MOTHERLAND star Lucy Punch has dropped an exciting tease about a the spin-off drama centred on her character Amanda.

If Amanda from Motherland knew her character was chosen to be the star of this spin-off, her ego would need its own postcode. 

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Motherland fans get the deep dive into Amanda’s world they’ve been waiting for[/caption]

Talking of which, Amanda has swapped London’s W4 for SoHa (South Harlesden) after her divorce and is navigating her new life while retaining her unique air of superiority in this six-part series.

“Amanda is living in an upper-level flat, with someone below her, which is a hard pill for her to swallow,” explains Lucy Punch, 47, who plays her.

“She’s starting over and has probably had a meltdown along the way. But she’s galvanised herself, got a blowout, done her nails, bought a new outfit and is bringing her full Amanda energy to South Harlesden, ready to whip up a storm. 

“The writers have been very clever because while it still feels like the same world as Motherland, they’re totally different characters. 

“I was incredibly excited, surprised and intrigued to be asked to do it.”

Returning alongside Lucy are Joanna Lumley as Amanda’s snobby mum Felicity and Philippa Dunne as her long-suffering friend Anne, who Amanda reconnects with unexpectedly in her new suburb.

“Even during Motherland, Philippa and I imagined extra scenes for Amanda and Anne – like Amanda giving Anne a makeover or needing her support during a breakdown,” says Lucy. 

“While Amanda was awful to Anne at first, over time, their love and need for each other became clear.  

“I always think the real love story is between Amanda and Anne. 

“Amanda flourishes with Anne around because she can peacock, and now Anne is her lifeline, helping her navigate this new world.

“It’s the opposite with Felicity. Amanda is in Anne’s position when it comes to her relationship with her mother. 

“She adores and admires her, but it’s a complicated, deeply-buried love. Amanda has been lonely her whole life – lonely as a child, lonely in her marriage, and now in this new world. 

“Behind that perfect façade, she’s always been a rather damaged, vulnerable woman.” 

The BBC sitcom Motherland ended in 2022 after three seasons with the final episode being the Christmas special.

The Motherland cast included Anna Maxwell Martin, Diane Morgan, Paul Ready, Philippa Dunne, Tanya Moodie, Ellie Haddington, Oliver Chris, Jackie Clune and more.

Series regular Diane Morgan confirmed the sitcom had been quietly cancelled by the BBC in March last year.

But announced a spin-off about Lucy Punch’s character was in the works, delighting fans who are keen to see a deep dive into Amanda’s world.

Amandaland will premiere on February 5 on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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Amanda’s chaotic life will be explored in even greater depth[/caption]

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Punch teased, “Behind that perfect façade, she’s always been a rather damaged, vulnerable woman”[/caption]

SINGER Linda Nolan has been laid to rest in a pink sparkly coffin as family members, friends and fans gathered to pay their respects.

Members of the public applauded as the hearse carrying the star arrived at St Paul’s Church in Blackpool on Saturday morning.

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Coleen Nolan wipes away tears as she arrives[/caption]

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Anne Nolan heads into the church[/caption]

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Denise Nolan arrives[/caption]

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The coffin in St. Paul’s Church[/caption]

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Linda died last month aged 65[/caption]

Sister Coleen was snapped wiping tears away as she arrived for the service.

Loose Women’s Coleen Nolan, EastEnders actor Shane Richie and kids TV legend Paul Chuckle are among the famous faces attending the funeral of singer Linda Nolan.

Members of the public applauded as the hearse carrying a pink glittery coffin arrived.

Shane Nolan – the son of Coleen and Shane Richie – was one of the pallbearers.

Linda’s other sisters Anne, Maureen and Denise also walked towards the church with other family members.

The family wore black but some had pink ribbons pinned to their outfits or carried pink handbags.

They lined the path as the coffin, topped with a floral arrangement, was carried into the church.

DENISE’S EULOGY

Sister Denise Nolan-Anderson said Linda had so many friends “who adored her”.

