Lewis

Martin Lewis set out some of his top picks

Consumer expert Martin Lewis has shared some tips for your holiday spending while you are abroad. He shared the key advice during his BBC podcast.

During a question and answer edition of the podcast, a query came in from a mum whose 18-year-old son is heading off on a lads’ holiday. She asked what the best spending card would be for him to take along, or whether she should simply give him cash instead. She explained that she was reluctant to give him a credit card as she wasn’t confident he would use it responsibly. However, the accommodation where he was staying required a £300 credit card deposit.

Top recommendation

In response, Mr Lewis said his top recommendation for cards she could consider was Chase. He explained: “Technically you have to open a bank account to get it, but you don’t need to switch bank account.

“The Chase bank account is available for anyone aged 18 or older. It’s openable via an app. So effectively you can open this up, you put money in it that you want to spend and it gives you the same near-perfect rate that the bank gets when you spend, because it doesn’t add a non-sterling exchange rate fee.

“So I think that’s a really simple option. It’s a debit card, it doesn’t have an overdraft facility. It doesn’t do a hard credit check, it just does an ID check and it doesn’t affect his credit-worthiness.”

Another card he recommended was the Revolut pre-payment card, where you load the card with the amount you wish to spend. Regarding the credit card deposit for accommodation, Mr Lewis said this is a common requirement, frequently being necessary when hiring a car abroad too.

He explained that if a deposit needs to be paid on a credit card, this could prove tricky for an 18 year old as they may not pass the credit check. Mr Lewis suggested that perhaps the mum could contact the company and pay the deposit on her son’s behalf.

Big danger

Mr Lewis issued an additional warning for young holidaymakers. He said: “One of the biggest dangers for finances and young people is drinking. The problem when we drink is we lose all our sense of control.

“So it’s very difficult what you advise young people. Do you tell them take cash out so you’ve only got the amount you can spend on that day. That keeps you to a budget.

“But then it does wrong, they haven’t got any money left and they can’t get back to where they need to go, which can be dangerous.

“Or do you have a card that has an unlimited spending facility on it. It’s quite a difficult one at that age. The best thing is to be sensible and not drink too much.”

You won’t even see the fees being added

Most holidaymakers assume using their normal bank card abroad is fine. But Martin Lewis says a simple switch to a specialist card could save you from paying an extra 2.75% to 3% on every single purchase – a hidden fee that quietly adds to your bill without you even noticing.

In a clip shared on This Morning’s official TikTok, the MoneySavingExpert founder explained how most high street banks add a “non-sterling exchange rate fee” when you spend abroad. Ignore it and a £100 purchase effectively costs you £103. Switch to one of the specialist cards he recommends, and you get the same near-perfect exchange rates the banks use – without the markup.

Martin started by explaining what happens when you spend on plastic overseas. “Your bank gets a near perfect exchange rate on the day – the same as what’s called the spot rate, the city market rates. When you spend on your card abroad though, normally the card company adds what’s called a non-Sterling exchange rate fee of between 2.75 or 3%,” he said. “So your hundred pounds worth of euros cost you £103.”

The solution, he explained, is using specialist cards. “With the specialist cards, they don’t have that. So you get the same near perfect exchange rates that the banks or the card firms do.”

As for which cards to choose, Martin noted there are quite a lot available now. He judges them on the cashback they give you. The Barclaycard Rewards credit card is currently giving 0.25% cash back on spending in the UK and abroad. “So you get perfect exchange rate and cashback,” he said.

He added a crucial warning for anyone using a credit card: “Only do this if you’ll pay it off in full at the end of every month, or there is interest. That will credit score you to get it.”

For those who prefer a debit card or don’t want to undergo a hard credit check, Martin offered two alternatives. “The easiest one to get is the Chase card, which you can apply for without switching banks and only does a soft credit check, so it doesn’t mark your credit file, and virtually everybody can get it,” he said. It offers near-perfect exchange rates, no ATM withdrawal fees, and some cashback on UK spending.

Alternatively, for those willing to switch banks: “First Direct, if you’re willing to switch bank to it, will give you a near perfect exchange rate fee debit card and pay you £175 quid if you switch bank to it.”

