February 12, 2025New York StateComments Off on Mystery surrounds Coronation Street’s Rob Donovan after he’s found motionless at bottom of stairwell – will he survive?
CORONATION Street shock as Rob Donovan found unconscious at bottom of stairwell – will he pull through?
Chaos erupts in Weatherfield as notorious bad boy Rob Donovan is discovered motionless after a dramatic fall.
Not known, clear with picture deskRob plans his escape from prison and takes his sister with him[/caption]
Not known, clear with picture deskThings take a dangerous turn[/caption]
Not known, clear with picture deskAnd Rob is left motionless on the floor[/caption]
But was it an accident, or has someone made sure he’ll never cause trouble again?
Next week in Coronation Street, Bobby reveals his plans to start visiting his Dad again.
But Carla warns him to tread carefully.
When Rob calls Mandy needing her help, she reveals that she’s been suspended because someone found out about their relationship.
Mandy tells Carla that Rob’s taken a turn for the worse, but when Carla demands to speak to a nurse, Mandy turns on Carla.
Is Carla in danger?
Rob lies motionless at the bottom of an office block stairwell.
What has happened to Rob?
Kit starts an investigation into what happened to Rob.
Is Rob still alive and will Kit be able to get to the bottom of what happened?
Lisa is brought in for questioning about what happened to Rob.
Meanwhile, Ryan overhears Bobby on the phone agreeing to pick up some cash for someone and goes into the factory after him.
What is Bobby up to?
Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV1 or stream from 7am on ITVX.
Soap's biggest whodunnits
EastEnders – Who shot Phil Mitchell?
The “Who Shot Phil?” storyline was a whodunit mystery that captured the attention of viewers and the media. The episode revealing the culprit was watched by 23 million viewers. Lisa Shaw, Phil Mitchell’s former girlfriend and the mother of his child Louise, was revealed as the killer as Phil slept with Lisa’s best friend. Phil forgave Lisa, and they agreed to keep the truth a secret.
Coronation Street – Who killed Tina McIntyre ?
The popular actress Michelle Keegan played Tina McIntyre for several years on the Cobbles, but she ended up being killed by Rob Donovan in a tragic turn of events back in 2014 when he chased her onto the balcony of the Builder’s Yard. When she tried to leave, he pushed her and she fell off the roof, with Rob convinced he killed her. With Tina still alive, he attacked her with an iron bar but she survived that attack and was rushed to hospital as doctors tried to save her.
Emmerdale – Who pushed Emma Barton?
Emma was then pushed off a viaduct by Moira after she talked ill of her dead daughter Holly, who died of an overdose in October 2017. Although Moira was responsible for Emma’s death, her son, Adam Barton, took the fall for the murder since he was already a prime suspect and he didn’t want Isaac to grow up motherless.
Hollyoaks – Glove Hand Killer
The Gloved Hand Killer was a mystery serial killer, who claimed the lives of 7 characters between January and October 2015, all by injecting them with potassium chloride. The Gloved Hand Killer’s targets were all people who had done wrong in some shape or form. There were 6 suspects for who the Gloved Hand Killer was, and the killer’s identity was revealed in October 2015. It was revealed to be doctor Lindsey Butterfield who had been killing people at the hospital.
February 12, 2025New York StateComments Off on I don’t want my daughter’s ex dating some horrible skank, I MUST vet her first – we come as a package
HANGING up after talking to her daughter, Emma Parsons-Reid was hit by a tidal wave of devastation.
The former civil servant had just learnt Hannah, 34, and her husband, Scott Bees, 36, were calling time on their 14-year marriage.
Emma Parsons-Reid describes her former son-in-law Scott Bees as her ‘BMM’ – Best Male MateGareth Iwan JonesEmma and daughter Hannah Rose, who was married to Scott for 14 yearsThe pair broke up seven months ago after growing apart
But it wasn’t Hannah’s impending divorce which had the mum-of-one, from Ely, South Wales, so grief-stricken.
Emma was more concerned about what the split meant for her and Scott – a man she was so close to, he called her “Mum”.
“I was heartbroken,” says Emma, who is married to retired chemical engineer Kevin, 63. “It was just earth-shattering. I cried and was more upset than the kids. It was the end of an era.”
