thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-24--Eurovision Film: Critics Can't Seem To 'Make Their Mind Up' About Will Ferrell's Netflix Original

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The reviews are in for Will Ferrell’s new Eurovision film, and the Netflix original is something critics can’t seem to “make their mind up” about.
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Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga sees Will teaming up with Rachel McAdams to play a pair of Icelandic musicians, whose big dream is to win the competition for their country for the first time.
Being a Will Ferrell comedy set at Eurovision, you should expect plenty of irreverence and silliness, although the reviews can’t seem to agree on whether the film achieves its aim successfully.
Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams performing in Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Sage John Wilson/NETFLIX
Many have suggested The Story Of Fire Saga gets the tone of Eurovision completely right, and heaped praise on supporting cast members like Dan Stevens and Rachel McAdams, as well as the various musical numbers.
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However, others – including us – have been more critical, suggesting the jokes fall flat and claiming the EBU’s involvement means it doesn’t go far enough in its parodying of the song contest.
Here’s a selection of what the critics are saying so far, beginning with the most positive...
“Packed full of cartoonish slapstick, eccentric performances, and a genuine fascination (read: passion) for Eurovision, the story of Fire Saga is a true escapist treat.
“Ferrell delivers a distinctly expressive and highly physical turn as the resolute Lars, with some fantastic chemistry with McAdams who is the real weapon in the comedy’s arsenal.”
“After a sluggish start, the real star of the movie arrives when Fire Saga start their Eurovision journey and meet the other contestants, including Dan Stevens as the Russian favourite Alexander Lemtov.
“Stevens steals the show as the camp and louche Lemtov, who he plays with a Borat-esque accent. His wonderful performance brings laughs that are lacking elsewhere and his Eurovision performance is something to behold.”
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“Ferrell even gathers recent contestants including Loreen, Conchita Wurst and Netta for a completely ridiculous mash-up... it’s a bit like Glee on ketamine, and the clear highlight of the film. But before this, we have to endure a plodding backstory peppered with patchy and sometimes misguided stabs at humour.”
“All the right references are here: the man in a giant hamster wheel, musicians in monster costumes, robotically cheery presenters that never seem to blink, and a cameo from elfin violinist Alexander Rybak.
“The tone feels right, too. Eurovision is a wonderfully chaotic mix of camp futurism, old traditions, high fantasy, lasers, and onstage dry-humping. The film covers all that ground.”
“Once we ourselves are immersed in this intense, extravagant, colorful milieu, we can understand how someone can spend their whole life fantasizing about being a part of it — and how crushing it would be to fail… in that kind of heightened atmosphere, even the weak jokes land.
“I can’t quite believe I’m putting these words in this specific order, but Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga might be the most emotionally engaging movie Will Ferrell has ever made.”
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“If ever a comedy cried out for tight 85-minute treatment that keeps the gags pinging fast enough to disguise the thin sketch material at its core, it’s this hit-or-miss two-hour feature… [but] don’t get me wrong. The new film, directed with halting rhythm and too little tonal consistency by David Dobkin, has some very funny moments.”
“Will Ferrell’s latest outing is unfunny, too long and thoroughly pointless… the result is this pulverisingly unfunny and vacuous two-hour gauntlet run of non-tertainment.”
“Not so much a comedy, more a strained, movie-length featuremercial for the Eurovision Song Contest brand, hung on a plot borrowed from The Producers, and originally planned to coincide with the now cancelled Eurovision 2020. Will Ferrell is phoning it in as co-writer and co-star, playing opposite Rachel McAdams, who though an estimable performer is not a natural comic.”
“The biggest issue with The Story of Fire Saga is that most of it is just too limp and anodyne to register... the whole film is inescapably ambivalent to its own premise in a way that can’t hope to sustain two full hours — it’s not absurd enough to support these characters, nor sober enough to reflect what the Eurovision Song Contest means to them, or even what they mean to each other.”
“Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga is the cinematic equivalent of Blue’s ignominious efforts [at Eurovision]... this muddled misfire is closer to nil points than the coveted douze... The votes are in, and it’s official: this largely unfunny paean to Eurovision is a waste of some serious talent. At least some of the songs are decent.”
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“Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” is like a “Saturday Night Live” sketch — a very thin one, a daffy but leaden final-third-of-the-show one — that’s been stretched out, for no reason at all, to two hours… it’s a badly shot one-joke movie that sits there and goes thud.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-24--The Changing Face Of Fashion - How Virtual Fashion Is Going To Make The Unimaginable Real

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The fashion industry’s reckoning has arrived. With concerns surrounding waste, ethical treatment of workers and inclusivity, there’s a widespread feeling that the status quo and systems in place are no longer sustainable.
Our current pandemic has not only highlighted and exacerbated how quickly fashion brands have needed to pivot to stay relevant and desirable, but it’s also changed people’s mindsets about how they shop and the clothing they really need.
With stores closed, parties and events cancelled and brands forced to rethink everything from how they re-open safely in a post-Covid-19 world to how they present their new-season fashion-wares, designers and customers are starting to appreciate how immersive technologies can build a bridge between the physical and digital spaces, connecting brands with customers, unleashing unprecedented creativity and helping to solve some of fashion’s biggest issues, like waste.
“The industry for a long time has presented itself as an early adopter of technologies, when that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Matthew Drinkwater, head of London College of Fashion’s Innovation Agency (FIA), tells us. FIA is a creative consultancy based at LCF specialising in using emerging technologies to help designers, retailers and brands change the way they make, show and sell their collections. “The use of immersive technology is really in its infancy for fashion.”
John Phillips via Getty Images Matthew Drinkwater
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You may have played around with some of the different ways that designers and brands have been dipping their toes into virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed-realities, whether you’ve downloaded an AR trainer app before purchasing a new pair of kicks, played a gamified fashion app like Drest to style digital avatars in luxury goods or enjoyed “phygital” experiences which merge physical and digital retail experiences. Perhaps you’ve even enjoyed checking out the latest Valentino and Marc Jacobs looks in the game Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
These technologies are ever more essential in a world where, for the foreseeable at least, we won’t be using physical changing rooms in shops or handling product as we once did.
For Matthew, much of what we’re seeing right now with the adoption of immersive technologies in fashion is forced behavioural change: when stores can’t open, when you can’t hold a physical fashion show, you need to explore other alternatives - it’s why LFW designers went digital and Chanel’s Virginie Viard presented the brand’s Cruise collection virtually in June 2020.
“What can the creation of digital content offer to the fashion industry? Even three or four months ago when I was speaking about this there would be a sceptical response. There is now this realisation that there is going to be a need alongside the physical product to have some sort of digital interaction,” explains Matthew.
If you’ve felt those recent virtual fashion experiences were lacking somewhat - reviews have been mixed - perhaps it’s because the immense creative potential that fashion without limits can offer in the virtual universe hasn’t been explored yet.
“Brands and designers need to figure out how to completely redefine that physical experience in a virtual world. Many think you need to take the current format and drop it into a virtual world, but you can build something entirely different in how you communicate. It’s a shift from storytelling to story living - you will actively be a part of this experience,” says Matthew.
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FIA (Fashion Innovation Agency, London College of Fashion) Charli Cohen
On July 29, RYOT, Verizon Media’s in-house creative Studio, presents: The Fabric of Reality, an immersive virtual fashion show experience unlike anything you’ve ever seen before, featuring conscious and tech-fluent designers Sabinna, Charli Cohen and Damara.
These visionary fashion creatives will be working in collaboration with leading VR artists to create immersive fashion story worlds with the goal of blowing your mind and creating an experience you would never be able to encounter in the physical realm.
Viewers will be able to virtually wear and interact with the garments in the story worlds for a 360-degree experience, completely changing the concept of the fashion show as we know it.
On June 25, Matthew Drinkwater, Sam Field, Head of Creative Tech at RYOT, Damara, Sabinna and Charli Cohen were part of a virtual panel discussion with Vogue Business’ Maghan McDowell on the virtual future of fashion.
The discussion had an audience of over 200 people, and touched on everything from how digital fashion showcases will look in the future to how we have the potential to create entirely new experiences through immersive technologies, rather than just mimicking what we already know.
Matthew talked about the huge amount of fear fashion industry professionals have when it comes to experimenting with immersive technologies: fear of failure, fear of cost, fear of being the first to try something. There is also a sense of uncertainty because the skill-sets needed for brands, designers and retailers to succeed in a virtual realm aren’t the skills you traditionally see within the fashion industry.
“People are talking about Paris Fashion Week going ahead and are hoping it can all go back to normal, but in reality travel won’t be back to normal, audience numbers will be limited.
“If we mix the physical with digital content, there’s an opportunity for jaw-dropping, amazing moments shared across multiple platforms. There are so many opportunities for brands to experiment and communicate differently,” Matthew said during the discussion. From matters of scale to the number of audience members that can be reached through immersive experiences, the possibilities are huge.
As well as showing a new world to shoppers, these technologies will broaden the scope of what’s possible for creators, giving them a chance to push the boundaries of their creativity and communicate their brand identity even more clearly.
In a post-pandemic world, brands and retailers aren’t just being tasked with innovating. They will also have to cope with the harsh reality that we’re entering one of the biggest retail recessions we’ve ever seen. Drastic change is essential.
“We cannot simply exist in models that were in place six months ago. It will be the brands that continue to deliver amazing experiences across multiple platforms that will continue to drive consumer engagement,” says Matthew.
He compares the changes to come in fashion and retail with the shift in how we consume media. Being able to step into an haute couture dress with a designer in VR, while being in PJs in your living room, is just the tip of the iceberg.
FIA (Fashion Innovation Agency, London College of Fashion) Sabinna
During the panel session, designers Sabinna, Damara and Charli Cohen each talked about how they’ve incorporated technologies into their fashion collections, from Sabinna’s poster campaign around London which engaged customers by having them scan QR codes (her brand also creates fun, gamified experiences for customers which don’t require a massive team or budget - just a bit of out-of-the-box thinking).
Sabinna previously worked with FIA on her 2017 collection, which mixed show worlds with real ones as guests could mix and match clothes with easy hand gestures, before shopping them with a swipe using the Microsoft HoloLens.
Damara, a winner of the Kering Award for Sustainable Fashion in 2019, focused her winning project on playing around with technologies as a way to update garments, as if clothes were a piece of hardware, like a phone which can be updated and rebooted. She used AR to see how it could be used to alter the shape of a garment through time.
Charli Cohen recently participated in Snap’s Yellow Accelerator program in LA, and one of her key brand focal points relates to how new technologies can impact sustainability.
“It’s the way forward for environmental sustainability - not completely depending on the physical product. Smaller brands have more agility to implement new technologies and new integrations. It doesn’t make sense for fashion to exist in this old school vacuum,” she says. She’s got some exciting video game partnerships in the pipeline - so watch this space.
The conversation also touched on London Fashion Week’s digital iteration in June, and how the digital shift is pushing brands like Sabinna’s towards micro-communities where they interact with customers on different platforms, in different ways, and try to personalise the experience for them.
For Damara, experiencing fashion in the virtual world forces you to think afresh about clothes: you can’t empathise with how a fabric or garment might feel. Instead, your reason for purchasing the clothes might be because the colours will look great on social media, or because it’s being worn by CGI model Lil Miquela and you’re a fan of hers.
“We weren’t able to step inside it, to take viewers and audience attendees right inside that experience,” Matthew told the panel of the LFW digital showcase.
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“In terms of what we could show technologically, there are things to make that more immersive and amazing. I want to feel that wow moment.” The Fabric of Reality project is beginning to move us towards these exciting emotional experiences - something Matthew strongly feels the future industry needs to be built on.
As to where fashion’s going, expect more and more to focus on the “phygital.” If brands and retailers start deploying rapidly changing dynamic environments in retail spaces, people will want to spend more and more time exploring stores and their contents.
“This is what experiential means in the future. It isn’t just going to be having a coffee in a store, it will be a lot more exciting than that,” says Matthew.
In fact, further down the line of digital fashion, there will be deployment systems for smell so we can have a completely 4D, location-based experience involving more of our senses. We’ll also start creating “fashion-related virtual memories,” according to Damara, which will move us further and further away from the physical show experience.
One other benefit we may start to reap from these immersive technologies? Damara’s vision is one of total diversity, and ever-more abstract digital avatars that don’t bring any discriminations or inequalities from the real world into the digital one.
“We can reimagine everything new. Those with the quickest access and privilege are those defining the meaning of those places. We need to have empathy for those not there yet,” she says.
Matthew told HuffPost that we’ll soon be seeing designers selling purely virtual fashion, creating garments that are never physically produced but have value in a virtual world (similar to gaming). Immersive technologies will also prove consequential for physical clothes, where we might soon be adding digital elements to everyday garments.
In addition to helping solve fashion’s waste and democratising the space - “technologies are going to offer the possibility to anyone with a computer and access to game engine technologies the ability to design virtual worlds and garments,” says Matthew - these technologies can form the basis of a wildly exciting creative revolution as new brands see opportunities for a radical rethinking of the status quo.
“We will see entirely digital fashion businesses emerge out of Covid-19. There will be a generation inspired and entirely comfortable working, consuming and interacting within the digital space. These businesses will become a very important part of what the future of fashion looks like,” says Matthew.
In addition to Damara, Charli Cohen and Sabinna, other names to watch in the digital fashion space include Dutch digital fashion brand The Fabricant, 3D fashion destination Change of Paradigm and digital artist hub for womxn, Digi-Gxl.
FIA (Fashion Innovation Agency, London College of Fashion) Damara
Ultimately, immersive technologies in the fashion world will not only bring about increased experimentation and showcase clothing without limits - they will also connect us to fashion in new ways.
As Sam Field told the panel: “I firmly believe we’re moving from a digital content world to a virtual experiences world. Immersive storytelling is a great way of engaging the audience - they remember it as if they experienced it, not as if they watched it.
The Fabric of Reality will be shown live on 29 July, 2020 at 6:30pm BST.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-24--Will Ferrell's Eurovision Film On Netflix: An Outright P***-Take Or A Loving Tribute?

