Author: Jemma Wilson

Gogglebox returned to Channel 4 on Friday night for the latest episode of its new run and one Bridgerton scene quickly became the talking point across living rooms in Manchester and beyond. The Regency drama’s most intimate moment had the Goggle box cast shifting on their sofas, prompting the kind of shared second hand embarrassment the show has built its reputation on. The latest Gogglebox episode, part of series 27 airing at 9pm on Channel 4, saw the armchair critics tackle a packed line up including Bridgerton, The Summit, Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, Gladiators, Guy Martin’s House Without Bills, Dogs…

For many people across Greater Manchester, Coronation Street is far more than just another ITV soap. It is a Manchester institution that films on our doorstep, sustains skilled local employment and quietly shapes how millions of viewers imagine life in this region. First broadcast in 1960, Coronation Street has grown from a black and white drama rooted in back-to-back terraces into one of the world’s most recognisable long-running soaps. Yet despite global reach, it still trades on the rhythms, humour and resilience associated with northern working-class life. From Quay Street to the Trafford Set For more than fifty years, Coronation…

Kelvin Fletcher wife Liz has sparked fresh discussion after describing one past comment as “a red flag”, with Greater Manchester viewers quick to react to what sounded like a pointed dig. Why Greater Manchester cares about Kelvin and Liz Kelvin Fletcher grew up in Oldham and first made his name on Emmerdale, playing Andy Sugden for around 20 years across more than 2,000 ITV episodes. For many across Greater Manchester, he remains the local lad who went from Oldham Theatre Workshop to prime time television before lifting the Strictly Come Dancing glitterball in 2019. The Kelvin Fletcher family story has…

If you have walked through Manchester city centre recently, you have probably seen the helmeted silhouettes staring back from posters near Piccadilly and across the Northern Quarter. The Empire Strips Back is now in Manchester, taking over Depot Mayfield for a limited run and pitching itself as a loud, adults only twist on a universe most of us grew up with. This is not a touring West End musical and it is not a quiet fringe show tucked above a bar on Deansgate. The Empire Strips Back is built for a city that treats theatre as part of a full…

Baz Luhrmann is returning to UK cinemas with EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, confirmed as a premium IMAX release before a wider nationwide rollout later this year. The project builds on the director’s 2022 hit Elvis and is positioned as one of the headline theatrical music events of 2026. The film reworks previously unseen archive footage of Elvis performing and speaking about his life, combining restored material with immersive sound design for large format screens. After premiering in official selection at the Toronto Film Festival, EPiC is now entering its international theatrical phase, with Britain firmly in the strategy. For…

Vernon Kay is one of the few national broadcasters who still sounds like the streets he grew up on, not a focus group’s idea of neutral UK radio. Born Vernon Charles Kay on 28 April 1974, he grew up in Bolton, the eldest son of Norman and Gladys. He attended St Joseph’s RC Grammar School in Horwich before graduating in environmental science from Manchester Polytechnic, now Manchester Metropolitan University. For listeners across Greater Manchester and the wider North West, that grounding matters. He talks like us. He backs Bolton Wanderers. He has never softened his accent to fit a London…

James Van Der Beek has died aged 48 following a battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer, his family have confirmed. The actor’s death was announced on Wednesday, 11 February, with tributes quickly spreading across the UK from viewers who grew up watching his breakthrough role in Dawson’s Creek. According to statements reported by the BBC and other major outlets, his wife Kimberly confirmed he died after ongoing treatment. James Van Der Beek had previously spoken publicly about his diagnosis, sharing that he had been first diagnosed in 2024. For many British audiences, the news lands as more than celebrity loss.…

On February 8, 2026, Bad Bunny headlined the Apple Music Super Bowl halftime show at Levi’s Stadium, becoming one of the most globally discussed performers in NFL history. The 31 year old Puerto Rican artist performed a tightly choreographed 13 minute set built almost entirely around Spanish-language hits a first for a solo headline act on this stage. Within minutes, “Bad Bunny Super Bowl 2026” was trending worldwide. A 13-Minute Set That Dominated the Night Dressed in an all white outfit bearing “Ocasio” and the number 64, the artist opened with “Tití Me Preguntó” before moving through a medley that…

Search interest in james bolam illness has risen steadily across the UK in recent months. For a performer who has spent more than six decades on British screens, that curiosity is understandable. Viewers who grew up watching his work, including audiences across Greater Manchester, want reassurance rather than rumour. So what is actually confirmed? This article examines the public record, separates speculation from fact, and places the discussion of james bolam illness within the broader context of his life and career. A Career That Made Him a Household Name James Bolam was born on 16 June 1935 in Sunderland, County…

The name Noureddine Boufaied has resurfaced across UK search trends in recent weeks, driven by renewed public curiosity about the personal life of television presenter Alison Hammond. As Hammond’s profile continues to rise across British broadcasting, interest in the father of her son Aidan has followed. So who is Noureddine Boufaied, why is he back in public discussion, and what is actually confirmed? Who Is Noureddine Boufaied? Noureddine Boufaied is a Manchester-based minicab driver who became publicly known through his long-term relationship with Alison Hammond. The couple were together from around 2005 until 2014. During that time, they became engaged…