Listen to Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott’s new Christmas single, ‘Christmas (And Dad Wants Her Back)’

A fine Saturday of racing ahead as we are at Newbury, Kelso, Doncaster and Lingfield.

EastEnders favourite Nitin Ganatra has opened up about his family being targeted by thugs over the years at his family’s corner shop. The BBC soap star, 54, has recently spoken out about his family’s corner shop “being targeted a lot” when he was growing up.The actor played popular character Masood Ahmed for over ten years on EastEnders, from 2007 until he left the popular soap in 2019. Nitin chatted openly on the Made in the Midlands podcast.

video she brings in a mug of hot water and breaks the lettuce in half before soaking them in."I'm too afraid to try it myself because I still have to wake up if Maisy (her daughter), wakes up in the night," she says.Few minutes later, she removes the lettuce and hands the drink to Mike, who is surprised by the pleasant taste of it.After a while, he starts to feel drowsy and within 10 minutes, he is knocked out while resting on the sofa.The next day Mike told his wife that he slept through the night and didn't wake up at all.The mum then shared the recipe to TikTok, explaining: "I washed the lettuce and let it sit in the boiling water for five minutes until it was wilted. My husband knocked out, he had a really good night sleep."There's science behind this too – there is properties in lettuce, especially Romaine lettuce, that helps trigger the part in your brain that help you sleep."I think it works the same if you eat a big bowl of salad before bed, as long as you're ingesting the lettuce, the same thing will happen."But drinking warm liquid before sleep will help you relax.

Premier League season is far from over, next season’s supposed shirts are beginning to pop up on social media and quickly gaining some poor reviews.Chelsea’s new kits have already been unveiled by Footy Headlines, and Blues fans are not happy.The Stamford Bridge outfit have had some clean, professional shirts over the past few years, though some of their away kits have raised eyebrows.However, both the home shirt has gone down poorly, and it hasn’t even been officially released yet!The home shirt is expected to be plain blue but with a grandad collar-esque neck that is white with light blue squiggly lines.The random lines theme continues on the pre-match top with a blue strip coated in random markings from top to bottom. Both the Nike tick and the Trivago sponsor are white.Understandably, fans are furious with the home shirt.One wrote: “What’s that? That home kit is an insult, just look at the neck.”Whilst another added: “Looks like a cheap teamwear jersey with a kids crayon scribblings on the collar.

Ukraine as the conflict continues to worsen amid Vladimir Putin's invasion.Experts have warned that the Russian President could be ready to take the war to a new level as Ukrainian forces have managed to largely repel his force's advances. There are fears that the power-mad ruler has sarin gas, one of the most toxic and fast-acting chemical weapons ever created.The concerns follow news that Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said that the US was developing “biological materials” in Ukraine, reports the Telegraph.Mr Lavrov said Moscow had information that the US was “worried it would lose control” over alleged chemical weapons sites in Ukraine.One expert, Washington’s ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said "nothing is off the table with this guy," referring to the Russian president.

Elon Musk has mocked Russia following the news that they will stop providing the US with engines for their rockets in response to sanctions placed on the country. The sanctions come as the country started their brutal invasion of Ukraine last week.

Game of Thrones actor John Stahl has died aged 68, his agent has confirmed.

Shane Warne's mother Bridgette has broken her silence following the shock passing of her beloved son at age 52. Australian cricket legend Shane was in Thailand at the time when he passed away following a suspected heart attack. His management confirmed the news in a statement which said: "Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived.

The fact Cristiano Ronaldo is 200/1 with Betfred to score a hat-trick at the Etihad tomorrow says it all.

Retailer Marks and Spencer has been praised over its plans to donate to the people of Ukraine.

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has confirmed that it is unlikely that Edinson Cavani will be fit enough to start Sunday's Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium.

A man who set his mother on fire in a drunken temper and a double murderer who killed his ex-partner and her nine-year-old autistic son were just two of the notorious criminals from across the UK locked up last month.

Queen at the tender age of just 13, around the time that Diversity first rose to fame - and admitted to feeling terrified, exclaiming: "I was just a kid!"The 26-year-old had been picked to appear in the Royal Variety Show in 2009 as part of Diversity when he was a teenager.However, the royal protocol he was expected to abide by sent the bewildered youngster's heart racing."Obviously it was a prize for winning Britain's Got Talent to perform at the Royal Variety Show," he recalled."And I thought I was really, really, really excited up until the moment just before."You're all standing on stage in this big semi-circle and she goes around. [The Queen's] greeting everyone and there's rules," he explained."You need to speak to her a certain way."I don't even know what I'm supposed to say - it's 'Ma'am' like 'Jam' instead of 'Ma'am' [like 'Marm']," he elaborated."You can't say [the latter] because you've not met her before - and I was a kid."I was like 'Oh my God, I'm gonna get it wrong and get rugby tackled by some kind of security' - but luckily it went all right."He added: "It was nerve-wracking for sure."Nowadays, Perri has admitted he faces an ongoing struggle to ensure people see the adult he's evolved into, and not the former image of the fearful 13-year-old greeting the Queen."I get it to this day, 'Oh my God, you're the little kid from Diversity' - until I turn up or someone sees me in person," he laughed."[Then] the person gets a little bit of shock.They'd be like 'Oh! That is not what I ordered.That is not what I had in mind!'"The dancer is adamant that he wouldn't change a thing, as he declared: "That's a huge part of my life...

Welcome to Metro.co.uk‘s The Big Questions, where we ask, well, the big questions (and the smaller ones too) and this week, we’re diving deep with singer Charli XCX.In a nutshell: what a week.The superstar, 29, released her song Baby, was announced on the Glastonbury 2022 lineup, and is performing on Saturday Night Live tonight. She also announced she was pulling out of an NFT festival called Afterparty, following intense criticism that saw her step back from Twitter (sort of – more on that below).The work doesn’t stop though and as she prepares to drop her fifth studio album, Crash, later this month, which will be, she promises us, ‘cool as f**k’ Charli – real name Charlotte Aitchison – spoke to us about the perils of social media, her new campaign alongside designer Charles Jeffrey for Samsung and how the pandemic turned her from a member of the ‘straight-through-crew’ to someone with more of a proclivity for ‘good drinks and chic disco music’.It’s called growth.

Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice has paid tribute to his former dancing partner Rose Ayling-Ellis in a beautiful social media post.The professional dancer gushed over the EastEnders star, as he praised Rose following her win at the Visionary Honours Awards, where she was given the International Person Of The Year award. Giovanni shared a photograph of Rose holding her trophy from the awards ceremony on Instagram, captioning the sweet snap: "Proud of you @rose.a.e," next to a red heart and rose emoji.The actress then thanked the professional dancer in her reply, saying: "Thank you @giovannipernice and huge congratulations for your opening last night."Rose Ayling-Ellis had earlier taken to social media to share the photograph of her holding the award, saying: "Had a wonderful evening yesterday at the Visionary Honours Awards, so lovely to meet such talented and creative people! "I am beyond flattered to have won the inspirational person of the year award."She added: "I always believe the most important people are the ones who we inspire.

cricket legend Shane Warne. The 52-year-old was found unresponsive in his villa on the island of Koh Samui, Thailand after suffering a 'massive heart attack' on Friday.He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead following a series of unsuccessful efforts to revive him.Following an investigation, Thai police officially ruled out foul play on Saturday morning.Warne’s long-time manager and close friend James Erskine has opened up about the spin bowler's final moments, and told Fox Cricket that he had to break the harrowing news to Warne's family."I got a phone call at 10.37 last night from our guy in Melbourne, a guy named Andrew Neophitou who was actually with Shane in Thailand," Erskine said."They’d only arrived the night before.

In the episode, which aired on BBC on January 13, the star spoke of how he “collapsed on the floor dead” after a “massive bilateral pulmonary embolism".The star added that he was due to get married just nine days after his health woes struck him down.He had also just suffered a knee injury a few weeks earlier. Explaining why he thinks he suffered the experience, he said that it was because he hadn’t been moving around enough. Peter said: “It was without a doubt because I wasn’t moving for a long period of time."Ever since, I’ve done exactly the same as you.

