British Icon The Body Shop Enters Administration: The Future of Ethical Beauty
The iconic British cosmetics retailer, The Body Shop, known for its commitment to ethical beauty and environmental sustainability, has entered into administration. Founded in 1976 by the late Dame Anita Roddick from a single shop in Brighton, the brand has grown into a global presence, advocating against animal testing and championing natural ingredients.
This move into administration marks a significant moment in the company’s history, which spans nearly half a century of retail innovation and social activism.
FRP Advisory, tasked with managing the administration process, emphasized the goal of transforming The Body Shop into “a more nimble and financially stable UK business.” This restructuring aims to ensure the brand remains “relevant to customers and able to compete for the long term” in the rapidly evolving beauty industry. The administrators’ strategy includes substantial cost-cutting measures, particularly in property and rent expenses, hinting at possible store closures and job losses as they seek to streamline operations.
Despite the uncertainty, it seems unlikely that The Body Shop’s name will vanish from Britain’s high streets, where it has been a staple for nearly five decades. The retailer’s British operation boasts over 200 shops, a few franchises across the UK, and its headquarters in London, representing a significant footprint in the nation’s retail landscape.
The recent decision by Aurelius, the private equity firm that acquired The Body Shop for £207 million in November, to place the company into administration was driven by disappointing sales over the crucial Christmas trading period.
Read more on www.Sussex.News
The Sidemen Share Their Journey in New Netflix Documentary
A Netflix documentary showing the origins and rise of the YouTube group called The Sidemen will be released on the streaming service soon.
The Sidemen Story will have unprecedented access to the group as they reflect on their rise to popularity, plus the secrets to their success and some difficulties.
Members of the The Sidemen are KSI (Olajide ‘JJ’ Olatunji), Miniminter (Simon Minter), W2S (Harry Lewis), Vikkstar123 (Vikram ‘Vik’ Barn), TBJZL (Tobit ‘Tobi’ Brown), Zerkaa (Joshua Bradley) and Behzinga (Ethan Payne).
The group currently has more than 20 million subscribers on their main channel.
The official synopsis for the documentary film says that it will see “The Sidemen offer honest and heartfelt reflections on their journey, exploring how online trolls, anxiety, topical social movements and the attempted death by suicide of one of their members, have tested their friendship and taught them valuable lessons they are eager to pass on to their young audience.
It continues: “The film also poses pertinent questions surrounding the cultural shifts brought on by open platforms, affordable camera technology and what these developments mean for legacy media’s ability to retain young audiences moving forward.”
When will The Sidemen Story be released on Netflix?
The Sidemen Story is set to release on Netflix UK on Wednesday, February 14.
At the time of writing, there is no information on whether the documentary film will be released on Netflix to the rest of the world.
How do The Sidemen feel about their Netflix documentary?
As reported by the Radio Times, when the film was announced, Vik said: “We’ve always tried to be open and honest about the highs and lows we’ve faced.
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“What began as friends coming together to create fun content has evolved into so much more & shaped who we are as individuals today.
“Our success isn’t measured in streaming numbers or likes; it’s about the connections we’ve built with fans and the real moments we’ve shared along the way. We look forward to sharing a glimpse into the laughter, challenges, and teamwork that defines the Sidemen spirit.”
Meanwhile, JJ added: “Me and the boys are really grateful to our audiences around the world for supporting us on this incredible journey. None of this would be possible without them so this one is for the fans. Let’s goooo.”
Croydon Police Appeal for Missing Woman
Croydon Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has issued an appeal for information regarding the whereabouts of Kareece, a 29-year-old woman who has been missing from the Croydon area since February 9, 2024. Kareece’s disappearance has prompted concern from authorities, who are urging anyone with information about her whereabouts to come forward. Individuals are asked to contact […]
BBC’s Call the Midwife Actor Faces Health Scare During Filming
One star of BBC’s Call the Midwife faced a serious health scare while filming the latest series of the popular drama.
Set in Poplar, East London, the latest episode of series 13 sees the midwives and fan favourites head out of the city and for a trip to the seaside.
However, actor Cliff Parisi who plays Fred Buckle shared that filming took a sudden turn when freezing conditions saw the crew catch hypothermia-like symptoms.
Call the Midwife star faced a serious health scare while filming
Speaking of filming conditions on the beach, Parisi said: “Everything was going sideways. The wind was unbelievable, it was so cold.
“I was wearing a shirt with a hanky on my head. I managed to keep the hanky the whole time – but I got hypothermia in the end.
“They had to take me off-set. I had to warm up, I couldn’t go back on. We’d done most of it by that point.”
However, Parisi came over his health scare after sharing that the affected crew were quickly warmed up with foil blankets around them.
As the Call the Midwife actor added: “It was a laugh, but it was difficult to film, things were flying all over the place.
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“Hair and make-up gave up and ran for cover. One of the crew did as well, we had two cameras then we had one. There was sand in everything.”
Cliff wasn’t the only star of the BBC show that agreed, as his on-screen wife Violet, played by Annabelle Apsion on Call the Midwife said: “It was a nightmare for continuity but in the end, they just gave up and said, ‘We can’t do anything.’
“The weather had been fantastic just before we shot and was again just after we shot. But while we were actually there it could not have been worse. It was hysterical.”
Call the Midwife continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday evenings from 8pm.
Full List of Mobile Phone Providers Offering Free London Underground Wi-Fi, Including O2, Three, and Vodafone
Passengers travelling on the London Underground now have the convenience of accessing free Wi-Fi at some of the network’s busiest stations, thanks to several mobile phone providers offering connectivity services. As more sections of the Tube network are equipped with 4G and 5G connectivity, passengers can stay connected to the internet even while riding deep […]
Dramatic Sea Rescue: Shoreham Lifeboat Dispatched to Save Man in Brighton
In response to an emergency call, the Shoreham lifeboat was dispatched at 14:00 by HM Coastguard following a 999 alert about a man spotted face down in the water near the west pier in Brighton. The situation prompted an immediate response from Sussex Police and the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb), amid growing concerns for the individual’s safety.
Eyewitnesses at the scene relayed to Sussex News that a courageous member of the Brighton Seafront team’s beach patrol officers went into action, entering the water to rescue the distressed man. After approximately 15 minutes in the treacherous conditions, the patrol officer successfully brought the man to shore, where he was immediately attended to by waiting ambulance crews.
In a coordinated effort to ensure no other individuals were in danger, the Coastguard deployed additional resources, including teams from Shoreham and Newhaven Coastguard, Shoreham’s All-Weather Lifeboat (ALB), and Helicopter 175. These teams conducted a thorough search of the surrounding sea and shoreline. After confirming that no further victims were at risk, the emergency teams were stood down.
The rescued man received immediate medical attention from the scene’s medics before being transported to the Royal Sussex County Hospital (RSCh) in Brighton for further treatment. The current condition of the man remains uncertain.
A Sussex Police spokesperson confirmed the man’s rescue, stating, “The man was pulled from the water by beach patrol officers and taken to hospital by ambulance. His condition is unknown at this time. Police, coastguard teams, the coastguard helicopter, and the Shoreham RNLI lifeboat conducted a thorough search of the sea and shoreline to check for any additional victims. They were stood down after confirming no one else was found in the area.”
Read more on www.Sussex.News
Thief Jailed for Stealing Wallet at Gatwick Airport
A thief who stole a wallet at Gatwick Airport has been jailed for eight months.
Lloyd Edwards, 37, formerly of Haywood Street in Walworth, entered a shop in the North Terminal and stole a wallet from a staff area.
He then went on a spending spree at a nearby shop.
The incident took place at 8pm on February 10 last year.
Edwards, who is unemployed, appeared at Lewes Crown Court on January 19 where he admitted burglary of a commercial premises.
He was sentenced to eight months in prison.
Detective Sergeant Ian Warncken from Gatwick CID said: “We worked in partnership with retailers and with London Gatwick Airport to ensure that the suspects were identified and arrested.
“We are determined to prevent thefts from businesses which cause concern to communities and can be very stressful for the public and staff working in them.”
Crawley Stabbing Incident: Police Seek Public’s Help
Police are seeking information from the public following a stabbing incident in Crawley reported last month.
On Saturday, 13 January, between 3am and 4am, a 19-year-old man was riding his bicycle along Bewbush Drive when he was approached from behind by another male on a bicycle.
Following a brief exchange, the young man sustained a stab wound to his side. The assailant then rode off towards the Bewbush Drive shops.
The injured party managed to leave the area, heading towards Mowbray Road.
The individual suspected of the attack is believed to be between 17 and 20 years old. He was seen wearing a black puffer jacket with the hood up, a black Covid mask, and black gloves, complemented by grey jogging bottoms and white trainers. He was on a white mountain bike adorned with black decals.
Read more on www.Sussex.News
London Overground Strike: Affected Stations and Service Disruptions
Strike action is expected to hit the London Overground services next week, with Londoners advised to check before they travel.
Planned strikes by the members of the RMT union will take place on Monday, February 19 and Tuesday, February 20, impacting London Overground services and closing some stations.
Customers are being urged to check for most recent updates on the TfL website before they travel.
All Overground routes will run, but some will have reduced operating hours.
Affected stations that will remain closed during the strike include Haggerston, Hoxton, Rotherhithe, Shadwell, Shoreditch High Street and Wapping.
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As well as these closures, some stations will still be open but may be unstaffed.
During the strike action, there will be no service before 8am or after 6pm on certain routes, including Gospel Oak to Barking, Stratford to Richmond/Clapham Junction and Highbury & Islington to Clapham Junction/West Croydon/Crystal Palace/New Cross.
Londoners using these routes are advised to consider alternatives and to anticipate extra time for their journeys.
Customers requiring assisted travel are strongly urged to pre-book assistance before their journey, as staff may not be present at all stations to assist on a ‘turn up and go’ basis.
The strikes, brought about by a pay dispute, are the first of two 48-hour strikes by the RMT union, with further strike action planned for Monday, March 4 and Tuesday, March 5.
Trish Ashton, Transport for London’s (TfL) Director of Rail and Sponsored Services, said: “Strikes are never good news for our customers, and we urge the RMT and Arriva Rail London to work together to try to come to a resolution.
She added: “Customers planning to use London Overground services are urged to check before they travel, allow extra time for their journeys, and check the TfL website or the TfL Go app for the latest travel information.”
London Underground, Elizabeth line, DLR, London Trams and London buses will continue to operate as usual during this strike action
However, these services could be busier than normal.
For the latest travel updates, Londoners are encouraged to check the TfL’s website or use the TfL Go app.
Guilty Drug Dealer Seized by TFU in Brighton
A drug dealer has been found guilty following a patrol operation by the Tactical Firearms Unit (TFU) in Brighton.
Fiorent Muharremi caught the attention of officers while riding as a passenger in a taxi through the Clifton Road and Clifton Hill area on Wednesday, February 7. Muharremi exited the taxi after a brief 100-meter journey, prompting suspicion.
Undercover officers then approached and conducted a search, during which they discovered cash along with 30 bags of class A and B drugs. Muharremi was subsequently detained on charges of intent to supply class A and B drugs.
After a thorough inquiry by Brighton CID, 20-year-old Muharremi, employed as a car valet and without a permanent residence, was formally accused of intending to supply class A drugs and possession with intent to supply class B drugs.
During his appearance at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on February 8, Muharremi pled guilty to both counts and was taken into custody pending further proceedings.
TFU Inspector Oli Fisher said: “Our highly-trained officers conduct a variety of duties above and beyond armed response, and regularly carry out patrols to assist our colleagues across the force.
“This includes proactive operations to help disrupt the supply of drugs, which cause so much harm in our communities.”
Muharremi will appear for sentencing at Lewes Crown Court on March 7.
Read more on www.Sussex.News