Thursday evening UK news briefing: Nadine Dorries plans war on 'crackpot' TV shows

Evening briefing: Today's essential headlines

'It's great to be home' | The US Open champion Emma Raducanu has returned home to south London, posing for touching pictures with her father five days after her historic triumph. See the images here.

• Covid | Woman held for hours for not wearing face mask at Waitrose

• 'Cyprus shame on you' | Appeal for woman accused of gang rape lie

• Scotland | Crisis-hit NHS offering 'third-world' service

• Watch | Scottish health secretary takes a tumble off his scooter

• Media | Piers Morgan signs up for Rupert Murdoch's new channel

The big story: Dorries plans war on 'crackpot' shows

It was already striking that a Conservative MP who once attacked comedians as "Left-wing snowflakes who are killing comedy" and took aim at the "hypocritical" BBC is the new Culture Secretary.

Now Nadine Dorries, after being promoted in Wednesday's Cabinet reshuffle, is set to declare war on the BBC and "crackpot" programmes paid for by the licence fee, a minister has suggested.

Ben Wallace said Ms Dorries, who is a bestselling author and written more than a dozen books, had a better understanding of what British people want to read and watch than the BBC. Read on for his comments.

Ms Dorries' appointment will be unwelcome news for executives at the broadcaster - and among others in the sector.

Here is a rundown of some of her past criticisms, including her lashing out at her own party after appearing on I’m A Celebrity…

Boris Johnson's Cabinet reshuffle is continuing today, with a further two big names losing their posts after yesterday's shake-up.

Penny Mordaunt has been demoted from Paymaster General and co-chair of the joint committee on EU negotiations, to become a trade minister. John Whittingdale has been sacked as culture minister.

Ms Mordaunt's shoes have been filled by Michael Ellis - but his old role of solicitor general is yet to be filled.

Greg Hands, the former trade minister, has been appointed as an energy minister.

Our liveblog will keep you up to date as the reshuffle continues and here is a summary of who's in and who's out.

Arts 'wanted Tory villain'

Many Telegraph readers have taken a cautionary stance on the reshuffle, fearing the Prime Minister "seems to surround himself with yes men" and has made some "dangerous" moves.

Here is a summary of what readers think.

Among those to get a good move was former culture secretary Oliver Dowden, who has shifted over to CCHQ, where he will take the reins as party chairman.

He was perhaps the most crisis-beset Secretary of State for the sector there has ever been thanks to the pandemic but Dominic Cavendish looks back at his time and deduces that the arts world wanted a Tory villain – but Mr Dowden didn't comply.

Traffic light system

There will be no change at the top of the Department for Transport, with Grant Shapps continuing in his post as Transport Secretary.

Top of his in-tray over the last few months has been the traffic light system, which is expected to be given a major shake-up tomorrow ahead of the October half-term.

Many parents have resisted taking their families abroad due to the tight quarantine policies affecting a number of holiday destinations.

Stay informed with our Covid liveblog and here are the destinations where holidays could be off the cards after this week's review.

Comment and analysis

• Melanie McDonagh | Why you shouldn't pity Shamima Begum

• Andrew Lilico | Why I've given up on TV news

• Ben Marlow | John Lewis has survived a near-death experience

• Tom Stevenson | Stop worrying about a stock market crash

• Gavin Mairs | New laws could transform Premiership rugby

Around the world: North Korean missiles fired on train

Short-range ballistic missiles fired by North Korea on Wednesday were a test of a new "railway-borne missile system" designed to increase the country’s ability to counter-strike threatening forces, Pyongyang revealed today. State news agency KCNA said the drill – the first of its kind – took place at dawn in the country's central mountainous region, launching missiles at targets 497 miles away. See photos released by the agency showing a green missile engulfing a stationary train carriage in plumes of smoke as it took off from a densely forested area.

Thursday interview

Paul Gambaccini: Sir Keir Starmer to blame for 'guilty until proven innocent' treatment of alleged sex offenders

On the latest Planet Normal podcast with Allison Pearson and Liam Halligan, the broadcaster Paul Gambaccini claims the then Director of Public Prosecutions told police to 'believe every accuser'

Listen to the interview

Sport briefing: Welcome to the 'Emptyhad'

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has sparked another debate about attendances at the Etihad Stadium by urging more fans to attend matches after seeing a number of empty seats during the Champions League victory over RB Leipzig. Guardiola called on supporters to turn out in force for the champions' Premier League match with Southampton on Saturday. Read how his unprompted comments have irked some City fans. Ahead of the start of the Europa League tonight, John Percy analyses what happened to James Maddison, who was supposed to be the great young hope of English football.

Editor's choice

1. Telegraph 25 | The definitive list of our favourite funds

2. 'Like freshers' flu but on a national scale' | Are young adults suffering from 'immunity debt'?

3. Cleric, Army veteran, Buddhist teacher | Who are the M25 protesters blocking the roads?

Business briefing: French hit out at Australian snub

France has condemned Australia's "regrettable" decision to axe a nuclear submarine deal between the two countries and join forces with Britain and the US instead, amid a growing diplomatic row over the move. Paris ministers said that the U-turn was "contrary to the letter and the spirit of the co-operation which prevailed between France and Australia". Read what the new deal means and see the world’s biggest submarines.

Tonight starts now

All Creatures Great and Small returns | When you remake a show like All Creatures Great and Small, you have to get the casting completely right. No one knows this better than Nicholas Ralph, the newly graduated young actor who plays Jim in the Channel 5 reboot, returning tonight at 9pm. Read how the cast love the remake conceived by executive producer Sir Colin Callender, who says the Yorkshire vet series has been modernised without losing sight of what Brits do best.

Three things for you

• Watch | Help, Channel 4, 9pm and tonight's TV listings

• Theatre | Back to the Future: the Musical, review

• Play | Telegraph Puzzles offers today's crossword, sudoko and more

And finally... for this evening's downtime

First Casualty by Toby Harnden review | This gripping book tells the story of how a prison revolt by 400 jihadis in November 2001 turned into a hellish Alamo-in-reverse for the CIA. Colin Freeman reviews what he calls Afghanistan's Black Hawk Down.