thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--NTAs 2020 Viewers Are Seething That Mrs Brown's Boys Won Best Comedy Over Fleabag And Derry Girls

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There was fury across the internet on Tuesday night as Mrs Brown’s Boys won at the National Television Awards.
The Marmite sitcom bagged the Best Comedy prize at the 25th annual ceremony – but there were many viewers left furious after it beat the likes of Fleabag and Derry Girls.
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Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s sitcom became a sensation on both sides of the Atlantic when its second series aired last year, while Derry Girls also became Channel 4′s most popular comedy.
Mrs Brown's Boys won Best Comedy at the NTAs Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images
Ricky Gervais’ After Life and fellow Netflix series Sex Education were also nominated in the category after winning huge critical acclaim, following their debuts on the streaming service in 2019.
But it was Mrs Brown’s Boys that triumphed, marking the fifth time it has won the category, despite only airing two festive episodes in the last 12 months.
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Many people thought Fleabag was robbed BBC
While the awards are viewer-voted, many believed that the wrong show won...
Mrs Brown's Boys beating Derry Girls and Fleabag at the National Television Awards is yet another example of why the British public shouldn’t be allowed to vote for things. #NTAs — Amanda (@Pandamoanimum) January 28, 2020
Me watching Mrs Brown’s Boys beating Derry Girls, Fleabag and Sex Education #NTAs pic.twitter.com/eJIm7LKLdc — The Duchess (@legacyoflolita) January 28, 2020
HOW did Mrs Brown's Boys just win at the #NTAs when it was up against the likes of Fleabag, After Life and Sex Education? Madness. — Ellis Emily Ford (@ellisemilyford_) January 28, 2020
Mrs Brown's Boys beating Fleabag to an #NTAs award is all that's wrong with this country. pic.twitter.com/voyqxdtbgQ — Jono (@jonoread) January 28, 2020
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Mrs Brown's Boys just beat FLEABAG and DERRY GIRLS at the National Television Awards.
Help me god. #NTAs — Scott Bryan (@scottygb) January 28, 2020
Derry Girls, Sex Education and Fleabag really lost to Mrs Brown’s Boys... British public further demonstrating why they don’t deserve rights #NTAs — jon z | 🇽🇰🇬🇧 (@jonzzinjected) January 28, 2020
Afterlife, Fleabag, Sex Eduaction and Derry Girls all up for Best Comedy and Mrs Brown’s Boys wins...seriously?! #NTAs #NTAs2020 — Simon Duke (@simon_dukey) January 28, 2020
Each to their own and that but Mrs Brown's Boys winning over Derry Girls, Fleabag and After Life?! pic.twitter.com/Q4DpwRRikj — Tracy Jack (@tracyj1906) January 28, 2020
Just so you know, the losers in this category are:
After Life
Fleabag
Sex Education
Derry Girls
Winning this award is the funniest thing Mrs Brown's Boys has ever done...😂😂🙄🙄 https://t.co/93jgQ3NuYJ — Harris Redgrove (@harrisredgrove) January 28, 2020
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Who in blue hell is voting for Mrs Brown’s boys? Like who? Over afterlife or fleabag. Utter madness, Britain has proven over and over again we can’t be trusted with voting #NTAs — Iain Whitlock (@IainWhitlock) January 28, 2020
😂 Mrs.Brown’s Boys has just won an NTA for ‘best comedy’ in a category with Sex Education, Fleabag, After Life & Derry Girls. #NTAs pic.twitter.com/RYcKpzTIPW — Jon 👍🏻 (@jonhotspur88) January 28, 2020
Mrs Brown’s Boys beating both Fleabag and Derry Girls for the Best Comedy proves that the Greatest British Public should never be trusted in any vote #NTAs pic.twitter.com/nrp003VUCi — Matt Sheriff (@i71Sheriff) January 28, 2020
Mrs Brown’s Boys beats FleaBag and Afterlife? It’s Brexit, all over again. Stop encouraging the British to vote for things. We are shit at it!! #NTAs — Max (@MaxMoomo) January 28, 2020
Mrs Brown’s Boys just won an NTA against After Life, Fleabag, Sex Education and Derry Girls, and that is honest to God a worse decision than Brexit. — Grant McDonald (@GrantMcD92) January 28, 2020
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Don't normally pay attention to the #NTAs but Mrs Brown's Boys winning Best Comedy when in a category with Fleabag, Sex Education and Derry Girls is proof that the British public don't deserve nice things — Will Castle (@thatwillcastle) January 28, 2020
Despite often topping the ratings, Mrs Brown’s Boys regularly gets a mauling from critics, who have accused it of racism and homophobia.
The show’s creator and star, Brendan O’Carroll recently hit back at the sitcom’s detractors, telling them to “change the fucking channel”.
The cast of Mrs Brown's Boys BBC
He told The Sun: “Honestly, I put on my dress and my tits and go out and make people laugh and I come off, take off my dress, take off my tits, get into the shower, come out and as soon as I come out of the theatre, I don’t even think about the show.
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“The evidence of four NTA awards means people are not just liking it — they’re actually prepared to stand up and shout it.
He added: “Radio Times named us ‘Sitcom of the Century’. We can only hope nothing good happens in the next eight decades to upset that.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--NTAs 2020: Jesy Nelson's Reaction To Winning Best Factual Could Not Have Been Sweeter

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Jesy Nelson was reduced to tears as her BBC Three documentary won at Tuesday night’s National Television Awards.
The Little Mix singer’s one-off programme looking into her experiences of online trolling was announced as the winner of the Best Factual category.
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The documentary aired to critical acclaim last year and beat off competition from long-running shows including Gogglebox and Paul O’Grady’s For The Love Of Dogs to take home the prize.
Jesy Nelson at the NTAs ITV
After making her way to the stage, Jesy became emotional as she began to make her speech, in which she paid tribute to her boyfriend, Love Island star Chris Hughes.
“This is so overwhelming. I’m such a baby. Thank you so much,” she said.
“I want to start by thanking the BBC for being the most incredible team to work with.
“I want to thank every single person who was in the documentary for being so brave and courageous and for telling their story to the world. I want to thank my mum for being the most inspirational person in my life.
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“I want to thank Chris, my boyfriend, for bringing me up every day and making me feel confident. And last but not least I want to thank every person who voted. We never expected this to have the success it did.”
In Odd One Out, Jesy opened up about the abuse she has faced since appearing on The X Factor in 2011 at the hands of internet trolls, which drove her to attempt suicide.
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--2020-01-28--US Politicians Blast UK Over Huawei Deal, Warning: 'Our Special Relationship Is Less Special Now'

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Boris Johnson’s decision to allow Huawei to help build the UK’s 5G networks prompted angry US politicians to compare the move to working with the KGB during the Cold War.
On Tuesday – despite huge pressure from Donald Trump to ban the Chinese firm amid spying fears – the National Security Council said it would give Huawei limited access to the network.
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A number of Republican politicians slammed the move over concerns Huawei could be used by the Chinese to steal Western secrets.
Donald Trump and Boris Johnson during a NATO meeting in December ASSOCIATED PRESS
“Allowing Huawei to build the UK’s 5G networks today is like allowing the KGB to build its telephone network during the Cold War,” said Tom Cotton, a senator for Arkansas.
“The CCP [Chinese Communist Party] will now have a foothold to conduct pervasive espionage… and has increased economic and political leverage over the United Kingdom.”
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The UK has left the EU “only to cede sovereignty to Beijing”, Cotton added.
Meanwhile, another Republican senator, Ben Sasse, said the US special relationship with the UK “is less special now” after embracing “the surveillance state commies at Huawei”.
“During the Cold War, Margaret Thatcher never contracted with the KGB to save a few pennies,” he told the Washington Examiner.
“The Chinese Communist Party has infected Five Eyes with Huawei, right at a time when the US and UK must be unified in order to meet the global security challenges of China’s resurgence.”
Liz Cheney – the highest-ranking Republican woman in the House of Representatives – tweeted: “By allowing Huawei into their 5G network, @BorisJohnson has chosen the surveillance state over the special relationship.
By allowing Huawei into their 5G network, @BorisJohnson has chosen the surveillance state over the special relationship.
Tragic to see our closest ally, a nation Ronald Reagan once called “incandescent with courage,” turn away from our alliance and the cause of freedom. — Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) January 28, 2020
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“Tragic to see our closest ally, a nation Ronald Reagan once called ‘incandescent with courage,’ turn away from our alliance and the cause of freedom.”
The UK said its decision to ban Huawei from supplying kit to the network’s sensitive ‘core’ protected national security while also delivering world-class connectivity.
It also argued that intelligence-sharing – including with the US-led ‘Five Eyes’ alliance – would not be jeopardised.
Foreign secretary Dominic Raab said: “How we construct our 5G and full fibre public telecoms networks has nothing to do with how we will share classified data.”
Senator Tom Cotton Erin Scott / Reuters
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Britain’s most senior intelligence officials believe that they can manage any risk posed by Huawei, which has played a role in the UK’s 3G and 4G networks for more than a decade.
Victor Zhang, Huawei’s vice president, said: “Huawei is reassured by the UK government’s confirmation that we can continue working with our customers to keep the 5G roll-out on track.
“This evidence-based decision will result in a more advanced, more secure and more cost-effective telecoms infrastructure that is fit for the future. It gives the UK access to world-leading technology and ensures a competitive market.”
On Tuesday evening, Downing Street confirmed that Johnson had spoken to Trump about the Huawei decision.
“The prime minister underlined the importance of like-minded countries working together to diversify the market and break the dominance of a small number of companies,” a spokesperson for Number 10 said.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--NTAs 2020: David Walliams Impersonating His Fellow Britain's Got Talent Judges Cannot Be Unseen

