Dick Van Dyke has revealed he “almost” got the chance to play James Bond, but turned it down for an unexpected reason. AdThe 99-year-old star has been a Hollywood mainstay for decades, first rising to notoriety working in radio and on stage, before going on to star in popular shows such as The Dick Van Dyke Show and movies including Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Speaking during an appearance on the Today show this week, Van Dyke revealed that, after Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 1968, producer Albert Broccoli approached him to take over the 007 role from Sean Connery. Dick Van Dyke as Bert in Mary Poppins. Silver Screen Collection/Getty ImagesIn the same interview, Van Dyke recalled regretting not doing a movie with Cary Grant before his death in 1986.

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Across London, ice rinks will begin to pop up and fill up as plenty of eager skaters head to the ice. So you don't miss out on your chance to skate in London, we've rounded up five of the most popular ice rinks this winter. 4 of the best ice rinks in London this ChristmasGlide at Battersea Power StationBattersea Power Station has been welcoming many keen skaters for some time now at the Glide ice rink. Hampton Court PalaceOne of London's most iconic Christmas ice rinks is in the Tudor setting of Hampton Court Palace. Somerset HouseSomerset House ice rink has long been a go-to for ice rinks at Christmas time in London, visited by thousands of skaters every year.

A former politician in Nigel Farage’s Reform U.K. party was sentenced on Friday to 10 and a half years in prison for taking bribes to make pro-Russia statements in the European Parliament. Nathan Gill, 52, admitted to being paid between 2018 and 2020 to make speeches and media appearances that were scripted by Oleg Voloshyn, a Ukrainian politician who had been an official in the Kremlin-backed government of Viktor Yanukovych. Mr. Voloshyn was a member of a pro-Russian political party at the time of the offenses. Sanctions were imposed on Mr. Voloshyn by the United States and Britain in 2022. The British accused him of “spreading disinformation and pro-Russian narratives which support Russia’s actions in Ukraine.”WhatsApp messages that were presented in court showed that Mr. Voloshyn ordered Mr. Gill to find other Brussels lawmakers to take on some tasks, including appearing on a pro-Russian television channel, 112 Ukraine, which was later banned from broadcasting in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister declined to say whether Mr Trump’s comment was appropriate, but noted he would always behave respectfully towards members of the media. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said journalists were doing ‘a really important job’ (Leon Neal/PA)“President Trump can speak for himself so I’m not going to speak for him, but my approach is that I will always be respectful to journalists, whatever questions they’re putting to me. “And I hope that I’ve demonstrated that over the times that you’ve all put questions to me. “It’s really important to keep that principle of respect for journalists who are doing actually, a really important job, certainly in the UK and our democracy.”Cabinet minister Wes Streeting went further in his criticism of the US leader’s slur, telling ITV on Wednesday that it “belongs in the history books”. Asked about the US president’s absence from this weekend’s meeting, Sir Keir told reporters: “In terms of attendance, obviously President Trump set out his position.

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Ahead of her second Budget on November 26, Rachel Reeves told The Times Magazine that the country could not continue on its current trajectory. The Prime Minister said it would prioritise protecting public services, particularly the NHS, cutting the national debt and tackling the cost of living. Ms Reeves is set to deliver her second budget (Leon Neal/PA)But Ms Reeves faces a difficult challenge to achieve those aims thanks to weak economic growth, persistent inflation and an expected downgrade to official productivity forecasts. In her interview, Ms Reeves said: “Borrowing is too high, but you can’t cut it overnight. Public services are a mess, but we haven’t got loads of money to throw at them and we have to use what we’ve got well.

Nearly half of all 11 to 17-year-olds admit to gambling, a Gambling Commission survey has revealed. The watchdog’s annual report on Young People and Gambling found that 49 per cent had gambled, “but not necessarily spending their own money on doing so”. On behalf of the Gambling Commission, Ipsos surveyed 3,666 British school children aged 11 to 17, between January and June 2025, on their exposure and involvement in gambling in the previous twelve months. He said: “It doesn’t feel like gambling but it’s the normalisation of gambling. Sixteen per cent of all respondents said “that influencers had advertised gambling-related content to them”.

The flu strain ripping through the UK, known as H3N2, is relatively new, meaning many people may not have immunity. By November 18, flu cases were already surging, according to latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). In a normal flu season, the R rate – the average number of people an infected person passes the virus on to – is around 1.1 to 1.2. And it follows the biggest flu season in Australia’s history, which is often an indication of what is to come in England and the rest of the northern hemisphere. In the UK, flu vaccines are available for everyone aged 65 and over, under 65s who are at clinical risk, pregnant women, care home residents and carers.

The Daily Mirror, external says the former prime minister's handling of the crisis was "inexcusable," as it highlights the finding that he repeated mistakes. "It's amazing what £200m worth of hindsight can buy you," suggests the Times, external sketchwriter, Tom Peck. Many of the papers pay tribute to the Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist Gary Mounfield - best known as Mani - who has died at 63. The Mirror, external says he was the soul of the Stone Roses. For the Times, external, he was the "beating heart" of the band.

This year, King’s College London (KCL) has been ranked 65th in the Global Employability University Rankings for 2026, decreasing from 64th place in 2025. However, it ranked 6th in the UK Employability rankings, beating UCL in 7th place. KCL’s highest ranking in the Global Employability rankings was 21st in 2020. The process is as follows:In comparison to our competitors, UCL ranked 98th, LSE came in at 19th and Imperial College London came out on top in 9th place. Despite our rankings, King’s Careers and Employability gives graduates the opportunity to network with their various alumni in London through mentoring schemes and events.

A new General Medical Council (GMC) report has revealed that 4,880 doctors who trained abroad left the UK workforce in 2024 – a 26% increase on 3,869 in 2023. Doctors who qualified outside of the UK currently make up around 42% of the workforce, it said. GMC chief executive Charlie Massey said: “Doctors represent a mobile workforce, whose skills are in high demand around the world. “Doctors who qualified outside of the UK make up 42% of those working in the UK. He acknowledged that two-thirds of the 30,000 doctors applying for 10,000 training places are international medical graduates.

For the first time, scientists are tracking the migration of monarch butterflies across much of North America. The butterflies are on their way to overwinter in which country?

England v Australia First Test LIVE: Scorecard, UK times, team news and where to watch Ashes opener in PerthEngland will hope to kickstart their Ashes campaign with victory in the First Test against Australia in Perth this week. 3 Stokes and England will begin their Ashes campaign with the First Test in Perth Credit: GettyEngland told they've made major mistake before Ashes down under even beginsIt has also been a decade since England won an Ashes series home or away. England vs Australia: Date and how to follow First TestThe First Ashes Test will take place from Friday, November 21 to Tuesday, November 25. The talkSPORT Cricket YouTube channel will feature regular content throughout the series, including a daily show. "Ashes cricket is played with more venom behind it but these players have played a lot of international cricket and enough to know what it's about.

The British government announced plans on Thursday to extend the time required for legal immigrants to be granted permanent residency, saying foreign workers would have to “earn” the right to remain in the country indefinitely. The proposals are part of a tightening of immigration rules under the center-left Labour government as it tries to counter the rise of Reform U.K., a right-wing populist party that has put cutting immigration at the heart of its identity. How would the rules for legal immigrants change? Under the current system, most people who come to Britain legally can apply for permanent residency, also known as “settled status,” after five years of living and working in the country. Settled status — which is roughly similar to having a green card in the United States — allows people to study or work in any job.