Inside Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks’ ‘secret romance’ as they finally go official

Inside Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks’ ‘secret romance’ as they finally go official
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 01: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Pete Wicks and Olivia Attwood attend The BRIT Awards 2025 at Intercontinental London - The O2, on March 01, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Redferns)
Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks recently hard launched their relationship on Instagram (Picture: Redferns)

The secret is finally out – Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks are dating!

Following months of rumours about the pair’s romance, the 35-year-old presenter and 37-year-old podcaster Pete hard-launched their relationship earlier this week.

Pete posted a series of photos of them cuddled up in Ibiza, with the caption: ‘I guess someone has to go first…IBIZA’

It comes six months after Olivia’s split from footballer husband Bradley Dack, whom she’d known for a decade.

The couple, who rekindled a past romance after Olivia’s appearance on Love Island in 2017, tied the knot in 2023.

But, in the wake of ‘a really bad summer,’ Olivia and Bradley’s marriage fell apart – with sources citing ‘a breach of trust’ on his part as the news broke.

BGUK_3503377 - Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM The BRIT Awards 2026 at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, UK. Pictured: Olivia Attwood - Pete Wicks BACKGRID UK 28 FEBRUARY 2026 BYLINE MUST READ: FARRELL / BACKGRID UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com *Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
Olivia and Pete have made their relationship official (Picture: Backgrid)

According to The Sun, Pete and Olivia struck up their romance at the Brit Awards in February, where they later stayed at the same hotel together.

Another source clarified: ‘Their passionate romance only started in the last few weeks, since she has split from Bradley; there was no overlap.’

Speaking about their hidden relationship, a source told Closer Magazine that Olivia has ‘always been drawn to Pete’ and ‘carried a torch for him.’

‘The secrecy has made it exciting, and they’ve spent a lot of time together – they love nights in watching movies together,’ the insider added.

Noting that Olivia and Pete ‘can’t keep their hands off each other,’ they went on to shed some light on their relationship’s dynamic.

‘Olivia is quite dramatic and intense, whereas Pete is very laid back, but somehow it works.’

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Bradley Dack and Olivia Attwood attend the National Television Awards 2021 at The O2 Arena on September 9, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Olivia and footballer Bradley Dack were married for almost three years (Picture: Getty Images)
BGUK_3503960 - Manchester, UNITED KINGDOM Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks looking cosy at The Brit Awards in Manchester Pictured: Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks BACKGRID UK 1 MARCH 2026 BYLINE MUST READ: FARRELL / BACKGRID UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com *Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
She and Pete are said to have grown close at this year’s Brit Awards (Picture: Backgrid)

The Sun’s insider described Pete as ‘a shoulder to cry on’ for Olivia during what was ‘a really horrible breakup’ from Bradley.

They added: ‘They have got closer and Pete has held a torch for Olivia for a really long time. She is hurting and vulnerable, and he was in the right place at the right time.

‘They get on really well and are taking it slow; there is no label at the moment.’

As for Bradley, he is reportedly ’embarrassed’ by news of Olivia and Pete’s secret romance.

According to The Sun, he had been ‘hopeful’ that they might reconcile their differences.

A source said: ‘Bradley is livid, he’s not surprised at all but is completely embarrassed and upset. He can’t believe Olivia has moved on so publicly and they’ve not even signed the divorce papers.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 20: Bradley Dack and Olivia Attwood attend the opening night of Hyde Park Winter Wonderland on November 14, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images for Hyde Park Winter Wonderland)
Bradley is said to be ‘livid’ at this turn of events (Picture: Getty Images)

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‘Bradley was hopeful for a reunion with Olivia but after this, he’s just livid and will take her to the cleaners.’

According to the tabloid, he’d ‘suspected things for the last year,’ but she had always denied there being anything romantic between her and Pete.

Pete and Olivia first met when on Towie in 2017 and have been close friends ever since, even hosting a radio show together on, uh, KISS FM.