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When it was first announced that Will Ferrell was working on a new comedy based on the Eurovision Song Contest, many fans (including myself) were left feeling a little uneasy about the whole thing.
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Looking at projects the actor had led in the past – like Anchorman and Blades Of Glory – it was a fair assumption his spin on the Song Contest wasn’t going to be an entirely reverent one. And with Eurovision already the butt of so many jokes (particularly here in the UK), did it really need to be introduced to a brand new audience through a lens that didn’t treat it with the respect it was due?
Fortunately, many Eurovision devotees’ concerns were quelled when Will began speaking about his own passion for the Song Contest, having been introduced to it by some of his Swedish family almost 20 years earlier.
Last month, he told Graham Norton: “One evening her cousin suggested we watch it and we sat there for three hours straight. I was slack-jawed. I couldn’t believe what I was watching. It was the craziest thing I’d ever seen. Everything you guys see – the spectacle, the humour – it was intoxicating.”
He also said that he and his team felt they “owed it to Eurovision and the fans to make sure it was well observed”, so all signs truly pointed towards the team getting it right – particularly after fans were given a first taste of the film with Volcano Man, a music video which pretty much nailed the ridiculous/serious dynamic you’d want in a Eurovision comedy.
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But with the film just days away from its debut on Netflix, was Will Ferrell true to his word? Well... kind of. But we don’t see it being a film fans will be tuning into more than once.
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga does have a handful of elements that will keep fans happy, not least its very first scene, which sees a wide-eyed Lars Erickssong (Will Ferrell) falling in love with the contest as a young boy, after watching ABBA’s triumphant victory in 1974.
Fast-forward more than 30 years, and Lars’ love of the contest is still going strong, and his journey to the song contest is peppered with plenty of Eurovision-friendly musical numbers. While admittedly not all of them have repeat value, there are one or two fans may want to check out on Spotify afterwards.
Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams performing in Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Sage John Wilson/NETFLIX
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There’s one particular musical sequence at around the halfway point that will come as a true delight to Eurovision fans. I’ll not spoil it for you completely, but expect to see a load of recent winners and other favourites coming together to perform a Pitch Perfect-esque medley of hits like Cher’s Believe and Madonna’s Ray Of Light.
Camp isn’t even the half of it, even if the producers did unwisely decide to have the fictional Eurovision entrants – played by Will, Dan Stevens and Rachel McAdams – taking centre stage in what would probably have worked better as a real-competitors-only sequence.
This sums up the big problem with Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga. It isn’t a Eurovision-centric comedy, but rather a Will Ferrell comedy (a romantic comedy, at that) which just happens to take place at Eurovision.
The end product is a film supposedly hooked on Eurovision that takes far too long to actually get to the contest itself, with all the usual trappings of a Will Ferrell outing (gross-out humour, gags done for shock value and a weird running joke about Lars’ hatred of Americans that goes on far too long).
If anything, they could have gone in harder on the competition. Eurovision fans generally do have a sense of humour about the contest, which is sprinkled with countless ridiculous and silly moments ever year. But by avoiding poking fun at the contest (presumably due to the EBU’s involvement in the film), while also not spending enough time celebrating what makes it great, it’s not clear who this film is supposed to serve.
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Lars and Sigrit make up the musical duo Fire Saga Elizabeth Viggiano/NETFLIX
As a result, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga is neither an outright piss-take or a loving tribute, and ends up being one thing Eurovision should never be: boring.
The majority of the gags fall completely flat, and you don’t know whether you’re supposed to be rooting for Lars and his Fire Saga bandmate Sigrit to work out as a couple (largely because there are repeated suggestions that they’re actually brother and sister). Plus, at two hours, it’s simply too long.
Of course, if you’re a fan of the contest, you’re probably going to want to experience it for yourself regardless. But truly, if this year’s cancelled event has left you in need of some Eurovision in your life, you’re probably better off getting in on the last Eurovision Again this weekend, rather than sitting down to this ultimately disappointing offering.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-24--Margarita Pracatan, Singer From The Clive James Show, Has Died Aged 89

Cuban singer and entertainer Margarita Pracatan has died at the age of 89.
The star was best known in the UK for appearing on Clive James’ TV show during the 1990s.
Margarita’s death was confirmed by her daughter Maria Gorshin who told Sky News her mother died on Tuesday.
Margarita Pracatan pictured in 2005 Jo Hale via Getty Images
Often described as a “novelty singer”, Margarita had performed since the age of three, and found fame in the UK when chat show host Clive James discovered a cable TV show she appeared on in 1994.
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He invited her to perform on his show The Clive James Show, where she memorably sang covers of hits including New York, New York, Mamma Mia and Hello at the end of each episode.
Margarita pictured with Clive James in 1995 Mirrorpix via Getty Images
Posting a tribute on Twitter, she said: “Saying goodbye is so shocking. Makes you quiet rewinding the memories. So many. Years and years of that intelligence and the talent and beautiful way of living, always to do excellence [sic].
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“Thank you, #CliveJames from the bottom of my heart. You live forever with us.”
Margarita made her last TV appearance in 2019, when she starred in an episode of The Real Housewives Of New York City, where she performed a cover version of Luann de Lesseps’s Money Can’t Buy You Class.
Sorry to hear of the death of Margarita Pracatan, social media star before social media. We got her live on @BBCRadio3 once, to the faint annoyance of Clive James. In 2017 I saw her live in Catford & was delighted to discover she still considered the right notes unnecessary. pic.twitter.com/fY4VAq5umz — Matthew Sweet (@DrMatthewSweet) June 24, 2020
So sad to see the social media reports saying that Margarita Pracatan has died aged 89. Her performances on the Clive James show were beyond wonderful https://t.co/SQXdSqzYao — lizo mzimba (@lizo_mzimba) June 24, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-24--UK Records 154 More Coronavirus Deaths In 24 Hours As Latest Care Home Data Released

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The number of people who have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus has risen to 43,081 – an increase of 154 over 24 hours.
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Since the end of April, the government’s daily announcement has included people in care homes and the community, rather than just in hospital, who have died.
But only those who had tested positive for Covid-19 are included, meaning anyone who died with a suspected case won’t be recorded.
The figures cover the period up to 5pm on Tuesday.
It comes after the number of people who have died in hospitals across the UK, as well as care homes in Wales, after contracting the virus rose by 64 in 24 hours.
That increase consisted of 51 in England, four in Scotland, eight in Wales and one in Northern Ireland.
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Twenty-nine of England’s victims were 80 or older, with none aged under 40.
Meanwhile, as of 9am on Wednesday, 8,542,186 people had been tested for coronavirus, with 306,862 coming back positive. Some 232,086 people were tested in the preceding 24 hours, with 653 new cases confirmed.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-25--NHS Test And Trace Under Fire After Number Of People Contacted Falls

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Downing Street has warned that the public “must play their part” in cooperating with NHS Test and Trace after fresh figures showed the number of people reached by the service had fallen week on week.
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Latest statistics published on Thursday showed that in the seven days to June 17 a total of 82% of close contacts of people who had tested positive for Covid-19 were reached and advised to self-isolate – down from 91% in the first two weeks of the service.
The weekly data also showed that overall 26% of people had not been reached after testing positive for Covid-19, up from 22% in previous weeks.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said “further measures” such as making the system compulsory would be considered if the statistics failed to improve.
NHS Test and Trace, predicted by Boris Johnson to be a “world beating” service, uses phone calls, texts and emails to contact everyone who tests positive for the virus.
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It also advises those who test positive to give up details of any “close contact”, defined as those who have spent more than 15 minutes at a distance of less than 2m, who should in turn self-isolate for a fortnight.
Health secretary Matt Hancock has said he does not rule out ending the currently voluntary nature of the system, but HuffPost UK understands that officials are also looking at offering extra cash help to encourage workers who fear loss of income from self-isolation.
The PM’s spokesman stressed that NHS Test And Trace was a new large scale service and the figures showed it had “now reached more than 100,000 people who may otherwise have knowingly spread the virus”.
But he added: “The public must play their part by providing vital information we need to protect our families and communities. We would urge those contacted by the service to follow the advice they receive.
“If we do find that significant numbers aren’t following isolating instructions we will consider if further measures are required. We are not ruling [compulsion] out [...]
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but we need to keep seeing numbers going up.
“Test and trace are working to make the service more efficient and accessible by doing things like opening at local testing centres, increasing translation services and concentrating calls at times that work best for the public. We have always said this is a service that will improve over time.”
Labour shadow health minister Justin Madders said: “To have a quarter of those who test positive not contacted three weeks in to the ‘world beating’ system is not good enough and urgently needs to be addressed.
“Expert opinion shows that to defeat this virus we need a fully functioning test and trace system, so these latest figures still raise major concerns the week before lockdown measures are eased further, especially without a working app.”
The PM has also pledged that by the end of June all tests – apart from postal tests and some exceptions – should be returned within 24 hours. At present the majority are returned within a day and 90% within 48 hours.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-25--Why So Many People Are Angry With Robert Jenrick

Usually, a Conservative minister’s dealings in a controversial housing scheme backed by a Tory party donor would be “big news”.
But unless you class yourself as a bit of politico, with everything else going on in the world, the details of the drama involving housing secretary Robert Jenrick may well have passed you by.
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With things heating up over the row, it’s time to get up to speed. Here’s everything you need to know about why Jenrick is facing calls to resign.
So, what’s the drama?
Tory donor Richard Desmond PA
In short, people are seriously unhappy that Jenrick approved a controversial housing scheme – reported to be worth £1bn – linked to Tory donor Richard Desmond.
The housing secretary gave the go-ahead to the 1,500-home development at the former Westferry Printworks in London’s Isle of Dogs despite the fact it had been rejected by both the local council and the independent Planning Inspectorate because it didn’t contain enough affordable housing.
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To make matters worse, the nod from Jenrick came just a day before a new community charge was introduced, saving the developer an estimated £30m to £50m. A financial boost of this size could have paid Tower Hamlet Council’s housing services budget for up to five years.
The decision by Jenrick has now been quashed.
What happened on Wednesday?
A view of the Westferry Printworks site on the Isle of Dogs, east London. PA
The row got spicier on Wednesday night after the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government released a bundle of previously classified “relevant information” connected to the Westferry Printworks decision.
This included a number of revealing texts between Desmond and the under-fire secretary of state, who signed off on the scheme in January 2020.
The texts appear to have been initiated by Jenrick in November last year shortly after the pair discussed the housing proposal at a Tory party fundraising dinner.
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On the night of the event, November 18, Jenrick texted the media mogul saying it was “good to spend time with him” and looked forward to seeing him again.
In another exchange two days later, ex-Daily Express owner Desmond tried to arrange a meeting with the housing secretary on December 19 as well as a site visit to the Westferry Printworks.
He wrote: “Good news finally the inspectors reports have gone to you today, we appreciate the speed as we don’t want to give Marxists loads of doe [sic] for nothing!
“We all want to go with the scheme and the social housing we have proposed and spent a month at the Marxist town hall debating, thanks again, all my best, Richard.”
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday House of Commons - PA Images via Getty Images
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However, Jenrick replied declining a meeting until after a decision had been made due to his position.
In another document, a housing ministry official indicated the secretary of state (SoS) wanted Westferry to be signed off and approved the following day so that it would avoid the CIL.
It stated: “On timing, my understanding is that SoS is/was insistent that decision issued this week ie tomorrow – as next week the viability of the scheme is impacted by a change in the London CIL regime.”
Jenrick has already conceded his decision was “unlawful by reason of apparent bias” and confirmed his approval was deliberately issued before the new CIL policy could be adopted. But he denies any actual bias influenced his decision to approve the scheme.
For more details from the newly-published documents, read this: Tory Donor Pressured Robert Jenrick To Approve Housing Plan With Swipe At ‘Marxist’ Council
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What have opposition MPs said?
As you might expect, many opposition MPs are *furious* with Jenrick over the row. After all, Tower Hamlets has the highest rate of child poverty in Great Britain and is the 10th most deprived local authority in England.
Steve Reed, Labour’s shadow communities and local government secretary, said Jenrick’s decision had “weakened trust”.
He said: “It’s time for Mr Jenrick to come clean and answer these crucial questions about why he overruled his own inspector to grant planning permission for a billionaire Conservative Party donor to build a luxury development and dodge a £50m tax bill shortly after they dined together at a glitzy fundraising dinner.”
Shadow secretary of state for communities Steve Reed speaking in the House of Commons PA
In the Commons on Wednesday, Nottingham East Labour MP Nadia Whittome indirectly accused Jenrick of corruption.
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She said: “Reducing the ratio of affordable dwellings from one in three to one in five saved billionaire developer and Tory donor Richard Desmond another £40m by selling these units on the premium property market instead.
“Transparency International defines corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.
“Transparency International has said of corruption in the UK: ‘Although corruption is not endemic in the UK, it is correct to say that in some areas of UK society and institutions corruption is a much greater problem than recognised’ and that there is an inadequate response.’”
Intervening, Jenrick asked: “Is she accusing me of corruption?”
The housing secretary then called on Whittome to “withdraw that immediately”, which she did not do.
Labour’s City of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy also had strong words. She said: “Whatever else you call this, it’s clearly morally wrong.”
Foy added: “The fact that the secretary of state knowingly made a decision which reduced affordable housing and deprived a local council and its communities of much-needed funding is a disgrace, quite frankly.”
Labour’s Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green and Bow in Tower Hamlets, added: “What’s rotten at the heart of this scandal is his behaviour and it’s wrong for him to attack Tower Hamlets Council that was negotiating a better deal for residents, trying to get more social housing.”
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Others – including former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron – have called on the cabinet minister to resign over the issue.
Farron, who is also his party’s spokesperson for communities, housing and local government, told the PA news agency: “Yet again we are seeing Tory ministers show it is one rule for them and their cronies, and another for everyone else.
“Given the minister has accepted that his decision to sign off the project was unlawful, he should also accept that he is unfit to continue to serve in that role and resign immediately.”
SNP MP David Linden added: “In any other circumstance, this would already be difficult territory for the secretary of state to try to wriggle off the hook, but the fact that this £1bn housing development is linked to a Tory donor means it stinks – and it stinks, frankly, to high heavens.”
“Is she accusing me of corruption?” - Robert Jenrick, responding to comments made by Labour MP Nadia Whittome in the Commons
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Meanwhile, mayor of Tower Hamlets John Biggs said: “The documents he was forced to release are damning and it looks like he rushed through the decision to help save the developer money and short-change my residents.
“The minister referred to our borough as ‘rotten’, and messages from the developer called our council ‘Marxist’.
“This name calling says more about them and their disregard for my residents whose borough it is, and who rightly want much-needed affordable homes and money for local services.”
And after Downing Street restated its backing for Robert Jenrick, Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner tweeted: “Here we go again. The untouchables – the old boys network covering for each other. Disgusting! This isn’t a government it’s a farce. Not a spot of integrity amongst them.”
What has the Conservative Party said about it all?
Business minister Nadhim Zahawi has defended Jenrick PA
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Boris Johnson has backed the beleaguered minister, with the head of the civil service saying the prime minister “considered the matter closed”.
Other senior Tories have come out in support of Jenrick. Business minister Nadhim Zahawi said the new documents proved that – despite claims from Labour – Tory donor Desmond did not exert any overt influence on the cabinet minister.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The important thing, by the way, is the access did not buy this billionaire a decision.
“Yes, of course there was access, because there was a dinner party that Robert Jenrick didn’t know he was going to sit next to Richard Desmond at, but Robert Jenrick also said in those messages, that he released after promising the select committee he would release them: ‘I can’t have this meeting with you.’”
When asked whether those who voted Tory for the first time at the election in Labour’s traditional heartland areas would be afforded the same level of access to decision makers as Desmond, Zahawi indicated that anybody could deploy similar tactics.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-25--The Calls From Children The NSPCC Receive Every Hour During Lockdown

