thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-17--Sex Education Series 2: Emma Mackey Reveals How The Netflix Show's Huge Success Has Changed Her Life

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The last 12 months have been huge for rising British star Emma Mackey.
This time last year, Emma was a relative unknown with only a couple of credits to her name, but within the space of a few weeks, she found herself the break-out star of one of Netflix’s biggest shows of 2019, Sex Education.
Pretty much immediately, Sex Education became a huge hit with both critics and viewers, with the show eventually being named Netflix’s eighth most-watched of 2019, ahead of staple shows like Orange Is The New Black and Queer Eye.
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Emma Mackey in the second series of Sex Education Sam Taylor/Netflix
As high school student Maeve Wiley, Emma won herself a legion of new fans, and has since gone on to land a role in Kenneth Branagh’s upcoming interpretation of Death On The Nile, where her co-stars will include Annette Bening, Armie Hammer, Jennifer Saunders and Wonder Woman herself, Gal Gadot.
With a new series of Sex Education now streaming on Netflix, we spoke to the actress about what’s made it such a juggernaut hit, and how her life has changed beyond recognition since the world took Maeve to their hearts...
Series one of Sex Education was so hugely popular, did the show’s success take you by surprise at all?
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Of course! I had no idea what to expect, and we became – all of us – very, very close, the cast and crew included. So it was a lovely bubble to be a part of. And then suddenly, it belongs to the world, and it’s not your tiny little thing anymore. And once it’s out there, people... want to be friends with the characters, and want to be a part of that little warm bubble that is somewhere in Wales. People are really drawn to it. But yeah, it was a lovely surprise.
Was there a moment for you where you suddenly realised just how much impact the show had made?
There’ve been a few, I can’t think of, like, a big moment, but I think it’s just the positive feedback that we’ve had. I don’t really look at messages [online] or anything, but it’s really sweet receiving letters from people. I like that, it’s quite old school. I like when people actually write notes to you, I think that’s really touching.
And then yeah, the whole being recognised on the street thing is weird. But, you know, it’s lovely. It’s a new thing, a new way of life to adapt to.
On set with co-stars Amy Lou Wood and Asa Butterfield Sam Taylor/Netflix
What are the sorts of things people say to you in their letters, because Maeve is a character a lot of people will relate to?
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Hmm… it’s more generally about the show, and they think Maeve is really cool. And that they want to be her friend. And I feel very protective of Maeve, so anything anyone says about Maeve that I agree with I’m like “we need to protect her at all costs. She needs to live her life and be happy”. We all just want her to be happy.
What about playing Maeve, and the show in general, are you the most proud of?
Oh so many things. I’m just generally very, very proud of our fight – we’ve started a movement, almost, I feel like it’s actually become quite a driving force. I’m just proud of the messages that it sends out and how warm and touching and accessible we’ve made it. It’s great that it’s on Netflix, because it gets to reach so many millions of people, who wouldn’t necessarily have that kind of chance on another platform. So that’s very cool.
What’s the biggest way that Sex Education has changed your life?
There’ve been a few ways. Professionally, the show has opened up a lot of doors, and I’ve been very lucky to meet and work with absolute living legends since the show came out. So I feel very, very thankful for that. And then, I think it’s just given me a tiny bit more confidence in myself, which is nice. So I’m keeping that and cherishing that and using it as a driving force for anything that comes next.
Emma at the show's world premiere in London Karwai Tang via Getty Images
Sex Education will be a formative show for a lot of young people, what were the formative shows for you growing up?
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Do you know what, I didn’t watch teen dramas, really. I think I was very, sort of, CBBC-oriented until I was relatively old. And then I watched Skins. And I thought I was really bad-ass. I think I watched teen movies when I was at uni, and I kind of got educated there on things like Mean Girls, Clueless, Breakfast Club.
It’s weird, I always talk about Tracey Beaker, yeah? But Tracey Beaker was such a good show. And I remember it quite well, and I just thought it was really cool because it was all about foster kids and growing up and putting a bunch of kids with different backgrounds all in one space together and seeing how they grow up together. It’s kind of similar to what we’re doing but… not as much sex involved!
What sets Sex Education apart from early teen dramas, like Skins?
A few things, but I think it’s generally very refreshing for people to see a show like that because I think it’s very truthful, I think it’s very warm and is quite wholesome, weirdly. Even though there’s a lot of silliness that goes on, it’s very touching, and I think people want to root for the characters, and they find themselves, certainly, in a few of the characters. I think it brings people together like that. And it’s helpful! It’s become a tool for people, which is really good. It’s become a healthy conversation-starter.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-17--Susie Wolff Is Bringing Diversity To The World Of Formula E

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Susie Wolff Is Bringing Diversity To The World Of Formula E
Susie Wolff has had a career of being the only woman on track, the only woman in the room. Becoming the first female driver in 22 years to drive a Formula One car at Silverstone in 2014, Wolff knew people had placed their highest hopes on her, while others were hoping she’d fail. After retiring from driving, Wolff has taken on a new challenge – the world of Formula E. As the principal for the Venturi racing team, Wolff is now a leading figure for this new world of electric race cars, and is aiming to make the championship more diverse than it’s Formula One predecessor. As Wolff likes to say, when the drivers are lined up on the starting grid, you can’t see who’s a man or a woman.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-17--The ‘Science’ In Gwyneth Paltrow's The Goop Lab Seems Convincing... At First

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We’ve watched all six episodes of The Goop Lab, so naturally, there are minor spoilers ahead.
“The following series is designed to entertain and inform not provide medical advice.” The waiver that appears at the start of every episode of The Goop Lab is telling – Netflix is fully aware of Goop’s controversial past. Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle brand has a history of purporting dubious wellness advice and the announcement of the series didn’t escape critics.
A trailer, released earlier this month, led for calls for the show to be cancelled before anyone had even seen it, as well as an impressive effort to get #PoopLab trending. So it’s partial relief, partial perverse disappointment I feel when the first episode isn’t the cuckoo free-for-all I’d imagined.
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Each 35-minute episode looks at the research surrounding a certain topic – ageing or orgasms, for example – before Goop staff take part in a mini “experiment” related to the subject under discussion.
Adam Rose/Netflix Gwyneth Paltrow in The Goop Lab.
Episode one is an exploration into the emerging world of psychedelic therapy. We meet academics who talk through the latest research, we watch as the Goop staff take magic mushrooms under the watch of trained therapists, and we hear from amazing case studies, like Jon, who took part in a peer-reviewed study investigating psychotherapy under the influence of MDMA, and shares the life-changing impact it’s had on his PTSD.
It wasn’t until a couple of hours later, when I’m pondering the show, that I realise I – a journalist who writes about health every day – have fallen for it.
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I’ve been Gooped.
Gwyneth Paltrow welcomes you to The Goop Lab on January 24 pic.twitter.com/o83H2OvzEV — Netflix US (@netflix) January 6, 2020
The episode doesn’t flag any opposing research urging caution about psychedelics. One tearful Goop employee declares she feels like she’s experienced “five years of therapy in about five hours” after taking mushrooms, but we’re told nothing about her aftercare, the long-term impact, or the risks of looking for a quick fix to deal with trauma.
We’re told taking psychedelics socially is very different from taking them in a clinical setting, but in the next breath, Paltrow admits once taking MDMA in Mexico. The undertone? “It’s no big deal.”
In the season intro, Paltrow claims she’ll be giving viewers “a much deeper dive into some of these topics” – the problem is, the show doesn’t go deep enough. Paltrow’s team scratch the surface, while excluding any naysayers from the table. We’re only shown one view: the Goop view.
As the series continues, the lines between science and pseudoscience become increasingly blurred and the oxymoronic title, The Goop Lab, becomes all the more fitting.
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Scientists with recognised qualifications appear alongside seemingly self-declared experts. Fact is presented alongside personal theory or opinion. Paltrow is no longer overtly selling us bonkers products that are easy to dismiss.
Gone are the references to Yoni Eggs, “inner beauty powder”, vagina candles and bank-breaking crystals. This time, Goop’s messaging is more insidious – and often, convincing. Without a critical eye, it’s easy to start nodding along.
Adam Rose/Netflix Some of the Goop team.
As the series continues, I’m reminded of gynaecologist Jen Gunter’s critique that wellness brands like Goop profit from “faux-feminism” – they think they’re doing a good job, while also promoting a patriarchal message. You see, episode three is all about female pleasure: we see vulvas, hear discussions on shame and watch what a woman’s orgasm really looks like. I’m about to chant “Gwyn for president!” when episode four brings me crashing back down to earth.
The team has turned their attention to ageing. Paltrow shares an empowering message about feeling a sense of “freedom” after hitting 40, and the women gather around to have a frank conversation about the pressures placed on women to stay youthful – in a world that values our appearance above all else.
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Then what do they go and do? Stick needles into their faces and embark on crazy diets in an attempt to look and feel younger.
Sure it’s entertaining – who doesn’t want to see Gwyneth Paltrow looking like a red balloon after a vampire facial? – but the laughs are short-lived.
One particularly troubling segment shows the actor embark on a “diet” that supposedly mimics the results of fasting in an attempt curb age-related disease. For five days, she survives on tiny sachets of food, flippantly saying she feels “weak”, before repeating aspirational, non-scientific phrases such as “detox” and “cleanse”.
I’m reminded of Goop’s previous recommendation that women should aim to be their “leanest liveable weight”. The fact that her 14-year-old daughter, Apple, is in the background, commenting on her mum’s calorie intake that day, makes it all the more concerning.
Episode five and six – focusing on energy and psychics respectively – follow a similar pattern.
Watch The Goop Lab for entertainment, but remember to keep your wits about you – that waiver needs repeating every 10 minutes. With a team of recognised scientists by her side, Paltrow’s agenda is more convincing than ever – and that’s what makes it so terrifying.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-17--My Husband Said He’d Get A Vasectomy But Hasn’t. I’m Okay With That

