Motorists now change their car more often than they switch their mattress or even their mobile phone, suggests new research.
The length of time motorists keep a car has plummeted from around five years to two years or less, reveal latest figures.
The data produced by automotive experts, cap hpi, shows that some car makers now see average returns of vehicles in 24 months, and there is evidence of a growing number of 18-month leases in the market.
Mattresses should be changed every seven or eight years to ensure a good and healthy night’s sleep, according to chiropractors, while mobile phone contracts are on average between 18 and 24 months.
Expert say car manufacturers are managing volumes in the used market by varying contract lengths by model and remarketing channels.
Philip Nothard, retail and consumer specialist at cap hpi, said: “What we are seeing is the ‘iphonification’ of the car industry as consumers increasingly pay to drive rather than pay to own their vehicles.
“It’s the same model as the mobile phone industry where people are comfortable paying a monthly fee - only they are now doing this with their vehicles as well as their mobiles.”
He said the growth of personal contract purchase (PCP) and other finance options is having a “profound” effect on the car industry.
Personal Contract Hire (PCH) is also increasing, as motorists increasingly look towards usership rather than ownership.
Around four out five new car sales (80 per cent) are now on finance, according to estimates by cap hpi.
Mr Nothard added: “Not so long ago it was fairly common for motorists to have their cars for a minimum of five years or longer, but that has now changed dramatically and dropped to just two years for millions of motorists.
“After buying a house, the car was usually the biggest outlay for most consumers but now they are far more likely to change their car more often than their mattress.
“Consumer demand remains strong in the used car market and there are lots of used bargains waiting to be snapped up.
“As PCP becomes more popular and accessible in the used market, motor dealers expect its use to double in the future so we’re going to see people changing their cars with increasing regularity.”

Motorists change their car more often than their mobile phone


Get the latest breaking news from the Advertiser & Review - politics, transport, education, health, environment and more, updated daily.


It’s the farcical comedy which leaves critics stony-faced. But now Mrs Brown’s Boys has been voted the best British sitcom of the 21st century, beating Ricky Gervais’s observational masterpiece, The Office.
Mrs Brown’s Boys, starring Brendan O’Carroll as the foul-mouthed Dublin widow, topped the Radio Times poll which asked readers to choose the funniest shows broadcast since 2000.
Described as “the worst comedy ever made” by one reviewer, the broad humour of O’Carroll’s creation, initially unveiled on a RTE Ireland radio series, has been labelled sexist and homophobic.
But the BBC1 show, which O’Carroll described as a reaction against the politically-correct “alternative comedy” revolution of the 80s, has become the most-watched programme on Christmas Day and even spawned a feature film.
The troupe of largely extended family members – O’Carroll’s wife Jennifer plays his fictional screen daughter – honed their characters through live stage performances, adding to the anarchic atmosphere of the television episodes, which often embrace mistakes.
O’Carroll said of the poll victory: “It vindicates the fans’ belief in the show. They have kept us on the air – it certainly wasn’t the reviewers.”
He added: “There is an audience out there that comedy forgot, that Are You Being Served? audience has been left behind. Us winning this award proves that.”
The show was rewarded with a Bafta in 2012 as critics began to accept its merits.
Radio Times readers voted from a shortlist of the 40 funniest shows broadcast since 2000, compiled by critics and experts from the British Film Institute.
When the 14,000 votes were counted, the unashamedly populist Mrs Brown’s Boys finished ahead of the understated charms of The Office, first broadcast in 2001 and widely regarded as the most influential comedy of the century.
Peter Kay has two entries in the top 20 with Car Share and his breakthrough Channel 4 sitcom Phoenix Nights
The poll suggested that the comedy audience has yet to fully embrace funny women. Miranda, the sitcom vehicle for the comedy actress Miranda Hart appears at number 8 ahead of Raised By Wolves, the loosely autobiographical Channel 4 family series written by Caitlin Moran and her sister Caroline.
But the poll is dominated by male performers and writers. Irish comedy writer Graham Linehan has three entries with Count Arthur Strong, The IT Crowd and Black Books all featuring.
Armando Iannucci’s The Thick of It, The Inbetweeners and Jack Whitehall’s Bad Education are other sitcoms in the list which have been expanded into feature films.
James Corden’s hit BBC romantic comedy Gavin & Stacey, co-written with Ruth Jones, remains highly regarded and makes the top ten. ITV has a one entry with Benidorm.
Best British sitcom of the 21st century
Mrs Brown’s Boys
The Office
Peter Kay’s Car Share
Count Arthur Strong
The IT Crowd
The Thick of It
Gavin & Stacey
Miranda
Raised by Wolves
Outnumbered
Peep Show
Black Books
Green Wing
The Inbetweeners
Bad Education
Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights
Yonderland
Twenty Twelve/W1A
Benidorm
Detectorists

Mrs Brown’s Boys voted best British sitcom of the 21st century


Visit now for the latest tv and film news - direct from the Advertiser & Review


Sorry, we're having problems with our video player at the moment, but are working to fix it as soon as we can
House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air - leaving it cleaner to breathe, according to new research.
The study shows certain species act like natural air fresheners - removing harmful chemicals from the air we breathe.
House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air - leaving it cleaner to breathe, according to new research
Research has shown the air in offices and family homes often contains pollutants leading to ‘sick building syndrome’ where people suffer a range of symptoms including headaches, fatigue, difficulties in concentrating and respiratory problems.
It has been estimated to blight the lives of up to three in 10 office workers. A study earlier this year estimates that annually nearly 100,000 people die from the effects of indoor air pollution.
Now new research has found the Scarlet Star (Guzmania lingulata), from South America and a member of the bromeliad family of plants, got rid of more than 80 percent of illness causing compounds.
That performed the best out of five plants tested, although the Dracaena Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans massangeana) soaked up virtually all of a particularly pungent chemical common in nail salons.
House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air - leaving it cleaner to breathe, according to new research
Native throughout tropical Africa, it is grown in many homes and offices within the UK, US and Europe.
Scientists say their findings show picking the right houseplant can clear the air of dangerous pollutants in homes and offices.
Printers and cleaning products give off potentially harmful chemicals known as VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
Dr Vadoud Niri, of the State University of New York, said: “Buildings, whether new or old, can have high levels of VOCs in them, sometimes so high you can smell them.”
House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air - leaving it cleaner to breathe, according to new research
VOCs are compounds like acetone, benzene and formaldehyde that are emitted as gases and can cause short and long term health effects when inhaled. They can come from paints, furniture, copiers and printers, cleaning supplies and even dry cleaned clothes.
Explained Dr Niri: “Inhaling large amounts of VOCs can lead some people to develop sick building syndrome, which reduces productivity and can even cause dizziness, asthma or allergies. We must do something about VOCs in indoor air.”
The most common solution is to install ventilation systems that cycle in air from outside or methods using adsorption, condensation and chemical reactions.
But using plants to remove chemicals from indoor air, known as biofiltration or phytoremediation, is much simpler - and cheaper.
House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air - leaving it cleaner to breathe, according to new research
In addition to carbon dioxide plants can take up gases such as benzene, toluene and other VOCs.
NASA began studying this option in 1984 and found that plants could absorb these airborne compounds via their leaves and roots.
Since then, other studies have looked at how plants phytoremediate specific compounds, such as the cancer causing chemical formaldehyde, in a closed space.
Most of these studies focused on the removal of single VOCs by individual plants from the ambient air.
But Dr Niri wanted to compare the efficiency and the rate of simultaneous removal of several VOCs by various plants.
So his researchers built a sealed chamber containing specific concentrations of several VOCs and monitored the VOC concentrations over several hours with and without a different type of plant in the chamber.
For each plant type, they noted which VOCs the plants took up, how quickly they removed them from the air, and how much was ultimately removed by the end of the experiment.
The researchers tested five common house plants and eight common VOCs, and they found that certain plants were better at absorbing specific compounds.
For example, all five could remove acetone, the pungent chemical abundant at nail salons, but the dracaena plant took up the most, around 94 percent of the chemical.
Dr Niri said: “Based on our results, we can recommend what plants are good for certain types of VOCs and for specific locations.
“To illustrate, the bromeliad plant was very good at removing six out of eight studied VOCs - it was able to take up more than 80 percent of each of those compounds - over the twelve hour sampling period. So it could be a good plant to have sitting around in the household or workplace.”
Dr Niri says the next step in the research is to test these plants’ abilities in a real room, not just a sealed chamber.
He would eventually like to put plants in a nail salon over the course of several months to see whether they can reduce the levels of acetone that workers are exposed to.
The other three plants studied were Jade plant (Crassula argentea), the Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) and the Caribbean Tree Cactus (Consolea falcata.)

VIDEO: House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air


House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air - leaving it cleaner to breathe, according to new research.


Time differences can play havoc when doing interviews with American stars.
It is one of the more surreal moments when you see a voicemail from Jimmy Osmond apologising for the problems.
But with interview rearranged, the star is in good form and currently preparing for Moon River and Me coming to Northampton in October.
This brand new show full of award-winning music, nostalgic footage and special memories of Andy Williams features The Moon River Band with special guest stars Charlie Green and Emily Penny. They will perform some of the chart-topping hits that made Jimmy and his brothers famous, including Music To Watch Girls By,Happy Heart, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Almost There, May Each Day,Days Of Wine And Roses and, of course, Moon River.
Jimmy said: “It was a show which I have been doing in the States for a little while and it has been suggested that I bring the tour to the UK.
“Both my brothers and I, we got our break on those specials hosted by Andy Williams and it is great to perform songs by him.
“It is just great as it goes along, and it’s great honour to be able sing his songs. It is quite scary.
“But there are some great songs. Can’t Take My Eyes Off of you, Happy Heart and Love Story I really like playing.”
But does he prefer performing other people’s material or his own?
He addedL “There is a lot of pressure when you are performing your own material. In a way I prefer singing someone else’s material. I’ve lost track of the number of times I have sang Long Haired Lover from Liverpool.”
It will be a return to the Royal & Derngate with his new show having performed in pantomime in 2008.
“I absolutely loved coming to Northampton to do Cinderella,
“It was a great experience, we hired a house in the middle of nowhere and spent Christmas over here. It was beautiful.”
He has recently been seen on the small screen when he appeared om Celebrity Masterchef.
“It was a great experience. I am very much a home cook, doing burgers and things like that, so I was very much out of my comfort zone doing something a little bit more professional cookery wise.
“Gregg and John were absolutely lovely as well. They were fantastic every time they delivered something and I had a lot of fun doing the show.”
Moon River and Me can be seen on Monday October 10 at 7.30pm. For tickets or more information call the box office on 01604 624811 or visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk.


Time differences can play havoc when doing interviews with American stars.


The most popular pet name in the UK is Charlie, according to new research into the names we choose for our animals by Pets at Home.
Pets at Home surveyed more than 800,000 pet owners through its My VIP club and has found the top 50 most popular names for each pet type. Whether the pet is a bird, cat, dog, fish, horse, reptile or small animal, Charlie was the clear winner with almost 34,000 of British pet owners choosing this name for their animal friend, topping the list of most common names for birds, cats and horses.
Poppy also proved to be a popular choice for many pets, particularly canines and felines, ranking at number one for dogs and number two for cats. Other common selections include Alfie, Bella, Billy and Molly.
George also ranked highly across all species with almost 10,000 of those taking part choosing this name within the top 50, again regardless of pet type, suggesting the young Prince’s influence may not end with toddler fashion and toys.
The world of entertainment, particularly children’s cartoons, appear to have had an effect on the names owners select. Bird based film Rio saw the film’s title rank in 10th place for birds, while classic cartoon character name Tweety came in at number 32.
Bestselling book A Cat Called Alfie may have inspired cat owners, with Alfie being the eighth most popular name for cats. Winnie the Pooh fans are meanwhile drawn to Tigger, which ranked at 11 in cat names. Demonstrating that classic films can still influence our decisions, Thumper, who appeared in the 1942 film Bambi, is still the seventh most chosen name for rabbits. Nemo, is the second most popular name for the nation’s fish following Goldie in first.
Gavin Hawthorn, Group CRM Director, said: “It’s interesting to see that just as popular culture and famous faces influence what we name our children, likewise, these trends can help the nation’s pet owners select a name for their animals. It seems likely that children being allowed to name their first animal friend forms a big part of the naming process, particularly among the film and TV inspired monikers.
“However, it also seems that books and even the Royal family are also helping Brits to decide on what to call their pet. Meanwhile Charlie and Poppy scored highly across species, suggesting that cute, traditional names will always appeal when it comes to naming our pets.”
Top 10 names for British pets by species
Top 10 names for dogs
1. Poppy
2. Alfie
3. Bella
4. Charlie
5. Molly
6. Max
7. Daisy
8. Bailey
9. Ruby
10. Lola
Top 10 names for cats
1. Charlie
2. Poppy
3. Molly
4. Bella
5. Oscar
6. Daisy
7. Tilly
8. Alfie
9. Millie
10. Smudge
Top 10 names for small animals
1. Daisy
2. Fudge
3. Nibbles
4. Poppy
5. Rosie
6. Charlie
7. Thumper
8. Fluffy
9. George
10. Harry
Top 10 names for reptiles
1. Spike
2. George
3. Rex
4. Charlie
5. Sid
6. Monty
7. Bob
8. Leo
9. Rango
10. Sheldon
Top 10 names for fish
1. Goldie
2. Nemo
3. Bob
4. Bubbles
5. Fishy
6. George
7. Fred
8. Jaws
9. Dave
10. Tom
Top 10 names for horses
1. Charlie
2. Jack
3. Rosie
4. Molly
5. Harry
6. Alfie
7. Billy
8. Poppy
9. Murphy
10. Lady
Top 10 names for birds
1. Charlie
2. Joey
3. Billy
4. Bobby
5. George
6. Blue
7. Alfie
8. Rosie
9. Sky
10. Rio


The most popular pet name in the UK is Charlie, according to new research into the names we choose for our animals by Pets at Home.


A study has found that half of parents with children under the age of 14 allow them to drink alcohol at home.
And, perhaps more worryingly, one in 10 respondents to the Churchill Home Insurance survey allow children between the ages of five and seven to drink alcohol.
While it is not illegal for a child between the age of five and 16 to drink alcohol on private premises, it flies in the face of advice from the Chief Medical Officer whose official advice warns: “Children and their parents or carers are advised that an alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and best option. However, if children drink alcohol underage, it should not be until at least the age of 15 years.
“Parents and young people should be aware that drinking, even at age 15 or older, can be hazardous to health and that not drinking is the healthiest option for young people.”

Do you think it’s okay to allow children to drink some alcohol at home?


A popular pub-restaurant chain has pledged to donate the full net price of every pizza or pasta dish they sell for three days to raise money towards the Italian relief effort in the wake of the Amatrice earthquake.
As the horrors of the Amatrice earthquake continue to unfurl, and the scale of the devastation and the need for assistance becomes ever more apparent, Oakman Inns & Restaurants has pledged to help by donating every penny they get from the sale of all their pizzas and pasta dishes from Tuesday August 30 to Thursday September 1 to the Italian Red Cross.
Oakman Inns chief executive Peter Borg-Neal
The company, which operates The Akeman Inn at Kingswood and the Betsey Wynne in Swanbourne in Aylesbury Vale has decided to raise funds to help the Italian relief effort. As a result, every one of its 17-strong collection will be telling all customers over the next 48 hours and urging everyone to get on board the social media campaign to #EatForItaly.
CEO, Peter Borg-Neal, said the idea came due to the chain’s strong connections with Italy.
“Much of our menu is inspired by Italy and their traditional cuisine - and we therefore have a huge number of colleagues who are Italian,” he said.
“We have decided that we want to do something really meaningful to help the victims of this disaster. As a result, we will donate the full net price of every pizza or pasta dish sold next week for three days between Tuesday 30th August and Thursday 1st September to the Italian Red Cross. to help provide relief. If we sold our normal amount of dishes we would be sending a cheque for around £20,000 to Italy. I am hoping we will have to write a much bigger cheque.”
If we sold our normal amount of dishes we would be sending a cheque for around £20,000 to Italy. I am hoping we will have to write a much bigger cheque. Peter Borg-Neal, Oakman Inns CE0
Over the past two years, all Oakman Inns have been adding authentic wood-fired Pizza Ovens into their pubs and Peter insists on training his principal Pizza chefs in Italy. “One of our restaurant teams only recently came back from training in Naples, and on Tuesday night, only a few hours before this terrible event, we were holding an internal competition to discover our best Pizzaiolo.”
The 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck at 3:36am on Wednesday morning and devastated the towns of Amatrice, Accumoli and the village of Arquata del Tronto in the northern Lazio region of Italy. The Italian Red Cross and many other Italian and European emergency forces plus thousands of volunteers are providing rescue services and relief efforts for the survivors many of whom have lost everything in the space of a few minutes.
Hopes are dwindling of finding more survivors alive as aftershocks are continuing to hamper rescue efforts, and the number of people killed could yet surpass the last major earthquake to strike Italy in L’Aquilla in 2009 when more than 300 people died.
The mayor of Amatrice, Sergio Pirozzi, said: “Our heart is broken but will be resurrected”, while Italy’s prime minister, Matteo Renzi, added: “Today is a day for tears, tomorrow we can talk of reconstruction.”

Popular restaurant chain’s brilliant gesture in wake of Italian earthquake


Matt Adcock reviews David Brent: Life On The Road (15)
“I’m gonna roll you over, and rock you stupid, and leave you there just humming...”
David Brent is back. I never thought I’d write those words but here is the middle-aged master loser – on the big screen as a documentary team follow his dream of a ‘rock tour’ to save him from life as a sanitary products sales rep.
The Office was incredible TV, that made you wince and laugh in equal measure, the likes of which we haven’t fully seen since.
David Brent: Life On The Road picks up the potent unfulfilled dreams of Slough’s favourite office manager and presents the full horror of what happens when Brent cashes in his life savings and pensions to finance a tour for his band Foregone Conclusion. The good news is that this the best Gervais has been in years – capturing the brilliant comedy/pathos at the heart of The Office and delivering big time both in the laughs and the cringe inducing awfulness of Brent’s socially awkward overdrive.
This isn’t for those who are easily offended or just after some gentle humour – Life On The Road is a comedy-tragic-em-up that will rip your heart out even while you’re spitting popcorn.
This older Brent is a lonelier than ever, his hired bandmates won’t socialise with him or even let him on the expensive tour bus he’s shelled out for; he even has to pay them to have an after show drink with him at one point.
The expected adoring crowds don’t exactly turn up and the record company scouts are more interested in the genuinely talented aspiring rapper Dom Johnson (Doc Brown) who Brent has guest rap on some of his songs in an effort to make them both ethically friendly and youthful.
The excellent Tom ‘Love & Friendship’ Bennett is great as Brent’s one Lavichem office pal and Diane ‘Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe’ Morgan has a fun cameo as a PR tasked with the impossible job of making Brent ‘cool’.
Doc Brown, though, steals all his scenes with looks to camera of such sheer uncomfortableness that I’d love to see him get his own spin-off movie.
Life On The Road takes mid-life desperation and blows the door off it in fine comic style.
You’ll laugh, you might even cry but be warned you might also very well hurt yourself due to the unsafe levels of cringe.

