19 Oct, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
'My entitled boyfriend demands I change my cat's name for ridiculous reason'
A woman has blasted her inconsiderate boyfriend who ordered her to change her pet’s name, but she says this will only confuse her two-year-old pet and isn’t worth it
19 Oct, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
My ex secretly recorded me – but that wasn’t the worst of his abuse
I was having a shower when it happened.
It was 10 years ago. My infant daughter was in her bedroom while I was in the bathroom.
I don’t know why I turned around, but I did, and what I saw terrified me.
My then-partner was recording me.
I was horrified; but he was in hysterics. He thought it was hilarious.
I wish that was an isolated incident, but the fact is throughout our five-and-a-half year relationship, my ex – the father of my daughter – was abusive.
It was horrific – but it was made even worse by the fact that, when I eventually reported his abuse, the police didn’t help me.
For my ex, it was all about control.
My daughter and I had a curfew; we were only allowed out for three hours at a time, and only on certain days.
When we were allowed out, we had to run by him first where we were going and who we were seeing – and those three hours included our travelling time.
We weren’t able to see my family, which was hard, but when I did mention it, my ex threatened to kill me or attack me with acid.
This Is Not Right
On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a year-long campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.
With the help of our partners at Women’s Aid, This Is Not Right aims to shine a light on the sheer scale of this national emergency.
You can find more articles here, and if you want to share your story with us, you can send us an email at vaw@metro.co.uk.
Read more:
My daughter and I lived on a ground-floor flat, and he lived just round the corner and was a constant presence.
He had total control over our lives; we had no freedom.
This Is Not Right
On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a year-long campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.
With the help of our partners at Women’s Aid, This Is Not Right aims to shine a light on the sheer scale of this national emergency.
You can find more articles here, and if you want to share your story with us, you can send us an email at vaw@metro.co.uk.
Read more:
Recording me in the shower wasn’t the first time he’d just come in without my knowing, or even the first time he’d spied on us.
I also found a recording device in my daughter’s room once, when I was cleaning there.
In the days after he’d made the video of me in the shower, I begged him to delete it; but he wouldn’t. He just made one big joke out of it.
‘You should have seen your face,’ he’d say, as well as threatening to show the recording to this person or that person.
He had total control over our lives; we had no freedom
Quote Quote
Just before the pandemic, I discovered a shocking secret that was actually a huge relief.
He was married to someone else.
Finally, I felt like I had a ticket out – but he didn’t accept this as a reason to end the relationship. He carried on with the abuse and ownership of both me and my child.
I broke things off before the start of the pandemic; but he kept turning up at our flat at random times, every single day. Whenever he turned up, I refused to let him in, but around September of that year, he tried to force his way in and assaulted me and my daughter.
It was at that point that I went to the police; not just because of that incident, but because of the long campaign of domestic abuse, including his recording of me in the shower.
Learn more about domestic abuse in the UK
- One in 4 women will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lives
- ONS research revealed that, in 2023, the police recorded a domestic abuse offence approximately every 40 seconds
- Yet Crime Survey for England & Wales data for the year ending March 2023 found only 18.9% of women who experienced partner abuse in the last 12 months reported the abuse to the police
- According to Refuge, 84% of victims in domestic abuse cases are female, with 93% of defendants being male
- Safe Lives reports that disabled women are twice as likely to experience domestic abuse as non-disabled women, and typically experience domestic abuse for a longer period of time before accessing support
- Refuge has also found that, on average, it takes seven attempts before a woman is able to leave for good.
I’d been keeping track of the abuse throughout our relationship, just in case, maintaining a diary of the abusive incidents and recording him when I could. All in all, I had over 20 screenshots, audio recordings and videos documenting the abuse.
But it wasn’t enough.
I went back and forth with the police for around two years. At first, they decided to close the case, despite the fact that they hadn’t yet taken any evidence off me. They said they wanted to focus on the rape and the assault before looking into the domestic abuse.
I had a prohibited steps order in place during this period, which meant he wasn’t allowed to come within a certain distance of mine and my daughters home.
I was told by the police that, while they had closed my initial case, I could reopen a new case, so I started all over again and had to resubmit all the evidence via a link the police had sent me.
I think the police need to reevaluate how they decide what is and isn’t enough evidence to arrest someone for domestic abuse
Quote Quote
Eventually, I managed to speak to an officer who seemed very optimistic that we’d be able to take the case further. She listened to me carefully and acknowledged all the evidence.
