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Prince Andrew will not join rest of Royal Family for Christmas after ‘Chinese spy’ Yang Tengbo named | UK News

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson will not join the rest of the Royal Family for Christmas at Sandringham, Sky News understands.

It comes after an alleged Chinese spy with links to the Duke of York was publicly named for the first time as High Court restrictions were lifted on Monday afternoon.

Yang Tengbo, previously described as a “close confidant” of the royal, had been known only as “H6” after a court imposed an anonymity order.

But in a statement on Monday the businessman said the “widespread description of me as a ‘spy’ is entirely untrue”.

Follow live updates: Alleged Chinese spy named

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Who is alleged Chinese spy?

Last week, he lost an appeal over a decision to bar him from entering the UK on national security grounds.

On Friday, Prince Andrew said he “ceased all contact” with the Chinese businessman.

In a statement from his office, the Duke of York said he had cut ties following “advice” from officials but insisted the pair had never discussed anything of a “sensitive nature”.

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Prince Andrew has been present over the festive period at Sandringham for the last two years. The year before, the late Queen cancelled her traditional visit to the Norfolk estate to remain at Windsor Castle.

Read more:
Who is alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo?

The duke also joined other members of the Royal Family at Sandringham in 2019 in what was then his first public appearance since stepping down from official royal duties over his friendship with convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.

Read more from Sky News:
Alleged spy says he ‘did nothing wrong’
Woman killed in ‘shocking’ shooting named

Last year, Prince Andrew was seen walking alongside the other royals to church for the family’s Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church.

For the first time in decades, he was joined by his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.

Sarah Ferguson attends the Royal Family's Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene's church
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Sarah Ferguson attended the Royal Family’s Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene’s church last year. Pic: PA

Though Sarah had not joined the family at church for many years, it is thought she had been a guest at Sandringham for Christmas lunch in recent times.

Before last year, she was last seen walking to church with members of the family, including the late Queen, in the early 1990s.

Prince Andrew: Paperwork relating to Duke of York’s past business dealings ‘has vanished’, author claims | UK News

Government departments are doing “anything to avoid” sharing information about Prince Andrew’s past business dealings.

The claim comes from author Andrew Lownie who’s been working for four years on a new book about the Duke of York.

He has submitted over a hundred requests to Whitehall departments only to find that information “has vanished”.

Speaking to Sky News, he said: “I used to write about the intelligence services, and I found that was a lot easier, a lot more open and transparent than the Royal Family.

“I have tried, through the Freedom Information Act, to get access to any of the paperwork for Andrew, a special representative between 2001 and 2011 when he was taxpayer-funded, a public servant”, but explaining how his requests have been rejected he said “this stuff has vanished”.

‘It’s like playing whack-a-mole’

“The Foreign Office claimed not to know anything about it. The Department of Business and Trade know nothing.

“It’s like playing whack-a-mole. It’s real Yes Minister stuff, anything to avoid releasing this information.”

Interest in Prince Andrew’s finances has increased in recent months after it was revealed that the King was no longer paying him an allowance, raising questions about how he is able to pay for his home on the Windsor Estate, Royal Lodge, and security.

The prince’s time as trade envoy for the UK may be significant because it was potentially a lucrative time for him, giving him access to business contacts around the world.

Information withheld ‘in accordance with the acts’

A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: “The department has complied with its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act and Public Records Act and maintains that information has been withheld in accordance with the acts.

“This includes an ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) decision notice which outlined that the commissioner did not need to take any further steps.”

When asked, the Foreign Office told Sky News: “The FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) takes its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act very seriously.”

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Alleged Chinese spy linked to the prince

It comes as a Chinese businessman – described as a “close confidant” of Prince Andrew – was barred from entering the UK over national security risks.

Known as H6, the man was invited to the duke’s birthday party in 2020, and was told by Andrew’s aide Dominic Hampshire that he could help in potential dealings with Chinese investors. A judge ruled the Chinese businessman had an “unusual” degree of trust from the royal.

