Nothing’s truly hidden forever with the internet around.
This is something often said in the case of old pictures and videos having been dug up from the depths of recent history to be brought to the attentions of the masses on social media, and next up on this ever-growing list of retro videos to resurface right when you’d least expect them to is a mid-00s workout routine by one of the cobbles’ most iconic characters.
Shall we cut to the chase?
Today, we found out that Janice Battersby – the long-standing Coronation Street character played by Accrington-born actress Vicky Entwistle between 1997-2011 – has a fitness DVD, and honestly, it’s the perfect way to cheer you up on this dreary Tuesday.
Now, perhaps this title hasn’t come as a shock to you at all.
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Maybe it was firmly on your radar, regardless of whether you’ve given it a try out for size or not – especially if you’re familiar with the extensive collection of fitness videos released by British soap stars over the years – but it certainly took us by surprise when we stumbled across it on social media, and we know we’re not the only ones to be in the dark about its existence.
For those as unfamiliar as us, Vicky Entwistle’s Weight Off Workout was first released in 2006, and according to the synopsis, “demonstrates how she lost two and a half stone”.
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The over one hour-long video features Entwistle herself, along with her trainer Richard Callender – who specialises in quick re-shaping.
The synopsis reads: “Vicky Entwistle tells of her delight in losing two and a half stone, ten inches off her waistline and going from a 16 to a 6 in no time flat. In an easy-to-follow routine that doesn’t require ballerina dexterity and takes very little time out of your day, Entwistle takes you from flab to fab in four easy portions, [with a] ten minute warm up, twenty minute fat burner, ten minute toner and ten minutes of the patented belly-shrinker.”
Basically, it sounds pretty similar to a lot of other celebrity-lead workouts on the market, but just with one of the Manchester soap’s most beloved characters.
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It’s got some absolutely glowing reviews too, with many calling it “brilliant” and “the best workout DVD ever”, as well as one mum who admitted that she had “been doing this video for the past 10 years” to get back in shape after each of her three pregnancies.
So, even though there’s no denying it looks a little dated after well over a decade, it still must do the trick.
If you do actually fancy getting into shape with Vicky’s help though, you can still get your hands on a DVD copy of Vicky Entwistle’s Weight Off Workout from just £1.04on Amazon here.
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Manchester City are offering fans the chance to choose their third kit for 2026/27
Danny Jones
Manchester City fans are being given an exciting opportunity to choose the design for the club’s future third kit.
After fans all over the world were invited to create their own jersey designs using artificial intelligence back in December, with literally thousands of entries being submitted, the club now has its shortlist and it’s the fans who have the power to pick the winner.
Inviting Cityzens to have the final say this week, the intake has now been whittled down to just 10 different options – but which one tickles your fancy, Blues?…
There are no traditional red/yellow and black striped numbers to pick from this time around – both this year’s away kit and the 23/24 strips have had that covered of late – but there are some pretty classic combos that have been put together.
Alternatively, there are plenty more adventurous creations that have made the cut thus far.
Put together using Puma’s creator software, this initiative has launched alongside the club’s first fully-fledged generative AI goalkeeper kit which will debut this weekend.
Designed by goalkeeping duo Ederson and Stefan Ortega, as well as rising youngster Rico Lewis, the limited edition creation will be available exclusively in-store from the official City Stores at Etihad and Manchester Arndale.
Our limited edition PUMA AI Creator goalkeeper shirt, available as a CityStore (Stadium & Arndale) exclusive tomorrow, 25th January.
What do you make of it and, more importantly, which of the third kits do you like the look of best?
Fans have until 23:59 GMT on Wednesday, 29 January to pick their favourite but you best be happy with your decision because it will be the matchday third kit for a full year.
The winner will be chosen this summer ahead of not the upcoming campaign but the following season.
You can cast your ballot and choose your future City third kit HERE.
Can we please make 2025 the year of the ‘wide burger’?
Danny Jones
In 2025, I have just a few resolutions/goals that I’m determined to achieve this year: one is to lose a bit of weight, another is to improve my marathon PB and arguably the most important one is to champion the trend of the ‘wide burger’.