But then, a day or so after we spoke, she called me, hugely apologetic. ‘I’m so, so sorry,’ she said. ‘But I’ve taken everything you sent me down to the Domestic Abuse unit and they’ve said there isn’t enough evidence.’
She went on to explain that domestic abuse is a muddy territory, evidence-wise, and very hard to prove but I was heartbroken. I’d spent years putting myself at risk – recording, screenshotting, carefully keeping a note of everything. I’d thought it would be crystal clear.
I was absolutely gutted.
My daughter and I left town in secret to put an end to my ex’s in-person harassment. But our lives are still controlled: to keep ourselves safe we avoid putting our names on anything, which means we miss out on lots of community support and connection.
But, we did escape and now we’ve now got our lovely little home and a beautiful family.
Learn more about Refuge
Refuge is the largest domestic abuse organisation in the UK. If you’re being abused, or are concerned about someone you know, Refuge can offer support.
Refuge helps thousands of survivors per day to overcome the many impacts of domestic abuse – from physical, to emotional, to financial –and works confidentially and individually with every survivor, tailoring a unique plan that meets her needs and helping her rebuild her life.
You can find out more about the charity here; and if you need help now, you can contact Refuge 24/7, for free, on 0808 2000 247.
Around five years ago I met my now-husband. We have two more children. When my ex was abusing me I wasn’t allowed to work, but now I have a job I love.
There’s nothing my daughter loves more than being a big sister; but she’s still going through therapy, after everything my ex did to her.
And my ex is still trying to get personal information about me, via the courts. Over the last five years, he’s put more than a dozen applications into the court for contact with my daughter.
Ultimately, I think the police really need to reevaluate how they decide what is and isn’t enough evidence to arrest someone for domestic abuse.
I went to them with 27 pieces of evidence – including multiple recordings where you could hear him threatening to kill me or throw acid on me, and a recording of the assault, clear as day.
But nothing happened.
Domestic abuse shouldn’t be ‘muddy water’. Women go to the police after enduring years of torture, only to be told there isn’t enough of a case. Police need to approach cases from the perspective of believing survivors and taking evidence seriously.
The system urgently needs to change; and fast.
Right now, it’s not good enough – and too many women are left unsafe and unprotected as a result.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk.
Share your views in the comments below.
19 Oct, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
'I write sex scenes for a living and you'd be surprised by what inspires me'
Jaimee Bell, 33, is a sex scene writer by trade. Though the job sounds super saucy, she recently spoke to us exclusively to explain how the role is a lot different to what people think
Resident agony aunt Coleen Nolan has advice for a reader who’s struggling with life after her marriage break-up because she doesn’t know what her future holds
18 Oct, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Brad Pitt is making £38 gin — but this £17 supermarket one is better
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more
They’ve missed a trick with the name of Brad Pitt’s new gin…
It should be Gin-terview with a Vampire, or, Once Upon a Time Gin Hollywood, shouldn’t it? As it stands, it’s called Gardener Riviera Gin.
Despite Brad’s well-documented sobriety, his gin is apparently the French Riviera in a bottle. Does this mean it comes with flavours of citrus groves, Mediterranean herbs, sunscreen, mankinis and super yacht engine oil? I hope not, that would taste… questionable.
Of course, Brad is no stranger to the business of drinks; he owns a rosé champagne (Fleur de Miraval), a sparkling tea brand (Enroot), and of course, his Provence rosé, Chateau Miraval. And very nice it is too. It’s made by the leading, fifth-generation winemaking family, the Perrins, of Château de Beaucastel fame.
They also make Gardener Riviera Gin and interestingly collaborated with Brad on a skincare line too, which is made from the discarded grape must (leftovers after pressing).
This time, though, they’ve cleverly teamed up with legendary distiller, Tom Nichol, ex-Master Distiller of the iconic gin brand, Tanqueray. Tom is ‘an alchemist of great renown’ according to the website, and only the second person to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Gin Guild. In fact, he came out of retirement specifically to work on this new gin.
With Tom’s involvement, Gardener Riviera Gin transcends being ‘just another celebrity-backed booze brand’, to a serious player in the spirits space. The gin that Tom has helped create here is a London Dry, a style considered the purest of gins due to its lack of added sugar or flavour additives after distillation (aka it’s not a flavoured gin). Botanicals include juniper, liquorice, coriander, pink grapefruit, lemon and Cap d’Antibes oranges (bitter and sweet).
