PARENTS have been issued a warning ahead of Christmas over a number of toys that could potentially choke, cut or strangle their kids.

An investigation by consumer champion Which? has found a number toys sold on online marketplaces pose a serious safety risk to little ones.

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Which? has issued a safety warning over 21 online marketplace toys[/caption]

Which? bought 23 toys off online marketplaces including AliExpress, Amazon, eBay, TikTok and Wish, with prices starting from just £1.07.

Shockingly, it found more than half of the items (12) posed serious safety risks to children, including the risk of choking, sharp points that could cut them, as well as strangulation.

Many of the toys also had missing or incorrect markings used to show whether a product is safe or meets certain quality standards.

In total, Which? found 21 out of 23 products it tested were either marked wrongly or posed safety concerns.

All 21 products that failed tests have been removed from sale by the online marketplaces.

One of the issues flagged by Which? was that some small parts on products posing a choking risk to kids.

This was spotted on a magnetic fishing set bought from an eBay seller, where the magnets detached.

Which? said this could cause a serious safety hazard because, if they were swallowed, the magnets could attract in a child’s stomach and tear through the lining of their gut.

Two baby toys, a sensory fidget toy and musical car keys, from TikTok Shop, also broke apart during testing.

Which? also found a large number of customers complaining about the poor quality and loose parts on the product, with one even stating that their baby “choked”.

Meanwhile, Which? found two products from AliExpress failed rigorous testing.

The keys and dial on a wooden busy board broke into small pieces during a tension test while small bits broke away on a toy phone.

The tests also revealed a ring teether with bells and ribbons from Fruugo that posed a strangulation risk as the ribbons were longer than the legal limit.

Two crib toys from eBay failed testing as they did not come with the legally required safety warnings.

A “busy cube” from AliExpress was deemed by Which? to have sharp points on it that could cause punctures to a small child’s skin.

Which? also found the product had exposed edges of brackets and screws.

Meanwhile, a musical elephant-shaped hanging crib toy from online seller Wish was found to have button batteries that were not safely secured in the battery compartment and posed a choking and swallowing risk for small children.

One of the 23 items, a set of animal fridge magnets, and the only product Which? bought from Amazon – did not pose a serious safety risk to children and could be legally sold in the UK.

Neither of the two products bought on Temu posed a serious safety risk, but one of them could not be legally sold in the UK because Which?’s assessments found that the electrical labelling did not comply with UK regulations.

Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, said of the findings: “It was frighteningly easy for Which? to find dangerous toys for sale on some of the world’s most popular online marketplaces – and this is particularly worrying when we know many people are shopping for affordable gifts ahead of Christmas.

“We would recommend that shoppers be careful about buying unbranded toys on online marketplaces, as it is hard to have confidence that they will meet UK safety standards set in law to protect consumers.

“The UK government must act fast and use its Product Regulation and Metrology Bill to put much greater legal responsibility on online marketplaces for keeping unsafe items off their platforms.

“This must include allowing tough enforcement action, such as heavy fines, if they breach the rules.”

In response to the findings, a spokesperson for AliExpress said it took product safety “very seriously” and had strict rules and policies in place to ensure a “safe online shopping environment”.

An eBay spokesperson said consumer safety was a “top priority”, adding that it had removed the listings reported to it by Which?.

A spokesperson for Fruugo said it took safety issues “extremely seriously”, citing its product recall and withdrawal service.

A spokesperson for Temu said it prioritised consumer safety and requires sellers to comply with product standards.

A spokesperson for TikTok said the safety of its customers was of its “utmost priority”.

Wish did not respond to Which?’s request for comment.

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DEMENTIA was the UK’s leading cause of death for the 13th year in a row in 2023, new research has revealed.

And the “crisis will only worsen” because of the ageing population, Alzheimer’s Research UK warned, unless the Government takes action.

In 2023, at least 75,393 people died of disease – 11.4 per cent of all recorded deaths.

