Latest news with #StephenWebb
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Portishead couple trade house for yacht in retirement
A couple who sold their house to spend their retirement sailing around the world in a yacht say they have no and Stephen Webb, formerly from Portishead, north Somerset, met online in used their savings to restore a yacht, called T-Shanti, and decided to live out their retirement at sea."We're very dependent on each other. We each have different skills that we bring to making life on the boat safe and enjoyable, and it's wonderful to not be tied," Ms Webb said. After the Covid-19 pandemic, the couple moved out of their four-bedroom house and have lived on T-Shanti for five Webb stopped working earlier this year after selling his business, while his wife quit her job in accountancy."We left on May 18th and we've been on the move every single day," he told BBC Radio said most of their friends and family have supported their desire to retire at sea."My father was absolutely enchanted by the idea because he loves sailing. I learned to sail via my father," he explained."He died this year, aged 94, and the last lucid conversation was all about sailing – it was the best conversation I'd had with him for about a year." The couple have been to the Isle of Man and are currently in the Scottish islands. They plan to sail to Scandinavia and want to cross the Webb said long-distance sailing was "safer than driving a car every day"."When you're sailing, you need to think and you need to plan, and it helps keep us mentally alive," said Mr Webb."A lot of people can't imagine how the two of us, aged 70 and 65, can handle the boat by ourselves, and we do have an argument once a day on average, but I'm extremely lucky to find somebody who loves sailing so much," he couple said they are loving life and have no plans to return to Portishead.
Telegraph
13-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
‘We've spent nearly £160k to retire on a boat'
Stephen Webb stopped working earlier this year, but is still up at 5.30am to get ready for his day. Living on a boat with his wife Debbie, they need to be up and out early to take advantage of the day's conditions. 'It depends on the winds and the tides. Sometimes we just have to catch a tide, or take advantage of winds we know are going to disappear,' Debbie, 65, explains. The couple are currently aboard their yacht, the T-Shanti, near Loch Fyne on the west coast of Scotland. The 53ft vessel is their permanent home, which they share with their 'boat dog', Molly the spaniel. Stephen, 70, a retired engineer who sold his business in the spring, has been sailing on and off since he was eight. But Debbie, who still works as a financial adviser, came to the water much later. Having separated from her ex-husband in 2005, Debbie turned to online dating and was looking for some adventure. 'I decided to look for a sailor. And I found Stephen, first go,' she says. They bought a small boat together just months after meeting, before upsizing a couple of years later. After enjoying sailing around Devon and Cornwall, the couple decided a life on the water would be their long-term retirement plan. 'Then, out of the blue, came this boat for sale for £35,000,' Stephen says. The T-Shanti had been out of the water for four years, resting at Dartside, Devon – an area the couple knew from keeping their other boats at Brixham. Stephen says: 'It was beautiful on the inside, but it needed painting on the outside. The owner just hadn't done anything.' It was clear the yacht was going to require a lot of investment, but the couple were determined to make it their new home. Debbie took a personal loan from the bank for £45,000; ten minutes and a phone call later, the boat was theirs. However, they needed more money for renovations. The couple released some funds themselves after remortgaging some of their rental properties, and took out further borrowing. It would cost more than £65,000 to do the works the yacht needed before it could be relaunched. Nearly a third – £20,000 – was spent on new electronics, including solar panels. A specialist came out to redo all the rigging, and the outside was repainted from blue to white. 'We were covered in blue dust for weeks and weeks,' Debbie says. After blowing through their whole budget in a year, the boat was launched in July 2020. 'We sailed from the River Dart all the way round to the Bristol Channel, up to the marina in Portishead.' As the couple had been previously renting, they didn't need to sell a property to move off-land. They lived on the marina there for five years, while both worked nearby. 'At the end we were paying about £670 [for mooring] a month, ' Stephen says. Running costs In the past five years, the couple has spent nearly £159,000 on their yacht, including maintenance and trips to the Scilly Isles and Ireland. This total includes routine costs, such as berthing fees that have added up to £53,780. Another consideration is insurance, for which the couple paid £940 last year. How much a boat costs to run depends on the size, age, condition of the boat, and where it is moored. Mooring costs are often the most significant, according to For those using inland waterways, you'll need a Canal and River Trust licence – and prices for this are rising. The trust introduced a 4pc increase on April 1, and plans to continue to raise prices every year up to and including 2028. The cost for boats moving all the time – known as continuously cruising – will also increase by up to 25pc every year. Richard Parry, chief executive of the trust, says: 'Our charity is facing a combination of more extreme weather brought by climate change, an ageing network that is costly to fix, with higher material prices, and reducing government funding.' For the Webbs, such price rises leave them undeterred, and they are serious about spending their retirement on the T-Shanti. After Stephen sold his business – following three years of Debbie trying to convince him it was time – they have been able to plan for longer and more involved trips. They know there may come a time when they cannot continue to live onboard, but have decided to sail for as long as possible and cross that bridge when they get to it. 'It has been very difficult to accept that I am retired, and losing all of those customers whom I regarded as friends,' Stephen says. 'Expensive, but worth it' However, boat maintenance keeps him busy. The couple currently have an engine problem which will mean that the T-Shanti needs to come out of the water, so they are pootling around the Lochs until there is space in Clyde Marina, Ardrossan, where they can get it fixed. 'Maintenance on a boat is a lot more complicated than on a house because of all the different systems you've got on board,' Stephen says. Despite the challenges and costs that come from life on a boat, it's the freedom and opportunity to visit beautiful parts of the world that make it worthwhile. 'It's a lifestyle choice, and we have spent quite a lot of money on providing that lifestyle choice,' Stephen says, speaking from Scotland. 'Only when you get to anchorages like today do you think, 'Wow, this was worth it'.' Once the boat is fixed, their plan is to sail around the Hebrides and in August, go up the Caledonian canal, and then sail down the East coast. Then, after some time in Ipswich, they might spend winter in the Solent, or head over to Portugal – they haven't decided yet. Keeping up family ties One place they will definitely visit is Gibraltar, where Stephen's father, who died at the age of 94, first discovered a love of sailing. He says: 'My father died recently. So we're going to drop a teaspoon of his ashes in each of his favourite sailing spots, finishing off in Gibraltar.' Living on the water means it can be difficult to see family, but they find other ways to keep in touch. The couple have their post sent to Stephen's stepmother's address, and she opens it and tells them what it contains. Between them, they have four adult children, who are scattered all over the world (one in South Africa, one in Dubai, and another about to move to Amsterdam). 'The girls, it doesn't really affect them, because we can only see them if we make a plan to actually visit,' Debbie says. 'The boys are fine, they're both starting out on their own careers. 'We've never expected to live around the corner from each other.'
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Legendary Gogglebox star looks unrecognisable with pink buzzcut - showing off drastic hair transformation on sunny holiday with friends
A legendary Gogglebox star has stunned followers after debuting a brand new look while on a sunny holiday with friends. The star, 53, appeared on the show fly-on-the-wall Channel 4 programme from its launch in 2013 until quitting in 2023. His decision to leave the show stunned viewers, as he revealed how he had become 'sick of it'. Earlier this year he returned to television, appearing on Celebs Go Dating following his split from his husband Daniel Lustig. But now Stephen Webb has revealed a brand new look to fans - showing off his shock buzzcut that he's dyed pink. It's an eye-popping transformation compared to his once lustful brunette locks that Gogglebox fans are used to seeing. The witty star debuted the look on Instagram as he enjoys a sun-soaked holiday in Benidorm with pals. In one snap, Stephen posted a selfie as he and his friends were all smiles while basking in the heat. Another picture showed them in the water as they cooled off while they boasting bronzed complexions. When Stephen and Daniel, 49, split he remained on Gogglebox with his mother Pat. At the start of this year, Daniel opened up about their 'traumatic' and 'devastating' shock split, as well as his current dating life to the Best Suddenly Single Podcast. Despite making the decision to break up, Daniel, 49, revealed he and Stephen are still living under the same roof while they continue to sell their apartment. He said: 'We're still living together. We're trying to sell our apartment. We cohabit really well together. (The split) was quite a slow process, for a while we were still sleeping in the same bed. 'Then when Stephen went on Celebs Go Dating we agreed we'd sleep in separate bedrooms. 'We've found a way to work together, live together and be dog dads. It's always been about friendship. 'As soon as we started dating, I said, 'this guy is so different to me' but we got on so well, even though we came from completely different backgrounds.' Talking about their split, he added: 'It was devastating. For me, it was traumatic and although I knew things weren't great, I didn't see it coming. 'It was quite a slow process because we were completely entwined for so long, with our businesses, the dogs, we were so close in everything we did. 'There was nothing underhand happening, no-one had slept with anyone else. Stephen was the complete opposite to me, and we'd say opposites attracted, but fundamentally that was our problem in the end.' His ex Daniel, 49, revealed he and Stephen are still living under the same roof while they continue to sell their apartment Stephen an Daniel are still on good terms, with the pair both running their hair salon together. At the time of their split, Daniel said: 'We've made the decision with a very heavy heart to confirm our marriage has come to an end. 'I'm sure we will forever be friends.' Stephen an Daniel are still on good terms, with the pair both running their hair salon together.
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Gogglebox legend looks worlds away from the sofa after shaving head and dying it pink as he holidays in Benidorm
A GOGGLEBOX legend looked worlds away from the sofa after showing off his drastic new hairstyle. The Channel 4 star left fans open-mouthed when he revealed his brand new look during a holiday in Benidorm. 5 5 5 Holidaying with pals, Stephen Webb showed off his newly shaved hair as he ditched his long locks that fans are so used to seeing on him. Taking his look to an even bigger extreme, Stephen has now dyed his newly shaved hair pink. Creating an unmissable look, Stephen was surrounded by all of his friends as he lounged in the sunshine and by the swimming pool with his pals. In another selfie, Stephen could be seen covering up his new hair with a cap as he added the caption: "Right Benidorm! Let's go!" It is a total transformation from his days on the sofa when he appeared alongside his husband, Daniel Lustig. Stephen and Daniel were married for a total of six years before splitting early last year. The couple had recently quit Gogglebox before news of their split was revealed. Stephen went on to sign up for Celebs Go Dating in the hope of moving on from his six-year marriage. After a number of dates that didn't go so well he met David, from Guernsey, and the pair hit it off. In the last episode of Celebs Go Dating he gushed to the experts: "I think there's something special here. Gogglebox star reveals horrifying health diagnosis after losing vision while driving "It has been phenomenal. I've loved every minute of it. "I didn't think, for a moment, that I was going to be finishing this journey with a hottie on my arm, celebrating with all the other celebs. I am over the moon." After the series ended they made a go of things, with Stephen travelling from his hometown in Brighton to spend time with David in Guernsey. Then, shortly after, Stephen learned David had been seeing other men while they were dating and he was on a dating app. Sources told The Sun, Stephen was shocked and confronted David straight away. Afterwards, a source told us: "It's definitely over, there's no going back. "Stephen is not interested and he wasn't a fan of the distance anyway." Gogglebox stars Stephen and Daniel's relationship timeline Hairdressing duo Stephen Webb and Daniel Lustig got engaged back in 2016 and married two years later. The couple co-own a hair salon and live in a £575,000 property on Brighton's sought after seafront. At the time of the engagement, Stephen appeared on Gogglebox alongside his ex-boyfriend Chris Ashby-Steed. In 2019, Daniel made his Gogglebox debut and was immediately a big hit. Chris, who is now in a happy relationship with husband Tony, spoke publicly about how the show affected his mental health. Having relocated to Wales and quit showbiz, Chris said he was racked with anxiety during his time on the programme. Just last year Daniel and Stephen shocked Gogglebox fans when they announced they were leaving the programme. Daniel had been part of the show since its launch in 2013. Their departure opened up a new world of opportunity for the duo and it was soon announced that Stephen would take part in Dancing on Ice. But disaster struck and injury ruled him out before the live shows. There were further gasps of shock in April when we revealed the pair had split up. They vowed to remain friends and looked to be true to their word, sharing a smiley picture the following day with Stephen's mum on the seafront. 5 5
The Sun
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
More than 80k civil service jobs should be scrapped to save taxpayers £5bn a year, urges report
MORE than 80,000 civil service jobs should be scrapped to save taxpayers £5billion a year, a report has urged. The efficiency plan - backed by former top mandarins - includes slashing communications staff by 70 per cent and halving the HR departments. 1 Whitehall 's headcount has ballooned from 380,000 to 514,000 since just 2016 - costing around £25billion in salaries and pensions. Experts say this has only slowed government output by creating needless bureaucracy rather than investing in frontline services. Analysis by Policy Exchange found identical jobs are being done sometimes two pay bands higher than they were 30 years ago. Ex-Home Office director and report author Stephen Webb said a slimmed-down civil service would allow for better pay for remaining talent while making big government savings. He said: 'The proposals in the paper don't require scaling back services, but should allow the system to work better. "The system will be cheaper and more effective.' Sir John Kingman, who was previously the second-in-command at the Treasury, backed the plan, adding: 'An over-resourced administrative machine inevitably generates ever more process for itself and slows itself down.' Recommendations also include cutting the number of senior civil servants by 50 per cent, and a cap on their numbers. It also proposes using compulsory over voluntary redundancies in order to retain the best performing staff. Ministers have announced plans to cut £1.5billion from the civil service budget by the next election, but Policy Exchange says their plan would go 'further and faster'.
