In a statement, her family said they were "deeply saddened" to make the announcement but that she had died peacefully at her home in Surrey, where she had lived for more than 50 years. The star had been living with cancer, they said. "The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and ask that their privacy be respected at this time." Dame Penelope was known for her appearances in the sitcoms The Good Life and To The Manor Born, with the former earning her a BAFTA in 1977. She played snobbish social climber Margo Leadbetter in the series, opposite Paul Eddington as husband Jerry, and Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal as their self-sufficient neighbours Tom and Barbara Good. Kendal was among those sharing tributes, remembering her co-star as a "comic genius" who was "a joy to know and work with". Following the announcement, membership organisations SOLT (Society of London Theatre) and UK Theatre said West End theatres would dim their lights for two minutes in tribute, at 7pm on Wednesday. Sitcoms, theatre and famous ads Dame Penelope started her career on the stage and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963, but became a household name for her work in sitcoms, also starring in Executive Stress, No Job For A Lady and Next Of Kin. In To The Manor Born, which first aired in 1979, she played the aristocrat Audrey fforbes-Hamilton, forced to sell her vast country estate, Grantleigh Manor, after the death of her husband - but managing to keep her butler and Rolls-Royce. The actress will also be remembered for a memorable staircase appearance in the 1977 Christmas edition of The Morecambe & Wise Show, as well as starring in dramas such as Death Comes To Pemberley. She also presented shows including Penelope Keith And The Fast Lady, about Edwardian "it girl" and motoring pioneer Dorothy Levitt, Penelope Keith At Her Majesty's Service, commemorating the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, and Penelope Keith's Hidden Villages and Coastal Villages. Her famous voice was also lent to adverts, for brands including Pimm's, Lurpak, and most famously, the Parker Pen Company - once named one of the 100 greatest adverts. The star succeeded Laurence Olivier as president of the Actors' Benevolent Fund after his death in 1989, leaving in 2022. Since 2000, Dame Penelope had worked mainly in the theatre, with her roles including Madam Arcati in Blithe Spirit and Lady Bracknell in The Importance Of Being Earnest. An ambassador for the former Prince's Foundation For Children & The Arts, she was made a dame for services to the arts and charity in 2014. The actress was married to Rodney Timson, a former police officer, and the couple adopted two sons. 'She helped Britain laugh at itself' Paying tribute, BAFTA described Dame Penelope as "a familiar face on stage and screen" and highlighted her history at the awards - winning the gong for best actress for The Norman Conquests / Saving it for Albie, as well as her award for The Good Life, and receiving a further three nominations throughout her career. Agents at voice over agency QVoice described her as "an exceptionally talented, multi-award winning actress for both stage and television", and added: "More importantly she was a much-loved client and friend. Our thoughts are with her family today." SOLT and UK Theatre co-chief executive Claire Walker said the star would "undoubtedly be remembered for many years to come as one of this country's most venerated actors". MP Jeremy Hunt was also among those sharing tributes, writing on X: "Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Dame Penelope Keith CBE. She was a neighbour & friend where she was dearly loved by all who knew her in Milford. "She helped Britain laugh at itself, one of our best national qualities, & brought happiness to millions. RIP dear Penny." Many fans sharing tributes on X highlighted the Morecambe & Wise appearance along with her famous sitcom characters, and described her as "a national treasure".

