Bad news for Casualty next week and beyond as it goes off air ahead of big milestone

Some bad news! (Picture: BBC/Metro)

Casualty is going off air again ahead of the medical drama’s 40th anniversary.

The show’s final episode in the latest mini-series, Lethal Legacy, will air on BBC One this evening, but you can watch it right now on BBC iPlayer.

This boxset has primarily focused on exploring Flynn Byron’s (Olly Rix) army past, as well as the relationships Dylan Keogh (William Beck) has with son Matty Linlaker (Aron Julius) and friend Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless).

After learning that Matty and Stevie had been sleeping together, Dylan spiralled as he tried to process their betrayals. In an attempt to get revenge, Dylan reported Stevie to Flynn.

As he continued to struggle, Dylan reached a dark place. Things got so bad for him, he relapsed and started drinking alcohol.

Up Next

Thanks to the time he has spent getting to know his dad, Matty knew that turning away from Dylan out of disappointment that he had relapsed would only make things worse. He made it clear that he would be there for Dylan as he got control of his addiction again, leading to the father and son sharing a hug.

Elsewhere in the ED, this boxset saw Rida Amaan (Sarah Seggari) come to terms with her alopecia diagnosis. She was supported by friend and colleague Jodie Whyte (Anna Chell), who helped pick Rida back up whenever her confidence was low.

Speaking of Jodie, the character turned into a bit of a detective this mini-series, as she became passionate about exposing the truth surrounding a local housing development.

And finally, he might’ve taken the long way round, but Rash Masum (Neet Mohan) has been made a consultant, which means he will be wearing some dashing new blue scrubs next time we see him!

Rash got some hugely positive news (Picture: BBC)

With the credits rolling on another fantastic finale episode, we sadly won’t be making any trips to the Holby City Hospital ED department for a little while.

Why is Casualty going off air and when will it return?

Between now and Casualty’s 40th anniversary at the start of September, there won’t be enough time to air another boxset. It’s because each mini series is 12 episodes/weeks long, and we only have just over a month until the start of September.

Teasing the big milestone event, star Neet Mohan told us: ‘I’m not sure how much I can say on this, but let’s say this. I think the team at Casualty constantly push themselves, and they’ve pushed themselves once again in the 40th to be even more ambitious than before and even more creative and really push what the show makes and what we do, and Rash is a part of this, as everybody is in this story in the 40th. 

‘Rash is a part of that team, and hopefully you get to see Rash in the next stage of the character and there’s some really exciting stuff, but it’s great. 

We’ll rejoin the Holby City Hospital ED team in September (Picture: BBC)

‘I’m really proud of that 40th episode of what we did, and I think the fans are going to love it, hopefully. Hopefully the fans are going to love it. Because I think we’ve put a lot of effort into it, and I think we’ve really pushed it, I think it’s good.’

So, while it is disappointing to be without Casualty on our Saturday nights once more, the build up to the anniversary will be even more exciting.

40 years is an incredible achievement for any TV drama, and if taking a short break means the anniversary gets the spotlight it deserves, it’s a trade-off many fans will happily accept.

Comments Add as preferred source

from Metro https://ift.tt/cKe94ua
via IFTTT

Casualty confirms key character death as TV legend exits

A big death in this week’s Casualty (Picture: BBC / Metro)

Casualty spoilers follow for Saturday’s (July 25) episode that is now available to view on BBC iPlayer. The episode in question will air on BBC One at 9:10pm.

Jack Bard (Mark Womack) was left fighting for his life after a gun was fired at the barracks, with Flynn Byron (Olly Rix), Teddy Gowan (Milo Clarke) and Jacob Masters (Charles Venn) subsequently arriving to assist.

The sinister army colonel claimed the incident was an accident but it soon came to light this wasn’t the case after further shots were fired at the doctors as they attempted to take Bard to an ambulance.

The police recommended waiting until they swept the area for the shooter but Flynn ignored the orders, knowing Bard wouldn’t survive if they left it much longer.

Using smoke to keep out of sight, Holby’s Clinical Lead led Bard out of the building and towards the ambulance, with help from Teddy and Jacob.

Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) was on the case when Bard arrived at the hospital but the nightmare escalated when the shooter turned up, making her way into Bard’s treatment room, where she held the army man hostage.

Up Next

The person pointing the gun was Penny Sanders (Ellie Spooner), a soldier of Bard’s who has been subjected to horrific abuse at the hands of the sinister colonel.

As viewers know, Flynn suspected that Bard was hazing and physically abusing his soldiers after a number of them were admitted to the ED – with historic wounds unrelated to the reason for their admission.

After some investigating, he was able to get private Rory Dickson (Gwïon Morris Jones) to open up about what Bard puts his soldiers through but after his friend Kev died, Rory felt unable to report Bard – so Flynn did so himself.

Bard was suspended with an investigation soon following but devastation struck last week when Flynn learned that the evil colonel had managed to get away with his crimes.

Colonel Bard was shot (Picture: BBC STUDIOS)

‘He did a hatchet job on me’, Flynn told with Stevie, revealing that Bard had made out like he was a ‘bitter ex soldier with an axe to grind’.

Flynn subsequently headed to the bar where all the soldiers hang out to warn them just how dangerous he is, urging them to speak up. One of the soldiers in question was Penny, who – while holding Bard at gunpoint – detailed the abuse she has suffered due to his heinous methods of ‘training’.

With Bard’s condition getting worse and Stevie unable to tend to him, Flynn encouraged Penny to stand down, with Bard saying they could explain all this away as a ‘reaction to stress’ or a ‘breakdown’.

Flynn, Jacob and Teddy arrived at the scene (Picture: BBC STUDIOS)

Flynn stated that he knows better than most how Bard can ‘get in your head’ but reiterated that if she kills him, he will ‘stay there forever’.

Penny put the gun down and was taken away by armed police, with Rash Masum (Neet Mohan) subsequently checking her over.

Bard, meanwhile, was taken by Stevie and Flynn in the lift for surgery as his condition continued to deteriorate – but the situation took another turn when Bard told Flynn that he intended to ‘break’ Penny himself, claiming that he will continue to ‘stamp out weakness’ in the army.

Flynn was utterly horrified. As Bard lost consciousness, Stevie urged the Clinical Lead to start chest compressions. Flynn, however, did not do as he was told. Stevie repeatedly demanded that he act but Flynn showed no signs of doing so.

Bard met a shocking end (Picture: BBC STUDIOS)

In subsequent scenes, Bard was declared dead. This inevitably marks the end of Bard, with star Mark Womack – best known for his work in Emmerdale as DI Malone and other programmes including Liverpool 1 and Sorted – having exited the show.

Stevie berated Flynn for not acting sooner but an emotionless Flynn claimed that – whether he’d acted or not – Bard was never going to make it.

‘I know what I saw!’, exclaimed Stevie in response, leaving the two friends and colleagues further apart than ever as the credits rolled, concluding the Lethal Legacy saga.

Will Flynn and Stevie be able to get back on the same page?

Casualty airs Saturday at 9:10pm on BBC One or stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer. 

If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you.

Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage.

Comments Add as preferred source

from Metro https://ift.tt/1KLJvyC
via IFTTT

TV soap icon fell pregnant to married 55-year-old man at age 19

Neighbours star Natalie Bassingthwaighte has spoken about a difficult past relationship (Picture: WireImage
(Credits: WireImage)

Neighbours star Natalie Bassingthwaighte has opened up about being in a relationship with a married man, 30 years her senior, when she was just 19.

Best known for playing Izzy Hoyland in the iconic Australian soap, the actress, now 50, recently sat down to reflect on life on screen, on stage, as a singer and all-around TV personality.

During one candid moment of reflection, she recounted a difficult situation she found herself in whilst having an affair with a 55-year-old man, when she was just shy of 20.

First reminiscing on her inner troubles while in the age-gap relationship, she said: ‘The hardest part was feeling deceitful because I’ve always felt like that’s not who I am as a person to the core.

