Parklife has announced it has paused one of the most hotly-tipped sets of the weekend ‘upon advice of the safety team’.
Josh Baker’s set on the brand-new Matinee stage has been attracting huge crowds from the late afternoon.
The Manchester-born DJ is a rising star in the tech and house scene and was always going to be a highlight of the festival’s line-up this year.
But his pull has maybe been a bit greater than expected, with massive crowds swarming around the Matinee stage on Sunday afternoon.
It’s been so busy that Parklife has made the decision to pause his show altogether while crowds disperse.
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The warning sent on the Parklife appHow The Matinee stage looked on Saturday. Credit: The Manc Group
Security have been managing the crowds at the stage with a queue system, but when the heavens opened (and it REALLY rained at about 7pm) the area surrounding the Matinee stage became even busier.
Parklife has issued a statement on its app that reads: “Upon advice of the PL safety team, the show on the Matinee stage has been paused. We will update ASAP.”
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Parklife has described Josh Baker as ‘a versatile DJ and producer, embodying the creative essence of the new wave of electronic artists’.
Young people urged to book ‘lifesaving’ meningitis jabs this summer before heading to university
Emily Sergeant
The NHS is urging young people who are heading to university or residential colleges this September to book their ‘lifesaving’ meningitis jabs.
Following the meningococcal B disease (MenB) outbreak in Kent earlier this year – which was the fastest growing and largest ever seen in the UK – the Government announced last month that hundreds of thousands of young people across England will get protection against MenB through a one-off vaccination programme.
Meningococcal disease is life-threatening and can result in life-changing disabilities such as amputations, hearing loss, and brain damage, and in around 10% of cases, it is fatal.
The viruses and bacteria that cause meningitis can be spread through close contact with a person who has them – for example through kissing, or sharing drinks or vapes, or having close contact with the person for long periods of time.
Appointments to get the jab can now be booked at high street pharmacies across England – with the first time slots available from next Monday (20 July).
We're launching a one-off MenB vaccination programme ahead of the next academic year to protect young people from a life-threatening disease.
This will help reduce the risk of serious illness and larger outbreaks. Two doses are needed for full protection.
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) June 12, 2026
In total, the NHS predicts that around a million young people are eligible for the vaccine, and those who are eligible are:
People born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008
People born on or after 21 July 2001 and starting university for the first time this autumn
People born on or after 21 July 2001 who are starting in some residential further education colleges for the first time this autumn.
17 and 18-year-olds can already book via the NHS National Booking Service for appointments at community pharmacies, while other eligible people need to contact a participating pharmacy to book an appointment.
Two doses of the vaccine are needed for protection at least 28 days apart, so booking now gives eligible young people enough time to have both doses before they pack their bags for university or college, and before meningitis cases typically begin to rise in the autumn.
“The risk of MenB rises sharply for young people starting university, where mixing closely with so many new people increases exposure to the bacteria,” explained Dr Shamez Ladhani, who is a Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA.
“Getting both doses of the vaccine over the summer will provide robust protection against most Meningococcal strains, offering vital peace of mind for students and families as they take this next big step.
Featured Image – NappyStudio (via Unsplash)
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Salford-born Marvel star Benedict Wong gives inspiring speech after receiving honorary degree
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester’s very own Marvel movie star Benedict Wong gave an inspiring speech to the minds of the future as he accepted an honorary degree from the University of Salford as graduation season ramps up.
The Salfordian ‘Sorcerer Supreme’ from Doctor Strange and Avengers started out in acting during the 1990s, and has gone on to become a hugely recognisable face across multiple generations.
From those who remember him for that hilarious cameo in The IT Crowd and playing Kublai Khan in Netflix’s Marco Polo, or those who know him only as ‘Wong’ (where’d they come up with one?) in the MCU or shining in the mind-bending 3 Body Problem, he’s gone on to have quite the career in the arts.
That being said, the Eccles-born Manchester United fan has never forgotten where he came from, and was recently awarded an honorary degree from Salford Uni, offering a message filled with sage wisdom to students in return. Here’s a short clip:
Wong, both his real name and best-known superhero moniker, began by joking that it’s been a “34-year ‘overnight’ success” before quickly segueing into much more sincere sentiments shortly thereafter.
He insisted that none of the wonderful things that have happened in his personal and professional life could have been possible without “standing on the foundations of where [he] grew up”, a line that saw him visibly choke up a little.
But it didn’t take him long to return to some levity, confessing to his fellow graduates that he knew a member of the teaching staff way back when, revealing that besides days spent at the historic Adelphi Theatre, they shared a pub lock-in at the nearby pub.
‘You can take the bloke out of Salford…’
Most notably, however, his main takeaway that he wanted to impart on the graduates getting ready to go out into the world was to stay hopeful and motivated; once again, he sprinkled in the serious points with little gags like the repeating THAT Coronation Street “London!?” meme for an easy laugh.
He did also go on to echo similar advice in a short interview after the ceremony, including the importance of making mistakes, which he believes is especially key at this kind of young age:
Put in simplest terms, he said that you should take things a day at a time and just start crossing off “coordinates of where you want to go” one by one until you truly realise it.
Being the latest recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Arts by UoS, who took the time to thank his lawyer Bob as well, crediting his faith in looking after people above simply making money.
Big up Bob.
Finally, he concluded things by wishing these aspiring talents and creatives all the best and signing off by adding, “On your marks, get set, go.”
You can see Benedict Wong’s Salford University acceptance speech in full down below, and trust us – if you’re in need of some inspiration, it’s well worth a watch.
Daisy Jackson -
15th June 2025 