In a statement, her family said they were "deeply saddened" to make the announcement but that she had died peacefully at her home in Surrey, where she had lived for more than 50 years. The star had been living with cancer, they said. "The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and ask that their privacy be respected at this time." Dame Penelope was known for her appearances in the sitcoms The Good Life and To The Manor Born, with the former earning her a BAFTA in 1977. She played snobbish social climber Margo Leadbetter in the series, opposite Paul Eddington as husband Jerry, and Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal as their self-sufficient neighbours Tom and Barbara Good. Kendal was among those sharing tributes, remembering her co-star as a "comic genius" who was "a joy to know and work with". Following the announcement, membership organisations SOLT (Society of London Theatre) and UK Theatre said West End theatres would dim their lights for two minutes in tribute, at 7pm on Wednesday. Sitcoms, theatre and famous ads Dame Penelope started her career on the stage and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963, but became a household name for her work in sitcoms, also starring in Executive Stress, No Job For A Lady and Next Of Kin. In To The Manor Born, which first aired in 1979, she played the aristocrat Audrey fforbes-Hamilton, forced to sell her vast country estate, Grantleigh Manor, after the death of her husband - but managing to keep her butler and Rolls-Royce. The actress will also be remembered for a memorable staircase appearance in the 1977 Christmas edition of The Morecambe & Wise Show, as well as starring in dramas such as Death Comes To Pemberley. She also presented shows including Penelope Keith And The Fast Lady, about Edwardian "it girl" and motoring pioneer Dorothy Levitt, Penelope Keith At Her Majesty's Service, commemorating the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, and Penelope Keith's Hidden Villages and Coastal Villages. Her famous voice was also lent to adverts, for brands including Pimm's, Lurpak, and most famously, the Parker Pen Company - once named one of the 100 greatest adverts. The star succeeded Laurence Olivier as president of the Actors' Benevolent Fund after his death in 1989, leaving in 2022. Since 2000, Dame Penelope had worked mainly in the theatre, with her roles including Madam Arcati in Blithe Spirit and Lady Bracknell in The Importance Of Being Earnest. An ambassador for the former Prince's Foundation For Children & The Arts, she was made a dame for services to the arts and charity in 2014. The actress was married to Rodney Timson, a former police officer, and the couple adopted two sons. 'She helped Britain laugh at itself' Paying tribute, BAFTA described Dame Penelope as "a familiar face on stage and screen" and highlighted her history at the awards - winning the gong for best actress for The Norman Conquests / Saving it for Albie, as well as her award for The Good Life, and receiving a further three nominations throughout her career. Agents at voice over agency QVoice described her as "an exceptionally talented, multi-award winning actress for both stage and television", and added: "More importantly she was a much-loved client and friend. Our thoughts are with her family today." SOLT and UK Theatre co-chief executive Claire Walker said the star would "undoubtedly be remembered for many years to come as one of this country's most venerated actors". MP Jeremy Hunt was also among those sharing tributes, writing on X: "Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Dame Penelope Keith CBE. She was a neighbour & friend where she was dearly loved by all who knew her in Milford. "She helped Britain laugh at itself, one of our best national qualities, & brought happiness to millions. RIP dear Penny." Many fans sharing tributes on X highlighted the Morecambe & Wise appearance along with her famous sitcom characters, and described her as "a national treasure".

The move - described by one source as a "pragmatic solution" to funding constraints - will form part of the long-delayed defence investment plan, which the government is finally expected to unveil on Tuesday. However, it will leave the Royal Navy without a like-for-like successor for its Type 45 destroyer. The £1bn warship is currently the only piece of British kit that can intercept ballistic missiles. Dan Jarvis, the defence secretary, is thought to have secured up to £1.5bn in additional money for the armed forces on top of some £13.5bn already fought for by John Healey, his predecessor. Yet the amount remains far short of the tens of billions of pounds of extra funding that military insiders say would be required to fix the UK's hollowed-out defences in time for a potential war with Russia by 2030 - a timeline that Sir Keir Starmer has used. Mr Healey quit earlier this month in protest at a failure by the outgoing prime minister to invest faster, and while his successor has spent the past two-and-a-half weeks tweaking the investment plan, the revised document is still set to leave the military wanting. Rather than wallow in despair, though, the army, navy and air force appear to be attempting to make the best of a less-than-optimum outcome. They need to do all they can, regardless of political priorities, to embrace new technologies and regrow credible fighting power at a time of mounting threats. "This seems to be the most pragmatic solution," the defence source said, referring to the announcement by the Ministry of Defence that the navy's six Type 45 destroyers will eventually be replaced by what the department is calling a "common combat vessel". There is not yet a contract for this ship - the model does not even have a name - but it will be a crewed frigate, which is smaller than a destroyer, and could well be an iteration of the new Type 31 variant that is already being built. The "common combat vessel" will be focused on defending against incoming missiles and drones, which is a core task of a destroyer, rather than anti-submarine warfare, which is a key role of an ordinary frigate. The proposed new warship is also expected to operate alongside a suite of uncrewed air, sea and sub-surface drones, including missile barges to provide a layered air defence. It means, in theory, this "hybrid" capability - which is apparently due to enter into service from the early 2030s, though these sorts of procurements have a sorry history of running late - should be able to perform the same air defence role as a Type 45, but at half the price, according to the defence source. As well as being good for keeping down cost, deploying budget warships also makes them more expendable in a fight. At present, the navy runs the risk of only having ships - such as its destroyers and its two £3bn aircraft carriers - that are deemed too expensive to deploy in hostile waters. "Our Royal Navy is a formidable force, operating to protect our nation and our allies in the Atlantic and beyond," Mr Jarvis said in a statement. "These common combat vessels will provide our dedicated sailors with hybrid ships that are designed and built for the increasing threats we face." Read more from Sky News:Search for survivors of Venezuela quakes continuesPrince Harry 'reconsidering bringing family on UK trip'Eleven people killed in skydiving aircraft crash The announcement spells the end of naval aspirations to acquire a next-generation destroyer, called the Type 83, which would have been even more costly than the Type 45. Tom Sharpe, a former naval commander, warned that there was a risk in betting on technology that was not yet proven to compensate for warships that the navy could no longer afford. "It does feel a bit defeatist," he said. The Royal Navy - once the most powerful naval force on the planet - has struggled in recent decades as a failure to invest earlier in a replacement fleet of frigates has left its remaining six or seven Type 23 vessels limping on or out of service. The Type 45 destroyers are newer, but they have suffered from engine woes that mean at any one time half, if not more, of the fleet is alongside in maintenance. Under the investment plan, the navy ultimately aims to acquire a total of 13 anti-submarine warfare frigates, a mix of Type 26 and Type 31 models. A prospective Type 32 variant is now thought to be dead. In addition, it is expected to receive at least six of these new air defence "common combat vessels" to replace the destroyers, along with a range of different types of much cheaper uncrewed platforms. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the previous chief of the defence staff, was scathing about how the armed forces had been allowed to whither under successive governments. In a sign of this decline, the UK is second from the bottom of a table that ranks which country is meeting its NATO commitments, propped up by Iceland, which does not have a military. "Hardly 'leading in Europe'," Sir Tony wrote in an article for The Times. "More 'NATO 31st' than 'NATO First'. Awkward." The former military chief was referring to the mantra of "NATO first" that runs through a sweeping review of defence that was published under the Starmer government in June 2025, underlining the priority Britain places on being a leading member of the alliance. That review set out plans to transform, regrow and modernise the military over the next decade. It should have been followed by the investment plan last autumn. However, the Strategic Defence Review was never properly funded, and the ambition that it envisaged was always unaffordable, meaning the Ministry of Defence would need to impose swingeing cuts at a time when the rest of Europe was regrowing their militaries at pace. The mismatch triggered months of wrangling, which delayed the release of the investment plan.

