World Leaks

AN iconic EastEnders actress has been confirmed as the latest star taking part in the upcoming series of Dancing On Ice.

The Sun previously told how the EastEnders star, 43, will be putting her skates on when Dancing On Ice returns.

BBC

BBC

Brian Roberts

And Charlie Brooks‘ latest gig was confirmed during Tuesday’s Loose Women.

She is best known for playing soap villain Janine Butcher in the BBC One soap.

And Charlie was also crowned queen of the I’m a Celebrity jungle 12 years ago.

A telly source told The Sun this week: “Charlie’s a brilliant signing.

“She has a huge fanbase from EastEnders and has tons of personality and feisty energy.

“The ITV bookers hope she can recreate some of her on-screen I’m a Celeb magic.”

Charlie shot to fame when she joined EastEnders in 1995 when she was just 17.

She left EastEnders in 2022 and has since played the Child Catcher in a West End production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Janine’s explosive exit from Walford came after she married Mick Carter [Danny Dyer].

Charlie’s final scenes saw Janine and Mick’s first wife Linda plunge off a cliff into the English Channel.

He jumped in to rescue Linda but was never seen again, with the character being presumed dead.

She joins former Towie star Ferne McCann, 34, The Traitors model Mollie Pearce, 22, and soap actress Chelsee Healey, 36, in Dancing on Ice 2025.

STEFAN Ratchford is ready to help Warrington towards Grand Final glory, even though he may never get over the freak collision that saw him end up with 11 facial fractures.

The Wolves’ club captain was unable to eat solid food for four weeks after accidentally finding the elbow of St Helens’ James Bell in a Super League match on July 19.

Now he has revealed to SunSport he has suffered nerve damage in his face, which may either take up to two years to heal or never return to what it was.

Despite that, he is fully fit and ready to go as Warrington head to Hull KR for Friday’s Super League Semi-Final.

“I may have a numb face for the rest of my life,” said Ratchford.

“It was 11 fractures. We thought it was 10, it was on the original scan, then when we went in for surgery, they found a fracture of my palate.

“My full eye socket had gone, upper jaw, lower jaw, my cheekbone was depressed and there were maybe two or three fractures in there.

“There was one in the area from my cheek to the bottom of my nose, then from my nose down into my gum and teeth.

“And when they went in, they found not only had it fractured from my nose to my teeth, it had also fractured back down my palate.

“There’s some nerve damage in my face too, underneath my eye, down my cheek and into my teeth and gums.

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“I don’t have much feeling down the right side of my face. It’s a lot better than it was, for the first four or five weeks, it felt fully like I’d had anaesthetic at the dentist.

“They’re not sure whether that feeling will come back or not. Some said it could be anything from a couple of months to two years, a couple said there was that much damage it’s not likely too.

“I just took an elbow, it was one of those freak accidents. James has tried to spin out of a tackle as I tried to come into it and he just caught me flush.

“But you know what, I can’t actually remember it hurting. I knew there was something wrong with the way may face felt and an hour later, it was pretty painful.

“It’s quite unfortunate with the damage that was done. Consultants were saying, ‘You may get one or two, a jaw or a cheekbone, but that’s normally the maximum.’

“When we found out there were a few more, it was a surprise for everyone. I knew there was something wrong but we didn’t quite expect it to be what it was.

“I think the face is probably going to stay as it is now. That’s as good as it’s going to get – it doesn’t look too bad on the outside to be honest!”

Bell checked in with Ratchford the following morning to make sure he was all right.

And despite the fears over nerve damage, the 36-year-old has undergone some contact training sessions and in terms of being physically fit, he is fine.

But having a liquid diet has clearly taken its toll, although he is getting back to something like his old self.

Ratchford added: “I didn’t have a meal for four, four-and-a-half weeks.

“I had these bars and wires on my teeth, along with bands that realigned my jaw, so they were on 23 hours of the day – I literally took them off to brush my teeth.

