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Inside Britain’s ‘Toxic Town’ where mass poisoning scandal left Brit kids dead and born without limbs
HAVING spent almost all of her pregnancy in hospital with complications, including diabetes and pre-eclampsia, Susan McIntyre felt a wave of relief when her baby boy was safely delivered.
Yet, when newborn Connor was placed in her arms on August 6, 1997, the doctor broke the news he’d been born without a left hand.
“I asked the doctor why it had happened, and he said maybe the baby had been sitting wrong in the womb,” says Susan, now 56, from Corby, Northamptonshire.
“The strangest thing is, I was in hospital for a long time [before giving birth], and I saw lots of other mums, and some of them had babies that also had issues with their limbs. Then I had a baby with the exact same thing. I did think that was strange.”
In a town like Corby, with a population of around 60,000, you would expect to see just one such birth every three or four years – but a total of 19 babies were born with limb differences during the period 1989-1998.
These, it would later transpire, had been caused by toxic dust emissions from a former steelworks, in what was the biggest case of foetal poisoning since the morning-sickness drug thalidomide in the 1950s and 1960s – and one of the UK’s biggest environmental disasters.
New Netflix drama, Toxic Town, starring Doctor Who and Broadchurch actress Jodie Whittaker as Susan, tells the extraordinary story of the group of Corby mums who waged a landmark 10-year legal battle against Corby Borough Council, eventually becoming the first people in the world to prove the link between airborne poison and damage to foetuses.
Susan already had a three-year-old son, Daniel, when Connor was born. Under the strain of having a disabled child, her marriage to the children’s father Peter, a factory worker, ended when Connor was eight months old.
In the months following his birth, they were in and out of hospital for corrective surgery on his hand, and she came across another baby from Kettering with similar limb differences.
She says: “You question yourself and wonder if you did anything wrong in your pregnancy. You know you haven’t, but that’s just a process of dealing with it all. It was a very dark time.”
When Connor was 18 months old, Susan had a life-changing knock at the door.
“It was a journalist and he said to me: ‘This could be a big problem in Corby. We think there’s some sort of damage that’s causing this to your babies.’ Nobody knew what it was, just that there were a lot of babies that had this.”
The Sunday Times journalist Graham Hind believed the abundance of limb differences in such a short period could be linked to the reclamation of a former steelworks in the town, which had closed down in 1980, but was regenerated by the council between 1984 and 1999 to create shops, parks and businesses.
“I didn’t want to get involved at first because I was scared,” says Susan. “We were like little people, and we were frightened to say anything because we didn’t know what would happen if we went up against the council.
We were frightened to say anything, as we didn’t know what would happen if we went up against the council.
“You didn’t want to lose your house and everything you’d worked hard for and got in life. We thought it was best to be quiet and toe the line.”
She did eventually contribute to Graham’s article published in The Sunday Times on April 11, 1999, and was subsequently contacted by solicitor Des Collins, who offered to represent the mums in launching a legal battle against Corby Borough Council.
A second mother, Tracey Taylor, had worked in an office on an industrial estate close to the steelworks while she was pregnant with her first child, and had no idea that the thick dust that regularly covered her car was toxic.
Her baby, Shelby, died just three days after her birth on April 19, 1996. Tracey, now 53, who lives in Kettering, says: “It was like the Sahara Desert had done a great big whoosh over.
“You could clean your desk, and by the time you picked your coffee cup up, it was thick with dust again. We wouldn’t even go out at dinner time, because it would burn the back of your throat. It was awful, but you didn’t realise you were drinking and breathing toxic waste.”
A third mother, Maggie Mahon, joined the cause after reading about it in the newspaper.
Her husband Derek worked at the reclamation site and she recalls beating dust from his clothes every evening when he came home while she was pregnant. Their son Sam was born with a club foot on July 10, 1997, and endured years of operations to correct it.
Mum-of-two Maggie, now 53 and a teaching assistant from Corby, says: “The doctors put Sam’s foot in a splint when he was a week old, and he’d go into hospital every so often and they’d stretch it.
“Later on, he had a pair of little boots he had to wear for six months. The first day they put his boots on, the doctors said: ‘He’s going to hate this, but don’t take it off whatever you do.’ That night, he was crying and crying. Derek came in from work one day, and I said: ‘Read this article – you worked among all this, and Sam’s got a club foot – that’s a bit coincidental, isn’t it?’”
As solicitor Des worked tirelessly to gather information for the court case, the mums made the best of their lives.
Susan taught herself how to get by with one hand so she could pass on those skills to Connor. “I used to watch one of the older children riding a bike and I’d say: ‘Wow, I wonder if Connor will ever do that?’ and the child’s mum said: ‘We’ll make sure he does.’ She made me put a hand behind my back while I did my laces, so I could work out how Connor would do it. It was hard, but we did it all together.”
