SIMON Cowell has broken his silence over Brexit and insisted the UK leaving the EU will be good for British business.

The X Factor boss has a number of business interests in Britain, as well as basing his record label SYCO in London.

Splash News

Simon, 60, has long refused to open up about his political views.

But speaking to The Sun’s Executive Editor Dan Wootton on his debut weekday talkRADIO Drive Time show, he finally opened up about what he really thought.

He said: “I don’t usually talk about politics ever anymore, but there was one very interesting thing I heard about Brexit when it was finally concluded.

“This businessman came on and he said, ‘You do realise there’s now another 133 countries you can be doing business with.’

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Darren Fletcher - The Sun

“That really resonated with me because I was thinking, ‘That is exactly what we are doing.’

“We need to move into new markets, launch new shows – it’s not just about the UK and the USA anymore.

“The world is a really exciting place.”

Simon added that he was proud to be a businessman with global reach.

He said: “People from literally every country come up and say ‘I’ve seen your show’ and it’s like, ‘where?’

“And they’re like, ‘oh from our country or I’ve seen it on YouTube or wherever’. And I always get a kick out of that.”

You can tune into Dan’s talkRADIO’s Drivetime slot on weekdays between 4pm and 7pm.

A MAN was killed after walking into the path of an oncoming truck after leaving his car which had left a Cork road and struck a ditch.

Gardai rushed to the scene of the collision on the N27, Main Cork to Kinsale Road at around 1.15pm.

Google Street View

The man in his 40s, was the sole occupant of the car, which left a road and struck a ditch.

The driver left his car and walked into the path of an oncoming truck, gardai said.

The driver of the truck was not injured but treated for shock at the scene.

Gardai are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision to come forward.

The road was closed earlier but has since reopened.

WITNESS APPEAL

A garda spokeswoman said: “Gardaí in Togher are appealing for witnesses following a single vehicle fatal collision in Co Cork.

“At approximately 1.15pm today, Monday 17th February 2020, Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of the collision on the N27, Main Cork to Kinsale Road.

“The car left the road and struck a ditch. The driver (40s) left his car and walked into the path of an oncoming truck. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

“The driver of the truck was uninjured but treated at the scene for shock.

“Garda forensic collision investigators conducted a examination of the scene and the road has since reopened.

“Gardaí are appealing to any road users who travelled on the road prior to the collison and may have dash cam footage, to contact Togher Garda Station 021 4947120 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.”

AA Roadwatch added: “The Kinsale Rd (R600) has reopened between the Airport R/A and Fivemilebridge following a fatal incident earlier today.”

Bus Eireann routes 225 and 226 were diverted as emergency crews attended the scene but are operating as normal this evening.

Several fire crews attended the scene.

UEFA have launched a new ticketing policy ahead of Euro 2020.

The new system will follow on from the trail used for the Nations League finals – where fans received entry to stadia via their mobile phones.

Sportsfile

Once a ticket is purchased for Euro 2020, closer to the match, fans will receive an email with a link to download the Euro 2020 tickets app.

Once downloaded, fans must enter their email address and click ‘continue’.

Fans will then have to enter a registration code received via email to gain access to the app and the tickets will now be available on the mobile device.

If you have bought more than one ticket for a match, these can then be transferred to your other guests via email. If the tickets are not transferred – they will remain on the mobile device.

SIMPLE PROCESS

Fans should bring a full-charged device to the game with Bluetooth activated. Once the app is opened, tickets will be activated by a steward and your barcode will give you access to the stadium.

Dublin will host four games at the tournament and the system will be in place at the Aviva Stadium for those games.

Ireland have yet to qualify for the tournament and face Slovakia in a one-legged semi-final next month with the victor facing the winner of the Northern Ireland and Bosnia.

Mick McCarthy has been handed two injury blows in the lead up to the match – with both James McClean and Ciaran Clark having suffered injuries in the last week.

Stoke winger McClean injured his medial ligament while Clark hust his ankle in Sunday’s 4-0 loss against Arsenal.

RTE presenter Claire Byrne is a tenured journalist and with over twenty years experience on television, she is at the top of her game.

Having hosted Claire Byrne Live for five years, the journalist gave a  knockout performance over the course of General Election 2020 with her debates and weekly discussions.

Here’s what else we know about the ace radio and TV broadcaster.

WHAT IS CLAIRE BYRNE’S UPBRINGING?

CLAIRE Byrne was born on August 11 1975 in Monthrath in Co Laois making her 44-years-old.

The daughter of Tom and Breda Byrne, Claire was raised on the family farm and went to school at the Brigidine Convent.

An avid lover of current affairs, Claire’s family bought the Irish Independent every day and she often stayed up late to watch RTE’s Today Tonight.

When she was 14, she contracted a severe case of meningitis and became so sick she got her last rites but luckily she came out of it unscathed.

Byrne later studied Social Science at UCD but dropped out of the course as it was not her passion.

This led her to take a Journalism course in Rathmines College of Further Education.

HOW DID SHE GET STARTED IN JOURNALISM?

ONCE she was finished in college, Byrne spent four years in the Channel Island of Jersey.

She began her career in local radio in Jersey before moving to BBC Radio in the Channel Islands.

She then returned to local radio to Channel 103 in Jersey, becoming the news editor.

Byrne returned to Ireland in 1999 to work for the newly launched TV3. She then went to London to work with Channel 5 and ITV news as an anchor.

