Pete Wicks Joins Emotional Rescue Mission Saving 170 Dogs and Proving He’s More Than a TV Star

‘FROM DEATH ROW TO HOPE’: PETE WICKS JOINS RESCUE MISSION SAVING 170 DOGS FROM SOUTH KOREAN MEAT FARM

It wasn’t a television storyline, a publicity stunt, or a scripted moment for shock value. When British reality star Pete Wicks stepped onto the grounds of a South Korean dog-meat farm, he found himself face-to-face with one of the most heartbreaking sights of his life — more than 170 dogs awaiting slaughter, many trembling in fear, unaware that their fate was about to change forever.

The former TOWIE star joined international animal welfare groups in a large-scale rescue mission that liberated over 170 dogs from a brutal and long-ignored industry. Though Wicks did not act alone — working instead as part of a coordinated charity effort — his presence brought not only additional support, but a powerful human voice for animals whose suffering is often unseen.

A Scene Too Difficult to Forget

Wicks described the scene as overwhelming: cramped cages, matted fur, and eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and despair. Some dogs were born in captivity, never knowing a gentle touch. Others were former pets, abandoned or stolen.

The mission was not just about relocation — it was about dignity. Volunteers carefully lifted each frightened animal from the wire-floored pens, offering comfort, blankets, and, sometimes for the first time, kindness.

The Journey to Freedom

Once removed from the farm, the dogs began a journey across the world — with many flown to the UK, United States, and Canada for rehabilitation and adoption. For the first time, they tasted fresh air, saw open space, and felt safe human hands.

Pete Wicks, visibly moved, helped load carriers and calm distressed animals. His involvement played a key role in drawing public attention to the issue, inspiring supporters and donations that will continue funding future rescues.

A Message Bigger Than Celebrity

Wicks later shared that the experience changed him.

He spoke of compassion rather than fame.
Of responsibility rather than applause.
Of the silent victims who cannot speak for themselves.

The rescue serves as a reminder that cruelty thrives where the world looks away — and that meaningful change begins when individuals choose to look, act, and stand.

A Victory — But Not the End

For the 170 dogs saved, this mission marks the beginning of new lives filled with the possibility of love, adoption, and healing.

For those still trapped in farms across the region, it is a call to action.

And for animal lovers worldwide, it is a testament to what can happen when compassion and courage meet — when public figures use their platform not for self-promotion, but for protection.

Pete Wicks didn’t rescue 170 dogs alone.
He stood with a team.
He lent his hands.
He lent his heart.

And in doing so, he helped give hundreds of animals something they never had before:
hope.

 BRITAIN ON THE BRINK  The old order is crɑcking ɑs ɑnger spills onto the streets ɑnd trust in institutions evɑporɑtes. From Westminster whispers to public revolt, the pressure is building — ɑnd insiders wɑrn the next move could chɑnge everything.

Buckle up Britons, a once-in-a-generation assault on the established order is coming – Paul Embery

Buckle up Britons, a once-in-a-generation assault on the established order is coming – Paul Embery

The next 12 months promise to be among the most intriguing in modern British political history.

The plunge in support for Labour and the Conservatives – who rarely now poll more than 40 per cent between them – is unprecedented.

Meanwhile, radical alternatives in the shape of Reform UK and the Greens, with their slick media operations and charismatic leaders, are making serious headway.

Might we be witnessing the death of two-party politics in Britain – or even the end of Labour and the Tories as serious political forces?

It’s a long shot – both parties do, after all, have a habit of defying predictions of their demise – but it isn’t entirely inconceivable.

One need only look to continental Europe to see how mainstream parties that once seemed a permanent fixture of the political landscape can go bust. And it’s usually because they lost touch with large numbers of voters and no longer shared, or even understood, their priorities.

There is nothing to say that such a phenomenon could not occur in Britain.

Labour in particular had better beware. The party has plunged to record lows in the polls and is saddled with a leader whose days look numbered. Barring a miraculous turnaround, Starmer will almost certainly not make it to the end of 2026.

Buckle up Britons, a once-in-a-generation assault on the established order is coming – Paul Embery | Getty Images

Andy Burnham has been on manoeuvres for some time and, assuming he secures a parliamentary seat, will be among the favourites to win any leadership contest. He would also, in my view, represent the party’s best hope of making an electoral recovery.

But even with a new leader, Labour will be doomed unless it can swiftly deliver economic growth and repair our broken immigration and asylum system. In opposition, the party pledged to do both these things. But after nearly 18 months in office, it has made insufficient progress.

There is no indication that the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, understands what is needed to kickstart our economy. It certainly isn’t more of the Treasury orthodoxy that for nearly two decades has entrenched low growth and productivity.