Studies show that women rate their relationships with their sons-in-law more favourably than relationships with their daughters-in-law, but that wasn’t always the case for Emma.
He came to me and asked for Hannah’s hand in marriage beforehand which was something. But I assumed at the time he was scared of me
Emma Parsons-Reid
When Scott and Hannah – then a single mum to a three-year-old girl – got together in 2009, she was initially suspicious.
“I wasn’t sure if he was good enough for my daughter and granddaughter,” says Emma.
“He was young and not on a dedicated career path. I was concerned as any mum would be.”
Hannah met him at work when she was a market researcher. Months later she was pregnant with the first of their four girls, now aged 14, 12, nine and seven.”
Emma, who is adamant no man can be fully trusted, says Scott had to “jump through hoops” to win her over.
Even by the time he and Hannah tied the knot in 2011, she wasn’t fully on board.
“He came to me as her mother, not Kevin, her stepdad, as I am the more scary one and bravelyasked for Hannah’s hand in marriage, which was something,” says Emma.
“I just assumed he was scared of me.
“My loyalty still lay very much with Hannah and when we were looking at wedding dresses, I said to her, ‘You could always just live together’.”
But the pair did marry, and former postman Scott continued to fight to get his mother-in-law on side.
“It was a slowburner,” says Emma. “He wanted my approval and liked me to say, ‘Well done, Scott’.
“When he wallpapered a wall for the first time, he wanted me to like it.”
Over the years, Scott started to turn to Emma for guidance.
If they think divorce is going to interfere with my social life, they have got another thing coming
Emma Parsons-Reid
“He valued my opinion on all things big and small,” she says.
“I also lent him money and he always paid me back. He started to need me like a parent. I get on with Scott’s mum but he realised early on that if you marry Hannah you get me as an added bonus.”
By 2016 Emma conceded he was good enough for Hannah.
“He entered my circle of trust,” she says. “I could see he was a good father and husband. He soothed Hannah and looked after her.
Signs your relationship is heading for a divorce
Persistent Communication Breakdowns Constant misunderstandings, arguments, or a complete lack of meaningful conversation can signal deep-seated issues.
Emotional Distance Feeling like roommates rather than partners, with a noticeable lack of intimacy or emotional connection.
Frequent Criticism and Contempt Regularly criticising each other and showing contempt, such as sarcasm, eye-rolling, or mocking, can erode the relationship’s foundation.
Unresolved Conflicts Recurrent arguments about the same issues without any resolution can indicate deeper incompatibilities.
Loss of Trust Trust is crucial in any relationship. If it’s been broken and cannot be rebuilt, it may be a sign that the relationship is in trouble.
Different Life Goals Significant differences in future aspirations, such as career goals, lifestyle choices, or family planning, can create insurmountable divides.
Avoidance Preferring to spend time apart rather than together, whether through work, hobbies, or social activities, can indicate a desire to escape the relationship.
Lack of Support Feeling unsupported, whether emotionally, financially, or practically, can lead to feelings of isolation and resentment.
Financial Disagreements Constantly arguing about money, spending habits, or financial priorities can strain the relationship.
Infidelity Whether physical or emotional, infidelity can be a major breach of trust and a sign of deeper issues in the relationship.
Changes in Affection A noticeable decrease in affection, physical touch, or romantic gestures can indicate a loss of connection.
“And when my husband Kevin, who isn’t Hannah’s dad, was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2018, Scott came into his own. He said, ‘I’m here for you both’.
“That meant a lot to both of us. When the cancer spread in 2020, Scott was a rock and really protective of me.”
Emma described Hannah and Scott as being like South Wales’ Posh and Becks and admitted she felt so close to her loving son-in-law, that by the time they broke up around seven months ago, she was heartbroken.
“They explained how they had married young and both had grown apart and wanted to stay friends, “ she says.
“Scott asked Hannah to still have me in his life. I said they had to share custody of me. It’s only fair.
Emma’s is a volcano; crusty and fiery on the outside but inside is a big marshmallow style lava flow of fun
Scott Bees
“Scott and Hannah co-parent well and both have the children’s best interests at heart.