Claire returned to Ireland to present TV3’s Ireland AM before becoming presenter of TV3 News at 5.30.

After clocking up mileage on TV, Claire became a presenter on Newstalk in 2006 – during a legal case against TV3 who tried to stop her taking up her new Newstalk slot.

She hosted Newstalk Breakfast with Ger Gilroy and later with Ivan Yates in 2009.

Claire left Newstalk in 2010 and moved to RTE.

For two years she co-presented The Daily Show with Daithi O’Se – a job she took under the advice of Gay Byrne.

Byrne then moved on to present Prime Time as an anchor – joining Miriam O’Callaghan and Pat Kenny.

She was given her own news and current affairs TV Show, Claire Byrne Live, in January 2015 and has been presenting it ever since.

WHO IS CLAIRE BYRNE’S HUSBAND GERRY SCOLLAN?

CLAIRE Byrne married her long time partner Gerry Scollan in a private secret ceremony in 2016.

Byrne had previously been married to radio executive Richard Johnson from 2003 till 2006.

Scollan is a IT and business consultant.

The pair have three children, one son, Patrick, born in 2013, and two daughters, Jane, born in 2014, and Emma, born in 2016.

THE Queen is one of the few lucky people to call Buckingham Palace their home – and she even gets a special present every Monday that she stays there. 

Once a week, Her Majesty, 93, is presented with a posy from the beautiful royal grounds, which is hand-selected by the Gardens Manager.

Times Newspapers Ltd

Gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh said to the Radio Times: “She [the Queen] has a little posy cut for her every Monday, which is placed on her desk when she gets back from Windsor.

“‘It will typically have six or seven different types of flowers from the garden to give her a little snapshot of what’s looking good at that time.”

The half a dozen blooms are given by the gardeners to show off their labours.

This can be anything from honeysuckle, winter jasmine and blueberries although it can change with the seasons.

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This gift is likely to be highly appreciated by the monarch, who has expressed her love of plants over the years. 

In fact, when she visited the Chelsea Flower Show with Prince Philip in 2017, she told staff that her interest has increased recently. 

Robert Hillier, chairman of Hillier Nurseries, spoke to the Queen at the event, and recalled: “She has never shown her knowledge before. 

“We have met many times but suddenly she is so interested in plants and planting.

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“She obviously enjoys going to Chelsea, but in the past she has not been so animated. She has got really into gardening. It’s never too late!”

It’s no wonder that the Queen employs a Gardens Manager at Buckingham Palace, given how extensive the grounds are. 

The lawns and flowers are maintained by eight full-time gardeners, with additional part-time staff hired as required. 

The gardens, which are listed as Grade II on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, are located behind the palace, and cover 42-acres in total. 

PA:Press Association

Not only do the “work-of-art” gardens have around 200 trees and over 350 types of wildflowers, but also include a summerhouse, a tennis court and helicopter landing pad. 

And whenever she likes, the Queen can take a stroll around the three-acre lake or in her rose garden.

Although they are private grounds for most of the year, royal fans can gain access at summer garden parties, and during palace tours in August and September. 

The Queen took Sir David Attenborough around the gardens in an ITV documentary called The Queen’s Green Planet in 2018.

In the show, she pointed out a sapling that’s bent over and says, giggling: “That one we won’t look at. Somebody sat on it, I think at a garden party . . . ”

There was a sticky moment when the Queen proudly pointed out a sundial, and Sir David says it has been planted in the shade.

The Queen turns to her head gardener and chuckles: “Had we thought of that? . . . That it was planted in the shade, it wasn’t in the shade originally, I’m sure? But erm . . . maybe we could move it?”

The sundial was moved.

We shared how the Queen twists her wedding ring to let staff know when she’s bored of talking to someone.

And Her Majesty needs a ‘meeter and greeter’ at Buckingham Palace to help guests have fun… and you get £21k to live there.

DISMEMBERED dad Kenneth O’Brien’s heartbroken partner last night declared: “I still have a child with no father.”

Grieving Eimear Dunne hit out after a man who disposed of the chainsaw used to chop up Ken’s body was jailed for just 18 months.

Collins Photo Agency

Collect

Collins Photo Agency

Paul Wells Jnr, 33, was today sentenced to three years in prison with the last 18 months suspended for impeding the apprehension or prosecution of his father Paul Wells Senior, 51.

Chainsaw butcher Wells Snr had previously been sentenced to life for murdering his pal Ken and dumping his mutilated body in a suitcase in a canal.

Today Wells Jnr broke down as he was caged as well for disposing of a bloodstained chainsaw, which the Central Criminal Court heard had a piece of “brown meat” embedded in its motor.

But after half of the chainsaw dumper’s sentence was chalked off, devastated Eimear spoke of her never-ending agony.

‘ITS NOT JUSTICE’

Distraught Eimear, who had a young son with Ken, told us: “It’s not justice really. I still have a child with no father.

“So it’s not closure. He (Wells Jnr) didn’t kill him, for that I’m grateful, but he had a role.”

Friends of tragic Ken also declared that the sentence was “an insult” to the slaying victim’s memory.

As Paul Wells Jnr was carted off to begin his sentence, prison authorities will take steps to protect the inmate in jail following threats from his evil father for cooperating with gardai.

