Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman said they will step aside as Strictly Come Dancing co‑hosts, calling it time to pass on the baton. Their joint announcement has triggered debate over the show’s future, with some industry voices arguing the format is tiring as ratings ebb.
An asylum seeker returned to the UK by small boat after being sent to France under the PM’s migration pilot, having left accommodation there. Border Force identified him on arrival. The incident raises scrutiny of the scheme’s enforcement and its impact on Channel crossings.
Boris Johnson told the Covid Inquiry that lockdowns and school closures carried a “huge price” for pupils, acknowledging they failed children. He expressed regret and said he wished an alternative had been found, while arguing decisions were made in good faith under uncertainty and rejecting claims of negligence.
A major Amazon Web Services outage disrupted UK banks, retailers and government portals, knocking apps offline and delaying payments. Services were restored in phases, but firms warned of residual issues and are reviewing resilience after the cloud failure.
Pressure is mounting on Andrew after reports he asked a royal bodyguard to gather compromising information on an accuser. There are fresh calls for the King to remove his remaining titles. He denies the claims, but the row has prompted renewed scrutiny of royal oversight.
Row intensifies over a collapsed spying case after the PM disclosed evidence that halted the prosecution. Ministers press Sir Keir to clarify his stance on security and legal thresholds, as MI5 warns that threats from China are persistent. Focus falls on accountability.
A woman missing since 1998 has been found alive in a flat. Police arrested her parents on suspicion of unlawful detention. She is receiving medical and social care. Investigators are examining how she remained untraced for decades and whether safeguarding failures occurred.
A teenage asylum seeker is on trial over the death of a hotel employee at an accommodation centre. Prosecutors say he followed her outside during a night shift and was later seen dancing. The case is before the crown court and continues.
A final group of hostages held by a militant group were freed under a US‑brokered ceasefire. The US president urged talks and lasting calm as reciprocal detainee releases began with international oversight, reuniting families and easing tensions across the region.
Families await the release of 20 hostages from Gaza today under a mediated exchange, with further releases and the return of remains expected amid last-minute negotiations and a planned US visit.