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The first time my husband told me he definitely wanted a vasectomy, I’d just given birth to our second son, and we were gazing in dumb adoration at him.
“His eyes are like chocolate buttons!” I said, like an idiot. “Look at his cute little rosebud lips!” My husband proclaimed, with equal perspicacity. Then: “I’m going to get a vasectomy as soon as possible.” “Sounds good,” was my immediate reply. “God, he’s like a little doll.”
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Honestly, a vasectomy sounded like the logical next step. I’d just been through my second emergency Caesarean section; I didn’t seem to get on with contraception, and despite the fact that I was a lady of a certain age (41) at the time and we were running out of bedrooms, my cheery obstetrician had informed me “you have the uterus of a woman half your age!” and could “probably churn ’em out till kingdom come!”
This was was two years ago. Has my husband had a vasectomy? No. Do I mind? Not a bit of it. Here’s why.
Malte Mueller via Getty Images Couple face to face
1. We looked into what a vasectomy actually involved
For months after the birth my husband and I would yelp “Vasectomy!” if anyone even looked like they’d ask about future children.
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But further investigation revealed that vasectomies on the NHS can feature long waiting lists, pre-procedural counselling, and during recovery you must a) still use contraception until b) you have produced “many, many” ejaculations proving the vasectomy has “taken”. And to be honest, all squeamishness about scalpels and scrota aside, it hardly seems worth it at the moment. That’s not to say vasectomies aren’t worth it – they’re really a very sensible thing to undertake. But they do take commitment. Right now both of us are engaged in the constant firefight that is parenting two small, sleep-averse children while working full-time and with very little outside help. So it’s just one of those things we need to put off until our free childcare hours kick in and the whirlwind eases up a little. Besides, right now we get so little time to ourselves – individually or as a couple – that the best possible scenario for vasectomy recovery would involve “any, any ejaculations”.
2. “Our” contraception isn’t “my” job
There is a wider trend for men to let the responsibility for contraception rest on the woman’s shoulders. Some man-babies are content for their female partners to wreck their bodies with hormones and implants just so long as they don’t have to deal with a scalpel on their nethers, or the inconvenience of condoms.
My own long history of contraception involves depression, worsened migraines, and six months of bleeding thanks to the contraceptive pill, and chronic bacterial vaginosis from the copper coil (not to mention the horrific pain of having it placed in my then-maiden uterus).
So I jettisoned all these methods (not literally, although it might have been cathartic with the IUD) and have stuck to condoms ever since.
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My husband has always been fully supportive of this – that sentence originally started with the word “luckily”, but it’s not luck. It’s my husband being an actual compassionate human being, which is what – in reality – anyone in a relationship should expect from their partner.
3. Pain isn’t a competition
Friends and family members have reacted to my husband’s reticence so weirdly. “You are aware, aren’t you,” some have repeatedly pronounced, “that your wife went through the pain of childbirth.”
Sure, I went through that pain. In fact, if we’re talking about it, I went through the pain of ultrasound technicians pressing down really hard on my belly fat (this doesn’t get talked about enough); I had a giant amniocentesis needle plunged through my belly for DNA sampling; developed sepsis during labour; and experienced back-to-back labour (the most painful kind) with no pain relief.
Exactly none of this happened because my husband hadn’t had a vasectomy, and at no point was I expecting him to rack up an equivalent amount of pain to match mine. If anything, having experienced this sort of pain has made me more sympathetic to anyone who’s feeling a bit iffy about, for example, someone cutting a hole in their scrotum – no matter how much good it might do.
4. There should be no double-standards around fear
Whenever I’ve expressed fear of – say – having the smear (which can be painful and uncomfortable) people have treated me with empathy. They’ve understood my fears; tried to assuage them; suggested coping strategies; and, very gently, reminded me of the importance of the smear test.
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Whereas my husband gets jokey, blokey “are you a man or a mouse”-style commandments to “man up” or “take it like a man”. Yes, vasectomies are safe and effective, but they can involve pain in a sensitive area. If you wouldn’t tell a woman to stop being a coward, why is it okay to say it to a man?
5. Here’s what my husband has achieved in the last two years
He passed his driving test and bought a car, which has been a game-changer for our family. He’s found new and innovative ways of generating income to help support us all. He’s stepped up and taken care of everything – food, home, parenting, working, everything – while I spent most of a year in bed with a chronic illness. And he raised thousands of pounds for Macmillan Cancer Support by walking the circumference of the Isle of Wight in memory of his mother, who died just a few weeks before our second son was born.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-17--Prince Harry's Latest Instagram May Contain A Hidden Message

“I’d like to leave the country / For a month of Sundays / Burn the town where I was born”
“A girl consumed by fire / We all know her desire / From the plans that she has made / I had her on a promise.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-17--Gripping Images Show Mourning Koala Beside Dead Companion In Australia Fires

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Devastating images have captured the moment a singed koala appears to mourn the death of its companion after a wildfire decimated their Kangaroo Island habitat.
The island, off the coast of South Australia, is a biodiverse haven for wildlife. It’s sometimes described as the Galapagos of Australia. Fires destroyed as much as half of the rich habitat there when they tore through two weeks ago, leaving scores of dead animals in their wake.
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In the image, taken on Wednesday, the injured koala sits with its face buried in its chest near a deceased smaller koala.
An injured Koala sits beside a dead koala on Kangaroo Island before being rescued on Wednesday. The charred forest floor on Kangaroo Island is littered with corpses of animals that died when fires swept through two weeks ago. PETER PARKS via Getty Images
Subsequent images show rescuers from the Humane Society International Crisis Response team capturing the surviving marsupial with a towel. Humane Society Australia CEO Erica Martin said in a statement that the group was working to deliver emergency truckloads of water and supplementary feed to keep koalas, kangaroos, wombats and flying foxes alive.
It has been estimated that more than half of the island’s 50,000 koalas ― the only chlamydia-free population in the country ― may have died in the blazes. Hundreds of thousands of other animals have perished, and endangered and critically endangered species native to the island, such as the glossy black cockatoo and Kangaroo Island dunnart, face real threats of extinction in their range.
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Humane Society International Crisis Response specialist Kelly Donithan approaches the injured koala on Kangaroo Island. PETER PARKS via Getty Images
The Humane Society International Crisis Response team rescues the injured koala. PETER PARKS via Getty Images
The rescuer pictured, global disaster response expert Kelly Donithan, told One Green Planet that these were some of the toughest scenes she’d witnessed as an animal rescuer, saying there were “bodies of charred animals as far as the eye can see.”
“But as we set out each day on search and rescue, we’re still finding animals alive, injured, dazed or traumatised, and it’s such a relief to be able to give them immediate lifesaving assistance.
“We’ve seen kangaroos with devastating burn injuries and dehydrated koalas gasping for water. Amidst all this death, every time we find an animal alive it feels like a miracle.”
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Kelly Donithan holds a baby koala she just rescued on Kangaroo Island. She said she'd witnessed some of the "toughest scenes I've ever witnessed as an animal rescuer" during the bushfire response. PETER PARKS via Getty Images
Kelly Donithan checks an injured koala rescued on Kangaroo Island. PETER PARKS via Getty Images
Australia’s federal government has pledged £38m million to a wildlife recovery fund, with £19m million going toward wildlife rescues, hospitals and conservation groups, and the other half set aside for an emergency intervention fund advised by a panel of experts.
This week, rain and cooler weather brought a reprieve for firefighters battling other blazes still burning across Australia, especially in the hardest-hit state of New South Wales. However, the NSW Rural Fire Service said, it wasn’t the end of the crisis.
“Although this rain won’t extinguish all fires, it will certainly go a long way towards containment,” it tweeted.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-17--Microsoft Says It Plans To Go Carbon Negative By 2030

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Microsoft unveiled new plans on Thursday for the company to be “carbon negative” by 2030, meaning it will go beyond maintaining a zero carbon footprint and actively remove carbon dioxide from the Earth’s atmosphere.
The tech company’s CEO Satya Nadella revealed the climate change-combatting goals during a company meeting.
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“We must take responsibility to address the carbon footprint of our own technology and company,” he said. Companies with the resources to go beyond net zero emissions, a Microsoft statement urged, should do so by making up the difference for those that can’t or won’t.
The company plans to eliminate the impact of its own historic emissions — going back to its 1975 founding — by 2050, Nadella added. That includes all the carbon the company has emitted directly or through its electricity consumption. The massive company, which employs nearly 150,000 people, anticipates it will emit 16 million metric tons of carbon this year alone.
To meet its ambitious goal, Microsoft is starting a $1 billion “climate innovation fund” to accelerate carbon reduction technology ― something that remains expensive and not widely available. Beyond expanding carbon-absorbing forests, current prospects include using materials that absorb carbon directly from the air, capturing and storing carbon underground, developing tools to help carbon dissolve in water, and more.
The more immediate move, however, will be meeting new goals to shift the company’s entire operation to renewable energy sources by 2025.
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“This is the decade for urgent action, for Microsoft and for all of us, to take bold steps forward to address our most pressing challenges,” Nadella said.
Scientists agree. From 2014 to 2018, the planet recorded its five hottest years ever, and the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned in 2018 that humanity has just under a decade to get climate change under control.
Nadella’s announcement comes just a few months after Microsoft workers released a letter disparaging the company for working with oil and gas companies, calling its leaders “complicit” in climate change.
“If we want to make real impact, all of us need to mobilise, work together, and demand a fundamental change in Microsoft’s priorities,” they wrote in the September letter, which was released ahead of the global climate strike, which they participated in alongside Google and Amazon employees.
But Microsoft said Thursday it will keep working with oil and gas companies, arguing that is what’s necessary to change the industry.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-17--14 Rude But Funny Valentine’s Day Cards

