Tries: Smith, Todaro, Pearson, Belleau 2 Cons: Smith 2 Pen: Smith
Leicester (13) 26
Northampton Saints claimed the early season bragging rights with a see-saw 32-26 victory over local rivals Leicester Tigers at Cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
Bolstered by the return of Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell and centurion Tommy Freeman from their post-British and Irish Lions break, Saints took an early lead through Smith, before being pegged back by Freddie Steward’s effort.
Billy Searle’s kicking kept the visitors in touch, but tries from Edoardo Todaro, Tom Pearson and a brace from Anthony Belleau put the game beyond the visitors.
With Searle’s early penalty obscured by the pre-match pyrotechnics, the first real action observed by the packed stands was the departure of referee Luke Pearce, who, suffering from a cramping calf, was replaced by Alex Thomas.
When the action resumed, it was the home team who took the initiative.
Mitchell darted down the short-side from a scrum and kicked ahead. Adam Radwan looked on helplessly as the ball bounced back over his head and was recovered by the scrum-half, who fed Smith for Saints’ first points of the day.
That lead was not to last long, however.
Emeka Ilione burst through a hole in the Northampton line, but failed to pass before he was cut down by Saints defenders.
It proved not to matter, as Saints failed to number up appropriately in defence, allowing Steward to stride over untouched in the ensuing phase.
Before he was forced from the pitch, Freeman found himself in the thick of the action for the home side’s second try.
A well-executed set-piece move saw the winger combine with Tom Litchfield to charge into Leicester territory. Freeman was eventually tackled, but the ball was recycled with Todaro the beneficiary to touch down in the corner.
With the clock in the red, the Saints struck again.
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Saints were looking for defensive stability as the second half began, having shipped 54 points after the break in their two games so far this season.
But those familiar defensive frailties appeared once again when Harry Wells powered over from short range after successive rolling mauls in the Saints 22.
Losing the lead seemed to inspired Saints though and their next score was a vintage Northampton try.
An end-to-end counterattack involving Fraser Dingwall and Rory Hutchinson saw multiple quick off-loads as Leicester’s defence reeled.
The talismanic Mitchell eventually laid hands on the ball, feeding Belleau to fight his way through three tacklers to score in the corner.
The lead changed for the eighth time following another Searle kick, before Dingwall had a score ruled out for an earlier knock-on.
Belleau then scored his second in spectacular style – kicking over the top and regathering to score, as Tigers’ defenders watched on in desperation.
Debutant James O’Connor’s penalty brought the visitors within six, but stout home defending denied them anything more than a losing bonus point.
Northampton: Hendy; Freeman, Hutchinson, Dingwall, Todaro; Smith, Mitchell; Iyogun, Smith, Davison, Lockett, Van Der Mescht, Coles, Pearson, Chick (c).
Former Coronation Street actor Philip Middlemiss – famous for playing Des Barnes in the ITV soap – has reportedly been declared bankrupt after being unable to pay taxes
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Coronation Street icon Philip Middlemiss has reportedly been declared bankrupt(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street star Philip Middlemiss has been declared bankrupt, a report has claimed. It would make the second time the 62-year-old actor has faced bankruptcy.
The TV star is best known for playing Des Barnes in ITV’s Coronation Street between 1990 and 1998 – during which time his character was married to Denise Welch’s Natalie Horrocks and heroically died after defending his step-son, Tony Horrocks, from a drugs gang.
Middlemiss has suffered financial woes since leaving Weatherfield – losing his life savings when he attempted to make a movie in the early 2010s. And now it has been reported he has gone bankrupt a second time after failing to keep up with tax payments.
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According to The Sun, the star was taken to court by HMRC and declared bankrupt after being found to owe “a hefty five figure sum” in unpaid tax bills. The Mirror has contacted a representative of Middlemiss for comment.
His bad luck comes 13 years after he declared himself bankrupt in 2012 after plans to make a movie ended in disaster. He had been self-financing the project, but his funds ran dry before rolling was completed.
