Daily Express - 2021-12-06

DX1ST CAMPAIGNING NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR express.co.uk Monday, December 6, 2021 80p Free inside Essential guide to best festive gifts made in the UK SEE HAVE A BRILLIANTLY BRITISH CHRISTMAS Speedy boosters will save xmas PAGE 6&7 Ripping up EU red tape gives UK companies more chance of winning £300bn projects AT last! Brexit shake-up to boost britain’s Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 1 Fantastic fizz PAGES 2&3 Terrific toys PAGES 4&5 Gorgeous gifts PAGES 6&7 Firms exclusive UK companies will finally be able to compete on a level playing field – as onerous EU rules are set to be axed. Smaller firms will be free to go By Macer Hall up against giant conglomerates for projects worth £300billion a year. In a post-Brexit shake-up, Boris Johnson is ripping up strict regulations dating back to our membership of the EU, giving firms a better chance of winning multi-million pound contracts to build hospitals, Turn to page 5 LAST TANGO It’s Strictly full-time for Dan and Nadiya SEE PAGE 3

2 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 Weather forecast DX1ST Weather forecast Pictures: PA, Jonathan Hipkiss Weather forecast Tears... Madeleine Halcrow at the vigil for grandson Arthur . ). Temperatures in Centigrade North West: Cloudy with rain and sleet for a period. Heavy rain showers later. Brisk westerly winds. High 8C (46F). Northern Ireland: Bright with spells of sunshine and light wintry showers. Moderate south-westerly winds. High 7C (45F). Wales: There will be some rain through the morning, then showers later. Fresh westerly winds. High 10C (50F). Midlands: Wet with rain at times, some of Today’s summary: sunshine and light showers North West Coast: It is expected to be East Coast: It is going to be bright with bright with a mixture of sunshine and wintry hazy sunshine and showers. These will be showers, especially this afternoon. Gentle isolated after midday. A moderate westerly westerly winds. High 9C (48F). wind. High 9C (48F). Northern Spain will be cloudy with South Hundreds West Coast: It will be bright with North Central pay Ireland: It will tribute be bright at spells of light to rain and tragic drizzle at times, lad hazy sunshine and showers, wintry with times but showery, some heavy with hail especially in the afternoon. Southern hail, sleet or snow at times. A strong later. A mostly clear evening. Gentle Spain will see sunny spells. High 20C westerly wind. High 10C (50F). westerly winds. High 6C (43F). (68F). Northern Portugal will be cloudy South Central Ireland: It will be bright with Temperatures in Centigrade Northern Ireland: It is expected to be bright ry which is likely to turn heavy. Moderate ). sunny spells and a few showers. Showers with sunshine and scattered showers. Some southerly winds. High 6C (43F). hundreds of people paid their will become more frequent later. A showers will be wintry. By A moderate Stephanie southwesterly wind. High 7C (45F). Balloo Victim... North East/Yorks: Cloudy with outbreaks of moderate respects westerly breeze. to Arthur High 8C Labinjo-Hughes (46F). rain and sleet. Moderate southerly winds. And back Arthur yesterday at an emotional vigil. balloons were let loose to remember in Britain today Feeling very cold. High 5C (41F). OutlookCranmore tomorrow: Road in Solihull, Ireland where Warmest: the Valentia his 10C short (50F) and tragic life. London/South East: Overcast and wet North: Cloudy with sleet clearing to le Scotland: A spell of rain and sleet through Extremes: Coldest: Mullingar 0C (32F) Tomorrow schoolboy there will belost a spellhis of heavy life rain at the hands of Tribute organiser Kerry with rain, Vines becoming spoke more showery later. heavy rain showers. Moderate southwesterly winds. High 6C (43F). the morning followed bu heavy wintry (24 hours Wettest: Knock/Connaught 0.20in. Fresh south-westerly winds. High 9C (48F). showers later on. High 8C (46F). through evil the morning. Emma ItTustin will remainand mostly dad Thomas of being overwhelmed at the turnout. to 2pm yesterday) cloudyHughes, through the afternoon was packed with a fewby those wishing On why she set up Midlands: the event, Wet with she rain at times, some of Scotland: A spell of rain and sleet th UK OUTLOOK TOMORROW: An area of heavy rain will push in from the southwest through First Quarter showers. Severe gale south-westerly winds. 11 December the morning and afternoon pushing northwards. Strong to near gale southerly winds. to honour the six-year-old. said: “[It’s] Just to show which is Arthur likely to turn that heavy. we Moderate the morning followed bu heavy wintry southerly winds. High 6C (43F). showers later on. High 8C (46F). The vigil was joined by Arthur’s love him as a nation, that we love him, SIX-DAY FORECAST Temperatures in Centigrade maternal SIX-DAY grandmother, FORECAST Madeleine Temperatures in Centigrade and we’re really, really Wales: sorry There he will be some rain through the Ireland: Cloudy in the north and wes morning, then showers later. Fresh some showers. Other areas will see s TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN Halcrow, TUE who sobbed WED as THU hundreds FRI of SAT couldn’t SUN be helped.” westerly winds. High 10C (50F). spells. High 10C (50F). London 3 8 3 7 2 7 4 6 6 10 7 10 London 3 8 3 7 2 7 4 6 6 10 7 10 UK outlook tomorrow: spells of heavy rain with strong wind Belfast 4 7 3 6 3 6 4 5 3 7 4 7 Government Belfast 4 7 3 6 3 6 4 5 3 7 4 7 probe Birmingham 2 6 2 6 2 6 2 5 4 9 4 8 Birmingham 2 6 2 6 2 6 2 5 4 9 4 8 SIX-DAY FORECAST IN BRITAIN Temperatures in Centigrad Cardiff 5 7 4 9 3 8 4 8 6 11 6 10 Cardiff 5 7 4 9 3 8 4 8 6 11 6 10 TUE WED THU FRI SAT SU Glasgow 3 6 2 6 3 6 4 6 6 8 5 8 Glasgow 3 6 2 6 3 6 4 6 6 8 5 8 London Manchester 3 8 3 7 2 7 4 6 6 10 7 Manchester 4 6 3 6 2 6 3 5 4 9 5 8 4 6 3 6 2 6 3 5 4 9 5 8 Belfast 4 7 3 6 3 6 4 5 3 7 4 Newcastle 2 4 2 5 1 6 1 5 3 6 4 6 Newcastle 2 4 2 5 1 6 1 5 3 6 4 6 Birmingham 2 6 2 6 2 6 2 5 4 9 4 Norwich 3 6 3 8 2 6 2 6 4 8 5 8 into Norwich 3 6 3 8 Arthur’s 2 6 2 6 4 8 death 5 8 Cardiff 5 7 4 9 3 8 4 8 6 11 6 Plymouth 6 10 6 9 6 9 7 9 8 12 9 11 Plymouth 6 10 6 9 6 9 7 9 8 12 9 11 Glasgow 3 6 2 6 3 6 4 6 6 8 5 Britain yesterday Moon, sun and tides Britain yesterday Moon, sun and tides Manchester 4 6 3 6 2 6 3 5 4 9 5 Aberdeen 2.5 0.02 4 6 Glasgow 5.4 0.00 -1 6 MOON rises: 10.38am, sets: 5.50pm SUN rises London: 7.50am, sets: 3.52pm Newcastle 2 4 2 5 1 6 1 5 3 6 4 Aberporth 6.3 0.02 5 7 Hull 1.3 0.16 3 8 m m m m Aberdeen 2.5 0.02 4 6 Aberporth 6.3 0.02 5 7 Alnwick 0.0 1.01 5 7 Belfast 4.9 0.01 2 7 Birmingham 0.9 0.61 3 6 B’mouth 0.5 0.00 2 7 Bristol 0.9 0.02 5 7 Cardiff 2.4 0.06 4 8 Durham 0.1 0.88 1 5 Edinburgh 3.2 0.00 1 5 Britain Extremes: (24 hours to 2pm yesterday) Today Warmest: St. Mary’s 9C (48F) Coldest: Achnagart 0C (32F) Wettest: Redesdale 2.09in. Sunniest: Aberdaron 5.3hr. Amsterdam Sleet 4C/39F Brussels Rain 5C/41F Dublin Showers 7C/45F Frankfurt Cloudy 3C/37F Geneva Cloudy 4C/39F Lisbon Fair 17C/63F Madrid Fair 13C/55F Paris Rain 7C/45F Rome Fair 12C/54F LIVE Europe forecast Supplied by MeteoGroup East Anglia: Overcast and wet with rain at times, turning heavy later. Moderate westerly winds. High 6C (43F). London/South East: Overcast and wet with rain, becoming more showery later. Fresh south-westerly winds. High 9C (48F). South: Cloudy with rain for a time. Sunshine and showers later. Moderate south-westerly winds. High 10C (50F). South West: Sunny spells and squally showers, heavy during the morning. Strong north-westerly winds. High 11C (52F). Channel Isles: Dull with rain during the morning. Then showers later. Strong northwesterly winds. High 10C (50F). Sea: North Sea: Moderate. Irish Sea: Rough. Channel: Moderate. Glasgow 5.4 0.00 -1 6 MOON rises: 10.38am, sets: 5.50pm SUN rises London: 7.50am, sets: 3.52pm Hull 1.3 0.16 3 8 Manchester rises: 8.09am, sets: 3.50pm Ipswich 1.3 0.23 2 7 Leeds 0.5 0.15 3 6 First Quarter 11 December Lincoln 0.7 0.15 3 7 London 0.0 0.13 4 6 HIGH TIDE Manchester 0.6 0.09 5 7 London B’ge (2.41am), (3.02pm) Oxford 0.2 0.04 4 6 Liverpool (-), (12.10pm) S’hampton 2.3 0.00 5 7 Greenock (1.11am), (1.35pm) St Andrews 4.0 0.02 2 6 Dover (-), (12.00pm) Lighting-up times Glasgow 3.44pm-8.32am Belfast 3.59pm-8.31am London 3.52pm-7.51am Birmingham 3.54pm-8.03am Manchester 3.50pm-8.10am Bristol 4.02pm-8.01am Newcastle 3.39pm-8.16am Tomorrow Amsterdam Cloudy 7C/45F Brussels Fair 5C/41F Dublin Hail 8C/46F Frankfurt Cloudy 5C/41F Geneva Cloudy 4C/39F Lisbon Cloudy 18C/64F Madrid Cloudy 12C/54F Paris Rain 7C/45F Rome Sunny 12C/54F WEATHER SERVICE 0906 156 0206 CALL OUR WEATHER LINE WHERE YOU CAN SPEAK LIVE WITH OUR EXPERTS FOR UP-TO-DATE FORECASTS. CALLS COST £1.50 PER MINUTE PLUS YOUR TELEPHONE COMPANY’S NETWORK ACCESS CHARGE. SERVICE OPEN 8AM - 6PM DAILY. SP SPOKE: 0333 202 3390 CORRECTIONS AND COMPLAINTS If we’ve published anything factually inaccurate, please contact the readers’ editor by email at expressletters @express.co.uk or write to Readers’ Editor, Daily Express at One Canada Square, London E14 5AP and, once verified, we’ll correct it as soon as possible. The Daily Express and Sunday Express are published by Express Newspapers, a subsidiary company of Reach PLC, which is a member of IPSO, the Independent Press Standards Organisation. We adhere to the Editors’ Code Of Practice as enforced by IPSO, which is contactable for advice at IPSO Gate House, 1 Farringdon Street, EC4M 7LG. Website www.ipso.co.uk Telephone: 0300123 2220, email advice@ipso.co.uk. If you have a complaint concerning a potential breach of the Code of Practice, we will deal with your complaint directly or IPSO can refer your complaint to us. Please go to www.reachplc.com/how-to-complain where you can view our Complaints Policy and Procedure. A How To Complain pack is also available by writing to the Legal and Compliance Department, Reach PLC, One Canada Square, London E14 5AP. Temperatures in Centigrade Today’s forecast: Spain, Portugal and the Balearic and Canary Islands with light rain and drizzle through afternoon. Southern Portugal will sunny spells. High 18C (64F). Th Canaries will see sunshine and showers. High 22C (72F). Outlook: Sunshine with some rain Manchester rises: 8.09am, sets: 3.50pm Alnwick 0.0 1.01 5 7 Ipswich 1.3 0.23 2 7 Norwich 3 6 3 8 2 6 2 6 4 8 5 Belfast First Quarter By Macer 4.9 Hall 0.01 2 7 Leeds 0.5 0.15 3 6 11 December Plymouth asked 6 10 Annie 6 9 Hudson, 6 9 chair 7 9 of the 8 12 9 Birmingham 0.9 0.61 3 6 Lincoln 0.7 0.15 3 7 B’mouth Political Editor 0.5 0.00 2 7 London 0.0 0.13 4 6 HIGH TIDE Child Safeguarding Practice Review Bristol 0.9 0.02 5 7 Manchester 0.6 0.09 5 7 London B’ge (2.41am), (3.02pm) Panel, to Britain work with yesterday leaders in Moon, Solihull sun and tides Cardiff 2.4 0.06 4 8 Oxford 0.2 0.04 4 6 Liverpool (-), (12.10pm) MOON rises: 10.38am, sets: 5.50p The Education Secretary has Aberdeen 2.5 0.02 Greenock (1.11am), (1.35pm) to 4deliver 6 Glasgow a single 5.4 national 0.00 -1 6 review SUN rises London: of Durham 0.1 0.88 1 5 S’hampton 2.3 0.00 5 7 7.50am, sets: 3 Aberporth 6.3 0.02 5 7 Hull 1.3 0.16 3 8 launched Edinburgh 3.2a 0.00 government 1 5 St Andrews investigation 4.0 0.02 2 6 Dover (-), (12.00pm) Manchester rises: 8.09am, sets: 3 Alnwick 0.0 1.01 Arthur’s 5 7 Ipswich death to 1.3 identify 0.23 2 7 where we into Britainthe Warmest: death St. Mary’s of 9C tragic (48F) six-year-old Lighting-up times Glasgow 3.44pm-8.32am Belfast 4.9 0.01 must 2 7learn Leedsfrom 0.5 this 0.15 terrible 3 6 case. First Quarter 11 December Extremes: Coldest: Achnagart 0C (32F) Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. Belfast 3.59pm-8.31am London 3.52pm-7.51am Birmingham 0.9 0.61 “We 3 6 are Lincoln determined 0.7 0.15 to 3 7protect children 5 7from Manchester harm, 0.6and 0.09 where 5 7 London concerns B’ge (2.41am), (3.02 (24 hours Wettest: Redesdale 2.09in. Birmingham 3.54pm-8.03am Manchester 3.50pm-8.10am B’mouth 0.5 0.00 2 7 London 0.0 0.13 4 6 HIGH TIDE to 2pm Nadhim yesterday) Sunniest: Zahawi Aberdaronyesterday 5.3hr. Bristol promised 4.02pm-8.01am Newcastle 3.39pm-8.16am Bristol 0.9 0.02 that ministers would “not rest until we Cardiff 2.4 0.06 are 4 raised 8 Oxford we will 0.2 not 0.04 hesitate 4 6 Liverpool to take (-), (12.10pm) Today Europe forecast Tomorrow Durham 0.1 0.88 1 5 S’hampton 2.3 0.00 5 7 Greenock (1.11am), (1.35 have the answers we need” to prevent Edinburgh 3.2 0.00 urgent 1 5 action. St Andrews We 4.0will 0.02not 2 rest 6 Dover until we (-), (12.00pm) similar Amsterdamcases of Sleet appalling 4C/39F child abuse. Amsterdam Cloudy 7C/45F Brussels Rain 5C/41F Brussels Fair 5C/41F Britain Warmest: St. Mary’s 9C (48F) Emma Tustin and Thomas Hughes have the answers Lighting-up we need.” times Glasgow 3.44pm Dublin Arthur’s stepmother Showers 7C/45F Emma Tustin Dublin Hail 8C/46F Extremes: Coldest: Achnagart The 0C Review (32F) Belfast Panel will 3.59pm-8.31am provide London support 3.52pm (24 hours Wettest: Redesdale 2.09in. Frankfurt Cloudy 3C/37F Frankfurt Cloudy 5C/41F Birmingham 3.54pm-8.03am Manchester 3.50pm was last week found guilty of murdering determine what improvements to 2pm yesterday) were Sunniest: Aberdaron 5.3hr. to Solihull Bristol Children’s 4.02pm-8.01am Safeguarding Partnership to “upgrade” the Geneva Cloudy 4C/39F Geneva Cloudy 4C/39F Newcastle 3.39pm Lisbonthe youngster Fair at their 17C/63F home Lisbon in needed Cloudy at the agencies 18C/64F involved. Solihull, Madrid West Fair Midlands, 13C/55F last year. Madrid He Cloudy said: “Arthur’s 12C/54F murder Today has existing Europe local review, forecastwhich was Tomo Paris Tustin, 32, was Rain jailed for 7C/45Flife with Paris a shocked Rainand appalled 7C/45F the nation. Amsterdam launched Sleet shortly 4C/39F after Amsterdam Arthur’s death Cloudy 7C Rome Fair 12C/54F Rome Sunny 12C/54F minimum term of 29 years. “I have taken immediate Brussels action and in RainJune 2020. 5C/41F Brussels Fair 5C Dublin Showers 7C/45F Dublin Hail 8C LIVE The youngster’s father, Thomas asked for a joint inspection to Frankfurt consider Cloudy Justice Secretary 3C/37F Frankfurt Dominic Raab Cloudy has 5C Hughes, 29, was sentenced WEATHER to 21 years where SERVICE improvements are needed Geneva by all backed Cloudy a review 4C/39F by Geneva Attorney General Cloudy 4C Lisbon Fair 17C/63F Lisbon Cloudy 18C for manslaughter. 0906 156 the agencies 0206 tasked with Madrid protecting Suella Fair Braverman 13C/55F Madrid into Tustin’s Cloudy and 12C Mr Zahawi yesterday confirmed that children in Solihull, so that Paris we can be Hughes’ Rain sentences 7C/45F Paris following Rain complaints 7C the CALL OUR Department WEATHER LINE WHERE YOU for CAN SPEAK Education LIVE WITH OUR EXPERTS would FOR UP-TO-DATE assured FORECASTS. CALLS we COST are £1.50doing PER MINUTE everything Rome in our Fair they 12C/54F were too Rome lenient. Sunny 12C PLUS YOUR TELEPHONE COMPANY’S NETWORK ACCESS CHARGE. SERVICE OPEN 8AM - 6PM DAILY. SP SPOKE: 0333 202 3390 lead a review into the Supplied circumstances by MeteoGroup power to protect other children and Supplied by MeteoGroup leading to the youngster’s death to prevent such evil crimes. I have also COMMENT: PAGE 12 Clampdown targets middle-class drug users POLICE will use data from drug dealers’ mobile phones to track down middle-class cocaine users under a new blitz on narcotics. The move is part of a 10-year drugs strategy to be unveiled by Home Secretary Priti Patel today. Other measures include stripping drug users of passports and driving By Macer Hall licences to deter middle-class professionals from dabbling in substance abuse and a hard-hitting campaign aimed at students. The Government will invest an extra £300million in tackling drug gangs, including providing more resources to help police smash the so-called “county lines” networks. Boris Johnson said: “Drugs are a scourge on our society, fuelling violence on our streets. “That’s why, to cut crime, we must step up efforts to wipe out the vile county lines gangs who are exploiting children and ruining lives.” OPINION 12 TV 35 LETTERS 41 stars 43 CITY 44 SPORT 46 PLUS Puzzles pullouT

Pictures: BBC/Guy Levy, James Curley/MagicmomentsUK DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 3 Dan and out... Walker’s tribute to weeping Nadiya as pair exit Strictly Last dance... Dan and Nadiya on Saturday’s Strictly and, right, she is emotional as she leaves. Above right, Dan and Nadiya next to AJ and Kai at the show’s climax Dan Walker and Nadiya Bychkova bid a tearful farewell to Strictly – after just managing to stay one step ahead of critics and reach the quarter-finals. Dan, 44, and Nadiya, 32, lost out in a unanimous vote for AJ Odudu and Kai Widdrington, who were bottom of the leaderboard on Saturday after a disastrous salsa. BBC Breakfast host Dan praised his dance partner, calling her “a friend for life”, before she left in tears. Amazing The ex-Football Focus presenter said: “I want to mention this amazing woman. There are some people who walk into your life and turn some lights on, and that’s what she’s done. “You’re an amazing person, and if you’ll have me, you’ll have a friend for life Nadiya Bychkova. “The last 11 weeks have been absolutely amazing, I’ve genuinely loved every second of it. This amazing By Nicola Methven woman grabbed me by the hand, and brought me out onto this dance floor. “I’m not a dancer, but she showed me that I can dance.” Nadiya added: “Sometimes the right person walks into your life at the right time and that’s what happened. “You always encourage everyone, you always have time for everyone, it inspires me to be a better person.” The pair had finished second bottom after Dan “lost his shape” during his tango to Santa Maria by Gotan Project. And in the dance-off, AJ Odudu managed to come back from her earlier disaster. Rhys Stephenson and Rose Ayling- Ellis shared top place on the leaderboard. They will contest next week’s semi-final with AJ and John Whaite. Only three of them will make it to the final. OPINION: PAGE 12 Men seem smiles older by grinning ‘I DO LOVE JOHANNES TO BITS’ ADMITS PARTNER JOHN JOHN Whaite says he understands how celebrities and dancers fall under the Strictly “curse” every year. The former Bake Off star, who is engaged to long-term partner Paul Atkins, admitted: “You can see why people hook up.” John, who is paired with Johannes Radebe, said: “When we did the rumba, it was very romantic. It was very intimate John and Johannes By Nicola Methven and sensual. I felt like I loved Johannes. And I do love him to bits.” John, 32, told Radio Times he initially told Strictly bosses he wanted to dance with a straight male partner, “just to make a statement that it’s not about sexuality”. But later he changed his mind and was keen to dance with gay South African star Johannes, 34. He said: “When we’re on the dancefloor, I only want to be voted for based on our dancing. But to deny our partnership is significant would be really wrong.” THOSE who are miserly with their smiles might have the last laugh – after a study showed grinning makes people under 60 appear older. It could also explain why the Insta generation – particularly males – prefer the moody brooding pose. And Victoria Beckham’s stoney look could be a wasted effort as scientists found middle-aged blokes are wrinklier around the eyes when beaming but middle-aged females did not suffer in the same way. For the research participants looked at hundreds of faces aged between 20 and 80 – either smiling or with a neutral expression – and were asked to guess their age. Those in their twenties and Pout...Victoria Beckham By Lucas Cumiskey thirties were “strongly” identified as older when smiling. But showing joy had little or no effect on the age guessed for people pictured who were over 60. Melvyn Goodale, of the Canada’s University of Western Ontario, said: “The study suggests older people have so many wrinkles that any smilingrelated wrinkles make little difference to their perceived age.” Now there’s no excuse for multimillionaire designer Victoria, 47, looking so serious in photos. The ex-Spice Girl has admitted: “In the past, I’ve probably hidden behind my armour – the not smiling publicly, for instance.” The study, with Tzvi Ganel from Ben-Gurion University in Israel, was published in Scientific Reports.

4 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 DX1ST Pictures: getty & Pa Soldiers deliver a welfare pack to farmer David, above, and daughter Emma, right, and check on homeowner Ian, below By Emily Braeger BRITAIN is due for a 70mph arctic blizzard this week – as people fight to get over the last storm battering. The fresh warning came as thousands of homes were still without power nine days after Storm Arwen yesterday. Barra – the second named storm of this winter – will bring strong winds and freezing temperatures as low as -11C. Yellow warnings have been issued across much of the country from 9am on Tuesday. The Met Office also warned that public transport could be disrupted and coastal communities at risk. A Met Office spokesman said: “A deep area of low pressure moving in from the Atlantic is likely to bring high winds to many parts of the UK. “Strong winds will arrive in the west through Tuesday morning, spreading inland and reaching eastern areas through the afternoon and early evening. “Gusts of 45-50mph are expected widely, with 60-70mph in exposed coastal locations.” Operational meteorologist at the Met Office Dan Stroud also predicted that a blanket of snow will cover Scotland, the north of England and parts of Wales. He said: “Snowfall is likely to be largely over high ground, although we may see some snow at lower levels.” The latest warnings come nine days after Storm Arwen led to the Met Office issuing red weather warnings, the most severe alarms possible. Worried members of the public have taken to social media to share their fears of the vicious weather that’s about to hit the country. Janet Davies wrote on Twitter: “We Worried… Ofgem CEO Brearley Storm Barra to bring high winds and snow As thousands of homes STILL without power after Arwen Totally unacceptable…Energy Secretary Kwarteng condemned outages as troops helped those without power haven’t finished clearing up after Storm Arwen yet, and Storm Barra is likely to do more damage to my home and garden due to the wind direction.” Storm Arwen killed three people after gusting winds of up to 100mph felled trees and caused power outages in parts of the country. The Energy Networks Association (ENA) said that 3,190 homes were still waiting to be reconnected as of Sunday afternoon. This is down from 4,700 homes on Saturday night, with the majority of the homes affected being in the northeast of England. Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said it was “totally unacceptable” that some people are still without power more than a week after Storm Arwen. Speaking to the BBC in Durham, Mr Kwarteng said: “It’s wrong and bad for people to be off power for such a long time. That’s why I’m here to make sure that we can get people back on as quickly as possible. As I’ve said, for 99.5 per cent of people they’re back on, but for the ones that are still having to put up with this – it is totally unacceptable.” The Energy Secretary warned power firms the Government will review their operations following continuing outages caused by Storm Arwen nine days ago. During a visit to a Northern Powergrid call centre in Penshaw near Sunderland, Mr Kwarteng said: “I think we can make the system a lot more resilient.” The long power delays have prompted energy regulator Ofgem to warn it will take enforcement action against network companies that failed to restore power to customers quickly enough following the storm. Jonathan Brearley, Ofgem’s Chief Executive, said: “We understand this is a really worrying time for people who are without heat and power as the severity of Storm Arwen has hit homes and businesses in the North of England and Scotland. “The effects of Storm Arwen are still being felt with 4,000 homes without power. “We accept the network companies have been working in challenging conditions, but until every home in Britain has power restored, that relentless effort must continue. “We are launching a review into how the storm has been handled. We have strict rules on how network companies need to operate in these circumstances, and we will take action if needed.” Meanwhile the army continues to help those without power in the North East. Teesdale farmer David Eccles and his daughter Emma received a welfare pack from the Royal Lancers yesterday, while Durham home owner Ian Cartwright told troops his concerns after a week without electricity.

DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 5 New rules will spread wealth across country from PAGE one schools and roads. Officials say the current system, imposed by Brussels and rolled over into UK law after our withdrawal from the bloc, is too bureaucratic. They want a new streamlined procurement system across Whitehall departments that boosts home-grown firms and prioritises creating jobs, rather than only benefiting multinational corporations. Steve Barclay, the Cabinet Office Minister who is leading the shakeup, said: “Leaving the EU gives us the perfect chance to make our own rules for how the Government’s purchasing power can be used to promote strong values. While doing so we’re increasing transparency and q Will the new post- Brexit rules be fairer for UK firms? Yes: 0901 133 4440 No: 0901 133 4441 Yes text DXYES to 63333 No text DXNO to 63333 Texts and calls cost 50p plus network access charge. You must have the bill payer’s permission. Vote closes at midnight tonight. The Daily Express may contact you by post, SMS and/or email with offers, goods or services that may be of interest to you. To stop receiving SMS messages please text ‘NSNOINFO’ to the originating number. SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390. ensuring that procurement remains fair and open. “These simpler and more flexible rules will also make it easier for small businesses to win work – placing levelling up at its heart.” Mr Barclay’s plan is part of Mr Johnson’s “levelling up” drive, which aims to spread wealth and prosperity more evenly across the country by prioritising investment and growth in previously neglected regions. He will publish the proposed new rules today in the Government’s response to a consultation process launched after a “green paper” policy document released earlier this year. Brexit Minister Lord Frost said: “These reforms are just one of the many areas where we are taking advantage of our exit from the EU’s rules to design a procurement system that is better tailored to the UK and our economic needs. “They will open up new opportunities for our small businesses to win public contracts, boost efficiency and competition, and deliver better results for UK taxpayers.” The move follows the collapse of the outsourcing giant Carillion in 2018. More than 3,000 jobs were lost and 450 public sector projects TAKING back control was one of the main reasons the people of Britain voted to leave the European Union. We got Brexit done so that we could run our country in our interests and set the rules that we live under. Outside the EU’s cumbersome vaccine procurement scheme, we were able to roll out one of the fastest Covid vaccine programmes in the world, allowing us to live with the virus without significant restrictions on our freedoms. And now we’re turning to public procurement. We are replacing the needlessly complicated rules which dictate how we spend our own public money – £300billion on vital projects every year – with new rules that will be good for small businesses and good for taxpayers, helping unite and level up the country. Under the EU rules, highly experienced officials are denied the chance to negotiate freely during the development of contracts for projects like new schools and hospitals. This inflexibility means all too often contracts are won by bigger firms with poor records for delivery. Now, beyond the reach of Brussels, we are putting the British public at the heart of everything we do. That means scrapping the red tape snarling up procurement rules, which discouraged many small including hospitals, schools and prisons were plunged into crisis. Under the shake-up, ministers responsible for Government procurement decisions will be able to give more weight to bids that create jobs for communities, prioritise the economic recovery from the pandemic and support the transition to “net zero” carbon emissions. Community leaders are businesses from even bidding. It also means toughening up our approach on excluding suppliers that leave a trail of abysmal delivery and waste. As for the officials who award public contracts, they will be encouraged to look beyond the big businesses which pledge to deliver the work at the lowest price. They can take into account the bigger picture: how the project will create jobs for local people; support communities to build back better from the pandemic and help award more contracts to companies that support our military veterans. With more transparency, people will be able to see exactly where their hardearned cash is going – even in an emergency as grave as the peak of the pandemic. This is a key Brexit opportunity. Better value for money will feed through to local communities, which will feel the benefits first and faster. expected to get a greater say over investments that could boost the local private sector. Ministers will also be able to block companies from winning public contracts if they have a track record of poor delivery, fraud or corruption. Small and medium-sized firms, which currently account for around a third of public expenditure, will be given an easier process for bidding and winning Government contracts. In a break with the previous rules, ministers will be permitted to take the potential for creating new businesses and jobs in the UK into account in contract decisions. Hundreds of complicated and bureaucratic regulations inherited from Brussels are due to be torn up in the overhaul. Suppliers will have a single TREVELYAN FLIES TO big apple ON MISSION ANNE-Marie Trevelyan will head to the US this week in a bid to boost the UK’s post-Brexit trade across the Atlantic. The International Trade Secretary will hold talks with business leaders and White House officials in New York and Washington. In her first American trip since taking on the role, she is seeking ways to reduce trade barriers even before negotiations on a COMMENT steve Barclay Cabinet Office Minister By Macer Hall new free trade deal begin. Mrs Trevelyan said: “Now is the time to hit the ground running and get on with boosting ties with our closest ally.” She wants to follow the lifting of the US ban on the sale of British lamb Trading up...Anne-Marie Trevelyan heads to US with other tariff reductions on UK exports and closer trade links with a string of US states. Mrs Trevelyan will meet investors in New York today and will hold talks with trade representative Katherine Tai in Washington tomorrow. She will also discuss easing steel and aluminium tariffs to support British industry. Pictures: getty/pa online registration point to submit bids for contracts to increase the efficiency and overall simplicity of the system. Ministers believe the current rules discourage smaller firms from applying because of the bureaucracy and complexity of the process. Mike Cherry, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “The Government has made this promise before, and it’s important this time it means it. “As many public sector contracts as possible should be broken down into smaller parts, to avoid contracts being so big that only a few corporate giants are able to bid for them. “We saw the risk of putting all the procurement eggs in one basket with the collapse of Carillion a few years ago. “By making more contracts open to smaller firms, there will be greater competition, and a greater range of options on the table.” OPINION: PAGE 12 Building back better... Boris Johnson aims to champion UK firms

6 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 DX1ST Coronavirus: get loved ones ‘Booster jabs will give By Macer Hall Political Editor families are on course for a “great Christmas” thanks to the speeded-up booster jabs rollout, Dominic Raab said yesterday. In a bid to calm fears over rising cases of the Omicron variant, the Deputy Prime Minister is positive the festivities can go ahead without restrictions. But a top statistician later warned the celebrations could lead to tougher Covid curbs in the New Year. Mr Raab said: “We stay vigilant but I think we’re in a much more confident position because of the vaccine, because of the boosters.” A further 86 Omicron cases were confirmed yesterday, taking the UK total to 246 – a 53 per cent rise in one day. However, health experts also insisted vaccines, particularly the boosters, appeared to be protecting people against serious illness from the latest Covid mutation. Mr Raab told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “I think it’s going to be a great Christmas. “All the family, friends, loved ones are being able to get together in a way we haven’t been able to do for a couple of years, I think, is In crowd...Amelia, William and Jo, haven’t left the house for 12 months to protect dad Greg, far left, who has weakened immunity following cancer ‘Get loved ones around you’... Deputy PM Dominic Raab is feeling confident about festive reunions really important. Of course we’ll continue to be vigilant, but the reality is...hospitalisations down, deaths down. The Deputy PM said 80 per cent of people were now double jabbed and a third have had a top-up. He added: “We can go into this Christmas totally in a different position from the last Christmas. “I mean, of course it always depends a little bit on their personal condition. If they’re safeguarding it may be different. “But I think people should enjoy Christmas, get their loved ones around them, celebrate it in a way we haven’t been able to do in the past.” However, Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter said he feared increased festive contacts could trigger a fresh wave of crackdowns. The Cambridge University statistician said: “This is a terrible time for a variant to come along when the next two weeks are probably some of the highest-risk periods, with a lot of indoor socialising that we know is extremely high risk. “It’s appalling timing. I’m sure the Government would love not to disrupt Christmas. “What happens after Christmas of course is another matter. The New Year is quite likely to see quite a lot of challenges to face – and that could very well mean more stringent measures.” Wave AN antiviral pill dubbed a Covid game-changer could be available to take at home by Christmas, it has emerged. The NHS is looking at offering molnupiravir – sold under the brand name Lagevrio – to the most vulnerable in weeks. A national pilot for the drug is set to be announced this week after Britain last month became said: “It is highly transmissible, it appears to be spreading very rapidly in South Africa and the early signs are that it’s spreading pretty rapidly in the UK too. “If those trends continue, over the course of the coming weeks and months, Omicron could even come to replace Delta entirely right around the world.” Asked about the new travel rules, he replied: “That may be a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. If there’s commuthe first country to approve it. Molnupiravir – named after Thor’s hammer Mjölnir – is aimed at those who have Covid with at least one risk factor, such as obesity, being over 60, diabetes or heart disease. The NHS is set to deliver tablets to patients at home in as Boris Johnson will review precautions introduced after Omicron emerged in South Africa by December 18. They include masks in shops and on public transport and new isolating rules for anyone in contact with someone infected with Omicron. Mr Raab stressed ministers had so far not needed to trigger the Government’s winter Plan B, including advising people to work from home where possible. He said: “That’s testament to the success of the vaccine rollout and the plans that we’ve put in place, but also just delivered over the last year.” South African health researcher Prof Willem Hanekom said early figures suggested the variant was highly transmissible but had a less than one per cent chance of reinfection and typically resulted in milder disease. He added: “I want to say we have to be cautious, these are very early days.” Government adviser Prof Mark Woolhouse said the jabs would still be “very, very good” at protecting people from serious illness. But he warned it was too late to stem or stop a potential UK wave of the variant. Prof Woolhouse little as 48 hours of a positive test result as it should be taken as soon as possible and within five days. Some will still need it intravenously in hospital. In October, the Government announced it had secured 480,000 courses of molnupiravir after it was found to cut hospital admissions and deaths by 50 per vulnerable patients set to benefit from antiviral drug within weeks By Giles Sheldrick cent in patients with mild to moderate symptoms. The drug, developed by Miami’s Ridgeback Biotherapeutics works by stopping the virus multiplying – keeping levels low and cutting the severity of illness. Health Secretary Sajid Javid called the drug a “game-changer for the most vulnerable and the immunosuppressed”.

round, says deputy pm DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 7 us a great Christmas’ Pictures: swns & rex Family shuts door on world for entire year nity transmission in the UK, and it certainly looks that way, then it’s that community transmission that will drive a next wave. “The cases that are being imported are important, we want to detect those and isolate any positive cases we find. Struggling “But I think it’s too late to make a material difference to the course of the Omicron wave if we’re going to have one.” From tomorrow, travellers to the UK must take a pre-departure test regardless of jab status. Dr Katherine Henderson, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, warned the NHS would be in a “very, very difficult position” if Omicron led to a surge in hospital admissions. She said hospitals were already struggling to cope with the number of people on wards. Dr Henderson added: “It is pretty spectacularly bad now. It will get worse and if the new variant becomes a thing in terms of numbers and translates into hospitals admissions, we are going to be in a very, very difficult position. We will always still be there. “We still want patients knew it was inoperable. Jo said: “Christmas was very different for us because although we knew Greg had a mass on the brain we found out on Christmas Eve that it was cancerous. Everyone was quite quiet. “We just got up, undid our stockings, sat and watched a bit of TV, had dinner. It was like, ‘What do you do?’” The youngsters have turned their epic lockdown to good use by fundraising for charity Brain Tumour Research. William has collected more than £13,000 by running a daily mile in the garden. He also knocked out a full marathon last month – 1,992 laps. Amelia has performed dance routines and sold homemade keyrings. And given they won’t be seeing anyone else, they won’t be resting on Christmas Day. William will run dressed as a little drummer boy in honour of his late great-grandad’s favourite song. Amelia will livestream a ballet performance from The Nutcracker. Watching on will be Jo and Greg, who is in remission. He needs a little extra time to develop antibodies from his Covid vaccine, which can be less effective in cancer patients. Jo said: “This year it’s going to be quite the contrast. “We now know that Greg is in remission which is amazing. “Anyone that’s going through it – stay strong and do something positive.” ●●To support the Priddys, visit justgiving. com/fundraising/william-priddy1 to come but we do have to help people to understand that really at the moment the service is so stretched that an extra push could be very, very difficult.” A further 43,992 Covid cases were confirmed yesterday and 54 more deaths. There have now been 170,000 fatalities where Covid was mentioned on the death certificate. OPINION: PAGE 12 ‘Thousands face self-isolating with no cash’ Almost 650,000 workers do not qualify for statutory sick pay and face losing their income over Christmas, says a report. The TUC research follows new rules which require anyone coming into contact with an Omicron case to isolate for 10 days even if vaccinated. Workers By Alan Jones in areas such as hospitality, arts and retail – who are most likely to deal with the public over the festive period – often receive no sick pay while self-isolating, the union body said. The TUC said the UK has THE teenage children and wife of a man with an inoperable brain tumour have spent a whole year in self isolation to protect him. The Priddys haven’t seen friends, eaten out, been to the shops or to school now for 55 weeks. Dad Greg, 45, was diagnosed with a cancerous cerebral tumour at the end of last year, facing aggressive chemo and a stem cell transplant. The treatment dangerously weakened his immune system so wife Jo, 41, Amelia, 16, and William, 13, decided to isolate. And with the Covid virus still a threat, they are yet to emerge. The teens have been educated by Jo and accounts manager Greg has worked from home. They have relied on neighbours and online shopping – and nobody has set foot inside their home. The clan have also limited their exercise to their own back garden. The Priddys, from Staines, Surrey, plan to continue in their bubble until Greg’s antibodies increase to make him more resilient to Covid, which could be early next year. Exam invigilator Jo said: “By the time Christmas comes around, we will have been shielding for 55 weeks. “It’ll be yet another occasion we won’t be able to spend with friends or family but we’ll make it as fun as we can.” Greg received his shock diagnosis of primary brain CNS lymphoma after displaying odd behaviour that included leaving the front door open at night. A few days before his first MRI scan he also experienced weakness in his left-hand side. They discovered the tumour in November and by New Year’s Eve New Year curb fears...Sir David Europe’s stingiest statutory sick pay at £96.35 a week – and only for those earning at least £120. TUC boss Frances O’Grady urged “sick pay protection for every worker, worth at least the same as the Living Wage to make sure people can afford to isolate. “No one should be left to By Fiona Jackson Remission choose between doing the right thing or putting food on the table.” A Government spokesman insisted there was help available “including a £500 payment for those on the lowest incomes contacted by Test and Trace”. He claimed many firms pay more than minimum sick pay. Get jab…new mum Christina Unborn tots’ brains ‘safe from Covid’ By Mark Waghorn Catching Covid during pregnancy does not harm the unborn child’s brain. Other infections can cause defects like cerebral palsy but radiologists found this was not the case with coronavirus. They scanned 33 patients with mild to moderate Covid at roughly 28 weeks pregnant. Dr Sophia Stocklein, of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, said: “We found no evidence a maternal Covid infection has any effect on the brain development of the unborn child. This should help to reassure affected parents.” It came as the UK Health Security Agency launched a vaccination drive aimed at pregnant women. Christina, from Guildford, had complications during pregnancy due to Covid before vaccination. She urged pregnant women to get jabbed. Nurses’ fury at unjabbed By Cyril Dixon FURIOUS hospital staff have revealed the burden of unvaccinated Covid patients after figures showed nine out of 10 needing specialist care are not jabbed. They warned that cancer operations are being delayed as a result of vaccine avoiders’ selfish behaviour. In some regions, a staggering 94 per cent of Covid patients in intensive care are unvaccinated. Nicki Credland, chairwoman of the British Association of Critical Care Nurses, said: “Giving care to patients who have chosen not to be vaccinated has a knock-on effect on other patients. “We are still human beings and we still get angry at things we think aren’t just.”

8 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 The positive professor Professor Karol Sikora CMO of Rutherford Cancer Centres and Former Director of WHO Cancer Programme SOCIAL media’s voice of calm Karol Sikora has been signed up by the Daily Express. Readers can now enjoy his soothing advice in these troubled times that has won him hundreds of thousands of followers on Twitter. If you need reassuring everything’s going to be all right read Professor Positivity. DX1ST Let it slow... Shortages and Covid Coronavirus: Market conditions... shoppers in Bournemouth yesterday I WORRY that moves to allow GPs to postpone health checks for the over-75s and new patients in favour of focusing on the booster rollout is misguided and will cause more problems than it solves. We found out from the National Audit Office last week that there have been potentially 740,000 fewer urgent referrals for suspected cancer. And there are 50,000 “missing” cancer patients. Are we sure that postponing health checks won’t add to those numbers? Many people, especially the elderly, are already extremely reluctant to be seen as a burden on their GP – this messaging is going to amplify that. It’s right that boosters for the elderly and the vulnerable are a top priority in Government, but is such desperate haste needed for the younger groups? The vast majority of young people are double vaccinated already and are likely to have had Covid, and therefore acquired some form of natural immunity. Their risk of having severe problems from Covid are extremely small. Giving them a third jab is not the most urgent need. Should we be adding fuel to the fire of the non-Covid health crisis? There will be thousands and thousands of people who have not had a persistent symptom checked and will be dissuaded from doing so after these rule changes. Every day more light is shed on the damage that lockdowns have caused and it’s more brutal than even the most pessimistic of us imagined. We should get the booster rollout moving as quickly as possible for those who choose to have it, but that can’t come at the expense of serious non-Covid conditions which have been ignored throughout the pandemic. A GP’s time is better spent diagnosing cancer, diabetes and other concerns rather than dealing with the booster rollout for young people. Kate tells of Derek’s three words of love By Emily Braeger KATE Garraway has revealed husband Derek Draper has told her: “I love you.” On the last of Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, the TV presenter said that contracting Covid has “devastated” him. Kate said she is “still looking for the light at the end of the tunnel”. Piers, 56, was stunned when Derek said a clear “Hello” and “Thank Seeking light… Kate Garraway you” on the phone. Kate, 54, the new host of the ITV show, said her husband – now at home – has even said to her: “I love you.” are blamed for festive price hikes By Cyril Dixon SHOPPERS were yesterday given another stark warning of Christmas price hikes. One company in three plans to charge customers more for goods and services, a poll of 500 medium-sized firms revealed. Four in five of the businesses also admit they are expecting disruption in their supply chains, rising production costs and problems from Covid curbs. The research by leading accountancy firm BDO follows a raft of downbeat forecasts from trade bodies including the British Retail Consortium. Ed Dwan, partner at BDO, said many businesses had been hoping to rescue a year of disruption with a strong finish and optimistic start to 2022. Drastic But he added: “The harsh reality is that continued supply chain issues, rising energy prices and increasing costs means many are taking further drastic measures to stay afloat. These issues could also be exacerbated by the new Covid-19 variant.” The survey showed 80 per cent of those questioned were pessimistic about trading conditions over this crucial month. About 32 per cent of retail and wholesale firms planned to raise prices and the same proportion of all firms expected to cut production because of inflation. Manufacturing businesses were having the worst time, with 39 per cent expecting to charge more and a similar proportion planning to cut output. Around 45 per cent of those polled said their priority for the next three months was to shore up their flagging national and international supply chains. Just over a quarter of firms said inflation fed-up workers are A NEW breed of business entrepreneurs has emerged from the pandemic, says a study. More than two-thirds of workers are considering striking out on their own. And no fewer than 80 per cent of the 8,000 employees quizzed are dissatisfied with working for their current bosses. The research for tech billionaire Martin Warner suggests that the disruption caused by coronavirus made people rethink their future careers. Dubbed the British Elon Musk, Martin, inset, made his fortune in 3D printing and now runs the drone developer Autonomous By Cyril Dixon and higher interest rates were likely to have the biggest negative impact on trade and growth in the next 12 months. The report comes days after the retail consortium’s chief executive Helen Dickinson warned Christmas shop prices may be higher. She spoke after the trade group’s monthly inflation measure, the BRC-Nielsen IQ Shop Price Index, revealed a year-on-year rise of 0.3 per cent last month. Fresh food inflation was 1.2 per Flight. He said: “This is an unprecedented era of opportunity for entrepreneurs. “The pandemic has provided many aspiring entrepreneurs with an opportunity to pause and reflect on their careers. “The world is open to new ideas, opportunities and change but jumping into entrepreneurship is a brave decision, regardless of the times.” Martin, a mentoring pioneer, commissioned the survey through his education programme Entrepreneur Seminar. The research team found that 58 per cent of those polled are considering acquiring new skills and 55 per cent feel Covid makes them more likely to start a business. Some 82 per cent believe there will be a cent in November – the highest rise since August 2019 – and overall food inflation was 1.1 per cent. Ms Dickinson said: “With food prices rising, and particularly fresh food we may find some of our Christmas shopping a little more expensive this year.” Blaming “labour shortages and rising costs of transport and commodities”, she continued: “We expect the rate of inflation to accelerate over coming months.” She

DX1ST warning to shoppers DX1ST Pictures: bnps Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 9 ready to go it alone BOBBY Logue set up his own property firm after working for a drilling company and running a dog-walking business. The 42-year-old, from Dundee, launched Bridgend Property last year. It focuses on holiday resorts, restaurants and hotels. He said: “For years I wanted to get into entrepreneurship, but thought I needed a degree. “Then I realised a business mentor could help me. Taking part in an entrepreneur programme with like-minded people provided me with motivation and camaraderie, as well as overcoming fear and procrastination.” recession but this has not dampened their enthusiasm for going ahead with their own start-up ventures. Martin added: “It is heartening to see so many people looking to embark on the journey of entrepreneurship because small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy.” But the guru issued a added: “Retailers are doing all they can to mitigate the impacts for their customers. “Government also must play its part and work with industry to find long-term solutions to the labour shortages as this will help to relieve cost pressures and protect the pockets of the British public.” The Confederation for British Industry said last week that the number of firms looking to pass on production costs had risen to its highest level in 30 years. Senior Clair Simpson left her office job to set up a planning and venue styling service. Now the 40-year-old, from Stafford, creates themed events, such as weddings, for people too busy to orchestrate their own. Mother-of-one Clair, pictured, wanted to set up a business ten years ago, but health and financial issues prevented her. While working from home during lockdown, she saw the opportunity to achieve a better work-life balance and reignited her idea. She said: “Things are going in the right direction.” warning, saying: “They will face challenges they have never encountered before and going alone requires not only courage, but a willingness to learn from others.” economist Ben Jones added: “Cost pressures remain a very real concern.” In other sobering economic news yesterday, Tesco warehouse workers and drivers announced strikes in the run-up to Christmas in protest over a four per cent pay offer. Britain’s biggest union Unite said more than 1,000 of its members at the store’s depots in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, Didcot, Oxfordshire, Belfast and Antrim, in Northern Ireland, would take action. General secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite always prioritises the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and it will be giving its full and total support to our members at Tesco until this dispute is resolved.” The union’s national officer Adrian Jones said: “Unite is taking strike action as a last resort having exhausted all other options. “Even at this late stage Tesco could still avoid severe disruption in its stores by returning to the negotiating table and making a greatly improved offer.” But a spokeswoman for the store insisted: “The offer we have made is one of the highest awards made within our distribution business in the last 25 years.” Meanwhile, the Federation of Small Business warned that its members expect delays caused by next month’s new paperwork requirements on goods imported from the EU. At the moment, full customs declarations for Euro products can be deferred, but from January 1, documentation will have to be completed on arrival. FSB chairman Mike Cherry said research showed only one in four small importers who are affected and aware of the changes are ready to deal with them. He said: “Given the turmoil of the last 18 months, new concerns about Covid and this being the busiest time of year, it’s understandable few firms are fully prepared. We’re urging the Government to raise awareness.” HAVE A BRILLIANTLY BRITISH CHRISTMAS Huge rise in demand for goods made here in UK exclusive By Kat Hops ALMOST half of shoppers want to buy British brands that return manufacturing to the UK – up a huge 28 per cent from last year – according to research shared exclusively with the Daily Express. The survey of 2,000 customers found 85 per cent now consider where something was made before buying it – compared with 67 per cent in 2020, while 80 per cent wanted to buy more British-made products. The Daily Express is running the latest in its Brilliantly British campaign today – celebrating British brands and manufacturers with an eight-page Christmas pullout. Editor-in-Chief Gary Jones said: “We’re delighted to put our weight behind UK-based firms that help to create jobs and prosperity at home, and wish all our Brilliantly British brands a successful Christmas and a booming New Year.” Helping to boost British jobs and the environment were the Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 1 Fantastic fizz Terrific toys Gorgeous gifts PAGES 2&3 PAGES 4&5 PAGES 6&7 top two reasons for shoppers to buy products made at home. And 87 per cent of buyers at British firms say they are more likely to buy UK products, up seven per cent from last year, in a separate poll of 1,000 corporate decision makers. Made in Britain CEO John Pearce, who commissioned the surveys, said: “Consumers want to buy British and are prepared to do their research on what is actually made here in the UK.” But he stressed people often find it hard “to decipher what really is made here”. “Confusion over provenance is still a real issue,” he added. “Customers want an easily recognisable and trustworthy mark such as the official ‘Made in Britain’ certification.” More than half (53 per cent) of business leaders surveyed said they were more likely to buy a product if they saw a Union flag on its packaging or marketing materials. Just under half of drivers surveyed said they were more likely to buy an electric vehicle if it was made in Britain. And 65 per cent of shoppers stated that buying British would help the UK tackle climate change – as did 73 per cent of businesses.