Signs of their feelings for each other were visible from September last year, when Olivia and Pete were pictured looking cosy together on holiday in Ibiza.

Snaps from the time showed her lying in his arms as they sunbathed on the deck of a luxury yacht.

The pair maintained that they were only ‘friends’ at the time, with Pete saying how he ‘felt sick’ at the thought of people misconstruing what had been an innocent cuddle between pals.

BGUK_3171098 - London, UNITED KINGDOM - Pete Wicks & Olivia Atwood seen leaving ITV This Morning following an appearance to promote their new KISS radio show, The Sunday Roast Pictured: Olivia Attwood, Pete Wicks BACKGRID UK 3 MARCH 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: BDC Images / BACKGRID UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com *Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
The pair have been inseparable since her split from Bradley (Picture: Backgrid)

After the pictures were published, and with Olivia reportedly in ‘the doghouse’ with Bradley, she opened up about the tension in her marriage.

Speaking on her podcast at the time, she said: ‘I think that there was stuff going on on both sides…. At the end of day, marriage is really f***ing hard.’

A month later, The Sun revealed that Olivia and Bradley had parted ways, which had ‘never been an option until now’.

‘Olivia is heartbroken,’ said a source, with both of their families ‘so intertwined’ after a long relationship.

She first met the midfielder in 2015 through mutual friends while on a night out.

Olivia Attwood and Bradley Dack
Olivia previously described marriage as ‘frikinnn hard’ (Picture: Instagram)

The pair dated on and off for a year, but things fizzled out, with Olivia heading to the Love Island villa in an act of revenge against her ‘cheating ‘ex.’

There she finished in third place with Chris Hughes, losing out to Strictly’s Amber Davies and radio presenter Kem Cetinay.

After splitting from Chris in March 2018, she and Bradley rekindled their romance and were married five years later.

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However, it wasn’t long before fans spotted signs of a strain in their marriage, with many questioning those Ibiza pics and Bradley’s absence from her Instagram grid.

Olivia said at the time: ‘He’s alive, I swear. 10 years of us. A lot has changed. Marriage is frikinnn hard (no one wants to say that part out loud), and I’m just not a faker.

‘I’m not posting pictures if they don’t reflect our reality. We are doing our thing, and if there are any more updates, you will be the first to know.’

Editorial use only Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock (15176696ac) Peter Wicks, Olivia Attwood 'This Morning' TV show, London, UK - 03 Mar 2025
Olivia is the latest Towie romance for Pete (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)

Prior to romancing Olivia, Pete dated Towie castmates Jess Wright and Verity Chapman.

Both were short-lived dalliances, with Pete and Jess’s relationship hitting the rocks after she drunkenly kissed castmate Lewis Bloor.

Pete’s most high-profile relationship was with Megan McKenna, whom he dated for a year and a half in 2016 before breaking up amid accusations that he’d been ‘sexting’ an ex.

He was also linked to Strictly Come Dancing professional Jowita Przystal following his 2024 stint on the competition – shocking fans by sharing a passionate kiss with the dancer during a live appearance at the O2 Arena.

Other brief romances of Pete’s include his being linked to EastEnders star Danielle Harold and former Love Island star Maura Higgins.

BGUK_2918806 - LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - Celebrities Depart from the 2024 BAFTA Television Awards Gala. Pictured: Maura Higgins and Pete Wicks BACKGRID UK 12 MAY 2024 UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com *Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
Pete dated Maura Higgins for a year in 2025 (Picture: BACKGRID)

Last month, Olivia accused Maura of ‘copying’ her career, even allegedly describing her as a ‘stalker’ to friends.

This came after Maura shared an Instagram photo with Parisian fashion influencer Michael Coste, only days after Olivia had done the same.

A source told The Sun: ‘Olivia is obviously going through a lot at the moment and trying to piece her life back together, but she has been left bemused that Maura has continued to mirror her playbook. She even jokes with her friends that Maura is her stalker.

