A man has sparked a debate after proposing to his girlfriend in the middle of her workout, as he couldn’t understand why her face didn’t light up when he pulled out the ring and got down on one knee

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K-Beauty is booming, and to help shoppers explore leading brands and viral products, Boots has released a brand-new beauty box that is packed with so many trending products we don’t even know where to begin.

While you can shop an ever-expanding selection of K-Beauty brands in store, the leading beauty retailer has gone one step further and curated another limited edition K-Beauty Box. 

Filled with leading Korean skincare labels such as Anua, Purito and Biodance, this is one you’re not going to want to miss.

Boots K-Beauty Skincare Edit

The seven-piece beauty bundle features skincare heroes from sought-after K-Beauty brands, including Biodance, Anua, Tocobo, and many more. The limited edition bundle contains full-size products that target dehydrated skin, pigmentation, breakouts and dull skin. 

shop £35 (Worth over £89)

Worth over £89 but yours for just £35, the seven-piece bundle includes highly sought-after beauty must-haves, including Biodance’s Hydro Cera-nol Real Deep Sheet Mask and the Tocobo Calamine Pore Control Cleansing Oil.

The set covers a range of skincare needs – you’ll find cleansing oils to remove the day, sheet masks to give your skin a boost of hydration, serums to combat excess sebum that can lead to breakouts, and even suncare must-haves.

The best part is that all seven products in the Boots set are full-size, which is a rare find when it comes to beauty boxes. 

The K-Beauty Box is available to shop now exclusively at Boots.com. If the previous box is anything to go by, we anticipate this drop will sell out in rapid time. 

Plus, those who have an Advantage Card membership will accrue points with this purchase, which you can redeem against future products. It’s a win-win!

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We’ve made it known we have designer taste, but our lemonade budget doesn’t allow us to make three-figure splurges willy nilly. We’re sure we’re not the only ones. 

Next has caught our attention with its designer-inspired footwear, which made us double take – honestly.

The Forever Comfort Leather Cutout Hardware Detail Slingback Heels retail for £49, and look very similar to YSL’s Babylone Breteuil Slingback Pumps that fetch £860 – a staggering £811 difference. 

Price tag aside, both pairs of shoes have similar features, though we know our preferences. 

Forever Comfort® Leather Cutout Hardware Detail Slingback Heels

Made from soft leather, these pointed slingbacks tick all the boxes: sleek metal toe detail, comfy buckle fastening, and a wearable 7cm heel. Available in black and burgundy, plus half sizes for the perfect fit.

BUY NOW FOR £49

Next’s slingback heels have been crafted from soft leather that offers a textured finish, whereas YSL’s Babylone Breteuil Slingback Pumps are a combination of calf and lambskin leather that offers a shiny finish. 

Both designs feature a pointed toe, as well as a slim stiletto heel, though the heel height differs between the designer and high street creations. Next’s heel height measure 7cm, while YSL’s are a staggering 9cm. 

Both heels are a slingback design, which is a hugely popular style in recent months. While it’s difficult to tell the difference between the high street and high end version, at closer inspection this slingback detail between the two slightly differs. 

Next’s heels feature an adjustable buckle fastening at the back, whereas YSL’s slingback is elasticated. In our humble opinion, we think the buckle fastening is the better alternative, as wearers can ensure a secure fit. Whereas an elasticated back can give after numerous wears. 

Both the Next and YSL heels are available in black and burgundy tones, which complement all outfits. We would pair the Next heels with wide leg jeans and a T-shirt, shirt, even an oversize blazer, a midi skirt or dress. 

Why Next’s slingback heels get our seal of approval is they can be worn for any evening out whatever the weather. Simply slip on a pair of tights for colder evenings out. So it’s safe to say we will get our cost per wear out of the Next slingbacks.

Considering Next’s heels are £811 less than the original YSL version, we think they will sell out fast. At least, we’re adding these shoes to basket immediately. 

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The expert warned that some ‘romantic’ gestures are not as sweet as they might look

Columnist Jessica Boulton’s rundown of the past week in showbiz: From Strictly Shirley’s heartbreak lessons to Meghan Markle’s latest faux pas and Loose Women’s own goal

‘I feel like I’m dying.’  

That’s the message I woke up to from my daughter, Sophia, one Wednesday morning in March 2023.    

Normally I would have put such a text down to ‘teenage dramatics’, but on this occasion she was, terrifyingly, right on the money.  

