The Radio 2 star, who has been with the BBC for nearly three decades, had his contract terminated at the weekend, following an allegation relating to his "personal conduct". The 53-year-old was taken off air on his Radio 2 show last Tuesday, while the BBC assessed the claims. A BBC spokesperson said: "While we do not comment on matters relating to individuals, we can confirm Scott Mills is no longer contracted and has left the BBC." Mills - who ranked 11th on last year's list of the BBC's highest-paid stars - took over the breakfast show from Zoe Ball in January 2025. It's the most listened-to breakfast show in the UK, according to RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research) data. He signed off his last show on Tuesday, 24 March, saying: "Back tomorrow," but on Wednesday morning, DJ Gary Davies presented the show. Although still titled "The Scott Mills Breakfast Show," Mills's photo has been replaced with a photo of Davies, and the schedule says "Gary Davies sits in...". Davies has not directly addressed the reason for Mills's absence while hosting the show. 'Sudden' and 'unexpected' news An internal email, sent by Lorna Clarke, director of music at the BBC, told staff: "I know that this news will be sudden and unexpected and therefore must come as a shock. "Not least as so many of us have worked with Scott over a great many years, across a broad range of our programmes on R1, 5Live, R2 and TV. "I felt it was important to share this news with you at the earliest opportunity. "Of course, it will also come as a shock to our audience and loyal breakfast show listeners too. I will update everyone with more information on plans for the show when I'm able to. While I appreciate many of you will have questions, I hope you can understand that I am not going to be saying anything further now." News of Mills's sacking led the 12pm news bulletin on Radio 2, while Jeremy Vine, whose show followed, said he was "taken aback by the story," but had "no further information" than was provided in the bulletin. A radio star, with TV credits and forthcoming podcast Growing up in Southampton, Hampshire, Mills got his first radio job on hospital radio aged 12, followed by his first professional radio role at 16. Quickly working his way up, he presented on commercial stations around the country before joining the BBC in 1998 as host of the Radio 1 breakfast show. He went on to present weekend slots for the station and then an early evening show while providing maternity cover for Sara Cox. The show was renamed The Scott Mills Show when Cox did not return. In 2022, Mills joined Radio 2, replacing Steve Wright in his weekday afternoon slot. He's also presented other shows on the station, commentated on the Eurovision Song Contest and hosted a weekend show on Radio 5 Live. Appearing on several soaps and dramas in the 2000s, Mills had minor acting roles in Hollyoaks, Casualty and River City, and appeared on game shows including Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Supermarket Sweep and Mastermind. In 2014, Mills appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, in 2016 he won a celebrity special of Robot Wars and in 2024 he won BBC's Celebrity Race Across The World with his partner Sam Vaughan. The couple got married shortly after filming the show. His last TV appearance was in a Traitors-themed sketch on Comic Relief earlier this month. Mills earned between £355,000 and £359,999 according to the corporation's last annual report. He had been due to present a new Race Across The World podcast - Race Across the World: The Detour - billed as "coming soon," and support Boyzone on their Two For The Road gigs in June. Sky News has contacted representatives for Scott Mills for comment.

The Radio 2 star, who has been with the BBC for nearly three decades, had his contract terminated at the weekend, following an allegation relating to his "personal conduct". The 53-year-old was taken off air on his Radio 2 show last Tuesday, while the BBC assessed the claims. A BBC spokesperson said: "While we do not comment on matters relating to individuals, we can confirm Scott Mills is no longer contracted and has left the BBC." Mills - who ranked 11th on last year's list of the BBC's highest-paid stars - took over the breakfast show from Zoe Ball in January 2025. It's the most listened-to breakfast show in the UK, according to RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research) data. He signed off his last show on Tuesday, 24 March, saying: "Back tomorrow," but on Wednesday morning, DJ Gary Davies presented the show. Although still titled "The Scott Mills Breakfast Show," Mills's photo has been replaced with a photo of Davies, and the schedule says "Gary Davies sits in...". Davies has not directly addressed the reason for Mills's absence while hosting the show. 