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On Friday, the duke said he “ceased all contact” with the businessman after concerns were raised by the government.

Andrew met the individual through “official channels” with “nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed”, a statement from his office said.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper would not comment on the case but said: “Our security and intelligence agencies are continually vigilant for any threat to UK national security, whether that be around foreign influence, whether it be around espionage, whether it be around any security threat.

“So, of course, we won’t hesitate to take action in individual cases or more widely, wherever any challenge arises.

Prince’s friendship raises more questions over his wealth

Prince Andrew’s friendship with an alleged Chinese spy raises yet more uncomfortable and embarrassing questions for him.

And it prompts very serious concerns about whether the Duke of York created a threat to national security by their “close” association.

Official court documents state the relationship between the two had a “convert and clandestine” element.

We know the individual acted as Prince Andrew’s business adviser, was invited to his birthday party, and more importantly, won an “unusual” degree of trust from someone who was a senior member of the Royal Family.

There is now further pressure to uncover the full extent of the pair’s association, and whether it continued after Andrew was forced to step down from his government role.

Andrew’s role as a “special representative” for trade began in 2001, but ended after his connections with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein were exposed.

The court papers now suggest the pressures on him at the time could have made him vulnerable to abuse.

After his fall from grace, and removal as a working royal, there has been much speculation about Prince Andrew’s wealth and his ability to pay for the upkeep of his large Windsor home Royal Lodge, which requires significant and expensive repairs.

Andrew is now facing even more scrutiny. And even more questions about the people he surrounded himself with.

Growing call for accountability

Former chair of the public accounts committee between 2010 and 2015, Baroness Margaret Hodge, has joined calls for less secrecy generally around the royal finances.

She told me: “I find it really difficult to believe that the departments for whom Prince Andrew had contact when he was an envoy have not got the records.

“They will have those records, they obviously just don’t want to share them. And that really says it all.

“I want a Royal Family that is well-funded: they’re a precious and valued institution in our society but going with that funding must come some accountability.”

Prince Andrew, Mike Tindall, Sarah, Duchess of York, Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence attend a thanksgiving service for the life of King Constantine of the Hellenes in February. File pic: PA
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Prince Andrew, Mike Tindall, Sarah, Duchess of York, Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence attend a thanksgiving service for the life of King Constantine of the Hellenes in February. File pic: PA

The palace believes that as a non-working royal, the duke’s income and tax arrangements are a matter for him and HM Revenue and Customs.

In terms of how he is paying for Royal Lodge, Sky News understands the royal household has been given assurances that his sources of income are all above board, however, it is not in their remit to vet or approve those sources.

It sees it as a job for the Crown Estate which manages properties in the likes of the Windsor Estate.

But Royal Lodge is of interest more generally to the family.

As the former home of the Queen Mother, it’s been suggested that potentially other members of the family may be interested in living there in the future, from the Prince and Princess of Wales to Queen Camilla looking at it for her family.

‘Opaque’ and ‘confusing’

However Robert Hardman, journalist and author of Charles III: New King. New Court, says: “Everything to do with Prince Andrew is opaque, is confusing, people don’t really want to talk about it because his situation is a distraction.”

He added: “I think the real question is not what’s happening today, it’s what’s happening in a few years down the line, what happens if his savings run out, these sources of income such as they are at the moment, what if they run out and suddenly he can’t afford to pay for the maintenance or the protection, what happens to the lease then?

“Does the Crown Estate then say, ‘Well, actually the terms of the lease have been forfeited?’ We just don’t know.

“It is a private financial matter for him but given the prominence of the house and its history and its connections, then the media are clearly going to carry on taking a keen interest in it, as are the Crown Estate and as are ultimately the Treasury.”

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Prince Andrew and China: What is happening?

Prince Andrew’s television interview five years ago about his links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was meant to shut the scandal down and allow him to get back to public duties without that distraction.

Instead, it had the opposite effect.

This year, he has only been seen once officially in front of the cameras, as he appeared to lead the family as they walked to the chapel at Windsor for a memorial service in February.

