inews--2020-04-17--Coronavirus: How Mercedes F1 and academics fast-tracked life a saving breathing aid

Within one month , 10,000 devices have been delivered to meet the UK Government target With the coronavirus pandemic spreading to nearly every country in the world , the number of hospital patients needing respiratory support is becoming unprecedented .
It ’ s not easy for manufacturers to quickly make huge numbers of extra ventilators so there is likely to be an imbalance in supply and demand for the necessary equipment to provide this support .
To alleviate this problem , a team of engineers from UCL ( the university in London where I work ) and Formula One engine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to manufacture large numbers of a continuous positive airway pressure ( CPAP ) device .
This machine , similar to those commonly used to treat sleep apnea , can support patients with severe breathing problems , freeing up ventilators for the most critically ill. As with all things coronavirus related , speed is of the essence .
The team has pulled off the task of moving from reverse-engineering an original product and producing a new design , through testing and regulatory approval to full-scale production in under 10 days .
Within one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to meet the UK Government target , with Mercedes repurposing its entire facility in Brixworth , Northampton to produce 1,000 a day .
The designs and manufacturing instructions have now been released , at no cost , to governments , manufacturers , academics and health experts around the world .
Within a week they had been shared with more than 1,300 teams in 25 countries .
The astonishing pace of this project has been made possible by an alignment of established academic , industrial and clinical collaborations , working under the umbrella of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The team was quickly mobilised to focus on a clearly defined , immediate need .
Baker presented the Mercedes engineers with a conventional CPAP flow generator given to him by Mervyn Singer , a professor of intensive care medicine at UCL Hospitals , with a simple instruction : “ We need more of these.
” Singer had been contacted by doctors in Italy and China who shared their experiences of CPAP as an important aid to manage coronavirus patients .
Unlike mechanical ventilation , CPAP doesn ’ t require a tube to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ windpipe .
Instead , continuous air pressure ( slightly higher than normal atmospheric pressure ) applied through a face mask keeps the airways open and provides the patient with oxygen-enriched air .
This reduces the work they have to do to breathe without requiring them to be sedated .
A CPAP flow generator works by exploiting a phenomenon known as the Venturi effect .
A high-flow jet of oxygen draws room air in around it to generate a high output flow of oxygen-enriched air .
Mechanical valves then allow you to adjust the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this design is that it has no moving parts .
This meant that the team could reverse engineer the device by making meticulous measurements of every dimension and translating them into a 3D computer model and manufacturing drawings .
Over the following two days , MechSpace became the pit lane of the project with engineers from the Mercedes team using expertise acquired from the F1 industry to fast track design and prototype manufacture .
They drew on the skills of three former UCL students , Jamie Robinson , Alex Blakesley and Ismail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commercial software ( Mashoom ) that Robinson had developed during his degree to manage and store the computer designs that would underpin the production process .
The racing mentality of the Mercedes team drove the process forward at breakneck speed .
Hodgkinson threw down the gauntlet of a 24-hour turnaround between him walking in the door at MechSpace and cutting materials for the prototype on their commercial production line in Brixworth .
The team missed this target – but only by two hours .
With the team working round the clock , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up on essential supplies including toiletries and a change of clothes .
The t-shirts acquired from the nearest shop inadvertently provided a team uniform and the t-shirt logo was requisitioned as the name of the CPAP system , UCL-Ventura .
Regulatory approval for medical devices is a lengthy process that can often take years , but the team had deliberately focused on reverse-engineering an off-patent device , the Respironics WhisperFlow , that had been used in the NHS for decades .
This enabled the device to be quickly approved for use by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Regulatory Agency ( MHRA ) .
The team worked closely with a number of industry partners to check availability and arrange supply of other key regulated components including oxygen sensors and masks .
The Mark I design went into clinical testing in patients at UCL Hospitals and sister hospitals on March 27 , and the government order was confirmed four days later .
UCL mechanical engineers including Tom Peach , Tom Rushton , Peter Weston and James Weaver have continued to work flat out at MechSpace , sleeping at a hotel next door @ @ @ @ @ @ @ device has now been approved that significantly reduces the oxygen requirements of the system .
And it is this design that has now been made available for the global response to COVID-19 .

With the coronavirus pandemic spreading to nearly every country in the world, the number of hospital patients needing respiratory support is becoming unprecedented. It’s not easy for manufacturers to quickly make huge numbers of extra ventilators so there is likely to be an imbalance in supply and demand for the necessary equipment to provide this support.
To alleviate this problem, a team of engineers from UCL (the university in London where I work) and Formula One engine maker Mercedes-AMG HPP have been working flat out to manufacture large numbers of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. This machine, similar to those commonly used to treat sleep apnea, can support patients with severe breathing problems, freeing up ventilators for the most critically ill.
As with all things coronavirus related, speed is of the essence. The team has pulled off the task of moving from reverse-engineering an original product and producing a new design, through testing and regulatory approval to full-scale production in under 10 days.
Within one month, 10,000 devices have been delivered to meet the UK Government target, with Mercedes repurposing its entire facility in Brixworth, Northampton to produce 1,000 a day. The designs and manufacturing instructions have now been released, at no cost, to governments, manufacturers, academics and health experts around the world. Within a week they had been shared with more than 1,300 teams in 25 countries.
The astonishing pace of this project has been made possible by an alignment of established academic, industrial and clinical collaborations, working under the umbrella of UCL’s Institute of Healthcare Engineering. The team was quickly mobilised to focus on a clearly defined, immediate need.
James Tye / UCL
The project began when Tim Baker, a professor of mechanical engineering, contacted his longstanding collaborators Andy Cowell and Ben Hodgkinson from Mercedes AMG HPP. On March 18, they met at MechSpace, a recently opened facility in central London for mechanical engineering students.
Baker presented the Mercedes engineers with a conventional CPAP flow generator given to him by Mervyn Singer, a professor of intensive care medicine at UCL Hospitals, with a simple instruction: “We need more of these.” Singer had been contacted by doctors in Italy and China who shared their experiences of CPAP as an important aid to manage coronavirus patients.
Continuous pressure
Unlike mechanical ventilation, CPAP doesn’t require a tube to be inserted into the patient’s windpipe. Instead, continuous air pressure (slightly higher than normal atmospheric pressure) applied through a face mask keeps the airways open and provides the patient with oxygen-enriched air. This reduces the work they have to do to breathe without requiring them to be sedated.
A CPAP flow generator works by exploiting a phenomenon known as the Venturi effect. A high-flow jet of oxygen draws room air in around it to generate a high output flow of oxygen-enriched air. Mechanical valves then allow you to adjust the pressure and oxygen concentration.
The beauty of this design is that it has no moving parts. This meant that the team could reverse engineer the device by making meticulous measurements of every dimension and translating them into a 3D computer model and manufacturing drawings.
James Tye / UCL
Over the following two days, MechSpace became the pit lane of the project with engineers from the Mercedes team using expertise acquired from the F1 industry to fast track design and prototype manufacture. They drew on the skills of three former UCL students, Jamie Robinson, Alex Blakesley and Ismail Ahmad. In particular, they used commercial software (Mashoom) that Robinson had developed during his degree to manage and store the computer designs that would underpin the production process.
The racing mentality of the Mercedes team drove the process forward at breakneck speed. Hodgkinson threw down the gauntlet of a 24-hour turnaround between him walking in the door at MechSpace and cutting materials for the prototype on their commercial production line in Brixworth. The team missed this target – but only by two hours.
With the team working round the clock, one of them was sent out to stock up on essential supplies including toiletries and a change of clothes. The t-shirts acquired from the nearest shop inadvertently provided a team uniform and the t-shirt logo was requisitioned as the name of the CPAP system, UCL-Ventura.
Regulatory approval
Regulatory approval for medical devices is a lengthy process that can often take years, but the team had deliberately focused on reverse-engineering an off-patent device, the Respironics WhisperFlow, that had been used in the NHS for decades. This enabled the device to be quickly approved for use by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The partnerships already in place through UCL’s Institute of Healthcare Engineering, led by Professor Rebecca Shipley, were also crucial to the speed of this project.
The team worked closely with a number of industry partners to check availability and arrange supply of other key regulated components including oxygen sensors and masks. The Mark I design went into clinical testing in patients at UCL Hospitals and sister hospitals on March 27, and the government order was confirmed four days later.
UCL mechanical engineers including Tom Peach, Tom Rushton, Peter Weston and James Weaver have continued to work flat out at MechSpace, sleeping at a hotel next door. A Mark II version of the device has now been approved that significantly reduces the oxygen requirements of the system. And it is this design that has now been made available for the global response to COVID-19.
Through collaboration, innovation and translation, this interdisciplinary team have been able to proceed quickly enough to deliver this vital healthcare technology to the frontline of the battle against this disease.
Clare Elwell, Professor of Medical Physics, Vice Dean for Impact, UCL Engineering, UCL
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


inews--2020-04-17--WHO funding by country: How the World Health Organisation makes money, after Donald Trump halts US f

WHO funding by country: How the World Health Organisation makes money, after Donald Trump halts US funding

WHO funding by country : How the World Health Organisation makes money , after Donald Trump halts US funding The US President accused the global body of “ severely mismanaging and covering up ” the spread of the virus after it emerged in China Trump said that payments will be frozen for 60 to 90 days pending a review , after stating the organisation had “ failed in its basic duty ” in its response to the outbreak .
Why is the US halting funding ?
He accused the global body of “ severely mismanaging and covering up ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China , despite the fact it was declared a public health emergency on 30 January .
Mr Trump said the WHO must be held accountable for promoting “ disinformation ” about the virus following the initial outbreak in Wuhan , claiming it could have been contained at its source if the organisation had been better at investigating the early reports in China .
Speaking in a news conference at the White House on Tuesday ( 14 Apr ) , Mr Trump said : “ I am directing my administration to halt funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the World Health Organisation ’ s role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus .
The WHO is yet to respond to Trump ’ s announcement , but UN Secretary Antoni Guterres said the international community should be uniting in solidarity to stop the virus .
“ Once we have finally turned the page on this epidemic , there must be a time to look back fully to understand how such a disease emerged and spread its devastation so quickly across the globe , and how all those involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is not that time , it is also not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organization in the fight against the virus .
Which countries help to fund the WHO ?
The US is the largest single funder to the WHO and provided 15 per cent of its 2018-19 budget , with more than $ 400 million .
In March , the WHO launched an appeal for $ 675 million to help fight the pandemic and is now reported to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further $ 1 billion .
Why has the WHO been criticised ?
Mr Trump has accused the WHO of failing to adequately assess the virus outbreak when it emerged in Wuhan in January , claiming that if it had been more transparent about the situation in China , and brought more medical experts in , the virus could have been contained at its source “ with very little death ” .
He also questioned whether the generosity of the USA 's contribution to the organisation had been put to the best possible use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initial response .

