As much of the UK basks in glorious weather, many sun-loving Brits are reaching for a refreshing ice cream, with the classic 99 flake remaining a perennial favourite. This iconic frozen treat, often enjoyed from a Mr Whippy van, sparks a common question among sweet fans: where does the name '99 flake' actually originate? While inflation means it's no longer available for 99p, leading to assumptions about its pricing, the true story is more historical and culturally rich.

Contrary to popular belief that the name relates to its price, the moniker '99' actually derives from the Cadbury Flake itself, not the ice cream cone. Only cones featuring this specific chocolate bar are traditionally termed '99s'. Cadbury, the brand behind the beloved flakes, reportedly chose this numeric name to specifically appeal to Italian customers when they launched the small Flake for ice creams in 1930. At that time, the UK ice cream industry was heavily dominated by Italian expats.

A spokesperson on the Cadbury website elaborated on this origin, explaining that in the days of the monarchy in Italy, the King had an elite guard consisting of 99 soldiers. Consequently, anything considered truly special or first-class was known as '99'. To leverage this cultural association and appeal to the significant Italian presence in the UK ice cream market, Cadbury decided to call their 'superb Flake' a '99'. An additional, more obscure fact links the number 99 to Roman numerals, where 'IC' represents 99, serendipitously matching the initials of 'ice cream'.

This widespread enjoyment of ice cream is set against a backdrop of soaring temperatures across the UK. Millions are expected to bask in glorious sunshine this week, with some parts of the country experiencing temperatures reaching up to 33°C. Yellow heat health alerts, issued by the UK Health Security Agency, are currently in place for most of England, excluding the north-east and north-west, from Monday to Wednesday.

The Met Office has detailed that a combination of high pressure and a southerly airflow is responsible for the temperature rise across much of England and Wales. Temperatures were forecast to exceed 30°C on Monday, potentially peaking towards the mid-30s in London on Tuesday, with 32°C expected on Wednesday. The official heatwave criteria are being met across many areas, requiring three consecutive days of temperatures above thresholds ranging from 25°C to 28°C, depending on location. This warm spell marks a sharp contrast to earlier in the week, which saw Storm Floris bring heavy rain and strong winds to parts of the UK. While England and Wales will enjoy the best of the sunshine, with only a few scattered thunderstorms possible, Northern Ireland and Scotland can anticipate outbreaks of rain, especially on Monday.