Latest news with #TheMend
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Emmerdale's Jay Kontzle's popstar past and 'best times' on Britain's Got Talent
Emmerdale fan favourite Billy Fletcher, played by Jay Kontzle, may be part of action-packed storylines in the Dales – but Jay's past career was quite the adventure too. The 34-year-old burst onto our screens in 2018, and has been at the centre of major storylines since then. However, Emmerdale isn't the first time Jay has been known for his TV appearances. Jay was a member of boyband The Mend, formed in 2008 by former Take That manager Nigel Martin-Smith. They first appeared on TV on The X Factor in 2011, but left abruptly when it was revealed that having a management deal was a rule break. Jay pictured with The Mend on Britain's Got Talent in 2012. (Image: ITV/ Britain's Got Talent) In 2012 The Mend then auditioned for Britain's Got Talent and made it all the way to final – receiving praise from head judge Simon Cowell. Although The Mend broke up in 2015, they went on to tour with the likes of Little Mix and secured a dedicated fanbase. While reflecting on his popstar days, he told Cheshire Live: "Being part of The Mend was a huge life experience for me and some of the best times of my life. "Obviously, being on tour and performing live on TV gave me so much experience, but as we grew older, we realised that as a boy band that catered for teenagers, we couldn't keep re-inventing ourselves." Recommended reading: Emmerdale's Matthew Wolfenden hints at return to ITV soap Emmerdale's Oliver Farnworth's partner is EastEnders star Emmerdale's Bradley Ritches almost played this ITV soap star Jay decided to take a different career route after his boyband days, and made the role of Billy his own in Emmerdale. Viewers were keen to tune in to see his on-screen antics with wife Dawn and the challenges they faced. Jay's acting credits before Emmerdale include Fresh Meat with Jack Whitehall, a role in Diana and I, a Moonpig advert and behind-the-scenes work on the films Underwater and Bring Back My Bonnie, reports The Mirror.
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Emmerdale's Jay Kontzle's Britain's Got Talent popstar past
However, Emmerdale isn't the first time Jay has been known for his TV appearances. Jay was a member of boyband The Mend, formed in 2008 by former Take That manager Nigel Martin-Smith. They first appeared on TV on The X Factor in 2011, but left abruptly when it was revealed that having a management deal was a rule break. Jay pictured with The Mend on Britain's Got Talent in 2012. (Image: ITV/ Britain's Got Talent) In 2012 The Mend then auditioned for Britain's Got Talent and made it all the way to final – receiving praise from head judge Simon Cowell. Although The Mend broke up in 2015, they went on to tour with the likes of Little Mix and secured a dedicated fanbase. While reflecting on his popstar days, he told Cheshire Live: "Being part of The Mend was a huge life experience for me and some of the best times of my life. "Obviously, being on tour and performing live on TV gave me so much experience, but as we grew older, we realised that as a boy band that catered for teenagers, we couldn't keep re-inventing ourselves." Recommended reading: Jay decided to take a different career route after his boyband days, and made the role of Billy his own in Emmerdale. Viewers were keen to tune in to see his on-screen antics with wife Dawn and the challenges they faced. Jay's acting credits before Emmerdale include Fresh Meat with Jack Whitehall, a role in Diana and I, a Moonpig advert and behind-the-scenes work on the films Underwater and Bring Back My Bonnie, reports The Mirror.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Emmerdale fans only just realising where they've seen Billy star Jay Kontzle
Many people only know Jay Kontzie from his role in Emmerdale, but fans may not be aware that has been on our screens for many years now, and his career didn't start with the soap Jay Kontzle is currently best known for playing Billy Fletcher in Emmerdale, where he is now a fan favourite. However, long before he was tangled up in dramatic soap storylines from dodging punches in the illegal boxing rings or his young son's leukaemia diagnosis, he was belting out tunes on national TV, which found him with Simon Cowell's stamp of approval. Many fans haven't been able to connect the dots, but he was a member of The Mend, a Manchester-based group formed in 2008 by the former Take That manager Nigel Martin-Smith. They first appeared on TV on The X Factor in 2011. However, their stint quickly came to an end when, at boot camp, producers discovered they had a management deal, which is against the rules. But they decided to give it another try the following year, this time auditioning for Britain's Got Talent. During their performance, a young Jay said, 'We've all got problems at home, but we'll keep doing music until we can sort them out.' They performed a part-rapped, part-sung cover of Otis Redding's Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay, blowing the audience away—and Cowell, too. 'I'm very happy you auditioned. I like you a lot,' he told them. The Mend made it all the way to the final, eventually finishing in seventh place. The group later supported Little Mix on their 2013 DNA tour, which helped them gain a solid teenage fanbase. In 2015, the group decided to call it quits. While reflecting on that chapter of his life, he told Cheshire Live, "Being part of The Mend was a huge life experience for me and some of the best times of my life.' "Obviously, being on tour and performing live on TV gave me so much experience, but as we grew older, we realised that as a boy band that catered for teenagers, we couldn't keep re-inventing ourselves." Although he rubbed shoulders with music royalty over the years, he admits the music industry wasn't for him. While he did enjoy the performing side, there was a side he didn't enjoy. "The best thing about being in a band was the insight I got into the industry,' he told Inside Soap. "We worked with people at the top of their game, like Simon Cowell. But in the end, the business side of music put me off. It was an experience! I don't really talk about it now because I've kind of moved on." And he decided to take a different route, after he was tipped off by a casting session by his friend Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas in 2018, where he landed the part of Billy Fletcher - a reformed bad boy who turned into a doting Husband to Dawn. Viewers love the couple, but recent episodes have seen Billy hiding some major secrets - including the fact that he's risking his life in illegal fights to support his family. But this isn't his first explosive - including a wedding ambushed by serial killer Meena Jutla, and the heartbreak of their son Evan's illness. However his career started outside the Dingle Family, his acting credits include Fresh Meat with Jack Whitehall, a role in Diana and I, a cheeky Moonpig advert, and behind-the-scenes work on the films Underwater and Bring Back My Bonnie. Despite the different career avenues he has gone, this career seems to be exactly where he's meant to be. "It wasn't until I went that everything fell into place and the role really suited me. It's been a very busy and exciting time since then, and I am very happy," he said
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Packaging made from coffee husk and banana fibre
By repurposing over 28 types of waste, ranging from coffee husk and cardboard to sugarcane bagasse and even Ayurvedic tablets, The Mend Packaging, a sustainable packaging company based in India, managed by Rhea Kothari and Rishika Reddy, is crafting unique gift boxes. The team works from New York and Hyderabad. That is not all. The company is also experimenting with banana leather, made from fibres extracted from banana crop waste, to create eco-conscious packaging solutions. Rhea Kothari, who holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics with a double minor in Psychology and Sociology from Columbia University, leads marketing, sales, and programme management at The Mend Packaging. Before founding the company, she worked at a startup accelerator in New York, followed by a stint in her family's jewellery business where she juggled multiple roles and gained first hand experience in running a small enterprise. 'I was interested in implementing greener practices in both my personal and professional life. I had pushed for sustainable packaging in our family business well before The Mend began, and eventually started exploring ways to take it further,' Rhea shares. Rishika Reddy oversees management, operations, and finance. Prior to co-founding the company, she worked with an electric transportation solutions provider as part of the CEO's office, where she gained insight into cross-functional operations in a startup environment. 'Packaging felt like a natural progression,' she explains. 'My family has been running a printing press for over four decades, so it's something I've grown up around.' Some of the commonly used materials in their packaging include recycled corrugated board, bioplastic, and rigid board. Rhea elaborates, 'Corrugated boards, made from recycled dry waste, are ideal for logistics and shipping since they're designed to withstand wear and tear. Bioplastic is derived from a biopolymer of corn starch. Our rigid board is constructed from layered recycled material and offers a more premium finish.' Before onboarding any new material, the company follows a stringent process. It starts with identifying emerging materials in the market and assessing their foundational attributes — shelf life, printing capabilities, storage requirements, production timelines, and potential 'side effects' that could affect the product it is meant to house. Timelines vary depending on the material's viability. These innovative efforts are steadily pushing the boundaries of what can be repurposed from waste—and reimagined as design-forward, sustainable packaging. Why terraform and banana fibre? Terraform and banana fibre have long been recognised as innovative materials across various industries, but their integration into packaging has been a complex journey, one that demands specialised expertise. Rhea explains, 'At The Mend Packaging, we've been able to adapt these materials specifically for packaging solutions with the help of expert material innovators.' 'Our research and development efforts conducted in close collaboration with material scientists, polymer experts, and packaging technologists have been instrumental in evolving terraform and vegan leathers into commercially viable packaging materials. The transition from concept to market-ready product has involved extensive testing, prototyping, and iterative refinement, ensuring these materials are not only sustainable but also practical and scalable for broader industry adoption,' she adds. While recycling does consume water and energy, the overall benefits often outweigh the costs when compared to producing materials from virgin resources, Rhea explains. She breaks down the basics. 'Recycling reduces the need for raw material extraction, which means less mining, logging, and drilling — activities that are often destructive to ecosystems. The energy and water used in recycling are significantly lower than what's required to process raw materials. It also helps reduce landfill waste, which not only saves space but also cuts down methane emissions from decomposing materials, which is a major contributor to climate change. Also, recycling supports a circular system where materials are reused, reducing our reliance on finite natural resources and fostering long-term sustainability.'
Scottish Sun
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Emmerdale star reveals heartbreaking family tragedy before finding fame on ITV soap
The actor says he identifies with his storyline EMMERDALE star Jay Kontzle has opened up about the family tragedy that rocked him when he was just a child. The actor, 34, has spoke about how his mother Louise died in a car accident when he was four years old. Advertisement 5 Emmerdale's Jay Kontzle has opened up about a childhood tragedy Credit: ITV 5 The actor, pictured here with his wife Mimi, lost his mother when he was four Credit: Instagram/jkontzle Louise, 23, was a DJ at Manchester's legendary Hacienda club at the time and was killed on her way to a gig. She had been raising Jay as a single parent but thankfully his grandparents jumped in and raised him. Jay, who has three children of his own, has now shared his gratitude for Ann and Mike Kontzle "giving up their lives" and stepping in. His nan Ann even had to take on two jobs to financially support Jay throughout his childhood. Advertisement Speaking to The Mirror, Jay said: They gave up their whole lives to push me forward. "They got nothing for it and had no reason to do it other than their love for me. 'I would have been put in foster care and not enjoying the life I have now if my grandparents hadn't taken me in.' Jay went on to say his grandparents' support coupled with therapy was "life-saving" for him. Advertisement He said he felt "valued as a kid" as he took part in toy therapy. Jay spoke to the publication in connection with Mental Health Awareness Week. Emmerdale's Joe Tate and Dawn Fletcher affair 'rumbled' - as villager plots sneaky revenge Jay has played Billy Fletcher in Emmerdale since December 2018. He had previously worked as a teaching assistant and dabbled in a pop career with boy band The Mend. Advertisement The group was formed by Take That mastermind Nigel Martin-Smith in 2008 but they failed to hit the big time. In 2011, Jay and his The Mend bandmates - Kris Evans, Dean Kelly and Craig Worsley - made it to boot camp on The X Factor. The group then went on to make it to the semi-finals on Britain's Got Talent the following year. Now in Emmerdale, Jay is currently at the centre of a huge storyline that has seen his character Billy arrested for Joe Tate's attempted murder. Advertisement It comes after he discovered the bad boy had been romping with his wife Dawn Taylor behind his back. Jay told The Mirror he identifies with his character Billy, who together with Dawn are trying to protect their adoptive daughter Clemmie amidst the drama. Clemmie, whose real mum was a drug addict, is believed to be Joe's real attacker after she was told by the menace that she would 'go back into care' if she exposed his affair with Dawn. Jay explained: "Although Dawn is not related to Clemmie, she was her mother's friend who stepped in to look after - rather than see her in foster care, so it's very similar to kinship care." Advertisement 5 Jay found fame in boyband The Mend Credit: PA:Press Association 5 He says he can relate to his current Emmerdale storyline with on-screen daughter Clemmie Credit: ITV