Review: Cringeworthy David Brent brings tragedy to comedy


Visit now for the latest entertainment and leisure news and features - from the Advertiser & Review, updated daily


Bryony Page may have wowed crowds by becoming the first Brit to win an Olympic medal on a trampoline.
But new research suggests injuries sustained from indoor trampoline parks are an “emerging health concern”.
The warning comes after a study recorded 40 children needed medical treatment at one hospital in the space of just six months after trampoline accidents at an indoor park.
Last week 25-year-old Bryony won a silver medal in Rio, performing twists and turns at a staggering 30ft.
But while many youngsters may wish to emulate her, researchers stress the danger of using indoor trampoline parks, where many kids bounce simultaneously, on beds placed in close proximity to each other.
Researchers reviewed the medical records of Australian children under 17, who sought medical treatment at a children’s emergency care department between July 2014 and January 2015.
The team focussed solely on injuries sustained whilst at a trampoline park.
During a six month period, the team recorded 40 child patients, 55 per cent of which were girls, requiring treatment for their injuries.
The average age of each child patient was 10, but the youngest was just a year old.
Most of the injuries, a third, occurred while the child was on the trampoline.
And a fifth - 18 per cent - of the injuries were caused by a failed landing.
But in eight cases, the injury was the result of several different children of different sizes using the trampoline at the same time.
The research, published in the journal Injury Prevention, revealed over half of the children (52.5%) injured were simply jumping and not attempting any flips or somersaults at the time.
Six children injured themselves by landing awkwardly on something on the trampoline, such as protective padding designed to prevent falls.
Bruising and sprained ankles were the most common injuries, with 55% of the children’s medical records detailing these.
A third fractured elbow and ankle bones.
But for five children, their injuries were more serious and required surgery and a hospital admission.
Author Dr Christopher Mulligan, from The University of New South Wales said: “Most children were injured while involved in simple jumping activities (52.5%).
“However, five children (12.5%) were injured while attempting somersaults or flips.
“Six children were injured when they came into contact with something while on the trampoline.
“This included two children who landed on balls, and four children who landed on, or caught their feet in, the less elastic padding surrounding them or the hard surface floor.
“In terms of the injuries observed, the majority of patients presented with a soft tissue injury or sprain ( 55%) or fractured bone(s) (37.5%).
“One child sustained a lip laceration. One child presented with concussion, and one with chest pain.
“The lower extremity was the most frequent site of injury (67.5%), followed by the upper extremity (15%).
“The most common sprains were of the ankle. The most common fractures were supracondylar fractures of the elbow and fractures of the ankle.
“There was one fracture/dislocation of a cervical vertebra. No patients sustained a loss of consciousness.”
He added children using trampolines at home are more at risk of falling off it as they are raised above the ground or falling through the padding.
But at centres “double bouncing, or multiple users on a single trampoline, carried a significant risk for injury.
“This occurred particularly when small children were jumping with larger peers
or other adults.”
The study was published in the BMJ’ s Injury Prevention.


Get the latest breaking news from the Advertiser & Review - politics, transport, education, health, environment and more, updated daily.


A recruitment firm has been named the best company in the UK for work-life balance.
Financial recruiter Goodman Masson took first place in the list by jobs site Glassdoor, based on reviews submitted to its website by current and former staff.
The company, which is based in London and also has offices in Dusseldorf, was praised by staff for its “huge investment” in staff benefits and “great” parties twice a year.
“The attention paid to the wellbeing of staff is at a level rarely matched elsewhere,” said an anonymous employee working in the London office.
In second place was technology firm Cisco Systems, and in third place was insurer HomeServe.
West Midlands-based HomeServe, which employs 1,200 people at its headquarters in Walsall and has 2.1 million customers in the UK, was commended for its attitude towards the treatment of its staff.
“The salary is very competitive and you are rewarded very generously for your hard work and just for carrying out your role. The company has a great framework for career progression and is always looking to promote people internally for job roles,” said a water supply engineer working at the firm.
Greg Reed, chief marketing officer at HomeServe, said: “We believe if you take care of your people, they will take care of your customers. This means creating a culture where people genuinely enjoy coming to work every day because they feel what they do really makes a difference in our customers’ lives.”
Temping firm LOLA and Screwfix completed the top five. Other companies in the top 20 included Apple, American Express Lloyds Banking Group, Unilever and John Lewis.
Google is known for its plush offices, but doesn’t make the top 20 companies for work-life balance. Its new London office has sleep pods so workers can take a nap, although perhaps this is an indication of long hours.
For a company to have been considered, at least 50 work-life balance ratings must have been submitted by UK-based employees in the past year.
The top 20 companies for work-life balance:
1. Goodman Masson
2. Cisco Systems
3. HomeServe UK
4. LOLA Staffing
5. Screwfix
6. American Express
7. BP
8. Peninsula Business Services
9. ARM Holdings
10. Unilever
11.Thomson Reuters
12. Kantar Worldpanel
13. Atkins
14. Téléfonica
15. Credit Suisse
16. Rolls-Royce
17. John Lewis
18. Waitrose
19. Lloyds Banking Group
20. Apple

Revealed: The top UK companies for work-life balance


A recruitment firm has been named the best company in the UK for work-life balance.


The types of cookies we, our ad network and technology partners use are listed below:
Revenue Science ► A tool used by some of our advertisers to target adverts to you based on pages you have visited in the past. To opt out of this type of targeting you can visit the 'Your Online Choices' website by clicking here.
Google Ads ► Our sites contain advertising from Google; these use cookies to ensure you get adverts relevant to you. You can tailor the type of ads you receive by visiting here or to opt out of this type of targeting you can visit the 'Your Online Choices' website by clicking here.
Digital Analytics ► This is used to help us identify unique visitors to our websites. This data is anonymous and we cannot use this to uniquely identify individuals and their usage of the sites.
Dart for Publishers ► This comes from our ad serving technology and is used to track how many times you have seen a particular ad on our sites, so that you don't just see one advert but an even spread. This information is not used by us for any other type of audience recording or monitoring.
ComScore ► ComScore monitor and externally verify our site traffic data for use within the advertising industry. Any data collected is anonymous statistical data and cannot be traced back to an individual.
Local Targeting ► Our Classified websites (Photos, Motors, Jobs and Property Today) use cookies to ensure you get the correct local newspaper branding and content when you visit them. These cookies store no personally identifiable information.
Grapeshot ► We use Grapeshot as a contextual targeting technology, allowing us to create custom groups of stories outside out of our usual site navigation. Grapeshot stores the categories of story you have been exposed to. Their privacy policy and opt out option can be accessed here.
Subscriptions Online ► Our partner for Newspaper subscriptions online stores data from the forms you complete in these to increase the usability of the site and enhance user experience.
Add This ► Add This provides the social networking widget found in many of our pages. This widget gives you the tools to bookmark our websites, blog, share, tweet and email our content to a friend.


Are you a drill sergeant, a worshipper, a skipper or a teammate? Experts have identified four types of parent when it comes to teaching their children how to DRIVE.


Are you a drill sergeant, a worshipper, a skipper or a teammate? Experts have identified four types of parent when it comes to teaching their children how to DRIVE.
Goodyear have created a ‘parent personality’ quiz - so people can work out exactly which category they fall into.
But which type are you?


A woman who left Aylesbury’s Whiteleaf Centre and boarded a train to Paris is the subject of missing person’s appeal.
Jaimee May, aged 33, was last seen at the centre, which helps people who suffer from mental illness, in Croft Road, Aylesbury, at around 9.55am on Tuesday,
She is known to have travelled by National Express coach from Victoria coach station in London at 1.30pm on Tuesday to Paris and is believed to have arrived at the Gare Du Nord in Paris at 10.15pm on Tuesday.
Jaimee is black, 5ft 8ins, and has short shaved hair. She was wearing a cream cardigan, black shorts, black trainers and may be carrying a grey or black rucksack.
Investigating officer Det Sgt Michael Anderson, from Buckinghamshire CID, said: “I would like to appeal to anyone who may be travelling to Paris, either on holiday or for business, who may use the Gare Du Nord to look out for Jaimee or to report anyone matching her description.
“Jaimee is not believed to have much money or access to the medication she requires so we are concerned for her welfare. Anyone who sees her should not approach her as she may become confused but instead should contact Thames Valley Police. We are working with our counterparts in France to locate her.
“If anyone in the UK is contacted by Jaimee please come forward and speak to police.”
Anyone with any information about Jaimee’s whereabouts should call the 24-hour Thames Valley Police enquiry centre on 101 quoting URN 701 23/8 or call +44 1865 841148 from outside the UK.

Have you seen missing Whiteleaf Centre attendee Jaimee who is believed to have gone to Paris?


A woman who left Aylesbury’s Whiteleaf Centre and boarded a train to Paris is the subject of missing person’s appeal.


A parenting advice website has listed the most popular baby names so far in 2016 and revealed previous favourites such as Sophia, Mia, Daniel and Harrison are on the decline.
Bounty Baby Club, a popular parenting advice site, has scaled its 100,000 visitors a month, to uncover the most popular baby names of the first half of 2016 and there are a few surprises.
A few favourites of recent years are still holding their popularity but the results reveal some new up and coming themes and trends.
The favourites
Holding onto their 2015 top spots, Alfie and Isla remain the most popular names for boys and girls. Out of the top 100 most popular names, the biggest winners have been Caleb, jumping up nine positions to 19, Jenson, rising up five places to 26 and Ellie, rising up nine positions to nine.
The biggest climber so far this year has been Arlo, previously was outside of the top 50, now cementing a top 10 position at number six. Other names you may start to hear more include Freddie, Aaron, Phoebe, Ellis and Millie.
So what names are falling out of favour this year?
Results show that for girls, Sienna, Mia, Sophia, Mila and Scarlett are on the decline in 2016. Yesterday’s news for boys’ names include Dylan, Sebastian, Daniel and Harrison which are proving less popular than they have in recent years.
There is a new trend of baby names emerging from Bounty’s findings, vowel heavy names, particularly for girls. Male names ending in a softer letter are also becoming more popular, for example names such as Alfie, Arlo, Archie and Harry.
Take a look at the top 10 for boys and girls for the first half of the year below:
Top 10 most popular baby boy names of 2016 so far:
Alfie
Oscar
Teddy
Harry
Jack
Arlo
Noah
Charlie
Jacob
Archie
Top 10 most popular baby girl names of 2016 so far:
Isla
Amelia
Ava
Freya
Evie
Olivia
Esme
Elsie
Mia
Ellie

REVEALED - the most popular baby names so far in 2016


A dog who detected cancer in her owner has been nominated for a national award which celebrates hero pets.
Twelve-year-old Daisy, the red fox Labrador from Buckingham, has sniffed out more than 550 cases of prostate, kidney and bladder cancer – proving that the illness has a smell.
But in 2009, putting her practice into training, Daisy jumped up at her owner Claire Guest to alert her that something was wrong. She went straight to the doctor and was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“Without Daisy’s insistence I might not be here today,” said Dr Guest, who is chief executive of Medical Detection Dogs.
“Up to then there had been some scepticism to the work, but Daisy’s actions reinforced the value of what we were doing.
“We are about to begin a study into whether dogs can detect breast cancer and Daisy has been instrumental in getting the charity to where it is today.”
Daisy, who trains at the Great Horwood-based centre, is one of four animals in the Hero Pet category of the Charles Holland Awards for Brave Britons.
Falklands veteran Simon Weston, who led the judging panel, said: “When I read Daisy’s story it was truly touching.
“She has shown a great deal of courage and selflessness. It’s wonderful to see the unsung heroes in our midst – the truly remarkable people who are an inspiration to us all — finally given the recognition they deserve.”

