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An Only Fools and Horses musical is coming to Manchester next year

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Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 30th October 2023

One of the UK’s best-loved sitcoms of all time has been turned into a smash-hit musical stage show, and it’s heading out on a nationwide tour next year.

There’s absolutely no denying how iconic Only Fools and Horses is.

First hitting our screens back in 1981, and running for seven series – as well as countless Christmas specials – up until 2003, the BBC sitcom starring David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst about two black market traders, the Trotter brothers, who buy and sell anything and everything with a dream of becoming extremely rich someday, has a special place in the heart of many Brits.

Not only was the show beloved by viewers, it was also critically-acclaimed and scooped several TV awards in its time, including BAFTAs, National Television Awards, and more, and was also voted Britain’s Best Sitcom in a 2004 BBC poll.

But would you have ever imagined the show could be turned into a musical stage show? Well it has – and it’s become an absolute record-breaking smash hit on the West End.

Following a four-year run down in London, Only Fools and Horses The Musical has announced that Del Boy, Rodney, Grandad, Cassandra, Raquel, Boycie, Marlene, Trigger, Denzil, Mickey Pearce, Mike the Barman, the Driscoll Brothers, and all the rest of the gang are hitting the road in 2024 and 2025 for a major tour of the UK and Dublin.

And, of course, they’ll be paying a visit to us here in Manchester around this time next year.

The acclaimed home-grown musical – which has played over 1,000 performances at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket – is everything you know and love about John Sullivan’s legendary TV show… but on stage.

An Only Fools and Horses musical is coming to Manchester next year / Credit: Only Fools and Horses The Musical

Directed by the originating West End director Caroline Jay Ranger, and with a script and original score written by John’s son, Jim Sullivan, alongside comedy giant Paul Whitehouse, Manchester audiences are being told to prepare for the classic comedy to be brought to life on stage.

There’s said to be an “ingenious script” and 20 hilarious songs in the show.

With musical contributions from actual Chas & Dave, the beloved theme tune as you’ve never heard it before, and an array of brand-new songs that are said to be “full of character and cockney charm”, the show is described as being “a feel-good family celebration of traditional working class London life” and a “right ol’ knees-up”.

The smash-hit stage show is going on a UK tour after a record-breaking West End run / Credit: Supplied

The tour kicks off in Bromley in September 2024, and then travels to over 30 towns and cities up and down the country – including Manchester – all before culminating in Dublin at the end of June 2025.

Casting for the show is set to be announced in early 2024.

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Only Fools and Horses The Musical will take to the stage at Manchester Opera House from Monday 11 – Saturday 23 November 2024, and tickets are now on sale starting from as little as £13.

Grab tickets here.

Featured Image – Only Fools and Horses The Musical

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ENHYPEN at AO Arena, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

It’s time to ‘Scream’ as K-pop boyband ENHYPEN are about to land in the UK as they embark on their European leg of the ‘Walk The Line’ tour.

Global superstars ENHYPEN are visiting Manchester for the first time ever, trading ‘Highway 1009’ for the Mancunian Way as they play out in the highly acclaimed 21,000 seater, AO Arena, this bank holiday.

ENHYPEN consists of seven members, including Sunghoon, Heeseung, Jungwon, Sunoo, Jake and Ni-ki – all of whom have stayed loyal to the group since they formed back in 2020.

This very ‘Walk The Line’ tour kicked off almost one year ago with two sold-out stadium shows in Korea before making its way across America, and now the boys are sinking their ‘Teeth’ into the UK and Europe.

Expect this Manchester live music venue to feel like a living runway as these K-pop idols are known for their stylish looks and designer brand partnerships, such as Italian fashion house Prada.

ENHYPEN gig guide

ENHYPEN UK tour dates

  • Fri 22 August – London, UK – The O2
  • Mon 25 August – Manchester, UK – AO Arena

ENHYPEN tickets for AO Arena gig

Anyone after some ‘Sweet Venom’, also known as precious tickets to ENHYPEN’s upcoming Manchester show, will be pleased to know that they aren’t in ‘Fatal Trouble’; there are still a few options left if you act fast enough.

You’ll have to act fast, as we’re sure you’re aware these K-pop nobles have given everyone a serious case of boyband ‘Fever’, and there is absolutely ‘No Doubt’ you’ll have a fabulous night when you grab your tickets HERE.

ENHYPEN setlist

  • Brought the Heat Back
  • Fever
  • ParadoXXX Invasion
  • Future Perfect (Pass the MIC)
  • Given-Taken
  • Lucifer
  • Teeth
  • Blessed-Cursed
  • Fatal Trouble
  • Bite Me
  • Your Eyes Only
  • Loose
  • Scream
  • Tamed-Dashed
  • Sweet Venom
  • Go Big or Go Home
  • Moonstruck
  • XO (Only If You Say Yes)
  • No Doubt
  • Bad Desire
  • Helium
  • Paranormal
  • Drunk-Dazed
  • Go Big or Go Home
We’d like to hear and, more importantly, see this one.

What are the stage times for ENHYPEN in Manchester?

AO Arena has a curfew of 11pm, meaning you can ‘Go Big or Go Home’ and still make sure you get your beauty sleep.

There is no confirmed support act as of yet, however, it looks like this will remain as they have fronted this tour independently across the globe.

Doors for this event are opening from 6pm, and this huge K-pop concert is expected to kick off at 7:30pm when this group reminds you that they ‘Brought the Heat Back’.

How to get to AO Arena

@the.manc When are you next heading to the @AO Arena? 😱 #themanc #manchester #aoarena #preshow #entertainment #gigs #music #liveshow ♬ Love You So – The King Khan & BBQ Show

Tram

For those of you heading to AO Arena, luckily, it’s connected to Manchester Victoria Station, and it has an integrated Metrolink stop to make your life even easier.

Head along the pink, light blue or yellow lines directly to the Victoria stop, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.

Train

Considering this live entertainment venue is situated right in the middle of one of Manchester’s most frequented stations, concertgoers should find no problem getting to the arena, wherever they are.

Bus

A variety of buses cover AO Arena and Victoria Station on their route, such as the 2 bus, which stops just a one-minute walk away from the venue.

A full list of buses and their routes can be found HERE.

Getting there by car and parking

The Arena has its own official CitiPark, with 958 car parking spaces, including 40 Blue Badge parking bays, which can be booked in advance.

Alternatively, anyone attending a gig can park at their nearest train station and jump on a train service or the various Metrolink park and ride facilities.

Walk/cycle

Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app.

About the AO Arena

The AO Arena has a few strict policies to keep gig-goers safe, so make sure to check entry requirements carefully before you travel.

For example, only one small bag per person is allowed, and bags like backpacks, travel cases and laptop bags are not permitted inside the arena.

All bags are scanned on entry to check for prohibited items like laser pens, flares, projectiles, weapons, drugs and alcohol, and even selfie sticks.

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

Featured Images – Publicity Pictures (supplied)/The Manc Group

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A night of bare knuckle boxing is coming to Manchester’s AO Arena

Danny Jones Danny Jones Bare knuckle boxing Manchester AO Arena 2025 BKFC 81

More fighting action is heading Manchester’s way as a night of bare-knuckle boxing is coming to the AO Arena.

The city’s iconic arena has seen plenty of entertainment and combat sports over the decades, including plenty of famous boxing bouts in those years, and now the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is bringing its latest event to its doors.

It’s not the first time the BKFC has landed at the AO Arena, but with a extra tasty fight card booked for the upcoming night in Manchester, it’s tipped to be one of the best yet.

Wrists wrapped, guards up and fists at the ready, this is sure to be one of the feistiest nights on the Manc sporting calendar, hands-down.

Set to be headlined by two-time world boxing champion James DeGale vs Matt Floyd in a light heavyweight showdown, not to mention a co-main event crossover clash between Aaron Chalmers and former Love Island star turned fighter Jack Fincham, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

There’s also a UK Lightweight Title is on the line, with Jonny Graham facing off against Navid Mansouri, as well as fan favourite and Bolton‘s very own Jack Cullen returning to take on the experienced Moldovan mauler, Stanislav Grosu.

It’s fair to say even prior the closers, this is a stacked undercard of British and international contenders, so its no wonder there’s already plenty of eyes on this particular edition of BKFC.

Speaking ahead of the fight night, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship President, David Feldman, said: “BKFC 81 is a statement night for our UK expansion, Manchester is a fight city and this is one of our most explosive UK cards yet.

“James DeGale is a proven champion and a massive attraction. Pairing him with a live threat like Matt Floyd at the AO Arena is everything fans love about BKFC, elite talent, high stakes, and action from first bell to last, this is an unmissable event.”

Turning to the two headliners themselves, DeGale says “fans can expect skill, spite, and a KO”, while Floyd added that while he respects what his opponent has achieved in his career thus far, “[he’s] coming to shock the world in Manchester.”

As you can see, the promotion has a number of dates to play out before BKFC 81 gets underway at the AO Arena next month, but you won’t get many with the same kind of energy Northern crowds guarantee.

Kicking off on Saturday, 27 September, the venues pre-sale window is already open and general admission tickets go live at 10am this Sunday (24 Aug).

You can get ready to grab yours HERE.

In the meantime, you can get a better taste of the no-holds-barred boxing beatdowns, well, down below – and be warned, it really is brutal…

Read more:

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

Featured Images — BKFC (supplied)/The Manc Group

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