This marks a steady rise from 74,261 in 2022 and 69,178 in 2021, according to the charities analysis.

Dementia now causes more deaths than heart disease.

The charity’s chief executive Hilary Evans-Newton said: “This data reveals the tragic reality of dementia’s devastating impact across the UK.

“This crisis will only worsen as our population ages unless Government takes action to address it.”

An estimated 944,000 people in the UK live with dementia.

Alzheimer’s Research UK predicts the figure could rise to 1.4 million by 2040.

Ms Evans-Newton added: “Dementia already accounts for a quarter of hospital beds for people over 65, and the cost of dementia to the NHS has doubled in the last decade mainly due to often avoidable emergency admissions.

“The magnitude of damage caused by dementia on people and wider society can’t be ignored by government.”

According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, dementia has been the leading cause of death in women since 2011, with the trend continuing in 2023.

More than 48,000 women died with the condition last year compared with 27,000 men.

The analysis also found that, of the four nations, Northern Ireland had the highest dementia death rate at 11.7 per cent, followed by England (11.6 per cent), Wales (10.6 per cent), and Scotland (10.2 per cent).

Ms Evans-Newton described the Government’s upcoming 10-year Health Plan as a “crucial opportunity” to future-proof NHS dementia services.

“The government’s 10-Year Health Plan offers a crucial opportunity to harness groundbreaking research developments and address the growing impact of dementia on society,” she said.

“New treatments and diagnostics are making their way to the UK, and we are learning more and more about how we can protect our brain health and reduce our risk of developing dementia in the future.

“The 10-Year Health Plan must be used as an opportunity to capitalise on the recent advances in research, futureproof NHS dementia services and ensure dementia doesn’t remain a death sentence for everyone it touches.”

Care minister Stephen Kinnock added: “Alzheimer’s is a cruel disease which has a terrible impact on so many families, including my own.

“This data reveals the profound toll dementia has on individuals and their loved ones in the UK.

“With our Plan for Change, this government is committed to getting the NHS back on its feet and creating a society where every person with dementia receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life.

“We will put Britain at the forefront of transforming treatment for dementia, backing research into the disease and ensuring that new clinically and cost-effective treatments are rolled out in a safe and timely way.”

Symptoms of dementia in the early stages of the disease can be subtle at first.

But over time they become more pronounced and begin to interfere with a person’s daily life.

You may become aware of your loved one having the disease by subtle changes to their behaviour.

Your painstakingly polite loved one may pick up a new swearing habit or start dressing sloppy after previously taking great care with their appearance.

Here are six early signs of the disease to know.

1. Giving out money

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Scammers often target older people[/caption]

Elderly people in general are at high risk of being scammed.

However, research has shown that giving out money could be a sign of early Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia.

It involved 67 adults around the age of 70.

Each person was paired with another participant that they had never met before.

They were handed $10 (£8) to share as they pleased.

Researchers discovered that those who were at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s gave more money to the person they had just met.

It means those who have the disease are more vulnerable to forking out cash.

Dr Duke Han, a neuropsychology professor at USC who led the research, said: “Trouble handling money is thought to be one of the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, and this finding supports that notion.”

2. Changes to humour 

Researchers at University College London discovered that a change to your sense of humour could mean you are at risk of “impending dementia”.

They revealed people with the disease are more likely to enjoy slapstick over more complicated forms of comedy.

They gathered the friends and family of 48 people with the disease and asked them questions about their loved ones’ sense of humour.

In the study, they were asked whether their relatives enjoyed shows like Mr Bean or more satirical shows like South Park.

Then they were asked if there was a difference between their humour 15 years ago.

The research revealed that Alzheimer’s patients started to prefer slapstick jokes around nine years before the start of typical dementia symptoms.

3. Dressing scruffy

Family members of someone who has Alzheimer’s know that sufferers can struggle to get ready in the morning.

Patients may choose clashing clothes, or wear things that are not weather-appropriate.