This Christmas we may again see Andrew with the rest of the family going to church at Sandringham, always a sign that he hasn’t been entirely left out in the cold by his relatives.

But he still lives with the repercussions of the Jeffrey Epstein saga, his extraordinary downfall meaning questions will continue to remain about him, how he lives and his finances.

Police detective Andrew Talbot stole cocaine from work to sell on streets of Manchester | UK News

A police officer who stole cocaine from work to sell on the streets of Manchester has been found guilty of misconduct and supplying class A drugs.

Andrew Talbot was a detective in Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) serious crime division when he took just under 4kg of the drug from an evidence store.

He also used police systems to search for drug dealers to help him sell the cocaine, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

Talbot supplied the drug between 2018 and 2020, but was caught when he accidentally dropped a small bag of cocaine outside his daughter’s school.

After the incident at the school in February 2020, he was searched at work and more of the drug was found. Drug paraphernalia and a GMP property bag showing traces of cocaine were then discovered at his home.

Cocaine held in the property store, recovered from two police operations, was weighed and a significant quantity was found to be missing.

The trial was told a piece of paper in Talbot’s car matched the property number for the cocaine and photos of the drug were found on his phone.

More on Greater Manchester

Jurors heard Talbot, 54, conspired with drug dealer Keith Bretherton to sell the cocaine and gave him confidential police information to help him recover a £20,000 drug debt.

Talbot was found guilty on Wednesday of supplying class A drugs, misconduct in public office, and failing to comply with a notice under the Regulation and Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

He previously admitted a string of other charges including possession of cocaine, possession of ammunition without a firearm certificate, theft of cocaine and unauthorised access to computer material.

He was sacked from the force in August 2024, which GMP said was the earliest legal opportunity.

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Bretherton, 50 pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

The pair, who are both from Leigh in Greater Manchester, will be sentenced on 18 October.

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Detective Chief Inspector Jennifer Adams, of GMP’s anti-corruption unit, said Talbot’s actions were “appalling” and “involved him abusing his position of power for his own personal gratification and criminal gains”.

She added: “Talbot took an oath to be a police officer and to serve the public but instead began to abuse this position to enter a world of criminality.”

Andrew Tate allowed to leave Romania while awaiting trial, court rules | UK News

Andrew Tate will be allowed to leave Romania while awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking, a court has ruled.

The controversial influencer and his brother Tristan can travel within the EU without restrictions while awaiting the trial, the Bucharest Tribunal ruled. Until Friday, the Tates had been banned from leaving Romania where he is awaiting trial.

The decision is not final and can be appealed by prosecutors.

Read more: Who is Andrew Tate?

Tate, 37, was charged in mid-2023 along with his brother for human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.

Two female suspects from Romania have also been charged as part of the case.

They have all denied the allegations against them.

In a post on X on Friday, Tate wrote: “I’m free. For the first time in three years I can leave Romania.”

He also referred to the charges as a “sham case” before advertising a platform that says it teaches the skill of money-making.

Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan in Bucharest today. Pic: AP
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Andrew Tate (right) and his brother Tristan in Bucharest in May. Pic: AP

Tate, who has almost 10 million followers on X, repeated these sentiments in a video that accompanies the post and adds: “The process is the punishment, in the end I’ll be innocent.

“My judges decided… I’m allowed to leave Romania, so do we take the (Ferrari) SF90 to Italy, the (Maserati) MC20 to Cannes, the (Ferrari) 812 Competition to Paris, where do I go?”

The Tate brothers, both former kickboxers with dual US and British citizenship, were held in police custody during the criminal investigation from late December 2022 until April 2023 to prevent them from fleeing the country or tampering with evidence.

They were then placed under house arrest until August, when courts put them under judicial control, a lighter preventative measure.

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From March: What next for the Tate brothers?

“Andrew and Tristan are still determined to clear their name and reputation; however, they are grateful to the courts for placing this trust in them,” the brothers’ lead defence lawyer Eugen Vidineac said in a statement.

