96 minutes ago Bake Off's Alison Hammond says 'we were really upset' as she aims dig at Paul Hollywood

The Great British Bake Off: The Great New Year's Bake Off will see Alison Hammond, Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith and Matt Lucas reunite for a special episode of the Channel 4 show

Politics

8 hours ago Cheesy anchovy straws and chocolate meringue kisses: Yotam Ottolenghi’s recipes for party nibbles

Bite-sized treats that are big on flavour and will see out the year in styleHappy 2025 everyone, and may the New Year bring with it the positive changes we all so yearn for. Personally, I will be embracing change in a big way, because, after seven years, this is my final column for the Guardian’s Feast. From March, I will be writing a new, long-form quarterly column packed with recipes, personal experiences and general observations about the food world, so stay tuned. The Feast community is the most engaged and greedy I know, so thank you! And I hope you welcome the New Year with these party nibbles I have lined up for this weekend. Here’s to new beginnings! Continue reading...

Society

29 minutes ago Barcelona set to finally register Dani Olmo after agreeing VIP seating deal

Sale of boxes at Camp Nou likely to secure player’s futureBarça had to find way to comply with FFP by 31 DecemberFC Barcelona have reportedly closed a last-minute €100m (£82.9m) deal to sell VIP boxes at the newly renovated Camp Nou to Middle Eastern investors, enabling them to meet financial fair play rules and finally extend Dani Olmo’s registration.With the deadline for registration just three days away and Barcelona facing the prospect of Olmo leaving as a free agent just six months after joining on a a €55m (£45.6m) transfer, club president Joan Laporta exercised a sale option on Saturday which the club believe will see the first payment made before 31 December. Continue reading...

Economics

70 minutes ago World's greatest chess player Magnus Carlsen quits tournament after being told he cannot play while wearing jeans

The Norwegian, 34, was defending his championship titles in New York on Friday when the chess governing body made the request for him to change his trousers.

Sport

38 minutes ago MasterChef's John Torode says 'it really tears the family apart' in rare admission with wife

John Torode and Lisa Faulkner returned to ITV this weekend for a festive special of their cooking show John and Lisa's Weekend Kitchen - and the couple opened up on family life

Events

25 hours ago Our readers on their pick of 2024’s best films, music, TV shows and podcasts

From sci-fi epics to investigate deep-dives, the Guide readers have their say on the year’s finest cultureWelcome to the last Guide of 2024! I hope you all are enjoying your festive break, and have a better handle on which day it is than I do. As is tradition, after our own roundup of the year’s best culture, we are turning things over to you this week. Here are the films, TV shows, music, performances, and podcasts that wowed you in 2024.Thanks to everyone who sent in suggestions and sorry if we weren’t able to include yours. Enjoy the rest of your Christmas break, and see you on the other side of the new year, for our 2025 preview next Friday! Continue reading...

Culture

1 hour ago BBC Call the Midwife creator admits 'I don't know how long we'll go on' as she addresses future

Call The Midwife proved to be a hit over Christmas with a two-part BBC special being aired for fans but the show's creator has now adressed its future

Politics

32 hours ago What happened to the Outnumbered cast? How the child stars turned their back on fame and weathered a string of scandals while on

Outnumbered made its long-awaited return to screens with a one-off special on Thursday, offering fans a glimpse at the famous Brockman family, 10 years after the original series ended.

Society

8 hours ago Mega Millions lottery winner scoops huge £954m Christmas jackpot after three months with no winners

A Mega Millions player from Cottonwood, California, has won an incredible $1.22 billion jackpot as they matched all six numbers for huge Christmas lottery jackpot win

Economics

2 hours ago Barcelona in race to register Dani Olmo and avoid losing him on free transfer

Court denies request to register player beyond DecemberBarça have three days to comply with La Liga FFP rulesBarcelona have three days to find a way to comply with La Liga’s financial fair play rules or they will not be able to register Dani Olmo for the rest of the season – and face the prospect of him leaving as a free agent just six months after joining in a €55m (£45.6m) transfer.On Friday, a court in Barcelona published its decision to deny a lawsuit that the club had brought against the league’s rules, in which they requested a legal order to extend the player’s registration beyond 31 December. Continue reading...

