New calls to give fathers or second parents six weeks paid leave in first year after baby is born

Energy firm OVO has joined calls for energy standing charges to be abolished for vulnerable households as it confirmed it will not be passing on the latest increase on October 1 when the new price cap comes into effect. OVO chief executive Raman Bhatia warned that households were facing a prolonged period of high prices compounded by wider cost of living pressures that would leave millions struggling unless urgent action was taken.

Barbie has been dethroned from the top of the UK and Ireland box office after six weeks.As reported by ScreenDaily, The Equalizer 3 starring Denzel Washington took the number one spot in its opening weekend (September 1-3), taking “just shy” of £2million.Barbie fell to second place with takings of £1.6million in its seventh weekend, a 16 per cent drop from the week prior. The film has grossed £92.6million in total in the UK, beating Avengers: Endgame (£88.7million) to become the seventh highest-grossing film of all time in the territory.Others in the top five for the weekend include Oppenheimer (£960,300), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (£619,000) and Sound Of Freedom (£589,456).Barbie had a longer run at the UK box office compared to the US, where DC superhero film Blue Beetle managed to dethrone the film at the top after four weeks.Greta Gerwig’s fantasy comedy recently became the highest-grossing movie of the year, beating The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Oppenheimer and Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol.3.

xikers have announced the US leg of their 2023 ‘Tricky House: First Encounter’ world tour.On August 31, xikers announced the dates and venues for the US leg of their 2023 ‘Tricky House: First Encounter’ world tour. It’ll kick off in October, with shows in New York and Illinois, as well as two in Texas.In November, the boyband will wrap up their six-date US tour with two shows in California.

Neighbours legend Ben Nicholas has revealed that he and his wife are having a second child. Ben, 35, is known to soap fans for playing Stingray in Neighbours from 2004 to 2007.

Legendary musician and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto died in March 2023 of cancer at the age of 71 and much of the world mourned. While perhaps not the most famous musician/composer on earth, the Japanese musician was a musical icon nonetheless.

Three years after setting up her own business, former The Only Way Is Essex star Sam Faiers is raking in the profits as her popular brand Revive Collagen is said to have earned her over £13.2 million since launching. The brand, which boasts celebrity fans including Amanda Holden, Oti Mabuse and Paloma Faith, was reportedly built by Sam "from the ground up" alongside her business partner.

Ayr United midfielder Olly Pendlebury has quit the club just nine weeks into a two-year deal at Somerset Park. The former England youth captain asked to be released from his contract this week, with the club confirming they had "relucantly" agreed, citing "personal circumstances".

EXCLUSIVE: The BBC is carrying out a review to establish whether it requires more news channel presenters as five senior female anchors remain in the dark about their future.

Certain Barclays bank account owners in Scotland may soon have to travel to England to visit a branch as one location is set to close its doors.

Tirzah’s next project is fast approaching. The elusive English electronic artist who covered The FADER in 2021 posted the news on Instagram this afternoon (August 29) along with a string of October tour dates.

Porcupine Tree singer and multi-instrumentalist Steven Wilson has announced his new solo album, ‘The Harmony Codex’. Check out new single ‘Economies Of Scale’ below, along with our interview with the artist.Released on September 29, a deluxe three-disc edition of ‘The Harmony Codex’ will includs remixes of its songs by the likes of Manic Street Preachers, Interpol, Roland Orzabal of Tears For Fears, Opeth’s Mikael Akerfeldt and electronica pioneers Radiophonic Workshop.‘The Harmony Codex’ has been previewed with listening sessions for fans in cities including London, New York, Berlin, LA and Amsterdam.

The SNP’s Patricia Gibson has tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament for MPs to debate the “devastating impact of continuing unfair pension treatment of 1950s-born WASPI women (Women Against State Pension Inequality). The North Ayrshire and Arran MP is also urging the UK Government to “respond promptly” to the findings from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s (PHSO) report into the way the changes to the State Pension age were communicated.

How well does a couple know each other? That’s the question behind the upcoming drama “Foe,” which chronicles a marriage’s disintegration with a sci-fi twist. And director Garth Davis has two of the UK’s great young acting talents as his stars: Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal.

Lori Harvey and Damson Idris are enjoying a night out.

Naman Ramachandran The work of pioneering Black British filmmaker Horace Ové will be celebrated this fall with a BFI Southbank retrospective season titled Power to the People: Horace Ové’s Radical Vision. A 4K restored version of “Pressure” (1976), the first full-length Black British film, which is an exploration of the concerns faced by emerging second-generation West Indians in Britain, will receive a joint restoration world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival and the New York Film Festival on Oct. 11.

EastEnders bosses have released the first sneak peek at Cindy Beale's return to Walford. Cindy, played by Michelle Collins, hasn't been seen on the Square in 25 years, and many residents think that she is dead. However, she has been under witness protection for all of that time, and now is the time for her to return.

“Game of Thrones” actor Darren Kent sadly passed away at 36 after a long fight against osteoporosis, arthritis and an extremely rare skin disorder.

A new online petition is urging the UK Government to “abolish” TV licence fees for everyone, calling it an “outdated and unwanted system”. Petition creator Christian James Riley-Rowlands also warned that the £159 annual fee, which can be paid in several different ways, “can put people into debt”.

Miley Cyrus appears to be extending her summer vacation with even more new music.

The Only Way is Essex star Yazmin Oukhellou has bid goodbye to her late friend Dean Harvey, who reportedly passed away following a motorbike accident last week. Marking his death via Instagram Stories, the 29 year old shared a video of the duo having a laugh together, writing on top of it: "When I was winding you up about your hair, still can’t believe you’re gone. Broken.