The government is considering creating an extra Bank Holiday if England win The Euros, it is being reported.
On Wednesday night, the Three Lions beat Denmark 2-1 - landing them a place in the final on Sunday.
That means that this weekend, Gareth Southgate's team will face Italy in a penultimate head-to-head that will ultimately decide the victor of the major football competition.
It will be England's first chance to win a major tournament in 55 years.
The last time England got this far in a tournament was the World Cup in 1966, hence the excitement across the country that is building ahead of the weekend's final.
The government has already extended pub opening times, relaxing licensing laws to allow pubs to stay open until 11.15pm in case of penalties and extra time.
Now it's being reported that they are considering adding an extra Bank Holiday as a means of celebration if England is victorious.
POLITICO has reported that ministers and senior government officials were discussing ways to celebrate and that a new Bank Holiday was amongst the suggestions.
Titled "Give the UK a Bank Holiday on Monday July 12th if England win Euro 2020," it is hosted on the official parliament petition website.
The description reads: "England may be playing a European Championship Final at 8pm on Sunday 11th July. It would be beneficial and sensible to give the country the day off the next day if England win, in the form of an extra Bank Holiday Monday."
Having reached over 10,000 signatures, it will have to be discussed by Parliament and receive a response in the coming days.
There is also some speculation about whether Gareth Southgate and his team players, like Raheem Sterling, are also in line for knighthoods.
Logistically, the Bank Holiday might be difficult to arrange at the last minute - but it would certainly be a great thing to lift the country's spirits.
Trending
Bus operator partners with Leeds hospitals to help mums-to-be make vital appointments
First Bus is partnering with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to support vulnerable women during pregnancy.
The bus operator is providing an incredible 1,000 day tickets to help vulnerable mums-to-be make appointments.
The free travel passes can be provided by maternity teams to women mainly from minority or disadvantaged communities, helping them to attent important check-ups and appointments.
A recent review of records estimates that 100 pregnant women every month struggle to make hospital appointments as they have no access to funding support or face other barriers to transport.
Image: Supplied
First Bus will provide 100 day tickets per month until March 2027 for midwives to distribute to women based on travel needs following a financial assessment which is carried out during their initial appointment with the maternity team.
Nada Abdul-Majid, Specialist Midwife Health Equity at the Trust, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how women struggle to get to their hospital appointments if they don’t have enough money to use public transport.
“Our Haamla team carry out home visits to these vulnerable women however, it is important that families are able to travel to the hospital for scans, doctors’ appointments, labour and obstetric emergencies.”
Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Franchising which includes the West Yorkshire region, said: “Supporting communities in the areas we serve means, where we can, being able to assist people in all stages of life. Nothing can be more important than helping to ensure the health and welfare of mothers-to-be and the benefits this will bring to their newborn children.
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with the Trust and seeing the positive impact our travel support can make to the lives of vulnerable women in Leeds.
“We’re really grateful to First Bus for providing these tickets for women so they can receive maternity care without worrying about the cost of travel to and from appointments,” added Nada. “This will make a real difference to mothers and babies.”
Channel 4 is looking for adult virgins with ‘intimacy issues’ for next series of hit reality show
Emily Sergeant
Channel 4 is back looking for more adult virgins to take part in the potential next series of its hit reality show Virgin Island.
If you’re unfamiliar with Virgin Island, it’s unlike anything ever seen on TV before.
First hitting screens back in 2024 and having run for two successful seasons now, Virgin Island follows the journey of a group of adult virgins who are whisked off to a Mediterranean island retreat to learn life-changing skills in the art of intimacy.
Working with leading international therapists, the aim is to help the young people overcome their fears and insecurities when it comes to intimacy and sex.
Channel 4 said it chose to commission the show after a recent study into intimacy found out that one in eight British 26-year-olds is, apparently, still a virgin.
A casting call for the new series on the Channel 4 website reads: “Are you a virgin and do you need help and guidance with your fears and insecurities around intimacy and sex? Double Act Productions is casting adults for a potential second series of Virgin Island.”
You just need to be over 21 years of age to take part in the show.
Fancy it then? Or know someone who may be up for the ride? Applications for the potential next series of Virgin Island are now open, and there’s still plenty of time left to put your name down.
You can find out more and register your interest here.
Georgina Pellant -
8th July 2021 