Sport

48 minutes ago Silvino Francisco dead: Snooker star who was jailed for smuggling drugs dies aged 78

Silvino Francisco, a South African snooker player who was prominent in the 1980s and was later jailed for three years for smuggling cannabis, has passed away aged 78

Events

29 hours ago Beyond Paradise star reveals real filming location for show – and it's not always Devon

Beyond Paradise is back on our screens for a Christmas special - however, BBC One star Kris Marshall has dished all on the detective drama's real filming locations

Culture

2 hours ago ‘All people could do was hope the nerds would fix it’: the global panic over the millennium bug, 25 years on

Planes were going to drop out of the sky, nuclear reactors would explode. But then nothing. What really happened with Y2K? People still disagree Just before midnight on New Year’s Eve, 25 years ago, Queen Elizabeth II stepped off a private barge to arrive at London’s Millennium Dome for its grand opening ceremony. Dressed in a pumpkin-orange coat, she entered the venue with Prince Philip, taking her place alongside Tony and Cherie Blair and 12,000 guests to celebrate the dawn of a new millennium. At the stroke of midnight, Big Ben began to chime and 40 tonnes of fireworks were launched from 16 barges lined along the river. The crowd joined hands, preparing to sing Auld Lang Syne. For a few long moments, the Queen was neglected – she flapped her arms out like a toddler wanting to be lifted up, before Blair and Philip noticed her, took a hand each, and the singing began. A new century was born.One politician who wasn’t in attendance at the glitzy celebration was Paddy Tipping, a Labou...

Politics

25 hours ago Andreas Pereira must force Fulham transfer as Marco Silva speaks out after £14m offer

Brazilian giants Palmeiras are eyeing a January deal for Fulham playmaker Andreas Pereira but Cottagers boss Marco Silva has little interest in losing the 28-year-old mid-season

Economics

4 hours ago EA FC 25 Player Roles explained – and how FC IQ has changed the way tactics work

Player Roles are new for EA FC 25, and two new ones have recently been added, taking the total number of player roles to 33.

Sport

93 minutes ago Sweden embarks on a sober search for more cemetery space in case of war

Burial associations in Sweden are looking to acquire enough land for something they hope they’ll never have to do

Events

32 hours ago How Squid Game's costume designer placed hidden meanings in the show's clothes

Netflix's Squid Game has returned to the streaming platform with season 2 and the show's creator reveals the iconic costumes of the characters hold special meanings

Culture

3 hours ago 'Liability' Bruno Fernandes told he must make Man United change after ban

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off with the scores goalless during the defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day

Politics

29 hours ago I quit my factory job after winning £50k at the World Darts Championship

Known for his breakthrough performance in the 2008 World Darts Championship, the player in question embarked on a journey that left an indelible marks upon the sport.

Economics

7 hours ago Transfer news LIVE! Arsenal plot Cunha bid; Chelsea want Kolo Muani; Man Utd offer Rashford out

The January transfer window is just days away

Sport

2 hours ago How I beat overwhelm: Tracking my heart rate left me feeling like a frustrated failure

Biofeedback devices promised a whole new world of mental and physical harmony. They did change my life, but not in the way I’d hopedI love to run, but ask me about my running times or distances and I will have no idea. For me, running is about squeezing exercise into a busy schedule, clearing my head and being in nature. I don’t need to measure it.But unfortunately I am not immune to the oh-so-pleasing dopamine injection of unboxing a new bit of wearable tech, personalising the app for hours and thinking this might just change my life – the new, calmer, fitter, stronger, smarter me dangling tantalisingly within reach. One such scenario occurred after researching the importance of human connection on mental and physical health: less stress, less inflammation, less illness. Human connection, I learned, can stimulate and be facilitated by the vagus nerve – a primitive part of the nervous system. Continue reading...

