It’s been another busy weekend for news here in Greater Manchester – here are the top five stories we were all talking about over the last couple of days.
Storm Arwen
Erst was closed because of the storm on Saturday. Credit: Instagram @erst_mcr
We’ve all been talking about the weather. All of us.
The weekend started with Manchester getting battered from all angles by Storm Arwen.
Overnight on Friday and well into Saturday, gale-force winds caused havoc across the region.
The massive storm saw the M62 closed as lorries got stuck, trees ripped up from their roots, and Erst in Ancoats closed as water flooded into the restaurant.
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Omicron
Credit: (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)
A new variant of concern that has emerged in South Africa, putting six countries onto the red list and triggering new rules from the UK Government.
Three cases of the new Omicron variant have now been found in England, with a further six in Scotland – contact tracing is underway.
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From Tuesday November 30, face masks will once again be mandatory in retail and on public transport, though hospitality settings will be exempt.
All people arriving in the UK will now need to take a PCR test too.
Suspected contacts of Omicron cases will have to isolate for 10 days, regardless of vaccination status.
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There are also plans to speed up the booster jab programme.
Snow day
Snow in Manchester city centre. Credit: Instagram @bee_manuk
It’s the weather again!
Manchester spent most of yesterday in a flurry of snow and woke up on Monday to a blanket of white.
It’s made the roads a little tricky and closed a few schools.
Don’t expect it to stick around for long though – there’s rain forecast this evening and much milder temperatures of 10C from tomorrow.
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I’m A Celebrity
Thanks to the wild weather brought by Storm Arwen, I’m a Celebrity has dropped off air.
The live portion was called off on Friday and over the weekend, highlights reels have been broadcast on ITV instead.
The channel confirmed that the production site at Gwrych Castle has been badly damaged.
The celebrities – including Frankie Bridge, Naughty Boy and David Ginola – were all removed from the castle.
It’s hoped that the live show will return tonight.
Virgil, a ‘genius and visionary’ designer and father of two, was the founder and CEO of Off White and artistic director at Louis Vuitton.
He was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer in 2019, which he battled privately.
Tributes from the likes of Kanye West, Pharrell Williams and Venus Williams have been pouring in.
Featured image: Instagram @bee_manuk
News
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Daisy Jackson -
29th November 2021 
