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Hollyoaks star Ruby O’Donnell in recovery after sustaining agonising injury
SBI Bank PO Pre Admit Card 2025
SBI PO Pre Admit Card 2025 Author: Sarkari Exam Team Tag: Graduate Job Short Information : State Bank of India (SBI) has released the pre admit card for the Probationary Officers (PO) Post. This recruitment has been issued for 600 posts. Applications for SBI PO Recruitment 2025 were filled from 27 December 2025 to 19 ... Read more
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‘Go, go, go’ Lidl fans rave over ‘delicious’ £2 spread that tastes like Dubai chocolate & it’s perfect for Pancake Day
PANCAKE Day is almost here – which means it’s time to get flipping excited.
Shrove Tuesday, also called Pancake Day, is the feast day before the Lent fast starts on Ash Wednesday. This year, it falls on Tuesday 4 March 2025.
If you’re tired of the same old lemon and sugar combo or strawberry jam, and want to try something new, you may wish to plan a trip to the nearest Lidl.
According to thrifty foodies, the popular discount retailer has added brand new spreads to their iconic shelves to celebrate their Italian Week.
Shoppers can choose between two mouth-watering flavours – Milk Creme Spread with Hazelnuts, as well as the viral Pistachio Spread.
The first one, retailing for just £1.99, is perfect if you prefer to stick to classic flavours, as it is similar to the cult favourite Nutella.
Meanwhile, the green pistachio spread is a must-have pick for those who want to take their Pancake Day to the next level – or even attempt to make the viral Dubai chocolate at home.
The treat, inspired by the Middle Eastern treat knafeh, features a rich pistachio filling and crunchy Kadayif pastry at its centre, all coated in chocolate.
Unlike the milk chocolate spread, the pistachio version is a little bit more expensive and will cost you £2.99 – however, it’s sure to become a firm favourite in your household.
Needless to say, the delicious bargain finds have already taken the internet by storm.
One money-smart shopper, Kerry Sickelmore, took to Facebook to show off the three glass jars of the goodies she had snapped up from the mega supermarket.
Advising others to best not miss out on this epic deal, the customer wrote: ”Brand new today, pistachio and hazelnut spreads in Lidl for Italian week!!
”Pistachio £2.99 & Hazelnut £1.99 GO GO GO!!!!”
The post, shared on the popular Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group, has racked up close to 170 likes in less than 24 hours – and over a whopping 180 comments.
Dozens of social media users flooded to tag their pals and family, with several people sharing their reviews and honest thoughts on the purse-friendly cupboard staple.
Why do Aldi and Lidl have such fast checkouts
IF you’ve ever shopped in Aldi or Lidl then you’ll probably have experienced its ultra-fast checkout staff.
Aldi’s speedy reputation is no mistake, in fact, the supermarket claims that its tills are 40 per cent quicker than rivals.
It’s all part of Aldi’s plan to be as efficient as possible – and this, the budget shop claims, helps keep costs low for shoppers.
Efficient barcodes on packaging means staff are able to scan items as quickly as possible, with the majority of products having multiple barcodes to speed up the process.
It also uses “shelf-ready” packaging which keeps costs low when it comes to replenishing stock.
One foodie said: ”Very sweet, but yes lovely.”
Another dubbed it ”simply delicious”.
A third joked: ”Uh-oh, Italian week means I’m likely to cave if they have the soft Amarettis lol.”
This truly is a bargain you don’t want to miss, as one holiday-goer revealed she had recently spotted a similar spread in Italy for a whopping 13 euros – or over £10.
However, if you want to try the scrumptious spreads, you will need to act quick – as one the Italian Week is over, the pancake essentials will disappear from the aisles.
The ‘1% luxe look’ Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton love – and why only royal (and VERY rich) women can wear it
FORGET tiaras, there is one clear way for royal women to stand out with their looks and it’s all down to one “stealth wealth” colour.
A fashion expert has shared how both Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton often brave the “1 per cent luxe look” by donning head to toe white.
We recently saw the Duchess of Sussex, 43, look pristine in a dazzling £1,250 Mackage coat at the Invictus Games.
While it may not have stood out next to the snowy Canadian backdrop, Amber Graafland shared how it sent a very clear message.
Speaking to Fabulous, the fashion expert explained: “Nothing screams confidence more than a woman wearing head-to-toe white.
