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Tears as Pride of Britain judges pick their winners from inspirational shortlist

By in Entertainment News, News

Judging for the 2025 Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with P&O Cruises, took place today – and the celebrity judges had some tricky choices to make

This year’s Pride of Britain judges had some tough decisions to make as they voted on their winners(Image: Philip Coburn /Daily Mirror)

There was hardly a dry eye in the house at Thursday’s judging for the 2025 Daily Mirror ’s Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with P&O Cruises, as a star-studded panel gathered to shine a light on the extraordinary feats of ordinary people.

Joining veteran hosts Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo were acting legend Michael Sheen, ex-Strictly professional Oti Mabuse, rapper Aitch and Coleen Rooney.

They were joined by Pride of Britain red carpet stalwarts Pete Wicks and GK Barry, Good Morning Britain star Kate Garraway, and Lioness champion Lucy Bronze.

“It’s going to be fun,” said Ashley ahead of the judging. “I’ve read up on all the shortlisted nominees but now I’m ready to hear what the other judges think. I really can’t pick.

Lucy Bronze and Coleen Rooney were part of this year's Pride of Britain judges panel
Lucy Bronze and Coleen Rooney were part of this year’s Pride of Britain judges panel(Image: Philip Coburn /Daily Mirror)

“Me and Carol, we see people from this stage, we meet them, we give them their awards, and we usually see them afterwards, so we’re with them for their whole journey. And every one of them deserves to win.”

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Newly recruited judge Coleen, who lost her beloved sister Rosie McCloughlin to a lifelong battle with Rett syndrome at the age of 14, said she was taken aback by how tough it was to pick just one inspirational winner from each category.

“It’s a privilege to be asked to be on the judging panel, and to hear so many amazing stories of inspirational people from all walks of life,” she said. “But I didn’t realise it would be this hard! Every one of the nominees deserves an award but just picking one or two from each category has been tough.

Coleen was thrilled to be a part of the Pride of Britain team
Coleen was thrilled to be a part of the Pride of Britain team(Image: Philip Coburn /Daily Mirror)

“But it’s been great hearing views from all round the table why they think certain people should be recognised.”

Coleen, who shares four sons with footballer husband Wayne Rooney, said she feels lucky to be involved in the Pride of Britain Awards.

“It’s a great event and it’s just fantastic to recognise the great work and courage and bravery that is around us,” she added.

And England star Lucy, fresh from the Lionesses’ extraordinary Euros victory, told the Mirror: “It was amazing to hear the stories, the depth of the bravery we’ve heard about, and just to have a small part to play in the event, it’s such an honour. All the nominees merit acknowledgment.”

“All of the entrants tugged at my heartstrings,” said Carol, who is co-hosting this year’s awards ceremony for her 26th time. “But the children in particular are just incredible.”

Podcast host GK Barry said: “It’s my second year on the judge’s panel so I feel I’m getting more into it now. There were so many amazing people last year, it’s so difficult when it comes to picking someone. They’re all doing mental things, but I’m excited for this year’s batch of winners.”

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Michael Sheen, who had to run for his curtain call in the West End, joked that there should be a special show dedicated just to all the nominees for the Lifetime Achievement award. “Every one of these people’s stories are amazing,” he added.

Hundreds of thousands of nominations had flooded in this year after Pete Wicks, GK Barry and Sam Thompson were sent on a mission to comb every inch of the UK to find the nation’s unsung heroes.

By-Election: Kaduna Govt Denies Alleged Rigging Plot, Chides ADC, SDP

By in News, Nigeria News

The Kaduna State Government has dismissed the allegation by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) coalition that it planned to sabotage the forthcoming by-elections in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency and state constituencies in Zaria and Sabon-Gari.

The state government described the claim as “laughable lies” by “political leftovers” of a former governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

At a news conference on Thursday attended by the former governor, the coalition, led by ADC National Vice Chairman (North-West), Jafaru Sani, accused the APC-led government in Kaduna of plotting to rig the elections through the mass recruitment of thugs, bribery of electoral officials, and vote buying.

READ ALSO: INEC Relocates CVR Centres In Four Borno LGs To Maiduguri Over Insecurity

The coalition also alleged that plots of land were being offered to senior INEC officials as inducement, while a “disgraced former senator” known for electoral violence was put in charge of deploying the alleged funds for vote buying and security compromise.

It urged INEC to replace allegedly compromised personnel and called on security agencies to resist being used to subvert the people’s will.

But the state government, in a press briefing by the Commissioner of Information-designate, Ahmed Maiyaki, described the claims as baseless, mischievous, and a desperate attempt to discredit an election the coalition “knows it cannot win”.