The Calls From Children The NSPCC Receive Every Hour During Lockdown
Children’s charity The NSPCC has seen an increase in the number of calls from children reporting problems at home since lockdown began. On average, the children’s charity receives contact from a youngster every hour. In one distressing call, a 10-year-old boy told Childline: “We should be allowed back to school now so my step-dad stops hitting mummy.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-25--Glastonbury Boss Michael Eavis Makes Ominous Admission About The Future Of The Festival

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Glastonbury organiser Michael Eavis has said the future of the festival could be in danger if it’s not able to go ahead in 2021.
The much-loved music event should have been taking place this weekend, but was cancelled back in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Michael – who oversees Glastonbury every year with his daughter, Emily Eavis – has now told The Guardian that if the festival can’t take place next year, “it will be curtains”.
“We have to run next year, otherwise we would seriously go bankrupt,” he explained. “It has to happen for us, we have to carry on. Otherwise it will be curtains. I don’t think we could wait another year.”
Michael and Emily Eavis at the NME Awards in February David M. Benett via Getty Images
Emily agreed that Glastonbury would be in a “very serious situation if we had to cancel next year’s event”, but pointed out that the industry in general could well be in jeopardy.
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“The whole live industry will be hanging in the balance if we have another summer without festivals,” she added. “And we don’t know what level of government support there will be for this industry.”
Emily insisted that she was feeling optimistic, though, noting: “We’ve navigated choppy waters so many times. This festival has always evolved and found ways to survive, and I’m confident that we will again.”
It could be "curtains" for Glastonbury if it can't go ahead in 2021 Alys Tomlinson via Getty Images
This year should have been the landmark 50th anniversary of Glastonbury, with Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar all booked to headline.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-25--On World Vitiligo Day, 3 Young British Asians Show Their Skin Some Love

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Thousands of people are taking to social media for World Vitiligo Day to showcase their skin and what makes them unique.
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Vitiligo is a skin disorder where white patches of skin appear on different parts of the body. This happens when the immune system attacks the melanocyte cells that make pigment in the skin – the causes are unclear and while it’s been documented for thousands of years, it can be the source of stigma and shame.
“Vitiligo is present in 1% of general population and in Asian skin some studies have put it between 1.5%-2%,” consultant dermatologist Dr Adil Sheraz, a spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation tells HuffPost UK – pointing to a significant stigma around the condition in some Asian communities, where it’s often thought to be contagious and cause by poor dietary habits, he says.
This can have a knock-on impact for people’s mental health, with vitiligo associated with anxiety, depression – and in rare cases, suicidal thoughts. “It can result in a complete change in one’s cultural identity both in how people see themselves and how society sees them,” says Dr Sheraz.
It’s in this context that a wave of young British Asians are using the power of social media to share their vitiligo stories, break down the shame attached to their condition and show the beauty of their skin.
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Three people share their stories with HuffPost UK – and the messages they want to send other people who live with the condition.
‘Vitiligo is a blessing not a curse’
When Shankar Jalota developed vitiligo at the age of 15, he had no idea it was a skin condition. “I noticed a tiny white patch on my chest and a white speck under my left eye,” he recalls. “Honestly, I thought I wasn’t washing myself properly. I would scrub my body and face hard to try and get rid of it.”
Even when the patches didn’t go away, but started to get bigger and more noticeable, he thought it must be “something to do with puberty”.
It was his grandmother who made him go and get checked out. “I was walking around my living room with no top on when my gran was over visiting us. She noticed it right away. I remember her face being worried, but I shunned it off as nothing. However, my gran told me: ‘Go to the doctor as soon as possible!’ as if she had seen something like this before.”
Brock Elbank Shankar Jalota
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Now 26, the Londoner is best known as @thevitiligoman on Instagram, where he shares pictures, inspirational quotes and regularly broadcasts on IGTV. And having let people’s perceptions play a huge part in how he once felt mentally, his mantra is now: “let your differences define you”.
“In the Asian community, when I first got it I remember people thinking I had a curse on me,” says Jalota. “As a young person, this is quite a scary thought to endure, one that I even believed for a moment. People were very curious about my vitiligo and asked lots of questions about it. Some told me to try drinking water out of a copper cup as they believed that would get rid of it.”
“But of course, this curse, is now a huge blessing to me and enables me to help others and give back to our community.” His message to the world: “Don’t let you vitiligo define your insecurities, let it define your confidence”.
‘We are nothing less than perfect’
Angela Selvarajah, 33, is a self-styled “vitiligo crusader” and model. Growing up in a Sri Lankan family, she had eczema and psoriasis from a young age, which would often flare up, especially around the back of her neck and scalp.
She vividly remembers her first encounter with vitiligo: “I used to have very long thick hair which my mum often oiled and plaited for me. Around the age of 14, while plaiting my hair, she noticed a white patch at the back of my neck from where psoriasis had started healing. We noticed that wherever my psoriasis or eczema patch healed I had a white patch underneath.”
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Rachel Stewartillingworth Angela Selvarajah
Vitiligo made Selvarajah feel quite isolated. She found people would either stare at her or keep their distance, fearing she was contagious. “I felt that even when I may have forgotten about it for a few minutes, someone would come along and point it out,” she says.
She would get comments like “Is it all over your body?”; “What are you doing about it?”; “You’re going to be all white soon,” and lots of people saying, “Have you tried... ?” It was exhausting, she says.
“The one that really got me was, “Oh you poor thing, you’re so brave”. To some extent, this seemed quite patronising. It wasn’t like I had a choice to be brave.”
Her words now to others with the same condition are: “Be free, be confident, be yourself! Vitiligo makes us unique and you are nothing less than perfect!”
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‘Who doesn’t want to feel beautiful?’
Kirps Bhogal developed vitiligo when he was 10. The 35-year-old is now a part-time vitiligo model, passionate about raising awareness and visibility for those with the condition.
“There is a huge stigma around vitiligo and not just in the Asian community which I am from,” he says, blaming a lack of knowledge and teaching about ‘looking different’ that goes back to school. ”If it was taught from a young age and made more ‘normalised’, I believe this would help eradicate the stigma around not just vitiligo, but a whole load of differences and conditions.”
Bhogal has noticed people not wanting to shake hands with him in social and professional settings and feels the judgment when people first spot his skin.
“Children, I find, are very curious or scared, asking, ‘What’s wrong with that man’s skin?’ Whereas adults, if they don’t know what vitiligo is, tend to ask if I’ve been burnt or whether I have skin cancer?”
Michael Heffernan Kirps Bhogal
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Bhogal, who posts on Instagram as @a.patchy.indian believes social media can be a powerful platform to counteract the stereotypes and stigma.
“I truly believe everyone is beautiful,” he says. ”Every day we’re bombarded with images of half-naked models and celebs on magazine covers, their already beautiful faces and stick-thin bodies airbrushed to remove every ‘imperfection’. We look in the mirror, comparing, and self-love soon turns to self-loathing. How can we live up to such impossible standards? But, we still try. Because who doesn’t want to feel beautiful, right?”
“At first, we just alter the small things – the style of our hair, the shape of our nose or the freckles on our cheeks; but then, those small changes (which sometimes become big changes) slowly add up to create a completely new person altogether. After a while, we don’t even recognise the person in the mirror staring back at us.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-25--No.10 Distances Itself From Minister Who Suggested Voters Attend Tory Fundraisers To Meet Their MP

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No.10 has refused to say business minister Nadhim Zahawi was speaking on behalf of the government when he suggested people should pay to attend Tory fundraising events if they wanted similar access to politicians as wealthy developer Richard Desmond.
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Housing secretary Robert Jenrick is fighting to keep his job after documents revealed the extent of the contact between himself and Desmond, a Tory donor.
Jenrick signed off Desmond’s 1,500-home Westferry Printworks scheme in east London following a meeting at a Conservative Party event in November.
Documents published on Wednesday evening showed officials in Jenrick’s department described him as being “insistent” that the project be given the green light before a new levy added millions to the cost.
Under pressure to explain why a wealthy businessman could have such access, Zahawi this morning said anybody could deploy similar tactics.
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“If people go to a fundraiser in their local area, in Doncaster (for example), for the Conservative Party, they will be sitting next to MPs and other people in their local authorities and can interact with different parts of the authority,” he told BBC Radio 4′s Today programme.
PA
Asked about his intervention, Boris Johnson’s spokesperson refused to confirm Zahawi was speaking on behalf of the government.
“He is a government minister I just can’t comment on events relating to the Conservative party,” the spokesperson said.
But Downing Street said the prime minister had full confidence in Jenrick.
“The housing secretary has set out his account in public and in parliament, including publishing the relevant documentation. In light of this account the prime minister considers this matter closed,” the spokesperson said.
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The spokesperson added “no one in No.10” discussed the application with Desmond.
“No.10 had no involvement with the secretary of state’s appeal decision,” they added.
Jenrick later had to quash his own approval, conceding that the decision was “unlawful” due to “apparent bias”.
The cabinet minister originally gave the development the go-ahead in January, overruling both Tower Hamlets Council and a planning inspector.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-25--Phillip Schofield Makes Hilarious Sex Toy Company Gaffe On This Morning