The judge had asked that jail chiefs “take into account” the threat relayed by Wells Snr to his son after the court heard the chainsaw killer has made “credible” threats from prison on his lad’s life.

Monster Wells Snr chopped up father-of-one Ken with a chainsaw after shooting him in his backyard in Finglas, north Dublin, in ­January 2016.

After gunning down Ken, twisted Wells Snr dismembered the 33-year-old’s body and dumped the victim’s body parts in a suitcase in the Grand Canal.

Wells Jnr, with an address at Beatty Park, Celbridge, Co Kildare, had pleaded not guilty to disposing of a chainsaw motor at a time between January 19 and 20, 2016, and not guilty to disposing of a chainsaw blade and chain on January 20, 2016.

But it was the prosecution’s case that the defendant did so knowing that Wells Snr had taken a life.

GRIEF OF LOVED ONES ‘UNIMAGINABLE’

At Wells Jnr’s sentence hearing today, Ms Justice Carmel Stewart branded the manner in which Ken’s body was dismembered and disposed of as “brutal”, adding that it “defies belief”.

With members of Ken’s family in the courtroom, Ms Justice Stewart told the court the grief of O’Brien’s loved ones was “unimaginable”.

She said: “The fact their son was brutally murdered is appalling in itself but the brutal manner in which his body was dismembered and disposed of defies belief.”

The judge highlighted how Wells Jnr was aware for a period of time that his father was responsible for the shocking slaughter and horrific disposal of Ken’s body.

And Ms Justice Stewart stressed how Wells Jnr had not come ­forward for a number of weeks, adding that it was also clear that matters had been discussed within his family.

The Central Criminal Court heard the maximum sentence was ten years in prison.

Ms Justice Stewart said it was “a serious aggravating factor” that Wells Jnr knew what had happened and had not come forward — which resulted in Wells Snr being able to attend the deceased’s funeral as one of the mourners.

The judge also pointed out that, after Ken had died, over €11,000 was delivered by Gary Wells to his brother Paul Wells Jnr on behalf of their father.

THREE-YEAR SENTENCE, 18 MONTHS SUSPENDED

The trial heard that Wells Jnr accepted over €11,000 in cash from his father but disputed it was payment to get rid of the chainsaw.

The judge recounted how Wells Jnr was not directly involved in Ken’s death as she put the offence in the “middle range of gravity”.

Ms Justice Stewart told how she decided to slash the sentence to three years, explaining that a mitigating factor in the case was that Wells Jnr had assisted gardai with the investigation.

The judge said Wells Jnr’s barrister had asked for a fully suspended sentence, saying he was “set up” by his father.

After reviewing all the evidence, the judge sentenced Wells Jnr to three years in prison with the last 18 months suspended on condition he keeps the peace for that period of time.

Dad-of-three Wells Jnr told gardai in his interviews he didn’t know the STIHL chainsaw had been used to dismember Mr O’Brien’s body.

He insisted he was just “putting the jigsaw together” when he threw the motor into the Royal Canal in Maynooth, Co Kildare.

WELLS SNR ‘VERY VIOLENT’

Wells Jnr maintained throughout his interviews he did not try to hinder the investigation and was afraid his father, who he described as a “glorified criminal”, would shoot him.

The three-week trial heard Wells Snr was a “very violent” man, who had made threats from prison on the defendant’s life and said if he did not put a bullet in his own son, “the IRA would”.

Wells Jnr also told gardai his father drove him to the canal in Sallins on the night of January 16.

The accused said he heard four splashes after the killer threw bags into the water.

Wells Jnr further told the authorities that his father informed him the body of a west Dublin man had been found on January 19, 2016.

Gardai gave evidence in the trial that it was not publicly known where the deceased was from at this stage of the investigation.

The trial also heard that Wells Jnr went on his stag party to Latvia with his father, just days after Wells Snr had dismembered the victim’s body.

The Wells family have moved to distance themselves from the chainsaw killer, with Wells Jnr’s younger sister Amy telling the court her family were “devastated and disgusted” at what their father did and insisted it did not represent who they were.

EMMERDALE fans are in tears after kidnapped Vanessa Woodfield discovered she had bowel cancer.

The vet – who is played by actress Michelle Hardwick in the ITV soap – had a letter confirming her diagnosis read out to her by kidnapper Pierce Harris.

ITV

He is holding her captive to try to force her into convincing Rhona Goskirk to take him back – despite him raping her on their wedding day and killing her boyfriend Graham Foster.

Sadly for Vanessa, due to her current situation, she is unable to share her devastating news with loved ones and at this time, hostage taker Pierce is the only other character aware of her diagnosis.

The scenes left viewers in tears with one writing: “Poor Vanessa Knew she was ill #Emmerdale.”

A second said: “Vanessa having bowel cancer It’s doesn’t feel real…….. So many emotions right now Vanessa doesn’t deserve this #Vanity #Emmerdale.”

Another added: “Charity will be absolutely destroyed #Emmerdale #Vanessa.”

This important storyline will play out on Emmerdale over the coming months as Vanessa comes to terms with her diagnosis and symptoms, and shares her concerns and undergoes extensive treatment.

The Emmerdale team have been working with charity Bowel Cancer UK regarding this storyline.

Actress Michelle Hardwick said: “This is such a challenging storyline, but we’ve been working closely with Bowel Cancer UK, who have been enormously helpful to me in researching Vanessa’s symptoms and treatment.