A spokesperson for travel experts Lapland Famille said: “When spending abroad, choosing the right payment method makes a real difference. Specialist cards often work out far cheaper than standard bank cards. And if you’re ever asked to pay in pounds or the local currency, always choose the local currency – paying in cash locally is another good way to avoid hidden conversion fees.”

With no need to switch your main bank account for the easiest option, Martin’s advice shows that cutting the cost of spending abroad may be simpler than many travellers think – as long as you pick the right card before you go.

The nation’s financial advisor admitted there was a connection between the date he found himself writing his awards acceptance speech and the day his mum died when he was a young boy

Martin Lewis has reflected on his childhood as a “broken, scared boy” who “barely left the house” as he picked up a BAFTA special award for his work in the TV industry.

The financial journalist and broadcaster, 54, was acknowledged for his dedication to helping the nation change the way it thinks about money, and had previously been hailed by Bafta as “the most trusted man on television”.

The Money Saving Expert gave an emotional speech after being presented with the prize by Richard Osman, during the award show at Royal Festival Hall on Sunday night.

The Manchester-born broadcaster opened his speech by joking that his Martin Lewis Money Show on ITV, which he has hosted since 2012, is “basically a powerpoint presentation with a Q&A after”.

He added: “TV doesn’t have to be format-driven. People will embrace something actionable, something real, something that helps. They will even embrace complexity, if we make it worth it.”

Growing visibly emotional, Lewis admitted he wrote the speech on Thursday, 42 years after his mother’s sudden death days before his 12th birthday.

He said: “For six years, barring school, I barely left the house. Now I’m picking up a BAFTA. For all those of you out there struggling with your own demons, know this: life can be transformed, it can get better.

“If you had told that broken, scared boy that I’d proudly be a campaigning journalist, his jaw would have dropped. So I dedicate this to consumer journalism, where I found my fire.”

Lewis continued: “It’s not seen as sexy, sadly, but in recent years, it’s helped people navigate pandemic support, pushed governments to backtrack on energy hikes, legislate against scam ads – though far more is needed on that – and against aggressive, destructive council tax debt collection and far more.”

He also issued a plea to Rachel Reeves, criticising the “morally wrong” freezing of the repayment threshold for plan 2 student loans, which is due next year, saying: “Chancellor, please.”

He continued: “That power to hold power to account with trust and impartiality is needed more than ever in our fractured world.”

Lewis wrapped up the speech by thanking his viewers, who “don’t just watch, but act and save a shedload” and that his audience is “what keeps me doing this”.

He also thanked his wife of almost 20 years, Lara Lewington, and their daughter Sapphire. Through his decades-long career as a financial expert, Lewis has become known as a consumer champion who provides tips on issues such as debt and consumer rights through his broadcasting work and his website.

He was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2014 and a CBE in the New Year Honours in 2022, for his services to consumer rights and charitable services.

The BAFTA special award is one of the academy’s highest honours and previous recipients include historian and broadcaster David Olusoga, comedian Sir Lenny Henry, TV presenter Cilla Black and actor Idris Elba.

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A Jet2 survey has shown a shift in how people are booking their holidays amid concerns over jet fuel supplies

Jet2 has revealed that passengers are making a major change to how they book holidays amid concern over major jet fuel problems this year due to teh Middle East Crisis. As the Middle East crisis deepens, mounting concerns suggest Britain could face a jet fuel shortage that may disrupt holiday flights.

Goldman Sachs has cautioned that Britain is the country “most exposed” to jet fuel shortages triggered by the Iran conflict, stoking fears of further flight cancellations and ruined summer getaways. Analysts at one of the world’s largest investment banks warned that the UK is heavily dependent on imports routed through the closed Strait of Hormuz, with “critically low levels” of supplies and inadequate refining capabilities.

And personal finance expert Martin Lewis has spoken out about the issue – highlighting people who book their flights and hotels separately might not get compensation if flights are cancelled. Jet2 said package holidays are now the top choice for travellers, with 51% opting for this booking method – a 5% rise since February. During the same timeframe, those preferring to book through separate providers has fallen by six percentage points to 20%, while ‘accommodation only’ bookings have plummeted to just 2%.

Jet2 said the results showed main attractions of package holidays have remained consistent, with value (36%) and convenience (36%) leading the way. However, the appeal of ‘added security with one provider, ATOL/ABTA protection’ has climbed by four percentage points since February to reach 26%, according to the survey.

This protection ensures customers are safeguarded against any alterations to their bookings, including the possibility of refunds should travel plans be scrapped, while guaranteeing holidays meet the highest standards for customer service, booking amendments, and health and safety.

READ MORE: Jet2, easyJet, Jet2, TUI passengers with flights booked warned of ’14 day rule’ changeREAD MORE: TV travel expert Simon Calder gives Spain, Portugal, Italy summer rule update

Jet2 has pledged not to impose surcharges on any confirmed flights or holidays to offset rising costs, such as jet fuel, giving customers peace of mind that the price they book is the final price they’ll pay.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2, commented: “Consumers want assurance during times of uncertainty and package holidays provide that assurance. On top of all the protection that our package holidays guarantee, Jet2 is well known as being a consumer champion that goes above and beyond to look after customers. Ahead of a busy summer season, this means new and existing customers know that their well-deserved holidays are in the very best hands with us, and we are very excited about welcoming everyone onboard and taking them on their breaks.”

As millions of Jet2 customers gear up for a bustling summer season, the firm has confirmed it intends to run its scheduled services as planned.

Martin Lewis gave a warning for anyone who has already booked their holiday for this summer. In an update the personal finance guru gave an alert to people who have already paid for breaks from the main holiday firms and airlines like TUI, Jet2, Ryanair, Wizz, easyJet and British Airways.

During his Money Show Live on ITV, the financial expert responded to an audience member who asked: ‘If my flight’s cancelled due to no jet fuel will you definitely receive all your money back even for your hotel booking as well.’

Mr Lewis made clear that travellers would lose their hotel booking costs if they had arranged accommodation independently from flights booked with airlines such as Jet2, TUI, Wizz, Ryanair or easyJet – as they would not be protected under consumer regulations.

He stated: “No. And I think this is what people need to be very aware of. If you booked a package holiday where you booked everything in one, then under the package holiday regulations and rules and protections generally if your flight went you would get everything back.”

He went on to say: “And so actually at the moment package holidays give you a certain level of extra security that you wouldn’t get if you did a DIY booking where you bought your hotel and flight separately.” The reason behind this, he explained, is that the hotel booking itself remains valid: “Because the point is if you lose your flight and you’ve DIY booked, there’s nothing wrong with your hotel.

“The issue is you can’t get there. Your hotel is still there. It’s not faulty. It’s not cancelling. So, you don’t have those consumer rights.” If the hotel hasn’t done anything wrong, then guests might look at how they’ve made their booking – but that route offers no solution either.

He said: “So, you would then say, ‘What about using a credit card or debit card protection?’ It won’t work because there’s nothing faulty. And that’s just giving you the same replica rights that you would have with the retailer.”

Meanwhile, holiday giant TUI has issued a direct message to those with May bookings. TUI Managing Director Neil Swanson in a message on Facebook, pledged that May half-term flights would proceed as scheduled: “We know you may be feeling a little uneasy after recent headlines, and we want to reassure anyone travelling over May half term that they can look forward to their holiday with confidence with TUI. We have good visibility on fuel supplies and are operating our holiday programme as planned, with no flights being cancelled due to fuel shortages.

“Our careful planning across fuel, flying and hotel capacity means we’re able to continue offering great value and stable prices – with no fuel surcharges added by TUI. The price you see is the price you pay, and all TUI package holidays are ABTA & ATOL protected, giving peace of mind from booking right through to returning home.”

On TUI’s Facebook page, holidaymakers reported seeing significant price hikes. Marie said: “We booked our August holiday nearly 18 months ago and paid 5.2K. Just checked it to book now and it’s 6.7K. Glad we booked so far in advance. Already booked August 2027 holiday for same price as we paid this year.”

Lynn replied: “Marie Tomes we’re the exact same. Been going to the same hotel for 7yrs. They renegotiated the contract last year. For us to book for next year its going to be nearly 1k each more for our 2weeks. We’re going to make the most of this year as our last visit.”

