thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--Reverend Richard Coles Received A Posthumous Valentine’s Card From His Late Partner And Now We’re In

Reverend Richard Coles Received A Posthumous Valentine’s Card From His Late Partner And Now We’re In Pieces

Reverend Richard Coles has revealed he received a Valentine’s Day card from his late partner, two months after he died.
Appearing on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show to present Friday’s Pause For Thought segment, Richard told host Zoe Ball that he had been surprised to receive the posthumous card.
His partner, Reverend David Coles died in December after a long period of illness.
(L-R) Reverends David and Richard Coles Richard Coles/Twitter
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Asked by Zoe if he got a card this year, Richard said: “I did, from my beloved, which came as rather a surprise, not because he is unromantic or forgetful, but because he died in December.
“With remarkable foresight he arranged for me a Valentine’s card before he departed, and I’m very touched and grateful. And a bit surprised, because in widowhood you think your days of wine and roses are done. Not so.”
The celebrity vicar, who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, entered into a civil partnership with David after the Church of England allowed it in 2005.
The couple lived together with their dogs - dachshunds Daisy, Pongo, Audrey and Horatio - in the vicarage of St Mary’s in Finedon, Northamptonshire.
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Reverend Richard Coles at the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2017. Matt Crossick - PA Images via Getty Images
Richard, who was in the 1980s band The Communards with singer Jimmy Somerville before being ordained, confirmed the death of his 43-year-old partner on Twitter.
“I’m very sorry to say that @RevDavidColes has died. He had been ill for a while,” he wrote.
“Thanks to the brilliant teams who looked after him at @KettGeneral. Funeral details to follow.”
Richard also shared a picture of the couple and quoted Isaiah 60:20: “The Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended”.
Following David’s death, Richard was forced to contact the police after receiving hate mail.
He tweeted at the time: “Police called this evening, sympathetic and professional, and my hateful correspondence is now evidence.”
Police called this evening, sympathetic and professional, and my hateful correspondence is now evidence. Thank you @NorthantsPolice — Richard Coles (@RevRichardColes) December 20, 2019
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He added: “Also Northamptonshire Police lit a candle in memory of Rev David Coles at their carol service tonight. There appears to be evidence of something in my eye.”
Also @NorthantsPolice lit a candle in memory of @RevDavidColes at their carol service tonight. There appears to be evidence of something in my eye. pic.twitter.com/gyaVChAn99 — Richard Coles (@RevRichardColes) December 20, 2019
Rev Richard previously said there had been “99.99999% loveliness from people and then a small but lively correspondence from Christians who wish me to know that D is in hell and I will follow.
“It’s like the Khmer Rouge suddenly popping up in a stream of condolence.”
He said: “A letter, courageously unsigned, begins: ‘Dear Mr Coles, I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am to hear of the death of your partner…’
“It continues ‘I have been praying for your pain for a long time now…’.”
Rev Richard said that the “horrible letters: they don’t touch me”.
He tweeted: “I am right now an expert in pain, the real kind, and these are paper darts among the incoming, and just leave me mildly curious about the state of mind of the writer.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--Chadwick Jackson: Filmmaker Forced To Turn Down Work As Immigration Limbo Drags On

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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--‘I Am In So Much Pain’: Caroline Flack’s Boyfriend Lewis Burton Shares Heartbreaking Tribute To Love

‘I Am In So Much Pain’: Caroline Flack’s Boyfriend Lewis Burton Shares Heartbreaking Tribute To Love Island Star

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The TV presenter was found dead at her east London flat after taking her own life.
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She was due to face trial after being charged with assault following a row with Lewis in December last year.
On Sunday morning, he shared a picture of him on holiday with Caroline and paid tribute to the star.
“My heart is broken we had something so special,” he wrote.
“I am so lost for words I am in so much pain I miss you so much I know you felt safe with me you always said I don’t think about anything else when I am with you and I was not allowed to be there this time I kept asking and asking.
“I will be your voice baby I promise I will ask all the questions you wanted and I will get all the answers nothing will bring you back but I will try make you proud everyday.
“I love you with all my heart.”
Caroline stepped down from hosting the first ever winter series of Love Island after she was charged with assault following a row with Lewis at the flat they shared in London.
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She was on bail and awaiting trial due begin on 4 March after pleading not guilty to charges of assault by beating.
The former X Factor host previously said of the incident: “While matters were not as have been reported, I am committed to cooperating with the appropriate authorities and I can’t comment further on these matters until the legal process is over.”
Lewis Burton at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on December 23, 2019. Hollie Adams via Getty Images
After the initial court hearing, Lewis insisted he was not assaulted by the presenter.
“What I witnessed today was horrible,” he said. “She did not hit me with a lamp. Arguments do happen every day in every relationship. Gutted I am not allowed to protect her right now.”
Following her death, Caroline’s management blasted the Crown Prosecution Service in a strongly-worded statement.
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They said the CPS should “look at themselves” for pursuing “a show trial that was not only without merit but not in the public interest”
Their full statement reads: “We are devastated at the loss of our client and friend Caroline Flack.
“An immensely talented young woman who was at the top of her game professionally and loved by television viewers across the country.
“In recent months Caroline had been under huge pressure because of an ongoing case and potential trial which has been well reported.
“The Crown Prosecution Service pursued this when they knew not only how very vulnerable Caroline was but also that the alleged victim did not support the prosecution and had disputed the CPS version of events.
“The CPS should look at themselves today and how they pursued a show trial that was not only without merit but not in the public interest. And ultimately resulted in significant distress to Caroline. Our thoughts are with Caroline’s family at this time.”
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Useful websites and helplines:
Mind , open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.)
offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.) The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk
is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on www.rethink.org.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--Caroline Flack’s Management Blast CPS For Pursuing A ‘Show Trial’ For ‘Vulnerable’ Love Island Prese

Caroline Flack’s Management Blast CPS For Pursuing A ‘Show Trial’ For ‘Vulnerable’ Love Island Presenter

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Caroline Flack’s management have slammed the Crown Prosecution Service for pursuing the “vulnerable” Love Island star.
The presenter, who was on bail and awaiting trial after pleading not guilty to charges of assault, was found dead at her London flat on Saturday after taking her own life.
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In a statement, her management said the CPS should “look at themselves” for pursuing “a show trial that was not only without merit but not in the public interest”
Caroline Flack leaves Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court where she plead not guilty to assaulting boyfriend Lewis Burton. PA
Their full statement reads: “We are devastated at the loss of our client and friend Caroline Flack.
“An immensely talented young woman who was at the top of her game professionally and loved by television viewers across the country.
“In recent months Caroline had been under huge pressure because of an ongoing case and potential trial which has been well reported.
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“The Crown Prosecution Service pursued this when they knew not only how very vulnerable Caroline was but also that the alleged victim did not support the prosecution and had disputed the CPS version of events.
“The CPS should look at themselves today and how they pursued a show trial that was not only without merit but not in the public interest. And ultimately resulted in significant distress to Caroline. Our thoughts are with Caroline’s family at this time.”
Caroline stepped down from hosting the first ever winter series of Love Island after she was charged with assault following a row with boyfriend Lewis Burton.
After the initial court hearing, Lewis insisted he was not assaulted by the presenter.
“What I witnessed today was horrible,” he said. “She did not hit me with a lamp. Arguments do happen every day in every relationship. Gutted I am not allowed to protect her right now.”
Ahead of her first court hearing she told fans she was going through the “worst time of her life”.
She wrote on Instagram at the time: “This is the worst time of my life. I don’t know where to go to. Where to look. Who to trust. Or I even am.”
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The former X Factor host previously said of the incident: “While matters were not as have been reported, I am committed to cooperating with the appropriate authorities and I can’t comment further on these matters until the legal process is over.”
In October last year, Caroline opened up about her mental health struggles in an Instagram post to her followers.
The TV star said “being a burden” was her “biggest fear” as she told her 2.3 million followers that she had recently been experiencing “anxiety and (the) pressure of life”.
Caroline said in the post that she had meant to write something on World Mental Health Day on October 10 but that she had been “knee deep in work”.
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She said: “I wanted to write something about mental health day last week but I was knee deep in work. And some days it’s hard to write your feelings of your not in the right place.
“The last few weeks I’ve been in a really weird place … I find it hard to talk about it … I guess it’s anxiety and pressure of life … and when I actually reached out to someone they said I was draining.
“I feel like this is why some people keep their emotions to themselves. I certainly hate talking about my feelings. And being a burden is my biggest fear…
“I’m lucky to be able to pick myself up when things feel shit.
“But what happens if someone can’t. Be nice to people. You never know what’s going on. Ever.”
Useful websites and helplines:
Mind , open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.)
offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.) The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk
is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on www.rethink.org.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--‘My Heart Is Forever Broken’: Olly Murs Pays Emotional Tribute To Former X Factor Co-Host And Friend

‘My Heart Is Forever Broken’: Olly Murs Pays Emotional Tribute To Former X Factor Co-Host And Friend Caroline Flack