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Phillip Schofield had This Morning viewers smiling on Thursday, after making a cheeky slip of the tongue.
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The presenter was hosting a segment about package holidays with co-host Holly Willoughby and money expert Martin Lewis on the ITV daytime show, when he made an unfortunate sex toy-related gaffe.
A caller had phoned in for help about a package holiday she’d booked with Love Holiday, but Phillip got his brand names confused, and referred to the company as Love Honey – an online retailer specialising in sex toys – instead.
“Rebecca, if Love Honey” he began, quickly correcting himself, before saying: “Love Honey, that’s a whole different package coming through the door there. A totally different package holiday.”
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A giggling Holly agreed: “Totally different, yeah.”
As Phillip later threw to the break, he was then seen collapsing back into the sofa laughing.
@Schofe phillip ! What HAVE you been ordering 😏🤣 pic.twitter.com/eu3U0wEkFX — Sorca O Brien (@HerNameIsSorca) June 25, 2020
Seizing a free advertising opportunity, Love Honey had a fitting response to the gaffe, tweeting: “When you confuse your Summer hols with our Summer Sale. It happens to the best of us.”
Sharing a clip of the moment, they added: Unlike our pal @schofe here, our deliveries are 100% discreet.”
When you confuse your Summer hols with our Summer Sale. ☀ It happens to the best of us @schofe. #ThisMorning pic.twitter.com/Uc2zUeKZQG — Lovehoney (@Lovehoney) June 25, 2020
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There have been laughs aplenty on This Morning this week, as on Monday roving reporter Josie Gibson amused fans with her reactions during a rollercoaster ride.
The former Big Brother winner had been sent to a theme park to cover their reopening, but left Phillip and guest presenter Davina McCall in stitches when her face mask slipped over her eyes on the ride, leaving her screaming: “Where am I?!”
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-25--Papers Reveal How Jenrick's Department Ignored Need For Affordable Homes To Save Tory Donor Millions

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Robert Jenrick’s department waved through a Tory donor’s controversial development knowing full well that it didn’t provide adequate affordable housing, email chains have revealed.
With the project set to be hit by a levy of millions of pounds if a decision was made a day later, a Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government official said of the affordable housing concerns: “We don’t have time for that.”
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The Westferry Printworks development was to contain 21% so-called affordable housing, of which about 220 would be for “affordable rent” – up to four-fifths of market rate – and the rest, just over 90, would be for “intermediate rent”, more expensive still. The average market rent in the borough by the end of 2017 was £1,733 a month, nearly double the national rate and significantly out of reach of those most in need.
Housing secretary Jenrick is under fire after releasing documents over his decision in January to approve the east London development driven by multi-millionaire Richard Desmond.
The timing of the planning approval came just a day before a new community infrastructure levy (CIL) came into force, which could have cost Desmond’s Northern and Shell company up to £50m – cash that would have gone towards local infrastructure in one of the country’s most deprived boroughs.
Before Jenrick’s intervention, plans for 1,500 flats on the former Westferry Printworks site on London’s Isle of Dogs had already been rejected by the local Tower Hamlets Council and a planning inspector over concerns about that same lack of affordable housing.
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Housing secretary Robert Jenrick speaking in the House of Commons. PA
The council was unhappy about the proposed number of so-called affordable homes: a 21% proportion rather than the 35% minimum expected by local leaders. There were also worries about the mix of flat sizes, and the lack of family homes.
Within a stash of letters and texts published on Wednesday night by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, reference is made to an “acute need for affordable housing in Tower Hamlets”. More than 20,000 households are on the borough’s waiting list, with some families expected to wait more than a decade to be given a property.
Officials questioned in the correspondence on January 14, the day Jenrick announced his decision and a day before the CIL came into effect, whether there was the opportunity to increase the proportion of affordable housing in the plan – desperately needed to help with the borough’s 20,000-long wait list, which stretches past a decade for some types of home.
But another responded: “It would not be possible to introduce a condition on the provision of affordable housing without going back to the parties to ask them for their views on such a condition – and we don’t have time for that.”
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MHCLG
The need to reach a decision ahead of the levy’s introduction is evident throughout the cache of papers.
In another document, a ministry official indicates the secretary of state (SoS) wanted Westferry to be signed off and approved the following day so that it would avoid the CIL.
It stated: “On timing, my understanding is that SoS [secretary of state, Jenrick] is/was insistent that decision issued this week ie tomorrow – as next week the viability of the scheme is impacted by a change in the London CIL regime.”
Jenrick published information after Labour tabled a motion – which was approved – directing the government to release all documents relating to the controversial approval.
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The housing secretary has faced accusations of “cash for favours” after it emerged ex-Daily Express owner Desmond had personally given the Conservative Party £12,000 two weeks after the scheme for 1,500 homes was approved.
Jenrick has since had to quash his own approval, conceding the decision was “unlawful” because people could see it as biased – even though he denies any bias actually existed, and says the scheme was signed off on its own merits.
The newly-released documents show texts between Jenrick and Desmond after spending time together at a Tory fund raising event event.
In one text, apparently referring to Labour-run Tower Hamlets Council as “Marxists”, Desmond said: “We appreciate the speed as we don’t want to give Marxists loads of doe [sic] for nothing!
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“We all want to go with the scheme and the social housing we have proposed and spent a month at the Marxist town hall debating, thanks again, all my best Richard.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-25--Susanna Reid Steps Back From Social Media After Abuse Left Her 'At Breaking Point'

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Susanna Reid has announced that she’s stepping away from social media, stating that online abuse has left her at “breaking point”.
The Good Morning Britain presenter wrote in her latest column for the Daily Mail that she’s regularly subjected to nastiness about her appearance, as well as frequent comments telling her to “pipe down because I am a woman”.
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She wrote: “I am informed I am too fat, too thin, too old and too stupid. Spoilt, narcissistic and attention-seeking are common insults, although honestly no one on TV is going to be offended by the accusation that they seek attention. We’re hardly shrinking violets.
“The c-word — which often pops up — is never pleasant to read, but I’ve learned to ignore it. However, there are times when even thick skin gets thinner. I’m finally at breaking point, and I’m taking a step back from all the nastiness.”
Susanna Reid Grant Pollard/Invision/AP
Susanna went on to say that there’d been a “new level of personal viciousness” in the messages she receives since speaking out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, both online and on GMB.
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“I was told to ‘shut up’ and ‘get in your kennel’,” she explained. “I happened to check my phone when I was making lunch for the kids, and the tirade of sexist insults made my stomach lurch. I thought: ‘Why do I do this to myself?’”
She added that she doesn’t think social media sites do enough to curb online abuse, insisting: “The wealthy owners of top sites must start protecting people who use them in good faith. And make no mistake, unpleasant as it is for me, there is a whole other level of viciousness directed at Black people in the media.
“Social media has become a dark place, and the sites need to clean up their act if they want people to keep using them. No one should be scared into silence by the trolls.”
In the past, Susanna has made headlines on multiple occasions for putting online detractors in their place, particularly in relation to her on-screen partnership with GMB co-host Piers Morgan.
Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid Ken McKay/ITV/Rex/Shutterstock
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When one critic wrote that she “smiles away” while Piers “spouts bigotry and ignorance”, Susanna wrote back: “I spend my mornings challenging the views of Piers Morgan. I spend the rest of the day being told *checks notes* I don’t challenge him.”
She added that it’s “your choice not to watch the programme” but people should “at least have an informed view” before they criticise her.
A year earlier, Susanna made similar comments when she responded to those who suggested she should quit her GMB role over the opinions Piers has voiced on the show.
“My skin just gets thicker by the second. Half my critics think I should leave MY paid employment because THEY take issue with the person sitting next to me,” she fumed.
“The other half think I should leave, BECAUSE I take issue with the person sitting next to me. I’m staying right where I am.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-25--Matthew Perry Made A Joke About David Beckham Wearing A Friends T-Shirt But Not Everyone Got It

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David Beckham got the ultimate endorsement after donning a Friends t-shirt – from none other than Matthew Perry.
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The footballer shared a snap of himself on Instagram wearing the tee, with an image from the Friends episode The One Where No One’s Ready, while out for a walk with his wife, Victoria.
The photo shows Matthew’s character Chandler Bing looking on in exasperation as Matt Le Blanc’s Joey Tribbiani lunges while wearing most of the contents of Chandler’s wardrobe.
It also features the famous line: “Could I be wearing any more clothes?”
After spotting the pic, Matthew re-posted it on his own Instagram page and wrote: “This guy has really good taste. Whoever that is.”
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But not everyone got the joke and after fans flooded his page to tell him it was David Beckham, he clarified: “Guys, I know who it is! I was just joking.”
Matthew Perry Instagram Instagram
*face palm*
David’s son Cruz, 15, also commented on the post, writing: “Guess who bought him the shirt,” before David himself added: “Yes @cruzbeckham got me the shirt but could I be wearing anymore clothes?”
It’s not the first time David has had en encounter with one of the cast from Friends.
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The former Friends star shared a pic of the moment, joking the pair were “too hot in the hot tub”.
David and Courteney were playing themselves in the drama as they competed together in a celebrity bowling tournament.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-25--Davina McCall Speaks Out After Brian Dowling Claims Big Brother Highlights Show Is Trying To 'Rewrit