‘But I just fell in love with a person who told me I was amazing and beautiful and talented and funny and what we all want to be told.

Explaining that the hardest part was knowing that she was hurting his wife. ‘When she came to me, and it was the worst day of my life, it was freaking horrible.’

She appeared as Izzy Hoyland in Neighbours in the 2000s (Picture: Fremantle Media/Shutterstock)

The moment Natalie decided to leave, however, came when she discovered she was expecting a baby.

She continued to the Inherited podcast: ‘I got pregnant to him and I did not want the baby. I was like: “Oh my god I’m a child”,’ but the father did want to keep it.

‘I think he’d been trying with his wife before and that didn’t happen,’ she said, explaining that she eventually said yes to keeping the child but then he started ‘not being very nice’ to her.

‘It was very odd, it was almost like: “Great I’ve got you now.”

The TV star later suffered a miscarriage.

She spoke about his wife confronting her (Picture: TikTok/ inheritedthepod)

Eventually the couple also parted ways, with Natalie ultimately reflecting that after going to therapy ‘he was a grown man taking advantage of a young woman’.

In recent years she has been open about her dating life, sharing that she was engaged to her partner Pip Loth in October 2025 after they confirmed their romance in 2023.

Nowadays, Natalie – whose main run on Neighbours was between 2003 and 2007 – is putting all her concentration into her theatre career and recently wrapped her role as Jenna in Australia’s national tour of Waitress.

The tour, however, was abruptly cancelled, with Natalie later sharing a message on social media about her gratitude for all the women she’s had the honour to play on stage.

Nowadays the star is found on stage and engaged to fiancee Pip Loth (Picture: WireImage via Getty)

‘It has been so incredible to sit in the gratitude for all the many amazing women I have had the opportunity to play in my career. These characters spoke to me in ways that are hard to put into words. They always came at a time when I needed them the most.

‘These women were raw and real. Struggling to find their place. But they did. Each story unique, but at the core, a celebration of finding themselves along the way.

‘I was able to share these stories with thousands, nationwide, seemingly at a time when they needed it too. How great to look back with pride and celebrate theatre

‘Keep watching and supporting these stories and experiences. You will be changed for good,’ she concluded.

If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you.

Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage.

Comments Add as preferred source

from Metro https://ift.tt/B2IMdbZ
via IFTTT

Readers weigh in on Burnham’s early plans and attempts to lower cost of living

Readers discuss Burnham’s first moves as PM, how good the new Odyssey film really is and whether we’re actually in a cost-of-living crisis (Picture: Toby Melville / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments

Is removing VAT from domestic energy bills a good move?

Andy Burnham’s first attempt to ease the cost-of-living crisis as prime minister – by removing VAT from domestic electricity bills (Metro, Wed) – may be popular but is, from the point of view of economics, wrong-headed.

Economics and experience tell us price is determined by supply and demand.

Energy prices have increased because supply has been restricted due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. If the price we pay is reduced by the tax cut, demand will rise, putting upward pressure again on price.

Thus the net effect of the tax cut will be, at least to a degree, to transfer money which would have gone to the government to the energy companies.

A tax increase, conversely, reduces demand and so depresses the market price, so that, in effect, part of the tax is borne by the energy companies rather than the consumer. Bernard Winchester, Norwood

‘Inflation is down’ so is there no cost-of-living crisis?

We keep reading about the ‘cost-of-living crisis’ but inflation is down to 2.6 per cent. In 1975, soon after I had married, it hit 25 per cent. Let’s get some perspective! Jamie, Chelsea

Right-wing media are resposible for view Burnham is taking is back to the ’70s, says reader

A Martin (MetroTalk, Thu) says Burnham ‘seems to want to take Britain back to the 1970s’. How do we know this? Has Burnham said this? What measures is he introducing 
that reflect such a view? Or, maybe A Martin just gets ideas from the right-wing media? Martin, London

Sound was an issue with the Odyssey

Having read Tori Brazier’s five-star review of The Odyssey (Metro, Jul 16),
I went to see it with high expectations.

