There’s still time to grab tickets to an event uncovering the myths behind how some of history’s most notorious serial killers are profiled in the media right here in Manchester next month.
It’ll also reveal how criminal profilers “often got it so wrong”.
Coming to Contact Theatre on Thursday 18 May, Professor Jackson – who has contributed to over 50 documentaries about violent crimes and murder throughout his career – will reveal evidence he believes shows criminal profiling has never resulted in the identification, apprehension, and conviction of serial murderers.
Unfamiliar with what criminal profiling actually is? Developed by the FBI all the way back in the 1970s, criminal profiling is used in countless serial murder investigations globally, and uses information about a crime, crime scenes, and victims to put together behavioural profiles of wanted people.
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Manchester event to uncover ‘myths’ of some of the most notorious serial killers / Credit: Supplied
The general public believes profiling to be a reliable and valid scientific way of investigating serial crimes – but this talk sets out to reveal that “the reality is far from that”.
Professor Jackson will demonstrate how his work to assist investigations into serial rape, murder, and missing people over the years proves this to be true.
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Some of the cases he will talk attendees through include the manhunts for the BTK (Bind Torture Kill) serial murderer, The Trailside killer, The Unabomber, The Tylenol Poisoner, The Yorkshire Ripper, The London Nail Bomber, The Grindr Killer, The Gay Slayer, The Washington Beltway Snipers, and most infamously, the unsolved case of The Zodiac Killer.
The way many of these cases were solved will be “surprising” to attendees, Professor Jackson explains, and the truth about criminal profiling as a pseudo-science will be demonstrated.
The Myth of Serial Killer Profiling is coming to Contact Theatre in Manchester this May / Credit: Contact Theatre
On top of all of this, the talk will also look at serial murderers who correspond with the police or media, and how these killers provide many clues, but often remain free, as well as taking a look at the behavioural analysis that’s been used in high-profile murder investigations once detectives “hit a brick wall”, and how criminal profiles are “far from helpful”.
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Tickets to The Myth of Serial Killer Profiling are still available to get your hands on from Skiddle, and will set you back just £24.45 each.
Legendary pop duo Erasure announces huge Manchester arena gig on 2027 UK tour
Emily Sergeant
Legendary pop duo Erasure have announced a UK arena tour next spring, and they’re set to stop off in Manchester.
Andy Bell and Vince Clarke – better known by their duo name, Erasure – have announced details of their long-awaited upcoming 20th studio album today, titled Radio!! Radio!!, alongside details of an arena tour in spring 2027 across the UK and Europe.
Described as a ‘deeply personal’ project, the BRIT and Ivor Novello award-winning duo’s first new studio album in six years sees Bell and Clarke continue to refine and deepen the pop catalogue they’ve been building over the past 40 years.
The album will be comprised of a set of songs about love, loss, and injustice that they hope speaks to our ’empathy-starved times’.
Erasure will take to the road in 2027 for an arena tour that kicks off at Cardiff’s Utilita Arena on 25 April before travelling throughout the UK, including a stop in Manchester at the AO Arena on 1 May, before finishing off in London and heading over to Europe, with more dates to follow.
Vince Clarke will be Musical Director for the tour, but will not be appearing onstage alongside Andy Bell, it has been revealed.
Bell says: “I’m so pleased that we were able to find a way for the tour to work for Vince. He’s always too modest but he’s so much more than the Musical Director, Vince is one of the great loves of my life and everything we do as Erasure we decide together.”
Erasure will be performing at the AO Arena in Manchester on 1 May 2027, and tickets go on presale this Thursday 1 October at 10am, before general sale begins a day later (2 October) also at 10am.
Strictly Come Dancing Live to return to Manchester as part of 2027 UK tour
Emily Sergeant
Strictly Come Dancing Live is set to return in 2027 for a spectacular new UK arena tour.
Hot on the heels of last weekend’s dazzling launch show for the 2026 BBC series, audiences are invited to get their dancing shoes on and their ’10’ paddles at the ready, as a new lineup of celebrities and professionals will be taking to the dancefloor for 29 shows across the country – including three shows in Manchester.
Head judge Shirley Ballas will be hitting the road, alongside fellow judges Anton Du Beke and Craig Revel Horwood, with Janette Manrara also presenting.
Directed by Craig Revel Horwood himself, Strictly Come Dancing Live takes the magic of the BBC TV show and turns it up to another level.
Expect jaw-dropping group dances, breathtaking routines, stunning costumes, and live music from the legendary Strictly band and singers, all brought together in a first-class arena production.
As always with the Strictly Live Tour, there is one very important decision to be made at every show – which couple will lift the Glitterball Trophy?
And that decision is not in the hands of the judges. The judges are there to critique and provide their invaluable opinions on each dance routine, but they do not hold the power, as this lies with the audience instead, who can vote using their mobile phones to decide who is the winner.
Strictly Come Dancing Live is returning to Manchester as part of its 2027 UK tour / Credit: Supplied
The tour kicks off at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on 22 January for the first of five shows, and will then cha-cha-cha its way across the UK, visiting other major northern cities like Sheffield, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Leeds, before arriving in Manchester at the start of February.
Strictly Come Dancing Live will take to the AO Arena stage on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 February 2027, with two shows happening on the Saturday.
Tickets officially go on sale this week, with venue pre-sales beginning at 10am on Thursday 24 September, before general sale starts on Friday (25 September), also at 10am.
Emily Sergeant -
6th April 2023 
