Holly Willoughby has paid tribute to This Morning’s medical expert Dr Uchenna Okoye who has tragically passed away after a ‘sudden illness’ aged 53.

The ‘kind and passionate’ Cosmetic Dentist made numerous appearances on the ITV show, offering advice to viewers at home. She was also a regular guest on 10 Years Younger in 10 Days, Daybreak, and BBC Breakfast.

A heartbreaking statement posted on Dr Uchenna’s Instagram said she had fallen ill at home on Friday September 15 and died shortly after. No cause of death has been provided by her family.

Willoughby, who worked with Dr Uchenna on This Morning, told her followers: ‘Unbelievably sad to hear of the passing of @druchennaokoye. We first worked together many moons ago with @oralb_uk and she was very kind to me… and then of course again, giving her advice on @thismorning. Sending all my love to her family.’

BBC radio presenter Jo Whiley wrote online: ‘Devastating news. Sending love to her daughter, family and London Smiling team. Strong, beautiful, funny Uchenna. Awful. Just awful.’

TV presenter Donna Air posted: ‘What?! No, I’m so confused. How, why… her daughter!! Shocked and saddened.’

Dr Uchenna, who qualified at the prestigious Guy’s Hospital in London, ran two dental practices and owned a line of specialist dental products. 

She was one of a small group of dentists to belong to both the British and American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. 

Outside of directing the London Smiling Dental Group, she regularly appeared on television and radio to provide expert advice. She also was the official dentist of Channel 5‘s makeover programme 10 Years Younger. 

Presenter Cherry Healey of the Channel 5 programme also paid tribute to Dr Uchenna. 

‘There aren’t really the right words to say how much this absolute force of a human being will be missed and how sad this news is.

‘I was so fortunate to work with Dr Uchenna on @10yearsyounger for many happy years, and to then got to know her as a beautiful friend.

‘She spoke with such passion and love for the people she helped smile again – and she was the warmest, smartest, most fun woman you could wish to meet,’ she wrote on Instagram this evening.

Dr Uchenna’s husband Chidi Ngwaba is a doctor who specialises in lifestyle medicine, helping patients who suffer from diabetes, autoimmune diseases and obesity. 

He has also appeared on televisions, including ITV’s Good Morning Britain and the BBC’s Food: Truth or Scare.

The couple share a young daughter.  

Announcing Dr Uchenna’s tragic passing, her family wrote earlier this evening: ‘It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of the much loved and respected Cosmetic Dentist, Dr Uchenna Okoye, who passed away after falling ill at home on Friday 15th September 2023.

‘At this time, we ask for your prayers for her young daughter, her family, her team of staff at London Smiling Dental Group and her friends who are all struggling to come to terms with her loss.

‘We request that you respect Uchenna’s family’s wishes for privacy at this very difficult time.

‘The Uchenna sparkle touched the lives of everyone she met and drew her into stardom on 10 Years Younger makeover show, followed by 10 Years Younger in 10 Days where her passion and compassion leaps off the screen.

‘For the last twenty years, her deep knowledge of dentistry and her incredible chair-side manner made her the go-to spokeswoman for any dental issue and a popular contributor to radio, TV, and women’s consumer press,’ it continued.

Tributes from viewers have poured in for the TV regular with one fan writing: ‘That’s absolutely devastating… sending much love to her family.’

Another wrote: ‘Am absolutely heartbroken to read this. I adored Uchenna. I can’t really process this awful news.’ 

A third commented: ‘Beautiful Uchenna! An industry beacon who quickly became a friend to many of us. So warm, generous and funny. 

‘Sending condolences to her family and friends.’

Another follower wrote: ‘Devastating news. My love and prayers to her family. 

‘We will all miss your infectious energy and warmth.’

While someone else shared: ‘Absolutely shocked about this devastating news! I still can’t believe it. 

‘She was the kindest, loveliest person who I knew briefly. Rest in peace and my condolences to your family and your little girl.’

The news comes just days after Holly Willoughby and This Morning led the tributes to guest Matty Lock after he suddenly died aged 19. 

Holly and co-presenter Dermot O’Leary paid tribute to a ‘truly unique’ and ‘lovely’ member of the studio. 

The ‘delightful’ teenager regularly appeared on the show to review vacuum cleaners, which he had become obsessed with since the age of two when he received his first toy Henry hoover.

The popular youngster was also a member of the Labour Party and recently spoke of his pride at becoming councillor in his hometown of Maghull, Merseyside. 