14 Rude But Funny Valentine’s Day Cards

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Look, sometimes love is sending someone an aubergine emoji. Sometimes it’s telling them you have a sausage to put between their buns. It’s a funny emotion, what can we say?
On the most romantic day of the year, you might like to tell someone you’re nuts for them. You may prefer to give them permission to sit on your face. It’s your call. But if you fancy someone and you want to send them a completely inappropriate message, we’ve got you covered. Or uncovered, as the case may be.
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Behold, the best NSFW Valentine’s Day cards.
HuffPost UK HuffPost UK
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HuffPost UK Funny Valentines day card, Etsy
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HuffPost UK Feeling Fruity Aubergine Card, Moonpig
HuffPost UK Etsy
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HuffPost UK I Have A Sausage To Put Between Your Buns, CuteEXE, via Etsy
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HuffPost UK I’ve Seen Your Willy, Scribbler
HuffPost UK Feeling Fruity Peach Card, Moonpig
HuffPost UK Breast Valentines Card, Square Pineapple Gifts, via Etsy
HuffPost UK Blow Me Valentines Card, Freckle and Specs, via Etsy
HuffPost UK I Totally Fancy The Pants Off You Card, Moonpig
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-17--Doing Veganuary? These Coffee Chains Now Offer Free Plant-Based Milk Options

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It’s been five months since non-profit Veganuary called upon coffee chains to stop charging extra for all plant-based milk options. And it would appear that the coffee gods are listening – well, kind of.
Soya milk is usually offered for free at high-street coffee chains, but other vegan milks – oat, almond and coconut, for example – come at a cost.
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This month, Costa was hot off the starting blocks, announcing that all plant-based milk options with hot drinks will come at no extra charge. Next came an announcement from Pret, revealing that it, too, is dropping the surcharge on vegan-friendly milk alternatives.
Do other popular chains have plans to keep up with competition?
“Plant milks are much more planet-friendly than cow’s milk, meaning that people have been paying more to be climate-conscious,” a spokesperson for Veganuary tells HuffPost UK, adding that they’re “delighted” more chains are offering vegan milk options for free.
“We’d go as far to say that coffee chains still charging extra for plant milks are climate criminals. The true cost of cow’s milk is climate catastrophe.”
Here’s a quick breakdown of which shops provide free plant-based milks.
Pret
The lunch chain needs to give itself a pat on the back as it’s the only place we asked that’s offering all its plant-based milk options free of charge – indefinitely.
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A Pret spokesperson tells HuffPost UK: “We are pleased to add oat milk to our range of milk alternatives, alongside rice-coconut and soya milk options. These are now permanently available free of charge in all shops.”
Costa
Costa is offering Alpro Almond, Alpro Coconut, Alpro Soya and Arla Lactofree milk free of charge with hot drinks in January and February.
But – and this is a big but – these milk alternatives are available for a limited-edition period only, so customers will have to start paying again from 4 March. The chain is yet to confirm how much this will be.
saemilee via Getty Images
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Starbucks
Starbucks doesn’t offer free plant-based milks with hot drinks, unless you’re a My Starbucks Rewards Gold member. To become a gold member, you need to make 50 transactions in 12 consecutive months (so, roughly one a week) on your Starbucks card.
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“We offer a variety of dairy alternatives on our menu, including soy, coconut, almond and oat,” a Starbucks spokesperson tells HuffPost UK.
Soy milk is free for all customers, however non-Gold MSR members will see an extra charge of 40p for coconut, almond and oat milk.
Caffè Nero
It might be selling a mouth-watering vegan croissant, but when it comes to plant-based milk on the cheap, Caffè Nero is lagging behind. The coffee chain offers soya, coconut and oat milk options. Soya is free, while coconut and oat milk will set you back 40p.
Greggs


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-17--I Host Sex Parties For A Living. I Wouldn’t Swap Lives With Anyone

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It appears I have a rather unique talent: I’m a 30-something single woman travelling the world, running high-end orgies.
It’s a career that really emerged out of nowhere – when I organised ‘a little party’ for my then-boyfriend (best girlfriend in the world, right?), I had no idea it would turn into a huge career move. But here I am – and I wouldn’t swap my life with anyone.
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I never wanted a 9-5, and to be quite honest I got sacked from most of my jobs. I was a dreamer, my mind would wander and I couldn’t just sit still and focus. Having a boss look over my shoulder every five seconds really wasn’t for me – something always niggled at me to do something crazy.
So I left my job, not to mention my then-boyfriend, to pursue my dreams. I flew to Asia to help open a friend’s new bar, lying (of course) that I was an experienced bar manager. And I ran it pretty damn well, eventually heading the bar’s events and marketing team! Turns out I’m a natural hostess...
In Asia I also found a new man. Both kinky, we began attending naughty parties together. When I say naughty parties, yes, I mean orgies. We felt our home sex life of the odd threesome wasn’t fulfilling our sexual needs and we wanted to do things on a larger scale.
“I was ready to do something fun, that something crazy I’d always wanted. I was already deep in this lifestyle, and wanted to spend more time around these people...”
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Travelling and meeting new people was a wonderful, liberating feeling. We would only attend the best parties, where ticket prices were hefty but totally worth it. We rubbed shoulders with doctors, celebrities and all manner of highly respected folk. Instantly, I fell in love with the lifestyle.
The boyfriend’s birthday came round one year and, as a surprise, I decided I would host our own party for the first time. I invited only a small selection of friends we’d met along the way, but (fortunately in this industry) that number didn’t stay down for long: we ended up with about 40 people in our hotel suite. I didn’t mind, and heard no complaints from the fella either.
“So Sarah, when is your next party,” a friend asked shortly after. Their question sat in my head for days and days. They were right – when would I host again? I resolved then to turn my apparently fabulous hosting skills into a career.
Luckily, I realised I’d attended so many erotic parties at that point I had met a lot of people – with these contacts it was easy for me to get a party together. After working in jobs that never really satisfied me, I was ready to do something fun, that something crazy I’d always wanted. I was already deep in this lifestyle, and wanted to spend more time around these people: all not just super cool and sexually liberated, but simply a joy to be around.
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I didn’t feel at all scared about starting this new path – in fact, I was excited to share this freeing, fun experience with the world. It was as simple as starting a website, setting a date for my first party in London at an opulent members club with some friends I’d already met along the way, and suddenly business was flying.
But I realised I couldn’t keep a happy medium. Although my parties were thriving, my relationship was dying. So I walked away from him. And since then, I’ve hosted parties in the UK, America, Asia and a few places in Europe, where I spend my time finding hotel suites, mansions or yachts to rent, and begin the three months of planning it takes for a party to come to fruition. Vetting always takes time – it’s all well and good spreading the word and dropping hints, but a lot of people think it’s very easy to apply. It isn’t at all! I vet every attendee thoroughly online: check them out on Google and social media, always call them directly for a preliminary chat, and building a database of guests from there. It sounds a lot but, honestly, this career change was the best fun I’d had in ages. In fact, it didn’t feel like working.
“When I host, my clothes are on and I am actually working – making sure everything is running smoothly, just like any event… except everyone is naked.”
Tickets aren’t always cheap. Depending on the size and effort I have put into a party, the ticket price will vary. For a small gathering with no entertainment, just drinks and a secure place to play, I charge around the £100 mark. For a party on the more elaborate side, where we hire a humongous location, burlesque dancers, a bar, the full works, ticket prices, naturally, increase.
I get such hate from people who do not understand the lifestyle and call me a ‘whore’ – but they don’t understand what I do. I’m not sleeping with people’s partners, I run these evenings professionally so when I host, my clothes are on and I am actually working – making sure everything is running smoothly, just like any event… except everyone is naked.
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I think I have always been inspired by the attitude towards love and sex in the ’60s – there wasn’t really any shame then. People were happy and liberated, and they danced like nobody was watching. In that same way, I love the feeling of doing something and not caring what the world has to say.
There’s really nothing to fear if you want to attend a party like this. All you have to be aware of is your comfort in seeing other people naked, and of course being seen naked yourself. But let me assure you, when everybody’s naked; nobody is. It’s impossible to feel embarrassed when you’re just like everyone else in the room. No matter what you are doing as a job, or however you choose to work on your passions, I’ve learned to never be afraid to experience a party if you’re curious.
As soon as people find out what I do, I feel like they are always so embarrassed to ask me questions. I see them trying to ask things discreetly. But why be discreet? Do you think this should be ‘taboo’? The safe spaces we create are about releasing you from the stress of modern day society, in which people will judge you for having sex with another person. If you ask me, that’s as real as it gets – and there is nothing wrong with living out your sexual fantasies. In that way, this lifestyle has changed me for the better and I feel great for giving people what they want: a safe place to play and be themselves, let go from all their inhibitions.
Sarah Jane is a writer and hostess of erotic parties. Follow her on Instagram at @sarahjaneinternational
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-16--Evan Davis Left 'Mortified' After BBC Show's Mix-Up Over Booking OJ Simpson's Lawyer

Evan Davis: “Oh my goodness, what a mistake we made." PA Archive/PA Images
Radio presenter Evan Davis has said he was “mortified” after confusion over booking OJ Simpson’s lawyer led to the wrong man featuring in a live interview.
The BBC Radio 4 PM realised on-air he was not speaking to the right Robert Shapiro but instead another American who shares the same name as the former American football player’s defence lawyer.
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Laughter could be heard in the background from Shapiro as he was wrongly introduced as the lawyer who in 1995 successfully defended Simpson when he was accused of murder.
Speaking during the show on Thursday, Davis said: “Robert Shapiro, I am fascinated in what you think about these rather tentative steps that have been taken here to show court on television and whether we are moving on the right track.”
An amused Shapiro replied: “First of all, it’s an honour to be on with Lord Sumption, second, let me say that I am Robert Shapiro, an adviser to Democratic presidents, not the lawyer.
“You called the wrong Robert Shapiro.”
What was Evan thinking when Wrong Robert Shapiro chuckled all the way through his introduction and questions 😆 #bbcpm pic.twitter.com/VUDDOxNM7c — Mariam (@MsMariamR) January 16, 2020
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In response, Davis said: “Oh my goodness, what a mistake we made. You are obviously in our Rolodex. I am surprised we didn’t pick that up in the pre-conversation.”
“I am surprised too,” Shapiro said.
Despite the blunder, Shapiro carried on to provide his views on new draft legislation that could lead to TV cameras being allowed into crown courts to broadcast judges’ sentencing remarks.
He was joined over the phone by former Supreme Court justice Lord Sumption, who the show had correctly contacted.
Davis said: “We are obviously mortified by this. I hope we have the former Supreme Court justice Lord Sumption on the line. ”
Speaking at the end of the segment, Davis said to Shapiro: “That is the worst mistake on air we have made since I think I started on this programme.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-16--Does Momentum Matter In The Labour Leadership Race?

