Manchester comedian Jason Manford has spoken out to defend actress Sheridan Smith after people have been blasting her for being “on TV a lot”.
Since the start of 2022, the acclaimed Lincolnshire-born actress – who is probably most famous for starring on cult Manchester sitcoms The Royle Family, and Two Pits of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, as well as supporting roles on Gavin & Stacey, and Benidorm – has appeared on our TV screens on four separate occasions.
She first starred in three-part BBC drama Four Lives at the very start of January, before Channel 5’s miniseries The Teacher was shown over four successive evenings later that month, and the first episode of ITV drama No Return began airing last week.
Smith is also currently the co-presenter of ITV reality competition show Starstruck, alongside Manford himself.
It’s fair to say that her numerous starring roles and television appearances this year have seen Smith take a lot of flack on social media in recent weeks, both from people poking a bit of fun at the situation, while others have been a little more critical.
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One person even joked that they’ve “seen more of Sheridan Smith than [their] family recently.”
Sheridan Smith playing Sheridan Smith in new ITV drama ‘Sheridan’ directed by Sheridan Smith and produced by Sheridan Smith Productions.
The year is 2031. Sheridan Smith is now on every programme on British television. TV has been renamed Smithbox. The licence fee has been scrapped, but we all have to pay a Sheridan Tax instead,
But Manford has found some of the criticisms of Smith to be rather unfair, and has taken to Twitter over the weekend to defend the actress and urge people to “chill out”.
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In his tweet, the Manchester-born comedian, actor, and presenter told Smith’s critics that the fact she has appeared on TV so frequently this year is “not something she’s in charge of” and that it was the decision of “some scheduler” that the shows were aired so close together.
He then told people that “she’s excellent”, and we’re “lucky to have her”.
Manford said: “Seen a few comments about Sheridan being on TV a lot this week [and] it’s not sommat she’s in charge of, she would’ve filmed those 3 excellent shows last year and some scheduler decided they went on this week.
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“So chill out – also she’s excellent and you’re lucky to have her.”
Manford’s tweet has gone on to amass hundreds of likes, retweets, and comments from others agreeing with his comments.
Smith’s The Royle Family and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps co-star Ralf Little also responded to Manford’s tweet in defence of Smith, adding: “Such a weird comment isn’t it. Even if you didn’t like an actor, the idea that they have any say in when TV shows end up getting aired is ridiculous.
“It will have taken her the best part of a year to film all of that.”
Such a weird comment isn’t it. Even if you didn’t like an actor, the idea that they have any say in when tv shows end up getting aired is ridiculous. It will have taken her the best part of a year to film all of that.
Manford’s tweet has also been inundated with people singing Smith’s praises.
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One person tweeted: “Sheridan Smith a working class lass that made it. She will always be a success story in my eyes. Works hard and is one of our greatest actresses. Never a bad word for her from this Northern boy.”
Another added: “I’m delighted we have Sheridan – so versatile, makes me laugh, makes me cry, amazing lady, beautiful voice, what can’t she do?”
“Sheridan Smith is an outstanding actress, so the more we get of her the better,” a third said.
TV presenter Jeremy Vine also added in response to Manford: “I agree with this. Sheridan Smith is unbelievably good at everything she does and her range is remarkable. Haters, go and hate on someone more deserving.”
I agree with this. Sheridan Smith is unbelievably good at everything she does and her range is remarkable. Haters, go and hate on someone more deserving. Go Sheridan xx https://t.co/tpHxReGwuA
I know Sheridan Smith has been on our screens a lot so far this year, but I'm here for it. She's easily one of the best actors we've got, so if she wants to launch a new drama every week, I see no problem with that.
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 -
14th February 2022 
