A screening of the BBC’s breathtaking Planet Earth II series is coming to Manchester AO Arena on 25 March, accompanied by live music performed by an 80 piece philharmonic orchestra.
Viewers will be treated to spectacular scenes from the Bafta and Emmy-award winning series, alongside a live soundtrack scored by Oscar winner Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea and Jasha Klebe.
As part of the event, a philharmonic orchestra will appear on stage alongside science and natural history TV presenter Liz Bonnin.
There are may be as few as 3500 snow leopards left in the wild. They are famously illusive and difficult to film and have become increasingly threatened by climate change and human disturbance.
Liz will share behind-the-scenes insights from Mike Gunton, the BBC television series’ executive producer, whilst magnificent scenes of natural life are projected onto a giant, state-of-the-art screen for all to see.
The award-winning series, narrated by national treasure David Attenborough, takes viewers from the frozen tundra in the north to the dry forests of the equator – with Attenborough giving his own unique and compelling perspective on the planet throughout.
Now, fans can experience it live in Manchester at the AO Arena as part of this special live tour – this time with narration from Liz Bonnin.
Showing the wonders of the natural world in breathtaking detail, its 2006 predecessor Planet Earth I was one of the very first nature documentaries to be filmed in.
Over a decade later, Planet Earth II zoomed in even more on wild and inaccessible landscapes, elusive animal behaviours and the city-dwelling habits of those creatures that have adapted to urban life – making history as the first-ever BBC documentary to be filmed in ultra-high definition.
Sloths are adept swimmers, as this pygmy three-toed sloth demonstrates. Found only on the tiny island of Escudo de Veraguas, Panama, the pygmy sloth is the smallest of all sloth species and is considered endangered.
Speaking on the upcoming show, wildlife expert Liz Bonnin said: “I’m delighted to be finally on the road with this as it’s been a long time coming. We’ve had to postpone it three times now.
“I’ve been just so excited to do it from the moment I was asked, through the initial rehearsals and shaping the script, it’s been really special for me.
“Especially since the pandemic, to have such a multi-sensory experience that really celebrates not just nature, but the arts and the best aspects of humanity, where we can recognise the beauty of the planet around is something I’m really delighted and grateful to be involved with.”
This alpha male Rhesus macaque rules this part of town. Here in Jaipur, India, he not only takes the food he wants from the street markets but he, and his troop, have also taken over a house and been squatting it for the last 5 years!
Conductor Matthew Freeman added: “Seeing the footage in these huge arenas on an enormous LED screen, with all that colour and those underwater worlds so closely photographed, accompanied by a 64-piece orchestra and a 16-voice choir through a huge, state-of-the-art PA system, it really is a phenomenal and powerful experience.
“We have extraordinary visuals, heightened with music that takes the viewer to another level. It’s really quite emotional.”
To find out more and book tickets, visit the website here.
Feature image – Supplied
City Centre
Manchester Fashion Week is returning for 2025 this autumn after a decade-long hiatus
Emily Sergeant
It’s been a long time coming… but this autumn, Manchester Fashion Week is back.
Returning with a ‘bold blueprint’ for the future of fashion after what has been a decade-long absence, it has been announced this week that Manchester Fashion Week will be back this September at what is a pivotal moment for the city’s £12 billion fashion industry.
Due to the unprecedented challenges the industry faces around sustainability, technology, and cultural relevance, Manchester Fashion Week 2025 will be rooted in the textile heritage of the city but rebooted by technological advancements and innovation to make fashion future-proof.
Running from 9-11 September, and taking over the vibrant St. John’s area of the city, with its official hub set in the newly-refurbished Campfield – one of Manchester’s most exciting new cultural venues – organisers say the event will unite emerging designers and established brands on a platform that bridges Manchester‘s industrial heritage with cutting-edge innovation.
Manchester Fashion Week is returning for 2025 after a decade-long hiatus / Credit: Yogendra Singh (via Unsplash)
The event is aiming to trace a path from historic Mancunian mills to contemporary catwalks, honouring textile traditions along the way, all while accelerating toward fashion’s future.
Manchester Fashion Week’s 2025 return is seen to be yet another factor in the city fast becoming the culture capital of Britain, and comes not long after it was announced that The BRIT Awards would be hosted here next year – which is the first time outside of London in its 48-year history.
The three-day event will serve as a platform for ‘honest dialogue, visionary thinking, and radical collaboration’ by activating spaces across the city and inviting brands, creators, and communities to participate.
“Manchester has always led,” said Gemma Gratton, who is the Executive Producer of Manchester Fashion Week, ahead of the event’s return this autumn. “In music, in manufacturing, in movements. And now, it’s time to lead again by future-proofing fashion from the ground up.
“Manchester Fashion Week is not just a celebration of style, but a cultural catalyst for people, purpose, and progress.
“This isn’t just Manchester’s moment. It’s Manchester fashion’s reset.”
Manchester Fashion Week returns for 2025 from 9-11 September, and you can find out more information and event updates online here.
Featured Image – Raden Prasetya (via Unsplash)
City Centre
You can win tickets to sold-out Lewis Capaldi gigs at Greggs
Thomas Melia
Nationwide bakery chain Greggs has partnered with singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi for a chance to win tickets for his sold-out UK tour.
Now, if there’s one thing we love more than sausage rolls, it’s watching Glasgow solo star Lewis Capaldi perform his smash hit singles to crowds of roaring fans –and Glastonbury proved that.
The ‘Hold Me While You Wait’ singer recently announced his latest UK tour, and to no one’s surprise, it sold out within minutes, with extra dates added in each city.
Leave it to Greggs, one of the UK’s favourite savoury pick-me-up companies, and its new campaign with Capaldi, which offers lucky fans the chance to win tickets to one of these sold-out UK tour dates – How ‘Grace'(ful).
This new campaign, titled ‘Someone you look like?’ – inspired by the chart-topping anthem ‘Someone You Loved’ – encourages fans of the Scottish Beyoncé to dress up in an outrageous outfit inspired by one of Lewis’ many stylish looks.
Greggs and Lewis Capaldi are offering fans the chance to win tickets to his sellout tour across five of the bakery chain’s sites, including London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Glasgow and right here in Manchester.
The bond between Greggs and Capaldi isn’t new either, as the ‘Bruises’ penman worked a shift for the savoury suppliers back in 2019, having a blue plaque erected at this very Middlesbrough site professing his love for a tuna crunch butty.
This isn’t the only competition that UK bakery chain Greggs is currently running; it’s also teamed up with package holiday brand Jet2 to give away a holiday at the same price as their iconic sausage rolls.
Whilst you’re at it…
Greggs and Lewis Capaldi have 25 pairs of tickets to win per restaurant location and the nearest bakery spot running this promotion is theSalford site located at Media City, M50 2HF on Tuesday, 22 July 2025. All information can be found HERE.
Georgina Pellant -
15th March 2022 
