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Swinging, drug-taking & marriages blighted by affairs – inside the shocking secrets of the modern day Mormon church

LIFE as a Mormon has been kept behind closed doors for the most part – that’s until Taylor Frankie Paul and her hip gang of Mormon wives took to our TV screens to bare all.

Every reality show needs a hefty dose of drama and controversy which is exactly what this eye-opening bunch of women provide.

a group of women posing for a picture in front of a stained glass window
Disney
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is the newest reality TV show packed with drama[/caption]
a group of women are posing for a picture together
Instagram/taylorfrankiepaul
Taylor Paul blew the lid on what really goes on behind closed doors in Mormon households[/caption]

Strict rules dictate no sex before marriage, a ban on coffee and alcohol whilst adultery ‘is unequivocally condemned by the Lord.’

But Taylor Frankie Paul claims rules get majorly broken as she claims to expose the shocking secrets of her group of Mormon mums known as ‘MomTok’.

It all started thanks to TikTok, where many Mormon wives such as Taylor Frankie Paul, Nara Smith and Hannah from Ballerina Farm were able to make a life outside of the home.

Like most religions, Mormons, the main branch of the Latter Day Saint movement, have a set of values and moral codes to follow.

And it’s a life of debauchery which includes soft swinging, drug taking and highly-charged divorce.

Lifting the lid on what really goes on behind closed doors is hit TV show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives where Taylor unveils some dark hidden secrets.

a man and woman holding a baby and a little girl
Instagram/taylorfrankiepaul
Taylor and her ex-husband split because of their soft swinging parties[/caption]

FULL SWING

Taylor first came under the spotlight on TikTok where she was seen with Mormon mums Camille Munday and Miranda McWhorter, who she often joked were her “sister wives.”

But in May 2022 Taylor posted a video announcing she was splitting with her husband as she showed herself in a new house surrounded by boxes.

Later, came another post with a cryptic message: “My life falling apart. And I can’t even speak on why … without bringing them all down with me.”

The internet sleuths soon discovered the drama involved Taylor and other sets of couples (who she has never publicly named) who were involved in soft swinging – which led to her divorce.

She revealed in a livestream that she and her partner were in an ‘open relationship’ while raising their two children and began doing soft swinger parties with friends – meaning there was couple swapping but no sex.

Speaking on the Viall Podcast, she says: “It wasn’t even a conversation [when it started]. I think we were all drinking and partying…then the guys were like, ‘You girls should make out. Make out. It’s hot.’ And we were like, ‘OK, it’s hot.’ So we make out.

“And that’s that and I feel like I had done that in my younger years so it wasn’t a big deal to me.”

According to Taylor, the same thing happened at the next party.

She reveals: “And then it was like, ‘Let’s take off your clothes and do lingerie pictures together while making out.’ It just escalated.”

A game of blindfolded spin the bottle came later, with Taylor revealing how the other women’s husbands would kiss her and she’d have to guess who it was.

But there was one couple in particular she and her husband were invested in and they had formed an even closer relationship compared to the other couples at the swinger parties.

Mentioning no names Taylor reveals how she and her husband and the unnamed couple were willing to go all the way when swapping partners – but her husband decided to put a stop to things before it could happen.

Taylor claims she had already developed feelings for her friend’s husband and he had felt the same – leading to them going ‘all the way’ and Taylor and her husband filed for divorce.

Camille and Miranda, who were part of MomTok before the drama escalated have not been seen or mentioned on the TV show and have both denied being part of the parties.

However, shortly after the swingers scandal became public knowledge, Miranda and her husband split too.

The show now follows the lives of Taylor and fellow Mormon wives Demi Engemann, Jennifer Affleck, Jessi Ngatikaura, Layla Taylor, Mayci Neeley, Mikayla Matthews and Whitney Leavitt.

Who is Taylor Paul?

Taylor Frankie Paul is a social media influencer primarily known for her presence on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Here is a general timeline of her career:

Rise to Fame

2020: Taylor begins to gain popularity on TikTok. Her content primarily features comedy, dance routines, and lifestyle videos. She quickly amasses a large following due to her engaging and relatable content.

Late 2020: By the end of the year, Taylor has become one of the more recognisable faces on TikTok, especially within the “Mormon MomTok” community, which consists of Mormon mothers sharing their lives and experiences.

Career Highlights

2021: Taylor continues to grow her influence on TikTok and expands her presence to other social media platforms such as Instagram. She collaborates with other influencers and brands, further increasing her visibility.

2022: Taylor’s personal life becomes a topic of interest as she shares more about her experiences and challenges, resonating with many of her followers. Her authenticity helps her maintain a loyal fan base.

2023: Taylor remains active on social media, continuing to create content that appeals to her audience. She explores new opportunities, including potential partnerships and brand deals.

Personal Life

Taylor is open about her life as a mother and often includes her children in her content. She also shares insights into her marriage and family dynamics, which are a significant part of her online persona.

