A new female-led BBC Three comedy series about growing up and navigating life in Manchester is hitting our screens this autumn.
Written by and starring Mancunian comedy writer Soph Galustian and produced by Jax Media, Peck’Eds is a female-led, coming-of-age, out-and-out comedy about the testing moments of growing up as a young, working class woman in South Manchester.
Based on lived experiences and real surroundings, it is also a celebration of what it truly means to grow up in this specific part of the country.
The show, which is directed by Bethan Seller – known for work on the Comedy Central sketch series Flaps – will follow the journey of Melissa (Galustian) and her group of best friends, Abbie (Hannah Donelon) and Naz (Leah Choudhry), to get a taste of true council estate, high school life – with everything from period troubles, to sexuality discoveries.
Peck’Eds is set to “blow the dust off these awkward memories and flood back feelings of nostalgia, womanhood and an extra-large portion of cringe.”
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Filmed at @kw_sch in Cheadle, @sophgalustian's Peck’Eds is a female-led coming-of-age, out-and-out comedy about the testing moments of growing up as a young, working class woman in South Manchester.
The show is Soph Galustian’s first television commission.
If you’re unfamiliar with Soph’s work, she a Mancunian comedy writer-performer of Armenian heritage, who making a huge impact for her self-produced sketches and spoken word pieces on social media that have amassed over 1.5 million views and praise from peers and industry names.
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“Writing Peck’Eds has been so exciting for me,” Soph said of the series ahead of its release.
“The thought of creating something based on my own experiences and being able to film it in the exact spots that I grew up in, was truly magical. My upbringing will always play a huge part in my work and I hope that it shines a light on working class, northern voices.
“I am so proud of my background and where I come from. Us council estate lot know how to have a laugh, and that’s what Peck’Eds is all about – learning to make the best of what you’ve got.”
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Peck’Eds is a celebration of what it truly means to grow up in Manchester / Credit: Instagram (@SophGalustian)
Molly Seymour – Producer and Head of Jax Media UK – adds: “Developing and producing Peck’Eds with Soph and the BBC has been a truly fantastic process [as] Jax focuses on telling stories we haven’t seen before, delivered in the funniest and most unique way [and] this is what Peck’Eds is.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be collaborating with Soph and the rest of the team on this original and brilliantly comedic show.”
Peck’Eds will air on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer this autumn.
Featured Image – BBC Three
News
First look at Albert Square as Manchester Christmas Markets return to their spiritual home
Thomas Melia
Manchester Christmas Markets are back and all our Christmas wishes have come true, as its spiritual home Albert Square joins in on the festivities for the first time in six years.
Grab a mulled wine, toast yourself a marshmallow and take a seat, because we’re going to take you on a quick tour of this brand-new offering.
You’ll be able to tick off your Christmas Markets wish list in one place, as Manchester has got all your usual favourites and so much more taking place right here outside of its iconic Town Hall.
As soon as you walk in you’re greeted by a huge sign spelling out the city’s iconic abbreviation ‘MCR’, just in case you forgot where you were, that also doubles as a nice photo opportunity.
Albert Square in Manchester city centre is getting into the Christmas spirit for the first time in six years / Credit: The Manc Group
As you walk into Albert Square there’s a mix of nostalgic wooden huts and brightly coloured modern street food vendor stations waiting to tempt you with all their tasty treats.
There’s no messing around at this Christmas hotspot because not even 10 feet after you enter, you can warm up with a glühwein and bratwurst, yes please.
Think you’re done sampling some festive feasts? Think again as there’s a marshmallow toasting station, a roasted chestnut cart and lots of huts are offering their own hot chocolate creations.
Local street food vendor Rita’s Reign has made her mark in Albert Square too, serving up her foodie feasts with a seasonal spin such as the ‘Festive Feast’ and ‘Christmas Crunch’ combo boxes.
Rita’s Reign is just one of many food vendors at Manchester Christmas Markets / Credit: The Manc Group
As you keep making your way round there’s some lovely gifts and trinkets to browse including tree decorations, ornaments and some vibrant pieces of art.
There’s plenty of ways to keep the kids (and big kids) entertained with some carnival-themed games and stalls as well as a vintage carousel, if that doesn’t get you in the Christmas spirit what else will?
Of course, there’s even more food to mention like mini dutch pancakes, toasted sandwiches, French toast, the list is endless (Much like many of our Christmas lists).
And we couldn’t finish our visit without acknowledging the elephant in the room, also known as The Manchester Big Wheel, which is the perfect people-watching spot, but maybe hop on this ride before you try all the tasty treats mentioned above.
Drivers warned of ‘bad habit’ that could land them with £1,000 fines this winter
Emily Sergeant
Drivers are being warned of a ‘bad habit’ on the roads that could seem them hit with hefty fines as winter rolls around.
Once the temperatures drop, and the days get shorter and darker, fog tends to become a more common weather occurrence around this time of year – but an eye-opening new survey has found that most drivers don’t really how to use their fog lights correctly.
According to guidance from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), fog lights should only be used on British roads when visibility drops below 100 metres, yet the new research by eBay has found that 60% of drivers use their fog lights at the wrong times, and what’s more is that one in 10 say they switch on their fog lights when visibility is less than 300 metres.
48% of drivers who took part in the research admitted that they activate full-beam headlights when it’s dark, regardless of oncoming traffic and other road users.
Drivers are being warned of a ‘bad habit’ that could land them with £1,000 fines this winter / Credit: Nabeel Syed (via Unsplash)
The RAC says these stats reveal a ‘worrying trend’ among motorists, and have warned that these habits could actually means drivers are risking fines of up to £1,000 and three penalty points on their licence.
If the incorrect usage of fog lights wasn’t bad enough as it is, the new research also found that many Brits say they do not stay on-top of regular car maintenance when it comes to car fog lights, either – with just 15% saying they check them every month, and shockingly, 24% stating they’ve never checked them before.
Due to the ongoing issue of headlight glare, in whatever form that may be, The RAC has found that as many as one in four drivers (25%) who find headlights ‘too bright’ are actually driving less as a result.
“Unfortunately for a lot of drivers, the annual onset of darker evenings coincides with another unwelcome arrival – that of overly-bright headlights that they believe make driving more difficult due to dazzle and discomfort,” explained Rod Dennis, who is the Senior Policy Officer at the RAC.
“While most of us have no choice other than to adapt to driving at night more often as the clocks go back, the fact headlight glare is the leading cause of nervousness underlines it’s a problem that needs tackling.
“At the same time, it’s important to remember that brighter headlights can give drivers a better view of the road ahead, so there’s a balance to be struck.”
Emily Sergeant -
9th September 2021 
