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Eddie Izzard takes selfie with legendary rocker in London street and passers-by have no idea – would you recognise him?
SUZY Eddie Izzard has shared a photo with an iconic rockstar after a run-in in London.
The comedian and actor, 63, spent the evening with the Led Zeppelin guitarist discussing another legend, the late Jeff Beck.
“Met Jimmy Page in London today, at the bottom of Wardour Street. Had a wonderful chat with him about the late great Jeff Beck.
“Their amazing guitar improvisations inspired many to try to follow in their footsteps,” they wrote alongside the pic, which they posted on Instagram.
Snapping a selfie on the street, the pair were seen grinning as they wrapped up in coats, with Eddie wearing pink lipstick with sunglasses on her head while Jimmy, 81, kept a low profile in a coat.
Commuters and pub-dwellers are seen walking by the pair, totally oblivious to who they were.
Jimmy Page is recognised as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, forming Led Zeppelin in 1968 after the break-up of his previous band, The Yardbirds.
He has been inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame twice for both bands, and regularly appears on lists of the most influential musicians of all time.
He is best known for his iconic riffs, with Slash, Brian May, Eddie Van Halen and Joe Perry all crediting him as an influence in their own music.
Izzard is currently touring the world in a one-person performance of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
The actor, who first found fame as a stand-up comedian, will be continuing their latest stint of the world tour in San Francisco in April.
The show will then go to Seattle before coming to the UK, starting at the Trinity Theatre at Royal Tunbridge Wells in September.
They will then perform across the country across the following month-and-a-half, ending with a show at London’s Cadogan Hall on November 5th.
Izzard goes by both names of Suzy and Eddie and uses a combination of she/her and he/him pronouns after identifying a gender-fluid.
The star has previously explained they knew they were trans from the age of five, but is happy to be referred to as both Eddie and Suzy, acknowledging Eddie is the more recognised name associated with their work.
Glam Cheltenham 2025 revellers including Georgia Toffolo & Zara Tindall pulled out fashion stops on day one of racing
CHELTENHAM Festival is back with a bang, and racegoers have pulled out all the fashion stops for the event.
Royalty and A-listers alike have dressed to the nines to kickstart the iconic festival, with Zara Tindall and newly married Georgia ‘Toff’ Toffolo leading the fashion pack.
Around 250,000 Cheltenham fans are expected to flock to the famous Gloucestershire racecourse for the four-day racing event.
While many opted for their chicest tweed ensembles, others have opted to spice their look up with feather-adorned fascinators and daring heels.
As well as sipping champagne and watching the horses, there has also been the chance for attendees to celeb-spot too.
Princess Anne’s daughter Zara, 43, looked smart in a navy coat and dress, with a bright yellow headpiece stealing the show.
Meanwhile, Toff looked bridal in a white tweed two-piece from Julia Wade and patent leather boots from Yves Saint Laurent.
TV beauty Georgia and Brewdog founder James Watt secretly tied the knot in Aberdeenshire and guests received just 48 hours’ notice.
Last year saw a change to the historic Ladies Day – which is taking place tomorrow – with the day being rebranded as Style Wednesday.
While the day typically saw guests, celebrities and royalty alike show off their high fashion ensembles, the event is now open to both men and women.
The Cheltenham awards panel also included a new ‘slow fashion’ awards ceremony, which included vintage outfits, or those put together from charity shops or online resellers.
Famous meet
Nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds, Cheltenham racecourse has hosted racing since 1815 and is one of the highlights in the racing calendar.
This year the Cheltenham Festival started on Tuesday March 11 and will run until Friday March 14.
Today is known as the Champion Day with Unibet Champion Hurdle as the main race.
Following Style Wednesday, St Patrick’s Day is the focus for the third day, and Gold Cup Day takes place on Friday and will see The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup take place.
Cheltenham dress code
For more than 200 years, punters have been instructed to wear traditional formal dress, with elaborate get-ups a common sight at racetracks like Cheltenham.