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With David Walliams taking the reins of the National Television Awards, there was always going to be a step up in silliness from previous years.
And sure enough, David kicked things off with a skit that took aim at his fellow Britain’s Got Talent judges.
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Tom Dymond
The Little Britain star transformed into co-stars Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Simon Cowell – and quite frankly, the results cannot be unseen.
The sketch saw “David” turning up to audition for the BGT judges in the hope of landing the NTAs presenting gig.
Tom Dymond
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And while David might not have impressed “Simon, Alesha and Amanda”, he did win a Golden Buzzer... from himself.
Tom Dymond
This year has seen David take over as the presenter of the NTAs from Dermot O’Leary.
The X Factor host stepped down from the role following last year’s ceremony, after nine years at the helm.
Of course, David is no stranger to the NTAs, having won the Best TV Judge award for his BGT role in 2015, 2018, and 2019.
He’s hoping to bag the title again this year, as he is nominated alongside Simon, Drag Race star RuPaul and The Voice UK coaches Sir Tom Jones and will.i.am.
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David also won the Landmark Achievement Award for his TV work and Sport Relief charity efforts.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--Coronavirus: Foreign Office Warns Against All But Essential Travel To Mainland China Following Outbr

Coronavirus: Foreign Office Warns Against All But Essential Travel To Mainland China Following Outbreak

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The Foreign Office has updated its advice to warn against all but essential travel to mainland China following the coronavirus outbreak.
The government’s official travel advice now reads: “The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to Hubei Province due to the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak. If you’re in this area and able to leave, you should do so.
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“The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the rest of mainland China (not including Hong Kong and Macao).”
The FCO also warns that because of attempts by Chinese authorities to stop the spread of coronavirus “it may become harder over the coming weeks for those who wish to leave China to do so”.
“If you feel that you may want to leave China soon, you should consider making plans to do so before any further restrictions may be imposed.”
Meanwhile, the government said it was working on plans to help British nationals leave the virus-hit Hubei province.
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“This may happen quickly and with short notice,” the FCO warned.
Passengers wearing face masks get off a bus in Macau, China Anthony Kwan via Getty Images
Those stuck in the city of Wuhan and surrounding areas have been urged to contact the British consulate before 11am on Wednesday if they wish to leave.
The Foreign Office has yet to confirm details, but a teacher in Wuhan city told the PA news agency that UK citizens were being given details of forthcoming flights.
Officials estimate up to 200 citizens currently there will want to return to the UK.
Hubei province has been on lockdown for several days as China seeks to contain the illness, as have other parts of China.
Hong Kong also said on Tuesday it would “temporarily” close some of its borders with mainland China and stop issuing travel permits to mainland Chinese tourists.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--Caroline Flack Returns To Social Media To Rally Behind Love Island At NTAs

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Caroline Flack has made a rare return to social media to rally behind Love Island at this year’s National Television Awards.
The presenter stepped down from hosting the sixth series of the ITV2 reality show, after being charged with assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton last month.
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While Caroline previously revealed she had been advised to stay off social media as she awaits trial, she sent some good luck wishes to the team ahead of the ceremony on Tuesday night.
Caroline Flack PA Wire/PA Images
Posting on her Instagram Story, she wrote: “Good luck to all the team and cast at tonight’s NTAs… it’s such a fun night… cmon Love Island.”
The show has been nominated for Best Challenge Show at the 25th annual NTAs, alongside MasterChef, The Apprentice, The Circle and The Great British Bake Off.
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Caroline has been replaced by Laura Whitmore for the current series of Love Island, and previously broke her social media silence to wish her well ahead of the show’s launch earlier this month.
Laura Whitmore has taken over from Caroline Flack as the host of Love Island Raquel Fernandes/ITV/Shutterstock
Caroline recently returned to the UK after spending time in LA, following her court appearance last month.
The court heard that she allegedly hit Lewis over the head with a lamp as he slept at her north London home.
She entered a not guilty plea and will face trial on 4 March.
Caroline Flack appeared in court last month PA Wire/PA Images
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ITV2’s commissioning editor Amanda Stavri has made it clear that she’d be happy to see Caroline back at the helm of Love Island in the future.
She told The Mirror: “We are continuing to talk to Caroline. We are in constant contact and the door is open.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--NTAs 2020 Red Carpet: See All The Stars Arriving At The National Television Awards

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With awards season officially in full swing, it was the turn of Britain’s biggest telly stars to get their moment in the spotlight on Tuesday night at the National Television Awards.
Once again, London’s O2 arena plays host to the NTAs, which honour the best of the box over the last 12 months.
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And 2020 marks a special year in the ceremony’s history as it celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Therefore, the stars were keen to dazzle that little bit more as they arrived on the red carpet outside the venue.
Rob Brydon and Ruth Jones Mike Marsland via Getty Images
The stars of Gavin & Stacey were present, following their hugely successful reunion episode over Christmas, which has since become the most watched non-sporting BBC show since current records started in 2002, with a whopping 18.5 million viewers.
The cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK were out in force, dolled up to the nines – as were the Loose Women.
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The Loose Women team David Fisher/Shutterstock
Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly made a rare red carpet appearance with husband Vernon Kay, while her co-host Claudia Winkleman shared some laughs with The Circle’s Emma Willis.
Vernon Kay and Tess Daly David M. Benett via Getty Images
Take a look at all the arrivals in the gallery below...


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--Specialist Labour Activists Claim They Prevented 'Further Destruction' Of Party At Election

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A newly-formed team of specialist community activists prevented “further destruction of the party” despite its election drubbing, a report presented to Labour’s ruling body has claimed.
The document – seen by HuffPost UK on Tuesday – says the party’s Community Organising Unit (COU), set up in January 2018, “significantly outperform[ed]” more traditional canvassing methods.
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It credits the COU, billed as an “empowering people” approach to boost the number of activists on the ground, with Labour’s win in Putney, as well as improving the party’s ‘contact rate’ (the percentage of people whose voting preference is known) with voters in the London constituency by more than 6,000%.
Produced by the unit itself for Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee, it also claims contact rates were significantly improved in seats across the country. Among those listed are Calder Valley, Southampton Itchen and Broxtowe – all of which Labour lost to the Tories.
The report states: “The data serves to prove that, even under the most adverse political circumstances, community organising held the line against even further destruction of our support base.”
The leaked report presented to Labour's NEC HuffPost UK
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HuffPost UK
HuffPost UK
HuffPost UK
Insiders dismissed it as a whitewash, “conveniently ignoring disastrous results” for Labour in traditional areas including Stoke, Walsall, Dudley and Blyth Valley – while one pointed out Glasgow South is listed as a Labour held seat, when it is in fact in the hands of the SNP.
“If you believe the nonsense in this report then I have got a bridge to sell you,” they told HuffPost UK.
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“It contains no mention of the countless complaints made by candidates about their performance, but demonstrates clearly that they don’t understand statistics and will stop at nothing to try to save their own jobs.”
At the NEC meeting, the document was described as a “dodgy dossier” and “total bollocks” as it failed to provide the full picture of the heavily-criticised network, and it was “forensically torn apart”.
Labour’s former head of political strategy, Greg Cook, branded the document “the more worthless and disingenuous piece of electoral analysis I have ever seen”.
This looks like the most worthless and disingenuous piece of electoral analysis I have ever seen. https://t.co/NHtLy9OPEk — Greg Cook (@GregCook10) January 28, 2020
The COU, set up by senior strategists close to exiting leader Jeremy Corbyn, was intended to step up Labour’s presence in post-industrial towns and coastal communities, as well as build alliances beyond the party to help campaign on key local issues.
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Party chair Ian Lavery, among those who masterminded the idea, claimed the unit’s mass meetings “bring energy to our movement in between elections, giving opportunities to everyone from trade unionists to business owners and faith groups to share their stories” and that the movement was “truly transforming” Labour.
In September 2018, several months after it was set up, the party was preparing to train 500 of its members in specific campaign skills during its conference, as Corbyn said it had to “gain marginal constituencies”.
A Labour source said of the report: “It was made clear this was intended as an overview ahead of a more detailed analysis, which will feed into a full review of all aspects of the election.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--Kelly Brook Recalls 'Mortifying' Moment She Farted During Dinner Party At Madonna's House

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Between Amanda Holden and Wendy Williams, we’ve probably heard enough about celebrities and their widn to last us a while.
Mandy’s fellow Heart FM DJ has admitted that she had a rather embarrassing moment when she was at Madonna’s house for dinner, farting in front of both her and Gwyneth Paltrow.
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Kelly Brook Joe Maher via Getty Images
Now, first off, you might be wondering how Kelly was at Madge’s gaff in the first place, but this happened during the time she was dating Hollywood star Jason Statham, who was good pals with Madonna’s then-husband Guy Ritchie.
Speaking on her radio show, Kelly revealed that she’d been invited over to try the macrobiotic diet they were following at the time, which meant eating a lot of organically-produced vegetables, whole grains and beans.
And let’s just say they had rather an undesired effect on Kelly’s stomach.
She recalled: “OK, so about 20 years ago I got invited to a macrobiotic dinner party at Madonna’s house… it’s basically like you eat what’s in season, you eat what’s grown around you.
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“It’s all like vegetarian, vegan, it’s very healthy. Lot of pulses, lots of beans, chickpeas all that stuff. So I’d known about this diet that Gwyneth and Madonna had been doing for a while so obviously I’m kind of in awe of them, I’m only 20 years old so I want to be like them.
“I’d been doing the diet, probably like a week before, but I’m like a real big meat eater, so my insides were just not liking this new diet – you can imagine.”
Kelly was invited for dinner at Madonna's house PA Wire/PA Images
Kelly continued: “So I turn up, we had the meal, we had gone in the living room – it was the first episode of The Sopranos so we put it on, so it was like a big screen and there was loads of people there.
“I remember kneeling down talking to Madonna about something and I just remember my stomach gurgling and I’ve let out the smelliest blow off, like honestly, it was so bad, it filled the room.”
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The incident happened when Kelly was dating Jason Statham PA Archive/PA Images
Revealing Madonna’s reaction, Kelly added: “She just kind of , she just turned her head away because obviously it went straight up her nose – it was like something had crawled up there and died.
“I had never ever done anything like that in my life. And I just remember like Jason just looked at me and was like, ‘was that you?’ and I was like, ‘yes, I don’t think this macrobiotic food is agreeing with me,’ and that was it, I was never invited back.
“She knew it was me. I was mortified.”
Gwyneth Paltrow was also at the dinner party Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment
At least Kelly has stopped short of blowing off in the Heart radio studios – unlike Amanda Holden.
The Britain’s Got Talent judge, who hosts the station’s breakfast show, let one go while dancing to a song in her chair last year.
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And to make matters worse, the whole thing – including the moment she wafted the smell away – was caught on camera.
Still, at least Amanda had the decency to let her co-presenter Jamie Theakston and showbiz reporter Ashley Roberts know by mouthing “I’ve farted” to them.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ Dotty Blasts Employers Live On Air For 'Unforgivable' Kobe Bryant Mix-Up

