Latest news with #Alex
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Munster appoint ex-Ebbw boss Alex Codling as forwards coach
The former lock was named as forwards coach consultant at the Irish province in November and carried out the role for the rest of the campaign alongside his work with Ireland Women. He will stay for the Irish World Cup campaign and then will commit his time fully to Munster, working under head coach Clayton McMillan. The Irish province confirmed his role along with the arrival of Brad Mayo as head of athletic performance. Munster general manager Ian Costello said: 'Alex's impact since he began working with us in November has been excellent and we are delighted that he will be back with us for the 2025/26 season. 'We also look forward to welcoming Brad to Munster this summer. Brad has worked in elite environments all over the world and I'm sure he will be a huge addition to the high-performance team. 'Securing the services of Alex and Brad in conjunction with the arrival of Clayton adds to a top class coaching and performance support team as we look forward to the new season.' Codling, who was capped once by England, cut his coaching teeth with Ebbw Vale and had a huge impact at Eugene Cross Park. He took them from Premiership strugglers in January 2006 to being title contenders the following season when they finished just two points behind Neath in a tense run-in. That effort led to the Steelmen's boss being named as Premiership coach of the year. The commute from London meant that Codling left for a job as director of sport at Trinity School in Croydon. He has since built a coaching career that has featured spells at London Scottish, Rotherham, Ulster, Ealing Trailfinders, Harlequins, Oyonnax and Newcastle.
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Climate
- Daily Record
Urgent slide warning issued to parents as temperatures heat up
Popular play items should be checked before children use, say experts. With the sunshine finally making an appearance again in Scotland this weekend, families are likely to be spending more time outside. The Met Office's UK temperature map shows the country's major cities sitting in the mid 20s for most of the weekend, making it the hottest temperatures we've seen so far this year However, as the heat rises, experts at Outdoor Toys are warning parents to inspect play equipment as prolonged sun exposure can cause damage and affect safety. Alex Price, product manager at Outdoor Toys, said: "Slides are a garden staple in warmer weather, but over time, repeated sun exposure can cause plastics, especially cheaper ones, to become brittle, chalky, or cracked. "This not only affects how the slide looks, but can lead to sharp edges or structural weaknesses that put children at real risk of injury.' Cracks and weakened areas can catch on loose clothing, scratch skin, or, in worst cases, lead to equipment failure. To prevent any unwanted injuries and hospital trips, Alex advises parents to inspect slides regularly. He added: "Before each use, run your hands along the sliding surface and sides. Check for any signs of fatigue, such as cracks, fading, warping, or signs that the plastic feels brittle. "Make sure all bolts are tight and the equipment feels sturdy. If anything seems off, it's best to stop using it and contact the manufacturer.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Alex said cheaper toys without protection are more likely to show signs of wear and tear. He added: "If your slide or swing set looks faded or chalky, it could be a sign the plastic is starting to break down, and may no longer be safe to use.' Parents are also advised to check the safety of their trampoline before use. Each year there are reportedly 13,000 hospital visits caused by trampoline injuries, highlighting how important it is to make sure they are safe before children start bouncing. Alex added: 'Over time, exposure to the elements can cause trampolines to deteriorate in ways that aren't always obvious. "Springs may weaken or rust, mats can develop hidden weaknesses, and loose bolts can make the frame unstable. A thorough safety check before use is essential, replacing any faulty parts to prevent accidents. While rips in the mat are easy to spot, damaged springs are often overlooked due to their durable nature. "However, they can weaken over time, and even one damaged spring, whether corroded, overstretched, or loose, can affect the trampolines stability and put your child at serious risk. "Check carefully for any rust, weakened tension, or loose attachments, as these issues may not be immediately obvious. If in doubt, it's always recommended to immediately replace any of the springs that appear to be affected by rust or loss of tension before use.'
