Ravi Meah

Research from University College London links lower indoor temperatures to higher blood pressure, showing increases in systolic and diastolic readings for every degree drop. Researchers recommend keeping homes at a minimum of 21°C and suggest clinicians consider indoor temperature when assessing borderline hypertension. The findings reinforce wintertime cardiovascular risks and align with NHS guidance on lifestyle factors influencing blood pressure.

An NHS GP and A&E doctor, Dr Sooj, advises people experiencing disrupted sleep, anxiety or heart palpitations to reduce or stop drinking coffee because caffeine can remain in the body for many hours and impair sleep. The NHS cautions that more than four cups of coffee daily may raise blood pressure, while British Heart Foundation dietitian Victoria Taylor says around four or five cups of tea or coffee is generally safe for most people. People sensitive to caffeine are advised to avoid it, including caffeine from tea, energy drinks, cola and chocolate.

Tart cherry juice may help reduce pain and inflammation associated with knee osteoarthritis, according to studies in which participants consumed it daily for several weeks. The drink contains substantial sugar, so it is not presented as a risk-free remedy. Other measures recommended for managing arthritis include topical or oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs under medical guidance and regular strengthening, aerobic, flexibility and stretching exercises. NHS and Bupa advice emphasizes that staying active can improve joint function, mobility, fitness and wellbeing.

British Airways senior first officer Al Smith shares ten practical ways to reduce jet lag, including planning sleep before and after flights, limiting alcohol, avoiding long naps on arrival, switching to decaffeinated tea, using blackout curtains, maintaining a cool and dark bedroom, taking short strategic naps, using phone sleep settings, getting sunlight and light exercise, and avoiding oversleeping. He also recommends leaving bed and having a warm non-caffeinated drink if insomnia develops.

Joe Wicks said he is never fully happy with his body and often feels too skinny, despite maintaining an active lifestyle and promoting health and fitness. The 40-year-old fitness coach ruled out cosmetic procedures or performance-enhancing drugs and acknowledged that he struggles with sweets and other sugary foods. His comments follow criticism of his admission that he ate large quantities of snacks after an extended fast. The article also revisits Wicks's difficult childhood, including his father's heroin addiction and his mother's OCD, while noting that his father has been clean for years and that Wicks credits his mother with providing stability and strong boundaries.

Adena Johnson and her mother, Olivette, describe surviving the devastating Soufrière Hills eruptions in Montserrat during the 1990s, including two forced evacuations, the destruction of Plymouth and the airport, and the deaths of about 19 people. After temporarily relocating to the U.S. Virgin Islands, they returned to Montserrat and now live in Gerald's, where they value the island's close-knit community. Adena uses TikTok to document their experiences and preserve the memories of eruptions that younger Montserratians did not witness.

Freeview, used by around 16 million UK households, could be discontinued or moved entirely online after the digital terrestrial television licence expires in 2034. MPs warned that ending the service would harm elderly, rural and low-income viewers who rely on television delivered through aerials and cannot afford reliable broadband or subscription services. Media minister Stephanie Peacock said viewing habits are shifting toward internet platforms and that maintaining DTT is becoming more expensive for public service broadcasters, but she did not commit to renewing the licence. Supporters argue that Freeview remains essential for universal access, companionship and protection against deeper cost-of-living and digital inequalities.

EF Education First’s 2024 English Proficiency Index ranks 116 countries using results from 2.1 million tests. Yemen ranks lowest, followed by Somalia, Côte d’Ivoire, Rwanda, Libya, Cambodia, Angola, Tajikistan, Benin and Iraq. The article notes that limited English proficiency may influence British travel choices, while emphasizing that several of the listed countries also face serious security, visa or infrastructure problems. It highlights a broader decline in English scores worldwide and criticizes the expectation that other countries should accommodate English-speaking visitors, recommending that travelers learn some of the local language and consult official travel advice.

Greece may introduce further measures to curb overtourism in Athens after officials assess new data on overcrowding later in September. Mayor Haris Doukas said short-term rentals are putting pressure on housing and that bans could be considered in neighborhoods deemed overcrowded, although he ruled out tourist entry taxes and forcing platforms to remove listings. From October 1, all short-term rental properties in Greece must meet stricter health and safety requirements, including ventilation, insurance, fire protection, pest-control certification and emergency facilities; noncompliant owners face fines of €5,000. The measures reflect wider concerns that tourism is pricing locals out of housing and worsening social tensions, as seen in protests and restrictions elsewhere in Europe.

La Rochelle is presented as a quieter alternative to France’s more crowded destinations, offering a historic port, coastal views, regional food, nightlife, the Aquarium de La Rochelle and the Musée Maritime. Travel expert Stephanie Rytting recommends the city for its relaxed atmosphere and authentic culture. Ryanair operates seasonal flights from London Stansted, Dublin and Cork, with London flights taking about 100 minutes, but services end in late October.

Paul Hollywood says he has struggled to adapt to fame because he prefers a quiet life away from crowds, although he enjoys meeting Bake Off fans. He finds anonymity while riding his motorbikes and relaxes at home with Netflix. Hollywood also praises the upcoming sixteenth season of The Great British Bake Off, calling the baking standard exceptional and highlighting the contestants’ strong early performances. His comments follow a police investigation into the alleged attack on his brother Lee in Merseyside.

Travel experts warn holidaymakers against sharing real-time locations, photos of passports or boarding passes, and images of expensive purchases on social media. Such posts can reveal that homes are unoccupied, expose travellers to theft or stalking, and provide information for identity theft, phishing and travel-booking scams. Recommended precautions include posting after returning, reviewing privacy settings, disabling geotags and keeping travel documents private.

