Love it or loathe it (or quietly acknowledge that it’s not aged all that well while continuing to ingest it every year), Love Actually is a Christmas classic.
It’s one of the biggest festive films of all time, starring some incredibly famous faces, as a light-hearted plot follows nine different couples in the run-up to Christmas.
There’s family tension, unrequited love, language barriers, questionable workplace practices (looking at you, Prime Minster Hugh Grant. And you actually, Alan Rickman), heartbreak, heartache, dodgy dancing and even dodgier flirting.
But this is a Richard Curtis film, so as much as people may take issue with some the storylines – if you’ve never read this Jezebel article, please do – Love Actually certainly warms the cockles.
A couple of years ago though, people found a new thing to be outraged about, and that is the age gap between two of the show’s stars.
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The age gap between these two Love Actually stars is wayyy smaller than you think. Credit: Universal
When people found out the age difference between Keira Knightley and Thomas Brodie-Sangster at the time they starred in the film, they were stunned.
For at the time of filming, there was a mere five-years between the two – Thomas was 13, and Keira was just 18 years old.
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Keira Knightley was actually closer in age to Thomas than she was to her on-screen husband, Chiwetel Ejiofor, who is eight years older than her.
Yearly reminder that there is only a five year age gap between Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Keira Knightley in Love Actually pic.twitter.com/ciC4v75ZPO
On Twitter, one person said: “Recently found out that Thomas Brodie Sangster and Keira Knightly had a 5-year age gap in this movie. The math isn’t mathing.”
Another wrote: “oh yeah there’s only a five year age gap between Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Keira Knightley in Love Actually who knew??????”
Someone else said: “There was a FIVE YEAR age gap between these two when Filming Love Actually. What. The. Heck.”
Featured image: Universal
Christmas
‘Dashing dachshund’ pop-up cafe to welcome hundreds of sausage dogs to Manchester this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Big dachshund fan? Love seeing lots of little sausage dogs in the same place? Looking for your little pup to make some sausage friends?
Well, you’re in luck, as the Dachshund Pup Up Cafe is back at the end of next month, and if the concept of the popular event wasn’t flipping cute enough already as it is, this time around, it’s a Christmas-themed edition, and it’s all sounding set to be the perfect festive day out in the city with your four-legged friend.
If you’re looking to get in the Christmas spirit early, then the ‘Dashing Dachshund’ pop up cafe – or we should say ‘pup up cafe’ – is returning to Manchester next weekend.
The adorable event will be filling a popular city centre venue with loads of sausage dogs to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.
A ‘dashing dachshund’ pop-up cafe is coming to Manchester this Christmas / Credit: The Pup Up Cafe
Last year, more than 250 dachshunds visited the cafe to join in on the festive fun, and this year is expected to be no different, as the event organisers have secured a large city centre space for all the dogs to roam free.
Sausage dog owners and dachshund fans can mingle with many furry little friends, take part in a range of seasonal activities, and stock up on dachshund-related goodies as early Christmas presents.
The pups themselves can enjoy unlimited dog treats and free puppuccinos, while playing until their heart’s content with other sausages.
It’s all sounding set to be the perfect festive day out with your four-legged friend / Credit: The Pup Up Cafe
With up to 50 sausage dogs allowed per session, and festive fancy dress very much encouraged, each pup will get a Christmas present on arrival at the party, and will even have the chance to win some extra prizes if they’re the best dressed.
A dedicated photographer will be getting snaps of each session and there’ll be loads of Christmas props to use in the pictures.
So, if you fancy joining The Pup Up Cafe for “a sausage mad day” when it arrives in Manchester for Christmas on Sunday 17 November, then tickets will set you back £12 if you’re a sausage dog owner, and £15 if you’re just a dachshund fan who’s keen to go along for the fun anyway.
‘Glittering winter adventure’ set to take over Tatton Park this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
The magnificent grounds of Tatton Park will be transformed into a ‘glittering winter adventure’ this festive season.
With spooky season now a thing of the past, and Christmas merely a few weeks away, families will soon be whisked away into a world of folklore, enchantment, and enthralling performances as they enter the gardens of the stunning Tatton Park in Cheshire for an immersive, festival-like experience known as Yuletide.
Organisers say the captivating event promises to be a “truly magical experience” where folklore stories come to life through storytelling and live music.
A ‘glittering winter adventure’ is set to take over Tatton Park this Christmas / Credit: Supplied
All set to transport visitors right into the heart of Yuletide tales, the exciting new event – which opens next weekend, and runs through until late December – is produced by Wild Rumpus, who you may know for other magical local events such as ‘The Lanterns’ at Chester Zoo (2018-2022) and Just So Festival.
The highlight of this new event has to be The Glittering Trail, where beautifully-illuminated puppets and performers bring legendary stories of Yuletide to life as visitors wander through the park’s popular Japanese Gardens and make the most of the stunning winter landscape.
Families can gather around an open fire to toast marshmallows, all while they watch live performances that add even more magic to the evening.
Yuletide will be running at Tatton Park on selected dates from Saturday 16 November through to Monday 23 December, and tickets are on sale now – with adult tickets costing £20, children paying just £12 each, and free personal assistant passes are also available.
Daisy Jackson -
23rd December 2022 