Describing her sister’s cancer diagnosis, Denise told the church: “She said the hair loss was the worst thing for her.”

She said the diagnosis, along with losing her husband Brian and sister Bernie, could have “destroyed” a lesser person.

Denise added: “Not Linda, instead she chose to help raise millions for cancer research.”

She said her sister showed “courage in the face of adversity”.

She said: “It’s time to rest now Linda. The battle is over. You are free.”

A recording of Linda singing When It’s Over was played after the eulogy.

Charlotte Dawson, daughter of comedian Les Dawson, Lee Brennan from boyband 911 and Coronation Street actress Jodie Prenger were also among the mourners.

Paul Elliott, the comedian better known as Paul Chuckle, paid tribute to Linda as he arrived at the church.

He said of the singer: “She was just a fun, bubbly person. The world’s a darker place without her.”

He said they had performed together in pantomimes and at charity functions, and they last met for lunch in 2024.

Elliott added: “She was just a wonderful person, we always got on well.”

Linda and her sisters Coleen, Bernie, Maureen, Anne and Denise formed the pop group, recording hits like Gotta Pull Myself Together and I’m In The Mood For Dancing in the late 70s and early 80s.

The Dublin-born singer died last month, with a family statement saying: “At around 10.20am on Wednesday 15th January, she passed peacefully, with her loving siblings by her bedside, ensuring she was embraced with love and comfort during her final moments, aged 65.”

Nolan had made Blackpool her home, and her funeral is being held in the church where she wed her late husband, Brian Hudson. They were married for more than two decades.

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, which resulted in a mastectomy, Nolan was a long-time campaigner and fundraiser for cancer awareness.

She was given the all-clear in 2011 but in 2017 was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer, which spread to her liver in 2020 and to her brain in 2023.

Nolan helped to raise more than £20 million for numerous charities, including Breast Cancer Now, Irish Cancer Society and Samaritans.

Her sister Anne posted on Instagram ahead of the funeral service inviting people to join the family, saying “we lay our wonderful sister Linda to rest” this weekend.

“There’s been a bit of confusion regarding the church service and the crematorium. Just to clarify everyone is welcome to both services,” she added.

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Pallbearers, including Coleen’s son Shane Jr, carrying the coffin[/caption]

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Shane Richie arrives for the funeral[/caption]

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Paul Elliott – better known as Paul Chuckle[/caption]

“There may not be seating available as both places are small and obviously we are a big family so most of the seating will be taken by us but if you don’t mind standing we would love you to be there and we know Linda would be thrilled.

“Everyone who knew Linda, or whose lives she touched, are welcome to come and pay their respects as we remember her remarkable life,” The Nolans’ official page on Instagram said.

The message also described Linda Nolan as a “beloved sister, friend and entertainer” and a “symbol of hope, humour and resilience”.

The family are raising money for Trinity Hospice, which Nolan supported, and have asked that donations and messages of condolence be sent to a memorial page in her memory.

More than £2,700 has been raised on the Much Loved site so far.

Nolan appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and her musical theatre career included Blood Brothers, Pump Boys And Dinettes and Prisoner Cell Block H. She also wrote a Daily Mirror column.

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An order of service[/caption]

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Crowds gathered outside the church applauded as the coffin was carried in[/caption]

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The coffin is bright pink[/caption]

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Charlotte Dawson[/caption]

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A floral display inside the hearse[/caption]

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Tommy Cannon arrives[/caption]

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Lisa Maffia outside the church[/caption]

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Jodie Prenger[/caption]

TOTTENHAM have made a shock approach for Chelsea star Axel Disasi, according to reports.

Ange Postecoglou is desperate to bolster his squad with his side on the brink of being pulled into a relegation battle.

Rex

Axel Disasi has been approached by Tottenham[/caption]

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Spurs made a shock move for Alejandro Garnacho[/caption]

Chelsea are supposedly trying to offload Disasi before the transfer window slams shut on Monday night.

Reporter Fabrizio Romano claims Spurs have made a late move for the French centre-back.