“But after knowing him for 16 years, I consider Scott my son.
“When they announced the split, I realised just how much of a ‘son’ Scott had become. I didn’t want to lose that relationship.”
Emma now describes Scott, who is 21 years her junior, as her “BMM” – her best male mate.
“We take the kids out together. We go on picnics with them if it’s an inset day. We go for coffee and chat. I take him clothes shopping. He needs someone to help with style choices,” she says.
I am going to interview any woman he meets, like I did him. They have to accept he comes with his ex-mother-in-law as a package. I don’t want him dating some horrible skank
Emma Parsons-Reid
“I also have selected his wardrobe for him when he starts dating again.
“When people see us together I am always very quick to point out that he’s my son.”
Hannah and Scott now have joint custody… of Emma.
“My daughter and Scott have to take turns visiting me, or accept joint visitation with me as part of their post-split lives,” she says.
“If they think divorce is going to interfere with my life or my relationship with my new ‘son’ Scott they have got another thing coming. When Scott does find a new partner she will have to win my approval and jump through hoops to be good enough for him and my grandchildren.
“I know some people think, ‘Oh, you have to take your daughter’s side’, but it’s nothing like that. I’m not a monster-in-law. I can love them both.”
Scott is equally keen to maintain his close relationship with Emma, although he admits she only accepted him after he realised his mother-in-law had to have everything her way.
“She even took over the wedding planning,” he says. “If we dared to suggest something else, Emma ignored our pleas.”
7 Signs You have an Overbearing Mother-in-law
An overbearing mother-in-law is someone who craves control and dominance, according to Choosing Therapy
The experts put together 7 warning signs to look out for…
She’s Always Around “An overbearing mother-in-law may show up unannounced or invite herself to gatherings and activities,” they said.
She Doesn’t Respect Your Boundaries “She may do this by outright denying your requests or more subtly, in a way that makes you feel bad or guilty,” the experts said. “She may do things that she doesn’t have the authority to do, such as snooping in your email.”
She’s Judgmental “An overbearing mother-in-law will judge your every move and take every opportunity to criticise you,” the experts explained. “Behaviours as simple as an eye roll or deep sigh can be taken as signs of her disapproval.”
She Insists That She’s Always Right “A mother-in-law with this mentality will insist that she is always right and that you should follow her advice without question,” they added.
She Pressures You to Do What She Wants “You might find that your overbearing mother-in-law regularly uses the word ‘should’ when offering suggestions,” the experts warned.
“I Do This Because I Care” “To justify her domineering and arrogant behaviour, a mother-in-law may explain that she acts in this way because she cares about you and your family,” according to the experts.
She Needs to Be the Centre of Attention “An overbearing mother-in-law may try to steal centre stage whenever possible,” the experts said. “In conversation, she might disregard topics that aren’t about her and steer the conversation back to herself.”
Undeterred, Scott proudly took on stepdad duties to Hannah’s first child and fought hard to win Emma’s affections.
“I would be Emma’s chauffeur if she needed to go places, I avoided arguments with her and I tried to ensure I did everything the ‘Emma way’,” he says.
“Gradually we became really close and I started calling her Mum. Yes, it’s Emma’s way or the highway, but she’s great. I love her to death and we are proper mates.
“Emma is like a volcano – crusty and fiery on the outside, but inside is all marshmallow-style lava.”
Now living in acabin-style bungalow while he studies archeology at Uni, Scott WhatsApps Emma daily and they chat on the phone.
“I went to her and Kevin’s house on Christmas morning and opened my presents there,” he says. “It was a really nice feeling. I felt so cared about.”
And Emma loves popping around to Scott’s place, which she has decorated with cushions, throws and fairy lights.
“I often drop around ‘care parcels’ including casseroles for Scott and the kids,” she says.
“I also check he’s showered and everything is neat and today as it should be. Men need organising.
“I have turned his cabin into a fairy grotto.”
We had many great years together. Moving on and co-parenting is our priority
Hannah Rose
Emma and Scott even take Duke, Hannah’s border collie, on weekly walksin the local park, stopping for coffee at a favourite cafe.
