4 days agoLatest NewsComments Off on When is it too hot to work? Office rights explained for workers
TEMPERATURES continue to rise, and many will be feeling hot under their work collars.
The MET Office has forecast that temperatures could hit up to 28C across some parts of the UK.
Woman cools down using a fan and water bottle in a hot office
Yet while these balmy conditions may feel like we’re on holiday, for those who have to face days in the office and can’t be with a fan at home, these are your rights when it gets too hot to work.
When is it too hot to work?
Unfortunately, it’s not simple.
Firstly, there’s no minimum or maximum temperature for offices or other places of work defined by law.
But, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has said: “An employer must provide a working environment which is, as far as is reasonably practical, safe and without risks to health.”
The issue is that this definition of what is “reasonable” and “safe” is debatable.
National Accident Helpline legal operations director John Kushnick said: “Temperatures in the workplace are covered by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, which place a legal obligation on employers to provide a ‘reasonable’ temperature in the workplace.
“They suggest that the minimum temperature in a workplace should be at least 16ºC, or if the work involves rigorous physical exertion, it can be 13ºC.
“Unfortunately, there are no laws which specifically state that workers can stop working if the temperature gets too hot or cold.”
But if a workplace does feel too hot, there are some typical signs to look out for if it feels like someone is suffering from heat stress:
Heat stroke – hot dry skin, confusion, convulsions and eventual loss of consciousness. This is the most severe disorder and can result in death if not detected at an early stage
Bosses should undertake a risk assessment if enough staff complain about working conditions.
The independent health and safety regulator also said: “If a significant number of employees are complaining about thermal discomfort, your employer should carry out a risk assessment, and act on the results of that assessment.”
The HSE has previously suggested bosses should ensure their workers have access to water and monitor their wellbeing in hot weather.
What’s more, if a staff member is deemed vulnerable, such as those going through menopause or who are pregnant, this should be taken into account.
In this instance, vulnerable employees may need to work from home. But this is not possible for everyone, and so businesses may need to adapt.
Fans, relaxed dress codes, or turning up the air conditioning are all measures that can make the office environment more comfortable.
What are the temperature recommendations?
The Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers has helpfully recommended the following temperatures for different areas of work.
Heavy work in factories: 13°C
Light work in factories: 16°C
Hospital wards and shops: 18°C
Offices and dining rooms: 20°C
If you have to take public transport, what are your rights?
Much like in the office, these are up for debate as each transport company can set its own policies, and so during a heatwave, there are no laws about temperatures.
Therefore, over the coming weeks, travellers are in for some pretty hot journeys.
And while Transport for Londonhas said all Tubes will be air-conditioned by 2030, let’s not forget the extremely high temperatures Londoners face on the Tube, with commuters claiming they experienced conditions of 42C in 2018!
So until the time that commuting is not like walking into an oven, it is recommended that travellers take water bottles and, if possible, wear loose-fitting clothing which is cool and light.
Commuters who travel by car are also sharing tips to save money and stay cool when travelling. There are also easy ways to fight the heat at home with some “air con” hacks.
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4 days agoLatest NewsComments Off on Cops unveil new £180k bullet-proof battle machine – 18 armoured 4x4s to tackle extreme riots unveiled by Met
ARMOURED cars have been spotted cruising London’s streets after cops splashed out on military 4x4s to tackle extreme rioting.
With matte-grey paint, flashing blue lights and the word “police” on the side written in block capitals, the hefty vehicles are hard to miss.
GettyA Metropolitan Police Plasan Sandcat Armoured Unit Patrol vehicle drives through Parliament Square on June 13[/caption]
GettyEighteen vehicles have been bought, and they will be used to tackle rioting[/caption]
GettyA man walks past flames as PSNI officers in riot gear respond to a third night of civil unrest on June 11, 2025 in Ballymena, Northern Ireland[/caption]
Several of the military-grade tanks intended to tackle rioting have been spotted weaving between lanes in London.
These are the “Sandcats” – the newest addition to the Met Police‘s fleet, estimated to cost around £180,000.