First, the sound. During the opening scenes on Ithaca I could hardly understand a word of what was said due to the subdued whispery tone of the actors. This applied to most of the film –except when an actor shouted.

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.

I was quite bored with scenes leading up to Odysseus’s departure for Troy. Some scenes after the Sack of Troy were good, in particular with the Cyclops.

Other reservations include why Helen of Troy had to be black [Lupita Nyong’o]. She was a Spartan queen, almost certainly white. The goddess Athena [Zendaya] scarcely appears and doesn’t resemble as much of a goddess as Tori seems to think.

Anne Hathaway makes a passable Penelope, though, and Matt Damon is excellent as Odysseus.

However, at nearly three hours, the film is far too long and director Nolan unnecessarily repeats the Sack of Troy a few times. The film also jumps backwards and forwards, which makes it confusing at times. If it’s your first time with the plot, you’ll find it a bit difficult to follow. I was glad to leave when the end finally arrived. Peter, Bradford-on-Avon

More labelling needed on processed foods

Further to calls for more explicit labelling on ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in light of their link to fatal heart disease (MetroTalk, Mon).

Companies that produce UPFs should by now realise they cause cancers. As a recovering victim of prostate cancer, caused by eating processed food, surely it is incumbent on manufacturers of these dangerous foodstuffs to advertise this on their labels.

They should follow the example of the cigarette companies who print very clearly that smoking kills, because so does eating UPFs. Melvyn Jacobs, Stockport

Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments

Comments Add as preferred source

from Metro https://ift.tt/N7ni2r6
via IFTTT

Newcastle respond to new £70m Arsenal bid for Bruno Guimaraes

Arsenal are set to submit an improved bid to sign Bruno Guimaraes (Getty)

Newcastle United are ready to reject Arsenal’s new £70 million bid for Bruno Guimaraes, according to reports.

The Brazil international has already agreed a deal to join Arsenal and has told Newcastle that he wants to join Mikel Arteta’s side this summer.

However, Newcastle have grown frustrated over Arsenal’s lack of direct talks to discuss a deal for their captain.

Arsenal’s opening bid of £55 million, which was communicated through intermediaries, was turned down by Newcastle last month.

Get personalised football updates every day

Sign up to our daily football newsletter and choose your team to get the latest news, rumours and more direct to your inbox every morning.

According to the BBC, Arsenal are now set to submit an improved £70m offer for Guimaraes and negotiations are said to have ‘accelerated in recent days’.

However, Chronicle Live reports that Newcastle sources regard Arsenal’s £70m offer as a ‘non starter’.

Newcastle have been frustrated by Arsenal’s pursuit of Bruno Guimaraes (Getty)

The report adds that Newcastle are ‘irritated by Arsenal’s approach’ and will demand a £100m transfer fee if Guimaraes hands in a transfer request.

Guimaraes registered four assists for Brazil at the World Cup this summer and is now expected to report back for Newcastle’s pre-season training ahead of their boot camp in La Manga.

Newcastle have already sold Sandro Tonali to Tottenham in a deal that could rise to £100m, while Anthony Gordon sealed his £69.3m to Barcelona before the start of the World Cup.

Speaking earlier this month, Guimaraes’ former teammate at Newcastle, Emil Krafth, highlighted the importance of the midfielder to Eddie Howe’s side.

‘He’s the most important player in the team,’ Krafth told the BBC.

‘He manages the game so well, both physically and technically.

‘I hope they can keep him.There’s a lot of rumours surrounding him, which is not surprising because he’s had a good World Cup and a great season.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Comments Add as preferred source

from Metro https://ift.tt/DB7oTwQ
via IFTTT

Katie Price’s sister slams ‘disgusting’ Lee Andrews over sex tape claims

Sophie Price is not impressed with Lee Andrews (Picture: Mindhouse / SKY / wesleeandrews)

Katie Price’s sister Sophie shared her disgust at Lee Andrews after claims he allegedly tried to sell a sex tape of the former glamour model.

