Trending

Coronation Street, EastEnders, and Emmerdale join forces for first ever soap crossover storyline

The storyline will be focused on climate change.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 12th October 2021

Coronation Street, EastEnders, and Emmerdale are among a handful of popular soaps joining forces for the very-first crossover episode.

The storyline will be focused on climate change, and will begin airing from November 1.

Sharon Marshall – best known for being the resident “Soap Expert” on ITV’s This Morning since 2003 – appeared on the daytime talkshow earlier on today to announce the news of the ambitious crossover, and hailed it as “amazing”.

Explaining the premise to hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, Sharon said: “It’s the first time it’s ever been done [and] in November, we’re going to be having the world’s first soap crossover [where] all five British soaps – and our continuing dramas – [are] going to come together and tell the same story at the same time.

“That story is going to be climate change.”

ADVERTISEMENT

As well as the three big soap heavy-hitters, other popular continuing dramas involved in the crossover include Casualty, Doctors, Holby City, and Hollyoaks.

“All of these people have been talking about it in secret for months and months to make this work,” Sharon continued.

ADVERTISEMENT

“What they’re each going to do is film a scene, have a reference that is going to cover a different aspect of climate change and – this is the fun bit – in a soap first, you’re going to see all the programmes do a nod to the other and characters will start popping up from one soap in another soap on screen.

“That has never been done before.”

Speaking on the crossover, Kate Oates – BBC Studios’ Head of Continuing Drama – added: “I’m thrilled that our soaps and serial dramas have all come together to help highlight the issue of climate change amongst our millions of viewers.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We’re grateful to the teams that made this happen, and hugely look forward to seeing the talent from our own shows popping up in other iconic programmes.”

Featured Image – ITV Coronation Street | BBC

Trending

BBC releases first look images for second series of popular Stockport-set sitcom Daddy Issues

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Daddy Issues S2

The second series of the popular BBC sitcom Daddy Issues is soon set to air, and first look images of the cast in action have been released.

Unfamiliar with the show?

Daddy Issues started as a six-part comedy series on BBC Three that turned out to be such a genuinely laugh-out-loud smash hit, garnering rave reviews along the way with viewers calling it ‘absolutely hysterical’, that it was renewed for a second season.

Two million viewers tuned in to the first episode of the show, with an average audience across the series of 1.6 million over 28 days.

Daddy Issues follows Gemma, played by Manchester actress Aimee Lou Wood – who is most-known for her role on Netflix’s Sex Education – who lives for the weekend when she can ‘get blasted and party hard’ in Stockport, but after joining the mile-high club with a random hook-up on her way back from a holiday to Portugal, she finds out she’s pregnant.

The pregnancy couldn’t have come at a worse time for Gemma, as the only person she has left in her life is her dad Malcolm – played by David Morrissey – who is ‘kind hearted but useless’.

Gemma and her dad end up living together in Gemma’s flat, as she needs support at a critical time in a woman’s life… and he needs help microwaving rice without it exploding.

And now, ahead of the show returning to BBC iPlayer, BBC One, and BBC Three later this year for its second series, an exclusive set of pictures have been released to the public showing Gemma and Malcom grappling with the new addition to the family – Gemma’s daughter, baby Sadie.

Daddy Issues S2
Daddy Issues S2
The BBC releases first look images for second series of popular Stockport-set sitcom Daddy Issues / Credit: BBC

Series two shows Gemma coming to terms with life as a new mum, while Malcolm is just thrilled to be a grandad.

David Fynn, Sharon Rooney, Sarah Hadland, Taj Atwal, and Cora Kirk are just some of the other famous names and rising star actors who form part of the Daddy Issues cast, alongside Wood and Morrissey.

From dating disasters and failed romances, through to toxic friendships and messy family dynamics, the show is a big-hearted story about a father and daughter, and the reality of facing up to parenthood – at any stage of life.

Read more:

As of yet, there is no confirmed date for the release of Daddy Issues series two, so keep your eyes peeled.