Looking back, Sophia’s symptoms began on the Monday evening.  

She’d been to an evening training session with her lacrosse teammates and had been complaining about achy limbs.    

Presuming she’d just overdone it, she took herself back to her hall of residence for dinner and bed.   

On Tuesday morning, however, the vomiting started.  

She messaged me to say she was being sick every half hour and at first I assumed it was norovirus. However, because she was three hours away at university in Manchester, I felt powerless to help her. All I could do was tell her to keep hydrated and keep messaging her to make sure she was okay.  

Over the next 24 hours her aches, sickness and high temperature continued to worsen and, by the time she sent me that text on Wednesday morning, her symptoms had begun to progress into dizziness, confusion, a stiff neck, slight rash, and cold hands and feet.  

I phoned her immediately, but all I could hear on the other end was silence followed by a weird moaning noise. Then my phone started pinging with messages that were just a jumble of letters.  

That’s when I started to panic.  

Switching to FaceTime, I just wanted to see that my little girl was okay. Instead, I was met with an image I will never forget: a blank staring face, a wide-open mouth and glazed over eyes.  

I could tell that Sophia was in her room, alone, but as she was unable to move, speak or type coherently I wasn’t sure how I could help her. 

We suggested Sophia try to type 999 to her flat WhatsApp group, alerting her flatmates that something was wrong. They got the message and came to her room to help her. We also contacted the halls’ security team who phoned for an ambulance. 

I stayed on FaceTime and answered all of the paramedics questions on Sophia’s behalf. I felt totally helpless – interrupting with questions of my own seemed the wrong thing to do when the priority was getting to the bottom of what was happening. 

After what seemed like a lifetime of tick boxes and checks, I heard the paramedic saying the words ‘heart attack’. I was shocked. 

As soon as I heard that the ambulance had arrived, I grabbed a few things and jumped in the car for the long drive to Manchester. 

By the time we arrived at the hospital Sophia had been diagnosed with sepsis, which doctors suspected had been caused by meningitis – the swelling of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.  

Meningitis symptoms

Symptoms of meningitis include:

• A fever, cold hands and feet
• Vomiting
• A stiff neck
• A severe headache
• Intense muscle pain
• Confusion and irritability
• Drowsiness
• Pale, blotchy skin, or a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it
• An aversion to bright lights
• Seizures

Find out more via Meningitis Now

They immediately put her on IV antibiotics as a precaution and moved her to intensive care, but because she was too ill to undergo the tests we didn’t get a formal diagnosis of bacterial meningococcal meningitis B (MenB) until 36 hours later.  

Fortunately, as they’d put her on the correct antibiotics from admission, it saved her life.  

She spent nine days in intensive care and the high dependency unit and a total of two weeks in hospital. However, there were some complications.  

Sophia was left profoundly deaf in her right ear – a common problem for those who’ve had meningitis – she needed emergency surgery on her right hip for septic arthritis and also suffered from myopericarditis (an inflammation of the heart and surrounding structures). 

But, she was alive, and to us that’s all that mattered. 

When she left the hospital, doctors told us to expect at least a year of recovery. She continued with the antibiotics and endured numerous appointments with a variety of consultants, MRI scans and blood tests and spent a few weeks on bed rest. 

After six weeks she was readmitted to hospital for another seven days due to a suspected bacterial infection and inflammation around her heart, meaning the recovery process started all over once again. She was devastated. 

That June she had cochlear implant surgery to restore her hearing and thankfully, after a restful few months, she was given the all-clear on her heart. She could go back to playing sport and join in with university life.  

Her return to university in September was nerve wracking for us all: she was excited to be with her friends again but apprehensive about getting ill and while I wanted her to be a normal teenager, I was terrified of more setbacks. 

Other than an unexplained episode of heart attack-like symptoms after Christmas though, she has not had another incident since January 2024 and so she is now living an otherwise normal student life. 

She spent the last year in Spain and Portugal as part of her Modern Languages degree, still takes part in sport and enjoys going out – although she knows her limits and rests when needed.  

But it’s terrifying to think how close we came to the alternative.  

Meningitis and septicaemia are life threatening medical emergencies that can take hold very quickly – one in six people with bacterial meningitis will die and many others are left with life changing after-effects such as limb loss, deafness, blindness or acquired brain injury.  

In that regard, Sophia was lucky and we are so fortunate that she was able to answer my call that day.  