Dozens of mothers joined forces to pool their stories and 18 of the strongest cases were put forward as claimants, including Susan and Maggie, with a 19th being added later.
Sadly, the decision was taken by Des to exclude Tracey as a claimant – because her little girl Shelby did not survive, and she had problems with her organs and ear rather than a limb difference, it was thought her story might weaken the overall case.
BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT
Tracey says: “When we were dropped as a case, it was upsetting. But if it wasn’t for Des, none of this would have come to court.”
A breakthrough moment came in 2000, when Des was able to prove a 2.7 times higher rate of limb difference in Corby than the rest of Kettering Health Authority – a fact the council got wrong in a report.
After extensive research, he also realised the toxins were being spread over a five-mile radius through dust from the steelworks site, which the mothers had unwittingly inhaled.
The full trial took place at the High Court in 2009, 10 years after Des and the mothers first made contact. Corby Borough Council denied negligence, but an internal report had already raised the prospect of residents being exposed to high levels of zinc, arsenic, boron and nickel as a result of the reclamation works.
A separate report from the council’s auditor complained of incompetence and negligence by the council and said that there was a “cavalier approach” to the operation. Despite not being part of the claim, Tracey bravely gave evidence, appearing as a crucial witness as she worked so close to the dusty site.
“I did it to help the other children,” she says.
During the trial, the court heard the council in charge of the regeneration had been under pressure to prevent the town from sinking economically after 11,000 steel workers lost their jobs.
Subcontractors failed to put in proper health and safety measures, and the lorries they used to transport the toxic chemicals were not wheel washed or covered in tarpaulin as they should have been. Consequently, the town was covered in thick, red dust as lorries dragged waste through the streets.
The Netflix show’s executive producer Annabel Jones, whose idea it was to dramatise the story, explains: “This is not about some evil corporation trying to make a cheap buck. This was about trying to stop the town from going under.
“They knew they needed to move quickly to keep everyone employed. The problem was that they didn’t understand how dangerous this waste was. They set about this mammoth task of moving it through the town and, in doing so, awoke a monster.”
The group eventually won their case, with the judge finding the council liable for negligence, public nuisance and a breach of statutory duty.
The council continued to deny culpable liability, but settled the case and awarded the mothers £14.6million with an apology. Nobody has ever faced criminal proceedings.
The result was thanks to the indefatigable work by Des and the mothers – who refused to give up their fight, despite the fact many of them had family links to the site who feared losing their jobs.
People need to be held accountable, otherwise when is it ever going to stop?
Susan says: “The more I found out, the more I wanted to fight. I thought if I was the only one that was going to open my mouth, I’d do it. I stopped caring what might happen if I did. All we wanted to know was: ‘Why did this happen to us? How do we stop it happening to anyone else?’
“All Connor wanted was to lead a little boy’s life, and he never got it, because he had operations until he was nine, then the court case until he was 13. The verdict was brilliant, but up until then, bad, bad things happened in his little life.”
Although the poisonings came to light because unborn babies were affected by the toxins, it’s thought likely that adults were also poisoned and their symptoms were slower to present themselves.
It’s doubtful we’ll ever know the true scale of the scandal, though the mums say many Corby residents have suffered ill health, including cancer and asthma.
“Even post-Covid, I don’t think people question air quality as much as they should,” says Annabel.
“While resources are stretched at the moment, we still have to protect people.
“I’m really proud that the mothers involved in the Corby case were the first people in the world to prove a link between airborne toxins and damage to unborn babies. I don’t think the impact of that landmark case has been felt enough yet.”
The mothers have stayed in touch since the case, becoming close friends. Tracey went on to have twins Brandon and Callum, now 27, and son Dominic, 22.
Maggie says: “I don’t think anybody set out to cause birth defects. I think their selfishness took over. People need to be held accountable, otherwise when is it ever going to stop? What’s going to put people off taking risks like that?”
- Watch Toxic Town on Netflix from February 27.
My VERY X-rated day at UK ‘Porn University’ behind internet’s most notorious flicks… from Bonnie Blue to fake taxi romps
WITH building supplies strewn around the entrance and a few blokes having a fag outside a car garage, it looks like any other industrial estate.
But one unassuming lot inside this depot in Hertfordshire is responsible for producing some of the internet’s most outrageous X-rated films, while training the UK’s next generation of audacious adult stars.
Welcome to Andy Lee‘s Porn Star University – famed for shooting saucy scenes with the likes of Bonnie Blue and producing more than 400 OnlyFans creators in just over two years.
With shocking viral stars like Bonnie – known for sleeping with 1,057 men in 12 hours – dominating social media debates in recent months, the adult industry has never felt more in the spotlight.