US President Donald Trump has announced he is halting funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump said that payments will be frozen for 60 to 90 days pending a review, after stating the organisation had “failed in its basic duty” in its response to the outbreak.
Why is the US halting funding?
The US President made the decision to cut funding to the WHO over its handling of the health crisis.
He accused the global body of “severely mismanaging and covering up” the spread of the virus after it emerged in China, despite the fact it was declared a public health emergency on 30 January.
Mr Trump said the WHO must be held accountable for promoting “disinformation” about the virus following the initial outbreak in Wuhan, claiming it could have been contained at its source if the organisation had been better at investigating the early reports in China.
Speaking in a news conference at the White House on Tuesday (14 Apr), Mr Trump said: “I am directing my administration to halt funding while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organisation’s role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus.
The WHO is yet to respond to Trump’s announcement, but UN Secretary Antoni Guterres said the international community should be uniting in solidarity to stop the virus.
In a statement, he said: “This virus is unprecedented in our lifetime and requires an unprecedented response.
“Obviously, in such conditions, it is possible that the same facts have had different readings by different entities.
“Once we have finally turned the page on this epidemic, there must be a time to look back fully to understand how such a disease emerged and spread its devastation so quickly across the globe, and how all those involved reacted to the crisis.
“The lessons learned will be essential to effectively address similar challenges, as they may arise in the future. But now is not that time.
“As it is not that time, it is also not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organization in the fight against the virus.
Which countries help to fund the WHO?
The WHO is funded by a combination of members’ fees, based on wealth and population, and voluntary contributions, and it has 194 member states.
It relies on contributions from renowned scientists and medical professionals to inform its work, and is involved in vaccination campaigns, health emergencies and supporting countries in primary care.
The US is the largest single funder to the WHO and provided 15 per cent of its 2018-19 budget, with more than $400 million.
Aside from the US, the UK contributes the most funding of any other member states.
The following countries contributed the most funding to the WHO, according to financial figures from 2018:
United States – $436.8 million
United Kingdom – $318.7 million
Germany – $240.5 million
Japan – $134.7 million
Kuwait – $94.2 million
Sweden – $76.6 million
Norway – $64.7 million
Australia – $54.4 million
Canada – $46.2 million
In March, the WHO launched an appeal for $675 million to help fight the pandemic and is now reported to be planning a fresh appeal for a further $1 billion.
Without contributions from the US, the WHO’s battle against the virus, including working towards a vaccine, will be significantly hindered.
Why has the WHO been criticised?
Mr Trump has accused the WHO of failing to adequately assess the virus outbreak when it emerged in Wuhan in January, claiming that if it had been more transparent about the situation in China, and brought more medical experts in, the virus could have been contained at its source “with very little death”.
He also questioned whether the generosity of the USA’s contribution to the organisation had been put to the best possible use, and further criticised China’s initial response.
WHO experts were only permitted to visit China and investigate the outbreak on 10 February, by which point there were more than 40,000 confirmed cases in the country.
In mid-January, the WHO tweeted that preliminary investigations had found “no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission” of the virus, but then corrected the statement a week later saying that such transmission did appear to be happening in Wuhan.
It has also come under fire for stating travel restrictions were not needed to stop the spread of the virus, on the same day it declared it a public health emergency.
This advice was eventually ignored by several countries, including the Trump administration the following day.


inews--2020-04-18--Coronavirus latest: 150 people flout lockdown rules to attend funeral where motorbikes cause chaos

Coronavirus latest : 150 people flout lockdown rules to attend funeral where motorbikes cause chaos Police arrested two men at the scene for dangerous driving and driving without a license as one teenager was injured in a bike accident Two men were arrested and one teenager injured after scores of people , many of whom arrived on motorbikes , flouted lockdown rules to attend a funeral in Kent .
The ceremony , which was held on Sheppey Way in Sittingbourne on Thursday , was attended by around 150 people .
Kent Police say they were warned in advance about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to warn attendees about social distancing regulations .
After attending the scene , they arrested two men , aged 24 and 32 , on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving without a license .
The teenage boy injured on the scene was involved in a motorbike accident .
`` Kent Police was afforded very little notice about this large gathering and as such a decision was made to allow the funeral to go ahead during what was no doubt a difficult time for those who had lost a loved one , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Officers ' priority was to maintain a presence while offering protection to the wider community around any health concerns they may have had . ''
CI Loudon further added that officers would be in touch with those who had failed to follow lockdown rules to remind them of “ their personal responsibilities during these unprecedented times ” .
An increased police presence is expected in the area over the coming days .
`` Our investigation continues and where there are clear acts of anti-social behaviour , crime , and persistent breaches of coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and prosecute these , '' CI Laudon concluded .
Government guidance on holding funerals in the UK during the Covid 19 crisis limits only close members of the family of the deceased individual to attend services , during which two-metre social distancing measures should be upheld .

Two men were arrested and one teenager injured after scores of people, many of whom arrived on motorbikes, flouted lockdown rules to attend a funeral in Kent.
The ceremony, which was held on Sheppey Way in Sittingbourne on Thursday, was attended by around 150 people.
Kent Police say they were warned in advance about the illicit gathering, but didn’t have time to warn attendees about social distancing regulations.
After attending the scene, they arrested two men, aged 24 and 32, on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving without a license. The teenage boy injured on the scene was involved in a motorbike accident.
Two people have been arrested and enquiries continue to take place following a large gathering in #Sittingbournehttps://t.co/lCZERTJEK3 — Kent Police (UK) (@kent_police) April 17, 2020
“Kent Police was afforded very little notice about this large gathering and as such a decision was made to allow the funeral to go ahead during what was no doubt a difficult time for those who had lost a loved one,” Chief Inspector Neil Loudon said.
“Officers’ priority was to maintain a presence while offering protection to the wider community around any health concerns they may have had.”
Investigation continues
CI Loudon further added that officers would be in touch with those who had failed to follow lockdown rules to remind them of “their personal responsibilities during these unprecedented times”.
An increased police presence is expected in the area over the coming days.
“Our investigation continues and where there are clear acts of anti-social behaviour, crime, and persistent breaches of coronavirus legislation then we will seek to identify and prosecute these,” CI Laudon concluded.
Government guidance on holding funerals in the UK during the Covid 19 crisis limits only close members of the family of the deceased individual to attend services, during which two-metre social distancing measures should be upheld.


inews--2020-04-18--Coronavirus in the UK: Britons reduce food waste, eat smaller portions and enjoy meals more, new res

Coronavirus in the UK: Britons reduce food waste, eat smaller portions and enjoy meals more, new research says

Coronavirus in the UK : Britons reduce food waste , eat smaller portions and enjoy meals more , new research says Consumers staying at home and unable to dine out in restaurants are making their 'lockdown larders ' last longer Consumers unable to dine out in restaurants or buy fast food are making their “ lockdown larders ” last longer , ignoring some best-before and use-by labels , making meals smaller , and throwing away less .
New research by environmental charity Hubbub also found that virtual dinner parties , cooking from scratch and eating more family meals together marked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behaviour as a result of the pandemic .
However , the poll also shed a light on the thousands of UK citizens who are worried about access to food and are struggling to eat , with increasing numbers reliant on foodbanks for the first time .
Initially , there were fears that the panic buying and stockpiling that occurred across the nation ahead of lockdown would lead to an increase in food waste .
However 48 per cent of those surveyed said they were throwing away far less .
Of the individuals surveyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that their shopping and cooking habits had changed since the lockdown was announced , while around 57 per cent admit they value food more .
A sizeable 43 per cent of people even admitted to enjoying food more since restrictions were enforced .
People are making food last longer and stretch further during lockdown ( Photo : Getty ) More than half ( 51 per cent ) said they were wasting less food at meal times , and the same number planning meals more carefully .
Meanwhile , 27 per cent said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at meal times .
Around a third also admitted to making better use of their freezers to make food stretch further .
Other statistics revealed by the charity include that one in six people are eating more out-of-date food and ignoring use-by date recommendations .
Respondents reported using cans of coconut milk and pasta six years past their sell-by dates without falling ill , while one individual admitted to using a can of baked beans that had been lurking at the back of their cupboard since 1989 .
Even so , there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third of fresh food will perish on farms because of a chronic shortage of migrant workers made worse by current travel restrictions .
In March , Concordia , a farm labour charity that sources workers for British farms said it was “ desperately worried ” about the impact on the UK harvest the restrictions will have .
Since then , the charity has been forced to fly in hundreds of labourers from Romania to pick crops in time , as thousands of British workers who responded to a nationwide appeal to help pick @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Britons at home have reduced their food waste in an unexpected upturn to the Government-enforced coronavirus lockdown.
Consumers unable to dine out in restaurants or buy fast food are making their “lockdown larders” last longer, ignoring some best-before and use-by labels, making meals smaller, and throwing away less.
New research by environmental charity Hubbub also found that virtual dinner parties, cooking from scratch and eating more family meals together marked a notable change in shopping and eating behaviour as a result of the pandemic.
However, the poll also shed a light on the thousands of UK citizens who are worried about access to food and are struggling to eat, with increasing numbers reliant on foodbanks for the first time.
Wasting less, planning more
Initially, there were fears that the panic buying and stockpiling that occurred across the nation ahead of lockdown would lead to an increase in food waste. However 48 per cent of those surveyed said they were throwing away far less.
Of the individuals surveyed early in April, 90 per cent said that their shopping and cooking habits had changed since the lockdown was announced, while around 57 per cent admit they value food more. A sizeable 43 per cent of people even admitted to enjoying food more since restrictions were enforced.
More than half (51 per cent) said they were wasting less food at meal times, and the same number planning meals more carefully. Meanwhile, 27 per cent said they were serving more exacting portion sizes at meal times. Around a third also admitted to making better use of their freezers to make food stretch further.
Other statistics revealed by the charity include that one in six people are eating more out-of-date food and ignoring use-by date recommendations.
Respondents reported using cans of coconut milk and pasta six years past their sell-by dates without falling ill, while one individual admitted to using a can of baked beans that had been lurking at the back of their cupboard since 1989.
Harvest fears
Even so, there are wider problems afoot with fears over a third of fresh food will perish on farms because of a chronic shortage of migrant workers made worse by current travel restrictions.
Food producers across Britain rely on a workforce of around 70,000 seasonal labourers, many from eastern Europe, to harvest fruit and vegetable crops.
In March, Concordia, a farm labour charity that sources workers for British farms said it was “desperately worried” about the impact on the UK harvest the restrictions will have.
Since then, the charity has been forced to fly in hundreds of labourers from Romania to pick crops in time, as thousands of British workers who responded to a nationwide appeal to help pick fruit and vegetables rejected job offers.
“To date 900 people have explicitly rejected the roles we have offered and 112 have taken up our offer of a role on a UK farm,” Concordia said.


inews--2020-04-18--Lyra McKee death: Police issue fresh plea for help, one year on from journalist's murder

Lyra McKee death : Police issue fresh plea for help , one year on from journalist 's murder The senior officer leading the investigation said the journalist 's family can not begin to grieve until all the details are known Detectives investigating the killing of the 29-year-old reporter have written to residents in the Creggan area of the city , asking them to think back to the night she died , and offering anonymity to anyone who can help to catch the killer .
Ms McKee - who had written extensively for outlets including The Belfast Telegraph and Buzzfeed News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gay woman in Northern Ireland - was shot by while observing clashes with police in the district .
The dissident republican group the New IRA later admitted responsibility for the killing .
A man has been charged with her murder , and a number of additional paramilitary offences , but denies all charges , as police continue to search for first-hand evidence relating to the events before and after her death .
A plaque and flowers left in tribute to journalist Lyra McKee near the scene of her shooting on April 19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Photo : Charles McQuillan/Getty Images ) 'Help us resolve a small part of the nightmare' “ The events that led up to Lyra being shot , and the events afterwards , are equally important .
I am asking the community to reach into its conscience and tell us what it knows .
He said : “ We have made the public portal available again , so that you can contact us discreetly .
Log on to https : //mipp.police.uk from your mobile , tablet , laptop or other device .
Robyn Peoples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern Ireland 's first same-sex couple to be legally married embrace and kiss in front of the Lyra McKee mural in Belfast , Northern Ireland ( Photo : Charles McQuillan/Getty Images ) '' As we remember Lyra today , and think of her partner and family , we also think of journalists elsewhere who put their lives on the line when they get up and go to work each day .
She said : `` I wish we stayed in bed that night and read books and talked nonsense to each other .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t want to give up hope .
”

Saturday marks one year since Northern Irish journalist Lyra McKee was shot dead in Derry, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have launched a fresh appeal for information into her murder.
Detectives investigating the killing of the 29-year-old reporter have written to residents in the Creggan area of the city, asking them to think back to the night she died, and offering anonymity to anyone who can help to catch the killer.
Ms McKee – who had written extensively for outlets including The Belfast Telegraph and Buzzfeed News about the Troubles and her experiences as a gay woman in Northern Ireland – was shot by while observing clashes with police in the district.
The dissident republican group the New IRA later admitted responsibility for the killing. A man has been charged with her murder, and a number of additional paramilitary offences, but denies all charges, as police continue to search for first-hand evidence relating to the events before and after her death.
‘Help us resolve a small part of the nightmare’
In a direct appeal to the Creggan community, Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy said: “Lyra’s murder was not committed in isolation, nor did it involve only one person.
“The events that led up to Lyra being shot, and the events afterwards, are equally important. I am asking the community to reach into its conscience and tell us what it knows.
“Lyra’s family cannot begin the grieving process without the information about Lyra’s murder that they deserve.”
Detective Murphy has also extended his plea to the wider community, asking for the submission of any mobile or video footage taken on the tragic night in Derry.
He said: “We have made the public portal available again, so that you can contact us discreetly. Log on to https://mipp.police.uk from your mobile, tablet, laptop or other device.
“We do not need to keep your mobile phone or device, we are only interested in downloading the videos or images of that night.”
He added: “Ease your conscience and help us resolve a small part of the nightmare that the McKee family live through every single day.”
‘A senseless and cruel killing’
Members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) have joined “in solidarity and remembrance” of the young journalist’s life and legacy, with friends and colleagues using the hashtag #WeStandWithLyra to pay tribute on Twitter.
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: “Lyra was a journalist who represented the best of Northern Ireland with a future ahead that reflected her optimism, her confidence, her ambition and her strong sense of social justice and commitment to equality.
“As we remember Lyra today, and think of her partner and family, we also think of journalists elsewhere who put their lives on the line when they get up and go to work each day.
Horrific year
Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle on Friday, Lyra McKee’s partner Sara Canning talked of her “most horrific and surreal year”.
She said: “I wish we stayed in bed that night and read books and talked nonsense to each other. I really hope we get justice. I don’t want to give up hope.”
Ms Stanistreet added: “The greatest tribute we can pay Lyra is to find ways to encourage and promote the kind of imaginative, insightful and brave journalism for which she will be remembered.”
Seamus Dooley, NUJ Irish secretary, added: “Lyra had an unrivalled zest for life and for living. That is what makes her senseless killing so cruel.
“In her writings, in her approach to issues of poverty, equality and exclusion, Lyra was not afraid to ask the difficult question, to challenge the conventional and accepted wisdoms and to look for new and imaginative solutions to problems. That’s her legacy.
“What marked Lyra apart was her optimism, her unfailing good humour and her refusal to become cynical while fearlessly questioning the status quo.
“Like Martin O’Hagan, Lyra did not ask for the crown of martyrdom. On her first anniversary it is important that we celebrate the legacy of a woman of imagination, humour and enormous talent.”


inews--2020-04-18--Coronavirus latest: Anger from doctors and nurses over calls to re-use PPE to avert shortage

Coronavirus latest : Anger from doctors and nurses over calls to re-use PPE to avert shortage The drastic changes to guidance on re-use of PPE , made as a shortage looms , has been branded a 'betrayal ' of medical staff On Friday , Public Health England tore up its previous guidance on protective equipment , and directed NHS staff to reuse PPE `` until confirmation of adequate re-supply is in place '' - adding that `` some compromise is needed to optimise the supply of PPE in times of extreme shortages '' .
Previously , healthcare staff have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gowns , but Chris Hopson , chairman of NHS Providers , warns that some trusts will run out of supplies in the next 24-48 hours as the national stock is exhausted .
If the gowns are not available , clinical staff are now advised to wear `` disposable , non-fluid repellent gowns or coveralls '' or `` washable surgical gowns '' , with aprons , and to wash their forearms afterwards .
Doctor Judah Eastwell , a GP at St Johns Medical Centre , puts on his PPE to assess a coronavirus patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BMA consultants committee chairman Dr Rob Harwood said the situation is `` a further admission of the dire situation that some doctors and healthcare workers continue to find themselves in because of Government failings . ''
`` If it 's being proposed that staff reuse equipment , this must be demonstrably driven by science and the best evidence - rather than availability - and it absolutely can not compromise the protection of healthcare workers . ''
She said : `` Gowns and other equipment are an essential part of the protective arsenal not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many other procedures .
`` It is intolerable that safety guidelines are now being weakened to reflect shortages in supply when the Government has had months to prepare for this outbreak .
`` There has been ample international evidence of the frightening stresses which the virus has placed on other healthcare systems .
There should be no element of surprise . ''
The Royal College of Nursing chief executive Dame Donna Kinnair said the body was not consulted about the change , adding it was `` unacceptable '' if PPE was not provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surveyed claimed the current levels of PPE left them feeling as if they were being `` thrown to the wolves '' , while another added they should not be forced to choose between doing their job or keeping themselves and their family safe . '
A truly sorry state of affairs' Meanwhile , Health Secretary Matt Hancock has urged more companies to volunteer to manufacture PPE domestically , and confessed he would `` love to be able to wave a magic wand '' to increase PPE supplies .
BMA council chairman Dr Chaand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Covid-19 crisis in Britain , we should n't still be hearing that doctors feel unprotected when they go to work .
`` The Government says that one billion items will soon have been shipped , and while there have been signs of improvement , our research clearly shows that equipment is not reaching all doctors working on the front line .
`` This is a truly sorry state of affairs and we renew our call for the Government to work with manufacturers to ramp up domestic supply .
However , Saffron Cordery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which represents hospital trusts , said it was hoped the disruption to supply would only be short-lived , and that gowns would soon arrive `` consistently and reliably rather than in the current fits and starts '' .

