England produced a clinical display to beat a depleted Jamaica side 80-37 at Copper Box Arena on Saturday in the opening game of their two-match series.
The hosts started positively and held a comfortable 23-point advantage over the visitors at half-time as captain Fran Williams, who was named player of the match, led by example.
Eleanor Cardwell continued her recovery from a serious knee injury, while Natalie Metcalf played for the first time since having a baby seven months ago.
“The girls make it so easy coming into camp, which just makes it easy when you get on court. It felt really connected,” Cardwell told BBC Sport:
“I just love playing games of netball and I’ve not played many this year so it’s really nice.
Jamaica won the inaugural 2024 Horizon series 2-1, which enabled them to leapfrog England and go third in the world rankings.
The 2025 series was due to consist of four fixtures – two in Jamaica in early December and two in England – but the matches in Kingston were cancelled following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
Members of the Jamaica team helped in the relief effort, handing out care packages, and have been unable to train as a whole squad.
England Netball will donate £1 from every Horizon Series ticket sold to Netball Jamaica’s chosen charity, World Central Kitchen, and has also announced fans will be able to contribute to the British Red Cross’ Disaster Fund.
But with less than a year to go until the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Horizon Series provides crucial game time for both nations.
Dad-of-three, Ryan Thomas, has lifted the lid on his relationship with former TOWIE star, Lucy Mecklenburgh, who he proposed to six years ago
View 3 Images
Coronation Street star, Ryan Thomas, has revealed his fiancée, Lucy Mecklenburgh, walked out on him (Image: At Home With The Thomas Bro’s/Youtube)
Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas has revealed his fiancée, Lucy Mecklenburgh, walked out on him recently when they were in a swanky restaurant.
The dad-of-three, 41, made the confession on his podcast with his brothers Adam and Scott and told his siblings that despite dining in the posh eatery in Manchester, the “energy” between the couple was “all off” and a row was “bubbling”.
Explaining that he had hand-picked the restaurant and hotel for Lucy, 33, who is mum to his kids, Roman, five, and Lilah, three, before things turned sour, Ryan shared: “We got to the hotel, lovely room, went for dinner in this beautiful new restaurant overlooking the whole of Manchester. It just slowly, I just started to feel it bubbling.”
READ MORE: EastEnders’ Natalie Cassidy admits ‘people keep asking’ as she shares baby newsREAD MORE: Sheridan Smith shares heartbreaking admission that she’s ’embarrassed and ashamed’ after breakdown
Claiming the energy was “all off”, he added: “And every time a conversation come up, it was a debate, right, rather than conversation, it was like, you just felt the energy was all off.”
Admitting that Lucy then picked up her jacket and left him sitting at the table, Ryan continued: “I thought she’s gone to the toilet, 10 minutes has passed, 15 minutes has passed, half an hour passed! And I was still sat there. So I text her and said ‘long toilet break’.”
Revealing that he rang Lucy before realising the night was over, he shared: “I rang her, and it went boom down, I rang her again, and it went down, and then I was like okay, so she’s not coming back.”
Ryan, who did not disclose what the row was about, then said he returned to the hotel room and had a glass of champagne by himself. However, all appears to be well with the pair now.
In the summer, Lucy revealed that she and the Games star sleep in separate beds as she branded the actor a “nightmare”. She also spoke out about the real reason their wedding planning has stalled, admitting the situation had been “quite hard”.
Asked about their sleeping arrangements, Lucy said on the Thomas brothers’ podcast: “Basically, we sleep in separate bedrooms because Ryan is a nightmare sleeper.” She went on to say that her fiancé snores and talks in his sleep.
Scott teased: “He always wants a cuddle.” Lucy responded: “I mean, that is annoying.” Sharing her reasons for sleeping separately from her partner, she then shared: “Basically, Ryan snores, he sleep talks, he whacks me in his sleep.”
Ryan proposed to Lucy over a romantic dinner in Italy in 2019 in Positano after meeting on Bear Grylls’ Celebrity Island two years earlier.
Article continues below
Lifting the lid on their nuptials after being engaged for six years, Lucy said the couple “do talk about” getting married but that plans got “pushed aside” once she realised that she was pregnant with their eldest child.
Admitting she is weighing up the financial implications, she said: “Now we’ve got kids, it’s valuing that money for other things more than a day. […] I would love it, but then, I don’t know, I find it quite hard.”
South Africa 211-3 (36.5 overs): Luus 66*, Smith 56*, Wolvaardt 31; Murray 2-34
South Africa won by seven wickets
South Africa beat Ireland by seven wickets in East London on Saturday in the first one-day international of a three-game series between the sides.
A wet patch in the field led to a delay of 90 minutes and reduced each side’s innings to 47 overs.
After winning the toss, Ireland opted to bat and made 209-7 with opener Sarah Forbes contributing a hard-fought 42 off 71 balls before falling lbw to the bowling of Sune Luus.
That was not the final telling contribution to be made by Luus who top-scored for the hosts with an unbeaten 66 as they eclipsed Ireland’s tally in the 37th over.
Forbes enjoyed 45 and 48-run partnerships with Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter but the Irish top order’s start was certainly more steady than spectacular.
Laura Delany’s quickfire 21 off 18, and an unbeaten 39 from 48 by Rebecca Stokell lifted the pace, but it still required 10 off the final over to lift the tourists above 200.
Despite a pair of wickets for Cara Murray in the space of six deliveries from the leg-spinner, the Proteas made light work of the chase to win by seven wickets with 10 overs to spare.
The teams will meet again on Tuesday in Gqeberha and on Friday in Johannesburg.
Lisa Faulkner has offered a rare insight into her true feelings about her husband, John Torode, being axed from MasterChef.
View 3 Images
Lisa Faulkner has described her husband as a ‘fantastic’ man(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Lisa Faulkner has opened up about her husband John Torode amid what she describes as “challenging times”, following his departure from MasterChef after two decades on the BBC show.
In an interview with The Times, in which she touched on multiple topics, the actress and TV presenter was asked how life had been at home since Torode was axed from the programme earlier this year.
“These are challenging times, but I have the most amazing husband. He’s an amazing man,” Faulkner answered.
Torode left MasterChef in July after being accused of using an “extremely offensive racial slur” in 2018. He has said he does not remember the incident or believe it occurred, but ultimately accepted the network’s decision. Since then, he has spoken publicly about the emotional toll of the sudden change, describing it as “unexpected and brutal.”
While the controversy has inevitably placed their private life under scrutiny, Lisa emphasised that she would not comment on the situation in detail.
Asked about the mood at home and whether the family felt anger or resignation, she responded: “It’s not my story to tell, it’s not my place.”
Instead, she focused on her admiration for her husband: “I love my husband with all my heart – he is a fantastic, gentle, brilliant and kind man.”
The couple’s personal and professional lives have been intertwined for years. Faulkner won Celebrity MasterChef in 2010, after which Torode sent her a letter asking her on a date.
They married in 2019 and have since collaborated on-screen for shows such as ITV’s John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen.
Reports have suggested the show may be scrapped in 2026, but Faulkner made it clear that no final decision has been made.
Article continues below
The couple has also launched a new joint project in the form of a YouTube cooking channel, filmed in their home kitchen, where they share self-described reliable, family-style recipes.
Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke has admitted he still has one regret from his time on the BBC show, before opening up on a dream job at the top of his wish list.
View 3 Images
Anton Du Beke
After one of his Strictly Come Dancing co-stars announced her decision to leave the show, Anton Du Beke, 59, was left with a feeling of disappointment due to an unrealised dream.
Speaking in a recent interview, the King of Ballroom admitted that former Strictly judge and retired prima ballerina Dame Darcey Bussell “is the one living person I’ve always wanted to dance with, but never have”.
Darcey, 56, departed the BBC series in 2019, with Motsi Mabuse, 44, going on to take her seat on the panel, before Anton eventually landed his own role as a judge in 2021, replacing Bruno Tonioli, 70.
The professional dancer, however, still holds out hope that he’ll be able to take to the floor with Dame Darcey one day.
He quipped to The i Paper: “We’re not as bendy as we once were, so maybe we’d do something a bit more sedate.”
Opening up about his personal dream led to Anton revealing a surprising professional ambition, with the star admitting he’d “like to learn the skill of acting”.
Anton said although he feels “lucky” as he loves his current job, becoming an actor still intrigues him.
He was also quick to insist that he would want to hone his craft properly before accepting any big roles.
The TV star explained: “I haven’t acted in anything. Now, I know all the actors out there are going to go ‘Oh, Christ – Johnny-come-lately thinks he can just turn up and do a bit of acting.’
“But I don’t just want to turn up – I’d like to learn the skill of acting. I’d like to study it and do it properly.”
Teasing fans, Anton cheekily added: “Apparently, the new Bond is up for grabs…”
However, it has been rumoured that the dancer could be lined up for another new role – that of Strictly host – following Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s decision to quit at the end of this series.
Anton is currently one of the bookies’ favourites to get the job at 6/1, behind former This Morning host Holly Willoughby at 11/2 and Strictly: It Takes Two presenter Janette Manrara at 4/1.
For Steven Thompson, it was when he had to have a word in the ear of Esmael Goncalves. For Danny Lennon, it was once he’d finished his breakfast from Angie and Bunty at St Mirren’s training ground.
Each member of the Buddies’ 2013 League Cup-winning squad will have their own moment where they thought something special might be on the cards at Hampden.
Having defeated Celtic at the national stadium in the semi-final, Lennon’s men made the march to Mount Florida as underdogs again with Hearts waiting in the showpiece.
