Latest news with #ZoeWilliams
The Guardian
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Drag artist Bimini at Glastonbury: ‘How do you police who's going to the toilet?'
It's midday on Friday at Glastonbury – a fairly early call time for a nocturnal drag superstar, but Bimini is already putting the world to rights. The DJ, musician, model, podcaster, author and activist (to name just a few of their other job titles) is taking to the stage for the first of three Guardian Live Q&As this weekend, interviewed by journalist Zoe Williams. And don't worry, all your important style conundrums are being answered: 'Crocs, yes or no?' 'Yeah!' Bimini enthuses. 'They're comfortable footwear at a festival.' It's unclear whether they've packed any for later on, as they kick their heel into the air, revealing 16-in PVC stilettos. The 2025 festival style trend? 'Skimpy,' they say, without missing a beat (they're wearing a union jack corset and teensy leather hot pants). With the all-important fashion business out of the way, the conversation – dotted with questions from Guardian readers – covers anxiety, allyship and why policing body autonomy is 'horrible'. Talk inevitably turns to the recent trans bathroom ban. 'Trans people just want to live their lives,' Bimini says, though they are hoping for more unity: 'What needs to happen is more conversations where we come together and find a solution.' That includes 'honest conversations with trans people, actually allowing trans people to speak about their existence,' they continue. 'They're mocked or ridiculed and I don't think it's a fair representation.' Right now, Bimini tells the crowd, we're in a 'hostile' place, 'and we need to either get really angry and start a revolution or take acid and love each other'. 'That's what's so beautiful about coming to Glastonbury. It feels like utopia, right? Although you probably couldn't live here for ever because you'd be knackered.' They have memories of performing here in 2017, as part of the NYC Downlow's drag coterie; it felt like a simpler time. 'There was still a lot of hope and acceptance. Homophobia and transphobia wasn't as high as it is now.' Even so, they add, Brexit was a catalyst for echo chambers. It 'leads to ideas of, oh, there are other people that think like me, and then that slowly starts to build up, and we get to the place where we're the most divided we've been in a long time'. But back to Glastonbury. On a brighter note, they say, 'I think this year is just about having fun, being radical with it, and standing up for what you believe.' And besides, adds Bimini, 'I've always got something to say'. As Thomas George Graeme Hibbitts, growing up in Norfolk, they always had the acerbic, surreal sense of humour that they're known for. 'Bimini is just a bit more fun to look at.' They studied journalism, as well as international relations, at university, 'so I was always quite into current affairs,' they explain. But drag allowed them to bring that on to the stage and 'I was able to explore politics and perform'. In response to a reader's question about a recent social media post, in which they wrote about a time when they'd fallen out of love with performing, Bimini opened up about their mental health struggles in the aftermath of starring on season two of RuPaul's Drag Race. 'I felt a lot of pressure. There were a lot of different people around me telling me what I should do and how I should be.' They were thrust into 'a different world that wouldn't normally have accepted me. I got caught up and I became a bit depressed.' They're also feeling weary about the politics side of things. 'I've never understood how human rights is a discourse in itself,' they say. 'Surely if there's a war going on and people are trying to flee, we try to help them as much as we can.' Instead, they say, the UK government is doing the opposite: 'It's disgusting.' Bimini refuses to stop being outspoken about what they believe in. For a recent show, they were told to remove the line 'Free Palestine' from one of their songs. In response, Bimini refused to let their song be used: 'I'm not doing it.' Making and playing music, however, has revitalised them. 'I've been making an electro-punk album,' they say, as well as officially remixing Anastacia's 2000 smash I'm Outta Love and getting back into DJing (they're playing two sets across Glasto weekend). Plus, we've nearly at the end of another Pride month. 'This year is so important because we need to come together for the trans community. We need to come together for the migrants, disabled people, anyone that is a minority that doesn't feel like they are being looked after.' As well as inclusivity, they urge collective action: 'We need to fight.' They attended the recent lobby outside parliament to protest against the UK government's bathroom ban. 'What's worrying is the policing of bathrooms. How do you police who's going to the toilet? Is someone checking your genitals? I just think everyone needs to piss in peace.'
The Guardian
21 hours ago
- Climate
- The Guardian
Britain must acclimatise to heatwaves – and fast
Call me a killjoy, but I agree with Zoe Williams (Why do we pretend heatwaves are fun – and ignore the brutal, burning reality? 23 June). It's not just because I'm a fading redhead with fair skin, freckles, vitiligo and a need for factor 50 protection. I enjoy feeling warm to my bones as much as anyone. Today, the world is hotter than it was when I was a child. I'm now 68 and science has been predicting a hotter climate for many years. People around the world are dying because they are overheating. Does anyone care? The opportunity to build in human-centred solutions to warming is being missed – for example, into urban housing and for vulnerable people, so we are incredibly underprepared for the human tragedy being forecast by scientists. I'm worried for my children and grandchildren. What kind of world are we building? It's one thing to build in public announcements about how people can stay cool in the heat – obvious things like hydration, sunscreen and keeping curtains closed. The Physiological Society's roadmap for dealing with climate change points the way for multidisciplinary approaches to finding solutions for policymakers and infrastructure, but I fear that the current emphasis on mitigating warmongering means that long‑term heat-related challenges are being Laura M GinesiYaxham, Norfolk While much of England has been sweltering under amber heat warnings, another crisis is quietly intensifying: wildfires are fast becoming Britain's most overlooked climate emergency. Already this year, more than 560 wildfires have been recorded in England and Wales – a sevenfold rise on the same period in 2024. From scorched moorland to motorway verges, fire crews are stretched to breaking point. Many blazes are caused by disposable barbecues, cigarettes or littered glass – small acts with catastrophic consequences. Peatlands and woodlands, vital carbon sinks and havens for biodiversity, are being destroyed acre by acre. Yet we have no national wildfire strategy. No consistent bans on open fires during high-risk periods. And fire services, cut to the bone, are being left to improvise in the face of this new normal. This is no longer a Mediterranean problem. Without urgent national action, the UK will face a cycle of summer infernos. Ministers must restore funding to fire services, introduce fire-source bans during alerts and establish a properly resourced wildfire response plan. Anything less is climate David Davies Shrewsbury, Shropshire The way in which the media positively presents extremely hot and dangerous weather using words such as 'beautiful' and 'lovely sunny day' infuriates me. Such descriptions are personal value judgments and should be kept out of objective reporting. All that can be said objectively is that it is hot. My immune system struggles to cope with the heat because of medication to help prevent the recurrence of breast cancer. High temperatures and humidity leave me exhausted and forced to seek refuge indoors. I long for more benign weather, days where I can go about my normal life without being forced to opt out until it passes. The binary view that hot weather equals good and cold/wet weather equals bad must be readdressed in light of current climate challenges if we are to stand any chance of persuading everyone to do their bit to protect the environment. Helen PeeblesStamford, Lincolnshire The recent report by the Met Office that temperature highs of 45C are now possible in the UK shows how quickly we are sliding into new and wholly terrifying climatic territory. Talk of adaptation and resilience is beside the point – we need emergency decarbonisation to slow the growth of extreme heat, and to salvage something of the climate niche within which human societies have grown and Scott-WarrenCambridge
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
ITV This Morning's Dr Zoe Williams says people using plasters wrong - risking infection and scars
ITV This Morning's Dr Zoe Williams says people using plasters wrong - risking infection and scars The resident GP has also cleared up whether you are supposed to pick scabs Dr Zoe Williams and fellow ITV GP Dr Hilary Jone The biggest mistake when treating a wound is letting it 'dry out' - which could lead to needing professional treatment, according to This Morning's resident GP Dr Zoe Williams. If left uncovered, even tiny cuts can get infected and activities where it will get wet such as showering or swimming can cause the skin to swell. This not only impairs wound closure, but bacteria and germs can penetrate the body and cause infection. A survey by Elastoplast found 42 per cent of people are under the impression letting a wound breathe is the best way for it to heal. But Dr Zoe said leaving a graze to air increases the likelihood of infection and instead recovers quickly if they are in a moist, clean environment, which also helps reduce scarring. Dr Zoe said: 'Even small or seemingly insignificant wounds benefit from being covered, but of course it's also important to clean a graze beforehand. 'Protecting a wound with a dressing can be supported by using a healing ointment or using a hydrocolloid plaster which allows the cut to maintain a moist environment and offer benefits including improved pain relief and longer wear. This is not only important for rapid healing, but also to minimise scarring." A further 27 per cent have touched a wound before washing their hands and 47 per cent have picked at a scab - which Dr Zoe warned can delay the healing process. Article continues below A spokesperson for Elastoplast said: "Treating a small wound might seem simple, but it's crucial to follow the right steps to avoid infection and scarring. The insights show how public perceptions often differ from expert advice, which may explain why some people have gone on to develop complications like scarring or infection.' DR ZOE'S FIVE STEPS FOR TREATING A WOUND: 1. Wash hands thoroughly 2. Rinse the wound with clean water or wound spray 3. Gently dry with a clean cloth 4. Cover with a suitable-sized plaster 5. Seek wound care guidance from a healthcare professional if the wound isn't healing properly
