Fine tuning

We don't know about you, but we adore dogs! So, if anyone loves good television and some cute four-legged canines then you probably love Pooch Perfect. The BBC One contest is presented by award-winning actress-singer Sheridan Smith and sees sixteen professionals compete to best groom some poochest and be named the best in the country. Now, as part of the latest instalment of Jess Saying arrives on our Facebook screens today at 2pm, Jessica Boulton chats to Pooch Perfect judges Colin Taylor and Verity Hardcastle. Colin is a renowned dog grooming expert who is one of the most decorated in the industry, having developed a reputation over 25 years. He has won Intergrooms International Groomer of the Year, along with Winner of the “World Cup Grooming Games and has won numerous other titles. Meanwhile, Verity is a Master Groomer and a member of the Guild of Mastergroomers. While not a real Lady as Sheridan Smith refers to her, Verity is a championship level dog … [Read more...] about Tune in as Pooch Perfect’s Colin Taylor and Verity Hardcastle spill show secrets

Day 340 of the social distancing measures and I am ready to announce a clear winner of my award for the Most Annoying Zoom Background of Lockdown . A roll on the drums, please, for that bumptious self-promoter Grant Shapps , whose survival in ministerial office is one of the enduring mysteries of modern politics. (He’s now the Transport Secretary, if you’re wondering, entrusted with the nation’s hopes of regaining the right to a foreign holiday sometime before the crack of doom.) Heaven knows, I try to be charitable in this column. But I defy even the kindest-hearted among us to look at the elaborately staged background to Mr Shapps’s Zoom appearances from his home without thinking: ‘Goodness, what a twerp!’ Grant Shapps, pictured, appeared on Robert Peston's ITV show with the British Civil Air Ensign emblazoned with the Union Flag, draped as usual from a floor-standing flagpole Take Wednesday night, when he appeared via Zoom on Robert Peston’s ITV show. There he … [Read more...] about TOM UTLEY: My plea for the future? We see the back of hideously vain Zoom poseurs like Grant Shapps

Some of the first people to check into quarantine hotels have had their first taste of freedom upon their release today after self-isolating for 11 nights. From last Monday, UK and Irish nationals returning to England from a "red list" country deemed at high risk for COVID-19 have had to check into quarantine hotels. Hotel "guests" have criticised the £1,750 fee for the stay , which is punishable by a fine of up to £10,000 or 10 years in prison if breached. The rule applies to people returning to Scotland from any destination. One couple, Wagner and Elaine Araujo, who were among the first people to be released from hotel quarantine, said the experience was "horrible" but they enjoyed spending quality time together. Advertisement More from Covid-19 Bus driver jailed for life after battering wife to death during first coronavirus lockdown COVID-19: People in their 40s first for phase two of vaccine rollout - no priority for … [Read more...] about COVID-19: First travellers released from hotel quarantine – ‘It was horrible’

A new warning system will allow train passengers to avoid busy services - increasing the chance of them being able to follow social distancing measures. From today, National Rail will begin displaying red or yellow warning triangles on its app and website next to services that are expected to be in high demand. The system will use journey planning trends analysis and messages from rail staff at stations and on trains to determine how busy services will be. Users will also be asked to notify National Rail about which particular service they intend to take. It is hoped the system will mean more people staggering their journeys as demand increases with coronavirus lockdown restrictions easing. Advertisement Passengers can be kept updated about disruption and overcrowding on their journey and receive alternative travel options. Alerts will be received via Facebook Messenger at first, with text message and WhatsApp updates available in the … [Read more...] about Coronavirus: Want to avoid busy train services? This tool will be able to help

A mum was left "disgusted" after her 10-year-old daughter was sent home-schooling work that included "inappropriately sexual" phrases. Annette Farrington, 27, from Fazakerley, Liverpool, was home-schooling her daughter when she noticed the worrying material. The English homework included phrases such as "She fondled", "I stroked", and "She felt his". Annette said: "She got the homework just before half-term but because there was so much we had some left over so we were doing it yesterday. "She was doing work on the Holocaust, and I think it had got mixed up with that. "When I was looking at it I thought that doesn't even make sense, why it would be there? "But after speaking to the school they said it was part of an English lesson giving examples to help kids make their own story." Printed on one of the English worksheets for her daughter were short sentences describing how somebody may feel. Under the header "How do I feel?" examples were listed, including "When I … [Read more...] about Mum ‘disgusted’ after daughter, 10, sent ‘inappropriately sexual’ work from school