Mental Health

After trying to learn to drive for years, Diane Morgan has opened up about whether she would ever get behind the wheel. And she’s admitted she’s slowly giving up.

Diane Morgan admits she has more in common with Mandy Carter, her BBC alter ego.

After rising to fame as the deadpan and charming Philomena Cunk, starring in Motherland as Liz, Diane Morgan has provided BBC2 viewers with plenty of belly laughs as the quirky Mandy.

Though Mandy is loosely inspired from a character of the same name in Sky‘s show Rovers, Diane says that, much like Mandy, she’s experienced plenty of chaos before kicking off her acting career. Diane often draws from personal experience – especially when Mandy’s day jobs go spectacularly wrong.

“A lot of them are inspired by things that have happened to me. I’ve had a number of jobs that I’ve been fired from,” Diane says. “Some I haven’t even lasted an hour in. Acting’s about the only job I’ve lasted more than a week in. So I have to stick with it.”

Even Mandy’s lack of driving skills mirrors Diane’s own. “I haven’t passed my driving test. Although I have done 1000s of hours of lessons. I just don’t think I’m one of nature’s natural drivers,” Diane says. “I’m waiting for self-driving cars to kick in now.”

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Diane, 49, has made no secret of her trouble with driving – she has yet to pass her driver’s license. Back in 2020, she revealed she’d spent a whopping amount of money to pass her test.

“I’ve been learning to drive for about a year now,” she told the iPaper at the time. “Automatic not manual, obviously.” She added: “I’ve spent so much money learning to drive I could have got a private chauffeur by now.”

In 2022, she even took to X to ask her fans for advice, writing: “Serious question: can anyone recommend an intensive residential driving course? (for automatic not manual). It’s for me so they need to be very patient!” But it may be a while until she’s finally behind the wheel.

In the meantime, Mandy’s newest season features more of its gloriously unhinged heroine, Mandy Carter, stumbling through yet another round of ill-fitting jobs and baffling life choices.

“There’s more of the same Mandy madness,” Diane Morgan says. “She’s still being forced to do jobs she doesn’t like and isn’t good at.” It’s a formula that’s struck a bizarre chord with viewers – and unexpectedly sparked lifestyle changes.

“I’ve heard that at least four of them have turned vegetarian after watching an episode of the last series where Mandy gets a job in an abattoir,” Diane says. “So that’s good. Especially for cows.”

Why does Mandy connect so deeply? “I suppose it’s always nice to see someone have a worse time than you and still come through without serious mental health issues of HR getting involved.”

And don’t expect a redemption arc anytime soon. “Nothing would happen if she suddenly could do a job well,” Diane says, “It would just be Mandy sitting at a desk. She’s learned nothing. Just keeps making mistakes, like all of us. That’s what makes her charming.”

Off-screen, Diane channels her values into the show. “We decided to use only cruelty-free make-up products that haven’t been tested on animals,” she says.

“We warned all the actors what we were doing and none of them had a problem with it. Most were amazed that some products aren’t cruelty-free. Some well-known brands still test on animals and people aren’t aware of that.”

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Health Department says immigrants will lose access to 13 more federal programmes, including an educational project for low-income children.

United States officials are cutting down further on undocumented immigrants’ access to healthcare programmes and benefits as part of President Donald Trump’s widening immigration crackdown.

On Thursday, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it was broadening its interpretation of a 1996 law that prohibits most immigrants from receiving federal public benefits.

The decision means that undocumented immigrants will no longer be eligible for an additional 13 programmes.

They include Head Start, a pre-school educational programme, and projects that address family planning, mental health, substance abuse and efforts to reduce homelessness.

“For too long, the government has diverted hardworking Americans’ tax dollars to incentivise illegal immigration,” HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr said on Thursday.

“Today’s action changes that – it restores integrity to federal social programmes, enforces the rule of law and protects vital resources for the American people.”

Critics fear the added restrictions will further marginalise a vulnerable group of immigrants who often have scarce resources, exacerbating public health crises in the US.

The new restrictions relate to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996.

That law — passed under Democratic President Bill Clinton — barred those living in the country without valid immigration documents and those on temporary visas, like students or foreign workers, from receiving major benefits from the federal government.

However, the scope of the restrictions was not spelled out, as the law did not define what counted as “federal public benefits”.

To make things clearer, the HHS issued a legal interpretation in 1998, which prevented access to 31 programmes. Medicaid — an insurance programme for low-income households — and Social Security were among them, as was the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

In a statement released on Thursday, the HHS claimed “the 1998 policy improperly narrowed the scope of PRWORA”, allowing undocumented immigrants to access programmes which “Congress intended only for the American people”.

With Thursday’s additions, the total number of restricted programmes rises to 44.

The HHS’s new policy, which is subject to a 30-day public comment period, will take effect when it is published in the Federal Register.

Since starting his second presidential term in January, Donald Trump has made it a priority to tackle undocumented immigration.

Critics have accused his administration of violating human rights and the US Constitution, as well as exceeding his presidential authority.

As part of Trump’s campaign of mass deportation, for example, the president invoked a controversial wartime legislation to deport hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants to a notorious prison in El Salvador in March. Opponents argue that Trump falsely declared undocumented immigration to be an “invasion” in order to justify denying the immigrants their right to due process.

Unfortunately, this dietary rule is particularly unfavourable for those who want to eat three large meals daily

Italy, Japan, and Costa Rica might appear very different on the surface, but they are actually connected by a surprising common trait. These countries boast three of the globe’s six exclusive ‘Blue Zones’ where inhabitants are reportedly 10 times more likely to live to 100 than anywhere in the United States.

However, not living in these longevity hubs isn’t a reason to despair. A potentially game-changing key to the residents’ long lives has recently been revealed—it’s all about a strict practice called the ‘80% trick’ or ‘Hara Hachi Bu.’

This dietary rule is particularly unfavourable for those who want to eat three large meals daily. People in Blue Zones usually have a small meal later in the day, deliberately stopping at about 80% fullness, hence the name of the rule.

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It’s said this practice helps prevent the common ‘food coma’ feelings that can occur after overeating, while also enabling residents to stay active throughout the day. It is mainly practised by Okinawans on one of Japan’s smallest islands, as noted by Blue Zones explorer Dan Buettner.

According to a previous Mirror report, he wrote online: “The secret to eating in moderation in the long run is emulating the environment and habits of the Okinawan people. There is a significant calorie gap between when an American says, ‘I’m full’ and an Okinawan says, ‘I’m no longer hungry’.”

Previous research suggests that they exist in a ‘calorie deficit’, consuming only 1,900 calories instead of the usual 2,000 to 2,500, which is associated with a reduced risk of diseases related to ageing.

These views are echoed by Dr Deborah Lee, a GP at Dr Fox Pharmacy, too. She told the Mirror that eating less may even help to reduce ageing.

