Category Entertainment News

Strictly Come Dancing divided fans when they announced former The Apprentice star, Thomas Skinner, as one of the contestants in the upcoming series of the competition

Strictly Come Dancing fans were divided when The Apprentice star Tom Skinner was announced as a contestant on the upcoming series of the BBC dance competition. He initially gained a huge following due to his everyman persona mainly going on about grafting hard for success.

However, he has been at the receiving end of backlash in recent months due to his controversial social media posts and newly-formed friendship with US Vice President JD Vance. When the programme confirmed his stint on the show, many rushed to the comment section to share their concerns.

One user said: “”Oh no. This man is so offensive,” and another posted: “Yeah Strictly … this ain’t it. This is such a bad vibe choice. Ugly opinions and deeply polarising. Can’t help but feel like this is going to be an own goal.”

Some were more supportive and wrote: “Brilliant news to get such a great character on the show. I’ll certainly be watching this year. Top chap.” It comes after a Strictly Come Dancing star pulls out of show as he makes career announcement.

READ MORE: Strictly Come Dancing’s Tom Skinner responds to fierce backlash after BBC announcementREAD MORE: Strictly’s Thomas Skinner responds to Narinder Kaur after she slammed BBC show for signing him

Ahead of his stint on the dance competition, The Mirror took a deep dive into his life from his JD Vance friendship to controversial comments…

JD Vance friendship

While followers enjoyed his no-nonsense posts on X/Twitter, he has been known to share controversial views on his personal page.

He recently revealed he enjoyed a BBQ with US Vice President JD Vance after showing support for convicted felon Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Vance and Skinner previously chatted on social media before meeting “in the beautiful English countryside” where the VP is holidaying in the Cotswolds.

After hanging out, Skinner wrote on X: “Unreal night with JD and his friends and family. He was a proper gent. Lots of laughs and some fantastic food. A brilliant night, one to tell the grand kids about.”

He also posted a picture of himself posing with Vance after a “couple of beers”. He said: “Here is a pic of Me and Vice President @JDVance towards the end of the night after a few beers.

“I’m overdressed in my suit, but when the VP invites you to a BBQ, you don’t risk turning up in shorts an flip-flops. Cracking night in the beautiful English countryside with JD, his friends and family. Once in a lifetime. Bosh.”

Vance first voiced his support for Skinner when the former Apprentice star said he was receiving ‘death threats’ a ‘comments about his children’ after he claimed ‘something’s gone wrong in the UK’ and wanted to stand up for ‘traditional, hard-working, family values.’

The VP shared a picture of an ‘incel’ cartoon character from South Park and told him: “Hang in there, my friend. Remember that 90 percent of people attacking your family look like this.”

Controversial tweets

Not only has Skinner voiced his support for Trump, he once urged people to “stop bending over backwards for the woke brigade” in a since-deleted post on X.

He previously claimed on X that “London has fallen”, posting to his followers: “I still believe in its people. And I believe it can rise again. But we need change. Real change. We need safety. We need pride. We need leadership that understands the streets, the markets, the working class.”

Some thought he was criticising London mayor Sadiq Khan, but Skinner claimed he doesn’t vote and distanced himself from politics. He said: “I don’t vote. I’ve been invited to the houses of parliament by Labour to talk about small businesses.

“The problem we have about the political parties in the UK is the people behind them are normally failed business people or they have worked in the political sector they’re whole working life and don’t understand the real world. We need more people with a backbone in politics. Who understand the real world. Who understand real problems.”

He recently denied being right wing after meeting up with Vance. Speaking to MailOnline following the Strictly announcement, he said: “I’m not right wing. Some people will hate you without ever really knowing you.”

However, he still declared support for Trump and even posed in a MAGA hat in a post shared online.

In November last year, he sad in a since-deleted tweet: “David Lammy has made a proper t*t of himself hasn’t he. This is the Geeza we have representing the UK. Why don’t we have real people in politics, business owners and real people who actually know how to become successful and stand up for what is right. People that have been in real life situations and had to adapt. Not be a weatherc**k.”

Skinner added: “Anyway I love Trump I think he is brilliant, that’s my opinion. I think it’s good he is back in charge, it will be good for the UK economy. UK always piggy backs off the USA. We all have opinions that is mine. Happy Wednesday I’m gonna drink another lemon Fanta and eat some paella.”

In a recent Tweet, Tom revealed he enjoyed “winding people up on X” as he wrote: “I love my Country. I love my Wife. I love my Kids. I love my Family. I love my Friends. I love West Ham. I love Dinos Cafe. I love my followers. I love my grub. I love winding people up on X. GOOD NIGHT GOD BLESS. BOSH”

Past convictions

Prior to his television appearances, commercial achievements, and celebrity status, Skinner’s life took a dramatically different direction.

In 2016, at just 24 years old, he as convicted for handling stolen merchandise valued at nearly £40,000 after purchasing 4,992 tubes of Body Shop cleansing gel and having 2,000 diazepam tablets from what he subsequently acknowledged was an “unreliable source”.

He was later sentenced and his conviction has since been spent and Skinner has since maintained he’s a “changed man”. He told the Daily Mail in a previous interview: “Many years ago before I had my business, I was young and naive and bought stock from someone I didn’t know.

“I wasn’t aware the stock was stolen and paid the consequences for the mistake I made. That is now well in my past, I’ve had a string of successful companies since then. I am a changed man.”

After news of Tom’s past broke just before his stint on The Apprentice in 2019 aired, a BBC spokesperson said: “DBS checks are done for all The Apprentice candidates by the production company ahead of filming.

“A spent conviction is not disclosed under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Spent convictions are designed to help people move on in life and not be excluded from opportunities to help further their careers.”

Narinder Kaur row

Narinder Kaur was one of many who slammed Strictly Come Dancing for signing Skinner onto the show.

Narinder, who is best known as an ex-Big Brother contestant, took to X immediately to complain about the news that he is to be on the show as she claimed she had been deemed ‘too controversial’ for it herself.

She said: “Apparently I was deemed too controversial for @bbcstrictly because they only hire quiet brown and black women that fit in a box. But you can be a white man AND be controversial and you’ll be hired on the spot! Hello Thomas Skinner!! #BBCStrictly your unconscious bias and prejudicial views against British brown women is disgraceful.”

In an accompanying video, Narinder added that she was ‘raging’ with the broadcaster for the actions as she pointed out his criminal past. She said: “They wouldn’t take me on, we approached them and they said that I was too controversial. They put brown women and black women on who are quiet because that’s the kind of brown and black woman their audience likes.

“But God forbid you’re a brown woman who has some opinions, then they’ll never take you on. But if white man, Thomas Skinner, proud patriot, Thomas Skinner, of the online right, who has got a criminal past, they’ll take you on!”

He soon responded: “Narinder, I respect that you stand up for what you believe in, not everyone’s got the guts to do that. Yes, I’ve got a past, but I’m not here to divide people.

“I’m just trying to get people to believe in themselves and realise they can do more than they think. Life can be so much better when you let happiness in and don’t always be angry towards others. If I’ve ever upset you, I’m sorry… that’s never been my intention. I wish ya nothing but peace, happiness, and a life you can truly enjoy. Bosh.”

Strictly Come Dancing backlash

Since the announcement of Tom joining the Strictly line-up, he was met with a lot of backlash online.

As the news was shared on Strictly’s official Instagram page, one viewer wrote: “A disgusting booking on a show that seemingly celebrates inclusivity and diversity.” Another show fan said: “I cannot believe you’re platforming this guy.”

While a third added: “Awful choice” followed by two green faced emoji.

Tom has since responded to the backlash on his X page as he tweeted: “They say don’t read the comments on social media. But I couldn’t help myself. I’ve had absolute pellets all day on my instagram lost about going on strictly.” He then shared a link to Instagram as he went on: “Have a look at some of these on Instagram …. Why are some people so angry that don’t even know me. Not Bosh.”

In a later post, Tom revealed why he thinks he’s been branded a controversial signing to the show. He wrote: “Good morning you lovely people!! Big day today! It’s the first day filming for Strictly! Buzzing for it, proud as anything, but the reason I’m up and out the door at 2.30am is because I’ve got to get all my normal work done beforehand!

“I have had so much love on here btw, just wanted to say thank you for all the support. Some call me “controversial,” but I think it’s just a dig at normal, hard-working people if I’m honest. But we don’t let that stop us. We keep going, we look out for each other, and we use it to drive us forward. I would absolutely LOVE to be able to sleep in bed till about 6 or 7, but with 3 kids, a lovely home, and a wife who’s in Marks & Spencer four times a week, I’ve got to keep the wheels turning!

“So whatever’s in your way today, don’t let it slow ya down. Back yaself and back each other, and keep smiling whilst ya do it. I’ll be having a pint later this evening in my local…..so if you are around that area. Beers on me. Have a blinding day everyone. Bosh”.

Family life

The Strictly Come Dancing star regularly shares updates of his family life on social media.

Tom is married to wife Sinéad Chambers and the couple, who wed in May 2022, share three children together. Tom and Sinéad first welcomed son Henry in October 2020 and also share twin daughter’s Darla and Roma, who were born in June 2023.

He regularly shares snaps of his family life on Instagram featuring his wife and two children. Earlier this week, he posted a sweet snap of his family of five as they took a trip to Blenheim Palace where he shared a photo of his clan and wrote on the Instagram share: “We had the most beautiful afternoon walking around the amazing Blenheim Palace. The architecture is simply stunning and the history was incredible. Kids absolutely loved it too. Great family day out. Bosh”.

Sinéad responded with a gushing comment which read: “Making memories with our little family is my favourite”.

As well as sharing snaps from family days out, he also gives fans a glimpse inside his home as she shared a video of himself prepping his Sunday roast dinner earlier this month. He wrote in the caption: “Happy Sunday you lovely people. My favourite day of the week and it’s a Skinner tradition. A big old roast dinner, and look at this stunning bit of sirloin beef from me local butcher, all me veg from the local farm shop and we are gonna feast on this, going to enjoy a nice can of thatchers whilst I cook. Sending love to you are yours. Have a wonderful one. Bosh”.

Tom previously revealed his motivation for ‘working so hard’ as he shared photos of his family at Christmas time. He wrote in a tweet: “This is why i work so hard. I’m so lucky to have 3 beautiful children, Henry, Darla & Roma! I love them so much. I will give them everything in life and will teach them manors, respect, kindness and love. My little ones will learn that anything you dream in life can be achieved with hard work and persistence. My wonderful wife Sinéad & I are double proud parents. Bosh”.

The Apprentice

“I always think back to where I was in my life many years ago; Selling knocked off goods, sleeping on a fold out bed on the floor downstairs and driving a clapped out £500 van,” Skinner once told The Sun as he discussed his rise to fame.

The star was thrust into the spotlight when he appeared on The Apprentice in 2019, lasting all the way to the quarter-finals. At the time, he was the owner of The Fluffy Pillow Company, which sold beds, mattresses and memory foam pillows of his design.

He applied to the show after his girlfriend of the time convinced him to but was fired by Lord Alan Sugar in week nine.

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Boden shoppers are raving about the chic and timeless ballet flats which are currently on sale with a 60% discount, taking them from £112 to under £45

Boden customers are rushing to grab a pair of ‘stunning’ ballet flats that are designed to match almost any outfit while they’re on sale. Indeed, those who have already bagged the ‘comfortable’ Mary Janes have praised them as the ‘ultimate power shoe’.

The Penelope Mary Jane Flats in ‘Latte Suede’ usually sell for £112 but shoppers can nab them with a 60% discount, for a limited time. This reduces the price to a more affordable £44.80, offering a saving of over £67.

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The tan flats boast a stylish black capped toe and a strap that ensures your feet stay secure whilst remaining comfortable all day long. They are available in sizes EU 36 (UK 3.5) to EU 46 (UK 8.5), all of which are still in stock online.

Described as a ‘modern twist’ on the classic Mary Janes, the Boden flats are guaranteed to be the perfect final touch to any outfit. They’re made from responsibly sourced suede leather and have a man-made sole.

If you like the shape but aren’t fond of the colour, don’t fret. The shoes also come in a metallic pink colourway, priced at £96, as well as red patent, £44.80, gold woven leather, £84, tan weave, £50.40, and black suede, £44.80.

Meanwhile, White Stuff’s Winnie Woven Ballerina Flats are on sale for £38 down from £75. Available in sizes three to eight, the shoes are made from a woven fabric with memory foam soles for all-day comfort.

Alternatively, Next’s Nude and Black Ballerinas Shoes are priced at £24. These flats, available in sizes three to nine, feature a round toe, flat heel and a bow detail at the front, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Meanwhile, over at Boden, the Penelope Mary Jane Flats have an impressive overall star-rating of 4.2 out of five from more than 160 reviews. One chuffed shopper said: “Great pair of flats. Great spring/summer shoes with sophisticated colours with buckle detail. They’re suitable for day to evening.”

Another penned: “Really cute and comfy. I’ve had several compliments (I’ve bought them in the tan shade and black toes) and am thinking of buying another pair in a different colour.”

“I love these shoes,” another customer gushed. “They are really comfortable and look great. I bought two pairs in different colours and may well buy a third.”

However, one shopper gave the Penelope Mary Jane Flats a lukewarm review, describing them as ‘beautiful but uncomfortable’. The review reads: “The green and white are beautiful, exactly what I was after. The material and sole is really stiff though and uncomfortable, I’m not sure I’ll be able to wear them, which is a shame as I want to love them”.

Yet another customer was thrilled with their Boden purchase, adding: “Total power shoes. Comfortable and look good with dresses and trousers. A great pop of colour in an otherwise simple outfit. Fit is great.”

Cherry fragrances have surged in popularity this year, and LookFantastic has just slashed Dolce & Gabbana’s ‘feminine’ cherry perfume by 50%

Cherry-scented perfumes are one of the biggest fragrance trends of the year. Celebs like Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande have both recently launched cherry scents, and luxury designer houses have jumped on the trend too.

If you’re a fan of these gourmand, fruity fragrances, you’ll be pleased to see that Dolce & Gabbana’s Q by DG Eau de Parfum has been slashed by 50% for a limited time.

Normally priced at £132, LookFantastic has reduced this cherry-smelling perfume by half, making its new price £66. However, this offer is only on until Monday, and it’s already selling fast.

With main notes of Sicilian lemon and cherry combined with cedarwood and musk, this fresh, citrus scent has a captivating and woody depth that lasts on the skin.

The striking glass bottle is topped with a gold crown and cherry-red detailing, so it will look great propped up on your nightstand or dressing table.

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Shoppers can’t seem to get enough of this perfume, praising its unique smell, and the compliments in reels in. One happy reviewer over at Boots wrote: “Such a unique scent – it reminded me of being on holiday! One spray is plenty enough and the smell seemed to last all day with lots of people commenting on how nice it is.”

And a second followed in suit writing: “Amazing smelling perfume. Fresh and feminine, strong at first but not overpowering. Lasts all day even in a busy working day. Had so many compliments on this perfume definitely one of my new favourites!”

Not everyone was as impressed, noting the smell is overly sweet. A shopper wrote: “Parfum is Mixture of sweet and sour. Personally not my favourite, it didn’t stay for long also”.

Lewis Capaldi has opened up about meeting ‘special guy’ Justin Bieber at an A-list party in Los Angeles, where he admitted the Sorry star ended up ‘airing’ him

Scottish sensation, Lewis Capaldi, has revealed he was savagely snubbed by Justin Bieber after meeting the star at a glamourous bash in Hollywood.

Lewis was at the party in Los Angeles, mingling with a whole host of famous faces, including Charli XCX and the Baby star. Revealing he initially had a great time with the dad-of-one at the bash, he admitted he was stunned the Canadian crooner, who has sparked recent concern after fans’ fears for his health, knew who he is was.

He shared: “And Bieber comes over to me and he’s like: ‘Hey man what’s going on?’ And I’m like you don’t know who I am, ‘you don’t know my name’ , and he’s like: ‘of course I do it’s Lewis Capaldi’. It comes as Justin worried fans after posing in see-through underwear in his latest update.

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Speaking on Capital Breakfast this morning, Lewis continued: “Me and Bieber have this super night, this really lovely evening together, we didn’t spend the night together, but we hang out, and me and the Biebs are going to be best pals, this is huge. He’s like ‘make sure I get your number tomorrow’ and I was like, me and the Biebs this is huge.”

However, admitted that the star ended up ‘airing’ him, Lewis continued: “Text him the most sucking up his a** ‘just wanted to jump on Bro, and say last night was so special, great guy, so nice to hang with you, such a dude’ all this stuff.

“He likes it and doesn’t reply to me. So if you’re out there Bieber, text me back! Bieber aired me.”

It comes as Justin sparked concerns from his fans after he shared a series of images on social media wearing just his underwear.

The singer, who is married to Hailey Bieber, appeared to have emerged dripping wet from a lake wearing a pair of white Calvin Klein boxer shorts that had turned see-through as he laughed in the pictures with his hand covering his modesty.

He wore a pair of chunky ankle boots and a gold chain around his neck while larking about for the camera in the sunshine.

Responding, one fan said: “Hailey come get your husband.” Another posted: “What is he doing ? He is a married father acting like a teenager on a camping trip with his high school friends.”

Meanwhile, a fourth referenced the star’s latest catchphrase, quipping: “Justin, it’s not clocking to you you’re a dad is it?”

Listen to _ _Capital Breakfast with Jordan North, Chris Stark and Sian Welby _ _weekdays from 6am – 10am across the UK and on _ Global Player

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I’ve been using the same denim tote bag on repeat for my hand luggage that’s the perfect size to keep all your travel essentials safe and close at hand – and it’s under £60

When it comes to travelling, I want to make my life as easy as possible. That means hand luggage that’s easy to carry, practical, and lets me get to everything without having to completely unpack it on the plane.

For my last three flights now, I’ve taken Roka’s Portobello Denim Tote Bag (£59.95) as my carry on bag, and it’s proved to be everything I needed. Plus, it looks effortlessly chic and cool, which is always a nice bonus if you’re having to haul it everywhere.

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I’ve managed to fit multiple changes of clothes, a pair of shoes, a water bottle, a laptop, two makeup bags, headphones and a spare jacket into the bag at once with room to spare, making it ideal for long weekend breaks or overnight trips away. But it’s been a lifesaver on long haul flights, giving me plenty of room to pack essentials to see me through the flight without being so tightly crammed that I can’t get to anything.

Having taken backpacks in the past, there’s nothing worse than realising your book or headphones have slipped to the bottom of the bag and you need to pull everything else out to get to them. Whereas the Portobello Denim Tote Bag is long and wide, which makes it easy to rummage around with minimal disruptions.

It is slightly too large to fit into budget airlines “personal items” criteria, but it still fits neatly inside the hand luggage specifications, measuring 48cm x 10cm x 40cm. For reference, Ryanair’s cabin bag size limits are 55cm x 20cm x 40cm, whilst the personal item measurements are 40cm x 20cm x 30cm.

However there are multiple other options of the Portobello bag, including smaller sizes, ones with additional pockets and in a range of colours, so if you want one that’ll fit your flights specifics you can find one on the Roka website. My large denim tote has multiple compartments both inside and out for keeping essentials like passports, money and tickets to hand, not to mention a designated laptop slot for computers up to 15”.

I also love that the Portobello Denim Tote Bag fastens with a large sturdy zip at the top, so you don’t need to worry about anything spilling out. One thing I will mention is that when it’s full, it can get heavy, and as it only has top handles (rather than a cross body strap) it can make it a little tricky to carry around.

You should also watch for the denim dye rubbing off on light coloured fabrics if it has a lot of contact – like when I had my feet tucked under it for almost eight hours on a flight and realised it had stained the toes of my shoes! But popping it through the wash should help get rid of any excess dye if you want to make doubly sure you won’t get any transfer.

There’s also other great travel-friendly totes to shop instead, like Antler’s Essential Tote Bag which you can pick up for £65. It comes in both navy and white, with plenty of pockets and a strap to fix it over your suitcase handle.

You could also shop Lulu Guinness’ Nylon Macy Tote Bag, which is available in both green and navy for £119. The nylon material means it’s easy to keep clean, with a travel-friendly size and straps to slot over your suitcase.

However, my Portobello Denim Tote Bag has proven to withstand just about everything thrown at it, and the denim is so thick and such good quality that it’s never once stretched, snagged or become damaged. Therefore it’s a no-brainer for me; I’ll continue taking it everywhere with me, although it might have to go in the overhead lockers every once in a while.

We’ve put the best pre-made and canned cocktails to the test to see which ones will not only save you time and effort this summer and bank holiday, but also taste delicious

With a long weekend coming up with the summer bank holiday on 25 August, if you’re looking for drinks to serve to guests at barbecues or gathering – and you aren’t a fan of the typical beers and ciders – then pre-mixed cocktails could be a great solution.

In recent years there’s been a huge increase in single serve, pre-made cocktails hitting the drinks aisles; a world away from super-sweet alcopops we probably remember from our youths, these are sophisticated drinks that you’d find in a posh bar, serving bartender-quality classics such as margaritas, espresso martinis and negronis in handy little cans or bottles. This makes them excellent for parties, barbecues and festivals – and many can also be delivered in gift sets or letterbox-friendly packaging, making them also a great present idea for someone who loves good food and drink.

Here are our favourites…

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9 best pre-mixed cocktails to buy in 2025

Kocktail

The Classic Collection, £32 from Kocktail

Kocktail sells a range of different sized bottles, from 500ml bottles that’ll serve five to single-serve measures in letterbox packaging; we like that these include garnishes and recipe cards too. Passionfruit Martini, Cosmopolitan and Margarita are our personal picks for summer, and they also sell a Summer BBQ Case of six 500ml bottles that’s great for gatherings, saving you £30 compared to buying them individually.

NIO

Sundowner Cocktail Box, £46.75 from NIO (worth £55)

NIO is arguably this market leaders in cocktails by post, delivering its recipes in their unique square packets. While the classics are great (and strong!), NIO also excels at limited-edition collections, including this Sundowner set of nine, and destination-based selections such as Postcards from Japan. They might not be the easiest things to open and drink from if you’re raving in a field, but they do take up very little fridge space.

Boxtails

Party Piece: Cocktail Collection of 6, £39.99 from Boxtails

Perhaps the most ‘party suitable’ of the bunch, Boxtails’ are easy to drink and not too strong – ideal if you don’t want to peak too soon. The measures are also a little larger than most of the others here too. For the best value for money for parties. buy the Mystery Bundle, which gets you 24 cocktails for £144.99: around £6 a drink.

Moth

Moth: Taster Pack, from £26 for 8 from Moth

You’ll probably have seen Moth cocktails-in-a-can; you’ll find them in supermarkets, and they’re what all the cool kids drink at Glastonbury each year. I link them for their ease (you can swig them straight out of the can), their stylish packaging and how well they do the classics, including my favourites: margaritas, palomas and negronis.

Moth sells lots of different bundles, and the Taster Pack is a great option if you want to try a bit of everything. (They work out as one of the cheapest too, at £3.25 a can).

Lockdown Liquor & Co

Piña Colada and Strawberry Daiquiri 500ml bottles, £25 each from Lockdown Liquor

As its name suggest Lockdown Liquor was started during the pandemic, when proper, bartender-mixed cocktails were unattainable, and since then it has gone on to become one of the most fashionable pre-mixed cocktail brands to have on your shelf.

The taste really delivers too; Lockdown Liquor’s Picante is perhaps its most popular, but their two new summery recipes are Piña Colada and Strawberry Daiquiri, and they also do an excellent range of non-alcoholic options. Buy them in 500ml bottles or pick five minis in the Petite Liquor Box.

Perhaps a bit posh (and heavy) for festivals, keep these at home for when you really want to impress guests.

Pimentae

Tommy’s Margarita Cans, £32 for 8 from Pimentae

If you’re a fan of margaritas, spicy or otherwise, you need to know about Pimentae. The brand only makes this cocktail – albeit in a few variations – but it does it really well; these colourful cans go down a dream.

You’ll find lots of options on the website, including 50cl bottles, big bag-in-a-boxes and gift sets.

Edmunds

Build a Box, from £34.95 for 6 from Edmunds

I’ve got a soft spot for Edmunds cocktails as they’re from my home county of Suffolk, and I’m assuming its name is a reference to Bury St Edmunds, where I grew up. I love the little individual bottles with stoppers, and they deliver on taste too. You can build your own boxes, choosing from 11 different recipes, or buy ready-made collections.

Picante

Original Picante Spicy Margarita Fridge Pack, £32 for 6 from Picante

Trendy London fashion and lifestyle brand Picante has introduced its namesake spicy margs (the cocktail of choice for the fashionable crowd), and they taste as good as they look, made with fresh serrano chilli in with tequila, lime juice and agave.

Fever-Tree

Fever-Tree 0.5% Low Alcohol Italian Spritz, £1.90 each from Sainsbury’s

It’s not often that a low-alcohol drink tastes like its original alcoholic version, IMO, but this one really does – it’s sharp, bitter and refreshing, and not too sweet (a rare find with low- or no-alcohol cocktails). Pour into a large round glass with plenty of ice, and enjoy in the sun.