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The Voice star said he hadn’t “stopped crying” since he heard the news that the Love Island presenter had been found dead at her London flat on Saturday.
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Sharing a picture of them both laughing on Instagram, Olly said his heart was “forever broken”.
“Fuck this hurts,” he wrote. “My heart is forever broken.. I’ve lost something today that I’ll never ever get back.. and that’s you.
“From the first moment we met in Birmingham 2011 and had literally 10mins to say hello, get mic’d up and head out to work together on Xtra.”
He continued: “We never stopped laughing, flirting (who can forget that), eating cheeseburger chasers, singing (which I always loved hearing), the arguments (which I never won), the disagreements on what jokes to say or what outfits you should wear, these are the moments I’ve always cherished but right now as I write this it’s hit me I won’t have them moments again.
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“I haven’t stopped crying since the news, after we stopped working together in 2015 we didn’t see each other as much as we should have but we always spoke on the phone or messaged plus whenever I did see ya out and about, like a sister we’d just kiss and make up and was back being us every single time.
“I remember messaging you at your toughest time to let you know that I never read or listened to any of the crap people were saying about you, I was just worried about my friend. I always knew how fragile you were but I never ever thought this would be the last contact we would have.
“We always said we was friends for life and trust me you will be with me forever. My kids will know you, my grandkids will and then I’ll see you again, give you a huge hug, a huge kiss, get mic’d up and have you by my side again.
This will hurt forever, love you cazza, Your Ols.”
David M. Benett via Getty Images
Olly, who found fame on X Factor in 2009, returned to the show to present spin-off, The Xtra Factor alongside Caroline, with the two later presenting the main show for one series in 2015.
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Caroline was found dead on Saturday afternoon at her London home after taking her own life.
Her family said in a statement: “We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today on the 15th February.
“We would ask that the press both respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time.”
The presenter recently stepped down from hosting the first ever winter series of Love Island after she was charged with assault following a row with boyfriend Lewis Burton.
She was on bail and awaiting trial due begin on 4 March after pleading not guilty to charges of assault by beating.
Caroline Flack leaves Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court where she plead not guilty to assaulting boyfriend Lewis Burton. PA
Ahead of her first court hearing Caroline told fans she was going through the “worst time of her life”.
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She wrote on Instagram at the time: “This is the worst time of my life. I don’t know where to go to. Where to look. Who to trust. Or I even am.”
In the last few weeks, the presenter had been keeping a low profile, revealing she’d been “advised not to go on social media”, and recently returned to the UK after spending some time out in the States.
She last posted on Instagram on Friday with a collage of snaps with her dog, captioned simply with a love heart emoji.
Useful websites and helplines:
Mind , open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.)
offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.) The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk
is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on www.rethink.org.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--The Apprentice At 15: Where Are Its Most Memorable Contestants Now?

Lord Sugar and some of the candidates from The Apprentice BBC/PA/Getty/HuffPost
It’s been a remarkable 17 years since the very first bunch of budding entrepreneurs confidently strode in to Lord Sugar’s boardroom on The Apprentice.
Back in 2005, the 14 contestants had no idea of what to expect as they were put through a series of business-based challenges in the hope of winning a job with Lord Sugar’s (or Sir Alan, as he was then called) firm.
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But each series that has followed has often been more colourful than the last with more extreme characters and ridiculous challenges.
This of course, has made for some TV gold, but have you ever wondered what happened to some of the most memorable contestants once the cameras stopped rolling?
We all remember Tom and his bendy nail file and James Hill and his extremely *ahem* unforgettable grey shorts – but are they still sitting in a boardroom, or have they abandoned their business dreams completely?
We checked in on a host of contestants to find out what they’re up to now...
Ricky Martin (Series 8, 2012)
Stefan Rousseau/PA Archive
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Ricky’s business skills saw him named winner of the series in 2012, going on to launch his business Hyper Recruitment Solutions alongside Lord Sugar, which is dedicated to the science and technology sectors.
The company is still going strong, and in 2018, the group announced it had reached the £1m profit mark, making Ricky the first Apprentice winner to hit the milestone.
The following year, the company also won a number of recruitment industry awards.
Ricky also returned to The Apprentice in 2014, serving as one of the interview panel grilling the contestants in the penultimate episode.
Tim Campbell (Series 1, 2005)
WPA Pool via Getty Images
Tim was the first ever winner of The Apprentice in 2005, working for Lord Sugar for two years before moving on to set up the Bright Ideas Trust, a social enterprise aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds.
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He also worked with now-prime minister Boris Johnson, appointed as his training ambassador in 2010 when he was London Mayor.
In 2012, he was awarded an MBE for his work in social enterprise and three years later In 2015, Tim co-founded digital marketing agency Marketing Runners Ltd.
In 2021, it was announced Tim would be returning to where it all started as he entered the Apprentice boardroom once again – but this time as one of Lord Sugar’s advisors, stepping in for Claude Littner while he recovered from an injury.
Saira Khan (Series 1, 2005)
Getty
Despite just missing out winning, Saria is one of the show’s biggest success stories, launching a career as a broadcaster, commentator and newspaper columnist.
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She was a regular panellist on Loose Women between 2015 and 2020, and has appeared on reality shows including Celebrity Big Brother, Dancing On Ice and Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, as well as presenting a number of documentaries for the BBC.
She also launched a baby products business, has written a book and now owns her own skincare brand SairaSkin.
Kate Walsh (Series 5, 2009)
Doug Peters/Doug Peters
Perhaps best known for her relationship with fellow contestant Philip Taylor, Kate was runner-up in 2009.
After briefly flirting with TV presenting on Channel 5′s Live From Studio 5 and OKTV! from 2009 to 2011, Kate went back to business working as an executive assistant for Pandora.
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She has since worked her way up at the jewellery brand, and is now managing director for the UK and Ireland.
Leah Totton (Series 9, 2013)
Ian West/PA Archive
Leah used her investment from Lord Sugar to launch the Dr Leah Cosmetic Skin Clinic in London, with services including botox and laser hair removal. She now has three locations for her business, in Baker Street, Moorgate & Loughton.
The business has been a big financial success, with accounts filed by Dr Leah Ltd in 2018 revealing that its pre-tax profits had increased by 40% to £375,804.
Michelle Dewberry (Series 2, 2006)
Dave M. Benett via Getty Images
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Michelle only lasted nine months at Lord Sugar’s recycling company Xenon Green after winning the second series of the show.
She went on to work as a strategy consultant for Tesco Mobile and launched her own consultancy firm. She also established herself as a broadcaster, making regular appearances on Sky News, becoming one of the main panellists on the channel’s political debate programme The Pledge.
In 2021, she was part of the launch team for new broadcaster GB News, fronting her own show Dewbs and Co., which airs every weeknight.
In 2017, Michelle also stood in the general election as an independent candidate for Hull West and Hessle, where she grew up, but her campaign was unsuccessful.
Luisa Zissman (Series 9, 2013)
Danny Martindale via Getty Images
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Shortly after appearing on the show, runner-up Luisa landed a spot in the Celebrity Big Brother house, later popping up as a regular on spin-off show Bit On The Side.
She also opened up her own cupcake business The Baker Shop, which included cookware and a book, but she put the firm into liquidation in 2016.
Luisa, who is now mum of three, now runs two other businesses, has her own production company and hosts a successful podcast series, LuAnna, with presenter Anna Williamson.
Kurt Wilson (Series 9, 2013)
BBC
Health and safety manager-turned-Health drink entrepreneur Kurt was fired in week seven of the ninth series.
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After the show, he went back to his nutrition business Fuel Station, which sells smoothies, juices and meal prep and has had clients including Bradley Wiggins and Tyson Fury.
In 2020, Kurt’s LinkedIn revealed he had “purchased the rights to Soulmate Food” to help “assert our position as the leaders in Juice Cleanse in the UK”.
Susan Ma (Series 7, 2011)
Ian West/PA Archive
Susan Ma (pictured right) made the final four of the seventh series, but lost out to Tom Pellereau.
However, she still went on to launch her own company Tropic Skin Care with none other than Lord Sugar, who is a 50/50 partner.
In 2018, the company reported a turnover of over £29.5 million, selling over 3.3 million products per year.
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Francesca MacDuff-Varley (Series 9, 2013)
BBC
Francesca just missed out on a place in the 2013 top two and went on to open her own dance studio in Leeds.
Choreographer is still in her Twitter bio, with her LinkedIn profile revealing she is also now working as a marketing manager for care home business Akari Care in Leeds.
Tom Pellereau (Series 7, 2011)
Ian Gavan via Getty Images
Inventor Tom Pellereau was the first winner to be awarded the prize of £250,000 business investment, instead of a job with Lord Sugar.
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His life-changing invention was a curved nail file, and his company STYLIdeas has gone on to sell other products including a nail clipper, make-up brush cleaner and sonic toothbrush, which have also been featured on This Morning. He continues to work closely with Lord Sugar.
Tom has also popped up on TV from time-to-time, including on QVC and on a Channel 5 documentary about railway walks.
Elizabeth McKenna (Series 13, 2017)
BBC
While she didn’t win, Elizabeth was the stand-out star of the 2017 series, and possibly even the whole show.
Following her appearance on The Apprentice, where she tried to get Lord Sugar to invest in her florist business, she returned to it and saw a 500% sales increase in the following year.
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In 2018, she created a bouquet of flowers which local schoolchildren presented to Meghan Markle on her first official outing with Prince Harry as a couple.
Her Lizzie’s Bundles website states she is also “available for motivational, educational and entrepreneurial speaks, demonstrations and other events”.
Vincent Disneur (Series 7, 2011)
BBC
Vincent’s good looks weren’t enough to save him from hearing the immortal words “you’re fired”, and he was booted out in week five of the 2011 series.
He’s now Head Of Sales and Marketing at Union Street, “the UK’s leading billing provider”.
Alex Wotherspoon (Series 4, 2008)
BBC
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After dusting himself off following his dismissal, Alex briefly worked for Lord Sugar’s company Viglen as a sales executive, before becoming a financial advisor for Santander.
In 2012, he launched his own financial planning firm, ARW Wealth Management, which is a partner practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management in Preston.
Simon Ambrose (Series 3, 2007)
Ian West/PA Archive
Despite being labelled “a pillock” by Sir Alan, Simon went on to win the third series of The Apprentice.
He joined Lord Sugar’s business to work on property projects but later left after a three-year stint to invest in a bar and events space in London.
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His LinkedIn reveals he now has his own property services company, which specialises in private residential property investment, refurbishment, development and management.
Alana Spencer (Series 12, 2016)
PA
Chocolatier Alana won Lord Sugar’s investment in 2016 and established her luxury cake business, Ridiculously Rich by Alana.
As of 2019, the brand has almost 50 franchises taking the cakes to events all across the UK and stocking local independent retailers.
It was also reported she bought back Lord Sugar’s share in the business, and is now the sole owner and director of the firm.
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Sian Gabbidon (Series 14, 2018)
Victoria Jones - PA Images via Getty Images
After winning the 2018 series, Sian used her investment from Lord Sugar to help grow her own loungewear brand, Sian Marie, which she owned prior to appearing on the show.
Sian’s website states that her clothing is now stocked “in a variety of retail giants both UK & internationally, in-store and online”.
Ruth Badger (Series 2, 2006)
Tomos Brangwyn via Getty Images
After finishing runner-up in the second series, Ruth became somewhat of a TV personality, fronting her own show Badger Or Bust? and The Big Idea for Sky One.
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She has owned her own consultancy firm, Ruth Badger Consultancy Ltd, since 2006, which has helped more than 350 businesses.
James Hill (Series 10, 2014)
Karwai Tang via Getty Images
Following his stint on The Apprentice, James entered the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2015′s UK vs USA series, going on to win the show.
Since then, he has appeared on Celebrity Dinner Date, and E4′s 5 Star Hotel, most recently taking part in Celebrity Coach Trip in 2019.
Raef Bjayou (Series 4, 2008)
BBC
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Raef charmed his fellow opponents, the public and even Lord Sugar who called him “a really nice chap”.
After the show, he enjoyed an extended period in the spotlight, appearing as a reporter on Richard & Judy and taking part in shows including Celebrity Coach Trip, Ready Steady Cook and Come Dine With Me.
In 2014, he launched his own PR, marketing and communications company, Zephyr:Media, and also owns company Moncrieff London, which links businesses with hotel concierges.
Stella Vine (Series 6, 2010)
Neil Mockford via Getty Images
Stella won series six but later launched an unsuccessful lawsuit against Lord Sugar, claiming she had been unfairly dismissed.
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She had an unfortunate subsequent few years, going through a divorce and battling the threat of the repossession of her home.
It was last reported in 2017 that she was hosting CrowdBox, a TV channel that helps entrepreneurs raise money through crowdfunding.
Carina Lepore (Series 15, 2019)
The most recent winner of The Apprentice, Carina used Lord Sugar’s investment to establish her bakery business, Dough Artisan Bakehouse.
She now has three locations for the shop in Herne Hill, Beckenham and Bromley and still works closely with Lord Sugar.
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Joseph Valente (Series 11, 2015)
BBC
After winning Lord Sugar’s investment, Joseph grew his plumbing business ImpraGas, which he claimed had become “the largest independent boiler installation business in the UK”. However, he was forced to sell the brand in 2020 after facing “a challenging economic climate”.
He now owns and runs Trade Mastermind, a company offering training and business help to tradesmen.
Mark Wright (Series 10, 2014)
PA/BBC
Mark set up his own digital marketing agency with Lord Sugar after winning the show called Climb Online, which is still going strong.
The business has won a number of awards and partnerships, including the Entrepreneur’s Team of Year at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, and Mark has plans to expand his business into Cape Town in South Africa.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--Frankie Bridge: 'Medication And Therapy Make Me Able To Cope With Life'