‘There is no love lost between them and they have become very skilled at ignoring each other on the red carpet and at parties. Olivia is just amazed that these things keep happening, although she knows that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.’

This article was originally published on March 23, 2026.



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Amazon Prime’s Ride or Die is the most fun I’ve had watching TV in ages

Amazon Prime’s Ride or Die is the most fun I’ve had watching TV in ages

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Hannah Waddingham as an assassin? Sign me up.

Hannah and Octavia Spencer as besties in an action-packed comedy that actually makes me belly laugh? Inject it into my veins.

Ride or Die, the high-octane Amazon Prime series that launched this week, follows two friends who are forced to fight for their lives when they become embroiled in a criminal conspiracy.

Debbie (Octavia) is an upstanding citizen, the wife of MP David (Jamie Parker), who writes all of his speeches and is clearly the brains behind his entire political career.

Judith (Hannah) is a forensic accountant… or so she says. Unbeknownst to most of the world (including Debbie), she’s actually a deadly assassin who’s been in operation for 30 years, ever since she was recruited by her boss, The Director (Bill Nighy), as a teenager.

Debbie knows Judith as the woman who she bonds with over antiques, and who she has a giggle with at bookclub. Then one night, her world is turned upside down when they wind up at the same gala, where Judith is meant to assassinate the criminal Billy Donovan (Ed Skrein).

Hannah Waddingham, Octavia Spencer and Ed Skrein in Ride or Die (Picture: Prime Video)
Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer are a dream duo (Picture: Prime Video)

Key details on Ride or Die

What’s Ride or Die about?

The official Amazon Prime synopsis reads:

‘Ride or Die follows best friends Debbie Claybourne (Octavia Spencer) and Judith Burton (Hannah Waddingham) who thought they knew everything about each other, except Judith turns out to be an international assassin.

‘When a mysterious figure emerges from Judith’s past and a hit goes horribly wrong, both of their worlds are turned upside down as they’re forced to go on the run together. It’s a race against time and a road trip across Europe, with law enforcement, highly trained assassins, and some very dangerous criminals at their heels.’

Who’s in the cast?

  • Octavia Spencer as Debbie
  • Hannah Waddingham as Judith, Debbie’s best friend and an elite assassin
  • Ed Skrein as Billy Donovan
  • Calam Lynch as Sam
  • Savannah Steyn as Queenie
  • Jamie Parker as David
  • Sylvia Hoeks as Ana
  • Bill Nighy as The Director
  • Jacky Ido as Jacques

How many episodes are there and how to watch?

All eight episodes are available to stream on Amazon Prime.

The women go on the run after the hit goes wrong, despite Debbie feeling deeply hurt by her friend’s betrayal, and Judith exposing a vulnerability that she’s never had on a mission before: the risk of losing someone she loves dearly.

Hannah, 51, and Octavia, 56, are comedy heaven together. It was a stroke of genius to have Tessa Coates create this series, a writer, actor and comedian who’s performed at Edinburgh Fringe and as part of the sketch trio Massive Dad.

The show strikes a fantastic balance of comedy and action, especially when Debbie and Judith are bickering or gossiping like real friends would. Sign me up to that wine and cheese night right now.

Their story feels rooted in authenticity, and much of that is down to Tessa’s light-hearted touch. I think of my closest girlfriends as my soulmates (thanks to Sex and the City’s Samantha Jones for putting that thought into my head years ago), and I could see that unbreakable bond in Judith and Debbie, too.

Thelma and Louise. Rachel, Monica and Phoebe in Friends. Jess and Cece in New Girl. Annie and Lillian in Bridesmaids. Female friendship is a very special thing, and amidst the action in Ride or Die (which goes to gruesome extremes that I wasn’t expecting), it is beautiful to behold.

Hannah Waddingham in "Ride or Die??? - Courtesy of Dus??an Martinc??ek/Prime
If you thought Liam Neeson had an impressive set of skills, wait till you meet Judith (Picture: Dušan Martinček/Prime)

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If you thought that this series would pull its punches when it comes to the violence, think again.

I physically winced watching someone have part of their ear bitten off, and Hannah is absolutely stellar in her fight sequences, having performed nearly all of her own stunts.

I don’t feel the need to make a big song and dance of Hannah’s age, but it is still worth acknowledging how epic and rare it is to see a 51-year-old woman in a powerful action role like this one.

She’s not the first – Michelle Yeoh was sensational in Everything Everywhere All At Once, as was Viola Davis in The Woman King and Robin Wright as the Amazonian General Antiope in Wonder Woman. More of this, please! (My fingers are already crossed for a second season).

Ride or Die - First Look
You don’t want to mess with The Director (Bill Nighy) (Picture: Dušan Martinček/Prime)

Verdict on Ride or Die

You will have an absolute blast watching Ride or Die. Trust me – you don’t want to miss it.

Ride or Die is an entertaining buddy comedy… but it goes much further than that. In a world centred around assassins, this series ventures to some vicious places.

This isn’t just a jolly where you know that all of your favourite characters are going to make it out alive. A character who’s introduced for comic relief one minute could be shot in the head the next.

Bill Nighy is purely Bill Nighy, starring as the stoic, understated head of the assassination agency, while Calam Lynch and Savannah Steyn have a magnetising dynamic in their secondary roles as Judith’s handler Sam and tech whizz Queenie. 

The series might veer into clichés every now and then, but who cares? It’s rip-roaring fun, and fans will find it hard to resist bingeing it all in one go. 

Ride or Die is available to watch on Prime Video.



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Chloe Madeley shares wholesome photos celebrating 39th birthday with ex-husband James Haskell

Chloe Madeley shares wholesome photos celebrating 39th birthday with ex-husband James Haskell
Chloe Madeley shares wholesome photos celebrating 39th birthday with ex-husband James Haskell
Chloe Madeley and James Haskell shared a meal together with their daughter (Picture: @madeleychloe)

Chloe Madeley has celebrated her 39th birthday with her ex-husband, James Haskell, and their three-year-old daughter.

The fitness coach shared a glimpse of her birthday weekend on social media, posting photos of the former couple while enjoying lunch with their daughter, Bodhi.

Chloe can be seen smiling while cuddling Bodhi alongside the former England rugby players as they tucked into what appeared to be tacos at a restaurant terrace.

It comes nearly two years after the pair announced that they were splitting following five years of marriage.

Donning a white blouse, Chloe also celebrated her birthday with her parents, Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan.

The 39-year-old added a picture of the pair also enjoying a meal, along with a few glasses of wine together.

Chloe Madeley shares wholesome photos celebrating 39th birthday with ex-husband James Haskell
Chloe posted this picture of her daughter, Bodhi on social media (Picture: @madeleychloe)
Chloe Madeley shares wholesome photos celebrating 39th birthday with ex-husband James Haskell
The former couple enjoyed a family day out for Chloe’s birthday (Picture: @madeleychloe)

Captioning the post, she wrote: ‘Birthday weekend,’ as fans took to the comments section to send her well wishes.

At the time of their split, James and Chloe both said that their daughter was their ‘sole focus’ and they would be co-parenting ‘with nothing but love’.

Since then, the pair have regularly spoken about their friendly co-parenting relationship and have often been seen spending time together with Bodhi despite no longer being a couple.

This comes after Chloe said that the last year of her marriage to James was ‘dark and incredibly scary’ in 2024.

The TV personality said: ‘When you tell people that you are divorcing, everyone sees it as such a negative thing. They say: “This is going to be so hard for you.” And, yes, it is, but the hardest bit was when we were married.

‘The last year of the marriage was awful. It was so dark, painful, and one of the worst periods of my life. It’s a good thing we ended it.’