But considering these stunts are helping her rake in a reported £800,000 a month, it’s no surprise scores of Brits are escaping nine-to-five jobs to film explicit content in the hopes of cashing in too.
That’s why I’m spending a day training at the Porn Star University, where within hours – under my new alter-ego ‘Josh the naughty journo’ – I’ll be handcuffing a stranger, recreating a racy X-rated scene and learning the language of lust.
Here, aspiring adult movie stars are taught how to navigate the business, market themselves and learn vital filming tricks, as well as getting ‘hands-on’ training in how to perform on camera on one of the school’s many saucy sets.
In fact, hundreds of scenes are filmed here every month – with past ‘big hitters’ including a viral HMP Wandsworth spoof of a prisoner officer having sex with an inmate, Bonnie Blue’s controversial Australian Border Force video and the infamous porn series Fake Taxi.
Despite the nature of the ‘university’, head honcho Andy Lee, 36, who started out in the industry in 2010, insists surrounding businesses and residential neighbours are “fine” with it, surprisingly.
It’s just as well, because before long, lessons for the day begin – and I’m the apprehensive star of the show.
Schooled in sex
In a brightly-lit classroom, I’m sat beside glamorous Georgie Maria, 26, a single mum, from Kent, whose OnlyFans page is “completely dead” and “desperately” needs guidance.
Bookending us are Essex boys Charlie, a 6ft 5in muscle mountain known as ‘BIG Stacks’, and equally chiselled ‘Big Stevo’, real name Steven Anthony.
Lecturer Andy, who claims he is a multi-millionaire, tells us: “There’s no reason why anyone shouldn’t be able to make at least £3,000 a month on OnlyFans… no matter how they look.”
“Phew!” I think, as I compare myself to the competition.
Andy insists “the sky’s the limit” if we put in more effort, are clever with marketing, perform stunts and improve our cinematography skills with better lighting, clever camera angles and using a tripod.
Before we get to the practical lessons, he has a clear warning: “Remember, once you put a video out there, it’s out there permanently. Are you OK with the world seeing this?
“You can’t hide this stuff. Someone will see it and people are malicious. They’ll send it to your family members, WhatsApp groups and around your area.”
I’m not hurting anyone and it’s for my daughter’s future, so they can keep their noses out of it
Georgie Maria
Andy knows this all too well. In 2020, he was forced to quit his £38,000-a-year council job after a boss was sent a link to one of his X-rated antics, which was recorded a decade earlier.
“It got me fired but it was the best thing that ever happened to me,” the Dubliner says. “I’m a multi-millionaire and am set for the rest of my life now.”
Bonnie Blue’s ‘shock tactics’
While most of us might be horrified by the attention-seeking stunts of Bonnie Blue, Andy – who has filmed with the Nottinghamshire-born star twice – holds her up as an example to the class.
“The more people are talking about you and sharing your content, the more chance you’re going to win,” he says, adding that she is an “expert in rage-baiting”.
He continues: “Instead of saying she’s sleeping with 20-year-olds, she says ‘barely-legal teens’ and that she’s ‘here to f*** your husbands’. She knows what she’s doing.”
Andy speaks from experience. He once drove a taxi close to the Eiffel Tower to film a porn scene and regularly posts provocative videos online, including telling women “it’s OK to cheat” on your partner if they aren’t satisfied sexually.
X-rated Deliveroo films
After a couple of hours, we’re out of the classroom and it’s time to get to grips with making a film ourselves.
Roleplay is a big part of the game and the Porn University is packed with hundreds of costumes – ranging from Royal Mail posties to Army uniforms, airport security, firemen, builders and teachers.
“The Deliveroo outfits are really popular,” Andy says, much to my surprise.
“People relate to it, everyone’s ordered a pizza or food delivery and thought, ‘Woah, they’re really hot.’”
It got me fired but it was the best thing that ever happened to me, I’m a multimillionaire and am set for the rest of my life now
Andy Lee
When it comes to choosing my alter-ego, Andy weighs up the choices before handing me an extremely realistic police officer’s uniform.
Slipping on my stab vest and fluorescent high-visibility jacket, I remember impersonating a cop risks a six-month prison stint and a £5,000 fine.
Outside Andy takes us through a warm-up, warning we could “get seriously injured” and be left out of action for months if we don’t take stretching seriously.
Unsurprisingly, a lot focuses on thrusting and hip stretching.
Kinky BDSM handcuffs
Next up, I’m taught how to use real metal handcuffs as part of a BDSM lesson and learning how to work safely with a partner.
Leaning over a taxi bonnet, Georgie cringes as I clumsily drop the cuffs and fasten them the wrong way, before temporarily losing the key.
Despite her professionalism, sex appeal is rapidly draining from the room.
We take a brief break inside a council estate set, which is strewn with McDonald’s, Monster energy drink cans, empty Pot Noodles and Haribo, crisp and chocolate wrappers.
Here Georgie tells me she started OnlyFans four months ago to escape the long hours and poor pay of her horse riding instructor job so she can give her daughter, four, a better life.
“I couldn’t be the mum I wanted to be with my other job,” she says. “As a single parent, I felt like I was constantly fobbing her off on family members. I don’t want to do that.”
Georgie says she’ll tell her daughter the truth when she’s old enough to understand, but until then is she bracing for parents at the school gates finding out?
“Oh, 100 per cent,” she says. “I can already see it brewing but I’m not hurting anyone and it’s for my daughter’s future, so they can keep their noses out of it.”
My taxi ‘sex scene’
Back in class, it’s time for an ‘ad-lib and improvisation’ lesson. My role is a mean-talking Cockney taxi driver and Georgie can’t afford her £6.40 fare.
“I can’t find my purse anywhere, can I pay you another way?” she seductively states with a wink.
“Don’t worry about it lav…” I begin to say before correcting myself. “Erm, do you have an American Express card?”
A very loud “CUT” rings from the sidelines.
After more coaching, I’m fed an array of lines like, “Maybe, I’ll pull over and jump in the back with you for some fun?”
Take two goes slightly more smoothly, albeit punctuated with stifled laughter every time I’m labelled “big boy”.
I’m relieved the scene is over and Andy is kind with his feedback: “You need a bit more passion!”
Boobs ‘hanging in window’
Next on to the sex scene, for which we leave the full-sized cab – from the famous Fake Taxi series – and hop into one that’s been cut in half for better lighting and camera angles.
While nothing physical will happen today, Andy recounts the acts in a blasé manner: “Her on top then facing away, against the door boobs hanging through the window, then on the bonnet…”
What follows is an exhausting-sounding list of yet even more acts that are too graphic to recount in a family publication.
But it’s now clear why stretching is vitally important.
Andy tells us the common pitfalls, like stars blocking cameras with their hands and elbows and remembering it’s “not about your own pleasure, but the performance of pleasure for the audience”.
It’s clear there’s a lot more to being a porn star than many would believe.
Dark side of pornography
Like every industry, the pornography business has a darker side.
Suicides, drug overdoses and human trafficking form a seedy underbelly, which recently has made headlines in both Europe and the United States.
In January this year, porn star Thania Fields was found dead after sharing that she had experienced “sexual abuse” at the start of her career in porn.
She said at the time: “I have suffered sexual harassment and abuse after starting to create adult content. It’s very strong.
“Many thought that by hiring me they could do what they wanted with me, but then I came home, took a bath and cried.”
Recently deaths in the US include star Angelina Please, Dahila Sky and Olivia Lua.
Former director Tommie McDonald tells us he left the business after being confronted with some horrifying situations.
He says at least two models he knows off killed themselves while he was still producing, and many more simply seemed to disappear.
He said: “Over the years working in the industry, suicides were sadly fairly common.
“Often Eastern European women are brought into the industry at the hands of traffickers and forced into filming porn under threats of violence.
“It’s hard to work in this industry and not have your morals shift because so much goes on.
“I’ve also heard of rape allegations against top producers and suggestions that people have been drugged on set before filming.
“It was also commonplace for a bit in Europe that talent would forge clear tests so they could still work even if they had contacted something.
“There was a HIV outbreak in Europe about five years ago, which thankfully changed the way testing was done.”
As the day draws to a close, I’m guided around the remaining sets including a shower room where they use baby oil and a smoke machine to replicate steamy hot water.
Andy’s spent £220,000 so far renovating the former apprentices’ workshop into an ultimate porn studio with at least 22 sets including bizarrely, an old man’s living room.
He has also bought countless costumes and props like a paddling pool for oil wrestling, tools for a mechanics’ garage, workman supplies for a building yard and BDSM gear.
Back in the classroom, I’m called up to the front to accept my certificate – which for effect is rebranded a d***ploma – to cheers and chuckles from my fellow alumni.
What’s clear is that being a porn star is nowhere near as easy as it looks and for all the benefits and wealth the industry offers, it’s only suited to the brave, bronzed… and blokes with bulging biceps.
‘Josh the naughty journo’ better stick to his day job… for now.
I tried 6 TikTok sleep trends to find the ones that actually work – my favourites helped me nod off in under 10 minutes
ARE you sleep maxxing? Or do you have no idea what I’m talking about?
The term, made famous on TikTok, essentially means maximising the amount of good quality sleep you get each night using various techniques.
Because after all, sleep seems to be a challenge for so many of us.
The NHS recommends we all get between seven and nine hours a night.
But that’s not always easy. Research by LloydsPharmacy found that 33 per cent of Brits struggle to nod off at least two to three nights a week, with a further 21 per cent admitting it’s a nightly challenge.
To try to improve their slumber, 24 per cent of people have tried at least one popular sleep hack that has circulated on social media.
But do these tricks really work? I tested six of the most popular to find out…
1. Wearing a sleep tracker
- Minutes to fall asleep: 5
- Sleep quality: 4/5
- Overall score: 4/5
I wear an Oura ring every night to track my sleep so I am pretty familiar with this one already.
Before I started using the device (which also tracks my stress and movement throughout the day) I worried it might make my sleep worse, making me overthink bedtime and fret about not hitting my sleep goals.
However, since wearing the ring I have nothing but great things to report.
Most crucially, I have 100 per cent been more aware of my sleep ‘hygiene’.
I wind down before bed, I make sure the room temperature is comfortable, and I’m conscious of what I eat beforehand.
This has all led to a more relaxing environment, and better quality kip.
However, it’s worth noting that the tracker itself doesn’t improve my sleep; rather it’s the fact that it forces me to prepare for bed properly, instead of hitting the pillow with a racing mind and zero downtime.
Dr Bhavini Shah, GP at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, says that while many users find trackers beneficial for identifying triggers that impact sleep quality, the accuracy of devices is questionable.
“To ensure truly accurate data, you’d need to do a medical sleep study which monitors brain waves,” she says.
“These studies can help to diagnose conditions like sleep apnoea.
“Furthermore, studies show that sleep tracking devices can induce anxiety in users.
“Several have shown that those who had a poor night’s sleep were more likely to have a low mood, difficulty concentrating, and increased sleepiness during the day.”
2. Listening to white noise
- Minutes to fall asleep: 30
- Sleep quality: 2/5
- Overall score: 2/5
Most people want a quiet room to fall asleep in, so you wouldn’t think that noise could help!
But Dr Shah explains that certain sounds can actually be beneficial for some.
“White noise is primarily used to mask other disruptive sounds in the environment as our brains are wired to notice changes in sound, rather than constant, steady noise,” she says.
“While the brain processes white noise like any other sound, research suggests it doesn’t demand the same level of attention as speech or music.”
White noise contains all frequencies across the spectrum of audible sounds in equal measure.
People often compare it to the static that comes from an untuned radio or TV.
Research is mixed. But a study published in the journal Frontiers found that adults fell asleep 38 per cent faster while listening to white noise.
Tart cherries contain naturally high levels of melatonin, which is known as the ‘sleep hormone’
Dr Bhavini Shah
Years ago when I used to burn the candle at both ends, I relied on my white noise machine to help me drift off.
So, years later, would it have the same effect? Answer: no.
The Nanit Sound + Light machine (£99) I used is great. But when you sleep with someone else (which I do; my boyfriend), you both need to be on the same page.
He wasn’t keen on the noise, which sounds like radio static, and to be honest, our bedroom is so quiet, I didn’t feel like I needed the white noise to block out any sounds.
If you live on a noisy street though, or your neighbours keep you up at night, then this would likely be a great bedside table addition.
I will say, however, that there are other ‘noise’ options on this machine and we now wake up to the sound of birds in the morning rather than a piercing phone alarm, which is lovely!
3. Drinking a ‘sleepy girl mocktail’
- Minutes to fall asleep: 10
- Sleep quality: 3/5
- Overall score: 3/5
A magic potion that sends you to sleep within minutes sounds too good to be true.
But in the last few years, many TikTokers have claimed that the ‘sleepy girl mocktail‘ can do just that.
There are a few variations of the drink, but essentially it contains tart cherry juice and magnesium powder, and more often than not, sparkling water.
I’ve been taking magnesium before bed for years (I’ve no idea if it does anything, but I like to think it does), however I’ve never gone too near tart cherry juice – until now.
Dr Shah says: “Tart cherries contain naturally high levels of melatonin, which is known as the ‘sleep hormone’.
“They also contain tryptophan, an amino acid used in the production of serotonin (a sleep-inducing hormone) and melatonin.”
Plus studies suggest there could be a link between sleep quality and magnesium intake, so I thought it was worth a go!
Mouth taping would be a great choice if you snore
Lucy Gornall
I used a pre-made ‘sleepy girl mocktail’ by ainslie and ainslie, which is filled with montmorency tart cherry powder, magnesium citrate and also l-glycine, an amino acid which supports rest and recovery.
After I’d mixed the powder with 100ml of water, I gave it a quick shake in the shaker provided and knocked it back.
The cherry is seriously tart but so delicious; a bit like the Lemsip flavour I remember as a child.
But did it improve my sleep? I definitely think it helped me wind down, which of course in turn does help sleep.
I felt more relaxed and settled, rather than going to bed feeling overwhelmed.
However, I still woke up a little dozy, so I’m not sure it really improved my sleep quality.
4. Taking a ‘sleep divorce’
- Minutes to fall asleep: 45
- Sleep quality: 2/5
- Overall score: 1/5
So many of us have partners who disrupt our sleep.
Perhaps they snore their heads off, or maybe they work shifts so are up at all hours.
If this is you, you may well have come across the concept of a ‘sleep divorce‘.
It involves sleeping separately from your spouse to help improve sleep quality, and it seems to be all the rage lately.
Previous research conducted by Samsung found that a fifth of couples in the UK regularly sleep apart.
So could this be the secret to better sleep?
The dos and don'ts if you wake up in the night
By Isabel Shaw, Health Reporter
TIME moves at an entirely different speed in the dead of night.
Hours can drag on at a glacial pace, and then, all of a sudden morning is clawing at the curtains, sending you into a violent panic.
But next time you find yourself startled awake, staring at the ceiling in the pitch black, here’s what to do (and not to do).
Nurse Dominika Blonska, founder of Define by Dom, says:
- You should never look at the clock
- Don’t doomscroll
- Eat protein but avoid sugar
- Take a magnesium supplement
- Try the ‘cognitive shuffle‘ method
- Get out of bed
- Give breathing techniques like the 3-6-9 a go
You can read the full article here.
Dr Shah says: “If you share a bed with a partner who works night shifts or is restless throughout the night, the impact of sleep deprivation can sometimes take a toll on a relationship.
“Chronic sleep deprivation significantly increases the risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity by disrupting stress responses, glucose metabolism, and insulin regulation.”
But, sleeping in a separate bed to your partner may decrease emotional and physical intimacy.
Personally, I sleep with my boyfriend every night and luckily we sleep well together; he barely moves and he doesn’t snore. Winning.
I tested out a ‘sleep divorce’ when he was away for the night.
The result: a seriously poor night’s sleep.
In fact, my Oura ring gave me the lowest sleep score I have ever had.
It could be a coincidence, but I definitely noticed that there wasn’t a presence next to me and it didn’t feel right.
Back to sharing a bed then…
5. Sleeping with a weighted blanket
- Minutes to fall asleep: 15
- Sleep quality: 3/5
- Overall score: 3/5
I spend my evenings trying to “take a weight off” before bed.
But could sleeping with a 4.7kg blanket actually help me sleep?
I tried the Kudd.ly weighted blanket (£49, Amazon) to find out.
Weighted blankets like this one are designed to promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and enhance sleep quality, Dr Shah says.
“Usually filled with thousands of small glass beads that gently apply pressure, these blankets mimic a therapeutic method known as ‘deep pressure therapy’, which is thought to help elevate your mood,” she adds.
Honestly, lifting one of these blankets felt like an arm workout – harder, even.
However, once I’d heaved it over my body, I did drift into a nice sleep.
There’s something incredibly comforting about a little weight on your body.
This definitely made me feel more settled, but I woke up in the night pretty hot and when my boyfriend tried it, his first words were, “I’m struggling”.
Perhaps a good one if you sleep alone and aren’t also kept warm by another human’s body heat? But probably not for me.
6. Mouth taping
- Minutes to fall asleep: 15
- Sleep quality: 3/5
- Overall score: 3/5
Until recently, mouth taping was a means of keeping someone quiet; usually a criminal act rather than a wellness hack.
But, according to trends website Glimpse, interest in mouth tape has grown 109 per cent over the past year.
Placing a special porous tape over your lips encourages you to breathe through your nose, which is said to improve sleep.
The benefits are mostly anecdotal as few studies have backed up these claims.
However, a some experts have found mouth taping could help treat snoring.
One by scientists in Taiwan revealed it significantly reduced snoring, lapsed breathing and tiredness in patients with mild obstructive sleep apnoea – a disorder that causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start while you sleep.
It also comes with some slightly terrifying potential side effects.
Dr Shah says: “While intentional nose breathing during waking hours can help slow down breathing and ease anxiety, taping your mouth while sleeping can be dangerous.
“It can lead to hampered breathing, disrupted sleep, and skin irritation.”
The Sleep Foundation also warns it can actually result in increased anxiety.
I decided to try it anyway, applying one of the Hostage Mouth Tapes (£25.19, Healf) over my mouth before hitting the hay.
Contrary to what I thought, it was actually really comfortable.
It didn’t feel tight and if I wanted to, I could easily take it off – which I did, about three hours into my sleep, when I woke up for a drink.
I’d say this probably takes a bit of getting used to, however it did force me to breath through my nose.
If you snore, this would be a great choice!
