thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Nicole Scherzinger Defends Pussycat Dolls' Controversial Comeback Performance After Ofcom Complaints

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Nicole Scherzinger has spoken out to defend the Pussycat Dolls’ raunchy comeback performance.
The girl group made their return on The X Factor: Celebrity in November after 10 years apart, but many were shocked by their revealing outfits and provocative choreography.
TV watchdog also received 400 complaints in 48 hours over the performance.
The Pussycat Dolls performed for the first time in 10 years on The X Factor: Celebrity Dymond/Thames/Syco/Shutterstock
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Now addressing the controversy, Nicole told the Herald Sun (£): “We’re not trying to upset anybody. Our true fans know our intention.
“Our real fans know we’re empowering and we come from a place of strength as singers and dancers.”
During their X Factor performance, the Pussycat Dolls performed classic hits like Buttons, Don’t Cha and When I Grow Up, as well as debuting new single, React, which is the band’s first new music since their release of their Doll Domination 2.0 album in 2009.
Nicole Scherzinger addressed the controversy in a new interview Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
Nicole and fellow bandmates Carmit Bachar, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta and Kimberly Wyatt announced they were reforming last year, confirming the would also be touring arenas in 2020.
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However, they were not joined by former member Melody Thornton, who has decided to sit out the reunion.
She previously admitted she did not see the point in returning to the band as Nicole was given all the lead vocals.
Melody Thornton has chosen not to rejoin the group Jeff Spicer via Getty Images
Speaking prior to the reunion announcement, Melody told Chart TV: “I’m primarily a vocalist, and getting into that group and Nicole had been signed [by a label] twice, so it only made sense for her to sing the majority of the leads.
“But them, I kept being asked to wait my turn, and then my turn just never came, and we only released two albums.
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“I’m actually a really bad dancer. I’m a singer. So for me, there’s really nothing to go back to. Because the songs that we have are the songs that we have, you know?”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Rebecca Long Bailey Pledges To Abolish House of Lords

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Rebecca Long Bailey has said she would abolish the House of Lords if she succeeded in becoming prime minister.
The Labour leadership contender said she would be unveiling a radical package of constitutional measures if she won the contest to succeed Jeremy Corbyn.
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“I do want to abolish the House of Lords and we’ll be rolling out as my campaign progresses how we intend to really shake up that constitutional package,” she told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme.
“There would need to be checks and balances in place, but to have a set of completely unelected people doing that I don’t think is right.”
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On Saturday, Long Bailey, who has long been seen as the favourite of the Labour left, secured the backing of the grassroots Momentum group.
She indicated that if she succeeded in becoming prime minister she would not stand in the way of a fresh referendum on Scottish independence.
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“I’m fully committed to the union and I don’t think that should be shaken in any way, but ultimately the people of Scotland need to make the case,” she said.
“They’ve got their own parliament to determine whether they want to push that and that will be for me as a prime minister to review and to look at.
“I wouldn’t want to inhibit the democracy of people because that’s one of the most fundamental pillars that we’re proud of in this country.”
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Long Bailey said she would work “very hard and very robustly” to tackle anti-Semitism in the party and she was unhappy at the way the issue had been dealt with.
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“I wasn’t happy with the way our process was being run, I’ll be honest, I don’t think we were dealing with complaints quickly enough and I think that’s quite clear, I’ve been quite vocal about that,” she said.
“I spoke to Jeremy about it, I spoke to the various members of the team, I spoke to various members of the NEC (national executive committee) about that.”
Asked if Corbyn bore personal responsibility, she said: “He does and he’s apologised.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Olly Murs Breaks Down On The Voice As He Discusses 10-Year Rift With Twin Brother

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Olly Murs broke down in tears as he opened up about the 10-year rift with his twin brother on the latest episode of The Voice.
The star had to be comforted by his fellow coaches on Saturday night’s episode, after a performance from twins made him reflect on his relationship with brother, Ben.
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Olly Murs broke down on The Voice ITV
The pair haven’t spoken since a big argument after Olly did not attend his wedding in 2009, as it clashed with one of the X Factor live shows, in which he was competing.
Opening up about the decade-long feud, Olly told co-stars Meghan Trainor, will.i.am and Tom Jones: “I feel like the next time I am going to see him is going to be at the worst place to see someone. It will be at someone’s [funeral] that we lose in the family. I don’t want that to be the case.
Olly told his co-stars about the family rift ITV
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“It’s a shame, more so for my mum. You bring two people into the world. I do miss having my twin with me.
“We had this bond as a twin, it was something I was proud about and I still am. I’m a twin, quite a proud thing and that brings back memories.”
Ben and Olly (right) in happier times Rex
Olly then became emotional, with the other coaches rushing to comfort him.
“When we were kids we used to sing together all the time, we could have been singers together,” he said.
Olly tweeted during the show that the moment was “tough to watch back”.
That was tough to watch back 😢 — Olly Murs (@ollymurs) January 11, 2020
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The singer has spoken many times in the past about his desire to heal the rift with Ben.
In 2017, Olly described how not speaking to his twin was the “hardest thing in his life”.
He told The Sun: “It’s hard now not ever having your twin brother around to experience this life that I have now got, knowing that we used to have an argument or a disagreement and we’d just get over it and it would be fine.
“It sounds weird but I hope we just sit in a room and go, ‘It was a bit of a silly eight years wasn’t it?’”
Ben Hart, as he is now known Rex
Olly’s comments came after Ben took his wife’s surname in a bid to move on from the rift with his brother.
“Ben Hart. That’s my identity,” he told the Daily Mail at the time.
“I am blessed with my in-laws, they have supported me through this. I have had some very low times where I have cried a lot but I have spoken to them about it all and they are my safety blanket.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--I’m A Sex Worker. Here’s Why You Should Be An Ally To People Like Me

HuffPost UK Courtesy of the author
Before I start, a disclaimer: my experience is not an accurate account of what sex work looks like for everyone. And though I might touch on cliches about sex work in this piece, it’s not the same as reinforcing those stereotypes, whether they’re positive or negative. I don’t get to choose what you pay attention to, and I don’t decide whether you, the reader, are going to sensationalise sex work, respect it, or if you’re just here for the laughs and details.
And I’d like to make one more point too: sex work isn’t my whole life. Being a sex worker is not my whole personality, and sex work doesn’t define me more than any other job would. I don’t want to always be seen through the lens of ‘sex worker’ – however I’ve found that for many, my existence becomes somehow lesser the second I disclose my profession.
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That being said, it’s time for me to attention seek. Why? Because there’s some obvious (and not so obvious) struggles that I and others in the industry go through on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis.
First, ending the stigma toward sexually transmitted infections would be a huge benefit. Access to sexual health services are daunting enough for anyone, and it’s even harder if you’re uncomfortable disclosing your line of work. For most of us, an issue with our sexual health means no work. No work means no money, no money means no food, no leccy… no truffle oil from Selfridges. Without any formal structure around our way of work, being sick can often mean being left for dead. So here’s what we can change: describing yourself as ‘clean’ after getting a negative test? Not good. Implying that those who test positive are dirty? Not good.
“As long as the big bosses in government ignore our existence, how can we expect the general public care?”
I mentioned that sex workers’ rights are not formalised in this country, nor is my line of work entirely decriminalised. That leaves space for unwanted, problematic and unfair opinions about sex workers and the work we do. I know what you’re thinking, the answer’s simple: Google exists, so why don’t people educate themselves? The problem is that, for many people, sex workers simply don’t exist. As long as the big bosses in government ignore our existence, and as long as the lack of safety precautions for our wellbeing are in place, how can we expect the general public care? If the people looking after our country don’t care about sex workers, then why should they? There’s no quick or easy solution, but it has to start with decriminalising sex work.
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So what can you do personally to be a better ally to sex workers? Here are a few things:
As a family member, give us someone to confide in. Be someone to talk to and feel comfortable around. Let us exist as human beings, not as the slut or whore of the family. Understand our reasonings behind why we do the work we do: whether it’s survival, funding school, or simply because we want to. At the end of the day it’s not really any of your business – but if you’re going to make it yours at least be nice about it. We’re not asking you to do it yourself.
As a client, I ask for your patience. Don’t call me 13 times in a row if I don’t answer – you wouldn’t call the plumber 20 times asking them to get here and wrap up that leak if they were with another client. Our time is just as valuable as any other worker. The lack of safeguarding and protection for full-service sex workers like me means any sign of aggression that can be intimidating is almost guaranteed to be a put-off. Leave your toxic masculinity at the door.
“It’s impossible for me to tell you every single way to be a good ally... Just acknowledge my work as work. That’s the best thing you could do.”
As a partner, it’s important you understand affection can come in many forms, not just shagging. Engaging in sex work doesn’t mean I like you any less! Sex does not always equal feelings, so please refrain from implying the line of work men and women like me choose somehow depletes your importance to us. And don’t demonise clients for being clients – after all, they’re funding the meals I’m taking you out to.
As a human being, all I ask is that you acknowledge the intersectionality that comes with sex work. We don’t all exist under this umbrella of perfection, or indeed the opposite. Some of us are people of colour, some of us are queer, some of us are disabled, and some of us are more than one of the above and more. Supporting sex workers mean you support all of us – it’s not a Woolworths pick ‘n’ mix.
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There are groups you could support too, such as SWARM, a collective founded and run by sex workers. And our community has voices you should listen to such as Lucia Blayke, known for organising London Trans+ Pride, who is launching the first Sex Workers’ Pride, focusing on intersectionality and celebrating our work.
In the end, it’s impossible for me to tell you every single way to be a good ally. Simply, just acknowledge my work as work. That’s the best thing you could do. Just look at me and my girlfriend: I’ll cook dinner, she’ll run me a bath, and we’ll talk about our days at work and how they were good or bad just as any other couple would – without any judgement, or without needing to justify the jobs we choose.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Queen Summons Senior Royals To Crisis Talks

The Queen is set to hold crisis talks on Monday with senior royals and the Duke of Sussex in order to determine Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s future roles.
The head of state will be joined at her private Norfolk estate of Sandringham by the Prince Charles and Prince William for the crunch meeting – where the “next steps” will be decided, a source has told the PA news agency.
It will be the first time the four will have met since the issue engulfed the royal family, and it is thought Charles will be travelling from Birkhall in Scotland, William from his Kensington Palace apartment and Harry from Frogmore Cottage near Windsor Castle.
The royals are likely to present Harry and Meghan with a range of options which they hope will form the basis of an agreement that could prevent lasting damage to the monarchy.
Harry and Meghan are said to have “hurt” the family with their bombshell announcement that they plan to step back as senior royals, become financially independent and split their time between the UK and North America.
On Thursday, the Queen, Charles and William gave orders for their households to work with the Sussexes’ team to quickly find a “workable solution” to their desire to change the direction of their royal lives, but still support the Queen.
A royal source said: “Following a series of meetings and consultations across the last few days, there are a range of possibilities for the family to review which take into account the thinking the Sussexes outlined earlier in the week.
“As we have said previously, making a change to the working life and role in the monarchy for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex requires complex and thoughtful discussions.
“Next steps will be agreed at the meeting, the request for this to be resolved at pace is still her Majesty’s wish – the aim remains days not weeks.
“There is genuine agreement and understanding that any decision will take time to be implemented.”
Meghan flew back to Canada – here she spent an extended festive break with Harry and baby son Archie in the province of British Columbia – several days ago.
The royal source said it is hoped the duchess will be able to participate remotely in the meeting.
Ahead of the meeting, the royals will be given written proposals produced by their offices and others, including relevant government departments from the UK and Canada, where it is thought Harry and Meghan will establish a second home.
It is not known who else, if anyone, will be at the meeting – but it is likely the private secretaries of the four royals may join part of the talks to assist with any questions.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--‘Tommy Robinson Hounded Me Out Of My Home And Country’

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A historian and journalist who says he was hounded from his home – and the UK – by Tommy Robinson and his followers has raised £10,000 to sue the English Defence League founder.
Mike Stuchbery described how Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, doorstepped him at home in Luton, Bedfordshire, in March 2019 and live-streamed the event to his followers, giving out his address.
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Soon he was receiving hate mail, death threats and visits in person from Robinson’s associates. At one point the stress left Stuchbery, 39, being admitted to hospital with high blood pressure, and he and his wife Chani ultimately decided to move to Germany for a fresh start.
Yet the campaign of harassment had been triggered by nothing more sinister than Stuchbery calling out Robinson for posting misinformation on his social media accounts – something even Robinson himself accepted he had done.
Mike Stuchbery, who is planning to sue Tommy Robinson Mike Stuchbery
A fundraising crusade has now been launched by Resisting Hate with a target of £20,000 so Stuchbery can sue Robinson for the damage he wreaked on his life.
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Resisting Hate wants it to be the first in a series of civil cases against the far-right activist, with the ultimate aim of bankrupting Robinson so he can no longer be a safety threat to the public.
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Stuchbery had made no secret of his opposition to Robinson’s Islamophobic opinions and activism.
But it was his criticism of Robinson’s false accusations about Jamal, a Syrian refugee who was bullied at a school in Huddersfield, that won the attention of Robinson himself.
After footage went viral showing 15-year-old Jamal being attacked in his school playground, Robinson posted videos on Facebook wrongly claiming the refugee had previously attacked a girl from the same school. He later accepted this was untrue.
Stuchbery, who has covered far-right issues for several publications, said: “When Robinson was defaming a young kid, I couldn’t sit by and do nothing. I made a video and tweeted about it and spread the word.
“I wrote about how Robinson was using his social media accounts to harass people.”
Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, being arrested by police in London. Resisting Hate
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Stuchbery says Robinson retaliated by turning up unannounced at his home in Luton at night and banging on his doors and windows shouting for him to come outside.
Robinson filmed himself at Stuchbery’s address and, although police arrived and told him to leave, he returned the following day.
Footage shot by Robinson showed him banging on the front door and windows of Stuchbery’s home and threatening to make a documentary exposing the campaigner and he gave out his Luton address numerous times during his recording.
Towards the end of the footage, seen by HuffPost UK, Robinson said in a message to Stuchbery: “If you don’t have another peaceful night’s sleep in your home, you brought it all on yourself, mate.
″The whole of Luton is going to know there’s a complete wrong ’un living in that house. You might as well move, mate. And then, when you move, I’ll find you again.”
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Robinson’s visit to Stuchbery came a day after lawyers representing the Syrian boy Jamal attempted to sue Robinson for defamation. Stuchbery had helped crowdfund them.
During the footage, the former EDL leader said his doorstepping of Stuchbery was retaliation for a “campaign of hate” against him and his family by “far-left activists”.
HuffPost UK has approached Robinson for comment.
Robinson’s visit to his home in Luton was the start of a prolonged period of harassment against him from Robinson and his supporters. “Tommy Robinson made videos calling me a far-left extremist and an antifa [anti-fascist] organiser who was promoting violence, which simply wasn’t true,” he said.
“He said some very damaging stuff about me which led to me getting a lot of hate mail. Someone even sent a USB stick which, if I had put it in my computer, would have fried it.
“An associate of Robinson turned up at my house a couple of times and took photographs and made threatening remarks.
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“I found out there were threats being made about me on online forums with people offering others money to hurt me. I received hate mail from people threatening me and telling me I was a dead man.
“It was like a target had been painted on me and he was doing a very good job of tarnishing my name by making false claims about me.”
Mike Stuchbery with his wife Chani Mike Stuchbery
Stuchbery, who was working as a copywriter at the time, says the abuse made him and his wife fearful, and he became reluctant to leave the house.
“I had to leave my job in the midst of all this furore,” he said. “It made me ill and I was signed off with stress. I was unable to return to work as I wasn’t well enough so I indirectly lost my job due to the harassment and I couldn’t find further work due to my ill health.”
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In July, Stuchbery says, his blood pressure went “through the roof” and he ended up in hospital for several days. In September, he and his wife – who is German – decided to relocate permanently to Germany.
Civil case
A few months on, having had time to think, Stuchbery now plans to pursue a civil case against Robinson, who has denied he is racist.
He explained: “Tommy Robinson has taken a lot from me and said things about me which had no basis in reality but were being amplified through his rhetoric.
“I feel we were hounded from our home and out of the country by him. The whole thing has left me with high blood pressure and I need ongoing observation and care.
“It is only reasonable that Tommy Robinson should be held to account. I want to take him to court for damages and compensation for being made to leave this country.”
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Stuchbery added: “I feel more people who have been victims of this kind of harassment should pursue this kind of action and make it very hard for the culprits to profit out of intimidation.”
The fundraising appeal in aid of Stuchbery’s mission to sue Robinson has been organised by Roanna Carleton-Taylor, founder of Resisting Hate. It has already raised more than £10,000 – half its target.
Roanna Carleton-Taylor, founder of Resisting Hate Roanna Carleton-Taylor
She told HuffPost UK the organisation had been monitoring Tommy Robinson amid concerns he was a danger to society.
She said: “Tommy Robinson is a racist and fascist who is stirring up hate towards minority groups, particularly the Islamic community. It has reached the point where his actions are putting innocent people at risk.
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“His harassment against our associate Mike Stuchbery was twofold – he not only harassed him directly but incited his supporters to target him.
“Our fear is that Tommy Robinson is using online platforms to incite his followers into hate crime and abuse, which is putting members of the public at risk.
“This will be the first in a series of civil cases and the ultimate aim is to see him bankrupted and discredited in the eyes of his supporters.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--The Best Snuggly Throws To Hibernate Under This Winter

