If you’re a half-deaf middle-aged woman with children hanging off you and a migraine developing, an Asda store is not the place to spend a happy few hours. The lights are unbearably bright and the noise reverberates off the walls as if I’m in a warehouse with no insulation.
That said, some of the prices are impossible to ignore. Mrs Elswood Pickles were discounted to £2 recently; I usually pay close to £3. Small boxes of Coco Pops (295g) were somehow on sale for 59p, for a product that usually costs £8 or £9 a kilo. I suspect they’ll shift somewhat more quickly than the pallet of garden gnomes languishing in a corner, though these are all also on sale.
Asda isn’t technically a discount retailer; not in the same way as market disruptors Aldi and Lidl. It has navigated a turbulent few years following its sale from Walmart in 2021. Currently, Aldi is snapping at Asda’s heels, beating the chain to become the UK’s third-biggest retailer after Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
I’ve never been a regular Asda shopper, but I do go in occasionally. I would go far more if the shopping experience was marginally more pleasant. The staff are wonderful, I should point out. Ever helpful, usually smiling, typically knowledgeable. But I don’t know if I could do a whole shop here as I’m yet to be convinced by the fruit and veg. The avocados I bought recently were inedible. But if Asda continues to improve its own brand ranges, I could be tempted to visit more often.
Asda chairman Allan Leighton, who led the business in the 90s, is back at the helm and recently told The Guardian that its prices are between four and seven per cent cheaper than the other non-discount supermarkets, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s. Lower prices are enough to get me through the door, and came away with some unexpected finds.
How the UK’s child ADHD diagnosis rates compare to the rest of the world
The former president of the Royal College of General Practitioners has said she would “ban the label ADHD” and that it should be treated as a “social construct” instead of a neurodevelopmental condition.
What is the situation?
Speaking to ahead of the Channel 4 documentary The Great ADHD Myth?, Dr Iona Heath criticised overdiagnosis and argued there is no scientific evidence that those diagnosed have neurological differences.
Earlier this year, then-health secretary Wes Streeting said there was an “overdiagnosis” problem and launched a review.
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What does the UK data reveal?
- and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) put the UK rate of childhood ADHD at 5 per cent, and 3 to 4 per cent for adults.
- One study found ADHD diagnoses increased in the UK from 2000 to 2018.
- By 2018, the highest rates were in boys aged 10 to 16 – 3.5 per cent had been diagnosed. Back in 2000, this number was 1.4 per cent.
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How we compare with other countries
In the US, 11.4 per cent of children aged three to 17 years old were diagnosed with ADHD in 2024. In Europe, a 2023 French study indicated 3.68 per cent of children (800,000) have ADHD compared with 5.5 per cent of adults (1.4 million).
Meanwhile, in Spain, estimates of ADHD prevalence in children range from 5.5 per cent to 6.8 per cent.
A closer look at the review
The ongoing Government review is led by Professor Peter Fonagy, national clinical adviser on children’s mental health.
An interim report, published in March this year, identified rising diagnosis rates as an issue alongside people with ADHD and autism failing to get the support they need.
The final report is set to focus on how to make more support available that is “less dependent on diagnostic thresholds” and “more responsive to functional need”.
2 min read
Why better sleep could keep people working for longer
Researchers in Finland examined data from people aged between 50 and 68 to look at the correlation between sleeping habits and the ability to continue working.
The story in numbers
13 years, five months
Regularly disturbed sleep was linked to leaving the workforce months early.
People who reported no disturbances had a working life expectancy of 13 years and five months.
Six years, five months
The shortest working life expectancy was found among men in routine jobs with low levels of education who slept for more than nine hours a night.
They had an average of six years and five months left in work after the age of 50.
What does this tell us?
Researchers said the findings, published in the journal , suggest healthy sleep (under seven hours but undisturbed) may help people keep working as they age.
“To promote older adults’ participation in working life, supporting sleep of recommended length and good quality may be required,” they added.
3 min read
How some prostate cancers ‘can be diagnosed without biopsy’
Researchers at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) have found MRI scans can be used to detect cancer in some men with a high degree of certainty.
What the research found
- Men may not need to have a biopsy to diagnose prostate cancer.
- Radiologists looked at scan results combined with the patient’s age and their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) score.
- Of the 69 patients deemed to be “99 per cent certain” they had a tumour via their MRI scan, all of them had cancer confirmed through biopsy.
- Researchers said this indicates certain men may not need to have invasive biopsies.
What does this mean?
UCLH consultant radiologist Alex Kirkham said the research indicates prostate cancer could join the list of cancers which can be diagnosed with a scan alone.
Consultant urologist and professor of interventional oncology Mark Emberton said it is particularly important as prostate cancer incidence is only set to rise.
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Th expert reaction
Avoiding unnecessary biopsies is an important goal in cancer care, because they can be painful, invasive and can cause infections… Using MRI alone to diagnose these cancers could make the process much safer and easier for men, and less costly for the NHS.
Dr Matthew Hobbs, director of research at Cancer UK
How some prostate cancers ‘can be diagnosed without biopsy’
Some prostate cancers can be diagnosed without the need for an invasive biopsy, according to a new study.
For some men, cancer can be detected through an MRI scan alone with a high degree of certainty, according to experts from University College London Hospitals (UCLH).
What you need to know
- In many hospitals, men with suspected prostate cancer will be referred for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detailed images of what is happening in the body. Depending on the images, doctors may also recommend a biopsy.
- In other hospitals, those with suspected cancer will be referred straight for a biopsy – where a small needle is put into the prostate to take a tissue sample so it can be checked for cancer cells.
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A closer look at the detail
There are two different types of biopsy for prostate cancer, with needles inserted in different places depending on the type chosen.
- Samples taken are then examined under a microscope to check for cancerous cells.
Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum
There are a number of advantages and disadvantages for having a biopsy, with the disadvantages including side effects; missed cancers and the detection of non-aggressive or slow growing cancers which may not need treatment.
Sales of battery
electric vehicles hit a record high last year.
Starts at £22,995 for the smaller battery
Available with either a 40kWh battery or a larger 52kWh pack, that offers almost 255 miles, the latest, retro-inspired Renault 5 is both a joy to behold and a hoot to drive.
The interior has been lavished with a level of detail that’s typically reserved for more expensive cars.
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A champion of EV efficiency
It offers a remarkable 491 mile range on a single charge from the 85kWh battery.
It is a technological masterclass inside with the ability to option screens that span the entire width of the dashboard, including an optional display for the front passenger.
Priced from £37,400
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It’s a lot of money to part with, but this is arguably all the car you will ever need.
The £89,000 Macan is a premium SUV that somehow manages to blend Porsche’s reputation for dynamics and sporty driving with everyday practicality.
The 95kWh batteries can go from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 21 minutes from the fastest public charging outlets.
With the business class-style six seat configuration costing a staggering £76,995, it is by far the most expensive Kia ever made, but it backs up its financial demands with a suite of genuinely useful and impressive onboard technology.
It’s fast, goes a long way between stops and charges relatively quickly but the interior is bland, the onboard technology is infuriating and the experience is devoid of emotion.
All of its gadgetry can’t disguise the fact that performance is weak, even for a typically zippy EV, the ride is fussy at slower speeds and it’s not in the least bit enjoyable to drive on a country road.
- While good value (prices start at £17,935) for the 200-mile max range, there are more interesting options from Hyundai, Citroen and Renault for similar money.
- It attempts to wow with tech, much of which hinders, rather than helps.
- There’s no tangible benefit over mounting your phone to the dash.
- Simply an average driving experience, adequate range and slow charging speeds.
2 min read
Wetherspoons bans playing music or taking calls on speaker
JD Wetherspoon founder and CEO Sir Tim Martin said “we are kindly asking phone users to pipe down” while in his pubs.
It joins widespread calls for measures to tackle antisocial phone use in public.
What you need to know
The pub chain said it had taken the decision across all of its 792 sites “following complaints from customers, who are being driven nuts by other people’s videos and amplified phone conversations”.
It requested that customers “switch their phones to silent” or “use earphones” rather than disturb others.
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The fight-back against noise
- The Liberal Democrats have previously called for fines of up to £1,000 for “headphone dodgers” who play music out loud on buses and trains.
- A YouGov poll published in 2025 suggested 62 per cent of people would back the move.
- In London, Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan rolled out a campaign last year encouraging people to use headphones when playing music on the city’s transport network.
us news
What you need to know as Tupac Shakur murder trial begins
Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 63, allegedly orchestrated the killing of the rapper back in 1996.
It is the first time anyone has gone on trial in connection with the infamous drive-by shooting.
Everything we know so far
- Prosecutors allege that Davis did not fire the gun himself, but did mastermind the killing.
- He is a former gang leader and uncle of the man long suspected of shooting Tupac.
- Davis has pleaded not guilty and denies the allegations.
- The trial is expected to last up to six weeks and may feature testimony from one of the other passengers of the car.
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What happened on the night
There were witnesses to the murder who could put together a timeline of events, though police have never arrested a suspected killer.
- On 7 September, 1996, Tupac went to watch a Mike Tyson boxing match on the Las Vegas strip.
- He and Marion “Suge” Knight, the head of his record label, got into a fight with Orlando Anderson, Duane Davis’s nephew and a suspected member of the South Side Compton Crips gang.
