News Talk

SIR David Attenborough is undoubtedly a national treasure – and he’s earning millions to prove it. 

The 99-year-old nature-loving TV presenter and documentarian’s income has been revealed after a staggering financial year and ahead of his latest show. 

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Sir David Attenborough has earned £4million in the past year[/caption]

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The star owns a 54% stake in his company, with his children also being shareholders[/caption]

Sir David’s production company is revealed to have earned several million in the last year alone. 

According to Daily Star, accounts filed this week reveal he earned £4million, with a cash reserve on the business of £1.2million. 

He owns 54% of the David Attenborough (Productions) Limited firm, with his son Robert and daughter Susan also being shareholders. 

This comes after a string of lucrative deals as the face of British nature documentaries, with last year seeing Sky Nature releasing Secret World of Sound with David Attenborough, and the BBC releasing Mammals.

This is not including his staggeringly impressive back catalogue of documentary series, including Dynasties, Planet Earth, Frozen Planet, and Seven Worlds One Planet. 

He has also released accompanying books on his shows, and supports multiple wildlife charities. 

His career dates back to 1953, with the star releasing dozens of projects every decade since, often resulting in public debate being sparked of the human effect on the animal world. 

Ocean With David Attenborough, which explores the depths of the sea and the creatures that inhabit it, was released last month on National Geographic and Disney+. 

The film delves into the wonderful world that lives beneath the water, including habitats that animals need to look after.

In an age of ocean discovery, Attenborough aims to emphasise the ocean’s vital importance, while also exposing the problems it faces.

This includes graphic footage of how fishing practice bottom trawling is damaging the seabed and causing long-term damage to the ocean.

The 90-minute movie aims to highlight opportunities for marine life recovery.

He said of the film’s release: “After almost 100 years on the planet, I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea.”

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The star has become the international face of wildlife documentaries[/caption]

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At 99 years old, the star continues to release multiple projects a year[/caption]

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Prince William has also been involved in his latest project[/caption]

WITH a new puppy and a night-shift job, Hannah Coggles put her constant exhaustion down to her hectic routine.

When her symptoms worsened, the then-26-year-old soon thought she might be pregnant, but repeated tests confirmed this wasn’t the case so she brushed her concerns aside. 

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Even when some unexplained bruising appeared, Hannah didn’t think too much of it. She was otherwise healthy after all.

It wasn’t until she nearly collapsed at work that she thought something more serious might be at play.

Hannah, from Swaffham, Norfolk, tells Sun Health: “In October 2020, I was deeply fatigued almost all the time.

“My husband George and I had recently got a fox red Labrador called Noodle, just before we got married, and it was exhausting. 

“I almost passed out a couple of times – once at home, once at work. 

“At one point I did think that maybe I was pregnant, but the tests were showing negative.

“I then got bruises on my arms and legs. They weren’t necessarily big ones, but they were taking an incredibly long time to heal, and my other symptoms weren’t improving.”

That finally prompted her to book a GP appointment. 

Due to Covid restrictions at the time, this was over the phone – but thankfully, the doctor listened. 

Believing she might be anaemic, Hannah was referred for a blood test and the very next day she got a call from a nurse on the Macmillan Ward. 

“She told me to bring an overnight bag. I knew something wasn’t right,” she recalls. 

In January 2021, Hannah was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) – a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. 

There are around 760 new cases diagnosed every year in the UK. 

“I couldn’t process anything the consultant was saying,” Hannah says. “It was too much for my brain to process in the moment. 

“I just remember calling my loved ones. There were so many tears, a lot of crying between me and my husband.”

But there was no time to pause. She was admitted to the ward immediately, with treatment set to begin within days. 

The pandemic meant she faced much of it alone in hospital, but FaceTime, phone calls, and quizzes with family and friends helped keep her grounded.

Hannah was moved from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, where she was able to see friends and family through a window, to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where she was in a top floor ward, with no visitors permitted. 

The gravity of the situation hit me hard and fast. I remember having a little breakdown the day I was due to go in to start my stem cell transplant treatment

Hannah Coggles

“My support system was incredible,” Hannah, a housewife and karate instructor, says. 

“My parents made long journeys just to drop off food and essentials, my husband brought clean clothes, and the nurses were amazing too. It was the little things that kept me going.”

