Looking to find your type on paper whilst the world is watching?
ITV has announced that Love Island is back for 2022 and the company is now looking to recruit a number of islanders looking to find love.
For the first time, the cult TV series will take applications from people that identify as non-binary, after only ever taking male and female applications in previous series.
There's a chance to find love, but failing that there's £50,000 up for grabs if you're part of the winning couple, and of course, the chance of becoming rich and famous in the process.
In order to qualify, participants must be over the age of 18, not employed by ITV, Motion or any other company owned by ITV and cannot be an immediate relative or partner of anyone that works for the show. Of course, it helps if you can come up with quotable phrases and are willing to do anything to win over the hearts of not just the other contestants, but the entire UK population too.
In addition to these requirements, you must be exclusively available to participate in the Programme for a minimum of ten consecutive weeks for production and hold (or be prepared to obtain) a passport which is less than ten years old to travel to the destination specified by ITV at the point of production.
If you want to put all your eggs in one basket and apply, make sure you're ready for the rigorous interview process and to be projected in front of millions of viewers for the foreseeable future- which does come with the potential of becoming a viral sensation or a meme respectively.
Recently, Winter Love Island runner up, Siânnise Fudge, spoke on an Instagram story, stating that she missed her pre-Love Island life, how the show had affected her mental health and how she wishes she hadn't participated at all.
"I was very content and happy in my life before 'Love Island' and I feel like mentally I’m not as happy. If I could turn back the clock I think I would have made a different decision. And I don’t mean to sound ungrateful.
"Mental health and happiness comes first for me always."
Now a social media influencer, Siânnise is one of many contestants that has found the journey to fame rocky, but for others, they have used the show to carve a career that leaves them with no regrets about the show.
Amber Davies, who participated in the show in 2017 and won with former islander Kem Cetinay told The Mirror that "some of the life experiences I’ve had from Love Island, I’ll be forever grateful for,” after the show landed her a spot on the West End version of 9 To 5 in 2019, on CBBC's Almost Never and in March the ex-islander will be hosting Proud Cabaret in London.
If you think that appearing on Love Island 2022 in their eight season is the way you want to spend your summer, more information is available on the ITV website.
A much-loved black cat at Huddersfield Railway Station has died in a tragic road accident.
You may remember back in 2018 when a couple of adorable kittens went viral on the internet for being exceptional members of the Transpennine Express crew at Huddersfield Railway Station.
Bolt first joined as an apprentice to Felix, the station’s famous Senior Pest Controller, and quickly became a firm favourite of the team and of people at home.
So much so, that a Facebook page set up for Bolt and Felix gained more than 167,000 followers.
Sadly, Transpennine Express released the news yesterday that Bolt had sadly passed away in a road traffic accident.
Transpennine Express Press Office (Supplied)
Announcing the news, they said: "It is with heavy hearts that TransPennine Express (TPE) announces the passing of Bolt, Huddersfield’s much-loved former station cat, following a road traffic accident.
"Bolt joined the team at Huddersfield station in 2018 as an apprentice to Felix, the station’s famous Senior Pest Controller, and quickly became a firm favourite with colleagues, customers and visitors from around the world."
Of course, tributes have been pouring in with fans expressing their sadness.
One person said: "Oh no! I remember when Bolt first arrived. R.I.P. Sweet Bolt, may Felix be waiting to show you around just as when you first arrived at Huddersfield."
Whilst another said: "This is such very sad news. When all the work is completed at Huddersfield Station, might it be possible to give another deserving cat or kitten, a home there? There are so many cats and kittens in sanctuaries all over, who need a safe and loving home."
Andrew McClements, Customer Experience & Transformation Director for TPE said: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Bolt. He was a much-loved member of the Huddersfield station family and brought joy and comfort to so many people over the years.
“From his early days learning from Felix to becoming a star in his own right, Bolt left his paw prints on the hearts of colleagues, customers and fans across the world. He will be very sadly missed.”
Bolt’s former companion Felix, another much-loved member of the Huddersfield station team, sadly passed away in 2023.
Featured image - Transpennine Express Press Office (Supplied)
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People from Yorkshire wanted to take part in a new series of the ‘hardest quiz show on TV’
Emily Sergeant
The BBC is currently looking for contestants from Yorkshire to take part in what is widely considered the hardest quiz show on TV.
That's right - Only Connect is back for another series on BBC Two.
Presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell and first broadcast all the way back in 2008, Only Connect takes TV quizzing to the next level, as it sees two teams compete against each other by finding connections between seemingly unrelated clues.
In this quiz show - which viewers have dubbed one of the most challenging there is - knowledge only takes you so far, as the ability to think laterally is also deemed 'vitally important'.
A casting call for the upcoming 2027 series has been shared on the BBC website, with people from Yorkshire being encouraged to apply.
People from Yorkshire wanted to take part in a new series of the 'hardest quiz show on TV' / Credit: BBC
The casting call reads: "The popular BBC Two quiz show presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell returns for a new series in 2027.
"Only Connect is seeking teams of three players OR single applicants or teams of two looking for like-minded teammates to pool their combined wits to solve fiendish conundrums and vexing puzzles.
"This is the quiz series where, as in life itself, knowledge will only take you so far: patience and lateral thinking are also vital. It's all about making connections between things which may appear, at first glance, not to be connected at all."
Reckon you've got what it takes then? Applications are now open, and all applicants must be aged 18 or over and a resident in the UK or Channel Islands.
Sophie Smith -
11th January 2022 
