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
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Manchester announces ‘poignant’ plans to mark Remembrance Sunday with free city centre service
Emily Sergeant
Manchester is set to honour the ‘service and sacrifice’ of members of the armed forces community during this year’s annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations.
With Remembrance Day only a couple weeks away now, just as it does each year, Manchester City Council has now revealed how the city will mark this important occasion, and has confirmed all the details of the annual Remembrance Sunday Parade.
Proceedings will start on John Dalton Street at 10:30am, and run right through until midday – with the service itself being held at 11am.
Veterans, military personnel and cadets, all led by Greater Manchester Police‘s Band, will march from John Dalton Street to the Cenotaph St. Peter’s Square.
This will be followed by a short return march to Mount Street across St Peter’s Square.
The service will begin at the Cenotaph at 10:58am, and a two-minute silence will be observed at 11am in tribute to those who have lost their lives in conflict. The start and conclusion of the silence will be marked by the firing of a maroon.
/ Credit: Manchester City Council
Following the service, veterans, military personnel and cadets will take part in a short return march across St Peter’s Square to Mount Street.
As the Council marks another year of its partnership with the Royal British Legion, further the Remembrance Sunday events will take place across the city following the service – including arts and crafts sessions, memorial services, and performances.
“Remembrance Sunday is one of the most important occasions in Manchester’s civic calendar,” declared Councillor Shaukat Ali, who it the Lord Mayor of Manchester.
“It is a time for us to come together as a city to remember and honour the courage, sacrifice and service of those from our diverse communities who have given so much in times of conflict. I want to encourage residents, families and visitors to join us at the Cenotaph as we pay our respects and ensure that the contribution of past and present generations is never forgotten.”
Manchester’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations will take place on Sunday 8 November from 10:30am onwards.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
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Police issue statement following several stabbings in and around Manchester Arndale this month
Emily Sergeant
The police have issued an update following several stabbings, primarily involving teenagers, in and around Manchester Arndale this month.
It comes after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers responded to reports of a stabbing on Withy Grove at around 7pm on Tuesday evening (27 October), and once they attended the scene, the found a 13-year-old boy who’d sustained injuries consistent with knife wounds, and he was subsequently rushed hospital where he’s said to remain in a ‘stable condition’.
Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident, and GMP confirmed there will be an ‘increased police presence’ in the area as the investigation continues.
Section 60 and Section 60AA ‘stop and search’ warrants have been authorised following this most recent incident, and remain in place.
It has also been confirmed that four teenagers have been arrested in connection.
Three boys – aged 14, 15 and 16 – have been arrested on suspicion of affray and remain in custody for questioning, while another boy, aged 13, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article, GMP confirmed.
Providing an update following the several stabbings this month, Superintendent Simon Nasim, from GMP’s City of Manchester team, said: “Firstly my thoughts are with the young boy who was injured and I wish him a quick recovery.
“We are aware of the other incidents in the city centre of this nature, but at this stage they are not thought to be linked. Our communities should not be in fear of harm, and our priority is taking effective action with partners against those involved in anti-social behaviour and criminality.
“Knife crime is understandably a concern amongst our communities, and we have dedicated teams who will be deployed across the city centre to hotspot areas to strengthen our response to violent crime, and provide a reassuring message to our public.
“But we cannot tackle it alone. We rely on the cooperation of the public, to report anything that looks suspicious or any incidents to us, and we will be sure to act on it.
“Our investigation into [Tuesday’s] incident is ongoing, I urge anyone with information to please come forward.”
Can you help? Anyone with information, including witnesses or those with CCTV or mobile phone footage, are asked to contact police on 0161 856 1495, or via the LiveChat function on the GMP website, quoting log 3058 of 28/10/26.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Emily Sergeant -
9th September 2021 