Sharing the news at the start of Monday’s programme, Dermot said: ‘One of the This Morning family members Matty Lock – you might remember Matty – sadly passed away this weekend.’

Willoughby added: ‘He was a much-loved member of our team who never failed to bring joy and more to our studio with an infectious passion for gadgets and technology. He was truly unique.’

O’Leary continued: ‘Yeah, bless him. His love for vacuum cleaners started when he was just two years old when he received his first toy Henry. 

‘He then went on to become a politician, a campaigner and a much loved member of this show. He’s a lovely guy.’

‘Matthew will be missed by all of us here and we extend our deepest condolences to his family. It was incredibly sad, shocking news to get yesterday’, finished Willoughby.

Matty regularly appeared on This Morning from a young age, including at the age of 15 where he had a segment revealing the best hoovers to buy that summer. 

Private £4,569-a-term day school, Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School, in Crosby, Liverpool, shared his appearance on the show on its website at the time. 

Matty last posted on his Facebook page in April where he spoke of how he had ‘hit the ground running in delivering for Maghull and residents’ concerns and priorities’ since he had been elected.

At the age of 13 Matty had amassed 150 vacuums as part of his collection.   

He became interested in vacuums aged two when he got his first toy Henry. By the age of five he was hoovering the family home.

Speaking at the time, he said he was cleaning up by fixing old machines and selling them while carrying out repairs on every cleaner on the market.

He said: ‘I remember in year four or five having a rough idea how to take them apart and looking into how to make them run, that’s when the collecting started. 

‘I started finding machines, getting parts and being able to put them together to make a new vacuum.

‘I became more and more interested in getting rarer machines.

‘I like the way they work and seeing how they can be improved. I like seeing how they’ve advanced over the years – different machines do different jobs.

‘I get them off eBay or on Facebook selling sites. I find them in skips and people have even started leaving them outside my back door.

‘Some of the Henrys I have are 40 years old. I like to fix them but if they’re beyond repair I will make a good one out of two hoovers.

‘My collection is mostly Henrys and Dysons. I’ve got original versions which are made out of metal and Bakelite. My collection is well into the hundreds now.

‘They are all in my workshop in my garden which is where I do all my vacuum repairs.’

He spent around ten hours a week fixing broken vacuums, and estimated he had fixed around 500 and sold 300 machines.

From the money he made out of selling on the fixed machines, he reinvested the cash into more broken vacuums.

He added: ‘I just find it so satisfying getting them from places like builder’s yards where they’re full of plaster – being able to clean them up, make them look nice and get them up to a really good standard.’

Will Aaron Rodgers ever be the same following his ‘heartbreaking’ Achilles tear? That is the million-dollar question, says Dr. Ryan Minara. 

Rodgers’ New York Jets debut came to a crashing halt Monday night when the 39-year-old exited the game against the Buffalo Bills after just four snaps. 

Jets fans’ worst fears were confirmed the following day when it was announced that the signal caller had ruptured his Achilles tendon, ruling him out for the season in a devastating blow to New York, who only acquired him in the offseason. 

But Rodgers, who turns 40 in December, vowed to ‘rise again’ as he broke his silence for the first time since the heartbreaking injury on Wednesday night.

While it isn’t out of the realm of possibility for the veteran to make a comeback, he faces an uphill battle and the risk of never reaching the same level again, Dr. Minara, a podiatry specialist at New York’s Mount Sinai Beth Israel hospital, tells DailyMail.com. 

‘I do think that, given the fact that not only is he an elite athlete, he’s one of the best of the best of elite athletes and due to his highly-competitive nature, there’s a distinct possibility of him coming back and playing,’ Dr. Minara says. 

‘But at 40 it’s a much harder recovery than at 20 or even 30. He has the elite athlete and competitive nature working for him, but his age is working against him. 

‘No matter how much of an elite athlete you are, just by his body’s natural aging process, it’s much harder for an Achilles repair to recover and for him to return to be the same Aaron Rodgers that he was before.

‘I do think he’ll work as hard as he can to make it back but it is going to be an uphill battle.’ 

Even if Rodgers beats the battle against Father Time and makes it back to the field, Dr. Minara warns he might not be the same four-time MVP the league has seen before. 

‘I think he can return to play, but will he have the same mobility or strength as he did before? That’s really the million-dollar question,’ adds Dr. Minara, who has experience as a team podiatrist across sports, including lacrosse and triathlon. 

