Dua Lipa Accidentally Throws Her Mic Into The Crowd During Live Show And It Hasn’t Been Seen Since

Posted on 05/03/2022 by Boris Clair

Dua Lipa suffered the mother of all ‘butterfingers’ moments during a recent show on her Future Nostalgia World Tour when she accidentally tossed her microphone into the crowd.

The singer was belting out her hit New Rules when she lost grip of the mic, which then swiftly disappeared into the audience.

I we mean literally disappeared, because it was never seen again.

In videos shared by fans on social media, the singer can be seen looking out into the audience in a bid to retrieve it, but to no avail.

She was then forced to style it out by busting some moves until a replacement mic was handed to her by one of her dancers.

The Future Nostalgia tour has been postponed several times due to the pandemic, but finally kicked off in Florida last month.

The tour is set to conclude in Perth, Australia in November.

Rihanna’s Wax Figure Is A Christmas Catastrophe At Madame Tussauds

Posted on 24/12/2021 by Boris Clair

The museum this month dressed their likeness of the singer in a Christmas outfit, but it wasn’t the seasonal attire that got every’s attention. It was the statue’s poor resemblance to the nine-time Grammy winner.

The fan response on Twitter also declared the exhibit to be in a hopeless place.

“That wax figure of Rihanna is a hate crime,” one person tweeted.

Peppa Pig Shares Hilarious Response After Being Snubbed By Adele In Instagram Live-Stream

Posted on 12/10/2021 by Boris Clair

Instagram/Adele/Peppa Pig

Adele and Peppa Pig

While Jesy Nelson and Nicki Minaj’s chaotic live-stream on Monday night is currently dominating the conversation, we’d rather focus on Adele’s joyful and impromptu Instagram Live session over the weekend, which has still got us howling days later.

The Grammy-winning musician shocked her fans on Saturday night when she suddenly went live on her official Instagram page, with more than 100,000 people tuning in to watch her answering fans’ questions.

Adele being Adele, the live-stream was a total scream, not least because of the star’s struggles with technology and difficulties answering certain questions from her followers (sample quote: “what’s my body count? What does that mean?”).

One of our favourite ridiculous moments from the stream, that’s since gone viral on Twitter, came when a fan asked Adele whether she was “gonna collab with Peppa Pig”, prompting an incredulous “no!!” from the Someone Like You singer.

The clip later sparked a reaction from the official Peppa Pig Twitter account, responding with a popular meme featuring the children’s TV character:

And by the way, if anyone’s wondering what an Adele x Peppa Pig collab might sound like, thanks to presenter James Barr, you need wonder no more…

Carol Kirkwood Dragged To Floor By Guide Dog During Live BBC Breakfast Broadcast

Posted on 20/09/2021 by Boris Clair

BBC Breakfast star Carol Kirkwood was left red-faced – but unscathed – during Monday morning’s show when she found herself dragged to the floor by a guide dog.

During the live broadcast, Carol was presenting a segment remotely while holding the dog named Flash, praising her good behaviour to Dan Walker and Louise Nugent.

Unfortunately for Carol, that was short-lived.

A few moments later, the Labrador apparently tired of her TV appearance and made a bolt for it, taking Carol with her and leaving her face down on the ground.

🛑 @carolkirkwood down!

Flash the guide dog is running the show on #BBCBreakfast this morning 🐾 https://t.co/g98lIxe3Fa pic.twitter.com/6ym3obw6Tz

— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) September 20, 2021

“We’ve got a Kirkwood down!” Dan announced. “Someone save Carol!”

After gathering herself and putting her earpiece back in, which had been knocked out during the tumble, Carol assured her co-hosts she was doing alright, adding: “She’s a very strong girl, Flash.”

Don't worry, folks. She's — Don’t worry, folks. She’s alright!

Fortunately, Carol saw the funny side of the gaffe, and quickly reposted it on her Twitter page later in the morning:

Flash!!!😂😂🥰🥰🥰xxx https://t.co/uxeliL8V4S

— Carol Kirkwood (@carolkirkwood) September 20, 2021

However, regular BBC Breakfast viewers will know this isn’t the first time that Carol has found herself at the centre of a canine-related blunder.

Last summer, she found herself tongue-tied while presenting live from Greenwich Park, where she highlighted just how many dog-walkers could be seen around her.

Except… that’s not quite what the tongue-tied former Strictly Come Dancing star ended up saying.