Events

5 hours ago Gavin and Stacey fans spot 'true star' of Christmas episode as they all say same thing

Gavin & Stacey fans have singled out one special performance from the Christmas Day finale episode, saying the returning star is "amazing" and "fantastic"

Politics

33 hours ago Arsenal sent £70million Matheus Cunha transfer message as Wolves stance revealed

Wolves are desperate to keep Matheus Cunha, who highlighted his quality with a Boxing Day goal against Manchester United, as the club's new manager makes his views clear on the transfer interest

Economics

10 hours ago 3 Celtic stars lead Player of the Year race and trio could hammer final nail in Philippe Clement's coffin

The Rangers boss is toiling and the Belgian won't be relishing a clash against their fierce rivals

Sport

2 hours ago Former Premier League striker arrested after domestic violence accusation

A former Watford player has been accused of domestic violence and has reportedly been arrested after his ex-wife filed a complaint to officials, with a court date expected soon

Events

6 hours ago Celebrity New Year's resolutions 2025: From Nick Jonas to Paloma Faith and Michelle Visage

EXCLUSIVE The stars share with The Standard their hopes and dreams for the year ahead

Politics

40 hours ago I have been left in a lifetime of debt after fighting the council to get my son in school... we had to remortgage our home

EXCLUSIVE: Suzanne Hollinshead, 53, from Flitwick, Bedfordshire, had to remortgage her home to help pay off a 'lifetime of debt' from the fight with Central Bedfordshire Council.

Economics

14 hours ago Arsenal transfer news: Matheus Cunha sends message as Raheem Sterling makes loan decision

Arsenal have a few positions that could do with more quality - especially up front given their lack of a recognised No 9 - while some defensive cover would also be useful after injuries to Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu

Sport

4 hours ago What Man United star said immediately after Wolves defeat should set alarm bells ringing for Ruben Amorim

Harry Maguire claimed Man United weren't troubled by Wolves and yet they lost the Boxing Day clash at Molineux 2-0.

Events

6 hours ago The Chase crowned Britain’s favourite gameshow with Bradley Walsh as UK's most

Most people in the UK enjoy watching contestants take on a difficult gameshow in hopes to win money and it seems ITV's The Chase is the firm favourite.

Politics

6 hours ago The battle of Cable Street is entwined in my family’s history – and its message of hope still resonates | Tracy

On that day in 1936, members of my Jewish family stood up to the Blackshirts. Their fight against racism inspired our adaptation of The Merchant of VeniceIn the weeks leading up to the battle of Cable Street, Oswald Mosley, inspired by his friend Hitler, sent his Blackshirt militia into the East End of London to whip up hatred against Jewish people. Jewish buildings were daubed, synagogues smashed and posters calling for patriotism and national pride in the face of the “untrustworthy international Jewish Entity” were nailed on walls and doorways.Then, on Sunday 4 October 1936, the fourth birthday of Mosley’s fascist party, he sent more than 3,000 uniformed Blackshirts in four marching columns through London’s East End and its predominantly Jewish community, promising a “Greater Britain” and blaming all society’s ills on these immigrant Jews. He fully expected to be supported by the working-class population of the area and assumed it would be delighted by his rousing speeches of hate...

Events

6 hours ago Don’t give in to pessimism, says Pope Francis in BBC Thought for the Day

Hope and kindness ‘touch the very heart of gospel’ and show people how to behave amid war and social injusticePope Francis has urged people not to be drawn towards “pessimism and resignation” despite wars and social injustices throughout the world, but to retain a “gentle gaze of hope”.The head of the Catholic church gave the Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday, wishing listeners “peace, fellowship and gratitude” for the new year and emphasising the importance of humility. Continue reading...