“I have my good and bad days,” says Frankie Bridge. ”Nine times out of 10 I’m fine, but sometimes I have those days when I feel like I just need to spend the day in bed and like I can’t really cope with life.”
Bridge has long been open about her experience of depression and anxiety. The former The Saturdays singer has been affected by mental health problems since childhood, which led to her being admitted to a psychiatric unit in her early twenties.
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Now 31, she says those “dark days” are “a lot more few and far between than they used to be” – and that’s largely due to getting professional help.
“I still take medication, I still go to therapy as and when I need it,” she tells HuffPost UK. “They make me able to cope with life on a daily basis and to enjoy my life as much as possible. As long as I keep doing that, I’ll keep doing both things.”
James Veysey/Shutterstock
Bridge has detached herself from the stigma attached to antidepressants that makes some people feel like they have to come off them. She says her doctor helped her to realise they’re just like any other medication.
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“He put it to me bluntly and said: ‘If anyone had any other illness like diabetes or asthma, you would never expect them to come off their medication, so why is this any different?’ And he’s totally right.”
Over the years Bridge has also learned her mental health is strongest when she takes a holistic approach. She values good food, keeping fit and spending as much time as possible with friends and family to maintain balance.
“My favourite form of self-care is to have a sports massage,” she adds. “I find that if I’ve been tense for a really long time, I get headaches. I know I hold all my tension in my shoulders and my neck. When I have a proper massage that just sorts me out.
“I hate soft massages, I don’t want someone to stroke me, I just want someone to get in there! It’s technically not relaxing but it is in the long-term.”
Although Bridge first spoke about her experience of depression in 2012, she’s recently launched a mental heath podcast, Open Mind, and released a book on mental health, Open: Why asking for help can save your life. She says the timing for both just felt right.
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“I hate soft massages, I don’t want someone to stroke me, I just want someone to get in there!”
“I felt ready to do it. I’ve started to be more open and honest on Instagram and people have always been so understanding,” she says. “I felt that other people still felt really lonely though, and that other people in their lives just didn’t get it, so there was still a need for someone to be honest about their experiences.”
The book is written with contributions from clinical psychologist Maleha Khan and psychiatrist Dr Mike McPhillips, because Bridge thought it was important to have professional voices alongside her personal experience.
“I’ve never once said ‘my book’s a self-help book’, I can’t give you all the answers, all I can tell you is what works for me, which is why it’s so important for me to have them in it.”
She says learning more about mental health through people like Khan and McPhillips has influenced the way she parents her two sons, Parker and Carter.
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“I like to think it makes me more understanding of their fears and worries. I try to not just brush them aside because they’re a child and make them feel that they’re silly,” she explains. “I try to talk to them about how they feel. I know as a kid someone saying to me ‘oh don’t worry, don’t be silly’ didn’t make me feel any better.”
Her husband, retired footballer Wayne Bridge, takes the reins with the boys without hesitation when she’s having a hard day, she adds. But learning that it’s okay to ask for that help is a work in progress.
“About two weeks ago I was having one of my dark days when I didn’t really feel like I couldn’t cope with the day,” she says.
“Normally I would try to push it to one side and ignore it and act like everything was okay, then it would spill over into the next day. Whereas I said to Wayne:‘I’m feeling really rubbish today, I don’t think I can really cope.’”
Wayne took Parker and Carter to the park and out for lunch, allowing Bridge to listen to her instincts and have some downtime. After a day in bed, she felt able to come downstairs and play with the boys by 5pm.
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“I just kind of gave into it that day and accepted I was having a bad day and opened up and told Wayne that was how I was feeling and took the help I was offered,” she says. “I feel like it made me get through it a lot quicker.”
It’s for this reason that her advice for her younger self would be: “speak to someone sooner.”
“I didn’t understand what was happening, so I didn’t really know how to talk to someone about it,” she says. “But maybe if I’d talked to someone sooner things would have been a bit easier.”
Open: Why asking for help can save your life by Frankie Bridge is out now.
In What Works For Me – a series of articles considering how we can find balance in our lives – we talk to people about their self-care strategies.
Useful websites and helplines:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--21 Clever Uses For Bicarbonate Of Soda Around The House

