British TV baking competition
The Scotsman reports on the third series of Last One Laughing UK; hosts Jimmy Carr and Mel Giedroyc oversee 10 comedians locked in a room, with laughter penalties and ejections. The Halloween special features seven contestants, seven episodes released as four episodes in a Halloween run on Prime Video.
Sky has announced it will acquire ITV’s broadcasting and ITVX operations for £1.6bn, creating a major UK challenger to global streaming platforms. ITV Studios remains independent, and a long-term content-supply deal will see ITV Studios provide content to the merged group. Regulators will review the deal, which includes potential contingent payments based on advertising performance.
Health ministers push binding national maternity standards and a new commissioner to end postcode gaps, following multiple investigations into failures. The plan aims to improve patient experience and address racial inequalities in maternity care.
Independent and other outlets report Dame Prue Leith’s calls for free, compulsory school meals and a ban on lunchboxes, while England plans to roll out free meals to universal-credit households as part of a wider school-food standards overhaul.
Nigella Lawson has joined The Great British Bake Off as a new judge alongside Paul Hollywood, with filming completed ahead of the show’s September return. Dame Prue Leith is stepping down after nine series; Lawson has expressed excitement and gratitude for joining the team. The trailer confirms the familiar panel, including Fielding and Hammond, as the series returns to Channel 4.