Star of hit 90s teen drama looks unrecognisable 31 years after series debut
THE star of a hit 90’s teen drama looks unrecognisable 31 years after their series debut.
Michael Perl is best known for playing Winston in the TV series based loosely on the popular Francine Pascal novels, Sweet Valley High.
But when he was much younger he almost got kicked out of school as a direct result of playing Danny Zuko in the school production of ‘Grease’.
The star thought that Danny was a smoker and took in a pack of cigarettes rolled into the sleeve of his t-shirt, but the school found that to be unacceptable.
However, in recent Instagram posts the star looks unrecognisable from his long ago Sweet Valley days.
Sweet Valley High was a huge hit with teens back in its day and starred Brittany and Cynthia Daniel as the two lead characters.
The series ran from 1994 to 1997 and revolved around the lives of Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield, beautiful blonde twins who lived in the fictitious Sweet Valley, California, and their gang of friends.
Elizabeth was warm, friendly and sincere, while her twin sister Jessica was flirty, mischievous, and irresponsible.
Michael played Winston Egbert, the class clown who had a major crush on Jessica.
But he dates a girl named Mandy Farmer, who later moves away, and then begins dating Maria Santelli, a popular cheerleader.
In college, he starts going by the name of “Winnie” and a clerical error leads to his placement in an all women’s dorm, where he meets popular sorority girl Denise Waters, who becomes the love of his life.
Unfortunately, life after university sees Winston transform from a goofy, cheerful oddball into a mean, resentful businessman whose wealth from the dotcom boom can’t cure his loneliness.
After a night of drunken debauchery, he falls from a balcony to an untimely death.
When the show ended, Michael went to get his BFA in Theatre from UCLA’s school of Theatre, Film and Television.
Since graduating, Michael has been working consistently in film, television and Los Angeles theatre.
He has appeared in Bold and the Beautiful, Scandal and Chuck to name a few.
As well as playing the lead roles in a series of films that include Bye Bye Bernard, Lena and the snowball and The Violin.
Michael also started a production company called Burton Street Productions, with his wife Melissa Lugo.
Melissa who is also an actor and costume designer has appeared in numerous shows including Star Kids, Book of Secrets and Ronson.
Together the pair have produced award-winning short films and web series under that banner and share moments of their happy life on Instagram with their followers and friends.
One of England’s prettiest villages has bright red poppy fields and renowned pub
GREAT Massingham village is one of the prettiest in Norfolk.
The village of Great Massingham 13 miles from Kings Lynn is a jewel of Norfolk with bright red poppy fields and a classic British pub.
The village was named one of the best places to live in the UK by the Sundays Times in 2022.
And in 2023, Telegraph named it as one of the UK’s most unspoiled villages.
It is tucked away from the Norfolk coast and is known for flint and cobble cottages.
In the village is the renowned pub, The Dabbling Duck, which is a great place to stop for a refreshing pint.
They also serve classic pub dishes from fish and chips to Norfolk pigeon dishes and a speciality burger that comes with a duck egg.
One reviewer on TripAdvisor said they enjoyed “the best Saturday night tea we’ve ever had”.
For any overnight stay, The Dabbling Duck have seven rooms available to book as a B&B from £87 per night.
The Duckling Cottage next door is also available for a self-catering stay and has a wood burning stove in the cosy living room.
Opposite the pub is the award-winning Massingham Stores & Post Office.
What used to be a normal corner shop was transformed – they won the Independent Retailer of the Year in 2021.
Behind the shop is The Cartshed Tearooms, you can pop in if you fancy a full English, or classic pork pies and tasty sandwiches.
Of course, they serve afternoon tea after 2pm, where you can enjoy sandwiches, a fruit scone with jam and clotted cream, and various mini cakes for £11.99 per person.
For an extra £7 you can add Prosecco, or for £24 you can have afternoon tea with champagne.
Anyone who is active and wants to play some games can play tennis at the village hall courts.
For those who like to fish, the Scotmans pit pond is a popular spot with tickets available from Massingham Stores.
While the village offers lots of greenery, on the outskirts are fields of red poppies.
They were planted as part of a rewilding project and have since been left to nature creating stunning red fields.
If you want to see them in full bloom then go between June and August.
The village church, St Mary’s, had its porch once used as a schoolroom. It’s thought that England‘s first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, was educated there in 1720.
His descendants still live in Houghton Hall three miles away, and you are able to visit.
The manor house and walled gardens are open to the public throughout the spring and summer season.
It’s also home to sculpture exhibitions and a model soldier museum, tickets start at £10.
The nearest beach to Great Massingham is Heacham where you might be able to spot some seals depending on the tide.
On the north beach, you’ll find an amusement arcade, café, fish bar and beach huts for hire. Down on the south beach is where you’ll find the gift shop.
