Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott have explained the “brilliant” reason why they’ve chosen to cap the price of their tour tickets at £30.
While the going rate for tickets to arena and stadium tours tends to hover around the £70-£80 or more mark nowadays, the pair – who were famously part of pop rock group The Beautiful South, which Heaton formed in 1988 and Abbott joined as lead vocalist from 1994-2007 – have said they are determined to keep prices affordable amid the rising cost of living crisis.
The duo announced their huge UK arena tour towards the end of August, and have released their fifth studio album titled ‘N.K-Pop’ today.
Heaton and Abbott have been on the receiving end of a lot of praise from members of the public after making an appearance on BBC Breakfast this morning to speak about rising costs in the music industry while promoting their new album.
Heaton said he was ultimately “against greed in the industry”.
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“It’s really important that in the coming months, and possibly years, that we tell the fans that we are getting paid enough and want to keep it low for you,” he explained.
“I’m against greed in the industry”
Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott are back with their fifth studio album.
“I’m very much against greed in the industry. I feel as though there is quite a lot. We are trying to just battle and say ‘we’ll do it for as low as we can’.”
Heaton – who has some 15 million album sales under his belt, with a celebrated music career that also included a stint as the frontman of The Housemartins – said himself and Abbott are looking to “set a bit of an example” for the rest of the music industry going forward with their decision to cap tour ticket prices at £30.
A clip from the BBC Breakfast interview has been going viral on social media today, with fans of the pair calling them “legends”.
One fan said on Twitter: “What a man. Brilliant. Understands people are struggling and he’s making enough why can’t others think like that. Top top man.”
“Need more Paul Heatons in this world. It’s as simple as that. Legend, hero, good human being,” another fan added, while a third said: “Paul Heaton is one of the absolute greats in the music world and yet rarely gets any recognition. It’s a travesty.”
Paul & Jacqui UK tour announced with special guest @BillyBragg including dates at Manchester @AOArena & London @TheO2. All tickets £30! Qualify for presale access by pre-ordering the new album at https://t.co/iXyR5p7hCq by 4pm Monday. Presale codes/links emailed from 5pm Monday. pic.twitter.com/RTjD2d8DZl
The award-winning duo’s appearance on BBC Breakfast comes after they announced they would be making a return to Manchester on their UK tour in December – which will include some of their biggest-ever shows as a duo, with support from special guest Billy Bragg at all dates.
They’ll be gigging at the AO Arena in Manchester, as well as the O2 Arena in London, and Sheffield’s Utilita Arena as part of the upcoming tour.
This isn’t the first time this year that Paul Heaton has gone out of his way to make life a little easier for his fans, as he cemented his place in the nation’s hearts back in May by putting £1,000 behind the bar of 60 pubs across the UK and Ireland.
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The gesture was done so that people could have a drink on him to celebrate his 60th birthday.
Featured Image – BBC Breakfast
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A FREE family-friendly lantern parade is returning to Altrincham this Christmas
Thomas Melia
There’s a family-friendly lantern parade making its way back to Altrincham town centre this Christmas and it’s completely free.
If you thought the Christmas season couldn’t get any better, you were wrong, as now you can have your very own Rapunzel moment as Altrincham welcomes the return of its lantern parade.
Before these dazzling paper creations light up this Greater Manchester town, there will be a very exciting Nativity Trail spread across various locations starting at Stamford Square.
Not only this, you can also expect a range of family-friendlyactivities running throughout the day featuring everything from live music and storytelling.
And if you’re after getting stuck in yourself rather than just watching from the sidelines, there’ll be lantern making workshops taking place on the day.
Although these classes will be free for all to enjoy, any families looking at attending will still need to book a ticket to create and design their own lantern at at OYEZ Arts in Altrincham Town Hall.
Previous lantern parades that have been held in Altrincham have seen lots of exciting and fun festive surprises with live donkeys trotting through the town last year.
The event itself encourages parade-goers to gather in Goose Green from 4pm before the official walk and lighting takes place from 4.45pm.
This illuminated walk includes a full Nativity cast, local schoolchildren, lantern puppets alongside a live soundtrack courtesy of Sale District Scout and Guide Band.
With the lantern parade finishing in Stamford Square and expected to last just under one hour, there will be a live Nativity performance happening at 5.30pm.
Mandy White, Director of Altrincham BID, said: “The Lantern Parade and Nativity Journey truly capture the spirit of Christmas in Altrincham. It’s a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, explore the town and celebrate the festive season.”
Altrincham’s Lantern Parade and Nativity Journey returns on Saturday 13 December from 12pm with lantern lighting at 4pm onwards – all events and further info. HERE.
Featured Images – Supplied (via Altrincham BID)
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‘Disgraceful’ Manchester sex offender jailed after messaging several young girls under 16
Emily Sergeant
A sex offender from Manchester has been charged with 35 offences, including messaging several young girls while on a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
William Howarth, from the Miles Platting area of Manchester, appeared at Manchester Crown Court this week where he was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison – with a further six years on licence.
The 23-year-old’s sentencing follows an investigation by Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) Sex Offender Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT) after Howarth was found to be in possession of an unregistered mobile phone in a visit from his offender manager in 2023.
Howarth was subject to routine checks due to him being an already-registered sex offender managed by GMP through a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), and it was here where he had to register his mobile device and hand it over to his offender manager from our Sex Offender Management Unit (SOMU) during home visits.
After Howarth’s phone was seized by police, forensic analysis revealed a number of messages were sent to several young girls under the age 16.
#JAILED | On Thursday at Manchester Crown Court, William Howarth (28/7/2002), of Miles Platting, was sentenced to 15 years & 8 months with a further 6 years on licence – after previously pleading guilty to the 35 offences involving messaging young girls pic.twitter.com/HrYKCVay2l
An investigation was immediately launched, and with the help of police forces across the country, GMP managed to trace the children Howarth had been in communication with – who ‘bravely’ agreed to give their accounts.
Police say Howarth displayed ‘controlling’ behaviour over the children he had been in contact with, not allowing them to refuse his requests.
When the children attempted to make a stand and refuse to send further images to him, Howarth would threaten them by stating if they didn’t do as he asked, he would post their images online.
In a hearing at Manchester Crown Court last week (10 November 2025), Howarth pleaded guilty to the following 35 offences – including 11 counts of breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and possession and making of indecent images of children.
Speaking following Howarth’s sentencing, Detective Constable Joshua Cresswell, from GMP’s Sex Offender Crime Investigation Team (SOCIT), commented: “I’d like to thank the brave child victims in supporting our investigating through agreeing to give us their harrowing accounts of how Howarth came in contact with them.
“Howarth is a disgraceful predator and belongs behind bars away from causing further harm to children.”
Emily Sergeant -
7th October 2022 
