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3 weeks ago | 
bbc.com | Jodie Halford
Angler's 18 months of training for 'surreal' catchJodie HalfordRussell BryantDavid Knock said he had spent "hours and hours" preparing for his fishing trip... only to be rewarded with an "unbelievable" catchAn angler who caught a massive 105lb (47.5kg) common carp said 18 months of preparation went into the "surreal" moment.
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1 month ago | 
bbc.com | Henry Godfrey-Evans |Jodie Halford
'Chaos' caused at cafe by roadwork date confusionHenry Godfrey-Evans & Jodie HalfordSuppliedA sign indicating the date of the works seemed to have been tampered with by a disgruntled individualRoadworks which were scheduled but not carried out on the planned date caused "chaos", a small business said.
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1 month ago | 
bbc.com | Jodie Halford
Cafe plan to save derelict church 'encouraging'Jodie HalfordJohn Fairhall/BBCA campaign group is fighting to save St Peter and St Paul's Church in Birch, Essex, which has been empty and unused since 1990A campaigner fighting to save a derelict church said plans to transform it into a cafe, shop and community space were a "beacon of hope and good news". Grade II listed St Peter and St Paul's Church in Birch, Essex, has stood empty since 1990, with demolition weeks from being carried out in 2023.
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1 month ago | 
bbc.co.uk | Jodie Halford
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The study found children as young as five perceived people with standard southern British English (SSBE) accents as being cleverChildren as young as five already associate a "middle class" accent with being clever, a study has found. Researchers at the University of Essex played samples of three accents - Yorkshire, Essex, and standard southern British English (SSBE) - to a group of 27 children to see how closely they link accents with intelligence.
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1 month ago | 
bbc.com | Jodie Halford
Five year olds 'link accents with intelligence'Jodie HalfordGetty ImagesThe study found children as young as five perceived people with standard southern British English (SSBE) accents as being cleverChildren as young as five already associate a "middle class" accent with being clever, a study has found.
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1 month ago | 
bbc.com | Jodie Halford
Five things we learned about The Apprentice 2025Jodie HalfordBBCCandidates from The Apprentice this year - including, from left Emma Rothwell, Liam Snellin and Chisola Chitambala, reflected on their experience with BBC Essex presenter Ben FryerThe boardroom has been tidied up, the sharp suits and snazzy ties put back in wardrobes, Baroness Brady and Tim Campbell are on a break from raising their eyebrows...
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1 month ago | 
bbc.co.uk | Jodie Halford |Ben Fryer
Image caption, Candidates from The Apprentice this year - including, from left Emma Rothwell, Liam Snellin and Chisola Chitambala, reflected on their experience with BBC Essex presenter Ben FryerThe boardroom has been tidied up, the sharp suits and snazzy ties put back in wardrobes, Baroness Brady and Tim Campbell are on a break from raising their eyebrows... and some of the candidates from The Apprentice 2025 have been giving the lowdown on their time in "the process".
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1 month ago | 
yahoo.com | Jodie Halford |Ben Fryer
The winner of The Apprentice 2025 said he was "not aware of any ongoing investigation" after reports his air conditioning firm had been operating without the correct licence. Dean Franklin, 35, from Hornchurch, east London, was crowned the latest winner of the long-running BBC reality show on 17 April by Lord Alan Sugar.
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1 month ago | 
bbc.com | Jodie Halford
Apprentice winner 'not aware' of reported breachJodie HalfordLewis Adams/BBCFather-of-two Dean Franklin said he was unaware of any ongoing Environment Agency investigationThe winner of The Apprentice 2025 said he was "not aware of any ongoing investigation" after reports his air conditioning firm had been operating without the correct licence. Dean Franklin, 35, from Hornchurch, east London, was crowned the latest winner of the long-running BBC reality show on 17 April by Lord Alan Sugar.
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1 month ago | 
bbc.com | Jodie Halford
Jodie HalfordBBC News, EssexReporting fromAshingdonAdventures of Kevin the PeacockThe owner of a lovelorn peacock who has gone off looking for a mate and then failed to come home says the amount of local support to find him has been "overwhelming". Kevin left his home in Ashingdon, Essex, on 30 March. The javan peacock has been spotted in multiple locations since then, including on sun loungers, pub roofs and crossing a busy dual carriageway.