“We’ve seen lots of doggers,” she announced, before quickly correcting herself, adding: “Not doggers of course. Lots of dog walkers and joggers around here during the course of this morning.”

That will teach me to try and say joggers and dog walkers in the same sentence!!! Sorry! 😩xxx

— Carol Kirkwood (@carolkirkwood) August 10, 2020

BBC Breakfast airs every weekday from 6am on BBC One.

The 10 Best Embarrassing Dad Jokes, As Picked By The Nation

Posted on 15/08/2021 by Boris Clair

What makes a classic dad joke? Some might say one that’s fundamentally unfunny. But we have more appetite than you’d expect for the cringe.

Ahead of National Tell-A-Joke day on August 16, Moonpig has surveyed the nation on our true feelings about dad jokes – as well finding the ones that actually land. It turns out that dad jokes make a lot of us warm and fuzzy with nostalgia and some even manage to make us laugh, rather than groan.

Almost half (49%) of those surveyed said they find dad jokes funny – not so bad, then – although the older you are, the less likely you are to find your own dad funny. Surprisingly, 64% of Gen Z say their dad makes them laugh, compared to 36% of those over 55.

As to which city takes the dad joke crown, the fathers of Liverpool are funniest (or at least have the most appreciative audiences), followed by Cardiff and Birmingham in the top three. And when it comes to low tolerance, neither Norwich or Brighton has much time for dad jokes, calling them “annoying” or even “disgusting”.

Of course, we all know the obviousness of the punchline is what makes a dad gag iconic, nor does a good(/bad) pun go amiss, which may explain why so many old classics make the following list of the nation’s favourites.

1) What do you call a boomerang that doesn’t come back?

2) Why do Dads take an extra pair of socks when they go golfing?

In case they get a hole in one.

3) What’s the best time to go to the dentist?

Tooth-Hurty.

4) A ham sandwich walks into a bar and orders a beer.

The bartender says, “sorry we don’t serve food here.”

5) What did the ocean say to the beach?

“Nothing, it just waved.”

6) “Dad, did you get a haircut?”

“No, I got them all cut.”

7) My wife asked me to stop singing ‘Wonderwall’ to her.

I said, “Maybe…”.

8) What is brown and sticky?

9) I slept like a log last night.

Woke up in the fireplace!

10) I used to hate facial hair.

Then it grew on me.

These 6 Certified Quarantunes Are Still The Mood Boost We Need

Posted on 10/08/2021 by Boris Clair

It’s official: music helped us get through the pandemic. In a new survey of more than 2,000 people, almost a quarter (23%) said live streaming and music had been the biggest support to their mental health through lockdown.

The poll, conducted by global music discovery service DICE and Populous, asked people about their relationship to music during the pandemic.

Knowing thousands of other people were also tuning in to live streams made lockdown a less lonely experience, respondents said, though few of us were actually listening to new music to fill the long days. Almost three-quarters (73%) said their lockdown listening focused on artists in their prime decades ago.

Music has been scientifically proven to evoke feelings of comfort, relief, and enjoyment, particularly when a track harks back to happier times – though if you’re up for discovering newer tunes, here’s why that’s good for you, too .

For those in need of a wellbeing boost, HuffPost UK team members have shared the songs that got us through the past year-and-a-half. Add them to your playlists, or check out more HuffPost UK recommendations on Spotify.

My Shot, from Hamilton

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“I’m a huge musical theatre fan so it wasn’t a surprise that the songs that helped me get through lockdown were from musical show Hamilton. I was obsessed with the whole soundtrack but the one song I kept on repeat during lockdown was My Shot. It’s a song about triumph and strength, which motivated me, but musically it sounds amazing.

“It’s a great song to cook or clean to and the raps are my favourite part. The show (which is available on Disney Plus) is quite long, so listening to the soundtrack is a way for me to enjoy the story without needing to watch it again.” – Habiba Katsha, Life reporter

Rain On Me by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande

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“Rain On Me came out in the early stages of lockdown, and I’ve had it on rotation pretty much ever since. This song was released at a time when the news cycle was especially bleak, with a sombre cloud hanging over everything, and it provided some escapism at a time we all really needed it with its anthemic chorus and empowering lyrics about overcoming difficult times. Plus, who doesn’t love a bit of camp provided by not one but two pop divas?

