25 m. ago Britain's Got Talent's Bruno Tonioli's absence explained as KSI steps in

Bruno Tonioli was missing from the first episode of Britain's Got Talent tonight, with KSI stepping in to give his verdict on the auditionees

Politics

32 m. ago Agony for Finn Russell after missed kick hands England win over Scotland

England 16-15 ScotlandRussell puts conversion wide after Van der Merwe tryAt long last England have shaken off their Calcutta Cup blues. Never in the previous 153 years of this fixture had Scotland managed five successive wins over the auld enemy and another tartan triumph really would have had them dancing in the streets of Galashiels in Bill McLaren’s memory. This was a desperately tight old battle, though, with a second gripping home victory in consecutive games only secured right at the death.In the end it all hinged on whether Finn Russell could land the angled conversion following Duhan van der Merwe’s 79th-minute try. Up went the ball, end over end, and for the first half of its flight it seemed Scotland might be celebrating once more. Agonisingly for the visitors, though, it then curved just wide of the left-hand upright to leave England, to their immense relief, still alive in the title race. Continue reading...

Politics

44 m. ago Premier League issue statement as VAR steps in during Aston Villa vs Chelsea

Aston Villa's equaliser against Chelsea on Saturday evening was initially disallowed for offside, only for the Video Assistant Referee to intervene in favour of Unai Emery's side

Sport

46 m. ago Fatboy Slim: ‘I was in the same class as Keir Starmer – he’s one up on me now’

The electronic producer and DJ Norman Cook talks about learning the violin with Keir Starmer, his love for his label maker and crossing swords with MobyGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailYou did violin lessons with Keir Starmer when you were a child. Who was better at violin?I can’t actually remember the violin lessons. But I was in the same class at school as Keir for five years, so I remember him well. He must have been better at the violin than me, because I did it for about one term. My parents could take no more noise, so I would say Keir was better. It is quite weird when one day you see someone on the telly and go, “Oh look, it is Keir Starmer from 4B.” I think he’s one up on me by becoming prime minister.Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Continue reading...

Politics

89 m. ago BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Tasha Ghouri hits back at 'horrible person' claims after Andrew Le Page split

Tasha Ghouri and Andrew Le Page were together for two years after meeting on Love Island

Events

2 h. ago Watching Rangers grates again as St Mirren turn American dream into a nightmare – 3 talking points

Two second half goals from Stephen Robinson's men remind everyone why there's such desperation for an Ibrox takeover

Politics

2 h. ago Dancing On Ice's Torvill and Dean make rare comment about retirement as they film final skate

Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean will take to the ice for the final time as they perform on the Dancing on Ice rink, after confirming they will retire after 50 years

Culture

2 h. ago Waltz this way: rival venues in Vienna compete to celebrate Johann Strauss’s 200th birthday

As the Austrian capital honours the legacy of its dance king, the race is on to attract the most puntersThe music of Johann Strauss streams through Vienna like the stately Danube. Even the syllables of the composer’s name beat out the rhythm of a waltz, as all Austrian dance teachers know. In their lessons, the words “Jo-hann Strauss” are often swapped in to replace the conventional “one, two, three” step count.Viennese children learn to waltz just like they learn to ride a bike, so the muscle-memory never leaves them. Just as well, because the city is still famous as the home of a 19th-century dance craze that shaped its international image. In this 200th anniversary year of the birth of the “waltz king”, there are rival bids jostling to become the focus of the swirling celebrations. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago My boiler has broken and I’m finding solace in a slice (or several) of toast | Rachel Cooke

There are whole chapters in cookbooks dedicated to it and now an endless variety of new things to spread on top, including butters with a waiting listMy subject today is toast, which is much on my mind right now, a buttery ticker tape that calls me constantly to the kitchen. Our boiler has packed up, the new one won’t be installed for a week, and though it’s only the central heating that’s down (the cooker’s fine), the freezing cold has turned me into a toast monster. It’s all I want, a feeling I haven’t had since I was a student and living in a house that was so badly insulated, we sometimes had to break the ice on the water in the loo. How many loaves can a person get through in a week? Come back to me in a few days for an answer. I’ll give you a tour of my chilblains at the same time.What is amazing about toast is the way it has lately become so pimped. This started a few years ago: I first noticed it in Moro Easy by Sam and Sam Clark, a cookbook that came out in 2022 and whose o...