Its stunning bottle is supposed to represent the ‘azure waves of the French Riviera, as well as a shift in colour similar to sky and sea’, according to the designers. The name is a reference to the mythical ‘gardener’, who tends the land in the Riviera and, ‘who works in harmony with the shifts in the season’. Well, all I can say is they’d have a field day in my garden.
The gin itself is apparently handcrafted by Brad, Tom and Perrin, though I’m not expecting Brad to be working tirelessly in the distillery at all hours. He will have had a hand in selecting the style, botanicals and would be part of the tasting team, probably looking like the Man from Del Monte while doing it. There would definitely have been a linen suit and a silk cravat involved at some point.
And because I’m nothing if not curious, I lined the pricier spirit up against two much cheaper own-label options from Aldi to see how they compare.
I tasted them all, neat and in a G&T and for the latter drink, I poured them with Fevertree Refreshingly Light Mediterranean Tonic Water.
Here’s a look at how Aldi’s Greyson’s and Haysmiths gins fared against Brad’s Gardener Riviera and the results might surprise you…
Haysmiths London Dry Gin 40% ABV £16.99, Aldi
Neat
Bright and exuberant on the nose, leaps out of the glass. Very much cardamom-led with notes of citrus peel and fennel seed – dominated by top notes. On the palate, the cardamom comes through loud and clear, along with flavours of rosemary, lemongrass and Thai basil, tailing off with a summery, lemony finish.
G&T
The cardamom notes pop, even when paired with the herbal tonic water. You really get the botanical flavours coming through, without becoming overpowering.
Conclusion
Assuming you like the flavour of cardamom, Haysmith’s keeps its flavour identity even when paired with tonic, so it’s a home run in a G&T. Too overpowering for a Martini, plus, the ABV isn’t high enough.
Overall score: 8.5/10
Gardeners Riviera Gin 42% ABV, £38, Majestic
Neat
Spirit-forward nose with the citrus and angelica, coriander and liquorice coming through. It’s clean, powerful with Mediterranean scrub, lavender and dried herbs on the palate. You really do get flavours of the Riviera here with a lasting finish of dried oregano and thyme.
G&T
Although the higher alcohol content gave the drink a lovely viscous texture, I found the subtle citrus-herbal flavours were slightly lost when paired with the tonic water. Which was a shame as I’m a big fan of the botanical blend here.
Conclusion
This is squarely the gin for a Martini, where the botanicals and texture can let their flavour flag fly!
Overall Score: 8/10
Greysons London Dry Gin 37.5% ABV, £16.29
Neat
Creamy nose of juniper, stem ginger and orange. On the palate it’s light in texture with flavours of orange zest and autumnal spices like cinnamon and white pepper.
G&T
Completely disappeared in both flavour and body, when poured with the tonic water. Ended up only tasting the tonic, the drink tasted neutral.
Conclusion
The low ABV means that they can charge less, though it’s a false economy as you’ll also be getting less body and flavour concentration. For 70p more, you get a lot of addition flavour and texture for Haysmith’s.
Overall Score: 6/10
How to make the perfect G&T
Garnish cleverly – use garnish that complements the gin’s botanicals e.g. a sprig of rosemary and a slice of lemon with Gardeners Riviera Gin
Get everything cold – glass, gin, tonic. A proper G&T should be Baltic
Go big on ice – Use big cubes and pile them high for minimum dilution (the law of entropy dictates the smaller and more scarce the ice, the faster it melts)
Measure it properly – always 50ml for me, because I want to taste the gin (and feel the effects)
Use full-fat tonic – so advises Elliot Ball, Founder of Murder Inc in Tottenham Court Road. Forget about calories, it’s flavour and texture you’re after (though I personally always tend to go light)
Pour gently – keep the fizz perky for longer (ideally over the back of a barspoon)
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
18 Oct, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
'I was love-bombed by a Somalia doctor on Facebook – then forced into sick blood oath'
A chance Facebook post led Mary Chater into an intense and passionate online relationship, but it wasn’t long before the red flags started showing. Here she warns Mirror readers to take heed of her love scam ordeal
17 Oct, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
From Nobody’s Child to New Look – these are the 26 items a shopping expert is buying
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more
It’s Friday, which means your latest edition of Trend Trove has officially landed – and yes, our resident shopping expert has been busy.
From high street gems to hot-off-the-press launches, she’s scoured every corner of the internet (and her search history proves it).