He told the Manchester Evening News previously: “It was partly-funded by myself but I didn’t have the money to fund the rest of the film.
“Filming came to a grinding halt. It was nearly three-quarters of the way along the line. It has been a difficult time. Three-and-a-half years is a long time to fund myself without any income. I have had to get money from family and friends.”
Away from Corrie, Middlemiss’s TV roles have included playing David Buckley in the ITV drama Where the Heart Is, from 2000 to 2006. He had a 10 year hiatus from on-screen acting which was broken last year when he played DI Travis Lennox on Doctors.
He is the proud father of two sons – including actor and boxer Alfie. The 22-year-old has been competing in matches in the UK – with his proud dad at the ringside cheering him on.
After watching his son win a match in December last year, the soap star wrote in an Instagram post: “So so proud, great team and phenomenal support! The journey begins.”
Earlier this year, the actor’s 48-year-old wife Leanne Davis shared a glowing birthday wish to the TV star. Sharing a string of loved up snaps of them together on Instagram – including one where Middlemiss was dressed in drag – she posted a gushing tribute.
Leanne wrote: “Happy birthday to my favourite person on the whole planet Have the best day darling. Thank you for making this journey of life so much fun – a little nerve wracking at times but always a laugh to be had and no one else I would rather do it all with.”
The life coach added: “Wishing you the best year of your life ahead. Love you beyond words can say.”
Former Lostprophets paedo singer Ian Watkins has reportedly been killed behind bars after being stabbed by another inmate at Wakefield Prison, dubbed the ‘Monster Mansion’
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Former Lostprophets frontman and convicted paedophile Ian Watkins has reportedly died(Image: PA)
The disgraced former singer of the Welsh rock band Lostprophets, Ian Watkins, has been stabbed to death in prison. It has been reported he was murdered in jail in a knife attack by another inmate.
He is said to have had his throat slashed after inmates at Wakefield Prison were released from their cells yesterday. A Prison Service spokesperson said: “We are aware of an incident at HMP Wakefield which took place this morning.
“We are unable to comment further while the police investigate.” A statement from West Yorkshire Police added: “At 9.39am this morning (Saturday), police were called by staff at HMP Wakefield reporting an assault on a prisoner.
“Emergency services attended and the man was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. Detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are investigating and inquiries remain ongoing at the scene.”
Watkins suffered severe but non-life threatening injuries after being taken hostage in 2023. He was beaten and stabbed by three inmates at Wakefield, dubbed the “Monster Mansion”. In 2013, the Welsh native, 48, pleaded guilty at Cardiff Crown Court to 13 child sex offences. He also admitted to the rape and sexual assault of a child who was under the age of 13.
Watkins also admitted conspiring to rape a child, three counts of sexual assault involving children, seven involving taking, making or possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image involving a sex act on an animal.
Sentencing Mr Justice Royce said the case broke ‘new ground’ and ‘plunged into new depths of depravity’. He said Watkins had a ‘corrupting influence’ and had shown a ‘complete lack of remorse’. He added Watkins posed a significant risk to the public in particular to women with young children.
The musician was later handed an extra 10 months after he was discovered to have a mobile phone in his possession while behind bars. Initially, he denied having a three-inch GSTAR phone in his cell. As the verdict was read out, Watkins claimed that “known murderers” in his prison told him to keep an eye on the phone after chucking it on his bed.
During the hearing, Judge Rodney Jameson QC said: “I am very conscious of the fact you are serving a very long time and you will be well into middle age by the time you are released.
“The fact of the matter is if there is not an appreciable penalty for having had a mobile phone in these circumstances then of course you would draw from that the lesson you could have another one and that is not a position I would want to encourage.”
Speaking about possible repercussions, he said: “Chances are someone would sneak up behind me and cut my throat. It’s not like one-on-one. Stuff like that, you don’t see it coming.”
He was said to be sharing his wing with murderers, killers, rapists and paedophiles, who he described as “the worst of the worst”. Asked to describe his music career during an earlier appearance, Watkins told the court his band had sold between five and ten million records across the world between 1999 and 2012.