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The Big Mo?
Ah, the Big Mo. Everyone knows that momentum can really help in politics, but can Momentum? Well, backers of Rebecca Long-Bailey will be hoping that the grassroots network will have a decisive impact on the Labour leadership race after its overwhelming endorsement of her today. More than 70% of its members (who responded to a ballot) endorsed its endorsement of her.
Created by Jon Lansman after Corbyn’s first election in 2015, Momentum has certainly fulfilled its early aims of embedding his politics, expanding member-led democracy and harnessing the energy of a new generation of young activists - as well as attracting older leftwingers who left under Neil Kinnock, John Smith, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
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In internal party elections, Momentum’s reach - and just as importantly its organisation and discipline - has been impressive. Its slate for NEC elections swept the board in constituency rep elections and in other key levers of power such as the conference arrangements committee and National Constitutional Committee. Its offshoot The World Transformed has brought a freshness and debate to party conference that underlined its reputation.
In general elections, Momentum has undoubtedly led the way in social media campaigning too. Although its ability to go viral was curtailed in 2019, its influence in crafting slick, direct videos - with a sense of fun as well as punch - led to the Johnson campaign copying its tactics. As Long-Bailey put it herself today: “I am proud and beyond grateful to be backed by an organisation that has revolutionised how we campaign.”
Within minutes of its endorsement, Momentum put out a new video, promoting her speech in Salford last May, in which she set out why the 40th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher coming to power was a moment to reflect on the legacy of council homes rented by private landlords and British Gas not in the hands of ‘Sid’ but of corporates from overseas.
But Momentum’s critics believe its influence is wildly overblown. Far from ‘revolutionising’ campaigning, they say its main achievement in December was to send hundreds of young idealists to doorsteps where they were confronted with the reality of just how loathed Corbyn and Corbynism was. Even in election post-mortem meetings, however, many Momentum members still felt their conversations had been ‘persuasive’ - often to the disbelief of older hands in local parties.
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As for numbers, Momentum says it has around 40,000 out of the roughly 500,000 party members in Labour. That’s less than 10%. In the controversially worded (‘Yes/No’ for Long-Bailey) ballot of its membership, only 7,000 people took part.
Now that’s impressive if you’re conducting an opinion poll (which are usually 1,000 or more respondents), but the low participation rate overall has given succour to her opponents. Momentum stresses the low take-up was because of the short notice and short period of the ballot (48 hours), and will be hoping for a bigger turnout in the leadership race itself.
But turnout is important. Critics have long believed the Lansman movement did so well in all those NEC elections precisely because of low turnouts among the wider party membership. This leadership contest will inevitably have a high participation rate. So too will the concurrent by-elections for places on the NEC itself (Nav Mishra and Claudia Webbe are now MPs), which will be targeted by Momentum’s opponents to further shift power away from the Left.
Still, centrists who were hoping Jess Phillips or Keir Starmer would attract huge numbers of like-minded people to the party as ‘registered supporters’ have tonight seen those hopes dashed. In 2016, a massive 160,000 people signed up, but this time just 14,700 stumped up the £25 fee. They will hope that the increase in full members (the deadline is Monday), estimated to be 60,000 since the polling day defeat, will yield an influx of non-Corbyn blood.
As for Momentum itself, this leadership election will test whether it really has the clout many assume. It could also provide some lessons for the US presidential election too. Momentum has strong links with the Bernie Sanders campaign and I’m told many of the American counterparts were ‘gutted’ by the huge Corbyn defeat, and fear it spells trouble in their own primaries.
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Only last night, Sanders tweeted about his movement being ‘hated’ by the 1%, the bankers, etc but ‘we are going to win’. If that sounded familiar, it was no coincidence. Momentum members will be hoping Sanders can borrow the 2016/17 Corbyn magic, rather than the 2019 reality check.
As she prepares to formally launch her campaign on Friday, perhaps Long-Bailey’s biggest task of all is to show she can pitch to those who were never in, and never want to be, part of Momentum itself. Only then can she get a Big Mo of her own.
Quote Of The Day
“Rebecca is at the heart of a new and diverse generation of socialists who recognise that we cannot return to the politics of the past.”
Momentum endorse Rebecca Long-Bailey
Cheat Sheet
Justice secretary Robert Buckland said the government is planning some “constitutional plumbing” to prevent the courts from getting embroiled in the political arena.
Boris Johnson has admitted defeat over plans to get Big Ben to bong to mark Brexit. His spokesman drily pointed out the Commons authorities had said there “may be potential difficulties in accepting money from public donations”. One government source said the Commons had been ‘intransigent’.
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Knife crime has reached a 10-year high, with 2,286 knife and weapon offences formally dealt with by the police and courts in England and Wales last year a 3% rise on the previous year.
Northern Ireland politicians criticised the £2bn settlement handed to Stormont as “an act of bad faith”. But secretary of state Julian Smith hit back on Twitter: “let’s remember MLAs have been off work 3yrs at a cost of £15m+ in salaries”.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-16--Government Funding To Remove Grenfell-Style Cladding Approved For Just One Privately Owned High-Rise

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Government funding to remove dangerous Grenfell-style cladding from privately-owned tower blocks has been approved for just one building, official figures show.
The Labour Party questioned the ability of Tory ministers to fix the “crisis” as it was revealed 315 high-rise buildings are still covered in flammable aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding more than two years after the west London disaster.
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The government announced it would step in after people living in private blocks of flats were left helpless by a refusal of some landlords to pay to get rid of ACM. The cladding has been blamed for the rapid spread of the Grenfell blaze.
But the £200m Private Sector Remediation Fund faced criticism as soon it was announced in May last year. Some argued not enough cash had been allocated and that buildings wrapped in other flammable cladding were not included.
Figures published on Thursday show funding has been granted for the full costs to remediate just one building out of 82 that had submitted applications by the deadline last month.
Latest government figures on its Private Sector Remediation Fund. MHCLG
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The statistics also reveal a total of 315 private and public high-rise buildings remain covered in ACM.
A Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government spokesperson renewed the government’s threat to “name and shame” building owners who do not have a plan to protect residents. The department did not explain why only one building had been fully approved.
One campaigner who lives in a block in south London that has ACM cladding told HuffPost UK last year about how their homes remain are unsellable and it has caused anxiety, illness and financial pain.
Sarah Jones, Labour’s shadow housing minister, said: “Tens of thousands of people are going to sleep in flammable buildings and hundreds of thousands still do not know if their home is safe to live in.
“And with deadly tower blocks still being discovered two and a half years after Grenfell, there are serious questions about the government’s ability and willingness to fix this crisis.
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“It shames Conservative ministers that after promising to pay for flammable cladding removal nine months ago, the government has only funded a single private block, leaving hundreds still covered.”
NEW shameful cladding stats: over 2.5 years after Grenfell, 315 buildings have been identified with the same deadly cladding but STILL haven't had it replaced.
76 blocks don't even have a plan to do so.
When are the Tories going to get a grip?https://t.co/Egz9Eru8yP — John Healey MP (@JohnHealey_MP) January 16, 2020
An MHCLG spokesperson said: “Residents’ safety remains our utmost priority and it is completely unacceptable that people are having to live in buildings with unsafe ACM cladding.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-16--Gavin & Stacey Star Joanna Page Would Put Money On The Show Returning