HuffPost UK Louise/HuffPost UK
It’s cold. It’s dark. It’s best to stay inside as much as possible. Now is the season of JOMO: the joy of missing out. Clear your schedule, put on some telly and really relax – you’ve earned it. Lean into your natural laziness, make like a bear and stay horizontal in the warm until the sun comes out again.
To help you achieve maximum cosiness at this frigid time, we’ve scoured the internet and brought you some of the snuggliest blankets and throws you could ever want.
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Some of them are basic, tasteful, even classy; others have Jeff Goldblum’s topless torso printed on them. We’ve got something for everyone, that’s what we’re saying here. Please, go forth and get cuddly.
HuffPost UK Personalised Recycled Wool Blanket in Buchanan Antique, The Tartan Blanket Co, via Not On The High Street
The only thing better than tartan is more tartan. This blanket is made of recycled wool and other fabrics that would otherwise have made their way into landfill. So that nobody tries to steals your cosy throw, get your name or initials printed on it.
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HuffPost UK Cranberry Merino Herringbone Throw, Bottle Green Homes, via Not On The High Street
Just saying the description of this blanket out loud makes you 30% more posh. If you’re after a stylish, elegant blanket that’s almost good enough to wear as am accessory, you can’t do better than cranberry merino herringbone.
HuffPost UK John Lewis & Partners Luxury Plush Fleece Throw, John Lewis
This is the basic bitch of blankets and we love it. If you’re after something plain and tasteful but deliciously cosy, this could be your best bet. Comes in natural and grey shades.
HuffPost UK Winthome Long Fleece Blanket With Sleeves, Amazon
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If you’d like to literally wear your blanket, then please, invest in one that comes with sleeves. It’ll keep you warm while allowing you to move your arms around, enabling such tasks as pointing the television remote and moving snacks towards your face.
HuffPost UK Quilted Velvet Throw, Idyll Home, via Not On The High Street
If you’re like “Hey! Just show me a classic, plain blanket! Enough with all these embellishments! I like my cosiness to be minimalist!” then here you are. This quilted velvet throw comes in chalk, camel, soft grey, blush pink, dark grey, midnight blue, peacock and sand.
HuffPost UK Life Finds a Way Jeff Goldblum Throw Blanket, Red Bubble
For those of you who require a blanket with Jeff Goldblum’s topless torso printed on it. It’s just like that time there was a bigger-than-life-size Jeff Goldblum statue in London, only smaller and cuddlier.
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HuffPost UK Personalized Luxury Photo Blanket, The Drifting Bear Co, via Not On The High Street
The only thing better than a plain blanket is a blanket with someone’s pet, face or favourite person on it. This makes a perfect gift, either for yourself or someone you like very much.
HuffPost UK Bedsure Flannel Fleece Throw Blankets Navy Blue Travel Size, Amazon
Has the colour navy ever done anything wrong? No. It’s the perfect shade. This navy blue flannel fleece throw will spruce up any bed, sofa or lap.
HuffPost UK Mermaid Tail Blanket, Amazon
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Look, some adult human beings like the idea of wearing a crochet mermaid tail for comfort, warmth and fashion reasons. We respect and support them at this time and always.
HuffPost UK Fleece Checked Throw, Marks and Spencer
If you looked up the word “blanket” in some sort of visual dictionary, you may well find a picture of this Marks and Spencer classic. It’s timeless and wonderfully cosy.
HuffPost UK ZZZNEST Weighted Blanket For Adults, Amazon
Weighted blankets are designed to help you feel calm. They’re suitable for anyone who feels a little gloomy about the state of the world, but especially great for people who have anxiety or trouble sleeping.
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HuffPost UK John Lewis & Partners Faux Fur Throw, John Lewis
Wrap this faux fur throw around you like a cloak and pretend you’re Cruella De Ville. You know, if you’re bored or whatever.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Here’s Why It’s So Hard To Think About Our Kids Growing Up

HuffPost UK Getty
It’s extraordinarily difficult thinking about children growing up – which is weird when you consider how much we talk about it. We jokingly ask when it’ll be time for them to move out and start imagining their careers, based on precious little evidence. “Oh, look at little Humphrey with his crayons, he’s going to be an artist!” But try to imagine it, properly – your little kid all grown up and leading a life independent of you – and it doesn’t quite work. You end up picturing a zoomed-in toddler in a lab coat or a little kid wearing a false moustache.
What’s going on? Why can’t we do it? “It’s just very hard to picture the future,” says existential psychologist Professor Emmy van Duerzen. “Very few of us actually project ourselves into the future for anything more than a couple of weeks – and doing it on behalf of other people is almost impossible. That kind of time travel in your own mind is very hard.”
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Hindsight helps, she points out, which is why grandparents find it easier to picture their cute little grandchildren as spotty, surly teens or even fully grown. But they have the memory of raising their own kids to draw on. “It is by processing our past experience and learning that we become more capable of creating this imaginative fantasy universe with some predictive realism.”
When little Hyacinth stacks her blocks, that doesn’t mean she’s going to be an architect then? “That has no truth value at all,” says Professor van Duerzen – ie. not necessarily “But it is nevertheless a game people like to play, engaging with that process of turning something in the present into potential for the future.”
This isn’t a bad thing though. “That potentiality is an unknown country, but it is the largest space that we have in our minds, especially when we are relatively young. When you’re suggesting your child will be a scientist, or an architect, or anything, you are promoting different pathways into the future for them – the more of those that you try out, the easier it will be for them to have the confidence that they can explore these many paths.”
Doloves via Getty Images
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Becoming a parent is such an enormous shift that for a while the role feels all-defining. The demands of a young child mean pretty much every element of a new parent’s life changes. This adds another complication to imagining the future. A grown-up child doesn’t need you (or at least not in the same way), something that’s mind-boggling to take in at a stage when your whole life is dictated by their every requirement.
“Right now your child is the core of your life, and your life is utterly defined by looking after them and protecting them,” says Professor van Duerzen. “That’s made your life full, in a demanding way, so it takes up all your mind space. That makes it difficult to picture yourself letting go of your child, allowing them independence and filling a more distant role.”
It’s quite a heartbreaking thought, which is where the gradual passage of time comes in – nobody’s toddler is about to bid them farewell and move in with some buddies across town.
“Every month will bring that bit more independence, and that will change you as well,” says Professor Emmy van Duerzen. “[Parenting] is a weird thing – you give it everything you’ve got, and your child takes it and moves on, and you’re left with everything you’ve learned, transformed into something quite different. These little ones define us for years on end, and then you have to let them go.”
Doloves via Getty Images
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Something happens when your kids grow up, of course: you get older too. And, when you get old enough, you die. This is where the idea comes in that it isn’t necessarily just that we can’t think about the future, but that we won’t.
There’s a theory known as terror management theory, which suggests everything we do and ascribe significance to is pretty much a way of avoiding thinking about the inevitability of dying. Famously, in Freudian psychology, everything ultimately is about sex – TMT is that but for death, suggesting our primary motivator in every action is trying to block out the inevitable.
“You’ll change, your child will change, your relationship will change."” - Professor van Duerze
“I am sure the theories I work with would suggest it is a block, or what terror management theory calls a ‘proximal defence’,” says Dr Arnaud Wisman, a lecturer in psychology at the University of Kent, who has studied the methods people use to escape thoughts of mortality. “Basically a conscious type of defence related to denial and suppression.”
On a less conscious level, says Dr Wisman, according to the TMT, this increases our efforts to do something ‘meaningful’.
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“When we feel meaningful we feel less mortal and manage to keep anxiety at bay. There are many ways to achieve this. Some people believe in heaven, others in becoming famous or very successful. In my research I argue that one can also have a pint or two – if we escape the ‘self’ we do not worry about mortality – with the note that such a solution is less permanent and only works temporarily”.
While picturing the reality of our children all grown up may be difficult and even upsetting, if you’re finding it hard, remember it’s of minimal value given how unknowable it all is. They’ll grow up how they grow up.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Love Island: Here's Who We Predict Will Couple Up After We Met All The 2020 Contestants

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It may have been only six months since we watched the likes of Amber, Ovie, Tommy and Maura being put through the emotional wringer on Love Island, but already it’s time for a new series to begin.
The doors to a brand new villa will be opening on Sunday night, as 12 new Islanders begin their search for love in the South African sun for the first-ever winter run of the ITV2 dating show.
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We already know their identities, but ahead of the new series kicking off, HuffPost UK was among the select few who flew to Cape Town to meet them, and of course it wasn’t long before we started picking out potential pairings.
While only time will tell who will couple up with who, here’s who we think could be each other’s type on paper...
Siannise and Nas
ITV
The most obvious match of them all is Siannise and Nas, who share a lot of the same personality traits and desires in a potential partner - as well as being our favourites when we spoke to them.
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They’re both ridiculously chatty, outgoing and likeable, and there would be no chance of any awkward silences or any shortage of laughs if they were to couple up.
They both also place a strong emphasis on family in potential partners, with Siannise telling us: “I love someone who is family orientated. That’s very key for me because I’m very family orientated. And someone who is career driven,” while Nas said: “I’ve always prioritised education, football and my family. Those have always been the three main pillars in my life. Up until now, girls have come second fiddle. Now I’ve got my First, I can concentrate on girls.”
Not only that, but Disney-obsessed Siannise describes herself as Princess Jasmine, while Nas named Princess Jasmine actress Naomi Scott as his ideal woman.
Just send them off on a magic carpet already.
Sophie and Mike
ITV
We’re going to call it now - people are going to be obsessed with police officer Mike. He’s charming, smooth, full of chat and looks good in uniform.
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After naming Anthony Joshua as her ideal man, Sophie said she was after someone who is “funny, caring, not too overly confident and someone who I can have a bit of banter with”, and we’d say this is a pretty good description of the villa’s hot copper.
Mike is also looking for something long-term, and with Sophie saying how she is hoping form a power couple like her sister and brother-in-law, Rochelle and Marvin Humes, so this could work out rather nicely.
Leanne and Callum
ITV
Despite giving it all that about having “great banter”, we didn’t see much in the way of it when we met Callum - but if there’s one person who can bring it out of him, it’s queen of banter Leanne, who said she can’t date anyone “sensitive” as she “will offend you”.
Given that Callum works on a building site, he’s no doubt fully-versed in savage chat, so would be able to take what Leanne dishes out.
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She also said and was after someone “rugged” and “manly”, and out of the five boys on the starting line up, that would probably describe Callum the best, although we wouldn’t be surprised if one of their heads turned if someone more suitable walked into the villa.
Ollie and Paige
ITV
If we’re being completely honest, there’s not really anyone in the starting line up who is an instantly obvious partner for future Lord of the Manor Ollie, and likewise for Lewis Capaldi’s ex Paige.
But while they may seem like an unlikely match at first, he’s looking for a girl who is “blonde, athletic and funny”, and she told us that “anything is a goer” when it comes to boys, so maybe it’s possible love could blossom?
Connor and Shaughna
ITV
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Shaughna is after a Jack Fincham-type character who is “funny and a little bit smart”, so she should look no further than Connor.
The former butler in the buff has got all sorts of stories to tell and recently set up his own business selling coffee beans, both of which should tick Shaughna’s boxes.
He’s also after someone who is “really caring”, and Shaughna has spent a large part of her career helping others while working for Lambeth council.
“It’s not really about how much a job pays you, because it’s about helping people,” she said.
This pairing would definitely have the potential to be a cute little match.
And then there’s Jess and Eve...
ITV
With five boys and seven girls in the opening line-up, it’s obvious there’s going to be some sort of launch twist, which is surely going to involve the show’s first-ever female twins, Jess and Eve.
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We think they will be entering later and tasked with breaking up some of the original pairings, placing some of the other girls at risk.
And having met Jess and Eve, their arrival is bound to set the cat amongst the pigeons.
They said they “normally agree if they don’t like someone”, adding that “people are usually intimidated by them” when they meet them, so expect them not to worry about girl code as they start grafting on the lads, should they be the late entrants we’re expecting.
Love Island begins on Sunday at 9pm on ITV2.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--This Is Your Body On Intermittent Fasting