'Sudden' and 'unexpected' news An internal email, sent by Lorna Clarke, director of music at the BBC, told staff: "I know that this news will be sudden and unexpected and therefore must come as a shock. "Not least as so many of us have worked with Scott over a great many years, across a broad range of our programmes on R1, 5Live, R2 and TV. "I felt it was important to share this news with you at the earliest opportunity. "Of course, it will also come as a shock to our audience and loyal breakfast show listeners too. I will update everyone with more information on plans for the show when I'm able to. While I appreciate many of you will have questions, I hope you can understand that I am not going to be saying anything further now." News of Mills's sacking led the 12pm news bulletin on Radio 2, while Jeremy Vine, whose show followed, said he was "taken aback by the story," but had "no further information" than was provided in the bulletin. A radio star, with TV credits and forthcoming podcast Growing up in Southampton, Hampshire, Mills got his first radio job on hospital radio aged 12, followed by his first professional radio role at 16. Quickly working his way up, he presented on commercial stations around the country before joining the BBC in 1998 as host of the Radio 1 breakfast show. He went on to present weekend slots for the station and then an early evening show while providing maternity cover for Sara Cox. The show was renamed The Scott Mills Show when Cox did not return. In 2022, Mills joined Radio 2, replacing Steve Wright in his weekday afternoon slot. He's also presented other shows on the station, commentated on the Eurovision Song Contest and hosted a weekend show on Radio 5 Live. Appearing on several soaps and dramas in the 2000s, Mills had minor acting roles in Hollyoaks, Casualty and River City, and appeared on game shows including Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Supermarket Sweep and Mastermind. In 2014, Mills appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, in 2016 he won a celebrity special of Robot Wars and in 2024 he won BBC's Celebrity Race Across The World with his partner Sam Vaughan. The couple got married shortly after filming the show. His last TV appearance was in a Traitors-themed sketch on Comic Relief earlier this month. Mills earned between £355,000 and £359,999 according to the corporation's last annual report. He had been due to present a new Race Across The World podcast - Race Across the World: The Detour - billed as "coming soon," and support Boyzone on their Two For The Road gigs in June. Sky News has contacted representatives for Scott Mills for comment.

Across the petrol station's price board in giant lettering reads Reform Refuel: 25p off with Farage. A gaggle of journalists, TV cameras, and photographers have gathered, alongside some curious locals. Alan Graves, Reform's Derbyshire County Council leader, arrives to fill up in his turquoise Bentley. Reform's most prominent Conservative defector, Robert Jenrick, is hanging around the forecourt waiting for Nigel Farage, who arrives soon after us, swarmed by cameras as he steps out of a Land Rover in flat cap, barbour jacket and cords. Soon, Jenrick is up the ladder changing the petrol prices as Farage stands below. For one day only, Reform had struck a deal with the owner of this independent garage to take 25p off a litre of fuel. The duo brought the national media to this small forecourt in the Peak District in Derbyshire to demand the government reverse planned fuel duty rises by cutting green spending: "We will spend the next few months trying to shame Rachel Reeves into cancelling [the 5p] rise in fuel duty in September. But if she doesn't - whether because she's running scared of the Greens or in hock to her far-left backbenchers - then Reform will reverse it in our first budget." Soon the stunt was plastered over social media and Farage's typically bombastic news conference ran on live television. Meanwhile, over on the X platform, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch was busily taking a similar position on fuel duty, posting: "Labour know exactly what a fuel duty hike will do to hardworking families, but they're doing it anyway. It's wrong. That's why last week the Conservatives put down a motion in parliament to force a vote to stop them". Two parties pushing the same policy, but the Conservative leader was outdone by her arch rival Farage and arch nemesis Jenrick as their publicity stunt caught all the eyeballs. Reform UK has made it its business to capture the attention economy as it tries to put the oldest party in the world out of business for good. Welcome to the battle for the right, in which the Conservatives and Reform appear to be in a fight to the death. It wasn't always this way. Back in 2019 Farage's Brexit Party did an electoral pact with the Conservatives - deciding not to contest the 317 seats the Tories won in the 2017 election in order to get Boris Johnson into government and Brexit across the line. In 2023, Farage attended Conservative Party conference, receiving a hero's welcome from right-wing Tories at a Liz Truss fringe event before partying with Priti Patel, the now shadow foreign secretary, later in the evening. Back then, there was open talk that Farage might rejoin the party after decades of campaigning against it. But then, before the 2024 general election, Farage announced he was taking over Reform and went on to win five seats, with 14.3% of the vote, as the Tories had their worst ever result and saw their parliamentary ranks reduced to 121. The die was cast; since then Reform has gone on to win a by-election, and take control of a dozen councils across England and two mayoralties. Reform has also seen its own ranks swell as disaffected Tories jump ship. It leapfrogged the Conservatives as the insurgent party of the right, leading in over 240 polls since the general election: Farage no longer toys with joining the Tories or doing an electoral deal; he wants to destroy them. So does Jenrick, who I have come to Buxton to interview. This former young Tory once campaigned to remain in the EU and sat in Rishi Sunak's cabinet. Now he's Farage's right-hand man and undoubtedly the Reform leader's biggest Tory scalp. When I ask him about this political journey, he says quitting the Tories was hard: "If anyone thinks it's an easy thing to do, to leave a party that you've been a part of since you were 16 years of age, then they don't understand what this is