In the episode, which aired on BBC on January 13, the star spoke of how he “collapsed on the floor dead” after a “massive bilateral pulmonary embolism".The star added that he was due to get married just nine days after his health woes struck him down.He had also just suffered a knee injury a few weeks earlier. Explaining why he thinks he suffered the experience, he said that it was because he hadn’t been moving around enough. Peter said: “It was without a doubt because I wasn’t moving for a long period of time."Ever since, I’ve done exactly the same as you.

Only Fools and Horses has been named Britain's favourite TV show ever, but even the biggest Del Boy fans might not know some of the events that happened on set.The hit BBC comedy sitcom ran from 1981 until 2003, and it followed bickering brothers Del Boy and Rodney Trotter on their quest to become millionaires in Peckham.It was just crowned the nation's favourite TV programme of all time in a public vote conducted with viewers of The One Show.However, the cast has also suffered sad news in the last year, following Boycie actor John Challis's passing and Mickey Pearce star Patrick Murray's cancer diagnosis.To celebrate the legendary sitcom, Daily Star has rounded up some incredible secrets from behind the scenes.Leading cockney-boy Del Boy has become one of the most famous characters in British television history - known for his cheeky money-scheming ways and catchphrases like 'Lovely jubbly'.Iconic actor David Jason did a stellar job of playing Del, but the character actually harks back to a real person who John knew.Describing the man, called Chicky Stocker, John said: "He was a working-class Londoner and a tough man but always dressed very neatly.“He wasn’t the sort of bloke you’d go out of your way to annoy but nevertheless he was very nice".The story, along with these other facts, was told in Steve Clark's book, Only Fools And Horses: The Official Inside Story.Although producer Ray wanted David Jason for his leading man role of Del, it looked like David wasn't going to play him at first.John, along with BBC show runners, wasn't sure he was the right fit for the role.In 1967, Jason had been offered the role of Corporal Jones in Dad's Army, which Clive Dunn had turned down.David was only 27 at the time, but he was

Good Morning Britain guest presenter Rob Rinder has opened up about the show's former host Piers Morgan, who left the popular ITV programme last year.Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, the Judge Rinder star, 43, spoke about joining the morning news show alongside Susanna Reid, as well as his role as brand ambassador for Fletchers Solicitors and Patient Claim Line.Alongside several other famous faces including Richard Madeley and Adil Ray, Rob joined the GMB panel in March 2021 following Piers' exit,However, when asked whether he had any worries about filling the former newspaper editor's shows, the barrister insisted that he didn't.Rob said: "Not really, I mean, lots of people have opinions on Piers, but people who actually know him will tell you," he said before cutting himself off.He continued: "The reason he continues to survive in this business that's full of sharks is because he's - there's a lovely Yiddish word - he's a Mensch."He's the type of friend and person that you absolutely want in your corner," Rob added.The term is defined as "a person of integrity and honour".The legal expert went on: "You will really struggle privately to find somebody who's got anything unkind to say about Piers, who really knows him."It says a great deal, actually, you know, he says it and calls it like he says it," he added.Speaking about his presenting responsibilities on GMB, Rob told how he had his own hosting style.He said: "I'm not consciously thinking about trying to be a Piers, I'm trying to sort of consciously determine how we can be our authentic selves with each other in our way."If I went on trying to be Piers, it wouldn't go well!" he exclaimed.Rob went on: "Or if he came on Judge Rinder trying to be me, you know, we

Phoebe Bridgers took on Billie Eilish’s ‘When The Party’s Over’ during the first episode of her new radio show, ‘Saddest Factory Radio‘ – check it out below.READ MORE: Phoebe Bridgers: “I definitely feel a lot less apologetic than I did before”Eilish originally released ‘When The Party’s Over’ in 2018 as the second single to global phenomenon ‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?’ and Bridgers’ version stays true to the sparse, haunted track.Phoebe Bridgers’ ‘Saddest Factory Radio’ (named after the singer-songwriter’s label, Saddest Factory Records, which she launched last year) airs on SiriusFM.