David Beckham has finally responded to Joe Lycett after he infamously threatened to shred £10,000 if he didn’t sever ties with Qatar before the World Cup.
As was revealed shortly after the deadline and the money was seemingly thrown into a shredder, the comedian didn’t actually shred the sizeable sum and instead gave the money to charity.
However, what the stunt did achieve was raise more awareness surrounding the Gulf state’s human rights abuses and, in particular, their discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.
Finally, in a special edition of Joe Lycett’sGot Your Back programme on Channel 4, the comedian read out an official statement issued by a spokesperson for Beckham.
Lycett also confirmed on social media that he could not share his opinions on the response but thanked the network for their cooperation throughout the very public ‘Benders Like Beckham’ prank.
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As far as we are aware this is the only statement he or his team have given to any outlet regarding his involvement in Qatar. I have been advised that legally I cannot give my opinion on it, so you’ll have to make up your own minds. (2/4)
I’d like to thank the Got Your Back team and the team at Channel 4 for their extraordinary hard work on this project. Here’s a trailer. (4/4) pic.twitter.com/NDd27wQCst
The spokesperson emphasised that beyond being part of multiple international tournaments down the years, the 47-year-old has “always believed that sport has the power to be a force for good in the world” and “has a genuine ability to bring people together and make a real contribution to communities.
The statement goes on to say: “We understand that there are different and strongly held views about engagement in the Middle East but see it as positive that debate about the key issues has been stimulated directly by the first World Cup being held in the region.
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“We hope that these conversations will lead to greater understanding and empathy towards all people and that progress will be achieved.”
Once again, while the 34-year-old comic has been advised not to comment but – much like the pundits criticised for choosing to attend Qatar 2022 – Lycett, Beckham’s detractors and football fans, in general, will no doubt be reiterating that he could raise these issues from home and without being paid.
The programme itself, which aired on Thursday, 15 December, went on to take aim at official sponsors like McDonald’s and Budweiser for backing the competition. The lattermost continued to promote their brand even after the country banned the sale of beer just days before the competition.
As mentioned above, Lycett also went on to speak to Naser Mohamed, a campaigner who claims to be the first and only openly gay person in Qatar and detailed how he was cut off from his family and friends.
He also went on to claim that he was blocked by Beckham’s Instagram account after he tagged him in a post highlighting the “life-threatening reality of the country’s anti-LGBTQ+ policy with the comment, “this is what is happening”.
You can watch the latest episode of Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back on All4 HERE.
Featured Image — Channel 4/David Beckham (via Instagram)
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Price caps and standardisations to be introduced for vet care in UK following major investigation
Emily Sergeant
Reforms to the veterinary industry to help pet owners better navigate the vet services market are set to be introduced this year.
After an independent inquiry group recently found that the current system is leaving pet owners ‘in the dark’, with a lack of information to help make informed decisions leading to weak competition and high prices, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has this week concluded its investigation into veterinary services for household pets in the UK.
The final report green-lights a package of measures to make the market more competitive, easier to navigate, and more responsive to pet owners’ needs.
It outlines the final remedies and recommendations, which together, will transform the market.
Remedies and recommendations in the report range from price caps and standardisations, through to upfront cost transparency.
We’ve set out major reforms to the UK’s veterinary sector now our market investigation is complete.
Our reforms will help pet owners better navigate the vet services market and will start coming into force later this year.
— Competition & Markets Authority (@CMAgovUK) March 24, 2026
Practices will soon be required to publish a comprehensive price list for standard services – including consultations, common procedures, diagnostics, written prescriptions and cremation options – so pet owners know up-front how much certain services are expected to cost.
They’ll also have to make it clear whether they are part of a group or an independent business, and provide a written estimate in advance for any treatment expected to cost £500 or more (including aftercare costs), plus an itemised bill.
Written prescription fees are set to be capped at £21 for the first medicine, and then £12.50 for any additional medicines.
Price caps and standardisations are set to be introduced for vet care in UK / Credit: Pxhere
There’s also set to be changes to the complaints process, as practices will now be required to follow a transparent, accessible, in-house complaints process, and engage in mediation where disputes cannot be resolved.
The CMA says an ‘unprecedented’ response from both the public and the sector has helped to shape the final report.
The next step is for the Government to respond to the report formally – with Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds, commenting: “We are grateful for all the work of the Competition and Markets Authority, and we will respond to the report and set out next steps for our proposed reforms in due course.
“This Government is focused on helping families save money on vet services by improving transparency and choice around pricing, so the public can make informed decisions about their pets’ care.”
Featured Image – Pxhere
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Police release footage of Manchester burglar who tried to evade arrest by hiding under a bed
Emily Sergeant
Police have released unseen footage of a Manchester burglar who tried to evade arrest and justice by hiding under a bed.
David Dale Thompson, of no fixed abode, appeared at Manchester Crown Court last week (18 March) where he was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of residential burglary at an earlier hearing.
The 43-year-old was caught early last year (15 January 2025) following proactive patrols by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) neighbourhood officers across Rusholme and Moss Side, who were in the area due to a high number of reports of burglaries in the weeks prior.
While on patrol, police spotted Thompson ‘acting suspiciously’ while riding a bike just before 5pm, and once officer subsequently followed him to a property on Boscombe Street, before calling for more officers to attend.
After gaining entry to the address, officers suspected something was wrong when they entered one of the rooms, and after lifting up the bed, they found Thompson hiding in the storage compartment attempting to evade arrest.
GMP has now released footage of the moment Thompson was caught.
Speaking following Thompson’s sentencing last week, Detective Inspector Natalie McDonald, of GMP’s Manchester Central Neighbourhood Crime Team, said: “This was a fantastic example of proactive policing, which has resulted in a serial offender now behind bars.
“We know how devastating a burglary in your own home can be and this shows our commitment to tackling them head on.
“If you have any information or concerns about neighbourhood crime in your area, make sure you speak to us. In the meantime, we have officers on regular patrols in areas that need us the most.”
Danny Jones -
16th December 2022 