Romanian prosecutors have said the Tate brothers recruited their victims by seducing them and falsely claiming to want a relationship or marriage.

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They said the victims were then taken to properties outside the capital Bucharest, and through physical violence and mental intimidation were sexually exploited by being forced to produce pornographic content for social media sites that generated large financial gain.

In a separate case, Tate was served at his home in Romania with a civil lawsuit lodged by four British women after a claim was issued by the High Court in London, according to a statement released in May by McCue Jury & Partners, the law firm representing the four women.

The four allege Tate sexually and physically assaulted them and reported him to British authorities in 2014 and 2015.

After a four-year investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service decided in 2019 not to prosecute him.

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The alleged victims then turned to crowdfunding to pursue a civil case against him.

In a third case, the Tate brothers also appeared in March at the Bucharest Court of Appeal after British authorities issued arrest warrants over allegations of sexual aggression in a UK case dating back to 2012 to 2015.

The appeals court granted the British request to extradite the Tates to the UK, but only after legal proceedings in Romania have concluded.

Tate, a self-described misogynist, has gained millions of fans by promoting an ultra-masculine lifestyle that critics say
denigrates women.

Andrew Tate served with civil proceedings papers on behalf of four British women | UK News

Andrew Tate has been served with civil proceedings papers in Romania on behalf of four British women, their lawyers have said.

Lawyers on behalf of the four alleged victims have said they are bringing a case against the social media influencer at the High Court in the UK after the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute in 2019.

The four women allege Tate raped and assaulted them and are seeking “damages for injuries they suffered as a result”.

Tate, 37, is accused alongside his brother Tristan Tate.

A representative for the Tate brothers said they “unequivocally deny all allegations”, and are “fully committed to challenging these accusations with unwavering determination and resolve”.

Three of the British accusers were the subject of an investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary.

The Hertfordshire investigation was closed in 2019.

In a statement, McCue Jury and Partners, the law firm representing the four women, said: “Three of the women bringing the civil action reported that Tate had raped and physically assaulted them to the UK police in 2014/2015.

“After a four-year investigation, Hertfordshire Police sent the case to the CPS for a charging decision. In 2019, the CPS decided not to prosecute.

“Despite additional evidence, the CPS have declined the women’s recent requests to review its decision.”

A court in Romania ruled last month that a trial can start in the influencer’s separate human trafficking case, which also accuses him of rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.

Tate and his brother were initially arrested in December 2022 near Bucharest.

They will be extradited to the UK after the proceedings in Romania, after Bedfordshire Police secured a European arrest warrant for further separate allegations of rape and human trafficking.

Those allegations, which the two brothers “unequivocally deny”, date back to 2012 and 2015.

In a statement in March, the Bedfordshire force said: “As part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of rape and human trafficking, Bedfordshire Police has obtained a European arrest warrant for two men in their 30s.

“We are working with authorities in Romania as part of this investigation and will provide an update in due course.”

A representative for the Tate brothers said they “unequivocally deny all allegations”, and are “fully committed to challenging these accusations with unwavering determination and resolve”.

Criminal Cases Review Commission apologises to Andrew Malkinson after wrongly jailed for 17 years | UK News

A man wrongly jailed for 17 years for a rape he did not commit has received an apology from the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).

Andrew Malkinson was jailed in 2003 but eventually released in December 2020.

His charges were quashed last year after new DNA evidence potentially linked another man to the crime.

The CCRC has now offered Mr Malkinson an unreserved apology after the completion of a report from an independent review by Chris Henley KC into the handling of the case.

CCRC chairman Helen Pitcher OBE said: “Mr Henley’s report makes sobering reading, and it is clear from his findings that the commission failed Andrew Malkinson. For this, I am deeply sorry. I have written to Mr Malkinson to offer him my sincere regret and an unreserved apology on behalf of the commission.”

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A Very Royal Scandal: Michael Sheen to play Prince Andrew in Amazon series about Newsnight interview | Ents & Arts News

Welsh actor Michael Sheen will star as Prince Andrew in a series based on the explosive Newsnight interview.

