UK's 'most evil funeral director' and 'Back to the moon'
A funeral director pleading guilty to 30 counts of preventing lawful and decent burial dominates Friday's papers. The Daily Mail calls it the UK's "worst funeral home scandal" after Robert Bush admitted to giving grieving families the wrong ashes, stockpiling bodies and stealing from charities among other crimes. The paper says thousands of families may have fallen victim to the UK's "most evil funeral director".
The Daily Express follows with a message from grieving families who called Bush a "monster" who should "rot in jail". The paper also features a photo of Bush leaving court with a black mask covering his face.
"Faces of the betrayed" is the Daily Mirror's headline as it fills its front page with pictures of the victims whose bodies and ashes were recovered from the funeral home where Bush worked.
Moving to international news, the Guardian reports on French President Emmanuel Macron's rebuke of Donald Trump's latest attack on Nato. Macron called on the US president to "be serious", saying: "We all need stability, calm, a return to peace - this isn't a show!" The paper's top picture spot shows a view of Earth from Nasa's Orion spacecraft as it orbits above during the Artemis II flight.
"Back to the Moon" echoes the i Paper which leads with the same photo of the Earth seen from space. Alongside, its lead story focuses on the King's upcoming state visit to the US as the paper reports the monarch will use the opportunity to "champion Nato" and stabilise the UK's security pact with Washington.
The Sun chooses to spotlight a different angle of the Artemis II mission, saying the four astronauts had to endure six hours of "lav hell" after their toilet stopped working. "Houston, wee have a problem" is the headline.
The Times shifts its attention to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who is expected to give the green light to the first major North Sea oil and gasfield project in almost a decade. It comes as ministers face growing pressure to increase drilling as the war in Iran continues to disrupt global fuel supplies, the paper reports.
Marks and Spencer has hit out at London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan for failing to get a grip on crime after a string of shoplifting and violent incidents involving mobs of youths at its stores, according to the Daily Telegraph. The paper says the retailer has urged Sir Sadiq to "prioritise effective policing" as shopkeepers brace for what is feared will be a weekend of chaos.
Writing in the Independent, Health Secretary Wes Streeting criticises the "absurd" demands of resident doctors threatening to strike. Streeting also accuses the group of "not being serious about reaching an agreement" over the government's pay offer.
Finally, the Daily Star looks ahead to the 2026 World Cup as it reports that tickets for the final could cost up to £8,000 despite fans being promised they would be fixed at just over £1,000.
