No don’t worry, you haven’t clicked on an old article from last year by mistake, it just so happens that England has been placed into the third national lockdown since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic first emerged.
The only difference this time is that we’re starting to run out of TV shows on our watchlist.
We all have our ‘comfort shows’, our trusty favourites and the ones that never fail to have us cracking a smile or hanging on to every word, but if you watched your fair share of those during the first lockdown and you’re looking for something different to get your teeth stuck into whilst you’re at home for the next few weeks, then here are 12 of the best new shows already airing or set to hit screens this month.
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The Serpent
BBC / BBC iPlayer – Now Airing
BBC / Mammoth Screen
This one’s already got people talking.
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Inspired by real-life events and starring Tahar Rahim and Jenna Coleman, The Serpent tells the story of how conman and killer Charles Sobhraj posed as a gem dealer and, with his girlfriend Marie-Andree Leclerc, carried out a string of crimes across Thailand, Nepal and India in 1975 and 1976, while also becoming the chief suspects in a series of murders of young Western travellers.
It’s a slick drama that’s well worth your concentration, and you can catch it on BBC and BBC iPlayer now.
A Discovery of Witches
Sky One & NOW TV – Airing from 8th January
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Sky UK
Now in its second season starring Matthew Goode and Teresa Palmer – plus a number of new cast members – and adapted from Deborah Harkness’ best-selling trilogy of novels, this is a romantic thriller about a secret underworld of vampires, witches and demons all hiding in plain sight for fear of persecution by humans.
This series sees the two hiding in the treacherous world of Elizabethan London, where they must find a powerful witch teacher to help Diana control her magic and search for the elusive Book of Life.
You can catch it on Sky One or NOW TV from 8th January.
The Stand
Starzplay – Airing Now
CBS / Robert Falconer
This spookily-timely series about a pandemic is adapted from a Stephen King book.
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Not a million miles from the news footage we’ve seen in the last year, the first episode can be hard to watch, although the flu in this series wipes out 99% of the population, and those left have strange dreams involving a mysterious old lady.
It stars Whoopi Goldberg, Alexander Skarsgard, James Marsden and Amber Heard, and you can catch it on Starzplay now.
American Gods
Amazon Prime Video – Airing from 11th January
Amazon Prime Video
American Gods is back once again.
This is the third series of the drama based on Neil Gaiman’s novel of the same name, about a war being waged between the old gods and the new, and after a few shocks at the end of series two, this one starts with the main character, Shadow Moon – played by Ricky Whittle – in hiding and trying to start a new life in a small town.
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Ian McShane and Marilyn Manson have also joined the cast for this season too, and you can catch it airing on Amazon Prime Video from 11th January.
Servant
AppleTV+ – Airing from 15th January
AppleTV+
Servant is made by and starring some industry heavy-hitters.
Executive produced by the Oscar-nominated director M Night Shyamalan, this chilling psychological horror series was one of the first shows to debut when Apple TV + launched in November 2019 with stars Rupert Grint, Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell and Nell Tiger Free.
This second 10 episode series is set to take a supernatural turn, and you can catch it from 15th January.
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RuPaul’s Drag Race UK
BBC iPlayer – Airing from 14th January
BBC / World of Wonder
A lot of people have been waiting for this one.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is back with twelve new competing queens – Tayce, Lawrence Chaney, Cherry Valentine, Tia Kofi, Bimini Bon Boulash, Ginny Lemon, Veronica Green, Sister Sister, Joe Black, Ellie Diamond, Asttina Mandella and A’Whora – are at your service and here to show you the very best of what the UK drag scene has to offer.
With weekly challenges to test their make-up skills, fashion sense, sewing abilities, comedy, singing, acting, dancing and lip-syncing, this is the perfect way to cure the lockdown blues.
Catch it on BBC iPlayer from 14th January.
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WandaVision
Disney+ – Airing from 15th January
Marvel Studios / Disney+
WandaVision offers up a unique blend of classic television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in which Wanda Maximoff and Vision – two super-powered beings living idealised suburban lives played by Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany – “begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems”.
The series has been described as “a love letter to the golden age of television”, and you can catch it airing on Disney+ from 15th January.
It’s A Sin
Channel 4 / All 4 – Airing from 22nd January
Channel 4
Starring musician and actor Olly Alexander, and featuring Keeley Hawes, Stephen Fry, Neil Patrick Harris, Tracy Ann Oberman, Shaun Dooley and Omari Douglas, this is a new five-part drama from the multi-BAFTA-winning writer Russell T Davies follows the story of the 1980s, the story of AIDS, and charts the joy and heartbreak of a group of friends across a decade in which everything changed.
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Tune in to Channel 4 / All 4 from 22nd January to watch the magic unfold.