But Tottenham are already behind in the race for his signature as Aston Villa have already agreed personal terms with him.

Villa are pushing hard to bring in Disasi after Diego Carlos’ exit and Tyrone Mings’ latest injury blow.

The player will supposedly decide on his future this weekend.

Spurs have turned their attention to Disasi after Radu Dragusin joined their lengthy injury list during Thursday night’s 3-0 win over Elfsborg in the Europa League.

In their scramble to find another centre-back, they have already been turned down by Fikayo Tomori, who wants to stay at AC Milan.

Spurs are also struggling to convince attackers to join after being rejected by Mathys Tel.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

The club had agreed a £50millon deal with Bayern Munich for the forward and chief Daniel Levy flew out to Germany to seal the deal.

But the 19-year-old star has opted to stay and fight for his place at Bayern.

Spurs also enquired about Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho, but looks set to remain at Old Trafford.

Amid an injury crisis and poor form, Postecoglou is in danger of being sacked.

The under-fire boss summed up his frustrations, saying: “Every time I’ve seen the light at the end of the tunnel, it’s usually been an oncoming train.”

SARACENS hooker Jamie George has been forced to miss the opening Six Nations games through injury.

An England everpresent during his decorated career, Saracens hooker George has had a wretched time of late in the international setup.

Rex

England suffered defeats to New Zealand, South Africa and Australia during their autumn internationals, with George as captain.

The 34-year-old came off before the hour in all four of England’s test matches, with some fans calling for a captain who would complete full 80’s in his place for the Six Nations.

Ahead of the tournament, Steve Borthwick named his Saracens teammate Maro Itoje as captain, with George remaining as vice captain.

However, George will miss the start of the tournament now, and SunSport can reveal why.

IRELAND VS ENGLAND LIVE – LATEST UPDATES

Why is Jamie George not playing at the Six Nations 2025?

Having already lost captaincy to Maro Itoje, Jamie George will miss at least the first weekend of the Six Nations with a hamstring injury.

The 34-year-old suffered his injury during Saracens 32-24 loss to Castres in the Champions Cup.

George was replaced like for like by the Northampton Saints hooker Curtis Langdon, with Luke Cowan-Dickie set to slot in at hooker for England’s opening Six Nations game against Ireland.

While some fans were calling for George to drop the captaincy, due to his inability to see out 80 minutes, there is no doubting the impact of his experience on a young England squad.

What did England manager Steve Borthwick say?

While George will miss the big clash in Dublin, Borthwick is hopeful of his return.

England’s manager said: “Jamie George will hopefully be two to three weeks” (when asked about injuries).

“He’s a top-class player, a great leader and a fantastic influence around the other players

“We’re desperately dissapointed for us as a squad and for him

“He’s a fast healer and he’s going to get back ASAP”.

When is Six Nations 2024?

Six Nations will kick off on Friday, January 31, as struggling Wales travel to Paris to take on France. That game kicks-off at 8:15pm GMT.

England will travel to Dublin to take on an Andy Farrell-less Ireland, as he prepares for the Lions tour this summer, on Saturday, February 1 at 4:45pm GMT.

Prior to that, Scotland take on Italy at Murrayfield at 2:15pm GMT on Saturday, February 1.

MARCUS RASHFORD is on the brink of completing his loan move to Aston Villa, according to reports.

The out-of-favour Manchester United forward, 27, is not wanted by Ruben Amorim and has been frozen out since December 12.

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Marcus Rashford looks on the verge of joining Aston Villa on loan[/caption]

Reports on Friday emerged that Villa were keen to take the England international on a temporary deal until the end of the season.

And now The Athletic and Fabrizio Romano claim a deal is nearing completion for Rashford to join Unai Emery’s side with the final details being thrashed out.

It is stated Villa are covering the majority of Rashford’s whopping £325,000-a-week wages.

They are also offering performance-related bonuses.

That is largely possible due to the fact the Midlands side sold Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr for £64million.

The reports also add that there will be an option for Villa to buy Rashford included in the deal.

Rashford is keen to get his career back on track after a difficult few years under both Erik ten Hag and now Amorim.

And the possibility of playing in the Champions League again will undoubtedly appeal.

Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan were all linked with the United academy graduate.

But now it appears Rashford will stay put in the Premier League.

Ironically, Rashford made a blistering start to the Amorim regime with three goals in the Portuguese manager’s first two league matches – against Ipswich and Everton.

However, their relationship soured when Amorim was told Rashford had been out on a Friday night – less than 48 hours before the Everton game.

He called the forward in for a meeting where he denied the allegations – and they still do not see eye to eye.

Rashford then angered Amorim further by publicly revealing he is “ready for a new challenge” away from Old Trafford.

To make matters worse, Amorim said he would rather put his 63- year-old goalkeeper coach Jorge Vita on the pitch instead of “a player who doesn’t give the maximum every day”.

The player feels he is receiving unfair treatment – and there are thoughts it may be orders from the top.

A source told The Sun: “Marcus thinks Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants him out of the club and has basically told head coach Ruben Amorim to get him out.

“He might just have met his match with Sir Jim.

“Marcus feels like he is being picked on.

“In the early days of training under Amorim, he was trying to learn new systems and other players were also struggling — but he was the one who was getting more vocal criticism.

“He knows he needs to leave but he’s shocked that no big team has pulled out all the stops to get him.

“There’s been interest but financially it’s a complicated deal and that’s put quite a few teams off.

“Marcus has been left bewildered by how quickly his relationship with Amorim has disintegrated.”

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..

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MAINTAINING a youthful appearance is about more than just your skincare routine.

An 82-year-old woman revealed the daily step she swears by for looking decades younger.

TikTok/@mondayprojectco

The mum was filmed by her daughter (@mondayprojectco) for a TikTok video.

In the clip, she revealed the hobby she credits for its anti-ageing results.

Dressed in a red jumper and plaid maxi skirt, the 82-year-old’s slim physique was clear to viewers.

She has often been complimented for her appearance, with many people telling her she doesn’t look a day over 50.

As well as her skincare routine, she revealed that daily exercise has helped her maintain her look over the years.

Her daughter revealed to her audience that her mum is a “daily runner.”

“My mum has run her whole life,” the TikTok user wrote in the video caption.

“She worked, raised four children, ran 30 marathons, and still runs today.”

The poster, who works as a personal stylist and shopper, praised her mum for her active mindset.

“She inspires me to make sure I huff and puff every day,” she told her followers.

Health experts at Deakin investigated whether “running is the secret to staying young.”

The research broke down the biological benefits to running on a regular basis.

They explained that running regularly can contribute to maintaining a younger body by improving cardiovascular health, muscle strength, bone density, and overall fitness.

The professionals also cited research carried out on people who run over 50 kilometres each week.

“For every nine kilometres you run each week, your bone marrow gets a year younger,” they revealed.

The investigation found that running may just slow down the deterioration of your body.

It found that “people who ran consistently showed for higher red bone marrow.”

This is the marrow that produces blood cells and creates immune cells.

According to the experts, these results applied to people who ran casually, from 20 to 40 kilometres per week and those who ran long distance, over 50 kilometres per week.

So even going for a light jog ever other day may be enough to slow the ageing process.

TikTok/@mondayprojectco

YOU probably aren’t washing your bras often enough, new research has found. 

An interesting study has exposed 45% of women for only washing their bras just once every 21 days, whilst 18% give their garments a clean every other week.

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Lingerie brand Pour Moi found that nearly half of women are only sticking their bras in the wash once every 21 days[/caption]

And yes, once every three weeks is nowhere near enough, a lingerie expert has warned. 

It comes after Google search data found that, every year, a whopping 30,000 people seek advice on how often they need to wash their brassieres.

So, lingerie brand Pour Moi conducted further research and found that nearly half of women are only sticking their bras in the wash every 21 days.

You should actually be washing your bras after every three wears, NOT weeks. 