But I want everyone to know the signs and symptoms of meningitis and sepsis and the importance of seeking early medical attention. Do not wait for a rash to appear, by the time one does blood poisoning has usually already developed. 

I also want to encourage people to get the MenB vaccine. Currently only babies under the age of one can get it (and even then, that’s only been available on the NHS since 2015). Teenagers and young adults – who are most likely to contract MenB – meanwhile, must book and pay for it at most pharmacies.  

I find this infuriating, especially as 9 out of 10 cases of meningococcal meningitis in the UK are caused by MenB. More must be done to raise awareness of this life threatening infection and vaccines should be offered as standard to our young people.  

We can never give our children 100% protection – Sophia was vaccinated against the other types of meningococcal meningitis – but we can dramatically reduce their chances of contracting it. 

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing James.Besanvalle@metro.co.uk. 

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Have you dared to try Roseorange from Aldi?

The hybrid rosé-orange wine in the tall bottle caused quite the commotion on social media when it launched. And in doing so, it created a new category of wines in its wake, made by blending red and white grapes together.

I’m dubbing it ‘midway wine’, but you can call it ‘no-mans-land wine’, ‘in-between wine’ or whatever you like, really. Because there’s no official name for this particular style of wine, and it doesn’t fit into any of the established white, red, rosé or orange wine categories.

But, if you’re adventurous enough to give it a go, it’s the perfect wine to bridge the gap between late summer and the cusp of autumn.

So, what is this ill-fitting wine? The ‘midway wine’ looks either like a dark rosé or a light-coloured red wine, whichever way you want to look at it. It’s vaguely tied to an ancient winemaking style called ‘clarete’ (in Spanish), ‘clairet’ (from France) or ‘palhete’ (in Portuguese). In Spain and Portugal, this is a darker style of rosé made from fermenting white and red grapes together in Spain, skins and all, as you’d do to make a red wine. 

This winemaking method is the opposite of lightly-coloured rosé from Provence, which is made by instantly separating the grape juice from the skins to let in as little colour as possible in to the wine. And that’s why the style of the Clarete wine is slightly exotic with a bit of red-wine-like texture but also, refreshingly zesty. It is a slam dunk for lovers of rosé and light, chillable, Beaujolais-style red wine.

In fact, Clarete could well have been the original pink wine, long before the term ‘rosé’ came on the scene. While its exact origins aren’t known, it’s thought that Clarete was a peasant wine made in local Spanish and French wineries as far back as 1,000 years ago. Cut to the 1980s, the punchy demand for red wine saw white grapes grubbed up in parts of Spain and France and replaced with red grapes.

And get this, there’s an area around the region of Rioja, in the northeast of Spain known as ‘Clareteland’. Every June they celebrate a ‘clarete battle’, where they spray one other with gallons of the stuff.

Confusingly, Clairet, which reads too similarly to Claret for comfort, is a dark red rosé from Bordeaux. This is the same idea as Clarete, but specifically made from red grapes left on their skins for longer than a typical rosé, but shorter than a red. The result is a beautifully raspberry-tinted wine with a super fruity style. 

Trouble is, because we’re all still obsessed with the pastel pink wines of Provence, these darker examples are much harder to find. I found a Clairet for under a tenner though, and tasted it alongside a darker style rosé from Spain and an orange wine from France to show the difference.

Rosé

Waitrose Ripe and Juicy Spanish Rosé, £5.75, Waitrose

This has to be my wine of the week, and if I’m honest, I never thought of Waitrose as a destination for budget wines. And yet, here we are. I still can’t quite get over the quality-to-price disparity with this Spanish rosé, which should genuinely cost a few quid more. But shh! It leaps out of the glass into your nostrils with punchy apricot sherbet notes, with a scrumptious, pithy, blood orange and nectarine juiciness on the palate and a zesty pomegranate jewel finish. Go forth and multibuy!

Orange

Côte Mas Orange Vin de France, £10, Waitrose

If you’re hesitant about orange wine, then give this one a whirl. Trust me. It’s made by Paul Mas, who is a dab hand of knowing what we want before we know it ourselves. It gives spiced marmalade on the nose with a dab of elderflower, taking you by the tongue to the juiciest palate of clove-studded oranges, cinnamon, white peach and autumn spices. It’s got some texture, so it’s cracking with a pork roast and crispy crackling.

Midway Wine

Château Thieuley ‘Le Petit Courselle’ Bordeaux Clairet, £9.25, The Wine Society

Now, here’s a proper Clairet; carmine red in colour, slap bang in-between a red and a rosé in flavour. It’s a blend of 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and I can’t tell you how perfect this wine is for autumn, and beyond. Take a sniff and you’ve basically just opened a pot of Bonne Maman raspberry conserve, on the palate it’s beautifully textured with raspberry seed, blueberries and hedgerow fruit. I sipped this straight from the fridge, and so should you. Like, pronto.

Roseorange, France, £9.99, Aldi

The rosé-orange wine hybrid wine that really kick started the ‘midway wine’ category. A blend of red grapes (for the rosé part) Cinsault and Grenache, and white grapes Grenache Gris, Macabeo and Vermentino (for the orange part), which are then blended together. The result is a juicy wine with textured flavours of quince, orange pith and Mirabelle plum skin, which is a good place to start if you’re kicking off your in-between wine journey.

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Known for breathtaking tries and equally as impressive hair, Ellie Kildunne is surely one of the most electrifying figures in modern women’s rugby.

Bringing a certain flair to the pitch that’s impossible to look away from, the full-back has had viewers hooked with her unwavering skill and stunning, coiled curls.

That’s why, when watching the Red Roses open the Women’s Rugby World Cup with an incredible win over USA last week, I found myself googling her haircare routine to find out just how she gets her hair looking so stunning.

We’re talking big, bouncy curls and coils – effortless definition that’s to die for off the pitch, let alone on it.

And alas, dear reader, I found it. Ellie Kildunne uses (and I can’t say I’m surprised) Only Curls – specifically five Only Curls products.

Only Curls Ultimate Bundle

Snap up all of Ellie Kildunne's favourites (plus a nourishing hair oil and microfibre towel) for less with this Ultimate Bundle. Featuring the All Curl Cleanser, Conditioner, Hydrating Curl Creme & Enhancing Curl Gel, Volumising Curl Mousse, Nourishing Hair Oil and Grey Microfibre Towel, you'll have everything your curls need for a perfect wash day.

shop £100 (save £27)

While her Instagram video titled ‘Due to popular demand… my hair routine xxxxx’ was posted in May of 2024, I’ve found no update since and went with this for simplicity.

Ellie’s curls are naturally stunning, but these products will be what brings the hydration and definition, ensuring her style lasts through tackles, tries and beyond.

Her routine begins with the Only Curls All Curl Cleanser and All Curl Conditioner – a curly hair shampoo and conditioner that help to cleanse, hydrate, detangle and soften strands for optimal curl prep.

She gives her hair a brush out the shower then follows up with the Hydrating Curl Cream, which she finger combs through her hair.

This curl cream is a best-seller for very good reason, boasting a nourishing and hydrating formula that works to smooth and build curls while minimising frizz.

Following this, Ellie finger combs through the Enhancing Curl Gel, which she tells us ‘doesn’t leave your hair crispy’ – a huge plus for us.

This oil infused, medium hold gel provides the ultimate curl definition without stickiness or crunch, helping to nourish hair and minimise frizz while it’s at it.

She gives her hair a scrunch and a dry with a t-shirt, which is ideal for reducing frizziness usually caused by towels. Alternatively, a microfibre hair towel will do equally as great a job.

After this, she applies the Volumising Curl Mousse which she scrunches into her curls.

This volumising, conditioning, protein-rich mousse helps to boost volume, smooth frizz and define curls – all with weightless hold.

And then onto the drying stage. Using a hair diffuser, Ellie’s self-proclaimed ‘best friend’, she gently dries the curls from the bottom up, drying the sides and flipping her hair forward then back to dry each area.

Finally, she teases her hair with an afro comb to define the shape and ‘Bob’s your uncle’! Her staple coils and curls are complete.

I tried it out for myself

I’ve got wavy/curly hair myself- nowhere near as coily and tight as Ellie’s but definitely with some definition and a lot more length.

As a hardcore lover of Only Curls’ Hydrating Curl Cream, I was more than ready to love this curly hair routine – and spoilers, I absolutely did.

The All Curl Cleanser and All Curl Conditioner prepped my hair perfectly for the styling products, and while there’s not too much to say about shampoo and conditioner, my hair felt clean and hydrated after stepping out the shower, which is all I can ask for.

As I knew it would, the Hydrating Curl Cream was the perfect first step out the shower, priming my hair perfectly for a grippier hold from the Enhancing Curl Gel, which built my curls up without any crunchiness or stickiness.

I could’ve stopped here in truth – my curls were already looking defined and bouncy. However, in true Ellie fashion I followed with the Volumising Curl Mousse, which I scrunched through easily, and plopped my hair up in a microfibre towel as I got ready for work.

While diffusing my longer hair with the hair dryer took a lot longer than it took on Ellie’s shorter hair, the results were just as impressive. I was left with big, bouncy and defined curls that truly blew me away.

My hair felt hydrated without feeling greasy or overburdened with products and stayed looking gorgeous and full-bodied all day.

Ellie Kildunne’s curly hair routine is 100% approved by me, that’s for sure.

Shop Ellie Kildunne’s Only Curls routine

Only Curls All Curl Cleanser 300ml

Make this All Curl Cleanser your everyday shampoo pick. This sulfate-free, gentle foaming shampoo has been designed for curly hair, working to hydrate as it cleanses to leave hair nourished and frizz-free.

shop £18

Only Curls All Curl Conditioner 300ml

Perfect for all curl types, the All Curl Conditioner works to detangle, add shine and reduce frizz, leaving hair soft and ready for styling in seconds.

shop £18

Only Curls Hydrating Curl Creme 250ml

This curl cream is a best-seller for very good reason, boasting a nourishing and hydrating formula that works to smooth and build curls while minimising frizz.

shop £18

Only Curls Enhancing Curl Gel 250ml

This oil infused, medium hold gel provides the ultimate curl definition without stickiness or crunch, helping to nourish hair and minimise frizz while it’s at it.

shop £18

Only Curls Volumising Curl Mousse 200ml

Finish your look off with the Volumising Curl Mousse, perfect for scrunching into your curls for a final flourish. This volumising, conditioning, protein-rich mousse helps to boost volume, smooth frizz and define curls – all with weightless hold.

shop £18

Curly hair made easy.

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Back in spring, social media was flooded with ‘What I Eat On Ozempic’ vlogs and hacks to combat Mounjaro-induced nausea. By peak holiday season, feeds were filled with advice on getting pens through customs and how to bend the drug’s no-alcohol rule for those all-inclusive Pina Coladas.

It was a glimpse into the poolside pressure felt by Brits who had decided to dedicate their summer to the so-called skinny jab. 

Originally developed for type 2 diabetics to help regulate blood sugar, the likes of Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro have been hailed as a transformative weight loss tool.

Thanks to their powerful appetite-suppressing side effects, they were considered 2025’s secret summer essential for those wanting to drop a dress size fast ahead of their holidays. 

However, as we now prepare to layer up for autumn, many of those who celebrated #MounjaroSummer are getting ready to wean themselves off the jabs and weigh up the cost of slimming down for the season. 

Despite having a healthy BMI and therefore not qualifying for an NHS weight loss prescription, Emily Deeley tells Metro that she was determined to slim down for a confidence boost in time for summer.

Enter Mounjaro Summer

‘I wouldn’t have gone on holiday with the stone and a half I had put on,’ Emily, 29, admits, adding frankly, ‘I didn’t feel good and my clothes didn’t fit.

‘Two of my friends were on [Mounjaro]. I noticed they’d lost so much weight and nothing they tried before worked, so I thought it must be effective.’ 

A frequent dieter who works out regularly, Emily confesses that reaching her goal through traditional methods would’ve been much harder ahead of her getaway to Mallorca. ‘It makes a difference – I lost two stone and felt nicer in a bikini,’ she explains. 

By June, Emily had surpassed her target and had been fortunate to avoid Mounjaro’s common side effects, such as dizziness and the infamous sulphur burps. But three months in, she decided to increase her dosage from five to 7.5 milligrams, which triggered a wave of debilitating symptoms. 

‘I was depressed for a week, I had no energy to make the bed, and was freezing all the time,’ Emily remembers. 

Unpleasant symptoms of using weight loss jabs are often front and centre, according to Google and SEMrush — the term ‘Mounjaro side effects’ receives around 110,000 monthly searches in the UK. 

Yet despite concerns, demand was high this summer, and the Advertising Standards Authority ramped up efforts to tackle any ads that preyed on Brits’ insecurities.

‘We’re continuing to carry out extensive monitoring and enforcement work in this sector. All injectable forms of weight-loss medication are prescription-only medicines and can’t be advertised to the public, including as part of summer promotions or holiday offers,’ a spokesperson told Metro. 

Operation ‘belly bust’

In Hertfordshire, Mel* went on what she dubbed ‘operation belly bust’ as part of her prep for a special summer event in the calendar. 

As of June 2025, to qualify for Mounjaro on the NHS, patients must have a BMI of around 40 or above, a history of weight-related conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease, and must commit to a supervised weight management programme. 

However, those who don’t meet the criteria, like Mel, are turning to unofficial routes to access the drug. 

‘I haven’t told anyone, not even my kids,’ admits the 63-year-old mum, who managed to obtain Mounjaro through her aesthetician.

After putting in her order, the following morning, a conspicuous motorbike courier hand-delivered the goods. Aiming to lose half a stone for a wedding in Spain at the end of the month, so far she’s shed around three lbs per week – although it’s not been without issue. 

‘The first few days were awful — I’ve never felt so ill, I genuinely thought I was dying,’ Mel recalls. But, with an ‘unforgiving’ satin guest dress to squeeze into, she’s refusing to let the physical toll deter her from her mission. 

‘What’s the worst that can happen?’

For Siobhan Jackson, Mounjaro Summer has marked a turning point. For the first time, she wasn’t dreading joining her daughter in the pool. ‘We bought matching swimming costumes to wear on holiday in Florida, and I could go on the rides,’ she tells Metro.

‘Before, someone skinny would pull the lap bar down too tight, and I couldn’t breathe. This year, I don’t have that problem.’ 

To celebrate turning 40, in March, Siobhan decided to treat herself to her first shot of Mounjaro, the medication she had watched transform patients’ lives from her desk at a busy GP surgery.

‘I used to have quite an active job; what I’d look forward to after work was food. My weight gradually crept up, and I wasn’t feeling well,’ she explains. 

As patient reports came through, she tracked their progress and noticed a pattern. ‘I didn’t think I would experience the side effects as it was the people still having takeaways that seemed to be affected. I’d already sorted my diet out. I thought I’m going to give it a go — what’s the worst that can happen?’ 

Since then, Siobhan has dropped nearly four stone, but the physical changes are only part of her journey. Mentally and emotionally, she also feels like a different person. ‘Mounjaro stops the food noise. We’ve still got Easter eggs in the house and crisps going out of date. Now I’ll crave an apple. I also have virtually no photos of me and my daughter, but I’m happy to have my picture taken now.’ 

But not everything has been smooth sailing as Siobhan experienced one of the more challenging side effects of the jab. ‘I have had hair loss, which has been really difficult.’ 

Short-term use without a long-term strategy

Doctor Martin Saweirs tells Metro he has noticed an increase in interest in the run-up to summer and has prescribed weight loss jabs to many eligible patients this year at his clinic, 14 Harley Street. ‘There are also people we have just refused. It wouldn’t be sensible to give somebody medication when they’re already well within a healthy weight range,’ he explains.

The real danger, Dr Martin warns, isn’t the drug; it’s how people are using it, and the desire for rapid results is pushing some into risky territory. ‘When you increase the dose at an unsafe rate, that’s where you hear the horror stories about people ending up in hospital,’ he says. ‘Many crank up the amount as quickly as they can to reach a target within a short time frame, and it’s just not sustainable for them.

‘You’ll also hear about people getting pancreatitis, and this is usually when there’s been a lack of supervision or too high a dose has been used.’ 

According to Dr Martin, short-term use without a long-term strategy often backfires. ‘You’re changing your relationship with food. I think the people who presume it’s going to be two months on and then job done, they just put the weight straight back on after they finish it.’ 

Repeated cycling on and off the drug, especially at high doses, can impact the metabolism, not to mention a person’s mental health. Still, Dr Martin insists, the medication itself isn’t the enemy. In fact, he says, it has an impressive safety track record when used properly and under supervision. 

‘This family of medicine has been around for a very long time, and so far, in terms of long-term side effects, there really haven’t been any. If used sensibly by the right people, they’re generally pretty safe. The mental health benefits to patients can be immeasurable too.’ 

Welcoming a new season

After her summer success, Siobhan plans to take Mounjaro into autumn and beyond due to the impact it had on her physical and mental well-being.