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It’s no surprise that intermittent fasting is one of the most popular types of eating plans. You don’t need to measure out food or buy any prepackaged shakes. There are no required weigh-ins or calorie counting. All you really have to do is not eat during certain hours. It’s pretty simple.
There are different ways to go about it, of course. Most people do the 16:8 diet, in which you fast for 16 hours and then eat within an eight-hour window. There’s also the 5:2 diet, where you drastically cut back on calories just two days a week, and there are 24-hour fasts, where you don’t eat anything one day each month.
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Regardless of the method, significantly restricting when you eat can throw your body for a loop and cause a handful of odd side effects. Intermittent fasting may not be suitable for everyone. (People with a history of disordered eating, for example, should definitely avoid it.)
It’s important to know what to expect before you jump into any new eating habit. Here’s what happens to you — mentally, physically and emotionally — when you’re fasting intermittently.
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You might lose weight.
Many health experts, including personal trainer Jillian Michaels, say that intermittent fasting actually isn’t that great for weight loss. That’s because you’re not necessarily eating less or cutting back on calories. There are just longer gaps in your day when you’re not eating at all.
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That said, many people do lose weight because they consume fewer calories during those restricted food hours.
Eating for only eight hours a day also makes it less likely that you’re having a big meal right before bedtime. Our metabolism goes down when we sleep and we burn fewer calories. Nighttime eating has been linked to both obesity and diabetes.
Intermittent fasting “really does keep you from doing some really bad things, which is to eat a big meal before you go to bed,” said Dr. John Morton, a bariatric surgeon with Yale Medicine. Big meals before bed are “probably the worst thing you can do when it comes to weight loss,” he added.
You could get super hungry.
A lot of people who fast experience hunger pangs, mainly when they start the program. That’s because our bodies are accustomed to using glucose — a sugar that comes from the food we eat — for fuel throughout the day. When it’s deprived of food (and, therefore, glucose), the body will essentially send signals saying, “Hello, aren’t you forgetting something here?”
Once your body gets into the groove of fasting, it will start burning stored body fat for energy rather than glucose. And as you spend more time in a fasted state, your body will get increasingly efficient at burning fat for energy.
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In short, those hunger pangs should dissipate and your appetite will level out, Morton said. He added that fasters will ultimately have fewer cravings and hunger pangs the more consistently they fast.
In the meantime, that hungry feeling may drive some people to overeat. “The natural tendency is when you haven’t eaten breakfast, you go, ‘Since I didn’t eat breakfast, I’m going to eat more [for lunch],’” Morton noted.
If the hunger pains are bad enough to interfere with your daily life, get something to eat. The idea is not to starve yourself.
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Your energy levels and moods will fluctuate.
Research has shown that fasting can cause some people to feel fatigued, dizzy, irritable and depressed.
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“In the beginning, your energy levels might be low because you’re not getting the proper nutrients that you need,” said Sharon Zarabi, a registered dietitian and bariatric program director at Lenox Hill Hospital.
As your body gets used to intermittent fasting, your energy levels will pick back up. “Your body becomes more efficient at using energy and this helps improve mood, mental ability and long-term performance,” Zarabi said.
There’s even some evidence that suggests intermittent fasting can ultimately help fight depression and anxiety. The body releases a hormone called ghrelin when you’re hungry or fasting, which — in high amounts — has been associated with an elevated mood.
Your gut health may improve.
Many people who partake in intermittent fasting note improved gut health. Fasting gives your gut a chance to rest and reset as your digestive system doesn’t have to deal with uncomfortable effects of eating like gas, diarrhoea and bloating.
“Anytime you fast, you’re giving your body a break from trying to metabolise what you just ate,” Zarabi said. “By fasting, we let the gut microbiome refresh, which in turn improves our overall digestive pathway.”
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You could cut your risk for chronic diseases.
Intermittent fasting has been linked to a lower risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
According to recent research from Mount Sinai, this is because fasting reduces inflammation ― and reducing inflammation helps our bodies battle various chronic inflammatory diseases like diabetes, heart disease, cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases. Researchers are still working to figure out how and why this happens, but the evidence so far suggests that the fasting body produces fewer of the subset of monocytes, a kind of blood cell, that are known to damage tissue and trigger inflammation.
This is a big reason why people who fast intermittently may live longer and stay healthier.
Your heart health could improve.
Intermittent fasting can help lower your blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides — the type of fat in our blood that’s associated with heart disease. That is, if you lose weight in the process.
“As long as you’re losing weight, you’re going to improve all those things,” Morton said.
Before you start an intermittent fasting programme, health experts recommend meeting with a dietitian or physician. There’s a critical distinction between fasting and starving, and if you ignore that, you could wreck your organs and immune system.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Here's Why You Only Remember Some Of Your Dreams

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Whether you’re obsessed with dream interpretation or are only mildly interested in that dream you keep having about all your teeth falling out, most of us can agree that the subconscious mind is one of the stranger things in life.
Sometimes you’ll have pleasant dreams and other times you’ll have nonsensical ones. Maybe one night you’ll wake up in a sweat from a realistic and terrifying dream. Then there are periods when you’ll realise you’ve gone a week without remembering any of your dreams if you’re having them at all.
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To figure out why this happens ― and what it might mean about the quality and quantity of sleep we’re getting ― we consulted sleep experts. Here’s what they had to say.
Sleep cycles, sleep quality and morning distractions all play a role in dream recall.
If you’re going through a period where you can’t remember any of your dreams, you may be going through a specific phase with your REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.
Most active dreaming happens during REM sleep, which is about 25% of the night. REM cycles continue to get longer as the night progresses, with the longest period happening in the morning. So if you have an alarm set to a specific time that’s not during one of your REM cycles, that could be the culprit.
Another possibility? Your technology use. “If you’re immediately distracted when you wake up ― for example, a phone call, or having the radio or news on ― that could wipe out your dreams,” Tore Nielsen, a dream researcher at the University of Montreal, told HuffPost. “Or sometimes the content of your dreams just isn’t that memorable.”
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And if you never remember your dreams ― or if you exclusively have nightmares ― you may need to work on getting higher-quality sleep.
“This could be happening because you are not sleeping enough hours at night,” Nielsen said. “When you curtail your sleep, it is often the long bouts of morning REM sleep that are sacrificed, and that is precisely when we have the longest, most intense and memorable dreams.”
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The sleep phase also affects if you remember full dreams or random snippets.
You’ve likely had times you remembered very realistic dreams that seemed like an extension of your everyday life. Other times, maybe you could only recall bits and pieces of a dream.
According to Andrew Varga, a neuroscientist and physician at the Mount Sinai Integrative Sleep Centre, these different types of dreams could be occurring during different phases of sleep.
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“It is thought that most plot-based dreaming occurs during REM sleep, irrespective of whether it is bizarre or more realistic,” he said. “For a long time, dreaming was thought not to occur in non-REM sleep, but this has been challenged recently. That said, non-REM dreaming is thought to be less plot-based ― more feelings and scenes.”
And then there’s lucid dreaming, which is when you’re actually aware that you’re dreaming. If you’re a frequent lucid dreamer, it could be indicative of how your brain works.
“Frequent lucid dreamers had increased functional connectivity (increased simultaneous blood flow) to the anterior prefrontal cortex and more posterior temporoparietal association regions of the brain,” Varga said.
Even if you never remember dreams, you are likely having them.
Varga said the question of whether we always dream, even if we don’t remember those dreams, is a bit of a philosophical question, like “If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one around to hear it, does it make a sound?” But the answer is probably yes.
“Most active dreaming occurs during REM sleep, and it is fairly uncommon to have no REM sleep at all, although it can happen, for instance, in severe sleep apnea,” Varga said. “So by logical extension, there are probably dreams, even if they are not recalled, but ever proving this can be difficult.”
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Niesen agreed that proving that we always dream is difficult, but he also believes that some level of cognitive activity always occurs.
“Sometimes it’s just low-level thinking that often doesn’t involve emotions, vivid images or a storyline,” he said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-13--These Stats About Women In Top Jobs Are Shocking. We Can't Ignore Them.

