Is it a little early to be talking about pumpkin spice lattes? We don't think so.
Despite the sun still shining in the sky though, Greggs grabbed headlines when it confirmed that the cult-classic coffee drink would be making a return to branches of the bakery chain up and down the country from this week, and Starbucks has also teased that its version will be available soon.
A whole host of other chains and independent cafes brew up their take on the seasonal coffee drink each year too.
And now, one company is looking to pay someone to test them all out.
If you were already planning on spending the colder months sipping away on a pumpkin spice latte, then how about getting paid for drinking them while you’re at it?
Clothing brand Pour Moi is hiring an official 'Pumpkin Spice Latte Tester' to test all the seasonal drinks available at popular coffee chains, and decide once and for all, which one will be crowned the best of the best.
The successful applicant will receive a payment of £300, plus a budget to spend on the Pumpkin Spice Lattes and other autumnal drinks.
So, what will the job actually require then? Well, the Pumpkin Spice Latte Tester will be asked to rate and review each of the coffees to reveal which ones give the best autumnal vibes from the first sip, and after trying each spiced coffee, they will then give each one a score based on various factors - sweetness levels, flavour, cosiness, smell, and added bonuses like cream, sprinkles, gingerbread etc.
The job requirements for the role are having a solid enthusiasm for autumn, a penchant for pumpkins, and the ability to get to and from a range of different coffee shops.
You'll also need to have lots of experience in drinking pumpkin spice lattes.
Pour Moi is hiring an official 'Pumpkin Spice Latte Tester' to test all the seasonal drinks available / Credit: Starbucks UK | Greggs
"Despite the hot summer we have all faced, there are still fall fanatics who cannot wait for their autumn wardrobes to make a return," said Maria Ryan - Sales and Marketing Director from Pour Moi.
"Because so many of our customers talk about how much they love everything about this cosy season, we wanted to do something that ensures they have the best start to their favourite season, so by hiring a Pumpkin Spice Latte Tester, we can help all fall-lovers tell the gourd from the bad when it comes to the limited-edition seasonal coffees on offer this year.
"It means everybody can relax with a hot drink knowing they will feel autumnal from the first sip."
Fancy sticking an application in for the role of Pumpkin Spice Latte Tester then? You can find out more information and apply on the Pour Moi website here.
In gutting news for the Owls, the already struggling Sheffield Wednesday FC have been informed that they could very well be starting next season with an immediate points deduction.
From bad to worse, it seems, at the moment.
Wednesdayites have been through it all over the past few years, with unpaid debts and salaries resulting in administration, sparking protests; now relegation to the third tier and the threat of complete collapse.
And as if things weren't hard enough already, Sheffield Wednesday have now been told that they will automatically be deducted 15 points from the beginning of the 2026/67 League One campaign if creditors aren't paid in full - starting with outgoing and controversial owner, Dejphon Chansiri...
BREAKING: Sheffield Wednesday look set to start life in League One next season with a 15-point deduction, because none of the bidders currently trying to buy the club is prepared to pay £15m to the outgoing owner, Dejphon Chansiri. pic.twitter.com/UoAgIMsB4p
Chansiri has loaned over £60 million to the organisation during more than 11 years in charge, but because this money was never converted into share capital, he is the entity that the club owes the biggest amount to.
Addressing supporters in a statement back in September 2023, the 57-year-old member of the millionaire family that controls the Thai Union Group, wrote: "I will not inject any more money into the club if I am being treated unfairly.
"Those fans who create trouble [for] the club and me, and believe that they are the real owner of the club, need to be responsible for the financial matters of the club from now on."
It's fair to say that relations with the fans have far from improved since then, and they've been left even more furious following this most recent development.
At present, Chansiri must be paid at least £15m (effectively almost half of the entire organisation's total purchase price at current valuation), but none of the interested bidders has ultimately been willing to do so thus far.
However, the Arise Capital Partners LLC consortium - led by David Storch and son Michael, as well as Tom Costin - has been identified as the 'preferred' party to complete a buyout.
Newcastle United Mike Ashley was also said to be in the running to take over the club, but ultimately was unprepared to settle this fee with Chansiri, and there remain doubts over whether or not Storch is willing to either.
As for the loyal Hillsborough matchgoers, they have accused the EFL of punishing them and the club rather than the ownership and wider executive board, who have overseen this turbulent period for the historic local institution.
One person wrote underneath the post in social media: "So a club gets penalised because their owner is a piece of shit, but Man City and others just get away with it, makes sense"; many others have simply added that the pending treatment is "unfair" and targets the wrong people. What do you make of it all?
Elsewhere in the Steel City, fresh hope and a new chapter are coming to the world's oldest football club as native musician Jon McClure has been confirmed as the new chairman. Find out more down below.
Featured Images — Kenneth Yarham (via Geograph)/Kivo (via Wikimedia Commons)
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People from Yorkshire wanted to take part in next series of BBC’s popular Gladiators reboot
Emily Sergeant
The BBC is back casting for the next series of Gladiators, and producers are looking for people from Yorkshire to take part.
The gladiators are ready for a new series… but are the contenders?
That’s right – arguably the most exciting and energetic sports entertainment game show of all time is coming back for another series following its long-awaited reboot back in 2025, and that means that the BBC is looking for some brave new contestants to take part.
Yorkshire residents are among those producers are calling on to consider sticking an application in.
Unfamiliar with the premise of Gladiators? The massively-popular series – which is based on an American show of the same name – sees four contestants compete in a number of physical challenges against the ‘Gladiators’, all with the aim of securing as many points as possible for the final event, which is known as ‘The Eliminator’.
Image: BBC
Contestants battle against each other to win a place in the grand final, and ultimately be crowned the champion for the series.
Putting out a UK-wide casting call on the BBC website this week, producers Hungry Bear Media wrote: “Gladiators, one of the most exciting and energetic sports entertainment game shows ever is back for a fourth series.
“We are on the look out for the bravest members of the British public who have the speed and skill to take on our superhuman Gladiators.”
Reckon that’s you then?
With filming set to start soon, applications are now open for the new series of Gladiators, and all you need to do to be in with a chance of being selected as a contestant is being over 18 years old, and fill out an application form.
You can apply on the BBC website here, before applications close on 31 May 2026.
Emily Sergeant -
26th August 2022 