“I love our Monday walks,” says Emma. “We natter away about his course, life, the kids, Kev… everything. He always gives me a hug when we meet and when we leave he says ‘I love you’.”
And while Hannah has a new partner, who Emma is yet to meet, single Scott is in the early stages of online dating. But all potential partners will be scrupulously vetted by his former mother-in-law.
“I am going to interview any woman he meets,” she warns.
“They have to accept he comes with his ex-mother-in-law as a package. I don’t want him dating some horrible skank.”
Meanwhile, Scott understands they have to complete the Emma Test.
Hannah says: “I respect the fact that Scott and Mum get on.
“It can be awkward at times, but that’s separation.
“I don’t feel that, because we’ve broken up, everyone in my family has to hate Scott.
“We had many great years together and co-parenting well is our priority.
I don’t feel that because two people break up, everyone in my family has to hate Scott.
Hannah Rose
“We are respectful of one another’s time with mum, too.
“Yes, some people think it’s weird, but it helps the kids and the grandparents get to see more of their grandchildren.
“I live by a quote which is, ‘Don’t hate your ex more than you love your children’.
“I am proud of our unusual new normal and don’t feel Mum has let me down.”
Emma says she was ‘heartbroken’ when the pair split and ‘more upset than the kids’Scott and Hannah pictured with Emma, Kevin and the children
February 12, 2025New York StateComments Off on I tested cordless robot vacuums – the winner even has a mop function and can be sent to specific rooms using an app
WHILE I don’t want robots to take over the world, getting them to help out with the cleaning is another matter entirely.
We spend more than an hour a week vacuuming our homes, but with robot cleaners becoming more affordable, could buying one save valuable time?
Glen MinikinThe Sun’s Alex Lloyd puts her feet up and lets the robot vacs get to work – but which one gets the job done best?[/caption]
With two boisterous boys aged eight and five, there are days when my cordless vacuum gets two outings to suck up crumbs from under the sofa and mud that’s been tracked over the carpet.
So, as the robots set to the task of making my three-bed terrace floors spotless, I took the chance to put my feet up.
Afterwards, I checked the work of the machines and awarded marks out of five.
Glen MinikinThis hybrid vacuum gave a thorough clean, tackled tricky spots, and held its charge well – but had a few quirks[/caption]
THIS hybrid version gave my floors a really thorough clean and it got right into the edges.
On my landing, it even brushed between the wooden gap on every balustrade, a spot where the gathering dust irks me every time I climb up the stairs.
This machine felt quieter than the others too, despite having up to 4000Pa (pascals, the unit used to measure suction).
It was a bit annoying that the water tank and dust trap were attached to each other though – but it’s not the only model with that issue.
The makers recommend you wet the mop pad before use, but that made it tricky to slide it over the holder. But it did do a good job on my kitchen floor.
This particular model did struggle with a few door thresholds and the voice was erratic – on more than one occasion, it spent 30 minutes declaring that it was shutting down.
The G50 Hybrid has up to 120 minutes of run time and it certainly held the charge well, but my app wouldn’t record the clean history.
Glen MinikinDespite a rocky start, this bot impressed with its fast mapping, room-specific cleaning, and powerful suction on carpets[/caption]
I CERTAINLY didn’t get off to the best start with this bot. I struggled to get it lined up properly with the charging pins and only got 40 minutes of use out of its first outing, not the potential 150 minutes that was promised.
Water also came running out when I tried to apply more force to one end to get the charger connected.
However, it won me round with its mapping technology, which is very effective and fast, with the device building a plan of the floor in minutes before getting to work, which it then stored for next time.
Using this later on to send the D10 to specific rooms and cordon off areas was a real timesaver, like when I just wanted the kitchen floor mopped.
You need to remove the mop pad if you want to avoid items such as damp rugs, but I really liked the automatic suction increase on carpeted spaces, with up to 4000Pa.
Rating: 4/5.
Cleaning and household chores in numbers
Well Polished conducted a survey and the results are in!
Glen MinikinThis vacuum’s app made set-up easy, but its 2000Pa suction left some crumbs behind[/caption]
THE app instruction booklet gave me high hopes – it meant that I understood this vacuum’s functions from the off.
