ADVERTISEMENT

Affiliate

Beloved sitcom Dinnerladies to return after 25 years with new stage show in Manchester

This article contains affiliate links.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 29th June 2026

One of the most beloved sitcoms of all time is set to return after 25 years, but this time it’s coming to the stage in Manchester.

More than a quarter of a century after it was first screened on BBC One, a brand-new stage adaptation of Dinnerladies is planned for 2027, and it’ll feature a storyline inspired by the episodes and characters from the iconic original TV sitcom.

Making its premiere at Manchester Opera House in January, the new show is the first piece of the late Victoria Wood’s work to be commissioned by her Estate.

Adapted by Beth and Emma Kilcoyne, and directed by double Olivier-award winner Sean Foley, after debuting here Manchester, the production will then tour major theatres across the UK until August – with star Les Dennis as maintenance man Stan, and further casting to be announced soon.

Originally created, written by, and starring Bury comedy legend Victoria Wood, Dinnerladies ran for two acclaimed series and 16 episodes between 1998 and 2000, winning widespread critical plaudits and a devoted audience thanks to its warmth, wit, and brilliantly observed characters.

ADVERTISEMENT
Dinnerladies is returning after 25 years with a new stage show in Manchester / Credit: BBC

Set in the canteen of fictional Manchester factory, HWD Components, the show followed the lives, friendships, and workplace dramas of the staff and regulars who gathered there every day.

Now, audiences will be reunited with the dinnerladies once again, as all the much-loved characters that made the show such a huge British comedy classic will feature in the play – including Bren, Tony, Dolly, Anita, Jean, Twinkle, and Philippa.

ADVERTISEMENT

No matter whether you’re revisiting an old favourite or discovering it for the first time, the new Dinnerladies show is set to serve up a hilarious night out packed with heart, nostalgia, and plenty of surprises.

Read more:

Dinnerladies will take to the stage at Manchester Opera House on 29 January 2027 and run right through to 6 February 2027 – with tickets going on sale this Friday (3 July).

Get tickets when they go live here.

Featured Image – Supplied

Affiliate

Blossoms announce new album and HUGE Manchester arena gig on UK tour

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Blossoms are back with a new album and UK arena tour later this year.

Tom, Joe, Josh, Charlie, and Myles – also known as Stockport’s finest, Blossoms – have today announced their sixth studio album, Songs From The Wedding Cake, alongside an upcoming UK arena tour this autumn to celebrate.

The new album and tour comes fresh off-the-back of the success of their previous studio album, Gary, named after an eight-foot fiberglass gorilla.

Songs From The Wedding Cake takes its title from a Stockport nickname for the town’s iconic Victorian town hall, which is where Tom got married. It’s an apt frame for a record built around one guiding idea – taking the ordinary moments of life and putting them through an extraordinary lens.

The result is said to be Blossoms at their ‘most expansive’ and ‘most personal’, providing an irresistible cocktail of 80s-flecked funk, heart-on-your-sleeve anthems, and dance-floor indie bangers.

Blossoms
Blossoms have announced a new album and a huge Manchester arena gig on UK tour / Credit: Supplied

In their own words, as taken directly from their Instagram announcement this morning, Songs From The Wedding Cake is: “What an absolute joy this record was to make. Written and recorded over the last year, it’s a collection of songs about what might seem like ordinary moments, viewed through an extraordinary lens.

“Joking about divorce, hire cars, crying at the Kardashians, Wikipedia rabbit holes, trips to The Range, falling asleep in a taxi, your arm going numb because someone’s asleep on it, the 192, being an additional driver on your wife’s insurance and losing her 20 years’ no-claims bonus (ffs), dancing in the kitchen to Grease, crying at videos of dogs on Instagram, picking up parquet flooring, saying the wrong thing, growing older together… you get the idea.”

Alongside the album, the indie rockers have also announced an accompanying UK arena tour for the autumn, and of course they’ll be stopping off in Manchester.

Blossoms 2026 UK Arena Tour Dates

  • Thursday 26 November – Utilita Arena, Cardiff
  • Friday 27 November – Alexandra Palace, London
  • Saturday 28 November – Co-op Live, Manchester
  • Friday 4 December – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
  • Saturday 5 December – OVO Hydro, Glasgow

The lads will be taking to the Co-op Live stage on Saturday 28 November.

