Prices are based two people sharing a double-town room. From price based on April 25, 2027. From a network of pickup points in England & Wales. Price correct at the time of print.

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Holidays 63

By Alesia Fiddler

MUSIC is pounding on the pool deck as I join a conga line, squeezing between two women of retirement age. It's the ship's departure party and it's a blast – old-fashioned let-your-hair-down fun. Yet two days later, we're at the Acropolis in Athens with a tour guide offering insights into ancient Greece.

I'm on my first cruise, on board Tui's Marella Voyager. And at just 26 I'm also seemingly part of a trend.

It's not just older travellers drawn to cruising. Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of Gen Z respondents to a recent survey by Co-op Holidays said that a cruise was at the top of their holiday wishlist.

And latest figures from the Association of British Travel Agents reveal that of the 12 per cent of the population who took a cruise in the preceding 12 months, 19 per cent were 25 to 35-year-olds.

This was higher than any other age bracket, including the over-65s, who came in at 16 per cent.

In 2019, the figure was around 5 per cent for 25 to 35-year-olds, so it's a huge leap.

And I quickly understand why, on my week-long voyage in the Med. In seven days I explore six destinations, including four Greek islands, the Greek mainland and a Turkish resort town, all while enjoying the ship's seemingly endless facilities (including a great spa) and entertainment between each stop.

Yes, many of my fellow passengers are at least twice my age, but it is abundantly clear why younger adults are being drawn to cruises. You get to see multiple places, often those trending on social media, while the ship does the hard work transporting you to each port.

First stop is Piraeus, where my fiance Josh and I embark on a 'Best of Athens' tour. A bus takes us to the Acropolis with a guide who reels off tales of Greek mythology beneath the towering columns.

One bucket-list destination ticked off, we are soon sailing on to another: Santorini. Here we begin the day climbing 600 steps from the harbour to the capital

Getting younger on the high seas

Our writer sets sail to find out why cruises are attracting a newer crowd

Fira. It's a rocky start that involves dodging donkeys hobbling up the steep path as they carry other tourists.

Once we're at the top, the adventure really begins. A police officer points us in the direction of the bus station and we head to Oia for £1.90. The journey takes us through the countryside, passing small houses and along twisting lanes.

In Oia we queue for half an hour to take a photo in a spot that we had seen on social media, of white-washed buildings and blue domes.

Well worth the wait and, after a day's exploring and plenty more Instagram-worthy snaps, we catch a launch back to the ship.

Other stops include Souda in Crete for an ice cream by Chania's harbour as locals strum guitars, and Argostoli in Kefalonia. Here we float around Melissani Lake on a small wooden boat before venturing inside the ancient limestone majesty of Drogarati Cave. A huge contrast to the colourful and noisy bazaars of Kusadasi in Turkey, where we haggle over the price of baklava.

Yet one of the main attractions of cruising is that after some hot and sticky sightseeing you can always retire to the pool or one of three hot tubs.

On the ship, there's so much to do – and it's not just bingo and quizzes, though there are plenty of those.

Each evening there are two performances in the Broadway Showlounge featuring professional dancers and singers, and it is always packed out.

A speakeasy-style bar, called The Exchange, is a hidden gem, transporting guests to London's East End where we are caught up in a 'diamond twist' along with singing, dancing and cocktails. This seems

particularly to appeal to the younger passengers and is the only venue of its kind on

Marella's fleet. The cruise ends with another party, this time in the Squid And Anchor

bar, where many elderly passengers rush to the dance floor and let loose.

The gentleman sitting beside me leans over and laughs, 'This is what it's like to get old!' and it's not long before I join the antics.

We finish up in Corfu, where my fiance proposed last summer, staying a couple of nights at Tui Blue's Atlantica Nissaki Beach hotel, spending our days by the pool after our action-packed trip.

Inside our luggage are five magnets to add to our fridge, a tradition we started a few years ago whenever we visit somewhere new.

I can't wait to add more on our next cruise.

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Holidays 65

Eternal calm in a true Blue Zone

By Laura Millar

IT'S midday and the temperature is a pleasant 25C. I'm at Bisoquam, the al fresco restaurant within Chia Laguna Resort's Conrad hotel, and I've just been poured a crisp glass of Vermentino – a light white made from a grape widely grown here in Sardinia.

"Salute!" I thank the waiter, raising my glass. He responds with a phrase I've never heard before: "A kent'annos!"

Seeing my confusion, he translates: "May you live to 100!"

What a delightful sentiment, I think, before realising that on this island, it's not actually unlikely. Sardinia, which sits just south of Corsica, is an original 'Blue Zone' (the others are Japan's Okinawa Prefecture, the Greek island of Ikaria, and Nicoya, Costa Rica).

It was identified as such in 1999 after research found an unusually high concentration of centenarians. So what is the secret to long life here, I ask Giuseppe Fornillo, the hotel's affable manager.

"There are a number of factors," he says, "including a more relaxed lifestyle and a lack of stress."

The specific Blue Zone area on Sardinia is in the central Nuoro province, which until about 20 years ago was difficult to reach

due to poor roads. The people who lived there had only their immediate community to rely on, kept active by working the land and only ate what they could grow.

That included grapes, so wine was a legitimate part of their regime. "The polyphenols contributed to their good health," adds Fornillo.

The Chia Laguna Resort sits in a lush and untamed landscape known as the macchia mediterrane. This dense shrubland is home to evergreen plants whose scents mingle with salty sea breezes.

I'd been to Sardinia once before,

staying on the Costa Smeralda – the glitzy northern coastline renowned for powder-soft beaches, turquoise waters and yacht-filled marinas.

The southern coast is more rugged. To get here from Cagliari airport, I drive through unassuming villages where children play in dusty squares and past lakes dotted with herons, warblers and dusky-pink flamingos.

By the time I arrive at the Conrad, I feel myself loosen up. The decor

is pleasing to the eye with stone walls, colourful ceramics and contemporary art hung throughout.

The real gems, however, are the nearby beaches. Le Dune di Campana is named after the dramatic

RELAX: Sardinia's Conrad hotel and, inset, the island's healthy fare

piles of sand which lie in undulating heaps, while the golden sands of Monte Cogoni stretch to the 16th century Chia Tower, perched above on a small hill. After a heavenly sunrise one morning, I walk to the peak it sits on. I might not be working the land, but my muscles have certainly had a workout.

Special mention has to go to the food. Guests can dine at any of the 13 restaurants within the resort and almost every one has a selection of dishes marked with a Blue Zone symbol, indicating the use of longevity-approved ingredients.

These could include farro, an ancient grain served with courgette, tomatoes and capers. Or grilled prawns, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and chilli. Alongside all of this, of course, a glass of wine (or three) is crucial.

And thanks to Sardinia's way of life, I'm looking forward to a 100th birthday telegram one day from King William...

● Flights from London to Cagliari from around £170 return (ba.com). Rooms at the Conrad, Chia Laguna, start from £232 per night, including breakfast (chialagunaresort.com).

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66

Holiday

HOLIDAY GURU

Solving all your travel conundrums

ROAMING charges confuse me. When I go to Europe, contradictory texts flash up saying it's £2 a day as well as part of my package. And in some countries, I believe, you can be stung by high roaming costs. When I first got my phone there were no fees. How can I get the lowest charges? Graham Stewart, Edinburgh

YOUR first step here is to know exactly what the charge will be on your network for the country you are visiting. This can be easily done by checking the website or app of your network, or by calling them. The bottom line is that all major providers have upfront charges, with the exception of 02.

Before Brexit there were no fees at all. Since then, despite most phone companies saying they would not introduce charges, they have done so anyway.

A £2 to £2.75 daily fee is typical. However, this comes with a caveat of 'fair use' caps that differ for each network.

For example, Vodafone offers a generous 25GB (gigabytes of data) a day. If you exceed this, there is a charge of £3.13 per GB.

The network Three has a tighter 12GB limit and a scary £102.40 per GB fee after that. However, you must bear in mind that most major networks have a default spending cap per billing period. For Vodafone this is £40 and for Three £45. So there is a limit to the damage you can cause. That said, it is wise to check that you have a cap in place,

as a few networks do not do this automatically.

There is an alternative to the daily charge. Networks usually also sell roaming packages that work out a little cheaper.

For example, Three offers three-day European Go Roam passes for £5, seven days from £12 and 14-day passes from £24. This is less than paying its usual

£2.75 daily fee, so it is worth checking such add-ons. Other advice is to download films and music in advance, as well as the Google Map of your destination. With the latter, GPS does not use roaming data, so having the map of where you are going prepared is handy. Also, as there are daily data caps, use wifi available at bars,

restaurants and hotels. Another tip is simply to turn off roaming when it is not needed.

And be careful: countries such as Albania, Kosovo, Moldova and Macedonia are often not covered by plans, so you will need to switch off roaming to be safe.

Finally, you may wish to bypass your network and buy an eSim – a digital Sim card. However, they tend not to offer much better value in Europe – they are handler for travelling outside the EU, especially in America.

I HAVE travelled in and out of Europe six times since the Entry/Exit System (EES) began, having my face, fingerprints and passport scanned each time before getting a passport stamp. The queues were horrendous. Surely, once you are on file you should pass through a different way? Is there any end to this nightmare in sight, as it's putting me off European travel?

Anita O'Toole, via email

SADLY not. There are many EES technological glitches, making the full rollout of automatic kiosks impractical for now. Ryanair has warned you should allow extra time and 'be prepared for extended waits at passport control'.

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67

Regent

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Sun 22 Falmouth, England

Tue 24 Bordeaux (from Pauillac), France (overnight) Wed 25 RECOMMENDED INCLUDED EXCURSION*:

Fort Medoc & wine tasting at Château Lanessan Visit a 17th century fort that one of the greatest French military engineers built. Discover the strategic importance of Fort Medoc and why it has never been under siege. Explore a wine estate that has been in the same family for eight generations. Sample some of the extraordinary wines that Château Lanessan produces

QUOTE '644686' TO SECURE THESE FARES

SUITE	GRADE	FULL FARE (PF)	ROL CRUISE FARE (PF)
Deluxe Veranda Suite	H+	£9,639	£6,199
Deluxe Veranda Suite	F	£10,419	£6,729
Concierge Suite	E	£10,689	£7,009
Penthouse Suite	C	£11,319	£7,419
Penthouse Suite	A	£11,849	£7,769

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Thu 26 Biarritz (from St. Jean-De-Luz), France

Fri 27 Bilbao, Spain

Sat 28 Lorient, France

Mon 30 St. Malo, France

RECOMMENDED INCLUDED EXCURSION: Mystical Mont St. Michel Revel in spectacular island-bound Mont Saint-Michel, one of the world's most photographed villages and a UNESCO World Heritage site

Tue 31 St. Peter Port, Guernsey

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Wed 1 Paris (from Le Havre), France

Thu 2 Arrive in Southampton

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Pricing and availability correct at time of sign off (01/08/2026). Fees are per person based on two adults sharing. May increase or be withdrawn at any time. Offer applies to new bookings only. Offerings are based on two guests sharing. + Subject to close line T&Cs. *Ohne excursions are for example purposes only. Included shore excursions exclude Regent Choice Excursions and private arrangements. Further T&Cs apply. +DPI is based on one per booking, for UK mainland addresses only. Agent to ABTA holder (Regent) 73286, H'Cruise Miles' T&Cs apply. Regent Seven Seas Cruises' T&Cs apply. £&£

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The over-50s are redefining ageing

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71

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73

Write to: The Letters Editor, The Mail on Sunday, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY. Email: letters@mailonsunday.co.uk

Letters

Open borders will only make the UK poorer

The Left favours globalisation and open borders, with the result that we see people coming in waves to the EU and Britain. Just as 50,000 have entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, more and more are crossing the Channel. Our own government makes token comments and gestures about controlling the borders but watches as illegal immigration flourishes.

Uncontrolled immigration impoverishes the indigenous population and reduces their quality of life. If a country absorbs hundreds of thousands of passengers, people will have to pay a price. The welfare system and NHS will crumble. Crime will sour and social unrest increase. We may feel compassion for illegal immigrants but our lives must be protected too.

Mick Ferrie Mawnan Smith, Cornwall

Some of the 50,000 young men who illegally entered Ceuta said they did so because there were no jobs in Morocco, while others appear to have done it out of boredom. Either way, they demonstrated what chaos and fear they can cause.

With the march of AI, why are we allowing any illegal migrants to stay in this country when there won't be enough jobs for the native population? Unless the

Burnham offers little

Last Sunday one letter writer said that Andy Burnham gives her hope, an example being him taking VAT off electricity bills. That is going to save me £45 per year. Big deal!

Barry Klarnett, Witham, Essex

I can understand voters and Labour wanting to get rid of

Government has a plan, the danger of civil unrest won't only be from large numbers of illegals but also from the predicted millions of unemployed.

Alan Aitchison, Wakefield

We should stop the boats by saying that those trying to enter the country illegally are returned to their country of origin at once.

Tom Everett, Mullion, Cornwall

Conservative MP Chris Philp is getting plaudits for being on the beach with illegal immigrants as they board dinghies. Nigel Farage showed what was going on more than three years ago and the Tories ignored his pleas. This resulted in us having the socialist government we have now. The Tories are to blame.

Terry Coates, Birmingham

Keir Starmer. He was incompetent and a personality vacuum. Instead, they wanted a replacement with charisma. Unfortunately, that's all Andy Burnham's got.

Paul Morley, Long Preston, North Yorkshire

The politicians and the justice system don't want illegal immigration to stop. Like the utilities, we are stuck with these non-functioning entities costing us ever more.

James Robert-Poulain, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex

The Tories and Labour have spent hundreds of millions on illegal migrants. So the £5 million gift to Nigel Farage from a friend will mean nothing to those who will vote Reform at the next election.

Lynne Birkett, Wakefield

Would Andy Burnham's priorities change if he lived next to an HMO or camp full of illegal migrants?

A. Smith, Croydon

A soap opera to rival the Royals

I laughed last Sunday reading about how the feud in the Beckham family erupted when Victoria failed to 'like' on social media a photo of Nicola Peltz wearing a Valentino dress at the 2021 Met Gala, which she attended with Victoria's son Brooklyn, left. What next, a furore over the colour of David's pants or Brooklyn's socks? Bring it on!

Geoff Page, Hitchin, Hertfordshire

Can we have a bit less of the boring Beckhams, please? John Hucknall, Nottingham

Do we really need the Royal Family? After all, we have got the Beckhams. G. Ging, Lowestoft

Never mind the Beckhams – I was so touched by your photos of the Royal Family at the Commonwealth Games. I particularly liked ones I saw of Princess Charlotte and Prince Edward, who were really animated, and it showed the bond there is between the two. I so enjoy your Royal coverage, and not forgetting your talk show Palace Confidential.

Name and address supplied

Britain's railways no better

Alexandra Shulman wrote last Sunday that she used to be broadly pro-privatisation but has now changed her mind. She complains that today's rail service is unreliable and expensive, yet the majority of the network has already been re-nationalised.

J. Shaw, Alnwick, Northumberland

I have always believed that the privatisation of utilities and transport was mistaken, as the directors of profit-making companies are obliged to maximise dividends. Therefore, customer service will always take second place.

Keeley Cavendish, Dulwich, London

LETTER OF THE WEEK

Stop fly-tippers driving anywhere

Last Sunday, Earl Spencer wrote about how 'fly-tipping gangsters' have forced him off land that his family has farmed since 1893. He has my sympathy.

He questions whether politicians will ever tackle the problem of rubbish being dumped in the countryside.

Fly-tipping is not only a disgraceful act but also a major issue affecting communities and the environment. There

needs to be stricter enforcement to prevent it.

I think fly-tippers should lose their driving license if they are caught blighting streets or the countryside with waste.

They should also be fined – and a short stay in jail would not be a bad idea.

I used to live in the country and a small roundabout down the lane often had items strewn on it, including tyres, a dirty mattress,

meat waste, hazardous materials and electrical items.

Installing CCTV might have helped with policing this problem – and might help elsewhere – but that's not cheap.

Sadly, as with potholes, every time there's a government-backed campaign to tackle fly-tipping, the problem seems to worsen – because deterrents are not strong enough.

Josie Ainsley, Birkenhead

Bombs that saved thousands of lives

As the son of a former Japanese prisoner of war, I felt compelled to write after reading the article last Sunday about the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. While I have a great deal of sympathy for the families caught up in them, it's important to remember that the atomic bombs saved the lives of many thousands of Allied prisoners of war who were

sentenced to death should Japan's home islands be invaded.

Your article said that the co-pilot of the Enola Gay – which dropped the Hiroshima bomb – was repentant. But pilot Paul Tibbets said after the war: 'I have no regrets; I would drop that bomb again if I had to.' Had those two atomic bombs not been dropped I would

not be writing this letter today. Cecil Lowry, author Blood On Their Hands – Japanese Military Atrocities

Arise, Sir Larry

How wonderful to see a photograph of the No10 cat Larry, left, last Sunday. The 19-year-old feline has seen off six PMs, which, I think, deserves some official recognition.

PRIZE LETTER

Letter of the Week wins a two-night stay for two at Leonardo Hotels. Choose from any of its hotels across the UK only (two nights' B&B, T&Cs apply). Providing the perfect base for a city break or getaway, Leonardo Hotels offer comfortable and contemporary rooms complete with a bespoke DREAM bed for the most indulgent night's sleep. For the best rates, book online at leonardohotels.co.uk. Vouchers are valid for 12 months.

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Given Larry's likely nocturnal activities, would a 'nighthood' be appropriate?

Doug Jennings, Mickleton, Gloucestershire

A commercial boom

You wrote about staff leaving Radio 2 – BBC Radio lost me in 1964, when commercial stations broke its monopoly. Others came, right up to Boom Radio today – great stations at no public cost.

Richard Rickard, Chichester

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74

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75

Financial

MAIL ON SUNDAY

The watchdog who keeps his eye on accounts

INTERVIEW Page 78

Top pay packets smash

£20 MILLION milestone

Shell, Rolls-Royce and Unilever lead the way in boosting bosses' bonuses towards American levels

By Patrick Tooher

THE bosses of Britain's largest listed companies are being handed US-style pay packages of up to £28 million a year, a survey by The Financial Mail on Sunday has found.

It comes as leading firms look to boost how much their chief executives can earn as they compete in what they say is an increasingly international mar- ket for top talent.

Boardroom pay has risen steadily since the pandemic, while real wage growth more broadly has flatlined.

A typical FTSE 100 boss earned just over £5 million last year with the highest-paid - Pascal Soriot at drugs giant Astra- Zeneca - landing £17.7 million.

But the ceiling on how much executives can scoop is rising fast as bonuses, which form the bulk of boardroom pay packets, are increasingly paid in shares, and stock markets are buoyant.

An analysis of all the latest FTSE 100 accounts found three companies where potential pay awards for chief executives could top £20 million this year if targets are met and where their share price has risen by 50 per cent over three years.

The biggest winner could be Shell boss Wael Sawan, whose £13.8 million pay will double if he hits his performance goals.

The oil giant recently reported bumper half-year profits fuelled by higher energy prices since the US-Iran war erupted.

Also in line for a big payday is Tufan Erginbilgic, who has piloted a remarkable turnaround at engineer Rolls-Royce. He made £4.4 million last year but that could soar to £24.4 million in a best-case scenario.

Unilever's new boss Fernando

Fernandez is also in line to join the £20 million club if he delivers on all his targets at the consumer goods group.

All three companies saw their new pay plans approved recently by shareholders, who are taking a more sanguine view on what has been a contentious issue.

While UK-based firms are clos- ing the pay gap with their US peers, a typical FTSE 100 boss still earns less than half the £12.2 million paid on average last year to the boss of an S&P 500 firm, according to pay advisory

'Attracting the best across all regions'

firm ISS Corporate. Experts say one reason the pay gap exists at all is because, unlike the UK, US bosses often combine the roles of chief executive and chair, meaning they have more power and responsibility.

Another reason cited is some US companies are better run than their UK rivals, with higher profit margins and therefore higher stock market valuations.

Shareholders seem willing to tolerate sky-high pay packages if they are matched by strong performance. Bernadette Young, head of corporate advisory firm

Indigo Governance, said: 'The key issue for boards comes down to justifying and explaining their decisions effectively.

'For example, how is remuner- ation linked to achievement of stretching long-term perfor- mance targets, and how does that support the interests of shareholders and wider stake- holders, including employees. If companies can get that right, it can accelerate growth and bene- fit the economy as a whole.'

More firms are set to lift the cap on top earners when their pay plans are renewed. They include AstraZeneca, which is talking to its shareholders about a new pay policy for Soriot that will be voted on at next year's annual meeting.

Despite being the FTSE 100's highest paid boss, Soriot's pay is still below the average of his global pharmaceutical peers.

'We aspire to close this gap over time,' Sheri McCoy, who chairs AstraZeneca's pay committee, wrote in the latest annual report.

Shell benchmarks its chief executive's pay against a wider cohort than AstraZeneca, rank- ing them by stock market value, annual revenues and assets.

The company said that since Sawan took over at the start of 2023, Shell has delivered strong financial and operational perfor- mance, outperforming its peers.

Rolls-Royce said its new pay arrangements were 'a strategic priority to enable continued business outperformance'.

Unilever said that it needed 'the right remuneration tools to continue to attract the best people across all regions, with differentiated reward for high performance'.

Additional research by Anne Ashworth

THE 'skin-ification' of hair is emerg- ing as a powerful driver of profits as products increasingly vow to tackle breakages and fine strands - much like anti-ageing serums promise to enhance complexion.

The surge in demand for restor- ative haircare helped boost L'Ore- al's second quarter sales by 6 per cent. Its boss, Nicolas Hieronimus, said customers suffering hair loss from 'fat jabs' are seeking to boost volume and promote regrowth.

L'Oreal's brands include Elvive,

By Anne Ashworth

Garnier and Kerastase. The latter of these, sold through salons, is benefiting from what Hieronimus calls 'ongoing premiumisation' as consumers opt for more expen- sive solutions to bad-hair days.

This is called 'the lipstick effect', where women treat themselves to small indulgences to get through tough economic times - helped by

Turn to Page 76

Follow us on X @Cal_Muirhead @PatrickTooher @AnneAshworth @RMarsden_journo @ruthiesun

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76

v1

Grass not always greener in U.S.

AT FIRST sight it's a relief to see a UK-based firm thinking of taking over a US one, rather than the reverse. There have been a string of US enterprises snapping up UK companies, most recently easyJet, so AstraZeneca taking over Bristol Myers Squibb might seem a welcome proposal.

But it's a story that raises three questions. First, is this good for AstraZeneca? Next, what is it in our cultural relations that makes some cross-border mergers work and others a disaster?

And, finally, to what extent does national strategic independence matter in a world that is so bound by global trade and investment?

The first is easy to answer: No. The market hated the idea, marking down AstraZeneca shares 9 per cent until a report on Reuters said there were no ongoing talks, on which they recovered a bit.

The firm is good at developing new drugs, especially for cancer,

briefly becoming the most valuable London-listed firm this year.

A takeover in the US would be a huge disruption and run counter to the reason for its current success, which is organic growth.

The cultural issue is more complex. AstraZeneca is itself a cross-border creature, formed in 1999 by the merger of Astra, founded by Swedish doctors in 1913, and Zeneca, the pharmaceutical arm of Imperial Chemical Industries, spun off in 1993.

So the one chunk left of what was once our biggest industrial firm has again become a symbol of excellence, while the old chemical business collapsed and what was left was bought by Dutch group AkzoNobel in 2008. There

are a couple of lessons. Culturally we seem to be good at pharmaceuticals but not at more basic industries. And a Swedish-British partnership (with a French chief executive, Sir Pascal Soriot) can work very well.

What about US-UK mergers? Do they work? Here the evidence is mixed. In pharmaceuticals, the other big UK-headquartered group GSK, formerly GlaxoSmithKline, has done all right, but failed to live up to the hopes when Glaxo Wellcome merged with SmithKline Beecham in 2000. The two had a value of more than £100 billion, but its market capitalisation is now £80 billion.

So while it is a successful enterprise, it is not the global powerhouse it might have become.

In other areas, UK attempts to build a US business have been disappointing. HSBC, now the most valuable member of the FTSE 100 index, tried to establish an American banking arm when it took over Marine Midland Bank in the

1980s. At one stage it was the 13th largest bank in the US.

It still does corporate banking, but the retail business was progressively wound down and it now mainly does wealth management for high-net-worth clients.

Tesco, 20 years ago the second or third largest retailer in the

'Bids to grow across the Pond have disappointed'

world, tried and failed to break into the US with top-end convenience stores called Fresh & Easy. It lost close to $2 billion (then £1.2 billion) on the venture. Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer tried and failed too, though M&S is now selling some clothes in the US through partnership deals. There

are bright points: BAE Systems is now the sixth or seventh largest US defence contractor as well as number four or five in the world.

And quite a few of what we regard as US enterprises are actually British-based. Did you know the group behind InterContinental Hotels and Holiday Inn has its HQ a few hundred yards from Windsor Castle?

But in general, getting into the US market is a tough project.

And national security? We learnt about the importance of producing drugs in the UK in the pandemic, when Europe tried to shut us out from Coral vaccines. We are learning more now about the value of keeping investment in the North Sea oil and gas industry instead of running it down.

We should surely be looking at food security, too. So let's do what we can to support UK-based production – which is why encouraging AstraZeneca to do as much of its work here as is practical is plain common sense.

'Haircare is now seen as a need, not a luxury'

From Page 75

the trend for longer locks. Haircare is seen as 'more of a need than a luxury', says Aela Abalos, global brand director at Tresemme, part of Unilever.

