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.
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🍻ONLY FOOLS & HORSES THE MUSICAL🍻
The Trotters are on the road after a record-breaking 4 year run in London’s West End! Don’t miss the UK’s funniest show at the Opera House! Book now and join us in the Nag’s Head!
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.
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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.
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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.
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.
The very special homecoming show will be New Order‘s first full headline performance in the city since 2021.
The group are widely accepted to be one of the most influential bands of all time and this year celebrated 40 years of their hit Blue Monday.
They were founded in 1980 by vocalist and guitarist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook and drummer Stephen Morris, who had all been together in Joy Division, which disbanded after the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis.
This year, the band announced reissued editions of their classic compilation ‘Substance 1987’, the band’s biggest-selling album to date.
They also headlined Barcelona’s Primavera Sound before they commenced their UK and European tour this autumn.
New Order will be supported by Johnny Marr, good friend of the band and legendary guitarist of The Smiths.
Marr and Sumner previously worked on synth-dance act Electronic together, and released three albums.
Johnny Marr announced a new album earlier this year – ‘Spirit Power: The Best of Johnny Marr’ will celebrate the first ten years of his solo career, featuring songs from across his four solo albums.
Fans can expect to hear Johnny’s greatest hits alongside the brand new track ‘The Answer’ as he takes to the stage at Wythenshawe Park next August.
Also supporting New Order at Wythenshawe Park will be adopted Manc Roisin Murphy, known in the 1990s as one half of pop duo Moloko.
The Irish singer and songwriter recently released her universally acclaimed sixth studio album, Hit Parade.
Presale tickets will go on sale from Monday 4 December at 10am, while general sale tickets go on sale on Tuesday 5 December at 10am, and you can grab yours here.
The National named as next act on lineup for Sounds of the City 2024 at Castlefield Bowl
Danny Jones
American rockers The National have been confirmed as the latest act on the Sounds of the City 2024 lineup at Castelfield Bowlin July.
The legendary alt-dad-rockers, as we like to think of them, have officially been named as the next artist for the annual summer festival right here in Manchester city centre, joining the likes of Tom Grennan, Manic Street Preachers, Jungle, Suede and more.
With a Grammy award win and countless other nominations to their name down the years, The National has become one of the best-loved contemporary rock and indie outfits around the globe and now they’re making their Sounds of the City debut in front of roughly 8,000 Mancs.
These lads have been around for over two decades now and have just released their 10th studio album this past September. They show no signs of slowing down and will no doubt light up Manchester’s iconic Castlefield Bowl as they have done countless other arenas and amphitheatres.
We are pleased to announce some additional tour dates for Summer 2024.
Tickets for all shows go on sale Friday, 17th November at 10AM GMT, except Milan and Rome which go on sale Thursday, 16th November at 10AM GMT. pic.twitter.com/FqG58cMVpf
The National confirm Castlefield Bowl and Sounds of the City debut in 2024.
Announcing the show as part of their current tour which kicked off this November at home in the States, this latest leg is promoting the new record, Laugh Track: a surprise release which comes just a couple of couple of months after their previous project, First Two Pages of Frankenstein, which dropped in July.
While the band confirmed the songs were all written at the same time, the five-piece has insisted that if the last album “represented a rebuilding of trust between us after 20+ years together, Laugh Track is both the product of that faith and a new statement of intent.”
In a continued sea change for the group, the new record features some seriously cool feature artists including Phoebe Bridgers and Rosanne Cash (daughter of country legend, Johnny) — two very exciting names to follow up the equally surprising collaboration with Taylor Swift.
All that being said, these lads will be putting on anything but a ‘Slow Show’ and it’s safe to say that if you miss out, everybody else will be there.
General sale for The National at Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl for Sounds of the City 2024 goes live at 10am on Friday, 17 November, adding to an already stacked month of mega live music here in 0161.
Emily Sergeant -
30th October 2023 