Current Activities

As of 2023, Taylor Frankie Paul continues to be a prominent figure in the social media landscape. She is active on various platforms and engages with her audience through regular posts and interactions.

Please note that specific dates and events may vary as Taylor’s career is continually evolving, and new developments can occur.

a family posing for a picture in front of a tree with yellow leaves
Instagram
Whitney Leavitt revealed the rumours Conner was cheating and on dating apps were true[/caption]

CHEAT SHEET

With adultery being utterly condemned by God in the view of the church – you’d think those in the limelight and married would be more careful.

But it seems that some can’t resist a bit of danger – including Whitney’s husband Conner who decided to go onto Tinder using old photos of himself to find women to hook up with while Whitney looked after their child.

When Whitney discussed the problem on the show the women began to ask questions, which leads Whitney to clarify that while there was no physical cheating, the issue has been going on, “our whole marriage.”

“Full on conversations with women and pictures and all of that stuff,” she says, clarifying Conner was both sending and receiving nude photos. “It makes me feel like my whole marriage was just like a lie.”

Of course, there’s also the issue of Taylor swinging with her ex-husband and a group of their friends but it also seems her new boyfriend and father to her third child may be in trouble too.

The end of the series saw Dakota be questioned about when he had relations with a woman named Jenny, with Taylor saying if she found out he was seeing them both at the same time she would ‘1000% break up with him’.

On recent TikTok videos Taylor has hinted that the pair may have split as she cryptically wrote: “not me slowly morphing into 2022 me,” the time she was going through her divorce and the ‘swingers scandal’.

a woman in a plaid shirt is standing in front of a building .
Herriman City Police department
Taylor was arrested at her home after consuming alcohol and has since sworn off it[/caption]

CAFFEINE BAN

According to the church, coffee and tea were banned as part of the Word of Wisdom from God as they claim in the 18th century it was used as a substitute for alcohol – also a big no-no among believers.

However, some of the rule-breaking Mormon wives are seen enjoying vodka and wine, especially Jessi who says it doesn’t affect her belief in the church.

Taylor even shared a recent TikTok video of herself sipping a cup of coffee as she went to clean her house – and we can’t blame her being a busy mum-of-three with a newborn.

She was also arrested in 2022 which was captured on the show after getting drunk and throwing a chair at her partner, but has now been sober for over a year.

Many Mormons, and the church, claim that some rules shouldn’t be questioned and simply taken as the Word of God. 

Instagram/taylorfrankiepaul
Jessi and other Mormons have found ways to get around their strict rules on alcohol and drug use[/caption]

HIGH TIMES

While Mormons typically follow the Word of Wisdom – God’s code of conduct that bans caffeine, tobacco, alcohol and recreational drugs – there seems to be loopholes the Mormon wives flout.

And while the use of drugs is only allowed for medicinal purposes Whitney admits to using ketamine in therapy sessions while Demi also confessed it had even strengthened her marriage.

In one episode the women decided to head to the clinic to get some Botox and while there, were able to have fun on laughing gas before getting injected.

“It’s a party,” Whitney says while giggling. When producers asked her if the group ‘comes for the Botox or the laughing gas,’ she answered: “For both.”

a group of women posing for a picture with one woman holding her belly
Disney
The church releases a statement just before the show came out[/caption]

CHURCHES SAY

In a statement released by the church prior to the TV show’s release they called out recent “productions” that depict Latter-day Saints in an inaccurate fashion.

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, like other prominent global faith communities, often finds itself the focus of the attention of the entertainment industry,” the statement read.

“Some portrayals are fair and accurate, but others resort to stereotypes or gross misrepresentations that are in poor taste.”

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From a strict no-booze rule to a £1 Amazon buy, 5 rules Demi Moore swears by to ‘age backwards’ at 61

SINCE her appearance in the sex comedy Blame It on Rio in 1989, Demi Moore’s career has really taken off.

Amongst some of her popular films are Striptease, If These Walls Could Talk, as well as the legendary Charlie’s Angels where she starred with Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu and Drew Barrymore.

NEW YORK - JUNE 25: (U.S. TABS AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) Actress Demi Moore arrives at the after-party for the special screening of "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" at Eyebeam Atelier June 25, 2003 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
The star hasn’t aged a day since this snap was taken in 2003
Getty Images - Getty
HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 24: Actress Demi Moore arrives on the red carpet for Target Presents AFI's Night at the Movies at ArcLight Cinemas on April 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for AFI)
Demi, seen in 2013, has five rules to swears by to maintain her youthful glow
Getty Images - Getty
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Demi Moore attends the 20th anniversary celebration of the Goldie Hawn Foundation and MindUP Gala at Ron Burkle’s Greenacres on September 27, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
The Hollywood actress is turning 62 in November – but fans can’t believe her effortless beauty
Getty Images - Getty

The brunette beauty recently fans totally horrified with her latest movie, The Substance, with traumatised Brits allegedly calling it quits and leaving the cinema just minutes into the body horror.