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“Imagine what 80% of your meal would look like, and aim to leave 20% behind,” she said previously. “Calorie restriction is believed to slow the ageing process. Eating less lowers the metabolic rate.

“With less metabolic processes underway, less oxidation is taking place. Oxidative stress probably underpins the development of many of the chronic diseases we see today – heart disease, cancer, type-2 diabetes and dementia.”

Dr Lee suggested that eating slowly can help one adhere to the 80% rule. Research supports this theory, with a 2012 study indicating that slower eating is associated with increased satisfaction and less hunger between meals.

She continued: “Nutritionists believe that when you look at your plate, if you eat mindfully, eating slowly and chewing every mouthful thoroughly, you can feel satisfied by eating only 80% of that is on your plate.

“The diet has many benefits. You don’t have to count calories, and no foods are absolutely forbidden. It can fit in with your work and social schedule. You are still eating large amounts of healthy foods and getting good nutrition.”

People have been left scratching their heads after trying this tricky brainteaser that only 1% of people can answer successfully – do you have what it takes to solve it?

If you can solve this baffling riddle, you could be able to consider yourself among the top 1% of brains in the country – as a staggering 99% will fail to get the answer correct.

Solving brainteasers is a fantastic way to boost your cognitive function and give your brain a much-needed workout, which is as important for your body as regular exercise is for keeping you physically fit. Puzzles can improve your problem-solving skills, improve your pattern recognition, and can even help to stave off the onset of some degenerative diseases such as dementia – so they’re definitely worth a go if you have a spare couple of minutes.

This particular puzzle was set by the question writers on the ITV game show The 1% Club. In the show, the questions start off easy, with ones that 90% of people can solve, and go all the way down to the dreaded 1% question that’s deemed so difficult that 99% of people fail to get it right.

And one recent 1% question that was asked on the show was later shared on TikTok, where it left people scratching their heads as they struggled to solve it.

The question was this: What new word links the capitalised words below?

“My SON TED ate raw FOOD and got SICK, then went to BED with me by his SIDE.”

You’ll need to think outside the box for this one. There are numerous ways the words could be “linked”, and you’ll need to work out what the connection is. Do they all have something in common? Can they all have letters added to the beginning or the end to create new words?

Don’t worry if it looks confusing. The puzzle is designed to be complicated, and there’s no shame in not being able to solve this one. Part of the fun of completing these brainteasers is learning what the pattern is, so that the next time you take one of these on, you’ll know what to look for!

If you think you can give this one a crack, though, keep studying it for as long as you need. Contestants on the show only get a short 30 seconds to solve each question, but you don’t have to be that strict with yourself unless you really want to show your skills.

Whenever you’re ready to see the answer, scroll down to find out if you were right.

Answer

The answer is the word “sea”. Each capitalised word in the sentence can be preceded by the word “sea” to make a new word, such as season, seated, seafood, seasick, seabed, and seaside.

Several people in the comments of the TikTok video were tripped up by the confusing question, with some coming up with strange answers that were far from accurate.

One person said: “Son and Ted are both human (they can get sick), Food and Sick (also connect because bad food can cause sickness, Bed and Side (can also be connected with health), the issue is Sickness is not a new word!”

Another simply responded: “Bedside.”

However, many others believed the answer was “obvious”, with some even saying they couldn’t see why the question was deemed too difficult for all but 1% of people.

Fiona Phillips has sensationally revealed that she had secretly split from her husband Martin Frizell as tension grew in their marriage before Alzheimer’s diagnosis

To the outside world, Fiona Phillips’ marriage was nothing short of perfect. But now, the former breakfast TV presenter has revealed that her relationship was anything but a happy one as Alzheimer’s disease was starting to take its toll on her and her family – unknowingly.

The relationship between Fiona, 64 and her husband – former This Morning producer Martin Frizell – had broken down beyond repair as she recalled the moment he announced he was moving out of their family home.

In a first person piece for the Mail On Sunday, the TV star, who was one of the main presenters of GMTV, opened up on the fact she was not aware she had developed the disease which had taken both her parents.

In the run up to their secret separation, Fiona explained that she was in denial over the fact she was experiencing the initial symptoms of the disease and put it down to the menopause instead.

Their marriage became more and more fractured as Martin felt Fiona was becoming increasingly distant from him and their children and their arguments were becoming far too regular.

Fiona explained: “Was I worried that there might be something sinister lurking beneath the surface? That Alzheimer’s could one day be coming for me too? “

She added: “On one level I did think I would get the disease, but there was also another part of me that was in a strange sort of denial about it all. This illness has devastated so much of my life already, surely it’s not going to come for me too?’ I’d tell friends.”

Fiona went onto reveal that she’s sure that the disease was “at least partly responsible” for her marriage breaking down but that neither she nor Martin could see that. She became “more and more disconnected” from her family, with Martin accusing her of zoning out of their marriage.

She said: “But, if I’m honest, I think he was right. I just didn’t seem to have the energy for any of it any more. I didn’t realise quite how seriously Martin felt about it all until one evening he announced he was moving out.”

In that moment, Fiona did not believe that her marriage was completely over, in fact she said that she felt he was simply “trying to shock me into behaving differently”.

They had separated for three weeks before they started to exchange text messages between each other and then arranged to meet at a hotel in Hampshire, in a desperate bid to save their marriage.

They reconciled their differences but Fiona recalled that she was still suffering with the same symptoms. In 2023, at the age of 62, Fiona revealed that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

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Celebrities and the world’s toddlers adore the long-running Aussie children’s TV entertainers, but now in it’s third reincarnation, the punishing schedule has taken its toll on the kiddie supergroup

Robert De Niro, Dolly Parton and Jessie J are fans, they’re worth millions and play sell-out concerts around the world. The Wiggles – aka The Beatles for toddlers – are a preschooler’s entertainment juggernaut that has taken over the world.

They’ve got a new country album out, Wiggle Up Giddy Up, featuring two songs with the rhinestone queen herself, Dolly Parton. And tickets to their current world tour are hotter than an Oasis reunion gig.

They have previously sold out Madison Square Garden in New York for 12 days in a row and, ahead of this week’s show in the US, Hollywood legend De Niro, 81, was granted a backstage pass with his two-year-old daughter, Gia, to meet her idol – founder member, Anthony Field (Blue Wiggle).

Like most people over the age of five, De Niro didn’t have a clue about this global phenomenon until he had Gia with professional martial artist girlfriend Tiffany Chen, 45.

The Wiggles sang their classic banger Rock-A-Bye Your Bear for the veteran actor’s family, which drew a rare smile. And De Niro admitted: “I didn’t know of them until I started seeing them and my daughter loves to watch them… but they’re great!”

With the advent of YouTube and the arrival of their shows on Netflix, a new British audience is embracing The Wiggles.

