Phillip Schofield has left his position as a long-time presenter of the British morning television show This Morning. The departure came after reports circulated that he and co-host Holly Willoughby had a strained relationship, with claims that they barely spoke away from the camera. Schofield, who had been with the programme for 21 years, initially denied the rumours. However, his final presentation was made on Thursday of last week. The relationship between Schofield and his previous This Morning co-host Fern Britton was also reported to have been difficult and is detailed in his recently published memoir. Britton quit the show in 2009, after which Willoughby replaced her.
Novelist Martin Amis, who enjoyed a long and successful career as an author, journalist, and screenwriter, has died aged 73. Amis, the son of celebrated author Kingsley Amis, was a prolific writer, whose work often featured characters involved in a sybaritic and amoral world that was a foil for his more serious themes. His first book, The Rachel Papers, won the Somerset Maugham Award when Amis was just 24 years old, and his last book, Inside Story, was published this year. Other major works included London Fields (1989) and Money (1984). Amis also courted controversy throughout his career, with critics accusing him of misogyny and other prejudices. He was also criticised for his personal life, which at times mirrored the hedonistic excesses of his novels. Despite this, Amis retained a loyal following and Will Self once claimed that every writer under the age of 45 secretly wished they were him.
British author Martin Amis has died at the age of 73, with his gift for sharp observational comedy and piercing prose being celebrated by a wide following. The son of author Sir Kingsley Amis, he overcame early success to write some 15 novels, four short story collections, seven books of non-fiction and two screenplays before his death. He was often dubbed the “Mick Jagger of fiction” and was often a focus for controversy and celebration in equal measure for his work on “disgraceful human beings”. Although his father was a successful and established writer, Martin Amis broke free of his shadow with his work, starting with his prize-winning debut novel The Rachel Papers. While he was known for his romantic exploits, which included a string of high-profile relationships, he was also a gifted writer of prose who was capable of handling complex and difficult themes in his work.
Over-saving may leave people with too much wealth later in life so they miss out on opportunities to enjoy the present, according to Paul Benson, a Certified Financial Planner and host of the Financial Autonomy podcast. Savings are important, but achieving a balance between saving and spending is the key to long-term financial health, Benson said. Finding the right savings rate may vary based on personal circumstances, but a good way to find a baseline is to study long-term savings forecasts and compare the required savings rate to the quality of life in the present.
Belinda Bromilow, who appears as Aunt Elizabeth in the TV series The Great, has spoken about how her near-death experiences have allowed her to put life in perspective. Bromilow, who is Australian and married to the show's creator Tony McNamara, focuses on her wellbeing, dismissing the idea of moving to LA. She is content on her own path and invested in keeping her own life balanced. As well as discussing the challenges of developing the show's characters and wearing period costume, she discloses that she has previously suffered from bowel cancer, melanoma and a breast scare, which has made her appreciate life all the more.
When Australian Broadcasting Corp political editor Chris Uhlmann's dog died recently, he wrote about it in light of the debate on Victoria's assisted dying legislation. He compared the issue of whether Victoria should allow assisted dying with the need to balance prolonging life with quality of life and a person's sense of purpose. The radio presenter argues people with profound experience of the issue should have a say over those who are "demagoguing", and when terminal illness calls they should have the option to "take that ride, to be with us or without us".
The UK’s largest girls-only organisation, Girlguiding, dissolved its international operating arm, British Girlguides (BGO),of just under 2,600 members almost exclusively from English-speaking homes in 36 countries. Girlguiding has been hit by several noteworthy controversies in the past three years, including complaints from a guide leader over a policy allowing boys claiming to be girls to join the charity. Trans Girl Guide commissioner Monica Sulley was featured in photographs with a fake assault rifle and wearing inappropriate clothing and followers of the charity generally found it to be too focused on politics. In the UK, Girlguiding is now facing increasing competition from similar programmes that have taken on a “cachet of cool”. On the website, it states that Girlguiding offers adventures galore: “We do anything from abseiling to zooming around on a zipline. We explore new places and meet people from different cultures. We speak out on issues that matter to us and make a difference in our communities.”
Soul-pop sensation Olivia Dean, whose debut album 'Messy' releases later this month, does not let the music industry's oftentimes illusory expectations of her drive her to write music limited by restrictive genre tags. She writes what pleases her, personally, from an indie-folk centred focus on lyrics to pop, to her favourite sub-genre, funk. Dean navigates feelings of anxiety and vulnerability through songwriting, with her vulnerability contributing to her appeal, encouraging fans to accept their personal uncertainties and addressing an often-taboo masculine insecurity. Highly appreciated by fans are her candid lyrics that balance relatable reflection with conversational honesty and emotion. The musician, now busy on a nationwide tour, has been impressing music fans almost since she first started posting on social media in 2018, and been a brand ambassador for Chanel.
The "micro age gap" is an age difference of between seven and 12 years, and a recent piece in The Telegraph argues that it is an optimal range for a successful relationship. Those in micro age gap relationships benefit from knowledge sharing and are able to learn from their partner's lived experiences, while still circling the same life stages and reference points, the author said. The piece cited examples of celebrity couples such as Jay-Z and Beyoncé and Davina McCall and Michael Douglas, with both pairs enjoying successful relationships. Couples with more significant age gaps can face issues when the older partner's health declines earlier, but life expectancy is increasing, a psychotherapist quoted in the article said.