The FTSE 100 giant, which is selling off Hellmann's mayonnaise and its other food brands to focus on high-margin beauty and wellness, saw 9 per cent growth in haircare sales in the first half of the year.

There were double-digit rises in hair brands such as Dove, Sunsilk and K18, too.

K18 now offers FutureIQ Biomimetic Hair Longevity Serum, which addresses premature hair ageing. The price is £110, suggesting why the premium haircare market is forecast to expand from £95 billion a year to £185 billion by 2034.

But Unilever is also betting on more affordable items to pull ahead in the hair skin-flication game. Abalos says scientists at Unilever's research and development operation in Port Sunlight, Cheshire, have entirely updated the Tresemme range.

This includes Thermo Sculpt Memory, a four-step collection for the one in three women who submit their locks to straightening tongs weekly. The serum, mask, shampoo and conditioner together cost £33.50.

This is in the lipstick effect's 'sweet spot' price of £30 to £40. While it's more than the £3.25 a big jar of Hellmann's will cost you, as the main character in hit TV comedy show Fleabag once said: 'Hair is everything.'

Dud deals with Chinese leave taxpayers on the hook for up to £2 billion

By Richard Marsden

TAXPAYERS could end up paying £4 billion to fix Government 'mistakes' which allowed Chinese investments in sensitive parts of the economy, a report has found.

The money has had to be spent on the bailout of British Steel and cost of removing Chinese firms from strategic nuclear and communications deals.

The China Strategic Risks Institute, behind the study, slammed 'the mistakes of previous governments who failed to put the economic and national security of the public first'.

The bill is made up of:

● at least £2 billion being spent removing telecoms company Huawei from the UK's 5G mobile phone network rollout;

● the £600 million cost so far of British Steel's renationalisation;

● £100 million to buy China Nuclear General out of the Sizewell C nuclear power station project in Suffolk.

The bill could rise if the Government has to pay compensation to British Steel's former owner Jingye, which bought the blast furnaces in Scunthorpe under Boris Johnson.

The latest accounts show British Steel owed Jingye £960 million at the end of 2024 in the form of inter-company loans.

The institute said Jingye could demand repayment of these loans as part of the ongoing independent assessment of compensation for the state's takeover.

'Far too often the British

taxpayer has been asked to pick up the tab for questionable and failed Chinese investments in sensitive parts of the economy,' said the institute's Sam Goodman of the potential £3.7 billion bill.

'This could have been spent on improving public services with new schools, hospitals and clearing the backlog of court cases.'

It is a far cry from the cosy Sino-British relationship of a just over decade ago, when prime minister David Cameron took President Xi Jinping for fish and chips and a pint at a pub in his

Oxfordshire constituency during a state visit.

Edwina Currie, a minister in the Thatcher government, defended past Tory decisions, saying: 'That's hindsight – never available when you most need it. China has become a lot more aggressive under Xi in recent years and we have adapted to that now.'

Leading economists and Clive Betts MP, deputy chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, say no compensation for British Steel should be given to the Chinese.

The Government said: 'This

analysis wrongly suggests we've spent £2 billion removing Huawei equipment and confuses commercial decisions and Government action.

'We value our relationship with China and remain open to Chinese investment.

'We'll continue to work together to provide the best opportunities for British business that benefit the taxpayer.

'We cooperate where we can and challenge where we must, engaging on trade where it supports our national interests.'

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77

By ANNE ASHWORTH

MANCHESTER has the No10 of the North – now what about us? That's the question being asked of Andy Burnham in Britain's other cities. They want to know what his promise of shifting power out of Westminster and promoting 'good growth in every postcode' means for them in practice.

And in few places is the call to deliver on devolution more loud than Birmingham. The West Midlands, cradle of the industrial revolution, aspires to be a powerhouse in some of the big sectors of 21st century commerce: Defence; health; technology; sports; entertainment.

Metro mayors will soon be allowed to keep a bigger share of business rates and – for the first time – income tax to decide how the money is spent.

A recent study from Harvard and King's College London found that £70 billion would be added to annual output if Birmingham and other cities outside of London enjoyed the same devolution benefits as their European peers.

But if it is to re-industrialise, Britain's second city must promote itself better to reap the 'phenomenal' prize on offer, says West Midlands mayor Richard Parker.

Images of litter-strewn streets have not helped. The bin workers' strike, now in its 18th month, was caused by public service cuts to plug an alleged £600 million hole in the local authority pension fund.

Al Carns, Labour MP for Selly Oak, says Birmingham must make more noise, adding: 'Humility has been our problem. We need to puff ourselves up a bit.'

From windows in Birmingham town hall, in the Colmore business district, you see the towers occupied by financial giants Goldman Sachs and HSBC. Jaguar Land Rover down the road in Solihull is another large local employer.

But the fight is on to attract even more strategically important firms by persuading them that 'it's a lot cheaper to do business here' than in London, as Parker puts it.

He says: 'We have a young population – a third are under 25. We are a petri dish of talent with our 12 universities.'

Among those already drawn to Birmingham is the US billionaire Tom Wagner, who owns Birmingham City football club.

Wagner is behind the £4 billion Sports Quarter development on a brownfield site in the east of the city. This project will include a stadium, or 'globally recognised colosseum', where events such as concerts will also be staged.

Wagner has said that Parker and the West Midlands Growth Com-

Britain bids for Burnham family

Britain's second city hopes it won't be bypassed as power and money head north

pany 'made it easy for him' to invest in the city.

Neil Rami, the West Midlands Growth Company boss, says the clue to attracting inward

'We need to puff ourselves up a bit'

investment for firms is 'providing the softest landing'.

Another project on the £11 billion regeneration zone is Digbeth Studios. This busy production hub for film and TV is the brainchild of Steven Knight, creator of the hit TV series Peaky Blinders, starring Cillian Murphy and Sophie

Rundle, which features the Brummy Shelby crime gang of the 1920s. Its sequel will be shot at the complex.

Gang leader Thomas Shelby's famous line that 'when you plan something well, there's no need to rush' is certainly apt. Unlike Manchester, Birmingham is still getting the delayed HS2 high speed rail link from London, although the train line won't be up and running before 2036 at the earliest.

Health and life sciences is another sector targeted for growth as Birmingham, with its five NHS trust hospitals, seeks to exploit its proud engineering heritage.

The city sees itself as the obvious choice for pharmaceutical companies outside the 'Golden Triangle' research cluster of London,

Oxford and Cambridge. Rami says: 'Our labour costs are 60 per cent of those in the Golden Triangle, and our housing costs are 40 per cent lower.'

The Birmingham University-run Health Innovation Campus in Edgbaston, which opened last year,

'Labour costs are 60 per cent less than the South'

underlines the city's readiness to meet the research demands of the pharmaceutical and allied sectors. In its laboratories, there is space for every type of 'research with a purpose' as Adam Tickell, Bir-

mingham University's vice-chancellor, puts it.

Tickell is proud of his institution's 'practical' tradition that makes job-seeking easier for alumni. Its graduates are among the world's most employable – the city's ethnic mix means 90 languages are spoken here – and many stay on in the city after their degrees.

This is a theme in tune with Burnham's proposal to enhance education's vocational role in tackling the crisis of Neets – young people not in employment, education or training. The Prime Minister may call his devolution revolution 'Manchesterism'.

However, if Andy Burnham is serious about delivering his mission, other cities such as Birmingham must not miss out.

COMMANDING: Cillian Murphy and Sophie Rundle in Peaky Blinders

PM's tailor sews up spot on Savile Row

ANDY Burnham's Manchester tailor is set to storm Savile Row, opening a branch in London's sartorial citadel.

Private White VC shot to fame last month when it emerged the new Prime Minister was a client. The Mail on Sunday revealed that Burnham spent more than £1,000 on its casualwear, including an £90 T-shirt he wore in his campaign video for the Makerfield by-election.

Now we can confirm that Private White VC, named after founder James Eden's Victoria Cross-winning great-grandfather, will open in Mayfair in October after pulling out of London during the pandemic.

'Yes, the rumours are true,' Eden,

By Patrick Tooher

pictured left, said. The firm is based in a 173-year-old mill by the River Irwell where every piece of the brand's locally sourced clothing is designed, cut and stitched.

Eden said his firm had enjoyed its own 'Burnham bounce' with traffic to its website doubling in a fortnight. The PM, a long-standing customer, has visited the Salford factory for fittings but most orders are made online by overseas buyers.

'Our big challenge is brand awareness. We're Manchester's best-kept secret, with more known about our business in Munich

and Manhattan,' Eden said. He counts Sir David Beckham, the King of Spain, Robert De Niro and Daniel Craig as customers.

A typical client is 'a man of commerce, well read and informed' who 'expects to pay a fair price for a high-quality product', he added, saying: 'People don't buy our clothing because it's expensive. It's expensive because we make it properly. Craftsmanship is increasingly scarce.'

Eden also brushed off the furore over the cost of Burnham's designer wardrobe, saying: 'Whatever your political views, it's surely great when British-made products, British skills and British manufacturing are showcased on the international stage.'

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78

The Mailing Sunday AUGUST 9 • 2026

INTERVIEW

BY RUTH SUNDERLAND

THE thud of a blockbuster on your doormat can be thrilling if it's the latest read for your summer holidays. But when it's a company's annual report, now typically 98,000 words (longer than JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit, but a lot less enthralling) it's no wonder private investors aren't overjoyed.

The ever-expanding accounts of stock-market listed firms have simply become far too big says Richard Moriarty, 52, boss of the audit watchdog, adding: 'The weight of expectation and cost around annual reports and accounts has grown like geological layers.'

Much of the extra pagination is devoted to environmental, social and governance issues such as sustainability and gender pay equality. Although the chief executive of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) doesn't use the word 'woke', others might. As a result, the cost of producing them has ballooned, taking up far too much of directors' time.

He says: 'We want boards to spend their time on entrepreneurial activity. The more they're in a defensive posture box-ticking, the less they're thinking about innovation or growth.'

Outsized annual reports also make it harder for investors and creditors to find the important bits, he adds. The FRC, he reveals, has been working with top City figures including well-known fund manager Nick Train, who has repeatedly lamented 'reporting bloat'.

'It's a long overdue conversation, and the way I put it is: Wouldn't it be good if this were a once-in-a-generation reset?' says Moriarty.

Perhaps it is surprising to hear this from the man whose job it is to keep auditors on the straight and narrow and set standards for the integrity of public markets. City watchdogs are not known for embracing a doctrine of 'less is more'. But Moriarty, previously head of the Civil Aviation Authority, is keen to come across as more dynamic than your typical bureaucracy-loving regulator.

A big part of his role, as he sees it, is to create regulation that not only slaps down miscreants, but promotes growth. He took the job three years ago after the audit profession and FRC underwent a

'Risk is not a dirty word if we want growth'

trauma from 2016 to 2019 with a series of high-profile corporate collapses, including Carillion, BHS and Patisserie Valerie.

The wave of failures was accompanied by harsh criticism of their respective auditors and the FRC.

The scandals spawned a review by Sir John Kingman who said the FRC was a 'timid' watchdog that resembled a 'ramshackle house' and was not fit for purpose.

He recommended replacing it with a stronger independent body. That, along with an audit reform bill, was shelved by the Government a few months ago, though the scandals haven't gone away.

EY was fined for its audit of furniture group Made.com, and PwC for its work on defence firm Babcock. PwC is also being probed over an accounting black hole at WH Smith.

Still, Moriarty argues there has been a big improvement. He says: 'Audit quality in the UK has come a hell of a long way since that dark period of 2018. There was a breakdown of public trust in

Stop burying us with policies, corporate gutters and UK's more want to be

'Blaming beancounters when firms fail is like criticising the goalkeeper when the defence has walked off the pitch'

the audit profession and its regulation. But too often, when a company fails, people blame the auditors. Don't get me wrong, where they've failed, we will find it and hold them to account.

'But simply blaming the auditor is a bit like blaming the goalkeeper when the defence has walked off the pitch. The first line of that defence is meant to be the board.'

He asserts: 'The role of the FRC is to underpin trust and confidence in UK plc and support growth, but we are very clear our role is not to prevent corporate failure.'

'It's counter-cultural for a regulator to say this, but risk is not a dirty word. If we want growth, and for that growth to make its way into the pockets of people and their pensions, then part of the FRC's role is to help businesses and support responsible risk-taking.'

If we have no risk, we have no forward movement. If you only

do what you already know works, you'll never make progress.'

He is philosophical about the shelving of the new, more muscular regulator and of the audit reform bill, saying the FRC is getting on with the job regardless.

He does, however, draw attention to one big 'opportunity lost' as a result: To hold large privately owned companies such as Thames Water to the same standards as stock market-listed firms.

At present, privately owned businesses have a much lighter regulatory regime than companies quoted on the stock exchange.

'It leaves us with some odd situations where the legislation hasn't caught up. The best way I can exemplify this is to say Severn Trent and United Utilities,' he says, referring to two listed water utility firms, 'are within my perimeter, but Thames Water is not.'

The owners of Thames Water loaded it with £19 billion of debt and took out billions of pounds in

dividends. The company is now in a state of near-collapse and is unable to fix its crumbling network.

'If I take another example, Sainsbury's and Tesco are within my perimeter, but Asda is not,' Moriarty says. 'I don't think it's right for me to speculate on Thames Water specifically. But it means there are businesses that Parliament, politicians and the public

'Private firms lack the same audit regime'

would regard as systemically important, yet which don't have the audit regime that their equivalent listed businesses would have.'

But isn't the annual report and accounts – months out of date by the time it appears – an anachronism when it comes to assessing firms' health? Moriarty says it's a

question that needs covering, himself asking: 'What is the salience of that backwards-looking, once-a-year report, when most businesses will be producing information throughout the year in any event?'

The Government is consulting on modernising corporate reporting. Another issue is when firms hold virtual – rather than face-to-face – annual meetings where shareholders can confront directors.

'The Companies Act talks about the annual meeting having a place. I don't think it's been tested in court as to whether a purely virtual meeting would meet the act's requirements,' he says. 'But I hasten to add I am not a lawyer.'

He pooh-poohs suggestions that onerous governance and disclosure rules are driving companies off the London stock market to Wall Street, saying: 'What I will say is that listings on the London market are really important. They're part of our national psyche. When the newsreader says 'and the Footsie is up 20 points' we all feel good about it. It's deep in our national consciousness.'

'Friends may not get excited, but the audit market will be a fascinating place over the next five years.'

Even the threat of AI doesn't dampen his energy. He says: 'I don't think it will do away with the need for highly professional, competent auditors who bring judgment to bear.'

'We've been here before. The audit profession survived the abacus, survived the spreadsheet – and it will survive AI.'

RICHARD MORIARTY: ALI ADMIRER

AGE: 52

FAMILY: Long-term partner, two daughters

LIVES: Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire

EDUCATION: St Mark's School, Hounslow, west London; University of

Birmingham, Masters in Economics; University of Warwick, MBA

HOBBIES: Rock climbing, music – collecting old vinyl

DREAM DINNER PARTY GUEST: Muhammad Ali, left

HEROINE: My mum

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RACING

79

YOUR GUIDE TO TODAY'S RACING, WITH EXPERT TIPS

Chepstow

TV: SKY

2.06

"TRAINING SERIES" APPRENTICE

HANDICAP (CLASS 4) £7,200 (£3,768) 6F

1	[5]	TOI 00 00 HINGO (ENGLISH) 0 M.Breun 4-9-9 ... Dickson
2	[5]	TOI 00 00 HINGO (ENGLISH) 0 M.Breun 5-9-9 ... Friday Bassett (2)
3	[6]	TOI 00 00 HINGO (ENGLISH) 0 M.Breun 6-9-9 ... Nupin Regan (2)
4	[6]	TOI 00 00 HINGO (ENGLISH) 0 M.Breun 6-9-9 ... A Egan
5	[6]	TOI 00 00 HINGO (ENGLISH) 0 M.Breun 6-9-9 ... Charlie Tucker (2)
6	[6]	TOI 00 00 HINGO (ENGLISH) 0 M.Breun 6-9-9 ... Nupin

7	[7]	TOI 04 00 GUTCH COX (ENGLISH) 0 March 9-9 ... M. Gutter
8	[8]	TOI 00 00 HINGO (ENGLISH) 0 March 9-9 ... Chloe Hinton
MITTING: 4 Sandalata Kintz, 5-2 Macaroula, 5 Maronita, Macaroun, 6
Dawn Nightmare, 8x the Angel, 10 Dalen Edge, 12 Annas

2.41

MURDERY (CLASS 4)

£7,200 (3-9-0) (£3,768) 5F

1	[5]	GO 0100 HOLD 1 L.Moore 9-9 ... Taylor Fisher
2	[5]	GO 0100 HOLD 1 L.Moore 9-9 ... Taylor Fisher
3	[6]	GO 0100 HOLD 1 L.Moore 9-9 ... A Laram
4	[6]	GO 0100 HOLD 1 L.Moore 9-9 ... A Laram
5	[6]	GO 0100 HOLD 1 L.Moore 9-9 ... A Laram
6	[7]	GO 0100 HOLD 1 L.Moore 9-9 ... A Laram
7	[7]	GO 0100 HOLD 1 L.Moore 9-9 ... A Laram
8	[7]	GO 0100 HOLD 1 L.Moore 9-9 ... A Laram
9	[7]	GO 0100 HOLD 1 L.Moore 9-9 ... A Laram
10	[7]	GO 0100 HOLD 1 L.Moore 9-9 ... A Laram

LAURIE BRANHAM WITH TODAY'S TIPS

CHEPSTOW ... Desert Charm (L'Ripot)

LEICESTER ... Art Lawy (L'Alpin)

8-Horner, CONN.: Good to Here. TOP KICKY: Cora Mangan TOP TAIWAN: C Harris

3.10 RESTRICTED HARDER FILLIES' STAKES (CLASS 5) £8,000 (3-9-0) (£4,335) 6F

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4	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
5	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
6	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
7	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
8	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
9	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
10	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
11	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
12	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
13	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
14	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
15	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
16	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
17	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
18	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
19	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
20	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
21	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
22	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
23	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
24	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
25	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
26	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
27	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
28	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
29	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
30	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
31	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
32	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
33	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
34	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
35	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
36	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
37	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
38	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
39	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
40	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
41	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
42	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
43	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
44	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
45	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
46	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
47	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
48	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
49	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
50	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
51	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
52	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
53	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
54	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
55	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
56	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
57	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
58	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
59	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
60	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
61	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
62	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
63	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
64	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
65	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
66	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
67	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
68	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
69	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
70	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
71	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
72	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
73	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
74	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
75	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
76	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
77	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
78	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
79	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
80	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
81	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
82	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
83	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
84	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
85	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
86	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
87	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
88	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
89	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
90	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
91	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
92	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
93	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
94	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
95	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
96	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
97	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
98	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
99	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram
100	[6]	6 CONN. SHAD (5) 1 Macey 9-9 ... A Laram

3.21 HANDICAP (CLASS 4) £8,000 (3-9-0) (£4,768) 6F

2 [6] 10-0 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10

2 [6] 10-0 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10

2 [6] 10-0 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10

2 [6] 10-0 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10X 10

MITTING: 4-9 Grand Charns, 4 Charlie Chow, Mofford Williams, 5-2

4.26 "PHIL SAUNDERS MIRAGE 7NTH" HANDICAP (CLASS 4) £7,200 (£4,768) 5m

2 [6] 70' SICKED GEAR @ War & C Granola 5:30-0 2 [6] 6/S KIZZY GUNCHING C Harris 5-9-0 ... J Leany 2 [6] 4/7 NON-MOON FISHER (CO.) Harris 5-9-0

A [6] 3/2 GALNITH GLOW / Tickle 5-9-0 ... Taylor Fisher 5 [6] 7/2 SICKED GUARNE (LAD) M Murphy 4-9-0

A [6] 2/2 KIRCHY GLOW (M. Murphy 4-9-0 ... M. Murphy

NON-SUMMER (M. LAD) 7 Room 4-9-0

3 [6] 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10

3 [6] 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10

MITTING: 4-9 Grand Symphony, 4 Lame Bones, 5 Sizzy Bay, 7 Better

Mirrors, 4 Grand Chard, Bignish

MITTING: 4-9 Grand Chard, 4 Charlie Bones, Mofford Williams, 5-2

Leicester

TV: RTV

2.28 LONGS - 10/10/1 0/8/1 NOVICE STAKES (CLASS 5) £13,000 (3-9-0) (£4,304) 9f

2 [2] J AL MISTINA / Appleby 9-7 ... C Plumas 2 [2] DFT VANNISH M War & C Granola 9-7

2 [2] DFT VANNISH M War & C Granola 9-7 ... L Edwards

2 [2] J HINTROTT / 1 Houghton 9-7 ... C McRoy

MITTING: 4-6 AL MATINA, 4-4 Antrock, M Dirty Warrior

2.50 CATALOGUE ENGINEERING HURSERY (CLASS 5) £8,000 (3-9-0) (£4,347) 9f

2 [6] 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10

2 [6] 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10

MARTIN PARENT (2) 2 [6] 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10

MARTIN PARENT (2) 2 [6] 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10

MARTIN PARENT (2) 2 [6] 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10/0 10

5.21 PERCE GURTRO (Diane Fund) 100 0/1, Last Langley 9/6, 2 from Carlo 100 0/1, 0 on James David, 25, 4, 5m 10/0, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10, 0/10

MOLER Good to form good to places[{"box_2d

---

80 CRICKET

By Richard Gibson

CRICKET CORRESPONDENT

WHEN Harry Brook was wowing those at Headingley on Tuesday with a no-look six during a whirlwind 30, it felt at that particular moment that everything had come together for the Hundred.

A competition with multiple launches but a recurring marketing campaign promising to take a new audience to new places — what better than a shot that wasn't even a thing when 100-ball cricket was dreamt up? — was doing so through one of its home pin-ups.

Undoubtedly, Brook's record-equalling 15-ball half-century at Headingley, just past the midpoint of the Hundred's sixth season, ticked all the boxes, fulfilling the pledges to make this competition second only to the Indian Premier League in stature and to feature England's premier players at its forefront.

The strength of the attack the 27-year-old was up against spoke of the quality on show this year: six of the London Spirit bowlers were internationals and the seventh was the uncapped James Coles, the Hundred's most expensive ever auction purchase at £390,000.

Yet that snapshot also exposed two sporting spheres colliding. In South Asia and North America, the territories from where the new money in a £975million Hundred upgrade has come, franchises pop up, move cities and disband with minimal fuss while supporters change allegiance depending on where their favourite players move.

Here in the UK, though, we are a parochial bunch and one trick that the newly-owned teams either missed, or brazenly disregarded, was signing local county players to their respective Hundred teams to boost identity.

Nowhere in the country is as insular as Yorkshire and it felt wrong during the early stages of this year's auction that Sunrisers Leeds were not going all out to recruit one of Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow or Adil Rashid.

It left Brook and his former Burley-in-Wharfedale club-mate, Matthew Revis, as the only familiar faces to relate to on Tuesday.

This is an issue across the eight teams. The Southampton-based Southern Brave have only one Hampshire player in their ranks — teenager Manny Lumsden — a squad player rather than a first-choice pick and they could not retain their local hero and captain James Vince due to the dynamics of the auction.

Such associations are important. England Twenty20

Falling crowds, rising ticket prices, local stars snubbed and a muddled relaunch that changed franchise names and colours...

Will the Hundreds have succeeded

international Tom Banton has played for three different Hundred organisations, but has spent the past three seasons at Trent Rockets and appreciates how continuity in squads deepens connections with those in the stands.

'If they're coming every year and there's new faces, I guess it's hard for people to get behind the team and support, isn't it? Whereas if you've been playing for a few years, they can relate to you, get to know you and want to come and watch you,' Banton says.

In contrast to the majority of their rivals, the table-topping Rockets have also maintained the same colours and badge following the relaunch, although that did not prevent Banton ordering the wrong pads — yellow when he needed black.

Five seasons of familiarity has been removed elsewhere. Until recently, Headingley was full of purple-shirted Northern Super-

chargers fans. Overnight, following the complete buyout of Yorkshire's stake in the competition by the Sunrisers Hyderabad, they were being asked to form an orange army.

Colours and identities are important to a British fan base. Recall the anger when Cardiff City switched from blue to red shirts and ditched the bluebird for a dragon, or when Hull City's former owner Assem Allam applied to change the club's name to Hull Tigers.

The Sunrisers are one of three teams to change names, along with Oval Invincibles becoming MI London and the Manchester Originals renamed Manchester Super Giants. All have badges and kits to reflect their Indian Premier League links, although MI have retained the colours of the three-time champions Invincibles for training.

Southern Brave have gone from a green and black combination to blue and red. Birmingham Phoenix have moved to black shirts from orange and yellow.

Both Manchester and Leeds teams have begun schemes to make the switch easier, giving out replica shirts to all ticket-holders

at their early matches.

MI London launched a shirt amnesty in which 2025 Oval Invincibles shirts could be exchanged for MI ones. Additionally, they produced a club T-shirt capped at £20 under their 'Twenty's Plenty' campaign.

Vikram Banerjee, the Hundred's managing director, says that 40 per cent of those through the turnstiles are Under-16s and that 'as we look to deepen and accelerate fandom, merchandise sales are a great barometer. Southern Brave and London Spirit are already having to restock, and nearly 40,000 fans are wearing the new jerseys of Manchester Super Giants or Leeds Sunrisers.' Presumably referencing the freebies.

