Taylor Sheridan’s best movie ain’t just a gripping drama. It’s a masterclass in power, pride, and what happens when egos collide. At a time when the Elon Musk–Donald Trump fallout is lighting up headlines, Sheridan’s storytelling feels more relevant than ever. His film dives into the chaos unleashed when billionaires go head-to-head, revealing how unchecked […]
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The Witcher 3 was and is one of the best games ever made. But it’s ten years old now, and with The Witcher 4 in the works, CD Projekt Red (CDPR) has a lot of work cut out. The industry has changed in the last decade, new technologies have come out, and with so many […]
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SKY is dishing out access to 35 premium channels at no extra cost to customers this weekend.
The special offer also includes 35,000 shows episodes on demand.
Viewers on Sky‘s cheapest £15 package, Sky Essential TV, will benefit from the boost to Sky Ultimate TV.
However, the channels will only be available from today until Monday.
It’s designed to give people a taster of the shows to watch elsewhere.
They include Sky Max, Sky Crime, Sky Documentaries, U&Gold, and Comedy Central.
Highlights at the moment range from Matlock and The Rookie on Sky Witness, Hacks and Rob Beckett’s Smart TV on Sky Max, Boyzone No Matter What on Sky Documentaries, Planet Weird on Sky Nature and The Righteous Gemstones on Sky Comedy.
Customers don’t have to take any action to gain access to the channels.
They will all be unlocked for the duration of the giveaway.
Sky Essential TV was launched at the end of last year as a cheaper way for telly fans to watch Sky TV, with Sky Atlantic, Netflix and Discovery+ all included.
Sky Ultimate TV costs £7 more (a total of £21).
It comes as Sky just launched a brand new TV product in the UK, Sky Glass Air.
The device builds on the company’s existing streamed TV offering, which does away with a satellite dish on the side of your house.
Instead, channels are all transmitted via a broadband connection.
Sky Glass Air is a cheaper option with no built-in soundbar unlike the main Sky Glass model, making it much thinner.
The Sky Essential TV package is only available to those with Sky Stream and Sky Glass.
Try a whole host of Sky tricks to take your TV to a whole new level.
Image credit: Getty / The Sun / Sky
WEARING white as a wedding guest used to be a cardinal sin and the ultimate insult to the bride.
But nowadays there’s a far worse style crime.
Gone are tailored trouser suits, chic two-pieces and glamorous, ankle-skimming gowns.
Instead, you’re more likely to spot looks you would find on the strip in Benidorm.
Think bum-skimming Lycra mini-dresses, skimpy bra tops, or dresses with sky-high thigh slits and boob-baring cut-outs.
One of the things I love about a wedding — aside from dancing to Come On Eileen and drinking a headache-inducing amount of champers, — is getting dressed up.
I’m talking sophisticated dresses, stylish hats and fascinators and killer heels for the girls, and sharp suits for the blokes.
The novelty of getting spruced up to the nines makes the special day all that more exciting and memorable.
Passing judgement on others’ outfits while you wait for the bride to make her entrance (which, admit it, we all do) is a big part of it, too.
I’m out of the “going to a wedding every other weekend” age bracket now — and what a relief, because the looks that seem to be trending wouldn’t be out of place in the queue for an Oceana nightclub.
Across social media, scantily-clad twenty-somethings share their wedding outfits with pride — while I gawp, with prejudice.
A quick Google search for “wedding guest outfits” produces dozens of brands’ standalone pages dedicated solely to this category.
But as you scroll through the likes of Club L, Oh Polly and River Island, you’ll find that the dresses and gowns — yes, Gen Z wear full-on gowns now — are better suited to the Love Island finale than a wedding in your local country house hotel.
And, like most trends, we have celebrities to blame.
When Dani Dyer wed footballer Jarrod Bowen last week, guest and fellow Love Islander Georgia Steel was slated for wearing what looked like a revealing white dress to her pal’s big day.
After Georgia posted a snap on TikTok of the lace-trimmed Miss Circle number she wore, the trolls came out in force, bashing her for picking what was in fact a “soft beige” dress.
“Wearing white to a wedding?” questioned one, while another waded in with: “Way too bridal for a wedding.”
And Georgia isn’t alone. Two months ago, White Lotus actress Sydney Sweeney came under fire for the “inappropriate” dress she wore to her Anyone But You co-star Glenn Powell’s sister’s wedding.
Across social media, scantily-clad twenty-somethings share their wedding outfits with pride — while I gawp, with prejudice
Clemmie
She chose a cleavage-baring corset-style dress from V Chapman in a very pale blue.
Fans thought the colour was an issue.
Comments included: “That is not an appropriate shade of blue for a wedding” and “The number one [rule] of a wedding is don’t wear anything close to white.”
Personally, I take no issue with guests wearing white at a wedding. As long as they aren’t also wearing a long veil (cropped veils on fascinators are allowed), who cares?
Especially during summer, when every other dress on the high street is some shade of white.
No one at the wedding is going to mistake someone else as the bride. It’s the bride’s name on the invite and her kissing the groom — so no need for the unnecessary uproar.
However, what I would take issue with is the plunging neckline and lingerie-style basque of Sydney’s outfit and, in Georgia’s case, the fact her lacy dress is practically see-through.
Don’t get me wrong, Sydney is a knock-out, and if I looked like that, I’d be wearing sexy numbers, too — just not to a wedding.
As one person commented online: “Kinda tacky to wear to a wedding. C’mon Syds, you can do better.” And she can.
The woman is an ambassador for designer brand Miu Miu, for crying out loud. Raid something from their archives that’s less underwear-like and more sophisticated. But it’s not just Sydney. Kendall Jenner wore a heavily cut-out black gown to her pal’s wedding, which sent the internet into meltdown due to its slashed fabric that barely covered her nipples.
And her sister, Kylie, has also faced outfit-shaming from keyboard warriors.
Don’t get me wrong, Sydney is a knock-out, and if I looked like that, I’d be wearing sexy numbers, too — just not to a wedding
Clemmie
At Hailey and Justin Bieber’s wedding, fans accused her of trying to steal the bride’s limelight by wearing a gold, floor-sweeping gown with peek-a-boo cleavage and a hip-high slit.
On X, one critic wrote: “If someone tries to pull a Kylie Jenner move like this at my wedding . . . they will kindly be escorted out with a red wine stain down the front of their dress.”
Ouch!
But then Hailey wore a backless white dress to a friend’s big day in 2023, which broke all the so-called wedding rules for looking just like a bridal gown.
When it comes to these codes, they’re subjective and are dependent on the wedding location.
If you’re lucky enough to be a guest at a ceremony abroad in a hot country, sitting in a long-sleeve, high-neck, polyester dress at noon is going to give you heatstroke.
And wearing a tailored pencil midi dress to sit on a bale of hay in a field will make you stick out like a sore thumb. I get it. I’ve been there myself and it’s a minefield. But if in doubt, aim for a more demure style.
Don’t copy the under-boob and pelvis-flashing looks of young celebs — think more of the women who have nailed the guest brief.
Cast your mind back to happier times when Meghan Markle and Prince Harry got married.
Amal Clooney, in a yellow, capped-sleeve midi-dress by Stella McCartney, was crowned best-dressed guest in attendance. Bold, but without being in danger of over-shadowing the bride, it was perfect.
Another flawless guest at a royal wedding was Demi Moore.
She battled gale-force winds in a burgundy dress and matching veiled hat — again, by Stella McCartney — when Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank in 2018. And she looked incredible.
Cindy Crawford’s daughter, actress Kaia Gerber, also got it right when she wore a classy, long-sleeved dress from Reformation to a friend’s 2018 wedding in Miami, Florida.
At the time, the navy, slit-leg frock retailed for £180, proving that even supermodels with designer brands at their fingertips can look amazing in high street buys.
A big emerging trend on the high street this wedding season seems to be minimal frocks with slinky scarves, which are intended to be worn draped down your back, not wrapped around you like a winter woollen.
They create a sense of elegance without having to have your boobs and bum out.
So if you are heading to someone’s nuptials this summer, keep it classy, girls.
Underwear as outerwear and flesh-flashing cut-outs are for the weekend, not for a wedding.
YOU’D be hard pushed to find someone these days who hasn’t tried their luck on Vinted – with some even managing to turn reselling into their entire career.
However, there are some downsides to selling on the app, such as scams when buyers say they haven’t received the item you’ve sold them.
But there’s a clever way to avoid that happening, and it’s really easy too.
Double wrapping your sales means you’ve abided by Vinted’s packaging rule, and could swing a dispute in your favour if someone claims they’ve received an empty bag.
“As a seller, it’s crucial you double wrap your items before shipping,” Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator, explained.
“Otherwise, Vinted is likely to side with the buyer, and you may end up without the item or payment.
“Vinted’s packaging rules state double wrapping, and by following them you can help tip the balance in your favour if a buyer lies about not receiving an item.”
If you’re worried that paying out for mailing bags isn’t the most environmentally-friendly approach, you can reuse packaging from previous deliveries to avoid contributing to landfill sites.
Another way you can reduce your risk of being scammed is to collect photographic evidence.
“Take a series of clear photos while packaging and shipping your packages to use if a buyer falsely claims an item wasn’t received,” Marc continued.