about. "I came to the conclusion over a long period of time that the Tory party hadn't really learned the lessons of the mistakes they made in office. It wasn't changing. "There have been millions of people who have always voted Conservative - out of force of habit, or because they thought the party was the best placed to do what they wanted to do, [and] shared their values - who have deserted the Conservative party and concluded it's failed." A former Conservative leadership contender, his betrayal has left a bitter taste in his former party; his former colleagues are adamant that Jenrick's defection was driven by ambition rather than principle. He quit the shadow front bench of a party that risks being gutted in May's local elections and is now Reform's second-in-command - the chancellor of the next government if Reform wins. "I'm not embarrassed to say that I'm ambitious," he says. He is not the only big name to defect; Reform looks for politicians with ministerial experience to join its ranks as it eyes the prospect of government at the next election. There are now over 20 former or current parliamentarians that have joined Reform and Jenrick insists that the influx of former Conservative cabinet ministers is not putting Reform voters off. "Reform voters and supporters time after time are saying to me 'Rob, why didn't you do this months ago? You share our values. You have been on our side for a long time'." They may share values - but Jenrick is less keen on sharing voters, and outright rejects the prospect of any accommodation, merger, or pact between Reform and the Conservatives, saying the only way to unite the right is "behind Reform and Nigel". "People who say there should be some kind of pact or deal misunderstand why people are voting Reform or are drawn to Reform. There are millions of people who feel incredibly angry and disillusioned and frustrated... and those people don't want to see Nigel Farage doing a deal with the Tory party." Analysis from Sky News and exclusive polling with Ipsos appears to back up Jenrick's argument. At first glance, the combined polling of Reform and the Tories points to a right-wing coalition that could take power at the next general election. Latest polls from YouGov put the former on 23% and the latter on 17%. But dig deeper and it seems that a Reform-Conservative pact isn't very popular among supporters, according to new Ipsos polling for Sky News. Nearly as many of their own supporters are against a pact as are for it. Sky's election analysts say that a Tory-Reform pact could risk losing votes from their own supporters; just one in four Reform and Tory supporters say they are open to voting for each other's parties. And that could cause problems. The polling reveals another possibility - that a right-wing challenge could throw up a stronger alliance on the left to stop Reform. Our polling shows that pacts on the left are much more popular with their supporters than ones on the right - with +2% net support among right-wing supporters, and +23% net support on the left. So there is a real risk that if the liberal-left were to join up - that's Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens - they could overtake a divided right. It is a prospect that another Conservative defector to Reform, Danny Kruger, acknowledges as he urges Conservatives to give way and allow Reform to become the party of the right: "There is a real danger that some kind of terrible coalition of the left wins the next election because the right is split. "I don't think there is a future for the Conservative Party as a national party. I don't think it will disappear altogether but I think that its days as the principal challenger to Labour from the right are over. I regret the split on the right but I think it is necessary now that we move the principal vehicle of centre-right politics. "I hope it becomes increasingly obvious that if you want to change the government, if you want the centre-right to be in power, Reform is the only option, and that means taking voters from the Conservatives." But pollster Luke Tryl argues that what is happening on the right of politics is far more complicated than just one party eclipsing the other. "It's a mistake to assume Tory and Reform voters are just different versions of each other. On some big questions, they're in different places, so Tory voters have much lower approval of Donald Trump. In fact, Tory voters of any party voters - except for the Greens - are the most likely to disapprove of Donald Trump. Reform voters are more mixed. "On questions about the economy, lots of Reform voters want big nationalisation. Tories are much more sceptical of that. So it's not a case that you can just sort of add them together, they're quite distinctive and I sometimes categorise it as the Tories now are more institutionalist right, Reform are more insurgent right." Former home secretary, Amber Rudd, thinks the Conservative Party needs to stop fighting on Farage's turf and rebuild in the centre-right. The former home secretary has helped set up a new pressure group for British Conservativism, Prosper, in recent weeks to galvanise voters on the centre-right who feel politically homeless, and to rebuild her party from the centre. "I think that there are a lot of Conservatives, and I am one of them, who believe that Reform, and Nigel Farage particularly, would be damaging for this country. And so we have to try to give the public an alternative to that choice. I think it is worth trying because I can't just sit it out at the moment and see this terrible choice between Starmer and Farage. "I totally reject that there's anything centre-right about what