With the festive season edging closer, Hits Radio has officially launched 2020’s Mission Christmas appeal and is inviting locals to buy one extra gift to help thousands of disadvantaged children in Greater Manchester.
Mission Christmas – the largest Christmas toy appeal in the UK – is an annual campaign run by Cash for Kids, supported by Bauer Radio’s regional stations – including Hits Radio Manchester – and has collectively raised over £20.9 million in 2019 through gifts and donations, which were distributed to more than one million disadvantaged children across the UK.
42,420 recipients of which were in the Greater Manchester area.
And in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Christmas is going to be tougher than ever this year for those in need.
The Trussell Trust has predicted that at least 670,000 extra people will become destitute in the last three months of the year, which is a level of poverty that leaves them unable to meet basic food, shelter or clothing needs, and with the increase in unemployment and reduction in working hours for many families, Christmas is simply a luxury they cannot afford.
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Some families are even having to make difficult decisions this Christmas between food/heating, and gifts.
This year’s Mission Christmas campaign aims to beat last year’s fundraising total and make sure as many children from Greater Manchester can be supported as possible, so in order to make this safe for everyone, Hits Radio and Cash for Kids has carried out an extensive review and risk assessment to enable members of the public to deliver a gifts whilst keeping staff, volunteers and beneficiaries safe.
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This means that there will be significantly reduced drop-off points, and reduced volunteers in Mission HQ’s across the country to accommodate necessary social distancing.
Speaking on the Mission Christmas 2020 campaign, Fleur East – Presenter at Hits Radio – said: “This year is going to be particularly tough for many families across the UK. Mission Christmas is a brilliant way for people to act in the true spirit of the season and give a little something to lift the spirits of disadvantaged young people who really do deserve it.
“Last year our listeners really demonstrated their generosity and it was truly amazing what we achieved.
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“This year, there have been so many examples of the community pulling together to support everyone and I know that it will be even better than ever before.”
Hits Radio / Cash for KidsHits Radio / Cash for Kids
Taking part in the Mission Christmas appeal this year is simple.
All you need to do is buy one extra gift before 18th December and hand it in to one of the Mission Christmas collection points, or alternatively, you can text ‘HITS’ to 70910 to donate £10 and Hits Radio / Cash for Kids will buy a gift on your behalf.
Donations can be made at any branch of Wickes, selected B&M stores, and a small selection of essential retailers who can continue to operate safely within the current lockdown restrictions.
For further details – including information on how to get involved, gift ideas for different age groups, and how to make a donation – visit the Hits Radio Manchester website here.
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Tommy Fury vs Darren Till press conference descends into foul-mouthed chaos
Danny Jones
The first press conference ahead of Tommy Fury vs Darren Till was held on Tuesday evening and it didn’t take long for the whole thing to descend into absolute bedlam.
Having only been confirmed on Sunday, Fury vs Till will be a homecoming bout for the Wythenshawe-born fighter who is set to headline the first-ever boxing match at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena.
With the date set for 18 January, the pre-fight build-up and media frenzy are growing fast and things have already come to ahead in just the first meeting between the two fighters in London this week.
Clearly sharing plenty of bad blood already, while Tommy and Till were engaging in the usual fighting talk, the family patriarch, John Fury, decided to interject and it was at this point that things boiled over.
‼️ Tommy Fury vs Darren Till press conference descends into chaos as Till tells John Fury: "Shut up, you haven't been seen since Oleksandr Usyk battered Tyson."
As you can see, amidst the various insults being thrown around regarding intelligence, boxing ability, Tommy’s older brother Tyson being “battered by [Oleksandr] Usyk”, ‘Big John’ then launches a bottle of water across the table at Till, sparking a hot-tempered on-stage skirmish.
The lengthy exchange features as many expletives as you could imagine, with 31-year-old Darren Till also threatening that he will “bladder” both Tommy and his more established heavyweight sibling Tyson, labelling the entire Fury family “shithouses” as they walk out of the London press conference.
A mixed martial artist by trade who has competed at both welterweight and middleweight in the UFC, Till assured that even if the boxing match isn’t going his way on the night, he will kick [him] square in [the] face”, adding that he’s a “proper fighter” and that Tommy, on the other hand, has no power.
YouTube turned musician and occasional boxer, KSI – the founder of the Misfits promotion who is putting on the event and who Fury beat back in October last year – can also be heard whooping from centre stage and shouting, “Get your tickets!”
Even after the mini-brawl is separated, the foul-mouthed back and forth continues for some time. You can see another angle here:
Press conference aftermath 🤯@darrentill2 was going IN on the Fury’s 😳
This isn’t the first time things have boiled over at a Fury press conference; in fact, it’s not even the first time John Fury, 59, has found himself in the very eye of the storm.
Meanwhile, the youngest Fury son is preparing first his first fight in over a year, having nearly joined this year’s I’m a Celeb lineup instead.
Tickets for the now highly-anticipated boxing match at Co-op Live, just the second combat sports event to have been held at the arena, are on sale now – you can grab yours HERE. It’s going to be a feisty one.
Festive Grinch-themed cafes to pop up inside Greater Manchester Primark stores
Emily Sergeant
Festive Grinch-themed cafes are popping up inside two of Primark’s biggest Greater Manchester stores in the run-up to Christmas.
As the temperatures turn colder by the day, the nights draw in, and the most wonderful time of the year nears closer and closer, it won’t be long before it’s time to snuggle up in our comfies and pop on the first Christmas film of the year – and for some of us, there’s a good chance that first film of choice will be The Grinch.
Whether you prefer the 2000 fantasy comedy starring Jim Carey, or the 2018 animated reboot with Benedict Cumberbatch, it’s undoubtedly a real family favourite.
To celebrate everyone’s favourite grumpy green grouch, Primark has teamed up with Dr. Seuss once again on a Grinch-tastic collaboration.
Festive Grinch-themed cafes have popped up inside Greater Manchester Primark stores / Credit: Supplied
Shoppers can now head to their nearest Primark store to find the largest-ever Grinch collection, with something for the whole family, as well as great gifting options said to be “ideal for getting into the anti-Christmas spirit”.
There’s Grinch pyjamas and slippers for both adults and kids, a Grinch ‘Onesie’ that’s sure to make people green with envy, Grinch drinks cups and mugs, a selection of loungewear and Christmas jumpers for festive dressing, and so much more, as well as whole host of Grinch-inspired outfits and toys for your four-legged friends too.
As part of Primark’s aim to offer affordable choices for everyone, prices for the Grinch collection start at just £1 for accessories, and go up to £24 for adult clothing.
If the return of the Grinch collection wasn’t exciting enough as it is, the all-new Grinch cafes – which are popping up in Primark on Market Street in Manchester city centre, as well as Primark in Trafford Palazzo – are bound to be hit with fans of the furry character.
There’s everything from green waffles and themed milkshakes, to festive toasties, hot drinks, and more on the menu.
With Greater Manchester Grinch cafes set to be open until the end of December, Sarah Jackson – who is the Director of Licensing at Primark, said: “We’re so excited to roll out our amazing cafe experience across a number of our UK locations, bringing a sprinkle of mischief to our customers this festive season.
“Whether you’re stopping in for a sweet treat or stocking up on pyjamas and gifts for the whole family, we have everything you need to make it a truly unforgettable Grinch-mas.”
Emily Sergeant -
24th November 2020 