Whacking up taxes and cutting public spending will prove counter-productive in the most literal sense. Instead, the government must use its massive fiscal capacity to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure and public services, invest in the productive sector and deliver full employment and higher wages. What is the point of a Labour government if it is not to do these things?

On immigration and asylum, ministers would point to recent figures showing a year-on-year drop in net migration of 69 per cent.

But the figures for the preceding couple of years were so colossal (in the upper hundreds of thousands) that even after a sharp reduction, the latest numbers remain, by historical standards, eye-wateringly high. The government must not be allowed to get away with presenting these figures as a ‘new normal’.

And still the small boats come.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has at least displayed the radical thinking and courage necessary to get a grip on the situation. But it may be some time yet before her Denmark-style measures begin to have an impact – and, in any case, there is no guarantee that she won’t be blocked by a combination of the civil service ‘blob’, activist lawyers and objectors on her own benches.

Ordinarily, the main opposition party would be expected to reap the benefits of public disgruntlement with the government. But that isn’t happening.

After a shaky start, Kemi Badenoch is finding her feet and beginning to impress. But she is seriously hampered by the fact that voters still remember just how badly the Conservatives messed things up when they were in office. Whatever Badenoch’s personal appeal, the Tory brand remains toxic – and will remain so for a long time yet.

So with millions struggling to make ends meet financially and sensing a wider social decay across the country – encapsulated by the inability of the State to control who comes into the country – the hostility towards the old establishment parties, which they deem responsible for the decline, remains palpable.

The next year will almost certainly see a deepening of existing social tensions and growing support for national-populist ideology.

The politics of liberal-progressivism, which still dominate throughout our political, cultural, corporate and academic institutions, will continue to meet with resistance – most likely through further street protests, the raising of national flags in local communities, and increased support for Reform UK and figures such as Tommy Robinson.

The backlash against globalisation, a phenomenon which once seemed unassailable, will continue apace, as voters across Western nations, having seen the damage that unfettered international markets can wreak on their communities, reassert their belief in national sovereignty.

Meanwhile, more radical elements on the Left will be drawn to Zack Polanski’s Green Party and its Corbynite programme of reordering the economy away from the interests of the wealthy few and towards the many. Such a message will always be seductive to those for whom the economy long ago stopped working.

But the Greens’ insistence on peddling the extremes of cultural progressivism – and especially their mad belief that a woman can have a penis – will see to it that they never attract a sufficient number of mainstream voters to become a major political force.

With our communities divided more than ever along ethnic, religious and cultural lines, the communal sectarianism that we have seen emerge on our streets, much of it the fall-out from conflicts in foreign lands, is unlikely to abate.

Against this whole backdrop – economic stagnation, porous borders, failing public services and gradual social disintegration – it is hard not to conclude that the established order is under threat in a way not seen for generations.

The year 2026 may prove era-defining. Buckle up.

Ex-Emmerdale Star Kelvin Fletcher Welcomes Baby Daughter, Declares “Our Hearts Are Filled with Love”

Ex-Emmerdale Star Kelvin Fletcher Welcomes Baby Daughter, Declares “Our Hearts Are Filled with Love”

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Former Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher and his wife Liz Marsland have welcomed their first child, a baby daughter.

The couple shared the joyful news on social media on Monday, though details about the birth have not yet been disclosed.

Kelvin took to Twitter to announce the arrival, writing: “Our hearts are filled with love. She’s the most beautiful little thing I’ve ever seen.”

Wife Liz also shared the happy news with her fans, posting a photo of a pink bouquet of flowers with the caption: “Everything pink for the little cherub #bestfeeling in the world!”

The childhood sweethearts revealed that Liz became pregnant during the weekend of their wedding, but they waited until Christmas to share the news with family.

“We’re pretty sure Liz fell pregnant on our wedding night,” Kelvin said. “We then flew to Rome for three nights. Little did we know, there were three of us on our honeymoon!”

He added: “The day I found out Liz was pregnant and our wedding day were the most amazing days of my life.”

The couple conceived on their wedding night last year but chose to keep the baby’s sex a surprise.

Kelvin also revealed that he dreams of having a large family with his wife.

“I’ve always wanted to have children and become a father, without question,” he said. “I’ve been more certain of that than anything, even more than wanting to become an actor. I want five children! I do want a huge family, but ultimately, whatever will be, will be.”

Appearing on Loose Women three weeks before the birth, Liz admitted she was ensuring Kelvin remained close at hand should be suddenly go into labour.

‘I’ve become Kelvin’s side kick in case anything happens,’ she joked. ‘I’m just following him around!’

Kelvin also admitted they were yet to discover the sex of their child, telling the panel:’It’s our first one, we don’t know what it is yet so we’re excited to find out if we’re having a boy or a girl.’