The British Medical Association has condemned new guidance directing doctors and nurses to re-use personal protective equipment (PPE) when treating coronavirus patients due to a looming shortage.
On Friday, Public Health England tore up its previous guidance on protective equipment, and directed NHS staff to reuse PPE “until confirmation of adequate re-supply is in place” – adding that “some compromise is needed to optimise the supply of PPE in times of extreme shortages”.
Previously, healthcare staff have been required to wear long-sleeved disposable fluid repellant gowns, but Chris Hopson, chairman of NHS Providers, warns that some trusts will run out of supplies in the next 24-48 hours as the national stock is exhausted.
If the gowns are not available, clinical staff are now advised to wear “disposable, non-fluid repellent gowns or coveralls” or “washable surgical gowns”, with aprons, and to wash their forearms afterwards.
However, this stance has provoked increasing criticism and concern from numerous healthcare bodies, as well as thousands of doctors and nurses on the frontline.
‘A betrayal’
BMA consultants committee chairman Dr Rob Harwood said the situation is “a further admission of the dire situation that some doctors and healthcare workers continue to find themselves in because of Government failings.”
He added: “Telling staff to use aprons in the place of gowns directly contravenes both Public Health England’s previous guidance and that of the World Health Organisation.
“This is guidance that’s there to help keep healthcare workers and their patients, out of harms’ way.
“If it’s being proposed that staff reuse equipment, this must be demonstrably driven by science and the best evidence – rather than availability – and it absolutely cannot compromise the protection of healthcare workers.”
Dr Claudia Paoloni, president of the doctors’ union HCSA, called the move a “betrayal”.
She said: “Gowns and other equipment are an essential part of the protective arsenal not just for Covid-19 positive patients but for many other procedures.
“It is intolerable that safety guidelines are now being weakened to reflect shortages in supply when the Government has had months to prepare for this outbreak.
“There has been ample international evidence of the frightening stresses which the virus has placed on other healthcare systems. There should be no element of surprise.”
‘Unacceptable, with no scientific evidence’
The Royal College of Nursing chief executive Dame Donna Kinnair said the body was not consulted about the change, adding it was “unacceptable” if PPE was not provided in a healthcare setting.
She said: “Only sound scientific evidence or safety concerns should change the guidance.
“We have written to the HSE in the strongest terms to voice our concerns. Nursing staff need to be afforded proper protection full stop.”
A survey by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) found half of nurses have felt pressure to work without appropriate protective equipment during the crisis.
Likewise, a British Medical Association (BMA) survey of more than 6,000 doctors across the country revealed a a significant number remain without the protection they need to guard against Covid-19.
One doctor surveyed claimed the current levels of PPE left them feeling as if they were being “thrown to the wolves”, while another added they should not be forced to choose between doing their job or keeping themselves and their family safe.
‘A truly sorry state of affairs’
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has urged more companies to volunteer to manufacture PPE domestically, and confessed he would “love to be able to wave a magic wand” to increase PPE supplies.
BMA council chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: “Two months into the Covid-19 crisis in Britain, we shouldn’t still be hearing that doctors feel unprotected when they go to work.
“The Government says that one billion items will soon have been shipped, and while there have been signs of improvement, our research clearly shows that equipment is not reaching all doctors working on the front line.
“This is a truly sorry state of affairs and we renew our call for the Government to work with manufacturers to ramp up domestic supply.
“Too many doctors and healthcare staff have already lost their lives. We cannot afford to risk losing any more.”
However, Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, said it was hoped the disruption to supply would only be short-lived, and that gowns would soon arrive “consistently and reliably rather than in the current fits and starts”.
Nevertheless, Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation – a body which claims to speak for the health and care system – told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think the worrying situation is absolutely there.
“The reality is that there is a chance…hospitals could run out or, indeed, other parts of the system could run out of the gowns which are required to treat some, not all, Covid patients.”
He added: “It’s much less than satisfactory.”


inews--2020-04-18--Who won MasterChef 2020 last night? Thomas Frake crowned series winner after dramatic final cook-off

Who won MasterChef 2020 last night ?
Thomas Frake crowned series winner after dramatic final cook-off Thomas Frake learned to cook with his mum and nan aged just seven and later fell in love with Greek and Spanish cooking After fierce competition from 59 other amateur cooks , the 32-year-old banking and finance professional became the 16th contestant to be awarded the trophy by judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace .
“ Honestly , it 's a dream come true , ” he said .
“ It 's been immense and the best thing I 've ever done in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not working in food for the rest of my life because it just makes me happy seeing other people happy with it.
” Thomas faced off tough competition in the final week along with the incredibly talented digital security manager David Rickett , technology consultant Sandy Tang , and Claire Fyfe , who left on Thursday night 's show .
In an intense final week , MasterChef viewers have seen him take a gastronomic trip of a lifetime to the culinary melting pot of Mauritius and creating lunch for hungry Mauritian fisherman .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and David with John , Gregg ( Photo : Shine TV ) The cooks strove to gain unique insight into Albert ’ s culinary mind from him and his team at Cakes and Bubbles , in London ’ s Café Royal , in order to each meticulously recreate two of Albert ’ s creations for a Chef ’ s Table of world-class pastry experts .
The final task was to prepare the best three-course meal of their lives , for the MasterChef judges .
Thomas ’ winning menu started with a monkfish scampi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course of braised ox cheek .
Thomas finished his menu with a dessert of salted caramel custard tart served with popcorn ice cream .
Thomas , who started cooking from the age of seven , said his love of food began with baking as a child with his mum and nan and his appreciation grew with gravels to Greece and Spain .
He said : “ During the competition , I started to feel more at home in the MasterChef kitchen than I did in mine .
Being judged by John and Gregg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s incredible when they tell you why your dish is good and that they understand what you were trying to achieve.
” 'They had his heart and soul in every single forkful' Thomas , who lives in Tooting with his girlfriend , said he wants to gain experience in professional kitchens after these ” tough and unprecedented times for the industry “ .
MasterChef judge , Gregg Wallace , added : “ Thomas has a definitive style .
He takes the ordinary and make it extraordinary .
I really admire Thomas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he grew up with and make them better .
He has delighted me all the way through the competition and today I think his three courses were just exceptional .
They had his heart and his soul in every single forkful .
”

Thomas Frake has become the MasterChef 2020 champion after an exhilarating final cook-off watched by millions of locked-down fans.
After fierce competition from 59 other amateur cooks, the 32-year-old banking and finance professional became the 16th contestant to be awarded the trophy by judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.
“Honestly, it’s a dream come true,” he said. “It’s been immense and the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. I can’t see me not working in food for the rest of my life because it just makes me happy seeing other people happy with it.”
Tough competition
Thomas faced off tough competition in the final week along with the incredibly talented digital security manager David Rickett, technology consultant Sandy Tang, and Claire Fyfe, who left on Thursday night’s show.
In an intense final week, MasterChef viewers have seen him take a gastronomic trip of a lifetime to the culinary melting pot of Mauritius and creating lunch for hungry Mauritian fisherman.
In the penultimate programme, the Final Four entered the Willy Wonka world of the planet’s greatest pastry chef, Albert Adria.
The cooks strove to gain unique insight into Albert’s culinary mind from him and his team at Cakes and Bubbles, in London’s Café Royal, in order to each meticulously recreate two of Albert’s creations for a Chef’s Table of world-class pastry experts.
The final task was to prepare the best three-course meal of their lives, for the MasterChef judges.
Thomas’ winning menu started with a monkfish scampi, which was followed by a main course of braised ox cheek. Thomas finished his menu with a dessert of salted caramel custard tart served with popcorn ice cream.
Thomas, who started cooking from the age of seven, said his love of food began with baking as a child with his mum and nan and his appreciation grew with gravels to Greece and Spain.
He said: “During the competition, I started to feel more at home in the MasterChef kitchen than I did in mine. Being judged by John and Gregg is a hugely positive experience. It’s incredible when they tell you why your dish is good and that they understand what you were trying to achieve.”
‘They had his heart and soul in every single forkful’
Thomas, who lives in Tooting with his girlfriend, said he wants to gain experience in professional kitchens after these ”tough and unprecedented times for the industry“.
”Further down the line,“ he said. ”I would one day love to own a gastropub. Maybe a classic East End boozer or a picturesque country pub.“
MasterChef judge, Gregg Wallace, added: “Thomas has a definitive style. He takes the ordinary and make it extraordinary. I really admire Thomas. He wants to take all the foods that he grew up with and make them better. He has delighted me all the way through the competition and today I think his three courses were just exceptional. They had his heart and his soul in every single forkful.”


inews--2020-04-18--Britain's Got Talent winners list – in full: who won every BGT series so far, and where they are now