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Many common cooking ingredients have uses beyond the kitchen. An excellent example of this is bicarbonate of soda.
From its effectiveness as a mild abrasive to its deodorising capabilities, the applications of baking soda seem endless.
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We scoured the internet and spoke to cleaning expert and author, Becky Rapinchuk aka “Clean Mama,” to put together a list of the many amazing uses for this chemical compound.
Indeed, the power of baking soda is well documented. Read on for 21 amazing uses for it around the house.
Cleaning Your Sink
Bicarb of soda works well as a mild abrasive, so it’s a useful sink cleaner. You can sprinkle it all over your sink and then scrub it with a sponge.
Rapinchuk said she likes to mix it with 20-30 drops of essential oil for scent and adds washing up liquid before she scrubs. “It’s a great way to freshen up and give you aromatherapy while you’re doing something that’s not really that fun,” she noted.
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Others mix it with lemon juice to form a paste or scrub the bicarb of soda with a cut lemon. Once you’ve scrubbed your sink, you can rinse the sink with vinegar and then warm water. Some people recommend using it as a way to unclog sink drains as well, but others’ experiments have cast doubt on this approach.
Cleaning Produce
According to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, bicarb of soda is an effective solution for removing pesticide residue from fruits and vegetables.
All you have to do is fill your clean sink with water, add four teaspoons of baking soda, soak your produce for about five minutes, rinse it with cold water and pat it dry.
Deodorising Your Refrigerator
In addition to being a great mild abrasive, bicarb is a very common deodoriser.
“You can put an open box of it in your refrigerator or anywhere that’s a little musty or stinky,” said Rapinchuk. “It will absorb odors.”
Freshening Up Towels
Its deodorising powers can also work well for things that get a little mildew-smelling, like towels.
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“If you need to freshen up your towels, you can put half a cup in your washing machine with your normal detergent to get rid of odours,” Rapinchuk noted.
Cleaning Jewellery
If you have silver jewellery, you can soak it in a mixture of bicarb of soda and hot water in an aluminum-foil-lined bowl. Through the process of ion exchange, the tarnish will transfer from the silver to the water.
After removing the jewellery, wipe away excess tarnish with a soft lint-free cloth. This works for other household items and silverware as well.
For hard stones and metals like diamonds and platinum, you can use a mixture of bicarb of soda, water, salt and dish soap.
Getting Stains Out Of Carpets
“If you have a stain on your carpet, you can sprinkle a little soda on top of it, and it may help,” Rapinchuk explained. “You can also pour a little vinegar and sprinkle it on top. The two will react, and it’s thought to extract the strain. Let it sit and dry, and then vacuum it up.”
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Although she’s used this method with great success, Rapinchuk noted that it doesn’t work with everyone’s carpet.
Making Shoes Less Smelly
Rapinchuk said she likes to use bicarbonate of soda to freshen up smelly shoes. There are different ways to do this.
You can sprinkle it directly into the shoes, let them sit for a day and then shake it out. You can make little baking soda-filled sachets with socks, small pouches or pieces of cloth tied with ribbon or string and put them in your shoes when you aren’t wearing them. With sandals, you can seal them in a bag filled with baking soda.
You can use the latter technique for clothing as well. “If you have clothes that are smelly but you don’t have time to wash them, you can put a little soda in a bag and put it in the bag to absorb odours,” Rapinchuk explained.
Treating Your Nails
Combine three parts baking soda and one part water to create a mixture that you can use to scrub your nails to smooth the surface. You can also combine equal parts baking soda and water to create a paste that may exfoliate cuticles and remove nail stains.
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Dry Shampooing Your Hair
Many people like to sprinkle a little bicarb of soda to absorb excess oil in their hair or mix it with other ingredients like cornstarch, oatmeal, cinnamon and/or essential oils for a similar effect.
“Some people put it in their hair as a dry shampoo, but not everyone does well with it,” Rapinchuk said. Indeed, the method isn’t effective for everyone, and some have even reported hair damage over time.
Cleaning Your Shower
Rapinchuk likes to uses it to clean her shower as well.
“You can mix it with a little lemon juice or vinegar, and it helps get in the crevices of a drain,” she said. “But be careful that it’s not too much. You can also use it for soap scum. Mix up a tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda with a teaspoon of salt and a little vinegar and make that into a paste to remove soap scum.”
Treating Stings
“If you have a sting of some sort, you can make a poultice,” Rapinchuk explained. “Make a paste with soda and water and just dab it onto that area and let it dry. Historically speaking, it was used to get a stinger out because it was thought to extract the stinger, but can also help with redness or swelling or itch as well.”
Some people recommend this method for removing splinters as well. People also use sodaand water mixtures to relieve mild sunburn and other skin irritations, as many swear it eases the pain and discomfort.
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Freshening The Air
Bicarb of soda is a popular ingredient in homemade air fresheners.
Rapinchuk advises putting baking soda and lemon essential oil in a small mason jar, replacing the lid with a piece of fabric and using the metal ring to keep it in place.
“You can do that without any scent and place it indiscreetly in a stinky area,” she said.
Cleaning Brushes And Combs
After removing the hair from brushes and combs, you can soak them in a mixture of soda, shampoo and water. Rinse with hot water after letting them soak for 30-60 minutes.
Soaking Your Skin
“Bicarb of soda is great in a bath with Epsom salt,” Rapinchuk said.
Indeed, you can add a couple of cups of baking soda to your bath to relieve pain or tension and exfoliate your skin. You can also use this mixture as a foot soak or create an exfoliating scrub to apply to your skin (though not all experts recommend this).
Cleaning Your Oven
Rapinchuk mixes the bicarb with soap and water to create a paste for cleaning her oven. She uses this combination for her stove as well.
Others have used a similar soda solution to clean microwaves and other kitchen appliances.
Deodorising The Carpet
If you sprinkle bicarb of soda on your carpet and then let it sit for awhile before vacuuming it up, the substance has a deodorising effect. You can also do this with other soft surfaces like mattresses or pet beds.
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Rapinchuk noted that she uses a sieve to sprinkle the bicarb of soda evenly.
Washing Your Face
Many beauty enthusiasts have experimented with bicarb of soda as a face cleanser and even made face masks with it.
Results have been mixed, so it’s best to test it out on an area of your skin before fully diving in.
Cleaning Sponges
You can bring a smelly sponge back to life by soaking it in a solution of bicarb of soda and water. Don’t use this approach for old sponges that need to be disposed of, however. These household items produce a lot of bacteria.
Making A Natural Deodorant
“You can use a makeup brush, dab bicarb of soda in and brush it under to use as a pseudo-deodorant to absorb odour,” Rapinchuk said.
Indeed, many people use baking soda in natural deodorant, but not everyone reacts well to it. It’s often used in the wrong quantities as well.
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Creating Washing Soda
“Arm & Hammer has a product called washing soda, which is a laundry booster or cleaning booster of sorts, but you can make it by heating baking soda at 425 degrees for an hour,” Rapinchuk explained.
“It’s a fun hack because you can use washing soda in homemade laundry soap or a soft cleaning paste,” she added.
Scrubbing Your Home
Beyond sinks and showers, baking soda’s mild abrasive capabilities make it a useful all-purpose cleaner.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-16--How Writing Erotica Helped Me Discover My Queer Sexual Identity

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You’re reading How To Get Off, our series celebrating bodies, pleasure and fantasy.
I’ve always had a limitless imagination. In school I wrote poetry, short stories, comics, essays, and more. I was a performer too and, by all accounts, fairly confident in my penchant for the odd and alternative. In short, I was a bona fide ‘weirdo’ – but a shy one at that.
I’m naturally soft-spoken, and it’s hindered me a great deal in life: whether it’s as simple as a flushed face over having to repeat myself multiple times, or, even worse, the assumption I’m being outright ignored, not realising that the person whose attention I was trying to get simply couldn’t hear me. Oftentimes I prefer to just keep to myself rather than make an awkward at best and humiliating at worst attempt to be heard.
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By the age of eighteen, I’d naturally begun to develop a healthy interest in sex. And then, on the evening of my eighteenth birthday, my interest in the world of fetish and BDSM was piqued when I visited my first goth club. This – coupled with my activity in a midnight shadow cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show – was my gateway into the kink lifestyle.
“I knew I wanted to explore deeper into the world of sex and fetish and discovering my own sexuality but I didn’t know how to go about it. I didn’t know how to ask for what I wanted.”
But where to begin? How could I express my curiosities and my desires in a healthy and dignified way? I knew I wanted to explore deeper into the world of sex and fetish and discovering my own sexuality but I didn’t know how to go about it. I didn’t know how to ask for what I wanted. That first night at the club I had to make a friend come with me to help speak to a dom with whom I was interested in playing – I was simply too scared to speak up for myself.
As I began to get curious about pornography and erotica, I found that not everything out there suited my unique tastes. Like many others, I was frustrated by the lack of content that catered to my particular desires, fetishes, and interests. I had begun to learn what turned me on and realised I needed to learn how to experience and practice it properly. The loneliness of silence was both deafening and defeating, and so I fell back on a talent that I was confident in: writing. And I found putting what I wanted into words came easily to me. In writing I found not only solace, but I finally began to find my voice.
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I started with pieces ranging from shorts to novellas, even picking up some meagre ghostwriting work along the way. Honing my craft as a writer gave me a new insight into my own mind. “Write what you know,” as the saying goes. And so I did. I wrote what I knew, what I liked, and what I was curious about. I’d blush as I wrote scenes that depicted hardcore BDSM and dominant/submissive dynamics – things I’d always wanted to explore first-hand but had only seen in adult video clips. I’d clam up over female-on-female pairings, sweating as I put myself in the shoes of the characters I created, wondering what it would really feel like to step into such a situation. I knew that, ultimately, I was writing more for myself than I was for anyone else. It’s just lucky that what I wrote happened to resonate with a wider audience.
More than that, writing erotica gave me the confidence and self-awareness to share my thoughts and feelings with others. Indeed, I credit my writing for playing a large part in my gaining an understanding of my evolving sexual identity as a queer femme as well as a BDSM lifestyler. Every time I would finish a story and go back over it to edit, I’d find myself titillated by the worlds and scenarios that I’d created. More than just my curiosity had been piqued, and I felt inspired to reach out to partners and put my fantasies into action – finding along the way that I’d truly made an amazing self-discovery. It was incredibly liberating to finally be my true sexual self. Though it took some stumbling, awkwardness, and initial discomfort at expressing myself, my putting my fantasies into words was what led to them becoming a reality.
In my youth, I was an award-winning poet. If there was one thing I was confident about, it was my writing skills; however, I still cringe – to this day, even – at the thought of getting up in front of strangers and reading my words. That’s why I try to do it every chance I get. In the words of my hero, the immortal Carrie Fisher, “stay afraid but do it anyway”. I started submitting my work to websites and publishers and, to my delight, I became a published erotica author, and have even had my stories put in print and made into audiobooks. It’s a welcome surprise to see where my skills as a writer have taken me professionally, but no more than where they have taken me personally. Writing has helped my relationships with sexual and romantic partners to blossom and grow. Being able to share myself through the medium of writing has assisted with having conversations from which I’d ordinarily shy away. It has opened both my mind and my heart.
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“Writing has helped to break me out of my sexual shell and it has given me the strength and courage to be out and proud”
I still get tongue-tied and flustered, but writing has never failed to help me say what I want or need to say – in fact, I regularly write erotic stories for one of my partners at their request. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that not only am I doing something that excites them but, in turn, I’m also helping myself express ideas I might otherwise be nervous to initiate on my own.
I’ve had years of sexual experience at this point in my life, I have gained a healthy sense of confidence as well as a better understanding of who I am as a sexual individual. It’s an emboldening feeling to have found my voice. Writing has helped to break me out of my sexual shell and it has given me the strength and courage to be out and proud in all aspects of myself and my life. Without my writing, I’d be silenced entirely. Everyone’s communication styles and love languages are different and I’m so glad to have found mine.
I will always speak quietly, but I can most certainly write out loud.
Deb Kavis is a writer, poet and journalist from Los Angeles. Follow her on Twitter at @DebKavis.
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com
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How To Get Off is our answer to Valentine’s Day, celebrating bodies, pleasure and fantasy – whatever your relationship status. We’ll be exploring what really gets us off in 2020, looking at sexual awakenings, toys and erotica, and real-life experience.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-15--Storm Dennis: Two Bodies Pulled From The Sea