Watkins said the Lostprophets had toured all over the world, headlining at Wembley Arena and the MEN Arena in Manchester.
Last year, it was reported Watkins was paying for protection in prison after being stabbed with a “sharpened toilet brush”. Jonathan Levi and Emma French explained in their book, Inside Wakefield Prison: Life Behind Bars in the Monster Mansion, that rough justice is “particularly likely” to be “meted out” to paedophiles in prison.
The convicted sex offender reportedly had “access to money” and “spent his time” buying both protection and friendships after the attack in 2023, which was reportedly over a £900 drugs debt.
A prisoner revealed to the authors: “He is hated by many, but as HMP W is mixed, i.e. VPs and high-level gangsters, drug importers and organised crime, they just take money off him (Watkins) for his safety.”
They continued: “He has spent thousands on protection. The recent stabbing was a reminder that he needs to pay. He took an amount of spice off a prisoner with a prison value of £150.
“Because it was Watkins, he was told he owed £900. He was high and refused to pay; therefore, he was stabbed in the side using a sharpened toilet brush.”
In July, Watkins former bandmate Lee Gaze broke his years of silence as he said it was “painful” to reflect on the past. The guitarist opened up about the band’s legacy on X, revealing the deep impact Watkins’ crimes had on him and the devastation of how the band’s journey ended.
He wrote: “It’s been 13 years since my band ended in the most unimaginable circumstances and it’s still painful to think about. Things could’ve been so different.
“I don’t talk about it much, but I put everything into that band, and it should’ve lasted a lifetime. I never really wronged anyone my whole life so it seemed like the ultimate punishment.”
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Gaze has since joined forces with No Devotion, sharing the stage with American singer Geoff Rickly from Thursday and fellow ex-Lostprophets mate Stu Richardson. Former bandmates Mike Lewis, Luke Johnson and Jamie Oliver were once part of the band before their departure.
If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999
Bristol Bears fought back to pip Exeter Chiefs 18-14 in a fiercely fought West Country derby at Ashton Gate.
A Tom Jordan penalty and Viliame Mata’s score put the Bears 8-0 up, but Henry Slade crossed and, after Jordan was shown a red card, Ben Hammersley’s try made it 14-8 to Exeter at the break.
Bears started the second half better and took back the lead moments after returning to full strength as Gabriel Oghre dotted down.
Exeter piled on the pressure, but saw a Harvey Skinner try overturned with 10 minutes left before Sam Worsley kicked a last-gasp penalty to seal Bristol’s second Prem win of the season.
The sides shared 24 tries in their two meetings last season, and piled up 90 points the last time they met at Ashton Gate.
Chiefs fail to take their chances as Bears roar back
England prop Ellis Genge’s return gave the Bears some relief from relentless early season injury woes, and he forced the penalty for Jordan to boot the Bears ahead within 90 seconds.
The visitors boasted almost 90% territory in the opening 20 minutes but ferocious home defence kept them pointless, with Slade also missing a makeable penalty.
By contrast, the Bears were clinical with their sparse attacking possession as the game burst into life after a slow-burning first 26 minutes.
Exeter’s defence lost its shape as the ball was worked quickly to the right and Mata stepped away from two challenges to run in.
But Chiefs hit back immediately, as breaks from Skinner and Will Goodrick-Clarke pulled Bears out of shape, and Slade finished off a two-on-one.
Rob Baxter’s side then hit the front two minutes after Jordan was shown a red card for putting a shoulder into Ross Vintcent’s head.
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Bears survived the rest of Jordan’s red card without further damage and began to put Exeter’s defence under sustained pressure.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Steve Varney did well to hold up Oscar Lennon over the line, but the visitors had no answer to a powerful driving maul as Oghre peeled off to dot down.
Just moments after wrestling back the lead, Bristol were a man down again as Max Pepper saw yellow for a deliberate knock-on.
Genge then walked gingerly off the pitch, 64 minutes into his return, as Bears were forced to defend their line under almost incessant pressure before the game’s turning point in the 71st minute.