And research published in Sociology of Health and Illness in 2018, shows this could also be an early sign of what is to come.

They studied 32 people across three care homes and 15 regular homes in Kent.

Researchers interviewed 29 family carers and relatives and 28 care home staff to see how their patient’s dress.

They discovered that Alzheimer’s could caused people to start dressing differently.

4. Bad parking

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Everyone with dementia will eventually be unable to drive safely[/caption]

Dementia affects people’s motor skills – meaning as their condition progresses their driving can get worse.

It slows down people’s reactions, making them bad at parking.

Researchers from Washington University in St Louis studied driving habits in 139 people – half of which were diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s.

The study found those with the disease were more likely to make abrupt changes in direction and drive slower.

The results were so significant that they were able to create a model to predict if people had Alzheimer’s based on their driving alone.

It predicted cases accurately in 90 per cent of the people.

5. Swearing 

Swearing is another sign that someone is developing Alzheimer’s.

When people have the disease, the filter in their brain that would usually tell them the correct situations to swear in is no longer as strong.

This can lead to awkward situations such as swearing in front of children.

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, found 18 per cent of people with Alzheimer’s used the word ‘f**k’ when prompted to name words beginning with ‘f’. 

6. Having no filter

Like with swearing, as someone develops Alzheimer’s their ability to filter what to say becomes hazy.

That’s because the part of the brain that controls our internal filter, the frontal prefrontal cortex, is known to shrink with age, according to experts. 

This means patients can say or do outlandishly inappropriate things without realising it is wrong.

Alzheimer’s Society explained: “These situations can be very confusing, distressing, shocking or frustrating for someone with dementia, as well as for those close to them.

“The person with dementia may not understand why their behaviour is considered inappropriate. It’s very unlikely that they are being inappropriate on purpose.”

BRENDA Blethyn has called time on Vera after 14 years – but has revealed that she has a plan to keep the beloved detective alive.

The actress has quit the hit ITV drama to spend more time with her family.

But she has managed to keep a few mementos from the gentle cop show.

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Brenda Blethyn has revealed her real reason for leaving hit ITV crime drama Vera[/caption]

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The Bafta winner has starred as Vera Stanhope since 2011[/caption]

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Brenda also revealed the mementos she kept hold of from set[/caption]

She said: “I have got the mac and hat! I think I’ve got the coat as well, the tweedy one.

“Although it looks like it’s been through the mill.

“It was a hard decision and come March when I would normally be getting ready to go back up there, I’ll probably be crying.

“As much as I loved all that, I’ve got a family at home and I realised I hadn’t had a summer for 14 years with my family.

“So I still did another series because I couldn’t drag myself away.

“But anyway it was time, that’s all.”

Brenda’s final episodes will air on January 1 and 2 at 8pm, with a factual special, Vera: Farewell Pet to follow on January 3 at 9pm.

All three episodes will air on ITV1 and later, streaming service ITVX.

Last month, Bafta winner Brenda teased how Vera will come to an end after 14 years on air.

During an event at the BFI in London celebrating the show’s success, the actress replied when asked about the finale: “No comment. I’m not going to tell you.”

However, she hinted at a rocky time ahead for DI Vera Stanhope and her colleague Joe Ashworth (David Leon).

It comes as David Leon reprised his role as Joe after ten years away from the ITV crime drama.

Brenda said: “Joe has something going on that he doesn’t want to talk about and Vera is anxious to get to the bottom of that.

“We know he came back to the area because his father was ill. He passed away we’ve already seen that.

“Joe doesn’t seem to have come out of that dungeon and Vera‘s concerned about that.”

In the meantime, the titular character faces a momentous change upon learning her boss intends to promote her.

Brenda said: “Vera‘s superior, the Chief Inspector, wants to promote her, and so it’s a big decision for Vera to make.”

With some fans fearing the beloved character could die, what will Vera’s fate look like by the show’s end?