‘I think the Jets might have to switch his style of play. He’ll certainly be less mobile or less willing to break sacks or tackles. They’re going to have to protect him. He’s going to have to stay in the pocket a little more rather than using his legs.

‘Obviously he still has a wonderful arm. It might affect arm strength a little in terms of throwing the ball down field because you do rely on a lot of that strength from your lower body and core but he’ll still be Aaron Rodgers.’

Dr. Minara insists there’s more to the challenge than getting Rodgers back to full health. The Jets not only need to work on improving the quarterback but also their offensive line. 

‘It would benefit him and the team the most, so that he can worry less about having to escape the pocket and use his legs,’ he says. 

‘I do think the Jets should invest in an O-Line so he doesn’t have to worry about using his legs at much.’

It will be along journey back to the field for Rodgers, especially in time for the start of next season. 

Dr. Minara explains that Rodgers will not be able to bear weight on his left foot for at least two weeks post surgery before being able to allow a little bit of pressure in a walking boot once the stitches are taken out. 

The former Green Bay Packers quarterback won’t be able to start general physical therapy until the eight to 16 week mark, with the sport-specific rehab generally not beginning until four or six months post surgery. 

He says that even athletes have to wait until nine or 12 months after the procedure before they’re able to play at a high level.  

Around 75 percent of all Achilles ruptures are among athletes, ranging from elite athletes such as Aaron Rodgers, weekend warriors, collegiate level, according to Dr.  Minara. 

But the Achilles rupture is still one of the toughest injuries to bounce back from, even for the elite sporting stars. 

‘The Achilles is the strongest tendon in the body, it’s under a lot of tension, so when it ruptures it really alters the leg function from that point forward,’ Dr. Minara explains. 

‘That’s why it’s many times a difficult injury to recover from. Because you have to reset that resting tension, you have to strengthen the muscle, then you have to worry about the bloody supply to the area and then healing issues in general.

‘But people do come back. Kobe Bryant ruptured his Achilles tendon and he came back. Was he the same Kobe Bryant after he came back? It’s hard to say because he was already a little older.’

Rodgers’s devastating injury drew criticism of the NFL for allowing teams to play on artificial turf. Currently the league is split – 15 stadiums have grass, 15 use turf.

The league has been accused of putting ‘profit over people’, while the NFLPA has previously demanded an immediate ban on slit film turf. 

But Dr. Minara shuts down any speculation that the turf played any role in Rodgers’s injury, claiming it could have happened anywhere. 

‘There will always be people who complain about turf but there will be certain injuries that occur no matter what,’ he says. 

‘When you look at the slow motion replay of this particular injury it’s just a classic example of when an Achilles tendon ruptures. He already had some nagging calf injuries. He was trying to run away but he was being pinned down, so he was trying to plant and flex down his foot but due to the pressure of the defender on top of him, and due to the fact that he foot was stuck on the ground, the muscle was contracting, the foot couldn’t go anywhere and the Achilles popped. 

‘That type of injury can happen anywhere at any time. I don’t think the turf necessarily played a role in this particular injury. But it is something the NFL really needs to figure out. If there is an increase in specific injury, they need to see if the turf is playing a role in it.’ 

Organising travel insurance isn’t the most exciting part of planning a getaway, but it can be the most important.

Why? If anything goes wrong – for instance, you need to cancel your trip last minute or require urgent medical attention overseas – having the right travel insurance policy can save you thousands. But how do you pick the policy that’s best for you? 

Help is at hand. Speaking to MailOnline Travel, Garry Nelson, the head of corporate affairs for AllClear Travel Insurance, breaks down the dos and don’ts of buying travel insurance – and reveals the common mistakes that people make when purchasing a policy…

WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET COVERAGE FOR?

Don’t skimp on coverage that relates to any medical emergencies you might face, Nelson says.

The expert, who is a committee member of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, says: ‘By far the biggest costs from all the claims data we see at [travel insurance firms] AllClear and InsureandGo [owned by AllClear] relate to medical emergency expenses.’ 

He continues: ‘The U.S, Caribbean, Mexico and Canada have some of the most expensive charges when it comes to treatment but there are places even in Europe where having a medical problem while overseas can be very expensive.’

Spain is an example of a European country where treatment in a private medical facility can be costly, Nelson notes. In fact, Spain is ‘on average twice as expensive as its near neighbour Portugal’ for private treatment, he says. 