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Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page has said she would put money on the show returning after the success of last year’s Christmas special.
There has been much speculation about future episodes of the BBC sitcom after nearly 18 million viewers watched the festive one-off, which was the first episode in 10 years.
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And like the rest of us, Joanna – who plays Stacey Shipman – is hopeful writers Ruth Jones and James Corden will make more, especially after the special’s cliffhanger ending, which saw Nessa proposing to Smithy.
Joanna Page and Mathew Horne play Gavin & Stacey BBC/GS TV Productions Ltd/Tom Jackson
Speaking to The Sun, Joanna said: “If I had to put a bet on it I would say yes - but I have no idea if it is coming back.
“I thought we would never do it again, I spent 10 years telling people we were never doing it again, then suddenly we did the special!
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“But when I first read [the script] on my phone and got to the end I thought: ‘What!! They can’t leave it like that!!’
“I want to know if Smithy is going to say yes, so they’ve got to do one.”
Joanna also revealed she has a few ideas for another special, should Ruth and James be in need of some inspiration.
“I would really like to do a holiday special,” she said.
“They should set it in Spain and we should be out there filming for at least a month, that’s what I am putting forward - I want it to be set in Spain.”
The cast of Gavin & Stacey BBC/GS TV Productions Ltd/Tom Jackson
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However, Ruth admitted even she “genuinely doesn’t know” what’s next for Smithy and Nessa following the Christmas special.
“You could go either way with it. It could be the most ridiculous thing, or it could be a marriage made in heaven,” she told The Sun.
“But don’t you think it would end the interest? If they did become a proper couple, would that spoil it? These are all questions that we ponder.”
While she recently said the cliffhanger ending left “room for more”, she also noted that getting the cast together for one special alone was a “challenge”.
“It’s a shame we didn’t have more time when we were writing so we could have written more, then have it all ready to go,” she added.
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Fans were left wondering if Smithy accepted Nessa's proposal after the cliffhanger ending BBC
The Gavin & Stacey Christmas special became the most watched non-sporting event of the decade after seven-day catch up figures were added to the 11.6m people who watched the show live on Christmas Day, which already marked the highest festive telly ratings since 2008.
The number of people who have watched the show currently stands at 17.92m – a figure that will increase further when 28-day catch up figures are added later this month.
Gavin & Stacey originally ran for three series and a Christmas special from 2007 to 2010.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-16--Pro-Corbyn MP’s Claim Labour Government Was ‘Thatcherite’ Sparks Backlash

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A Corbynite MP’s description of the last Labour government as “Thatcherite” has sparked a backlash among party colleagues.
Stephen Kinnock, a senior supporter of Lisa Nandy’s leadership bid, told HuffPost UK’s Commons People podcast that Zarah Sultana was talking “utter nonsense” in her maiden Commons speech.
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Kinnock joined Neil Coyle in warning that the 26-year-old’s claims were a “gift to the Tories”.
Sultana is no stranger to controversy and was forced to apologise during the election for saying she would “celebrate” the deaths of world leaders including former Labour prime minister Tony Blair.
On Wednesday, she shunned the tradition of delivering a non-controversial maiden speech, criticising Boris Johnson’s comments about Muslim women and gay men, but also turning fire on her own party’s last stint in government between 1997 and 2010.
The Coventry South MP said: “Ten years ago I was sitting my GCSEs at school. I was a teenager and I never dreamed I would be here today.
“In ten years’ time, at the start of the next decade, I want to look teenagers in the eye and say with pride – my generation faced 40 years of Thatcherism and we ended it.
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“We faced rising racism and we defeated it. We faced a planet in peril - we saved it. We have our work cut out but together we can do it.”
Responding, Kinnock told Commons People: “I just am so disappointed when I hear those comments.
“It is a gift to the Conservatives.
“And what utter nonsense.
“From 1997 to 2010 we lifted millions out of poverty, we delivered the minimum wage, we created Sure Start, peace in Northern Ireland, devolution – huge, huge achievements.
“The Labour Party is the greatest force for good that British politics has ever seen and if you don’t believe that and understand that I think you have just got completely the wrong end of the stick.
“I’m always very disappointed when I hear those things.”
Kinnock is backing Lisa Nandy for the Labour leadership PA Wire/PA Images
Kinnock admitted that Blair and successor Gordon Brown “didn’t get everything right”, saying he would never have supported the Iraq war and stressing Labour could have done more for industrial communities by having a “real industrial strategy” to address structural problems in the economy.
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“But fundamentally if you look at the balance sheet we achieved a tremendous amount between 1997 and 2010 and every time Labour colleagues make those kind of comments they are simply handing a big gift to the Conservative party,” he said.
Coyle, meanwhile, mocked Sultana’s comments, adding on Twitter: “As long as the left attacks Labour for our time in government (and ignores the achievements and benefits to millions of people) it will be serving the Tories. Fatal.”
Sultana’s speech was praised by Jeremy Corbyn allies Diane Abbott and John McDonnell.
Angela Rayner, who has been congratulating several MPs on their maiden speeches, also described it as “great”.
Labour MP, 26, demands end to '40 years of Thatcherism' in first speech attack. Sock it to them Zarah! https://t.co/4sAr8c5QBb — Diane Abbott MP (@HackneyAbbott) January 15, 2020
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An excellent maiden speech from Zarah Sultana, challenging the system that has brought us to the edge of climate disaster. https://t.co/w9HVQsPvxJ — John McDonnell MP (@johnmcdonnellMP) January 15, 2020
Kinnock said: “I think it is a really bad idea to trash the legacy.
“We shouldn’t just blindly talk like zombies about how excellent everything was.
“But to trash the legacy is a completely unnecessary thing to do.
“The more we tweet and retweet and make speeches which are divisive in that way... the more it’s going to be very, very difficult for whoever wins this leadership contest to move forward.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-16--While Labour Work Out Who To Follow, Boris Johnson Defines Himself

While Labour Work Out Who To Follow, Boris Johnson Defines Himself
As leadership candidates launch their campaigns to woo Labour voters, Boris Johnson goes about work in Westminster. The government’s rescue of Flybe has raised eyebrows, while in foreign affairs he’s called on Donald Trump to give the UK a new Iranian deal to back. Are we beginning to see the formation of Johnson-ism?Joing Arj Singh, Paul Waugh and Rachel Wearmouth, Labour MP Stephen Kinnock explains why he’s backing Lisa Nandy and what Labour need to do while out in the political cold.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-16--Brit Awards 2020: Nominations, Performers And All The Changes You Need To Know About

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With awards season now winding down for another year, the countdown to the biggest night in British music is officially on.
This year is a special one for the Brit Awards, as 2020 marks the 40th time the awards show has taken place.
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Bosses are pulling out all the stops to try and make it one to remember, so ahead of the ceremony next month, here’s everything you need to know about it...
When are the Brit Awards 2020?
This year, the Brits take place on Tuesday 18 February at London’s O2 Arena.
As ever, ITV will be showing the whole event live (albeit with a minor delay) on the night.
Brit Awards
What changes have been made?
In a bid to rejuvenate the awards, there have been a number of changes for 2020.
The biggest is the number of awards given out on the night, which has been reduced from 14 to nine so that more of the ceremony can be dedicated to the performances.
Those that have been ditched include Outstanding Contribution and the still-confusing Global Success award.
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They’ve also done away with the International Group award, although International Male and International Female have remained.
British Video has also been retired, having returned as a fan-voted category in 2014 (during which time it has only been awarded to One Direction, Harry Styles and Little Mix).
British Breakthrough Act and the Critics’ Choice Awards have both been renamed to Best New Artist and Rising Star respectively.
The original Brit Awards statuette is back Brit Awards
The recipient of the Rising Star award, Celeste, will get to perform during the ceremony, with previous winners having only performed during the nominations show.
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Bosses have also done away with fan voting, with winners now decided entirely by the Official Voting Academy. This is made up of around 1,200 “artists, retailers, promoters, agents, publishers, labels, producers and media”, who will be reviewed annually in order to keep things fresh.
This year will also see the return of the “iconic and classic” original Brit Award, after nine years of the statuette being redesigned each year by a different UK artist.
Who is nominated?
Dave and Lewis Capaldi have come out on top in this year’s nominations, with four each.
And while last year saw three British women leading the nominees, it’s a decidedly male-heavy shortlist this year, with no women recognised in the Album Of The Year or Group Of The Year categories.
Mabel is the only female artist with more than one nomination, with three in total, matching Stormzy, who is up for Album Of The Year alongside Dave, Lewis Capaldi, Harry Styles and Michael Kiwanuka.
Check out the full list of nominees below...
Female Solo Artist
Charli XCX
FKA Twigs
Freya Ridings
Mabel
Mahalia
Mabel Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP
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Male Solo Artist
Dave
Harry Styles
Lewis Capaldi
Michael Kiwanuka
Stormzy
Group Of The Year
Bastille
Bring Me The Horizon
Coldplay
D-Block Europe
Foals
New Artist Of The Year
Aitch
Dave
Lewis Capaldi
Mabel
Sam Fender
Lewis Capaldi RMV/Shutterstock
Song Of The Year
Dancing With A Stranger – Sam Smith and Normani Don’t Call Me Up – Mabel Giant – Calvin Harris and Rag’n’Bone Man I Don’t Care – Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber Just You And I - Tom Walker Ladbroke Grove – AJ Tracey Location – Dave and Burna Boy Nothing Breaks Like A Heart – Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus Someone You Loved – Lewis Capaldi Vossi Bop – Stormzy International Male Solo Artist Bruce Springsteen Burna Boy Dermot Kennedy Post Malone Tyler, The Creator
Ed Sheeran Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
International Female Solo Artist
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Camila Cabello
Lana Del Rey
Lizzo
Album Of The Year
Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent - Lewis Capaldi
Fine Line - Harry Styles
Heavy Is The Head - Stormzy
Kiwanuka - Michael Kiwanuka
PSYCHODRAMA - Dave
Stormzy Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock
You’ll have probably picked up on some notable snubs among this year’s nominees, which you can read more about here. Who is this year’s Rising Star? British singer/songwriter Celeste will receive this year’s prize, after beating fellow shortlisters Beabadoobee and Joy Crookes. She follows in the footsteps of past Critics’ Choice winners Adele, Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding, Florence + The Machine, Jessie J and Emeli Sandé, to name but a few.
Celeste JM Enternational
As part of her prize, Celeste will be among the performers the ceremony.
She said of her win: “Like many others, I grew up watching the Brits and have been continually inspired by its nominees, winners and the performances.
“I hope to make the most of this incredible opportunity and I can’t wait to perform on the BRITS next year.”
Who else is performing?
Joining Celeste on the bill of performers are a host of this year’s nominees.
Billie Eilish, Harry Styles and Stormzy will be taking to the stage on the biggest night in music.
Harry Styles Isabel Infantes - PA Images via Getty Images
They were among the first slew of performers confirmed for the awards show, alongside Lewis Capaldi and Mabel.
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Since then, Lizzo and top nominee Dave have also been announced, with more artists are expected to be revealed in the lead-up to the ceremony.
Finally, Sir Rod Stewart will close the show, with The Sun claiming he’ll be reunited with his Faces bandmates.
Who is hosting?
Jack Whitehall will return as the host of the Brits for the third year running, bringing his sharp wit and withering putdowns to the proceedings.
Jack Whitehall Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images
“I’m delighted to be back hosting the BRITs for a third time!” he said. “I’m excited for another night of trying not to put my foot in it in front of the biggest names in the music industry.” But given his record the last two years, we probably wouldn’t hold out much hope on that one. Who is hosting the red carpet coverage? As is the case every year, ITV2 will be bringing you exclusive access to the stars arriving at the Brits live and direct from the red carpet, hosted by Clara Amfo and Alice Levine. There’s also likely to be another Facebook live stream of the stars arriving and being interviewed by celebrity hosts.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-16--Now Prince Andrew Faces Losing His Armed Police Protection In Wake Of Epstein Scandal

