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Happy Mondays star Bez temporarily pulled from Dancing On Ice after testing positive for COVID-19

The legendary dancer and DJ became the first contestant in the ITV show’s history to wear a crash helmet for his performance. 

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 18th January 2022

Happy Mondays star Bez said he is “gutted” to have tested positive for COVID-19 after making his Dancing On Ice debut over the weekend.

In case you missed it, in what is surely already one of the maddest moments of television in 2022, the 57-year-old dancer and DJ from the iconic Manchester band made history during the series-opening episode of the long-running ITV competition show on Sunday, as he became the first contestant in the show’s history to wear a crash helmet for his performance. 

Bez – who’s real name is Mark Berry – took to the rink wearing a watermelon helmet for his ice skating debut.

He arrived onto the set riding a giant pair of maracas and proceeded to cautiously wobble around to the band’s most-famous 1990 hit song ‘Step On’ with his professional partner Angela Egan and a gang of dancing watermelon slices.

Read more: People are making a heartwarming observation about Bez’s performance on Dancing on Ice

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And understandably, fans absolutely loved it – even if he did end up coming at the bottom of the leaderboard.

Happy Mondays star Bez is “gutted” to have tested positive for COVID-19 / Credit: ITV

But now, ITV has sadly confirmed that the Mancunian icon has tested positive for COVID-19, and has such been temporarily pulled from the show, and will miss training this week.

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Confirming he’ll be missing this weekend’s show in a statement to the Daily Star, Bez said: “I’ve had a positive test.

“I’m gutted because I’m going to be missing training, but I’m looking forward to skating on the show again for week three and I’ll be tuning at home and cheering on my mates who are skating this weekend.”

An ITV spokesperson added: “We have stringent protocols in place to ensure the health and safety of all our contributors and staff which are routinely monitored and updated to reflect the current guidelines.”

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Bez is expected to return to the ice the week after on 30 January.

Featured Image – ITV

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Festive Bakes return as Greggs unveils its Christmas menu for 2024

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Greggs has unveiled its Christmas menu for 2024, and that means the Festive Bake is back again in all its glory.

The UK’s most-popular high street bakery chain has officially revealed the first round of its festive food and drink offering for the 2024 season, and there’s a few brand-new goodies joining the lineup this year, along with the return of some undeniable fan-favourites.

And of course, nothing spells Christmas at Greggs quite like the Festive Bake, right?

The chain’s classic crumb-coated pastry filled with chicken, sage and onion stuffing, and sweetcure bacon in a creamy sage and cranberry sauce goes down an absolute treat each year, and is a serious fan-favourite, so it’s no surprise it’s made a comeback for 2024.

Thankfully for plant-based foodies, the Vegan Festive Bake has also made a comeback this year after being absent in 2023.

Another returning Greggs festive favourite this year is the Christmas Lunch Baguette, which is a freshly-baked baguette “jam-packed full of festive flavours”, alongside the brand-new Festive Flatbread with sage and onion-style chicken, sweetcure bacon, mayo and cranberry and red onion relish.

When it comes to sweet treats, the second round of the Greggs’ festive menu set to be released in late November is expected to feature lots more goodies, but for now, the yummy Toffee Fudge Muffin, and the indulgent Chocolate & Hazelnut Flavour Doughnut have both returned to satisfy your sugar cravings.

Greggs has unveiled its Christmas food and drink menu for 2024 / Credit: Greggs

The festive drinks lineup this year includes some sweet new additions, alongside the popular Mint and Orange mochas and hot chocolates, and the Salted Caramel Latte.

Gingerbread is the new flavour for 2024, and you can get Gingerbread Lattes both hot and iced, as well as a Gingerbread Flat White.

All drinks are topped with whipped cream, and come with a range of festive sauces and toppings.

Read more:

The 2024 Greggs Christmas menu is now available to tuck into across the UK from this Thursday (7 November).

Featured Image – Greggs

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How to look after your cats and dogs this Bonfire Night

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia Tips for cats and dogs Bonfire Night 2024

Bonfire Night may be a blessing for some families who can take advantage of the beautifully lit sky and incredible views, but for those who own cats or dogs, this isn’t necessarily the case.

When it comes to your furry friends then simply turning to their owners is usually the best point of call, but sometimes it’s still good to have a quick refresher on how to spot when your pet is in distress.

Luxury clothing retailer, Joules, is one of those leading research this year as they provide a list of tips and tricks on how to notice a change in your dog’s behaviour, soothe your cat’s stress and just generally make things more manageable for your four-legged companions.

72% of cat and dog owners see a change in their pets’ behaviour over this season, with 68% saying that they are frightened by the loud noises. With that in mind, here are some helpful tips on how to take care of your cats and dogs this Bonfire Night.

How to create a safe space for pets on Bonfire Night

Cover your windows where possible

Closing the curtains is always a good start; although this may not reduce the noise fully, it will help to block out the flashes from those pesky fireworks and even dial those big bangs down slightly.

In order to combat sudden light changes, dog owners are advised to keep their lights on, this way the animals are used to this setting and there are no drastic differences.

Try to block out the noise with your own

Radio station Classic FM hosts their calming show on Bonfire Night every year and 2024 seems no different with Charlotte Hawkins and Dan Walker curating a pet-friendly playlist for all to enjoy.

I mean, come on, how lovely is this?

Keep them occupied

The simplest thing you can do is just make sure you’re there for your animals; much like us humans, they don’t like to deal with things on their own and sometimes it’s nice to have a helping hand by their side for reassurance – especially when that includes some always welcome petting.

It’s also good to keep their minds occupied by playing games and interactive activities with them to distract their cute little faces from all the madness outside.

Stay calm yourself

It might sound a little self-involved but it’s also important that alongside keeping your dogs and cats company and playing with them, make sure to keep calm yourself, much like your children and little ones you know, dogs are very reactive and can pick up on emotions easily.

As much as this information may be handy, you still know your pet best, so reacting to their behaviour and catering to their needs is definitely a must.

There are also some easy ways to spot something’s up…

how to look after cats fireworks
Joules worked with animal behaviourist Kimberly Grundy to help develop these helpful Bonfire Night tips cats and dogs.
how to keep dogs calm on guy fawkes night
They are one of many retailers that stock comforting cushions and blankets that are perfect for these occasions.

Read more:

Nine signs to be aware of:

The best way to spot any changes in your dog or cat’s behaviour is to look for these nine surefire signs – if you spot them, they’re most likely feeling unsettled by the celebrations.

  1. Whining or barking – this will include whimpering, crying, barking, and growling.
  2. Clinginess – i.e. more than normal.
  3. Excessive panting or drooling – can signal anxiety and distress instead of the usual excitement.
  4. Hiding or trying to find a safe space
  5. Trying to escape – make sure your doors and windows are locked and dog/cat flaps are covered.
  6. Trembling and shaking – soothing strokes can still work wonders.
  7. Pacing or restlessness – if you can get them to just sit with you that’s a step in the right direction.
  8. Loss of appetite – but don’t try and force them to eat though, the goal is to help them relax.
  9. Dilated pupils

Whether you’re cosying up to your cat or dog, or venturing out to a bonfire, make sure you stay safe this November and most importantly have fun!

You can find all the rest of the events happening for Guy Fawkes Night 2024 here:

The big Manchester guide to Bonfire Night – everything you need to know

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

Featured Images — Supplied/Sebastian Hietsch (via Pexels)/Jeremy Wheaton (via Flickr)/Raxpixel

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