This week’s basket includes H&M candles, Hush Puppy shoes, a stunning cow-printed M&S bag, Nobody’s Child knits, and a suede jacket from Massimo Dutti. But it doesn’t stop there…
In fashion news, and to mark its 150th anniversary, Liberty has launched HYPERNOVA 150, a bold capsule collection designed by Frida Giannini. Celebrating Liberty’s legacy of artistry and innovation, the collection fuses British heritage with modern glamour, featuring standout pieces like velvet naval coats, reworked archival prints, and artisan-made kilts.
Giannini describes the collection as a metaphor for rebirth, drawing inspiration from the explosive energy of a hypernova. With bespoke details, luxurious materials, and a fresh take on Liberty’s iconic style, HYPERNOVA 150 is a visionary tribute to the brand’s past and future, available exclusively at Liberty London and libertylondon.com.
Karen Millen’s Brushed Wool PU Mix Scarf Neck Belted Tailored Maxi Coat is being hailed as the coat of the season, thanks to its luxurious chocolate brown finish and scarf-neck detail.
Already worn by fashion favourites like Grace Jackson, Rosie Fortescue and Roxy Horner, the coat has gone viral, selling out once and now restocked due to high demand. With searches for ‘scarf coat’ up 3800%, it’s clear this standout piece is dominating Autumn wardrobes – from fashion week to everyday street style.
As for the beauty obsessed, Australian skincare brand The Breakout Hack – formerly known as tbh Skincare – has made its UK debut, with an exclusive launch at Boots.
Known for its viral TikTok success and honest, no-nonsense approach to acne, the brand offers patented technology that skips harsh ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Consumer trials showed impressive results, with 84% seeing clearer skin in six weeks.
Founded by Rachael Wilde and her mum, the brand blends clinical efficacy with relatable, community-driven messaging. Hero products include the Spot Treatment, Cleanser, and Pimple Patches, which are available now.
And in the cutest news to land in her inbox, Jellycat Airlines has officially landed at Harrods with a first-of-its-kind concept store, transforming the Fourth Floor into a playful airport-inspired shopping experience. From cuddly cabin crew and a character-filled luggage carousel to check-in style counters and exclusive collectibles like the viral Cheryl Cherry Cake, the space blends Jellycat’s signature charm with travel-themed fun. Open now, the store promises joyful moments for all ages – with no boarding pass required.
UKLASH stole the spotlight at the Victoria’s Secret show, worn by Madison Beer for her arrival, performance, and runway walk. Celebrity MUA Cherish Brookehill used the brand’s Eyelash Curler and Tubing Mascara to create a soft, flirty lash look inspired by the early-2000s Angels era.
With its smudge-proof formula and flexible finish, UKLASH proved it’s not just runway-ready – it’s a makeup bag must-have.
And, one for the homies (if you will), Porsche and Smeg have launched a limited-edition range of kitchen appliances that fuse high-performance engineering with luxury design.
The capsule includes reimagined versions of Smeg’s iconic FAB28 fridge, coffee machines, kettles, blenders and toasters – all styled with Porsche’s signature aesthetic.
The standout pieces? A bold red fridge and coffee machine inspired by the legendary Porsche 917 KH, each limited to just 1,970 numbered units. With sculptural silhouettes and matte black accents, the collection proves that craftsmanship and performance aren’t just for the road – they belong in your home too.
Now are you ready to shop? Good. Because here are all the treats our expert has found, and adding to her basket pronto.
M&S Collection Hair On Leather Animal Print Shoulder Bag
Crafted from hair-on leather for a bold, authentic look, this timeless piece features a secure zipped main compartment and an internal pocket for essentials.
The adjustable strap lets you wear it your way — over the shoulder or across the body.
Nobody's Child NC x TBCo Blue Floral Embroidered Wool Cardigan
The NC x TBCo Blue Floral Embroidered Wool Cardigan from Nobody’s Child blends cosy comfort with romantic charm.
Made from 100% merino wool, it features delicate red floral embroidery and playful pink scalloped trims. With its relaxed fit and sustainable credentials, it’s a feel-good layer for chilly days.
Saltair Santal Bloom Serum Deodorant
Stay fresh and care for your skin with Saltair’s Santal Bloom Serum Deodorant.
Infused with notes of rose, jasmine and sandalwood, this long-lasting formula combines mandelic and lactic acids to smooth skin and reduce odour, while niacinamide brightens and strengthens the underarm area. Apply daily for soft, healthy skin and a clean, floral scent that lasts.
FACEGYM Medical LED Mask For Clear Skin
FaceGym’s LIGHTWEAR LED Mask offers a personalised skincare experience, targeting four facial zones via its companion app.