The mammoth 9,000kg 4x4s can transport up to 11 officers and stands at 7ft 7in tall.
The new armoured cars will be used for “high-risk armed policing operations” and 18 have been ordered in total.
The Met Police said the new trucks aren’t yet being used in operations.
The force is currently training drivers, which is why they have been seen driving around London.
A spokesperson said: “These are specialist armoured vehicles used for high-risk armed policing operations, by officers deployed at airports and as a contingency option for use in the most serious public disorder the like of which we thankfully rarely see.”
Sandcats are manufactured by Israeli company Plasan and have been used by the military in several countries.
According to the company website, the Sandcat Tigris is the preferred choice for both the IDF and Ministry of Defence.
They replace the older Jankel models, which were deployed during the 2011 riots but have very rarely been used.
GettyRiot police hold back protesters after disorder broke out on July 30, 2024 in Southport[/caption]
GettyViolent riots broke out across the UK last summer in the wake of misinformation about the Southport tragedy[/caption]
The bullet-resistant Jankel Guardians that the force previously used cost about £100,000 each.
The seven-tonne personnel carrier could withstand AK-47 bullets and had a bomb-proof floor.
Over the past year or so, the UK has been rocked by disorder and rioting in the streets.
This week, masked yobs lobbed petrol bombs and fireworks at cops across four days of chaos across Northern Ireland.
Several houses even put up signs identifying their residents as British or Filipino in an apparent attempt to avoid being targeted.
Violence originally erupted on Monday, stemming from an initially peaceful gathering to support a girl and her family after an alleged sexual assault.
Girl ‘whose sex assault by teen boys’ sparked ‘racist’ riots wants violence to end as 4th night of carnage erupts
By Emily Jane Davies
A YOUNG girl whose sexual assault by teenage boys sparked riots across Northern Ireland has called for an end to the violence.
Northern Ireland Police Chief Jon Boutcher said the girl had been “further traumatised” by the riots – as the fourth night of chaos unfolded yesterday.
Police quickly clamped down on hundreds of rioters who were spotted throwing missiles and petrol bombs in Portadown – less than an hour from where the riots started – last night.
Shocking footage showed thugs lobbing live fireworks at rows of police riot vans.
The chaos began in Ballymena on Monday night, hours after two 14-year-old boys appeared in court charged with attempted rape of a girl.
The boys confirmed their names – which cannot be reported – and their ages through a Romanian interpreter at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court.
Northern Ireland‘s Chief Constable told how the girl’s family had been left “mortified” by the horrific scenes.
Speaking yesterday, he said: “I reiterate the retraumatising of this poor girl, she’s been through enough through what happened to her on Saturday evening. She doesn’t want any of this.
“I know the family are mortified. I’ve spoken to them personally, they’ve asked me to make this plea.#
“This girl’s family and this girl want it to end. Our communities want it to end. We need it to end.
“Stop this violence. We will come after you. We will arrest you. We will prosecute you successfully.
“I want to specifically mention the 41 police officers who’ve been injured. Each of those officers have put themselves in harm’s way to protect our communities.
“It is not in any way a way for a civilised society to behave and it must stop now.”
Northern Ireland Police Chief Jon Boutcher said the girl had been “further traumatised” by the riots.
Last summer, Britain was a tinderbox as widespread unrest and disorder broke out following misinformation about the Southport child killer.
In 2020, Scotland Yard put out a notice saying it wanted to buy a new fleet of military-style trucks to tackle public disorder, firearms incidents and riots in the capital.
It wanted security, fire-fighting and defence equipment and armour plating.
The gas-guzzling 4×4 beasts are used by military specialists in warzones and by police tacklingdrug cartelsinSouth America.
Yet, Police Scotland’s bulletproof Sandcat has been locked in storage collecting dust for two years.
Insiders have previously claimed the reason it has remained idle is from a lack of officers able to drive it, with regular training needed to operate it.
The force has refused to comment on how many of its staff can use the 4×4 Sandcat.
Underneath the Sandcat’s hood lies a huge 6.7-litre V8 engine that only does around nine mpg, which is about as fuel-efficient as an F1 racing car.