“I hope to do Vanessa’s story justice. I was actually really shocked to learn that bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer, but diagnosed early is treatable.”

ITV

ITV

Genevieve Edwards, Chief Executive at Bowel Cancer UK, added: “We greatly appreciated the opportunity to work with the Emmerdale team on this important storyline.

“While everyone’s experience of diagnosis is different, it is vital that Vanessa’s story is as accurate as possible.

“Although bowel cancer is more common in the over 50s, it can affect people of all ages. More than 2,500 people under 50, like Vanessa, are diagnosed with the disease in the UK every year.

“This storyline will help to raise awareness of bowel cancer, and we hope it encourages viewers to recognise the symptoms and visit their GP if they’re concerned.”

DEAR DEIDRE: HOW can I tell Mum I’m gay when she thinks all LGBT people do is have sex?

I’m a guy of 25 and out to my friends but not Mum.

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I’m ashamed of lying and I think she suspects but she’s old-fashioned and if I told her who I hang out with, she’d think it was just about sex.

I’m an active member of the gay community in our city and it’s not all about sex.

I go to clubs, parties and even saunas and don’t have sex every time.

I don’t want to shock my mum and for her to disown me – but I don’t like lying to her either.

DEIDRE SAYS: It is sad to feel pressured into deceiving your mother because of her prejudices, but it is common for parents to be more understanding than their LBGTQ+ children expect.

If you feel ready to come out to her, it can make a big difference to get support to help you choose the right words and approach.

Families and Friends of Lesbians And Gays has a downloadable booklet called How Do I Tell My Parents?(fflag.org.uk, 0845 652 0311).

They can also talk your mum through any worries she has.

NEXT IN TODAY’S DEAR DEIDRE My husband cheated on our delayed honeymoon and I don’t know if I can forgive him

READ DEIDRE’S PHOTO CASEBOOK Kevin regrets leaving Shirley and his son for another woman

DEAR DEIDRE: MY ex wants me back but he says he just feels like my taxi driver when we’re together, not my loved partner.

We were together for seven years but split up last year as we were always arguing. We are both 45.

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My mum passed away recently and my ex came to the funeral.

He wanted to sit next to me, but my daughters wouldn’t allow it because of our history.

He caught up with me at the wake and arranged to see me yesterday.

We talked for hours and he said I am the love of his life but I never take his feelings on board.

He said I didn’t listen to him and he felt uncared for.

It was clear to everyone at Mum’s funeral that he still loves me.

I told him I love him and I thought loving him was enough. Now I see it isn’t.

How can I learn to know more about the man I love if I can’t listen?

DEIDRE SAYS: Your ex has felt taken for granted so try sitting and properly listening to what he says.

Show that you have taken it in and he’s been heard by reflecting it back to him.

It’s a counselling technique and it does work.

My e-leaflet Looking After Your Relationship will help.

NEXT IN TODAY’S DEAR DEIDRE How can I tell mum I’m gay when she thinks all gay people do is have sex?

READ DEIDRE’S PHOTO CASEBOOK Kevin regrets leaving Shirley and his son for another woman

DEAR DEIDRE: I WORRY my granddaughter is spending too much time on her phone.

She is 12 and I’m 52. She was allowed a mobile when she started senior school.

Alamy

Now she has made friends with a boy who is also 12.

She comes to me after school every day until her ­parents are home from work.

Should she be texting boys at her age?

DEIDRE SAYS: First, talk to your daughter about the boundaries she and her partner want for their daughter’s phone use.

My e-leaflet Staying Safe Online will help – then talk to her.

Texting boys is usually OK as it’s normal to have a mixed friendship group, but with friendly messages not sexual ones.

She needs to see why that is important.

Take the focus off her phone with lots of other active interests – dancing, swimming or football, say – plus cooking and crafting with you.

NEXT IN TODAY’S DEAR DEIDRE My ex is still in love with me, how can I convince him I feel the same?

READ DEIDRE’S PHOTO CASEBOOK Kevin regrets leaving Shirley and his son for another woman

DEAR DEIDRE: EVEN though he is a dream in every way, my boyfriend ­prefers online pornography to ­having sex with me.

We work different shifts so I don’t mind him looking at porn but we only ever have sex when I initiate it.

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I have a much higher sex drive than him. Sometimes he makes excuses and my worry is that he’s choosing porn over me.

I’m 33 and he is 32. We’ve been together for three years and it has got worse.

What will he be like in five years’ time?

DEIDRE SAYS: I’m afraid your boyfriend’s regular use of pornography is widening this gap between your sex drives.

Online porn leads users to more and more extreme material, which blunts the appetite for real sex with a real partner.

Tell him if he does not want to lose you he must wean himself off porn.

My e-leaflet Internet Pornography Worries explains tactics and sources of help.

NEXT IN TODAY’S DEAR DEIDRE Is my 12-year-old granddaughter too young to be texting boys?

READ DEIDRE’S PHOTO CASEBOOK Kevin regrets leaving Shirley and his son for another woman

DEAR DEIDRE: LAST night I had sex with our next-door neighbour.

I love my wife and kids but I can’t stop being unfaithful.

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I’ve been married for 13 years and my wife is lovely, but our sex life has always been dull because she’s so shy.

When we do it, it’s always in the missionary position and always under the duvet.

The most I’ve seen of her body was when our children were born.