Two bodies have been pulled from rough seas as the UK is battered by Storm Dennis.
The body of a man missing from a tanker ship anchored off Margate, Kent was found after a seven-hour search, and another was found at Herne Bay.
Lifeboats and the coastguard helicopter had been scouring the sea near Margate Harbour after reports of a man overboard, HM Coastguard said.
HMS Westminster was also believed to have responded to a relay call, and has been in the area, according to ship-tracking data.
A distress call was received by the coastguard at 5.41am and an extensive search of the area began, with emergency services battling rough seas and challenging conditions.
A body was later pulled from the water.
A coastguard spokesman said: “At around 1pm, after many hours of searching, a body was sadly found in the water by the RNLI Margate lifeboat and has been brought to shore.”
An emergency search was launched after LPG tanker B Gas Margrethe reported that one of its crew was unaccounted for.
He had been last seen several hours previously, and following a search of the ship it was assumed he was missing overboard.
The 99-metre Maltese-flagged ship had been anchored off the coast of Margate.
Police are trying to establish the man’s identity so that next of kin can be informed, a spokesman said.
In a separate incident, Kent Police were called at 12.15pm on Saturday to a report a person had been pulled from the sea in Herne Bay.
Officers attended with fire and ambulance services and a man was declared dead at the scene.
Next of kin are aware and the death is not being treated as suspicious, police said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-15--Cheeky, Hilarious And Always Relatable: How I Will Remember The Beautiful Caroline Flack

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When I think of Caroline Flack, I immediately think of her naughty laugh, her infectious personality and that iconic Love Island strut.
So when news broke of her death at the age of just 40 on Saturday, I was absolutely blindsided.
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As a presenter and TV personality, Caroline has established herself as one of the best at her craft.
From working as a kids TV presenter on TMI, to taking the reins of the Xtra Factor with Olly Murs, to being at the heart of Love Island, she was a true telly great. Cheeky, hilarious and always relatable - her personality shone through in everything that she did.
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I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Caroline on a number of occasions and she was everything you could wish for.
Caroline Flack and Ash Percival Ash Percival/HuffPost UK
Honest, charming and cheeky, Caroline had such a presence, lighting up a room the minute she walked into it. Given the chance, I could have imagined us setting the world to rights over a few glasses of wine and howling at our various life troubles.
Her smile was infectious and that laugh was incomparable, and I feel honoured that I was able to spend time with someone I admired and respected professionally so much.
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We shared a love for Love Island and the passion she had for her job was undeniable. The moments that we gossiped about the Islanders and set out our theories are moments I will treasure. As are the times I teased her over her iconic slo-mo walk into the villa and got to hear that hearty laugh in response.
For me, that will define Caroline’s memory.
Ash Percival/HuffPost UK
Despite the tumultuous times she went through in her life, I hope that is how everyone else will also remember her too.
Caroline’s death will be felt in the TV and media industries for years to come, and I pray that we all take a long hard look at how we treat people in the public eye and examine the effects words in the press and on social media can have.
For now, I hope Caroline has found peace, and I extend my thoughts and prayers to her family and friends, as they navigate the difficult weeks and months to come.
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Useful websites and helplines:
Mind , open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.)
offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.) The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk
is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on www.rethink.org.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-15--Caroline Flack’s Love Island Stand-In Laura Whitmore Shares Heartbreaking Message Following Presente

Caroline Flack’s Love Island Stand-In Laura Whitmore Shares Heartbreaking Message Following Presenter’s Death

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Laura Whitmore has shared a heartbreaking message on Twitter following the news of her friend Caroline Flack’s death.
Laura took over the presenting reins from Caroline on Love Island when she stood down from presenting the current series following her arrest and subsequent charge for assault.
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On Saturday afternoon Laura shared a poem and a picture of her with Caroline, which she captioned: “I’m trying to find the words but I can’t.”
I’m trying to find the words but I can’t 💔 pic.twitter.com/FY3ppLzqsA — Laura Whitmore (@thewhitmore) February 15, 2020
Caroline was found dead on Saturday afternoon at her London home after taking her own life.
Her family said in a statement: “We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today on the 15th February.
“We would ask that the press both respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time.”
Laura Whitmore and Caroline Flack David M. Benett via Getty Images
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After she was confirmed as Caroline’s replacement on Love Island, Laura said: “I want to thank ITV for trusting me at the helm of this huge show. I wish it was in better circumstances; Caroline is a brilliant host and also a friend.
“We’ve spoken a lot in the last few days since she stepped down. She has been very kind to me and strongly pushed me for this role. I’ve watched her host every series and know I have big boots to fill. I will try and do it justice.”
Laura Whitmore and Caroline Flack attend Mr Porter's fifth birthday celebration at The Savile Club on February 20, 2016 in London. David M. Benett via Getty Images
Ahead of her first court hearing Caroline told fans she was going through the “worst time of her life”.
She wrote on Instagram at the time: “This is the worst time of my life. I don’t know where to go to. Where to look. Who to trust. Or I even am.”
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In the last few weeks, the presenter had been keeping a low profile, revealing she’d been “advised not to go on social media”, and recently returned to the UK after spending some time out in the States.
However, she did post a few times on Instagram, to wish Laura luck as the new host of Love Island, and ahead of the National Television Awards, where the ITV2 dating show had been nominated in the Best Challenge Show category.
She last posted on Instagram on Friday with a collage of snaps with her dog, captioned simply with a love heart emoji.
Useful websites and helplines:
Mind , open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.)
offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.) The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk
is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on www.rethink.org.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-15--Love Island And Strictly Stars Lead Tributes To Caroline Flack Following Her Death, Aged 40

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The Love Island presenter was found dead at her London home on Saturday afternoon after taking her own life.
Her family said in a statement: “We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today on the 15th February.
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“We would ask that the press both respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time.”
An ITV spokesperson also made a statement, which read: “Everybody at Love Island and ITV is shocked and saddened by this desperately sad news.
“Caroline was a much loved member of the Love Island team and our sincere thoughts and condolences are with her family and friends.”
Former Love Island stars led the tributes on Twitter...
Words can’t sum this up. So sad. Another amazing person taking from this cruel world. When will people and and press release celebrities are humans, with the same feelings everyone else has. Can’t believe to imagine the pain. God bless Caroline and her family. Rest tight 😢 💔 — Chris Hughes (@chrishughes_22) February 15, 2020
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I can’t believe what I’m reading! Caroline Flack was an absolute diamond, my hearts genuinely broken! One of the warmest funniest people I’ve ever met, My tears, thoughts and prayers go out to her family at this extremely difficult time! I’m lost for words R.I.P ❤ pic.twitter.com/ZJBlxrxIwQ — Wes Nelson (@WesNelsonUk) February 15, 2020
I’m trying to find the words but I can’t 💔 pic.twitter.com/FY3ppLzqsA — Laura Whitmore (@thewhitmore) February 15, 2020
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Today my friend slow motion walked into heaven. I will miss her always. Thank you for everything x
pic.twitter.com/gykAn9YE3U — Iain Stirling (@IainDoesJokes) February 15, 2020
Strictly Come Dancing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman also paid tribute to Caroline, who won the BBC dance show in 2014.
Absolutely shocked and devastated at this tragic news. Rest in peace Caroline you beautiful girl. My heart goes out to your family and loved ones at this time XXXX — Tess Daly (@TessDaly) February 15, 2020
Such heartbreaking news. Sending so much love to Caroline's family and friends. XXX — Claudia Winkleman (@ClaudiaWinkle) February 15, 2020
We are both devastated to hear the news about Caroline Flack. It is beyond sad. Beyond words. So tragic. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.
Rest In Peace Caroline
XX — antanddec (@antanddec) February 15, 2020
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Caroline was a fun, bright & sparky person whose whole world collapsed recently, both professionally & personally. She told me it had been the worst time of her life, and was clearly struggling to cope with losing everything she held dear.
This is such sad, awful news. pic.twitter.com/UAzKOlmZFA — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 15, 2020
My heart is absolutely broken for Caroline Flack and everybody who loves her. — Susanna Reid (@susannareid100) February 15, 2020
Devastating news about Caroline. Thoughts with her family and loved ones 🙏🏼🦋 — Zoe Ball (@ZoeTheBall) February 15, 2020
shocked. I’ve known Caroline all my telly life. I have no words. Love to her family https://t.co/vfO0rScryW — Keith Lemon (@lemontwittor) February 15, 2020
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I love you darling ❤ You were my little sister, 20 years of friendship. We grew up together in this industry. Fun, kind and brilliant in every way. You don’t know how much we’ll miss you. My heart is broken. pic.twitter.com/AhkV0qVAaN — Kirsty Gallacher (@TheRealKirstyG) February 15, 2020
Utterly devastating about Caroline Flack. She was a fun, kind beautiful person, always loved seeing her. So unfair that this has happened. Let’s pray we learn from this and remember to be a little bit more compassionate to people when they are down. — Jack Whitehall (@jackwhitehall) February 15, 2020
Apologies for the last 15 mins of my show . I’d been informed of the news and was and still am in complete shock. Gutted. So sad. Sleep well Flack x — Rylan Clark-Neal (@Rylan) February 15, 2020
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This beautiful girl had a good soul and a sweet heart...
To hear this news today is honestly heart breaking. I send my love to all of Caroline’s friends and family. God bless and now you can finally rest in peace 💔 pic.twitter.com/ncpQ5s5QzN — Joey Essex (@JoeyEssex_) February 15, 2020
So so devastating. Can’t believe I’m writing RIP Caroline Flack, she was an amazing woman and always someone I looked up to in our line of work, She gave me advice on how to handle trolls & papers writing bullshit multiple times and I can’t even imagine how she would have felt.. — Maya Jama (@MayaJama) February 15, 2020
I’m so so sad to hear about @carolineflack1 . I don’t even know what to say. But my heart goes out to her friends and family x I might be a bit quiet tonight on social media .. just doesn’t seem right . — Davina McCall (@ThisisDavina) February 15, 2020
Tragically sad news about Caroline Flack. Heartbreaking to think she felt so alone. We have to be kinder and more compassionate to those who are struggling. Rest In Peace Dancing Queen x — Katherine Jenkins (@KathJenkins) February 15, 2020
I am very sad to hear that Caroline Flack is dead. I had been in touch with her recently and had hoped she was doing better. She was talented and smart and likeable and she will he missed. It’s awful. — Jonathan Ross (@wossy) February 15, 2020
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Just had the devastating news shocked and so so sad @carolineflack1 RIP my darling pic.twitter.com/X9s7aVTFEs — Bruno Tonioli (@BrunoTonioli) February 15, 2020
Words are way more powerful than you think... never forgot to tell your loved ones that you love them. What a special person @carolineflack1 was. She lit up every room because she shined so brightly. To say I’m… https://t.co/UMXVAbZwkD — Kelly! (@KellyOsbourne) February 15, 2020
My heart is broken. My beautiful friend. I hate people for driving her to leave everyone who loves her and knows how incredible she is. I love you so so much Caroline. You will always be a special friend to me and a big part of my life. I don't know how to process this. 💜⭐ — Georgia May Foote (@georgiafoote) February 15, 2020
I met Caroline Flack last summer, she was so sweet and genuine and couldn’t have been kinder to me.
She did not deserve this.
It’s absolutely devastating, all my love to her family and friends ❤ — Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) February 15, 2020
Caroline, was always the life of the party and there to give advice and help in anyway that she could. I’m gutted to lose her as a friend, a colleague and a human being. Sending love and light to her family and friends x — Roman Kemp (@romankemp) February 15, 2020
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It was only a matter of time before the media and a prolonged social media dogpile, hers lasted for MONTHS, pushed someone completely over the edge. Rest In Peace Caroline Flack. This is fucking horrendous. 💔 — Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) February 15, 2020
Caroline Flack .... Dear God.
Shocked beyond belief. May she have found peace . #Rip
Has to be repercussions for Love Island now surely ? — Eamonn Holmes (@EamonnHolmes) February 15, 2020
Genuinely heart breaking news. I’m literally speechless, I don’t know about all the politics and media and what was said by other people. What I do know is that Caroline was a genuine and beautiful person❤ Rest easy, such a sad and terrible loss. pic.twitter.com/EuzRKLlNHm — Jordan Banjo (@Jordan_Banjo) February 15, 2020
I hope all of you who attacked Caroline Flack even when her partner said he wanted no charges feel some sorrow today. This did not need to happen. This is devastating news! And yes, I hope the @cpsuk feel even deeper sorrow. — Boy George (Boomer) (@BoyGeorge) February 15, 2020
Awful news about Caroline Flack. So upset at how unkind our society has become. I just hope people can see that having fame and money and “the perfect” body doesn’t make bad feelings disappear. Look after yourself and remember the important things in life: friends, family, health — Paris Lees (@parislees) February 15, 2020
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Can’t believe what I’m reading... RIP #CarolineFlack @carolineflack1 😔😔😔😔 sending so much love to her family and friends ❤ — Catherine Tyldesley (@Cath_Tyldesley) February 15, 2020
Caroline Flack, I’m so so sad to hear this News...
All my love goes out to her family and friends..oh man!
Rest in Peace Caroline! — Martin Kemp (@realmartinkemp) February 15, 2020
Awful news about Caroline Flack. We really need to be better at taking care of each other.
So sad. — Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) February 15, 2020
It must be heartbreaking for the family & friends of Caroline Flack to read tributes from some of those who hounded her.
Our ‘cancel’ culture is brutal.
We all have demons and flaws but we dehumanise each other & are then surprised when it all becomes too much for some. pic.twitter.com/eEbqttG1Mn — Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) February 15, 2020
My heart goes out to Caroline Flack and everyone who loved her. It’s just awful. In my brief experience of meeting her on #GBBO she was big hearted, funny and very likeable. What terrible times she must have gone through recently. A tragedy. — Krishnan Guru-Murthy (@krishgm) February 15, 2020
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Absolutely gutted for her and her loved ones. I counted Caroline as a friend. We worked together so many times, and she always looked out for me. She was funny, talented and beautiful. Sad, sad tragic news. Sending love to her family. x — Russell Kane (@russell_kane) February 15, 2020
So sad about Caroline Flack. She had talent, energy, vivacity, vitality.. and life. She also struggled with her demons (Doesn’t everyone?) Guess which dominated the newsstands. (Until today’s generous posthumous praise) So sad. — Rory Bremner (@rorybremner) February 15, 2020
#rip Caroline Flack. This is the effect of online and print bullying. This is what dehumanizing and hounding people leads to. As a society we need to find our compassion and empathy. We don’t know what other people are going through as they almost always present an ‘ok’ front. — James Blake (@jamesblake) February 15, 2020
This is very sad. You never know what is really happening with people be kind.
https://t.co/bHMj0zagnF — Divina De Campo (@Divinadecampo) February 15, 2020
Caroline flack 💔 my heart is breaking this can’t be true 😭😭😭😭😭😭 — Charlotte Crosby (@Charlottegshore) February 15, 2020
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I am so shocked to hear the news about Caroline Flack... my heart goes out to her family and friends at this moment!! ❤ RIP — Jake Quickenden (@JakeQuickenden) February 15, 2020
Caroline recently stepped down from hosting the first ever winter series of Love Island after she was charged with assault following a row with her boyfriend Lewis Burton.
She was on bail and awaiting trial due to begin on 4 March after pleading not guilty to charges of assault by beating.
In the last few weeks, Caroline had been keeping a low profile, revealing she’d been “advised not to go on social media”, and recently returned to the UK after spending some time out in the States.
Useful websites and helplines:
Mind , open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.)
offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.) The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk
is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on www.rethink.org.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-15--Caroline Flack Has Died, Aged 40

Caroline Flack Has Died, Aged 40

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Caroline Flack has died at the age of 40 years old.
The Love Island presenter was found dead on Saturday afternoon at her London home.
A lawyer for her family said the star had taken her own life.
Her family said in a statement: “We can confirm that our Caroline passed away today on the 15th February.
“We would ask that the press both respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time.”
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Confirming Saturday night’s Love Island episode will not be broadcast, an ITV spokeswoman said: “Everybody at Love Island and ITV is shocked and saddened by this desperately sad news.
“Caroline was a much loved member of the Love Island team and our sincere thoughts and condolences are with her family and friends.”
The presenter recently stepped down from hosting the first ever winter series of Love Island after she was charged with assault following a row with boyfriend Lewis Burton.
She was on bail and awaiting trial due begin on 4 March after pleading not guilty to charges of assault by beating.
Caroline Flack Lia Toby via Getty Images
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Ahead of her first court hearing she told fans she was going through the “worst time of her life”.
She wrote on Instagram at the time: “This is the worst time of my life. I don’t know where to go to. Where to look. Who to trust. Or I even am.”
The former X Factor host previously said of the incident: “While matters were not as have been reported, I am committed to cooperating with the appropriate authorities and I can’t comment further on these matters until the legal process is over.”
Caroline Flack leaves Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court where she pleaded not guilty to assaulting boyfriend Lewis Burton. PA
In the last few weeks, Caroline had been keeping a low profile, revealing she’d been “advised not to go on social media”, and recently returned to the UK after spending some time out in the States.
However, she did post a few times on Instagram, to wish Laura Whitmore luck as the new host of Love Island, and ahead of the National Television Awards, where the ITV2 dating show had been nominated in the Best Challenge Show category.
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She last posted on Instagram on Friday with a collage of snaps with her dog, captioned simply with a love heart emoji.
In October last year, Caroline opened up about her mental health struggles in an Instagram post to her followers.
The TV star said “being a burden” was her “biggest fear” as she told her 2.3 million followers that she had recently been experiencing “anxiety and (the) pressure of life”.
Caroline said in the post that she had meant to write something on World Mental Health Day on October 10 but that she had been “knee deep in work”.
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She said: “I wanted to write something about mental health day last week but I was knee deep in work. And some days it’s hard to write your feelings of your not in the right place.
“The last few weeks I’ve been in a really weird place … I find it hard to talk about it … I guess it’s anxiety and pressure of life … and when I actually reached out to someone they said I was draining.
“I feel like this is why some people keep their emotions to themselves. I certainly hate talking about my feelings. And being a burden is my biggest fear…
“I’m lucky to be able to pick myself up when things feel shit.
“But what happens if someone can’t. Be nice to people. You never know what’s going on. Ever.”
Caroline had previously urged her fans to be more vocal about their mental health struggles.
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The presenter described her year-long struggle with her mental health, revealing that things came to a head during her difficult stint hosting The X Factor, alongside co-presenter Olly Murs.
She told The Sun: “It all started the day after I won Strictly. I woke up and felt like somebody had covered my body in cling-film.
“I couldn’t get up and just couldn’t pick myself up at all that next year. I felt ridiculous, being so sad when I’d just won the biggest show on telly and had such an amazing job.”
She continued: “People see the celebrity lifestyle and assume everything is perfect, but we’re just like everyone else. Everyone is battling something emotional behind closed doors — that’s life. Fame doesn’t make you happy.”
Useful websites and helplines:
Mind , open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.)
offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill.) The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk
is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email: help@themix.org.uk Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0300 5000 927 (open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on www.rethink.org.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-15--Storm Dennis: Body Found In Search For Man In Sea Off Kent Coast