FILLING their grounds with a shirt-donning, flag-waving, family-oriented crowd has been championed as a success by the host counties, too, but there are sceptics within the county game about the impact underneath the veneer, with one unnamed executive saying: 'The rebranding is utterly ridiculous. They've alienated the local people, and now they've

---

81

whacked the prices up that nobody can afford it. And the sales are through the floor. I don't know about anybody else, but I'm just looking at the Hundred right now and thinking, we've seen this before and it was called LIV Golf. So, is it even going to be here in three years' time?

Whether it is the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, increased ticket prices or the rebranding that has proved a turn-off remains to be seen, but the Hundred is proving a hard sell in 2026. The first block of matches saw attendances down around 20 per cent on last year, the second block dropping by 27 per cent.

Crowds have picked up across the competitions since, but with ticketing operations now run by the organisations themselves, entrance fees hitting a high of £55 is an issue.

That is some hike for a competition that spent its first iteration between 2021-25 dishing out complimentary seats to its target audience of mums and kids. The problem with freebies, though, comes when you ask people to start paying instead.

Brook's broadside was watched by just over 9,000 spectators this

week, a few hundred down on the 9,438 who turned out for the Leeds v Manchester contest.

Kaviya Maran, part of the Sun Group that wholly owns the SunRivers, said the first signs at Headingley were 'a good beginning', adding: 'Obviously it's a new brand for them.'

But there have been misjudgements. Aside from a huge proportion of Yorkshire fans refusing to support a team with Leeds in its name, and cringing at the woeful attempt to incorporate Marching on Together — originally an anthem of Leeds United fans in the 1970s — as the club song, they were clearly not hooked by the modern cross-Pennine rivalry.

By comparison, the established Roses Twenty20 Blast fixture, promoted with a fraction of the budget, drew 11,300 in June.

And it was a similar story at Emirates Old Trafford, scene of a 16,500 sell-out for Lancashire v Yorkshire in the reverse Blast match. The cheapest tickets were £30 with £6 concessions for that, while those for Super Giants matches cost less, starting at £24 and £5 in advance. Their average

LIGHTING UP: Old Trafford lays on fireworks for the crowd at a Super Giants v Trent Rockets match

men's Hundred crowd has been under 12,000.

There have been highs for the Hundred, such as Welsh Fire setting attendance records for any women's match in Wales and in the men's competition on July 25 for the visit of the MI London teams.

And the women's game is benefiting with a higher percentage of people turning up earlier. Four in every five who watched Southern Brave's men on 27 July had been there to see the women.

Meanwhile, the county game it has kicked into the side verges has witnessed a series of triumphs.

Helped by the presence of Ben Stokes, the sold-out signs were out in Jesmond for Durham's hosting of Glamorgan in the Metro Bank Cup and the club took to X to warn: 'Please don't turn up to the ground without a valid match ticket as entry will not be permitted.'

There were 2,300 present to witness a thrilling match that saw Durham recover from 97 for six to knock off their 327-run target with three balls to spare.

Gloucestershire have had to expand their capacity for their visits to Cheltenham this year because of demand and although these numbers are more modest than the Hundred, full grounds are aesthetically pleasing, giving emerging players an entry level for professional cricket.

Peter Matthews, chairman of Gloucestershire, is an advocate of taking 50-over cricket to venues that don't normally see cricket, adding: 'It has echoes for those of a certain generation of some of the Sunday League grabs. Gloucestershire used to play a Sunday league game at a number of different grounds, Lydney, Moreton-in-the-Marsh, Gloucester, which we can't do now because it doesn't work economically.'

Matthews says the lack of an obvious Hundred competitor in the region has helped during the period between the World Cup and the Premier League. And non-host clubs like his have been able to plan for more sustainable futures via the £25million individual windfalls from the ECB's big sell-off.

In addition to paying off their debts — 'We got ourselves into a bit of a muddle,' says Matthews — Gloucestershire ploughed £3million into a project

codenamed Dressing Rooms, which drastically improved player and match official facilities plus general infrastructure at their Nevil Road headquarters.

Leicestershire's decision to allow children in free this month has resonated with their following, coming during the school holidays.

The Midlands county are another to have been dragged out of the red by the Hundred's millions, and they have begun feasibility studies on adding further non-cricket earnings to their annual income. They have already held drive-in cinema days and plan to install a 4G multi-sports pitch alongside the country's largest playing area to be hired out during the winter.

'The massive positive is that it's given quite a lot of counties more than you would imagine, the breathing space needed to kind of reset a little bit and almost future proof cricket in their area by investing in revenue generating projects,' says CEO Emma White.

With this cash viewed as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become less reliant on ECB annual handouts, counties, particularly the non-hosts, are taking their time to assess how best to invest.

DURHAM recently received planning permission for an on-site hotel they first discussed pre-Covid and will now employ a project director to produce a report on profitability given the rise of costs in the hospitality industry.

But there is a fear that however smartly funds are used, the disparity between those that have taken the finite sum and those with a skin in the Hundred game is only going to widen.

'Host counties are going to become wealthier and more able to attract the best players,' said one county chair.

'Fundamentally you're talking about those grounds having tradition, history and scale. They're always going to generate more revenue than elsewhere.'

To back up the theory, the Lord's-based Spirit have been valued at £300million — a huge 250 per cent more than the field.

Suspicion remains in the shires that while this year's competition will not profit the new investors, they are bidding their time until expansion. Teams based in Bristol and Chester-le-Street would be the most obvious additions.

It was not until the Indian Premier League increased from eight to 10 teams that the original set hit a goldmine. And with half the teams now controlled by powerful IPL owners, it is only a matter of time before Indian players are allowed to feature, significantly increasing its value in TV and commercial rights on the subcontinent.

At which point, Hundred teams would potentially need fewer Englishmen and counties would be re-stocked with some of their primary talents, opening the chance to play the County Championship throughout August once more and re-working a schedule already past saturation point.

Like Brook's shot in Leeds, eyes are not trained on where it's going, but how it fits in the English sporting landscape right now.

Sussex slammed over huge losses

By Richard Gibson

SUSSEX found themselves in special financial measures imposed by the ECB due to a lack of financial and commercial skills on the board, a report has concluded.

An independent investigation by business management consultancy firm Campbell Tickell found multiple flaws within the club's board when they plunged to a £1.33million operating loss last year. Tickell advised the club to appoint new board members 'as soon as is practically possible'.

The previous regime signed off on various overspends, including £241,000 on the men's professional cricket side of the business. The commercial team reported hospitality sales of £4,000 in April — the target was £182,000.

Campbell Tickell said setting an unrealistic budget, making unrealistic plans for commercial earnings and then failing to take necessary action when income fell short were the major factors that led to raft of restrictions being imposed, including a 12-point deduction in the County Championship and a reduced salary cap until 2028.

New Sussex chairman Ed Warner said: 'The report makes difficult reading in places. Our focus is now firmly on the future. A lot of the hard work and turnaround has begun.'

Johnson: I paid to fly in athletes

FORMER US sprinter Michael Johnson has admitted the fallout from the collapse of Grand Slam Track was 'the most stress' he has faced, but says a $500,000 payment made to him was to reimburse him for payments he made to athletes from his own credit card.

'Our credit card was full at Grand Slam Track, because we were facing big cash-flow issues,' Johnson said. 'We had 96 athletes whom we needed to fly to Miami and Philadelphia.'

'I instructed our travel team to put it on my credit card, and I would be reimbursed for it. 'So, I loaned the company two mission dollars (£1.5m) to make sure we took care of the athletes. I decided to forgo my own salary.'

Speaking of the pressure he was under at the time, Johnson added: 'I definitely had nights where I didn't sleep.'

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82

ATHLETICS

v1

EXCLUSIVE

By Riath Al-Samarrai

T

HERE are two conversations that have kept Katarina Johnson-Thompson from calling it quits. To date, only

one of them has taken place.

That was a chat with her boyfriend, Andrew Pozzi. As a former world champion hurdler who recently retired, he offered a view of life beyond the track.

'From what he tells me, the working world is hard,' reports Johnson-Thompson. 'So that's one reason to put it off a little.'

The other reason is more fundamental and traces to a second conversation. That's the one that hasn't happened and pertains to an agreement Johnson-Thompson struck a couple of years ago with her coach, Aston Moore.

A sage man of 70, Moore is the kind of guy whose words are heeded, so when he shared a few prior to the Paris Olympics in 2024, they stuck. Johnson-Thompson laughs at the memory of it.

'I told Aston I didn't want to be one of those athletes who goes on too long and people are telling you to pack it in,' she says. 'Aston was pretty direct in saying that he will be the first to tell me when it's time. Thankfully, we don't seem to be at that stage yet.'

Johnson-Thompson is 33 and the context here is obvious, because for all the skills in a heptathlete's set, extended mileage is not one of them — Jessica Ennis-Hill was 30 when she retired, Denise Lewis was 32, and Johnson-Thompson has more scars than either of them.

'You should see me on a staircase before I warm up,' she says. 'When I trained in France a few years ago, I used to live in a top-floor flat and my calf was a nightmare on those steps. God, it can take a while for me to get going!'

She pulled out of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with muscular injuries in her right calf, but on Friday and Saturday, she will contest the European Championships in Birmingham. A 12th major medal is the goal and, from there, a fifth tilt at the 2026 Olympics.

'My mind is on the Europeans — I really think I can make the podium,' she says. 'But I want to carry on to the Olympics. I looked it up on Chat GPT to see how many heptathletes have done five Olympics but I don't think AI is much of an athletics fan — it didn't have the info but I think five would be a record.' [Mail Sport checked and it would indeed be a record].

The 'age thing' is interesting with any athlete — it is one opponent that can never be outrun or outjumped. But for Johnson-Thompson, the retort is that last year she won a world bronze medal.

'People often ask about it and I won't say I like it but I do understand it,' she says. 'I noticed how few of the people I came up with are still around each year when they announce the team. My friends are all in jeans now and coaching. When Adam

It's crazy being one of the last left from 2012 but I know I can still win medals!

She's 33 and suffered countless 'horrible' injuries but KATARINA JOHNSON-THOMPSON has no plans to hang up her spikes just yet

(Gemil) retired this year, I saw a tweet that said it was just me, Lawrence [Okoye, discus thrower] and Eilish McColgan [10,000m] from the London 2012 team and that hit home a bit. That was crazy. 'But I know I can still compete for medals. I'm also in a really good place mentally, especially compared to some of the conversations we have had!'

Our first interview was 10 years ago and many have followed. After the low point of Tokyo in 2021, when the calf gave way months after she overcame an achilles rup-

ture, she cried as we went over details. She then shed happier tears during our next chat in Loughborough and spoke about finding contentment. There has been a level

WHERE IT BEGAN: KJT at the London Olympics in 2012

of introspection that would perhaps go against the recommendations for elite athletes, but there has been the vindication of major gold medals and an Olympic silver two years ago. With it, the KJT of 33 is less prone to self-torture.

There's a tattoo on her right arm spelling CTRL. That, too, is complicated. 'I got it before Paris and it's for "Control",' she says. 'I'm always trying to control everything, but ultimately it reminds me nothing is ever fully in your control and to just go with it.'

It may not be sufficient for gold at the Europeans — Annik Kahn of Switzerland has been the standout in 2026 and Ireland's Kate O'Connor is riding the high of Commonwealth gold — but KJT's ability to claim medals is astonishing.

'I was speaking with my

therapist in 2022,' she says. 'This was after the Tokyo Olympics and I had lost a lot of love for the sport.'

'The Olympics were meant to be in 2020 when I was coming off a world championship win, at my peak, and then Covid pushed it back a year and I ended up doing my achilles eight months out from Tokyo. I got to Tokyo and injured my calf. Horrible.'

'The therapist was like, "Things happen and you'll always see why", and I was like, "I will never see a good reason for that to happen". But I feel it's given me longevity, because I had to find different ways to get to the top.'

Presumably, that time will have a limit. And when it is reached, a wily old coach will have a word. Evidently, that could still be some way down the line.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Tomorrow to August 16, live on BBC and TNT Sports

RESULTS TABLES & TODAY'S ACTION

Carabao Cup

WARRLEDON...[0]	1	NEWPORT CO...[0]	1

[WC Wimbledon was 5-6 on penalties]

BARNLEY...[0]	1	WIGAN...[0]	1

[Burnley won 6-5 on penalties]

BRADFORD...[0]	2	ROCHOKE...[0]	0

BROOK BOURIS...[0]	0	PETERBOROUGH...[0]	1

BROMLEY...[0]	1	READING...[0]	1

[Reading won 5-6 on penalties]

BURNEY...[0]	1	MOTTS COUNTY...[0]	1

[Burnley won 4-5 on penalties]

BURTON ALBION...[0]	1	BLACKBURN...[0]	2

CAMBRIDGE UTD...[0]	2	BARNET...[0]	1

CARDRY CITY...[0]	3	SWINDON...[0]	2

CHELTENHAM...[0]	1	CHARLOTTE...[0]	3

CHICHESTER...[0]	0	SOUTHAMPTON...[0]	2

CRIME...[0]	2	ALEXINGTON ST...[0]	1

DERBY...[0]	1	LINCOLN CITY...[0]	2

FLEETWOOD...[0]	1	CHESTERFIELD...[0]	0

GILLINGHAM...[0]	0	LUTON...[0]	3

GERMANY...[0]	1	BLACKPOOL...[0]	3

LEICESTER CITY...[0]	1	NORTHAMPTON...[0]	0

LIVYON ORIENT...[0]	2	OXFORD UTD...[0]	0

NORWICH CITY...[0]	4	IMI DONS...[0]	1

PESTON...[0]	1	HUDDERSFIELD...[0]	1

[Peston North (led won 4-5 on penalties)]

OPR...[0]	1	MILLINELL...[0]	1

[Milnard won 3-5 on penalties]

ROTHERHAM...[0]	1	WEST BROOK...[0]	4

SALVORD CITY...[0]	1	SHREWSBURY...[0]	1

[Shrewsbury won 4-5 on penalties]

SHEFF WED...[0]	1	BOSTON...[0]	0

STOCKPORT CO...[0]	1	DORCHESTER...[0]	1

[Dorchester won 5-6 on penalties]

STOKE CITY...[0]	2	OLDHAM...[0]	0

SWANSEA CITY...[0]	0	BIRMINGHAM...[0]	1

WEST HART UTD...[0]	3	PORTSMOUTH...[0]	1

WATFORD...[0]	1	CRAWLEY TOWN...[0]	0

Scottish Championship

ABRAHATH...[0]	0	WASHINGTON CT...[0]	0

DUNFERNLINE...[0]	1	AYE...[0]	1

QUEEN'S PARK...[0]	1	BATH...[0]	2

STENHOLDSHAM...[0]	2	MORTON...[0]	0

SCOTTISH PREMISESHIP

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts

St Mirren	1	1	0	0	2	0	3

St Johnstone	1	1	0	0	4	3	3

Abandons	1	1	0	0	2	1	3

McDermott	1	1	0	0	2	1	3

Gibbs	1	1	0	0	1	0	3

Dundee Utd	1	0	1	0	1	1	1

Rangers	1	0	1	0	1	1	1

Richmond	1	0	0	1	3	4	4

Hearts	1	0	0	1	1	2	0

Hibernian	1	0	0	1	1	2	0

Dundee	1	0	0	1	1	0	1

Sabbath League One

ABROKESOMANS...[0]	1	EAST KILBRIDGE...[0]	1

EAST FIEL...[0]	2	COVE RANSONS...[0]	0

HAMILTON...[0]	1	ALLOA...[0]	0

QUEEN OF SOUTH...[0]	0	PETERHEAD...[0]	1

BOSS COUNTY...[0]	2	MONTROSE...[0]	1

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP

Parfak	2	1	0	0	1	0	6

Apr	1	1	0	0	2	0	3

Livingston	2	1	0	1	2	2	3

Raith	1	0	1	0	1	1	1

Stenhausermair	1	0	1	0	1	1	1

Dunfermline	1	0	1	0	0	0	1

Inverness CT	0	1	0	0	0	1	1

Morton	1	0	0	1	0	1	0

Admouth	1	0	0	1	0	2	0

Queen's Park	1	0	0	1	0	2	0

Scottish League Two

DUMBARTON...[0]	1	CYPDE...[0]	0

ELGIN...[0]	1	FORFAR...[0]	1

KEITH HEARTS...[0]	3	STIRLING...[0]	2

SPARTANS...[0]	2	EDINBURGH CITY...[0]	2

STRAWBURD...[0]	0	ANNARL...[0]	1

Rugby League

BETIRED SUPER LEAGUE

Leeds	22	18	0	4	768	526	36

Wigan	22	17	0	5	635	483	36

Wakefield	22	16	0	6	659	376	32

Washington	21	15	0	6	564	350	30

Walt St.	24	14	0	1	642	299	29

Leigh	22	14	0	8	488	452	28

St Helens	22	12	0	10	502	492	26

Calabres Dragons	22	9	0	10	459	363	34

Toulouse	22	7	0	15	592	392	34

Yale	22	7	0	15	604	365	34

Cardifford	22	7	0	15	590	392	34

Hall	22	6	0	16	385	487	32

Bradford	22	6	0	16	386	471	32

Hackensfield	22	5	0	17	375	431	30

BRADFORD	4	WARRINGTON	4

7 Ryan	1	P. Ashton 2, Reynolds, King, Phillips, Crowther, Irwin

6	Jones 1

HEIDERSFIELD	42	CARLING DIXONS	20

7 Federal 2, Rogers	1	J. Lansdell

Winn-D. L. Hurd	1	Jones 1

Park, Field	1	Jones 2

6 Smith 8	1	Jones 3

7. Smith 8	1	Jones 3

---

83

Sullivan defies critics to witness Hammers' new era

By James Sharpe

AT THE LONDON STADIUM

DAVID SULLIVAN emerged to take his seat, cloaked in a thick black bomber jacket. Hardly attire befitting the 28-degree sunshine blazing down on the London Stadium but, as Sullivan has made clear of late, he's not too interested in reading the room.

The stadium's operators told West Ham they didn't want him here because they were worried about fan unrest. The club's own fan advisory board said his presence would cause 'offence and upset'. Sullivan remains the club's largest shareholder but resigned as co-chair in June amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he strongly denies, and no longer controls the day-to-day running of the club.

This is, after all, supposed to be the fresh start that West Ham need. It's taken relegation to the Championship and boardroom scandal for them to get it but after years of rotten decline this was, at long last, meant to be it and a gentle stroll into the second round of the Carabao Cup under the afternoon sun should be the ideal way to begin.

Everyone should be talking about how Jarrod Bowen, the loyal captain who stuck with the club, scored one and set up another for Taty Castellanos. Or the impressive displays of youngsters Lewis Orford and especially Mohamadou Kante.

And yet how can the club make a clean break when the man so many supporters hold responsible for their plight, and against whose ownership they have long pro-

KYLE WALKER struck the winning penalty as BURNLEY edged out NOTTS COUNTY 4-3 in a shoot-out to reach the Carabao Cup second round after a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor.

Newly-promoted County, League Two play-off final winners over Salford in May, led through Callum Roberts at half-time. Zian Flemming equalised early in the second period for the Clarets.

Walker struck the winning penalty after Burnley goalkeeper Max Weiss had saved efforts from Emile Acquah and Jacob Bedeau.

Substitute Jamal Lowe struck the only goal as SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY beat 10-man BOLTON 1-0 at Hillsborough. Lowe scored in the second half after Bolton's Xavier Simons was sent off for punching Owls' on-loan Leeds striker Harry Gray in retaliation to being pulled back.

tested, was determined to ignore all that advice?

Daily Mail Sport revealed on Friday that Sullivan felt he was being 'bullied' by 'keyboard warriors' into staying away. He was concerned about the lack of transfer activity, now that he's no longer the man signing the cheques. The club have so far turned the loan signing of Keiber Lamadrid permanent and snapped

up Joel Veltman, who came on for his debut, on a free from Brighton despite selling Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville for a combined £150 million. Why should anyone be able to tell Sullivan he can't watch the club he supports?

Many behind the scenes at West Ham were shocked he planned to attend. Daily Mail Sport knew of one staff member who decided not to come due to the 'circus' of it all.

For Nuno Espirito Santo, at least, it was business as usual. 'We are focused on what happens on the pitch,' said the manager. 'The noise that comes from outside cannot distract us at all. We focus on the game, [the players] do their job, and they did it well.'

The last time Sullivan was here, the final game of last season against Leeds when West Ham's relegation to the Championship

was confirmed, he did not stay until the end. Fans pelted him with abuse and he left before full time.

He made it all the way this time, unperturbed and unpestered. The first boss of the afternoon were not even in his direction but at a hydration break during the first half. If anything, the fans acted as if he wasn't even there.

Daily Mail Sport was outside the directors' entrance in September when thousands gathered to protest against Sullivan's ownership. Even though his expected attendance had been well-publicised, none bothered this time.

The only chant came on 63 minutes when, with their team coasting at 3-1 up, the fans rose in unison to the chant of 'Stand up if you hate the board'. Sullivan, to be fair, is not even on it these days. He remains the leading shareholder, although former Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley would like to change that.

For the first round of the League Cup, the London Stadium was impressively full. Forever Blowing Bubbles echoed so loudly around the place that a West Ham-supporting member of the press pack turned and grinned: 'Not bad for a Championship side'.

If there was going to be a moment when things turned sour, it was when Adrian Segecic's long-range effort deflected off Max Kilman to give Portsmouth a deserved lead. Nuno's side, to their credit, didn't need long to turn it around.

Kante produced some marvellous skill down the left before crossing to an unmarked Castellanos for the equaliser before Bowen curled a beauty from outside the box.

Sullivan remained in his seat and clapped. He did so again after half-time when Castellanos nodded in Bowen's cross and, once more, at full time. As the whistle blew, he stood up, grabbed his jacket and left. Regardless of the advice, you suspect he'll be back.

Walker on the spot as Jensen is shoot-out hero for Millwall

CARABAO CUP ROUND-UP

MILLWALL goalkeeper Lukas Jensen saved all four of QPR'S penalties as the Lions won 2-0 in a shoot-out at Loftus Road after the game ended 1-1 at 90 minutes. Luke Cundle had given Millwall a second-half lead, before a late own goal from Mark Sykes. NORWICH debutant Andre Brooks was on target as the Canaries cruised to a 4-1 win against MK DONS at Carrow Road.

CARDIFF substitute Jack Moylan also scored on his debut, firing the winner as the Bluebirds claimed a 3-2 victory against SWINDON, for whom James Debayo was sent off for two late yellow cards.

August Priske's first-half finish sealed a 1-0 win for BIRMINGHAM at SWANSEA and Marc Bola's stunning strike from distance deep in added time clinched victory for WATFORD over CRAWLEY by the same score. Late goals from substitutes Andri Gudjohnsen and Jayden Fevrier secured BLACKBURN a 2-1 win at BURTON.

Newly-promoted LINCOLN picked up where they left off last season, winning 2-1 at DERBY thanks to first-half goals from Ben House and Dom Jefferies. Ollie Norburn's own goal and Robert Bozzini's late effort secured STOKE a 2-0 win against OLDHAM at the bet365 Stadium and BRADFORD pair Will Swan and Aden Baldwin earned their side a 2-0 home win against ROCHDALE.

FLEETWOOD captain Ched Evans' first-half effort sealed a 1-0 home win against CHESTERFIELD and CAMBRIDGE hit back to beat BARNET 2-1

through second-half goals from Ben Knight and Isaac Heath.

AFC WIMBLEDON, BARNSLEY and READING progressed after winning on penalties against NEWPORT, WIGAN and BROMLEY respectively, while PRESTON, SHREWSBURY and DONCASTER came through respective shoot-outs against HUDDERSFIELD, SALFORD and STOCKPORT.

Luca Moore's late goal sealed CREWE a 2-1 win against ACCRINGTON at Gresty Road and late efforts from Denevir Mitchell and Idris El Mizouni secured LEYTON ORIENT a 2-0 home win against OXFORD. PETERBOROUGH, LUTON and BLACKPOOL all won on the road, at BRISTOL ROVERS, GILLINGHAM and GRIMSBY respectively and Caleb Okoli's header sealed LEICESTER — who are now in League One — a 1-0 home win against NORTHAMPTON.

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84 PREMIER LEAGUE

The inside story of how Arsenal landed Bruno

THE back-and-forth over whether Arsenal and Newcastle were actually in talks, with fans tracking planes' flightpaths amid staunch denials in the North East, is finally over.

Bruno Guimaraes is an Arsenal player, putting an end to a transfer saga which has dragged on for weeks.

A deal to sign Guimaraes from Lyon was actually in place back in 2022 but Mikel Arteta wasn't convinced by the Brazilian and pulled the plug, leaving the way clear for Newcastle.

The Gunners boss is certainly convinced now after Bruno's impact on Tyneside — becoming one of the Premier League's best midfielders and the club's first captain to lift domestic silverware for 70 years, with victory over Liverpool in last year's Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

Arsenal's shrewd sporting director Andrea Berta has also managed to pull off a relative 'bargain' in the current climate.

Manchester City have spent £16million on Elliot Anderson and Chelsea £117m on Morgan Rogers while Spurs splashed out an initial £92m on Bruno's former Newcastle team-mate Sandro Tonali. So the £75m on Bruno looks like a good deal for the champions, even if he does turn 29 in November.

The end destination for the midfielder had been in sight for weeks. His journey to becoming an Arsenal player started in June. Guimaraes had instructed agents

By Isaac Khan

to find him a club and Newcastle were braced for an offer from the Gunners.

Newcastle's response was bullish. He wasn't going anywhere, according to sources at the club. Given his status as captain and the player's quality, Guimaraes' value was enormous — particularly in light of the departures of Tonali and Anthony Gordon, not to mention popular manager Eddie Howe. In short, they did not need to sell.

Money talks, however. The Toon had briefed that they wanted closer to £100m, but internally there was acceptance that an offer of around £75m would see progress.

At Arsenal, they were willing to dig their heels in over the price, in the knowledge that Guimaraes really wanted the move. He had agreed personal terms with the Gunners last month and informed Newcastle of his desire to leave if a suitable offer came in.

There have also been the optics to consider. Newcastle didn't want to be seen letting their talisman and a fan favourite leave without putting up a fight.

The fans would rightly feel aggrieved, especially after so much upheaval this summer.

So the negotiations went on, largely involving agent Kia

CAPITAL GAIN: Bruno Guimaraes celebrates signing with Mikel Arteta (above) and in his new kit (right)

Joorabchian. Newcastle would claim there had been no formal contact from Arsenal.

Weeks went by, before a real acceleration. As Daily Mail Sport reported on Friday July 31, a deal had been agreed in principle with a date reserved for the medical, but with the transfer fee a sticking point.

Guimaraes travelled to Newcastle's Le Manga training base in Spain on Monday — he was meant to arrive the day before — and waited for permission to leave and undergo his medical at Arsenal after telling new head coach Matthias Jaissle of his desire to leave.

His failure to arrive on Sunday resulted in social media sleuths tracking flights to see if

Guimaraes was in the air. It had all got a bit mad.

Even the Arsenal players were braced for the move. When Riccardo Calafiori was asked a question about Guimaraes' impending transfer after Wednesday's 3-1 defeat to Real Betis in Dublin, he turned to the press officer and asked, 'Is it official yet, no?'

Berta is a tough negotiator. He is loath to overpay, which in this market is extremely hard not to do. Arsenal had wanted to pay a smaller fee but the champions have ended up with a smart deal in a market which one agent labelled 'out of control'.

The strategy of Arsenal and Berta has paid off, especially

having stuck to their guns and walked away from Rogers because their valuation had been far exceeded.

In those circumstances, the Gunners have pulled off a strong deal and one Berta deserves credit for. The result is an Arsenal midfield, which was already dominant, now looking even more menacing — Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Guimaraes will be a match for any midfield trio in Europe.

And so, after weeks of twists, denials and negotiations behind the scenes, the saga is finally over. Guimaraes is an Arsenal player — and Newcastle's fight to keep their captain has left them with a sizeable cheque and a glaring hole in their midfield.

HULL CITY may be forced to rethink their goalkeeping situation already after new signing Jack Butland was ruled out potentially until December with injury.

The former Rangers goalkeeper hasn't played a competitive game since completing his £3million move, but hurt his arm in training and faces surgery which could mean 12 weeks out.

MIDDLESBROUGH'S proposed deal for TOTTENHAM defender Ashley Phillips has hit a hitch. The 21-year-old had agreed a £7m move that could rise to £20m but negotiations are on hold.

TOTTENHAM have agreed a £7million deal with WEST HAM for winger Manor Solomon. The fee is £5m with a further £2m in add-ons. The deal stalled last week

Hull in goalkeeper crisis as new signing Butland faces operation on injured arm

WINDOW WATCH by Simon Jones

as the Hammers were not willing to agree to the bonuses Spurs wanted if West Ham were to achieve promotion.

However, the two teams have now reached an agreement in principle on a deal for the Israel international that includes a 10 per cent sell-on clause. EVERTON and CRYSTAL PALACE have held

discussions over an ambitious potential swap deal for Dwight McNeil and Brennan Johnson.

There is understood to be a big difference in valuations to overcome. McNeil was left upset after a potential £20m move to Palace collapsed in January while Johnson has been struggling to find his form since joining in a £35m deal from Tottenham, also in

the winter window. Meanwhile, PALACE have regretted interest in signing ASTON VILLA forward Evann Guess and on loan.

Contact has been made with Guess and representatives in recent days after Palace initially opted against pursuing the 25-year-old.

VILLA have agreed a fee with ATLETICO MADRID for left-back Matteo Ruggeri and

remain in discussions with BAYERN MUNCH for Joao Palhina though other teams are also interested.

Palace are also interested in MONACO midfielder Lamine Camara and TORINO winger Alieu Njie.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST are closing on a £36m deal for Sporting Lisbon centre back Ousmane Diomande.

The proposed transfer looked to be off last week but the 22-year-old Ivory Coast international is due to travel over today ahead of undergoing a medical. Forest have a five year contract in place for the defender.

FULHAM are closing on a deal worth £30m for SOUTHAMPTON midfielder Shea Charles after further talks in Saturday.

NEWCASTLE UNITED are pressing ahead in talks for MARSEILLE midfielder Pierre-Emile Hjolbjerg.

MARSEILLE goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli is due to undergo a medical at MANCHESTER CITY on Monday after the clubs agreed a £1.75m deal.

MANCHESTER UNITED full-back Jaydan Karnason is a target for Southampton, Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers, Bristol City and Sheffield Wednesday.

Goalkeeper Radek Vitek has completed his move from United to MIDDLESBROUGH in a deal worth up to £3km. Jahnoah Markelo has left COVENTRY CITY and joined SHABAB AL-AHLI DUBAI.

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85

Jaisle the magic man

It's been a tumultuous summer but Newcastle chiefs are backing their rookie boss to deliver

IN a restaurant in Murcia on Friday night, Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaisle was struck by two things about the magician entertaining him and his squad.

First, the magic, and a sleight of hand that saw members of his party relieved of expensive watches, much to the amusement of those around them.

But second, and perhaps more so, the fact the club had thought to fly in the conjurer from the North East specifically for this introductory, team-bonding evening. The new boss, it is said, paused to appreciate the attention to detail.

Because if Newcastle are to survive this season — note, their relegation odds have been cut to single figures this week — Jaisle will need that same meticulous application in every aspect of his own operation. There is no illusion here, a Premier League rookie has inherited a situation that more experienced managers would have sidestepped.

For once the tapas dishes were cleared and watches returned to their rightful owners, the German would have realised there is no time to waste. A friendly against Valencia here in Spain may have marked his first game in charge last night, but in just two weeks' time Liverpool await at St James' Park in the Premier League.

Already, inside his first 72 hours, Jaisle has lost the club's captain, Bruno Guimaraes, to Arsenal. Before that, Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali were sold to balance spending-rules deficits. The five players brought in have never played in the Premier League and four of them are aged 20 or under.

By Craig Hope

IN VALENCIA

There was a concern over goals last season and two of the top scorers, Gordon and Guimaraes, have now gone. From afar, and even up close, a campaign of struggle looks more likely than not. The fact that Eddie Howe stood down after originally deciding to carry on is informative.

Not that those who remain on the inside share the view that this traumatic summer will extend into the autumn and beyond. Rather, beneath a Spanish sun this week, there has been optimism. There is a steadfast belief that a reset was needed, both on the balance sheet and football field. Howe himself suspected that a fresh voice would bring more from certain players, and those who have witnessed Jaisle's early sessions say that has already been evident.

One of the key takeaways has been a rule that, in certain zones of the pitch, only forward passes are allowed. If the ball goes sideways or backwards, Jaisle will stop play and penalise the offending team. He wants to play front-foot football and to do so with speed and precision. That, of course, was what Howe wanted, too. Having the tools to do so is a different matter entirely, as the former manager soon found in a world without Alexander Isak.

But talk of the club's recent past — their glories and their failings — is not being entertained by

those who are charged with shaping the future, including sporting director Ross Wilson and chief executive David Hopkinson.

There is great excitement, internally, at the pace of a front three including Anthony Elanga, William Osula and new signing Bazou-

AWAY THE LADS: New boss Jaisle takes Newcastle training in Spain this week, as players listen to instructions

mana Toure, the Ivory Coast winger. Elanga is one of those of whom big things are expected on the back of a poor debut season. Likewise, Yoane Wissa, Nick Woltemade, too. There you have the three strikers who managed only 16 Premier League goals between them last term. As it stands, no new centre-forward will arrive. It is an almighty gamble.

But the X-factor, insist the hierarchy, will be Jaisle. They are unlikely to say anything else about their first appointment, and this honeymoon period is not even a week old. Still, there is total conviction among insiders during conversations about the 36-year-old.

His interview was so compelling, we are told, that senior staff wanted to follow him out of the building and offer him the job on the spot. Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan was among those to speak to Jaisle and he very quickly gave his seal of approval.

There is a feeling that a young manager with no Premier League baggage or previous domestic allegiances will be afforded patience by supporters. He will no doubt need it. Unless, that is, he really can pull rabbits from hats.

By Jack Gaughan

IN SEOUL

ENZO MARESCA missed a trick if none of his staff thought to stick a GPS vest on him as he worked just south of the river in South Korea's capital.

Forget putting Manchester City's squad through their paces, nobody can have covered more ground during yesterday's training session here than the manager, who undoubtedly has similar mannerisms and ideas to the guy he has replaced.

Maresca drove this hour, planted right in the middle of the action for almost all of it. Acting as a tigerish opposing defender as a four-song playlist — Wonderwall, Hey Jude, Don't Look Back in Anger and Blue Moon — looped endlessly for the few thousand local fans looking on.

There were key takeaways from this as to what Maresca's City will look like in the coming months.

Pep in his step — tigerish Maresca puts City blueprint into practice

'The willingness of the players has been very good,' he said. 'They have been very open-minded with a new manager arriving, changing some structures and patterns.'

PASS, PASS, PASS

MARESCA stood on Phil Foden, directing traffic from the central areas to 11 players who appear to be starting the club's third and final friendly of their pre-season tour against Atletico Madrid today.

City's boss had chaired a brief huddle before the start of their first proper

tactical drill, one that would last 15 minutes — long enough to hammer home the principles but not too long to allow minds to drift. Pep Guardiola's drills always used to be around the same length.

Maresca managed to sweep through 16 attempts at building from the back, something he is insistent on perfecting before the Premier League campaign kicks off. Goalkeeping coach Michele De Bernardin fizzed crosses to Gianluigi Donarumma and from

there, City were told to play. They largely built up slowly.

Four converged on an Antoine Semenyo cross, indicating the coach's willingness to flood the box. Those included Josko Gvardio, who attacked the inside channel, seen as a key area of exploitation — the defender being talked through that by Maresca away from the group.

MID-BLOCK MANNEQUINS

IWI banks of mannequins were rooted into the grass, mimicking a 5-4-1 mid block — something City expect to face this term.

Again, Maresca reaffirmed Foden's job with him. The chosen team were to

replicate the previous 15 minutes with more pace. White cones were placed across the width of the pitch, just inside the attacking half, to perhaps indicate how high Maresca intends his back four to stand in possession.

First-team coach Danny Walker brought energy to this, cajoling the fluorescent orange bibs.

HIGHER STAKES

THE longest part of the session, 16 minutes, was spent with just eight defensive bibs — seemingly mirroring City being able to beat an early press and bypassing two opponents.

When Foden smashed one effort past reserve goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli, Maresca spun and demanded a new ball from coaches behind him, wanting quick repetition.

There were no rondos, a past staple. But there was always a ball in play. While some things change, others remain the same. In keeping with the man in the middle.

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86

FOOTBALL

UNITED'S MIDFIELD MUDDLE

Mount's injury shows Carrick why midfield is short of numbers

THE bottom line from Gothenburg is that Manchester United held European champions Paris Saint-Germain and, for the most part, played the better football.

Bryan Mbeumo cancelled out Ibrahim Mbaye's opener inside two minutes and it was United who went on to have the better chances, going close through Mbeumo again, Shea Lacey and Bruno Fernandes, back in the fold after his World Cup return.

But, in truth, this was about what Manchester United haven't done, as much as about what they have.

They have added Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans for a combined £85million. They haven't added the third midfielder this summer rebuild had long promised.

The stance around a third midfielder had softened somewhat of late, such was Mason Mount's form throughout this pre-season.

Mount is a very popular member of United's squad, a leader for many and a player whom so many in the building are willing to do great things.

After the 5-0 victory over Rosen-

By Matt Barlow

ROBERTO DE ZERBI'S fears about Tottenham's lack of firepower will be reinforced by his team's latest preparation game.

Conor Gallagher scored the equaliser as Spurs came from behind in a fractious 1-1 draw against Getafe over 70 minutes behind closed doors at the club's training centre in Enfield yesterday.

Positives for the head coach included an instant response after going behind and more minutes in the tank, working through the stifling heat with two weeks to go before the Premier League season begins.

PSG Mbaye 2

Manchester Utd Mbeumo 32

By Nathan Salt

IN GOTHENBURG

borg in Trondheim earlier this summer, Mount was full of glee when he spoke about how well he feels.

'I was ready and raring to get back and get training again and get back into the flow of it,' he said.

'As players that's what you want. I feel strong and ready to go. I know we've got a few weeks more of games to come and a few more weeks to really work at stuff, but I feel good.'

However, reliability matters and inside 20 minutes here, after clutching his foot, Mount had to go off, withdrawn and replaced by academy product Tyler Fletcher.

ONE STEP AHEAD: Bruno Fernandes beats Vitinha to the ball in Sweden

Mount jogged off unassisted, sought advice from three members of United's medical team before heading down the tunnel. It looked precautionary ahead of two final pre-season games against Leeds United in Dublin and AC Milan in Wroclaw. But it was also a warning that Manchester United cannot allow the next three weeks

to pass before the transfer deadline without signing another midfielder.

United's recruitment in that area of the pitch has been good, too, this summer. Taking a big swing, the biggest of the lot most likely, should be a pressure Ineos and the bosses at United must relish, not be afraid of.

Positive signs, but De Zerbi must be

LACKING QUALITY UP FRONT

SPURS backed De Zerbi's desire to strengthen midfield and bring experience into the back four, but he wants more options up front with the club interested in Savinho and Cody Gakpo among others.

Richarlison led the line against Getafe, flanked by Mathys Tel and Mikey Moore, but the Brazilian, who was Spurs' top scorer in the Premier League last season with 11 goals, issued a reminder that he does not have the instinct of a clinical predator.

Two terrific chances came his

way in the second half, both in the air and both saved by goalkeeper David Soria. One in the first half was headed wide. Ben Davies headed the best chance of the first half straight at Soria from an Andy Robertson free kick.

MOORE CHANCES SLIPPING BY

IF this was Moore's final opportunity to change De Zerbi's thinking before a proposed loan move to Cologne, he might want to start packing for Germany.

The teenage winger, deployed on the right against Getafe, has found

it difficult to recapture the sparkle of his early performances in Spurs colours. He returned with a decent end-of-term report from a season at Rangers and is still very young — he will be 19 on Tuesday — but here he was again unable to impose his unquestionable talent on the game.

Low crosses from Tel on the left fizzed past him at the back post and he could not find the target with a looping header in the second half. Tel showed hints of developing an understanding with Robertson, who adds the balance

Santos was superb again here, the shining light of this pre-season and the way he broke up play as a defensive anchor — there was a crucial block on the edge of his own box — and got United moving up the pitch with his defence-splitting passes showed his range.

That will be key as Michael Carrick and his staff continue to try to figure out the best combination from Santos, Kobbie Mainoo, who will rejoin United's squad on Monday following his post-World Cup break, and Tielemans, who was handed a 25-minute debut off the bench in Sweden.

Led by Santos, United played the better football for the most part, an aggressive high press — at one point in the first half we saw six players in United red pressing in the final third of the pitch against Europe's best — and deservedly avoided defeat.

of a natural left footer, often missing last season.

GALLAGHER ON TARGET

IF the strikers are misfiring, Gallagher can be an alternative source of goals. Playing at his best, he will weigh in from midfield as he did against Getafe, driving forward onto a loose ball spilling out of a challenge on Richarlison, taking a touch and applying a firm low finish.

Gallagher, signed for £35million from Atletico Madrid in January, started to show glimpses of form

---

87

Yet we also saw in Gothenburg the fragility and how quickly things can appear bleak.

Mount's early exit prompts questions on the depth in midfield, given Manuel Ugarte is already a long-term absentee, while goalkeeper Tom Heaton — starting due to No 1 Senne Lammens being left at home through illness — suffered a hamstring problem early in the second half, adding to the fact that current No 2 Karl Darlow, a summer signing from Leeds United, is already on the sidelines.

Then the depth at left back, an issue United haven't been able to fix by signing their top target Lewis Hall, who Newcastle United have zero appetite to sell this summer after two approaches from the Old Trafford hierarchy.

Luke Shaw started every Premier League game last season and deserves credit for that. Harry

Amass, an impressive youngster who has come through United's academy in recent years, should be an option, but he has been told his best chance of minutes will be elsewhere.

Patrick Dorgu, ironically listed as a defender whenever United release a squad list (he has never played as a defender under Carrick) is only viewed as an attacking winger, so this is an area that is flirting dangerously with the word 'crisis' should anything happen to Shaw.

United played only 40 games in all competitions last season, their fewest in a single season since 1914-15, while others such as Chelsea (59 matches) and Tottenham Hotspur (52 matches) played considerably more.

Back into European football and cup runs expected — no repeats of the debacle at Grimsby Town ide-

ally — depth is going to be as vital as having the requisite quality.

So much in this clash with PSG was positive for United, many things which may have gone under the radar, such as the work-rate of Amad Diallo, or the composure of Tyler Fletcher after his earlier-than-planned introduction.

'It's good sometimes for the boys to problem-solve,' Carrick said, who added how pleased he was with the display.

'We don't want to always give them the answers when we don't have to when preparing them for the season. There were some good signs there.'

United cannot and must not allow such positive signs to be wasted due to tentativeness in the transfer market. Add another midfielder and a left back and United can pose a really serious threat to their rivals this year.

with barely a break at half time. Lots of his senior players were involved in another training game at the training ground yesterday.

Six young substitutes were named against Getafe, plus goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. None were used.

Among those not involved against Getafe but firmly back in the swing of pre-season are Martin Dubravka, Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, Mateus Fernandes, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke.

De Zerbi will file this friendly away as a valuable training exercise and look to strengthen his attack before the deadline.

Alonso's case for defence as Blues impress

By Bobby Manzi

XABI ALONSO can take plenty of encouragement from deploying a back three for the first time at Chelsea, as they conclusively beat AC Milan 3-0.

The display was a far cry from Chelsea's leaky defensive performances in pre-season so far, as they kept their first clean sheet since Alonso took charge.

Chelsea were dominant throughout the match in Jakarta, Indonesia, helped by having consistent personnel on the pitch — making only two changes before 80 minutes, whereas Milan made wholesale changes at half-time.

But it was the defensive structure Alonso employed so effectively at Bayer Leverkusen that enabled a strong showing.

Summer signing Marco Palestra was deployed at left wing back, with Pedro Neto on the opposite side. In possession, though, they might as well have been wingers.

When Chelsea attacked, Neto ran beyond Cole Palmer — who started on the right of Danny Welbeck — offering a penetrating threat to stretch play. Palestra acted the same way on the opposite side, as his perpetual movement shone.

Not only did the set-up allow Chelsea to threaten all over the pitch with significant offensive weapons occupying both wide and narrow areas, but the front three demonstrated their fluidity. Joao Pedro, Palmer and Welbeck often rotated. At times, there were two up top with one behind. The main formation, though, was a 3-4-2-1.

Welbeck led the line with Palmer and Pedro either side of him. But that was not a strict rule, as the attackers were given the freedom to roam.

A link-up between Pedro and Neto earned Chelsea their second goal less than a minute after half-time. Neto found Pedro's run with a dinked cross into the box from the right.

Just before the break, Pedro powerfully headed home from a corner for Chelsea's opener, while Moises Caicedo made it 3-0 for the Londoners after 50 minutes with a fine volley.

Neto had very few defensive responsibilities as the right wing back, allowing him to focus on being a nuisance.

That right side could prove deadly during the season, with full backs forced to deal with the menacing Palmer inside, while also keeping tabs on the threat Neto poses out wide.

Pedro, meanwhile, flourished in the system. Encouraged to float freely, the technical Brazilian demonstrated his versatility as a No 1b.

Four shots, two goals, a big chance missed and the most touches in the Milan box —

MAIN MAN: Chelsea boss Alonso

Pedro, thanks to the set-up, was extremely active. With Reece James, Maxence Lacroix, Enzo Fernandez, Malo Gusto and Morgan Rogers still to report for the remainder of pre-season, Alonso has every reason to be excited.

At 70 per cent strength, Chelsea looked cohesive and controlled, with four games now under their belt and an encouraging understanding of what is required in a back three.

As more quality is added to the group next week, this back three looks an appealing option to open their Premier League campaign against Fulham.

New set-piece coach Austin MacPhee has already started to earn his money. Chelsea paid a release clause just shy of £1million to get him out of his contract at Aston Villa. That is minuscule in the context of player spend, but significant for a backroom staff member.

Yet he could prove to be Chelsea's most important signing of the summer. The Blues had an appalling record from set-pieces last season, with a negative goal difference from them — conceding 17 and scoring 14. Having joined Chelsea this week, MacPhee made an instant impact, with the team scoring twice from corners against Milan.

Meanwhile, Romeo Lavia completed his first full 90 minutes for Chelsea yesterday since joining from Southampton for £53m in 2023, taking another step towards building up his fitness.

The midfielder has endured injury after injury since arriving in west London, but made significant progress here, having played 25 minutes against Juventus three days earlier. There have never been any questions about his ability — the biggest question really is whether his body will allow him to fulfil that potential.

Lavia was lively throughout the game and now has two more opportunities to build up his fitness before Chelsea's league opener at Craven Cottage on August 24.

forward-thinking

towards the end of last season and should benefit further when De Zerbi imposes his high-intensity style.

Against Getafe, Spurs did not control possession as the Italian boss would want. There were flashes from Sandro Tonali, although the £100m midfielder was also easily distracted by a niggling late challenge.

THERE were signs of what De Zerbi will demand from £54m centre-half Jan Paul van Hecke,

who got on the ball and sought to spark attacking patterns from the back with early passes forward through the lines. His passing range is impressive.

Lucas Bergvall, in midfield beside Tonali, lost track of Alberto Risco. Van Hecke came out of the back four to try and avert the danger but Risco was too quick for him, played a one-two and beat Antonin Kinsky with a crisp shot.

DE ZERBI made no changes through the 70 minutes played

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188

Why ARE fans turning away from the Hundred?

CRICKET

Pages 80-81

BARCA BACK IN FOR RODRI

By Simon Jones

BARCELONA are confident they can reach a compromise agreement with Manchester City for £68million-rated Rodri as they prepare a revised bid.

The Spanish champions yesterday agreed to send their captain Ronald Araujo to Liverpool on a season loan with an option to buy for £47m and are willing to offload a number of other players as they look to re-invest the funds into upgrading their squad.

The 30-year-old Rodri has underlined to City that his desire is to join Barca and, while their initial £38m plus add-ons bid was dismissed as 'derisory', they are drafting an improved offer in an effort

Catalans confident of sealing deal for City star

to bridge the gap on valuation. Rodri originally had Real Madrid courting him, but they were 'respectfully informed' they were no longer his priority. Rodri's preference is to link up with Barcelona coach Hansi Flick.

Barca want to add a striker and centre back also, with Tottenham's Cristian Romero on their shortlist.

Liverpool, meanwhile, expect Araujo to have a medical today ahead of completing the formalities on his season

loan. The 27-year-old Uruguay international is comfortable playing at centre back and right back, which gives new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola vital cover as he waits for Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Giovanni Leoni to recover from injuries.

Liverpool are continuing discussions with PSG over a double deal for wingers Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye.

WINDOW WATCH PAGE 84

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7-DAY TV GUIDE & PUZZLES PULLOUT

TV & CRITICS

FILM MUSIC CLASSICAL THEATRE BOOKS

PICK OF THE WEEK

MY BRILLIANT

CAREER

From Thursday, Netflix

Published in 1901, My Brilliant Career is a classic and very Australian novel about a young woman coming of age at the turn of the century. It's based on the life of its author, Miles Franklin – whose first name was actually Stella – and is a lively read. Not many people know it in the UK, but I've got a hunch that will change with the release of this vivacious six-part adaptation, which condenses the story into a kind of Aussie spin on Jane Austen.

Our heroine is Sybylla (The Newsreader's Philippa Northeast), the eldest daughter of a poor rural family. Sybylla spent her youth running wild, all high spirits, quick wit and unladylike handshakes. One day, she's packed off to live with her prim grandmother (Anna Chancellor) at the fancy estate of Caddagat, in the hope that she will marry well and no longer drain the family coffers. There's a problem, though. Sybylla doesn't want to be a wife. She wants to be a writer.

Still, two men do catch her spirited eye at Caddagat. There's the well-to-do visiting Englishman Frank (Jake Dunn) and Harry, a social outsider who lives with his eccentric aunt at nearby estate Five Bob Downs. Harry is played by Christopher Chung, who must be thanking his lucky stars for the chance to play a love interest after so many years as loathsome tech creep Roddy Ho on Slow Horses. The writers even give Chung his own Mr Darcy lake moment, making it all the harder for Sybylla to hold these men that buzz around her purely as literary inspiration. Can she stay the course or will the traditional romantic triangle consume her, as it has done to so many women before, both in Austen and beyond?

My Brilliant Career is the story of Sybylla but it's also a coming-of-age tale for Australia – it's set in the run-up to New Year's Day 1901, the date the colony became a self-governing dominion, and when rights for women began to change.

Moving with the same inventive spirit as Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette and Apple TV's The Buccaneers, My Brilliant Career feels both familiar but different, taking what you know about romantic costume dramas and gleefully spitting it into the sawdust. It's a story about honesty and finding your own path, with what should be a star-making turn for Northeast at its heart.

Robin Wiggs

AUSSIE AUSTEN:

Jake Dunn, Philippa Northeast and Christopher Chung

A delightful new Australian period drama sees the heroine pursued by two suitors - but she'd rather be a writer not a wife

A HOUSE

THROUGH TIME

Thursday, BBC2, 9pm

David Olusoga, left, returns with his engaging, investigative social history format, this time revisiting the residents of a single house in Edinburgh, starting in 1765. The house on Calton Hill was built in stages and, like many in Scotland, was inhabited by multiple families. As he explores Edinburgh's modern history, Olusoga tells a tale of two cities: old and new, rich and poor.

HAMNET

Friday, Sky Cinema Premiere, 8.10am/8pm

Jessie Buckley won every award going for her performance in this top-tier drama, which has taken its sweet time coming to subscription TV. She stars as Agnes Hathaway alongside Paul Mescal (left with Buckley) as William Shakespeare, a couple reeling from the loss of their son Hamnet, but in very different ways. The final scenes are shattering, but so worth your time.

AUGUST 9

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3

I kept waiting for Ricky's new show to get funny – it never did

Alley Cats

Netflix ★★★★★

Inside The Langham

Tuesday, ITV1 ★★★★★

Inside The Four Seasons

Sunday, Channel 5 ★★★★★

Ricky Gervais wanted to make an animated series about cats, as he loves cats, but it would be a different kind of animation. He gathered his comedy pals and instead of recording alone in booths they riffed on the script, often veering off-piste, to capture the authenticity of characters interacting with each other. They might have, say, 100 minutes of material 'and if you can't get a fantastic 15 minutes out of that with some of the best comedy minds in the country,' he said, 'then something's gone wrong.' In which case: something has gone wrong. Very. There are six 15-minute episodes and, because it's Gervais, I kept waiting for it to get funny. It'll get funny any moment now, I told myself, encouragingly. It never did.

The style of animation is retro Hanna-Barbera (Scooby-Doo, Wacky Races, The Flintstones) but Alley Cats is not wholesome entertainment for all the family. To those who will inevitably mistake it for wholesome family entertainment, good luck. The first c-word appears at around the 90-second mark and from then it's c-word, c-word, f-word, c-word, f-word, c-word... one word or the other is in every single line. It is foul-mouthed not just way beyond necessity but to the point it becomes tediously repetitive. It could have been saved had it been funny. I repeat, just in case you weren't paying attention earlier: it is not funny.

The main character (voiced by Gervais) is Gus, a

feral orange tabby who looks the spit of Garfield, and maybe there is a joke in that? Even if there may not be much of a public appetite for an obscene Garfield? But here he is, lounging on the sofa in a derelict house while watching telly with his mates. They are: Fang (Andrew Brooke), Puke (David Earl), Ponce (Tom Basden) and, although there is Olive (Diane Morgan) and later Lara (Kerry Godliman), the female roles are secondary. It has the feel of a thoroughly male endeavour.

The first riff is a scatological one so crude and without wit a little something inside one died.

As the cats watch the telly, or mooch the streets, we get anal jokes, knob jokes, creepy jokes about

sex with animals (fish, hedgehogs, penguins) and yet more scatological jokes. (I use 'jokes' in the loosest possible sense.) There are also swipes at fat kids, the blind, even those with nut allergies. ('How useless are you that you are going to die if a nut comes near you...') It's transgression without comedic craft. It's lazy that way and also lazy in that, when it comes to the inevitable moments which show Gervais has 'heart', it just repeats his well-known thoughts on grief and God and so on. There is no coherent storyline although there is a lost little kitten who hangs out with the gang on the promise they'll get her home. This, ultimately, not only slips into sentimentality but also goes full cliché. It's the 'a-family-is-whom-you-choose-them-to-be' one.

It feels as if the cast sat around in those riffing sessions trying to think up the worst things imaginable to say and just went with that, without bothering with any character

work. In fact, they aren't even cats really. They don't behave like cats. They could easily not be cats. I was looking forward to a take on actual cats. A take on their haughty superiority, for instance. Or the way they lounge on the armchair for hours on end and then suddenly shoot from the room for no reason you can fathom. (My cat does that.) Something did go very, very wrong here, alas.

I seem to be addicted to posh hotel porn. Looking back, I can see that Inside Claridge's (BBC2, 2012) was my gateway and while I can swear off for a while I will inevitably spiral into another relapse. I am in a state of relapse at present. Currently, we have Inside The Langham (Marylebone) on one channel and Inside The Four Seasons (Park Lane) on another and the temptation proved too great. I know these shows are essentially free advertising, I know I shouldn't award them even three stars. But what is addiction, if it's not repeatedly doing something you wish you weren't?

It's the attention to detail. It's the vast armies of staff deployed beyond the scenes. It's the fact you have to have in-house abseiling electricians to mount outside lights (Langham). It's the 'bed doctors' who massage the new £40,000 mattresses so they are guest-ready (Langham). And there is real jeopardy. Will Josh, who is training as a front-of-house manager at the Four Seasons, pass his probation? Will he? Plus, there's the mind-blowing prices involved. At the Langham a suite can cost £25,000 per night (per night!) and some guests book it for weeks at a time. (Weeks at a time!)

As for the guests, well. At what point do rich people lose their minds? Would I lose my mind, if I became rich? At the Four Seasons this week, one demanded horse hair pillows which had to be sourced and shipped from Devon on the same day, another demanded a picnic that had to be delivered within the next 30 minutes – the concierge had to LimeBike across town to source a particular scotch egg – and a couple arrived for the night (£1,700) to celebrate the fifth birthday of... their cockapoo. That's the ticket. Is there any treatment for this addiction, do we know?

(Who will be next? Snoopy? Yogi Bear? Captain Pugwash?)

Mozart's opera was first performed at Glyndebourne in 1935 during their second season, with a strong cast under conductor Fritz Busch and director Carl Ebert. It played an essential role in repopularising singspiel in the UK where it had simply never been particularly fashionable.

This year's performance of The Abduction From The Seraglio was extremely well received from the beginning of the evening, although it had not been heard here for 11 years. The director, David McVicar, first took on this production in 2015

DAVID MELLOR

Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail

Glyndebourne Festival, East Sussex Until August 28

★★★★★

and the joy of it is still evident throughout this show.

The challenges posed by the setting, in this politically correct world, are dealt with by McVicar

with a straight bat and total commitment to the story. His meticulous direction ensures all parts of the production can be fully appreciated, especially the timing of the comedy scenes with moving screens and leaping performers aplenty, while the subtly effective lighting by Paule Constable enhances every scene.

This is an opera that is rarely performed since it demands five exceptional actors as well as voices... and it gets them here. The opening scene with Osmin (Michael Mofidian) and Pedrillo (Thomas Cilluffo) set the tone and pace of the evening

which was exuberantly maintained throughout.

Blonde (Julie Roset) distances herself from Osmin's somewhat unromantic and overbearing overtures. This lyrical French soprano displays energy and fun in equal measure and we are sure to see and hear more of her.

The spoken role of Pasha Selim is played by Franck Saurel (as he did for the 2015 festival and that year's tour), who conveys convincingly the dilemma between absolute power and control over women and his obsessive love and respect for Konstanze (Liv Redpath).

A must see.

JOYFUL: Konstanze (Liv Redpath) and Belmonte (Anthony Leon)

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4

MUSIC

TIM DE LISLE

Sisters: Curated By Annie Lennox Wilderness, Oxon

★★★★★

The Anchoress As We Once Were Out now

★★★★★

Under African Skies: The Songs Of Graceland Royal Albert Hall, London Saturday, BBC2, 7.30pm

★★★★★

Once upon a time, pop festivals were muddy. These days they're dusty. At Wilderness the dust gets in your hair, your throat, even your chips.

This makes people all the keener to see something special, and they find it in Sisters: Curated By Annie Lennox. Staged in aid of her charity The Circle, which helps women facing violence, it's a festival within a festival.

The line-up is all female, all British, but diverse. There's Roughnack Connolly, born in Armagh, based in Manchester, bringing depth to old folk songs. There's Becky Sikasa, born in Germany, based in Edinburgh, bringing soul to R&B. Both know how to engage a field of strangers.

There's Jessie Ware, born and based in London, big enough to have headlined Wilderness in 2024. Radiating confidence, she waves to her three children, who are bobbing about on various shoulders. She gets the crowd's hips moving with Wildest Moments, then touches the heart with Say You Love Me.

And there's Lennox herself, born in Aberdeen, based in Los Angeles. At 71 she's wearing fatigues, the better to fight the good fight. Long ago she and Dave Stewart missed Live Aid after a tour left her needing throat surgery. Now she only does

SWAGGER: Annie Lennox and Jessie Ware at Wilderness. Above: The Anchoress

always a gem, but over the years it has turned into a care package. Next day, a headline describes Lennox as 'achingly cool'. She was better than that: she was bracingly warm.

If you miss Eurythmics, try The Anchoress, who also deals in vintage synths and soulful vocals. Catherine Anne Davies is a singer, songwriter, producer and doctor of English literature (but that's another story).

Her last set of new songs, The Art Of Losing, has now sold 10,000 physical copies. The follow-up, As We Once Were, is both easy-going and hard-hitting. On Throw Over Your Man, she turns feminism into fun; on Stop The World, she begins with her daughter's giggles and builds up to a gorgeous sadness.

Under African Skies was a late-night Prom celebrating 40 years of Paul Simon's Graceland. The Nu Civilisation Orchestra, conducted by Peter Edwards, captured the energy of the original and added some exuberance with a brass quintet.

A series of lead singers, from James Bay to Laura Mvula, did their best with Simon's intricate lyrics. The simpler lines shone out, led by 'Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake'. But the real stars were Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Almost an orchestra unto themselves, they lit up the Albert Hall with their deep, deep voices and dancing thighs. When all nine of them are humming, a bolt of joy goes down your spine.

Annie and her army of sisters make such sweet dreams

one-off shows, and this one is like a Live Aid set: a career in six songs, all of them memorable.

First she sums up her solo oeuvre with Little Bird and Walking On Broken Glass. You miss her masterpiece, Why, but these tracks are more upbeat, mixing sorrow with swagger.

Next she encapsulates Eurythmics in four classics from 1983-85. For Here Comes The Rain Again, she sits at the piano and converts a synth-pop tune

into a haunting ballad. Returning to centre stage, she dabs her eyes. If she has moved herself to tears, she's not alone.

Her voice still has nearly all its radiance. For There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart), she's joined by Ware, exuding such delight that you wonder if she's been singing it into the mirror all her life. As she was born in 1984, it's perfectly possible.

For Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves, Lennox gathers all

her guests plus The Last Dinner Party, due on next. The song was an anthem from the moment Annie first sang it with Aretha Franklin. Forty years on, in an Oxfordshire field, it's a blast.

Finally she sings Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This), which has travelled the world and the seven seas and passed two billion Spotify streams. Written when she was about to give up on her own dreams and go back to Aberdeen, it was

THEATRE

The new kids from Fame dish up a rousing revival... and not a legwarmer in sight!

MARK COOK

Fame The Musical Theatre Royal Plymouth Until Saturday, 2hrs 35mins

★★★★★

Cats Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London Until Sept 19, 2hrs 15mins; touring Oct 6 to June 19

★★★★★

revolving and folding set of the old building's facades. There's a ghostly sense of

students past, too, in director and choreographer Tom Jackson Greaves's engaging production, seamlessly weaving the action around the moving parts and through the unfolding tales of these wannabe actors, musicians and dancers as they struggle with their harmonies and hormones. I had the award-winning score of Parker's gritty film on vinyl back

in the day so this is a welcome chance to hear again the wistful Out Here On My Own, I Sing The Body Electric and the soaring title song – a UK chart-topper for Irene Cara, here exuberantly reprised by Talia Palamathan. The film numbers line up alongside the show's songs by Jacques Levy and Steve Margoshes, which underline the

various dilemmas facing these aspiring (and perspiring) fame-seekers of all backgrounds. Think Of Meryl Streep is a song about how to act, delivered by Megan Ellis with aplomb, while These Are My Children finds the school head revealing her feelings for her charges. Shany Holmes makes it a showstopping ballad that steers clear of the schmaltz

ARTIST: M. DODGE, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. JOHNSON, LON, PHOTO: J. J

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5

FILM

MATTHEW BOND

The Last House

Cert: 12, 1hr 52mins

Available on Netflix

★★★★★

The Summer Book

Cert: PG, 1hr 30mins

★★★★★

Love Me Tender

Cert: 15, 2hrs 14mins

★★★★★

We all remember Covid and that sense of being locked in our homes for months

on end. Well, The Last House takes that basic idea and super-charges it. What if one day, it posits, it starts raining in a way that it's never quite rained before and somehow something in that rain seals every door, every window, every roof slate so tightly shut that not even the most powerful power tool in B&Q can open them? During Covid, we weren't allowed out but here, as the Delgado family are about to discover, they literally cannot get out.

Like all their neighbours, Jason (Wagner Moura), wife Ann (Greta Lee), their two children and the family dog are firmly locked inside their home. Initially, it becomes a sort of bonding experience, as Covid did for some, but as days turn to weeks and weeks to months, the battle for survival becomes a lot more serious. And they still haven't a clue who or what has locked them in, or why.

It's a simple and promising start, right up there with A Quiet Place where Earth has been invaded by aliens that hunt their human prey by sound. However, it's let down slightly by its own wayward logic which sees both internet and phone signal disappearing immediately while electricity and mains water magically continue for months, and by early scenes involving Wagner, the Brazilian actor Oscar-nominated for The Secret Agent,

which seem to suggest that Jason has barely met the members of his own family before.

Being an alpha-male is one thing but convincingly growling lines such as 'I'll figure it out, trust me' and 'OK, family meeting, right now' is quite another. It takes months before he remembers he's actually an engineer. Suddenly, the mood is less Quiet Place more Swiss Family Robinson, only without the fresh air.

Directed by the genre-hopping

Louis Leterrier, whose past slate ranges from Fast X to Grimsby, this is a summer popcorn film with some effective moments, some silly ones and some that may upset children who probably shouldn't be watching in the first place. But it does just about get there in the distinctly damp end.

The Summer Book is based on a novel by the Finnish-Swedish writer, Tove Jansson, best known as the creator of the Moomins.

GOING NOWHERE: Noah Alexander Sosnowski, Wagner Moura, Greta Lee and Riley Chung in The Last House. Left: Emily Matthews and Glenn Close in The Summer Book

But there's no Moomintroll or Snorkmaiden here. Instead, it's adapted from a story Jansson wrote for adults in 1972, about a young girl who has recently lost her mother and is taken to an idyllic but remote island in the Gulf of Finland by her still grieving father and her wise but uncompromising grandmother.

I haven't read the book but I'm told it's a gentle read and that's certainly true of this film version. At times, it's so gentle it's unclear whether anything is happening at all. A memorial tree is planted, a tent is erected, dives are rehearsed but not executed. Granddaughter and grandmother do some low-key exploring together. Ooh, I forgot, there's a storm.

Delivered in English and directed by Charlie McDowell, this certainly looks the Scandinavian part but never quite does justice

to Jansson's themes of youth, grief and death. It is also unbalanced by a dominating and heavily accented performance from an almost unrecognizable Glenn Close as the grandmother that reminded me of Simon Callow's brilliant voice performances both as the Norwegian grandmother and the Grand High Witch in the audiobook version of Roald Dahl's The Witches. But maybe that's just me.

In Love Me Tender, the French film-maker Anna Cazenave Cambet explores the idea that just because someone departs from the gender norms of society doesn't automatically make them a bad parent. Whatever their lying ex-husband says. All sounds perfectly reasonable but if you can get through this very serious, sporadically erotic and immensely long drama about a woman (Vicky Krieps) who gives up a successful career and a long marriage for life as a promiscuous lesbian and struggling writer without thinking 'ooh, you do make life difficult for yourself, Clemence' you're doing a lot better than me.

of the TV version – a bit too jazz hands and showbiz for my liking – which ran from 1982 to 1987. Apart from its undoubted

entertainment value, the show's talented young cast is a vivid reminder of what is at stake when arts funding and teaching in

REMEMBER THEIR NAMES: The latest cast of Fame The Musical. Right: Gary Wilmot in Cats

schools has been slashed. It's hoped that this rousing and heartfelt new production will tour eventually. On this viewing it should. You might even say it deserves to 'live forever', as the title song goes.

And so to another megahit musical from the same era, Cats, which occupied the New London Theatre for 21 years and conquered Broadway too. I have to say, it's not a show I ever warmed to.

Maybe it's because Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical is based on a collection of poems about cats by T.S. Eliot. To turn that into such a successful vehicle is some

achievement, but structurally it is a list of songs about the various 'Jellicle' cats (here more menacing than cuddly with their sinewy, modern-dance-style moves) all displaying the composer's gift for pastiching any number of musical genres. The actual storyline is minimal.

For me the first half of Drew McOnie's sleek production doesn't excite or register enough of an emotional connection. Act two,

however, gives us all the big hitters: eye-catching numbers involving Mr Mistoffelees (Jet Yau), Skimbleshanks (Matthew Caputo), Gus (Gary Wilmot) and Macavity (Diante Lodge). And of course Memory, which is surely Lloyd Webber's most enduring song. On press night, understudy Taziva-Faye Katsande gave it her all.

I wish I could give this three-and-a-half-stars. It seems I'm still a bit allergic to Cats. Maybe I'm just more of a dog kinda guy.

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6

BOOKS

THE BEST NEW FICTION

Ghost Cities Siang Lu Summit Books £16.99, 304pp

Siang's boisterous novel tells two seemingly unrelated stories in parallel. In

contemporary Australia, a hapless Chinese translator becomes the plaything of a film director who has turned one of China's empty 'ghost cities' into a vast movie set, while in a magical-realist version of ancient China, an ageing emperor is desperate to cheat death. By turns dazzling, funny and utterly bewildering, it's a novel unlike anything else you'll read this year.

Simon Humphreys

Little Spark Jess Kidd Canongate £18.99, 352pp

Kidd's latest heroine is electrifying – quite literally. An ability to set sparks flying from

her fingertips makes Victorian orphan Bodkin Bell the star turn in a travelling act. It also lands her in jail, aged 20, from where she's plucked by Lady Haseley to assist her reclusive, automata-making nephew. This tale of secrets and mysteries is steeped in atmospheric suspense. Gothic, yes, but galvanised by flashes of inventive wonder.

Hephzibah Anderson

Sky City Jacqueline Crooks Vintage £18.99, 384pp

This powerful, lyrical second novel may be brimful of music and

otherworldly images but it's firmly grounded in the lives of Jaycee, her friend Ella-G and her first love, Sol, who are pushed to the margins of society in Nineties north London. Crooks unspools their traumatic stories – damaged childhoods, missing parents, abuse and loss – in dreamy, incantatory prose, as the trio attempt to heal the wounds of their pasts and redefine their futures.

Eithne Farry

The Millionaire Waltz

Anthony Quinn Abacus £22, 416pp

Edie Greenlaw has it all – with good looks

and plenty of money, she's engaged to London's most eligible bachelor, has a house in Mayfair and a blossoming career as a stage actress. The only trouble is it's the 1920s and women are not supposed to have it all. Illicit love of several varieties, plus a hefty dose of blackmail, powers the plot of this elegant, moving story of theatre people and high society in an impossibly glamorous pre-war London.

John Williams

The day one man and his telegraph abolished the Atlantic Ocean

Lightning Beneath The Sea

James M. Tabor W. W. Norton £24, 368pp

The Atlantic Ocean, proclaimed Harper's monthly magazine in 1858, 'has been abolished.' Who had achieved this remarkable feat and how? As we learn from James M. Tabor's absorbing book, it was a wealthy American paper merchant named Cyrus Field and he had done so by laying the first telegraph cable across the ocean floor. Communication between the Old World and the New could now take minutes rather than weeks. Harper's metaphor seemed appropriate.

Field had apparently succeeded in his self-appointed mission, despite previously knowing nothing of telegraphy. Or the electricity that powered it. (Few people did at the time. Many, including the chief electrician in Field's Atlantic Telegraph Company, thought electricity was a kind of fluid.)

Field's first attempt to join the continents, in 1855, was an 'abject failure'. His cable snapped. He tried again three years later but was thwarted by a monstrous storm in which one of the ships laying out the cable was nearly swamped by 'walls of water on both sides as high as five-storey buildings'.

A second attempt later that same year was seemingly successful. Field became the man of the hour. In the words of his brother, 'his name was on millions of tongues'. Hundreds of thousands of

people turned out for a grand four-mile parade in his honour in New York. The celebrations were premature. Messages faltered and then failed. In Tabor's words, 'Cyrus Field's Atlantic cable uttered its dying words the same day New York City held its grand celebration to honour him as the new Columbus.'

Acclaim turned to vilification. Former friends crossed the street to avoid him. He was assailed by money difficulties. Rivals threatened to steal his thunder. During the American Civil War, he was even accused of treason against the Union, though the charges were dropped.

However, Field was not a man to be easily discouraged. In 1865, he took up the challenge again. His cable-laying vessel this time was the largest ship of

its era – Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Great Eastern. Years earlier, Brunel had said to Field, 'There, sir, is the ship to lay your cable.' Now, the great engineer was dead and the Great Eastern was for sale. Field bought it and fitted it out for his purposes. An initial expedition across the Atlantic ended once again in failure, amidst rumours of sabotage by Field's enemies. A second journey, in 1866, finally succeeded in laying the cable. And this time, the telegraph continued to work. Field had achieved his goal after 12 years of stress and struggle.

His is an extraordinary story of alternating disaster and triumph, often forgotten today. Tabor brings it to life in a widely researched and lively narrative.

Nick Rennison

Living With Freddie

Anna Heyward Vrago £22, 288pp

When Anna Heyward and her partner adopted an eight-year-old Italian greyhound called Freddie, she congratulated herself that she had now ticked all the right boxes for a proper adult life: 'a dog, a boyfriend, a job, a sense of purpose'.

The dog rescue centre had vaguely mentioned that Freddie had some behavioural issues but having grown up with dogs, Heyward, who was born in Australia but lived in New York, had no doubt she would have no trouble.

Italian greyhounds are small, elegant dogs who have been bred to be focused on humans, a charming trait that also means they hate being alone.

Freddie was so focused on his humans that if he was left alone in their flat for even the shortest time, he would scream, chase himself in a circle and claw desperately at the front door.

Dogs such as Freddie who

HELP! My dog loves me too much

have separation anxiety have been known to chew through walls, break down doors and jump through glass. Even with the help of a trainer, Heyward found the longest she could leave Freddie without his

becoming severely distressed was two and a half minutes.

Naturally, this impinged enormously on her life. At times her boyfriend, Aaron, reluctantly agreed to stay at home with the dog. At other times she was able to take him to the art gallery where she worked. Sometimes he went to a hugely expensive doggie day care, where he skulked miserably until pick-up. Heyward – left, with Freddie – came to understand that he would never be under her control because 'the inside of him would always be a little bit out of my reach'.

Her social life suffered, and Aaron resented both her intense focus on the dog and the money she spent on him. Perhaps, too, he sensed that 'I found my dog a far livelier source of interest than the man I planned to marry'. One day he walked out,

saying he would only return if she got rid of the dog.

The subtitle of this book, 'how a dog taught me to be human', suggests it's a warm and fuzzy account of how a damaged animal transforms its owner's life. In fact, the tone is more downbeat and – be warned – parts of this book are quite upsetting.

Her experience with Freddie inspired Heyward to go back to university to study animal behaviour. Her view on how confused dogs are by our attempts to 'train' them, and how little effort we make to see things from their point of view, instead branding them 'disobedient', 'bad' or 'dangerous', makes for uncomfortable reading.

Heyward discovers something that most pet owners eventually all understand: 'heartbreak is a thing that's almost always part of living with an animal'.

Constance Craig Smith

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7

BOOKS

ROGER LEWIS HISTORY

The Sceptic Isle Steven Casey Oxford University Press £26.99, 392pp

The paradox of the Second World War is that to spend more than five years defending freedom and crushing the Nazis, we resorted to draconian measures – ‘fighting a war for democracy, while threatening to silence dissent’, as we read in this book.

Morale was a constant concern. To keep the populace buoyant, and to avoid blind panic and despair, the government insisted on withholding grim statistics. The actual horrors were suppressed, ‘surrounded in great secrecy’.

Dunkirk, for example, was not reported as a humiliating retreat. It was instead ‘a miracle of deliverance, achieved by valour, perfect discipline, and faultless service’. Churchill’s fight-them-on-the-beaches rhetoric rubbed in this heroic, steadfast interpretation of what was virtually the Army’s annihilation.

All this sort of thing was masterminded by the Ministry of Information, the headquarters of the propaganda industry, which became the Ministry of Truth in Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four.

If that sounds sinister, it’s worth remembering that at the time, on the BBC, in radio comedies with 16 million listeners, such as It’s That Man Again, officialdom and bureaucracy was affectionately mocked as the Ministry of Aggravation and Mysteries, inhabited by characters called Sir Short Supply and Colonel Chinstrap.

You’d not have found any equivalents in Nazi Germany – anyone deviating from strict militaristic ideals ‘ran the risk of torture by the Gestapo’, says Steven Casey.

Yet laughter, the lampooning of bland-faced establishment figures and public officers, and the satirising of our institutions, was crucial to morale. Posters and leaflets told people to ‘Keep a Cheerful British Smile on Your Face’, to ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’.

The schemes worked. Pots and pans, even egg whisks, were collected to be melted down for Spitfires and Hurricanes, as if for a jolly jape.

Chamberlain may have been flying back and forth to Munich for chats with the fuhrer, but the mood at home was belligerent, with little support for appeasement. The public was in favour of conscription. The Home Guard, or Dad’s Army, ‘an increasingly efficient military force’, received half a million volunteers.

