The Voice UK is holding auditions in Manchester city centre next week, and there’s still time to stick your name down.
If you’d consider yourself to have some pretty impressive pipes, and you reckon you’ve got what it takes to impress the producers of one of TV’s toughest singing shows with your vocal talents, then it’s probably worth knowing that ITV is holding auditions for the next series The Voice UK next week.
And it’s not too late to sign up either, if you fancy it.
Part of The Voice franchise, and based off the original Netherlands’ show of the same name, The Voice UK first hit our TV screens back in 2012, and since then, it has gone on to become a popular rival to other singing competition shows, and staple viewing for households nationwide, drawing in millions of viewers each series.
The show’s initial blind audition round sees hopeful singers of all ages take to the stage to perform their chosen songs for the four famous judges.
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The Voice UK is holding auditions in Manchester city centre next week / Credit: ITV
Facing away from the artists, and without any previous knowledge of their looks, personalities, stage presence, dance routines, if a judge likes what they hear, then a button-press allows their chair to spin around to face the performer, which show’s they’re keen to mentor them.
If more than one judge’s chair turns, then the artist selects a coach – but if no coach turns, then the artist is sadly sent home.
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Luckily though, next week’s Manchester auditions won’t be so brutal, as it’s just in front of the show’s producers.
Heading down to Access Creative College’s Manchester campus – which is on Oxford Street in the heart of the city centre – in the hopes of finding “the next singing sensation”, producers will be holding pre auditions next Thursday 13 July, and then, if performers actually get through to the TV series from there, this is when they’ll get to perform for current judges Anne-Marie, Olly Murs, Sir Tom Jones and will.i.am.
The Voice UK judges will.i.am, Anne-Marie, Sir Tom Jones, and Olly Murrs / Credit: ITV
Members of the public from across Greater Manchester are welcome to apply, and will just need to perform one song for the producers.
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“The Voice is looking for people aged 16 and over to audition for the next series,” explained Ian Johnson – who is the Head of Music Industry Partnerships for Access Creative College.
“We have spaces available for members of the public and they need to register with me via my email and then I can send them details.
Up for it then? If you would like to audition for the next series of The Voice UK, then you’ll just need to email [email protected] to book a slot.
Featured Image – ITV
TV & Showbiz
Jane McDonald announces huge new arena tour, with gig in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
National treasure Jane McDonald has just announced a brand-new arena tour, including a show here in Manchester.
The singing sensation has shared details of a new UK tour and album for 2026, with the Living The Dream tour hitting 19 stages.
Jane McDonald, star of stage and screen, will be performing at the AO Arena in Manchester next September, following the release of her new album in the spring.
Living The Dream is her 11th studio album, and boasts nine original songs plus four re-workings of country classics.
Jane has been a British icon ever since she appeared in the BBC docusoap The Cruise back in 1998.
Since then she’s sold out some of the world’s most iconic venues, including the Royal Albert Hall and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
As well as her singing and stage career, she’s known for her TV work including the BAFTA Award-winning Channel 5 series Cruising with Jane McDonald, Celebrity Gogglebox with best friend Sue Ravey on Celebrity Gogglebox, and her starring position on Loose Women.
She’s also recently launched her sold-out cruise charter, Cruise with Jane McDonald, with a seven-night round-trip for 1,400 fans planned for next October.
Before heading out on tour, TV audiences will also see Jane undertaking an ocean expedition for Jane McDonald: From Pole to Pole, where she’ll be travelling from the Antarctic to the Arctic.
In May 2026 Jane will headline the main stage at Mighty Hoopla festival in London in her first ever festival headline appearance.
Making the announcement, Jane said: “It’s true, I am officially Living The Dream so what better way to celebrate that than with a new album and a new tour.
“I love Country music and I love partying with you so I want to bring that together by bringing you some exciting new music along with the songs you know and love.
“We had brilliant fun on the last tour and we’re stepping it up a notch this time to visit even bigger venues so buckle up and let’s make even more memories together.”
Jane McDonald will play the AO Arena in Manchester on Thursday 10 September.
Tickets will go on sale at 10am on Friday 28 November HERE, but you can pre-order Jane’s album HERE for access to the pre-sale.
Bongo’s Bingo is hosting a series of special ‘Christmas Cracker’ and New Year’s shows
Danny Jones
Britain’s beloved Bongo’s Bingo is hosting a series of massive end-of-season specials to ring in the new year, announcing a number of their famous ‘Christmas Cracker’ and festive parties.
They’re also holding a ‘Big Fat Bingo of the Year’ (we don’t see any trademark issues whatsoever…), including one for NYE.
As one of the best nights out, not just in the North but in the country, they’re hoping to send you into 2026 singing, dancing, laughing, and hopefully with some lasting memories and maybe a prize or two.
Confirming the latest raft of shows starting this month, you can expect all the usual Bongo’s madness and more, plus all the bells and whistles, as well as plenty of tinsel and holiday cheer.
We’d love a new hoover for Christmas, to be fair. (Credit: Press shot)
Returning to Albert Hall as it regularly does throughout the rest of the calendar, Bongo’s Bingo is promising to give Manchester a Christmas and New Year’s period they’ll never forget.
As they put it, the hosts will be “transporting everyone back to the time when coloured tree lights and flammable tinsel ruled supreme, because the halcyon days of turkey with all the trimmings, mini bottles of Babycham and not a naughty elf in sight are BACK big time at Bongo’s Bingo.”
Bloomin’ ‘eck, they don’t half know how to get a crowd fired up even before they’re in the room, do they?
Set to deliver all the best festive tunes, “dodgy Santa Clauses” – their words, not ours – as well as plenty of foil hats fresh from the Christmas cracker, they’ll be partying with us Mancs multiple times throughout December, not to mention a bonus show at the end of November as we fully swap autumn for winter.
As for the ‘Twixmas’/’Christmas gooch’ period (again, not our words…), the format will then switch to the Big Fat Bingo of the Year, with quiz elements featuring all the biggest memes, tunes and cultural moments of 2025.
You can see the full list of Bongo’s Bingo festive dates for 2025 down below:
Bongo’s Bingo Christmas Cracker and Big Fat Bingo of the Year dates
Christmas Cracker
November – Fri, 28
December – Sat 6 Dec (day and night), Sat 20 Dec, Sun 21 (day), Mon 22 and Tues 23
Big Fat Bingo Of The Year
Sat, 27 Dec (day and night), Sun 28 (day) and NYE 2025
If you’re interested in booking onto Bongo’s Bingo this Christmas and/or New Year’s, you can find out more information and grab your tickets right HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
7th July 2023 