“As a general rule, bras should be washed every three wears to ensure the cleanliness of your garments, without over washing and compromising the integrity of your items,” says Emma Woodrow, in-house bra expert and lingerie buyer at Pour Moi.

But if you’re someone who wears fake tan or does long shift work, then this still isn’t frequent enough. 

“If you work 12-hour shifts and are constantly on the move, or you wear tight-fitting clothes, or you regularly apply body creams and fake tan, you will need to wash your bra far more frequently,” Emma adds. 

“Than someone who works from home on their laptop and wears baggy clothes and only occasionally applies fake tan.”

It’s important to wash them correctly, though. 

“Over washing your bras can damage the fabric and weaken the elastic that helps to hold everything in place,” Emma explains.

“Particularly if you are guilty of throwing them into the washing machine and tumble drier. 

“Hand-washing is our recommended way to keep your favourite pieces of underwear in perfect condition for as long as possible. 

“The main reason we recommend avoiding machine washing and tumble driers is because washing at too high a temperature can harm the elastic fibres over time.

“Or bra hooks may get caught in the drum causing them to bend or break, and the spinning motion can cause straps to catch around clothes and unnecessarily stretch. 

“Washing by hand avoids all of the above and will clean your bras without the worry of damaging them.”

Washing your items ‘the old-fashioned way’ may seem the more time-consuming way to clean your bras and lingerie, but it’s actually more time-efficient and environmentally friendly.

THOUSANDS of Barclays customers could receive compensation after a huge service outage left them unable to access their accounts on payday.

Customers of the high street bank have been unable to log into their mobile banking app and Internet banking services since yesterday.

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Barclays customers have been unable to log into their accounts since yesterday[/caption]

Those who needed to pay their bills or check if their salary has been paid into their account are unable to do so.

DownDetector, a website that monitors outages, showed that  more than 5,038 people have encountered problems with the bank’s online services.

Customers have said they cannot access their accounts or send payments.

Yesterday was also the deadline to file an online self-assessment tax return and pay the tax you owe.

If you fail to pay on time, you could be slapped with a hefty fine of up to £100.

A Barclays spokesperson told The Sun it will ensure customers are not penalised because of the outage.

They said: “We’re incredibly sorry for the ongoing technical issues that are impacting our customers’ accounts.

“Some may see an outdated balance, and payments made or received may not show.

“We’re working hard to fix this issue, and customers should not try to make the payment again.

“Customers can use their cards and withdraw cash, and as soon as these remaining issues are resolved, we’ll let our customers know. We will ensure that no impacted customer is left out of pocket.”

Those who have been impacted by the outage should contact Barclays directly to ask for compensation.

You can do this by calling, using their online live chat service or visiting a branch.

The outage began at around 9:45am yesterday and customers have since said they cannot access their accounts.

More than 50% of the reported problems relate to difficulties with mobile banking.

Meanwhile, 42% of users have said they have had trouble accessing Internet banking.

A statement on the bank’s website said: “We’re really sorry – we’re still working to fix the issues that started yesterday.

“This is taking longer than we’d like – thank you for bearing with us.”

It added that customers can still use their cards and withdraw cash.

But the message also warned that some customers may have problems checking their balance or making payments.

It said: “Some customers maybe experiencing issues making payments – we’re working to fix this as soon as we can.

“Your balance maybe incorrect and some payments you made or are expecting to receive may not show.

Please do not make the payments again. Please bear with us while we correct this.”

Barclays customers have taken to social media to voice their frustration.

One customer said: “I’m trying to pay my tax and your online banking keeps crashing.

“You did anticipate it being a busy day, right?”

Meanwhile, another added: “Just check out the status on the Barclays website and pretty much every service besides the website itself is down.

“This is looking really bad for Barclays imo, they are going to lose so many customers.”

Can I claim compensation for the outage?

Banks are not obligated to pay out compensation to customers if there has been a drop in service, unlike telecoms companies.

If you have incurred costs as a result of service issues, you are likely to get your money back.

For example, if your tax payment did not go through as a result of the outage and you are charged a fee for missing it, you should be able to claim the money back.