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BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter Dotty has called out her employers live on air after the News At 10′s “unforgivable” Kobe Bryant mix-up in a report about his death in a helicopter crash.
The breakfast show DJ called for the BBC to “do better” after the corporation’s flagship news bulletin mistakenly featured fellow basketball player LeBron James in footage about Kobe’s death on Sunday.
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The BBC issued an on-air apology at the time, before blaming “human error” in a later statement following a large backlash.
However, Dotty, who presents the weekday breakfast show on Radio 1 sister station 1Xtra, took the BBC to task during an on-air feature called Trash Bag Tuesday.
She said: “You leave me no choice, BBC. Today in the Trash Bag – BBC News at 10, and I’m going to tell you why. They used footage of LeBron James in a feature on Kobe Bryant and it is unforgivable.
“We do not all look the same, our faces are not interchangeable. There is no excuse for this error, we can’t just write it off as incompetence – not today.”
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99.9% of people would never ever have been brave enough to call this out on that platform. Big up Dotty 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/KzeDgi6OMk — . (@Themlotsdad) January 28, 2020
She continued: “I’ll tell you why. You would not confuse Messi with Ronaldo. You would not confuse Nadal with Federer. You would not confuse Schumacher with Jenson Button. So why always us, I ask? Even when the name is on the back of the jersey, you make the mistake.
“I’ll say it again, it’s unforgivable. And I’ll tell you why mistakes like this are bad. Because they divert the conversation. At a time where we should be mourning and celebrating the life of a legacy, the conversation becomes about an error that the BBC made.
“So, we’ve got to do better lads, and don’t just apologise, improve.”
Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash on Sunday FREDERIC J. BROWN via Getty Images
Turning to a co-worker on the show, Dotty added: “Robbie, lock the doors before they pull us off air. This may be the last show I ever do. It was worth it.”
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Dotty won swathes of support on social media for speaking out:
This is when real diversity and inclusion works; when those inside are empowered to speak out no matter the consequence. Dotty, you're not the only one with a voice in the BBC, however, you're the only voice we've heard. Well done. https://t.co/ydptPEK2f8 — Evadney Campbell MBE (@EvadneyC) January 28, 2020
I respect her for saying that — The Stutter Man 🇱🇷 (@RickyStutterz) January 28, 2020
I respect Dotty for speaking out on how the BBC got LEBRON JAMES and KOBE BRYANT mixed up https://t.co/07oy6aOz71 — Bramble 🇧🇧🇲🇸 (@BAJANBRAMBLE) January 28, 2020
PROUD of @AmplifyDot for speaking up on her BBC station. Me & my 8 yo daughter beamed with pride as she flung pure FACTS in the BBCs head top about another "mix up" during the coverage of Kobe on the news. Blessed that my daughter was able to hear that from her fave. 🖤 #Dotty pic.twitter.com/YxulQ25uNM — Thehappyhairco (@Thehappyhairco1) January 28, 2020
Kobe, a five-time NBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist, died alongside his daughter Gianna and seven others in the incident in California on Sunday morning.
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The BBC’s report reflected on the former LA Laker’s prestigious career, but featured LeBron James in action rather than Kobe.
LeBron currently plays for the Lakers, and last weekend overtook Kobe, who retired in 2016, as the third highest all-time NBA points scorer.
Kobe Bryant and LeBron James pictured on Saturday John McCoy via Getty Images
Addressing the error, Paul Royall, editor of the BBC News Ten, said the report fell below “our usual standards”.
He wrote on Twitter: “In tonight’s coverage of the death of Kobe Bryant on #BBCNewsTen we mistakenly used pictures of LeBron James in one section of the report.
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“We apologise for this human error which fell below our usual standards on the programme.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--How Experts Think Boris Johnson Should Manage Immigration After Brexit

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Boris Johnson was thrust into power last summer by a Conservative party desperate for someone to sort out the Brexit mess left by Theresa May.
The prime minister’s primary mission was to get Britain out of the EU, but he also wanted to fulfil one of the key pledges of the Vote Leave campaign he spearheaded - to “take back control” of immigration.
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For Johnson, this means replacing the mixture of free movement for EU citizens and controls on migrants from the rest of the world with an Australian-style points-based immigration for all, as pledged by Vote Leave.
To this end, he asked the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) in autumn to conduct a review of the Australian immigration system and similar systems to advise the government on how to proceed after Brexit.
Michael Gove and Boris Johnson promoted an Australian-style points-based immigration system during the EU referendum of 2016 PA Wire/PA Images
What does it say?
In a move that could cause friction with ministers, the report rejected the idea of introducing a points-based system for immigration across the board.
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Briefing reporters, MAC chair Professor Alan Manning said no country applies a points-based system as its “only route for work migration” and suggested it might be difficult to introduce in time for the end of the Brexit transition in December 2020
He said Johnson may still call it an Australian-style points-based system for a “soundbite” to summarise the government’s position publicly, but that this would “only be cosmetic”.
Britain will end free movement for EU citizens and introduce a new immigration system for all migrants after Brexit PA Archive/PA Images
For immigrants with a job offer, MAC did not recommend changing the system conceived by Tony Blair and then introduced by Gordon Brown in 2008, which combines salary thresholds with skill eligibility criteria, arguing it “works well for an employer-driven system”.
As part of this it argued that the main salary threshold should be cut from the controversial £30,000 to £25,600 for migrants coming to the UK with a job offer.
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It only recommends introducing a points-based system for skilled migrants without a job offer - to replace the exceptional talent visa which sets the bar for entry “far too high” and is “targeted at those at the very top of their field and is too risk averse”.
For this route, MAC recommends a system whereby potential migrants register their interest to come to the UK, with monthly invitations issued to people in that pool.
Their selection should be based on a tradeable points-based system based on their characteristics such as age, skills and qualifications.
More points could be allocated to specific types of migrant labour the government wants.
For example, Johnson’s chief of staff Dominic Cummings may favour those with science or maths qualifications.
The report does not look at low-skilled migration, on which the government is expected to impose stringent controls outside areas where workers are needed, such as fruit-picking.
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What does it mean for the country?
The combination of ending free movement for EU citizens, imposing salary thresholds and introducing a points-based system would reduce immigration and the total population but also hit economic growth through lower gross domestic product (GDP), MAC said.
The report said it also expected such a system to “very slightly increase” GDP per capita, while forecasting a small boost to productivity and an improvement in the public finances, “though these estimates are more uncertain”.
“It’s not saying that people’s living standards will go up”
The changes will also reduce pressure on the NHS, schools and social housing, but increase pressure on social care, increase the ratio of dependent children and elderly people to workers, and “have larger impacts on some sectors and areas than others”.
Briefing reporters, Manning said the new system would have essentially “zero” impact on employment opportunities and wages for British workers, and said GDP per capita would only rise because the mix of people in the economy was changing.
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“It’s not saying that people’s living standards will go up,” he said.
“Immigration hasn’t really harmed people’s employment opportunities or their wages but equally it hasn’t really benefitted it very much either.”
But will the government go ahead with it?
The report was released in unusual circumstances, with Manning making clear in the foreword that he had been sacked as MAC chair against his will.
There was also a muted response from ministers, who are expected to bring forward a new immigration bill within weeks, suggesting the government might be cold on MAC’s recommendations.
A Number 10 spokesman insisted the government would introduce a “firmer and fairer points-based immigration system” from 2021.
“We will carefully consider the report before setting out further details on the new system,” they added.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--Recognising Climate Refugees Is A Glimmer Of Hope For An Uncertain Future

Rising sea waters will affect countries worldwide in the coming years Getty Creative
With some of their highest points just metres above sea level, the 33 small islands which make up the country of Kiribati are under particularly intense threat from the unfolding climate emergency. There is an immediate problem of lack of access to freshwater, while sea level rise threatens to submerge the nation completely within a matter of decades. Some of the islands are already effectively uninhabitable, with the entire country likely to be uninhabitable within just 10 to fifteen years.
It was for these reasons that a man named Ioane Teitiota appealed to New Zealand for protection in 2013, on the basis that these conditions represented a threat to the lives of him and his family. And now, nearly seven years on, we have a landmark ruling. Sadly, Ioane has been unsuccessful in mounting his case, but the judgement opens the door to the possibility of a new category of refugee, a category badly needed if we are to retain compassion across the international community in the century ahead: the climate refugee.
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The UN has agreed with the New Zealand courts in saying that Ioane is not deserving of protection, but crucially they also said the following: “The effects of climate change in receiving states may expose individuals to a violation of their rights...thereby triggering the non-refoulement obligations of sending states.” In essence, this acknowledges the category of the climate refugee, at least in principle.
And that is massive. We are one step closer to justice.
“We cannot wait until the horror of losing homes and loved ones in the fires and floods of climate catastrophe is written on white faces in relatable places – the time to act is now.”
This glimmer of light comes not a moment too soon. In the next decade alone, it is projected that up to ten million people will be displaced by the climate emergency. Of course, in many nations, this will be people displaced within states, rather than across borders. But when we look at the fate of a nation like Kiribati – likely to be literally wiped off the map in the coming years – it’s inevitable that many of those millions will be forced to seek refuge beyond a border. And that’s just in the next 10 years. Imagine what happens when it really starts getting hotter.
While the ruling offers a tiny bit of hope, we must be realistic about the fight ahead of us to both minimise the number of people displaced by the climate emergency, while offering real protection for those who are forced to move. On both fronts, things are particularly gloomy here in Britain.
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First of all, we aren’t doing nearly enough on tackling the climate emergency itself. Conservative politicians have the audacity to pretend we are world leaders because of our commitment to going net-zero by 2050, conveniently ignoring a whole host of stronger targets across the continent like 2035 in Finland and 2030 in Norway. More crucially, Tony de Brum, foreign minister of the Marshall Islands – another low lying Pacific nation – infamously called anything above two degrees of warming a “death warrant” for his people.
Already, the chances of holding to 1.5 degrees looks vanishingly small. If we are serious about protecting lives around the world, we need to go further and faster in bringing down emissions.
Secondly, our recent past has highlighted our shameful record on opening our arms to the most vulnerable in the world. It is those beyond the easy embrace of development who are first to suffer the consequences of a world spinning its way into oblivion. We cannot wait until the horror of losing homes and loved ones in the fires and floods of climate catastrophe is written on white faces in relatable places – the time to act is now. Yet, just weeks after forming a landslide majority, one of the first acts of the Conservatives was to strip the Brexit deal of a provision allowing unaccompanied refugee children to be reunited with their families. It takes a few moments for callousness of this magnitude to really sink in.
Meanwhile, on a continental scale, the EU has blood on its hands, upholding the most deadly border in the world. We all remember the image of young Alan Kurdi washed up on the beach in the summer of 2015. Just one year later, we allowed over 5,000 people to drown while trying to cross the Mediterranean. With the climate emergency accelerating faster than we feared, it will only be a matter of years before the so called Syrian refugee “crisis” is dwarfed into obscurity.
Still, as an MEP, I retain a faith in international institutions to rise to meet moments like these. Working across borders for stronger protections for the most vulnerable, along with stronger climate action, we can be so much more together than the sum of our individual nations. This UN ruling has helped me see a flicker of hope for a fairer world to come. Yes, the status quo of building barriers and barbed wire instead of bridges is already barbaric. But under the conditions of climate emergency, it will simply become untenable.
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It is a tragedy that Ioane and his family have not been granted protection, but he has forced us to face up to the facts. However, the law chooses to categorise us, there are millions more Ioanes who will need asylum in the years ahead. Whatever action we take now, sea levels will rise, disasters will intensify, droughts, floods and famines are coming. One day soon, the international community will have to recognise people displaced by this climate chaos as refugees. The alternative does not bear thinking about.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--Israel Folau: Rugby Player Sacked Over Homophobic Posts Will Face Rainbow Display At New Club Clash

Israel Folau on the pitch in November 2018 Toby Melville / Reuters
Israel Folau, the rugby league player who was sacked after writing on social media that “hell” awaited “homosexuals”, will find himself knee-deep in rainbows as his new club battles Wigan Warriors.
The Wigan side announced its March 22 fixture against Catalans Dragons, who controversially signed Folau on a one-year deal, would now be a “Pride Day” for which players will wear rainbow laces and socks.
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Local and national LGBTQ groups will also be invited to the round six fixture.
Wigan Warriors executive director, Kris Radlinski, said in a statement: “Here at Wigan Warriors we are committed to the core values of inclusion and respect.
“Our community foundation have a long history of supporting local LGBTQ+ groups and initiatives, and we want everyone who engages with our game to feel welcome, valued and, most of all, respected.
“Rugby league has a strong history of inclusion, of breaking down barriers and of being a forward-thinking sport. I think today more than any day that it is vitally important we reiterate that message. We’re looking forward to working with charities, local and hopefully national groups, to make this day a success.”
French club Catalans Dragons said they wanted to give Folau, who has not played either code of rugby since being sacked by Rugby Australia last year, a “new opportunity to shine”.
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In April 2019, the player – a devout Christian – told his 300,000 followers: “Drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists, idolators – hell awaits you.”
His contract was binned and, weeks later, a Rugby Australia panel hearing found him in breach of its code of conduct.
Folau claimed his intention was “not to hurt anyone”.
He also attracted fury late last year after claiming that deadly bushfires and a devastating drought in Australia were a punishment from god for the country’s acceptance of same-sex marriage and abortion.
The 30-year-old was told he would not be able to play rugby again in his home country, but the Rugby Football League has confirmed it will not prevent his registration with the Dragons.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--Drillminister To Run For Mayor Of London, Saying Politicians Don't Represent Real Voters

He came into public consciousness in 2018, describing himself an advocate for disenfranchised young Londoners and a defender of drill music, which had been accused of glamourising violence.
Fast forward two years and Drillminister, instantly recognisable by his balaclava and circular gold glasses, is to run for London mayor, HuffPost UK can reveal.
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The rapper, who grew up in south London, said he wants to advocate for people who feel politically underrepresented.
“I didn’t really make the choice to go into politics,” he said. “The public want someone to represent them.
“The people that talk to me through my social media, when people see me in the street, when I’m on the way to shows, when I’m at shows – they don’t feel represented.
“They felt as though I was the perfect candidate. I just took up the responsibility. I didn’t really choose this – it chose me.”
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Asked if he would consider removing his balaclava should he be elected, he said it would stay on – it is a deliberate move to conceal his identity, and he hopes it will force people to focus more on his message than his identity.
It is understood his legal name won’t have to appear on the ballot paper, either, as Drillminister is classed as his commonly used name.
The balaclava is certainly a talking point – it’s seen him mocked and sidelined by parts of the press and some members of the public.
But he says the most important thing is that he reflects the ordinary people who live in the capital.
Drillminister HuffPost UK
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“We need a mayor that resembles what people recognise as a Londoner, as opposed to somebody dictating to them what a Londoner is,” he said.
“I am a Londoner just like everybody else. I get on the Underground just like everybody else. I don’t see myself as being above anybody else.
“I’m trying to relate to people of all classes, all races, and let them understand you shouldn’t fear what you don’t understand.
“Don’t judge a book by its cover because I’m here to do some serious changes for London.”
In his manifesto, the rapper pledges to tackle issues around transport, mental health support and housing in the capital.
With an aim to make “every TfL journey feel like first class”, Drillminister said he would prioritise rolling out cleaner buses to tackle air pollution.
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He also wants to reduce homelessness and introduce a contactless card that can be topped up to provide food, hostel accommodation and clothes.
“"If Donald Trump, with no political background can become president, which person in Britain can tell me I am not gonna become London mayor?"” - Drillminister
The aspiring politician has also drawn inspiration from an unlikely source: Donald Trump, who he points out also had “no political background” when he ran successfully to become US president.
“People didn’t take Donald Trump seriously when he was running,” he said. “He’s the most powerful man in the entire world.”
He added: “I’ve got a following, belief in myself and drive to make sure that this happens. Sadiq Khan ain’t willing to go the test of time. I really have this city.”
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How have the other mayoral candidates reacted to his candidacy?
“They ain’t never seen politics like this before,” he said. “They never expected that a drill artist, someone from this background and this world, would have the balls to stand up.”
He added: “They’re gonna see the power of the youth. They’re gonna see the power of the streets.
“The streets ain’t never had no voice.
“This is not even about me. It’s about the five-year-old who’s watching me right now and thinks: ‘Something I never believed is possible is possible.’ That’s what I’m here to do. That’s what the whole mayoral campaign is about.”
Drillminister HuffPost UK
Another item high on Drillminister’s agenda is tackling youth violence, which the rapper believes has very little to do with drill music.
In a 2018 interview with HuffPost UK, he said: “People that are blaming drill for violent crime in the UK don’t understand it. They’re just pointing the finger. It takes a smart person to delve in and see the truth behind everything that’s going on.
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“We didn’t make society the way it is – we’re just a reflection of it. We live in a cesspool – so that’s the music you’re gonna get until the situation has changed. [Until then] the scenario’s going to be the same.”
Drillminister wants to prioritise diversifying the Metropolitan Police Service. This, he says, will, help to curb crime.
According to recent statistics, 93% of police officers are white and just 6.9% were Asian, Black, mixed or other ethnic groups.
Some 4% of senior officers were from the Asian, Black, mixed and other ethnic groups combined, compared with 2.8% in 2007.
On Monday, police chiefs admitted they have been too slow to boost diversity in the ranks and still have a long way to go, almost 21 years since a landmark report into race and policing triggered promises of radical change.
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“Communities are fractured because they don’t wanna engage with the police,” said Drillminister.
“The way they see it, the police don’t have their best interests [at heart]. When you’re seeing an unfamiliar face, or something you can’t identify with, when there’s no common ground – that’s going to be a problem.”
The rapper maintains that at-risk young people are treated as “undesirables” and ignored, which in turn creates the conditions for violence and gang activity to get worse.
“An undesirable is someone who’s not considered to be perfect,” he said. “A sex worker, an immigrant, someone from an ethnic minority group, somebody of a protected minority group, felons, reoffenders; people trying to find their way through this maze we call London life.
“Crime stems very, very early when it comes to youth crime and this comes from us abandoning the people of London that we deem as undesirables.
“We put them in a box and don’t value them as human beings, [so] we can’t be surprised when there are repercussions. We need to treat everybody with a certain level of humanity.”
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London skyline with City Hall and Tower Bridge at sunset, London, UK DaLiu via Getty Images
Drillminister’s political ambitions seem to have been a long time in the making.
Through a collaboration with Channel 4 in 2018, the rapper used violent quotes from MPs to create a track called Political Drilling. The piece demonstrated a clear double standard between drill music being cited as a cause of the rise in violence in London and politicians employing similar language with impunity.
Speaking on BBC Victoria Derbyshire in September 2019, the rapper called for the government to act faster to tackler air pollution. He released a song, Choke, highlighting the detrimental impact of climate change.
His track People’s Vote formed part of a campaign called “No Vote, No Voice”, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, encouraged young people to register to vote before the general election in December 2019.
He was even instrumental in the term “Wasteman” – someone stupid, or behaving stupidly – being added to the Oxford English Dictionary after the word was used on Russia Today.
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If successful, the rapper would become the first Black mayor of London, and the youngest.
Is he intimidated by leading opponents such as Sadiq Khan, Shaun Bailey and Rory Stewart? In a word, no.
He explained: “Where I’m from, you have serious ‘ops’ – opponents, men who are trying to take your life.
“These opponents here [his political rivals] are a walk in the park. They’re not prepared for what I am willing to do, the lengths I am willing to go to ensure that we have the best London.”
But offering kind words about present mayor Sadiq Khan, Drillminister said: “he has done his ting. You’ve got to give Sadiq Khan his props – the first Muslim mayor probably in the western world and he’s made a massive impact. I can’t take that away from him. History books can’t take that away from him. But is London really on his agenda or is it No.10?
“When I’m seeing mothers whose sons have passed away [through knife crime] I don’t see Sadiq. I’m out here; I don’t see him. In terms of the way that London’s been running, are we really being looked after?”
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Flats in a social housing block in Hoxton, east London georgeclerk via Getty Images
Drillminister was less than favourable towards Conservative candidate Shaun Bailey, describing him as the “Tories’ lapdog” and a “sell out” because his party is not perceived to have the interests of Black people at heart even though Bailey himself is Black.
“It’s his job to do the likkle sell out ting and go gather voters but that’s not gonna work because the people are not gonna be fooled,” he said. “We know what politics is about; that’s why I’m not approaching this like a politician.
Both men clashed during a BBC Newsnight appearance and Bailey laughed when Drillminister said he wanted to run for mayor.
Penning an article later, Bailey suggested Drillminister advocates for violence writing: “There’s a reason artists like Drillminister, who appeared with me on BBC Newsnight, feel like they have to cover their faces.”
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Drillminister told HuffPost UK: “If you rearrange the letters in ‘policies’, you can spell the word ‘lies’. I’m approaching politics like a humanitarian,
“I’m here for the person who no one’s really thinking about: the guy that’s at home, depressed, taking pills, Universal Credit is not paying him his money, he doesn’t know where his next job is coming from, he’s going to the office, getting rejection calls, really thinking about if this London benefiting him.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--How Not To Be A Dick In The Gym – Because 'Testosterone' Is No Excuse

Huber & Starke via Getty Images
When Elena Bunbury complained to Gymbox that she’d been harassed during a workout, the initial response was shocking: “We are in a gym where testosterone levels are high, especially during workouts,” a staff member replied in an email, adding that they themselves had never had any problems.
“Glad to see [Gymbox] staff justifying aggressive behaviour,” Bunbury wrote on Twitter, alongside screenshots of the exchange.
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The gym chain has since told HuffPost UK it will “fully investigate” the incident, adding that it will retrain all team members “on how they handle a situation like this, should it occur again”.
But this isn’t a one-off incident in one gym. Instead, it’s a reflection of the way female gym-goers are frequently made to feel while working out.
So a random gym goer harassed me and my friend at our first visit to @GYMBOXofficial, this is the response we got..
Glad to see @GYMBOXofficial staff justifying aggressive behaviour because it’s never happened to them, and men have testosterone.. pic.twitter.com/oTdVKoS08p — Elena Bunbury (@elena_bunbury) January 27, 2020
We asked HuffPost readers to share their experiences of harassment, or general unacceptable behaviour, in the gym – and the responses came flooding in.
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While this behaviour may be experienced by people of all genders in a gym setting, the majority of the replies we received were from women. Here, from their anecdotes, we give you the ultimate guide to not being a dick.
Do not consider your workout more important than theirs
“Several times I’ve been using free weights and men have tapped me, asked me to take my headphones off, and let me know there’s an assisted machine that will work the same muscles without me getting ‘bulky’. When I’ve politely declined their unsolicited advice, on two occasions they’ve added: ‘It’s just, there are no benches left and you could use a machine instead’, as if my workout is less important than theirs because I’m lifting lighter weights.” – Jasmine Granton, 26, Bedford
Do not attempt to chat someone up mid-workout
“One man approached me while I was doing dumbbell rows, blatantly training my back, to ask what I was training. He followed up with: ‘You’re pretty, aren’t you?’ and asked for my Snapchat. When I said ‘no’, a guy on the bench press laughed. Honestly, it’s just an eye-roll situation for me every time, but it can be quite intimidating depending on the circumstance. In this instance, I was just annoyed.” – Ella Glover, 21, Manchester
Do not touch people without their permission
“The worst thing that happened to me was when a random guy grabbed my arm as I was walking through the gym to look at my tattoos. He then proceeded to touch and turn my arm.
“I was angry he felt he could grab me, and I was angry that I was too shocked to give him a mouthful. It may have been completely innocent and a genuine interest in my tattoos – but don’t put your hands on me. The gym can be intimidating for many people without unsolicited contact like that. Luckily, I feel comfortable there, so just keep your hands to yourself and get on with your workout.” – Meg Cox, 25, Loughborough
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Do not film people without their consent
“I was once filmed by a guy at the gym. I was working out by myself on the floor, when – mid squat – I saw him standing behind me recording with his phone. I stared at him and turned around, and he slowly backed away, still looking at his phone. As he walked away I could see he was still recording. Then I had to walk home alone in the dark – it felt like the longest walk ever.” – Lucy Campbell, 26, London
Do not stare at other gym-goers
“I decided to work out in a sports bra because it was boiling and the air-con wasn’t working, but I ended up having to move to the females-only section so I didn’t feel like a caged animal in a zoo being watched by pervy onlookers.
“I was really frustrated I had to move, because men found it okay to stare at me like I was doing something wrong. It made me feel like a piece of meat, like a spare body part. You can appreciate or not appreciate someone’s body without making them feel scared or vulnerable.” – Emily Nagioff, 26, London
Do not offer unsolicited ‘advice’
“People come to correct my form when I’m weight training – I’m a petite yet busty woman, so my form is right but it looks different to [theirs] because I have curves. Also, no one asked bro.
“It used to affect my confidence because the weights section is male-dominated anyway, which is daunting. If I see someone doing an exercise that I’m not sure of my own form for, I might watch them and even approach them for tips. But when it’s unsolicited, it’s so off-putting. – Anamika Talwaria, 24, London
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Do not comment on people’s weight
“I’ve had the same personal trainer approach me about five times in a row to tell me what I’m doing is ‘ineffective’ and that I need to ‘do a session’ with them to shift ‘all the weight’. I do incline intervals on the treadmill and I’m noticing results.
“It makes me angry. It’s just really judgmental – they’ve assumed I want to lose weight for a start, which isn’t the only reason a person goes to the gym. And I feel as though because I’m curvier, it’s assumed I’m inexperienced and don’t know what I’m doing.” – Alice Hobbis, 24, From Birmingham
Do not blame women for ‘distracting’ you
“A guy said to me when I was on the treadmill: ‘You should get a new sports bra, all that jiggling is very distracting’. And the worst part was he genuinely thought that was a good ‘come on’ line and proceeded to try and chat me up.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--Why Drillminister Is Running For London Mayor

Why Drillminister Is Running For London Mayor
Drillminister has announced the launch of his campaign to replace Sadiq Khan as London mayor. The drill artist, who has been outspoken on politician’s attempts to blame drill music for violence in Britain, plans to run on a platform that sees more community outreach programmes and making London’s Met police reflect the city more.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-28--Boris Johnson Approves Huawei 5G Plan

Boris Johnson Approves Huawei 5G Plan

Boris Johnson Approves Huawei 5G Plan
Boris Johnson has granted China-based tech giant Huawei to use the UK’s 5G phone network. Even after American pressure on the UK to block them from the UK’s infrastructure, claiming we could be vulnerable to Chinese state surveillance.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-29--Holly Willoughby Struggles Through This Morning Healthy Eating Segment With Post-NTAs Hangover

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As even the most casual of daytime viewers will know, the morning after the National Television Awards is always a bit of a difficult one for Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
Over the years, the pair have become well-known for hosting This Morning while a little worse for wear, after a night of celebrations following the show’s NTAs win, and this year was no exception.
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Although Wednesday’s episode was nowhere near the scenes of 2016 – when the pair turned up to work still wearing their outfits from the previous night – Holly did open the show by admitting she and her co-host were “struggling”.
Phil put their state down to having “mixed” drinks the night before, after This Morning scooped Best Live Magazine Show for its 10th year, with Holly telling viewers: “We’re suffering, but it was worth it, it really was.”
We've got something to say...
THANK YOU! I🙌
See our favourite photos from the @OfficialNTAs 👉 https://t.co/l8qGDVVhZ1 pic.twitter.com/7gEpdhRVJ3 — This Morning (@thismorning) January 29, 2020
Things took a nosedive later in the episode, though, when the duo were tasked with presenting a segment about healthy eating.
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After being presented with a KitKat Chunky during the conversation, Holly then grabbed it, after nutritionist Graeme Tomlinson compared it positively to a yoghurt bar, which can contain additional ingredients like nuts.
“No nuts in there,” she announced, provoking giggles from Phil, only for Holly to run into another problem.
Oh dear ITV
“It’s stuck... I can’t get it down!” Holly declared, while Phillip attempted to get the segment back on track, despite his co-presenter being unable to keep her composure next to him.
Holly then laughed uncontrollably throughout her guest’s explanation about why Coca Cola has fewer calories than some smoothies, only to interject with an enthusiastic “really?!”, prompting yet more laughs.
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Phillip then apologised to Graeme, suggesting he come back on a day that he and Holly are feeling “more sensible”.
“Never good to be booked on this show after [the NTAs],” he joked.
Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby ITV
But while it sounds like Holly and Phil spent the night celebrating their NTAs victory, not everyone was so happy to see This Morning doing so well, namely the stars of Loose Women, who were up for the same award.
While panellist Nadia Sawalha was seen on screen claiming she was “not happy” about losing out, her co-presenter Denise Welch revealed she’d actually left the awards show early.
This Morning airs every weekday from 10.30am on ITV.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-29--Chris Hughes Addresses Altercation With Paparazzi Following NTAs, As Police Confirm Investigation