The reality star’s whirlwind marriage to Dubai-based Lee has been the subject of much scrutiny over the past six months after he was accused of being a conman, a liar and found himself in prison not once, but twice.

The self-proclaimed millionaire was arrested for a second time, allegedly for owing £120k.

According to The Sun, during his stint in jail he is said to have told a friend that explicit footage of him and Katie could be flogged for ‘a pretty penny’, potentially as much as a quarter of a million to US adult entertainment sites.

He is then said to have backtracked after discovering that would be illegal, reiterating he ‘wasn’t serious’.

Katie and her representatives have denied the existence of this sex tape, and now the Price sisters have shared further thoughts on the whole debacle.

Both Katie and Sophie addressed the sex tape debacle (Picture: @wesleeeandrews)

In a new episode of The Katie Price Show, Sophie read out headlines including the one concerning the alleged sex tape.

‘I think that’s disgusting,’ she told Katie categorically.

Katie then shared her stance on the whole situation once more: ‘Can I just say something, number one I’ve not done a sex tape with Lee . He has said it in a voicenote which I sent to you but he was joking in it.

‘But besides all of this, there is so much coming out about Lee and everyone saying: “why isn’t Kate talking”.

‘Do you know why I’m not talking, because there is so much, I’m just not commenting anymore.

‘I commented when he went missing but he’s in prison and I will be questioning him about a lot of things when he’s out. I’m just getting on doing what I’m doing. There is so much, there is no smoke without fire.’

Despite Katie’s reassurances, Sophie remained unimpressed by the rumours swirling about Lee’s conduct, sex tape or not.

Everything Lee Andrews has been accused of since marrying Katie Price

Misleading claims of being a multi-millionaire business owner

When Katie introduced Lee as her new partner, he presented himself as the CEO of Aura Group Future Urban Travel 2027 and an investor in 'SpaceX Hybrid Fitness'.

His social media, which boasted more than 100,000 followers, was filled with photos of luxury cars, lavish Dubai lifestyles and apparent encounters with celebrities including Elon Musk and Kim Kardashian.

But the image quickly began to unravel. There appeared to be little evidence of his businesses operating as described, while several of the celebrity photos were later alleged to have been created using AI.

Being banned from leaving Dubai

After meeting and marrying her new husband in Dubai, it came time for Katie to fly home to the UK – however her husband was unable to join her.

This was due to the fact that he’d allegedly served time in Dubai’s Al Awir central prison for suspected fraud, for allegedly taking out a £200,000 mortgage in his ex-girlfriend's name without her knowledge.

The UAW bans people facing criminal investigations from leaving the country, however Lee denied he was unable to return to the UK and said there must be some ‘wrong details’.

However, Katie later confirmed he was subjected to a ban, but didn't clarify why.

Being jailed – and reportedly arrested again – in Dubai

Shortly after Katie returned to the UK, Lee remained in Dubai while dealing with financial issues.

Last month, it was reported he had spent four weeks in Dubai's Al Awir prison over outstanding debts before being released.

On July 11, he was arrested again after allegedly attempting to raise around £120,000 he believed he owed.

According to The Sun, Lee sent a message to a friend saying: 'They've arrested me. Katie might need to bail me out. We need to make a noise with a Go Fund Me.'

A spokesperson for Lahbab Police Station told the newspaper they had no record of Andrews being there, while Katie's representative declined to comment.

Teasing a fake pregnancy

Just a few weeks into their relationship, both Katie and Lee teased they were expecting a baby. After Katie declared she was 'having his child' Lee wrote they were a ‘perfect couple soon to be triple’.

At one point, the mum of five even urged her followers to pay £2.99 to find out the results of a pregnancy test.

Despite the attempts to generate publicity, she then confirmed she was not pregnant.

Scamming a string of women

Days after Katie and Lee tied the knot, two of his exes accused him of being a 'liar, narcissist and manipulator'.

Months later, it was then reported he'd been begging women for money weeks before he married Katie.

His ex Alana, then shared a post on Instagram calling him the ‘Tinder Swindler’ and claimed multiple women had contacted her saying he’d tried to scam them out of money too.