He adds that ‘Turkey, Cyprus and Greece all tend to be more expensive [for medical treatment] than European countries closer to home.’

Another thing to look out for as a ‘potential cost factor’ is repatriation – returning a person to their home country following illness, injury, or death. 

Nelson says that ‘the further you are from home the more expensive it is likely to be to bring you home’, adding: ‘Please ensure you have comprehensive medical expenses cover and that cost of repatriation is included in your cover.’

In general, he says it’s wise to ‘consider the healthcare services in your destination, especially if you are somewhere more remote, and make sure there is a suitable provision available’. 

WHAT’S WORTH PAYING EXTRA FOR?

Cancellation cover is important, Nelson reveals, especially if you’re ‘going on a cruise or a high-cost holiday’. He says: ‘Make sure you have enough cancellation cover should you have to cancel due to an unforeseen issue arising.’ 

He adds: ‘Also check whether the limits [for cancellation cover] are per person or just for the policy taken out, regardless of the number of people named on the policy. I would suggest paying more to have a per-person cancellation amount.’

And Nelson says that, for frequent travellers who venture abroad more than twice a year, an annual multi-trip policy is ‘definitely worth considering’ over lots of single-trip policies.

He explains: ‘It will cost more initially but it is likely to prove better value over a 12-month period and saves quite a bit of time when applying for cover each time you want to travel.’ 

For certain holidaymakers, ‘travelling companion’ cover is another essential. He explains: ‘Some people may not be aware that if they are travelling with someone with a medical condition who has to cancel the trip and you haven’t informed your provider, your own cancellation costs may not be recoverable.

‘At AllClear and InsureandGo we provide a “travelling companion” cover which, for a small additional fee, will allow the person with the medical condition to name fellow travellers and in the event of the trip being cancelled everyone named would be covered.’ 

Lastly, gadget cover for devices such as smartphones and laptops is important, according to Nelson, who says: ‘Available usually as an add-on, [gadget cover] is specialist cover for all those electronic gadgets we now can’t live without.’ He says it’s ‘well worth considering paying that little extra for’ it. 

COMMON MISTAKES TRAVELLERS MAKE 

There’s one major error people make when it comes to buying travel insurance, Nelson reveals. 

He explains: ‘By far the most serious potential mistake is not declaring your full medical history. 

‘With average costs of medical expense claims now running into several thousands of pounds and six-figure claims relatively common, I would strongly urge people to make sure they declare everything they need to.’

Nelson explains that research carried out by AllClear found that ‘cost of living pressures have driven some people to cut corners on travel insurance to get a cheaper quote – with around one in four people not disclosing medical information in order to get a cheaper quote’. 

He warns: ‘It is a false economy for anyone to cut corners or withhold information when taking out a travel insurance policy because it can invalidate a policy when it comes to making a claim.’ 

The expert also urges people to ‘update [their] travel insurance provider if there have been any medical changes such as an unplanned hospital admission or change in medication’.

On top of that, Nelson says it’s unwise to rely on a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) – which offers Brits healthcare in Europe at reduced prices or sometimes for free – to substitute for travel insurance. 

Another mistake travellers make, he says, is assuming that ‘cover is there when sometimes it isn’t’.

He explains: ‘This happens more often when people are opting to buy at the more economic end of the market.’ Giving an example, he says that some people aren’t aware that cover for trip lengths can sometimes be shorter than their actual trip. And some travellers don’t realise that if they get insurance out for a trip to one country, it won’t cover them if they take a day trip across the border into another country – unless they’ve declared that when purchasing their policy.  

Also, travellers planning cruise holidays need to be careful when buying insurance, Nelson says. 

He explains: ‘Ensure that if you are going on a cruise, you tell your insurance provider you are. Cruise cover is a specialist area and if the policy doesn’t include any cruise cover, there could be a serious issue, not to mention cost, if a medical emergency occurs on board.’

A final mistake travellers make? Failing to check their driver’s license when renting vehicles overseas. 

He explains: ‘If you are taking out a scooter, motor-bike or quad-bike, check your driving licence. On the back, it will tell you what you are and are not covered to ride. Some providers limit the size of the engine – 125cc is the most common limitation – but others will stipulate you can only ride what you are permitted to ride in the UK on your licence.’

And make sure you wear a helmet, as Nelson notes ‘you won’t be covered if you fail to wear one’. 