Cancer-sniffing dog Daisy up for hero pet accolade


Max Verstappen admitted he wasn’t expecting both Red Bull cars to be on the podium in Germany.
Verstappen finished third at Hockenheim, with team-mate Daniel Ricciardo second behind race winner Lewis Hamilton.
Max Verstappen battled with Nico Rosberg in Hockenheim
The Dutchman made a lightning start from fourth on the grid, passing pole position man Nico Rosberg and team-mate Daniel Ricciardo to run second in the early stages.
Allowing Ricciardo through after a strategy call from the pitwall, Verstappen battled with Rosberg to hold on to third place.
But a late move from the German at the hairpin forced Verstappen off the road at the exit, and the race stewards handed down a five-second penalty to the Mercedes driver, gifting the podium finish back to Verstappen.
He explained: “Rosberg just braked very late and then didn’t turn into the corner, that incident cost me a lot of time, he pushed me wide and put me in a bad situation.”
Finish second and third, it was Red Bull’s first double podium in more than a year, and moved them up to second in the constructor’s championship, overtaking Ferrari.
“We didn’t expect it to be that good this weekend so we definitely maximised the result,” said Verstappen. “Strategy doesn’t always work for you but I took one for the team today and we still finished second and third and in front of Ferrari, which was the main aim.
“I let Daniel go by as was the strategy of the team, in the end the most important thing was to score the points and move up in the constructors’ championship. Finishing only 10 seconds back from Mercedes is very good.
“It is still too early to say how close we can get by the end of the season as I think they may have some in reserve.”


Max Verstappen admitted he wasn’t expecting both Red Bull cars to be on the podium in Germany.


Max Verstappen has laid the blame at Ferrari’s door after a first lap crash involving Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel almost eliminated all three drivers in Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.
The 18-year-old, starting from second on the grid, made a poor start but held the inside line going in to La Source, but was squeezed by Raikkonen, who himself was hit by Vettel on the outside.
Max Verstappen
All three sustained damage and needed to pit early in the race, ended their chances of a podium finish.
Verstappen explained: “I didn’t start as well as I wanted but I got up the inside for the first corner then got squeezed by the two Ferraris. In the contact my front wing and the floor got destroyed so then the car was very difficult to drive.
“Kimi kept on squeezing but then Vettel turned in on both of us. He knew he was on the outside and then he turned in where he knew there was two cars. From there, the race was gone.”
In a battle that raged on throughout the race, Raikkonen and Verstappen went wheel-to-wheel on several other occasions, and even clipped a couple of times as Verstappen defended his position from the 2007 world champion.
However, his defence drew criticism from Raikkonen, who believes the teenager’s driving style will lead to a ‘big accident’ if he isn’t careful.
Raikkonen said: “I’m all up for a fair battle and close racing, but I had to back off after Eau Rouge on the straight when I make my move I had to brake not to hit him, because he turns after when I move first time. I think that’s not correct.
“There could have been a big accident,” he said. “I had to brake from full speed and I haven’t had that from any other driver, but it doesn’t seem to matter.”
Verstappen responded in kind though, and felt the Ferraris had cast the first stone in the battle by causing the crash at the first corner.
“It’s ridiculous; it’s good television, though, if somebody’s moaning,” he added.
“Especially after [the clash at] Turn 1, when they do something to you like that, I’m not going give up my position to them that easily afterwards.
“I’m just defending my position and if somebody doesn’t like it it’s his own problem.”
Four-time world champion Vettel however tried to calm the fires between his team-mate and Verstappen, but said Raikkonen wasn’t the only driver to have an issue with the way the Red Bull Racing driver defends his position.
Vettel said: “I get along with Max, I like him, he’s aggressive, and I think that’s a strength of him, but certain movements, especially under braking – which I’ve faced – I don’t think are correct.
“It’s probably something that needs to click and he needs to understand.
“I will try and talk to Max – not now, as he didn’t have a good day, I didn’t have a good day.
“I’m not a fan of penalising people, I think it’s not the way to educate.
“I think there have been a couple of manoeuvres that… the rest of the field is not happy with his behaviour, but the best way is to talk rather than create a fuss in the media.
“We are men, and it’s best to stand in front of each other and talk.”

Verstappen hits back after Ferrari criticism


Visit now for the latest sports news - from the Advertiser & Review, updated daily


UK motorists have been hit by a near-20 per cent rise in insurance costs in the last year, new figures show.
The average driver now pays £715 a year for fully comprehensive cover, up 19 per cent on the same time last year.
The figures were revealed by the Confused.com car insurance price index, which tracks quarterly and annual trends.
After dropping for several years from a high of £843 in 2011, insurance costs have been rising since the start of 2015. The latest figures, for the period from April to June 2016 show that costs have risen by 6 per cent since the start of the year and drivers are paying an average of £115 more for their insurance than they were in the same period last year.
Northern Irish drivers have been worst hit by the latest rises, seeing their premiums climb 25 per cent year-on-year. They now face an average premium of £863.
Also feeling the impact badly are motorists in parts of Scotland - the Highlands and Islands saw rises of 24 per cent and drivers in the Hebrides were hit with a staggering 42 per cent annual increase.
Conversely, Orkney’s capital - Kirkwall - was one of only two places to see a drop in costs, with a quarterly fall of four per cent. Hereford, in the West Midlands, was the only other place to see a fall in quarterly premiums - down two per cent on the first three months of the year.
While younger drivers might face the highest premiums overall, they have actually escaped the worst of the rises. Drivers aged 17 saw an annual rise of just eight per cent - the lowest of any age bracket - but still face average premiums of £2,013. A the opposite end, 61-year-old drivers saw a 24 per cent rise - the highest of any age group - but still only pay £418 a year.
And the gender gap persists, with male drivers facing annual rises of 21 per cent in comparison with the 18 per cent faced by women. This continued difference means the gap between the sexes is growing as men pay an average of £92 a year more - up from £27 in 2013.
Confused’s motoring editor, Amanda Stretton, said: “We’ve not seen price rises of this magnitude for five years - a 19 per cent annual increase is substantial to say the least. And these price rises are being felt across the board, for drivers of all ages and genders, across all UK regions.
“If prices continues to rise at the rate we’ve been seeing, we could be facing the possibility of average comprehensive premiums reaching a high not seen since 2011. This, combined with rising fuel prices and increased motoring costs across the board, could result in a sizeable dent in drivers’ pockets.”

Car insurance costs soar nearly 20 per cent in 12 months


UK motorists have been hit by a near-20 per cent rise in insurance costs in the last year, new figures show.


The Mount at Alderton will play host to a murder mystery and a Shakespeare classic.
Heartbreak Productions celebrate their 25th year by performing Murder at the Terrace and The Tempest on Saturday September 3 and Sunday September 4.
The performance will raise money for Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Murder on the Terrace – a brand new play, written by David Kerby-Kendall.
It is a tongue in cheek, al fresco spoof of a whodunit with plenty of stylish audience interaction and witty repartee drawing on Agatha Christie and Downton Abbey for inspiration.
The Tempest is the group’s tribute to Shakespeare – getting in there before the RSCs revolutionary production,
Despite not using motion capture, we definitely harness the humour and theatricality of the play – staged in the round and using masks, puppetry, song and folk instruments to create a spirited rendition of the Bard’s last play.
For further information about either of the performances or to book tickets visit www.heartbreakproductions.co.uk/venue/the-mount/


The Mount at Alderton will play host to a murder mystery and a Shakespeare classic.


A man who was paralysed from the chest down in a motorbike accident is on the road again, with his first child – proof that nothing can stop him from living a full life.
Carl Brackley, now 39, who lives in Winslow, had the accident in November, 2009, and he had to spend seven months in hospital.
The wheels of his motorbike skidded on some mud and he was thrown off into a ditch at the side of the road. Carl immediately realised he could not feel his legs.
“It was a crushing time,” Carl said. “I had to learn how to do practically everything again.
“Things you take for granted like pulling your trousers up, or rolling over in bed.
“In a split second on that road, I’d been paralysed from the chest down. I had no movement – I couldn’t even feel my skin.”
The hospital team found a broken bone poking into Carl’s spinal cord which they removed, and this released some feeling, highlighting a broken knee, which had not been picked since the accident.
And one of the biggest concerns following his accident was whether Carl would be able to start a family with partner of nine years, Rachel.
“It was awful,” Carl said. “After the operation I started getting bad spasms as a result of the pain, and they’d get so intense I’d be thrown out of my wheelchair. I had to tie my feet and legs down and my legs would kick all night. It meant I couldn’t sleep in the same bed as Rachel.”
After being rejected for IVF in the UK, he went to a clinic in the Czech Republic, and on the second attempt, their baby was conceived and Sienna was born.
Now Carl is enjoying life as a new dad, and thanks to the spinal injury charity Aspire, he has an electric Batec bike which allows him to go to all the places he used to visit.
“It gives me far more independence,” Carl said. “I can nip to the shops and go virtually anywhere I choose. The best part is having the freedom to take my daughter out with me, and enjoy a relaxing time in the countryside.”
Carl was helped by money raised at the annual Aspire Channel Swim, which launches again on September 12.

Back on the road with baby after horror motorbike crash


A man who was paralysed from the chest down in a motorbike accident is on the road again, with his first child – proof that nothing can stop him from living a full life.


Nodding off in the middle of the day may be down to pollution generated by traffic, suggests new research.
The study shows exposure to traffic pollution is a trigger for daytime sleepiness - and may also trigger SNORING.
More than 12,000 adults were included in the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) study.
The findings show that people exposed to high levels of pollution had a 65 per cent greater chance of suffering from daytime sleepiness, compared to those who had no exposure.
Traffic noise in the bedroom was also a trigger - with people 46 per cent more likely to feel sleepy in the day if exposed.
And the research also suggests that people are also 29 per cent more likely to be a habitual snorer if they are exposed to traffic noise while they sleep.
Daytime sleepiness affected one in five people involved in the study, while one in four reported habitual snoring.
Ane Johannessen, an epidemiologist at Bergen University in Norway, wrote the study together with Professor Thorarinn Gislason and other Northern European researchers.
She said: “Exposure to traffic should be taken into account when planning treatment for patients with sleep disturbances, because reducing noise and pollution exposure in the bedroom may have a beneficial effect.
“Reducing exposure through relocating the bedroom away from pollution sources or making the bedroom more soundproof to protect against traffic noise, as well as mapping alternative and less polluted outdoor everyday routes may help patients with their sleep disorders.”
The study also showed that men, older subjects, smokers and those with lower education were more likely to report habitual snoring.
They were usually less physically active, with a higher BMI, and more likely to have a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
Women, older people, smokers, and those with lower education were more likely to report daytime sleepiness.
The new research is due to be presented at the European Respiratory Society’s International Congress in London next month.
Professor Jorgen Vestbo, President of ERS and Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Manchester, said: “The question of who snores may be a running joke in some households but for many snoring is a serious issue, with direct links to physical and mental well being and the same is true for daytime sleepiness.
“We want people to think more about the environment around them and the impact it can have - from the way they sleep to the air they breathe.”
To coincide with Congress, the ERS will be holding some free public lung function testing, starting in Trafalgar Square on September 2 and 3.

Sleepiness linked to traffic noise and pollution


Nodding off in the middle of the day may be down to pollution generated by traffic, suggests new research.


Members of RAF Halton Pipes and Drums have performed in front of royalty at Sandringham Flower Show.
Thousands of people packed into the Sandringham estate to catch a glimpse of The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall as they took their traditional tour of the event.
The royals arrived to the music of the Pipes and Drums as they performed in the main arena, the first time military Pipes and Drums had been invited to perform at this prestigious show.
Pipe Major Lenny Browne said: “The band has been working hard this season and was spread thin with members performing with the RAF Pipes and Drums at the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland.
“We pulled in some support from our muscian colleagues from RAF Waddington’s Pipe and Drum band and the performances throughout the day in the main arena were commented on as being outstanding.”
The Royal Air Force Pipe Band Association is the central body which represents the RAF’s five pipe bands. Piping has a firm tradition in the Royal Air Force, going back virtually to the formation of the service. The bands are formed on a geographical basis from RAF Stations throughout the United Kingdom.
They perform at events worldwide, for state and Royal Air Force ceremonial events as well as for charity and in competitions and you can find their programme on the rafpba website.

RAF Pipes and Drums perform before royalty at Sandringham


Visit now for the latest lifestyle news and features from the Advertiser & Review


I will be off to Weedon Park on Thursday (September 1)for my annual visit to Bucks County Show and I can’t wait because this year there is to be a pie competition and I have to say I am particularly partial to pastry.
Of course there is no guarantee I will be able to do anything more than just ‘look’ at the pies, but I’m rather hoping I might be allowed a tiny taste, all in the interests of my job of course, so that I am better able to accurately report on the excellence of the product for Bucks TV.
The other must-visit location will be the chocolate fountain, which I am hoping will be making a return visit. And ‘return visit’ is what I usually do, several times throughout the day, to scoff the strawberries smothered in melted chocolate.
True, this is an agricultural show, and this indeed is an agricultural column, so the focus should be on farming, but let’s be honest, without farming we wouldn’t have these delicious pies or chocolate and strawberries, so I’m not really going off point.
And of course I shall also enjoy looking at the prize winning cattle and sheep, watching the main ring attractions and sneaking at look at the beautiful horses and ponies.
So I hope the good weather continues and you manage to get along too. There is plenty of free parking at the showground, but you can also take the shuttle bus free of charge which is leaving at regular intervals from Station Way in Aylesbury throughout the day. For full details about the show, and to buy tickets in advance go to www.buckscountyshow.co.uk

FARMING MATTERS: Our columnist is looking forward to enjoying lots of food at Bucks County Show


I will be off to Weedon Park on Thursday (September 1)for my annual visit to Bucks County Show and I can’t wait because this year there is to be a pie competition and I have to say I am particularly partial to pastry.


In July 1966 the England football team was about to pull off the impossible and London was fast becoming the hip, groovy and happening place to be.
High in the charts was The Kinks, with their second hit, Sunny Afternoon. This popular four-piece pop combo, fronted by Ray Davies and his younger brother Dave, hailed from North London, and were to become one of the most influential rock groups of all time.
Sunny Afternoon UK Tour cast
Fast forward almost 50 years and you don’t have to be a Dedicated Follower of Fashion to realise that Sunny Afternoon is back and riding high.
In 2014 Ray’s searingly honest musical slipped onto the genteel stage of Hampstead Theatre, blasted out its silver-haired audience, and won a whole new set of fans, before transferring to the West End, becoming a major hit and winning four Oliviers.
England didn’t make the cut at this year’s World Cup but Sunny Afternoon is set for continued success with a national tour playing in Milton Keynes Theatre from next week (August 30) and Aylesbury Waterside Theatre from September 27.
The cast were putting the finishing touches to the show at rehearsal studios on The Isle of Dogs in East London when I caught up with them.
I watched key cast members Ryan O’Donnell, playing Ray Davies, Mark Newnham, as brother Dave, Garmon Rhys as bassist Pete Quaife and Andrew Gallo playing Kinks’ drummer Mick Avory, going through their paces, including a rousing rendition of Sunny Afternoon before sitting down with them for a chat.
Tousle-haired Ryan, a former member of the Jethro Tull entourage, has already appeared in the 1960’s Who musical, Quadrophenia. He had to pass muster with The Kinks’ frontman Ray before bagging the part.
“I remember meeting Ray backstage once, after I’d got the part, and he said ‘Hi, nice to meet you’. He nodded his head and said: ‘So, you’re doing this are you? Ah’. And we shook hands and that was it, “said Ryan.
“Ray is very hands on. He comes to watch it quite a lot and he’s very supportive. He comes to all the auditions and is involved in casting.
“When you go into the final round of auditions there is this quiet man sitting at the back with a steely glare, passing judgement - which is pretty intimidating.
“I didn’t know much about The Kinks before I saw the show a couple of years ago, but obviously I knew the songs. They’re so iconic. But you don’t realise how many they wrote. It can be overwhelming for audiences. Just one great song after another. It’s a helluva show.”
Garmon, who has recently played Agatha Christie’s young detective, Tommy, and Wilfred Owen in the WWI drama, Regeneration at Northampton, here plays disillusioned guitarist Quaife, who suffers a crisis of confidence at the peak of the band’s success.
“My favourite song in the show is You Really Got Me,” he said, “Because it’s the first time you get to see the band play together as a four-piece properly, when they’re on Top of the Pops and you get a real buzz when you hear those first chords. It’s amazing.”
“I like Set Me Free, which is a pretty sexy tune, with all the trippy vocal harmonies and guitar riffs,” added Ryan.
“I have a constant battle with our music director, in songs like Sunny Afternoon. He comes up to me and says: ‘You are singing it like Ray but could you sing it a bit nicer? A bit brighter? It is supposed to be a happy moment in the show!’
“I say that it’s a lazy afternoon but he says: ‘Yeah, but it’s not a lazy moment in the show!’”
Garmon says that Britain can’t get enough of the 1960s. “It was a pioneering era for culture and fashion, especially British music and apparel.
“It was where a lot of modern fashions were started. Our wardrobe department have had it easy because the clothes and shoes, like the Chelsea Boots, are still in fashion.
“And our audiences are not all in their 60s. We have kids of all ages because everyone loves 1960’s music.”
“The reason Sunny Afternoon has been so successful is that audiences don’t just come to hear amazing songs that they remember but there are a lot of familiar themes - money, homesickness, the class struggle.”
“A lot of people come up to me,” said Ryan, “who were around at that time and didn’t know the full story. This has a strong narrative, is a fascinating play, as well as a great musical.”
Andrew Gallo, who came to MKT with Saturday Night Fever, has an impressive drum solo in Sunny Afternoon which earns the admiration of everyone.
“I was originally up for Pete, Mick and their manager. I had five drum songs to learn plus their scenes and, just in case, another song. I hadn’t touched the drums for a year so I booked myself into a studio and drummed for about four hours solid until I gave myself blisters!”
He first heard The Kinks at the age of 12 after discovering a cache of old cassette tapes while sitting with mates in a neighbour’s attic. “We just played them on a loop. They were amazing”.
Mark, who plays wild Dave, swilling fizz, swinging from a chandelier, bedding the birds and wearing a frock or two, used to play The Kinks songs when he was in a band in Brighton.
“I knew that Ray and Dave had a tempestuous relationship. Their songs are so iconic. It was so magical the way Ray wrote about stuff. He came up with some incredible lyrics. I haven’t stopped listening to The Kinks since I got the job.
“Dave is a real gift to play. He’s so flamboyant and has such a verve for life. And the script is fantastic. You could take the songs out and still have an incredible play.
“I auditioned in front of Ray, which was interesting. I had already auditioned for Pete and Dave. I did my Pete stuff first and had my fringe over one way and then, when I did my Dave audition, I said: “Do you mind if I manipulate my fringe?’ which made Ray laugh.
“I moved it into a centre parting and he said: ‘Oh yeah, you’re playing a different character’. ‘Yeah, I’m playing your little brother!’ and again I made him laugh.”
Sunny Afternoon plays at Milton Keynes Theatre August 30-September 3 and Aylesbury Waterside, September 27-October 1. To book visit www.atgtickets.co.uk/miltonkeynes or www.atgtickets.co.uk/aylesbury,

No lazing on a Sunny Afternoon for new cast ahead of Milton Keynes and Aylesbury dates.


