News of the broadcaster Eamonn Holmes and Loose Women star Ruth Langsford announcing their decision to divorce features on many of Sunday’s front pages. The Sunday People splashes with the showbiz story, citing the couple blaming work for their split after 14 years married together. Elsewhere, Manchester United’s “teen spirit” is hailed after the Red Devils lifted the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday
The Sunday Mirror also leads with the split of the former This Morning presenters – who had been together for 27 years and married in 2010. Above a photo of Eamonn and Ruth is a photo of actress Sheridan Smith who the tabloid says is being lined up to make a comeback for Gavin and Stacey’s last-ever episode on Christmas Day. The hit sitcom is back for one more episode after the last Christmas special, watched by nearly 12m people, left a dramatic cliffhanger.
In other news announced late on Saturday night, Rishi Sunak has pledged to re-introduce compulsory national service if it returns to power in July’s general election. The story features on the front of the Sunday Express and says every 18-year-old would either have to serve full time for one year in the armed forces, or volunteer in their communities for one weekend each month. To the side of the main story England and Manchester City star Jack Grealish shakes hands with Prince George and the Prince of Wales at Wembley after Man City lost the FA Cup Final to Manchester United.
Conservative leader Rishi Sunak’s pledge to bring back national service for 18-year-olds also features on the front of the Sunday Telegraph which recaps the latest on the election trail. Elsewhere in the paper, it looks at the exodus of Tory MPs under the prime minister which it says breaks a record set in 1997. Michael Gove is pictured as one of the 78 Tories who have decided to step down in the wake of Sunak’s snap election announcement. At the bottom, Matt’s latest cartoon pokes a joke at Paula Vennells who gave evidence at the Post Office Inquiry – the characters in the drawing question whether she is aware of the news of the general election.
The Sunday Times also leads with Rishi Sunak’s fresh election pledge for national service. The prime minister said the programme would give young people a shared purpose, and a renewed sense of pride in Britain. Dominating the top of the paper is a huge photo of the late Carrie Fisher when she played Princess Leia in the original Star Wars triology. The paper looks back at Fisher’s “wild” life and separately has a recap of Paula Vennells’ three-days worth of evidence at the Post Office Inquiry earlier this week.
Catching the eye on the front of The Observer is a photo of Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo, and Alejandro Garnacho celebrating one of their two goals which saw the Red Devils defy the odds in the Wembley sunshine to beat rivals Manchester City and lift the FA Cup. Turning to the latest on the general election campaign trail, Labour’s shadow chancellor accuses Conservatives of making unfunded financial commitments after calling a snap election. Speaking to the paper Rachel Reeves said the Tories’ tax pledges were reminiscent of Liz Truss’s disastrous mini-budget.
Following a number of other papers, the Mail on Sunday also splashes with Rishi Sunak’s new national service promise. The paper says Tories hope this could include 18-year-olds helping local fire, police and NHS services as well as charities tackling loneliness and supporting elderly, isolated people. On the side bar, the tabloid features an in-depth story on Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford’s marriage which it says has reportedly “been over for a year”. The paper includes comments from one friend of the couple who says they were “determined to keep it a secret”.
Finally, the Daily Star on Sunday also carries stories about Manchester United’s FA Cup victory and the announcement of Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford’s divorce. Fresh from his run at the Mayor of London elections, intergalactic character Count Binface says he is thinking about running in Rishi Sunak’s Richmond constituency.
