It took just five minutes for Manchester to show how much it’s missed the bingo rave phenomenon of Bongo’s Bingo, after tickets for the ‘brunch special’ went on sale last week.
Tickets for the first event sold-out in no time at all, so organisers have now added a new date at the city’s iconic venue on Saturday 12th June.
Food and drink will be served at each event from midday to 2pm – with pizzas supplied by Manchester’s cult-favourite neapolitan pizzeria, Rudy’s Pizza – followed by the main Bongo’s Bingo event from 2pm – 5pm.
Just as fans of the ever-popular event have come to expect, there’ll be plenty of celebrity cardboard cut outs, fluffy pink unicorns, crowd renditions of Mr Brightside, dance offs, many hands-in-the-air moments, and a mobility scooter thrown in for very good measure when Bongo’s Bingo hits the iconic hall next month.
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Bongo’s Bingo combines the much-loved quaint pastime of bingo with a “mesmeric live show”, crazy antics and weird and wonderful prizes for a night full of madness, mischief and shared euphoria, with dancing and cheering to hits from across the ages all night long.
Before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Bongo’s Bingo continuously sold out shows in over 50 UK locations and more around the world, often seeing dates fully booked-up in advance and coming close to selling two million tickets.
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Speaking ahead of the return to the Albert Hall next month, founder Jonny Bongo said: “Our brunch shows are epic and Manchester is showing its huge appetite for them.
“We love the city so much and have a great affinity here, so being able to get some dates out means a lot, and we know it has been such a difficult time for so many and want to bring some smiles back and give everyone some much needed fun.
“It’s great to be coming back to Manchester after all this time”.
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Tickets for the extra date go on sale from 6pm tomorrow, and you can grab yours via the Bongo’s Bingo website here.
Featured Image – Bongo’s Bingo
What's On
A first look into the highly-anticipated TV soap crossover ‘Corriedale’ has just dropped
Thomas Melia
The wait is nearly over for TV soap fans, as producers behind the highly-anticipated ‘Corriedale’ crossover have just dropped an exclusive first look.
Whether you’re team Coronation Streetor team Emmerdale, this show has all areas covered as it merges both the iconic TV soaps into an hour-long special.
Now, it feels like Christmas has come early as pictures of two very distinctive cast members smiling next to each other while filming the crossover episode have been released.
In the newly-released images we can see Vicky Myers, known for playing the assertive and dedicated DS Lisa Swain, representing the Manchester-based production Coronation Street.
Vicky Myers (DS Lisa Swain) and Danny Miller (Aaron Dingle) pictured together ahead of upcoming TV soap crossover Corriedale / Credit: ITV Press Centre (Supplied)
Stood by her side is Danny Miller known for his role as the complex and vulnerable Aaron Dingle in Leeds-based hit soap Emmerdale.
Both can be seen on-set and are pictured in front of a white trailer filming for the upcoming Corriedale special.
Although the shows are set just a one hour’s drive away from each other, separated by The Pennines, this soap special marks the first time that characters from each drama will have ever crossed paths.
Most details for this soap crossover are being kept very tight-lipped although filming kicked off in September with this latest update marking the first-ever major cast announcement for Corriedale.
ITV Executive Producer for Continuing Drama Iain Macleod said: “It’s beyond exciting that filming is under way on Corriedale.
“There is a massive buzz around both the Leeds and Manchester sites and the images coming out of the shoot are utterly spectacular. And that’s before we’ve even got to all the brilliant transpennine interactions between characters from the different shows!
“As a soap fan myself, I think my head is going to explode when the episode airs next year. It will be mind-blowing, historical and unmissable.”
Corriedale is coming to our TV screens in early 2026 and heralds the start of a new soap power hour with 30 minute episodes of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale to air every weekday.
The Karate Kid – The Musical, inspired by the iconic 80s film, is coming to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Iconic 80s film The Karate Kid has now been reimagined as a stage musical – and it’s coming to Manchester next spring.
The Karate Kid – The Musical will be heading out on its UK premiere tour in 2026, including a run of dates at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
The musical follows the same themes as the original, legendary 1984 film, a coming-of-age story that follows the relationship and teachings between Daniel LaRusso and Mr Miyagi.
It’s not just about karate, it’s about resilience, mentorship, and the quiet strength that bridges generations, and on the stage you can expect movement, music, and energetic storytelling too.
The original blockbuster starred Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita and has gone down in history as one of cinema’s greatest films, earning Morita an Academy Award nomination.
It’s become a major global franchise, including three movie sequels, a remake with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, and a Netflix series (Cobra Kai).
The Karate Kid – The Musical made its world premiere in 2022, selling out theatres and earning rave reviews.
Those iconic cinematic moments are brought to life on the stage by a Tony Award-winning design team.
The Karate Kid – The Musical is heading on a major UK tour before it hits the West End and Broadway.
It’s written by Robert Mark Kamen, screenwriter of the original 1984 movie, with music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini.
Kamen says: “William Goldman said about Hollywood “No one knows anything.” He was right.
“Who knew that 43 years after I wrote the original script for THE KARATE KID, we would see these very same characters acting and singing on the British stage in a story that is as fresh and universally relevant as it was four decades ago.”
The Karate Kid – The Musical is at the Palace Theatre from Tuesday 12 to Saturday 23 May 2026, with tickets on sale now HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
12th May 2021 