Chloe Madeley shares wholesome photos celebrating 39th birthday with ex-husband James Haskell
Chloe’s parents, Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, were also out (Picture: @madeleychloe)
Editorial use only Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ken McKay/ITV/REX (10059349az) Chloe Madeley and James Haskell 'Loose Women' TV show, London, UK - 15 Jan 2019 CELEBRITY GUESTS: CHLOE AND JAMES HASKELL Congratulations are in order for Chloe and James Haskell as not only did they tie the knot in December, they have both released new health and fitness books! ?The Fat-Loss Blitz? features Chloe?s latest diet and exercise plan tips, whilst James?s ?Cooking for Fitness? sees him team up with chef Omar Meziane to offer ?no nonsense? recipes to anyone wanting to take their fitness to the next level. Chloe and James will be joining us to talk friendly competition, wedding bells and babies!
Chloe has previously opened up about her split from James (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX)

Earlier this year, James’ mother shared some stern words for Chloe during an appearance on E4’s Celebs Go Dating.

‘I’m not sure where he’s gone wrong because prior to his marriage, I met lots of lovely girlfriends,’ Susie said during a dinner party.

‘Each of them just loved me, which is a bonus. I do have quite a strong opinion on why I think it went wrong.

‘You can’t have two stars because you have them competing for the floor space the whole time.’

She then continued: ‘In the past he’s been extremely popular. I’ve seen at rugby matches where elderly ladies have got very close to him.

‘He needs someone who can see the softness of him, coupled with quite a brilliant intellect. He’s written seven books. Three of them are on The Times best-seller list.’



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Why Lionel Messi has never played against England before

Why Lionel Messi has never played against England before
Argentina v Cabo Verde: Round of 32 - FIFA World Cup 2026
Messi has never taken to the pitch against England (Picture: Getty)

There are very few things that Lionel Messi hasn’t done in his illustrious 22-year career.

But Wednesday night’s colossal World Cup semi-final showdown between England and Argentina will be the first time Messi has played against the Three Lions despite amassing 205 caps for the South American giants.

The two fierce rivals have not faced each other since a friendly in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2005.

Messi was suspended for that game, having been sent off with a straight red card in Argentina’s previous match against Hungary.

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Incredibly, the clash with Hungary was Messi’s international debut for Argentina, and even more remarkably, the red card came just under a minute after the then 18-year-old entered the pitch as a substitute.

The game in Switzerland was won by England, who scored twice in the final four minutes through Michael Owen to complete a dramatic turnaround after Argentina had twice led in the match.

Since then, the luck of the draw and early eliminations at major tournaments have kept the two teams apart.

England v Argentina
England beat Argentina in 2005 (Picture: Getty)

The closest they have come since then to playing against one another at a World Cup was in 2010, when England would have played Argentina in the quarter-finals had the Three Lions beaten Germany in the Round of 16.

There was also a near-miss in 2022, when Argentina played Italy in the Finalissima at Wembley.

The game pitted the Copa America 2021 winners against the Euro 2021 champions, meaning England would have contested the match against Argentina had they not lost against Italy in the Euros final on penalties.

How could England stop Lionel Messi?

‘Could Djed Spence do a job on Lionel Messi? He could, so long as he keeps control of himself and doesn’t try any reckless tackles against him.

‘I like Spence because he’s quick and reads the game well but playing against Messi is a different thing to playing against other players. It all depends on where Messi lines up for Argentina. He looked more dangerous to me when he moved out wide against Egypt. 

‘You don’t see it very often now but if the managers just put a man marker on him to try and mark him out of the game if plays more centrally. Could Declan Rice shut him down like that?

‘The only thing with putting a player on to man mark someone is that you then lose them from the other side of the game, and I’m not sure we’d like to lose what Declan offers with the ball.

‘Elliot Anderson could be capable of playing that role. It just depends where Messi plays. But first we need to beat Norway!’

Ex-England captain Bryan Robson speaking to Hajper

While the two countries have not faced each other at a major tournament since Messi’s debut, there is nothing to say they couldn’t have organised a friendly game between them in the years since.

