Will Mellor and Ralf Little are taking their popular Two Pints Podcast on a tour of the UK next year, and of course they’re stopping off in Manchester.
After the sell-out success that was their 17-date ‘Two Pints Podcast LIVE! Tour’ back in 2022, the two local actors and longtime best mates are heading back on the road in the new year with their brand-new and proper hilarious ‘April Fools’ Live Tour!, and they’ll be kicking off where things all started for them – here in Manchester.
For nearly 10 years, Will and Ralf were the voice of a generation on Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, and were notorious for pushing the boundaries of what was considered to be acceptable humour on British TV.
After multiple failed attempts to reunite them, the boys began their Two Pints with Will & Ralf podcast in 2020, and it’s proved so popular because it’s filled with the kind of banter only true friends can have – with each episode seeing Will and Ralf “chat sh*t” to each other, to fellow celebs, and to guests with fascinating stories to tell, all over two pints and a hearty helping of bar snacks.
It went on to be such a smash-hit that it’s now in its fourth series, so it’s no wonder they’ve taken it on tour and decided to hit the road once again in 2024.
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The ‘April Fools’ Live Tour!’ kicks off at Manchester’s legendary Albert Hall on 5 April 2024, and will then go on to visit six other major cities across the UK, all before culminating at Sheffield’s City Hall on 28 April 2024.
The lads say they’re boys are excited to “bring their side hustle to fans in real life” once again, with each night of the tour promising to be “uproarious” and combine “the infectious camaraderie of Will & Ralf” with “raw audience participation”.
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Will Mellor and Ralf Little are bringing their Two Pints Podcast live to Manchester / Credit: Two Pints Podcast (via Facebook)
“Going out on tour again is very exciting,” Ralf commented, “as we had such a blast last time, so we can’t wait to meet everyone again and see all your lovely faces.”
Agreeing with Ralf, Will added: “I loved the buzz of being on tour last time, so can’t wait to have loads of banter with everyone again.
Tickets to the ‘April Fools’ Live Tour!’ at Manchester’s Albert Hall on Friday 5 April 2024 officially go on general sale this Friday (15 December 2023) at 10am, with prices starting from £33.45.
Legendary pop duo Erasure announces huge Manchester arena gig on 2027 UK tour
Emily Sergeant
Legendary pop duo Erasure have announced a UK arena tour next spring, and they’re set to stop off in Manchester.
Andy Bell and Vince Clarke – better known by their duo name, Erasure – have announced details of their long-awaited upcoming 20th studio album today, titled Radio!! Radio!!, alongside details of an arena tour in spring 2027 across the UK and Europe.
Described as a ‘deeply personal’ project, the BRIT and Ivor Novello award-winning duo’s first new studio album in six years sees Bell and Clarke continue to refine and deepen the pop catalogue they’ve been building over the past 40 years.
The album will be comprised of a set of songs about love, loss, and injustice that they hope speaks to our ’empathy-starved times’.
Erasure will take to the road in 2027 for an arena tour that kicks off at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena on 25 April before travelling throughout the UK, including a stop in Manchester at the AO Arena on 1 May, before finishing off in London and heading over to Europe, with more dates to follow.
Vince Clarke will be Musical Director for the tour, but will not be appearing onstage alongside Andy Bell, it has been revealed.
Bell says: “I’m so pleased that we were able to find a way for the tour to work for Vince. He’s always too modest but he’s so much more than the Musical Director, Vince is one of the great loves of my life and everything we do as Erasure we decide together.”
Erasure will be performing at the AO Arena in Manchester on 1 May 2027, and tickets go on presale this Thursday 1 October at 10am, before general sale begins a day later (2 October) also at 10am.
Strictly Come Dancing Live to return to Manchester as part of 2027 UK tour
Emily Sergeant
Strictly Come Dancing Live is set to return in 2027 for a spectacular new UK arena tour.
Hot on the heels of last weekend’s dazzling launch show for the 2026 BBC series, audiences are invited to get their dancing shoes on and their ’10’ paddles at the ready, as a new lineup of celebrities and professionals will be taking to the dancefloor for 29 shows across the country – including three shows in Manchester.
Head judge Shirley Ballas will be hitting the road, alongside fellow judges Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood, with Janette Manrara also presenting.
Directed by Craig Revel Horwood himself, Strictly Come Dancing Live takes the magic of the BBC TV show and turns it up to another level.
Expect jaw-dropping group dances, breathtaking routines, stunning costumes, and live music from the legendary Strictly band and singers, all brought together in a first-class arena production.
As always with the Strictly Live Tour, there is one very important decision to be made at every show – which couple will lift the Glitterball Trophy?
And that decision is not in the hands of the judges. The judges are there to critique and provide their invaluable opinions on each dance routine, but they do not hold the power, as this lies with the audience instead, who can vote using their mobile phones to decide who is the winner.
Strictly Come Dancing Live is returning to Manchester as part of its 2027 UK tour / Credit: Supplied
The tour kicks off at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on 22 January for the first of five shows, and will then cha-cha-cha its way across the UK, visiting other major northern cities like Sheffield, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Leeds, before arriving in Manchester at the start of February.
Strictly Come Dancing Live will take to the AO Arena stage on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 February 2027, with two shows happening on the Saturday.
Tickets officially go on sale this week, with venue pre-sales beginning at 10am on Thursday 24 September, before general sale starts on Friday (25 September), also at 10am.
Emily Sergeant -
13th December 2023 