I’m 38 and a plumber. My wife is 36 and a full-time mum.

Alamy

My cheating started a couple of years ago when I was out with a mate one night in a nightclub and was well on my way to being drunk when a girl started coming on to me.

She started gyrating against me and after the dance we went ­outside and had sex.

I got away with it and that was the start of me having risky sex with strangers. I’ve cheated more than 20 times now, always on nights out.

I took things to another level yesterday when our neighbour knocked on the door to see if I was free to help her with a burst pipe.

She’s 29 and single, and she and my wife are friendly.

I went round and fixed the problem and she offered me a large whisky to say thank you.

One drink led to two and then to three and four. Suddenly we were both flirting and then we had wild sex in her bedroom.

This one was a bit too close to home. What if she tells my wife?

Alamy

I’m now thinking about confessing everything to my wife before she finds out.

I’m disgusted with the way I’ve behaved.

I think I’m worse when I’ve been drinking.

Should I tell her what I’ve done or just cut down on drinking, keep quiet and become the husband that she deserves?

DEIDRE SAYS: Admitting cheating to your wife would bring misery all round and solve nothing.

Tell your neighbour you made a mistake and beg her not to spill the beans to your wife.

Chances are she won’t want to wreck their friendship along with your marriage.

Make a pact with yourself to cut your drinking right down or give up entirely.

You can find helpful guidance on drinkaware.co.uk.

A dull bedroom life at home is no excuse to cheat. Romping with strangers isn’t helping your own sex life so don’t risk your happy marriage for no-strings, dead-end flings.

Channel your energy into reviving what you have at home.

When did you and your wife last go out on a date together? When did you last take her away for a weekend?

She’s shy but you can work together to boost her confidence and help her feel more liberated in the bedroom.

My e-leaflet How To Light Her Fire will give you a good basis to start a change in your relationship.

NEXT IN TODAY’S DEAR DEIDRE I’m worried that my boyfriend prefers watching porn to having sex with me

READ DEIDRE’S PHOTO CASEBOOK Kevin regrets leaving Shirley and his son for another woman

HOLLYOAKS viewers were in tears tonight after Maxine was forced into prostitution by Liam Donovan.

The Munchausen’s sufferer – who is played by actress Nikki Sanderson in the ITV soap – is in financial difficulty after her illness saw her pretend to be dying and she received thousands of pounds in support for fake treatment.

Tonight’s episode saw her evil landlord arrive to steal her belongings and frame her for non-payment of rent at the behest of Liam.

They took her young daughter’s bed publicly and then pretended to have found rent due notices hidden in the kitchen when others stepped in to help her.

Maxine went to Liam for help for an advance on her wages after he offered her the salon to re-open so she could earn money.

Viewers are aware Liam has been manipulating Maxine for revenge after blaming her for his brother’s death.

But he pretended to have no cash and instead told her she should do whatever his associate Clayton told her to – meaning prostitution.

Maxine angrily refused at first but it wasn’t long until she realised she had hit rock bottom when she was left in a flat without furniture, heating or food.

She went to Liam’s apartment and told him she would do what he asked.

She said: “I’ve got no choice, I have to keep a roof over Minnie’s head so I’ll do whatever I have to do with Clayton.”

The scenes left viewers in tears.

One wrote: “Poor Maxine man #Hollyoaks”

A second said: “Maxine Maxine this is not going to end well @Hollyoaks #Hollyoaks”

Another added: “#hollyoaks @Hollyoaks I really feel for Maxine. Yes she lied but she has a mental health problem. And this is what people forget. She needs people around her now… don’t leave people on there own”

WORRIED that Alexa is listening in to your private chats? You’re not wrong – complete strangers can end up listening to you without your knowledge.

The good news is that it’s possible to shut out snoopers, so read on to find out how.

Alamy

Is Alexa spying on me? The truth revealed

As far as we know, Amazon isn’t using your Alexa to eavesdrop on everything you do.

But there is a big exception: Amazon will sometimes send your voice clips off to “graders”.

They will listen to clips to make sure Alexa is working as intended – improving the system all round.

However, Alexa will sometimes record you without your knowledge, because she thought you said her name.

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This can result in her saving audio from your home – and you’ll have no idea she’s doing it.

The Sun recently revealed how Amazon-funded “graders” have heard family rows, conversations about money and audio from steamy romps.

Stop Alexa sending your voice clips to strangers

The good news is that you can stop Alexa from sending your voice clips to strangers.

First, open the Amazon Alexa app and then nagivate to Settings.

Then go to Alexa Privacy and then Manage How Your Data Improves Alexa.

You’ll find a page that explains: “Training Alexa with recordings from a diverse range of customers helps ensure Alexa works well for everyone.

“With this setting on, your voice recordings may be used to develop new features and manually reviewed to help improve our services.

“Only an extremely small fraction of voice recordings are manually reviewed.”

Amazon warns you that turning the setting off will mean “new features may not work well for you”.

But if you’d rather stay safe from snoopers, simply flick the switch off.

Stop Alexa listening completely

You can also make Alexa stop listening to you completely when you don’t want her to.

If you’re doing something you’d rather keep private, you can press the physical microphone button on your Amazon Echo device.

This electronically disconnects the microphone inside the Echo, making it impossible for Amazon to hear what’s going on in your room.

It’s easier than physically unplugging the device, because there’s no “reboot” time when you want to activate the microphone again.