Hannah underwent IV and oral chemotherapy, countless blood tests, bone marrow biopsies, and intrathecal procedures. 

When targeted therapy failed, she had her ovary removed in the hope of preserving fertility. 

Then came high-dose chemo and radiotherapy to prepare her for a stem cell transplant from her sister Olivia in November 2021.

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She later noticed small bruising on her arms and legs[/caption]

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She underwent treatment, including a stem cell transplant from her sister Olivia[/caption]

Physically, treatment left her weak and drained. 

“I lost weight and couldn’t tolerate the taste of onion or garlic, things I used to love,” she says.

“As a result, I lost a lot of weight and was very unwell.”

Mentally, she held it together, until just before the transplant. 

“The gravity of the situation hit me hard and fast,” Hannah says.

“I remember having a little breakdown the day I was due to go in to start my stem cell transplant treatment. 

“But luckily I managed to stay as positive as I possibly could and faced every challenge head on.”

Even small victories mattered. 

“I did laps around my bed and practiced karate. I had to keep moving,” she adds. 

Her time in hospital meant she didn’t get to see much of little Noodle, but she was always “so excited” to see her when she did.

“Watching her grow via pictures was sad as I missed out on a lot of the puppy stage,” Hannah adds.

Thankfully, the treatment worked and Hannah, 31, is now in remission and back home. But her journey continues. 

She has routine check-ups, will continue to take daily antibiotics for the rest of her life to protect her spleen, and is on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), usually taken during the menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, as treatment has left her infertile.

Despite continued difficulties, her perspective on life has shifted completely. 

‘Remission doesn’t mean the ordeal is magically over’

“I’ve made a lot of progress physically,” Hannah, who now also has a goldador dog called Queso, says. 

“My muscles and joints aren’t what they used to be, and the fatigue is still there. But I’m alive, and I’m grateful.

“I say ‘yes’ more. I don’t let people take me for granted.

“The little problems don’t matter so much now and I’ve found peace in my own company.”

She stays strong in mind and body through regular gym workouts, karate practice, and dog walks – as well as staying close to her family and friends.

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Hannah is now in remission, but she says the ordeal ‘isn’t magically over’[/caption]

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For anyone newly diagnosed, Hannah’s advice is simple and powerful. 

“Stay positive,” she says. “Don’t be too hard on yourself, even though it may feel like the world is crashing down. 

“Some people may not be there for you that you thought would, and that’s OK. Not everyone knows the right words to say – just know that it’s nothing you have done.

“Get up and move, even if you’re tired. And drink water – lots of water – I can’t stress that enough!”

And she has a message she wants the world to hear. 

“Remission isn’t the end,” Hannah says. “It doesn’t magically mean the ordeal is over. 

“A lot of us still live with the effects of what we have experienced. 

“Be patient with us. And please, learn the signs.”

‘A powerful reminder’

Leukaemia is a type of blood cancer. There are many different types, but collectively it affects around 10,300 people every year in the UK.

Common symptoms include:

• Feeling weak or tired
• A high temperature or fever
• Bruising and bleeding easily
• Picking up or not being able to shake off infections easily
• Weight loss
• Pale skin
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling of your lymph nodes 
• Feeling full in your tummy 

Colin Dyer, CEO at Leukaemia Care, says: “Hannah’s story is a powerful reminder of how vital it is to spot the signs of leukaemia early. 

“Fatigue, bruising, and persistent illness are often dismissed but they can be symptoms of something far more serious. 

“Every day in the UK, 28 people are diagnosed with leukaemia, and early diagnosis can make all the difference.

“Through the #SpotLeukaemia campaign, with support from JCDecaux Community Channel, we want to ensure that everyone knows what symptoms to look out for and what to do if they are worried about a possible leukaemia diagnosis. 

“The sooner someone is diagnosed, the better their treatment outcome. Early diagnosis saves lives.”

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Hannah wants to warn others to look out for symptoms[/caption]

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Fiona Hazell, CEO of Leukaemia UK, adds: “Unlike solid tumours, leukaemia can usually be diagnosed by a simple full blood count test. 

“Unfortunately, many people aren’t aware of the signs and symptoms of leukaemia until they or someone they know is diagnosed, which can lead to dangerous delays.

