One of Manchester’s best-known charities made history last night, with what was the first – and probably the last – firewalk on St Peter’s Square.
It’s been in the works for quite some time now, with the “brave souls” who signed-up being put through their paces to train for the occasion, but We Love MCR Charity‘s unique Manchester Firewalk Challengefinally happened in the heart of the city centre yesterday.
50 fearless firewalkers raised over £15,500 and counting for the iconic Mancunian charity by walking over 700-degree hot coals.
Against a backdrop of Manchester’s Central Library and with a massive crowd cheering them on, each of the participants conquered their fears and completed what they previously thought was impossible.
Alongside those keen fundraisers who rose to the challenge for a very worthy cause, some familiar faces also braved the coals – including Deputy Lord Mayor of Manchester Cllr Donna Ludford, and influencer and TV personality Rosie Williams, who took part as an Ambassador for the Charity.
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The Lord Mayor of Manchester and Chair of Trustees for the Charity Councillor Tommy Judge also got to oversee the drama of the night, and give the walkers a much-needed pep talk.
The brave walkers then undertook training from 30+ year firewalking veterans Time4Change.
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The Manchester Firewalk Challengefinally happened in the heart of the city centre yesterday / Credit: We Love MCR Charity50 fearless firewalkers raised over £15,500 and counting / Credit: We Love MCR Charity
“This was our first fundraising event in two years, and what a way to return,” said Ged Carter, Head of We Love MCR Charity.
“Congratulations to all walkers for showing incredible confidence on the coals, and exemplary fundraising by raising over £15,000 which will go directly to our work supporting Manchester’s fantastic communities and ambitious young people.”
We Love MCR Charity said that fundraising events like this are vital for its ongoing mission of supporting the city, especially after it distributed nearly £1 million last year through its COVID-19 Community Response Fund to over 300 community groups and charities, and touched the lives of over 50,000 Mancunians.
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“That was an incredible buzz,” said Rosie Williams, We Love MCR Charity’s Ambassador.
“I overcame my fears to do something which sounds impossible, for a brilliant cause [and] I can’t wait to hear what We Love MCR’s next challenge will be in 2022.”
“This was our first fundraising event in two years, and what a way to return.” / Credit: We Love MCR Charity
We Love MCR Charity’s is currently supporting the people of this amazing city both through the Stronger Communities Fund– which awards grants to Manchester groups looking to improve community wellbeing – and also through its unique Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund, which was launched this year to overcome financial barriers to success faced by young Mancunians.
Find more about fundraising for We Love MCR Charity in 2021 here.
Featured Image – We Love MCR Charity
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Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it
Emily Sergeant
Erling Haaland has answered the all-important question.
The question heard around the world, the question on everyone’s lips, a question that has absolutely nothing to do with football whatsoever… that’s right, he’s answered Letterboxd’s famous question of ‘what are your four favourite films?’.
If you’re unaware of what Letterboxd is, it describes itself as being an ‘online diary platform and app for film lovers’ and it gives users the chance to display their four favourite films at the top of their profile for all to see (and judge).
An extension of this has then been Letterboxd asking celebrities in press junket interviews and on red carpets what their ‘four faves’ are – and it’s gone on to become something of a phenomenon in the film world.
Everyone from massive A-list movie stars, to indie darlings and up-and-coming names have answered this question before, and now (it appears) to be Erling Haaland’s turn.
He’s not the first footballer to be tasked with question though, as the entire Spurs team was ambushed with it by former player – and famously massive cinephile – Alfie Whiteman last year, but it’s fair to say that after the summer he’s had with Norway at the World Cup, achieving international fame in the process, that Haaland is one of the most high-profile to answer it in a long while.
So, what’s on Erling’s list then?
Well, to self-confessed ‘film bros’ out there, you’re not going to find any deep cuts in this selection unfortunately, and you’re probably not going to get any recommendations for movies you haven’t seen before either, but come on, he is only a footballer after all.
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it / Credit: Letterboxd
First up for the Manchester City striker is a pretty common pick by straight white men, it’s The Wolf of Wall Street, and he doesn’t give much of a reason for it, other than just suggesting: “I think you understand why”.
He then follows that up with Ridley Scott’s classic Gladiator, calling it ‘amazing’, before naming 2004’s epic Troy, and then rounding it out with a Christmas favourite for many, Home Alone, adding that he ‘watched it a lot as a kid, and then again now’.
As for fan reaction to Haaland’s four favourites, let’s just say it’s been mixed.
Among the 1,000+ comments on the Instagram video, you’ll find just as many people called him ‘king’ and saying he has ‘goated’ taste, as you will comments like this: “He has the most male gazed top four in history of Letterboxd.”
Noel Gallagher reveals his and Liam’s children are now ‘best friends’ after the Oasis reunion
Emily Sergeant
Noel Gallagher has revealed that his and Liam’s sons had never met each other before the Oasis reunion last year.
But now? Well now they’re ‘best friends’, apparently.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, then I’m sure you’ll know by now that Oasis reunited last year for the first time since they disbanded back in 2009 to bring the world the long-awaited Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour – including five nostalgia-drenched gigs here in Manchester at Heaton Park, which saw more than 300,000 people descend on our city.
It was undeniably one of the biggest cultural events of the 21st century so far, given the fact most fans presumed the Gallagher brothers‘ feud meant they would never meet each other again.
Now though, it’s been revealed that some Gallaghers actually hadn’t met before last year.
According to those lucky fans who have already had the chance to see the Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger documentary concert film – which premiered first at the 2026 Venice Film Festival this past weekend, and then had its world premiere in London last night (7 September) – Noel Gallagher shares a story about how his two sons, Donovan and Sonny, had never met Liam’s sons Lennon and Gene prior to the reunion tour.
Noel Gallagher reveals that his and Liam’s sons had never met before the Oasis reunion:
Noel has three children – 26-year-old daughter Anaïs from his first marriage to Meg Matthews, and then two sons, 18-year-old Donovan and 16-year-old Sonny from his second marriage to Sara MacDonald.
Liam, on the other hand, has four children – daughter Molly, 28, two sons Lennon and Gene, aged 26 and 25 respectively, as well as a 13-year-old daughter named Gemma, who he is yet to meet.
Speaking on the relationship between his kids and their cousins, Noel said: “When my kids met his kids they didn’t know each other.
“Donovan and Sonny had never met Gene and Lennon. Lo and behold they’re best friends now.”
Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger is set to show the meteoric rise of Oasis through rare footage and untold stories as the band reunites for Oasis Live ’25, chronicling their journey from Manchester streets to global rock stardom.
It releases in cinemas nationwide, including in IMAX, this Friday 11 September.
Emily Sergeant -
14th October 2021 
