Despite the ongoing cost of living squeeze, Brits are expected to spend a record £94 billion this festive season. The Christmas splurge is almost 3% more than last year but according to a leading consumer expert this is probably more to do with rising prices than people feeling generous.

As Halloween approaches, the ever-familiar image of the witch returns; from decorations to costumes, the broomstick and pointy hats are everywhere. The depiction of the Witch was perhaps made even more famous with the recent blockbuster Wicked. The theme of who gets to decide whether a woman is dangerous or indeed ‘wicked’ runs through the film.

Her virtuosity fizzes with effervescence, but it is never mere display. Gillam remains as fine an ambassador as the saxophone could hope for, and this disc does exactly what it says on the label: it will make you smile and haul you out of the doldrums. She is refreshingly frank about her aims. “I had one ambition with this project: to make an album that would make people smile,” she says, revealing that she wrote herself a manifesto a year earlier demanding nothing less than “BIG ENERGY”. Mission accomplished, and then some.

Having built a devoted global fanbase on a steady run of singles and EPs, Boy In Space finally steps into full-length territory with The Man Who Lost It All, and the result feels like a significant moment for Robin Lundbäck. More personal than anything he has released to date, the ten-track collection not only offers a deeper insight into the man behind the moniker but also stands as his most cohesive body of work yet.

Wildlife legend David Attenborough famously made the world sit up in amazement when his dulcet tones accompanied the thundering of millions of hoofs crossing treacherous rivers on The Great Wildebeest Migration. One of nature’s greatest phenomenon’s, the migration across the Serengeti and Masai Mara eco-system entails a staggering 1.5 million wildebeest, 300,000 zebras, and 200,000 gazelles relentlessly on the move in search of seasonal rains and sustenance. Fraught with peril along the way, their journey becomes even more dangerous at the crucial Mara river crossing from Northern Tanzania to Kenya where predators lie in wait.

All And all who died, from winter's sleet, From flu, from guns, from cells gone wrong, Still stand, one breath from fingers' reach, Just out of touch, all colour gone. The dead grow smaller. From a train Mist takes the fields, drinks green to grey, The fog has swept across their face.

It goes without saying that all animals, whether indoor pets such as dogs or outdoor animals such as ponies and donkeys, should be trained. While training may take different forms depending on the animal, it should focus on teaching good manners and how to respond in certain situations.

Is there anyone who does not like people-watching? I can’t imagine so, even if not everyone wants to admit it, so novels like this one which take you into the heart of a community, are ideal. The reader spectates from a safe distance. After a brief, enticing prologue, the novel proper begins when a man dies in the shower, apparently of a heart attack.

The pace of change facing organisations today means the leadership is evolving faster than ever. Technological disruption, changing employee expectations and ongoing global uncertainty are reshaping how businesses operate. The qualities that define effective leaders in 2026 look somewhat different from those valued even a decade ago.

The National Symphony Orchestra is superbly showcased, every section adding vivid detail, and Noseda draws out both the character and the narrative of each score. In the booklet, the conductor writes warmly of how living with these works has enriched his knowledge of the music America produced in the last century, and he hopes they will find the wide following they deserve. On this evidence, they should. These are not museum pieces dusted off out of duty but symphonies that sound as though they have been part of the repertoire all along, and we had simply mislaid them. Consider them found.

Hector Gannet might be labelled a folk-rock band, but there’s a lot more going on here than acoustic guitars and catchy choruses. Aaron Duff’s songwriting takes in everything from Celtic folk to jazz, blues and big, sweeping rock songs, giving the album plenty of variety without ever making it feel disjointed.

It pleases me greatly when car manufacturers decide to stage their UK drive events in the North of England. Challenging roads, relatively traffic free, and no long drive down the M6 for me! I was therefore delighted to get the invite to drive the new Polestar 5 in Northumberland, a county I know well. An added bonus would be a night in the Bailiffgate Hotel, opposite Alnwick Castle.