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The stats are in, and the number of women in top jobs in the UK shows a “dismally slow pace of change”, a leading charity has said.
The Fawcett Society’s 2020 Sex and Power Index charts the extent of male domination of positions of power – and women are missing in “significant numbers” from top jobs in politics, law, civil service, trade unions, charities, professional bodies and sport bodies.
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The Index also reveals an alarming lack of women of colour across the top jobs in all sectors.
“We are wasting women’s talent and skills,” said Sam Smethers, CEO of the Fawcett Society. “Despite much lip service about the importance of having women in top jobs, today’s data shows we are still generations away from achieving anything close to equality.”
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The data shows:
Law: The Supreme Court has two women justices out of 12 (17%). Since its formation in 2009, there has never been a Supreme Court Judge who is a person of colour.
Business: Women make up just over one in 20 CEOs of FTSE 100 companies. This remains unchanged since the last report in 2018. None of these CEOs are women of colour.
Education: Women make up just 39% of secondary head teachers. This figure has not changed since last reported in 2018 and has risen by 6% since 2005. Women make up 30% of university vice-chancellors – but only 1% of university vice-chancellors are women are colour.
Media: Women make up only 21% of national newspaper editors – with just four women in the top jobs.
Sport: Women make up 21% of national Sport Governing Body CEOs, a drop from 26% in 2018. Only 4% of Premier League Clubs are led by women.
House of Commons : 34% of MPs are women – up only 2% in the recent election. Women of colour now make up 17% of the women MPs, which is in line with the population as a whole.
House of Lords : The percentage of women is at 27%, which is significantly lower than the Commons and up by only 1% since last reported in 2018. Only 2% of all peers are women of colour.
Devolved Parliament / Assemblies: There are no women of colour in the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales or the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Cabinet: 30% of the Cabinet are women and 47% of the Shadow Cabinet.
Civil service: Approximately a third of permanent secretaries are women (up from 31% in 2018 to 34% currently). There are no women of colour in these roles.
Infographic supplied by Statista Infographic supplied by Statista
The Fawcett Society wants the government, political parties, the judiciary and employers to act now to ensure a change in the numbers of women in senior roles.
It’s calling for gender pay gap reporting, reducing the threshold for reporting to companies with 100+ employees from the current threshold of 250 or more.
The charity wants quotas and targets, urging the government to introduce time-limited quotas that organisations must fulfil – these would be put in place to achieve gender parity, and once the gender balance is equal, they would be lifted. Fawcett also argues the government should follow up on its legislation commitment in the Queen’s Speech to make flexible working the default.
And the charity is also calling for more data: government departments, particularly the Office for National Statistics, should prioritise working with relevant sectors to collect and publish intersectional data to accelerate the pace of change, it said.
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“If we want change, we have to make it happen,” said Smethers. “That means quotas, targets and policy interventions to remove the barriers to women’s progression.
“Our research also shows the alarming lack of women of colour in the top tiers of many sectors. Fawcett’s new project with the Runnymede Trust on the pay and progression of women of colour will shine a spotlight on the specific challenges and barriers they face in the workplace.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Sheffield Shooting: Boy, 12, Injured In Drive-By Attack

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A 12-year-old boy was in a stable condition after he was hit in a drive-by shooting.
The child was in a group of youngsters and adults gathered in Errington Road, in the Arbourthorne area of Sheffield, at around 3.45pm on Sunday, when a white car drove past and a gunman opened fire.
Police were called and they found the boy had suffered an injury to his leg.
He was taken to hospital for treatment and remained in a stable condition, police said.
Detective inspector Denise Booth said: “Specialist officers have been in the area this afternoon and evening, examining the scene and speaking to witnesses as we work to piece together the exact circumstances of this incident, what led to it and to identify those responsible.
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“What we know so far is that the boy was with a group of other people, both children and adults, in the Errington Road area when a white car is said to have driven past, firing shots out of the window.
“The car left the area heading towards East Bank Road.
“In the early stages of the investigation, as we continue to gather evidence, we are exploring all lines of enquiry as to the motive of the incident.
“I understand and appreciate the concern this news will cause within the local community particularly given the victim’s age, and to help provide some reassurance to residents, we will have an increased presence in the area tonight and over the coming days.
“This matter is an absolute priority for us and it’s imperative that anyone with information or concerns speaks to an officer.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Diego The Tortoise’s Sex Drive Saved His Species From Extinction. Now He's Retiring

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A libidinous 100-year-old tortoise called Diego is to return to the wild after being celebrated for saving his species from extinction.
In the 1960s, Diego was recruited along with 14 other giant tortoises for a captive breeding programme on the Galápagos Islands, the volcanic archipelago hundreds of miles off the Ecuador coast.
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At the time, this was almost the entirety of the endangered Chelonoidis hoodensis subspecies of tortoise.
The animals, over time, had been driven to the brink of extinction, initially by humans who saw them as a food source, and later by rats, pigs and dogs who preyed on them.
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But the programme has been such an unmitigated success that the population has swelled to over 2,000, and Diego’s sex drive has been credited with the surge.
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According to some estimates, Diego has fathered 800 children. Put another way, 40% of the population are estimated to be Diego’s descendants.
The reptile Romeo will now leave the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Center on the island of Santa Cruz and retire to his native island of Española, the Galápagos National Parks service has announced.
“He’s contributed a large percentage to the lineage that we are returning to Española,” Jorge Carrion, the director of the Galapagos National Parks service, told the AFP news agency.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Sir Roger Scruton: Conservative Philosopher Dies Aged 75

Sir Roger Scruton, one of the country’s most prominent conservative philosophers, has died aged 75 after a six-month fight with cancer.
The prolific intellectual – author of some 50 books on morals, politics, architecture and aesthetics – died on Sunday, with a family statement saying they are “hugely proud of him and of all his achievements”.
In December, he wrote: “Coming close to death you begin to know what life means, and what it means is gratitude.”
The author was knighted for his services to philosophy, teaching and public education in 2016 and received honours from Poland and Hungary for his work supporting dissidents behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War.
Tory MEP Daniel Hannan paid tribute to “the greatest conservative of our age”, adding: “The country has lost a towering intellect. I have lost a wonderful friend.”
Sir Roger made headlines last year after he was dismissed as a government housing tsar over a row about comments he made in a magazine interview.
But the father-of-two received an apology after the New Statesman admitted his views on topics including China and George Soros “were not accurately represented” on social media “to his disadvantage”.
Sir Roger said the row showed there was a “witch hunt” against people on the political right which he saw as an “attempt to silence the conservative voice”.
In December he wrote in the Spectator magazine: “During this year much was taken from me – my reputation, my standing as a public intellectual, my position in the conservative movement, my peace of mind, my health.
“Falling to the bottom in my own country, I have been raised to the top elsewhere, and looking back over the sequence of events I can only be glad that I have lived long enough to see this happen.
“Coming close to death you begin to know what life means, and what it means is gratitude.”
A statement on his website read: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Sir Roger Scruton, FBA, FRSL.
“Beloved husband of Sophie, adored father to Sam and Lucy and treasured brother of Elizabeth and Andrea, he died peacefully on Sunday 12th January.
“He was born on 27th February 1944 and had been fighting cancer for the last 6 months.
“His family are hugely proud of him and of all his achievements.”
Sir Roger graduated from Cambridge University in 1965 and paid particular attention to aesthetics, architecture and music in his philosophical work.
He was appointed to a government body called Building Better, Building Beautiful to advise on improving modern architecture.
But he was dismissed from the role last year over a series of comments reported in the New Statesman.
He was reported as saying the Chinese were “creating robots of their own people”, but the magazine later clarified his criticism was of the restrictive regime of the Chinese Communist Party rather than the citizens.
Sir Roger also referred to a “Soros empire” in Hungary – a reference to Jewish billionaire George Soros – but the magazine did not include the rest of his statement that “it’s not necessarily an empire of Jews; that’s such nonsense”.
Sir Roger also repeated his claim that Islamophobia was a propaganda word “invented by the Muslim Brotherhood in order to stop discussion of a major issue”.
The magazine subsequently apologised for the way it had posted social media links to the article in which “the views of Professor Scruton were not accurately represented in the tweets to his disadvantage”.
Then-housing secretary James Brokenshire apologised to Sir Roger, writing in the Spectator he regretted dismissing the intellectual over what was a “clearly partial report of your thoughts”.
Current Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said in a statement: “Sir Roger was one of the foremost public intellectuals of our time: brave, forthright and wise.
“His support for freedom fighters in Eastern Europe demonstrated his willingness to risk his own safety for his ideals.
“Even in the final stages of his illness he was contributing new ideas to help transform the way we think about the built environment in this country and to turn the tide on ugly and thoughtless development.
“There were few subjects that he did not turn his mind to, and his work on the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission, which recently submitted their report to my department, will proceed and stand part of his enormously rich legacy.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Meghan Markle And Prince Harry Could Give A 'No-Holds-Barred' Interview After Leaving Royal Family,