“Some Vinted sellers record themselves wrapping the package, ensuring visual proof of what was included and confirming that you followed the double wrapping practice.
“This can help strengthen your case for disputes.”
The photos you need to take are: the item before packaging, the item inside the package, the sealed package with the shipping label attached, and the package at the drop-off point.
If you can take a snap which shows the person’s address on the shipping label too, it helps make the package identifiable – which will also strengthen a case.
“If shipping via a post office that weighs the package, take a photo of the weight at home and again at the counter to help verify the item packaged,” Marc added.
“Mentioning to the buyer that the package has been shipped with photographic evidence recorded may help deter any scammers.”
IF you fancy clearing out your wardrobe and getting rid of your old stuff on Vinted, you’ll need to consider the new rules that recently came into play.
If people are selling personal items for less than they paid new (which is generally the case for second-hand sales), there is no impact on tax.
However, since January 1, digital platforms, including eBay, Airbnb, Etsy, Amazon and Vinted, must share seller information with HMRC as part of a crackdown.
You’re unlikely to be affected if you only sell a handful of second-hand items online each year – generally, only business sellers trading for profit might need to pay tax.
A tax-free allowance of £1,000 has been in place since 2017 for business sellers trading for profit – the only time that an individual personal item might be taxable is if it sells for more than £6,000 and there is a profit from the sale.
However, firms now have to pass on your data to HMRC if you sell 30 or more items a year or earn over £1,700.
It is part of a wider tax crackdown to help ensure that those who boost their income via side hustles pay up what they owe.
While your data won’t be shared with HMRC if you earn between £1,000 and £1,700, you’ll still need to pay tax as normal.
AN Irish school attended by two brothers who were among 35 people deported to Nigeria say they have been left “devastated” in the wake of the event.
The two were part of a group made up of 21 men, nine women, and five children who were refused international protection.
They were removed from the state on June 4 on a chartered flight to Lagos as part of an ongoing Gardai immigration operation.
But principal of St James’s Primary School in Dublin, which two of the children attended, said that the loss of their pupils left other students “devastated”.
Ciaran Cronin told RTE‘s Morning Ireland that the brother’s mum had an immigration appointment scheduled for July.
He opined that to “spring” deportations on children who thought they had an immigration appointment is “very cruel”.
Cronin said other children had witnessed the two boys’ belongings being packed up from their hotel rooms and put on a bus.
He explained: “On Wednesday morning they all came to school completely distressed, upset, visibly shaken by what they had seen at the hotel in the morning.
“They came to school then to tell us that. That’s how we found out what was happening.
“We had been in touch with the mother for a long time, knowing that they were going through the deportation process.”
Cronin added that the primary school had been advocating on the family‘s behalf.
He claimed that they had put in character references for the boys explaining that they wanted them to be let stay in the school.
But, he explained: “On Wednesday morning, when the children came in, we kind of knew it’s the end of the line for them, unfortunately.”
Cronin went on to say that the two boys were “really popular” in school.
He said: “They were part of the football team. They played the Cumann na mBunscol GAA tournament the last two years.
“Had loads of friends and got on really well with everyone.”
He described the two children’s deportation as “a huge loss” to the school.
And he added that teachers had to explain to the other pupils in the school that the boys weren’t coming back.
He explained: “At home time yesterday pupils ran out in tears telling their parents that they’re gone.
“They’ve lost their friends, they’re looking to see if they have their WhatsApp, that they can contact them, and they haven’t been able to make contact with them since.”
Social Democrats TD for Dublin Gary Gannon accused the Minister for Justice of wanting to look tough in order to “send a message”.
He told RTE’s Claire Byrne: “I do not want to see a replication of what has happened.
“This cannot happen again. All of this can be done better.”
The Garda National Immigration Bureau confirmed yesterday that it continues to work with the Department of Justice on enforcing immigration policy.
A spokesperson for the force said: “An Garda Siochana continues to work closely with the Department of Justice in implementing immigration policy.”
The Justice Department had previously said that they carry out deportations as a “last resort” when people have not left the country voluntarily.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said removal operations of this nature “send a clear message” to people who remain in Ireland without permission.
He said: “Ireland has a rules-based immigration system. It is important that those rules are robust and enforced.
“The return of people whose applications have been refused and deportation orders have issued is the foundation of any modern rules-based immigration process.
“People coming to Ireland must follow the appropriate pathways for legal migration and these pathways must be adhered to and protected for our immigration system to work fairly and effectively.
“If a person’s application for international protection is refused and they are ordered to leave the State they must do so.”
LIKE many mums, I’m already planning the summer holidays in Cornwall.
I’m budgeting carefully to make my money stretch as far as possible but unlike many of my mates, I’m not just watching the pennies this summer – I’m making them, too.
