Love Island contestant Kai Fagan has revealed he used to be in the same year as Marcus Rashford at school, and has dished on what the footballer was like back in the day.
In case you somehow hadn’t heard, just less than six months after Davide and Ekin-Su stole the nation’s hearts and clinched the win, smash-hit reality competition show Love Island returned to screens for its ninth series and it’s second Winter edition last night – with brand-new host Maya Jama taking over presenting duties.
A whole new lineup of hopeful singletons have made the trip to South Africa in the look for love, and one of those single lads is Kai Fagan from Manchester.
Before heading into the villa last night, fans of the show had already learned that the 24-year-old claims to have three different degrees from three different universities, and that he works as a PE and Science teacher, but also plays semi-professional rugby for Burnage RFC.
But now, we’ve also learned that Kai went to the same school and was in the same year as Manchester United and England star Marcus Rashford.
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Kai revealed to The Sun that Marcus was just as “quiet” in school as he is now.
Kai Fagan and the rest of the 2023 Love Island cast lineup / Credit: ITV
He said: “Marcus was in my class from 11 to 16 and we went to the same sixth form.
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“The school I went to was sponsored by Manchester United, [so] I had so many experiences because of that. Marcus was quiet, reserved and kept himself to himself, he’s always loved football, and he got a scholarship from [Manchester United] when he was like 11 years old, so he was always trying to be the next big thing.”
Kai added: “I often bump into people who work for [Rashford], like his PA, at the gym.”
The current Love Islander also added that his former classmate’s ongoing mission to end child food poverty and give children more access to free school meals across the UK has been “inspiring” to him as a teacher.
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“There are so many kids who are going to school that don’t have the right nutrition, that don’t have food, that don’t have anything,” Kai continued.
“There are kids going to school that don’t have uniforms, so what he’s been doing for the communities, it’s absolutely amazing.”
Before he entered the villa, Kai described himself as “chilled, caring, and very impulsive”.
“I’m single by choice,” Kai explained in his ITV Love Island cast announcement bio, “I’m looking for the right girl. I feel like I have quite high expectations. I don’t feel I should commit to someone unless I’m absolutely buzzing over them, because it’s not fair on them.”
Love Island is back on ITV2 and ITVX on Monday 19 January at 9pm.
Featured Image – Manchester United & ITV
TV & Showbiz
Beloved Manc butty shop Bada Bing set for a sensational return to the city centre
Danny Jones
Sandwich lovers rejoice because one of the finest butty shops to ever grace Manchester is returning: that’s right, Bada Bing is bada-back!
The Sopranos-inspired deli and sandwich shop that took its name from one of the central locations featured in the iconic US drama (yes, the strip club), was a huge success when it first opened in Manchester a few short years ago, so it was a huge blow when it closed in February 2022.
Starting out by serving sandwiches out of a window at The B Lounge pub on Paton Street near Piccadilly, before moving to a small kitchen on Radium Street and eventually setting up their stall inside Ancoats General Store, they would regularly have lines around the block every lunchtime.
These Italian-American sarnies were so popular you’d often struggle to get your claws on one – and believe us, they really are a two-handed task – as they’d sell out on what felt like most days. But now, whether you were a regular or someone who missed out, there is hope once again:
Announcing their sensational return to a new site over in the Northern Quarter, which will now mark the fourth premises they’ve popped up at, Bada Bing is back with a bang and, as you can, they dropped the news with one of the best reveal videos we’ve ever seen.
If you know, you know…
Set to take over 125 Oldham Street, owners Sam Gormally and Meg Lingenfelter haven’t yet graced us with an opening date but the new unit should hopefully be open sooner rather than later.
The duo, who previously worked at fellow NQ favourite Another Heart to Feed, came up with the concept during lockdown and it didn’t take long for the idea to take off, nor for them to earn their spot amongst the very best sandwich places in Manchester.
Seriously, these things were so big and unwieldy (in the best way possible) that they even used to come with eating instructions: both hands and the trademark Tony Soprano hunch recommended, though the slightly stained wife-beater, boxer shorts and open dressing gown look is optional.
From slices of provolone cheese, all the thinly sliced Italian meats you could think of and the closest thing to actual ‘gabagool‘ as you’ll find in Greater Manchester, the menu was fitting of being served up to the iconic characters that once sat outside Satriale’s and a big approving grin from the man himself.
Simply put, we cannot wait and we will certainly keep you posted when we find out exactly when Bada Bing confirms their official reopening date.
Will Mellor’s new BBC documentary about real-life Post Office scandal victims airs tonight
Emily Sergeant
A new BBC documentary about real-life victims from the Post Office scandal fronted by Will Mellor is hitting TV screens tonight.
As the country finally starts to wake up to the full scale of the Post Office scandal – which involved the British postal service pursuing thousands of innocent subpostmasters for apparent financial shortfalls caused by faults in an accounting software system between 1999 and 2015 – actor Will Mellor is on a mission to find out what happened to the real-life sub-postmasters in this new BBC documentary.
The Stockport-born actor famously played the part of Lee Castleton in the ITV drama, Mr Bates vs the Post Office, and says he feels a “real affinity” will the families he spoke to for the programme.
For the new documentary and accompanying five-part BBC Sounds podcast series – which is titled Surviving the Post Office – Will actually speaks to Mr Castleton himself, as well as four other affected people and their families whose lives have been “torn apart”.
Will Mellor has fronted a new BBC documentary about real-life Post Office scandal victims / Credit: ITV
Surviving the Post Office ventures to all four corners of England, including East Yorkshire, County Durham, Lincolnshire, West Sussex, and Cornwall, as Will discovers that many of the sub-postmasters want to “take back control of their lives”.
According to the BBC, for some facing the past, that proves to be a “troubling experience”, while for others, it ends up being a “liberating” step forwards.
As well as exploring the financial losses for many, including the people featured in the documentary and podcast series, Will also gets to find out how they are coping with their emotions, trying to move on from the whole ordeal, and how the victims are finding support in unexpected ways.
📢 Actor Will Mellor meets the real-life victims of the Post Office scandal in a brand new documentary from BBC Local
Surviving The Post Office is coming to @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer tonight at 8.30pm. The podcast series is on @BBCSounds now
“I feel a real affinity with these families, so it was a privilege to hear their stories for this documentary and podcast,” Will said ahead of the documentary airing on BBC One.
“What shocked me the most after meeting so many sub-postmasters is just how far the impact and trauma has spread – the effect it’s had on people’s health, their children, and their whole communities has been massive.”