31 per cent of UK nightclubs closed last year, as industry demands government action

Six bank branches around Greater Manchester are set to close this year with some being the last branches available in their respective areas. Around 250 banks are set to close, or have already shut, as financial services continue to be stripped away from UK high streets.

Ellie Goulding is getting close with Armando Perez.

Ben Shephard is leaving his long-time colleague Susanna Reid as he prepares to become the new host of This Morning with Cat Deeley.The presenter fronted his last show on Friday, 23 February, where it was announced that his first day in his new gig will be Monday, 11 March. While it was an emotion-filled last day in the Good Morning Britain studio, Susanna, 53, has since taken to her social media to say an emotional goodbye to her friend and colleague, saying she's "going to miss".

Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe may struggle to use taxpayers' money to revamp Old Trafford. After buying a 27.7% share in the club, plans to improve - or move away from - Old Trafford have been a hot topic.

Brooke Vincent has issued a two-word career message to her fans and followers as she prepares to make an exciting debut. The actress is no stranger to being on our screens having spent years playing Sophie Webster in Coronation Street.

Love Island fans saw Tom Clare and Molly Smith crowned winners of the first-ever All Stars series on Monday night, after five weeks of looking to find love on-screen once again. In new pictures of the couples landing back in the UK after their sun-soaked - and drama-filled - South African sojourn, the winning couple were papped at the airport looking as smitten as ever, alongside the other four final couples.

Giovanni Pernice has said it's a 'sad day' as he joined his Strictly Come Dancing co-stars in paying tribute to the late Robin Windsor. The news that the show's former star had tragically died, aged 44, was shared on Tuesday morning (February 20).

‘Electronic Beats, Economic Treats 2024’ music report. It took into account the economic impact of electronic music on the UK economy – looking at trends across recorded music, music publishing and the live scene.In the study, it was found that the genre added approximately £2.5billion to the country’s economy throughout 2023, despite the external threats faced by grassroots music venues.The findings showed a nine per cent decline in visitors to nightclubs over the past 12 months, and the total spend on things associated with a night out (transport, drinks etc) had dropped by 14 per cent.It comes as the Music Venue Trust (MVT) recently revealed that over 30 per cent of all nightclubs in the UK had closed their doors permanently since the start of the pandemic, and 2023 was the worst year for live music spaces, with 125 grassroots venues closed in those 12 months alone.“[This report] sheds light on the challenges faced by the industry, providing insights for future growth,” said Maria May, Head of Electronic Music at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) (via DJ Mag).

Alice Cooper has announced an autumn UK tour for later this year – find all the details below.The American rock artist will be heading to the UK for a six-date run of his ‘Too Close For Comfort’ tour, kicking off at Glasgow’s OVO Arena on October 14, followed by shows in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and London.The tour will conclude with two consecutive nights at London’s Eventim Apollo on October 20 and 21.Primal Scream will join as special guest at all locations except London, alongside The Meffs at all shows. Sex Pistols guitarist and songwriter Glen Matlock will join as special guest at the London dates.Tickets go on sale this Friday (February 23) at 10am GMT from here.

Kate Garraway made sure to pay tribute to her late husband Derek Draper upon returning to Smooth FM on Monday, 19 February. For over three years, political advisor turned psychotherapist Derek battled the aftereffects of Covid-19 after the virus put him in a coma back in March 2020. At the turn of the year, though, the 56-year-old tragically passed away due to complications with a cardiac arrest, leaving behind his Good Morning Britain host wife, 56, and their two children.

The 2024 British Academy Film Awards, more commonly known as the BAFTAs, took place on Sunday (February 18) at the Royal Festival Hall in Southbank Centre in London, England.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor took to the stage at the BAFTA Film Awards tonight to perform her resurgent hit ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ – watch the footage below.The song features memorably over the now infamous final scene of Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn, and since the film’s release at the end of 2023, it has became a viral hit on TikTok and even entered the Billboard Hot 100 – her first-ever song to chart in the US. It also climbed the UK single charts, peaking at Number Two last month.The BAFTAs ceremony was hosted tonight (February 18) by David Tennant at London’s Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre.

Rafa Sales Ross Guest Contributor Despite being significantly hit by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023, U.K. film studios and production facilities are looking to pick back up where they left off after a record-breaking year for film and high-end television production spend in 2022. When asked what the industry can expect in terms of business in the year ahead, Samantha Perahia, head of production U.K.

Kate Garraway has shared her feelings of gratitude for being able to be with her late husband in his final hours after he sadly passed away at the age of 56 on January 3, after battling multiple health complications due to coronavirus.The Good Morning Britain presenter opened up on her husband, Derek Draper, a former political lobbyist turned author and psychologist, during an interview on LBC on Friday 16 February. She had previously revealed that she held his hand "throughout the last long hours and when he passed' after suffering a cardiac arrest before Christmas.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer paid £99,431 in tax last year - after making £275,000 in capital gains.

This Morning's Ben Shephard is a well-known face on our screens, but not many people know about his personal life.

More than three million low-income households struggled to pay their energy bills for draughty homes in 2023, according to official figures. In England, a home is considered in fuel poverty if it has a poor energy efficiency rating of band D or below and the household's disposable income after housing and fuel costs falls below the poverty line.

Engelbert Humperdinck has shared his hopes to become Glastonbury‘s oldest ever performer, aged 87.The British pop veteran first rose to fame during the mid-’60s, and has now revealed that he has no plans of slowing down, as he hopes to be added to the line-up for Glastonbury.The musician emerged back into the spotlight in 2012, when he famously represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest – finishing in 25th place with just 12 points. Now, aged 87, he is planning another comeback for 2024 with hopes to appear at the famous festival.It comes as the singer – whose real name is Arnold Dorsey – has shared a new collaboration with Azerbaijani singer Emin.

Marlee Matlin is calling out CBS after the network didn’t feature the American Sign Language (ASL) performers during the live Super Bowl LVIII broadcast.

Rishi Sunak paid more than half a million pounds in UK tax last year.