But after half an hour exploring my ground floor with it, there were still visible crumbs. It was good at getting into corners to brush them out, but failed to pick some up.
This is no doubt because the top suction strength is 2000Pa, which is lower than some other models.
While it maps your progress, so you can see the space covered, it isn’t stored to aid smarter future use.
The best approach is selecting “wall follow” to get the edges, then “smart” for the rest.
You can also manually direct this cleaner from the app, set timers and give commands via Alexa.
The mop isn’t exactly vigorous, but it does the job and I liked that the dust trap and water tank disconnect from each other.
It has a generous 150 minutes of running time in “quiet” mode and you can expect a still decent 120 in “standard”.
Glen MinikinThis vacuum’s charging station doubles as an emptying dock, reducing bin trips[/caption]
HERE, the charging station doubles as an emptying dock with a vacuum bag inside, which allows the robot to cleverly unload the dust trap when full.
This ensures it doesn’t stop mid-clean and saves you a few trips to the bin.
With a pet-free, three-bed home, this felt like an unnecessary extra (the £149 version would have sufficed), but I can see the value for larger, carpeted houses with dogs.
It also means that the water tank and pad access are at the back when it returns to charge, so you have to disconnect to remove them.
You’ll also need to buy dust bags, which last around two months if you clean daily.
It’s a pretty basic model and app, without any mapping, which meant a damp rug when I let it loose on the vacuum and mop setting.
But it did quite a decent job cleaning my hallway tiles and the kitchen floor.
Glen MinikinThis 4000Pa vacuum offers simple controls via remote or app, with features like a separate water tank and dual side brushes[/caption]
IF YOU’RE a tech-phobe, this 4000Pa vacuum can be operated phone-free with an effective remote control.
But the app is also very user-friendly and supports Alexa and Google Home.
I liked that the 450ml water tank is separate to the dust box, which empties from the bottom and has a cleaning brush set into the lid.
It also has two rotating side brushes instead of one, plus up to 120 minutes of running time.
But all this sadly didn’t make for more efficient cleaning. I saw it completely miss crumbs on my sons’ bedroom floor, despite going round twice.
With no mapping, the Midea circulated the same ground a fair bit and needed manually moving to one room. I also failed to get the mop working, as the water simply wouldn’t soak through to the pad.
On the upside, the “edge cleaning” function helped to finish off rooms nicely.
Rating: 2/5.
Cleaning hacks and tips
Here are some tips to help you clean your home like a pro:
This model impressed with its charming voice, six cleaning modes, and powerful suctionGlen Minikin
THIS model found a fan immediately in our household. My five-year-old loved it from the moment it announced – in its charming voice – “Legee go!” as it set off on its cleaning mission.
And for many reasons it was my favourite, too, not least because of the six cleaning modes and up to 5,000Pa of suction.
“Standard” was my go-to mode, as it responds to the surface and means there’s no need to worry about carpets getting wet.
The side brush is especially effective, as it sits on a responsive extending arm to really get into crevices.
The mopping function is decent, with a “polish” mode and vibrating microfibre pad, plus a perfect measuring bottle for mess-free filling of the water tank.
However, a filter inside the dust trap makes it slightly more fiddly to empty than others.
The app’s mapping function is great, allowing me to send Legee to specific rooms, delegate areas for cleaning and set smart timers.
It also found its way back to the charger without help – not every model could manage that.
You’ll see below we have a great offer for readers on this machine. Legee go!
Rating: 4/5.
Sun readers can get a Hobot Legee Q10 for the special price of £240 by visiting Amazon and using the checkout code TheSunQ10. UK buyers only, valid for 30 days until stocks last.
MY VERDICT
FRIENDS rave about their robot vacs, but I’m not totally convinced.
For families with lots of carpet, pets and large open-plan spaces, I can see the value of that effort-free daily whizz.
They were also brilliant for getting under the sofas and the dining table, but my house has too many tight corners and steps between rooms to get the full value.
Lifting obstacles out of the way was irritating and I wouldn’t rely on the mop function, unless your flooring is almost exclusively non-carpet.
Ultimately you will still need to whip out an old-school vac once a week to get the bits they miss – and to clean the dreaded stairs.
