Manchester

Taxi drivers in Greater Manchester given new dress code and behaviour rules

Price-setting will also be made uniform across the city region.

The Manc The Manc - 30th September 2021

Taxi drivers in Greater Manchester are to be given a dress code and a new set of rules for their cabs which includes an eating ban and no vaping.

According to the BBC, council chiefs in all 10 boroughs have signed up to minimum standards for private hire and hackney carriage drivers in the licensing process.

There will be a minimum English proficiency test for all drivers including enhanced criminal record and medical checks.

Price-setting will also be made uniform across the city region.

Mantax | Manchester's Largest Fleet Of Black Cabs
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The standards agreement also means drivers are bound to take the shortest routes possible and must keep their vehicles clean and comfortable for passengers, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

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Details of the scheme presented to Trafford Council before being approved stated that the “collaborative approach” would help achieve “a strong, professional and healthy” taxi and private hire sector to provide “safe and high quality services” across Greater Manchester.

The standards, which also ask drivers to be punctual and park considerately, are based on feedback from a consultation involving drivers, customers and unions in June.

There are an estimated 2,000 hackney vehicles, 11,500 private hire vehicles and 18,600 drivers in the region.

Manchester

Manchester woman now cancer free after groundbreaking UK-first transplant

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A young woman from Manchester who was told she only had a short time to live is now cancer free after a UK-first transplant.

Bianca Perea, a 32-year-old trainee lawyer who lives in Wigan, was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer – which is the most advanced kind – back in November 2021 when she was just 29, after only feeling a bit constipated and bloated, but otherwise having no other major symptoms.

After she was referred to her local hospital to have emergency bloods and a stool sample taken, followed by a colonoscopy and a biopsy, these investigations sadly revealed that she had bowel cancer, which had spread to all eight segments of her liver.

According to Cancer Research, only one in 10 people with advanced bowel cancer will survive for five years or more after their diagnosis.

But after becoming a patient at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, a specialist cancer centre in Manchester, Bianca is now miraculously cancer free thanks to becoming the first person in the UK to have a liver transplant for advanced bowel cancer, along with other previous treatments included targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery.

Bianca was referred to The Christie’s local treatment centre in Wigan in early December 2021 where she had 37 rounds of a targeted drug called panitumumab, and chemotherapy over two and a half years.

According to The Christie, she had an “excellent response” to the treatment, with the tumour shrinking enough so that she could have an operation to remove the part of the bowel where it was.

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A Manchester woman is now cancer free after a groundbreaking UK-first transplant / Credit: The Christie NHS

However scans showed she still had tumours in her liver which couldn’t be operated on, and so she was then referred to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust as she was found to be a suitable candidate for a transplant.

Before being added to the transplant list, Bianca had to be doing well on treatment for two years, and she hit this milestone in December 2023.

She was subsequently added to the list in February 2024, and had her operation this past summer.

Despite all the odds, the surgery was successful, meaning she is now cancer free and the teams at Leeds and The Christie are “hopeful” that the cancer won’t return too.

“Within four weeks of going under the knife, I was able to drive and walk the family dogs, it was really quite incredible,” Bianca said.

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“To go from being told I’d only have a short time to live to now being cancer free is the greatest gift. I’ve been given a second chance at life and I’m going to grab it with both hands. I am so grateful to the family who agreed to donate their loved one’s liver.”

Featured Image – The Christie NHS

Manchester

Matilda The Musical announces open auditions in Manchester

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia Matilda The Musical announces open auditions in Manchester

Much-loved theatre show Matilda the Musical is making its return to Manchester this Spring, and is now in search of some troublesome kids to star on the stage.

Set to hit the stage in spring 2026, the hit musical based off the Roald Dahl novel of the same name has now announced open auditions for the roles of Matilda and her classmates.

This might just be the only classroom your kids will ever beg to go to…

Auditions will be held in Manchester in February and March this year, with budding young stars asked to perform a short poem, speech or monologue, to sing something, and will be taught a dance from the show.

Matilda the Musical focuses on the life of an independent young girl who uses her magical powers to fix or hinder situations where she’s misunderstood by adults, all with a lively soundtrack of hit songs written by Tim Minchin.

As well as acting, dancing and singing abilities, age is a big factor too, and as much as I’d love to sit on stage eating a giant chocolate cake, unfortunately it’s not my time to shine.

Performers must be aged between nine and 13 on 1 July 2025 with height restrictions of 4’10” for boys and 4’6″ for girls. Those auditioning for the lead role of Matilda must be under 4’3″ and aged between nine and 12 on 1 July 2025.

Stomping their way through education. Credit: Manuel Harlan

These little stars have a few more rules to follow before they get to be ‘a little bit naughty’ as another requirement for boys is their voices must be unbroken.

All children who are interested in being part of the show, whatever the role, need to make sure they’re available for the full rehearsal and performance period with anyone cast needing to live within an hour of Manchester city centre.

There are lots of factors to consider and for anyone who needs some reassurance or who may be applying to a live show for the first time, there’s a handy video on the audition link that will prepare candidates.

Matilda the Musical rehearsals will take place from July to August this year ahead of its return to the Palace Theatre Manchester from 26 March to 25 April 2026.

The cast of Matilda soaring and singing. Credit: Manuel Harlan

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Any children aged between 9 and 13 on 1 July 2025 can apply for the open auditions HERE.

‘Matilda The Musical’ is on its way to Manchester for 2026 and although not everyone is eligible to apply for the casting call, everyone can see the show with tickets already on sale HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image: Manuel Harlan

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