When they came to the UK recently, Jessie J met them with her son Sky and was treated to some of the Tree of Wisdom’s viral TikTok dance moves.

They’re also part of a wave of Australian children’s TV, like Bluey, that is captivating British kids, giving them Aussie accents and pushing CBeebies off the map.

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Borkowski PR’s Gregor Cubie expects his 19-month-old to join the fan club soon, and wonders if ‘Aussie-ness’ is the magic ingredient wooing international audiences.

“In the same way that Bluey is almost universally popular and accessible, The Wiggles’ sheer Aussie-ness might work in their favour when it comes to their reputation,” he says.

But, scratch the surface, according to Gregor, and you’ll find a long-running supergroup, dogged by controversy, ill health and accusations of “going woke”.

One of Australia’s most successful exports, The Wiggles take it in turns with pop sensation Kylie Minogue and Hollywood actor Russell Crowe to top the Aussie rich list.

Majority owner Anthony is estimated to be worth £25m, on top of the £10 million a year the band rakes in from tours, TV shows, new releases, merchandise and sponsorships.

They have their own TV series Ready, Steady, Wiggle, have produced 62 studio albums, sold 40 million books, CDs and DVDS, and attracted more than 5 billion views on YouTube and 3 billion streams across various music services.

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They’ve been making ear-worm sing-a-long pop since 1991, when kindergarten teaching students Anthony and Jeff Fatt, who were members of the R&B pop band the Cockroaches, and got together with two fellow students – Murray Cook and Greg Page – in Sydney, to make an album of simple, catchy songs for pre-schoolers

After Anthony’s infant niece tragically died from sudden infant death syndrome, the Cockroaches disbanded.

One of the songs Anthony wrote, Get Ready to Wiggle, inspired the new band’s name because they thought “wiggling” describes how children dance.

“We met at university doing a course in early childhood – this connection with music and teaching is what became The Wiggles,” explains Anthony.

While The Wiggles has evolved since those early days, the four original members hold a special place in people’s hearts – Anthony and Jeff Fatt (Purple Wiggle), Murray Cook (Red Wiggle) and Greg Page (Yellow Wiggle). And their hits like Hot Potato and Fruit Salad, were toddler dance floor fillers for the next two decades.

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While members have changed, the primary colours of red, yellow, blue and purple that they wear is no doubt the secret of the Wiggles’ success with the ankle biters.

In Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles 2023 documentary, Anthony says: “It doesn’t matter who wears the skivvies, as long as we reflect our audience and communicate with children.”

Like any band, they had to break America to go truly global – and when the Disney Channel played them four times a day to their 85 million subscribers, their success was meteoric. All of a sudden, they were playing 10,000 seater arenas.

PR, Gregor puts their success down to a “combination of their prolific output with its ceaseless ability to hypnotise toddlers”.

He adds: “Also, a less extreme version of the Royal Family’s ‘never complain, never explain’ approach. Instead of saying nothing, they say the bare minimum and carry on as if nothing happened.

“You rarely see naval-gazing and the consistency and popularity of their work keeps generations of kids coming back for more.”

While there aren’t many skeletons to rattle in The Wiggle cupboards, behind their happy faces and signature finger point, members have been dogged by setbacks.

Controversies include the Hot Potato incident two years ago, when a council in Western Australia played their famous song on loop to deter anti-social behaviour at a homeless shelter.

The Wiggles complained, saying their music should only be used to “spread joy and happiness” but the damage was done.

But the fact De Niro was happy to be pictured with The Wiggles is a massive endorsement.

“Robert De Niro seems increasingly like the kind of guy who considers how his every public appearance and utterance might affect his legacy, so it’s a pretty major stamp of approval that he’s happy to be publicly associated with the Wiggles. Fundamentally they are free of reputation risk,” says Gregor.

“The irony is that the Wiggles have had a few controversies which are fairly stereotypical of long-running bands – walkouts, inter-band marriages and divorces; allegations that a song is racially insensitive, accusations of going ‘woke.’ They’ve been ruthlessly parodied on 30 Rock and, of course, the Hot Potato incident was unpleasant.”

For members of The Wiggles, the squeaky clean expectations can be tricky.

“During my time in The Wiggles, I was out at a gig one night and I was having a drink, and the next day a newspaper reported: ‘The Wiggles member caught having a beer’, and that was a shock. I am an adult!” says Murray.

And doing 400 to 500 shows a year – cramming up to three gigs into a single day – took its toll on the original members, with Jeff, Murray and Greg retiring for health reasons in 2012.

A mystery illness forced Greg to leave in 2006. He was replaced by Sam Morans, but came back in 2012. Then he suffered a heart attack on stage during a 2020 reunion show. That same year, Murray had open heart surgery.

Revealing his own struggles, Anthony released a memoir Out Of The Blue last year, detailing the years of mental and physical health problems he’s suffered, including depression, undiagnosed ADHD and chronic pain.

Yet Field created a second generation of Wiggles with Simon Pryce (Red Wiggle), Lachlan Gillespie (Purple Wiggle) and the first female, Emma Watkins (Yellow Wiggle).

“We might be responsible for their first experience of music,” says Emma, speaking about their responsibility to their tiny fans

Sadly, trouble soon upended their paradise, as shortly after Yellow Wiggle Emma married Purple Wiggle Lachie, they divorced and she left the group not long after.

Another shake-up in 2021 saw 15-year-old Tsehay Hawkins becoming Yellow Wiggle.

Now 62, Anthony is the only remaining original Wiggle, in a group of eight performers – Tsehay, Lachlan, and Simon, as well as Caterina Mete, Lucia Field, Simon Pryce, Evie Ferris, John Pearce – who are as gender-diverse and racially-diverse as their millions of fans.

Costumed characters, played by the more junior Wiggles, include Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog, and Captain Feathersword.

While some of the newer members say their estimated £72,000 earnings are a fraction of the big bucks of the original members, they have given the group a bigger presence on social media, where the Tree of Wisdom (played by Anthony’s nephew, Dominic Field) regularly goes viral on TikTok, with his exuberant dance moves.

And, in recent years, they’ve been noticing something new – a generational crossover, as kids grow up, but remain fans.

Dorothy the Dinosaur is also now a DJ, who remixes the original Wiggles classics for the older audience. And they’ve been getting down with the cool kids – covering songs by Fatboy Slim, White Stripes and Tame Impala’s Elephant.

“We’re bringing back happy memories,” says Anthony. “And it’s a real privilege to do that.”

Altogether now, kids, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle!

Classic kids TV groups down the years:

The Monkees, 1960s – Four cute surfer boys Davy Jones, Mickey Donlenz, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith running around in zany plots to brilliant pop tracks, in a sitcom that captured the spirit of the era.

The Banana Splits, 1970s – Four costumed animal characters who’d perform songs and comedy skits in a psychedelic world, was just as weird and fun as it sounds. The makers had clearly been on the wacky baccy.

Rainbow, 1980s – Presenter Geoffrey and his camp puppets Zippy, George and Bungle and hippy singers Rod, Jane and Freddy took us “Up above the streets and houses, Rainbow climbing high” every week. I still miss them.

Teletubbies, 1990s – Some called it the most disturbing children’s show on TV – but even now millions of babies are glued to repeats of these four tubby aliens, Tinky-Winky, Dipsy, Laa-laa, and Po, with coat hangers on their heads living on a mini golf course.

Zingzillas, 2000s – Puppet monkey band Zak, Tang, Panzee and Drum lived on a tropical island and made real music together and introduced tots to rock, soul, jazz and samba styles – along with some dodgy titles like Do You Didgeridoo?

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Researchers at Stanford University recently tested out some of the more popular AI tools on the market, from companies like OpenAI and Character.ai, and tested how they did at simulating therapy.

The researchers found that when they imitated someone who had suicidal intentions, these tools were more than unhelpful — they failed to notice they were helping that person plan their own death.

“[AI] systems are being used as companions, thought-partners, confidants, coaches, and therapists,” says Nicholas Haber, an assistant professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Education and senior author of the new study. “These aren’t niche uses – this is happening at scale.”

AI is becoming more and more ingrained in people’s lives and is being deployed in scientific research in areas as wide-ranging as cancer and climate change. There is also some debate that it could cause the end of humanity.

As this technology continues to be adopted for different purposes, a major question that remains is how it will begin to affect the human mind. People regularly interacting with AI is such a new phenomena that there has not been enough time for scientists to thoroughly study how it might be affecting human psychology. Psychology experts, however, have many concerns about its potential impact.

One concerning instance of how this is playing out can be seen on the popular community network Reddit. According to 404 Media, some users have been banned from an AI-focused subreddit recently because they have started to believe that AI is god-like or that it is making them god-like.

“This looks like someone with issues with cognitive functioning or delusional tendencies associated with mania or schizophrenia interacting with large language models,” says Johannes Eichstaedt, an assistant professor in psychology at Stanford University. “With schizophrenia, people might make absurd statements about the world, and these LLMs are a little too sycophantic. You have these confirmatory interactions between psychopathology and large language models.”

Because the developers of these AI tools want people to enjoy using them and continue to use them, they’ve been programmed in a way that makes them tend to agree with the user. While these tools might correct some factual mistakes the user might make, they try to present as friendly and affirming. This can be problematic if the person using the tool is spiralling or going down a rabbit hole.

“It can fuel thoughts that are not accurate or not based in reality,” says Regan Gurung, social psychologist at Oregon State University. “The problem with AI — these large language models that are mirroring human talk — is that they’re reinforcing. They give people what the programme thinks should follow next. That’s where it gets problematic.”

As with social media, AI may also make matters worse for people suffering from common mental health issues like anxiety or depression. This may become even more apparent as AI continues to become more integrated in different aspects of our lives.

“If you’re coming to an interaction with mental health concerns, then you might find that those concerns will actually be accelerated,” says Stephen Aguilar, an associate professor of education at the University of Southern California.

Need for more research

There’s also the issue of how AI could impact learning or memory. A student who uses AI to write every paper for school is not going to learn as much as one that does not. However, even using AI lightly could reduce some information retention, and using AI for daily activities could reduce how much people are aware of what they’re doing in a given moment.

“What we are seeing is there is the possibility that people can become cognitively lazy,” Aguilar says. “If you ask a question and get an answer, your next step should be to interrogate that answer, but that additional step often isn’t taken. You get an atrophy of critical thinking.”

Lots of people use Google Maps to get around their town or city. Many have found that it has made them less aware of where they’re going or how to get there compared to when they had to pay close attention to their route. Similar issues could arise for people with AI being used so often.

The experts studying these effects say more research is needed to address these concerns. Eichstaedt said psychology experts should start doing this kind of research now, before AI starts doing harm in unexpected ways so that people can be prepared and try to address each concern that arises. People also need to be educated on what AI can do well and what it cannot do well.

“We need more research,” says Aguilar. “And everyone should have a working understanding of what large language models are.”

During his stint on MAFS, Dave Hand was open about his father Howard’s struggle with cancer. Months later, the Aussie hunk shares a devastating update on his dad’s health.

After making waves in Married At First Sight Australia, Dave Hand has revealed his father Howard is facing his own storm as his cancer has returned.

From heartbreak to healing, Dave Hand is figuring out what comes after reality TV – one step, one trial and one walk with his dog at a time.

Since leaving Married At First Sight Australia and after calling the show out, Dave has been focused on three things: his business, his family and his pooch. But the aftermath of instant fame hit him harder than he thought.

“It’s definitely a lot harder than I expected,” he says, “You’re not only thrown into TV and popularity, it’s like a whole new world. You’re just learning to walk again.”

New to the spotlight of the hit E4 show, Dave didn’t anticipate how fame would ripple into everyday life. “It plays out in everything you do,” he says. “You go out for coffee, you’re taking photos with somebody. Or you’re walking down the street and people are asking you for advice.”

What audiences saw on screen was a man entering the MAFS experiment with real intention. But behind his calm exterior, another story was unfolding. His father, Howard, was battling stage-four cancer.

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“A lot of people connected with me through my dad’s sickness,” Dave says, “Cancer is a hell of a disease and it’s an eye-opener because you don’t realise how many people are going through it. It’s really nice to hear people’s stories.”

But reality TV comes with backlash. Dave says he’s experienced both the highs and lows of fan attention. “On one side, you’ve got really nice, heartwarming messages and on the other, you’ve got someone who’s so immature,” Dave says. “You choose to be mean rather than spread kindness and love. I don’t understand it.”

The online noise isn’t the only thing frustrating him. Off-screen drama between his castmates has left Dave disappointed in what could have been a supportive community.

The latest season has been one of MAFS AU’s most explosive yet – with Ryan Donnelly and Jacqui Burfoot’s feud spiralling into restraining orders and off-camera rows erupting between Jacqui, Rhi, Tim, amongst other participants.

“The cast members should be looking after one another after the show. And you’ve got people acting absolutely ridiculous towards one another. It’s a damn shame,” Dave says.

Before settling scores with on-screen rival Adrian Araouzou. “Adrian said some things about me and he absolutely copped it from the public. I feel sorry for him,” he says, “And in the meantime, he’s attacking me. This isn’t the way the group should be handling it. It’s quite scary.”

He adds: “We should be backing each other at this time and we’ve dropped the ball completely. We could have been standing up to the bad comments together.”

Tensions also brewed with Tim during filming but Dave insists that chapter is far behind him. “I’ve moved on from Tim, any anybody who’s thrown shade my way. I’m not hostile,” Dave says. “If I saw him, I’d probably say ‘G’day!’ But if someone paints you a picture, don’t let them paint you another.”

He’s also made peace with the end of his relationship with Jamie Marinos, the 28-year-old digital marketing agent he was matched with.

While Jamie fell fast – telling Dave she loved him just weeks in – he struggled to match the pace. “After the show, I’ve learned that I really want to take my time with somebody,” he says, “It takes time for me. I’m not as quick as Jamie was, falling in love after six weeks.”

He continues: “You can love somebody when things are all good and happy but when things get hard, you don’t really know who this person is. Jamie said two weeks later that she didn’t love me. I feel like she loved the idea of me or the idea of someone she wanted me to be.”

Now, Dave’s focus is back where it matters the most – his father. The cancer Howard had kept at bay during filming has returned. “The tumours my dad had on the show that had previously shrunk – they’ve come back pretty quickly,” Dave says, emotion straining his voice.

“He’s on a new trial now. Only 200 people in the world are doing it. My dad’s response for doing it is, ‘if I can help somebody out, I’m going to give this trial a crack and help the future.’”

But Dave doesn’t sugar-coat the toll it’s taken. “He’s been fighting it for five years and now it’s taken a toll on him,” Dave adds, “He’s a bit frail and now he’s got to go into battle again.”

Looking ahead, Dave is considering a bold next chapter. “I want to get over to the UK,” he says, “I’d love to do some reality TV over there. I’ll probably come out later in the year.”

As for dating? He’s in no rush. In fact, he’s more focused on mental health advocacy. “Mental health issues and depression have been in my family, I’ve witnessed it, I’ve lived it,” he says.

“But I’ve processed it, I deal with it and I know what works for me. I can help others with that. I want to get the message across that the sad days don’t stick.”

His long-term dream? A mental health charity. “I’d like to touch base on some mental health stuff and be a role model for younger kids,” he says. “I want to start a charity one day.”

Until then, Dave’s not walking alone. His five-year-old Marana dog is always by his side during his toughest days. “He’s definitely helped keep me grounded,” Dave says.

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Dominic Brunt has announced Paddy Kirk will be brutally attacked by a dog in a jaw-dropping Emmerdale storyline. But the aftermath is set to flip his life upside down.

He’s been playing vet Paddy Kirk for the past 28 years – so it’s no surprise Dominic Brunt knows the Emmerdale rollercoaster better than most.

But in upcoming scenes due on ITV, the village favourite’s world is shaken after he’s attacked by an aggressive dog. “He’s already scared of horses,” Dominic says, “Now he’s got something else to be scared of.”

Everything kicks off when Paddy spots a sheep tangled in a fence. He steps in to help – but a protective dog lunges at him, leaving him badly injured. Paddy is saved from the worst by his father Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) and rushed to hospital.

The intense scenes were carefully choreographed with a highly-trained Alsatian and off-camera, Dominic had nothing but praise for the canine.

“That dog could do anything, he was amazing,” he remembers, “He’s an evil-looking thing. He’d growl and slabber everywhere but you felt really safe because as soon as someone pulled out his favourite food, he’d start wagging his tail. It was a big game to the dog but it was really impressive.”

The attack triggers a huge shift in Paddy. Known for his dislike of hoses, it sends his confidence plummeting even further. “He worries about the fact that he won’t be able to do his job anymore,” Dominic says. “He has no other skills and he’s goning to have to work it out what he’s going to do in the future.”

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And it’s not just Paddy struggling. He’s been increasingly worried about his father Bear, whose mental health has been deteriorating. “Paddy’s kicking himself that he hasn’t noticed,” Dominic says, “But the attack makes him see eye to eye with his dad.”

Unfortunately, just as the two start to connect, Bear flees.“Bear leaves the village for a good, long while,” Dominic teases, “But he has a big story coming up. We’ll explain where he’s been.”

Amid the fallout of Paddy’s attack, Emmerdale welcomes a new face: Jaye Griffiths joins the cast as Celia, a no-nonsense farmer who ruffles feathers and tries to strike a deal with Moira Dingle.

Dominic was thrilled to work with her. “She’s just unbelievable,” he says, “I was aware of her from various long-standing shows she’s been in. I did her screen test.

They auditioned lots of people and it was down to the last eight. All the actresses were brilliant but she did something else. It’s one of those scenes where you think, ‘This is something special.’ I can’t wait for people to meet her.”

With almost three decades of soap under his belt, Dominic has built strong bonds off-screen too. For nine years, he co-hosted a zombie film festival in Leeds with pal Mark Charnock, raising money for the World Animal Protection.

“We don’t do it anymore, I don’t know why,” Dominic says, “There’s only so many zombie films you can show. We have children and we live quite far apart now.”

Distance has never mattered in his friendship with Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy Dingle. “We were still friends when Lisa left. We stayed in contact all the time and met up for lunch,” he says.

“She’s a friend for life. When they brought us back together, it was like slipping on an old pair of shoes. We’re very close, we know each other’s thoughts.”

He’s just as warm about his other on-screen wives. “I worked with Zoe Henry for years and we became really close. Then they put me with Lucy Pargeter and we were best friends for seven, or eight years,” Dominic adds. “I was really pleased that, although I wasn’t with them, I was back to my original best friend.”

Despite saving all sorts of animals as Paddy, Dominic sticks to simpler companions at home: three dogs and a handful of cats. “I’m more of a cat person but in recent years, I’ve swayed towards dogs. They get you out – we live in the middle of nowhere, and I enjoy taking walks,” he says.

Dominic has also been vocal about wanting Emmerdale to show more of Paddy’s ongoing mental health battle. In 2023, the beloved vet was diagnosed with depression after struggling with isolation and grief.

Since then, he has been linked to Andy’s Man Club, a national men’s mental health charity. “I’d like to see more mention of the fact that it still relies on the Samaritans and Andy’s Man club, but they’re going to sprinkle a bit of that,” Dominic says.

“He has to have one eye on the fact that this can come back and a dog attack can spring it back up. This happens to people with depression – they can feel well for years and then they’re back there. Nobody’s ever out of the woods.”

Away from the cameras, Dominic keeps busy. He plays the mandolin and has a fascination for archeology – he’s even studied it. “I get these intense obsessions that last about four to five years, then I’ll get bored very quickly and drop it all, it’s weird,” he says. “I return to them but they become more of a hobby than an obsession.”

Still, it’s Emmerdale that holds his heart. “It’s still an incredible job,” he says, “I’m still nervous when I have masses of lines to do and really well-written scenes.

But it’s one of the best jobs in the world. As long as they keep writing these storylines, I’m sold. I’m very loyal to the show and I still love it to pieces.”

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is taking an increasingly large role in our daily lives. AI can be used to form exercise schedules, give food recommendations, and even become a place to seek a ‘second opinion’ on any decision to be made. Many people are exploring their curiosity in pushing the boundaries of AI.