Davina McCall Speaks Out After Brian Dowling Claims Big Brother Highlights Show Is Trying To 'Rewrite History'

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Davina McCall has spoken out after Brian Dowling accused the Big Brother highlights series Best Shows Ever of trying to erase him from the show’s history.
For the last couple of weeks, Davina and Rylan Clark-Neal have been presenting a nightly show on E4 celebrating some of the best episodes from Big Brother’s time on Channel 4, in honour of its upcoming 20th anniversary.
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But while Best Shows Ever has seen them interviewing former presenters Emma Willis and Dermot O’Leary, one person who hasn’t been involved is “ultimate housemate” Brian Dowling.
Brian hosting Celebrity Big Brother in 2013 Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images
Brian won the second series of Big Brother in 2001, later triumphing in the all-stars series Ultimate Big Brother, and hosting two regular series and four celebrity series of the reality show when it made the jump to Channel 5.
However, while discussing their Big Brother memories, neither Davina nor Rylan has mentioned Brian’s stint as host, which hasn’t gone unnoticed.
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On Wednesday night, one viewer wrote: “Although I am absolutely loving watching old episodes of #BigBrother finding it very strange that there has been no mention of [Brian Dowling] as presenter?! Very odd considering how loved he is and was on the show?”
Brian with Davina McCall in 2010 Ian Gavan via Getty Images
“You are not the only one,” Brian wrote back. “Actually at this stage it’s getting rather funny. People trying to rewrite history.”
Although I am absolutely loving watching old episodes of #BigBrother finding it very strange that there has been no mention of @brianofficial as presenter ?! Very odd considering how loved he is and was on the show? 🤔 @ThisisDavina @Rylan x — nicola brady starr (@nicolabrady) June 24, 2020
You are not the only one.
Actually at this stage it’s getting rather funny.People trying to rewrite history.🤷🏻♂ — Brian Dowling (@brianofficial) June 24, 2020
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The following morning, Davina tweeted: “We haven’t talked about Brian presenting as this is the channel 4 years as you have probably noticed. He presented on channel 5.
“We had Emma and dermot on as they both worked on channel 4 big brother . We love @brianofficial . A lot.”
Davina also pointed out that Brian’s time in the house in 2001 will be covered during tonight’s instalment of Big Brother: Best Shows Ever.
We haven’t talked about Brian presenting as this is the channel 4 years as you have probably noticed. He presented on channel 5 . We had Emma and dermot on as they both worked on channel 4 big brother . We love @brianofficial . A lot. We showed him in bb2 — Davina McCall (@ThisisDavina) June 25, 2020
His show is on tonight . — Davina McCall (@ThisisDavina) June 25, 2020
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It was recently reported that Channel 4 was considering bringing back Celebrity Big Brother next year, with Davina tipped to host.
Speaking to Scott Mills on Radio 1 earlier this week, Davina said she would potentially be interested in fronting the show, saying: “Of course, I would! You know, I’ve had 11 years off. It’s Channel 4, which is kind of the home where I presented it before.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-25--Why Is Ageing Such A Dirty Word? Being Young Is Overrated

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None of us can escape the march of time, and ageing happens to all of us. According to the Office of National Statistics, the proportion of people aged 65 and over in England is projected to increase to over 24% of the population by 2038. With people living and thriving longer, why is society still hanging onto its obsession with youth, afraid of ageing, and reluctant to talk about the final taboo - death?
It’s the topic of conversation in our first episode of the brand new podcast Deal With It, brought to you by Corsodyl Toothpaste, who are on a mission to get us talking about all those uncomfortable issues we choose to ignore – whether it’s getting old or your oral health!
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Dr Zoe Williams chats to Ellie Taylor on Deal With It. Also listen on Spotify or Apple podcasts.
Getting to grips on exactly why age has become such a big issue Dr Zoe Williams, GP and media medic shares with Ellie her perspectives on medical and societal attitudes to getting older.
Age is just a number
It’s official - age is just a number, and it’s our culture that defines whether we are old or not. In the 1970s, for example, society considered someone of 65 to be an ‘old age pensioner’. Now, retired people in their mid-sixties expect to contribute and participate in a full and active life, looking forward to living well into their eighties and beyond.
Dr Zoe Williams tackles the stigma associated with ageing
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“You can have a chronological age, which is that number and how long you’ve been here, and then a biological age which can be very different. You can’t change your chronological age but there are some things you can do to have an impact on your biological age,” explains Dr Zoe.
Stay healthy and impact your biological age
So, what can we do to slow down ageing? We hear much about free radicals being bad for us, causing inflammation and accelerating ageing, and antioxidants being good for us, slowing down the ageing process. Is it really as simple as exercising and watching our diet? “Absolutely – they can make a huge difference,” says Dr Zoe, “there are loads of things you can do to reduce free radicals and boost antioxidants, and it just comes back to lifestyle.”
Diet: Avoid processed foods, as these can cause inflammation in the body, and eat a rainbow of antioxidant-rich fruit and veg. Cut down on saturated fats from meat and dairy, but include good fats, such as those found in nuts, seeds, avocados and oily fish.
Exercise: A sedentary lifestyle leads to inflammation within the body that can cause cell damage. Regular activity can boost antioxidants and prolong the life of mitochondria – the little energy powerhouses in our cells. Adding 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise a day to your routine can also reduce the risk of heart problems.
Stress and mental wellbeing: Psychological stress has the knock-on effect of causing the body physical stress that in turn leads to chronic, systemic inflammation, DNA damage and ageing. Manage stress with exercise, relaxation techniques or mindfulness.
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Brain function: It really is a case of ‘use it or lose it’ as we age. Don’t view retirement as a time to kick back and relax, rather see it as an opportunity to look for new, stimulating challenges that you really have to think about, and being busier than before.
Oral health: Nature didn’t really design our teeth to last for 80 or 90 years. As we age, we are more likely to lose teeth and get tooth decay or gum disease. There’s even a link between gum disease and heart problems, so it’s critical to be scrupulous about brushing, flossing and getting regular dental check-ups.
The final taboo
Arguably, many of us don’t want to think about ageing because it’s the stage of life that takes us to the inevitable: death. And because many of us rarely encounter death, or talk about it, we only hear about the more dramatic, upsetting cases, which in turn makes it scary. Medical professionals have a lot of experience of death, and would agree with Dr Zoe that it doesn’t have to be that way: “Most people who die, when it’s expected and planned, die in a dignified, kind, peaceful and pain-free way but most of us can’t imagine that happening.” By talking more openly about dying and death we can lift the taboo that casts a shadow over ageing.
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Ageing and beauty
The beauty industry and its social media presence has a notorious reputation for overrepresenting youth and underrepresenting seniors, although some brands are making an effort to be more diverse and inclusive of older people. But can we really hold back the visible signs of ageing with antioxidant face creams and procedures? Dr Zoe is sceptical about anti-ageing claims on beauty products. Similarly, she advises caution about cosmetic procedures such as Botox or injectable fillers: Never let someone unqualified stick a needle in your face, and only use a non-permanent solution – one that will only last 3-6 months. But the only reliable way to slow down ageing is with good diet, regular exercise and stress management.
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Role models
As we gain a deeper understanding of what is truly important in life, the tide does seem to be turning away from the pursuit of youthfulness, and more towards appreciation of the wisdom, authenticity and style of older role models such as Iron Gran and ‘national treasures’ such as Dames Judy Dench, Vivienne Westwood, Helen Mirren, and Sir David Attenborough. “Own it,” says Dr Zoe, “being old is amazing.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-25--Big Mouth's Missy To Be Recast With Black Actor After Jenny Slate Withdraws From Role

Actor Jenny Slate has said she will no longer voice Missy in the animated series Big Mouth, stating that her playing the role was “engaging in an act of erasure of Black people”.
Jenny, who is white, had voiced the character in the Netflix comedy since the show’s inception in 2017, but the role will now be recast.
Missy in Big Mouth Netflix
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Writing on Instagram, Jenny said: “At the start of the show, I reasoned with myself that it was permissible for me to play Missy because her mom is Jewish and white — as am I.
“But Missy is also Black, and Black characters on an animated show should be played by Black people.”
Jenny Slate SIPA USA/PA Images
She added: “I acknowledge how my original reasoning was flawed, that it existed as an example of white privilege and unjust allowances made within a system of societal white supremacy, and that in me playing Missy, I was engaging in an act of erasure of Black people.
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“Ending my portrayal of Missy is one step in a life-long process of uncovering the racism in my actions.”
In a joint statement, Big Mouth creators Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett confirmed Missy would be recast, adding: “We sincerely apologise for and regret our original decision to cast a white actor to voice a biracial character.”
Frozen star Kristen Bell has also announced she will also stop voicing Molly in Apple TV+ comedy Central Park.
Molly in Central Park Apple TV+
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In a statement on Instagram, Kristen said playing the character “shows a lack of awareness of my pervasive privilege”.
Kristen Bell SIPA USA/PA Images
“Casting a mixed race character with a white actress undermines the specificity of the mixed race and Black American experience,” she said. “It was wrong and we, on the Central Park team, are pledging to make it right.
“I am happy to relinquish this role to someone who can give a much more accurate portrayal and I will commit to learning, growing and doing my part for equality and inclusion.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-25--What Our Poo Can Tell Us About The Spread Of Coronavirus

