Ben Affleck roasts Matt Damon for ripping his shirt off to show fit physique

Ben Affleck is calling out his longtime friend, Matt Damon, for his bulked-up look.

During a recent interview, Affleck, 52, reacted to Damon’s fit physique seen in shirtless photos from the set of “The Odyssey.”

“First time Matt’s got into shape in his life, rips his shirt off,” Affleck quipped on “Today.”

BEN AFFLECK SHARES WHY HE AVOIDED WORKING WITH MATT DAMON

“He’s like, ‘Who can I show this off too?!’ And I was like, ‘You want to just hold back a little’… there’s no shirtless scene, he keeps asking when he can take off his shirt… you’re not naked in this, it’s ‘The Odyssey.’”

Damon, 54, was seen filming on set in Favignana, Italy, for “The Odyssey.”

In the photo, Damon showed off his abs, wearing nothing but a ragged cloth wrapped around his waist. The Hollywood actor looked rugged sporting a gray beard with debris stuck to his body.

“The Odyssey” star is working on the film with director Christopher Nolan. Robert Pattinson, Jon Bernthal, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya and Tom Holland also star in the movie.

BEN AFFLECK REVEALS MATT DAMON WAS A DISGUSTING ROOMMATE: ‘THERE’S MAGGOTS’

During the fourth hour of “Today,” Affleck couldn’t help but take another dig at Damon.

Affleck was asked if his “bestie,” Damon, envied him developing his own bromance with his “The Accountant 2” co-star Bernthal.

“Yeah, I think he’s jealous wherever he is,” he replied.

“I hope he’s jealous, and I hope his feelings are really hurt. You’re not included in this friendship. You’re on the outside of this, sorry,” he teased.

Last year, Damon opened up about their friendship, saying he was happy to be labeled “boring” compared to his Hollywood pal.

Damon noted he’s “really lucky” to have avoided “scrutiny,” unlike Affleck.

“I’ve been really lucky in that way… especially when I look at Casey [Affleck]’s brother, Ben,” he previously said during an appearance on the Radio Times Podcast. “I can’t imagine living under that kind of scrutiny.”

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“And it’s been like that for 25 years, and we’ve had parallel careers in a lot of ways, and so I’m fortunate to have been kind of excused from that part of [it],” Damon added.

As Damon rose to fame, he used to work hard to essentially hide from the paparazzi and scandal that dominated the tabloids at the time. He eventually met his wife, Luciana Barroso, who did not work in the entertainment business.

Affleck and Damon have been friends for decades, first meeting when Damon was 10 and Affleck was 8. In previous interviews, both actors expressed they each had a love for acting at an early age, which drew them to one another.

The duo both had their breakout moment with the 1997 movie “Good Will Hunting.” The two starred in and wrote the screenplay for the movie.

Travis Hunter will focus on playing just one position in the NFL, former Super Bowl champion predicts

NFL prospect Travis Hunter is projected to play both wide receiver and cornerback in the pros, as he did in college. But some experts have questioned the validity of a player excelling at both positions at the pro level.

A player who came close to Hunter’s aspirations in the NFL is his former University of Colorado and Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders. Sanders was known almost entirely as an elite cornerback during his pro career, but also played wide receiver at rare times, mostly during the Dallas Cowboys’ 1996 season.

Now, former NFL wide receiver and three-time Super Bowl champion Ed McCaffrey thinks Hunter should follow a similar blueprint to Sanders. McAffrey believes Hunter is more valuable as a cornerback, and doesn’t expect Hunter to play every down on offense and defense in the pros, which Hunter often did in college.

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“Personally… I think right now he provides greater value at the cornerback position, I do not see any scenario where he doesn’t leave the field in the NFL, I don’t think that’s possible. Maybe for a game or once in a while you could play a significant number of snaps in the NFL, but long-term, I don’t think you can hold up,” McCaffrey said.

“It’s different in college when you’re significantly better and more physically gifted than the guys you’re going up against. When you get to the NFL, there isn’t as much of a gap in talent.”

McCaffrey also didn’t rule out the possibility of Hunter focusing on wide receiver either, but suggested Hunter’s mechanics are more refined as a cornerback, currently.

“Could he play receiver? Absolutely, he’s athletic enough to do it. I think he would need to work more on his route running and his skill set offensively than he would defensively,” McCaffrey said.