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Former Love Island star Chris Hughes has broken his silence after he was involved in an altercation with photographer following Tuesday night’s National Television Awards.
The reality star was pictured in an angry confrontation with a paparazzi after celebrating girlfriend Jesy Nelson’s win at the ceremony, with police since confirming they are investigating a case of assault and criminal damage.
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The photos were published by various outlets and show Chris grappling with the photographer, as well as being restrained by his manager, former TOWIE star Chris Drake.
Chris Hughes on the red carpet at the National Television Awards Dave J Hogan via Getty Images
Posting on Instagram, Chris claimed he had retaliated after being called “a name he wouldn’t call his worst enemy”, adding that he acted in “self defence”.
He wrote: “I want to address last night’s altercation. I was having an amazing night celebrating the award my girlfriend deservedly won.
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“After coming out of our hotel, a particular paparazzi decided to repeatedly call me a name I wouldn’t call my worst enemy and physically try and start an altercation.
“As everyone can see I retaliated back badly to this which I totally regret. I’m human. No different to anyone else.”
Chris posted this statement on his Instagram Story Instagram
Chris continued: ’However, I want to make everyone aware this was only in self defence. I hope people I care about including my followers, family and friends can understand and forgive me.
“This night was about Jesy’s win and I am sorry if I distracted anyone from this.
“Ultimately I’m the proudest boyfriend ever and want to congratulate my amazing girlfriend for a deserving win. I am so proud of you.”
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Chris had been supporting girlfriend Jesy Nelson at the event Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment
After the encounter, Metropolitan Police confirmed they had received a report of assault and criminal damage.
A spokesperson told The Mirror: “We can confirm that at 03:52hrs on Wednesday, 29 January, police received a report of assault and criminal damage following an altercation between two men at Waterview Drive, Greenwich.
“The incident is reported to have taken place at a time between 23:00hrs on Tuesday, 28 January and 01:00hrs on Wednesday, 29 January.
“The reported criminal damage relates to photographic equipment. There were no reported injuries.
“There have been no arrests. Enquiries continue.”
HuffPost UK has also contacted Chris’ spokesperson for comment and is awaiting a response.
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Tuesday’s NTAs saw Chris’ girlfriend, Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson, reduced to tears as her BBC Three documentary won Best Factual show.
The one-off programme saw her open up about the abuse she has faced at the hands of internet trolls since appearing on The X Factor in 2011, which drove her to attempt suicide.
The documentary aired to critical acclaim last year and beat off competition from long-running shows including Gogglebox and Paul O’Grady’s For The Love Of Dogs to take home the prize.
After making her way to the stage, Jesy became emotional as she began to make her speech, also paying tribute to Chris.
“This is so overwhelming. I’m such a baby. Thank you so much,” she said.
“I want to thank Chris, my boyfriend, for bringing me up every day and making me feel confident.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-29--No One In Labour Is Blameless For Election Defeat, Says Lisa Nandy As Report Excuses Corbyn

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Labour leadership candidate Lisa Nandy has said Jeremy Corbyn cannot be “exonerated” for the party’s crushing election defeat, after an internal report largely blamed it on Brexit.
Andrew Gwynne and Ian Lavery, the party’s election co-ordinators, told Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) on Tuesday it was “unlikely” Corbyn’s leadership or the domestic policy platform was at fault.
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The document, leaked to the Financial Times, said Corbyn had been the victim of an “assault” on his character “without precedent in modern politics”.
Gwynne and Lavery said it would be “unrealistic” not to conclude the divisions in the country over Brexit led to Labour’s defeat.
Appearing on LBC on Wednesday morning, Nandy was asked about the report and if “Jeremy Corbyn should be exonerated” for the result.
“None of us can be exonerated for the worst election defeat since 1935. We got it badly wrong on all sorts of issues,” she said.
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Nandy added the party got it wrong on Brexit as it “accepted the idea you pick a side”.
“I think we managed to hit the sweet spot where Remainers though we were Leavers and Leavers thought we were Remainers,” she said. “All over the county we were just losing hand over fist.”
EMPICS Entertainment
Labour went into the 2019 election pledging to hold a second referendum on any Brexit deal, and to include the option of Remain on the ballot paper.
The party’s NEC met yesterday to conduct a post-mortem of its election defeat.
In a separate submission to the NEC, handed to HuffPost UK, the party’s newly-formed team of specialist community activists argued they prevented “further destruction of the party” despite its election drubbing.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-29--Coronavirus Latest: Britons Flown Back From Wuhan Will Be Quarantined For Two Weeks

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British citizens flown back from the city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak will be quarantined for two weeks after they arrive in the UK tomorrow, it has been reported.
Officials are looking at taking passengers to a military base once they arrive home, the Department of Health said.
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A flight was due to leave Wuhan in China on Thursday, but the Foreign Office later said this would be delayed. It is understood Chinese officials have not yet granted permission for the chartered flight to depart.
Before they board, passengers may be asked to sign a contract the plane saying they agree to being placed in quarantine.
Anyone who does not wish to sign could be asked to stay.
We are working hard to get British nationals back from Wuhan.
Public safety is the top priority.
Anyone who returns from Wuhan will be safely isolated for 14 days, with all neccessary medical attention. — Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) January 29, 2020
Around 200 British nationals are thought to be in the Chinese city.
A British lecturer stranded in Wuhan city, who described the streets as “deserted”, said UK officials have confirmed a flight will take citizens back to England, while others said this would be on Thursday.
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A teacher whose grandmother is stuck in Wuhan told the PA news agency she had been offered a seat.
The latest development comes as British Airways announces it has suspended all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect after the Foreign Office warned against “all but essential travel” to the country.
Virgin Atlantic said its flights between Heathrow and Shanghai will continue to operate as scheduled, although passengers are able to rebook or obtain a refund free of charge.
Nick House, a British national living in Wuhan with his Indonesian wife and two British children, told Sky News on Tuesday: “We would like to be out of here. The man on the other end of the phone said ‘Yes, you are on the list, but unfortunately your wife probably won’t be able to get on the plane because she doesn’t have a visa at the moment’.
“I won’t leave without my wife, so essentially the Government are leaving three British people here for the sake of one seat on a plane.”
The death toll in China has risen to 170, with confirmed infections surging to nearly 8,000.
Four cases have been confirmed in Germany, making it the second European country to report cases, after France.
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The United Arab Emirates has also confirmed its first cases of the virus in a family who recently returned to the UAE from Wuhan.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-29--'I Feel Powerful': Age Changes How We Exercise. These Women Tell Us Why

