It’s a huge commitment that will lock him away until the next decade.
Read More »
St Kilda forward Max King on verge of signing monster AFL deal
‘Zimbabweans Fade Up With Democracy Malfunction’ – Report
A recent Afrobarometer survey has revealed that while an overwhelming majority of Zimbabweans favour democracy [...]
Read More »
Kaizer Chiefs UPDATED squad numbers including Ntwari and Dortley
Who's the key man this season?
Read More »
Kaizer Chiefs’ R40 million striker to leave for Europe in January?
Kaizer Chiefs striker Ashley Du Preez was linked with a move to Portugal during the pre-season but what went wrong?
Read More »
British food brand sold to Swiss firm – and founder is set to make a tasty profit
FOOD writer Ella Mills has bagged a multi-million pound windfall after her firm Deliciously Ella was sold to Swiss manufacturer Hero Group.
Blogger Ella, 33, founded the food company which makes healthy snacks found in most supermarkets, and also has an app with more than 2,000 recipes for subscribers.
The sale took place for an undisclosed sum but it’s thought to have been worth millions of pounds for Ella and husband Matthew, who is chief executive and joint founder of the brand.
The couple will remain with Deliciously Ella to help lead the next stage of growth, Hero said in a statement.
Ella and Matthew will keep ownership of the Plants brand, which has its own food range – plus the Plants by Deliciously Ella, restaurant in London.
In a joint statement, the couple said: “We are both incredibly excited to partner with the Hero Group. What started as a small recipe website and a cookbook has become something bigger than either of us could have imagined.
“We have had numerous approaches to sell or partner with other food companies over the years, but only this one felt right. As a family-owned business, with a long-term view that aligns with our thinking, Hero Group are the right fit for us.
“Hero has brands all over the world and a proven track record in helping brands reach much greater scale. This is a transformational moment in bringing our natural, plant-based ranges to more people, both in the UK and abroad.”
Hero also owns the Organix brand, which focuses on organic foods and snacks for babies, toddlers and kids.
Ella is daughter of supermarket heiress Camilla Sainsbury and former minister Shaun Woodward.
And her husband Matthew is the son of late politician Tessa Jowell.
The pair got hitched in April 2016.
Ella started a food blog in 2012 and her following quickly increased.
She capitalised by publishing a number of recipe books, restaurants in London followed.
BRITISH FOOD BRANDS FOR SALE
It is not the first time a British brand has been sold to a foreign company. In 2010, Cadbury was bought by Mondelez International, part of US company Kraft, for a whopping £11.5bn.
In 2015, chocolate lovers slammed Mondelez International for secretly changing the recipe of Cadbury’s Creme Egg.
And in 2017, chocolate lovers accused the company of altering the taste of Mini Eggs.
Weetabix is another food firm founded in Britain that has fallen into foreign ownership. The cereal was first bought by Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst private equity group in 2003, then later sold to US company Post Holdings in a deal worth £1.4bn in 2017.
The sale also included Alpen, Ready Brek, and Weetos.
Back in 2012, Branston Pickle was sold to Japanese company Mizkan for £92.5m. The sale included the firm’s factory at Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.
In 2013, Lucozade and Ribena drinks brands were sold by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to Japanese firm Suntory for £1.35bn.
And Kit-Kat, Smarties and Rolos were lost from British ownership when Rowntrees was sold to swiss firm Nestle in 1988.
How to save money on your food shop
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:
Odd boxes – plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.
Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.
Sainsbury’s also sells £2 “Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me” fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.
Food waste apps – food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.
Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.
Too Good to Go’s app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.
Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.
Yellow sticker bargains – yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.
But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here.
Super cheap bargains – sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they’ve found on the cheap, including food finds.
“Downshift” – you will almost always save money going for a supermarket’s own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.
The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as “downshifting” and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.
James Bond frontrunner Aaron Taylor Johnson is worlds away from 007 as he films dramatic new movie scenes in Kent
AARON Taylor-Johnson looked worlds away from a 007 role as he filmed gritty new movie scenes in Kent.
The Buckinghamshire-born star, who first found fame starring in the Kick-Ass and Avengers movies, was seen clad in Army uniform for new flick Fuze.
In March, The Sun exclusively reported how Aaron, 34, had been formally offered the 007 role.
Yet now he is juggling his upcoming 007 projects with movie, which centres on the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb in London, where new images showed him perched in a trench with a gun.
He was seen placing a hand on the shoulder of co-star Theo James before appearaing to come to his aid as he looked to untie his hnds.
Aaron’s character then brandished the gun as he prepared to take fire.
Later on, Aaron strolled around set in his striking uniform and chunky gloves as he prepared for the next take.
The flick is directed by David Mackenzie who previously said: “Tension is one of the purest emotions that cinema can create.
“I had the idea of combining all the high stakes of an unexploded bomb with that of a bank robbery – clashing these two genres.”
He was starring alongside Theo, 39, who found fame in White Lots and The Gentlemen.
The UK filming snaps come amid claims Aaron will soon be revealed as the face of the plum Bond role.
Earlier this year, insiders told us how the Kick-Ass movie star was expected to accept the role as 007, taking over from Daniel Craig, who has played MI6’s most famous spy for 15 years.
A source previously told us: “Bond is Aaron’s job, should he wish to accept it. The formal offer is on the table and they are waiting to hear back.
“As far as Eon is concerned, Aaron is going to sign his contract in the coming days and they can start preparing for the big announcement.”
The next Bond movie had been delayed because of last year’s Hollywood strikes.
Insiders confirmed a script was now being worked on, with production scheduled to take place at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire.
Timeline of James Bond actors
Over the years there have been seven actors who have played 007.
The first ever James Bond film was in 1962, and this is who has played the lead role over the years:
- Sean Connery – The late star was the first ever actor to play Bond, and reprised the role for seven movies.
- George Lazenby – The star only played Bond once, but was the youngest actor to ever play the spy.
- Roger Moore – The late movie star spent 12 years making seven films in the famous franchise.
- Timothy Dalton – The smooth actor took over from Roger Moore and appeared in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill.
- Pierce Brosnan – The handsome star played Bond for four movies from 1995 to 2002.
- Daniel Craig – The British star was the first blonde James Bond and the sixth actor to win the role in 2005.
Aaron was in the running for the top job alongside actors including Oscar-winning Cillian Murphy, Idris Elba, Henry Cavill and James Norton.
When asked previously whether he would step into Bond’s shoes, Aaron said: “I find it charming and wonderful that people see me in that role.
“I take it as a great compliment.”
In 2022, The Sun revealed that he was in the running for the job after secretly screen testing for Bond movie supremo Barbara Broccoli at Pinewood Studios.
Stacey Solomon’s fans point out major issue as she shows off incredible Halloween front door decorations
STACEY Solomon fans have pointed out a major issue after she showed off an incredible Halloween makover at Pickle Cottage.
The 34-year-old shared a clip revealing the transformation at her stunning £1.2m home.
Stacey‘s red and gold themed decorations featured pumpkins, skeletons and a smoking couldron.
The Loose Women star wrote alongside her post: “The Halloween Door. One of my favourite traditions.
“Seeing the kids come home from school and gets so excited is my favourite. Literally so proud of this years door, made from branches I scavenged off the side of the road, a cauldron I made from a bucket, skeletons I’ve collected over the years (other than Shazza on the door she’s new).
“And some pumpkins from our neighbour farmer Scott!”
While many fans rushed to send compliments, some couldn’t help but point out an issue.
One wrote: “Do you actually use this door though? Looks fabulous!”
Another said: “Fantastic but how do you get in the door with arms full of shopping bags?”
Someone else wrote: “All that wasted plastic! Our poor earth! Is it really worth it for some likes on Instagram? What happened to some compostable pumpkins?”
And a fourth added: “It looks good but it’s still September! It’s too early for Halloween!”
It comes after the BBC recently revealed the future of Stacey’s Sort Your Life Out makeover show.
Sort Your Life Out sees a revamp of a traditional home makeover process.
The houses are emptied of all items which are laid out for the family to see.
They must decide what to keep, what to discard and what can be sold.
And the BBC have confirmed the show has been renewed for a fifth series.
I grew up on a council estate – people thought I was destined for life as a drug addict but now I’m topping the charts
SITTING on the sofa in her council-owned home, Lily Dee could hardly believe the song playing on the radio was in fact one of her own.
It was a huge ‘pinch me’ moment for Lily because she had never trained as a fully-fledged singer but against all odds, but her new found fame was a world away from her tough childhood.
But the 36-year-old singer, who is currently single, is proof that dreams can become reality regardless of background after becoming a chart-topper and social media star.
Within just 24 hours of her song ‘Playing for Time’ being released on August 16, it went to number six on the iTunes UK chart and number three on the dance chart as well as number 17 on the Singles Chart.
But her rise to fame has been far from easy and in an exclusive interview, she tells Fabulous: “I didn’t have the best start to life and didn’t have the best opportunities growing up on a council estate in an underprivileged area.
“I was in my house with no food, no warm clothing sometimes, and just trying to get by, just trying to survive and get food for that day for me and my siblings.
“So to have all these opportunities later on in life…I’m just trying to milk them and get the most out of them.”
The success has been bittersweet for Lily who grew up in poverty with drug addict parents and didn’t have the opportunity to find out where her passions in life lay.
She explains: “When I was young I wasn’t exposed to music, dancing, singing, you know, people were going to cheerleading club, people were going to football, people were going to drama school.
“I was never given the opportunity to express myself or to find out what I’m good at and to see if I can create change in my life.”
Poverty wasn’t Lily’s only hurdle – her life at home was also dangerous due to her parents’ lifestyles.
“Both of my parents were on drugs, it was very apparent, they did try and go to parents’ evening and stuff, but there was a lot of drama and a lot of trauma,” she adds.
“We sometimes had drug dealers putting petrol bombs through the windows.
“My parents weren’t bad people, they didn’t make the choice to have children and get addicted to drugs.”
I was beat down as a child, you know, ‘You’ll never amount to anything…As soon as I was old enough I jumped straight into the rat race and had to work three jobs to pay bills and vowed to never go hungry again.”
Lily Dee
Now, Lily helps care for her dad after he was attacked at random in a park last year.
But from a young age Lily, who is from Manchester and still lives there, knew she didn’t want to follow in her parents’ footsteps, and she refused to be lured into selling drugs which was the norm in her area.
The reality of living in a council house
LEANNE Hall, Digital Writer at Fabulous, has discussed what it was like growing up in a council house, and why those living in such properties are often judged...
When I was a child I grew up in a council house, and was blissfully unaware of the discrimination that came with that, until I became an adult.
My younger years were spent running up and down the stairs of my flat, meeting with other friends who lived there and making the most of the communal garden.
But now, it seems no matter your circumstance, everyone has something to say about why you shouldn’t be there.
Living just outside of London like I did, rent prices are still high, and as my mum was at home raising three kids at the time, it wasn’t easy to find a job that fit around that.
People in council houses are often labelled as ‘scroungers’ or ‘lazy’ but it’s nothing of the sort.
Most families in council homes experience overcrowding, and let’s not even mention the horrendous amount of damp and mould that comes from living in old social housing that hasn’t had work done to them in 50 or so years.
It’s not ideal for many, but it does provide a secure home without the fear your rent will shoot up every single year, which I would argue is vital to children growing up on the poverty line.
Instead, she had her sights set firmly on success and reveals: “As soon as I was old enough I jumped straight into the rat race and had to work three jobs, working as a mechanic before heading to work in TKMaxx and a pub to pay bills and vowed to never go hungry again.
“I was beat down as a child and told I would never amount to anything.”
But at the age of 25, Lily left England to work as a fire dancing entertainer across the world including Egypt and Spain, an opportunity which came to her via a friend.
Four days later she was on the plane.
However, when she returned to the UK when the holiday season ended, Lily found herself in a violent relationship and was re-housed to a different area by the local council.
Four years ago, she found her niche, making online comedy sketches about what it was like growing up on a council estate.
She came up with the moniker, the Council Estate Queen, and began creating music too.
When Covid struck Lily focused on producing content for TikTok – recreating dance videos she had seen on the app.
But a couple of months in Lily turned to comedy videos, shedding light on what life is really like growing up on a council estate.
Just three videos later, Lily had gone from a couple of hundred followers to over 100,000 – and now she has over one million across social media.
“I’m still in my council house, I’m still humble,” smiles Lily, who has no plans to move.
Meanwhile, six million of the poorest people in the UK would need more than double their income to move out of poverty, reports the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
And Lily isn’t the only one to break the cycle, many of our favourite celebrities have come from council estates including singer Adele, Love Island royalty Maya Jama and TV favourite Alison Hammond.
Today, 17% of UK households live in social housing – the modern term for a council-owned property – according to Government data.
Whilst living in this sort of property might have once had a negative connotation attached to it, many residents have gone onto purchase their home through Right To Buy schemes, and at a very reasonable price.
Each local authority across the country runs a ‘waiting list’ for social housing and currently there are more people applying for homes than what’s available.
But as Lily knows all too well, it isn’t just money that makes it hard to leave an underprivileged life behind.
Poverty can cause problems with self confidence and stress, which means many feel unable to break the cycle.
Lily knows the feeling well: “It’s easier to go your whole life on a council estate not putting yourself out there, not taking opportunities. You don’t think you’re good enough because your surroundings have told you you’re not,” she reveals.
“When you grow up with drug users or gamblers you’re kind of encouraged to become a product to your environment and you don’t see those opportunities.
“When I grew up, I didn’t know that you had to go to school and work hard and fix your future, or even just go into dance classes and brownies and Scouts.
“It’s stuff like that which gives you the opportunities.”
Now Lily, also an aspiring actress, hopes that her fame continues to grow and hopes to secure a role on her favourite TV show Coronation Street, vowing to take any opportunity that comes her way.
She is true to her roots and hopes to one day set up a foundation for children who live on council estates to provide them with the opportunity to gain life skills, hobbies and confidence.
“My long-term goal is to help people on the council estate and underprivileged areas,” she adds.
“I want to create my own foundation, like the Prince‘s Trust, but a bit more entertainment based and create more opportunities for their future.”
Scottie Scheffler reveals financial deal with caddie after world number one pockets £9,000 PER SHOT in 2024
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER has revealed details of his caddie’s financial deal after the world number one has pocketed almost £50MILLION in prize money this year alone.
Scheffler has dominated the PGA Tour in 2024, winning his second Masters and securing a top-10 finish in 17 of his 19 events this season.
The 28-year-old added a pretty £19MILLION to his total earlier this month too when he won the Tour’s lucrative FedEx Cup.
In fact, his monstrous earnings in 2024 mean that he has earned the equivalent of around £2.5MILLION per tournament.
That’s around £628,000 per round of golf and, thanks to his ability on the course, some £9,000 PER SHOT.
Those incredible earnings haven’t just topped up his bank balance, but also the account of his caddie Ted Scott.
Scott, who used to carry the bag for two-time Masters champ Bubba Watson, earns a percentage of Scheffler’s prize money for his help out on the course.
Generally, a caddie will earn around 10 per cent of their players’ purse if they win an event.
While that percentage drops down to seven for a top-10 finish and just five per cent for anything else.
And Scheffler has revealed that due to the hefty sums involved when he wins, the New Jersey-born star employs someone else to make sure Scott is getting paid his fair share.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
Speaking on the Pardon My Take podcast, he said: “We have a girl that helps us pay bills basically. Because I’m a child and I can’t keep track of all that stuff!
“She quickly took over that job and texts me at the end of each week, saying, ‘Hey, this is how much we’re paying Ted’. I’m like, ‘That’s great’.”
Prior to Scheffler’s FedEx Cup success, Scott had already made over £2MILLION for carrying the star’s bag on the PGA Tour this season.
That would have put him 58th on the PGA Tour Players’ money list, earning more than the likes of Jordan Spieth, Tyrell Hatton, Ricky Fowler and Min Woo Lee.
Scheffler has grown close with Scott since the pair began working together having previously attended the same bible study group.
And golf’s dominant force has said that Scott’s faith is one of the biggest reasons that he works with him on the course.
He said: “I just think the world of him as a person so that was why I was attracted to him just being a potential good partner for me out on the course.
“I really want to work with a Christian. That’s how I try to live my life.”
Sean Combs due back in federal court to appeal judge’s bail denial
The music mogul, accused of numerous crimes, including sex trafficking and racketeering, is due back in court to appeal a bail denial.
Read More »