THINGS YOU MOST LIKELY DON’T NEED TO PURCHASE

Nelson says there’s no point in paying for a policy that includes coverage of activities you have no plans to do. 

Listing examples, he says: ‘Don’t pay for a policy that includes cruise cover if you don’t plan to take a cruise… likewise if the policy includes winter sports and you aren’t planning to ski or snowboard.’

Travellers also have the option to reduce the cost of their insurance policy by choosing one that excludes cancellation cover, Nelson says. 

‘This becomes a serious consideration if you buy a few days before you are actually due to travel when the risk of incurring a cancellation claim is low,’ he explains.

Nelson adds that while AllClear would not normally advocate removing cancellation cover, the insurance firm does provide an option that allows the customer to make the decision themselves.  

SHOULD YOU GO FOR THE BUDGET OPTION – OR SPLASH OUT? 

Nelson says: ‘Wherever you buy travel insurance, buying cheap doesn’t necessarily equate to buying quality. Like with most things, you get what you pay for.

‘For younger people travelling to the Mediterranean for a week with no medical history, it makes sense that they may visit a comparison website and I’m sure [they’re] basing their buying decision on price rather than breadth of cover.’

Referring to medical-condition coverage specialist AllClear and its sister company InsureandGo, Nelson adds: ‘People are coming to us to cover their medical conditions, regardless of age and where they want to travel to.

‘They understand, as car drivers who have just passed their test understand, that with heightened risk comes added cost, but they also have the peace of mind that they are fully covered should the worst happen.’

Many travellers connect to airport Wi-Fi while waiting to board a flight, whether to get some work done or for some light entertainment to help pass the hours.

But as harmless as it may seem, using this Wi-Fi could leave you vulnerable to attacks by cybercriminals. 

Thankfully, there are ways to protect yourself. Speaking to MailOnline Travel, Claudia Gualdi, Travel Intelligence Data Lead for Riskline, a Copenhagen-based firm that provides risk assessments for hundreds of travel destinations around the world, reveals all…

HOW OFTEN IS AIRPORT WI-FI UNSECURE?

Gualdi notes that free airport Wi-Fi is convenient for travellers because it’s often too expensive to use mobile data when travelling overseas. However, she says that ‘no public Wi-Fi network is absolutely secure, especially because it can be accessed by anyone’ and ‘at airports, the risk is even bigger because thousands of travellers navigate at the same time on the same network’.

Gualdi says it’s ‘difficult’ to know how frequently these attacks occur, but a survey conducted by Forbes Advisor earlier this year found that 40 per cent of respondents had their information compromised while using public Wi-Fi. Of that group, 23 per cent reported that it happened at an airport.

WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF USING AIRPORT WI-FI?

Gualdi explains: ‘Users of unsecure airport Wi-Fi are vulnerable to different types of cyber threats like identity and bank information theft, unauthorised access to emails, password theft or malware from infected downloads.’

She says that ‘there are also risks of even more complex attacks’. One example is a ‘man-in-the-middle attack’, which ‘allows hackers to eavesdrop on communications’. Another is a ‘sniffing attack’, in which ‘unprotected data can be extracted’ from your device by the hacker.

HOW CAN YOU VERIFY THE SAFETY OF AIRPORT WI-FI?

‘It’s hard to verify the safety of each Wi-Fi we’re connecting to, but there are some tips that are worth keeping in mind,’ Gualdi reveals.

Her first tip is to ensure you’re logging into the correct Wi-Fi. She says: ‘At airports, it is very common to find Wi-Fi networks with similar names. Travellers should make sure that they are connecting to the official one, by asking airport staff for the precise name.’

She continues: ‘This will enable individuals to avoid “evil twin attack”, which is when a hacker creates a Wi-Fi connection with a similar name to the official one, in order to attract people to connect to the network and therefore act illegally.’

Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity expert at NordVPN, elaborates on this, saying: ‘If a traveler connects to such a hotspot, all their personal information (including credit card details, private emails and various credentials) will be sent to a hacker.’ 

Another tip is to ‘prevent a device from automatically connecting to a hotspot’. Gualdi says: ‘This can be done by disabling features such as “auto connect” for public hotspots.’ She adds that as ‘an extra precaution, the [Wi-Fi] network can be removed from Wi-Fi settings after use, so that the device does not automatically reconnect to it in the future’. 

Gualdi says that it’s more secure to connect to hotspots that require a password if they’re available. She says: ‘It is also best to avoid “open” or “unsecured” networks.’