10 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 50 families ordered out of homes in bomb alert By Ted Hennessey A MAN was in police custody last night after the bomb squad was called to a residential street and more than 50 households evacuated. Police swooped on an address in King Alfred Street, Normanton, Derby, at 11.30am. Families were ordered out and the military brought in. Chief Superintendent Tracy Lewis said the man had been arrest on suspicion of making or possessing an explosive substance. She added: “At the forefront of our minds is the safety of all those in the area as well as staff at the scene, and I know they are working hard to allow people back as quickly as it is safe to do so. “I am also aware that people will be concerned due to the evacuation and I would like to reassure them that there is no indication at this time that this is a terrorrelated incident.” The council was last night attempting to find beds for the displaced households. Politician and war hero Dole dies at 98 By Dan Townend AMERICAN political heavyweight and heroic Second World War survivor Bob Dole, has died aged 98. Mr Dole, who had lung cancer, was the top Republican in the US Senate for ten years and unsuccessfully ran for the White House against Bill Clinton in 1996. A family statement read: “At his death he had served the United States of America faithfully for 79 years.” As a young lieutenant, he miraculously survived an attack led by him on a German machine-gun post in Italy. Running to help a fallen soldier, Dole’s right arm and back were shattered by enemy shells. A sergeant gave him a huge dose of morphine – believing Dole was dying. “He’s gone, but he’ll have some comfort,” the sergeant told his CO. Bids please...the Banksy stencil used on the wall of Reading Prison By Jan Disley DX1ST Proud... Lipman Pictures: pa Woke warning about ‘outdated’ Northerners STUDENTS on a university course about the North of England are being given a “trigger warning” that they may encounter bad language and outdated attitudes as they learn. The English department at Liverpool University has told undergraduates they could be confronted by sexism, violence and swearing as part of their studies. The university’s Northern English module looks at the origins of northern language and the North-South divide. It also examines the 19th century Yorkshire dialect and the relationship between accents and social values. But a Freedom of Information request revealed academics have introduced trigger warnings over the content of the course. The Tall order...Tracey Scholes Much ado about Shakespeare’s sex scenes SHAKESPEARE could be “problematic” because women characters don’t give sexual consent before they are seduced. Hailey Bachrach, from the University of Roehampton, believes the bard “glosses over” coercion in Henry V, Richard III, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She fears young actresses, who might find the scenes “uncomfortable” could feel “disempowered”. Also today’s audiences may feel “triggering effects”. She wants to alert about the videos used states: “They contain strong language, outdated attitudes towards gender, physical violence and discussion of alcohol consumption.” It follows a content warning from the university’s Victorian literature course last year . That followed a student’s refusal to read Anne Bronte’s 1848 classic novel The Tenant Of Wildfell Hall due to the Banksy art sale set to free Wilde jail from developers Banksy is raising millions to transform the prison where Oscar Wilde was sent into an arts centre. Campaigners hope it will prevent Grade-II listed HMP Reading from being sold to housing developers. The anonymous Bristol street artist hopes to turn the Berkshire prison into a “refuge for art” with a possible £10million from the sale of a stencil he used for the artwork he painted on the side of the prison in March. His contribution, together with Reading Borough Council’s, would bring the offer for the former jail to an estimated £12.6million. Banksy said: “I had very little interest in Reading until I was on a rail replacement bus service that went past the jail. “It’s rare to find an uninterrupted 500m-long paintable surface which is slap bang in the middle of a town. “I literally clambered By Jan Disley depiction of “domestic violence involved”. The warnings are understood to have been introduced partly as a result of calls from students – and are on the rise at universities across Britain. Last week, it emerged Aberdeen University has flagged to students that Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Kidnapped features “depictions of murder, death, work with actors to flag ethical issues. The idea was met with both derision and support in social media posts yesterday. Ms Bachrach’s examples include Henry V wooing a princess without consent and Titania being drugged for sex with Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She said: “It’s important to bring attention to these moments, rather than gloss over them.” By William Janes support. Tracey, from Heywood in Greater Manchester, said: I’m overwhelmed. People are getting in touch who I don’t even know.” She joined First Bus in 1987. Go North West took over in 2019. Unite the Union claimed bosses ruled she no longer had the “capability” to safely drive their buses and offered her another role – on fewer over the passenger next to me to get a closer look. “I promised myself I’d paint the wall even before I knew what it was. I’m passionate about it now, though.” He added: “Oscar Wilde is the patron saint of smashing two contrasting ideas together to create magic. Converting the place that destroyed him into a refuge for art feels so perfect, we have to do it.” Banksy’s mural depicted a figure, considered to be Wilde, abseiling from the perimeter wall from bedsheets with a typewriter. Writer and wit Wilde was held at the prison between 1895 and 1897 after being convicted of gross indecency when his affair with Lord Alfred “Bosie” Douglas was exposed. Inmate...Oscar Wilde family betrayal and kidnapping”. A University of Liverpool spokesman said: “Academic and student feedback plays an important role in the delivery of courses.” But the move has come under fire. Hull-born actress Dame Maureen Lipman, 75, stars as Evelyn Plummer in Coronation Street. Her late husband, playwright Jack Rosenthal – who co-wrote Yentl with Barbra Streisand – was from Manchester. She said: “The North has so much to be proud of – the Halle Orchestra, The Beatles, for heaven’s sake, Oasis… worldclass universities, its cities of culture. “Writers like Alan Bennett, Alan Bleasdale and my Jack were all from the North and they shook up theatre and TV. “And let’s not forget Morecambe and Wise, who made northern comedy universal.” Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: “The real world doesn’t give trigger warnings. Protecting students in this way does not help them.” Bus driver fired for being just 5ft A 5FT bus driver claims she was sacked for being too short to use wing mirrors that bosses moved higher. Despite 34 years of driving experience, Tracey Scholes, 57, says she was given the push because she couldn’t reach the new mirrors and the pedals at the same time. She has the backing of her union and 1,700 people who signed a petition set up by colleagues. TV actresses Maxine Peake and Julie Hesmondhalgh sent messages of By Jan Disley hours and less pay. Tracey turned it down and was given notice. A Unite spokesman said: “Go North West Ltd has dismissed her because they changed the manufacturer specification on their fleet of buses.” A spokesman from Go North West said: “Unfortunately, a situation has arisen where we have had to bring a driver’s employment to an end. The appeals process is ongoing.”

Pictures: ITV & REx DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 11 I’m a belly-brity...get me a six-pack! Fool Monty ...Simon and David ham it up Frightener…Doctor Who Daleks on loose this New Year By Nicola Methven Having an offal time...Naughty Boy, below and above with Matty, takes part in his seventh trial THE Daleks are back... with their targets set on destroying Doctor Who in the show’s New Year’s Day special. In a trailer aired last night, the show’s stars were trapped inside a storage facility and stuck in a time loop with the metal monsters. Their mission is to avoid extermination and escape in time to see out New Year’s Day. Eve Of The Daleks will feature Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor, Aisling Bea and Adjani Salmon. Show boss Chris Chibnall called it “a New Year’s Eve from hell” but “it’ll hopefully prove the perfect tonic”. Toned David Ginola got I’m A Celebrity campmates in a lather as he stripped for a wash – and was told he could be the new James Bond. Presenter Louise Minchin, singer Frankie Bridge and Emmerdale’s Danny Miller were wowed by David’s torso yesterday. Corrie’s Simon Gregson then whipped off his own top and joined the former French football By Nicola Methven star, 54, for a belly laugh at Gwrych Castle in Wales. Singing the 007 theme tune, Simon, 47, said: “They’re looking for a new Bond, we’ve got him. Mr Ginola is James Bond.” And to whoops from their ITV show pals, the pair started singing and dancing to The Full Monty. Simon said: “David is like Superman, I on the other hand am more like Winnie the Pooh. “I think both have their places in our world.” Later, in his seventh Bushtucker Trial, DJ Naughty Boy, 40, and Olympic diver Matty Lee, 23, won six out of 11 stars in Gross Vegas. They tried Impressed...TV’s Louise to catch large coins as fish guts, offal and gunge rained down. Later, contestants got emotional ahead of last night’s first eviction. Choreographer Arlene Phillips, 78, told them. “Everybody has rallied around me, taken care of me, been there for me when I’m fragile and it means so much.” Sykes…diagnosis a relief Melanie is ‘happy’ to be autistic By Ellie Iorizzo PRESENTER Melanie Sykes said she felt “relief” following her recent autism diagnosis. The 51-year-old, whose son Tino, 17, has the same condition, said: “It’s fantastic. I’ve always felt different to other people. Now I know it’s because I’m autistic it makes me feel validated as I understand why. I’m relieved and I’m very happy about it.” Sykes now wants to remove the stigma of autism, which affects the way people talk and interact. She told Hello!: “There’s nothing wrong with autistic people; we just think and access the world differently.” By Dan Townend A teenager who survived a ferocious crocodile attack “fully accepted” she had lost a foot. Amelie Osborn-Smith, 18, was white-water rafting on Zambia’s Zambezi River on a gap-year holiday with friends when the 10ft reptile struck last Tuesday. It was originally thought Amelie, of Andover, Hants, had her leg over the side of the boat when the crocodile dragged her under the water. But her father Brent said the party had been encouraged to take a dip near the Victoria Falls to cool off. A friend was said to have punched the crocodile’s snout as rafters and guides jumped in to fight it off. From her hospital bed 240 miles away in Zambia’s capital Lusaka, Amelie said: “I fully accepted that I was going to lose my foot. I said to my friends, ‘I’ve lost my foot, but I’m still alive’. “Then I I’m relieved I did not lose a foot in crocodile attack... I accepted I would was told my foot was going to be fine and I’ll be able to walk again. It was such a relief.” In a video posted on the hospital’s Facebook page, Amelie, who finished her A- Seized...Amelie levels in Winchester earlier this year, said: “People say you see your life flash before you, but you don’t. I just thought, ‘How am I going to get out of this situation?’. I was just very, very lucky.” Mr Osborn-Smith, 60, said: “Having finished rafting, the group were encouraged by the guides to have a quick dip over the side, to cool off, as this area was deemed to be ‘safe’. The craft was not moving at the time. “When returning to the boat, Amelie was bitten on the leg by a large crocodile, which attempted to drag her down into a characteristic ‘death roll’ to subdue its prey. “Amelie fought back with great courage and due to the quick thinking and Recovering...Amelie in hospital intervention of those on board, the attack was repulsed. Her lower leg had been badly mauled, her hip dislocated and her right foot was left hanging loose.” The Zambezi River is popular for water sports and has wonderful views, but it is also home to a number of vicious and potentially deadly animals, including crocodiles.

12 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 DX1ST Death penalty IS a One Canada Square, London E14 5AP Tel: 020 8612 7000 (outside UK: +44 20 8612 7000) A post-EU boost for small business we all welcome No one can claim that our departure from the EU has been seamless. Indeed, taking back control has proved far harder than many of us thought possible, often as a result of plodding bureaucrats in Brussels and preening leaders of some EU nations making life as difficult as possible for us. Which is why we should celebrate the proposed ripping up of the Government’s procurement rules, which have been imposed on Britain by virtue of our EU membership. This means that small and mid-size businesses, rather than huge international corporations, will have a better chance of winning lucrative government contracts, which in turn will lead to more local jobs. Cabinet Office Minister Steve Barclay tells us this will also make it easier to stop firms winning contracts if they have a record of failing to deliver value for money or fall short in the area of what he calls “social values”. A vibrant economy is only possible when small businesses prosper. We welcome this shake-up and hope it’s just the start of many post-EU dividends coming our way. We can celebrate sensibly Fair-minded people would accept that the Government faces a quandary over its response to the surge in Omicron cases – an increase of more than 50 per cent in the space of 24 hours. How do you protect people at the same time as trying to protect our already fractured economy? Yes, there have been mixed messages about Christmas parties, but the truth is that we just don’t know how dangerous the new variant is. “People should enjoy Christmas,” deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said yesterday. And he called for a common sense approach to the facts. He was right to say that, not least because the facts change as we come to know more about the enemy we are fighting. Personal responsibility also comes into it. If your office or friends are having a party that involves lots of people coming together in an enclosed space and you are in two minds about it, then don’t go. No one is forcing you. Many of us have different attitudes to the notion of living with Covid and it’s often hard to say which is right and which is not right. But what unites us is a profound desire to see off this wretched wrecker of lives. And we will. Dan dared to have fun Dan Walker finally has been booted off Strictly. That he made it this far has infuriated his critics – but do they remember John Sergeant, the BBC man who was quite possibly the worst dancer the show has ever had? Clearly not. Strictly is a fun family show, not an exact science. symbol of a just and civilised society The depravity was almost unimaginable, the cruelty beyond comprehension. In one of modern Britain’s most shocking cases of abuse, the father and stepmother of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo- Hughes were convicted last week of killing him after months of physical and psychological torture. For their pitiless crime, Thomas Hughes was sentenced to 21 years and his partner Emma Tustin to a minimum jail term of 29 years. The details of the case, revealed during the trial, could hardly be more harrowing. At the time of his death from a brain injury, Arthur had 130 bruises on his broken body. He had been poisoned with salt, made to stand for up to 14 hours a day and become so emaciated that he could not even hold a glass of water. Hughes and Tustin are solely responsible for this act of inhumanity. But Arthur was also failed by the child protection system. Social services in Solihull missed several chances to intervene, claiming there were “no safeguarding concerns”, even though neighbours, teachers and relatives had expressed anxieties about his welfare. Lockdown has been blamed, but undoubtedly another key problem is the progressive culture of the social work industry. As Ian Acheson, the former director of community safety at the Home Office, wrote yesterday, “new social workers are marinated in training and theory that obsesses over diversity and inclusion, while hard-nosed colleagues that could challenge child abuse are edged out”. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: Emma Tustin and Thomas Hughes waived their human rights Leo McKinstry Daily Express columnist Enfeebled during Arthur’s life, officialdom has now swung into action with a series of reviews, including a national inquiry announced by Boris Johnson. The usual pattern will be followed of promises to “learn lessons” and “change procedures”, so that this “can never happen again”. Then another nightmarish case will occur, and the institutional cycle will be repeated. But, amid all this bureaucratic activity, one step will definitely not be contemplated by the ruling elite. That would be the reintroduction of the death penalty, so that Hughes and Tustin could be given the punishment they deserve. A truly fitting end to their trial would have been the pronouncement that they would face the gallows rather than years inside at our expense. There would be widespread public support for such a move. One recent poll showed that 53 per cent of British people back capital punishment for child murderers, compared with 31 per cent who oppose it. Despite this, the idea of a return to state execution is fantasy. Hostility to the rope is an article of faith across our political class, who view such a stance as liberal and compassionate. But, far from being a reactionary throwback, the death penalty is actually a symbol of civilisation because it shows that the state will protect the vulnerable and tackle the brutal. The use of the ultimate sanction is a reflection of moral confidence, whereas its removal is a graphic indicator of institutionalised weakness. If that state is not willing to execute the most dangerous or savage killers, then all other sentences have to be commensurately lowered, with criminals increasingly treated as victims of society in need of understanding, not punishment. That is exactly what has happened in Britain. Ours was a remarkably well-ordered, peaceful society when we had the death penalty, prompting George Orwell to write in 1941 that “the gentleness of English civilisation is its most marked characteristic”. How empty those words now sound. Since the abolition of hanging in ‘A truly fitting end to their trial would have been the gallows’ 1965, the crime rate has exploded. In 2019, there were 5.8 million recorded offences, compared to an annual average of just one million in the Sixties. Similarly, the homicide rate has almost doubled from 6.8 killings per million in 1965 to 11.7 per million last year. There is nothing honourable or kind about preserving the lives of monsters like Tustin or Wayne Couzens, the twisted murderer of Sarah Everard. By their merciless actions, they forfeited their human rights and claims to our support. The annual cost of each prison place is £45,000. When there are so many public services crying out for resources, the expenditure of such sums on murderous terrorists, perverts and sadists is both an insult to their victims and an affront to morality. Abolitionists screech about the possibility of injustices, but thanks to modern forensic techniques, DNA and surveillance technology, there is now little risk of executing the wrong person. The far greater danger is the continuing collapse of the state’s moral authority in the face of evil.

DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 13 James Whale Straight talking and takes no prisoners White boycott just fuels the far Right University is not all Black Lives Matter – may I remind everybody that all lives matter – doesn’t want anyone using white-owned companies during the Christmas festivities. Nor should anyone be talking about a white Christmas. This is racism too. There have been terrible racist organisations in the past, but I thought we were beginning to get along. Like many people, I actually do not see the colour of somebody’s skin – I see the personality and that is what makes me decide whether I like that person or not. But if this ridiculous organisation continues the way it’s going, there is a real risk that there will be a surge in support for Right-wing organisations. No one wants to see a crowd of white supremacists and Nazi sympathisers on the rise, but this insistence on talking about white privilege (tell that to a working-class white boy in the North East or South West), while if you happen to be white you’re at the bottom of the queue for a job, has to stop. ■I was in hospital just for my regular check-up and scans the other day, and was amazed to see how incredibly busy things have got. Chatting to my consultant, I realised there were a lot of people who, when refusing the jab or refusing to wear a face mask, don’t think about how many extra people are getting sick as a direct result of their behaviour. All those who think wearing a mask is a waste of time should realise you’re doing it to protect other people as well as yourself. And everyone should bear in mind that wearing the same piece of trendy cloth you’ve got from a designer shop isn’t really going to be of much use unless you get it washed every day. Much better to wear the disposable ones. We need to wear these masks to keep as many people free from Covid as possible and we need to get our jabs. Some people who go on and on about their freedom to do what they want with their bodies should realise that if their freedom is not controlled in some way, it is an infringement on other people. Have we really become so uncaring and insular in this country? it’s cracked up to be This takes the biscuit. Lecturers have gone on strike over wanting to have a gold-plated pension when they retire. Elsewhere, students at Cambridge University are saying that the fact there is no pastry chef is damaging their university experience. And if that were not enough, universities are taking money from countries where human rights seem to be non-existent. Obviously those people who wish to be doctors, scientists and some of the professions need a university education, but is it really the be all and end all for everyone as some politicians try to make out? Going to university and getting a degree often doesn’t mean you’re any more likely to get a job then those of us who didn’t. So to any parents who are worried that little Johnny or Julie won’t have the best start in life if they don’t get in, please don’t worry. Over the years I have met many entrepreneurs who became millionaires and in some cases billionaires, and the vast majority left school early and got stuck into work. So maybe those lecturers who think that they are entitled to more than anyone else should realise they’re not as important as they think. And those students who whinge about not having a pastry chef should just go to Greggs. Forget global ■warming, forget carbon neutral, electric cars and renewable power and ask yourselves this: why have so many people in the remotest places been without any power, heat or warmth over the last week? People in Northumberland were stuck in snow, yet nobody came to help. Why didn’t the Government call in the Army? They have kitchens and hospitals, along with logistical expertise. Are politicians so weak-minded and feeble now that they don’t know how to react to elderly people left without anything to eat? All that’s happening is the power companies are being blamed for not getting the problem solved quickly enough, but it’s in their own interests to get the power up and running. Instead, those we put in charge of looking after the nation and the opposition are just continuing to show that they’re utterly useless. Picture: Taylor Hill/WireImage It’s time to stop bullying attacks of the Sussexes Leave Harry and Meghan alone. They are easy meat and they get slagged off constantly in stories largely from unnamed sources. They are a young couple with a family who work and use the media because they think they need to reply. All that is happening at the moment is a form of bullying. Give it a rest. These faceless, nameless sources from inside the Royal Family probably don’t exist. And if they do, then they should be sacked. Somebody somewhere should give the Royal Family a really decent PR company to look after their image and if they want to call me I know just the bloke. Meanwhile, let’s not continue to bully a young family who are thrust in that position whether they want it or not. Civil servants, the ■people who really run the country, have banned the word “Christmas” in some of their literature. Frankly, the sooner we clear out the civil service and make their jobs a lot less secure like the rest of us, the better this country will be run. Are we really to believe that we should ban the word Christmas? It has been a part of our culture for a millennium. I want to see ruddy-faced Father Christmases and elves dancing around Christmas trees festooned with baubles, lights and the rest of it. Do not allow the woke brigade to impose their stupid rules. AS ANOTHER CHILD IS FAILED BY THE AUTHORITIES, WHEN WILL THEY WAKE UP TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY? Who could have failed to be moved and horrified by the story of little Arthur, the six-year-old boy who was abused, beaten, starved and eventually killed by his stepmother and father. Some people don’t like to talk about it, although quite a few are calling for the death sentence for those who perpetrated this hideous crime. But consideration should also be given to the way social services and the police conducted themselves. Both went to the family home and knew that the child was at risk, yet nobody seemed to want to do anything. Who made those decisions? Surely they should not be allowed to walk away from this, hold their hands up and say lessons will be learned? Because lessons are never learned. Organisations like the social services and the police need to wake up. They are there to look after us and if either the set-up of the organisation or the people involved aren’t up to it, it has got to be changed. I’m so sorry you were failed, Arthur. Rest in peace.

Pictures: pa Di and mighty Emma rules the glam show DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 15 Cost of living crisis a ‘life or death’ situation for pensioners Leading ladies...Crown star Emma Corrin, Kate Beckinsdale, top, and Alesha Dixon, below CROWN star Emma Corrin enjoyed a purple reign on the red carpet at the British Independent Film Awards. The actress, 25, who won a Golden Globe for playing Princess Diana on Netflix, wore a quirky smock and royal blue shirt with a 1970s collar last night. Kate Beckinsale, 48, brought a touch of old school Hollywood glamour in an elegant white and silver gown. However By Emily Braeger her beloved often-Instagrammed cat Clive got a welcome evening off. Britain’s Got Talent panellist Alesha Dixon, 43, opted for a striking black and metallic gold dress. It ensured she shone while making her way into the star-studded ceremony at London’s Old Billingsgate. By Millie Cooke THE cost of living crisis could kill pensioners who cannot afford their energy bills, says campaigners. Age UK said nearly 1.1 million older households face trouble paying for power amid soaring prices. Dennis Reed, director of OAP pressure group Silver Voices said many were in a “life or death” situation. He added: “The winter is going to hit people very hard. People can’t afford heating, eating and their TV licence – which they’ve now got to pay – and so they choose between them. “They’ve now got to juggle them depending on whether they’re hungry or whether they’re cold. “Some of our members during cold weather don’t put their heating on during the day, so they wrap up in loads of jumpers. “Sometimes they have a sleeping bag or a duvet wrapped around them downstairs to keep warm. “That is no way, in a civilised society, that our older generations should have to live. It’s always been a big problem, but the energy crisis has taken this issue into a new dimension. “If you’re on a state pension of £139 per week, and Campaigners are calling for a boost in financial support for pensioners as they struggle to heat their homes. Energy prices are soaring but key elderly benefits such as the Winter Fuel Payment have not risen for 20 years. The Cold Weather Payment, paid to those on low-incomes during cool snaps, has been frozen at £25 since 2008. Around 10,000 Britons die every year because they live in a cold home, charity National Energy Action warned. Chief executive Adam Scorer said the death toll was “shameful, predictable and avoidable” and demanded action. He said: “Financial support to help older people on low incomes keep warm has not been increased for Headache...high power bills the increase is being raised by £139 that’s a whole week’s state pension gone.” He added: “Older people are much more susceptible to cold weather. “Their health is more likely to deteriorate, which is why there are so many extra deaths over the winter because they just don’t have Freezing the physical resources to withstand that deprivation. “So it is a life or death matter and more people will die as a result.” Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, echoed Mr Reed’s warnings, highlighting the terrifying choice faced by many. She said: “More than 25,000 people have told us how worried they are, and it is clear that as things stand, some fully expect to have to choose between cutting down on food or turning down their heating, once the cold weather sets in. “Doing either is a potential risk to their health, especially if they are living with serious health conditions. We must do everything possible to safeguard the health of pensioners on low fixed incomes. “In most years it would be hyperbole to suggest a risk of older people freezing to death in their own homes, but the risk cannot be completely discounted this year. “We need Government action to ensure every older person comes through safe and well.” The crisis has been caused by surging gas and electricity prices, with regulator Ofgem last month increasing the energy price cap by 12 per cent. Rising food and household goods prices saw The Office for National Statistics last month record inflation hitting its highest since December 2011. Mr Reed urged the Government to make a significant one-off payment to all pensioners to recognise the cost of living surge. ‘More cash needed’ to keep elderly warm during winter By Jessica Sheldon years and the energy crisis has devalued it even further.” Age UK wants a £50 grant to those eligible for Cold Weather Payments, and a big boost to the Household Support Fund that councils distribute to tackle fuel poverty in their areas. Its charity director Caroline Abrahams said: “Keeping our older population safe and well should be a top priority for the Government this winter.” The Government said the new £500million Household Support Fund will help with essential costs this winter. It added: “We continue to help vulnerable and low-income households.”

16 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 14 die as Java volcano blows By Emily Braeger ASH drifts almost engulf trucks on the Indonesian isle of Java after a 2.2-mile high volcano erupted, killing at least 14 people. Seven were still missing after Semeru blew on Saturday afternoon, sending scorching debris nearly 10 miles into the sky. Another 98 were hurt, including two pregnant women, with many suffering terrible burns. Later rainstorms turned the ash into a quagmire, swallowing anything on the ground, Fallout... village in East Java after Mount Semeru spewed ash 10 miles into the air and 902 people were evacuated. Local official Thoriqul Haq said: “Villages have been turned to darkness.” DX1ST Buried…trucks, cars and homes Pictures: reuters Misdiagnosed cancer patient loses payout after injury lies A PATIENT who tried to sue her GP for £940,000 over “severe pain” following a missed cancer diagnosis was caught out after taking part in 10k races and wild water swimming. Sara Iddon saw her claim thrown out by a judge, who said she “lied repeatedly” in her case – and may now have to return a £100,000 interim payment she used to buy a house. Mrs Iddon reported that surgery following the late diagnosis left her in “horrible” pain. She said it stopped her doing sport, prevented her working and meant she needed daily support. But Manchester High Court heard that since having the mastectomy, Mrs Iddon had taken part in nine sporting events, including 10k runs and swims in the Lake District. Judge Craig Sephton QC told the court of her “very grave” dishonesty. He said: “The effect of her lies was to seek to inflate the value of a case which I held to be worth just over £70,000 into a case worth over £900,000. “She lied repeatedly about her injuries, she continued to lie after she had been found out and she persuaded By Jan Disley ‘She lied repeatedly’ ...Judge Sephton others to lie on her behalf. But for the dismissal of her claim, I would have awarded Mrs Iddon £70,050.” The court heard the claimant, from Preston, had an appointment with Dr Karen Warner in 2014 about a lump in her breast and was reassured it was nothing to worry about. But eight months later she saw a different doctor at the same surgery, leading to a cancer diagnosis. Mrs Iddon had surgery and breast reconstruction, chemo and radiotherapy. In June 2017 she made a damages claim for £76,000 for “avoidable pain, loss of amenity and reduced movement in her left arm”. Nearly two years later she had increased that to £941,000 and a district judge ordered the defendant to make a £100,000 interim payout. But an intelligence analyst used Facebook posts and Google searches to find she had competed in swimming and running events. Dr Warner admitted breach of duty but argued Mrs Iddon’s claim should be dismissed. Judge Sephton agreed, saying: “By the standards of decent people, her actions were dishonest.”

Romance fraudster set for jail By Bradley Stokes A romance fraudster who conned £10,000 out of one victim and preyed on hundreds more he met on dating websites is facing jail. Osagie Aigbonohan, 40, used the fake name “Tony Eden” to view lonely hearts websites looking for victims. The crook, originally from Lagos, Nigeria, but living illegally in the UK, conned a terminally ill woman who later died, a court heard. Victims Aigbonohan struck up a 10-month relationship with one victim via a dating site, persuading her to lend him nearly £10,000. He received money from eight other victims and had contact with about 670 people, phone records showed. He admitted fraud and money laundering charges at Southwark Crown Court. Aigbonohan, of Abbey Wood, south London, will be sentenced on January 14. Twitter users ‘are smarter’ By Georgia Lambert Twitter users are more likely to see through fake news and conspiracy theories than those who use other social media platforms. A study by the Open University of Catalonia found that platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, used by millions worldwide, have become main channels for information. However, the different ways they operate can influence the spread of misinformation. The authors, who worked with 19 different universities, explained that Twitter users are usually more educated with a “greater tendency to search for news and engage in political debates”. However, on other social media channels such as Facebook or in apps like WhatsApp, the researchers found where there are closer links between users, such as family or friendship ties, people do not check information or “dubious” content to the same extent. DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 17 Pictures: Iain Watts, Rowan Griffiths, PA Old soldier wins battle to save countryside from 4,000-home ‘garden city’ By Tom Campbell cardiff A FORMER paratrooper, 83, used his map reading skills to find errors and defeat plans for 4,000 new homes on his doorstep in a High Court battle. Retired Army Major Tom Lynch raised £30,000 from residents to thwart a bid to build on 550 acres of countryside and fertile farmland. Construction was scheduled to begin soon and would have been completed within the next 15 years. But planning permission for the controversial Mountfield Park scheme in Kent has now been revoked following a High Court ruling. It would have been Canterbury’s biggest housing development project but the city U-turned on backing the project, after Major Lynch said he found obvious errors in the construction plans after reviewing more than Banter as Santa... inset, Betty, her mum and Jamie Carragher kick off Liverpool race Victory...Major Tom Lynch used Army skills to defeat development, above 700 documents with friends. He said: “I wanted my children and grandchildren to enjoy walking around the area. “I was a pathfinder in the army which means my cartography and map-reading had to be absolutely spot on. “Being an ex-military man, I scrutinised their maps and found a number Early Christmas rush for Santas HERE’S a ho-ho-whole lot of runners in festive outfits taking part in charity Santa runs, after events last year were cancelled due to Covid. Liverpool’s 5K Santa Dash is now in its 18th year and more than 5,000 people By Henry Jones liverpool braved bitterly cold winds dressed as old St Nick to raise money for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. Betty, a four-year-old patient at Alder Hey, was the of errors. At the bottom of the field is basically a basin which floods during the winter. Usually the water will drain off to a pipe into the river. But I realised the plans didn’t have any stations to pump the water uphill and cope with the new housing. “We managed to raise £30,000 to fight our legal battle. At the end of course, at the High Court the judge said the council had erred in law. “The council agreed to withdraw the plan to avoid embarrassment and a lot of extra costs.” Major Lynch said the judge agreed his objections that the council failed to comply with its local plan, failed to sufficiently assess damage to the Stodmarsh nature reserve, and did not official starter for the run, and was joined by ex- Liverpool footballer Jamie Carragher, one of the charity’s ambassadors. Santa Dashes also took place in Marlow, Chester, Cardiff, and Watford. provide financial viability assessments on delivering affordable housing. The planning permission for the scheme lapsed last year but was again voted through last December, with developers Corinthian expecting to build around 300 properties every 12 months, starting from this year. The High Court decision halted that plan. But the company said: “It is disappointing to see much-needed homes delayed again. The application will be considered by committee for a third time in the next few months.” The council confirmed the plans will be brought back before its planning committee early next year. But Major Lynch expects a new fight. He said: “Recently the Prime Minister said he would not be allowing any more development on greenfield sites, so we can only hope he is good for his word.”

join the green industrial revolution Stitch in time saves high-end fashions By Emily Hall FASHION houses should mend customers’ clothes to stop them ending up on rubbish tips, designers say. Resale and rental of top-brand gear has surged, but top label Ganni says designers should also patch up clothes after they have been worn. Ganni is partnering with repair service Sojo to offer free alterations and fixes to its London customers. Garments are picked up by couriers on bikes, who will take them to be repaired before being returned, again by bike. Ganni CEO Andrea Baldo said: “We need to understand responsibility in a circular context that goes beyond the point of sale. “The partnership with Sojo is an opportunity to help reduce a significant amount of the environmental impact.” Ganni is hoping to soon extend its repair scheme across the UK. Throwaway Around 55 per cent of clothes never leave women’s wardrobes, but waste charity Wrap says extending a garment’s life by just nine months can slash its carbon, waste and water footprints by 20-30 per cent. Fashion labels Farfetch, Manolo Blahnik and Nicholas Kirkwood have also forged partnerships with luxury repair and restoration firm The Restory. Restory co-founder Emily Rea said customers should “move away from that throwaway mindset”. She added: “Our mission is to make aftercare as much a part of the fashion experience as buying to begin with.” Extended producer responsibility, which makes brands financially responsible for collecting, sorting and recycling unwanted products, is already law in France. It is now also being introduced by other countries. Earthy... Lee Waters plants a sapling DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 19 Pictures: pa Third of households hit by ‘green’ scams By Josie Clarke CON artists are playing on people’s genuine desires to go green – and 36 per cent of householders have been targeted with scams in the past year. Citizens Advice say more than two-thirds of people are considering energy efficient upgrades – but they should be wary of fake offers. More than a quarter were aware they had been targeted before losing money, but an estimated 5.2 million people fell for a scam this year. National Trading Standards director Wendy Martin said: “Criminals are exploiting people’s genuine efforts to make their homes more eco-friendly. Residents are High flier…only waste product would be water pressurised on their doorsteps and peppered with phone calls, emails and SMS messages. “They often include false claims about Government schemes and regulations with regard to boilers, insulation and double glazing. “As all of us try to play our part to help tackle climate change, it’s important we do so safely without being conned by criminals.” Ms Martin has urged people to report suspicious approaches and take part in awareness training. Citizens Advice chief executive, Dame Clare Moriarty, said: “It’s important that we know how to stay safe when going green. “To fight back and help protect ourselves and others, we can report scams. But it also needs to be made as easy as possible to find a trustworthy trader.” The Daily Express Green Britain Needs You campaign wants everyone to play their part to secure a sustainable future. Chartered Trading Standards Tree cheers for giveaway Every household in Wales is to be offered a free tree to plant as part of a £2million climate change plan. The scheme – announced by the Welsh Government – will allow people to choose a tree of their own or have one planted somewhere on their behalf by Coed Cadw, the Woodland Trust. Families They will be available to collect from March, from five regional hubs, with 20 more running by October. Wales’s deputy minister for climate change, Lee Waters, said he hoped the campaign would By Bronwen Weatherby inspire families to go on planting trees themselves. “We have to plant 86 million more trees in Wales,” he said. “Our tree-planting record has not been great and we need to increase it by 15-fold every year. That is a massive challenge.” Mr Waters said Wales wants to follow in Belfast’s footsteps in creating a heat map of where people would like to see trees planted in their communities, and urged people to get in touch with suggestions. A consultation on plans to create a national forest for Wales will launch early next year. Institute CEO, John Herriman, said: “It is essential consumers contact organisations such as Citizens Advice for guidance to feel confident and informed when choosing a green product or service. “It is their confidence that propels the economic recovery forward and helps the country achieve its net zero targets in the green space. “Reporting concerns to Citizens Advice enables Trading Standards to get a full picture of the risks to consumers and take action.” Savanta polled 2,112 UK adults over four days in September. ● Friends Against Scams offers free online awareness training. Visit friendsagainstscams.org.uk Eco planes set to soar A liquid hydrogen-powered plane is being developed in an attempt to operate non-stop, zero carbon transatlantic flights. It is hoped the midsize aircraft could fly 279 passengers from London to San Francisco without refuelling. The only waste product from using liquid hydrogen as a fuel is water. The plane is being developed By Neil Lancefield through the £15million Government-funded FlyZero project led by the Aerospace Technology Institute, based in Cranfield, Bedfordshire. The initiative’s director Chris Gear said: “This new dawn for aviation brings real opportunities for the UK aerospace sector.”

20 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 DX1ST Lady Justice is no longer blind… she’s hanging her head in shame Huge trial backlogs, barristers paid a pittance, and a shoddy two-tier service. How our creaking legal aid system inspired the powerful book behind a heartbreaking new TV drama LADY Justice. I love that statue. Standing blindfolded, scales in one hand and a sword in the other. She says it all, without saying a word. Justice is blind. The law will be applied without fear or favour – without any heed to wealth, power or privilege. Justice will weigh the evidence and only when the scales tip one or another way will we hear a verdict. And then there’s the sword. Yep. It sends shivers that thing. Swift and final. Last night as I was watching You Don’t Know Me – the BBC One drama based on my debut novel – I looked for the inevitable Scales of Justice statue they always roll out as a short-hand for courtroom drama. It never came. There’s one of these Lady Justice statues – in gold – standing on top of the Old Bailey. And whenever I see her, I say, as if she were an old friend that I’d fallen out with: “You’ve changed, you have.” She has changed. I can’t see the blindfold any more. And those scales look from here as if they’re being leaned on. But I still love the idea of her. When I started as a criminal barrister 30 years ago, she was pristine and that’s the saddest thing of all. Equal justice, there in recent memory. The criminal justice system is on a different planet from ‘She’s changed. I can’t see the blindfold any more. And those scales look like they’re being leaned on’ Exclusive By Imran Mahmood the days when judges would describe it to juries as “a system that is the envy of the world and exported the world over”. It’s not a phrase you hear much these days. Today there is a backlog of 60,000 jury trials. And if that weren’t bad enough (and trust me, it is), the criminal legal aid system has been so thoroughly whittled away that even the nub that once was there has gone. Many experienced criminal barristers have left the legal aid system and hardly any new practitioners go into crime. It’s not that surprising when the average junior criminal barrister starting out (before tax) gets around £12,000 a year. Barristers that remain are working twice as hard, for half the pay. And if you think that’s just life – well, it is, but it comes at a cost. If you’re a criminal practitioner with a legal-aid practice (I’d guess 90 per cent are) then you will routinely finish a trial at 4.15pm on a Tuesday and spend the night preparing the next case to start the following morning. And when you finish that case, you’ll pick up the next brief the same day. On legal aid, it’s the only way you survive – the rates are that low. I know because I have done this. Many of my colleagues are doing this. I applaud them. They are superstars functioning by force of will. But I can’t do it any more. W hen you’re in it – you run on adrenaline – whether you’re prosecuting or defending. You think on the hoof. You improvise. You do your best with what you have and all the while you repeat the phrase – “we are where we are” to just about any question you’re asked. Which is just a way of saying it’s too late to do anything more or anything better. If you’re caught up in the net of the justice system, logic and statistics will tell you that you’re likely to be living a life of rank underprivilege. You might be poorly educated. You might be suffering from mental health issues. You could be unemployed and steeped in poverty. You might have lived a childhood pocked with abuse. You might be in the grip of an addiction caused by some or all of those things. There’s also a good chance (one in four) that you’re from black or Asian minority ethnicity – the stats from the Ministry of Justice are depressing, so I won’t go into them but feel free to have a look. The reasons for this state of affairs are complex but whatever they are, they are causing a perfect storm and a justice system so acidic that it’s stripping the gold off that Lady Justice. Some of the top criminal QCs won’t even do legal aid cases any more. If you’re wealthy you can get yourself a Rolls-Royce of a barrister. I don’t know what the going rate is but I’m pretty sure you won’t get much change out of the cost of an actual Rolls-Royce. The real difference, however, is between those in the middle bracket and everyone else. They can just about afford to pay fair rates for good work, but it will hurt. It might take their life savings – or another mortgage – but when your freedom is on the line, it seems like it has to be worth it. Even though in a criminal trial you won’t get your legal costs back if you win. Then there’s everyone else. When you pay private fees, on the whole you’re not getting anybody better or more skilled or able than you would get on legal aid. Nor would you get anyone who was prepared to work harder. Because the fact is that your average legal aid barrister, whatever their seniority, is a class act and will work every free hour there is as well as scavenging hours where none are really there to be had. But what you get on private fees is time. In a private case, I can spend the week before a trial preparing it. On

DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 21 in the dock: Hero, played by Samuel Adewunmi, has to defend himself in You Don’t Know Me on BBC One. Below, being searched for forensic evidence legal man: Barrister and author Imran Mahmood legal aid, I can’t afford to do it because legal aid will not pay for it. I can call my solicitors in a private case and ask questions as and when they arise. I can organise as many conferences as necessary and, when the case is called for trial, can have my solicitors in court. On legal aid, solicitors are not paid to attend trials any longer and, these days, it’s a rarity to see solicitors there when counsel is instructed. And having solicitors in court is not to be underestimated. It’s not just a question of having two minds on a job or even having a detailed note of the cross-examination. Solicitors at court are a valuable resource but on legal aid it’s just another missing piece in an ever-more broken bit of machinery. a once proud symbol: Lady Justice on top of the Old Bailey The result then is twotier justice. Because although the court always strives to ensure rigorous fairness in every case, what it cannot do is level the playing field. That’s the job of the MOJ through proper and fair legal aid remuneration. But there’s also a third tier. When you earn just above the threshold to be eligible for legal aid but you can’t afford to pay, terrifyingly, you’ll have to represent yourself. Today, more defendants are representing themselves than ever before. Those who do, do it through necessity. Nobody asks to be a defendant. Nobody wants to be tried. And nobody I have ever met wanted to represent themselves. But what if you had to? This is the question I circled when I was thinking about my debut novel, You Don’t Know Me. I imagined a defendant who had to act for himself and was forced to write and deliver his own closing speech in a murder case. In the course of writing my book, I began to discover that the disadvantages that such a defendant faced were far more complex and nuanced than those I had first imagined. The criminal justice system is designed to deal with defendants but isn’t really designed with their active participation in mind. The system doesn’t want defendants to communicate directly with judges or prosecution barristers. It doesn’t expect defendants to know the law or even to be able to express an opinion on the law. It’s not ‘More defendants are representing themselves than ever before though necessity’ the court’s fault, or a defendant’s fault, it “is what it is”. A barrister is there as the bridge between the judge and a defendant or between the jury and a defendant. We make the legal points that best advance the case. We make the arguments to the jury in language in which they are familiar. We ask questions of witnesses and experts in ways that try to draw out the answers that best serve. We are in familiar territory. The landscape for us is a fertile and verdant one. But to a defendant acting for himself he’s not just on a different planet from the world he knows... he’s in a different star system. Nothing there makes sense. The language is alien. The dress is strange and anachronistic. And his position in the dock or out of it is lonely – desolate in fact. In the novel, I tried to tell the defendant’s story on an emotional rather than on a legalistic level. He wants to tell the jury that they are different, he and they. Their life experiences are far removed from his. That they must inhabit his skin in order to understand his choices. And then just as he does this and points out the differences, he amplifies the one commonality between their lives and his. Love. That he can be understood through the lens of compassion. A nd now, as my novel takes form on the TV screen, I wonder again about this strategy of Hero, my lead character. Hero, played by Samuel Adewunmi, reminds us about the importance of what unites rather than divides. If governments were able to see defendants in themselves, rather than as aliens, or see the underprivileged as real people linked to them in their humanity, then perhaps we might have a return one day to the principle of equality before law. And we might begin to operate as though undiverted by wealth, race, privilege and power. We might begin to live blind and, through that, finally begin to see again. ●●Imran Mahmood’s new book, I Know What I Saw (Raven, £12.99), and You Don’t Know Me (Penguin £8.99), are both out now. For free UK P&P on orders over £20, call Express Bookshop on 020 3176 3832 or order via expressbookshop.com Pictures: BILL WATERS, BBC

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DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 23 GET £ 5 OFF WHEN YOU SPEND £25 AT Your Daily Express has teamed up with Dobbies Garden Centres to bring some extra yuletide wonder to your home this festive season, with a great offer to save £5 when you spend £25 or more in store. Dobbies has a wide range of Christmas decorations, whatever your style, to ensure you can do Christmas your way. From seasonal themes including Mystical Woodland to Winter Glamour, you can use this offer to select must-have items for your home and garden this Christmas. Pick up the perfect present, dress your tree, enhance your dining table or light up your garden, the choice is yours. HOW TO CLAIM: Cut out the voucher below and present at the till when you make your purchase at Dobbies Garden Centres until the shop closes on Sunday December 12, 2021. See the voucher for full terms and conditions. £5 OFF WHEN YOU SPEND £25 Valid until Sunday December 12, 2021 To reader: To claim £5 off a £25 spend at Dobbies, simply cut out this voucher and present it at the till of any Dobbies Garden Centres before closing time on Sunday December 12, 2021. This offer includes a huge variety of Christmas items in store, including real and artificial trees, lights and decorations. Terms and Conditions: Offer valid until closing time on Sunday 12 December 2021. Voucher to be presented at the till at point of purchase. Valid for one transaction and can only be used once. Voucher will be retained after use. This voucher cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or voucher. Excludes: food, gift food, alcohol, Club Plus membership, services, gift cards, Calor gas and purchases from concession partners. It cannot be used in conjunction with Club Plus membership events. No defaced or damaged vouchers will be accepted. 64 Offer not available in a Dobbies’ restaurant. Not be used in conjunction with team member discount. To Retailer: Please retain this voucher after use. Offer allows £5 off the balance of eligible purchases worth £25 or more. exclusive By Giles Sheldrick Chief Reporter MILLIONS suffering the devastating effects of mental ill health in silence have been urged to speak up and seek help – because it might just save their life. In 2015 Emily Nuttall found herself in the depths of despair. Ravaged by an eating disorder, she attempted to take her own life and was taken to hospital, handcuffed and under police escort. She could think of no other way out – until she was passed the number for her local Mind support line. Counsellor Emily Litten picked up. It was a conversation that set her on the road to recovery and saved her life. Emily, 28, from Guernsey, was diagnosed with anorexia in 2008 and recovered by 2013. But in 2015 she suffered a relapse. She said: “I was stuck inside, my eating disorder behaviours were coming back and I was having dark thoughts again. But I had nobody to help me. “I’d attempted to take my life. I can’t tell you how terrified I was. I leading mental health charity can continue to provide life-saving support. Each month the charity’s Infoline (0300 123 3393) receives 8,000 calls. Emily said: “I would encourwas at a complete loss until one of the support workers gave me a number for Mind. “Emily listened to me speak, then just said, ‘I’ll be there in two hours’. She came to see me, twice a week, for my whole time in hospital. She helped me process how I was feeling – without feeling shame.” Six years on from that initial call, the Daily Express reunited both Emilys in the Channel Islands. The two have become firm friends and in the new year Emily will start training to become a counsellor so she can help those in the same situations she once found herself in. It is proof that no matter how hopeless the situation, help is always at hand and recovery is possible. The Daily Express and Mind have joined forces to put mental health front and centre of the national conversation. Our By Your Side campaign aims to raise a significant sum so Britain’s Call to Mind saved my life Picture: Chris George Photography HOW TO DONATE THIS CHRISTMAS and help mind support people in need Please accept my gift of: £10 I would like to pay by: Cheque Postal order CAF Voucher (please Or I would like to pay by: make payable to Mind) Visa Mastercard CAF Charity Card Maestro Card number: Exp Date: / Signature: Close...Emily Nuttall, right, with her saviour Emily Litten £50 £100 Other £ Start Date: / Issue Number: Date: / / Please return this form to: Freepost RUCS-JEZU-TBLX, Mind, York House, Wetherby Road, York, YO26 7NH Registered charity number: 219830 age anyone suffering on their own to pick up the phone and speak out. “Taking the first step towards seeking help is difficult but the most important. Without Mind, I probably wouldn’t be here today.” Maestro Only Maestro Only You can also donate online at: mind.org.uk/Express Your Privacy We take your privacy seriously and promise to never sell your data. You can find out more about your rights, how we use your personal information and how we keep your details safe and secure by reading our privacy policy at mind.org.uk/privacy Supporter ID: NOVDON21 / CAM002817 DON’T MISS A THING For breaking news and the stories that matter to you Download our FREE app today