PSG are negotiating Diomande's transfer with RB Leipzig after he indicated his preference to join the French and European champions. The 19-year-old has been Liverpool's top target, but they have not been prepared to meet Leipzig's valuation. Transfer Centre LIVE!Liverpool news & transfers🔴 | Liverpool fixtures & scoresGot Sky? Watch Liverpool games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 The German club want significantly more than the £86m Liverpool were willing to pay for the Ivory Coast international. The Premier League side have been reluctant to go any higher than that, which appears to give PSG a clear run at the winger. Luis Enrique's side have a contract agreed with Diomande until 2031, but club-to-club negotiations between PSG and Leipzig are ongoing. Why Liverpool target Barcola could be available this summer Liverpool have already signed winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna and are now exploring their options as they execute their plans to replace Mohamed Salah. Barcola's future at PSG is uncertain due to his frustrations about being overlooked for selection in the big games - namely the Champions League final win against Arsenal. Sky Sports News reported earlier this month that Barcola could leave PSG this summer if he is still unhappy about his situation when he returns from the World Cup with France. PSG ideally want to keep hold of the 23-year-old but will not stand in his way if he wishes to move on and a club meets their valuation. The Ligue 1 club will not let him go on the cheap. Barcola has two years left on his contract, which makes this the ideal time for PSG to cash in on the player if he refuses to extend his deal. Arsenal have also been keeping an eye on Barcola, but as it stands, their priority for the left-wing position appears to be Morgan Rogers at Aston Villa. Liverpool transfers In Jeremy Jacquet - Rennes, £60m Victor Munoz - Osasuna, £34.5m Out Andy Robertson - Tottenham, free Ibrahima Konate - Real Madrid, free Mohamed Salah - released Rhys Williams - released

Derbyshire Constabulary were called to reports of a man's body being found in the area of the Nine Ladies Stone Circle in Stanton Lees, Derbyshire, at 1.38pm on 22 June. Isaac Clare-Watts, 26, was declared dead at the scene. Szymon Babynko, of Commonwealth Way, London, was arrested on Thursday in connection with the incident. The 23-year-old Polish national has now been charged with murder. He was also charged with attempted murder in relation to an incident in Chesterfield on Thursday. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Derby Magistrates Court on Monday. Nine Ladies Stone Circle is part of a complex of prehistoric circles and standing stones on Stanton Moor. Most of these are thought to date from the Bronze Age, around 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, according to the English Heritage website. The discovery of Mr Clare-Watts' body came after the celebration on 21 June of the summer solstice, which falls on the longest day of the year.

The US group said it was to create a Comcast focused on its business services, wireless and broadband operation. The media and theme park empires would be hived off to form the separately-listed NBCUniversal. Money latest: A threat to house sales "NBCUniversal is a premier global media and entertainment company, anchored by its growing theme parks division, Universal film and television studios, NBC and Telemundo networks, Peacock, and Bravo", a statement to the market said. "In addition, NBCUniversal's global portfolio will include Sky, our European media business. Together, these businesses will be powered by a portfolio of world-class intellectual property, a deep content library, extraordinary content creation capabilities, and exceptional strength across sports, news and entertainment. "With iconic brands, valuable intellectual property, global distribution and leading creative talent, NBCUniversal will be strongly positioned to compete and grow in an evolving media landscape." Brian Roberts, chairman and co-chief executive of Comcast Corporation, added: "This is a very exciting day for our company. "The transaction we are announcing will unlock a more entrepreneurial management approach and open up a multitude of new opportunities for each business." Shares, 17% down in the year to date and trading at levels not seen for 13 years last week according to LSEG data, were more than 25% up in US pre-market trading. Comcast said the split was expected to be completed in about a year's time. Comcast shareholders ​will own stock in both ​companies after the deal closes. The spinoff was widely seen as confronting the fast-changing shifts in the entertainment sector, with streaming becoming the main battleground. Sky has been in talks with ITV for months over a £1.6bn deal for its media and entertainment arm. It is aimed at creating a UK-focused streaming giant amid the challenge posed by bigger, established US platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The deal on the table includes the ITVX platform, along with ITV's free-to-air channels, but not ITV's studio operations.