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Jeremy Clarke, long-serving columnist for The Spectator, has died at the age of 66. He is known for his Low Life column, which chronicled the struggles of human life, including his own terminal cancer. Although reluctant to take on the mantle of the legendary Soho flaneur Jeffrey Bernard, he took over the Low Life column in 2001 and excelled in storytelling about issues ranging from alcohol and drug abuse, broken relationships, domestic violence, petty crime, and football hooliganism, many of which featured in Clarke's own life experiences. He brought empathy for all those whose lives struggled to follow untroubled paths, including his father, a heavy drinker who ended up as the uniformed car park attendant of a nudist beach. Clarke also had a fascination with the literature and battlefield geography of the First World War, in which four of his great uncles died. His last column, on “the pros and cons of kissing” appeared on 6 May 2023. He is survived by his wife Catriona, his son Mark, and three stepdaughters from Catriona’s first marriage.
Rock band Foo Fighters have launched their new album and announced Josh Freese as the replacement for drummer Taylor Hawkins, who died last year. The new album, But Here We Are, is out on 2 June, while the Foo Fighters have also announced a string of US shows beginning with a gig in New Hampshire on 24 May. Freese is just the latest in a distinguished line of drummers, having played with Guns N’ Roses, Weezer, Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle and more.
A UK woman and her husband who put her father into a care home, sold his house and stole his life savings of £49,354 have been jailed for three years and three months. Fherisia Dougall and David Dougall were both convicted of fraud after her father died in a care home where he had been abandoned. They convinced him to move from South Africa with them, where they trapped him in their home and tricked him into transferring his life savings into their joint account. They spent his money on themselves and also sold his house without his consent or knowledge.
Brooks Koepka has won his third US PGA Championship and fifth major title after an impressive victory at Oak Hill. Koepka carded a final round of 67 to finish two shots ahead of Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler, whose share of second place was enough to take him back to the top of the world rankings. Koepka will climb from 44th to 13th in the updated standings and also moves into the automatic qualifying places for the United States Ryder Cup team.
The Associated Press recently looked at how Florida has changed since Governor Ron DeSantis came into office, reflecting on the state's political and cultural landscape. Concerns over the cost of living, rising rents, insurance, and inflation remain unresolved. A surge in hate-related incidents has been noted, and there have been anti-LGBTQ+ moves, including the passing of laws limiting sexual education in schools. However, since DeSantis' election, the Republican party dominates Florida politics, and critics argue that no power can stop the passage of legislation in the Republican-controlled Legislature, leaving Democrats mostly relegated to messaging.
Meanwhile, DeSantis, who has been widely discussed as a potential presidential candidate for the Republican Party, has become more emboldened and has a powerful mandate that the Florida public supports his policies and ideology, and he has passed an agenda that suits a GOP presidential primary. His name recognition has skyrocketed as he campaigns, and he has faced criticism from fellow Republicans for attacking businesses, including Disney. Tension has risen across the state surrounding the rights of LGBTQ+ community members and discussions of race.
Schools are being cautious around vague language, such as that surrounding the classification of LGBTQ+ characters in books, and backlash has come from teachers who cannot express who they are in the classroom, forcing many to hide their LGBTQ+ lifestyles. Many residents feel more endangered, and hate attacks have been on the rise. DeSantis may be focusing on issues dividing people of different ideologies, but new gun laws allowing people to carry concealed firearms without a permit and a focus on abortion, however, is causing a real discussion about Florida’s future.
The Guardian recaps the penultimate episode of hit TV series, "Succession". Following Logan Roy's death, the family and their loved ones attend his funeral with machinations still in full force over the future of Waystar, the family media empire. The service is notably free of the black humour present throughout the rest of the series. At the funeral, all the characters face a moment of truth and what the show's writer and creator, Jesse Armstrong, is hoping to achieve with the series is made clear.
Taylor Swift has told fans she has never been happier "in all aspects" of her life. The singer was playing the Foxborough, Massachusetts stop on her Eras Tour on 20 May. Although she did not mention The 1975 frontman Matty Healy by name, Swift has been seen in multiple public outings with him since breaking up with actor Joe Alwyn. The candid speech came before she sang “Question…?” from her album Midnights. Swift’s Eras Tour began on 18 March, with Alwyn understood to have stopped attending her shows after the two had split.
Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a suspected double homicide in Pembroke, Canada, that happened early in the morning of May 22. A third person was also found with life-threatening injuries and remains in hospital. The police believe the victims were targeted and are urging the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity in the area. The investigation is in the early stages, and residents should expect a significant police presence.
A man and a woman have been rescued from Lake Ontario at Humber Bay, Toronto, and were taken to hospital. The man had life-threatening injuries, while the woman's injuries were not life-threatening. Their Sea-Doo had been found unoccupied by a substation and the police are treating the incident as suspicious.
Jo Mercer, founder of the eponymous Australian footwear label, has launched a new brand, Matilda Life, which champions conscious consumption and showcases local materials and designers. The venture, which offers a line of "relaxed essentials", aims to appeal to buyers seeking quality clothing, rather than fast, cheap fashion made offshore. Mercer said she sensed a "backlash against that kind of consumerism", and added that Matilda Life's bricks and mortar boutique that opened last year in Melbourne was attracting "genuinely interested" customers. Expenditure data indicates that higher-end fashion remains in demand despite financial pressures.
Jo Mercer, founder of Australian footwear brand Jo Mercer, has launched the sustainable fashion brand Matilda Life with business partner Lauren Mastromanno. The "relaxed essentials" are made by local manufacturers and, in addition to being Australian-made, sustainable materials are used. The move is a response to a growing number of consumers disillusioned with fast fashion and looking to make ethical purchase decisions. Mercer sees the growing demand for sustainable, locally made products as an opportunity for Australian fashion businesses to better compete with offshore rivals.