“It was soups, smoothies, yogurts, protein shakes, that was as good as it got for me. It was pretty tortuous but I’m back eating solids.

“And my clothes are fitting me semi-normally now. I lost more than a stone – the majority of which came off in the first two-and-a-half weeks. I wasn’t getting any calories into me whatsoever.

“It wasn’t ideal for someone who has to eat a lot and lift a lot to maintain what they have but I know I’ve put some weight back on.

“Obviously I’ll have a bit of scarring and there’s a but going on inside but that’s what I’ll have to deal with going forward.

“I’m all right actually. I’m feeling as good as I can be and I’m back running and doing team stuff. I’ve done a bit of contact too – technically and cleared and free to play.

“And I’m more than happy too, if needed. I’m ready and available.”

The Small Firms Association, which seeks to represent Irish small businesses, tells Gript ahead of the budget that in recent years businesses have been hit with an “avalanche of regulation”.

The post Irish businesses under an “avalanche of regulation” appeared first on Gript.

MTV Music Week meets Manchester.

The post MTV is hosting a week-long venue takeover with some exciting artists to celebrate the EMAs coming to Manchester appeared first on The Manc.

Goff throws a perfect game by completing all 18 of his passes – for 292 yards and two touchdowns – and catching a TD pass from Amon-Ra St. Brown in Detroit’s 42-29 victory.

The former president is known for his work as a philanthropist, it’s no surprise that he wants any gift-giving to go to other people.

BBC Security correspondent Frank Gardner has spoken out against an airline who made him crawl across the floor in order to use the bathroom. 

The 63-year-old journalist is partially paralyzed in his legs after being injured in an attack by an al-Qaida gunman in June 2004, and uses a wheelchair for mobility. 

Rex Features

x/@FrankRGardner

Gardner shared a photograph from the plane floor after the plane didn’t carry an onboard aisle chair[/caption]

On Monday, during a flight home from Poland with LOT Airways, Gardner was left angry when he was informed the plane had no on-board wheelchair.

He therefore had to drag himself across the floor in front of other passengers in order to reach the toilet.

Sharing his experience on X, Gardner posted a photo of his legs on the floor of the plane, while two others stood around him.

“Wow. It’s 2024 and I’ve just had to crawl along the floor of this LOT Polish airline to get to the toilet during a flight back from Warsaw as ‘we don’t have onboard wheelchairs. It’s airline policy’,” he wrote.

“If you’re disabled and you can’t walk this is just discriminatory.”

He later added: “In fairness to the cabin crew, they were as helpful and apologetic as they could be. Not their fault, it’s the airline.

“Won’t be flying LOT again until they join the 21st century.”

Gardner appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning, and during his segment also discussed what happened.

Speaking to the studio via Zoom, Gardner noted it as a “first world problem” compared to issues he has to cover in the Middle East.

He said: “It’s a first world problem, frankly, but still, it is outrageous in terms of air travel, that LOT, the Polish airline I traveled on from Warsaw last night back to London, had no onboard aisle chair.

“I said, ‘Well, how do you expect me to go to the loo?’ ‘We can help you’ Well, not really, because if somebody drags you to the loo, they can’t get it… It’s too difficult.

“So I had to crawl on my backside along the kind of floor of a not particularly clean aircraft to get to then push, i’ve got quite good upper body strength, to then pull myself up onto the loo and then back again afterwards.

Praising the team members who attempted to help him, Gardner continued: “The cabin crew were very embarrassed, and they were as helpful as they could. There was a really nice steward there who was fantastic. I don’t know his name, but he was able to take my legs.

“But the point is, it’s not difficult to have an on board aisle chair. These things fold up to the size of a pram, if not smaller, and they fit into an overhead locker or into the cupboard.

“The idea that, ‘Oh yeah, we’re looking into this, it’s something we’ll consider’ that is a rude word beginning with B. ”

Gardner added this isn’t the first time he’s had the problem with LOT Airlines, branding the policy for no onboard aisle chairs “arrogant and lazy”.

Addressing the company directly, Gardner said: “Sort it out LOT. You shouldn’t be flying in the 21st century without an onboard aisle chair.

“It’s inhumane to make passengers crawl to the loo on your planes.”

After reaching out to LOT Airlines for comment, a representative told The Sun in a statement: “We are deeply sorry for the distressing experience Mr. Frank Gardner encountered on his recent flight with us. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and discomfort caused by the lack of an onboard wheelchair.

“Currently, onboard wheelchairs are available on our Dreamliner aircraft. However, due to limited space, our short-haul fleet does not yet have this facility. We understand the importance of accessibility and are actively testing solutions to equip our short-haul aircraft with onboard wheelchairs in the near future.

“As mentioned on our website, for long-haul flights, we provide onboard wheelchairs to assist passengers in moving around the cabin. Additionally, our ground staff is always ready to assist passengers from check-in to boarding and from the aircraft to the baggage claim area.

“We deeply regret the inconvenience Mr. Gardner experienced and sincerely apologise for the distress caused. We are committed to improving our services to ensure all passengers have a comfortable and dignified travel experience.”

PA

The correspondent urged the airline to ‘sort it out’[/caption]

META’s virtual reality headset is always a winner with shoppers, but Black Friday is the best time to score the pricey gadget for less.

We’ll be rounding up the best Meta Quest 3 Black Friday deals right here, saving you serious cash on the next generation of gaming tech.

• Meta Quest 3 at Amazon – shop here
• Meta Quest 3 at Argos – shop here
• Meta Quest 3 at John Lewis – shop here
• Meta Quest 3 at Very – shop here

Being one of the hottest virtual reality headsets on the market, at one of the most affordable price points, it’s always one to watch.

That said, it’s by no means a cheap buy at just under the £500 mark. So the late November sales is the best time to bag it for less.

These deals also chime perfectly with the Christmas gifting season to follow, so while there are still a couple of months to go, it’s worth getting prepared early.

Our Head of Tech & Science, Sean Keach, was also lucky enough to get hands on with the new Meta Quest 3S, a budget version of the flagship headset to make the deals more exciting this year.

We’ll be regularly scouting online for the best savings on the flagship Meta Quest 3 and updating this page with our top picks, so be sure to check back in.

To shop the wider sale, you can head to our best Black Friday deals roundup, where you’ll find deals on everything from beauty to home and garden goods.

Best live Meta Quest 3 deals 2024:

Some retailers will likely follow the same pattern as last year and release a wave of deals early, with price reductions across a range of products.

Black Friday is still a little way off, but these deals are pretty decent, but I expect to see prices drop further closer to the main event.

Here’s a quick list of some of the best deals we spotted ahead of time:

• Meta Quest 3, 128GB, £409.99 from Amazon – buy here
• Meta Quest 3, 128GB, £409.99 from Very – buy here
• Meta Quest 3, 128GB, £409.99 from Argos – buy here
• Meta Quest 3, 128GB, £479.99 from Game – buy here
• Meta Quest 3, 128GB, £469.99 from John Lewis – buy here
• Meta Quest 3, 128GB, Refurbished, £359.99 from John Lewis – buy here
• Meta Quest 3, 512GB, £469.99 from Amazon – buy here
• Meta Quest 3, 512GB, £469 from Currys – buy here
• Meta Quest 3S, 128GB, £289.99 from Amazon – buy here

When is Black Friday 2024?

We can look forward to Black Friday on November 29 this year, so still a way to go before the bargains drop.

The sale follows the Thanksgiving celebrations in the US, where the event started, and we’ve even unpicked the meaning of its name for you.

Aside from sticking to the American date, the event has become a huge retail event globally and evolved over the years.

These days, it’s more of a month-long event that takes place as much online as it does on the shop floor.

Naturally, the best deals to be had come on the day itself, while the run-up sees prices steadily drop as retailers build up to the big day throughout November.

When does the Meta Quest 3 Black Friday sale start?

The Meta Quest 3 Black Friday sale will start on 29 November, but many retailers who stock the products offer good savings on its pre-sale prices.

We’ve actually already seen some measured discounts from retailers already, despite the main event being some time off. But as ever, the main event are when the deals to write home about drop.

In 2023, the best deals offered were around £100 or more off the Quest 2; the predecessor to the all-singing Quest 3.

You’ll also find some pretty decent savings on accessories, like headstraps, cases, and more.

Keep an eye on our guide for the latest offers on Meta Quest 3.

When does the Meta Quest 3 Black Friday sale end?

We’ve often seen that the sale continues into what we now refer to as Black Friday weekend and that finishes the following Monday, known as Cyber Monday.

That’s November 29 to December 2 in 2024, so there’s plenty of time to score savings on the Meta Quest 3.

Some retailers launched price cuts earlier in November and there is also a strong possibility they will continue them past Cyber Monday.

When does Black Friday end?

Black Friday 2024 will end at midnight on the 25th, so the deals will begin and end on the 24th of November.

However, if you can’t make the most of the Black Friday sales, Cyber Monday always follows, and there will be another wave of discounts rolled out.

It’s also possible that they will keep some of the same deals active until the end of Cyber Monday.

However, you shouldn’t bet on it, so if you see something you want on the 24th for less, you should grab it.

Will the Meta Quest 3 be discounted during Black Friday this year?

It is extremely likely, in the past, we’ve seen big discounts on Meta Quest 3 during Black Friday sales, from retailers such as Amazon, Argos, Very and John Lewis.

As always, it’s worth shopping around to compare prices and find the best deals on the product you’re looking for before buying, but don’t wait too long and risk the product you’re after selling out.

Black Friday deals on Meta Quest 3 will run until the end of Cyber Monday but it is possible some retailers will continue their discounts into December to benefit from the Christmas shopping rush.

We’ll bring you all the latest deal updates here, so keep checking back for information.

What to expect from the Meta Quest 3 Black Friday sale 2024?

The Meta Quest 3 is an incredible next-generation VR headset with a faster processor, high-resolution display, added comfort and more intuitive use, and built-in speakers with cinematic 3D positional audio.

It’s also compatible with all your favourite Meta games – as well as with the new titles – and is available with 128GB or 256GB of storage.

Last year a number of UK retailers slashed prices or offered bundle deals, with savings of up to 40% off.

We expect to see the VR set featured in Black Friday discounts as it will be on a lot of wishlists this November.

Make sure you’re ready to jump in as soon as those Black Friday deals appear, as they’ll likely be snapped up fast.

Where to buy the Meta Quest 3

You should also shop around and check out a good number of retailers for their Black Friday offers to ensure you’re getting the best deals.

They are all competing with each other so if you do your research you may well come across a great low price on the very item you’ve been looking for.

While you should keep your options open while researching, don’t make the mistake of waiting too long in case the product sells out. All of the following retailers sell the Meta Quest 3 so we recommend starting with these, though of course there will be other sellers out there:

UK retailers

• Amazon
• Argos
• John Lewis
• Currys
• Game
• Very

What was in the Meta Quest sale last year?

