Duke of Marlborough denies strangling estranged wife

The Duke of Marlborough has denied strangling his estranged wife on three occasions.

Charles James Spencer-Churchill, a relative of Sir Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales, appeared in court on Monday, charged with three intentional strangulation offences against Edla Marlborough between November 2022 and May 2024.

Court documents say the three charges of non-fatal intentional strangulation against his estranged wife are alleged to have taken place in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

He appeared before High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court for a plea hearing on Monday.

Wearing a dark suit with a blue tie, Spencer-Churchill spoke to confirm his name and date of birth, as well as giving his home address as Blenheim Palace, before indicating he would plead not guilty to all three alleged offences.

The court was told that Spencer-Churchill is accused of striking Ms Marlborough “several times” and strangling her on 13 November 2022, following an argument in the garden of their property.

Spencer-Churchill is also accused of grabbing the defendant in a laundry room, hitting her with a closed fist and strangling her on 23 April 2023.

The final allegation is that Spencer-Churchill threw the defendant onto a bed after putting his hands around her neck on 29 January 2024.

Spencer-Churchill was granted conditional bail and will appear at Oxford Crown Court on 5 February.

Known to his family as Jamie, he is the 12th Duke of Marlborough and a member of one of Britain’s most aristocratic families.

Related to wartime prime minister Sir Winston – a first cousin, three times removed – and also distantly to Diana through the Spencer line, Spencer-Churchill inherited his dukedom in 2014, following the death of his father, the 11th Duke of Marlborough.

Prior to this, the twice-married Spencer-Churchill was the Marquess of Blandford, and also known as Jamie Blandford.

The duke married his second wife, Welsh ceramicist Edla Griffiths, in 2002 but they separated in 2024.

His ancestral family home is the 300-year-old Blenheim Palace – Sir Winston’s birthplace – in Woodstock, but the duke does not own the 18th-century baroque palace and has no role in the running of the residence and vast estate.

Blenheim is owned and managed by the Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation.

A spokesperson for the foundation previously said: “Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation is aware legal proceedings have been brought against the Duke of Marlborough.

“The foundation is unable to comment on the charges, which relate to the duke’s personal conduct and private life, and which are subject to live criminal proceedings.

“The foundation is not owned or managed by the Duke of Marlborough, but by independent entities run by boards of trustees.”

Ten found guilty of cyberbullying Brigitte Macron over false claims she was born a man

A Paris court on Monday found ten people guilty of cyber bullying France‘s first lady, Brigitte Macron, in the latest legal action sparked by false claims that she is a transgender woman who was born a man.

The eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60, had been accused of making malicious comments about Brigitte Macron’s gender and sexuality, including equating her age difference with her husband to “paedophilia”.

The court said those claims were “particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious”, and handed down penalties ranging from a cyberbullying awareness training to 8-month suspended prison sentences.

Ms Macron did not attend the two-day trial in October. Speaking on TF1 national television on Sunday, she said she launched legal proceedings to “set an example” in the fight against harassment.

Defendant Delphine Jegousse, 51, a self-described medium known as Amandine Roy, is considered to have played a major role in spreading the rumour after she released a four-hour video on her YouTube channel in 2021.

She was also the subject of a defamation complaint launched by Ms Macron three years ago.

Other defendants include an elected official, a teacher and a computer scientist. Several told the court their comments were intended as humour or satire and said they did not understand why they were being prosecuted.

During the trial, defendant Jerome A, 49, was asked about posts he wrote or reposted last year about Ms Macron being a man or having a penis. He told the court that “it was just a joke”, adding that his posts were “satirical” in spirit.

Arrests were made in December 2024 and February 2025, and all 10 had denied wrongdoing.

The case follows years of conspiracy theories falsely alleging that Brigitte Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is actually the name of her brother.

The wild, unsubstantiated claims about Mrs Macron’s gender have also been gaining ground in the US, where far-right podcaster Candace Owens has repeatedly amplified the false claim online that Mrs Macron was born a man.

The Macrons have also filed a defamation suit in the United States against Owens.

BBC hiring new ‘head of whistleblowing’ after string of scandals

The BBC is recruiting a new Head of Investigations as it seeks to address allegations of company misconduct “thoroughly”.

As advertised on the website, the broadcaster is seeking to hire two senior roles: a Head of Corporate Investigations & Whistleblowing, and a director in the same department. The Head of Corporate Investigations is a replacement for an existing position.

In a company restructure, the BBC’s Corporate Investigations team will become a team in its own right, moving it from an existing department.

The posts, which together could cost the company up to £240,000 a year in salaries, will oversee corporation investigations including serious criminal behaviour, violent and sexual offences, elevated personal risk, harassment, sexual misconduct and cases involving reputational risk to the BBC.

According to the job listings, the new department will help to “ensure the highest standards of integrity across all areas of its operations”.

“The role ensures that relevant misconduct is thoroughly investigated and addressed in line with legal and regulatory obligations,” reads the listing.

“The Head of Investigations (Corporate Investigations and Whistleblowing) plays a critical role in fostering a culture of transparency, accountability and trust,” it states.

In a statement given to The Independent, a BBC spokesperson said: “These roles are simply part of a wider restructure.

“When it comes to pay, we strike a balance to ensure we remain competitive and can attract and retain the best people, and over 95 per cent of our spending goes on content and its delivery.”

The news follows intense scrutiny of the BBC’s handling of several high profile scandals involving prominent figures including presenter Huw Edwards, who left the corporation in 2023 after reports emerged in The Sun claiming he had paid a young person for sexually explicit images.

In 2024, Edwards, 63, who spent four decades at the BBC, pleaded guilty in court to accessing indecent photographs of children as young as seven years old.

Whistleblowers who had given evidence at the time of the BBC’s internal enquiry into Edwards criticised the way it was handled, with one person stating that it felt like “things have been swept under the carpet”.

The BBC also faced criticism over its response to complaints about Gregg Wallace, the former MasterChef presenter, who was sacked in July 2025 after an investigation upheld several allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

Following the investigation, the BBC and production company Banijay UK acknowledged that “opportunities were missed to address this behaviour” sooner.

“We accept more could and should have been done sooner,” said the BBC at the time.

Likewise, the BBC’s flagship show Strictly Come Dancing has been rocked by a series of scandals in recent years.

In July 2024, Sherlock actor Amanda Abbington, who stepped away from the 2023 competition after just a few weeks, accused her professional partner Giovanni Pernice of “inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying”.

Pernice, who vehemently denied the allegations, was axed from the cast in June 2024 and has since been replaced. Following months of investigation, the BBC confirmed that they had upheld complaints relating to verbal bullying and harassment, but concluded that Pernice had not been physically aggressive.

Likewise, professional dancer Graziano Di Prima was dropped from the show after his mistreatment of his celebrity partner Zara McDermott, in 2023. Di Prima’s spokesperson confirmed the star had kicked McDermott once during rehearsals, which led to his removal from the show.

The dancer apologised for the events that led to his departure and said that his “intense passion and determination to win” may have affected his training regime.

Former British schoolgirl confirmed dead after Swiss ski resort fire

A teenager who was a former pupil at a British school has been confirmed dead after a fire at a Swiss ski resort killed 40 people and injured 119 others.

Charlotte Niddam, who previously attended Immanuel College, a private Jewish school in Hertfordshire, was among the last 16 victims to have been identified by police after the New Year blaze at the Crans-Montana resort.

Charlotte, believed to be 15, was initially reported as missing after a fire broke out inside the Constellation bar in the early hours of Thursday, while revellers were celebrating the start of 2026.

Charlotte’s family said in a social media post on Sunday: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beautiful daughter and sister Charlotte.

“Details regarding the funeral arrangements will follow shortly.”

The post said Charlotte’s funeral is expected to take place in Paris later this week.

Immanuel College said in a statement it was “praying for a miracle” after the fire.

According to the Crans-Montana resort website, Charlotte had been working as a babysitter in the area.

Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said in a statement on social media site X: “Terrible news that Charlotte Niddam has been identified as one of those killed in the Crans-Montana fire.

“My thoughts are with all her family and friends after this devastating loss.”

The Valais region police force published a statement on Sunday confirming that all 40 people killed in the fire have now been identified.

The last 16 victims included two Swiss girls aged 15, a Swiss woman aged 22, a Swiss and French woman aged 24, two Italian girls aged 16 and 15, an Italian boy aged 16, a 22-year-old Portuguese woman, a 17-year-old Belgian girl, two French women aged 33 and 26, two French men aged 23 and 20, two French teenage boys aged 17 and 14, and a 15-year-old girl with French, British, and Israeli nationalities, police said.

