Despite the ongoing cost of living squeeze, Brits are expected to spend a record £94 billion this festive season. The Christmas splurge is almost 3% more than last year but according to a leading consumer expert this is probably more to do with rising prices than people feeling generous.

As Halloween approaches, the ever-familiar image of the witch returns; from decorations to costumes, the broomstick and pointy hats are everywhere. The depiction of the Witch was perhaps made even more famous with the recent blockbuster Wicked. The theme of who gets to decide whether a woman is dangerous or indeed ‘wicked’ runs through the film.

Her virtuosity fizzes with effervescence, but it is never mere display. Gillam remains as fine an ambassador as the saxophone could hope for, and this disc does exactly what it says on the label: it will make you smile and haul you out of the doldrums. She is refreshingly frank about her aims. “I had one ambition with this project: to make an album that would make people smile,” she says, revealing that she wrote herself a manifesto a year earlier demanding nothing less than “BIG ENERGY”. Mission accomplished, and then some.

Having built a devoted global fanbase on a steady run of singles and EPs, Boy In Space finally steps into full-length territory with The Man Who Lost It All, and the result feels like a significant moment for Robin Lundbäck. More personal than anything he has released to date, the ten-track collection not only offers a deeper insight into the man behind the moniker but also stands as his most cohesive body of work yet.

Wildlife legend David Attenborough famously made the world sit up in amazement when his dulcet tones accompanied the thundering of millions of hoofs crossing treacherous rivers on The Great Wildebeest Migration. One of nature’s greatest phenomenon’s, the migration across the Serengeti and Masai Mara eco-system entails a staggering 1.5 million wildebeest, 300,000 zebras, and 200,000 gazelles relentlessly on the move in search of seasonal rains and sustenance. Fraught with peril along the way, their journey becomes even more dangerous at the crucial Mara river crossing from Northern Tanzania to Kenya where predators lie in wait.

All And all who died, from winter's sleet, From flu, from guns, from cells gone wrong, Still stand, one breath from fingers' reach, Just out of touch, all colour gone. The dead grow smaller. From a train Mist takes the fields, drinks green to grey, The fog has swept across their face.

It goes without saying that all animals, whether indoor pets such as dogs or outdoor animals such as ponies and donkeys, should be trained. While training may take different forms depending on the animal, it should focus on teaching good manners and how to respond in certain situations.

Is there anyone who does not like people-watching? I can’t imagine so, even if not everyone wants to admit it, so novels like this one which take you into the heart of a community, are ideal. The reader spectates from a safe distance. After a brief, enticing prologue, the novel proper begins when a man dies in the shower, apparently of a heart attack.

The pace of change facing organisations today means the leadership is evolving faster than ever. Technological disruption, changing employee expectations and ongoing global uncertainty are reshaping how businesses operate. The qualities that define effective leaders in 2026 look somewhat different from those valued even a decade ago.

The National Symphony Orchestra is superbly showcased, every section adding vivid detail, and Noseda draws out both the character and the narrative of each score. In the booklet, the conductor writes warmly of how living with these works has enriched his knowledge of the music America produced in the last century, and he hopes they will find the wide following they deserve. On this evidence, they should. These are not museum pieces dusted off out of duty but symphonies that sound as though they have been part of the repertoire all along, and we had simply mislaid them. Consider them found.

Hector Gannet might be labelled a folk-rock band, but there’s a lot more going on here than acoustic guitars and catchy choruses. Aaron Duff’s songwriting takes in everything from Celtic folk to jazz, blues and big, sweeping rock songs, giving the album plenty of variety without ever making it feel disjointed.

It pleases me greatly when car manufacturers decide to stage their UK drive events in the North of England. Challenging roads, relatively traffic free, and no long drive down the M6 for me! I was therefore delighted to get the invite to drive the new Polestar 5 in Northumberland, a county I know well. An added bonus would be a night in the Bailiffgate Hotel, opposite Alnwick Castle.

What strikes you first is the technique. The accuracy is superb, and the voices are balanced with the kind of independence a fine pianist brings to the keyboard, where the left hand can be shaded beneath the right while the two still sing as one. Skylark achieves the same effect: each part has its own character, yet nothing ever pulls against the whole.

Actor Bill Ward admits he looks upon “food as fuel” and always has done so. “I have always been a very active person both in my theatre and T.V. work and also play a lot of sport, so I need to eat a lot and regularly," says Bill, who is appearing next week in Twelve Angry Men, a gripping drama at Bradford Alhambra.

Two critically endangered hooded vultures have arrived at Chester Zoo, where conservationists are hoping the newly bonded pair will produce youngsters to help safeguard the species from extinction. The vultures - named Claudia and Alan after Traitors stars Claudia Winkleman and Alan Carr - are the first breeding pair of hooded vultures to ever live at the Cheshire conservation zoo.

The ensemble was formed in Kyiv just over a decade ago, and its young players move as comfortably through new music as through the classics. Their playing here is shaped with great care. The dialogue between the four instruments is a constant pleasure, the contours of each line are beautifully moulded, and the ends of phrases are communicated with real intelligence, so the lyricism flows unhindered. Textures are clear, colours are varied, and the commitment is never in doubt. Technically they are entirely assured, yet it is the expressiveness that lingers. This is billed as Volume 1, which is the best news of all. On this evidence, the rest of the cycle cannot come soon enough.