However, in 2023, The Jockey Club, which runs 15 racecourses including Cheltenham, relaxed the rules and changed the policy to make racing more “accessible and inclusive”.
The dress code for Cheltenham Festival is now whatever makes people feel “comfortable and confident”, the Jockey Club has said.
The previous dress code advised men to wear suits and women to wear cocktail dresses.
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Now, spectators will be allowed to wear whatever they like at the event, including jeans, trainers and even tracksuits.
However, offensive fancy dress, offensive clothing of any kind and replica sports shirts are still banned.
While spectators won’t be discouraged from dressing smartly if they want to, they will no longer be restricted from certain enclosures based on what they’re wearing.
The Jockey Club has said the old dress code had been “rather outdated in the 21st Century”, and wants spectators to be comfortable in the changeable British weather.
Amy Childs slammed for taking daughter, 7, to Sabrina Carpenter concert, as people say it’s way ‘too raunchy’ for kids
AMY Childs has been criticised for her decision to take her seven-year-old daughter to see Sabrina Carpenter in concert.
The Only Way Is Essex star shared a video of herself and her little girl – a Sabrina mega fan – to London’s O2 Arena to watch the Bed Chem star in action.
“@sabrinacarpenter you was everything and more,” she captioned the Instagram Reel.
“Polly’s face when Sabrina come on stage!
“The most amazing night, a night we won’t ever forget.”
In the clip, Polly was seen having her hair pin curled, before she and her mum headed to the venue and took their seats for the concert.
Amy also caught the moment Polly saw Sabrina in person for the real time, as she beamed from ear to ear.
However, the mum soon found herself at the centre of backlash in the comments section of the Reel, with many insisting Polly was far too young for the gig.
“She’s not a teenager! She should be playing with dolls!” one raged.
“Personally I don’t think Sabrina is a very good role model for kids,” another added.
“She’s far too raunchy
“Let her stay a little girl,” a third sighed.
“Not suitable for her age, surely?” someone else commented.
“Well given Polly’s impressionable age I hope she was a whole lot tamer than she was at the start of the Brits…” another wrote.
“Why are you trying to make your child into an adult? Let her be a kid!” someone else urged.
“Her show was for over 16s, shame on you!” another slammed.
Despite the remark, the age limit only applies to those going to the concert unattended, with the rules stating anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult of 18 or over.
It does say, however, that the age restriction for the seated area – where Amy and Polly were – is actually eight.
Who is Amy Childs?
Amy Childs was born June 7, 1990, and is a reality star, model, businesswoman and fashion designer.
She shot to fame in 2010 by appearing in ITV2’s reality TV show The Only Way Is Essex.
She became known for her ditsy, likeable personality and briefly dated fellow cast member Kirk Norcoss.
A particularly memorable scene involved her “vajazzling” Sam Faiers in a barbie pink-coloured salon.
She left the show in 2011 and took part in Celebrity Big Brother, finishing fourth.
She also took part in a fly-on-the-wall documentary, It’s All About Amy on Channel 5.
Two years later she competed in Channel 4’s daredevil show The Jump and was the second person to be eliminated.
She is now said to be worth around £5million through her fashion and beauty products.
The little girl isn’t far off though, as she will celebrate her eighth birthday next month, in April.
And Sabrina has countless young fans across the world, despite swearing in some of her songs and lyrics such as: “He pins you down on the carpet,makes paintings with his tongue“.
Her concert is equally raunchy, and even includes a part which involves Sabrina laying on the bed, with a male dancer parting her legs and heading down her body.
Some people on social media have slammed Sabrina for the sexy display, as some have even accused her of leaving kids “traumatised” with her performance.
Despite the backlash, others defended Amy, as they pointed out what a brilliant time Polly seems to have had at the concert.
“Oh the wee darling, having the time of her life!” one wrote.
“Lush pictures, glad you enjoyed the concert,” another added.
“So cute and hair looks beautiful … such a lovely mother and daughter thing to do,” a third commented.
British tennis star left homeless mid-tournament after being handed free pass into next round
TENNIS star Sonay Kartal has revealed that she checked out of her apartment in California BEFORE qualifying for Indian Wells, leading to a frantic search for somewhere to stay during the tournament.
The 23-year-old thought her time at the BNP Paribas Open was over when she was knocked out in the final round of qualifying.
However, she earned a spot in the main draw following the withdrawal of Sloane Stephens.
As a result of the last-minute change, Kartal was almost left without a place to stay.
She revealed: “I booked an apartment to see me through qualifying so I had to find somewhere else to stay last minute.
“I was homeless for about 12 hours. But it was a good problem to have.”
Kartal has enjoyed an unforgettable run at Indian Wells and is now set for a huge last-16 clash with World No1 Aryna Sabalenka on Wednesday.
The Brit defeated Varvara Lepchenko in straight sets in the first round before beating Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-2, 6-1 in the second.
She then clinched another win over Polina Kudermetova on Monday to progress to the fourth round.
After the match, she said: “It wasn’t as comfortable as it maybe looked.
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“My goal was to hold my serve and make her play every ball and keep the scoreboard pressure high.
“I kept my cool and upped my level when it mattered the most.”
Dancing on Ice runner-up who disappeared from public fame after high profile split with ITV legend and sitcom stardom
SHE had a starring BBC sitcom role and was a runner-up in Dancing on Ice.
While some of her former co-stars still regularly appear on-screen, Clare Buckfield took a different path.
The now-48-year-old played Jenny Porter in BBC‘s 2point4 Children during most of the 90s.
This sitcom followed a seemingly average, working-class London family.
However, their world was regularly turned upside-down by bad luck and bizarre occurrences
Clare took over the role beginning in the third series, succeeding Clare Woodgate.
Her castmates included Belinda Lang (Mrs Clam in Sister Boniface), John Pickard (Dominic Reilly in Hollyoaks) and the late Gary Olsen.
Although nowadays, she has a much different career path as a celebrant.
Celebrants are trained professionals who lead events such as wedding or funeral services.
Writing on her website, Clare shared: “I specialise in creating personalised wedding and funeral ceremonies that cater to the unique needs and preferences of each family.
“With a focus on delivering a unique and exceptional experience, crafted with heartfelt sincerity.”
Away from the screen, Clare had a long-term relationship with ITV star Declan Donnelly.
Clare and Dec were together for a decade, spanning 1993 up until 2003.
In 2007, she ventured into reality TV for that year’s series of Dancing on Ice.
Other stars who took part include Blue’s Duncan James, Home and Away‘s Emily Symons and Steps‘ Lisa Scott-Lee.
Partnered with Andrei Lipanov, he and Clare finished as runners-up to Kyran Bracken and Melanie Lambert.
For two years, Clare starred in BBC teen drama Grange Hill, portraying Natasha Stevens.
She appeared opposite twin sister Julie Buckfield, who played Natalie Stevens.
The two later both auditioned for 2point4 children, with Clare landing the role of Jenny.
Clare has featured in episodes of Holby City, Doctors and Dangerfield.
She has also provided her voice in Doctor Who’s spin-off audio episodes.
Nicky Henderson’s Cheltenham curse strikes again with world’s most expensive jumps horse OUT of Festival
NICKY HENDERSON has confirmed ‘dreadful news’ at Cheltenham – with the world’s most expensive jumps horse OUT of the Festival.
Palladium, a £1.2million purchase by Lord and Lady Bamford of JCB fame, was due to run in Friday’s Triumph Hurdle, a race they sponsor.
He had been around a 14-1 chance in the prestigious Grade 1, with the form of his debut hurdles win being franked.
But Henderson, who suffered a disastrous Cheltenham last year, said there was no way he could run this year due to the injury.
It is the second big blow for the master trainer after he was forced to rule huge Arkle favourite Sir Gino out too.
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Henderson said in a statement: “We have had quite a blow this morning when it appears that Palladium had got cast overnight and is quite sore this morning and we really can’t see how he can be fit to run in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
“This is dreadful news and an unfair shock for the Bamford family as we seriously thought we had an outstanding chance on Friday.
“We are confident he will soon be able to resume training but he will require a few easy days.
“He would be back in time for Aintree but I think in all probability he will now return to his flat career.
“He is a very good looking and talented young horse with a great temperament and he has a really bright future under both codes.”
Henderson previously said there’s a good chance Palladium is moved to a different trainer to continue his Flat career, with the Melbourne Cup the ultimate goal.
So this could have been the final time Palladium would have run under Hendo.
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Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
What horses is Sir Alex Ferguson running at Cheltenham Festival 2025?
THE Greatest Show on Turf is BACK as Cheltenham Festival returns to Prestbury Park.
Four thrilling days of action sees the very best horses from Britain, Ireland and France come together for one of the highlights in the sporting calendar.
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28 races will take place across the four-day spectacle, attracting fans from all around the world.
Some familiar faces will be running horses at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, including none other than Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson.
The iconic manager enjoyed a superb third day at Cheltenham last year when two of his horses rode to victory, which saw him pocket a whopping £275,000.
Sir Alex will be hoping for more paydays at Prestbury Park this week, and SunSport can reveal all the horses Fergie is running so you can back them, too!
What horses is Sir Alex Ferguson running at Cheltenham Festival 2025?
Sir Alex Ferguson will potentially have SIX horses running at Cheltenham Festival this year.
On the opening day (Tuesday, March 11), Fergie will run L’Eau Du Su in the 2pm Arkle Novices’ Chase, whilst Potters Charm will be racing in the Novices’ Hurdle at 1.20pm on Wednesday.
Day Three of Cheltenham will see Sir Alex have a whopping FOUR runners, including a defending champion.
Protektorat will be aiming to win the Ryanair Chase (3.20pm) for the second year running.
While, Monmiral will not race in the Pretemps Network Final Handicap, the race he won last year, as he has been entered into the Stayers’ Hurdle on Thursday instead.
Fergie’s other potential runners on Day Three include Caldwell Potter in the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (2pm) and Il Ridoto in the Plate Handicap Chase (4.40pm).
Thursday at Cheltenham will be the final day for Fergie’s horses, with the football legend not expected to have any running on Friday.
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2025 LIVE: LATEST TIPS AND RESULTS FROM THE GREATEST SHOW ON TURF
Cheltenham Festival 2025 schedule in FULL
Tuesday, March 11 – Champion Day
1.20pm: Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ (Grade 1)
2pm: My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
2.40pm: Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
3.20pm: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
4pm: Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
4.40pm: Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
5.20pm: National Hunt Novices’ Chase
Wednesday, March 12 – Style Wednesday
1.20pm: Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
2pm: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
2.40pm: Coral Cup Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
3.20pm: Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
4pm: BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
4.40pm: Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
5.20pm: Weatherbys Champion Bumper
Thursday, March 13 – St Patrick’s Thursday
1.20pm: Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
2pm: Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase
2.40pm: Pertemps Network Final (Premier Handicap)
3.20pm: Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)
4pm: Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
4.40pm: TrustATrader Plate (Premier Handicap)
5.20pm: Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Friday, March 14 – Gold Cup Day
1.20pm: JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
2pm: William Hill County Handicap Hurdle Race (Premier Handicap)
2.40pm: Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Grade 2)
3.20pm: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
4pm: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)
4.40pm: St. James’s Place Festival Hunters Chase
5.20pm: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
How to watch Cheltenham Festival 2025
- In the UK, you can watch the first SIX races of each day on ITV1.
- You can live stream ITV’s coverage for FREE via the ITVX app/website.
- The final race of each day will not be shown on ITV, but Racing TV (a paid for channel) will provide FULL coverage of the Cheltenham Festival, including the 5.20pm of each day.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – gamcare.org.uk
- GambleAware – GambleAware.org
Read our guide on responsible gambling practices.