Maiyaki said the ADC-SDP coalition’s “poorly attended rallies” in recent weeks had already exposed their rejection by the electorate, prompting them to “cry wolf where there is none” as a face-saving measure ahead of defeat.

The commissioner insisted that the state government had no role in the conduct of elections, which is the exclusive responsibility of INEC, and accused the coalition of trying to drag the administration into “self-inflicted political misery”.

“We will not sit idly by while political opportunists smear the name of our administration and malign innocent officials with wild, unsubstantiated claims,” he said, adding that government lawyers had been directed to study the allegations for possible legal action.

“As we speak, the governor is in the Chikun LGA commissioning the construction of Romi–Karatudu Township roads — a community abandoned and demolished under El-Rufai’s eight-year rule,” he added.

Maiyaki accused the coalition of being unsettled by Governor Uba Sani’s inclusive leadership, which he claimed had united the state and delivered tangible development.

He, however, urged voters to turn out en masse on Saturday and disregard the “rantings of political jobbers” masquerading as defenders of democracy.

US Supreme Court declines to pause new Mississippi social media law

By in News, World News

The United States Supreme Court has declined to put on hold a Mississippi law requiring that users of social media platforms verify their age and that minors have parental consent.

The high court made the decision on Thursday not to accept the challenge by NetChoice, a trade group that included tech giants such as Meta, Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, Alphabet which owns YouTube, and Snapchat.

The justices denied a request to block the law while the Washington-based tech industry trade association’s legal challenge to the law, which, it argues, violates the US Constitution’s protections against government abridgement of free speech, plays out in lower courts.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh in a statement about the court’s order said the Mississippi law was likely unconstitutional, but that NetChoice had not met the high bar to block the measure at this early stage of the case.

In a statement, Paul Taske, co-director of the NetChoice Litigation Center, said Kavanaugh’s view “makes clear that NetChoice will ultimately succeed” in its challenge. Taske called the Supreme Court’s order “an unfortunate procedural delay.”

NetChoice had turned to the Supreme Court after the New Orleans-based 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals let the law take effect even though a judge found it likely runs afoul of the First Amendment.

NetChoice sued in federal court in 2024 in a bid to invalidate the law, which was passed unanimously in the state legislature amid concern by lawmakers about the potential negative effects of social media use on the mental health of children.

Its emergency request to the justices marked the first time the Supreme Court was asked to consider a social media age-verification law.

The law requires that a social media platform obtain “express consent” from a parent or guardian of a minor before a child can open an account. It also states that regulated social media platforms must make “commercially reasonable” efforts to verify the age of users.

Under the law, the state can pursue civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation as well as criminal penalties under Mississippi’s deceptive trade practices law.

Multiple lawsuits

US District Judge Halil Suleyman Ozerden in Gulfport, Mississippi, last year blocked Mississippi from enforcing the restrictions on some NetChoice members.

Ozerden issued a second order in June pausing the rules against those members, including Meta and its Instagram and Facebook platforms, Snapchat and YouTube.

The 5th Circuit on July 17 issued a one-sentence ruling that paused the judge’s order, without explaining its reasoning.

Courts in seven states have preliminarily or permanently blocked similar measures, according to NetChoice.

Some technology companies are separately battling lawsuits brought by US states, school districts and individual users alleging that social platforms have exacerbated mental health problems. The companies have denied wrongdoing.

NetChoice said the social media platforms of its members already have adopted extensive policies to moderate content for minors and provide parental controls.

In its request to the Supreme Court, the state told the justices that age-verification and parental consent requirements “are common ways for states to protect minors”.

‘Huge boost’ – Newcastle agree £40m Ramsey deal

By in News, Sports News
Getty Images
Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent
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Newcastle are close to signing Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey in a deal worth about £40m.

BBC Sport reported on Wednesday that the clubs were in advanced talks over the proposed deal for the 24-year-old.

An agreement in principle has now been reached, with just the finer details left to complete.

Once signed off, Ramsey will complete the formalities, including a medical, of the move to St James’ Park.

Villa host Newcastle in their opening Premier League game at 12:30 BST on Saturday.

Ramsey, a former England Under-21 international, has scored 17 goals in 167 appearances for Villa since earning his senior debut in 2019 and was a regular for Unai Emery’s side last season.

Newcastle have also signed winger Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest and AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw on permanent deals this summer.

‘Huge boost after summer of knockbacks’

Ciaran Kelly, Newcastle United reporter

Newcastle United are now on the verge of making as many first-team signings in the space of a week as they did in the opening couple of months of the window.