His predecessor, John Healey, stood down earlier this month in protest of the overdue defence investment plan (DIP). The extra £13.5bn of investment expected with it fell "well short" of what was needed, Mr Healey said. Mr Jarvis has spent the last two weeks "refocusing" the defence blueprint - expected to be published before July's NATO Summit - to prioritise getting kit to troops on the front line, officials said. The UK's elite commandos have been promised £500m for rapid boats and strike drones as part of changes, with a focus on Arctic region - amid anxiety about Russian activity in the region. In the 2024/25 financial year, the UK spent £60.2bn on defence. The new high-speed commando insertion craft - special vessels used to covertly transport troops from the rapid-response force - will be used for such operations as the seizing of Russian shadow fleet tankers. Earlier in June commandos were involved in taking over a Russian oil tanker in the Channel in the first operation of its kind. Mr Jarvis said: "We're investing in new lethal strike drones, high-speed boats and amphibious transport ships to give our commandos the equipment they need to stay ahead of adversaries and defend us. "The defence investment plan will prioritise getting the latest kit into the hands of our frontline forces, so they can continue their vital work in an increasingly dangerous world." The plan, originally due last year, has been delayed by government wrangling over the budget. Announcing the "shifted" focus, the Ministry of Defence said the DIP will see the UK work with NATO ally Norway in the High North. Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to publish the DIP before the NATO summit on 7 July in Turkey, despite most major policy and spending commitments being paused until his successor is confirmed. But defence chiefs will want to ensure the plan has the backing of the new PM, widely expected to be Andy Burnham, who recently became an MP again after the Makerfield by-election.

Stokes' decision, and a chaotic few hours that followed, sadly does not mask the fact that England appear destined to lose a first home series of three or more matches since 2012. They head into the fifth and final day on 103-4, needing a further 270 to win. The shock news broke at 3.25pm in the midst of a typically lionhearted Stokes spell with the ball that saw him bowl 11 overs unchanged from lunch through to tea. Scorecard: England vs New Zealand, third Test, Trent BridgeGot Sky? Watch England vs NZ live on the Sky Sports appNot got Sky? Get instant access with NOW - no contract Stokes takes centre stage with ball and bat Within three minutes of the announcement, and with the news filtering around the ground, Stokes took a wicket with his very next ball to spark scenes of wild celebration. An 'I was there' moment, the latest in a career littered with them. But Stokes was not done there. Once New Zealand declared at 288-9, upon Daryl Mitchell bringing up a brave, dogged 241-ball hundred, Stokes opened the batting and came out swinging from ball one! He hit two majestic maximums, as well as a couple of boundaries in a 20-ball 30, but there was to be no repeat of his 2019 Headingley heroics to sign off his England career as his frenetic knock reached its inevitable end in the eighth over with a swipe straight to mid-on. Stokes was rightly awarded a standing ovation in salute to his remarkable career, as well as recognition of the parting entertainment provided, but England's aggressive approach did not stop with his exit. Jacob Bethell still batted at No 3 - ahead of opener Emilio Gay (6no), who continued to be bumped down the order until No 6 - but he departed lbw for a fourth-ball duck when leaving one from Zak Foulkes (3-42) which nipped back into the left-hander, DRS confirming his dismissal. Harry Brook (21) did not exactly make his case to be Stokes' successor as Test captain with a chaotic nine-ball stay that, yes, contained three boundaries and a six, but saw him throw his wicket away with a scoop down fine leg's throat. Ben Duckett (36), fresh from his fine hundred in the first innings, again played nicely until he edged to slip off Ben Sears (1-3) as New Zealand delivered another devastating blow. Joe Root (9no) remains to give the hosts a glimmer of hope, as does a depleted New Zealand bowling attack - making England's approach with the bat all the more bizarre. The Black Caps are already sans the injured Matt Henry and rested Kyle Jamieson for this Test, Blair Tickner was lost to concussion in the first innings, and though Foulkes has done brilliantly as his replacement, Will O'Rourke is also struggling with a finger injury that saw him leave the field after being struck by one off Stokes' bat from his only delivery of the innings so far. Mitchell's brave hundred builds New Zealand's lead New Zealand were very much in the ascendancy to start the fourth morning, having already accumulated a 204-run lead and still with seven wickets in hand. England needed a spark and it looked like it had arrived immediately as Mitchell was given out lbw to Jofra Archer in the second over of the day, only for it to be rightly overturned on review, much to the batter's obvious delight. He and Rachin Ravindra dug in and denied England for most of the first session, the pair cautiously going about their task on a