A huge congratulations are in order for Joss Stone who announced the lovely news that her family is set to expand. On Thursday, the singer shared her shock as she revealed she’s pregnant, just weeks after welcoming her third child into the family via adoption. Alongside a series of snaps of her reaction to a […]
The post Joss Stone ‘shocked’ to discover she’s expecting weeks after adopting baby boy appeared first on RollerCoaster.
A BRAND new episode of EastEnders will air tonight after Tuesday’s was pulled from the schedule.
The unusual Friday episode follows the BBC’s decision to air Sports Personality of the Year on Tuesday, taking EastEnders‘ usual time slot.
The BBC soap typically airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One at 7:30pm and is available to stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer.
Tonight EastEnders will air at 7:30pm, but it is also available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
Viewers will see the aftermath of Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) accidentally setting a house fire.
She knocked over a candle after passing out from taking strong pills that Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) gave her for her pain.
Cindy was wary to give her the pills due to her pregnancy, but Lauren blackmailed her into giving them by threatening to expose that she was involved with Kojo’s (Dayo Koleosho) fall.
As the room goes up in flames, can Lauren and her son Louie escape in time?
And is this the wake up call Lauren needs to seek help for the painkiller addiction?
Meanwhile, Denise Fox’s (Diane Parish) paranoia over Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) coming for her gets too much for her.
Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) if forced to intervene and help her, but is confused
Will see tell Ravi the truth about last Christmas and being the reason Nish ended up nearly dead?
In hospital, Martin finds himself in a love triangle again as he has rekindled his connections with both Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) and Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton).
Zack Hudson (James Farrar) encourages his friend to go with the person that feels the most right. Who will he choose?
Elsewhere in the square, Anna Knight (Molly Rainford) and Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier) are listening to the bird calls on Freddie’s voice recorder.
But who will overhear Cindy’s confession that she is sleeping with her stepson Junior Knight (Micah Balfour)?
Soaps are no stranger to dramatic stunts in the storylines. Not only do these moments create a spectacle for viewers, they also fundamentally change characters’ lives.
Here is a look at some of the biggest soap stunts from over the years.
CORONATION STREET
EASTENDERS
EMMERDALE
A MAN has revealed that he had sex with his girlfriend’s grandmother the first time they met.
Not only did he go behind his partner’s back, but he didn’t use protection with the elderly woman either.
He claimed that it all started when he was helping the woman clear her store room – but after he was caught looking at her large breasts, things quickly progressed.
Keen to open up on the situation, the man took to social media to share all, leaving many open-mouthed.
Posting on Reddit, on the r/confessions thread, the man wrote under the username @PartyFlamingo4718 and titled his post ‘I had sex with my girlfriend’s grandmother when she called me to help clear the store room.’
The man then explained: “Back in January, my girlfriend called me to help her grandmother clear out the store room for a garage sale.
“She could have joined but she got an important lecture in her medical school so I went and to help.
“After three hours or so I completed the task and the lady invited me to have lunch…”
The man claimed that when his girlfriend’s grandmother bought him a fizzy drink, he instantly noticed that she had large breasts.
He continued: “God she has some big jugs…I never saw her before but right then my eyes were stuck at her boobs and I didn’t even bother to look at her face…
“She noticed it quickly but she laughed it out saying ‘oh dear those are not that juicy anymore’.
“I felt a little awkward so I couldn’t really talk for the first 10 minutes.”
The anonymous man explained that the older woman then sat beside him, and kept her hand on his lap.
He recognised that her breasts were rubbing against his shoulder, making him aroused, as he admitted: “I felt super nervous but later I was quite sure about her intentions so I let it happen.”
A new report has lifted the lid on bedroom antics.
The research, conducted by experts at Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, revealed the average number of times people of different generations have sex per month.
Things then quickly went to the next level, as he confessed: “When she noticed my boner at first she acted like she was disgusted but after some time she got comfortable and we had sex on the chair and later on her bed…NO PROTECTION…
“Later in the evening she said that she wanted to keep this thing going and honestly I wanted the same too.”
I don’t regret any of it
Reddit poster
Not only did the man share his desire to keep their bonk a secret, but he also shared his lack of remorse too.
He concluded: “Me and my girlfriend will be completing two years of our relationship and I’m still b***** her grandma but I don’t regret any of it.”