Swiss authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the bar managers.

The two are suspected of involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm and involuntarily causing a fire, the Valais region’s chief prosecutor, Beatrice Pilloud, told reporters Saturday. The announcement of the investigation did not name the managers.

Investigators said Friday they believe sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles ignited the fire when they came too close to the ceiling of the crowded bar.

Authorities planned to look into whether sound-dampening material on the ceiling conformed with regulations and whether the candles were permitted for use in the bar. Officials said they also would look at other safety measures on the premises, including fire extinguishers and escape routes.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin announced a national day of mourning for the victims on 9 January.

Mother and daughter ‘washed away’ in deadly sea incident named

A mother has died and her teenage daughter remains missing after a “tragic incident” off the East Yorkshire coast, police have said.

Sarah Keeling, 45, and her daughter Grace Keeling, 15, got stuck in the sea on Friday, Humberside Police said.

The bodies of Sarah and Mark Ratcliffe, 67, who tried to rescue them, were recovered after the incident in Withernsea, but searches are still ongoing to locate Grace, the force added.

They said in a statement on Sunday: “Following reports of concerns for safety for people in the water in Withernsea, with the permission of the family, Humberside Police can now confirm that a mother and daughter, 45-year-old Sarah Keeling and 15-year-old Grace Keeling, were involved in this tragic incident, alongside 67-year-old Mark Ratcliffe, a member of the public who died trying to assist with the rescue.”

The family of Sarah and Grace Keeling are being supported by specially trained officers, they added.

Officers were called to the incident at Central Promenade in Withernsea at 3.15pm on Friday, Humberside Police previously said.

Ratcliffe’s family paid tribute to him on Sunday, saying he was a “true selfless hero with a heart of gold, who was so cruelly taken trying to save others”.

The force added: “Residents will continue to see an increased police presence in and around the area as officers continue to search for the one remaining missing person.”

Witnesses of the incident previously told The Telegraph they saw a teenage girl “washed away” by the waves.

Karen Higgs, 66, told the paper: “I was by the cafe and this woman was running up the front towards the pier towers, shouting ‘she’s in the water, she’s in the water’.”

“I looked and I went across and there was somebody in the water… going in and out with the waves.

“Someone threw a safety ring in for her to catch. She was going out as the ring went in… and she never tried to catch it. We were all shouting at her to catch it, catch it. She just didn’t.”

On Friday, local charity Hornsea Inshore Rescue said on Facebook that it had been called out to Withernsea, but had been “unable to launch the lifeboat due to horrendous conditions and three-metre waves”. A later post from the team said it had “launched on service”.

‘Tis the season to connect: How to maximise your mobile

Our mobile phones are a vital part of our everyday lives, providing us with connection, entertainment and information. We rely on the device in our pocket to help us work, socialise, learn and so much more – so we want to make sure we’re getting the most we can from it.

Tesco Mobile’s new Pay as you go Essentials tariff can help you do just that, offering increased flexibility and benefits. It keeps things simple and lets you add 30-day bundles of data, minutes and texts that best suit your needs.

The tariff will replace Rocket Pack, Triple Credit and Lite tariffs for all existing Tesco Mobile Pay as you go customers.

Customers who prefer traditional Pay as you go can continue to use top-up balance for calls, texts and data at the standard rate: 25p per minute, 10p per text, 10p per MB.*

So whether you’re an existing Tesco Mobile customer or thinking of making the switch, here’s seven reasons why Pay as you go Essentials is the perfect option…

We all use our phones differently. For some, it’s all about streaming favourite shows and music, so having enough data is vital. Others just want to be able to text and call friends and family whenever they want. Tesco Mobile make it easy to find the right Pay as you go Essentials bundle for your needs. New customers can choose the best bundle for their needs, with bundles auto-renewing every 30 days using available top-up balance.

Circumstances can change and you might find yourself needing more data or minutes some months than others. Depending on how much you use your phone, a bundle is often more cost-effective than using your top-up balance and being charged standard rates for calls, texts and data usage. Pay as you go Essentials is a flexible top-up tariff designed to give users full control over their spend, letting them add bundles of data, minutes and texts to suit specific needs. You can change your bundle as often as you like or cancel at any time. If you decide to opt-out of a bundle you can continue to use your top-up balance for calls, text and data at the standard out-of-bundle rate (25p per minute, 10p per text, 10p per MB).