Meghan Markle And Prince Harry Could Give A 'No-Holds-Barred' Interview After Leaving Royal Family, Says Close Friend

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A journalist and close confidante of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry says the royal couple could give a ‘tell-all’ interview that risks further damaging the monarchy’s reputation.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex opened up to Tom Bradby about their struggles with royal life in an ITV documentary filmed during their Africa tour last year.
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Writing for The Sunday Times, Bradby suggested that the royal family failing to keep the couple on-side risks a “no-holds-barred” interview that could be “very damaging”.
It comes as the Queen will host crisis talks with senior royals and the Duke of Sussex on Monday after Meghan and Harry’s bombshell announcement last week that they intended to quit royal family duties, become “financially independent” and divide their time between the UK and North America.
Brady wrote: “I have some idea of what might be aired in a full, no-holds-barred, sit-down interview and I don’t think it would be pretty.
“I suspect the royal family would carry British public opinion still — perhaps only just — but its international standing is a key part of its value to the British state. If that were to be tarnished, it could be very damaging indeed.”
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Bradby did not say what concerns they might make public, but the newspaper reported ‘courtiers’ fear Meghan would brand the royal household racist and sexist.
The journalist, who presents ITV’s News at Ten, is considered a good friend to both Prince Harry and Meghan, as well as brother Prince William, and was a guest at the Sussexes wedding.
Tom Bradby and wife Claudia arrive at the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. POOL New / Reuters
The journalist added there is “no doubt” Meghan and Harry feel they have been “driven out” and said the “atmosphere soured hard and early” after “damaging things were said and done” at the time of their wedding in 2018.
In Bradby’s ITV documentary, Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, which aired in October, Meghan revealed she was “existing not living” and Harry spoke out about his struggles with mental health.
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On Monday, the Queen will will be joined at her private Norfolk estate of Sandringham by princes Charles, William and Harry for a crunch meeting where the “next steps” will be decided, a source has said.
It will be the first time the four will have met since the issue engulfed the royal family.
A royal source said: “The family will gather on Monday at Sandringham to talk things through, attended by Her Majesty, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex.
“Following a series of meetings and consultations across the last few days, there are a range of possibilities for the family to review which take into account the thinking the Sussexes outlined earlier in the week.
“As we have said previously, making a change to the working life and role in the monarchy for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex requires complex and thoughtful discussions.
“Next steps will be agreed at the meeting, the request for this to be resolved at pace is still her Majesty’s wish – the aim remains days not weeks.
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“There is genuine agreement and understanding that any decision will take time to be implemented.”
Meghan flew to Canada a few days ago where she spent an extended festive break with Harry and baby son Archie in the province of British Columbia.
She is with her child, but the source said it is likely the duchess will be able to participate in the meeting by phone.
The Sunday Times also reported William had told a friend that he and Harry are now “separate entities”.
The newspaper reported William as saying: “I’ve put my arm around my brother all our lives and I can’t do that any more; we’re separate entities.
“I’m sad about that. All we can do, and all I can do, is try and support them and hope that the time comes when we’re all singing from the same page. I want everyone to play on the team.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Lorry Carrying Tubes Of Pringles Catches Fire On M1 Motorway

The vehicle caught flames vehicle near junction 25. Highways England
A lorry carrying thousands of tubes of Pringles crisps has caught fire on the M1 motorway in the east Midlands.
Flames took hold of the heavy goods vehicle near junction 25 in Derbyshire at about 7am on Sunday, and a slip road was closed.
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Highways England said the driver was able to escape the cab and detach the trailer without being injured.
On the Highways England Twitter feed, burnt tubes of Pringles were pictured at the side of the lorry in the aftermath.
Update: @CrouchRecovery are working with our team and @DerbyshireFRS to recover the vehicle. Attached are a few images of the scale of the operation. Rest assured we are working as quickly and as safely as possible to get the slip open again.https://t.co/71qCpLIlYt pic.twitter.com/uW76DVpCJo — Highways England (@HighwaysEMIDS) January 12, 2020
The images show emergency services, Crouch Recovery and traffic officers working to clear the A52 slip road for Derby and Nottingham.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Love Island: 19 Things You Won't Already Know About The 2020 Contestants