“I’ve been looking forward to hearing Rain On Me in a club ever since it was released, and even though I’m not quite ready for that yet, I know for certain it’s going to go off when I finally get there.” – Daniel Welsh, Entertainment editor

Motion by Khalid

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“For me, my go to feel-good, feel sad, feel pensive song is Motion by Khalid. It’s one of his lesser known songs but I am just so in love with his vocals, the lyrics, the beat, everything. I can’t decide if it’s a happy song or sad song. I listen to it during all sorts of emotions.

“One of the top lines of the song is ‘I’m in love with this moment’. I remember playing it on my earphones on a solo trip to Machu Pichu in Peru – I was just stood on top of the mountains and listened to it on repeat, I really was in love with the moment! My Spotify wrapped showed I was in his 0.5% of top listeners last year, and you can guess which song was on repeat! The song got me through the pandemic because it reminded me of happier moments.” – Faima Bakar, Life reporter

Holiday by Little Mix

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“It’s so hard to pick one song that got me through 2020 when making playlist after playlist was the only way I found to mark the endless weeks of lockdown – and cope with not seeing my partner, who reciprocated with his own. As to my internal radio, Dua Lipa and TSwizz featured heavily, and like Habiba, the Hamilton soundtrack ear-wormed from the moment I watched it on Disney+.

“But my song of last summer was without doubt Little Mix’s Holiday – landing in August just when I needed one. Infectious and sexy, never taking itself too seriously, it lifted my spirits like a plane ticket for the soul. And that video, with Jesy, Leigh-Anne, Jade and Perrie as beautifully kitsch mermaids: ’We’re just dancing the night away / Boy, you feel like a holiday.′ In the staycation age, it’s a lesson in finding wanderlust closer to home.” – Nancy Groves, head of Life

Skankin’ Sweet by Chronixx

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“As a proud Jamaican who is overly obsessed with the culture, it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t pay homage to the song that helped me get through my loneliest times: Skankin’ Sweet by Chronixx. There is something about a reggae beat that really brings joy and tranquillity into my life, so I often played it in the mornings to give me that extra motivation to conquer the day.

“The song represents love, unity and having a moment to put your worries aside and just focus on being one with the universe, all true values that really helped me overcome my struggles through the pandemic.” – Maya Franklyn, Intern

Together Again by Janet Jackson

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“I was six years old when Janet Jackson released Together Again and I have an almost visceral reaction to that dreamy opening harp; I feel warm, gooey, a little-more care-free, and like an excited kid again, waiting for the upbeat disco drop. My love affair with this tune has already spanned decades, so it’s perhaps no wonder I listened to it on repeat during the first lockdown, when we were all craving old comforts.

“Ignorantly, I’ve always belted out the lyrics without considering their meaning – I guess that’s what happens when you learn a tune as a kid. In a moment of pandemic boredom, I googled the backstory and learned that Janet wrote the song in memory of a friend who died from AIDS. At a time when death and sadness was dominating headlines, it only made it feel more pertinent.” – Rachel Moss, Life editor

Revealed: The 20 Most Photogenic Bookshops Around The World

Posted on 08/08/2021 by Boris Clair

You are reading Anywhere But Here, our summer-long series on travel at home and abroad, serving up the information and inspiration you need.

The world’s most photogenic bookshops have been crowned, with spiral staircases, ornate shelving and stain glass windows abundant.

The list of Instagram-worthy boltholes for book-lovers is based on the number of Insta hashtags associated with each location.

Taking the lead as the most picture-worthy shop is The Last Bookstore located in Los Angeles, California, with a grand total of 110,498 hashtags. The bookshop first opened its doors in 2005 and is now filled with over 250,000 new and used books, making it one of the largest independent bookstores in the world.

The US also takes second place with Powell’s based in Oregon, which has been serving as an oasis for book lovers since 1971.

Third place goes to Book and Bed in Tokyo, Japan. The bookshop doubles as a 30-bed hostel, allowing visitors to purchase books and drop off to sleep under one roof.

The UK just about made the top 10, with Daunt Books in Marylebone, London, coming in tenth place. Barter Books in Northumberland and Folyes in London’s Charing Cross also made the top 20.

Others in the list include Venice’s famous “floating bookshop” Libreria Acqua Alta, where books damaged in flooding are repurposed as outdoor furniture, plus Bart’s Books in Ojai, California, which is the world’s largest outdoor bookstore.

Check out the full list, complied by TheKnowledgeAcademy.com, below.