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Biggest mistake you can make when treating a wound - and we're all guilty of it
Dr Zoe Williams has warned that there is one mistake people make when treating a wound that can be very dangerous TV doctor, Dr Zoe, has warned about the risks of falling for what she believes is the biggest myth when treating a wound, and could lead to needing professional treatment. Some common errors Brits include using the wrong size plaster or handling a wound before they have washed their hands but there's one even more pressing myth according to the doctor. While Dr Zoe has issued a warning that picking at a scab can delay the healing process, she says the biggest blunder people make when treating a wound is allowing it to 'dry out'. She explains that if a wound is left exposed even minor cuts can become infected as bacteria and germs can infiltrate the body. This advice comes in light of a survey of 2,000 adults, commissioned by Elastoplast, which revealed that four in ten people believe letting a wound breathe is the best way for it to heal. However, Dr Zoe contradicts this belief, saying that leaving a graze exposed increases the risk of infection. Instead, wounds recover more quickly in a moist, clean environment, which also aids in reducing scarring. Dr Zoe advised: "Even small or seemingly insignificant wounds benefit from being covered, but of course it's also important to clean a graze beforehand." "Protecting a wound with a dressing can be supported by using a healing ointment or using a hydrocolloid plaster which allows the cut to maintain a moist environment and offer benefits including improved pain relief and longer wear," she added. "This is not only important for rapid healing, but also to minimise scarring." The study found that only 20 per cent typically let a wound air before covering it, while 14 per cent think wounds should be kept moist to heal faster. Almost a fifth have had a seemingly harmless graze result in scarring, while others have experienced an infection or swelling. The most common situations in which adults have sustained a wound include Indoor DIY work, hiking or walking. Participating in sports such as cycling, biking or team sports also led to injuries for a fifth of people. A spokesperson for Elastoplast, which recently launched Second Skin Protection plasters, said: "Treating a small wound might seem simple, but it's crucial to follow the right steps to avoid infection and scarring. "The insights show how public perceptions often differ from expert advice, which may explain why some people have gone on to develop complications like scarring or infection. "We want to ensure people feel confident and prepared for treating wounds in all situations, whether they're being adventurous outdoors, exploring as a family or going about daily life. Being prepared makes all the difference." DR ZOE'S FIVE STEPS FOR TREATING A WOUND: Wash hands thoroughly Rinse the wound with clean water or wound spray Gently dry with a clean cloth Cover with a suitable sized plaster Seek wound care guidance from a healthcare professional if the wound isn't healing properly
Scottish Sun
7 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
I have got metal hip replacements but feel weaker since having an MRI - help!
Got a health-related problem? Send it to Zoe, email below ASK DR ZOE I have got metal hip replacements but feel weaker and in more pain since having an MRI – help! Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) OUR resident specialist and NHS GP, Dr Zoe Williams, shares her expert advice. Today, Dr Zoe helps a reader who is worried an MRI might have affected their hip. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Dr Zoe Williams helps Sun readers with their health concerns Credit: Olivia West 2 A reader who has metal hip replacements is worried an MRI might have affected it Credit: Getty Q) I HAVE got metal hip replacements with the oldest from 2003. Two years ago, I began to experience pain. I finally found a painkiller that helped and have been on it since. I had X-rays that showed damage and was told to be careful because there was a chance I could suffer a fracture. I was sent for an MRI and a friend warned that maybe it could aggravate my pain. Since having the scan, my hip is more painful and feels weaker. Lying still for so long was very uncomfortable, but could the MRI have affected my hip? Can an MRI aggravate the problem it is scanning? A) AN MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images. Modern hip implants are typically made of materials like titanium, cobalt-chromium or stainless steel, which are non-ferromagnetic, meaning they don't react strongly to magnetic fields. So having an MRI will not worsen the joint physically, but lying still for 30-45 minutes can aggravate pain. Patients can feel sore and stiff afterwards, but this should be temporary as the cause is the positioning for the scan rather than the scan itself. My advice to anyone having an MRI is to always ask the staff to make you as comfortable as possible before going into the scanner. Janet Street Porter says she's leaving Loose Women for a bit to have hip replacement TIP: While we're enjoying the hot weather, it can be dangerous for some. Keep an eye on older relatives and those with long-term health conditions as they can be at higher risk of heat exhaustion, dehydration and heat stroke.
