BT profits soar to £3bn as it raises prices by 20% to cover sports rights and pay TV BT has revealed a 15per cent surge in profits, taking them to more than £3billion, days after announcing a new round of price hikes. Some charges are rising by as much as 20per cent from the summer as the company spends billions on sports rights and its pay TV business. The company is also pushing to raise cash to fund a £6billion programme to upgrade and extend its high speed broadband and 4G mobile phone services. The company took over the mobile phone company EE in January in a deal worth £12.5billion. BT has revealed a 15per cent surge in profits, taking them to more than £3billion, days after announcing a new round of price hikes BT’s future is bound up with selling so-called ‘quad play’ packages - a combination of landline, broadband, pay TV and mobile phone services. pre bonded hairIt faces competition from the likes of Virgin Media, Sky and TalkTalk, which have also announced their own inflation-busting price rises. BT yesterday revealed that its pre-tax profits for the financial year to the end of March rose by 15per cent to £3.03billion. The increase came on the back of a six per cent rise in sales to £18.9billion. BT said the number of customers for its TV service surged by 28per cent to 1.5 million over the year. At the same time, audiences for its sports coverage jumped by 45per cent after it paid £897m for a three-year deal to broadcast live Champions League and Europa League football matches. The price rises come into effect from the beginning of July and cover the BT sports channels, broadband packages, line rental and call charges. For example, its sports package is rising by £1 a month to £6 - £72 a year – which equates to an increase of 20per cent.

The cost of line rental, which everyone must pay, will rise by £1 a month to £18.99 - 5.56per cent. BT said the number of customers for its TV service surged by 28per cent to 1.5 million over the year. At the same time, audiences for its sports coverage jumped by 45per cent after it paid £897m for a three-year deal to broadcast live Champions League and Europa League football matches Consumer groups have warned that the increasing polarisation of communication services in the hands of a small group of companies leaves customers at risk of unfair price rises and lower levels of service. Ewan Taylor-Gibson, broadband and TV expert at uSwitch.com, said: ‘Price rises are never welcome. ‘These are now a regular event across the telecoms market but BT is really going to frustrate customers given its last price hike was only in September. remy hair extensions‘Not only is line rental going up again, but BT Sport will also see an increase as fans foot the bill for expensive and exclusive football TV rights.’ BT has moved to counter the criticism with promises to improve services, not least by bringing call centres back to the UK from India. It is promising to deliver new ultrafast broadband to at least 10 million homes and businesses and lay fibre optic lines to around two million premises across the UK by 2020. Not only is line rental going up again, but BT Sport will also see an increase as fans foot the bill for expensive and exclusive football TV rights Ewan Taylor-Gibson, broadband and TV expert at uSwitch.com The company is under pressure over the performance of its subsidiary, Openreach, which is responsible for fixing faults and upgrading networks. It has responded by promising to hire hundreds of engineers and reduce the standard time to fix line faults by 24 hours. The plan to spend £6billion on delivering new high speed services is part of an effort to satisfy critics, particularly the telecoms regulator, Ofcom, and head off any attempt to force it to sell off Openreach. Earlier this year, Ofcom told BT that it must open up its Openreach network to competitors in its first significant review of the telecoms sector for a decade. This means the likes of Sky can, if they want, run their own cables through BT’ s boxes and poles. Ofcom is also enforcing tougher rules on faults, repairs and installations for consumers, clearer information on service quality, and automatic compensation for consumers when services are disrupted. Gavin Patterson, group chief executive at BT, said: ‘The UK is a digital leader today and it is vital that it remains one in the future.’ He added that the group needed to ‘work hard’ to meet increasing customer expectations. He said: ‘That is why contact centre work is being returned to the UK and why Openreach is aiming to halve the number of missed appointments within a year. ‘Customers want higher standards of service and we are determined to provide them with just that.’

She impressed audiences with her gorgeous legs as she flirted with Leonardo DiCaprio in Wolf of Wall Street. And Margot Robbie’s pins were on display as she strolled around New York City in a short black slip dress paired with a long pink Kimono, on Wednesday. The 26-year-old showed why she is tipped to be the next Bond girl, showing off her slender physique in the eye-catching number from Spell & The Gypsy Collective. Scroll down for video Stepping out: Margot Robbie’s trim pins were on display as she wafted around New York City in a short black slip dress paired with a long pink Kimono on Wednesday The oriental-inspired garment featured broderie anglaise in elaborate flower patterns on the sleeves, shoulders and back, and flowed behind her as she strolled around downtown NYC. Leaving a Tribeca hotel, the Australian actress smiled behind oversized round metallic sunglasses with her blonde locks tied back in a bun. The Hollywood starlet’s complexion was characteristically flawless all over, but years in the Northern Hemisphere appeared to have erased her Australian tan. perruques cheveux naturelsAll smiles: Leaving a Tribeca hotel, the Australian actress smiled behind oversized round metallic sunglasses with her blonde locks tied back in a bun High fashion: The 26-year-old showed why she is tipped to be the next Bond girl, showing off her slender physique in the eye-catching number from Spell & The Gypsy Collective Good taste: The oriental-inspired garment featured broderie anglaise in elaborate flower patterns on the sleeves, shoulders and back, and flowed behind her as she strolled around downtown NYC She enhanced her look with natural-look makeup and subtle pink lipstick and carried a small black leather handbag to run her errands. Margot had been at a fitting for the upcoming NYC premiere of her new film Suicide Squad on Monday night. Tinseltown is abuzz with rumours that the blonde beauty will appear in the next James Bond film as a Bond girl, following a long line of glamorous actresses. Flawles: The Hollywood starlet’s complexion was characteristically flawless all over, but years in the Northern Hemisphere appeared to have erased her Australian tan Going natural: She enhanced her look with natural-look makeup and subtle pink lipstick and carried a small black leather handbag to run her errands

Looking her best: Margot had been at a fitting for the upcoming NYC premiere of her new film Suicide Squad on Monday night Online polls have revealed the 26-year-old stunner is at the strongest odds to fill the role, sitting at 12/1, while Emily Blunt sits at 16/1, according to Paddy Power. Others sitting at promising odds to star as the much-desired female character are American model and actress Emily Ratajkowski, who sits at 22/1, with Brit Emma Watson further down the line at 40/1. The Gold Coast girl found her big break in 2013 opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street as the feisty and seductive, Naomi. Plenty to smile about: Tinseltown is abuzz with rumours that the blonde beauty will appear in the next James Bond film as a Bond girl, following a long line of glamorous actresses Adoring fans: Margot caused a stir with passersby as she stepped out in NYC Well made: The beautiful garment had an elaborate rose pattern on its back More recently, she starred alongside Alexander Skarsgård in The Legend Of Tarzan as Jane. As well as the blockbuster, Margot has various other projects in the pipeline, including Suicide Squad, in which she plays Harley Quinn. perruques cheveuxOther females who have starred as the prestigious Bond girl include talented beauties Halle Berry, Rosamund Pike and Eva Green. Next big thing: Online polls have revealed the 26-year-old stunner is at the strongest odds to fill the Bond role, sitting at 12/1, while Emily Blunt sits at 16/1, according to Paddy Power . In demand actress: As well as the blockbuster, Margot has various other projects in the pipeline, including Suicide Squad, in which she plays Harley Quinn Following in footsteps: Other females who have starred as the prestigious Bond girl include talented beauties Halle Berry, Rosamund Pike and Eva Green Although the buzz around who will land the role of Bond girl is growing, the film is not expected to be released until at least 2018. Producer Barbara Broccoli has two other projects firmly underway and is said to be keen to tempt Daniel Craig into reprising his role as the titular character for the fifth time. Holding her own: Her breakout role was as DiCaprio's feisty wife, Naomi, on Wolf of Wall Street, which her portrayal earned her international acclaim - and showed off her gorgeous legs to the world

Next week will see the conclusion of the 12th season of The Bachelorette, as Joelle 'JoJo' Fletcher gets engaged to either Jordan Rodgers or Robby Hayes. And according to a new report, there's set to be a dramatic break-up ahead of the romantic proposal. Us Weekly claims that JoJo comes to the difficult decision of choosing between the two suitors after one of them makes a big mistake with her parents Joseph and Soraya. Family matters: Joelle 'JoJo' Fletcher apparently picks her fiance in next week's Bachelorette finale after one of the men makes a big mistake with her parents Who will it be?: Jordan Rodgers (L) and Robby Hayes are the two men left in the competition, and one of them allegedly gets sent packing after failing to ask JoJo's parents for her hand in marriage The runner-up gets dumped after failing to ask the 25-year-old's parents' for her hand in marriage, and during the emotional rejection, JoJo confesses that she wanted things to turn out differently. 'JoJo was sobbing,' a source told Us Weekly. 'She told him, “I wanted it to be you.”' lace front wigsThe insider added: 'It was important to JoJo that the guys get her parents’ permission before proposing. JoJo viewed it as disrespectful that he didn’t.' Us Weekly claims that JoJo's family liked both of the finalists, but thought that the man she eventually picks was better suited to her. Favourite from the start: Jordan received the First Impression Rose and his relationship with JoJo has gone from strength to strength ever since Not true: The 27-year-old former quarterback has denied that he cheated on his last girlfriend 'Everyone thought he was husband material,' a source said. 'Later, they told JoJo that they liked the other man too, but they thought the second would be more loyal and a better fit.'

And speaking about the family's meeting with the runner-up, the insider revealed: 'After he left, Soraya said she thought he was a player.' It seems that JoJo did make the right decision however, as she is apparently still very happily engaged to the winner. She likes what she sees: JoJo has also fallen in love with former competitive swimmer Robby, 27 cosplay wigsDenying the rumours: Robby has refuted claims that he dumped his girlfriend to appear on the show Former quarterback Jordan, 27, has been a favourite to win the show from night one, when JoJo presented him with the First Impression Rose. Show secrets: Us Weekly revealed details of the dramatic finale And while on Monday's episode of the show he was seen telling the real estate developer that asking her father's permission to propose would be very important to him, a clip for the finale showed JoJo asking if he is ready to get down on one knee. Both of the finalists have faced rumours about past relationships, with Jordan's ex Brittany Farrar claiming that they broke up because she cheated on him. He denied this to JoJo on the show. The footballer is estranged from his famous NFL star brother Aaron, whose girlfriend Olivia Munn is close pals with Jordan's ex-girlfriend. Aaron finally addressed his younger brother speaking about their fraught relationship on the show during an interview with WISN on Tuesday. 'As far as those kinds of things go, I've always found that it's a little inappropriate to talk publicly about some family matters, so I'm not going to speak on those things,' he said. 'But I wish him well in the competition.' Meanwhile a friend of Robby's ex-girlfriend Hope Higginbotham has claimed that he dumped her in order to go on The Bachelorette, something which he denied during last week's hometown dates. The Bachelorette finale followed by the After The Final Rose special will air on ABC on Monday. She made the right choice: JoJo is apparently still happily engaged to the winner, who popped the question in May. The finale airs on ABC on Monday