CHARLIE Lawson appears to have burned his final bridges with Coronation Street after slamming bosses in his new autobiography. The former soap star played the iconic Jim McDonald on and off since 1989, but left for good in 2018. 3 Charlie Lawson has let rip at former Coronation Street bosses in his new autobiographyCredit: ITV 3 The former soap star played the iconic Jim McDonald on the cobblesCredit: REX 3 Charlie and Beverley Callard pictured on the Weatherfield cobbles in 1990Credit: Rex Charlie previously ripped into Coronation Street in an exclusive chat with The Sun, saying how its “extremely average” acting is turning off viewers. But now in his new autobiography titled That’s Life, So It Is, the 65-year-old recounts how he was “desperate to leave” the cobbles in 1999. Charlie told how he disliked one former producer so much he had “neither respect or anything for the man”. He...

UK consumer confidence drops in November UK consumer confidence has fallen this month, as households grow gloomier about their financial prospects. The latest poll of consumer sentiment, just released by data firm S&P Global, shows that households reported that their current finances continued to deteriorate in November, while pessimism about the financial outlooks for the year ahead has risen. Households across the UK reported further pressure on their everyday spending, which ate into the amount of cash they had available to spend. It has fallen again this month, at a faster rate than in October. Debt levels rose in November for the first time in three months, the survey found. A gauge of job security also declined, which could be driven by the increase in employer National Insurance contributions announced in the Budget. The poll shows that the budget, at the end of October, has not lifted confidence among households....

A STORMTROOPER helmet from the original Star Wars film has sold for £325,000. It featured in the Jedi mind trick scene from 1977 movie, later renamed Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. 2 Stormtrooper helmet from the original Star Wars film has sold for £325kCredit: SWNS 2 The helmet featured in the Jedi mind trick scene from 1977 movie, later renamed Star Wars: Episode IV – A New HopeCredit: SWNS The helmet was among 1,800 pieces of film, TV and music memorabilia auctioned over four days. The arena helmet and mask worn by Russell Crowe in Sir Ridley Scott’s 2000 epic Gladiator raised £125,000. Noel Gallagher’s custom Silver Sparkle Les Paul Florentine guitar, used for live performances, sold for £226,800. Michael Jackson’s signed red leather jacket for the Thriller tour rehearsal went for £189,000. Top TV prop was a model vehicle from adventure series Thunderbirds, at £168,750. The...

Chinese online marketplace Temu has enjoyed explosive international growth off the back of an eye-catching and often absurdly cheap range of products, but those cut-price tactics have met increasing roadblocks as it seeks to conquer new markets in south-east Asia. Indonesia ordered Temu to be taken down from app stores in October, a move it said would protect the country’s smaller merchants. Last week, Vietnam threatened to ban Temu and fellow Chinese-owned fast-fashion outlet Shein by the end of the month, saying they had not been approved to do business in the country. The flood of cheaper Chinese-made products – often with minimal import taxes – has damaged local vendors and manufacturers, who cannot beat the speed, quality or prices offered online, according to Simon Torring, co-founder of market insights firm Cube. “Temu has become the lightning rod for every regulator, everywhere now getting worried about whether cross-border import rules...

A HUGE skyscraper nearly as tall as the Eiffel Tower site abandoned in the middle of a busy city – but has a unique purpose. Standing at a whopping height of 948ft, the H1 Tower is one of the tallest buildings in the Chinese city of Guangzhou. 2 Aerial view of the Hitachi H1 Tower, one of the world’s tallest elevator test towersCredit: Getty 2 The building is known to be the world’s tallest elevator test towerCredit: Getty The luxurious-looking tower was built by the Japanese conglomerate Hitachi. But instead of being a lavish skyscraper full of offices or apartments, no one lives there — because the giant tower is dedicated entirely to testing lifts and other products used in high-rise buildings. It serves as the company’s global base for developing and testing technologies that are developed It has 15 test shafts that total 1.4 miles in length, with the longest shaft being over 820ft long. The H1...

Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Everton 1-0 Liverpool: Matthew Beard rightly has a good moan at the fourth official. With the naked eye, it looked half a yard outside the box and replays further prove it. No VAR, of course. Share GOAL! Everton 1-0 Liverpool (Snoeijs, pen, 42) Snoeijs sends the goalkeeper the wrong way to further punish Liverpool for some truly awful officiating. Share Everton 0-0 Liverpool: PENALTY TO EVERTON! Hayashi is tripped outside the box but the referee away a penalty! Share Leicester 0-0 Man Utd: Cain drives through the United defence and benefits from a ricochet in the box but someone sends her shot wide from six yards. She looks unhappy with herself. Share Everton 0-0 Liverpool: Those couple of chances for Everton seems to have given them an extra impetus and they have ramped up their press...

JON JONES created yet more history with an emphatic victory over Stipe Miocic. The mixed martial arts legend returned to the octagon early this morning in the main event of UFC 309 in New York to make the maiden defence of his heavyweight crown. 3 Jon Jones made his long-awaited octagon return against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309Credit: GETTY 3 The MMA icon looked to make his first defence of the heavyweight titleCredit: Getty 3 Jones blew former champ Miocic out of the waterCredit: AFP Many thought former two-time champion Miocic would give the Hall of Famer one of his toughest-ever tests. But as he’s done with so many opponents over the years, he blew the veteran out of the water courtesy of a sensational third-round TKO victory. Jones immediately put Miocic on the back foot and looked for a takedown early doors but Stipe ended up tagging him with...

Charles Falconer: The current law has been abandoned. The director of public prosecutions (DPP) will not prosecute those motivated by compassion as long as they are not healthcare professionals, despite the fact they are committing a crime to which they have no defence, with a maximum of 14 years in prison. This half-law brings unnecessary suffering. People fear death because they cannot control its timing or form, and the medical profession can’t help. People go to Switzerland to die earlier than they want, often alone. Those who cannot afford or do not have the energy to go to Switzerland take steps like hoarding pills to take their own lives, often alone to protect their loved ones. People can suffer horribly in their final illness because the doctor cannot provide help for them to end the agony, when it is conspicuously the compassionate course. Those who love them who do help...

STRICTLY’S head judge Shirley Ballas has hit back after online trolls launched a petition to get her kicked off the show. It follows her decision to vote off singer Shayne Ward last week, which also led to abuse on social media. 5 Shirley Ballas has hit back at trolls who wanted her sacked from Strictly to say she is not going anywhereCredit: PA 5 Shirley voted to save Wynne Evans in the dance-off and send singer Shayne Ward homeCredit: BBC Ahead of last night’s showpiece Blackpool Tower round, Shirley said: “If it was to end here tomorrow, I’d be very grateful for the trips that I’ve had. It’s been the trip of a lifetime, for sure.” The Queen of Latin, who joined the BBC One series seven years ago, got a barrage of stick after last week’s shock dance-off between the Coronation Street actor and Wynne Evans. It resulted in...

STUDIES show which songs you should never listen to on a flight and why. Music can impact our mood in many ways, depending on its speed. 3 Bilie Eilish has a song on the best and worst list of songs to listen to when flying 3 One of Gracie Abrams’ songs is on the list for best songs to listen to when flying A new study by Netflights found the music we choose to listen to before and during a flight can seriously affect our anxiety levels. Fast music with more beats in per minute, can make us feel alert and energetic, while slow music with fewer BPM’s evokes feelings of calm. In fact, listening to music with less beats per minute lowers heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure, and reduces the tension on our muscles. But don’t panic if this means changing your playlist asap before your next flight,...