Market town in the West Midlands, cradle of the Industrial Revolution
The Royal Shakespeare Company has opened The Mad King, a Game of Thrones prequel, in Stratford-upon-Avon. The 3h45m production brings younger versions of familiar figures to the stage with a 36-strong cast and innovative puppetry. Reviews are mixed on pace and poetry, but the project aims to broaden GoT’s reach beyond devoted fans.
A group of cancer patients and survivors are turning to AI and technology to manage treatment, track symptoms, and fundraise. Stories span colon cancer under 50, breast cancer with brain tumors, uterus cancer, and chemotherapy's real-life impact, highlighting personal strategies and community support.
Three BBC investigations have revealed repeated failures in UK cancer care: a final review has found harm from misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment by former Belfast neurologist Michael Watt; Coventry patients were prescribed temozolomide for years with little evidence of benefit; and England is missing cancer-treatment targets, with only 69.9% starting within 62 days. Officials and families are demanding answers.
Multiple court actions across the Midlands and Dudley involve murder charges, manslaughter pleas by diminished responsibility, child cruelty allegations, and a long-stalled missing-person case. Recent hearings include a hospital-order sentence for a killer and updates on ongoing trials.
Conservationists are building ark populations of Myxas glutinosa, a critically endangered snail, in Wales and across England. Ian Hughes has long studied them in Llyn Tegid, aided by his family, with eggs spotted after months in captivity. The project aims to restore the species to the wild under government support.