If your credit rating is affected by the service outage because you received a late payment fee after being unable to make a transaction, you should also keep a record of this.

If you spoke to anyone to try and resolve the problem, write down their name and when you spoke to them, as well as roughly what you discussed and what they advised you to do.

You can find out more details about how to complain on the Barclays website.

Gather evidence of the issue so you can make a formal complaint to your bank directly.

What can I do if I’m unhappy with the compensation?

If you’re unhappy with how the bank dealt with your issue, you can contact the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) for free.

The FOS is an independent body that will consider the evidence you present and make a fair decision about the actions your bank should take.

The FOS can usually get involved 15 days after you have raised concerns with the bank.

For IT system outages at a bank, the FOS said the compensation depends on your situation and if you lost out as a result.

If the FOS thinks you did, it has the power to tell the bank to reimburse any fees, charges or fines you were hit with.

For example, this could be if you were unable to make a payment on a credit card bill or to your mortgage provider.

If your credit score was affected by the outage then it may tell the bank to correct your credit file.

You may also get compensation for any additional costs you incurred, such as phone calls or trips to your local branch, as well as payment for the inconvenience caused.

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ALL phone makers are making noise about AI at the moment and chances are a lot of it doesn’t really interest you.

But what if it could save you money on shopping?

Jamie Harris / The Sun

Galaxy S25 Ultra has a familiar look with some handy new enhancements on the inside[/caption]

Jamie Harris / The Sun

S25 Ultra is now more rounded than before – and I love it[/caption]

Jamie Harris / The Sun

Now Brief stops me from forgetting all-important shopping coupons[/caption]

Samsung is positioning its new AI features on the Galaxy S25 as a “companion” that’s there to make ordinary life activities that little bit easier.

As The Sun’s main Android smartphone reviewer, I get hands-on with an array of devices all the time – and the Galaxy S series is up there among the best.

The evolutionary jump from S24 to S25 is, like most smartphones these days, small but there’s certainly some exciting additions to shout about.

I’ve been using the Galaxy S25 Ultra for just over a week now, testing everything from AI features, to battery, performance and the camera.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Look and feel

Having tested last year’s S24 Ultra, the first thing I’ve noticed this time around is how much lighter it is – literally, so much lighter.

In fact, it’s 15g than the predecessor, coming in at 218g. By comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is 221g.

Moreover, the S25 Ultra is slimmer too and Samsung has managed to squeeze slightly more display on it (6.9-inches in total diagonally) by reducing the bezel so the overall handset size doesn’t have to increase in your palm.

So, it sits quite comfortably in your pocket without pulling you down.

Looks-wise, it follows a consistent design to before except for one big change – the S25 Ultra has rounded corners so it fits in with the entire family now.

I think it’s a positive decision, easing the harshness from the S24 Ultra’s sharper corner approach.

However, aside from size the display is basically the same as last year, delivering bright, crisp, punchy visuals.

In terms of the colours, you have a choice of:

• Titanium Black
• Titanium Gray
• Titanium Silverblue
• Titanium Whitesilver
• Titanium Jadegreen
• Titanium Jetblack
• Titanium Pinkgold

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Performance and software

Samsung’s own version of Android, One UI, has always been among my favourite takes on the operating system.

It’s consistent, clean and easy to navigate – though the Samsung style app icons still bug me with their cartoon-like design.

The S25 devices run on Android 15, One UI 7, which is the very latest version of both.

One great highlight about Samsung’s Galaxy S devices is that you get a whooping seven years of security and software updates, so if you look after the handset it could last you quite sometime – and therefore save you money on upgrades.

• UK: Buy now from £1,249 on Samsung.com
• US: Buy now from $1,299 on Samsung.com

As for the performance, the Galaxy S25 Ultra runs beautifully with the market-leading Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip keeping everything in the fast lane.

This means you won’t notice any annoying lag as you run multiple apps, even demanding ones like games.

There’s also Snapdragon Satellite, so you can send and receive messages via satellite – but support for this will depend on your network provider.