What strikes you first is the technique. The accuracy is superb, and the voices are balanced with the kind of independence a fine pianist brings to the keyboard, where the left hand can be shaded beneath the right while the two still sing as one. Skylark achieves the same effect: each part has its own character, yet nothing ever pulls against the whole.

Actor Bill Ward admits he looks upon “food as fuel” and always has done so. “I have always been a very active person both in my theatre and T.V. work and also play a lot of sport, so I need to eat a lot and regularly," says Bill, who is appearing next week in Twelve Angry Men, a gripping drama at Bradford Alhambra.

Two critically endangered hooded vultures have arrived at Chester Zoo, where conservationists are hoping the newly bonded pair will produce youngsters to help safeguard the species from extinction. The vultures - named Claudia and Alan after Traitors stars Claudia Winkleman and Alan Carr - are the first breeding pair of hooded vultures to ever live at the Cheshire conservation zoo.

The ensemble was formed in Kyiv just over a decade ago, and its young players move as comfortably through new music as through the classics. Their playing here is shaped with great care. The dialogue between the four instruments is a constant pleasure, the contours of each line are beautifully moulded, and the ends of phrases are communicated with real intelligence, so the lyricism flows unhindered. Textures are clear, colours are varied, and the commitment is never in doubt. Technically they are entirely assured, yet it is the expressiveness that lingers. This is billed as Volume 1, which is the best news of all. On this evidence, the rest of the cycle cannot come soon enough.

Data analysis from ThingCo shows significant 82% increase in accident alerts amongst young drivers despite them spending less time behind the wheel after the clocks change With the clocks going back an hour on Sunday 25th October, telematics insurtech, ThingCo, is warning drivers – and young dr…

In an autumn Budget preview commentary, several EY spokespeople, including Manchester-based Partner Noam Handler and North Market Leader Hilary Heap, discuss fiscal devolution and its potential to support regional economic prospects. Devolution – Noam Handler Noam Handler, Partner and Regional Markets Tax Leader at EY, said: “Fiscal devolution will be judged not…

Short it may be, but this five-track release says a great deal about Jeneba Kanneh-Mason as an interpreter. Her command of tone and dynamics is marvellous throughout, and the effect is quite entrancing.

Painkillers, sleeping tablets and cold remedies bought over the counter in the UK could lead to confiscation, a fine or worse at some of the world’s most popular destinations, according to official government advice. Medicines that are routinely prescribed or bought over the counter in the UK can be controlled, restricted or prohibited in other countries.

Divorce is more than the end of a marriage; it is often the beginning of rediscovering yourself. For many people, solo travel becomes a way to heal, reflect, and embrace a new chapter of life after divorce.

As the golden glow of early autumn gives way to starlit evenings, our homes and gardens can still be the ultimate sanctuaries for comfort, connection, and effortless style. This season, British Garden Centres offers fresh inspiration to help homeowners transform their living spaces, encouraging everyone to embrace the beauty and warmth of cosy autumn living, inside and out.

As British Summer Time ends on Sunday, beauty experts explain what evening habits are worth reconsidering and which beauty treatments to prioritise during the colder, darker months. The clocks go back at 2am on Sunday 25 October, giving people across the UK an extra hour as British Summer Time comes to an end.

Believe it or not, when you do your last lawn cut of 2026 really matters! Avid gardeners who have tended to their beloved lawn throughout the year know that the weather has been predictably unpredictable. We've had extreme weather in the UK this year, with consecutive heatwaves followed by miserable drizzle and high winds.

Vasily Petrenko on scaling Strauss’s Alpine peak with the RPO, the adrenaline of recording live, and why the pendulum is swinging back from streaming to the record shelf. As we prepared the countdown to our 80th anniversary season, there was one journey, in particular, that I was determined to make.

Almost 80% of drivers would consider a professional refresher or driver-confidence lesson in at least some circumstances. More than one in five would consider professional help if a collision knocked their confidence behind the wheel. Gold and Platinum AA Insurance customers involved in a collision can be offered a two-hour Driver Confidence session with AA Driving School.