Sheen is well known for his convincing portrayals of real people – having played former prime minister Tony Blair, the journalist David Frost and the football manager Brian Clough.

Ruth Wilson will take on the role of Emily Maitlis, the journalist who grilled the Duke of York over his relationship with late billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in November 2019.

The three-part Amazon Studios series will be called A Very Royal Scandal.

The studio has said it will follow Maitlis’s “professional and personal journey as a Newsnight journalist leading up to her acclaimed interview with Prince Andrew”.

The show is in production in the UK.

Duke of York speaking about his links to Jeffrey Epstein in an interview with BBC Newsnight's Emily Maitlis
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Emily Maitlis interviews Prince Andrew on Newsnight

Ruth Wilson will play Emily Maitlis. Pic: AP
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Ruth Wilson will play Emily Maitlis. Pic: AP

Maitlis, who left Newsnight to host The News Agents podcast with former BBC journalists Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall, is an executive producer on the production.

The 53-year-old broadcaster wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Blimey. First time I’ve seen this in print. What an exceptional cast.”

The series is written by The Last King Of Scotland writer Jeremy Brock and directed by Becoming Jane’s Julian Jarrold.

The cast also includes Joanna Scanlan as Prince Andrew’s ex-private secretary Amanda Thirsk, Alex Jennings as the late Queen’s private secretary Sir Edward Young, and Eanna Hardwicke as BBC Newsnight editor Stewart Maclean.

Read more:
Prince Andrew interview branded ‘disastrous’ and ‘excruciating’
Just 6% believe Prince Andrew’s over Epstein

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Prince Andrew on Newsnight: ‘My honour coloured my judgement’

A Very Royal Scandal is produced by Blueprint Television for Amazon Studios, with Karen Thrussell, Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Diarmuid McKeown, Mr Brock and Mr Jarrold as executive producers, and Josh Hyams serving as a producer on the series.

Maitlis has already been an executive producer of a Channel 4 documentary about the interview called Andrew: The Problem Prince.

A Netflix film adaptation of the interview is also in the works called Scoop.

In that version, Maitlis is played by Sex Education star Gillian Anderson while The Man In The High Castle actor Rufus Sewell appears as Andrew.

The Netflix adaption is based on former Newsnight producer Sam McAlister’s memoir Scoops: The BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews From Prince Andrew To Steven Seagal.

Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff’s Top Gear co-host ‘proud’ show team ‘kept everything quiet’ after test track crash | Ents & Arts News

Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff’s Top Gear co-host has praised the team behind the programme for keeping the details of the cricket star’s test track crash out of the public eye.

Chris Harris said on BBC Breakfast today that the former England cricket captain is still recovering from his injuries but is “healing”.

Flintoff, 45, was taken to hospital after he was hurt while filming Top Gear at its test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome last December.

He had facial injuries when he appeared in public for the first time with England’s cricket team in September, nine months afterwards.

Harris, who joined Top Gear in 2016, said of his co-star: “I think he’s healing.

“It was a serious incident. I’m not going to say any more than that.

“As I’ve said in the book and in the few interviews I’ve given, I’m so proud of the fact that team Top Gear kept everything quiet and we were dignified.

“There is nothing out there about what happened and there won’t be. There’s no mole in the organisation. I’m really, really proud of that.

“As long as he’s healing, it’s great to see him out and about being passionate about cricket.

“I’m sad I’m not doing Top Gear with him at the moment, but that’s life.

“It’s the best thing for him right now.”

Top Gear presenters Freddie Flintoff, Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris. PA Photo/BBC/Lee Brimble.
Image:
Chris Harris (pictured, right) said: ‘I think he’s healing. It was a serious incident’

Filming on the series was halted following the incident.

Flintoff’s son, Corey, said at the time that he was “lucky to be alive” and described it as a “pretty nasty crash”.

The BBC said in October it had agreed a financial settlement with the injured presenter following his crash – reported to be worth £9m.