Data analysis from ThingCo shows significant 82% increase in accident alerts amongst young drivers despite them spending less time behind the wheel after the clocks change With the clocks going back an hour on Sunday 25th October, telematics insurtech, ThingCo, is warning drivers – and young dr…

In an autumn Budget preview commentary, several EY spokespeople, including Manchester-based Partner Noam Handler and North Market Leader Hilary Heap, discuss fiscal devolution and its potential to support regional economic prospects. Devolution – Noam Handler Noam Handler, Partner and Regional Markets Tax Leader at EY, said: “Fiscal devolution will be judged not…

Short it may be, but this five-track release says a great deal about Jeneba Kanneh-Mason as an interpreter. Her command of tone and dynamics is marvellous throughout, and the effect is quite entrancing.

Painkillers, sleeping tablets and cold remedies bought over the counter in the UK could lead to confiscation, a fine or worse at some of the world’s most popular destinations, according to official government advice. Medicines that are routinely prescribed or bought over the counter in the UK can be controlled, restricted or prohibited in other countries.

Divorce is more than the end of a marriage; it is often the beginning of rediscovering yourself. For many people, solo travel becomes a way to heal, reflect, and embrace a new chapter of life after divorce.

As the golden glow of early autumn gives way to starlit evenings, our homes and gardens can still be the ultimate sanctuaries for comfort, connection, and effortless style. This season, British Garden Centres offers fresh inspiration to help homeowners transform their living spaces, encouraging everyone to embrace the beauty and warmth of cosy autumn living, inside and out.

As British Summer Time ends on Sunday, beauty experts explain what evening habits are worth reconsidering and which beauty treatments to prioritise during the colder, darker months. The clocks go back at 2am on Sunday 25 October, giving people across the UK an extra hour as British Summer Time comes to an end.

Believe it or not, when you do your last lawn cut of 2026 really matters! Avid gardeners who have tended to their beloved lawn throughout the year know that the weather has been predictably unpredictable. We've had extreme weather in the UK this year, with consecutive heatwaves followed by miserable drizzle and high winds.

Vasily Petrenko on scaling Strauss’s Alpine peak with the RPO, the adrenaline of recording live, and why the pendulum is swinging back from streaming to the record shelf. As we prepared the countdown to our 80th anniversary season, there was one journey, in particular, that I was determined to make.

Newcastle Cathedral, the city’s Church of England cathedral and one of its most recognisable landmarks, has been awarded £305,463 to support urgent repairs and accessibility improvements. The funding will support roof and floor repairs, improved accessible toilets and a replacement lift.

The IEA Alternative Budget would cut taxes on a median paid job by around £1,300 a year, slash employer National Insurance by £21bn, abolish stamp duty and inheritance tax and introduce new Defence Bonds to help fund Britain’s military.

30% say they would want professional advice across all financial decisions. When facing an important financial decision, 41% turn first to family or relatives, compared with 31% who turn first to a professional financial adviser Reliance on family advice is particularly pronounced among younger respondents, while those aged 55+ are more likely to turn first to a professional adviser. Yet 44% of UK adults do not feel financially prepared for major future life events.

As National Adoption Week begins, regional adoption agency One Adoption West Yorkshire is urging more people to consider adoption, with new figures showing that around 160 children across the region are waiting for a permanent family to grow up in.

Today’s official update on the condition of roads in England reveals that, while added investment continues to keep major roads in a reasonably good state, drivers face a nearly one in six chance of encountering roads needing repair on residential streets or in rural areas.

Chancellor John Healey delivers the Autumn Budget on Wednesday 28th October, the first under Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Here's what Adderstone Living is hoping it brings. First, clarity on funding. Billions from the Social and Affordable Homes Programme are still to be allocated, and knowing when and how it will be released lets housing associations and developers plan now.

Around a million people in and around the city have stepped inside an immersive experience in the past year, and Yorkshire is reaping the rewards to the tune of £425m. Few people would choose to board the Titanic knowing how the story ends. In Leeds, however, they are queuing up to do just that.

YouGov/Cebr consumer confidence index records biggest drop in household financial outlook since April. Overall index decreased by 0.2. Retrospective (-2.2) and forward-looking (-5.7) perceptions of household finances drop significantly Business activity measures improve over September (+1,5), and for the next twelve months (+2.7)

Further cut would save around 6p a litre at the pumps. AA says lower fuel costs could help drivers, businesses and inflation

Tom Nash thought he would have Greystoke Castle finished by now. We hear how the Liverpool engineer turned a dilapidated private seat into one of the county's busiest new venues, and why the hardest part is still to come. For most of the world, Greystoke is a name borrowed by Tarzan.

New polling from Independent Age, the only national charity solely focused on supporting older people facing financial hardship, shows that 59% of adults under the age of 65 in Northern England are not confident they will have enough money to live comfortably in retirement.

A Yorkshire entrepreneur is launching an unusual fashion challenge to promote the importance of sustainable fashion and wearing natural fibres like wool. Sarah Turner, the founder of Ilkley-based Little Beau Sheep, which produces 100% British wool laundry balls, will launch ‘The 90 Day Wool Habit’, which will see Turner wear the same navy wool dress every day for 90 days.

More women looking for rewarding careers on the railway as Northern sees a sharp rise in job applications More women looking for rewarding careers on the railway as Northern sees a sharp rise in job applications The number of women applying for jobs with Northern has risen significantly, following the launch of a successful recruitment campaign.

Teenage girls are spending fewer evenings with friends, feeling isolated in their communities and dodging school sport at higher rates than boys, according to a report into England’s “bedroom generation”.  Polling of 15-year-olds for the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) finds that more than one in five girls (21 per cent) now spends no evenings out with friends during a typical week, compared wi…

Northern Gas Networks is encouraging university students kick-starting their new term and student life in rented homes to carry out two potentially lifesaving checks.

New research is yet more evidence that A&E overcrowding kills, but governments remain too slow to act, says the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM).