For those who missed it, last week a bakery in Yorkshire went viral after its owner clapped back at a request to provide more than 100 cakes for free to a Mancunian celebrity.
Yorkshire baker Rebecca Severs received the request from a PR company, who said they were working for a ‘well-known’ local celebrity who was about to celebrate their 40th birthday.
The publicist said that payment ‘would be made in the form of promotion on their socials with over 700k followers, as well as OK Magazine’, adding: ‘they will be crediting all the suppliers on this platform.’
The message continued: “The party has a guest lists full of celebrities, and industry people from tv / film and music, so loads of work would come from it.
“NVRLAND would also use you for our future events and parties.”
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However, Rebecca, who has been running her Three Little Birds Bakery in Keighley for seven years, turned the offer down.
She has since been praised for her snappy reply, which told the publicist they ‘do have availability for your date’, before adding: “I’m so sorry to hear that your client has fallen on such hard times they can’t afford to pay small businesses for their products.”
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Image: Catherine Tyldesley
Image: Three Little Birds Bakery
That celebrity was later revealed to be none other than ex-Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley, who then took to her own personal Instagram to defend her publicist’s request – saying: “I mean, I hope the cake lady got the exposure she was craving.”
The bakery has since revealed that it has been inundated with ‘vile’ abuse after going viral, sharing messages in which a person called the owner an ‘entitled millennial’ and told her she ‘deserve[s] to go bankrupt.’
Taking to Facebook to share another update to the ongoing drama, first branded cake gate by Tyldesley in an exasperated video filmed from her car, the bakery joked: “Sounds like someone might need some cake. Even if it is Keighley cake.”
They then shared a series of screen shots of some of the abusive messages the business had received, in which one person tells them they are really ‘thick AF’ before asking: “You think you can go public about a legitimate business offer that you don’t like the sound of, and now play victim?”
The message thread continued with a series of laughing crying faces, before the person added: “You deserve to go bankrupt. Entitled millennial. You’ll learn the hard way.”
Further screenshots showed messages in which the baker was told they were ‘Simple MFs’ who are “so out of your depth it’s f*cking hilarious.”
The individual also shared a link to a BBC article covering the story entitled ‘Ex-Coronation Street star and baker in social media cake row” within the abusive message thread.
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Still, despite the keyboard warrior aggression coming from one loyal Coronation Street fan for the most part it appears that people are once again on the side of Three Little Birds bakery, with fans quick to comment their support on a post that has been liked over 1,500 times.
One person commented: “I don’t know what to say … er well I hope Angry Man gets the attention he’s craving! Oh hang on, that sounds familiar. I love Keighley cake especially yours.”
Another fan said: “Why do people think it’s appropriate to speak to others like this behind a screen? Your response was perfect. You have been dignified and professional. Everyone in keighley supports you and your beautiful business and family.”
A third added: “You deserve all that follows” maybe they meant all your new followers you definitely deserve them.”
Featured image – Three Little Birds Bakery
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Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live – tickets, times and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
American girl group Pussycat Dolls have reunited for a UK tour, stopping off at Co-op Live in Manchester with their powerhouse pop anthems.
Releasing their first LP in 2005, this pop girl group have a variety of radio hits to their name like ‘Don’t Cha’, ‘When I Grow Up’ and ‘Buttons’.
Over the years, the Pussycat Dolls lineup has gone through significant changes with this latest reunion comprised of Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberley Wyatt and Ashley Roberts.
The trio even released some brand-new material to coincide with the announcement of their UK and EU tour titled ‘Club Song’.
Now the girls are about to put their Doll Domination to the test as they bring their PCD Forever Tour in arenas across the nation.
Gig guide – Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live, Manchester
Doors for Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live open from 6pm with a start time listed of 7pm with Lil’ Kim and rising girl group Deja Vu kicking things off.
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning you can get home and loosen your ‘Buttons’, hopefully before the clock strikes twelve.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live.
Getting there by car and parking
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
RSPCA appeals after French bulldog found dead in Oldham canal
Daisy Jackson
The RSPCA has launched an appeal for information after finding a French Bulldog dead in a canal in Oldham.
The dog was discovered by a dog walker earlier this week, floating in the middle of a canal in Chadderton.
The French Bulldog was wearing a pink-red lead and matching collar, which were wrapped around his head and front leg.
He did not have a microchip, but the charity is hoping his lead might help him to be identified.
The dog was found at around 12.20pm on Monday 5 October on a section of the canal near Middleton Road.
The harness and lead the French bulldog was found wearing in the canal. Credit: RSPCA
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Beth Fazackerley said: “This was an incredibly upsetting incident for the member of the public who made this distressing discovery, and it is heartbreaking that this poor dog was found in such circumstances.
“We are keen to establish what happened, and would urge anyone who was in the area around Middleton Road at midday, on October 5, and may have information about what happened, to get in touch.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018, quoting incident number 01919098.
Georgina Pellant -
7th August 2023 
you definitely deserve them.” 
