Rishi Sunak warns of 'tough months ahead' amid perfect storm - but is told he needs to do more

Britain’s Got Talent was off to a dramatic start on Wednesday's live semi-final after Simon Cowell disagreed with co-judge David Walliams over Les Sancho's performance. During the opening of the show, Les Sancho put on an energetic performance to which Simon, 62, buzzed the act off by pressing the dreaded red button.The judge, who was called "Mr Grumpy" by hosts Ant and Dec, then told the booing audience: "Shut up!" Delivering his feedback, Simon told Les Sancho that their first audition was full of "fun" and "personality" whereas their performance on Wednesday's semi-final was "everything he has seen before with a dance group".

Rishi Sunak has insisted that he did not time handing out £21bn-worth of cost-of-living support to deflect from Partygate. The Chancellor announced the new package of support yesterday (Thursday), just one day after Sue Gray's highly anticipated report on Downing Street's lockdown parties was published.

Money saving expert Martin Lewis has pointed out that some key groups are missing out on the extra cash announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak today in his new support package.

Rishi Sunak expects inflation to rise even further this year as the cost of living crisis in the UK deepens.

Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has breathed a 'sigh of relief' following the chancellor's cost of living announcements in the House of Commons today.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a string of new measures aimed at helping millions of households across the country deal with the soaring cost of living. It comes as the UK faces record-high levels of inflation and rapidly rising energy and gas bills, forcing many households and families to fall into poverty.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak will address the UK today to announce new support packages to help people struggling with the ever-worsening cost of living crisis. It comes as energy process, which already increased by 54 per cent in April, are forecast to rise another £830 in October.

APPOINTMENTSPPL PRS Ltd – the joint public performance licensing venture operated by UK collecting societies PPL and PRS – has appointed Helen Sachdev as its new Chair. She replaces Theresa Robson-Capps. “I feel very privileged to take on this role”, says Sachdev.

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has said it’s “fantastic” that the Chancellor has joined the Sunday Times Rich List.

Tory chancellor Rishi Sunak has been dismissed as the “dude from Silicon Valley” who blamed a government computer systems for failing to increase benefits in line with inflation.

Roku Originals has tied with UK network Channel 4 for the first time on Tempting Fortune, in which a group of 12 strangers will spend 19 days in paradise but have to resist the temptation to spend money, while Channel 4 has also greenlit an Apprentice-style politics competition format.

Following a rollercoaster voting section this year, Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday with their song ‘Stefania’. The UK’s Sam Ryder followed in second place with ‘Space Man’, in a dramatic turnaround from last year’s nul points disaster.Already one of the favourites to win the competition, it became widely expected that Ukraine would be Eurovision champions this year following the Russian invasion of the country in February.Of course, following those events, it had not been a given that Ukraine would be able perform at this year’s contest at all.

It is one of the countries national dishes, but it looks like the future of fish and chips may be uncertain due to food shortages caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Kalush Orchestra have shared a powerful video for ‘Stefania’, the song that won them last night’s (May 14) Eurovision Song Contest.The band triumphed over the UK’s Sam Ryder at the Turin ceremony, receiving a massive portion of the public vote.Following the performance, they have shared an official video for ‘Stefania’, which was shot in the cities of Bucha, Irpin, Borodyanka and Hostomel, all of which were bombed during the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.At the end of the video, a message from the band reads:“This video was filmed in Bucha, Irpin, Borodyanka, Hostomel, cities near Kyiv that suffered the horrors of Russian occupation.“Dedicated to the brave Ukrainian people, to the mothers protecting their children, to all those who gave their lives for our freedom.“Every man, every woman, every innocent child.“The war in Ukraine has multiple faces, but it is our mother’s face that keeps our hearts alive in the darkest times.“Stand with Ukraine!”Watch the ‘Stefania’ video below:Speaking to NME this week, frontman Oleh Psiuk explained how their taking part was a “huge responsibility”, given the ongoing war with Russia.“To represent Ukraine in the international arena is always a responsibility, but to represent it during the war is just the highest responsibility possible,” he said.“The song [‘Stefania’] was composed and dedicated to my mother, but after the war the song has acquired lots of nuances because a lot of people are perceiving it as if Ukraine is my mother,” said Psiuk.

British bookies are currently offering odds of 7/18 for Ukraine to triumph at this evening’s Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy, with their entry Kalush Orchestra’s distinctive blend of rap and folk music, combined with the country’s current courage in the face of Russian invasion, expected to unite voters across Europe in support.

Eurovision Song Contest has returned for another year, bringing with it more musical drama and excitement. So far this year, Russia has been banned from the contest, while Latvia has been stamped with a censorship order and the UK afforded a rare shot at first place in the bookies. Every year, the show is presented by showbiz stalwarts from the hosting nation – and this year is no exception.