HuffPost UK
You’re reading Move, the nudge we need to get active, however makes us happiest and healthiest.
Fitness fanatic, agnostic or avoidant? We all have our approaches to exercise – and when we’re in our twenties, they can be life-defining. I was an avoidant, luxuriating in my sofa-bound Saturdays, parading my lack of gym membership, and mocking my marathon-running friends even as I was forced to pause for breath halfway up the stairs to my third floor flat.
Then I moved to another country, a place where the sun shone for 11 months of the year, and around the same time, my metabolism began to slow down – as it often does in your early thirties. In this outdoor culture, where it was bafflingly normal to socialise in swimwear, I embraced the water: lap pools, ocean pools and the open sea. I ditched my tights and walked bare-legged for miles around this city. Exercise crept up on me by stealth, 10,000 miles away from home.
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Back in the UK, I now swim outdoors from March to October and use the gym at my lido in the months between (though staring wistfully at the chilly waters). I still can’t brave a spinning class or run a half. But my weekends are made for walking and I’ve finally found my exercise mojo. It calms my mind, it aids my sluggish metabolism, but most of all – *whispers* – I actually enjoy it.
Asking around, even fitness fans tell me their motivations shift as they hit a new decade. “When I was younger it was about losing weight and trying to look a certain way – have a flat stomach or whatever,” says Danielle Mowbray, 39, a content manager from Newcastle. “Now it’s about how it makes me feel inside.”
Our approach to exercise does change as we get older, and not always in a good way, says Stuart Roberts, author of Get Strong, Get Fit, Get Happy: A Life Manual For 40+. “A lot of people expect to get old in the traditional way, which includes restrictions on exercise and movement, aches and pains, and a decline in health, wellbeing and fitness.” But does it have to play out like this?
“Absolutely not,” says Roberts. “You just have to exercise in a smart way.” This might mean super slow resistance training, he says, which only has to be done once a week, or it could be yoga – which improves muscular skeletal strength and balance, increases flexibility, de-stresses and enhances cognitive functions.
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“The more you exercise, the better you’ll feel and the more likely you are to want to do that class, go for that jog or swim again soon,” he says. “It’s all about finding what you enjoy and being open to trying different things.”
With this in mind, we asked HuffPost readers of all ages to share their stories.
‘I feel powerful’
“I definitely exercise for different reasons than I did five years ago, let alone 10,” says Poorna Bell, 39, author, journalist and founder of the fitness diversity platform, See My Strong. “Previously it was with weight loss or maintenance in mind, or some invisible system of burning off what I’d eaten. The older I’ve got, the more I’ve shifted towards what my body’s capability is, and that will always, always triumph over how small it is.”
Bell’s aim is strength – and working consistently towards that goal, year on year. Whenever she achieves a new target, it means more than fitting into a dress or receiving a compliment on her weight, she says. Seeing a greater diversity of body shape and ability in the fitness arena helps, she says, as does the higher of women’s sport – “although we still have a long way to go”.
“There is definitely a sense of ‘fuck it’, the older you get,” she says. “You also realise that living according to other people’s expectations or what they’ve been conditioned to think of as attractive or commendable is just... nonsense.
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“I spent so many hours doing [exercise] for the wrong reasons. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy some of it but it doesn’t compare to how I feel now, where there is perfect equilibrium between my mental and physical halves. I feel powerful.”
‘It’s a means to stay alive’
“I think about exercise now as a means to stay alive,” says Ami Amin, 36, a lawyer from north London. “Still don’t really do it, though,” she jokes, before admitting she went on a long bike ride with her friends only last weekend – proof that exercise doesn’t need to mean gym, weights or cardio.
Binita Walia, 48, an arts consultant from Brockley, says her focus is on staying supple and avoiding any issues associated with older age. “I started doing Rosemary Connelly, and now the seven minute workout every morning, then a dog walk for 45 mins. I don’t want to be creaky and unable to bend at 70!”
She doesn’t find formal exercise that pleasurable, but says walking the dog is “very, very enjoyable”, great for making new local friends and helps with the early stages of menopause. “I listen to podcasts while walking at a good pace around the cemetery. All very positive, especially as I work from home.”
Binita Walia Binita Walia on a "very, very enjoyable" dogwalk.
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“I only ever swam, because I love it, and never with any discipline,” says Aliki Chapple, 48, a theatre-maker from Lancaster (by way of Greece and the US), who thought of herself as generally active and fit in her thirties. But in her forties, working from home, she started finding errands more and more tiring.
“The day I had to lean on my teenager to walk up a hill I decided to break the aversion of a lifetime and joined a gym,” says Chapple. “I go two to five times a week, not because I enjoy it, or for vanity, but because I want to be walking up hills unaided still 20, 30 years from now.”
‘I’m more aware of my body’
For Eleanor Turney, 33, new motherhood marked a change in perspective. “Having a baby meant a) I was much more aware of my body and what it was doing/not doing, and b) want to be around for a good long while,” says Turney, a writer and producer who moved to Lancaster from Bath two years ago.
“I definitely didn’t exercise for the first year – despite wanting to, desperately. But I had a baby who didn’t sleep, which kind of ruins everything!” However, now that her son is 15 months, Turney has rejoined the badminton team she stopped playing for when her morning sickness first hit – and also runs.
‘To my surprise I love it!’
Elspeth Bleakley Elspeth Bleakley: "I wasn’t physically inept after all."
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For some people, early brushes with sport at school can have a lasting impact. “It took me a long while to get over my rep for being bad at sport at school and realise I wasn’t physically inept after all,” says Elspeth Bleakley, 38, a maths teacher from Edinburgh, who identifies university as the major turning point.
“I first joined the mountaineering club, have cycled daily since student days and, post-kids, took up orienteering and then running. To my surprise I love it!” She’s noticed a shift. “It seems to be different in the schools I’ve worked in, much more choice and variation,” she says. “I hope it’s different anyway!”
Elspeth Bleakley "To my surprise I love it!" says Elspeth Bleakley.
Genevieve Roberts, 41, a Brighton-based writer, experienced something similar – and believes it pushed her towards the things she loves. “Sport was something we did at school, it was competitive, and I was brainy not sporty,” says Roberts of her teenage years. “By my twenties, I realised how amazing I felt after a swim. In my thirties, yoga helped me with grief when my dad died.”
These pursuits are no coincidence, she says. “The sports I choose, from surfing to swimming to yoga, are all things that can be enjoyed at any level. The best thing school sports gave me was an utter belief that I am rubbish at sport, which has given me the freedom to simply enjoy it rather than try to be good at it.”
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‘I want to be an energetic granny’
Susan Wakeford Susan Wakeford with her grandson: "I feel physically and mentally great."
Susan Wakeford, 64, who lives in Gloucestershire, and survived cancer a few years ago, believes in the right exercise for the right life stage. “I do something called Paracise,” says Wakeford, fitter at 64 than she felt at half that age. “In my early thirties, I went to the gym and did Jazzercise, a combination of dance and aerobics. It was a break from work and the children and when I was doing it, I couldn’t think of anything else. I stopped when we moved out of London and because of being so ill didn’t do much for ages.”
A year and half ago, she took up pilates and Paracise – a low impact, low intensity exercise programme, with no floor work, designed for over-50s.
“I want to be an energetic granny,” says Wakeford, who is a mother of three and now grandmother, too. “I now do three classes a week, as I have added aerobics or circuits. I feel physically and mentally great and am much fitter than a few years ago. I thought I was fine then but there has been a huge difference. Today as an example I have done over 14,000 steps, including a 45 minute Paracise class and my Fitbit tells me I have climbed the equivalent of 30 flights of stairs. That is a normal day for me now.”
‘It’s almost spiritual’
Pippa Best / SeaSoulBlessings Pippa Best on the beach.
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Pippa Best, 47, from Penzance, runs Sea Soul Blessings, which encourages mindfulness and connection to nature, and swims daily for the sheer joy of it.
“In my twenties, my only exercise was raving through the night,” she laughs. “That did my knees in – and after becoming a mum in my mid thirties it was all about the pelvic floor, yoga, plus comedy Zumba with friends.
“Then in my forties, I discovered cold water swimming, which soothes the dodgy knees, arthritis and peri-menopausal bonkersness but has also become an almost spiritual practice – so it’s full circle back to those rave days.”
Pippa Best / Seasoulblessings Pippa, coming "full circle".
Move celebrates exercise in all its forms, with accessible features encouraging you to add movement into your day – because it’s not just good for the body, but the mind, too. We get it: workouts can be a bit of a slog, but there are ways you can move more without dreading it. Whether you love hikes, bike rides, YouTube workouts or hula hoop routines, exercise should be something to enjoy.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-29--Miley Cyrus And Liam Hemsworth Divorce Finalised A Year After They Tied The Knot

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Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth’s divorce has been finalised, just over a year after the pair tied the knot.
According to court records, the former couple’s divorce was made official by a Los Angeles judge on Tuesday, with irreconcilable differences listed as their reason.
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It’s also been noted that neither party is seeking spousal support.
Miley and Liam married in December 2018, and filed for divorce in August.
Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus KYLE GRILLOT via Getty Images
In a statement announcing their divorce, a representative for the couple said: “Ever-evolving, changing as partners and individuals, they have decided this is what’s best while they both focus on themselves and careers.
“They still remain dedicated parents to all of their animals they share while lovingly taking this time apart. Please respect their process and privacy.”
Miley and Liam’s 2018 wedding came after almost a decade of on-again-off-again dating.
They kept details of the day private at the time, later releasing pictures and videos of the celebrations.
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The two first met in 2009, while working together on the film The Last Song, and confirmed they were an item a year later.
Liam and Miley at an event in 2011 Jon Kopaloff via Getty Images
They briefly broke up around the time Miley’s infamous Bangerz album was released, but she confirmed in 2016 that the pair had reunited, and were engaged once again, with many of the songs on follow-up album Younger Now appearing to reference the reconciliation.
Since the split, Miley has been linked with reality star Kaitlynn Carter, and is now in a relationship with Australian singer Cody Simpson.
Meanwhile, Liam was recently caught on camera kissing the Australian actress Maddison Brown.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-29--Gavin & Stacey's Mathew Horne Addresses Christmas Special Controversy After Almost 900 Complaints

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Gavin & Stacey actor Mathew Horne has shrugged off the controversy surrounding the recent reunion special.
Towards the end of last year, Mathew and his co-stars reunited for a one-off Christmas episode, which was met with a largely positive response from both viewers and critics.
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However, the show wasn’t without its controversies, with almost 900 people complaining to the BBC about a rendition of Fairytale Of New York which featured in the episode, including the uncensored slur “f****t”.
Mathew spoke about the backlash for the first time on the red carpet at this year’s NTAs, admitting he thought it was “a shame”.
Mathew with co-star Joanna Page at the NTAs David M. Benett via Getty Images
“I mean that word which is in the song, it doesn’t mean what it means today,” he told Metro, before swiftly adding: “I’m not in a position to comment on that, I didn’t choose to use the song.”
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The actor continued: “The song is a well-known and well-loved song that has been used at Christmas time for many, many years. We felt it was appropriate to use the song in the show.
“That word etymologically means different things, it’s a shame people were offended by it.”
After 866 people complained to the BBC about the slur, the corporation issued a response, featuring similar sentiments to Mathew’s.
They said: “While the word ‘f****t’ is now widely acknowledged as having the potential to offend, the song never suggests or implies that this is, or was ever, an appropriate way to address another person, nor does it link it to homosexuality.
“Nessa and Bryn were seen singing the original lines and we can assure you there was no intention to offend viewers. We understand that some people will find it offensive in any context but we also recognise that the song is widely played and enjoyed in its original form.”
Bryn and Nessa performing together in the show's trailer BBC
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The BBC also cited media regulator Ofcom’s past assertion that it’s “unlikely that audiences would widely perceive [the use of the slur] as a serious attempt to denigrate the homosexual community”.
Last month, HuffPost UK contacted representatives for both Rob Brydon – who sang the lyric in question in the episode – and writer James Corden but did not receive a response.
Ruth Jones – who co-wrote the show, and whose character also appeared in the performance of Fairytale Of New York – previously told The Sun: “It is a different climate. But we have to remain true to the characters, to who they were.
“Characters in Gavin & Stacey are kind and big-hearted, I believe. So I think no one is going to be intentionally hurtful.
“But by the same token, they’re not necessarily going to be completely politically correct or be aware of political correctness.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-29--What We Get Wrong About Happiness, According To A Real Happiness Professor

