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.
New research has revealed a global ranking of cities with the best customer service, with Leeds taking one of the top spots.
If you've been wondering which cities across the world are the friendliest of them all, then look no further because MoneySuperMarket have done the work for us in a new study.
In a world where social media culture plays a huge part in people's lives, online customer reviews are pretty important to local businesses.
To uncover the global locations that are home to the best customer service, the businesses insurance experts analysed over 100,000 reviews of leisure and hospitality businesses in 107 cities worldwide.
They looked at the language in the reviews to see how often friendly workers and staff were mentioned, building a global ranking of the cities where customer service truly stands out.
Out of a whopping 107, Leeds came in at a very respectable number 12. Now we think that's pretty good going.
Outside of the UK, Hanoi, Paris, Montreal and Abu Dhabi were highlighted for their friendly customer service whilst Edinburgh tops the global ranking, with Liverpool, Birmingham and Bristol also making the world’s top 10.
The top 10 cities in the UK with the best customer service are as follows:
Edinburgh
Liverpool
Birmingham
Bristol
Belfast
Leeds
Glasgow
Cardiff
Manchester
London
Alicia Hempsted spoke on the study: “As businesses grow and engage with more customers, it’s important to make sure they’re protected. Public liability insurance is an important safeguard for those working with the public, helping to cover costs if something goes wrong, while also showing customers that their experience is taken seriously - from the moment they walk through the door to long after they’ve left.”
Prime Minister expected to announce extra bank holiday if England win the 2026 World Cup
Danny Jones
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reportedly set to announce an extra bank holiday if England win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
What a way to sign off from the highest office in Great Britain, eh?
According to Sky News journalist Beth Rigby, the outgoing PM is expected to reveal an extended period of celebration across the country if/should/WHEN (you’ve got to believe) the Three Lions reach this year’s World Cup final and lift the biggest prize in global sport.
Starmer may be gearing up to leave No. 10 Downing Street soon, but he can certainly earn himself a few more points in the pros column should this familiar rumour come to fruition.
As Rigby states in her post on X, this decision would fall just before the transition in leadership, with Greater Manchester’s own Mayor Andy Burnham all but confirmed at the head of the table already within the Labour Party cabinet.
The incumbent announced he would resign last month, with Burnham declaring himself in the running not long after, winning the Makerfield seat and marking his return as an MP after nearly a decade away from Parliament.
Regarding the still only potential bank holiday – Thomas Tuchel’s side still need to make it through the quarter-final and the semis, remember – the Sky reporter states that the following Friday, 24 July, is the most likely date.
Understandably, plenty on social media are already rejoicing over the prospect, but some aren’t content with waiting a week to carry on the post-trophy lift party, with many arguing that it should be the Monday morning immediately after the final next Sunday (19/2/2026).
Let’s be honest, there’ll be lots of people pulling sickies regardless of whether or not their bosses are left to grant a day off.
Many have already rightly argued that such decisions should have been made in the past after the Lionesses won not just one but two back-to-back European Championships; we’re willing to forgive and move on if the powers that be make it happen this time.
Starmer recently said that despite always believing England will “go all the way”, he didn’t want to jinx anything, simply telling the BBC’s Chris Mason: “Ask me again if we make the final.”
Either way, the general jubilation should England end 60 ‘years of hurt’ will be nothing short of colossal, and it would only feel right given the sheer gravity of the would-be achievement.
We’re even getting excited merely by the idea of some additional and, at present, strictly hypothetical pre- and post-match entertainment…
Sophie Smith -
11th January 2022 
