Lioness and former Manchester City star Jill Scott has already won the hearts of the nation on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! after just one episode.
The footballer, who owns a coffee shop in Wythenshawe, has already been labelled as this year’s winner with viewers demanding she’s handed the crown immediately.
Twitter erupted into a Jill Scott fan club last night during the opening episode of the ITV reality show, with people praising her bravery in the trial and her support of her fellow campmates.
Last night’s trial saw Jill and Charlene White have to walk a plank that was suspended from the top of a skyscraper – and then let go of their handles to dangle in mid-air.
Just watching it on screen was terrifying, but throughout the whole ordeal Jill was shouting words of encouragement back at Charlene.
Illustrator Graeme Bandeira tweeted: “Jill Scott – class. Walked so fast on that plank I was expecting her to step off in New Zealand. She’s hardcore.”
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Someone else said: “We all need Jill Scott telling us she is proud of us in our lives.”
Columnist Rafael Behr wrote: “Not at all surprisingly, Jill Scott turns out to be hard as nails.”
Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert, also praised the 35-year-old sporting hero, saying: “I wonder if it’s years of sports psychology or just deep inner strength (or a combination) that made Jill Scott so rock in that task.”
Of course, many people were quick to pull out Jill’s most viral moment – the clip of her during the Women’s Euros shouting ‘F*** off you f***ing p***k’ on the pitch.
A glorious piece of history.
“My names Jill Scott and I’m best known for kicking a ball for the lionesses” no Jill, sorry this is what you’re best known for #ImACelebritypic.twitter.com/CZM7MRcH87
Another moment from last night’s episode that delighted viewers was Jill getting in a right tangle with her hammock and tipping herself out onto the ground.
As she fell, she said: “I think I just fell out the hammock” – which, reader, she definitely did.
She then joked that she was ‘going to have to sleep on the floor’.
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Seeing as Sir Mo Farah also toppled out of the I’m A Celeb hammocks when he was a contestant, it seems to be something athletes struggle to get to grips with.
Many fans were disheartened to see that Matt Hancock, this year’s most controversial celebrity contestant, wasn’t there for the first show.
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The Tory MP and former Health Secretary is expected to enter the jungle tonight, where fans are already threatening to vote him in for every possible bushtucker trial.
Other contestants on I’m A Celebrity 2022 include Chris Moyles, Sue Cleaver and Boy George.
Featured image: ITV
News
Manchester set for its busiest weekend of the year with pop-up Park and Rides to open
Emily Sergeant
Pop-up Park and Ride facilities are set to open as Manchester prepares for what’s expected to be its busiest weekend of the year.
The festive season in the run up to Christmas always sees more people flock to the city centre than usual, but this weekend will likely be even busier than expected, as not only are Manchester Christmas Markets still in full swing, but there are also a number of gigs, live festive shows, and major sporting events coinciding with this.
So in a weekend that sees legends gigging and the Manchester Derby take place, as you would expect, thousands are predicted to flock to Manchester city centre and Etihad Campus.
Manchester Christmas Markets are in full swing and Paul McCartney will be at Co-op Live this weekend / Credit: The Manc Group | Wikimedia Commons
Because of this, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is taking action and encouraging people to dodge the likely congestion and use public transport instead where possible – with pop-up Park and Rides set to be introduced for weekend shoppers and fun-seekers who do want or need to drive.
On Saturday and Sunday, Booth Street West Car Park D (M15 6PD) – which will have 965 parking spaces available – will be free for customers travelling to the city centre by bus, and then again on Sunday, the same car park will be free for those attending Paul McCartney at Co-op Live.
Your ticket to the gig must be shown on entry, before a dedicated shuttle bus then takes you from the car park to the Etihad Campus.
Disney On Ice will be hosting four shows at AO Arena this weekend / Credit: Supplied
Shuttle buses – which are only available on the Sunday – will depart from Higher Cambridge Street and run to Co-op Live and back every 15 mins from 4pm until midnight.
Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground (Talbot Road, Stretford, M16 0PX) will also have 500 parking spaces available for Metrolink customers on Sunday, but you must show a valid pre-booked tram ticket to park there.
On Sunday [15 Dec], we’re offering free parking at Emirates Old Trafford to help relieve congestion in the city.
The Park and Ride is available to customers with a valid tram ticket purchased on the app, at a ticket machine or via contactless.
Anyone else planning to drive across the weekend may also want to consider using one of the permanent Park and Ride sites and complete their journey on foot or by public transport, and you can find more information and the locations of these sites on the Bee Network website here.
Tram capacity has been increased for the festive season, with every available tram running until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
The V1 and 36 bus services now also run 24 hours a day.
Other late-running buses on the Bee Network from Manchester include the 43 service to Manchester Airport, the 86 to Sale, and the 142 to East Didsbury.
Body found in search for missing Stockport postman Steven Caulfield
Emily Sergeant
A body has been found in the search for a 70-year-old former postman from Stockport who went missing a couple of months ago.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) issued a public appeal after to help find Steven Caulfield, who was last seen in the vicinity of the golf course next to Middlewood Way, in the Marple area of Stockport, at around 4pm Tuesday 1 October, after he failed to return home from a walk.
Since Steven was reported missing, an extensive missing person investigation was launched by Stockport detectives, alongside a widespread search by specialist GMP officers, and a number of missing appeals were also published on social media and shared widely – not just in Greater Manchester, but all across the UK.
#UPDATE | At around 12pm today (Wednesday 11th December 2024), an officer sadly located a body in woodland near to Middlewood Way in Stockport.
At this time, we believe this is likely to be Steven Caulfield who went missing on Tuesday 1 October.
But sadly, at around 12pm yesterday (Wednesday 11 December 2024), a GMP officer has sadly located a body in a woodland area near to Middlewood Way in Stockport, and at this time, police believe this is likely to be the body of Steven Caulfield.
Steven’s next of kin have been made aware and are currently being supported by officers.
There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding Steven’s death, according to GMP.
Speaking on the discovery of the body, Chief Superintendent Lewis Hughes, Stockport District Commander and GMP lead for Disaster Victim Identification, said: “Our deepest condolences remain with Steven’s family and friends, who have been devastated by this traumatic news, we have officers supporting them through this difficult time.
“It has been a challenging couple of months since the missing report came to us in GMP and our Tactical Aid Unit, Specialist Search, Canine and Underwater Units were all utilised to search for Steven in challenging conditions and locations around the Middlewood Way.
“We hope today’s discovery provides some answers for Steven’s loved ones.”
Daisy Jackson -
7th November 2022 
