The BBC confirmed earlier this year that its new reality show The Traitors will return for a second series after its huge success.
And there's still a few weeks to apply for the TV series.
Unfamiliar with what The Traitors actually is? Heard the named of the show being banded around, but haven’t had the chance to watch it? Based on the premise of a popular Dutch show, the UK version of The Traitors sees 22 of the “most cunning contestants” play the ultimate murder mystery game of deception and suspicion.
The first series of the reality competition show was an undeniable smash-hit when it aired on BBC One back in late November 2022.
A small group of contestants become the titular ‘Traitors’, and must work together to eliminate the others contestants, while the remaining contestants become ‘Faithful’ and are tasked with discovering and banishing the Traitors by voting them out – with both groups battling it out to win the grand prize of £120,000.
🏰 The Traitors series two is OFFICIALLY coming!
Think you could be the next Maddy Marple? Or go totally undetected in a glorious hooded cloak with @ClaudiaWinkle?
The first series went on to be viewed over 34 million times on BBC iPlayer, with an average of 5.4 million viewers for each episode across all platforms.
So it’s no surprise that the BBC would want to bring it back for more, right?
The broadcaster confirmed that The Traitors and its host Claudia Winkleman are to both return for a second series, with filming set to begin in the near future and members of the public who fancy taking part now encouraged to stick an application in.
BBC renews The Traitors for second series and you can apply to take part / Credit: BBC
“I can’t wait to go back to the castle to watch people play the greatest game on television,” Claudia Winkleman said ahead of the new series, “I’m knitting a high funnel sweater immediately.”
The Traitors is described by the BBC as being a game of “trust and treachery”, but do you reckon you have what it takes to play the ultimate game of detection and backstabbing?
If you’re up for it, applications are now open and you can apply on the BBC website here.
The closing date for this application is noted as Monday 31 July 2023.
Leeds Christmas Markets is returning to the city centre in just a weeks time, and we've got everything you need to know.
This year, the markets are looking a little bit different than before as outdoor events company Thor’s Tipi have stepped up as the all-new operators of this Christmastime spectacular.
They're organising a market where 'even if you’re not from Yorkshire, you’re going to leave being from Yorkshire'.
Although Leeds locals already know that Yorkshire is 'God's Own Country', the Leeds Christmas Markets team are making sure that the county is represented through its food, drinks and wider stalls.
So, let's get into it...
Opening dates and timings
The Leeds Christmas Markets will kick off from Thursday 19 November and run until Wednesday 23 December. So that's almost five weeks of festivities flooding the city, and plenty of time for you to make the most of it.
The markets will be open 7 days a week, the exact timings are:
Trader Village & Leeds Street Food
Sunday-Wednesday: 10:30am-7pm
Thursday-Saturday: 10:30am-8pm
THOR’S Highland Lodge & Folié Ski Bar
Sunday-Tuesday: 11am-9pm
Wednesday-Saturday: 11am-11pm
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Locations
The main stalls and street food will be located at City Square, here you will also find the main Christmas tree and two THOR's bars.
Ice Cube at Millennium Square will also be making a return, here you'll find rides, an ice rink and more food and drink. This is separate to what is being run by THOR's this year, though.
There will be plenty of other festive activities taking place throughout the city throughout November and December, you can find out more and view the Leeds Christmas map here.
Food
Okay, now we can get onto the good stuff.
We all know that the highlight of the markets is the food, and this year there's going to be more independent and local trader than ever before.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
From Leeds' very own Italian street food restaurant Stuzzi to homemade mini tiramisu drawers, you're going to want to arrive feeling very peckish at these markets that's for sure.
The current full list of street food vendors at City Square is as follows:
Cut & Craft (steak and chips)
Beth Bakes Cakes (hot chocolate fudge cake)
Misu Tiramisu (mini tiramisu drawers)
Crumble pots (crumble)
La Grassa (Italian-American sandwiches)
Chocolate Circus (stacked hot chocolates)
Stuzzi (Italian street food)
Street Kings Bratwurst (traditional bratwurst)
Johnsons' Toffee (homemade toffee and fudge)
The Savvy Baker (sweet treats and hot cookie dough)
Irish spice bags
Churros
Drink
Closely following behind food, a good old tipple is what many of us venture to the markets for.
This year, alongside a few mulled wine stalls in city square, THOR's will be doing what they do best and opening two brand-new outdoor bars to really get you in the spirit.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
You can pick from a Scottish Highland Lodge and a Folie Ski Bar, both designed to welcome large groups with their own themed drinks and cosy interiors. You can read more about these bars here.
Not only that, but they'll be a specialist coffee trader as well as a matcha trader if you don't fancy anything alcoholic.
Shopping
The Leeds Christmas Markets isn't just about eating and drinking, it's also about browsing and shopping for those last minute Christmas gifts or gorgeous knick-knacks to decorate your home with over the festive season.
Here's your list of traders to buy gifts from at City Square:
Stump Cross (natural crystal jewellery, fossils and more)
House of the Trembling Madness (festive craft beer cans)
Real Markets Yorkshire (lots of goodies made in Yorkshire)
Yorkshire Print Company (Yorkshire-inspired artwork)
Paper Starlights (handmade paper lanterns)
Scents of Christmas (handcrafted decorations)
Kakuwi (homemade crafts sourced across India and Nepal)
Leeds has been named one of the most ‘pet-friendly’ cities in the UK
Emily Sergeant
A new index has revealed the best cities for pet owners in the UK, and it’s great news for Leeds.
Millions of us share our home with a pet, and making sure we give them the best possible life is often at the forefront of our minds, right?
While there’s a lot people can control about their pet’s lifestyle, many of the factors that affect their happiness are determined by location, and sadly for the 83% of the UK population who live in more urban areas, the challenges to give a pet a good life can feel even greater – with less access to green space, and fewer social spaces to take dogs, for example.
But when it comes to cities, which are the best ones to own a pet in? Well, pet insurance firm Lassie has decided to get to the bottom of this and do some updated research.
Lassie analysed data across nine metrics that determine a pet’s wellbeing to create a ‘Pet-Friendliness Index’, and using this index, the UK’s five most populous cities were each assigned a score out of 100 and ranked to determine which is the most and least pet-friendly.
The index looks at four main categories to gauge how suitable each city is for pets – green space, environment, health, and infrastructure.
Then, within these, experts compared a range of measures, including air quality, temperature, costs, access to vets, road safety, pet-friendly rental housing, social opportunities, and many others.
And Leeds has taken the fourth spot.
The UK’s Most Pet-Friendly Cities
Manchester
Birmingham
Liverpool
Leeds
London
“We tend to think that being a good pet owner comes down to what we do at home, but your postcode could be playing a much bigger role in your pet’s happiness and health than you realise,” commented Hedda Båverud Olsson, who is the CEO and co-founder of Lassie.
“Our findings show that not all cities are created equal when it comes to pets. The difference between living in Manchester and London isn’t just about green space or somewhere to walk your dog, it can mean higher vet bills, poorer air quality and fewer veterinary practices nearby.”
The Hoot -
28th June 2023 