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The beleaguered Duke of York reportedly faces losing his round-the-clock armed police protection in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
The Evening Standard said the Home Office is recommending a major downgrade of security for the Queen’s second son after a Scotland Yard review.
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Andrew stepped down from royal duties in November following his disastrous Newsnight interview.
The Standard said the final decision lies with home secretary Priti Patel and prime minister Boris Johnson.
It comes as courtiers work with government departments to decide on the future security for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have quit as senior royals.
Harry and Meghan, like Andrew, have personal protection officers from the Metropolitan Police, paid for by taxpayers.
But the change in roles for the Sussexes, relocation in part to Canada and desire to be financially independent now means their security and its funding forms part of the crisis talks.
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Andrew’s car crash interview sealed his fate when he was accused of lacking empathy for Epstein’s victims and of failing to show regret over his friendship with the disgraced financier.
Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by Epstein, gave an interview to BBC Panorama and said she was left “horrified and ashamed” after an alleged sexual encounter with Andrew in London in 2001.
She claimed she danced with Andrew in Tramp nightclub, adding he was “the most hideous dancer I’ve ever seen in my life” and “his sweat was [...] raining basically everywhere”.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We don’t comment on security measures for individuals in the royal family.”
Buckingham Palace said: “As a matter of course we do not comment on security or security arrangements.”
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Prince Andrew photographed last month Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty Images
For Andrew the news is yet another shockwave from the scandal that saw entities including BT, Barclays and many other institutions in various countries cut ties with his charity work, prompting him to eventually announce he was quitting royal duties, ostensibly retiring at the age of 59.
Shortly after his Newsnight interview, Andrew careened straight into a race scandal when an Evening Standard’s columnist described hearing him use the n-word at a Buckingham Palace meeting with him in 2012.
A day later he became embroiled in a similar scandal after a former home secretary said she was left “slack-jawed” about comments he made about Arab people during a state dinner.
Jacqui Smith, who served at the Home Office under Tony Blair, said the Duke of York’s remarks to her “involved a comment about camels” and were “as worse as you could imagine”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-16--Momentum Activists Back Rebecca Long-Bailey For Labour Leader

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Rebecca Long-Bailey has won the overwhelming support of Momentum activists in the Labour leadership race.
Members of the grassroots campaign organisation that helped propel Jeremy Corbyn to the leadership have also backed Angela Rayner to be the next deputy leader.
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Long-Bailey was endorsed by 70% of the group’s supporters, while Rayner won by a much narrower margin of 52%.
But the process drew sharp criticism as activists were asked simply to vote yes or no on whether to support the pair.
They were not given the chance to pick from a list of all the candidates for both positions.
And only 7,395 of group’s 40,000 members decided to take part in the vote.
Laura Parker, who used to run the organisation, said when the process was announced: “Although I am pleased Momentum’s governing body accepted the principle of balloting its members on the leadership, I’m sorry they seem to have decided in advance what the answer is.
“Members should be able to choose from all leader and deputy candidates,” she tweeted.
PA Archive/PA Images
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A Momentum spokesperson said it would now be “mobilising thousands to persuade Labour members” for the leadership campaign.
“Rebecca is at the heart of a new and diverse generation of socialists who recognise that we cannot return to the politics of the past,” the spokesperson said.
“She has spent the last few years pioneering the policies of the future, including a detailed plan for a Green New Deal that can revive communities that have been ignored, bring the country together and lead the world in combating the climate crisis.”
“She is an experienced, principled and inspiring candidate and our movement is proud to support her for leadership.”
Long-Bailey said she was “proud and beyond grateful” to win the endorsement. “I will deliver on the trust Momentum members have placed in me, with a plan to win the next general election and transform our country for the future,” she said.
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The latest poll in the race put Long-Bailey as winning the five-candidate battle to become leader, edging shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer into second place.
The hopefuls are now in the second stage as they seek to make it to the postal ballot of members and supporters.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-16--No Heckling! Strict Instructions Revealed For Labour Leadership Candidates During Hustings

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Labour leadership rules bar hopefuls from interrupting their rivals and making opening remarks in hustings with party members, HuffPost UK understands.
The restrictive controls have been put in place by general secretary Jennie Formby as the five candidates vying to replace Jeremy Corbyn try to convince members across the country to back them.
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The events, the first of which takes place in Liverpool this weekend, are arguably the most important of the leadership race as they may be the only direct contact candidates have with some members during the race.
The official guidance, seen by HuffPost UK, reads: “Candidates will not be allowed to make opening remarks and will go straight into questions. At the end of the event they will be given two minutes to make any final closing remarks.”
It also says that “no candidates will be permitted to interrupt, question or heckle their opponents” during answers to questions from the audience.
However, the party has underlined that moderators will encourage candidates to “pursue a dialogue with each other” after answers.
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Opening remarks are a standard feature of debates, with the election TV debate all allowing for them.
Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt given time to set out their overall case to members in the Tory leadership hustings last year and previously, Labour candidates have been able to open proceedings with their own statement.
.@PeoplesMomentum poll: Momentum members have voted to back Rebecca Long-Bailey for Labour leader, with 70.42% of respondents support its endorsement.
Members also voted to support Angela Rayner for deputy with 52.15% voting in favour. — Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) January 16, 2020
Outsiders in the contest, such as Emily Thornberry and Jess Phillips, fear the move could push them out of the debate while the frontrunner shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey will face the minimum challenge while giving their answers.
A source close to leadership candidate Jess Phillips told HuffPost UK: “Labour Party members in Liverpool want an open process and want to hear the pitches of all the candidates.
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“They’ll be disappointed by the decision by the bosses in London not to have allowed each candidate to have opening remarks.”
Deputy leadership candidate Rosena Allin-Khan, added: “Labour members, affiliates and our trade union friends want to take these opportunities to hear about our visions for taking Labour forward, which is why I’m disappointed that there will be no opening remarks at hustings.
“Taking audience questions is a fanstastic way to hear directly from Labour supporters, but we must be allowed to also set out our stalls at the start.
“The leadership elections are the most important in decades - I hope the party will reconsider.”
Other tight rules include candidates having just 40 seconds to answer questions and being “prompted by the moderator chair when they have 15 seconds remaining”. The guidance adds that the chair can press candidates further on their answers.
The Labour Party said that candidates will be allowed closing remarks and the party would ensure all were treated fairly during debates.
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File photos of (left to right) Labour MPs Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips, Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Clive Lewis and Emily Thornberry. Mr Lewis has abandoned his leadership bid for the party after falling short of the 22 nominations necessary from his fellow MPs. PA Wire/PA Images
HuffPost UK revealed last week that the party had edited the code of conduct to also stop candidates from criticising staff.
It comes as Long-Bailey won backing from Momentum, the grassroots organisation that supports Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, after a yes/no poll of members.
Backbencher Lisa Nandy, meanwhile, has won plaudits for her performance in an interview with veteran BBC journalist Andrew Neil.
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The winner is decided on a ballot of members by a proportional representation system known as AV (alternative vote), which sees candidates ranked in order of preference.
If one of the five wins more than 50% of first preference votes, they are declared the winner outright. However, if no candidate hits 50%, the candidate with the least support is eliminated and their second preferences are allocated to the remaining contenders. That process is repeated until one candidate reaches that crucial 50% mark.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-16--Love Island's Ollie Addresses 'Trophy Hunting' Claims After Leaving Villa