disintegrating pitch offering variable bounce as they added only 60 runs from the 25 overs bowled before lunch. Shoaib Bashir (1-42) finally provided the breakthrough in the penultimate over before the interval, trapping Ravindra (94) lbw six short of his century. Stokes (2-49) and Archer (4-53) then combined to rip out New Zealand's lower order as three wickets fell in as many overs upon the restart. Archer bounced out Tom Blundell (18) and found Nathan Smith's edge either side of Stokes picking up Mitchell Santner for a duck - DRS detecting a fine edge after an England review - in the midst of his tireless spell spanning the afternoon session. At that stage, New Zealand were seven down and leading by 290, but Mitchell continued to deny them, wearing multiple blows on his bruised body as he shepherded the tail towards his century, all the while adding further crucial runs to the tourists' lead. But while the game began to get away from England, Stokes would take centre stage for one final time. His dismissal of Foulkes immediately after news broke of his impending international retirement will live long in the memory - as will his chaotic cameo with the bat that followed. England, though, suffered amid the emotion and frenzy of the final throes of the evening session and are staring down a series defeat on day five unless someone can step up to provide their skipper with one parting gift. Stokes: England retirement 'best thing for me' Ben Stokes, speaking to Sky Sports Cricket: "There's a lot of types of emotions where I think this day comes to everyone - there's relief, there's happiness, there's excitement, there's sadness - there's everything that you go through. "It has been really tough and I'm sure a lot of captains can understand it. Someone I've spoken to quite a lot around this stuff is Joe [Root] and he gets it. "It's the best thing that I've ever been asked to do, to captain this team and captain this country. I'll never begrudge any moment where I've captained the team and walked the team out. "It's simply the greatest honour you could ever have put on your shoulders as a player, but there's another side to it all where people don't see and people don't understand. "As good as it is, there are bits [to captaincy] where it does get you, it does drain you and it does affect you in a negative way. "As I was putting me pads on yesterday, getting ready to go out there, that was that sort of last nail in the coffin. "I absolutely love cricket and actually being back at Durham for the last 10 days, when I wasn't part of the second Test match, I found a new lease of life with what my affection was towards cricket. "I just couldn't get that same feeling back here this week, as much as I was trying. "To be honest, it might sound quite selfish, but this decision is generally the best thing for me right now. Whether that means it's the best thing for the team going forward, I hope so. "It comes down to what I think is going to allow me to still love this game that I've played since I was a kid and has given me a career. "There's been moments this week where it's been really tough and I think again that just adds to everything. It really makes it very clear in your mind that you're probably making the right decision. "It's brutal what we do - physically, mentally. Even the stuff away from it, what you have to put in and the hard work, even that's just getting a bit tiring these days. "At 35, I feel like I've got to do so much physical work to keep myself doing what I do out there. Again, do I have that in me? Do I have that fight in me to keep doing that, because of what I know it takes to walk out there and play for this country? "There's so many things that have leaned me towards knowing that this is the right decision. There's the emotional side, the physical side, mental side." 'A warrior for English cricket who will be sorely missed' Sky Sports Cricket's Stuart Broad: "Just standing next to him there, it's the right decision. He knows he's finished playing cricket at the highest level, under this pressure, under this scrutiny. "It's a shame for England fans that we won't see him put on that shirt again. And for us, in the job we do, as he's so entertaining to talk about and comment on. "He's been a generational talent, an outstanding warrior for English cricket, and he will be sorely missed. "I am [sad to see him go]. I really hoped he would continue through to next summer and lead this team a little longer. "I feel the same with Joe Root, and these players who we've seen for a long period of time influence English cricket, you want to soak up and enjoy watching them for longer. "Now we won't see him at the highest level on the greatest stage, but we have some pretty special memories. "And as a team-mate I just have to say he was the most incredible team-mate to have. You knew he was always with you, always supporting you and doing everything for the team to win." England vs New Zealand - results and schedule All times UK and Ireland, all games live on Sky Sports First Test (Lord's) - England won by 115 runsSecond Test (The Kia Oval) - New Zealand won by 253 runsThird Test (Trent Bridge) - June 25-29 (11am) Watch day five of the third Test between England and New Zealand, live on Sky Sports Cricket on Monday from 10.15am (first ball 11am). Stream cricket and more with NOW - no contract.