That is a statement worth repeating.

The Alexander Isak saga continues to rumble on, but the progress Newcastle have made in recent days serves as a huge boost for Eddie Howe following such a frustrating summer of knockbacks.

Newcastle completed a move for Malick Thiaw earlier this week and the club are now closing in on Jacob Ramsey.

Ramsey, like Thiaw, is a player Newcastle have admired for some time and you sense that the midfielder has all the ingredients – the age, the athleticism and the desire – to go to another level at St James’ Park.

‘A deal Villa would have preferred not to have done’

Nick Mashiter, BBC Sport

It is a deal Aston Villa and Unai Emery would have preferred not to have done in an ideal world.

However, this is not that world but one in which teams must abide by profit and sustainability rules, and finances are tight at Villa Park.

A youth product like Ramsey would always be the asset to sell to generate pure profit and £40m will undoubtedly help Villa comply with the rules.

It was the same last year when they had to sell Douglas Luiz despite qualifying for the Champions League.

It would be churlish to call Villa purely a selling club now but they are not immune to financial pressures, as has been obvious over the past 18 months, and the failure to reach the Champions League this season will naturally have an effect.

Emery was a fan of Ramsey – he would have like to have kept him – but the manager is living in reality. He knows the landscape Villa must navigate, even if it may seem rocky.

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  • Aston Villa
  • Premier League
  • Newcastle United
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What’s driving Sudan’s worst cholera outbreak in years?

By in News, World News

Thousands at risk as foreign aid cuts hit humanitarian efforts.

Sudan’s worst cholera outbreak in years is spreading in a country ravaged by conflict.

Health and aid workers are battling desperately to stop it from escalating and crossing into neighbouring countries.

What’s driving the outbreak – and how serious is it?

Presenter: Adrian Finighan

Guests:

Mathilde Vu – Advocacy manager for Sudan at the Norwegian Refugee Council

Simon Mane – Sudan national director at the humanitarian organisation, World Vision International

Bristol sign Wales’ Rees-Zammit on rugby union return

By in News, Sports News
Bristol Bears
Sophie Hurcom
BBC Sport, West
  • 52 Comments

Bristol Bears have signed Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit for the 2025-26 Prem Rugby season as he returns to the sport following 18 months in the NFL.

The 24-year-old left rugby union in January 2024 to pursue a career in American football and was on the training squads of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars, but did not play in a regular-season game.

Rees-Zammit, capped 32 times by Wales, spent six years at Bristol’s local rivals Gloucester before being released from his contract to join the NFL’s International Player Pathway.

“Bristol Bears was the obvious choice for me. The style of rugby the team play – all about entertaining the fans and growing the game – perfectly aligns to how I want to play and how I express myself on and off the field,” he said.

“I want to get fans out of their seats, create exciting moments and help people fall in the love with the game. I’m excited to return to rugby at a club that demands those values.”

He was in the Cardiff Rugby academy and then moved to Hartpury College, making his Gloucester debut a couple of months after his 18th birthday.

He made his international debut in 2020 aged 19, with his pace and try-scoring ability quickly garnering headlines.

Rees-Zammit has scored 14 tries for Wales, was part of their Six Nations title-winning side in 2021 and featured for them at the 2023 World Cup, while he also toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2021.

For the Cherry and Whites he scored 42 tries in 77 matches.

He initially signed for the four-time Superbowl champions the Chiefs, but was cut in 2024 and joined the Jacksonville Jaguars as part of their practice squad.

Louis Rees-Zammit in American football actionGetty Images

In signing for Bristol next season he joins one of the renamed Gallagher Prem’s most dynamic attacking squads.

Director of rugby Pat Lam described Rees-Zammit as a “world-class player”.

“He has the drive and ambition to be one of the best back-three players in the world, and his goals align perfectly with our ambitions as a club,” he said,

“At just 24 years old, we know the athlete and competitor he is. The way we play and the way he wants to play fit seamlessly together, and we’re looking forward to working with him.”

During 2024-25 the Bears scored 635 points, second only to champions Bath, but 60 points more than any other team.

Their 95 tries, averaging 5.3 per game, was the joint-highest in the division. They topped the stats for the campaign with most metres made at 10,458m, which was 1,500m more than the next best side, and also for the most defenders beaten (567).

Bristol have three other wingers in their squad in Gabriel Ibitoye, Jack Bates and Kalaveti Ravouvou, although the latter played the majority of last season at centre.

Related topics

  • Wales Rugby Union
  • Rugby Union
  • Bristol