1 day ago
1 day ago
‘Paisley & Renfrewshire must have been emptied’
For a club to win a competition for the first time, a humdinger of a run is the way to go.
Though they opened up with a routine rout of then Second Division side Ayr United, St Mirren required a 92nd-minute finish from Lee Mair to hop the third round hurdle of Hamilton Academical.
That set up a quarter-final away day to Aberdeen, and after a penalty shootout win, a date at Hampden against treble-hunting Celtic was set.
Neil Lennon’s side had beat Barcelona just months before and so, as Thompson said: “I don’t think anybody gave us any chance in the semi-final.
“We had a really tough run to get to the final, but I believe the performance in the semi-final was as good a St Mirren performance as I was certainly involved in.
“We were absolutely incredible that day.”
Thompson scored what proved to be the winner as St Mirren progressed 3-2 to set up a showdown with Hearts, with Lennon insisting his team were “still underdogs”.
“Most people go and spend a few days at a hotel the weekend of the cup final, but we totally reversed that,” the then manager explained.
“We went away a week to 10 days before, up to St Andrews, and did all our preparation.
“Then, coming back down the road, you think your work’s done and it’s about just trying to get everybody through for the game.
“We didn’t even stay over in the hotel the night before the game. We kept it very, very normal and left from the training ground… After we had a lovely breakfast for the girls, Angie and Bunty.
“It probably wasn’t until then that you realised how important it was, or what the occasion itself was.
“When you’re driving from Paisley to Hampden, coming over Mount Florida, and you’re starting to see the black and white scarfs at that time of day, that’s when it really hit, what memories and history we could create.
SNS
While it hit Lennon on the day, the final was “all-encompassing” for his star striker and St Mirren fan Thompson.
“Because I’d grown up as a St Mirren supporter, and the first game I went to was the 1987 Scottish Cup final, I knew you didn’t get these opportunities very often, and so I was aware of the size of it,” Thompson explained.
“There was a lot of experienced players in the team and we were trying to make sure everybody was focused.
“I remember we’d recently signed Goncalves and I was trying to get into his head about just how big this was for the club in the week leading up to it.
‘I turned & watched the fans take the moment in’
It was so big, that both Lennon and Thompson admitted the Buddies were “too wrapped up in the occasion” in the opening 20 minutes – to the degree they were “very lucky” to only be behind to Ryan Stevenson’s deflected-goal in the 10th minute.
A “tactical tweak” from the touchline helped them get a foothold in the game, and the aforementioned Goncalves scored a “fantastic team goal” to level things before the break.
“After that, when we got them in at half-time, we just spoke about having to play,” Lennon recalled.
“It’s the only opportunity that some of us might have, to play in a cup final and having gradually got ourselves back into the game, we couldn’t have started the second half any better.”
Thompson – who Lennon labelled “an absolutely fantastic penalty-box striker” – peeled off the shoulder to strike what would prove to be his favourite goal in a stellar career.
“I can’t really remember the 10 seconds after the ball hit the net,” the goalscorer said.
“I remember making a really good connection with the ball and seeing it fly high into the roof of the net and then after that it was just 10 seconds of absolute madness.
“That just flipped the whole script, really.”
Connor Newton capped off a cracking move with a thunderous strike to send St Mirren well on their way to glory and Lennon didn’t miss the chance to savour the special occasion.
“I just remember turning round and taking that moment in, watching the St Mirren fans rather than what was happening,” Lennon said of the “fantastic” third goal.
“That lives long in my memory, that moment,” he added.
“At that stage, there’s still a long way to go, 25 minutes or so and it was at that stage, you think ‘do you stick, do you twist, do you do anything?’
“We really had the momentum at that stage, but when you’re holding on to something, in a cup final, you tend to get a little bit deeper and give up a little bit more territory.
“Hearts had nothing to lose at that stage and threw everything at us – including Stevenson’s second in the 86th-minute.
‘Every man, woman & dog were on the streets of Paisley’
SNS
And bring the cup home they did. Once it’d done a fair few rounds of the Hampden pitch and changing room, of course.
Following a thrilling final, though, most in black and white just needed a wee moment to take it all in. This was history, after all.
“When I joined St Mirren, I certainly didn’t think in my wildest dreams that I would end up lifting the first League Cup with them,” Thompson said.
“So, when the game was over, it was actually a relief more than anything because the pressure and the build-up had just been so intense.”
The celebrations didn’t let-up either. The Buddies were given the big treatment.
“The celebrations for me didn’t really start until we got on the open-deck bus,” Lennon added. “As a manager, you don’t really get to celebrate with the players, because you’re doing media, so you miss out on a great deal.
“But once we were on that open-deck bus and were going down the streets of Paisley, where the town centre was full of every man, woman, dog… There were old ladies hanging out the windows – it was fantastic, a great memory.”
Thompson recalled: “It’s our moment and it’s a moment nobody can ever take away from us.
“It’s an indelible mark in the club’s history that will be there forever.