She later went on a podcast to share more details of her relationship with Lee, claiming 'I genuinely thought that potentially he could have killed me.'

Faking a kidnapping

After Lee failed to return to the UK, Katie revealed she had concerns he'd been kidnapped and then reported him as a missing person.

He was later found to be in prison in Dubai. Following his release, he returned to social media with an extraordinary account of events, claiming he he had been ‘kidnapped at gunpoint’, ‘slapped around’ and falsely accused of espionage.

Dubai authorities have disputed suggestions he was detained over spying allegations, previously describing the matter as a private civil dispute.

Court documents later revealed two outstanding legal cases against Lee, including an alleged £54,000 debt linked to a rental car company and a separate claim for approximately £15,000 in unpaid legal fees.

Since the sex tape rumours started whirling, Katie’s family are even more desperate for her to leave (Picture: Getty)

‘The fact that he’s even talking about you in that context to his mates is f***ing out of order and he’s a d***head,’ she said. And when Katie tried to defend him by saying it was to ‘someone one professional’, Sophie simply quipped: ‘Even worse’.

The reality star explained that she herself has never given him any money, especially not for bail, although after hearing various alarming claims from his exes, she added: ‘I don’t like what he’s done to everyone else, that’s not acceptable.’

She then promised an interview with Lee to get to the truth once and for all and to wrap her head around the flurry of accusations.

Although it was claimed Lee was released from prison this week, The Sun reports that he was simply taken to a new wing before being returned, meaning he remains in jail for now.

Ever since the reports of Lee chatting about flogging a sex tape emerged, Katie’s family have reportedly been more concerned than ever over her ongoing relationship with the man.

‘They’ve been worried sick about her ever since she met Lee, and the longer she is with him, the more they fear for her well-being.

‘Lee is prepared to stoop to the lowest low. It’s terrible and alarming. The last thing she needs is to be with someone who will use her for money. It’s appalling,’ the insider said.

Comments Add as preferred source

from Metro https://ift.tt/wuUkNGt
via IFTTT

World Matchplay Darts suspended as Cameron Menzies suffers medical issue on stage

Cameron Menzies was taken ill on stage at the World Matchplay Darts in Blackpool (Getty)

The World Matchplay Darts was suspended on Wednesday evening after Cameron Menzies was taken off stage at Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

Menzies was throwing in the third leg against Ross Smith when he was seen pulling at his left ear and stepping to the side of the oche.

The Scot then bent over with both hands on his knees as Smith and the officials checked on him.

Sky’s television cameras then cut away from the scenes before Menzies was taken off stage.

‘All we know at the moment is that he is being seen to by St John’s Ambulance,’ said Sky Sports’ Emma Paton.

Cameron Menzies is helped from the stage after being taken ill (Getty)

‘He is with some medics at the moment. Hopefully he is ok and feeling better very shortly.’

After a break in play, the PDC announced that Menzies has withdrawn from the match due to a medical issue.

‘Cameron Menzies is unable to continue his Round Two clash after being taken unwell. Ross Smith progresses to the Quarter-Finals as a result. The next match between Gian van Veen and Wessel Nijman will start shortly,’ the statement from the PDC read.

Sky Sports subsequently confirmed that Menzies is ‘conscious’ and ‘talking to his partner’ backstage at Winter Gardens but would play no further part of the match on Wednesday.

Cameron Menzies was 2-1 up against Ross Smith when he was taken ill and checked over by medics (Getty)

Later on Wednesday evening, the PDC confirmed that Menzies had suffered from high blood pressure while on stage.

‘Cameron Menzies was taken ill during his round two match against Ross Smith at the Betfred World Matchplay on Wednesday evening,’ a statement from the PDC read.

‘Cameron experienced high blood pressure, which caused him to feel dizzy and subsequently faint.

‘Following an assessment by the on-site medical team, Cameron was deemed well enough to return to his accommodation.

‘We wish Cameron all the best and look forward to seeing him back in action soon.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Comments Add as preferred source

from Metro https://ift.tt/64COJXt
via IFTTT