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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Two North West cities named among the ‘noisiest’ in the UK – including Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A new analysis has revealed a list of the noisiest cities in the UK, and two Greater Manchester locations are in the top five.
From blaring sirens and car horns, to house parties, barking dogs, and loud neighbours, escaping the noise of a city can feel almost impossible – even in your own home.
No matter whether you live in the hustle and bustle, or you’re out in the sleepier suburbs, noise can keep you up at night, disturb your peace, and lead to frustration. But just how loud are Greater Manchester’s cities compared to the rest of the UK? In a bid to get to the bottom of it, Alpine Hearing Protection has done some research to compile a top 10 list.
And both Salford and Manchester have found themselves not just within the top 10, but within the top five… and to make matters worse, Salford has actually claimed the number one spot.
The reason Salford has found itself at the top of the list, according to the research, is because it sits at the intersection of several major transport and urban hubs, with major motorways running through or around the city including the M60, M61, and M62.
Major rail routes also run through the city – including via Salford Crescent – which sees 16 million passengers every year, and also leads to Manchester Airport.
Top 10 noisiest cities in the UK
Salford
Portsmouth
Manchester
Southampton
London
Leeds
Stoke-on-Trent
Wakefield
Newcastle upon Tyne
Bradford
Parts of Salford are also very built-up, making pockets of the city noisy – especially in the concentrated centre where traffic, construction, nightlife and commercial activity get loud.
And of course, like any growing city, construction noises have been noted as ‘particularly bothersome’ for residents where major developments are springing up.
Manchester is third on the list of noisiest cities, due to many of the same reasons as Salford.
But the difference being that Mancunians are noted as one of the many reasons why the city is so loud – with residents making 5,301 noise complaints across Manchester between January 2024 and January 2025, and Hulme identified the loudest area with 304 complaints.
As well all know, Manchester is also home to many universities, which brings an active nightlife scene to the region, especially in the city centre, and in recent FOI data, it was revealed that the University of Manchester saw 2,049 noise complaints in the last five years.
Motorists warned of common winter driving habit that could land them with annoying fines
Emily Sergeant
With the temperatures drastically dropping now as we head into winter, motorists are being warned against a common driving habit.
On a wintry morning when the windscreens are frozen and your hands are equally as frozen too, it’s pretty common for drivers to start the engine, turn the heater right up, and remain stationary for several minutes to warm the car up before setting off on their journey… but did you know that doing this could see you, inadvertently, fall foul of the law?
That’s right – as ridiculous as it sounds, leaving your car engine running ‘unnecessarily’ while parked on a public road is illegal.
And to make matters worse, the rules on ‘engine idling’, as it’s known, apply regardless of whether the driver is using the heating, waiting for someone, or simply sitting in the vehicle.
Known as a stationary idling offence, Rule 123 of the Highway Code states that drivers must not leave a vehicle’s engine running unnecessarily while it is stationary on a public road, and according to the rule, a fixed penalty of up to £80 can be issued, right there and then.
Motorists are being warned of a common winter driving habit that could land them with annoying fines / Credit: PickPik | Wikimedia Commons
Fines will only be handed out if a motorist is stopped by a police officer who asks them to switch the engine off, and they fail to comply.
“However tempting it might be to sit in a vehicle with the engine running and the heater on to warm up, we strongly advice against it,” commented RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis.
“As well as polluting the air and wasting fuel, drivers who leave their engines idling unnecessarily on a public road also risk an on-the-spot fine of £80. On cold mornings, the best approach is to clear any ice or snow properly and ensure windows are fully de-misted before setting off, then get on your way and let the car warm you up.”
There are some exceptions to the rule, however, as keeping the engine running is permitted in certain circumstances.
This includes when a vehicle is stationary because of traffic conditions, when the engine needs to run so a mechanical fault can be investigated, or if certain work is being carried out on the side of the road.
Emily Sergeant -
22nd October 2020 
