Air Force trainee Keon McDaniel, 26, died from the flu during a Lackland Air Force Base outbreak that has sickened nearly 300 service members, with the Air Force confirming flu to be the cause.
Penarth Operatic and Dramatic Society (PODS) was wished ‘every success’ by Mr Sheen as it prepares to represent Wales at the British Final of the One Act Play Festival.
In a video message, Mr Sheen said: “Hello, I want to send all best wishes to Penarth Operatic and Dramatic Society as they go off to represent Wales in the one act British play final next month.
“Good luck, pob lwc. Very best wishes.”
Mr Sheen, known for his long-standing support of grassroots theatre, has spoken about the importance of the arts in building community.
He has previously said: “Theatre began as a way of bringing people together in a shared space to have a collective experience.
“It’s where we express what our values are, what our beliefs are, what our priorities are, and find a shared understanding.
“Experiencing that together bonds us and connects us.
“The arts are essential for maintaining community bonds and processing shared experiences.”
Mr Sheen first established his reputation on stage and has received four Olivier Award nominations.
He is also known for his acclaimed screen roles, including his portrayal of Tony Blair, for which he received Emmy and BAFTA nominations.
PODS is representing Wales after winning the national final with All By Myself, a comedy by Robert Scott.
The group began its journey at the Glamorgan Drama League Festival at Chapter Arts Centre in April and went on to win the Welsh final against five other theatre companies.
The British Final brings together winning amateur theatre groups from Wales, England, Scotland, and Ireland.
PODS has enjoyed recent success with a sold-out run of We Will Rock You at the Paget Rooms in May.
The society’s youth section, PODyS, will perform Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr next week, while rehearsals are already underway for Hi-De-Hi, set for October.
Other upcoming productions include the annual pantomime Robin Hood and Cole Porter’s musical Anything Goes, scheduled for next May.
Anyone interested in joining PODS or booking tickets can visit www.podspenarth.org.
A drug-resistant strain of fungus dubbed one of ‘the greatest threats to public health’ is surging in the US, health officials from the CDC have warned in the agency’s latest report.
The producer of a hit TV show says Catherine Zeta-Jones’ breakout role came down to “pure good fortune” after he spotted her by chance.
Pip Burley, who worked on the ITV 90s comedy-drama The Darling Buds of May, recalled meeting the Hollywood star in the reception room of his final casting session.
He said he spotted “a beautiful girl” in a yellow dress and invited her to audition for Mariette, despite Jones only being in the building for a light entertainment programme.
“She was a lovely girl, and very smart,” Burley explained.
He also revealed that American actor Danny DeVito was once considered to play Pop Larkin, among other unexpected casting twists.
Burley, who also composed the theme song for the series, said he first spotted Swansea-born Jones on the musical 42nd Street as a second understudy.
“We were struck with her,” he told BBC Radio Wales.
The pill is now on sale online (Image: Getty)
A major UK chain has announced it is selling Wegovy weight loss pills in the UK for the first time. The pills, which were approved for use in the UK last month, will be available to those fitting strict criteria.
Making the announcement on Friday, Superdrug said it will become the first UK high street healthcare provider to offer the “cheapest and most comprehensive access” to the new weight loss service. However, prospective users will still need to fit the strict criteria and have medical assessments. The pills will be available through Superdrug Online Doctor, with sales now open exclusively on the online service ahead of the launch of in-store services.
It said this “reinforces the chain’s commitment to accessibility, and helping eligible patients access its latest weight management service as quickly and as flexibly as possible”. Dr Clair Grainger, GP at Superdrug Online Doctor , said “Following regulatory approval, we’ve seen strong interest in our information register.
“With prescribing now underway, people can now complete their consultation and access treatment if clinically appropriate, whether that’s online, in pharmacy, or in clinic. Obesity is a complex medical issue, and any treatment will only be prescribed following a thorough clinical assessment against eligibility criteria.”
Last month the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the UK’s first GLP-1 receptor agonist tablet for weight loss and weight management. It said the semaglutide (Wegovy ) tablet could be prescribed to obese adults in the UK and had to be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, but gave no timeframe for when it would be available.
