New research has revealed that Brits have chosen to splurge on the home comforts of coffee, tea, biscuits and books the most during lockdown.
How have you been spending your money over these past few months?
According to latest supermarket industry data and market research company Kantar, in the past four weeks alone, an additional £24 million was spent on tea and coffee, and £19 million more was spent on biscuits compared to the same period this time last year.
Fraser McKevitt, Head of Retail and Consumer Insight at Kantar, said that “the cost of working from home is starting to add up for many”.
Figures also showed that over the past 12 weeks, supermarket sales grew by 16.9% on the same period last year, which is the fastest increase since its records began in 1994, and with more people turning to online supermarkets during this period, home delivery grocers and services now account for 13% of the market, which is up from 7.4% in March when lockdown restrictions were first put in place.
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“Although restrictions have eased, more than one in five households still made an online order during the latest four weeks” Mr McKevitt added.
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There has also been a surge in reading during lockdown too.
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According to publisher Bloomsbury, its sales have climbed by almost a fifth compared to last year and its consumer division also reported a 28% rise in revenue. Bloomsbury said that its good performance during May and June “were particularly unexpected”, with print revenues were 9% above the same period last year and digital revenues growing by 63% year-on-year.
In line each of the above findings, high street footfall was also found to be down by 15%.
Speaking on the predicted future consumer habits, Mr McKevitt added: “As lockdown restrictions are gradually eased and non-essential retail outlets re-open, some consumers are slowly resuming their pre-COVID routines and shopping habits”.
“However, we are clearly a long way off a complete return to normality”.
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ITV confirms release date for new single parents dating show dubbed ‘middle-aged Love Island’
Emily Sergeant
ITV has confirmed that its brand-new dating series for single parents is officially a thing, and it’s hitting our screens later this year.
It had long been rumoured that ITV had a somewhat Love Island-inspired spin-off series geared more towards those looking for love in the middle of their lives in the works, with reports hotly-tipping it to hit screens soon first surfacing back in July of last year – but nothing was actually set in stone at that point.
Then it was revealed back in January that, after months of speculation, all the rumours were true, as the broadcaster was actively casting for contestants and calling on single parents across the UK to get their applications in.
Already having been dubbed “middle-aged Love Island”, but previously called the working title of The Romance Retreat, ITV explained when it first put out the casting call that the new series would see a group of “vibrant single parents” from across the UK all meet under one roof, and that it was set to be the only dating show where they can search for love in a safe space.
Now, coming up to six months after that initial casting call, ITV has confirmed that the long-awaited series is finally set to hit TV screens later this autumn.
Given the new official title of My Mum, Your Dad, and hosted by legendary TV presenter Davina McCall, ITV took to social media yesterday to reveal that the “secret is finally out”.
Teasing a little more information about the new show, ITV explained: “My Mum, Your Dad is a brand-new series following a group of single parents looking for a second chance at love. They’ve been nominated by their grown-up kids, but what they don’t know is that their kids are watching their every move, playing matchmaker and holding cushions over their faces as they watch the shenanigans.”
An exact release date for the show is expected to be announced by ITV in due course, so you’ll need to keep your eyes peeled.
Featured Image – ITV
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Matty Healy delivers perfect reply to being called a ‘slack-jawed f***wit’ by Noel Gallagher live on stage
Danny Jones
Matty Healy is once again poking the beehive and after being called a “slack-jawed f***wit’ by Noel Gallagher, The 1975 frontman delivered the perfect comedic response to his comments.
Healy was on stage in Dublin on Wednesday, 7 June, essentially warming up for himself after American singer Caroline Polachek had to pull out of the show, playing an hour of additional 1975 songs that didn’t make it onto the headline setlist.
A much more informal set than the main show — just Matty, a guitar, a keyboard his laptop and a little help from bandmate Jamie Squire — he spent lots of time chatting with the crowd and at one point, addressed the Manc music legend’s recent roasting.
The former Oasis songwriter and guitarist was sitting down with The Spin when the interviewer asked what he made of Matty Healy’s comments that he and brother Liam should “stop marding” and get back together — to which Noel said: “Oh, that slack-jawed f***wit… He needs to get over how shit his band is and split up.” Bit harsh but the 34-year-old seemed to take it in stride and had his own cold comeback.
Clearly enjoying having riled up the 56-year-old, Healy fired back by saying “The difference between me and Noel is I do a series of interviews to promote an album, whereas he does an album to promote a series of interviews”.
As one person posted in the comments, “I’m not the biggest 1975 fan but he’s absolutely mugged him off here”, and a lot of people tended to agree.
Healy did assure the cheering crowd that he and the band all “love Noel Gallagher” and claimed that they even “asked Liam to open up for [them] but he was busy” — we would have paid good money to see that happen.
Nevertheless, we’re certainly enjoying this hilarious little spat between the two and whatever you make of the two of them, they sure. Also, Matty’s right, the Gallagher bros should just get over it already and give the people what they want: an Oasis reunion. One day, we can always pray.
Emily Sergeant -
24th July 2020 