The couple, together for over a decade, chose to wait until their 30s to start a family so they could enjoy their 20s together.

They tied the knot in November in an intimate ceremony attended by close friends and family after nine years of dating.

Kelvin’s baby couldn’t have arrived at a better time, as he recently stepped away from Emmerdale after 20 years playing Andy Sugden.

Reflecting on his departure, he told the Loose Women panellists, “I love the show, it’s been an amazing place to work and has given me a great sense of purpose. I’ve been lucky enough to make a living from it.”

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Tensions Explode in Coastal France: Why Angry Residents Are Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands Amid Migrant Surge Video details are in the comments below

Chaos on the French Coast: Furious Locals Cross a Dangerous Line as Migrant Boat Crisis Reaches Breaking Point

Britons have been filming themselves travelling to beaches in France and ‘destroying’ small   boats – gaining thousands of views in the process

Sanya Burgess is an award-winning journalist whose investigations have included revealing Deliveroo was not paying the living wage to all riders, despite the company’s pledge to do so. She has also tracked disinformation and far right hate speech in the UK during the Southport riots, conspiracy theories about the attempted shooting of Donald Trump and revealed that Elon Musk was paying some of Tommy Robinson’s legal fees. She has also worked on issues relating to Big Tech and underage gambling, as well as uncovering war crimes and human rights abuses in Iran, Myanmar and the UAE – including the ‘hostage’ tapes of the detained Dubai Princess Latifa.

British vigilantes who spearheaded efforts to fly England flags across the country have launched a new anti-migrant protest – attempting to block illegal Channel crossings.

Using the term “Operation Stop The Boats”, members of the group have been filming themselves slashing small boats before they are used by migrants to cross the English Channel from France.

Posts on social media show members calling for other British men to join them in France, including making a direct appeal to football hooligans, saying “we need to make a stand”.

Claiming to be recording from the northern French coast, one said: “Just like in the 1940s, we must take a stand, and it starts with the men of England and Britain.”

Making an appeal to “firms” – a phrase that refers to football hooligan groups – the other man added: “Our country is doing nothing. Weak government, weaker borders.

“They are doing nothing, so we need to make a stand, boys. Get the lads together, get your firms together, get the lads in the pub, get the lads down the bars, if you’re talking about it and you agree with what we are doing, give us a hand.”
The Government is under pressure to act after more than 36,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats (Photo: raisethecolours.org.uk/Instagram)
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The Government is under pressure to tackle the issue of migration amid a record number of asylum applications, surging small   boat crossings and protests at hotels housing asylum seekers.

On Monday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood set out a package of reforms to asylum policies aimed at tackling illegal migration, telling MPs the current situation is “out of control and unfair”.

The latest videos shared by those linked to the Raise the Colours group have separately been referred to as “Operation Overlord”.

Earlier clips showed two men saying they were taking matters of illegal migration into their own hands and filming themselves stamping on and smashing a small boat’s engine.

In the clips, they refer to themselves as “patriots” and make a number of claims without evidence, such as that they are stopping “rapists and murderers” from “coming to a town near you”.
One video shared by the group (Photo: raisethecolours.org.uk/nstagram)
The flag-raising group, who have a combined 100,000 followers on X and Instagram, also posted a plea on X for donations last week, writing that they are: “STOPPING The   Boats, whether the migrants or government like it or not!”

Two videos from the group have recently been shared to the 1.7 million X followers of Tommy Robinson. The far-right figure and former leader of the English Defence League, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has previously been accused of mobilising football hooligan firms in an attempt to launch anti-Muslim rallies across the country.

Separately, French media reports that the Dunkirk Public Prosecutor’s office has opened a preliminary investigation into “aggravated violence” against migrants by suspected British far-right figures.

One of the details being examined by the French prosecutor is the claim that in September, four men waving British and UK flags verbally and physically attacked migrants on the French coast. It is alleged that they told the migrants they were not welcome in England and proceeded to steal some of their belongings.

The men are not the first anti-migrant figures to travel to France in a bid to take matters into their own hands.

In September, Ukip, Nigel Farage’s former political party, posted a video to their X account showing what appeared to be sleeping migrants in France being woken by people flashing strobe lights in their faces and shouting at them.

Nick Tenconi, Ukip’s current leader, also posted a video captioned: “In Calais hunting for illegal invaders trying to cross into Britain.”

The Home Office and French authorities were contacted for comment.

 SO HEARTBREAKING  Brendan O’Carroll has made a desperate plea to BBC bosses after Mrs Brown’s Boys was slammed for “ruining the Christmas TV schedule.”

The creator of Mrs Brown’s Boys has made a desperate plea to the BBC after the controversial show was blasted by TV fans for ‘ruining the Christmas TV schedule’.