Politics

2 h. ago Inmates locked up in UK prison given dancing lessons and invited to 'film nights'

Female inmates at HMP New Hall in West Yorkshire have been offered line dancing lessons and can attend film nights featuring popcorn and fizzy pop as part of the prison's incentive scheme

Events

2 h. ago Why Daniel Dubois had to pull out of Joseph Parker fight as Martin Bakole steps in

Joseph Parker will now meet Martin Bakole on Saturday night after Daniel Dubois pulled out due to illness.

Politics

5 h. ago Iconic 90s dance group are still raking in the royalties despite split after track becomes 'most played sports theme worldwide'

The Iconic 90s dance group were catapulted to fame with their catchy hits and sold a whopping 18M records worldwide.

Politics

5 h. ago Joy Crookes review – an enthralling, intimate set from this rising London soul star

Islington Assembly Hall, LondonThe twentysomething singer-songwriter brings classic Motown rhythms with a touch of hip-hop to a resounding set of anti-anxiety anthemsJoy Crookes is only 26, but the south Londoner’s music already feels omnipresent. One song in particular, at least: Feet Don’t Fail Me Now seems to be absolutely everywhere. I hear it in cafes and bars, trendy boutiques and grimy off-licences and, when I forget to turn it off, the autoplay function on my streaming app of choice. The song only came out in 2021, as a single from Crookes’s acclaimed debut album, Skin, and even if it doesn’t yet feel canonical, it has at least thoroughly saturated certain pockets of the city.Which makes it all the more remarkable that, when Crookes plays it at Islington Assembly Hall this evening – an “intimate”, or intimate for her, show at only 890 people – one of the Brits Week for War Child charity shows, it doesn’t even garner the biggest singalong of the evening. That honour might go ...

Politics

6 h. ago The late Gwen McCrae brought emotion to dance music like no one else

Spanning deep soul, disco and beyond, McCrae – who has died aged 81 – didn’t get the recognition she deserved for a discography charged with pain and wonderRockin’ Chair, 90% of Me Is You, All This Love That I’m Givin’, Keep the Fire Burning, Funky Sensation – Gwen McCrae, who has died after a long illness aged 81, sang all these soul-funk anthems and more. Songs that refreshed radio, songs that lit up discos and clubs, songs that saw her called “The Queen of Rare Groove”, songs that were covered and sampled and sound as fresh today as when she originally recorded them in Miami in the 1970s and early 80s.Gwen Mosley was born in Pensacola, Florida, and grew up singing in church before marrying a sailor she met the week before when he was on shore leave. Her new husband, once free from the navy, insisted they form the duo George & Gwen McCrae in 1963, with Gwen out front. Betty Wright, then a 14-year-old vocal prodigy, brought the couple to soul singer and label owner Steve Alaimo...

Culture

7 h. ago Strictly Come Dancing tour chaos almost forced Sarah Hadland to quit

Another Strictly Come Dancing star has admitted to almost quitting the BBC show's live tour after their partner was forced to pull out of the running following an injury

Events

7 h. ago The Apprentice bosses 'pause filming' as Lord Sugar rushes to help ill candidate

The Apprentice bosses were forced 'pause filming' after one of the candidates fell ill in a recent episode of the BBC series - as Lord Sugar 'stepped in' to help

Politics

7 h. ago Russell Watson looks back: ‘My success felt like a wave that kept rolling. Until it didn’t’

The classical singer on scrimping and saving for his first guitar, being diagnosed with two brain tumours and getting back to musicBorn in Salford in 1966, Russell Watson is the UK’s bestselling classical crossover artist. The tenor started on the north-west’s working men’s club circuit, before getting a record deal and releasing The Voice, an album that held the No 1 spot for 52 weeks. He has had seven Top 10 albums, more than 7m album sales, and has performed for Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles and the late Pope John Paul II. He is celebrating 25 years of The Voice with a UK tour.I was 15 when this photo was taken. My childhood bedroom was the size of a postage stamp, but I still filled it with posters – Marilyn Monroe, Madonna and Paul Weller. I was obsessed with music, but even more with football. I wasn’t particularly interested in girls; my life revolved around hanging out with my pals. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago BGT winner George Sampson startles people with age as fans declare 'time flies'

Dancer George Sampson is one of the original Britain's Got Talent stars, having won the ITV show way back in 2008 during the second series – and many fans are still surprised he's all grown up now

Politics

7 h. ago London Weekend Travel Disruptions: What new updates for you?

London Weekend Travel Disruptions: What new updates for you?  Travel And Tour World

Politics

7 h. ago Martin Bakole weighs in over 300lb for Joseph Parker fight after replacing Daniel Dubois

Martin Bakole has officially weighed in after stepping up on two days notice to fight Joseph Parker following Daniel Dubois' withdrawal from the heavyweight clash

Politics