Britain 's Got Talent winners list – in full : who won every BGT series so far , and where they are now From awe-inspiring to the insipid : a look back at all 13 winners of Britain 's Got Talent With a new series of Britain 's Got Talent arriving in the coronavirus pandemic , it 's time to take a look back at the various acts who have wowed the judges and audience with their weird and wonderful performances .
From discovering genuinely staggering talents like Paul Potts early on through to a tightrope walking dog ( who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ canine ) , the judges - Simon Cowell , Alesha Dixon , David Walliams and Amanda Holden - have most definitely found a very varied mix of talent within the British Isles .
In light of this new series , let 's look back over the 13 years of the show and find out who won each year 's competition , and where they are now .
The debut of Britain 's Got Talent in 2007 had a genuinely jaw-dropping winner in the shape of Paul Potts .
More than two million people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final and Potts said it was was `` absolutely bonkers '' that he had won .
He has since released seven albums and his life story was made into a film starring James Corden .
Potts still performs now , but also does a spot of accountancy in between jobs .
Breakdancing was the talent that secured 14-year-old George Sampson the win in 2008 .
He performed to Mint Royale ’ s remix of Singin ’ in the Rain , and the song later went to number one in the charts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Local concert in London 's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in 2013 ( Photo : Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images for Go Local ) It was a hat-trick for dancing-type winners as in 2010 it was gymnastic crew Spelbound who won .
Simon Cowell said is was `` one of the most astonishing things I have ever seen ” , and just imagine the sights he 's seen over the years .
They went on to release a DVD and they performed at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympics , but most of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was another shock result in 2011 , when everyone assumed Ronan Parke ( `` the English Bieber '' ) was expected to scoop up the prize .
Instead , it was Scottish singer Jai McDowall who 's performance of Bring Me To Life by Evanescence was deemed the greatest talent in the country .
He released one album , Believe , in 2011 , then it looked like Cowell did n't actually believe in him anymore and he was dropped from the Syco label in 2012 .
He 's most recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ About Musicals .
Ashley and Pudsey performing in 2012 in Epsom , England .
( Photo : Bryn Lennon/Getty Images ) Two legs bad , four legs good : here 's when the animals started to take over .
Ashleigh Butler and her dog Pudsey performed a Mission Impossible-style routine which led them to win the £100,000 prize .
They went on to perform at the Royal Variety Performance and Pudsey even starred in his own film , Pudsey the Dog : The Movie .
Jules O'Dwyer and Matisse in 2016 in London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harvey/Getty Images ) It was proper dogs dinner in 2014 , when BGT fell into a national scandal ( in the loosest sense of the word ) when it turned out that Jules O'Dwyer had done a little switcheroo with her dog , Matisse , in the final .
She substituted him for a dog called Chase and never told viewers , who were fuming .
1,175 people complained to Ofcom and the audience bayed for her to be stripped of the winner 's title .
It was back to music artists in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own stamp on classical and electro tunes on the BGT stage .
Amanda Holden said : `` I ’ d never have predicted Tokio [ to win ] .
He was so cool and so diverse that I wouldn ’ t have thought he was typical for our audience . ''
Colin Thackery won the last series of Britain 's Got Talent earlier this year ( Photo : ITV )

With a new series of Britain’s Got Talent arriving in the coronavirus pandemic, it’s time to take a look back at the various acts who have wowed the judges and audience with their weird and wonderful performances.
From discovering genuinely staggering talents like Paul Potts early on through to a tightrope walking dog (who was later revealed to be a different canine), the judges – Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, David Walliams and Amanda Holden – have most definitely found a very varied mix of talent within the British Isles.
In light of this new series, let’s look back over the 13 years of the show and find out who won each year’s competition, and where they are now.
2007, Series 1: Paul Potts
The debut of Britain’s Got Talent in 2007 had a genuinely jaw-dropping winner in the shape of Paul Potts. More than two million people voted for the Nessun Dorma-singing star in the final and Potts said it was was “absolutely bonkers” that he had won.
He has since released seven albums and his life story was made into a film starring James Corden. Potts still performs now, but also does a spot of accountancy in between jobs.
2008, series 2: George Sampson
Breakdancing was the talent that secured 14-year-old George Sampson the win in 2008. He performed to Mint Royale’s remix of Singin’ in the Rain, and the song later went to number one in the charts.
Since then, he’s moved into acting and has appeared in Waterloo Road and Emmerdale.
2009, series 3: Diversity Diversity were the shock winners in 2009, as Susan Boyle had been tipped to win, thanks to her incredible performance of I Dreamed a Dream. She went on to become a multi-million album-selling star, but it was dance collective Diversity who took the grand prize home instead. Since winning, the two stand-out stars have been Perri Kiely and Ashley Banjo. Kiely has been seen on shows like Splash! (which he won) and was on Celebrity Great British Bake Off. Banjo has most recently been seen as a judge on Dancing on Ice and host of dancing date show, Flirty Dancing.
2010, series 4: Spelbound
It was a hat-trick for dancing-type winners as in 2010 it was gymnastic crew Spelbound who won. Simon Cowell said is was “one of the most astonishing things I have ever seen”, and just imagine the sights he’s seen over the years.
They went on to release a DVD and they performed at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympics, but most of the original members have now left the group.
2011, series 5: Jai McDowall
It was another shock result in 2011, when everyone assumed Ronan Parke (“the English Bieber”) was expected to scoop up the prize. Instead, it was Scottish singer Jai McDowall who’s performance of Bring Me To Life by Evanescence was deemed the greatest talent in the country.
He released one album, Believe, in 2011, then it looked like Cowell didn’t actually believe in him anymore and he was dropped from the Syco label in 2012. He’s most recently been seen performing in stage show Mad About Musicals.
2012, series 6: Ashleigh and Pudsey
Two legs bad, four legs good: here’s when the animals started to take over. Ashleigh Butler and her dog Pudsey performed a Mission Impossible-style routine which led them to win the £100,000 prize. They went on to perform at the Royal Variety Performance and Pudsey even starred in his own film, Pudsey the Dog: The Movie.
However, Pudsey died in 2017 and Ashleigh began performing with a new dog, Sully. Together, they won the agility competition in Crufts last year.
2013, series 7: Attraction
Things went a bit avant-garde in 2013, when Hungarian shadow artists Attraction took the top spot. Amanda Holden was always in tears when they performed their – frankly quite upsetting – stories of dying children and women giving birth.
Later on, they performed in shows around the world, and were last seen on a 2014 advert for Swinton Insurance.
2014, series 8: Collabro
They’re bros, but they’re also collaborators: they are Collabro. The five-piece singing group beat Lucy Kay and Bars and Melody to triumph in the eight series of the talent competition.
They’ve gone on to have a pretty decent career, post-BGT, and despite member Richard Hatfield leaving in 2016. They’ve released four albums, and are currently on a UK tour.
2015, series 9: Jules O’Dwyer & Matisse
It was proper dogs dinner in 2014, when BGT fell into a national scandal (in the loosest sense of the word) when it turned out that Jules O’Dwyer had done a little switcheroo with her dog, Matisse, in the final. She substituted him for a dog called Chase and never told viewers, who were fuming. 1,175 people complained to Ofcom and the audience bayed for her to be stripped of the winner’s title.
By the looks of things, the dog-and-human duo have gone into hiding, as they currently live in live in Tongeren, Belgium.
2016, series 10: Richard Jones
It was ex-army man Richard Jones who became the first magician ever to win BGT in 2016. His performance included a tribute to the Forces.
Since his win, he appeared in a TV show called Operation Magic and has since toured the UK with his magic show Power of Imagination. He also toured Butlins in 2018.
2017, series 11: Tokio Myers
It was back to music artists in 2017, when pianist Tokio Myers put his own stamp on classical and electro tunes on the BGT stage. Amanda Holden said: “I’d never have predicted Tokio [to win]. He was so cool and so diverse that I wouldn’t have thought he was typical for our audience.”
Since winning, he released his debut album, Our Generation, in 2017 and earlier this year appeared on America’s Got Talent: The Champions.
2018, series 12: Lost Voice Guy
Stand-up comedian Lost Voice Guy (AKA Lee Ridley) picked up the grand prize last year, winning 21 per cent of the final vote.
Ridley has cerebral palsy and speaks with the help of a synthesiser.
Since winning last year, he has co-written and performed in Radio 4 sitcom Ability.
2019, series 13: Colin Thackery
Thackery won the nation’s heart when the Chelsea Pensioner wowed everyone with his voice and his down to earth nature.
Having served the Queen, Thackery expressed his joy at finally being able to perform in front of her when he explained how he felt after winning the show.
“I served my Queen for 25 years and to think I could sing for her would be the end. I could die happy.”
Despite only winning months ago, Thackery will be back on the BGT stage in a bid to be crowned BGT champion.


inews--2020-04-18--Captain Tom Moore: how to donate to the WW2 veteran's Just Giving page as his NHS fundraising walk t

Captain Tom Moore: how to donate to the WW2 veteran's Just Giving page as his NHS fundraising walk tops £22m

Captain Tom Moore : how to donate to the WW2 veteran 's Just Giving page as his NHS fundraising walk tops £22m One army veteran is doing everything he can to aid in the fight against coronavirus as the pandemic continues to spread Captain Tom Moore , who will turn 100 at the end of April , has managed to raise over £22 million for the NHS - after setting an initial target of £1,000 .
Captain Tom Moore has raised an incredible amount of money for the NHS ( Photo : Tom Moore ) Captain Moore had aimed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 16 April , with the use of a walking frame , and reached the milestone bang on time on Thursday morning .
In the process , he became something of a national treasure , with widespread calls for him to be knighted for his efforts .
`` Our country and all our nations , we 're all so generous in all sorts of ways .
But it 's for a super purpose , '' he said .
The page explained his aim to walk a hundred lengths of his back garden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he hits 100 years old at the end of the month .
His profile was boosted dramatically after he made an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Monday 13 April , saying : “ Who would have thought that when I set a target of £1,000 a week ago , it could have reached £500,000 ?
” Speaking on the show , Captain Moore said : “ Piers and Susanna it is amazing and thank you Piers for your contribution yesterday .
It was enormous , it was so kind of you .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors and nurses on the front line .
In the last war it was soldiers in uniform on the front line .
This time our army are the doctors and nurses uniforms .
They ’ re doing such a marvelous job .
“ Thank you very , very much .
You are so kind .
It ’ s such a benefit to so many people .
You ’ re giving hope to the people finding it very difficult .
We will survive this.
” What charity is the money going towards ?
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ items , such as well-being packs for NHS staff , rest and recuperation rooms and electronic devices for patients to keep in touch with their loved ones .
Ellie Orton , chief executive of the charity that will receive the money from the fundraising , spoke to the BBC , saying : “ I think I absolutely join the rest of the county in being truly inspired and profoundly humbled by Captain Tom and what he has achieved .
The NHS Charities Together Twitter account also tweeted : “ And he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has surpassed his new £1million target already !
Keep going , Tom .
How much more can you help him raise for our # COVID19 Urgent Appeal ?
# walkwithtom # NHS.
” How do I donate to Captain Tom Moore ’ s campaign ?
The aim was to raise money before Tom turned 100 years old at the end of the month , so the campaign should remain open until then - there has been no word on when the campaign will officially end .

Captain Tom Moore, who turns 100 today, has now managed to raise over £31 million for the NHS – after setting an initial target of £1,000.
Originally, his plan was to complete 100 circuits by his 100th birthday on Thursday 30 April. He completed the challenge two weeks ahead of schedule, overseen by a special military guard of honour.
In the process, he became the biggest ever individual fundraiser on charity site JustGiving, i revealed, and even landed a number one single in the process.
Record-breaking fundraiser
Captain Tom Moore, a 99-year-old army veteran, completely surpassed his original target of raising £1,000 for the NHS in the fight against Covid-19 two weeks before his birthday.
Captain Moore had aimed to complete 100 laps of his Bedfordshire garden by 16 April, with the use of a walking frame, and reached the milestone bang on time on Thursday morning.
In the process, he became a truenational treasure, with widespread calls for him to be knighted for his efforts.
His daughter Hannah said he had become a “beacon of hope” during challenging times.
Generous nation
Speaking to ITV after completing his challenge, the captain said the public generosity had been “unbelievable”.
“Our country and all our nations, we’re all so generous in all sorts of ways. But it’s for a super purpose,” he said.
“Nurses, doctors and all the back-up workers, they deserve everything we can give them.”
Captain Moore’s family had set up a Just Giving fundraising page, titled: “Captain Tom Moore’s 100th Birthday Walk for the NHS.”
The page explained his aim to walk a hundred lengths of his back garden, which is 25m in length, before he hits 100 years old at the end of the month.
What charity is the money going towards?
The money raised by the fundraiser is going towards NHS Charities Together.
The money will be spent on much needed items, such as well-being packs for NHS staff, rest and recuperation rooms and electronic devices for patients to keep in touch with their loved ones.
Ellie Orton, chief executive of the charity that will receive the money from the fundraising, spoke to the BBC, saying: “I think I absolutely join the rest of the county in being truly inspired and profoundly humbled by Captain Tom and what he has achieved.
“Thank you for being an inspiration and a role model.”
The NHS Charities Together Twitter account also tweeted: “And he’s done it. War hero @captaintommoore has surpassed his new £1million target already! Keep going, Tom. How much more can you help him raise for our #COVID19 Urgent Appeal? #walkwithtom #NHS.”
How do I donate to Captain Tom Moore’s campaign?
If you want to donate to the campaign, you can do so by visiting the Just Giving page online here.
Just hit the ‘donate’ button and you’ll be taken to a page where you can choose the donation amount – you can choose from the pre-selected amounts of £10, £20, £30, £50 or £100, or alternatively you can enter a specific amount yourself.
The aim was to raise money before Tom turned 100 years old at the end of the month, so the campaign should remain open until then – there has been no word on when the campaign will officially end.


inews--2020-04-18--NHS Charities Together: where your money goes when you donate to Captain Tom Moore and other NHS fun

NHS Charities Together: where your money goes when you donate to Captain Tom Moore and other NHS fundraising challenges

NHS Charities Together : where your money goes when you donate to Captain Tom Moore and other NHS fundraising challenges NHS Charities Together gives £1m every day to the NHS Members of the public are carrying out a variety of challenges to raise money for the NHS , where staff are working tirelessly to treat patients with coronavirus and often risk their own health in the process .
From individuals who run 5km and then donate £5 , to the 99-year-old who has completed 100 laps of his garden with a walking frame and has so far raised more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to show their appreciation of the National Health Service and its staff .
The Run for Heroes fundraising campaign , through Virgin Money Giving , asks people to run 5km , donate £5 to help NHS workers and then nominate five other people to do the same .
It has raised more than £2.5m so far , with people continuing to take part in the challenge .
According to the Virgin Money Giving page , the money goes to NHS Charities Together and will fund well-being packs for NHS staff and volunteers as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parking and accommodation for staff and volunteers .
What is NHS Charities Together ?
`` Collectively these charities give £1m every day to the NHS so that people can stay well for longer and get better faster , '' the organisation 's website reads , adding that the charities have funded projects , hospital medical equipment and pioneered research .
The charities also support the health and well-being of staff .
Another message of support for the NHS in Hurst Green in southern England ( Photo : AFP/Getty ) What is NHS Charities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brighter Futures , the charity for Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Swindon , says its work enhances the environment for patients and staff .
It also `` enables carers and staff caring for patients to benefit from education and facilities not normally available within the NHS funding and fund extra equipment and staffing to the Trust above the NHS funding envelope '' .
How is the NHS funded ?
What about Captain Tom Moore and his walking challenge ?

Members of the public are carrying out a variety of challenges to raise money for the NHS, where staff are working tirelessly to treat patients with coronavirus and often risk their own health in the process.
From individuals who run 5km and then donate £5, to the 99-year-old who has completed 100 laps of his garden with a walking frame and has so far raised more than £25m, many are using their money to show their appreciation of the National Health Service and its staff.
But where exactly do your donations go?
Run 5km, donate £5
The Run for Heroes fundraising campaign, through Virgin Money Giving, asks people to run 5km, donate £5 to help NHS workers and then nominate five other people to do the same. It has raised more than £2.5m so far, with people continuing to take part in the challenge.
According to the Virgin Money Giving page, the money goes to NHS Charities Together and will fund well-being packs for NHS staff and volunteers as well as the cost of travel, parking and accommodation for staff and volunteers.
What is NHS Charities Together?
NHS Charities Together is the membership organisation for more than 140 official NHS charities across the UK that help hospitals and patients. In total there are more than 250 NHS charities.
These charities are the legal way in which each NHS Trusts and health board can raise and distribute charitable funds for their hospitals and services, according to NHS Charities Together.
In a nutshell, the charities help the NHS do more than Government funding may stretch to cover.
“Collectively these charities give £1m every day to the NHS so that people can stay well for longer and get better faster,” the organisation’s website reads, adding that the charities have funded projects, hospital medical equipment and pioneered research. The charities also support the health and well-being of staff.
Last year the charities raised £457m.
NHS Charities Together brings together its individual members for nationwide fundraising campaigns, such as the NHS Big Tea, which celebrates the health services’ birthday.
Alternatively the public can donate to a specific NHS charity to help a particular hospital, ward or area of care.
What is NHS Charities Together doing for the coronavirus pandemic?
The organisation has created a new Covid-19 appeal on Virgin Money Giving.
Money will go towards funding well-being packs and gifts for staff and volunteers. This might include food deliveries, protein bars, snacks and refreshments or wash bags and overnight kits.
Some money may fund travel and parking costs, accommodation and volunteer expenses.
Longer term mental health support for NHS staff, volunteers, patients and their families may also be funded.
The Virgin Money Giving page says the money may support isolated patients “through providing devices to communicate with friends and family whilst in hospital or isolating” or helping patients to leave hospital quickly and safely.
NHS Charities Together’s Covid-19 appeal fulfils its core mission to fund grants to help NHS charities support the health and emotional well-being of staff and volunteers above what NHS funding can usually provide.
Brighter Futures, the charity for Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Swindon, says its work enhances the environment for patients and staff. It also “enables carers and staff caring for patients to benefit from education and facilities not normally available within the NHS funding and fund extra equipment and staffing to the Trust above the NHS funding envelope”.
How is the NHS funded?
The NHS is funded through taxes and National Insurance contributions.
It is believed to be the fifth largest employer in the world, with around 1.5 million employees. In 2018/19, nearly £115bn was spent on the NHS England budget. In 2020/21, spending is projected to go up to £130bn.
What about Captain Tom Moore and his walking challenge?
Captain Tom Moore, the war veteran who completed 100 laps of his garden with a walking frame, has so far raised more than £25m for NHS workers.
His Just Giving page states the money will be donated to NHS Charities Together.
Read More Captain Tom Moore completes 100 laps of his garden and raises over £14m for the NHS
Money raised from sales of the single We’ll Meet Again, by war time singer Dame Vera Lynn and mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, will also go to NHS Charities Together.
Billionaire landowner and the Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor, has donated an extra £10m to the UK’s coronavirus relief effort. It follows an initial donation of £2.5m in March.
A sum of £5m will help create a Family Fund within NHS Charities Together, while £3m will go to national medical research and development linked to the Covid-19 illness and £2m to charities providing frontline support to those suffering the greatest long-term economic and social impact.


inews--2020-04-18--Too Hot to Handle cast: Full line-up of contestants for Netflix dating series, and how the 'new Love

Too Hot to Handle cast: Full line-up of contestants for Netflix dating series, and how the 'new Love Island' works

Too Hot to Handle cast : Full line-up of contestants for Netflix dating series , and how the 'new Love Island ' works Netflix 's latest dating reality show is their answer to Love Island .
The only catch ?
No touching Here 's how Netflix describes it : `` Ten young , hot singles from around the world come together in a tropical paradise for what they think will be the most exotic and erotic summer of their lives - but there ’ s a twist .
`` These commitment-phobes who love a casual hook-up will have to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retreat if they want to win the $ 100,000 grand prize .
No kissing , no heavy petting , and no self-gratification of any kind .
`` With every slip , the prize money goes down .
In this luxury no-bone zone , will the serial singletons be able to form deeper emotional connections ?
Or will the temptation simply be too hot to handle ? ''
Chloe is a `` loveable and mischievous '' Essex girl and a self-confessed heartbreaker .
She says she is `` aware of her sexual power '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but always ends up choosing the wrong one .
She was once asked to be in a girl band in South Korea and once fell so in love with someone in two weeks she got a tattoo of the date they met on her collarbone .
done in an `` unknown language '' - to this day she still doesn ’ t know what it says .
She says she is fully open when it comes to her sex life and is open to building romantic connections with both the boys and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Canada who once dated the DJ Diplo .
She describes herself as a free spirit , thrill-seeker and rule breaker , and is a true `` commitment-phone '' - despite having an ex 's name tattooed on the inside of her mouth .
Rhonda , from Atlanta , says she loves the chase but is bored of dating and now wants to find a meaningful connection .
If she likes someone she says she does n't let anyone get in her way .
Nicole is an Irish marketing consultant who lives in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on yachts in Chicago , hosting the likes of Kanye West , Justin Bieber and Jay Z .
She puts on a cool facade but is n't afraid to speak her mind .
She says she can be selfish and jealous , and is n't afraid to go after a guy another girl is interested in .
David is a semi-pro rugby player and motorbike enthusiast from London who also has a first-class degree in Engineering under his belt .
His ex-girlfriend is currently engaged to Hugh Hefner 's son .
Sharron is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also works as a professional kids ' wrestling coach - occasionally hitting on their mums from the sidelines .
He calls himself a 10/10 and was crowned My Pennsylvania in 2018 .
Matthew , from Colorado , has been in the running for America 's Next Top Model , but is worried that if he does n't change his way with women he will be left with his dog as his only companion .
He describes himself as a deep thinker with a spiritual outlook and has several life mottos , including `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I go '' .
Born in Austria and the oldest of eight children , Kelz moved to the UK as a 13-year-old and now works as a senior recruitment consultant in London .
He describes himself as an alpha male who is used to getting what he wants , and plays for the London Warriors American football team .

Earlier this year Netflix well and truly made a splash in the reality dating show world, with the impossibly addictive Love is Blind.
And now the streaming service is back with another outlandish idea, which appears to be its answer to Love Island.
Too Hot to Handle dropped on Friday 17 April, and challenges young singletons to spend the summer together, forging connections in an exotic paradise – so far, so simple.
The catch? They’re not allowed to touch each other.
Here’s how Netflix describes it: “Ten young, hot singles from around the world come together in a tropical paradise for what they think will be the most exotic and erotic summer of their lives – but there’s a twist.
“These commitment-phobes who love a casual hook-up will have to give up all hanky panky for the entire retreat if they want to win the $100,000 grand prize. No kissing, no heavy petting, and no self-gratification of any kind.
“With every slip, the prize money goes down. In this luxury no-bone zone, will the serial singletons be able to form deeper emotional connections? Or will the temptation simply be too hot to handle?”
Here are the contestants…
Chloe Veitch
Chloe is a “loveable and mischievous” Essex girl and a self-confessed heartbreaker. She says she is “aware of her sexual power” and knows how to seduce boys, but always ends up choosing the wrong one. She was once asked to be in a girl band in South Korea and once fell so in love with someone in two weeks she got a tattoo of the date they met on her collarbone.
Haley Cureton
Haley is a business student from Florida, who volunteers at an animal shelter and once got a tattoo
done in an “unknown language” – to this day she still doesn’t know what it says. She says she is fully open when it comes to her sex life and is open to building romantic connections with both the boys and the girls.
Francesca Farago
Francesca is a travel influencer from Canada who once dated the DJ Diplo. She describes herself as a free spirit, thrill-seeker and rule breaker, and is a true “commitment-phone” – despite having an ex’s name tattooed on the inside of her mouth.
Rhonda Paul
Rhonda, from Atlanta, says she loves the chase but is bored of dating and now wants to find a meaningful connection. If she likes someone she says she doesn’t let anyone get in her way.
Nicole O’Brien
Nicole is an Irish marketing consultant who lives in London. She spent two years working on yachts in Chicago, hosting the likes of Kanye West, Justin Bieber and Jay Z. She puts on a cool facade but isn’t afraid to speak her mind. She says she can be selfish and jealous, and isn’t afraid to go after a guy another girl is interested in.
David Birtwhistle
David is a semi-pro rugby player and motorbike enthusiast from London who also has a first-class degree in Engineering under his belt. His ex-girlfriend is currently engaged to Hugh Hefner’s son.
Sharron Townsend
Sharron is a personal trainer from New Jersey who also works as a professional kids’ wrestling coach – occasionally hitting on their mums from the sidelines. He calls himself a 10/10 and was crowned My Pennsylvania in 2018.
Harry Jowsey
Australian Harry describes himself as a “giraffe on ice” on the dance floor, but turns into a “disco queen” after a couple drinks. He considers himself a bit of a cheeky chappy and the joker in the pack.
Matthew Smith
Matthew, from Colorado, has been in the running for America’s Next Top Model, but is worried that if he doesn’t change his way with women he will be left with his dog as his only companion. He describes himself as a deep thinker with a spiritual outlook and has several life mottos, including “I skinny dip in any sea everywhere I go”.
Kelz Dyke
Born in Austria and the oldest of eight children, Kelz moved to the UK as a 13-year-old and now works as a senior recruitment consultant in London. He describes himself as an alpha male who is used to getting what he wants, and plays for the London Warriors American football team.


inews--2020-04-18--Is Unorthodox a true story? How Deborah Feldman's memoir inspired the Netflix series

Is Unorthodox a true story ?
How Deborah Feldman 's memoir inspired the Netflix series The new drama is inspired @ @ @ @ @ memoir Unorthodox : The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots Unorthodox tells the story of @ @ @ @ @ away from home and an arranged marriage to start a new life in Berlin ( @ @ @ @ @ 's latest offering Unorthodox has introduced viewers to Esther `` Esty '' Shapiro ( played @ @ @ @ @ a young woman who rejects her Hasidic upbringing to start a new life in Berlin @ @ @ @ @ , Esty is seen struggling with what is expected of her in the ultra-orthodox community @ @ @ @ @ marriage with the Hasidic community in Williamsburg , Brooklyn , for a new life .
@ @ @ @ @ her hair shaved off as per the tradition when a woman gets married ( Photo @ @ @ @ @ New York for Berlin a lot quicker than Deborah Feldman did ( Photo : Netflix @

Netflix’s latest offering Unorthodox has introduced viewers to Esther “Esty” Shapiro (played by Shira Haas), a young woman who rejects her Hasidic upbringing to start a new life in Berlin.
Throughout the four episodes, Esty is seen struggling with what is expected of her in the ultra-orthodox community before she flees her arranged marriage with the Hasidic community in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, for a new life.
The highly emotive drama is inspired by bestselling memoir Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots by Deborah Feldman.
Here’s all you need to know about Unorthodox.
Is Unorthodox a true story?


inews--2020-04-18--Is Miracle in Cell No. 7 a true story? How the Turkish Netflix film was inspired by an award-winning

Is Miracle in Cell No. 7 a true story? How the Turkish Netflix film was inspired by an award-winning South Korean original

Is Miracle in Cell No .
7 a true story ?
How the Turkish Netflix film was inspired by an award-winning South Korean original The Turkish film , which has been trending on Netflix , is an adaptation of the South Korean original The film follows a young girl called Ova and her dad Memo who is wrongly accused of killing a young girl ( Photo : PR ) What is Miracle in Cell No 7 about ?
The Turkish film - Yedinci Kogustaki Mucize in its native language - was released in 2019 and tells the story of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and her dad Memo , who has a cognitive disorder .
The pair live happily until Memo is wrongly accused of killing a high-ranking military official 's daughter .
Memo ends up being sent to prison for the crime he did n't commit .
Despite being without her dad , Ova vows to prove his innocence .
She enlists the help of her great grandmother and school teachers to find the witness Memo claimed he saw when the high-ranking military official 's daughter suffered an accident and died .
The story continues with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but a series of flashback scenes prove that another prisoner - Yusuf Aga - took his place when he realised that Memo needed to be reunited with Ova .
Is Miracle in Cell No 7 a true story ?
The film is not based on a true story but it was inspired by a South Korean film that had the same name and was released in 2013 .
The film focuses on the bond between father and daughter ( Photo : PR ) What has the reaction to the film been like @