Netflix’s Brazilian dystopian thriller 3% is recommended as a compelling successor for viewers mourning the end of The Handmaid’s Tale. The series depicts a society divided between an affluent offshore community and an impoverished mainland, with citizens competing in a brutal selection process for access to the elite. Fan reviews praise its political themes, intelligent writing, character development, visuals and cast, including João Miguel, Bianca Comparato and Michel Gomes. The series is available to stream on Netflix.

Pensioners and low-income households may miss out on the £150 Warm Home Discount if their name is not correctly recorded on their electricity account by August 24. The scheme has expanded to cover more than six million households. Eligible households in England and Wales receiving specified means-tested benefits may qualify automatically, while some Scottish households and other benefit recipients may need to apply through their energy supplier. Advice specialists urged people to check their account details and review other support, including Pension Credit, Winter Fuel Payments and Council Tax assistance.

Matalan has recalled seven bikini-top lines sold between 14 November 2024 and 26 June 2025 because underwiring may protrude from its casing and cause scratches or cuts. Customers are advised not to wear the products and to return them to any Matalan store for a full refund without a receipt. The recall follows two other Matalan-related safety recalls this summer, involving dresses and boys’ swimwear.

The article revisits six notable celebrity cameos from Brookside ahead of the Liverpool soap's planned October 2025 return in a Hollyoaks crossover. The appearances featured Pope John Paul II, Graham Norton, the Nolans and Carol Smillie, Lorraine Kelly and Eamonn Holmes, Paul O'Grady as Lily Savage, Morrissey and David Seaman. It also highlights Brookside's role in launching performers including Anna Friel, Sue Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson, and notes the show's original 1982–2003 Channel 4 run.

Fawlty Towers is approaching its 50th anniversary, prompting a look at the subsequent lives and careers of its core cast. John Cleese remains active through a memoir, live appearances and Monty Python anniversary events. Prunella Scales continued acting despite vascular dementia and recently made a recorded stage comeback, while Connie Booth left acting in 1995 to become a psychotherapist. Andrew Sachs, remembered for playing Manuel, died in 2016 after vascular dementia, and chef Brian Hall died of cancer in 1997. The sitcom continues to enjoy a major cultural legacy, including international fan devotion, a successful theatre production and a planned reboot involving Cleese and his daughter Camilla.

Connie Booth says John Cleese wrote the dialogue for Fawlty Towers, while the pair jointly developed the plots, and admits she has felt like a “counterfeit” for receiving credit for lines she did not write. Booth explains that Cleese insisted on co-authorship despite her preference for a “written by John Cleese, storyline by us both” credit. She also praises their complementary strengths, saying she focused more on character while Cleese excelled at plot and dialogue. The sitcom, which ran for only 12 episodes in 1975 and 1979, remains highly influential and popular ahead of its 50th anniversary. Cleese is due to publish Fawlty Towers: Fawlts and All and appear at a Bristol Q&A event.

Lloyds Bank will stop accepting cheque deposits at Post Office branches from December 31, 2025, citing low customer usage. Customers will still be able to deposit cheques through the Lloyds mobile app, at a bank branch, or via a postal cheque service. Cash deposits and coin deposits at Post Office branches will continue, subject to limits. The change also applies to Halifax and Bank of Scotland. The article additionally notes that Nationwide members who received £50 bonus cheques must cash them by January 1, 2026, while replacement cheques can be requested.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor recalled that she removed a safety clip while suspended inside a disco ball during a live Strictly Come Dancing performance, meaning she could theoretically have fallen to the dance floor. She joked that the incident might have resulted in a literal “murder on the dance floor,” while also saying she finds the song’s association with jokes about her eventual death annoying. Ellis-Bextor discussed the story on Mel Giedroyc’s podcast ahead of the release of her album Perimenopop, due on September 12.

Graham Bell developed a life-threatening 3cm brain abscess after an infection in a cracked tooth, despite having no tooth pain or swelling. Doctors initially ruled out a stroke, but he required two emergency operations, high-dose antibiotics and six weeks of hospital care after developing sepsis. He is recovering with cognitive, communication and mobility difficulties, while his family raised £3,203 through a sponsored walk to support the Walton Centre in Merseyside.

Stacey Dooley described a chaotic morning involving her two-year-old daughter Minnie's meltdowns, a missed shower and food smeared on the child's face before the family traveled to BBC Radio 2. Dooley also got stuck on a stair lift and temporarily lost her phone while trying to reach Zoe Ball's studio. Dooley and partner Kevin Clifton were appearing to promote their nationwide tour of the West End play 2:22: A Ghost Story, their first project together since meeting on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018.

Dianne Buswell has suggested that Neighbours veteran Stefan Dennis could join the next series of Strictly Come Dancing. Speaking on the Winning Isn't Everything podcast with former partner Chris McCausland, Buswell said she had heard an older Neighbours actor was being lined up and confirmed Dennis was the person she had in mind, adding that she would love to dance with another Australian. The speculation follows the end of Neighbours filming after Amazon's revival deal expired, while several other celebrities are also rumoured to be joining the BBC show.

A One Too Many campaign at more than 20 UK airports warns passengers that excessive drinking and disruptive behaviour could lead to denied boarding, fines of up to £80,000, flight diversions or jail. The Airport Operators Association is urging travellers to behave responsibly, while recent police checks at Teesside Airport found only one passenger with alcohol in their breath, below the legal limit. Ryanair is separately calling for airports to limit passengers to two alcoholic drinks before boarding and is criticising European authorities for not taking stronger action.