Brendan O’Carroll, 70, who is best known for playing the comedic Irish matriarch, said that he would love to bring back his axed talk show, All Round To Mrs Brown’s.

It saw the comedian step into Agnes Brown’s shoes and interview a number of big-name celebs including Baywatch’s Pamela Anderson and Spice Girl Mel B.

Brendan said that he would ‘love’ to bring the talk show back after it was axed during the Covid pandemic because it gave him so much creative freedom.

He said: ‘I remember when we had Caitlyn Jenner on and I went up to the dressing room and I said to her, “Where’s the line? I don’t want to cross the line.”

‘She said, “No line”. And I said, “Really?”. That was a red rag to a bull.’

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Brendan O’Carroll, 70, who is best known for playing the comedic Irish matriarch, said that he would love to bring back his axed talk show, All Round To Mrs Brown’s

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Brendan said that he would ‘love’ to bring the talk show back after it was axed during the Covid pandemic because it gave him so much creative freedom

What followed was a controversial question about the former Olympian’s anatomy.

Brendan remembered: ‘She said “I beg your pardon?”. And it went great. She was absolutely magnificent.’

Speaking about the future of the series itself, the comedian said: ‘They haven’t asked yet, but if they do, I’ll certainly think about it.

‘The last one went really well.

‘I found it so freeing to write a mini-series because I didn’t have to do a Christmas tree.

‘I could write whatever I wanted.’

Meanwhile Irish broadcaster RTE has decided to abandon its usual Christmas Eve live broadcast – which Brendan usually hosts alongside Joe Duffy, although Joe has since been replaced by Kieran Cuddihy.

Brendan said of the decision: ‘It’s certainly not a decision I would make. I really am surprised RTE aren’t doing the show on Grafton Street this year.

‘It would have been the declaration of the definitive handing over from Joe Duffy to Kieran Cuddihy and I’m sure Kieran would have been well able for it,’ he continued to The Irish Sun.

‘So I’m bemused RTE are not doing it, and I’m also sad for the people who won’t be able to tune in, just to hear a little bit of home.

‘You’d have people listening in most years from Australia, New Zealand, even as far away as Argentina. That’s not happening this year.’

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Mrs Brown’s Boys will return to screens on BBC One on Christmas Day

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The cast of the divisive sitcom is largely made up of Brendan O’Carroll’s family

Brendan’s comments come after BBC viewers were left ‘crying their eyes out’ by an ‘underrated’ drama’s Christmas special that they claimed ‘should have taken Mrs Brown’s Boys place in the TV schedule’.

Beyond Paradise – a spin-off of popular crime drama Death in Paradise – hit our screens in February 2023.

It’s gone on to air 20 episodes across three seasons, starring the likes of Kris Marshall as Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman, Sally Bretton as Martha Lloyd, Zahra Ahmadi as Detective Sergeant Esther Williams and Dylan Llewellyn as Constable Kelby Hartford.

They are also joined by Felicity Montagu, Melina Sinadinou, Jamie Bamber and Barbara Flynn.

There has been a Christmas special every year since it premiered, and this year it aired on December 22.

The episode follows Kris and the team try to figure out the identity of a man with dementia who has a photo of Kris, claiming that he knows him.

The BBC’s synopsis states: ‘An elderly man living with dementia turns up on the police station steps, clutching only a photograph of Humphrey.’

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Despite the backlash the show has managed to win a National Television Award

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Mrs Brown’s Boys will also air an episode on New Year’s Day

The teaser continues: ‘He’s searching for his sister, Louise, and believes that Humphrey is his last hope. But with precious few clues to her whereabouts, the team must work against the clock to unravel the mysteries of his past.

‘Just as they dive into the search, the station is rocked by another call. There’s been a break-in at a local wine bar, where the team celebrated their Christmas party just hours before. On top of this, Kelby is called to an unusual emergency: a man hopelessly trapped inside a snowman suit after his head was glued on as a prank.

‘As the clock ticks down, could the snowman hold a vital clue to solving another festive mystery?

‘With an influx of unexpected visitors, a slew of holiday crimes to crack and a heartwarming reunion on the line, can the team juggle it all and still be ready for a life-changing reveal?’

The episode left many feeling very emotional and many took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts.

‘Just finished watching #BeyondParadise a nice harmless Christmas show with a great outcome. Question; Why didn’t the BBC schedule this for Christmas evening rather than Eastenders, Mrs Browns Boys and yet even more bloody celebrities in programmes?’

‘What have you done to me, I am a 49 year old man and I’m crying my eyes out, that is how you do a Christmas Episode, emotional, funny, heart, Selwyn!! Absolutely fantastic and Ade Edmondson is a National Treasure. #BeyondParadise.’