Vera airs on ITV1 and ITV1X.

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Vera will return for a 14th and final series in 2025[/caption]

THE stars of Gavin and Stacey have been bidding an emotional farewell to their characters and the series ahead of the last episode which airs on Christmas day.

Joanna Page, who has played the loveable Stacey since 2007 has been talking about how she found her last day filming particularly emotional.

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Joanna Page plays the loveable Stacey[/caption]

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The cast of the classic comedy have reflected on their final moments together[/caption]

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The comedy that brings together a Billericay boy and a Barry Island girl has run for three series on BBC[/caption]

She said: “Being on set for the last time with everybody for the last day was traumatic. I knew I was going to cry as soon as I walked on set.

“I saw Steve’s face, our first AD, and I just burst out crying. Then I saw Sophie Hebron, our second AD, and I burst out crying again.

“So then I went into my trailer and Julia Davis came in and sat with me, and I couldn’t stop crying, because it just felt it was such a huge journey that was ending.”

The comedy that brings together a Billericay boy and a Barry Island girl has run for three series on BBC and the festive specials have become must watch Christmas Day viewing.

This year will see the very last episode aired, written by two of its stars, Ruth Jones and James Corden, with fans keen to see a resolution to the last special’s cliff-hanger when Nessa proposed to Smithy in the street.

For Ruth, who plays Nessa, the final days of filming were a chance to look back at a fantastic era writing with her co-star.

She revealed that they have a special way of working together: “It’s always so enjoyable to be in the room writing with James.

“We act out the characters when we write – I love playing Bryn and Stacey and James does a great Pamelarr!”

Mathew Horne, who plays leading man Gavin, says that the script for the final episode was a joy to work with: “ It made me laugh, it made me cry and upon completion I thought it was nothing short of a masterpiece.

“Not just in terms of an episode of Gavin & Stacey, but frankly any script I’ve ever read.”

The iconic character of Uncle Bryn is played by Rob Brydon and he’s also been speaking about how emotional the last few days on set were.

He said he felt “Hugely emotional,” adding: “And it would hit me at times when we were filming big scenes with lots of people.

“We do a fair bit in Pam and Mick’s house, and just seeing everybody there, I would find myself filling up with tears just looking at them.

“That might sound a little bit overly dramatic I suppose to some people, but you have to understand that it’s been 17 years. That’s a long time. It was just wonderful, and unlike anything else I’ve ever done.

Fans will have to wait to see the resolution of the much loved tale but Joanna says that in the end the two main characters had an emotional moment together off camera.

She said: “I delivered my last lines, the way that I wanted to, and the way that I needed to, and then when they shouted, “it’s a wrap” and then they clapped all of us goodbye and I just hugged Mat, and we both stood there crying.

As a celebration of the final ever episode the BBC has produced a documentary to air on New Years Day looking back at the show’s 17 year history.

Gavin & Stacey: The Finale will air at 9pm on Christmas Day on BBC One and iPlayer

Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell will air at 7pm on New Years Day on BBC One and iPlayer.  

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The iconic character of Uncle Bryn is played by Rob Brydon and he’s also been speaking about how emotional the last few days on set were.[/caption]

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As a celebration of the final ever episode the BBC has produced a documentary to air on New Years Day looking back at the show’s 17 year history[/caption]

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TEMPLEGATE takes on Tuesday’s racing confident of building the bank before Christmas.

He smashed in a 5-1 winning NAP on Monday and fancies his chances again.

STRICTLY TANGO (2.42 Uttoxeter, nap)

He already has a hurdles win on his CV and almost doubled that tally when a close second at Carlisle last time. He stayed on well and should appreciate Uttoxeter’s test from a fair mark.

JAGWAR (1.42 Uttoxeter, nb)

He has hardly put a foot wrong since going over fences with a debut win at Wetherby followed by a convincing Bangor success. He tanked along in north Wales and can improve past a 9lb walk up the weights.

MALINKA (1.00 Fontwell, treble)

Will relish this longer trip after a good third over two furlongs shorter at Leicester. She likes some cut in the ground and it’s still early days as a hurdler.

MR UBIQUITOS (4.30 Southwell, Lucky 15)

Did well to score at Kempton on handicap debut despite traffic problems. That was also his first crack at this trip which looks ideal again.

Templegate’s tips

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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.

GLASTONBURY fans are crossing their fingers that a massive rock band will play a secret set at the mega music festival.

Supporters of the English rock band Muse are convinced they will take to the stage when the festival returns in June next year.

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Glastonbury fans think they have worked out who might play a secret set next year[/caption]

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It is hoped Muse might do a ‘ChurnUps’ style set[/caption]

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Muse is fronted by Matt Bellamy[/caption]

Muse fans are hoping for another ‘ChurnUps’ type billing, with the group being revealed as the mystery set.

Last year, US rock band the Foo Fighters made a surprise appearance as the Friday night headline act.

The band, fronted by Dave Grohl, was only named as The ChurnUps on the billing beforehand, so their set came as a huge shock.

Piecing together clues, music fans are now hoping Muse – fronted Matt Bellamy – might pull the identical stunt next summer.

One wrote on Reddit: “A secret ChurnUps type set? They’ve gotta play somewhere, right.

“Doing a bunch of EU festivals, with nothing announced for the UK yet.

“Most other major festivals all announced their line-ups already. Either they’re at Glasto or they’re just not playing in the UK!”

Chiming in, someone else said: “Well we had Coldplay this year, Arctic Monkeys last year so it’s definitely Muse’s turn again next year before it goes back around to Arctic Monkeys again for the next one.”

And a third added: “It seems probable. If you see their social media they share a lot of their Glastonbury performances videos.”

Rumours are flying left, right and centre about next year’s Glastonbury Festival line-up.

There has also been chat that rock group Creed may play the festival for the first time, while whispers are rife that Olivia Rodrigo could headline.

Olivia is already set to headline BST Hyde Park on June 27 – which puts her in the country at the same time as Glastonbury.

“That’s our Saturday Pyramid headliner then,” one convinced fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Sir Rod Stewart WILL be taking to the stage at Worthy Farm in Somerset next year.

Rod, 79, said he will perform in the Sunday Legends slot.

Confirming the news on social media, he said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that I’ll be playing @glastofest 2025!

“After all these years, I’m proud and ready and more than able to take the stage again to pleasure and titillate my friends at Glastonbury in June. I’ll see you there!”

Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis also shared her delight at the news.

She said: “Bringing Sir Rod Stewart back for the Sunday afternoon slot on the Pyramid Stage is everything we could wish for.

“What a way to bow out with the final legends slot before we take a fallow year. We cannot wait.”

Rod’s daughter Ruby has now sparked rumours that he could be joined by two of his fellow legendary musicians on stage.

In a recent picture shared to Rod’s Instagram, he was smiling alongside Rolling Stones musician Ronnie Wood and The Small Faces and The Who drummer Kenney Jones.

Commenting below, Ruby sparked the Glastonbury trio rumour as she wrote: “Glasto reunion?”

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The Foo Fighters had been billed as The ChurnUps when they made a surprise appearance at Glastonbury 2023[/caption]

PEP GUARDIOLA will throw the ‘new Lionel Messi’ straight into Manchester City’s creaking squad next month.

Argentine starlet Claudio Echeverri, 18, arrives from River Plate — a year after a £12million deal was completed.

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Claudio Echeverri is arriving from Argentinians River Plate to help City[/caption]

City agreed to let him stay in his homeland for another season while  the South American giants hoped to keep him even longer.

But boss Guardiola has decided he wants to be able to call upon the attacking midfielder during the second half of the campaign.

So Echeverri is moving to England in the new year to spend the rest of the season training with the first team.