Although the armoured car hasn’t seen any action, the force still believes it’s necessary to keep it.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said at the time: “The specialist vehicle can be used in a number of scenarios linked to a major incident and improves our options to keep people safe.
“While it has not yet been deployed to a major incident, it has been used for training purposes and it provides additional operational capabilities.”
PAFirefighters tend to a burning police car burns as officers are deployed on the streets of Hartlepool following a violent protest last summer[/caption]
GettyRiot police hold back protesters near a burning police vehicle after disorder broke out on July 30, 2024 in Southport[/caption]
AFPAlice Dasilva Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Bebe King were killed by 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana in Southport – and widespread rioting took place in the weeks after[/caption]
4 days agoLatest NewsComments Off on I partied with Harry over a wild summer & saw the REAL ‘party prince’ whose outrageous stunts would leave Meghan stunned
WADING past portaloos on piggy back, glugging VIP cocktails and wrestling in the mud with Mike Tindall, it was a vision of the notorious ‘Party Prince’ few of us would recognise today.
But having spent a wild summer hanging out backstage with Prince Harry, I’ve seen first-hand another remarkable, hidden side to the royal – one he’d no doubt rather wife Meghan Markle didn’t know.
Getty - ContributorPrince Harry enjoys pint backstage at the Wireless Festival in 2011[/caption]
Harry was once known as the ‘Party Prince’. Pictured above at the afterparty for Cartier international Polo Day in Windsor in 2004RexKelly Allen grabbed a cheeky selfie with Harry after he explained why he couldn’t pose upGettyKelly says Harry is now far removed from the carefree chap she saw happily chatting to punters[/caption]
In those carefree days where he was merrily bombing around music festivals – even secretly getting up onstage in an outrageous disguise – I’ve never seen him happier, and now fear he’ll live to regret refusing to ever come back to the UK.
It’s a crying shame, as I’ve seen how much he clearly once enjoyed being in the thick of it with ordinary fans and punters back home – a distant memory from the troubled exile who now looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Harry, 40, is so far removed from the carefree lad I hung out with at festivals back in 2011, when he was known as ‘The Party Prince’ and ranked as everyone’s favourite royal.
He was a regular attendee at the Hard Rock Festival in London‘s Hyde Park – one of the most popular summer festivals because they spent millions building a fully-functioning restaurant backstage in the VIP section, so everyone wanted to blag entry.
The first night in June 2011 had The Killers headlining and it was typical English summer weather, absolutely pouring down. But the rain didn’t put good old Harry off having a great time.
He arrived in the backstage area with his cousin Princess Eugenie as well as Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford. The VIP area was really muddy and people were getting filthy just wading their way to the toilets.
The Hard Rock Café bouncer, John Pascale, who was nicknamed Big Johnny, realised this was not fitting for a prince and leapt to offer his help.
He gave Harry a piggy back to and from the posh portaloos. It was quite the sight to see The Queen‘s grandson on the back of this huge bloke laughing and messing around.
John joked with the prince that he would happily carry him to the side of the stage, too, to watch the show if required.
Harry was hysterically laughing at the whole situation and everyone who worked there commented how super nice and down to earth he was.
He sat at a normal table and tucked into the famous Hard Rock burgers and plenty of cocktails.
One of the staff told me that Harry had a special connection with Hard Rock Café, as his mum, Princess Diana, used to bring him and his brother Prince William to the restaurant on Hyde Park Corner when they were younger.
In a nod to this memory, the staff presented him with a specially made T-shirt that said Hard Rock Harry on it – and he was thrilled.
GettyHarry was the image of cool as he hung out backstage at Wireless[/caption]
Kelly asked the royal for a picture at Wireless but he declinedAlamyThe prince spotted at Glastonbury in 2013[/caption]
Royal rumbled
He clearly had a great time as he returned to Hyde Park the following weekend for Wireless Festival. When I arrived, there were murmurs that Prince Harry was planning to attend.