One cinema-goer said: “At least 20 people walked out of my screening in Leicester Square before the end. It was brutal.

“Most people watched it through their hands. It was the most graphic film I’ve ever seen.”

Demi plays fading celeb Elisabeth Sparkle, who uses a black market drug that creates a younger version of herself, played by Margaret Qualley, 29 — but with horrific side effects.

The Ghost star knew the movie would be divisive – but that didn’t stop her from signing up and proudly attending the premiere of it earlier this September.

Stepping out at the Toronto Film Festival in Canada, Demi looked flawless – and fans refused to believe she was 61.

Over on Reddit fans were quick to praise her ”age defying beauty”, with one saying: “What the f**k. 61 years? She looks beautiful.

From a strict no-alcohol rule to a special Amazon bargain you can bag for a quid, here’s everything the mum-of-three swears by to keep the wrinkles at bay…

Big on moisturiser

According to the actress, she used to take notes from her mother when it comes to maintaining a youthful glow, Women’s Health reported.

She said: “My mother always drilled in me no matter what that you should wash, cleanse and moisturise your skin.”

The star, who’s turning 62 in November, added that she hydrates more just her face – her neck, chest area and boobs also get lathered in rich lotion.

Make-up removing towel

Meanwhile, when it’s finally time to remove the foundation at the end of a star-studded red carpet event, Demi will use a gentle make-up removing cloth.

“This thing literally takes everything off,” said Demi who dubbed it ”magic”.

Fellow beauty buffs can get their hands on the make-up essential from the high street, including Primark, or Amazon where a pack-of-five will set you back just a fiver – or £1 per cloth.

Demi Moore's career highlights to date

SHE'S one of the most famous actresses in the world. But just how did Demi Moore first make a name for herself in Hollywood?

1981 – Demi took her first acting job in General Hospital, after working as a model

1984 to 1986 – Demi appeared in movies such as St. Elmo’s Fire, About Last Night and Blame It on Rio

1990 – She became a household name after starring alongside Patrick Swayze in cult classic movie Ghost

1992 to 1994 – Demi’s box office successes continued with A Few Good Men, Indecent Proposal and Disclosure

1995 – Demi became the world’s highest-paid actress by 1995, when she received $12.5 million to star Striptease

1995 to 1997 – Her films The Scarlet Letter, The Juror and GI Jane all fell below commercial expectations

1996 – Her TV work continued with on-screen anthology series If These Walls Could Talk

2003 – Other than some arthouse roles, Demi remained largely off the scene until she appeared in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle this year

2024 – Demi is receiving critical acclaim for her role in The Substance, with some people even suggesting she could receive an Oscar nomination for it

Bye, bye to booze

Demi has long been transparent about her struggles with alcohol and sobriety.

Opening up about her past in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, the mum said: “I don’t want to miss a moment of life, of that texture, even if that means being in… Some pain.”

But not only has going sober changed her mental health for good, it’s also had a positive impact on Demi’s skin.

Turns out, your favourite alcoholic bevvy actually decreased the amount of anti-diuretic hormones in your system – which is a substance that gives your skin that healthy glow and hydration.

Facial massages

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 16: Demi Moore attends the Los Angeles premiere of "The Substance" at Directors Guild Of America on September 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Aliah Anderson/WireImage)
The mum-of-three also likes to give her face a relaxing massage to get rid of ‘all the tension’
Getty Images - Getty

What’s better than a relaxing massage at the end of a long working week? But your face can benefit it from too – and at 61, Demi is living proof of it.

After following her usual skincare, Demi will rub a stone across her jawline, up into her cheekbones, along her forehead and down her neck.

“You work through all the tension in your face,” the A-lister explained.

“It activates the blood flow in your skin. When you’re over 50 and you feel like your skin is hitting the floor, this is an incredible uplift.”

It all starts from within

Whilst having a chat with fellow star Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi dropped a knowledge bomb and revealed her top skincare tip – taking care of yourself from within.

”But I definitely think beauty starts on the inside,” the celeb said appearing on Good panel.

”You can do anything you want to the outside, but if the inside isn’t looking or feeling good, then I don’t know if anything you do on the outside is going to be good enough.”

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Everyone can see the happy family – but you have 20/20 vision & a high IQ if you can spot the sneaky crab in 13 seconds

THIS mind-boggling optical illusion has puzzle fanatics stumped and struggling to find the answer – but do you have what it takes?

If you can spot the sneaky crab hiding in this funky brainteaser in thirteen seconds, you may have 20/20 vision and a high IQ.

Can you spot the crab in 13 seconds?
Bright Side

Everyone can see the kids playing in the sand – but only those with a high IQ can solve the taxing illusion and find the small sea creature.

It may look simple – two little kids building sandcastles while a man and woman – presumably their mum and dad – enjoy the sea.

But the busy scene makes it hard to distinguish where the animal is lurking inside the image.

Are you able to work out where the crab lies in the image?