In July 1966 the England football team was about to pull off the impossible and London was fast becoming the hip, groovy and happening place to be.


Video game escapism in its purest form.
No Man’s Sky in undeniably a work of art, but have you got time to look around the whole gallery?
No Man’s Sky launched last week after much hype and billed as quite literally the biggest video game ever made.
The self-perpetuating game, which promises to be potentially endless, was four years in the making by a tiny team in game production terms. And you can tell as it will instantly take your breath away.
Make no mistake there has never been anything like this before. As you fly ever deeper into the universe, new planets and solar systems roll silently into view – some will have been seen before, others discovered for the very first time. And you have 18 quintillion of them to choose from...
Each has its own set of flora, fauna and inhabitants. By exploring, players gain information about the planets that they can submit to The Atlas, a universal database that can be shared with other players of the game and for which they are rewarded in currency each time.
Each planet is a work of art you could spend hours studying, analysing and dissecting. These works of art are housed in an endless gallery and for art connoisseurs it will be Manna from heaven.
However, most people’s playing time will be finite.... unless you’re at university and can afford to miss the odd class here and there to squeeze in just one more exploration of a peculiar alien planet.
And that is where one of the game’s key sticking points comes in. As much as No Man’s Sky takes us to Infinity and leaves us wondering what waits beyond, there is also an almost irresistible itch which you can’t scratch because you can never truly “complete” this game in the traditional sense.
But that is very much a personal take on NMS, many people might enjoy jumping on for a couple of hours here and there, discovering lots of different things and logging it to the Atlas, if anything it could be cathartic but many people like a beginning, a middle and an end to their games.
No Mans Sky is undeniably a work of art
The care, thought, time and brilliance that has gone into this utterly original video game is mindblowing and deserves to be experienced by PlayStation gamers.
It is the purest form of video game escapism we have ever seen and should be celebrated as such.
But it will more likely go down as a cult classic than the blockbuster success it’s craft deserves.


Visit now for gadgets & tech news and features from the Advertiser & Review


Red Bull Racing topped the time sheets as Max Verstappen set the pace ahead of Daniel Ricciardo in free practice at an unusually warm Belgian Grand Prix on Friday.
The 18-year-old grew up just 50 miles from the Spa-Francorchamps circuit and was cheered on by a large Dutch contingent as he set the fastest time with a 1:48.085.
Team-mate Daniel Ricciardo was second, with 1.48.341 ahead of Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg, and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton is likely to start towards the back of the grid after taking several engine penalties, and was 13th fastest at the end of the second free practice session.
Earlier in the day, Ricciardo completed an installation lap with the head protection device ‘the halo’ which is earmarked to be introduced to the sport in 2018.

Verstappen tops the timing sheets as Red Bull lead the way in Belgium


Visit now for the latest sports news - from the Advertiser & Review, updated daily


It could cost airline passengers £25 for making a complaint, following the introduction of new aviation rules.
Passengers traveling with British Airways, easyJet and Thomas Cook will be charged £25 if any claim they make is unsuccessful, as the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will no longer mediate between customers and airlines.
Previously, the CAA would act as the ‘middleman’ in negotiations between customer and airlines in disputes regarding flight delays and cancellations or missing or damaged luggage.
British Airways, along with easyJet and Thomas Cook, have signed up to the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), which charges customers a £25 fee for unsuccessful claims for compensation.
However, passengers with other airlines, including Flybe and Ryanair will be able to pursue complaints without fear of financial loss as these airlines have signed up with the Retail Ombudsman which does not charge customers to use the service.
Also, Eurowings and Lufthansa will use German company Söp, which similarly does not charge a fee.

BA and easyJet passengers could pay £25 charge for flight delay complaints


It could cost airline passengers £25 for making a complaint, following the introduction of new aviation rules.


Fertility experts are calling for tougher regulations around IVF treatment because the solutions used to grow embryos can influence the birthweight and health of babies.
They want firms a clear list of ingredients for the solutions like those used to regulate food such as peanut butter.
The demand follows the results of a trial that shows that the composition of these laboratory cultures influence the health of the resulting embryos and babies.
The trial found that they affected the numbers of viable embryos created, the rates of successful implantation in the womb, the pregnancy rates and the babies’ birthweights.
The findings were published in the journal Human Reproduction, together with a second paper that reviews what is currently known about embryo culture media.
The second paper concludes: “There is a strong case for demanding full transparency concerning the compositions of and scientific rationale behind the composition of embryo culture media”.
The journal’s editor-in-chief, Professor Hans Evers, called for “urgent action” by industry and regulators in the wake of the findings, saying that, just as with foods such as peanut butter, the exact composition of the culture media should be listed.
He said: “Floating an embryo for only a few days in a culture medium affects the birthweight of IVF children nine months later.
“Small differences in birthweight may reflect more subtle disturbances that only will manifest themselves later in life.
“As of today, not knowing the exact composition of their IVF culture media is no longer an option for clinical embryologists.”
Dr John Dumoulin, the IVF laboratory director at Maastricht University Medical Centre in The Netherlands, and his colleagues recruited 836 couples who were scheduled for IVF or ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) treatment at one of 10 IVF centres.
Dr Dumoulin said: “For the first time, by means of a large randomised controlled trial, we have shown that human embryos that are cultured in vivo are sensitive to their environment and that something is programmed into these embryos during those few days before transfer to the womb that still has an effect nine months later.
“This being the case, we must be aware that David Barker hypothesised that the environment in early life, from foetus to the first two years of life, can have a significant effect on long-term health.
“This means that we should be careful and we should no longer blindly accept new culture media, or other alterations in laboratory or clinical procedures, without first rigorously studying effectiveness and safety.”
In the second paper, a working group of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, led by Professor Arne Sunde, of the University Hospital in Trondheim, Norway, made the same recommendations.
Their research showed that culture media vary widely, their composition is usually unknown by the embryologists, doctors and patients, and figures about the influence of the media on outcomes are conflicting.
Prof Sunde said: “The key issue is that we must know the composition of the culture media we use, since it seems to induce differences in the make-up of the children born.
“We have no information about long-term consequences of this, but we cannot rule out that the composition of the culture media may affect the health of children as they grow up and become adults.”
At present, there is no uniform regulation of embryo culture media. In Europe, the majority of media approved for use carry the CE mark, but other non-CE media can still be used.
Prof Sunde added: “It is not obligatory to declare changes and the information we might get is far from sufficient.
“We want to know in detail what changes have been made and the scientific basis for the changes, including animal and human clinical data backing the change.”


Get the latest breaking news from the Advertiser & Review - politics, transport, education, health, environment and more, updated daily.


It has been a busy past couple of years for Steve Backshall and it is about to get busier.
He’s stepped on to the Strictly dance floor, explored mountains, written a book and he goes on tour later this year, visiting Northampton’s Royal & Derngate on Friday, October 21.
It’s a wild journey, illustrated with photos and films from the Arctic to the Antarctic, from the tundra to the top of the world’s highest peaks, and from the depths of the rainforest to the bottom of the ocean.
Steve said: “There will be some video clips and some deleted scenes and there will be a chance for the audience to ask questions and for me to have an interactive relationship with the audience. To begin with, we were experimenting in the early days but they have got better.”
While he might be one of the most authoritative naturalists on television, he suspected his life would go down a different route.
Steve said: “I always wanted to do something with wildlife but I thought I would be writing. Doing it for television came about by accident really.
“I had this idea for a programme and went off for a few weeks to the jungles in Colombia and just shooting it on my own camera. And that was how it started.
“It is nice to do that even now with some of the shows rather than doing it with several lighting, sound recordists and cameramen all sweating away. I only describe them like that because they’d describe me in the same way.
“But there is a need to make the programmes in a different way.”
He has also had another children’s novel published, Shark Seas, the fourth in the Falcon Chronicle series.
Steve added: “The fourth one is all about sharks which is an animal I am very passionate about.
“One of the first things I got told when I was writing fiction is to base it on my own experiences and that has served me well.
“You do have to write differently for kids but perhaps not in the way that you would expect.
“I write with a lot more facts in the stuff for children than I ever would in the things for adults.
“But that’s because children absolutely adore facts.
“They are fascinated by some of the finer details.”
And you might expect that with all the terrifying things Steve has done, a spot of dancing wouldn’t scare him.
He said: “The dancing really didn’t come naturally to me, it took a lot of work.
“I do look back at Strictly with a lot of happy memories and have made so many friends, many of whom I would never have met in the course of my normal career and some of them are coming to my wedding in the summer.”
Tickets for the show can be bought by visiting www.royalandderngate.co.uk or by calling the box office on 01604 624811.

Naturalist Steve Backshall chats ahead of Northampton show


It has been a busy past couple of years for Steve Backshall and it is about to get busier.


