Matt Hancock’s tell-all interview on Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcast has been labelled ‘nauseating drivel’.
The former Health Secretary met with the Dragon’s Den star for an interview that lasted almost two hours.
In the chat, Hancock defended his now-very-public kiss with aide Gina Coladangelo, saying it was not casual sex but that he ‘fell in love’.
The tense clip from the podcast saw the MP repeatedly ask Bartlett to restart the section about his extramarital affair.
Bartlett said: “In September 2020 there was guidance given to stop us engaging in and having casual sex with people outside our household.”
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Matt Hancock appearing on the Diary of a CEO podcast. Credit: YouTube, Diary of a CEO
Hancock then interrupted him and said: “Do you think you could ask that question in a little bit more respectful way?”
He later added: “Can we just start this section again?
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“I don’t mind all of it except that opening bit about casual sex. I haven’t had casual sex with anybody, I fell in love with somebody.
“Let’s start this bit again and I’ll relax.”
Hancock said: “I resigned because I broke the social distancing guidelines. By then they weren’t actually rules, they weren’t the law, but that’s not the point.
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“The point is they were the guidelines that I’d been proposing, and that happened because I fell in love with somebody.”
The clip has been widely shared on social media today since the podcast was released.
Jim Bob edited the clip with the music from Our Tune, a long-standing feature/segment on British radio presented by broadcaster Simon Bates.
I don’t know who* added music to this but it’s brilliant. (*It was me. I’m brilliant) pic.twitter.com/GeLWP2IFVt
Another person wrote: “Oh Jesus god. I’ve just seen polo-necked Matt Hancock explaining that he broke the social distancing rules because he ‘fell in love’. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a nauseatingly self-indulgent clip. It could be worse than his snog video.”
Many people also had comments to make about Hancock’s outfit of a dark polo-neck top with skinny blue jeans – including Lorraine Kelly.
Lorraine said on her show this morning that he looked like a ‘pound shop Milk Tray man’ in reference to the Cadbury advert that aired between 1968 and 1984.
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Matt Hancock drinking Huel whist wearing a roll neck jumper and Top Gear jeans is my sleep paralysis demon pic.twitter.com/efYOUHi9IB
England’s best universities for the upcoming academic year have been named, and one Greater Manchester institution has made the cut.
And this is a very important title too, as it’s all according to current students.
It’s that time of year when higher education institutions nationwide await their annual rankings, and thankfully, Uni Compare has now released its highly-anticipated 2026 league tables ahead of the upcoming academic year, ready for prospective students to get the insight needed before choosing where to study.
Since launching its rankings back in 2020, the platform has become a trusted resource for students across England – with this year’s data drawing from the largest review database yet.
Uni Compare has amassed over 151,000 reviews and ratings since its inception, creating one of the UK’s most comprehensive student-led review databases focused exclusively on the university experience, and the 2026 rankings represent the culmination of 28,430 verified student reviews and ratings collected across 209 universities in England.
The annual league tables focus exclusively on institutions in England, ranking them across five key student experience areas.
Accommodation, course quality, and student social life are just some of the student experience areas taken into consideration, and then the percentage score indicates the proportion of students who said they would recommend their university to others.
The University of Salford has been named one of England’s best for 2026 / Credit: University of Salford
The only Greater Manchester university to make the top 10 list is the University of Salford, claiming a respectable ninth place with a 98% overall recommendation score.
Unlike many other round-up lists, northern cities – and particularly North West-based universities – dominate the top 10, with institutions such as Liverpool John Moores University, Edge Hill University, Leeds Beckett University, and Newcastle University all claiming spots within the coveted lineup.
Best Universities in England 2026
Middlesex University
Liverpool John Moores University
Nottingham Trent University
Newcastle University
Edge Hill University
University of Liverpool
University of Derby
Leeds Beckett University
University of Salford
University of Sheffield
Not only that, but the University of Liverpool and the University of Sheffield also rank highly, but despite all this, the north hasn’t claimed the top spot – that has gone to Middlesex University.
“What stands out this year is just how competitive the top positions are,” commented Uni Compare founder, Owen O’Neill.
“The rankings reveal what students are actually experiencing day-to-day, from the quality of their accommodation, to how well they’re being prepared for their careers.
Commuters can expect some significant disruption to a major rail link this summer, as no trains are set to pass through Stockport train station for the best part of a month due to fairly sizeable maintenance worksnearby.
As a result, those catching the trains in and around the North West will have to make do with alternative services, diversions and rail replacement buses for at least three weeks.
With the Stockport station ‘Masterplan‘ officially announced in 2024, the key Greater Manchester connection is set for a major overhaul in the coming years, with the aim of turning it into a “modern facility” fitting of the town’s ongoing resurgence.
First up, it seems, is the long overdue replacement of the Greek Street roundabout bridge, which was built back in 1958 and has been in need of updating for some time.
⏳10 weeks to go❗️
From 2-23 August, trains won't run through Stockport while we rebuild the Greek Street railway bridge as part of a £20m investment in safer, stronger journeys
🚧Rail replacement buses will be in place and more information to come
— Manchester Piccadilly (@NetworkRailMAN) May 30, 2025
More details surrounding specific travel arrangements are set to be distributed to the public in the coming weeks, but Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have confirmed they will be accepting train tickets on Bee Network buses in the meantime.
While the ticket office and underpass between Edgeley and the recently regenerated Stockport Exchange will remain open, the station itself will be virtually out of operation for three weeks in August.
At present, the works are scheduled to last from Saturday, 2-23 August, so many of those travelling through the town during this time may need to make alternative arrangements.
Issuing an update late last month, Network Rail’s project manager William Brandon said: “The work to strengthen Stockport is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make train journeys on the Manchester spur of the West Coast Main Line safer and more reliable.
“I understand that closing the railway through Stockport for 21 days will be inconvenient to our passengers, and I am sorry about this […] I’d advise passengers to plan ahead and allow extra travel time for their journey.”
The area in question. (Credit: Network Rail)
Network Rail clarified that while the Greek Street bridge is being demolished and the new one (which is set to last all the way up until 2145) is reinstalled, engineers have already been working closely with utility companies in the locale to safely divert gas, water, electricity and so on.
As for Avanti West Coast themselves, Stockport Station Manager, Lisa Magee, went on to add: “While there’ll be no trains to or from Stockport for 21 days […] Avanti West Coast teams will be on hand to support those making journeys via rail replacement bus.
“Together with Network Rail and other train operators, we’re finalising the timetable and will share more details in the coming weeks, so customers can plan their journeys in advance.”
“We’d like to thank customers for their patience and understanding, and as always, we strongly encourage them to check the National Rail website, as well as with their train operators, for the latest updates.”
This isn’t the only major travel update for SK announced as of late, either – something much bigger is coming to the borough as part of the Bee Network expansion.
Daisy Jackson -
1st March 2022 