“Fearless, whilst being quietly fashionable, it’s the ultimate stealth wealth move.
“While most mere mortals dress according to the practicalities of everyday life, like rain, coffee drips and sandwich stains, women who wear neutrals have only one concern whilst getting dressed in the morning, and that’s looking good.
“Women that gravitate towards white are dressing to a different set of rules.”
We also saw Meghan brave the “stealth wealth” colour at the Invictus Games in 2022, when she wore a £6,210 crisp white trouser suit.
Amber added: “If a picture is worth a thousand words, then wearing a white trousers suit screams a thousand more.
“It’s a style move that establishes certain ground rules and alludes to chauffeur driven cars, carpeted arrivals and a life of drifting around clean spaces.
“Opting for a pair of white jeans and crisp white shirt do the morning school run is not something a sane woman would ever do.
“Whether heading to the office or prepping for a day of working from home, white just isn’t an option.
“One can’t help but wonder about the practicalities of her outfit choice when she enters the kitchen and starts to bake one of her fabulous cakes for her new cooking and hosting lifestyle show.”
The fashion expert explained just why Meghan loves wearing white, and it could be down to its symbolic meaning.
She explained: “For her it symbolises purity and innocence.
“It’s also a tool she reaches for when she enters a new phase of her life, hoping to portray neutrality and hint at forgiveness.
“But maybe we’re missing the key message.
“Determined to present an image of perfection and wholesomeness, when you’re a mega-host like Meghan perhaps we are expected to believe that limitations we face in our lives simply don’t apply to her.”
We’ve also seen Princess Kate, 43, don the colour for key moments in her life.
At Trooping the Colour in 2024, as she underwent cancer treatment, the royal mum-of-three looked angelic in a Jenny Packham dress and Philip Treacy hat.
Amber shared: “The decision to wear white was also rife with meaning as it symbolises rebirth, purity and hope.
“And in a subtle nod to the late Princess Diana, Kate added a striped belt and grosgrain bow detail to the dress.”
Meanwhile, she also ditched wearing red or green for her 2023 Christmas carol concert, which are traditionally festive colours.
Amber shared: “Cool, confident, self assured, she’s leaving the past behind and telling the nation, we are the royal family for the 21st century.
“The princess’s deployment of angelic white could of course convey a much deeper meaning.
“White symbolises purity, innocence, and neutrality.
“It also represents new beginnings, and a clean slate, helping us through times of stress and allowing us to put the past behind us, and preparing to move on.”
Kate Middleton's down-to-earth school run look
Whilst we have previously seen stunning images of Kate dropping the children off at Lambrook School, it turns out, on a day-to-day basis, things are much less glossy than you may imagine.
A friend told the Daily Record: “There are no blow-dries – it’s always hair up in a ponytail.
“She’s either in her gym clothes, or a dress and sneakers, very little makeup, apologising as she’s late for the school run before dashing off.
“It’s the life of a working mum with three young children – just a different sort of day job to most.”
In fact, when George and Charlotte attended their previous school of St Thomas’ in South London, it was reported that parents barely gave Kate a second glance during drop off and pick ups.
One parent told the Daily Mail : “No one really gives Kate a second glance when she does the school drop-off.
“We have a Victoria’s Secret model doing the school run, too, and the dads are far more interested in her.”
Bergerac fans blast reboot & rage ‘I’m not ready for a hearing aid yet’ over character’s ‘whispering’ – did you spot it?
VIEWERS of the brand new reboot of Bergerac have been left fuming after picking up on the character’s annoying habit.
The classic crime drama series initially ran for ten years between 1989 and 1991 and has now made a shock comeback to screens after 34 years away.
The programme has found a new home on U&Drama with the title role of Jim Bergerac this time being portrayed by Irish actor Damien Molony.
As the first ever episode got underway, fans watched on as one of Jersey‘s richest families saw one of its members brutally killed forcing Bergerac to step up and investigate just exactly what had been going on.
But as the reboot got underway, it did not take long for fans to have their say with many of them left majorly unimpressed with one specific detail.
Viewers were left disgruntled at Bergerac’s whispering as many admitted they were unable to hear a word that was being spoken.
Taking to X, one viewer said: “C’mon #Bergerac , speak up … I’m not ready for a hearing aid yet.”
A second sarcastically said: “Oh good, another whispering lead actor #Bergerac.”