Powered by 80 dual-core LEDs, it uses red and near-infrared light to reduce fine lines, and a red-blue combo to help clear blemishes and calm inflammation.
Each 10-minute, hands-free session adapts to your skin’s needs in real time — making it a smart, on-the-go solution for radiant, healthy skin.
Davines Beautiful Things Leave on Mask
Founded in Parma, Italy, Davines began as a high-end haircare lab before launching its own brand – now a certified B Corporation known for combining sustainability with salon-quality results.
The Beautiful Things Leave-In Mask is a lightweight, multitasking treatment that hydrates, smooths and protects all hair types.
Enriched with roucou oil and antioxidant botanicals, it helps detangle, reduce frizz and add shine, leaving hair soft, strong and full of bounce.
Hush Puppies Bordeaux Pasha Velvet Ballerinas
Step into festive elegance with the Pasha Dark Red Ballet Shoes – a plush velvet pair that blends style and comfort.
Designed with a soft padded insole and flexible outsole, they’re perfect for all-day wear.
The chic buckle strap adds a refined touch, making these ballet flats a versatile choice for seasonal celebrations.
Trinny London Naked Ambition Serum 30ml
So much more than a vitamin C serum, the Naked Ambition serum combined slow-release vitamin C with an azelaic acid exosome delivery system for gradual, effective results throughout the day. The result is skin that is consistently even and radiant, with a reduction in redness and dark marks.
Boden x Cornishware Mug
Boden have brewed up something special – a glossy new mug collection in collaboration with iconic British potters, Cornishware.
Celebrating our shared love of stripes and a good cuppa, each colourful mug is crafted from Cornish clay, hand-dipped in England, and shaped by 25 pairs of hands. It’s tea time, the stylish way.
Netflix Stranger Things x Dreamland Heated Throw
Get cosy in the Upside Down with Dreamland’s Netflix Stranger Things Heated Throw. Featuring an exclusive design inspired by the hit series, this electric blanket combines fandom flair with practical comfort.
Measuring 160x120cm, it’s powered by Dreamland’s Intelliheat technology for fast, energy-efficient warmth – heating up in just five minutes.
With multiple temperature settings and a hands-free design, it’s ideal for snuggling on the sofa or adding a touch of Hawkins to your bedroom.
HUAWEI FreeBuds 7i
The HUAWEI FreeBuds 7i in pink combine sleek design with powerful performance. Featuring intelligent noise cancellation and immersive spatial audio, they deliver rich sound and clear calls. With up to 35 hours of battery life, fast charging, and gesture controls, they’re a stylish and smart choice for everyday listening.
TRIP Peach Yuzu Electrolytes with Calming Magnesium
TRIP’s new Electrolyte Powder blends essential minerals with botanicals to hydrate and restore body and mind.
Each peach-flavoured sachet contains magnesium, potassium, Himalayan pink salt, ashwagandha and vitamin D – making it more than just a hydration boost.
With 20 sachets per pouch, it’s a wellness ritual you can take from your morning routine to your gym bag.
H&M Large Scented Candle in Glass Holder
Add a subtle sensory touch to your space with this three-wick scented candle, presented in a patterned glass holder.
Crafted in collaboration with perfumers from the renowned Robertet house, it offers a 30-hour burn time and an even, warming glow.
Once finished, repurpose the holder as a tealight base, mini vase or stylish trinket pot – a chic and versatile home accent.
Mango Chunky-Knit Cardigan with Buttons
This Chunky-Knit Cardigan with Buttons from Mango is a cosy essential with timeless appeal.
Crafted from thick knit fabric, it features a straight silhouette, round neckline, and long sleeves for a relaxed yet polished look. The front button closure adds a classic touch, making it easy to layer over everything from dresses to denim.
Ideal for cooler days, it’s a versatile piece that blends comfort with understated style.
Massimo Dutti Suede Leather Jacket With Lined Buttons
This Suede Leather Jacket With Lined Buttons from Massimo Dutti is made of goatskin leather with a soft suede finish. Featuring a shirt collar, two flap pockets, and lined for comfort, this jacket offers a sleek, timeless look perfect for elevating any outfit.
Abel 'Coat Check' Eau de Parfum
Smoky tobacco, juicy cassis and velvety balsam blend in this rich, atmospheric scent — dark, intense and perfect for after-hours. Think black coffee, a quiet nightcap, and a lingering sense of mystery.
Fussy Natural Body Wash
Fussy’s Natural Body Wash is a skin-friendly, sustainable option made with 98% natural ingredients.