I imagined with a 65,000 strong crowd the chances of seeing him again would be slim – after all surely he would be backstage surrounded by bodyguards?
So I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw him larking around in the VIP section with cousin Zara Tindall and her then-fiancé Mike (the pair married three weeks later) in front of the main stage.
I was never going to pass up the opportunity to speak to a royal, so rocked over to Harry, introduced myself and asked for a selfie.
He said: “I’m sorry I can’t take pictures as I’m not here in an official capacity.” I said with a wink, “Well if I stand here and take a picture of myself and you happen to be in the background… so be it.”
I then asked him if he was excited for the show… or did he prefer Glee? He’d spent some time at Hard Rock Calling the previous weekend hanging out with the cast of the teen singing show ahead of their sold out O2 gig.
He chuckled telling me: “Nah, I don’t even like Glee. I’m looking forward to watching the Black Eyed Peas. I’m gonna have a bit of a dance and enjoy the sun.”
Go wild with cousins
After some back and forth about our favourite acts, it became clear to Harry that I’d dragged my mate Ollie along as a plus one, and that he was more interested in the free bar than the Prince’s favourite R&B act.
Perhaps tired of our music analysis, he gave a subtle nod to a man who had been lingering nearby. Suddenly, I felt a tap on the shoulder and he said: “I think you’ve chatted to the Prince enough, can you please move away?”
We did as we were asked and hit the bar, but when the music started and more gig-goers swarmed to the small VIP area in front of the stage, we ended up back beside Harry.
He clearly had been enjoying the beverages as much as us, as by now he and Mike Tindall were in a playful mood.
It was not the most princely behaviour and they kept diving at each other. Finally Harry managed to knock the former rugby player to the ground and the pair kept wrestling, while Zara laughed at their antics and the rest of us watched on in amusement and astonishment.
Later the royal lifted a pal’s little girl on his shoulders so she could see the band.
ReutersHarry drinks a hibiscus rum punch at a street party in Belize in 2012[/caption]
GettyThe royal watches The Heroes Concert at Twickenham Stadium in 2010[/caption]
Hilarious disguise
While Harry didn’t seem bothered about being recognised, he used a slightly different tactic when he attended the 2009 Barclaycard Wireless Festival in London‘s Hyde Park.
He was backstage when Basement Jaxx played their set. They revealed afterwards that they had invited him to guest as a dancing gorilla.
Jaxx star Felix Buxton said: “We were lucky enough to meet Prince Harry. I think he was more interested in Dizzee Rascal.
“Anyway, we met Harry before the show and said, ‘If you want to be a gorilla on stage, help yourself’.”
Harry duly agreed. One of the requirements of being a dancing gorilla was to not overdo it on stage, but apparently Harry got a bit too excited.
“[One gorilla] was doing this kind of silly disco dancing,” Felix said.
Perhaps all Harry needs is a trip home, a good festival and an open bar to remind him what he used to love so much about the UK
“Often we say, can you try and get into the part of being a gorilla? Don’t try act like you’re on a stag do. So I went over and rugby tackled him down.
“And after doing that, I looked out to side-stage and saw [security] with a hand on an earpiece. [I thought], ‘Oh god, I forgot! Maybe that’s him?’ It looked like it was serious on a presidential level.”
He later went to the dressing room to say sorry to the Duke of Sussex: “I quite pathetically did a curtsy to apologise for knocking him over.”
But it was ok as Harry enjoyed the anonymity of monkeying around in front of a large crowd.
Felix added: “He said that was one of the best moments of his life. He might look back now and think, ‘Oh god yeah, I was so free'”.
Having spent so little time in the UK, neither of the couple’s children have got to know their cousins, George, Charlotte and Louis.
While that summer, Harry got to go wild with his cousins Zara and Eugenie, it seems unlikely his own offspring will get to have such adventures.
Perhaps all Harry needs is a trip home, a good festival and an open bar to remind him what he used to love so much about the UK.
