Key changes to the rules around savings are coming in soon
Martin Lewis has issued a caution for savers as you could be missing out on greater returns. The advice from the consumer champion comes as major changes to savings allowances are just around the corner.
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During a recent question time edition of his BBC podcast, Mr Lewis was questioned by a man about whether he could open a junior ISA for his nieces and nephew. A key benefit of ISAs is that these accounts are completely tax-free. The financial specialist initially told the uncle that regrettably he wouldn’t be able to open the account himself, as a junior ISA can only be established by a parent or guardian on behalf of a young person. Mr Lewis said: “You as an uncle can’t do it, it generally has to be the person who has the guardianship or the parentship of the child, to be able to open their ISA, so you will have to do it through them.”
This should be your focus
Nevertheless, if you are creating a junior ISA to save up for your little one, Mr Lewis had a firm word of caution regarding which type of account to go for. He said: “I tend to almost always get questions about cash junior ISAs.
State Pensioners to face major tax change
“I think junior ISAs are one of those areas where you really, really want to be always be focusing if you possibly can on investing.” Mr Lewis explained there is a straightforward reason why, given how the account operates.
He explained: “You’re generally locking money away for 18 years that cannot be accessed. The rule of investing is if you’re locking money away for more than five years – and if you’ve got emergency funds and you haven’t got any high debts, which hopefully children won’t – then you should look at investing over savings because on a balance of probabilities, it will outperform.”
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You can deposit up to £9,000 annually into junior ISAs on behalf of a child for whom you have parental responsibility. This sum can be allocated as preferred between cash ISAs or stocks and shares ISAs.
A junior ISA is held in the child’s name, but whoever opened the account manages it. When the child turns 16, they can become the registered contact for the account, and upon reaching 18, the account converts to an adult ISA, allowing them to access the funds. Mr Lewis continued in explaining that money placed into a junior ISA is in the “sweet spot” as you are saving funds which you don’t require and the sum has a lengthy period to grow.
Change to ISA rules
Several significant changes are approaching for ISA allowances. Distinct from the junior ISA allowance, adults can presently save up to £20,000 annually into ISAs.
This can be divided as preferred between cash ISAs and stocks and shares accounts. From April 2027, this is set to change, with the maximum deposit into cash ISAs being capped at £12,000 each tax year.
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The remaining £8,000 must be allocated towards investment-based accounts. People aged 65 and above will be exempt from these new regulations and will maintain the existing allowance.
Martinelli was booked for his actions but Hackett believes the Arsenal forward should have been sent off.
He said: “Referee Sam Barrott awarded a free-kick to Arsenal, Martinelli comes rushing in and he pushes Sam out of the way.
“Now I’m sorry, Gabriel Martinelli showed total disrespect for the match official Sam Barrott in that situation.
“Although Sam issued a yellow card, for me it’s a red card. You just cannot put your hands on a referee, let alone push him out of the way.
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Gabriel Martinelli in action for Arsenal against Southampton
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
“You’ve got to look around the country, up and down, Saturday and Sundays where we have local park referees going out and doing their games.
“What message does that send out to our local park referees?
“I thought Sam had a good game, he refereed the game well, but I think he let the refereeing community down by not sending off Gabriel Martinelli for pushing him at the award of a free-kick, so he could take the free-kick quickly.”
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Will Gabriel Martinelli face retrospective action?
It is understood that Martinelli is set to avoid retrospective action from the Football Association (FA).
Due to Barrott taking action on-field, it has been widely reported that the Arsenal star will not face any further punishment by the FA.
Asked whether Scarratt or Hunter, who have a combined total of 260 international caps, have the capability to take over as head coach for the next World Cup in 2033, Mitchell said: “Most definitely. I will probably be an old man by then, in my 70s I think.”
He added: “They have been challenged for a long time in their careers and they are extremely curious.
“You don’t play over 100 Test matches or become the most-capped English women’s player in history if you don’t have a strong work rate.