“Early diagnosis saves lives, so we want to make sure more people are aware of the signs and symptoms and know to contact their GP to ask for a blood test if they’re experiencing them, just like Hannah did. 

“Together, we can stop leukaemia from devastating so many lives.” 

MILLIONS of hard-up families can tap into financial help worth hundreds of pounds to ease the burden of extra costs over the summer holidays.

Every council in England has cash to dole out to support residents who are struggling to afford essentials with the government’s Household Support Fund.

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You could get hundreds of pounds in support to help with the cost of living[/caption]

The £742million scheme hands councils up and down the country to give households in need.

Each local authority gets a different portion of funding depending on the size of the catchment area, population, and number of vulnerable households.

The voucher or grant amounts vary by location, so you must check to see what you can get and how your council will pay you.

There are different criteria for applications too. But often councils specify that you will need to be in receipt of benefits such as Universal Credit.

The type of help available varies by area and may include cash payments, food vouchers, or help with energy bills.

Residents are advised to check their local council’s website or social media for updates.

Many councils have dedicated Household Support Fund pages with details on how to apply.

Here ares some of the schemes currently open and accepting appilcations from those on Universal Credit..

• Birmingham

Hard-up households in Birmingham can get up to £200 payments through the latest round of the fund.

Applications are opening at some point in June so keep an eye on the council website.

Those who have not received a payment from the council in the past 12 months will qualify for this round.

The money is intended to help with energy, grocery and water costs.

• Calderdale

Residents in Calderdale in need can get a up to two awards for £85 each:

• One between now and 30th September 2025, and;
• One between 1st October 2025 and 31st March 2026.

Anyone can apply including those on Universal Credit online at the council website.

But you’ll need to provide your last two bank statements for yourself and your partner for all accounts held to get the payments.

You’ll also need to be liable for paying council tax in the area.

• Cheshire West

 Cheshire West Council’s latest allocation of the Household Support Fund is worth £200 for those eligible.

Support ranges from vouchers to put towards food costs to cash for energy bills and help with other essentials.

It will be available to residents receiving either housing benefit or a council tax reduction which is accessible to those on a low income or benefits including Universal Credit.

You can apply through its online portal for cost of living support.

But, you can only make one application in a six month period and applications must be made per household, so partners cannot submit two separate claims.

• Doncaster

The city council will be providing one-off payments worth up to £300 to residents on selected benefits, including Universal Credit.

You’ll also be eligible if you receive:

• Housing benefit
• Local Council Tax Reduction
• Means-tested free school meals.

As part of the support, families can get £100 vouchers towards the cost of food if they have one dependent child.

Households with two dependent children will get £200, while families with three or more will get £300.

Other eligible households – including those without children – can get £100 towards the cost of energy bills.

Households that haven’t received a payment previously will need to submit an application.

You can do that using the link here.

• Hull

Eligible pensioners will be given £200 to help them out after the Government made cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment.

Low income families will also be eligible for a £40 school uniform grant, as well as food vouchers in school holidays for those eligible for school meal

Hull City Council has not yet opened applications for payments, but updates will be posted on the council’s website.

• Leeds

Struggling families in Leeds can get payments of up to £150.

All claimants must be in receipt of Council Tax Support, a scheme where those on a low income or benefits including Universal Credit can get money off the bill.

The council said those who are eligible for the support will receive the payment in the autumn and winter.

A qualifying date for when you need to have been in receipt of Council Tax Support to be eligible for the support has not yet been set.

So if you think you may be eligible for the support it might be worth submitting an application.

You can find out more by vising leeds.gov.uk/benefits/household-support-fund.

• North Somerset

North Somerset Council has also announced it will provide food vouchers worth up to £100 to those in need.

This will be automatically given to families eligible for free school meals.

The council is also distributing £50 food vouchers to support other vulnerable residents, including:

• Those on council tax reduction (CTR) which can be accessed through those on benefits including UC
• Pensioners
• People with severe mental impairments
• Care leavers
• Housing benefit claimants not already receiving CTR.

• Portsmouth

Residents in Portsmouth in financial hardship and struggling to afford essentials, can apply for an exceptional hardship payment worth up to £1,000 as part of the Household Support Fund.

Those on Universal Credit and other benefits can apply but you don’t need to be.

