admin

Shameless killer Allen Morgan duped cops with ‘cast iron’ alibi for 40 years… while celebrating wife’s murder with lover

FOR 42 years, the vicious murder of mum-of-two Carol Morgan remained a chilling mystery.

On August 13, 1981, while her children were watching a film at the local cinema, Carol, 37, was bludgeoned to death in the storeroom of her corner shop in Linslade, Bedfordshire.

Mugshot of Allen Morgan, 74, convicted of plotting to kill his wife.
PA
For 42 years, Allen Morgan roamed freely after arranging the brutal murder of his wife[/caption]
Black and white photo of Carol and Allen Morgan.
Fairley & Simmons
Carol Morgan was savagely bludgeoned at the couple’s corner shop in 1981[/caption]
Elderly couple leaving Luton Crown Court.
Hyde News & Pictures
Morgan and his new wife Margaret Spooner were charged with conspiracy to murder[/caption]

Her skull was shattered by 10 to 15 blows in an attack so savage that detectives would later describe it as “overkill.”

For four decades the mystery of her brutal murder remained unsolved, haunting the quiet community and baffling cops.

Now a new ITV documentary, The Real Unforgotten, follows investigators as they reopen the case and work to find out the truth behind Carol’s murder.

Detective Constable Denise Brown, who reviewed the shocking images of Carol’s body, described the gruesome scene in the documentary.

She said: “You can see huge lacerations. You can see the skull, and the second one shows the tissue that’s exposed as a result of the attack.

“What you don’t see is how Carol had a load of hair in her hand from where she had obviously put her hand to her head to protect her head.”

The brutality of the murder was undeniable. Carol’s finger was slashed in a defensive wound, her cheek was grotesquely damaged, and her skull was exposed.

While cops hunted an opportunist robber, the real mastermind stood right before detectives – her ‘grieving’ husband, Allen Morgan.

Morgan had a cast iron alibi, claiming he discovered his wife’s bloodied body after returning from the cinema with their children.

He immediately raised the alarm, reporting that £500 in cash and £120 worth of cigarettes were missing from the shop.

Headshot of Allen Morgan, charged with conspiring to murder Carol Morgan.
Bedfordshire Police/PA Wire
Morgan played the role of a grieving widower and appealed for information on the killer[/caption]
The Food Fare corner shop where Carol Morgan was murdered.
Supplied
He told cops he found his wife in the storeroom of their corner shop[/caption]

He played the role of the devastated husband, pleading with the killer’s friends and family to stop shielding them.

“Well, if he’s done it once, he’s going to do it again, and it was terrible,” he said in a TV interview at the time.

“You’ve got no idea what it was like when I walked in. No idea at all what she looked like. I just hope they don’t shield him too long or they don’t shield him at all.”

‘Worst shock’

Black and white photo of Margaret Morgan.
PA
Police initially believed Carol’s murder was a result of a robbery[/caption]
Wanted poster for information regarding the murder of Carol Morgan.
PA
Appeals were launched for a man with “piggy nostrils”[/caption]
Photo of Carl Foster and Denise Brown standing outside at night.
ITV
Detectives Carl Foster and Denise Woods worked on the case when it was reopened[/caption]

Police initially believed the motive was robbery.

They focused their investigation on a man seen leaving the shop around 7pm, described as having “piggy-style nostrils.”

A composite image of the suspect was circulated widely and detectives pursued leads related to a dark green estate car seen nearby.

They questioned thousands of people and examined over 30,000 vehicles. But despite their efforts, the mysterious man and the car were never found.

Meanwhile, Carol’s family struggled to understand why someone would murder such a kind and gentle woman.

Her niece, Julie Walsh, said in the film: “Hearing about my auntie’s murder was the worst shock in the world. Everything just stops, and you think, ‘well, that can’t have happened.’

“Why would someone murder a defenceless, innocent woman working in her shop? It’s never made any sense to me.

“Why do something so grotesque… so brutal to anyone for a small reward as it seems?”

With the police at the time laser-focused on catching the man in the composite, other leads were disregarded.

Senior investigator Carl Foster, who opened the case in 2018 and eventually successfully cracked it says in the documentary: “This male was hugely significant to the original investigation because he was the main line of inquiry that was pursued.

“But in pursuing that, they were absolutely focused on catching the murderer at the expense of other lines of inquiry or other hypotheses.”

Collage of crime scene photos: interior storage room, blood on the floor, and exterior view of a shop.
The store room of the store where Carol was murdered
Bedfordshire Police
Crime scene photo of a shop interior.
Bedfordshire Police
The store was owned by Carol and Allen Morgan[/caption]

Secret lover

While police chased the wrong lead, Allen Morgan continued to play the grieving widower. But behind closed doors, he was hiding a dark secret.

He was having a passionate affair with Margaret Spooner, a married woman who was found in his bed the morning after Carol’s murder.

As detectives would later discover, Morgan and Margaret had been lovers for months, meeting every night in the days leading up to the murder.

Black and white photo of Allen Morgan and his girlfriend Margaret Spooner on holiday.
News Group Newspapers Ltd
Morgan on holiday with Margaret shortly after Carol’s death[/caption]
Black and white photo of Allen Morgan, whose wife was murdered.
News Group Newspapers Ltd
For years, he protested his innocence amid pleas to catch the killer[/caption]

Soon after the horrific discovery, Margaret’s friend, Sheila Forrest, remembered Morgan whispering to Margaret: “It won’t be long now, darling… I’m sorry I’ve had to tell them all about us.”

In a witness statement in 1981, she told cops: “His grief seemed unreal… I was feeling physically sick and frightened at Morgan’s words to Margaret.”

Margaret’s husband came forward to give police a witness statement, telling them: “I do anticipate that now that Mrs Morgan has died, my wife and Allen will live together.”

That’s exactly what happened – six weeks after Carol’s death, Margaret moved into the family home, living with Morgan and Carol’s children.

Rumours swirled in the community, forcing Morgan to sell the shop and move away. He later admitted: “There are quite a few other people who won’t shop here because they are afraid to be caught up in the gossip.”

But it wasn’t just the affair that raised eyebrows. Investigators discovered the couple’s finances were in ruins, with the shop they co-owned failing and cheques bouncing.

Chillingly, there was also an insurance policy that would pay out upon Carol’s death.

Lies and inconsistencies

Two people looking at a laptop together.
ITV
The investigators sieved through countless documents in a bid to solve the case[/caption]
An elderly couple leaving Luton Crown Court.
Mirrorpix
Morgan and Margaret were arrested for the crime in 2019[/caption]

When Carl took charge of the case, he quickly realised the original investigation had been flawed and forensic evidence had been destroyed.

Cracking the case was going to be a daunting task.

Carl and his team revisited over 500 witness statements and 6,000 documents.

Armed with ghastly pictures from the scene, Carl and his team worked tirelessly with forensic experts and medical teams to get a better sense of how and why Carol was killed.

Investigators came to the conclusion that they had to look more closely at Morgan.

A few months after Carol’s death, Morgan granted an interview in the media where he claimed that his marriage was “as good as over”.

He also said he was not going to “mourn forever” and showed no remorse for moving on too soon with Margaret.

Hitting back in the film, Carl says: “If you cared one jot about Carol, then surely any normal human being under those circumstances would not be flaunting their life in that way and disrespecting Carol’s memory quite as openly as Allen seemed to.”

In November 2019, 38 years after Carol’s murder, Carl and his team arrested Allen, then aged 69 and Margaret, 70 at the time.

It was the first time that an arrest had ever been made in the puzzling case.

Police launched another appeal for information and went around speaking to neighbours again, in the hopes of gathering new information.

During questioning, police noted several inconsistencies and lies in the pair’s accounts of what happened.

One of the most significant was when he told police that there was no machete in his shop.

From interviews, police had already established that there was and several people had seen Morgan using one.

Carl believes that was the item that was used to murder Carol. Allen also lied about his financial situation with Carol, giving police more reason to suspect that he was involved in her murder. 

During questioning, it was revealed that Allen had a previous conviction for insurance fraud.

Before Carol, he was previously in a volatile marriage with a woman called Sandra, who he had two kids with.

He became violent towards her and even punched her in the stomach when she told him she was pregnant, which may have contributed to the loss of one of their twins.

Sandra gave a statement in 1981 detailing a history of brutal domestic violence. His own kids also revealed disturbing details of brutal punishments and a history of physical abuse.

After the initial interviews, the couple were released on bail pending further investigations as police did not have enough evidence to charge them. 

Bombshell evidence

Elderly couple leaving a courthouse.
Hyde News & Pictures
The pair were arrested by cops on multiple times before a breakthrough witness[/caption]
Photo of a young woman with short dark hair wearing a white shirt.
BBC
Jane Bunting’s testimony was the smoking gun cops needed[/caption]

Just as the investigation stalled and frustration began to set in, a bombshell witness came forward.

In 1981, Jane Bunting was a wayward child who had been expelled from, school. Margaret was then assigned as her tutor.

After developing a close relationship, Jane was invited to a pub to meet up with Margaret and Morgan three months before the murder.

During their conversation, the couple discussed various ways Carol could die, including in a car accident.

The conversation left Jane stunned but Margaret tried to assure her it was just a joke.

After Carol was killed, Margaret warned the 17-year-old not to tell anyone about the discussion at the pub. Jane’s incredible testimony was the smoking gun detectives desperately needed.

Armed with this, they once again arrested Morgan and Margaret and brought them into the Kempston Police Station for questioning.

During the interrogations, they answered “no comment” to every question.

Although the Crown Prosecution Service felt they had a significant amount of evidence on the couple, they wanted to make sure they could prove their guilt without a reasonable doubt.

The couple was released for a second time. During their trips to and from the station, cops secretly recorded their conversations, including one instance when Morgan told Margaret: “I don’t want to say anything cos they might have…” – stopping when he realised he might incriminate himself.

Eventually, the decision was made to charge the pair for hiring a hitman to murder Carol.

Shan Saunders, from the CPS, whose decision it was to charge the pair said in the documentary: “If you take out the robbery hypothesis and look at it, who else had a motive to kill her?”

In April 2024, the couple’s trial began at the Luton Crown Court. Dean Morgan, Carol’s son, bravely gave testimony while Jane Bunting’s evidence revealed the cold-hearted plot to kill Carol.

In June 2024, the jury reached a decision and found Morgan guilty of conspiracy to murder. However, Margaret was acquitted of the charge. 

On 29th July, Allen was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 22 years.

Sentencing, Mr Justice Spencer told Morgan he was a “wicked” person. 

But while Allen Morgan plotted the murder, the accomplice who carried out the horrific attack has never been found.

The Real Unforgotten airs on 18th February at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX

Black and white photo of Allen and Carol Morgan on their wedding day; Carol was murdered in 1981.
Fairley & Simmons
Morgan was sentenced to life in prison for the crime in 2024[/caption]
Court sketch of Margaret and Allen Morgan, suspects in a conspiracy to murder.
PA
Margaret, however, was acquitted of the same charge[/caption]

Read More »

Love Island stars fly back to the UK after tense final – and shock winners collect £50k prize

LOVE Island stars from the 2025 All Stars series are jetting back to the UK.

The hit reality show came to an epic conclusion on Monday night, when one of the remaining couples were crowned the winners after spending several weeks in the South African villa.

Two men at an airport, one pulling a suitcase.
Instagram
Montel McKenzie shared some snaps of his trip back to the UK with Nas Majeed[/caption]
Man pulling luggage down airport walkway, giving peace sign.
Instagram
This comes after the axed All Stars made a return to the villa[/caption]
Love Island stars at Cape Town International Airport with luggage.
Instagram
Love Islanders are departing Cape Town after Monday night’s grand finale[/caption]
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ricardo De Leca/ITV/REX/Shutterstock (15154846an) Casey O'Gorman, Maya Jama and Gabby Allen 'Love Island: All Stars' TV Show, Final, South Africa - 17 Feb 2025
Casey O’Gorman and Gabby Allen won the 2025 series of Love Island: All Stars on Monday night – with the result leaving the general public shocked

Casey O’Gorman and Gabby Allen won this year’s All Stars series, with Luca Bish and Grace Jackson placing second, and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Curtis Pritchard placing third.

And after the shock winners bagged £50,000, everyone who starred in the series have started to make their way back to the UK from South Africa.

All of the former Islanders from this year’s All Stars series recently returned and even stars who quit the show made a comeback too.

A source to The Sun at the time: “All of the All Stars cast have flown back in – even stars who quit the show.

“They’re all flying today and film tonight – ITV bosses even flew the girls and the boys out separately, and made them stay in completely different places – so when they reunite, it’ll be explosive!”

In the aftermath of the grand finale on Monday night, some Islanders have shared snaps of themselves on the way back to the UK.

Ron Hall, Chuggs Wallis, Montel McKenzie and Nas Majeed have all been seen departing Cape Town in snaps shared by one another online.

In snaps shared by Montel, he can be seen posing with Nas as they made their way onto a plane.

He also shared a snap of Chuggs, Ron and Nas as they wheeled their suitcases through Cape Town International Airport.

This comes as fans process the shocking result of the Love Island final.

All Stars 2025 winners Casey and Gabby were the underdogs in a nail-biting finale, going head-to-head with the bookies’ favourites Grace Jackson and Luca Bish.

Some fans even went as far to brand the show “fixed”.

One person said on X: “Did you not hear the shout for Luca and Grace?? Sooo much louder than Gabby and Casey, it’s a fix.”

While another said: “The engagement says it all Luca and Grace should have won,” referring to the amount of likes and views content of Luca and Grace got compared to Casey and Gabby

Love Island: All Stars 2025 Grand Finale Results

Love Island: All Stars 2025 came to an epic conclusion on February 17...

WINNERSGabby Allen and Casey O’Gorman

2nd PlaceGrace Jackson and Luca Bish

3rd PlaceCurtis Pritchard and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu

4th Place: Catherine Agbaje and Omar Nyame

5th PlaceElma Pazar and Sammy Root

Speaking to Maya before they were crowned, Casey gushed over Gabby and insisted he had already won.

He told Maya after finding out they were in the final two: “I absolutely adore her (Gabby).

“She has just blown me off my socks since I got here.

“As soon as that first conversation I had with her, it was game over for me.”

Gabby and Casey will now collect and then split the jaw-dropping £50,000 prize.

Not only do they take home the cash, but also the title of second-ever All Stars winners as the series comes to an end.

During the first season of All Stars in 2024, a source told The Sun that the returning stars would make a significant amount of cash each – whether they won or not.

The source revealed at the time that each All Star was being paid £2,000 a week to return to the villa, totalling up to £10,000 for the five weeks the series runs for.

Group photo of Love Island: All Stars cast members.
Rex
The Love Island: All Stars grand finale aired on Monday night (February 17)[/caption]
Gabby Allen and Casey O'Gorman at the Love Island: All Stars final.
Gabby Allen and Casey O’Gorman won the hit reality series and walked away with £50,000 in cash

Read More »

My hair fell out in clumps due to diet of takeaways and Coke but I had a turning point, here’s my top 8 tips

A WOMAN who couldn’t look at herself in the mirror and suffered hair loss as she struggled with binge eating has shared her top 8 tips for turning her life around – and becoming a fitness coach.

Sophia Moulson, 21, used to feel “trapped in a cycle of self-doubt and insecurity” and turned to food as a coping mechanism, often binge eating.

Woman in orange workout clothes taking a selfie in a gym locker room.
Jam Press/@sophclarefit
Sophia  Moulson, 21, struggled with binge eating and low self esteem[/caption]
Close-up of thinning hair on a person's scalp.
Jam Press/@sophclarefit
Her hair began falling out in clumps due to stress[/caption]
Woman flexing bicep in gym selfie.
Jam Press/@sophclarefit
She started working out in 2023 and was able to turn her life around in a year[/caption]
Woman taking a selfie in a gym.
Jam Press/@sophclarefit
Sophia hopes to help others in her place[/caption]

With her hair falling out in clumps “due to stress” and struggling to walk without feeling out of breath, Sophia joined her local gym with the aim losing weight and improving her mental health.

Within a year, she’d transformed her body and health, and now hopes to help others do the same.

“I was so uncomfortable in my own skin and hated my appearance,” Sophia, who lives in the south of England, said.

“I had zero self-confidence, and I’d avoid social situations because I felt embarrassed and didn’t want anyone to see me.

