Marcus Rashford is planning to release his first children’s novel next year, and he’s drawing on his own childhood for inspiration.
Following on from the release of his first, non-fiction book You Are A Champion: How to Be the Best You Can Be – which he wrote with sports journalist Carl Anka, and went on to top the bestseller charts with – as well as launching his very-own book club back in November 2020 to show kids “the power of reading”, Rashford’s new illustrated novel, titled ‘The Breakfast Club Adventures’, is aimed at eight to 11-year-olds.
The story will follow the adventures of the 12-year-old Marcus and his “group of unlikely friends” from their school’s breakfast club, said publisher Macmillan Children’s Books.
It will draw on 23-year-old Rashford’s own experiences at breakfast clubs growing up.
The Wythenshaw-born Manchester United and England star has spoken candidly in the past about how his family relied on breakfast clubs and free school meals when he was growing up, and last year, as part of his ongoing campaigning to end child food poverty, backed a cross-party parliamentary bill to fund free breakfast provision in schools.
Rashford is teaming up with award-winning author Alex Falase-Koya – who took home the Spread the Word’s London’s Writers Awards in 2019, and is the author of the forthcoming superhero series ‘Marv’ – to write the new novel.
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Excited to announce the release of my first fiction book ‘The Breakfast Club Adventures’ coming May 2022 📚
Aimed at 8-11 year olds, the book is co-written with the brilliant @AlexFKoya and published by @MacmillanKidsUK
Speaking ahead of the launch of the novel, Rashford said: “I wanted to create something that really captured the true spirit of breakfast club [as] outside of making sure we got the best start to our days with cereal, toast and juice, it was where my friendships were made.
“Where we could just lose ourselves – a safe haven.”
“Breakfast club was where some of my greatest memories were formed, where we talked about our dreams and where adventures were planned, and it was important for me that we captured that in my first fiction book.”
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He added: “Alex is a great writer who is able to capture that brilliantly and I’m thrilled that he’s on this journey with me.”
Falase-Koya also said he was “very excited” to be working with Rashford, adding: “Books changed my life when I was a kid, making me take a closer look at the things around me and taking me to worlds far from my own [and] I hope that this book gets the opportunity to do the same for other people.”
The Breakfast Club Adventures will be published in May 2022.
Featured Image – Twitter (@MarcusRashford)
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First look images released of new BBC drama series from Happy Valley creator filmed in Yorkshire
Emily Sergeant
A new BBC series telling the story of five women who come together to create a makeshift punk-rock band is set to air later this year.
Riot Women, the brand-new drama from the multi-BAFTA award-winning writer Sally Wainwright – best known for being the creator of Happy Valley – is a six-part series set and filmed in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.
First look pictures of the new show have now been released.
Starring Joanna Scanlan, Rosalie Craig, Tamsin Greig, Lorraine Ashbourne, and Amelia Bullmore as band members, alongside a talented supporting cast consisting of Taj Atwal, Chandeep Uppal, and Macy-Jacob Seelochan as the band’s riotous backing singers, the newly-released pictures show the women in action.
First look images have been released of a new BBC drama series filmed in Yorkshire / Credit: BBC
According to a synopsis on the BBC website, Riot Women dives headfirst into the world of five women who come together to create a makeshift punk-rock band in order to enter a local talent contest.
But, in writing their first original song, they soon discover that they have a lot more to say than planned – and this is their way to say it.
As they juggle demanding jobs, grown-up children, complicated parents, husbands who’ve buggered off, and disastrous dates, and relationships, the band becomes a catalyst for change in their lives, and it’s going to make them question everything.
📸 Here's your first look at Riot Women – the new drama from Sally Wainwright coming to @BBCiPlayer and @BBCOne in 2025
New pictures feature Joanna Scanlan, Rosalie Craig, Tamsin Greig, Lorraine Ashbourne, Amelia Bullmore, and more
Creators and producers say the show is a testament to the power of friendship, music, and the resilience of women who “refuse to be silenced by age or expectation”.
Speaking ahead of the show airing later this year, Riot Women creator, Sally Wainwright, commented: “I’m having a whole new buzz of excitement about the show as we bring it together in the edit, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.”
Riot Women will premiere on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK later this year.
Featured Image – BBC
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A Manchester barbershop is offering a ‘pay what you can’ service this month
Danny Jones
Amidst the tidal wave of January deals on food and drink in Manchester, a local barbers is championing their own ‘pay what you can’ offer to help people along this month.
Jefe’s Barbershop, located in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, is one of the best barbers in the city centre, offering a wide variety of cuts and facial hair grooming services – they even offer a subscription service that helps people save money on regular trims.
That being said, they are well aware of those January blues and the mounting obstacles and anxieties that come with weeks of penny-pinching to make it to month’s end, as well as the general toll it can take on people’s mental health.
So this January, Jefe and his team are doing something different – as he puts it, “something special”: the barbershop is allowing customers to simply pay what they feel comfortable handing over and, in the case of those struggling, whatever they can afford.
It’s a simple gesture with a big purpose which helps ensure no one has to miss out on a feel-good moment or the confidence that comes from a fresh trim.
“All we do is laugh and joke about life—that’s why people come here,” Jefe explains. “I don’t want anyone to lose the chance to be present, to feel good, and to laugh with us.
“Men often need more help than they’re willing to let on and we want to be a helping hand they can rely on.” Now that’s a cause all of us can and should get behind.
Community support has remained at the core of Jefe’s Barbershop since the beginning when he swapped a basketball career for providing a much-needed service to Mancunian men.
From partnering with Manc sandwich shops and offering free haircuts for the homeless, to hosting street parties with local events companies and providing £5 trims to promote men’s mental health in 2023 when the cost of living crisis really kicked in – Jefe’s is always trying to make a difference in the area.
You’ve got to love businesses that go the extra mile.
If you want to make the most of this wholesome deal or just feel like you’re in need of a trim, you can book HERE or call them directly on 0161 818 7659.
The ‘pay what you can’ offer runs Monday to Thursday, 9am-7pm, subject to availability. You’ll find Jefe’s Barbershop on Stevenson Square
Because as the man himself puts it, “Everyone deserves to feel their best”.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd December 2021 