“I think most teams that are looking to draft him want him to be that shut-down, lockdown left corner who can take the best receiver out of the game.”

McCaffrey said this as someone who believes a football player’s duty is to play whichever position the coach chooses.

GET FULL 2025 NFL DRAFT COVERAGE WITH REAL-TIME PICKS, EXPERT ANALYSIS AND CAN’T-MISS MOMENTS

As the father to four current and former football players, including San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey and Washington Commanders wide receiver Luke McCaffrey, and former players Max and Dylan McCaffrey, Ed has seen and helped facilitate plenty of full-time position changes.

“Max played DB junior year and moved to receiver senior year. Luke played cornerback as a sophomore, was a quarterback by the time he was a senior, now he’s a receiver. Christian played on both sides of the ball,” McCaffrey said.

“So I absolutely love what Travis Hunter has done in college. Travis Hunter is a football player.”

Hunter himself has rejected the idea of only playing one position in the NFL.

The forthcoming rookie said he would “never play football again” if he was told by coaches to only focus on playing either cornerback or wide receiver.

“It’s never playing football again,” Hunter told CBS Sports last week. “Because I’ve been doing it my whole life, and I love being on the football field. I feel like I could dominate on each side of the ball, so I really enjoy doing it.”

Last season, Hunter played 713 snaps on offense and 748 snaps on defense and was still incredibly productive despite the enormous amount of snaps.

He had 96 catches for 1,258 yards with 15 touchdowns as a wide receiver, while he had 35 tackles with four interceptions, 11 passes defended, and one forced fumble as a cornerback.

Meanwhile, the team that is currently the odds-on favorite to land Hunter, the Cleveland Browns, have suggested they want Hunter to focus on playing wide receiver.

“In terms of Travis Hunter, cornerback or receiver, the answer is ‘yes.’ He can play both, and I think that’s what makes him special. But we would see him as a receiver primarily first,” said Browns general manager Andrew Berry at the NFL Combine in February.

“But I think what makes him a bit of a unicorn is that he can do both at a high level.”

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Shaquille O'Neal runs off TV set to use bathroom in hilarious on-air scene: 'He can't hold it'

Shaquille O’Neal’s need to use the restroom on “Inside the NBA” sparked massive laughter and confusion among his co-workers, Ernie Johnson, Kenny “The Jet” Smith and Charles Barkley.

And yes, it was during a live segment.

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While analyzing the Denver Nuggets-Los Angeles Clippers Game 2 slate in the NBA Playoffs’ first round, O’Neal got up fast off his chair and started to make his way to the door. Johnson, Smith and Barkley were all stunned.

“Go ahead, keep talking,” O’Neal said as he made his way to the restroom.

Smith said he knows the reason O’Neal couldn’t hold it in while on air.

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“It’s that olive oil you’ve been drinking,” Smith said. “Listen, he can’t hold it. After 40 [years old], you can’t hold it anymore.”

Smith said his colleague read somewhere that olive oil helps to clean the gut. So, he’s testing it out.

“You have to do it for two weeks,” Barkley added to the conversation.

Johnson joked: “He’s gonna miss a lot of air time then.”

Things took another step, though, when the broadcast decided to show a replay of O’Neal heading to the bathroom, which he thought was over the line.

“Chuck, stop talking so damn much, finish your point so we can go to break,” O’Neal said when he got back to the desk. He also noted that it was too much water, which led to the necessary bathroom break.

“I’m sitting here like, ‘Shut the hell up and hurry up.’ Sorry about that, America,” O’Neal added.

From shoving O’Neal into a Christmas tree, to making fun of Barkley’s statements throughout the season, the “Inside the NBA” team has always provided some laughable moments.

One truly never knows what this crew will do next.

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Davante Adams says he thought Aaron Rodgers was being 'dramatic' about Jets breakup

Davante Adams was one of the first people to know that Aaron Rodgers, and eventually himself, was not coming back to the New York Jets.

Shortly after the Super Bowl, the Jets announced that they were moving on from Rodgers after a tumultuous two-year tenure that resulted in playoff aspirations quickly being lit on fire.

Rodgers played just four plays in a Jet uniform before rupturing his Achilles. And while last year isn’t entirely his fault, he sure looked like a 41-year-old quarterback coming off a major injury at times.