Buzz Feed
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Alex Cooper Documentary: 20 Surprising Revelations
Even if you're not part of the Daddy Gang, you've probably heard of Alex Cooper and her wildly popular podcast, Call Her Daddy. Breaking out to massive success thanks to her honest, no-holds-barred takes on sex, dating, and relationships, Alex has since taken the podcast's popularity into groundbreaking deals with Spotify and, most recently, SiriusXM. But this time, in the Hulu docuseries Call Her Alex, the cameras and the questions turn toward the podcaster herself as she shares surprising revelations about her childhood, her past traumas, and her path to success. Since childhood, Alex was no stranger to cameras. Her father, Bryan Cooper, was a sports producer for the Philadelphia Flyers. His career, which was not a typical "9-5", was a "normalization," of what Alex thought was the most "incredible, magical" job. "I was enamored with that world," she said. Growing up, Alex didn't have trouble making friends with girls but faced difficulty with the boys. "I was so scared of boys because of the way they treated me," she said. They would comment with insults like, "You look like a skeleton," or that her legs looked "frail." She recalled all she wanted at that time was for them to like her and to feel "wanted" and "desired." She's naturally a red-head. Her hair color would also incite bullying from the kids at school. Unlike school, her home life was a happy one. "I had this really healthy home life," Alex said. "When I was home, I was Alex." As the youngest of four siblings, she was the "loudest one." She never told her family about being bullied because she was too embarrassed. At home, in the safety of her family's basement, she would spend her time making content. She would make videos with friends and even set up a green screen. Kristen Gatti, a childhood friend who made videos with her, shared in the series that they even recreated Devil Wears Prada word for word. Alex had even taught herself Adobe Premiere at "under 10 years old," said her brother, Grant Cooper. In the safety of the basement, she had full control over the worlds she was creating. It was a place she said she felt "100% myself." Another childhood passion of Alex's was sports. "Playing sports and making videos in the basement, those were the two things I really loved," she said. "I loved being an athlete," said Alex. "It truly allowed me to lean into everything that I liked about myself — being competitive, being determined, having grit." Her long-time passion for soccer even led to a full tuition scholarship to Boston University, an NCAA Division I school. "I felt this enormous privilege that I was able to carry on and do this." It was an exciting time and a new chapter for Alex. However, in her sophomore year, Alex claims that her coach, Nancy Feldman, started paying "extra attention" to her in a way that she felt was "confusing." The coach, from Alex's perspective, seemed too concerned about Alex's personal life — about who she was dating, making comments about her body, and wanting to be alone with her, Alex alleged. When Alex was dropped off at practice by a guy she was seeing, Coach Feldman allegedly asked if she had sex and warned her about sleeping off-campus, which Alex said in the docuseries that her teammates were sleeping off campus too. According to Alex, the coach warned her if she didn't toe the line, that there would be "consequences." Other allegations include a film session, where the team would review playing clips and the coach would comment on Alex's appearance instead of her performance, said Cooper and Alex Schlobohm, a friend and former teammate. Alex S. said, "Whatever reason, every minute that Alex played was highlighted during that film session. It was all based off of her appearance, whereas I felt like when she made comments about other players, it was about their performance." Alex S. was then allegedly kicked off the team by the coach without any reason. According to Alex, the next day, the coach said, 'You see what I just did to your friend? You're not gonna live with her. You're gonna live with who I want you to live with, and you will not be seeing her anymore.' Alex and her parents decided to take it up with the school officials. They allegedly approached the Dean of Athletics with a list of incidents, which they now believed constituted sexual harassment, that Alex's mom had logged since freshman year. But, according to Alex, instead of reviewing the allegations, the school officials asked what Alex wanted from the situation. There would be no conversation about an investigation, the firing of Coach Feldman, or even a reading of the alleged incidents. After that, Alex quit the team. "I'm done. I don't ever want to see this woman again," she had said, even though all she had wanted to do was finish her senior year playing the sport that she loved. Both Alex S. and Alex were able to keep their scholarships. After graduating from Boston University, where she studied film and television, she moved to New York to pursue a career in film and TV. But she faced difficulty in getting her foot in the door. This led to her starting a YouTube channel, where she put on "creative, weird, fun vlog skits." When she started her podcasting journey, Alex said she experienced "low moments" and "self-doubt," especially when it came to judgment about the podcast's sexual content. "Extended family members thought I was so fucking crazy. Relationships ended in my family because my parents had to stick up for me and say like, 'Oh, she hasn't lost her mind, I promise.'" The infamous podcast name, Call Her Daddy, started from a hoodie she bought in college that said "DADDY" on it. Alex's husband, Matt Kaplan, is a film and TV producer who she once nicknamed "Mr. Sexy Zoom Man" when they first started dating. According to Alex's mom, he is Alex's first "real" relationship. Alex said that the bullying she experienced led her to think that she would never get married or have kids. She also thought marriage would threaten her independence, but her views changed with Matt. Friendship is very important to Alex. Lauren McMullen, who was part of the childhood trio Alex used to make videos with, has been working behind the scenes as a producer for Call Her Daddy. "I can't imagine doing it without her," said Alex. "It's like this crazy synergy that we have together. We'll just be bouncing off each other talking a mile a minute. It just feels so cozy," said Lauren. "I think that's what translates, that it doesn't feel like this corporate sterile washed-down thing. It feels like people who actually really care about this." On Alex's growth and why the podcast resonates with millions of listeners, Lauren said, "She could have really used an Alex Cooper back when she was in middle school and high school, and she is now that voice to people who could be her." Have you watched Call Her Alex on Hulu yet? Let us know in the comments.
Daily Mirror
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker hints he'll be arrested after making bold claim
Pulp's Jarvis Cocker discussed the likelihood of him getting arrested as he discussed the loss of iconic venue The Leadmill in Sheffield Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker joked about potentially getting arrested as he discussed the loss of iconic venue The Leadmill in Sheffield. The group played their first-ever public concert at the venue in 1980, and returned to perform many times as they got more and more famous. However, the venue lost their appeal against their eviction notice from The Electric Group in 2024 and asked artists if they would like to perform farewell concerts at the venue for one last time. During a recent interview, Jarvis was asked whether there would be a chance the group could play at The Leadmill one final time. Jarvis said he doesn't think Pulp 'would fit into' the venue now but admits he wants to take home a black plaque that commemorates the group's first concert. 'My main thing is trying to figure out how to get that plaque outside off the wall before the new owner moves in,' he said to NME. 'I vowed that's what I'd do if it was to close, and now it is. If the next thing you read about me is that I've been arrested trying to crowbar off a plaque from the outside of The Leadmill, you'll know why.' Pulp might not be performing at the venue but Miles Kane recently hinted he could be joined by Alex Turner at the final-ever gig. Miles, 39, who collaborates with the Arctic Monkeys' frontman in The Last Shadow Puppets, is set to headline the iconic venue's farewell gig on June 27, following The Leadmill's forced departure. Sheffield-based band the Monkeys performed at Leadmill countless times before the release of their debut album, Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not. Now, Wirral-born Miles' performance could see Alex reuniting with Miles on stage, as hinted during Miles' chat with Radio X When quizzed about the possibility of Alex, also 39, joining him, Miles joked: "Well, he's redecorating it (The Leadmill) at the minute, so he's making it all leopard print for us, because, you know, it's got to be done by hand." He affectionately added: "My door's always open for my bro, he knows that, and that's that." Alex hasn't performed on stage since Arctic Monkeys wrapped up their tour for their latest album, The Car, in 2023. Speaking to Radio X, he reflected: "It's served me well, and Sheffield as a city as well has always had my back with gigs, that'd be one of the first to sell out or whatever. "So, it's a complete honour, and let's give it a good send-off. I think it'll be a very special night, and it always pops off in there, and hopefully next Friday it won't be any different."
Wales Online
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Jeremy Clarkson's bitter split from ex-wife after 'affair' claims and 'perfect upgrade'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Jeremy Clarkson, the host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, has had quite the eventful love life. At 64, he's been with actress and model Lisa Hogan, 51, for seven years. His past includes two marriages and fatherhood to three grown-up children. Currently, Jeremy shares his life with Lisa, who features on his programme Clarkson's Farm, filmed at the well-known Diddly Squat Farm. But his path in matters of the heart has seen its fair share of bumps. The ex-Top Gear presenter first married Alex Hall in 1989, but she left him for one of his mates after just a couple of years, reports the Express. Years later, in 2011, Alex admitted to The Telegraph that parting ways with Jeremy was a grave mistake: "I can't go into that because I have to think of my children and other people, but leaving Jeremy was the biggest mistake of my life. "I still love him, I always have, but I believed that if you make your bed, you've got to lie in it." (Image: Getty) Jeremy then married his manager, Frances Cain, in May 1993, with whom he has three children, Emily, Finlo, and Katya. In 1999, Alex claimed she and the host had an affair that lasted ten years, according to the Mirror. The TV personality strongly denied these claims and attempted to hit Alex with a High Court injunction. In a surprising development, he later requested the repeal of the order, acknowledging his remorse and criticising: "Injunctions are complete nonsense." (Image: Getty) Reflecting on his decision at that time, he said: "I overturned my own injunction because injunctions don't work. If you take out an injunction there is the automatic assumption that you must be hiding something. Bear in mind my wife and I took out this injunction it wasn't just me. "Yet we came to realise, with Twitter and Facebook in play, you're not really shielded anymore. The shift hasn't been so much in the law but in its interpretation you cannot simply obtain an injunction and then drop the matter; the court insists on pushing you to trial, which comes with an exorbitant price tag. Jeremy further stated: "Should I win, it's blasted across Twitter and Facebook anyway and I'm powerless to stop it. If I lose, the bill for her legal fees lands on my doorstep. Injunctions are complete nonsense. I look back in regret to the day I was counselled to get one." (Image: Getty) Jeremy and Frances parted ways in 2014 amid speculations that he had grown close to his PA, Phillipa Sage, whom he encountered on the Top Gear set. Their romance lasted until 2017, when Clarkson was spotted with Lisa Hogan. "He'd actually told me, 'I was born for you', and asked me to stay the night a few days before he was out with Lisa," she disclosed to Mail Online. "Then, one of my friends pointed out the photograph of him with another woman. I thought, 'Oh yes, she's definitely his type. (Image: Getty) "She's tall and blonde. He's gone for the perfect upgrade: taller, skinnier, younger. So I was like, 'F**k off, what are you doing when we are supposed to be working things out?' "He told me to calm down. He told me she was just a friend, then a couple of weeks later he told me he wanted to be with her." Jeremy has never confirmed nor refuted these claims. Lisa Hogan, his current partner, has made it clear she is not looking to be his third wife. In a discussion with Fabulous magazine, she expressed: "Mrs Clarkson? No, thank you, I prefer being Lisa Hogan." Clarkson's Farm is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime.