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Some critics claimed Mrs Brown’s Boys inclusion in the festive TV schedule had ‘ruined Christmas’

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Irish broadcaster RTE has decided to abandon its usual Christmas Eve live broadcast – which Brendan usually hosts alongside Joe Duffy

Upset viewers hit out after the BBC released their 2025 Christmas TV schedule, fuming ‘what a letdown!’

There will be festive editions of several BBC programmes, each filled with seasonal moments for fans to enjoy next month – but clearly they’re not to everyone’s tastes.

As the broadcaster shared what they had in store, X users raced to share their grievances – and didn’t mince their words.

One example is Mrs Brown’s Boys – which has become a staple for the Beeb since debuting in 2011 – and will have two specials, one on Christmas Day and the other on New Year’s Day.

Reacting online, one person penned: ‘Genuinely not one thing that stands out! What a letdown.’

Another wrote: ‘Well, that’s a whole lot of nothing special!’

A third added: ‘Please don’t ruin Christmas with Mrs Browns Boys!’

“I’M NOT APOLOGISING FOR TELLING THE TRUTH.” Rylan Clark has finally broken his silence after the This Morning migrant debate ignited a firestorm, delivering a blistering, no-nonsense response that left critics furious and supporters cheering, as he flatly refused to back down from the words that sparked outrage. Shaken but defiant, Rylan made it clear he won’t be bullied into silence, insisting, “I said what I said — and I stand by it,” as insiders say the fallout rattled producers and lit up group chats across ITV. Social media split instantly — some branding him reckless, others hailing him fearless — but one thing is certain: this wasn’t damage control, it was a line in the sand, and Rylan’s final message rang loud and cold — “If honesty makes people uncomfortable, that’s not my problem.”

Rylan Clark caused a huge stir earlier this year with his comments on immigration, made live on television.

Rylan Clark has broken his silence on his Ofcom backlash (Image: ITV)

This Morning star Rylan Clark has responded to the backlash over his controversial migrant rant on the ITV show, which occurred while he was performing in his Christmas pantomime last night (Sunday, December 28). The 37-year-old is playing the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella in Southend alongside Strictly Come Dancing contestant Ross King, who is portraying Buttons in the show, held at Southend Cliffs Pavilion. As part of an on-stage exchange, Ryan swore at the audience during a slip of the tongue. Reacting to the error, which happened in front of a young audience, he quipped that he might be cancelled for the second time in a year, referencing the outrage he sparked after voicing his opinions on illegal immigration earlier this year on This Morning.

Rylan has been part of This Morning for years (Image: Getty)

The radio host sparked more than 700 Ofcom complaints in August following his immigration remarks while hosting the ITV magazine show with Josie Gibson.

He said at the time: “This country is built on immigration. Legal immigration – a lot of the nurses and doctors who have saved my mum’s life have come over here from other countries. They’re living a great life, they’re paying into this tax system, they’re helping this country thrive.”

However, he expressed his concern about people crossing the Channel illegally and suggested that Keir Starmer’s Government’s approach seemed too accommodating.

Rylan added: “How can it be that if I turn up at Heathrow Airport as a British citizen and I’ve left my passport in Spain, I’ve got to stand at that airport and won’t be let in. But if I arrive on a boat from Calais, I get taken to a four-star hotel?”

The star’s comments caused a stir online, with Rylan taking to Instagram to state a person can be “pro-immigration but against illegal routes”.

An Ofcom spokesperson told The Independent at the time: “We’re assessing these complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.”

““War Hero’s SHATTERING Accusation: — WW2 Veteran Delivers DEVASTATING Verdict on Modern Britain, Says War Sacrifice Was ‘FOR NOTHING’”

WW2 veteran labels victory over Nazis ‘waste of time’ and claims migrant crisis proves ‘UK has gone right downhill’

World War Two veteran Alex Penstone says Britain is ‘worse than it was when he fought for it’ |

Mervyn Kersh is a D-Day veteran who also witnessed the horrors of the newly-liberated Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945

A World War Two veteran has labelled Britain’s victory against the Nazis a “waste of time” and warned the UK has “gone downhill”.

Mervyn Kersh, 101, a Jewish D-Day veteran who witnessed the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945, voiced his frustrations about modern Britain.

He singled out the issue of immigration of immigration, with Channel crossings in 2025 so far exceeding 41,000.

Mr Kersh, who was once lauded for his efforts by ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, told The Daily Mail: “I think it [the war] was a waste of time, because the benefits we got from it, the wartime camaraderie and everyone, almost everybody, mucked in [with] whatever they could do.

“Whatever [way] they could help somebody else they did. That wasn’t just in the army. You don’t get that now, no.”

He added: “This country has gone right downhill.