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Love Island’s Ollie Williams has denied ever being a “trophy hunter” following a backlash to pictures of him posing with dead animals.
The Cornish land owner prompted Ofcom complaints and an online petition calling for him to be removed from the show after the photos surfaced in the press over the weekend.
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As the backlash refused to die down, it was announced Ollie had decided to leave the ITV2 show, claiming to still be in love with his ex girlfriend.
This led to speculation the controversy may be the real reason for his departure, but he has now corroborated ITV’s previous claims that this was not the case.
Ollie Williams ITV
In a statement, he said: “Having left the Love Island house I have become aware of the press stories circulating in the UK. I would like to make a number of comments on the various claims and accusations.
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“I had no knowledge of the stories until I had left the Love Island villa and all cast members are unaware of any news stories while they are on the programme.
“My reasons for leaving Love Island are as communicated on the show.”
The photos showed the 23-year-old posing next to a dead warthog, water buffalo and giant eland, with The Sun claiming he had been promoting his hunting business Cornish Sporting Agency.
But addressing the matter directly in his statement, Ollie said: “I did not shoot any of the animals shown in the photographs nor have I ever shot as a trophy hunter.
“I did volunteer to take part in the conservation and anti-poaching programme in Mozambique, a part of which involves old or sick animals being culled. I was there as an observer.”
Ollie left the villa on Tuesday ITV
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He continued: “The Cornish Sporting Agency was set up in 2017 and has never traded. I feel very passionately about conservation and will continue to support sustainable conservation causes around the globe. These benefit the natural world and the animals which live within it, even if certain elements appear controversial when viewed out of context.
“As I am no longer in Love Island, I will comment no further on this issue,” he added.
Prior to Ollie’s statement, a Love Island spokesperson had said: “Ollie made the decision to leave off his own back and explained his reasons for doing so in his quote.
“He was not made aware whilst he was in the villa of any press stories running around him but as with all Islanders, since leaving the villa he has now been briefed as to what has been written and said about him as part of our duty of care. We will be supporting Ollie as he leaves the villa.”
Earlier this week, it was revealed that 231 complaints had been made to TV watchdog Ofcom about Ollie, a figure which doubled in the space of a few days.
The petition calling for his removal also gathered 38,000 signatures.
Bosses have since announced that two new boys will be entering the villa during Thursday’s show to replace him.
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Love Island airs every night on ITV2.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-16--Noel Fielding Speaks Out After Great British Bake Off Co-Host Sandi Toksvig Quits Show

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On Thursday morning, it was announced that Sandi would be stepping down from the show after the upcoming Stand Up For Cancer specials, leaving Channel 4 on the hunt for a new co-host for Noel.
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Shortly after the news broke, the former Mighty Boosh star shared a tribute to her, reflecting on their three-year stint hosting the show together and comparing them to The Rolling Stones.
He wrote: “I feel like Tom without Jerry ! Mick without a Keef :( gonna miss yooooooooooooooooo and the wonderful times we got to play together in the tent!”″
Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig Channel 4
Noel added: “Double acts are rare and magical beast and working with you was a pleasure.”
I feel like Tom without Jerry ! Mick without a Keef :( gonna miss yooooooooooooooooo and the wonderful times we got to play together in the tent ! Double acts are rare and magical beast and working with you was a pleasure x x x all my love Mr Noel x pic.twitter.com/nkbuLpvQMs — noel fielding (@noelfielding11) January 16, 2020
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The pair began presenting Great British Bake Off in 2017, when previous hosts Mel and Sue stepped down after the show made the jump from BBC One to Channel 4.
Sandi said her decision to quit was rooted in the fact she wanted to focus more on her other work commitments.
She explained: “When stepping down from a job it is quite common for people to say they are doing so in order to spend more time with their family.
“Unusually I am departing from the Great British Bake Off so I can spend more time with my other work. As my waistline will testify, Bake Off is an all-consuming show.
“Spending time with Prue, Paul and Noel has been one of the great pleasures of my life. These are friendships which I know will continue beyond the confines of television.”
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Sandi Toksvig David M. Benett via Getty Images
In a press statement, Channel 4 revealed the “hunt is currently on” for Noel’s new co-host, joking: “Candidates must have experience of mopping up spills and the occasional tear, making tea and keeping the amateur bakers to time.
“More information will be announced in due course.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-16--Here's What The £500,000 Big Ben Brexit Bong Fund Could Have Paid For A Few Metres Away

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It’s been more than three torturous years in the making, and finally Brexit is almost upon us. Where better as a centre for our very own independence day celebrations than one of the country’s most iconic monuments?
Picture the scene: crowded streets (at 11pm), filled with thousands of waving Union Jacks (in the dark), a festival spirit (in deepest winter), and to complete the picture, 11 magnificent chimes from Big Ben itself.
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But there’s a catch – Big Ben hasn’t chimed regularly since 2017 when it was suspended for extensive restoration works, and it would have cost an estimated £500,000 to make it operational in time for January 31.
Each individual bong – 11 in total – was thought to be worth a staggering £45,454, with the need to reinstall Big Ben’s clapper and carry out dramatic work on the scaffolding that surrounds the clock.
Enter ardent Brexiteer and Tory MP Mark Francois, who just really, really, wants that big old bell to ring out – and has donated £1,000 of his own money to make sure it happens.
The UK will leave the EU on January 31 – and we might yet be celebrating with a series of Big Ben bongs. Dan Kitwood via Getty Images
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On Friday morning the GoFundMe page, hosted by Stand Up For Brexit, had surpassed £150,000 – fewer than 48 hours after it was set up.
But on Thursday it emerged that there was an almighty catch – the House of Commons cannot accept cash raised directly from donations websites.
Sorry to say it, but it seems the bongs are dead.
It is not clear whether funders will be given their money back or if the cash will be given to Help for Heroes, as was originally planned if it missed its target – the crowfunding page offers no contingency plan for the cancellation of the entire project.
Nonetheless, since people seem so keen to pay for things, here are five causes right on the doorstep of Westminster Palace where the £500k #BongsForBrexit wouldn’t have been a gigantic and insane waste of cash.
1. Nineteen (and a quarter) newly-qualified nurses at St Thomas’ Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital, which sits directly opposite Big Ben. Stefan Kadar via Getty Images
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The surrounding skyline might be dominated by government buildings and office blocks, but there’s one group of public service workers who are better acquainted with the facade of Big Ben than most – the nurses, doctors, healthcare workers, and endless other staff at St Thomas’ hospital.
It’s no secret that the NHS is desperate for nursing staff – the service is short of some 40,000 nurses in total – and London is no exception.
According to the Royal College of Nursing, the average wage for a Band 5 NHS nurse in London is approximately £26,000 – meaning £500k could pay for 19 full time nurses.
But hey, those bells wouldn’t have rung for free!
2. 12,500 overnight stays in a homeless shelter
A homeless man sleeps in Westminster station. Jack Taylor via Getty Images
It’s an image many of us have seen time and again – suited and booted workers walking past the homeless, some of whom seek shelter just metres from the doors of parliament inside Westminster’s Tube station.
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A number of homeless people have died in the shadow of Big Ben itself in recent years, and in 2019 it was revealed by the mayor of London’s office that homelessness within the borough of Westminster had risen by 16% on the previous year.
According to MyLondon, 13 people homeless people died in Westminster alone in 2018, including two in the Tube station.
With the issue of homelessness so severe, there are numerous charities working to help vulnerable people in the area – one of which is The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
On its website it states that a donation of just £5 could pay for a hot shower, food, and clothes cleaned, whilst £25 buys an in-depth assessment to understand the individual’s circumstances. It’s £40 for a night’s stay in a shelter, and £200 to help someone into employment.
With that in mind, £500k could pay for:
100,000 hot showers, meals, and clothes cleaning
20,000 assessments
12,500 overnight stays in a shelter
2,500 people helped into employment
But all that pales in comparison to our precious democracy bongs!
3. 200,000 courses for families supported by foodbanks
It may be the highest seat of power in the country, but Westminster Palace is still just half a mile from a foodbank. OLI SCARFF via Getty Images
Little more than half a mile from Westminster Palace, you’ll find Westminster Foodbank – run by the UK’s leading foodbank charity Trussell Trust.
According to the Trust For London, 38% of children living in Westminster are living in poverty, the fourth worst out of 32 boroughs.
According to the charity’s website, a donation of just £2.50 could pay for all the materials and ingredients for one person to attend an Eat Well Spend Less course. £500k could pay for 200,000 such courses.
But why help a starving family when you could have BONGS?
4. 833 isolated elderly people supported by a befriending service
18% of Westminster's population are over 65. Mint Images via Getty Images
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Going off official figures from the City of Westminster, 18% of the borough’s population is aged 65 and over, with 24% of this demographic living alone according to the 2011 census.
In London, the proportion of over-65s is just 12% on average, and the borough as a whole falls within the worst 30-40% in London when it comes to income deprivations amongst older people.
One of the charities working with elderly people in Westminster is Age UK, which has its own dedicated branch in the area and runs a befriending service for some of the borough’s most isolated and vulnerable residents.
Their website states that a donation of £600 could pay for six months of befriending support, whilst £60 could pay for three Christmas lunches for isolated elderly people.
A £500k donation could pay for 833 elderly people to spend six months receiving befriending support, or could pay for 25,000 Christmas dinners.
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But, still, those lovely #BrexitBongs could have been a welcome distraction.
5. Sixteen (and a bit) teachers
Schools in London are facing the same teacher shortages as other areas of the UK. SolStock via Getty Images
Westminster is home to some of the capital’s most prestigious private schools, revered for turning out some of the pupils most likely to take a seat in Westminster in the future – but of course that’s only half the story.
For every public school there are several state-funded schools, all of which – in one way or another – face the same issues as thousands of other schools up and down the country.
Figures published by the Department of Education revealed that the government failed to reach its recruitment targets for secondary school teachers for the seventh year in a row in 2019 – meeting just 85% of its target.
Meanwhile, The Guardian reported in 2018 that there was a “growing crisis” when it came to teacher retention in London, with 40% of teachers quitting the profession within five years of qualifying.
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According to Get Into Teaching, the minimum a qualified teacher could expect to be paid in inner London is £30,480 per year.
A sum of £500k could pay for 16 teachers on that minimum amount, or you could even stretch to paying 12 teachers the average maximum wage for a teacher in inner London – £41,483 – and maybe convince them it’s worth staying in the job.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-16--What Putin's 'Out Of Character' Abrupt Power Move Actually Means