It might seem a bit daunting at first, but the key is to carefully examine each section of the scene.

Be quick, the clock is ticking! Scroll down to reveal the answer if you’re still stumped.

Meanwhile, why not try some other optical illusions while you scroll?

Test your brain power and solve the questions in this test to reveal if you have a high IQ.

This picture will surely leave you baffled – and you might scratch your head trying to find the correct solution.

Although it may seem like an ordinary image, this is no easy feat, and the average person gives up after a minute.

How can optical illusions and brainteasers help me?

Engaging in activities like solving optical illusions and brainteasers can have many cognitive benefits as it can stimulate various brain regions.

Some benefits include:

  • Cognitive stimulation: Engaging in these activities challenges the brain, promoting mental agility and flexibility.
  • Problem-solving skills: Regular practice enhances analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
  • Memory improvement: These challenges often require memory recall and can contribute to better memory function.
  • Creativity: They encourage thinking outside the box, fostering creativity and innovative thought processes.
  • Focus and attention: Working on optical illusions and brainteasers requires concentration, contributing to improved focus.
  • Stress relief: The enjoyable nature of these puzzles can act as a form of relaxation and stress relief.

If you look thoroughly, you’ll spot the crab nestled in the vibrant green leaves brows at the centre-left of the picture.

But don’t panic if you didn’t spot it – scroll down below to find the solution.

Psychologists at The University of Glasgow found that staring at an optical illusion can improve eyesight by allowing you to see small print.

Escape London says puzzles can also give your mind a great workout and may “boost your brain’s activity” which “reduces the risk of dementia.”

And according to ZenBusiness: “These visual puzzles can give you a good mental workout that can, in turn, help you think more efficiently and solve problems more easily.”

There it is! Did you find the crab?
Bright Side
Among the healthy vegetables is a yummy slice of pizza Credit: SunLife
Among the healthy vegetables is a yummy slice of pizza Credit: SunLife
Can you find the key in less than seven seconds? Credit: Click4Storage
Can you find the key in less than seven seconds? Credit: Click4Storage
Can you find the missing dog in 11 seconds? Credit: Bright side
Can you find the missing dog in 11 seconds? Credit: Bright side
Did you find the missing key?
Did you find the missing key?
The pizza is located between a hot pepper and a head of cabbage
The pizza is located between a hot pepper and a head of cabbage
Did you find it?
Did you find it?

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Adamawa Gov’t Launches Massive Fumigation to Combat Cholera Outbreak

In response to the recent cholera outbreak that has claimed over 12 lives and hospitalized 304 others, the Adamawa State government has embarked on a large-scale fumigation exercise in Yola and Jimeta towns. Commissioner for Education, Dr. Umar Garba-Pella, representing Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, directed fumigators to conduct house-to-house disinfection in over 20 wards and extend […]

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Full list of shops and brands making a comeback including 90s high street icons – is your favourite returning?

DELIGHTED shoppers will see iconic brands return to the high street including 90s favourites Toys R Us, Topshop and Cath Kidston.

It’s been a tough few years for the high street with many brands shuttering sites or disappearing altogether.

a person walking down a sidewalk with shopping bags including one that says clio
Shoppers have been delighted by the return of several much-loved brands to the high street
PA

But, a number of big-name retailers have announced they will be returning to the high street, in a move that’s sure to delight shoppers.

Many of the brands including Toys R Us, Cath Kidston and M&Co are returning under new ownership having previously fallen into administration.

It has been a tough time for retailers since Covid and many have struggled.

The rising cost of living, expensive rents and lower footfall have all played a part in the demise of some of our much-loved high street names.

However, here is a full list of the much-loved brands making their return:

the front of a cath kidston store in london
Alamy
Cath Kidston will make its return to high streets next month[/caption]

Cath Kidston

Fashion and homeware chain Cath Kidston will open its first new store next month as it returns to UK high streets.

Renowned for its charming floral designs and quirky vintage-style homeware, Cath Kidston had been a beloved fixture on the British high street since 1993.

However, the retailer crashed into administration last year and the last of its bricks-and-mortar stores closed in June 2023.

Next acquired the Cath Kidston brand, meaning people could continue to buy online and at the retailer’s stores.

Now it is due to open a new store on October 18 at Westfield White City, London.

Cath Kidston has teased the return on Instagram with images of the hoardings branded with its familiar florals.

In the post, it said: “Why yes. Yes, you guessed right.”

four mannequins are displayed in front of a topshop store
Alamy
Fashion brand Topshop could make its return to the UK high street[/caption]

Topshop

Topshop could be making a dramatic comeback to the British high street in a welcome boost for fashion-lovers who mourned its loss.

Earlier this month ASOS announced plans to sell a 75% stake in the brand to Bestseller, a Danish retail group that owns Jack & Jones.

Bestseller, which is also ASOS’s largest investor, has around 2,800 retail stores in more than 30 countries.

Asos had bought Topshop out of administration for £265million in 2021.