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“You have two wonderful people who are authentic, easy to work with and fun to work with.”
A challenge for Scarratt, which Hunter has already had to navigate, is coaching her former team-mates.
Scrum-half Natasha Hunt appears regularly on Scarratt’s podcast, ‘The Good, the Scaz and the Rugby’, and the pair were room-mates in camp.
Pre-recorded shows will still go out but Scarratt will be fully focused on coaching during the Six Nations.
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“She [Hunt] tried [to still room with me], she tried pretty hard,” she joked.
“Mo [Hunt] is rooming with Marlie Packer. So for anyone who was concerned, she is safe and well looked after.
“There are certain things that I cannot talk to Mo about any more because there is an element where it is not appropriate for players to know certain things.
“Obviously they know who I am. I know who they are. There is no point trying to pretend like we [former team-mates] are not friends or that we can’t share a joke with one another. That would almost be weirder.”
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Only three female head coaches were in charge at the last World Cup (France, Australia and Japan).
Scarratt said it is too early to consider one day taking on that role but she remains passionate about increasing opportunities for female coaches.
“Fundamentally, we need to do a better job – whether that is upskilling, making it more accessible or showing that it is visible – for more people to be in the game and to then move into those roles,” she added.
“There is still probably a shortage of people available to do that, aside from ex-players. It is very cool to see women in those roles.”
Away from Fairyhouse, news has emerged that Now Is The Hour won’t run in English Grand National at Aintree on Saturday.
However, trainer Gavin Cromwell will still be represented by two runners in the race in Final Orders and Perceval Legallois, while Yeah Man is also still in the race, but does run today.
Speaking to William Hill, Cromwell said: “Unfortunately, Now Is The Hour is out for the rest of the season and he’ll be taken out of the Grand National at the forfeit stage today.
“He’s had a great season, winning the Thyestes and running well at Cheltenham, and it’s a real shame for everyone because having a runner in the Grand National is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the owners.
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“Final Orders and Perceval Legallois are both in good order and will be confirmed, as will Yeah Man although he runs today in the Irish National and is very unlikely to get in at Aintree.”
Italian food in London goes back a long way. For more than a century the capital has been home to delis and osterias, trattorias and ristorantes. It’s hard to spend a better £10 than in Terroni in Clerkenwell, Italia Uno in Fitzrovia or Bar Italia in Soho. All will bring you a mighty sandwich — ciabatta usually — fine espresso or a jovial spritz. Why anyone ever goes to Pret outside a train station is one of life’s great mysteries. Just head to Bar Bruno for a whopping great chicken Milanese.
Those who require a proper lunch or dinner, these are 10 of London’s greatest old school Italian restaurants. Sadly, we’ve had to remove the wonderful Da Maria in Notting Hill as founders Pasquale and Maria Ruocco decided to retire in February 2026 after more than 40 years.
Il Giardino
There is a cafe and deli on the island of Ischia, off the coast of Napoli, which I think might be the inspiration behind Il Giardino, one of Peckham’s most joyful restaurants. Like Ischia’s Serpico Specialit, Il Giardino is beautiful: outside, it’s a soft mustard yellow, with green shutters and a green and white awning that hangs stiffly over a few alfresco tables. Inside, find a riot of old pine — the soft, curved kind that smells a bit like the back room of a church — paper napkins and dim lighting. There’s exposed brick, stumpy thick wine glasses waiting for inoffensive house wine, and a dainty bar. Nothing much has changed since 1987, including the food. Don’t deviate from one of the pasta dishes, most of which are softened by a fair amount of cream. There’s spaghetti with garlic, chilli and mussels; penne with smoked bacon and a snappy tomato sauce; or, my favourite — a perfect representation of Italian-British cooking in London — the tagliatelle with chicken, ham, peas, and a little chilli. One more thing: Il Giardino remains wonderfully cheap. Everything is under £20, trout and roast lamb included.