Pay as you go Essentials offers a range of five great-value bundle options that all include data, minutes and texts. Pay as you go Essentials bundles start from just £5 for 30 days (minimum £10 top-up at activation), while every bundle from £10 and up includes unlimited calls and texts (subject to Fair Usage Policy) – making it easy and affordable to stay connected. If you’re an existing Tesco Mobile Pay as you go customer you’ll get a free 30 day Essentials bundle based on your previous use so you can see if its the right one for you.

The new Tesco Mobile app is packed with useful features to help you make the most of your Pay as you go phone. It’s a quick and simple way to manage or change your bundles, check usage, top-up your balance change auto-renew settings and more. You can easily see your remaining data, minutes and texts, so you know whether you need to add a new or different bundle. Need a hand with something? Chat with the customer care team via live in-app messaging. This is a new app for Pay as you go customers, and customers will no longer be able to use their old Tesco Mobile Pay as you go apps.

Phone calls cutting out, videos buffering, texts that don’t send… an unreliable phone signal can be hugely frustrating. Tesco Mobile shares O2’s network, which means 99 per cent UK coverage, and a better connection in hard-to-reach rural areas – so you won’t be searching for a signal. Tesco Mobile’s 4G and 5G networks are constantly being improved, and with Pay as you go Essentials, customers can use 4G Calling (also known as VoLTE) means you’ll use your 4G connection to make and receive calls, enjoying clearer calls. You can find this option in your network settings.

With Tesco Mobile, you get a Clubcard point for every £1 you spend. Just link your Clubcard to your phone (text the word CLUBCARD to 28578 free from your Tesco Mobile phone) and watch the points add up. You can then convert your points to vouchers to save on your weekly grocery shop or exchange the vouchers for Reward Partner codes to save money on meals out, entertainment, day trips, travel and more. For a limited time, Tesco Mobile customers can get 500 Clubcard points every time they add a £15 Pay as you go Essentials bundle when they link their Clubcard within the first 28 days of adding the bundle. Clubcard points will be automatically issued within 30 days.

For more information on Tesco Mobile’s Pay as you go Essentials, including all available bundles, visit Tesco Mobile

*Offer ends 01/02/2026. See Terms And Conditions for full terms.

Burnham is Labour’s best hope of keeping Farage out of No 10, according to UK’s top pollster

Andy Burnham represents Labour’s best hope of keeping Nigel Farage out of No 10, Britain’s leading pollster has warned, as well as asserting that Sir Keir Starmer “doesn’t have the skill set for Downing Street”.

In a scathing assessment, Professor Sir John Curtice accused the prime minister of not having a vision for the country and said he does not believe Sir Keir can “learn to be a politician” in the new year.

The prime minister insisted on Sunday that he will still be in post next year and warned leadership rivals that any moves to oust him would be a “gift” to Mr Farage and Reform UK.

But Sir John told The Independent he believes that only Greater Manchester mayor Mr Burnham has the support within the Labour Party, and appeal to the wider electorate, to be an effective replacement for the beleaguered prime minister, whose future appears increasingly uncertain.

However, he noted that the route back into Westminster is “very difficult” for Mr Burnham, because he would need to be elected as an MP.

“Andy Burnham is probably still the best possibility, but there are many barriers in his way,” said Sir John.

“If you look at his popularity, both within and outside the Labour Party, his popularity is clearly more extensive than any of the other candidates.”

While Mr Burnham recently dismissed claims that he is planning a comeback to Westminster, a YouGov poll last month showed he was the clear frontrunner among the candidates tipped to succeed Sir Keir, ahead of former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and health secretary Wes Streeting.

There has been widespread speculation in recent weeks that both Ms Rayner and Mr Streeting have been preparing the ground for leadership bids, but Sir John was sceptical about their chances.

“Wes Streeting is not that popular in the party, although he’s got a good backstory, but he is bearing the cross of being health secretary,” he said.

“He has, rather controversially, decided to reorganise the administrative delivery of health in England in the middle of a crisis. I think one can probably say that his ability to succeed as a departmental minister has yet to be proven.”