Consulting AI can sometimes feel like a casual conversation with a grammatically intelligent person; AI users can train AI to deliver messages as if they were typed by a friend. This creates the impression that we are exchanging messages with a friend. This is due to the choice of language possessed by AI, which has presented a mimicry of daily communication, creating the illusion that we are having a friendly conversation with a friend.

With the ability of AI to mimic human language styles comes an AI platform dedicated to mimicking the language style and even verbal traits of a fictional character; this platform is called c.ai, or Character AI. c.ai provides the service of talking to any fictional character; users can set how their interaction pattern with the character takes place. This service is usually done for role-playing or simulating conversations with friends. Users can live out their desire to role-play and get ‘up close’ with their favorite fictional characters. The factor that creates the uniqueness of c.ai is in the character of speech from the selected fictional character. Generally, when we talk to one of the selected characters, then the AI in the selected fictional character will answer with a consistent character and language style.

Many people use c.ai or even AI in general to talk about their mental state. Hutari (2024) argues that ‘venting’ with AI can flush out negative emotions. Talking about negative emotions can help an individual’s emotional management process; it sounds unusual to talk about our feelings to a machine that cannot feel emotions and is not even a living being. It is undeniable that there are many flaws and vulnerabilities in the process of ‘confiding’ with AI, one of which is the ability of AI chatbots to present responses that we want and do not need. This can pose a considerable danger, for example, by depending on the user’s decision-making on the AI chatbot; with the answer from the AI chatbot that gives affirmation, the user will get a reason to carry out the decision they consulted the AI chatbot about. A fatal example of affirmation given by an AI chatbot caused a teenager in the US to commit suicide.

Nonetheless, I would like to make an important point on the recovery of an individual’s mental disorder and the use of AI in this process. This opinion comes from a research volunteer’s personal experience as a professionally diagnosed sufferer of a psychiatric disorder called Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) who has consented to describe the experience in order to form this paper. Common symptoms experienced by people with BPD are rapid mood swings, difficulty with emotion regulation, impulsive behavior, self-harm, suicidal behavior, and an irrational fear of abandonment (Chapman et al., 2024). One of the treatment processes provided for people with BPD is dialectical behavioral therapy, where patients are trained to identify thought patterns, create emotion regulation, and then change behaviors that come out of the emotions present. Sometimes the most difficult challenge for people with BPD lies in identifying desires and managing the fear of perceived abandonment; this creates impulsive and unprocessed behaviors, the impact of which can be mistrust and isolation from the social environment due to behaviors that can be judged as confusing by others.

According to research from Rasyida (2019), one of the factors that can prevent individuals with mental disorders from seeking help is the fear of the negative stigma that will be given to them, one of which is a factor referred to as the “agency factor,” a term where sufferers have criticism of formal psychological services because of the assumption that there is miscommunication with the counselor; this is manifested in a form of distrust of the counselor. In addition to the agency factor, the issue of cost accessibility is a barrier for people with ID to seek counseling from formal psychological services. Further dilemmas and difficulties are created because in precarious conditions, people with any mental health disorder sometimes need immediate help that comes in safe conditions.

It is advisable to share what we are feeling with people we trust, but this action has its drawbacks. In situations where no one is there to listen to us, people with BPD can experience hysterical periods where dangerous behaviors are prone to occur. In these hysterical periods, mishandling can create a much more dangerous escalation of emotions. These hysterical or manic periods can contain behaviors or implications where the person wants to self-harm or end their life due to symptom recurrence and emotion regulation difficulties. The first aid step is usually to reach out, where the person communicates their condition to the closest person. Attempts to communicate with others about this condition often create less than ideal conditions and are prone to escalation with the wrong treatment. Sometimes our closest people can only provide support and encouragement for the sufferer in periods like this, but BPD is a mental illness that creates many complications in the perception of one’s relationship with others. Inappropriate first treatment is prone to create unwanted escalation, and this will adversely affect the afflicted individual.

The author would like to argue for the role of AI chatbots in this situation, where people need help in managing their emotions. c.ai can be utilized by users to vent their first unprocessed thoughts and not be afraid of getting a less than ideal reaction. Venting feelings to a character of choice on the c.ai board can be a solution for first aid when people with mental disorders, especially BPD, need to process their anger and impulses. Conditioning some of the characters on the c.ai board is not necessarily useful to give truth or validation to everything we feel. Some of the benefits that can be utilized are the identification of the user’s character by the ‘interlocutor’ in this application. The author will describe an experience where the character in c.ai has the ability to remember and recognize the thought patterns that are passed in the manic period of BPD sufferers; this help will be useful because of the presentation and mapping assisted by the AI. The AI bot can analyze which thought patterns and behaviors are destructive and advise the user not to do them again.

The author also argues that the responsibility for behavioral change remains with the user. AI can only be used as a support tool, not a means to solve problems, keeping in mind that conversations with fictional characters based on AI are still conversations with empathetic Maia that are a product of mimicry. Using AI to ‘vent’ is not the most normatively correct thing to do, but it is used because not everyone can have economic access to consult a psychologist and access formal treatment services. The journey of mental recovery is not about seeking validation for what we feel, but it is about recognizing ourselves and learning to liberate ourselves from fear and control of our lives.

Ben Crook’s post mortem revealed he had suffering horrendous injuries after ‘falling from height’

A dad tragically died after falling from a height whilst on holiday in Turkey, following his removal from a flight due to drunken behaviour and subsequent separation from his family. The devastating news of his death was only discovered when his father travelled to Turkey to investigate his whereabouts.

Ben Crook, 32, was reported missing after he jetted off to Antalya with his partner Jess Jenkins and their two children on September 23. After consuming alcohol and cocaine, he exhibited erratic behaviour on the flight, shouting at an air steward and smashing both his and Ms Jenkins’ mobiles, according to the inquest.

Upon landing in Turkey on September 24, Mr Crook, from Abertridwr, Caerphilly, was escorted off the plane and separated from Ms Jenkins. She was instructed to leave the airport and took a taxi to their hotel with the children.

The inquest at Gwent Coroner’s Court on Tuesday revealed that Mr Crook never made it to the hotel, reports Wales Online.

Following his son’s disappearance, Mr Crook’s father journeyed to Turkey and uncovered the tragic news that his son had died after falling from a height and sustaining fatal injuries.

A post mortem examination conducted at the Antalya Forensic Institute confirmed that Mr Crook had suffered external injuries and lacerations consistent with a fall. He passed away at Antalya Training and Research Hospital at 2.15am on September 25, the inquest heard.

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Following repatriation of Mr Crook’s body to the UK, a further post-mortem examination was performed at Grange University Hospital by Dr Majid Rashid on October 22, revealing that he had suffered severe head injuries, bruising on his upper limbs, cuts, and multiple abrasions to his abdominal wall. A chest incision suggested a tube had been inserted to drain fluid.

The examination also found a fractured skull vault, brain damage, and bleeding, as well as a fractured pelvis on both sides.

Toxicology reports showed the presence of cocaine, alcohol, ketamine, and cocaethylene in Mr Crook’s blood, with ketamine likely administered during treatment.

Dr Rashid determined the cause of death to be a fractured skull and pelvis due to blunt trauma from a fall.

In a statement read aloud in court by senior coroner Caroline Saunders, Ms Jenkins stated that Mr Crook had started drinking before arriving at the airport and purchased duty-free alcohol to consume at their hotel.

Due to a flight delay, the couple began drinking duty-free alcohol, with Ms Jenkins describing her partner as a “nervous flier” but mentioning they were “chatting and joking” before takeoff. During the flight, she revealed that Mr Crook’s demeanour altered and he started yelling at a male steward, demanding booze.

He subsequently smashed both his and Ms Jenkins’ mobiles, leading to him being escorted off the plane and separated from his partner.

Discussing Mr Crook’s substance abuse, Ms Jenkins stated her partner used cocaine recreationally, only indulging when he had been drinking.

Mr Crook’s sister Amy disclosed that her brother had struggled with drugs and alcohol, with his consumption escalating in the months preceding his death.

She also mentioned her brother’s mental health struggles, exacerbated by his drug and alcohol use, but Ms Crook insisted there were no signs he would take his own life, leaving his two children fatherless.

Upon returning from Turkey, Mr Crook’s father discovered a message in his Facebook Messenger spam folder, seemingly from his son, who was trying to ascertain the name of the hotel where his partner was staying. There was an additional message again requesting contact.

Members of Mr Crook’s family received communication from several unidentified individuals in Turkey who claimed they had seen the deceased prior to his death.

One individual who got in touch with Ms Jenkins claimed: “Hello, we have just seen your post about Ben being missing. We saw him on September 24 at lunchtime. He approached me and my husband for help while walking near Kaleici Harbour. He said he smashed up his phone and had brought a new one but it was not ringing for some reason. He used my phone to send a message to his friend and we gave him our number if he needed more help. He looked shaken and hungover. After the Facebook message and ringing his friend, he crossed the harbour and walked, we presumed, to the police station for help.”

Messages later followed from others, which included photographs apparently of Mr Crook lying on the ground at the base of a building.

There were suggestions he fell while smoking on 24 September, but there was no sign of third-party involvement.

Ms Saunders delivered her conclusion: “(Alcohol and drugs) may have caused disorientation and poor judgement but this is insufficient to determine he fell as a result of the drugs he had taken.”

She decided: “I find the fall was an accident, the exact details of which are unknown..”

Her final conclusion read: “On September 24, 2024, Ben Crook fell from height whilst on holiday in Turkey and sustained severe head and pelvic injuries and died on September 25, 2024. The conclusion I reach is that of an accident.”

Mark Wildblood, the founder of Hear Our Voice – the choir made up of people impacted by the Post Office scandal – says the initiative has been ‘therapeutic’ after a battle with depression.

Hear Our Voice, the choir made up of people affected by the Post Office scandal which placed seventh in the recent series of Britain’s Got Talent, are releasing a new charity single alongside band Will & The People.

The single, Falling Down, is a rendition of the song they performed in their audition for Britain’s Got Talent. And choir founder Mark Wildblood says the initiative has been ‘life changing’ for him, admitting the talent show stint has made a significant impact on his mental health.

“I personally have found it very therapeutic,” said Mark. “I was on antidepressants prescribed by my doctor for a long long time and I spoke to them very early this year and I said, ‘Look [the choir] is really starting to make me feel good and I wouldn’t mind trying to go without [the antidepressants].

“So, at the recommendation of doctors I was told it’s ok to give it a go and I haven’t been back on them since,” he says of the choir’s impact.

Continuing that it has given him ‘purpose’ following dark days, Mark shared, “It’s not difficult to get caught up in dwelling on all of the negatives. So, to be surrounded by the same people that you talk to about it every day and that are seeing the positives as well, I think we’ve done a really really positive thing and a lot of that is thanks to BGT.”

While Mark says the choir has meant he’s managed to let go of ‘anger’ he was holding onto against the post office, he confirms that the ‘concern’ remains. “My concern for the procedure is not eliminated. We still have to make sure that we get closure and closure can only come with compensation.”

Mark was a sub-postmaster at Upton Post Office before he was suspended from the role as one of the thousands of people impacted by the Post Office scandal. The scandal saw the wrongful prosecution of sub-postmasters and postmistresses by the Post Office, who accused them of theft, fraud, and false accounting due to faulty data from the Horizon IT system used by the company.

He founded the choir in May 2024, inviting others impacted by the scandal to take part and raise money for the cause, alongside awareness. As the former tour manager for Will and the People, Mark then enlisted lead singer Will Rendle to get involved as he fronted the act on Britain’s Got Talent.

And detailing how the choir has become a family dynamic, Mark said, “W e always say to each other that we have become family now. The choir is spread out throughout the country and so BGT has given us the opportunity to actually meet five times in a very short space of time and be together.”

Many of the victims are still awaiting compensation from the Post Office, with Mark admitting that despite the success of their campaigning and the recent TV series; Mr Bates vs The Post Office, there’s still a long way to go.

It comes as Simon Recaldin, a Post Office boss who has been backing compensation for the scandal victims, has left his position in the company. Simon is thought to have opted for voluntary redundancy, a move which comes amid the increased pressure on the company to pay victims. Previously, the government announced that those who have had convictions overturned are eligible for £600,000, with hundreds still waiting for the compensation.

“Scandals like these have a commonality where the bureaucracy of closure takes so long that many people pass away by the time that the situations are resolved – I just hope that we don’t get into that situation,” says Mark of those yet to be paid. “We’ve already lost a lot of people in the Post Office scandal and we can’t afford to lose more without getting a speed up, so I would say to those in power, please change the system. It’ll be better for everyone all round and cost a lot less money if they just do it now as it should be,” pleaded Mark.

With fellow choir member Maria Lockwood joking that the unit would be keen to front the Glastonbury stage this summer, Mark says he isn’t opposed to the idea. “We wouldn’t say no to anything where we had the opportunity to get together in person again and Glastonbury would be amazing, that would be phenomenal.”

Falling Down, the single by Hear Our Voice choir and Will and The People, is available on all platforms from tomorrow, 10 June. 100% of profits after costs from the single are going to the Horizon Scandal Fund and Lost Chances—two organisations supporting victims and their families.

Countryfile star Adam Henson has opened up about the support he has from family and friends and how, over the years, he has faced some challenges while running the farm

Adam Henson, known from BBC’s Countryfile, has candidly spoken out about the hurdles he’s encountered in both his professional and personal spheres.

While not on screen, Adam is hard at work managing his family farm in the Cotswolds, a legacy started by his father Joe back in 1971.

During an intimate chat with Reach PLC, Adam shared insight into the critical support provided by loved ones and friends, admitting that steering the farm has indeed presented numerous obstacles over time.

Further delving into his private life, Adam disclosed the tough period following his wife Charlie’s cancer diagnosis.

Adam conveyed his natural optimism, saying: “My characteristics are that I am an upbeat person, and I have got an incredibly supportive family, wife and children and people around me.,” reports Gloucestershire Live.

Speaking of his professional dealings, he said: “And within the business, I have got a business partner who I was at Agricultural College with and he is one of my closest friends and what we do is surround ourselves with people that are excellent within their own role in the business. Whether that is a manager or a farm manager, and we work really closely with the team and we are all very honest and open with one another.

“I have had some very difficult times in my life, both in business and personally. My wife was very ill a few years ago, my parents dying, and I lost a nephew.”

Sharing on how he’s coped with these trials, he noted: “We have gone through foot and mouth challenges, Covid, and we have had some tough times, but I’ve never had poor mental health because I’ve had that fantastic support system around me.”

In an emotional disclosure, Adam and his wife previously opened up about the tremendous impact that the cancer diagnosis had on their lives.

Back in 2021, the couple were confronted with the news they had been fearing when Charlie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Charlie confided to the Daily Mirror, expressing the shock they felt: “It was both barrels,” as she recounted the moment a significant tumour was discovered on her pancreas. “We knew people who’d died of pancreatic cancer, and I absolutely felt this was going to be the end of my life.”

Adam shared his own turmoil: “I felt physically sick,” while Charlie recalled the overwhelming confirmation of their worries, saying: “Our darkest fears were confirmed. Adam had to practically carry me down the corridor. My legs were like jelly.”

The couple sought help from one of the nation’s top specialists, leading to Charlie being slated for a risky surgery, with the outcome hanging in the balance.

On the day, Adam described the emotionally charged atmosphere: “There were a lot of tears and a lot of emotion in the room.”

The family then travelled to London for Charlie’s painstaking procedure, during which she prepared for the worst by penning final letters to Adam, their kids, and her siblings.

However, two years on from those heart-wrenching times, Charlie has made steps towards normality, working part-time and living in anticipation of her six-monthly scans.

Countryfile is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

A 53-year-old mum-of-six took a leap of faith, leaving behind her life and family in the UK to enjoy sun and cocktails in Ayia Napa. She speaks out to explain why she did it after revealing she has been trolled over her bold decision

Most of us have daydreamed about what life would be like if we just chose to live for ourselves – leaving behind all the things that hold us back. Imagine swapping the grey skies and endless routines for a place with scorching sun, cocktails, and parties. For most, it stays just a thought. But for one mum of six, it became reality.

Amanda Moss, 53, took the leap to leave her 25-year marriage, her children, and a £120k salary behind in the UK – to work from the beach in Ayia Napa. Since May 2020, she’s been living her “life with truth,” having settled in Cyprus.

But it wasn’t a snap decision. Amanda knew deep down her former routine wasn’t the life she was meant to live. “I was miserable. I thought ‘is this my life?’” she said. “I was 48 and thought ‘f*ck this.’”

Now, Amanda runs her own magazine and PR business, making around £50k a year – less than half what she earned before, but with a far better work-life balance. “I was working from 5am as soon as I woke up,” she said. “A minimum of 12 hours a day. Now I probably work five hours a day but I have a much healthier work life balance.”

“I earn around £50k and I could earn more, but I just want to live my life.” Years of visiting Cyprus planted the seed. In 2008, she bought a holiday home there, a place where she’d often bring her kids while they were growing up. What started as a getaway eventually became her new permanent home.

“Every time I’d come back to Liverpool I’d be crying,” Amanda said. “My two eldest, Floyd and Honey, said ‘why don’t you move? You’re happiest there.’”

When Covid hit, her business collapsed and suddenly it was now or never. Amanda had been sleeping in a bedroom on her own since her youngest was born – and that child is now 11.

“I didn’t think I was living up to my full potential for the last 30 to 40 years and I’m making up for it,” she said. Her three daughters moved with her initially but returned to the UK after Amanda decided the education system there was better.

While Cyprus might not be the perfect fit for her kids, it’s exactly where Amanda needed to be. She’s flourished working five hours on the beach, but still finds time to let her hair down and go clubbing multiple times a week.

“I go clubbing three to four times a week. My daughter, Honey, 23, wants me to go to the club with her and she’s like ‘that’s my mum.’”

Since moving, Amanda has also lost four stone, changing her diet and finally eating for herself rather than “comfort” – which she was doing for years. “I got to a size 18 and 15st and I thought ‘this isn’t me,’” she said. “I hated being fat.” Taking control, she started going to the gym, made new friends, and started believing in herself.

Now she spends around £400 a month on Botox, nails, lashes, and her gym membership. “Everything I do for my aesthetics and beauty regime is for me,” she said. “I’m investing in myself. I feel good. It’s the whole self-love thing, because I’ve felt all my life I’m fat and ugly.”

The glamourous mum admits she is ” a little bit vain” but she believes she has now earnt it. She now experiments with cosmetic treatments such as botox.

Amanda starts her days at the gym, which is more for her mental health than anything else. She now uses her social media to speak about her life and her honest, open approach has earned her plenty of attention, and with the extra eyes on her life it has gained some love but also some hate.

“I’ve been trolled,” Amanda admitted. “People have said I’m irresponsible. My kids are supportive. I think I’ve taught my kids to live their life as they wish and not be told society’s expectations of what they should do. I just want them to experience life in all its glory.”

And while some people question her drastic life change, many people actually commend her – even looking up to her.

“People always say to me ‘you’re so inspirational to me, I wish I could do what you do.’ And I say you can, just book it. I haven’t done anything extraordinary, I just booked a flight.” she said

Looking ahead, Amanda is embracing life with more bold leaps and ambitions and even hopes to find a romantic spark in her now home country. “Life is a gift to take control of. My next thing I want to do is fall in love with a rich handsome guy – I’m sick of working.”

“I’m living my truth, and I think people envy that. I sound really up my own arse but I’m not.”

Amanda’s six children Saxon, 24, Honey, 23, Floyd, 21, Albany, 19, plus a 16-year-old and an 11-year-old daughter all remain in the UK but often fly out during school holidays to see her. And for anyone dreaming about changing their life and ready to make the change. Amanda has simple advice: “How many people have the balls to get on a plane and say ‘I don’t want this life anymore?’”

You can follow Amanda’s journey on Instagram and TikTok @amandalifestylepr.

She’s also set to release her new book next month -‘You’re going to die so do it anyway – live life louder after 50’ where she will be sharing her journey and inspiring others to take control of their own happiness, no matter their age.