A full year before the actual declaration of war, people were fitted for gas masks. Anti-aircraft and coastal defence units were mobilised, as was the fleet.

How we saw off Hitler ...with BBC sketches, egg whisks, a positive attitude and a few lies

It wasn’t all Churchill speeches and Dad’s Army camaraderie. Why censorship played a key role in keeping wartime Britain from descending into hysteria

The RAF cancelled leave. Trenches were dug in parks. Plans were made for children to be evacuated. Once hostilities began, to continue this idea of an Ealing Comedy England, reports were vague and misleading. Names of casualties, and the precise numbers of those killed, were not to be divulged. The BBC played records rather than tell the public that 5,730 people had been killed in the first three weeks of the Blitz. ‘The result was a sanitised

view of the Blitz that did little to impress those who had personally witnessed the grim reality.’

By September 1941, 43,675 civilians and 48,973 men in uniform had been killed. When 503 tons of bombs fell on Coventry, a cordon of soldiers was placed ten miles around the city to stop reporters.

Newsreel footage was censored. Photographing air-raid damage was not allowed – this despite, on the Clyde, 35,000 of the 47,000 inhabitants now being homeless.

The Ministry of Information, on Churchill’s orders, did not wish the public to know ‘distressing details’. News on damage to British ships was forbidden, as were reports of the German U-boats’ success in disrupting our food sup-

plies. We were not to know about the torpedoing of aircraft carriers. Official briefings were ‘relentlessly upbeat’. Meanwhile, Luftwaffe losses were massively exaggerated.

When Paris was to be occupied, ‘people were in complete ignorance’ of the situation, i.e. that Britain might be invaded next.

It was altogether patronising and condescending, the way the Establishment and those in authority assumed the general public was ‘quite unprepared for the shock of realisation of the true position’.

The Holocaust went unreported, on the grounds that stories of the atrocities came from ‘sources that could not immediately be verified’. Rumours of concentration camps were officially dismissed as ‘exaggerated, if not fabricated’.

It took Richard Dimbleby to break down in tears as he began speaking into a BBC microphone in Belsen to wake everybody up: ‘I picked my way over corpse after corpse in the gloom.’

But still in cinemas or in the newspapers, we had tales of the bombed Swansea, which ‘has its chin up and is able to take it’. Taking a direct hit was another excuse for bouncing back: ‘In the kitchen, among the debris, wives contrived to cook their husbands’ meals.’

The reality of being a Land Girl was never like the sunny images on the recruiting posters. Rationing meant genuine hardship, but the Dig For Victory campaign made it seem everybody was merely harvesting their own spuds and carrots – and the number of allotments did go from 815,000 in 1939 to 1,400,000 by 1943.

I misread the title of this book as The Septic Isle, and whilst I knew the reference was to Shakespeare’s ‘sceptred isle’, I thought it was going to be a book about infections. And in a sense, it is the contamination of truth, the inflammation of the body politic when all aspects of existence are subjected to complete censorship.

But it is important to note that the government’s propaganda and censorship operation was in the interests of our war effort.

Steven Casey has produced a brilliant and richly detailed study, deeply thought-provoking, of how narratives of the war were shaped and presented, how the public was psychologically manipulated, massaged and fooled.

©TIT/ALAM

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Discover the volcanic landscapes of Lanzarote and the subtropical shores of Tenerife. Then, immerse yourself in the exotic culture of North Africa as you navigate the bustling, spice-scented souks of Tangier and Casablanca (stops also include Gibraltar & Madeira dependent on dates). It is the perfect blend of European charm, island sun, and Moroccan magic!

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13

OUR TOP PICKS FOR THIS WEEK'S TV

REALITY CONTEST

THE BIG DEAL

WITH STEPH MCGOVERN

From breakfast TV to lunchtime chat show, consumer champion to The Masked Dancer, there isn't much Steph McGovern, right, hasn't tried. Now, she's fronting this Apprentice-style show that pits teams of amateur dealers against each other to find the next big thing in art. And if you're wondering what Steph's connection to this rarefied world is – her dad Eamonn is an artist. Thursday, BBC2, 8pm

DOCUMENTARY

SPY NEXT DOOR:

THE ANNA

CHAPMAN STORY

When Anna Chapman, right, was arrested in America in 2010 as part of a Russian spy ring, the media styled her a James Bond-grade femme fatale. This two-parter delves into the real Anna, hearing from the men who dated her and the agents who hunted her, revealing more about her background, her drive and ambition. We also learn more about the deep-cover Russian spy programme that Anna was a part of. Wednesday & Thursday, C4, 9pm

PROFILE MOURINHO

Few football managers have the star quality of Jose Mourinho, and the suave ex-Chelsea boss is as charming as ever in this new, three-part profile from Joe Pearlman, director of Bros:

After The Screaming Stops.

What stands out as you watch is not just the passion Mourinho has for the game, but the dedication he inspires in his players, many of whom speak here. That kind of fire and faith has consequences, good and bad, and Mourinho is one of those documentaries that will appeal to fans and non-fans alike because it's as much about people as it is about football. Tuesday, Netflix

COMEDY FRANK

SKINNER: 30

YEARS OF DIRT

Frank Skinner has been doing stand-up for a long time, and you can feel the weight of that experience behind his set in this new show, recorded at London's cavernous Soho Theatre Walthamstow. It's filmed in black and white as if to emphasise that depth of legacy, but the set itself is anything but predictable, aside from the fact that, as the title suggests, it deals with ageing and dirty jokes. Friday, Sky One, 9pm

TRAVEL MARTN AND ROMAN'S

IRISH ROAD TRIP

Embarking on a father-son bonding trip, Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp and son Roman, above centre, will be seeking out Ireland's spooky underbelly as they explore its rich folklore and history, from wailing banshees to Neolithic tombs. Monday, C4, 8pm

DRAMA HIT POINT

Shows that mix genres together can end up all over the place on screen, but that's not the case with new British six-parter Hit Point. Part gangster drama, part will-they-won't-they romance, it's first and foremost a twisty, comic detective story about two London police officers investigating an unusual heist. They're played by Saffron Hocking (Top Boy) and Nick Blood (The Day Of The Jackal), right, and it's their hilarious banter together that anchors the show and makes it all work. Thursday, U&Dave, 9pm

RADIO

SUNDAY LIBRA

A two-part dramatisation of Don DeLillo's gripping secret history of the assassination of JFK, right. Radio 4, 3pm

MONDAY

GREAT LIVES

'To me he was a god,' says Derek Jacobi recalling his fellow actor Laurence Olivier. Radio 4, 3pm

TUESDAY BBC PROMS

Conductor Gustavo Dudamel is in charge of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for two concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, today and Wednesday (7pm). Radio 3, 6pm

SATURDAY SOUL MUSIC

Boney M's 1978 song Rasputin was a global hit as this first of a new series reveals, including memories from Russia, Iran and Cameroon of how much it meant to people. Radio 4, 10.30am

JULI 2027 MANNOLLIER / HOTTORH WKS

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14

Sunday August 9

BBC1

• 6.00 Breakfast
• 9.00 BBC News
• 10.00 Prayer And Reflection (R)
• 10.30 Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales (R)
• 11.30 Money For Nothing (R)
• 12.15 Bargain Hunt (R)
• 1.00 BBC News; Weather
• 1.15 Songs Of Praise Pam Rhodes explores how walking can have a profound purpose.
• 1.50 FILM: Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (PG/2023) Animated fantasy featuring the voices of Lana Condor and Jane Fonda.
• 3.15 Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out The animated heroes go to the moon. (R)
• 3.35 The Mating Game The cycle of freshwater triggers spectacular mating rituals and fierce competition. (R)
• 4.35 Homes Under The Hammer Shropshire (R)
• 5.35 BBC News
• 5.50 Regional News; Weather
• 6.00 Celebrity Escape To The Country 3/6 Singer and actor Chesney Hawkes looks for a rural hideaway. (R)

Countryfile, 7pm Adam Henson presents from West Sussex

• 7.00 Countryfile Adam Henson meets young farmers in West Sussex, including a soft fruit grower attempting to put his own mark on the family business he inherited during this year's harvest.
• 8.00 Antiques Roadshow Fiona Bruce presents from Clissold Park in the London Borough of Hackney. (R)
• 9.00 The Rapture 5/5 CCTV raises doubts over Bethany's honesty. Gabs turns to the Climate Front for help, and a new drawing leads her to the old ruins, where the truth is revealed.
• 10.00 BBC News At Ten
• 10.25 Regional News; Weather
• 10.30 FILM: Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason (15/2004) The hapless journalist's new romance looks set to be short-lived when she ends up serving time in a Thai prison. Comedy sequel starring Renée Zellweger and Colin Firth.
• 12.10 Who Do You Think You Are? With Katarina Johnson-Thompson. (R)

BBC2

• 6.20 A To Z Of TV Gardening (R)
• 7.05 Glorious Gardens From Above Christine Walkden descends on Norfolk. (R)
• 7.50 Countryfile Adam Henson meets a new generation of farmers navigating the challenges and opportunities of producing our food. (R)
• 8.50 Best Of Weatherman Walking Derek Brockway explores three castles along his favourite heritage walks.
• 9.20 Beechgrove Garden (R)
• 9.50 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites With Oli Mabuse. (R)
• 11.20 Indian Food Made Easy (R)
• 12.20 FILM: The Man Who Knew Too Much (PG/1956) An American doctor and his wife, a former singing star, witness a murder while on holiday in Morocco. Alfred Hitchcock's thriller remake starring James Stewart.
• 2.15 Cricket: The Hundred London Spirit Women v Birmingham Phoenix Women (start-time 2.30pm). Coverage of the match from Lord's.

Film: Inside Llewyn Davis, 10pm Oscar Isaac stars in the drama

• 6.00 Cricket: The Hundred London Spirit Men v Birmingham Phoenix Men (start-time 6pm). Coverage from Lord's.
• 9.30 Live At The Apollo 3/7 Comedians Celia A.B. and Neil Delamere perform stand-up at the Hammersmith Apollo, hosted by Lou Sanders. (R)
• 10.00 FILM: Inside Llewyn Davis (15/2013) An aspiring musician struggles to make a name for himself in the New York folk scene of the early 1960s. Coen brothers drama starring Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan and John Goodman.
• 11.40 FILM: Lady Macbeth (15/2016) A woman married to a rich industrialist becomes starved of companionship – so she begins an affair with a groom from the estate. Drama with Florence Pugh and Cosmo Jarvis.
• 1.05 Sign Zone: Who Do You Think You Are? With actor Dame Harriet Walter. (R)

ITV1

• 6.00 James Martin's American Adventure The chef begins the Texan leg of his journey in San Antonio. (R)
• 7.00 James Martin's Saturday Morning With Guy Martin. (R)
• 9.25 ITV News
• 9.30 Love Your Weekend With Alan Titchmarsh (R)
• 11.25 Fern Britton: Inside The Vet's Andy and Amy's cat needs dental attention.
• 12.25 Tom Kerridge Cooks Italy Tom cooks lamb cutlets. (R)
• 12.55 ITV News; Weather
• 1.05 Force Of Nature Shifting rains test three mothers as floods transform habitats. (R)
• 2.05 FILM: The Spy Who Loved Me (PG/1977) James Bond spy adventure starring Roger Moore.
• 4.30 The Chase Around The World The teams land in Paris to take on the Vixen and the Beast. (R)
• 5.35 ITV News; Weather
• 5.45 Local News; Weather
• 6.00 Force Of Nature 3/6 A look at how warming seas exacerbate the challenges of parenthood.

Force Of Nature, 6pm A hurricane hits a flamingo colony

• 7.00 Emmerdale Charity confronts her abuser, while Dawn is left devastated and Billy has a proposal.
• 7.30 Coronation Street Bethany visits a bruised Sarah in prison, Dylan feels under scrutiny at work, Idris reminds Alya of his offer, and Tim persuades Sally to let Richie stay with them.
• 8.00 Van Der Valk 2/3 Piet and the team are called in when an environmental campaigner is murdered on the eve of a global conference. Crime drama starring Marc Warren.
• 10.00 ITV News; Weather
• 10.15 Inside Iran: War & Revolution Following protests and military conflict, this documentary reveals how Iranian citizens are risking their lives to share what is actually happening inside their country.
• 11.30 Inside The Langham: Britain's First Grand Hotel 3/6 Following life at the Central London hotel. (R)
• 12.00 Shop On TV

CHANNEL 4

• 6.20 Cheers Double bill. (R)
• 7.15 Everybody Loves Raymond Triple bill. (R)
• 8.30 The Simpsons Triple bill. (R)
• 10.00 Sunday Brunch Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer are joined by Nick Helm, Delta Goodrem and J.B. Gill.
• 1.00 Jamie Cooks The Mediterranean Jamie Oliver travels the Mediterranean in search of recipes. (R)
• 2.00 Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive And Kids (R)
• 3.05 Worst House On The Street An engaged couple try to transform a crumbling cottage into the home of their dreams. (R)
• 4.05 Kirstie And Phil's Love It Or List It: Brilliant Builds (R)
• 4.40 FILM: Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit (PG/1993) A singer who once posed as a nun joins the order again to help save a Catholic school by making a success of its choir. Comedy sequel starring Whoopi Goldberg and Maggie Smith.
• 6.35 Channel 4 News Including sport and weather.

The Piano, 9pm Pianist Alice Sara Ott joins Mika and Claudia

• 7.00 Gogglebox Compilation of highlights from series 27, in which the Goggleboxers check out more of the biggest and best TV. (R)
• 8.00 Richard E. Grant's Very Modern Odyssey 2/4 Richard arrives on Sicily, the home of the Cyclops, where he cooks with a Duchess in Palermo, climbs a volcano, discovers the secrets of a temple and performs in an amphitheatre.
• 9.00 The Piano Claudia Winkleman and Mika are joined by internationally acclaimed pianist Alice Sara Ott as the search for Britain's most remarkable amateur pianists continues in Manchester.
• 10.00 Celebrity Gogglebox Celebrity viewers include Denise van Outen and Johnny Vaughan. (R)
• 11.00 FILM: How To Have Sex (15/2023) Coming-of-age drama starring Mia McKenna-Bruce.
• 12.50 FILM: Old (15/2021) Horror starring Gael Garcia Bernal.

5

• 6.00 Milkshake! Children's shows including 8.10 Animal Care Club 8.25 The Smurfs 8.35 The Creature Cases (R) 8.50 The Patrick Star Show (R)
• 9.05 Entertainment News On 5 Showbiz news and gossip.
• 9.10 FILM: PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie (U/2023) Premiere. A meteor crashes in Adventure City and gives the PAW Patrol pups superpowers. Animated adventure with the voice of Kristen Bell.
• 11.00 Happy Campers: The Caravan Park (R)
• 12.00 Cruising With Susan Calman Double bill. (R)
• 2.00 Jane McDonald In Nashville Double bill. (R)
• 4.00 Live: UK's Strongest Man 2026: The Final Coverage of the final from Braehead Arena in Glasgow, featuring the truck pull, farmer's walk, motorbike Viking press, dragon egg stone and truck load.
• 6.55 News National and international news.

Inside The Four Seasons: Park Lane, 9pm A golden anniversary

• 7.00 The 1970s Diet: Could It Work For You? 2/2 Josie Gibson joins the kind of disco-inspired dance class that soared in popularity across the decade, and enjoys half a fish-and-chip supper that represents the typical 1970s portion size. (R)
• 8.00 Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly 9/16 Graeme Hall travels to Essex to help bring peace to a dog-friendly pub. (R)
• 9.00 Inside The Four Seasons: Park Lane 2/5 Concierge manager Adam is juggling two major celebrations at the Four Seasons, a 200-guest wedding and the golden anniversary of Derek and Joan.
• 10.00 When Package Holidays Go Horribly Wrong 2/5 Tales of disasters on holidays. (R)
• 11.35 A Very British Sex Scandal: The Earl & The Escort The murder of Lord Shaftesbury, Anthony Ashley-Cooper. (R)
• 1.00 Cruise TV With LoveitBookit (R)

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15

Monday August 10

BBC1

6.00 Breakfast 9.30 Animal Park (R) 10.00 Trace, Track, Get My Car Back (R) 10.30 European Athletics Championships: Birmingham 2026. Coverage of the opening session on day one. 1.15 BBC News 1.40 Regional News 1.50 BBC News 2.00 Money For Nothing 2.45 Escape To The Country (R) 3.30 The Repair Shop (R) 4.30 The Answer Run 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC News 6.30 Regional News 7.00 The One Show Angelica Bell reports live from Birmingham. 7.30 EastEnders Jean's money woes continue. 8.00 European Athletics Championships: Birmingham 2026 Further coverage, including the women's 100m final (9.50pm). 10.00 BBC News At Ten 10.30 Regional News; Weather 10.40 FILM: Bridget Jones's Baby (15/2016) Comedy sequel with Renée Zellweger.

BBC2

6.30 Bargain Hunt: 20 Years Of The One Show (R) 7.15 Money For Nothing (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: The Repair Shop (R) 9.00 BBC News 10.30 Antiques Road Trip (R) 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 12.15 Bargain Hunt (R) 1.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) 1.30 The Finish Line (R) 2.15 Do You Know Your Place? (R) 2.45 The Farmers' Country Showdown (R) 3.30 Spy In The Ocean (R) 4.30 Vintage Antiques Roadshow (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R) 6.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) 6.30 Bear Grylls: Wild Reckoning (R) 7.00 European Athletics Championships: Birmingham 2026 The evening session on day one. 8.00 Only Connect 8.30 University Challenge 9.00 Evolution 5/5 The emergence of the horse. 10.00 Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing 3/6 (R) 10.30 Newsnight 11.05 FILM: Shaft (15/1971) 12.40 Sign Zone: Countryfile (R)

ITV1

6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00 This Morning 1.30 ITV News; Weather 1.55 Local News; Weather 2.00 Dickinson's Real Deal (R) 3.00 Deal Or No Deal (R) 4.00 Tipping Point (R) 5.00 The Chase (R) 6.00 Local News; Weather 6.30 ITV News; Weather 7.30 Fletchers' Family Farm 9/10 The Fletchers focus on diversification, and Ruby the cow turns a corner. (R) 8.00 Emmerdale A villager's life is turned upside down. 8.30 Coronation Street Tim urges Richie to make a go of his marriage. 9.00 Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell help foundlings Michael and Christine. 10.00 ITV News; Weather 10.30 Local News; Weather 10.45 Cold Case Forensics: A Death On The Nile 2/3 Documentary (R) 11.45 Love & Death 5/7 (R) 12.35 Shop On TV

CHANNEL 4

6.30 The King Of Queens (R) 7.45 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) 9.10 Frasier (R) 11.10 Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) 12.05 Channel 4 News Summary 12.10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (R) 1.10 The Great House Giveaway (R) 2.10 Countdown 3.00 A Place In The Sun (R) 4.00 Saving Country Houses With Penelope Keith (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00 American Pickers (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News 8.00 Martin And Roman's Irish Road Trip 1/3 Martin and Roman Kemp explore the history of Ireland. 9.00 Celebrity Hunted A couple of content creators reckon they know how to outsmart their pursuers. 10.00 Secret Lives Of Gypsy Wives Trewley clashes with her older sisters over a night out. 11.05 Surgery Secrets Of The Super Rich 4/6 A bride-to-be has a liquid nose job. (R) 12.05 Secrets Of The Celebrity Sex Tapes Last in series.

5

6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 News 12.50 Matt Allwright 2.20 FILM: My Fatal Memory (12/2022) Thriller starring Kate Watson. 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 News 6.00 Sardinia: Jewel Of The Med (R) 6.55 News 7.00 Motorway Cops: Catching Britain's Speeders 5/10 PC Joe Gorman races to try to catch a potential drink driver. (R) 7.55 News 8.00 Street Cops: Catching The Yobs A driver pulled over for speeding gets more than he bargained for. 9.00 Fare Dodgers: At War With The Law Transport For London investigators hunt for a suspected fare evader. 10.00 Police Interceptors: Taking Down The Shoplifting Gangs Detectives investigate an international criminal gang. (R) 11.05 Traffic Cops 7/20 (R) 12.05 Car Pound Cops (R)

Tuesday August 11

BBC1

6.00 Breakfast 9.30 Animal Park (R) 10.00 Trace, Track, Get My Car Back (R) 10.30 European Athletics Championships: Birmingham 2026. Coverage of the opening session on day two. 1.15 BBC News 1.40 Regional News 1.50 BBC News 2.00 Money For Nothing 2.45 Escape To The Country (R) 3.30 The Repair Shop (R) 4.30 The Answer Run 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC News 6.30 Regional News 7.00 The One Show Alex Jones and Roman Kemp continue the show's 20th birthday celebrations. 7.30 EastEnders Suki and Eve host a birthday party for Ria. 8.00 European Athletics Championships Men's long jump final (8.16) and the men's 100m final (9.47). 10.00 BBC News At Ten 10.30 Regional News; Weather 10.40 FILM: The Boys In The Boat (12/2023) Drama starring Joel Edgerton. 12.40 BBC News

BBC2

6.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 7.15 Money For Nothing (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: The Great British Sewing Bee (R) 9.00 BBC News 10.30 Antiques Road Trip (R) 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 12.15 Bargain Hunt (R) 1.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) 1.30 The Finish Line (R) 2.15 Do You Know Your Place? (R) 2.45 The Farmers' Country Showdown (R) 3.30 Spy In The Ocean (R) 4.30 Vintage Antiques Roadshow (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R) 6.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) 6.30 Bear Grylls: Wild Reckoning (R) 7.00 European Athletics Championships Women's 5,000m final (7.25). 8.00 The Great British Sewing Bee 5/10 9.00 Bloody Mary: Lucy Worsley Investigates 4/4 (R) 10.00 Live At The Apollo 5/7 (R) 10.30 Newsnight 11.05 The Vampire Lestat: Interview With The Vampire Double bill. 12.45 Sign Zone: Uncanny (R)

ITV1

6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00 This Morning 1.30 ITV News; Weather 1.55 Local News; Weather 2.00 Dickinson's Real Deal (R) 3.00 Deal Or No Deal (R) 4.00 Tipping Point (R) 5.00 The Chase (R) 6.00 Local News; Weather 6.30 ITV News; Weather 7.30 Inside The Langham: Britain's First Grand Hotel 4/6 The managing director oversees progress on the Langham Venice. 8.00 Emmerdale Billy and Dawn plan their escape. 8.30 Coronation Street Tim and Sally reel from the news of Richie's murder charge. 9.00 Cold Case Forensics: In The Blood 3/3 Angela Gallop reveals how clues in blood helped solve two crimes. 10.00 ITV News; Weather 10.30 Local News; Weather 10.45 FILM: The Spy Who Loved Me (PG/1977) James Bond spy adventure starring Roger Moore. 12.55 Shop On TV

CHANNEL 4

6.30 The King Of Queens (R) 7.45 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) 9.10 Frasier (R) 11.10 Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) 12.05 Channel 4 News Summary 12.10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (R) 1.10 The Great House Giveaway (R) 2.10 Countdown 3.00 A Place In The Sun (R) 4.00 Saving Country Houses With Penelope Keith (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00 American Pickers (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News 8.00 Dover 24/7: Britain's Busiest Port Staff mark the port's role in two world wars with a remembrance service. Last in series. 9.00 Celebrity Hunted Two of the celebrities find themselves surrounded. 10.00 Gogglebox The households' opinions on Celebrity Race Across the World and The 1% Club. (R) 11.05 Secret Lives Of Gypsy Wives Trewley clashes with her older sisters. (R) 12.05 Naked Attraction (R)

5

6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 News 12.50 Matt Allwright 2.20 FILM: Danger Rocks The Cradle (PG/2022) Thriller starring Devin Cecchetto and Fallon Bowman. 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 News 6.00 Corfu: Jewel Of The Med (R) 6.55 News 7.00 The Yorkshire Vet: At Home With The Greens 3/4 Jean takes the oldest of her 13 cats to Peter's surgery for a check-up. (R) 7.55 News 8.00 Inside Longleat Cameras follow a bat conservation team and a group of moth enthusiasts as they both carry out annual surveys. 9.00 The Romans With Rob Rinder And Ruth Goodman A look at Emperor Hadrian's visit to Roman Britain in 122 AD. 10.30 The Bomb On The Boat: The Murder Of Lord Mountbatten (R) 12.05 Serial Killer Wives (R)

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16

Wednesday August 12

BBC1 7PM 6.00 Breakfast 9.30 Animal Park (R) 10.00 Trace, Track, Get My Car Back (R) 10.30 European Athletics Championships, Day 3. Decathlon (from 10.35) and the men's 800m semi-final (12.20). 1.15 BBC News 1.40 Regional News 1.50 BBC News 2.00 Money For Nothing 2.45 Escape To The Country (R) 3.30 The Repair Shop (R) 4.30 The Answer Run 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC News 6.30 Regional News 7.00 The One Show Alex Jones and Roman Kemp host. 7.30 EastEnders Kim panics. 8.00 European Athletics Championships Men's 400m final (8.50) and men's 110m hurdles final (9.47). 10.00 BBC News At Ten 10.30 Regional News; Weather 10.40 MOTO: Ueda Super Cup Highlights: Paris Saint-Germain v Aston Villa. 11.10 FILM: Red Eye (12/2005) Rachel McAdams thriller. 12.25 The Hit List Celebrity Special (R)

