The real-life equivalent of Q in the James Bond films is a woman, the head of MI6 has said.
Alex Younger, chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, made the revelation as he encouraged more women to join the service.
He said there is a stereotype that MI6 spies were posh and he wanted recruits from diverse backgrounds.
The character of Q, a technology expert, has always been played by a man in the Bond films.
Speaking at the Women in IT awards on Wednesday, Mr Younger said: “The real-life Q is looking forward to meeting you and I’m pleased to report that the real-life Q is a woman.” More
Boys receive £2.20 more pocket money a week than girls, a survey has found, suggesting the gender pay gap starts early and in the home.
Boys aged five to 16 get on average £10.70 a week made up from pocket money, a paid job or paid chores. Girls are on £8.50 a week, data suggests.
The survey of 2,000 UK children by researchers Childwise also found boys were given more financial independence.
Parents were teaching girls and boys differently about money, it found.
The majority of children receive some sort of regular weekly payment, typically pocket money from their parents, data suggested. Only one in five had a paid job. More
New guidelines from Girlguiding state that transgender children and leaders are welcome in the organisation in a move to support anyone who identifies as a girl or woman.
The 107-year-old organisation now officially opens its doors to those who were assigned male at birth but self-identify as female.
The guidelines state that children from the age of five can join Rainbows, Brownies and Girl Guides if they identify as female.
In addition, transgender women are able to undertake leadership roles within the clubs, including the esteemed role of Brown Owl. More
Premier League clubs are prioritising finance over improving access and should face legal action if they fail to meet the needs of disabled fans, according to a new report.
Several clubs including Liverpool, Chelsea and Watford are likely to miss a deadline on meeting basic standards.
The Culture, Media and Sport select committee says it is unconvinced the league would punish clubs itself.
However, the Premier League says it is “working extremely hard” on access. More
Greg Clarke, the Football Association chairman, has spoken to gay footballers and suggested the idea of a group of players coming out together.
Clarke said last year that he “wouldn’t recommend” a footballer coming out at the moment because of the risk they would be verbally abused, but believes several players sharing the spotlight may be the answer. “I put the message out there that if a number of top-level pros want to come out, why don’t we synchronise it? So one person doesn’t have to come out on their own,” he said in an interview with the Times newspaper.
“The Premier League, the Football League and the FA could do it at the start of the season. At the start of the season everybody thinks it is their season, the crowds are happy, the sun is shining. I was asked [recently] if football is ready for top-level pros to come out and I said I’m not sure we were. More
Journalists Matthew Syed and Alyson Rudd debate whether the wages of top athletes should be based on the sport’s popularity or if there should be more equality. More
England footballer Frank Soo has been called one of the most important British players of the 20th Century.
He was of mixed Chinese and English heritage and is credited as the first Asian to play for the national side. His family believe the footballer, from Liverpool, has been largely forgotten about.
A new book tells the story of the life and career of the star of the 30s and 40s who died in 1991. More