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We’re here to guide you through the coronavirus pandemic. Sign up to the Life newsletter for daily tips, advice, how-tos and escapism.
Testing poo in sewage may be an efficient way to monitor the spread of coronavirus – and it could even predict a second wave.
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In Scotland, sewage is being tested for traces of the virus – specifically, Covid-19 ribonucleic acid (RNA) – as part of a trial monitoring the spread of the infection.
Samples from waste water at treatment works in 14 NHS Scotland health board areas will be analysed by scientists from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa).
They hope to use the data to understand how widespread the virus is in Scotland, in combination with community testing and hospital admissions data.
The theory is that when lots of RNA is present in sewage, it indicates a localised outbreak – so large numbers of people have the virus in the community. This includes those who are asymptomatic, meaning they don’t have any symptoms at all.
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SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewage/sludge is predictive of:
a) Community transmission
b) ⬆& ⬇ intensity of #COVID19 outbreak
c) as a leading indicator (by ~5 days) for cases
Our new study w/ @jordan_peccia Ed Kaplan @NathanGrubaugh @WeinbergerDan & othershttps://t.co/cp3rDHLdPq pic.twitter.com/gFtOa1kjFu — Saad B. Omer (@SaadOmer3) May 22, 2020
Testing sewage for Covid-19 isn’t anything new. One study found the virus was present in Milan and Turin’s sewer systems as early as December 2019 – two months before the first positive cases in Italy. It was also before Chinese officials confirmed the virus even existed.
In Paris, back in March, sewage was analysed for more than a month. Researchers detected a rise and fall in RNA in the sewers, which correlated with a rise and fall of Covid-19 cases not long after. Sébastien Wurtzer, a virologist at Eau de Paris, the city’s public water utility, told Science Mag such data could help predict a second wave of outbreaks.
cako74 via Getty Images
In May, a group of researchers from Yale University looked at concentrations of Covid-19 RNA in sewage during an outbreak in a northeastern metropolitan area in the US and – sure enough – found the rise in RNA concentrations in the sewers correlated with a rise in local hospital admissions a few days later.
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Their study, which is available as a preprint, concluded that Covid-19 RNA concentrations were “a leading indicator of community infection” ahead of testing data and local hospital admissions.
Such findings can help health officials implement public health measures, they said – for example, if there’s a sudden high concentration of viral RNA in the sewers, a localised mini lockdown could be enforced.
There’s not been any confirmed report of the virus spreading from faeces to a person. And two independent studies from the Netherlands found that while RNA traces of the virus were present in wastewater, once that wastewater had been treated, no traces were present.
Earlier this month, the Telegraph reported that the UK government has given the go ahead for sewage systems to be monitored – and data gathered would feed into the Covid-19 Alert System. However, as of yet, no new details have emerged.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-25--Anti-Mask Floridians Hurl Conspiracy Theories At Officials In Wild Public Meeting

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As Palm Beach County, Florida, battles an alarming spike in coronavirus cases, some speakers at a heated public hearing attacked county commissioners as “communist dictators” who follow “the devil’s laws” as they prepared to vote on a mandate for wearing face masks in public.
During public comments before the unanimous vote in favor of the mask requirement on Tuesday, a majority of speakers opposed the move, according to local news station WPTV. Some of these speakers, as The Daily Beast reports, denied that masks were effective against spreading Covid-19 and accused officials of playing God, violating the Constitution and threatening freedom and lives by imposing the measure.
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One speaker threatened to perform a citizen’s arrests on the officials for going “against the freedom of choice.”
“Every single one of you that’s obeying the devil’s laws are going to be arrested. And you are going to be arrested for crimes against humanity,” the woman declared.
“Every single one of you has a smirk behind that little mask, but every single one of you are going to get punished by God. You cannot escape God ... not even with the mask or 6 feet.”
The woman touched on several other theories, including a suggestion that the public officials could be part of a “deep state” of rogue officials.
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This angry Florida woman argued today against the mask mandate, while bringing up the devil, 5G, Bill Gates, Hillary Clinton, "the pedophiles" and the deep state.
Enjoy... pic.twitter.com/yqKUZNQYLQ — Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) June 24, 2020
Another woman told commissioners, “I want to know who is getting paid off and where is the mandate coming from.”
“Well, guess what, the riots are spreading, too!” she continued. “And what the hell are we going to do about that? We’re going to arrest patriots for not wearing a mask? That’s what you want?”
She concluded her remarks: “And I say Trump 2020!”
Covid-19 cases in the county have surged since it entered the first phase of Florida’s reopening plan on May 11, Dr Alina Alonso, director of the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County, said during her testimony at the hearing.
“Our numbers are going in the wrong direction,” she said. She reminded attendees that masks are intended to protect both themselves and others. People are entitled to their rights, she said, but these public health laws are intended for people’s safety.
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Vice Mayor Robert Weinroth, who strongly opposed a mask mandate previously, said the surge in cases had changed his mind.
“I hate the idea of talking about mandatory face coverings. It goes against my grain,” Weinroth said. “But the numbers we saw this week were just out of this world.”
Majority of people opposing a mask mandate are participating in public comment portion of meeting. Two ppl now holding a Trump flag, and others are waving their hands when they hear comments they like arguing against wearing a mask. @WPTV pic.twitter.com/mSgabB77FZ — Ryan Hughes (@HughesWPTV) June 23, 2020
One man, who identified himself as Butch Dias and “an American patriot,” said that he “would die” for the Constitution, which he said commissioners were failing to uphold.
“You probably already have your orders already taken care of. You don’t really care. You could have at least faked it. You do not care about We the People. It’s pathetic. It breaks my heart, because I would die for that flag, I would die for this country and I would die for the Constitution,” he said.
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A speaker who said she had a medical condition that prevented her from wearing a mask told the commissioners she didn’t believe there was any evidence that masks prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“You’re not God,” she told the panel. “You’re removing our freedoms and stomping on our constitutional rights by these communist dictatorship orders… If you do vote to mandate masks in the workplace and public schools and stores, the death of many will be on your hands.”
The hearing erupted into chaos after the vote; some in the audience screamed insults and threats at the commissioners.
From Thursday, masks will be required in public places in Palm Beach County.
You can watch a recording of the meeting below.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-25--Child Sexual Abuse Survivors From Ethnic Minorities Reveal How Their Ordeals Were Ignored