One concerned traveller, Rno, raised worries about upcoming summer trips: “What about those who have already booked a hotel and flight for the entire month of August? I have a booking for my family and I’m worried Note that the plane is a TUI and the flight is to Egypt.”

TUI responded: “Hi there. We’re monitoring the situation closely. Right now, we don’t expect any disruption to flights or holidays, but we’ll keep this under review and contact customers directly if anything changes that affects their booking. “

Meanwhile, Jet2 revealed it too is witnessing a notable shift in booking behaviour amongst travellers. Experts such as Martin Lewis have urged travellers to book holidays as a package deal, warning that purchasing flights and accommodation separately could leave them without full compensation should anything go awry.

The money-saving guru has urged those who have paid for trips with major holiday firms and airlines to avoid the DIY approach

Martin Lewis has delivered a stark warning to anyone who has already booked a holiday for this summer – and explained why people could be making a big mistake getting flights and hotels separately. In a recent update, the money-saving guru has urged those who have paid for trips with major holiday firms and airlines, including TUI, Jet2, Ryanair, Wizz, easyJet and British Airways, to pay close attention.

It was suggested this week that the UK could be worst hit by jet fuel shortages because it has ‘critically low levels’ of supplies and poor refining tools, by Goldman Sachs. The giant investment bank Goldman Sachs said in a research note to clients: “The UK is the largest net importer of jet fuel in Europe, and it holds no strategic reserves, leaving commercial inventories as the primary buffer.”

During his Money Show Live on ITV, the financial expert responded to an audience member who asked: ‘If my flight’s cancelled due to no jet fuel will you definitely receive at the moment package holidays give you a certain as well.’ Mr Lewis explained that holidaymakers would lose their hotel booking costs if they had arranged accommodation independently from flights reserved with airlines such as Jet2, TUI, Wizz, Ryanair or easyJet – as they would not be protected under consumer regulations.

He said: “No. And I think this is what people need to be very aware of. If you booked a package holiday where you booked everything in one, then under the package holiday regulations and rules and protections generally if your flight went you would get everything back.”

He added: “And so actually at the moment package holidays give you a certain level of extra security that you wouldn’t get if you did a DIY booking where you bought your hotel and flight separately.” The reason for this, he explained, stems from the fact that the hotel reservation itself remains entirely valid: “Because the point is if you lose your flight and you’ve DIY booked, there’s nothing wrong with your hotel.

“The issue is you can’t get there. Your hotel is still there. It’s not faulty. It’s not cancelling. So, you don’t have those consumer rights.” If the accommodation provider hasn’t violated any terms, then guests might examine how they’ve paid for their booking – but that route offers no solution either. He said: “So, you would then say, ‘What about using a credit card or debit card protection?’ It won’t work because there’s nothing faulty. And that’s just giving you the same replica rights that you would have with the retailer.”

For those still seeking a solution, travel insurance may seem like the next logical port of call. Mr Lewis revealed: “So, you’ then say, ‘What about travel insurance?’ This is the bad bit. We were checking 40 travel insurance policies. Of those, only a few would have covered you for the knock-on eventuality of your flight being cancelled due to jet fuel and then your hotel costs.

“Only about three or four and most of those were package bank accounts where it’s linked to your bank account. Only one standalone provider. So we need to be blunt at the moment. There is a big risk in those circumstances. If you’re booking, you want something with free or limited cancellation quite short before. So you could just cancel it. You should always talk to the provider.

“Government are saying there isn’t one at the moment and they’re working on consolidating flights and doing things so there won’t be one, but people’s hotel costs if they book separately and other knock-on costs are potentially at risk.”

Speaking on his ITV programme, he also cautioned that neglecting to take one vital step after booking could leave holidaymakers with absolutely nothing if their plans fall through. With the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East sparking serious worries over jet fuel supplies, Mr Lewis warned that those who book a holiday and put off arranging insurance could risk losing everything should something go wrong in the interim.

Mr Lewis emphasised that travel insurance ought to be bought the instant a holiday is booked: “The reason you do that is because half of the cover you’re paying for is in case something happens that stops you going before the trip. And if you don’t have the travel insurance place, you’ve got no cover. So, you may as well have it in place. But at this time of year when many people have already booked, I have a slight adaptation, which is this. If you’ve booked and you don’t have it yet, just get it now.

