New York State

BRITAIN’S busiest motorway is set to close AGAIN next weekend leaving thousands of drivers affected.

The closures are on junction 10 of the M25, near Wisley in Surrey where the motorway meets the A3, and junction 11, near Woking, in both directions.

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Junction 10 is the busiest section of the M25, which sees more than 300,000 vehicles pass through each day.

The section was already closed last weekend from Friday, March 7 to Monday, March 10, causing travel chaos to thousands.

And now National Highways has warned drivers that it’s due to shut again and to expect delays.

The closures are part of a £317m improvement works to add extra lanes.

National Highways have said this set of M25 closures will be the final ones for this project.

Last year, National Highways closed part of the motorway three times as it undergoes the multi-million pound upgrade.

The infrastructure project began in 2022 but “extreme weather” has pushed back the expected completion date to spring 2026, said National Highways.

Some elements of the project have already been completed, including the new Wisley Lane and four gyratory bridges.

Landscaping has also been done and signs have been removed from the gantry.

Jonathan Wade, project manager, told BBC Radio Surrey the next closure was a “little bit more tricky” because it’s close to one of the new bridges.

He said: “There were lessons learned over the weekend, so we’re looking forward to doing that.

“We did see quite a lot of traffic so sincere apologies to those who were delayed.”

He also thanked local residents “who bore the brunt of a lot of the traffic”, and said: “We are aware that these things aren’t great and they do have an impact on people’s lives.”

After this final closure on this section of the motorway, the A3 will be closed northbound between junction 10 and the A245 at the Cobham roundabout between 11 and 14 April.

RAC spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “Without careful planning, drivers could face some really lengthy tailbacks.

“We expect diversion routes, especially along the A3, to become heavily congested.

“Those that do decide to drive on either weekend should prepare to spend much longer on the roads and make sure they have plenty of fuel or charge for their trips.”

The March 2024 closure was the first planned daytime shutdown of the M25 since it opened in 1986.

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NICKY Henderson is one of Britain’s leading horse trainers, known for winning the jump racing Champion Trainer trophy six times.

He is supported by his wife Sophie and fans are hoping to catch a glimpse of the couple at the Cheltenham Festival 2025.

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Sportsfile

Who is Nicky Henderson’s wife Sophie?

Sophie married Nicky in January 2018, in an intimate wedding located in Loch Ericht, Scotland.

Only 50 guests were in attendance at the private ceremony.

Nicky had five winning horses at Kempton on the day of the wedding and was updated on the results during the ceremony.

Sophie lives with Nicky near Seven Barrows in Hungerford, where he has trained his horses since 1992.

Throughout his career, the horse trainer has enjoyed great success.

He is a six time champion trainer and has won two Cheltenham Gold Cups.

Nicky’s first marriage

Nicky’s marriage to Sophie was actually the second time he tied the knot.

He was previously married to Diana Henderson for 28 years until 2006.

Diana was the first woman to win a race under National Hunt rules and had a successful career of her own as a jockey.

She also competed in badminton horse trials, one of the most prestigious equestrian events, where she was a runner-up in 1977.

Nicky’s three daughters

Henderson has three daughters from his first marriage, named Camilla, Tessa and Sarah.

Camilla is an equestrian psychology specialist who has built up a big following online.

She spoke out in May 2024, after the racing community was rocked by three suicides.

The psychology expert posted: “It’s simply UNFATHOMABLE. Three to suicide. All friends.

“I hope the industry is supporting these individuals & making calls, visiting them, because they are now extremely vulnerable.

“Please everyone in this industry think about what we can all do to make better change to support

“Jockeys & stable staff,male & female.

“What infrastructures can we put in the racing yards, at the physio facilities, at the race courses, at home for them.

“Perhaps some support groups in Lambourn, Newmarket areas also, a space where lads can speak together about their struggles.”

Sarah followed in the footsteps of her father and works in National Hunt racing.

Cheltenham Festival 2025

Nicky will take part in the Cheltenham Festival 2025.

The thrilling races kick off on March 11 and there is an eye-watering total of £4,930,000 to be divided across 28 races.

ITV will be broadcasting the first five of seven main races at the festival. 

Fans can catch the remaining races on Racing TV.

MARRIED At First Sight Australia fans are desperate for Awhina to move on from husband Adrian after his honest confession.

Mum-of-one Awhina, 30, was brought to tears last night as Adrian told her he didn’t want to be with someone who already had kids.

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MAFS Australia’s Awhina broke down in an argument with husband Adrian[/caption]

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She grilled her husband Adrian over his comments about having kids[/caption]

The pair had a fraught conversation about whether or not he was ready to have a family in which he said: “I didn’t say I wanted somebody else’s kid.”

It didn’t sit well with Awhina, and she asked him to “stop using that language”.

She then said: “Because I’m a mum you’re not open to letting me in.”

He replied: “I said from the start having a kid is going to be a problem. It’s not a small issue to me, it’s a big issue. I didn’t lie, I didn’t hide it from you. I was open and honest.”

Awhina said she felt “angry, hurt and upset” before getting teary.

Justifying why he’s still on the programme, Adrian said that she ticked eight out of ten boxes, before reiterating that in an ideal world he’d experience fatherhood for the first time with someone who didn’t already have a child.

Viewers don’t think Awhina should entertain their relationship any longer and are convinced it’s destined to fail given their differing views to family life.

“Awhina move on,” wrote one on X. “Don’t get attached because he’s a twin and you’re a twin. That’s the only thing you have in common with the man. Adrian told you who he is. BELIEVE HIM!”

Others slammed the show for pairing them together, with one writing: “If someone told me that my child would ‘be a problem’ I’d be straight out of the door! Honesty or not, there’s no choice. Equally, they should NOT have matched them together!”

Another said: “This situation with Adrian and Awhina is all #MAFSAU fault. They should ( & prob did) ask people if, having a partner with a tiny human is ok? If they say No they are allowed that choice and should be paired with someone without. It’s hurting people for ratings and is not ok.“

However, a producer did hint that Adrian hadn’t been completely truthful on his application, asking him: “What if I said I’ve seen your application?”

In last night’s episode, the couples were handed the keys to their own apartments so they could set up home together.

Elsewhere, Jacqui sobbed following a tense few days of living with her husband Ryan.

She got cross at him for leaving his shoes on while inside their apartment and it quickly escalated into a tearful meltdown.

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Adrian denied cheating on Awhina though couldn’t help smirking[/caption]

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Adrian said Awhina ticks eight out of ten boxes[/caption]

“Can we please not have dirty feet on the couch?” she fumed at Ryan.

“Do you see the dirt here? Do you want to lick the dirt off your shoes?”

Jacqui could then be heard saying “I have no words”, before breaking down in uncontrollable tears.

GETTING RICHER usually means putting in long hours at work, or cutting out treats you love.

But here our money expert reveals how just ONE hour can save you £1,240 – without leaving your sofa.

Often checking your credit report, haggling your phone bill or opening a savings account can be the last thing you want to do after a long day.

But Kara Gammell, 45, explains spending just one hour a week on each of these things can help you get on top of your money – and save you thousands of pounds a year.

She said: “Each week I set aside an hour to shop around for the best deals on household bills, like broadband or insurance, and to check my spending with my budget.”

Here, Kara, author of The Bargain Hunter – Easy hack and tips to save money every day, shares her six-week plan to help you manage your money better.

Week 1 – The 15-minute rule I always keep

When it comes to managing your money, getting started is often the hardest part, Kara said.

She uses the 15-minute rule to motivate herself to look at her finances.

“When it comes to tasks that you’re putting off, tell yourself: ‘Anyone can do 15 minutes’, then do it,” she said.

“15 minutes is a length of time that is not intimidating, and once you get going, chances are you will carry on even when you reach the time limit.”

If you are really struggling to get started then set a 15-minute timer on your phone.

Use this time to make a list of all the banks you have your current accounts and savings with. 

Check if there are any you have forgotten about.

More than £2.8billion is sat in lost investments, according to Gretel, a service which tracks down bank accounts.

Week 2 – Start with a budget

Kara suggests you should start by looking at your finances as a whole.

She said: “The first step for keeping my finances on track is to do a thorough audit of my spending by going through bank and credit card statements.”

To do this she uses a money management app called Emma.

The app is free to download and combines information from your bank accounts and credit cards.

You can use it to track your spending and manage your subscriptions.

Once it is set up you can use the app to quickly check your bank or savings account balance.

Kara added: “It’s quick and easy to set up so it does not feel like an overwhelming task.

“The chances are you will find little bits of spending that could be sending your budget into the red.”

She recommends using the app to check for subscriptions you do not need.

You can save hundreds of pounds a year by cancelling these subscriptions.

Around one in ten people are currently paying for a subscription they do not use, according to Citizens Advice.

Of this group, 65% could save more than £132 a year for unnecessary subscriptions.

You should also check if there are any bills you may be able to switch and make a saving on.

Make a note of these to come back to next week.

Week 3 – Haggle, haggle, haggle

In week three focus on haggling to bring your bills down.

Make a list of every mobile and broadband deal you and your family have and how much you pay for each one.

Check if any of the contracts have already ended and make a note of when the others are due to renew.

Next use a comparison website such as Compare The Market or Uswitch to see how much you could save by swapping to a new provider.

If you are out of contract then call your mobile or broadband provider and ask them to match the deals you found elsewhere.

They may be able to offer a same-price deal, which could save you money and the hassle of switching to a new provider.

If they cannot match the deal then swap to the best deal you found using the comparison websites.

You could save up to £235 a year by switching broadband, TV and mobile providers, according to consumer group Which?.

Week 4 – Check your credit report

It can be hard to keep track of payments such as overdrafts, loans, credit cards, mobile phones and mortgages.

But failing to do so could leave you with more debt than you realise.

“It can be all too simple to find yourself in the dark about how much debt you have in total,” Kara said.

But this information is important as it forms your credit score.

This score is used by lenders to decide what interest rate they will give you on financial products including credit cards and loans.

It can even stop you from being accepted for a credit card in the first place.

You can get a credit report for free from websites such as Experian or Credit Karma.

Another option is to use an online tool to see all your account balances in one place.

The MoneySuperMarket’s Credit Score tool sends you a monthly credit report which can help you to check what your overall financial situation is.

The tool can also suggest ways to improve your credit score, which can help you secure the best interest rates.

This can help you save money in the long run as the interest rate you will be charged on any money you owe will be lower.

Week 5 – Supercharge your savings

This week you should focus on how to get the most out of your savings.

One way to do this is to set up your bank account to automatically put money aside for you.

Kara said: “Some bank accounts have a feature that rounds up spending to the nearest pound and adds the spare change into a savings account of your choice.”

For example, if you spend £14.50 on a train ticket then the money is rounded up to £15 and the extra 50p goes into your savings.

The average round up user saves £12.37 a week, according to Moneybox.

After a year that would add up to almost £650.

Check if your bank account has a round up feature and if not think about switching.

You could get a cash bonus worth up to £175 if you switch to a new bank.

Another option is to set up a standing order, which automatically takes money out of your bank account and pays it into your savings each month.

You can set this up so the money leaves your account the day after you are paid.

This way you are not tempted to spend it during the month.

Week 6 – Renew at the right time

In the final week you should focus on insurance and make sure you are prepared for when your car or home insurance is up for renewal.

The cost to renew your insurance can vary depending on how soon your current policy expires.

This is because insurers tend to consider drivers who organise their cover early as more responsible, Kara said.

This can mean they are offered more favourable premiums.

Taking out a new policy ahead of time can also help you to unlock additional discounts, which can also save you money.

The cheapest time to renew your car insurance is between 20 and 27 days before your current policy expires, according to MoneySuperMarket.

Timing your renewal right can help you save up to £231 on the cost of your car insurance.

Go through all of your insurance policies and make a note of when they are up for renewal in your calendar.

Set a reminder to search for a new deal 27 days before your current policy expires.

This gives you a week to shop around for a new deal.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

FIVE Star singer Stedman Pearson has died aged 60.

Music icon Stedman shot to fame in the 80s when his brother and sisters formed the British pop and R&B group.

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Stedman was the oldest of five siblings[/caption]

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Stedman (top left) performed with his brothers and sisters in the hit group[/caption]

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Stedman is the eldest of five siblings, and he studied both dance and fashion at college prior to embarking on a career in music.

In 1983, Stedman, then aged 19, joined his teen brother and sisters to make Five Star.

They were made into a musical group by their dad Buster Pearson, a former recording artist, who wanted to create the next Jackson 5.

Five Star notched up a string of chart-topping hits including System Addict, Can’t Wait Another Minute and Rain or Shine.

From 1985 to 1988 they had four top 20 albums and 15 top 40 singles as they quickly rose to become a household name.

The hit group also won the 1987 Brit Award for Best British Group.

In addition to performing backing vocals, Stedman’s interest in dance and fashion would play an integral role in the group.

Stedman and his siblings were known for their glamorous image, distinctive matching costumes and choreographed dance routines.

He began designing some of the outfits that would ultimately become the group’s trademark matching stage costumes.

The glittering costumes coupled with their synchronised dance routines often led to comparisons with The Jackson Five.

Friends and fans were quick to pay tribute to Stedman after the sad news.

One wrote: “Sad to hear that lovely Stedman Pearson has passed away. I knew Steeman in the noughties when he would often come down to Heaven where I dj’d.

“He was such a sweet gentle person and always used to smell divine. I commented on this once to him and the very next week he came to see me with a huge and very expensive bottle of cologne as a gift. He was lovely.

“Sleep well Stedman and once again – thank you for my cologne. I still have the bottle!”

Another said: “R.I.P Stedman Pearson aka Five Star , my beautiful Friend I’ll always remember the laughter we shared and the Dream you made reality.

“Gone too soon but never forgotten you live on forever in my heart & the 5 star/Stedman legacy you’ve left for us all to enjoy forever Thank you with all my heart. Love u more !!!

Five Star became the youngest group ever to top the British charts, and also the first black group to top the UK charts.

But in 1995, the group went their separate ways but they did reunite.

The group shrunk to a trio in 2001, but Stedman continued to perform with sisters Denise and Lorraine until 2006.

Five Star reunited again in 2012 before calling it a day for the final time.

Since the band split Stedman diversified and has had a number of jobs including running a limousine hire service and as a dance teacher.

In 2006, he finished in third place on Channel 5‘s All Star Talent Show.

He also appeared as a contestant on BBC’s Celebrity Scissorhands in 2008.

Stedman’s Twitter bio states that he is a solo recording artist and he continues to be heavily involved in the fashion world.

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The band notched up a string of chart-topping hits[/caption]

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The English pop group were fan favourites (Stedman second from left)[/caption]

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Stedman with his sisters Denise and Lorraine Pearson of Fivestar[/caption]

WALKING into the WeightWatchers meeting with her mum, then-eight-year-old Sarah Le Brocq was wide-eyed.

It was 1990 and she was the only child among a sea of plus-size adults, all desperate to shed weight. 

Olivia West

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At her heaviest, she was 25st and classed as ‘morbidly obese’[/caption]

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Pictured growing up in Jersey in the ’90s, Sarah wasn’t particularly overweight, describing herself as ‘slightly plump’[/caption]

“I was probably slightly plump but basically a normal child,” the 42-year-old single mum to Emily, five, says.

“However, as I sat and listened to grown-ups talk about diet plans and calorie counting I immediately started to wonder: ‘Am I fat?’” 

Sarah, from Harrogate, North Yorks, believes these meetings played a key role in triggering her lifelong battle with yo-yo dieting.

Her experience supports new research by ZAVA Online Doctor that found 12 per cent of Brits first dieted at the age of just 15 or less.

A staggering 49 per cent reported feeling ashamed of their weight, while a further 48 per cent have struggled with their self-esteem as a result of their size – a statistic Sarah can relate to.

At her biggest, in April 2023, Sarah weighed 25st, wore size 28 clothing and had a BMI of 54.8 – marking her as morbidly obese.

Now on privately-prescribed Mounjaro, which she has been taking since December, after using Wegovy for a year, she is 18st and a size 18.

Divorced Sarah, who is 5ft 7in. – says: “I can chase after my daughter and go to the gym. The food noise is gone.”

Lifelong stigma

However, the stigma she encountered and her childhood experience of dieting was so severe it followed her throughout her life.

She spoke about it in an academic paper published in The Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

“I didn’t wear a wedding dress as I didn’t want to be fat in a wedding dress,” she says in the paper.

“I just wore a skirt and top. Every little girl dreams of being a princess on their wedding day, and I haven’t had that yet.”

Sarah also opened up about the difficulties she’s encountered in everyday life as a result of her weight.

“When I’ve travelled in economy in the past, I have booked a window seat to squash away from everyone,” she says.

“And with my previous partner, I used to book his seat behind me so that he didn’t know I was asking for a seatbelt extension, and he had more leg room. He has never known that I did this.”

She also revealed how she had been dismissed by health care professionals, saying: “Whilst trying to get pregnant, I had a friend who is within the healthy weight range who was also trying to get pregnant and of the same age.

“We both had difficulties after approximately two years, so decided to explore further support with our doctor.

“I was met with ‘[you] need to lose weight’, whilst my friend was offered a plethora of fertility testing.” 

‘I felt frumpy’

Growing up, as a teen Sarah was always very aware of her size.

“I attended an all-girls school in Jersey in the Channel Islands, where I grew up,” she says.

“I wasn’t bullied but was always the fatter girl.

“My best friend was naturally thin. I, on the other hand, was – aged 15 – trying soup diets, all-fruit diets and calorie counting meal plans.”

At 16, Sarah weighed 13st and wore a size 14 dress.

“But I didn’t feel ‘normal’,” she says. “I felt frumpy.”

I was convinced I could be slimmer. Dieting consumed my every thought.

Sarah Le Brocq

Just before starting her A-Levels in July 1998, Sarah got down to size 10 on a milkshake diet and was overjoyed.

“I had a little leather skirt I could finally fit into,” she recalls.

“It was exciting to finally be like my slim pals.

“But even then, I was convinced I could be slimmer. Dieting consumed my every thought.”

After school Sarah attended Sheffield Hallam University to study for a pharmaceutical degree.

“Suddenly I was free to eat what I wanted,” she says.

“I was a typical student, going to parties and enjoying Haribo sweets and pizzas during late-night cramming sessions.

“Quickly, I ballooned from a size 10 to 20, hitting the scales at 18st. I hated my body. 

“When I applied for my first job post-uni, I had to go to Evans, at the time the only plus size shop, to buy a suit. I felt like a 50-year-old.”

Through her twenties, Sarah was a “diet junkie”, her weight yo-yoing as she tried various diets including the cabbage soup diet and fasting.

“I would lose weight but would regain it,” she says. 

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Sarah grew up believing she was ‘fat’ – something that kickstarted a long-running, unhealthy relationship with food[/caption]

TV attempt to stay skinny

Aged 29, Sarah, desperate to be slim, took part in a weight loss television show called Fat: The Fight of my Life.

“I worked with a PT for 10 hours weekly,” she says.

“I lost 8st 6lbs in nine months and even completed an Olympic distance triathlon at the end of the show. I was thrilled.” 

But still she didn’t like how she looked – or how it made her feel.

“It affected my love life,” she says. 

“I would choose men who I felt needed fixing.

“When I ended these relationships, I realised my biggest relationship all my life was actually with food.”

So, using her degree, Sarah started investigating what causes obesity.

She has gone on to sit on the strategic council for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity.

Don’t ‘blame the fatty’

“I thought I was just eating too much and not exercising enough,” she says.

“But obesity is caused by a myriad of social, environmental, physical, biological, and psychological factors.

“A child’s exposure to adult diet programmes will affect their view of themselves for years.”

It was this realisation which led Sarah to set up the All About Obesity charity, which campaigns for greater awareness of obesity as a chronic condition.

“Society sees a obese person and immediately thinks they are lazy,” she says.

“I want to help people understand obesity is not a case of ‘blame the fatty’.”

Life-changing decision

In March 2019 Sarah gave birth to her daughter Emily. 

“Holding her in my arms I vowed to never expose her to diet clubs,” she says.

“It was her who made me go on diet jabs – I’d resisted bariatric surgery due to potential complications.

“I’m sure some people think diet jabs are cheating but my science degree helped me understand how life-changing they’d be for me.

Society sees a obese person and immediately thinks they are lazy. I want to help people understand obesity is not a case of ‘blame the fatty’

Sarah Le Brocq

“Emily made me determined to raise her to love her body, to learn only about healthy eating and to not be exposed to the diet culture.

“Meanwhile, I am not battling cravings and for the first time in 34 years can look in the mirror and not be horrified.

“The once-a-week jabs are finally enabling me to win my battle with the bulge.

“I know I will be on the injectables all my life, but their effect is not just about dropping the weight.

“It is letting me rebuild my self-esteem and body positivity.

“My mum and I have discussed my feelings and she understands. I do not blame her. I blame the fat-shaming culture of the time.

“For the first time in my life, I feel good about my body. It has taken 42 years and I will not be ‘jab-shamed’ for taking the easy way out.

“There is no easy solution to a person’s battle with the chronic disease of obesity.

“Like me you have to find what works for you. I am simply trying to treat my condition with the best tool for me.”

WeightWatchers has been approached for a comment.

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Sarah, pictured here at 25st, said her weight ‘yo-yoed’ throughout her life[/caption]

'To be part of something with this magnitude has been madness.'

They were a beloved 80s band.

Did you spot it?

'It was a surprise.'