The Masked Singer
ITV – Airing Now
There’s no denying that The Masked Singer was one of the surprise hits of 2020 and now it’s returned to our screens as a must-see Saturday night fixture.
If you’re unfamiliar with the show, it basically sees a bunch of celebrities disguised in some seriously-good fancy dress costumes sing for a panel of judges – Davina McCall, Rita Ora, Jonathan Ross and newcomer Mo Gilligan – who make wild guesses as to who’s behind the mask.
Audience members then vote, chant “take it off” at the end and the panel has the final say on who goes home from the lowest scorers each week.
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You can already catch it airing on ITV every Saturday night now.
Cobra Kai
Netflix – Airing from 8th January
Netflix / Curtis Bonds Baker
Taking place 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, this long-time-coming sequel spin-off to The Karate Kid – with original stars – has unsurprisingly become a big hit and is set to get underway with season three.
The series starts with the successful Daniel LaRusso struggling to maintain balance in his life without the guidance of Mr Miyagi, and once again facing his previous adversary Johnny Lawrence, who seeks redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai karate dojo.
Log on to Netflix from 8th January to binge the new series.
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Bulletproof: South Africa
Sky One – Airing from 20th January
Sky UK
Noel Clarke and Ashley Walters are reprising their roles as best pals and partners Pike and Bishop for the third instalment of this action-packed buddy cop series.
This time though, they’ve left London for the far sunnier Cape Town in South Africa, and after years of finding themselves in some seriously dangerous situations with hardened criminals, the pair just want a bit of rest and relaxation – but obviously, things don’t quite go to plan.
You can catch the latest series of Bulletproof: South Africa from 20th January.
The Pembrokeshire Murders
ITV – Airing from 11th January
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ITV
This one’s for the true crime fans.
Luke Evans stars in this three-part drama mini series depicting the cold-case investigation into a serial killer that’s adapted from the book The Pembrokeshire Murders and is written by Senior Investigating Officer Steve Wilkins and ITV news journalist Jonathan Hill.
It’s also from the makers of Line Of Duty and Bodyguard, so you know it must be good.
Wilkins reopened the case of two unsolved murders from the 1980s in 2006, and using forensic methods that were pioneering at the time, he and his team found microscopic DNA and fibres that potentially linked the killings to a string of burglaries.
Catch it on ITV from 11th January.
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The full list of Greater Manchester Olympians representing Team GB at Paris 2024
Danny Jones
The Paris Olympics are nearly here and this year Greater Manchester happens to have eight athletes competing at the 2024 Summer Games.
It just so happens that eight is also the exact same number of local Olympians who brought home medals from Tokyo 2020, and we’re hoping these lot will help Team GB bring back a record number, with the previous competition seeing them match their all-time record (65) set at London 2012.
Honestly, there are few times in the year that we love as much as when the summer of sport fully kicks in and with the heartbreak of the Euros finally starting to drift, we can fully throw ourselves into the Olympics and get behind our Mancs flying the flag for 0161.
But who exactly is representing Greater Manchester at Paris 2024 and what events are they competing in? Look no further.
Greater Manchester’s 2024 Team GB athletes and their sports
Without further ado, let’s meet our local Olympic heroes:
Keely Hodgkinson – Wigan – Athletics
Starting out over in the home of the Latics, pie barms and The Verve, we have Wigan‘s very own Keely Hodgkinson: a two-time European champion who also recently broke the all-time British record in the 800m at the Diamond League in London on 20 July.
Born in Atherton, the 22-year-old middle-distance runner’s career is already off to a flyer and having already picked up the silver in her event at the last Olympics at just 19, we have every faith she’ll be bringing home the gold this time.
Aimee Pratt – Stockport – Athletics
Over to Stockport (don’t start with that Cheshire nonsense today, just be proud she’s from around here) and our 3000m steeplechase specialist, who already broke the national record twice in 2022 and produced the UK’s best-ever finish (7th) in the women’s event at the World Athletics Championships.
A long-standing member of Sale Harriers running club and a University of Manchester graduate, Aimee Pratt, 26, has got so much local backing behind her and has quickly gone from rising star to very much looking like she’s going to live up to the expectations of becoming ‘world-class’ as coaches predicted.
The third and final Manc representing us in athletics events is Bury-born and bred Hannah Kelly, 23, who is also a member of nearby Bolton United Harriers.
She was part of the crack team at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow that helped Great Britain reach a women’s 4x400m national record, picking up the bronze medal and will no doubt be looking to go on further in her Olympic debut.
Now into the world of combat sport and the incredible story of Trafford boxer Pat Brown’s journey to Paris 2024 who beat Poland’s Mateusz Bereznicki in a qualifier back in March and now finds himself heading to his first-ever appearance at the Olympics.
