One of Britain's well-known soap stars says he's going to bed early in a bid to save electricity as the cost of living continues to rocket. Daniel Brocklebank, who plays Billy Mayhew in Coronation Street, said he was avoiding turning the lights on at night.
Daniel said it made him "feel like I did when I was eight". The actor shared the news on Twitter.
He wrote: "Anyone else find themselves going to bed early just so they don’t have to turn the lights on? I feel like I did when I was 8 & could still hear the bigger kids playing outside.. #energycrisis"
Daniel wrote the tweet before Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that every household would get a £400 energy bill discount, funded partially by a £5billion tax on the profits of the big energy companies.
Inflation has reached a 40-year high and the Government yesterday bowed to pressure to give people more support, reports LancsLive.
As well as the universal payment, there was targeted support for the poorest, the elderly and the disabled in the package that will be two-thirds funded by borrowing. The £6 billion announcement of £400 in universal support from October will replace the initial plan for a £200 loan, with Mr Sunak scrapping the requirement to repay the money.
One fan replied to Daniel by saying: "I sit in the dark every evening. Only watch my soaps. My cooker is broken so only have air fryer to cook with. I turn everything off standby. And not used heating for 5 years. I'm putting on £200 a month on electric just to barely exist. How is that right."
Another said: "I went to bed at about 7pm, have been asleep for quite a while, woke and used the Chrome notebook for a short while. will go back to sleep in a mo. I am a pensioner reliant on state pension, which is not nearly enough."
A third wrote: "We are spending most evening under candle light - it's actually quite nice and also has the handy by product of warming the room up!"
Another commented: "It’s getting absolutely ridiculous pal. They’re saying £2800/yr on average energy use by October! Something urgent needs to be done."
