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.
James Arthur to play massive Manchester show on UK arena tour next year
Emily Sergeant
James Arthur is the latest act to announce a massive UK arena tour, and he’ll be paying a visit to Manchester next year.
On the day that Manchester’s newest live entertainment arena,Co-op Live, is set to welcome one of the world’s current biggest pop star, Sabrina Carpenter, another major pop act is set to take to that very same stage around this time next year, as James Arthur has today announced a huge arena tour.
The former X Factor winner is heading out on an 11-date tour of the UK in early 2026, and that includes a visit to our city in mid February.
After performing in some of the UK’s biggest cities in the days prior – including London’s O2, the bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham, and shows in other northern cities such as Sheffield and Liverpool – the will 37-year-old singer-songwriter will stop off Manchester to close out his impressive tour.
He’ll be performing at Co-op Live on Saturday 21 February 2026.
The announcement of next year’s UK tour next year’s coincides with the upcoming release of Arthur’s highly-anticipated next studio album, PISCES.
In recent years, Arthur has cemented himself as one of the biggest names in contemporary pop and soul, amassing 11 Platinum hit singles, more 38 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and two UK number one albums along the way – including his most recent release, Bitter Sweet Love, which was celebrated with a sold-out UK and Europe arena tour, culminating in a historic performance in his hometown of Middlesbrough to an audience of 25,000 fans.
James Arthur UK arena tour dates 2025
3 February – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
4 February – Glasgow OVO Hydro
6 February – Newcastle Utilita Arena
7 February – Aberdeen P&J Live
10 February – Birmingham bp pulse LIVE
11 February – Bournemouth International Centre
13 February – Sheffield Utilita Arena
14 February – Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
16 February – Cardiff Utilita Arena
18 February – London The O2
21 February – Manchester Co-op Live
James Arthur is playing a massive Manchester show on his UK arena tour next year / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
With the upcoming release of PISCES on 25 April, Arthur is said to be ‘diving deeper into his personal struggles’ to create a collection of songs that is ‘as introspective as it is sonically adventurous’.
Tickets to James Arthur’s 2026 UK arena tour, including the Manchester Co-op Live gig on Saturday 21 February, go on pre-sale next Wednesday 19 March at 9am, and then on general sale on Friday 21 February at 9am.
Find out more and get tickets when they go on sale here.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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Popular Manchester comedy festival returns with impressive lineup of local talent and ‘cult sensations’
Emily Sergeant
A popular comedy festival is returning to our city with yet another impressive lineup of local talent and ‘cult sensations’.
That’s right… some of the UK’s best comedy names are coming to Manchester.
Following the success of events held the last two years, renowned production company, A Lovely Time, has once again put together an absolutely jam-packed lineup of television names, internet sensations, hotly-tipped newcomers, and even critically-acclaimed comedians for a weekend full of comedy shows in the heart of the city centre.
Taking place at Fairfield Social Club – which is tucked away down at the Green Quarter – the weekend-long festival, aptly called A Lovely Weekend, will kick off on Friday 6 June.
You can expect three full days of laughter at the hands of an expertly-curated lineup, who’ll mostly be staging ‘work in progress’ shows and sets.
Popular comedy festival A Lovely Weekend is returning to Manchester this summer / Credit: Kristyna Baczyna | Caro Ferretti
This year’s festival is bringing 19 new shows to the mix, including the likes of Edinburgh Comedy Award winners John Kearns and Jordan Brookes, and local talent done-good Rachel Fairburn and Josh Jones, as well rising stars Sharon Wanjohi, Ayoade Bamgboye, and Molly McGuinness.
Plus, you can also catch cult sensations like Mark Silcox and the formidable Frankie Monroe, making for a truly unmissable weekend of comedy.
“It’s such an honour to bring this amazing lineup of comedians to Manchester, which is quickly becoming the most exciting city for comedy in the UK,” commented festival organiser John Stansfield ahead of this summer’s event.
Co-organiser Chris Cantrill, who is also a comedian himself, added: “As a comedy fan I have to say I cannot wait for this year’s festival. It feels positively decadent.”
A Lovely Weekend 2025 will take over Fairfield Social Club from Friday 6 – Sunday 8 June, and tickets are on sale now – with tickets to individual shows, and specific day and weekend-long passes all available to get your hands on.
Emily Sergeant -
13th December 2023 
