Week Ahead: The Great British Bake Off returns, the most popular baby names are released and time runs out for PPI claims

Politics

Last week was a busy one for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who met German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron for talks over the UK’s impending departure from the European Union, before taking part in his first global summit - the G7 gathering, due to finish on Monday.

With the withdrawal date of October 31 now just two months away, and Mr Johnson reiterating promises that the UK will leave no matter what, Brexit will remain high on his agenda again this week.

With the expected return of the House of Commons on September 3, MPs will be awaiting an update from the PM, who has claimed he is ready to work with “friends and partners” to get a deal, whilst also ramping up planning for a no-deal Brexit, saying the country must be ready to come out without one.

Heat is on Donald Trump and Boris Johnson to solve energy crisis – Bernard InghamMusic

He played to 150,000 people in Leeds across two nights on August 16 and 17, and on Monday singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran will play the final date of his Divide tour in Ipswich. Starting in 2017, the tour is the highest grossing of all time.

Elsewhere in the music world, MTV will host its Video Music Awards on Monday. Sheeran made the shortlist in the Best Collaboration category for his hit I Don’t Care with Justin Bieber.

But it is Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift that are top of the nominations list, with ten nods each. The winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony in New Jersey.

Entertainment

Yorkshire came out on top in last year’s Great British Bake Off for the third time, with Rotherham’s Rahul Mandal winning the ninth series.

This year, there are four contestants from the region who will be hoping to follow in not only his footsteps but those of series six champion Nadiya Hussain, who was living in Leeds when she signed up for the show, and Hull-born Nancy Birtwhistle, who took the series five crown.

Great British Bake Off - a look back at Yorkshire's own past winners and contestantsThe show returns to our screens, with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith, on Channel 4 on Tuesday.

Away from the screen, there’s plenty of other entertainment in the region this week.

The ancient cobbles of York will be transformed for a wacky race on Monday with The York Bid Micklegate Run Soapbox Challenge.

Up to 40 teams will hurtle along Micklegate to raise money for charity and there will be a fun fair, children’s rides, food and drink and a super car display for participants and onlookers to enjoy.

Over the border into Derbyshire, Chatsworth Country Fair will take place from Friday to Sunday in the heart of the peak district, with a cookery theatre and food village, heritage sports, rural country crafts and vintage and military vehicles.

Highlights from the entertainment ring also include falconry demonstrations, parachute and BMX displays and one of the UK’s largest hot air ballooning events outside of Bristol.

Release

Keep an eye out for a number of releases due from the Office for National Statistics this week.

Data is expected to be published on the number of working and workless households between April and June, giving an insight into the current state of the nation’s employment, whilst statistics on overseas travel and tourism in April and May will provide information on residents’ travel abroad and visits to the UK.

Break your routine and enjoy ‘hidden gems’ of Yorkshire if tourism and shops to prosper – Susan BriggsA release that’s sure to attract attention is a look at the most popular baby names for boys and girls in 2018, and there’ll also be an analysis of healthcare spending, compared to other countries. On the topic of finances, Thursday is also the deadline for complaints about PPI.