24 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 DX1ST HICKEY HOLLYWOOD actress Sandra Bullock alarmingly confesses: “I almost killed Michael Caine.” Appearing opposite the screen veteran, pictured, in 2000 comedy film Miss Congeniality – which she also produced – Sandra reveals: “He fell into a stage pit that wasn’t marked off,” adding: “There were shards of glass poking out.” While hailing Sir Michael “a beast” for bouncing back unscathed, Bullock acknowledges he could easily have sued, before happily concluding: “He didn’t.” ONCE a friend of Daniel Craig when they were both members of the National Youth Theatre, high-profile Labour MP Chris Bryant playfully concedes that the right man landed the 007 role. Remembering later watching his old pal’s 2006 Bond debut in the cinema – not to mention the audience enthusiasm when Craig famously emerged from the ocean showing off that impressive physique – the politician says: “Everybody applauded... I don’t think anybody would have applauded for me.” Too modest, surely! HIGHLIGHTING the fact she was a young child when moved from the US to the UK, actress Gillian Anderson tells Sky News: “My parents had American accents and I had a British accent. I was very much on the outside. So there was a period of embracing my differences.” Gillian has long coped by curiously speaking with an English accent when interviewed in Britain – only to promptly turn American during media appearances back across the Atlantic. REGULAR readers will know that Earl Spencer has been keen to offer updates on the romantic endeavours of resident peacock Tim on the family’s Althorp estate. While Tim initially struggled to impress newly arrived females – there were fears he was about to be usurped by younger rival Jim – events have taken an encouraging turn of late. The Earl now cheerfully reports that Tim has been spotted “enjoying time in the winter sun with the three peahens”. RECALLING recently being forced to abandon a London bus journey when late for a meeting, Joanna Lumley, 75, pictured, explains: “I finally jumped out...and then jumped into a taxi, with bus pass in my pocket. The bus pass fell out in the taxi.” She cheerfully adds of the driver on Radio 4: “He could remember me. He thought, ‘this ancient pensioner needs this method of transport.’ He tracked me down and sent me my bus pass back.” INCIDENTALLY, while born in India, Ms Lumley points out her family arrived back in the UK on board “a troop ship that docked at Liverpool”. Joanna insists: “I’m Scouse. The first breath I drew in this country was in Liverpool.” ASKED whether she ever rewatches her old films, former child star Hayley Mills, 75, admits: “I watch them from time to time. I foist them upon my grandchildren as soon as they’re old enough!” By Peter Sheridan in Los Angeles SECRET Service agents pleaded with President John F Kennedy to be allowed on the running boards of his limousine as he visited Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. Amid multiple death threats the agents feared they could not put themselves in the path of a bullet if JFK insisted on being seen by all the crowds thronging the route. But Kennedy was anxious not to appear weak, and ordered the Secret Service to keep their distance from his open-top limousine, with fatal consequences. “JFK might still be alive today if he had listened to his Secret Service,” says Mel Ayton, author of a new book, Protecting The Presidential Candidates, which exposes the myriad dangers targeting those who covet the Oval Office. Kennedy bodyguard Chuck Taylor, noting that JFK’s lethal third bullet came six seconds after the first, agreed: “If agents had been allowed on the rear running boards, they would have pushed the president down and jumped on him to protect him before the fatal shot.” JFK’s Secret Service agent Clint Hill says: “I wish I had taken that third bullet for him. I still have nightmares about it.” It is now 58 years since Kennedy was assassinated, but the danger to US presidents and White House hopefuls has only grown. “The technology of assassination has improved dramatically in the past six decades,” says the author, who drew on FBI files, inside sources and interviews with Secret Service agents. “Death threats and murder plots still include guns and bombs, but there’s the added danger of bombs delivered by drones, poison-tipped umbrellas, anthrax, ricin and sarin gas. There are lasers and acoustic devices. It’s impossible to completely guarantee the safety of any politician.” Even cranks can be dangerous. Samuel Byck hijacked a commercial DC-9 jet and murdered the pilot, planning to kill President Nixon by crashing into the White House in 1974 (he was shot and wounded in the attempt before killing himself). President Obama received lethal ricin in letters intended to frame the sender’s rival, an Elvis impersonator, in 2013. The tragic murders of two British MPs, Jo Cox, in 2016, and David Amess in October, shook the UK, but in America, where residents own more than 300 million handguns, Ayton says: “The danger is ever-present, and immediate.” Thousands of death threats are aimed at presidential candidates in an election year, and though most are hollow, many prove to have deadly intent. “The Secret Service can’t afford complacency,” says Ayton. “There’s no sense in worrying about those things,” said JFK’s brother, presidential candidate Robert Kennedy. “If they want you, they’ll get you.” ‘Agents knew Nixon beat his wife and saw Hillary attack Bill Clinton during the Lewinsky affair’ Gunman Sirhan Sirhan proved him prophetic, killing Robert Kennedy in 1968. Secret Service agents assigned to protect surviving sibling Senator Edward Kennedy considered their job a “death watch”, the book reveals. Their fears were justified: FBI files reveal a flood of death threats against the senator. Suzanne Osgood stalked his office with a sixinch hunting knife, wounding a Secret Service officer before she was arrested in 1979. Throughout US history four presidents have been assassinated – Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley and JFK – and two survived shootings: Theodore dark secrets: Agents saw evidence Nixon beat his wife, and helped Trump cheat at golf aftermath: Agents surround President Reagan after he was nearly killed by a bullet fired by John Hinckley Jr Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan (hit by a bullet fired by John Hinckley Jr, who thought it would impress actress Jodie Foster). By contrast, some 38 agents have died on duty, including four killed in a car crash while protecting the Queen on a visit to California in 1982. By 2003, when he ordered an invasion that began the Iraq War, George W Bush was receiving a record 500 death threats a month. Barack Obama amassed so many threats he was given Secret Service protection a year before winning the 2008 Democratic nomination. More recently, Joe Biden has been the target of numerous kidnapping and assassination plots. Since Robert Kennedy’s assassination all major presidential candidates have been given Secret Service protection: 27 agents, a bulletproof car, lead car and chase car. Yet agents not only protect, but are also privy to intimate secrets behind White House doors. “Agents saw evidence Richard Nixon beat his wife,” says Ayton. “They also saw Hillary physically attack Bill Clinton, throwing a vase and other items at him during the Lewinsky affair. The agents felt bad, but couldn’t intervene.” Bodyguards famously helped JFK and Bill Clinton arrange secret rendezvous with lovers, and turned a blind eye to the extramarital affairs of presidents Lyndon B Johnson and George H W Bush, despite security fears. “Women could have been carrying weapons or poison, listening devices or cameras for blackmail,” says the author. “And Donald Trump had his agents help him cheat at golf.” Candidates ignore their bodyguards at their peril. “George Wallace, running for president in 1972, left his bulletproof dais against his bodyguards’ advice, and was shot as he shook hands with his supporters,” says

DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 25 Pictures: Reuters, Getty countdown to tragedy: John F Kennedy and wife Jacqueline in the presidential motorcade on the way to Dealey Plaza, Dallas, on that fateful November 22, 1963 Would you take a bullet for your boss? The deadly serious business of protecting the President They put their lives on the line to defend the leader of the free world, and nearly 40 secret service agents have already paid the ultimate price Ayton. The Democratic candidate was shot five times but survived, paralysed for life. Yet many can’t resist the urge to escape their minders. “Richard Nixon was an assassin’s delight, who came near to being killed on several occasions, sneaking away to restaurants,” said his Secret Service Chief UE Baughman. President Jimmy Carter liked talking with visitors through the White House railings, Bill Clinton made a tempting target jogging around White House grounds, and Barack Obama would stroll from the White House to a nearby hamburger joint. By contrast, President Reagan carried a .38 revolver in his briefcase “just in case”. When he began showing signs of Alzheimer’s, the Secret Service took away his gun. Many politicians loathe the loss of privacy that comes with Secret Service protection, and even feel imprisoned. “The White House is the crown jewel of the federal corrections system,” joked Clinton. Says Ayton: “It’s always a balancing act between the Secret Service, who would like to wrap every candidate in a bulletproof bubble, and the politicians who want to get out and meet their public.” Presidential attackers vary widely, but an intriguing profile emerges of the typical threat: an unemployed young white male, a failure and drifter, unloved with little female contact, obsessional, alienated, with a personality disorder. Many regrets: Agent Clint Hill has nightmares about not taking the final, fatal bullet for JFK aim to kill just to win notoriety. That’s also a pretty accurate description of John Hinckley Jr, who shot President Reagan in 1981. “Most people don’t realise that before shooting President Reagan, Hinckley had stalked President Carter, intending to kill him,” says Ayton. “When it became obvious Carter would lose the election, Hinckley didn’t think killing him would bring him enough notoriety, so he stalked Edward Kennedy instead. “Only after giving up on Kennedy did he turn to Reagan. He just wanted to make the biggest headlines.” While all eyes are on the Oval Office aspirants, spare a thought for the over-worked, over-stressed Secret Service agents who are ready to take a bullet for a candidate. Agents have to “forgo sleep for 24 hours, skip lunch and dinner, stand outside a house in the rain at 3am for several hours, take a cab to the airport and finally board a plane to a large city for a four-hour flight,” all the while missing their wedding anniversaries and children’s birthdays, says former agent Dan Emmett. Unsurprisingly perhaps, the burn-out rate is high. “Agents protecting the president rarely work more than five years before moving back to the field,” says the author. F ormer agent Marty Vencker recalls visiting five cities a day on the campaign trail: “I’d be running alongside the limo and I’d have to look down and read the sewer covers to see what city I was in.” But not everyone is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. “One agent found Donald Trump so objectionable that she refused to take a bullet for him,” says Ayton. “She was quickly reassigned.” ●●Protecting The Presidential Candidates, by Mel Ayton, Frontline Books, £25

26 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 30-SECOND Challenge Beginner 46 The National Lottery Saturday, december 4 LOTTERY 8 24 25 32 33 46 47 Thunderball 3 5 17 36 38 6 Friday, december 3 euromillions 21 22 29 32 46 9 10 Thunderball 4 11 16 35 36 9 Thursday, december 2 Set for life 3 29 32 38 43 4 The Health Lottery Saturday, december 4 18 22 27 38 39 23 friday, december 3 6 21 29 30 36 33 The society benefiting from all draws in the month ending December 31, 2021, is Health Lottery East JUST follow the instructions from left to right, starting with the number given to reach an answer at the end of the row. Set your own 30-second challenge: for the very young or arithmetically rusty, you 50% OF THIS -16 SQUARE IT +33 phone poll results We asked in our poll on Friday: Should smoking in the street be banned? SUDOKU 1 5 3 9 4 8 6 4 4 6 2 5 7 5 9 4 6 8 2 2 1 4 5 1 DX1ST have 30 seconds for the BEGINNER task. For a greater challenge, try BEGINNER and INTERMEDIATE in 30 seconds. True mental gymnasts should try INTERMEDIATE and ADVANCED in 30 seconds together. REVERSE THE DIGITS yes: 41% no: 59% Fill in all the squares so that each row, each column, and each 3x3 square contain all the digits from 1 to 9 4 3 7 5 4 6 7 5 1 5 8 7 3/4 OF THIS -15 x9 Intermediate 155 +169 7/9 OF THIS -174 5/6 OF THIS +243 5/7 OF THIS -48 Advanced 14 x15 -54 7/13 OF THIS +378 8/11 OF THIS -47 This is the Quick Sudoku for the solver in a hurry. For today’s solution call: 09071 812 571 (Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge) For extra clues call: 09013 225 602 (Calls cost 75p plus your telephone company’s network access charge) More Puzzles – PULLOUT Saturday’S SOLUTION 8 1 3 4 6 9 7 5 2 6 2 1 5 7 8 9 3 4 3 9 7 2 4 6 1 8 5 TAKE THE SQUARE ROOT 5 2 7 8 3 1 6 4 9 7 8 3 9 1 4 2 5 6 4 6 8 1 7 5 3 9 2 75% OF THIS +43 4 9 6 7 5 2 3 8 1 5 4 9 2 6 3 8 1 7 1 2 5 9 3 8 6 7 4 Today’s answers can be found in the puzzles pullout Your answers DO YOU HAVE A STORY OR photo? If you have a story: 020 8612 7077 or email: expressnews @reachplc.com If you have a photo: 020 8612 7171 or email: expresspix @express.co.uk For general inquiries: 020 8612 7000 www.express.co.uK for great reader offers Pictures: SWNS Christmas miracle for 3-legged Roo Delight... Roo has found a new home with Steve By Bradley Stokes THIS adorable three-legged puppy who was abandoned because of her disability has found a home just in time for Christmas. Roo the whippet was born with one front leg and was taken in by the Blue Cross charity when her owners were unable to look after her. She was put up for adoption and has now found a loving home with Amanda and Steve Hofford, from Basingstoke, Hants. Amanda said: “We read her story and knew we had to try to adopt her. She was a much wanted and needed addition to our family.” LEMON AID YOU’RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME I whisper to my toddler as I put her blanket FOR THE MOMENTS WHEN YOU NEED A LIFT OR A LAUGH… Sign up to our parenting newsletter at: lemonaidparenting.co.uk

Drugs man boasted of his ‘jungle’ By Bradley Stokes A CRIMINAL who bragged about his cannabis plants being so tall he was like “Jack and the Beanstalk” is facing jail. Timothy Valentine, 42, helped run three cannabis factories. He grew 45 plants he dubbed the “jungle” above his Forty Fathoms Aquatics shop in Kidderminster, Worcester. When another gang member asked Valentine how his crop of illegal plants were doing, he replied: “It’s like Jack and the Beanstalk”. Cannabis and cocaine were taken to Ilfracombe, North Devon for sale. Valentine, of Bridgnorth, Shropshire, and three others were found guilty of drug conspiracy at Worcester Crown Court. Darren Peglar, 40, of Kidderminster, admitted conspiracy to supply cannabis and cocaine. Karl Browning, 42, also of Kidderminster, and Sinead Lavelle, 33, of Droitwich, were convicted of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. They will be sentenced at a later date. Pictures: Steve Reigate Victory roll...previous winner Andy Price, 71, above, and in flight, right By Giles Sheldrick TWO Daily Express readers have the chance to fly like The Few in our exclusive Spitfire competition. The lucky winners – one man and one woman – will reach for the sky in an experience made available to just a handful. We have teamed up with flyaspitfire.com, based at the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar at the Battle of Britain station in Kent, to offer a once-in-a-lifetime £2,975 flight in the legendary fighter. Genuine The winners will take off and experience a victory roll in the skies where The Few saved Britain from the Luftwaffe in 1940 and end Hitler’s invasion plans. You might also be able to take the controls and fly the Spitfire. The two-seat planes are genuine Second World War-era aircraft converted in the 1950s. Spitfire MJ627 joined No 441 (Silver Fox) Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1944. MT818 was the first two-seater of its kind produced by Vickers Armstrong, which won a 1959 London-to-Paris air race. A third, DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 27 Take to the skies in a majestic Spitfire Your chance to fly like our Battle of Britain heroes TE308, carries the markings of 457 “Grey Nurse” Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force. The competition is free to enter, but you are asked to make a donation of at least £1 to the RAF Benevolent Fund. Each winner, picked at random on New Year’s Day, can take four guests to tour the planes and will be given a video of their flight. You must be at least 18, weigh no more than 17 stone and be agile enough to climb in and out of the aircraft. Robin Brooks, of the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, said: “This is a rare chance to relive what these brave boys experienced.” In May, retired trucker Andy Price, 71, of Nottingham, a previous Daily Express winner, took an iconic Spitfire flight. He said: “It’s like a thoroughbred racehorse in the sky.” To enter online, visit flyaspitfire. com/daily-express-competition. Alternatively, post your details to Daily Express Spitfire Competition, Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, 204 Churchill Way, Biggin Hill Airport, Kent TN16 3BN. To make a donation call 020 7580 8343, send a cheque payable to the RAF Benevolent Fund to RAF Benevolent Fund, 67 Portland Place, London W1B 1AR, or visit rafbf.org/donate Only one entry per person is allowed and they must arrive by 10am on December 30. Please do not send cash or cheques to the Daily Express. Standard Reach plc competition terms and conditions apply. GARDENING SUPPLIED IN FLOWER Astounding Azaleas These bush Azaleas will make a fashionable and festive addition to your home this Christmas. Perfect as a centrepiece on a table alongside some twinkling fairy lights, deep green leaves are smothered with an abundance of blooms. After the festive period, they can be planted outside to enjoy for years to come. Supplied with flowers and buds aplenty in 9cm pots with decorative stone planters to complete the look. Delivery in 14 days. Supplied £4.95 P&P for each order. SAVE £18 RODX-49AZW1 White Azalea & stone pot x 1 RODX-49AZP1 Pink Azalea & stone pot x 1 RODX-49AZR1 Red Azalea & stone pot x 1 RODX-49AZS3 Azalea Collection & stone pots x 3 (1 of each) SAVE £18 TO ORDER CALL 0871 6643 487 POST TO DAILY EXPRESS OFFER, PO BOX 2020, PERSHORE WR10 9BP Please make cheques payable to Hayloft with your name, address and product code on the reverse OR VISIT SHOP.EXPRESS.CO.UK/AZS21 If you wish to receive information and offers from organisations carefully selected by Express Newspapers, please tick here To see how your data is processed please refer to Express’s Privacy Policy: www.shop.express.co.uk/privacy. Reg. London 141748 Express Newspapers Reg. London 141748. One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom, E14 5AP. PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH. £18 £18 £18 £36

28 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 DX1ST The Crusader Fighting for your rights By MAISHA FROST The return of mandatory PCR travel tests is good news for clinics and their takings, but what about the scores of customers still owed money from some providers who failed to complete orders and ignored requests for refunds? Phrases tucked in among terms and conditions citing “no money back” for delays or no-shows have infuriated the public who have condemned them as being outrageously unfair and flouting statutory consumer sales rules. PCR firm tests negative Providers on official government lists get the certification after self-declaring they meet the required standards. People understandably took that “approval” to mean endorsement or recommendation, which it doesn’t as many have now found to their cost. Charles Van Tuyckom claims he found himself repeatedly ignored after clashing with tests provider Atruchecks. He is not though giving up his battle to get back the £112 he paid for the two tests required after returning to the UK last June. “I paid, received them and sent them back as instructed so presumed they were received, but have never got back the results and have just had automated responses saying they will get back to me,” he said. “My travel was to attend a funeral and of course I met my quarantine obligations. “The treatment I got from Atruchecks certainly added to my stress,” he claimed when asking for Crusader’s help. We also contacted the company, which has received some very negative reviews online and whose director is Laween Al-Atroshi, the 2015 Labour candidate for Surrey Heath. It responded immediately a couple of weeks ago saying that it would investigate Charles’s problem, but despite several further emails asking for a solution or update there has been only silence. Charles paid with a credit card and while waiting for Atruchecks to respond this means he is out of the 120-day time limit to process a chargeback via his provider Mastercard. He could however try a Section 75 claim, where both supplier and provider could be equally responsible, as his purchase was over £100. It’s just awful though that people who paid a company in good faith for something they have to have are treated so abysmally. The terms on Atrucheck’s website also appear imprecise, citing “every reasonable endeavour to provide your test results within a reasonable timeframe” and “delivery dates for test results are approximate” which seem at odds with the official precise time rules around testing and quarantine. But for Charles it is yet another case of “one rule for them and another for us”. ➤ Covid-19 scams are rocketing with vaccine text scams promising an entry pass to venues now rife and bombarding youngsters, Trading Standards is warning. The messages contain bogus links to a fake NHS platform and ask for personal details and a fee costing a few pounds. Beware too any emails offering new “Omicron PCR test kits”. Reader Cliff Lawrence wants to alert others to the kind he has received with addresses like nhs-order-pcr. If you want help with a problem or wish to applaud good service, we will do our best to help. We can’t always promise a reply but please contact The Crusader, Daily Express, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AP. Email: crusader@express.co.uk. Only send document copies, not originals. ALWAYS INCLUDE YOUR PHONE NUMBER, thank you. SHOP SUNAGOR BINOCULARS 100X Magnification Phenomenal 20 to 100 times magnification, measuring just 18cm x 18cm and weighing only 880g. High quality 50mm fully-coated objective lenses, incorporating latest optical technology. Centre focusing with one eye-piece dioptre adjustment to suit your own eyesight plus fold-down rubber eyecups for use with spectacles. Ideal for wildlife and ultra long distance viewing and rubberarmoured for durability. Binoculars can be attached to any tripod if desired. Complete with case, neck strap, lens dustcaps, tripod adapter, polishing cloth and 10 year guarantee. £139.99 ONLY + £9.99 P&P ORDER NOW FOR CHRISTMAS Picture: GETTY ✁ GARDENING A LOVELY GIFT OR A SPECIAL TREAT 2-Piece Cutting Tool Set SAVE £3 ZOOM BINOCULARS £139.99 £9.99 PRICE P&P QTY TOTAL I enclose a cheque for £ made payable to Trans-World Trading Offer DX819. Please write your name and address on the back of your cheque. Or please debit my… Visa MasterCard Maestro card Card no Valid from Exp date Security code Iss no (if Maestro) Mr Mrs Ms First name ............................................................................ Initials ................................................... Surname ............................................................................ 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If not fully satisfied, please return within 14 days for a refund/replacement. *Calls cost 12p per minute from a BT landline plus network extras. Calls from other networks and mobiles may cost more. “Ideal for gardeners of all levels” If you are looking for a gift or a treat for someone special then this beautifully presented garden cutting set is ideal. It comes with bypass secateurs and mini snips which are suitable for use by gardeners of all levels and whatever size their gardens. Ideal for those tough pruning jobs and light trims. Supplied as a set containing bypass secateurs & mini snips. 2-Piece Cutting Tool Set Bypass secateurs & mini snips ONLY £19.99 SAVE £3.00! ITEM 160492 CALL US ON 08716 643 490 QUOTE RDX1065 OR VISIT WWW.YOUGARDEN.COM/RDX1065 Please add £6.99 P&P to your order. If you would like to receive information and offers from organisations carefully selected by Express Newspapers, please tick here . Reg. London 141748 Express Newspapers Reg. London 141748. One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom, E14 5AP. To see how your data is processed please refer to Express’s Privacy Policy: www.shop.express.co.uk/privacy. Orders dispatched within 7 working days. Offer subject to availability and if oversubscribed, we reserve the right to send a suitable alternative. Contract for supply of goods is with YouGarden Ltd, Eventus House, Market Deeping, PE6 8FD. Images show mature plants. Full terms and product details at www.yougarden.com. IMPORTANT: Following Brexit there are a number of changes that prevent us from trading in N. Ireland. Full terms and product details at www.yougarden.com. * Calls cost 12p per minute plus your network’s access charge. UK delivery only and surcharges may apply to outlying areas. Customer Service: Call 0800 9 558 558 or email CS@YouGarden.com. Offer closes 31st January 2022.

expressyourself DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 29 Get in touch! express.yourself@express.co.uk Edited by MerNIE Gilmore BEAUTY Lush Wow gift set, £185, lush.com Base Pace High-Rise leggings, £88, lululemon. co.uk fitness Platinum & Helios Deluxe gift set, £368, ghdhair.com Stretch+ Heat mat, £299, homedics.co.uk Gucci Beauty Rouge a Levres Matte in Goldie Red, £35, Selfridges Starlit Mandarin & Honey Cologne, £105, jomalone. co.uk Sanctuary Spa Favourites, £40, Boots Gorgeous gifts for her From stocking fillers to luxury treats, we have all you need to spoil someone special this Christmas Fitbit Charge 5, £169.99, fitbit.com Gel Cumulus 23 trainers, £120, asics.com Voodoo Limba Adventure bike, £500, halfords.com FOODIE A Cook’s Book by Nigel Slater, £30, Waterstones STYLE Cotton pyjamas, £49.95, joules.com STOCKING FILLERS Hand mixer, £149, shop. smeguk.com HOME Reversible hot water bottle, £17.50, whitestuff.com Personalised teapot, £40.95, emmabridgewater.co.uk Veuve Clicquot Personalised Tape, £59.99, Selfridges That Boutique-y Gin Company Retro Gin Fridge, £39.95, masterofmalt.com Celestial hoops, £125, tadaandtoy.com Coffee subscription, from £6.50, piqant.co.uk Cricut Mug Press, £179, Hobbycraft Cheese Feast hamper, £65, panzers. co.uk Vegan leather backpack, £150, tibaandmarl.com Polka Face socks, £12.99, prezzybox.com Roberts Revival Petite DAB radio, £99.99, John Lewis Merry Little Christmas Collection, £29.50, hotelchocolat. com Leather gloves, £65, reiss.com M&S Collection dress, £39.50, Marks & Spencer Whale puzzle, £14.99, cloudberries.co.uk Serenity travel flask, £14, paperchase. com Limited Edition Holiday scented candles, £94, diptyqueparis.com Compiled by HANNAH BRITT

30 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 expressyourse DX1ST Kelly Rose Bradford is the ultimate last-minute panic buyer when it comes to the festive season – so what would happen if she decided to make everything from scratch? In the past my Christmas prep has always been a rush job. I’ve raced to the garden centre on Christmas Eve for an overpriced door wreath, and paid a concession in a department store for someone to wrap my hastily bought presents while I hot-footed it around the supermarket, grabbing ready-made Christmas treats and boxes of crackers. But with supply issues threatening to disrupt Christmas essentials, this year I decided to go DIY. After years of last-minute shopping, will I really be able to do it all myself? DIY C Festiv festiv BRANCH OUT Use dried orange tied with twine Treesy does it A stylish tree with rustic embellishments has long been my dream, but ours have always been a riot of decades-old decorations and glittery creations my son made at school. This year, I asked Veronika Kusak, director of tree supplier Pines and Needles (pinesandneedles.com), how to achieve a chic, woodland-style finish. She advised making decorations using holly, pine cones and dried fruit to add colour and character. I foraged around my local woods, and although pickings were slim (everyone seemed to be having the same idea) I did get a small supply of fir cones, which I decorated with glitter and a bow. I dried sliced oranges and limes and added garden twine to fix them to the tree. Easy to make, and beautifully fragranced, they will definitely go back on my tree next year. VERDICT: Festive yes Go crackers To my eternal shame, I once spent £50 on a box of crackers because they were the only ones left on Christmas Eve. Inspired by a vague recollection of loo roll innards and tissue paper from when my son was at nursery, I got, er, cracking. My teenage son’s RIGHT MOVE Kelly Rose’s gingerbread house win face upon seeing my finished effort said it all – there is homemade and there is badly made. As hard as I’d worked on them, I was inclined to agree. Fortunately, a trip to Lakeland and a box of its fill-your-own crackers saved the day. Much easier – but I felt I was cheating. VERDICT: Festive mess Great Christmas cake off The last time I made a Christmas cake, I went to ice it only to find it covered in mould, having apparently not fed it enough brandy. I’d spent £30 on top-notch ingredients, so was not best pleased. This year, I wanted to try again, but none of my local shops had the dried fruits I needed, so I succumbed PULL THE OTHER ONE Kelly with DIY crackers to a cake kit from Marks & Spencer. It came with pre-weighed brandy-soaked fruit, flour,

lf DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 31 Get in touch! express.yourself@express.co.uk hristmas… e yes or SWEET GIFT Making your own chocs Pictures Ian Vogler e mess? Chocs away Having spotted silicone snowflake moulds and festive confectionery bags in Lakeland, I was keen to make my own chocolates as gifts. It was the easiest of my foodie makes and turned out beautifully. I made vegan white chocs for dairy-free friends, and milk chocolate for everyone else, melting the ingredients and pouring them into the mould to set. I gave the chocolates a seasonal twist by adding cinnamon before chilling, then popped them into gift bags. Verdict: Festive yes CLEVER Wreath with an online lesson SPRUCED UP Mini bouquets on gifts and an easy cake kit marzipan and icing, as well as some edible sparkles. At £12 it was a bargain compared to what I would have spent on separate ingredients. Once baked and decorated to my liking, it was a thing of beauty. I don’t think you can beat homemade cake, but buying the components ready weighed in a kit, then customising the finish, will be my go-to from now on. VERDICT: Festive yes It’s a wrap Spending a fortune on paper and gift bags is such a waste of money and so terrible for the environment that I now try to reuse and recycle as much as possible. This year, I watched Instagram videos by professional gift wrapper Amanda White @giftfrippery demonstrating beautiful wrapping techniques using bits and bobs we all have at home, or could easily find, such as acorns and seed pods. “Reuse the brown paper that comes in deliveries as your gift wrap,” she told me, also advising the use of freshly picked bay leaves or eucalyptus to make pretty miniature bouquets to top off plain wrapping. The result? Gorgeously wrapped pressies at zero cost. VERDICT: Festive yes Raise a glass Who doesn’t love a mug of mulled wine and tumbler or three of Baileys? I have a friend who makes their own version of the Irish cream liqueur, so I decided to give it a go. I googled several recipes, but as I do not drink dairy milk, deployed a little creativity and several tweaks. Sadly my plant-based replacements – almond milk and coconut cream – left my boozy concoction with the consistency of curdled milkshake, and tasting vile. I hoped my mulled wine – a bottle of Rioja heated through with various spices – would fare better. It smelled delicious as I let the flavours infuse for several hours on Gingerbread Decorative doors trail I love wreaths, and am in awe of people I once travelled home from Belgium with an who create seasonal ones all year round. elaborate gingerbread house on my lap. Everyone Due to the lack of forageable greenery in hated it, and it ended up on the bird table. I’m also my local woods, I consulted wreath and haunted by Christmas 2008 when I was awake at 3am on garland expert Catherine Nix, and Christmas Day trying to make a homemade house stick ordered a kit (myscentedhome.co.uk) to together, before finally propping it up at the back with a tin make my own. of beans. Both incidents made me vow: “No more Thankfully the box of gorgeously gingerbread houses”. This year, though, I decided to give fragranced cuttings of evergreens and them another chance, but to keep the stress levels down, I pine cones, as well as dried oranges bought some gingerbread mix from Waitrose, which was and cinnamon sticks, came with written only £4.45, and had a template printed on the box. instructions and a link to an online What could possibly go wrong? Baking the biscuits tutorial. It was so much fun to make and was easy. It was my construction skills that let the finished product was cheaper and far me down, but extra icing and Smarties superior to any shop-bought wreaths I’ve eventually hid my cowboy building. splashed out on in the past. VERDICT: Festive yes Verdict: Festive yes a low heat, yet the taste did not meet my expectations. It was just warm wine with a very pungent smell. My verdict? Leave the Christmas tipples to the experts. VERDICT: Festive mess BAD TASTE Festive drink fail Christmas crafts Working on my level of experience, I googled “easy Christmas crafts for kids” to seek inspiration for making cards. A trip to my local Hobbycraft for supplies and an hour of joyous crafting later, I’d produced a herd of jolly red-nosed reindeer made from three lolly sticks and a red pompom apiece. My festive greeting could be The verdict Despite a few bumps along the way, homemade is definitely my default Christmas setting now – it cuts down on waste, and leaves you with a great sense of achievement, plus puts you in a festive mood in minutes. What’s not to love? written on the back, and the “card” hung on the recipient’s tree. “They’re actually quite sweet,” commented my biggest critic (son). High praise indeed. Verdict: Festive yes

32 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 expressyourself DX1ST Get in touch! express.yourself@express.co.uk Beauty news ■Beauty ■ experts agree that silk is the perfect material for pillowcases. The frictionless surface doesn’t pull on skin, and it’s naturally cooling. As a bonus, hair is protected overnight too, meaning less morning frizz. We love this 100 per cent Mulberry Silk pillowcase, £34.50, from Dusk, which is super soft to the touch and looks great too. Visit dusk.com for more information. ■Celebrity ■ hairdresser Nicky Clarke has launched a new range of hair tools that use infrared heat. This can reduce styling time by up to 50 per cent, which minimises heat damage to your hair. The Infrared Pro collection includes a hairdryer and straightener, both £129.99. Available from nickyclarke.com. ■If ■ your skin is feeling the cold this winter, then Dermatology M Peony Cream, £48, could be just what it needs. Packed with soothing ingredients including aloe vera, peony root extract and vitamin E, it has potent anti-inflammatory properties as well as being deeply hydrating. Visit dermatology-m.com. Compiled by MERNIE GILMORE Can I get rid of fur balls? BOX oNly Worth saviNG you £295 oN the rrp! Free delivery Brought to you by sPOil sOmeOne sPeCial with a 3, 6 or 12 moNth oK! beauty box subscriptioN Gift voucher From £42* Give the Gift of ‘me time’ OK! Christmas Beauty BOx PaCKed with 11 full-size trusted beauty products oKbeautybox.co.uK/christmas-Gifts *From £42 is based on a 3-month OK! Beauty Box subscription e-gift voucher. Pampered Pets Our vet DAVID GRANT works his magic My 11-year-old female ragdoll has Q golf ball-sized lumps of matting between her legs on her belly. She can’t get rid of these herself. Should I try to cut the fur balls out, even though she hates this and makes it difficult? I am an 85-year-old pensioner with restricted funds. Do not attempt to clip the fur mats A yourself as you won’t succeed and there is a considerable risk of causing wounds. You will need to get this problem solved by your local vet, or perhaps vet nurse. They will use fine clippers to remove the mats and trim the excess fur in the area. In the best of circumstances this will be all that is needed and you can resume the daily grooming you mentioned in your email. This should prevent further problems. However, in an 11-year-old cat I would want to look for any underlying reasons for the development of the mats. There could be an inability to groom properly due to mouth pain, or being unable to reach the area because of a problem with her spine. Mouth pain could be due to tongue lesions, inflammation at the back of the soft palate or dental disease. Arthritis is very common in old cats and if it affects the spine it would make bending the neck painful, which might account for your cat being “difficult”. This is not a trait expected of ragdolls, as they are known to be placid. Solving the problem should be simple and hopefully not too expensive. We have a nine-month-old labrador. Q From day one he has been constantly scratching itches. He has seen multiple vets but nothing seems to work. The latest vet has done some tests and we are waiting for results. The skin on his legs is practically black. It would be excellent if by the time A you read this reply the tests have come back with an answer. If the situation is not resolved however, or if any new treatment does not show an obvious and relatively quick improvement, it might be a good idea to have a chat with your vet about a referral to a specialist. Unusual skin conditions are tricky to diagnose, and whereas vets regularly diagnose all the common ones, the unusual issues benefit from a vet with extra training in dermatology. Owners in your situation often go from one vet to another in the hope of finding a cure, but in my view the best option is to get an expert opinion. Your vet will know of the specialists in your area and will supply the chosen one with a full history. This second consultation will take longer and will be more expensive, but with a nine-month-old dog, with all his life in front of him, a diagnosis is crucial. Blackening of the skin is a sign of chronic illness and many skin conditions that go on for some time develop this. Possible causes could include allergies, various mite infestations and bacterial infections. ●●David Grant has been a vet for more than 50 years. Email him questions at pamperedpets@express.co.uk

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DX1ST televisionexpress Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 35 Chill out with farm gang GOING out over the next four nights, WINTER ON THE FARM: LIVE (C5, 8pm) is likely to prove a more challenging watch than its summer equivalent, at least if you suffer from the same strange affliction as I do. Not because the format won’t be as engaging, as hosts Helen Skelton and Jules Hudson update us on the latest goings-on at Cannon Hall Farm near Barnsley. And not that I’m less than thrilled to be catching up with farming brothers Rob and Dave Nicholson and the rest of the Cannon Hall crew. It’s just that it’s so much nippier Picks of the day Mike Ward previews tonight’s TV now than it was in the summer (I do find this is frequently the case). And even though, as a viewer, I’ll be watching from the comfort of my cosy living room, the moment I see these people venturing out into that biting cold to tend to the animals, I just know I’ll need to fetch myself another jumper. That, or crank up our heating so Film: Topsy-Turvy, Film4, 11.25pm Biographical comedy drama starring Jim Broadbent (left) and Allan Corduner as legendary comic-opera composers WS Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. After the flop of their latest work, Princess Ida, Gilbert and Sullivan clash over their next project and seem set to end their partnership – until Gilbert’s wife persuades him to visit an exhibition of Japanese culture. This inspires the duo to write The Mikado, which would go on to become one of their most famous works. high I’ll have single-handedly killed the planet by Thursday. I know this because it’s what always happens whenever I watch cold TV shows. Dancing On Ice, Frozen Planet, Ice Road Truckers, Pingu, you name it – TV programmes set in the cold invariably have this effect on me, as though I only have to see the cold to feel it. Does anyone else experience that too? Please, someone say they do, just so I know I’m not entirely doolally. Anyway, yes, this series will include a look at how Rob and Dave protect their farm from the worst of the elements. There’ll also Film: Transformers: The Last Knight, Film4, 6pm The fifth instalment in the sci-fi action adventure series and the sequel to 2014’s Age Of Extinction. When Optimus Prime returns to what is left of his home land, Cybertron, he is brainwashed by seductive leader Quintessa who blames him for ruining their planet. Quintessa renames him Nemesis Prime and sends him back to Earth to retrieve a mystical staff belonging to Merlin which will bring Cybertron back to life. However, on Earth, the Transformers are still not welcome. Directed by Michael Bay, the film sees Mark Wahlberg reprising his role as Cade. Also featuring Anthony Hopkins, Stanley Tucci and Isabela Merced (left). Comedy: Two Doors Down, BBC2, 10pm Beth is making a curry to celebrate Ian and Gordon’s anniversary, but when they arrive it’s their son’s black eye that gets all the attention. The evening starts to go downhill when Cathy and Colin invite themselves over and Christine turns up with an upset stomach, demanding to know if the kitchen is clean. Return of the comedy, starring Arabella Weir and Alex Norton (both above) and Doon Mackichan. be a report, we’re told, on a fact-finding trip they took to the Arctic. (Fact: it’s jolly cold there.) And as if that’s not enough, which from my point of view it may well be, viewers are also promised appearances by “an all-star cast of C5 favourites”. Having looked into this more, I’ve learnt to my relief that it’ll include the likes of Amanda Owen from Our Yorkshire Farm, rather than, say, the blokes from C5’s popular documentary series Cough Up Or Else The Bailiffs’ll Grab Yer Telly. Elsewhere this evening, on a warmer note, we have FOOD UNWRAPPED’S CHRISTMAS CRACKER (C4, 8pm). Highlights include presenter Matt Tebbutt investigating how long an unfinished bottle of port stays drinkable (largely dependent, of course, on how you define “drinkable”) and co-host Jimmy Doherty finding out why red cabbage and Christmas are so closely associated. There’s also a thing on how to give your ham a tasty glaze, plus an item on the secret to the perfect stollen. And remember folks, please make sure your stollen isn’t stolen! Ha ha! Sorry, I appear to have started early on the Christmas cracker gags. DID YOU KNOW? Helen Skelton graduated from the Cumbria Institute of the Arts, where she gained a degree in journalism. During her time at college, she was an extra on Coronation Street and Cutting It. SALE GARDENING SPRING BULB SALE Narcissi Hillstar SHOP OVER 100 SALE ITEMS ONLINE Food: Gino’s Italian Family Adventure, ITV, 8pm Joined by his wife and three children, TV chef Gino D’Acampo (above with daughter Mia) continues his quest to explore his Italian roots and find out where his passion for food began. In the fourth episode of the series, Gino heads to the stunning Gallura region in northern Sardinia with his daughter. Here, they soak up the culture by discovering local traditions and recipes handed down through the generations. Quiz: Christmas University Challenge, BBC4, 7pm Teams of distinguished graduates compete on behalf of their former universities in the academic quiz’s festive special, with the opening first-round match seeing Christ’s Cambridge up against St John’s Oxford. 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36 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 DX1ST All programmes Today’s are listed in Greenwich TV Mean Time previews (GMT). are Apart on from in the Portugal, previous programmes are one hour page later than listed film ratings ★★★★★ Brilliant ★★★★ Very Good ★★★ Good ★★ Average ★ Bad (R) Repeat BBC One BBC Two ITV Channel 4 Channel 5 6.00am Breakfast News headlines. 9.15 Morning Live Magazine. 10.00 Claimed and Shamed (R) 10.45 Fraud Squad A woman who pretended she could barely move to claim benefits. (R) 11.15 Homes Under the Hammer With Martin Roberts. (R) 12.15pm Bargain Hunt Charlie Ross presents from Hele near Exeter. Last in the series. 1.00 BBC News at One; Weather 1.30 Regional News; Weather 1.45 Doctors An old face makes a surprise return as protests erupt against the Mill. 2.15 The Tournament Quiz. 3.00 Escape to the Country Nicki Chapman helps a globetrotting couple to find a home in the Oxfordshire countryside. 3.45 Virtually Home Kunal Trehan comes up with a new look for a dingy hallway in Surrey. 4.30 The Repair Shop A precious Indian stringed instrument. (R) 5.15 Pointless Quiz show. (R) 6.00 BBC News at Six; Weather 6.30 Regional News; Weather 6.30am The Tournament Quiz. (R) 7.15 Bargain Hunt (R) 8.00 Sign Zone: Mary Berry – Love to Cook (R) 8.30 Sign Zone: Between the Covers Sara Cox hosts. (R) 9.00 BBC News at 9 Headlines. 10.00 BBC News Headlines. 12.15pm Politics Live Updates. 1.00 The Best Christmas Food Ever With Angellica Bell. (R) 1.45 Eggheads Quiz show. (R) 2.15 Vintage Antiques Roadshow The team values more rarities. (R) 3.00 Heir Hunters Documentary. (R) 3.45 Great British Menu (R) 4.45 The Wonder of Animals The capabilities of bears. (R) 5.15 Flog It! Paul Martin finds out about the scandalous Georgians of Lydiard Park. (R) 6.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games With Rickie Haywood- Williams, Sally Phillips, Vikki Stone and Dan Walker. 6.30 Strictly: It Takes Two Weekday fanzine devoted to the ballroom dancing show. 6.00am Good Morning Britain News, current affairs and lifestyle features. 9.00 Lorraine Entertainment, current affairs and fashion. 10.00 This Morning A mix of celebrity chat, lifestyle features and competitions. Including Local Weather. 12.30pm Loose Women Celebrity interviews and topical debate with the panel. 1.30 ITV News; Weather 1.55 Regional News; Weather 2.00 Dickinson’s Real Deal David Dickinson and the team visit Newcastle racecourse. 3.00 Lingo Luton husband and wife Mark and Jheanell, Pete and his daughter Sam from Coventry, and friends Banita and Seema from London take part in the quiz. Adil Ray hosts. 3.59 Regional Weather 4.00 Tipping Point Quiz show, hosted by Ben Shephard. 5.00 The Chase Richard, Abbi, Dave and Alison take part. 6.00 Regional News; Weather 6.30 ITV Evening News; Weather 6.10am Countdown Alastair Campbell appears in Dictionary Corner. (R) 6.50 The Big Bang Theory (R) 7.35 The King of Queens (R) 9.00 Frasier Triple bill. (R) 10.30 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) 11.25 Channel 4 News Summary 11.30 Find It, Fix It, Flog It (R) 12.30pm Steph’s Packed Lunch Steph McGovern presents the weekday magazine. 2.10 Countdown Craig Charles is in Dictionary Corner. 3.00 Moneybags Quiz show, hosted by Craig Charles. 4.00 A Place in the Sun Ben Hillman helps a couple find a holiday home in Vera. (R) 5.00 Four in a Bed The competition kicks off in Holsworthy, Devon. (R) 5.30 Bidding Wars Teams to compete to win pallets of goods to sell on for profit. 6.00 The Simpsons Mr Burns fears Doomsday is coming. 6.30 Hollyoaks Theresa worries about Nana McQueen. (R) 6.00am Milkshake! Children’s TV. 9.15 Jeremy Vine Discussion. 11.15 FILM Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses (2019, PG) A decorator falls for a businessman while working on his property. Romantic comedy, starring Jill Wagner and Matthew Davis. ★★★ 1.00 Neighbours See 6.00pm for details. 1.30 FILM A Christmas Break (2020, PG) Premiere. Teacher Addison Tate hopes for a festive miracle as officials decide to close her school. Romantic drama, starring Cindy Sampson. ★★ 3.15 FILM Angel Falls: A Novel Christmas (2019, PG) Premiere. A book editor must work with a former rival to help a budding writer find her way. Festive drama, starring Jen Lilley and Carlo Marks. ★★★ 5.00 5 News at 5 Headlines. 6.00 Neighbours Terese allows herself one dance with Paul while at the Police Ball. (R) 6.30 Meerkat Manor The struggles faced by the animals. 7 8 9 10 11 12 midnight 5.15pm, Pointless: Alexander Armstrong 7.00 The One Show Jermaine Jenas and Lauren Laverne present the first visit of the week to the One Show studio. 7.30 Crisis in Care: Follow the Money – Panorama In-depth current affairs report covering a story behind the headlines. 8.00 EastEnders Kim questions everyone around her, Iqra makes a goodwill gesture, and Stuart gets worrying news. 8.20 Outnumbered Christmas special from 2011. The Brockmans plan to spend Christmas in the sun. (R) 9.00 You Don’t Know Me Having stepped down from the dock to present his own closing speech, Hero continues to present his own truth to the jury. His account of events tells a very different story to that of the prosecution. 10.00 BBC News at Ten 10.25 Regional News; Weather 10.35 The Richard Dimbleby Lecture Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert delivers the 44th Richard Dimbleby lecture from Oxford, talking about creating a Covid-19 vaccine in less than a year. The vaccine has now been used in more than 170 countries around the world after a groundbreaking partnership between Oxford University and AstraZeneca. 11.30 The Apprentice Australia The celebrities are given a truckload of one item, and they need to turn it into something they can sell. 12.40am The Graham Norton Show. The host is joined by Tom Holland, Zendaya, Henry Cavill and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. Plus, Little Mix perform Between Us. (R) 1.25 Weather for the Week Ahead 1.30-6.00am BBC News 7.30pm, Mastermind: Clive Myrie 7.00 Villages by the Sea Ben Robinson discovers how boat building shaped the village of Arnside on the River Kent. (R) 7.30 Mastermind Specialist subjects include the musical Hamilton, and James Craig, Viscount Craigavon. 8.00 Only Connect The Golfers take on the Scrubs in the second quarter-final match. 8.30 University Challenge Two more teams battle it out for a place in the quarter-finals as the second-round continues. Jeremy Paxman hosts. 9.00 Forensics: The Real CSI The documentary following investigations into serious crimes returns after a break, with West Midlands police needing forensics to identify the killer of two men whose bodies were found in a car. 10.00 NEW Two Doors Down Beth and Eric celebrate Ian and Gordon’s anniversary, but Cathy and Colin invite themselves over and Christine turns up too. Return of the comedy, with Arabella Weir. 10.30 Newsnight News stories. 11.15 Universe Brian Cox asks how the universe came to be. He explores how discoveries have helped scientists understand how we came to be here and the technology they have used along the way. Last in series. (R) 12.15am Sign Zone: Countryfile. Marking 300 years since the death of master carver Grinling Gibbons. (R) 1.15 Sign Zone: What We Do in the Shadows. Justice is served, both for the vampires and also in small claims court. Starring Kayvan Novak. (R) 1.40-6.30am This Is BBC Two 7pm, Emmerdale: Aaron Dingle 7.00 Emmerdale Aaron has a huge decision to make, and Sam is distraught to think he may have lost Lydia for good. 7.30 Coronation Street Max keeps Summer and Daniel under close surveillance. Fiz feels ambushed by Mimi. 8.00 Gino’s Italian Family Adventure Gino D’Acampo and daughter Mia head to Gallura in Sardinia. 8.30 Coronation Street Max publicly accuses Daniel of improper conduct during the school’s Ice Ball. Fiz bemoans Phill’s lack of support for her against his mother, and Michael’s parents inform him that Grace no longer wants Glory. 9.00 I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! The contestants continue to face their fears head on as they brave everything that is thrown at them at Gwrych Castle in Abergele on the North Wales coast, all in the hope of being crowned this year’s King or Queen of the Castle. Ant and Dec present. 10.20 ITV News; Weather 10.55 Regional News; Weather 11.05 The Murder of Alex Rodda: Social Media Murders The killing of the 15-year-old, who was groomed by Matthew Mason, who murdered Alex as he wanted to keep their relationship secret. (R) 12.00m’t Moneyball 12.50 Home Shopping 3.00 FYI Extra. Short bulletin rounding up the day’s stories. 3.15 Loose Women. Celebrity interviews and studio discussion from a female perspective. (R) 4.05 Unwind with ITV 5.05-6.00am Tipping Point. Quiz show, hosted by Ben Shephard. (R) 9pm, Guy’s Garage: Guy Martin 7.00 Channel 4 News A round-up of the latest headlines, in-depth interviews and analysis of political developments and current affairs. Plus, the day’s leading sports stories and up-tothe-minute weather reports. 8.00 Food Unwrapped’s Christmas Cracker Fascinating facts behind festive food. Briony May Williams uncovers the secret to a perfect stollen, and Matt Tebbutt finds out how long a bottle of port stays drinkable. 9.00 Guy’s Garage Guy Martin transforms a Land Rover Defender into an off-road racer. He puts his creation through its paces on a course, but as torrential rain turns the roads to mud, simply staying on track is challenging enough. 10.00 Along for the Ride with David O’Doherty Mel Giedroyc joins David on a two-wheeled trip along the Northumberland coast, ending up at the tidal Holy Island, but crossing rivers on a bicycle proves tougher than it looks. 11.00 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Sean Lock and Harry Hill take on Jon Richardson and Rose Matafeo, while Alex Horne and the Horne Section join Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner. Hosted by Jimmy Carr. (R) 12.05am Walter Presents: Partisan. Nicole is forced to face up to a new side of Jordnara. 1.00 Gogglebox (R) 1.55 FILM Farming (2018, 18) Premiere. Drama, starring Damson Idris. ★★★ 3.45 George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces (R) 4.40 Couples Come Dine with Me (R) 5.35-6.00am A Place in the Sun (R) 9pm, Casualty 24/7: Every Second Counts: Sister Benita 7.00 UK’s Strongest Man 2021 Action from the final of the three-day competition in Milton Keynes. The disciplines taking place included the Brick Deadlift, Atlas Stones and Anvil and Anchor Medley. Last in series. 8.00 NEW Live: Winter on the Farm Helen Skelton and Jules Hudson follow life at Cannon Hall Farm with brothers Rob and Dave Nicholson, who are preparing their animals for a crucial season – one that can make or break their farm. 9.00 Casualty 24/7: Every Second Counts A new system is introduced at Barnsley casualty, with Sister Benita taking on the role of team leader for the first time, and a new ‘Wobble Room’ opening. 10.00 Inside the Force: 24/7 Response officers Sgt Mike Templeman and PC Becky Hill deal with a series of assaults, including a racially aggravated attack in the city centre and an incident that has left a flat covered in blood. (R) 11.05 FILM The Dead Pool (1988, 18) Uncompromising detective ‘Dirty’ Harry Callahan hunts the ringleaders behind a bizarre death lottery. Action thriller, starring Clint Eastwood, Liam Neeson and Patricia Clarkson. ★★★ 1.00 LIVE NFL: Monday Night Football. Buffalo Bills v New England Patriots (kick-off 1.15am). Coverage of the AFC East encounter, which takes place at Highmark Stadium. 4.30 Britain’s Greatest Bridges (R) 4.45 House Doctor (R) 5.10-6.00am Britain’s Greatest Bridges (R)

DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 37 Freeview 6 Freeview 27 ITV2 ITVBe 6.00am Love Bites 7.00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 8.00 Emmerdale 8.30 Coronation Street 9.30 Supermarket Sweep 10.30 I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! 11.45 Catchphrase 12.30pm Emmerdale 1.00 Coronation Street 2.00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 3.00 Catchphrase 3.45 I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! 5.00 The Voice USA 7.00 Superstore Double bill of comedy. 8.00 Bob’s Burgers Double bill of fun. 9.00 Family Guy The Griffins prepare for the Christmas by decorating their tree. 9.30 American Dad! Animated comedy. 10.00 Bad Boy Chiller Crew 10.45 Killer Camp The contestants take part in a disgusting food challenge. 11.40 Family Guy Part one of two. Stewie takes revenge on Father Christmas. 12.10am Family Guy 12.40 American Dad! 1.05 Peckham’s Finest. Mojo is set up on a blind date. 1.50 Bob’s Burgers 2.40 Superstore 3.30-6.00am Teleshopping Dave E4 Freeview 19 6.00am Teleshopping 7.10 Last Stop Garage 7.35 Yianni: Supercar Customiser 8.00 Rick Stein: From Venice to Istanbul 9.00 Storage Hunters UK 10.00 American Pickers 11.00 Top Gear 1.00pm QI XL 2.00 Scrapyard Supercar 3.00 Top Gear 5.00 Rick Stein’s Secret France. A culinary tour of France. 6.00 QI XL Featuring guests Aisling Bea, Holly Walsh and Nikki Bedi. 7.00 Whose Line Is It Anyway? USA 8.00 Richard Osman’s House of Games With Amanda Abbington, Michael Buerk, Shappi Khorsandi and Elis James. 8.40 Would I Lie to You? With Ben Miller, Henning Wehn and Doon Mackichan. 9.20 QI With Katy Brand and Sue Perkins. 10.00 Would I Lie to You? Double bill. 11.20 Mock the Week With Tom Allen. 12.00m’t Mock the Week 12.40 Have I Got a Bit More News for You 1.40 This Country 2.20 Hypothetical 3.05 Sin City Motors 4.00-6.00am Teleshopping 6.00am Hollyoaks 7.00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA 8.00 Baby Daddy 9.00 How I Met Your Mother 10.00 The Big Bang Theory 11.00 The Goldbergs 12.00noon Brooklyn Nine-Nine 1.00 The Big Bang Theory: four episode. 3.00 Mike & Molly 4.00 The Goldbergs 5.00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine: double bill 6.00 The Big Bang Theory Double bill. 7.00 Hollyoaks Theresa comforts Misbah. 7.30 Young Sheldon Pastor Jeff and Robin make hesitant plans to marry, seeking Mary’s help for a cheap wedding. 8.00 The Big Bang Theory Double bill. 9.00 Made in Chelsea Reality series. 10.00 Derry Girls Double bill. 11.10 Pete & Sam’s Reality News 11.30 Gogglebox Opinions on TV. 12.35am Naked Attraction 1.35 Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist 2.30 Made in Chelsea 3.25 The 100 4.15 The Big Bang Theory: double bill 5.05-6.00am How I Met Your Mother: double bill WALES As BBC1 except: 1.30-1.45pm BBC Wales Today; Weather 6.30-7.00 BBC Wales Today; Weather 7.30-8.00 NEW The Asian Welsh. Onkar Singh Purewal presents a social history of Wales’ Asian communities. 8.20 Nigel Slater’s Simple Cooking 8.30-9.00 Crisis in Care: Follow the Money – Panorama. Current affairs report. 10.25 BBC Wales Today; Weather 10.35 In My Skin. Bethan helps her mother. Last in the series. 11.20 The Richard Dimbleby Lecture 12.20-1.30am The Apprentice Australia MERIDIAN As ITV except: 1.55-2.00pm ITV News Meridian 6.00-6.30 ITV News Meridian 10.55-11.05pm ITV News Meridian CENTRAL As ITV except: 1.55-2.00pm ITV News Central 6.00-6.30 ITV News Central 10.55-11.05pm ITV News Central ITV WALES As ITV except: 1.55-2.00pm ITV News Cymru Wales. The latest reports. 6.00-6.30 ITV News Wales at Six 8.00-8.30 Wales This Week. Current affairs. 10.50 ITV News Cymru Wales 11.05 Sharp End 11.35pm-12.00m’t Gino’s Italian Family Adventure. Gino D’Acampo and daughter Mia head to Gallura in northern Sardinia. Variations & S4C 7.00am The Real Housewives of Cheshire 8.00 Buying and Selling 9.00 LittleBe 12.00noon Unboxed 12.30 The Real Housewives of Orange County 1.25 The Real Housewives of Cheshire 2.25 The Only Way Is Essex 3.10 The Real Housewives of New York City 5.00 The Real Housewives of Atlanta 6.00 Masters of Flip Dave and Kortney disagree over how to handle a project. 7.00 Buying and Selling Fireman Dan and nurse Olivia need their home revamping. 8.00 Dinner Date Lauren is given five menus constructed by a quintet of potential sweethearts, and must decide which three she would like to meet. 9.00 The Real Housewives of Cheshire 10.00 Love Island: Australia The contestants try to process the fallout from Aaron’s shocking decision. 11.15 Growing Up Chrisley Double bill. 12.15am The Only Way Is Essex. Reality series. 1.00-7.00am Teleshopping Drama More4 Freeview 20 6.00am Teleshopping 7.20 Bread 8.35 The Bill 9.35 Classic Holby City 10.55 Classic Casualty 12.00noon The Bill 1.00 Classic EastEnders 2.15 Peak Practice 3.20 All Creatures Great and Small 4.20 Pie in the Sky 5.25 Just Good Friends 6.00 ’Allo ’Allo! Double bill of comedy. 7.20 Last of the Summer Wine Longrunning comedy, starring Brian Wilde. 8.00 Shakespeare & Hathaway – Private Investigators Frank and Lu must recover a precious jewel and a rebellious teenager before midnight strikes at Lady Bede’s End of Summer Ball. Mark Benton stars. 9.00 Hetty Wainthropp Investigates A persecuted pensioner seeks his long-lost sister. Drama, with Patricia Routledge. 10.00 New Tricks The detectives reinvestigate a 30-year-old heist. 11.20 Bad Girls Part one of two. Police investigate Jim Fenner’s murder. 12.55am The Inspector Lynley Mysteries 2.55-4.00am New Tricks Freeview 13 Freeview 18 8.55am A Place in the Sun 9.30 A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 10.30 Escape to the Chateau: DIY 11.35 Grand Designs 12.40pm Four in a Bed: five episodes 3.20 Find It, Fix It, Flog It 5.30 NEW The Great Australian Bake Off 6.55 Escape to the Chateau Dick and Angel await the arrival of their guests. 7.55 Grand Designs A house built out of shipping containers on a farm in Co Derry. 9.00 Christmas at Chatsworth House 2020 Documentary following preparations for Christmas festivities. 10.00 The Storms That Stole Christmas The stories of those who bore the brunt of the weather over Christmas 2013. 11.05 24 Hours in A&E A resident at a neurological hospital is rushed to St George’s struggling to breathe. 12.05am Emergency Helicopter Medics. Documentary. 1.15 Christmas at Chatsworth House 2020 2.15 24 Hours in A&E 3.20-3.45am Food Unwrapped WEST As ITV except: 1.55-2.00pm ITV News West Country 6.00-6.30 ITV News West Country 10.55-11.05pm ITV News West Country ANGLIA As ITV except: 1.55-2.00pm ITV News Anglia 6.00-6.30 ITV News Anglia 10.55-11.05pm ITV News Anglia; Weather WESTCOUNTRY As ITV except: 1.55- 2.00pm ITV News West Country. The latest reports. 6.00-6.30 ITV News West Country 10.55-11.05pm ITV News West Country S4C 6.00am Cyw 12.00noon Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd 12.05pm Bwyd Epic Chris 12.30 Heno 1.00 Cegin Bryn 1.30 Cymru, Dad a Fi 2.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd 2.05 Prynhawn Da 3.00 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd 3.05 Laura McAllister: Gem Gyfartal 4.00 Awr Fawr 5.00 Stwnsh 6.00 Byd o Liw: Cestyll 6.30 Sain Ffagan 6.57 Newyddion S4C 7.00 Heno 7.30 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd 8.00 Adre 8.25 Richard Holt: Yr Academi Felys. Richard runs rings around the four remaining bakers. 8.55 Newyddion S4C a’r Tywydd 9.00 Ffermio. Agricultural issues. 9.35 Nadolig y Paith. With Argentinean tenor Jose Cura. 10.35 Sgorio 11.05pm-12.10am Y Stiwdio Grefftau BBC4 Freeview 9 7.00pm Christmas University Challenge Graduates from Christ’s College, Cambridge takes on St John’s College, Oxford. 7.30 The Joy of Painting: Winter Specials Bob Ross paints a landscape depicting winter’s thaw. 8.00 Britain’s Lost Masterpieces A painting from the 1770s at the Manchester Art Gallery. 9.00 Treasures of the Anglo-Saxons Dr Janina Ramirez investigates the development of Anglo-Saxon art. 10.00 Charles Dickens’ The Signalman Supernatural drama. 10.40 The Lost Ghost Story with Mark Gatiss The actor and writer examines the life and career of celebrated author MR James. 11.40 Secrets of Bones 12.10am Guilt 1.10 Britain’s Lost Masterpieces 2.10-3.10am Treasures of the Anglo-Saxons 5 USA 6.00am TJC 9.00 Murder, She Wrote 10.00 NCIS 11.55 Entertainment News on 5 12.00noon Law & Order 6.00 NCIS Four episodes. While Gibbs attends the memorial service for a friend lost at sea, he finds that the deceased man had been hiding in a fallout shelter after his boat was attacked and swam to shore; the team searches for Director Vance’s whereabouts; a Navy lieutenant is found murdered; one of the NCIS agents becomes starstruck. 10.00 Grey’s Anatomy Two episodes. A train crash causes chaos; a male patient appears to be pregnant. 11.55 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Chief Garland is conflicted. 12.50am Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 1.50 Gone 2.50 Chicago PD 3.35 Criminals: Caught on Camera 3.55 Entertainment News on 5 4.00-6.00am Teleshopping Why pay for a Christmas TV Listings magazine... YOUR ESSENTIAL 14-DAY FESTIVE TV GUIDE When you can get it for FREE! EVERY SOAp EVERY FILM EVERY SHOW FREE WITH 11 December 2021 speCtaCular Inside this Saturday’s Sky Arts Freeview 21 F’view 11 6.00am Hollywood: Singing and Dancing 7.10 Valery Gergiev Conducts Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique 9.00 Tales of the Unexpected 10.00 Discovering: Rock Hudson 11.00 Bafta: Life in Pictures 12.00noon Billy Wilder: Nobody’s Perfect 1.00 Tales of the Unexpected 2.00 Discovering 3.00 Inside Art: Bristol Street Art at M Shed 4.00 Buddy Holly: Music Icons 4.30 Video Killed the Radio Star 5.00 Tales of the Unexpected 6.00 Discovering: Jean Harlow 7.00 Inside Art: Steggles Brothers at Beecroft Southend 7.30 Neil Diamond: Music Icons 8.00 Andre Rieu: European Dream 9.00 Andre Rieu: My Musical Year 10.00 Classic Albums Documentary. 11.15 Guy Garvey: From the Vaults 12.15am Discovering: John Malkovich 1.15-2.15am Sky Arts Book Club

38 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 Sport Sky Sports Main Event 6.00am LIVE Test Cricket India v New Zealand. Coverage of the fourth day of the Second Test, which takes place at Wankhede Stadium. 7.45 LIVE Big Bash League Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat. Coverage of the T20 match at Manuka Oval in Canberra. 12.15pm The Football Show 1.00 Sky Sports News 7.00 LIVE MNF Everton v Arsenal (kick-off 8.00pm). 11.00 Sky Sports News 12.00m’t Total Access 1.00 LIVE NFL Buffalo Bills v New England Patriots (Kick-off 1.15am). At Highmark Stadium. 4.30-6.00am LIVE Test Cricket India v New Zealand. Coverage of the fifth day of the Second Test, which takes place at Wankhede Stadium. Sky Sports Cricket 6.00am LIVE Test Cricket India v New Zealand. 11.30 The Fletcher Years 12.00noon Best of ICC WT20 1.00 Talking Cricket 1.30 Big Bash League 5.30 Test Cricket 6.30 Big Bash League 10.30 Test Cricket 11.30 Meet The Winfield-Hills 11.45 My Icon 12.00m’t Ashes Regained: Cook’s Redemption 2.00 Best of The IPL 2015 2.25 Best of The 2018 IPL 2.50 Test Cricket 3.50-6.00am LIVE Test Cricket India v New Zealand. The fifth day of the Second Test, which takes place at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Sky Sports Football 6.00am EFL Greatest Games 6.45 SPFL Greatest Games 7.00 Football’s Greatest Players 7.30 Football Countdowns 8.00 Football Years 8.30 Bundesliga 9.00 Scottish Premiership Round-Up 9.15 SPFL 12.30pm EFL Highlights 12.45 Scottish Premiership Round-Up 1.00 SPFL Highlights 1.15 EFL Highlights 2.00 EFL Cup Final 12 3.00 EFL Highlights 3.15 EFL 6.00 Soccer AM: The Best Bits 6.30 Scottish Premiership Round-Up 6.45 SPFL Highlights 7.00 Bundesliga Highlights Show 8.00 Bundesliga 8.30 Soccer AM: The Best Bits 9.00 Scottish Premiership Round-Up 9.15 SPFL Highlights 9.30 Bundesliga Highlights Show 10.30 MLS Round-Up Show 11.00 Soccer AM: The Best Bits 11.30 EFL Greatest Games 12.00m’t Retro C’Ship 12 2.00 Championship Season Review 15/16. Highlights. 3.00 EFL Play Off Finals C’Ship 19/20 4.00 EFL Play Off Final League 1 19/20 5.00-6.00am EFL Play-Off Final: League 2 19/20 BT Sport 1 6.00am Premier League Review 7.00 WWE NXT Highlights 8.00 ESPN FC 8.30 Premier League 10.00 Vitality Women’s FA Cup 11.30 Ashes Daily. A look ahead to the 2021/22 series. 12.00noon ESPN FC 12.30 Premier League Review 1.30 Ultimate Goal 6.30 Vitality Women’s FA Cup 8.00 LIVE The Action Woman Show Coverage of the Action Woman of the Year Awards. 9.00 Ultimate Goal 10.00 Rugby Tonight 10.45 What I Wore 11.00 WWE Raw Highlights 12.00m’t WWE SmackDown Highlights 1.00 LIVE WWE Monday Night Raw 4.15 Ariel Helwani Meets 5.15 BT Sport Goals Reload 5.30-6.00am Kite Masters BT Sport 2 6.00am UEFA Champions League Magazine 6.30 UEFA Europa League Magazine 7.30 French Women’s Division 1 8.30 Spanish Women’s Primera Division 9.30 MotoGP. Valentino Rossi’s illustrious career. 10.30 Badminton 12.30pm BT Sport Fight Night 2.30 WRC Review 3.30 Premier League Review 4.30 Ligue 1 Highlights. A look back at all the recent action. 5.30 LIVE Serie A Empoli v Udinese (kick-off 5.30pm). Coverage of the Italian top-flight clash from Stadio comuale Carlo Castellani . 7.30 LIVE Serie A Cagliari v Torino (kick-off 7.45pm). Coverage of the Italian top-flight clash. 9.45 BT Sport Goals Reload 10.15 Ashes Daily 10.45 WRC Review 11.45 What I Wore 12.00m’t Kite Masters 12.30 BT Sport Goals Reload 1.00 Fishing: On The Bank 2.00 Sailing – Transat Jacques Vabre Highlights 2.30 Rugby Tonight 3.15 BT Sport Goals Reload 3.30 UFC – The Walk 4.00-6.00am What Went Down Eurosport 1 6.00am Alpine Skiing 8.00 Snooker: Scottish Open Final. Highlights of the 2019 final from Glasgow. 10.00 Hall of Fame – Pyeongchang 11.00 Motorsport: WTCR 12.00noon Ski Jumping 2.00 UCI Track Champions League 4.05 Alpine Skiing 6.00 Sailing 7.00 UCI Track Champions League 8.00 FIA World Endurance Championship 9.00 World Superbikes Extra. The support races in the 13th and final round of the season from Indonesia. 10.00 UCI Track Champions League. Action from rounds three and four at Lee Valley VeloPark in London. 11.00 Hall of Fame: PyeongChang Biathlon. Some of the best biathletes from the 2018 Winter Olympics. 12.00m’t Ski Jumping 2.00 Cyclo-Cross 3.00 FIA World Endurance Championship 4.00-6.00am Snooker: Scottish Open BEST OF THE REST – LIVE SPORT 1.00-4.30am LIVE NFL Buffalo Bills v New England Patriots (kick-off 1.15am). (Sky Sports NFL) ITV3 Freeview 10 6.00am Classic Coronation Street 7.00 Classic Emmerdale 8.05 That’s My Boy 8.40 On the Buses 9.15 Inspector Morse 11.35 Heartbeat 1.45pm Classic Emmerdale 2.50 Classic Coronation Street 3.50 Agatha Christie’s Poirot 6.00 Heartbeat 8.00 Lewis 10.00 Ruth Rendell’s Inspector Wexford: Road Rage 12.10am Inspector Morse 2.20-2.30am Unwind with ITV ITV4 Freeview 25 6.00am The Protectors 6.25 The Champions 7.20 Robin of Sherwood 8.20 The Avengers 9.25 The Professionals 10.25 Minder 11.30 The Champions 12.35pm Giant Lobster Hunters 1.35 Robin of Sherwood 2.45 The Avengers 3.50 The Professionals 4.55 River Monsters 5.25 Giant Lobster Hunters 6.20 Great Racehorses 6.45 LIVE FA Cup Football. Boreham Wood v St Albans City (kick-off 7.45pm). 10.00 FILM Half Past Dead (2002/15) Action adventure, starring Steven Seagal. ★★ 12.05am FILM Rush Hour 2 (2001/12) Action comedy sequel, starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. ★★★ 1.55 Motorsport UK 2.55-3.00am Unwind with ITV 5STAR Freeview 31 8.00am Criminals: Caught on Camera 8.25 Judge Judy 12.00noon Traffic Cops 2.00 Police Interceptors 5.00 The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door 6.00 Shoplifters & Scammers: At War with the Law 7.00 Filthy Garden SOS 8.00 Nick Knowles’ Better Homes. Nick and his team of experts tackle organisation in the home. Last in the series. 9.00 Motorway Cops: Catching Britain’s Speeders 10.00 The Gypsies Next Door 11.00 Britain’s Poshest Brothel 12.00m’t Killer at the Crime Scene 1.00 The Act 2.05-4.00am Wentworth: The Final Sentence Really Freeview 17 6.00am Fantasy Homes by the Sea 7.00 Cruise TV with LoveitBookit 8.00 Homes Under the Hammer 10.00 Antiques Road Trip 12.00noon Money for Nothing 1.00 A Place in the Sun 2.00 Animal Cops Philadelphia. Documentary. 4.00 Pit Bulls & Parolees 6.00 Money for Nothing 7.00 Antiques Road Trip 9.00 Ambulance 10.00 The Repair Shop 11.00 Ghost Adventures 1.00am Kindred Spirits 2.00 Teleshopping 4.00-6.00am Animal Cops Philadelphia Paramount Freeview 32 9.00am Traffic Cops 9.55 FILM Pillars of the Sky (1956/PG) ★★ 11.55 FILM The Shepherd of the Hills (1941/PG) Western, starring John Wayne. ★★★ 1.55 FILM Comanche Territory (1950/U) ★★ 3.35 Criminals: Caught on Camera 4.00 Trucking Hell 5.00 Traffic Cops 7.00 Police Interceptors 8.00 Trucking Hell 9.00 FILM We Were Soldiers (2002/15) Fact-based Vietnam War drama, starring Mel Gibson. ★★ 11.50 FILM Navy Seals (1990/15) Action adventure, starring Charlie Sheen and Michael Biehn. ★★ 2.00 Hannibal 4.35- 5.00am Criminals: Caught on Camera Pick Freeview 35 7.00am Highway Patrol 8.00 Motorway Patrol 9.00 Police Force: Australia 10.00 BBC Radio 1 97.6-99.8MHz 7.00am Radio 1 Breakfast with Greg James 10.32 Rickie, Melvin and Charlie 12.45pm Newsbeat 1.00 Scott Mills 3.32 Going Home with Vick and Jordan 5.45 Newsbeat 6.00 Radio 1’s Future Sounds with Jack Saunders 7.00 Radio 1’s Hottest Records of the Week 8.00 Radio 1’s Future Artists with Sian Eleri 10.00 Radio 1’s Power Down Playlist with Sian Eleri 11.00 Radio 1’s Drum & Bass Show 1.00am Radio 1’s Dance Tracks of 2021 2.00 Motivate Me Mix 3.00 Radio 1’s Workout Anthems 4.00 Dance 5.00-7.00am Early Breakfast with Arielle Free BBC Radio 2 88-91MHz 6.30am The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show 9.30 Ken Bruce 12.00noon Jeremy Vine 2.00 Steve Wright in the Afternoon 5.00 Sara Cox 6.30 Sara Cox’s Half Wower 7.00 Jo Whiley’s Shiny Happy Playlist 7.30 Jo Whiley 9.00 The Blues Show with Cerys Matthews 10.00 Trevor Nelson’s Rhythm Nation 12.00m’t OJ Borg 3.00 Pick of the Pops 4.00-6.30am Vanessa Feltz BBC Radio 3 90.2-92.4MHz 6.30am Breakfast 9.00 Essential Classics 12.00noon Composer of the Week: Mark-Anthony Turnage 1.00 Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert 2.00 Afternoon Concert 4.30 New Generation Artists 5.00 In Tune 7.00 In Tune Mixtape 7.30 Radio 3 in Concert 9.30 Northern Drift 10.00 Music Matters 10.45 The Essay: DX1ST Entertainment & Factual Police Ten 7 11.00 Highway Cops 12.00noon Nothing to Declare 1.00 Border Patrol 2.00 Nothing to Declare 4.00 Stargate Atlantis 5.00 The Librarians 6.00 Quantum Leap 7.00 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 8.00 NCIS: Los Angeles 9.00 Made for Murder 10.00 NEW Fringe 11.00 World’s Most Evil Killers 12.00m’t How I Caught the Killer 1.00 The Force: Manchester 2.00 Nothing to Declare 3.00 Border Patrol 4.00 Motorway Patrol 5.00-6.00am Police Force: Australia GOLD 7.05am Still Open All Hours 7.50 The Two Ronnies 8.35 Are You Being Served? Special Christmas 1979 9.15 Last of the Summer Wine 11.00 Green Green Grass 12.05pm Are You Being Served? Special Christmas 1979 12.45 Only Fools and Horses 2.25 Last of the Summer Wine 3.05 Dad’s Army 5.05 Blackadder 6.05 Only Fools and Horses 8.00 The Vicar of Dibley. Alice suggests an unconventional nativity play. 9.00 Mrs Brown’s Boys 9.40 The Royle Family: The Golden Egg Cup 11.00 Knowing Me, Knowing Yule – With Alan Partridge 12.00m’t Mrs Brown’s Boys 12.40 The Vicar of Dibley 1.35 The Royle Family: The Golden Egg Cup 2.45-4.00am Knowing Me, Knowing Yule – With Alan Partridge Yesterday Freeview 26 6.00am Hidden Traces 8.00 Railway Murders 9.00 Bangers and Cash 10.00 Warbird Workshop 11.00 Hornby: A Model World 12.00noon Great British Railway Journeys 2.00 Abandoned Engineering 4.00 World War Two From Above 5.00 Rise of the Nazis 6.00 Great British Railway Journeys 7.00 Abandoned Engineering 8.00 Great British Landmark Fixers 9.00 Hornby: A Model World 10.00 Great British Railway Journeys 11.00 Secrets of the Transport Museum. Documentary. 12.00m’t Abandoned Engineering 1.00-3.00am Hidden Traces Alibi 7.10am Murdoch Mysteries 9.00 Rizzoli & Isles 10.00 Unforgettable 11.00 Hudson & Rex 12.00noon The Doctor Blake Mysteries 1.00 Death in Paradise 2.00 Murdoch Mysteries 4.00 The Good Wife 5.00 Tommy 6.00 Unforgettable 7.00 Hudson & Rex 8.00 Death in Paradise 9.00 NEW Ragdoll. New series. A gruesome discovery at a block of flats sets DI Baxter, DS Rose and DC Edmunds on the trail of the Ragdoll Killer. 10.00 Smother 11.10 The Good Wife 12.10am Evil 3.00-4.00am Rush Radio Live MNF Sky Sports Main Event, 7pm Emile Smith Rowe (left) and Arsenal will be looking to continue their climb up the table. They will fancy their chances of a win at inconsistent Everton. CHOICE Drama: No Place But the Water Radio 4, 2.15pm Linda Marshall Grifiths’ drama returns for a second series. The action takes place in a flooded future where a family are attempting to keep their hotel business on the edge of the world afloat. Laurie and Gil are determined to keep everyone together, but Jess and Cal are ready to explore the outside. Another Northern Ireland 11.00 Night Tracks 12.30-6.30am Through the Night BBC Radio 4 FM 92.4-94.6MHz, LW 198kHz 6.00am Today 9.00 Start the Week 9.45 (LW) Daily Service 9.45 (FM) Book of the Week: Wintering 10.00 Woman’s Hour 11.00 The Untold 11.30 Loose Ends 12.00noon News 12.01 (LW) Shipping 12.04 Faith, Hope and Glory 12.18 You and Yours 12.57 Weather 1.00 The World at One 1.45 Male Order 2.00 The Archers 2.15 Drama 3.00 Quote – Unquote 3.30 The Food Programme 4.00 The Exploding Library 4.30 Beyond Belief 5.00 PM 5.54 (LW) Shipping Forecast 6.00 News 6.30 I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue 7.00 The Archers 7.15 Front Row 8.00 The Wedding Detectives 8.30 Crossing Continents 9.00 Afterlives 9.30 Start the Week 10.00 The World Tonight 10.45 Book at Bedtime: The Omen 11.00 Wireless Nights 11.30 Today in Parliament 12.00m’t Sky Max 6.00am Grimm 8.00 Brit Cops: Law & Disorder 9.00 Supergirl 10.00 The Flash 11.00 NCIS: Los Angeles 1.00pm Hawaii Five-0 2.00 MacGyver 3.00 S.W.A.T 4.00 Supergirl 5.00 The Flash 6.00 Grimm 8.00 A League of Their Own 9.00 Temple 10.00 The Force: North East 11.00 The Russell Howard Hour 12.00m’t FILM Cult of Chucky (2017/18) ★★★ 1.45 Road Wars 2.00 NCIS: Los Angeles 3.00 Hawaii Five-0 4.00 MacGyver 5.00-6.00am S.W.A.T Sky Atlantic 6.00am Fish Town 6.50 Blue Bloods 8.30 Six Feet Under 10.40 Westworld 1.30pm The Sopranos 3.45 Blue Bloods 5.35 True Blood 7.45 The Leftovers 9.00 Succession 10.05 Dexter: New Blood 11.10 Yellowjackets 1.25am Californication 2.00 Landscapers 3.05 Deadwood 4.10-6.00am Fish Town Sky Witness 6.00am Nothing to Declare 8.00 Border Patrol 9.00 UK Border Force 10.00 Law & Order 11.00 The Rookie 12.00noon Blue Bloods 2.00 The Equalizer 3.00 9-1-1: Lone Star 4.00 Nothing to Declare 7.00 NEW Paramedics 8.00 Blue Bloods 9.00 Departure 10.00 The Equalizer 11.00 The Rookie 12.00m’t Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 1.00 Private Eyes 2.00 Criminal Minds 3.00 Coroner 4.00 Grey’s Anatomy 5.00-6.00am Brit Cops: Rapid Response Sky Comedy 8.00am The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 9.00 Everybody Hates Chris 10.00 The Mindy Project 11.00 The Office (US) 12.00noon Wellington Paranormal 1.50 Curb Your Enthusiasm 3.00 Modern Family 4.00 The Office (US) 5.00 30 Rock 5.30 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 6.30 Sex and the City 9.00 Curb Your Enthusiasm 9.40 Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail 10.05 Curb Your Enthusiasm 10.45 Micky Flanagan’s Out Out Tour 12.30am Silicon Valley 1.50 Insecure 2.30 The Mindy Project 3.30-4.00am 30 Rock Discovery 6.00am Wheeler Dealers 7.00 Deadliest Catch 8.00 Building Off the Grid 9.00 Alaska: The Last Frontier 10.00 Fast N’ Loud 11.00 Wheeler Dealers 12.00noon Misfit Garage 1.00 Gold Rush 3.00 Richard Hammond’s Big 4.00 Building Off the Grid 5.00 Wheeler Dealers 6.00 Fast N’ Loud 7.00 Devil’s Canyon 8.00 Bitchin’ Rides 9.00 Kindig Customs 10.00 Street Outlaws: Memphis 11.00 Supertruckers 12.00m’t Kindig Customs 1.00 Street Outlaws: Memphis 2.00 Deadliest Catch 3.00-4.00am Kindig Customs National Geographic 8.00am The Emirates From Above 9.00 Nazi Megastructures: Battle Ready 10.00 Hitler’s Last Stand 11.00 Drain the Oceans 12.00noon UFOs: The Untold Stories 1.00 Car S.O.S 3.00 Air Crash Investigation 5.00 Ice Road Rescue 6.00 Wicked Tuna 7.00 Air Crash Investigation 8.00 Ocean Wreck Investigation 9.00 Drain the Oceans 10.00 Disasters Engineered 11.00 Air Crash Investigation 12.00m’t Airport Security: Peru and Brazil 1.00 To Catch a Smuggler: JFK Airport 2.00-3.00am Britain’s Underworld News 12.30 Book of the Week: Wintering 12.48 Shipping Forecast 1.00 As BBC World Service 5.20 Shipping Forecast 5.30 News 5.43 Prayer for the Day 5.45 Farming Today 5.58-6.00am Tweet of the Day BBC Radio 5 Live 693/909kHz 6.00am 5 Live Breakfast 9.00 Nicky Campbell 11.00 Naga Munchetty 1.00pm Nihal Arthanayake 4.00 5 Live Drive 7.00 5 Live Sport: The Monday Night Club 8.00 5 Live Sport 10.00 5 Live Sport 10.30 Colin Murray 1.00am Dotun Adebayo 5.00-6.00am Wake Up to Money BBC Radio Wales FM: 94.6MHz 6.00am Wales Breakfast with Claire Summers 8.30 Jason Mohammad 11.00 Wynne Evans 2.00pm Behnaz Akhgar 5.00 Gareth Lewis 6.30 The Musical Life Of 7.00 Janice Long 10.00 The Late Show with Eleri Sion 12.30am As Radio 5 Live 5.30-6.00am All Things Considered Classic FM 100-102MHz 6.00am More Music Breakfast 9.00 Alexander Armstrong 12.00noon Anne-Marie Minhall 4.00 John Brunning 7.00 Smooth Classics 8.00 The Classic FM Concert with John Suchet 10.00 Smooth Classics 1.00-6.00am Bill Overton Absolute Radio 1215kHz 6.00am Ben Burrell 10.00 Leona Graham 1.00pm Sarah Champion 4.00 Bush and Richie 7.00 Danielle Perry 10.00 Jay Lawrence 1.00-6.00am Dan Noble Movies Film4 11.00am 49th Parallel (1941/PG) Thriller, starring Anton Walbrook. ★★★★ 1.35pm The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956/ PG) Thriller, with James Stewart. ★★★★ 3.55 Distant Drums (1951/U) Western, starring Gary Cooper and Mari Aldon. ★★ 6.00 Transformers: The Last Knight (2017/12) Adventure, starring Mark Wahlberg. ★★ 9.00 Jason Bourne (2016/12) Action thriller, starring Matt Damon. ★★★★ 11.25 Topsy-Turvy (1999/12) Drama, starring Jim Broadbent. ★★★★★ 2.40-4.00am My Life as a Courgette (2016/ PG) Animation, with the voices of Gaspard Schlatter and Sixtine Murat. ★★★★ Sky Cinema Premiere 6.50am Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (2019/PG) Family crime drama, starring Sophia Lillis and Zoe Renee. ★★★ 8.40 8 Bit Christmas (2021/PG) See 6.15pm for details. ★★★ 10.30 Miss Marx (2020/15) See 10.00pm for details. ★★★ 12.30pm Godzilla vs. Kong (2021/12) See 8.00pm for details. ★★★ 2.40 Trauma Centre (2019/15) Action thriller, starring Nicky Whelan and Bruce Willis. ★★ 4.20 Nowhere Special (2020/12) Drama, with James Norton and Daniel Lamont. ★★★★ 6.15 8 Bit Christmas (2021/PG) Family comedy, starring Steve Zahn. ★★★ 8.00 Godzilla vs. Kong (2021/12) Sci-fi adventure, with Alexander Skarsgard. ★★★ 10.00 Miss Marx (2020/15) Premiere. Biopic of Eleanor Marx, starring Romola Garai. ★★★ 12.00m’t Sound of Violence (2021/18) Horror, starring Jasmin Savoy Brown. ★★★ 1.40am Nowhere Special (2020/12) See 4.20pm for details. ★★★★ 3.25 Trauma Centre (2019/15) See 2.40pm for details. ★★ 5.05-7.00am Wander (2020/15) Thriller, starring Aaron Eckhart and Tommy Lee Jones. ★★★ Sky Cinema Christmas 4.55pm Scrooged (1988/PG) Comedy, starring Bill Murray and Karen Allen. ★★★ 6.40 How the Toys Saved Christmas (1996/U) Animation, with Mary Tyler Moore. ★★★ 8.00 A Boy Called Christmas (2021/PG) An ordinary boy sets out on an extraordinary adventure to find his father, who is on a quest to discover a fabled village. Festive family adventure, with Henry Lawfull. ★★★ 9.50 The Night Before (2015/15) Comedy, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. ★★★ 11.45 A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas: Extended Version (2011/18) Comedy, starring John Cho and Kal Penn. ★★★ 1.25am Jingle All the Way (1996/PG) Comedy, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. ★★★ 3.10 The Ultimate: Christmas Movies 4.10-6.10am How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000/PG) Comedy, starring Jim Carrey and Taylor Momsen. ★★★★ Sky Cinema Family 4.10pm Matilda (1996/PG) Children’s fantasy comedy, starring Mara Wilson. ★★★★ 6.00 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001/PG) Fantasy adventure, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Alan Rickman. ★★★★ 8.35 Look Who’s Talking (1989/12) Comedy, starring John Travolta and Kirstie Alley. ★★★ 10.15 Look Who’s Talking Too (1990/PG) Comedy sequel, starring John Travolta. ★★ 11.40 Look Who’s Talking Now (1993/PG) Comedy sequel, starring John Travolta. ★★ 1.20am All I Want for Christmas (1991/U) Drama, starring Leslie Nielsen. ★★ 2.55 The Adventure of A.R.I.: My Robot Friend (2020/PG) Adventure, starring Jude Manley and Sophia Alongi. ★★★ 4.30-6.10am Matilda (1996/PG) See 4.10pm for details. ★★★★ TCM 5.35pm Denver & Rio Grande (1952/PG) Western, with Edmond O’Brien. ★★ 7.25 Oregon Passage (1957/PG) Western, starring John Ericson and Lola Albright. ★★ 9.00 Blood Father (2016/15) Action thriller, starring Mel Gibson and Erin Moriarty. ★★★★ 10.50 47 Ronin (2013/12) Fantasy adventure, with Keanu Reeves and Hiroyuki Sanada. ★★ 1.20-3.10am Dallas (1950/U) Western, starring Gary Cooper and Raymond Massey. ★★ GREAT! movies 4.50pm A Very Cool Christmas (2004/U) Comedy, starring George Hamilton. ★★ 7.05 Vice Versa (1988/PG) Fantasy comedy, with Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage. ★★★ 9.00 Basic (2003/15) Two government agents set out to investigate how a routine military training exercise in Panama went horrifically wrong. Thriller, starring John Travolta. ★★ 11.05 True Romance (1993/18) Crime thriller, starring Christian Slater. ★★★★★ 1.30am The Guest (2014/15) Thriller, starring Dan Stevens and Maika Monroe. ★★★★ 3.45-6.00am Stand Your Ground (2013/PG) Drama, starring Francine Locke. ★★★

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DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 41 Letters Another innocent victim of this shambolic system Yet again a little boy has been sadly and tragically let down by numerous organisations. When will this ever stop (“A bruise for every day of lockdown... tragic boy, 6, tortured and starved by his father and stepmum”, December 3)? The news coverage of this has been very distressing for all concerned. A child should be loved and cherished not tortured and starved, especially when there are so many people in this world who are unable to have children for one reason or another. No punishment will ever be enough for what was inflicted upon poor Arthur. Sue Hills, Sanderstead, Surrey Tragic boy’s tale of horrific abuse reduced us to tears My wife and I cried when reading the horrific abuse that little Arthur Labinjo-Hughes suffered at the hands of his stepmother and his father. What kind of human beings would inflict such treatment on a defenceless little boy? If they did not want this poor child why did they not seek the possibility of him being adopted? It seems that this boy’s treatment was a source of entertainment to these evil people. Leonard and Pauline Griffiths, Prenton, Merseyside Sick couple should never see freedom ever again No child should go through what young Arthur Labinjo-Hughes was subjected to. The authorities related to this case should be ashamed of themselves. Our hearts go out to the grandparents that had Arthur taken from them, given to the father and three months later the boy was dead. Emma Tustin and Thomas Hughes are evil personified. They should be locked up and the keys thrown away. Alan Jowdie, Ashford, Kent Jabs are just the job to keep us safe at Christmas To those that believe people should be made to wear masks I ask this question. If you have had three jabs, wear a mask, keep your distance and wash your hands, how will you catch Covid from those that do not wear a mask (“Boris blasts bah humbug cancel Xmas brigade”, December 3)? Glad Brown, Ringwood, Hants Do scientists know the full story on vaccines? How much damage are we doing to our bodies pumping more and more vaccine into them (“‘Vaccine wall’ will protect us… don’t cancel Christmas”, December 3)? Are we destroying our own immune systems? There is talk of a fourth vaccine as authorities concentrate on a fast fix. Are these scientists thinking long term? Margaret Cottrill, Portsmouth, Hants The Daily Express, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AP Email: expressletters@express.co.uk (include your full name, address and telephone number) Picture: PA Letter of the day HORRENDOUS ABUSE: Tragic little Arthur Labinjo-Hughes The frozen north ignored by cold-hearted ministers How can the Government have so badly failed the people in the north of England/Scotland following Storm Arwen (“Army called in to aid thousands freezing without power for 7 days”, December 3)? Have Boris or any of the government ever been north of Watford? It’s about time these politicians realise there are more places than London. John Cartwright, St Austell, Cornwall Bright sparks forgot to think about wind damage The Government has informed us that there will only be electric cars on the roads from 2030. Perhaps we were fortunate that this was not the rule when Storm Arwen struck and people were left without power. How could they have got their vehicles charged? Dilwyn Williams, Llandrindod Wells, Powys France needs all the help it can get on migrant issue France’s prime minister Jean Castex said they cannot accept the presence of British officers on its beaches to stop immigrants coming to England because it would compromise its sovereignty (“France rules out joint beach patrols”, December 3). I take it the French were not too worried about their sovereignty when thousands of British and soldiers from many countries died on the Normandy beaches to drive the Germans out of France? Dave Jones, Bracknell, Berks Paying a heavy price to profiteering traffickers Why are people willing to pay thousands of pounds to traffickers to send them to England on a dangerous journey when they could come over legally and safely at a fraction of the cost? Ken Willoughby, Pontefract, W Yorks Zoom for improvement has boosted our numbers I read with interest the article regarding church attendance (“Churches hit by pandemic as attendance falls by two-thirds”, December 2). I am a Jehovah’s Witness and as such I have noticed our numbers have grown. We got taught how to ● facebook.com /dailyexpress ● twitter: @daily_express Sadistic killer needs to face judge’s wrath SURELY it’s time to amend the law allowing criminals to opt out of appearing before a trial judge for sentencing remarks “Never let evil stepmum taste freedom again”, December 4). Cowardly Emma Tustin hid in a cell rather than face the judge following her conviction for the sadistic murder of innocent tot Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, who suffered appalling treatment from her and his pathetic father. She should have been frog-marched from the cells to hear the judge’s comments. We need to witness this vile woman’s reaction to her sentence. Now she should stay locked away for the rest of her life. We also need to hear how those charged with protecting poor Arthur failed to do so. Paul Marston, Walsall, W Mids use Zoom and have been able to run our services by this method since March 2020. Older members of our congregation have embraced Zoom, some even buying iPads or laptops so that they don’t miss out. Elisabeth Johnson, Skelmersdale, Lancs You have to see the funny side of this clown Macron Well it takes one to know one doesn’t it (“Minister hits back at Macron ‘clown’ dig”, December 3)? This is from the world leader (Mr Macron) who was unaware that Northern Ireland was part of the United Kingdom when he was negotiating border issues. June Irwin, Chester Cat’s spot-on about our tricky but lovable pets Loved Virginia Blackburn’s piece about being a slave to my cat (“A pawsitively purrfect day in my psycho’s life”, December 2). Never thought of it that way but she is spot on. If I don’t let him out in the morning he jumps under the duvet and bites my feet. He is the boss. Thanks Virginia, you made my day. June Dearstyne, Maidenhead, Berks have sky-high petrol prices NOW gone beyond a joke? Yes No I remember not so long ago thinking about a car share and fuel was at least 15-20p a litre cheaper then, so current price hikes are unsustainable (“Fury over 3p petrol price hike”, December 3). I’m putting in about £10 a week (and I’m extremely lucky that’s all I need) but the thought of people spending an extra £20-30 a week due to rises is just dreadful. I think in the not too distant future ordinary people just won’t be able to afford a car and driving will become a preserve of the rich. Lee Roberts, Liverpool WHILE I think petrol prices are steep, people are really only paying the going rate. It was always going to be the case that petrol and oil firms would need to make money again after fuel consumption went down due to the Covid lockdowns. All businesses pass on costs to consumers, no matter what the industry is, so why people are surprised by rising fuel costs is a mystery. I don’t know what I’d do without my car. It gives me independence and is a damn sight more reliable and cheaper than the bus or train. Richard Warner, Leeds TODAY: Monday December 6, 2021 On this day 32 years ago (1989) We said PM Margaret Thatcher had been dealt a “shattering blow” after one in six Conservative MPs failed to back her in a leadership contest against backbencher Sir Anthony Meyer. Although she claimed victory, it signalled the beginning of the end for the Iron Lady who would be out of office a year later after clashing with her Cabinet over Europe. 65 years ago (1956) A water polo match between Hungary and the Soviet Union at the Melbourne Olympics turned violent. Dubbed the “Blood in the Water” match after a Hungarian was punched by a Russian, the game – which saw the Hungarians win 4-0 – took place against the backdrop of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. 38 years ago (1983) A team of 20 doctors and nurses at Harefield Hospital, north London, successfully carried out the UK’s first heart and lung transplant. Swedish journalist Lars Ljungberg received the organs of a woman who had died the previous day. He died 13 days later as a result of his condition before the surgery. Birthdays Ex-cricketer Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff is 44. He was once a professional boxer. Formula One legend Keke Rosberg is 73. His son Nico was F1 World Champion in 2016. Animator Nick Park is 63. He created Wallace And Gromit. Suits star Sarah Rafferty is 49. Meghan Markle is her close friend. TODAY’S GIGGLE Patient: Doctor, I think I’m a clock. Doctor: Are you winding me up?

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Calvin and hobbEs Bill Watterson DX1ST Russell Grant Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 43 Britain’s celebrity astrologer Dilbert Scott Adams Faith, hope and sue Lisa Wild Rupert AND THE santa paws No 2 As homeward Rupert takes the box Across the path a small cat stalks. Shortbread On the way he meets a small cat he knows. “Where are you off to, Dinkie?” he asks. “I’m finding out what all my cat friends want Santa Paws to bring them at Christmas,” Dinkie replies. “You mean Santa Claus?” Rupert laughs. “No I don’t,” says the cat. “Santa Paws is a cat at Santa Claus’s castle and he sends us our presents.” “How odd,” Rupert says and carries on home. © Express Newspapers 2021 To order the New Rupert Bear Soft Toy (30cm - Rainbow Designs) at £14.99 please call 01872 562315: or order on www.classicrupertbearshop.com. UK P & P £4.95 “I’m calling on my cat friends’ cause It’s time we wrote to Santa Paws.” This recipe is easy to make and keeps very well in an airtight tin or tightly wrapped in foil. It can also make a great gift when placed in a decorative box or basket. Serves 6. INGREDIENTS Method 1) Preheat the oven to 180C / Gas4. In a medium bowl, stir together the 100g caster sugar sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, allspice and salt. Divide 2 tsps ground cinnamon into two equal parts and then set one aside. 2) Add the flour and butter to the 1/2 tsp ground cardamom other half and stir until blended. It should be slightly grainy. 3) Press the dough evenly into a 1/2 tsp ground ginger 20cm square tin. Cut into 2.5x5cm pieces using a knife and prick with the tines of a fork. 3/4 tsp ground allspice 4) Sprinkle the reserved sugar and spice liberally over the top then 1/2 tsp salt bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until it is firm and golden at the edges. But do 425g plain flour not brown. 5) Cool completely in the tin and break into pieces along the lines 225g butter, softened to serve. ALAN’S TIP OF THE DAY: Mistletoe, holly, ivy and other Christmas greenery stay far fresher in cool, damp air, so stand them in water or spray daily and store in a garage, shed or outhouse until you are ready to arrange them or make your Christmas decorations. Aries Mar 21 – Apr 20 You could learn a thing or two by observing what is going on from behind the scenes. You will be open with others about your thoughts and feelings but someone will question you in a way that makes it seem like they don’t believe you. 0905 789 3701 ** Taurus Apr 21 – May 21 Your hopes to have everything in your life neat and tidy for Christmas will be tested. Someone will suggest plans that cause a lot of confusion. This may have something to do with travel and it won’t be that easy to work out a suitable timetable. 0905 789 3702 ** Gemini May 22 – June 21 Someone is looking for ways to improve things and they will be pleased with your response. You have been working on these ideas for some weeks and will enjoy discussing them. It will be nice to have your suggestions taken seriously. 0905 789 3703 ** You suspect someone won’t like what you have to tell them. You’ve been trying to build up the courage to approach them for a while. Once you get this off your chest not only will you feel relieved but you will be surprised by their positive reaction. 0905 789 3704 ** Your ability to bring sunshine into other people’s lives makes you popular among your friends and loved ones even if you can only offer them a few hours of your time. Secret plans for an anniversary or birthday celebration are going very well. 0905 789 3705 ** Virgo Aug 24 – Sep 23 Hold back your tendency to offer words of advice or a younger colleague or relative may feel as if you are interfering. You can see where they are going wrong but you will have to wait and give them a chance to work it all out for themselves. Libra Sep 24 – Oct 23 You will be offered a job you have always wanted to do. This is not a chance you will want to let pass you by. Are you looking for work? A vacancy will catch your eye and before you know it you will be filling in forms and attending interviews. Scorpio Oct 24 – Nov 22 Plans for a short trip are being finalised. Don’t be put off by someone’s reluctance to join in. Once they are out and about they will change their tune. Some news about a medical matter or job concern will come as a great relief to you. 0905 789 3708 ** Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 21 You sense something’s going on. There’s something extra special in the air. Your routine will be mixed up and muddled but this won’t bother you. You get a strong impression that change is on the way and you will not have long to wait to see it. 0905 789 3709 ** Cancer June 22 – July 23 Capricorn Dec 22 – Jan 20 People will try to force you to join them in areas that could waste your time. You’re taking a more serious and practical approach to resolving problems. It can be amazing how someone just dismisses some matters as not being so important. 0905 789 3710 ** Leo July 24 – Aug 23 Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19 At first you will feel resentful of people who seem to think you should drop everything whenever they ask for a favour. Conflict between family and social commitments will cause contention. Somehow you will organise your time. 0905 789 3711 ** Pisces Feb 20 – Mar 20 Whether taking an exam, having a job interview or applying for a loan, don’t expect instant results. An interview or meeting will involve someone you have met briefly in the past. You aren’t sure whether this will be a good or a bad thing. 0905 789 3712 ** 0905 789 3706 ** 0905 789 3707 ** **Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge – maximum of five minutes duration. You must be over 18 and have the bill payer’s permission. Service Provider: Spoke. Helpline: 0333 202 3390.

44 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 email: city@express.co.uk Visit City & Business pages online at www.express.co.uk/city Tel: 020 8612 7156 DX1ST City&Business CBI: Rising living costs are threat to economic recovery BUSINESS is approaching a “cliff edge” with a string of problems holding back growth, the CBI is warning. It has cut its forecast for GDP expansion from 8.2 to 6.9 per cent this year and from 6.1 to 5.1 per cent in 2022. Bosses believe supply chain issues will take another six months to fix. But their bigger concerns are the soaring cost of living, doggedly poor productivity and an underperforming export market. CBI director general Tony Danker, said: “The challenge for January 1 is now very clear. “Significant headwinds and rising costs of living threaten the extent of recovery and prospects for economic success. “These hurdles for firms will provide a major test for Government – can they foster sustainable UK investment and growth? Raising sights: “The UK’s New Year resolution must be to give Tony Danker firms the confidence to go for growth. “We should be raising our sights on the economy’s potential and seizing the moment. I know from speaking with firms of all sizes that they have an ambitious investment mindset, and are anxious to implement growth plans. “But while intentions have thawed, we’re coming up to a cliff edge.” CBI chief economist Rain Newton- Smith added: “We expect a pretty firm By Alan Jones economic recovery ahead, though understandably the emergence of Omicron poses another downside risk. “Increasing exports is a vital component of sustainable growth. Exporting companies are more productive, resilient and help create internationally competitive UK regions. “UK exports are being outpaced by our global peers which will negatively impact our economy in the long term. We must continue to address market access barriers globally while supporting all businesses to seek growth internationally.” Meanwhile. manufacturers are being held back by a lack of access to funds, skilled workers and the exporting market, research suggests. Make UK found two out of five smaller firms had the potential to expand but half believed problems recruiting the right employees was now the top barrier to growth. More than a quarter of 180 manufacturers told the umbrella group that access to overseas markets would allow them to expand. Make UK chief Stephen Phipson said: “Improved trade access across borders is essential to further push forward growth – but this relies on good relationships between the UK and other countries.” PLEA to end E-car training skills gap OLD SCHOOL: But present day mechanics can’t cope with e-cars The boss of Halfords wants the Government to help solve a shortage of specialist electric car mechanics so he can expand in the sector. Chief executive Graham Stapleton said he is “very concerned” that sufficient steps are not being taken to address the “skills gap”. The Government said earlier this year that it will ban the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030. By then there will be an estimated 11 million ecofriendly cars in the UK. Mr Stapleton predicts a shortfall of 35,000 technicians. He said: “I’ve been talking to the Government. We need to be training more people, or at least setting out how this process will take place.” Pictures: getty, pa by graham Hiscott FAMILIES going on an online spending spree to buy presents are being warned by experts that this time of year is also rich pickings for scammers. With that in mind, NatWest has produced tips and advice to shop safely in the run up to Christmas. • Beware of unexpected emails. Fake emails and texts are doing the rounds so be suspicious of out-of-the-blue emails, texts or phone calls that appear to be from a genuine organisation or company. • Be extra vigilant when receiving emails asking you to update your payment details. • Don’t get caught out buying online. Everyone loves a bargain but be vigilant when buying from social media and online marketplaces. • Always do your research on the seller and if a deal seems too good to be true it probably is. • Use secure websites. Make sure the web address in your browser begins with https://. The “s” at the end indicates a secure connection. • Keep an eye out for spelling errors or strange characters in the web address – this can sometimes mean a fake site. However, remember a secure page does not mean the retailer is reputable. Appreciate your workers this Christmas THREE out of four people are not offered any incentive to work over Christmas, research shows. A survey of 2,000 staff found that just over half were planning to take time off over the holidays, mainly to make up for spending last year’s festive break in lockdown. Jobs site CV-Library also ++THE SHARE HUNTER++Sophie Lund-Yates++HARGREAVES LANSDOWN++ Sophie LUND-YATES EQUITY ANALYST Hargreaves Lansdown www.hl.co.uk found half of us do not enjoy working at this time. The worst thing for those who do have to work is missing out on time with family and friends, putting in longer hours and having to deal with irritable customers. Lee Biggins, chief executive of CV-Library, said “Profits are vital, but a balance is required. Staff need Halfords is treading a sensible route by buying a tyre-fitting business. Last week it raised £63.4million mostly from new shares to fund the acquisition of Axle Group Holdings for £62million. The deal has merit. Axle operates the National Tyres auto-services business, as well as the Viking Tyres and Tyre Shopper retail banners. Halfords will get 239 garages and 60 mobile vans across the UK. This all fits into plans to branch out further into services. It will sit with the success of the new “Mobile Expert” offer, which sees Halfords technicians come straight to your door. This is testament to what the combination of to feel appreciated, motivated and able to enjoy the festive period this year, where possible.” Others polled said the best thing about working over Christmas was having a bonus and being in a more relaxed environment. Only one in four will be have the traditional Secret Santa this year because of Covid. Halfords right on track with National Tyres deal the right product and staff expertise can achieve if delivered in the right way. The offer is in its infancy and margins are poor but growth is impressive and has the potential to keep expansion ticking over while also encouraging cross-selling into Halfords’ Autocentres. The services market is very fragmented, so Halfords can use its scale and grow in the future. In time, as this gets bigger, it should be good news for margins. The long-term strategy makes sense but Halfords is a retail operation. It’s Tesco staff planning festive strikes TESCO warehouse workers and drivers will walk out in the run up to – and over – Christmas in a row over its four per cent pay offer. Unite said more than 1,000 members are due to strike, describing the deal as “well below” the current retail price index (RPI) inflation rate of six per cent. Depot staff in Didcot, Oxon, and Doncaster, South Yorks, will down tools for 48 hours from on December 16, followed by five days from December 20. More strikes will be held at the two sites after Christmas. Unite members in Antrim and Belfast are due to launch an all-out strike from December 16. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham handled the pandemic very well. Halfords retail recently reported revenues of £538.7million, 7.7 per cent ahead of before the pandemic. There was strong growth in workshop and car-cleaning products, while cycling sales were held back by supply chain issues but grew over a two-year period. Performance is being helped by a very strong increase in online sales. This means Halfords is closing a number of stores. Those remaining are focused on delivering what online rivals can’t: click said: “Our members have gone above and beyond to keep Tesco’s shelves filled throughout the pandemic. “The UK’s largest and wealthiest retailer should be making our members a decent pay offer.” Tesco said: “The pay offer is one of the highest awards made within our distribution business in the last 25 years.” and collect and face-to-face service from an employee who knows what they’re talking about. The result is higher per-store sales at lower costs. These strengths aren’t reflected in the price to earnings ratio of 9.5, which is lower than the 10-year average. That could reflect concerns about challenges facing the retail industry. “This article is designed for investors who make their own decisions without advice, if unsure whether an investment is right for you, you shouldseek advice. Shares can rise and fall in value so you could get back less than you invest.”

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DX1ST 46 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 Racing GET ALL THE BREAKING SPORTS NEWS ONLINE express.co.uk/sport MULLINS DOMINATES By David Yates colours, trailed home well beaten in sixth – said of the ALLAHO showed true grit to Allaho leads a 1-2-3 for winner: “He’ll need a break.” lead home a Willie Mullins Mullins’ Ferny Hollow 1-2-3 in the Grade One John made a successful debut over Durkan Memorial Irish champion trainer fences in the BetVictor Punchestown Chase. Beginners Chase and is now The seven-year-old, 4-1 for the Arkle Challenge imperious in landing the but a blunder at that obstacle “He jumped to his left and Trophy at Cheltenham. Ryanair Chase at gave Bryan Cooper no we’ll have to investigate that But Ireland’s champion Cheltenham last March chance of staying aboard. as it’s not something he’s trainer had mixed fortunes at before a second to stablemate An error two out left done before, and he had a Cork. Chacun Pour Soi at Allaho facing a stern very, very hard race.” Energumene was cut to 3-1 Punchestown the following challenge from Janidil, Asterion Forlonge second favourite for the month, set out to make all but the winner was cut to 8-1 for the Queen Mother Champion the running under the responded to pressure King George VI Chase Chase after a winning trainer’s son Patrick. for a two-length on Boxing Day, but comeback by eight and a half Asterion Forlonge, another margin, with a further Allaho will not make lengths in the Grade Two of Mullins’ seven contestants three and a quarter to the trip to Kempton Park. Hilly Way Chase, but Kilcruit in the 10-runner field, looked Melon. The Cheveley Park Stud’s was beaten at odds of 1-14 in to pose a serious threat on “He was very brave,” Richard Thompson – Envoi the Follow Us On Instagram the run to the third-last fence, observed Mullins snr (above). Allen, carrying the stud’s first Maiden Hurdle (Div I). REDHOTBOOKIEBASHER SUPERBWINNERSMONTHAFTERMONTH FROMMYWELCONECTEDCONTACTS BIGWINNINGDAY>LINEDUPTODAY Cal09061749389 Lineupdatesat 10amand4pmdaily Linesupdatedat10am&4pmdaily.Calswilcost£1.50perminuteplusyourtelephonecompany’snetworkaccess charge.SP:Spoke.Helpdesk03332023390.BookieBashermaycontactyoubySMSwithofers-Tooptinto receivingadviceandinformationtextBBYESsendto84902(networkchargeonlyapplies) BLACKFORD HILL ‘NH’ NOVICES’ HURDLE 12.15 £4,629 (Class 4) 2m 3f 171yds (9 declared) 1 F1/422-1 ● A DISTANT PLACE (35) (D) (T) Jonjo O’Neill 6 11-4 Jonjo O’Neill Jr ★133 2 2/31-21 THUNDER ROCK (23) (D) (T) O Murphy 5 11-4...A P Heskin 132 3 L6- A DAY IN DONOSTIA (241) M & D Easterby 4 10-12 J Hamilton 92 4 BEBSIDE BANTER C Grant 4 10-12.......................Sean Quinlan — 5 8-4L BRANDY MCQUEEN (30) Mrs H Graham 4 10-12...... R Mania 87 6 43-6 EVERYDAY CHAMPAGNE (46) N Richards 5 10-12 D McMenamin 106 7 2247-43 GARDE DES CHAMPS (150) K Dalgleish 5 10-12....B Hughes 121 8 6-6 LORD ROCO (20) J Ewart 5 10-12............................ A Doyle(7) — 9 9-3 SONGOFTHELARK (37) L Russell 5 10-12............S Mulqueen 109 TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 7, 9. SOFT/HEAVY WINNERS: Nos. 2. SP FORECAST: 6-4 A Distant Place, 13-8 Thunder Rock, 11-2 Garde Des Champs, 12 Everyday Champagne, 16 Songofthelark, 25 Others. RTV INTRODUCTORY JUVENILE HURDLE 12.453YO £8,845 (2) 1m 7f 124yds (6) 1 1 ● COLLINGHAM (33) (C&D) (T) D McCain 11-3....B Hughes 118 2 1 SKYCUTTER (12) (D,F) P Kirby 11-3...........................T Dowson ★132 3 4 BAMBOO BAY (9) P Kirby 10-12...........................Sean Quinlan 117 4 3 BEOWULF (22) (T) M Bell 10-12................................... T Garner 104 5 BULLS AYE (F75) I Jardine 10-12............................C O’Farrell — 6 5 OOT MA WAY (9) I Jardine 10-5..........................N F Houlihan 116 TONGUE STRAP: No. 3 CHEEK PIECES: No. 6. SP FORECAST: 5-6 Skycutter, 5-2 Collingham, 8 Bamboo Bay, 10 Beowulf, 20 Bulls Aye, Oot Ma Way. 2020: Fiveandtwenty 10-5, Brian Hughes 11-8 Fav (D McCain), 7 ran. RACINGTV.COM HANDICAP HURDLE 4YO 1.15 £8,496 (3) 1m 7f 124yds (6) 1 2515-1 FIRST IMPRESSION (23) (D,F) (T) J J Quinn 11-12 T J O’Brien 130 2 532211 ● MINELLA PLUS (17) (C&D) (T) D McCain 11-6..B Hughes 124 3 24 SPIRITOFTHENORTH (13) K Ryan 10-7..............Sean Quinlan ★132 4 22-2U AUDITORIA (20) (T) O Murphy 10-6.......................A Coleman 126 5 436L82 MY MACHO MAN (33) M Barnes 10-0...............T Willmott(5) 122 6 L77-594 LES’S LEGACY (31) S Corbett 10-0.........................D Hurst(7) 120 TONGUE STRAP: No. 5 HOOD: No. 2. SOFT/HEAVY WINNERS: Nos. 2. SP FORECAST: 6-4 First Impression, 11-4 Minella Plus, 4 Auditoria, 9-2 Spiritofthenorth, 20 My Macho Man, 33 Les’s Legacy. 4.00 BETWAY HANDICAP £3,240 (5) 1m 1f 104yds (10 declared) 1 (8) 31-88LL SEMSER (35) (D) G L Moore 4 9-12.......R Clutterbuck(5) 74 2 (10) 26L675 MY TARGET (39) (C&D) M Wigham 10 9-12....T Hamilton 73 3 (1) 60244 WEST SIDE GLORY (116) A Murphy 3 9-10...S Cherchi(3) 78 4 (3) 147607 WIN WIN POWER (9) Frank Bishop 4 9-9........... W Carson 74 5 (2) 05346L NUSHAFREEN (23) M Botti 3 9-9.................C Howarth(7) ★79 6 (9) 932176 CAREY STREET (56) (C&D) Mrs L Stubbs 5 9-8 Joanna Mason(3) 76 7 (7) 8-55061 ● TIO MIO (23) (C&D) D Loughnane 3 9-5.........C Fallon 76 8 (4) 8L5375 ELEGANT LOVE (23) A Carroll 5 9-3....................J Watson 76 9 (5) 619425 EMJAYTWENTYTHREE (2) Alice Haynes 3 9-2..Doubtful 76 10 (6) 467717 GHOSTLY (33) (C&D) Mrs Stella Barclay 3 8-13 F McManoman(3) 75 BLINKERS: Nos. 5, 10 CHEEK PIECES: Nos. 1, 9 HOOD: Nos. 3, 7. SP FORECAST: 13-8 Tio Mio, 5 Elegant Love, 11-2 Semser, 7 My Target, 10 Ghostly, Carey Street, West Side Glory, 16 Nushafreen, 33 Others. 2020: Richard R H B 3-9-10, Rossa Ryan 13-2 (D Loughnane), drawn (9), 10 ran. 4.30 BETWAY MEDIAN AUCTION MAIDEN STAKES £3,510 (5) 1m 1f 104yds (11) 1 (3) 009L-4 JUST ALBERT (103) G Deacon 4 9-7...................G Bass(5) 50 2 (5) 8 THE WORTHY BRAT (23) A Carroll 4 9-7............J Watson 58 3 (2) 934700 HUGOSTHERE (67) R Teal 3 9-5........................ G Rooke(3) 52 4 (1) 6433- RESTRICTED AREA (342) Mrs N Evans 3 9-5 Jordan Williams(7) 69 5 (6) 8L0 SIXTY WEST (56) J Spearing 3 9-5........................... R Tate 36 6 (7) L TRUE WARRIOR (85) R Brisland 3 9-5................ D Keenan — 7 (9) 0 QUIET PRIDE (51) M Herrington 5 9-2....................T Eaves 49 8 (4) L AMANI (16) D & C Kubler 3 9-0................................ N Currie 40 9 (8) 5L8 JUSCOMINPASTY (102) R Brisland 3 9-0 R Clutterbuck(5) 49 10 (10) 233 ● PERIPETEIA (16) (F) G Boughey 3 9-0.....K Shoemark ★85 11 (11) TYPEWRITTEN (F) A Balding 3 9-0.......................R Hornby — VISOR: No. 9 CHEEK PIECES: No. 3 HOOD: No. 7. SP FORECAST: 1-2 Peripeteia, 4 Typewritten, 5 Restricted Area, 20 Amani, 33 True Warrior, Hugosthere, The Worthy Brat, 66 Others. 2020: Flyin’ Solo 3-9-5, Rossa Ryan 10-3 (D Menuisier), drawn (7), 7 ran. 5.00 MANSIONBET BEST ODDS HANDICAP 3YO £4,590 (4) 1m 142yds (5) 1 (1) 1-79 DARWELL LION (59) D O’Meara 9-7.....................J Watson 88 2 (2) 74L217 TRICOLORE (28) (C&D) M Botti 9-7...................D E Hogan ★93 3 (5) 6L4305 HAZEL (16) D Loughnane 8-13............................Rossa Ryan 91 4 (4) 2131 ● ENFRANCHISE (10) (F) M Johnston 8-13.A Breslin(5) 92 5 (3) 19L204 SWINTON NOON (4) M Appleby 8-10...................T Ladd(3) 88 VISOR: No. 5 CHEEK PIECES: No. 2 EYE COVERS: No. 3. SP FORECAST: 15-8 Enfranchise, 2 Tricolore, 4 Darwell Lion, 8 Hazel, Swinton Noon. 2020: Amaysmont 9-1, Jack Garritty 11-4 (R Fahey), drawn (4), 6 ran. MUSSELBURGH RACINGTV 1.45 NOVICES’ HANDICAP CHASE £3,050 (5) 2m 6f (12) 1 413-525 DEQUALL (44) W Coltherd 5 11-12............................S Coltherd — 2 62218-L DORA DE JANEIRO (20) S G West 8 11-11............... J Kington — 3 138269 CHESTERVILLE (19) R Menzies 7 11-9..............N Moscrop(3) 105 4 BP-3186 RADDLE AND HUM (32) M Hammond 7 11-6 Miss B Smith(3) — 5 L38P81 GUN MERCHANT (18) Mrs A C Hamilton 8 11-1.Sean Quinlan ★111 6 7-U154L HOLME ABBEY (30) N Richards 8 10-13..........D McMenamin 107 7 235FLL GRIPPER (37) W Young Jnr 6 10-13...............................D R Fox 72 8 3/133-86 LASTOFTHECOSMICS (33) I Jardine 6 10-11........C O’Farrell 36 9 26-6312 ● PERMISSION GRANTED (18) R Dobbin 9 10-7..Craig Nichol — 10 4-2F554 ASHJAN (30) S Forster 8 10-5................................E Austin(7) 100 11 665343 ELIXER (25) F Murtagh 8 10-0............................T Willmott(5) 106 12 L26F-85 SHANBALLY ROSE (75) R Dobbin 7 10-0.......D Johnston(7) — BLINKERS: No. 7 TONGUE STRAP: 8 CHEEK PIECES: 8, 9, 10, 11 HOOD: 3, 4. SOFT/HEAVY WINNERS: Nos. 1, 2, 6. SP FORECAST: 11-4 Gun Merchant, 5 Permission Granted, 7 Dora De Janeiro, 8 Holme Abbey, Dequall, 10 Raddle And Hum, Elixer, 12 Ashjan, 14 Others. 2.15 WATCH ON RACING TV HANDICAP HURDLE £6,862 (3) 2m 7f 180yds (7) 1 3/P28P-4 ● ONE NIGHT IN MILAN (23) K Dalgleish 8 11-12.B Hughes 138 2 104F-20 BIG BAD BEAR (162) N Richards 7 11-6.............Sean Quinlan 136 3 12-U322 BOOTLEGGER (15) T Davidson 8 11-4..................K Brogan(3) 137 4 574-4P5 WEATHER FRONT (9) I Jardine 8 10-10.................J Gormley ★141 5 322-131 WAKOOL (33) (C&D) N Alexander 5 10-4.......D McMenamin 136 6 134648 PAMMI (20) (C,D) J Goldie 6 10-2..................................H Reed 133 7 2784-57 KAIZER (19) Ewan Whillans 6 10-2..............................C Bewley 123 VISOR: No. 4 TONGUE STRAP: No. 3 CHEEK PIECES: Nos. 2, 3, 5, 6. SOFT/HEAVY WINNERS: Nos. 2, 7, 6, 5. SP FORECAST: 6-4 Wakool, 11-4 Bootlegger, 5 One Night In Milan, 8 Big Bad Bear, 12 Pammi, 14 Kaizer, 16 Weather Front. 5.30 MANSIONBET NOVICE STAKES £3,510 (5) 7f 36yds (7) 1 (3) 41 ● BIBULOUS (24) (F) H Candy 3 9-9..................R Hornby 81 2 (5) 3232-34 ARCTICIAN (58) S Dow 3 9-2................................... L Morris ★87 3 (6) EL JAD A Brittain 3 9-2..............................................C Hardie — 4 (7) 9 HERE AT NIGHT (13) A Carroll 3 9-2.................G Downing 49 5 (2) 4536L0 PAYMASTER (58) A Carroll 3 9-2............................... R Tate 55 6 (4) 3 MADAME GLITTERS (113) D O’Meara 3 8-11........J Watson 74 7 (1) LL3668 RUBY LILY (30) S Lycett 3 8-11.............................J Fanning 69 TONGUE STRAP: No. 7 CHEEK PIECES: Nos. 3, 7. SP FORECAST: Evens Arctician, 6-4 Bibulous, 7 Madame Glitters, 16 El Jad, 33 Ruby Lily, 50 Paymaster, 66 Here At Night. 2020: Tomouh 3-9-0, Callum Shepherd 2-1 (S bin Suroor), drawn (2), 5 ran. 6.00 THE SCOUT 12.15 A DISTANT PLACE (nb) 12.45 Collingham 1.15 MINELLA PLUS (nap) WOLVERHAMPTON SSR 4.00 Tio Mio 4.30 Peripeteia 5.00 Enfranchise 5.30 Bibulous THE SCOUT all at it: Allaho battled gamely to win the John Durkan 1.45 PERMISSION GRANTED 2.15 One Night In Milan 2.45 Raecius Felix 3.15 Universal Folly 6.00 Sir Oliver 6.30 Baileys Warrior 7.00 Liamba MANSIONBET HANDICAP £4,590 (4) 7f 36yds (10) 1 (2) L83414 IF YOU DARE (30) (D) M Johnston 3 9-8..........J Fanning ★96 2 (4) 315311 ● SIR OLIVER (71) (C,D,F) C Dwyer 4 9-7..S Cherchi(3) 89 3 (5) 03-45LL KING CARNEY (42) A Carroll 4 9-7.......................J Watson 93 4 (6) 040L08 PARALLEL WORLD (14) (C&D) K Burke 5 9-2.P-L Jamin(3) 89 5 (3) 4-521LL APEX KING (11) (D) D Loughnane 7 9-2...Laura Pearson(3) 95 6 (10) 2D14L5 ALGHEED (51) (D) M Loughnane 3 9-0................. L Morris 94 7 (9) 5539L FLATLEY (49) A Wintle 4 9-0.............................. T Heard(5) 90 8 (8) 32408-4 LOUGH CUTRA (10) M Wigham 4 8-12..............T Hamilton 92 9 (1) 224-24 ALABLAQ (16) P Evans 3 8-11......................................... C Lee 93 10 (7) 1696LL WRATH OF HECTOR (16) (C&D) M Appleby 4 8-5.T Ladd(3) 89 VISOR: No. 10 CHEEK PIECES: No. 2. SP FORECAST: 11-4 If You Dare, 3 Sir Oliver, 9-2 Alablaq, 6 Lough Cutra, 10 Algheed, 14 King Carney, Flatley, 16 Parallel World, 25 Others. 2020: Amber Island 3-8-10, Rossa Ryan 25-1 (D Loughnane), drawn (5), 12 ran. TRACK FACTS: GOING: Standard. Left Handed. TOP TRACK JOCKEY (2016-21): L Morris 11% Strike rate. TOP TRACK TRAINER (2016-21): P Evans 11% Strike rate. FIRST TIME: 4.00 West Side Glory (hood), Semser (cheek pieces), 4.30 Juscominpasty (visor), 5.30 El Jad (cheek pieces), Ruby Lily (cheek pieces, tongue strap), 6.00 Wrath Of Hector (visor). BEATEN FAVOURITES: 4.30 Restricted Area. 5.00 Tricolore(hcp). 7.00 La Roca Del Fuego(hcp). DRAW: Little effect. LONGEST TRAVELLER: Highest Ambition (7.00) 177 miles. STABLE SWITCH: 4.00 West Side Glory from C Hills to A Murphy. 4.30 Restricted Area from J Osborne to Mrs N Evans. 5.00 Darwell Lion from Miss E Holden in Ireland to D O’Meara. 5.30 Arctician from P Twomey in Ireland to S Dow. 6.30 Eagle One from A Perrett to R Harris. 2.45 80TH JOHN BALLOCH HANDICAP CHASE £4,684 (4) 2m 7f 170yds (6) 1 F6-6PP5 MAGNA SAM (26) (D) (T) Mrs S Leech 7 11-12... A P Heskin 113 2 8835-43 UPANDATIT (20) N Alexander 6 11-10................Sean Quinlan ★117 3 P4552L- OFF THE BEAT (234) A M Thomson 7 11-10............... R Mania — 4 P5-5333 ● RAECIUS FELIX (25) (F) R Menzies 7 11-9........B Hughes 116 5 45LP-L8 ANYWAYYOULOOKATIT (15) (D) (T) Jonjo O’Neill 8 10-12 Jonjo O’Neill Jr 77 6 1-8L978 OLD JEWRY (23) D Bourke 7 10-10.............................A Cawley — VISOR: No. 6 TONGUE STRAP: No. 2. SOFT/HEAVY WINNERS: Nos. 1, 3, 6. SP FORECAST: 2 Raecius Felix, 11-4 Upandatit, 7-2 Magna Sam, 6 Off The Beat, 10 Anywayyoulookatit, 14 Old Jewry. 2020: Definite Wisdom 7-11-0, Craig Nichol 4-1 (R Dobbin), 8 ran. 3.15 CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS’ HANDICAP HURDLE £3,594 (4) 2m 3f 171yds (10) 1 2243L3 FINISK RIVER (24) (T) D McCain 8 12-0..............T Gillard(3) ★126 2 P2-L31P THAT’S A GIVEN (142) N Alexander 7 11-12...........B Lynn(3) — 3 2/431RP- THE DELRAY MUNKY (303) I Jardine 9 11-11...... N Moscrop — 4 211L1-R BRAYHILL (36) J Ewart 6 11-11................................. A Doyle(5) 120 5 PPL-31P ENFIN PHIL (32) (D) M Hammond 7 11-5...... Jack Hogan(7) 124 6 P42671 ● UNIVERSAL FOLLY (36) (F) N Richards 6 11-3 Mr C Rabbitt(10) 121 7 544-67L MONSIEUR CO (148) K Dalgleish 8 11-0............. J Williamson — 8 4L324-1 DIAMOND STATE (33) (C) L Russell 5 11-0 Conner McCann(10) 125 9 44335-F CASTLETOWN (207) (D) Miss P Robson 9 10-9..T Willmott 95 10 414252 SARVI (14) (C) J Goldie 6 10-8.............................T Midgley(3) 123 BLINKERS: No. 9 TONGUE STRAP: No. 7 CHEEK PIECES: Nos. 3, 5. SOFT/HEAVY WINNERS: Nos. 4, 9, 5, 1, 7, 10, 2, 3, 6. SP FORECAST: 11-4 Diamond State, 4 Universal Folly, 5 Brayhill, Finisk River, 6 Sarvi, 14 Enfin Phil, 16 The Delray Munky, Castletown, That’s A Given, 25 Monsieur Co. 2020: No corresponding race. TRACK FACTS: GOING: Good to Soft. Right Handed. TOP TRACK JOCKEY (2016- 21): Brian Hughes 24% Strike rate. TOP TRACK TRAINER (2016-21): K Dalgleish 15% Strike rate. FIRST TIME: 2.15 Weather Front (visor), 2.45 Old Jewry (visor). BEATEN FAVOURITES: 1.15 Auditoria. 1.45 Dequall(hcp hdl). 2.15 Bootlegger(hcp hdl). LONGEST TRAVELLER: Magna Sam (2.45) 357 miles. STABLE SWITCH: 12.15 Garde Des Champs from D P Murphy in Ireland to K Dalgleish. 3.15 That’s A Given from Noel Williams to N Alexander. 6.30 BETWAY INSIDER HANDICAP £2,700 (6) 1m 4f 51yds (12) 1 (1) 257164 BEAT THE BREEZE (5) (C,D) Alice Haynes 4 9-13.K O’Neill 70 2 (11) 501114 ELHAFEI (163) (D) J Mackie 6 9-12......................C Beasley 68 3 (10) 5L143 VICTORY STAR (11) (F) M Johnston 4 9-11...O Stammers(5) 70 4 (7) 3284L3 PERCY WILLIS (23) J O’Keeffe 3 9-10....................C Fallon 69 5 (8) 12-2438 GOLD STANDARD (23) (C,D) A Carroll 5 9-9....J Watson 70 6 (9) 113323 MYBOYMAX (J17) (D) M Hammond 3 9-7.. A Brookes(7) 68 7 (4) 512258 EAGLE ONE (56) R Harris 3 9-7........................Rossa Ryan ★72 8 (2) 8302L2 ● BAILEYS WARRIOR (28) D Faulkner 3 9-3.....T Heard(5) 71 9 (6) 443-7L9 HAVEN LADY (27) J J Quinn 3 9-0.............................J Hart 67 10 (12) L80-853 RESET BUTTON (24) I Williams 3 8-3................... L Morris 65 11 (5) 79550L LOBO DEL MAR (23) J Stimpson 3 8-3.......Jimmy Quinn 64 12 (3) 5LL730 RAKISH PADDY (70) Mrs N Evans 3 8-3........ G Rooke(3) 59 TONGUE STRAP: No. 11 CHEEK PIECES: No. 1 HOOD: No. 8. SP FORECAST: 9-2 Elhafei, 5 Percy Willis, 11-2 Beat The Breeze, 6 Victory Star, 7 Baileys Warrior, Gold Standard, 8 Reset Button, 10 Myboymax, 16 Others. 2020: Catbird Seat 3-9-8, Megan Nicholls 11-8 Fav (A King), drawn (12), 11 ran. 7.00 BETWAY LIVE CASINO HANDICAP £3,240 (5) 5f 21yds (11) 1 (1) 521-332 ● LIAMBA (300) (D) M Appleby 6 9-7...............T Ladd(3) 81 2 (8) 111171 CHERISH (54) (D) A Carroll 4 9-7.........Mollie Phillips(5) 80 3 (6) 473866 MUTABAAHY (35) (C&D) A Brittain 6 9-7...........C Hardie ★84 4 (9) 31411L LA ROCA DEL FUEGO (48) (D,F) G Deacon 5 9-7....T Heard(5) 79 5 (11) 64-7357 GHAALIYA (48) C Banham 3 9-6...........................J Haynes 82 6 (5) 012932 GOOD EARTH (16) (D) M Herrington 4 9-5............T Eaves 83 7 (2) 2-6L878 HIGHEST AMBITION (9) C Wallis 3 9-2................. L Morris 74 8 (7) 335411 GLAMOROUS FORCE (23) (C&D) R Harris 4 9-0...M Crehan(3) 80 9 (3) 333454 WE’RE REUNITED (34) (C&D) R Harris 4 8-12..R Hornby 80 10 (10) 616499 YOU’RE COOL (11) (C&D) D Shaw 9 8-11...........J Peate(7) 79 11 (4) L11223 TRUSTY RUSTY (48) (C&D) A Carroll 4 8-9......J Watson 80 VISOR: No. 10 TONGUE STRAP: No. 10 CHEEK PIECES: No. 9 HOOD: No. 4. SP FORECAST: 4 Glamorous Force, 9-2 Cherish, 11-2 Liamba, 6 Good Earth, 7 Trusty Rusty, 8 La Roca Del Fuego, 10 We’re Reunited, 12 Mutabaahy, 14 Others. 2020: The Nosey Parker 3-9-6, Shane W Kelly 11-4 Fav (R Hughes), drawn (4), 9 ran. GOSSIP FROM THE GALLOPS Newmarket: BEAT THE BREEZE (6.30 Wolverhampton) North: SKYCUTTER (12.45 Musselburgh) IN-FORM TRAINERS (last 10 days) O Murphy 61% (9 wins and 5 places from 23 runners), R Harris 60% (1/2/5), L Russell 58% (5/6/19). VITAL STATISTICS Scotland: ONE NIGHT IN MILAN (2.15 Musselburgh) West: SWITCH HITTER (2.00 Ludlow) IN-FORM JOCKEYS Laura Pearson 71% (2 wins and 3 places from 7 runners), D Fox 70% (3/4/10), A Coleman 61% (4/7/18), T O’Brien 59% (1/9/17).

LEICESTER HARLEQUINS By Adam Hathaway 16 14 George Ford won the battle of the No.10s as the master beat the apprentice and Leicester made it nine out of nine in the Premiership. Ford dished out a lesson to opposite number Marcus Smith, kicking 11 points off the tee and bossing the game with the boot from hand. Smith was picked for England’s autumn campaign ahead of Ford but here the older fly-half gave him a lesson in game management. The 22-year-old Quin managed to get himself sent to the sin-bin in the first half for flying in off his feet at a ruck and the Tigers scored 10 points with him off the pitch. Ford, 28, ran this game and Leicester head coach Steve Borthwick is determined to make the most of him before he heads to Sale at the end of the season. Borthwick said: “We would have loved George to stay but this is professional sport and players make decisions. George made that decision, so we will maximise everything we can this season. He will go on to pastures new and we will get on with it.” Ford won his battle with Smith, above, and Ben Youngs got the upper hand over long-time rival Danny Care in the scrum-half stakes. Youngs is playing like the youngster who burst on to the England scene in 2010 and, at 32, JACKPOT: www.totepoolliveinfo.com NOVICES’ CLAIMING HURDLE 12.30 £4,357 (4) 1m 7f 169yds (7) 1 06L BILBOA RIVER (19) R J Price 5 11 8.Sean Houlihan(3) 2 F08 BOLD RED (8) D Bridgwater 5 10 12........M Bastyan(3) 3 UL CANAL ROCKS (21) B J Llewellyn 5 10 10 Charlie Price(3) 4 403 GARRISON COMMANDER (21) Katy Price 5 10 8 B Poste 5 P LIBERTY POWER (65) R Bandey 4 10 8....H Bannister 6 3- OVERHAUGH STREET (F26) E De Giles 8 10 8..D Bass 7 1L3 ● WHITLOCK (21) (D) A Irvine 6 10 8..............J Bowen TONGUE STRAP: 2, 4, 5 CHEEK PIECES: 2, 3, 7 HOOD: 1. W-F: Whitlock (123); Garrison Commander (110); Bilboa River (106). SP FORECAST: 13-8 Whitlock, 5-2 Overhaugh Street, 5 Garrison Commander, 13-2 Liberty Power, 8 Bilboa River, 25 Others. 1.00 Ludlow RTV THE SCOUT 12.30 Whitlock 1.00 Jobesgreen Lad 1.30 Miranda 2.00 Switch Hitter 2.30 Golden Taipan 3.00 Steinkraus 3.30 Hyland NOVICES’ HANDICAP CHASE £4,684 (5) 2m 4f 11yds (13) 1 FP-4 MASSINI MAN (32) J Groucott 8 11 12.........J Nailor(3) 2 L-PP HENRI LE BON (12) Kerry Lee 6 11 11.................Doubtful 3 33-4 AMBION HILL (34) C Tizzard 6 11 9...............B J Powell 4 LL-3 HALDON HILL (29) V Dartnall 8 11 7..........R McLernon 5 458- FIDDLERS TRACKER (237) R Curtis 6 11 2......A Wedge 6 F-4L MUSE OF FIRE (32) J Groucott 7 11 0........S Sheppard 7 4-12 ON THE PLATFORM (41) J Groucott 5 10 13.....L Edwards 8 272 ● JOBESGREEN LAD (39) T R George 6 10 12.J J Burke 9 851 FAMILY POT (14) (C) Sheila Lewis 6 10 12.Sean Houlihan(3) 10 547 DIAMOND ROSE (159) J S Smith 9 10 7........T Bellamy 11 P-P7 FAMILY MAN (27) Miss S Robinson 8 10 1....C Ring(3) 12 233- COBRA COMMANDER (260) T Symonds 7 10 0..B Poste 13 P-PP RIGHT ROYALS DAY (38) T Wall 12 10 0...........J Best BLINKERS: 2 TONGUE STRAP: 6, 8, 9, 13 CHEEK PIECES: 5. SOFT/HEAVY WINNERS: Nos. 4, 7. W-Factor: Jobesgreen Lad (112); On The Platform (111); Cobra Commander (110). SP FORECAST: 4 Ambion Hill, 9-2 Haldon Hill, 5 On The Platform, Jobesgreen Lad, 6 Family Pot, 8 Cobra Commander, 10 Others. RUGBY UNION: GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP Reliable ford in top gear is looking sharper than ever. It was his outside-of-the-boot kick that set up the 42nd-minute try for wing Harry Potter when Smith was on the naughty step. Borthwick added: “We have seen him go up a gear. He has got 112 caps and he wanted to take it up to another level, and he has been terrific.” Quins were 16-9 down with Smith back on the pitch when wing Louis Lynagh got them back in the hunt with a try from nowhere on 62 minutes. Lynagh was tight to the touchline but manufactured a chip and chase, and won the race to the ball. But Ford pulled the strings as the Tigers shut out the visitors with a one-handed spiral bomb kick underlining his mastery. Quins senior coach Tabai Matson said: “We got through a couple of times but the rest of the time they are squeezing the life out of you. You’ve got to tip your hat to Leicester, they’re nine from nine for a reason.” LION LUKE IS MAIN MAN Luke Cowan-Dickie helped Exeter beat their fiercest rivals Saracens 18-15 on Saturday and revealed being a Lion helped Chiefs bare their teeth. The hooker, who played in all three summer Tests against South Africa, scored the game-breaking try after 56 minutes in his first match since October after ankle trouble. Cowan-Dickie, 28, said: “The Lions was a massive experience. That has helped me quite a bit. I have got 1.30 MARES’ HANDICAP HURDLE £9,626 (2) 1m 7f 169yds (8) 1 15-2 ● MIRANDA (37) (C&D) P Nicholls 6 11 12.A Cheleda(5) 2 115 SEE THE SEA (14) (C&D) D McCain 7 10 12 P J Kavanagh(7) 3 P4-L WILL VICTORY (31) Dr R Newland 5 10 3..S Twiston-Davies 4 L1P PROGRESSIVE (37) (D) N Henderson 4 10 3 N De Boinville 5 102 VOICE OF CALM (20) (D,F) E Lavelle 5 10 3.....T Bellamy 6 5U7 COTTON END (25) (C&D) Sheila Lewis 7 10 1 Sean Houlihan(3) 7 241 PUFFIN BAY (18) O Sherwood 4 10 0........... J J Burke 8 7L-2 MARTA DES MOTTES (28) T Symonds 4 10 0.....B Poste TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 2, 5. SOFT/HEAVY WINNERS: Nos. 1, 3, 4, 8. W-F: Will Victory (149); Miranda (148); See The Sea (147). SP FORECAST: 2 Miranda, 7-2 Voice Of Calm, 5 See The Sea, 6 Progressive, 8 Will Victory, 12 Marta Des Mottes, 14 Others. 2.00 CORRIE CUP HANDICAP CHASE £8,768 (3) 3m 1f 125yds (7) 1 1F-1 ● SWITCH HITTER (27) P Nicholls 6 11 12..Bryony Frost 2 L22 FORGOT TO ASK (43) (D) T R George 9 11 6.J J Burke 3 L-1P MINELLA ENCORE (23) Dr R Newland 9 11 6 S Twiston-Davies 4 312 OUTONPATROL (27) (C) A King 7 11 5...........T Bellamy 5 63-9 BOBO MAC (26) (C&D) T Symonds 10 11 5....D Noonan 6 U1L REVE (17) (C&D) M Keighley 7 11 2....................J Bowen 7 1P-F SUBCONTINENT (24) (C) V Williams 9 10 9.C Deutsch BLINKERS: 3 TONGUE STRAP: 2, 3 CHEEK PIECES: 5, 6. SOFT/HEAVY WINNERS: Nos. 3, 5, 7. W-F: Subcontinent (142); Bobo Mac (141); Outonpatrol (139). SP FORECAST: 9-4 Switch Hitter, 3 Outonpatrol, 9-2 Forgot To Ask, 7 Minella Encore, 8 Reve, 10 Subcontinent, 12 Bobo Mac. 2.30 DX1ST New kid Smith is put in his place quite a bit of knowledge to help some of the young guys.” At Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton heaped the misery on Bath as they lost for the ninth time out of nine in the Premiership. South African pair Juarno Augustus and Courtnall Skosan scored twice each in the 40-19 romp. London Irish beat Newcastle 43-21, with wing Ollie Hassell-Collins grabbing a hat-trick. TRACK FACTS: GOING: Good to Soft. Right Handed. TOP TRACK JOCKEY (2016-21): Harry Skelton 26% Strike rate. TOP TRACK TRAINER (2016-21): N Henderson 27% Strike rate. FIRST TIME: 1.00 Fiddlers Tracker (cheek pieces), Henri Le Bon (blinkers), Cobra Commander (wind surgery), 3.00 Lightning Gold (tongue strap, wind surgery), 3.30 Fancy Stuff (wind surgery), Lady Amy (hood), 12.30 Bold Red (cheek pieces, tongue strap), Liberty Power (tongue strap), Bilboa River (hood). BEATEN FAVOURITES: 1.00 Ambion Hill(hcp hdl), Cobra Commander(hcp ch). 2.00 Reve(hcp ch). 3.00 Steinkraus(hcp hdl). 3.30 Saquon. LONGEST TRAVELLER: Whitlock (12.30) 177 miles. STABLE SWITCH: 3.00 Lightning Gold from Mrs L Young to L Hurley. 3.30 Fancy Stuff from Cormac Doyle in Ireland to D Skelton, Saquon from T H Weston to Dr R Newland. kick ahead Tigers ace Ford used his experience to keep young gun Smith at bay NOVICES’ LIMITED HCAP CHASE £7,407 (3) 1m 7f 212yds (4) 1 FP-L WILD MAX (37) P Nicholls 6 11 8......................H Cobden 2 FL2 RAYA TIME (46) (D) T R George 8 10 13.T Scudamore 3 313 ● GOLDEN TAIPAN (18) (C&D) F O’Brien 7 10 8.P Brennan 4 L-L4 SON OF CAMAS (29) N Henderson 6 10 3.N De Boinville TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 1, 3. SOFT/HEAVY WINNERS: Nos. 1, 4. W-F: Golden Taipan (153); Raya Time (149); Son Of Camas (149). SP FORECAST: 2 Wild Max, 9-4 Golden Taipan, 3 Raya Time, 4 Son Of Camas. 3.00 CONDITIONALS’ HANDICAP HURDLE £4,139 (5) 2m 7f 174yds (12) 1 214 ● STEINKRAUS (27) D McCain 6 11 13.P J Kavanagh(8) 2 LL7 TRIXSTER (17) (D) T Vaughan 8 11 12.Charlie Price(3) 3 LFP SEEMINGLY SO (40) L Morgan 8 11 12.. Mr L Dobb(10) 4 P41 NELSONS ROCK (11) (D) C Tizzard 6 11 7.H Kimber(6) 5 248 CHOSEN SHANT (18) I Williams 5 11 4............C Todd(3) 6 3-L1 CANASTERO (63) P Hobbs 5 11 3.Mr Jack Martin(10) 7 6-65 MR KATANGA (19) R Curtis 7 11 3............ A Cheleda(3) 8 PL-F DANNY PARK (25) M Young 5 11 0................J Andrews 9 6-69 LIGHTNING GOLD (205) L Hurley 6 10 13.Miss H C Tucker(5) 10 5-50 JAUNTY EXPRESS (186) B Eckley 5 10 13........ J Tudor 11 536 STEPHANIE SUNSHINE (34) Katy Price 8 10 2.Sean Houlihan 12 PU3 CHEER’S DELBOY (16) R Dickin 8 10 1.......... L Murtagh TONGUE STRAP: Nos. 2, 5, 9, 11 CHEEK PIECES: Nos. 3, 12. SOFT/HEAVY WINNERS: Nos. 2, 4. W-F: Mr Katanga (112); Cheer’s Delboy (111); Chosen Shant (110). SP FORECAST: 5-2 Nelsons Rock, 4 Canastero, 6 Steinkraus, 8 Cheer’s Delboy, Mr Katanga, 10 Others. 3.30 BRITISH EBF OPEN NH FLAT RACE £3,268 (4) 1m 7f 169yds (11) 1 L- BENANDGONE (319) B Barr 4 11 0...........M Bastyan(3) 2 CHARMING GETAWAY K Bailey 4 11 0...................D Bass 3 DOM BOSCO T R George 4 11 0......................... J J Burke 4 ● HYLAND N Henderson 4 11 0................N De Boinville 5 NIGHT JET T Symonds 4 11 0................................ B Poste 6 U2/ SAQUON (631) Dr R Newland 5 11 0.S Twiston-Davies 7 L SUKAT (22) D Bridgwater 4 11 0.....................B J Powell 8 THIRD STREET N Twiston-Davies 5 11 0.......J Nailor(3) 9 1- FANCY STUFF (232) D Skelton 4 10 7.......... H Skelton 10 7 LADY AMY (38) L Hurley 4 10 7..................N Scholfield 11 6 SALLY’S GIRL (208) J S Smith 4 10 7...........T Bellamy HOOD: No. 10. W-Factor: Benandgone (102); Sally’s Girl (89); Sukat (85). SP FORECAST: 5-2 Fancy Stuff, 3 Hyland, 5 Charming Getaway, 6 Saquon, 8 Third Street, 10 Dom Bosco, 14 Night Jet, 25 Others. HUNTINGDON: Good-good to soft in places 12.17—BALCO COASTAL (N De Boinville, 8‐11 fav) 1; Extraordinary Man (150‐1) 2; Peejaybee (15‐2) 3. 11 ran. 6l, 2 1 /4l. (N Henderson). Tote: £1.73; pl £1.10, £14.90, £1.80. exacta: £149.90. trifecta: £1504.10. CSF: £177.74. 12.47—BRINKLEY (T Scudamore, 9‐4 2nd fav) 1; Honest Vic (9‐2) 2; Oscar Elite (5‐6 fav) 3. 4 ran. 1 1 /4l, 20l. (D Pipe). Tote: £3.25; exacta: £8.90. trifecta: £10.80. CSF: £10.93. Nonrunner: Barbados Buck’s. 1.17—VEE DANCER (K Brogan, 1‐2 fav) 1; Cheng Gong (22‐1) 2; Wrong Way Harry (20‐1) 3. H’cap 11 ran. 3l, 1l. (R McNally (IRE) ). Tote: £1.90; pl £1.60, £3.30, £3.50. exacta: £23.30. tricast: £148.48. trifecta: £248.40. CSF: £20.94. Non-runner: Bembridge. 1.52—FIRST FLOW (D Bass, 12‐1) 1; Funambule Sivola (11‐2) 2; Eldorado Allen (9‐2) 3. 6 ran. 4 1 /2l, 1 3 /4l. (K Bailey; 5-4 fav Allmankind). Tote: £13.40; pl £4.60, £2.00. exacta: £62.50. trifecta: £198.50. CSF: £67.82. 2.27—RESTANDBETHANKFUL (A P Heskin, 10‐3) 1; Zacony Rebel (2‐1 fav) 2; Sorbet (7‐1) 3. H’cap 7 ran. 1 1 /2l, 3 3 /4l. (O Murphy). Tote: £4.50; pl £2.00, £1.70. exacta: £13.70. trifecta: £65.10. CSF: £10.87. 2.57—MALINA JAMILA (J Quinlan, 40‐1) 1; Lady Jane P (13‐2 2nd fav) 2; Hillfinch (28‐1) 3. 13 ran. 1 1 /4l, 1 1 /2l. (N King; 6-4 fav Flying Sara). Tote: £41.00; pl £8.00, £2.20, £7.40. exacta: £411.00. trifecta: Not won. CSF: £269.80. 3.27—LORD SPARKY (J Bowen, 11‐2) 1; Macfin (3‐1 2nd fav) 2; Generator City (14‐1) 3. H’cap 8 ran. hd, hd. (Mrs C Bailey; 11-4 fav Aki Bomaye). Tote: £6.22; pl £1.50, £1.60, £3.60. exacta: £21.20. tricast: £184.85. trifecta: £138.60. CSF: £20.86. Non-runners: Peur De Rien, Queen Of The Court.Peur De Rien| Rule 4 applies to All Bets, deduct 5p in the pound Jackpot: Not won, pool of £72,157.83 carried over. Placepot: £2,986.90 (Race 1) 3, 5, 2; (2) 3; (3) 11, 3, 12; (4) 3, 5; (5) 5, 4; (6) 6, 5, 4. Quadpot: £138.90 Former Scotland captain Gary ❑ Callander has died, aged 62. Callander, who had been living with pancreatic cancer, won six caps, leading the team in five of those. He also captained Kelso, whose president Scott Forbes said yesterday his “contribution to the history of the club cannot be overstated”. Kelso under Callender won a first Border League title in 50 years in 1985-86. He then led the club to the Scottish First Division Championship. Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 47 RESULTS KELSO: Soft-heavy in places 12.03—KAVANAGHS CROSS (N F Houlihan, 13‐8 fav) 1; Rowdy Rustler (4‐1) 2; Conceroe (9‐4 2nd fav) 3. 7 ran. 2 1 /4l, 2 1 /4l. (I Jardine). Tote: £2.63; pl £1.40, £2.00. exacta: £8.70. trifecta: £17.00. CSF: £8.62. Non-runner: Urblereagh. 12.33—BREAKING THE ICE (J Bewley, 7‐2 fav) 1; Overcourt (4‐1 jt 2nd fav) 2; Behindthelines (8‐1) 3. H’cap 10 ran. nk, 8 1 /2l. (G Bewley). Tote: £4.50; pl £1.70, £2.00, £2.40. exacta: £20.00. tricast: £103.54. trifecta: £78.90. CSF: £18.33. Non-runner: Uptown Harry. 1.03—BIG RIVER (D R Fox, 15‐2) 1; Cash To Ash (22‐1) 2; Innisfree Lad (22‐1) 3. H’cap 13 ran. 2 3 /4l, 1 /2l. (L Russell; 5-2 fav Weststreet). Tote: £8.50; pl £2.70, £6.50, £6.00. exacta: £204.20. tricast: £3444.75. trifecta: £1707.10. CSF: £157.42. 1.35—BUSHYPARK (T Dowson, 9‐4 2nd fav) 1; Doyen Breed (85‐40 fav) 2; H’cap 4 ran. 4 1 /4l. (P Kirby). Tote: £3.25; exacta: £7.00. trifecta: £6.80. CSF: £7.35. 2.10—FLOWER OF SCOTLAND (R Mania, 11‐4) 1; Motown Maggie (9‐4 fav) 2; Fiadh (11‐1) 3. 8 ran. 6l, 4 3 /4l. (A M Thomson). Tote: £3.75; pl £1.10, £1.10, £2.40. exacta: £13.20. trifecta: £51.90. CSF: £10.03. 2.43—GRAND VOYAGE (P J Kavanagh, 15‐8 fav) 1; Hungry Tiger (17‐2) 2; Fever Roque (12‐1) 3. H’cap 14 ran. 3 1 /2l, 4 1 /2l. (W Coltherd). Tote: £2.90; pl £1.40, £2.60, £3.30. exacta: £24.00. tricast: £161.61. trifecta: £177.70. CSF: £18.50. 3.13—WOR VERGE (D Hurst, 9‐4 jt fav) 1; Duty Calls (8‐1) 2; Lock Down Luke (11‐4) 3. H’cap 6 ran. 1l, 3 /4l. (S Corbett; 9-4 jtfav Malpas). Tote: £3.25; pl £1.60, £3.30. exacta: £21.40. trifecta: £54.20. CSF: £19.20. Placepot: £166.30 (Race 1) 3, 5; (2) 10, 1, 4; (3) 2, 10, 6; (4) 3; (5) 7, 2, 1; (6) 1, 8, 4. Quadpot: £61.10 sport in brief Basketball BBL Championship: Bristol 78 Plymouth 58, Cheshire 110 Newcastle 113 (3 OT), London 107 Manchester 80. CRICKET Second Test Match—Pakistan v Bangladesh (Mirpur): Pakistan 188-2 (63.2 overs; Babar Azam 71no, Azhar Azhar Ali 52no). Second Test Match—India v New Zealand (Mumbai): India 325 (109.5 overs; M A Agarwal 150, A Y Patel 10-119) and 276-7dec. (70.0 overs; M A Agarwal 62; A Y Patel 4-106). New Zealand 62 (28.1 overs; R Ashwin 4-8) and 140-5 (45.0 overs; D J Mitchell 60). GOLF Hero World Challenge (Albany, New Providence, Bahamas)—(USA unless stated, Par 72) Final Round: 270 V Hovland (Nor) 68 69 67 66, 271 S Scheffler 71 68 66 66, 273 S Burns 71 65 68 69, P Reed 68 69 67 69, 274 C Morikawa 68 66 64 76, J Thomas 67 72 71 64, 275 D Berger 66 69 69 71, T Finau 68 66 70 71. Rugby Union SATURDAY Gallagher Premiership Exeter................ 18 Saracens........... 15 Exeter—T: O’Flaherty, Cowan-Dickie. C: J. Simmonds. P: J. Simmonds (2). Saracens—P: Lozowski (5). Lon Irish............ 43 Newcastle........ 21 London Irish—T: Rowe, Hassell-Collins (3), Mafi, Creevy. C: Jackson (5). P: Jackson. Newcastle—T: Robinson, Chick, Radwan. C: Haydon-Wood (2), Radwan. Att: 6,808 North’pton....... 40 Bath................... 19 Northampton—T: Hutchinson, Freeman, Augustus (2), Skosan (2). C: Biggar (4), Furbank. Bath—T: Underhill, Boyce, Stuart. C: de Glanville (2). Worcester........ 32 Wasps................ 31 Worcester—T: Simpson, Van Der Merwe, Hill, Chudley. C: Smith (3). P: Smith (2). Wasps—T: Fifita, Frost (2), Wolstenholme, T. Willis. C: Gopperth (3). Att: 6,910 YESTERDAY Leicester........... 16 Harlequins........ 14 Leicester—T: Potter. C: Ford. P: Ford (3). Harlequins—T: Lynagh. P: Smith (3). Greene King IPA Championship— Cornish Pirates P Doncaster P, Coventry 15 Bedford 14, Ealing Trailfinders 54 Ampthill 17, Hartpury RFC 38 Richmond 20, Nottingham P Jersey Reds P. Yesterday: Cornish Pirates 29 Doncaster 7. United Rugby Championship Glasgow............ 33 Dragons............ 14 Ospreys............. 19 Ulster................ 13 Stormers.......... 19 Lions.................. 37 SNOOKER UK CHAMPIONSHIP (York)—Final: Z Xintong (Chn) bt L Brecel (Bel) 10-5. Tennis Davis Cup Finals (Madrid)—Final: Russia Tennis Federation v Croatia, Match 1: A Rublev (Rtf) bt B Gojo (Cro) 6-4 7-6 (7-5). Match 2: D Medvedev (Rtf) bt M Cilic (Cro) 7-6 (9-7) 6-2. Russia Tennis Federation bt Croatia 2-0. Today’s diary CRICKET Second Test Match—day 3 of 5: Bangladesh v Pakistan (Mirpur, 04am), day 4 of 5: India v New Zealand (Mumbai, 04am). PUNCHESTOWN: Chase: yielding to soft; Hurdle: yielding 11.55—TOP BANDIT (D N Russell, 5‐6 fav) 1; Hammersmith (33‐1) 2; Ferdia (5‐1) 3. 6 ran. 4l, 3l. (G Elliott). Tote: €1.84; pl €1.10, €6.30. exacta: €19.80. trifecta: €66.40. CSF: €25.83. 12.25—SHANTOU LUCKY (C D Maxwell, 4‐1 fav) 1; Paddy Wickla (15‐2) 2; Rebel Ivy (11‐1) 3. H’cap 13 ran. nk, 2 1 /2l. (G Cromwell). Tote: €5.00; pl €1.80, €2.60, €3.20. exacta: €30.40. tricast: €316.56. trifecta: €133.60. CSF: €34.91. Non-runners: Explosive Boy, It Could Be You, Macs Charm. 12.55—GAIN DE CAUSE (M P Walsh, 7‐2 fav) 1; Bread And Butter (50‐1) 2; She’s Commanche (10‐1) 3; Tullyveery Lad (4‐1 ) 4. H’cap 16 ran. 2l, 2 3 /4l, 1 1 /4l. (A J Martin). Tote: €4.50; pl €1.50, €5.90, €2.40, €1.60. exacta: €219.20. tricast: €1662.74. trifecta: Not won. CSF: €185.50. Non-runner: Big Shanghai. 1.25—PARTY CENTRAL (D N Russell, 3‐1 2nd fav) 1; Humble Glory (8‐1) 2; Banntown Girl (11‐1) 3. 9 ran. hd, 4 3 /4l. (G Elliott; 11-8 fav Choice Of Words). Tote: €4.00; pl €1.10, €2.40, €2.40. exacta: €12.00. trifecta: €141.50. CSF: €25.52. Non-runner: Ailie Rose. 2.00—ALLAHO (Mr P W Mullins, 7‐2) 1; Janidil (22‐1) 2; Melon (50‐1) 3. 10 ran. 2l, 3 1 /4l. (W P Mullins; 7-4 fav Envoi Allen). Tote: €4.50; pl €1.50, €4.70, €9.60. exacta: €82.00. tricast: €3247.55. trifecta: €3190.60. CSF: €71.47. 2.35—FERNY HOLLOW (Mr P W Mullins, 8‐15 fav) 1; Coeur Sublime (13‐2) 2; Thedevilscoachman (5‐1 2nd fav) 3. 15 ran. 4l, 2 1 /4l. (W P Mullins). Tote: €1.53; pl €1.10, €2.30, €1.50. exacta: €9.10. trifecta: €25.30. CSF: €5.37. 3.05—GLENQUIN CASTLE (M P Walsh, 11‐8 fav) 1; Exit To The West (28‐1) 2; Beating The Odds (20‐1) 3; Hoke Colburn (12‐1) 4. H’cap 18 ran. 1 1 /2l, 1 1 /4l, 6 1 /2l. (M Brassil). Tote: €2.38; pl €1.10, €5.50, €4.20, €2.70. exacta: €69.30. tricast: €624.45. trifecta: €1508.20. CSF: €47.72. Non-runner: Ragnar Lodbrok. 3.35—SANDOR CLEGANE (Mr B O’Neill, 8‐1) 1; The Flier Begley (3‐1 2nd fav) 2; Grace Shelby (66‐1) 3. 11 ran. 15l, 4 3 /4l. (P Nolan; 11-8 fav Glengouly). Tote: €19.10; pl €2.40, €2.80, €3.80. exacta: €39.80. trifecta: Not won. CSF: €33.80. Non-runner: Any Biscuits. Placepot: €247.10

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SAVE £10 £59.99 +£3.99 P&P WAS £69.99 DX1ST 48 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 Main picture: Philip Brown CRICKET: ASHES COUNTDOWN I have to trust I’m in the best shape physically and mentally to get job done NEW LOOK • Make baby food in seconds! – simply add your ingredients to the short cup or batch bowl, place on the power base, then push and twist for instant, nutritious, fresh baby food. • You control exactly what goes in! – no hidden artificial flavours or preservatives necessary. • Perfect for every stage of development – you’re in complete control so you can switch between making pureed baby food for younger babies and chunkier baby food for older babies. • Batch prepare with ease – the NutriBullet Baby’s batch bowl allows you to make large batches of baby food, so you’re always prepared. nutribullet Baby Video Available Online • Easy storage – prepare, store, and freeze food so it’s ready whenever you need it. 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For queries on refunds please contact High Street TV. Calls cost 12p per minute from a BT landline plus network extras. Calls from other networks and mobiles may cost more. Please see High Street TV’s Terms and Conditions for further details (https://www.highstreettv.com/terms-and-conditions). Offer ends 05/01/2022. QTY Not long to go now until the Ashes are under way and I cannot wait to play my part and help the team do something amazing out here. It has been one of the strangest build ups to a Test series, but that is the world we are living in right now and both sides have to cope with it as best they can. I do feel like we have got what we can out of our preparation time, despite the awful weather that has played havoc. I know I feel ready to go and play a full part. We have had a bit of time in the middle to bat, bowl and field and to get the bodies ready for what is to come, but of course nothing can truly replicate the feeling of an Ashes match and the intensity that comes with it – and I’m looking forward to feeling that again. Walking out to play in an England shirt once more after the MITCHELL Starc has been backed to fire up his left-arm thunderbolts in the first Ashes Test against England at the Gabba. New Australia skipper and world No.1 bowler Pat Cummins has already named his side and Starc, right, has survived despite prominent pundits calling break I’ve had will be a special moment, as it always is, and playing in the Ashes is all the motivation you need. I’ll be fully focused on my job and doing what I can whenever Joe Root asks me to get involved. That is the long and the short of it. But it is also funny how things work out. Call it fate or whatever you like, but there will also be a bit of my mind thinking about dad and the fact that it will be exactly one year to the day since he passed away. He and my mum have always been my biggest supporters and I By Dean Wilson for his head, including Ashes legend Shane Warne. Starc, 31, averaged over 40 per wicket in four Tests against India last season. But Cummins said: “He’s building up nicely. We had a good centre-wicket [training session] yesterday, he was ben stokes column Ben Stokes England’s star all-rounder is back in the fold after a break to recover his body and mind, and is ready to give his all when the first Ashes Test begins in the early hours of Wednesday morning know that he would have been hugely proud to see me back out there representing England, ready to take on the Aussies. It is obviously not a great anniversary to be reminded of, but I think it is a positive little thing that I’m getting back out there and will have my dad in my thoughts. It is amazing how these things work out sometimes. Once I’m out there, it will all be about getting the job done and I have to trust that I’ve got myself into the best possible shape – physically and mentally – as I can. As long as I can trust in the work I’ve done, then the game will look after itself and I can have full confidence in my skills. Cummins still raving over Starc fast, swinging the ball big.We weren’t surprised but it was great to see.” Travis Head’s potential has edged out Usman Khawaja for the No.5 slot. Alex Carey picks up the gloves. Australia: Warner, Harris, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, Green, Carey (wk), Cummins (c), Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon.