“Get it done as soon as possible.” A Money Show Live viewer named David said: “I booked flights to Australia for a family group of seven to travel in March next year. I took out insurance immediately. One of our group is now pregnant and can’t travel on the dates planned. It costs £5,000 to reschedule, which I’m happy to report the insurance covered.”

Mr Lewis also commented on the complexities facing larger groups: “Very quick aside on that, think of who you’re booking for. So, if it’s a family group and one can’t go, they’ll often cover you. But if there’s a large group of friends going, you often all get independent travel insurance. Well, then if one can’t go or and you can’t all go on the trip, it’s only the person who’s who’s got that cover. So, you’d need a group insurance policy so that if one can’t go, you all can’t go.”

Jet2 today said now people choosing a package holiday as their preferred method of booking is up 5% to 51% since February. In the same period, the number of people preferring to book through different providers has dropped by six percentage points to 20%. Those choosing ‘accommodation only’ has dropped to 2%.

The primary reasons for choosing a package holiday have remained steady, with value (36%) and ease (36%) the main drivers, however the benefit of ‘added security with one provider, ATOL/ABTA protection’ has increased by four percentage points since February to 26% the poll said.

This protection means that customers are covered should any changes happen to their bookings, including the option of receiving refunds if their travel plans are cancelled, and that those holidays are held to the highest standards when it comes to customer service, changes to bookings, and health & safety.

Jet2 has confirmed it will not introduce surcharges on any booked flights or holidays to cover cost increases, for example jet fuel, assuring customers that the price they book with Jet2 is the price they will pay.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2 said: “Consumers want assurance during times of uncertainty and package holidays provide that assurance. On top of all the protection that our package holidays guarantee, Jet2 is well known as being a consumer champion that goes above and beyond to look after customers. Ahead of a busy summer season, this means new and existing customers know that their well-deserved holidays are in the very best hands with us, and we are very excited about welcoming everyone onboard and taking them on their breaks.”

LEWIS Capaldi was forced to halt one of his performances in the US, exclaiming he didn’t know “what the f*** just happened.”

The popular singer, 29, is currently on his Survive Tour after taking some time away from the spotlight to prioritise his mental and physical health.

But during his gig at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre he encountered a major technical issue, leaving him unable to sing.

Lewis giggled next to the mic, sharing with the crowd: “Something has happened. Usually I’d be singing by now.

“Something technological has gone wrong. I’m not sure what the f***s happened.”

He then joked: “This feels like… erectile dysfunction in a way,” before checking in with his team to see if the error had been fixed.

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After learning it hadn’t, Lewis continued to entertain the crowd, saying: “Right, we’re not back. Hi.”

Fans of the musician found the moment hilarious and loved the way he chose to handle it – both with humour and then by deciding to go ahead with an acoustic performance while the tech issue was fixed.

One user on Instagram said: “Who needs all the technology with a voice like that?!?”

A second shared: “It was a once in a lifetime experience and we were very excited to be part of the “technical issue”.

A third added: “Well no one can claim he can’t sing live.”

Lewis’ tour shares the same name as his latest EP release which came out last year.

The new music followed him taking a two-year hiatus from the industry, after his anxiety and Tourette’s syndrome symptoms increased.

After Lewis finishes up his shows in America, he’s due to perform in Vancouver before heading over to the UK.

His first UK tour date is on June 19, taking place at the Isle Of Wight Festival.

The Money Saving Expert founder reminded people of this ‘most important’ thing to do when booking a holiday

As the peak travel season draws near, Martin Lewis has reminded holidaymakers of his ‘golden’ travel rule, which he urges everybody to follow. He set out exactly why it matters during a recent special edition of the Money Show Live on Tuesday, April 28.

Martin said that his “most important” tip is to take out travel insurance “as soon as you book” – a principle he shortens to four letters: ‘ASAB’. Outlining his rule, Martin said: “If you’re booking a single-trip policy, then you get the insurance as soon as you book to cover a specific future date.

“You pay for that and, once you’ve paid for it, you have the travel insurance. If anything happens from that point onwards, you’re covered, no problem.”