However, for whatever reason – perhaps in part because of the off-field hostilities between the two nations – a friendly game has failed to materialise.

Messi: ‘It’s going to be a special match’

Messi, who has scored 125 times for Argentina, is relishing the opportunity to finally have a date with England.

‘The truth is, yes, it is always special to play against the big teams,’ Messi said after the quarter-final win over Switzerland.

‘It never happened to me against England, it’s the first time, so it’s going to be a special match, a World Cup semi-final.

Argentina v Cabo Verde: Round of 32 - FIFA World Cup 2026
Messi will be looking to help Argentina reach the World Cup final (Picture: Getty)

‘Now we’ll rest and prepare for that. We’ve come from a lot of effort, playing a long game and, well, sometimes it shows.’

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner added: ‘Obviously, everything I saw and remember is from videos and images that Argentinians constantly watch and relive [from 1986]. But I think this group is used to playing football matches regardless of the opponent.

‘Obviously, playing against England is special because they are a powerhouse, and matches against powerhouses are always special.

‘Personally, it’s the first time I’m going to play against them. I’ve played against everyone except England, so it’s going to be nice for that reason too.

‘And to experience it for what it is – a World Cup semi-final against a powerhouse, a great team, and we will try to arrive in the best possible shape to compete again.

Storied World Cup history

The last time England played Argentina in a competitive match was at the 2002 World Cup.

The group stage game in Japan was won by England courtesy of a penalty by David Beckham, after Michael Owen was brought down in the box by future Tottenham and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino.

FUSSBALL: WM 2002 in JAPAN und KOREA, ARG - ENG
Beckham’s penalty was the difference between the two sides in 2002 (Picture: Getty)

England’s win was something of a revenge for the events of the previous four years, when Argentina beat the Three Lions on penalties in the Round of 16 stage of the 1998 World Cup.

The game is infamous for Beckham being given a straight red card for kicking out against Diego Simeone while lying on the floor shortly after half-time.

Another history-defining game between the two came in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup, with Diego Maradona scoring a brace to dump England out of the tournament.

Follow England vs Argentina LIVE

The Maradona goals are unquestionably two of the most iconic ever scored in football history.

The first, the ‘Hand of God’, was followed by the ‘Goal of the Century’; Maradona picked the ball up in his own half and carried it 50 yards up the pitch before rounding Peter Shilton to double Argentina’s lead.

The game at the Azteca was a reversal of the result from the quarter-final of the 1966 World Cup, which England won 1-0 on their way to winning the tournament on home soil.

The first World Cup meeting between England and Argentina, meanwhile, was in the group stage of the 1962 edition, which England won 3-1.

In total, England lead the head-to-head record with four wins compared to Argentina’s two.



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Has ‘everyone thought about an orgy of some kind’? Readers discuss

Has ‘everyone thought about an orgy of some kind’? Readers discuss
A woman looks distracted and pensive as she lies on a bed holding a mobile phone, and gazes out the window
Readers discuss sexual fantasies, whether films can truly be ranked and the cost of rent (Picture: Getty Images)

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'Orgies and romance don't belong in the same sentence'

Talking up saucy new film The Invite, director-star Olivia Wilde is very much mistaken if she thinks ‘everyone’s thought about an orgy of some kind’ (Metro, Mon).

Romance and orgy don’t belong in the same sentence… yuk! Julie, West Midlands

Are the English getting ‘a little bit more French’?

Wilde says ‘people are starting to get
a little bit more “French” about it’ when it comes to orgies.

About time, too – some years ago a French acquaintance of mine told me that the thing she hated most about orgies in England was ‘all the queuing’.
Julian Self, Wolverton

No such thing as ‘best’ films

I agree entirely with your chief film critic Larushka Ivan-Zadeh that any list of so-called ‘best’ films needs interrogation (Metro, Fri).

She attempts to finesse the definition of ‘best’ by asking which films could be dubbed ‘the greatest’ and which ‘make a list feel alive’. Neither, however, tell us little more than the personal taste of the critic. Suppose that we demand of any list that the compiler be required to clarify their choices by adding one line of justification on each film.

Examples from my own putative list: Sunrise (1927) – for its definitive embodiment of the country versus city divide; Ulzana’s Raid (1972) – for its reworking of the cavalry western to render the Apache not as a murderous brute or noble savage but as an authentic bearer of the, albeit harsh, Apache culture; Ashes And Diamonds (1958) – for its formally dazzling interweaving of the socio-political forces of post-war Poland; Le Samourai (1967) – for elegantly crafting the end point of the gangster genre; and Far From Heaven (2002) – for its sense of film history in reworking Douglas Sirk’s All That Heaven Allows (1955) for a culture whose sexual and racial norms had changed.

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Congratulations, Larushka, keep asking questions about cinema. Colin, London

‘No point in having cheap rent if there’s nowhere to rent’

I note Generation Rent want rent controls as rates are ‘too expensive’.

It’s not rents that are too expensive but property prices. Landlords in the south-east can expect a yield of around four per cent – and that’s before tax.

Squeeze that and of course they will sell up. There is no point in having cheap, regulated rents if there is nowhere to rent.

The answer to high rents is to build more housing. It doesn’t matter if it’s one million council homes or private homes – more must be built. P Royan, London

‘Jiasas should be promoted to parents’

Rosie Murray-West (Metro, Mon) says targeting financial advertising at the old is a waste of time because their affairs will largely be in order. I’d disagree.

Junior Isas (Jisas) and Junior Self-Invested Personal Pensions (Jsipps) should be promoted to parents as a tax-efficient way to transfer small amounts of inter-generational wealth to the young.

As a parent, I’d like the rules changed to allow young people to be able to draw down from these to pay for post-secondary education (rather than at age 18 for Jisas or 55 for Jsipps, as per current rules).

This should especially be the case with trade skill and qualifications to deal with UK skills gaps, exam fees for home-schoolers and education/training from 16-18 if that would benefit neurodiverse children where costs are not covered under an Education, Health and Care Plan.
Miles Thomas, London

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Is ‘an only child is a lonely child’ just an outdated myth? Readers discuss

Is ‘an only child is a lonely child’ just an outdated myth? Readers discuss
Cheerful Asian little girl playing in cardboard car with her soft toys
Readers discuss if it is better for children to have siblings, whether the Clacton by-election is legit and whether the UK is facing a heatwave (Picture: Getty)

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Only children are not lonely

Kate Lawler’s article about choosing to have just one child (Metro, Thu) had me shaking my head in disbelief.

I’m an only child who is a generation older than Kate and was so disappointed to learn she still had to contend with the same myths (‘an only child is a lonely child’) and proscriptive attitudes (‘without children, you’re not whole’) that were prevalent when I was young.

I lived contentedly with my mum, dad and grandma. I don’t recall being lonely and made friends easily enough. I recall adults feeling sorry for me and asking leading questions (‘but don’t you wish you a brother or sister?’), which could not have been further from my mind.

There is much research to suggest that we ‘onlies’ enjoy advanced verbal skills, do well academically, are confident and deal better with solitude.

So, good for Kate and her small-but-beautifully-formed family. And good for those who choose to remain childless and those who have several kids (assuming they can look after them all). Do what’s right for you!

And, please, can everyone else mind their own business? You can’t get inside someone else’s head and if you really believe life without procreation lacks purpose, I feel deeply sorry for you. William Buckley, Reading

Siblings aren’t always all that

Having siblings is not always what it’s cracked up to be. My older sister and I did play together as children but she would happily ditch me if she had something better to do. It didn’t help that my dad also played favourites, pitting us against each other for his affection.

For every person I know who has an amazing relationship with their siblings, 
I know another who has had major friction and/or become estranged from them. Tania, London

‘Heatwave is an official term, where the temperature is hotter than average for that time’

Sarah (MetroTalk, Fri) asks why we’re referring to our weather as a ‘heatwave’ rather than a ‘glorious summer’.