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Nonetheless, it’s a new regime in East Rutherford, and Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey made the decision to move on from Rodgers.

Rodgers was bitter about the meeting when recounting it on “The Pat McAfee Show” last week, and he was bitter about it to his right-hand man in Adams.

“We golfed together on a Wednesday in Vegas, at Shadow Creek, and then (Rodgers) told me he was going to (meet with the Jets) on Thursday and then come back and we’d play again Friday,” Adams recently told The Athletic. “And he was just in such a bad mood (after the meeting) that he hit me up and was like, ‘I’m not coming back, bro.’ He’s like, ‘This was horrible – they just disrespected me completely.’

“I thought he was being a little dramatic at first. I’m like, ‘Bro, don’t paraphrase it. How did he say this?’ (But) that’s how he said it. And I was shocked because I didn’t think anybody had the balls to, for lack of better words, to hit him with it like that. Just flat out – ‘Yeah, I think we’re just gonna do something different. We’re gonna move in a different direction.’ It was shocking, but right from that moment, I knew there was no chance that I’d be back there.”

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That’s exactly what happened, as Adams, too, was released. He found a home rather quickly, as he signed with the Los Angeles Rams, who released Cooper Kupp, on a two-year deal.

Rodgers said he felt disrespected after flying to visit the Jets “on my own dime.”

“We sit down in the office and I think we’re going to have this long conversation – I’ve flown across the country – and 20 seconds in he goes – I mean literally, I’m talking to the GM about something, and [Glenn] leans to the end of his seat and goes ‘So do you wanna play football?’”

Rodgers responded that he did, but was quickly met by Glenn’s news.

“We’re going in a different direction at quarterback.”

“I wasn’t upset about it, I was surprised,” Rodgers added. “I felt like there wasn’t an ample amount of respect in that meeting. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised based on some of the things I saw over the two years.”

Rodgers’ likely destination appears to be the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are without a solid quarterback just two days before the draft, and every other domino has fallen. However, Rodgers remains a free agent.

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Mum-of-two took own life ‘after mortgage payments shot up by £500 a month’
Amy Evans and her mother Kathleen Moore, with other family members. A daughter is fighting for more financial support after her mum's money worries drove her to take her own life. Kathleen Moore, 60, had spent the last four years struggling to make her mortgage payments after they shot up by ?600-a-month due to rising interest rates on her interest only loan. The mum-of-two had osteoporosis which hindered how much she could work as a dog sitter - and she was too young to retire and receive her pension. Daughter Amy Evans, 37, said her mum was trying to work at least 30 hours a month.
Amy Evans and her mother Kathleen Moore, with other family members (Picture: Amy Evans/SWNS)

A mum-of-two killed herself after her mortgage payments rose by £500 a month and her application for benefits was turned down, her daughter has said.

Kathleen Moore, 60, spent the last four years struggling to make her payments after they shot up due to rising interest rates on her interest only loan.

She had osteoporosis, which hindered how much she could work as a dog sitter, and she was too young to retire and receive her pension.

Kathleen applied for personal independence payment (PIP) and universal credit but was told she didn’t meet the criteria due to her age and the fact she had a mortgage.

Daughter Amy Evans, 37, said her mum tried to work at least 30 hours a month and rented out rooms in her home to try and make the mortgage payments but still had to rely on foodbanks.

Amy said her mum would often talk about was her money problems but didn’t let on how bad it was.

She said she was ‘devastated’ when she got the call to say she had taken her own life in August 2024.

Now she is petitioning to see more financial and mental health support for those over 60 – including a review into the eligibility criteria for Universal Credit and PIP.

Amy Evans and her mother Kathleen Moore. A daughter is fighting for more financial support after her mum's money worries drove her to take her own life. Kathleen Moore, 60, had spent the last four years struggling to make her mortgage payments after they shot up by ?600-a-month due to rising interest rates on her interest only loan. The mum-of-two had osteoporosis which hindered how much she could work as a dog sitter - and she was too young to retire and receive her pension. Daughter Amy Evans, 37, said her mum was trying to work at least 30 hours a month.
Amy said her mum tried to work at least 30 hours a month and rented out rooms to try and make the mortgage payments but still had to rely on foodbanks (Picture: Amy Evans/SWNS)

Amy, a cleaner, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, said: ‘She’d talk about money so much.

‘It consumed her – the worry – for such a resilient person.

‘She wasn’t entitled to universal credit because she had a mortgage. She wasn’t poorly enough for PIP. Everywhere she turned there were no answers.

‘If someone had helped – she’d still be here.’

Amy said she noticed her mum started stressing about money after becoming single four years ago.

She said: ‘She was with her partner for 10 years and they went their separate ways. It made it difficult for my mum financially.

‘The interest rates went up. I think her mortgage went up from £100 to £600-a-month.’

Amy said she offered to let her mum stay with her if she needed to, but described how she was ‘proud’ and wanted to stay in her own home.

Amy said: ‘It took a lot for her to ask for help – I think she was ashamed.’

Amy Evans and her mother Kathleen Moore, with other family members. A daughter is fighting for more financial support after her mum's money worries drove her to take her own life. Kathleen Moore, 60, had spent the last four years struggling to make her mortgage payments after they shot up by ?600-a-month due to rising interest rates on her interest only loan. The mum-of-two had osteoporosis which hindered how much she could work as a dog sitter - and she was too young to retire and receive her pension. Daughter Amy Evans, 37, said her mum was trying to work at least 30 hours a month.
Amy said she noticed her mum started stressing about money after becoming single four years ago (Picture: Amy Evans/SWNS)

She said the family did not realise how bad things were because whenever things seemed to ‘dip’ she always appeared to ‘get back on her feet’.

That realisation came crashing down when Amy got the call on August 15 last year to say her mum had ended her life.

Amy said: ‘It wasn’t really until she’d gone that we looked at all the paperwork and saw how desperate she’d become.

‘She could never really make ends meet. She got desperate and bought into loan sharks. She was so worried all the time about having a roof over her head.’

Now Amy is calling for a review into the eligibility criteria for universal credit and personal independence payment (PIP) to ensure individuals aged 60 and over who are self-employed, carers, or single without dependents are no longer ‘unfairly’ excluded from vital financial support.

She also wants to see a dedicated mental health counselling service for those aged 60 and over.

Amy said: ‘She needed a financial solution. Someone to talk to could have changed what she was planning.’

Paying tribute to her mum, she recalled how she ‘was the life and soul of most parties when she was younger’ and ‘was very resilient’.

‘I hope the petition will save someone else,’ she added.

Amy’s petition can be found here.

Need support?

For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.

Their HOPELINE247 is open every day of the year, 24 hours a day. You can call 0800 068 4141, text 88247 or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

You can buy these London homes with a deposit under £10,000
View over London: from the Tower Bridge along the Thames to Canary Wharf
Down payments in these developments start from just £3,406 (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Clawing a deposit together is often the toughest challenge for anyone aspiring to home ownership.

But shared ownership offers a lifeline, as a deposit is only required for the share you buy, rather than for the full market value, meaning you need far less saved up.

First time buyers in the capital currently stump up an average of £108,848, – an insurmountable sum for most on the average salary of £43,628.

In these London developments however, down payments start from just £3,406, making the property ladder a far less distant dream.

Barking Riverside, Barking

Minimum deposit: £3,406

Ready to start your homebuying journey?

You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from:

– Award winning service from the UK’s leading mortgage broker

– Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week

– Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market

Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won’t charge you a fee for their advice.

Find out how much you could borrow online

Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

From £68,125 for 25% of £272,500.

1.L&Q Barking Riverside Kitchen
Expect flats with private outdoor space in a new Thameside neighbourhood (Picture: Supplied)

A range of one and two-bedroom flats with private outside space, in a new neighbourhood next to the Thames that will eventually comprise over 10,000 homes.

Facilities include a gym, co-working space and concierge service, while five schools are in the vicinity with two more to come.

Residents commute via the Suffragette line or take the river bus into central London.

For more information, visit L&Q Homes.

West Acre Square, Southall

Minimum deposit: £3,937

From £78,750 for 25% of £315,000.

West Acre Sq  Picture: southern housing
West Acre Square is one of the country’s most biodiverse developments (Picture: Supplied)

These homes are within the Green Quarter, one of the country’s most biodiverse developments.

Half the site is green space and there’s a café, ceramics studio, play area, padel club and more at community hub Parkside Yards.

Southall station, for the Elizabeth line, is also just a 10-minute walk away.

For more information, visit Southern Housing New Homes.

Royal Albert Wharf, Royal Docks

Minimum deposit: £4,188

From £83,750 for 25% of £335,000.

Royal Albert Wharf by NHG
There’s a community feel to Royal Albert Wharf, with communal spaces, and a monthly arts, crafts and food market on-site (Picture: Supplied)

The final one and two-bed flats in a riverside scheme moments from Gallions Reach DLR station.

All come with a balcony, wood flooring and stone kitchen worktops plus access to concierge, communal lounge and workspaces.

Cafés and parks are close by, while a monthly arts, crafts and food market takes place on-site.

For more information, visit NHG Homes.

The One Hundred, Alperton

Minimum deposit: £4,250

From £85,000 for 25% of £340,000.

The One Hundred  Picture: 	Ben Pipe Photography
The One Hundred sits by a peaceful stretch of the Grand Union Canal is close to two train stations (Picture: Supplied)

You don’t always have to pay premium prices to live by the water, as demonstrated by these one, two and three-bedroom flats, which are 
beside a peaceful stretch of the Grand Union Canal.

Each has a balcony or terrace and a fully integrated 
kitchen fitted with an induction hob, plus there’s a residents’ roof terrace.

Alperton and Stonebridge Park stations are within walking distance.

For more information, visit Guinness Homes

Beaufort Park, Colindale

Minimum deposit: £4,937

From £98,750 for 25% of £395,000.

5.Beaufort Park Colindale NW9 Minimum deposit: £4,937 Dacre House, consisting of 46 one and two-bedroom flats, is part of a now completed major regeneration scheme a few minutes’ walk from Colindale’s Northern Line station.  The site features a landscaped park with a central square, play areas, continental-style courtyards and manicured gardens, with restaurants, bars and a nursery on the doorstep. Priced from £98,750 for 25 per cent of £395,000, placeforpeeople.co.uk
Dace House features play areas, continental-style courtyards and manicured gardens (Picture: Supplied)

Dace House, comprising 46 one and two-bed flats, is part of a now-completed major regeneration scheme a few minutes’ walk from Colindale’s Northern line station.

The site features a landscaped park with a central square, play areas, continental-style courtyards and manicured gardens, with restaurants, bars and a nursery on
the doorstep.

For more information, visit Places For People

The Perfume Factory, Acton

Minimum deposit: £5,125

From £102,500 for 25% of £410,000.

The Perfume Factory by NHG developments
Reserve one of the last remaining properties and you’re eligible for up to £5,000 cashback

Up to £5,000 cashback is up for grabs when reserving one of the last 
remaining one-bed apartments here, as long as contracts are exchanged 
within 28 days.

London’s largest shopping complex, Westfield London, in White City, is only two stops from nearby North Acton station.

For more information visit: NHG Homes

Parkside Triangle

Minimum deposit: £8,125

Waddon CR0

From £81,250 for 25% of £325,000

Waddon is an under-the-radar suburb with fast transport links to London

Some 70 homes – one and two-bedroom flats and three-bedroom maisonettes and townhouses with balconies, patios or gardens – have just been launched.

Waddon is an under-the-radar suburb with lots to offer, such as parks, a leisure centre, independent coffee shops, Ofsted-rated outstanding and good schools and fast trains to Victoria and London Bridge.

For more information visit: Hyde New Homes

Nexus

Minimum deposit: £8,850

Enfield EN3

From £88,500 for 30% of £295,000

8.Nexus Enfield EN3 Minimum deposit: £8,850 If you want to live in a well-connected spot with nature on your doorstep, take your pick from these one and two-bedroom flats. Ponders End station, which has services to Liverpool Street, is a two-minute walk, National Cycle Route 1 runs behind the development and you can unwind after work in a waterfront pub along the river Lea Navigation – or on your own private balcony. From £88,500 for 30 per cent of £295,000, newlonliving.co.uk
Nexus has the benefits of being in a well-connected spot with nature in close proximity (Picture: Supplied)

If you want to live in a well-connected spot with nature on your doorstep, take your pick from these one and two-bedroom flats.

Ponders End station, which has services to Liverpool Street, is a two-minute walk, National Cycle Route 1 runs behind the development and you can unwind after work in a waterfront pub along the Lee Navigation river – or on your own private balcony.

For more information, visit Newlon Living.

L&Q at Kidbrooke Village, Greenwich

Minimum deposit: £9,688

From £96,875 for a 25% share of £387,500.

9.L&Q at Kidbrooke Village Living Room.
Homes in this new community are pet-friendly (Picture: Supplied)

One, two and three-bedroom flats in a pet-friendly community where 4,800 homes are being built.

They feature large windows, fully integrated kitchens and balconies.

London Living Rent homes – offered at a discount so that tenants can save towards a deposit and eventually buy through shared ownership – are available.

For more information, visit L&Q Homes.

West Ham Village, West Ham

Minimum deposit: £9,875

From £98,750 for 25% of £395,000.

10. West Ham Village West Ham E16 Minimum deposit: £9,875 The first homes in inaugural phase Cherry Point, part of the wider Twelves Trees development, will be ready to move into this summer. It’s one stop on the Jubilee line from Stratford and also on the DLR and Fenchurch Street routes, and a new station approach will speed up access to the platforms. Future plans include restaurants and bars and a central square. Studio, one and two-bedroom flats start at £98,750 for  25 per cent of £395,000, peabodynewhomes.co.uk   default
Cherry Point will be ready to move into this summer

The first homes in inaugural phase Cherry Point, part of the wider Twelves Trees development, will be ready to move into this summer.

It’s one stop on the Jubilee line from Stratford and also on the DLR and Fenchurch Street route.

For more information, visit Peabody New Homes.

Interested in shared ownership?

Head to the London Home Show to learn all about shared ownership and explore other home-buying options.

You’ll be able to explore the latest developments and talk to property experts, mortgage brokers and solicitors. You can get tailored financial and legal advice and have all your questions answered.

The show takes place at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, Westminster, SW1P 3EE, on Saturday April 26, 10am- 5pm. Register in advance for a free ticket here.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

The £400 mistake new parents make — and how to avoid it
A new mum and her baby
Cutting costs as a new parent can be tough. (Picture: Getty Images)

Ask any parent, and they will tell you that having children is an expensive business. However, it turns out some mums and dads spend vast sums on items their kids don’t need or want.

UK parents collectively waste a staggering £7billion on items for children that just don’t get used, according to data published by iCandy,.

For context, that would be enough to give every single user on Facebook about £5 each.

Nearly 60% of parents admitted to buying items that were either never used or used less than twice in the first 12 months, wasting an average of £379 each.

57% of the parents surveyed retrospectively said they had bought too much stuff for their baby, and 46% admitted to regretting doing so.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, cuddly toys were found to have topped the list of unused items – the adorable faces of plush animals can sometimes be hard to say no to in the store, and we all know that kids can be particularly choosy with what they actually take to.

cuddly toy on a child's bed
Not all teddies find favour with their owners. I’m sure this one did, though. (Picture: Getty Images)

Outgrown clothing and shoes are also high on the list, neither of which will be particularly surprising, with your little uns’ sometimes growing at what seems like lightning speed.

However, some of the items parents ended up not using may raise an eyebrow.

A staggering 28% of the parents surveyed confessed to never having used some of their baby towels – an item you’d think you could never have enough of! – with bath supports or seats also coming in 5th on the list.

Hardly an impulse purchase!

What do parents waste money on

Out of the over 1,000 parents with kids under 10 that iCandy spoke to, the baby items they confessed to never having used were as follows:

  1. Cuddly toys – 30%
  2. Baby towels – 28%
  3. Baby shoes – 25%
  4. Clothes that were outgrown before they could be worn – 25%
  5. Bath support/seat – 21%
  6. Baby walker – 20%
  7. Bath thermometer – 19%
  8. Nappy bin/genie – 19%
  9. Breast pump – 18%
  10. Baby sling – 17%
  11. Fiddly/fancy outfits with buttons/layers etc – 16%
  12. Baby food blender – 15%

Source: iCandy

How to cut down on costs as a new parent

As a new parent, being more judicious with your spending on some of the items above can help you avoid the potential for this almost £400 mistake.

However, there are other ways to cut costs and help keep your budget in line.

Blogger Suzy Turner recommends the following to help keep costs in line during the early stages of parenthood.

Use cloth nappies

Nappies can be a significant upfront expense early on in your parenting journey.

As such, many are turning to reusable cloth nappies, which, although they require more upfront expense, can help cut costs in the long run.

Nappies on a coloured background
Nappies can prove to be a huge expense. (Picture: Getty Images)

Use social media to swap or purchase second-hand baby gear

Nowadays, social media can help form communities around just about anything.

Utilising local Facebook groups for new parents can help you swap advice on saving money and even purchase second-hand baby items for a fraction of the cost.

Comment nowHow have you saved money as a new parent?Comment Now

Embrace hand-me-downs from family and friends

While asking for help may not come easily to all parents, many baby clothes are worn for such a short time that they remain in excellent condition when they are no longer needed. As a result, most new parents are likely to have items to share.

If you have family or friends whose children are a bit further along in their development, reaching out to them for hand-me-downs can be a great way to save money while still receiving quality items from people who understand precisely what you’re going through.

Look for free local activities

Many community groups and organisations offer free activities for new mums and dads in spaces like libraries and village halls.

These can include outdoor activities in parks, storytime at the local library, and more. So, look into what’s available in your local area.

Young children with a carer or minder
Many community spaces offer activities for parents with young children. (Picture: Getty Images)

Be discerning with your choices of gadgets

The modern parent has access to a wide variety of gizmos and gadgets to help them and their little ones. However, these can prove to be very expensive!

Before you grab the credit card and splurge on every new device you can get your hands on, consider which ones you should prioritise and take a beat to avoid any impulse purchases.

Taking time to determine whether you really ‘need’ that new fancy piece of technology could save you a small fortune.  

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All you need to know about the London Marathon 2026 registration before ballot opens
Masses of runners leaving the start of the TCS London Marathon. Picture date: Sunday April 21, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story ATHLETICS London. Photo credit should read: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.
Good luck if you’re hoping to run next year’s race (Picture: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire)

The 2025 London marathon is fast approaching, but those preparing for this year’s race may also be looking ahead to 2026.

The course, which sets off from Blackheath and took runners past Cutty Sark in Greenwich, Canary Wharf, The Shard and Tower Bridge, finished up at St James’s Park.

More than 1.25million people have completed the marathon since its start in 1981, with thousands signing up every year, and together runners have raised more than £1billion.

And 2026 will likely be no different when the ballot for next year’s race opens on Friday.

How do I sign up for the London Marathon 2026?

TCS London Marathon 2024, London
London was packed full of runners on Sunday (Picture: Getty)

the 2026 London Marathon will be held on Sunday, April 26 next year.

Prospective marathon runners can sign up by entering a public ballot, with winners drawn at random.

When does the ballot open?

The ballot for the 2026 London Marathon opens on Friday, April 25, and will stay open for a week until Friday, May 2.

How much does it cost?

If you are a UK resident, and choose to donate your entry fee to support the work of the London Marathon Foundation during the ballot process if your entry is unsuccessful, your entry free is reduced from £79.99 to £49.99.

If you get offered a place after being successful, if you live in the UK and didn’t opt to donate your entry fee when applying, you’ll need to pay the full entry fee of £79.99. 

What happens if I don’t get a place in the first ballot?

View down the Mall to the finishing line of the London Marathon in London, UK on April 21, 2013.
The finishing line of the London Marathon at The Mall (Picture: Getty Images)

If you don’t get a place in the main ballot, not all hope is lost.

You will automatically be entered into a second ballot, and you will at least double your chance of getting a place through that second draw. 

If you are successful in either the first or second ballot, your entry is prepaid and confirmed.

How do I know if I’m in the ballot?

First of all, you’ll receive a confirmation email when you apply, as well as a payment receipt if you donate your entry fee.

Organisers of the marathon recommend checking your junk folder if you don’t see a confirmation email soon after applying.

The results of the 2026 London Marathon ballot will be emailed to all entrants in July 2025 – the exact date has not been confirmed.

What if I’m unsuccessful in both?

Fun runners, one dressed as a shark, compete in the 2024 London Marathon in central London on April 21, 2024. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) / "Restricted to editorial use - sponsorship of content subject to LMEL agreement". (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
Runners love to dress up in silly costumes for the event (Picture: HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP)

If you are unsuccessful you will receive a ‘premium winter running top’ which retails at £60, and the money you entered will be donated to the London Marathon Foundation.

Top-rated marathons in the UK if you don’t get in to London

If you aren’t lucky enough to be able to race in London next year, never fearas there are plenty of other options across the UK.

From Manchester Marathon, billed as the flattest and most friendly, to the Great Welsh Marathon offering stunning views of the Llanelli Millennium Coastal Park, there’s bound to be another option for you.

The Brighton Marathon is held a few weeks before the London Marathon, or you could head to Blackpool and take in all of the seaside resort’s tourist spots en route.

Edinburgh Marathon is also known for its super-flat route, making it a great option for beginners, or if you want more of a challenge the multi-terrain New Forest Marathon takes you through the heart of the stunning national park.

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Map reveals London hotspots feared to have been bugged by Chinese spies
Parks benches, pubs and hotels have all been tipped to be Beijing’s targets

Londoners have been warned Chinese spies may be listening in to them across the centre of the city.

Parks benches, pubs and hotels have all been tipped to be Beijing’s targets, with security insiders warning MPs and other officials to be careful about what they talk about.

Foliage and benches in St James’s Park, the Red Lion pub in Westminster and luxury hotels the Corinthia and Raffles have all been said to be hotspots for espionage, security sources told the Mail on Sunday.

One source said: ‘We have been told the Chinese literally have the park bugged, with devices in the bushes and under park benches.’

They claimed that this was seen as worthwhile because civil servants and researchers often meet in the park over their lunch break.

Map of places feared to be bugged by Chinese spies Metro graphics
Foliage and benches in St James’s Park, the Red Lion pub in Westminster and luxury hotels the Corinthia and Raffles have all been said to be hotspots for espionage (Picture: Metro)

The Red Lion pub, which is a popular spot for parliamentary staffers, has also been declared unsafe because of ‘Chinese agents’.

Last week, concerns were raised about plans for a new Chinese ‘super-embassy’ at the former Royal Mint building in Tower Hamlets.

Documents submitted as part of the planning application revealed ‘two suites of anonymous unlabelled basement rooms and a tunnel’.

Labour party supporters celebrate with drinks at the Red Lion pub in the Westminster district of London, UK, on Friday, July 5, 2024. New British Prime Minister??Keir Starmer??promised a government of "stability and moderation" after leading his party to a landslide election victory that ended 14 years of Conservative rule that became characterized by turmoil and infighting. Photographer: Tom Skipp/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Labour party supporters celebrate with drinks at the Red Lion pub last summer (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
London, England - April 07, 2018 - The Corinthia Hotel was opened in 2007 after being used as another hotel in the past and also as a government building.
The Corinthia Hotel has been listed as one of the hotspots (Picture: Getty Images)

Their actual purpose has been redacted for ‘security reasons’, and security expert Will Geddes told Metro that the unnamed rooms ‘could be used for anything’, such as ‘detentions, planning, and even weaponry’.

Last weekend, MPs approved government plans to take control of British Steel’s blast furnaces in Scunthorpe after negotiations with their Chinese owners, Jingye, appeared to break down.

The company had stopped buying enough raw materials to keep the blast furnaces going, with business secretary Jonathan Reynolds accusing them of failing to negotiate ‘in good faith’.

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One of Putin’s biggest weapons factories is on fire after explosion
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One of the largest ammunition depots belonging to Russia’s ministry of defence is engulfed in flames after an apparent explosion.

Footage shared on Telegram shows a fireball erupting into the sky about 330 miles from the Russian border with Ukraine.

The inferno is located in the Vladimir Region, in the Kirzhach District, near the village of Barsovo.

Alexander Avdeev, Russian governor for the region, confirmed the incident on VKontakte, saying: ‘An explosion occurred in the Kirzhach district.

‘Responsible services are working on the scene. More detailed information will be reported later. I urge journalists, bloggers, and residents to refrain from disseminating any information about the incident for safety reasons and in compliance with regional legislation until verified official data is received.’

Russian state media Tass reported that residents of Barsovo are being evacuated as the fire continues to rage.

The cause of the explosion remains unclear and officials have veered off from commenting on it.

Internally, Russian weapon depots, factories and rail routes have suffered in the hands of saboteurs fighting against the invasion.

But Ukraine has also been targeting key infrastructure to slow down the army’s advances and prevent replenishing of ammunition.

The incident comes after Vladimir Putin launched brutal new daytime strikes on civilians in Ukraine leaving a trail of death and destruction with children among the injured.

Volodymyr Zelensky accused him of ‘absolutely deliberate Russian terror’, with at least 22 injured in Zaporizhzhia, and one woman killed. 

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