Another way to protect yourself, she notes, is to ‘use a VPN which hides the IP address and encrypts all the data that is sent or received over the internet’.

On top of that, she recommends installing antivirus software on your device for boosted protection.

And though it’s likely not an option for travellers in overseas airports, Gualdi says that if you can, connect to mobile data instead of using a free network.

WHICH WEBSITES ARE SAFEST TO VISIT – AND WHICH SHOULD YOU AVOID?

While connected to airport Wi-Fi, Gualdi recommends you visit websites that have ‘“https” and the padlock icon at the beginning of the URLs’ as this ‘means that the connection is secure and safe for the user and that the information you send is encrypted and cannot be intercepted’.

What kind of browsing is best avoided while using airport Wi-Fi? She says: ‘In general, it’s advisable to not manage sensitive information while browsing on a public free network, like doing banking transactions.

‘Working with a public network could also expose credentials and important data if workers are using work platforms, sending important emails or documents.’

Generally, she says it’s best to ‘avoid transmitting information that you do not wish to be disclosed to an undesired or unauthorised party’.

Again, Gualdi notes that using a VPN ‘can be very helpful’ if you want to protect yourself while working on your device in the airport.

She adds that it’s ‘important to avoid accessing a website if a browser displays a warning message’. 

HOW CULPABLE IS THE AIRPORT FOR THE ATTACK?

Gualdi says that while the culpability of the airport in the instance of a cyber attack is difficult to determine, ‘airports should enhance and offer the best cybersecurity for the travellers’. 

With the launch of iPhone 15 is around the corner, owners of older iPhones are bracing for their devices to slow down – but there are some tricks to counter the dreaded slowdown.

Apple previously faced fines and a $115 million settlement over a ‘batterygate’ controversy where older phones were deliberately made sluggish – although Apple said that this was in order to preserve their batteries.

Apple fans have long been convinced that iOS updates (in particular ones around the launch of a new handset) can slow older devices – but there are steps to take, a phone refurbishment expert has told DailyMail.com.

Kewin Charron, Senior Lead Refurbishment Operations Manager at Back Market said, ‘As the cost of smartphones continues to rise, opting to repair and prolong the life of your device not only presents a more sustainable alternative to purchasing new technology but is also a significantly more economical choice.’

If your iPhone is slowing down, Charron recommends taking the following steps: 

Stop apps slowing your phone down

Today’s iPhones contain more apps than ever before – and if you’ve installed lots, they could be slowing your device down, Charron said.

These apps tend to consume substantial amounts of RAM and CPU resources (which can slow your phone) while operating in the background, often without the user’s awareness.

Charron said: ‘A simple hack for speeding up your old iPhone is to go into your Settings> General > Background App Refresh and select Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi & Cellular Data, or Off to stop Background App Refresh entirely.

‘This quick fix means that iPhone users can adjust their settings to automatically control and stop apps running in the background; allowing the phone to run smoother.’

Check your battery health

Your slow iPhone might be due to an issue with the battery, Charron said.

Even newer batteries can malfunction if they’re defective or have been over- used.

If you’re using iPhone 6 or later (with an up-to-date version of iOS), go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health to view your battery’s maximum capacity.

This should fall somewhere between 0 and 100%.

Charron said, ‘A typical Apple battery should maintain up to 80% of its original capacity.

‘As the battery ages, this percentage may decrease, resulting in the battery no longer being able to hold charge.’

If it’s below that, you should consider taking it to a repair store and replacing the battery, Charron said.

Check peak performance

There’s another statistic buried in iPhone’s menus which it’s well worth checking out, Charron advised.

Charron said, ‘Under the ‘Battery Health’ segment, it’s also worth taking a look at ‘Peak Performance Capacity.’ 

This particular metric offers valuable information about the battery’s performance status, showing if the battery is operating correctly or not. 

Should you observe any malfunction in your battery, it could be wise to consider opting for a replacement.’

Unclog your memory

Slow iPhone performance can stem from limited storage capacity, with full or nearly full storage resulting in reduced available memory and impacting CPU performance, which slows your phone down, Charron said.

Charron said: ‘iPhones need around 10 percent of available storage for caching and temporary files that facilitate smooth app operation and software updates.

‘To enhance your iPhone speed, allocate time to review installed applications and uninstall those no longer needed. 

‘Sorting through old photos and videos and eliminating unnecessary content is also beneficial.’