Coming through the ranks at his local clubs Moss Side Fire Station and Sale West ABC, the 24-year-old has gone through his fair share of challenges of late, losing his best friend and cousin shortly after sealing his place at the Games but now has more spirit and motivation behind him than ever.
Moving over to the world of cycling and there’s just one local name taking part in two-wheeled events this year: 28-year-old sensation, Charlotte Worthington, from just down the road in Chorlton.
One of the select few Team GB athletes who managed to pick up an Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020, the BMX star is not only ready to defend her title – becoming the first women’s champion freestyle park champion in history – but is looking to come back stronger than ever after some time out.
Insane stuff.
Anthony Harding – Ashton-under-Lyne – Diving
On to those wading through Paris waters in the name of Manchester, the first of two aquatic athletes competing at this year’s tournament is Antony Harding from Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside.
Joining forces will Britain’s first-ever Olympic diving champion, Jack Laugher (who won the gold at Rio 2016), the duo have already brought home Commonwealth and European gold in the 3m synchro, as well as a pair of World Championship silver medals in the last two years. Is 2024 set for more gold?
And completing the water-bound Team GB athletes hailing from 0161 is multiple-gold medal-winner James Guy who, to use a phrase the kids are using, really is ‘that guy‘.
Another Bury native, the 27-year-old swimmer already has a big collection of gold medals in both the 200m and 4x200m freestyle at the Worlds, as well as silvers across multiple events over the past few years. With five Olympic medals in total to date, we’re desperate for him to add a gold to that list.
Georgia Taylor-Brown – Droyslden – Triathlon
Last but certainly not least is Droyslden’s Georgia Taylor-Brown, who was born to be an Olympian after her mum and Dad swam and ran, respectively, but continues to chase her own story of greatness, having picked up silver on her Olympics debut at Tokyo 2020 – even whilst nursing an injury.
With two golds at the 2019 World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series and AJ Bell World Triathlon in Leeds as well, we already know the colour looks good on her. You can listen to her full interview about going for gold yet again on BBC Sounds HERE but, for now, we’ll admit that her talking about coping with missing her dog come race time has made us love her even more:
Passport ✅ Hotel ✅ Alfie the cavapoo 🥰@TeamGB triathlete Georgia Taylor-Brown from Droylsden on what she can't live without at the Olympics.
Fingers crossed out Greater Manchester Olympians will absolutely smash it at Paris 2024 and regardless of how many medals they come home with, we already know they’ll give it their all.
No matter what, they’ll be welcomed back with a lovely homecoming party over at the AO Arena and we already have a great place to watch the events too.
Best of luck to our Mancs and all of Team GB – now go and do us proud!
Beloved Manc butty shop Bada Bing set for a sensational return to the city centre
Danny Jones
Sandwich lovers rejoice because one of the finest butty shops to ever grace Manchester is returning: that’s right, Bada Bing is bada-back!
The Sopranos-inspired deli and sandwich shop that took its name from one of the central locations featured in the iconic US drama (yes, the strip club), was a huge success when it first opened in Manchester a few short years ago, so it was a huge blow when it closed in February 2022.
Starting out by serving sandwiches out of a window at The B Lounge pub on Paton Street near Piccadilly, before moving to a small kitchen on Radium Street and eventually setting up their stall inside Ancoats General Store, they would regularly have lines around the block every lunchtime.
These Italian-American sarnies were so popular you’d often struggle to get your claws on one – and believe us, they really are a two-handed task – as they’d sell out on what felt like most days. But now, whether you were a regular or someone who missed out, there is hope once again:
Announcing their sensational return to a new site over in the Northern Quarter, which will now mark the fourth premises they’ve popped up at, Bada Bing is back with a bang and, as you can, they dropped the news with one of the best reveal videos we’ve ever seen.
If you know, you know…
Set to take over 125 Oldham Street, owners Sam Gormally and Meg Lingenfelter haven’t yet graced us with an opening date but the new unit should hopefully be open sooner rather than later.
The duo, who previously worked at fellow NQ favourite Another Heart to Feed, came up with the concept during lockdown and it didn’t take long for the idea to take off, nor for them to earn their spot amongst the very best sandwich places in Manchester.
Seriously, these things were so big and unwieldy (in the best way possible) that they even used to come with eating instructions: both hands and the trademark Tony Soprano hunch recommended, though the slightly stained wife-beater, boxer shorts and open dressing gown look is optional.
From slices of provolone cheese, all the thinly sliced Italian meats you could think of and the closest thing to actual ‘gabagool‘ as you’ll find in Greater Manchester, the menu was fitting of being served up to the iconic characters that once sat outside Satriale’s and a big approving grin from the man himself.
Simply put, we cannot wait and we will certainly keep you posted when we find out exactly when Bada Bing confirms their official reopening date.