InstagramKelly was saddened to see this picture of Prince Archie released on his sixth birthday[/caption]
Instagram/MeghanNeither of Harry’s children have got to know their cousins[/caption]
4 days agoLatest NewsComments Off on Drivers warned that higher petrol prices at the pump could hit in 14 days – how to reduce your bill
DRIVERS are being warned that petrol prices could rise within 14 days as global oil prices soar.
Brent crude oil jumped nearly 10% before settling 7% higher at $74 a barrel, following Israel‘s attack on Iran‘s nuclear programme last night.
PAIn general, if the exchange rate stays the same, a $2 change in oil prices usually leads to a 1p per litre change at the pump[/caption]
Experts say this marks the end of the cheapest petrol prices in the UK in four years, with wholesale costs already up by 3p per litre in the past week.
Luke Bosdet, spokesperson for the AA, said: “Bottom-line, the falls in the average pump price of petrol that took it down from 139.8p a litre in February to 132p this week will come to an end.”
This increase was already expected, as the AA warned in May that wholesale prices tend to rise during the US summerdriving season, when demand for petrol increases.
Luke added: “Inevitably, conflict in the Middle East forces up the price of oil and threatens higher pump prices in the UK.”
That said, it typically takes around two weeks for changes in wholesale fuel costs to be reflected at the pump, as fuel needs time to move through the supply chain to petrol stations, according to the RAC.
In general, if the exchange rate stays the same, a $2 change in oil prices usually leads to a 1p per litre change at the pump.
To help lessen the impact of rising pump prices, Rhydian Jones, a car insurance expert at Confused.com, advised drivers to shop around for the best deals to save money.
He added: “Simple changes to your driving habits can help reduce fuel consumption and cut down how often you need to fill up.
“These include removing unnecessary weight from your car, keeping tyres properly inflated, driving gently without overusing the accelerator, keeping windows closed, and avoiding idling whenever possible.”
How can I find the cheapest petrol stations?
Websites like Petrolprices.com can help you find the cheapest petrol stations near you.
The site covers over 3,800 petrol stations using CMA data, providing daily price updates for unleaded, diesel, super unleaded, and premium diesel.
To use it, simply register, enter your postcode, choose how far you’re willing to travel (up to 20 miles), and select your fuel type.
Keep in mind, you can only search the website five times a day, but downloading the app gives you unlimited searches.
Your savings will depend on how often you fill up, which varies based on how frequently you use your car.
Prices also differ by location and change week to week, so it’s always worth checking to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
Petrolprices.com isn’t the only option for comparing fuel costs.
Fleet News and Allstar also offer tools to check petrol prices across different counties, letting you see how your area compares to the UK average.
Plus, Confused.com has a petrol price checker for registered users, allowing them to find fuel prices within a 5, 10, or 25-mile radius.
How else can I cut fuel costs?
ONE way to save is by signing up for major supermarket loyalty schemes, which can give you discounts of up to 5p per litre.
Esso has partnered with Nectar, allowing you to get 5p off per litre when you redeem 300 Nectar points.
BP drivers can use the BPme rewards card to earn one point for every £1 spent in-store or on a litre of regular fuel, with £1 off fuel or shopping for every 200 points.
Loyalty schemes from Texaco, Shell, Sainsbury’s, and Tesco also offer savings on fuel and shopping bills.
You can further reduce fuel costs by driving more efficiently by:
Accelerating gradually without over-revving.
Driving in the highest gear possible.
Allowing your car to slow down naturally instead of braking unnecessarily.
Don’t forget about clutter in your car.
Extra weight from tools, toys, or rubbish can increase fuel consumption by as much as 12%.
Clearing out unnecessary items can make a noticeable difference to your costs.
4 days agoLatest NewsComments Off on ‘Son of Concorde’ bosses reveal over 600 routes could see flight times HALVED including 3.5-hour trips from UK to US
MAKERS of a supersonic plane have revealed there are more than 600 global routes where Concorde-style speedy flights could slash flying times by as much as half.
Boom TechnologyThe “Son of Concorde” reached supersonic speeds in January[/caption]
Boom Technology has been testing its XB-1 test jet which managed to fly faster than the speed of sound in January.