One half of the dynamic duo who host The Great British Bake Off is bringing her latest touring show to Northampton’s Royal & Derngate.
Fresh from hosting the latest series of the baking show, Sue Perkins goes out on tour with Spectacles, all about her life so far.
And she can’t wait to get out in front of a live audience again.
Q: What prompted you to hit the road with your new tour, “LIVE! in Spectacles”?
A: It’s a good time to look back on my life so far. I fully intend to live to the age of 92, so this is half-time. Essentially this tour is handing out the orange segments.
Q: Tell us more.
A: Writing a memoir begins a process that doesn’t necessarily end with publication. You begin to think about family life and stories and relationships, and those are ongoing. Once the book was published, I thought, “There is so much more still to say without necessarily writing another book. Why not animate the book with a live tour?” It’s like a companion volume, I guess. A big, technicolour puke of thoughts. Perhaps I should put that on the poster…
Q: You have always relished live performance, haven’t you?
A: Yes, I love live. I really enjoy playing with an audience. At book events, I do Q&As, and it’s often then that the madness starts. It often feels like an anarchic version of Question Time.
Q: What do you particularly like about interacting with the audience?
A: It enriches me. Performing live challenges you to be more engaged. And the great thing is, each venue is completely different. What I have done lately has been TV-based, so I haven’t had the same feedback as I get live, and that’s what I love. I adore the raw surprise someone of asking a question you would never have expected. I love the spontaneity of it. I don’t encourage hecklers, but sometimes a heckler is the funniest person in the room - why not embrace that? The audience is a big pool of fun you can swim around in. But remember - no petting.
Q: You will be giving each ticket-holder a copy of your book, “Spectacles”. What’s the thinking behind that?
A: It gives me the opportunity to meet the whole audience one by one afterwards during the signings. A gig is a two-way street. It’s not about me broadcasting. It’s not, “This is what I’ve got to say about this.” It’s as much about how people respond to the material. My memoir is a story of family and childhood, and everyone has had one of those. Mine is not the definitive version of childhood, but it’s a great way to start a conversation. I love it when someone says, “It’s weird. I lived next to an electricity substation for 20 years as well.” Or, “We had a cat that dragged our turkey across the room at Christmas and we had to eat boiled eggs for our lunch instead.” The book is a recorded history of my life so far, but the tour brings extra stuff to it. The audience adds so much on top of that. It’s important to have that double act thing going on with them.
Q: So what subjects will you be covering in the show?
A: Births, deaths, lemon drizzle and getting fondled by a Cambodian hermit. I’ll talk a lot about the catastrophising that went on in my family. There was always a sense that something awful, that imminent doom, was around the corner. It came from my mum – she’s a worrier. Everything was a potential trip to A&E!
Q: I believe you will also be showing some slides.
A: Yes, there will be lots of slides. There is only one picture of me in the book and I have this horrific haircut in it. People say, “Surely that was just one bad haircut day.” But I’m afraid I have 150 slides of myself at different ages, all with the same haircut! My mum had someone round to cut my hair who, it transpired, had only done dog grooming before. So I had a low Dougal-style fringe that was perfectly straight. It swayed like a trimmed, bearded collie! A bowl for all seasons. Perhaps that should be the title of the second volume….
Q: You have a wonderful relationship with your fans. Do they frequently stop you in the street?
A: Sometimes, yes. Often they’ll want to ask about the weird things I’ve eaten. I’ve eaten everything. There’s nothing I haven’t eaten. I’ve eaten peacock, rat, squirrel, wigeon, teal, snipe, snake, moose and yak. Bear Grylls, eat your heart out! In fact, he probably has eaten his heart out…
Q: What else do the fans ask you?
A: They always want to know what Mary Berry is like. Well, Bez is the best. End of. She’s the nation’s sweetheart. I love her – so much so, I’ve been trying to get her to adopt me for the last seven years.
Q: Why do you think The Great British Bake Off has proved so popular?
A: I think the chemistry between the four of us – Mary, Paul, Mel and I – works so well. We’re all big kids at heart. We’re all very playful. We don’t approach it as a job. We approach it as a day out at a country fair! But the real reason why the show is so successful is the 12 people who come to bake every year. Although we four have received a lot of attention, I really do believe that the bakers are where the magic is.
Q: Finally, do you believe that a sense of humour is vital?
A: Of course. Life is boring without the punctuation of punchlines. If you laugh at a joke, it’s because someone has put something you already know in a way you had never thought of before. You’ve always been aware of that idea, but it’s the expression of that idea that catches you. The other person encapsulates it or puts a new twist on it. It illuminates and cheers in one fell swoop. Without humour, what’s the point? Life would simply be one long argument with a man from the BT helpdesk.
Sue Perkins in Spectacles can be seen on Saturday, September 17, starting at 7.30pm. For tickets call 01604 624811 or visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk.
For other dates visit www.sueperkinslive.com

Bake Off star Sue Perkins chats ahead of Northampton show


One half of the dynamic duo who host The Great British Bake Off is bringing her latest touring show to Northampton’s Royal & Derngate.


A study has found that half of parents with children under the age of 14 allow them to drink alcohol at home.
And, perhaps more worryingly, one in 10 respondents to the Churchill Home Insurance survey allow children between the ages of five and seven to drink alcohol.
While it is not illegal for a child between the age of five and 16 to drink alcohol on private premises, it flies in the face of advice from the Chief Medical Officer whose official advice warns: “Children and their parents or carers are advised that an alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and best option. However, if children drink alcohol underage, it should not be until at least the age of 15 years.
“Parents and young people should be aware that drinking, even at age 15 or older, can be hazardous to health and that not drinking is the healthiest option for young people.”

Do you think it’s okay to allow children to drink some alcohol at home?


A study has found that half of parents with children under the age of 14 allow them to drink alcohol at home.


Students at Sponne School in Towcester are celebrating after achieving outstanding results in their GCSE exams.
Students not only attained high grades, but showing significantly greater progress than would be expected nationally from their starting points at the end of Year 6.
Thomas Massey, Luis Lopes, Ella Penn, Harry Mason, Elena Warner
Among the many delighted students celebrating today were James Odwell who gained 12 A* and one A grades, Tom Massey who gained 10 A* and three A grades, Elena Warner who gained nine A* and four A grades, Lucy Murphy and Laurie Neasham who both gained eight A* grades, Eleanor Rees who gained seven A* grades and Nick Green, Natalie Harris, Luis Lopes and Ame Wiles who all achieved six A* grades plus a number of other A grades.
In addition many others achieved multiple A* and A grades and over half of the students attained at least one A* and A grades.
This has helped to ensure that with regard to the new ‘Progress 8’ score the students this year have gained the best set of results at Sponne.
Progress 8 is the new national system being introduced by the Government to compare the progress of pupils over eight key subjects.
James Odwell who achieved 12 A* grades
Executive headteacher Dr Jamie Clarke said: “These are really outstanding results and we are all tremendously proud of all of our students who have done so well.
“What is particularly encouraging is that no matter what the starting point of the student, when they arrive at Sponne, they all grasp the opportunities to make exceptional progress.
“Along with the high A-level results last week, Sponne is maintaining the outstanding judgement made by Ofsted in 2012. Well done to all our students and their teachers in preparing them for their exams.”

Sponne School in Towcester celebrates GCSE success


Students at Sponne School in Towcester are celebrating after achieving outstanding results in their GCSE exams.


Being stuck in a dead end job by your early 40s is bad for your health.
Having an unrewarding job as you start out on the career ladder makes you more depressed, worried and had more trouble sleeping.
And if you stay stuck in positions with low levels of job satisfaction it affects you not just you mentally but physically too, including catching more colds, having a bad back and poor heart health.
But if you are happy in your job or finally get your dream job as your career progresses your overall health gets a boost.
The study by Ohio State University sociologists found job satisfaction in your late 20s and 30s has a link to overall health in your early 40s.
While it impacts on physical health, its effect was particularly strong for mental health.
Lead author and doctoral student Jonathan Dirlam said: “We found that there is a cumulative effect of job satisfaction on health that appears as early as your 40s.”
The study highlighted the importance that early jobs have on people’s lives.
Associate professor of sociology Dr Hui Zheng said: “You don’t have to be near the end of your career to see the health impact of job satisfaction, particularly on your mental health.
“The higher levels of mental health problems for those with low job satisfaction may be a precursor to future physical problems.
“Increased anxiety and depression could lead to cardiovascular or other health problems that won’t show up until they are older.”
He added the study was carried out before the credit crunch and said: “The recession almost certainly increased job insecurity and dissatisfaction, and that could have resulted in more negative health effects.”
The study used data from 6,432 Americans followed from the ages of 14 to 22 as part of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979.
Researchers examined job satisfaction trajectories for people from age 25 to 39 and their health on turning 40.
Participants rated how much they liked their jobs from 1 - dislike very much - to 4 -like very much.
They were then divided into four groups: consistently low and consistently high job satisfaction, those whose satisfaction started high but was trending down and those who started low but were trending higher.
About 45 per cent of participants had consistently low job satisfaction, while another 23 per cent had levels that were trending downward through their early career.
About 15 per cent of people were consistently happy at their jobs and about 17 per cent were trending upward.
Mental health was most affected by people’s feelings about their jobs with those in the low job satisfaction group throughout their early careers scored worse on all five of the mental health measures studied.
They reported higher levels of depression, sleep problems and excessive worry and were more likely to have been diagnosed with emotional problems and scored lower on a test of overall mental health.
Those whose job satisfaction decreased were more likely than those with consistently high satisfaction to have frequent trouble sleeping and excessive worry, and had lower scores for overall mental health.
But they didn’t see an impact on depression scores or their probability of being diagnosed with emotional problems.
Those whose scores went up through the early career years did not see any comparative health problems.
Those in the low satisfaction group and those who were trending downwards reported poorer overall health and more problems like back pain and frequent colds compared to the high satisfaction group.
But they weren’t different in physical functioning and in doctor-diagnosed health problems such as diabetes and cancer.
As with mental health, no effects were seen on physical health for those trending upward.
The findings was presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in Seattle.


Being stuck in a dead end job by your early 40s is bad for your health.