Bristol looked to be staring down the barrel when Skinner forced his way over for a score, with Fitz Harding shown a yellow card as the hosts coughed up a succession of penalties.
‘That’s one of the highlights of my time here’ – reaction
Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam told BBC Radio Bristol:
“Talk about real fight from this group, real Bears character.
“We talked at half-time about what we needed to do in the next 10 minutes [after Tom Jordan’s red card] and the boys executed it so well.
“That is probably one of the highlights of my time here. I’m so proud of the boys.
“It wasn’t pretty, we missed opportunities, but the guts were unbelievable.
“The forwards can see the issues with the backs and they said to the backs ‘don’t worry we’ll give you the platform’ and they certainly did that.”
Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter told BBC Radio Devon:
“I’m less annoyed with the end than I am the 15 minutes after half-time.
“We zombie-walked our way into going behind. The period when we should take control of the game, we come out after half-time we should be energised and Bristol are down to 14 men.
“But they take the game by the scruff of the neck and we just kept giving away penalties until Bristol pretty much walk it over the try line.
The reality star, who was on I’m A Celeb at the same time as Rebekah Vardy in 2017, admitted to being ‘terrified’ before asking his girlfriend Katherine to marry him
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Iain Lee proposed to his long-term girlfriend Katherine Boyle in Lake Como this summer(Image: @katherine_e_boyle/Instagram)
Former I’m A Celebrity contestant Iain Lee has shared the exciting news that he is engaged to his long-term girlfriend, broadcaster and producer Katherine Boyle, after a romantic proposal in Italy.
The comedian and radio star, 52, took to Instagram to reveal that he popped the question to Katherine on August 12 while the pair were holidaying at Lake Como.
He posted a photo of the couple beaming moments after the proposal, writing: “In case you’re wondering, as l’m sure everyone is, I proposed to @katherine_e_boyle on August 12th on Lake Como and for some strange reason she said yes.”
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He added: “This is seconds after it happened. We received a tepid round of applause from the person you can see faintly in the background.”
The former talkRADIO host also shared a second image of himself looking wide-eyed, joking: “That’s the face of terror of a man about to propose.” He also shared a heartfelt message with his fiancée, saying: “I love you and can’t wait to be your husband.”
Fans were delighted for the happy couple, and one congratulated them saying: “A piece of news that genuinely made me smile from ear to ear — there’s never enough joy in the world and I love that you’ve both found your person.”
Another wrote: “Wow! Jaw off the floor moment. Soo right but still a surprise. Lovely, congrats.” Even EastEnders star Shane Richie joined in, commenting: “Big congratulations to you both.”
Iain and Katherine have been together since they met at BBC Three Counties Radio in 2012, and Iain has credited his partner with helping him through a mental breakdown, telling The Guardian : “She’s a remarkable human being and I am blessed that she’s my fiancée. I’ve put her through so much.”
Iain also shares two sons with his ex-wife, journalist Helena Wilkinson. Over two decades after he first rose to fame as the host of The 11 O’Clock Show — the late-night comedy that introduced audiences to Sacha Baron Cohen and Ricky Gervais — Iain has hinted at plans to revive the cult Channel 4 series.
According to The Sun, he revealed that he’s already been in touch with former colleagues from the original production, and has hopes of bringing it back by 2026.
After coming in third place on I’m A Celeb in 2017, where Iain spoke openly about his mental health struggles and later addressed tensions with campmates including Rebekah Vardy, the radio personality decided to step away from mainstream media.
In 2023, he announced his plans to retire from broadcasting and pursue his newfound passion for counselling. He told fans that after 30 years in radio, he had grown “really tired” of the industry and wanted to dedicate himself to helping others through therapy.
After qualifying as a counsellor in late 2022, he launched Iain Lee Counselling, where he now works with clients privately. Before stepping away from his position at Jack FM, he told fans: “It’s been 30 years in the industry and I’m really tired. So, onto new and better adventures.”