He will be available to step in straight away but is likely to need time to find his feet in his new surroundings.

City had previously considered sending the teenager to one of their sister clubs to gain some European experience.

That remains a possibility for the summer if the feeling is he is still not ready to challenge for a spot in Pep’s team.

But the Etihad boss admitted at the weekend he is desperately short of options after a pile-up of injuries.

And Echeverri will be given every chance to show he can play a part in the set-up.

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The reigning Premier League champions beat off competition from around the world as they clinched the signing of the Argentina Under-17s captain last winter.

His position and style have seen him compared to his country’s World Cup-winning skipper and Barcelona legend Messi — who Guardiola helped mould into a superstar at the helm of the Spanish giants.

Echeverri broke into River’s first team 18 months ago and has been playing regularly for them since.

His arrival comes in the wake of the news that the  hearing into the 130 breaches of Financial Fair Play rules levelled at City by the Premier League is now over.

A three-man panel, who have heard both sides over the last three months, will now consider the evidence before writing up the report.

While the earliest an outcome is expected to be known is spring, there are fears it could run into next season.

The hearing began on September 16 at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London and was originally scheduled to take ten weeks.

It has overrun by around a fortnight but it is understood closing statements were heard at the end of last week.

Abu Dhabi-owned City are also  accused of failing to co-operate with the investigation — which began in 2018 — of their alleged breaches of FFP.

If they are found guilty, they could face a huge points deduction which may condemn them to relegation.

But both sides would have the option to appeal against the decision if they are not satisfied — meaning it could be several more months before any such   penalties are imposed.

The 1% Club has returned with bang – and wiped out a staggering 20 contestants within the first minute.

Fans were left gobsmacked when the players were quickly eliminated as the popular quiz show returned to ITV for a new run.

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Lee Mack returned with The 1% Club on Monday night[/caption]

Host Lee Mack was also stunned as one fifth of the contestants lost their place in the game over a very “simple” first question.

Lee had shown a graphic of a person holding the strings of a puppet.

He asked: “In order to move the puppet’s left arm, does the puppeteer need to move their own left hand or right hand?”

As the ’90 per cent question’, 90 out of the 100 players in the audience were expected to get it right.

But a whopping 20 got it wrong. The correct answer was ‘right hand’.

Gasping, Lee exclaimed: “Holy flips! We’ve lost 20 people!”

He added: “I don’t think we’ve ever had such a loud, ‘Oh my God’ on the show before!”

One player who answered incorrectly was a micro pig trainer called Scarlett.

She told Lee: “I don’t actually know my left and right so it was just close my eyes and guess.”

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, fans of The 1% Club were quick to share their amazement.

One wrote: “20 already?!”

Another added: “Unreal that 20 got that wrong!”

A third said: “Wtf 20 out on the 1st simple question.”

And another chimed in: “They lost 20 people on THAT? What literal Muppets!”

The 1% Club returned to ITV1 on Monday evening.

The episode finished with three contestants correctly answering the 1% question, which won them each a share of the £98,000 prize pot.

This week, four new episodes are running on the channel from Monday to Thursday evening (December 12).

Two 1% Club Christmas specials will also air this month, while Lee will front another episode in support of Soccer Aid.

The 1% Club first hit screens in 2022 and has fast become one of TV’s most popular game shows.

In September, it won Best Quiz Game Show at the National Television Awards for the third year in a row.

It faced stiff competition but still beat The Wheel, Beat The Chasers, Richard Osman’s House of Games, and Ant and Dec’s Limitless Win.

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The correct answer to the 90% question was the ‘right hand’[/caption]

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Lee gasped as 20 players were instantly shut out[/caption]

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Craig Hutchison has made another significant move to buy into WA basketball, with his SEN Teams group taking over as majority owners of the WNBL’s Perth Lynx.

Summer means a lot of things: hot weather, long nights and loud cicadas. And those noisy insects seem to be turning up the decibels this year.