However the city is closing applications in just days on June 12 so you’ll need to move quickly.

You’ll need to provide evidence of your income and bank accounts.

You also need to tell what you’ve done to improve your financial situation and why you need help.

The exact amount you receive depends on household size -the maximum amount is for six or more of £800.

Whereas one person gets £350, two people £420, three people £500, four people £600, and five people £700.

Households deemed to be in the highest level of need can be awarded a further £200 taking the total payment up to £1,000.

Apply online at the Portsmouth city council website.

• Reading

Thousands of residents in Reading are in line to receive £125 vouchers in the coming weeks.

Households containing children eligible for free school meals are eligible.

Care levers will also be receiving a voucher payment of £125. 

For most care leavers this voucher will be sent to them by the Post Office, with some others being provided directly by the Leaving Care Team.

Vouchers will be sent in July and December 2025 and will need to be cashed by the end of September 2025, and January 2026.

• Redcar & Cleveland

Households in Redcar & Cleveland can now apply for support worth up to £230.

How much you can get depends on different factors such as whether you have children or not.

For example, if you are household without children receiving Council Tax Support you will receive a payment of £116.

And if you have one or more dependent children in your household and claiming the support you will receive £230.

Those with children who don’t receive Council Tax Support but have a low household income and are financially struggling will also receive £230.

• Worcestershire

Families living in Worcestershire can apply for cost of living cash worth £500.

You’ll need to be below earning limits as follows:

• £24,570 or less (for a single adult with no children)
• £31,000 or less (for all other households)

You must also have no savings, unless you’re of state pension age – in which case you can have up to £5,000.

You can be on Universal Credit but at least one person in your household must meet ONE of the following:

• Be of state pension age
• Have a long-term diagnosed health condition or be registered disabled
• Have a child under four
• Be in receipt of DWP benefits like Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, PIP or Disability Living Allowance
• Be receiving support from services such as food banks, Citizens Advice, Age UK, mental health or housing support, or your GP’s social prescribing team

• Windsor and Maidenhead

Households in the Royal borough can get payments of up to £150 to ease pressures.

However, the council isn’t accepting applications directly instead you’ll need to contact its partners.

The overarching partner is Citizens Advice East Berkshire (CAEB) and should be the first port of call for residents needing support.

What if my area isn’t on the list?

Some councils have very limited application windows for support.

If you don’t see your council on the list, visit their website and look for information on the Household Support Fund.

If there is a date that applications open, make a calendar note and apply as soon as it opens.

Some councils will close for applications as soon as cash is distributed – in some cases this can be on the very same day that applications open.

Other councils automatically give cash to those in receipt of certain benefits such as free school meals or coucil tax support.

Check the Household Support Fund pages on your local council website to find details of what’s on offer and how to apply.

BEN DAVIES has signed a new one-year deal at managerless Tottenham.

The Wales star, 32, is the club’s longest serving senior player after joining from Swansea in the summer of 2014.

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Ben Davies has agreed to remain at Spurs for another year[/caption]

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He won his first piece of silverware with the club last month[/caption]

And, just two days after Ange Postecoglou was sacked, Davies will extend his stay in north London to 12 years after Spurs triggered the option on his contract.

SunSport revealed earlier this year that Spurs intended to take up the 12-month option on the defender’s deal.

A club statement read: “We are delighted to announce that we have exercised the option to extend Ben Davies’ contract, which will now run until the summer of 2026.

“Now our longest-serving senior player, Ben joined us from Swansea City in the summer of 2014 and has been a constant, reliable presence in our squad ever since.

“He’s currently up to 358 appearances in all competitions, level with the great Darren Anderton – making him one of only 29 players in history to have played 350 or more games for us.

“With 73 games under his belt in Europe, he’s just three off the record for the highest number of European appearances in our history.

“Over the course of his 11 years here to date, Ben has scored nine goals and led the team out as captain on 13 occasions.”

Davies has largely been a back-up centre-back in recent years.

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But he still made 17 Premier League appearances this season and 28 in total as he won his first piece of silverware for the club by helping them lift the Europa League last month.

Postecoglou hailed Davies as one of the club’s best trainers during the Aussie’s first campaign at the club, underlining the defender’s professionalism.

Brentford’s Thomas Frank is the front-runner to take the job, while Fulham’s Marco Silva is still in the mix.

