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Katie Price and Kerry Katona land eye watering fees for just 23 nights of work – amid Katie’s bankruptcy struggle

KATIE Price and Kerry Katona have landed eye watering fees for just 23 nights of work in panto, The Sun can reveal.

Pals Katie, 46, and Kerry, 44, are playing the wicked stepsisters in a production of Cinderella at Northwich Memorial Court later this year.

Katie Price and Kerry Katona Instagram Grab, https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAIsFG6oVvB/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=85dec46d-f3a8-4084-8f07-395ed45a74e2, TAKEN WITHOUT PERMISSION
Katie and Kerry have landed huge pay days for their panto stints
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two women are posing for a picture and one of them is wearing a sweater that says ' atlanta ' on it
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They have been friends for more than 20 years[/caption]
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Katie Price attends The Future is White Fox Party on September 19, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images)
Katie was declared bankrupt for the second time earlier this year
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It was previously revealed news of their involvement led to new ticket sale records for the theatre.

And Katie and Kerry – who met during I’m a Celebrity in 2004 – have secured fitting salaries for less than a month’s work.

An insider told us: “Katie and Kerry have secured themselves really good deals to do panto this year.

“They understand how much they are worth together and have already sold 10k tickets, so are really earning their keep.

“They are getting significant pay cheques for the role and they will be getting exactly the same amount.”

Anton Benson, who is producing the panto, said: This is our 7th panto contract with Kerry and we are looking forward to working with her again and delighted to have Katie alongside her for the first time.”

After tickets went on sale earlier this month, the theatre posted a statement on social media.

It read: “Since our casting news broke earlier this evening, we have sold the highest number of tickets that we’ve ever sold in a single day during our last 14 years in Northwich!

“Book your tickets soon before the best seats go!
www.brioentertainment.org.”

Katie – who was declared bankrupt for a second time in May over an unpaid tax bill of £750,000 – revealed she was teaming up with Kerry in May.

Speaking on her podcast, she said: “I’ve signed up for Cinderella and I’m one of the ugly sisters – and guess who is the ugly sister I’m doing it with – it’s Kerry Katona!

“So Kerry got me the gig because she has been working with them for six years.

“And she was like ‘why don’t you come and do this panto’, and she said it was for the ugly sisters and I said ‘oh are we ugly then?’ and she said we can still be really pretty.”

Katie was first declared bankrupt in 2019 over unpaid debts of £3.2 million.

Earlier this year her Mucky Mansion was repossessed after she failed to meet payments for two mortgages on the sprawling pad.

Katie Price's missing millions

At the peak of her career Katie had an estimated fortune of £45m, thanks to her lucrative modelling career, book deals, and TV appearances.

The cash-strapped mum-of-five was first declared bankrupt in 2019 over unpaid debts of £3.2 million.

In a podcast interview earlier this year, she blamed her exes who include Peter AndreAlex Reid and Kieran Hayler and lawyers for her money woes.

She insisted that funding her exes’ lavish lifestyles with cars, watches, luxury holidays and homes left her finances in tatters.

She added: “I went through a breakdown, this is how mine started – lawyers and exes, that is my bankruptcy thing.

“And obviously a bit of HMRC.

“When I had my breakdown, if anyone has been depressed… I don’t know if you’ve ever had depression.

“It starts with depression and you just want to sleep all day and not talk to anyone, the phone would ring and you wouldn’t answer it.’

In March, Katie was declared bankrupt for a second time over an unpaid tax bill of £761,994.05.

The demand for payment was made by HMRC last October.

Katie was due to give evidence about her finances at the High Court but failed to turn up – holidaying in Cyprus with her new man JJ Slater instead.

Her Mucky Mansion was a bomb site for years after it was burgled, flooded and swamped by an overflowing septic tank.

She finally moved out at the end of May and is renting a four-bed mansion in Sussex.

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Who is Derrick Rose’s girlfriend Alaina Anderson?

