Dogs Trust Manchester has made a heartfelt special appeal to find a “forever home” for its longest-term resident as lockdown begins to lift in the UK.
Meet Charlie.
The five-year-old Labrador Collie Cross – nicknamed “cheeky Charlie” – has now been a resident at the Denton-based rehoming centre for over 500 days after being taken into care in October 2019, and since then, has seen more than 1,000 of his canine companions head off to their forever homes.
He has already been adopted himself on two other occasions, but sadly though, it was not meant to be for the lively youngster.
The team are now hoping it’ll be third time lucky for the lively youngster.
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Although the centre is still currently closed to the public, as lockdown begins to ease even further across the region and throughout the country, the staff at Dogs Trust Manchester are hoping they will soon be waving a fond farewell to Charlie.
“Charlie is an adorable but anxious boy, so we are looking for a very patient and loving home for him,” said Dawn Bishop, Manager at Dogs Trust Manchester.
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“He is truly part of the Dogs Trust family – but what we really want is for him to have a home and family of his own”.
🐶Dogs Trust Manchester’s longest term resident hopes to find love as lockdown lifts!
She continued: “Charlie loves fetching a tennis ball and he is really clever, so picks up new things quickly in return for a tasty treat. He thoroughly enjoys travelling in the car so will be an ideal companion for owners who like to get away from it all to the quiet of the countryside for lovely long walks.
“He will take time to build a bond with new owners but once you have that trust he is very affectionate and loves to cuddle up, which is adorable.
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“Charlie has come on in leaps and bounds since coming to us and we cannot wait to see what the future holds for him in his forever home.
“He truly is one of a kind and has bags of potential.
“He will make a loving and rewarding pet for owners who are willing to take the time to work with him, and we will be by their side every step of the way”.
Charlie will need a home in a quiet, rural area with a predictable routine and few visitors, but for those apprehensive about adoption, Dogs Trust Manchester assured that it will “always be here to help if Charlie or his family need support” as it provides lifelong behavioural support for adopted dogs over the phone or in 1-2-1 sessions to help make sure they can live their best life together with their family.
Gladiators Live Tour to make ‘triumphant’ return to Manchester on UK arena tour
Emily Sergeant
The Gladiators Live Tour will make a triumphant return in 2026.
Following its explosive debut in 2025 and overwhelming fan demand, the Gladiators Live Tour is set to head out on a UK tour later this year, bringing the iconic phenomenon back to arenas nationwide for an electrifying new run of shows, and making a stop off in Manchester, of course.
Audiences will, once again, have the chance to experience the action-packed spectacle featuring the stars of the hit BBC reboot series on an epic scale.
The 2025 live tour thrilled audiences nationwide, selling over 200,000 tickets and proving the arena spectacular is ‘bigger, bolder, and more electrifying’ than ever, and that energy is only set to continue this year when the show returns to Manchester’s popular AO Arena.
GLADIATORS, READY!
Following its epic debut in 2025 the triumphant live show brings the energy to Manchester on 14 & 15 Nov!
This adrenaline-fuelled event sees the legendary Gladiators storm back into the arena to face fearless contenders in a heart-pounding live adaptation of the smash-hit television phenomenon.
Expect iconic fan-favourite events, breathtaking stunts, epic head-to-head battles and the unforgettable Eliminator finale.
Featuring stars from the hit BBC series, audiences are being told to expect a truly immersive, high-octane experience, as arenas are transformed into modern gladiatorial battlegrounds complete with purpose-built sets, spectacular lighting, and cinematic staging.
The Gladiators Live Tour 2026 kicks off in Aberdeen on 10 October, before heading to other major cities like Glasgow, London, and Birmingham, as well as northern locations like Leeds and Newcastle, and of course, Manchester’s AO Arena for two nights on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November.
Tickets officially go on sale this Friday 27 March, with two shows per day available, and you can grab them when they go live here.
Featured Image – Supplied
Manchester
An official and completely FREE Manchester Marathon fan zone is returning for 2026
Danny Jones
Yes, last year’s newest and official Manchester Marathon fan zone is returning for 2026, promising more positive pre- and post-race vibes than the first time around.
Here’s hoping for some lovely sunshine to go along with the atmosphere on 19 April.
Set to host the city centre’s runners and spectators for just the second time, Circle Square’s Symphony Park will be home to the 2026 Manc Marathon fan park, complete with independent pop-ups, big screens to watch all the action on, plus plenty more.
Best of all, it’s completely free to enter all day long for participants and those of you cheering your loved ones along, as well as being an ideal all-ages spot for families to relax and enjoy.
Located just moments from the finish line, just outside the University of Manchester along Oxford Road Corridor, you simply follow it down towards the tall Vita Group and Bruntwood SciTech buildings.
Circle Square itself hosts many events and activities all throughout the year, and they couldn’t resist getting back in on the raceday party once again, as more legends are set to take part than ever.
For context, 2025 saw more than 35,000 sign-ups, but this April is expected to see a whopping sold-out crowd exceeding 42,000 – a record number for the annual event.
With that in mind, finding a place to fit all of them and the countless fans who come along to cheer them on from the sidelines is paramount, so it’s a good job the Symphony Park x MCR Marathon fan zone will be open from 9am on the day.
Here are some more scenes from the last edition:
Credit: Jody Hartley (supplied)
Although more are set to be revealed nearer the time, visitors can expect “a lively schedule of entertainment, food and drink pop-ups, family-friendly activities and special offers from our community of independent businesses and brands.”
Set to close around 5pm as the hordes of runners will doubt either head home for a long bath, leg rub or straight to the pub for their victory pints, we can assure you lots of time will be spent on the square.
Emily Sergeant -
19th April 2021 