Private Investigator Aaron Bond from BondRees revealed four warning signs your partner might be cheating.
They start to take their phone everywhere with them
In close relationships, it’s normal to know each other’s passwords and use each other’s phones, if their phone habits change then they may be hiding something.
Aaron says: “If your partner starts changing their passwords, starts taking their phone everywhere with them, even around the house or they become defensive when you ask to use their phone it could be a sign of them not being faithful.”
“You should also look at how they place their phone down when not in use. If they face the phone with the screen facing down, then they could be hiding something.”
They start telling you less about their day
When partners cheat they can start to avoid you, this could be down to them feeling guilty or because it makes it easier for them to lie to you.
“If you feel like your partner has suddenly begun to avoid you and they don’t want to do things with you any more or they stop telling you about their day then this is another red flag.”
“Partners often avoid their spouses or tell them less about their day because cheating can be tough, remembering all of your lies is impossible and it’s an easy way to get caught out,” says Aaron.
Their libido changes
Your partner’s libido can change for a range of reasons so it may not be a sure sign of cheating but it can be a red flag according to Aaron.
Aaron says: “Cheaters often have less sex at home because they are cheating, but on occasions, they may also have more sex at home, this is because they feel guilty and use this increase in sex to hide their cheating. You may also find that your partner will start to introduce new things into your sex life that weren’t there before.”
They become negative towards you
Cheaters know that cheating is wrong and to them, it will feel good, this can cause tension and anxiety within themselves which they will need to justify.
“To get rid of the tension they feel inside they will try to convince themselves that you are the problem and they will become critical of you out of nowhere. Maybe you haven’t walked the dog that day, put the dishes away or read a book to your children before bedtime. A small problem like this can now feel like a big deal and if you experience this your partner could be cheating,” warns Aaron.
Reddit users were left gobsmacked by the man’s confession and many flocked to the comments to share their thoughts on the situation.
One person said: “No words…I don’t even know how to respond.”
Another added: “She must still be hella good looking.”
A third commented: “Granny has one foot in the grave and wastes her time securing her spot in hell.”
ASTON VILLA and Manchester City go head-to-head in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off with both sides desperate for a return to winning ways.
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Manchester City travel to Villa Park with the sounds of Amad Diallo’s derby winner still ringing in their ears.
City’s recent troubles feel like they have been going from bad to worse with each passing week with Pep Guardiola enduring the worst spell in his trophy-laden managerial career.
Defeat to arch-rivals Manchester United consigned the Cityzens to a fifth defeat in seven Premier League games, which is as many as they had in their previous 67 combined (W51 D11).
They’ve also lost eight of their last 11 games in all competitions (W1 D2), as many as they had in their previous 106 combined (W78 D20).
Pep himself revealed that he’s struggling to find the “solution” to Manchester City’s problems, and a visit to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa isn’t the ideal fixture to get things back on track.
The hosts appeared to have survived a sticky patch which has seen them drop to seventh in the standings – two points behind Saturday’s opponents.
Villa enjoyed a three-match winning run against Brentford, Southampton and RB Leipzig before succumbing to a late 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest last weekend.
But with no European football or Carabao Cup involvement this week, the Villans should be fresh and have home advantage, where they’ve gone unbeaten in each of their last seven (W4 D3).
Aston Villa won this exact fixture 1-0 last season thanks to Leon Bailey but haven’t won consecutive home league meetings with Manchester City since April 1993.
And another omen in Guardiola’s favour is that only against Newcastle have Manchester City won more Premier League games (31) and scored more Premier League goals (102) than they have against Aston Villa (30 wins, 98 goals).
Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
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Unai Emery’s faith in striker Jhon Duran looks to have paid off with the Colombian scoring in each of his last three appearances for the Villans.
He’s started the last two Premier League fixtures and in those games has unleashed six efforts on goal with three of those on target – more than any of his colleagues. He’s averaging a chance every 21.7 minutes and has an xG of 0.73 which, again, is more than any of his teammates.
He also netted in this fixture back in April at the Etihad.
Aston Villa vs Man City
Morgan Rogers looks a good price to be carded at 17/4 with William Hill.
The powerful 22-year-old has collected four bookings already this season, which is more than any other Aston Villa player. That’s perhaps no surprise given none of his colleagues have committed more than his 20 fouls in 16 league appearances in the 2024-24 campaign.