“I got so set in my ways of wanting to stay home and eat whatever I could.

“Then, when I would see myself in the mirror and feel uncomfortable, I would eat more to comfort myself.

“My turning point came when one day I was sitting there realising all of my clothes wouldn’t fit.

“I felt so unfit I couldn’t walk far without being out of breath, and I kept dreaming of a life which was so far from my reality.

“My hair was falling out due to stress.

“I didn’t feel like me – and I didn’t recognise myself.

“I realised I had to make a change, otherwise I would regret it later on in life.”

Weighing 12st, Sophia committed to going to the gym three times a week from September 2023.

While she’d previously struggled to stay consistent, this time she was able to stick to her workout schedule and was blown away by how good she started to feel.

She said: “Everything changed when I discovered the gym and a fitness-focused lifestyle.

Woman in a gym taking a selfie in a mirror.
Jam Press/@sophclarefit
Sophia avoided looking in mirrors as she hated the way she looked[/caption]
Woman working out on a lat pulldown machine at the gym.
Jam Press/@sophclarefit
She was able to stick to a consistent exercise routine of weight lifting and cardio[/caption]
Woman wearing headphones and sunglasses outdoors.
Jam Press/@sophclarefit
She tried to hit 10,000 steps a day[/caption]
Woman in blue workout clothes taking a selfie in a gym.
Jam Press/@sophclarefit
And she weight trains five or six times a week, followed by quick burst of cardio[/caption]

“[I started] only wanting to lose weight.

“It felt so challenging and I wanted to give up as I’d been to the gym on and off for years, but only stuck at it for a week or two tops.

“This time, I told myself I needed to keep going and push through the hard times and feeling uncomfortable.

“When I realised I had stuck at it for a month and started to enjoy it and the routine, I started looking forward to going to the gym.

Sophia's 8 fitness journey tips

Sophia shared 10 things that helped her through her fitness journey.

1. Get outside – stepping into the great outdoors can boost your mood and help you with your weight loss goals. Aim for at least 10,000 steps a day whether that’s running or walking.

2. Don’t compare yourself to others – everyone goes at their own pace and you can’t compare day one of your journey to someone’s 100th day.

3. You might make friends along the way – though you might feel intimidated, the gym can be a good place to meet others.

4. Make sure to eat – you need to fuel your body. Eating enough protein is an important part of weight loss and muscle gain.

5. Don’t deny yourself sweet treats – having one ‘cheat meal’ isn’t going to ruin your progress.

6. Honour your effort – even if you feel you aren’t making progress, being consistent is something to be admired.

7. You won’t see results instantly – getting fit takes time, but putting in hard work and pushing yourself with guarantee good results.

8. There will be bad days – you won’t feel 100% every day and that’s OK!

“At first, it was intimidating, but over time, I fell in love with the process.

“I started to see changes, not just in my body, but in my mindset.

“Fitness gave me a sense of purpose and taught me discipline, resilience, and self-love.”

‘Life-changing’

When she hit the three-month mark – enjoying a mixture of cardio and weight-lifting – Sophia started to see results.

She also started eating in a calorie deficit, focusing on getting her five-a-day of fruits and veggies.

Sophie even upped her workout regime to five or six days a week, doing weight lifting and often ending with a quick burst of cardio.

Over the past year and a half has dropped 38lbs.

Now weighing 8st 9lbs, Sophia is super toned and often shares inspirational clips on TikTok, where her videos have been viewed up to four million times.

Having previously worked as a barber, Sophia decided to change her career and focus on helping other people achieve the same success she has in the gym, becoming a fitness coach.

What a balanced plate looks like

How can you make sure you are eating a balanced, filling and nutritious plate at every meal?

Think of your plate divided into different food groups – protein, carbs, fat and fruit and veg.

Protein: David Wiener, training and nutrition specialist at AI-based lifestyle and coaching app Freeletics, told The Sun: “Aim for one to two palm-size portions of lean protein in each meal.”

Protein includes meat (chicken, turkey, pork, beef), beans, peas, lentils and fish.

The NHS Eatwell Guide says to choose lean cuts of meat and mince, and eat less red and processed meat like bacon, ham and sausages.

Aim for at least two portions (two x 140g) of fish every week, one of which should be oily, such as salmon, sardines or mackerel.

Carbs: Carbohydrates should make up about a third of your plate, or a fist-sized portion.

The Eatwell Guide says: “Choose higher fibre or wholegrain varieties, such as wholewheat pasta and brown rice, or simply leave the skins on potatoes.

“There are also higher fibre versions of white bread and pasta.

“Starchy foods are a good source of energy and the main source of a range of nutrients in our diet.”

Fat: Generally the advice is to think of fat like a thumb-sized amount on your plate.

The Eatwell Guide says: “Remember all types of fat are high in energy and should be eaten in small amounts.

“These foods include chocolate, cakes, biscuits, sugary soft drinks, butter, ghee and ice cream.

“They’re not needed in our diet, so should be eaten less often and in smaller amounts.”

But a small amount is still essential for the diet. Try and eat more unsaturated fats (avocado, nuts, olive oil), which are healthier than saturated fats (butter, hard cheese, sour cream).

Fruit and veg: David says: “Make sure you also get lots of colourful fruit and vegetable carbohydrates too.

“Aim for at least five of these portions a day.

“One to two fist-sized portions of fruits and vegetables with every meal is generally recommended.”

Fruit and veg can be fresh, frozen, tinned or dried. You can roast, boil, steam or grill veggies.

Sophia said: “This journey has completely transformed my life in ways I never imagined.

“I’ve grown into a more confident, happier version of myself, and now, I’m using my experience to help others.

“As an online coach, I’m passionate about guiding people through their own transformations, showing them that it’s possible to break free from the struggles I once faced and create a life they truly love.

“Life has been the best it’s ever been – I feel so much happier, healthier and more confident since losing weight.

“Having strength and actually being able to do things I couldn’t do before has been life-changing.

“Even down to something so minor as being able to push myself up out of a pool again, being able to run and enjoy it!

“I’ll forever be thankful to my past self for this.”

A bowl of rice with pan-fried tofu, avocado, red onion, greens, and crispy onions.
Jam Press/@sophclarefit
Sophia tried to load up on protein with every meal[/caption]
Woman on treadmill at gym taking selfie.
Jam Press/@sophclarefit
She’s gotten more and more confident and hopes to help to others too – becoming an online fitness coach[/caption]
Woman in white maxi dress.
Jam Press/@sophclarefit
She says life is better than ever[/caption]

Read More »

‘They ignore the message’ – five ways to escape a plane crash according to experts and survivors

EVEN THOUGH air accidents are extremely rare, there are some ways passengers can make sure they stay safe in the event of a crash.

Yesterday, a Delta plane crashed and flipped on its roof at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada.

Interior view of a full passenger airplane cabin.
Alamy
Several aviation experts have encouraged passengers, no matter how frequently they fly, to listen to the safety briefings issued by flight attendants (stock image)[/caption]
Interior view of a full passenger airplane cabin.
Alamy
Plane crash survivor Josh Peltz has previously said his knowledge of the safety procedures helped him, and others, escape (stock image)[/caption]

Details of the plane crash, including what caused the incident, have yet to be revealed with 18 people injured.

It also comes after two major crashes in the US earlier this year, including when an American Airlines plane collided with a military helicopter in Washington DC and a plane crash in Alaska.

But over the last few years, travel safety experts, and crash survivors, have been issuing life-saving advice to passengers.

Aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said, following a plane incident in Houson in 2021, told CNN: “When I board that plane, I note to myself and I say, ‘My nearest exits are three rows up and two rows back,’ or whatever they happen to be.

“I also always try to get myself as close as I can to an exit – if I’m in an aisle and my exit is not an exit row then I look for my pathway to get out.”

Knowing where emergency exits are is just one reason to listen to the safety briefing issued by flight attendants at the beginning of a flight.

While it can feel repetitive for frequent flyers to hear the same announcement, ignoring it could lead to fatal repercussions.

Schiavo’s advice has been echoed by Vance Hilderman, CEO of one of the world’s largest aviation safety service companies Afuzion Inc.

He previously told Sun Online Travel: “You should pay attention to the plane while you are taking off and landing.

“I’d put your phone away for those moments, listen to the safety briefing and just pay attention to what’s going on.

“Work out where your nearest exit is, how you’d get out in an emergency, things like that. It could make a big difference.”

Not only do flight attendants point out all the exits on an aircraft, they also explain what to do in the event of a crash, including when a plane goes down over water.

Josh Peltz, who was a passenger on the famous 2009 plane crash on the Hudson River, which has since been dramatised into a film starring Tom Hanks, has previously said his knowledge of the safety procedures helped him, and others, escape the aircraft.

The very first thing that they will do is ignore that message

He previously told the Guardian: “At about 300ft, I started reading the [safety] instructions.

“There were six steps, and I read them two or three times, testing myself on each step and trying to envision myself opening the door.”

After the plane crashed, he explained: “Someone next to me was trying to pull the door in and I said, ‘No, it’s got to go out.’

“Thankfully, I’d just read that. I knew people would rush to the emergency exit, so if it had jammed there would have been a pile-up.”

Despite the safety instructions from flight attendants and the safety cards placed in each seat, only 10 of the 150 passengers on board the Hudson River crash left the aircraft with their life jackets.

Vance has also previously encouraged passengers not to ignore safety messages and instructions from crew.

Flight attendant demonstrating oxygen mask use on an airplane.
Alamy
Passengers have been encouraged to listen to safety demonstrations so they know the location of life jackets and oxygen masks[/caption]

He said: “People are told not to panic, and not to grab their belongings, but they do it every time – they rush and try to get off the plane and whether it’s a bag or other personal items, they try and get them.

“It holds people up and it causes problems in the cabin that you don’t need.

“It’s vitally important but it’s really strange because obviously people are told to leave things behind, then the very first thing that they will do is ignore that message.”

Vance has also encouraged passengers to queue efficiently in the event of a crash, something British holidaymakers should be able to do effectively.

The aviation safety boss added: “It’s not just about thinking about yourself, you have to think about your fellow passengers and everyone rushing at the same time will cause problems in the aisles.

“Queueing and moving efficiently is what you hope for in that incident, it doesn’t always happen.”

Vance has also revealed that the safest seat on a plane is over the wing, right next to the emergency door.

This is because passengers closest to the emergency exit will be the first out of the cabin in the unlikely event of a plane crash.

Emergency exit seats also have more legroom, making them comfier for passengers.

Experts have also encouraged passengers to adopt the brace position in the event of a crash.

Not only does the brace position help minimise flailing, it also helps prevent head injuries.

'Freak accident' is something 'from the movies'

SCOTT Keyes, founder and chief flight expert at the Going travel app, shared insights with The U.S. Sun following the Delta plane crash at Toronto Pearson International Airport on February 17.

Regarding the cause of the Toronto plane crash:
“It’s too early to speculate what precisely happened, I’m afraid. It’s certainly safe to call it a “freak accident” and that may be understating just how rare a scene like this is. An inverted passenger plane is something moviegoers saw in Denzel Washington’s 2012 film Flight—not something we see in reality until today.”

Regarding smaller jets having been involved in recent crashes:
“While it’s certainly unexpected to have two major incidents in a row take place on small aircraft, it’s not totally shocking. Around one-third of commercial aircraft in the US are smaller planes like the Delta CRJ seen today. We’ll wait and see for the investigators’ report, but given the differing circumstances of Toronto and DCA, I think it’s highly unlikely that this is a built-in aircraft issue similar to what we saw with successive 737 MAX crashes.”

Regarding air travel safety:
“You are far, far more likely to get in an accident on your drive to the airport than on your flight from the airport. On a per-mile basis, your mortality risk in a car is over 100 times higher than in a passenger plane. The fact that incidents like these grab so much attention is because of their rarity.”

— Scott Keyes, founder and chief flight expert at the Going travel app

Meanwhile, if you’re a nervous flyer, you’re in for a rough time as it’s likely flights are going to have more turbulence than ever.

And here are some plane myths which aren’t true, according to a flight attendant.

Flight attendant demonstrating emergency exit on airplane.
Getty
Vance Hilderman, CEO of one of the world’s largest aviation safety service companies Afuzion Inc, has encouraged passengers to stop using their phones throughout safety briefings[/caption]

Read More »

Samsung Galaxy S25 deals: Where to buy new Android phone

Samsung phones in various colors with an S Pen.
A soft vintage gradient blur background with a pastel colored well use as studio room, product presentation and banner.

SAMSUNG’s hottest new handset is available to buy.

We’ve handpicked the best Samsung Galaxy S25 deals right here, including SIM-free and pay-monthly options.

Samsung Galaxy S25 in multiple colors.
The new Samsung Galaxy S25 is now available to buy

Samsung Galaxy S25 series

 

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S25 at its Galaxy Unpacked event in San Jose on January 22, boasting its sleek new design and the latest AI smarts.

The Galaxy S25 hits shelves and started shipping to Android lovers earlier in February.

Our tech expert Jamie Harris, who had an early hands-on with the Galaxy S25, was wowed by its new Now Bar and Now Brief features. 

Calling it “a true companion in your pocket,” he praised how the S25 “learns how you use your device” and delivers daily briefings to keep you up to date.

This feature is part of a major free upgrade rolling out across the Galaxy line-up when the new One UI 7 is released.

Where to buy the Samsung Galaxy S25

Samsung naturally is leading the charge of its flagship release, offering exclusive colour options you won’t find anywhere else.

But, you can buy it through retailers like Amazon and all the big networks.

Check out the best SIM-free and pay-monthly deals below.

Retailers worth checking out include:

SIM-free

  • Samsung Galaxy S25, from £799 at Samsung – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25+, from £999 at Samsung – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, from £1,249 at Samsung – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25, from £799 at Amazon – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25+, from £999 at Amazon – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, from £1,249 at Amazon – buy here

Best pay-monthly deals

Samsung Galaxy S25

  • Samsung Galaxy S25, 125GB Essentials, £48.46/month (£30 upfront) on EE  buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25, 50GB, £38/month (£30 upfront) on Vodafone – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25, 150GB, £39/month (£30 upfront) on Three – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25, Unlimited data, £55/month (£0 upfront) on Sky Mobile – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25, 100GB, £29.99/month (£29 upfront) from Mobiles.co.uk – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25, 30GB, £36.01/month (£30 upfront) on O2 – buy here

Samsung Galaxy S25+

  • Samsung Galaxy S25+, Unlimited Essentials Plus, £65.96/month, (£30 upfront) on EE – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25+, 50GB, £44/month (£30 upfront) on Vodafone – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25+, 150GB, £45.25/month (£40 upfront) on Three – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25+, Unlimited data, £63/month (£0 upfront) on Sky Mobile – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25+, 500GB, £39.99/month (£79 upfront) from Mobiles.co.uk – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25+ Unlimited data, £61.92 per month (£30 upfront) on O2 – buy here

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, Unlimited Essentials Plus, £63.33/month, £30 upfront on EE – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, 50GB, £51/month (£40 upfront) on Vodafone – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, 150GB, £50/month (£50 upfront) on Three – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, Unlimited data, £73/month (£0 upfront) on Sky Mobile – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, 500GB, £53.99/month (£59 upfront) from Mobiles.co.uk – buy here
  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, 150GB, £49.39/month (£30 upfront) on O2 – buy here

What makes the Galaxy S25 special?

The Galaxy S25 comes with the sleek new One UI 7, which makes navigation smoother and more intuitive.

But what’s got tongues wagging are its AI-powered upgrades.

The camera now automatically adjusts to scenes for the best shots, while battery management learns your usage patterns to save power when needed.

Two standout AI features come in the form of Now Brief and Now Bar.

The Now Brief gives you a quick, customisable glance at your most important info without diving into apps, while the Now Bar allows easy access to your favourite apps.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra release date

Tech fans will be delighted to learn that there’s not long to wait until the highly-anticipated release date, which is set for February 7.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is currently available to buy, and we’ve listed plenty of options above for you to explore.

Samsung Galaxy S25 release date

As you may have already guessed, the Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25+ are also set to be released on February 7 – so the same rules apply.

Pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Ultra began on Wednesday, January 22 – but the whole range is on general sale now.

Samsung Galaxy S25 series


Check out our shopping tech hub for our top tech picks and discounts, and our tech section for more news, tips and guides.

Read More »

Wayne Rooney starts new job in Middle East as Man Utd legend touches down for first day after leaving Plymouth

WAYNE ROONEY has started a new job in Dubai after leaving Plymouth Argyle in December.

The Manchester United star has jetted off for the February half-term break and is soaking up the sun alongside fellow former pros.

Wayne Rooney coaching soccer.
Instagram / footballescapes
Wayne Rooney has landed a coaching role with Football Escapes[/caption]
Wayne Rooney coaching youth soccer players.
Football Escapes
He has been tutoring young children in Dubai[/caption]
Wayne Rooney coaching at a Football Escapes event.
Football Escapes
Rooney is looking to get back into management after leaving Plymouth Argyle[/caption]

He has taken up a coaching role with Football Escapes and is tutoring young children at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai.

Football Escapes offer a family holiday package at the hotel, with kids getting the chance to train under the tutelage of former players including Rooney, Michael Owen and Mark Noble.

Rooney ran a group through their paces on day one wearing a Football Escapes shirt, as happy parents watched on and filmed videos.

Packages cost between £7,500 to £8,650 to stay at the five-star hotel for five days.

The hotel features multiple pitches as well as a gym and five swimming pools, including one 25m pool.

There is also a waterpark on site and a private beach attached, along with a spa that contains 10 luxurious treatment rooms.

Rooney is taking part as a coach with Football Escapes for the first time after leaving Plymouth on New Year’s Day.

He wants to return to management but revealed it would “have to be the right club”.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

Wayne Rooney's record-breaking career

WAYNE Rooney took the football world by storm when he made his debut for 2002 with Everton.

He quickly became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer aged 16 years and 342 days and was named the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year.

The striker joined Manchester United in 2004 and spent 13 years at Old Trafford. He went on to make 559 appearances for the Red Devils and scored 253 goals. To this day he is still the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.

Following his spell with United, Rooney returned to Everton for a season. He also spent one-season stints with D.C. United and Derby County at the end of his career.

As well as his impressive club career, Rooney is also England’s second-highest goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 appearances, behind only Harry Kane.

After hanging up his boots, the England icon turned to a career in management.

He took charge of Derby County in 2020 and managed to just about save the club from relegation from the Championship at the end of his first season.

However, with Derby handed a 21-point deduction the following campaign, he was unable to keep them up again and subsequently left.

Then came a 15-month spell in charge of MLS side D.C. United. He failed to impress during his time in Washington and parted ways with the club at the end of the 2023 regular season.

Rooney was controversially handed the Birmingham job in October 2023, replacing John Eustace with the club doing well and sixth in the Championship table.

However, in 15 games he suffered nine defeats and managed just two wins. He was sacked in January 2024 with Birmingham down in 20th. The club were relegated to League One at the end of the campaign.

He returned to management in May with Plymouth Argyle but managed just five wins in 25 games. The United legend now finds himself out of work once again.

While he is yet to secure a new full-time job, he returned to punditry work on TV last week with Prime Video.

Rooney was part of the coverage for Manchester City’s Champions League defeat to Real Madrid as he made his debut appearance for the broadcaster.

Jumeirah Beach Hotel pool and landscaping.
https://footballescapes.com/courses/JBH170225/
Training sessions take place at the five-star Jumeirah Beach Hotel[/caption]

Read More »

Vatican CANCELS Pope’s upcoming events as fears grow over 88-year-old Pontiff’s ‘complex’ health situation

THE Vatican has cancelled Pope Francis’ weekend engagements as the 88-year-old pontiff battles a “complex” respiratory infection.

Francis has been in Rome‘s Gemelli hospital since Friday for bronchitis treatment as fears grow over his health.

Pope Francis seated, hand to chin.
Splash
The Vatican has cancelled Pope Francis’ upcoming engagements[/caption]
Pope Francis being assisted by two men, one in a suit and the other in clerical garb.
Splash
Francis, 88, is battling a ‘complex’ respiratory infection[/caption]
Pope Francis waving from a balcony.
The Mega Agency
The Argentinian-born pontiff has been leading the Catholic Church since 2013[/caption]
Pope Francis's statue outside Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
EPA
He is currently being treated at the Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome[/caption]

On Monday, Vatican officials revealed that his condition presented a “complex clinical picture”, requiring further medical care.

Later that evening, the Vatican said he was “stable” and did not have a fever.

Despite his illness, the Pope “read and worked” on Monday morning and was “touched by the numerous messages of affection and closeness that he continues to receive in these hours.”

The cancellations come as the Vatican prepares for the Holy Year, a once-every-quarter-century celebration of Catholicism expected to draw 30 million pilgrims to Rome.

The Holy Year is packed with special papal audiences and Masses, but Francis’ illness has now cast uncertainty over his ability to participate.

This weekend’s planned event for deacons has been altered, with the Pope’s special audience on Saturday cancelled and a Jubilee Mass on Sunday now being led the archbishop organising the Holy Year. 

Similar adjustments were made last weekend when a cardinal presided over a Mass for artists instead of Francis.

The next major Jubilee event that traditionally involves the Pope is scheduled for March 8-9, dedicated to volunteers.

Francis, who has led the Catholic Church since 2013, has suffered from influenza and other health problems in recent years.

He had part of one lung removed after a pulmonary infection as a young man, making him prone to bronchitis during winter.

Pilgrims arriving at the Vatican have been offering prayers for his recovery.

“We certainly wish for him to get better very quickly,” said Reverend Tyler Carter, a Catholic priest from the US.

“He is our father and our shepherd, and so we want his continued health and blessing.”

Pope Francis using a cane, speaking with a cardinal.
Reuters
The Pope has suffered from influenza and other health problems in recent years[/caption]
Pope Francis in a wheelchair greets religious figures.
AFP
Pope Francis greets faithful as he arrives to lead the vespers at St Peter’s basilica in The Vatican on February 1[/caption]

Medical tests have confirmed that the Pope is suffering from a “polymicrobial respiratory tract infection”, meaning multiple viruses, bacteria, and possibly fungi are affecting his lungs.

As a result, his drug therapy has been adjusted.

Despite Vatican doctors advising him to rest, Francis has pushed himself through a busy schedule.

How will the next Pope be chosen?

THE next Pope is chosen through a process called a papal conclave, which takes place after the current Pope dies or resigns.

Here’s how it works:

  1. The College of Cardinals is summoned to the Vatican
  2. The cardinals meet in the Sistine Chapel and vote by a secret ballot
  3. They will prepare for the upcoming papal elections – called a conclave
  4. These Catholic leaders will vote once on the first days and four times a day on each additional day
  5. This vote will continue until one candidate gets two-thirds of the vote
  6. The nominee must then accept the offer and choose their new papal name
  7. This outcome will be confirmed to the public when white smoke burns out of the Sistine Chapel chimney

On February 9, he ignored calls to stay indoors and sat through an outdoor Jubilee Mass for the armed forces, even though he was visibly struggling to breathe.

His current hospitalisation has already sidelined him longer than his 2023 admission for pneumonia.

The Vatican has not given an indication of how long he might remain in hospital, only stating that treating such a “complex clinical picture” will require “an adequate stay.”

A pilgrim carries a large wooden cross in St. Peter's Square.
Reuters
Millions of pilgrims are expected to flock to Rome for the Holy Year celebrations[/caption]
Flowers and candles at the foot of a statue of Pope John Paul II.
EPA
Flowers and candles are laid at the foot of a statue of Pope St. John Paul II outside the Gemelli University Hospital, where Pope Francis is hospitalised[/caption]

Read More »

Zoe Ball’s Radio 2 return revealed after she quit Breakfast Show in shock move

ZOE Ball has revealed that she’s returning to Radio 2 with a brand new show just weeks after she quit.

In December the much-loved broadcaster, 54, waved goodbye to her BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show for good.

Zoe Ball at BBC Radio 2.
BBC
Zoe Ball returns to Radio 2 with a brand new Saturday daytime show[/caption]
Announcement of Zoe Ball's return to BBC Radio 2.
Instagram/@bbcradio2
The radio favourite joins a stellar line-up along with Richie Anderson[/caption]

But Zoe today announced she has landed a Saturday afternoon slot on the same station launching in May.

The news was shared on BBC Radio 2 official Instagram page.

They wrote: “In May, Zoe Ball launches a brand new Saturday show, live from 1-3pm, playing some of her favourite music, having lots of laughs and reconnecting with listeners.”

Zoe will be joining a Saturday line-up of high calibre radio hosts.

The caption continued: “Pick of the Pops, hosted by Mark Goodier, will move to a new – and nostalgic – home, live on Sundays from 5-7pm.

Richie Anderson, who presents the traffic and travel news every Monday – Thursday (noon-7pm), will also launch a new Sunday night into Monday morning show from midnight-3am, broadcasting live from BBC MediaCity in Salford.”

In an emotional farewell at the end of last year, Zoe, 54, revealed she wanted to focus on family after her mother Julia passed away from cancer.

And since ditching the hustle and bustle of London, the mum-of-two has been enjoying a more cosy home life in Sussex.

The popular presenter – who was earning almost £1million a year from her Radio 2 gig – has reportedly been “working at a local cafe” with her ex-husband.

Spilling the tea, their son Woody told the MailOnline: “In the last five years, it’s been funny watching my parents take up gardening both of them.”

“These crazy party people I grew up with are now gardening, making puzzles and working in the local café,” Woody said.

“It’s very funny to see that transitional period, just as I’m kind of leaving the nest and now at the start of something big for me in music.”

Zoe and musician Fatboy Slim – real name Norman Cook – were married from 1999 to 2020.

The DJ and record producer owns the Big Beach Cafe in Hove and is often seen working there wearing a name badge reading: “Norm.”

Speaking about his mum’s decision to leave BBC Radio 2, Woody said: “It’s lovely seeing my mum more, because obviously she’s had quite a weird schedule for the last few years.”

EMOTIONAL RADIO EXIT

Zoe bid an emotional farewell to Radio 2 on December 20.

Messages of support flooded in from listeners and celebrities such as Kylie MinogueDavid Tennant and Robbie Williams.

Woody also left a message for his mum, which had her in tears.

It read: “Hey mum, you’ve done such an amazing job on the Breakfast Show and I just wanted to thank you for making everyone’s mornings a bit more magic.

“Here’s to a healthier sleeping schedule. Love Woody.”

ZOE’S RADIO JOURNEY

Zoe was the first female host of the Radio 1 and Radio 2’s breakfast shows, taking over at BBC 2 from Chris Evans in 2019.

Many will remember she rose to fame as a ladette of the nineties presenting music magazine show O-Zone, Live and Kicking and more.

As she said goodbye to the Breakfast show to focus on family she began her five-minute on air monologue by saying: “I am obviously full of feels today and I have so many people I want to thank.”

But the mum-of-two gave a special shout out to her kids, Woody and Nelly, telling them: “Being your mum is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Zoe Ball at the ARIAS awards.
PA
Zoe has reportedly been ‘working at a local cafe’ with her ex-husband[/caption]

Read More »