The sale is available at Superdrug Online Doctor. People must complete a full clinical assessment with a prescriber.
The tablet-form of the weight loss service will start from £79 for new patients. Superdrug Health & Beautycard holders will also earn 5x points on their purchases worth up to £15.
The medication is available now by visiting Superdrug Online Doctor website. Alternatively speak to a local Superdrug pharmacy team for more information.
The weight loss service will also be available in more than 160 pharmacies, and over 85 nurse services, combining digital convenience with face-to-face support.
To qualify for the Wegovy tablet a patient must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above. Alternatively they can be overweight with a BMI between 27 and 30 and at least one weight-related comorbidity.
The starting dose for the semaglutide tablet is 1.5 mg once daily, increasing to 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg with a minimum duration of one month at each dose level. Patients currently treated privately with a 2.4 mg semaglutide injection once weekly can be transitioned straight to semaglutide 25 mg tablets once daily.
The medication comes with strict rules (Image: Getty)
The MHRA explained: “Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It works by mimicking the action of a naturally occurring hormone, glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1), which is released by the body after eating.
“Semaglutide acts on areas of the brain that regulate appetite, helping people feel fuller for longer, reducing hunger and decreasing food cravings. As a result, it can help people eat less and support weight reduction alongside appropriate diet and lifestyle measures.”
The MHRA stressed it was essential to follow the instructions in the Patient Information Leaflet on how to take semaglutide tablets for weight loss and weight management treatment to be most effective. It said: “The semaglutide tablet should be taken whole on an empty stomach after fasting for at least 8 hours with a sip of water. After taking it, no food or drink should be taken for at least thirty minutes. Eating or drinking less than 30 minutes after taking a semaglutide tablet lowers its absorption.”
The MHRA said: “The most common side effects of the medicine are gastrointestinal disorders including nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting.” It said that, as with any medicine, it will keep the safety and effectiveness of semaglutide under close review.
Prince William was asked about football culture – and he talked about the strange attraction of the highs and lows of being a supporter.
His own support for Aston Villa became even more intense when the team was relegated, he said.
“So I think weirdly, this sounds very odd, but I got into football more than ever when we got relegated,” he told the US podcasters.
“So when Aston Villa went from Premiership to Championship, I suddenly really enjoyed the battle to get back in the Premiership.”
The results of his beloved club could also affect his mood: “My weekend goes from being either the best we can in the world when we win… Or frankly, I don’t want to see anyone on Monday morning because I’m really down.”
He said that he’d become an Aston Villa supporter after watching them play for the first time, remembering it as a game against Bolton 26 years ago.
Travis had asked about whether Prince William’s love of football was inherited.
“Did your dad get you into Aston Villa or is this your own doing?” asked Travis.
“Absolutely not. My father hates football,” the prince replied.
He also warned the US hosts about the rowdier aspects of football support.
“Those rowdy evenings, those long afternoons, a few drinks, the social elements of it. You know, there are plenty of chants you guys don’t want to hear. They’re pretty spicy. They’re quite rude to broadcast.”
There were also insights into the prince’s thinking when he was asked about his role as president of the Football Association.
“Just don’t mess up,” he said, in a succinct piece of management advice.
The podcasters invited Prince William to name some of the best English players of all time – in what they imagined as footballing Mount Rushmore.
William’s list included Sir David Beckham, Gary Lineker, Harry Kane, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Sir Bobby Charlton.
“Harry Kane could end up being one of the greatest English strikers we’ve ever seen,” he said, with some prophetic accuracy, considering Kane became England’s greatest goal scorer in subsequent appearances.
The most affordable supermarket for your weekly shopping has been revealed. Aldi has secured the top spot once more, with Which? naming it the cheapest supermarket of the month.
It emerged as the best value for a basket of 95 items when measured against other leading UK supermarkets. Aldi’s total came to £163.34, while rival Lidl was only £1.58 higher at £164.92.
Lidl now offers its own loyalty scheme, Lidl Plus, which narrowed the gap even further once discounts were factored in.
When using Lidl Plus, the final bill came to £164.79, just £1.45 more than Aldi.
The consumer website discovered that Sainsbury’s Nectar card offers enabled it to undercut Tesco during June.