Ciao Bella is interesting because it has in recent years transcended being a local, neighbourhood restaurant and become a relatively famous London one. It’s a destination, a place for which people travel across town. Why? Here since 1983 and under the stewardship of Felice Pollano since 1999, it’s probably the best of old-school Italian kitsch: pictures of film stars on the walls, flimsy blue tablecloths, smart waiters and that sugary sort of affordable glamour. But it might also be the location in haughty Bloomsbury — to that end it’s a little glitzier than most. Obviously, the place isn’t really about the food, though something should be said about the portion sizes, ever-commendable. Stick to the Italian-British classics like tagliatelle with salmon, spaghetti and meatballs and grilled sea bass, and prepare to be unadventurous with wine — a bottle of Gavi for £36 is okay. Ciao Bella is a little more expensive these days — popularity partly the cause, most likely — but it’s still a magical restaurant, a London institution all should experience at least once.
Splash
A Chelsea haunt since 1966, La Famiglia brands itself as an authentic Tuscan restaurant, one that’s about family, tradition, and dishes like mozzarella in carrozza (and the version here might be the best example of the dish in London). It was founded by Alvaro Maccioni who, though his name is little known as he never did much in the way of TV work, was hugely respected among the Italian chefs who helped to transform Britain’s dining landscape in the 1960s. Though Maccioni died in 2013, the restaurant lives on in much the same guise as it always has. Price-wise, it’s up there: bowls of vongole are about £30 now; vitello tonnato is above £20. Still, these practised dishes are solid, nostalgic, and the service well formed for its Chelsea clientele, which often includes a celebrity or two — like Mick Jagger, but also Kate Moss, Eric Clapton, Michael Caine. Tony Bennett too, once upon a time. Go for a special occasion.
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O’Sole Mio
Big pepper grinders at the ready, smiling waiters at O’Sole Mio take them seriously. Here is a vehemently old guard sort of trattoria, one that’s existed in Pimlico for well over 40 years. It’s difficult to think anyone would stumble upon O’Sole Mio (unless you were on your way to Grumbles, maybe). Who other than residents ever walk past it, I wonder? It used to be my local. The best thing about it is the atmosphere. It’s full of energy and wit and gaudy Tuscan motifs — there’s a painting of a lemon tree in an enormous terracotta pot. O’Sole Mio is also a vanguard in keeping balsamic glaze alive, so too the sprinkling of cayenne pepper and finely chopped parsley on the side of curling white, thick-rimmed plates. So much irreverence here, so much affection. Were it not for these contributing factors, the caprese salad, bruschetta and cream-lubed pastas would be nothing but nonplussing, despite their egalitarian price points (only the fruit de mare tops the £20 mark, which if anything is quite a relief). But as it is, it works. Recommendations? Chefs still make their own pasta here — simple noodles — but it’s only used for a select few dishes. Otherwise, the bolognese is good, as are the baked cannelloni of beef, mushrooms and tomatoes.
Giuseppe’s Place, Borough
Giuseppe’s Italian
Giuseppe’s
The best thing about Giuseppe’s Place is that it’s open until 4am. After about 10pm, the basement trattoria is cleared to become an Italian disco, glitterball and colourful lighting and all. And there, beneath the rumble of London Bridge, all manner of nonsense unfolds. But discover that for yourself after dinner. Speaking of which, the carbonara is a good shout — full of cream of course — while the likes of lobster ravioli, rigatoni amatriciana, and spaghetti “my way” (prawns, asparagus and cherry tomatoes in lashings of white wine and cream) are popular among regulars. Giuseppe’s might qualify as south London’s version of Bar Italia thanks to its red and green neon lighting, spirited vibes and slightly murky undertones, but it’s too new at 40 years old. Still, it’s a bastion of the old guard and also boasts a solid sandwich bar for takeaway on the ground floor. Anyone in need of a quick bite while changing trains should head there in lieu of some tedious chain given it’s only a five minute walk from the station.
