Latest news with #LiamDowling


Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Australian astounded after visiting UK as he says Brits are 'built differently'
An Australian who visited the UK said Brits are "built differently", and there's a key reason why. He was left astounded after stopping by as he ventured on a trip to Venice An Australian who visited the UK was left astounded when he touched down in the airport. Liam Dowling was left totally floored by one thing when he landed on British soil, and claimed there's a specific reason why Brits are "built differently" to other people around the world. Liam's video has gone viral after he shared it on TikTok and his explanation left people in total hysterics. In the clip, he admitted he was travelling to Venice, but stopped at an airport in the UK on his travels and, when he called by the Wetherspoons, he couldn't get over one thing. In the video, he said: "I'm here at the Spoons airport, on my way to Venice. It's 5am - there's not a single person in here not drinking. It's 5am. "I feel like in Aus, we kind of wait until like 7am/8am - you get some looks if you're drinking in the airport at 5am. No one here gives a f***. "I reckon you could come here at 4am, and it would not matter. Like, Britian just - they don't care. Maybe it's the Europe/Aus thing, but everyone here is boozing and I love it. Bit too early for me though, so, I'm just going to stick to my coffee." The video has been viewed over 100,000 times since it's been shared, and people have been left gobsmacked by it. Natually, some Brits just couldn't stop laughing. One said: "God forbid a nation has hobbies." Another wrote: "Time doesn't exist in the airport or on Christmas Day." A third replied: "I'm Polish (we're infamous for drinking a lot) and I have been living in the UK for 10 years, but even I can't hack how they do it. Brunch time, 11ish, I can get, but 5am is crazy business." Meanwhile, a fourth also commented: "Got to a NY airport at 6am. Asked for a Bacardi and they said no alcohol til midday. I was gobsmacked." One more also quipped: "Spoons in Birmingham airport was absolutely rammed at 2am when I last went." People had all sorts of stories about drinking at airports, but many seemed to agree on one idea - time doesn't exist when you're about to hop on a plane. Many Brits couldn't help but laugh in the comments, with a cheeky pre-flight tipple appearing to be the norm for many - no matter what time it may be. Thoughts and theories were super varied, but many Brits couldn't help but make jokes about it. The video really did make many people chuckle. Another wrote: "If you think about it, 5am is just really late at night. 7am would be more unacceptable, as I consider that morning. Regardless of time though, if I'm at an airport, then I'm at Spoons drinking." One more added: "Every time I fly from Manchester Airport, I choose as early as I can 4am/5am, grab a burger and sit in the bar with a few pints and watch the planes until my gate opens. Like my father, and my father's father." Meanwhile, someone else chimed in with: "Time does not exist in airports. Except the time you've got to catch your flight - that one's important."
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Aussie living in London shocked by $347 bill that doesn't exist back home
An Australian living in the United Kingdom has been shocked to discover that he has to pay to watch regular TV. While Aussies get to lap up multiple free-to-air channels, Brits don't get to enjoy the same type of service. YouTuber Liam Dowling moved to London in May last year and recently got a letter that revealed he had to cough up nearly £170 (AUD$347) for a TV licence. The 24-year-old told Yahoo Finance he initially thought it was a joke. "When I got the letter in the mail informing me that an officer would come to my house I immediately thought it was hilarious," he said. American tourist's $1,276 shock while visiting Australia Centrelink warning over common mistake that could impact your payments: 'We don't' ATO's $11 billion warning for these Aussie taxpayers: 'Moving harder and faster' In the UK, there are workers called TV Licensing Officers, who go around to peoples' houses to make sure they're paying the appropriate fees for watching or recording live TV. "This includes all TV channels, pay TV services like Sky, and live TV streaming services like Amazon Prime Video," the letter said. "You also need a TV Licence to be covered for everything on BBC iPlayer."Thankfully, you don't need the licence if you're watching shows on Netflix or other streaming services, as long as they're not live. If you're found to be breaking the rules by watching TV without paying the annual fee, you could be fined up to £1,000 (AUD$2,004). You could also be forced to pay for court costs and compensation. Officers will check if you have the right licence when they inspect your home, and they'll also check your TV for access to live television or BBC iPlayer, as well as any antennas, satellite dishes, or cable connections to see if you're watching live broadcasts. The former Victorian resident couldn't believe such a thing existed. "I understand that as a foreigner I can't really comment on this as I don't understand it at all... But I just think it hilarious that with all of the s**t you have to pay for, a TV licence just seems like the most outrageous made-up thing," he told Yahoo Finance. "Like its hard enough for people to pay rent, bills, council tax and for food, but now people can't even enjoy one of life's simplest (and some people's only) pleasures without paying. While the TV licence can be paid for in instalments starting from just £6.50 (AUD$13.30) per week, and he would be splitting the cost with his housemates, Dowling said it can still be a lot for some people. The licence was originally introduced more than a century ago in 1923 to cover radios in the country and was expanded in 1946 to include TVs. The £169.95 (AUD$347.95) annual cost was brought in on April 1 last year for colour TVs. There's a black and white TV licence that only costs £57 (AUD$116) and blind people can get a 50 per cent discount on the cost. The money raised helps fund the television, radio and online services of the BBC. The number of TV licences peaked at 26.2 million back in 2018 and has been on the decline ever since, with 23.9 million recorded in March last year. According to the most recent government figures, TV licence fee revenues in 2022-23 were £3.74 billion (AUD$7.65 billion).Sign in to access your portfolio