There are three storage options: 256GB, 512GB and 1TB.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Features

Samsung has been really leading the charge on AI and with it comes lots of features, though some are more useful than others.

The firm has collaborated closely with Google here, which gives you the best of both worlds and, crucially, greater choice.

Samsung’s position on AI this year seems to be about simply making life easier.

First up, there’s a seamless experience across multiple apps so they essential “talk” to each other.

AI may not be what everyone is asking for right now but the tools are becoming more useful

For example, using Google’s Gemini AI I was able to show it inside my fridge with the camera.

It correctly detected most items (even half eaten chicken leftovers in a storage bag) and suggested what I could make with the ingredients on show.

I then asked it to add the recipes to my notes app, which it did, less of me faffing around copying and pasting, more of me getting on with my day, perfect.

This is also a great example of a feature that can help you save money, using up those ingredients before they go off.

Another addition is Now Brief, an AI companion that acts as a central hub for everything going on in your day.

Now, Samsung has offered lots of wonderful examples about how it can help with life, such as warning you that traffic is bad so you might want to leave to collect the kids, based off of information from your calendar and knowing your commute.

Sadly (or, perhaps not) during the short amount of time I’ve had to test the Galaxy S25 Ultra, I haven’t had any major issues like these in my life to put it to the test like that, so this trick requires more time to develop.

However, I did see another potential money saving benefit for a classic mistake I make – forgetting my coupons.

All I have to do is take a photo of my shopping vouchers, add to the Wallet app and the Now Brief warns me that it’s expiring soon.

It’s these little things that can be a big help for saving thinking space and time.

I still think there’s a way to go to make AI more proactive but this is a good starting point.

And I’m more fussed about these than features like drawing assist to generate AI images which serve little use to me.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Battery

The battery on the S25 Ultra is the same as last year but the newer chip and upgraded tech offers some efficiencies to help the battery last longer.

With moderate use – by my standard that’s web browsing, watching videos, light gaming and some WhatsApp – I was able to use the S25 Ultra well into the second day.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Camera

The S25 Ultra has the same 200-megapixel camera as last year but the big change is its upgraded ultra-wide camera, which now comes in at 50-megapixels.

This means you can get in much closer for macro images with greater focus than before.

Samsung’s cameras always deliver great results with popping colours, detail and sharpness.

Jamie Harris / The Sun

A shot in the park taken with the Galaxy S25 Ultra[/caption]

NATALIE Cassidy has played Sonia Fowler on EastEnders for over 30 years.

The actress made the decision to quit the long-running BBC One soap in a dramatic move.

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Fans were left devastated after Natalie Cassidy revealed she will be leaving EastEnders[/caption]

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The character has been involved in some of the soap’s most shocking storylines[/caption]

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She has been arrested on multiple occasions[/caption]

Over the years, the 41-year-old actress has been involved in some absolutely shocking storylines.

Her life on Albert Square has been nothing but chaotic as her character became one of the most beloved in the serial drama’s history.

She has been a constant in Walford for three decades and has seen plenty of action along the way.

From a teen pregnancy in the 90s till the recent murder trial, she has been a part at some of the most surprising scenes among the history of EastEnders.

We take a look at some of Sonia’s most shocking storylines.

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The character gave birth when she was just a teenager[/caption]

Teen Pregnancy

At the age of just 15-years-old, Sonia discovered that she was pregnant.

Viewers were shocked by the birth as Sonia didn’t even realise she was pregnant when she went into labour.

It turned out, thet Martin Fowler (James Alexandrou) turned out to be the father of the baby girl, who was named Chloe.

At first, Sonia decided to give her up for adoption but she later became obsessed with her daughter.

After she later abducted the baby, Sonia’s step-grandmother Dot (June Brown), persuaded her to return the baby.

After the adoptive parents of their daughter were killed in a car crash, Sonia and Martin’s lives were turned upside down.

Their deaths left them responsible to care for their young daughter Rebecca.