1. The Last Bookstore, Los Angeles, USA

2. Powell’s, Oregon, USA

3. Book and Bed, Tokyo, Japan

4. Shakespeare and Company, Paris, France

5. Livraria Lello, Porto, Portugal

6. Libreria Acqua Alta, Venice, Italy

7. Cărturești Carusel, Bucharest, Romania

8. Books Actually, formerly Tiong Bahru, Singapore, now online

9. City Lights Books, San Francisco, USA

10. Daunt Books, London, UK

11. Barter Books, Northumberland, UK

12. El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

13. Ler Davagar, Lisbon, Portugal

14. El Pendulo, Mexico City, Mexico

15. Atlantis Books, Santorini, Greece

16. Folyes Bookshop, London, UK

17. Strand Book Store, New York City, USA

18. Boekhandel Dominicanen, Maastricht, Netherlands

19. Cook & Book, Brussels, Belgium

20. Bart’s Books, Ojai, USA

Travel is the story of our summer. The rules (and traffic lights) are always changing, but one thing’s clear, we dream of being Anywhere But Here. This seasonal series offers you clear-headed travel advice, ideas-packed staycation guides, clever swaps and hacks, and a healthy dose of wanderlust.

7 Lessons We’ve Learned From Team GB’s Olympians in Tokyo

Posted on 08/08/2021 by Boris Clair

So we’ve reached the final day of the Tokyo Olympics and Team GB have truly done us proud – even without the crowds there to watch them.

The Olympics is way more than just a competition anyway. Whether you’re a sports obsessive or a fan for just the summer, we can agree that our athletes have served us a true lesson in determination, strength and perseverance.

It’s kind of awe-inspiring to watch people who’ve spent a large majority of their life training for an event that lasts just a few hours, minutes… or even seconds.

That takes mental strength, as much as physical power. Most of us might not be athletes – but here are the lessons we’ve learned from our sporting heroes.

Perseverance pays off

Tom Daley and Matthew Lee of Team Great Britain pose for photographers with their gold medals after winning the Men's Synchronised 10m Platform Final — Tom Daley and Matthew Lee of Team Great Britain pose for photographers with their gold medals after winning the Men’s Synchronised 10m Platform Final

A Team GB favourite, we’ve been watching Tom Daley compete since he was just 14 years old in Beijing. Three Olympic Games later, after clinching bronze in front of a home crowd at London 2012, then failing to qualify for the finals in Rio, he finally achieved his goal at Tokyo, winning gold for Team GB. Daley is an example of true perseverance, never giving up on his dream, despite all the challenges he’s faced, including losing his dad to cancer. And he’sf done it all with a positive attitude, a smile on his face, and his knitting never far away.

Be true to yourself

It was 2013 when Tom Daley came out as gay, on his own terms, in his YouTube video, “Something I want to say.” Since then he’s got married to partner Dustin Lance Black and become a father himself. When Daley faced the press after winning gold in Tokyo, his statement was brilliant and simple: “I am incredibly proud to say that I am a gay man and also an Olympic champion. I feel very empowered by that.” What a message to send to LGBTQ people everywhere.

It’s aways worth trying

Helen Glover and Polly Swann compete during the Women's Pair heats on the first day of the games. — Helen Glover and Polly Swann compete during the Women’s Pair heats on the first day of the games.

Helen Glover is a two-time Olympic gold champion and mother-of-three. This Olympics, Glover narrowly missed out on a medal, coming fourth but she wasn’t at all in low spirits. She told the BBC that: “You can do anything you want to do. Trying and failing is no problem as long as you try.” After giving birth to twins in lockdown, it’s remarkable to see her compete. She’s not a winner this year, but she’s our example of why it’s important to always try.

Use your voice

Dina Asher-Smith with her team-mates Asha Philip, Imani Lansiquot and Daryll after winning bronze in the Women's 4 x 100m Relay — Dina Asher-Smith with her team-mates Asha Philip, Imani Lansiquot and Daryll after winning bronze in the Women’s 4 x 100m Relay

Dina Asher-Smith has been one of the most recognisable faces of Team GB. And though all eyes are set on the 26-year-old sprinter, she isn’t shy to use her voice to speak out against injustices. She supported the relaxation of rules around athlete protests at the Tokyo Olympics, telling the BBC: “I see protesting and expressing yourself as a fundamental human right.” Oh, and while injury blighted her chances in the 100m and 200m, she came back in the 4 x 100m relay, and was part of a British record-setting, Bronze medal-winning team.

Look at things differently

Adam Peaty being interviewed back in London with his three Tokyo medals.

Having won a gold and silver medal at previous Olympic Games, swimmer Adam Peaty knows the importance of a positive mindset. Optimism feels like a tall order after all that we’ve been through during the pandemic – and Peaty gets that. “Covid has taken a lot of fun out of things.” But with some perspective, it’s possible to shift your head.

“That’s why we are all here, because sport has an amazing power to inspire people,” he said after winning Team GB’s first gold of the games (and his first of three). Let Team GB’s triumphs be a catalyst for everyone at home, he added. “We’ve been through a tough time, there’s been a lot of complaining, a lot of excuses, a lot of negative things, but now we’ve got to switch our mindset.”

Pick yourself up after a fall

Charlotte Worthington in action in the Cycling/BMX Freestyle Women's Final — Charlotte Worthington in action in the Cycling/BMX Freestyle Women’s Final

Part of Team GB’s awe-inspiring BMX team, who picked up three medals in their debut Olympics, Charlotte Worthington came out fighting in her first of two rides in the freestyle final, attempting a 360 degree backflip, only to crash-land. Some might have played it safer for second place, but Worthington picked herself up and with a smile to camera that said she knew what she was capable of, attempted the exact same trick, and this time she landed it for the gold medal. “It was either go big or go home,” Worthington told the press. She went big.

Never limit yourself

Matthew Coward-Holley celebrates after his bronze in the Trap Men's final — Matthew Coward-Holley celebrates after his bronze in the Trap Men’s final

At the age of 16, Matthew Coward-Holley was told his rugby dreams were over after breaking his back twice. A decade later, he is now an Olympic bronze medalist. After being advised to stop playing rugby he turned to shooting. Something that was once a hobby became his gateway into sporting success. Our takeaway from this is to try different things, because you might surprise yourself.

Greggs’ New Vegan Melt Is Here, But Is It Any Good?

Posted on 06/08/2021 by Boris Clair

First, there was the game-changing sausage roll. Next, the Quorn-based ‘steak’ bake. Now, Greggs has added another vegan alternative to its menu: the Vegan Sausage, Bean and CheeZe Melt.

Available in 2,000 shops nationwide, the new product is designed to mirror the traditional, meat-filled Sausage, Bean and Cheese Melt, or SBCM, as it’s known among die-hard fans.

The vegan-friendly version is wrapped in layers of vegan puff pastry, but instead of the classic filling, it contains vegan sausage, baked beans and grated original and mozzarella flavour vegan cheeZe (yes, you have to spell it with a giant ‘Z’).

Customers queued round the block for Greggs’ previous vegan releases, so it’s no wonder the retailer is running with a theme.

Where other high street bakeries have struggled, Greggs has managed to bounce back from a tough 18 months, with profits now outstripping pre-pandemic levels. Can this £1.60 beanie bake help keep Greggs in the black?

We tried it to find out.

Faima Bakar, life reporter ⭐️⭐️⭐️

“My hopes are very high with Greggs’ new vegan sausage, bean and cheese melt. The last time I tried a new vegan item – the famous sausage roll – it had healing powers. I was sick at the time it was launched but the sausage roll was the only thing I could stomach. I got better after eating it. See, healing powers. So I was expecting the same kind of magic from this one.

“Unfortunately, it falls a bit flat. The beans feel too tomatoey and runny, it overpowers the rest of the flavours – but the sausage and pastry do satisfy. It looks and smells the same as other Greggs items, and has the crumbliness of them too, so maybe don’t eat it over your laptop.

“Though I don’t love this one as much as I like the other vegan products at Greggs, I am glad they’re continuing down this route. As I follow a halal diet, I can’t eat their sausage roll, steak bakes and melts. But the vegan offering changes all that.”

Rachel Moss, life editor ⭐️⭐️

“My breakfast routine usually consists of tea and something sugary, so it’s safe to say I’d never normally pick up a giant savoury square pre-10am.

“I’ve got to hand it to Greggs though, the chefs have nailed the pastry – it’s buttery in texture, golden in appearance and you’d have no idea it was vegan unless someone pointed it out. Unfortunately, things go downhill once you bite into it; the filling is disappointing, mainly because there isn’t enough of it.

“The vegan sausage is almost entirely absent and the cheese is so mild, you can’t taste it. Inside the largely hollow shell, the dominant flavour is beans. I like beans, but would I buy a plain old ‘Bean Melt’? No, I would not.”

Where's the filling? — Where’s the filling?