Rather than waiting for something to go wrong, travellers should look at securing insurance the moment they book their holiday, safeguarding themselves should any problems arise in the lead-up to their travels. The level of cover on offer will vary depending on the type of policy chosen.

Martin’s reason for getting protected straight away – even if your trip is several weeks or more than a year down the line – is that cover kicks in immediately, reports the Express. He said: “The reason you do that is that half of the coverage you’re paying for is in case something happens that stops you from going before the trip.

“If you don’t have travel insurance, you’ve got no cover. So you might as well have it in place. At this time of year, when many people have already booked, I have a slight adaptation. If you’ve booked and you don’t have it yet, just get it now.”

Fellow ITV presenter Jeanette Kwakye shared that a viewer got in touch to say how they managed to avoid a £5,000 rescheduling fee thanks to having travel insurance in place. The viewer told Martin: “I booked flights to Australia for a family group of seven to travel in March next year.

“I took out insurance immediately. One of our group members is now pregnant and can’t travel on the dates planned. It cost £5,000 to reschedule, which I’m happy to report the insurance has covered.”

During the programme, Martin warned anyone booking a summer holiday that they would not receive a refund if their flight was cancelled and they were unable to reach their hotel. However, this only applied if they had booked in a particular way – and there is a means of safeguarding yourself should the worst come to pass.

The money expert was asked by an audience member: “If my flight’s cancelled due to no jet fuel will you definitely receive all your money back, even for your hotel booking as well.”

Martin confirmed that travellers would lose their hotel booking money if it had been booked separately from their flights, as they would not be protected under consumer rules. He said: “No. And I think this is what people need to be very aware of.

“If you booked a package holiday where you booked everything in one, then under the package holiday regulations and rules and protections generally, if your flight went, you would get everything back. At the moment, package holidays give you a certain level of extra security that you wouldn’t get if you did a DIY booking where you bought your hotel and flight separately.”

In other travel news, airline passengers have been told there are two days that are often “cheapest to book a flight”. This will naturally depend on factors such as your destination, your chosen airline, and where you book – full details here.

Money expert on his ITV show said ‘there is a big risk in those circumstances’

Martin Lewis has warned anyone booking their summer holiday that they won’t get their money back if their flight is cancelled and they’re unable to reach their hotel – provided they’ve booked in a particular way. During his Money Show Live on ITV last night, the financial expert was questioned by an audience member: ‘If my flight’s cancelled due to no jet fuel will you definitely receive all your money back even for your hotel booking as well.’

Mr Lewis clarified that travellers would forfeit their hotel booking fees if they’ve arranged it separately from their flights booked with operators like Jet2, TUI, Wizz, Ryanair, easyJet – as they won’t be protected by consumer regulations. He said: “No. And I think this is what people need to be very aware of. If you booked a package holiday where you booked everything in one, then under the package holiday regulations and rules and protections generally if your flight went you would get everything back.

“And so actually at the moment package holidays give you a certain level of extra security that you wouldn’t get if you did a DIY booking where you bought your hotel and flight separately.”

This is because there’s nothing amiss with the hotel reservation itself, he explained: “Because the point is if you lose your flight and you’ve DIY booked, there’s nothing wrong with your hotel. The issue is you can’t get there. Your hotel is still there. It’s not faulty. It’s not cancelling. So, you don’t have those consumer rights.”

If the hotel hasn’t done anything wrong, then travellers might look at how they’ve arranged their booking – but there’s little relief to be found there. He said: “So, you would then say, ‘What about using a credit card or debit card protection?’ It won’t work because there’s nothing faulty. And that’s just giving you the same replica rights that you would have with the retailer.”

Finally, people may turn to their travel insurance. Mr Lewis explained: “So, you then say, ‘What about travel insurance?’ This is the bad bit. We were checking 40 travel insurance policies. Of those, only a few would have covered you for the knock-on eventuality of your flight being cancelled due to jet fuel and then your hotel costs.”

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“Only about three or four and most of those were package bank accounts where it’s linked to your bank account. Only one standalone provider. So we need to be blunt at the moment. There is a big risk in those circumstances. If you’re booking, you want something with free or limited cancellation quite short before. So you could just cancel it. You should always talk to the provider.

“The reason this is important to know is if you are in that position once you understand you have no rights and they say, ‘Well, we’ll give you a voucher and you can come back in 6 months.’ You suddenly realise you’re doing well, not badly, right? If you didn’t have free cancellation and that this is going to be a problem if we get to that jet fuel shortage.

“Government are saying there isn’t one at the moment and they’re working on consolidating flights and doing things so there won’t be one, but people’s hotel costs if they book separately and other knock-on costs are potentially at risk.”

Bethan Lewis will lead Wales against England in the Women’s Six Nations on Saturday (14:15 BST) with fellow back rower Kate Williams ruled out through injury.

Williams came off in the second half of the 38-7 defeat by France last weekend with a leg problem and will miss Wales’ meeting with the world champions at Ashton Gate.

Alex Callender, Williams’ co-captain last year, is still recovering from an ankle injury.

Lewis led Wales against Canada at last summer’s World Cup and said: “It’s always a massive honour to put on the jersey and to be able to lead the girls out against England.”

The England game will come too soon for Wales centre Carys Cox, who was a late withdrawal from the France defeat after taking a knock in training, but head coach Sean Lynn says wing Seren Singleton is fit despite leaving the field with her arm in a sling.

He will name his side on Thursday morning.

KIM Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton’s romantic beach pictures prove that they’ve hard launched a VERY different relationship.

Body language expert Judi James has revealed that Kim, 45, and Lewis, 41, appear to be the real deal with “genuine displays of intimacy”.

The happy couple, who went official with their relationship in December, packed on the PDA during their getaway in Malibu.

The Skims founder looked in her element as she enjoyed a surf lesson with her beau.

TV personality Kim showed off her incredible figure in a skintight wetsuit and a black bikini top.

The F1 star wore a pair of black shorts and a matching T-shirt.

They were seen all over each other as they struggled to keep their hands off one another.

Judi has now revealed that the beach snaps illustrate just how much this famous couple are compatible, despite fears that they were a showmance.

Even though it’s early days, Judi believes that their is already a strong level of trust between the pair.

She exclusively told The Sun: “They might have been seen on a couple of chaste-looking dates where Lewis’s body language primarily spelled out ‘gentleman’ but these photos and the video look like the hard launch of a more tactile, sexual and romantic relationship between Kim and Lewis.

“Kim’s leading the plunge here, swimming ahead of Lewis as he seems to be struggling to catch up with her and touch her.

“When they are together in the ocean there are signs of an uninhibited and playful, mutually clinging relationship with Kim encircling Lewis with her arms and throwing her head back with an open-mouth laugh of sheer pleasure, with her relaxed neck-baring a sign of strong levels of trust in the relationship.”

The expert insisted that Kim appears to be in charge of the relationship but also seem to be rather like-minded and on the same page.

“Kim does look like the leader in the body language stages here, at one point she stands with her feet slightly splayed and her back arched as she performs a preening, confident pit-bare gesture as she squeezes the water out of her hair,” Judi shared.

“Lewis’s response is reciprocal as he shows his admiration by placing one hand out and onto the upper part of her bum.

“During a playful-looking moment Kim turns her torso in towards his, pressing it against his torso in an intimate pose as she places one hand on his waist and here he responds with one hand curved right around the shape of her bum.

“Kim and Lewis have dressed in coordinating swimwear here to signal they are a couple and their mirrored movements and poses at some points suggest a like-minded relationship too.”

Kim and Lewis packed on the PDA and were seen strolling along the beach and were pictured smiling and laughing together.

The lovebirds were then seen splashing about in the sea and were spotted with their arms wrapped around one another.

They appeared to be the real deal as they kept eye contact and smooched while riding the waves in the sea.

They were also seen showing off their surf skills during the sporty outing, with Kim jumping on top of the board, while Lewis kept an eye on her.

They seemed comfortable in each other’s presence as they clung to each other and rode the waves.

Last week, Kim sparked Kim rumours that she is moving in with Lewis as they went rug shopping in LA.

Lewis attempted to go incognito with black sunglasses and a baseball cap.

The two were seen heading back into a vehicle as they made their way home after the shopping trip.

Just last week, Kim made an 11,000-mile round-trip to spend 24 hours in London with Lewis.

She flew to the UK on her private jet to see her man in a bid to keep their long-distance romance alive.

She left Los Angeles last Monday and landed at Farnborough, Hants, at 4pm on the Tuesday before being chauffeured on a 90-minute journey to Lewis’s £18million home in Kensington, West London.

The couple stayed holed-up in his six-bedroom mansion while their security teams kept guard.

She then left on Wednesday afternoon, taking off from Oxford at 5.30pm to return to the US.

A source said: “Lewis and Kim are two of the busiest people in showbiz, but they are determined to do everything to see each other when they have any spare time.

“Kim spent Easter weekend with her family and then had a photoshoot in Los Angeles on Monday morning, then flew across the Atlantic to see Lewis.

“They didn’t have long together because she had commitments in the US to get back to, but it was quality time.”

Kim’s romance with Lewis became public knowledge after The Sun revealed she flew in from Los Angeles on her £100million private jet to spend an evening with him.

On January 31, the couple enjoyed a brief stay at the exclusive Estelle Manor in the Cotswolds, with insiders saying they had the spa to themselves, before enjoying a meal in a private room.

They made their public debut as a couple at the Super Bowl in February where they were spotted sitting together in a luxury suite.

They have since been seen together in Paris, the US and for several other trips.

Proving they’re the real deal, the sports star recently met Kim’s children while they were out in Tokyo ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.

The couple were  joined by three of her children -Saint, 10, Chicago, nine, and six-year-old Psalm – while they were on spring break.

“It’s more than just a casual connection. It takes a lot to capture Kim’s interest and she’s definitely intrigued,” an insider told People.

“He’s just an easygoing guy with great energy.

“Her family likes him and Kim’s very into him. They are both busy with their careers, but see each other as much as possible.”

He was asked if now is a good time to open an ISA or not

Martin Lewis has offered some advice on how you could organise your savings. He explained the practical tip amid the current uncertainty surrounding the economic impact of the Iran conflict.

The major war has already triggered a surge in oil prices, with fears of long-term consequences for food production and global economic growth.

Mr Lewis was questioned on his BBC podcast about whether now is an opportune moment to open a stocks and shares ISA, given that markets are struggling. When share prices fall, it can present a prime opportunity to invest, as your funds could increase in value when the market bounces back. But if prices decline further, the worth of your holdings could also drop. In response, Mr Lewis outlined the general principle to bear in mind.

He said: “If you’re talking about investing for a long term money that you don’t need for five years and you’re going to do that in a nice spread of investments, like a global tracker fund or an S&P tracker or FTSE tracker, then you just have to accept that you will never know when the perfect time to put money in is.”

£1,000 savings tactic

Nevertheless, he did reveal one strategy you could use to reduce the risk posed by market volatility. Mr Lewis said: “Let’s just imagine you’re putting £10,000 in a stocks and shares ISA, and you’re putting it away for a long time.

“You could put £10,000 in now but you could arrange with the provider that it sits in its cash part. You can hold it in cash, within a stocks and shares ISA, for the moment.

“You could say I’ve got £10,000, over the next 10 months, I’d like you to buy £1,000 a month of that tracker fund that I’m putting my investment into. It’s called pound-cost averaging.

“Because you’re drip feeding the money in, that helps smooth out the short-term volatility of buying at the right moment. So if you’re worried about that volatility, you might want to adopt that tactic.”

Mr Lewis continued in saying that in reality nobody can predict the optimal time to invest. He said: “They are unknowable in the short term, but in a broad spread of investment over the long term, on the balance of probabilities, investing will outperform saving.

“So don’t let the volatility put you off, but you might want to spread the time that you’re putting the money in.”

Major changes to ISA allowances

Savers may also want to note that major changes to ISA allowances are on the horizon. Currently, you can deposit up to £20,000 each tax year, which can be divided as you wish between cash ISAs and stocks and shares ISAs.

From April 2027, you will only be permitted to save up to £12,000 as you choose. The remaining £8,000 will only be available for deposits into investment-based accounts.

Savers aged 65 and over will be exempt from the new regulations, retaining the existing £20,000 allowance. ISAs are entirely tax-free, with no tax liability on any interest earnings or investment gains within these accounts.