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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Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
You can now have a private sleepover amongst all the history inside Manchester Museum
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Museum is now offering one lucky family the chance to have a sleepover with Stan the Tyrannosaurus rex.
For the first time in Manchester Museum’s history, one lucky family will be given the chance to experience an incredible night at the museum.
This unique opportunity is being offered as part of a prize draw, allowing visitors to find out what happens once the sun goes down inside the Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery – in the company of Stan, the famous Tyrannosaurus rex, of course.
The Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery is one of the most iconic spaces within Manchester Museum.
Having opened to the public all the way back in 1888, it’s part of the museum’s original building designed by celebrated Alfred Waterhouse, who also designed Manchester Town Hall and London’s Natural History Museum.
Not only will the lucky winning family enjoy an overnight stay in the gallery, but they’ll also be treated to a guided torchlight tour of the galleries after the Museum has closed, as well as other fun activities and a film screening too before bed.
You can now have a private sleepover inside Manchester Museum / Credit: The Manc Group
“We can’t be completely sure what happens when the sun goes down in our Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery, because nobody has ever spent the night in there before, but we can only imagine the kind of fun that can be had with Stan the T. rex and his friends,” said Dean Whiteside, Head of Commercial and Operations at Manchester Museum.
“This is a chance to be a part of museum history and enjoy the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience you can’t usually buy.
“At the same time, Manchester Museum is a charity so, by getting behind this initiative, you’ll be helping to support vital work that impacts the lives of people across Greater Manchester and beyond.”
Fancy it then? You can enter the prize draw by buying a ticket for £5 from the Manchester Museum Shop, with each ticket counting as one entry and the winner set to be chosen at random from all valid entries.
The prize draw is now open and closes on Monday 28 September 2026.
Emily Sergeant -
22nd October 2020 