It’s designed to hydrate and protect using aloe vera, prebiotics and plant-based cleansers, while offering a refillable, plastic-free format.
Available in a range of uplifting scents, it’s vegan, cruelty-free and B Corp certified – making it a smart switch for both your skin and the planet.
Chelsea Peers Christmas Leopard Print Long Pyjama Set
Chelsea Peers brings a playful twist to festive lounging with this Christmas leopard print pyjama set. Scattered across a navy base, leopards don Santa hats, scarves, holly and bows – striking the perfect balance between fun and polished.
Made from soft recycled jersey, the set features a button-up shirt with a revere collar and chest pocket, plus relaxed bottoms with an elasticated waistband and handy side pockets.
Ideal for Christmas Eve, morning or cosy nights in, it’s a set made for seasonal memories.
New Look Brown Faux Suede Knee High Boots
The knee-high boot takes an autumnal turn with this brown faux suede pair from New Look. With a chunky heel and rounded toe, they nod to ’70s style and work brilliantly with skirts and dresses. Registered by The Vegan Society, these boots are entirely animal-friendly.
L'Oréal Paris Multi-Use Glow Enhancer, 24h Hydration with Shea Butter and Glycerin, for Face and Body
L’Oréal Paris Paradise Lumi Glotion is your shortcut to hydrated, radiant skin. Infused with glycerin and shea butter, it delivers up to 24 hours of moisture while adding a soft tint for that fresh, lit-from-within glow.
Available in four shades to suit all skin tones, it can be worn alone, under foundation, or dabbed on high points for extra luminosity – even on the body.
Dermatologist-tested and suitable for sensitive skin, it’s part of a three-step routine with Lumi Le Liquid Blush and Lumi Le Glass Stick for the full glow-getter effect.
Omnes August Argyle Cardigan in Grey
Whether you layer it, drape it over your shoulders or wear it as a jumper, this Omnes Argyle Cardigan is a total wardrobe staple. It's been designedwith a tonal grey argyle pattern with high neck and button front, crafted with soft, fluffy yarns.
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Every day, I wake up, brush my teeth, shower, eat breakfast and take my medication.
No, I’m not sick. I take Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and now sometimes DoxyPEP too.
The former is a life-saving HIV prevention drug, while the latter is a brand new tool that can help prevent bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
This is important to me as – being Black and gay – I’m in two categories disproportionately affected by STIs. I want to spread the word about why DoxyPEP in particular is so groundbreaking.
I first heard about it last year from my colleague Ben who also works at The Love Tank – a not-for-profit that promotes health and wellbeing of under-served communities. Ben did a presentation on it and how our work could have a focus on it going forward.
Initially, I reacted exactly how I did when I first learned about PrEP – I thought it was amazing and everyone I know should know about it!
‘Doxy’ is short for doxycycline, which is an antibiotic. ‘PEP’ is short for post-exposure prophylaxis, with prophylaxis meaning treatment given or action taken to prevent disease.
Two little pills are already having some resounding success.
There have been a handful of clinical trials suggesting DoxyPEP can protect against 70-89% of chlamydia infections and 73-87% of syphilis infections. Studies show it can prevent over 51-57% of gonorrhoea infections and even lesser-known STIs like mycoplasma genitalium (another bacterial STI).
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As it’s an antibiotic, it’s important to note that DoxyPEP can’t prevent viruses like HIV, or hepatitis B, or parasites like crabs or scabies.
There are also some concerns that the drug could cause an increase in antimicrobial resistance (which is when antibiotics stop working against certain bacteria that develop resistance to them), which is something that will require careful monitoring. But I believe that doesn’t necessarily mean people who may benefit from DoxyPEP shouldn’t use it for either peace of mind or to relieve the strain on sexual health services if there are no direct issues at the moment.
Learning all of this made me decide to start taking DoxyPEP myself in August last year.
I’m a single, gay man in London and I take it after having sex. Every time I’ve been tested for STIs since, everything has come back negative, which is incredible.
I’ve been taking PrEP and haven’t been at risk of HIV for several years, so taking DoxyPEP makes me feel even more control over the sex I have. Before I started taking it, I worried about STIs when not using condoms (which still are an effective way of preventing STIs) but now I don’t have that same concern.
I’ve had lots of conversations about my experiences and those positive experiences have inspired friends to take DoxyPEP too.
I’m so passionate about telling people how to take care of their sexual health that I did a six-part podcast across Pride month this June, called The Other Blue Pill.
