Lately, being wealthy and well-known typically isn’t sufficient for celebrities. As an alternative, they’re after the freebies that include having a big fanbase.
The alternatives are plentiful. Social media platforms reminiscent of Instagram and TikTok permit even minor stars to advertise manufacturers in change without cost merchandise or experiences.
Final week, the Every day Mail revealed the jaw-dropping string of freebies accepted by Made In Chelsea stars Ollie Locke and his husband Gareth. They included a top-of-the-range cruise to the Caribbean, designer Harley Road dermatology therapies, costly skincare merchandise, champagne afternoon teas and even free VIP seats on the BRIT awards.
The Lockes should not alone. Removed from it. There are lots of of different ‘liggers’ – the business time period for freeloaders or cheapskates.
So right here is my listing of the largest liggers in showbusiness…
Mark Wright, 39, actuality TV star, and Michelle Keegan, 38, actress
Husband and spouse Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan are mentioned to have funded their £1.6million Essex mansion largely from PR offers
First are showbusiness royalty Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright. She, a Hollywood actress, and he, a actuality star, have a mixed internet value of £19million – but appear unable to withstand a freebie.
Not too long ago they accepted a £1,350 ceiling gentle in return for an Instagram put up, once they may simply have purchased it themselves.
Insiders say they ‘can’t resist’ saving a fast buck. A lot of their £1.6million Essex mansion was constructed on PR offers.
On his interiors Instagram web page, @wrightyhome, Mark has posted #adverts for a Samsung TV, a £5,500 couch, a £3,400 marble eating desk, six chairs value £2,700 and extra.
‘They’re fairly shameless in relation to the home, however have gone previous the purpose of caring as a result of they wished the very best home they may get,’ my insider tells me. ‘However one factor they don’t like is folks criticising them for taking free holidays.’
The 38-year-olds travelled to Abu Dhabi with their ten-month-old daughter Palma earlier this 12 months and stayed on the £2,000-a-night Rixos Premium Saadiyat Island lodge freed from cost. They had been reportedly shocked by the backlash, with critics suggesting it appeared out of contact.
‘They genuinely did imagine they deserved that vacation. For them, it’s not a perk of being within the public eye, it’s a necessity. They assume they work tougher than everybody else.’
Douglas Sales space, 33, actor, and Bel Powley, 33, actress
Considered value a mixed £12 million, couple Bel Powley and Douglas Sales space nonetheless appear unable to withstand a ‘shameless freebie’. Even their honeymoon was regarded as a PR keep
A stunning entry, however the charge at which these Hollywood actors settle for free merchandise is exceptional.
Recognized for his function in The Riot Membership, Sales space – value £7million – married fellow actress, Bel Powley, who starred within the Morning Present and is herself value £5million.
The pair tied the knot in 2023 however resulting from busy work schedules, the not-so-newlyweds solely managed to have a good time their honeymoon earlier this week with a lavish journey to the Maldives. They stayed on the £5,000-a-night luxurious resort, Soneva, presumably without cost, in return for tagging it on their Instagram pages.
‘They’ll be embarrassed about how this makes them look,’ an business supply advised me, ‘But it surely simply goes to point out, nobody is neutral to a shameless freebie, irrespective of how intellectual you contemplate your self on this business.’
Stacey Solomon, 36, TV character and singer
Stacey Solomon embellished her complete home for Halloween utilizing her personal vary of Asda merchandise. Right here she is pictured in an advert for her spring-summer homeware assortment
Courtesy of a big-money take care of Amazon, Stacey’s Instagram is brimming with adverts for all kinds of things – from Levi’s denims to L’Oreal hair and make up merchandise in addition to facemasks, couch covers, bathtub jets and false eyelashes.
Fortunately for Stacey, she retains a free model of every thing she promotes.
In the meantime her dwelling, Pickle Cottage in Dagenham, east London, which she shares with husband Joe Swash and their blended household, is prepared for all events. For Halloween, Stacey embellished the entire home – in goodies from her personal Asda vary!
Ryan Thomas, 41, former actor turned influencer
Former Coronation Road actor Ryan Thomas, pictured with spouse Lucy Mecklenburgh, typically reveals off his free items on Instagram and is claimed to like ‘the excessive life’
Now that he’s left the cobbles, freebies are an important for former Coronation Road actor Ryan.
Whether or not it’s free Lego for his children, a Phillips steamer to get the creases out of his garments or an AirUp water bottle, he posts his items on Instagram and urges others to pay for theirs.
‘Ryan is a savvy man,’ says a pal. ‘He loves the excessive life and can accomplish that as a lot as he can.’
He and his spouse, The Solely Method Is Essex star Lucy Mecklenburgh additionally get pleasure from a variety of idyllic holidays with their kids, typically tagging the businesses behind them – a positive signal that they’re getting some ‘assist’ with the fee. Not too long ago they loved a visit to the luxurious Nation Home Cumbria, a go to to the Hendra Vacation Park in Newquay and a keep on the Hyde lodge in Ibiza.
Maura Higgins, 35, actuality TV star
Actuality TV star Maura Higgins was granted free VIP entry to Coachella – a serious music pageant in California, identified for its astronomical ticket costs
After a serious rebrand and appearances at numerous crimson carpets and galas, I’m positive Maura would contemplate herself an A-lister today.
But when she actually needs to slot in among the many Hollywood elite, Maura should surrender her penchant for receiving items.
This is perhaps arduous for the 35-year-old, who began her profession on actuality relationship present Love Island. Final 12 months alone she obtained a £1,000 VIP entry ticket to Coachella, a birthday journey to Dubai on a luxurious yacht from an organization that hires out boats for £81,000 a day, and a visit to Mykonos, the place a villa would set you again a staggering £5,000 every week.
Denise van Outen, 51, actress and presenter
In addition to being given a free vacation to Common Orlando Resort in Florida, Denise van Outen lately kitted out her flat with all kinds of PR gifted objects – from furnishings to kitchenware
As soon as one among Britain’s most wanted tv presenters, Denise has now obtained fairly the status for having fun with lavish freebies.
Solely final October she was gifted a vacation by British Airways to Common Orlando Resort in Florida, the place rooms price as much as $739 (£565).
There, she and her daughter Betsy, 15, explored a number of theme parks throughout their journey in addition to the Volcano Bay water park.
She lately kitted out her London flat with an array of PR gifted objects, together with a Caple wine cooler, which retails at £2,100 and a Sofology couch regarded as value £1,500. She additionally enjoys free magnificence merchandise together with a full glow set from Korean skincare model Yepoda, value £111 which she boasted about to her 760,000 Instagram followers.
‘Denise is plugged in to a number of the greatest gifters on the market,’ says my snitch. ‘She lives the dream, and far of it without cost. It’s all a bit cringe although, she was a celebrity.’
Millie Waterproof coat, 36, influencer and former actuality TV star
Regardless of her privileged upbringing – as a member of the High quality Road dynasty and a star of TV present Made In Chelsea – Millie Waterproof coat is simply as eager on freebies as the remaining
Regardless of her privileged Made In Chelsea beginnings, Millie seems simply as keen on a well-timed freebie as the remaining – usually sharing a stream of gifted luxurious journeys and high-end experiences together with her 1.3 million on-line followers.
Among the many lavish getaways she has showcased was a keep at Turkey’s Hillside Seaside Membership, the place rooms go for round £1,300 an evening, full with all-inclusive eating, a number of eating places and two spas.
As a descendant of the well-known High quality Road chocolate makers, insiders declare Millie’s acceptance of freebies is ‘all a bit gross’.
That didn’t cease her having fun with a ‘half time period journey to Turkey’ after her divorce from her Made In Chelsea co-star Hugo Taylor on the ultra-luxury XO Cape Arnna, which has 37 swimming swimming pools and might price as much as £3,250.
Nearer to dwelling, Millie additionally posted on Instagram a couple of complimentary staycation on the 4 Seasons in London, in addition to a visit to Ibiza’s Alma Competition – each priced at round £1,000 per night time.
Pete Wicks, 37, actuality TV star
Pete Wicks (proper) adopted his pal Sam Thompson (left) to Australia for I am A Celeb, that means he may get pleasure from a free Gold Coast vacation on the luxurious Marriott Lodge
Earlier than he made the transition final 12 months from Towie actuality TV star to Strictly runner-up and podcaster ‘extraordinaire’, 37-year-old Pete was momentarily a ‘no one’.
When his Staying Related podcast co-host Sam Thompson flew to Australia for I’m A Celeb in 2023, Pete adopted and loved a free Gold Coast vacation.
Regardless of Sam being topped King of the Jungle that 12 months, the actual winner was Pete, who obtained each a style of prime-time TV when he greeted Sam on his exit from the jungle – and a free vacation.
I used to be there watching first-hand as Pete sipped on cocktails within the Marriott Lodge pool as his pal Sam did all of the arduous work, sleeping amongst critters for 2 weeks.
Lauren Goodger, 39, actuality TV star
Former Towie star Lauren Goodger has accepted a string of freebies, together with make-up merchandise, beauty therapies, curtains, a king-sized mattress and a spa journey
Former Towie star Lauren Goodger has amassed a gradual stream of freebies from magnificence merchandise to dwelling upgrades, all of which she usually flaunts to her a million Instagram followers.
She has showcased L’Oreal cosmetics, Area NK skincare together with Eve Lom, Tatcha, Caudalie and La Mer, beauty therapies, a hair refresh and even a king-sized mattress for her daughter.
The perks go far past magnificence. Lauren has additionally documented receiving gifted beauty therapies, together with mole elimination and a recent hair touch-up and blow-dry, whereas her daughter was gifted a king-sized mattress from High Notch Furnishings. Lauren additionally revealed she had been gifted blackout blinds and curtains for her dwelling.
Her social media posts additionally present that she was handled to a complimentary journey to Champneys Spa and a keep on the four-star Greenwoods Lodge, the place rooms price round £280 an evening.
Binky Felstead, 35, actuality TV star
One supply who is aware of Binky Felstead, pictured at Ascot Racecourse, says of her lavish London dwelling: ‘She is thrilled at what her home seems like and various it was free’
Like Millie, Binky was one of many privileged Made In Chelsea set – however that hasn’t stopped her from accepting her personal freebies.
Simply two weeks in the past, she was handed a free keep on the five-star Lowell Lodge on New York’s Higher East Aspect together with her husband.
Amongst different enviable perks, she visited the non-public members’ lodge The Boca Raton in Florida for a ‘youngster free’ break too.
And when it got here to decking out her palatial dwelling in South West London, the truth star was gifted a raft of furnishings and equipment together with a headboard and rug for her bed room from OKA interiors. As an envoy for Marks and Spencer, Binky additionally reveals off her free meals and clothes in quite a few Instagram posts.
‘Binky has managed to make a beautiful life for herself on social media,’ says one supply who is aware of her. ‘She is thrilled at what her home seems like and lots of it was free. Good work if you may get it however, nicely, it’s all fairly unseemly.’
