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Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd hands himself in to police

A man convicted of killing his date in a speedboat crash in the UK has handed himself in to police in Georgia after months on the run.

Jack Shepherd was sentenced to six years in July for the manslaughter of 24-year-old Charlotte Brown.

The 31-year-old had been in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi since March and was absent throughout his trial.

Ms Brown’s father Graham Brown said: “I feel very emotional at the fact that my daughter will get some justice.”

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, he added: “I do think the family will be in a much better position to deal with our loss and heartbreak over the last three years.

“My feeling towards Jack Shepherd is that he is a very crass reckless man who stuck two fingers up to the judiciary system.

“He’s done the right thing and thank goodness he has handed himself in.”

A spokesman for the Georgian Embassy in London confirmed Shepherd’s arrest.

It comes after Ms Brown’s family met with the Home Secretary Sajid Javid on Tuesday to renew their appeal for Shepherd to hand himself in.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, the law enforcement agency in the country, previously told the BBC they were working with the Met Police to track Shepherd.

Under current diplomatic agreements between Georgia and the UK, he is eligible for extradition.

The Met Police said it was informed by the National Crime Agency (NCA) that Shepherd was in the custody of police in Georgia.

In a statement, the force added: “His identity is yet to be officially confirmed. However, if the man is confirmed as Shepherd, extradition proceedings will begin immediately.”

After meeting on the dating website OkCupid, Shepherd took Miss Brown on a date on 8 December 2015.

Shepherd spent £150 on wine and food at a restaurant in The Shard before taking Ms Brown on a speedboat he claimed he owned.

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Ms Brown and Shepherd were thrown from the boat when it hit branches in the water near Wandsworth Bridge close to midnight.

Shepherd was found clinging to the hull and Ms Brown, from Clacton in Essex, was pulled from the water unconscious and unresponsive.

A post-mortem examination found she died from cold water immersion.

Shepherd made his first appearance at the Old Bailey on 26 January, when he entered a not guilty plea to a charge of manslaughter by gross negligence.

He was released on unconditional bail by Judge Richard Marks QC, but failed to show up for his trial in July.

After his conviction an international arrest warrant was issued.

Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd hands himself in to police

Emiliano Sala: 'No hope' for missing Cardiff City player

There is “no hope” of finding missing Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala alive, a rescue official has said.

The Argentine striker, 28, and a pilot were on board the plane which lost contact off Alderney in the Channel Islands on Monday night.

Chief officer of Channel Islands Air Search, John Fitzgerald, said “even the most fit person” would only last a few hours in the water.

The search for the missing aircraft and its occupants resumed on Wednesday.

Sala reportedly sent a WhatsApp voice message to family, saying he was “so scared” and media in Argentina reported he said: “I’m on a plane that looks like it’s going to fall apart.”

Guernsey Police said there were three planes and one helicopter in the air as they searched for traces of the Piper Malibu plane.

The force said: “There is as yet no trace today of the missing aircraft. The search is ongoing and a decision whether to continue will be taken later today.”

Officers are also “reviewing satellite imagery and mobile phone data to see if they can be of any assistance in the search”.

Sala was heading to the Welsh capital after signing for the Bluebirds from French club Nantes in a £15m deal.

The single-engine plane left Nantes, north-west France, at 19:15 on Monday and had been flying at 5,000ft (1,500m) when it contacted Jersey air traffic control requesting descent.

It lost contact while at 2,300ft (700m) and disappeared off radar near the Casquets lighthouse, infamous among mariners as the site of many shipwrecks, eight miles (13km) north-west of Alderney.

Mr Fitzgerald said: “Sadly, I really don’t think, personally, there is any hope. At this time of year the conditions out there are pretty horrendous if you are actually in the water.”

• Born in Argentina, made in France
• Sala – timeline of Cardiff City signing

Guernsey Police is working on four possibilities, including that the “aircraft broke up on contact with the water, leaving them in the sea” and they “landed on water and made it into the life raft we know was on board”.

“Our search area is prioritised on the life raft option,” the force added.

Jersey’s inshore lifeboat is following up on reports of debris in Bouley Bay, which is in the north of the island, and a French military jet will join the search, which is likely to go on until darkness on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman said there were no plans to rearrange the Bluebirds’ next Premier League match against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on 29 January.

Mr Dalman said players and fans were in a “state of shock” and the club had received messages of support from around the world.

The “family of football has a way of coming together at times of tragedy,” he told BBC Radio Wales’ Good Morning Wales.

He also confirmed the club had not booked the plane and Sala had “made his own arrangements”.

“We will not leave a single stone unturned until we have all the facts,” added Mr Dalman.

Air and sea crews from the Channel Islands, France and the UK took part in a 15-hour search on Tuesday, but found no trace of the aircraft or its occupants.

Guernsey Police was not able to confirm if floating objects seen belonged to the aircraft and warned that chances of passenger survival were “slim”.

Sala’s father Horacio told Argentine media on Tuesday: “The hours go by and it makes me think of the worst.

“I just want them to find him. The last thing they said is that the communication ended when they crossed the river [English Channel].”

Guernsey harbourmaster Captain David Barker, who is leading the Channel Islands search, said they had covered more than 1,200 sq miles (3,100 sq km).

He said: “Nobody in the joint control centre, including myself, wants to give up, we are determined to find the two men alive.

“Already we are seeing four and five metre waves out to the west of Alderney – which is in our search area – because of that we have been unable to put the lifeboat out to sea, so he’s on standby in the harbour.

“But we will run until we lose the light again today and re-assess at that point.”

Overnight, football fans in Nantes laid flowers at a fountain as a tribute to Sala and the plane’s pilot, with floral tributes also left at Cardiff City Stadium.

Sala’s former club Nantes has changed its Twitter profile picture to a photo of the striker and tweeted: “Où que tu sois, on pense à toi” which translates to: “Wherever you are, we’re thinking of you.”

What plane were they on?

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said a PA-46-310P Malibu aircraft, registered in the United States, had a pilot and one passenger on board when it vanished.

It has begun an investigation, working with counterparts in the US, France and Argentina.

A spokesman said: “We will be gathering all the available evidence to conduct a thorough investigation. However, if the aircraft is not found it is likely to limit the scope of the investigation.”

Julian Bray, an aviation expert and journalist, said the aircraft was a single engine, six-seater plane.

He said he had listened to the WhatsApp recording by Sala and “was particularly listening to the engine sounds and I must admit it sounded slightly ropey – it didn’t sound as smooth as it should be”.

Mr Bray said the request to descend by the pilot could have been due to an issue with pressure onboard the aircraft, which did not deviate from its course.

He added: “They’re [the plane] equipped with life jackets, but I’m not sure whether this one had life rafts on.

“Normally in light aircraft you wouldn’t carry a life raft, but you will have floatation jackets.”

Emiliano Sala: 'No hope' for missing Cardiff City player

NTAs 2019: Ant and Dec emotional after best presenter win

It has been another golden year for Ant and Dec, who were named as best presenters for the 18th time at the National Television Awards.

The award came as a surprise for the pair, who appeared on a live feed from the Britain’s Got Talent auditions.

Ant appeared emotional, describing the win as a “genuine shock”.

Bodyguard and Emmerdale were the biggest winners of the night, both taking home two awards.

I’m A Celebrity also came out on top, beating Love Island and Graham Norton to the best entertainment award.

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly were not in attendance at the ceremony, but came through on a feed from the Britain’s Got Talent auditions.

Ant was convicted of drink driving in April 2018 and cancelled a number of TV commitments as a result, including the Britain’s Got Talent live shows and I’m A Celebrity.

He thanked fans for the award, saying: “Thank you, this is a genuine shock, especially this year – I’m shaking.

“I really don’t feel like I can accept this award this year – it has to go to this guy [pointing to Dec] for his hard work, dedication, wit and funniness and for being the best mate out there – I love you, man.”

Dec also thanked voters, saying: “Thank you to everybody for their kind and thoughtful messages, they’ve kept us going over the last year – this year probably more than ever.”

• Ant McPartlin returns to work on Britain’s Got Talent

A big night for Bodyguard

Bodyguard, which was the BBC’s most-watched drama since 2008, attracted nearly 11 million viewers and took home the new drama award, which was given for the first time.

Speaking on stage, executive producer Simon Heath said: “The person who should be taking this trophy is our genius writer Jed Mercurio, and our fantastic leading man Richard Madden and the wonderful Keeley Hawes – what a brilliant partnership they made.”

Richard Madden also won for drama performance for playing PC David Budd. He said he “didn’t expect it”.

“Thank you to the BBC and Netflix for your continued support – it’s a privilege every day, and thank you to Jed Mercurio for creating this incredible character,” he added.

Once again, This Morning triumphed in the daytime category, with host Philip Schofield highlighting the important mental health initiatives the show has undertaken in the last year.

Speaking backstage, he said: “Our Be Kind campaign and our male suicide pop-up were so powerful, it stopped people on the Southbank.

“On a daily basis we say ‘you have no idea how many people you will help’ and that’s always been the [This Morning] legacy – you get a whole raft of people who are helped by us.”

Holly Willoughby accepted the highly contested Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, which beat Love Island and The Graham Norton Show.

Her debut on the ITV show helped it receive its highest viewing figures in five years, bringing in 11 million viewers for the debut episode, whilst her presenting on the show was highly praised by fans.

She said on stage: “I spoke to the boys [Ant and Dec] and they asked me to say thank you for voting for a show that means so much to them.

“I managed to jump through my TV screen into one of my favourite shows and it was an experience I will never forget.”

Jungle King Harry Redknapp added: “It was an amazing experience and I’ve made so many new friends. Holly – you and Dec did such a good job, you had such a hard act to follow but you were great.”

Strictly Come Dancing beat The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent and The Voice UK to win best talent show after a year of record viewing figures for the BBC One show.

In their acceptance speech, show presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman thanked viewers, along with the production and costume teams on Strictly.

This year’s special recognition award was given to broadcaster David Dimbleby, who recently stepped down from a 25-year tenure as Question Time presenter and used his speech to pay tribute to the BBC.

He said: “I’ve been a fan of it all my life.

“It’s one of the greatest institutions in the world and the existence of the BBC is vital for our national life. However much it is threatened by Netflix and other channels, it still holds a place in the heart of the British people.”

Emmerdale reigns over soap world

The battle of the soap is always a big one at the NTAs and this year was no different.

James Moore provided a touching moment in the show as he accepted his award for best newcomer for his role as Ryan Stocks in Emmerdale.

The actor, who has ataxic cerebral palsy, told the audience that winning his award “shows the progression that we needed in this day and age” and that “if you would have told me a year ago that I’d be here now, I’d have never believed it”.

Danny Dyer took home the award for serial drama performance, whilst Emmerdale won the coveted serial drama prize for a third year in a row.

2018 was a big year for the Dales as Kim Tate made her return after nearly 20 years off the screen, causing more drama as she reclaimed her crown as ultimate soap baddie.

Appearing on stage, Emmerdale’s Charley Webb said: “Emmerdale is an amazing place to work and is full of such hardworking people, and thank you so much to the audience… your support is incredible. It is an amazing way to start 2019.”

Winners in full

• Factual Entertainment Programme – Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs
• Quiz Show -The Chase
• New Drama -Bodyguard
• Serial Drama Performance – Danny Dyer, EastEnders
• Drama Performance – Richard Madden, Bodyguard
• Newcomer – James Moore, Emmerdale
• TV Presenter – Ant and Dec
• Daytime Programme – This Morning
• Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award – I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
• TV Judge – David Walliams
• Drama – Peaky Blinders
• Comedy – Peter Kay’s Car Share
• Talent Show – Strictly Come Dancing
• Special Recognition Award – David Dimbleby
• Serial Drama – Emmerdale

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NTAs 2019: Ant and Dec emotional after best presenter win

Oscars 2019: The Favourite and Roma lead nominations

Olivia Colman’s royal romp The Favourite and Netflix’s black-and-white epic Roma lead this year’s Oscar race, with 10 nominations each.

