In the windswept dunes of northern France, where the English Channel’s waves crash like a relentless tide of human desperation, a new front has opened in the battle over illegal migration. Shocking footage circulating online shows masked British men, cloaked in hoods and anonymity, storming beaches near Calais and Dunkirk. Armed with knives, they slash inflatable dinghies destined for the UK, their blades slicing through rubber as they bellow war cries like “Not one more!” and “Don’t touch another person!” These self-proclaimed patriots, operating under banners like “Operation Stop The Boats,” have turned the migrant route into a theater of vigilante justice, raising alarms about escalating violence on Europe’s shores.

The clips, amassing thousands of views on platforms like X and Instagram, depict the men—often waving Union Jacks—digging up buried boats from the sand, stomping engines, and puncturing hulls under cover of night. One viral video captures a hooded figure plunging a knife into a deflated vessel, the hiss of escaping air underscoring his declaration: “We’re taking matters into our own hands because no one else will.” These aren’t isolated acts; groups like Raise The Colours, with over 100,000 followers, have documented dozens of such raids, framing them as a grassroots response to what they call a “migrant invasion.” Their online pleas for donations urge supporters: “Stopping the boats, whether the migrants or government like it or not!”

This surge in far-right activism comes amid record Channel crossings. In 2025 alone, over 50,000 migrants have braved the deadly 21-mile stretch, a 50% spike from last year, driven by smuggling gangs profiting millions. French authorities, bolstered by £500 million in UK funding, have intensified patrols—deploying drones, buggies, and even slashing boats themselves in shallow waters. But critics argue these measures fall short, with migrants regrouping in squalid camps, undeterred by the peril. Last July, BBC footage showed gendarmes wading in to knife a dinghy packed with families, dragging the wreckage ashore amid cries of frustration. “It’s like a war zone,” one migrant told reporters, echoing Nigel Farage’s warnings of “hammer attacks and stabbings” by rival gangs.

Yet, the vigilantes’ interventions teeter on the edge of criminality. French prosecutors in Dunkirk have launched probes into “aggravated violence” against migrants, citing September incidents where four flag-waving Brits allegedly assaulted asylum seekers, stealing belongings and hurling insults: “You’re not welcome in England!” Human rights groups like Utopia 56 decry the acts as xenophobic thuggery, warning they exacerbate dangers—deflated boats mean more desperate launches, and 73 deaths last year underscore the route’s lethality. One Kurdish migrant, Deniz, recounted four failed crossings: “We begged the officer to look away, but he slashed it anyway. Now it’s these masked men doing the same.”

Back in Britain, the raids split opinions. Supporters hail them as bold patriotism, filling a void left by “ineffective” governments—Labour’s border policies under fire for hotel housing and benefit strains. Detractors, including anti-fascist watchdogs, fear they embolden extremists, potentially sparking clashes with armed smugglers who, in one clip, stabbed at a vigilante’s car tire while police stood by. As winter storms brew, the question looms: Will these knife-wielding crusaders deter crossings, or ignite a transnational powder keg? With Franco-British summits looming, the beaches remain a flashpoint—where desperation meets defiance, and one punctured dream can sink lives on both sides.

Emmerdale Horror Turns to Hope: April Freed by a Shock Ally as Celia Faces Ruin

The night bleeds into a frosted dawn over Erdale, a town that wears its secrets like a tattered shawl. In this haunting chapter, April Windsor stands at the edge of a cliff built from fear and manipulation, her every step weighted by the cruel gravity of a world ruled by Celia Daniels and her accomplice, Ray Walters. What began as a whisper of danger for a girl thrust into a predator’s lair has grown into a storm that could swallow the village whole.

From the first breath of the new year, an omen clings to the air: April’s life is a fragile thread, frayed by the choices of others and the brutal machinery of narcotics and trafficking that Creeps through the countryside. Celia’s smirk is a weapon as sharp as any blade, a calculated reminder that power in this place is bought with fear, and fear—like a patient parasite—feeds on the bravest souls. Ray, Celia’s loyal but broken ally, moves through the shadows with the hush of a predator, his loyalty bought with money and danger, and his own erosion of conscience gnawed away by the same predatory hunger that grips their world.

April has tasted the bitter soup of exploitation long enough to know the taste of its metal: the nails of manipulation hammered into her life, the cold sting of threats aimed at her family, the unbearable ache of knowing that to speak out could mean ruin for everyone she loves. She has learned to listen to the whispers of danger and to measure every step against the silent alarm of what Celia will do next if she slips free. The protection money—two thousand pounds a week—becomes not just a debt but a shackle, a ritual of subservience that keeps a girl’s scream quiet and her heart beating in fear.

The moment of truth arrives on Christmas Eve, a night that should glow with warmth and forgiveness but instead casts long, cruel shadows. April makes a choice that hurts her own soul: she returns to the filth of drugs, a grim pallid echo of the life Celia promised to spare her from. She is drawn back into the maelstrom, a moth circling the flame of a dangerous world, seeking some small mercy in the wreckage of her dreams. Yet mercy is a currency Celia does not spend freely.

Celia, with the gleam of a schemer bright in her eyes, reveals that the traffic, the promised empire, is not as robust as it once seemed. The law’s gaze, the sharp blunt truth of Moira Darden’s discovery that forced labor tills Butler’s Farm, begins to close around them. The net tightens: law enforcement creaks into view, the danger of discovery sharpening the edges of every plan. In response, Celia and Ray decide Erdale is no longer safe ground. They plot a swift exodus, a fresh start where their cruelty can thrive again, where perhaps April’s fate will be a distant memory in a new land.

The idea of parting is a cruel theatre. Celia wants April to accompany them, to seal the bond of fear with a final, chilling bow. The clock tolls toward a cruel Christmas Day, a tableau of family warmth that contrasts with the cold, merciless decision to cast April aside as if she were merely a problem to be disposed of. The scene thickens with a new, more brutal plan: Ray, trusted enough to hold a blade, is instructed to make April disappear, to wipe away the evidence and bury the girl’s safety beneath the cold soil of their ambitions.

As the drama shifts into the snows of the woods, the air becomes a living thing, thrumming with the heartbeats of fear and the thrum of impending doom. Laurel Thomas’s heartbreak over Ray’s revelation splits the night, a rupture that sends April into a web of fear and uncertain fate. Ray’s offer—an apparent kindness wrapped in a cobra’s coil—appears as a glint of mercy in a world where mercy is a currency Celia rarely spends. He paves a path with cash, a glimmer of salvation: disappear forever, and Celia’s wrath will spare her family for a time. The words fall from his mouth like fragile ice—if she takes the money and leaves, perhaps the worst of the nightmare will end.

But Celia’s entangling grasp remains unbent. The danger is not merely from Ray—it’s from the empire Celia has built, a world where April’s life is a line item in a ledger of power. She is a pawn in a larger chessboard, where every move is a test of loyalty, every breath a possible exhale of freedom. April’s fate teeters on the edge of a blade, a line drawn between rescue and ruin, between mercy and the final judgment. The woods close in around her, a cold cathedral where the bells toll for a girl who fights to reclaim her own story.

In this crucible, April’s courage flares once more. There is a moment when the forest itself seems to hold its breath as Ray’s kindness returns—an act of raw, unexpected humanity in the middle of a merciless game. He thrusts a fatty stack of banknotes into April’s shaking hand, a lifeline offered through the slit of distress, a grim salvation with a price tag. He orders her to vanish, to escape the noose Celia has drawn tight around her life, and to flee into the night where perhaps she can find a future that isn’t written by others’ cruelty.

And yet, even as a glimmer of hope floods through the darkness, the danger remains palpable, the threat of Celia’s reach like a shadow that can bend and stretch at a moment’s notice. Will April seize this whisper of freedom, or will the specter of Celia’s retribution refold around her like a shroud? The story holds its breath, waiting for the next heartbeat to reveal whether the girl can outrun the empire she’s escaped, whether the last page of this nightmare can still be rewritten.

If you crave the cadence of a saga where innocence collides with predatory power, where a child’s fight becomes a lifeline for a family teetering on the brink, this tale is a drumbeat you’ll hear long after the credits. It’s a nightmarish fairytale with a grim, hopeful ending: not a triumph of pure light, but a stubborn refusal to surrender, a vow that even in the darkest woods, a spark of courage can ignite a path toward a safer dawn.

In the end, the question remains not just who will win, but who will persevere—the girl who dares to resist, or the empire that believes fear is enough to keep its throne. The woods may swallow many secrets, but April’s stubborn will, and the sudden mercy of a reluctant ally, might just carve a way through to a brighter morning. The audience is left listening for the next heartbeat in a chapter that promises both peril and a stubborn, stubborn hope.

‘Six months of secrecy’ – Andrew Scarborough tell of bоmbshell Emmerdale return

‘I’ve had six months of secrecy’ – Andrew Scarborough delivers huge news about Graham’s explosive return to Emmerdale

Emmerdale fans were gobsmacked to see Graham Foster return from the dead in the celebrated Corriedale episode. And actor Andrew Scarborough says huge measures were taken to keep it under wraps

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‘The way I come back is unbelievably entertaining’ says Emmerdale’s Andrew Scarborough(Image: )

Emmerdale’s Graham Foster was believed to have been murdered in 2020 by his girlfriend Rhona Goskirk’s jealous ex-husband, Pierce Harris, his ex-wife Kim Tate even had him cremated. Now, in a series of explosive episodes, viewers will discover what really happened. Andrew Scarborough, 52, who plays Graham, says: “I remember watching Bobby Ewing come back from the dead [in Dallas] and how the whole series had been a dream. Ours is more real – the way I come back is unbelievably entertaining. I was scared about the reaction when Corriedale was aired. I have been away for six years. But I’m extremely chuffed [by the reaction]. I’m very excited to be back in the soap.”

Andrew, who also starred in Downton Abbey and ITV’s Code of Silence, was invited to return to Emmerdale last summer, but only told very close family the storyline, which he started filming two months ago. And huge measures were taken to keep it under wraps. Given the code name ‘Bruce Wayne’ – Batman’s alter ego – on scripts, he says: “I’ve had six months of secrecy.

“I had to come and go through a special entrance, I wore a hood, or a hat, and I probably looked very suspicious. In all documentation and scripts, I was called Bruce. Laura, the producer, called to tell me I was being given a code name. I felt very flattered because she said ‘we’ve got a code name for Graham. It is Bruce Wayne.’

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In the immediate aftermath of his reappearance at Home Farm it’s difficult to know who finds it harder to accept Graham’s return from the dead; Joe Tate or Kim Tate (Image: )

“But when I got to the studios on the first day, I saw the name down as Bruce Forsyth. That was the first wind up from some of my old friends – very funny!” He continues: “When I left six years ago, it really did hit me how much I missed it a month later. I was like ‘oh god, it was such a lovely place to work’. So, when I got back on my first day, I was a bit misty eyed. It’s such a lovely place. It’s like putting on a pair of slippers again.”

A highly trained SAS operative, Andrew says Graham would have found faking his death easy. He adds: “Graham has been highly trained as a sniper. Plus, he is very highly connected with some of the ‘institutions’ like the government, high ranking police. So, I always presumed that if anybody could come back from the dead – he could.

“And don’t forget Graham did actually arrange the false death of Joe, proving he knows the art of smoke and mirrors. He is in that dark, murky world. Or certainly has been.” Fans he sees out and about, says Andrew, tell him they loved seeing Graham return. He says: “It has been excellent feedback. They told me, ‘we are glad to see you back, we’ve missed you.’ It has been positive banter; it’s been fun, so far.”