Politics

18 hours ago Arsenal player ratings: Kai Havertz continues to silence the doubters with crucial Ipswich winner

Arsenal moved up to second in the Premier League table after beating Ipswich.

Sport

6 hours ago Don’t give in to pessimism despite wars and injustice, says Pope Francis

Pontiff calls for hope and kindness in BBC Radio 4 Thought for the Day messagePope Francis has urged people not to be drawn towards “pessimism and resignation” despite wars and social injustices throughout the world, but to retain a “gentle gaze of hope”.The head of the Catholic church gave the Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday, wishing listeners “peace, fellowship and gratitude” for the new year and emphasising the importance of humility. Continue reading...

Events

7 hours ago BBC Gavin And Stacey's Nessa to return days after last ever episode as Ruth Jones reprises role in special move

Days after the final-ever episode of the BBC One sitcom aired on Christmas Day, it's been revealed that Ruth Jones will reprise her famous role

Politics

24 hours ago Gavin and Stacey fans in disbelief after spotting massive blunder in Christmas finale

Gavin and Stacey fans expressed their shock after discovering Smithy's full name during the 2024 Christmas special, with one joking they "watch the show too much"

Sport

7 hours ago Ruben Amorim already facing storm clouds ahead as Man Utd crisis raises serious questions

Manchester United slumped to another defeat at struggling Wolves on Boxing Day and they could yet be dragged into a relegation battle if Ruben Amorim's men cannot put some points on the board soon

Events

7 hours ago Pope Francis appears on BBC Today programme's Thought For The Day religious slot to call for 'peace, fellowship and gratitude' in New Year

The head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis has made a rare UK radio appearance after his message of peace and hope was broadcast on the BBC's Thought for the Day segment.

Politics

24 hours ago James Corden's emotional message to fans as Gavin and Stacey finale is watched by 12.3m

Gavin and Stacey stars James Corden and Ruth Jones share behind-the-scenes photos of the Christmas Day special

Sport

8 hours ago Tottenham and Wolves fans facing travel chaos as warning sent to supporters

Travelling to Sunday's Premier League game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could be difficult for thousands of supporters because of planned rail engineering works

Events

8 hours ago Pope Francis discusses ‘world full of hope and kindness’ in BBC Radio 4 message

The head of the Catholic Church wished listeners ‘peace, fellowship and gratitude’ in the new year as he gave the Thought for the Day on Saturday.

Politics

25 hours ago James Corden's big comeback: Comedian is embraced by the nation once more as Gavin And Stacey final is a hit with viewers after the actor faced a string of scandals

The last ever episode of the show - which came five years after the most recent Christmas special - pulled in a massive 12.5 million viewers for the BBC.

Sport

11 hours ago English wildlife ‘could be disappearing in the dark’ due to lack of scrutiny

Conservationists issue warning as figures show three-quarters of SSSI sites have had no recent assessments Conservationists have said wildlife could be “disappearing in the dark” after figures showed that three-quarters of England’s most precious habitats, wildlife and natural features have had no recent assessment of their condition.The warning follows the publication of figures covering assessments of protected natural sites known as sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) in the last five years. SSSIs are legally protected because they contain special features such as threatened habitats or rare species, and together they cover more than 1.1m hectares (2.7m acres), about 8% of England’s land area. Continue reading...

Events

8 hours ago On the towering cliffs, my family found a sanctuary. It still pulls me back today | Kat Lister

My grandmother called it The Haven – a shack perched high above the beach. Years later, another special woman rekindled my love of that placeIn our end of year series, writers and public figures remember the place or time when they felt most at homeIn the 18th century, physicians went looking for a nostalgia bone, as though a person’s yearning for a past time or place could be assigned to a chunk of tissue. But for me, writing in the 21st, the stimulus can be found not in the body I’m in, but the memories I carry. And in particular, as I edge further into my 40s, the memories of coastland I visited in the 1980s: a four-mile stretch in south-east Cornwall where my family and I summered each year with my grandmother.As a child, I would zigzag down the narrow cliff path with wild abandon, my mother nervously calling out to me as I sprinted down to the white sand below. This is where the roots of so many of my happy memories can be found. Not simply in the towering cliffs themselves, bu...

Politics

27 hours ago Enzo Maresca reveals second Chelsea player was dropped for Fulham defeat as he explains Noni Madueke decision

Madueke was dropped from the Blues squad on Boxing Day for ’technical’ reasons

Sport

13 hours ago Man Utd transfer news: Ruben Amorim eyes Barcelona star amid Matheus Cunha battle

Manchester United could be set for a busy January transfer window, with a number of players potentially set to leave Old Trafford as Ruben Amorim revamps his squad

Events

8 hours ago The Guardian Footballer of the Year Sofie Junge Pedersen: ‘We wanted to send a message’

The Inter and Denmark player wins the award for her climate activism and being behind an open letter to Fifa regarding Saudi Arabia’s human rights issuesThe Guardian Footballer of the Year is an award given to a player who has done something remarkable, whether by overcoming adversity, helping others or setting a sporting example by acting with exceptional honesty.If the football had not worked out, perhaps Sofie Junge Pedersen could have run away to the circus. When her after-school youth club in Aarhus put on its annual week of performances there was one challenge that struck her in particular: the chance to juggle with fire torches and mock knives. “It was quite serious,” she laughs. “We practised a lot beforehand and I thought it would be fun. I just wanted to be the best.” So it proved and there is no evidence that anyone has beaten the time she set, aged 13, for keeping the two airborne simultaneously. Continue reading...

Politics

28 hours ago James Corden's big comeback: Comedian is embraced by the nation once more as Gavin And Stacey final is a hit with viewers after string of scandals

The last ever episode of the show - which came five years after the most recent Christmas special - pulled in a massive 12.5 million viewers for the BBC.

Sport

16 hours ago Arsenal: Mikel Arteta hopeful over Raheem Sterling injury boost amid major Bukayo Saka blow

Chelsea loanee could be back sooner than expected to help cover the loss of injured talisman, who will be sidelined until at least March

Events

8 hours ago AD FEATURE: Find your dream caravan at the region's largest outdoor holiday home show

Southport Caravan Show offers a stunning range of brand-new and pre-owned caravans in one location

Politics

30 hours ago Manchester United: How many games will Bruno Fernandes miss after third red card of the season?

Midfielder facing another suspension after being sent off against Wolves

Sport

16 hours ago Emmerdale spoilers: April 'death' news, Anthony twist and three characters hospitalised

Emmerdale spoilers for next week tease a devastating twist in April Windsor's disappearance, while a special A&E episode sees more than one character hospitalised

Events

9 hours ago Former world’s tallest man calls for more compassion for vulnerable in UK

Hussain Bisad, who has had health problems, says government should do more for people with physical or mental illnessWhen Hussain Bisad first settled in north London as an asylum seeker after fleeing from war in Somalia 23 years ago, he did so in the hope of a new and more settled life. Little did he know that shortly after arriving he would be at the centre of the media spotlight, not for his story of escaping conflict but for something altogether different: his height.Bisad had been in the UK for five months when Guinness World Records measured his height as 2.3 metres (7ft 6.5in), making him then the world’s tallest living man. Continue reading...