LOTTO bosses have revealed where a life-changing ticket worth €259,089 was sold after one lucky player bagged the cash in last night’s draw.

The winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased on June 5 from Daybreak, Main Street, Kenmare, Co. Kerry.  

The winning numbers in last night’s (Saturday, 7^th June) Lotto draw were: 5, 7, 22, 23, 36, 47 and the bonus was 19.  

While there was no winner of the Lotto jackpot worth €6,594,226, in total, over 97,000 players won prizes in the Lotto and Lotto Plus draws including our Kerry player who matched five numbers and the bonus in the main Lotto draw.  

National Lottery spokesperson, Darragh O’Dwyer said:  “What a fantastic night for one player in Kerry who has claimed a life-changing €259,089 after matching five numbers and the bonus in last night’s main Lotto draw.

“If you bought your ticket in Kenmare, now’s the time to double-check, you could be Ireland’s newest big winner.” 

The National Lottery is urging all players in the Kerry area to check their tickets carefully and contact the National Lottery prize claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie if you are the winner.

Earlier this week, a lucky syndicate that won a huge €255,000 in a EuroMillions Ireland-Only raffle went public.

The ‘Jacks of All Trades’ group from Co Louth bagged the life-changing sum in the special draw last month.

The 11 members have a varied history, having built kitchens, fixed leaking pipes and wired homes.

The group, made up of builders, plumbers, electricians, and engineers, have been playing together for five years – and it’s finally paid off.

Their system appears to have worked, after always relying on one group chat and one EuroMillions ticket each.

The tickets were always made up of three lines with the plus, and everyone would keep an eye on each of them.

They collected their huge win today at Lotto HQ after the head of the syndicate, Richard O’Brien, grabbed a Quick Pick on the day of the draw.

The winning ticket was sold in Applegreen on Newfoundwell Road, in Greenbatter, Drogheda, Co Louth.

I-SDL-14299 was the winning raffle number that got the lads their huge win.

Richard recounted the moment he found out they won – but thought it was just €5,000.

He explained that shortly after the draw, one member checked the tickets and sent a message into the group that said: “This is a winner!”

He added: “Then one of the lads said, ‘Check again, we’ve won a lot more than that. There’s a special raffle on.’

“I thought he was pulling my leg… until I looked it up. That’s when I saw we’d won an extra €250,000!”

    

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A POPULAR Freeview box has received a key upgrade which looks set to fix a bug affecting a slew of features.

Manhattan released the software update for its T4-R and T4 Freeview boxes.

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A new software update looks set to remove bugs from Manhattan’s T4-R and T4 Freeview boxes[/caption]

The latest version – 2.06 – will finally fix a long-standing standby mode issue that has affected a number of users.

The update, which began rolling out this week, addresses numerous stability issues while fixing compatibility problems with popular streaming apps and improving recording reliability on the T4-R.

If you’ve been using Energy Saver mode as a workaround to avoid the standby problems, you can now safely switch back to Sleep or Smart standby modes without fear of your box becoming unresponsive.

The upgrade comes after households were warned of widespread Freeview disruption this week that could make their TVs stop working properly.

Viewers may switch on their telly to find a black, pixelated or flickering screen as a result of planned engineering works.

Some 87 areas are expected to be affected, according to Freeview.

Freeview has urged households that the disruption is only temporary and to not retune their TV.

“If you are affected by engineering work, please don’t try and retune your TV – reception will be restored as soon as the engineering work is completed,” the company said.

“Occasionally, routine engineering work is required on transmitters in order to improve terrestrial TV services.

“While every effort is made to minimise the impact on viewers, this can cause temporary disruption to reception.”

If you don’t want to miss your favourite TV shows while the work is taking place, Freeview has suggested households check out its online TV guide.

The Freeview Channel Checker tells viewers what changes are taking place that may affect their service and viewing.

To use it, simply enter your postcode to see what will be affected.

If you have a hybrid or smart TV, you can watch uninterrupted TV during the engineering works via the Freeview app or website.

While Freeview typically requires an aerial, you can access many Freeview channels and on-demand content through streaming apps like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and All 4. 

If you’re not sure what transmitter you’re predicted to get your signal from, put your postcode into Freeview’s Detailed Transmitter Information tool to check.