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A body has been found after an extensive search operation off the coast of Kent.
Lifeboats and the coastguard helicopter had been scouring the sea near Margate Harbour after reports of a man overboard, HM Coastguard said.
HMS Westminster was also believed to have responded to a relay call, and is in the area, according to ship-tracking data.
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Storm Dennis weather warnings PA
The search operation came as communities across the UK braced themselves for the arrival of Storm Dennis just one week after Storm Ciara battered the nation.
A distress call was received by the coastguard at 5.41am and an extensive search of the area began.
A coastguard spokesman said: “At around 1pm, after many hours of searching, a body was sadly found in the water by the RNLI Margate lifeboat and has been brought to shore.”
The distress call is believed to have come from B Gas Margrethe, a 99-metre Maltese tanker that had been anchored off the coast of Margate.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-15--Sex And The City Actress Lynn Cohen Has Died, Aged 86

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Sex and the City actress Lynn Cohen has died at the age of 86.
The Broadway veteran played Miranda’s nanny, Magda, in the US series up until it ended in 2004.
Her co-star Willie Garson, who played Stanford, was one of the first to pay tribute on Twitter.
“Bless you and godspeed, our wonderful Magda for 15 years of episodes and films, thanks for your friendship and amazing talent….R.I.P. indeed #LynnCohen,” he wrote.
Bless you and godspeed, our wonderful Magda for 15 years of episodes and films, thanks for your friendship and amazing talent....R.I.P. indeed #LynnCohen pic.twitter.com/aMVVUuaCSy — Willie Garson (@WillieGarson) February 15, 2020
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Talking about her time on the series in 2016, Lynn told the Miami Herald: “The show itself was a very special, unique experience, shot more like a film than a television program.
“In any case, I loved it. And my doorman in New York City is still obsessed with Sarah Jessica Parker. He always asks me about her.”
As well as Sex And The City, Lynn also appeared as Mags in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire as well as scoring roles in Woody Allen’s 1993 hit, Manhattan Murder Mystery and Steven Spielberg’s Munich.
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Other TV appearances included The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Nurse Jackie.
On Broadway she appeared in Orpheus Descending and Ivanov.
She also performed as a voice actor, most notably in the hit video game Red Dead Redemption.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-15--Banksy Valentine's-Inspired Artwork Destroyed By Vandals With Explicit Graffiti

Banksy Valentine's artwork full Matt Hutson
A new piece of street art by elusive artist Banksy has been vandalised in Bristol 24 hours after the artist claimed it.
The mural, in Marsh Lane, features a stencilled image of a girl firing a slingshot of red flowers and leaves.
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Vandals splashed explicit graffiti spelling out ‘w****rs’ in huge pink letters across the artwork.
One local resident who spotted the vandalism said: “It’s a real shame, but it was always going to happen unfortunately.”
A protective screen covering the artwork was torn down on Friday.
Residents in the Barton Hill area of the city awoke on Thursday to find the striking piece on the side of a building.
Banksy confirmed the piece by posting two images of it on his official Instagram account and website in the early hours of Valentine’s Day.
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The artwork appeared on a rented home owned by Edwin Simons, who celebrated his 67th birthday on Thursday.
His daughter, Kelly Woodruff, 37, found out about it after being tagged in a Facebook post.
“We’ve been down here all day and it’s just been a complete buzz of excitement,” she told the PA news agency.
“There’s so many people coming and enjoying it, taking pictures, it’s fantastic.
“There’s been a lot of debate if it is a Banksy or not. Most people I’ve spoken to think it 100% is, and they’re naming it the Valentine’s Banksy.
“It’s incredible and beautiful.”
The family are looking to cover up the artwork with glass to preserve it.
“My slight worry is, we’ve got this Storm Dennis coming on the weekend, so I really want to try and protect the roses,” she added.
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News of the Banksy first emerged on Twitter, with Bristol Somali Community Association writing: “Today in Barton Hill, we woke up with this remarkable mural art painted on one of the houses of the area.
“We hope it’s Banksy’s work. Come and have a look yourself. Whoever painted, it’s worth admiring their creativity. Thank you.”
One local resident, James Bullock, saw scaffolding on the wall at about 6.20am on Thursday.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-15--Chinese Tourist In France Becomes First In Europe To Die From Coronavirus

French lab scientist in hazmat gear inserting liquid in test tube manipulates potentially infected patient samples at Pasteur Institute in Paris, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. Scientists at the Pasteur Institute developed and shared a quick test for the new virus that is spreading worldwide, and are using genetic information about the coronavirus to develop a potential vaccine and treatments. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) ASSOCIATED PRESS
The first coronavirus death outside Asia has been confirmed in France, it has been reported.
French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said an elderly Chinese tourist treated in a hospital in France became the first death to the virus in Europe, Reuters reported on Saturday.
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In mainland China, the death toll from Covid-19 has passed 1,500 after health authorities reported another 143 deaths early on Saturday morning.
That increase saw the total reach 1,523 deaths.
However, authorities also said the latest 2,641 daily new cases of the virus represented a “major drop”, due to the widespread implementation of a new diagnostic method.
The total number of confirmed cases globally now stands at more than 67,000.
Health officials in the UK have contacted more than 200 people who attended a conference in central London after it emerged one delegate is suffering from coronavirus.
Public Health England (PHE) sent a letter to those who were at the UK Bus Summit at the QEII Centre in Westminster on February 6, including several MPs, two of whom have now decided to stay mostly at home.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-15--Jameela Jamil’s Boyfriend James Blake Hits Out At ‘Sick’ Treatment Of Girlfriend

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Jameela Jamil’s boyfriend James Blake has hit out at her critics, saying she is “dog piled on every day for such ridiculous things”.
On Thursday, the actress and TV presenter dismissed claims she makes up health issues for attention after a string of Instagram posts suggesting she has been inconsistent in her accounts of past injuries and illnesses went viral.
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James Blake and Jameela Jamil Emma McIntyre via Getty Images
Now James has leapt to her defence in a lengthy Twitter post, saying he “would have spoken on this earlier but Jameela asked me not to”.
He said that Jameela had “just done her best as an ever-learning human, as most of us are, to help other people with her privilege”.
“She does this because she had such a difficult life,” he added.
“Because she doesn’t want others to feel alone, gaslit or ashamed the way she has.”
In the Twitter post, the musician said he has first-hand experience of Jameela’s illnesses.
I would have spoken on this earlier but Jameela asked me not to. Please read x pic.twitter.com/edpC3BRwd8 — James Blake (@jamesblake) February 14, 2020
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“I actually live with her,” he said.
“Her being attractive, tall and successful doesn’t mean she hasn’t been sick.”
Jameela has previously spoken about her health problems, which include being diagnosed with a genetic tissue disease as a child, her battles with an eating disorder and damaging her spine after being run over by a car aged 17.
The former host of Channel 4’s T4 responded to criticism of her talking about her illnesses after a social media user claimed to have found discrepancies in her accounts of her health.
James said: “You don’t know what her life is and has been like.
“But I do and I’m not gonna stand by and let some total strangers try to push my girlfriend over the edge to what … stop her helping kids with eating disorders?
“Stop removing mainstream shame of talking about mental health?
“What are any of you even doing? And why are so many of you enjoying this?
“It’s sick to watch and I don’t ever see men treated like this, the way we tear women limb from limb.”
SIPA USA/PA Images
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On Tuesday, Jameela joked that she hoped to have a “calmer week” than the one before, as she reflected on the “clusterfuck” of having come out amid a backlash over her involvement in a new show about voguing.
“Well. Last week was a perfect clusterfuck,” she wrote. “It was completely overwhelming.”
Admitting she felt her timing was “bad”, “inappropriate” and “unfortunate’, Jameela continued: “The sequence of events was insane, a misunderstanding was left uncorrected for too long, and misinformation spread too far, too fast, then my timing was bad, and in a moment of distress and pain, personal things were blurted out because when you have a secret for decades and you’re traumati[s]ed, it always feels like it might just fucking burst out of you at any given moment, even the most inappropriate and unfortunate ones.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-15--Here's What Your Pilot's Thinking When They're Landing A Plane Sideways In A Storm