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Women on common drugs report ‘cruising the streets for sex semi-naked’ – due to little-known side effect
TWENTY women have come forward to reveal how common medicines led to dangerous and impulsive sexual behaviours.
They say they were never warned about the devastating side effects of dopamine agonist drugs, taken by potentially hundreds of thousands of Brits.
Some women told the BBC they were compelled to engage in risky sexual behaviour, like flashing in public, and had no idea what was driving it.
Others claim they felt compelled to gamble or shop with no history of such activities.
One accumulated debts of more than £150,000.
These drugs are primarily used to treat Parkinson’s disease, which around 145,000 people in the UK.
They’re also used to treat restless leg syndrome (RLS), which affects up to three million Brits.
Not everyone with Parkinson’s or RLS takes dopamine agonist drugs, but they are a common treatment option for many people.
A report by drugs firm GSK confirms a link between these medications and “deviant” sexual behaviour, including incidents like a sexual assault on a child.
Yet, there was no mention of this in the patient leaflets.
The UK medicines watchdog says there’s a general warning about increased libido and harmful behaviour.
GSK says a risk of “altered” sexual interest is also referred to in the leaflets.
What is restless leg syndrome?
RESTLESS Legs Syndrome (RLS), also called Willis-Ekbom disease, is a condition that causes an irresistible urge to move your legs.
It often comes with a crawling or creeping sensation in your feet, calves, and thighs, usually worse in the evening or at night.
Some people also feel it in their arms.
Around 2 to 3 million people in the UK are affected by RLS.
While the exact cause isn’t always clear, it’s believed that low dopamine levels play a key role.
In some cases, RLS is linked to conditions like iron deficiency, kidney disease, or pregnancy.
The symptoms can vary from mild to severe, with severe cases causing significant distress and sleep disruptions.
Treatment for RLS may include lifestyle changes, such as improving sleep habits and regular exercise, as well as iron supplements if iron deficiency is a factor.
In more severe cases, medication may be prescribed to help regulate dopamine levels and relieve symptoms.
Source: NHS CHOICES
Like many women, Claire first developed RLS during her pregnancies.
The relentless need to move was often accompanied by sleeplessness and a crawling sensation under her skin.
The condition persisted after giving birth and she was prescribed the dopamine agonist drug Ropinirole, manufactured by GSK.
It initially worked wonders for her RLS, she said, but after a year or so she began feeling unprecedented sexual urges.
“The only way I could describe it is it was just deviant”, she explained.
She said the medication made her act in ways she never would have before, even engaging in risky sexual encounters in dangerous places.
Claire recalls leaving her house at dawn to seek out sex, wearing a see-through top and jacket.
She says she would flash her chest at any man she could find.
She did this often, in riskier spots, even though she had a partner.
Claire had no idea the drug was to blame until years later – when she stopped taking it and the urges disappeared.
Organising phone sex with strangers
Sarah was in her 50s when she was prescribed another dopamine agonist drug made by a different manufacturer.
“Previously I’d have had no interest if Brad Pitt walked in the room naked,” she said.
“But it turned me into this raging woman who kept taking sexual addiction further.”
Sarah started selling used underwear and explicit videos online, while also organising phone sex with strangers.
She also developed a compulsive shopping habit, accumulating £30,000 in debt.
To cope with the effects of the dopamine agonist, she turned to painkillers and sleeping pills and eventually landed in rehab.
This led to losing her driving license and her job.
What is Parkinson's disease?
PARKINSON'S is a progressive neurological condition.
It causes symptoms like tremors (shaking), slow movements, and muscle stiffness.
It can also lead to problems with balance, memory, sleep, and mood, such as depression and anxiety.
People with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of the chemical dopamine in their brain because some of the nerve cells that make it have stopped working.
Around 145,000 people live with Parkinson’s in the UK.
It’s the fastest growing neurological condition in the world.
