Love Island winner Cach Mercer has admitted he has already spent his entire £25,000 prize money less than 12 months after his victory. The 25-year-old professional dancer from London won last year's series alongside his then-girlfriend, Toni Laites, 24.
The couple split the show's £50,000 prize after receiving the majority of the public vote. However, seven months after leaving the villa, they ended their relationship. Reports suggested a row at The BRITs was the final straw, but before breaking up, they enjoyed numerous dates, which Cach claims quickly depleted his winnings.
Speaking on the Cocktails and Takeaway podcast with Madame Joyce, Cach revealed: 'I gave £10k to my mum and then some of it went on debts as well. And the rest of it, not going to lie, the relationship at the time. I was getting cabs everywhere. Me and her were going on dates all the time and booking places for us to stay, because she ain’t got nowhere to stay.'
American-born Toni had previously shared that she was 'homeless' and struggling to live in the UK after leaving the Mallorca villa. In October, she said: 'I never thought that going to work as a waitress in Vegas on a random Monday afternoon would end up putting me on one of the UK’s biggest reality TV shows, let alone winning as the first American. I’m so grateful that you guys have put me in the position that I am in, but it hasn’t been easy. I’ve been sleeping on couches and I think this is my seventh Airbnb/hotel. Living out of suitcases is hard and I haven’t had a visa so I haven’t been able to work, or go live...'
Despite being fan favorites, the couple's relationship soured at this year's BRITs. A source told The Sun: 'It’s definitely over with Toni and Cach and they’ve called it quits. It’s a really sad situation but after being on the rocks for a while, the Brits ended up being the final straw and they couldn’t make it work. They kept talking and tried to make things work but have now called it a day.'
