TV & Showbiz

Mancs who are ‘unlucky in love’ wanted for new BBC reality dating series

Applications are now open.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 9th January 2025

The BBC is currently casting for a brand new reality dating show similar to Love Island, and Mancs are being encouraged to apply.

Mancs who’d consider themselves to be “unlucky in love”, that is.

You may have seen this week that ITV has released the long-awaited lineup of famous faces set to head into the Love Island villa for the second ‘All Stars’ series starting next week, but for those regular folk on the look-out for that special someone to spend the rest of their lives with, the BBC and its newest series has got you covered.

If marriage is your end goal, this new show takes care of that sooner rather than later, as singles get matched up and married pretty much as soon as their journey starts.

From the creators of Married at First Sight, and set to be titled ‘Stranded on Honeymoon Island’, casting directors are calling on single people who are ready to “find their perfect match in paradise” to apply.

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Anyone thinking of sticking an application in just need to be 18 years of age or over, and have the right to live and work in the UK, as well as being open to getting ‘married’ on TV too, of course.

A casting call on the BBC website reads: “Are you single, unlucky in love, and ready to find your perfect match in paradise? The series will see 12 unlucky-in-love singles get matched up and married, before being marooned on a tropical island, to see if true love will blossom and survive…or dive?.”

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Mancs who are ‘unlucky in love’ are wanted to apply for new BBC reality dating series / Credit: BBC

Produced for the BBC by CPL Productions, no release date for Stranded on Honeymoon Island has been revealed yet, but filming is expected to take place this year.

Applications are now live, and you have until 28 February to pop your name down.

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Fancy it then? Find out more and apply on the BBC website here.

Featured Image – VTM2 / BBC

TV & Showbiz

Jake Quickenden to star in stage version of cult classic British comedy, Rita, Sue and Bob Too!

Danny Jones Danny Jones Jake Quickenden starring as lead in Rita, Sue & Bob Too play

The original stage play version of classic UK comedy, Rita, Sue and Bob Too!, is coming to Greater Manchester this February and it’s set to star Jake Quickenden in a leading role.

Released as a feature-length back in 1987, the cult favourite film set in North Yorkshire is still considered one of the most quintessentially British and incisive ‘dramedies’ ever made, depicting a very unfiltered and poignant look at working-class life during the Thatcher years.

The story has been brought to the theatre many times before, including down the road in Salford Quays, but this latest series of stage shows marks the first time Rita, Sue and Bob Too! the play is heading to this particular borough.

With a healthy slate of tour dates across the country, the Regal Entertainments production and recognisable cast is coming to Stockport for multiple nights next month.

Adapting the original semi-autobiographical play text by Bradford‘s very own Andrea Dunbar – where the tale takes place and whose upbringing the events revolve around – with direction from Chantelle Nolan, this is one of the biggest live productions of Rita, Sue and Bob Too! ever.

Speaking ahead of the nationwide tour, Nolan says: “After over 20 years of producing brilliant entertainment in St Helens and in Liverpool, Regal Entertainments has developed a touring department, and we can’t wait to share our five-star productions with new audiences across the UK.”

“We’re very proud to attract the top stars from the worlds of theatre, film and TV to star in our productions […] Dunbar’s cult classic film was originally a hit play, and we know that it’s a show that you can see time and time again and still be rolling in the aisles with laughter, we are incredibly pleased with the ticket sales so far.”

As well as the former X-Factor, I’m A Celeb, Hollyoaks and Dancing on Ice star in the leading role as Bob, other names on the call sheet include Jessica Ellis (also seen on Hollyoaks), Shameless and Coronation Street‘s Warren Donnelly, as well as ex-Britain’s Got Talent contestant, Siobhan Phillips.

As for the other two leads, Liverpool-born comic Kay Nicholson is starring as Rita and Lancashire actor Jenna Sian O’Hara as Sue. In case you’ve never seen or heard anything about it before, without spoiling anything, the two young schoolgirls get themselves into some rather adult circumstances.

Credit: Film 4/IMDb/Press Shot (supplied)

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Strictly an 18+ performance, the Stockport show is one of just a small handful of North West runs, set to take place at the iconic art deco theatre that is The Plaza from Tuesday, 18-Saturday, 22 February.

As for Quickenden, the 36-year-old added: “I’m delighted to be joining the brilliant cast of Rita, Sue and Bob Too! Regal Entertainments have a fantastic reputation for producing exciting entertainment in Merseyside and I can’t wait to take the show all over the UK.

“Andrea Dunbar’s play is a classic and I can’t wait to play Bob.” If you’ve not come across it before, maybe ask your mum and dad or perhaps a grandparent – we’re sure they’ll fill you in…

You can grab your tickets HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press Image (supplied via Regal Entertainment)/Film 4

TV & Showbiz

US comedian Shane Gillis is coming to Manchester very soon

Danny Jones Danny Jones Shane Gillis Manchester tour date tickets 2025

Popular comedian, writer, producer and actor Shane Gillis is coming back to Manchester for one of his biggest UK shows ever as he prepares to play Co-op Live.

Known for his acclaimed stand-up shows Live In Austin and Beautiful Dogs, as well as sketches on Saturday Night Live and cult-hit Netflix comedy, Tires, he is currently selling out stadiums and huge rooms all across the US – and it won’t be long before he crosses the Atlantic.

The last time the Manc comedy scene saw Shane Gillis’ name on a dressing room door was back in March 2022 when he was playing the second-largest room at the Manchester Academy. Fast forward to this coming spring and he’s now set to sell out the city’s and one of Europe’s biggest indoor arenas.

What a difference a couple of years makes, eh?

As mentioned, his latest tour – simply entitled, Shane Gillis Live – is not just selling out all over North America but is even breaking attendance records at storied venues, surpassing the likes of U2 for most tickets sold and countless other regional feats.

The 37-year-old from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania (yes, that’s actually what it’s called) has become one of the hottest comics on the planet in recent times, returning to SNL to write several popular skits in 2024 – including doing his infamous Donald Trump impression in costume.

Still considered a controversial figure on the circuit for some of his early routines, having initially been fired as a writer on the show for comments made on his podcast back in 2019, his ‘edgy’ brand of stand-up definitely pushes up against the boundaries of what many label ‘offensive’ comedy.

Nevertheless, he remains one of the most highly-rated contemporary performers in the live stand-up genre, appearing as a guest on the Kill Tony live comedy podcast on multiple occasions and seeing his original sitcom, Tires, renewed for a second season.

The first clip from the latest series, teasing a celebrity guest appearance, dropped in December.

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Fans won’t have to wait long either as Gillis arrives at Co-op Live on Thursday, 20 March, almost three years on from his last visit to Manchester.

General admission tickets go live this Friday, 10 January at 10am, but official Co-op members can access the exclusive pre-sale window from 12 noon on Wednesday (8 Jan).

If you fancy going along to the show, you can grab tours HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press Image (supplied)

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