Yes, I’m fully aware that the burger thing doesn’t quite chime with the first two but I intend to reward myself with said burger after I hopefully smash the other ones.
First off, I want to begin this by making it clear that I am in no way calling for the end of the trusty dirty burger convention that has spanned more than a decade now (Manc pioneers like Almost Famous remain one of my go-to spots to this day), but I am advocating for some innovation.
I want this year to be the year of the wide burger, someone else can come up with a better name for it if anything comes to mind, I’m just a hungry ideas man.
If it isn’t already plainly obvious as to what I’m talking about, let me explain.
The culinary world often feels like it can get stuck in these cycles, be it people slapping pulled pork on things, salted caramel-flavoured everything or the current hot honey craze; they’re exciting for a while but, eventually, things move on as they should to keep our interests piqued and mouths salivating.
On the other hand, there are some food and drink staples that are so tried and tested that they rarely evolve that much, mainly because people will always eat them no matter what.
Case and point, burgers.
That being said, although there’s something undeniably enticing about a towering, food-porny mess of a burger dripping with cheese and grease, the advent has become so overly saturated in modern cuisine.
Besides the ‘smashed’ style enjoying its time in the spotlight – which we’re also really enjoying, by the way, this isn’t a diss on any perfectly cooked patty – I don’t think there’s been much evolution for a while and it’s almost starting to feel like we’ve seen most takes on burger a dozen times before.
Again, there’s no doubt that all of these bad boys are delicious – we’ve eaten them all, so we can definitely vouch for that – but we can’t pretend we haven’t seen similar creations not only in Greater Manchester but at countless places up and down the country.
Moreover, at what juncture are we feasibly going to stop and say, ‘Sorry, but this mountain of bread and meat is officially too tall and tackling it is more a challenge than it is the simple act of enjoyment that we hope for out of a burger’?…
We all know how appetising these things look at first glance in a picture and they certainly stand out from the other options on any given menu, but there has to come a point where a burger is just too unwieldy to even attempt eating and simply whacking even crazier, unexpected toppings won’t cut it.
That’s why I’m posing a rather straightforward change of tact or direction, rather: don’t go up, go out; don’t make it taller, just make it wider.
It’s also worth noting that this is by no means a totally original thought, but it is one I’m fully behind.
The proof is right there on the internet for everyone to see: the people have been asking the same question, ‘Why tall and not wide?’ for ages now and I think it’s time we put the prospect to the test.
The Two Markets Girls channel even built what they called ‘the BEST wide burger ever‘ to test their theory.
Big dirty burgers stacked high with an immense surplus of extras are great on paper, especially when one of those overly indulgent days comes along and you want to pig out, but are they the most practical? I would suggest perhaps not.
I don’t want to have to disassemble a burger’s excessive layers or unhinge my jaw like a python to try and get my chops around my tea, I just want to take a big bite of a big burger with lots going and, as far as I can tell, there’s no reason this couldn’t happen with a burger that has greater width instead.
They don’t need elevation, they need surface area – as proven by the resurgence of delightfully crispy smash burgers – and it could open up a whole new avenue for those naughty cheat meals.
You could argue wide burgers or at least ‘wide-leaning’ offerings already exist, with one example being the viral and cult favourite Fergburger, made popular over in Queenstown, New Zealand, which tends towards a larger circumference rather than height.
Better yet, if you’ve ever been to a greasy spoon, old school caff or just a local butty shop and ordered a large barm or seen someone ask for a ‘bin lid’ (if you know, you know), then finding bread/buns/baps/whatever you want to call them big enough doesn’t even factor into the equation.
Another bonus upside is that this will in theory make big stacked burgers less of a tired novelty but rather a push-the-boat-out treat and once again see them restored as a worthwhile variation on one of the most popular foodstuffs on Earth.
Manchester has the chance to be the pioneering city at the forefront of a new craze, which is an opportunity that is really rare in gastronomy these days.
So how about it? How about we make 2025 the year we give wide burgers a go? And if I’m wrong then I’ll happily slink back into my chair and keep my mouth shut – most likely because there’s a burger in it.