The predecessor to the newest Meta headset, the Quest 2, saw some great discounts last year, including on games and accessories. They included:

1. Meta Oculus Quest 2 VR Gaming Headset, 128GB, £399 (free Beat Saber game) – buy from Currys
2. Meta Quest 2 VR Gaming Headset, 256 GB, £499 (free Beat Saber game) – buy from Currys
3. Meta Quest 2 VR Gaming Headset & Carrying Case Bundle, 128GB, £458 (free Beat Saber game) – buy from Currys
4. Meta Quest 2 VR Gaming Headset & Elite Strap Bundle, 256 GB, £617 (free Beat Saber game) – buy from Currys
5. Meta Quest 2, 128GB with Meta Link Cable (5 meters), Streamer Bundle, £488 – buy from Amazon
6. Meta Quest 2, 128GB Resident Evil 4 Bundle, £349 (save £50.99) – buy from Amazon
7. Dazed Oculus Quest 2 Charge Dock V2, £39.99 (save £14.16) – buy from Amazon
8. VR Cover Elite Head Strap Foam Pad for Meta/Oculus Quest 2, £13.30 (save £5.70) – buy from Amazon

When is Cyber Monday 2024 and will the Meta Quest 3 be on sale?

You will find deals and savings throughout the weekend of the Black Friday extravaganza.

The annual sale ends at the close of Cyber Monday, which is always the Monday following Black Friday. This year that means Cyber Monday falls on December 2.

While most offers run through from the Friday through to Monday, some retailers set their own dates and release exclusive digital offers around this time.

However, there’s also the risk that the item you’re considering may sell out before, so you’re taking a risk waiting until the last minute.

Do you need a PC for Meta Quest 3?

Having a PC isn’t crucial if you want to use the Meta Quest 3 — it is designed as a standalone headset that can operate with nothing but its processing chip.

However, connecting the Oculus to a PC opens you up to a wealth of further content, including an impressive selection of PC titles that are exclusive to Meta, such as Lone Echo.

How to cast Meta Quest 3 to the TV

The easiest way to cast the Quest 3 to the TV is from the headset itself:

1. Turn your TV and headset on.
2. From the main control panel, hit the “share” button.
3. Click “Cast” on the far side of the menu.
4. Select the device you want to cast to.

You can also cast to the TV from your phone:

1. Open the Meta app and tap “cast”, which is in the corner of your screen.
2. Allow your phone to search for devices.
3. Tap the name of the device you want to cast to and click “start”.

Is Meta Quest 3 compatible with a PS4?

So they can encourage customers to buy its official VR headset, Sony has not made the PlayStation 4 or 5 compatible with the OMeta Quest 3.

For those of you wanting to use a VR headset with the PlayStation, your best option is to buy Sony’s official Playstation VR.

Are Meta Quest games affordable?

Yes! In comparison to the prices of modern console games, like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox, Meta games come out on top for savings.

With PS5 and Xbox games often coming close to over £60 (especially for new releases), Meta is fairly reasonably priced, ranging from as little as £10.99 to £29.99.

How much is Meta Quest 3?

Meta Quest 3 usually costs £479.99 for the 128GB model and £619.99 for the 256GB model.

While that’s still a lot more affordable than most VR headsets on the market, it’s still pretty pricey. That makes Black Friday the ideal time to pick up those savings.

This year there’s also a budget version on the Quest 3 thrown into the works, which means we can expect some competitive deals across the board.

Is the Meta Quest 3 worth buying?

The Meta Quest 3 is by far the most popular VR headset on the market.

And that’s for a reason: if you want to explore VR and the great games that come with it, it’s the best currently available.

However, it’s also an expensive purchase, so you’ll need to think about how eager you are to enter the world of VR.

What is the Meta Quest 3S?

Designed as an entry-level headset, the Meta Quest 3S sits at a more approachable price point and promises to deliver a lot of the same features.

There are a few cavates that make the Quest 3S more affordable, namely a narrower field of view and Fresnel lenses, which actually makes the device more top heavy.

Like the Quest 3, the Meta Quest 3S is a mixed reality headset and comes with the same processing power, full colour passthrough, and multi-tasking specs.

Discover more top deals and savings at your favourite tech retailers by heading to Sun Vouchers. Sun Vouchers is the one-stop shop where you can find hundreds of discount codes for top chains including Currys, Argos, AliExpress, Dyson and more.

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