As the lockdown continues, more and more people are delving through Netflix to find something to watch.
Alongside the streaming service’s array of popular documentaries and dramas, Miracle in Cell No 7, has risen through the ranks to become one of Netflix’s top trending movies.
Here’s all you need to know about Miracle in Cell No 7.
What is Miracle in Cell No 7 about?
The Turkish film – Yedinci Kogustaki Mucize in its native language – was released in 2019 and tells the story of the relationship between a young girl called Ova and her dad Memo, who has a cognitive disorder. The pair live happily until Memo is wrongly accused of killing a high-ranking military official’s daughter.
Memo ends up being sent to prison for the crime he didn’t commit. Despite being without her dad, Ova vows to prove his innocence. She enlists the help of her great grandmother and school teachers to find the witness Memo claimed he saw when the high-ranking military official’s daughter suffered an accident and died.
Meanwhile, in prison, Memo’s life goes from bad to worse when the prisoners turn against him and he’s sentenced to death by hanging when he’s found guilty of murder.
The story continues with the assumption that Memo has been executed, but a series of flashback scenes prove that another prisoner – Yusuf Aga – took his place when he realised that Memo needed to be reunited with Ova.
After being assisted out of jail, Memo and Ova are reunited and they sail away on a boat together to start a new life in a different country.
Is Miracle in Cell No 7 a true story?
The film is not based on a true story but it was inspired by a South Korean film that had the same name and was released in 2013.
However, unlike the Turkish version that pulls on the heartstrings, the original South Korean adaptation is more of a comedy-drama.
The popular film was also adapted and released in the Phillippines, Indonesia and India.
What has the reaction to the film been like?
After watching the film, many viewers took to social media to share their verdict.
“I just finished watching a miracle in cell no. 7 & let me just say I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much during a movie,” wrote one.
Another agreed when they posted on the social networking site: “Miracle in cell no. 7 made it known to the world that men can cry too.”
“So I watched this movie A miracle in cell No 7. I cried a lot. I’m not even ashamed to admit this,” a third Twitter user shared.
One viewer tweeted: “Miracle In Cell No. 7 is without a doubt an 11 out of 10. I haven’t cried like this in years. Work of art.”


inews--2020-04-18--Britain's Got Talent 2020: what time BGT is on ITV tonight, judges and how live shows are affected b

Britain's Got Talent 2020: what time BGT is on ITV tonight, judges and how live shows are affected by coronavirus

Britain 's Got Talent 2020 : what time BGT is on ITV tonight , judges and how live shows are affected by coronavirus ITV has confirmed that the show will be back but the live shows wo n't air until much later in the year In the past few weeks , several TV shows have postponed filming , while live TV shows have had to film without an audience and have had to implement social distancing .
In the aftermath of ITV 's decision to postpone The Voice 's live semi-final and final until later in the year , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would follow the same format .
The auditions , which were filmed earlier this year , are now airing with the live shows - originally due to be broadcast in May - delayed until later this year .
The Britain 's Got Talent auditions are now airing ( Photo : ITV ) When is Britain 's Got Talent on TV ?
How has coronavirus impacted Britain 's Got Talent ?
The live aspect of Britain 's Got Talent has had to be adapted to stay in line with the latest government health guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not air until later this year .
A Britain 's Got Talent spokesperson said in a statement : `` We have been working with the brilliant production teams at Thames and Syco to find a way of making the live finals work , which were due to be broadcast at the end of May .
`` However , in light of the latest government health guidelines and in line with our priority of safeguarding the well-being of everyone involved in our programmes , production of the live shows can not go ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heart radio breakfast show , Holden said : `` I mean I think that Ant and Dec did an amazing job of Takeaway on Saturday but I ’ m not sure our show , I think our show would suffer quite badly from not having a proper audience .
`` I ’ m hoping we can still strip it , strip means we sort of do it every single day like we used to or we might end up doing it over the weekends but it ’ s all still in the running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the best . ''
Believing that the show will return in the Autumn , Holden added : `` I would say I would say it might be later than September but it ’ s quite a competitive time of year as well so . ''
Britain 's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden believes the live shows will return in the Autumn ( Photo : John Phillips/Getty Images ) What other shows have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic ?
Soaps including Coronation Street and EastEnders have all postponed filming in a bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As a result of no new scenes being filmed , both ITV and the BBC decided to ration the number of episodes that were going to air each week .

Britain’s Got Talent will continue tonight after it became the latest show to adapt to the coronavirus pandemic.
In the past few weeks, several TV shows have postponed filming, while live TV shows have had to film without an audience and have had to implement social distancing.
In the aftermath of ITV’s decision to postpone The Voice’s live semi-final and final until later in the year, it was confirmed that Britain’s Got Talent would follow the same format.
The auditions, which were filmed earlier this year, are now airing, with the live shows – originally due to be broadcast in May – delayed until later this year.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new series of Britain’s Got Talent.
When is Britain’s Got Talent on TV?
Britain’s Got Talent’s audition shows air every Saturday at 8.00pm on ITV.
How has coronavirus impacted Britain’s Got Talent?
The live aspect of Britain’s Got Talent has had to be adapted to stay in line with the latest government health guidelines. Therefore the semi-finals and grand final will not air until later this year.
A Britain’s Got Talent spokesperson said in a statement: “We have been working with the brilliant production teams at Thames and Syco to find a way of making the live finals work, which were due to be broadcast at the end of May.
“However, in light of the latest government health guidelines and in line with our priority of safeguarding the well-being of everyone involved in our programmes, production of the live shows cannot go ahead as planned.”
“The live finals will, therefore, be broadcast later in the year,” they added.
Responding to the news, judge Amanda Holden said the decision was “for the best”.
Speaking on her Heart radio breakfast show, Holden said: “I mean I think that Ant and Dec did an amazing job of Takeaway on Saturday but I’m not sure our show, I think our show would suffer quite badly from not having a proper audience.
“I’m hoping we can still strip it, strip means we sort of do it every single day like we used to or we might end up doing it over the weekends but it’s all still in the running but I definitely think it’s for the best.”
Believing that the show will return in the Autumn, Holden added: “I would say I would say it might be later than September but it’s quite a competitive time of year as well so.”
What other shows have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic?
Soaps including Coronation Street and EastEnders have all postponed filming in a bid to safeguard the cast and crew. As a result of no new scenes being filmed, both ITV and the BBC decided to ration the number of episodes that were going to air each week.
Coronation Street will air single episodes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and EastEnders will only air on Mondays and Tuesdays for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, TV dramas including Line of Duty have also had to down tools during this time.


inews--2020-04-18--One World: Together At Home: how to watch Lady Gaga's concert live tonight, what time it starts in t

One World: Together At Home: how to watch Lady Gaga's concert live tonight, what time it starts in the UK and full cast of performers

One World : Together At Home : how to watch Lady Gaga 's concert live tonight , what time it starts in the UK and full cast of performers Some of the world 's biggest stars are performing live to celebrate the healthcare workers battling Covid-19 around the world Perhaps the most star-studded concert of all time is being put on on Saturday night - and no one is going to be there to see it .
The show has been organised by Global Citizen and the World Health Organisation , in collaboration with Lady Gaga , and any big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved .
Taylor Swift is among the performers ( Photo : Getty ) Who 's performing at One World : Together at Home ?
The list is enormous , and has something for everyone .
Music legends Sir Paul McCartney , Sir Elton John and Steve Wonder will all be playing , while current favourites include Billie Eilish , Taylor Swift and Lizzo will perform , as well as Gaga herself .
RnB fans can tune in for Alicia Keys and Usher , Rita Ora and Sam Smith are there for pop enthusiasts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide the classical element .
Away from music there will also be appearances from the likes of David and Victoria Beckham , Amy Poehler , the cast of Sesame Street and even Oprah Winfrey .
The One World : Together at Home line-up ( Photo : Global Citizen ) '' We are also incredibly grateful for the continued support from the artist community to make One World : Together At Home a moment of global unity , '' said Hugh Evans , co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen .
`` Our hope for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away believing that we , as a shared humanity , can emerge from this moment forever grateful for the work of doctors , nurses , teachers , grocery store workers , and all those who are the backbone of our communities . ''
The special concert will run in two parts - a global multi-hour digital livestream running 2-8pm ET ( 7pm-1am UK time ) , and a two-hour broadcast from 8-10pm ET ( 1am to 3am UK time ) .
Both sessions will be available to watch live on most major platforms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , YouTube , Twitch , Amazon Prime Video , Apple TV and and Apple Music .
If you just want the audio , both sessions will also be streaming live on iHeartRadio .
The Beckhams will be making an appearance ( Photo : Getty ) How to watch highlights on the BBC The broadcast is not at the most sociable time for UK viewers , but fear not , you will be able to catch repeats on the BBC .

Perhaps the most star-studded concert of all time is being put on on Saturday night – and no one is going to be there to see it.
One World: Together at Home is Live Aid for the coronavirus age – a global broadcast to celebrate the frontline healthcare workers battling Covid-19.
The show has been organised by Global Citizen and the World Health Organisation, in collaboration with Lady Gaga, and any big name you can think of is probably involved.
Here is everything you need to know…
Who’s performing at One World: Together at Home?
The list is enormous, and has something for everyone. Music legends Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John and Steve Wonder will all be playing, while current favourites include Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift and Lizzo will perform, as well as Gaga herself.
RnB fans can tune in for Alicia Keys and Usher, Rita Ora and Sam Smith are there for pop enthusiasts, while Andrea Bocelli and Lang Lang provide the classical element.
Away from music there will also be appearances from the likes of David and Victoria Beckham, Amy Poehler, the cast of Sesame Street and even Oprah Winfrey.
“We are also incredibly grateful for the continued support from the artist community to make One World: Together At Home a moment of global unity,” said Hugh Evans, co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen.
“Our hope for the special is that everyone will come away believing that we, as a shared humanity, can emerge from this moment forever grateful for the work of doctors, nurses, teachers, grocery store workers, and all those who are the backbone of our communities.”
How can I watch live?
The special concert will run in two parts – a global multi-hour digital livestream running 2-8pm ET (7pm-1am UK time), and a two-hour broadcast from 8-10pm ET (1am to 3am UK time).
Both sessions will be available to watch live on most major platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Twitch, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and and Apple Music.
If you just want the audio, both sessions will also be streaming live on iHeartRadio.
How to watch highlights on the BBC
The broadcast is not at the most sociable time for UK viewers, but fear not, you will be able to catch repeats on the BBC.
Highlights from the main broadcast will air on Sunday night, from 7.45-9.15pm, and will include performances from Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney, Chris Martin, Idris Elba and many more.
Additional performances from the global broadcast will also be available on BBC iPlayer from Sunday.