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Rhona Goskirk is stopped dead in her tracks to find a smiling Graham waiting for her in the surgery. (Image: )

Remaining firm friends with fellow actors Claire King, Ned Porteous, Jeff Hordley, James Hooton and old cast member, Liam Fox, during his time away from Emmerdale, Andrew has loved being back. He says: “What really sparked me off was when I worked with Harvey, who plays Leo, because I actually did my last scene with him. He came on set, and he’s now grown up and he gave me a massive hug. I was just like ‘Oh, God’, it was really lovely. Another thing I love about Emmerdale is the work ethic, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

His only disappointment has been that Joe Absolom, who he worked with on Code of Silence, has been killed off. He says: “When I saw him on screen, I got really excited, as I thought I was going to be working with him again. Then I found out he had died.

“I was sad, but his storyline was very powerful. Soaps have a tremendous capability first and foremost to entertain. They explain things and they are powerful.” But Andrew’s scenes will have more than enough drama to make up for Joe Absolom’s departure.

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Graham is back! And Andrew says it was a tense six months of total secrecy in the build up(Image: )

He says: “Graham’s a man of few words. But he’s fiercely loyal. He generally does things for the right reasons, but sometimes uses the wrong method. I think he’s an incredibly solid guy. I think he’s clever, incredibly observant, fiercely protective and he’s mysterious. It is like he is an onion; his layers keep unravelling.”

But some Emmerdale residents like Kim Tate, her son Joe and Rhona may be less welcoming. Asked who would be the most shocked by his return, Andrew says: “I think technically, Kim, because she was the only one at my funeral.

“She thought she had cremated me. So, she’ll be the most shocked, because she actually physically was there to witness what she thought was my body in the coffin. “But Kim wouldn’t show her shock, as she’s a cool cat. Joe is shocked, obviously. Rhona would be surprised because she’s not involved in that dark world at all.”

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Graham’s time on Emmerdale has been dramatic(Image: )

They will all need time to forgive Graham, according to Andrew, who says of Kim: “it might take some months. I was gonna say they have a poisonous relationship, but it’s more complicated – as much as it is poisonous on paper, there is tenderness. They fight like cat and dog, but there is a lot of love there. They’re just incredibly attracted to each other, like moths to flame.”

Tender scenes, he teases, will also be aired between Graham and Joe. He adds: “The scenes are quite heightened, which I think they should be, as it’s an unreal situation for somebody to come back from the dead. I loved acting in these scenes, because we were bouncing things around like tennis balls.”

And Andrew predicts plenty of fireworks ahead. Unsure if Rhona will want to ditch Marlon and get back with Graham, he hints that Kim could technically still be married to him. “Now he’s alive, is it [their marriage] still legitimate?” he asks. “Who knows, maybe this might be a plot for the future? Will Rhona and Graham’s relationship be rekindled?

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“Obviously, she would have to forgive him first. Plus, her relationship with Marlon is very strong. But Graham did love her. The fact he has landed has caused a stir. I’m buzzing!”

*Emmerdale airs every weekday at 8pm on ITV1 and STV1. Episodes can be downloaded on ITVX.

Other soap stars who have come back from the dead

Bobby Ewing, Dallas

Bobby famously returned from the dead in May 1986 in a shower scene. It was revealed his wife, Pam, had been dreaming and rather than being dead, Bobby was very much alive – a surprise to both Pam and to Dallas fans.

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American actor Patrick Duff, who played Bobby Ewing, in Dallas(Image: Getty Images)

Den Watts, EastEnders

Dirty Den was killed off by the soap in 1989 after falling into a river. Adopted daughter, Sharon, was asked to confirm the body was him. But 14 years later, he returned, explaining he’d gone into hiding and had been alive the whole time.

Harold Bishop, Neighbours

Harold was swept out to sea in 1991, with fans presuming he’d drowned. But he returned five years later with amnesia and was working for the Salvation Army. It was revealed on the soap that he’d been lost at sea.

Breaking:Every single celebrity showing support for Brooklyn Beckham as he shares bombshell statement

The list keeps growing!

Brooklyn Beckham shared a lengthy bombshell statement last night amid his family feud, and celebrities are rallying around to support him.

On Monday night (January 19), Brooklyn finally broke his silence following many reports and didn’t hold back.

Brooklyn shared a bombshell statement last night (Credit: Splashnews.com)

Brooklyn Beckham statement

‘David, do you have a message for Brooklyn?’

Within his statement, Brooklyn alleged that Victoria did not make Nicola’s wedding dress and cancelled “in the eleventh hour”. He also claimed that his parents “repeatedly pressured and attempted to bribe me into signing away the rights to my name”.

Elsewhere, Brooklyn accused Victoria of ‘hijacking’ his first dance with Nicola and said his parents have “controlled narratives in the press about our family”.

He then went on to allege: “During the wedding planning, my mum went so far as to call me ‘evil’ because Nicola and I chose to include my Nanny Sandra, and Nicola’s Naunni at our table. Because they both didn’t have their husbands. Both of our parents had their own tables equally adjacent to ours.

“The night before our wedding, members of my family told me that Nicola was ‘not blood’ and ‘not family’.”

As of this writing, the Beckhams family have not responded.

The Beckhams family have remained silence since the statement (Credit: Splashnews.com)

Celebrities showing support for Brooklyn: Lily Allen

It would be an understatement to say Brooklyn’s statement went viral. And as a result, our favourite showbiz names have been reacting.

Never one to hold back on her thoughts, singer Lily Allen was quick to share a photo of Brooklyn edited into the cover of her new album, West End Girl.

The record, which documents her divorce to Stranger Things actor David Harbour, heavily insinuated that she has sided with Brooklyn, implying he has been wronged by his family.

Lily Allen shares edit of Brooklyn Beckham as her ‘West End Girl’ album cover following his statement about his parents. pic.twitter.com/TOYaUlJxW3

— Pop Base (@PopBase) January 20, 2026

Rebecca Loos

Rebecca Loos, David Beckham’s former personal assistant who spoke publicly in 2004 about an alleged affair, has also weighed in on the drama.

On her latest Instagram post, one fan wrote: “Rebecca, you gotta see the awesome ditch Brooklyn just posted in his story about David and Victoria and their lies. I feel like Brooklyn is supporting everyone who knows the facade. I know you are wonderful and happy and don’t need validation but I think you will feel a source of extra validation. Especially the end about the dogs.”

In response, she replied: “So happy he is standing up for himself and speaking publicly finally!!!! I have felt so bad for his poor wife, knowing too well what they can be like!”

Another user also commented: “Fascinating admission from Brooklyn,” to which Rebecca bluntly stated: “The truth always comes out.”

Rob Rinder and Dan Wooton

TV star Rob Rinder took to X last night and insisted that maybe Brooklyn has made the right to decision to separate himself from his family.

He wrote: “Sometimes cutting off family is necessary when a relationship is genuinely impossible. But experience teaches this: it’s rarely simple, it rarely brings peace and it’s often far more costly than we admit. The resolution, if there is one, is learning to let the bad drop away and keep hold of the good.”

Showbiz reporter Dan Wooton also had his say on X, writing: “I reported on David and Victoria Beckham for YEARS. People might not like this, but everything Brooklyn Beckham just revealed is legit. He has just exploded Brand Beckham in one Instagram post. I recommend you read it all before casting judgement.”

Nadia Sawalha and Oti Mabuse

Loose Women panelist Nadia Sawalha was left so shocked by Brooklyn’s statement that she shared a video of her reacting to it on Instagram.

She insisted it is the “showbiz story of the last three decades”, and was left stunned after Brooklyn alleged that Victoria called her son “evil”.

She also disapproved of how Victoria allegedly behaved at his wedding and how everything was said to be about money.

“If it’s true, I am truly truly truly shocked,” she declared, adding: “I can’t [bleep]ing believe it.”

Fellow Loose Women star Oti Mabuse appeared in the comments section, responding: “I told you!!! I told you!!! I told you last week that parents can be toxic.”

Spencer Morgan

Piers Morgan’s son Spencer bluntly wrote on X: “The not so perfect family.”

However, in his follow-up post, he took a huge swipe at David.

“Love Becks but surely no one actually believed that they all sat around singing songs at home like those absurd posts on social media made out,” he added.

Ouch!

Nick Ferrari

During a discussion on This Morning, Nick Ferrari explained the rift between Brooklyn and his family is down to people being “used to getting their own way”.

However, despite both sides of the family being successful in business, he insisted: “You cannot run families in the same way with the discipline you can a business.”

“You cannot instruct your son or your daughter-in-law to take certain action as your chief financial officer. I think that’s what’s come to the point here,” he added.

Emmerdale honeymoon horror as Corriedale crash shocks Sarah and Jacob

Emmerdale newlyweds Sarah Sugden and Jacob Gallagher face the honeymoon from hell next week, as their trip of a lifetime is derailed by Corriedale‘s horror crash on the road ahead.

On the way to Manchester Airport with Cain and Moira Dingle, Sarah and Jacob grind to a halt when Charity Dingle and Mackenzie Boyd follow in hot pursuit and blind them with their headlights…

As his marriage to Charity collapses in dramatic scenes, Mackenzie is adamant that Sarah and Jacob need to know the horrifying truth about their supposed surrogate baby. But as his efforts to hunt them down send him and Charity swerving off-road, will they ever hear the truth?

“Cain slams on the brakes and chaos ensues,” our Corriedale source explains. “Mackenzie is chasing them from behind and causing a huge distraction, so when Cain stops, Mack swerves and crashes.”

Having married in a special surprise ceremony on New Year’s Eve, Jacob and Sarah are looking forward to some time away on their honeymoon before the arrival of their bundle of joy.

However, this epic crash could destroy all chances of a happy trip. Following a tip-off from Vanessa Woodfield that the baby Charity’s carrying isn’t Sarah and Jacob’s, a horrified Mackenzie wants to end his wife’s deceit as quickly as possible.

Mackenzie still doesn’t know the half of it – with him and Vanessa both presuming that he’s the father, rather than Ross Barton.

Luckily, with Jacob present at the crash site, there’s medical help at hand. But as the injuries on the road spiral out of control, can the junior doctor cope with the sheer scale of the carnage? And who will he prioritise first?

Corriedale is a one-hour crossover episode which sees the worlds of Coronation Street and Emmerdale collide for the first time. The special event marks the beginning of ITV’s new soap power hour, which will see Emmerdale and Corrie each air one 30-minute episode each weeknight.

“If you’re trying to fit an episode of soap into your day, if you work from home, or you work part time, or maybe you want to watch your soap in the evening, it’s much easier to do that if it’s a half hour transmission,” ITV soap boss Iain MacLeod recently told us.

“It’s way more digestible. It’s the right length of soap, in my humble opinion – it’s what soap started as. I think it definitely will be easier for people now, especially as they move more towards ITVX, to pick up a half hour of Corrie or a half hour of Emmerdale.

“[They can] fit it in before they’re due to come and collect their kid from school, fit in on their lunch hour if they’re working from home, or watch it on the tram into work if they want to on their phone. The effort we’re making is to try and align what we’re offering with how people consume TV these days.”

“l CAN PUT HlM BACK!” — AFTER 32 YEARS, THE MOTHER OF JAMES BULGER IS READY FOR THE FINAL BLOW!

Denise Fergus, the indomitable mother whose unquenchable thirst for justice has defined a generation’s grief since her two-year-old son James Bulger was abducted, tortured, and murdered by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson on February 12, 1993, has ignited a fresh flame of fury with a vow that’s “in touching distance” of putting one of her son’s killers back behind bars after 32 years of “heartbreak” and hollow victories, declaring in a September 30, 2025, ITV Tonight interview that “this time, he won’t walk free.”

The “battle cry,” delivered with the quiet steel of a woman who’s weathered media maelstroms and legal labyrinths, centers on Venables, the parole recidivist recalled to prison thrice for child pornography (2010, 2013, 2017; 2023 denied), whose “secret identity” under the Mary Bell Order continues to enrage as Denise pushes for a “public reckoning” in the House of Lords.

The “touching distance”? A tantalizing torment: Fergus, 56, has campaigned through the James Bulger Memorial Trust (£1.5M raised since 2011), her “unyielding fire” a fire that forged the 2024 inquiry (250k signatures) demanding “transparency” from the Parole Board. “Venables walks free while my boy lies still – but I’m close enough to taste the bars,” she said, tears tracing the lines of a face etched by endless echoes, the “won’t walk free” a whisper of the “intruder theory” that’s haunted since 2008’s DNA exoneration.

The “shaking the system”? A seismic shift: Venables’ “recidivist” return – 2025’s “classified images” breach – has reignited Fergus’s “relentless rage,” her “put him back” a plea backed by MPs like David Morris (“Expose the evil”). The “nation’s wound”? A wound reopened: James’s “echo” – 38 minutes of torture on Walton tracks – sparked a circus of speculation, Fergus’s “light defies dark” a light for the 1 in 4 unsolved UK cases.

This isn’t mum’s murmur; it’s a manifesto of mettle, Fergus’s “touching distance” a torch for the tormented. The vow? Valiant. September 30? Not interview – an ignition. Fans? Flooded with faith. The world’s watching – whispering wellness. James’s justice? Jaundiced, journeying.

“IT’S BEEN TOUGH” — Matt Baker opens up about a difficult health battle and admits he’s been in rehab

Presenter Matt Baker, who is starring on Countryfile tonight (January 11), has been open about his health, especially after sustaining an injury.

While appearing in Goldilocks and the Three Bears, an improperly secured chair stunt failed, leading to a fall that impacted his coccyx.

As a result, former Blue Peter host Matt was left with a painful herniated disc. And despite regular sessions to help improve it, he revealed in 2024 that he was still having a tough time.

Matt was left with a painful herniated disc following a stunt (Credit: ITV)

Matt Baker on his ‘challenging’ herniated disc

While speaking to The Sun, he told the newspaper: “It’s a pain, it’s really challenging to get back and get fully fit again.”

Admitting it had been “really tough” for him, Matt added: “I’m just trying to do rehab all the time and stretch and do strength training exercises and that.”

Matt, who used to be a gymnast, experienced significant difficulty with the inflexibility resulting from the hernia, particularly in light of his athletic background. In February 2024, he revealed he “decided to have a nerve block injection”.

“For a long time now, I’ve been dealing with a herniated disc. As an ex-gymnast, it’s hard not to be able to bend forward, so I decided to have a nerve block injection,” he wrote on Instagram.

“What a brilliant surgeon and lovely NHS team it was that did my treatment. Thank you all! (Also, a big thanks to the nurse who used to watch me on Blue Peter – the buttered toast was amazing).”

‘I can’t tell you how upsetting it is as an ex-gymnast’

During an appearance on Gabby Logan’s Mid Point podcast in March 2024, the presenter asked Matt if he could still do backflips.

In response, he said: “No, I can’t now. I’ve injured my back. I can’t tell you how upsetting it is as an ex-gymnast, not to be able to bend forward.”

He continued: “I did my back in. I was doing a panto. I was doing Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and we were practising with the stunt chairs, and the chair wasn’t set correctly and bang!”

Read more: Matt Baker shares ‘last show’ announcement as viewers plead ‘please make more’

“OUR CHILDHOOD WAS STOLEN FOREVER” — James Bulger’s Brothers Reveal Mum Lived in Constant Fear

James Bulger was killed by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson in February 1993. His brothers have shared on dealing with the tragedy in a new Channel 5 documentary

James Bulger’s siblings have spoken on how their mum Denise lived in fear of them being snatched like their murdered brother James.

James’ brother Michael, 27, and half-brothers Thomas, 22 and Leon, 21, have shared the pain their mother suffered in a new Channel 5 documentary, Lost Boy: The Killing of James Bulger.

The two-parter will look at the abduction and murder of two-year-old James by Jon Venables and Robert Thompson in February 1993.

The horrific crime shocked the nation after the two boys snatched toddler James away from his mother at a Liverpool shopping centre before leading him to his death.

Speaking ahead of the film airing this week, Leon explained how growing up their mum “wanted to know where we were at all times” as “every day” she lived in fear of them being abducted and killed like James.

James Bulger’s siblings Leon, Michael and Thomas will share on dealing with the tragedy of their brother’s murder in a new Channel 5 documentary(Image: Collect Unknown)

Leon said: “Growing up like, if we were like walking round a shop and that, she’d (Denise) always make sure she was at the back so she can walk us forward in front of her. She wanted to know where we were at all times.”

Thomas continued: “It’s horrible to say but she doesn’t want that to happen again. She doesn’t want us to go out anywhere, cos obviously that will always be in the back of her head, every day.

“And obviously, it’s scary to think that it could—it could have happened again. You’re gonna be over-protective aren’t you when something like that happens in your life, I think.”

The new show includes details of the hunt to find James from police officers involved in the case, and never-before-heard tapes of police interviews with his killers, ten-year-olds Jon Venables and Robert Thompson.

James was two-years-old when he was killed(Image: PA)

James’ body was found two days after the boys, who were playing truant from school, snatched him.

The toddler died on a railway embankment after suffering 42 injuries.

James’s mum Denise, who split from husband Ralph in 1993 shortly after having Michael, and went on to marry second husband Stuart Fergus, with whom she shares Thomas and Leon, says that although 28 years have passed the pain is still unbearable.

She said: “I was holding his hand and within seconds of me reaching for my purse to pay for some chops at the butcher’s he’d gone.

James’ brothers say their mum Denise Fergus was worried about them being abducted(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

“It’s hard for me to say, but it’s the truth.

“If there’s such a thing as closure, I don’t think I’ll get it any time soon. At this moment in time, I don’t see closure.

“He’ll never be forgotten by us. Every single day, even after all these years, I miss him. Every single day without James, he’s missed.”

Bradley Walsh, one of Britain’s most loved TV faces, has sent a wave of concern through the entertainment world after confirming a deeply personal health setback — years after believing he had put it behind him.

The 65-year-old, best known for fronting The Chase, Gladiators, and the family favourite Bradley Walsh & Son: Breaking Dad, opened up in an emotional ITV segment while appearing alongside his son Barney Walsh

Those watching immediately sensed something was different. The usually buoyant host appeared subdued, his trademark sparkle replaced by a quiet seriousness that didn’t go unnoticed.

“It’s come back,” Bradley admitted softly. “I really thought I’d beaten it for good. Hearing that it’s relapsed was a tough blow — but I’m fighting it with everything I’ve got.”

 A Private Battle, Revisited

Sources close to the presenter say the condition first emerged several years ago, forcing Bradley to step back from certain commitments while undergoing intensive treatment. At the time, he chose to keep details private, shielding his family and focusing on recovery.

For more than five years, he believed the worst was over.

“I changed everything,” Bradley reflected. “My diet, my lifestyle, my mindset. I was grateful every single day and thought that chapter had finally closed. But life doesn’t always play by the rules.”

While the exact nature of the illness has not been disclosed out of respect for his privacy, insiders describe it as a chronic condition that can significantly affect energy levels and overall wellbeing. Doctors have reportedly recommended a fresh course of treatment, which may include medication, therapy and periods of rest.

 An Outpouring of Love

Within hours of the news breaking, social media filled with messages of support. Hashtags like #BradleyStrong and #GetWellBrad began trending as fans shared memories of his warmth, humour and ability to light up living rooms across the country.

“He’s a national treasure,” one viewer wrote. “He’s given us laughter for years — now it’s our turn to give him strength.”

Colleagues echoed the sentiment. Fellow The Chase stars praised his resilience, calling him “the heart of the show” and “a fighter through and through.”

 Family First

Bradley’s son Barney has remained firmly by his side. In a joint message, the pair thanked fans for their support, saying they were “taking things one day at a time” and focusing on staying positive as a family.

Despite the uncertainty ahead, Bradley remains determined not to let the setback define him.

“I’ve been incredibly lucky,” he said. “An amazing career, an incredible family, and fans who’ve supported me every step of the way. This fight isn’t over — not by a long shot.”

 What Happens Next

ITV has confirmed that The Chase will continue with contingency plans in place, stressing that Bradley’s health is the priority. Some filming schedules may be adjusted as he focuses on treatment and recovery.

As Britain waits for further updates, one thing is clear: Bradley Walsh’s quiet courage has only deepened the affection people feel for him.

Behind the laughter and quick wit is a man facing another test — and a nation hoping, with him, for brighter days ahead.

HISTORY MADE AT THE GOLDEN GLOBES — Teen star Owen Cooper becomes the youngest-ever winner as a teary Stephen Graham and proud dad Andy look on. But it was his final words — “𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞” — that left Hollywood stunned.

Owen Cooper’s teary-eyed co-star Stephen Graham and proud dad Andy watched on as the teen made history at the Golden Globes on Sunday.

Owen, 16, scooped the gong for Supporting Actor at this year’s star-studded awards – in the midst of studying for his GCSE exams.

The win also makes him the second-youngest male Globe winner of all time, behind The Champ star Ricky Schroder, who won the new star of the year award in 1980 at nine years old.

As he took to the stage to accept the award, Owen reflected on his ‘incredible journey’ to the packed room of Hollywood A-listers.

He said: ‘Standing here at the Golden Globes. Wow. It does not feel real whatsoever. What an incredible journey me and my family have been put through, we are forever grateful.

‘What started off as something I thought I might be OK at, I might be awful, I took a risk and went to drama classes, I was the only boy there, it was embarrassing. But I got through it and I’m still very much an apprentice, still learning every day from the people in front of me who inspired me, I wouldn’t be here without you guys.

Owen Cooper’s teary-eyed proud dad Andy as well as his Adolescence co-star Stephen Graham watched on as the teen made history at the Golden Globes on Sunday

His co-star Stephen Graham was seen wiping tears away from his eyes as Owen got on stage to accept his honour

Owen, 16, scooped the gong for Supporting Actor at this year’s star-studded awards – in the midst of studying for his GCSE exams

‘It’s mad, what is going on?’

Owen went on to thank those involved with Adolescence before ending with a rousing message and a nod to his beloved Liverpool FC – which appeared to leave the room baffled.

He said: ‘Bring on 2026. You’ll never walk alone.’

Owen had beaten his co-star Ashley Walters, along with Billy Crudup (The Morning Show), Walton Goggins and Jason Isaacs from The White Lotus and Tramell Tillman (Severance) to the honour.

His proud dad Andy beamed with pride as he watched his teenage son accept the award, while his co-star Stephen Graham, who played his on-screen father, was also full of joy for him.

Snaps from the ceremony, which took place at Los Angeles’ Beverly Hilton Hotel, showed Andy become teary-eyed as Owen made his speech on stage.

Stephen Graham also won an award for his performance on the night.

Graham was presented with his acting prize by Leonardo DiCaprio, with whom he shared a warm embrace as he took the stage to deliver his acceptance speech.

Owen’s proud dad Andy watched on as his son made his speech at the awards

Stephen couldn’t seem any prouder of his younger co-star and on-screen son following the win

Jack Thorne, left, embracing actor Owen Cooper

(L-R) Philip Barantini, Owen Cooper, Erin Doherty, Hannah Walters, Stephen Graham, Mark Herbert, Ashley Walters, Jeremy Kleiner and Jack Thorne

Jack Thorne, center, flanked by Stephen Graham, center left, and Owen Cooper, as they appear with other cast members of Adolescence after winning the award for best limited series

Ashley Walters, Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, Hannah Walters, Stefan Raab, Jeremy Kleiner, Philip Barantini, Erin Doherty and Jack Thorne at the 83rd Annual Golden Globes

As he took to the stage to accept the gong, Owen reflected on his ‘incredible journey’ to the packed room of Hollywood A-listers

He also showered praise on his wife Anna Walters, who also worked on Adolescence as both an actress and executive producer.

‘I’ve said it before, but you saved my life. You saved my life,’ Graham said touchingly from the stage. ‘And to my two beautiful children, Grace and Alfie, I love you to the moon and back forever.’

He also spared warm words for ‘my dad, my pops, my hero, and I would just like to dedicate this particular award to my mom and all my friends and family, you all know exactly who you are. Without you, none of this is possible.’

Supporting actress Erin Doherty also took home gold, dedicating her victory in part to therapists and earning a round of applause from the audience for doing so.

‘I didn’t wanna assume, but I feel like we all know, go to therapists,’ she said. ‘I just think life can be tough, mental health is everything, so thank you therapists, and it was an honour to play one. Thank you so much.’

Adolescence also triumphed in the highest category for which it was eligible – Best Limited TV Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for TV.

Elsewhere, Timothee Chalamet has soared over Leonardo DiCaprio – who stars in One Battle After Another – as the betting favorite to win the coveted Best Actor Oscar as he earned the top honor at the Golden Globe Awards 2026 for Marty Supreme (directed by Josh Safdie).

Before awards season it was 51-year-old DiCaprio who was the favorite to take home the coveted gong, but now Chalamet is expected to win the top acting prize at March’s Academy Awards according to regulated exchange and prediction market Kalshi.

However, DiCaprio’s flick One Battle After Another (directed by Paul Thomas Anderson) did earn the last laugh at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on Sunday night as the film not only triumphed over Chalamet’s project but also beat out Blue Moon, Bugonia, No Other Choice, and Nouvelle Vague for Best Picture – Comedy Or Musical.

One Battle After Another was the most awarded film of the night with four but will no doubt face stiff competition in the Oscars race from Hamnet (directed by Chloe Zhao) as it earned the last award of the night in the Best Picture – Drama category over Frankenstein, It Was Just An Accident, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, and Sinners.

On the television side, it was The Pitt (created by R Scott Gemmill), The Studio (created by Evan Goldberg, Alex Gregory, and Peter Huyck), and Adolescence (created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne) which earned wins in the drama, comedy or musical, and limited series categories, respectively.

Meanwhile, 30-year-old Chalamet surely had tongues wagging as he barely acknowledged girlfriend Kylie Jenner during his acceptance speech for Marty Supreme.

Timothee Chalamet has soared over Leonardo DiCaprio – who stars in One Battle After Another – as the betting favorite to win the coveted Best Actor Oscar as he earned the top honor at the Golden Globe Awards 2026 for Marty Supreme (directed by Josh Safdie)

Before awards season it was 51-year-old DiCaprio who was the favorite to take home the coveted gong, but now Chalamet is expected to win the top acting prize at March’s Academy Awards according to regulated exchange and prediction market Kalshi

The French-speaking actor had another major awards show moment as he earned Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy and abruptly ended his speech by saying: ‘To my parents and partner, I love you. Thank you so much.’

It was noticeably a much more muted acknowledgement for Jenner, 28, as he boldly declared her love for her at last week’s Critics Choice Awards 2026.

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Golden Globes 2026 winners: Timothee Chalamet soars ahead of Leonardo DiCaprio for Oscars favorite

Chalamet beat out an impressive field led by Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another as the field also featured: George Clooney – Jay Kelly, Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon, Lee Byung-Hun – No Other Choice, Jesse Plemons – Bugonia.

One Battle After Another led the night’s successes with four wins including the aforementioned Best Picture – Comedy Or Musical gong along with Best Director and Screenplay for Paul Thomas Anderson and a surprise Best Supporting Actress win for Teyana Taylor.

One Battle After Another has already had a very successful Awards Season run but will face a formidable opponent in Hamnet – starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal – which earned the top prize Best Picture – Drama.

Buckley earned one of the top acting gongs of the night as she earned Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama.

The 36-year-old Irish actress triumphed over an A-list field including: Jennifer Lawrence – Die, My Love, Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value, Julia Roberts – After the Hunt, Tessa Thompson – Hedda, and Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby.

Adolescence swept their categories as it finished the night winning Best Limited TV Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for TV over: All Her Fault, The Beast in Me, Black Mirror, Dying for Sex and The Girlfriend.

Noah Wyle kept up his winning ways after winning at last week’s Critics Choice Awards 2026 as he was earned Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series – Drama for The Pitt (created by R Scott Gemmill).

Wyle also led the beloved HBO show to the top television honor as The Pitt was honored with Best TV Series – Drama.

Another big winner was The Studio as it earned Best TV Series – Musical or Comedy in addition to a Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series win for Seth Rogen.

Golden Globe Awards 2026 winners

FILM

Best Picture – Comedy Or Musical

Blue Moon

Bugonia

Marty Supreme

No Other Choice

Nouvelle Vague

One Battle After Another  – WINNER

One Battle After Another earned the most with four including Best Picture – Comedy Or Musical

Best Picture – Drama

Frankenstein

Hamnet – WINNER

It Was Just An Accident

The Secret Agent

Sentimental Value

Sinners

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama

Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams

Oscar Isaac – Frankenstein

Dwayne Johnson – Smashing Machine

Michael B. Jordan – Sinners

Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent – WINNER

Jeremy Allen White – Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy

Timothee Chalamet – Marty Supreme – WINNER

George Clooney – Jay Kelly

Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another

Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon

Lee Byung-Hun – No Other Choice

Jesse Plemons – Bugonia

Timothee Chalamet is one step closer to the Oscar as he earned Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy for Marty Supreme

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama

Jessie Buckley – Hamnet – WINNER

Jennifer Lawrence – Die, My Love

Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value

Julia Roberts – After the Hunt

Tessa Thompson – Hedda

Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy

Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You – WINNER

Cynthia Erivo – Wicked: For Good

Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue

Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another

Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee

Emma Stone – Bugonia

Best Supporting Actress

Emily Blunt – The Smashing Machine

Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value

Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good

Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value

Amy Madigan –  Weapons

Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another – WINNER

Teyana Taylor earned Best Supporting Actress for One Battle After Another

Best Supporting Actor

Benicio Del Toro – One Battle After Another

Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein

Paul Mescal – Hamnet

Sean Penn – One Battle After Another

Adam Sandler – Jay Kelly

Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value – WINNER

 

Best Original Song

“Dream as One” – Avatar: Fire and Ash

“Golden” – KPop Demon Hunters – WINNER

“I Lied to You” – Sinners

“No Place Like Home” – Wicked: For Good

The Girl in the Bubble” – Wicked: For Good

“Train Dreams” –  Train Dreams

Best Original Score– Motion Picture

Alexandre Desplat – Frankenstein

Ludwig Göransson – Sinners – WINNER

Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another

Kangding Ray – Sirāt

Max Richter – Hamnet

Hans Zimmer – F1

Best Director – Motion Picture

Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another – WINNER

Ryan Coogler – Sinners

Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein

Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident

Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value

Chloé Zhao – Hamnet

Best Screenplay

Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another – WINNER

Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme

Ryan Coogler – Sinners

Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident

Maggie O’Farrell – Hamnet

Paul Thomas Anderson earned Best Director and Screenplay for One Battle After Another

Best non-English Language Film

It Was Just an Accident

No Other Choice

The Secret Agent – WINNER

Sentimental Value

Sirât

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Best Animated Film

Arco

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle

Elio

KPop Demon Hunters – WINNER

Little Amélie or the Character of Rain

Zootopia 2

Outstanding Cinematic and Box Office Achievement

Avatar: Fire and Ash

F1

KPop Demon Hunters

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning

Sinners – WINNER

Weapons

Wicked: For Good

Zootopia 2

TELEVISION

Best TV Series – Drama

The Diplomat

The Pitt – WINNER

Pluribus

Severance

Slow Horses

The White Lotus

The Pitt took home the coveted Best TV Series – Drama

 

Best TV Series – Musical or Comedy

Abbott Elementary

The Bear

Hacks

Nobody Wants This

Only Murders in the Building

The Studio – WINNER

Best Limited TV Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for TV

Adolescence – WINNER

All Her Fault

The Beast in Me

Black Mirror

Dying for Sex

The Girlfriend

Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series – Drama

Sterling K. Brown – Paradise

Diego Luna – Andor

Gary Oldman – Slow Horses

Mark Ruffalo – Task

Adam Scott – Severance

Noah Wyle – The Pitt – WINNER

Noah Wyle was recognized for his work on The Pitt

Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series — Drama

Kathy Bates – Matlock

Britt Lower – Severance

Helen Mirren – MobLand

Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us

Keri Russell – The Diplomat

Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus – WINNER

Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for TV

Claire Danes – The Beast in Me

Rashida Jones – Black Mirror

Amanda Seyfried – Long Bright River

Sarah Snook – All Her Fault

Michelle Williams – Dying for Sex – WINNER

Robin Wright – The Girlfriend

Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series — Musical or Comedy

Adam Brody – Nobody Wants This

Steve Martin – Only Murders in the Building

Glen Powell – Chad Powers

Seth Rogen – The Studio – WINNER

Martin Short – Only Murders in the Building

Jeremy Allen White – The Bear

Seth Rogen earned Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series — Musical or Comedy; he’s pictured with Chase Sui Wonders

Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series — Musical or Comedy

Kristen Bell – Nobody Wants This

Ayo Edebiri – The Bear

Selena Gomez – Only Murders in the Building

Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face

Jenna Ortega – Wednesday

Jean Smart – Hacks – WINNER

Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for TV

Jacob Elordi – The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Paul Giamatti – Black Mirror

Stephen Graham – Adolescence – WINNER

Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story

Jude Law – Black Rabbit

Matthew Rhys – The Beast in Me

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role — TV Series, Limited series or TV Movie

Owen Cooper – Adolescence – WINNER

Billy Crudup – The Morning Show

Walton Goggins – The White Lotus

Jason Isaac – The White Lotus

Tramell Tillman – Severance

Ashley Walters – Adolescence

Owen Cooper was among the youngest winners ever as he earned Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role — TV Series, Limited series or TV Movie for Adolescence

 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role — TV Series, Limited series or TV Movie

Carrie Coon – The White Lotus

Erin Doherty – Adolescence – WINNER

Hannah Einbinder – Hacks

Catherine O’Hara – The Studio

Parker Posey – The White Lotus

Aimee Lou Wood – The White Lotus

Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on TV

Bill Maher – Is Anyone Else Seeing This?

Brett Goldstein – The Second Best Night of Your Life

Kevin Hart – Acting My Age

Kumail Nanjiani – Night Thoughts

Ricky Gervais – Mortality – WINNER

Sarah Silverman – Postmortem

PODCASTING

Best Podcast

Armchair Expert

Call Her Daddy

Good Hang – WINNER

The Mel Robbins Podcast

Smartless

Up First

Amy Poehler earned the inaugural best Podcast award for Good Hang With Amy Poehler