Symptoms start to appear when the brain can’t make enough dopamine to control movement properly.
This usually happens around the age of 50, but some people might see the first signs in their 40s.
There are over 40 symptoms, but the three main ones are:
- A tremor (shaking)
- Slowness of movement
- Rigidity (muscle stiffness)
There are several different treatments, therapies and support available to help manage the condition.
Dopamine agonists are a common treatment option.
Source: Parkinson’s UK
Impulsive behaviours, such as gambling and heightened sex drive, have long been listed as side effects of dopamine agonist drugs.
These affect an estimated six per cent to 17 per cent of RLS patients, according to NICE.
The NHS defines a “common” side effect as one that impacts just one per cent of users.
The drugs mimic dopamine, a brain chemical that helps control movement and pleasure.
But agonist drugs can over-stimulate these feelings and under-stimulate the appreciation of consequences – leading to impulsive behaviour.
In 2011, four Parkinson’s disease patients took legal action against GSK, claiming Ropinirole caused gambling debts and ruined relationships.
They argued that, despite studies linking the drug to these behaviours since 2000, GSK didn’t add warnings until 2007.
The case was settled, but GSK denied any responsibility.
Torturing cats
Serious side effects have been reported worldwide, particularly in relation to the use of drugs for Parkinson’s disease
In France, a man won damages after Ropinirole triggered compulsive homosexual urges, while another man with no criminal record started torturing cats.
In the US, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine warns the drugs should only be used short-term, like in end-of-life care.
Dr Guy Leschziner, a consultant neurologist, said the drugs still play an important role but he believes that drug companies, health authorities and doctors need to better warn patients of these side effects.
“Not everybody knows the kinds of really quite dramatic changes that can occur,” he explained.
In a statement, GSK told the BBC Ropinirole had been prescribed for more than 17 million treatments and undergone “extensive clinical trials”.
It added the drug had proven to be effective and had a “well-characterised safety profile”.
“As with all medicines, [it] has potential side effects and these are clearly stated in the prescribing information,” it said.
‘Altered or increased sexual interest’
In response to its 2003 research linking the drug to “deviant” sexual behaviour, GSK told the new organisation that it shared the findings with health authorities.
This led to updates in the prescribing information, which now lists “altered or increased sexual interest” and “behaviour of significant concern” as side effects.
The current patient information leaflet for Ropinirole mentions changes in sexual interest five times, mostly warning that such feelings could become “abnormally high,” “excessive,” or “increase[d].”
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said that while a specific reference to “deviant” sexual behaviour is not included in warnings, such impulses vary and a general warning about activities which may be harmful is included.
It also stressed the importance of healthcare professionals explaining the potential risks to patients, highlighting that not everyone experiences these side effects.
The Department of Health and Social Care declined to comment.
Six unanswered questions in North Sea oil tanker disaster… including why anti-crash systems failed & ‘foul play’ claims
AS emergency services raced to contain the huge fireball that erupted over the North Sea, mystery swirled about what could have caused the horror collision.
Steering a path through heavy fog, the container ship Solong pummelled full speed into the side of the US tanker Stena Immaculate yesterday off the coast of Yorkshire.
It has sparked a desperate battle to contain the disaster, which may yet turn into an environmental catastrophe, with both ships carrying goods that pose an immense threat to local wildlife.
Remarkably, all but one of the crew from both vessels managed to survive after a mayday call was sent out.
But as the fire continued to burn overnight, glaring questions are starting to be asked – over what could happen next, and how such a devastating collision happened in an age of cutting-edge navigation technology.
Here, we look at the questions that must be answered before we can understand what really happened.
How did the crew make it off?
Data from MarineTraffic shows that the collision between the vessels happened shortly after 9.45am.
Almost immediately, both ships’ captains ordered their crews to abandon ship.
Despite their immense size, neither ship, fortunately, had a huge number of crew members.
The Solong had 14 members on board, while the Stena Immaculate had 23 on board.
