The highly-anticipated cast for the next series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK has been announced, and there’s a famous Manchester face on the lineup.
With the fourth series of the popular reality competition show set to return to our TV screens this month, global drag icon RuPaul and BBC Three have today revealed that Manchester-based drag queen Cheddar Gorgeous is forming part of the lineup of 12 of the nation’s most fabulous queens, who will compete over 10 weeks to be crowned the UK’s next Drag Race Superstar.
Born in Birmingham 488 years ago, but calling Manchester home for the last 16 years and becoming a well-known name on the local circuit, Cheddar Gorgeous is described as being a “living spectacle” and a “cultural icon”.
Cheddar is usually dressed as a “Mancunian busy bee” to demonstrate a real love for the city.
With a name referencing the iconic British landmark Cheddar Gorge, and an act combining a collage of makeup, costume, performance, audiences usually come prepared for anything at a Cheddar Gorgeous show as her drag is known for being “otherworldly and ethereal”.
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Cheddar says she’s been doing drag for “hundreds of years”, but in reality, she started out when she was about 13 or 14, and admits that she was a bit of a geek growing up who was enamoured by aliens, gods, goddesses, and strange monsters – which is why, in her drag, she likes to “harness the energy of science fiction, fantasy and magic”.
Drag has allowed Cheddar to travel around the world, and she has worked in the clubs, cabarets, museums, and all over the streets.
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Cheddar Gorgeous confirmed for next series of Drag Race UK / Credit: BBC
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK series four is set to air later this month.
One of the most-popular shows on BBC iPlayer, the first three series of the reality competition show have been streamed over 51 million times now, and the premise sees the queens face challenges each week that test their drag race prowess to the max to impress Ru and the panel of judges enough to avoid being one of the bottom two queens.
The two queens who find themselves in the bottom two then face a lip sync for their life and elimination from the competition.
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Ru then has the final say on who shantays or sashays away.
Featured Image – BBC
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Stockport actress Aimee Lou Wood set to star in new BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre
Emily Sergeant
Stockport-born actress Aimee Lou Wood is set to lead a new BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre, it has been reported.
It was announced earlier this year that Working Title are producing a new TV adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel, Jane Eyre – which will be led by The White Lotus and Sex Education star in the titular role – and Deadline has now exclusively revealed that the BBC has joined the production as the broadcaster.
The new TV adaptation has been penned for the screen by Miriam Battye – an award-winning writer best known for her work on HBO’s Succession.
Published all the way back in 1847 and set across a number of fictional Northern England settings, the classic novel explores the moral and emotional development of orphan Jane Eyre as she searches for love, independence, and social equality in the 19th century.
EXCLUSIVE: Deadline hears that 'The White Lotus' and 'Sex Education' star Aimee Lou Wood is attached to star in a new TV adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel Jane Eyre.
Emmy nominee Wood will play the indomitable heroine in the buzzy adaptation which we understand is… pic.twitter.com/ETBRaPJanN
Throughout the novel, Jane overcomes a harsh and unloving childhood and goes on to find work as a governess at Thornfield Hall, before falling in love with her moody master, Mr Rochester, and discovering a dark secret in his attic.
The novel is widely considered to be ahead of its time due to how it approaches topics of class, sexuality, religion, and feminism.
Jane Eyre has been the subject of a number of adaptations of the years – most notably the last major TV version being in 2006, also for the BBC, and a 2011 film starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender – but there hasn’t been any in 15 years now, and 2027 marks the 180th anniversary for the iconic story.
Aimee Lou Wood is also riding high at the moment after her Emmy, SAG, and Golden Globe nominations for Season 3 of The White Lotus, and after having also been cast as George Harrison’s wife, Pattie Boyd, in Sam Mendes’ four Beatles biopic movies, all set to be released in 2028.
As of yet, further information on when and where the new adaptation will be being filmed is yet to be released, and there is no indication of air dates either.
The BBC is expected to reveal more details in due course, so stay tuned.
Featured Image – HBO
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Greggs renames one of its bestselling bakes after Andy Burnham says it’s his favourite
Emily Sergeant
Greggs has decided to rename one of its bestselling bakes in honour of Andy Burnham.
In case you didn’t know, the new Number 10 North offices in Manchester’s Heron House share a building with lots of other businesses, some independent, some chains – and one of those businesses is the ever-popular high street bakery Greggs.
And we wouldn’t put it past Andy Burnham, being the northerner he is, to have chosen those offices specifically for that reason.
Okay, we’re obviously kidding, but considering the Prime Minister really doesn’t have to venture that far for a Greggs when he’s at work in Manchester now, he’s been asked in a recent interview this week what his go-to order is from the bakery chain.
When asked to name his favourite Greggs bake, Andy replied: “That sausage, bean, and cheese thing,” which, of course, refers to the popular Sausage, Bean & Cheese Melt.
Greggs has renamed one of its bestselling bakes after Andy Burnham said it’s his favourite / Credit: Supplied | gov.uk
According to Greggs, sales of that bake have doubled following the interview, particularly at the Heron House store, as curious Mancs and Number 10 North staff queued to sample the PM’s preferred pasty – so naturally, Greggs has decided to rename the item the ‘Sausage, Bean and Cheese Thing’ in his honour.
Workers at the Heron House shop were photographed changing the signage of the bake yesterday morning, and digital screens in the shop were also updated following the interview.
Andy himself has approved the change, taking to Instagram to say: “Has a nice ring to it tbf. Thanks [Greggs], that’s my order baked in for life now.”
Warren McCarrick, shop manager at the Greggs outside Number 10 North, said: “Our shop has been buzzing with Mancs getting their hands on Burnham’s favourite bake. Sales have gone through the roof this morning – cheers, Andy.
“We thought we’d repay the favour and rename it to what the Prime Minister seems to fondly know it as, that Sausage, Bean and Cheese Thing.
Emily Sergeant -
7th September 2022 