“I know the population is changing. Some are leaving, and then others are coming who have no understanding or knowledge of what this country was like, not only just its history, but it’s morals.”

Mr Kersh, who now lives alone following the death of his wife Betty in 2018, insisted he has “no objection” with genuine asylum seekers but did go on to highlight concerns about migrant crossings.

Mr Kersh, who now lives alone following the death of his wife Betty in 2018, insisted he has “no objection” with genuine asylum seekers but did go on to highlight concerns about migrant crossings

 

However, Mr Kersh was also asked how Britain’s recent leaders compare to the likes of Sir Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.

The 101-year-old added: “They didn’t just try to keep the job to the next day, next session, a bit of sparring with the opposition, and then come and have a drink job.”

Mr Kersh, who was born in Brixton in 1924, signed up to join the Ordnance Corps in 1943.

After undergoing training in Scotland, Mr Kersh was ready to follow the main D-Day invasion force into Normandy.

The veteran landed on Gold Beach on the Normandy coast

The veteran landed on Gold Beach on the Normandy coast.

Speaking about the experience previously, Mr Kersh said: “The landings was the biggest experience, the biggest and most emotional one.

“Landing on the coast with the intention of destroying the Germans.

“They were firing at the biggest ships out at sea and the British were firing above our heads at the Germans.

Mr Kersh was later stationed near Bergen-Belsen when the camp was liberated by British troops in April 1945

 | PA

“French women, children and old men greeted us with flowers, wine and kisses.

“I did not take the wine in case it was poisoned but I did take the flowers and the kisses. I was 19 at the time. I’m a bit older now.”

Mr Kersh was later stationed near Bergen-Belsen when the camp was liberated by British troops in April 1945.

However, Mr Kersh’s comments come shortly after ex-Royal Navy serviceman Alec Penstone made similar claims ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

British army soldiers depart for Normandy as reinforcements during Operation Overlord in 1944 | Getty

“My message is, I can see in my mind’s eye the rows and rows of white stones of all the hundreds of my friends and everybody else that gave their lives for what?” he said.

“The country of today. No, I’m sorry, the sacrifice wasn’t worth the result that it is now.”

Mr Penstone continued: “What we fought for, and what we fought for, was our freedom. We find that even now it’s downright worse than when I fought for it.”

The UK lost 384,000 soldiers in combat during the Second World War.

A further 70,000 British civilians were killed, including 40,000 between September 1940 and May 1941.

 HEARTBREAKING CONFESSION Helen Mirren hɑs opened up ɑbout ɑ devɑstɑting fɑmily trɑgedy — quietly ɑdmitting: “I see his fɑce every dɑy.”

Dame Helen Mirren previously opened up about the tragic loss of her stepson, who died aged just 51.

The Oscar-winning actress – who is on The Repair Shop Christmas special today (December 26) – does not have children of her own. However, when she married Taylor Hackford in 1997, she became stepmother to his two children.

Unfortunately, in 2022, one of her stepkids Rio Hackford sadly passed away from a rare form of cancer. And, a few months ago, Helen reflected on his death, revealing that she still ‘looks at his face all the time, every day’.

Her stepson Rio sadly died (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Dame Helen Mirren on stepson’s death

Rio Hackford died in 2022 of uveal melanoma, “a very aggressive and rare form” of eye cancer. The actor was known for his work in films such as Jonah Hex and Fred Claus. He recently appeared in the Hulu series Pam & Tommy.

Talking to People in August, Helen spoke about her stepson’s death. She revealed: “I have his picture on my phone as my screensaver, so I look at his face all the time, every day.

“Rio died of ocular melanoma (also known as eye cancer), we didn’t know about that condition, and it was only through that awful experience that we learned that this is a melanoma that can grow at the back of your eye without you having any consciousness of it.”

She reflected on his death recently (Credit:YouTube/CBS)

Helen admitted ‘it’s a death sentence’

The acting legend went on to share that she is convinced Rio would still be alive today, if he had her son undergone more eye examinations on a regular basis.

She shared: “Rio hadn’t had his eyes checked for 10 years because his eyesight didn’t change. So he thought, why do I need my eyes checked if my eyesight’s perfectly fine?

“If he’d had his eyes checked they would have caught it early. It’s a rare thing, but it happens and it’s a death sentence.”

The NHS says that fewer than 1,000 (850) cases of eye cancer (ocular cancer) are diagnosed in the UK each year. It has said: “There are a number of different types of cancer that affect the eyes, including: eye melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, lymphoma and retinoblastoma – a childhood cancer.”

Watch Helen on The Repair Shop Christmas special on Friday (December 26) at 7:30pm on BBC One.