Nigel Farage proposes. If you look at something like on immigration, which is a key issue for the public, they have unequivocally said that they want to do something like what has been done in America, where we've seen ICE [and] the Donald Trump removal process for what he considers to be illegal immigrants... which has killed people. Now, the idea of that on the streets of London is horrific." Current Conservative chairman, Kevin Hollinrake, says the key is putting clear blue water between themselves and Reform when it comes to the economy, welfare, and state intervention. "There are so many things about Reform's policies that are not Conservative, that are not right of centre. Nationalising industry, increasing welfare by taking off the two-child benefit cap - which they've put back on now of course, temporarily, I don't know when they'll change their policy again... hundreds of billion pounds of unfunded spending promises. "This is not a conservative party, this is not a battle for the right, as they say. This is conservatism versus populism. We need to make the case where there's only one choice on the right." Our research suggests that choice is currently not the Conservatives. A Reform Voting Index created by Sky News' election analysts, gauging which of the two right-wing parties currently holds the advantage in each constituency across Britain, finds that Reform has a clear lead in three times as many seats as the Conservatives - ahead in 316 seats, with the Tories leading in just 93, with a further 223 seats too close to call. When you look at Reform and the Conservatives, the personalities, the politics, and the polling all point to a prolonged fight. A pact doesn't look like it would resolve the battle for the right, and blood spilt between the two sides makes a peace deal look near-impossible to secure anyway. The Conservatives think their best hope is that the Reform surge will burn itself out - be that through a patchy record in local government, divisive culture wars, or Farage fatigue - and lapsed Tory voters will look again at Badenoch and the Conservatives. Our polling shows she is more popular among the current set of Reform supporters than Farage is amongst current Conservative backers, suggesting she might have a better chance of winning back lost voters. Read more:What's happening with this year's local elections in England?Reform reports 'family voting' claims to police But Reform very clearly has the upper hand - be it in the attention economy at the rural petrol station, or the polls - and Farage will want to press home that advantage in the May elections. It is very unclear how this feud will end, but what is more certain is the battle for the right looks set to run right up the next general election - and it could prove to be Labour's best chance of getting back in.

Relegation-threatened Spurs, who sit one point above the bottom three with seven games to go, want the former Brighton boss to take over permanently after Igor Tudor's exit on Sunday and have offered him a five-year contract. De Zerbi is now open to taking the job after previously indicating he wanted to wait until the summer to consider his options. Spurs are pushing hard to persuade him - with discussions taking place on Monday. Spurs are hopeful of confirming their third managerial appointment of the season this week before the players return from international duty. Their preference is for a permanent appointment after Tudor's disastrous seven games and 44 days in charge. Transfer Centre LIVE! | Tottenham news & transfers⚪Spurs fixtures & scores | FREE highlights▶️Got Sky? Watch Tottenham games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 Former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood, who has repeatedly put his name in the frame to take over, has told Sky Sports FC that De Zerbi is the perfect candidate - but only if he can keep Spurs in the Premier League. "I love his personality and the way his teams play," said the Sky Sports pundit. "But they can be open and can get hammered in some games - you can't get hammered between now and the end of the season. "[De Zerbi] wanted to have a break after Marseille in February, but why didn't [Spurs] bring him in then? Why didn't they bring him in before Igor Tudor? You'd have given him another seven games to go at, then I would've had total confidence that he would keep them in the league." Several Spurs fan groups have urged the club to rethink any potential De Zerbi appointment over his backing of Mason Greenwood when he was Marseille boss. 'De Zerbi far from a safe pair of hands' Ex-Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood speaking on Sky Sports News: "I like him, I really do. I like his personality. I said many months ago that he would be the man to come into Tottenham. "I would've picked him over Mauricio Pochettino for the long term because he plays that style that Tottenham fans want to play. He opens up the pitch, but not now. That style is not needed now, what they need now is a safe pair of hands. This is far from a safe pair of hands. "I still like him. I love his personality and the way his teams play. But they can be open and can get hammered in some games - you can't get hammered between now and the end of the season. "We saw his Marseille team play against Liverpool with an open style. He opens up the pitch, it's expansive the way he plays. "We know how stubborn this man is. This man is hard to deal with, but I like him for that because he's got his own mind and does it his way, so that's my only reservation. "I think if he can get them over the line, I think he's a perfect manager for Tottenham to have