DERRICK Rose, the former NBA MVP known for his explosive athleticism and skill on the court, is married his long-term girlfriend, Alaina Anderson.

The NBA star popped the question at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

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Aliana Anderson with her man, Derrick Rose[/caption]

Who is Derrick Rose?

Derrick Martell Rose, born on October 4, 1988, in Chicago, Illinois, is a former professional basketball player celebrated for his dynamic playing style and significant contributions to the NBA.

He rose to prominence while playing for the Chicago Bulls, who drafted him first overall in the 2008 NBA Draft.

During his time with the Bulls, he became the youngest player to win the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at age 22 in 2011, a testament to his extraordinary talent and impact on the game​.

Who is Alaina Anderson?

Alaina Anderson is a prominent American fitness model, entrepreneur, and social media influencer, best known as the wife of the NBA star.

Born on November 15, 1994, in Chicago, Illinois, she graduated from the University of Illinois.

She has since developed a successful brand called “Keep It Cute Fitness,” which specialises in stylish fitness wear.

The KIC company’s website sells athletic wear as well as fitness equipment.

You can follow Alania on Instagram at @alainataughtyou – on there she has over to 500K followers, as of September 2024.

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The happy couple with their kids[/caption]

When did the couple get together?

Alaina and Derrick Rose started dating in 2016 and were married in an elegant ceremony on Sept 7, 2023.

They have two daughters together, Layla Malibu Rose and London Marley Rose.

She also plays a role as a stepmother to Derrick’s son, Derrick Rose Jr., from his previous relationship with ex-girlfriend Mieka Reese.

Beyond her family life, Alaina actively engages with her followers on social media, sharing fitness tips and advocating for women’s health and empowerment.

When did they get engaged?

On October 12, 2021 Derrick took to social media to announce he had proposed to Alaina in New York’s Madison Square Garden, which is the home court of the Knicks.

He shared a photo to Instagram of the pair of them sharing a romantic dinner on a dimly-lit MSG, accompanied by a lengthy caption including: “Believe the words that I will have your back and love u forever”.

His followers were quick to notice Alania was sporting a huge engagement ring on her hand in the photo.

She also shared photos and videos of the ring, captioning her post: “MRS. ROSE MY FACE HURTS Just got engaged in MSG nothing major!”.

Has Derrick Rose retired?

Derrick Rose has officially called time on his NBA career at age 35.

The former MVP left fans in tears after announcing his decision to retire.

On Thursday, September 26th, 2024, He announced his decision on Instagram and also took out full-page ads in newspapers in the six NBA cities he played in.

Rose’s emotional social media post was titled “thank you, my first love” and spoke about his relationship with basketball.

“You believed in me through the highs and lows, my constant when everything else seemed uncertain,” it read.

“You showed me what love truly meant.

“You turned the court into my sanctuary, a home where I could express myself freely.

“You told me it’s okay to say goodbye, reassuring me that you’ll always be a part of me, no matter where life takes me.”

Fans were devastated to hear the news of his retirement.

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What are enhanced experiences? All the ticket tiers of Coldplay’s upcoming tour explained

COLDPLAY are heading back out on tour in 2025 and fans are dying to get hold of a ticket.

The band have a huge following and are offering revellers different types of tickets to watch them play.

three men are on stage playing guitars and singing into microphones
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Coldplay are going out on tour in 2025[/caption]

The UK leg of the band’s world tour features six dates at London’s Wembley Stadium and two at Craven Park Stadium in Hull.

Pre-sale tickets went on sale at 9am on September 26, 2024, with general sale happening at 6pm.

Coldplay – who are fronted by singer Chris Martin – are offering concert-goers different types of tickets to purchase.

These range from general standing options to the enhanced experiences.

Coldplay Enhanced Experiences

Coldplay Enhanced Experiences differ depending on the package you purchase.

They include things like early entry to the venue, behind-the-scenes tours, and access to the VIP lounge.

