Trending

Blackpool Illuminations will be switched off at midnight on Wednesday

Visit Blackpool said it was "with regret" that the world's biggest light festival would be suspended until further notice.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 3rd November 2020
Wikipedia

It has been confirmed that the lights at Blackpool Illuminations will be switched off at midnight tonight (Wednesday) ahead of the national lockdown in England.

Visit Blackpool and Illuminations bosses said it was “with regret” that the world’s biggest light festival would be suspended until further notice, but visitors will still be welcome to come and enjoy 2020’s display right until the very last minute.

The Blackpool Tower – which has become a symbol of hope and optimism throughout the pandemic – will however remain lit.

Giving an insight into when the lights will once again return, a spokesperson said: “Subject to lockdown restrictions being eased sufficiently at the start of December, the Illuminations will be switched on again and run through Christmas and New Year to January 3, 2021.”

Cllr Gillian Campbell – Cabinet Member for Tourism and Culture at Blackpool Council – said: “It is hugely disappointing to have to turn off the Illuminations but given the restrictions due to come in place on Thursday there is no real alternative.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The primary purpose of the national lockdown is to get infection rates down and we cannot be seen to do anything that jeopardises that objective.

“It was always our intention to extend the lights season into the New Year,

“And if there is any way in which we can switch the lights back on during December in a safe and secure way we will endeavour to do so.”

Trending

Liam Gallagher teases post-Oasis reunion tour plans online

Danny Jones Danny Jones Liam Gallagher plans after Oasis reunion not retiring

Liam Gallagher is at it on social media again, and prior to a random posting spree in the early hours on Monday morning, he might have actually shed some light on his plans after the Oasis reunion tour over the weekend.

As always with anything the ever-vocal frontman says online, we urge you to take this with a pinch of salt.

Nevertheless, we’ve allowed ourselves to get very excited and hopeful that the Live ’25 tour isn’t just a one-off and that Oasis are back for good, at least as far as the younger Gallagher brother is concerned.

The latest excuse to be optimistic comes after Liam responded to a fan on Twitter asking whether or not people thought he would retire after the reunion shows, to which he simply responded:

Potentially genuine plans delivered in a mostly sarcastic, entirely unserious and somewhat expletive fashion – we wouldn’t expect anything less.

That being said, just because he delivers things in seemingly free-wheeling tweets (often at stupid o’clock in the morning) doesn’t mean that

For instance, last month, LG responded directly to reports that began circling due to the band’s manager, Alec McKinlay, stating that they had ‘no plans’ to keep working together beyond the reunion shows themselves, and this would be “the last time round” in a recent MusicWeek interview.

ADVERTISEMENT

The co-manager and Ignition Management partner also told the outlet that there was currently no new music in the works. However, it was only recently that Liam himself – responding via X, once again – appeared to tell fans that a new album was already “in the bag”.

As for his response to McKinlay claims back in May, the 52-year-old simply posted: “The only people that will be making any kind of decisions on the future of OASIS will be ME & RKID, so let’s just take it one day at a time.”

He also confirmed the support acts and full reunion band lineup on the platform, too, so he’s not always just shouting aimlessly into the void for his own amusement. One can only hope…

Leaked ‘Knebworth 2026’ teaser has Oasis fans losing their minds
Fingers crossed that both Liam and Noel Gallagher have plans for a VERY big finish to the reunion.

Both brothers are finally back in rehearsals ahead of the worldwide sellout shows this summer, and a number of apparent audio clips revealing how the comeback is sounding have appeared on the internet.

As well as being pictured attending the sessions in London, some supposed ‘setlists’ have also been leaked, though Liam himself has rubbished at least one image as an outright “FAKE” in his replies.

In fairness, the nation and fans all over the globe have waited so long that they’d probably be happy hearing pretty much any combination of songs at this point.

So yeah, only time will tell how serious he was being; then again, these are his most recent posts…

liam gallagher latest tweets
Credit: Liam Gallagher (screenshot via X)

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Jonnysmirth (via Wikimedia Commons)/Audio North

Trending

Manchester City set for first signing of the summer as Rayan Aït-Nouri completes medical

Danny Jones Danny Jones Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester City medical done

Manchester City look to have finally signed an out-and-out left-back as Rayan Aït-Nouri is said to have completed his medical ahead of a move to the Etihad Stadium.

The French-born defender is expected to join Man City on a five-year deal worth a reported £31 million, including add-on fees of approximately £5m, becoming the first new signing ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.

City spent significantly in the January window after chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak argued they weren’t aggressive enough last summer, and they look to continue rebuilding the squad following several key departures, not least of all Kevin De Bruyne.

Although the transfer is yet to be officially confirmed by the club, multiple outlets have now covered the Wolverhampton Wanderers wing-back being bound for the blue half of Manchester.

Having come through the youth system at Angers FC in Ligue 1, the versatile fullback was loaned to Wolves back in 2021 before being signed permanently later that same year.

The 24-year-old has made more than 150 appearances in ‘Old Gold’ since then, registering 12 goals and 19 assists, and has played for Algeria eight times after declaring allegiance back in 2022, despite having already represented ‘Les Bleus’.

More precisely, it’s the dynamism of Aït-Nouri that has seen him shortlisted by several clubs of late, with Pep Guardiola regularly deploying his fullbacks as utility players in his ever-fluid system.

Even in an often faltering Wolves side, he contributed to more goal involvements than any other defender in the league during 2024/25; created the fourth-most chances from a player in the backline, the second-most dribbles and won back possession in the final third more than any other defender.

Nevertheless, he still looks set to be one of the most orthodox left-backs City have signed in years – with the club having struggled for strength in depth in that area for some time – using the likes of Joško Gvardiol (the best fit), Nico O’Reilly and Nathan Aké in that position most recently.

Quick, confident on the ball and strong in the tackle, he’s tailor-made for bombing down the flanks and creating plenty of those trademark cut-back finishes for Pep’s attackers. While they already have plenty of options going forward, Khaldoon has insisted there will be “several” more signings all over the pitch.

Manchester City plotting spending spree ‘before’ Club World Cup
Where else would you like to see improvements?

Aït-Nouri is expected to pen his City contract on Sunday, 8 June, meaning he will most likely be the first of a quickfire trio of new signings in the first half of June, with two other deals also believed to be close to being done.

In addition to long-admired target Tijjani Reijnders reportedly also undergoing his medical this weekend, another Rayan and fellow French-Algerian in Lyon’s Cherki, who is thought to be making a £30m move to play under the Catalan coach.

On the other hand, we wouldn’t be too surprised to see all three players unveiled in a single day, similar to what we saw just a few months ago.

What do you make of the business, Blues?

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Æthelred (via Wikimedia Commons)/Premier League (screenshot via YouTube)

More Trending

Alejandro Garnacho leaving Manchester United

Sport

Alejandro Garnacho ‘will leave’ Manchester United with queue of clubs ‘keen’, according to reports

Sport

Wigan Warriors make history with first-ever Women’s Challenge Cup win

Manchester to Blackpool bike ride 40th anniversary 2025

Manchester

Co-creator of Manchester-Blackpool bike ride hoping to reunite with fellow founders for special anniversary

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches