Latest news with #WillBest
North Wales Live
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
One in four Brits leave a gig early and miss encore for surprising reason
A quarter of concert attendees tend to give the encore a miss and make an early exit, with a third prioritising their wellbeing for the following day. A poll of 2,000 music enthusiasts revealed that one in four prefer the idea of unwinding post-gig rather than sticking around for the final tune. Interestingly, it's the Gen Z demographic who are most likely to make a swift exit. Tiredness also factors in, with 36 per cent of adults admitting concern about how they'll feel the next morning. Furthermore, 37 per cent indulge in self-care post-concert to ensure they wake up refreshed the next day. However, this post-gig routine may not be as effective as hoped, with over half of all adults typically waking up from their post-concert slumber feeling tired and worn out. The study was commissioned by Holiday Inn Express, which has teamed up with Will Best and AJ Odudu to introduce limited edition 'Fresh or Fried' packages - available online and at participating hotels. These packages include items such as hydration sachets, earplugs, caffeine gum, sleep-enhancing essential oils and under-eye cool masks - all designed to aid concertgoers in their post-gig recovery. Guests can choose between the two options based on how they typically feel the morning after a gig. Almost half of those surveyed said they prefer to wake up at their usual time after a gig, while 38 per cent enjoy sleeping in and having a 'lazy day '. Will Best said: "I go to lots of gigs, but I still have to get up early for breakfast radio, so while I have fun and definitely indulge in some questionable dad dancing, I still like to wind down properly afterwards. "A great sleep, strong coffee and a decent breakfast is what I need when I get up so I'm ready to tackle the day," he added. AJ Odudu, on the other hand is the opposite: "I am a night owl and I always get a second wind, especially when in a concert environment - I definitely get that from my mum!" The research revealed that for many, it's just as much about the pre-gig preparation as it is afterward, with 16 per cent taking a pre-show nap and eight per cent even meditating beforehand. These practices are particularly popular among Gen Z (21 per cent and 17 per cent) and Millennials (29 per cent and 17 per cent). The survey found that Ed Sheeran topped the list of this summer's most anticipated performances, with Oasis claiming second position. Beyoncé secured third spot, whilst Billie Eilish ranked fourth and Olivia Rodrigo completed the top five. Holiday Inn Express spokesperson, John Wright, said: "As the research shows gig goers have different approaches - some are night owls who stay up until dawn, while some are self-care enthusiasts who prefer a more relaxed concert experience. "It's important that everyone can enjoy iconic summer concerts, and the morning after, in a way that suits them best. Our Fresh or Fried care packages were designed with these distinct personas and gig routines and behaviours in mind."
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Big Brother's Will Best drops wedding bombshell after engagement to stylist
CBB co-host and radio DJ Will Best chats about why he's got that Friday feeling back, marriage plans with other half Tobi Rose - and one of his favourite housemates of all time Hits Radio DJ and Celebrity Big Brother co-host Will Best is chatty and multitasking like a pro when new catches up with him, walking his dog Sandwich in the park as we talk. Will, 40, has become known in recent years as one of the faces of ITV 's revived Big Brother, alongside his old pal AJ Odudu. The Londoner, who got engaged to his stylist girlfriend Tobi Rose last year after more than a decade together, is also backing a Holiday Inn Express campaign to provide gig-goers with care packages for the day after the night before. Here, he talks to OK! about his friendship with AJ, gives his take on Chris Hughes and JoJo Siwa as their romance hots up, and reveals how he's mellowed over time… Hi Will! How are things with you? Great. I'm enjoying my weekends. I do Hits Radio [breakfast show] with Fleur East and the comedian James Barr – I used to do the weekend show but now, doing the daily show, I have my weekends back. It's lovely to have that Friday feeling. Are the early morning starts difficult? I get up at 5am, so it could be worse. I still live my life, but I've taken to asking mates to meet for dinner at 6.30pm. I have such a laugh on the show, it doesn't feel like work. We had Will Smith in the studio the other day. I ended up rapping at him – he kept repeating the word 'Tragic' while I did. It might have been a compliment! Co-hosting Celebrity Big Brother must be quite the ride… It doesn't quite feel real. The last series had everything – drama, controversy… Me and AJ had to throw Mickey Rourke into the house, then out when he got the boot a week later. That's some nice symmetry. Name one of your favourite housemates? Louis Walsh. He had that brilliant mix of knowing how to give everything in a reality format while also not knowing what the hell was going on at any given moment. Other housemates later told me he'd have a big argument, then go, 'Wow, that was great TV.' He thought he was producing it! Everyone's talking about JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes. What do you make of their relationship? When their relationship was unfolding in CBB, I was thinking, 'OK, it's obviously platonic.' But the relationship they've since developed is beautiful – they seem to have clearly found a soulmate in each other. What about AJ? She's engaged now… Yeah, I'm so happy for her. She's living her best life. You were already friends before hosting Big Brother, weren't you? We were – that's why we were so lucky to get the hosting gig together. We're both massive Big Brother fans, so we get to chat about it on the telly. You couldn't ask for a better friend than AJ. She gives great advice, she's super loyal and such a laugh. And you're good friends with Maya Jama too, aren't you? I am, although she's the busiest person in Britain so I don't see her as often as I'd like. I've been watching Love Island. My fiancée loves it too – so much drama. Maya and I used to work together on so many things. She and AJ are also super-close. The three of us did the show Release The Hounds in Lithuania years ago. It was terrifying. Poor old Maya was terrible at outrunning those dogs – she totally sacrificed herself for charity. What a trouper. You are also engaged. Do you have any plans to tie the knot? It sounds like such a cliché, but we're both so busy the thought of organising a wedding just seems… I can't imagine ever having the time. But we'll get round to it, for sure. You've had an interesting career so far meeting a variety of celebs – who would you say stands out? So many. My first big interview was with Britney Spears. I once went fishing with Dappy from N-Dubz at this carp lake in Oxfordshire, full of posh people standing around in tweeds. It's all about being quiet, not to scare the carp away. Dappy arrives and starts shouting, 'No, mate – wrong place. Look at these idiots!'' He took us to a deserted corner of the lake, said, 'This is where they are,' and hauled out three fish in five minutes. The professional carp-fishers were aghast. Tell us about Fresh Or Fried, the campaign with Holiday Inn Express that you're involved in… Music and gigging has always been a huge part of my life and this summer feels epic for upcoming bands and big stars. So Holiday Inn has created care packages for gig-goers which are a lifesaver, tailored to the two types of gig-goers. You're either someone like me, who prioritises feeling fresh – you go to gigs but get proper sleep, feel rested, have a fresh breakfast… or you go more hell for leather and worry about how you're feeling the next day – probably a bit fried. They have a fresh package with lavender oil, earplugs, mouth tape to help you into a deep sleep. In the fried package it's all about the rehydration salts and under-eye patches. Do you think you have mellowed as you've matured? Well, because I have to get up at stupid o'clock for my radio show, I'll go to gigs and have a dance, but may leave before the encore. But I'm not alone – apparently 39% of Gen Z will leave before the encore. In a way, I am actually young and hip. You're 40 now – are we allowed to talk about this? You can, but I don't think anyone will believe you. Look, I'm definitely more sensible as I've got older. I've developed a more caring relationship with Tomorrow Will. I used to hate that guy and he never got a moment's thought. Until pretty recently, I'd enjoy the encore, then the after-party. I'd treat late nights like a sport and want to be as match-fit as possible. But, fear not, Wild Will still comes out occasionally…
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
One in four gig goers miss the encore and leave early
This comes as research identified distinct differences in how different generations enjoy and recover from music gigs. As the summer of pop continues excitement for live music is high with fans travelling thousands of miles to see their favourite acts, but the poll of 2,000 concertgoers found the thought of winding down post-gig rather than staying until the final song is more appealing to some than others. And perhaps surprisingly, it's Gen Zs (39 per cent) who are most likely to make a swift exit. Tiredness is also factor, with 36 per cent of all adults admitting they worry in advance about how they'll feel the morning after. Further to this, 37 per cent practice self-care post-gig so they can wake-up feeling fresh the next day – and again Gen Zs do this more than any other generation (55 per cent). But it might not have the desired effect - 51 per cent of all adults typically emerge from their post-gig slumber feeling fried, tired, and worn out. The research was commissioned by Holiday Inn Express, which has teamed up with Will Best and AJ Odudu to launch limited edition 'Fresh or Fried' packages - available online and at participating hotels, guests are able to choose between the two depending on how they tend to feel the morning after a show. It comes as 40 per cent of those polled revealed they like to get up as normal after a gig, while 38 per cent like to sleep in late and have a 'lazy day.' Will Best said: 'I go to lots of gigs, but I still have to get up early for breakfast radio, so while I have fun and definitely indulge in some questionable dad dancing, I still like to wind down properly afterwards. 'A great sleep, strong coffee and a decent breakfast, is what I need when I get up so I'm ready to tackle the day'. Sharing her contrasting approach, AJ Odudu said: 'I am a night owl and I always get a second wind, especially when in a concert environment - I definitely get that from my mum!' The study also found for some it's not just being more careful following a live music event, as 16 per cent will have a pre-show nap and eight per cent will even meditate. This is especially prevalent in Gen Z (21 per cent and 17 per cent) and Millennials (29 per cent and 17 per cent) - suggesting younger generations take different approaches to the overall gig experience. Carried out through OnePoll, the study also identified the most anticipated shows of the summer with Ed Sheeran topping the poll, ahead of Oasis who came second. Third place went to Beyoncé, with Billie Eilish fourth and Olivia Rodrigo fifth. Holiday Inn Express spokesperson, John Wright, said: "As the research shows gig goers have different approaches - some are night owls who stay up until dawn, while some are self-care enthusiasts who prefer a more relaxed concert experience. 'It's important that everyone can enjoy iconic summer concerts, and the morning after, in a way that suits them best. "Our Fresh or Fried care packages were designed with these distinct personas and gig routines and behaviours in mind."
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Big Brother host Will Best reveals why it was a mistake proposing to his long-term girlfriend on holiday
He was with his girlfriend over a decade before popping the question – so it's unsurprising that Will Best and his fiancé Tobi Rose are still yet to start planning their wedding over a year on from the proposal. The Big Brother host got down on one knee in Tuscany in July last year. In an exclusive interview with MailOnline Travel, he says: 'It was lovely. It was really nice. 'The only problem is now my fiancé is like, 'oh, let's get married in Tuscany too'. 'But that just sounds expensive.' To stop her badgering him to set a date, Will goes on to confesses he 'told Tobi' about a segment he did on his Hits Radio show, in which many couples who'd been engaged for a long time called in, including one who had been for 32 years. But Will and stylist Tobi have always taken things so slow, he admits. They didn't even go on their first week-long holiday together until 2022, 11 years after they'd started dating. Will explains: 'We'd done a decade without a proper holiday, because we're both freelancers, and every time I booked a holiday, work would come up, or every time something would happen which meant I couldn't do it. 'So we would holiday sporadically and briefly - lots of city breaks, lots of weekends away, which is still great, but your long, fully unplugged holiday, that took us a long time. 'Also, because I travel a lot with work, it kind of always felt like my my travel itch was being scratched all the time, and she travels a lot with work as well, like she goes on shoots abroad for weeks at a time. 'But now, my aim with a holiday is to try and unplug as profoundly as possible.' For Will, the best holiday he and Tobi have been on was to Morocco. He says: 'We stayed in this lovely hotel, which didn't really feel like a hotel – the Jnane Tamsna. 'There's no bar or concierge desk, and if you want a drink, you just WhatsApp this dude and he'll bring you a beer. 'Also, obviously Marrakesh is nothing like London, and I like trying to go to places that feel totally unlike home, so I can get into a destressed environment and mind state as quickly as possible.' While Marrakesh was lovely for Will and Tobi, the same can't be said for their trip to Jamaica. He recalls: 'I'd always wanted to go, and I got loads of amazing recommendations from a friend of mine, who's got Jamaican family and goes out there all the time. 'She gave us all these recommendations, and we were super excited. 'Then we got there, and it rained for the entire week, and me and my partner were both really ill. 'We arrived feeling a bit under the weather, and then spent a week just in our hotel room feeling ill while it rained. It was a long way to go to just stare at the same four walls. 'We watched a lot of Netflix. It was really depressing. We'd force ourselves to get up, we'd go to a restaurant, and then immediately, just be like, 'We can't. We've got to get back to the Netflix.'' This summer, Will, along with his Big Brother co-host AJ Odudu, is planning to go to festivals around the UK – and 'hopefully sneak into an Oasis gig'. And while he does that, he'll be taking full advantage of Holiday Inn Express' Fresh package, while AJ will be getting a Fried box, filled with a Stanley cup, eye gels and hydration tablets. He says: 'The boxes each contain different things based on how you like to either prepare to sleep after a gig or recover, from maybe not enough sleep, the next day. 'When I was looking at the different care packages, I realised that I am very much falling into the Fresh camp, and it's not because I'm old, all right? 'It's because I now do breakfast radio on Hits Radio with Fleur East and James Barr, and I now have to get up stupidly early every single day, even if I have gone to a gig the night before, so my whole life now revolves around my sleep routine, and I need to maintain that even if I'm going out to a gig. 'In the Fresh box, you're getting really good, reusable ear plugs, mouth tape, which helps you get into an REM sleep quickly, lavender aromatherapy and essential oils. 'Then, for breakfast, you've got your fruit, your granolas, your fresh yogurt and I can go straight to the radio and not feel like I'm I'm going to keel over, which is a constant struggle.' Holiday Inn Express' Fresh or Fried campaign is running from 24th July - 24th September 2025, with boxes available at select properties across the UK and Ireland and online at while stocks last. Find out more at
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
One in four music fans leave a gig early to catch up on sleep
A poll of 2,000 music fans found a quarter can't resist the thought of winding down post-gig rather than staying to hear the final song. One in four gig goers miss the encore and leave the show early – with a third prioritising how they'll feel the next day. A survey of 2,000 music fans found a quarter can't resist the thought of winding down post-gig rather than staying to hear the final song. And perhaps surprisingly, it's Gen Z who are most likely to make a swift exit. Tiredness is also a factor, with 36 per cent of all adults admitting they worry about how they'll feel the following morning. In addition to this, 37 per cent practice self-care post-gig so they can wake-up feeling fresh the next day. However, this post-gig routine might not being having the desired effect as over half of all adults typically emerge from their post-gig slumber feeling tired and worn out. The research was commissioned by Holiday Inn Express, which has teamed up with Will Best and AJ Odudu to launch limited edition 'Fresh or Fried' packages - available online and at participating hotels. The packages include items such as hydration sachets, earplugs, caffeine gum, sleep enhancing essential oils and under eye cool masks - and are intended to help concertgoers recover post-gig. Guests have the option to choose between the two based on how they typically feel the morning after a concert. According to a poll, 40 per cent of respondents prefer to get up at the same time as usual after a gig, while 38 per cent enjoy having a lie-in and a 'lazy day. '. Will Best said: "I go to lots of gigs, but I still have to get up early for breakfast radio, so while I have fun and definitely indulge in some questionable dad dancing, I still like to wind down properly afterwards. "A great sleep, strong coffee and a decent breakfast is what I need when I get up so I'm ready to tackle the day". On the other hand, AJ Odudu said: "I am a night owl and I always get a second wind, especially when in a concert environment - I definitely get that from my mum!" The study found that for some it's not just about indulging in self-care following a live music event; 16 per cent will have a pre-show nap and eight per cent will even meditate. This is particularly common among Gen Z (21 per cent and 17 per cent) and Millennials (29 per cent and 17 per cent). According to the most eagerly awaited shows of the summer are Ed Sheeran, ahead of Oasis who came in second. Beyoncé took third place, followed by Billie Eilish in fourth and then Olivia Rodrigo. Holiday Inn Express spokesperson, John Wright, said: "As the research shows gig goers have different approaches - some are night owls who stay up until dawn, while some are self-care enthusiasts who prefer a more relaxed concert experience. "It's important that everyone can enjoy iconic summer concerts, and the morning after, in a way that suits them best. "Our Fresh or Fried care packages were designed with these distinct personas and gig routines and behaviours in mind."
