Ant and Dec are going to have an absolute field day this year. 'Evening, former health minister...'
This one's filed firmly under headlines we never thought we'd write.
In an incredible turn of events, the former health secretary Matt Hancock has reportedly been suspended as a Conservative MP after apparently agreeing to join the cast of I'm A Celebrity 2022, reports The Manc.
After numerous reports of the official lineup for I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 2022 began trickling in last week, the BBC has confirmed that Hancock will "swap representing his constituents at Westminster for eating bugs in the jungle" and we, for one, cannot wait to see what that looks like.
Former chief whip Simon Hart said the decision to join the reality TV show while still serving as an MP "is a matter serious enough to warrant suspension of the whip with immediate effect.”
The deputy chairman of his constituency's Conservative Association seems to be more excited by the prospect of him joining the reality show.
Meanwhile, others have been less impressed by the decision by ITV producers, with journalist Nadine Batchelor-Hunt noting that "it says something when Matt Hancock has the whip removed more quickly over going on I'm A Celebrity than Chris Pincher did" over his sexual misconduct.
Sources close to West Suffolk representative state that he "doesn't expect to serve in government again, so it's an incredible opportunity for him to engage with the 12 million Brits who tune in every single night." Hancock is apparently using his time in the jungle to promote his dyslexia campaign.
Trying to raise awareness for charity sounds great but he does realise he's just going to be kept in as long as possible and made to do virtually every single trial, right?
Either way, many have been left angered by the decision to let yet another politician join a reality show when they are supposed to be serving the public, especially in times of struggle like the ongoing cost of living and energy crises.
Retired or not, the likes of Anne Widdecombe, George Galloway, Ed Balls and many more have appeared on the likes of Strictly Come Dancing and Big Brother, while the last Tory MP to appear on the British TV institution was former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, who still remains an MP for Mid Bedfordshire.
Other members of the I'm A Celebrity 2022 cast confirmed so far include pop legend Boy George and recently retired Lionesses veteran, Jill Scott MBE.
Whitelock’s Ale House has announced the return of its annual Beer Festival - hoorah!
There’s nothing quite like a nice fresh pint, and we all know Whitelock’s Ale House know how to pour a good one.
So it's with great glee that we can fill you in on their upcoming Beer Festival which will be returning to the iconic festival from Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 June 2026.
The four-day festival will celebrate the best of independent brewing in Leeds, with beers sourced exclusively from local breweries.
Featured breweries will include Northern Monk, Kirkstall Brewery, Anthology, Amity Brew Co. and more.
Known as the oldest pub in Leeds, Whitelock’s Ale House has long championed independent beers and local brewing culture.
Image: Supplied
This year’s festival aims to spotlight the strength and diversity of the city’s brewing scene, with the tagline 'Beer tastes better up north!'
Beer will be pouring throughout the weekend across Whitelock's Ale House and The Turk's Head, with further brewery announcements and festival details set to be shared in the coming weeks via their Instagram.
The best part? Entry to the festival is completely free.
Talking about this year’s festival, General Manager Beth said: “Beer has always been at the heart of Whitelock’s, so this felt like the right year to celebrate both the breweries on our doorstep and the city we’ve called home for more than 300 years.
"Leeds has a brilliantly strong independent beer scene right now, and we’re looking forward to showcasing some of the best breweries the city has to offer across the weekend.”
You can find out more about Whitelock's Ale House and their fabulous Beer Festival here via their website. Cheers to that!
Inside Leeds’ very first sauna and ice bath cafe hidden behind a railway arch
Clementine Hall
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept has landed in the city centre.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast has brought its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds combines saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space features two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The space is absolutely gorgeous, complete with trendy tin ceilings, fairy lights and soft furnishings.
Plunge pools can be enjoyed solo or shared, depending on what guests choose, giving people the opportunity to shape each session around exactly what they need that day.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The same goes for the saunas, with one silent and one sauna giving guests the option to come for conversation or reflection.
Single sessions will cost just £12 for 45 minutes, with 90-minute sessions from £20.
There's a fab little cafe too offering all sorts from electrolyte slushes to ginger shots and a range of coffees and matcha.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Known for making sauna and ice feel more accessible, welcoming and community-driven, Kontrast has grown beyond regular sessions to become a base for recurring events. These include their live ambient DJ set event, Unwind, which celebrates local talent, and their weekly run club, both of which the team hopes to bring to Leeds as part of building a similar sense of community in the city.
Officially opening their doors this Friday 29 May, Kontrast are offering free sessions over the weekend so you can try before you buy. Book your spot here.
The Hoot -
1st November 2022 