They’ll also be playing in other major UK cities London, Cardiff, Glasgow, and Birmingham along the way, with tickets for the tour set to go on presale next Wednesday (24 June) at 9:30am, before general sale commences on Friday, also at 9:30am.

Read more:

 The band will be joined across all tour dates with very special guests, The Royston Club.

Songs From The Wedding Cake will be released to the world on Friday 2 October, and you can get tour tickets when they go live here.

Featured Image – Press

Affiliate

Disney On Ice is returning to Manchester this winter on latest UK arena tour

Danny Jones Danny Jones Disney On Ice Manchester tickets AO Arena

Whether you’re looking for something to give your children a thrill, or you’re a fully fledged ‘Disney adult’ yourself, you’ll be glad to hear that the smash-hit Disney On Ice show is coming back to Manchester city centre later this year.

Returning globally for its 45th anniversary and celebrating over three and a half decades here in the UK, Disney On Ice is set for its 16th edition here in Manchester this winter.

Bringing iconic characters, storylines and scenes to life with incredible choreographed ice-skating routines, as well as all-singing-all-dancing musical numbers, you won’t find many more spectacular family-friendly live shows than this one.

Well and truly a staple of the annual entertainment calendar around the globe, these performances attract millions every year, and now thousands more will get to watch the latest version at the AO Arena.

As written on the social media post confirming the next batch of dates, the venue wrote: “Follow the quest for Tinker Bell through the dazzling worlds of Coco, Moana, Frozen, and Beauty and the Beast.

“Experience thrilling skating and memorable moments from Aladdin, Toy Story, and The Little Mermaid. Watch Stitch crash the action with mischievous surprises. It’s non-stop fun for the whole family!”

Dubbed ‘Discover The Magic’, this upcoming iteration of the Disney format is said to be all about “celebrating love and bravery”; expect more than 170 dazzling costumes made by over 100 artisans using thousands of yards of fabric, adorned with hundreds of thousands of hand-set Swarovski crystals.

One of the most impressive parts about these performers – besides their obvious gifts for music and movement – is how quickly they change outfits, transforming in under 30 seconds before stepping back out onto the impressively designed stage, which is estimated to weigh in excess of 12,000 pounds.

You can take a glance at the scenes from their most recent spring tour of a similar name down below.

Such an impressive display all-round.

You can find the full list of UK shows here – we’ve highlighted all the Northern ones for you:

Disney On Ice UK tour dates – winter 2026/27

  • Birmingham bp pulse LIVE: Oct 28 – Nov 8, 2026
  • Newcastle Utilita Arena: Nov 11 – Nov 15, 2026
  • Nottingham Motorpoint Arena: Nov 19 – Nov 22, 2026
  • Aberdeen P&J Live: Nov 26 – Nov 29, 2026
  • Belfast SSE: Dec 3 – Dec 6, 2026
  • Sheffield Utilita Arena: Dec 9 – Dec 13, 2026
  • Manchester AO Arena: Dec 16 – Dec 20, 2026
  • London The O2: Dec 24 – Jan 3, 2027

With the likes of other big Disney Concerts and the Entertainment group productions coming to Manchester over the next year or so, including the recently announced Worlds Collide UK crossover tour, there are plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in all kinds of classic movie magic.

The pre-sale opens from 10am this Friday, 12 June, which you can prepare for now; as for general admission, tickets will be available from the same time on the last Friday of the month (26 June).

All-new VIP magical passes have also been added for the very first time this year, meaning guests of all ages can enjoy all the glitz and glamour possible.

Whatever package you and/or the kids fancy, you can get ready to grab yours right HERE.

For anyone interested in seeing other animated and digital favourites brought to life in the flesh right here in the city centre, this one might interest you, too…

Read more:

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

Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via AO Arena)

More Affiliate

Disney World Collide live concert tour Manchester date tickets

Affiliate

Disney are bringing a live music crossover tour featuring three cult favourite films to Manchester

Affiliate

Phoebe Bridgers announces long-awaited return with HUGE phones-free arena gig in Manchester

Affiliate

Manchester’s iconic Victoria Baths to turn into a dancefloor for a new phones-free daytime rave series

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches