South Africa's new 'two-pot' retirement system will come into effect this weekend on Sunday, 1 September 2024.
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South Africa’s new ‘two-pot’ retirement system to kick in on SUNDAY
ANC KZN concedes factionalism weakened its branches
Mtolo says the party will fight fraud and corruption - what may have contributed to the ANC losing its support nationally.
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I fell £20k in debt after devastating scam & faced high interest rates – a lesser known product helped me pay it off
WHEN Richard Jones found himself in £20,000 of debt, he thought he’d be stuck paying high interest rates for the foreseeable future.
The 61-year-old, who lives in Manchester, found himself struggling to keep his head above water after falling for an online cryptocurrency investment scam.
Cryptocurrency is a digital asset that can be traded or exchanged online to buy from people or companies who accept this form of payment.
Richard said that after the first few days, “everything looked okay” and he was £731 in profit, but unfortunately, things quickly deteriorated and he ended up £20,000 down.
In an attempt to get on top of his debt, Richard decided to use a mixture of personal savings and credit cards to pay off the amount.
One of the credit cards he took out had an “eye-wateringly high” interest rate of 34% because of his poor credit score.
Your credit score is used by lenders to help them decide whether to loan money to you.
A low credit score can mean banks deem you too risky to lend to, which can stop you getting a mortgage.
Or, if they will lend to you, you’re typically locked out of the best deals, meaning you have to pay significantly higher interest rates.
Richard, who is the manager of the Warrington Deaf Society, said it was “particularly painful” seeing the £300 card card interest bill leave his account each month.
Despite renting a home in Manchester, Richard also owns a property in Swansea, which he inherited from his parents.
He rents the house out and considered releasing some equity in order to pay off the debt.
Equity release allows you to turn the value tied up in your home into tax-free cash.
But before going down that route, he came across advisory service Saga Mortgages who told him about Retirement Interest Only (RIO) mortgages.
A RIO mortgage is an interest-only mortgage with no set term.
It’s a later life product that comes with monthly interest payments and is only repaid when the property sold, upon your death or if you enter long term care.
Different types of mortgages
We break down all you need to know about mortgages and what categories they fall into.
A fixed rate mortgage provides an interest rate that remains the same for an agreed period such as two, five or even 10 years.
Your monthly repayments would remain the same for the whole deal period.
There are a few different types of variable mortgages and, as the name suggests, the rates can change.
A tracker mortgage sets your rate a certain percentage above or below an external benchmark.
This is usually the Bank of England base rate or a bank may have its figure.
If the base rate rises, so will your mortgage but if it drops then your monthly repayments will be reduced.
A standard variable rate (SVR) is a default rate offered by banks. You usually revert to this at the end of a fixed deal term, unless you get a new one.
SVRs are generally higher than other types of mortgage, so if you’re on one then you’re likely to be paying more than you need to.
Variable rate mortgages often don’t have exit fees while a fixed rate could do.
You’ll only be eligible for a RIO mortgage if you’re over 50 and can afford the monthly interest payments.
It comes as figures from UK Finance revealed that 32,990 new loans were given to borrowers over 55 between April and June this year – an 8.34% increase from last year.
There were 326 retirement interest only mortgages in the same period, up 23% year on year.
By switching his buy-to-let mortgage to an RIO, Richard was able to pay off the remaining £20,000 credit card debt – and significantly reduce his monthly outgoings.
He said: “I was finally able to get out of the credit card trap.
“It’s a relief to no longer have the stress of seeing the £300 interest
payments each month.”
Nicholas Mendes, mortgage technical manager, at broker John Charcol, said: “RIOs can be a flexible and cost-effective way for retirees to manage finances, allowing them to stay in their homes while accessing equity.
“However, they come with ongoing financial commitments and can affect inheritance.
“It’s essential to consider these factors carefully and consult with a financial adviser to determine if a RIO mortgage aligns with your long-term goals.”
What are the pros and cons of a retirement interest only mortgage?
Pros
There are several pros of RIO mortgages, according to Nick from John Charcol.
He said: “Since you’re only paying interest, monthly payments are lower than those of a repayment mortgage.”
“As there’s no fixed term, there’s also no pressure to repay the loan by a certain date.”
This makes them cheaper than repayment mortgages and eliminates the need for a repayment plan.
Plus, since interest is paid monthly, the loan amount doesn’t increase much, preserving more of the property’s value for inheritance.
You can also choose from fixed or variable interest rates, with terms ranging from two years to a lifetime.
A fixed-rate mortgage means your monthly payments will stay the same for the length of the agreed term.
Meanwhile, a standard variable rate (SVR) is a default rate offered by banks. You usually revert to this at the end of a fixed deal term.
If you need a little boost to your retirement fund, you can still access the equity in your home without selling it.
Of course, there are lots of things to consider when it comes to equity release, as we explain here.
Cons
There are strict requirements with an RIO, including a minimum age, property value and income assesment.
These will vary from lender to lender and may limit some people’s access to these mortgages.
Like with any mortgage, taking on an RIO is an ongoing financial commitment.
This means that anyone who takes one out must keep up with their monthly interest payments for life, or risk losing their home.
There is also a chance that taking out an RIO will lead to an inheritance reduction for anyone set to benefit from your estate after you die.
This is because the loan amount will still need to be repaid.
Lenders often offer lower loan-to-value (LTV) ratios on RIO mortgages, meaning you could borrow less compared to a standard mortgage.
The LTV is the percentage that your bank or building society is lending you to buy your home.
How to get the best deal on your mortgage
IF you're looking for a traditional type of mortgage, getting the best rates depends entirely on what's available at any given time.
There are several ways to land the best deal.
Usually the larger the deposit you have the lower the rate you can get.
If you’re remortgaging and your loan-to-value ratio (LTV) has changed, you’ll get access to better rates than before.
Your LTV will go down if your outstanding mortgage is lower and/or your home’s value is higher.
A change to your credit score or a better salary could also help you access better rates.
And if you’re nearing the end of a fixed deal soon it’s worth looking for new deals now.
You can lock in current deals sometimes up to six months before your current deal ends.
Leaving a fixed deal early will usually come with an early exit fee, so you want to avoid this extra cost.
But depending on the cost and how much you could save by switching versus sticking, it could be worth paying to leave the deal – but compare the costs first.
To find the best deal use a mortgage comparison tool to see what’s available.
You can also go to a mortgage broker who can compare a much larger range of deals for you.
Some will charge an extra fee but there are plenty who give advice for free and get paid only on commission from the lender.
You’ll also need to factor in fees for the mortgage, though some have no fees at all.
You can add the fee – sometimes more than £1,000 – to the cost of the mortgage, but be aware that means you’ll pay interest on it and so will cost more in the long term.
You can use a mortgage calculator to see how much you could borrow.
Remember you’ll have to pass the lender’s strict eligibility criteria too, which will include affordability checks and looking at your credit file.
You may also need to provide documents such as utility bills, proof of benefits, your last three month’s payslips, passports and bank statements.
Which lenders offer retirement interest only mortgage mortgages?
A number of lenders offer RIO mortgages, including high street building societies.
Nationwide offers two RIO mortgages, one as a five-year fixed and another as a ten-year fixed, both with a fixed rate of 4.66%.
They also both offer a maximum LTV of 50% and have no product fees.
Leeds Building Society has three RIO products on offer.
One is a five-year fixed rate of 5.19% with a maximum LTV of 50%, which also has a product fee of £999.
There is another five-year fix with a rate of 5.34% with a maximum LTV of 50%, but it does have no product fee.
Leeds BS also offers a two-year fixed rate of 5.35% with a maximum LTV of 50% and no product fee.
Lower mortgage rates sometimes comes with costly product fees and it can be hard to tell whether it’s worthwhile.
It all depends on your individual borrowing level – sometimes a big product fee is worthwhile to get the lower rate.
A good broker should be able to do the sums and find the deal that will cost you less.
Smaller lenders including Nottingham Building Society and Buckinghamshire Building Society also offer RIO mortgages.
To find the best deal use a mortgage comparison tool to see what’s available.
You can also go to a mortgage broker who can compare a much larger range of deals for you.
Some will charge an extra fee but there are plenty who give advice for free and get paid only on commission from the lender.
How to get free debt help
There are several groups which can help you with your problem debts for free.
- Citizens Advice – 0800 144 8848 (England) / 0800 702 2020 (Wales)
- StepChange – 0800138 1111
- National Debtline – 0808 808 4000
- Debt Advice Foundation – 0800 043 4050
You can also find information about Debt Management Plans (DMP) and Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVA) by visiting MoneyHelper.org.uk or Gov.UK.
Speak to one of these organisations – don’t be tempted to use a claims management firm.
They say they can write off lots of your debt in return for a large upfront fee.
But there are other options where you don’t need to pay.
I’m a mum and I’m proud to show off my body in swimsuits – people assume it’s to impress men but that’s nonsense
PLENTY of us women like to wear a bikini if we’re by the pool or sea.
But one mum has hit back at those who think it’s for attention from men.
Anneliese King, a content creator on body positivity and parenting has amassed over 403,000 followers on Instagram.
She regularly shares her thoughts on motherhood – from parenting tactics, misconceptions and body image.
In a recent post, she emphasised the importance of mums embracing their changing bodies.
As a mum herself, Anneliese has experienced many changes over the years, and she’s more than proud to show how her body has evolved over time.
Slipping into a slinky black swimsuit she made the point of saying how she she loves her body and all it’s been through.
She outlined her favourite parts of the female body, adding these were the reasons she was happy to show it off, and not for the attention of men.
Writing on Instagram, Anneliese said: “My favourite part about having a female body is how it can birth and grow babies, make actual food to feed them, bleed 25% of the time, walk around with actual wire tightly clipped around it, have the brain capacity to be able to find key.
“And still have its purpose believed to be ‘solely for the male gaze’.”
In another post, she turned her attention to talking about curvy women in a recent post and their fashion choices.
The mum said they don’t wear tight and revealing clothes or bikinis just to get “attention” or to look ‘sl***y’.
Instead, she said they’re just desperately trying to find outfits that fit their body shapes.
She added: “We’re just here, having a hard time finding clothes that fit, but don’t make us look larger than we are and that minimise boob sweat.”
Anneliese added: “It’s so hard to hate your body. To see something in the mirror, and then see something different in a photo.
“To see thin fit people and wonder why you just can’t look that way. I just am over it. Here I am. Like if you love me.”
How to find a flattering bikini for any body type
According to Boux Avenue the best swimwear for pears shapes is a high-cut style to add length to your legs or a bold high-leg swimsuit
For those with a straight body type, the underwear brand suggests a ruched swimwear option to create shape, and emphasise your legs.
For hourglass curves, the brand suggests a strappy swimwear style, or triangle bikini.
For apple body shapes an underwired bikini is best to work with your natural volume and a crinkle high waist bikini brief.
For round body shapes supportive cups are a must and a high-cut leg will add poise to your swimwear body pose.
Since she shared the post, it’s been liked over 8,000 times, and people were quick to comment too. People thought she looked amazing in the slinky swimsuit.
One person wrote: “You are absolutely beautiful. And raising kids is a job in itself.”
Another commented: “I’m sorry I know this defeats the purpose off the post but you in that swimsuit is fire.”
“This. Your body is magnificent for all it has done, is doing and will do. You’re a hot mama,” penned a third.
Meanwhile a fourth said: “We are magical!”
“Amen to all of this,” claimed a fifth.
Someone else added: “Yes girl!”
Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Just email: fabulousdigital@the-sun.co.uk and pop EXCLUSIVE in the subject line.
Liverpool have managed to shave £41MILLION off Federico Chiesa’s transfer fee after Jurgen Klopp started ball rolling
LIVERPOOL have managed to shave £41million off Federico Chiesa’s transfer fee.
The Reds agreed to a £10million up-front deal to sign the winger from Juventus earlier this week – who former boss Jurgen Klopp was long interested in.
Last summer Liverpool was keen to sign the Italian star from Serie A.
And Juve’s asking for Chisea back then was a figure around £51m.
However, their interest in the 26-year-old did not start there as the Reds were credited with strong interest in the Italian three summers ago in the wake of his starring performances at the European Championships.
During this time he was rated in the £100m range.
But he since suffered a torrid time with injuries which as a result over time has lowered his price tag.
And for Liverpool, the wait for the ex-Fiorentina star has paid off as the Reds secured the star this week for £41m cheaper than last summer’s asking price.
The Reds have now agreed to sign the Italy international for an initial fee of £10million plus £2.5m in add-ons.
Chiesa said: “I’m very happy, I can’t wait to become new Liverpool player. Me and my family, we’re so happy really.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
“Let me say thanks to Juventus and the fans, they have been always special with me.
“Now it’s time for Liverpool. I’m so happy. I can’t wait!”
Chiesa, scored nine times across 33 appearances in Serie A last season.
He was widely regarded as one of the most exciting wingers in Europe before his injury in 2022 and he starred as Italy won Euro 2021 – he was named in the team of the tournament.
In January 2022, Chiesa suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, ruling him out for seven months.
That has limited him to just six Serie A starts across the past 18 months.
SUNSPORT'S TRANSFER NEWS LIVE
TRANSFER Deadline Day is here - with clubs against the clock to finalise their summer business.
Chelsea reportedly remain in talks to sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli, with time running out for the Blues to complete a deal.
Meanwhile, Ivan Toney is expected to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli, according to reports.
Elsewhere, Newcastle are set to walk away from their long-running pursuit of Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi.
In other news, Chelsea and Juventus remain in discussions over a deal for Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho ahead of the 11pm deadline.
Follow our LIVE DEADLINE DAY BLOG for all the latest deals, gossip and exclusives.
Everyone can see the grass & murky water but you have X-ray vision if you can spot the hidden turtle in under 14 seconds
A TRICKY seek-and-find puzzle will make you think twice about what could be lurking in lakes before going for a swim.
Can you spot the turtle hiding beneath the water?
Fish are the first animal that comes to mind when thinking about the creatures making a splash in any natural pool.
But, a post on Reddit’s Find The Sniper forum is a reminder that sealife can be very unpredictable.
“Find the turtle,” a user said, writing under the handle Butterkush93.
“Bonus points if you can ID that bird for me.”
They shared a photo of a murky lake with rocks and grass easily visible, while the turtle was hidden in plain sight.
You’ll need X-ray vision to spot the animal in 14 seconds or less.
Thousands of people upvoted the post as they challenged themselves to find the turtle.
Several puzzlers confessed they were stumped and made jokes about being distracted by the bird.
“Is it a turtle dressed as a bird?” one person said.
“I’m busy looking at little idiot bird,” another chimed in.
“Found the turtle. ID’d the bird. He had a driver’s license. His name is Birdy McBirdface,” a third added.
Have you found the turtle yet?
A Redditor shared a clue saying “it’s always dead center.”
However, the hint still takes blocking out distractions to spot the turtle among the moss and rocks.
If you’re struggling to find the animal look at the water directly below where the bird is perched.
Once you’re ready to find out where the turtle was hiding scroll down to the solution below.
The turtle almost seamlessly blends in with its surroundings as it lurks in the water toward the center of the photo.
MORE BRAINTEASERS
Puzzlers were previously left scratching their heads by a challenge shared on the Reddit forum by the user TheMilkStore.
At first glance, the photo appears to show nothing but a gray carpet.
Can you spot the dropped ring?
The Redditor who shared the brainteaser confessed it took them a “few days” to find the ring once it fell on the carpet.
Only people with 20/20 vision can solve the challenge in 30 seconds or less.
One person revealed they got a headache from searching, while another said they found the ring by focusing on looking for the shape rather than the color.
If you’re ready to give up looking scroll down to the solution below to find out where the ring was hidden.
A dainty gold ring can be spotted on the gray carpet towards the middle of the photo.
Thousands of Redditors were baffled by a post on the forum by the user LaLaJaJa2016.
Can you find the sneaky animal lurking in the tree bark?
You’ll have to be quick to beat the 20-second record.
A Redditor said it took them a “good little amount of time” to spot the animal after failing to be the quickest to solve the challenge.
Another described the animal as “well camouflaged” as they tried to convince other puzzlers the brainteaser wasn’t impossible.
Here’s a hint: The creature is near the middle of the photo.
Once you’re ready to check your answer scroll down to the solution below.
Benefits of brainteasers and optical illusions
Researchers have developed many tests to show how various brain regions react to brainteasers and optical illusions. There are many benefits.
