News

Tom Malone Jr is leaving Gogglebox for good

Tom Malone Jr is leaving Gogglebox, he has just announced on his social media.

The Manc The Manc - 25th February 2021
Channel 4

Tom Malone Jr is leaving Gogglebox for good, he has just announced on his social media accounts.

The 26-year-old sofa star, who is one quarter of the Malone family from Manchester, has officially departed the show, but his family will remain for future seasons.

Tom announced his departure this afternoon with a message on Twitter that reads: “So after six years it’s finally time to put down the remote and say goodbye to Gogglebox.

“I’ve loved every minute and I’m eternally grateful to Channel 4 and Studio Lambert for allowing me to be a part of the show. But new opportunities are knocking on the door and it’s time to explore them.

“I look forward to enjoying the show as a viewer and not having to worry about having said something stupid! P.S. Don’t worry my parents and my brother will still be on the show to keep you guys entertained every Friday.”

Channel 4

The Malone family joined Gogglebox back in 2014 and quickly became one of the show’s most beloved families. They consist of dad Tom Senior, mum Julie and their four children: Lee, Vanessa, Tom Jr. and Shaun.

Lee and Vanessa have two older siblings, who have never appeared on the show.

It is currently unclear what new opportunities Tom will be exploring but with his breakdancing career going from strength to strength we can imagine there is a bright future ahead of him on TV.

Thanks for the memories, Tom!

News

Def Leppard announce HUGE arena gig in Manchester next year

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

English Glam Rock band Def Leppard have announced a brand new UK tour which features a stop in one of Manchester’s big arenas next year.

Known for hits like ‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’, ‘Animal’, ‘Love Bites’ and more, Def Leppard are back on the road and they’re heading out on a UK tour.

The band has achieved worldwide acclaim since entering the rock scene with their first-ever single, ‘Wasted’, back in 1979, and their success resulted in getting inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.

In 2023, Def Leppard teamed up with fellow metalheads Motley Crüe for the ultimate ‘Rock of Ages’, playing a spell-bounding gig at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 people.

The rock legends are continuing their career-highlight streak as now they’re about to play one of Manchester’s largest arenas, Co-op Live, sending 23,500 fans into ‘Hysteria’.

This upcoming Def Leppard UK tour sees the band making their way to Glasgow, Sheffield, London and Birmingham before visiting the music capital of the North.

The love for these rockers isn’t slowing down either, as their latest album ‘Drastic Symphonies’, a collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, scored Def Leppard their highest charting record in 32 years, debuting at number 4.

Fans will be over the moon to know that the five-piece visiting Co-op Live next year includes the same band lineup since 1992, with Joe Elliot, Rick Allen, Phil Collen, Rick Savage and Vivian Campbell playing out on the night.

The Rock Brigade will always make sure to remember Steve Clark, founding member and adorned- ‘Riffmaster’, and although the guitarist won’t be playing this innovative live music venue, fans will still give it their all for the current ‘Gods of War’.

These Sheffield-formed musicians have sold more than 110 million albums worldwide, so there will be no ‘Foolin’ around when it comes to screaming their lyrics at the top of your lungs next summer.

Def Leppard are coming to Co-op Live in Manchester on Monday 5 July, with tickets going on sale from 10am on Friday 5 September

You can get ready to grab yours HERE.

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Featured Images — Press shots (supplied)

News

Bolton man jailed for life after killing ‘vulnerable’ woman and hiding her body in his shed

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A man has been jailed for life after murdering a vulnerable woman and then proceeding to hide her body in a shed at his house in Bolton.

Christopher Barlow killed Mariann Borocz back in December 2024 after randomly meeting her at a shop and inviting her to his house, before killing her and then going on to dump her body in a locked shed in his garden.

55-year-old Mariann, who was originally from Hungary, was reported missing on Sunday 15 December having been last seen alive in the early hours of the previous day.

During the police search and investigation, CCTV showed Barlow following Mariann into a shop near his house and then back out again, and after Barlow was arrested on suspicion of assault on 23 December, officers found the keys to his shed – which is when they, sadly, discovered Mariann’s body.

Barlow was charged with murder, but the 63-year-old first denied this charge, and also denied any contact with Mariann.

The case was then handed over to Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Major Incident Team, led by Detective Chief Inspector Tony Platten.

A three-week trial then began at Manchester Crown Court, and when forensic evidence linked Barlow to Mariann’s body, he then when on to admit during the trial that he had invited her into his house, and found her not breathing in his kitchen about 40 minutes later.

Despite maintaining he did dot murder her, the jury returned its guilty verdict after less than a day of deliberation.

Last week, Barlow was sentenced to life in prison and must serve a minimum term of 20 years behind bars.

Detective Sergeant Fiona Manning described this as a ‘harrowing’ investigation and subsequent trial for Mariann’s family.

“Barlow befriended Mariann and she believed she could trust him,” DS Manning said, “That could not have been further from reality.”

Read more:

DS Manning then assured that GMP remains ‘steadfast’ in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of women in Greater Manchester‘s communities, and will continue to work ‘tirelessly’ to uphold justice.

She concluded: “Women should be able to go out freely and without fear that something may happen to them.”

Featured Image – GMP

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