From a very young age, Sabah Kaiser knew the words for shame, modesty and respect as they were drummed into her – but she didn’t know the names for her body parts.
Sabah was sexually abused between the ages of seven and 13 by four members of her family and was raped for the first time when she was nine.
“When I was a child, what they were doing to me was beyond comprehension. I could not explain or even understand what they were doing to me,” she told HuffPost UK.
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“Within my Asian upbringing, it was normal to hit a child. So my only understanding was that this was the way these men hit and I thought I must be a terrible person.”
Sabah Kaiser at the age of seven Sabah Kaiser
By the age of 13, Sabah knew what was happening to her was wrong and tried to tell a teacher at school who informed police and social services.
During her interview with the police, a 13-year-old Sabah was asked by one of the female police officers: “Has anyone had intercourse with you?”
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Sabah says her knowledge about sex was very limited and told the police officer she didn’t know what intercourse meant.
The reply from the police officer was: “If you don’t know what that word means, then it can’t have happened to you.”
“While I knew what had happened to me was wrong, I did not know the words for parts of my body, nor did I know what sex was.” said Sabah.
“For me in that moment, not having the right words was detrimental; it meant I wasn’t believed.”
“My only understanding was that this was the way these men hit and I thought I must be a terrible person.”” - Sabah Kaiser
It is obstacles such as these which have been explored into by new research published today by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse looking at barriers faced by ethnic minority communities in reporting child sexual abuse.
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The inquiry was set up due to serious concerns that some organisations had failed and were continuing to fail to protect children from sexual abuse.
It wants to address issues that have persisted despite previous inquiries and attempts at reform and is looking at the extent to which state and non-state institutions in England and Wales have failed in their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitations.
The aim of the inquiry is to make meaningful recommendations for change to ensure children now and in the future are better protected from sexual abuse.
Child sexual abuse and exploitation affects all communities. However, less is known about how it affects those from ethnic minority communities.
The aim of the research was to explore how ethnic minority communities perceive and experience barriers to disclosing and reporting child sexual abuse and their experiences of interactions with institutions.
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The inquiry research discovered that racism and cultural stereotypes can lead to failures on the part of institutions in identifying and responding to child sexual abuse.
Working in collaboration with the Race Equality Foundation, the report analysed the views and experiences of more than 80 individuals across a range of ethnic minority communities – including victims and survivors.
It looked at three key areas: barriers to disclosure; experiences of institutions; and support for victims and survivors.
Participants revealed how stereotypes can act as a barrier to reporting abuse and described a sense of feeling “othered” by institutions creating a feeling of mistrust.
They also described how a lack of diversity within institutions exacerbates a sense of difference for people from an ethnic minority background.
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Sabah Kaiser, ambassador to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, told HuffPost UK there are a multitude of challenges that victims and survivors from ethnic minority communities face in disclosing child sexual abuse including denial, fears over damage to reputation and being ostracised from the community for speaking out – or simply having no one to report to.
Sabah Kaiser, ambassador to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse Sabah Kaiser
Sabah, now 45 with two grown up sons, told HuffPost UK her own personal ordeal shows the importance of having appropriate cultural understanding in being able to identify and respond to abuse effectively.
She also highlighted how the research report shows how lack of diversity in institutions and among professionals can result in fears of “stepping on cultural sensitivities” which can lead to little or no action being taken.
“We live in such a multi-diverse society so it is important that we give everyone a voice and hear the experiences and views of everyone in our communities.” she said.
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“We know child sexual abuse is underreported in ethnic minorities and we need to know why so we can protect all of our children.”
Sabah revealed how although she was British born and went to an English school, she was brought up in a strict South Asian household and the concepts of shame and modesty were instilled in her from a young age.
“For some reason, culturally it was perceived I should know the word “Sharam” (Shame), but I did not know the word for my own body parts or know what sex was,” she said.
One of the female participants who took part in the research told: “There’s a lot of pressure on the survivor not to speak by their families, of bringing shame to the family and that shame to the community.
“So it can be your immediate family; your extended family, but even your community. And there’s also a sense of ‘white people see us as bad and now you’re showing them how bad you are’.”
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These words resonate strongly with Sabah as she remembers one of the huge barriers she faced as a child was shame and silence.
“The only way I could deal with it was to create an alternate reality and an imaginary world that I lived in. It was either that or risk being broken beyond repair.”” - Sabah Kaiser
“The shame is a feeling of how you will be perceived and you are silenced to protect your family, the community and culture so they can still enjoy a good standing.” she said.
“The shame for me was internalised. I thought: ‘How will I be seen?’ and “What will people think about me?’
“As a child, I could not understand the reality I was living. It is extremely scary when an adult does that to you.
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“The only way I could deal with it was to create an alternate reality and an imaginary world that I lived in.
“It was either that or risk being broken beyond repair.”
Sabah Kaiser, ambassador to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse Sabah Kaiser
Sabah told HuffPost UK how she tried to tell her mother what was happening but realised she wasn’t going to back her up because of the fear of shame and stigma.
At the age of 14, Sabah was taken into care and says social services labelled her as “beyond parental control”.
Sabah explained to HuffPost UK that social services told a teacher at her school to counsel her, but that after building up her trust by telling her he cared and was her friend and understood her, he began sexually abusing her from the ages of 14 to 17.
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“Child sexual abuse does not discriminate.” said Sabah. “The teacher was white – the family members who abused me were brown.
“This is not a race or colour issue. It is about as a society tackling all predators of child sex abuse.
“All my abusers had one thing in common – they had the entire community thinking they were good people.
“We need to understand the barriers that exist for everyone when it comes to disclosing and reporting child sexual abuse so no child has to suffer in silence.”
“This is not a race or colour issue. It is about as a society tackling all predators of child sex abuse."” - Sabah Kaiser
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The report is based on research from the views of 82 people in 11 focus group sessions carried out across six regions in England and Wales.
Researchers engaged with a range of ethnic minority communities particularly from Caribbean, African and South Asian ethnicities.
Three groups were victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and the other eight groups were members of the public who had no known experiences of abuse who were recruited through organisations that work with people from ethnic minority communities.
“The social worker was white and she said to me: ‘This is not sexual abuse. This is your culture.’ Even today, I’m so traumatised by this.” - Female focus group participant to the research
The qualitative research provides a contemporary insight from people in these communities and amplifies their voices and experiences.
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One key finding of the research was that some professionals only see a person’s ethnic group rather than the whole person.
In one shocking anecdote showing institutionalised failure, a female focus group participant told: “The social worker was white and she said to me: ‘This is not sexual abuse. This is your culture.’ Even today, I’m so traumatised by this.”
On the issue of shame and stigma, one female participant disclosed: “In our community, if it’s a girl, then we have to keep these things secret because if the other people know, then when the girl is of the age they’re getting married, it is going to be really hard for her.”
fizkes via Getty Images
One male focus group participant revealed: “In sort of the Jamaican/Caribbean culture, a lot of it has happened that we openly know, but it’s kept hush and it’s kept secret.”
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One obstacle highlighted by participants from a South Asian community was how if they were to talk about their own child experiencing sexual abuse, other members of the community would not believe the child and instead believe that the child had done something wrong.
“They don’t think that another person has done something to our children. They think that our children have done something wrong,” revealed one female participant.
One woman disclosed: “For child sexual abuse to take place would basically mean to have sex outside of marriage, so it’s like this whole stigma attached to you as well as being damaged goods.”
Another woman said: “I think Indian people, because the child abuse is exposed, they’ll think they worry that all white people and all Afro Caribbean people, everyone else, will think that all Indian people are like this.”
Some survivors spoke of the need to be able to share their experience with someone who wouldn’t judge and was similar to them.
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“She understood not only as a black woman being abused, sexually abused. She ticked all my boxes. Everything I said, she got me. And I realised how important, how much I needed that. Someone that I could look at, I recognised, but understood me,” said one female focus group participant.
Another woman said: “It meant so much to me that my paediatrician was Hindu and later on, that my psychiatrist was Muslim because they understood what it is like being a woman in the Asian community. I didn’t need to explain.”
fiorigianluigi via Getty Images
Sabah Kaiser says that as a victim and survivor of abuse who grew up as part of a South Asian family, she feels passionately about ensuring the voices of survivors from ethnic communities are heard.
“This report highlights the multitude of specific cultural barriers so many survivors face in disclosing child sexual abuse,” she said. “If we are to truly overcome these barriers, it’s crucial that we listen to and recognise the uniqueness of these experiences. Only then can we learn from them.”
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Part of the inquiry is the Truth Project where victims and survivors of child sexual abuse can share their experiences and put forward recommendations for change.
Jabeer Butt, chief executive of the Race Equality Foundation, said: “Those who took part in this research, including men from ethnic minority communities, conveyed powerful messages about their views and experiences of child sexual abuse within their own communities, describing the racial and cultural factors that acted as barriers to disclosure and their ability to access the right support from the relevant institutions.
“It’s important that we continue to challenge the stereotypes and take steps to ensure that children from all communities are better protected from child sexual abuse.” - Jabeer Butt, chief executive of the Race Equality Foundation
He added: “While evidence suggests that this issue is being more openly discussed, it’s important that we continue to challenge the stereotypes and take steps to ensure that children from all communities are better protected from child sexual abuse.”
Holly Rodger, principal researcher at the inquiry said the report highlighted how victims and survivors are impacted by cultural stereotypes and racism on how child sexual abuse is understood, identified, disclosed and responded to across ethnic minorities.
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“Participants’ feelings of being ‘othered’ by professionals and institutions was a significant obstacle to reporting abuse, as were feelings of shame, stigma and a fear of not being believed.” she said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-25--Donald Trump Junior Desperately Tries To Spin His Dad's 'Walk Of Shame' Picture

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Donald Trump Junior is trying to spin the narrative on that picture taken of US President Donald Trump following his underwhelming and underattended rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
On Wednesday, Trump’s eldest son posted the photograph of his father walking back to the White House from Marine One to Instagram. He copied and pasted what he claimed was a “perfect description” of the image of his bedraggled dad from another account.
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“This picture is not a fraud. The Left is attempting to use it as a negative,” read the caption filled with misspellings and illiteracies shared by Trump Jr.
“Its not. This is the look far too many of us that have worked a night shift or a 48 hour shift or a third job are tooo familiar with,” it continued. “This is, been working my ass off for the American people, good old fashion exhaustion, born of love; not for what your doing, but who your doing it for.”
“This isnt an attempt to say anything,” the caption concluded. “This is a candidd shot that screams ‘Ill do anything for my country!’”
Check out Trump Jr.’s post here:
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-06-25--Coronavirus: Medical Experts Issue Warning Over Government's Antibody Tests

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Senior medical specialists have raised concerns about the accuracy of the antibody tests being carried out on NHS staff across the country.
The blood tests – which can tell whether someone has had Covid-19 – were previously described by prime minister Boris Johnson as “game-changing”.
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The government has spent £16m buying some 10 million test kits from pharmaceutical giant Abbott and Roche with the first phase of the testing programme assessing NHS and care staff, before being rolled out to the public.
But a letter from academics and clinicians, published in The BMJ, raises concerns about the performance of the tests, the clinical reasoning for them and the cost.
“We are writing to express concerns over aspects of the establishment of SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing in England,” the team of experts wrote.
“NHS England and NHS Improvement wrote to NHS trusts and pathology networks on 25 May 2020, asking them to offer antibody testing at short notice and ramp up capacity to thousands of samples a day.
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“We have three concerns about the request. Firstly, there is no specific clinical indication for the test on an individual basis. Secondly, the performance of these assays has not yet been assessed to the standard typically required of a novel test. And thirdly, the resource implications are not considered.”
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They also expressed doubt around the “unproved performance” of the tests, adding: “The assay is being rolled out at an unprecedented pace and scale without adequate assessment, potentially compromising public trust in pathology services in the future.”
The letter adds: “NHS England requires the result to be available in 24 hours. Given that routine testing of patients is neither clinically urgent nor meets a clear public health need, this push to introduce a non-evidence based test for uncertain gains risks inefficient use of scarce resources.”
The experts also warned that a positive or negative test result would not alter how a patient is managed either way and added that a positive result “does not indicate immunity”.
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Jon Deeks, professor of biostatistics at the University of Birmingham and The BMJ’s chief statistician said “we don’t have much data [on the tests] and we can’t trust any of it.”
The government website states: “While the results of an antibody test will not allow people to make any changes to their behaviour, such as easing social distancing measures, there’s clear value in knowing whether NHS and care workers and hospital patients and care home residents have had the virus, and in collecting data on the test results.”
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A spokesman for Roche Diagnostics UK told The BMJ: “We are rolling out antibody tests to the NHS as part of the crucial next step in understanding the spread of this virus, and providing greater confidence and reassurance as we move into the next phase of our response to this pandemic.”
A Public Health England spokesman said: “Our evaluations have been completed in record time using the samples and tests that were available to us. We are confident that the volume of samples and methodology was of a high standard.”
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In a statement to The BMJ, the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We do not currently know how long an antibody response to the virus lasts, nor whether having antibodies means a person cannot transmit it to others.”