Read more: The Repair Shop fans left ‘crying’ over miraculous fix for profoundly deaf photographer

“I CAN’T LEAVE HER — NOT NOW, NOT EVER.”  Britain has been left shaken as football icon Harry Redknapp, 78, keeps a relentless bedside vigil beside his wife Sandra after she was rushed to hospital with recurring pneumonia, cancelling every public commitment and refusing to move an inch from her side. Those close to the couple say exhaustion is etched across his face, but his grip on her hand never loosens — a silent act of devotion that has reduced fans to tears. Speaking in a breaking voice, Harry made it clear this is not just fear, but lifelong love being tested to its limit: “After 58 years together, there’s nowhere else I’m meant to be.” Witnesses say the moment captured — Harry leaning in, whispering to her through the beeping machines — felt unbearably raw, as if the nation were intruding on something sacred. Social media has flooded with prayers and heartbreak, many calling it “the purest love story Britain has seen in years,” while one message echoed louder than all the rest: if this is the edge of life and loss, Harry Redknapp is choosing love — and daring fate to look him in the eye.

Legendary former football manager Harry Redknapp, 78, is demonstrating to the entire nation the extraordinary power of devotion as his wife, Sandra, 77, remains hospitalized following an emergency admission. Images of Harry keeping vigil hour after hour by her bedside at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, have become a symbol of enduring love after nearly six decades.

Witnesses at the hospital describe a touching scene: Harry barely moved from his plastic chair since December 9, 2025. Anxiety and devotion were clearly etched on his face every time he gripped Sandra’s hand tighter, especially when the monitors beeped. A close friend revealed Harry’s choked-up whisper outside the ward: “I can’t leave her… not now, not ever.”

Sandra was rushed to the hospital on December 7 after collapsing at their Bournemouth home with severe breathing difficulties. Initial reports suggest a recurrence of pneumonia—the same illness that nearly claimed her life in 2017—now complicated by her long-standing battle with rheumatoid arthritis and recent mobility issues.

Harry, who has always publicly called Sandra “his rock” since they met at 17, cancelled all professional commitments, including his punditry slot on Sky Sports, to care for his wife 24/7.

Those close to him confirm that Harry has barely eaten or slept, sustaining himself only on vending-machine coffee and sheer willpower. One visitor shared: “He holds her hand like it’s the only thing keeping her here.” Nurses at the hospital were also moved by his dedication, recounting how Harry continuously tells his wife stories from their life—from their first dance, their children, to West Ham’s FA Cup victory—as if desperately pleading for her to stay.

Their 58-year love story has entered football folklore. Married in 1967, they have navigated tragedy (the 1990 car crash in Italy that killed Harry’s friend and left him with a fractured skull), triumph (Harry’s 2008 FA Cup win with Portsmouth), and relentless media scrutiny. The 2017 pneumonia scare saw Harry cancel an I’m a Celebrity stint to be with her, famously stating: “Football’s nothing compared to her.”

The entire nation is collectively sending well wishes, with the hashtag #StayStrongSandra reaching 400,000 posts. Their son, Jamie Redknapp, shared a childhood photo of his parents dancing, with the message: “Mum, you’re tougher than all of us. We love you.”

Doctors remain cautiously optimistic, with Sandra’s condition described as “stable but serious.” Harry told a friend: “She’s my world. I’m not going anywhere.”

For a nation that has followed their love story from East End ballrooms to Wembley glory, Harry Redknapp’s greatest victory is not on the pitch, but the hand he resolutely refuses to let go.

Heartbreaking:Brooklyn Beckham ‘hits back’ at his estranged family with thinly veiled barb after blocking them on Instagram amid ongoing feud

Brooklyn Beckham has ‘hit back’ at his estranged family with a thinly veiled barb after blocking them on social media.

The aspiring chef, 26, raised eyebrows with the video, shared just days after brother Cruz broke his silence on Brooklyn blocking the entire family on Instagram.

In the clip posted to his Cloud23 hot source TikTok account, Brooklyn is seen strolling through a city as Lady Gaga‘s Telephone plays in the background.

Notably, he selected the lyric ‘sorry I cannot hear you I’m kinda busy’ to accompany the footage, highlighting the line in bold text.

He then moved on to promote his hot sauce, leaving fans to speculate over the timing and message behind the post.

It comes after David and Victoria insisted they would never unfollow their beloved son Brooklyn on Instagram, say sources close to the couple.

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Brooklyn Beckham has ‘hit back’ at his estranged family with a thinly veiled barb after blocking them on social media

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The aspiring chef, 26, raised eyebrows with the video, shared just days after brother Cruz broke his silence on Brooklyn blocking the entire family on Instagram

In fact, they believe that he has blocked them in a move that appears to be a sign of his ‘complete estrangement’ from his family.

Friends of the pair say that it is inconceivable that they would make a decision not to follow the influencer.

‘David and Victoria will never stop loving Brooklyn,’ said a source close to the couple.

‘They will always be here for him and they always want him to know that, they are devastated at this fall out.

‘So far from this being them, it appears that Brooklyn has blocked them to show them that’s it, this is final.

‘It is very clear that this is a sign of his complete estrangement from his family.

‘For David and Victoria it was their last connection to Brooklyn as he has made it very clear he doesn’t want to talk to them anymore, they haven’t spoken for months and months now.

‘By following him it was a message to him that they still love him and still want to follow his life. Now they can’t do that, but it’s not their doing.’

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It comes after Sir David and Victoria insisted they would never unfollow their beloved son Brooklyn on Instagram, say sources close to the couple

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In fact, they believe that he has blocked them in a move that appears to be a sign of his ‘complete estrangement’ from his family

The Instagram fallout comes just days before Christmas.

Brooklyn will not join his parents and younger brothers Romeo and Cruz or sister Harper.

Instead he is expected to remain in US while the Beckhams celebrate with their wider family at their £10million home in the Cotswolds.

Brooklyn’s younger brother Cruz, 20, refuted reports his parents had unfollowed their son in an Instagram Story post on Saturday, instead claiming that he, David and Victoria had been ‘blocked’ by Brooklyn.

‘My mum and dad would never unfollow their son… Let’s get the facts right. They woke up blocked… as did I,’ Cruz wrote.

The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Brooklyn for comment on Cruz’s claims.

It is the most public sign yet that there has is no communication between them amid their spiralling family feud.

Brooklyn’s wife Nicola, 30, also does not follow David and Victoria. They no longer follow her either.

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Friends of the pair say that it is inconceivable that they would make a decision not to follow the 26-year-old influencer

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It comes after the Daily Mail exclusively revealed how Brooklyn will spend this Christmas with wife Nicola Peltz and her family in Miami, Florida

It comes after the Daily Mail exclusively revealed how Brooklyn has snubbed his family’s attempts at reconciliation in the run up to the festive period as he will spend this Christmas with Nicola and her family in Miami, Florida.

A source said: ‘Brooklyn and Nicola decided they would be spending this Christmas with her family. Her parents are really excited to have them.’

Brooklyn and Nicola arrived in Miami earlier this week, with the hot sauce owner posing for a picture with her brother Bradley in the back garden of the incredible Palm Beach mansion.

His decision to spend Christmas with his in-laws will come as a blow to his parents and siblings Romeo, 23, Cruz and Harper, 14.

In recent weeks, David has appeared to offer a public olive branch to his son, in an apparent bid to put an end to their very public family feud.

The former footballer had shared a throwback picture of himself with Brooklyn and his younger brothers Romeo and Cruz.

Cruz also made sure his brother knew he was thinking of him by sharing a sweet snap of the pair with brother Romeo on the beach in Brazil.

Brooklyn was seen wrapping his arm around his youngest brother Cruz as they posed on the beach.

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Nicola’s parents Nelson (pictured) and Claudia are said to be ‘excited’ to have Brooklyn over the festive period (seen in July)

Relations between Brooklyn, Nicola and the Beckham clan unraveled completely when they did not attend any of David’s 50th birthday celebrations in May. Brooklyn also failed to acknowledge his father’s knighthood in November.

The Daily Mail revealed how Brooklyn’s nans are devastated they won’t be seeing their grandson this Christmas.

Victoria had shared a festive picture from her parents Jackie and Tony Adams’ house as they placed twelve stockings in a row on their fireplace, one for each grandchild. In pride of place was one reserved for Brooklyn.

The family feud has taken a particularly acute toll on Jackie, as well as David’s mother Sandra.

Some argue that hanging up Brooklyn’s stocking, regardless of the feud, is a sign of hope on Jackie’s part that – somehow, despite everything – Christmas might finally persuade her grandson to put aside his grudges and step on a plane to rejoin the family.

Friends of the Beckhams say Jackie and Sandra are ‘extremely sad’ about the situation.

Victoria had posted a picture of the fireplace filled with stockings at the Hertfordshire home of her parents, Jackie and Tony Adams – including one reserved for Brooklyn.

The source added: ‘They’re not getting any younger and the cold truth of it all is that nobody knows when they will see Brooklyn next. It’s Jackie and Sandra who everyone feels so sorry for.’

David and Victoria will spend some of the festive period in the £60million home they recently bought on Miami’s waterfront.

It was where they were joined last year by Brooklyn and Nicola, and photographs of their Christmas celebrations show everyone having what appeared to be a lovely time.

Victoria is believed to be working hard to put on a brave face and stay strong for her husband and teenage daughter Harper.