It might be worth only activating the microphone at times when you actually want to use Alexa – like when you’re cooking.

In other news, we reveal the best Alexa tips and tricks.

A terrified mum says her Amazon Echo speaker urged her to kill herself.

And Amazon recently launched an Alexa ring and a smart oven.

Do you trust Amazon to protect your privacy? Let us know in the comments!

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at tech@the-sun.co.uk

EMMERDALE fans were left stunned this evening as the village veterinarian Vanessa Woodfield was revealed to have bowel cancer.

The character’s worrying news was unveiled to viewers by evil Pierce Harris who is currently holding her hostage.

The storyline is set to play out on the ITV soap over the coming months as Vanessa, played by Michelle Hardwick, comes to terms with her diagnosis and symptoms, and shares her concerns and undergoes extensive treatment.

Emmerdale producers have been working closely with Bowel Cancer UK regarding the storyline – who are urging people to learn the symptoms.

Genevieve Edwards, Chief Executive at Bowel Cancer UK, said: “Although bowel cancer is more common in the over 50s, it can affect people of all ages.

“More than 2,500 people under 50, like Vanessa, are diagnosed with the disease in the UK every year.

“This storyline will help to raise awareness of bowel cancer, and we hope it encourages viewers to recognise the symptoms and visit their GP if they’re concerned.”

Actress Michelle, who plays Vanessa, added: “I hope to do Vanessa’s story justice.

“I was actually really shocked to learn that bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer, but diagnosed early is treatable.”

The signs of bowel cancer

With this in mind, here we take you through the early warning signs of bowel cancer you need to know that could save your life…

1. Bleeding

There are several possible causes of bleeding from your bottom, of blood in your poo.

Bright red blood could come from swollen blood vessels, haemorrhoids or piles, in your back passage.

Dark red or black blood could come from your bowel or stomach.

Blood in your stools is one of the key signs of bowel cancer, so it’s important to mention it to your doctor so they can investigate.

2. Loo habits

It’s important to tell your GP if you have noticed any changes in your bowel habits, that lasts three weeks or longer.

It’s especially important if you have also noticed signs of blood in your poo.

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You might notice you need to go to the loo more often, you might have looser stools or feel like you’re not going enough or fully emptying your bowels.

Don’t be embarrassed, your GP will have heard a lot worse! Speak up and get it checked.

3. Weight loss

This is less common than the other symptoms, but an important one to be aware of.

If you’ve lost weight and don’t really know why, it’s worth mentioning to your GP.

You may not feel like eating, feel sick, bloated and not hungry.

4. Feeling tired

Bowel cancer that causes bleeding can cause a lack of iron in the body – anaemia.

If you develop anaemia you’re likely to feel tired and your skin might look pale.

5. Pain or lump

As with lots of other forms of cancer, a lump or pain can be a sign of bowel cancer.

It’s most likely you’ll notice a pain or lump in your stomach or back passage.

See your GP if it doesn’t go away, or if it affects how you eat or sleep.

The Sun launched the No Time 2 Lose campaign in 2018 – which urges everyone to talk about their insides and their number 2s, in a bid to beat bowel cancer – the second deadliest form of the disease in the UK.

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The disease claims 16,000 lives a year – but it can be cured it’s caught early enough.

Sun columnist Deborah James, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 35, has called for everyone to learn the red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer – and act on them if they are worried.

She told us: “Actually many cancers are preventable and curable if they have been caught early.

“If you are concerned about anything always, always get it checked.

“Don’t be embarrassed and don’t think it’s better to bury it because actually if you are faced with a late diagnosis you would do anything to get cancer early – I should know.

“I’m lucky to be here alive today but too many of my fellow cancer buddies are not.”

A SHOCKED woman has taken to social media to ask for cleaning tips after she bizarrely managed to melt her knickers on the hob. 

It’s not clear exactly why her pants were on the cooker, but it’s safe to say she’ll never make the mistake of leaving them on there again. 

Facebook/Hinch Army Cleaning Tips

It seems she was mid-way through making dinner when she realised her pants were quite literally on fire. 

She shared a snap of her cooker to Hinch Army Cleaning Tips, revealing melted fabric covering one hob. 

In a panic she posted: “Bit of a weird one but I accidentally cooked my knickers the other day by turning on the wrong hob.

“Took them off as soon as I realised but clearly the damage was already done, it’s now set rock hard on to the hob.”

I accidentally cooked my knickers the other day by turning on the wrong hob

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She had tried to remove the charred remains of her underwear with no luck, and was now desperately asking for tips on how to clean her hob.

She added: “Anybody any ideas of how I could maybe get it off.

“I’ve thought about turning it back on to soften it again but then not sure how I’d clean it off when it’s so hot!”

Her hilarious mishap has racked up more than 600 comments, as people were in stitches over her bonkers accident.

Facebook/Hinch Army Cleaning Tips

One person said: “Hob (hot) pants new nickname.”

Another wrote: “Brings a whole new meaning to the term hotpants.” 

A third wrote: “Oh this made me laugh out loud.” 

Although this person did give some practical advice, saying: “Try hob cleaning by Cif that might do it.”

Meanwhile this Mrs Hinch fan used a pet brush to clean the rug she vacuum daily and is horrified by what she found.

And this mum is praised for her ‘school station’ for her kids to get them doing their chores. 