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Twelve singletons are about to descend on the brand new Love Island villa for a summer winter of cracking on and pieing off in the South African sunshine.
We will be getting to know them a whole lot better over the next six weeks, but prior to their arrival in their spectacular new pad, we jetted off to Cape Town to give them a proper grilling.
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So, who was expelled from school as a child? Who recently weed themselves in the back of their aunt’s car? And who is poised to become the meme queen of the series?
It’s time to find out...
The cast of this year's Love Island ITV2
More of them actually applied to be on the show than you’d think
It’s no secret that Love Island uses a team of casting producers to help find potential Islanders. But this year, there’s more that applied through the traditional process.
Callum originally applied for the last series, but got a call back for this one, as did Shaughna, while Mike, Connor and Leanne were also applicants.
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Ollie also applied, despite never having seen the show before. He says: “My mum said ‘you’d be really good for it’ and I watched a couple of things on YouTube and thought yeah that looks a laugh, because I was bored and Cornwall is a pretty boring place for a 23 year old.”
On the flip side, Nas was approached on Instagram, which he admits “came as a surprise because I’ve only got 1,000 followers”, while Eve and Jess also received messages through social media.
Paige was also approached, presumably because of her previous relationship with Lewis Capaldi, while Rochelle Humes’ sister Sophie was asked to appear last year but turned it down due to other commitments, before she was asked again for this year’s series and said yes.
Meanwhile, Siannise had a visit from casting producers at the beauty salon where she works. “We were talking about eyebrows at the time,” she says. “I thought they were just customers and I was talking to them like they were.”
Nas didn’t actually realise you could have sex on the show
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Love Island might be known for couples getting raunchy between the sheets, but it seems that information hadn’t quite reached Nas.
“I wasn’t even aware we were allowed to!” he says.
“I don’t think anything would make me want to have sex in the villa. At the forefront of my mind, my mum will be watching and that’s the last thing I’d want her to see.”
Siannise hasn’t done any prep to get ready for the villa
While the vast majority of the contestants admitted increasing their work-outs and going easy on the food over the festive period as they prepared to spend the next two months in their swimwear, Siannise was much less bothered.
“I haven’t been to the gym once, I’ll be honest with you,” she confesses. “Ever since I found out, with Christmas and stuff, how can you?”
A girl after our own hearts right there.
Shaughna was the contestant with the most embarrassing story to share
ITV
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The 25-year-old told of how she recently had an accident in her aunt’s car after a particularly boozy afternoon.
“Apparently I weed in my aunt’s car in March,” she says. “It was the day before I started my new job and she picked me up from a boozy brunch and was taking me home and I wet myself.
“She told me like two weeks later and said she’d had to wash her car three times.
“I have no shame because I have no memory either,” she laughs.
Connor’s time working as a butler in the buff wasn’t always as wild as you’d think
“Sometimes they’re crazy, sometimes they’re really boring,” Connor confesses to his time working as a naked waiter at private parties while living in Australia. “Sometimes I end up knitting!”
Recalling one specific party, he continues: “An old lady got me to glaze sausage rolls. Then she was like ‘come and sit on the balcony with me’, and I was just sat there with a few of her friends knitting.
“She requested for me to have my bum out too - you get an extra £20 with your bum out,” he laughs.
Mike is going to be getting the most use out of the new boys dressing room
ITV
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The villa has a new addition for 2020 in the shape of a boys dressing room, and it sounds like Mike is going to be getting the most use out of it.
“I’m a diva when it comes to getting ready,” he says. “I can take between an hour and two hours - I procrastinate. I get in the shower and think I’m on X Factor, then I come out, put coco butter on, then I’m there playing with my nails and contemplating about life… I’m just that kind of guy.”
Siannise is going to be the meme queen of this year’s series
And she’s fully expecting it too.
“I absolutely think I will be,” she says. “It’s just going to be with the accent.
“It’s just the way I pronounce everything really. I can say anything and it would just be like…”
She adds: “If someone is feeling a bit down, I can go and cheer them up and make them laugh with my Bristolian-ness.”
Ollie was previously expelled from his boarding school
ITV
As the heir of Cornwall’s Lanhydrock estate, it came as no shock when Ollie revealed he went to private school as a kid, but his reason for getting expelled was much more surprising.
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Telling of how he was thrown out of Mounthouse prep school seven weeks after enrolling at the age of seven, he confesses: “I stole this kids conker. I had the best conker in the school. I’d bathed it in vinegar and stuff, and he stole it.
“So I got him and I shook him and my conker fell out of his pocket, and then I dropped him.”
Islanders, beware if you decide to take on Ollie.
Nas’ mum is probably going to become a star in her own right
“My mum will probably end up like Anton’s mum,” Nas says, remembering how Anton’s mum became an internet sensation after a few appearances on Aftersun during the last series.
“She’s a lovely woman. She would love to come to South Africa, she’d be buzzing.
“I told my mum, ‘maybe you can meet the girls at Loose Women or the people at This Morning’, she’s told me I’ve got to take her with me if I meet them.”
Paige is hoping her ex Lewis Capaldi votes for her
ITV
Paige was in a relationship with hit singer Lewis when the pair were in their teens, with rumours his smash single Someone You Loved was written about her.
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And while their relationship ended many years ago, the pair have remained close, to the point where she thinks he will be joking about her appearance on Love Island.
“Lewis is quite funny so I think he will definitely make a joke of it. He might even vote for me!
“I would love to be a fly on the wall, not just for Lewis, but to see all my friends reactions, like what the hell is she doing on my television.”
She says of his rise of stardom: “Even through college before we got together and even when we did get together, I always kept saying to him, ‘It’s a matter of time’.
“He’s such a talented writer. So it was no surprise.”
There’s one exception to Siannise’s dislike of fudge
ITV
While Siannise Fudge is the best name of any Islander there’s ever been, Siannise disappointed us in her introductory VT by admitting she’s not a fan of the sugary snack.
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But it seems that’s not entirely true.
“One time I went to Cornwall and I went to a fudge shop and the fudge there was incredible,” she says. “There was a lemon meringue one and honestly, it is just a game changer. It’s probably the only fudge I will eat.”
Mike’s brother has been giving him tips on reality TV
Mike been getting coaching about appearing on reality TV from his brother Samuel, who was a candidate vying for Lord Sugar’s business investment on the 2016 series of The Apprentice.
“He has given me a few tips which I’m grateful for,” Mike explains. “He’s given me tips on how to act, how to speak to people and what to expect, so I feel like I’ve got an idea of what to expect when I get in the villa.”
Samuel was fired in a double sacking during the eighth week of the BBC reality show, but Mike expects to last longer in the Love Island process.
“There’s not really rivalry because I think I’m better than him anyway,” he jokes. “He might disagree, but that’s up for debate. I think I’ll do better than him.”
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Sophie had to check Rochelle wasn’t presenting the show
ITV
After regular Love Island host Caroline Flack was standing down for the upcoming series following an assault charge.
One of the names in the mix to replace her in the press was Sophie’s sister Rochelle Humes.
Prior to Laura Whitmore eventually being confirmed as Caroline’s replacement, Sophie admitted she got in touch with her sibling after being told she’d be entering the villa.
She laughs: “I saw Rochelle’s name in the mix and she said, ‘Don’t worry, I’m not doing it!’”
Ollie could be about to pop up on another reality show
We’ve not seen a minute of him on Love Island yet, but already Ollie has said there have been “murmurings” of him and his sister appearing on Made In Chelsea, having spent years partying in London after studying just outside of the capital.
Asked if it is something he’d consider after leaving the villa, Ollie adds: “Yeah potentially. [Love Island] for me is all about finding love, it’s not about getting famous after this. If that happens it happens, but if I was going to pick a TV show to go into after this it would actually be ITV racing.
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“I’d like to be a racing pundit of all things because I’m really into racing.”
After it is pointed out he would be following in the footsteps of series three Islander Chris Hughes, who now fronts part of ITV’s racing coverage, Ollie jokes: “Yeah, but he doesn’t know much about horses.”
Fighting talk.
Connor took a serious risk getting his veneers done
ITV
While Connor said getting his teeth done had “helped him massively” with women, it he admitted he was a “bit mental” in his quest to have them done.
He says: “I was on a roof in Australia and some bloke I was working with, came back and had his whole mouth done. They looked so good that I looked online and then I flew there one month later. That’s where I got them done, in Thailand.
“Bit mental, really Looking back now, it was a bit crazy.”
Mike is poised to be the couples’ counsellor of the villa
Mike’s job in the police has been a training ground for life in the villa, revealing he has “saved a lot of relationships” during his time working as a first responder.
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“You’d be surprised, but we’re basically like marriage counsellors,” he says.
“We go into people’s houses and I tell people how to run their lives, which is weird, because I’ll go in and they’ve been married for 25 years and be there like, ‘you shouldn’t be doing that, you should show her more respect, look at the kids’.”
Mike added that he will “naturally” find the role of carer and confidante in the villa.
“If people need that person to talk to, they come to me and I’ll give them as much back as I can,” he said.
Jess and Eve have links with lots of previous Islanders
ITV
The pair were keen to name-drop their famous pals, with Jess bragging: “We know all the reality TV stars - ex Love Islanders. We get along with Kem [Cetinay, winner of series three] and Josh [Denzel, series four finalist].
“We go out in London a lot and everyone knows everyone, you see the same people.”
Eve continues: “When I saw Josh the week before we were coming on Love Island, I avoided him because I knew if I was speaking to him, I’d slip it out.”
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Jess adds: “Two weeks before we went into hiding, we went out and saw Michael, Chris and Danny [from series five].
“They came up to us and asked if we wanted to go into the club with them as they needed girls to get into the club, but we didn’t want to get to know them all and people think we got the place through them.”
Jess is the older twin
By two minutes, apparently.
There’s going to be plenty of catchphrases from the new Islanders
ITV
Prepare to expand your Love Island vocabulary, as the new bunch of Islanders are coming armed with a set of new catchphrases.
Arguably, Leanne has the best one of all, with the term ‘situationship’.
She explains: “It’s where you can’t be bothered to have a relationship, but you know it’s just convenient.
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“You are still kind of exclusive, you just haven’t made it there yet. I’m always in a situationship!”
Of his catchphrase, Ollie reveals: “I say ‘send it’ a lot. Like if you go all out and go for it, ‘send it’. I also say ‘peak’ a lot, everyone knows what peak means.”
Nas says he will be using French phrase ‘Je ne sais quoi’ for something you can’t quite describe.
“I learnt that a couple of days ago and I’ve been using it ever since,” he laughs.
Paige says: “I like Scottish words like ‘belter’. If a really nice looking girl came in you’d say, ‘She’s a belter.’”
Bristolian Siannise says she will also be saying a classic local phrase to her.
“I’m going to chuck in a bit of ‘lush’!” she says. “We’ve got to have a bit of lush.
“It’s usually ‘gert lush’, but I cut the gert out.”
Love Island begins on Sunday at 9pm on ITV2.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Thousands Of Kilograms Of Vegetables Dropped Over New South Wales To Feed Fire-Stricken Australian W

Thousands Of Kilograms Of Vegetables Dropped Over New South Wales To Feed Fire-Stricken Australian Wallabies

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Thousands of kilograms of vegetables have been dropped over New South Wales in a bid to feed the wildlife devastated by Australia’s bushfires.
Huge quantities of food, including sweet potato and carrots were flung from the air for wallaby colonies, according to Matt Kean, the minister for Energy and Environment for New South Wales.
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“#NPWS staff today dropped thousands of kgs of food (Mostly sweet potato and carrots) for our Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby colonies across NSW,” Mr Kean tweeted.
He also shared an image of one of the fire-affected creatures munching on a carrot, with the caption “One happy customer”.
Operation Rock Wallaby 🦘- #NPWS staff today dropped thousands of kgs of food (Mostly sweet potato and carrots) for our Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby colonies across NSW 🥕🥕 #bushfires pic.twitter.com/ZBN0MSLZei — Matt Kean MP (@Matt_KeanMP) January 11, 2020
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Earlier in January, a professor from the University of Sydney estimated 480 million animals had already been killed since the bushfires began in New South Wales alone.
Academics have since suggested that more than a billion animals could have been killed in total across Australia, as more than 10m hectares burned over the span of just a few months.
At least 28 people have been killed, and more than 2,000 homes destroyed.
Crews battling the country’s fires said they have been able to turn from defence to offence for the first time in weeks thanks to a break in the weather.
After weeks of criticism over the handling of the bushfires, Australia’s prime minister Scott Morrison said on Sunday he will propose a national review into the response to the disaster.
The Australian bush has been burning for nearly three months and the crisis is becoming increasingly political, as the country looks at the causes and the government’s response.
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“There is obviously a need for a national review of the response,” Morrison said in an interview with ABC television.
Asked whether it should be a Royal Commission, a powerful judicial inquiry, Morrison said, “I think that is what would be necessary and I will be taking a proposal through the cabinet to that end, but it must be done with consultations with the states and territories.”
Food is dropped from the air for wallabies across New South Wales. @Matt_KeanMP/Twitter


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Anti-UK Chants Outside Embassy As British Ambassador Summoned By Iran To Explain 'Illegal' Presence

Anti-UK Chants Outside Embassy As British Ambassador Summoned By Iran To Explain 'Illegal' Presence At Protest

Iran has summoned a British ambassador to explain his “illegal and inappropriate presence” at what they have described as an anti-government protest, the Iranian foreign ministry has said.
Rob Macaire was called in to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after being arrested by police on Saturday as demonstrations broke out in Tehran over the downing of a Ukrainian airliner by Iranian forces.
The request threatened to further escalate the diplomatic row between London and Tehran after foreign secretary Dominic Raab denounced Macaire’s detention as a “flagrant violation” of international law.
Dozens of Iranian hard-liners were reported to have gathered outside the British embassy, chanting “Death to England” and calling for the ambassador to be expelled.
Macaire said he had attended a vigil for the victims of Wednesday’s air crash, which killed 176 people and was caused by Iran’s military “unintentionally” shooting the passenger plane down.
He denies taking part in demonstrations and said he had left the area when chanting had begun in the crowd.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Emily Thornberry Confident She Will Make It Onto Labour Leadership Ballot

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Emily Thornberry has said she is confident she can secure the backing of enough Labour MPs to make it onto the ballot paper in the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn.
The shadow foreign secretary currently has 10 nominations – 12 short of the 22 she needs by the deadline of 2.30pm on Monday.
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She told the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday morning there were a “large number of MPs who haven’t nominated yet.
“From the conversations I have had this weekend I am fairly confident that, as long as I don’t get any slippage, I will be fine. I am going to get across the line and then we will move on to the next stage.
“It is a long contest and it will have its ups and downs. I have been a slow starter, but I did start from a standing start after the general election.”
Thornberry had at one point been seen as the obvious candidate to succeed Corbyn.
Last week she rated him “0 out of 10” for his performance at the general election.
Keir Starmer remains the clear favourite among Labour MPs and was the first of the six contenders for leader to secure the 22 nominations.
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Rebecca Long Bailey, the favourite of the current leadership, has also passed the threshold. As have backbenchers Lisa Nandy and Jess Phillips.
Shadow Treasury minister Clive Lewis, with just four, appears to be struggling.
While Starmer has had the strongest start to the campaign, Long Bailey yesterday picked up the endorsement of leftwing grassroots campaign group Momentum.
Following a meeting of its steering group, it said it had agreed unanimously that the shadow business secretary is the “only viable candidate” to continue Corbyn’s “socialist agenda”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Boris Johnson's Brexit Trade Deal Timetable 'Ambitious, If Not Unrealistic', Says Irish Deputy PM

PA Wire/PA Images
Passing law to prevent the extension of Brexit negotiations will not force the EU to rush into a deal, Ireland’s deputy premier has warned.
Simon Coveney said the EU felt the end of 2020 deadline set by Boris Johnson was “ambitious, if not unrealistic”.
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Coveney said he felt it would take longer than 12 months, as he highlighted the deal encompassed much more than trade and included areas like aviation, fishing and data.
“When people talk about the future relationship, in the UK in particular, they seem to only talk about a future trade agreement, actually there’s much more to this than that – there’s fishing, there’s aviation, there’s data and so many other things,” he said.
“I know that prime minister Johnson has set a very ambitious timetable to get this done. He has even put it into British law, but just because a British parliament decides that British laws say something doesn’t mean that that law applies to the other 27 countries of the European Union and so the European Union will approach this on the basis of getting the best deal possible – a fair and balanced deal to ensure the EU and the UK can interact as friends in the future.
“But the EU will not be rushed on this just because Britain passes law.”
Asked about the possibility of a series of side deals on specific areas if time ran out to strike a comprehensive agreement, Coveney raised concern.
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“We would certainly much rather negotiate a comprehensive deal that deals with all of these things collectively and together,” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show.
“If we have learnt anything from the first round of Brexit, which has taken a lot longer than it should have, is that we have got to provide certainty for people, we can’t continue to have crisis after crisis and the uncertainty and brinkmanship of Brexit negotiations.”
The Tanaiste also expressed concern at the tone of media coverage in the UK, highlighting attempts to frame the engagement as Britain trying to defeat or stand up to the EU.
“This is the language of enemies, not friends, and we need to move away from that,” he said.
“Both sides in this negotiation in the next stage of Brexit has a vested interest in working together – not to try to outmanoeuvre each other.”
A key issue in the negotiations will be how the financial services industry in the City of London will be able to serve clients within the EU.
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Amid concern the EU might limit the City’s access to its European markets, outgoing Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney has warned that it would not be appropriate for the sector to be regulated by Brussels.
Coveney said it would be impossible to maintain the system as it presently operates.
“Maybe the penny is finally dropping that when you leave a union that you have been a part of for 45 years that things don’t remain the same and that is inconvenient and it has consequences for the UK,” he said.
“The UK has decided to move in a different direction, no longer as part of the European Union and the collective shelter of that and opportunity that comes with that.
“That is why, from an Irish perspective, we want in all of these areas, whether it is financial services, whether it is agri-food, whether it’s fishing, whether it’s security, whether it’s preventing the new trade relationship resulting in barriers to trade through quotas or tariffs, we want the closest possible relations we can have.
“No way of the UK in this negotiation maintaining the relationship we have today while outside of the European Union, and that’s the reality of Brexit I’m afraid.”
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Asked whether the EU was committed to agreeing a security partnership with the UK, regardless of the fate of trade negotiations, Mr Coveney said the bloc would approach the issue “responsibly”.
“Certainly I think security is something the EU wants to get an early agreement on with the UK and I think that makes sense for both sides,” he said.
“But again this is something that Boris Johnson is saying he wants to do in less than 12 months and I think the European Union has constantly warned that that timeframe is ambitious if not unrealistic.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Fears Man Swept Away By Huge Waves In Blackpool As Storm Brendan Approaches

A member of the public raised the alarm late on Saturday evening after they looked down from the promenade between the seaside town’s Central and South piers and saw a man on the beach very close to the water.
The passer-by shouted a warning but then called the coastguard at 11.20pm when they could no longer see the man on the beach, which at the time was being buffeted by strong winds and large waves.
HM Coastguard launched an intensive search of the area overnight in “very rough” conditions and then at first light on Sunday, but no trace of anyone has been found.
A spokeswoman for the Maritime & Coastguard Agency said: “Rescue units involved in the search overnight included Lytham RNLI lifeboat, Lancashire Police, a Coastguard rescue helicopter and Coastguard rescue teams from both Lytham St Annes and Fleetwood.
“Conditions at sea overnight were described as very rough with strong winds.
“A further search began this morning at first light involving officers from Knott End, Fleetwood and Lytham St Annes coastguard rescue teams with nothing found.
“With parts of the UK set to be battered by winds up to gale-force strength this week, please keep well clear of the waves and don’t risk your life – keep a respectful distance.”
Named Storm Brendan by Irish weather service Met Éireann, the turbulent weather front has already started causing rough seas and heavy winds.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-12--Louise Redknapp Says She Became 'Invisible' And 'Less Of A Person' During Marriage To Ex Jamie

Louise Redknapp has said she became “invisible” and “less and less of a person” during her marriage to ex-husband Jamie.
The singer split from the former footballer in 2017 after 19 years together.
Opening up about their marriage in a new interview with The Sun’s Fabulous magazine, Louise said she found falling into the background “hard to take” given her performing background.
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Jamie and Louise Redknapp PA Archive/PA Images
Speaking about Jamie, she said: “I adore him and always will. Jamie was the absolute love of my life.
“I guess I was happy to be invisible for a little while, but at the same time I felt I was becoming less and less of a person.
“And being less and less visible was kind of hard to take when I used to be a pop star.”
Louise shares sons Charley, 15, and Beau, 11, with Jamie.
The 45-year-old former Eternal singer addresses elements of her marriage and subsequent split on her recent solo album Heavy Love, her first record in 18 years.
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Louise and Jamie were together 19 years before their split in 2017 David M. Benett via Getty Images
On one song, Wrong, she describes how she felt trapped by their marriage, with lyrics including: “You said I don’t need them, you would lift me up. You were wrong.”
Later she sings: “I should have fixed it before it was unfixable.”
Addressing the line, she said: “I’m saying it’s not all your fault and I should have dealt with things earlier.
“I’m not the kind of person that ever would be damning of anybody, and this album is very much about how I felt. It’s not meant to be mean or unkind.”
Louise previously said she did not know what had gone wrong in her marriage to Jamie, but described their divorce as “devastating”.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-13--Love Island Viewers Have A Lot Of Questions After Spotting Mysterious 'Man Hiding In Bushes'

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Eyebrows were certainly raised during Sunday night’s Love Island launch show, but probably not for the reasons you might think.
The episode introduced viewers to the 12 new Islanders, including late arrivals Eve and Jess Gale, identical twins brought in to try and disrupt the early-established relationships on the show.
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However, one additional figure in the South African villa inadvertently wound up capturing fans’ attention, after viewers claimed they spotted an unidentified person lurking in a bush.
During a conversation between contestants Connor Durman and Sophie Piper, many viewers on social media pointed out the unidentified figure, with plenty providing their own theories over who it might be…
Who the hell is this, just hiding in the bushes..? #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/IBuq4mvNe7 — Grant Allott (@gallott1985) January 12, 2020
@LoveIsland anyone else noticed when Sophie goes to chat to Conor on the beds outside, as ian says ‘better latte than never’ there is a creepy guy stood in the bushes?!?! pic.twitter.com/ShoNKhRknB — kelly phillips (@cardiff22) January 13, 2020
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Anyone else see the guy in the bushes #LoveIsland pic.twitter.com/00tv9iqBCB — Arron Townend (@arrontownend) January 12, 2020
Was there someone in the bush just then or was that me 🤣 #LoveIsland — Ellie Cole🦥🦧🦦 (@elc_x) January 12, 2020
Did anyone else notice @LewisCapaldi hiding in the bushes of #LoveIsland this evening 🙈🙈 pic.twitter.com/akd35HsxHl — Dan Pip Roberts (@official_danpip) January 12, 2020
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HuffPost UK has contacted ITV for some kind of clarification, because frankly we’re as stumped as anyone else.
This year marks the first time Love Island has aired in the winter, after it was revealed the popular reality series would be bumped up to two series a year.
As the show’s usual home in Mallorca doesn’t quite have the tropical climate viewers associate with the show in January, producers have moved the show to a new villa in South Africa.
Laura Whitmore also made her debut as presenter in Sunday night’s episode, after taking over as host from Caroline Flack, who stepped down after she was arrested and subsequently charged with assault.
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Among the new Islanders are future “lord of the manor” Ollie Williams, aspiring singer Paige Turley and the aforementioned Sophie Piper, whose sister is the singer and TV presenter Rochelle Humes.
Love Island airs every night on ITV2.