One of the hurdles they’ve overcome from supersonic flying is the sound.
The firm’s jet, aptly dubbed the “Son of Concorde”, has no audible sonic boom.
A number of orders from the likes of American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines have already been made for Boom Technology’s passenger jet model, Overture.
“While Boom is pleased to see the regulatory pathways to supersonic flight clearing, Boom’s business case has never been predicated on regulatory change,” a spokesperson for Boom told The Sun.
“There are over 600 global routes that are economically viable for supersonic flight—even without going supersonic over land.
“Now that rules are being updated to allow boomless supersonic flight over land in the US, additional routes will benefit from speedups.
“Boom’s supersonic airliner, Overture, will fly transatlantic routes, such as New York to London, at its full cruising speed of Mach 1.7 over water – about twice as fast as today’s conventional airliners.”
“Boomless Cruise enables Overture to fly at speeds up to Mach 1.3 over land without an audible boom – up to 50% faster than subsonic jets – reducing US coast-to-coast flight times by up to 90 minutes.
“International routes with overland segments can also benefit from increased speeds.”
The company also revealed that Overture “remains on target” to get certification from relevant bodies including the FAA by the end of the decade so it can carry passengers.
Bosses are aiming to roll out the first Overture in three years, and be flight testing in four.
To accomplish that, they expect production of the first aircraft in the “Superfactory” to start next year.
WHY DID CONCORDE FAIL?
CONCORDE was the supersonic passenger jet considered the ultimate luxury in air travel.
The plane had its first commercial flight on January 21, 1976, so was retired after 27 years of service and 50,000 flights.
Several reasons led to the decision to retire Concorde.
Air France and British Airways cited low passenger numbers and high maintenance costs.
By the early noughties, the planes were outdated and expensive to run, despite being incredibly advanced when they were first introduced almost three decades previously.
The 9/11 terrorist attack in 2001 majorly impacted passenger numbers, as people opted not to fly.
The plane ran over a small piece of metal on the runway, which burst a tyre and caused an engine to ignite.
It was also the only aircraft in the British Airways fleet that required a flight engineer.
Image credit: Alamy
By the end of this year, they expect to produce thrust during fully-operational engine core tests for Overture’s bespoke engine, Symphony.
“Boom’s current order book accounts for the first five years of production at the Overture Superfactory in North Carolina,” the spokesperson added.
“Airlines have been very receptive to Overture and the competitive advantages of supersonic travel.
“In fact, the passenger research we have conducted indicates that 87% of passengers are willing to switch from their preferred airline in order to gain access to supersonic travel.”
THE RISE OF SUPERSONIC AND HYPERSONIC
There are several types of hypersonic and supersonic jets. A breakdown of what's been happening in the industry and what's expected in the coming years.
4 days agoLatest NewsComments Off on First look at harrowing Hollyoaks abuse plot as son violently attacks his dad in brutal scenes
HOLLYOAKS has shared a first look at a harrowing abuse plot which sees a son violently attack his dad.
The soap is highlighting child to parent abuse (CPA) in a dark storyline.
Channel 4 / Lime picturesHollyoaks has shared a first look at a harrowing abuse plot[/caption]
Channel 4 / Lime picturesIt centres on father and son Ste and Lucas Hay[/caption]
Viewers saw Lucas Hay (Oscar Curtis) violently lash out at dad Ste (Kieron Richardson) amid a tense argument.
After Lucas’ brain tumour operation, he had been concerned about boyfriend Dillon (Nathaniel Dass).
However, Ste insisted Lucas focus on his own recovery, rather than ask about his boyfriend.
While in the village, Ste spotted Dillon attempting to steal cash from Liberty Savage’s market stall.
Dillon rocked back and forth on the ground, while declaring that he needed more spice.
Upon seeing Ste, Dillon blamed him for his poor mental state.
Ste apologised for keeping Lucas and Dillon apart and for referring to Dillon as “just an addict”.
Realising it could help both Dillon and Lucas’ recovery, Ste invited him to live with the family.
But Lucas was left confused later on after Ste broke the news to him.