Plus this mum made an incredible mini-bed for her toddler to maximise every inch of space in their new home.

THE man accused of the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was on bail and under curfew at the time of the fatal shooting, the Central Criminal Court has heard.

Aaron Brady, 29, went to a garda station eleven days after the shooting and gave a voluntary statement in which he said he was before the Circuit Court on charges of criminal damage and dangerous driving.

Ciara Wilkinson

In the lengthy statement he detailed his background and gave an account of his movements in the days leading up to Det Gda Donohoe’s death.

Mr Brady from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Donohoe, 41, who was then a member of An Garda Siochana on active duty on January 25, 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth.

Mr Brady has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbing approximately e7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location.

VOLUNTARY STATEMENT

Inspector Mark Phillips of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation told prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC that Mr Brady came to Dundalk Garda Station on February 5, 2013 to make a voluntary statement.

Insp Phillips said he advised Mr Brady that gardai would listen to what he had to say and document it in writing.

They also told him they would not question him and he was free to leave and was not under arrest.

At that stage Inspector Phillips said Mr Brady was not a suspect.

‘LENGTHY STATEMENT’

The accused was accompanied by his solicitor and made what Inspector Phillips described as a “lengthy statement”.

The witness agreed that Mr Brady started out by telling gardai that he was currently “in court” for criminal damage and dangerous driving and as a result he had a curfew.

He was on bail, he said and was trying to save money to pay off the damage.

Detailing his family background he said his father was chairman of Crossmaglen Rangers and his mother’s name is Caroline. He said he played as a forward for Crossmaglen.

When he was 16 he finished school having done his O-Levels and worked as an electrician from age 18 to 19.

He did an apprenticeship and later did a FAS course in Sligo for six months and then went to Australia for four months.

METAL PLATE

When he was 19 he went to Boston, America. He told gardai: “I loved America but I couldn’t work illegally.”

When his grandmother got sick he came home and worked for a time for his father until the business “went a bit downhill”.

He said he has a metal plate in his right hand following an injury he suffered during a football game.

He said he has “no power when I squeeze my right hand,” which he described as his dominant hand.

He would struggle, he said, to lift 20 to 30 kilograms with that hand.

OUT OF WORK

He had been on the dole for a time getting £45 Stg per week and he was living off a £4,000 Stg claim he made following an accident in which someone drove into the back of a car in which he was a passenger.

For the previous four to five weeks he had been looking for work “harder than ever coming up to Valentine’s Day.”

He got work through a friend for a firm in Santry, Dublin and was hoping for more shifts over the coming week.

Detailing his movements in the days leading up to the murder of Det Gda Donohoe he said he had spent the Wednesday with a friend, who can’t be named for legal reasons.

They planned to go driving quad bikes but one of them needed repairs and so they stayed at his friend’s house playing Playstation games.

On the Thursday evening Mr Brady said his girlfriend went to a nightclub in Dundalk while he stayed with his friend watching the Tom Hardy film Lawless.

ARGUMENT WITH GIRLFRIEND

At about 2am he and his friend went to Dundalk to collect their girlfriends but Mr Brady had an argument with his girlfriend because she was wearing a “fella’s American style cap when she came out of the disco.”

They continued the argument by text until the next morning.

He said: “She was saying she was all on for breaking up and I was sorry for overreacting.”

The following evening Det Gda Donohoe was shot dead.

Mr Brady said he woke up that afternoon in his friend’s house at about noon and at about 1pm they took his friend’s BMW and collected another friend from his house on the Armagh Road in Tullydonnell.

He detailed the route they took, stopping to eat at a petrol station along the way before pulling into a closed petrol station in Cullaville where they tried to decide what to do for the day.

It was about 2pm to 2.30pm.

The statement evidence will continue tomorrow.

‘BURNT OUT CAR’

Donald Whiteside earlier told Lorcan Staines SC for the prosecution that he works as a wildlife ranger covering areas in Armagh, Antrim, Down and Derry. On Saturday January 26, 2013, one day after the shooting at Lordship, he saw a burned out car on Cumsons Road in south Armagh.

The driver’s side tyres were still smouldering and the bonnet was “lukewarm” when he touched it.

It was “completely burned out” and he couldn’t tell what colour it was.

He noted that it was a saloon and thought by the shape that it was a Volkswagen Passat although he couldn’t be sure.

The witness told gardai at the time that it was normal to find burned out cars in that general area. He notified the forester on the Monday, two days after he saw the car.

The trial continues in front of Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of eight men and seven women.

FORMER Manchester United and Ireland star Roy Keane has settled into life as a pundit on Sky Sports.

For his combative performances on the pitch and his outspoken nature off it, Keane has always been one of the most high profile figures in Irish sport.

Who is Roy Keane’s wife?

Roy Keane has been married to Theresa Doyle since 1997 and the pair have five kids together.

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What is Roy Keane’s net worth?

Keane’s exact net worth is unknown but estimates say it is somewhere between €40 million and €50 million.

When Keane was first signed by Manchester United, for a British record transfer fee of £3.75 million, he earned a yearly wage of €400,000.

He earned a weekly wage of around €58,000 in 2000 before becoming one of the highest paid players in the Premier League at around €100,000 a week.

The former Ireland captain then took a €80,000 pay cut when he moved from Old Trafford to join Celtic.

Keane had a yearly salary of €600,000 when he worked as Ireland assistant manager with Martin O’Neill.