Storm Eunice has rocked the UK, and just like many storms before, people are being drawn to one particular phenomenon – a livestream of planes landing in Heathrow Airport.
And – based on the 170,000 people currently watching Big Jet TV’s YouTube channel – it’s clear we all get a buzz out of watching planes trying to land at Heathrow alongside the commentary of a very passionate plane enthusiast.
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So here’s an interview we conducted back in 2020, when Storms Ciara, Dennis and Jorge were occupying the headlines about what it’s like for the person trying to actually land one of those beasts.
So we asked one. Meet Jim, or to give him his full title, British Airways Training Captain James Shepard.
Captain James Shepard Captain James Shepard
Now, Captain Shepard knows a thing or two about flying, having started at the age of 14. He has a massive 18,000 hours’ flying experience in Boeing 757s, 767s and 777s, and currently flies the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, one of which he landed at Heathrow on February 8.
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In fact, he’s so good that British Airways lets him teach and examine its pilots. So who better to fire a few questions at?
Those planes are moving sideways – what’s that about?
Captain Shepard: “Let me use the analogy of a boat. If you can, imagine taking a ferry across a river that’s fast flowing.
“To get from one side of the river to a landing point directly across on the opposite side, if you pointed straight at it as you set off the current would sweep the boat sideways and down the river. So you would need to angle the boat into the current to offset for this, and to somebody on the bank watching it would look like you are crossing the river sideways.
“It’s exactly the same in the air, but the “current” in our case is the wind. So to maintain a track down the centreline of the runway we have to point the aircraft into the wind to ensure our track across the ground is in line with this.
“Most of the wobbling around on approach you may have seen on the videos on Sunday was the pilot making small corrections for changing wind speeds to ensure this ground track was down the middle of the runway.”
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What’s the most... uncomfortable part for the passengers?
“Just before we touch down on the runway we carry out a manoeuvre called ‘flaring’ which can feel odd for customers in the cabin.
“Ideally we want to land with the aircraft pointing down the runway rather than the sideways configuration we have had to maintain on approach, so just prior to touchdown the pilot applies the rudder with their feet to swing the nose round to face down the runway.
“The pilot simultaneously has to pitch the nose up to reduce the rate of descent, and then lower the upwind wing slightly to ensure that they don’t get blown sideways off the centreline.
“This all happens over about two or three seconds and can feel uncomfortable and a bit weird in strong winds but is perfectly normal. It’s a busy few seconds for the pilot and takes a lot of practice in the simulator to get right.”
How much more difficult is it to land a plane in a storm?
“Storm Ciara was some of the worst weather we’ve seen for quite a few years so was a challenge for every airline.
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“The sort of weather we faced on approach to land on Sunday morning was challenging in that it was constantly changing and extremely gusty.
“Steady crosswinds are easier to handle but Storm Ciara on Sunday had strong gusting winds, all whilst blowing straight across the runway. It’s this variability that makes it challenging for our pilots and exactly why we train regularly for such conditions.”
Is it fun for a pilot?
“I hesitate to use the word ‘fun’ but it is immensely rewarding and satisfying to bring your aircraft in safely during blustery conditions.
“Interestingly, the general public generally think that we as professional pilots gauge how good our landing is by how smooth it feels in the cabin, but it’s considerably more complex than that.
“We have to ensure that the aircraft touches down at the correct point on the runway – called the touchdown zone and painted with white markings – to enable us to stop the aircraft fully in the landing distance we have available.
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“This accuracy becomes more critical the shorter a runway is. Our pilots are taught to prioritise safely landing in the correct place on the runway over a smooth touchdown, and that is why you sometimes see, as we did on Sunday, pilots rejecting the landing and going around even after they’ve touched down if the wind has taken them outside this touchdown area.
“If we can do both then obviously we get more plaudits from our customers!”
What’s the latest point at which you can abort a landing?
“We can abort a landing at any point, even after we have touched down on the runway, up to the point that we have engaged the thrust reversers to stop the aircraft. You’ll see these as the back of the engine moves rearwards and this redirects the thrust towards the front of the aircraft and assists in braking the aircraft.
“We have two buttons on the front of the thrust levers called TO/GA (Takeoff/Go-Around) buttons, which we use to initiate a ‘go-around’. These apply thrust and give pitch guidance to help us on our head up displays in the 787 that I fly.
“As the thrust increases, if the aircraft is on the ground, the speed brakes – panels that pop up on the wings after touchdown to help slow the aircraft – auto-retract to allow the aircraft to get airborne again.
“A go-around is quite a dynamic but perfectly safe and standard manoeuvre, and while it can feel quite exciting in the cabin, in reality is something that has been practised literally hundreds of times over the years by each pilot.
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“The reason the pilot doesn’t immediately come on the PA to talk and explain what has happened is that they are extremely busy reconfiguring the aircraft, retracting the landing gear, talking to air traffic control and assessing fuel levels to see if they have enough for another landing attempt. It’s a very busy period for us immediately following a go-around.”
How much training do you dedicate to this?
“A huge amount over the years. All of our pilots in British Airways have to participate in a check flight with an instructor in a full motion simulator every six months, which gives us the chance to practise dealing with emergencies, engine failures and all sorts of other ‘non-normals’ as they are referred to.
“Part of this is a chance to regularly practise crosswind landings in challenging conditions, similar to the ones we encountered with Storm Ciara. The simulators are incredibly realistic and it’s easy to forget you’re in a white box sat in a building just outside Heathrow Airport!
“The fact that they are so realistic makes it easier to cope with difficult landing conditions when they occur, and allows us to practise beforehand the required techniques and hone our skills in a non-jeopardy environment.”
When should people actually worry?
“I would say ‘never’, in all honesty. As pilots our absolute focus is getting our aircraft safely on the ground, and if we are not happy then we would divert to somewhere with better weather conditions. We carry fuel to enable at least two goes at landing or to hold and await improving conditions, and then enough extra fuel to divert to a nominated alternate airfield, and still land with emergency reserves remaining in the tanks. In the end we managed to land on our first attempt [on Saturday last week] so we used very little of it but we had it if required.
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“The main thing that is drilled into our pilots in British Airways over many years of training, and every six months in the simulator, is the ability to continuously assess the safety of the aircraft in challenging conditions.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-02-15--'My Granny Devoted A Lot Of Time To Us': Duchess Of Cambridge Reflects On Her Childhood

HuffPost UK
The Duchess of Cambridge has revealed how much of an impact her grandmother had on her childhood, in her first ever podcast interview.
In the latest episode of Happy Mum, Happy Baby – author and presenter Giovanna Fletcher’s parenting podcast – the Duchess was asked which parts of her childhood she’d want to give her own children.
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Explaining that the quality of relationships that children have is really important, Kate said: “I had an amazing Granny who devoted a lot of time to us, playing with us, doing arts and crafts and going to the greenhouse to do gardening, and cooking with us, and I try and incorporate a lot of the experiences that she gave us at the time into the experiences that I give my children now.
“There are also the environments you spend time in as well: a happy home, a safe environment.”
Kate has previously spoken about her late paternal grandmother, Valerie Glassborow, saying she was “immensely proud” of her. Glassborow worked in Bletchley Park, where the German Enigma code was cracked 75 years ago, and she died in 2006. “She hardly ever talked about [her] wartime service, but we now know just how important the men and women of Bletchley Park were, as they tackled some of the hardest problems facing the country,” she said.
In her interview with Fletcher – released on Saturday 15 February at 4pm – Kate also speaks about the importance of spending time outside as a family – for parents and children.
“I think it’s so great for physical and mental wellbeing and laying foundations,” she said. “It’s such a great environment to spend time in, building those quality relationships without the distractions of ‘I’ve got to cook’ and ‘I’ve got to do this’. And actually, it’s so simple.”
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In 2019, the Duchess co-created a garden with the Royal Horticultural Society at Hampton Court Palace to highlight the benefits that nature has for our minds and bodies. “I really hope that this woodland that we have created really inspires families, kids and communities to get outside, enjoy nature and the outdoors, and spend quality time together,” she said at the time.
PA Ready News UK George, William, Kate and Louis in the Duchess's Chelsea Flower Show garden.
The Duchess also talks about her passion for early years education, and the aims of the nationwide survey she recently launched.
Early Years: 5 Big Questions on the Under Fives is designed to be a quick, online poll to spark a national conversation about children’s early years and prompt some meaningful change in this key area of child development.
Since its launch in January 2020, Kate has spent time meeting families across the country, hearing about the issues they face, as well as speaking with academics, experts, organisations and practitioners. Just last week, she visited Ark Open Farm in Newtownards, Northern Ireland to promote the survey and discuss the role parents play in ensuring kids have the best start in life.
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Chris Jackson via Getty Images
“We are at the heart of raising the next generation,” she said at the farm. “The science proves the importance of the early years, but the next step is knowing how best to support parents and families to do the best job they can.
“I really believe so passionately in the early years, and being able to listen to how best we can provide support in communities across the country, I think is really vital.” The survey runs until 21 February.
Speaking about the experience of interviewing the Duchess, Giovanna Fletcher said: “It doesn’t matter who you are, what you have, or where you come from – we’re all trying to do our best with our children while continuously doubting our decisions and wondering if we’re getting it completely wrong.
“Talking helps unite us all. It was beyond wonderful to sit and talk further about the survey, her work – for which she has so much knowledge, and her own experiences of being a mother.”