The other contenders include A Star Is Born and Vice with eight each, followed by Black Panther with seven.

The Marvel blockbuster is the first superhero movie ever to be nominated for best picture.

Colman is among the British acting nominees, alongside her co-star Rachel Weisz and Christian Bale for Vice.

Films with the most nominations:

• 10 – The Favourite, Roma
• 8 – A Star Is Born, Vice
• 7 – Black Panther
• 6 – BlacKkKlansman
• 5 – Bohemian Rhapsody, Green Book
• 4 – First Man, Mary Poppins Returns

Oscars 2019: The nominees in full

Colman’s strongest competition in the best actress category is likely to come from Glenn Close, who is odds-on favourite to win her first Academy Award for The Wife after six previous nominations, according to bookmakers.

Yalitza Aparicio is nominated for her first screen role, as the Mexican maid in Roma. The film has also given Netflix its first ever best picture nomination.

The best actress category also includes Melissa McCarthy for Can You Ever Forgive Me? and Lady Gaga for A Star Is Born.

Gaga’s co-star Bradley Cooper is nominated in the best actor category, but he missed out on a nod for best director.

The frontrunners for the best actor statuette are two men who earned acclaim for portraying real-life public figures.

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Rami Malek won rave reviews for playing Queen singer Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, while Bale transformed into former US Vice-President Dick Cheney with the help of prosthetics in Vice.

Richard E Grant has received his first ever Oscar nomination, for best supporting actor for his role in the film Can You Ever Forgive Me?

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The Withnail & I star told BBC News the nomination was “beyond anything I could have ever hoped or dreamt or imagined”.

Weisz is up for best supporting actress, 13 years after she won the same award for The Constant Gardener.

She will face competition this time from Emma Stone, who played her rival in The Favourite, as well as Roma’s Marina de Tavira, If Beale Street Could Talk‘s Regina King and Amy Adams for Vice.

Adams has lost out on an Oscar five times before.

After a 35-year career spanning She’s Gotta Have It, Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X, Spike Lee has received his first best director nomination for BlacKkKlansman, which has six nominations in all.

Lee reacted to the news by writing on Instagram: “Six nominations, six boomshackalackas. Brooklyn in da Oscars. Ya dig? Sho-nuff.”

However, Roma’s Alfonso Cuaron is hot favourite to become the fifth Mexican winner of the best director trophy in the past six years.

Cuaron, who loosely based the story on that of his own upbringing and his family’s maid, has a total of four nominations this year – best original screenplay and cinematography as well as best director and best picture.

But there were no female nominees in the best director category, meaning there have still been only five female best director nominees in the 90-year history of the Academy Awards.

Black Panther was the biggest film of 2018 at the US box office and made history in the best picture category, although most of its nominations came in the technical categories.

They included a nod for Hannah Bleacher, who has become the first black nominee in the production design category.

And after a 45-year career during which he has written Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and American Gigolo, Paul Schrader has his first nomination for writing First Reformed.

Elsewhere, Detainment, a controversial Irish short film that recreated the police interviews with the young killers of three-year-old James Bulger in Merseyside in 1993, is nominated for best live action short film.

The Oscars ceremony will take place on 24 February, but is still without a host after Kevin Hart pulled out.

• Full Oscars news and analysis

#OscarsStillSoWhite?

Analysis by BBC Reality Check

It’s been a pretty good year for diversity in Oscar nominations by the standards of the last decade.

In the four acting categories, there were five nominees from ethnic minorities (out of 20 possible nominations) – second only to the seven nominees in 2017.

There are also two best director nominees from ethnic minorities in Spike Lee and Alfonso Cuaron, the first time that has happened since 2014.

But still no sign of gender balance in the directing category – all five nominees this year are men.

There have only been two female nominees for best director in the last decade: Greta Gerwig, for Lady Bird last year, and Kathryn Bigelow, who won the Oscar for the Hurt Locker in 2010.

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Oscars 2019: The Favourite and Roma lead nominations