nadia_bormotova via Getty Images
It’s commonly said that happiness can’t be bought. But it can, apparently, be learned through an online course.
Laurie Santos, a professor of psychology at Yale, began by teaching college students everything they needed to know about the pursuit of joy. The original class, titled “Psychology and the Good Life,” was launched during the 2018 spring semester to help students deal with stress, anxiety, depression and loneliness.
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The class quickly became the most popular offering in Yale’s history, attracting thousands of students eager to enrol. After overwhelmingly positive feedback, it was restructured as a free online course to reach a much wider audience.
The online course, titled “The Science of Well-Being,” is also led by Santos. During the 10-week program, participants are taught about happiness from a psychological perspective, including common misconceptions about being happy.
“The purpose of the course is to not only learn what psychological research says about what makes us happy but also to put those strategies into practice,” one course description reads.
Santos, who also hosts the podcast The Happiness Lab, told HuffPost that people often come into the class without truly understanding the meaning of happiness ― at least the meaning that experts use in research. Social scientists have a particular definition of what they call subjective well-being.
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“They typically think of [happiness] as having two parts: a cognitive component — whether you’re satisfied with your life — and an emotional component — whether you have lots of positive and not so many negative emotions, which is sort of whether you are satisfied in your life,” Santos said.
Now that we have a better understanding of what happiness is, here are a few things it isn’t, according to Santos and research.
Mengwen Cao via Getty Images
Happiness isn’t fixed.
Santos said one of the most common misconceptions is that “we can’t change our happiness.” In other words, we think we’re predisposed to a certain level of joy.
Research has found there may be a genetic component to happiness and how some people experience it. But Santos said that only plays a fraction of a role.
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“There is a genetic component to happiness, but it’s much smaller than we think. That means we really can take action to improve how we feel,” she said.
Happiness isn’t attached to many of the outside factors we think matter.
“The second misconception is that happiness stems from our circumstances — how much money we make, where we live, what job we have, if we have a partner, etc.,” Santos said. She addresses this head-on in the course with lessons on “Awesome Stuff, True Love, Perfect Body & Good Grades.”
While some external factors can definitely affect our overall level of happiness, they aren’t as influential as we think. (The exceptions, of course, are circumstances like abuse and inequality that can undermine our mental health to the point that it affects our daily lives.)
“For those of us who are living above the poverty line in relatively safe situations, our circumstances don’t matter as much as we think,” Santos said. “This is a hard one to come to terms with, but working to change our salaries, jobs, and romantic relationships won’t affect our well-being as much as we assume.”
Maskot via Getty Images
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Happiness isn’t achieved solo.
Sure, you are responsible for your own happiness. But that means you have to reach out to others, express thanks for their presence and take time to prioritise those interactions.
“Research suggests that happy people prioritise social relationships. They’re other-oriented, rather than thinking selfishly,” Santos said. “They take time off and time to be grateful. These aren’t the things we often prioritise when we’re trying to get happier, but they matter more than we think.”
Happiness isn’t always being exuberant.
A big part of happiness is letting ourselves feel sad. People experience a spectrum of emotions for a reason. We need to feel our anger, sadness and grief instead of pushing those emotions away.
Research suggests, for example, that crying can be extremely therapeutic. And experts say that while loneliness is a demoralising feeling, it’s also important to embrace it with the understanding that it won’t last forever. The sooner you allow yourself to experience those emotions, the sooner ― and easier ― it is to move through them. Shaming yourself for negative feelings only impedes your happiness.
So how does this knowledge actually help us be happier?
Santos said it’s vital to acknowledge “that we have these misconceptions” about happiness. No one is perfect, and the pursuit of happiness won’t be either. So keep this research-backed advice in mind when you’re looking for a way to increase your joy.
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“I think that’s where the science comes in,” Santos said. “When you see the results showing what doesn’t work for improving well-being versus what really does, it can help you shift your behaviour towards the stuff that really will let us improve our well-being: things like prioritising our social lives, becoming more focused on other people’s well-being, taking time to be mindful, and so on.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-29--Washington Post Reporter Suspended For Kobe Bryant Tweets Speaks Out

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The Washington Post reporter who was suspended after tweeting a story about the 2003 rape allegation against basketball star Kobe Bryant on the day he died called on the newspaper’s executive editor to speak directly about the decision to punish her and explain how the paper planned to protect employees’ safety going forward.
Felicia Sonmez, who was placed on administrative leave for the tweet and reprimanded for “hurting” the Post as an institution, said in a statement Tuesday that she wanted answers after the newspaper lifted her suspension following a media outcry. Sonmez initially said about 10,000 people had commented or emailed her “abuse and death threats” after she shared a link to a story without comment about the 2003 allegations against Bryant. Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter were among nine people killed Sunday in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
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When she reported the abuse to her editors, including Executive Editor Martin Baron and Managing Editor Tracy Grant, she was told to take the tweets down before being placed on paid leave.
“I believe that Washington Post readers and employees, including myself, deserve to hear directly from Marty Baron on the newspaper’s handling of this matter,” Sonmez said. “Washington Post journalists endeavor to live up to the paper’s mission statement, which states, ‘The newspaper shall tell ALL the truth so far as it can learn it, concerning the important affairs of America and the world.’”
She added that Baron’s emails to her had only “sown confusion about the depth of management’s commitment to this goal.”
Washington Post journalists endeavor to live up to the paper’s mission statement, which states, “The newspaper shall tell ALL the truth so far as it can learn it, concerning the important affairs of America and the world.” — Felicia Sonmez (@feliciasonmez) January 29, 2020
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My suspension, and @PostBaron’s Jan. 26 email warning me that my tweets about a matter of public record were “hurting this institution,” have unfortunately sown confusion about the depth of management’s commitment to this goal. — Felicia Sonmez (@feliciasonmez) January 29, 2020
Grant released a statement on Tuesday noting the suspension had been lifted, but she stood by her characterisation that the tweets were “ill-timed” even if they weren’t in direct violation of the Post’s social media policy. She did not offer an apology and, alongside other top editors, said the episode had raised the notion that the Post’s social media guidelines “are in need of an update.”
“We consistently urge restraint, which is particularly important when there are tragic deaths,” Grant wrote. “We regret having spoken publicly about a personnel matter.”
The statement didn’t appear to appease those in the Post’s newsroom, many of whom initially stood by Sonmez during her suspension (including the newspaper’s own media reporter). The Washington Post Newspaper Guild, which represents about 1,000 employees, said Tuesday it was “disappointed” that Grant didn’t offer an apology, noting it remained “concerned that the Post did not take swift action to provide her with protection and support.”
Sonmez concluded her request of Baron on Tuesday by urging newsroom leaders to safeguard reporters’ ability to share information.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-29--NTAs 2020: Loose Women Stars Have A Serious Case Of Sour Grapes Over This Morning's Win

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Loose Women presenter Denise Welch walked out of this year’s National Television Awards early, after the daytime panel show lost out once again.
Denise and her fellow presenters were up for Best Live Magazine Show at the NTAs on Tuesday night, but when the award ended up going to This Morning, Denise decided she wasn’t going to stick around for the rest of the ceremony.
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Writing on her Twitter page, she revealed: “I’m the car on the way home. Sick of doing the losers face and pretending to not care we didn’t win!!”
I’m the car on the way home. Sick of doing the losers face and pretending to not care we didn’t win!! #ntas — Denise Welch (@RealDeniseWelch) January 28, 2020
Other outlets have reported seeing Denise’s co-star Nadia Sawalha saying “I’m not happy” to Stacey Solomon, when it was revealed that This Morning had once again bagged the award.
Loose Women stars Nadia Sawalha, Kaye Adams, Denise Welch, Stacey Solomon and Kelle Bryan at the NTAs Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment
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This isn’t the first time the Loose Women have been far from gracious in defeat, though.
Back in 2017, Nadia was also seen muttering “every fucking year” when This Morning triumphed in the viewer-voted category that Loose Women had also been nominated in.
And six years prior to that, presenter Carol McGiffin was seen giving an unimpressed shrug when Loose Women lost out in the awards.
Did they.... did they forget to include Kelle Bryan on the wardrobe email or something? David M. Benett via Getty Images
Loose Women has been nominated for various incarnations of the Best Live Magazine Show category at the NTAs multiple times over the years, but has only managed to beat This Morning once, back in 2010.
This Morning wasn’t the only unsurprising winner at this year’s NTAs, with Ant and Dec extending their impressive record of winning Best Presenter for the 19th year running.
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However, many viewers were not impressed to learn that Mrs Brown’s Boys had won Best Comedy over shows like Fleabag, Sex Education, Derry Girls and After Life.
Check out the full list of NTAs winners here.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-01-29--Doomsday Author, Wife Found In Hawaii Amid Search For Missing Kids

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A newlywed Idaho couple under investigation for the disappearance of the wife’s two children have been tracked down to Hawaii and given until Thursday to produce the two kids, authorities said Monday.
Christian doomsday writer Chad Daybell and his wife of three months Lori Vallow were located on the island of Kauai on Saturday and served an order of petition to physically produce Tylee Ryan, 17, and Joshua Vallow, 7. Both kids have been missing since late September, authorities said.
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A warrant to search the couple and their vehicle was also carried out on Sunday. The result of that search has not been disclosed, though no local charges or warrants have been issued for the couple’s arrest, Kauai’s police department said.
Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow are been described as uncooperative with authorities who are looking for Vallow's two missing children. Rexburg Police Department
The couple has been repeatedly described as uncooperative in authorities’ search for Vallow’s children. Lori Vallow is the adopted mother of Joshua and the biological mother of Tylee. There is no evidence that either child was ever in Hawaii, Idaho’s Rexburg Police Department said in a statement.
These latest developments follow federal and local authorities carrying out a search of Daybell’s home in Salem, Idaho, earlier this month.
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In addition to looking for clues into the whereabouts of his two stepchildren, authorities were investigating the sudden death of his previous wife, Tammy Daybell, in the home back in October. Chad Daybell married Vallow just two weeks after Tammy’s death.
Tammy was initially determined to have died from natural causes, with an online obituary for her describing her as having “passed away peacefully in her sleep.” Following the children’s disappearance, her body was exhumed on December 13 for further testing. Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries told East Idaho News that the results of that autopsy are still pending.
Tylee Ryan, 17, and Joshua (J.J.) Vallow, 7, have not been seen since late September. missingkids.org
Lori had previously lived in Kauai with her former husband Charles Vallow, who died in July, Arizona Family reported.
Charles Vallow was estranged from his wife when he was fatally shot in an altercation with Lori Vallow’s brother, Alexander Cox, at the Vallows’ home in Chandler, Arizona, police say.
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Cox maintained that he shot Charles Vallow in self-defence after he came at him with a baseball bat while refusing to leave. Vallow’s son, stepdaughter Tylee and his wife, Lori, were at the home at the time of the shooting, according to police documents.
Cox was not arrested or charged in the shooting but later died in December from unknown causes. The results of an autopsy are expected to take several weeks or months, police in Gilbert, Arizona, have said.
Charles Vallow filed for divorce four months before his death. He accused Lori of being obsessed with near-death experiences and said she believed that she lived numerous lives on other planets before her current life. He further said that she threatened to financially ruin and kill him. He sought an order of protection and a voluntary evaluation of his wife at a mental health facility, The Associated Press reported, citing court records.