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Sonia was left devastated after the death of her long-term boyfriend Jamie Mitchell[/caption]

Jamie Mitchell death

Sonia was in a long-term relationship Jamie Mitchell (Jack Ryder) at the time of his tragic death.

But he was hit by a car driven by her baby’s father, Martin who was texting as he was driving.

Just before he was struck down by the vehicle, he bought an engagement ring for his girlfriend.

After he was rushed to hospital, the doctors told Sonia and the rest of the Mitchells that his liver was irreparably damaged.

The duo declared their love for each other one last time, just before he went into cardiac arrest.

Sonia and the rest of the Mitchells were left devastated by his bedside, just as Billy (Perry Fenwick) and Little Mo (Kacey Ainsworth) got married.

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Sonia’s marriage to Martin Fowler was rocked by controversy and infidelity[/caption]

Marriage to Martin Fowler

In a shock twist Sonia went on to marry the man responsible for her previous boyfriend’s death.

However, their three-year marriage was marred by conflicts and various infidelities.

At one point, Sonia was taken hostage by the unhinged Sarah Cairns (Alison Pargeter), who became absolutely obsessed with Martin.

This was after he led her on after he flirted with her during a drunken night out.

Later, there was even more tension in their relationship as Sonia cheated on her husband.

She embarked on a lesbian affair with one of her colleagues at work, fellow nurse Naomi Julien (Petra Letang).

Martin was awarded full custody after Sonia’s earlier kidnapping attempt and extra-marital affair.

She was utterly distraught to be cut out of her daughter’s life, although they later became close as she grew up.

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Sonia was left devastated when her teenage daughter attempted to take her own life[/caption]

Bex’s Suicide Attempt

In 2019, Sonia’s daughter Rebecca (Jasmine Armfield) tried to take her own life in a heartbreaking storyline.

Viewers were left in tears after her child already went through a harrowing bullying storyline.

After she took an overdose, Sonia found Bex unconscious and unresponsive.

She was feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of going to University in Oxford and she took drugs to cope with her exams and anxiety.

The night of her leaving do, she wrote a suicide note that was addressed to her parents.

Sonia blamed herself for pushing her daughter to breaking point as she tried to force her to go to Oxford.

This is despite the fact that Bex said that she wasn’t ready to go to University, so she deferred her enrollment for a year to go travelling.

Although Sonia was unhappy with her decision at first, a handwritten letter persuades her that it was the right thing to do.

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Sonia was put on trial after Reiss murdered his comatose wife Debbie[/caption]

Murder Trial

Sonia and her her fiance Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman) were going through severe monetary problems.

Debbie Colwell was left comatose after a stroke and they were left financially crippled as they had to pair for her care.

He also fleeced Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) and Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) in an investment scam.

But they also wanted to have a baby through IVF, so Reiss resorts to smothering her in her sleep to get her money.

Debbie’s parents Hugh and Brenda overheard Sharon and Teddy (Roland Manookian) speaking about Reiss using the money to fund the IVF.

Unfortunately for them, Brenda (Nichola McAuliffe) put her own money in Debbie’s account, meaning he stole from her and her vendetta against him was sealed.

Unfortunately, Sonia was previously in the hospital room as she liked to help with Debbie’s care.

She also thought that it would be best to sell their house and leave Walford, although she later changes her mind.

Both Sonia and Reiss were arrested for Debbie’s murder at the engagement party, but with a clear motive Sonia was charged.

Her sister Bianca (Patsy Palmer) was onto Reiss, but he manufactured a situation to kidnap her and keep her chained in a remote storage unit until the end of the trial.

Desperate to escape, Bianca comes up with an idea to record a false confession video to get Sonia off the hook.

Reiss also manipulates a juror into watching the video to come up with a verdict of ‘not guilty’.

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Natalie Cassidy first made her debut on the soap back in 1993[/caption]

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She gave birth to her child at the age of 15 and didn’t realise she was pregnant[/caption]

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She previously tried to kidnap her own young daughter after deciding to give her up for adoption[/caption]

EastEnders continues on BBC One and is available to watch on iPlayer.