By a miracle, almost all crew members from both ships made it out alive, aside from one member of the Solong, who it is believed is lost to the North Sea.
They faced not only the cold waters of the ocean, but the raging fire and potentially toxic fumes.
It has been reported that a number of the crew had been brought ashore by a commercial catamaran, followed by a couple of harbour pilot boats.
Nonetheless, it remains unclear how almost all of the crew members were so lucky to survive such a massive collision.
Was foul play involved?
The anchored Stena Immaculate was carrying US military fuel, which has led to questions over whether the collision is an act by a hostile power.
A senior White House official has refused to rule out the possibility that the systems onboard the Solong could have been hacked, turning it into a kind of spear that was steamed directly towards the US ship.
States such as Russia have in the past proved that they are more than capable of using cyber tactics as a threat of force.
Given how bizarre and unusual such a collision like this is, foul play is by no means implausible – especially given how direct a hit this was.
Why didn’t the autopilot work?
The sea conditions at the time of the collision have been described as reasonable, aside from the haze and smog – but this is nothing ships can’t deal with.
The Solong is believed to have been on autopilot, but these systems are designed to spot obstacles such as other ships and correct their course in time.
Yet it remains unclear why these systems onboard the Solong didn’t work.
When autopilot is used, a course is programmed and the ship will follow – though numerous alarms and warnings on the ship’s bridge would have sounded at the threat of a collision.
“It seems a mystery, really, because all the vessels now have very highly sophisticated technical equipment to plot courses and to look at any obstacles or anything they’ve got to avoid,” said Martyn Boyers, the chief executive of the nearby Port of Grimsby East.
“It’s difficult to suggest what went on, other than the fact it should never have happened,” he added.
This suggests that human error could be to blame for the collision – though the idea that the crew simply ignored, or never noticed, the warnings, would be extraordinary.
How much oil will leak – and can they remove it in time?
Should all 18,000 tonnes of oil on board the Stena Immaculate leak, it would rank as one of the largest oil spills in British history.
And the rescue teams face a race against time to clean up what has already spilt, as it’s been confirmed that fuel has entered the water.
UN Maritime Security Leader Chris Reynolds has warned that crews face a “very short window” to remove the oil, before the environmental threat it poses increases.
He explained that any leaked oil could emulsify, reaching the coast as oil emulsion, a form of oil which could have a “devastating effect” on the wildlife.
Now that the search and rescue stage is over, crews will be focussing on this clean-up.
However, given the relatively short distance from the coast, it may not be long until oil begins to come ashore.
What could happen to the environment?
Scientists, conservationists, and wildlife experts are already sounding the alarm over the threat this collision poses to the environment.
Jet fuel, which the Stena Immaculate was carrying, is more toxic to marine life than other kinds of oil, such as diesel or crude oil.
Fortunately, the chemical make up of jet fuel makes it easier for bacteria to break it down, which it is hoped will soften any impact, and avoid clogging the features of birds.
Nonetheless, it still remains extremely toxic and poisonous – threatening the local wildlife, including seabirds, fish and seals.
The coast near the collision site is home to England’s largest gannet colony, and is also home to large colonies of puffins and grey seals, which are currently in pup-rearing season.
Conservation charities will currently be watching with bated breath to see if the disaster can be contained – and catastrophe can be avoided.
How long will it take to salvage the ships?
Questions will soon be asked over how long the remains of the vessels will be left floating before they can be safely salvaged.
Floating debris can be an extremely dangerous collision threat to passing ships, but crews face a number of factors before they can move in.
Safety is paramount, so it must be ensured that any fire is completely extinguished, which, given the nature of the fuel, is no easy task.
The force of the collision will also have severely damaged the structures of both ships, potentially leaking further fuel, and making the structures dangerous to board.
Once the fire is out, however, the challenge of ensuring the vessels are safe remains – given the extremely toxic cargo that’s on board.
Eventually, both ships will be salvaged and removed from the area – but just how long this will take is impossible to say.
