I’m paid to be a telly addict
WITH so many binge-worthy box sets, it can seem like there’s never enough time to get properly stuck into a TV marathon.
But one TV addict will be doing just that for an entire year – and what makes it even better is she’s being paid £35,000 for the privilege.
Mari Burkinshaw, from Wigan, won a competition with Now TV to become the first telly addict to enjoy a ‘box set sabbatical.’
The 29-year-old recently quit her full-time job at a fashion brand to go freelance for a better work-life balance, so when she saw the competition, she decided she had nothing to lose by entering.
She said: “I was working full-time in an office, commuting long hours, juggling family commitments, not to mention maintaining a social life, or even finding time for myself.
“I realised I wanted to have more flexibility and decided to leave.
“Around the same time I saw NOW TV was offering a paid sabbatical to spend a year watching box sets – and as a huge TV fan I realised this was the perfect opportunity for me.
“With so many amazing entries, I genuinely didn’t expect to win, and I’m absolutely delighted to spend the next year catching up on all the shows I’ve missed.” Mari won the competition by creating a memorable poetic video on Instagram, beating more than 1,000 other entries to claim the top prize.
Describing herself as an ‘amateur binge watcher,’ Mari’s entry featured 21 different box sets, which she insists are ‘just her favourites,’ including Sex and the City, The Walking Dead, The Handmaid’s Tale and Game of Thrones.
Speaking about her win, Mari said: “I decided to enter when there was just three days to go, so I pulled out all the stops to get my entry in on time – even raiding my sister’s jewellery box to dress up in costumes.
“I’ve always been one of those people who stay up far too late catching up on a box set and squeezing in shows.
“Winning this paid sabbatical from NOW TV means I can genuinely take time off, re-balance my priorities, spend time with people I love – and watch some amazing TV, such as The Sopranos and The Wire – and not feel any guilt, something I didn’t imagine would be possible. It’s a dream.”
As well as a year off work and £35,000, Mari, who now lives in London, will also get a NOW TV Smart Stick, and a 12-month selection of NOW TV Passes, which gives her access to more than 300 box sets.