Paris Fury opens up to Notebook magazine about renewing her wedding vows, how Tyson has struggled after Ricky Hatton’s death, her daughter’s engagement and collagen beauty secrets in a wide-ranging interview
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Stunning: Paris Fury opens up in incredible new Notebook shoot (Image: Reach PLC / James Rudland)
While her husband Tyson Fury commands the boxing ring, mum-of-seven Paris, is the undisputed champion of their bustling Morecambe home. Yet amid all the school runs and sibling squabbles, the pair still found time for something truly special: getting married all over again.
In an intimate, secret ceremony in the South of France this summer, with only their children as witnesses, the couple renewed their wedding vows for a third time. “I told Tyson I wasn’t doing it for anyone else this time,” she says. “We did it to reaffirm our love and to embrace the fact that our kids are now such a big part of our life. It was just for us.”
It was a world away from their first, lavish wedding back in 2008. Then, as teenage sweethearts who had met a decade earlier, they tied the knot in her hometown of Doncaster in front of more than 300 guests in a traditional, no-expense-spared celebration. They’ve since reaffirmed their vows once before in New York, but this time, with their family around them, Paris was determined to keep it simple.
“Honestly, it was so easy,” she says. “My dress fell into my hands and was a sale find from Self-Portrait, and I ordered all the kids’ outfits online from Next with next-day delivery, as well as Asda. I just didn’t let it stress me. It wasn’t about the glitz; it was about the meaning.”
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The idea had been brewing since the last series of their hit Netflix show, At Home with the Furys. “It was actually Tyson’s idea,” Paris reveals. “He sent me a ring and a message saying, ‘I’d like to marry you again.’ He has a very romantic side. I think because his own mum and dad didn’t have a great relationship, he has always strived for that.”
With the birth of their youngest, Rico, the plan was put on the back burner. But this summer, the moment felt right. “We were going to the South of France, which is a very personal place for us, and we just said, ‘That’s when we’re going to do it.’”
The church ceremony was followed by a “beautiful” meal afterwards. “Just me, Tyson, and the kids. It was a really special moment for us,” she says. But it was not all plain-sailing, laughing: “The only thing was that my children didn’t sit silently in church…there was a bit of background noise, I’ve got to admit.”
Her husband is currently on a hiatus from boxing since a rematch defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in December. And it is during these quiet times away from the sport, that Tyson has sometimes struggled mentally.
This time around, however, Paris explains how her husband had been “doing really well and keeping himself fit and healthy.” But she says the news of Ricky Hatton passing suddenly aged 46 earlier this month “hit him really hard.”
“He had a low few days,” Paris admits. “He was a friend of Ricky and could really relate to him — seeing similarities in their journeys as retired boxers who have faced challenges with life after the ring.” Opening up about the bond between the two men, she added: “The boxing community is close in general. Tyson actually knew Ricky; they’d done training together, and Ricky let him use his gym when Tyson made his comeback. They weren’t best friends on the phone all the time, but they knew each other, and in boxing, it’s a close-knit world.”
Their marriage has endured despite Tyson’s well-documented battles with depression, addiction, and bipolar disorder. And Paris admits: “Tyson will always have these issues; they don’t just disappear. We’ve just learned how to work with them. So he has been actively training, running—even if it’s just a really long run, these are the things he’s been doing to cope and he’s in a great place.
“If he actually just stops, it affects his mental health. So even though he’s ill with a cold right now, he’s still going for a long walk just to keep himself going.” Despite her long-held wish for him to hang up his gloves for good, Paris admits she will stand by him whatever he decides.
“Even as his wife, I don’t know if he’ll ever fight again,” she says. “He tells me no, but then something happens, he gets that glint in his eye and does a bit of a Jerry Maguire ‘Show me the money!’ moment. I’ve told him I will support him 100 per cent in whatever he does.” While Tyson contemplates his future, Paris’s own star continues to rise.
Her straight-talking and dedication to her children have won her a legion of fans, not to mention a string of lucrative endorsement deals, including a new partnership with Eternal Collagen. But she is quick to point out that family life always comes first. So much so that she has turned down a host of TV work because the timing wasn’t right
“The work I do has to fit around my home life, because my home comes first,” she says. “I’m in a very privileged position to say I do things because I want to and because I really believe in them, not for payment. I’ve always wanted a big family and believe if you have one, you should raise them if you can.”
Paris has spent the last few weeks deep in planning-mode for her eldest daughter Venezuela’s 16th birthday. It turns out to be an extra-special affair as Venezuela’s boxer boyfriend Noah Price got down on one knee at the bash to propose.
And Paris is delighted by the prospect of having a new son-in-law in the family. She admits: “ We’re all really happy for her and Noah—they’re a great match and genuinely excited about this next chapter in her life.
“Yes, she’s young, but as we all know, that’s in line with our traditions and values. I was engaged to Tyson at 17, so we’re not far off in age. I did encourage her to wait as long as possible, but she was determined, and this is what they truly wanted.” She is excited about what the future will bring for her daughter, who recently signed to the same management team as her, The Can Group.
“She has an idea of what she wants. She loves social media but ignores the bad side of it, which makes her a confident, strong person. She’s had cameras around her all her life, so to her, it’s nothing new,” she says. She also reveals Venezuela has found a kindred spirit in another famous teen, Princess Andre, daughter of Peter Andre and Katie Price.
“It was great for them to relate to each other, coming from similar backgrounds with celebrity parents and cameras always around,” she says. “Princess gave Venezuela some words of wisdom, which was nice.” Despite their success, the Furys remain fiercely committed to their normal life in the Lancashire seaside town they call home.
“We’re happy here,” Paris insists. “The kids go to a tiny, normal school. People know who we are, but we’re not a fascination. In other places, it’s autographs and paparazzi. Here, we’re just Tyson and Paris.” Her daily routine is less red carpet, more military operation.
“I never sit down for more than five minutes,” she says. “My fitness watch says I rack up 10 or 12 miles a day just in the house—making beds, washing, cleaning, cooking for 10 people. I am very house-proud.” And what’s the heavyweight champion of the world doing while all this is going on?
“He’s getting shouted at to get the kids’ shoes on” she laughs. “He does help; he takes them on the school run some mornings. But he couldn’t handle my life. He says his training camp is like a health spa compared to looking after all these kids. In camp, he gets up, gets fed, does his training, and then rests in a silent room.”
Given her hectic pace of life, it’s perhaps no surprise that her wellness regime is also performed at break-neck speed. “I’ve always been one for vitamins and skincare, but I’m usually quick—wash my face, put cream on, and get out the door,” she says.
It’s why Eternal Collagen appealed to me so much. “It’s a really strong dose of 15,000milligrams in one shot in the morning, it’s packed full of your essential vitamins like Vitamin D, biotin, K2 , and it tastes good,” she says.
“It’s also got Echinacea, and B12 in it, which is great for immunity, I think this has kept me from getting the cold that the rest of the house has.” She’s noticed other side effects too having taken it for three months.
“After having Rico and a miscarriage, my hair went a bit limp and fine, which really bugged me,” she says. “But my hairdresser just said my hair feels lovely, and for the first time in 20 years, my own natural nails are finally growing.”
Paris says she’s worked hard to lose the baby weight since Rico was born by “ training consistently, eating right and making the right choices in life.” She adds: “The collagen has really helped with bringing a glow back to my skin and keeping it tight and firm. It’s become part of my little self-care ritual – it’s quick, it’s easy, and it makes me feel good inside and out. It really has given me that little boost of confidence, even on the days when I don’t have much time to get ready.”
Looking ahead, Paris has no grand ten-year plan for global domination.
“My main goal in life—and I might sound like a ‘trad wife’ here—is that my seven kids grow up happy and healthy, find partners, and make themselves happy. For me, success is just continuing to be happy and healthy and watching my kids grow up well. I think that’s a great success in itself.”
Eternal Collagen retails at £45.00, to purchase a bottle visit www.eternalcollagen.co.uk