Featured Image – BBC

Trending

Campaigners set up petition to pedestrianise Tib Street in the Northern Quarter

Danny Jones Danny Jones Pedestrianise Tib Street petition Northern Quarter

Local campaigners in Manchester have set up a new petition to hopefully pedestrianise what they have deemed the ‘untapped’ Tib Street in the Northern Quarter.

And not only do they arguably have a strong point, but the proposal might have legs, too.

Even if the name Tib St doesn’t quite ring a bell, if you live centrally or have been to the city centre enough times, the chances are you’ll likely have walked down it at least once or twice.

More importantly, you could be walking, drinking, eating and plenty more there soon, if the people behind this petition pull off the plans they’re hoping to put in place with the help of Manchester City Council.

Staging a small, simple but considered and definitive demonstration on Friday, 24 October, a group of Manc businesses, residents and volunteers gathered to hold out the banner seen above, calling for exactly what it says: for local authorities to pedestrianise Tib Street.

They believe it has more potential. (Credit: The Manc Group)

Having seen the success of nearby Thomas Street and Edge St, which have become two of the busiest parts of what is already one of Manchester’s most vibrant districts and cultural hubs, they essentially want a piece of the action – and you can’t exactly blame them.

While at least part of the road is well utilised with the likes of Northern Soul, Evelyn’s, MyThai, and other independents sit pretty tucked away up into the slightly raised buildings above street level, with that recognisable bridge hanging above, the thoroughfare as a whole still remains a bit of a bottleneck.

It’s arguably even more so further down the street as you head more towards Ancoats, too, with the backstreet sitting behind the likes of Tib Street Tavern, Matt and Phreds, and The Butcher’s Quarter still mainly reserved for little more than deliveries and people trying to secure a shortcut.

Nearby native Fiona Moinuddin, who has rallied to try and get the Council on side in the past, says: “Pedestrianisation has already transformed other parts of NQ, and Tib Street should be next.

“This is about making our streets safer, supporting local businesses, and giving people space to enjoy our city centre. I’m calling on the Council to listen to residents and act.”

In fact, there have already been calls to roll back the road to a bygone era and bring back one particular treasured piece of its heritage.

Northern Quarter’s iconic ‘Big Horn’ could be coming back to Tib Street
Before it was known for lorries, diversions and traffic, it was home to a rather famous bit of artwork.

Chatting with the Tavern’s co-owners on the day, Rory O’Keefe and Jon Dootson, they told The Manc that “it’d be so much better for the street to be closed.”

“We’ve obviously got Dorsey Street, which could be opened up and turned into a terrace of a sort of community garden, and just tidy this area up and make it look a lot nicer for the city – it’ll be great for businesses as well.”

“I think there are too many cars coming down here. Obviously, everything’s mainly featured on Stevenson Square, and we feel a little bit left out around the corner.”

They also noted that although it’s been great to see how their Thomas and Edge St neighbours are thriving, not to mention they’ve been around for over two decades themselves, they have sadly lost a lot of business due to the disparity – especially when the sun comes out.

We also spoke to Matt and Phreds‘ boss, Claire Turner, who said: “Tib would be really good for pedestrianisation, so we can have some outdoor furniture, maybe even bring some live music into the street in the summer; it would just kind of tie everything together with the rest of the Northern Quarter.

“I understand it’s not going to be for everybody, but I’m hoping the council will logistically sort everything out so that there’s still plenty of access for deliveries etc., but I just think it’s a positive thing for all of us.”

If you’d like to get behind the movement, you can sign the petition to pedestrianise Tib Street HERE.

Read more:

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

Featured Images — The Manc Group

More Trending

Dickie sleeping

Trending

Classic FM to play calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks

The Traitors

Trending

BBC is casting for next series of The Traitors and wants Mancs who are ‘good at lying’ to apply

Tom Aspinall eye poke injury Ciryl Gane fight

Sport

Tom Aspinall to undergo more eye tests after injury sees title defence fight end in no-contest

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches