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Greggs to close all UK stores tomorrow
Sam Ridgway -
23rd March 2020
Sam Ridgway -
23rd March 2020 News
Westlife announce huge 25th anniversary tour, including an arena show in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Legendary pop group Westlife have just announced the European leg of their 25th anniversary tour, which will include an arena gig in Manchester.
The beloved boyband will be hitting the road from September next year to celebrate a quarter-of-a-century of timeless ballads and chart-topping pop songs.
Westlife, which is made up of Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily, are behind massive hits like You Raise Me Up, Uptown Girl, Flying Without Wings, Swear It Again, and If I Let You Go.
The upcoming Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour will include shows right across the UK, including in Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield.
The news comes just ahead of the group performing two sold-out nights at the Royal Albert Hall, and sell-out success in Dublin and Belfast already.
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Over the last 25 years, Westlife have become one of the most successful pop groups of all time, with three billion streams globally, 36 number one albums worldwide, and 14 UK number one singles (ranking only behind Elvis Presley and The Beatles).
Westlife remain the UK & Ireland’s top-selling album group of the 21st century.
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Westlife have also just released new single Chariot, written by Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid and Will Reynolds and co-written and produced by Steve Mac.
And in February next year (just in time for Valentine’s Day), they’ll release 25 – The Ultimate Collection, a greatest hits album of 21 fan favourites.
Westlife said: “This year marks 25 years since we started this incredible journey together and it still feels like only the beginning.
“The support from our fans has been unbelievable, and to celebrate with this world tour, new music, and a brand-new album feels truly special.
“We can’t wait to see you all on the road and share this next chapter together.”
Westlife will perform at the Co-op Live in Manchester on 23 October 2026.
General sale tickets will go on sale on Friday 31 October at 10am HERE, with VIP packages available through Seat Unique HERE.
Westlife UK and Ireland tour dates
- 15 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
- 16 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
- 18 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
- 19 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
- 20 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
- 22 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
- 23 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
- 24 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
- 25 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
- 26 September 2026 – Dublin – 3Arena
- 29 September 2026 – Aberdeen – P&J Live
- 30 September 2026 – Glasgow – OVO Hydro
- 3 October 2026 – Newcastle – Utilita Arena
- 6 October 2026 – Leeds – First Direct Bank Arena
- 7 October – Sheffield – Utilita Arena
- 9 October – London – The O2
- 13 October – Brighton – Centre
- 14 October – Bournemouth – International Centre
- 16 October – Birmingham – Utilita Arena
- 19 October – Cardiff – Utilita Arena
- 23 October – Manchester – Co-op Live
- 27 October 2026 – Belfast – SSE Arena
- 28 October 2026 – Belfast – SSE Arena
- 29 October 2026 – Belfast – SSE Arena
- 30 October 2026 – Belfast – SSE Arena
- 31 October 2026 – Belfast – SSE Arena
Featured image: Publicity picture
News
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman to step down from Strictly Come Dancing
Danny Jones
Long-serving Strictly Come Dancing presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have announced that they will be stepping down from the beloved reality TV competition after more than three decades between them.
The Strictly team will, of course, ‘keep dancing’, but this still feels like the end of an era.
While Claudia Winkleman only became a joint co-anchor back in 2010 in preparation for the legendary Sir Bruce Forsyth’s eventual retirement in 2014, Tess Daly has been one of the two lead presenters since the hit smash-hit UK show first started way back in 2004.
Boasting a cumulative and incredible 31 years as the respective lead faces on one of the nation’s favourite IPs, Daly and Winkleman released a joint video on their social media pages confirming the bittersweet news.
Writing in the caption on Instagram, the pair said: “We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together, and now feels like the right time.
“We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series, and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show.
“They’re the most brilliant team, and we’ll miss them every day. We will cry when we say the last ‘keep dancing’, but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza.”
Although Winkleman, 53, began as the presenter of the spin-off programme ‘It Takes Two’, it now seems hard to imagine the main show without either of them.
Confirming that they will be departing the British telly favourite at the end of the current series, which is around a month into its 23rd series.
Daly, 56, went on to share a further statement addressing the decision to quit the Strictly lineup after such a lengthy stay on BBC One.
It goes without saying that, much like when ‘Brucey’ left 11 years ago now, the show just won’t be the same without them.
For now, all we can say is thanks for all the memories, and we’d better see them back in the ballroom or popping up for special cameos in Blackpool again one day soon.
What do you make of the announcement, Strictly fans – and who do you think should replace them?
Read more:
- Benson Boone at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist, and more for UK tour
- The ‘most complained-about’ show in Britain over the last five years has been revealed
- New trailer released for new Harlan Coben thriller series, Lazarus, filmed in Manchester
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — BBC Media Centre/Screenshot (via BBC)
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