News

Oasis are BACK – Gallagher brothers announce huge reunion shows including in Manchester

"This is it, this is happening”

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 27th August 2024

An Oasis reunion is really, definitely, actually happening, with the Gallagher brothers announcing huge shows next summer – including several nights at home in Manchester.

The once-in-a-lifetime music news arrived this morning after YEARS of speculation.

Oasis are one of the biggest guitar bands of all time and arguably the most famous music group to come out of Manchester.

Oasis split up way back in 2009 following a well-documented feud between Burnage-born brothers Liam and Noel, who both went on to launch successful solo careers.

The announcement of an Oasis reunion has been teased all over the place since the weekend, from flashing up on stage at Blossoms’ Wythenshawe Park gig to being shared on both Gallagher brothers’ Twitter accounts.

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As 2024 marks 30 years since the release of their debut album Definitely Maybe, the rumour mill has never turned faster than it has this year.

This morning, Oasis have finally announced that the band are back together, 15 years after calling it a day.

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Oasis will be playing FOUR massive Manchester shows at Heaton Park on 11, 12, 19 and 20 July 2025.

The group have also announced gigs in Cardiff, at London’s Wembley Stadium, at Murrayfield in Edinburgh, and at Croke Park in Dublin.

They announced the news simply by saying: “This is it, this is happening”.

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Oasis commented: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised.”

Tickets will go on sale at 9am on Saturday 31 August through See Tickets.

Oasis 2025 tour dates in full

  • Cardiff Principality Stadium – 4th/5th July
  • Manchester Heaton Park – 11th/12th/19th/20th July
  • London Wembley Stadium – 25th/26th July & 2nd/3rd August
  • Edinburgh Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium – 8th/9th August
  • Dublin Croke Park – 16th/17th August

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Featured image: Kevin Cummins

News

Rio Ferdinand is stepping away from TNT Sports after more than a decade

Danny Jones Danny Jones Rio Ferdinand leaving TNT Sports

Manchester United legend and ex-England international Rio Ferdinand has announced he will be stepping away from TNT Sports, leaving more than a decade with the broadcaster.

Ferdinand has spent the best part of the last 10 years serving as a leading pundit and analyst, as well as hosting his own ‘Rio Meets’ online series – the interview format of which has been replicated on his YouTube channel.

However, after having been one of their main anchors both under the BT Sport and even more so since the inception of the rebranded TNT Sports Football umbrella, the 46-year-old has confirmed he has now quit their regular coverage following the Champions League final this weekend.

In a lengthy statement on social media, the ex-Man United defender, who also played for Leeds, West Ham, Bournemouth and QPR, described it as a “difficult decision.”

Taking time to thank the network for their “tremendous support” over the years, especially those “behind the scenes, whose work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success.”

Noting that TNT themselves have acquired TV rights for many more live sports in recent times, he assures he will remain an interested viewer for the “exciting future that lies ahead.”

The talented centre-back retired in May 2015 after more than 500 appearances and 81 national team caps, making an almost immediate switch into punditry and remaining a household name.

Rio has also remained a popular figure at Old Trafford and, indeed, across various parts of Manchester since leaving United in 2014.

For instance, his self-titled Foundation has carried out some truly transformational local outreach across various boroughs, as it has back in his home city of London.

Rio Ferdinand is helping change young lives with community programmes in Oldham and Salford

Responding to the news, TNT Sports said nothing more than “Thanks for everything, Rio”; meanwhile, fellow former Red, Danny Simpson (who retired last year and also works as a pundit/presenter for MUTV) added: “You’re going to be missed, bro. Every time you’re on, you give us all the mad insight.”

However, he has promised he will remain in the media industry, continuing to work under the Rio Ferdinand Presents digital brand and pursuing “other business interests”.

With his ‘Rio Reacts’ and ‘Vibe with FIVE’ series regularly raking in millions of views, he might not be on the box during European nights but you’ll still be seeing plenty of him.

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Featured Images — Av Web Summit/James Adams (via Flickr)/TNT Sports (screenshot via YouTube)

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Rare bat-eared foxes have arrived at Chester Zoo for the first time in more than 30 years

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Bat-eared fox at Chester Zoo

It’s time to say a big hello, as rare bat-eared foxes have now arrived at Chester Zoo.

The two sisters, named Maasai and Malindi, have been welcomed by conservationists after travelling more than 500 miles from a zoo in Paris, and they are the first mammals of their kind to come to Chester Zoo in more than 30 years.

First images show the pair exploring their home in the zoo’s new Heart of Africa habitat – which officially opened to the public back in March, and is the largest zoo development ever undertaken in the UK, spanning more than 22.5 acres in size.

The adorable – but rather unique-looking – bat-eared fox is named after its distinctive oversized ears and is native to the open savannahs and arid grasslands of eastern and southern Africa.

They live for around 13 years on average, and their characteristically large ears help regulate their body temperature and enhance their incredible hearing, allowing them to prey like detect insects moving underground.

The species faces increasing threats in the wild, largely due to the loss of their habitat caused by agriculture, human encroachment, and hunting.

This is why Chester Zoo has long been at the forefront of protecting African wildlife.

Its teams’ have been supporting everything from the safe translocation of northern giraffes to protected national parks in Uganda, to developing cutting-edge AI trail cameras to protect giant pangolins from illegal trafficking in recent years.

Bat-eared fox at Chester Zoo
Bat-eared fox at Chester Zoo
Bat-eared foxes have arrived at Chester Zoo for the first time in 30 years / Credit: Chester Zoo

“It’s incredibly exciting to welcome bat-eared foxes back to Chester Zoo after a 30-year hiatus,” commented David White, who is the Twilight Team Manager at Chester Zoo.

“Both Maasai and Malindi are settling in well so far, spending much of their time exploring their expansive home and getting to know their new housemates – a family of twelve Cape porcupines. These two species would often come across one another in the wild, so we’ve recreated this right here at Chester.

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“In time, we hope to introduce one of the two sisters to a male fox, with the hope that we can contribute to the European conservation breeding programme, helping to ensure there’s a healthy, genetically diverse back-up population in human care.

Featured Image – Chester Zoo

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