What jobs in football does Roy Keane currently have?

Keane has been working as a pundit with Sky Sports since his spell as assistant manager with Nottingham Forest ended.

And the Ireland legend has attracted plenty of headlines for his outspoken comments during his time with the broadcaster.

Keane turned plenty of heads when he suggested Manchester United could solve their attacking woes by signing Tottenham ace Harry Kane.

He also blasted Spurs ace Dele Alli for having lost his hunger after his performance in a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool.

And Keane was not impressed with Man United and Liverpool players exchanging pleasantries in the tunnell before kick off as he slammed them for ‘hugging and kissing each other’.

Keane has openly expressed his desire to one day get back into management and has recently been linked with the vacant Hearts job.

He said after signing with Sky Sports: “While I’m not coaching I still want to be involved in the game and in some ways, this is the next best thing.”

BOXING at the highest level is big business.

After a lucrative first fight in Los Angeles, heavyweight stars Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder are this time going to war in the bright lights of Vegas.

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Their dramatic split-decision draw back in November 2018 was one of the decade’s classic encounters.

The Gypsy King – who ducks, weaves and jabs his way stylishly through his bouts – will once again face the knockout king Bronze Bomber on February 22.

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How much will Fury and Wilder make from their rematch?

BOTH fighters have enhanced their bank balances following the first meeting just 14 months ago.

Wilder – the current WBC champ and undefeated in his pro career – got the biggest payday of his career as they two went toe-to-toe in the Staples Center.

Fury meanwhile earned an initial £2.3million from his share of the purse for the controversial draw at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, in addition to a cut of the PPV rights.

That result and prize fund catapulted Fury back into the big time and led to a five-fight contract with ESPN and Top Rank.

The TV deal is said to be worth £80m to the Mancunian, whose net worth is set to soar above £100m this year.

For their rematch, both Fury and Wilder will split the purse 50/50 according to Wilder’s promoter Bob Arum.

Arum said in November: “It’s a signed deal. Not only is it a signed deal for a second fight between the two best heavyweights in the world.

“The winner of the fight for a third fight, which is already signed, gets 60 per cent of everything and the loser 40 per cent.

“Right now, it’s signed for the second fight. Each side gets 50 per cent.”

With a trilogy already confirmed, there is therefore an extra financial incentive for both fighters on top of the WBC world title.

Each fighter will therefore be taking home huge sums after their rematch, with PPV fees expected to be in the region of £60m.

How can I watch or listen to the big fight?

FURY’S rematch against Wilder will be shown live on BT Sport Box Office.

The pay-per-view channel is available to everyone, regardless of whether or not you are a BT customer.

The event will cost £24.95 to purchase, which has angered some fight fans who aren’t impressed with a £5 increase on the first meeting.

While you can also listen to all the action exclusively live on talkSPORT.

There will nine hours of uninterrupted coverage from 10pm on Saturday night through to 7am Sunday morning.

Former British cruiserweight Glenn McCrory, Fight Night presenter Adam Catterall and talkSPORT’s Dom McGuinness will be at the MGM Arena to bring you all the build up, live action and post fight analysis.

You can listen here, via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your connected listening devices or on 1089 or 1053 AM.

GORDON Ramsay’s stunning daughter Holly has wowed fans with her new modelling shots after signing with an agency.

The 20-year-old posted a series of head shots over the weekend after joining Established Models, and her 213,000 Instagram followers were full of compliments.

Instagram/Hollramsayy

One wrote: “jaw droppingly gorgeous .”

Another posted: “Absolutely stunning x x xx.”

A third shared: “WOW keep this make up style this make up look perfect on you .”

Holly is currently studying Fashion Design at university with the aim of seeing her work on the catwalk.

Instagram/Hollramsayy

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Her Established profile says Holly is “using her platform to inspire others to create unique and relatable content whilst travelling between London and LA.”

Meanwhile Holly’s twin brother Jack has shunned a career in cooking and joined the Royal Marines instead.

According to the Mail On Sunday Jack began his gruelling 32-week basic training last year and is set to earn his green beret in the autumn.

It is a far cry from the luxurious life he lives at the moment, which saw him get a rare £10,000 Rolex for his 18^th birthday from his dad.

They report that despite his impressive A-level results, he will be enlisted as a marine – not an officer.

A source at the Royal Marines’ Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, Devon said: “First and foremost, he is just another marine recruit to us, a ‘bod’. There’s no nepotism here and no favouritism.

“He’s getting his head down and delivering the goods so far. He seems fit and is well liked. Not surprisingly, there’s a lot of good-natured banter when Jack and his mates sit down to eat and when they’re on a field exercise about who should prepare the rations.”

Jack shaved his hair of last year in preparation for his new job, which will earn him £18k a year.

His famous chef dad shared a picture of his new hair style as he went topless on the beach – sending his fans wild thanks to Jack’s impressive physique.

Gordon, 53, previously revealed his sons ambitions back in 2016, when he said: “He is obsessed with Bear Grylls and the Marines, and going in and becoming an officer.

“It is respect I think. Life is tough and you have got no idea what it will throw at you. Your mind needs to be set and focused.”

He added: “There is something unique about a defence for your country. That is a real job.

“When you see the way that they are together and what happens to these forces, the devastation of losing someone from the platoon, it is pretty grim.

“But the bond is unique and magical.”