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Newspaper headlines: ‘Supersonic Saturday’ and actress’ Savile allegations

Front page of the Sunday Telegraph

The drama around Oasis ticket sales dominates the majority of Sunday’s papers. Underneath an image of Noel Gallagher watching his Manchester City team win 3-1 against West Ham, the Sunday Telegraph writes that the singer-songwriter enjoyed a “supersonic Saturday” after his reunion tour sold out in 12 hours. Elsewhere, the paper carries a report of teaching unions urging the government to cut down the number of tests in primary schools – amid claims they lead to “‘high levels of anxiety’ in children”. There is also an interview with the chief inspector of constabulary, who suggests the criminal justice system is “dysfunctional” and neither police forces nor the judiciary can say “we are doing all we can”.

Front page of the Sunday Mirror

“Shambles supernova” is the Sunday Mirror’s take on Oasis ticket sales, after hundreds of fans complained about queueing online for hours and having nothing to show for it. The paper’s main story is an exclusive about a potential upcoming documentary on Lucy Letby, the British nurse who was sentenced to 15 whole life terms after being convicted of killing seven babies and trying to kill seven more. Sources tell the Mirror that Netflix is “working with production company ITN” to deliver it.

Front page of the Sunday Express

Oasis fans going “mad for tickets” is the Sunday Express’ headline – but the paper’s focus is an exclusive about the government’s plans to crack down on outdoor smoking, including in pub gardens. Landlords tell the Express they are concerned the ban will turn outdoor spaces “into flashpoints if customers object to those breaking proposed new laws”.

Front page of the Sunday People

An “online supernova” leads the Sunday People, as do behind-the-scene images of the promotional shots that were released with the announcement last week that Oasis were reuniting. Sites experienced a “melt down” as millions of fans attempted to get their hands on tickets, the paper says.

Front page of the Sunday Times

The Sunday Times report that some Oasis fans, “who waited more than three hours in an online queue on Ticketmaster yesterday, had to choose between buying ‘in-demand’ tickets at more than £350 or not seeing the band”. Elsewhere, the publication has a story about parents who “allow their children to regularly skip school” being accused by the education secretary of “denting their future earning potential”.

Front page of the Daily Star Sunday

Former Eastenders actress Danniella Westbrook has alleged she was abused by Jimmy Savile, one of the UK’s most notorious paedophiles, when she was a child. In an interview with the YouTube-based Lewis Nicholls Show, picked up by the Daily Star Sunday, Ms Westbrook claims she was abused by numerous people – one of which was Savile – between the ages of nine and 14.

Front page of the Observer

The Observer’s main headline is about NHS queues – specifically new research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which suggests Britons now expect they may have to go private for routine services such as dentistry and counselling because – the paper writes – “they won’t be able to get them quickly on the NHS”.

Front page of the Sunday Mail

A royal story leads the Mail’s front page for a second consecutive day, with the paper’s Sunday offering carrying reports that Prince Harry “has sought advice from trusted former aides in Britain on how to mastermind a return from exile in the United States”. Sources tell the paper the prince, who lives in California with his wife and two children, has grown “dissatisfied with advice from American-based image experts”.

The Sunday Times leads on a warning from the education secretary that parents are significantly denting their children’s future earning potential by letting them skip school. Bridget Phillipson is quoted as saying she will “act decisively” to tackle what she called an “absence epidemic”. The paper highlights government analysis that suggests every day missed from the classroom costs children hundreds of pounds in wages over their lifetime.

The Sunday Telegraph says teachers’ unions have told Ms Phillipson to scrap exams on times tables, as part of her review of the curriculum in England. It reports that ministers are also being asked to strip back tests on grammar to “curb pupil anxiety”. A union source questions whether primary school children really need to know “about modal verbs and fronted adverbials”. But former Conservative education minister Nick Gibb says the changes would be a “retrograde step”. A government spokesperson says its review aims to “strengthen core skills in reading, writing, and maths”.

The Observer’s front page focuses on a study indicating that most people “expect to go private” for routine health treatments, because they believe they will not be able to get them quickly enough on the NHS. The findings are based on “extensive focus group analysis” conducted by Loughborough University, on behalf of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which funds research into social policy.

“Harry asks former aides to help plot his ‘return from exile'” is the Mail on Sunday’s headline. It says the Duke of Sussex is consulting people “from his old life” on how to “mastermind a return” from the US. The article says representatives for Prince Harry did not respond to its request for comment.

EPA Prince Harry speaks into a microphone while sitting on a chair (file photo)EPA

The Sunday Mirror says a new Netflix documentary about Lucy Letby, the serial killer nurse, will feature experts who have questioned her conviction. The paper says it will mean “fresh agony” for the families of the 14 babies she murdered or tried to kill. The article says Netflix and the production company ITN have not commented.

“Pubs warn of smoking ban violence” is the headline on the front of the Sunday Express. It says landlords fear the government’s proposed ban on outdoor smoking could turn beer gardens and terraces into “flashpoints”. Former Tory party chairman Richard Holden tells the paper the plan would put “bar staff in the firing line” of customers. Sir Keir Starmer says he is making the decision to reduce the burden on the NHS.

Several papers pick up on the online scramble to buy tickets for the Oasis comeback tour. The Daily Star Sunday says millions of fans were “left crying their hearts out” in what it called a “shambles supernova”.

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