Here are the different tiers of Enhanced Experiences tickets (information has been supplied by Ticketmaster ):

Ultimate Spheres Experience

  • One premium seated ticket.
  • Once-In-A-Lifetime exclusive behind the scenes tour.
  • On stage photo opportunity.
  • Access to the official Kaotica pre-show lounge including.
  • Welcome cocktail on arrival.
  • Complimentary canapes.
  • Complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks.
  • Access to a dedicated merchandise stand.
  • Photography display from Coldplay’s Music of The Spheres Word Tour.
  • Exclusive merch item for Ultimate Spheres Experience only.
  • Specially designed sustainable Coldplay gift item.
  • One Coldplay eco-friendly lounge wristband.

The cost of this ticket has not yet been released and there is limited availability.

Kaotica Lounge Experience

  • One premium seated ticket.
  • Access to the official Kaotica pre-show lounge including.
  • Welcome cocktail on arrival.
  • Complimentary canapes.
  • Complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks.
  • Access to a dedicated merchandise stand.
  • Photography display from Coldplay’s Music of The Spheres Word Tour.
  • Specially designed sustainable Coldplay gift item.
  • One Coldplay eco-friendly lounge wristband.

The cost of this ticket has not yet been released and there is limited availability.

Floris Early Entrance experience

  • One general admission standing ticket.
  • Early entry onto the pitch before general public.
  • Specially designed sustainable Coldplay gift item.
  • One Coldplay eco-friendly wristband.

The cost of this ticket has not yet been released and there is limited availability.

Kubik Experience

  • One premium seated ticket.
  • Specially designed sustainable Coldplay gift item.
  • One Coldplay eco-friendly wristband.
  • Dedicated on site check in and support staff.

The cost of this ticket has not yet been released and there is limited availability.

Supersolis Experience

  • One seated ticket.
  • Specially designed sustainable Coldplay gift item.
  • One Coldplay eco-friendly wristband.

The cost of this ticket has not yet been released and there is limited availability.

Calypso Seats

  • One premium seated ticket.
  • Access to exclusive paid bar and concessions.

The cost of this ticket has not yet been released and there is limited availability.

a man singing into a microphone with the word love on his shirt
The band are releasing a limited number of cheap tickets
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Infinity tickets

Coldplay previously revealed some tickets for their 2025 tour would be available for as little as £20.

The band released a statement, which read: “A limited number of Infinity Tickets are released for every Coldplay show to give fans the chance to attend the Music Of The Spheres World Tour at a super low price.

“They cost the equivalent of £20 / $20 / €20 per ticket and must be brought in pairs.

“Infinity Tickets are randomly allocated anywhere in the venue – from the back row to the floor to the best seat in the house.”

How to buy tickets

General sale tickets are available to purchase on Ticketmaster on September 26, 2024 at 6pm.

Ten per cent of the proceeds will be donated to Music Venue Trust in support of grassroots venues across the country. 

Half of the tickets for the Hull shows will go to local fans with a with HU, YO, DN or LN postcode.

Coldplay fans praised them for reducing ticket prices following the backlash Oasis faced – and for prioritising local fans.

General admission standing tickets are priced at around £112.75 per ticket plus a £2.75 per order fee.

Seats are priced between £57.75 – £195.25 per ticket plus a £2.75 per order fee.

a man playing a piano with the word peace on his pants
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Coldplay fans are in for an incredible show[/caption]

Pre-sale ticket outrage

Pre-sale tickets went on sale at 9am on September 26, 2024 at 9am following a ballot.

However, some fans branded the ticket-buying process for the group’s new tour a “scam” after facing huge online queues.

Thousands upon thousands of the band’s fans flocked to Ticketmaster this morning for the Music Of The Spheres Tour pre-sale.

Within minutes some found themselves a whopping number 163,000 in the queue and were left questioning how that was possible.

One person raged on X: “I just don’t understand. I know 99% of them are scams but it’s so f**king unfair.

“I’m just a normal Coldplay fan with a code in at 9am, like I was told to and I’m 163,000th in the queue but yet there’s people already selling f**king tickets.”

Coldplay Tour Dates

The August 2025 tour dates are:

  • Monday, 18: Hull, Craven Park Stadium
  • Tuesday 19: Hull, Craven Park Stadium
  • Friday, 22: London, Wembley Stadium
  • Saturday, 23: London, Wembley Stadium
  • Tuesday, 26: London, Wembley Stadium
  • Wednesday, 27: London, Wembley Stadium
  • Saturday, 30: London, Wembley Stadium
  • Sunday, 31: London, Wembley Stadium

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Heinz slammed over ‘cheap and vile’ change to recipe of family tea-time staple

HEINZ has been slammed by shoppers after making a major change to the recipe of a dinner staple.

Foodies have taken to social media furious after finding out the manufacturer has changed the ingredients to its baked beans with sausages.

a can of heinz beanz richmond pork sausages
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Heinz has changed the ingredients in its pork sausage Heinz beans[/caption]

The classic flavour now comes with Richmond sausages inside, which contain gluten, when the previous bangers didn’t.

A recent post on the Coeliac Sanctuary – Gluten Free Blog by Alison Peters Facebook page by one member highlighted the recipe change.

They captioned the post: “Heinz have for some reason decided to change the sausages in their beans and sausages.

“They have been gluten free for many years but this change means they now contain wheat.”

Hundreds have liked and commented on the post sharing their dismay at the change which means the beans are no longer coeliac-friendly, with one branding the move “cheap and vile”.

Coeliac disease is a condition where your immune system attacks your own tissues when you eat gluten.

Another shopper said: “This is a massive blow for the thousands of us in the gluten free community.”

A third commented: “Backwards move from Heinz UK no longer being gluten free.

“Being coeliac can be so tough and now got a little bit tougher not being able to pick up this quick and easy option.”

Meanwhile, a fourth added: “Oh no. This is going to cause mayhem for my two kids.

“I don’t eat beans or sausages so I’m unaffected by it but they will be so upset.”

Replying to one fuming customer on X, formerly Twitter, Heinz confirmed the original recipe of the beans had been discontinued.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Heinz added: “We’ve updated our recipe to include the nation’s favourite sausage brand.

“We did this in response to resounding consumer feedback about the taste and texture of our sausages and informed shoppers of the change via on-pack labelling, marketing communications and through relevant allergen organisations.”

HEINZ DITCHING PRODUCTS

Heinz hasn’t just been discontinuing specific ingredients in recent months but products as well.

Shoppers were left baffled last month after finding out the manufacturer had axed Ploughman’s Pickle.

One disappointed customer, posting on X, said: “Why is Ploughman’s Pickle unavailable in the East Sussex area?”

Meanwhile, another added: “I am trying to buy Heinz Ploughman’s Pickle but can’t buy it anywhere.

“Has it been discontinued? I like it cause it’s gluten-free.”

In July, we also reported that Heinz had stopped producing its popular Piccalilli Pickle condiment.

A shopper noticed the pickle was missing from shelves and contacted Heinz on X to ask if it had been discontinued to be told by a spokesperson it indeed had.

The same shopper replied branding the move “a bad decision”.

It comes after Heinz also took its cream of tomato soup with a kick of chilli off sale and its tins of Organic Baked Beans.

Why are products axed or recipes changed?

ANALYSIS by chief consumer reporter James Flanders.

Food and drinks makers have been known to tweak their recipes or axe items altogether.

They often say that this is down to the changing tastes of customers.

There are several reasons why this could be done.

For example, government regulation, like the “sugar tax,” forces firms to change their recipes.

Some manufacturers might choose to tweak ingredients to cut costs.

They may opt for a cheaper alternative, especially when costs are rising to keep prices stable.

For example, Tango Cherry disappeared from shelves in 2018.

It has recently returned after six years away but as a sugar-free version.

Fanta removed sweetener from its sugar-free alternative earlier this year.

Suntory tweaked the flavour of its flagship Lucozade Original and Orange energy drinks.

While the amount of sugar in every bottle remains unchanged, the supplier swapped out the sweetener aspartame for sucralose.

In other retail news, Quality Street has brought back a fan-favourite for the second Christmas is a row.

Plus, an iconic fizzy drink brand is set to be “retired” leaving fans fearing it will be discontinued.

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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Independent Ireland leader outlines general election plans

Independent Ireland Leader Michael Collins TD says his party is ready for a general election, with candidates at the ready. He also addresses the Ciaran Mullooly controversy, and explains how he would avoid being dominated by a bigger party in a coalition government.

The post Independent Ireland leader outlines general election plans appeared first on Gript.

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Everything To Know About Simone Baldasseroni (& Where You Know The Tearsmith Actor & Hip Hop Artist From)

Simone Baldasseroni has come to mainstream attention thanks to his role in the 2024 Netflix movie, The Tearsmith, but the Italian actor has been acting and singing for some years in his native Italy. The Tearsmith is a 2024 Italian teen romance film by Alessandro Genovesi that premiered on Netflix on April 4, 2024. The …

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Coup scare hits Benin Republic; 3 men arrested

Benin Republic’s state prosecutor has announced the arrest of three prominent men on suspicion of planning a “coup d’etat” in the country. Mario Metonou, special prosecutor at Benin’s financial crimes and terrorism court made the announcement at a press conference. He said former sports minister Oswald Homeky, Republican Guard commander Djimon Dieudonne Tevoedjre, …

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Bill Gates Awards N8.5bn Grant To Lagos Business School, N1bn To Flood Victims

At the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced approval of a $5m (about N8.5bn) grant for Lagos Business School to develop the agricultural economics of industrial cassava. The foundation also pledged $600,000 (approximately N1 billion) for flood relief in Borno State. Dr Christopher Elias, Head of …

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Homemade slime made me a TikTok star at 12 – but I got death threats & my mum was arrested after stupid mistake

TWO years ago Kyle Thomas was one of Britain’s biggest teenage TikTok stars with a whopping one billion likes, earning thousands of pounds in the process.

He had even been hailed by Forbes as one of the most influential online content creators under the age of 30.

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Kyle Thomas became an internet sensation thanks to his videos about homemade slime[/caption]
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Kyle faced a backlash for mistreating his exotic pet[/caption]
a man and a woman are holding small meerkats in their hands
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Kyle will appear on BBC’s We Built A Zoo, with Alma Celeste Stafford[/caption]

Kyle, now 20 – who started selling homemade slime at 12 and went viral after posting a video of him biting it – couldn’t put a foot wrong.

But in July 2022, his status as a super cool TikTok star evaporated overnight when he ‘stupidly’ posted a video of him larking around with his new exotic pet – a capybara.

He had named the rodent, which resembles a large guinea pig, Queen Elizabeth after the late Queen and filmed her wearing a pumpkin cloak and a silver ring.

It prompted a vicious backlash and a barrage of death threats – with animal lovers accusing him of treating the exotic pet like a baby.

But worse was to come.

Just one week after he’d forked out £5,000 for the capybara, it fell ill and passed away.

His local vet in Northern Ireland immediately contacted the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs after they discovered both Kyle and his mum, Zena Foord, did not have an official licence to look after it at home.

In August 2023 Zena was charged with Keeping Dangerous Wild Animals With No Licence between 6 October 2022 and 24 October 2022.

She pleaded guilty but evaded an up to £2,000 fine by quickly snapping up a licence from the Department of the Environment.

But by then the controversy had hit the influencer’s squeaky-clean reputation hard.

a man sitting on a tree trunk with a dog
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Kyle will have a second chance at fame on We Built A Zoo alongside Pongo the fox[/caption]
a woman in a hat sits next to a man in a field
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Kyle with TV co star Alma Celeste Stafford in South Africa[/caption]
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The TikTok star was listed in Forbes as one of the world’s most influential influencers under the age of 30[/caption]

He was trolled relentlessly with many branding him a “thicko”, “moron” and “a TikTocker (sic) who had no grasp on reality” in his “sad and desperate” attempt for likes.

One follower told him it was a ‘shame the rodent doesn’t eat him’ and he was included in a major Channel 4 investigation into the exotic animal trade.

He was also forced to go to the police after receiving several terrifying death threats.

‘Stupid & naive’

Now, two years since the controversy first blew up, Kyle admits he is still being trolled over his past – and the threats continue.

He will appear in the new BBC3 documentary We Built A Zoo on Wednesday, which he hopes proves he is a changed person and admits being “stupid and naïve”.

If I had read an article like the one about me, I would have absolutely thought this person was a thicko and an idiot

Kyle Thomas

He told The Sun: “Looking back on it all now, it was a very stupid decision.

“I am not going to lie; I was incredibly naïve.

“I cannot blame anyone who is looking after the rights of animals for saying what they did.

“But I was trolled a lot and I received death threats that I had to report to the police.

“I was terrified of going to the local supermarket because I feared people would see the newspapers and think I was a terrible person.

“It was a really tough time. I had been very stupid.

a man and a woman are looking at meerkats in a field
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Alma Celeste Stafford filming with Kyle in South Africa.[/caption]
a young man stands in front of a tod 's sign
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His influencer status landed Kyle with invitations to glitzy showbiz bashes[/caption]
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Kyle agreed with trolls who branded him naive and thick[/caption]

“And two years later, people still troll me over it all.

“They also troll me over being too skinny, they dig into my personal life and I still get nasty threats.

“Only yesterday I got this weird message from a person who told me they knew where I lived.”

However Kyle, who was earning £32,000 a year before the incident, now agrees with trolls who called him a ‘moron’ and a ‘thicko’.

“Fair play,” he says. “If I had read an article like the one about me, I would have absolutely thought this person was a thicko and an idiot.

“In fact now, when I see online videos of people cuddling up with a meerkat, I have to stop myself from leaving a negative comment.

The bloody idiot who lied through his teeth all the time, telling us ‘yeah you can have this pet, she is really friendly’

Kyle

“Most of the trolls were looking out for animals for the right reasons.

“They might be extreme sometimes in what they are saying but they aren’t bad people – they are looking out for the welfare of animals.”

Rash decision

Kyle, who is single and lives with his mum in Belfast, said in hindsight he should never have been so gullible as to believe a local trader flogging the capybara.

“It was very expensive, one hundred per cent,” said Kyle.

“I don’t even think we had a chance though to think about the money loss.

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Kyle even had the opportunity to try his hand at modelling[/caption]
a young man in a hoodie is holding a baby chicken in his hand .
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The influencer says he will not profit from his farm[/caption]

“It was more a case of ‘what the hell has happened and how did we stumble into the situation?’

“We’d stupidly done no research and believed the bloody idiot who lied through his teeth all the time, telling us ‘yeah you can have this pet, she is really friendly’.

“We naively didn’t think we were doing anything wrong.

“I am the type of person to make rash decisions – but they come from good intentions.”

Fresh start

Now Kyle is older, wiser and a lot more clued up.

After attempting to set up his own ‘makeshift zoo’ on some land he purchased after his monumental mess up, he has now joined forces with local builder, Phil Hughes, who had also started to care for rescued animals.

The exotic animal trade is a dark, horrible place

Kyle

As well as proper facilities to house the 28 or so animals, including meerkats, marmosets and African hedgehogs, they have ensured they have all the correct legal paperwork in place at their new sanctuary called the Mylo Project.

“Phil reached out to me when everything was kicking off,” he explained.

“Initially I didn’t reply as I wasn’t trusting too many people at the time but eventually I did.

“Now we have joined forces together and we both have the same goal – to care for rescued animals and let them thrive.”

Kyle has also spent time educating himself by reading, listening to podcasts and visiting worldwide wildlife sanctuaries, including one in South Africa, to understand more.

He is determined, too, to use his high-profile TikTok platform to campaign for better animal welfare. 

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The BBC3 show airs on October 2nd[/caption]
a man in a black hoodie is holding a capybara
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Kyle regrets dressing up his pet, Queen Elizabeth, to entertain followers[/caption]

 “I have grown up a lot,” he added.

“I have been on a huge journey of personal growth and I am on a journey now to become an animal activist too.

“The exotic animal trade is a dark, horrible place.

“I know a few years ago, I thought nothing of cuddling up to a Meerkat but there is no way I would do that now.”

Keen to attract a wider audience away from his huge TikTok platform, Kyle also hopes his unflinching honesty and no-holds-barred BBC3 documentary will prove, once and for all, that he is passionate about animal welfare and really does mean it when he says he wants to do everything properly.

The UK's exotic animal trade

NEARLY three thousand exotic animals are legally being kept by private homeowners in the UK.

Among the creatures are crocodiles, wild cats, monkeys and venomous snakes.

But animal rights organisations are deeply concerned by how the animals made their way to the UK.

The UN revealed that for every one chimpanzee in private ownership, which is legal in the UK, another 10 have died during their capture or from poor trade conditions.

Those who have been raised in breeding grounds fair no better when it comes to their welfare. 

The EcoHealth Alliance fears the capture of animals in the wild will deplete native populations by 70 per cent. 

Organisations are also concerned that owners do not know how to care for them – as proven by data the RSPCA received 15,790 calls to their cruelty hotline about exotic pets alone. 

Other concerns include the animals escaping and some not being suited to domestic life.

“I do hope this documentary will show everyone the person I really am,” he said. 

“I think people think I live in this happy ‘La La land’.

“I hope this will show I am actually a sensitive and serious person too.”

In the BBC3 doc, Kyle doesn’t try to gloss over difficult topics nor does he stray from his promise to educate his 34.5 million followers who, despite the trolls, have loyally stuck by him.

Regular videos set at his new sanctuary attract hundreds of thousands of likes every day.

“I don’t ever want to make money out of looking after animals,” he stressed. “I want everyone to come on my journey with me.”

While Kyle is eying up future opportunities – including modelling, after working at Milan Fashion Week – he has ruled out OnlyFans – despite some of his mates earning a massive £100,000 per month from the steamy online platform. 

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Kyle admits he was ‘naive’ and ‘stupid’ for buying a capybara[/caption]
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Now he tries to warn others about the cruelty of the exotic animal trade[/caption]

“I wouldn’t be able to do it, I would lose my dignity,” he said.

“I can’t even kiss someone without worrying about it, let alone exploiting myself over the Internet!”

Looking ahead, the changed TikTok star says he would love to go on further formal courses as well as continue to visit global sanctuaries to learn from them.

And if the internet were to ever blow up, he added, he would retrain as a vet.

“I would go to Uni and study,” he said. “Or go into wildlife presenting if I could.

“I am proud of this documentary and it is a good representation of me.

I can’t even kiss someone without worrying about it, let alone exploiting myself over the Internet!

Kyle

“If people don’t like it, then OK, I am not their cup of tea.

“My time is far better spent learning about animals now than trying to prove myself to people who don’t like me.

“Chasing more followers online isn’t my goal anymore either, it’s about what I can do to help.

“There are bad people in the world who want to make money from exploiting the animals as pets.

“If people can see me now, hear my story and see I have grown up a lot, then hopefully people will realise I do care.”

We Built A Zoo airs at 9pm on Wednesday on BBC Three and will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

TikTok's top tips, tricks and trends

TikTok is one of the world's most downloaded apps with millions uploading videos everyday. But what are the best tricks and trends on it?

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