It led a third to write: “Not impressed so far. I cant understand a word Bergerac is saying. What’s wrong with his diction. Maybe it’s the drink. Hope it gets better.”
Before a fourth chimed in to say: “Why do we have a couple of characters whispering a conversation to each other in their own home?!!!”
Ahead of the show’s return, Damien spoke out and revealed the main difference between the reboot and the classic show, led by John Nettles.
He said: “I spoke to John, actually, about this, and the differences, because he was remarking that it was slightly darker, and that you just got much more of a sense of the depth of these characters.
“And I guess that ability over six episodes allows you to do that. You have a little bit more time. You’re not constantly chasing the plot.”
While it may be a darker series this time around, fans of the original will be pleased to know some things have remained the same, including the famous car Bergerac drives.
It was a topic that Damien covered while enjoying a lunch with former star John after filming on the reboot wrapped.
Damien said: “He had seen the first episode, and he said some really nice things about it, and it was just lovely to touch base with him, really, and reminisce about our own experiences on Jersey, and then also about the car, because it’s the same! It’s the exact same car.”
However, John was not a fan of the vehicle back in the day and Damien added: “That hasn’t gone away! He’s still very, very, very anti the car.
“I mean, I think he loved the car, but I think it was an absolute nightmare to get going!
“And he said it did about 10 miles an hour, running downhill, with a back wind.”
Win a Lawnmaster OcuMow 16 Robot Mower worth £299
Just in time for the beginning of ‘lawn season’ one lucky Sun Gardening reader can get their hands on a LawnMaster OcuMow16 Robot Mower – worth £299.99 thanks to our friends at Robert Dyas.
The VBRN 16 robot mower has a standout, modern design and is an accessible price point for those wanting to explore robot technology in their garden.
- Simply drop and go – simplicity is at the heart of the design. No complicated set up needed.
- For lawns up to 100m2 – ideal for smaller lawns meeting the defined usage criteria. Additional batteries can be purchased to extend the runtime.
- Optical Grass Recognition (OGR) Software – a camera, sensors and the OGR software combine to navigate around the lawn.
- Two mowing patterns and adjustable cutting heights – mows in a random or spiral pattern to the desired length. Returns the clippings to the lawn’s surface, acting as a nutrient for a healthier lawn.
- Part of the LawnMaster MX 24V shared battery system – the supplied battery is fully compatible with our MX 24V range including grass trimmer, hedge trimmer, leaf blower and chainsaw.
To enter, fill in the form below.
Or write to Sun Lawnmaster Competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP.
Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Ends 23.59GMT 15.3.25
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One of Spain’s oldest islands to get new easyJet flights from regional UK airport
NEW flights to the Spanish island of Lanzarote are launching in time for the winter sun season.
The new route comes after easyJet opened its ninth UK base at Birmingham Airport last year.
The twice-weekly service will launch on October 27, operating every Thursday and Sunday.
Flights will depart Birmingham at 8.10am, touching down on the Spanish island at 12.20pm.
Return flights will then leave Lanzarote at 1pm, arriving back in Birmingham at 5pm.
One-way flights start from £23.99 per person on the easyJet app.
Created by a series of volcanic eruptions millions of years ago, Lanzarote is the second-oldest Canary Island after Fuerteventura.
The island, which has been under Spanish rule since the 15th century, has long been a Brit-favourite winter sun destination.
Tom Screen, Aviation Director of Birmingham Airport said: “We welcome the announcement of easyJet’s new year-round service to Lanzarote from October 2025.
“Lanzarote is a firm-favourite amongst many of our customers and this new route for easyJet, adding extra flights, will allow even more passengers to explore the island throughout the year.”
Meanwhile, Ali Gayward, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, commented: “Launching a new route from Birmingham to Lanzarote shows easyJet is committed to extending its reach to new destinations and provides even more choice and variety for our customers’ winter getaway.”
Lisa Minot, The Sun’s Head of Travel, recently visited the Spanish island, here’s what she thought.
After launching its ninth UK base at Birmingham Airport last year, the low-cost carrier is set to launch a wave of new flights later this year.
Holidaymakers will also soon be able to fly directly from Birmingham to Gran Canaria when flights launch on May 2.
Direct flights to Malta will start operating on June 3, with services departing Birmingham International Airport every Tuesday.
Last year, easyJet launched five new routes from Birmingham Airport to several European destinations, including Hurghada, Marrakesh, Reykjavik, Prague and Krakow.
Birmingham Airport is currently undergoing a huge £300million expansion.
Part of the £300million upgrade includes the new security scanners, which were installed at the airport earlier this year.
It is hoped long-haul flights to New York, Toronto, Mumbai and Hong Kong will be introduced under the expansions plans.
The huge multi-million-pound renovation project is running parallel to Birmingham Airport’s goal to be a net zero carbon airport by 2033.
Hand luggage rules for UK airlines
We’ve rounded up how much hand luggage you can take on UK airlines when booking their most basic fare.
Ryanair
One personal bag measuring no more than 40cm x 20cm x 25cm
EasyJet
One personal bag measuring no larger than 45cm x 36cm x 20cm
Jet2
One personal item that fits underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm weighing up to 10kg
TUI
One personal item that its underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm weighing up to 10kg
British Airways
One personal bag no larger than 40cm x 30cm x 15cm and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 45cm 25cm weighing up to 23kg
Virgin Atlantic
One personal item that fits underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 36cm x 23cm weighing up to 10kg
Birmingham Airport is set to get a new train station that will make it quicker to get to from London than Heathrow Airport.
Thousands more flights could soon launch at Birmingham Airport – here’s why.
Ex-Corrie star sent death threats by younger brother in terrifying hate campaign after they fell out over money
A FORMER Coronation Street star was bombarded with death threats by his brother after they fell out over money.
Stephen Banyard and wife Barbara, 84, were subjected to a terrifying hate campaign by TV paranormal researcher Gerald Banyard.
Banyard, 71, branded Stephen, who is severely disabled following a stroke, as an ”evil narcissistic psychopathic b*****d”.
He wrongly claimed his older brother owed him £200,000, telling Stephen, who is aged in his 70s: “Pay the money back that you know you stole.
“The family will suffer if you don’t. This is your last warning.”
Banyard, who has appeared on TV chat shows and documentaries to explain his fascination with UFOs, has now been jailed for 12 months.
He was also slapped with a restraining order after pleading guilty to stalking his brother and sister-in-law.
Stephen appeared in four different roles on Coronation Street between 1980 and 2003 – including as Arnie Scanlan, a former cellmate of Les Battersby.
He also had bit part roles in various TV dramas including Heartbeat, Holby City and The Royal under his stage name Tony Monroe.
Minshull Street Crown Court heard the hate war began in 2019 when Banyard was arrested for bizarrely trying to frame an innocent man over the Westminster terror attack that killed four people.
Police had seized £50,000 in cash during his arrest but he lied and claimed it belonged to sister-in-law Barbara.
She refused to go along with the deceit – meaning the money was confiscated and Banyard targeted her and Stephen.
After he was released from prison for the Westminster lie in August 2023, the paranormal expert intensified the terrifying campaign.
He sent an email to a manager at the retirement housing complex where the couple live to falsely claim they had “stolen” £200,000 from him.
Banyard branded both ”narcisstic, psychopathic evil people” and said inmates he had spent time with behind bars ”knew where they lived”.
He added: ”The Karmic wheels have been put in motion.”
Banyard also referred to the play ”Tony Monroe is Dead” – a comedy production about a wedding celebration – in a sinister attempt to mock his brother’s stage name.
The care home manager passed the message on to Stephen and Barbara, who then alerted the police.
Undeterred, Banyard claimed he launched legal proceedings over the money and sent more letters.
One chillingly claimed their 13-year-old grand-daughter had died, the court heard.
Craig MacGregor, prosecuting, said the ordeal left Barbara so terrified that she did not even want to venture outside.
He added: ”Mrs Banyard is 84 year old and she says she does not need the stress this episode has placed on her.
“Her husband is unwell and she is now prevented from going to the shops for fear her brother-in-law knows where they live.”
Banyard, who appeared on Clive Anderson’s Talk Back show in the 1990s, was arrested on May 25 last year.
The court heard he has a previous conviction for hounding a married woman over claims they had an affair while shooting a TV advert.
Sentencing Judge Jenny Lester-Ashworth told him: ‘I have read the victim personal statement and your continued conduct towards these elderly victims has caused them significant distress at a time in their lives when they are less able to cope.
”They feared you would inflict violence upon them. It was very serious and persistent conduct.
“The victims were particularly vulnerable due to their age and health conditions.”
Watch the heartstopping moment David Platt is mowed down in horrifying car crash in Coronation Street trailer
WATCH the shocking moment David Platt is mowed down by a hitman in a dramatic Coronation Street trailer.
The hairdresser – who is played by actor Jack P Shepherd in the ITV soap – has become embroiled with gangsters after stealing thousands from drug lord Harvey Gaskell last year.
Viewers know David was desperate to buy his house after mum Gail put it on the market to pay for Bethany’s life saving treatment in Turkey following some botched lipo.
Meanwhile David’s son Max set fire to the house in a failed insurance scam and is now in the same prison as Harvey, putting his life at significant risk.
Harvey has demanded the money back with punishing interest – threatening Max in the process.
And David has had no choice but to work for him in a variety of illegal and dangerous jobs.
However next week David is pushed to the brink and thinks the only way to pay off Harvey and to keep Max safe will be to die.
He reasons that his life insurance will pay Harvey off and solve all of his issues.
And with henchman Andy trying to kill him – David knocks back the booze and ends up stumbling into the road giving Andy the chance to deliver.
“I know I will die today,” David says in the dramatic trailer.
“Killed by a hitman.”
David will be left fighting for his life after bleeding out on the road – but will he die?
Coronation Street boss Kate Brooks recently said: “The story we’re telling is one of a very desperate David, trying to protect his family and keep Harvey and his goons at bay.
“He is struggling to navigate that, and struggling to pay back this big debt he has. He’s struggling to protect his family.
“It all comes to a massive head in early February, when we play a massive stunt that has huge consequences for David.
“So, in trying to protect everyone and do the right thing, he ends up losing quite a few things that he holds dear.
Darkest soap storylines
Over the years the likes of EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street have all tried to try outdo each other with their outlandish plots in a bid to keep us tuning in each week. But here are some of the darkest that had fans in shock…
“So, a real journey for David. He’s well-intentioned, but he fails, messes up and makes mistakes, and there’s massive consequences not only for his own family, but for the wider community as well.
“Somebody does get embroiled in David’s downfall, which is quite unexpected.”
The 3 stretches to do every day ‘to help you live longer’
WHEN was the last time you gave your muscles a good stretch?
Although you might associate stretching with exercise warm ups and cool downs, it’s actually vital to do it regularly – ideally every day – whether you’re working out or not.
Believe it or not, staying flexible could actually help you to live longer.
A study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports found a strong link between good physical flexibility and mobility and a lower risk of death from natural causes.
Among men specifically, those with low flexibility scores were almost twice as likely to die during the 13-year study period compared to those with higher scores.
And the risk of early death for inflexible women was five times higher than those who were supple.
Scientists have long understood that poor flexibility could be an indicator of underlying health conditions, such as inflammation, and lead to pains and strains.
But despite the connection, many of us still don’t make stretching a part of our daily, or even weekly, routines.
More than two thirds of the UK population struggle with stiff or tight muscles, according to research by PureGym, while 69 per cent struggle with poor flexibility and 71 per cent experience a painful back.
If this sounds like you, it’s time to get your flex on.
“Many of us spend much of the day sitting down, whether we’re in the car driving to the office, at work hunched over a keyboard or slouched on the sofa in the evening,” Carlo Scozzaro, a sports rehabilitation therapist at Myoset, says.
“All this sitting means our muscles are in the same position for long periods of time, so they become a little shorter and tighter.
“It means when we do come to move, they hurt and they’re unable to actually comfortably move like we want them to.
“Sitting for long periods can shorten hamstrings and hip flexors, for example.”
Throw in poor posture, which can put even more strain on various muscles (such as your shoulders, neck and back) and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.
Carlo adds: “Tight muscles can then impact joints as muscles pull on joints, supporting our movement.
“When muscles are tight, we might not be able to move our joints through their full range of motion.
“Take your knee for example; if your leg muscles are tight – primarily your quads and hamstrings – you might not be able to move your knee comfortably.
“When movement becomes uncomfortable, you’re less likely to want to move in the first place, so you might then end up in a vicious circle of limiting your movement and becoming stiffer and more uncomfortable.
“But, stretching helps to keep muscles mobile, so you can age comfortably, moving as you wish.”
Want to boost your flexibility? Give these three stretches a try.
Do them every morning and evening – upon waking and before bed – and see if you feel a difference.
You never know, it could even give your life expectancy a boost.
1. Lying down glute stretch
Lie down with your feet flat on the floor and your knees bent.
Place one ankle on the opposite knee. Then, use your hands to pull your knee towards your chest to help deepen the stretch.
At this point you should feel a stretch in your glute.
Hold the position for 10 to 15 seconds before swapping sides.
If you fancy doing this stretch during the day, you can try it from a seated position on a chair.
Sit up tall, take your left ankle over your right thigh and lean forward, pressing your left knee down gently.
Your glute muscles are the biggest muscle in your body.
When they’re tight, you may experience a sore back, knees and hips thanks to poor posture, so this one is great for those of us who sit at a desk all day.
2. Hip flexor release
Start on all-fours with the palms of your hands under your shoulders and your knees directly under your hips.
Take your right leg forward so you’re in a low lunge with your back left knee on the floor. Your torso should be upright.
Then, keeping your hips forward, take your left arm, stretch it up overhead and then lean over to the right, taking your left arm over to the right side.
You should feel a good stretch down the left side of your body.
Push forward slightly into your lunge too; this way, you will help to stretch your hip flexors.
For support, place your right hand on your hip.
Hold this for 10 to 15 seconds before swapping sides.
Boosting mobility in your hips can really help to ease a tight or sore back
Carlo Scozzaro
Explaining the importance of the hip flexors, Carlo says: “These are a group of important and often overlooked muscles in the front of your upper thigh.
“They essentially help you bend and lift your legs.
“So when you run and walk, for example, your hip flexors are working.
“Sitting for ages tightens and weakens the hip flexors, so you might end up with pain in this area.”
3. Deep squat
You’ll need to find something tall to hold onto for this; the edge of a door frame works well.
This is your anchor and it should be stable and able to resist your pull.
Get into a low squat, holding onto your tall anchor point (door frame).
Keep your back flat and use your anchor to help you stay in your deep squat position.
Your hips should be lower than the bend in your knees and your feet need to remain flat on the ground.
Hold this for 10 to 15 seconds or for as long as you feel comfortable.
Carlo says: “Boosting mobility in your hips can really help to ease a tight or sore back.”
How long will you live?
LIFE expectancy in England is falling faster than anywhere else in Europe - and expanding waistbands are to blame.
Advances in life expectancy between 1990 and 2011 have been attributed to improvements in heart disease and cancer care.
But poor diets, low levels of exercise and increasing body mass index (BMI) scores have been linked to the slow down of these improvements in 2011 to 2019.
As part of a new study, academics wanted to assess life expectancy advances across 20 European countries from 1990 to 2021.
Researchers, led by experts from the University of East Anglia (UEA), compared several factors linked to life expectancy across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
All countries showed annual improvements in life expectancy between 1990 to 2011, with an overall increase of an average of 0.23 years.
From 1990 to 2011, life expectancy in England rose by an average of 0.25 years. This slowed to an average increase of 0.07 years in 2011 to 2019.
Researchers said England experienced the largest decline in life expectancy improvement during the period studied.
Between 2019 and 2021, which includes the first part of the Covid-19 pandemic, most countries saw a fall in life expectancy except for Ireland, Iceland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
Researchers said that the countries which “best maintained” improvements in life expectancy had fewer heart disease and cancer deaths.
The researchers have now called for government action to improve overall population health, including helping people have better diets and more exercise.
Lead researcher Professor Nick Steel, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “Advances in public health and medicine in the 20th century meant that life expectancy in Europe improved year after year, but this is no longer the case.
“We found that deaths from cardiovascular diseases were the primary driver of the reduction in life expectancy improvements between 2011-19. Unsurprisingly, the Covid pandemic was responsible for decreases in life expectancy seen between 2019-21.
“Countries like Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, and Belgium held onto better life expectancy after 2011, and saw reduced harms from major risks for heart disease, helped by government policies.
“In contrast, England and the other UK nations fared worst after 2011 and also during the Covid pandemic, and experienced some of the highest risks for heart disease and cancer, including poor diets.”
He added: “Life expectancy for older people in many countries is still improving, showing that we have not yet reached a natural longevity ceiling.
“Life expectancy mainly reflects mortality at younger ages, where we have lots of scope for reducing harmful risks and preventing early deaths.”
You can find out your life expectancy using our interactive calculator here.