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GABRIEL JESUS is adamant Arsenal do not need to go looking for a No 9 – because they have one already.
The Brazilian forward defended his scoring record for the Gunners and says his critics “don’t watch the game”.
Jesus, 27, netted his first Arsenal hat-trick in Wednesday’s 3-2 home Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Crystal Palace.
Before that, the club’s current No 9 had scored just TWICE in all competitions in 2024 – and it was his first goal at the Emirates for a year.
Jesus has 23 goals in 90 appearances since joining Arsenal from Manchester City for £45million in July 2022, although injuries have hampered parts of his time in North London.
He is yet to score in the Prem this term in 13 appearances – starting just twice – as he battles for a spot with Kai Havertz, who has one league goal since mid-October.
Fans have called for Mikel Arteta to splash the cash on a more efficient score.
But Jesus argued: “A lot of people don’t watch the game. They just see the stats the day after and see who scored.
“I want to score every game, like everyone. But sometimes we don’t have chances.
“People say, ‘Gabby played 20 games and scored once’. But they don’t see I am coming on for five or ten minutes.
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“Against Manchester City, I came on as a left wing-back.
“Against Palace was the first game I played a full 90 minutes without cramp, a problem in my life always.
“Sometimes, if you are not playing it is harder to come on and make an impact.
“I am not complaining. I am not happy on the bench but I’m professional.
“I have sometimes been unlucky but I can create, I can run, help the team defending.
“But the pressure to score goals will always be there. I am the No 9 for Arsenal.
“Even if I score ten they will ask for 20 – and if it is 20 they ask for 30. This is the life.”
ARSENAL wasted their chance to capitalise on Liverpool dropping points as they were left frustrated by a resilient Everton.
Here’s how the players rated
DAVID RAYA – 6/10
No save to make. Could have lounged in the dressing room for the majority of the 90 minutes.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 7
Started where he left off in mid-week in the Champions League, picking up great pockets of space in midfield and linking defence to attack with pace and precision.
GABRIEL – 6
Incredible recovery tackle to deny Doucoure with Saliba down injured. Well marked at corners with Everton doubling up on the Brazilian.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 6
Lucky not to see Everton take the lead when he was down and out of position, but other than that was fairly untroubled.
JURRIEN TIMBER – 5
Tried his best to insert some pace and urgency down the right-hand side but lacking in attacking areas.
DECLAN RICE – 5
A rare anonymous showing from the England international. Did not do enough to impose himself but for a few decent tackles. No shock to see him hooked after 62 minutes.
MIKEL MERINO – 6
Showed glimpses, but still needs to get up to speed with pace Arsenal want to play at through the middle.
MARTIN ODEGAARD – 6
Blazed over and dragged wide from two good early chances – missing his shooting boots in the first half just like against Monaco – and looked generally off it.
It was still a surprise to see him subbed off just after the hour mark for Nwaneri.
BUKAYO SAKA – 7
Had a field day up against Mykolenko as Everton struggled to contain his brilliant movement and strength on the ball, yet Pickford made save after save.
Got in the way of a free Havertz header towards the end.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 6
Lively, especially because he had the beating of Young with some darting runs that kept the 39-year-old busy and was denied by Pickford from a tight angle.
But yet again, was taken off for Trossard.
KAI HAVERTZ – 6
Lacked a serious goal threat but created Arsenal’s best chance with a delicious flick around the corner for Saka.
SUBS:
ETHAN NWANERI (ODEGAARD, 62) – 6
A few nice touches and turns, looking for that trademark left-footed curling finish.
JORGINHO (RICE, 62) – 6
Got on the ball as Arsenal’s primary dictator from deep.
THOMAS PARTEY (LEWIS-SKELLY, 68) – 5
Offered very little.
GABRIEL JESUS (MERINO, 68) – 5
One dangerous cross easily claimed by Pickford was about it.
LEANDRO TROSSARD (MARTINELLI, 74) – 6
A bright spark. A few good crosses as Young tired on the left.
Arsenal face Palace again in the Prem tomorrow, only this time at Selhurst Park.
Jesus could start following his hat-trick, with Jean-Philippe Mateta and ex-Gunner Eddie Nketiah scoring for the Eagles.
But Jesus said: “I have knocked on a manager’s door only one time in my life.
“I knocked on Pep Guardiola’s door – not to complain but to ask him what I could improve.
“I would never go to Mikel’s door and say, ‘I want to play’.”
By Martin Lipton
MARCUS RASHFORD is at a crossroads.
But now the England star has to make the biggest choice he has ever faced – does he care about cash, or about his career?
Rashford’s shock admission that he is “ready for a new challenge” after some two decades under the Manchester United umbrella has altered the dynamic around his future.
That Rashford might not fit the blueprint of Ruben Amorim – who has now responded to Rashford’s comments – was not exactly a surprise.
The Portuguese coach prefers a 3-4-3 formation but appears to have settled on Rasmus Hojlund as his starting central striker and wants two “narrow” inside forwards, with the width coming from the wing-backs.
Rashford has always wanted to play through the middle but is often at his best exploiting spaces out wide – and that skillset does not necessarily suit the way Amorim wants to play.
Even so, going public with his evident dissatisfaction at being bombed entirely from the squad for the Manchester derby was a major move, even if he vowed there would be “no hard feelings” if he does leave his boyhood club.
In truth, Rashford has been leaving United almost from the moment he signed that new £325,000 per week contract in 2023.
Something was broken in his connection to the club. His form dropped, his threat dissipated, his issues with the hierarchy deepened.
When Erik ten Hag dropped him for hosting a birthday party after a derby defeat, and he later pulled a sickie to miss the FA Cup game with Newport, it felt even then that the writing was on the wall.
The facts suggest the love affair has ended. After scoring 30 in all competitions to earn that new deal, he has scored just 15 in the 18 months since it was signed.
Amorim’s arrival seems merely to have accelerated what was increasingly inevitable.
Now, though, it is up to Rashford to determine what his future will bring.
If it is only about the money, then his options might be somewhat limited.
It is hard to see a Prem rival coughing up the same £16.9m annual salary – although Rashford’s comments have probably knocked £20m-plus off any transfer fee, even next month.
But Real Madrid have their fill of big-money strikers and Barcelona’s budget remains restricted by La Liga financial controls.
In Europe, then, that probably leaves PSG – but a move to a one-club league.
Or, in the wider world, he could follow the likes of Ivan Toney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Roberto Firmino and Co and head to the Saudi desert.
Lucrative, yep. Certainly a different environment – and that may be exactly what Rashford both wants and needs. But the football? Not in a million years.
What Rashford needs, above all, is to be able to play for trophies and showcase his talents.
There is no better stage than the Premier League – which has far more global eyeballs on it than any other domestic competition.
And in that Premier League there is one club crying out for a goalscoring No 9, especially if he can also play down the left channel to balance out the side and widen its threat.
Rashford has always been more Longsight than London.
Yet Arsenal, and Mikel Arteta, might be the perfect fit.
The Gunners’ lack of a proper scorer is one of the major factors many fans feel has hurt their title challenge this year.
Gabriel Jesus has never been a natural finisher, while Kai Havertz is still a converted midfielder.
And while the link-up between Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka makes their right flank deadly, faith in Gabriel Martinelli on the left is waning.
There have not been too many who succeeded at Arsenal after leaving United – although Danny Welbeck was not a flop.
Rashford has all the attributes to change that history, if he can reproduce what everybody knows is inside him.
And by breaking free, giving himself the chance to start all over, Rashford can make a point to Amorim that will resonate for a very long time.
Arteta added: “The movement, the quality of touches, the way he finished, it’s a message we have got Gabi back at his best.”
Jesus recently announced he is expecting another child with his partner – and walked out at the Emirates with his daughter for the first time on Wednesday.
He said: “I would walk out with my nieces and nephews at City and I always scored. My daughter has given me luck.”
DARTS showman Scott Williams has vowed to continue being an entertainer at the World Darts Championship.
It comes after Shaggy drew criticism for throwing a “blind 180” during his first-round match with Niko Springer.
Speaking after the game, which he won 3-1, Williams said he enjoys being a big showman.
And while he has sometimes felt he picked the wrong time to do so, the 34-year-old insists he will “not stop being a bit of t**”.
Williams, a semi-finalist from last year, told reporters: “I’ve had to learn over the last couple of years with stage stuff to do it at the right time.