DX1ST CRICKET: ASHES COUNTDOWN RArING TO GO Stokes is eager to start after time off with family as he recovered from surgery, inset left ❑ Defending champions Sydney Sixers kicked off this year’s Big Bash in Australia with an emphatic 152-run win over Melbourne Stars. The Sixers posted 213-4 – their highest ever score – with Josh Philippe (83) and Moises Henriques (76) making quickfire runs, while England’s James Vince also contributed with 44. In reply, the Stars were 61 all out. England ODI bowlers Chris Jordan and Tom Curran took 0-15 and 1-9 respectively. Joe Clarke, among 15 English players in this year’s tournament, made just one run for the Stars. world of sport Great Britain have received a wild card for the 2022 Davis Cup Finals. Leon Smith’s side and Novak Djokovic’s Serbia were awarded the two wild cards for next year’s event, meaning they do not need to play in qualifiers in March. Britain’s campaign came to a disappointing end last week with a 2-1 defeat by Germany at DJOKOVIC TENNIS Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 49 the quarter-final stage in Innsbruck. But they and Serbia will now join yesterday’s finalists – Russia and Croatia – in earning free passage. Daniil Medvedev led Russia to the 2021 title last night, beating Marin Cilic 7-6 6-2 to give them an unassailable 2-0 lead after Andrey Rublev won the opening singles. BOXING FRANK Warren says Anthony Yarde has earned a second world title shot after destroying Lyndon Arthur in four rounds. Yarde avenged his loss to Arthur a year ago in spectacular fashion at London’s Copper Box Arena. His reward is a crack at the winner of WBO lightheavyweight champ Joe Smith Junior’s next defence. “The winner of that will fight him,” said Warren. Talking of confidence, I still don’t know whether I’ll be able to field at second slip yet after my finger operation. I am leaving that decision to the last moment and it will depend on how I feel when the time comes. The Aussies have named their side early, and it is good to see Cameron Green, left, playing his first Ashes Test. We don’t focus too much on the opposition and put our faith in what we can do as a team but, from one all-rounder to another, it is good to see another young player making his way in international cricket. You always look out for the players who do the same things that you do, so it will be interesting to see how he goes in the series. The main interest, though, is on how our players do and whoever we go into the first Test with, I know they are going to have more than enough to give the Aussies a proper run for their money. I can’t wait. FEELING PROUD Dad, above, who died a year ago, will be in Stokes’ thoughts when he heads out to middle root has price tag on head JOE ROOT knows he will be No.1 target this week as he starts a series that will define his captaincy. Root has admitted his third attempt at winning the Ashes as skipper will be the one that affects his legacy. “Of course it will,” said Root. “I’m not naive. If you look how hard it has been for English captains over the years. But what an opportunity. I’m very excited.” Root, right, came face-to-face with opposite man Pat Cummins at a series launch in Brisbane and the duo will be just as close at the toss, late tomorrow night. Cummins said: “The last few series we’ve played, he’s always been our prized wicket. “Not necessarily the one we talk about the most, but he’s No.1 batter in the world, their captain.”

50 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 1. Who hit an unbeaten 58 from 28 balls as Kent Spitfires beat Somerset in the Vitality T20 Blast final at Edgbaston? 2. Who came off the bench to miss a penalty that would have given West Ham a share of the points in their 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester United? 3. Who scored a hat-trick of tries for Warrington Wolves as they beat Castleford Tigers 40-20 in Daryl Powell’s farewell game? 4. Which team did England women beat 10–0 in Sarina Wiegman’s second game as head coach? 5. Which Australian tennis player won the Wimbledon men’s singles in 1960? 6. In which sport did Sawao Kato win eight Olympic gold medals between 1968 and 1976? 7. Which Ukrainian pole vaulter set 35 world records in his career? 8. For which baseball team did Joe DiMaggio play? 9. Which team won the FA Cup in 1951 and 1952? 10. Which former European Ryder Cup captain has the nickname ‘Jesse’? ANSWERS: 1 Jordan Cox. 2 Mark Noble. 3 Matty Ashton. 4 Luxembourg. 5 Neale Fraser. 6 Gymnastics. 7 Sergey Bubka. 8 New York Yankees. 9 Newcastle United. 10 Mark James. DX1ST FORMULA ONE: SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX THOSE WERE THE DAYS ON THIS DATE IN SPORTING HISTORY 1930: Just 462 spectators turned out to see Thames play Luton in Division Three South. This stood as the record for the lowest attendance at a Football League match until 1974, when Rochdale v Cambridge attracted 12 fewer people. 1999: The FA fined Nottingham Forest for making unauthorised payments to management and playing staff between 1984 and 1993. 2005: Double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes announced her retirement from athletics. 2015: Neil Robertson, above, hit the first maximum break in a UK Championship final as he won his second title in three years, beating Liang Wenbo 10-5 in York. team spirit Lewis Hamilton celebrates with his mechanics after his victory SHOP CONWAY LEATHER RECLINING Swivel Chair FROM £349.99 WAS £549.99 SAVE £200 watch Lewis right to beware Verstappen’s driving style insists Hill The Conway Swivel Recliner is an executive-style armchair covered in a durable bonded leather. The spacious, padded seating and soft arms will ensure that you’re perfectly relaxed at all times. The variable recline function can be fixed at any point, simply recline with your body until you have found the ideal position and tighten the easy to use handle to fix the chair in place. The swivel function is on a spindle base which allows for easy movement on any surface. The chair is available S7765BLS1Black Black Swivel Chair S7765BLS1Brown Brown Swivel Chair S7765BLS1Burgundy Burgundy Swivel Chair as a standard swivel recliner or within an integrated massage and heat function. The footstool is also included free of charge. All materials are fully fire retardant and meet or exceed all UK fire and safety regulations. Dimensions - H 96cm x W 88cm x D 65cm Colours Available - Black, Brown, Burgundy, Cream and Grey S7765BLS1Cream Cream Swivel Chair S7765BLS1Grey Grey Swivel Chair AVAILABLE WITH HEAT AND MASSAGE CALL US ON 01173 253 411 OR VISIT SHOP.EXPRESS.CO.UK/CONWAY PLEASE NOTE, DELIVERY WILL BE NEXT WORKING DAY IF ORDERED BEFORE 11AM AND IS CHARGED AT £6.95. DUE TO COURIER LIMITATIONS WE ARE UNABLE TO DELIVER THIS PRODUCT OUTSIDE MAINLAND UK, TO SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS, ISLES OR BFPO ADDRESSES. Damon Hill says Lewis Hamilton is rightly “wary and cautious” of the aggressive driving style of Max Verstappen heading into the final-race shoot-out. The feud between the Mercedes and Red Bull rivals had already reached boiling point before yesterday’s dramatic Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Former world champion Hill, right, is no stranger to championships going down to the wire after his infamous battle with Michael Schumacher in 1994, colliding in Adelaide to hand the German his first title. Dirty tricks have decided classic title rivalries before, notably between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. Hamilton and Verstappen are level on points and, if both crashed out of By Darren Witcoop the final race, the Dutchman would clinch the title due to more race wins this season. Hill said: “Some people drive with no compromises and Max is one of them. Lewis has to deal with that and is very cautious. “He’s not intimidated but is rightly wary of Max. It’s not Lewis’ style but Max pushes everything to the limit.” The Mercedes star won an explosive inaugural race in Jeddah last night, but not without being involved in several more flashpoints with the man who was trying his best to prevent Hamilton from defending his title. Mercedes were unhappy with an early red flag after Mick Schumacher crashed. It benefitted Verstappen as he

DX1ST FORMULA ONE: SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX Hamilton and Verstappen’s titans cars come together after Mick clash Schumacher, left, crashed out Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 51 out, hamilton Hamilton collides with the crash SAUdI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX 21/22 was able to change his tyres without losing any time, while the Silver Arrows had already pitted Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. Verstappen overtook illegally on the restart and was told to cede the position back. After another red flag, the Dutchman overtook again – this time within the rules – as the race got under way for a third time. But the biggest moment came with 12 laps to go. Verstappen was again told to let his rival past but – instead of a routine changeover – the rivals collided. Verstappen slowed, but Hamilton also eased off and, when he did try to dart down the left, his front wing made contact with the back of the Red Bull, with both drivers sounding perplexed He’s not intimidated but is wary of him course about what had happened. Hamilton survived the wing damage to win as Verstappen, right, was let down by his tyres in the final few laps. He did finish second ahead of Bottas. Verstappen was fuming over his loss, as well as having to let Hamilton through, the collision and a fivesecond penalty for overtaking off the track – and he stormed off the podium. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said: “That was spectacular but not good racing. It is very hard, maybe over the line. We just want to have a clean championship. “Max has more wins, so it’s still an advantage.” back of Verstappen’s car after the Red Bull slowed 1 L Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes 2:06:15.118 2 M Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull +11.825s 3 V Bottas (Fin) Mercedes +27.531 4 E Ocon (Fra) Alpine +27.633 5 D Ricciardo (Aus) McLaren +40.121 6 P Gasly (Fra) AlphaTauri +41.613 7 C Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari +44.475 8 C Sainz Jr (Spa) Ferrari +46.606 9 A Giovinazzi (Ita) Alfa Romeo +58.505 10 L Norris (Gbr) McLaren +1:01.358 Standings Drivers 1 Verstappen (Ned) 369.5pts 2 Hamilton (Gbr) 369.5 3 Bottas (Fin) 218 4 Perez (Mex) 190 5 Leclerc (Mon) 158 6 Norris (Gbr) 154 7 Sainz Jr (Spa) 149.5 8 Ricciardo (Aus) 115 9 Gasly (Fra) 100 10 Alonso (Spa) 77 Fastest Lap: Hamilton 1:30.734 on lap 47 Pole: Hamilton 1:27.511 ‘Max is over limit, for sure’ from back page tension. Verstappen, left, was later summoned by the race stewards over the incident that saw Hamilton crash into the back of his Red Bull. The recriminations continued afterwards with Hamilton blasting Verstappen, saying he clearly did not believe the rules applied to him. Hamilton, bidding for a record eighth drivers’ title, branded Verstappen “dangerous” and “crazy” as he said: “He’s over the limit, for sure. He hit the brakes so hard and almost took us both out. For him, it doesn’t matter if we both don’t finish but for me we both need to finish. “I’ve been racing for 28 years and come across a lot of different characters. There are a few that are over the limit – rules do not apply or they don’t think of the rules. “I try and keep it on the track, do it the right way and stay out of trouble and avoid incidents. I’m just grateful I had a wing at the end.” Emerson Fittipaldi and Clay Regazzoni, in 1974, were the last two drivers to be tied on equal points going into the final race. Hamilton said of next week’s decider: “I’m personally chilled. I feel like I’m in the boxing ring and I’m ready to go.” zhao: UK champion Curtains for Luca as Zhao delivers SNOOKER By Hector Nunns Zhao Xintong brought the house down in York – having almost been on the streets the night before his breakthrough success. The 24-year-old from China claimed an extraordinary debut tournament victory in winning the UK Championship at the Barbican last night. World No.26 Zhao – whose raw talent has been compared to that of tennis’s Roger Federer by Ronnie O’Sullivan – beat Belgium’s Luca Brecel 10-5. But only hours before emerging for the first session, ‘The Cyclone’ was in a panic at midnight – in desperate need of a good night’s sleep ahead of his first final. After six hotels said ‘No room at the inn’, a bleary-eyed World Snooker official came to the rescue after being dragged out of bed. And the much-hyped youngster, from Xi’an but based at an academy in Sheffield, shrugged off the poor preparation to walk away with the £200,000 prize money and trophy. Zhao said: “I’m so happy, it has been a very exciting night and I love you all! It is the biggest match of my life and my first final. I knew I had to try and play my best snooker. “I’ve done it, and that means a lot to me. I don’t know what else to say really, except winning the UK Championship is the biggest dream come true for me.” Brecel said: “Zhao didn’t allow me to use my game-plan, he just kept potting everything. He had a bit of run of the ball, but just played unbelievably well. “If I had a dream it was for 2022, so I’ll be having another go then. It’s the first time I’ve played in front of such a crowd and I’m back in the top 16, so it’s been a good week.”

52 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 Hayes seals treble glory Chelsea manager Emma Hayes became the first lady of English football by completing a domestic treble in 2021. Australia striker Sam Kerr’s two goals and Fran Kirby’s virtuoso display stole the show as Chelsea won the FA Cup at Wembley. Kirby had opened the scoring after three minutes and the Blues never looked back. Watched by her three-year-old son Harry among a 40,942 crowd, Hayes, right, said: “We’ve painted Wembley blue – the front two were out of this world and I told ARSENAL WOMEN 0 CHELSEA WOMEN 3 Fran it was her best game for Chelsea. She is a national treasure – look after her. And Sam only stepped off a plane from Sydney on Thursday. “As far as I’m concerned, she’s the best striker in the world. To think we are treble winners is an amazing achievement.” After adding a third FA Cup to her four Women’s Super League titles, Hayes is the most successful manager – male or female – at domestic level in Chelsea history. Mike Walters DX1ST FOOTBALL: SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP bishop just unstoppable ACCRINGTON 5 FLEETWOOD 1 ETHAN Hamilton says Accrington team-mate Colby Bishop is “unstoppable”. Both struck twice as Stanley cruised to victory, while Liam Coyle was also on target for the hosts. Hamilton said: “Colby put it on a plate for my first and when he plays like that he’s unstoppable. He’s brilliant. He can hold it up and bring everyone into play.” Fleetwood’s Daniel Batty was sent off in the 23rd minute for an ugly tackle. Harrison Biggins got their goal. guided missile Magic man Vrancic hits the second goal of the game to put Stoke into the top six Mario’s got Stock up on delicious craft beer for Christmas and get £5 off Includes: 20 Craft Beers • 10 Different Styles • Tasty Snack • Free Delivery GUARANTEED DELIVERY BEFORE CHRISTMAS IF ORDERED BY 20TH DEC HOPSMORE.CO.UK/CHRISTMAS *£30 offer is only available with the use of discount code ‘5XMASBOX’ in the checkout a nd can be applied to multiple orders. Full price is £35 Please drink responsibly * £30 WITH CODE: 5XMASBOX X-ray vision OTHERS CAN’T see HIS PASSES MARIO VRANCIC made one and scored one as Stoke stormed back into the top six. The Bosnian playmaker set up Tyrese Campbell in the first half and then added a late second to end QPR’s three-game winning streak. Rangers had 23 shots and Charlie Austin missed a penalty as they failed to score for the first time in 32 league matches. Stoke manager Michael O’Neill said: “Mario has real quality. It was a brilliant pass for Ty and the second one he just guided it. He plays passes others don’t see. He’s a bit of a throwback. “QPR were arguably the in-form team in the division. But we’ve shown we’re capable of finishing in the top six ourselves. We’re still a work in progress but top six has to be the ambition.” Stoke went ahead after Vrancic’s pass set up Campbell, who expertly finished. QPR should have levelled at the start Scottish Premiership Aberdeen (3) 4 St Mirren (1) 1 Watkins 7, 43 Tanser 42 Ramirez 9, 71 Att: 8,002 Hibernian (1) 1 Motherwell (0) 1 Nisbet 33 Watt 60; Att: 15,266 Rangers (1) 3 Dundee (0) 0 Aribo 36 Sweeney 55 (og) Morelos 70 Att: 49,628 St Johnstone P Ross County P Dundee Utd (0) 0 Celtic (2) 3 Rogic 19, Turnbull 40 Scales 81; Att: 8,311 Livingston (0) 0 Hearts (0) 1 Boyce 49, Att: 5,597 P W D L F A Pts Rangers 16 12 3 1 36 14 39 Celtic 16 11 2 3 36 10 35 Hearts 17 8 6 3 26 15 30 Dundee Utd 17 7 4 6 15 18 25 Motherwell 17 7 4 6 21 25 25 Aberdeen 17 6 3 8 22 22 21 Hibernian 15 5 4 6 18 19 19 St Mirren 17 3 8 6 17 28 17 Dundee 16 4 4 8 15 30 16 St Johnstone 15 3 5 7 9 15 14 Livingston 16 3 4 9 12 23 13 Ross County 15 2 5 8 19 27 11 Scottish Championship Inverness CT (0) 1 Kilmarnock (0) 0 Welsh 69 Att: 2,296 Arbroath (0) 0 Raith (0) 0 Att: 1,536 Hamilton (0) 1 Dunfermline (0) 0 Moyo 61 (pen) Att: 1,175 QPR STOKE By Ian Baker Morton (1) 2 Ayr (0) 2 Ugwu 26, 84; Att: 1,33 Bradley 73, Adeloye 78 Queen of South (0) 0 Partick (0) 0 Att: 1,308 P W D L F A Pts Inverness CT 16 9 4 3 19 11 31 Raith 16 8 6 2 26 16 30 Kilmarnock 16 9 2 5 20 10 29 Partick 16 8 4 4 29 14 28 Arbroath 16 7 7 2 26 13 28 Hamilton 16 4 4 8 14 29 16 Ayr 16 3 5 8 15 28 14 Morton 16 2 7 7 14 22 13 Dunfermline 16 2 7 7 15 25 13 Queen of South 16 3 4 9 13 23 13 Scottish League One Clyde (1) 2 Peterhead (2) 2 Cove Rangers (0) 2 Dumbarton (0) 0 East Fife (0) 1 Alloa (0) 1 Queen’s Park (2) 6 Falkirk (0) 0 P W D L F A Pts Cove Rangers 16 9 4 3 31 17 31 Queen’s Park 16 6 8 2 31 17 26 Airdrieonians 15 8 2 5 24 19 26 Montrose 15 6 7 2 25 13 25 Falkirk 16 6 4 6 20 23 22 Alloa 16 5 5 6 25 26 20 Peterhead 16 5 3 8 24 26 18 Dumbarton 16 5 3 8 22 31 18 Clyde 16 4 5 7 20 32 17 East Fife 16 3 3 10 18 36 12 Scottish League Two Edinburgh City (0) 0 Annan Athletic (1) 1 Albion (0) 2 Forfar (1) 3 Cowdenbeath (0) 1 Stirling (0) 0 Elgin P Kelty Hearts P Stenhousemuir (1) 1 Stranraer (3) 4 0 2 of the second half when Adam Davies made a stunning save from Austin. Then Vrancic grappled with Yoann Barbet in the box at a corner and the referee pointed to the spot. But Austin’s penalty was tame. Rangers switched off and Vrancic waltzed through to seal it, but Davies had to make one more stunning save. QPR manager Mark Warburton said: “We need to be better than that. The penalty was a big moment.” QPR (3-4-2-1): Dieng 7; Dickie 7, Dunne 6, Barbet 6; Kakay 6, Johansen 7, Dozzell 5 (Amos 67, 7), Field 6 (Thomas 80); Chair 7, Willock 6; Austin 5 (Gray 74). Stoke cty (3-4-1-2): Davies 8; Wilmot 8, Batth 7, Fox 6; Smith 7, Allen 6, Sawyers 6 (Clucas 57, 6), Tymon 7; Vrancic 8; Fletcher 6 (Ince 90), Campbell 7 (Brown 67, 6). Goals: Campbell 14, Vrancic 78. sCOTLAND & NATIONAL LEAGUE RESULTS SCOTTISH CUP THIRD ROUND REPLAYS Montrose (1)1 Kelty Hearts (1) 1 (Kelty won 3-1 on pens). Darvel Juniors P Brechin P Vanarama National League Aldershot (2) 2 Altrincham (1)2 Barnet (1) 3 Maidenhead Utd (0)0 Bromley (2) 3 Wealdstone (1)2 Dag & Red (1) 3 Grimsby (1)2 Dover (0) 0 Wrexham (0)1 Solihull Moors (1) 2 Woking (0)0 Stockport County P Eastleigh P Weymouth (0) 1 Torquay (0)2 P W D L F A Pts Chesterfield 17 10 6 1 35 15 36 Boreham Wood 17 10 5 2 26 13 35 Bromley 18 10 4 4 34 22 34 Wrexham 19 9 6 4 34 20 33 FC Halifax 17 10 3 4 28 16 33 Grimsby 18 10 2 6 31 20 32 Notts County 18 9 5 4 29 21 32 Solihull Moors 18 9 5 4 24 20 32 Stockport Cty 17 9 3 5 28 20 30 Dag & Red 19 9 2 8 37 26 29 Yeovil 17 8 4 5 19 15 28 Altrincham 18 7 4 7 33 28 25 Barnet 18 7 4 7 24 30 25 Woking 18 8 0 10 30 28 24 Eastleigh 16 7 3 6 21 21 24 Torquay 18 6 3 9 26 31 21 Wealdstone 18 5 6 7 19 28 21 Aldershot 18 5 2 11 20 32 17 Weymouth 18 4 3 11 21 37 15 Southend 16 4 2 10 13 25 14 Maidenhead 16 4 2 10 18 33 14 King’s Lynn 17 2 2 13 15 37 8 Dover 18 0 4 14 14 41 -8 *Dover deducted 12 points

RESULTS ALL THE WEEKEND FOOTBALL ACTION FA CUP 2nd ROUND Gateshead (0) 0 Charlton (1) 2 Stockley 30, 54 Gateshead: Chapman, Tinkler, Williamson, Storey, Nicholson, Bailey (Hunter 86), Ward (Williams 68), Olley, Langstaff (Pani 82), Scott, Campbell (Blackett 68). Booked: Bailey 63. Charlton: Henderson, Clare, Elerewe, Famewo, Dobson, Jaiyesimi (Leko 73), Gilbey, Lee (Morgan 66), Purrington (Souare 82), Washington (Davison 73), Stockley. Booked: Elerewe 87. Ref: Tom Reeves. Rotherham (1) 1 Stockport County (0) 0 Smith 43 Att: 6,466 Rotherham: Vickers, Edmonds-Green, Wood (Harding 46), Ihiekwe, Ogbene, Wiles, Barlaser (Odofin 81), Miller (Mattock 81), Rathbone (Lindsay 65), Ladapo, Smith (Grigg 75). Booked: Miller 38, Smith 40, Ladapo 70, Mattock 90. Stockport: Hinchliffe, Barclay (Hogan 77), Palmer, Kitching (Raikhy 85), Southam-Hales, Collar (Madden 55), Croasdale (Rooney 85), Rydel, Sarcevic, Crankshaw (Jennings 77), Quigley. Booked: Collar 20, Southam-Hales 60, Sarcevic 87. Ref: Ollie Yates. AFC Wimbledon (2) 4 Cheltenham (1) 3 Assal 36, 55, Palmer 41, 65 May 2 Att: 4,322 Williams 73, Heneghan 81 (og) AFC Wimbledon: Tzanev, Osew (Lawrence 86), Heneghan, Csoka, Guinness-Walker, Woodyard, Hartigan (Marsh 68), Assal (Kaja 69), McCormick, Rudoni, Palmer (Pressley 68). Booked: McCormick 80, Woodyard 87. Cheltenham: Flinders, Horton, Long (Raglan 62), Pollock, Hussey, Sercombe, Chapman, Joseph (Williams 62), Crowley (Blair 46), May (Norton 61), Wright (Barkers 72). Booked: Hussey 80, Norton 89, Horton 90. Ref: Alan Young. Bristol Rovers (0) 2 Sutton Utd (0) 1 Collins 57 (pen), Anderton 60 Randall 52; Att: 4,456 Bristol Rovers: Belshaw, Taylor, Harries, Anderton, Anderson, Whelan, Coutts, Finley, Collins, Nicholson (Pitman 76), Evans. Booked: Evans 28, Taylor 45. Sutton Utd: Bouzanis, Barden, Goodliffe (Bennett 83), John, Milsom, Randall (Korboa 70), Davis, Eastmond, Ajiboye (Boldewijn 83), Olaofe (Wilson 36), Bugiel. Booked: Davis 22, Eastmond 73. Ref: Darren Drysdale. Burton Albion (1) 1 Port Vale (0) 2 Leak 23 Politic 79, 82; Att: 3,539 Burton: Garratt, Shaughnessy, Leak, Oshilaja, Hamer, Taylor (Chapman 87), O’Connor (Mancienne 64), B-Jackson, Smith, Jebbison (Holloway 87), Hemmings. Booked: Shaughnessy 88. Port Vale: Stone, Smith, Martin (Worrall 62), Jones, Gibbons, Garrity, Conlon, Pett, Benning (Cass 62), Amoo (Politic 74), Rodney (Walker 90). Ref: Martin Coy. Buxton (0) 0 Morecambe (1) 1 Att: 3,642 Stockton 29 Buxton: T Richardson, Curley, Hurst, Middleton, Fox, Meikle, Clarke, Dawson (Tear 81), Elliot, Ward, De Girolamo (Chambers 48). Booked: Elliot 45, Meikle 50. Morecambe: Letheren, McLaughlin, O’Connor, Delaney, Leigh, McLoughlin, Diagouraga, McCalmont (Jones 68), McDonald, Stockton, Gnahoua (Ayunga 67). Ref: Lee Swabey. Carlisle (0) 1 Shrewsbury (1) 2 Gibson 90; Att: 2,794 Bloxham 10, Bowman 78 Carlisle: Howard, Mellor (Devine 27), McDonald, Feeney, Armer, Young (Charters 61), Guy, Whelan, Dickenson, Abrahams (Mampala 62 (Fishburn 62)), Clough (Gibson 35). Booked: Whelan 8, Clough 30, Feeney 60. Shrewsbury: Marosi, Pennington, Leahy, Ebanks-Landell (Daniels 21), Nurse, Bennett, Vela, Ogbeta (Caton 85), Udoh (Cosgrove 85), Bloxham (Leshabela 89), Bowman. Booked: Pennington 25, Vela 30, Vela 49, Udoh 54. Ref: Sam Barrott. Doncaster (1) 2 Mansfield (0) 3 Horton 7, Rowe 84 Forrester 48 Att: 7,040 Lapslie 60, 71 Doncaster: Jones, Knoyle, Anderson, Horton, Rowe, Smith, Hasani, Ravenhill (Blythe 57), Hiwula, Dodoo, Barlow (Cukur 64). Booked: Ravenhill 56. Mansfield: Bishop, Hewitt, O’Toole, Forrester, McLaughlin (Bowery 46), Lapslie, Stirk, Clarke (Charsley 90), Quinn, Oates (Sinclair 80), Maris. Booked: Stirk 88. Ref: Sebastian Stockbridge. Ipswich (0) 0 Barrow (0) 0 Att: 6,425 Ipswich: Walton, Donacien, Nsiala, Burgess, Clements, Morsy, El Mizouni (Pigott 46), Jackson (Aluko 74), Chaplin (Humphreys 85), Fraser, Bonne. Booked: El Mizouni 33, Morsy 71. Barrow: Farman, J Jones, Ellis, Grayson, Brown, Banks (Taylor 90), White (Zanzala 63), Gotts, Brough, Gordon, Kay (Stevens 86). Booked: Brown 56. Ref: Sam Purkiss. Leyton Orient (2) 4 Tranmere (0) 0 Smith 22, 83, Beckles 36 Drinan 60 (pen) Att: 3,248 LEAGUE ONE Accrington Stanley (1) 5 Fleetwood Town (0) 1 Hamilton 29, 90 Biggins 57 Bishop 46, 78, Coyle 72 Att: 1,901 Accrington: Savin, Sykes, Nottingham (Malcolm 89), Amankwah, Rodgers, Conneely, Pell (O’Sullivan 85), Hamilton, Mumbongo (Coyle 68), McConville, Bishop. Booked: Hamilton 57. Fleetwood Town: Cairns, Johnson (Morris 75), Clarke, McLaughlin, Andrew, Lane (Conn-Clarke 75), Batty, Matete, Hayes, Garner (Biggins 26), Morton. Booked: Hayes 28, Lane 74, Sent-off: Batty 23. Ref: Tom Nield. Sunderland (1) 1 Oxford Utd (1) 1 Dajaku 7 Taylor 36 Att: 26,634 Sunderland: Hoffmann, Wright, Flanagan, Doyle, Gooch, Neil, Pritchard (O’Brien 85), Winchester, Dajaku (Embleton 66), Stewart, Broadhead. Booked: Wright 13, Neil 40. Oxford: Eastwood, Forde, McNally, Moore, Long, Henry (McGuane 74), Kane, Brannagan, Whyte, Taylor (Agyei 74), Holland (Sykes 82). Booked: Brannagan 6, Taylor 13. Ref: Jeremy Simpson. P W D L F A Pts Rotherham 19 11 5 3 34 13 38 Wigan 18 12 2 4 34 16 38 Wycombe 20 11 5 4 32 23 38 Plymouth 20 10 6 4 33 22 36 Sunderland 19 11 3 5 31 24 36 MK Dons 19 10 4 5 37 24 34 Oxford Utd 19 9 6 4 30 19 33 Sheff Wed 20 8 9 3 28 21 33 Portsmouth 20 9 5 6 26 22 32 Burton Albion 20 8 4 8 22 23 28 Ipswich 20 7 6 7 36 30 27 Cheltenham 19 7 6 6 26 30 27 Accrington Stanley 20 8 3 9 28 37 27 Bolton 20 7 5 8 29 29 26 Charlton 20 6 5 9 26 27 23 Cambridge Utd 20 5 8 7 27 35 23 AFC Wimbledon 18 5 6 7 26 30 21 Lincoln City 19 5 6 8 20 24 21 Shrewsbury 19 5 4 10 18 25 19 Morecambe 19 5 4 10 29 37 19 Gillingham 20 3 8 9 16 27 17 Fleetwood Town 19 3 6 10 31 39 15 Doncaster 19 3 4 12 11 34 13 Crewe 20 2 6 12 17 36 12 Leyton Orient: Vigouroux, Thompson, Beckles, Ogie (Happe 85), James, Kyprianou, Clay (Pratley 55), Archibald, Kemp (Young 69), Smith, Drinan. Tranmere: Doohan, Dacres-Cogley, O’Connor, Clarke, K-Percival, MacDonald (McManaman 56), Morris, Spearing (Foley 46), Hawkes (Watson 46), Glatzel (Nevitt 71), Maynard (Dieseruvwe 56). Booked: Spearing 43, D-Cogley 45, K-Percival 59. Ref: James Oldham. Lincoln City (0) 0 Hartlepool (0) 1 Att: 5,506 Fiorini 52 (og) Lincoln City: Long, Poole (Sanders 63), Montsma, Jackson, Robson (Bramall 74), McGrandles, Fiorini, Maguire, Bishop, N’Lundulu, Adelakun. Booked: Maguire 77. Hartlepool: Killip, Ogle, Byrne, Liddle, Odusina, Ferguson, Shelton, Featherstone, Daly (Holohan 87), Molyneux, Cullen (Goodwin 76). Booked: Holohan 89. Ref: Robert Madley. Portsmouth (1) 1 Harrogate Town (1) 2 Harrison 45; Att: 7,857 Armstrong 44, Diamond 90 Portsmouth: Bazunu, Freeman (Brown 57), Raggett, Ogilvie, Romeo, Williams, Azeez, H-Fairchild (Marquis 75), Harness, Jacobs, Harrison (Curtis 60). Booked: Azeez 19, Williams 39, Ogilvie 77. Harrogate Town: Oxley, Sheron, Burrell, Hall, Page, Pattison, Falkingham, Kerry, Thomson, Armstrong, Diamond. Booked: Kerry 13, Burrell 47, Diamond 63, Hall 86. Ref: Simon Mather. Walsall (1) 1 Swindon (1) 2 Osadebe 37; Att: 4,331 Simpson 16, Kesler 67 Walsall: Rushworth, White, Menayese, Monthe, Mills (Khan 73), Labadie, Earing, Wilkinson, Osadebe (Kinsella 66), Phillips, Miller (Shade 73). Booked: White 42, Monthe 56, Khan 89. Swindon: Wollacott, Conroy, Odimayo, Hunt, Kesler, Payne, Reed, Williams (Gladwin 66), Iandolo (C-Noble 84), McKirdy (M-Lawson 75), Simpson. Booked: McKirdy 48, Reed 50. Ref: Peter Wright. Yeovil (0) 1 Stevenage (0) 0 Wakefield 51 Yeovil: Smith, Moss, Wilkinson, Hunt, Williams, Gorman, Staunton, Worthington, Wakefield (Bradley 90), Yussuf (Knowles 66), Lo- Everton (Reid 81). Booked: Staunton 31, Wilkinson 72. Stevenage: A Smith, Wildin, Vancooten, Prosser (Norris 57), Melbourne, Osborne (Barry 73), Taylor, Reeves, Andrade, List, Reid (Read 73). Booked: Reeves 10. Ref: Craig Hicks. Cambridge Utd (1) 2 Exeter (1) 1 May 23, Knibbs 88 Nombe 10 (pen); Att: 2,834 Cambridge Utd: Mitov, Williams, Okedina, Iredale, Dunk (Masterson 80), Digby, May (Weir 80), Tracey (Smith 62), Hoolahan, Brophy (Knibbs 80), Ironside. Booked: Okedina 9. Exeter: Dawson, Sweeney (Coley 63), Ray (Amond 90), Grounds (Hartridge 62), Key, Collins, Kite (Edwards 90), Caprice, Jay, Nombe (Taylor 55), J Brown. Booked: Caprice 60, Ray 82, Dawson 88, Collins 90. Ref: David Rock. Colchester (1) 1 Wigan (1) 2 Sears 45 Lang 24, 75;Att: 2,056 Colchester: Turner, Tchamadeu, Chambers, Smith, Coxe, Skuse (Cooper 83), Chilvers, Jasper, Judge (Sarpong-Wiredu 72), Dobra (Tovide 83), Sears. Subs not used: Gerken, McCoulsky, Daniels, Hutchinson, Marshall, Beadle. Booked: Jasper 6, Dobra 42. Wigan: J Jones, Kerr (Darikwa 65), Whatmough, Watts, Massey (Edwards 76), Cousins (Naylor 65), Power, Pearce (McClean 76), Lang, Keane, Humphrys (J Jones 76). Subs not used: Amos, Tilt, Bayliss, Aasgaard. Booked: Cousins 62, Edwards 81. Ref: Carl Brook. Kidderminster (2) 2 FC Halifax (0) 0 Morgan-Smith 3, Hemmings 17 Att: 4,290 Kidderminster: Simpson, Penny, Cameron, Bajrami, Richards, Bonds, Carrington, Hemmings, Austin, Sterling-James, Morgan- Smith. Subs not used: Lowe, Foulkes, Martin, Freemantle, Lissimore, White, Emery, Tolley, Bastable. FC Halifax: Johnson, Warren, Debrah (Bradbury 46), Maher, Senior, Vale (Newby 59), Green, Spence (Woods 67), Slew (Gilmour 84), Warburton (Summerfield 59), Waters. Subs not used: Benn, Scott, S-Neavin , Cooke. Booked: Spence 20, Maher 63. Ref: Brett Huxtable. Rochdale (0) 1 Plymouth (1) 2 Morley 55 Garrick 17, Jephcott 86; Att: 2,687 Rochdale: Lynch, Taylor, O’Connell, Dorsett, O’Keeffe (Cashman 89), Morley (Broadbent 90), Kelly, Odoh, Beesley, Andrews (Dooley 73), Grant (White 46). Subs not used: McNulty, Done, Brierley, Coleman, Scanlon. Plymouth: M Cooper, Wilson, Scarr, Gillesphey, Edwards, Broom (Camara 70), Houghton, Mayor, G Cooper (Law 55), Garrick (Ennis 84), Hardie (Jephcott 84). Subs not used: Bolton, Grant, Agard, Randell, Burton. Booked: Wilson 37, Law 64, Houghton 77. Ref: Andrew Kitchen. Salford City (0) 0 Chesterfield (1) 2 Mandeville 28, Kellermann 86 Salford: King, Shephard (Wright 79), Eastham, Turnbull, Touray, Love, Lowe, Lund, Morris, T-Asante (Oteh 79), Elliott (Dackers 79). Subs not used: McAleny, Golden, Smith, Torrance, Vassell. Booked: Lund 8. Chesterfield: Loach, Kerr, Grimes, Croll (Khan 51), Miller, Oyeleke, Weston, Whittle, Kellermann, Mandeville (Clarke 90), Tshimanga (Payne 90). Subs not used: Minter, McCourt, Tyson. Ref: Ross Joyce. LEAGUE TWO HITMAN: Hamilton struck for Accrington P W D L F A Pts Forest Green 18 12 4 2 34 14 40 Northampton 19 10 4 5 25 15 34 Exeter 19 8 9 2 31 21 33 Swindon 18 9 6 3 28 18 33 Port Vale 19 9 5 5 32 20 32 Sutton Utd 19 10 2 7 28 22 32 Harrogate Town 19 8 6 5 33 24 30 Leyton Orient 19 6 10 3 32 17 28 Newport County 19 7 7 5 30 23 28 Tranmere 18 7 5 6 15 14 26 Salford City 19 6 6 7 22 19 24 Bradford 19 5 9 5 25 23 24 Rochdale 19 5 9 5 24 24 24 Walsall 19 6 6 7 21 23 24 Mansfield 19 6 5 8 21 25 23 Bristol Rovers 19 6 5 8 22 29 23 Hartlepool 19 7 2 10 20 30 23 Colchester 18 5 6 7 16 22 21 Crawley Town 18 6 3 9 20 28 21 Barrow 19 4 7 8 20 24 19 Stevenage 18 4 6 8 15 30 18 Carlisle 19 3 7 9 13 28 16 Oldham 19 4 3 12 16 30 15 Scunthorpe 19 2 8 9 15 35 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DX1ST CHAMPIONSHIP PREMIER LEAGUE Home Away P W D L F A W D L F A Pts Man City 15 5 1 1 17 3 6 1 1 15 6 35 Liverpool 15 4 3 0 18 5 6 1 1 26 7 34 Chelsea 15 4 2 1 18 4 6 1 1 17 5 33 West Ham 15 4 2 2 16 12 4 1 2 12 7 27 Tottenham 14 6 0 2 11 8 2 1 3 5 9 25 Man Utd 15 4 1 3 14 13 3 2 2 11 11 24 Arsenal 14 5 1 1 12 6 2 1 4 5 14 23 Wolves 15 3 1 4 5 7 3 2 2 7 6 21 Brighton 15 2 3 2 6 8 2 5 1 8 8 20 Aston Villa 15 4 1 3 14 11 2 0 5 7 13 19 Leicester 15 3 1 3 11 12 2 3 3 12 15 19 Brentford 15 2 1 4 8 9 2 4 2 11 12 17 Crystal Palace 15 2 4 1 10 6 1 3 4 9 15 16 Leeds 15 2 4 2 9 11 1 3 3 6 11 16 Southampton 15 2 5 1 8 7 1 2 4 6 14 16 Everton 14 3 1 3 11 12 1 2 4 6 12 15 Watford 15 2 1 5 10 17 2 0 5 10 12 13 Burnley 14 1 3 2 8 8 0 4 4 6 13 10 Newcastle 15 1 4 3 12 17 0 3 4 5 13 10 Norwich 15 1 2 4 5 11 1 2 5 3 20 10 Fulham (0) 1 Bournemouth (0) 1 Adarabioyo 84 Solanke 46 Att: 19,020 Fulham: Rodak, Odoi, Adarabioyo, Ream, Bryan, Seri (Cairney 71), Reed, Wilson, Carvalho (Reid 71), Kebano, Mitrovic. Booked: Carvalho 51, Bryan 68, Reid 82. Bournemouth: Travers, Stacey, Cahill, S Cook, Smith (Mepham 89), L Cook, Billing, Marcondes (Pearson 56), Christie, Anthony (Brady 88), Solanke. Booked: L Cook 16, Stacey 34, Smith 61, Travers 62, Christie 80, Billing 88. Ref: Tim Robinson. Barnsley (1) 1 Huddersfield (1) 1 Morris 45 O’Brien 33 Att: 15,190 Barnsley: Collins, Helik, Andersen, Kitching, Brittain, Palmer (Benson 75), Gomes, Styles (Williams 86), Iseka (Adeboyejo 62), Woodrow, Morris. Booked: Helik 71, Morris 90. Huddersfield: Nicholls, Turton, Lees, Colwill, Toffolo, Thomas (Aarons 82), O’Brien, High, Ward, Campbell (Odubeko 55), Koroma. Ref: Matthew Donohue. Blackburn (0) 1 Preston (0) 0 Brereton 53 Att: 18,487 Blackburn: Pears, Lenihan, van Hecke, Wharton, Nyambe, Travis, Rothwell (Edun 85), Pickering, Buckley (Johnson 66), Brereton, Khadra (Dolan 76). Booked: Lenihan 16, van Hecke 65, Travis 69. Preston: Iversen, Storey, Lindsay, Cunningham (Sinclair 78), Olosunde (Ledson 82), McCann (Johnson 78), Whiteman, Earl, Browne, Evans, Jakobsen. Booked: Jakobsen 65, Evans 83. Ref: Gavin Ward. Blackpool (0) 0 Luton (1) 3 Att: 11,366 Bradley 42, Adebayo 54, Clark 90 Blackpool: Maxwell, Sterling, Ekpiteta, Husband, James, Wintle, Dougall (Carey 78), Mitchell (Bowler 59), Anderson, Dale (Lavery 64), Yates. Luton: Shea, Burke, Naismith, Bradley, Bree, Campbell, Lansbury (Mpanzu 46), Bell, Clark, Adebayo (Hylton 82), Mendes Gomes (Muskwe 77). Ref: Peter Bankes. Bristol City (1) 1 Derby (0) 0 Scott 16 Att: 18,732 Bristol City: Bentley, Vyner, Kalas, Atkinson, Scott, Bakinson (James 67), Massengo, O’Dowda (Pring 71), Weimann, Martin, Semenyo (Wells 75). Booked: Bakinson 39, Kalas 45, Pring 80. Derby: Allsop, Byrne, Jagielka, Davies, Forsyth (Morrison 72), Thompson (Plange 46), Bird, Shinnie, Ebosele , Lawrence, Knight (Kazim-Richards 46). Booked: Knight 39, Forsyth 40. Ref: Graham Scott. TOP SCORERS PREMIER LEAGUE Salah (Liverpool).............. 13 Vardy (Leicester)................9 Jota (Liverpool)..................8 B Silva (Man City)................7 Mane (Liverpool).................7 THE WEEK AHEAD (7.45 unless stated) TODAY Premier League Everton v Arsenal (8) Emirates FA Cup Second Rnd Boreham Wood v St Albans Tuesday UEFA Champions League Group A PSG v Club Brugge (5.45), RB Leipzig v Man City (5.45) Group B AC Milan v Liverpool (8), FC Porto v Atletico Madrid (8) Group C Ajax v Sporting (8), B Dortmund v Besiktas (8) Group D Real Madrid v Inter Milan (8) Shakhtar Donetsk v Sheriff (8) Sky Bet League One Accrington v AFC Wimbledon Charlton v Ipswich Cheltenham v Cambridge Utd Crewe v Lincoln City Doncaster v Oxford Utd Fleetwood Town v Bolton Portsmouth v Sheff Wed Rotherham v Gillingham Sunderland v Morecambe Wycombe v Burton Albion Cardiff (1) 2 Sheff Utd (0) 3 Harris 32, McGuinness 90 Gibbs-White 61, Sharp 73 Att: 18,310 McGoldrick 75 Cardiff: Smithies, McGuinness, Morrison, Nelson, Ng, Ralls, Pack, Giles, Davies (Vaulks 63), Collins (Moore 63), Harris (Flint 56). Booked: Collins 44. Sent-off: Morrison 52. Sheff Utd: Foderingham, Basham, Egan, Davies, Bogle, Norwood, Hourihane, Stevens, Gibbs-White (Osborn 87), McGoldrick, Sharp (McBurnie 80). Booked: Norwood 40. Ref: John Busby. Coventry (0) 1 West Brom (2) 2 McFadzean 83 Ahearne-Grant 20 Att: 23,755 McFadzean 43 (og) Coventry: Moore, Dabo, McFadzean, Rose, Kane, Hamer (Kelly 40), Sheaf, Maatsen (Hyam 46), O’Hare (Walker 77), Godden, Gyokeres. West Brom: Johnstone, Kipre, Bartley, Clarke, Furlong, P W D L F A Pts Fulham 21 13 5 3 50 17 44 Bournemouth 21 12 7 2 37 17 43 West Brom 21 10 7 4 29 17 37 Blackburn 21 10 6 5 35 27 36 QPR 21 10 5 6 33 27 35 Stoke 21 10 4 7 26 21 34 Coventry 21 9 6 6 28 25 33 Millwall 21 7 9 5 23 22 30 Middlesbrough 21 8 5 8 24 23 29 Sheff Utd 21 8 5 8 28 28 29 Huddersfield 21 8 5 8 24 24 29 Luton 21 7 7 7 30 26 28 Nottm Forest 21 7 7 7 26 23 28 Swansea 21 7 6 8 25 27 27 Blackpool 21 7 6 8 20 25 27 Birmingham 21 7 5 9 20 24 26 Bristol City 21 7 5 9 22 30 26 Preston 21 6 7 8 22 27 25 Hull 21 6 4 11 17 24 22 Reading 21 8 3 10 27 33 21 Cardiff 21 6 3 12 23 37 21 Peterborough 21 4 4 13 17 40 16 Barnsley 21 2 7 12 14 32 13 Derby 21 4 10 7 17 21 1 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 53 Newcastle (1) 1 Burnley (0) 0 Wilson 40 Att: 51,948 Southampton (1) 1 Brighton (0) 1 Broja 29 Maupay 90 Att: 28,706 Watford (0) 1 Man City (2) 3 Hernandez 74 Sterling 4 Att: 20,673 Bernardo Silva 31, 63 West Ham (1) 3 Chelsea (2) 2 Lanzini 40 (pen) Thiago Silva 29 Bowen 56 Mount 44 Masuaku 87 Wolves (0) 0 Liverpool (0) 1 Att: 30, 729 Origi 90 Aston Villa (1) 2 Leicester (1) 1 Konsa 17, 54 Barnes 14 Att: 41,572 Leeds (1) 2 Brentford (0) 2 Roberts 27 Baptiste 54 Bamford 90 Canos 61 Man Utd (0) 1 Crystal Palace (0) 0 Fred 77 Att: 73,172 Tottenham (1) 3 Norwich (0) 0 Lucas Moura 10 Sanchez 67 Son 77 Att: 57,088 Gardner-Hickman (Ajayi 86), Mowatt, Townsend, Diangana (Hugill 55), Ahearne-Grant, Robinson (Reach 69). Booked: Mowatt 35, Johnstone 66, Kipre 74. Ref: Keith Stroud. Middlesbrough (1) 1 Swansea (0) 0 Jones 26 Att: 18,707 Middlesbrough: Daniels, Dijksteel (Fry 90), Bamba, McNair, Jones, Crooks, Howson, Tavernier, Bola, Sporar (Ikpeazu 73), Watmore (Hernandez 72). Booked: McNair 70. Swansea: Hamer, Cabango, Naughton, Williams (Obafemi 67), Laird (Latibeaudiere 78), Grimes, Downes, Manning, Smith (Ntcham 46), Paterson, Piroe. Booked: Paterson 45. Ref: Andy Davies. Millwall (2) 3 Birmingham (0) 1 M Wallace 10, Bradshaw 41 Deeney 56 Evans 73 Att: 14,324 Millwall: Bialkowski, Hutchinson, Cooper, M Wallace, McNamara, Evans, Mitchell, Malone (Pearce 86), J Wallace (Kieftenbeld 83), Afobe, Bradshaw (Bennett 89). Birmingham: Etheridge, Sanderson, Roberts, Pedersen, Graham, James, Sunjic, McGree, Bela (Jutkiewicz 46), Hogan (Aneke 80), Deeney. Booked: Pedersen 20, Roberts 50. Ref: Andy Woolmer. Nottm Forest (0) 2 Peterborough (0) 0 Garner 72, Yates 84 Att: 28,308 Nottm Forest: Samba, Spence, Worrall, McKenna, Colback, Ojeda (Cafu 80), Yates, Johnson, Garner, Zinckernagel, Grabban (Taylor 85). Booked: Samba 82. Peterborough: Cornell, Knight, Edwards, Butler, Thompson, Grant, Norburn (Szmodics 78), Burrows (Coventry 68), Taylor, Dembele, Clarke-Harris. Booked: Clarke-Harris 57, Butler 64, Thompson 79, Edwards 86. Ref: Thomas Bramall. Reading (1) 1 Hull (0) 1 Holmes 45 Wilks 55; Att: 11,827 Reading: Southwood, Yiadom (Tetek 46), Holmes, Dann, Baba, Laurent, Halilovic (Azeez 57), Drinkwater, Swift, Dele-Bashiru, Carroll. Booked: Halilovic 40, Baba 74. Hull: Baxter, Bernard, McLoughlin, Greaves, Longman (Elder 66), Smallwood, Docherty, Lewis-Potter, Honeyman, Wilks, Magennis (Smith 76). Booked: Elder 90. Ref: Stephen Martin. QPR (0) 0 Stoke (1) 2 Campbell 14, Vrancic 78 Att: 13,968 QPR: Dieng, Dickie, Dunne, Barbet, Kakay, Johansen, Dozzell (Amos 67), Field (Thomas 80), Chair, Willock, Austin (Gray 74). Subs not used: Ball, Archer, Duke-Mckenna. Stoke: Davies, Smith, Wilmot, Batth, Fox, Tymon, Sawyers (Clucas 57), Allen, Vrancic, Fletcher (Ince 90), Campbell (Brown 67). Subs not used: Chester, Doughty, Bonham, Sima. Booked: Fox 53. Ref: Tony Harrington. CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE ONE LEAGUE TWO SCOTTISH PREM Mitrovic (Fulham)............. 21 Brereton (Blackburn).......17 Solanke (Bournemouth).16 Piroe (Swansea)................ 10 Gyokeres (Coventry)..........9 Sky Bet League Two Bristol Rovers v Port Vale Exeter v Northampton Harrogate v Forest Green Leyton Orient v Swindon Mansfield v Carlisle Newport County v Sutton Utd Oldham v Tranmere Stevenage v Scunthorpe Walsall v Crawley Town cinch Scottish League 1 Montrose v Airdrieonians cinch Scottish League 2 Elgin v Kelty Hearts Wednesday UEFA Champions League Group E Bayern Munich v Barcelona (8), Benfica v Dynamo Kiev (8) Group F Atalanta v Villarreal (8), Man Utd v Young Boys (8) Group G Red Bull Salzburg v Sevilla (8), Wolfsburg v Lille (8) Group H Juventus v Malmo FF (5.45), Zenit St P’burg v Chelsea (5.45) Sky Bet League One MK Dons v Plymouth Wigan v Shrewsbury Stockton (Morecambe)... 13 Smith (Rotherham).......... 12 Bonne (Ipswich)................. 11 C Stewart (Sunderland).. 10 Hardie (Plymouth)..............9 Sky Bet League Two Barrow v Salford City Bradford v Colchester Hartlepool v Rochdale cinch Scottish Premiership Livingston v Hibernian Thursday UEFA Europa League Group A Lyon v Rangers (5.45) Group C Napoli v Leicester (5.45) Group G Celtic v Real Betis (8) Group H West Ham v Dinamo Zagreb (8) UEFA Europa Conference League Group G Tottenham v Rennes (8) Friday Premier League Brentford v Watford (8) cinch Scottish Championship Ayr v Hamilton Saturday Premier League Arsenal v Southampton Chelsea v Leeds Liverpool v Aston Villa Man City v Wolves (12.30) Norwich v Man Utd (5.30) Telford (Newport Cty)...... 13 Stevens (Forest Green)... 10 Matt (Forest Green).......... 10 Jay (Exeter)........................ 10 Smith (Leyton Orient)........9 Sky Bet Championship Bournemouth v Blackburn Birmingham v Cardiff Derby v Blackpool Huddersfield v Coventry (12.30) Hull v Bristol City Luton v Fulham Peterborough v Millwall Preston v Barnsley Stoke v Middlesbrough Swansea v Nottm Forest West Brom v Reading Sky Bet League One Accrington v Bolton Charlton v Cambridge Utd Cheltenham v Lincoln City Crewe v Sheff Wed Doncaster v Shrewsbury Fleetwood Town v Gillingham MK Dons v Oxford Utd Portsmouth v Morecambe Rotherham v Burton Albion Sunderland v Plymouth Wigan v Ipswich Wycombe v AFC Wimbledon Sky Bet League Two Barrow v Swindon Bradford v Sutton Utd Bristol Rovers v Rochdale Exeter v Tranmere Watt (Motherwell)...............9 Ramirez (Aberdeen)...........8 Furuhashi (Celtic)...............8 Boyce (Hearts).....................7 Boyle (Hibernian)...............7 Harrogate Town v Northampton Hartlepool v Scunthorpe Leyton Orient v Crawley Town Mansfield v Salford City Newport County v Port Vale Oldham v Forest Green Stevenage v Carlisle Walsall v Colchester cinch Scottish Premiership Dundee Utd v Livingston Ross County v Dundee St Johnstone v Aberdeen St Mirren v Hibernian cinch Scottish Championship Dunfermline v Queen of South Morton v Inverness CT Partick v Arbroath Raith v Kilmarnock cinch Scottish League 1 Airdrieonians v Queen’s Park Alloa v Clyde Dumbarton v Montrose Falkirk v Cove Rangers Peterhead v East Fife cinch Scottish League 2 Annan Athletic v Elgin Forfar v Stirling Kelty Hearts v Albion Stenhousemuir v Edinburgh C Stranraer v Cowdenbeath 1-2-X CHECK pools number FULL TIME 1 1 2 3 3 1 4 1 5 3 6 1 7 1a 8 1a 9 3 10 1 11 1a 12 1 13 1a 14 1 15 1 16 1 17 1a 18 3 19 1 20 3 21 1 22 1 23 1a 24 1a 25 1a 26 1a 27 2 28 1 29 1 30 1a 31 1a 32 1a 33 1a 34 1a 35 1 36 1 37 1a 38 3 39 1a 40 1 41 1 42 3 43 1 44 1 45 1 46 1a 47 1 48 1a 49 1a

