Fan-favourite Mancunians Bez and Shaun Ryder are returning to our TV screens tomorrow evening for another celebrity special of Gogglebox.
Well, we say ‘fan-favourites’.
But let’s just say the Happy Mondays bandmates made quite the impression on the public the last time they featured on an episode of the hit Channel 4 reality show back in June this year.
The pair are once again forming part of the star-studded line up for this year’s hour-long Gogglebox: Celebrity Special for SU2C (Stand Up to Cancer UK) and will be joined by the likes of show newcomers The Who’s Roger Daltry, comedian John Bishop, fellow comics David Mitchell and his wife Victoria Coren Mitchell, and Line of Duty stars Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure and Martin Compston, as well as many other returning famous faces to give their thoughts on the television from the previous week.
Shaun Ryder said filming the show with Bez was “really good fun”.
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He continued: “It’s not like a job really, it’s just me and him. We’ve been like that for the best part of 40 years – we sat watching telly and films and commentating on everything when we were on the tour bus.”
Bez also revealed that he’s found watching some shows more difficult than others though, saying: “The most embarrassing one for us is Naked Attraction. That’s the most embarrassing one,” he said.
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“Sat there looking at willies, it’s not my favourite thing.”
Channel 4 / Gogglebox
After their last appearance on Gogglebox – which is a show with a simple but interesting premise that sees different groups of friends and families offer their opinions on the TV shows from the previous week – they pair managed to rack up over 200 Ofcom complaints following an unsurprisingly brazen conversation which ruffled a few feathers among audience members.
They ended up discussing drug use on the programme after Ryder admitted he didn’t understand how far a metre was, but did “know how many grams are in an ounce”, before diving into comic detail about his dating efforts during the Hacienda heydays, stating: “My chat up line used to be, ‘Do you want a line?'”
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An Ofcom spokesperson said of the situation at the time: “We are assessing the complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.”
Complaints were also received from members of the public regarding Bez and Shaun’s apparent lack of social distancing efforts amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, as the pair do not share a household / social bubble, so we can only presume this will be paid closer attention to in tomorrow’s episode.
Sounds like we’re in for another good hour of telly.
Gogglebox: Celebrity Special for SU2C is airing on Channel 4 at 9pm on Friday 23rd October.
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Stockport County’s Christmas dinner in a cup returns for 2025 as part of new festive food range
Danny Jones
We can’t believe it’s rolled around again already, but with the festive period well underway and the big day just a few weeks away, Stockport County have brought back their viral ‘Xmas dinner in a cup’for 2025.
Better still, the County Courtyard has seen some new Christmas specials added to its food menu, too.
The local football club are absolutely flying in League One at the moment, having spent plenty of time at the top of the table already and still well and truly contesting those promotion/play-off spots.
If you’re a Stopfordian, that’s plenty of cause for celebration right there, but with the Christmas dinner in a cup also up for grabs once more, the holiday season literally couldn’t taste any better right now.
For those who’ve never seen it before, it’s exactly what it says on the tin – well, cup: a little Sunday dinner in a County-branded takeaway coffee cup, complete with a healthy pour of gravy and pretty much all the trimmings you could hope for.
Yes, including sprouts, because all of you who still don’t touch them need to grow up already.
Currently priced at just £4.50, not only does it contain virtually all the major food groups (barring the customary matchday pints, of course), it might just be one of the healthiest and best value-for-money bits of footy scran around – certainly in Greater Manchester, anyway.
But, as mentioned, that’s not all this year; Stockport are also serving up the new festive hot dog and even a ‘leftover Christmas curry’ in a bowl, which might even be more warming on a cold night at Edgeley Park than the Xmas dinner in a cup or clinging onto a flask of Bovril.
Anyone else craving that curry with a cheeky bit of bubble and squeak now?
It’s also worth noting that you’ll only be able to get one of those on Boxing Day, by the way, when the Hatters host Lincoln City in the league.
As for the rest of it, County fans can get their hands on this seasonal scran for the first time this year at the weekend when Dave Challinor’s side take on Barnsley at 12:30pm, and two of the three specials will then be served at home every game over the holiday period.
Speaking of random Christmas food creations, there’s another limited-time-only and potentially divisive example that we’ll also be sampling this December…
Aldi has launched the world’s first lickable pigs in blankets wrapping paper… for some reason
Emily Sergeant
Aldi has launched its latest Christmas creation, and this one’s arguably wackier than anything else it’s brought out before.
There’s absolutely no denying that pigs in blankets are a staple of festive feasting, with millions of the little delicacies consumed throughout the UK each Christmas, but have you ever wished you could turn the taste of those pigs in blankets into a lickable wrapping paper to wrap all this year’s gifts in? Yeah probably not… Aldi‘s made it though.
It’s anticipated that more than 561 million pigs in blankets are going to be eaten over the festive period, new research has found, which is an average of 10 per person.
But if you just can’t bare to leave the taste of pigs in blankets behind, Aldi’s new wrapping paper is set to give shoppers a fun and tasty twist when it comes to gift-giving.
The limited-edition wrapping paper is inspired by Aldi’s very-own range of pigs in blankets, and is described as capturing the smoky, savoury flavour and smell of the festive treat, with stickers that peel back to reveal a truly unique ‘lickable’ experience.
Aldi has launched the world’s first lickable pigs in blankets wrapping paper / Credit: Simon Jacobs/PA Wire (via Aldi UK)
Not only does the novelty wrapping paper taste and smells like pigs in blankets, it also looks the part on presents too with its pastel pink design, festive holly, and snowflake patterns.
“Pigs in Blankets are a highlight of the festive season… so we wanted to create something special to celebrate the Christmas classic,” commented Julie Ashfield, who is the Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, as the new creation launches.
“This unique, lickable wrapping paper is the perfect way to spread extra joy on Christmas Day.”
Want to get your hands on it then? Unfortunately, it won’t be as simple as popping to your nearest Aldi store and picking up a roll, as with a creation as unique as this, there’s only going to be limited stock and a special shopper competition to win it.
To be in with a chance of winning, you simply need to email [email protected] with your full name before the deadline at 11:59pm on 1 December.
Emily Sergeant -
22nd October 2020 