As part of the £118million joint venture deal with Bestseller, ASOS will be relaunching Topshop.com as a standalone website.

However, in news that will thrill millennial shoppers, ASOS’s boss also suggested a return to bricks and mortar shops .

Ramos Calamonte said: “It is very early to say that there will be physical stores, but there is no question that they [Bestseller] have a big present presence on the high street.

“We think that they have a lot of potential.”

Industry rumours have suggested they have already started scoping out potential sites for Topshop’s revival, including London’s famous Carnaby Street.

a toys r us store with a sign that says half price toys
Alamy
Toys R Us has made a successful return to UK high streets[/caption]

Toys R Us

Toys R Us’ return to the UK high street has been been warmly welcomed by delighted fans.

Following a rapid roll out of concessions in the last year the iconic 90s toys retailer has announced it will launch in 23 more shops before Christmas.

The new stores are not standalone sites, but are “shop-in-shops” located inside WHSmith stores across the country.

Toys R Us was founded in 1957 by American businessman Charles P Lazarus.

It grew to 100 stores across the UK, but collapsed in 2018 and closed all branches.

Plans for a relaunch were announced in in October 2021 and the first store to open in a WHSmith branch was in York (Monks Cross retail park) on June 10 last year.

Managing director of WHSmith High Street Sean Toal said: “Nearly 40 years ago, Toys R Us first came to the UK, and we take great pride in being the steward of this much-loved brand in the UK.

“We’ve had queues around the block for many openings in the last year which tells you just how much people are loving seeing Toys R Us back again.”

a store front with a blue sign that says m & co
Alamy
M&Co is making its return a year after falling into administration[/caption]

M&Co

Fashion retailer M&Co closed all of its stores after collapsing into administration in 2022, but has now announced it will return to the high street.

The new store in Newton Mearns, Scotland, will be opening where a previous store was located before the brand fell into administration.

The store opening follows the troubled brand’s acquisition by AK Retail Holdings in May 2023.

The new store will be opening where a previous store was located before going into administration.

Sandra McPherson, head of retail for M&Co stores, said: “We are thrilled to welcome back our loyal customers in-store.

“This expansion symbolises our commitment to bringing stores back to the high street and connecting with customers.”

M&Co fell into administration in December 2022.

Fellow retailer Yours Clothing bought the M&Co brand and intellectual property the following year.

a red sign for wilko the home of family value
Alamy
RWMDTA Sign outside a Wilkinson Wilco store in Chippenham Wiltshire England UK[/caption]

Wilko

Wilko is back on the high street having closed 400 stores in 2023 after going into administration.

Brits were heartbroken when beloved Wilko announced it would be closing all of its shops back in October last year.

However, a glimmer of hope was given when the brand name was scooped up by The Range, in a £5million deal – meaning that the name would live on.

Customers were overjoyed after learning the store was being relaunched online, and even more so when in a surprising turn of events, physical branches started to open up again.

Locations have since popped up Plymouth, Exeter, Luton, St Albans and Rotherham and its roll out is spreading across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The stores offer customers all the essentials across home and garden, as well as the usual value Wilko own-brand products, alongside popular named brands.

Chris Dawson, owner of Wilko, is said to be targeting 300 stores over the next five years, and said that all the new shops so far are making a profit.

people walking in front of a store that is closing down
Alamy
Paperchase has made its return as a concession in Tesco stores[/caption]

Paperchase

In October 2023, Paperchase also made a return after closing all of its 134 shops and concessions earlier in the year.

Fans of the brand were devastated when the retailer disappeared from the high street in April 2023.

It had collapsed three months earlier and failed to find a buyer for the business.

Doors were shut on a total of 106 standalone shops, and 28 concessions within Next and Selfridges stores.

However, supermarket giant Tesco later stepped in and bought the rights to the brand and then went on to launch it in some of its stores.

A total of 261 Tesco stores now stock Paperchase products – see the full list here.

a man walks past a ted baker store in london
Alamy
There is a chance Ted Baker could also make a return[/caption]

Ted Baker

Ted Baker is to operate as an online shop following its collapse.

Ted Baker fell into administration in March when a deal collapsed between its American owners, Authentic Brands, and a Dutch operating partner which was meant to run the store operations.

Its final UK high street shops shut their doors in August and its original website stopped accepting orders.

But later that month US-based Authentic Brand Group, said it had secured a deal with a new business partner United Legwear & Apparel Co.

They will now run the brand’s online platform in the UK and Europe.

We wait to see if it will follow others in returning to the high street.

What is happening to the British high street?

The news comes amid a challenging time for the whole of the UK’s retail sector. 

High inflation coupled with a squeeze on consumers’ finances has meant people have less money to spend in the shops. 

Also the rising popularity in online shopping has meant people are favouring digital ordering over visiting a physical store. 

Unseasonably wet weather has also deterred shoppers from hitting the high street. 

This ongoing issue has seen brands such as Paperchase, and The Body Shop.

Why are retailers closing stores?

RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.

High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.

The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past year, and more are coming.

The number of jobs lost in British retail dropped last year, but 120,000 people still lost their employment, figures have suggested.

Figures from the Centre for Retail Research revealed that 10,494 shops closed for the last time during 2023, and 119,405 jobs were lost in the sector.

It was fewer shops than had been lost for several years, and a reduction from 151,641 jobs lost in 2022.

The centre’s director, Professor Joshua Bamfield, said the improvement is “less bad” than good.

Although there were some big-name losses from the high street, including Wilko, many large companies had already gone bust before 2022, the centre said, such as Topshop owner Arcadia, Jessops and Debenhams.

“The cost-of-living crisis, inflation and increases in interest rates have led many consumers to tighten their belts, reducing retail spend,” Prof Bamfield said.

“Retailers themselves have suffered increasing energy and occupancy costs, staff shortages and falling demand that have made rebuilding profits after extensive store closures during the pandemic exceptionally difficult.”

Alongside Wilko, which employed around 12,000 people when it collapsed, 2023’s biggest failures included Paperchase, Cath Kidston, Planet Organic and Tile Giant.

The Centre for Retail Research said most stores were closed because companies were trying to reorganise and cut costs rather than the business failing.

However, experts have warned there will likely be more failures this year as consumers keep their belts tight and borrowing costs soar for businesses.

The Body Shop and Ted Baker are the biggest names to have already collapsed into administration this year.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

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EastEnders star reveals whether murderer Reiss Colwell was behind Debbie’s stroke and health decline after will shock

AN EastEnders star has revealed whether murderer Reiss Colwell was behind Debbie’s stroke and health decline.

Fans were recently left in hysterics when the will of killer’s late wife was read out on the BBC One soap.

a man sitting on a couch looking at a piece of paper
BBC
Reiss Colwell received devastating news after Debbie’s will was read[/caption]
BBC
Sonia Fowler has been wrongly blamed for her murder and is currently on remand[/caption]
a woman is sleeping in a bed with bbc written on the bottom
BBC
Debbie amended her will the week before her original stroke, leading fans to think he might have been behind her health problem[/caption]

Reiss (Jonny Freeman) previously smothered his comatose wife Debbie on EastEnders as he faced significant financial hardship.

On last night’s edition of the long-running serial drama, her last testament was revealed with some surprising news.

Before she died, Debbie named her parents as absolute beneficiaries of all her savings, the week prior to her stroke.

A suspicious Bianca (Patsy Palmer) was laughing to herself after Reiss was only left with her antique doll’s house.

“I hate that dusty old thing, it gives me the creeps,” were the words that were specifically read to Reiss.

This led to fans thinking that the killer might have been behind Debbie’s original health problem that caused her to fall into a coma in the first place.

However, actor Jonny has poured cold water on that speculation, saying that Reiss was clueless about her true feelings and wouldn’t have gone out of his way to hurt her.

Jonny told The Mirror: “No he didn’t know she didn’t feel the same way. I don’t know if it’s my place to say but he didn’t cause her stroke.

“The way I look at it, Debbie’s parents are getting angry now… but if they were suspicious of Reiss maybe they’d have been a bit more interested when she went into the care home?

“Or maybe that’s all to be revealed. I advocate for Reiss as he lost all of his money paying for her care, so in his mind he’s done right by her.

“Maybe not by killing her but even then I think in his mind, it was consensual and it was mercy, however mad that might be.”

The soap star also teased that there is more to come from this story line.

He admitted that the will is a big moment for Reiss as it comes as a huge revelation for the character.

“I think that’s been the worst of all of it, the worst thing that’s happened to him,” Jonny remarked.

Bianca Jackson EastEnders storylines

Bianca Jackson has been a part of several major EastEnders storylines since her debut over 30 years ago. Here are some of her most memorable.

  • Relationship with Ricky Butcher: Bianca had a long-running romance storyline with Ricky (Sid Owen). Known for her signature “Rickaaaaaaay!”, the pair have been married twice and have two children – Liam and Tiffany.
  • Spina bifida: Bianca was used in a storyline depicting Spina bifida – a developmental birth defect which leads to an incompletely formed spinal cord of the baby. She had been pregnant with Ricky’s daughter before deciding to terminate the pregnancy after 20 weeks.
  • Paternity revealed: In the 90s, older man David Wicks had started to have feelings for Bianca – only for her mother Carol to drop the bombshell that David is actually her biological father.
  • Whitney’s abuse uncovered: When Bianca returned to Albert Square in 2008, among her brood was step-daughter Whitney (Shona McGarty). In a harrowing storyline, Bianca was horrified to learn her fiancé Tony King (Chris Coghill) had been abusing Whitney.

“He’s been involved in a complicated love story with one woman in a coma for many years, and that’s when he finds out his wife didn’t feel the same way.”

He added: “So in many ways out of all the things that have happened to Reiss in the past weeks, finding that out is the hardest thing to hear, but he’s under a huge amount of pressure so we’ll have to see if there is a way out for him, but it doesn’t look good.”

a man talking to a woman in a hospital bed with bbc written on the bottom
BBC
Reiss previously smothered his comatose wife[/caption]
a man in a red vest is talking to a woman in a colorful sweater
BBC
Bianca remains suspicious of Reiss and is on a mission to free her sister[/caption]
a man with glasses and a beard sits in a chair
BBC
Debbie made a huge dig at her husband in her last testament[/caption]

EastEnders is available to watch on BBC One and stream on BBC iPlayer.

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Peaky Blinders movie first look sees boss tease fierce war for Cillian Murphy’s Tommy Shelby as filming

NETFLIX has announced that production has officially started on the Peaky Blinders movie.

Oscar winner Cillian Murphy is set to return to the smash-hit franchise as he reprises his popular role of Tommy Shelby.

Cillian Murphy and Steven Knight are reunited on set as production officially starts on the upcoming Netflix film.
Work on the Peaky Blinders film has officially started
By order of the Peaky Blinders... Tommy Shelby is back. Production officially starts on the upcoming Netflix film.
Cillian Murphy returns to his beloved role as Tommy Shelby

The global streamer has announced that the cast have started work on the highly anticipated Peaky Blinders film.

Bosses have revealed that the feature length production will be an ‘epic continuation’ of the period gangster series.

Set once again in the 1900s, the film will follow the Shelby family as they navigate life in the lawless streets of Birmingham.

Series creator Steven Knight has written the screenplay and will produce the project alongside Patrick Holland, Guy Heeley and Cillian himself.

Dune star Rebecca Ferguson and Academy Award nominee Tim Roth have joined the cast.

This was after it was announced last week that BAFTA winner Barry Keoghan signed on to the project.

Further casting is yet to be announced with details to be revealed in due course.

Speaking about the upcoming film, Steven teased that the Shelby dynasty are set for a brand new fight in the franchise.

He explained: “I’m thrilled to see the cameras rolling on this new chapter of the Peaky Blinders story, set during World War II.

“The country is at war, and so, of course, are our Peaky Blinders.”

While director Tom Harper added: “There’s a great feeling of anticipation and excitement amongst our outstanding cast and crew.

“We’re grateful to the fans for getting us to this point and believe this next chapter is going to deliver something extraordinary.”

Pictures of the set have emerged which show crew bustling away as they shoot the first scenes.

Security was tight at the secret location in Liverpool in what looks like an abandoned industrial building.

The rest of plot and further details such as casting and a specific release date remain tightly under wraps.

Six series of the hit show originally aired across BBC One and BBC Two from 2013 until 2022.

a brick building with a sign that says ' a ' on it
MCPIX LTD
Crew bustled around the set of an abandoned Industrial building in Liverpool[/caption]
a man stands in front of a fence with a sign that says ' warehouse ' on it
MCPIX LTD
Security remained tight as details surrounding the new film remain tightly under wraps[/caption]
a mercedes van is parked in front of a brick building
MCPIX LTD
Blacked out vans brought the cast to the set[/caption]

The Peaky Blinders movie will be available to stream on Netflix.

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I totally ignored £320,000 lottery windfall – it took them rocking up at my door for me to finally believe it

A MAN completely ignored a hefty lottery win amounting to £320,000 and he only believed it when they rolled up to his front door.

Nurse Jonas, of Moreton, in The Wirral, Merseyside, had his “life-changing” win just three months after he signed up for the Postcode Lottery.

a man and a woman are holding a cheque in front of a building .
Postcode Lottery
Jonas had only been playing the Postcode Lottery for three months before his big win[/caption]
a man and a woman are holding a postcode lottery cheque in front of a house .
Postcode Lottery
Thanks to his win, the nurse wants to get a hive of bees and make his own honey[/caption]

Jonas landed the windfall with seven neighbours in Wirral – birthplace of stars including Strictly‘s Shirley Ballas, late TV presenter Paul O’Grady and Hollywood actor Taron Egerton – after CH46 7TU was announced as the winner of the £3.2million Postcode Millions prize.

Every ticket was worth £160,000, but Jonas and another neighbour doubled their winnings as they each played with two tickets.

A further 240 people playing in the wider Wirral postcode sector of CH46 7 received cheques ranging from £5,904 to £29,520, depending on how many tickets they played with.

Jonas told of his shock after the lottery crew turned up at his door – after failing to read email messages that he’d won.

He said: “My heart is about to come out of my chest. It’s a bit surreal. I didn’t know you were coming. I’m actually speechless. Thank you so much.

“I joined up after getting a letter through the door. They normally go straight in the bin, but it just shows that they do work.”

And he joked: “I got two tickets because I thought that if next door was going to win I might as well have more than them.

“I can’t even say it was one for me and one for the other half. It just didn’t seem that expensive to have two, to be fair. I just thought that if I was going to win I might as well double up.”

Jonas now has his heart set on getting a hive of bees and making his own honey.

He has longed to make his own honey after quitting his London hospital job to return home after 30 years.

Jonas said:  “I’ve wanted to keep bees. When I left London, I was like, ‘I’m going up north and going to have a beehive and have my own honey.'”

He added: “I know that sounds really old and sad, but I always just wanted to keep bees. I will now.”

Jonas also said how he’s already in the process of buying a new semi-detached house after moving back home to The Wirral to start work at a local hospital – while husband AJ continues to commute to the capital.

He said: “I was working in London and moved back up here. I’ve just found a house to move into, so everything is heading in the right direction. This is an added bonus.

“The first thing I’m going to do when we move is decorate. This will help a lot.

“I can decorate the house in the way I’d like to rather than decoration I’m compromising on.

“This is going to change quite a lot of things. It will change our lives.”

Jonas revealed he only signed up in June and plays with two tickets.

He said, “I’ve only been playing for about three months since I lived here. I didn’t really expect to win – and certainly not so soon. But it won’t stop me from continuing to play.

“I know people must say it will never happen to them. It wasn’t something I was doing to win, which sounds really stupid, but I’m really glad I did now.

How to play the People's Postcode Lottery?

For just £12 a month, players can sign up through the official website to have a chance of winning millions of pounds.

Once signed up, players are automatically entered into every draw and prizes are announced every day of each month.

Tickets play for the Daily Prize, worth £1000 and revealed every single day.

Tickets could also win a jackpot of £30,000 for Saturday and Sunday’s Street Prize draws.

People’s Postcode Lottery also offers a £3million Postcode Millions draw each month – where your ticket plays for a share of the cash prize fund.

Winners are notified by email, text, post, or phone call, depending on the prize they win.

Jackpot winners are visited by the lottery team in person.

“I never thought it would happen. It happens to other people. It’s a big country with lots of postcodes.”

He added: “It’s really nice to win with neighbours. Everyone knows everybody else here and it’s nice to share it.”

Jonas said the charity aspect of playing People’s Postcode Lottery was the main driver for him.

He said: “I never win anything, I just thought I would help out local charities. It’s something I could do to give something back.”

Now he dreams of returning to South Africa where he spent a month in his youth and travelling around Europe with his hubby of two years.

He said: “We’ll have a holiday… relax. I’d like to travel round Europe together.

“I went to South Africa as a child and I’ve always wanted to go back. I went to Johannesburg but didn’t get down to the coast at the time. I stayed for a month with friends who lived there, but I ran out of time for the coast.”

And hubby AJ might get the big TV he’s been wanting.

Jonas said: “We don’t have a telly at the moment. Just because it is expensive and way down there on my list. I won’t be able to argue against it now.”

a man is hugging a woman who is holding a lottery ticket .
Postcode Lottery
Jonas says he wants to go back to South Africa having visited the country as a child[/caption]
a group of people are standing in a grassy field holding lottery tickets .
Postcode Lottery
Jonas and seven neighbours won thanks to their postcode coming up in the draw[/caption]

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s team-mate knocks himself unconscious and carried away by medics as celebrations take disastrous turn

CRISTIANO RONALDO’S team-mate Salem Al-Nadji knocked himself unconscious while celebrating the Portuguese veteran’s latest goal.

Al-Nassr were in Asian Champions League action yesterday against Qatari side Al Rayyan.

a group of soccer players wearing yellow and blue jerseys with the word adidas on them
Reuters
Cristiano Ronaldo put his side 2-0 up against Al Rayyan[/caption]
a soccer field with arabic writing on it
Medical staff arrived in a buggy to treat Salem

Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane gave the Saudi outfit the lead on the stroke of half-time, heading home from close range after his side had already spurned several big chances.

In the 76th minute, Ronaldo finally joined Mane on the scoresheet with a deadly left-footed effort.

By this point Salem was watching on from the bench, having been substituted in the 35th minute due to an ankle injury.

When Ronaldo put his side 2-0 up, the full-back, 21, jumped out of his seat, hitting his head on the roof of the dugout.

This reportedly caused him to lose consciousness for a few minutes.

Salem was seen to by medical staff and was subsequently taken away on a stretcher.

He then received further assessments in the Al-Nassr dressing room, where it was determined that he would not need to go to hospital.

After the game, Al-Nassr’s former AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli gave an update on his player’s status.

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He said: “The player suffered from high blood pressure and we will follow up on what happens to him.”

After Al-Nassr’s second goal, Al Rayyan pulled themselves back into the contest via Roger Guedes’s 87th minute close range strike.

But the home side held firm to seal all three points.

Ronaldo had missed his side’s last two matches through illness.

His latest goal was his seventh in eight appearances this term.

Since leaving European football he has scored 65 times in 72 outings for Al-Nassr.

a soccer player in a yellow and blue kafd jersey
Getty
Ronaldo, 39, netted his latest Al-Nassr goal[/caption]

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