Sainsbury’s featured 27 loyalty price reductions, bringing its total to £193.30.
Tesco’s Clubcard pricing reached £194.67. Yet for shoppers at Sainsbury’s without a loyalty card, it became among the priciest options at £203.83.
Asda retained fourth position at £190.39, while Morrisons (£198.53) also worked out cheaper than the standard, non-loyalty rates at both Tesco (£200.63) and Sainsbury’s.
Waitrose proved the most costly supermarket at £229.88, representing 40.73 per cent more than Aldi for identical products.
The basket of 95 items featured a combination of own-label and branded products, including Birds Eye peas, Cathedral City cheddar and Kellogg’s corn flakes.
Reena Sewraz, Which? Retail Editor, said: “While inflation remains stable for now, many households will be worried about prices going up in the coming months.
“The discounters remain the cheapest supermarkets for everyday essentials, while at the larger supermarkets the massive gap between member and non-member prices shows that retailers are increasingly locking their best value away behind a digital wall.
“When walking into one supermarket over another – or forgetting your loyalty card – can mean paying over 40 per cent more for basically the same everyday essentials, switching where you shop is still the fastest way to slash your weekly grocery bill.”
Idris Ahmed, 18, pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, inflicting grievous bodily harm, and possessing a knife on the beach.
During a hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, set a provisional trial date for November 2.
It is expected to last 10 days.
Ahmed, of Cardiff, spoke only to enter his pleas and nodded to confirm his name and date of birth.
Appearing in court in a grey prison tracksuit, he was remanded into custody.
Judge Lloyd-Clarke said: “Your trial date is fixed for November 2 of this year.
“You will be remanded in custody until that date.”
Peter Donnison, defending, said the teenager denies stabbing or encouraging anyone else to stab the alleged victim.
South Wales Police previously said a 17-year-old boy had suffered serious injury in the alleged incident at Barry Island on May 25.
The incentive scheme, led by Olympic medallist Sir Brendan Foster and Air Miles inventor Sir Keith Mills, will be launched in January in a bid to get the nation moving again.
The Crêpe Escape, a family-run crêperie on Glebe Street in Penarth, has become a favourite for its welcoming atmosphere and generous menu.
The café describes itself as “a home from home” and lives up to the promise with friendly but relaxed service.
Families, couples and solo diners all find space to unwind in its cosy, lived-in setting.
The interiors lean shabby-chic, with painted tables and vintage touches.
It’s more front room than formal restaurant, and regulars say it feels just right for Penarth—informal, approachable and gently indulgent.
Crêpes are the centrepiece, offered in both sweet and savoury styles.
Simple lemon and sugar toppings sit alongside heartier options layered with cheese, ham, salad and sauces.
Those after something with more crunch can opt for Belgian waffles loaded with fruit, chocolate or sauce.
Portions strike a balance between generous and manageable, making it easy to enjoy a treat without overindulging.
The wider menu has earned The Crêpe Escape a reputation as an all-day destination.
Breakfast includes traditional favourites like bacon sandwiches as well as lighter choices.
At lunchtime, savoury crêpes take the spotlight, with mozzarella and tomato among the popular fillings.
For those with time to spare, the house afternoon tea—featuring sandwiches, croissants, scones and cakes—has built a loyal following.
The “Afternoon Tea for Two” is an especially popular option.
Outside the café, The Crêpe Escape also offers catering services.
Grazing boxes, buffets and grazing tables bring their comfort-food style to parties and events.
This side of the business, along with their warm service, has helped make the café part of the community rather than just another high street eatery.
Their efforts have not gone unnoticed; The Crêpe Escape has been recognised at the Food Awards Wales—a testament to the reach and reputation the small café has built.
Prices start at around £4, putting most menu items firmly in “affordable treat” territory.
Diners frequently mention the value for money in online reviews, with particular praise for both the savoury crêpes and the toppings on sweeter plates.
The café also stands out for its gluten-free options, offering a dedicated range of crêpes and desserts.
With a strong food hygiene record to match, The Crêpe Escape has become a go-to for families, day-trippers and locals looking for indulgence with a personal touch.
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