Several Mancs were caught by surprise yesterday by the sight of a group of totally naked people having a pint in a local beer garden.
The group of four were spotted having a drink outside the New Union Hotel on Canal Street, with not a scrap of clothing between them.
They were later seen cycling around the city – including a pair on a tandem bicycle – and grabbing a takeaway from McTucky’s in the Gay Village.
The duo on the tandem, known as the Free Wilders, are actually on a pretty epic bike ride across the UK for a very worthy cause.
Colin and Sadie in Edinburgh
The Free Wilders at the beginning of their journey
Credit: Supplied
Colin Unsworth and Sadie Tann are naturists, and advocates for rewilding, the basis of which is that nature can look after itself if ecosystems are properly restored.
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They’re currently cycling the massive distance between John o’Groats and Land’s End to raise money for charity, and doing it all starkers.
During their stop-over in Manchester, Colin said they had a ‘great reception and positivity from the people of Manchester’, a section he’d been looking forward to all along.
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On their JustGiving page, which has currently raised almost £2000 for both Rewilding Britain and mental health charity Mind, they say they chose to do the ride naked to help spread their message.
They wrote: “If you’re reading this it is most likely because of the attention that this challenge will get. If we just ride the LEJOG in cycling gear, no one will notice our message. But also, we’re going to have a scream.
“We are going to visit rewilding farms and projects along the route and stop for parties wherever we can. This is a celebration of our future and of body freedom.”
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They advocate for the mental health benefits of naturism in a world that treats nudity as ‘humiliating’.
The Free Wilders say: “We grow up in a world that expects us to be ashamed of our bodies as though there is something so bad, so hideous that there are few things more humiliating than being seen naked.
“This is reinforced by images that sexualise nudity and tell us that without a magazine perfect body, we have something to hide and be ashamed of. We are breaking free of that. Non sexual nudity should be celebrated and seen as normal!”
If you want to join in with the Free Wilders, you can follow along on Facebook to join in with a leg of their cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End.
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You can also donate to their JustGiving page here.
Featured image: Free Wilders
City Centre
John Bishop announces latest Manchester gig arena tour dates
Danny Jones
Beloved British comedian John Bishop has announced another massive Manchester gig on his latest run of arena tour dates.
The well-known veteran of the North West and national stand-up scene at large is heading back to the region next year for his fresh batch of live stand-up shows.
Serving as the follow-up to his critically acclaimed hour from 2025, with these dates also serving as another opportunity for fans who missed out last time to see at least some of that material, John Bishop is no stranger to selling out Manchester arenas.
Returning to Co-op Live once again after his first two visits there this past autumn, Manc crowds can look forward to more of his usual scouse charm.
Confirming the new 2027 UK tour dates online this Friday, 23 January, Bishop said: “So excited to announce I’ll be heading back out on tour next year with my brand new show…. ‘Let’s Go Round Again'”
As he goes on to write, he’s set to play “some of the biggest venues across the UK and Ireland in April and May 2027”, simply adding, “Come and join me for a night to remember…”
The 59-year-old will be coming to Co-op Live on Sunday, 2 May.
His Co-op Live debut last October went down a storm, so it’s no surprise that we cousins down the Mersey were one of the first cities to be named on the new tour.
Bishop is enjoying a little bit of added renaissance at the moment, amid being at the centre of a Hollywood film starring Will Arnett and Bradley Cooper.
You can see the duo talking about the recent release down below.
Bradley Cooper and Will Arnett allowed themselves to be vulnerable when adapting John Bishop's life story 🎬 pic.twitter.com/B5DYBfDfJ8
The Everton-born comic was already 35 when he first started live stand-up, turning up at the Frog and Bucket comedy club on the edge of the Northern Quarter and choosing to go up on stage during an open mic night rather than paying the entry fee.
Already a successful salesman in the pharmaceutical industry, he chose to switch careers just before his 40th birthday and hasn’t looked back since.
It’s part of this real-life story that inspired the movie, Is Thing On? – which finally premieres here in the UK at the end of this month – and continues to make him a hugely popular touring UK comedian.
For anyone who fancies going along to see his new tour, you can sign up for early access through his mailing list or via the venue’s pre-sale for official Co-op Members.
Those windows open on Wednesday, 28 January from 10am; general admission will be available from the same time on the following Friday (30 Jan). You can get ready to grab yours HERE.
You can watch the trailer for the aforementioned motion picture here.
The UK’s biggest LEGO convention is coming back to Manchester next month
Emily Sergeant
The biggest LEGO event in the UK is returning to Manchester next month.
After proving to be such a massive sell-out success last year, Bricktastic – the ‘ultimate’ LEGO convention – will be returning to Manchester next month, just in time for half term, with even more incredible LEGO models, activities, and fun for all the family.
Already shaping up to be one of the most exciting LEGO events in the UK, with tickets already on sale and selling fast, fans can expect to see more than 300 exhibitors from around the world showcasing original LEGO creations, also known as MOCs (Models of Own Creation), all under one roof at Manchester Central.
Whether you’re a fan of Star Wars, Friends, or Harry Potter, you’ll find your favourite LEGO themes and more at the event next month.
You’ll also be able to meet the talented model creators and uncover the stories behind their spectacular builds.
This LEGO convention isn’t just about admiring the models though, it’s about creating your own too, as at Bricktastic, you can build a section of our giant LEGO mosaic featuring more 100,000 bricks, dive into the brick pits filled with system or DUPLO® bricks for the little ones, and leave your own personal tag on the LEGO graffiti walls.
Basically, you can create anything you like and then leave your masterpiece on display for others to enjoy when they visit.
The UK’s biggest LEGO convention is coming back to Manchester next month / Credit: Shirlane Forrest
There’ll also be a wide variety of shopping opportunities at Bricktastic 2026, with something for every budget, no matter what you’re searching for.
And all proceeds from Bricktastic 2026 will help to fund LEGO deliveries to children in hospitals through the Fairy Bricks charity.
Bricktastic 2026 is taking place at Manchester Central on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February 2026, and tickets are on sale now.
Tickets will be required for all visitors. Your ticket will have a timed entry but not a timed exit, so you can stay as long as you like, and if you want to take a break for a coffee or lunch, then simply collect a wristband to return whenever you’re ready.
Daisy Jackson -
14th July 2022 