54 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 HOWE A DREAM BELIEVER EDDIE Howe needed this victory every bit as much as the players and fans at Newcastle. The head coach knew that, for all his positivity, the message he has been preaching since arriving at St James’ Park would have started to wear thin had the Magpies failed to beat Burnley. To an outsider, the scenes on the final whistle and the outpouring of emotion on and off the pitch, which would not have looked out of place had NEwCASTLE 1 BURNLEY 0 Newcastle won the Premier League title, may seem ridiculous. But that is to ignore the football straitjacket, suffocating the club for the previous 14 years, from which the Magpies have been released. “I’m a firm believer in psychology,” said Howe. “It is so important for professional athletes, and in team sports, taking to the pitch believing you can win. “But sometimes, you have to win to believe it. We have done a lot of psychological work with the players.” In truth, their efforts may not have been enough against more accomplished opponents and Burnley’s self-belief drained out of them once Nick Pope’s fumble allowed Callum Wilson to score in the first half. Burnley manager Sean Dyche said: “I thought there was a nervousness to their crowd and to their players. But the goal changed that.” Ian Murtagh DX1ST FOOTBALL: PREMIER LEAGUE Benitez can see off crisis says Arteta HOWE: First victory EVERTON V ARSENAL 8pm, SKY SPORTS By John Cross MIKEL ARTETA admits he can show no mercy towards under-fire Rafa Benitez – but insists the Spaniard has the quality and experience to turn things around. Arteta had six years at Everton and says the atmosphere at Goodison Park can be “incredible” – but the fans are in uproar about the growing crisis at the club. Everton owner Farhad Moshiri is flying in for the Arsenal game, with the board also meeting beforehand. And Benitez’s future is on the agenda after a disastrous run of eight games without a win. Arteta admitted there was no room for sympathy, and said: “When you are competing you have to go toe-to-toe with whoever is in front of you. “I’ve been there in great moments and, I can tell you as a player, it’s incredible. I haven’t seen what is actually happening, it’s pretty difficult to guess on TV. But, I imagine, when the crowd is not with the team, it’s harder to play. “You always have empathy because you know internally how much you suffer and, in the difficult moments, you have to go through that. “Talking about Rafa, who I know personally as well, the experience he has and what he’s done in the game is remarkable. “So he knows much better than me how to handle these sort of Rafa buying power from back page during his three-year spell – with mixed results. Now Benitez is set to take control of Everton’s recruitment process after Moshiri assured the Spaniard he has his full backing despite the recent plunge towards the relegation zone. Moshiri believes Benitez must be given more time after seeing his squad decimated by injuries. But with fans planning to stage a mass walk-out during tonight’s vital clash with Arsenal, something had to give. Maupay’s thriving on the boos NEAL MAUPAY has been spurred on by Brighton’s boo-boys – after being made to feel like the worst striker in the Premier League. The Frenchman, right, had a shocker against Leeds nine days ago. But he scored deep in added time to rescue a point at Southampton – three days after an 89th-minute equaliser at West Ham to give the Seagulls an eighth SOUTHAMPTON 1 BRIGHTON 1 draw in 10 Premier League games. Maupay said: “Fans are sometimes harsh with players. After the Leeds game they were probably saying I was the worst striker in the league. “All of a sudden I’m a hero. I can’t be too satisfied. I need to work.” Brighton were situations. We know the qualities he has as a manager.” Arsenal go to Goodison needing a win to get back on track for their push for a top-four place, having lost at Manchester United on Thursday. It was another unhappy night for Thomas Partey, who has only shown his quality in flashes since his £45million move from Atletico Madrid in 2020. Arteta, above, admitted that Partey needs to show more consistency but added: “Injuries have not been really helpful for him. He has had some games where he has been more consistent than in others.” Everton (probable): Pickford; Coleman, Godfrey, Keane, Digne; Townsend, Doucoure, Allan, Gordon; Gray; Richarlison. Arsenal (probable): Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Lokonga; Saka, Odegaard, Smith-Rowe; Aubameyang. under THE cosh: But Benitez is backed to win his battle poor for much of the match as Armando Broja deservedly put Southampton ahead. But they hung in despite playing the last few minutes with 10 men after an arm injury to Leandro Trossard. Maupay pounced amid questionable Saints defending. Ian Baker

DX1ST FOOTBALL: PREMIER LEAGUE LETTING IT SLIP Mendy is caught out by Masuaku’s swerving cross that won it for the Hammers PERFORMANCE ZONE premIER LEAGUE team of the weekEND BACHMANN Watford Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 55 WATFORD 1 MAN CITY 3 HOW THEY RATED WATFORD (4-1-4-1): Bachmann 7; Femenia 5, Troost-Ekong 5, Cathcart 6, Rose 5 (Ngakia 71); Louza 5 (Hernandez 46, 6); Dennis 6, Cleverley 5 (Kucka 46, 6), Sissoko 5, Pedro 5; King 6. CITY (4-1-5): Ederson 6; Walker 6, Dias 7, Laporte 6, Cancelo 6; Rodri 6; Sterling 7, Silva 8, Grealish 6 (Mahrez 67, 7), Gundogan 7 (De Bruyne 67, 7), Foden 7 (Jesus 75). DALOT Man United silva Man City Canos Brentford coady Wolves fred Man United KONSA Aston Villa origi Liverpool lindelof Man United bowen West Ham moura Tottenham WOLVES 0 LIVERPOOL 1 HOW THEY RATED WOLVES (3-4-3): Sa 7; Kilman 7, Coady 8, Saiss 7; Semedo 7, Neves 6, Dendoncker 6, Ait Nouri 7 (Hoever 92); Traore 7 (Trincao 88), Jimenez 5, Hee-Chan 5 (Moutinho 79). LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson 7; Alexander-Arnold 7, Van Dijk 7, Matip 7, Robertson 7; Fabinho 7, Henderson 7 (Origi 68, 8), Thiago 7; Salah 8 (Milner 96), Jota 5 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 82), Mane 6. Mendy’s safe ClAIMS Tuchel AT the end of a week in which Chelsea have gone from a threepoint No axe for costly goalkeeper lead at the top to third, Thomas Tuchel was on the defensive. height because we lost Kai and The Blues head coach insisted WEST HAM 3 Kai had a crucial role in defending he will not drop Eduardo Mendy set pieces, which is a huge threat after the goalkeeper’s two errors CHELSEA 2 from West Ham. So this is on me.” led to their first defeat since By Neil McLeman After admitting Mendy had September. “lost a bit of confidence”, Tuchel And the German admitted he Lukaku, clearly lacking match said: “I don’t see why we should only introduced Romelu Lukaku fitness, replaced the injured Kai have major doubts with Edu.” at half-time to help counter the Havertz. Chelsea scored 20 goals Chelsea took the lead when West Ham threat at set pieces – in seven games when record Thiago Silva headed home Mason and took the blame for the signing Lukaku was out with an Mount’s 28th-minute corner. striker’s leaden display. ankle injury. And even after Mendy brought Paris Saint-Germain head coach And his return in three down Jarrod Bowen to allow Mauricio Pochettino recently substitute appearances against Manuel Lanzini to score from a labelled Chelsea a “defensive Manchester United, Watford and penalty, the away side still scored team” for their preference for now West Ham has coincided the goal of the game. Hakim playing on the counter attack. with Chelsea’s traditional Ziyech’s cross-field ball found But the first mini-crisis of December dip in form. Mount, who converted a Tuchel’s season gave the “It is my fault because I think sumptuous volley. Argentinian’s statement new he is not ready for 45 minutes But Bowen equalised after meaning as the Blues boss circled physically,” Tuchel said. “And still, 56 minutes before Masuaku’s the wagons. While the German we decided to bring him on for his unlikely 87th-minute winner. claimed there was no reason to question the “bigger picture”, his sloppy side have temporarily lost Hammers’ quiet achiever their Teutonic efficiency. Mendy was shaky, conceding DAVID MOYES praised “quiet boy” Arthur Masuaku after the DR Congo the winner from Arthur defender made a big noise with his lucky winner. Masuaku’s mishit cross, while The West Ham manager called the late strike “a great cross” while the Chelsea missed the midfield substitute wrote on Twitter: “So, was it a cross or was it shot? (Hint: I was control of the injured N’Golo as surprised as you).” Kante and Mateo Kovacic. It was his first Premier League goal on his 95th appearance, and Moyes And after leading 2-1 at the said: “I have always enjoyed having him, from the first time I was here. break, the European champions “He’s actually quite a quiet boy but he also has a good personality – and were worse going forward when we like him a lot.” Pep can’t rely on Bernardo’s charity GUARDIOLA: Waiting PEP GUARDIOLA admits he is still waiting for the day Manchester City rediscover their killer instinct. Guardiola praised man of the match Bernardo Silva for another “incredible” performance after two goals against Watford. Raheem Sterling started the scoring just four minutes into the WATFORD 1 MAN CITY 3 match but City, who peppered the Hornets with 26 shots, missed a hatful of openings – and a chance to close the goal-difference gap with Liverpool. The champions went top, but second-placed Liverpool are nine goals better off and only a point behind them. City manager Guardiola said: “Maybe one day we will we shoot four shots on target and score four goals, who knows? The important thing is we won. “For the way we play and chances we create, we could win with more margin, and maybe goal difference is important. But it is what it is.” Paul Brown WEST HAM 3 CHELSEA 2 HOW THEY RATED WEST HAM (3-4-2-1): Fabianski 7; Dawson 7, Diop 6, Zouma 7 (Fornals 71); Coufal 6, Rice 8, Soucek 6, Johnson 6 (Masuaku 45, 7); Bowen 8, Lanzini 7 (Benrahma 85); Antonio 7. CHELSEA (3-4-2-1): Mendy 4; Christensen 6, Silva 7, Rudiger 6; James 6, Jorginho 5, Loftus-Cheek 7, Alonso 6 (Pulisic 72); Ziyech 6 (Hudson-Odoi 64, 6), Mount 7; Havertz 6 (Lukaku 46, 4). 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I enclose a cheque for £ made payable to High Street TV (Group) Limited. Please write your name and address on the back of your cheque and send to High Street TV, Reader Offers ROEX2095, PO Box 769, Central House, Harrogate HG1 9QY Or please debit my… Visa MasterCard Maestro card Card no NEWCASTLE 1 BURNLEY 0 HOW THEY RATED NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1): Dubravka 7; Manquillo 7, Schar 6, Lascelles 6, Lewis 5; Shelvey 7, Willock 5; Almiron 6 (Fernandez 85), Saint-Maximin 7 (Murphy 90), Joelinton 6; Wilson 8. BURNLEY (4-4-2): Pope 5; Lowton 6 (Roberts 75), Colllins 7, Tarkowski 7, Taylor 6; Gudmundsson 7 (Rodriguez 80), Westwood 6, Brownhill 6, McNeil 5; Wood 6, Cornet 6 (Vydra 32, 5). Valid from Exp date Security code QTY SO’ton 1 BRIGHTON 1 HOW THEY RATED SO’TON (4-4-2): McCarthy 7; Livramento 6, Lyanco 7, Salisu 6, Walker-Peters 6; Redmond 7, Ward-Prowse 7, Romeu 7, Tella 6 (Elyounoussi 84); Adams 6, Broja 8 (A Armstrong 81). BRIGHTON (3-5-2): Sanchez 7; Veltman 6 (Moder 78), Duffy 5, Burn 6; Lamptey 6 (March 63, 7), Gross 6 (Connolly 55, 6), Bissouma 6, Mwepu 7, Cucurella 6; Trossard 6, Maupay 7. Iss no (if Maestro) AS SEEN ON TV Also Available Air Hawk MAX Mr Mrs Ms First name ............................................................................ Initials ................................................... Surname ............................................................................ Address ............................................................................................... Postcode .............................. Daytime tel no .............................................................................................................................. Signature ....................................................................... ........................................................ 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56 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 DX1ST FOOTBALL: PREMIER LEAGUE Back to the Future Part II for Klopp Classic movies go down well at Christmas and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp must be a Back to the Future fan. This vital late win brought back memories of Liverpool’s title victory in 2019-20. Back then, Roberto Firmino popped up with an 84th-minute winner to clinch a 2-1 win in January 2020. On Saturday, supersub Divock Origi broke Wolves’ resistance in the fifth minute of stoppage time at the same windy Molineux. “We said after the game it was like our good old times two years ago when we really needed it near the end,” said Klopp. “It’s WOLVES 0 LIVERPOOL 1 great. The wind is not only cold, it makes it tricky to play football. We played the derby three days ago and it’s easy to focus on the derby, it’s the game of the year. “But how we fought in this game was really good and will help us a lot. It feels big.” Meanwhile, Mo Salah has urged Liverpool to solve his contract stalemate. The Egyptian ace, 29, has 18 months left on his current contract but talks have hit a deadlock over a potential £400,000-a-week deal. Salah said: “If the decision is up to me, I want to stay. But the decision is in the hands of the management and they have to solve this. “Your financial value shows how much the club appreciates you and that they are ready to do anything for you to stay, but the decision itself is not based on those financial matters only.” happy ending: Klopp hugs Origi leaving it late Patrick Bamford, left, turns the equaliser into the net deep into added time LEEDS v BRENTFORD 63 Possession % 37 6 Shots on Target 3 4 Shots off Target 2 3 blocked Shots 4 5 Corners 1 11 Fouls 9 5 Yellow Cards 3 0 Red Cards 0 Source: Opta Perfect time for Bamford £10,000 BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN OUR MONTHLY COMPETITION TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING: Text PLAY to 61011 Texts cost £2.00 + 1 standard network rate message or call 0903 681 8282 Calls cost £2.00 + network access charge. or post your name and phone number to Express Win, PO Box 8162 Derby, DE1 9GU ENDS 19TH DECEMBER T&Cs: To refuse marketing messages, end SMS with NO INFO. SP: Mi Telecom Ltd. Helpdesk 0330 880 6060.Min age 18+. All entries after lines close at midnight on the last day of the month will not count and may still be charged. Postal entries close at midnight on 5th of the following month. One winner will be selected at random from all correct entries after the closing date and will be contacted by phone within 5 days. Full T&Cs at www.express.co.uk/ news/uk/5166/EXPRESS-NEWSPAPERS-COMPETITION-ENTRY-RULES. Surname and county of the winner will be published. If you object to your information being made available please see our privacy notice online at www.express.co.uk/privacy-notice. This prize drawer is syndicated across other Reach titles. For a full list of our brands see www.reachplc.com/our-brands bees brought to knees TIMING is everything for a striker – and supersub Patrick Bamford picked the perfect moment to mark his comeback with a late, late equaliser. Just 45 seconds of the five minutes of added time remained when Bamford netted on his return after nearly three months out with an ankle injury. It was not one of his best finishes as he kneed home Luke Ayling’s flicked header, but it saved Leeds from defeat by Brentford after being the better team for most of the 90 minutes. The point nudged them clearer of the relegation zone ahead of successive games against Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool. Brentford had taken just four points from their previous 21 so manager Thomas Frank was delighted with his side after losing striker Ivan Toney to coronavirus on the eve of the game. Ayling also impressed for Leeds after being out since September with a knee injury but, as Bamford and Ayling returned, Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper limped off with knocks. Leeds dominated the first half and deserved to take the lead. Pontus Jansson headed Raphinha’s cross straight back to him and the Brazilian sent a glorious ball across the six-yard LEEDS BRENTFORD By David Anderson 2 2 box, where Tyler Roberts slid in his second goal in 42 league appearances. Alvaro Fernandez pushed over Roberts’ 20-yard drive before denying Leeds again from Ayling’s header. Brentford offered little before they equalised after Phillips was hurt. Sergi Canos’s cross deflected off Diego Llorente and Shandon Baptiste shot home from just inside the area. Shell-shocked Leeds fell apart. Canos missed with a back-post header but fired the Bees in front after Bryan Mbeumo slipped the ball through to him on the counter-attack. Canos appeared to be struck by an object from the Leeds fans as he celebrated. But Bamford sparked pandemonium inside Elland Road with a later leveller. LEEDS (4-3-3): Meslier 6; Ayling 7, Llorente 6, Cooper 6 (Harrison 14, 6), Firpo 5 (Bamford 69, 7); Dallas 7, Phillips 6 (Klich 55, 6), Forshaw 7; Raphinha 8, Roberts 7, James 7. Goals: Roberts 27, Bamford 90. BRENTFORD (3-5-2): Fernandez 7; Goode 6, Jansson 6, Pinnock 6; Roerslev 6, Baptiste 7 (Onyeka 69, 6), Norgaard 6, Janelt 6 (Jensen 90), Henry 7; Canos 8 (Wissa 72, 6), Mbeumo 7. Goals: Baptiste 54, Canos 61. Leeds fans in spotlight again Sergi Canos and Bryan Mbeumo appeared to be struck by an object thrown from the Leeds fans as Canos celebrated scoring to put Brentford 2-1 up. Winger Canos fell to the ground holding the back of his neck and Mbeumo, right, felt his head after what looked like a water bottle was thrown. Leeds had to apologise for the behaviour of some fans after Tuesday’s win over Crystal Palace, when they taunted the Eagles’ on-loan Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher with homophobic chants. Canos scored his third goal of the season that put the Bees on course for victory before the late equaliser, and Frank said: “He earned the trust I gave him and he paid back that trust. Overall it was a fine performance from him. “My feeling is not to celebrate. We were in control, so in the last minute to concede a second set-piece goal is tough.”

DX1ST FOOTBALL: PREMIER LEAGUE Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 57 Villa’s Special K Daka had carved out the Classy Konsa’s brace keeps opportunity. But minutes later Gerrard’s men were level when Konsa got the faintest of touches to Emi Buendia’s header, which Gerrard’s men on the march was dropping into the net. So faint was it that Buendia Schmeichel saved it with one was initially credited with the ASTON VILLA 2 hand and then desperately tried equaliser, only to see his teammate get the glory. But there was to get to the loose ball. LEICESTER 1 The big Dane managed to get no denying it was Konsa’s goal By Dave Armitage to it – but only just – and in the when he nodded Villa into the Steven Gerrard gave his Special K a big hug as two-goal Ezri Konsa shunted Aston Villa into the top half of the table. The defender’s double enabled Villa to leapfrog Leicester into 10th and made it three wins from four for his new boss. England manager Gareth Southgate was watching from the stands and will have been impressed by Konsa’s man-ofthe-match display. In fairness, he did not know much about his first goal, but the 54th-minute winner dished out the justice Villa were looking for after having what looked like a perfectly good goal ruled out. That and a brilliant flying save from keeper Emi Martinez to tip away Harvey Barnes’ goalbound header was enough to see Gerrard put one over his former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers. Villa fans were fuming as the first half came to an end in Double take Konsa celebrates after scoring his second goal that clinched it for Villa controversial fashion, when Jacob Ramsey’s ‘goal’ right on 45 minutes was chalked off for a foul on goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. To say it was a borderline call is an understatement – the Leicester man managing to drop a hand on the ball just as Ramsey unleashed his shot into the net. Matty Cash had risen well at the far post to get to a teasing Douglas Luiz cross and, when it came back across goal, end it all boiled down to what is deemed having it under control. Ramsey thumped it in and Schmeichel ASTON VILLA v LEICESTER 40 Possession % 60 4 Shots on Target 5 4 Shots off Target 5 5 blocked Shots 2 3 Corners 6 8 Fouls 25 1 Yellow Cards 1 0 Red Cards 0 Source: Opta went down complaining – and was given the benefit of the doubt. Leicester led in the 14th minute with a precision shot from Barnes, who slid the ball into the bottom corner after determined work from Patson lead at the far post in the 54th minute after rising superbly to meet John McGinn’s corner. ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Martinez 7; Cash 7, Konsa 8, Mings 7, Young 7; McGinn 7, Nakamba 7, Luiz 7 (Sanson 77); Buendia 8 (Chukwuemeka 77), Watkins 7, Ramsey 7 (Tuanzebe 84). Goals: Konsa 17, 54. LEICESTER (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel 6; Castagne 6, Evans 7, Soyuncu 7, Thomas 6; Dewsbury-Hall 6 (Iheanacho 84), Ndidi 6; Lookman 6 (Vardy 64, 6), Maddison 7, Barnes 7; Daka 6 (Perez 77). Goal: Barnes 14. fistful of promise: Gerrard celebrates victory JUST ave over ‘I had to get into their ribs at break’ Steven Gerrard revealed he got tough with his players to help engineer the victory over Leicester. Victory made it three wins from four for Villa’s new boss, who said: “To the man we were outstanding in the second half but we had to get into their ribs at half-time to get a reaction. “We had to demand more from all of them because I didn’t feel we were aggressive enough. But to go 10th in the table is outstanding for us. I’d have taken nine points from 12, for sure. There’s a lot to be proud of but I honestly think we can get even better.” One of the big talking points was Jacob Ramsey’s disallowed ‘goal’ right on half-time for kicking the ball in as Kasper Schmeichel got a hand on it. But Schmeichel said: “It’s an obvious foul. He’s absolutely whacked my hand and my thumb still hurts. I’ll probably need an X-ray on it.” Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers, left, said: “It’s frustrating. Our Achilles heel is defending set-pieces. It cost us.” Dave Armitage ON 12 LUXURIOUS RED WINES Enjoy a massive £83 saving on 12 world-class red wines, complete with FREE express delivery! This case acts as the perfect introduction to our exclusive WineBank service. Autumnal Reds Collection 12 CRAFT WINES With FREE EXPRESS DELIVERY! NOW £65.88 WAS £148.88 To order, visit virginwines.co.uk/VE2439 or call 0343 224 1001 quoting VE2439 Terms and Conditions: New customers only. UK Delivery only. You must be 18 years of age or over. One case per customer. Not to be combined with any other promotion. By redeeming this offer you agree to try the Virgin Wines WineBank. WineBank uses easy monthly top-ups to save for your wine and rewards you with £1 for every £5 you deposit, plus free delivery on all future purchases. There’s no obligation to buy any more wine. For full T&C’s, visit www.virginwines.co.uk/terms DRINKING IS ONLY FUN WHEN YOU DON’T OVERDO IT Learn more at: www.virginwines.co.uk/drinkresponsibly

58 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 what a feeling: Moura, centre, celebrates his stunner Norwich are caned …but not by Harry NORWICH were given something of a caning – but only because their strikers misfired as badly as the England captain did once again. A world-class strike from Lucas Moura was followed by goals in the second half by Davinson Sanchez and Heung-Min Son. But despite a hat-trick of chances he normally would have finished, Harry Kane’s name once again failed to appear on a Premier League scoresheet. When Son’s mis-hit shot hit Kane’s toe and zoomed off wide of the post in the 30th minute, it was not really obvious what the Spurs No.10 could have done about it. But a moment 10 minutes later really highlighted where Kane’s confidence is right now whenever he pulls on his club’s colours in the league. His superb ability to time a run – as well as pick a sublime pass – has not left him and, when Moura played the ball over the top, he was away. Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul had advanced into no man’s land, but the 30-yard lob into the empty net the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium expected drifted five yards wide. Norwich were just as wasteful. It started in the third minute, when Teemu Pukki fluffed the first clear TOTTENHAM 3 NORWICH 0 By Matthew Dunn chance from seven yards out. On the hour, when Pukki hit another unconvincing shot, it fell perfectly for strike partner Adam Idah to divert into the near-empty net from the edge of the six-yard box – but he missed by a couple of yards. But the biggest miss of the night was to come close to the end, when substitute Josh Sargent’s attempt to sweep in another Norwich shot ended with the ball going backwards. There had always been a sense that the sheer class with which Moura had completed a one-two with Son and drilled the ball into the top corner from 25 yards marked the big difference between the two sides. But it was only after 67 minutes that everybody at Spurs – well, everybody except manager Antonio Conte – was able to relax. Son’s corner was flicked on by Ben Davies into Ben Gibson’s nether regions and Sanchez hammered the loose ball into the net. Ten minutes later, it was all over when Son scored the third. TOTTENHAM (3-4-3): Lloris 7; Dier 6, Sanchez 7, Davies 7; Tanganga 5 (Doherty 62, 5), Skipp 7, Hojbjerg 6, Reguilon 5 (Sessegnon 23, 6); Moura 8 (Bergwijn 80), Kane 5, Son 7. Goals: Moura 10, Sanchez 67, Son 77. NORWICH (5-3-2): Krul 6; Aarons 6, Omobamidele 6, Hanley 7, Gibson 5, Williams 6; Gilmour 7 (Sorensen 81), Lees-Melou 6 (Dowell 72), McLean 6; Idah 5 (Sargent 69, 5), Pukki 6. Conte on song with fans ANTONIO CONTE thanked the Tottenham fans who sang his name for the first time during their win against Norwich. The Italian, below, whose arrival seems to have lifted the energy at the club after three straight home league wins, said: “First of all, I want to say thanks to the fans that sang my name. They trust a lot in my work. “To hear my name is good because I’ve only been here for one month and, for sure, I have this responsibility.” Lucas Moura, who scored his first Premier League goal of the season in style, said: “It is natural for me, my kind of game. I started to dribble and, when I found space, I just decided to shoot. With Tottenham, it [the goal] is in the top three.” Better finishing from Norwich, though, would have given the game a very different complexion. Norwich manager Dean Smith is resigned to trying to find goals from somewhere within his squad. He said: “Adam Idah and Josh Sargent will have to start coming to the party – we can’t just rely on Teemu Pukki.” DX1ST FOOTBALL: PREMIER LEAGUE THERE will be better performances than this by Manchester United under the stewardship of Ralf Rangnick – or at least you hope there will be. But, as far as their interim manager was concerned, there will be few more important ones as Fred kicked off the German’s reign with a 77th-minute winner. Victory over Crystal Palace lifted United into sixth place in the Premier League, an ultimately nervy win coming courtesy of the Brazil midfielder’s sixth goal for the club. Yet Fred’s sweetly-hit rightfoot finish after a move involving Diogo Dalot and substitute Mason Greenwood might well have been an Fred hands United’s interim manager a victory for starters at Old Trafford past goalkeeper David De his new charges and fourth MANCHESTER UTD 1 Gea’s post. place by then, he will have United can look back at an had a bad month. CRYSTAL PALACE 0 unbeaten run of four matches The word ‘control’ had By Gideon Brooks since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer figured highly in Rangnick’s left and forward to a run of opening address as interim equaliser had Jordan Ayew fixtures between now and the boss on Thursday and was converted the easiest chance end of the month which look repeated again in his of the afternoon on 76 inviting to say the least. programme notes yesterday. minutes. Young Boys in a He said: “If you want to As it was, Ayew, who scores Champions League dead win a football match you about as often as Fred – he rubber is followed by games have to control it. That means has just 11 league goals in against Norwich, Brentford, being more proactive with four seasons with Palace – Brighton, Newcastle and and without the ball.” blew his big chance, Burnley. His message had clearly got sidefooting James Tomkins’ If Rangnick has not bridged through to everyone, with ralf headed assist from a corner the is three-point gap between up the front men harrying and

FOOTBALL: PREMIER LEAGUE hassling from the off – led, it come by in a first period, their opening after just one has to be said, by Cristiano which ended goalless. training session in foul Ronaldo. Ronaldo was lively as the weather on Saturday. In addition to the obvious spearhead of the attack. He Predictably, they were chasing down, Alex Telles had a shot blocked by Marc unable to keep up the and Dalot pushed up higher Guehi, Bruno Fernandes 100mph opening half-hour and the two centre-backs had a shot palmed away for the whole match but had clearly been by Vicente Guaita, fitness levels will presumably encouraged to and both Scott improve. attack more McTominay and In Fred, Rangnick has a aggressively. Fred had shots suitable hero. Just three days The result blocked. after stepping on De Gea’s was a team on The second foot to gift the first goal the front foot – half opened up to Arsenal, the Brazilian in a 4-2-2-2 a little more, enjoyed his moment. formation – particularly after One of his best qualities is from the start, the miss by Ayew, his energy, but it is closely having and it was one left, and Fred’s goal. followed by his ability to a word which bossed the first But Palace found keep his head high and legs Rangnick half and much of the second. their forward momentum pumping after a mistake. and United United saw plenty of the and ambition way too late. He and midfield partner technical ball and threatened Palace’s United deserved the win Scott McTominay got through director goal plenty at Old Trafford, for their intent alone and a huge workload yesterday, Darren but clear chances for the pleased their interim but Dalot and Victor Lindelof Fletcher get home team were hard to manager with the intensity of were not far behind him. together and running opening shot: Fred sends the United winner past Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita Picture: Robbie Jay Barratt DX1ST Rangnick toasts his first success with a little red – of course from back page to sixth place in the Premier League, he insisted this time he would. Rangnick said: “How will I celebrate this? Maybe a good dinner and a glass of red wine.” Rangnick toasted the effort levels of his side after they implemented his famous pressing tactics to outrun Palace. And he singled out the example set by Cristiano Ronaldo after questions about how the the 36-year-old striker would fit in with the German’s high-octane style of play. Rangnick said: “We always tried to be on the front foot and I am more than happy. “I was positively surprised by the physical state and intensity [of the players]. The first half-hour was amazing. “I felt it was extremely high tempo, high intensity, always on the front foot. “The only thing missing in the first half-hour was not scoring HOW THEY STAND P W D L F A Pts Man City 15 11 2 2 32 9 35 Liverpool 15 10 4 1 44 12 34 Chelsea 15 10 3 2 35 9 33 West Ham 15 8 3 4 28 19 27 Tottenham 14 8 1 5 16 17 25 Man Utd 15 7 3 5 25 24 24 Arsenal 14 7 2 5 17 20 23 Wolves 15 6 3 6 12 13 21 Brighton 15 4 8 3 14 16 20 Aston Villa 15 6 1 8 21 24 19 Leicester 15 5 4 6 23 27 19 Brentford 15 4 5 6 19 21 17 Crystal Palace 15 3 7 5 19 21 16 Leeds 15 3 7 5 15 22 16 Southampton 15 3 7 5 14 21 16 Everton 14 4 3 7 17 24 15 Watford 15 4 1 10 20 29 13 Burnley 14 1 7 6 14 21 10 Newcastle 15 1 7 7 17 30 10 Norwich 15 2 4 9 8 31 10 one, two or three goals. We wanted to play with two strikers, especially in the central position. “By the way, Cristiano Ronaldo’s work off the ball, chapeau.” Rangnick had just one 45-minute training session to get his ideas across to his players before the game, and it took place during atrocious weather on Saturday. He said: “It was not just Manchester weather, it was disgusting – it was heavy, raining, windy, so it was almost impossible to train in a concentrated manner. “But they still did it in those 45 minutes on the pitch. “The way we defended, we had control of the whole game. The clean sheet was the most important part. “We need to keep clean sheets. With just the one training session, I was really impressed. We did much better than expected.” Palace manager Patrick Vieira was less happy. He said: “I’m disappointed. We made it really difficult for them. “At the end, conceding the goal, we are so disappointed. And we had the chance before [for Jordan Ayew]. It is frustrating. When you get opportunities, you have to take them. When you don’t, you are left vulnerable. “I’m disappointed for Jordan as he had a fantastic game. That is football. “We need to change our mindset. How can we be more ruthless when we’re in the opposition’s box? That’s something we have to work on.” Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 59 Ratings By GIDEON BROOKS express.co.uk/sport MAN UTD (4-2-2-2) De Gea 6 Dalot 8 Maguire 7 Lindelof ■ 8 Telles 7 McTominay ■ 8 Fred (Goal 77) 8 Sancho 7 Fernandes 7 Rashford 6 Ronaldo 6 SUBS Greenwood (Sancho 62) 7 Elanga (Rashford 76) Van de Beek (Fernandes 86) C PALACE (4-2-3-1) Guaita 6 Clyne ■ 5 Tomkins 6 Guehi ■ 8 Mitchell 7 Kouyate 5 Gallagher 6 Ayew 6 Schlupp 5 Zaha 6 Benteke 4 SUBS Edouard (Benteke 66) 5 Olise (Ayew 83) Eze (Kouyate 83) Man UTD v C PALACE 61 Possession % 39 3 Shots on Target 2 7 Shots off Target 3 6 blocked Shots 3 9 Corners 6 16 Fouls 9 2 Yellow Cards 2 0 Red Cards 0 Source: Opta MAN OF THE MATCH Fred – Tireless running and great strike to win. FORM GUIDE... Man Utd C Palace W W D W L L L L D W Next 5 matches Man Utd WED Young Boys (H) CL SAT Norwich (A) PL Dec 14 Brentford (a) PL DEC 18 Brighton (H) PL DEC 27 Newcastle (a) PL C Palace sun Everton (H) PL DEC 15 So’ton (H) PL DEC 18 Watford (A) PL DEC 26 Tottenham (A) PL dec 28 Norwich (H) PL express.co.uk/sport

60 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 DX1ST express.co.uk/sport it’s wreck Bring on Aussies THE ASHES starts at midnight tomorrow Stokes column and latest news: See pages 48-49 YESTERDAY’S ACTION aston villa 2 leicester 1 MATCH REPORT: see page 57 leeds 2 brentford 2 MATCH REPORT: see page 56 Tottenham 3 norwich 0 MATCH REPORT: see page 58 brands on his way EXCLUSIVE by Simon Mullock RAFA BENITEZ has won his Everton power battle with Marcel Brands after the Merseyside club parted company with their Dutch director of football. Brands has left Goodison by mutual consent after agreeing a pay-off with Toffees’ owner Farhad Moshiri. He has spent almost £300million in the transfer market Turn to Page 54, Column 5 and neck SMASH HIT: Hamilton, right, and Verstappen collide yesterday Hamilton fury at ‘crazy’ rival as duel goes to wire LEWIS HAMILTON accused title rival Max Verstappen of driving “over the limit” after winning a chaotic Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. It set up a winner-takesall finale in By Darren Witcoop Abu Dhabi next weekend. The title contenders are level on points after Hamilton won a fascinating race – including red flags, multiple crashes and a bizarre collision – amid heated turn to page 51, col 3 class of fred ..glass of red man uNITEd 1 crystal palace 0 RALF RANGNICK raised a glass of red wine to celebrate getting his stint as Manchester By Gideon Brooks United interim manager off to a winning start. The German admitted he had not enjoyed sharing a glass with Sir Alex Ferguson after losing a Champions League semi-final to United with Schalke in 2011. But after Fred’s goal saw off Crystal Palace to move the Reds turn to page 59, column 4 PLAY NOW DOWNLOAD THE APP 18+ UK only, T&Cs apply. Who Knows Wins is committed to responsible gambling and fairness. Published by Express Newspapers, a subsidiary company of Reach Plc, One Canada Square, London E14 5AP. 0208 612 7000. Outside UK +44(0) 208 612 7000. Printed by Reach Printing Services, St Albans Rd, Watford WD24 7RG; Reach Printing Services, Hollinwood Ave, Chadderton, Oldham OL9 8EP; D C Thomson, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL; Independent News & Media, 124-144 Royal Avenue, Belfast BT1 1EB. Bermont Impresion S.L Avenida de Alemania 12, 28821 Coslada, Madrid, Spain; Deposito Legal no. TO-394/96; T.F. Print SA, Tenerife; EURO- PRINTER SA Zone Aéropole, avenue Jean Mermoz,B 6041 GOSSELIES Tel. 0208 612 7000. Outside UK +44(0) 208 612 7000 ABCDEFGHIJKLPQRS *TUW1234WBDS Austria €3.50, Belgium €3, Bulgaria BGN 4.60, Canary Islands €2.40, Cyprus €2.50, Denmark 24DKr, Finland €5.80, France €2.70, Germany €2.50, Gibraltar Gib £1, Greece €2.50, Italy €2.50, Luxembourg €3.50, Malta €2.65, Netherlands €3, Norway 32 Nkr, Portugal (Cont) €2.40, Spain €2.40, Switzerland SF 4.50, Turkey TL 7.50, USA $2.00

DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 1 Puzzles Sudoku 11 1 4 5 2 easy 4 6 5 2 Fill the grid so that every column, row, and 3x3 square includes all of the digits from one to nine. Solutions tomorrow 5 1 2 3 6 1 9 3 5 7 6 3 3 4 2 9 2 1 5 3 4 6 7 2 4 3 8 5 3 9 6 4 Medium 1 7 6 9 8 3 8 6 7 5 8 2 9 5 3 7 8 6 3 5 2 1 3 7 5 4 4 6 8 5 3 4 Difficult 8 7 6 9 8 3 2 9 Extra clues: 0901 322 5609 1 8 6 8 6 9 5 9 2 4 7 6 8 4 1 5 3 9 Today’s solution: 0907 181 2573 *Calls cost 75p plus your telephone company’s network access charge. *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Quick Crossword Across 1. Irritation (4) 3. Inferred (8) 9. Emotional (7) 10. Zest (5) 11. Talk (12) 13. Renown (6) 15. Cup (6) 17. Unique (12) 20. Incorrect (5) 21. Graceful (7) 22. Contrite (8) 23. Whirlpool (4) Down 1. Unsafe (8) 2. Milk can (5) 4. Vex (6) 5. Gay (5-7) 6. Vestment (7) 7. Implement (4) 8. Later reflection (12) 12. Pressingly (8) 14. Bridge (7) 16. Ill humour (6) 18. Plank (5) 19. Exchange (4) Small Crossword 1 7 9 13 14 16 20 11 2 17 3 19 4 10 12 18 DOWN 1 Kindly, harmlessly (8) 2 Having two parts (4) 3 Illusion (6) 4 Travel plan (9) 5 Light afternoon meal (3) 6 Prophet (6) 8 Clue shed (anag.) (8) 5 15 6 8 ACROSS 1 Racket sport (9) 7 Fairness (6) 9 Close by (4) 10 Oscar _, Dune star (5) 12 Bridge shape (4) 13 Non-alcoholic drink (6,3) 14 Facial feature (4) 16 South American animal (5) 18 Boyfriend (4) 19 Men’s toilet (6) 20 Irritation (9) 11 String instrument (6) 12 Saudi _, country (6) 15 Magician, partner to Teller (4) 17 Actress and singer, _-Margret (3) Solution tomorrow For today’s solution call: 0907 181 2582 *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Stuck on the puzzle? Call 0905 789 4188 to hear individual clues or the full solution CROSS DOUBT Stuck? Call for a clue 0901 322 5601 Halve your Target Time! Today’s solution 0901 322 5607 Both today’s words in a moment! *Calls cost 75p plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Can you make two common five-letter words from the nine letters given, using each letter only once? You can – but only if one letter features in both words in the squares on the right. There’s at least one way to do it, and you have to have the right letter at the crossover – but which one is it? See if you can find the answer within our target time. If you need help, ring our clue-line below to find out the crossover letter. Solution tomorrow A E K M N Solution tomorrow *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Service provider Spoke Ltd – Helpline 0333 202 3390 Target times: Average: 20 mins Good: 16 mins Excellent: 12 mins P S S W Kakuro 11 26 36 31 10 7 4 10 3 11 16 24 6 17 21 28 20 19 22 10 5 13 13 12 14 4 14 4 18 6 7 8 Fill each sequence of blank squares using the numbers 1-9. Each sequence – across and down – must total the number in the shaded box at the beginning or top of each line. A number may be repeated in each line but NOT in a sequence. Solution tomorrow

2 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 Puzzles Big Monday Crossword ACROSS 1 and 29 English author of novels including The Rachel Papers (1973) and Inside Story (2020) (6,4) 4 Offence against the dignity of a sovereign or other ruler, formerly considered treason (4,7) 9 and 35 Down Character played by Matthew Perry in the 1994-2004 US sitcom Friends (8,4) 10 Preparation with a softening or soothing effect, especially when applied to the skin (9) 11 Seventh month of the Muslim calendar, between Jumada al-Thani and Sha’ban (5) 12 Shipping forecast area in the NE Atlantic north of Sole and south of Rockall (7) 14 Either of two solanaceous Chinese plants of the genus Lycium cultivated for their vitaminrich red berries (4) 17 Standard monetary unit of Sweden, divided into 100 öre (5) 18 Mischievous sprite of English folklore also known as Robin Goodfellow (4) 19 Island country in the Malay Archipelago formerly (1800–1949) known as the Dutch East Indies (9) 21 2021 crime comedy film starring Emma Stone and Emma Thompson (7) 22 Second-largest city of Bulgaria; as Trimontium, the capital of Roman Thrace (7) 25 See 39 27 UK No.2 hit by Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue, released in October 2000 (4) 28 ‘{F}rom hell’s ___ I stab at thee’ (Herman Melville Moby-Dick (1851) (5) 29 See 1 31 Three former administrative divisions of Yorkshire (North, East and West) abolished in 1974 (7) 33 Final stage or form of an insect that undergoes metamorphosis, typically winged (5) 36 3,000-foot high granite monolith in California’s Yosemite National Park, popular with rock climbers (2,7) 37 Wife of Heracles (Hercules), whom she inadvertently killed with a poison-smeared shirt (8) 38 South African novelist and playwright awarded the 2021 Booker Prize for his novel The Promise (5,6) 39 and 25 America’s only president to have served two non-consecutive terms, from 1885- 9 and 1893-7 (6,9) DX1ST DOWN 1 Small slender tubes of pasta, sometimes curved and described as elbow (8) 2 Eurasian fish genus of the family Cyprinidae to which the tench belongs (5) 3 Lioness voiced by Shahadi Wright Joseph and Beyoncé in the 2019 animated film The Lion King (4) 4 Any deciduous coniferous tree of the genus Larix in the family Pinaceae (5) 5 Provincial capital of Alberta, west Canada, known as the ‘Gateway to the North’ (8) 6 US baseball team that won the 2021 World Series, defeating the Houston Astros (7,6) 7 Central family of the 1978-91 US soap Dallas, living on Southfork Ranch (5) 8 English golfer who captained Europe’s Ryder Cup team from 1983 to 1989 (4,7) 13 Ancient kingdom in north central Mesopotamia founded by the semi-legendary king Sargon (2334–2279 BC) (5) 15 1991 comedy-drama film starring Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges (3,6,4) 16 Small southern constellation (the Crow) south of Virgo; brightest star, Gienah (6) 18 Spanish dish of saffron-flavoured rice cooked with chicken, seafood and vegetables, associated especially with the region of Valencia (6) 20 Professional name of the Australian operatic soprano Helen Porter Mitchell (1861- 1931) (6,5) 23 Protein found in muscle that intertwines with myosin to form contractile filaments (5) 24 Alternative name for the corncrake (Crex crex), common to fields and meadows of Eurasia (4,4) 26 Any extinct terrestrial reptile of the orders Saurischia and Ornithischia, dating from the Mesozoic era (8) 30 Tall cylindrical military hat with a peak and a front plume, popular in Europe in the 19th century (5) 32 Triangular piece of material inserted into a garment such as a skirt or petticoat to create a flare (5) 34 Planet ruled by Ming the Merciless in the stories of the comic strip hero Flash Gordon (5) 35 See 9 Across Name Address Postcode WIN £500 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 19 20 15 16 17 18 22 23 27 28 21 24 25 26 29 30 31 32 33 34 36 37 38 39 35 Stop the clock The great alphapuzzle tm A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 14 11 14 1 8 16 5 25 10 17 26 10 14 17 25 9 23 24 3 9 8 25 21 8 22 1 14 10 17 26 13 13 8 6 22 14 10 22 3 14 25 1 9 17 19 8 13 11 18 25 13 7 24 18 10 13 20 10 22 8 14 21 26 5 13 2 15 3 16 5 5 8 8 9 24 8 16 10 22 17 14 16 15 9 24 21 8 5 2 16 12 13 4 10 21 13 10 5 25 25 10 21 13 9 9 10 22 14 9 13 8 9 24 5 22 5 11 2 8 23 21 4 17 5 18 6 19 7 20 LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION Across: Shrub, Unkempt, Visit, Denture, Hue, Gulf, Craze, Decay, DOUBT, Beano, Muse, Wag, Sojourn, Raise, Equator, Bread. Down: Savage, Chaste, Resolve, Bijou, Bath, Catapult, Deck, Town, Kangaroo, Grub, Mauve, Bauxite, Theory, Defend. 8 21 9 22 10 23 11 24 time challenge 12 25 13 26 WIN £100 25 MINUTES Can you beat today’s time? TACKLE the Alphapuzzle Challenge – and be in with a chance of a £100 cash prize. FIRST, call the number below and note today’s CLUE LETTERS and your unique PIN NUMBER to set your personal stop-watch running. Then, use the clue letters to work out the seven-letter word in the green squares. When you crack the mystery word, call again and enter your pin number to STOP THE CLOCK. Winner selected at random from all correct entrants who beat the 25-minute Target Time. Each grid number represents a different letter. All 26 letters of the alphabet are used. Solution next Monday 0907 181 2908 YOUR PIN No. _ _ _ _ _ _ *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Lines close 23:59 every Sunday. £100 Winner (Nov 22): W Howatson, Linlithgow. TO WIN £500 CASH! read down the letters in the highlighted squares to reveal the mystery word. To enter call: 0904 161 1601 Leave your answer and details, or text BIGXWORD followed by a space, your answer, name and address to 88833 or just complete the crossword correctly and send it to: Daily Express, Prize Crossword (No 922), PO Box 12578, Sutton Coldfield B73 9BT Competition closes Friday, December 10 at 11:59pm. Winner picked at random from all entry routes after close date. Need Help? Call 0904 161 1602 for five extra clues! *Calls are £1.50 plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Texts cost £1.50 plus your standard network rate. *SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390. For any postal enquiries, call this helpline. Big monDAy crossword Solution and winner Monday November 22 £500 WINNER: D Cock, Truro, Cornwall. D I T H Y R A M B L I T T L E M O R A I O A O E C E N T R O P Y K I N G F I S H E R S E O M A U S W S J O S E M A R I A N E V E S C U B E T L T R N I W H E E L G U R N A H R E O A O N P C Y C L O R A M A R N T E L L A O F R U C T I D O R E E Y N E L C A R N O L D T Y R O L Y K S N W O E R O S L I B R A E U M E N I D E S L M O G T S R P E A B D U L R A Z A K R I C H A R D L G I O E G V G P E T E R P A N R O T O S C O P E

DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 3 1 4 5 2 11 Arrow-word Arrow-words are like crosswords, but the clues are printed inside squares on the grid. Write your answers in the blank squares in the direction indicated by the arrows. Solution tomorrow Claire _, pictured Copy Thin pancake Tangle Put air into Bali, e.g. Intense joy Go faster than Open a present Of the nerves Church dignitary Before Dot Cropped up Wordsearch I G X R B Y L F E R I F R M L C D L E D E P I T N E C R P D U Z Q M R U D A K P C X Q I U K E A R W I G B E E S P H I M A K X T W T Z D U N Y P V W D N E C L E O R Z Y G A A X L B I A I N W I O L T E R M I T E M O R M B O F D R T U G O M N G O A Y Q N O T L E L B J T E H H D A O B W D E O L D T W H U A T G E A K N W K U T J R I L Y A Y S D V W S O C S E T N U R X P J Y O U D M R I E E G D H S I F R E V L I S M R X B C W P T M H C A O R K C O C O CREATURES Find all the terms listed below in the grid. Solution tomorrow APHID ● BED BUG ● BEETLE ● CENTIPEDE COCKROACH ● CRICKET ● DRAGONFLY EARWIG ● FIREFLY ● GLOW WORM ● HORNET LADYBIRD ● MOTH ● SILVERFISH ● TERMITE WASP ● WOODLOUSE ● WOODWORM Charred remains Son of Odin Cooking vessel Crucial Natural pigment Pig Conduit Dachsund (7,3) Every single Repulsive Hitchcock film Misplace Unit of work Road covering Disgust Sleeping Russian space station Garland "Tata!" _ Schwarzeneggar, actor Approval Known Social class Currency Vendor Fool Grain store Go downhill Beer makers Ian _, pictured Owns Birds in a gaggle _ Adler, Conan Doyle character Pose Blackthorn fruit Foes Caps Golf club Wooded valley Thrifty Rootle Atmosphere Goldplated From Eire Unique (3-3) Rowed Brick carrier Doctrine Striped feline Sleep late (3,2) Due time (abbr.) Born Professionals Stage Cheapest part of a ship Cause Trash Guided Salary Eager Battle Diety Self-image ,THE ALPHABEATER Black squares: 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 29, 34, 37, 38. Across: Lucky, Break, Zeros, Eclipse, Fajitas, Dry, Axe, Browser, Ragweed, Bosom, Valve, Haiku. Down: Quizzed, Afar, Glorifying, Acts, Jabbered, Hype, Two, Dahl, Obelisks, Brim, Picaresque, Jars, Examine. THE ALPHAPUZZLE Across: Reduce, Aweigh, Squiffy, Dozen, Lack, Dolly, Bathe, Coax, Rural, Numeral, Vanish, Slogan (clue). Down: Bristle, Crave, Adjunct, Trunk, Scoff, Hapless, Sycophant, Twaddle, Smile, Dizzy, Courage, Chant, Exiling. TV CROSSWORD Across: 5 Pugh, 7 Diners, 8 Carla, 11 Brian, 12 Locklear, 13 Acme, 15 Herr, 16 Stewart, 17 King, 18 Turner, 21 Till, 22 Anna. Down: 1 Liar, 2 French, 3 Marc, 4 Talent, 5 Proctor, 6 Game, 9 Clark-Neal, 10 Crest, 14 Rowan, 17 Kent, 19 Una, 20 Ena. TV show: Life On Mars ARROW-WORD Across: Camera, Reject, Ash, Ian, Alec, Etta, Rib, Vie, Ebro, Away, Tarbuck, Lea, Healy, Nye, Jade Ewen, Lev, Keeps, Fair, Let, Rae, Liza, Ric, Linda, Hot, Pipe, Irene, Ton, Red. Down (left to right): Late, Alba, Emilia, Jane Eyre, Dye, Zip, Lewes, Bake, Planet, Chateau, Ease, Pant, Lab, Chow, Train, Rake, Elf, Crow, Anne Archer, Ally, Via, One, Bay, Yew, Rented. Shaded letters: Clive Owen WORDS Drove MUDDLESOME Kurt Russell, Ursula Andress, Nat King Cole. CLOCK-WISE 1 Opts, 2 Tsar, 3 Arno, 4 Nora, 5 Rash, 6 Shop. QUIZ OF THE WEEK 1 Australian 2 July 3 Wet Wet Wet 4 Frederick Forsyth 5 Bird 6 October 7 Black 8 Cunningham 9 Official Secrets 10 Tom Stoppard. Friday’s solutions MENTATHLON ANSWER Deeds DITLOIDS 2 Bails on 3 Stumps, 2 Creases on the Wicket, 2 Innings in a Test Match, 6 Balls an Over, 13 Players and 2 Umpires on the Field TRIVIA WORDSEARCH 1 Warthog 2 Republican 3 Jack Charlton 4 de Gaulle 5 Monkey 6 Australia 7 George Orwell 8 New York 9 Algeria 10 Dev Patel. SUMTHING 2x9=18, 4x6=24, 8x3=24 SMALL CROSSWORD Across: 1 Aluminium, 7 Taxi, 8 Penny, 10 Gas, 11 Reader, 13 Alleviate, 14 Nectar, 16 Tic, 18 Evert, 19 Able, 20 Dissolves. Down: 1 Attracted, 2 Labels, 3 Mind, 4 Net, 5 Ingrate, 6 Mysteries, 8 Prevent, 9 Palaces, 12 Stable, 15 Coal, 17 Mrs. CROSS DOUBT Across: HOVER Down: GROIN Sudoku Easy Sudoku Medium Sudoku difficult 5 7 1 6 8 4 2 9 3 7 5 8 3 4 6 1 2 9 4 3 2 9 6 5 8 1 7 4 2 9 3 5 7 6 8 1 9 6 2 7 1 5 8 4 3 6 3 8 2 1 9 4 5 7 1 4 3 8 9 2 5 7 6 5 9 6 7 8 1 1 7 8 3 2 4 2 3 4 9 6 5 Battleships 8 4 1 9 7 3 5 6 2 3 9 4 6 5 8 2 1 7 7 2 6 4 8 5 1 3 9 Kakuro 1 3 5 1 2 6 8 4 3 5 2 7 6 5 8 1 9 4 3 7 2 5 1 3 9 4 6 8 3 9 5 4 6 2 7 1 8 6 8 1 2 7 4 9 5 3 8 1 4 5 3 9 3 9 7 1 2 6 6 5 2 8 4 7 4 1 2 3 7 6 8 Quick Crossword Across: 6 Contain; 7 Sever; 9 Gaunt; 10 Reverse; 12 Malediction; 14 Expostulate; 18 Distant; 19 Worry; 21 Miser; 22 Enchant. Down: 1 Loyal; 2 Stanza; 3 Lid; 4 Desert; 5 Session; 8 Legible; 11 Destiny; 13 Exhibit; 15 Outlet; 16 Trophy; 17 Grant; 20 End. 4 9 5 7 2 1 4 2 1 8 9 3 2 8 1 1 3 9 7 7 9 6 4 8 1 4 1 3 9 5 1 3 6 4 7 8 2 6 1 3 2 9 8 5 4 7 8 2 6 4 7 9 1 3 5 keijo 3 1 4 2 4 7 8 9 5 2 6 1 3 5 8 4 1 6 7 3 2 9 2 6 3 1 8 7 5 9 4 9 7 2 4 3 5 6 1 8 7 9 5 3 4 1 2 3 1 8 5 6 8 4 6 7 2 9 Target MATERNITY airy amenity amity army arty enmity entity entry many MATERNITY matey meany meaty minty miry myna nary natty nitty rainy ratty rimy tiny tray treaty trey tyrant tyre yarn year yearn yeti 2 3 1 4 4 2 3 1 1 4 2 3

4 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 Puzzles crusader prize crossword Across 1 British glue fixed a whale (6) 4 Large gold blade – wrong but praiseworthy (8) 10 Fertiliser expense gets round politician (7) 11 Dishonourable soldier upset aristocrat (7) 12 Two cities accommodate king, tall and thin (5) 13 Rave on about time, normally (2,7) 14 Call universe out for observation (12) 18 Handle coming down when trying to impress (4-8) 23 Porcelain won’t improve part of a city (9) 24 Starting point, having small place to perch (5) 25 Phone software wasn’t honest when put to use (7) 26 Lodge in one medium factory (7) 27 Notes about Scot or another European (8) 28 Woman free to be ornate (6) Down 1 Returned with whip – that’s a negative reaction (8) 2 Master broke my urinal (8) 3 Gruesome student included renown (5) 5 Poor woodcutter is a liberal and a graduate (3,4) 6 Cup dances about as a mark of shame (6,3) 7 Lynx hides keys in vessel (6) 8 Old tree moved to city (6) 9 Internet menace after second walk (6) 15 Flow of people following European mother (9) 16 Meandering around is something obsolete (8) 17 Silver object gets date terribly perturbed (8) 19 Former spouse alternatively backing help getting introductions (7) 20 Managed to reach detectives’ rank (6) 21 Predicament produces injury (6) 22 Flaccid alien mollusc (6) 24 Drive back to see film about parking (5) DX1ST 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 21 22 18 19 20 23 24 25 26 27 28 9 11 16 17 1 4 5 FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN Read down the letters in the highlighted squares to reveal the mystery word. Name Address Postcode 2 WIN £100 CASH TO ENTER: Call 0904 161 3700 and leave your answer and details, or text DXCRUS followed by a space, your answer, name and address details to 88833. Calls cost £1.50 plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Texts cost £1.50 plus your standard network rate. Lines close at midnight tonight. Or send your grid containing the answer in the shaded squares by posting it to: Crusader Crossword, December 6, PO Box 12578, Sutton Coldfield B73 9BT. Entries must be postmarked by December 7 at the latest. SP: Spoke – 0333 202 3390. For any postal enquiries, call helpline number. An extra day is given for postal entries during bank holidays. ● The winner will be the first random correct entry drawn from all entry routes after the closing date of December 13. The Editor’s decision is final. LAST THURSDAY’S SOLUTION ACROSS: 1 Racecards, 6 Sped, 10 Pearl, 11 Scrapheap, 12 Hothead, 13 Torture, 14 Eighteen holes, 17 Three-cornered, 21 Precise, 22 Tawnier, 24 Olive tree, 25 Thumb, 26 Toga, 27 Propriety. DOWN: 1 Rap sheet, 2 Coast, 3 Collector’s item, 4 Residue, 5 Scratch, 7 Precursor, 8 Dapper, 9 Sparkling water, 15 Guttering, 16 Adorably, 18 Eye drop, 19 On the go, 20 Sprout, 23 In use. Prizeword: Darling Target E G T B I R T J U HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here? In making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each must contain the centre letter and there must be at least one nine-letter word. No plurals. Verb forms ending in S permitted. TODAY’S TARGET Good 11; very good 17; excellent 22 (or more). Solution tomorrow FIND where the fleet of ships shown is hidden in the grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row are filled in with ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Some squares have been filled in to start you off. Solution tomorrow 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A B C D E F G H I J 1 4 1 1 2 1 5 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 4 1 2 1 x Battleship 2 x Cruiser 3 x Destroyer 4 x Submarine ● The Target uses words in the main body of Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1999 edition) Call 0907 181 2585 for today’s Target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Battleships The Alphabeater The Alphapuzzle ® CAN you crack the Alphabeater? Each grid number represents a letter – or black square. As in Alphapuzzle, every letter of the alphabet is used. But you have to complete the grid too! Use the given letters and black squares below the grid to start. The grid is ‘rotationally symmetrical’ – in other words, it looks the same if you turn the page upside down. Solution tomorrow A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 12 17 33 5 12 35 27 20 24 36 6 33 24 2 38 39 6 2 5 22 36 7 4 28 39 37 4 13 38 40 3 11 21 39 26 28 31 18 35 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 P ■ B ■ 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 ■ Target Time: 30 minutes Extra letter clues 0907 181 2560 (Deduct three minutes for each extra clue letter heard) Full solution 0907 181 2558 *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. ● Alternatively, for six Extra Letter clues to your mobile, text DXBEAT to 64343. Texts cost £1 plus your usual operator rate Word builder Answer the clues so that each word contains the same letters as the previous word, plus or minus one. 26 15 4 25 25 31 4 23 35 28 17 3 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 10 27 8 5 4 22 18 22 1 14 32 37 14 29 28 30 35 19 6 39 17 39 7 30 1 22 1 15 20 11 4 3 31 11 33 3 16 39 8 13 4 5 17 39 24 21 30 1 23 17 34 30 10 8 39 3 34 7 20 24 25 30 11 40 25 6 10 35 9 29 6 36 13 39 34 4 19 14 40 4 7 4 8 19 25 2 9 35 8 27 37 3 8 20 8 17 39 23 31 39 7 34 4 1 27 32 30 32 23 16 40 29 34 22 38 5 15 14 15 16 17 18 19 F 20 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Solution tomorrow 1 Neckwear item 2 Fork prong 3 Join together 4 Released 5 Musically adjusted 6 Sand hill 7 Finish A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Alphapuzzle ® tests logic and word power. Each grid number stands for a letter. Every letter of the alphabet is used. Use the given letter or letters — below the main grid — to start. Solution tomorrow Difficulty: 9/10; TARGET: 29 mins; Clue: Bloke and game fruit. 2 11 19 5 8 11 5 9 19 3 13 19 14 9 11 1 18 4 7 23 9 13 19 11 7 24 3 4 11 12 7 24 2 4 6 4 6 4 3 13 9 16 5 3 25 7 23 9 21 7 13 3 7 16 5 19 8 11 20 13 7 16 10 7 7 4 7 8 19 26 3 6 10 11 22 11 7 17 14 3 25 7 8 7 12 3 3 9 13 9 7 7 15 3 5 16 10 7 13 6 3 25 7 8 7 9 11 7 8 7 6 12 11 6 6 20 6 11 20 9 6 5 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24P THE DAILY EXPRESS 30-SECOND challenge Today’s answers: Beginner = 54; Intermediate = 129; Advanced = 60. PLAY MORE CROSSWORDS AND GAMES AT EXPRESS.CO.UK/PUZZLES *SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390 25 26 extra letter clues: 0907 181 2568 (Hear up to six Extra Letters, deduct two minutes for each clue letter heard) Alternatively, for six extra letter clues direct to your mobile, text DXALPHA to 64343. Texts cost £1 plus normal network operator rate. full solution: 0907 181 2565; Across ONLY: 0907 181 2561; Down ONLY: 0907 181 2562. *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. Alphapuzzle® ©2019 Acorn Editorial Ltd. All words appear in Chambers Dictionary.

DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 1 Fantastic fizz Pages 2&3 Terrific toys Pages 4&5 Gorgeous gifts Pages 6&7 Have A Brilliantly British Christmas

2 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 hand-crafted furniture SPORTS and music superstars often discover their talent early on in life and world-class British furniture designer and maker Alex MacMaster was no different. He had his first school woodwork lesson at the age of 10 and was instantly hooked. “I fell in love with the subject at that age. I could not get enough of it at school so I set up my own workshop at my parents’ house, making garden objects like bird boxes and planters,” he explains Recognising her son’s talent, his mother brought him to the attention of John Makepeace, a key figure in the world of British bespoke furniture, and John became a guide and mentor. Alex, 34, set up his own business in 2009 specialising in the design and production of timber-based lighting and wood furniture, driven by a pursuit of absolute excellence in design and craftsmanship. The style is “traditional meets modern” with state of the art technology used side by side with 1970s Wadkins and Sedgewick cast iron machinery which has been lovingly restored to its former glory. The father-of-one designs for maximum output and minimum waste using handpicked sustainably-grown natural timbers with some products using leftover products from other ranges, demonstrating a keen ecological awareness. He now employs two full-time makers and a further three part-time staff (including one maker). The products, whilst technically challenging, are hand-produced using exacting techniques learnt and adapted from the world’s finest traditional craftsmen and bespoke wood furniture makers. Alex says: “Furniture should be as much an artistic statement as it is functional. I design to make a visual impact, to stimulate the imagination and to have an elegance that gives timeless appeal.” Now with a small team of highly-skilled craftsmen, his designs are sold all around the world, from America to Australia, but the company remains proudly British with every piece designed, made and packaged under the same roof at the MacMaster workshop located in the Worcestershire countryside. ● Visit macmasterdesign.com for more information design genius: Alex MacMaster at work. in his studio. Top, his ‘wave’ coffee table and, inset above, ‘cocoon’ pendant lights DX1ST have a brilliantly This country From super sparkling wines and instant e-bike kits to stunning furniture, we’ve got them all... HAVE YOU taken a look at your local countryside recently? It’s different. Something’s going on. Slopes and meadows aren’t just growing grass and wheat. They’re growing grapes. They’re becoming vineyards. In England. In damp, drizzly, windy, chilly old England. Look around you in Kent or Sussex; Hampshire or Dorset; Surrey, Berkshire and Bucks. Look around you in Essex and Suffolk, Leicester and Lincoln, Derbyshire, Yorkshire and even Northumberland. Every county in England now has a vineyard. Some have dozens. Wales has got a fair few. Even the Scots have been optimistically clearing an acre or two. We’ve become a wine-producing nation. And we’re good at it. Our sparkling wines win competitions against Champagne. In fact, our wines are so good, the famous Champagne producers have started buying up chunks of southern England to plant vines. Well. This is our first Christmas as a nation since Brexit. Now is the time to be proud of who we are. This is the year to toast our loved ones with our own wine. English sparkling wine. Simply the best there is. I’ve chosen a clutch of bottles of fizz which will give you immense pleasure this Christmas. And they’re all home-grown on the beautiful fields of our Sceptre’d Isle. ● Chapel Down Bacchus “with a touch of sparkle”. Fabulous elderflower-scented party pop from the heart of Kent, the Garden of England (£18.99, Waitrose, but check availability). ● Flint Vineyard Charmat Rosé. This comes from the Waveney Valley south of Norwich. East Anglia is rapidly creating a reputation for its wines, and the locals swear the Waveney Valley is a suntrap! This is made just like Prosecco in Italy, and is fresh, foaming and delicious, with “party time” written all over it (£21.95, bbr.com). ● Forty Hall Vintage London Sparkling Brut. Forty Hall is in London, just above the North Circular Road, in Enfield. But it is a haven of tranquillity – and that’s the whole point. The vineyard is run as a volunteer community enterprise with a particular only UK chocolate maker with own Co-founders Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris count themselves among the UKs earliest ever ‘e-tailers’ – well ahead of the likes of Amazon and eBay – having started selling chocolates online back in 1993 in the early days of the world wide web. They created their Chocolate Tasting Club in 1998 and, within two years, had 100,000 members receiving unique chocolate selections each month. The first ever Hotel Chocolat shop opened in 2004 in north London and, in 2006, the entrepreneurs bought a 250-year-old cacao farm on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia to become the only UK chocolate producer that grows cocoa on its own plantation. Today they have 126 stores, as well as cafes, restaurants, outlets and even a hotel. Every month the chocolatiers in their Cambridgeshire inventing room work on new recipes for Tasting club members. Gift Ideas: Platinum Velvetiser hot chocolate machine, £99.99; Classic Cabinet – a collection of 59 of Hotel Chocolat’s most iconic recipes, £60 ● Visit hotelchocolat.com for more information Exclusive By Oz Clarke emphasis on helping those suffering from depression and anxiety. This is delightful, bright, foaming wine and a brilliant cause to boot (£35, fortyhallvineyard. com). ● Laneberg Mortal Angel Rosé. This winery is just off the A1 after The Angel of the North. I’m not kidding! It’s our country’s most northerly winery and makes delicious, tangy stuff. Global Warming - eat your heart out. No self-respecting Geordie should go without this crisp fizzer for Christmas (£16, from local stockists). ● Woodchester Valley Cotswold Classic. Woodchester make some of the tastiest wines in the West of England. This has ripe, succulent apple fruit and an unusual and delicious quince jelly richness. Fascinating (£21.95, wiidchestervalleyvineyard.co.uk). ● Bluebell Vineyard Blanc de Blancs. Gentle, mellow foaming beauty, pale and creamy, from near the Bluebell Steam Railway (£29.95, bluebellvineyard.org). Wiston Brut. Grand, imperious, bone dry, almost haughty, but streaked with scented lemon acidity and softened with freshly roasted hazelnuts (£29.50, wistonestate.com). ● Harrow and Hope Brut Rosé 2018. Gentle, fruity, elegant, sophisticated – just what you’d expect from the slopes above Marlow on the Thames (£31.99, grapebritannia.co.uk). ● White Castle Esmae Rosé. Haven’t tried a Welsh wine? Didn’t think they could make wine in Wales? This lovely, crackling pink from near Abergavenny tells you that they can (£31.50, blasarfwyd.com). ● Oz Clarke On Wine: Your Global Companion (Académie du Vin Library, £30) is out now. For free UK P&P, call Express Bookshop on 020 3176 3832 or order via expressbookshop.com supply making chocolate hot: Founders Angus and Peter; left, Classic Cabinet collection

british Christmas DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 3 is fizzing with talent cheers: English wine champion and all-round expert Oz Clarke give your bike e-wings wooden wonders: Curly maple razor handle, ash ring and, right, Masur birch pen pen perfect... WHITLOCK’s wonderful wooden DESIGNS JOHN Whitlock’s expertise as a pen craftsman was quite accidental. He started doing woodwork as a hobby on his garden patio 21 years ago after deciding he’d have a go at making radiator covers. Having succeeded in that project, he turned his new skill to other furniture making. He moved his new craft into a workshop in Northampton and bought a lathe to make the door knobs he needed which led to him turning bowls and wooden boxes. Making pens was just a way to use the small offcuts of wood from other crafts. “Now,” he says, “I have an enormous interest in pens.” John, now 52, makes beautiful, unique fountain pens, ballpoint pens and pencil gift sets along with wooden jewellery boxes out of all kinds of exotic and local woods as well as antler and other materials. Each of the 100 or more pens on his website is a one-off and he never makes a second until the first has sold. Gift Ideas: Curly maple wood Mach 3 razor handle: £35; Stainless steel ash wood ring: £89.99; Masur birch pen: £30 OFFER: Claim a 15% discount until December 21 by visiting whitlockwoodendesigns.com and using code expresschristmas15 ● Visit whitlockwoodendesigns.com for more information WHEN HUGo and Mark Palmer (above) appeared on Dragons’ Den with their e-bike conversion gadget, Revos, the dragons demanded one thing in return – move all manufacturing from Bristol to China to reduce the cost. The father and son refused, turning down a possible £100,000 investment. “We like making things here and believe items shouldn’t come from the other side of the planet unless they really have to for sustainability reasons,” explains Mark, 65. “Deborah Meaden told us she thought £595 was too expensive but sorry that’s what it costs! An e-bike can range from £1,500 to £5,000 whereas our kit gives you an e-bike for under £600. Lots of people like their bikes and want to keep them but need some help pedalling as they get older.” Revos is a lightweight motor that when attached to the rear wheel converts an ordinary bike into an electric hybrid in less than 10 minutes. Motorsport engineering graduate Hugo, 29, devised the gizmo at university and set up e-bike company Revolution Works in 2016 with his dad, former architect Mark. “When he came up with the idea, I thought, here we go again,” laughs Mark. “Hugo’s been obsessed with motors and electronics since he was in a pushchair. He made his crude prototype and I couldn’t believe how well it worked.” The 200Wh battery lasts for up to 25 miles depending on wind speed and hill gradients and can be bolted safely to the bike to deter thieves. Mark has no regrets about turning down the Dragons. “It would have destroyed our company ethos if we’d taken the money and done the things they wanted,” he said. “Lots of people buy our products because they’re made in the UK and they know if anything goes wrong they can pick up the phone for help. The show’s raised our profile and we’ve since launched our own ebike called the Whippet.” OFFER: Visit revolutionworks.co.uk and use code EXPRESS10 to enjoy a 10% discount until midnight on December 18 EASY RIDER: It takes just 10 minutes to fit a Revos kit to your bike

4 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 DX1ST have a brilliantly GIBSONS GAMES THE family-run firm, famous for its jigsaws, started in 1919 when Harry Percy Gibson formed H P Gibson & Sons in London, making popular games including L’Attaque and Dover Patrol. The company’s offices and manufacturing equipment were destroyed in the Blitz but Harry’s sons re-established the business in London’s West End in 1946. Today you’ll find them based in Surrey, and all of their jigsaws, and 80 per cent of their games, remain UK made using environmentally friendly materials and techniques. Gibson’s classic game 221b Baker Street – still one of its bestsellers – was introduced in the 1970s, and card games were added along the way. But it wasn’t until 1986 that Gibsons launched its first jigsaw collection, which today boasts more than 250 titles. A great boredom buster, during lockdown jigsaws have enjoyed a new lease of life, in fact Google Trends data reveals that searches for “jigsaw puzzles” by Britons hit an all time high during the first week of lockdown. Their mood boosting benefits make them a relaxing form of entertainment – when your attention is on shapes and pieces it creates a calming effect, quietens the mind and can help reduce stress and anxiety. Harry’s great grand-daughters Kate and Nicki became managing director and sales director in 2016. The company says: “Now into our fourth generation with Harry’s great-granddaughter at the helm, we are proud of our British heritage and are still providing fun family pastimes for all ages 102 years on.” OFFER: Visit gibsonsgames.co.uk and use code EXPRESS10 for 10% off gifts below until Dec 25. One use per customer Gift Ideas: Light Up The Night 1,000-piece puzzle, £17.50; Out Of Order card game, £16; Christmas Emporium 1,000-piece puzzle, £15; Quirk children’s card game: £12 orchard toys FROM its conception at Keith Harvey’s kitchen table in 1971, creating tracing sets for a local school, Orchard Toys is today celebrating its 50th anniversary – selling to more than 50 countries globally. The table in question was in Keith’s home, Orchard House, hence the name, in Plumtree, Notts, though the business is now Norfolk-based. Simon Newbery, managing director of Orchard Toys, has been with the firm for nearly 30 years. He says: “In a world full of electronics, parents and children still enjoy simple, fun ‘traditional’ products. A good idea for a game will always be a good idea! “The hardest part is not so much about coming up with the idea, but getting it to the point that we are totally happy that it is as near perfect as it can be.” Orchard remains a family business with Keith’s daughter, Charlotte, and son-in-law playing an active role. Charlotte also runs her own nursery school and does some testing of Orchard Toys games. Keith himself is a non-executive director and retains a keen interest in the business. Orchard is widely recognised as the UK’s leading manufacturer of educational games designed to foster skills from early development through toddler, pre-school and primary school years. Though it now has some games made overseas to keep up with demand for more than three million products a year, the heart of the company remains in Britain. Head office is in the market town of Wymondham and Orchard works closely with educational advisors, teachers and children when designing its games. Its Shopping List game has been a favourite for more than 25 years, still selling two copies every five minutes, and during lockdown demand for literacy and numeracy games soared amid home schooling. Gift Ideas: Superhero Lotto Game, £8.50; Pigs In Blankets Mini-Game; £5.35; Christmas Eve Box, £13.25; Dizzy Donkey Game, £8.50; Match and Spell Game: £8.75 Planes, trains a Not to mention jigsaws, teddy bears, learning aids and board games, Britain’s traditional toymakers have got them all toymaker: Orchard MD Simon Newbery with some of the firm’s products HORNBY hobbies IT REMAINS a British classic with a host of historic brands under its umbrella – including family favourites Airfix, Corgi and Scalextric – as well as the UK’s leading supplier of model railways to young and old. And despite some lean times, Hornby powered into its 120th year back in profit and enjoying a well-deserved resurgence of interest. Frank Hornby first applied for a patent in 1901 for his “Improvements in Toy or Educational Devices for Children and Young People” invention before putting it into production under the name “Mechanics Made Easy”, leading to the establishment of Meccano Ltd in 1907. Production continued during the First World War and Hornby introduced toy trains in 1920, powered by high-quality clockwork motors. In 1929 the first electric train was introduced. Today it remains one of Britain’s most enduring global brands and names such as Hornby Dublo, Tri-ang (a previous owner), Airfix (founded in 1939), and Scalextric (the slot-car racing sets which first appeared in the late Fifties) retain the power to conjure warm, fuzzy childhood memories in generations of Britons. Airfix, at one time the UK’s largest toy company, has been reinvented with scores of highly detailed new kits. Its starter-sets – containing glue, brushes and paint, everything you need in fact to build a fleet of models including Spitfires, Red Arrows Hawks and even the Mary Rose – proved especially popular in lockdown. The firm’s British-manufactured Quickbuild kits, featuring everything from VW Beetle camper vans to state-of-the-art Typhoon fighter jets, can be snapped together without glue or paint, another hit among parents and children. While production of trains and kits takes place abroad, the company is proudly based in Margate, Kent, where it employs 60-70 staff and welcomes visitors to a museum and heritage centre. Gift Ideas: Hornby Playtrains – Flash The Local Express remote controlled battery train set, £54.99; Airfix Supermarine Spitfire MkVc starter set, £10.99; Scalextric: No Time To Die Micro-Scalextric Set: £59.99

british Christmas DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 5 IF YOU’RE looking for a British company with impeccable pedigree, Casdon Toys fits the bill. It all began in a homemade shed in a back garden in Blackpool shortly after the Second World War when toolmaker Thomas Cassidy started making moulds to produce small, decorative, skating bootshaped items for children. He turned his hand to repairing vacuum cleaners to raise money for what was to become the Casdon Toys of today. This year, still headquartered in its original 1950s premises, just down the road from the shed where it started Casdon is celebrating 75 years of business. Today, it is run by Phil and Peter Cassidy, grandsons of company founder Thomas, and sons of ex-chairman Paul Cassidy, who passed away last year. Casdon remains hugely popular with family favourites from Telephone Exchange to the Bobby Charlton Soccer Game and the vintage Casdon Hypertill, which appeared on Coronation Street last Christmas in Tim Metcalfe’s childhood stocking which his CASDON TOYS MERRYTHOUGHT mother had waited 40 years to give him. But Casdon also trades internationally with offices in Hong Kong and distribution partners in the US and Australia. Key products are child-sized versions of household items, including high quality replicas of favourite British brands. Bestsellers include the childsized Dyson Ball vacuum, mini- Henry and Hetty cleaners, Kenwood Mixer and the Morphy Richards Kitchen Set. Phil and Peter say: “We have been a family of toymakers since 1946 and are very proud of our history. “Our roleplay toys help children learn and develop whilst having fun. That is what our grandfather and father both recognised and we celebrate their legacy today with every new toy we launch.” ● Casdon Toys are available from many major retailers Gift ideas: Henry vacuum cleaner, £22; Fruit and veg basket, £6; Kenwood Mixer, £25 SUPER cute and silky soft, the 2021 Merrythought Christmas teddy bear makes a gorgeous gift. Each bear is made from the finest snowy-white mohair plush and comes dressed in a satin-lined, red pure cotton velvet coat with embroidering. Merrythought remains Britain’s oldest teddy manufacturer with a dedicated team of 20 staff who create the bears following the same 15-stage process of 90 years ago. A total of 250 of the 2021 bears are available at £185 each, each one stitched from Merrythought’s Ironbridge factory in Shropshire. ● Visit merrythought.co.uk DR ZIGS nd automobiles A TOP TRUMPS FAVOURITE card game of many generations, Top Trumps continues to make it’s popular card games in Britain, printing in Cornwall and creating its plastic cases in Oxford. Its new James Bond themed pack, featuring 30 characters from Honey Ryder in 1962’s Dr No, to agent Nomi from the recent No Time To Die, is the perfect gift for any 007 fan. ● Available from all good retailers, £10 WENTWORTH PUZZLES FROM 25 to 1,500-piece jigsaws, Wentworth Wooden Puzzles, founded by Kevin Wentworth Preston in 1991, has something for every enthusiast. Stocked by The National Trust and The National Gallery, the boards are sourced from sustainable forests and each set is manufactured in Wiltshire. offer: Visit wentworthpuzzles.com and spend £50 or more to receive free standard UK delivery with code EXPRESSPUZZLE21. Offer available from Christmas Collection range and ends at midnight on December 12 bursting with brilliance: Dr Zigs THE secret to Dr Zig’s amazing giant soap bubble kits, they claim, is the addition of Welsh Mountain Dragon Juice. But that would be only one of many ingredients that went into the founding of this uniquely British company based in the foothills of Snowdonia. Founder Paola Dyboski-Bryant was born and grew up in Italy with her Polish dad and half-Welsh, half-Irish mother, and arrived in Wales having been a sailor, artist, boat builder and conservationist. She stumbled on the magic of bubbles when son Ziggy, now 12 and credited as the boss of the company, was a toddler and was fascinated by them. Paola started her company in 2011, hand making all the necessary toys and bubble mixes in the most environmentally-friendly and ethical way possible. As well as taking pride in sourcing of materials, and local manufacture, a percentage of every sale goes to buy ventilators for the local intensive care unit. Paola says: “From a curious hobby to a kitchen table start-up, we are now awardwinning for our sustainable approach and manufacture and produce some of the highest quality and most eco-friendly, low plastic, palm-oil free, bubbles in the whole world. Running Dr Zigs allows me, and Ziggy, to be innovative and disruptive, and all the while spreading happiness: ‘Changing the world, one bubble at a time’.” OFFER: Visit drzigs.com and enjoy 15% off My First Giant Bubble Kit and/or My Jumbo Kit with discount code: Express15 Gift Ideas: Secret Santa kit with Christmas cookie scented bubble mix, £15; Frozen bubbles kit (everything you need for bubbles that freeze outside), £20; My First Giant Bubble Kit, £21; My Jumbo Kit, £40

6 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 DX1ST have a brilliantly HOW adorable does this pooch look? And so could yours with a red or grey Snowflake Dogrobe in one of nine sizes to keep dogs warm and clean during winter walks. Every coat, made in Britain by the Elgin-based firm and priced from £31.95 to £61.95, comes with a no quibble guarantee. offer: Visit Dogrobes. co.uk and use code EXPRESS15 for 15% off the Snowflakes collection PETRA PALUMBO CREATE a beautiful centrepiece for your festive table with one of Petra Palumbo’s beautiful glass jugs, starting from £72, or carafes and tumblers sets, also from £72. From romantic roses to cheery tulips, each colourful design is hand-painted by Petra and her team of two at her sustainable homeware workshop in the Scottish Highlands. “We are proud to manufacture our wares in Britain, supporting local craftsmen and helping to keep the skills alive for future generations,” she says. ●Visit petrapalumbo.com for more information dogrobes HUG Rugs are recycled, machine washable barrier mats made in Yorkshire by Phoenox Textiles, a family-run business that has been manufacturing in Britain since 1954. Jack Mosley was a local weaver who began making fabric for bus seats and traditional hearth rugs from locally-sourced Lancashire wool, acrylic, and cotton. His son David, who focused on new products, is still remembered by staff for his jolly renditions of the song Danny Boy as he toured the factory. Having started with just ten staff, the firm now employs more than 200 people across its two Huddersfield mills, but remains managed by a third generation of the family – Adrian, Charles and Liz Mosley – who launched the Hug Rugs brand to sell direct to customers. The company says: “West Yorkshire has always been at the hawkins & brimble NOW you can lather up, stay sweet smelling and help to save the planet, with Hawkins & Brimble’s brilliant eco-refillable shampoos, conditioners and body washes. CEO and founder Stephen Shortt is proud of his male grooming brand’s commitment to green manufacturing in Britain. He says: “This year we teamed up with the Marine Conservation Society as one of our first commitments to a healthier planet and are repackaging our bestselling products into aluminium bottles, accompanied with 100 percent recyclable pouches.” OFFER: Visit Hawkinsandbrimble. co.uk and use code EXPRESS20 for 20% discount (excluding bundles, gift sets and wash bags) at checkout HUG RUGS Presenting you with the best of British Save Santa a journey! Supporting UK makers and sellers means your gifts WON’T have travelled thousands of miles at high environmental cost! A RETRO football shirt is perfect for sports fans harking back to the glory years of their beloved club. Family-run business Toffs has produced quality vintage football and rugby tops at its Gateshead factory since 1990. It sells kits for more than 240 football clubs and boasts retro lines for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. There is even this ace Escape to Victory shirt, seen in the 1981 Sylvester Stallone war movie, from £55. ●Visit toffs.com for more information heart of the UK’s textile industry and we are fortunate that most of our workforce comes from the local community, offering knowledge, experience and skills passed down through the generations. How we make things is as important as what we make. “The natural beauty of our Pennine location has inspired us to minimise our environmental impact and create products that reduce waste and protect scarce natural materials – we are now a zero waste to landfill business – that’s not just our Yorkshire ‘make do and mend’ attitude, it’s about taking responsibility for our future.” ●Visit hugathome.co.uk for more information Gift Ideas: Bee1 rug (65 x 150cm), £76.99; Highland1 (65 x 85cm), £43.99 (right) TOFFS create gift love HUSBAND and wife team Tony and Emily Carr started their business in 2012 after pharmacist Emily hand-made cufflinks for Christmas and was swamped with requests. They outgrew their garden shed and now create more than 250 personalised products from ethically-sourced wood, leather and stainless steel in their workshop in Ringwood, Hants. They say: “Priding ourselves on quality and innovation, we love what we do and hope it shows.” ●Visit creategiftlove.co.uk for more info GIFT IDEAS: ‘Shhh…’ Leather Bookmark With Photo: £16; Photo Coaster: £18

british Christmas DX1ST Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 7 LITTLECHOOK APRONS celtic & Co BASED in Cornwall, Celtic & Co has been at the forefront of the slow fashion movement, using natural, sustainable materials, since it began in 1990 when Nick and Kath Whitworth bought a small boot-making business. They taught themselves to sew, developed a range of sheepskin boots and then coats, accessories and luggage, and now employ more than 50 staff. The company is passionate about British manufacturing and remains Newquay-based with other products sourced from as close to home as possible. Kath says: “Our customers tell us how important it is to support British brands.” OFFER: Visit celticandco.com and use code Express15 for a 15% discount and free delivery Gift Ideas: Fair Isle mules, £62; wrist warmers, £59; hot water bottle cover, £44 NATURALLY TRIBAL skincare PHARMACIST Shalom Lloyd started her award-winning British brand in 2014 after struggling to find a product to clear her newborn son Joshua’s severe eczema. After discovering shea butter did the job, she founded her Naturally Tribal Skincare range. Every moisturiser, oil and scrub uses high grade shea including this AGU Body Food, complete with antioxidants cinnamon and nutmeg. MAKE every little helper feel special with their own named apron from children’s clothing brand Littlechook. There’s a chance to personalise each design further with a fun picture ranging from guinea pigs and otters to rainbows and tractors. Karin Duguid’s brand started life in 2010 and everything is made in a family-owned factory in Leicester, including her birthday number T-shirts and organic cotton pyjamas. ● Visit littlechook.com for more information THE Eclectic Men’s Gift Box (£105) is a must for any true fashion aficionado, with a choice of luxury socks for every day of the week. Made from mercerised Egyptian and Supima cotton, which strengthens the fabric, the socks are bright, breathable and colourful. Each pair is knitted with a seamless toe before rigorous quality-control checks at Peper Harow’s factory in West Sussex. OFFER: Visit peper harowengland.com and use code PEPER10 at checkout for a 10% discount peper & harow samuel groves THE Britannia cast-iron cookware range from Samuel Groves has been years in the making to perfect its artisan style and durability. Each pan is made from 70 percent recyclable materials from the company’s own carbon steel, and all hold a lifetime guarantee. The deep, sturdy pans come with stainless steel handles and can be used on hobs and barbecues and in ovens. Samuel Groves designs and makes everything in Birmingham, the same city it was established in, originally as a candlemaker, some two centuries ago. OFFER: Visit samuelgroves.com and use code Express10 for a 10% discount on Britannia Iron and Copper Induction range until December 31 OFFER: Visit naturallytribalskincare.com and spend £20 or more for a 15% discount using discount code EXPRESS15 sir gordon bennett NEIL Elliot was living and working in Dusseldorf, Germany, in 2015 and missing British-made goods (mostly pies and Jaffa cakes, he admits), when he came up with the idea of a marketplace for all the great products Britain makes and sells. Now the firm he subsequently founded, Sir Gordon Bennett, is a passionate champion of all things ‘Made In Britain’. Items must look beautiful, be made well, work and – crucially – be UK-made. Neil says: “When you choose to purchase a product from a British brand you’re not only choosing a product that is generally better for the environment but you are also supporting local communities. Britain is still the ninth biggest manufacturing economy in the world.” OFFER: Visit sirgordonbennett.com and use discount code SirExpress10 for 10% discount and free UK shipping Gift Ideas: Slate bookends, £40, right; sterling silver whistle necklace, £100; denim apron, £75

8 Daily Express Monday, December 6, 2021 By Ned Palmer British Cheese Champion IS THERE anything that says Christmas more than cheese? Not to my mind. Our turkeys and trimmings wouldn’t be half as much fun without a generouslyloaded cheese board to snack on as we sink into the sofa with the Queen’s speech. And a resurgence of cheesemaking in Britain means we have some of the choicest cheeses in the world to enjoy. Cheddar – the most popular cheese in Britain – is also the most famous cheese in the world. British cheese writer Patrick Rance called it “our most generous gift to humanity”, and he was right. If you’ve only had the rather pallid supermarket versions then you’re in for a treat, because proper traditional Cheddar is a whole other thing. Proper Cheddars come in great big clothbound wheels and mature on the farm, where they develop earthiness, beefy and grassy flavours, and a hint of cool stone like an old parish church. The classic West Country Cheddars are Montgomery’s, Keen’s, Westcombe, Pitchfork and Quicke’s. Wales has soft, sweet Hafod, Scotland sharp Isle of Mull and farmyardy St Andrews. For a wild card try Lincolnshire Poacher. With the sweetness of alpine cheese and the savoury bite of a British style, I like to call it the love-child of Cheddar and Gruyère. Stilton is almost as famous, certainly in the UK, where no Christmas cheese board should be without it. With its indulgent fondant-like texture and complex flavours that include Hubba-Bubba, Shreddies, Marmite and white chocolate, Stilton is the perfect cheese for the festive season. My favourite producer is Colston Bassett, who make the creamiest and most complex cheese, but there are four other producers, Cropwell Bishop, Long Clawson, Hartington, and Tuxford and Tebbut, each with their own unique character. The committed cheese-fancier should try them all. People have been making cheese in the British Isles for around 6,000 years, and we’d got quite good at it, but tragically, by the 1960s the triple whammy of industrial revolution, World Wars and the rise of the supermarket had nearly done for indigenous cheesemaking. Thankfully the 1970s saw the advent of the Great Cheese Renaissance, when having lost so much of their knowledge, British cheesemakers went to the Continent to re-learn their craft. As a result, many Renaissance style cheeses have a Continental character, like Berkswell, a hard sheep’s cheese with an intriguing pineapple flavour based on Spanish Manchego, or Blackmount, a peppery Scottish goat’s milk inspired by the French Valençay. The unsung heroes of the British cheese board are a family unique to this cheese heaven: Neal’s Yard Dairy in London and Arcadia in Belfast. Inset left, Lincolnshire Poacher DX1ST brilliantly british Christmas le grand fromage: Cheese expert Ned Palmer with a slice of Bermondsey Hard Pressed SAY CHEESE... ...and a resurgence in the ancient art of cheesemaking means there are more delicious homegrown choices than ever before country: the Territorials, hard or crumbly textured cow’s milk cheeses with mild yet heartwarming flavours. The Territorials are Double and Single Gloucester, Caerphilly, Red Leicester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Wensleydale and the Scottish Dunlop. Seek out their small-scale traditionally produced versions for a more fulfilling experience. The most recent trend in UK cheesemaking is what I like to call “postmodern cheese”, a mixing of different genres. There are new cheeses appearing all the time, but the poster boy is Renegade Monk, an eye-wateringly pungent cross between a farmyardy washed-rind and peppery blue. Christmas is the best time to eat as much cheese as you possibly can, a process I call “research”. Your best bet for top quality British cheese is an independent cheesemonger – with the added benefit that you’ll be supporting local businesses. Don’t worry if there isn’t one right nearby, everyone’s doing online sales, and cheese travels. Some of my favourites are Neal’s Yard Dairy (nealsyarddairy.co.uk), The Fine Cheese Co (finecheese.co.uk), The Welsh Cheese Company (welshcheesecompany. co.uk), The Courtyard Dairy (thecourtyarddairy.co.uk), Ian Mellis in Scotland (mellischeese.net), Arcadia in Belfast (arcadiadeli.co.uk) and Indie Füde in Belfast and Comber (indiefude.com). Good luck, happy Christmas, and happy cheese hunting! ● Ned Palmer is author of the Cheesemonger’s History Of The British Isles. His latest book is A Cheesemonger’s Compendium of British & Irish Cheese (Profile, £14.99). For free UK P&P on orders over £20, call Express Bookshop on 020 3176 3832 or order via expressbookshop.com