taking them forward. "The main priority is just to keep them in the league. He would not be that firefighter-type manager who comes in for this seven-game period. "He wanted to have a break after Marseille in February, but why didn't they bring him in then? Why didn't they bring him in before Igor Tudor? You'd have given him another seven games to go at, then I would've had total confidence that he would keep them in the league. "They obviously didn't want him then. He was available, but they didn't want him." Analysis: Maverick De Zerbi offers hope that Spurs need Sky Sports' Adam Bate: It is the final roll of the dice. De Zerbi or bust for Tottenham. To dare is to do. Is this combustible character the galvanising motivator that this situation demands? Perhaps not. But it is an appointment that intrigues, excites and - importantly - offers hope. Igor Tudor was a pragmatist on paper who proved anything but on the pitch. De Zerbi at least brings Premier League experience and the prospect of transforming the club's fortunes in the short and long term. If he can keep Spurs up, it could be a turning point. For good and for bad, his reputation precedes him. An innovator in terms of how the game is played, his name was the most frequently mentioned when this journalist was working on a project about the future of football tactics a couple of summers ago. Coach after coach who was consulted for that project cited De Zerbi as an inspiration. "He is producing something that is maybe unique in football right now," said one. "He has probably given Pep Guardiola his biggest headache," added another. Why? "The distances, the positions, the body shape, the intentions that each player has in possession." These ideas still feel progressive. "How you control the rhythm and progress through space will be big in the future." His teams tend to be at the vanguard. And yet, while Marseille are a hugely supported club with a proud history, there is a reason why De Zerbi did not land a bigger job after leaving Brighton. While his predecessor was handed the keys to Chelsea, something held Europe's giants back. A brand of football not necessarily proven to deliver the top trophies was one aspect but De Zerbi's nature - the ability to manage up and down - was the more significant factor. Could he fit in? Nothing that he did at Marseille will have assuaged those concerns. There were the intermittent threats to quit, accusing his players of humiliating him with their performance as early as November of his first season. By April, there were reports that he had refused to train the team with the players going above him to complain. Players were scrapping in training in August - Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe both being moved on. Marseille is a difficult club for anyone to manage but De Zerbi, 46, was often perceived to have inflamed things rather than being a calming influence. Will Spurs fans be worried by any of this? Not really. They are desperate for anyone who can provide the club with a lift. It is in their hands, of course. And yet, they are vulnerable. Should West Ham go on any kind of run, it could prove too much for them. If that is the case, a summer of recriminations awaits. Some supporters would have preferred De Zerbi last summer and many more will lament that they had to endure seven games of Tudor before turning to him now. This final roll of the dice has to work. Is De Zerbi a good mid-season appointment? Tottenham, who currently sit one point above the relegation zone, are in need of a head coach who can deliver instant results with just seven games left to secure their survival. De Zerbi has established himself as a coach that instils a possession-based philosophy, creating teams that are praised for their attractive style of football. However, the Italian's start at Brighton when he took over mid-season in 2022 following Graham Potter's departure would suggest he might struggle to have the required impact. De Zerbi failed to win any of his first five Permier League games in charge of Brighton, drawing twice and losing three games, albeit facing a tough schedule. When taking over at Serie A newcomers Benevento mid-season in 2017, De Zerbi's side were praised for the football they played, but were relegated from Italy's top flight. De Zerbi failed to win any of his first nine games in charge of Benevento. The Italian also struggled when taking over Palermo mid-season in 2016, winning just one of his 13 games before being sacked less than three months into the job. Why Spurs fan groups are against De Zerbi appointment Three Tottenham fan groups have previously urged the club to rethink any potential appointment of De Zerbi due to his past backing of Marseille forward Mason Greenwood. Fan groups Proud Lilywhites, Women of the Lane and Spurs Reach all expressed their concerns about the Italian after he worked with Greenwood at Marseille. Ex-Manchester United forward Greenwood was charged in October 2022 with one count of attempted rape, one count of controlling and coercive behaviour and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm over allegations relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online. The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges in February 2023 owing to a "combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses" and due to "no realistic prospect of conviction". Greenwood has since resumed his career and joined Marseille in 2024. In November, De Zerbi described Greenwood as a "good guy" who had paid a "heavy price" and added: "It saddens me what happened in his life, because I know a totally different person than the one who was