The nuclear option

If your phone isn’t responding to the other tips, restore it to its default settings – ie to how it was before you started using it, Charron said.

This can clear out ‘hidden’ data which could be slowing your device, Charron said.

He said, ‘For a more thorough storage clear out, firstly create a backup of your phone data. 

‘Then, restore the device to its default settings before reapplying the backup. This process removes cached data and clears the phone’s ‘other’ storage. Alternatively, uninstall and then reinstall specific apps.’

• Catching up on sleep at the weekend could make you feel more tired, experts say
• Sleep expert says not getting sunlight in morning can make you go to bed later 

By Rebecca Whittaker For Mailonline

Updated: 08:38 EDT, 3 September 2023

In recent years, air fryers have surged in popularity among Britons looking for an easy way to dish up dinner. 

These appliances use hot air instead of hot oil to cook foods, offering a healthy alternative to deep-fat frying.  

But the shift to this new way of cooking isn’t always easy, as the temperatures, timings and techniques can be completely different.

Users have complained of dried chicken, overcooked meatballs and even messy batter, having tried to master recipes in the air fryer. 

Thankfully, help is here, as MailOnline spoke with blogger Liana Green, who has written countless guides to help convert your favourite oven recipes to air fryer dishes.

As a general rule of thumb, Ms Green says that air fryer temperatures should be set 36°F (20°C) lower than those set out in an oven recipe.

However, this can vary depending on the model, so it’s important to check out how efficient your device is.  

‘Air fryers typically cook food 20-25 per cent faster than conventional ovens,’ Ms Green told MailOnline.

‘Therefore, you’ll need to reduce the cooking time in your oven recipe by 20-25 per cent.’

Chicken

There’s nothing better than wolfing down a tender but juicy chicken, with a slight crisp on its skin.

But mastering this with an air fryer is a tricky challenge, as poultry can commonly end up tough or dry once cooked.

To combat this, Ms Green claims that your technique should change depending on the type of dish you’re going for – with different tricks for different parts. 

For a whole chicken, Ms Green recommends cooking it at 180°C/350°F for 45 minutes before flipping it completely over and cooking it for another 15.

Meanwhile, wings often take around 25 minutes to cook, and Ms Green also advises flipping them two to three times for an even result. 

Patting these down with some kitchen roll and spacing them out on the tray beforehand can make them crispier too.

‘If in doubt, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature,’ Ms Green said. 

‘To prevent chicken breasts from drying out you can wrap them in a foil parcel.’

Meatballs

Overcooked meatballs are a common pitfall of many air fryer owners, with the minced meat often sticking to oven trays.

According to Ms Green, these can take around 10 minutes to cook at 180°C/350°F in an air fryer, but it’s crucial to handle these in oil to prevent them from sticking.

Repeatedly flipping them over and spacing these apart can help the situation too.

‘Increase or decrease cooking time depending on the size of the meatballs,’ Ms Green added. 

‘Pierce with a knife or metal skewer just to check the juices run clear.’

Roast vegetables

When using an air fryer, it’s important to tailor your cooking to the different needs of vegetables.

Ms Green explains that softer vegetables will generally cook much faster than root vegetables under air fryer heat.

For instance, while broccoli should take 10 minutes at 190°C/374°F, carrots and parsnips will perhaps take 15 minutes under 200°C/392°F.

But brushing all vegetables in oil will help achieve a perfect roast and prevent them from drying out.

‘Cut vegetables to similar sizes to ensure equal cooking times,’ Ms Green said.

Chips 

To steer clear of soggy and undercooked chips, Ms Green recommends adding just a small amount of oil.  

She told MailOnline: ‘If you are cooking burgers and fries together, it is best to use a dual air fryer or try and separate them in the air fryer basket with a divider. 

‘Prevent the chips from going soggy by not trying to air fry too many simultaneously, and shake them frequently to ensure they crisp up.’

Yesterday, Emily Seymour, Which? Energy Editor also told MailOnline that overfilling the tray is another common mistake which can result in burnt chips with a soggy inside.   

‘Undercooking or overcooking chips the first couple of times if normal, but if it keeps happening, you may be making some basic mistakes,’ she said.

‘To find your air fryer’s optimum capacity, consult the manufacturer’s instruction manual or take some time to experiment with your air fryer.’

By Ailbhe Macmahon For Mailonline

Updated: 09:51 EDT, 23 August 2023

• William has made an Instagram video in which he explains how to eat croissants
• He has strong views on the use of knives and butter when eating the pastries
• READ MORE: You’ve been stirring your tea all wrong! 

By Ted Thornhill, Mailonline Travel Editor

Published: 04:08 EDT, 20 August 2023 | Updated: 05:24 EDT, 20 August 2023

When you look at photos of yourself, do you like what you see — or do you wish you knew how to look more like your best self? 

Photo editing apps have come a long way since the dog ears filter made its appearance on Snapchat – but we all know natural is best.

So use our quick guide to make yourself instantly more photogenic:  

Before we get to the basics, there are a few quirky techniques that will improve how you look on camera. 

Forget ‘say cheese’ – words that end in an ‘uh’ sound can put your mouth into a more natural smile shape.

Try ‘data’, ‘yoga’ or ‘mocha’ next time someone is taking your photo. It’ll bring the corners of your mouth up naturally.

If that doesn’t work for you, try to think of something funny. 

Fake it: A fake smile can look really strange. A fake laugh, though, almost always turns into a real one and you’ll end up with a true smile. 

Another odd trick that works is pushing your tongue against the back of your teeth. This relaxes your face and slims your jawline.

Another bizarre method that works is taking advantage of a rainy day. The filtered light of a cloudy day is super flattering. Head outside to snap your new dating app pic.

Below, I go into detail about some of the fundamentals when it comes to being more photogenic. 

Bye-bye, ‘turkey neck’

It’s not just you. Cameras exaggerate certain features and give you a different appearance than what you see in the mirror. You need to be strategic when you pose.

Think about what is closest and farthest from the camera. Say you put your foot out and lean back: Your foot will look larger since it’s closer to the camera.

You can use this know-how to your advantage. To minimize neck fat and extra skin, jut your head forward slightly so it’s closer to the camera.

At the same time, elongate your neck and tip your chin down a little bit. Imagine holding a piece of fruit between your chin and neck.

In person, it looks a little weird. On camera, it looks great. If you feel silly, practice with your front-facing camera. You can delete the pictures.

Let there be light

Bad lighting can make even the best-looking person resemble a villain in a horror movie. Here are a few simple rules of thumb to remember.

● Direct light can create harsh shadows that make your skin look bad. Never stand right under a light source.

● Find soft, natural light instead whenever possible. It hides blemishes and smooths out imperfections.

● Face a light source so it illuminates your features and draws attention to your eyes. If there’s a light fixture nearby, point your eyes toward it and widen them just a bit.

● If you’re outside, face the sun to take advantage of the natural light.

● If the bright sun is casting dark shadows or causing you to squint, turn away or find a patch of shade.

Bonus tech tip: You’re on a video call and your room is too dark, so you look shadowy. Open up a new blank document in your browser or with your word processing program. Make it fill as much of the screen as you can. The reflection will brighten you up.

Find your best angle

Taking a photo of your face with the camera below you is very rarely unflattering. So, how do you determine the best angle for you?

Instagram influencer Vi Luong says you should take a series of nine selfies from different angles. 

Hold your smartphone and look at it head-on. Then, take three pictures: One with the camera right in front of your face, one above and one below.

Now it’s time to angle your face. Turn to the right for the following three pictures and keep your head still. 

Now, take one photo of yourself with the camera at face level, one where the camera is high, and one is lower.

Then tilt your face to the left. Keep your head still and snap three pictures (face level, above and below) at this new angle.

It’s a lot of pictures, but it’s worth it. Once you get these nine options, compare them to see which angle suits you best. Ask a friend or family member you trust if you can’t decide.

Make full-body pics better, too

Standing straight toward the camera isn’t flattering. Instead of facing the camera with your feet planted under your hips, slightly tilt your body to one side. Angle your torso away from the camera to look slimmer, too.

Here’s a trick especially for ladies: Put your weight on your back hip. This makes your front leg, closest to the camera, look leaner.

Wondering what to do with your arms? There’s a reason putting a hand on your hip is a classic: It makes your arm look slimmer than keeping it pressed against your body.

Keep it real

We all feel pressure to look as happy as possible in pictures, which can look unnatural. Make sure your smile is genuine. Tell a joke or think about something that always makes you laugh.

Other times, a mysterious Mona Lisa smile is the way to go. Think about turning up the corners of your mouth, or even one side, without doing a full smile. Part your lips just a bit to avoid grimacing.