It’s about the largely unknown story of the fight to get PrEP in England – in which NHS England were taken to court twice in order for them to prescribe this life-changing drug.
In the sixth episode of the podcast (which is out on Wednesday) we discussed DoxyPEP. I interviewed Ben about it for listeners to understand what it is and that it’s safe. It was important for me to highlight this because the seemingly constant barriers to queer healthcare need to stop.
Want to know more about DoxyPEP?
For more information about DoxyPEP, visit the Queer Health website here. To listen to The Other Blue Pill, visit the Queer AF website here.
Now, more than ever, a drug like this could be a gamechanger.
In England in 2023, there was a 4.7% increase in diagnoses of STIs from the previous year. DoxyPEP could reduce this – especially to those most at risk.
Recent data from the UK Health Security Agency shows the impact of STIs remains greatest in young people aged 15 to 24, Black people, and gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM).
This means it is especially important I take care of my sexual health and it’s partially why I started working in this sector.
Unfortunately, much like the fight to get PrEP available through the NHS, DoxyPEP is another uphill battle for campaigners like me too.
While it is approved for use in some places – including San Francisco and Chicago in the US, or Australia – doxycycline has not been approved for use as DoxyPEP on the NHS in the UK. Policymakers are reviewing whether it should be commissioned for use and some NHS clinics are considering making it available soon.
If comprehensive guidelines for DoxyPEP use are published at the end of the year, we will be one of the first in the world to implement this.
What I found interesting about making the podcast was seeing how much we haven’t learned from our past. History is repeating itself.
Fighting for access to PrEP was reminiscent of fighting for access to HIV medication in the 90s. Similarly, people in the UK right now are forced to buy DoxyPEP online, mirroring what happened with PrEP for nearly five years before it was made available on the NHS.
We won that fight and we need to win this one.
We have the tools to better our sexual health but we’re not using them. For all of our sakes.
This article was first published on 13 July 2024.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing James.Besanvalle@metro.co.uk.
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‘I’d always dreamt of becoming a mum, but it wasn’t until January this year that I finally felt like one,’ says Lisa Wootten, 37, who gave birth in September 2024.
After her marriage broke down in 2021, Lisa made the decision to have her son, Noah, on her own, via IVF.
But just two weeks after having her baby, the new mum was dealt devastating news. She had a brain tumour and would need life-saving surgery.
It meant that Lisa wasn’t able to be alone with her son until he was nine months old.
‘Spending months of my maternity leave apart from my newborn was devastating and really delayed how I bonded with Noah,’ Lisa, from Essex, says.
‘But, even though I’ve been left with mental and physical impacts, I’m grateful every day that my little, beautiful boy is safe and healthy.’
Lisa, an IT worker, initially experienced strange symptoms in January, 2023.
‘My body tensed up and I called my mum, a retired nurse,’ Lisa said. ‘She came over and saw the left side of my body spasm.’
Doctors put this down to a kidney infection and nerve problems, and Lisa was given antibiotics and sent home.
Soon, her symptoms worsened and that summer she began suffering with seizures, leg weakness, headaches and blurred vision.
She even fell down her stairs when her legs gave way underneath her, but again, doctors sent her home from the hospital with no further tests.
‘Like clockwork my seizures happened around the same time every month and for one or two minutes my body shook,’ Lisa explains. ‘I was always fully conscious and aware what was happening, and they became a part of my life.’
Lisa was given the all clear to continue on in her fertility journey, believing her symptoms were individual problems that could be dealt with. It took three more GP appointments before she was referred to neurology in November 2023.
Just three moths later, Lisa found out she was pregnant. She moved back in with her parents in preparation for the baby arriving in September 2024, but then, at 38 weeks pregnant, she had a major seizure.
‘It lasted 15 minutes instead of the one or two minutes I was used to,’ Lisa explains. ‘As soon as it finished, another one started. Finally, it passed and I got up and had something to eat and went to the toilet.
‘Sitting on the loo I felt my body twitch uncontrollably and I had severe cramp in one of my hands.’
Lisa was taken to hospital and baby Noah was delivered via emergency c-section on September 28, and doctors said her seizures were a result of eclampsia.
But further neurology tests after giving birth revealed that she had a brain tumour — a five centimetre meningioma on the thin layer of tissue covering her brain.
‘I wasn’t shocked,’ she explains. ‘I’ve always had a sunny outlook on things and despite this life-changing news, I remained calm and focused on what can be done rather than what I might lose.’
As a result Lisa spent the first three months of her son’s life in and out of hospital before undergoing brain surgery in December 2024.
‘That was an incredibly difficult period,’ she says. ‘I made the tough decision to have Noah stay with my parents as I thought that was best for him, being so young.’
During the operation surgeons were able to remove most of her tumour, however, Lisa was left with epilepsy, which meant she was then unable to be left unsupervised with her baby boy until he was nine months old.
‘This meant I had to stop breastfeeding and I only saw him during visiting hours. It wasn’t how I envisioned being a first-time mum and that was hard to process.’
Now, Lisa can parent her baby boy without needing any additional support and she’s raising funds for Brain Tumour Research to help increase awareness around brain tumours.
‘When I was reading online about brain tumours, I felt compelled to do something to help talk about the disease,’ Lisa explains.
‘I’m baffled how research into brain tumours receives so little of the national spend on cancer research.’
In September, to mark the first anniversary of her diagnosis, Lisa took part in Brain Tumour Research’s Walk of Hope, and has further fundraisers planned.
‘For me, taking part in these challenges is a way of doing something to highlight the indiscriminate nature of brain tumours.
‘No one should have to go through what I have had to go through.’
Lisa admits that she’s one of ‘the lucky ones’ to have been able to recover so well.
Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, says: ‘Lisa’s story is powerful reminder that brain tumours are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any age.’
‘In sharing my own experience, my hope is to not only raise vital funds, but to spread awareness of brain tumours and encourage people they have the power to be part of the change,’ Lisa says.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
17 Oct, 2025 | Admin | No Comments
Dunelm launches stand mixer to rival KitchenAid and it’s £400 cheaper
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We don’t know about you, but the return of The Great British Bake Off has sparked our desire to get baking sweet treats.
While we know a good workman never blames his tool (or whatever the saying is), but our arms ache kneading dough, rolling pastry, and mixing batter intensely for minutes. Yet, we can’t justify forking out over £400 on KitchenAid’s iconic Mixer, which we associate as a sign of culinary skills.
However, we have found an alternative to the KitchenAid Mixer we have lusted after for years, and it’s the 800W Stand Mixer from Dunelm, but it looks almost identical.
800W Stand Mixer
Crafted from stainless steel, this mixer is sturdy and robust. The stand itself has a tilting head to fit the bowl and mixing head easily. The stand features a dial control to select the settings. The bowl can hold a capacity of five litres. It measures 35.8cm in height, 24.1cm in width and 35cm in depth. Available in four colours, including cream, black, green and blue.
The 800W Stand Mixer features a fixed stand with a head that lifts so you can put your bow in position, change your mixer, or remove both to clean them.
This kitchen appliance can fit a removable metal stainless steel bowl to blend hot liquids, cold milk, as well as the usual culprits, like flour, sugar and eggs.
The mixer measures 35.8cm in height, 24.1cm in width and 35cm in depth, and it weighs 3.7kg in weight. While you could pack it away if you are tight on counter space, it is designed to be on full display in the kitchen – consider it a kitchen centrepiece to get the conversation started when guests arrive. Do you bake? Though, of course it is functional too.
The Dunelm design is fractionally smaller than the KitchenAid Mixer, which weighs a hefty 10.4kg.
Dunelm’s Standing Mixer can hold five litres, which is more than the KitchenAid design. So the high street buy is scoring major brownie points.
The dial on the side controls the settings, though it has not been disclosed how many speed settings there are on Dunelm’s mixer, whereas KitchenAid’s tool has 10 settings.
Dunelm’s Mixer includes the stand, bowl, as well as interchangeable heads, such as the beater dough hook and whisk.
Another huge difference is the price. Dunelm’s Mixer retails for an affordable £55, while KitchenAid’s Mixers can range in price from £449 up to £899. So it’s really a no brainer.
Need a little more convincing? Dunelm shoppers can’t get enough of the Mixer, and the reviews section has been flooded with compliments.
PollyJay, gushed: ‘So easy to set up and use. It’s my first stand mixer and it does everything I need it to do. Nice and light and easy to store as well. Bargain for the price.’
Jean added: ‘I purchased this item after struggling to use a hand held mixer. This proved very successful, as you get older you need a little help. I’ve used it to make bread and cakes very successfully.’
A separate customer praised: ‘Bought it on a sort of whim, wasn’t expecting much for £50 but good Lord it’s blooming great.’
Considering it saves the elbow crease of mixing ingredients, and it’s super affordable, we predict this kitchen gadget will fly off the shelves quicker than you can say ‘soggy bottom’.
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