Politics

30 hours ago Luke Littler's rival hails teen sensation for turning darts players into celebrities

Luke Littler's emergence has seen the popularity of darts soar over the past 12 months with one of his rivals admitting every player is now feeling the benefit

Sport

18 hours ago Man Utd target goalkeeper transfer after Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir mistakes

Manchester United goalkeepers Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir allowed Tottenham and Wolves to score directly from a corner in the last few games - and the Red Devils could now bring in Belgian starlet Senne Lammens

Events

10 hours ago Matheus Cunha's January transfer stance as Man United 'prepare for exit'

Manchester United head into an important January transfer window next week as Ruben Amorim aims for a change of fortune

Politics

31 hours ago Ruben Amorim slams one Man United star as players exposed for unseen Wolves moment

Manchester United news as Ruben Amorim picks out one player after his side were beaten 2-0 by Wolves on Boxing Day and Bruno Fernandes was sent off in the second half

Sport

22 hours ago Outnumbered bosses hit back at Christmas special 'depressing' backlash

Outnumbered's creator has hit back after the Christmas special was branded "depressing" by some disgruntled viewers after the Brockman family returned to the BBC

Events

10 hours ago What Holyrood party leaders will have on their New Year's wishlist for 2025

The Holyrood party leaders will all have a New Year’s wishlist they will hope comes true as they gear up for a crunch 2025.

Politics

32 hours ago England legend Paul Gascoigne 'asked Three Lions' best player' for signed shirt

Paul Gascoigne has revealed which footballer he believes is currently England's best player and the Three Lions legend also admitted he asked them for a signed shirt

Sport

24 hours ago South Africa’s Marco Jansen sparks flurry of wickets to hit Pakistan hopes

The tourists looked poised to take a lead in their second innings at Centurion before bad light stopped play

Events

10 hours ago AD FEATURE: Ymgynghoriad terfynol nawr ar agor ar gyfer etholaethau newydd y Senedd

Adolygwch y cynigion a rhannwch eich barn ar baru etholaethau a'u henwau awgrymedig

Politics

33 hours ago Gavin & Stacey fans have ‘goosebumps’ over ‘absolutely perfect’ finale

The last ever episode was full of drunkenness, romance, and twists and turns

Sport

24 hours ago Breakthrough for IBS sufferers with personalised diet tailored to their genes

A pioneering study offers new hope to patients who have this challenging condition

Events

12 hours ago Lionel Messi's true colours clear with his feelings on playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo

While Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have never played together, the Argentine great has previously noted he hopes to one day team up with CR7 rather than continuing to face off on opposing teams

Politics

33 hours ago Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd lay out Rashford demands, Arsenal set for Cunha talks, Liverpool latest

Arsenal and Manchester United are just two of the Premier League clubs who are said to be weighing up their options in the market ahead of the January transfer window

Sport

27 hours ago ‘Every coach is in danger’: Amorim wary of job risk if United’s poor form rolls on

Amorim: ‘United manager can never be comfortable’Manager points out he has only had four training sessionsRuben Amorim has said he is aware his job will be at risk if he fails to reverse Manchester United’s alarming slide and acknowledged supporters are “tired” of the team’s shortcomings. Amorim recognises the volatile state of management and is determined to thrive on the pressure.The coach said he is not immune from danger because United paid €10m (£8.3m) to release him from his contract at Sporting in November and knows he must win to prevent scrutiny from building. Amorim’s successor at Sporting, João Pereira, was sacked this week after eight matches in charge. Continue reading...

Events

12 hours ago Extreme measures to hide hated character's comeback in Gavin and Stacey revealed by cast member

Gavin and Stacey star Lauren Cornelius, who played Sonia's bridesmaid Anna, revealed that the Christmas special was such a closely guarded secret that even the cast didn't know about the return of the hated character

Politics

34 hours ago Ruben Amorim makes telling Manchester United admission as January transfer update given

The latest Manchester United news as we take a look at some of the stories around Old Trafford following a 2-0 defeat against Wolves on Boxing Day.

Sport

27 hours ago Ruben Amorim admits he's already under pressure after Man Utd suffer Wolves defeat

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim believes he is already under pressure after just 10 games in charge, with the Red Devils falling to a 2-0 defeat against Wolves on Boxing Day

Events