Holiday parks in Norfolk for a half-term break
With Norfolk on the mind, here are three holiday parks to explore...
Heacham Beach, Heacham
Splash about in the heated indoor swimming pool with a waterslide at this park near Heacham Beach. The sports court is a great place to work up an appetite before enjoying lunch at on-site The Boathouse Tavern, or if you’re feeling more relaxed – stroll to the sandy shingle beach, just 200 metres away.
Thorpe Forest, Thetford
Adults will love Thorpe Forest, where cabins come with a hot tub as standard. The park is based in woodland on the banks of the River Thet, close to where the Norfolk and Suffolk borders meet, so there’s lots to see and do in the area including visiting Wells-Next-The-Sea, , Bury St Edmunds the Norfolk Broads, Great Yarmouth and spotting seals at Blakeney Point.
Caister-on-Sea, Caister-on-Sea
Big families are well catered for at this traditional seaside holiday park in Caister-on-Sea. It is home to Deck Houses – which provide lots of space for larger groups – and the park has direct access to miles of beautiful sandy beaches. It also boasts an Adventure Village, where kids will be kept occupied for hours with aerial assault courses, 4×4 off-roading and indoor play areas
Inside devastated Linda Robson’s plan to support best friend Pauline Quirke amid heartbreaking dementia battle
LINDA Robson has revealed how she plans to support her best friend Pauline Quirke, after breaking down in tears over her dementia battle.
Last month actress Pauline‘s husband Steve Sheen revealed she would be stepping back from her 50-year career due to the syndrome.
The Birds of a Feather co-stars have been close since they were ten years old.
Linda, 66, was comforted on Loose Women last month, as the panel discussed their memories of the actress after her shock diagnosis was revealed.
And last week, Pauline’s friend issued an update on her battle, saying she’s ‘struggling to identity her family members.’
Speaking to The Sun on Monday evening, at the TV Choice Awards, devastated Linda shared an update on how she plans to support her friend.
She told us: “I haven’t seen Pauline in person but I’ve seen her on FaceTime.”
Linda revealed that she’d been keeping in the loop with what’s going on by regularly FaceTiming Pauline’s husband.
She added: “Steve has said that I can go and see her next week, so that’s what I’ll do.
“It’s about taking everything slowly for her really.”
Linda also said at the awards: “It’s very sad. We’ve been best friends since we were ten. I’ve known [about the diagnosis] for three years and we’ve managed to keep it quiet.
“She doesn’t know who anybody is.
“She doesn’t know who I am or who her kids are. Dementia is terrible – I’d rather get cancer, because at least then you’ve got a chance.”
Linda continued: “My mum had it [dementia] as well. One in two people now get dementia, it’s a lot of people.
“When my mum was in a hospice, we’d get there and she’d recognise us for a second and that was completely gone. It’s the worst thing, it really really is.”
And Linda insisted that she’ll never do another episode of Birds of a Feather as it “wouldn’t be the same without Pauline”.
They starred together in Birds of a Feather as Sharon Theodopolopodous and Tracey Stubbs.
Earlier this year it was announced that Pauline is stepping down from her professional duties after being diagnosed with dementia.
Her husband Steve Sheen issued a statement which read: “It is with a heavy heart that I announce my wife Pauline’s decision to step back from all professional and commercial duties due to her diagnosis of Dementia in 2021.
“Pauline has been an inspiration through her work in the film and TV industry, her charity endeavours and as the founder of the very successful Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA).
“Her talent, dedication, and vision have touched countless lives and will continue to do so through the legacy of her work and through PQA where her vision and guidance has facilitated many young peoples’ progression and interest in the Arts and enhanced their self-confidence.”
Is it ageing or dementia?
Dementia – the most common form of which is Alzheimer’s – comes on slowly over time.
As the disease progresses, symptoms can become more severe.
But at the beginning, the symptoms can be subtle or mistaken for normal memory issues related to ageing.
The US National Institute on Aging gives some examples of what is considered normal forgetfulness in old age, and dementia disease.
You can refer to these above.
For example, it is normal for an ageing person to forget which word to use from time-to-time, but difficulting having conversation would be more indicative of dementia.
Katie Puckering, Head of Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Information Services team, previously told The Sun: “We quite commonly as humans put our car keys somewhere out of the ordinary and it takes longer for us to find them.
“As you get older, it takes longer for you to recall, or you really have to think; What was I doing? Where was I? What distracted me? Was it that I had to let the dog out? And then you find the keys by the back door.
“That process of retrieving the information is just a bit slower in people as they age.
“In dementia, someone may not be able to recall that information and what they did when they came into the house.
“What may also happen is they might put it somewhere it really doesn’t belong. For example, rather than putting the milk back in the fridge, they put the kettle in the fridge.”