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Love it or List it viewers spot Cheshire family in ADVERT during break

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Love it or List it viewers slammed a Cheshire couple last night as ‘dodgy actors’ after spotting them appearing in an advert during one of the ad breaks. 

Cinematographer Jabzz Mhlanga and his actress wife Sarah, who also works as a Meghan Markle lookalike, appeared on the Channel 4 show yesterday as they confessed they wanted more space and a second bathroom in their four bedroom home.

And though the couple had a £45,000 budget to transform their property, and a £550,000 list it budget, they ultimately decided to stay in their home with some simple storage solutions which cost them £5,000. 

However many viewers were highly critical of Jabzz and Sarah after spotting them appearing in an advert for Lookers, a car company, during one of the ad breaks.

Sarah has also appeared in the media on a number of occasions in the past, including giving interviews to This Morning and the Mail on Sunday. 

Love it or List it viewers slammed cinematographer Jabzz and his actress wife Sarah, from Cheshire, last night as ‘dodgy actors’ who ‘just wanted explosure on TV’ (pictured, on Love it or List it) 

It prompted some to speculate that the show was trying to ‘dupe’ them, with one commenting: ‘Love the show but tonights was disappointing…dodgy acting family, absence of them genuinely wanting to spend the budget, staged conversations and no space for Brian…he could have that loft space for his guitars.’ 

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Another wrote: ‘Knew there was something dodgy about tonight’s family?! Feel mugged right off, they had no intention of spending money on love it.’

A third added: ‘If ever there was unserious couple it’s these two.’ 

The couple explained how they met in church and married in 2012, and now have two children, Josiah and Mimi-Rae.

While Jabzz works in the film industry, Sarah has also worked as a lookalike for the Duchess of Sussex. 

It was previously reported she was the leading Meghan lookalike in the country, and could earn up to £400 for a few hours’ work.

In 2019, it was reported she was also occupation director at a performing arts school. 

The couple also have a strong social media following, with 101.3K Followers on TikTok, where they often share playful videos with one another. 

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Many viewers were highly critical of Jabzz and Sarah after spotting them appearing in an advert for Lookers during one of the ad breaks (pictured, in the advert)

Many viewers were highly critical of Jabzz and Sarah after spotting them appearing in an advert for Lookers during one of the ad breaks (pictured, in the advert) 

Sarah can reportedly earn £300 for a few hours' work as a lookalike

Meghan hasn't yet met her lookalike

The mother-of-two’s striking similarity to the duchess was first remarked on when Meghan was engaged to Prince Harry in 2017 – and she now works as a Meghan Markle lookalike 

The mother-of-two has previously spoken to media on a number of occasions in her role as a Meghan Markle lookalike

The mother-of-two has previously spoken to media on a number of occasions in her role as a Meghan Markle lookalike 

Meanwhile Sarah promoted her appearance on the show to her 11k Instagram followers, posting a behind-the-scenes snap from filming and writing: ‘For anyone who didn’t manage to sneak preview Love it or List it last week, the official airing is tonight on Channel 4. 

Who is Sarah Mhlanga, the actress who appeared on Love it or List it?  

Sarah Mhlanga, 38, is an actress who also works as a Meghan Markle lookalike

Sarah Mhlanga, 38, is an actress who also works as a Meghan Markle lookalike 

Sarah Mhlanga, 38, who lives in North West England with her husband, Jabu, 40, and their children, Josiah, 10, and Mimi-Raie, eight, works as an actress and Meghan Markle lookalike.

She has previously given a number of media interviews, including to This Morning, Closer and Mail on Sunday.

She started out as Meghan’s doppelgänger in August 2017, after a cashier at IKEA remarked on their resemblance.

It was previously reported she was the leading Meghan lookalike in the country, and could earn up to £400 for a few hours’ work. 

Mrs Mhlanga and her mother were among 1,200 guests invited to watch Harry and Meghan arrive for their wedding at Windsor Castle. 

Up until the UK went into lockdown in March 2020, Sarah said her schedule had been rammed. 

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But the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic meant Sarah was unable to do her usual public appearances as the Duchess. 

‘We are so grateful to Kirsty @kirstiemallsopp and Phil Spencer for helping us realise that small things can make a huge difference in houses.’ 

Appearing on the show last night, the couple insisted finding a home which was close to good schools was top of their priority list.

Jabzz said: ‘When we moved here, we saw the house and we thought – there’s a lot we could do it to make it our home.’

In the last five years, they’ve  removed a wall to create a modern kitchen diner, installed bifold doors and tidied up the garden to create a family friendly space.

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But because the living space was completely open plan, it often felt cluttered. 

Sarah said: ‘This house isn’t working for us anymore, clothes appear everywhere and we desperately need a second bathroom.’

Jabzz said he loves the house, adding: ‘I think our money is better spent improving what we already have.

‘I do agree there are issues with the house, we need more storage and a second bathroom.’ 

Sarah and Jabzz also had a separate sitting room at the front of the house, which had recently become Josiah’s gaming room and office. 

On the third floor, there were three bedrooms, while there was a fourth bedroom in the loft. 

The couple said they had a budget of £45,000 to renovate the house to make it work for the family, as well as a List It budget of £550,000 to find a new home better suited for their busy lives.  

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Kirstie sat down with the couple, telling them there ‘wasn’t enough space for stuff’, adding: ‘It’s not practical. We want to make the most of this beautiful kitchen you spent a lot of money on, but a lot of this job is carpentry.’ 

Kirstie proposed a small extension to the side of the house with a utility and WC – and if the family decided to stay further, they could add an extra office for Jabzz.

Meanwhile upstairs, she suggested the family add in simple storage solutions. 

She said: ‘This house, with the right storage, could be a revelation.’

Meanwhile Phil showed the couple their first property in the hunt – a charming four-bedroom semi less than 20 minutes from the children’s schools.

On the market for offers for £450,000, it was 23 per cent bigger than their current home.

Sarah said it had ‘curb appeal’, saying it looked ‘lovely.’ 

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Meanwhile inside, there was a country style kitchen and conservatory and family room. 

Meanwhile Sarah promoted her appearance on the show to her 11k Instagram followers, posting a behind-the-scenes snap from filming

Meanwhile Sarah promoted her appearance on the show to her 11k Instagram followers, posting a behind-the-scenes snap from filming

Upstairs there were four good sized bedrooms, with plenty of storage space. 

Sarah said: ‘I love the conservatory and the garden, I can’t help but love the garden.’

Four months after they first met Kirstie and Phil, the couple set about adding further storage solutions to their home, with a tight budget of £10,000.

Jabzz said: ‘When Kirstie first came round, she mentioned the main issue we had was storage. So we’re going with her idea of having more storage in the house.’ 

Phil’s second offering was slightly further from home, but he said he wanted  to show the couple what they could get for their money by widening their search by a few miles.

The detached four-bedroom home was on the market for £500,000 and offered almost 30 per cent more space than what they had at home.

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Even presenter Kirstie Allsopp acknowledged how unusual it was that the family were appearing in an advert while on the programme

Even presenter Kirstie Allsopp acknowledged how unusual it was that the family were appearing in an advert while on the programme 

Many of those watching accused the family of being 'dodgy actors' and questioned if the programme had been staged

Many of those watching accused the family of being ‘dodgy actors’ and questioned if the programme had been staged 

Sarah said she felt the property was a ‘dream house’, but Jabzz pointed out a number of flaws – including the smaller garden and the location. 

The final property Phil showed the couple was a five bedroom property which they said seemed ‘very big.’

The house was on the market for £550,000 and almost 50 per cent bigger than their own space – with all the living space they were after.

The couple explained how they met in church and married in 2012, before moving into their home in 2017 (pictured)

The couple explained how they met in church and married in 2012, before moving into their home in 2017 (pictured) 

However Jabzz and Sarah both confessed they felt the home had become impractical for them and didn't have enough storage (pictured, the office space)

However Jabzz and Sarah both confessed they felt the home had become impractical for them and didn’t have enough storage (pictured, the office space) 

The open plan extension which they added to the back of the home also often felt cluttered and poorly utilised

The open plan extension which they added to the back of the home also often felt cluttered and poorly utilised 

Meanwhile an attic bedroom was difficult to use due to a steep set of stairs leading up to it (pictured)

Meanwhile an attic bedroom was difficult to use due to a steep set of stairs leading up to it (pictured) 

However they didn’t like the size of the garden, and how much modernising was needed in the property. 

Seven months after Kirstie and Phil first met the couple, they returned to see the changes to their home. 

The couple had added a wall of storage into the extension to provide them with somewhere to hide away their mess – spending just £1,200 on the custom built units. 

And upstairs, they put in some more built in flat-pack wardrobes. 

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The first stunning property which Phil showed the couple was £100,000 less than their £550,000 budget - but it did need modernisation

The first stunning property which Phil showed the couple was £100,000 less than their £550,000 budget – but it did need modernisation 

While Sarah said it looked 'lovely', the rooms were small and dingy, with the couple confessing it needed renovations made

While Sarah said it looked ‘lovely’, the rooms were small and dingy, with the couple confessing it needed renovations made

Meanwhile it also had a country-style kitchen which looked out onto a family garden - but Sarah and Jabzz were unsure

Meanwhile it also had a country-style kitchen which looked out onto a family garden – but Sarah and Jabzz were unsure 

After scaling back on their original costs, they only spent around £5,000 on carpentry and a bit of decorating.   

And at the end of the programme, the couple said they were planning to ‘list it’ – but weren’t in a rush. 

Sarah said: ‘We love the house as it is now, we have to find the dream house in the right location.’

Jabzz said: ‘Our kids are getting bigger, we definitely need more space.’

The second property shown to the couple by Phil was a detached home which had been newly renovated

The second property shown to the couple by Phil was a detached home which had been newly renovated 

The detached four-bedroom home was on the market for £500,000 and offered almost 30 per cent more space than what they had at home

The detached four-bedroom home was on the market for £500,000 and offered almost 30 per cent more space than what they had at home

The final property Phil showed the couple was a five bedroom property which they said seemed 'very big'

The final property Phil showed the couple was a five bedroom property which they said seemed ‘very big’

The house was on the market for £550,000 and almost 50 per cent bigger than their own space - with all the living space they were after

The house was on the market for £550,000 and almost 50 per cent bigger than their own space – with all the living space they were after

However many viewers were baffled, and even questioned the couple’s sincerity, when they spotted the family appearing in an advert for Lookers during one of the breaks from the show.  

Meanwhile Kirstie even acknowledged that the couple would be appearing in the advert break, tweeting: ‘Oops! Our lovely family from this week’s Love it or List It in Cheshire have recently appeared in an ad!

‘And guess what….? It’s gone into our ad break, what are the chances?!’

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At the end of the programme, the couple revealed they did plan to sell their property - but confessed they were in no rush to move, having added extra storage to the space

At the end of the programme, the couple revealed they did plan to sell their property – but confessed they were in no rush to move, having added extra storage to the space 

The couple made some minor tweaks to their home by decorating, spending just £5,000 to add some additional cupboards

The couple made some minor tweaks to their home by decorating, spending just £5,000 to add some additional cupboards 

Source: Daily Mail

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