Ste explained how he’d told Dillon to break up with Lucas – as well as keep away during the operation and recovery.
Left furious, Lucas raged: “What kind of a dad does that? None of this is okay. You’ve messed with my whole life, Dad.”
The pair’s argument soon got more heated as they pushed each other.
This saw Lucas then get violent by punching dad Ste in the stomach.
Lived experience organisation PEGS (Parental Education Growth Support) have consulted with Hollyoaks on this storyline.
Michelle John, Founding Director of PEGS, said: “We’re proud to support Hollyoaks in bringing awareness to Child to Parent Abuse, taking a vital step towards this important issue being more widely recognised and spoken about.
“CPA is often hidden or misunderstood, and it’s vital that we start more conversations about what families are really experiencing behind closed doors.
“Being such a popular programme, we know that the Hollyoaks storyline will help parents who are experiencing abusive behaviours to feel more confident in asking for support from those around them.
“We’re also confident it will provoke these much-needed conversations among the wider public, and we thank the production team and the actors for their commitment to portraying the storyline in a sensitive and realistic manner.
Darkest soap storylines
Over the years the likes of EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street have all tried to try outdo each other with their outlandish plots in a bid to keep us tuning in each week. But here are some of the darkest that had fans in shock…
EastEnders: Tony grooming Whitney (2008-2009) – Tony King first appeared in Albert Square in 2008 as the boyfriend of Bianca, played by Patsy Palmer. But it was quickly revealed he was a paedophile who had been grooming vulnerable Whitney, Bianca’s adopted stepdaughter from a previous relationship, since she was 12. The shocking storyline attracted more than 200 complaints within a week of it beginning. Whitney waited until her 16th birthday to reveal the truth to a horrified Bianca, who called the police.
Emmerdale: Holly’s drug addiction and shock death (2010-2016) – In 2010, Holly Barton (played by Sophie Powles) became Emmerdale’s first teenage drug addict. The shocking storyline saw her taking cocaine on a night out before developing a deadly heroin habit. Parents John and Moira desperately tried to help get their daughter clean but when Holly returned in 2016, following a four-year absence, she quickly relapsed. Fans were left stunned and heartbroken when distraught Moira found Holly dead in her bed from a heroin overdose.
Hollyoaks: Luke’s rape (2000) – Actor Gary Lucy was just 17 when he took on this groundbreaking storyline, which saw his character Luke Morgan become soap’s first male rape victim. Luke had endured a long-running bullying campaign by football rival Mark Gibbs – who raped him after Luke stood up to him. Luke was left suicidal following the brutal attack, before opening up to his brother Adam. Gibbs was sentenced to eight years in prison. Gary won the Best Actor gong at the British Soap Awards in 2000 for his performance.
Coronation Street: Evil Richard Hillman (2001-2003) – Just a mere mention of ‘Richard Hillman’ is enough to send a shiver down the spines of soap fans. He is often ranked one of the most evil soap villains and it’s not hard to see why. The smooth-talking financial adviser bashed his ex-wife Patricia over the head with a shovel. In a bid to keep his mother-in-law Audrey quiet, he set fire to her house. And when Maxine caught him trying to murder Emily Bishop, he took a crowbar to her head. He made his exit from the cobbles in 2003 when he drove Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, and her family into the canal. They survived, but he didn’t.
“Families experiencing CPA are not looking for blame to be placed upon their children, and this storyline reflects the need for early intervention, support and understanding as well as highlighting the complex emotions and challenges many families face.”
While Kieron Richardson, who plays Ste, previously said: “This storyline is one that as a parent is conflicting, as you would do anything for your kids.
“We often think of parents disciplining children, but what happens when the dynamic is reversed? It’s uncomfortable, it’s emotional, and it’s real.
We’ve worked closely with experts to make sure this is portrayed truthfully, and I hope it encourages the kind of conversations that might help families going through similar situations feel seen and supported.”
Channel 4 / Lime picturesDillon and Lucas are both going through recovery[/caption]
Channel 4Oscar Curtis has played Lucas since 2023[/caption]