- They are not only entertaining, but they also shed light on how our brains interpret visual data.
- By giving your brain a little workout regularly, you enhance your ability to focus and observe details.
- Studies have shown people who regularly challenge themselves with optical illusions and puzzles see big improvements in their problem-solving skills, concentration, and attention.
- Improved concentration and attention span can help prevent cognitive decline in old age.
- Optical illusions can improve eyesight by allowing you to see small print.
Molly-Mae Hague reveals she’s launching huge new project she’s spent two years working on – and it’s just days away
MOLLY-Mae Hague has revealed she has a secret new project that’s been two years in the making – and will launch VERY soon.
While many were hoping she would ‘spill the tea’ on her recent split with fiancé Tommy Fury, her return to her YouTube channel revealed a different kind of secret instead.
Taking to her vlog, she appeared fresh-faced and chatty as she updated her 1.9m followers on her exciting new project.
In reference to her upcoming venture she said: “This big secret project I have been working on now, is coming up to…two and a half years. For the last year and a half I have been non-stop working on it every single day.”
“My heart and soul have gone into this…every single bit of my passion and my energy – everything has been going into this project.”
And while she admitted the forthcoming launch ‘wasn’t ideal timing’ with everything else that was going on behind the scenes, she said: “There is no chance I have worked as hard on this, for as long as I have for it not to happen…in every way I want it to.”
With an Instagram launch set for the 8th of September and subsequent launch on 21st of September, she admitted it had been a ‘huge distraction’ given recent events.
She said: “I am so freaking excited!”
“We’re doing a start-up but it ‘aint a start-up. It’s literally just me doing it. Me and just one other person. There is literally just a team of two.”
Calling it a ‘passion project’ and a ‘huge learning experience’, she told fans it was the first time in her career she had worked on something so independently: “I wanted to do this for me. To set a good example for Bambi. I figured it all out for myself. “
Earlier in the vlog, she told fans she would not be going into details on her break-up.
She said: “I’m coming back to you guys for kind of a normal vlog…a lot of you will want me to sit down and talk about what’s gone on over the last couple weeks and spill the tea, but that was never something that was going to happen.”
She referenced the toll her recent relationship drama had taken by saying: “The last two weeks have been very real…it’s real life.”
And while she admitted it had been stressful she also revealed: “I am really looking forward to pressing on; moving on. I have so many exciting things coming up…”
Of course, it’s not the first time the mum of one has launched a business venture.
The 25-year-old influencer has amassed millions since her time on Love Island in 2019, meeting Tommy during the fifth series of the hit TV show.
To-date, she has enjoyed links with fashion brand Pretty Little Thing, where she was Creative Director from 2021 to 2023, and launched her fake tan line, Filter by Molly-Mae.
Mum-of-22 Sue Radford continues Florida holiday in 2nd week – with a beach cinema for kids & designer bag for herself
SHE might be on a family holiday, but mum-of-22 Sue Radford is also making the most of the opportunity to treat herself.
The family are currently in Florida, enjoying themselves on a no expense spared vacation – with days at Universal and Disney World among their excursions.
Sue has been keeping fans updated with their activities in posts on their Instagram page.
And on Thursday, it was once again a fun-filled day, with Sue, Noel and her brood heading to the famous IHOP for breakfast.
While Sue tucked into a cup of coffee, Bonnie, five, looked delighted with her French toast, fruit and chocolate dip.
They then headed to Epcot for the International Food & Wine Festival 2024, with Sue sharing a snap of herself holding a brochure for the event.
Eagle-eyed fans also spotted that Sue appeared to have treated herself to a new accessory, in the form of a £79.99 Loungefly bag.
The matriarch has quite the collection of the Disney bags, and seems to get one each time they visit the theme park.
This time, she went for a Minnie Mouse one, with a huge coral bow on the top, alongside coral rose ears.
Showing off her new bag, Sue also displayed her Disney-themed manicure – with little mouse outlines in white on her nails – as she enjoyed a glass of pink champagne.
The family ended the day with a trip to an outdoor cinema on the beach.
Despite the fact that it’s currently 31 degrees in Florida at the moment, there was even a fire – with the kids looking delighted as they had S’mores.
Those who weren’t indulging in the marshmallow concoctions entertained themselves by playing in the white sand.
They then settled down in deckchairs on the beach to watch that night’s film.
It’s not known when the Radfords’ Florida trip will end.
However, a lot of schools in Lancashire – where the family lives – are returning on Monday.
And Sue and Noel will want to be careful now that the new attendance laws are in place – as they could end up with a hefty fine considering how many children would potentially be missing school.
Under the national rules, all schools are required to consider a fine when a child has missed 10 or more sessions (5 days) for unauthorised reasons such as a holiday.
How does family-of-22 the Radfords afford to live?
AS Britain’s biggest family, it may come as no surprise that Sue and Noel Radford must have some hefty bills.
Between them, they have a whopping 22 children and seven dogs, which often has some people wonder how they manage their money.
The Radfords support themselves with the proceeds of Noel’s bakery, The Radford Pie Company, which is located near their home.
On their website, it says: “We have owned our own lovely bakery since 1999 which is how we manage to provide for (and feed) our huge and expanding family as well as for the local people of Heysham and Morecambe.”
The family expanded their business to cater to online orders placed across the UK.
The business is a family affair, with Noel at the helm, and some of their children helping out.
The older kids, who are working at least part-time, don’t get a free ride as they’re made to pay a small amount of rent to their parents.
“Us older ones do pay a little bit of board. Granted it’s not a lot but I’m also trying to save up for my own house at the moment.” their daughter Chloe said in a video on the YouTube channel.
Sue added: “We’ve always said if you want to buy somewhere, renting is a bit of dead money, so we’d rather you saved that money up and stayed at home a bit longer.
“I also do believe they should pay board if they are earning. We’ve always been brought up by our parents that we had to pay board.”
Noel and Sue famously don’t rely on benefits for their bumper brood and live off their pie shop for income.
They also revealed they make money from brand partnerships on social media.
The Radford family stars in their own reality TV show 22 Kids and Counting – which has run for four series.
Brand expert Andy Barr believes Noel and Sue have been paid less than £10,000 for each show.
He told the Daily Mail: “The typical fee per episode is going to be in the thousands rather than the tens or hundreds of thousands that people often think is the case with TV shows of this nature.
“If they continue to get commissioned for a fourth or fifth season, then they are going to be able to command a higher fee.”
He estimates that the Radfords make £ 5,000 an episode.
The fine is £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days, but this amount is per child and per parent.
And with at least seven of the Radford kids who attend school on holiday, they could face a fine of £1,120 in total if they stay in Florida for an extra week.
I starred on Love Is Blind UK – we filmed it in a different country, didn’t live in the pods and were told what to ask
A LOVE Is Blind star has revealed they didn’t live in the pods – and bosses told them what questions to ask their dates.
The brand new dating show – hosted by Matt and Emma Willis – has griped its worldwide audience.
Netflix dropped the show earlier this month, which sees single men and women date in purpose-built “pods” before ultimately getting engaged.
The twist is that the couples can hear, but not see each other while in the pods, only meeting once a proposal has been made.
But Freddie Powell has revealed singletons don’t actually sleep on the set – instead staying at a nearby hotel – and in Sweden.
He told The Sun: “So that’s a set that you go to. And then after the day is finished you go back to a hotel.
“It was very long days. If you weren’t dating, it was long just hanging around in that lounge.
“You could pass the time. I mean, you just have the pool table. I’m not into pool, but I played it a few times just to pass the time.”
The funeral director, 32, also revealed producers prompted conversations for each date – but they didn’t have to stick to them.
He explained: “So you’ve probably seen these little notebooks that we’ve got. And in those notebooks you’re prompted.
“Each day is like a different topic. You’re not forced to talk about that subject, but you know, one day might be sort of like love language, then the next day might could be intimacy.”
Love Is Blind fans watched as Freddie got engaged to Catherine Richards on the show.
However, the pair’s nuptials didn’t go ahead after they clashed on screen.
Dental nurse Catherine has moved on with fellow cast member Jake Singleton-Hill.
Meanwhile, Freddie confirmed to The Sun he is currently single amid rumours on his love life.
Earlier this week we revealed how the hunk has had a secret second job as a naked butler for hire.
Love Is Blind is available to stream in full on Netflix.
Meet the cast of Love is Blind UK
HERE is the full list of hopeless romantics looking to find love...
- AARON is a 33-year-old chicken restaurateur from Milton Keynes whose best friend is England footballer Ivan Toney.
- BENAIAH is 33 from Preston and works as a structural landscaper who travels the world.
- STAFFORDSHIRE-born Bobby is 33 and works as a globe-trotting luxury shopping guide.
- CATHERINE, 29, works as a dental nurse from Jersey who is adopted.
- CHARLIE is 34 from Hertfordshire and is general manager of a gym.
- DUBLIN-born Conor is 31 and is the owner of a health food business.
- LONDONER Demi is a 30-year-old safeguarding and attendance manager.
- SOCIAL worker Ella is from Derbyshire and is 27 years old.
- GRAPHIC Designer Ellis is 27 from London and says she was raised by her dad who is “husband goals”.
- FUNERAL director Freddie is 32 from Bolton and has a brother with Down’s Syndrom.
- 32-year-old Jake from Leicestershire is a civil engineer who tragically lost his mum.
- MENTAL Health Nurse Jasmine is from London and is 29 years old and grew up in the Phillipines.
- JOANES is a resident service manager who was born in Angola but lives in Luton and is 33 years old.
- FASHION tech founder Jordan is 33 years old and lives in Surrey.
- LISA is a baby photographer from Edinburgh and is 34 years old.
- MAKE-UP artist Maria is 30 from Southampton and was devastated by the death of her dad in 2020 during Covid.
- NATASHA, 32, is a career coordinator from Cheshire and wants to find her forever love like her parents who have been married for 42 years.
- HEAD of brand and marketing’s Nicole is 29 from Surrey and was previously married, but hasn’t given up on love.
- CREATIVE project director Olivia is 28 from London but has lived and worked in Los Angeles.
- OLLIE works in software sales, lives in London and is 32 but hasn’t been in a serious relationship for six years.
- 37-year-old Priya, who was once engaged for 24 hours, is from Berkshire and works as a procurement manager.
- RIA is 34 from London and her job is a commercial contracts manager.
- SPORTS-mad Richie is a 30-year-old from Gloucestershire who works as a sports turf maintenance director.
- TECHNO DJ and Cellist Ryan is 31 from Edinburgh, but was born in Korea.
- SABRINA, 35, is a director of marketing and communications from Belfast who describes herself as “unlucky in love”.
- SAM is a 31-year-old Londoner who works as a product design manager and is desperate to find The One.
- MUSIC boss Sharlotte, 35, London, is a global communications director at Universal.
- JUNIOR Doctor Shirley, 27, is from London, but was born in the Netherlands and falls for emotionally unavailable men.
- STEVEN is 37 years old from London and is a gym owner.
- 38-year-old Tom is a PR and advertising consultant from London who describes himself as a mummy’s boy.
Arsenal’s new signing Mikel Merino INJURED in first training session as team-mate causes freak shoulder fracture
ARSENAL signing Mikel Merino suffered a freak injury in his first training session.
The Spaniard, 28, is facing a few weeks on the sidelines with a fractured shoulder after a collision with team-mate Gabriel.
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Emirates chief Mikel Arteta confirmed: “It is unfortunate. Yesterday he had a collision and he got a shoulder injury.
“It looks as though he could be out for a few weeks. It was his first session.
“We were all very excited and everything was looking good but he landed on the floor and has a small fracture.
“He was in so much pain and we have to wait and see and do more tests.
“This is football. We have tried to do all the things we wanted.”
Merino joined the Gunners from Real Sociedad in a £32.6million deal to provide more options in midfield.
Arteta was keen to bolster his engine room and sees the Euros-winning Spain international as a perfect fit.
The signing was Arsenal’s third of the summer, taking their total tally to just over £100m after also spending £27m on David Raya and £42m on Riccardo Calafiori.
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Chelsea reportedly remain in talks to sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli, with time running out for the Blues to complete a deal.
Meanwhile, Ivan Toney is expected to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli, according to reports.
Elsewhere, Newcastle are set to walk away from their long-running pursuit of Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi.
In other news, Chelsea and Juventus remain in discussions over a deal for Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho ahead of the 11pm deadline.
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Arteta also paid tribute to Aaron Ramsdale ahead of a £25m move to Southampton.
He said: “I want to say thank you for what he has done for the club, his team and myself.
“He brought a lot of joy, his charisma and energy. But things developed and it became difficult for him.
“He has joined a great club and a great coach.”
Arsenal may not be done yet as they have been linked with a swoop for Bayern Munich forward Kingsley Coman.
Arsenal ratings vs Aston Villa: Raya and Saliba rock solid at the back but Martinelli toothless
ARSENAL made sure to keep pace with Manchester City as they bagged a late 2-0 win against bogey team Aston Villa.
Timely goals from Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey helped Mikel Arteta maintain a 100 per cent start to the season.
But they owed a lot to keeper David Raya who somehow denied Ollie Watkins at 0-0.
Here is how SunSport’s Jordan Davies rated the Gunners stars…
DAVID RAYA – 9/10
Other than watching Watkins’ shot dribble wide, a fairly quiet first half before a smart save to halt Rogers’ flick across goal.
He then pulled off an unbelievable stop on the line to deny a Watkins header, getting up off the floor after a deflected shot smacked the bar and bounced out.
JURRIEN TIMBER – 7
Showed his quality in the opening few minutes to break Villa’s tricky block before leaving Onana in a heap with a hefty body check.
Likely to keep this starting spot ahead of Zinchenko.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 9
Immense. Watkins barely had a sniff up against him. Arsenal’s difference-maker in these tight, nervy games.
In a rare instance, lost his temper with McGinn in the first half, but regained his composure and was a rock at the back.
Made a late lung-busting run back to block a late counter and celebrated like it was a goal.
GABRIEL – 5
Very lucky not to hand Villa the lead. Stripped on the edge of his box claiming a foul but thankful to see Watkins somehow drag his effort wide.
Picked up a needless yellow in the second half for wild challenge on Onana. One of his poorer games in an Arsenal shirt with mistakes that should have been punished.
BEN WHITE – 7
Solid as ever, needing to be alert with Villa lethal on the counter, covering superbly.
In pure White fashion, started a melee after smacking a ball into McGinn for doing the same to Saliba, with an expressionless look on his face throughout.
THOMAS PARTEY – 8
Brilliantly stopped several early Villa counters and showed good physicality in his entertaining battle against McGinn.
Looked leggy late on but kept on by Arteta, and rewarded his manager with a rare goal.
DECLAN RICE – 7
Drove forward more with Partey sitting deeper. Lovely pass in behind for Havertz which should have been finished off.
MARTIN ODEGAARD – 7
Kept things ticking with some cute passes in the Villa final third and threw around plenty of tackles in the middle of the pitch.
Played in Saka in the 64th minute but the winger opted not to shoot, but three minutes later teed up Saka again to provide for Trossard.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 5
Had an early chance to break free down the left but his delivery into Saka was under hit.
Was just as lacklustre after the break and lucky to stay on for as long as he did, coming off in the 65th minute.
BUKAYO SAKA – 8
Looked to have put Arsenal ahead after 15 minutes but for a wonderful Martinez fingertip save.
Through on goal in the second half, he wrongly chose to try and round the Villa keeper and made a mess of his finish.
But, all that matters are his assists for Trossard and Partey – his persistence paid off.
KAI HAVERTZ – 6
Unlucky not to find the net from a scrappy corner, hitting the bar with a toe poke. Wasteful in Villa’s box with two great chances squandered.
Worked hard, but not as clinical as he has been.
SUBS:
LEANDRO TROSSARD (MARTINELLI, 65) – 9
Almost gave Villa the lead within seconds of coming on, losing Ezri Konsa at a free-kick with a volley looping just wide.
But then, he pops up in the other box and instinctively curls in a beautiful finish.
Played his part in Partey’s strike too with a perfect run in behind.
RICCARDO CALAFIORI (TIMBER, 80) – 6
Premier League debut for the Italian. Got in the good books of Arsenal fans by winding up Martinez almost instantly.
REISS NELSON (SAKA, 87) – N/A
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