BBC2 8PM 6.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 7.15 Money For Nothing (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: Great Japanese Railway Journeys (R) 8.30 Great Continental Railway Journeys (R) 9.00 BBC News 10.30 Antiques Road Trip (R) 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 12.15 Bargain Hunt (R) 1.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) 1.30 The Finish Line (R) 2.15 Do You Know Your Place? (R) 2.45 The Farmers' Country Showdown (R) 3.30 Spy In The Ocean (R) 4.30 Vintage Antiques Roadshow (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R) 6.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) 6.30 Bear Grylls: Wild Reckoning (R) 7.00 European Athletics Championships Women's hammer final (7.45). 8.00 The Repair Shop (R) 9.00 Murder Trial 1/2 The case of a man found shot dead in rural Scotland in 2024. 10.00 Inside No 9 Danny Mays (R) 10.30 Newsnight 11.05 Evolution 5/5 (R) 12.05 FILM: Kindling (12/2023)

ITV1 7PM 6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00 This Morning 1.30 ITV News; Weather 1.55 Local News; Weather 2.00 Dickinson's Real Deal (R) 3.00 Deal Or No Deal (R) 4.00 Tipping Point (R) 5.00 The Chase (R) 6.00 Local News; Weather 6.30 ITV News; Weather 7.00 Live Pre-Season Football Manchester United v Leeds United (kick-off 7.30pm). Hugh Wozencroft presents coverage of the friendly from Croke Park in Dublin. 9.50 It'll Be Alright On The Night TV clangers featuring Joel Dommett, Romesh Ranganathan, Ant & Dec, Colin Murray, Amol Rajan, Susanna Reid, Joe Pasquale and more. 10.20 ITV News; Weather 10.50 Local News; Weather 11.05 Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell help foundlings Michael and Christine. (R) 12.05 Shop On TV

CHANNEL 4 9PM 6.30 The King Of Queens (R) 7.45 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) 9.10 Frasier (R) 11.10 Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) 12.05 Channel 4 News Summary 12.10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (R) 1.10 The Great House Giveaway (R) 2.10 Countdown 3.00 A Place In The Sun (R) 4.00 Saving Country Houses With Penelope Keith (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00 American Pickers (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News 8.00 Extraordinary Extensions A couple start to renovate a Canterbury B&B - only to find a wartime bomb shelter in the garden. 9.00 Spy Next Door: The Anna Chapman Story 1/2 The story of British model Anna Chapman, unmasked in 2010 as a Russian spy. 10.00 24 Hours In A&E 3/10 Patients' relatives explain how they have faced challenges together. (R) 11.05 999: On The Front Line (R) 12.10 Celebrity Hunted (R)

5 9PM 6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 News 12.50 Matt Allwright 2.20 FILM: Deadly Secrets (PG/2023) Thriller starring Lizzie Boys. 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 News 6.00 Sicily: Jewel Of The Med (R) 6.55 News 7.00 Car Pound Cops 7/8 Tracking cars as they are seized for a variety of offences. (R) 7.55 News 8.00 Casualty 24/7: Every Second Counts New series. A 78-year-old caretaker has chest pains and dangerously low oxygen levels. 9.00 999: Critical Condition An 82-year-old's life is at risk of pneumonia after sustaining chest injuries. 10.00 Ambulance: Code Red A man collapses at the wheel and crashes his car. (R) 11.05 Cause Of Death 9/10 A man is found dead in his temporary accommodation in Blackburn. (R) 12.05 A&E After Dark (R)

Thursday August 13

BBC1 10.40PM 6.00 Breakfast 9.30 Animal Park (R) 10.00 Trace, Track, Get My Car Back (R) 10.30 European Athletics Championships, Day 4. The women's 800m semi-final (12.10). 1.15 BBC News; Weather 1.40 Regional News; Weather 1.50 BBC News; Weather 2.00 Money For Nothing 2.45 Escape To The Country (R) 3.30 The Repair Shop (R) 4.30 The Answer Run 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC News; Weather 6.30 Regional News; Weather 7.00 The One Show With Alex Jones and Roman Kemp. 7.30 EastEnders Amy confides in an unlikely source. 8.00 European Athletics Championships Men's 200m semi-final (8.05), men's 800m final (9.28) and women's 200m final (9.50). 10.00 BBC News At Ten 10.30 Regional News; Weather 10.40 FILM: Yesterday (12/2019) Comedy starring Himesh Patel and Lily James. 12.30 Alan Carr's Picture Slam (R)

BBC2 8PM 6.30 The Bidding Room (R) 7.15 Money For Nothing (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: Gardeners' World (R) 9.00 BBC News 10.30 Antiques Road Trip (R) 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 12.15 Bargain Hunt (R) 1.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) 1.30 The Finish Line (R) 2.15 Do You Know Your Place? (R) 2.45 The Great Rift: Africa's Wild Heart (R) 3.35 Spy In The Ocean (R) 4.35 Vintage Antiques Roadshow (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R) 6.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) 6.30 Bear Grylls: Wild Reckoning (R) 7.00 European Athletics Championships Women's triple jump final (7.40). 8.00 The Big Deal With Steph McGovern 1/6 Aspiring art dealers compete. 9.00 A House Through Time 1/4 An Edinburgh residence. 10.00 Red Dwarf 1/6 (R) 10.30 Newsnight Katie Razzall. 11.05 Murder Trial 1/2 (R) 12.05 The Devil In The Family: The Fall Of Ruby Franke (R)

ITV1 8PM 6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00 This Morning 1.30 ITV News; Weather 1.55 Local News; Weather 2.00 Dickinson's Real Deal (R) 3.00 Deal Or No Deal (R) 4.00 Tipping Point (R) 5.00 The Chase (R) 6.00 Local News; Weather 6.30 ITV News; Weather 7.30 Tom Kerridge Cooks Italy 5/6 The chef explores Italy's Apennine mountains. 8.00 Emmerdale Kev is thrilled, Billy is in a determined mood and Dylan struggles. 8.30 Coronation Street Tim takes in Richie's daughter Lucy without consulting Sally. 9.00 The Chase Around The World 5/6 The teams land in Zurich to take on the Governess and the Dark Destroyer. 10.00 ITV News; Weather 10.30 Local News; Weather 10.45 FILM: Quantum Of Solace (12/2008) James Bond thriller with Daniel Craig. 12.35 Shop On TV

CHANNEL 4 10PM 6.30 The King Of Queens (R) 7.45 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) 9.10 Frasier (R) 11.10 Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) 12.05 Channel 4 News Summary 12.10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (R) 1.10 The Great House Giveaway (R) 2.10 Countdown 3.00 A Place In The Sun (R) 4.00 Saving Country Houses With Penelope Keith (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00 American Pickers (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News 8.00 Renovation Rescue The team help a widow breathe new life into her family home. 9.00 Spy Next Door: The Anna Chapman Story 2/2 The FBI reveals that Anna Chapman is a Russian spy in the United States. 10.00 The Schoolgirl Terrorist? How Rhian Rudd became the youngest girl charged with terror offences in the UK at just 15 years old. 11.05 Social Media Monsters 2/10 Factual crime. (R) 12.10 Crime Scene Cleaners (R)

5 9PM 6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 News 12.50 Matt Allwright 2.20 FILM: The Replacement Daughter (PG/2024) Thriller starring Stacy Haiduk. 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 News 6.00 Crete: Jewel Of The Med (R) 6.55 News 7.00 Around The World In First Class With Josie Gibson Exploring the tourist hotspots of Finland and Sweden. 7.55 News 8.00 The Yorkshire Vet Special: Peter's Dream New series. Peter Wright creates a pet memorial garden. 9.00 Benidorm Is Murder 3/6 Dennis and Rosa investigate when a cleaner finds a murder victim. 10.00 Killer At The Crime Scene The murder of a beauty spa owner who was killed in a devastating explosion. (R) 11.05 The Body In The Thames A dismembered body. (R) 12.05 Street Cops: Catching The Yobs Documentary. (R)

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17

Friday August 14

BBC1

6.00 Breakfast 9.30 Animal Park (R) 10.00 Trace, Track, Get My Car Back (R) 10.30 European Athletics Championships. Includes the men's 1500m first round (12.05). 1.15 BBC News 1.40 Regional News 1.50 BBC News 2.00 The Hairdresser Mysteries 2.45 Escape To The Country (R) 3.30 The Repair Shop (R) 4.30 The Answer Run 5.15 Pointless (R) 6.00 BBC News 6.30 Regional News 7.00 The One Show At 20 Alex Jones, Roman Kemp and friends celebrate the show's 20th anniversary. 8.00 European Athletics Championships Includes coverage of the men's 200m final (9.25) and the women's 800m final (9.46). 10.00 BBC News At Ten 10.30 Regional News; Weather 10.40 Ann Droid 5/6 Comedy. Sue is persuaded to go camping. 11.10 FILM: Mothers' Instinct (15/2024) Premiere: Drama starring Anne Hathaway. 12.45 BBC News

BBC2

6.30 The Answer Run (R) 7.15 Money For Nothing (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: Marcus Wareing Simply Provence (R) 9.00 BBC News 10.30 Antiques Road Trip (R) 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 12.15 Bargain Hunt (R) 1.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) 1.30 The Finish Line (R) 2.15 Do You Know Your Place? (R) 2.45 The Great Rift: Africa's Wild Heart (R) 4.35 Vintage Antiques Roadshow (R) 5.15 Flog It! (R) 6.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) 6.30 Bear Grylls: Wild Reckoning (R) 7.00 European Athletics Championships Includes coverage of the heptathlon (7.35) and the women's 10,000m final (7.45). 8.00 Gardeners' World 9.00 Bergerac 5/6 A revelation about the night of Cate's murder changes everything. 9.45 QXL 8/14 (R) 10.30 Newsnight 11.05 FILM: On Falling (15/2024) 12.45 Sign Zone: The Rapture (R)

ITV1

6.00 Good Morning Britain 10.00 This Morning 1.30 ITV News; Weather 1.55 Local News; Weather 2.00 Dickinson's Real Deal (R) 3.00 Deal Or No Deal (R) 4.00 Tipping Point (R) 5.00 The Chase (R) 6.00 Local News; Weather 6.30 ITV News; Weather 7.30 Abbey Clancy: Celebrity Homes 2/6 (R) 8.00 Emmerdale Lewis makes an announcement. 8.30 Coronation Street Lucy's presence stirs up conflict on the street. 9.00 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Celebrity Special With Dion Dublin and Steph McGovern. (R) 10.00 The Twisted Tale Of Amanda Knox 7/8 After four years in prison, Amanda and Raffaele are free. 11.00 ITV News; Weather 11.35 Local News; Weather 11.50 Inside The Langham: Britain's First Grand Hotel 4/6 Documentary. (R) 12.15 Shop On TV

CHANNEL 4

6.30 The King Of Queens (R) 7.45 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) 9.10 Frasier (R) 11.10 Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) 12.05 Channel 4 News Summary 12.10 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (R) 1.10 The Great House Giveaway (R) 2.10 Countdown 3.00 A Place In The Sun (R) 4.00 Saving Country Houses With Penelope Keith (R) 5.00 Chateau DIY (R) 6.00 American Pickers (R) 7.00 Channel 4 News 8.00 Surgery Secrets Of The Super Rich 5/6 Emma has a £9,500 pioneering nano-fat treatment. 9.00 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown Jon Richardson and Roisin Conaty take on Rob Beckett and Kiehl Smith-Bynoe. (R) 10.00 Big Fat Quiz: Best Bits A compilation of the biggest flops from the show. 11.05 Sarah Millican: Chatterbox Live Stand-up comedy. (R) 12.10 Bill Bailey Live: Part Troll Stand-up performance. (R)

5

6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine 11.30 Storm & Alexis 12.45 News 12.50 Matt Allwright 2.20 FILM: My Husband's Seven Wives (PG/2024) Thriller starring Kristi Murdock. 4.00 Castle (R) 4.55 Love Nature (R) 5.00 News 6.00 Ibiza: Jewel Of The Med. A visit to the Balearic island known for its nightlife and rich cultural history. (R) 6.55 News 7.00 Tom Read Wilson's Magnificent Journey 2/3 The presenter's travels take him to Italy. (R) 7.55 News 8.00 Alexander Armstrong In Sri Lanka 1/3 Alexander explores the country. (R) 9.00 The Big Drought Of 1975 A record-breaking spell of erratic weather that stretched for 16 months. (R) 10.30 Piers Morgan: Uncensored Opinion-led news and debate show hosted by Piers Morgan. 12.05 Fare Dodgers: At War With The Law (R)

Saturday August 15

BBC1

6.00 Breakfast 10.00 European Athletics Championships. Includes round one of the men's 4x100m relay (1.00). 1.30 BBC News; Weather 1.45 Bargain Hunt (R) 2.30 FILM: Chicken Run (U/2000) Animated comedy with the voices of Mel Gibson and Julia Sawalha. 3.50 Escape To The Country (R) 4.35 Garden Rescue (R) 5.20 BBC News 5.30 Regional News; Weather 5.45 The Hit List 6.30 Alan Carr's Picture Slam. Ian and Liz, Arif and Kusar and Rachel and Connor take part. 7.15 European Athletics Championships Gabby Logan presents coverage of the evening session on day six from Birmingham, including the men's 1500m final (9.07) and the men's and women's 4x100m finals (9.33 and 9.48). 10.00 BBC News; Weather 10.20 FILM: Mission: Impossible (PG/1996) Action thriller starring Tom Cruise. 12.10 BBC News

BBC2

6.05 Children's Shows 8.30 Gardeners' World (R) 9.30 Beechgrove Garden 10.00 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 11.30 Anna Haugh's Big Irish Food Tour (R) 12.00 Lorraine Pascale: How To Be A Better Cook (R) 12.30 Homes Under The Hammer (R) 1.30 Gymnastics: European Championships 2026. Coverage of the third and penultimate day of the women's event. 5.30 FILM: Superman III (PG/1983) Adventure sequel. 7.30 Celebrating Graceland At The Proms 8.30 TOTP: Big Hits 2003 Featuring appearances by Beyoncé and Sugababes. 9.30 TOTP: The Story Of 2003 Mel Giedroyc narrates. 10.30 Beyoncé At The BBC (R) 11.00 Sugababes At Glastonbury 2024 The pop trio's performance on the West Holts stage. (R) 11.40 FILM: The Graduate (12/1967) Comedy drama starring Dustin Hoffman.

ITV1

6.00 James Martin's French Adventure (R) 6.30 James Martin's American Adventure (R) 7.30 Love Your Weekend With Alan Titchmarsh (R) 9.25 ITV News 9.30 ITV Racing: The Opening Show 10.30 James Martin's Saturday Morning (R) 1.00 ITV News; Weather 1.15 ITV Racing: Live From Newbury. Coverage from Newbury, Newmarket and Ripon. 4.00 FILM: Moonraker (PG/1979) James Bond spy adventure starring Roger Moore. 6.30 ITV News; Weather 6.45 Local News; Weather 7.00 Deal Or No Deal: Celebrity Special Comedian Joe Lycett takes on the Banker. 8.00 FILM: Skyfall (12/2012) James Bond thriller starring Daniel Craig. 10.40 ITV News; Weather 11.00 The Staircase 5/8 Michael and his family struggle with the court's decision. 12.10 English Football League Highlights

CHANNEL 4

6.05 Cheers (R) 7.55 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) 9.55 Frasier (R) 11.25 The Simpsons (R) 1.55 Four In A Bed (R) 4.30 George Clarke's Amazing Spaces (R) 5.30 Grand Designs (R) 6.30 Channel 4 News 7.00 Sandi Toksvig's Hidden Wonders 2/4 Sandi and Raksha join the dig at the site of Cookburn Abbey. (R) 8.00 Bettany Hughes' Lost Worlds: Dawn Of Civilisations 2/2 The historian uncovers the origins of civilisation itself. 9.00 Dictator: The Hitler Interviews 3/3 People who knew Hitler recall how he led Germany to defeat and disaster. 10.00 Concorde Crash: Days That Shocked The World The crash of a supersonic jet on take-off in 2000. 11.00 FILM: The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent (15/2022) Comedy. 1.00 FILM: Monos (15/2019)

5

6.00 Milkshake! 9.05 Entertainment News On 5 9.20 Bargain-Loving Brits In The Sun (R) 9.50 Secrets Of The Royal Palaces (R) 10.45 Yorkshire's Poshest Hotel: Grantley Hall (R) 12.40 The Royals: Uncensored 1.40 Coastal Adventures With Helen, Jules & J.B. (R) 3.35 The Yorkshire Vet: A Decade In The Moors & Dales (R) 5.00 Ken Dodd: 60 Years Of Laughter (R) 6.55 News 7.00 Sussex: Jewel Of The South Coast 4/5 The restoration of the Prince Regent's piano at Brighton's Royal Pavilion. 8.00 Princess Anne: Royal Rule Breaker Profile of the Princess Royal. (R) 9.30 Royal Heirs And Spares: Rivalry & Resentment The relationships between heirs and their siblings. (R) 11.05 When Live TV Goes Horribly Wrong (R) 1.00 Cruise TV With LoveBookit (R)

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■ TIME and DATE DISPLAYED ON SCREEN

■ WAKE-UP ALARM FUNCTION or REMIND YOU WHEN YOUR CAR PARK TIME EXPIRES

■ BUILT-IN SPEAKER - make and receive calls HANDS FREE or without having to put the phone to your ear. Listen to FM radio broadcasts

■ SOS BUTTON - store the numbers of up to 5 family or friends. In an emergency just press the SOS BUTTON and the phone will call and send a text to consecutive numbers until one of them answers.

■ SOS ALARM SOUND

■ SOS - BY PHONE AND MESSAGE

Essential in the event of you falling over.

■ BLUETOOTH so you can connect to your car speaker for hands free operation. Also connect to most Bluetooth speakers. CALENDAR so you can keep track of appointments birthdays, holidays and important dates. FM RADIO listen to radio via a built-in speaker or via an earphone. ■ USEFUL TORCH light the keyhole and find dropped items more easily. ■ SIDE VOLUME CONTROL helps prevent accidental adjustment LONG LASTING BATTERY A full battery charge lasts for up to 5 days on STAND/BY mode NO CONTRACT - WE SUPPLY YOU WITH A FREE PAY AS YOU GO SIM CARD that puts you in control of your spend.

WHAT'S IN THE BOX?

• YOUR FLIP PHONE • BATTERY

• CHARGING CRADLE & PLUG

• EASY TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS

Written by an English-speaking person

3 EASY WAYS TO ORDER CALL OUR CREDIT CARD ORDERLINE

MON - SAT 7AM-9PM & SUN 8AM-8PM

CALL: 0800 472 5378

Speak to someone in our UK Call Centre who will assist with your order.

ORDER ONLINE: www.pressplaydeals.co.uk/art

QUOTE

REF

CODE

PH3141

PRIORITY ORDER COUPON

To: Pressplay Ltd. (Dept PH3141), 8 Whittle End, Great Neiloy, Braintree, Essex CM77 9BA.

Please send me:

1 enclose Cheque/P.O. (made payable to Pressplay Ltd, please write your name and address on reverse) for

£

or charge my MasterCard/Visa/Maestro Account.

ITEM	PRICE	QTY	TOTAL
Easy to Use Flip Phone	£69.99
3x Easy to Use Flip Phone 5494 2.60	£99.99
Spare Battery	£9.99
Earphones	£9.99
Fast Charge Plug	£10.99
Portable Powerbank vs.noamAh	£10.99
Please add £5.99 postage and packing to entire order or £5.99 for priority despatch (order before 1pm weekday)			£5.99/£3.99
GRAND TOTAL

My Card No. is

Start Date

Expiry Date

Issuer No. (Winston cards)

Security Code

_/_/____

(See 5 digits on back of card)

Name Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms

Address

Tel. No.

Email

National despatch within all hours from receipt of your order has been delivered to a mailing list for 30 days. If you represent your order, check one post with the appropriate postage-paid post postage, post order shown on the order and include your first class mail, including a first class mail, including a first class mail, and your first class mail. The despatches are not limited to the number of orders from the despatches to the despatches. The despatches are not limited to the number of orders from the despatches to the despatches.

HIGH PRIZE PH3141

Registered Office: Pressplay Ltd, Mornchurch Hts1 4KD Co Reg No 0374/2016

BP PC87 Complete the coupon and post today to: Pressplay Ltd. (Dept PH3141) 8 Whittle End, Great Neiloy, Braintree, Essex CM77 9BA.

100% GUARANTEE If you are not totally satisfied with your purchase, return goods within 14 days of receipt for a full refund.

---

Chums

MEN'S

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and enter source code: MOS3226

IMPORTANT! YOU MUST ENTER SOURCE CODE ON OUR WEBSITE TO BENEFIT FROM THIS PROMOTIONAL OFFER

Send cheques/POs/Mastercard/Visa card details to: Chums Ltd., (Dept. MOS3226), P.O. Box 94, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 1FG

Personal shoppers welcome at our showroom. Open Mon – Week 10am – 4pm. M57 Junction 4, off School Lane, Unity Grove, Knowsley Business Park, Liverpool L34 9AB

Our friendly Customer Service Staff are waiting to take your order. Call Now!

VISA

08715 267 166

Master

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Calls past 1-15 per minute, plus your networks access charge.

Chums offer you FREE RETURNS and complete satisfaction if you want an exchange or your money back. Goods usually dispatched within 3 to 5 working days.

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Our prices are nuts! Order yours today from just £18 a pair.

WAIST SIZE	CAT PRICE	OFFER PRICE	SAVING
32, 34, 36	£32	£24	£8
38, 40, 42	£35	£24	£10
44, 46, 48, 50	£37	£24	£10

Inside Leg 27" 29" 31" 33" (DOOR MIST)

Colours: STONE, AIRFORCE, BLACK, KHAKI, NAVY, DARK STONE

WAIST SIZE	CAT PRICE	OFFER PRICE	SAVING
32, 34, 36	£34	£18	£6
38, 40, 42	£38	£18	£10
44, 46, 48, 50	£40	£18	£10

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COLOURS: AIRFORCE, BLACK, KHAKI, NAVY, DARK STONE

WAIST SIZE	CAT PRICE	OFFER PRICE	SAVING
32, 34, 36	£36	£20	£8
38, 40, 42	£39	£20	£9
44, 46, 48, 50	£41	£20	£9

CHECK NOW

FREE DELIVERY TO YOUR DOOR - FREE RETURNS

Chums Ltd., (Dept. MOS3226), P.O. Box 94, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 1FG.

Please send me item(s) indicated PLEASE USE BLOCK LETTERS.

ITEM NUMBER	COLOUR	SIZE	INSIDE LEG	QTY	PRICE

Order MT277 - Multi Pocket Trousers

Order MS148 - Multi Pocket Regular Length Shorts

Order MS218 - Multi Pocket Longer Length Shorts

I enclose Cheques / POs made payable to Chums Ltd

for £____. Please write your address (inc. post code)

on reverse of cheque or charge my MasterCard/Visa

Account No.

Sub Total

UK mainland P&P

Highlands & Islands P&P

TOTAL

Cheque No.

☐	VISA	☐	PLEASE TICK: DEBIT MY A/C. NUMBER AS SHOWN BELOW

Expiry Date: _/_/____ CVC (Last 3 digits on back of card)

Title: _ Forename: _ Surname:

Address:

Post Code:

Mobile/Tel:

Email:

The stock and/or any of the paper products and products offered by you from either MasterCard, Visa, MasterCard, Visa, MasterCard or other companies. If you would prefer not to purchase these products, you may be required to pay the price of the paper products and products offered by you from either MasterCard or Visa. If you have a legal, tax, or other legal condition, you will be required to pay the price of the paper products and products offered by you from either MasterCard or Visa. If you have a legal, tax, or other legal condition, you will be required to pay the price of the paper products and products offered by you from either MasterCard or Visa.

SOURCE CODE MOS3226

Chums Ltd. Co-Reg No. 1101470

---

Gtech Cleaning up messes before they take over

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---

PUZZLEMEISTER® MAILONSUNDAY.CO.UK

GET PUZZLING!

MORE PUZZLES THAN ANY OTHER PAPER, ANY DAY OF THE WEEK

WORDSEARCH

WIN £100

All but one of the islands listed below are hidden in the grid. Find the missing term and you could win £100! Words can be horizontal, vertical or diagonal, backwards or forwards. Answer next week. Last week's missing term: CANOEING.

R	D	F	U	E	R	T	E	V	E	N	T	U	R	A	S
A	N	J	P	A	Z	I	B	I	S	E	R	O	L	F	U
B	A	V	D	U	R	P	F	O	B	T	R	T	E	N	M
I	L	C	I	O	K	O	S	G	E	M	O	L	T	E	A
Z	N	H	U	V	M	N	E	L	T	N	B	A	E	V	T
N	E	I	Y	L	M	I	P	A	G	Y	R	C	R	I	R
A	E	S	G	H	O	X	N	A	S	U	N	O	C	S	A
Z	R	P	A	U	R	P	A	I	H	T	Q	M	B	C	O
G	G	A	N	Y	T	H	U	M	C	V	E	J	O	K	D
W	T	N	R	O	L	J	O	S	B	A	C	R	B	E	N
A	D	I	Z	R	B	I	P	D	P	H	U	K	E	T	A
L	G	O	P	O	M	L	C	J	E	I	B	L	T	O	L
L	G	L	K	A	J	Q	M	I	B	S	A	G	N	A	E
I	H	A	L	U	Z	O	N	O	S	A	V	A	J	H	C
S	F	T	G	R	Q	X	A	C	I	A	M	A	J	U	I
B	A	H	R	A	I	N	L	A	N	Z	A	R	O	T	E

July 19 winner: Helen Corbet, Cambridge.