So as my daughter Mabel and I splashing about at Jubilee Pool in Penzance, watch a kids’ show at the Minack Theatre and wander around the Eden Project, we’ll be earning while we’re relaxing.
I’m renting our family home in Cornwall to tourists, so we can earn an extra £10k over the peak summer months.
To make it work, Mabel, 7, and I are swapping our house for a caravan at my parents’ farm in north Cornwall.
People tell me that I’m mad to give up our comfy home to live in a less-than-glam caravan for six weeks with a small child.
But while they’re glued to laptops or forking out for childcare, I’ll be bringing in enough money to cut back my working hours and spend more precious time with my daughter.
I’d much rather give up my sofa and Wi-Fi than work flat-out all summer, feeling like I’m failing my boss and my child.
My daughter and I live in a standard three-bedroom house at the edge of Cornwall’s Roseland Peninsula.
It’s not in one of the posh tourist hotspots like St Mawes or Portloe, where the seafront rentals go for between £4k and £8k a week.
But it’s definitely close enough to the sea to tempt holidaymakers looking for a more affordable base.
A 10-minute drive gets you to the fairytale-like Caerhays Castle or the long stretch of sand at Carne Beach and Pendower.
Go a little further, around 20 minutes, and you’ve got the Lost Gardens of Heligan and Mevagissey’s working harbour and quaint shops.
I’ve teamed up with a friend who owns several holiday cottages nearby. Her properties get snapped up early, mostly by returning guests, so when someone misses out, she recommends my house.
Holiday costs in Cornwall have shot up since lockdown, and many people are pleased to find somewhere peaceful for well under half the price of a typical seafront stay.
Getting the house up to scratch for paying guests is the most labour-intensive bit.
I charge £2,000 per week and pay my friend a 10 percent commission, which works out at around £200 a week.
In return, I get lovely, respectful guests and none of the marketing and admin stress.
Our bookings for this summer are confirmed, and Mabel and I will be making the most of the great outdoors by July.
Anyone can rent their property out – you just need to ensure you have fire doors fitted and check the terms of your house insurance and mortgage.
In London and some other places, you’re limited to a maximum of 90 days rental.
Most people I speak to assume that the hardest part is living in a caravan. But honestly, getting the house up to scratch for paying guests is the most labour-intensive bit. It’s no small task, so I do odd jobs here and there.
Though it’s only May, I’m already repainting scuffed walls and doors, booked a plumber to replace the shower, and filled the flower beds with marigolds and petunias.
In all, I’ll spend around £1,000 on repairs that probably need doing anyway.
It’s the thought of guests arriving that motivates me to get them done, instead of endlessly putting them off.
As for our own summer living quarters, the 20-year-old caravan isn’t exactly boutique.
It’s been sitting, mostly disused, between an outhouse and polytunnel at the bottom of my parents’ garden for years. But it’s got everything you need for an outdoorsy summer.
There’s electricity, a toilet and sink in the outhouse. And I’ve kitted it out with a kettle, microwave, a second-hand fridge-freezer and a cheap double electric hob.
We’re bringing bunting, solar-powered fairy lights, an inflatable paddling pool and a fire pit for marshmallow toasting.
I love to give the place a proper holiday vibe, even if there’s no fancy hot-tub or Instagrammable outdoor pizza oven.
We’ll venture into my parents’ house to make the most of the shower and bath, but even though mum asked us to live with them for the holidays, our different approaches to parenting make this nearly impossible.
A caravan seems like a healthy compromise, as we all get our own space, yet they will be close by on the farm.
Plus, my mum is happy to help with Mabel a couple of days a week, so I can keep my freelance business going.
Every Saturday, I’ll make the one-hour drive back to the house to clean, wash the sheets and towels and tackle any urgent maintenance issues.
Last year, I took a month off work and also paid off a chunk off the mortgage with the extra cash.
I first tried this money-making trick back in 2011, when I was a grad student in Devon living on a £14k a year grant.
Each summer, I’d rent out my waterfront flat for up to a week at a time, while working at residential summer schools and sleeping in student halls.
Instead of spending the extra money, I saved it up and eventually used it to put down a deposit on a second property in Cornwall.
But now I’m a single parent and mortgage interest rates are high, I’ve found myself relying on this holiday hack for the last few summers.
Last year, I took a month off work and also paid off a chunk off the mortgage with the extra cash.
It’s not always smooth sailing as caravan life does have its challenges, especially when it rains.
Come September, we’ll be grateful not to dash outside to use the loo in a downpour.
I would love to put the cash towards a summer spent abroad one day, in a place with guaranteed sunshine.
For now, a rustic British summer with my little one will do just fine.