- Leaving the match with Suge, Tupac was shot four times in a drive-by shooting from the back of a white Cadillac.
- Six days later, on 13 September, he died in hospital. He was 25 years old.
What have the lawyers said?
Prosecutor Binu Palal told the jury: “Let’s be clear, Duane Davis did not pull the trigger. But he did plan the shooting in retaliation of the beating of his nephew.”
Meanwhile, Davis’s attorneys questioned “what facts do they have after 30 years?” and labelled the allegations “fiction”.
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The kitchen gadgets under £25
Victorinox paring knife
It’s comfortable to hold, with a point sharp enough for scoring pastry.
ProCook cast iron pan
For unbeatable searing and heat-retention, cast iron is the top choice.
Tesco chopping board
Priced at just £22, I’ve yet to find another board that matches it for sheer value and quality.
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Pyrex jug
It is the perfect vessel for blending smooth sauces, melting butter, or warming stock. It won’t stain like plastic and the red measurements never fade.
Salter scales
“I’ve had my slim little set of Salter Disc Scales for over a decade, and I’m delighted to see they are still made to exactly the same reliable design today.”
Microplane grater
It uses photo-etched stainless steel teeth that stay razor-sharp for a decade, something the lookalike copycats simply can’t match.
Braun hand-held blender
It’s an essential for everything from making velvety soup to getting the lumps out of white sauce.
Bodum cafetiere
As well as delivering great results, cafetieres are easy to clean and there’s no ongoing filter paper costs or pod recycling to deal with.
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The kitchen gadgets under £25
Oxo peeler
What truly sets it apart is the chunky, rubberised handle that absorbs pressure and stays completely non-slip, even if your hands are wet. It is inexpensive and incredibly durable.
Falcon pie dish
Made by fusing porcelain onto heavy-gauge steel for smooth durability, it is dishwasher, freezer, hob, air-fryer and oven-safe.
It’s a really smart move for Asda to throw its weight behind improving its own premium line, Exceptional. The just-launched dried pasta range, bronze-die extruded shapes made in Italy, includes linguine, fusilli and conchiglie as well as on-trend shapes like mafalda corta and casarecce. At £1.90 for 500g, these bags are cheaper than both Taste the Difference and Tesco Finest pasta, both usually £2.15.
Butter is one of those products that soared in price during the worst months of food inflation and has remained high. Manufacturers have tried all sorts of approaches to befuddle us over price, in particular playing around with the size of both blocks and spreadable tubs. Asda is a good place to find well-priced butter. I found 200g blocks of Kerrygold for just £2 and felt almost fancy using its own brand Sea Salted Spreadable with West Country Butter (£3.16) over Aldi’s Nordpak. I ate it with Asda’s own ciabatta, £2.62. Tasty, textured and springy, I’d buy it again.
Award-winning wine
I don’t think of Asda first when looking for great supermarket wine, but on closer inspection it has a wide range of award-winning bottles. Look out for Exceptional by Asda wines including the Cava (£7.75), Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon (£7.50) and Barbera D’Asti (£8), all of which have won gold awards in the Decanter World Wine Awards.
Children’s books
I’m a firm believer in supporting writers and independent bookshops, but sometimes bagging the brilliant discount on mass market products is the best way forward. There are a few children’s authors that pocket most of the money in that market, and you can find their books at rock bottom prices in Asda. Last week we picked up a ‘Cozy Cuties’ colouring book for £4.97, which usually retails for £7.99.
Most supermarket sushi is somewhat suspect and Asda was the last place I was expecting to pick some up that at least looked edible. Bigger Asda stores have ‘Panku Streetfood’ counters preparing fresh Japanese, Thai and Korean ready-to-eat food and the sushi selection, which we were also offered a taste of while in store, is pleasantly uncomplicated. My daughter dragged me there and picked up what she always does: a tray of salmon, avocado and cucumber nigiri and maki. It’s not outstanding but it does the job.
Rollback offers
Like all the other supermarkets, Asda hopes to tempt shoppers with their regular Rollback offers, which are significant discounts on popular products. I bought my usual 2l bottle of Yeo Valley whole milk for just £2.24, whereas I usually pay from £3.15.
Asda Exceptional Peruvian bar with 70% cocoa
When I did a taste test of dark chocolate bars earlier this year, I didn’t expect one of the cheapest bars to come out on top. But the Asda Exceptional Peruvian bar with 70% cocoa impressed not only me but my industry expert. At £2.28 for 100g, this is much cheaper than most other supermarket ranges, which are around £30/kg at Co-op, M&S and Waitrose and £28.50 at Sainsbury’s, though Tesco Finest is comparable at £2.28.