ASCENSION	JAVA
BAHRAIN	KOS
BORNEO	LANZAROTE
CRETE	LUZON
CUBA	MALTA
DOMINICA	NEVIS
EASTER	GAHU
FLORES	PHUKET
FUERTEVENTURA	RHODES
GOZO	SICILY
GREENLAND	SUMATRA
HISPANIOLA	TONGA
IBIZA	UPOLU
ICELAND	WALLIS
JAMAICA	ZANZIBAR

TO ENTER: Once you have found the missing word, text SEARCH followed by a space then your answer, name and postcode to 657061. Texts cost £1 plus your standard network charge. Or call 0905 652 2210 and leave your answer and details. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company's network access charge. Entries will be accepted until 8:30pm on Friday. See today's solutions panel for terms and conditions. This week's solution will be published next week and the winner's name on Sunday, August 30.

SUPER SUDOKU NO 1204

2	10	12	7	8	3	4
		5	4	11		2
8	6				7	5
			12
11	1	3	5	10	8
9		1	11	7	6	12
	4		9	6	8	10
	8	7	10	3	11	12
		8	5	7	2
7	12	4	2	9	1
5	6	1	8			2
3	2	10		4	9

WIN £100

Test your mental agility with our Super Sudoku and you could win a £100 cash prize! Each row, column and 4x3 box must contain all the numbers from 1 to 12. Call 0905 652 2210 for extra tips. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company's network access charge.

Winner of 1201: Donna Lown, West Sussex.

TO ENTER: Text SEARCH followed by a space, your 1 shaded squares, reading left to right, name and postcode to 657061. Texts cost £1 plus your standard network charge. Or call 0905 292 1650 and leave your answer and details. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company's network access charge. Entries will be accepted until 8:30pm on Friday. See today's solutions panel for terms and conditions. This week's solution will be published next week and the winner's name on Sunday, August 30.

CODE CRACKER

2	2	2	2	2	11	21	2
2	8	1	1	3	17	6	19
4	17	12	16	24	3	18
4	1	11	20	16	5	13	24
6	1		20	18	1	23
2	1	22	23	12	12	4	5
16	2	16	5	8	1	22	16
15	15	25	21	8	14	14
2	16	8	1	1	23	11	16
22	22	13	10	2	22	19	22
2	7	22	20	1	1	9	14
26	26	2	18	18	9	24

WIN £100

1	14	Crack our code for your chance to win £100 cash! Just work out which number goes with which letter to complete the grid below this puzzle. The answer could be a name, such as Danube, or a phrase, eg at once.
2	15
3	16
4	17
5	18
6	19
7	20
8	21
9	22
10	23
11	24
12	25
13	26

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

This week's prize word	3	17	22	5	19	24	20

July 19 winner: Richard Tyler, Guildford.

NEED HELP GETTING STARTED? You can get up to three extra clues by calling 0905 292 1670. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company's network access charge. Or text EXTRA to 657061. Texts cost £1 plus your standard network rate. Phone/text services Helpline: 0755 1000 601.

THE PRIZE CROSSWORD

WIN £1,000

There's an amazing £1,000 prize for the first correct solution drawn at random in our general knowledge Prize Crossword. Entries must arrive by Friday, August 14 (photocopies not accepted). Today's solution will appear next week and the winner's name on Sunday, August 30. SEE BELOW THE GRID for details on how to enter.

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11					12			13
14				15
17				18		19	20
23			24					25
26		27		28					29
31				32					10
36			37		38			39
39				40					10

ISPY

NAME ADDRESS

POSTCODE

TELEPHONE

Across

1 Fourth American president, who led his country into war against the United Kingdom (5.7) 8 Solid carbon dioxide, used as a refrigerant and to create smoke in stage shows (3.3) 11 British singer nicknamed 'the Forces' 'Sweetheart' during the Second World War (4.4) 12 Bridge, 19th-century structure spanning the River Thames; an iconic symbol of London (5) 13 See 29 Down 14 A recurrent series of events or processes in plants and animals (5) 15 US basketball team who won the 2026 NBA championship, 53 years after their last championship victory (3.4.6) 17 The existing state of affairs (6.3) 19 J.J. British physicist who discovered the electron (7) 23 A semiprecious stone, varying in colour from white to green (4) 24 Relating to an early stage in the evolutionary development of a group of organisms (9) 25 Large, marine spiny-finned food fish of warm waters (4) 26 George British mountaineer who died on Everest in 1924 (7) 28 1971 film directed by Ken Russell, starring Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed (3.6) 31 Irish politician; three-times Taoistarch of Ireland and third president of Ireland (5.2.6)

34 Stuart England's second-highest cricket taker of all time in Test cricket (5) 36 Ferber, American novelist who wrote Show Boat and Giant (4) 37 A machine for cutting grass on lawns (5) 38 belt, a prize awarded to British professional boxing champions in various weight categories (8) 39 Companion of Robinson: Cruises in Daniel Defoe's 1719 novel (6) 40 A cocktail containing whisky, others and sugar or syrup (3.9) Down 2 Rare nocturnal arboreal primate of Madagascar, related to the lemurs (3-3) 3 A piece of ornamental material on the shoulder of a garment, especially a military uniform (9) 4 A county of the northwest Republic of Ireland, on the Atlantic (4) 5 Set of clothes consisting of an evening jacket and formal trousers, often worn with a bow tie (6.4) 6 Barbecued spiced meat cooked on skewers and served with a sauce (5) 7 The largest city of New Jersey (6) 8 McInnes, Scottish football manager who joined Rangers from Hearts in June 2026 (5) 9 Silvery metallic element used in silmys, lasers and as a catalyst (7)

10 A place where vehicles or travellers are stopped for official identification or inspection (10) 16 A state of unconsciousness (6) 18 Heep, character in Charles Dickens's novel David Copperfield (5) 20 A port in southwest Spain, between the estuaries of the Odel and Tinto rivers (6) 21 Lizard-like amphibian of central and southern Europe (10) 22 The title character of a folk tale, who is assisted by a fairy godmother (10) 25 A broadcast station airing topical discussions and listeners' calls (4.5) 27 A big cat of African and Asian forests, usually having a tawny yellow coat with black spots (7) 29 & 13 Across My Country, British patriotic hymn with a melody by Gustav Holst (1.3.2.4) 30 Charles de French general and statesman who served as president of France 1959-1969 (6) 32 A figure representing the human form, used for displaying clothes (5) 33 Tempted or attracted by the promise of some type of reward (5) 35 Ancient Egyptian symbol of life in the shape of a cross with a loop for the uppermost arm (4)

NOW THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO ENTER

Complete the Prize Crossword and count how many times the letter T appears in the finished grid. Then text ISPY followed by your answer, name and postcode to 657061. Texts cost £1 plus your standard network charge. Or call 0905 652 2210 and leave your answer and details. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company's network access charge. Entries will be accepted until 8:30pm on Friday. Or post your completed grid AND if you answer to Prize Crossword 2200, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 354, Wynondham, NR9 1SA. Entries must arrive by Friday, August 14 (photocopies not accepted). The winner will be selected at random from correct if you answer. See today's solutions panel for terms and conditions.

Winner of 2278: Jamie Sanders, Glasgow.

Last week's answer: 10

---

TO GET PUZZLING!

SUMMIT UP

If the number in each triangle is the sum of the two below, what is the top number? Answer next week.

KEIJO

Place the tiles into the grid so that four different numbers and four different shapes appear in each row and column. Answer next week.

WORD BUILDER

Answer each clue so that every word contains the same letters as the previous word, plus or minus one. Answer next week.

1 Ushered 2 Trade 3 Forest clearing 4 Swing free 5 Burdened 6 University official 7 Lair

KEN KEN

Fill the squares with numbers 1-6 so that each number appears once in each row and column. The number must also produce the result in the top left of each area - multiply, add up, subtract or divide. Numbers may be repeated within an area. Answer next week.

QUICK SUDOKU

Complete grids with numbers 1 to 9 so each row, column and 3x3 block contains the numbers 1 to 9 used only once.

TO ENTER: Text PRICE

followed by your answer (5 shaded squares must top to bottom); name and postcode to 60700. Tests cost £1 plus your standard network charge. Or call 0160 252 5660 and leave your answer and details. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company's network access charge. Entries will be accepted until 11:30pm on Friday. See today's solutions panel for terms and conditions. Phone/fred services. Helpline: 0530 1050 600. July 19 winner: John Grocott, Stoke-on-Trent. This week's solution will be published next week and the winner's name on Sunday, August 10.

WIN £100

		2	9		4		1
		8			5		3	4
6	4	5			2
2				9		7	5	3
			7		3
3	7	6		2				9
			3			8	9	2
9	6		2			3
	2		4		9	5

DINGBATS

Find the familiar phrase, name or saying in the letters or symbols. Readers are invited to send in Dingbats to The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 354, Wymondham, NR18 8JG. There is a £10 book token for each one published. Check out the website at dingbats.net. Answers on today's solutions panel.

1. From Mrs L. Wood, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset

KEYPIT

2. From Sarah Bennett, Havant, Hunts

3. From Brian Johnson, Ringwood, Hunts

Lucre IV Nil

4. From Barry Dugard, Witney, Oxon

DITLOIDS

Can you work out what the initials stand for below? For example, 7 D of the W = 7 days of the week. Answers on today's solutions panel.

1 N The 9 O'C N

4 18.29 M: M T J W R

2 1660: The R of the M

5 1 M N by PC

3 A T Of 2 C by CD

6 A H has 7 S

	5		9		3
		3		6	2	8
1	3		2		9
	7		3		8	4
		1	4
4	6		8		1
	1	4			5	9
8	9	7		1
	6	2			7

MEDIA

	9					8
		2	5	9		4
1			6
	4			2		1
	1	5			4	7
	8		7			3
				3
2			8	1	7
	7				3

HAND

BRAIN TRAIN

Run along our mental arithmetic train track to see how far you can get - and how long you take to get there! There are four station stops, A, B, C and D. You can start at A, B or C and stop at B, C or D. From your chosen starting point, drive through the instructions to your destination. Write your answer at each stop, then start again with the first number after the station. Answers on today's solutions panel.

RATINGS: Good - from A to B in 30 seconds. Very good - B to C in 30 seconds or A to C in 50 seconds. Excellent - C to D in 30 seconds, B to D in 50 seconds or A to D in 75 seconds. Outstanding - A to D in 60 seconds.

PUB QUIZ

1 MOVIES:

Which 1989 animated film follows a young dinosaur named Littlefoot who is searching for the Great Valley?

2 MUSIC:

Lovefoot and Erase/Rewind are singles by which Swedish rock band?

3 TV & RADIO:

Which television series stars Pearce Quigley as a man who creates humanoid creatures to answer his questions?

4 SPORT:

Which cricketer was England's captain and top scorer at the 2022 men's T20 World Cup?

Answers on today's solutions panel.

5 GEOGRAPHY:

Consisting of almost 1200 islands, what is the smallest Asian country by land area?

6 ART:

Which historical figure is depicted crossing the Alps on horseback in five portraits by Jacques-Louis David?

7 FOOD & DRINK:

Named after a Russian nobleman, which dish consists of beef in a mustard and sour cream sauce?

8 NATURE:

The Pacific geoduck is a large species of which type of mollusc?

9 WORDS:

What is the meaning of the word expate? a) Banish, b) Accelerate, c) Atone.

10 BRITAIN:

What is the most populous town in the Orkney islands?

11 THIS YEAR:

Which singer performed his ballad Everything Hallelujah during the Fifa World Cup final half-time show on 19 July?

12 POT LUCK:

Which of the Evangelists is the patron saint of artists, doctors and bachelors?

BARE BONES

WIN A COLLINS ENGLISH DICTIONARY AND THESAURUS SET, AND A BRADFORD'S CROSSWORD SOLVER'S DICTIONARY

Our Bare Bones Crossword is unique because you have to complete the grid - numbers and squares - as well. We have inserted four black squares and four clue numbers to get you going. The crossword has a four-way symmetry: both top and bottom and left and right match, so you can fill in 12 more squares straight away.

There is a prize of a Collins English Dictionary and Thesaurus set, and a Bradford's Crossword Solver's Dictionary. Send your solution to: Bare Bones Crossword 1260, The Mail on Sunday, PO Box 354, Wymondham, NR18 8JG. Entries must arrive by Friday, August 10 (photocopies not accepted). The winner's name will be published on August 10 from the first correct entry shown.

Winner of 1260: Nick Garrett, Stafford.

NAME

ADDRESS

POSTCODE

TELEPHONE

Across

1 Is primate able to have a snack?

4 Excellent selection 9 Laid car out, being thorough

12 Look to acquire time for nobility

14 Honest about quantity

15 Sets off after time trials

16 Rascal took front off shoe

17 New test includes an upper-class disease

18 Remedy includes small oath

20 The artisan has

concern for others

22 Ready for collection

23 Happening during quiet section

25 Drankard gets present - stick that in your pipe (Two words)

27 Reason to get pulverised

28 Intoxicated by British game

Down

2 Danes out of range

3 Appearing to have a vegetable

5 Immerse, losing gold - initial colour

6 Tribe initially

generating noise

7 English reviewer is first to find fault

8 Internet joke confusing notes and souvenirs

10 Tank caught one at the back

11 Left out, his assembly is ill-mannered

12 Very little money for a cartoon

13 Organs stolen in perceptible range

19 Republican finished giving name for dog

21 Representative of a fellow

24 Contented with the amount

26 Low-flying bird of prey

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GET PUZZLING!

11

MENTAL BLOCKS

Fit the coloured blocks into the square without rotating or flipping them. The numbers covered by each block should add up to the totals in the circles. There should be no repeated numbers in a coloured block. Answer next week.

WORD SQUARE

Try this mini-puzzle. Answers next week.

ACROSS

1 Player 2 Hoard 3 Removes 4 Motionless 5 American coins

DOWN

1 Garret 2 Long-legged bird 3 Emblem 4 Obvious 5 Reposes

BULL'S EYE

How many words of four or more letters can you make from the letters given? Letters may be used only once and the centre letter must be used in each word. At least one word uses all nine letters. No words with a capital, hyphen or apostrophe, no verb forms ending in 's', no plurals ending in 's'. Answers next week.

How did you do?

Score the number of words that you found - 17 Good 25 Very good 33 or more Excellent

ARROWORD

Complete the grid, then unscramble the letters in the yellow squares to reveal a coastal town. Answer next week.

TO ENTER: Test ARWORD then your answer, name and postcode to 65700 (e.g. ARWORD London John Smith WR 517). Tests cost (1) plus standard network charge. Or call 0901 252 5890 and leave your answer and details. Calls cost (1) plus your telephone company's network access charge. Lines close at 1/2(fpm on Friday, See today's solutions panel for terms and conditions. Job 19 winner. Jean Potter, East Grinstead. Phone/text services helpline: 0338 8606 685.

QUICK CROSSWORD

Answers next week.

ACROSS

1 US coin (4) 3 Branch of mathematics (8) 9 Horse (7) 10 Himalayan country (5) 11 Belgian former tennis player (7,5) 13 Nick author (6) 15 Apex (6) 17 Fruit (12) 20 Put on scales (5) 21 Mobile home (7) 22 Unconventional person (8) 23 Colour (4)

DOWN

1 Large bottle (8) 2 Biblical leader (5) 4 Fisherman (6) 5 Current (12) 6 Bird (7) 7 Sailor (4) 8 Former England footballer (5,7) 12 Court penalty (8) 14 North Carolina's capital (7) 16 Shrub (6) 18 Heavy block (5) 19 Cotton for cleaning a wound (4)

FUTOSHIKI

Each line across and down is to be filled with the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The same number cannot occur more than once in any row or column. Your only clues are the numbers given and whether a number is larger (>) or smaller (<) than the adjacent number. Answer next week.

KILLER

The normal rules of Sudoku apply. In addition, digits in each inner dotted shape must add up to the number in the top left corner. Answer next week.

KAKURO

Fill each sequence of blank squares using the numbers 1-9. Each sequence - across and down - must total the number in the shaded box at the beginning or top of that sequence. Numbers may be repeated within a line or column but NOT in a sequence. Answer next week.

EVENS

Insert any digit from 1 to 9 in the squares, so that the numbers in each row and column add up to the given totals. No digits may be repeated within a row or column, and even numbers must be placed in shaded squares. Answer next week.

TETROMINOES

Using the given shapes, create four four-letter anagrams by dividing the grid into sections. You may rotate the shapes, but may not flip them. Answers next week.

CHESS

Black's king is defenceless, so winning is just a matter of time. As White, can you checkmate Black in at most three moves? Our answer on the solutions panel.

BATTLESHIPS

Find one battleship, two cruisers, three destroyers and four submarines in the grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row contain ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Answers next week.

---

12 GET PUZZLING!

SIR LANCELOT AND HIS PAGE

PLAY FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN £250!

WIN £250

Every week our gallant knight engages in an amiable jouvet with his page. They provide different clues that give the same answers. Sir Lancelot gives the Cryptic Clues and his page the Quick Clues. Join them in their game and count how many times the letter 'i' appears in the completed grid for a chance to win £250! Answers next Sunday.

SIR LANCELOT'S CRYPTIC CLUES

Across

8 Pressure on furious buccaneer (6) 9 Simple worker included a culinary vegetable (8) 10 Hostile manner in theatrical pose (8) 11 Harass an animal (6) 12 Excellent noise (5) 13 Sun shows beginning, but no ending (4) 14 Feel sorry for mine reaching sticky end (4) 16 Figure time has been included for law (7) 18 Mill keys given to politician (7) 20 Liberate at no cost (4) 21 Journey out of resort ourselves (4) 22 Crane initially wobbled a little way (5) 25 Never-ending talk about sports equipment (6) 27 Lido unit deployed, bringing addition of water (8) 28 Clear policy statement lacks nothing (8) 29 Tried dates out behind back of restaurant (6)

Down

1 British riots organised in restaurant (6) 2 Ordered ornate item, a doll, with strings attached (10) 3 More business with puzzle (5) 4 Pay-out included, fast and in abundance (7) 5 Twice stop Scot being savage (9) 6 Endlessly examine an upright timber (4) 7 Film-maker ordered cider by hill (8) 14 Loyalty is to impart trouble (10) 15 Declares soldiers to be diplomats (9) 17 Station is fatal (8) 19 Reactionary did play instrument outside (7) 23 Top chef really likes something spicy (6) 24 Taste, not having a dish (5) 26 Prisoner finds his heart is in money (4)

THE PAGE'S QUICK CLUES

Across

8 Corsair (6) 9 Banana-like culinary vegetable (8) 10 Opinion (8) 11 Musteline omnivore (6) 12 Anything audible (5) 13 Celestial body (4) 14 Shame (4) 16 Law (7) 18 Manufacturing plant (7)

20 At liberty (4) 21 Organised trip (4) 22 Lifting machine (5) 25 Circular athletics object (6) 27 Weakened liquid (8) 28 Obvious (8) 29 Sampled (6) Down 1 Cafe (6) 2 Puppet (10) 3 Word puzzle (5) 4 In abundance (7)

5 Philistine (9) 6 Metal fastener (4) 7 Manager (8) 14 National pride (10) 15 Political figures (9) 17 Conductor (8) 19 Anti-industrialist (7) 23 Spice (6) 24 Crockery item (5) 26 Monetary disc (4)

TO ENTER: Complete the Crossword and count how many times the letter 'i' appears in the grid. Then text LANCELOT followed by a space, your answer, name and postcode to 65704, eg LANCELOT 9 (one credit with 911, from cost 0 plus your standard network size. To enter by phone, call (865) 652 2540 and leave your answer and details. Loks cost 0 plus your telephone company's network access charge. Entries will be accepted until 9:30pm on Friday. See below for terms and conditions. Phone and text Helpline 0538 1000 600.

July 19 winner: Yvonne Neild, Wilmslow, Cheshire. Last week's answer: 17

NUMBERFIT

All of the listed numbers fit into the grid and there's only one way to do it. One number has been provided to get you started. Answer next week.

4 digits

6234

8243

8375

8584

5 digits

12643

15608

29543

63344

6 digits

101524

303930

487932

734585

734630

735760

934213

937509

7 digits

6548247

8354745

8430374

8456243

8 digits

37274236

43544540

48401572

83457353

PATHFINDER

Beginning with the letter H in the square box, follow a continuous path to find 11 fictional duos. The trail passes through each and every letter once and may twist up, down or sideways, but never diagonally. Answer next week.

E	S	W	A	M	L	E	A	T	Y	R
V	E	O	L	O	U	H	R	J	E	R
J	E	O	S	T	I	T	Z	M	O	T
E	D	P	S	E	S	E	A	T	E	L
H	Y	O	U	R	E	N	N	E	R	G
L	G	R	M	O	H	A	J	A	N	L
L	Y	R	E	L	M	E	S	H	S	E
Y	B	S	H	C	T	A	W	O	M	E
K	E	U	R	T	S	O	N	R	J	O
E	S	L	O	U	K	S	T	S	U	L
J	S	U	M	H	Y	R	A	T	E	I

LAST WEEK'S SOLUTIONS

PRIZE CROSSWORD AUGUST 2 SOLUTIONS, NO 2280

ACROSS: 10 Narrative, 12 A cappella, 13 Lover, 14 Labour, 15 Hater, 16 Chicago, 18 Beer garden, 22 Barnacola, 24 Andover, 27 Accured, 28 Greyhound, 30 King's Cross, 32 Wernwolf, 35 Mummy, 37 Robert, 38 Joker, 39 Onchogun, 40 C586WEN.

DOWN: 21 Lewis Brown, 23 Dare, 4 Miller, 5 Gobi, 6 Pleasantwater, 7 Racer, 8 Sports, 9 Gist, 10 Cassandra, 13 Kerbs, 15 Roach, 20 David Hoshine, 25 Superdome, 27 Alder, 25 Douce, 26 Ein Ki-moon, 29 Afford, 30 Layers, 33820, 34 Henry, 36 & 1 Down Moe en place, 37 Togo, 38 Iced.

WORDGREEN

SUPER SQUARE
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17
9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18
10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19
11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20

NEW BOX

5	2	3	1	6	4
6	2	2	4	3	1
2	6	1	3	4	5
3	4	6	5	1	2
4	1	5	6	2	3
1	3	4	2	5	6

COST COLORS LAST WEEK'S ANSWER: ALBOST

1	2	3	4	5	6
2	3	4	5	6	7
3	4	5	6	7	8
4	5	6	7	8	9
5	6	7	8	9	10

MENTAL BLOCKS

9	3	7	8	4
6	1	5	1	6
2	1	2	2	3
3	1	2	2	3
4	1	2	2	4

BELOW

1	2	4	3
2	4	3	1
4	3	1	2
3	1	2	4

PUTTING

1	5	4	2	3
5	3	2	1	4
4	2	5	3	1
2	1	3	4	5
3	1	2	4	5

EVENTS

4	9	5	6
2	6	8	4
1	8	7	9
6	7	9	8

TETROMINOS

E	L	T	A
L	D	M	P
L	U	B	M
F	O	D	L

BATTERY

1	2	3	4	5
2	3	4	5	6
3	4	5	6	7
4	5	6	7	8

1	2	3	4	5
2	3	4	5	6
3	4	5	6	7
4	5	6	7	8
5	6	7	8	9

BLUE BOXES NO 1

BLUE BOXES NO 2

1	2	3	4	5
2	3	4	5	6
3	4	5	6	7
4	5	6	7	8
5	6	7	8	9
6	7	8	9	10

QUICK CROSSWORD

NUMBERFIT

PATHFINDER

RANDED

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
2	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
3	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
4	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
5	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9

COMMENTS: 1. NO MORE INFORMATION, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue

THIS WEEK'S SOLUTIONS

PUBLISHER

1 The Land Before Time, 2 The Cardigans,

3 Small Prophets, 4 Ins Butter, 5 Mulders,

6 Napoleon Bonaparte, 7 Beef Shrapnroff, 8 Clam,

9 c) Alone, 10 Kirkwall, 11 Justin Bieber, 12 Luke.

DONORAGES

1 The Poma Lisa, 2 Keep it

short, 3 For and against,

4 Moves For Nothing.

DRAW TRAIN

A-B=208, B-C=822, C-D=50.

OUTLOOKS

3 Not The 9 O'Clock News, 2 Bold The Restoration of

the Monarchs, 3 A Tale Of 2 Cities by Charles Dickens,

4 BLS Mimes: Men's Triple Jump World Record,

5 I'Pere Night by Phil Collins, 6 A Hegtoppen has 7 Sales.

CHESS

1. QaD= 4b6.2. QbD=

Kag5. Qd4 mute.

If L. Kg8 then 2.

Qd7= Kh8 5. Kk8

mute: If L. Kk8

then 2. Qf8 mute.

Terms and Conditions: Open by UK residents only, excluding residents of Northern Ireland, employees of the Promoter or anyone connected with the Promoter, their relatives or members of their households. Entrants must be 16 years or over. By entering any accept these terms, One entry per person. One winner will be selected from all correct and eligible entries received. Winners will be notified within 7 days, Failure to accept the prize within 7 days will make any claim invalid, when the Promoter will select another winner. Prizes are non-transferable. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute a prize with an item of equal value. The determination of the Promoter on all matters is final. No correspondence will be entered into. The Promoter reserves the right in its reasonable discretion to: (a) disqualify any entrant whose contact is contrary to the spirit of the terms; (b) declare as void any entries resulting from any printing, production and/or distribution errors or are error materially affecting the nature of claimants or the value of claims. If any of the provisions of these terms is unenforceable, it shall be severed from the remainder and the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected. These terms are governed by English law. The Promoter is Associated Newspapers Limited, 5 Every Street, London W8 5HY