It may be a brand new decade, but the world’s so-called “super-powers” are still up to the same old tricks.
Britain is at war with itself over whether Big Ben should bong over Brexit (yes, really), Donald Trump is in the process of being impeached over alleged dodgy dealings with Ukraine and tensions between the US and Iran are escalating.
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So of course, it was clearly time for Russia to get involved in some drama.
On Wednesday – out of the nowhere – Russia’s prime minister Dmitry Medvedev resigned, along with his entire government. “It was a complete surprise,” one government source told the BBC.
It came after the country’s president Vladimir Putin suggested serious and fundamental changes to the constitution – a move critics have speculated will allow him to cling on to power after he has to give up the presidency in 2024, the end of his fourth term in office.
So, to put it lightly, things are kicking off in Russia right now. Here’s what you need to know.
What Changes To The Constitution Has Vladimir Putin Suggested?
In his state of the nation address on Wednesday, Putin proposed a radical shake-up of Russia’s political system.
Among the suggested changes was the possibility of amending the constitution to give politicians – rather than the president – the power to name the prime minister and cabinet ministers.
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“It will increase the role of parliament and parliamentary parties, powers and independence of the prime minister and all cabinet members,” Putin said.
Meanwhile, he called for an increased role for the State Council, an advisory body made up of top federal officials that he currently chairs.
All of these changes should be put to a nationwide vote, Putin said.
Why Does Putin Want To Change The Constitution?
Putin has been president of Russia since 2012 Alexei Nikolsky via Getty Images
OK, to summarise: Putin – the president – has suggested moves to make the president… less powerful? What gives?
While it may look bizarre, critics reckon this is actually a bid by Putin to *retain* power.
Under current rules, he will have to step down as president in 2024, the end of his second consecutive term in office (though he was also president from 2000 to 2008).
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Experts believe these changes could be an attempt by Putin to carve out a position for himself at Russia’s helm after his presidency ends, while also reducing the power of any future president.
One theory suggests he could try and continue to pull the strings as leader of Russia’s State Council.
Meanwhile, others have predicted he will attempt to become prime minister – a role he held briefly in 1999 and for four years between 2008 and 2012.
Putin “never had any intention of stepping down at the end of his term in 2024”, Bill Browder – an American-born financier and outspoken anti-Kremlin activist – told HuffPost UK. “He’s been looking for a way to stay in power”.
His main way to do this was by changing the constitution, Browder said.
Prime minister Dmitry Medvedev and his government resigned in the wake of Putin's comments on Wednesday SIPA USA/PA Images
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“However, his choice of firing Medvedev and dismissing his government four years before the end of his term was an abrupt move which is entirely out of character,” he continued.
“He’s a very risk averse person who almost never does anything like this. It suggests that there is something under the surface that he’s deeply afraid of. What that is won’t be obvious to outsiders and may never be.”
So, What Is Going On With The Russian Government?
Putin has named Mikhail Mishustin as the next prime minister ALEXANDER NEMENOV via Getty Images
Following Putin’s speech on Wednesday, Dmitry Medvedev resigned as prime minister, along with the rest of his government.
Putin and Medvedev have been allies for a number of years. When Putin had to step down as president in 2008 – the end of his second term in office – Medvedev took over the role.
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He then used his power to name Putin as prime minister – a move critics slammed as an imposed job-swap without input for the electorate. For many, during Medvedev’s years as president – 2008 to 2012 – he may technically have been in power, but it was Putin who really held the reigns.
Putin's time in power – a timeline Statista
In a speech on Wednesday by Medvedev – during which he sat next to Putin – he said he had to resign as prime minister in light of the president’s proposed changes.
Putin has now named Mikhail Mishustin – the little-known head of Russia’s tax service – to replace Medvedev as prime minister. Approval by the Duma – Russia’s lower house of parliament – is almost guaranteed, analysts have said.
They have also suggested that, given Mishustin has no political experience, he is likely to dutifully carry out the Kremlin’s wishes.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-16--Boris Johnson Backs Off Big Ben Bongs Plan To Mark Brexit Day

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Boris Johnson has admitted defeat over plans to get Big Ben to bong to mark the moment of Brexit later this month.
The prime minister had earlier this week raised hopes of avid Brexiteers, who want to fund works needed to restore the famous Westminster bell that is currently out of service due to restoration plans.
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A rash of crowdsourcing websites were set up after it emerged that emergency works would cost £500,000 to allow the clock to chime at 11pm on January 31 to mark the UK’s formal exit from the European Union.
“We’re working up a plan so people can bung a bob for a Big Ben bong, because there are some people who want to,” Johnson told BBC Breakfast on Tuesday.
But on Thursday, No.10 conceded that there were practical difficulties because House of Commons cannot accept cash raised directly from donations websites.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “The House of Commons authorities have set out there may be potential difficulties in accepting money from public donations.
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“The PM’s focus is on the events which he and the government are planning to mark January 31 and its significant moment in our history and we want to ensure that’s properly recorded.”
Clock tower repairs PA Wire/PA Images
One crowdfunding page has already raised £70,000. It is not clear whether funders will be given their money back or if the cash will be given to Help for Heroes, as was originally planned if it missed its target. No contingency plan was publicly stated for the cancellation of the entire project.
Asked if people should thus not bother giving to the crowdfunder, the PM’s spokesperson replied: “What I have said is we’re focusing on the events we’re planning.”
It is unclear what events Johnson has lined up but there is anger within No.10 and among Tory MPs that the Commons has failed to be imaginative in anticipating the big day.
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One source said the authorities had shown “intransigence”.
Big Ben has been silent since 2017 with renovations under way, but Leavers have called for the work to be paused so the bell can ring.
The House of Commons Commission – responsible for managing the parliamentary estate – raised caution over the plans, outlining that bringing the bell back into use during “essential reflooring work on the belfry could result in huge costs” to the public purse.
“We also have to bear in mind that the only people who will hear it will be those who live near or are visiting Westminster,” Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said in a statement earlier this week.
But Tory backbencher Mark Francois, who had promised £1,000 towards the fund, told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “It seems to me and many of my colleagues in the House of Commons patently daft that we have got the most iconic clock in the world – literally, it’s a world heritage site – that that should stay silent on this occasion.”
The costs were “massively exaggerated” because “officials in the House of Commons just don’t want to do it”, he claimed.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-16--As Oprah Talks About Her 34-Year Relationship, Couples Share Why They're Not Married

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Oprah Winfrey has spoken about her 34-year relationship with Stedman Graham, revealing he proposed to her in 1992, but they decided not to get married.
“I realised I didn’t actually want a marriage,” she writes in the February issue of O, The Oprah Magazine. “I wanted to be asked. I wanted to know he felt I was worthy of being his missus, but I didn’t want the sacrifices, the compromises, the day-in-day-out commitment required to make a marriage work.
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“My life with the show was my priority, and we both knew it. He and I agree that had we tied the marital knot, we would not still be together.”
Over the past decade, the number of couples choosing to tie the knot in England and Wales has drastically declined, according to ONS data, with more couples cohabiting without officially saying “I do”.
Paul Mant and Lisa Deakin, from Portsmouth, have been together for 22 years. They have discussed marriage in the past, and even started saving for a wedding once, but they decided to spend the money on an extension instead.
Paul R. Giunta via Getty Images
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“We’re still very happy with the big kitchen and extra room,” Paul jokes. “We both agreed to spend the money elsewhere.
“We didn’t give it much thought as we’d never prioritised marriage, partly as we didn’t want the embarrassment of favouring Lisa’s stepfather over her biological and semi-absent dad regarding the giving of the bride and speeches.”
Paul Mant and Lisa Deakin Paul Mant and Lisa Deakin
Paul says there was never a negative reaction from the wider family when they decided not to get married, adding: “Nobody had bought a hat in readiness [and there was] no investment on anyone else’s part.”
The pair have started to reconsider having a low-key marriage, mainly “for the reception party”, but haven’t made a definite decision yet. And after 22 years, they’re in no rush.
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Juanita Dellaway and her partner Rick Benson, from Exeter, have been together for 17 years and have never wanted to get married. Rick had a previous marriage and didn’t want to do it again, while Juanita has been “averse to it all [her] life” – but these feelings initially appeared when her mum became a Mormon when she was 12.
“The Mormon beliefs around women are very patriarchal; women have this defined role of child bearers and homemakers, which was not for me at all, so that’s where it started,” she explains. “My parents didn’t have a happy marriage and they were not married when my brothers and I were born, so that added to it.”
Juanita Dellaway Juanita Dellaway
Thankfully, Juanita and Rick have always been on the same page about marriage and even shared a “non-proposal”.
“My partner gave me a ‘will you never marry ring’, made from his grandmother’s diamond. He got down on one knee and said ‘will you never marry me?’ and I replied ‘yes I will never marry you!’” she says.
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The only downside to not being married, Juanita adds, was that they didn’t have any of the legal rights that come with pensions and inheritance tax. So when it became legal for heterosexual couples to have civil partnerships in December, the pair went ahead with it. “We signed a piece of paper on the 7th of January to say we are committed in the eyes of the law, just us and two witnesses,” she says.
For Emma O’Hara, originally from Tenby, Wales, and Stuart Bishop, from Portsmouth, the decision not to marry has been less conscious.
“We just don’t feel the need, I guess,” says Emma, who has been with Stuart for almost 11 years. “I personally feel the traditions are outdated – a father giving his daughter to the husband’s care, for example. It’s a bit Jane Austen, isn’t it?”
Emma O’Hara Emma O’Hara
The couple are also put off by the fact the wedding industry has become “outrageously expensive”.
“Mostly though, it feels to me like people only get married now because it’s ‘what we do’,” Emma says. “The only impacts [on our relationship] are from outside influences. Our families are forever putting pressure on us and even some married friends are starting with the, ‘So, when are you two gonna get married?’ It makes us question whether we’re doing things wrong.”
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When the couple are by themselves, though, Emma says they don’t doubt their relationship at all.