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Beloved local comedian Justin Moorhouse pays touching tribute to son Barney

So unbelievably sad.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 15th December 2025

Justin Moorhouse has shared a touching tribute to his son, after announcing over the weekend that Barney had passed away.

The much-loved Tameside comedian wrote that the family are ‘besides themselves with grief’, before later sharing some of his favourite memories of his son, who was in his 20s.

Justin Moorhouse, who starred in Phoenix Nights and just recently performed at the Manchester Opera House on his ‘The Greatest Performance of My Life’ tour, described his son as ‘the sweetest, kindest soul’.

He wrote that Barney ‘just went to sleep and didn’t wake up’.

Following the heartbreaking news, Justin shared three of his fondest memories with his son, including a Flaming Lips gig in Leeds, Bleachers at the O2 Ritz in Manchester, and a trip to the US.

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He wrote: “Some of my favourite memories of Barney are music gigs. I am so lucky to have enjoyed loads of stuff he did and obviously hates loads too!

“Luckily, he didn’t think I was too awkward to hang out with at gigs… How lucky I’ve been to have him.”

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On Saturday, Justin Moorhouse shared: “It is with the heaviest of hearts I have to tell you our beautiful boy Barney has passed away. Me, his mum and step mum, his sister, cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents and his gorgeous friends are besides ourselves with grief.

“I am consoling myself as much as I can knowing that he loved us all and knew we loved him.

“He was so happy, content and excited about the future. The sweetest, kindest soul.

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“He just went to sleep and didn’t wake up.

“I can’t imagine how the next days and weeks will unfold but I know we are able to cope – love always helps.

“I am him and he is me. Sleep tight Barney. Dad x

“Appreciate your kindness and sensitivity towards the family at this time.”

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Featured image: Publicity picture

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Brits are petitioning to give ‘SIR’ Kevin Sinfield the knighthood he deserves

Danny Jones Danny Jones Sir Kevin Sinfield knighthood rule change petition

An impassioned Brit, along with nearly 100,000 others, are championing a petition to give a Greater Manchester sporting role model a knighthood.

The UK is long overdue for a SIR Kevin Sinfield, if you ask us.

Yes, now five years after his first remarkable charity challenge in the form of his inaugural ‘seven in seven’ ultra-marathon, our very own Kevin Sinfield officially completed his sixth edition of the fundraising feat earlier this month.

Having now raised more than £1.2 million for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) in memory of his friend and former late, great, Leeds Rhinos teammate, Rob Burrow – and that just this year alone.

To take into account every penny he’s helped generate for the crucial neurological cause, he’s helped welcome in excess of £11 million since he started this tributary journey nearly six whole years ago.

Sinfield has become nothing short of a national hero over the last few years, and the people think it’s about time he is recognised with the highest honour.

The Oldham-born native has already been given a trio of notable awards, including an MBE, OBE and CBE, which also means he doesn’t technically qualify to be considered for a knighthood until 2027 at the very earliest.

However, the petition’s creator, Mel Handforth, believes that an exception should be made and the “arcane” rules around the New Year’s Honours should be changed to allow Sinfield (and, indeed, others) to be celebrated more promptly.

Even the Speaker for the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, is one of many to have argued for the stipulation to be scrapped.

Despite countless calls for him to be included in the most recent list, which saw the likes of David Beckham finally made a knight, he was overlooked due to the three-year gap protocol.

He also somehow missed out on being shortlisted for this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, though you can guarantee he would have plenty of votes from the general public – especially here in the region and, indeed, over in his adopted second home of Yorkshire.

You can see who did make it onto this year’s list down below.

The shortlist for the 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards has been revealed
Who’s your ‘SPOTY’ this year?

Sinfield and Burrow were actually recognised at the Sports Personality of the Year Awards a few years ago, when both were given special commendation for their pioneering charitable work on behalf of motor neurone disease and assosciated charities.

The same happened again at the Pride of Britain a year later, and the retired rugby league player turned union coach was also handed an honorary degree by the University of Leeds in July 2024, just a month after Burrow sadly passed away.

But Sinfield has quite literally had the backing of millions to be made ‘Sir Kevin’ for well over half a decade now; we made him our ‘Manc of the Month’ back in November ’22, and our stance on him being given a knighthood is even clearer now than it was back then.

As Handforth writes in the bio of the Change.org petition: “The words ‘legend’ and ‘hero’ are often handed out, but Kevin Sinfield truly embodies them both. He’s not doing this for recognition – he’s doing it because he cares deeply about the MND community and honouring his friend Rob’s legacy.

“Let’s show Kevin that his nation stands with him. Sign this petition to urge the Honours Committee to recognise Sir Kevin Sinfield for his remarkable service to humanity.”

If you agree, you can sign the petition to make him Sir Kevin Sinfield right HERE.

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Featured Images — Gerard Barrau (Picsaweb)/Fleets (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Government officially approves Eton’s plan to ‘remove barriers’ and open new FREE college in Oldham

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Eton’s plans to open a new free college in Oldham will officially go ahead following Government approval this week.

In case you need bringing up to speed a bit, plans for three new post-16 colleges – with the other two being in Dudley and Middlesborough – that are designed to help give young people who’ve done well in their GCSEs the opportunity to achieve the A-Levels they need to go to Oxbridge and other elite universities across the world were first announced back in March 2022, and then given the green light in August 2023.

Eton has partnered with Star Academies – which is said to be the highest-performing state school trust in the country – for the new colleges.

The colleges will aim to recruit ‘dynamic young people from deprived communities’, including in Oldham, and provide them with a ‘rigorous and rounded education’ that supports their ambitions to achieve places at ‘the very best universities’.

Oldham Council has welcomed the news that the new college – set to be named Eton Star Oldham – will go ahead, after the Government confirmed the conclusion of its national review into the proposals.

The decision means that Oldham will become one of the first places in the country to offer this new education model that combines high standards with strong partnerships and expanded opportunities for local young people.

The Government has officially approved Eton’s plan to open a new free college in Oldham / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Approval means pupils from every background will soon have access to the ‘very best’ opportunities.

Cllr Arooj Shah, who is the Leader of Oldham Coucil, said this is ‘great news’ for Oldham, adding: “Eton Star Oldham will give our young people access to life-changing opportunities, no matter their background or where they start in life.

“We have been clear throughout that this must be a college shaped with our young people, our parents and our communities.

“Now that the Government has confirmed it will go ahead, we will work closely with Eton College and Star Academies to make sure this delivers for Oldham’s children and opens doors for generations to come.”

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Work will now begin on the detailed next steps – including design, delivery, and engagement with families and communities.

It’s also been confirmed that the college will be built on the current Tommyfield Market car park site in Oldham town centre.

Featured Image – Oldham Council

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