“I played Joe Cullen a couple of years ago in the last-16 of the Players Championship finals and I hit a 180 in the first couple legs and I’ve give it some of the biggun.
“And I’m like, ‘I don’t need to exert that kind of energy right now because it’s 1-1, so why?’ It’s an even game we’re both doing what we’re doing.
“I’m trying to be better at that kind of stuff. But I’m not going to stop being a bit of a t**.
“I’m there to give the crowd what they’ve paid for.
“They’re here for me, they’re here for everyone, they’re here to have a good time and to see silly stuff, see great stuff and anything you can involve the crowd in, they’re here for it.
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“So I’ll carry on doing that.”
The Ally Pally crowd went wild for his blind 180 on Thursday, but fans back home were divided.
Reacting on social media, one fan said: “Throws it and looks away after. It’s just cringy.”
A second said: “Corniest thing in darts.”
A third added: “Disgusting… No respect for his opponent.”
Another said: “The coldest guy.”
A fifth said: “How can you not love this man!?”
Williams is now scheduled to face World No.5 Rob Cross on Monday.
Speaking after the win, Williams said: “People don’t realise. I’ve only been playing this game seriously for four years, five years, but some of these youth players, he’s been playing at a good level since he was ten.
“I’ve just played in a pub and I’ve turned up and I’m decent at the game, I’m able to earn a living off in that.
“Even now, I’m still new to all this, so I’m trying my hardest to know how to react in the right way, how to react on the stage, off the stage.”
Williams added that he was planning to practice with Voltage ahead of their clash.
He added: “I give him far too much respect last time. We know the score, we’ll have a practice the next couple of days, we’ll practice together, we’ll be great and we’ll have a great time.
“But as soon as it comes to half past nine, ten o’clock, Monday night, it’s gloves off and we’re there to win the game, we’re there to take one off each other.”
READ MORE on all the build-up to the Ally Pally extravaganza...
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CALL The Midwife star reveals the filming set is haunted by a creepy ghost that holds a pig.
The BBC sitcom follows the lives of the midwives and nuns at Nonnatus House in London’s East End.
Back on screens for the festive season, the beloved show is filmed at Longcross Film Studios in Surrey.
But what fans may be shocked to know is that lots of the cast and crew believe the gorgeous house is haunted in real-life.
In an interview with The Sun TV Mag, Rebecca Gethings, who plays Sister Veronica, believes the set is rife with paranormal activity.
“I thought I was speaking to the dead for about 10 minutes!” she laughs.
“There’s an old-fashioned phone in the clinical room which was unplugged, and when I picked it up there was a crackling sound.
“One of our sound men told me it was just static, but then our on-set medic heard a bang in Dr Turner’s office and went running in.
“She took a photo in the darkness, and when you zoom in, it’s of a lady in Edwardian costume holding what looks to be a pig!
“It’s pretty compelling. The building has a vibe…”
The full interview is available in The Sun’s TV Mag tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the show’s fans are waiting excitedly for the festive editions of the hit period drama.
For the first time in the history of the show, viewers will be able to watch a double bill of Call The Midwife this Christmas.
Upcoming storylines include the nurses of Nonnatus House having to deal with influenza, the Hong Kong Flu and an escaped prisoner.
There is also trouble in store with Reggie Jackson (Daniel Laurie) as he becomes more independent with age.
But the Buckle family could be in for a huge shock this Christmas.
Call The Midwife first came onto the airwaves in 2012 and has been seen by millions. But what is it about?
Series one: Set in early 1957 and it explored the ‘Baby Boom generation, which included themes of poverty and post-war immigration.
Series two: Set in 1958 and it showed gas and air being introduced for pain relief for the first time. It ended with the Nonnatus House building being condemned.
Series three: Set in 1959 and it depicted gruesome conditions such as cystic fibrosis, polio and it showed the midwives in the context on prisons.
Series four: Set in 1960 under the threat of nuclear warfare and the emergency response guidelines issued by the local Civil Defence Corp. Other themes included LGBT rights, and syphilis.
Series five: Set in 1961 and it shows the care of patients with conditions such as Typhoid and strokes. We also saw the effects of thalidomide, the introduction of the contraceptive pill.
Series six: Set in 1962 and domestic violence was at the centre of the season. Other themes included FGM (female genital mutilation), mental health issues and interracial marriage. It was also notable for the introduction of Reggie, a recurring character with Down Syndrome.
Series seven: Set in 1963 and we see Nurse Lucille Anderson for the first time. We also see the show address conditions such as dementia, huntington’s disease, leprosy and meningitis
Series eight: Set in 1964 and it bravely covered the issue of abortion, which was not legal for another three years in 1967. Sickle cell disease, cleft lip, cleft palate and intersex people also featured.
Series nine: Diptheria was at the centre of the ninth instalment in 1965, and it was notable for featuring a blind expectant mother. But the role of Nonnatus House within the community also came into question.
Series ten: Set in 1966, Nonnatus House has a rival in the form of the private Lady Emily Clinic in Mayfair. PKU, diabetes and the controversy surrounding abortion were central themes.
Series eleven: Set in 1967 amid the housing crisis and a scabies epidemic. The show was rocked by a train crash right next to Nonnatus House.
Cliff Parisi who plays handyman Fred Buckle says that viewers will see things change between him and his ward.
“Normally Reggie’s been really sheltered by Vi and Fred, but they’ve kind of started to try and grant him a little bit more independence as he’s gotten older,” he explained to Radio Times and other assembled outlets.
“So when we do a job together, he gets a separate pay packet with his own name on it.
“He’s now becoming a young man, and they’re trying to respect that and trying to make him more responsible.”
He continued: “On this particular occasion, things get out of control, I think it does remind them how vulnerable he can be.
“Things are all right when they go right, but if they go wrong, he doesn’t have another option.”
Cliff added: “He doesn’t know what to do.”
Call The Midwife returns for part one of The Christmas special on BBC One on Christmas Day.
A MAJOR clothing chain with over 150 stores across the UK will shut for good in the New Year.
Matalan will close its site in Chester come January 4 in a blow to local shoppers.
Many took to social media to share their devastation, with one writing they were “gutted” while another said it was “sad” for the staff.
Another said the area is becoming a “ghost town,” and a fourth said they thought the shop “would be next“.
A spokesperson for the affordable clothing and homeware store told The Sun it was closing the site because the landlord wants to “redevelop the site”.
They added: “Our priority is to support our colleagues and we are working closely with all those affected and where possible offering them alternative positions.”
Shoppers who have returns to make can do so in store until January 4.
After that, they can return to one of the nearby stores or via post if it was an online order.
The nearest Mataln for customers is 4.8miles away in Cheshire Oaks., followed by Bromborough which is 9.9miles away.
It’s not the first time that residents have had to wave goodbye to a store.
In September, Sainsbury’s closed its decade-old Local store in Chester city centre.
At the time, a fuming customer wrote online: “Now that’s a shame. We often call in on the way back to the car park to get our groceries or dinner.
“Sadly it’s not surprising, because what’s made it a little gem, is how easy it was to shop due to a lack of overcrowding.”
Matalan has closed a number of stores already this year, including a site in Salisbury.
Several other Matalan shops have also closed their doors in recent months.
Matalan also pulled down the shutters on its clearance store in Church Gate, Leicester, in January.
It also closed its Leytonstone store for the final time last winter after trading for over two decades.
Shoppers in Renfrew were left devastated in last September when it announced the closure of its Blythswood Retail Park store.
High street retailers have struggled in recent years as shoppers increasingly turn to online retail.
High energy costs and business rates have hit retailers hard.
This has left some businesses grappling with budgets and having no choice but to close stores to cut costs.
Many Brits have turned to second-hand outlets such as Vinted and eBay, making things even harder for charity shops.
Several well-known major brands have fallen into administration including Wilko and Paperchase.
Late last month, Homebase said it would put 74 sites up for sale after it crashed into administration.
However, its administrators were able to strike a deal to sell the business to retail group CDS, which owns bargain chains The Range and Wilko.
This secured the jobs of 1,600 employees and 70 stores – all of which are set to be rebranded as The Range shops.
RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past year, and more are coming.
The number of jobs lost in British retail dropped last year, but 120,000 people still lost their employment, figures have suggested.
Figures from the Centre for Retail Research revealed that 10,494 shops closed for the last time during 2023, and 119,405 jobs were lost in the sector.
It was fewer shops than had been lost for several years, and a reduction from 151,641 jobs lost in 2022.
The centre’s director, Professor Joshua Bamfield, said the improvement is “less bad” than good.
Although there were some big-name losses from the high street, including Wilko, many large companies had already gone bust before 2022, the centre said, such as Topshop owner Arcadia, Jessops and Debenhams.
“The cost-of-living crisis, inflation and increases in interest rates have led many consumers to tighten their belts, reducing retail spend,” Prof Bamfield said.
“Retailers themselves have suffered increasing energy and occupancy costs, staff shortages and falling demand that have made rebuilding profits after extensive store closures during the pandemic exceptionally difficult.”
Alongside Wilko, which employed around 12,000 people when it collapsed, 2023’s biggest failures included Paperchase, Cath Kidston, Planet Organic and Tile Giant.
The Centre for Retail Research said most stores were closed because companies were trying to reorganise and cut costs rather than the business failing.
However, experts have warned there will likely be more failures this year as consumers keep their belts tight and borrowing costs soar for businesses.
The Body Shop and Ted Baker are the biggest names to have already collapsed into administration this year.
KNOWING what to buy a teacher at Christmas is often a challenge for many parents around the world.
But to make the gift-shopping a little easier, two teachers have taken to TikTok to reveal three popular presents they’re bored of receiving year after year.
And if you were thinking of heading to the shops to snap up yet another ‘Best Teacher’ mug, you may want to listen up.
In a new clip shared on the popular social media platform, former teacher Natalie Parmenter broke down the three gifts that school staff doesn’t really enjoy ahead of the holiday season.
The first one, according to Parmenter – who is the founder of Primary Focus, an online guide for elementary school parents – was a coffee mug.
Although this may seem like the safest option – that also won’t break the bank – the teacher revealed their mug collection is already too big.
”We’ve got pencil mugs, we’ve got plants growing in mugs, that’s it, that’s enough mugs,” Natalie told TikTok users.
”Number two, surprise cupcakes during the holiday party,” she continued in the video.
The former teacher revealed that as sweet as this treat may be, this is not exactly a gift for the teacher, but rather, a gift for the class and children – and branded it as ”rude”.
”Where were you a month ago when the sign up sheet went out?” she questioned.
Not only is bringing this baked goodie ”rude” and makes it ”really awkward for whoever did sign up to bring cupcakes”, Natalie added that a pile of cupcakes also means she’s ”got way too much sugar in the classroom”.
Last but not least, the kindergarten teacher revealed the third thing that school staff doesn’t want is parents talking badly about them online.
Natalie said that ”even if you post anonymously, these communities are small, and it will be screenshotted and it will be sent back to the teacher”.
Arizona-based teacher Patricia Britton also echoed some of Natalie’s comments in another video, desperately urging parents not to keep buying Christmas-themed mugs.
”Do not give us this,” Patricia said, as she held up a green mug shaped like a gorgeous Christmas tree.
”We teachers do not want more mugs, I have a cabinet full of them, and I don’t need more,” she told her viewers.
IF you're stuck for ideas on what to give your teacher for Christmas, here's some ideas...
Personalised Stationery: A set of notecards or a planner with their name on it.
Gift Vouchers: For popular bookshops, coffee shops, or online retailers.
Handwritten Thank You Note: A heartfelt message from you or your child expressing gratitude.
Classroom Supplies: High-quality pens, markers, or a decorative organiser.
Homemade Treats: A batch of cookies, a cake, or a jar of homemade jam.
Potted Plant: A small plant for their desk or classroom window.
Relaxation Kit: Include items like a scented candle, bath salts, and a cosy blanket.
Books: A bestseller or a classic, depending on their taste.
Customised Mug: With a funny or inspirational quote related to teaching.
Experience Day: A voucher for an afternoon tea, a local event, or a workshop.
When it comes to the gifts that teachers actually do want, Natalie suggested a gift card to a local coffee shop, adding that the amount of money doesn’t matter.
”To put inside our mugs!” she joked on the Today show in a recent interview.
”Teachers love getting gift cards — no matter the dollar amount. It’s the thought that counts,” she added.
She also revealed that teachers often love to receive homemade gifts, such as art or cards.
”First of all, teachers always appreciate gifts, whether it’s art from a student or a handwritten card,” Natalie told the publication.
”It means a lot, because we work really hard and don’t always get recognition.”