described." Spurs' LGBTQI+ fan group Proud Lilywhites said: "We've seen the reports linking Roberto De Zerbi with the Tottenham job and honestly, it doesn't sit right. "As Proud Lilywhites, we care deeply about this club, not just what happens on the pitch, but what Tottenham stands for off it. This isn't just about results or style of football. It's about values, identity, and the kind of people we choose to represent us. "We all want Spurs to move forward, but how we do that matters. When someone in that position publicly defends a player like Mason Greenwood, and frames it in a way that downplays the seriousness of what happened, it matters, not just in isolation but in what it signals. "We are proud of the progress that's been made in making football more inclusive and welcoming. "That progress matters, and it cannot be compromised or treated as secondary. "We are not asking for perfection. We are asking for accountability, transparency and leadership that reflects the values this club claims to stand for. All together, always. That has to mean something. No to De Zerbi." Women of the Lane added: "We want to be clear about how this [speculation] is landing with many women and allies in our community. "De Zerbi has publicly defended Mason Greenwood in a way that downplays the seriousness of male violence against women and girls. That raises serious questions about judgement and leadership. "This is not an appointment Tottenham Hotspur should make." A Spurs Reach statement read: "Comments previously attributed to Roberto De Zerbi, including public remarks defending and contextualising Mason Greenwood following serious allegations have been widely criticised for appearing to minimise the gravity of violence against women. "Regardless of intent, framing of this nature risks normalising harmful attitudes, diminishing the experiences of survivors and sending a deeply concerning message about what is tolerated within the game. "We all want the club to progress but it must do so in a way that reflects its values. No to De Zerbi." Where it went wrong at Brighton for De Zerbi Where it went wrong for De Zerbi at Brighton Sky Sports News' Elliot Cook: Arguably, it was at the Stadio Olimpico against Roma in the 2023/24 Europa League where it started to go wrong. Brighton had been soundly beaten 4-0 by Roma and questions were asked about the Italian's tactics. Was he too attacking? Should he have adopted a more defensive mindset with a second leg to come at The Amex? It was here that differences of opinion over the club's transfer policy appeared to manifest themselves. He was asking questions of owner Tony Bloom's strategy. "We have to progress and if we want to compete at this level, from the owner to the coach to the players, we have to progress to reach one level higher," he said. "I believe this has taught everyone at the club, from the president (owner/chairman Tony Bloom), who, for the first time, has been confronted by this competition and therefore he will improve the team in the future." De Zerbi wanted to buy more established players on bigger wages but Bloom wasn't prepared to change the club's successful and financially prudent model of buying young talent, developing them and potentially selling at a huge profit. Despite talks with Bloom and De Zerbi, no consensus could be found. In May 2024, the head coach said, "We spoke for not a long time, 20 minutes, but we spoke, one week ago. I have nothing against Tony. I am used to saying the truth and the truth is difficult to accept." The lack of agreement on transfers meant there was a parting of the ways. His final game in charge was the last match of the 2023/24 season at home against Manchester United. He did have some bad luck with injuries and poor form saw Brighton win just once in the last ten games of the campaign. His legacy at Brighton will be qualifying for Europe and those European nights, not for the way it ended.

The works by French artists Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri Matisse and Paul Cezanne were taken in an operation lasting less than three minutes, police said. The thieves targeted the Magnani-Rocca Foundation villa, south of the city of Parma, on the night of 22 March. According to sources close to the investigation, the stolen masterpieces were Renoir's Les Poissons, Cezanne's Still Life With Cherries and Matisse's Odalisque On The Terrace. The value of the three is worth "tens of millions euros", an investigator said. However, Italian public broadcaster Rai reported the stolen works were worth €9m (£7.8m). There has been no official confirmation on the combined value of the paintings. The paintings were on the first floor of what is called the Villa of Masterpieces in the Sala dei Francesi - the Room of the French. The thieves, wearing balaclavas, gained entry by forcing open a door and were described as an "organised group". They were disturbed by the museum's alarm system and escaped before they could take more paintings, "which was their intention". Investigators are assessing museum security footage. Read more from Sky News:Why Iran war is set to push up UK food pricesFree public transport introduced in Australian states The Magnani-Rocca Foundation is a private museum which lies in the heart of the countryside 12 miles from Parma. Established in 1977, the foundation hosts the collection of the art historian Luigi Magnani and also includes works by Durer, Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya and Monet. It comes after a series of high-profile heists at major European museums, including last October when thieves stole jewels and other items worth £76m from the Louvre in Paris.

