Former Shameless star Jody Latham is proving that life doesn’t always imitate art after revealing he now owns a cosmetic business worth £18 million.
The Burnley-born actor – who shot to fame as the smart-mouthed tearaway teenager Philip ‘Lip’ Gallagher in the long-running Channel 4 comedy-drama Shameless set on the fictional Chatsworth Estate in Manchester – is a far cry away from the life of his character.
Now, over seven years after the show finished airing on TV screens, Latham has taken an interesting career pivot, and it’s one that is seeing him fly high in the beauty industry, with the 38-year-old being the owner of an £18 million cosmetics empire.
He has also recently signed a £9.5 million deal with a firm in South Korea to distribute dermal fillers for cosmetic treatments.
Speaking to The Mirror about how his new career began, Jody said: “I became friends with an extra [and] years later, I saw she was giving Botox and I said, ‘Jab me up.’
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“I felt so good. I thought, ‘There’s got to be an in into this industry.’ I wanted to make people feel this good.”
Jody then decided to train to give beauty treatments such as Botox and dermal fillers and, after opening a few clinics four years ago, decided to focus on the distribution side and set up Epitique, but admits that he has learnt from his past mistakes of splashing the cash, and now puts all the money he makes back into the business.
He added: “I live in two-bed flat and drive a modest car. I’m pumping everything back into the company. It’s valued at £18 million.
“We’ll see where we are in a couple of years.
“I’ve had money before but not in my hands long enough. After series one of Shameless, I went with my first wage of £21,000 and bought an Audi convertible. I didn’t even think of rent or food.”
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News of the success of Latham’s company arrives after it was revealed earlier this year that he had contracted coronavirus (COVID-19). Speaking at the time, Jody said: “I was tested straight away. I isolated until I got the results and when I got the results I couldn’t believe it, it was such a shock.
“I’m in lockdown with my family and we all had to quarantine.”
“You’re as anxious as anything thinking the worst. Some people haven’t been that fortunate to get over it. It’s a brutal time we’re in [and] I just pray we don’t have to go through this again in our lifetime.”
Following his experience, the actor said he aimed to donate 100,000 face masks to care homes and charities across the North West, through his company Safe and Protect UK. He explained: “Previously my background has been in cosmetics and aesthetics distributions, besides acting, but because of the COVID-19 outbreak, my suppliers and a lot of people in the industry turned their attentions to PPE.
“We’re giving 100,000 masks away and it’s first come, first served.
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“Come on the website and there’s an option to apply for up to 1,000 free three-ply disposable face masks for you and your charity. All we need is the charitable number and if it’s a trust we can get the registered trust number. Be it a care home or charity shop, if you need them for your customers or for staff so they can serve customers, please get in touch with us.”
Despite his success in the cosmetics industry though, Jody said he hasn’t given up on acting and hoped “there’s more to come” after a “fantastic career”.
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Aldi is hiring an official chicken nugget taster to send FREE nuggets to
Emily Sergeant
Aldi is in the process of adding to its eclectic team of taste testers, and this time, chicken nuggets are in the hot seat.
The budget supermarket is no stranger to calling on members of the public to try out new products before they get released in store, whether it be recruiting someone to sample all of its different wines, crisps, beers, or even chocolate Easter eggs, but this is the first time Aldi will be hiring an official Chicken Nugget Taster.
One lucky shopper will get the chance to take on their ‘dream job’, receiving a variety of Aldi nuggets for free in exchange for feedback.
That’s right, nugget connoisseurs will receive a selection of Aldi’s best-selling nuggets to sample for free – including the popular Share the Love ‘Love Nuggets’ with Date Ketchup, which are set to return to stores once again from 10 February as part of the Valentine’s range.
Not only that, but the successful applicant will also receive a selection of the supermarket’s classics and well as different takes on the nugget to try out.
Aldi is hiring an official chicken nugget taster to send free nuggets to / Credit: Aldi Corporate
And what’s in it for Aldi? All the supermarket is asking in return is a set of reviews rating the nuggets on their taste, texture, and the crispiness of their coating, to help guide the Buying Team on what products to stock in the future.
“The nation’s love for chicken nuggets is undeniable and we’re seeing a huge appetite for new and exciting flavours,” explained Julie Ashfield, who is the Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK.
“Our shoppers are our most important critics, so launching the role of an official Nugget Taster is the perfect way to ensure our products deliver the quality, taste, and price they deserve.”
Fancy it then? To be in with a chance of landing this tasty job, all you need to do is send a video application stating your name, age, and social media handles, and then say why you love chicken nuggets so much and why you should become Aldi’s first-ever Nugget Taster.
Entries are now open, and you have until 11:59pm on 4 February to apply by emailing [email protected].
Featured Image – Broken Sphere (via Wikimedia Commons)
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Academy graduate Oscar Bobb is leaving Manchester City on a permanent transfer
Danny Jones
Manchester City youth academy graduate Oscar Bobb is leaving the club after sealing a move to Fulham FC.
Despite plenty of loan interest throughout the January transfer window, the Man City attacker has secured a switch to the in-form West London team on a permanent basis.
Bobb looked increasingly likely to leave in some capacity following the arrival of another winger in the form of instant hit, Antoine Semenyo, but it now looks as though his departure is all but confirmed, bar an imminent official announcement.
As reported by Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the agreement has now been reached between the two clubs pending a full medical today (Thursday, 29 January).
According to Romano, Fulham will pay Man City approximately £27 million for Bobb’s services, who becomes the latest addition in what has already been a fairly busy period of recruitment.
He goes on to add that “City also mantain [a] 20% sell-on clause, matching rights and future control on the player based on his decision.”
There is no suggestion of a buy-back clause at this time, but given his age and having already made a fair few appearances for Pep Guardiola‘s first team, it wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility to see him return to the club one day.
Bobb also arrives at Craven Cottage following the exit of multiple wingers and offensive options, including Adama Traore, ex-Man United product Andreas Pereira and Arsenal youngster, Reiss Nelson, whose loan deal has expired and has signed another temporary deal at local rivals, Brentford.
Had it not been for that injury I know he would’ve been class for City for a long time, and let’s not forget that goal v Newcastle pic.twitter.com/inGxi5UjPM
The young Norwegian winger joined the Etihad Campus back in 2023 and went on to contribute a handful of goals and assists, despite limited appearances and some very unfortunate injury issues.
Only seven months ago, his soon-to-be former parent club released a short video charting his return from the sidelines after fracturing his leg – a setback which kept him out for roughly five months.
Plenty of fans have quickly placed him in the so-called ‘what if?’ category of players, and given that he’s still just 22 years old and has already impressed on a number of ocassions for such a big club, we wouldn’t be surprised if he goes on to have a very exciting career.
Can you see the Blues bringing in or letting anyone else go before deadline day?
Emily Sergeant -
26th October 2020 