Nancy Groves, head of life ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Despite being a carb fiend, I’ve never really got into Greggs, I think because I prefer my starch in potato, rice or pasta form, rather than pastries and pies. Still, I’m not going to turn down a free meal, and this melt is certainly that: proteinous, despite its plant-based credentials.

“Biting in, I can taste all the different elements we’re promised even if I can’t see them – the filling has that unmistakeable pinky-red hue of baked beans which makes me feel a bit queasy. But neither the ‘sausage’ chunks or ‘cheeZe’ give me the ick that I often get from vegan substitutes, and the pastry square pretty much holds its shape, making it easy to eat on the go – or who am I kidding? – at my work-from-home desk. I’m left full, if craving some greens. I still don’t get the Greggs hype, but this melt is my type. Yes, I’m surprised too.”

Habiba Katsha, life reporter ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“As a certified Greggs fan I’m so excited that they’ve extended their vegan line. Though I’m not vegan per se, it’s nice to know that there’s a healthier alternative available. I grew up on Greggs and my fondest memories have been getting a sausage roll in the morning with my mum.

“The presentation of the sausage, bean and cheese melt is perfect, but I expect nothing less from Greggs. It’s golden and crispy. I’m shocked these are even vegan because I expected it to taste bland, but it’s quite the opposite. The filling really is flavourful and I can taste all the elements coming through. The nice surprise is how I feel after eating it. Even though I’m full, I still feel light because it isn’t too heavy on the stomach.”

This Baby Beaver Spotted On Exmoor Is Sure To Cheer Your Day

Posted on 13/07/2021 by Boris Clair

Camera footage has captured shots of the first baby beaver to be born on Exmoor for 400 years.

The youngster, known as a kit, was caught on film at the Holnicote Estate in Somerset, where beavers were introduced to an enclosure in January 2020.

Once-native to Britain but more better known for their fictional portrayal in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, the semi-aquatic mammals are finally making a return to the wild after being hunted to extinction for their fur, glands and meat in the 16th century.

Beavers are often referred to as “nature’s engineers” for their restoration of wetland habitats through dam-building and felling trees. This process slows, stores and filters water in the landscape, which attracts other wildlife and reduces flooding downstream.

They have transformed the 2.7 hectare enclosure where they were released at Holnicote from unmanaged woodland to a more open wetland in just 18 months, according to the National Trust, which owns the estate.

Now footage shows the beavers have successfully bred. Images from a static camera reveal a six-week-old kit swimming with its mother back to the family lodge while she stops to nibble a branch.

Camera footage has captured shots of the first baby beaver to be born on Exmoor for 400 years.

“We first had an inkling that our pair of beavers had mated successfully when the male started being a lot more active building and dragging wood and vegetation around the site in late spring,” said Jack Siviter, one of the rangers on the Holnicote estate.

“The female also changed her usual habits, and stayed out of sight, leaving the male to work alone. It was then several weeks until we spotted her again, and this is when our suspicions were confirmed that she had given birth, due to having very visible teats.”

He added: “We are particularly pleased for our female, nicknamed Grylls due to her survival instincts, as she didn’t have the easiest start to life, being orphaned at an early age. As a first-time mum she seems to be thriving and it’s great to see her with her new kit.”

The family should now stay together for the next two years before the kit will want to go off to create a territory of its own – when it will be relocated into another enclosure or a wild release site if regulations permit in the near future.

A number of organisations and landowners across England are introducing beavers to enclosed sites to help boost nature and reduce flooding, and they are now also found wild on several rivers in England and Scotland.

Conservationists back the return of beavers to restore wetland habitats, boost other wildlife, curb flooding, improve water quality and support eco-tourism – though landowners raise concerns about the impact locally. A consultation on the approach to beavers in England is expected to take place this summer.

The two beavers at Holnicote are the first to be introduced on National Trust land in the charity’s 125-year history, with another pair released into a large enclosure in the South Downs.

The National Trust said they had transformed the habitat on the Exmoor estate, building a dam network from trees, mud, stones and vegetation which has created ponds and new channels, and felling some trees, which has allowed more light to the woodland floor.

This wet woodland habitat is now attracting wildlife from bats to dragonflies, kingfishers and sparrowhawks. Ben Eardley, project manager for the National Trust at Holnicote, said: “The beavers are doing a lot of what we want to see in terms of conservation and land management.

“They are letting the light and the water into the site, helping natural processes and providing opportunities for a host of other wildlife.”