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2 Veneti
The Marylebone restaurant 2 Veneti has existed on Wigmore Street for 20 years. It has only drawn one major food review: Michael Winner, for The Times in 2007, about a year after owner Simon Piovesan opened the place (then with a business partner, since departed). Winner loved it and what enamoured him then remains: beautiful Venetian food, a lovely wine list, and a knowledgeable and likeable team. Piovesan, half Italian, half British, is an impeccable host. He takes pride in northern Italian traditions. Baccala’ mantecato con polenta alla griglia, a Venetian speciality of whipped salted cod, fried capers with grilled white polenta, is a luxurious savoury ice cream, creamy to the point of near-rapture; risottos are prepared in the north-westerly way, a little looser and lighter than those in Lombardy and Piedmont, rooted in Italy’s mountainous regions and better suited to skiers and hikers; as for the gnocchi, it’s probably the best in town, made with just 10 per cent flour to potato (as it should be; gnocchi is mostly ruined here in Britain).
vasco and piero
The tale of Vasco and Piero’s Pavilion is not an unlikely one. A bombastic fixture for 50 years on Poland Street in Soho — pictured above as it was — the place was forced to close during the pandemic owing to a dispute with the landlord, prompting significant backlash from storied diners who fondly remembered the wit of founder Vasco Matteucci and who wished to support his son Paul, then newly in charge. It moved soon after to a premises on D’Arblay Street and today the restaurant lives on. It’s quite high-end, Vasco and Piero’s, less balsamic glaze, more octopus carpaccio, freshly made tortellini and Tuscan sausages with pecorino and truffles from Umbria. White linen is perpetual, negronis by candlelight too. The restaurant upholds tradition majestically — it makes a point of it: “Same old, same old… but better. Tradition. We hate change.” Many would argue that this is exactly what Italian trattorias should be: relic-like, but with chefs who aren’t disaffected and can really cook.
Bagatti’s
Including Bagatti’s in this list might be a stretch. The food isn’t what it was, or wasn’t quite on the money when I last visited. But its place here holds fast because it’s a solid example of a true suburban neighbourhood Italian, one run by the same family since its conception (1990) and whose staff serves tables with a sort of luscious ebullience — everyone is genuinely pleased you’re there. Croydon can be a depressing place; in recent years people have tried and failed to bring it back to life. Restaurants such as Bagatti’s are flagpoles with flags ailing but still flying and that is something to be admired. Years ago, it was very much the place to be and you had to know the owners to get a last minute table. Now it is quieter. Order zucchini fritti, calamari and a lamb rack with roast peppers and you’ll leave content. It’s your best bet in south Croydon, anyway.
Trevi, Highbury and Islington
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Trevi
Trevi in Highbury and Islington is old: there since 1962. It’s hard to imagine London then, when pasta was as likely to come in a tin as a bowl, the Beatles were still quite young and England were four years off winning the World Cup. What a time it must’ve been. It’s not hard to determine why Trevi opened where it did — Islington, like Waterloo and Clerkenwell, was where innumerable Italians settled in London post-war. Some would’ve visited for Roman classics like carbonara, liver with onions and red wine, and veal prepared in the Milanese way. Today dishes such as sea bass with olives, capers and lemon are as guarded, as well as gnocchi with pesto, seafood risotto and garlic bread. A north London favourite for a reason and still delightfully cheap (change from £20 sans wine).
Daniel Lynch
The claim that Il Portico is the oldest family run Italian restaurant in London could well be discounted by the venue above. The Chiavarinis, who hail from Emilia-Romagna in the north of Italy, opened the Kensington fixture in 1967. No matter if it isn’t the oldest; it’s among them and the food is incomparable. This isn’t just a historic trattoria, but home to some of the finest Italian cooking in town. Produce here is lauded, cared about, and much is shot by the current proprietor James, third generation and who looks over the restaurant as if a centurion on watch. This is a white linen tablecloth Italian, one for heady barolos, valpolicella and flavours of rabbit and wild boar; expect celebrity pricing. Menus change but will never disappoint: the most fortunate will visit and be met with dishes such as squid ink tagliolini with clams, roast bream and what might be the best osso buco outside Lombardy.