The shield was discovered during labouring work near Beith in North Ayrshire around 1779, and in 1791 was presented to the Society of Antiquaries of London where it remained ever since. It has now been brought back north of the border on loan for the first time ahead of the Scotland's First Warriors exhibition, which opens at the National Museum of Scotland (NMS) in Edinburgh this summer. Ahead of the show it was brought together with five other shields, discovered in the Borders and Aberdeenshire in the 19th century, which are part of the NMS collection. Four of the shields, including the one from Beith, will feature in the exhibit - but bringing the six together beforehand has given experts the opportunity to compare the craftsmanship of the items, which date from 3,300 to 3,500 years ago. Dr Matthew Knight, senior curator of prehistory at NMS, said: "The moment the sixth shield arrived back in Scotland and was unpacked at the National Museums Collection Centre was breathtaking. "The Beith shield is such a spectacular, intricate object and thanks to the generosity of the Society of Antiquaries of London, this is the first time it has been seen in Scotland since its discovery over 200 years ago. "Bronze shields from this period are exceptional to Britain and by bringing all six of these incredibly rare shields together, we can gain a deeper understanding of life and conflict in Bronze Age Scotland and beyond. "It really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." According to historical reports, the shield was discovered with five or six others buried upright in a circle in the peat. Measuring around 60-70cm in diameter, the shield is decorated with hammered bosses and ribs, and has spear damage - indicating it was used in combat. It is not known why the group of shields was buried in this way. Dr Knight said of the Beith shield: "We know that because they're so hard to make and they're quite rare objects, whoever owned it was probably someone of quite high status, or they would have been quite special. "When you think about the idea that it was one of five or six that were buried in a bog, it makes you think that there must have been this group of high-status people who came together to bury their shields together. "We can only speculate about what that sort of ceremony might have been like, or what the meaning behind it would have been, where maybe this was a group of communities who were giving up their defensive objects. "Perhaps it was a sign of peace." Dr Knight said most of the shields look very similar, potentially suggesting they were made by the same craftsperson or workshop. Wooden or leather shields were more common at the time and it is believed the rare bronze ones were used not only for defence but also symbolised the status of the warriors they belonged to. Read more from Sky News:'Fascinating' personal library of 'forgotten scholar' rediscoveredScotland's last shoemaking shop 'frozen in time' to be restored Scotland's First Warriors exhibition will explore thousands of years of history, from the Neolithic (late Stone Age) to the coming of the Romans. It will also feature internationally significant archaeological discoveries from across the nation, such as the Carnoustie Hoard, which includes a rare spearhead decorated with gold and a bronze sword in a wooden scabbard, dating from around 1120-920 BC. The exhibition opens on 27 June and will run until 17 May 2027.

MPs may be on recess - but as the Iran war enters its fifth week should Whitehall ramp up contingency planning for its impact at home? With the Strait of Hormuz still shut and reports of a potential US ground invasion, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will host a roundtable with key stakeholders from industry to discuss the impact of the conflict. Elsewhere, Labour launches its local elections campaign, and the duo look at the polls from a national perspective, assessing the state of the parties with a key month ahead to 7 May. Next Monday, Sam and Anne return with a lookahead to the local elections with academic and pollster Professor Rob Ford. Normal service will resume from Monday 13 April.

Spurs made the surprise decision to turn to Tudor just 44 days ago, after dismissing Thomas Frank. The Croatian had never managed in the Premier League, but had experience of sparking an upturn in form after mid-season arrivals at other clubs, and yet lost his first four matches at the helm in north London. Spurs news & transfers⚪ | Spurs fixtures & scoresGot Sky? Watch Tottenham games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 A club statement on Sunday afternoon read: "We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for head coach Igor Tudor to leave the club with immediate effect. "Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci have also left their respective roles of goalkeeping coach and physical coach. "We thank Igor, Tomislav and Riccardo for their efforts during the past six weeks, in which they worked tirelessly. We also acknowledge the bereavement that Igor has recently suffered and send our support to him and his family at this difficult time. "An update on a new head coach will be provided in due course." The most recent defeat came at home to Nottingham Forest on March 22, prior to the international break. Immediately after that game, the 47-year-old learned his father Mario had died. Tudor's exit leaves Spurs without a head coach heading into the final seven games of the Premier League season, as they sit just one place and one point above the relegation zone. The north London club will now look for a third managerial appointment of the season as they aim to avoid relegation to the second tier for the first time since 1977, with their next match at Sunderland on April 12, live on Sky Sports. 'Tudor exit inevitable, just a matter of when, not if' Sky Sports News reporter Michael Bridge: "It was inevitable - what we wanted to know was when they were going to do it. Igor Tudor was informed that his father had passed away literally seconds after Spurs lost against Nottingham Forest and he laid his father Mario to rest in Croatia on Wednesday. "So, you'd imagine that the Tottenham board had decided that they were going to make another change, one final roll of the dice in this terrible season for the football club, but timing is right. "You've got to get the timing right, but at the same time, Spurs have got to think of themselves as well. Relegation for this football club is absolutely unthinkable, but it's so very possible." When asked why Spurs acted now, he added: "I think it comes down again to timing. The awful, tragic news over the passing of his father, but you would have imagined that the board and people would have spoken about it and thought, 'look, let's give this a few days here' because, as I say, I think he was well liked by people inside the football club and given him those few days to grieve." Tudor's reign in numbers Zero: Tudor won none of his five Premier League games in charge of Spurs, his only point coming in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool on March 15. One: The points gap between Spurs and the relegation zone. They were five points clear at the time of Tudor's appointment in 16th place, but he leaves with the gap having been cut to one point, with Spurs now in 17th. 17: The number of minutes before Tudor substituted Antonin Kinsky during the disastrous Champions League last 16 first leg against Atletico Madrid, when the goalkeeper was at fault for two of the Spanish side's goals. 20: The number of goals Spurs conceded across Tudor's seven games in charge in all competitions, at an average of 2.8 per game. 27: Opta's current percentage chance of Spurs being relegated this season, up from just four per cent before Tudor's first game in charge, the 4-1 defeat at home to Arsenal on February 22. Merse: Spurs' relegation more believable than it's ever been Sky Sports' Paul Merson: "I was at Wembley for the Carabao Cup final, but I watched the Spurs game there. Oh man. "At first, Tottenham were on top, and if they had scored, they would have gone on to win the game. But they didn't, and they did what they've become famous for this season. They let in one - and then capitulate. "Spurs getting relegated is more believable today than it's ever been. They got a result against Liverpool, who were poor on the day, and then they played Atletico Madrid and won the game. "You're suddenly thinking: if they play like this, they'll be alright and they'll have no chance of going down. But fast forward to the next Sunday, and you're going: Wow. Wow. "It's really worrying for Tottenham. Really worrying. And if they fall into the bottom three - and they could before they next play - then it becomes difficult for them. "They're going to Sunderland next, and they'll be reunited with their fans after the derby win. Then it's Brighton, who are playing as well as anybody right now. "Spurs also have Chelsea away with two games to go - they don't want to be going there needing points, because that's Chelsea's biggest game of the season. "And then West Ham play Leeds at home on the final day of the season. You couldn't write it, could you?" What's next for Spurs? Your views... Big Truck: Get Tim Sherwood and Harry Redknapp in. Both will bring the fight back into the squad. Smudge081287: Bring in Redknapp along with Sherwood - they both know the club and league, as well as talking so much sense. Joe: Tottenham wouldn't be in the relegation battle if they had kept Thomas Frank. Paul Mac: The only way we survive is to bring in a Tottenham man, be it Redknapp, Sherwood or Robbie Keane. They are people who can instil confidence and know what it means to wear the badge. Ryan Pattenden: Bring in Redknapp or Sherwood along with some ex-players to help this squad. Tottenham's remaining games April 12: Sunderland (A) - Premier League, kick-off 2pm, live on Sky Sports April 18: Brighton (H) - Premier League, kick-off 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports April 25: Wolves (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm May 2: Aston Villa (A) - Premier League May 9: Leeds (H) - Premier League May 17: Chelsea (A) - Premier League May 24: Everton (H) - Premier League Sky Sports News special: Inside Spurs On Thursday, April 2 at 7pm, Sky Sports News will be airing a special programme about Spurs' issues with their ever-present Premier League status under serious threat. 'Inside Spurs' will feature special guests, including Jamie O'Hara, to dissect, analyse and examine the club's woes and predicament as they stare at a first relegation in 49 years.