Both Flintoff and the BBC were “satisfied” with the agreement, according to The Sun, which also quoted a “show insider” who said there was “no way it [Top Gear] could continue”.

A BBC spokesperson said last month: “A decision on the timing of future Top Gear shows will be made in due course with BBC Content.”

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Image:
Flintoff in September

‘I had nothing to do’ – Harris

Discussing the impact the crash had on his own life, Harris told the BBC: “I suddenly had nothing to do.

“I have got another business, which is an online car platform which is great. I do stuff there.

“But my day job went and you can imagine your muscle memory of working life is really important – you guys have your routines – if that suddenly stops and suddenly you don’t talk to those people, you don’t see those people, then you go into a slightly dark place. I think I really missed it.”

He added: “It does make you reflect on the times that it might have gone wrong, maybe.

“And that made me think I’ve got responsibilities. I’ve got children. Have I been reckless?

“The answer is I don’t think I have. But I did have moments I thought ‘have I pushed this too far’?

“Also, I’m old and I don’t bounce the way I used to. When you’re 25, you bounce nicely. Later you don’t bounce so well. It’s all about bouncing.”

Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff makes rare public appearance nine months after Top Gear crash | UK News

England cricket legend Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff has made a rare public appearance nine months after he suffered serious facial injuries in a car crash.

Flintoff was at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens in Wales on Friday to watch England’s opening one-day international against New Zealand from the balcony.

The former England captain, 45, was filming for the BBC show Top Gear when he crashed at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.

Flintoff, who was one of the presenters of the show, has kept a low profile since the accident.

However, the former all-rounder, who played in 79 Tests and 141 one-day matches for England, was pictured in an England coaching kit at Sophia Gardens on Friday.

The injuries from the Top Gear crash, which brought the filming of series 34 to a halt, appeared evident on his face.

Flintoff is a close friend of England managing director Rob Key and is set to be with the squad for the remainder of the series.

He is not due to be with the group for the upcoming World Cup in India.

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A statement from BBC Studios earlier this year said it had “concluded its investigation into the accident at the Top Gear Test Track in Surrey last December, which regrettably injured presenter Freddie Flintoff”.

It continued: “We have sincerely apologised to Freddie and will continue to support him with his recovery. Under the circumstances, we feel it would be inappropriate to resume making series 34 of Top Gear at this time.

“We understand this will be disappointing for fans, but it is the right thing to do, and we’ll make a judgement about how best to continue later this year. This has also impacted the production team, who we continue to support.”

Flintoff ended his international career in 2009 after helping England to an Ashes series victory over Australia before he retired from all forms of the game in 2015.

He went on to launch a career in broadcasting, which also included featuring on Sky’s “A League Of Their Own”.

Andrew Tate wins appeal from Romanian court to be released from house arrest | World News

Andrew Tate has won his appeal in a Romanian court to be released from house arrest pending trial.

The controversial influencer has been held in Romania charged with human trafficking, rape and forming an organised crime group.

The Bucharest Court of Appeals said in a written ruling that it “replaces the house arrest measure with that of judicial control for a period of 60 days from 4 August until 2 October.”

Tate was indicted in June along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian female suspects for human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.

The Tate brothers are accused of tricking seven women into sexual exploitation on fake promises of a relationship or marriage – a technique authorities have labelled the “loverboy method”.

It is alleged that the Tate brothers, along with the two Romanian female suspects, formed the group in 2021 to commit human trafficking in Romania and other countries – including the US and UK.

Read more:
Andrew Tate sues woman who accused him of human trafficking
How the arrest of controversial influencer has impacted his Twitter following

The brothers were first arrested at a property in Bucharest in December last year and held in custody until March – when they were released under house arrest.

The former professional kickboxer has repeatedly claimed Romanian prosecutors have no evidence and alleged the case is a political conspiracy designed to silence him.

Andrew Tate, who has been based mainly in Romania since 2017, is an online influencer who has amassed millions of followers, particularly among young men.