The open-air cinema experience will take place in July.
Adventure Cinema is heading back to Chatelherault Country Park this summer.
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The open-air cinema experience will take place from Friday to Sunday, July 10 to 12, with a giant screen set against the backdrop of the park’s iconic hunting lodge and surrounding woodland.
The weekend programme begins on Friday evening with Dirty Dancing at 6pm. On Saturday, families can enjoy an Encanto sing-a-long at 12pm, followed by the popular Mamma Mia ExtraABBAganza at 5pm.
Sunday’s screenings include Bing and his Friends at the Cinema at 12pm, Andrea Bocelli 30: The Celebration at 2pm, and the classic adventure film Jurassic Park at 6.30pm.
Whether guests are packing a picnic with friends, planning the ultimate family night out, or heading to an open-air disco beneath the stars, Adventure Cinema’s destinations offer a full evening experience, with a variety of on-site food and drink options available.
Children’s channel CITV is being turned off for good, having launched in 1980.
The channel was home to hit shows like Art Attack, My Parents Are Aliens, Tots TV, and Fraggle Rock.
However, it has now been reported that CITV will be closed for good on April 10.
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ITV is closing down CITV
CITV first began as Watch IT, then was rebranded as Children’s ITV and later shortened to CITV.
In 2006, its late-afternoon slot on ITV1 was axed as it got its own channel on Freeview but was still available on weekend mornings on ITV channels.
The CITV Freeview was later shut down and replaced by the streaming service ITVX Kids Hub on ITVX in 2023, with the weekend showings moving to ITV2.
It has now been claimed by a media account that the ITV2 showings will now be ending, marking the end to CITV after 42 years on air.
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Reporting the claims, X account, Media Central UK, wrote: “In TV news, the CITV block on ITV2 is officially ending on 10th April. This really means the end of the iconic CITV brand that has been around for 42 years.
“Farewell CITV, this time for real.
In TV news, the CITV block on ITV2 is officially ending on 10th April. This really means the end of the iconic CITV brand that’s been around for 42 years.
Farewell CITV, this time for real. CBBC will have some of CITV’s programming while the rest will be under ITVX Kids pic.twitter.com/IFlNQx81D7
“CBBC will have some of CITV’s programming, while the rest will be under ITVX Kids.”
Those who grew up with CITV have begun reminiscing on the TV channel and the shows it brought to audiences.
As one X user said, “Grizzly Tales for gruesome kids was awesome on CITV when I was a kid.”
Another former CITV watcher wrote: “End of an era …. I remember watching the Pokémon movies on this channel.”
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A third person said, “I feel bad for CITV’s closure as shows such as Horrid Henry, Rosie and Jim, Art Attack and Sooty (of course) put a smile on my face in my childhood and I had said goodbye to its TV channel too.”
ITV has been contacted for a comment.
What was your favourite show on CITV? Let us know in the comments below.
Customers and staff at Hickory’s Smokehouse, in Shipton Road, donated Easter eggs to be distributed by HOPING Street Kitchen in King’s Manor Garden on Easter Sunday (April 5).
Easter character Hetty Hen even joined staff at the street kitchen, which services hot meals to around 120 people in need each week, to spread festive cheer.
The Hickory’s team with the donated Easter eggs for homeless people in York (Image: Supplied)
Hayden Broadbent, Hickory’s community manager, brought a car full of the donated Easter eggs and said: “Everyone’s on board with the need to help those struggling and Easter is a special time for spreading hope and having a bit of fun together. We wish everyone a very happy Easter!”
Hetty Hen said the street kitchen’s Easter menu, as well as the donated Easter eggs, “hit the spot”.
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Helen Meadows, HOPING’s chair of trustees, said the team was “thrilled” to have Hayden at the Easter Sunday service. “Hayden and the Hickory’s Smokehouse team are such cheerful positive people who always do their best for us. They keep our team hopeful too. We really can’t thank them enough.”
Helen thanked the “kind folk” for their donated chocolate eggs which she said ensured “everyone in our community got to celebrate Easter properly”.
She added that “world events are tightening belts further”, meaning the street kitchen is “bracing ourselves for a further spike in homelessness with cost-of-living rises”.
Lisa McHugh says it taught her the importance of self belief as she prepares to return to music
Country star Lisa McHugh has spent years building a loyal fan base across Ireland and the UK, but she admits the live music scene has changed dramatically in recent years.
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The singer says performing live has become much tougher for artists, with rising costs and fewer venues putting pressure on the industry.
“I definitely think the live scene in general is a lot tougher these days – ticket sales are harder and the competition is really stiff,” she told RSVP Country.
“A lot of venues have closed, which means more artists are fighting for the same dates and spaces. Then you also have the challenge of trying to get people to come to your show when someone similar could have been in that same venue the week before – it’s tough.”
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Lisa said that while she has focused mainly on concert venues in recent years, even those have become increasingly challenging for artists trying to fill seats.
“A lot of that comes down to the economy. Money is tight for everyone, the cost of living is high and people just don’t have the extra funds they might have had a few years ago,” she said.
“That’s completely understandable – we’re all in the same boat. Hopefully that will turn around soon so people can get back out and enjoy live music, because there’s really no better therapy than dancing and singing along to your favourite artist and forgetting your worries for a few hours. It can lift your mood for weeks.”
Despite the challenges facing the industry, Lisa says it has only strengthened her determination to evolve creatively.
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The singer is no stranger to adversity. Last summer she was was hospitalised after temporarily losing the use of both legs and experiencing excruciating pain in her face and head.
Following extensive tests, she was eventually diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), a condition that affects how the brain and nervous system send and receive signals.
“It basically means there’s a nervous system problem and your brain isn’t sending the signals properly to your limbs or body. They call it a software problem in your brain, not a hardware problem,” Lisa explained.
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The diagnosis saw her go from touring and raising two young children – Milo, now four, and Hallie, 18 months – to being unable to carry them and relearning how to walk using a frame.
However, her recent health issues have made Lisa more determined than ever to seize every opportunity and she is excited to explore what other avenues might lie ahead.
“I’ve always had it on my radar,” she said of exploring opportunities beyond music.
“I first tried TV presenting ten years ago and loved it. TV and radio is something I have a passion for alongside music. I don’t want to be pigeonholed.”
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“I love to challenge myself creatively in the media industry and if the opportunities come along I’m going to grab them with both hands,” she added.
Lisa also reflected on the early days of her career, when the Irish country music scene was overwhelmingly male-dominated.
“When I was doing 140 or 150 gigs a year, I was the only female on the road full-time doing that at the time – the rest were all men,” she recalled.
“I was competing against them for the good venues and the best dates. That was tough.”
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She said it took years of persistence to gain the respect of promoters and prove she could draw the same crowds as her male counterparts.
“It took a long time for people to believe that I could sell just as many circuits, if not more, than the male artists they might have chosen otherwise. That takes time, effort and hard work.
“You need a thick skin – you hear ‘no’ more than ‘yes’, and you just have to shake it off, keep hustling and keep working hard.”
Lisa believes the experience taught her resilience, and having had to ‘hustle’ to succeed in the industry before she’s prepared to do it again.
“It’s the same in any job – you can’t just walk in and expect the top seat at the table,” she said. “You have to put in the work, earn respect and trust, and then move up.”
She said that ability to believe in yourself has been crucial to her success in the industry and is something she will rely on again as she prepares to return to music this year.
“You don’t get far in life if you don’t believe in yourself – it all starts there,” she said. “If you don’t believe you can achieve your goals or sell those tickets, no one else will. You have to be confident in everything you do.”
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Taking time away from performing can naturally bring some doubts, she admitted, but she remains realistic about what it takes to rebuild momentum.
“Of course, taking time off brings natural concerns – you think, ‘If I’m away for a while, people will forget me.’ They won’t necessarily forget, but you won’t be at the forefront of their minds either,” she said.
“I need to be realistic when I come back. It’s going to take a little time for people to fully realise I’m back, see if I’m doing something new and give them the opportunity to buy into it again.
“But it all starts with you. If you don’t believe in your abilities and what you’re capable of, you can’t expect anyone else to.”
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To read Lisa’s interview in full and see all the stunning pictures, pick up the Spring edition of RSVP Country on shelves now.
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Alongside his nephew Ruairí Keating, Ronan revealed his one regret after the passing of Ruairí’s father and Ronan’s brother, Ciarán Keating.
Ciarán lost his life in a car crash in 2023 while on his way to watch his son play football, with his wife Annemarie sustaining severe injuries in the incident.
“I never get to say it but…I was the baby,” Ronan said through tears. “He was my older brother, my eldest brother, and he’s my hero.
“I always looked up to him, you know. I joined the band, and I had to kind of grow up very quickly, and I missed stuff between us, and because of that, I lost a lot,” reports the Mirror.
He continued, “I lost a lot and made a lot of sacrifices.”
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“It is very hard,” Ronan wept, reaching across to console his nephew. “I am sorry, I am sorry, I don’t want to get upset.”
In a separate clip, Ronan spoke about Ruairi’s bond with his father. He remarked, “Oh, man, it’s hard enough for us as siblings. I can’t imagine where you are.
“You know, I’ve kind of parked my emotions for the last two years. I haven’t been able to really deal with it. I haven’t been able to deal with the loss, you know.
“He made the decision to make a life for his family. He left Dublin, and he went to the west. And I think this journey that I’m on, you know, coming here and doing this, is me trying to understand more about Ciarán’s choice, so that I can somehow grieve and let go, because I found it very hard.”
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Ruairí continued, “It’s the same for me playing football too. I always look up and still think I can see him there.
“It’s always the hardest part as well, after games, I used to check my phone. The first thing I’d see is my dad’s name, looking at my phone and not seeing that anymore. It’s really hard.”
He then said, “I know he can see me, and I know he’s watching.”
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Ronan told his nephew, “He was so proud of you, and he will still be so proud of you in everything that you do, all of you kids, you were his world, you know, pride and joy.”
Ronan Keating’s Wild Atlantic airs on BBC Two at 6.30pm on Monday.
“I fear that I would have ended up being a world champion but a very depressed, sad and miserable world champion.”
Delicious Orie had the world at his feet when he made his professional debut a year ago.
After the Paris Olympics there was a bidding war for him despite the heavyweight failing to win a medal.
Frank Warren’s Queensberry eventually saw off Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom as well as interest from the WWE to sign him.
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He was the next big thing in heavyweight boxing. And then a month later, Orie announced his shock decision to walk away from boxing altogether.
“I wanted to pull out before the boxing exposed me,” he tells BBC Sport.
“I turned pro for the money, I needed the money, only to realise that money gives you a little bit of happiness, it really does, but it gives you zero fulfilment. Nothing. You feel nothing.”
Orie was a standout fighter in the amateur ranks despite only taking up the sport aged 18. Originally from Russia, he moved to the UK as a child with his family.
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He set high standards for himself, even as a seven-year-old realising the opportunities available to him in the UK.
Orie worked for years to become part of Team GB and secure a regular income from boxing. His goal, over a near-decade journey, was to be Olympic champion. When that did not happen, Orie felt a shift inside him, even if it was subtle.
“There was no plan B, there was no other thing, it was just tunnel vision to win that medal,” he says.
“So the fact that I didn’t magnified the feeling even more when my hand wasn’t raised.
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“I gave everything to the sport, I missed everything – happiness, birthdays, weddings, funerals, everything,” he adds.
“Knowing that I could never achieve that again when I didn’t have my hand raised, that was very sobering.”
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