But Sir John added: “He’s undoubtedly a good communicator, and certainly has a much better political feel than Starmer.”

Turning to Ms Rayner, who is a popular choice on the left of the party and has been tipped for a cabinet return, he raised questions over whether she could face similar problems to Sir Keir.

“Angela Rayner is clearly popular within her party but tends to be divisive within the electorate,” he warned.

“What we don’t know is, does she have a vision? She’s always been deputy to Starmer, and Starmer doesn’t have a vision.

“Could Rayner craft a vision? And does she have the skill set for 10 Downing Street? We know Starmer doesn’t, but does she?”

Despite recent speculation that home secretary Shabana Mahmood was eyeing the top job, particularly after she was described as “brilliant” and “impressive” by Sir Tony Blair, Sir John was not convinced she would be a strong contender.

“I mean, sections of the Labour Party will be currently swallowing her social conservatism as home secretary, but in leadership consideration it’s different,” he said.

Noting that she fared badly on Labour List surveys of party members, he added: “I think she’s clearly talented, but whether or not she could appeal to the Labour Party electorate is debatable.”

Looking ahead to more political turbulence in 2026, Sir John added: “I would not be surprised if there had not been at least one significant change of leadership by this time next year.”

Both Sir Keir and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch have seen their popularity plummet this year, and the May elections could be the last straw for disgruntled MPs hoping to retain their seats at the next general election.

Sir John said: “The problem Labour face is they lose votes to the Greens, and because Reform is squeezing the Tory vote and taking some votes off Labour, it’s Reform that would benefit in terms of seats.”

The Independent has asked for a comment from Mr Burnham.

UK ban on adverts for ‘unhealthy’ food comes into effect

Adverts for some breakfast cereals, porridge and sandwiches have been banned in a bid to tackle childhood obesity.

The crackdown will mean “less healthy” food and drink that is high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) will not appear in adverts on television between 5.30am and 9pm, and online at any time from Monday.

It comes after a voluntary ban by advertisers was introduced in October, along with “buy one get one free” offers on unhealthy food in supermarkets. Under the new ban, advertisers must comply with the new rules or risk action by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

Experts say the watershed ban is “long overdue” and will reduce children’s exposure to unhealthy food.

The government estimates the advertising ban will prevent around 20,000 cases of childhood obesity.

Foods including chocolates and sweets, pizzas and ice creams, but also breakfast cereals and porridges, sweetened bread products, some main meals, sandwiches and soft drinks are all examples of food affected by the rule change.

The ban applies to products that fall within the 13 categories considered to play the most significant role in childhood obesity.

Products that fall into these categories are then also assessed as to whether they are “less healthy” based on a scoring tool that considers their nutrient levels and whether products are high in saturated fat, salt, or sugar.

Only products that meet both of the two criteria are included in the restrictions.

“Children are highly susceptible to aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods and exposure to them puts them at a greater risk of developing obesity and associated chronic diseases. Yet this policy comes into force three years after originally proposed, following repeated delays, cutbacks and industry pressure,” Katherine Brown, professor of behaviour change in health at the University of Hertfordshire, said.

“Restrictions on promotions of HFSS products are a valuable step, but they must form part of a long-term, comprehensive strategy that addresses inequalities, supports healthier local food environments and makes nutritious options more affordable, accessible and appealing,” she added.

Companies can still advertise healthier versions of products included in the ban, which the government said it hopes will encourage the food industry to change its recipes.

For example, adverts for plain porridge oats and the majority of porridge, muesli and granola will not be banned under the new rules, but some less healthy versions with added sugar, chocolate or syrup could be affected.

The restrictions will only apply to adverts where products deemed to be unhealthy can be identified by viewers, meaning firms can still advertise brand names.

Until now, products that are high in fat, salt and sugar should not have been advertised through any media when more than 25 per cent of the audience is under 16 years old.

Latest figures suggest one in 10 reception-aged children are obese, while one in five children has tooth decay by the age of five.

Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer are all risks associated with obesity.

It is estimated that obesity costs the NHS more than £11bn every year.

Evidence shows children’s exposure to ads for unhealthy food can influence what they eat from a young age, in turn putting them at greater risk of becoming overweight or obese.

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has said it is committed to helping people eat healthier products. It said its members’ products contain a third of the salt and sugar and a quarter of the calories compared to 10 years ago.