A new report released today by Independent Age, the national charity for older people in financial hardship, reveals the devastating effect of the over 2-year Housing Benefit freeze on older private renters.

CrossCountry is bringing eight more Voyager trains into service from early 2027, adding seats on routes that link the North East, Yorkshire and Manchester with the south coast. CrossCountry is to add eight more Voyager trains to its long-distance fleet, with the first due to carry passengers early next year.

Experts at law firm Mills & Reeve are behind a push for new legislation to help people protect themselves against the threat of AI-generated deepfakes, in a campaign that has secured the backing of football stars Cole Palmer and Lucy Bronze among others.

Community groups have just one more week to take advantage of grants up to £1,500 from Fibrus Broadband. The full fibre broadband provider is coming to the end of the latest round of applications for its £30,000 Community Fund. Local sports clubs, charities and other organisations have until Friday 16 October to apply to the fund. Since the fund was launched in 2023.

Business and university leaders have warned that devolution must strengthen the contribution of places to the UK's innovation economy without fragmenting the national capabilities needed to compete globally.

A prostate cancer expert has said statistics showing cancer rates in men under 50 have more than tripled between 2001 and 2023 “should be a wake up call for the UK’s National Screening Committee.” Prof Chris Booth, founder of men’s health charity CHAPS and a former consultant urologist with more than 40 years’ experience said the statistics from The World Cancer Research Fund “endorse the trend CH…

It boasts some of the best views across the city, arguably one of the most desirable city centre locations, just down the road from Leeds Trinity Shopping Centre and amenities you’d expect from a 5* hotel, but this isn’t a new luxury hotel, it’s the city’s latest purpose-built student accommodation tower.

CrossCountry customers encouraged to plan ahead for Christmas travel: Snow at Birmingham New Street Rail passengers travelling this Christmas are being encouraged to plan ahead, as major engineering work will mean no trains can operate to or from Birmingham New Street between Thursday 24 and Monday 28 December 2026.

Vital funding will help EMPOWER Youth Zones expand its work and create more opportunities for children and young people throughout Greater Manchester. The Matchroom Charitable Foundation has announced a £50,000 donation to EMPOWER Youth Zones, supporting the charity’s work with thousands of young people across Salford and Manchester.

Dr Zeineb Djebal, Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at the University of Liverpool Management School and Academic Programme Director for the Help to Grow: Management Course. On International Day of Older People, I’m taking a moment to recognise a group that deserves more attention in conversations about entrepreneurship: the over 50s who are building businesses…

Teenage girls are spending fewer evenings with friends, feeling isolated in their communities and dodging school sport at higher rates than boys, according to a report into England’s “bedroom generation”.  Polling of 15-year-olds for the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) finds that more than one in five girls (21 per cent) now spends no evenings out with friends during a typical week, compared wi…

Supporters of compensation for WASPI women outnumber opponents by almost four to one, according to a landmark new analysis of more than 10,000 voters. The research, carried out by Stack Data Strategy among 10,052 adults in Great Britain, found that almost half of voters (47 per cent) believe women affected by State Pension age changes should receive full or partial redress.

Passengers with mobility scooters are now able to travel on all of the different types of trains in Northern’s fleet with a free permit. It comes after the train operator updated its rules to allow smaller mobility scooters on Class 158 trains.

Miller Homes has opened applications for the second round of its 2026 Community Fund, inviting charities and community groups across the North West, including Coppull to apply for grants to support local projects and initiatives. The fund offers donations ranging from £250 to £2,000, helping organisations that make a positive difference within the communities where the homebuilder operates.

Dear Editor, Like most of us, I don’t think twice before hopping on a bus or train to go to work, meet friends or do a spot of shopping. However, for millions of people across the country who are deaf or have hearing loss, barriers on public transport can make even every day journeys feel impossible.

Almost all charities surveyed say current funding levels are not keeping pace with costs. Half are considering redundancies, while three-quarters report falling income over the past year.