Berkhamsted may be teeming with great places to eat but if you are looking for good honest Italian food with a contemporary twist in a great setting then look no further than Carluccio’s.
A popular eating out destination for people from across the Home Counties, Berkhamsted has won a number of awards for its high street offering in the past.
Carluccios is the brainchild of the godfather of Italian gastronomy Antonio Carluccio
To that end it has a reputation to protect.
Carluccio’s - the brainchild of the godfather of Italian gastronomy, Antonio Carluccio, may be yet another chain - and yes the high street does need to maintain its tradition of having some great independents - but it doesn’t feel like one and in many respects has local at its heart.
For a start Berkhamsted’s Carluccio’s is nestled away in the Listed Old Town Hall building on the high street, making it one of the best and most interesting settings to enjoy a nice meal.
Cosy and inviting inside, the staff offer as warm a welcome as the table filled with a host of delicious desserts which greets you as you walk in.
Carluccio's Grandioso platter
The menus cater for all ages and are genuinely exciting. It is the sharing platters that steal the show, though. There are meat and veggie versions, the meat version is particularly delicious and boasts succulent freshly sliced meats like Parma ham, salami from Naples and Milan, herb-roasted ham and mortadella. And if you can manage it, the meat is accompanied by olives, caperberries and home baked focaccia.
But don’t miss out on the arancini, a taste sensation which is essentially Italy in a stuffed rice ball. Coated with breadcrumbs and then deep fried, the arancini are balls of gorgonzola and courgette or nduja and buffalo mozzarella, both served with a tomato sauce.
A range of fantastic classic Italian dishes from a hearty traditional lasagne, lobster spaghetti and homemade ravioli, as well as gluten-free pasta, adorn the menu and the mix is just right without offering too much choice that you find yourself overwhelmed. The menu also includes Italian grill dishes of flattened chicken breast topped with Parma ham and mint-marinated lamb cutlets which is a must.
The dessert offering is typical Italian fare with a zesty lemon tart, chocolate cake, tiramisu and meringue to choose from. There is also a collection of Carluccio’s own branded products on offer and you can take some sweet treats home with you if you like too.
Bistecca Di Fesa
Another aspect which gives the chain a local connection is its picnic service.
There are freshly made meat and vegetarian picnic meal platters available at £45 each, which generously feed two people, as well as a children’s version with a mini pizza, cake and juice for £10 and it all comes in a nifty coolbag. So if you are going out to enjoy the fine summer weather we are experiencing at the moment you can place your order over the phone and collect the picnic basket four hours later.
People might ask did Berkhamsted need another chain? Maybe not, but it definitely needs its Carluccio’s.
Traditional, hearty lasagne
Sweet treat: Carluccio's tiramisu

Eating Out: Carluccio’s puts Italian soul into Berkhamsted’s award-winning high street


Visit now for the latest places to eat out across Northamptonshire - direct from the Advertiser & Review


Bucks County Council has released a video explaining why some potholes are filled in but others close by remain gaping tyre traps.
The video, narrated by the council’s cabinet member for transport, Mark Shaw, answers what the council says is a common question: “If you came here to fix this pothole, why couldn’t you fix the one next to it while you were at it?”
It is designed to inform residents about the work of Transport for Bucks in an ‘accessible and simple way’.
Mr Shaw said: “This is a question which is asked really frequently, and we know it frustrates a lot of people.
“I’m a big fan of speaking plain English, and trying to get information to Buckinghamshire’s residents in a way that everyone can understand, so I was more than happy to hop into the recording booth to lend a hand.”
The best way to report potholes is via the Report It tool at www.buckscc.gov.uk/transport/tell-tfb.
The tool allows people to pinpoint the location of the pothole on a map, add photos to support the report if they wish, and then receive a customer reference number which they can use to track the progress of their report.
Once a report has been received, highways inspectors will assess the potholes and determine the appropriate response.
This will vary, depending on criteria, from a two-hour response through to a 28-day repair.
Around 2,000 potholes are repaired each month, and the roads are inspected regularly according to a schedule, so a lot of potholes will be picked up by these inspections and programmed for repair.
Find more information about pothole filling by visiting www.buckscc.gov.uk/transport/were-working-on-it/highways-maintenance/potholes

VIDEO: Why some potholes are filled in but others next to them are left


Bucks County Council has released a video explaining why some potholes are filled in but others close by remain gaping tyre traps.


Global superstar Dame Joan Collins is bringing her brand new one-woman theatre show Joan Collins Unscripted to Northampton’s Royal & Derngate next month.
This all-new show for 2016 provides fans with a once in a lifetime opportunity to spend an intimate, entertaining and unforgettable evening in the company of a true Hollywood legend.
During her all-new show, Dame Joan will share stories and secrets from her celebrated life and career as one of the world’s most glamorous and intriguing actresses.
We chatted to her ahead of her show.
Q) Dame Joan, you are about to head out on your all-new UK Tour, what can we expect?
JC: Well the show is called Joan Collins Unscripted and that is exactly what it will be. We go on stage each night with a blank sheet and that will lead to a different show each night.
It’s going to be an intimate, hilarious and wonderfully stylish night with me, Percy and a few hundred dear friends reliving some great stories, great times and some of the fascinating people I’ve met along the way. In my shows I like to joke about everything – my men, my marriages, my life. Nothing is off limits… within reason!
I so enjoyed my 10 years performing One Night with Joan all over the world that I am delighted to be doing an entirely new show.
Each performance will be different so if you like me in Salford come see me in London…and if you don’t then stay at home and watch Corrie!
Q) Your husband Percy, who you’ve described as ‘the greatest love of your life’, is appearing on stagewith you on this tour. How important is Percy’s support on stage?
JC: We simply love being with each other. Myself and Percy are soulmates – we like the same things, we laugh at the same things and that is so important.
You could say I kissed a lot of frogs along the way, but I finally found the prince!
It is totally a love match, but also a friends match so having him alongside me each night as we tour the country, playing to such wonderful audiences, will be a special moment for use both. We cannot wait.
Q) Given your amazing career you must have plenty of hilarious anecdotes left in reserve. Do any of your former co-stars need to be worried?
JC: Well it depends if they’ve got a sense of humour or not... and of course some of them are dead!
Q) The tour takes you from Brighton to Edinburgh and 10 other towns and cities in between. What is so special about Britain, what do you love most about coming home and what do you miss most when you’re away?
JC: I’m English born and bred and that is in my DNA. I love the London parks, the greenery of the countryside, the London taxis, the morning papers delivered to your door and the cultural and social buzz of the city.
Q) Does the theatre hold many special memories for you?
JC: It certainly does. As a kid I used to go to the London Palladium often with my father and see variety shows. I remember seeing Johnny Ray there, Arthur Askey, Tommy Cooper – all those people that I love. I love variety.
The British theatre is steeped in history, tradition and fun. There are so many venues I have loved performing at down the years and this tour is going to be very special.
Q) This tour shows you are still prepared to put in the hard work. Do you feel this work ethic is missing from the entertainment industry today?
JC: I have never shirked putting the hours in. When I started out that’s how you got on in this business.
There are many young people who want to be ‘celebrities’ but not put the effort or hours in. They don’t want to do the training, go to drama school and study technique. They just want to be famous.
It breaks my heart that people want it on a plate when to be really good and work with the best takes talent and a hell of a lot of hard work.
Q) So you show no signs of taking your foot off the gas?
JC: My mantra is ‘Don’t waste time’. Life is ever so sweet but it sure is short. You have to enjoy life, and I live totally in the present.
I don’t feel any different from when I was 40. You’ve got to keep working and I love my work.
I have a lifestyle I figure I’ve earned, I have three children and three grandchildren to support after all!
But above all the reason why I am so active and so loving new projects is I love the work, the acting, the writing and, of course, my one-woman show.
Q) Where does the energy come from?
JC: I’ve always been restless, from when I was a young child. I have to move around and keep busy. My mother used to call me ‘Miss Perpetual Motion’ because I never kept still for a second. My restlessness became ingrained in me from such a young age. I guess that is why I have always loved to keep on the move, to travel and most importantly work.
One thing in life, I never want to be a crashing bore. I want to be amusing, entertaining and keep busy. I think I do OK on that front!
Q) How do you balance life with work?
JC: I try to spend time with my children and grandchildren as often as possible, in St Tropez especially. And I catch up with friends whenever I’m in town – be that London, New York or LA.
Both myself and Percy like to travel. I’ve always considered myself a wanderer, a gypsy and that will never change. Next year we are really looking forward to seeing some places we’ve never been to before.
Q) Dame Joan, you’ve had an incredibly busy 2016 with a book launch, new cosmetic range, not to mention the Ab Fab movie, shooting a new feature film in France, world travel. What have been your highlights?
JC: The absolute highlight so far has been shooting the movie The Time of Their Lives with Pauline Collins. It has been a fabulous experience to perform in. It just has great script with such a great actress.
On the personal front my daughter Tara is getting married this year and I’m sure this will be a major highlight; I’m very much looking forward to it.
Q) You’ve spent the summer shooting The Time of Their Lives in France. What can you tell us about the project and what is it like working with your good friend Pauline?
JC: I was very excited by the script. There are very few roles today for women aged over 45, let alone over 65. The fact that it’s a buddy movie along the lines of Thelma and Louise, with a hint of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, really interested me.
People are sick to death of watching shoot’em ups, blood and gore and explosions - those films for the 12 to 30-year- old market. It’s time producers realised that people also want to see stories about mature adults, not only teenagers.
Q) Your cosmetics range Joan Collins Timeless Beauty was launched into M&S this year. You look stunning. What is your top tip for looking good in 2016?
JC: Keep healthy, look after yourself and wear what brings out your best features. Beauty is not just for the young. I believe with a little care and attention any woman can look good through her 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond.
I believe that looking good and feeling great is the right of every woman, and, with the right products and some clever techniques, any woman can look, and feel, fabulous.
Looking good and feeling great is the right of every woman no matter how old she is. Beauty is timeless.
Q) So, once your tour is over what is next for you?
JC: A good long rest!
Joan Collins Unscripted can be seen on Friday September 9 starting at 7.30pm. Tickets for the show are available from £30.50 and can be booked by calling the box office on 01604 624811 or visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk.

See Dynasty star Joan Collins at Northampton


Global superstar Dame Joan Collins is bringing her brand new one-woman theatre show Joan Collins Unscripted to Northampton’s Royal & Derngate next month.


Pokemon GO players who are found to be cheating will have a permanent ban slapped on them, it has been announced.
The game’s developer, Niantic, has altered the terms and conditions to include the condition that a life ban will ensue for anyone caught using trickery to bag Pokemon.
The new clause prohibits: “Falsifying your location, using emulators, modified or unofficial software and/or accessing Pokemon GO clients or backends in an unauthorized manner including through the use of third party software.”
It has been reported that some users have managed to fool the app into thinking they were at a different location. Some Pokemon are region-specific, although taken to extremes, a player could play the game without leaving their home.
“Our goal is to provide a fair, fun and legitimate game experience for everyone,” Niantic said:
“We will continue to work with all of you to improve the quality of the gameplay, including ongoing optimization and fine tuning of our anti-cheat system.”
Anyone believing that have been unfairly banned can access an appeals system.


Pokemon GO players who are found to be cheating will have a permanent ban slapped on them, it has been announced.