Heatwave is an official term, where the temperature is hotter than average for that time. The average temperature for July is usually around 17C so the fact it’s been 32C for an extended period is more than it just being a bit hot. Matt, Sheffield

Reader points out flaw with time off for World Cup…

Got a question about UK politics?

Send in yours and Metro's Senior Politics Reporter Craig Munro will answer it in an upcoming edition of our weekly politics newsletter. Email alrightgov@metro.co.uk or submit your question here.

John (MetroTalk, Fri) says businesses should have allowed staff to knock off early to watch Saturday’s England match.

I’m a train driver who doesn’t follow football. I do, however, follow cycling – and with three Grand Tours lasting three weeks each, I look forward to the railway shutting for nine weeks. Paul, Braintree

‘The media is doing its job, reporting the fact of his undeclared £5million crypto-gift’

John Nightingale (MetroTalk, Thu) suggests Nigel Farage is the victim of a mainstream media witch-hunt and says he has been ‘found guilty of nothing’.

The media is doing its job, reporting the fact of his undeclared £5million crypto-gift, which has triggered an official probe.

Farage has built a career on ‘just asking questions’ to stir the populist pot, yet when Parliament asks entirely legitimate questions of him, this Dulwich College-educated former City broker cries foul and triggers a costly by-election to dodge scrutiny. Peter Brown, Cleckheaton

Clacton by-election should be suspended

Why isn’t the Clacton by-election postponed until after the investigation into Farage’s finances is concluded? Terry, Winnersh



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Noah’s exit ‘confirmed’ in Emmerdale as he makes a big announcement

Noah’s exit ‘confirmed’ in Emmerdale as he makes a big announcement
Noah standing in The Hide in Emmerdale
Time for a change? (Picture: ITV)

As dramatic as the Emmerdale village is, it’s not the ideal place to live if you want your day-to-day life to consist of anything more than getting up, going to work, heading to the pub and going home.

It’s something that appears to be on Noah Dingle’s (Jack Downham) mind in upcoming episodes of the ITV soap, and it could well lead to his departure.

Son to Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins), Noah has faced his fair share of village chaos. A couple of years ago, he was sentenced to prison after stalking and harassing Chloe Harris. Noah was released, and thankfully managed to turn his life around.

Last year, Noah became one of the many victims impacted by Joe Tate’s (Ned Porteous) scheme. He was in need of a kidney transplant, but obviously went about finding a donor in a completely unethical way.

Joe drugged his brother Noah and took him to a private hosptial. Dodgy surgeon Doctor Crowley tested Noah’s blood against Joe’s, but discovered he wasn’t a match.

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With Noah being basically useless to him at that time, Joe dumped him at the side of the road. In his drugged state, Noah staggered in front of a limo that was being driven by Charity. The vehicle crashed onto a frozen lake, eventually leading to the deaths of Amy Wyatt, Suzy Merton and Leyla Harding.

When he isn’t stuck in the middle of some Dingle or Tate based drama, Noah works as an eletrician. He enjoys it, it provides him with good money – but Noah wants more.

In scenes that will air soon, Noah tells Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) that he’s considering applying for jobs abroad.

It would be a great opportunity for Noah to experience what life outside of the village has to offer – but will he actually leave?

An Emmerdale comp that features Noah, Vanessa, Doctor Todd, Charity, Jacob and Mackenzie
Noah is one of the many who could end up killing Doctor Todd (Picture: ITV)
Doctor Todd lying in a pool of blood in Emmerdale
Could Noah kill Todd and then make a run for it? (Picture: ITV/YouTube)

Interestingly, Noah is one of the many people who could end up killing Doctor Caitlin Todd (Caroline Harker) in the near future.

He currently doesn’t know about everything Caitlin put his mum through, but is that going to change?

Will he murder Doctor Todd, and make a run for it afterwards?



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