However, she does add that another reason she is reluctant to give it up is because: ‘It worries me that all the issues that made me big in the first place will still be there if I stop it.’ 

Emily explains that she decided to part ways with the jab at the four-month mark after people began commenting that she looked too thin, although she admits it hasn’t been easy. 

Since ending her journey, Emily has gained half a stone and is back to her ‘normal’ weight. ‘I don’t like the hunger pains you get without it. If I could stay on it forever, I would, but it’s difficult to get now,’ she explains. ‘I miss not always thinking about what I’m going to eat.’ 

Meanwhile, Mel has decided to use Mounjaro on an ad hoc basis and confesses that she would take the drug again in the run-up to further special occasions beyond the summer months.

‘I’m coming off after the wedding and I know the weight will come back on,’ she admits, adding a poignant sentiment most women can relate to: ‘I’ve often thought, “Why am I putting myself through this just to look a bit slimmer for one day in a dress?”’ 

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Games are a brilliant way to bring the family together, and with Christmas fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to stock up on challenges that everyone can enjoy on the big day.

We’re talking mums, dads and even Auntie Linda after one too many glasses of Baileys.

If you’re after some wholesome fun that doesn’t involve screens, the new Brick Like This! game from LEGO is the perfect way to build lasting memories and really cement your bond. See what we did there?

The game challenges teams of two to work together. One describes the finished LEGO build while the other attempts to construct it blindly. There’s strictly no peeking allowed, so it’s all about clear communication and teamwork. You’re working against the clock, too, so the pressure is on. 

Brick Like This! by Asmodee

Brick Like This! is a fast-paced LEGO party game where teams of two race to build abstract models based on verbal instructions. With 92 builds and 20 optional challenge cards, gameplay is packed with chaos, communication mishaps, and hilarious twists like building blindfolded or with one hand. Simple rules mean players jump straight into the action, swapping roles each round and racing against the clock. It’s construction mayhem that’s perfect for families and friends alike.

Buy Now for £19.99

Designed for 2 to 8 players and suitable for ages 7 and up, teams draw a card to select their LEGO build, and there’s a variety of difficulty levels to ensure all abilities are catered for. So that’s young children or construction-challenged adults like ourselves, who find putting together a simple piece of flatpack results in a semi meltdown and the need for a restorative glass of pinot…

Games can be sped through in as little as 15 minutes, but with 92 LEGO models to build plus 20 game-changing challenge cards, there’s plenty of fun to be had. For those looking to ramp up the excitement, optional challenge cards can introduce twists like building with eyes closed, using one hand, or following silent instructions, adding a whole new level of difficulty to the game. 

Brick Like This! is inspired by a previously published game from designer Luca Bellini, but has now been reimagined by Dotted Games with a fresh twist that blends communication with classic LEGO.

Birgitte Bülow, Head of Dotted Games, which is the Asmodee studio behind the LEGO partnership, explained: ‘With Brick Like This!, players can enjoy the familiar feel of LEGO bricks in a board game setting, creating a playful experience that brings everyone together.’

Jaume Fabregat, Board Games Lead at LEGO Publishing, added: ‘Our goal in building a portfolio of LEGO board games is to offer a fun, accessible experience for as many players as possible. Brick Like This! is easy to learn and can be enjoyed by players of all ages and abilities.’

The game is available to buy now, and reviews are already glowing. 

‘Such a fun game!’ Mr Does Stuff posted in a review. ‘Perfect for all the family. We played the basic game with our kids and we all absolutely loved it. It was fun, it was challenging and it made us laugh lots.’

‘This is one of the most entertaining LEGO-based games I’ve played in a while,’ an anonymous customer said in their feedback. ‘Brick Like This! takes the classic LEGO building experience and turns it into a fast-paced party game that’s all about communication, teamwork, and a bit of chaos.’

Another reviewer, wrote: ‘We were yelling instructions, frantically searching for pieces, and generally just making fools of ourselves – in the best way possible! The challenge cards add an extra layer of fun – building with your eyes closed or one hand is WAY harder than it sounds.

‘The game moves super fast (about 15 minutes per round), which keeps everyone engaged. And there are enough models and challenges to keep it interesting for multiple playthroughs.

‘If you have LEGO fans in your family, I highly recommend “Brick Like This!”. It’s a great way to encourage teamwork, communication, and lots of laughter. A great value!’

Well, sounds like a (Lego) block party is on the cards.

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